Thursday February 14, 2019

Page 1

Thursday February 14, 2019

The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

Volume 105 Issue 9

Minimum 2.5 GPA Tough road trip ahead required to join ASI The vote to lower minimum Associated Student Inc. grades to 2.25 was denied. APRIL SHELBY Staff Writer

The Associated Student Inc’s Board of Directors voted on Tuesday to keep the minimum cumulative GPA required to serve at 2.5. The board voted down the proposal to make the minimum GPA required for student leaders a 2.25 as opposed to the current 2.5. The board held two votes after receiving comments from students as well as two discussions among the board about the proposed change to the GPA requirement. For the final vote, the board voted 14-3 against, keeping the GPA requirement at 2.5. Those who support the plan to lower the GPA said the required GPA needed to serve as a student leader is biased against underrepresented students. Maria Linares, board of directors vice chair and secretary, said the discussion to lower the GPA requirement started last semester after some underrepresented students came to her and discussed

the GPA requirements. “At the beginning of fall, after I was elected vice chair/secretary, I had a couple of students who had disabilities and students from the undocumented community tell me that they had struggled with their GPA in the past because some of them have to work 2 to 3 jobs because they don’t qualify for a lot of the things that residents qualify for under financial aid,” Linares said. Former ASI president Josh Borjas resigned in February due to academic reasons, but the board is not focusing on GPA due to losing leaders, Linares said. “The goal of this is to be more diverse and inclusive because that’s something that we claim at our university and in ASI. Our goal is to provide resources. My thing this whole time was allowing more students to join,” Linares said. Those who don’t support lowering the GPA advocate that the 2.5 GPA requirement will save student leaders from falling into academic probation. Cal State Fullerton students are placed on academic probation when their GPAs fall to 2.0 or lower. SEE GPA

2

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During a recent practice, Cal State Fullerton prepared for three upcoming games in Arizona.

The CSUF baseball team opens up MLB collegiate tournament against TCU. JULIA PIHL Daily Titan

The Cal State Fullerton baseball team is set to kick off their season this weekend as they will be one of four teams to

participate in the first ever MLB4 tournament held at the Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona. Salt River Field is the shared home of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies spring training facilities, according to the MLB website. Vanderbilt University, the University of Virginia and Texas Christian University will

also be participating in the tournament. CSUF will play each school once, with opportunities to dethrone teams ranked on the coaches’ preseason rankings. The Titans will open the showcase against Texas Christian University on Friday at 1 p.m. SEE BATS

8

ASI vice president to focus on inclusivity Ansari will continue to foster campus advocacy with CEO Aldazabal. ANGELINA DEQUINA Daily Titan

What started as a volunteering position on Street Team during her freshman year led to a three-year career with Associated Students Inc., for Saba Ansari. Now, as ASI Vice President, Ansari said she is preparing to continue her passion for student advocacy. Ansari was unanimously elected by the board with an 18-0 vote after former ASI president Joshua Borjas resigned she is set to graduate this fall with a degree in political science and a minor in chemistry. Ansari said her career in ASI is driven by her desire to make an impact on students. “The reason has always been to help students. Even when I help one student with something — whether it be helping them with financial aid, or helping them figure out resources or food and housing insecurity — helping one person will make it all worth it,” she said. Ansari’s parents were born and raised in Northern India, but she has lived her whole life in Brea, California, where she attended Troy High School. Her parents met while pursuing their Ph.D. in chemistry and settled in Brea after getting married, Ansari said. In addition to her time with Street Team, Ansari said she served as the Associated Students Strategic Communications Coordinator for Lobby Corps and Associated Students Chief Governmental Officer. She said it was through these positions in ASI that she earned the opportunity to lobby over 25 times for the state to fully fund the Cal State University system.

New Associated Students Inc. vice president Saba Ansari continues the legacy of diveristy promotion.

She described her first time as being nerve-wracking, and that lobbying with CSUF President Fram Virjee in Sacramento last year was a transformative experience. “That whole day made me really proud to be a part of ASI, really proud to advocate on behalf of students and interacting with legislatures and hearing them listen intently to what I have to say,” said Ansari.

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This platform allowed her to introduce Ana Aldazabal, the President and CEO of ASI into the world of student government a little over a year ago. Aldazabal met Ansari after transferring from Fullerton College at a postcard writing collaboration between ASI and CSUF Diversity Resilience Education Access Movement Co-Operation, of which Aldazabal was president at the time.

