Monday April 15, 2019
Volume 105 Issue 37
The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton
Queer college students enjoy prom night
Queer and Trans People of Color Collective embraced inclusivity and acceptance. BAYLEE MAUST Staff Writer
Guys, gals and non-binary pals danced the night away at Cal State Fullerton’s queer prom on Friday, March 12. Joshua Ramirez, vice president of the Queer and Trans People of Color Collective, said the MasQUEERade event had the essence of a traditional high school prom while prioritizing inclusivity and providing a less heteronormative environment. Ramirez said because a lot of students were in the closet during high school or were unable to dress or bring the date they wanted toprom, the experience might not have been a memorable moment for many queer identified students. “We wanted to give them the opportunity a couple years later, to be able to have that experience and look back at a couple years to their own queer prom. Also, to have one night with their community where everyone can just enjoy themselves, let loose, take photos, eat food and just dance,” Ramirez said. CSUF has hosted multiple queer proms, but this was the first one hosted by the Queer and Trans People of Color Collective.
BAYLEE MAUST / DAILY TITAN
LGBTQ students and allies alike came together on Friday night to celebrate Cal State Fullerton’s annual Queer Prom in the Titan Student Union Pavilion.
“I’m just really happy that this event was put together, and I think with all the stress that went along with planning an event for the first time on campus, I think it went pretty well and it’s beautiful. I’m really happy with the way it turned out,”Bleu Vargas, president of the Queer and Trans people of Color Collective, said.
Denise Gonzalez and Crystal Garcia, both cinema and television arts majors, were happy recreate their high school prom experience and to get the chance to go together. “I feel like I’m in high school again, but this time, it’s so different, so diverse,” Gonzalez said. Both Gonzalez and Garcia said they were happy to find the
Queer and Trans People of Color Collective during their final year of university. “You feel judged (in high school) and when you come to college you realize all these strict rules you had, they don’t really apply here and you get to be yourself,” Garcia said. Students could visit other student organizations volunteering
for the event, like Hermanas Unidas and Hermanos Unidos, who had a LGBT themed trivia jeopardy game. “So far, I lost when I played one game but it’s pretty fun. It’s nice to be able to learn something new while also having fun,” Ramirez said. SEE THRIVE 6
Students highlighted discrimination Softball
takes control
Gender chat debated the definition and affect of ‘white privilege’ in society.
Titans scored six runs in the sixth inning to clinch series win against Long Beach State.
ESMERALDA FIGUEROA Staff Writer
The WoMen’s and Adult Reentry Centers held a gender chat Thursday, April 11 to discuss privilege and discrimination in society. Gender chats, which address sex, gender and culture, are held every other Thursday from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with a new topic each meeting. This past week’s meeting, titled “White Elephant in the Room: Privilege in Society,” asked participants to share experiences, thoughts and concerns regarding privilege and discrimination in their life. With conversation revolving around white and male privileges, participants brought up a variety of topics, including representation in media, beauty products, and the recent college admission scandals. William Rick Singer, CEO of The Key, a college admissions prep company, “‘helped the wealthiest families in the U.S. get their kids into school,” according to CNN. Evelin Franco, an American
HOSAM ELATTAR Asst. News Editor
ESMERALDA FIGUEROA / DAILY TITAN
Students at the Gender Chat event hosted by the WoMen’s and Adult Reentry Centers partake in event activities.
studies graduate student, defined white privilege as “not having to think about any inequalities or not having to even really think about your privilege; feeling safe in probably most situations in life,” with
Adriana Evaristo, fourth-year Chicano studies and health science major, defining male privilege as “ not having to think about your safety in everyday life as it pertains to the other gender.”
Emmy Arellano, a second-year criminal justice major, said being a female means having to constantly be on the lookout and taking precautions to ensure her safety.
Down by two runs, Titans turned on the pressure in the top of the sixth inning looking for their first run of the game, but found five instead. The comeback win in the first game of a weekend series fueled Cal State Fullerton softball against Long Beach State. It was a breezy and sunny day in Long Beach, as the three-time defending Big West conference champions took on the 49ers for a doubleheader matchup, winning one of the two games on Saturday. The Titans clinched the series with a 9-6 win on Sunday. The Titans entered the series with a 5-1 conference record, looking to protect their second place status in the Big West Conference, while the 49ers had a 3-3 record tied for fourth with UC Riverside.
SEE NORMAL 3
SEE POWER
11
Preview: Allegations against Joe Biden must be discussed The public perception of the #MeToo movement is influenced by political parties. To combat this divisive groupthink mentality, clear dialogue is needed.
Opinion 9
ANITA HUOR/ DAILY TITAN
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @THEDAILYTITAN
VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM