Daily Titan | April 10, 2023

Arboretum market sees unexpected turnout

Medieval Times workers still on strike

Park over a span of three days from Tuesday through Thursday.

In addition to concerns about animal well-being, employee pay is another top concern.

See page 4

Titans earn shut-out win, 5-0, against UC Santa Barbara

Labor disputes continue to plague The Medieval Times in Buena Park, as employees have abstained from working at the themed restaurant after two months of stalled negotiations.

The Medieval Times Performers United union returned to the bargaining table last week in efforts to seek better pay, improve treatment of horses and fair labor practices.

The cast members have been on strike since February. The union has approximately 40 employees.

“These are not emergency sessions that have been called, these are part of our ongoing negotiations,” said Erin Zapcic, a union organizer, in a video message featured on The Real News Network. “In 53 days, the company has not shown any interest in trying to end the strike.”

The treatment of horses by Medieval Times was one of the primary concerns discussed at last week’s meetings, said Jake Bowman, an organizer of the union. Zapcic stated at the Real News Network that photo and video footage of animal cruelty and mistreatment has surfaced from the Buena Park Medieval Times castle.

“An abused animal is a dangerous animal,” Zapcic said, which puts the performers at risk of being injured.

Negotiations took place at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel on Beach Boulevard in Buena

The Daily Titan previously reported that Anthony LePage, one of the knight performers of Medieval Times, said many of the strikers were getting paid less than $20 an hour to perform dangerous stunts in the arena. Low pay was also discussed during the negotiation meeting, Smith said.

Zapcic said she hopes the cast members can receive a 20% to 25% wage increase because other locations' employees have received that amount.

The third day of bargaining saw progress made on both sides, Bowman said in an email.

“The company is working with us on some general working conditions issues we were having and seem amenable to make changes to help us out,” Bowman said.

The Medieval Times at Buena Park did not respond to requests for comment to The Daily Titan.

The union is represented by Susanne Doris from the American Guild of Variety Artists, and attorney Jay Smith of Gilbert & Sackman. Medieval Times is represented by Pedro Goite, general manager of the Buena Park location, Julie Muenzler, vice president of human relations and their lawyer, Daniel Sobel.

SEE WAGE 3

GOTTIE CHAVEZ Editor

In the build up to Cal State Fullerton baseball’s series against UC Santa Barbara, the Gauchos were sitting atop of the Big West standings with the Titans trailing right behind in second place.

Despite a disappointing start against the conference front-runners, the Titans won two out of three games, only now being one game behind UCSB in the conference standings.

The Gauchos entered the series with the top ranked pitching staff in the conference and made their presence felt immediately.

Urman led the Titans in hitting over the weekend with a batting average of .500 while scoring two runs and producing four RBIs. Urman was especially important in Friday's game when he extended the Titans’ 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with a 2 RBI single.

Following Urman in production over the weekend was White, who hit 5-13, with two runs and three RBIs. White continues his dominant hitting season as he is currently the Big West conference’s top hitter with a batting average of .424.

SEE HIT 6

Third baseman Zach Lew tagged out Gaucho John Newman Jr. as he attempted to steal third base.

DARLENE SANZON / DAILY TITAN

Jada Fonseca, owner of Cryptid Boogie, sold small handmade sculptures, stickers, magnets and pins at the Garden Flea Market. Fonseca is one of 24 student vendors who participated in the event.

MAHEALANI WU / DAILY TITAN

MATTHEW ROSOFF Sta Writer

City project aims to conserve energy

SIMON MERCADER Sta Writer

As part of a project seeking to reduce energy and water consumption in Fullerton, the city hall has installed solar panel shades in the parking lot.

NORESCO is a conservation company leading the project, helping update aging infrastructure to be more environmentally sustainable and mitigate climate change.

“We are honored to serve and help make a positive impact on local budgets and the local community,” said NORESCO vice president Jim Williams in a statement on their website. “The City of Fullerton continues its progress toward healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent buildings and infrastructure, modernizing the city while conserving capital, reallocating its energy spend and decreasing its carbon footprint.”

The NORESCO Project is divided into four phases, focusing on lighting upgrades, renewable energy and electric vehicle charging, HVAC/mechanical upgrades and plumbing and irrigation upgrades.

According to a presentation by Fullerton’s Infrastructure and Natural Resources Committee from Jan. 23, the project will reduce energy and water consumption, thus lowering the city's utility bills. The savings, which is estimated to be $2 million over the life of the project, will be reinvested into future sustainability projects, which will help improve the city's infrastructure and environmental resilience.