“When I met her and I saw how passionate and strong she was and how much power she had within ASI, it made me realize that there could be more people like her in here. She was really my first introduction to the organization,” said Aldazabal. Ansari said her No. 1 goal is to support her fellow student leaders and following the shift in leadership within ASI.

ANGELINA DEQUINA / DAILY TITAN

She is part of the most recent all-female ASI executive team at CSUF and brings a wealth of knowledge about the university to the table, Aldazabal said. During her tenure, Ansari said she also hopes to create a program for first-generation college students similar to the first year experience. SEE DIVERSITY 3 VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM


2 News

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2019

GPA: Students CSUF transportation petition grade awarded for incentives requirement

CSUF Parking Services is planning on expanding student carpool options.

University recognized for encouraging employees to vanpool, bike to work. NOAH BIESIADA Daily Titan

NOAH BIESIADA / DAILY TITAN

Associated Students Inc. debate whether to lower the GPA. CONTINUED FROM 1 Shayna La Scala, who represents the College of Health and Human Development, said that having a higher GPA requirement will force students to focus on their academics and that ASI should be a secondary focus. “I don’t think that putting that kind of pressure on a student who is already struggling academically is worth it for their future. I think ASI is temporary and what we’re doing right now in this moment is temporary, for some of us it’s going to be a stepping ladder to go into a position or public policy or for government or to be a representative somewhere else,” La Scala said.

Some members of the board including Antonia Pettis, who represents the College of Health and Human Development, said that this decision is about more than just making sure that students can serve. Their role on the board is to make sure that students succeed. “Instead of looking at this number, we need to look at how can we use our position to dismantle these barriers that are put into place,”Pettis said in the meeting. Despite the failure of the motion to lower the GPA requirement, the board will continue to discuss the GPA requirement as well as ways to support all CSUF students.

The National Center for Transit Research at the University of South Florida released their list of the Best Workplaces for Commuters in 2019 which included Cal State Fullerton on Jan. 31. Inclusion on the list is determined by what the institution does to encourage alternate commuting methods, including vanpool, biking and other methods that help reduce the number of commuters by at least 6 percent, according to Best Workplaces for Commuters. Although CSUF, Cal State Northridge and several other universities are on the list, the benefits are based mostly on what is provided for employees of the university rather than students. “It’s an extensive application, and they look at what sort of

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benefits, and a further 6 percent are members of the employee bus pass program, she said. “When I first started, we had 3 vanpools on the campus. We now have 11 vanpools, and we have 58 faculty and staff who are vanpoolers,” Thomas said. CSUF is required by the South Coast Air Quality Management District to provide incentives to employees, but not students. The bus passes offered to students cost the school more than the ones provided to employees. “Normally a bus pass would cost $69 a month, and we’re doing a 4 month pass for $92, so every time the students run the pass, we get charged each way. We pay all of it, it’s way more than $92 to do this,” Thomas said. The department is also planning on releasing new carpool options for students in fall 2019, with a new ride matching program and expanded carpool parking locations. Currently, the only carpool parking is a row of 39 parking spots in College Park.

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commuter benefits you offer to your employees, do you encourage modes other than ride-alone,” said Elissa Thomas, a transportation analyst with CSUF Parking and Transportation Services. At CSUF, employees who take the train or vanpool can receive reimbursements, free bus passes for Orange County and even cash rewards for recruiting other staff members to use alternate transportation options. These reimbursements and incentives are intended to motivate CSUF employees to not buy parking permits. If employees have a parking permit, the reimbursements they receive for taking the train, bus or other eco-friendly forms of transportation drops from 100 percent to 25 percent. “We have a pretty comprehensive set of support and encouragement to use alternate transportation at the university,” Thomas said. Around 9 percent of CSUF staff are part of the Commuters Choice Program that offers these

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FOR THE RECORD It is Daily Titan policy to correct factual errors printed in the publication. Corrections will be published on the subsequent issue after an error is discovered and will appear on page 2. Errors on the Opinion page will be corrected on that page. Corrections will also be made to the online version of the article. Please contact Editor-in-Chief Korryn Sanchez at (657) 278-5815 or at editorinchief@dailytitan.com to report any errors.

