2019-11-21 by Daily Titan

Thursday November 21, 2019

The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

Volume 106 Issue 42

CSUF struggles to hire black faculty Black Student Union’s town hall sheds light on difficulty retaining black employees. HOSAM ELATTAR Editor

LYDIA KELLEY Asst. Editor

MARIAH SANCHEZ AND HOSAM ELATTAR / DAILY TITAN

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We need to also see more representation within the faculty. Professors, chairs of departments, need to be African American.

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Students have called on Cal State Fullerton to increase the number of black employees at the university — a number that dropped by 8% between 201718 amid the departure of former CSUF President Mildred Garcia. Three percent of the instructional faculty at CSUF are black, with six black faculty members hired to teach this year. “I’m the only chair and tenured faculty member. We have one African American lecturer, and we’re one of the biggest departments on campus too,” said Gregory Brown, chair of the criminal justice department, after the Black Student Union town hall meeting last month. Brown also said he hopes the administration heard what the students had to say. “This is real, and racism is real,” he said. During the meeting, the Black Student Union said that within the next four years, 6% of tenured-track faculty on campus should be black-identified, with an increase of 1.5% every year to help retention of black students. President Fram Virjee said the university’s goal is to increase the number of tenured-track black faculty on campus, but denied the specific request, stating federal and state laws as the reason. Virjee was unavailable for further comment. Bobbie Porter, assistant vice president for Diversity, Inclusion and Equity, said there are limitations when approaching the demand that was made by

DEVEN DICKENS Political science major the Black Student Union. Porter also said the demands spoke to a quota and that quotas are strictly prohibited because they’re illegal. “It’s never about hiring someone because they are from a minority group, it’s all about hiring the best candidate,” Porter said. The Black Student Union response to Virjee was released on Monday. Specifically regarding

faculty, the Black Student Union asked for copies of the new fiveyear plan, the Faculty Diversity Oﬃcer training program, a written policy regarding recruiting pools and a written copy of a meeting with African American studies concerning ways the department will be supported. Deven Dickens, fourth-year political science major, said the first step to address the concerns brought forth was representation. “There should be more employment on campus that reflects the student body, as well as resources for students that are black, resources that include counselors and therapists,” Dickens told the Daily Titan at the town hall meeting. Over the years at CSUF, there has been a demographic shift in the ethnic diversity of students. That change is not reflected in the faculty employed at the university. Currently, 60% of

instructional faculty, which includes lecturers, are white. “We need to also see more representation within the faculty. Professors, chairs of departments, need to be African American. They need to reflect a truly diverse campus,” Dickens said. David Forgues, vice president for the oﬃce of Human Resources, Diversity and Inclusion, said there are not enough people, particularly people of color, completing doctorate degrees each year. For a majority of our disciplines, this is a requirement to have a tenure-track faculty position. This is one of many factors he said that contributes to the issue. “Here’s the reality of our situation: We don’t have the lowest workload, we don’t have the highest salaries, and we certainly don’t have the lowest cost of living, so it’s a very competitive market place whenever we hire

faculty,” Forgues said. Forgues said recruitment and retention of faculty of color is a problem across the CSUs. “Go ask any of the campuses. It’s where we are positioned funding-wise, and those things are hard to change. (We) cannot pay new faculty coming in more than I pay (our) current faculty,” he said. “Our underfunding has a huge impact on this.” A main component of Porter’s portfolio involves looking at the retention of faculty of color. Her office specifically examines strategies and programs that different colleges can implement to keep CSUF professors and lecturers. “Cal State Fullerton is not unique in terms of the challenges with diversifying of our faculty,” Porter said. “The more we can, outside of the recruitment cycle, get Cal State Fullerton’s name out there and really sell folks on our mission and our work, the more results we’ll see.” Forgues said one way to retain faculty is to help them feel connected to the community, as well as the campus. He said he is hopeful that as the years go on, there will be more faculty of color on this campus. “All of our efforts to recruit and retain will bare fruit. It takes time,” Forgues said. “Sometimes, we make a little bit of progress, and then we take a couple steps back, and then we take a couple more steps forward.” Porter said there is still work to be done. “We have a beautiful representation of diversity in our faculty, staff and students. Is it where we want it to be? No, but you never truly achieve diversity, you never truly achieve inclusion, it’s always forward moving. It’s a process,” she said.

Promised Titans dominate home opener funding revoked The Titans defeated the Utah State Aggies, 83-62, to improve to 3-2. MARIAH ROSS

Anthropology division has lost $27,200 in CourseMatch funds. JESSICA BENDA Editor

ADAM MALDONADO Asst. Editor

The Cal State Fullerton anthropology division has lost $27,200 in CourseMatch Funds, despite the money already being allocated into its account, said John Patton, evolutionary anthropology program coordinator. “We’re denied money that we were not only promised, but it was actually put in our account by the dean’s oﬃce,” he said. “We’ve already committed that money to student support, and we’re obligated to finish the contract with them, and that money has now been pulled out of our account.” The funds were compensation for the division’s CourseMatch courses, which sums to $3,400 per course, Patton said. CourseMatch is a program that grants students access to online courses that are oﬀered across the CSUs. Courses are required to be high quality and fully accessible to students with disabilities. SEE MONEY

Asst. Editor

Cal State Fullerton women’s basketball has the chance to spark a new streak after defeating the Utah State Aggies, 83-62, in their 2019-20 season home opener. Both the Titans and Aggies entered the game at 0.500, winning two of their first four games of the season. The Titans have spent their entire season up until this point on the road, beating out UNLV and Loyola Marymount before falling to San Diego State, snapping their two-game win streak. CSUF dominated the first 20 minutes of play against the Aggies, recording 20 points in the first quarter and 22 points in the second. They held the lead for about 19 minutes and were up by as many as 12 points over Utah State in the second quarter. The Titans capitalized on the Aggies’ mistakes by earning 11 of their 42 first half points oﬀ of turnovers, despite losing the ball six times themselves. Redshirt junior Raina Perez led the team in points in the first half with 13, followed by sophomore Amiee Book and redshirt junior Taylor Turney with 10 each. Perez was recently named Big West Player of the Week and now has fourstraight games with 20 or more points this season.