The entire energy efficiency project will be funded by a bond that was prepared by Ellis Chang, the director of administrative services.

Financed through the Bank of

America, the lease payments for the project will not go over $10 million and the interest rate component of those payments is at a fixed interest rate of 1.84%. According to estimations from NORESCO, the city will pay the lease payments from the General Fund with expected offsets from annual energy savings.

“All of this is going to help create better sustainability for our city over time. Not only that, but it’s actually paying for itself,” said councilmember Ahmad Zahra.

Phase one of the project focuses on lighting upgrades, such as interior and exterior LED upgrades, smart city lighting controls and street light upgrades. Fullerton mayor Fred Jung said the city aims to modernize its infrastructure.

"The deal that we struck with NORESCO is a project we took with them to make sure that we, as a city, are mindful of our impact in terms of climate change and understanding that it is an existential threat to not only our generation here but future generations accordingly," Jung said.

Additionally, the project is expected to create jobs in the renewable energy sector.

Solar panel shades and electric vehicle chargers are among the

Interim president selected

ALEXCIA NEGRETE Deputy Editor

Signaling the beginning of a new era in leadership at Cal State Fullerton, CSU Vice Chancellor Sylvia Alva has been appointed as the university’s interim president effective on Aug. 1.

This selection comes months after CSUF President Framroze Virjee announced his retirement in a school-wide email, effective on July 31. Alva is now the third CSU interim president that has been selected within the past three weeks by CSU Interim Chancellor Jolene Koester.

“A product of the CSU who has held numerous academic and administrative roles in our system, she has a profound understanding of and abiding commitment to the students we serve," Koester said in a statement.

Alva previously served as the CSU’s executive vice chancellor for academic and student affairs for almost two years.

“I am extremely honored to receive the opportunity to serve as interim president at the university where I began my academic career," Alva said in a statement.

upgrades already being installed. The solar panel shades are designed to provide shade for parked cars while generating energy. The electric vehicle chargers will help promote renewable energy.

The NORESCO Project is one of Fullerton's efforts to become a more energy efficient city. The project aligns with California's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below 1990 levels by 2030.

Jung said the project is a significant step towards a more sustainable and modern city, with benefits that go beyond just saving money on utility bills.

Fullerton is setting an example for other cities to follow, demonstrating that sustainability is not only good for the environment but also for the community's health and well-being, Zahra said.

Alva started at CSUF as an assistant professor teaching child and adolescent behavior. She worked as the dean of the College of Health and Human Development at Cal State Northridge for over seven years. In 2015, she joined Cal Poly Pomona as provost and vice president of academic affairs.

Alva was a first-generation college student and attended Cal State Los Angeles where she received a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She then earned a master’s and Ph.D. in psychology from UCLA.

Alva will serve as the interim president of CSUF until the CSU board of trustees selects a new president.

Virjee said in a school-wide email that he and his wife, Julie, plan on continuing their work with full focus and intention until July 31.

Fullerton city council member calls for mayor's apology

In response to perceived neglect in a recent state of the city address, Fullerton city council member and Cal State Fullerton professor, Shana Charles, called for the mayor to publicly apologize to another member on the council.

In an open letter, Charles urged Mayor Fred Jung to publicly address his remarks about council member Ahmad Zahra at the State of the City address. The letter was published in the Fullerton Observer on April 3, a week after the address.

Charles, who represents district three and is an associate professor in Public Health at CSUF, wrote that Jung disrespected Zahra during the State of the City held at CSUF.

Zahra represents district five and was elected to the city council in 2018. He is the first openly LGBTQ+ Muslim elected council member in Fullerton.

“The disrespect shown to councilman Zahra not only insults his five years of public service, during which he has uplifted our most underserved

communities, led the effort to clean up water PFAS contamination in District 5, and promoted economic growth in our Harbor corridor, but also was a direct rebuke to all those he represents,” Charles wrote in the letter published by the Fullerton Observer on April 3.

Charles said she was shocked to see the lack of respect given to his record in comparison to other council members.

“I made sure it really spoke to the point that Mayor Fred Jung had a responsibility to act on behalf of all Fullerton and to show equal respect to all of the Fullerton city council members, even if he doesn’t like one of them,” Charles said.

However, Jung said in an interview with the Daily Titan that he disagreed with Charles’ claims.

“That letter was published without my knowledge,” Jung said. “I have yet to even read the letter. I don’t read the Observer. So it’s unfortunate, I suppose.”

In the State of the City address, Jung had included all the city council members, but did not give a long introduction to Zahra like other city council members. Jung said he acknowledged every council member,

including Zahra.

