Inside Fullerton Summer 2019 by Fullerton Publications

INSIDE

FULLERTON

Summer ISSUE 2019

INSIDE FULLERTON - summer - 2019

Wel come to o ur magazine Hello “Inside Fullerton” readers. Thank you for picking

We hope you enjoy reading this issue and we also hope

up the Summer 2019 issue! What you are about to

you have a lovely summer!

encounter is a student-based and award-winning magazine filled with diverse content. We as a team packed this issue with memoirs, entertainment, culture,

Editor-In-Chief Roxanne Reeves

environment, fashion and so much more. One particular story that our staff writers talked about

Assistant Editor Justin Conjurski

was our cover story, “Nomadic Tendencies,” written by Jon Buzdar. He speaks through his writing about his struggles, fears and experiences while traveling to Pakistan for 30 days as a photojournalist and how he came to realize that no matter who we are or where we come from, we are all just like everyone else sharing the

Special thanks to Jay Seidel, Fullerton College’s journalism department coordinator, for his assistance.

air and the same planet.

Editor-In-Chief :

Staff Writers:

Creative Directors/Designer :

Roxanne Reeves

Amanda Manriquez Jackie Valdez Jazlyn Morales Jon Buzdar Joshua Villafranco Laura Hernandez Marjorie Miranda Michael Echavarria Natalie Huerta Paul Smith

Flor N. Farfan

Co-Editors: Justin Conjurski

Social Media Editors: Joshua Villafranco

Web Editor: Joshua Villafranco

Photographers : Amanda Manriquez Jon Buzdar Jackie Valdez Natalie Huerta

Advisor : Kyra Kirkwood

CONTACT US For editorial, news, information & just to say hello: insidefullerton@fullcoll.edu For advertising, sponsorship or business questions: jseidel@insidefullerton.com

Inside Fullerton is produced every semester by Magazine Production, Journalism 132, at Fullerton College under the guidance of student editors and faculty advisement. Editorial and advertising content herein, including any opinions expressed, are the sole responsibility of the students in the production class. Information published herein does not represent the position of the North Orange County Community College District, Fullerton College or any other officer or employee within.

Mailing Address: Inside Fullerton 321 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton, CA 92832 Visit us on: Web www.insidefullerton.com Twitter @insidefullerton

INSIDE FULLERTON - summer - 2019

CONTENT local news

mindfulness

THE DEVELOPING SOCCER CULTURE IN AMERICA

GEOCACHNING 101: JOINING THE TREASURE HUNT

GOING GREEN TO KEEP THE ENVIROMENT SAFE

FUTURE FEST

CATHERINE MANN: CHANGING MINDS ONE LIFE AT A TIME

Entertainment/ Culture/talent

BOOKING A CAREER: NATALIE WACHEN'S LIFE AS A PERFORMER

NOMADIC TENDANCIES

FROM FULLERTON TO BROADWAY

ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES ARE SAFE

summer

WHAT A MUSIC FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE ACTUALLY COSTS

BIRTH CONTROL NOT JUST A PILL

BELLY LAUGHS AND IMPROV SHIMPROV

MENTAL HEALTH IN HOLLYWOOD

A War of words: the debate between digital and print books

A PRODUCT OF ENVORIMENTAL, DIY FOREVER

Mindfulness

Paying attention to the present, never dwelling on the past. By: Michael Echavarria

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It’s Monday. But it’s not manic. It’s mindful.

Stressful situations come in all forms: school, family, work, car troubles, relationships, friendships and many more light-hearted scenarios that shouldn't stress an individual, but do. Stress can cause people to give up, to lose hope and motivation to grow mentally, physically, and emotionally.

The timer goes off. All eyes in the classroom close. The background hypnotic sounds soothe the often-frantic thoughts racing through the mind. Gongs echo and the sound of a waterfall trickling down in almost a crystal-like symphony makes time seem endless.

But there's hope.

This isn’t at a fancy spa day or a yoga retreat. It’s an English class at Fullerton College. Professor Jacqueline Johnson of the English department may teach about literature and proper writing techniques, but she emphasizes the practice of mindfulness--paying attention to the present, never dwelling on the past.

“Mindfulness meditation shifts people's ability to use emotion regulation strategies in a way that enables them to experience emotion selectively, and that the emotions they experience may be processed differently in the brain,” according to articles published by the APA. This practice can helps students and people in the workforce focus on the important and positive aspects of life.

Mindfulness practices aim to help individuals to cultivate momentto-moment awareness of themselves and their environment, claimed Johnson.

Mindfulness meditation can help people with focusing. Cognitive flexibility and attentional functioning can be obtained through this practice.

But she isn’t the only one grasping this mind/body practice as a tool for everyday life. Mindfulness is something that provides a slew of mental and physical benefits including rejuvenation, and many are embracing this practice.

This form of meditation activates regions of the brain associated with more adaptive responding to stressful or negative situations, said Johnson. It will help people focus on the topics that are important and significant, yet it will start to block out or fade the negative thoughts. Mindfulness meditation is a practice of growth and healing, said Johnson.

Mindfulness is a therapeutic technique used to navigate one's mind into a mental state obtained by focusing on the present moments of life and not dwelling on the negativity of the past.

It rejuvenates the areas of damage in the brain that affect an individual, most commonly a trauma, or stress. Emotions are felt in a part of the brain where an individual chooses to be less reactive. But mindfulnes helps them see when it's time to move on, get past it, or just drop it. It helps people cut through the noise to get to resolution.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), one major benefit of a regular mindfulness practice is the decrease in stress levels. Stress is something the average human can’t avoid. It’s inevitable. But it can be managed with the help of tools like a mindfulness practice.

Mindfulness is a practice of rejuvenation that makes individuals live in the moment and never let the past adversities affect how your future will be determined.

Americans are suffering from moderate to high stress, with 44 percent reporting that their stress levels have increased over the past five years. Concerns about money, work and the economy top the list of most frequently cited sources of stress, according to the APA.

“This practice helped me realize that my sister who passed away last year would not want me to show depression and sadness, but she would want me to continue and pursue my academic goals. ," said Courtney Laine, a student at Fullerton College majoring in psychology. "It was hard. I still think about her every day. Mindfulness helped me realize that she is my motivation be a successful women.”

Mindfulness meditation helps the brain selectively experience emotions. It will help people realize what is really worth crying for and what things can be finally put to rest instead of carrying them, like a huge weight on their shoulders.

Mindfulness meditation shifts people's ability to use emotion regulation strategies in a way that enables them to experience emotion selectively, and that the emotions they experience may be processed differently in the brain. 5

BY: Laura Hernandez

Geocaching 101:

Joining the Treasure Hunt

t is a pleasantly warm and sunny day, gravel lightly crunches beneath your feet as you trek through the lush wilderness in search of a geocache. Or maybe you hear cars and people whizzing by in the bustling city. The possibilities are endless as a geocache can take you from the farthest corner of the unruly wilderness, to the most domesticated neighborhood, and everything in between. Geocaching can be simply described as a modernday treasure hunt, and everyone is welcomed to participate. Geocaching combines the use of technology with physical activity, as a fairly moderate level of physical activity is required to find most of these hidden treasures. The main point of this game can be different for everyone. Some people do it more to be social, others like the challenge of the hunt, and some like to go the extra mile. Chris Ronan, Community Relations Manager at Geocaching.com HQ, explained one of the reasons he was first drawn towards geocaching was because of challenges like “The Fizzy Grid” and the “365 Day Challenge.” These types of challenges keep the game interesting and fresh for many geocachers, and some enjoy them so much that they constantly go back and re-do challenges more than once. To further explain, in the geocaching community these treasures that you find are called “geocaches” or “caches” for short.