SEE HOME

MARIAH ROSS / DAILY TITAN

Carolyn Gill recorded 7 points and 6 rebounds off the bench for the Titans. VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM

2 News

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2019

City council extends plan for new hotel DIANA TRAN WENDY CHAVEZ Staff Writers

The Fullerton City Council granted the ParkWest General Contractors a year-long extension on Tuesday, allowing it to continue preparations for the development of an upscale boutique hotel. Since December 2018, Fullerton has been in an agreement with ParkWest General Contractors to build a hotel located at the southeast corner of Santa Fe Avenue and Pomona Avenue. ParkWest General Contractors had two six-month periods to meet goals such as drawing up preliminary project plans, hosting a community outreach meeting and providing regular status updates to the city council. An additional year would allow ParkWest General Contractors to complete its financial analysis of the project and discuss it with

the city council. The organization will also finalize its disposition and development agreement with the city. Craig Hostert, chief financial oﬃcer for ParkWest General Contractors, ordered a study on the hotel’s economic benefits for Fullerton. The study estimates that the hotel will produce at least 204 local-paying jobs. Hostert said that over a 10-year period, the hotel will generate $322 million into Fullerton’s economy. “I just want the public to know that I’m not just some developer. I’m a resident in Fullerton. I really want to do what’s best for this city,” Hostert said. Employees of Southwest Carpenters attended the meeting to show their support of the local jobs the hotel will provide. Juan Enriquez spoke about living in Fullerton, but having to commute to other cities for work. “I wake up at 3:30 in the morning to go to work. I work in Riverside, and before that I was in West Hollywood,” Enriquez said. “I would love to work here.”

However, Danielle Wilson, who represented United 11 — a hospitality worker’s union — and other speakers voiced their concerns on whether or not the city would lease or sell the land to ParkWest General Contractors. “We urge you to consider implementing the long-term ground lease with the developer, rather than land sale,” Wilson said. Adam Overton, a faith-rooted organizer with Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice, had a similar stance. “Keep community lands in community hands,” Overton said. He also said that any available public land, especially that being sold for a private interest, should be used as aﬀordable housing. This idea was shared among other speakers who felt that the land should be used to help with homelessness. At the end of public comment, council members acknowledged the importance of addressing homelessness, but they ultimately expressed their support of the hotel.

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This was the first person, and a local man, who came here and said, ‘I have a vision for this property and this is what I would like to see done.’

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Council members say the project helps promote economic activity.

JAN FLORY Council member Council member Jan Flory feels Hostert has thoroughly shown his dedication to this project through his financial investment and intent for economic benefit. “That property has been in a parking lot for decades and this was the first person, and a local man, who came here and said, ‘I have a vision for this property and this is what I would like to see done,’” Flory said. Council member Ahmad Zahra sees many benefits from the hotel, because it is in close proximity to a train station and an Orange County Transportation Authority

bus hub. “I think it will cut down on traﬃc, be good for our environment and encourage local spending, so that we can actually keep people reinvesting in their home communities,” Zahra said. Council member Bruce Whitaker was the only member opposed to the 12-month extension. He said he has no argument with the hotel, but feels that financially supporting the project would be giving Hostert an unfair advantage. “The problem with subsidy, without working subsidy into complex arrangements, is that you are, in a very invisible way, harming all other competitors engaged in any economic activity, because you can’t subsidize every competitor out there,” Whitaker said. Mayor Jesus Silva responded to Whitaker’s remark by looking at the positive aspects of the project. “If we can hire locally and keep some residents from traveling three, four hours, I think that will be great,” Silva said.

Money: Allocation revoked

ADAM MALDONADO / DAILY TITAN

The anthropology department is located on the fourth floor of McCarthy Hall.

1 Instructors are required to make 80% of the items implemented into their coursework fully accessible, though Patton said the 80% expectation was only made clear to faculty in October. Last week, the division was notified that its CourseMatch classes were not suﬃcient, and the compensation would be pulled from its account, Patton said. Though faculty was reminded in emails to make their courses accessible, Patton said they were never given a deadline. “All of a sudden, we were told to work on them,” he said. “I had one faculty tell me they started working on them when they were asked to do so, and when they figured out that time to convert all the material over, it would have been something close to 50 to 60 hours, and so they just didn’t have time to do that. We were never given a deadline.” Elizabeth Pillsworth, professor CONTINUED FROM

of anthropology, said the money didn’t go to faculty, but instead had been spent on graduate students. “We hired graduate students to work this semester,” Pillsworth said. “They have contracts saying they’ll get paid 10 hours per week for the semester. We already spent the money on our students, and it’s our students we’re really concerned about here.” With the funds withdrawn from the account and the money already spent, it’s unclear how the division will compensate, Pillsworth said. “That money has already been encumbered, we already promised it,” Pillsworth said. “They have contracts and now the administration is taking that money back. We either have to break the contracts with our students — which we’re not going to do — or come up with this money somehow, from I don’t know where.” In regards to requirements,

Pillsworth said there was confusion around the expectations for how accessible the courses should be, as well as how diﬀerent formats are encoded. For Pillsworth’s course specifically, additional links to resources students can utilize for their coursework come up as inaccessible due to the way they are encoded in the program. Certain formats uploaded to the course are read as inaccessible, such as PDFs. Patton said the division was told the withdrawn funding would be used to hire an outside agency to ensure the spring courses are all accessible, and there would be no compensation for the work faculty had done on the fall courses. Patton doesn’t see this as a solution, considering that faculty teach their classes diﬀerently, and the online format will need to be tailored to the new set of faculty that will instruct future courses. “We think there’s been a lot of miscommunication,” Patton said.

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News 3

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2019

Dancer sees obstacles as opportunities JESSICA BENDA Editor

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Even if it’s as simple as smiling at someone — so that all my actions, all my words, be in some way of love and service to others.

ALVIN RANGEL Associate professor January, he became a certified yoga instructor in India, and will return next month for 40 days to complete his advanced training. Visiting India was a longtime dream of Rangel’s, and his desire to teach yoga paired perfectly with it. Yoga originated within the Hindu culture, which is one of the reasons Rangel was drawn to learn from people who truly lived the lifestyle.

“It was kind of my way of honoring the legacy,” Rangel said. “That’s always been really important for me in pretty much everything I do, whether that’s personally, professionally, always. Especially within dance, it’s such a tradition being passed down from generation to generation, sort of honoring that lineage, so for me, going to India was really important.” In regards to new experiences for the future, Rangel said he’s gearing toward training other yoga instructors, but he will also continue to choreograph and educate aspiring dancers. Though Rangel has performed hundreds of times, a sense of nervousness still lingers just before the spotlight hits. Once he’s on stage, however, the anxiety dissipates and he forgets everything else. “It’s sort of one of the few

times that I feel completely present,” Rangel said. “That nothing else matters, except with what I’m trying to convey and do at that moment.” He added that he loves the duality of performing, in that it’s both a unique internal experience, as well as one to be shared with an audience. For those who carry that same passion for dance, Rangel recommends building a support system and surrounding oneself with positive influences. “Stay focused on your dream, because there’s a lot of voices, influences that may make you walk away from your goals just because it may be challenging or hard, but what’s not hard? What’s not challenging?” Rangel said. “Follow your heart, follow your gut instinct. If you feel this is what you really want to do, then pursue it.”

ELIZA GREEN / DAILY TITAN

Alvin Rangel teaches his Modern IV dance class in the Clayes Performing Arts Center.

EDITORIAL

As a dancer, choreographer, teacher and yoga practitioner, Alvin Rangel’s resume is nothing short of limitless. Rangel, associate professor in the Theatre & Dance Department at Cal State Fullerton, has been using his love for dance to mold both the minds and moves of his students. In his eighth year at CSUF, Rangel has worked with hundreds of Titans, but his mentorship has been felt beyond the bounds of the school. He has led master classes and workshops in countries ranging from Argentina to Poland, and spent last summer working with indigenous students in Australia. “Whatever I do, in any facet of my life, whether that is as a son, as a brother, as an uncle, as an educator, as a citizen, that everything I do counts towards something or makes a diﬀerence,” Rangel said. “Even if it’s something as simple as smiling at someone — so that all my actions, all my words, be in some way of love and service to others.” Rangel noted the value of gratitude and understanding that everything can go away in a second, which drives him to live each day to the fullest. Raised in Puerto Rico, Rangel’s passion for dance was first ignited in school talent shows. The flames were fed when he enrolled in formal dance classes at age 16, the same year he graduated high school. Since then, his journey has led him to Southern California, though he has performed far beyond the state’s limits. Recently, he performed in a tribute concert at the Lincoln Center in New York, which was dedicated to famous choreographer Donald McKayle, who passed away last

year. Though the road to success is not always an easy one, Rangel tries not to look at obstacles as negatives. Some of his biggest hurdles were his initial lack of exposure to dance, as well as financial disadvantages. “I always try to find a way around those obstacles and reframe them as opportunities,” Rangel said. “As stressful as it may be at the beginning, as angry as you may get. Sometimes we go through this phase of victimizing ourselves, but I try to move past that and use those obstacles and adversity as an opportunity to work harder, to find a diﬀerent way.” His outlook has proven successful, as Rangel has had an extensive international career. Dance led Rangel across the globe, from performing in Russia to teaching in Australia. Last

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CSUF professor’s passion for dance has led him to perform across the globe.

Managing Editor Nathan Nguyen

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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 3. 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 Jordan Mendoza at (657) 278-5815 or at editorinchief@dailytitan.com to report any errors.

© Copyright Daily Titan 2019 All Rights Reserved The Daily Titan is a student publication, printed every Monday through Thursday. The Daily Titan operates independently of Associated Students, Inc. College of Communications, CSUF administration and the CSU. The Daily Titan has functioned as a public forum since inception. Unless implied by the advertising party or otherwise stated, advertising in the Daily Titan is inserted by commercial activities or ventures identified in the advertisements themselves and not by the university. Such printing is not to be construed as written or implied sponsorship, endorsement or investigation of such commercial enterprises. The Daily Titan allocates one issue to each student for free. VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM

4 Lifestyle

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2019

Being in the moment and out of mind A ‘Chill and Chat’ mixer for first-year students discuss how to live in the present. DANIEL VENEGAS Staff Writer

Carla Sotomayor is sharing a snippet of her life in a room full of quiet students. She speaks with intent, hoping to get these students to do the same. All of them look at her, then look around the room with an air of timidity. The quiet is long and deafening, her words seemingly swallowed by the void created by the silence. Mercifully, the silence finally breaks.