“I supposed that her argument or her contention is that I disrespected councilmember Zahra because I didn’t say anything about him,” Jung said. “I don’t know him. We don’t have a friendship. We don’t speak. I have no contact with councilmember Zahra outside the council meeting.”

Jung was elected to Fullerton city council in 2020, during which time Zahra was already serving on the council.

Zahra had read Charles’ letter in the Fullerton Observer, and said he appreciated Charles for making a statement, which he thought was her right to do so.

He said it was unfortunate when the mayor excluded him when he came to the State of the City in good faith, representing the city and his district. It is also against the people he represents.

“Our Latino community, our LGBT community, the Muslim and Arab community. This is who I represent,” Zahra said. “So I think the neighborhoods have been neglected for so many years. My district is the most disadvantaged part of town, and these are neighborhoods that have never had a presentation. I think it is more about the people I represent than it is about me personally.”

HUY NGUYEN Sta Writer

The construction of solar panels is part of a four-phase plan to update Fullerton's infrastructure and save money. SIMON MERCADER / DAILY TITAN

Mask regulations lifted at Health Center

The Cal State Fullerton Health and Counseling Center is no longer requiring visitors, patients or employees to wear a mask inside the building.

The change happened in accordance with the new guidelines set by the California Department of Public Health on April 3 and the updated orders by the Orange County Health Care Agency.

The new state masking rules replace mandatory face coverings for those visiting or working in highrisk settings, such as hospitals, urgent care centers, rehabilitation centers, nursing centers, shelters and correctional and detention facilities.

Despite the relaxation of masking measures, wellness center personnel still allow face coverings while in the building and still offer available masks in the lobby of their building.

CSUF Health Services director Dr. Mary Becerra said she was not surprised with the updated guidelines provided by California.

“This was not a shock to us. We had been anticipating the de-escalation of some safety parameters around COVID-19, and so we started worrying about that since March,” Becerra said.

The state health department’s statement from March 3 also said that individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 should still remain in five days of isolation after testing positive and may suspend confinement if symptoms improve after those five days.

Becerra supported the CDPH and OCHCA decision as their data guided their actions throughout these preand post-pandemic times.

“We followed that guidance throughout the entire pandemic, and

we will continue to follow that guidance,” Becerra said. “It felt like the data suggested that it was the right time to do it,” she added.

California’s changes in masking and isolation guidelines are derived from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 community levels.

The levels are comprised of three stages: low, medium and high. Each level is determined by the number of cases and hospitalizations within the county and helps both individuals and communities assess how much COVID-19 is impacting them.

According to the CDC, Orange County’s current COVID-19 community level is low.

“Personally, I’m comfortable with it,” said graphic design student Jeremiah Holsclaw. “I don’t know if there is data to show if it is a big risk right now. Whichever, I’m not really concerned by it.”

Nursing student Kaitlyn Ngo said she is not sure whether this is the right time to lift masking guidelines.

“It’s kind of hard to say because I know a lot of people are getting sick right now, and it is starting to be allergy season, and everything is picking up,” Ngo said. “You never know how things are gonna turn out.”

Becerra said as the use of face covers keeps reducing, CSUF’s Health services saw other respiratory illnesses like colds, the flu and allergies rise back to pre-pandemic numbers.

“We also need to remember that COVID is not the only infectious disease that hits our population at this time of the year,” Becerra said.

Becerra recommended washing hands, getting good sleep and drinking lots of water as things students can do to prevent transmission during this season.

Wage: Performers allege animal abuse

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Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament, Buena Park operates under the parent company, Medieval Times Entertainment of Irving, Texas, a privately owned company. A media request was submitted to the parent company, but the Daily Titan did not receive a response.

Medieval Times Entertainment has 10 locations, nine are in the United States, one is in Toronto.

The Medieval Times Performers United, New Jersey in Lyndhurst, New Jersey has also unionized. They are not participating in any strike action.

The National Labor Relations Board reported that there are

currently 10 open Unfair Labor Practice charges filed against Medieval Times U.S.A. Three of the complaints on file originated from the Buena Park location, six from Lyndhurst, New Jersey and one from Schaumburg, Illinois.

The third filed complaint from Buena Park with the National Labor Relations Board also included allegations of interrogation, bargaining in bad faith, refusal to bargain and changes in terms and conditions of employment. All three cases include coercive actions, such as surveillance.

There are no future negotiation meetings on the calendar yet. However, Bowman said he believes that they will meet again in the next two to four weeks.