They come in various shapes and sizes. Caches can be hidden practically anywhere and each cache is unique in its own way. Much of the appeal of geocaching is that it is a neverending game that is happening all the time. Officially, it began in the early 2000’s and since then it has seen a significant amount of growth worldwide. There are a few very popular geocaching websites that you can use to participate in this game, a very well-known one being Geocahing.com. However, other websites include Opencaching, SCVNGR, Waymarking, TerraCaching, Geosocials, and more.

ecause of free to use apps like these, geocaching has been made easier for the average person to participate in. Ronan explained, “The popularity of the game has increased thanks to ease of access with smartphones and the free Geocaching® app. When the game first started in 2000, players needed a dedicated GPS device, which could be expensive. But now, anyone with a smartphone can easily play. (Though, many folks still prefer to use their GPS devices).” Geocaching is also a great way to explore your city and other places. Many caches tend to purposely be hidden in areas that are interesting, or in places where you wouldn’t normally think to visit.

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Ronan further remarked, “What interested me most about geocaching both in the beginning and now is that it introduced me to places that I likely never would have seen otherwise. I felt like I knew my state and certainly my city pretty well. But once I started finding geocaches, I realized there were countless amazing locations that were previously unknown to me.”

friends or family. Manhattan Calabro, a current Fullerton College student exclaimed “I was first introduced to geocaching in middle school by my friends. We were silly kids so I remember we used to hang out and sometimes go geocaching, and one time someone even brought tomatoes. It’s really fun hanging out with friends while you do it.”

In the International Journal of Environmental Health Research, Shelagh Robinson and Sarah J. Hardcastle stated how “The adults enjoyed discovering new places both locally and further afield, reporting that they had ‘discovered new locations in their local area.’”

Another student, Reed Pohle, explained he learned about geocaching directly from family. He commented, “My mom was the one who told me about it. We do it because she is more ‘outdoorsy,’ it gives us something to do and we can work out.”

owever, that’s not the only benefit you can take from geocaching.

It can be a great alternative to the conventional ways of exercise, and one of the best parts of it is that you can do it alone or in a social setting. Since it can require a substantial amount of walking, hiking, or biking depending on the cache’s location it makes it a great method of exercise that can be better suited for today’s youth. Ronan commented, “I go geocaching every weekend. My wife usually joins me, but I often go alone because I'm drawn to more physically demanding geocaches (ex. long hikes, kayaking, etc.), and not everyone is into that. But that's one of the best things about geocaching, that participants can choose which geocaches they wish to pursue. Every geocache is assigned a difficulty rating and terrain rating, from 1-5 (1 is easiest, 5 is most difficult). You can use those ratings to identify the geocaches most suited to you.”

good starting point is by downloading one of the many apps that are specially created for geocaching. One of the most popular ones being “Geocaching.com,” where all you have to do is make a free basic account in order to access geocache coordinates worldwide. But before you jump in, there are also few rules that geocachers live by. If the cache contains a trinket (which is better known as “swag”), you are free to take it as long as you leave something behind of equal or greater value. Don’t forget to also sign the logbook contained within the cache as proof you found it. Secondly, always leave a cache exactly where it was before you got there. This is a very important rule as other fellow geocachers may not be able to find it as the cache owner has set clues or instructions that detail the location of said cache.

hird, a great source of detailed information on geocaching is always available on websites such as Geocaching.com. It’s definitely a good place to start if you are new to geocaching, or if you want to learn more in depth information about the game.

In the Journal of Park & Recreation Administration, Rebecca A. Battista … expressed, “With the continued concern over decreased physical activity participation in youth, it was considered that geocaching may be one way to increase physical activity among youth as its novel, fun, and involves technology.”

f you follow these basic guidelines for geocaching, you will build up your cache collection in no time.

ut of 20 randomly surveyed students and residents of Fullerton, only three had previously heard of geocaching. This is partly due to the fact that the initial rush of the game is already over since it has been a thing for nearly twenty years now. It may not be very popular, but it is a hobby that is fairly well known among the more “outdoorsy” or “geeky” types of people.

Ronan also mentioned how you can begin your own geocaching journey. He added, “It’s easy to get involved. Download the free Geocaching® app, where you’ll find tips, hints, and instructions for playing as well as an interactive map showing geocaches nearby. You can also check the app to see if any geocaching events are scheduled nearby, where you can meet other geocachers and learn more about the game.”