“I’m sorry, can you repeat the question,” said one of the students. Getting a room full of strangers to bond can be a tall order, but that’s part of the reason Sotomayor and her co-host, Jade Nguyen, are speaking to these students. “Chill and Chat,” a mixer for campus freshman held on behalf of the Oﬃce of First Year Experience, is hosted by the department’s Student Success Fellows. These are coaches who help freshman students acclimate to the rigors of college life, and that is why Sotomayor and Nguyen were there. Each “Chill and Chat” has a

diﬀerent topic of conversation. On the agenda for this chat was the idea of ‘humans being’ instead of ‘humans doing’ — the idea of being in the moment, versus being in your mind’s future. “I think as students, we mainly focus on humans doing, in terms of what is the next task. What is the next thing? Even during the break, some expressed how they’re going to be thinking, ‘What is the next thing I need to do?’” Sotomayor said. Sotomayor elaborated, clarifying her intent for everyone to speak on what preoccupies them. The students began to speak up, seemingly more aware of what

was being asked. Monique Ramos is one of the students who spoke up. She is a sociology major in her senior year, but also works in the Oﬃce of First Year Experience. Even though she is around the Fellows and the work they do to connect students, there are still things she can take away from this specific topic. “There’s more students, like myself, that are experiencing different stressors like school life, balancing everything. So I feel like I definitely took away that it’s OK to self-care, and that self-care looks diﬀerent for everyone,” Ramos said.

DANIEL VENEGAS / DAILY TITAN

Carla Sotomayor and Jade Nguyen, graduate assistants, led a discussion on the topic of ‘human beings’ instead of ‘human doings.’

As a student and a student assistant, she understands the importance of creating a space for students to learn and share stories. “I like that we have a space where we can just sit and chat and talk because we were always on the go go go. And so it’s nice for us to be able to come in here and talk with the staﬀ,” Ramos said. The ‘human’ prompt yielded a relatively mild reaction from many of the students. Most of the responses came from students associated with the program. Nguyen said the prompt is meant to elicit students to talk about the happenings of their lives, and serve as a jumping-oﬀ point to a larger, more lively conversation. “But the ultimate goal is to build community. And so with these events, it’s an opportunity to gather students to relax and to get connected,” Nguyen said. And relax they did. As the conversation drifted away from the topic of the event, the students livened up and bonded over war stories of Black Friday and the upcoming holidays. Oddly enough, the walk away from conversations of humanity drew the students to become more present. But at the end of the day, it was a connection that Sotomayor wanted them to find. “Our main goal is to have students connect. And in terms of the areas of the things they’re doing, their experiences of being. And I think that’s ultimately what we got out of this ‘Chill and Chat.’”

Column: Break activities to fulfill your appetite Stuff your free week with trips, streaming services and everything in between. MADELINE GRAY KIM PHAM Editors

You just took your last exam and submitted the essay you spent two hours writing because it was due at 11:59 p.m. and you started at 9:59 p.m. It’s finally over and you’re starting your break strong by taking a nap. With Thanksgiving break right around the corner, here are some ways to take full advantage of the much needed days off before returning to study and cry in preparation for finals. Black Friday shopping/deals Everyone knows that the best part about the holiday season, other than getting cuffed, is the holiday deals. Black Friday shopping is no joke and neither are those discounts. Fall weather is finally upon us and that means a new wardrobe. Be sure to hit up your local shopping centers from Thursday night to Friday afternoon to make sure you cop the good stuff before anyone else does. A seasoned Black Friday shopper knows that it’s important to travel lightly and carpool. There’s no time to waste on a parking spot when there are lines out the door and cheap items to sweep. Local deals include the Irvine Spectrum Center’s free offers on ice skating, giant wheel rides and carousel rides starting midnight after Thanksgiving.

Make sure to show gratitude to the real ones and attend or host your own fun-filled celebration with friends who have been there through it all. Don’t go from stressing over midterms to worrying about holiday festivities. Apps such as evite and punchbowl make planning a get-together easy and enjoyable, and sharing a spreadsheet on Google sheets can help organize an event that everyone can contribute to. Whether it’s making a homecooked meal, relaxing with your tight-knit pals or letting your chosen family know how thankful you are to experience life with them, do it the right way by doing it together. Photoshoot There’s nothing like the essence of autumn to decorate your Instagram pictures. From warm-colored leaves to ominous grey skies, the fall season is ready for your last minute photoshoot adventures. You don’t have to be a professional photographer to get this checked oﬀ your holiday bucket list. Fujifilm disposable cameras come in packs of two at Walmart for a little over $15. After getting these developed, the photos will also make for a thoughtful Christmas gift.

If clout is what you’re chasing, download the Huji Cam app to get that edgy photo for half the work. Your socials will no longer be dry with these fun and festive pictures. While it’s convenient to have something tangible to recall your holiday activities, don’t forget to live in the moment and spend time with your loved ones. Capture the memories with your eyes as well as your phone. Road trip! If you want to spend some time with friends or get away from family, take a road trip out of town. Whether it’s a spontaneous stop in San Francisco or a well-planned trek across Route 66, there are plenty of places to spend your holiday season. Las Vegas is only four hours away from Fullerton, and if you’re feeling adventurous, keep on driving up the Interstate 15 to Utah. From Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon to Arches National Park, there is a cornucopia of beautiful landscapes to explore and take picture perfect Instagram photos. Apple farms Despite the fluctuating California weather, you can still immerse yourself in the fall festivities at apple farms sprinkled across the