Medieval Times workers have been striking for over 50 days in Buena Park.

MATTHEW ROSOFF / DAILY TITAN

Sale: Student-led event receives high praise

Cal State Fullerton students were the driving force behind the first-ever Garden Flea Market held at the Fullerton Arboretum, which saw an enthusiastically large turnout of students and families alike.

The market was organized by 17 students in an event planning and management course, taught by communications professor Jasmine Phillips Meertins.

While in charge of planning the market, their goal was to raise awareness about the arboretum and cultivate student interest. They initially came up with the idea when brainstorming trendy events among students, eventually settling on the idea of a flea market.

Student vendors who participated were given the opportunity to share their handiwork with visitors just past the entrance under the shade of the Bacon Pavilion and its surrounding trees.

One of the vendors was fifth-year Joey Price, an entertainment art and design major. Although he has been a vendor at major events such as Anime Expo, he was impressed by how busy the event was.

“Honestly, I've been doing conventions and vending for a few years, and this is busier than some bigger events that I'll pay like hundreds of dollars to go to. So I'm really happy,” Price said.

Vivian Liaozeng, a second-year general art major, runs the business Ham Noodle and sells her handmade hamster hideouts on Etsy, but this was her first time vending. Liaozeng said the event encouraged her to take her marketing skills offline and in person.

Baby’s Burgers provided food at the event, garnering themselves a long line that stretched to the entrance, and 7 Leaves passed out free samples of their signature milk tea and Vietnamese coffee.

The flea market was also a great opportunity for glass art students to show and sell their work. Joshua Tiscay, a senior glass art concentration major, said that it was difficult surviving as a glass artist during the pandemic.

“We understand that people don't really come here expecting to walk away with glass. But at least we're spreading the knowledge that this is something that goes on campus because it's one of the coolest things,” Tiscay said. “So the fact that we're able to just be here to represent ourselves, even if no one buys anything is cool.”

Along with enjoying the festivity of the flea market, visitors could learn more about sustainability through its discovery stations. Maureen Latour has been volunteering at the arboretum for over six years and runs a station called “Trash Talk.”

At this station, Latour educated visitors on how they can reduce their plastic footprint.

For Phoebe Constantino, a first-year technical theater major, the event motivated them to finally visit the arboretum. They said being able to shop while surrounded by nature was a unique and exciting experience for them.

Erin Rodriguez, a first-year linguistics and anthropology major, was able to purchase clothing at the flea market.

“When you think of a flea market, you usually associate it with an empty parking lot with tents. It's something I grew up with, it's very special to me, but this is something that is completely new, while still connecting it back to what I know,” Rodriguez said.

Along with students and faculty visitors, Birgit Miller, who has been a member of the arboretum for over ten years, said she was surprised by how many young people and students were supporting the event.

The turnout surprised Michael Hannah, a senior majoring in public relations and a part of the class who planned the event.

“The only thing that threw us off was the amount of people that showed up. You know, we did expect a good turnout, but nothing like what we saw today. So it was all hands on deck,” Hannah said.

The arboretum hopes to host more events like this in the future, and has a Veggiepalooza event planned for April 14 to 16 where students and the public can attend and purchase over 200 varieties of vegetables, herbs and other plants grown at the arboretum.

Peeps contest parodies literature at Pollak Library

button which was given out to participants in past years.

Students, faculty and sta ff can submit dioramas recreating a scene from any literary work by using Peeps, the popular holiday-themed marshmallow candy, to be displayed at Pollak Library during the National Library Week.

A Literary Peeps Diorama Contest is currently underway at Pollak Library, and with submissions being accepted from now until April 21, library staff and previous participants are encouraging students to partner up with friends or family and share their creative arrangements.

Many of the prior year’s submissions contained the word “Peep” in the title, such as “Harry Peeper,” “Peepunzel” and “Pride and Peepjudice” from previous years.

These dioramas will be displayed during National Library Week, which will occur from April 23 to 29. Submissions for this contest are accepted at the library’s circulation desk.

The dioramas will be on display on the north side of the library on the first floor. Visitors of the library will have the opportunity to vote for winners, and the top three winners will receive a prize. Community businesses, such as Urban Plates, Islands and See’s Candies, have donated gift cards to be given out to this year’s most liked Peepers.

Library event organizers usually try to have something for each participant, such as a limited edition

“This is all about fun and engaging people and the library and engaging our students, staff and faculty in thinking about the library during National Library Week,” said Joy Sage, a reference and instruction librarian at the Pollak Library.