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News 3

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2019

IT upgrade to increase data security

Faculty account software improvements protect against mass hacking. BAYLEE MAUST Staff Writer

New online security measures have been introduced for Cal State Fullerton faculty and staff members this spring semester. The multifactor authentication is an increased security method, said Berhanu Tadesse, associate vice president for Information/Technology Infrastructure Services. This security method is used by many companies and corporations such as Google and Facebook. Duo Security is providing this new technology to Cal State Fullerton, said Tadesse. The company was chosen by the Chancellor’s Office, who is covering the expense because their services were the most cost-effective solution for all the Cal State universities. Nothing is being paid for by the university budget, Tadesse said. Tadesse said he saw a need for increased security measures for faculty accounts because accounts with strong passwords can still be occasionally compromised. “This implementation is much more secure. In the past, we relied on someone having a strong password. If that strong password is compromised, there’s no validation methods,” Tadesse said. To enable the multifactor authentication, a user must enroll in the process and wait for the system to validate their authentication, Tadesse said. Tadesse said because it is a fairly new system, webinars have been set up to educate faculty members on how to set up their multifactor authentication. When someone successfully enrolls, they are asked to complete a challenge question and provide a mobile phone or device as a second factor to access their account. Elizabeth Boretz, assistant vice president for Student Success and director of Academic Advising, has been using the system for a few weeks and said

she thought it was fairly easy to use. “Today I was using my tablet outside of my office and I realized I couldn’t authenticate because I didn’t bring my cell phone with me. It needs to make a phone call to me to open up my access. That just reminded me I need to have my phone with me if I’m going to use it,” Boretz said. Tadesse said they considered problematic scenarios that the multi-factor authentication

could create if faculty members do not have access to a mobile device. For such situations, faculty members can pick up a special token at the help desk, free of charge. “With the token, the user will be prompted to enter a code and enter it into the login screen. That will complete their authentication as well,” Tadesse said. Right now, multi-factor authentication is only available to faculty members.

Boretz said it might be a bigger concern to introduce this new system campuswide, because not all students can afford a smartphone. Tadesse said unauthorized logins, such as data bridges, happen when someone is remotely trying to access a system. With multifactor authentication, a potential hacker would not be able to access an account, even if they had the person’s password. “The faculty would have

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access to all their students so it’s important to protect those accounts at this time before we get to the other accounts,” Tadesse said. He said it is feasible that the technology could be offered to students in the future, but it is best to secure those faculty accounts who have access to sensitive student records first. “The more secure the environment is, the better for the institution,” Tadesse said.

Diversity: New appointee upholds ideals CONTINUED FROM 1 She said that she envisioned the program to be a resource and celebration for first-generation college students. When most people think of ASI, they think of Spring Concert and other fun activities they host, but Ansari said she thinks ASI’s importance derives from the fact that it gives students a seat at the table, Ansari said. One of the challenges of

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being on the ASI board that Ansari has encountered is thinking of long-term solutions to problems that students might need fixed in the moment. She has heard stories of many students in her experiences being on the ASI board throughout the years but one student who came to her struggling with food insecurity has stuck with her. “They didn’t know where their next meal would come

from. They told me how they would budget out each day and figure out what snack can they get that would last them the whole day based on calorie counts. My heart broke during that,” Ansari said. Ansari’s path to ASI was preceded by her older sister, Neha, who served on the Associated Students Board of Directors Chair the year before she started college. Saba Ansari said this gave

her insight to ASI’s functionality before she started school at CSUF. Prior to the start of the spring semester, Neha Ansari said she encouraged her sister to apply for ASI Vice President and was excited to learn that she had gotten the position. She said she looks forward to seeing how it will help Saba grow. CSUF wasn’t Saba Ansari’s first choice when she was

deciding which college to attend but coming to the university ultimately shaped her. “This entire experience, each class, every single moment has changed me and made me who I am today. I’m especially grateful for ASI for making me the person I am today because if it wasn’t for me coming here and getting involved I know my life would be completely different,” Ansari said.

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4 Lifestyle

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2019

Review: ‘thank u, next’ stresses self-recovery Ariana Grande delves into past hardships and her journey moving forward. CHARITY CLARK Daily Titan

The time has finally come for what all Ariana Grande fans have been eagerly anticipating — Grande’s fifth studio album “thank u, next” released Feb. 8. The album consists of 12 tracks, with each song highlighting Grande’s views on dating, relationships and self-care. The success of her album release is no surprise after her single, “thank u, next” dominated the charts. Released on Nov. 3, 2018, this track racked up nearly 8 million streams two days after its release, according to spotifycharts.com. At the beginning of this song, Grande addresses the gossip surrounding her previous relationships. She also includes a shoutout to former lover Mac Miller by singing, “Wish I could say, ‘Thank you’ to Malcolm/ ‘Cause he was an angel.” Other lyrics such as “Got so much love/ Got so much patience/ I’ve learned from the pain/ I turned out amazing” express gratitude for experiences from previous relationships. The two top-streamed songs on the album, “needy” and “NASA,” appear to contradict one another. Grande’s craving for attention is shown through her song “needy.” The lyrics “If you take too long to hit me back/ I can’t promise you how I’ll react” and “You can go ahead and call me selfish/ But after all this damage, I can’t help it,” touch on the idea that although some may see her behavior as annoying, it’s all out of love and