golden state. If you’re not in the mood to break the bank on gas money, sip unique cider concoctions in San Bernardino County’s Oak Glen farms. Take your pick from locations including Riley’s Farm and Willowbrook Apple Farm. If you want to watch the leaves turn from green to red and orange hues, then pile up the minivan and head to northern California to sip on apple-based foods and drinks including ciders, beers, donuts and even catch a ride on a hay-filled truck. Find the most appealing spot from Boa Vista Orchards in Placerville to Clearview Organic Orchards in Watsonville. Stay in! It is a break after all. Countless all-nighters and caﬀeine-stained assignments have boiled down to this weeklong vacation, truly meant to be spent out of sight and out of mind. Want to sleep for 12 hours? Go for it. Want to sleep for two days straight? Even better. School has been put on pause, which means it’s time to unleash your inner underachiever. The TV shows you promised to catch up on are begging to be watched. Find a classmate’s Netflix account to borrow for the week, or consider investing in a Disney Plus account. After all,

Cooking classes With a ton of potluck feasts to attend, you’ll need all the help you can get to assemble the perfect pie or casserole. Take this opportunity to brush up on your cooking skills and learn from the professionals. And if you’re too lazy to leave the house on those cold gloomy days, don’t worry. Keep cozy in pajamas and take some Thanksgiving-themed cooking courses, such as the ones at Panna Cooking, to impress your loved ones. You’ll get the chef’s kiss of approval on your turkey-carving skills and the perfectly-baked pecan pie. Friendsgiving You can’t choose family, but you can definitely choose friends. VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM

ELIZA GREEN / DAILY TITAN

San Francisco is one of the many road trip destinations you can take on your Thanksgiving break.

no paper or exam can stand in the way of you and your happiness now. Volunteer Nothing feels better than giving back during this time of the year. While some are lucky enough to have family, friends and a home to celebrate the holidays, others have significantly less. Your contributions help make someone else’s season slightly less cold and a little more magical. Being charitable doesn’t have to be expensive. While donations are always appreciated, you can volunteer by delivering food through Meals on Wheels or embarking on a Turkey Trot run where you can burn oﬀ your Thanksgiving dinner calories while helping charities. Whichever method you choose, you are making a diﬀerence. True holiday spirit is shown in the act of giving, so don’t shy away from making this break your most filling and fulfilling one yet. Thanksgiving parade For those whose budget allows it, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is something to experience at least once in your life. Going on its 93rd year, this parade begins Thanksgiving morning at 9 a.m. sharp in New York City. From prestigious marching bands to professional dancers, there is no limit to what performances you’ll experience from Central Park West to Herald Square. The parade would not be complete without its meticulously-designed floats and oversized balloons. If you’re not interested in viewing the Rocking Flamingo or Rocking Lobster float, you must appreciate the Olaf balloon in person to celebrate the release of “Frozen 2” on Nov. 22. Traveling to New York, especially during the holidays, is no easy feat. For those who cannot make the trip, NBC will be broadcasting the event from 9 a.m. to noon on Nov. 28, allowing admirers to live vicariously through its hosts and parade attendees. Whether or not you decide to act on all of these suggestions or none of them, remember to take care of yourself this Thanksgiving break — sleep, eat and spread good vibes. Most importantly, gives thanks to those who love and care for you. Nathan Nguyen contributed to this article.

Opinion 5

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2019

Colin Kaepernick exposes NFL hypocrisy The football league used the athlete to protect their image.

JORDAN MENDOZA Editor

The latest chapter in the NFL’s saga with Colin Kaepernick continued this past weekend. On Nov. 12, the NFL announced that it would hold a workout and interview for Kaepernick in Atlanta on Nov. 16, and that all 32 teams in the league were invited to attend. Since Kaepernick’s last appearance was in 2016, anticipation was building all week about whether this would be his chance to finally get back to playing football. However, Saturday was a turn of events. Instead of showing up to the scheduled workout at the Atlanta Falcons’ football facility, Kaepernick decided to hold his own workout at a nearby high school. Some media personalities said that Kaepernick staging his own workout was a PR move; a ploy just to stir up more controversy. Whether attending the NFL’s workout was the final opportunity to make a comeback or not, Kaepernick’s decision to control the narrative was the right decision to make, and in spurning the NFL, he exposed another company trying to look good in the public eye. The relationship between the two parties since Kaepernick’s final game has been beyond estranged. After opting out of his contract with the 49ers in 2017, the quarterback looked for a new team to play for, yet no one took thea chance to sign him. Although never proven, many people believe him being out of the league was a result of him

REBECCA MENA / DAILY TITAN

kneeling for the national anthem, which he did to protest police brutality and the treatment of minorities, specifically African Americans, in the U.S. Since then, there have been countless rumors of teams possibly signing Kaepernick, but nothing ever came to fruition. The NFL must have thought it was a great idea for all parties involved, and it initially seemed that way, until more details of the workout came out. Typically, workouts for free agents take place on Tuesdays: a day where most team executives can attend. By holding the workout on a Saturday, it makes the decision to attend a hard choice for teams, as they usually have a game on Sunday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the workout was asked to be moved to a Tuesday or a week later, but the request was denied. Not only that, it was announced just four days prior, and Kaepernick’s representatives received vague reasoning about the workout from the NFL. In addition, a media presence was not allowed during the workout, and the NFL would not provide a list of receivers