Last year’s first-place winner was a team submission from Brenda Patino, a library services specialist, and her coworkers at the circulation desk of the library. They created a diorama of a scene from “The Wizard of Oz,” named “There’s No Place Like PEEP-Town.”

Patino said she participates in this competition because it’s a really fun event for students and for them to bring the department together. However, while Patino enjoys making arts and crafts out of Peeps, she said she does not enjoy eating them.

Creativity is a big part of the Peeps contest, and Megan Graewingholt, the social sciences and government documents librarian, hopes students can use this contest as an opportunity to really show off and embrace their creative side.

“I think that the Peeps project is a really creative way to show your love for libraries and your love for books,” Graewingholt said.

Graewingholt herself melted Peeps in the microwave to form a big worm for her literary Peep diorama last year, based on the book “Dune.” She also used rock candy in her diorama to mimic the desert from the book.

She enjoyed creating the diorama as a way of exploring the library’s

collections and making an art project with her family and three-yearold daughter.

Nicole Anita, a student assistant at the library and a junior communications major, is excited to be participating in this competition for the first time. Anita and her coworkers will be creating a scene from the “Percy Jackson” book series, a piece that will be called “Peepsi Jackson.”

Anita encourages other students to participate as well, not only to express their creativity but also to have fun and gain some valuable skills in creativity and teamwork.

“I would say to go for it and to not be afraid to be creative and spontaneous with what you’re doing,” Anita said.

Anita said in addition to gaining these skills and having fun, she is also bonding with her coworkers and hopes everyone can enjoy themselves and their friends while participating in the event.

“Our Peeporama is going to be peeptastic,” Anita said.

Graewingholt encouraged everyone to participate as it may give them a chance to see other student’s experiences and how other students express their creativity.

“As someone who was a Titan here and was a commuter student, it's rare to see any competition like this where students really get excited and throw themselves into it in a fun way. So I really encourage students to participate, if only to reach out to your fellow Titans and see what they're interested in,” Graewingholt said.

Alyssa Fujiwara (left) and Josephine Tsai (center) practiced in-person vending skills at the arboretum.

MAHEALANI WU / DAILY TITAN

MAHEALANI WU Sta Writer

The parody of "The Wizard of Oz" took rst place with vibrant colors and Peeps.

BRENDA PATINO /

MATTHEW ROSOFF Sta Writer

Gary Tiamzon (right) sold handmade items from the ceramics club to the many attendees that visited.

MAHEALANI WU / DAILY TITAN

Weekly downtown market launches with local vendors

Bubba and the Big Bad Blues provided live music for the event; new bands will come every week.

the dance floor. The market plans to host a new band every week in their plaza.

For those looking to support local businesses and spend time in the community, the annual Downtown Fullerton Market is a great choice. They kicked off their first event of the year last Thursday at 125 E. Wilshire Ave, adjacent to the Fullerton Museum Center.

The market is open to the public and features an assortment of vendors, live music and a beer garden. Guests can find locally sourced produce, accessories and food options like Korean and Mediterranean food, among others.

As the sun set during opening night, blues rock band Bubba and the Big Bad Blues took the stage and captured audience members’ attention with funky rhythms that lured people onto

David Johnson, the owner of Brothas Cookies, is back at the market for the third year in a row. An unsavory experience with a stale 7-Eleven cookie inspired Johnson to make original cookie recipes. Johnson’s interaction with the owner of Hypland, a company centered around anime clothing, also pushed him to start Brothas Cookies.

Johnson made new recipes through trial and error and officially started in September 2020. Aside from cookies, Johnson sells Rice Krispies Treats, novelty items and clothing.

A few booths down, Allison Ritto Almstedt, the owner of Allison’s Goods, sold various products aimed to make people and their homes smell pleasant, like candles, incense and sprays.

Almstedt started Allison’s Goods in 2019 with the goal of creating a sustainable brand with fully vegan products.

Allison’s Goods started as a side business but became a full-time job for Almstedt during the pandemic. Almstedt offers a selection of quality items, but there are some that stand out among the sea of products.

“My favorite, personally, is called Mom. It's a blend of citrus and herbs that just reminds me of my mom, who I lost to cancer, so I dedicated it to her, and it's one of my best sellers,” Almstedt said.

Lisa Plettinck, the owner of Galaxy Toffee, also offered guests delicious treats serving varieties of toffee and baked goods. Plettinck started making toffee 20 years ago as a Christmas gift and was motivated to sell toffee following positive feedback.

Plettinck drew inspiration for the galaxy theme from Dean Cundey, a cinematographer who has credits on “The Mandalorian,” because of how much Cundey enjoyed Plettinck’s toffee.

