Daily Titan | November 28, 2022

Fox Theater at heart of future shopping zone

JOSHUA JURADO Sta Writer

The Fullerton City Council approved a motion to sell city property near the Fox Theater to begin construction of a new dining and shopping center.

On Tuesday, Nov. 15, the council voted unanimously to authorize the City Manager’s office to execute a disposition and development agreement with Frontier Real Estate Investments. This agreement would begin construction on three lots within the Fox Theater block on Harbor Boulevard. The center will accommodate new restaurants and a full production brewery featuring a tasting bar counter.

The first lot, named the Triangle Parcel, sits on Ellis Place and Harbor Boulevard. The second lot is Angelo’s and Vinci’s Ristorante, located at 550 N Harbor, and the third is a parking lot at the corner of Pomona and Chapman.

The expected revenue of all three of these lots is almost $2.3 million.

In addition to this agreement, the city council voted to abandon a portion of Ellis Place to help connect two lots and create a drive-in roundabout for the new dining center. It will no longer be a drive-through street once construction begins and will only be accessible on Pomona Avenue.

The development of a parking structure was also approved on the Pomona and Chapman lot.

In an item by the Redevelopment Agency that was earmarked in 1991,

the city set aside $6 million of its own money to construct a parking structure that will serve the Fox Theater and other nearby businesses if the developer operates and maintains the site.

“I’m very excited about this project coming to Fullerton. I think it is going to do a lot to activate this portion of Harbor Boulevard. I think it will be a great setting for our community to make memories for years to come,”

said council member Nick Dunlap.

During the public comment section of the meeting, residents said that the land used for this project should go toward affordable housing.

“We have lots of restaurants, we

have a brewery, but what we don’t have is housing in our community,” a Fullerton resident said.

Residents were also concerned that the new center would not match the aesthetic of Fullerton’s historic downtown area, instead creating a more urban feeling.

Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Whitaker said while he would like to see a coherent aesthetic, most developers appeal to a younger audience. He said this takes priority when considering customer frequency and traction.

Council member Ahmad Zahra said he is confident that the developers will blend the aesthetic with the Fox Theatre in a way that enhances the look of Fullerton’s downtown.

Another attraction in the shopping center will be the reopening of the Fox Theater, which has been closed since 1987. The theater is set to reopen May 28, 2025, marking its 100th anniversary since its opening.

Earlier last month, the Fox Theater’s neighbor and Fullerton restaurant, Angelo’s and Vinci’s Ristorante, said it would be closing its doors for good and selling its building to Frontier Real Estate Investment.

The restaurant opened its café in 1971 and its dine-in experience in 1992.

Construction on these lots could start sometime next year and take up to 17 months.

“The important thing is that that corner is re-energized, that it becomes a destination and that people gather there,” Whitaker said.

CSUF expands free internet

Sta Writer

Cal State Fullerton is increasing internet access for eligible students by providing them with a tablet that doubles as an internet hotspot for under $20 a year.

Rommel Hidalgo, associate vice president for the Division of Information and Technology, said the Center for Equitable Digital Access has set up a station for Excess Telecom on the first floor of the Pollak Library. Excess Telecom is an internet service provider that is licensed through the A ffordable Connectivity Program.

David Ramos, an event manager for Excess Telecom, said the program started during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide internet access to those in need.

“Since everything moved online, that's when we started to see a lot of students or people didn't have access to internet at home,” Ramos said. “This program was created to essentially bridge that digital divide and provide internet access to those who need it in order to do schoolwork, or their jobs or even in medical.”

CSUF was introduced to Excess Telecom in a meeting held in October regarding the amount of students on campus that receive federal Pell Grants, which makes them eligible for this free internet program, Hidalgo said.

“We have a lot of students that have Pell Grants, we needed to figure out what's the best way to communicate and market this to them,” Hidalgo said. “I'm thinking we have anywhere from 10,000 to 16,000 students that have received the federal Pell Grant.”

