2019-09-19

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Thursday September 19, 2019

The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

Volume 106 Issue 10

CSUF honors legacy of Hispanic culture The heritage of those from Spanish-speaking countries garnered praise. MELISA RYBALTOWSKI Asst. Editor

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Cal State Fullerton President Fram Virjee and his wife, Julie, hosted a block party, at the Titan Student Union Pavilion on Wednesday, Sept. 18. Virjee’s reception was held two days after, Congressman Gil Cisneros held an event in celebration of the month in Hacienda Heights. Hispanic Heritage Month commemorates the legacy

I feel Hispanic even though I’m not Hispanic because of the richness of the culture. It is a beautiful and vibrant culture

FRAMROZE VIRJEE CSUF President of Hispanic Americans celebrating the Latinx community’s history, diverse cultures and contributions to American society. Several Latin American countries celebrated their Independence Day this past week, including Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The Hispanic/Latinx community at CSUF accounts for

WENDY SANCHEZ / DAILY TITAN

Students partook in recognizing the diverse Hispanic styles of dance, known in part for representing the vibrancy of the culture.

nearly 42% of the student population during the spring of 2019, making those who identify as Hispanic or Latinx the majority of the students enrolled in CSUF. According to Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education, CSUF is ranked in first place in California for graduating Hispanics with bachelor’s degrees. Food, such as tacos, chalupas and mixed fruit were available

for attendees. Nearly all tables were filled with plates of Latinx cuisine such as sopes, taquitos, quesadillas and desserts like churros. An arts and crafts table was stationed for people to create their own paper roses and pins, sporting national flags and cultural emblems. Participants were also given the opportunity to have their faces painted with traditional Latin flowers, as well as

participating in chalk art expressing why they were proud to be Latinx. Virjee commenced the event by welcoming guests and thanking the staff who helped put the block party together. He said it was the students themselves who came up with the idea to host a block party. Ariana Mora Mero, coordinator for the Chicana/Chicano Resource Center, organized the event with the vision

of everyone who identifies with a Latin background feeling included. “My main goal was to highlight some identities that don’t often get the attention they deserve,” Mero said. “I love seeing when people come out to events, they’re like ‘I know I’m Latino or Hispanic,’ or ‘I’m this identity but I’ve never had the opportunity to explore it.’” SEE PARTY

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City council weighs ban on firework sales Citizens expressed concern that the decision would slow nonprofit revenue. WENDY CHAVEZ DIANA TRAN Staff Writers

City council members and Fullerton residents held a vibrant discourse on Tuesday over the council’s consideration for allowing the continued sale of “safe and sane fireworks.” Four out of five council members voted to revisit the issue on July 21, 2020, when it expects to decide whether the matter would be placed on the next ballot. Fullerton voters legalized the sale and use of safe and sane fireworks in November 2012. However, the settlement is being considered for a revote due to recent safety concerns. Distinguishing safe and sane fireworks from those that would more broadly be considered hazardous is a seal displayed around the former’s packaging: “State of California, State Fire Marshall Registered Fireworks.” Otherwise, it is considered illegal, according to the Shouse Law Group. The revote could negatively impact 15 local nonprofit organizations, considering that a large portion of their revenue is generated by fireworks fundraisers. Cindy Lee, a Fullerton

Education Foundation board member, said nonprofits greatly benefit because they are the only entities allowed to sell at booths. Lee said her fireworks sales average around $12,000 a year, and that they raised a net profit of $60,000 over the last five years. “We’re able to raise funds for our schools or sports teams, and if they take that away, then we need to find additional means to raise money,” Lee said. “If you make fireworks illegal within the city of Fullerton, you will only be impacting the fundraising opportunities for our nonprofit organizations.” The city said it would be required to pay a fee of $8,500 to include a ballot measure prohibiting the use and sale of safe and sane fireworks in Fullerton in the 2020 election. John Kelly, vice president at TNT Fireworks, attended the meeting in hopes of persuading council members to keep fireworks off the voting ballot. Since 2012, TNT Fireworks has been the wholesale distributor for nonprofits. Kelly suggested that the real issue lies within the exploitation of illegal fireworks, rather than the use of safe and sane ones. “Until there’s an active enforcement effort, and it goes onto sending a message to people conducting criminal activity,

WENDY CHAVEZ / DAILY TITAN

Fullerton residents filled the walkway, waiting to voice concerns about firework regulations and street cleaning.

it’s unlikely that there will be change on behavior related to illegal fireworks,” Kelly said. The contention of this matter preceded an emphatic debate regarding street sweeping. Fullerton residents voiced their concerns about a proposed street sweeping schedule that would run from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on designated days, and disallow cars to park on affected curbs in this timeframe.

Some people do not move their cars for street sweeping, which has troubled Carlos Reyes. “(I’m) cleaning the street because the street sweeper, and it’s not his fault, he goes around two or three cars parked in front of my house,” Reyes said. Residents suggested staggering the cleaning cycle, meaning only one side of the street would be swept, so that cars could park on the opposite side and vice

versa. “The intent is to clean the streets, not to raise revenue by citation. So that’s common practice in many cities, and as soon as the sweeper goes by, you can return to that parking space,” said City Manager Ken Domer. The council members unanimously voted to resolve this issue for Fullerton residents in the next couple weeks.

Sales Career Academy A free one-day professional development & networking event hosted by the Sales Leadership Center Friday, September 27, 2019 | Fullerton Marriott Hotel | 9:00am | Register: csufslc.eventbrite.com FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @THEDAILYTITAN

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