Geocaching is fairly easy to do as well, which is why many people prefer to participate in this game with

INSIDE FULLERTON - summer - 2019

The Developing Soccer Culture In America

BY: JOSHUA VILLAFRANCO PHOTOS BY: BOVIE LAVONG

Unlike other countries where soccer is the most popular sport amongst the population, in the United States it had always been behind sports like football, basketball, and baseball. But with recent progress in the infrastructure of the sport in the U.S. at the youth level, controversy in other sports and the exposure of soccer from different nations, more and more people are playing the sport and making soccer a staple of American culture.

NFL and Pop Warner football. More parents, especially mothers, have been diverting into soccer,” Velazco explained. With more kids being exposed to soccer and starting to play the sport, the level of competition is rising. “The growth of soccer in the USA has been tremendous. Proof of that is that club teams have doubled, … Youth Soccer is growing more and more every year with parents now hoping over [the recreational league] AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) to jump right into club soccer,” said Velazco.

Over recent years, youth soccer has grown immensely. While being a sport that can be fun for children, it is also a sport that entices the competitive nature of athletes in America. With more parks opening up fields for use of play and soccer-specific areas opening across the nation, more youth and adult programs have started to pop up in local communities, giving people of all ages and backgrounds an opportunity to play the sport, said Aaron Rodriguez, director of coaching at L.A. Salsa S.C.

A major problem that youth soccer has had is the “pay to play” aspect of it. The cost of soccer has been a major deterrent for parents to put their children into the sport. The cost of these big clubs can range from $1,472 upwards to $5,500 a year as highlighted by TIME.com from Utah State University’s 2016 survey on youth sports costs.

American families are also being exposed to soccer through television. With new TV deals being struck to show the weekly games from European leagues on channels such as FOX, ESPN, NBC and TNT, this introduces the average TV viewer and casual sports aficionado to soccer, said Joe Velazco, founder of Impact Goalkeeper Academy.

This is an issue that is holding the United States back from completely growing their soccer programs in the nation. In other nations, soccer is free for the youth and promotes gradual development within the youth, ranks the United States looks for immediate results.

Children can now grow up watching stars they can idolize in the sport, such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and younger stars like Kylian Mbappe and American starlet Christian Pulisic in the same way that kids in America grew up idolizing stars from other sports such as Michael Jordan, Tom Brady and Derek Jeter.

If soccer cost less in America, more of the talented players who can’t afford to play competitively will come out and take youth programs to the next level, said soccer officials. Cesar Coronado, a Fullerton College men’s soccer player, explained that if soccer was a cheaper sport, more people would play and that “it’s a privilege to be able to play.”

Steve Perez, a player on Fullerton College’s men's soccer team, said “I feel like I see plenty of kids following up on soccer. Not necessarily the MLS (Major League Soccer) but the bigger leagues like the Premier League (England) and La Liga (Spain).”

This “pay to play” aspect of youth soccer in the United States has hindered the youth development from progressing as it has in other nations like Germany, Brazil and Spain, all of which have very talented youth players who end up playing professionally in their home nation or abroad for astronomical amounts of money after receiving free development within the academy teams from some of the nations’ most historic clubs. This is in contrast to players in America who tend to play for their club teams as well as high school teams to be scouted to play at the college level where the level of competition is nowhere near that of the leagues in Europe and other countries like Mexico.

More kids are starting to play soccer as a result of this exposure to different soccer cultures from across the globe and wanting to be a part of it themselves. Another reason more children are playing soccer is because of the concussion scares that sports like football bring. “I believe one of the major turning points in the U.S. for it becoming more popular is the issue with concussion in the

The clubs in this league are either free or have extremely low costs to play and are direct pipelines to lead into the professional clubs in America.

Over recent years, most of the United States’ talented players all went to further their development in Europe and countries like Mexico where training is at the highest of levels and is free of charge if you show you are a talented enough to earn a spot within the club.

This shows the progress that soccer has had in America. With more youth players being developed to feed into the professional teams here and not into teams in other countries, this would mean a brighter future for the sport overall.

Players like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Josh Sargent, who have shown high ceilings to grow in the sport, have gone to play in Europe for better opportunities and more exposure to the biggest clubs. They did not stay in America.