Ivy Mejia, a third-year psychology major at CSUF, heard about the program through an email from the university. She said that she has slow internet at home and sees this program as a huge benefit.

“Everything today is digital and online and other people may think well, we didn't have internet access back in the days. But because we live in a contemporary or modern world where I feel it's necessary because some classes are online on Canvas,” Mejia said.

Hidalgo said promoting the program made sense since the campus has the Center for Equitable Digital Access, which is already reaching out to students and letting them know what technologies are available.

Ramos said that in order to receive the hotspot-enabled tablet, students need to provide documented proof of receiving the Pell Grant

or one of the other 20 government assistance programs and pay an $11 tax fee on the device, which they get to keep.

The 20 federal or state programs

include Cal Grants, CalFresh, Medi-Cal, CalWORKS and more. The

The new center will be located at Harbor Boulevard and Chapman Avenue and will include shopping and dining options.

SPENCER OTTE / DAILY TITAN

CARLOS CORDOVA

Titan Night Market highlights Asian culture

The Asian Pacific American Resource Center held its eighth annual Titan Night Market on Wednesday at the Engineering and Computer Science lawn.

The Titan Night Market represented Asian, Pacific, South Asian and Asian American communities and sought to recreate an authentic night market experience.

The market featured food trucks that served Lao and Mediterranean food, shopping booths and student performances.

Mariham Iskander, the associate director of Diversity Initiatives and Resource Centers, said that the Titan Night Market was meant to uplift the voices of Asian students.

“Titan Night Market is more of a comparison to a general night market which is super fun and it's all about

food, community, shopping, learning, just a really fun positive experience and so APARC wanted to provide that similar kind of experience for students, staff and faculty on campus to have,” Iskander said.

Students were able to engage with the various student organizations and other students that were there.

Iskander said representation for the celebrated communities was really important and she hoped students would be able to find a community or organization to identify with.

“It's wonderful with identity based work to always have representation as student organizations as a whole, but also a community kind of around shared experiences and helping people understand the multitude of flavors of the region,” Iskander said.

Iskander said while events like Discoverfest can be nice for students to connect with organizations, they can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate. Titan Night Market is a smaller

setting that allows for stronger representation and understanding of those communities.

A few of the student organizations in attendance were the KPOP Club, Association of Chinese Students, International Student Club, Muslim Student Association and Afghan Student Association.

Joanna Sayaseng, a psychology major, said that it was nice the event exposed students to cultural clubs on campus because it gave students the opportunity to get involved with them.

In addition to the food and student organizations, those in attendance were treated to seven student performances which included a drag performance by Hungover Hannah, dance performances by Cal State Fullerton

Maaza and SEOUL.ful and musical performances.

RJ Abesamis, an Asian American studies major, helped organize the event and performed their original spoken word. Abesamis said they grew up performing and enjoyed being able to perform their own spoken word at the night market because it made them feel connected to their culture.

“I think it's nice to be able to use as an expression and sort of get back to that culture, to my culture, same with other cultures and when I see other spoken word poets it's just beautiful and I think that it offers a sort of, I would say, community healing,” Abesamis said.

Nicholas Pham, a mechanical engineering major, said he felt empowered

to be surrounded by clubs that he felt represented by.

“I like that they bring out the Asian representation. I know there's a lot of Asian people that go to Fullerton, so being able to see your culture, you know, having a club, it's empowering. It makes you feel included at this school,” Pham said.

Abesamis said they wanted students to connect and engage more with their cultures and feel proud of them.

“I would say to stay connected, to stay involved in their culture, especially you know I can't speak for every person of color, but just making sure students understand that they have space and they are deserving to be proud of their culture,” Abesamis said.

Digital: Program boosts equitable online learning

CONTINUED FROM 1 full list is available on the CSUF website.

Ramos said that if there are people who do not have time to go to the station, there will be a QR code to scan to enroll themselves in the program and have their tablet shipped to them after approval.

The tablet comes with 25 gigabytes of internet data per month and must be used at least once a month to remain in service. At the end of the year, users must recertify that they are receiving government assistance to continue receiving internet access.