“I don't have a business degree— I have a film degree, and so I had no idea what I was doing and I just kind of learned as I went, and in the past two years I've expanded my menu and here I am today selling toffee,” Plettinck said.

Cinnamon crumb cake, matcha cookies and Swedish apple pies are new additions to Plettinck’s menu that are all out of this world.

With a wide selection of goods, a beer garden and a bounce house for children, the weekly event is fun for everyone. From empty streets just three years ago to a crowded plaza, the market made a strong comeback with no sign of slowing down as the persistent cold temperatures slowly subside.

The market, which will take place every Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. until August 31, still accepts vendor and organization applications through the city’s website, so guests can expect to see new faces throughout the year.

Students dazzle audiences with queer expression

DOMINIC SAMANIEGO Sta Writer

Cal State Fullerton students lit up the stage at the first-ever Tusk Ball, where participants engaged in a series of competitions and showed off extravagant fashion, fierce dance moves and killer music.

Students gathered in the Titan Student Union Pavilion for this cultural celebration of history and expression on Thursday.

As a joint event, the African American Resource Center and the LGBT Queer Resource Center collaborated to put on Tusk Ball, which had been in the works since December of last year.

The event was funded through the MacKenzie Scott Jewett fund, a philanthropic donation given to the university. Funds were allocated to the Division of Student Affairs for various student programs. The two centers submitted a proposal to request funds from the donation.

With this money, the two centers brought students together, allowing them to express themselves while paying homage to the ballroom scene of the Black and brown queer communities of the 1960s.

The event began with an introduction from Nat Betancourt Arellano, senior coordinator for the LGBT Queer Resource Center, and Lauryn Jarvis, one of the night's MCs and community outreach coordinator for the center.

After the judges were introduced,

Jarvis provided a brief history of the ballroom scene to give the audience historical insight and context to the event’s significance.

Jarvis explained to the audience that historically, when ballrooms first originated, they discriminated against Black and brown people who identified as queer. However, these communities created their own ballroom scene in the 1960s, one specifically for Black queer folks that formed in resistance to the traditional ballrooms that excluded them.

Tusk Ball is a celebration of the marginalized identities who found their community and a way to express themselves through their resistance.

“Tusk Ball honors and pays homage to the rebellion that is the ballroom,” Jarvis said. “We continue the values of community, expression and activism that are ever present in the ballroom culture today.”

Jarvis also highlighted that ballrooms are inclusive spaces designed for growth and self-confidence.

“This is a crucial part of our

identity, of our culture and our community,” Jarvis said.

The four categories included: streetwear, runway, vogue performance and fashion show.

The event also featured three judges who decided the winners at the end of each performance.

Students danced the night away in homemade costumes, putting on a fantastic show for the audience. Although it was a competition, students embraced each other and their cultures while audience members

cheered them on, snapping photos and shooting videos.

As each category passed, the competition became heated, with the student performers displaying their talents. From the outfits to the hair and makeup, every student got a chance to showcase a part of their identity.

With so many students expressing themselves in a unique way, the night ended up being filled with energetic performances and eye-catching outfits.

Pauli Cuellar, a fourth-year linguistics major, was among the many student performers who dazzled the audience with their talent. Cuellar said the event helped him be more in tune with his identity and culture.

“Being able to participate, it feels like I can connect back to my roots to ballroom from the 80s and all the way back to the 50s,” Cuellar said.

Betancourt Arellano expressed joy and accomplishment about the event and was thrilled that students got to relive an authentic ballroom experience.

“It’s so amazing to see it all come together,” Betancourt Arellano said. “It really means a lot to be able to bring this type of event to this campus, Orange County.”

As the night began to close, all student performers returned to the stage for one final act. The audience cheered as the participants gathered towards the end of the runway, shining brightly in the spotlight and striking one last pose.

Julissa Rodriguez, a participant in the Tusk Ball competitions, shows o her out t as she struts down the runway.

DOMINIC SAMANIEGO / DAILY TITAN

ANDREW TORRES / DAILY TITAN

The Downtown Fullerton Market will be hosted with new and old vendors every Thursday.

ANDREW TORRES / DAILY TITAN

ANDREW TORRES Sta Writer

Sutherlin's no-hitter powers Titans past Cal State Northridge, 8-0

Hit: Pitching downs Gauchos in doubleheader

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Having won six of their last seven games entering the series, the Titans suffered an embarrassing opening day shutout loss, being routed 14-0.

The Titans would return the favor by shutting out the Gauchos in Saturday's series finale, 5-0, after winning Friday’s contest, 8-1.