With the MLS attracting these talented American youth players as well as bringing in big household names from Europe to play in America, soccer continues to grow in popularity and is even seen as a place for opportunity, with people from other countries like Ryutaro Ichihara, a foreign exchange student from Japan at the California State University of Fullerton and a former player for the Fullerton College men’s soccer program.

This is highlighted by Pulisic’s recent transfer to English giant Chelsea FC from an already well-renowned club in Germany, Borussia Dortmund, for nearly $73 million, a record fee for an American player. This fee shows that America has talented players, but these players must be brought up in the right environment to develop into great players, and they must be compensated if they are to stay in America.

“Actually that’s one of the reasons that I chose the U.S.,” said Ichihara. “I saw the possibility or future in the soccer community.”

A way that the United States is progressing on this front is with clubs like L.A. Salsa S.C. Rodriguez explained that at his club their aim is to help kids play the sport at a competitive level but for a cheaper price. Compared to most clubs, L.A. Salsa S.C. costs almost half of what normal clubs team would. This allows kids from inner cities who have the talent to play an opportunity to be out on the field to develop their skills even further.

Already drawing some of the big names in the sport from Europe to come play in America and gaining their knowledge to help further develop the sport here, the more that America can develop its youth soccer programs to feed into the professional level and make the professional league more competitive the more popular the sport will become in the nation.

In 2007, U.S. Soccer Development Academy was founded and became the most elite youth league in the nation. The league aims to develop youth players to play at the professional level by providing extremely competitive competition for players to come up against year in year out.

Work still has to be done, but the United States is on the right path to success in growing the sport for future generations to enjoy watching and to compete at higher levels against some of the powerhouses of world soccer.

Every year we use roughly 100 million tons of plastic worldwide, with less than 5 percent of that being recycled. Based on this fact alone, it’s no surprise the eco-friendly movement has been on a rise.

His composting classes and the environmental program he helps lead at the Arboretum are directed not only towards elementary/ junior aged children, but also to adults of all ages.

The new normal is to recycle items such as paper and plastic, and even some public places have taken measures to reduce plastic waste as well. A singular example of this would be in our own Fullerton College, where hydration stations have been installed in order to combat unnecessary plastic bottle waste.

He explains they are all about sustainability, the arboretum is trying to be as sustainable as possible. One good way they can achieve this is by composting. The arboretum composts all of their onsite waste into their own compost, that they are then able to reuse at a later date.

Over the last half-century, roughly about 1 billion tons of plastic have been produced. The reason this is one of the huge problems the green movement faces is because of the nature of plastic, it has nowhere to go as plastic takes over a century to degrade.

Macias points out that by composting some of the waste we create daily, we can reduce the amount of trash that is dumped into landfills by about 35 percent. Another perk about composting is that you can reap the benefits of recycling, as there are countless ways in which you can use your finished compost. Compost can be used as a fertilizer for your plants, to generally strengthen your indoor plants, for a healthier garden, soil amendment, and it overall helps us leave a better planet behind.

Plastic waste may have the largest capacity to hurt the environment, but it is only one of the many waste problems to worry about. There are many ways to become more conscious about our environment – to achieve sustainability – that have become more apparent with the popularization of the eco-friendly movement. Fullerton Arboretum Education Manager Miguel Macias, teaches just that. Using his ecological background and degrees in ecology, he dedicates his time to teach for the non-profit organization that is the Friends of Fullerton Arboretum.

But what does it mean to compost? For starters, composting isn’t as difficult as it seems once you understand the basic rules of composting. Composting in itself is the natural process that makes organic materials decompose, and in time becoming a rich, dark material similar to that of soil. An important thing to note are the do’s and the don’ts about

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composting. For example, do compost anything organic or in other words, anything that was once alive (such as most kitchen scraps, grass clippings, dead leaves, etc.). Don’t add fat rich food waste (think dairy products) to your compost, any plant material that had disease or pests, nor any waste that could make animal pests curious about your compost bin (like meat).

advantage of more in the past couple of years. Macias explains that he himself has been starting to see more age variation in ecofriendly classes like those he offers. He comments the attendance has increased, with more younger people attending, some of which are from CSUF students and some of which come from outside the community.