Lauren Martinez, a first-year

human services major, said this internet program could help her complete assignments and do school work on the go.

“I live on campus, so sometimes the Wi-Fi just doesn’t work. So this would help a lot when I'm turning in assignments,” Martinez said.

“Since everything moved online,

that's when we started to see a lot of students or people didn't have access to internet at home,” Ramos said. “This program was created to essentially bridge that digital divide and provide internet access to those who need it in order to do schoolwork, or their jobs or even in medical.”

Excess Telecom will be set up in the Pollak Library again on Thursday, Nov. 17.

Hidalgo said that depending on the student interest in the program, the university will set up more dates for Excess Telecom to distribute the tablets for the rest of the fall 2022 semester.

ROSEMARY MONTALVO Editor

Drag performer Hungover Hannah dances on the stage located on the Engineering and Computer Science lawn at the market on Nov. 16.

ROSEMARY MONTALVO / DAILY TITAN

Justine Budisantoso, the student outreach specialist of the O ce of Alumni engagement, greets guests at the market on Nov. 16, located on the Engineering and Computer Science lawn.

ROSEMARY MONTALVO / DAILY TITAN

3-day convention shows o art, collectibles

experience. “It's just a lot to see, so it's kind of like brain overload,” De Los Angeles said.

Over seven hundred vendors and three hundred artists made up DesignerCon, an Anaheim-based art convention that showcases contemporary art, collectible toys and independent artists.

The event returned to the Anaheim Convention Center for the second time since the pandemic, with around 50,000 visitors from Nov. 18 to 20. Featured works ranged from smaller artists with self-made pins, stickers and merch to more prominent retailers, such as eBay, Tokidoki, Mishka NYC, and Super7.

The first DesignerCon, previously known as Vinyl Troy Network up until its name change in 2009, was held in Pasadena in 2005. Since 2018, DesignerCon has been held at the Anaheim Convention Center, with the exception of one online event during the pandemic in 2020.

DesignerCon was separated into two exhibit halls across the convention center to accommodate all people involved. Vendors showcased all kinds of custom art, from wearable merchandise and stickers to custom vehicles, musical performances and interactive experiences.

Lisa De Los Angeles, a film post-production producer, said DesignerCon was a fun and exhausting

Fernando Del Rosario, a visual arts lecturer at CSUF and CEO and creative director of Concept Zombie LLC and Creative Aid, was introduced to DesignerCon by CSUF graphic design alumni Victoria Magaña.

“She was one of my students, and she's the one that kind of showed me what DesignerCon is because she's going to be part of that,” Del Rosario said. “I love art, design, creativity, and so the thought of being in a convention hall with other creatives is truly exciting for me.”

Comic artist and risograph printmaker Natalie Andrewson had a positive perception of DesignerCon.

“It’s such a well-curated convention. I’ve seen a bunch of friends here,” Andrewson said. “People have been really excited about the riso and the colors that I’m using.”

Nonetheless, the attendee reception was positive for the most part. De Los Angeles said the convention is suitable for artists to network and advertise their work, especially for artists in tune with the mainstream world.

“It's a cool vibe. I think it's pretty welcoming. And it's not intimidating,” De Los Angeles said.

DesignerCon will return to the Anaheim Convention Center next year from Dec. 15 to 17.

DesignerCon, an art and design convention, ran from Nov. 18 to 20 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

DAVID OLIVARES / DAILY TITAN

DAVID OLIVARES Freelancer

Spotify vs. Apple Music: Which is better?

JONATHAN

GONZALEZ Sta Writer

Apple Music and Spotify are typically the top contenders in music streaming platforms used by students, but the debate over which is better is still unsettled.

With an estimated 88 million users, Apple Music has played a significant role in the music streaming industry since its release in 2015. However, Spotify is considered the largest music app in the world, with about 195 million active premium subscribers since Spotify’s debut.

At CSUF, music fans weigh in on the features of each streaming service-- and which one is better.