seeking reassurance. On the other hand, her third track, “NASA,” is the complete opposite of the previous song. Grande starts off by hitting listeners with the lyrics, “I’d rather be alone tonight/ You can say ‘I love you’ through the phone tonight” and “Really don’t wanna be in your arms tonight/ I’ll just use my covers to stay warm tonight.” This song represents women’s freedom. Although companionship is desired, sometimes space is needed to achieve personal goals. Yes, the songs may conflict, but this adds to the beauty of the album as she relates her songs to her emotionally diverse audience. Another top song, “imagine,” shows off Grande’s vocal range, and although it highlights romance and intimacy, listeners can’t help but notice her amazing pitch. After listening to the progression of her voice throughout the song, it’s easy to get chills and fall in love with Grandei all over again. “thank u, next” can definitely be considered a pop album, but Grande never fails to throw in a fair amount of rhythm and blues. According to Billboard, if “thank u, next” does as well as expected, it could have the largest streaming week for a pop album, and one of the top 10 biggest streaming weeks ever for an album of any genre. Grande uses this album to touch on different realms of the dating world, allowing listeners to connect to the album no matter what state they are in. “thank u, next” solidifies Grande’s success in the music industry, achieving record-breaking feats while connecting with fans and healing herself along the way.

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Serving tea for epilepsy The Purple Tea Party in Anaheim raised awareness and education on epilepsy.

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ALYSSA VALDEZ Daily Titan

With a personal connection to epilepsy, the current high school Miss California, Grace Edwards, created Talent for Epilepsy, a nonprofit group whose mission is to inform people about epilepsy and break the stigma. Edwards hosted Purple Tea Party at Marie Callendar’s in Anaheim, one of multiple fundraising events for her nonprofit. The room was filled with lavender decorations, as lavender and purple are the colors that represent epilepsy. The color and the plant are believed to calm the brain and nervous system, according to Medical Daily. “Our main goal is education. I believe that through small events like this all the way up to our big biannual events, I believe that we are able to reach a wide span of people and educate as much as possible on seizures and epilepsy,” Edwards said. Purple Tea Party included food, entertainment and engaging activities such as crosswords and a caricature artist for those who were in attendance. Marie Callendar’s donated 20 percent of sales to Talent for Epilepsy to support the event. Each year, more than 50 million people around the world

are affected by epilepsy, according to the World Health Organization. Not only can this disease affect an individual, but also their family and loved ones. In the United States alone, 5.1 million people have been diagnosed and there are currently 2.9 million adults and children undergoing epilepsy conditions, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. People that suffer from epilepsy can endure several different types of seizures, but the two main types of epileptic seizures are primary generalized seizures and partial seizures. Having a stroke, head injury or brain infection can cause epilepsy. Miss California Jr. High Kaysee French,her younger sister Karynne French and fellow pageant competitor Kayla Rose were among the performers at the event. Each girl performed a cover of a song, including “Fly Me To The Moon” by Frank Sinatra. After each performance, Edwards talked about her cousin Logan Verne who suffers from epilepsy. She also educated the audience on what to do if you encounter a person who is having a seizure. Edwards recalled when Logan had a seizure at Disneyland and she was the only one who knew what to do. Not only was she able to assist her cousin, but she was also able to teach those who were not informed what they could possibly do in the future if

they ever came across a similar situation. “I have been trained my whole life in proper seizure first aid. I taught the surrounding people proper seizure first aid and from there I made it my goal to teach every person I met seizure first aid,” Edwards said. Edwards said she wants people to be aware and know that they can help anyone having a seizure by following the four S’s: side, soft, stay and safe. It’s crucial to lay the person on their side, put a soft object beneath their head, stay with them and make sure they’re in a safe area. “Be sure to time it because if it goes over five minutes, call 911, and always, always, always check and see if they have a medical ID band,” Edwards said. Having a medical ID band is a safe way for whoever is helping the person having a seizure understand how they should be treated with the doctor’s orders listed on the band. Since the start of the organization, Edwards and her supporters have raised over $10,000 for families and individuals that are currently suffering from epilepsy. The future of Talent for Epilepsy has a lot in store as they are very proactive in planning monthly events. Edwards said the organization plans to branch out to Northern California and other states to expand their outreach and audience.