Of course, there are more complicated and different ways to compost and be eco-friendly. Which is why the Fullerton Arboretum offers a large variety of affordable classes that teach you how to more easily incorporate green methods into your own life.

The Fullerton Horticulture department has many plants and gardens, including a fruit and vegetable garden similar to one of these front yard gardens. Staff as well as the students themselves work on these gardens and learn from them, with all the fruit of their efforts going towards the 3 yearly sales hosted by the department. These being the fall, spring and the summer sale, in which they sell the various varieties of plants, fruits, and vegetables that they produced.

“I’m excited, every time I hear someone is being greener. But I don’t think we are even half way there... We still need to educate a lot of people on it. I’m excited for that, but I think we still need to see more." - said Macias. And this is certainly something people have started to take

Kim suggests the various courses offered by the department are a good way to learn a little bit of everything, good for the GE requirement, or even if you just want to have a little bit of fun.

"A lot of people are planting natives, and being more mindful of water.”

When asking Macias what he thinks we can do as individuals to be eco-friendly he suggested, “Visit the Arboretum… come and check it out, get familiar with the arboretum, come and see all the things we are doing (…) It’s free, obviously we don’t have admission, you’re all welcome.” Which brings us to the next question we should be asking, what else can we do to aid and better preserve the planet we live on? There are a number of ways we can prevent the overuse of resources such as gas, electricity, or water. Water being one of the especially important ones to those of us living in California. Some would consider the severe drought that has been affecting California for the past couple of years to finally be over, but even so, the conservation of water is not only beneficial to places such as California that suffer droughts. To put it more simply, saving water also means saving energy. The word ‘energywater nexus’ is used to explain the interdependence of water used for energy production. It also explains the energy that is used to extract, purify, cool, and even heat up water, as well as the cleaning and disposal of waste water. Fullerton College’s Horticulture Department strives to do exactly that, department staff work hard to incorporate ecofriendly technologies and methods into the department. Horticulture lab technician Edward Kim explains we should still be mindful about things such as water usage. Because of this, the plants the department sells in their annual sales have incorporated plants such as the drought tolerant and the California native.

“We do have to sell what people want. But I think people are learning, and their kind of changing their landscape accordingly to be friendlier to the ecosystem, in terms of wildlife. A lot of people are planting natives, and being more mindful of water.” Kim explains more people have been buying and maintaining more drought tolerant plants in an effort to help the environment. He also mentions the department is building a new greenhouse, as well as updating their entire department infrastructure in order to have more efficient water and power usage. With the rising green movement, more people have began caring more about where their food is sourced. The effects of this are more people transforming their landscapes from decorative aesthetic pieces, into landscapes that provide for us. Plants are being used in a more functional ways, such as for food. “I think it’s a great thing, people are using that space and making it actually functional. It actually provides for you, and even some wildlife too.” These front yard gardens that have been popping up more around Southern California are another way for how we can be more ecologically conscious. They are not only aesthetically pleasing decorations for the front of our homes, but can be beneficial and used alongside other green methods.

THE VR EXPERIENCE Virtual reality, or VR, if you haven’t noticed, is taking over the online experience. If you don’t know what VR is, it is a virtual place you can go to connect with others, play games, or experience real life things and places without going anywhere. Imagine going to see a concert or listen to a live DJ set without having to go to the venue. Imagine skipping parking, crowds, and the heat. Have you ever thought of maybe attending a music festival in VR? Demicube LLC. has, and they named it Future Fest.

BY: JACKIE VALDEZ PHOTOS BY: JON BUZDAR

Whose idea was it? It all started with Steven Yang, CEO of Demicube, and Kevin Mowers, Chief Experience Officer and Lead VR Developer of Demicube. Each shared a desire to give music lovers a new way to experience music and production. Future Fest stemmed from a small virtual reality music visualizer created by Totem V’s co-founders Andrew Aquino, Kevin Mowers, Steven Yang, ChristianErol Noble and Elaine Pham.

When does Future Fest launch?

What is Future Fest exactly?