Looking for a way to combat the Gauchos' efficient pitching staff, the Titans called on pitchers Fynn Chester and Evan Yates. Chester and Yates each stepped up for the Titans both earning their first win on the season as starters.

Prior to his start on Friday, Chester owned a 3-0 record, earning each win after entering the game in relief. Chester took advantage of his first opportunity to start this season, only allowing one run through seven innings of pitching and striking out two batters.

EMILY WILSON Deputy Editor

After a disappointing loss to Cal State Northridge on Friday night, Cal State Fullerton softball answered back on Saturday by sweeping their doubleheader match-up to win the series.

In an offense that typically struggles to find consistent production, the Titans had a more balanced attack this series which led to their victories. Ten different players recorded an RBI this series, and multiple hitters in the lineup established themselves as offensive threats.

Over the course of the series, three di fferent players hit home runs while ten recorded at least one hit.

Particularly, catcher Jessi Alcala performed well, batting .500 and hitting two triples and a home run.

Star pitcher Myka Sutherlin started all three games of the series, earning two wins and a

loss, as well as pitching her second no-hitter as a Titan.

In Friday’s loss to the Matadors, Sutherlin had a subpar performance, giving up four runs in 4.1 innings and receiving her second-highest ERA of the season.

Given an opportunity to bounce back from Friday's game, Sutherlin gave up only two hits and struck out seven batters in 4.2 scoreless innings in Saturday's opening game.

Despite initial plans to start a different pitcher for Saturday’s second game, CSUF softball head coach Kelly Ford ultimately decided to keep Sutherlin in. Sutherlin used the momentum from the first game to pitch a no-hitter in the second, striking out nine batters in five innings. She was one walk away from pitching a perfect game.

“Myka’s pitching brings fire to the rest of the team,” Alcala said. “She just gets it started. We know she has our back.”

Pitchers Raci Miranda and Haley Rainey both

appeared in the series as well as relief pitchers.

Sutherlin’s pitching was backed by a resurgent offense, which scored 15 runs behind 16 hits through both wins.

“We had a breakthrough today. I think the hitters feel good that we finally showed what we can do,” Ford said.

This series marks the first series loss for CSUN, despite the team ranking in the bottom three in the Big West in batting, pitching and hitting. The Matadors were able to surprise the Titans in the first game behind a complete performance.

“I think every team comes out wanting to bring their best towards us,” Sutherlin said. “They just want to beat us really badly.”

With the two wins, the Titans are now in fourth place in the Big West with a 21-16 overall record and an 8-4 record in conference play.

Next, CSUF will travel to UC San Diego to face the Tritons in a three-game series. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. Friday.

Tennis begins four-match road trip; defeats Cal State Northridge 4-3

GABRIELA PEREZ- ORTA

Sta Writer

In their first match away from home in over a month, Cal State Fullerton women's tennis defeated Cal State Northridge, 4-3, on Saturday at the Matador Tennis Complex. The Titans would start the match from behind after losing two of the three doubles matches.

Titans Diana Yanotovskaya and Kaytlin Taylor lost the first doubles match of the day, losing with a score of 6-2 against Matadors duo Vitoria Solis Urdiales and Cindy Ung.

Following the loss, the Matadors secured the first point of the match after Titans Zoe Olmos and Milena

Gevorgyan lost the second game by a 6-3 score to Sasha Turchak and Yuliia Zhytelna.

The Titans bounced back from their loss and recovered during the singles matches.

Gevorgyan redeemed herself in her singles matchup against Matadors Angela Hoe, winning by a score of 6-3, 6-4, to bring the overall score back to 1-1.

Next, Taylor, also searching for redemption, succeeded against Matadors Emma Moratalla Sanz, 6-4, 7-6, bringing the score to 2-1.

The third singles match marked pressure for the Matadors, as they now trailed behind their initial lead.

In a close match, Titans Yanotovskaya and Matadors Zhytelna went back and forth with the

Matadors winning the first set in a sweep, 6-0. The match flipped as Yanotovskaya responded winning the second set, 6-2, bringing forward a third set. Yanotovskaya once again defeated Zhytelna, 6-3, and moved the match score to 3-1.

The fourth matchup proved a close one as Matadors Turchak narrowly defeated Titans Natalie Duffy, 7-6, 7-6.

The Titans earned the winning point of the match after Matadors Jolene Coetzee was forced to retire in the midst of her match against Titans Olmos.