Podcasts — Spotify

For podcast lovers, Spotify is the ideal streaming platform because Apple Music does not have podcasts readily available on their app. Apple users must download another app to find what they are looking for.

Tommy Le, a computer science major, said he uses Spotify for their large selection of podcast genres such as horror, mystery or informational.

Playlists and sharing music — Spotify

One major appeal of Spotify is that the service curates a personal experience for users by creating playlists uniquely tailored to their tastes. Whether the app is used for music or podcasts, Spotify’s algorithm tracks user’s activity to provide individual recommendations.

Although Apple Music and Spotify allow users to create different playlists, Spotify lets multiple users collaborate and work on a collective playlist. Anyone with a premium subscription can add to the playlist with their devices by sharing a link with friends.

While it’s not possible to create collaborative playlists on Apple Music, it does show a user’s recently played music at the top of queued music, making it more accessible when picking a song. Apple Music also has different ways of suggesting music, such as creating general playlists for new music, songs that matter or travel tracks.

Katelyn Elleraas, a child development major, said she prefers Apple Music over Spotify.

“I like the availability it has of every song. Playlists are pretty easy to make. It keeps all the music you search up better than Spotify does,” Elleraas said.

Collaborative features are something that many college students can appreciate, especially when setting the tone of a party or when planning a road trip with their best friends.

On her long drives to Arizona, Apple Music allows Elleraas to play music offline even when she doesn’t have the strongest internet connection.

Paola Cedillo, a child and adolescent development major, said she has used both platforms but prefers Spotify because she can dive more into its customization features, such as adding your own photo for a playlist cover.

Accessibility and compatibility — Apple Music

For iPhone users, Apple Music appeals to them because of the compatibility that comes with Apple products.

Bryan Pelaxtla, a civil engineering major, said he enjoys using voice command features through his iPhone on Apple Music.

“Let’s say you’re trying to look for a song; you can just ask Siri, ‘Hey Siri. Play this song,’ and then it just goes instantly,” Pelaxtla said.

Not only will Siri play a specific song, but it will give recommendations for what to listen to if you are feeling indecisive. Siri will also add music to your library or playlists and identify a song that catches your ear.

While Spotify has a similar voice command feature, it only works if you own the device Car Thing, which is made for hand-free control of Spotify in your car.

Spotify sells their Car Thing device for $90. Once connected to your

account, you can play music without the distractions while driving.

After using both apps, Darius Johnson, a communications major, prefers Apple Music over Spotify. Johnson said Apple Music syncs well with iPhones.

Student Discounts — Spotify

Whether you opt-in for Spotify or Apple Music, both streaming services offer student discounts.

Spotify’s student premium offer includes Showtime and Hulu for $4.99 a month, while Apple Music offers its services for $5.99 a month.

Apple Music offers a family plan where up to six people can use the account for $16.99 a month, while Spotify offers a similar deal for six

people for $15.99.

Results

Winning three out of the four criteria listed, Spotify offers the best features for music streaming. If you are in a music slump, Spotify is the ideal app to discover new music. By adding collaborative playlists, Spotify allows you to add a personal touch while creating a playlist exclusively with your friends.

However, if you own an iPhone and are a fan of Apple Products, Apple Music might be more convenient to use. Although it is slightly more expensive than Spotify, it is a preference to many Apple users because of the easy compatibility with the app.

Review: Acting outshines weak script at Young eatre

the audience learns more about Tilly’s inner world through her as the story progresses.

The world of D&D begins to collide with reality as Agnes connects fantasy details with Tilly’s real-world feelings, leading to emotional moments that Guidubaldi performs well.

In an interview with the New York Times, Nguyen said he intentionally wrote the characters so actors of any race could be cast.

The cast featured an array of diversity with LGBTQ representation and a character with a disability. However, the handling of these characters is somewhat stereotypical, akin to shows like “Glee” or “Degrassi.” So while you get a sense of the author’s earnestness, the execution is clumsy.

goofy special effects moments.