that would assist. The odd stipulations the NFL put in place resulted in Kaepernick ditching the workout and holding his own, and when given the chance to speak with the media, he called out the NFL. “I’ve been ready for three years, I’ve been denied for three years,” Kaepernick said. “We’re waiting for the 32 owners, the 32 teams, (NFL commissioner) Roger Goodell, all of them to stop running. Stop running from the truth, stop running from the people. Around here, we’re ready to play, we’re ready to go anywhere.” If anything can be learned from the entire situation that transpired this past weekend, it’s that Kaepernick rejoining the league was not the top priority of the NFL, and that fact was easily exposed. In February, Kaepernick, along with former teammate Eric Reid, settled a collusion case against the NFL for conspiring to keep the quarterback from returning to the league. While never publicly said, it is clear from this situation that the NFL was trying to avoid another lawsuit. By oﬀering the chance for teams to see firsthand how good Kaepernick

was, they were essentially taking the pressure oﬀ of their shoulders. After receiving constant blame for blackballing, this was the NFL saying they are giving him a chance. With more than 24 teams announcing that they would go to Atlanta, if Kaepernick did not get signed in the days and weeks after the workout, the NFL could simply place the blame on the teams for not signing him, and say, “Well, we gave him a chance.” The NFL reeks of PR deception. Although not the same situation, it is comparable to companies that try to look like they care about social issues, such as businesses that attempt to show oﬀ their pride during pride month as an easy marketing tool. This was the NFL thinking that it could win back the crowd that protested against Kaepernick’s unemployment, and in winning them back, it could once again make more money. It’s not the first time the NFL has tried to use a PR stunt to lighten the mood on the injustices facing African Americans. In August, the NFL

announced a deal with Roc Nation, an entertainment company founded by rapper Jay-Z, to help select performers for the Super Bowl. In addition, the company would also be part of the NFL’s focus on “education and economic advancement; police and community relations; and criminal justice reform.” And what was the first move of advancement? A free pregame concert in Chicago, featuring Meek Mill and Meghan Trainor. SportsNet New York anchor Chris Williamson summed up the situation perfectly on Twitter, saying, “How do we stop racism, systematic oppression, and police brutality? Jay-Z and the NFL: Let’s sell t-shirts and throw concerts. That’ll really shake up the system.” The situation with Jay-Z, along with Kaepernick’s experience this past weekend, proves that the NFL is tone-deaf when it comes to handling social situations, and Kaepernick caught it red-handed. Though the circumstances that Kaepernick faced on Saturday were unfortunate, his workout proved that he is ready to play, with one NFL executive saying his talent was “elite.” The NFL tried to get away with taking the heat oﬀ, and instead added more pressure. If the NFL actually cared about Kaepernick and his job, it would have worked with him to get a fair workout for both sides. Kaepernick asked for transparency, and he got none of it. The NFL cares about one thing and one thing only: its image. There is no telling whether a team will step up and sign Kaepernick, but he’s more deserving of a job than some starters in the league today. However, if he does not get signed, it’s not going to be any team’s fault, it will once again fall on the league that is “trying” to promote social justice and equality. The only diﬀerence is, Kaepernick is doing that, and the NFL isn’t, and it probably never will.

Human rights is becoming a new religion The absence of deliberating justice halts civil progress.

MELISA RYBALTOWSKI Editor

In a world straying further away from tradition, human rights have seemingly become a newfound religion for many people. Society as a whole has shifted its concern from religious righteousness toward the collective well-being of humanity, and while human rights are considered a basis for ethical standards, promised eﬀorts toward peace provoke a sense of faith. The problem is that human rights are based on moral beliefs that are culturally relative and their advocacy involves a certain level of ethnocentrism. Human rights outline universal standards in areas such as security, law enforcement, equality, political participation and education. The population of the world is, however, enormously varied in culture, tradition, religion, and levels of political and economic development. However, because societies are inherently multicultural, and pluricultural at that, meaning that ethnic diﬀerences are valued due to varied perspectives, upholding human rights comes with its challenges. Living in Southern California VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM

during the early 2010s guarantees having shared the road with a car sporting a ’coexist’ bumper sticker. However, it’s doubtful that the people promoting coexistence have stopped to ask what it really takes for all of humankind to share their existence as one. The simple adoption of the bumper sticker indicates dangerous ignorance regarding the roots of religious conflict. Yet, that doesn’t stop people from idealizing a world in which all of humankind lived as one, as unrealistic as it may be. John Lennon was one of the first to popularize this ideal, inviting everyone to envision a world governed by peace and unity through his song, “Imagine.” The lyrics, “imagine there’s no country” and “no religion too” are a paradigm quite diﬃcult to dissolve, because religion has irrevocably shaped nations, and nationalism is ingrained in world history, arguably becoming a part of human identity. Recognizing all cultures, religions, traditions and mentalities shaped by social constructs as valid and worthy is conflicting. Concerning the advancement of human rights, The American Bar Association claims, “respect for civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights is a pillar of a strong rule of law culture, providing safety and stability to communities and nations alike.” But what happens when a culture accepts discrimination? Do individuals lose the right to exercise their freedom of cultural expression if their culture’s disregards another group’s right to manifest their beliefs? Again, the eﬀorts put forth by human rights are noble, but they’re as practical as

REBECCA MENA / DAILY TITAN

conversation is eﬀective. The United Nations has expressed its concern regarding international situations several times on Twitter, but fail to provide a concrete solution to the troubling condition of humanity outside of simply asking individuals to respect each other’s rights. The United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute stated: “We do not need more security to tackle crime; we need human rights to be respected;” However, according to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, morality can either refer to a description of how a group or society actually behaves, or a more universal code of conduct that everyone should endorse. Ethics, on the other hand, is

defined as a set of moral principles and values that construct a theory or system of governance, according to the Merriam Webster dictionary. The fact that human rights cannot be ensured is what makes it a belief, a set of moral principles upon which to base personal ethics. Its articles propose noble petitions, but are merely utopic aspirations that cannot be delivered without justice. The principle of selflessness is fundamental to all of the major world religions, which suggests that it strikes a central chord among humanity. The Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore considered love to be the “ultimate truth that lies at the heart of creation.” However, as Sir Isaac Newton established with the Third Law

of Motion, every action has a reaction. So naturally, one might infer that there will always be indifference toward the human condition, war and hate, despite human efforts toward love and peace. That is where the modern religion differs from most: the deliberation of justice. While most religions punish wrong behavior, it seems human rights are so bent on respecting all forms of life that justice has no place in the equation. Hoping for harmony is a nice thought, but it’s realistically impossible. Human rights are vital to progress, and many of these rights are embedded into most of the world’s major religions, but the lack of deliberation of justice make its appraisal as a modern religion questionable.