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Opinion 5

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2019

Column: Being your own Valentine

REBECCA MENA / DAILY TITAN

Practice self-love during this consumer driven holiday.

CHRISTIAN AGUILAR Daily Titan

Valentine’s Day lacks meaning. People who participate in Valentine’s Day only focus on

whether or not they have a valentine, but worrying about this “special” holiday is a waste of time. This holiday should not only be reserved for couples, but for singles who want to show their bodies some appreciation. Do you want to make love on Valentine’s Day? How about learning what your body likes and pleasuring yourself? Go ahead, put on your mesh lingerie, take out your glass dildo, attach a flavored condom, and apply plenty of lubricant and have sex with yourself, the safest sex of all. I have been single for six years, and not once have I felt pressured to have a valentine. I

do not need to schedule my love for someone or show them that I care only one day out of the year. Also, I don’t expect a gift from anyone on Valentine’s Day. Why would I worry about someone buying me an oversized teddy bear that just takes up space and adds no value? Cheesy Valentine’s Day gifts like chocolate or stuffed animals are typical for the holiday, but don’t really have any sentimental value that shows that you know your significant other personally. I could purchase that heavy cotton ball on my own, or better yet, I could buy the Hermès Apple Watch I want because

I would use it every day, rather than forgetting about some item loitering on my couch. Then, I would flex my new watch on Instagram and emphasize that I don’t need anyone to buy me gifts because I can spoil myself. If I received a Valentine’s Day-themed stuffed animal, I wouldn’t feel emotionally attached to it because like all human-made holidays, after the date is over, the holiday-themed products are useless until the following year. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate gifts, but I love them more when they are unplanned. I feel nostalgic when I look at a gift that a loved one gave me

spontaneously because it shows they genuinely thought about me. Valentine’s Day can make a person feel pressured to buy their partner a gift because our consumer culture persuades people that the only way to show affection is through gifts. Valentine’s Day creates unrealistic expectations. You may expect breakfast in bed, red roses and a hot air balloon ride. If Valentine’s Day did mean something to me, instead of looking for a valentine, I would plan a trip with my friends, buy my parents flowers, or be traditional and hand out Valentine’s Day cards.

Column: Social norms won’t change me My last name is a part of my identity that marriage can’t alter.

ANGELINA DEQUINA Daily Titan

Inside of every woman there is a constellation of events that shape her into who she is. Marriage is considered to be one of the most defining events of many women’s lives, but the expectation that they need to change their last name negates that. Traditionally, keeping one’s maiden name is seen as a feminist notion. I self-identify as a feminist, but I feel that my opinion of marriage is something that should not only be attributed to feminism but also my self-respect. According to The New York Times, 17 percent of women who married for the first time in the ‘70s kept their maiden name and that during that time period, many states’ laws required women to take their husband’s last name in order to do banking and vote. There is no denying that the historical context behind keeping one’s maiden name has feminist undertones. As great as I think the concept is, I also want to advocate for a philosophical understanding of the idea. Changing my last name after marriage erases my identity. One could argue that it’s VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM

ANGELINA DEQUINA / DAILY TITAN

figurative because only my surname would change and I would remain the same woman — except, on every paper and signature I will be required to be this “new woman.” My avid belief that I should not compromise my own identity stems from an idea in political science called constructivism. Constructivists believe that people and their countries are a product of the world they create. From a constructivist point of view, each person is born a blank slate and given an identity based on the social events

that occur in their life. Marrying someone is important to me, but not significant enough for me to unravel the fabric of my life and to start over. After all, it is only one thread in the thousands that will make up who I am. If my future husband truly cares for me, he will understand this concept. This is not to diminish the beauty of marriage but rather to enhance it. Since marriage is a union between two people, they should have their own names and legacies.

There was a time in my life when all I wanted was for my last name to dissipate into thin air, but it had more to do with the way that I saw myself than wanting to be married. I spent my days searching for ways to be self-assured that I was anybody other than who I was. It wasn’t until I stood back and put things into perspective was when I realized how my desire for a new name perpetuated self-hatred. I was obsessed with perfection as soon as I learned that I was not perfect. I will not waste space in

this article talking about how chasing for perfection is unrealistic. Instead, I will say that the story of each individual person begins with one simple thing: their name. How each person gives meaning to that name is dependent on the life they lead. I have worked very hard throughout my life to be Angelina Dequina. My name rhymes, it’s hard to pronounce and it’s overwhelmingly long. But this is who I will always be, even after marriage.

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6 Opinion

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2019

Column: Realizing my asexual identity In a society that sells sex, discovering myself was liberating.