The student production staff pulled off an engrossing atmosphere through character costumes and the set design. Characters such as Evil Gabbi (Hannah Satterlee) and Evil Tina (Evelyn Menchaca), two cheerleading succubi, look equal parts demonic and playful. Set elements like a large, glowing facsimile D&D dice add to the imaginary world of New Landia.

Another impressive aspect of the actors’ performances was the well-executed dance and fight choreography that added to the energy and action expected from a fantasy story.

CHLOE HONG Sta Writer

“She Kills Monsters” is an amusing university production that pays homage to nerd culture and the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons. Easily the strongest part of the production was the cast’s acting, which elevated a plotline that was

somewhat lacking in places.

Cal State Fullerton’s College of the Arts is producing the drama-comedy play written by Qui Nguyen, which runs through Dec. 3 at the Young Theatre in the Clayes Performing Arts Center.

The story follows Agnes Evans (Katie Mathers) as she embarks on a Dungeons and Dragons campaign written

by her recently deceased sister, Tilly Evans (Arriella Guidubaldi). Through her adventure, she learns more about her sister, who was previously a mystery due to their conflicting interests.

Guidubaldi convincingly portrays a character that the audience wanted to learn more about. Although her alter ego Tillius the Paladin begins as a stereotypical fantasy character,

Regardless, the story excels at keeping things upbeat and fun, despite it delving into deep topics. While this might not be everyone’s taste, the play has been billed as a drama-comedy and leans heavily into its comedic aspect. A lot of the humor comes from the fantasy characters, which you would expect to act with more self-importance but instead can be quirky or vulgar. The best example is the character Farrah the Fairy (Ashley Reed), a sweet-looking fairy with a penchant for cursing and violence.

Braden Michael Harrison, who plays the comedic relief character Steve, gave a standout performance. There was a running gag where his D&D alter ego dies at the hands of powerful bosses, leading to some

Where the play lacks the most is, unfortunately, the story. While the cast gave entertaining performances that kept the story engaging, some of the story’s beats bogged down an otherwise interesting premise.

For example, Agnes’s boyfriend, Miles (Alec Avina), is afraid of commitment and is disliked by both Agnes’ friends, Vera (Evelyn Menchaca) and Tilly. It felt like the story was set up for an inevitable breakup. However, the ending rushes into a stereotypical happily-ever-after moment that feels misaligned with the rest of the narrative.

Despite some narrative hiccups, “She Kills Monsters” is an enjoyable production that hits the mark more than it misses. The play succeeds solely because of the talented cast of actors and student production staff that are passionate about what they do. “She Kills Monsters” will run at Young Theatre until Dec. 3.

JONATHAN GONZALEZ / DAILY TITAN

(Clockwise, left to right) Connor Vescelus, Cossette Asenjo (above), Arielle Guidubaldi, Katie Mathers and Emily Daniels-Flechtner star in "She Kills Monsters," which runs through Dec. 3 at the Young Theatre in the Clayes Performing Arts Center.

HAYDEN LALICKER / DAILY TITAN

Volleyball ends 11th straight losing season

both teams going back and forth to bring the set to an even 18 points.

To conclude the 2022 season, Cal State Fullerton women’s volleyball lost to UC Davis in a thrilling overtime match, 3-2.

The Titans barely missed finishing even this season, ending with an overall record of 13-15. This will be the 11th consecutive season that CSUF finished with a losing record.

“We battled, and that’s what we do. That’s what Fullerton volleyball does and sometimes you can work your hardest, do good things and still don’t win,” said head coach Nicole Polster after the match.

Outside hitter Danielle Jefferies and Lyla Traylor posted a combined 34 kills for CSUF while setter Elizabeth Schuster recorded 46 assists.

UC Davis’ fan base traveled to Titan Gym in a large capacity, matching the energy from the home crowd throughout the match.

Similar to numerous games throughout the season, CSUF found themselves trailing by a set to start the game. Due to eight errors and giving up 15 kills, the Titans lost the set as UC Davis managed to keep a comfortable lead throughout.