Olmos was awarded the victory after a back-and-forth match. Heading into the final set, Olmos had lost the first set, 6-4, but recovered with a 7-5 score to tie the set. Olmos was up 4-0 in the final set before the opponent's retirement.

Following this performance, Yates responded on Saturday with his best pitching performance of the season. Moving his season record to 1-0, Yates pitched six scoreless innings while striking out seven Gauchos in the Titans’ shutout victory.

With two dominant pitching performances, the Titans’ offense needed to step up after a lackluster opening.

Catcher Cole Urman and center fielder Carter White were responsible for two of the Titans’ three hits in Thursday's game and proved to be pivotal in awakening CSUF’s offense in the remaining games.

Following this series, the Titans remain in second place in the Big West conference with an overall record of 16-10 and a conference record of 9-3.

The Titans will be on the road for a midweek non conference match against USC on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at Dedeaux Field.

Matadors Tallia Harper won the last set point against Titans Maria Nikitash 7-6, 6-1, 6-0, ending the match on a 4-3 win for CSUF.

With only two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Matadors are currently in third place in the Big

West standings, with the Titans trailing in fourth.

The Titans now have an overall record of 12-6 and a conference record of 4-2.

The Titans will continue their road trip on Saturday when they take on Cal Poly San Luis Obispo at 11 a.m.

Third baseman Hannah Becerra opened the Titans' scoring with a three-run home run in the bottom of the rst inning in Saturday's second game. DARLENE SANZON / DAILY TITAN

Titan Natalie Du y lost her singles match, 7-6, 7-6, against Matador Sasha Turchak.

GABRIELA PEREZ- ORTA / DAILY TITAN

Column: It could be worse Accessibility software falls short

LUIS LEMUS Sta Writer

“Speech to text software“ sounds like the “perfect fit” for a disabled person such as me.

My lack of fine motor skills in my extremities thanks to my multiple sclerosis makes typing articles a challenge as it is, but what good is that dictation software when it can’t even make sense of what you are saying?

As I sat in the newsroom, trying to get the artificial intelligence dictation software set up on the computer that would dictate what I wanted to write. Like this article, I ran into never-ending issues. The software wouldn't register what I was trying to say.

It is frustrating since this is a daily struggle. As a disabled individual, it is almost a slap in the face to even call this software "intelligent."

My speech is delayed due to my multiple sclerosis, so it takes me a second to get my entire thought aloud. In the few times using dictation software, it is supposed to learn your speech patterns, cadence and other information from your speaking. But, it will not pick up those of us with delayed speech.

It hurts to see dictation software marketed for people like me not work, making me even more

frustrated with not only the technology, but with my situation.

The technology could benefit the disabled community one day when it is fully functional and can be relied on. But right now, it’s just a disheartening headache.

Artificial intelligence as a whole isn't the issue. The Spotify DJ that picks your daily mix of songs, based on the genre you listen to most, is fine with me. The snail's pace at which this dictation software is moving continues to frustrate me.

The development behind AI-enhanced accessibility products needs to move faster. If this were to happen, the disabled community would thank these creators by throwing money at them. It would make life just a bit easier and help the community feel a little more included in general society.

The ineffectiveness of the software is not being spoken about as much as it should be. Those of us who need software like this for our disabilities are too small of a group, meaning our voices aren’t loud enough.

Once again, we are the last to be heard and the last to be seen.

Even though our community is small, we could still be a selling point for any engineer who could create a usable program. With roughly 26% of all Americans being disabled, an already established technology

company or a start-up company could capitalize on our demographic. But instead, they keep working on the next best phone that can take high-quality pictures or AI programs that can create digital artwork.

Maybe it is because disabled individuals don’t want to ruffle feathers and make an issue out of it. But considering these technological advances, once perfected, it could heavily benefit disabled individuals by integrating them into society in a way they can feel included.

Whether in the glass offices of a major Silicon Valley tech company, or the garage of an up-and-coming software developer, someone needs to get this software working.

You never know what you aren’t getting from pieces of software. I’m spending more time fixing its mistakes and feel better off not using it.

It would be more efficient to take the long route and type the answers to assignments as I am now. Luckily I have time, but it’s truly a shame that I can’t use these devices to their full potential.

Until these devices can understand my way of speaking, consider me unimpressed with this aspect of “artificial intelligence.”

Until then, I will be typing by pecking on the keyboard, one key at a time.

In his third column, Luis Lemus details the technological struggles of being a disabled student diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in May 2014. As a CSUF student, he won't let his chronic disease get in the way of his goals.

ROSEMARY MONTALVO / DAILY TITAN

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WRITTEN by Zayn Garcia