ESMERALDA FIGUEROA Staff Writer

To be alone on Valentine’s Day is considered a sin by societal standards. Commercials and advertisements are most successful when selling sex. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, people are pitied for not being in a relationship. Asexuality is a sexual orientation where an individual feels little to no sexual attraction. It is also an umbrella term encompassing other identities, such as demisexuality, where people don’t feel any sexual attraction until an emotional connection is established, and grey sexuality, where people may occasionally feel sexual attraction but do not always act on it. Only one percent of the population identifies on the spectrum. Though sexual attraction isn’t a factor, that doesn’t mean that those of us who are on the asexual spectrum can’t be in relationships. Dating, however, can be challenging. Without that initial level of physical attraction, it’s difficult to engage in a relationship, especially with society’s fixation on sex. For those of us who are on the spectrum, it’s a bit jarring to realize that most people get turned on by physical appearance alone. It’s like being in a field of flowers without knowing why people are infatuated with the smell, or

not desiring chocolate, despite everyone raving about it. Identifying as asexual or being on the spectrum isn’t just about a significantly low percentage of the world deciding to have high standards or remaining celibate because they haven’t found the right person. Identifying on the spectrum doesn’t mean people don’t notice how attractive people are. We notice, but in a purely aesthetic way. Though asexual people may not feel sexual attraction, that doesn’t mean that they don’t crave relationships. It’s just more difficult to go about starting a relationship in a society where sex is revered. I never really gave much thought to being asexual because I’m a naturally reserved person, so I figured that was why I wasn’t interested in dating. I stumbled across the term demisexuality when I took a Myers-Briggs test, which told me I am an INFJ personality, which stands for Introversion, Intuition, Feeling and Judging. As it turns out, a majority of INFJs identify as demisexual. Finding that out wasn’t surprising. In hindsight, it made sense. Friends would often obsess over celebrity crushes and squeal over attractive strangers.That’s something I could never understand. How can someone want to marry a celebrity when you don’t know them personally? How can someone get turned on by random strangers? I guess that should have alerted me that I was on the spectrum, but in high school, I was too naive to truly understand. Before finding the term “demisexuality,” I wondered if I was asexual. While that would have explained a lot, identifying as asexual never felt completely right. Only on two occasions have I actually experienced an attraction

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ALEX BOSSERMAN / DAILY TITAN

toward someone. In both instances, I had developed an emotional connection with them. I knew that while I didn’t experience initial physical or sexual attraction, I was able to develop feelings for someone. Once I found out about demisexuality, everything clicked. But it never felt like this grand thing where I had to come out because it’s nobody’s business whether I date or not. Just knowing about it was enough for me. While not being in a relationship never bothered me, it is difficult to describe to people why I haven’t found “love.” Trying to explain that I’m not looking for anyone makes me feel insecure and self-conscious, specially as Valentine’s Day rolls around and conversations naturally veer toward

plans for that sacred romantic day with significant others. Valentine’s Day, regardless of how much it revolves around sex and romance, is a holiday celebrating love. Asexual people may not experience sexual attraction, but we experience love. Whether we’re on the spectrum or not, we all have relationships. Platonic relationships are deeper than friendships, with a strong attraction to a person in the most non-sexual, non-romantic way. It is enjoying their presence in an emotionally intimate way. Romantic relationships are a desire to be in a relationship with and date a certain individual. It involves an intimacy, whether that be emotional, physical or both. Sexual relationships are physical. If a relationship is purely

physical, there might not be that emotional connection that is the hallmark of platonic relationships. With society constantly selling sex, it is not uncommon for a lot of relationships to start off as sexual, or for people to seek sexual intimacy without emotional intimacy. It is completely possible for platonic relationships to blossom into romantic or sexual relationships. It depends on that individual’s comfort levels. I can’t speak for everyone on the spectrum, but dating feels particularly limited in that sense. To be alone on Valentine’s Day does not make you unlovable. You are very much whole and very much not alone, no matter who you spend the day with.

START GETTING MORE OUT OF COLLEGE.

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Contact our Enrollment Advisor at (657) 278-3527/3857 or syach@fullerton.edu To learn more, visit goarmy.com/rotc/ob26

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Leisure 7

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2019

HOROSCOPE PROVIDED BY tarot.com

ARIES (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19) Your drive for enterprise zooms in on your financial picture. You pour over any elements in disarray and whip together a plan to straighten out the kinks. Every living creature needs support to thrive.

Identify where Tuffy is in the photo and message any of the Daily Titan’s social media platforms, @thedailytitan, with your answer and full name for a chance to win!