With a loud, cheering crowd delivering a playoff atmosphere, the second set proved to be entertaining with

Both squads kept trading points until back-to-back kills by Traylor helped CSUF win the second set, 27-25.

CSUF carried their momentum into the third set producing an early 14-8 lead. Eventually, UC Davis came back from the early deficit to tie the set at 22 points.

After Jefferies’ kill forced a set point, CSUF won the set 26-24 thanks to back-to-back errors from UC Davis.

After winning two closely contested sets, CSUF did not slow down in the fourth set where they opened with a 8-1 lead.

However, that lead did not last as UC Davis brought the game to a draw at 16 points with the help of five kills from outside hitter Megan Lenn.

The draw continued at 23 points. After Traylor served a kill to give CSUF a one point lead, two kills from UC Davis’ middle blocker Josephine Ough and a service ace secured UC Davis the fourth set, 26-24.

The fifth set commenced with an early 4-1 deficit for CSUF. Trailing 12-6, CSUF scored six consecutive points to tie the set. Ultimately, a service error and attack error committed by CSUF were the final touches that led to the 16-14 defeat, concluding the season.

Men's basketball trampled by North Dakota

JOSHUA JURADO Sta Writer

Twenty-four hours after losing to Utah Tech University, Cal State Fullerton men’s basketball was defeated Sunday by the University of North Dakota, 73-56.

This was the first time Titans have ever faced Fighting Hawks, and the Titans’ season record stumbled to 4-3 because of it.

Guard Jalen Harris, who had a ninepoint performance in the previous match, led CSUF with 15 points on 43.8% shooting. He was the only player that scored in double figures.

Following Harris was guard Max Jones, who finished with nine points and four rebounds.

After previously scoring 21 points against Utah Tech, guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr. struggled to find a rhythm offensively as he shot 4-12 from the field and finished with nine points.

UND, on the other hand, had four players scoring in double figures with forward Tsotne Tsartsidze leading with 18 points and securing eight rebounds.

For the game, CSUF shot 45.8% from the field to UND’s 50%.

Alongside efficient shooting, UND found success from beyond the arc with ten 3-pointers to CSUF’s six.

UND’s was also more efficient from the free-throw line where they shot 1421. CSUF went 7-13 from the charity stripe.

When it came to ball movement, CSUF recorded a season-low five assists to UND’s 12. Guard Jalun Trent dished a team-high six assists for UND.

CSUF opened the second half with a 38-30 lead after guard Tory San Antonio converted a four-point opportunity.

Facing an eight-point deficit, UND was able to pull together an 11-2 scoring run to gain a 41-40 lead with Tsartsidze being the catalyst with seven

points. The run resulted in CSUF calling a timeout in hopes to stop UND’s momentum.

Eventually, CSUF regained a 46-43 lead following baskets from forward Garrison Wade and Harris. From that point on, CSUF was unable to gain traction offensively.

UND put together a 20-3 scoring run to lead 63-49 with forward B.J. Omot and guard Matt Norman provided a spark with a combined 12 points in the run.

During UND’s run, CSUF missed seven out of eight shot attempts during the timespan.

The scoring drought summarized how stagnant CSUF’s offense was in the second half where they shot 37.5% overall.

Ultimately, CSUF was unable to make a comeback and lost the contest by 16 points.

CSUF will head to Seattle, Washington, to face Seattle University on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Outside hitter Málie McClure (right) nished with four kills against UC Davis Saturday at Titan Gym.

JONATHAN GONZALEZ / DAILY TITAN

JONATHAN GONZALEZ Sta Writer

Guard Jalen Harris pictured against Pepperdine University on Nov. 11 at Titan Gym, nished with 15 points on Sunday.