6 Sports

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2019

Women’s basketball announces new recruits for the 2020-2021 season

Two of the three signees for the Titans hail from Adelaide, Australia. KASON CLARK Editor

Cal State Fullerton women’s basketball announced its signing class for the 2020-21 season. Three high school seniors signed their Letters of Intent, two of which come from across the Pacific. The local signee is Ashlee Lewis from Cerritos, a 6’1” power forward and center who has played varsity basketball for three years at Long Beach Poly High School. She was named a team captain for her current senior season, and selected for the AllMoore League her sophomore and junior seasons. Lewis was the top rebounder for her team in her sophomore and junior seasons, and the team’s co-leading scorer her junior season. Last season, Lewis and Long Beach Poly made the CIF Division 1 semifinals. Bella Stratford comes from Immanuel College in Adelaide, Australia. The 5’10” shooting guard was born in Mount Gambier, South Australia, but moved to Adelaide to play basketball. At Immanuel College, she won two state championships and was named an Open A basketball MVP in 2018. She is currently playing amateur basketball for the Bendigo Spirit in the Women’s National Basketball League. One of Stratford’s teammates at Immanuel College is fellow signee Gabi Vidmar. Unlike Stratford, the 5’10” guard was born and raised in Adelaide. Along with Stratford, Vidmar

won two state championships with Immanuel College. In the 2018 Australian School Championships, she led all players in the tournament with 105 total points, 21 points per game, 19 total 3-pointers and a 46.8% 3-point shooting percentage. She was second in the tournament in steals, with 15 total. The addition of Stratford and Vidmar increases the international presence on the women’s

basketball team. The only players on the roster who are currently not native to America are sophomore forward Amiee Book from Nelson, New Zealand and freshman guard Anniken Frey from Oslo, Norway. Lewis’ Southern California upbringing is nothing new for the Titans, as nearly half of their roster is filled with Southern California natives. The Titans will not need

these three signees to replace anyone, as there are no seniors on this season’s roster. One notable player that should return next season to play along with the signees is current redshirt-junior guard Raina Perez. Perez leads the team with 22 points per game and 4.8 assists this season; she was just named the Big West Women’s Basketball Player of the Week.

OMAR SANCHEZ / DAILY TITAN

The CSUF women’s basketball team is off to a 3-2 start this season after finishing 14-16 last season.

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Fall Recess

Dec 3:

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Men’s Basketball: Sac State vs. CSUF

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With these additions, women’s basketball hopes to continue improving under head coach Jeﬀ Harada. In his first season, 2017-18, the Titans went 8-21 with a 6-7 Big West record. The Titans then went 14-16 the next season, with an 8-8 Big West record. So far this season, the Titans are 3-2. In the meantime, the Titans will play at Grand Canyon University on Nov. 24.

3 4 5 1 6 9 2 hard 7 8 9 7 2 3 8 4 5 6 1

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Your positivity is not restricted to what you say or do. You can be a healing influence in someone else’s life with the simplicity of a kind gesture or sincere compliment.

Assumptions could trip you up today, but only if you let them. It is one thing to think you know someone’s position. However, it is altogether something else to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth.

Your earthy instincts allow you to express your gifts with smooth efficiency. Yet even while you perform with grace, you are likely to experience an intense longing to take a step beyond the strictly mundane.

There is no cap on what you can achieve when your healthy willpower and your hustle are working in tandem. It pays to be deliberate and conscientious when deciding who and what to draw in.

Your desire to enjoy a good thing to the max could collide with your need to travel light today. Try as you might to convince yourself that there are no strings attached to an adventure, your gut may be telling you otherwise.

The art of restraint is a test of your self-discipline. There is no substitute for experience. But there is no excuse for charging ahead unprepared, especially when entering uncharted territory.

The sky is not the limit when you tap into the best of your confidence -- it is only the beginning. There are many options for making your ascent, especially when it comes to your career or community standing.

Stop and take a deep breath if you catch yourself overreacting to minor matters. The fight-or-flight reaction is hardwired into human nature.

The hope that a simple solution to a complex problem might magically appear is likely to be a pipe dream. If you are willing to do some in-depth probing of what led to the current impasse or snafu, useful insights can be found.

Your perception gives extra zing to your observations. In your personal life and professional interactions, you can brightly shine in a meet and greet or mix-and-mingle setting.

Close ranks around a sensitive matter or private affair today. There might not be any prying eyes eager to sneak a peek at what is happening in your inner sanctum, but then again, there could be.

Your intellect does not abandon solid ground, no matter how far your mind might drift into the dreamy world of your fantasies. You are eager to handle whatever practical task arises.