$

TAURUS (Apr. 20 - May 20)

$2 0 Last Week’ s WINNER

Your drive for enterprise zooms in on your financial picture. You pour over any elements in disarray and whip together a plan to straighten out the kinks. Every living creature needs support to thrive.

Where do you think Tuffy is?

Isaac Gabriel Gonzalez

GEMINI (May 21 - Jun. 20)

Last Week’s Location: Fountain in front of Langsdorf Hall

SAVE-THE-DATE

A complex social tangle ensnares you and demands your attention. You’re like a gymnast as you balance so many relationships at once -professional, personal, and familial.

WORD OF THE DAY

Feb 14:

Valentine’s Day

Feb 15:

President’s Day - Campus Closed

Feb 19:

Daily Titan Fest (11 a.m - 1 p.m)

fondness

CANCER (Jun. 21 - Jul. 22)

1. tender affection 2. appetite, relish

Making your dreams come true requires sweat equity. You discover this tough truth now as you apply yourself fully to the blossoming of your innermost hopes. You pick up the scent of your future today, and it lures you forward.

Example: my fondness for you will never fail

LEO (Jul. 23 - Aug. 22)

PROVIDED BY merriam-webster.com

Your superhero side steps out of the phone booth and into your community. Be careful not to tread on your own cape and trip yourself. The world needs you now more than ever. Fight the nefarious drains on your energy.

Tuesday Feb 19 Central Quad AM -- 1PM 1PM 1111 AM

VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sep. 22) The border between you and other people wears thin now. You sense the inextricable links that entwine you with everyone else. You contemplate the social construction of your identity, especially in view of how the public sees you.

Follow @thedailytitan for updates

LIBRA (Sep. 23 - Oct. 22)

SWEET WORDS:

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) You experience a barely controllable urge to merge with another or to annihilate them. If you are lucky enough to have a lover, you squeeze them so tight they may pop under the pressure. If you long for a relationship, that yearning gets formidable verve.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21)

Daily Sudoku: Mon 11-Feb-2019

hard

Your health is a barometer for your stress levels. You may not notice any agitations in your personal life until they show up as physical ailments. Symptoms are signals to shift your behavior and heal.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19)

8 5 4

6 8 5 9 7 2 1 3

3 4 7 8 6 1 2 9

9 1 2 5 3 4 6 8

1 5 9 4 8 7 3 6

7 3 4 1 2 6 9 5

2 6 8 3 9 5 4 7

4 2 6 7 5 3 8 1

5 9 3 2 1 8 7 4

8 7 1 6 4 9 5 2

4 5 7 2 8 1 9 6 3 Last Issue’s Solution Daily Sudoku: Mon 11-Feb-2019

hard

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2019. All rights reserved.

PROVIDED BY dailysudoku.com

9

6 1 9 8

7 1 1 7 4 6 8 2 3 7 3 1 9

Daily Sudoku: Fri 27-Feb-2009

You tiptoe on a tightrope spanning pleasure and danger. The precariousness of your current affairs both thrills and terrifies you. Above all, you are concerned with maintaining your integrity.

6

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18)

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2009. All rights reserved.

3 8 2 9 5 7 9 PROVIDED BY thewordsearch.com 2 6 8 7 6 4 8 1

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2019. All rights reserved.

9

4 7 2

1 7

The temptation to escape into the mundane grows alongside mounting tensions between you and your closest relationships. Instead of facing the next twist of fate head on, you might opt to hide out in a pile of busy work.

Loyal Godschild Lucky Listener Beautiful Pretty Honest Sunshine Intellegent Reserved One Of A Kind Esquizite Sweet Optimistic 6 Humble 6 Smart 3 Cute 3 Forgiving

You could lose time searching in vain for a prized possession you need. It’s possible your things are in a state of chaos or tucked away in storage, and you might have some trouble accessing them.

PISCES (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20) © thewordsearch.com

8

3 5

You crave instant change in your immediate environment. The status quo no longer satisfies, and your usual patience just left the building. You foray into unfamiliar alcoves and nooks in your surroundings. Many distractions are bidding for your attention today.