NAVTEJ HUNDAL / DAILY TITAN

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Fullertones

The FullerTones are a student-led A Capella club at CSUF. The FullerTones are audition-based with rehearsals every Tuesday and Thursday from 4-6 pm to practice for our end-of-semester concert. If you love singing and would like to have the opportunity to sing with a well-rehearsed group, they hold auditions at the beginning of every semester after Discoverfest. They welcome all majors and provide students with the chance to work with others and build teamwork skills! The FullerTones also want to invite you to their concert on Sunday, December 4th, at 7 pm in the TSU Pavilions. Check out their Instagram @csuf_fullertones for further information.

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Destructive stunts hinder global warming e orts

HUY NGUYEN Asst. Editor

Two activists from the environmental group Just Stop Oil made headlines after throwing a can of tomato soup onto Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” painting at London’s National Gallery last month. Luckily, the painting had a glass protection shield, so there was no significant damage.

The stunt was supposedly to protest fossil fuel extraction — these acts of extreme environmental activism are intended to put pressure on the government to take action against climate change. However, their startling actions fail to garner real support for their cause and ruin the reputation of all environmental activists.

Nicole Seymour, an English associate professor and a graduate advisor in environmental studies at Cal State Fullerton, said that their actions distract the public from the real message to protect the environment. Their execution makes everyone focus only on the negativity they caused and distracts from environmental issues.

Their actions do not even address the root of the climate crisis: greenhouse gas emissions. Alex Lewandowski, a graduate student in the environmental studies program, said the oil used to make paints usually comes from vegetable bases, not from petroleum oil, which causes global warming.

“The burning of petroleum oil and using petroleum oil to make plastic is what really causes GHGs and plastic pollution,” Lewandowski said. “But oilbased paint isn't causing any issues, not significantly, compared to what petroleum oil dangers are caused.”

These events are not isolated. This group is just a small piece of a larger picture of extreme

environmental activism.

Two activists from Last Generation threw mashed potatoes at a Claude Monet painting in Barberini Museum, Berlin, to protest fossil fuel production last month. In Maryland, also last month, a group called Declare Emergency, which is under the A22 Network, stopped traffic in all inner loop lanes to demand President Joe Biden declare an emergency on climate change. Yet, all they have done is organize distractions from the real issue of climate change.

Those extreme actions lack an understanding of how to effectively communicate climate issues.

Yet, it is understandable.

Seymour said that their action is the result of a lack of responsibility from older generations, which has led to anger and climate anxiety among younger generations.

“I think it's a very shocking, contentious thing to do,” Seymour said. “But in my mind, that kind of speaks to the desperation of a lot of people in their generation that they just feel like

they don't have a future. So I’m guessing they kind of felt like they needed to take this extreme action because so little is being done policy-wise about climate change.”

But this is not the way to garner support for a movement.

Extreme actions that exist to only grab attention invalidate movements that are committed to real, solution-based change. Their actions antagonize the public and the government.

There are nearly 15,000 groups and charities devoted to fighting climate

change in reasonable ways and they deserve support.

For example, Greta Thunberg started her “Fridays For Future” movement to take action against the climate crisis, which kickstarted a peaceful climate strike in 2019 with six million participants.

On the Cal State Fullerton campus, the Orange County Association of Environmental Professionals helps to maintain and protect the quality of the environment. Lewandowski, who was the president of this group last semester, said they hosted a clothing swap earlier this month to raise awareness of the fast-fashion industry and how much pollution it contributes.

“We're hoping to put on more events like that next semester, as well as things like career panels, because our group is part of a larger statewide organization that connects environmental professionals all over the state. So we have a lot of connections and opportunities for people to learn how to become professionals in the environmental field,” Lewandowski said.

These extreme environmental groups can redeem themselves by disseminating solutions rather than attempting to deface fine art and organizing other publicity stunts.

Instead, they should promote small adjustments, like reducing plastic, shopping consciously or simply remembering to turn off the electricity and water after use, which can be implemented in everyone’s dayto-day routine.

If there are many meaningful environment campaigns that are implemented one after another, they will gradually create a shift powerful enough to change the consciousness and actions of the community.

SYDNEY CARROLL / DAILY TITAN