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Sports 7

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2019

Home: Titans win second straight game “I don’t really care too much about how many points I score. I just care about the win, honestly,” Perez said. Book led the team in 3 points in the first half, making two of the four attempts she took. The 6 foottall forward from New Zealand finished the game with a recorded assist and third in points with 12. Turney also played a major role in the first half, earning the most rebounds with five and assists with four. The guard finished out her night just behind Perez in points with 16 total. Third-year head coach Jeﬀ Harada has only trended up since his arrival in 2017, despite the team being coined as underdogs by Big West coaches. “We’re still figuring out who we are and what we can do and where we can be and where we

can go,” Harada said. “Just take it day by day, week by week we’ll see what happens as we come up on conference.” The second half heavily resembled the first with the Titans recording 20 points in the third quarter and 21 points in the fourth. Perez continued to lead the team in points into the second half with 10, bringing her total for the night to 23. The 5’4” Arizona native welcomes the underdog title the team has taken on. “It doesn’t bother me that we’re the underdogs,” Perez said. “We like people thinking of us as underneath them because then they don’t know what to expect or what they’re going to get.” The Titans finished oﬀ the night raining threes, with three more in the fourth quarter. They rounded out the game with a field goal

percentage of 43.8% from the 3-point line and 51.7% overall.

CSUF sees its next opponents on Nov. 24 when they head to Grand

Guard Raina Perez led the Titans with 23 points against Utah State.

Canyon University before hosting the Titan Classic Nov. 29 and 30.

MARIAH ROSS / DAILY TITAN

(Students are limited to 4 units maximum during Winter Session, unless they receive approval to exceed that maximum.)

winter.fullerton.edu Not a current CSUF student? Visit ou.fullerton.edu

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8 Sports

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2019

Finally crossing the conference finish line BILLY HUYNH Asst. Editor

DANIEL BRITO Staff writer

It was a memorable year for Cal State Fullerton women’s cross-country, with the team winning its first conference championship in program history. At the helm of it all was John Elders, the coach of the university’s cross-country, and track and field teams, and the Big West Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year. Elders competed for CSUF in cross-country, and track and field in 1984 after transferring from Santa Ana College. He would stay involved with the program after graduation, coming on as an assistant coach in 1985. Elders was promoted to the head position in 1988, beginning a coaching tenure that has spanned several decades and seen hundreds of runners pass through. For Elders, a conference championship is the proud culmination of a long journey. “I came here in 1984 as a student-athlete and the program wasn’t funded very well. It was just something that immediately was a desire in my heart, to help contribute to winning a cross-country championship, and so to have that come to fruition is really special,” Elders said. What also made the conference championship so satisfying for Elders was seeing the eﬀorts of long-time runners, such as Samantha Huerta and Sandra Flores, be rewarded. “I’m especially excited for the group of gals that did it. One

of the things that is kind of cool about this is the freshman class from four years ago. They finished fourth their first year, third their second year, second their third and first their fourth year,” Elders said. “It just shows the progression of the foundation that those girls started.” The conclusion of the 2019 season marked Elders’ 32nd season serving as head coach for the cross-country and track programs. However, the years have not dulled the coach’s enthusiasm and energy, which still match that of a newcomer. “I typically get up about 5:15 in the morning, and that’s just my routine. You know the old saying: ‘Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise,’” Elders said. Elders’ fondness and passion for guiding his athletes has helped him avoid the burnout that can come from years of coaching. “I get to work with young people, and that keeps me young and energetic,” Elders said. “To have the opportunity to mentor them and help them through the process, because it’s not easy being an 18 to 22 year old and all the diﬀerent things you deal with. An opportunity to be a part of that is really awesome.” The desire to help shape young people was inspired by

“

I’m such a small part of it, because there’s a lot of work being done for me and on behalf of me. JOHN ELDERS Cross-country head coach

“

John Elders led women’s cross country to their first ever Big West title.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3

Central

Elders’ own experiences as a student-athlete. “I think part of the psychology of John Elders, in terms of my passion for coaching, is I didn’t really do it the right way when I was 18 to 23 years old,” Elders said. On the track, Elders is a tactician with a keen eye for crafting and managing his teams. It is a formula that has seen several championships and countless individual honors. “He’s very structured. He knows what he wants to do. He’s just very meticulous on how to put together championship teams,” said Marques Barosso, associate head coach of the track and field program. Perhaps just as important as Elders’ coaching on the track is his guidance oﬀ of it. “If I’m going through something, he makes sure that he’s available and that I’m able to reach out to him,” said Huerta, the Big West Women’s Track Athlete of the Year. Mixing on-field coaching with oﬀ-field counseling is a balance Elders has struck, and it forms a well-rounded development. “He’s kind of been a mentor, helping me out in my personal life as well as in the track,” said Erick Juarez, a member of the cross-country, and outdoor track and field teams. Beyond the detail-oriented coaching and mentoring, runners often get to see the humorous side of Elders. “I love hearing his dad jokes. He always comes up to us and tells us the random joke, and you know, it really brings the team together,” Juarez said. With the intense and fast-paced nature of cross-country, and track and field, Elders recognizes the need for moments of brevity.

MATT BROWN / CSF ATHLETICS

Head coach John Elder congratulating senior Samantha Huerta.

“He says the same joke every Halloween. He thinks it’s funny every single time, and so being a senior, I’ve heard it like four times,” Huerta said. All of it comes together for the cross-country, and track and field programs, which have recently achieved heights never before accomplished in their history. Elders is quick to note the success of the cross-country, and track and field programs extends beyond his eﬀorts.

“I’m such a small part of it, because there’s a lot of work being done for me and on behalf of me,” Elders said. For the longest-tenured coach at CSUF, the latest achievement from women’s cross-country is one that many have had a hand in. “Winning coaches awards or championships, it’s really all about them, and I just happen to be the guy that gets the title,” Elders said.

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