SOLUTION WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE NEXT ISSUE.

medium

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http://www.dailysudoku.com/


8 Sports

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2019

Titans sweep season series

Collegiate sports writers poll This week, the Daily Titan sports desk writers were invited to participate in the inaugural Collegiate Sports Writers Poll. The poll, founded by Student Printz executive editor Andrew Abadie, will be “a reflection as to how college sports writers view and rank the best teams in the country,” according to its guidelines. Currently 15 newspapers are participating in the poll, including: Southern Miss, Indiana, West Virginia, Temple, Seton Hall, Texas State, Texas, Ball State,

Arizona, Minnesota, Northwestern, and Washington. Sports editors at each of the newspapers will send in their ballot each week during the baseball season, and a point system will be used to determine the average rankings of each team. The rankings will be released weekly on Twitter, @ TheCollegiateS1. With baseball season starting this Friday, here are the preseason rankings for the first edition of the poll. JORDAN MENDOZA / DAILY TITAN

ELIZA GREEN / DAILY TITAN

Austen Awosika goes up for a basket against Long Beach State, he was second in scoring on the team.

The men’s basketball team defeats Long Beach State in front of home crowd. MATTHEW MENDOZA Daily Titan

Cal State Fullerton men’s basketball defeated Long Beach State 85-82 in a game that came down to the final seconds. With Khalil Ahmad’s 19 points of the night, the Titans nabbed their seventh win in the last eight games. Ahmad quickly found the hot hand with 10 points in the first five minutes of the second half. He finished the night shooting 6-for-14 from the field. CSUF had five players in double-figure numbers and collectively shot 50 percent from the field. Jackson Rowe, Kyle Allman Jr., Austen Awosika, Wayne Arnold and Ahmad combined to score 72 of the Titans’ 85 points. With this loss, Long Beach State has dropped seven of their last eight games. However, Mason Riggins and Temidayo Yussuf performed well for the 49ers, as the two combined for 34

points. The Titans cruised the majority of the game and maintained the lead for over 30 minutes. With their largest lead of the game, the Titans’ 12-point advantage quickly slipped once the 49ers gained momentum. With Long Beach in possession and the success of a 3-point shot to send the game into overtime, Awosika put the 49ers’ hope to bed with a steal to end the contest. Ahmad, who ranks fourth in the Big West in scoring, struggled in the first half, missing all four of his field goal attempts and scoring only two points that came via the freethrow line. With Ahmad getting off to a slow start, Arnold provided the Titans with quality offense off the bench in the first half. Within his first 14 minutes, Arnold shot four-of-eight from the field including two 3-pointers. The Titans’ bench combined for 21 points and head coach Dedrique Taylor praised the bench’s effort in contributing to the win. “That’s just the beauty of having a team, I thought Wayne and Josh (Pitts) in particular

really helped us win that ball game tonight,” said Taylor. Taylor credited Arnold’s big game to his growth as a player over the course of the season. “He’s no longer a freshman,” Taylor said. “He didn’t put his head down, he just competes, he sticks his nose in and when he does those things, he’s pretty good.” The Titans seemed to put the 49ers’ offense out of sync after switching to a zone defense. “It was part of our game plan to try to take them out of their rhythm,” Taylor said. With that game plan, the 49ers struggled to find rhythm at the end of the first half, scoring only two points in the final seven minutes. 49er Deishaun Booker ranks fifth in the Big West in scoring but was held scoreless in the first half. Awosika was tasked with defending Booker and was aware of his ability to get to the line, but credited his teammates for their assistance with defense. “I think it was a team effort, I feel like I wasn’t out there on an island so I was comfortable playing defense,” Awosika said.

Bats: Season opener

CONTINUED FROM 1 Fullerton ranks below TCU in the USA Today Sports Baseball Coaches Poll. The Titans are ranked 24th, sitting second to lost on the ranking chart while the Horned Frogs sit higher on the charts at 14th. Saturday will likely be the most difficult game of the weekend for CSUF, as the Titans will face the Vanderbilt Commodores, ranked second in the nation just behind LSU. The game will take place at 1 p.m. To close out the weekend, Fullerton will face Virginia on

Sunday at 3 p.m. While Virginia did not rank within the Top 25, they are coming out of a successful 2018 campaign finishing their year with a win percentage above .500. To end their season, the Cavaliers split a pair of games in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship falling to thenranked ninth Florida State University. However, the team bounced back to defeat North Carolina State University. Tony Reagins, executive vice president of baseball and softball development of Major League

Baseball, said he is pleased with the MLB’s involvement in collegiate athletics. “College baseball is a cornerstone of our sport’s pipeline, and it is important that we continue to emphasize attention toward this segment of the game,” Reagins said.” The four programs selected to participate in this inaugural event are among the best and we are excited to bring a great product to fans in Arizona this February.” Game highlights and live stream of every MLB4 game can be viewed at MLB.com/MLB4.

So much to love in the Daily Titan. @thedailytitan dailytitan.com


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