Future Fest is currently still in its research and development phase. There is no launch date yet but the estimated release year is 2022. Future Fest does however have a time code feature where DJs can create and save shows for their tracks so they can later play their music live without the worries of producing the show live.

Future Fest is a VR experience created by Demicube LLC which is based out of Downtown Fullerton. It lets you watch and listen to a DJ perform live in VR and at the same time interact with people at the festival from all over the world like you would normally do in real life. On the other hand, DJs can showcase their talent live to people globally. It will look like a real live show and anyone who has the software can attend or play.

“This feature is under testing with alpha testers provided by the Oculus Start program,” said Mowers. “Virtual reality is still a young market. Even if Future Fest was

You can stay updated with the development of Future Fest on their website, futurefestvr.com or you can find them on Instagram @futurefest_vr.

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ready to launch, the virtual reality market wouldn’t be able to support it just yet.”

What would a Future Fest experience be like for a DJ?

the world to attend.”

What would Future Fest be like for the attendees? A festival attendee will be able to experience the DJs music live while surrounded by people who like the same music as you. The attendee will be able to talk to other attendees around them as well. Users will be able to create their own virtual avatar. In other words, it is as if you were at a reallife music festival or a show.

In Future Fest vocabulary, DJs are called content creators. As a content creator, you are supposed to perform your music for the world, but also put together the show. This includes lighting, music and stage design. “We’ve (Demicube) dedicated the last few months to creating tools that these users can use in virtual reality,” said Mowers.

What does Future Fest hope to accomplish? Besides creating an amazing VR music festival experience, Future Fest hopes that this experience will bring more music lovers together and bring happiness to others. They also hope to give more opportunities for DJs to get their music out to more people and have fun while doing it.

DJs no longer need expensive equipment to create their shows because all of the resources they need exist virtually on Future Fest’s platform. DJs can also upload their own assets to Future Fest, which allows them to be as creative as they want.

“We envision a global community unified through their passion for music” said Mowers. “It’s not about replacing the physical aspect of it, it’s about presenting more opportunities to experience the feelings that a real-life festival has to offer. Being surrounded by cool people who are all there for the same reason—the love for music and happiness.”

“Our goal for these users is to provide the most seamless and cost-effective solution to develop their vision,” said Mowers. “We also are developing a service that allows these same creators to distribute these shows online for other virtual reality users to attend. Events are no longer tied to a physical location as these are hosted online for

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Catherine Mann Changing Minds One Life At A Time Story and Photos by: Jackie Valdez

Catherine Mann never expected to work in mental health but that all changed after a close friend of hers committed suicide.

HIV positive children orphans. Mann said, “I had no idea what I was getting myself into”.

It was November 2015, homecoming had just passed and things seemed to be—well—normal. Mann knew her friend was struggling with severe depression and was getting help but what was to happen next was still a shock to all that knew her.

This trip helped heal her pain and she then knew that she wanted to help other people in her near future. Still once she got back her plan however was to stick with marketing as her major at Cal State Fullerton. She began school and quickly realized that marketing wasn’t her strong suit.

“My mom came downstairs and told me she (her friend) ended her life…” said Mann.

“There was a huge disconnect and I wasn’t happy. I didn’t feel fulfilled emotionally,” said Mann.

Soon afterwards, Mann started seeing a therapist herself.

She went to see a school counselor to get some advice and guidance on what major to pick. The counselor recommended human services as a major. Mann took this advice and started taking classes. Immediately after she took her first class she knew that this was what she wanted to do.

She said, “I’d never lost someone that close to me before. I was 17 so I legitimately thought maybe she would come back like she was on vacation or ran away or something.” Her friends last text to Mann was, “I love you too forever." Her therapist recommended that she travel to another country. Mann took this advice and traveled to Ukraine and Russia where she helped

“Oh my goodness. There’s a major out there that fits exactly what I feel like my life purpose is,” said Mann about her new major.

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The deeper she got into her major the more clear it became that she wanted to be a therapist. She then started taking classes that had her working in therapy and noticed she was actually impacting and making a difference in other people’s lives.

education and support services coordinator intern, outreach marketing intern, and WarmLine counselor. As a WarmLine counselor Mann would answer phone calls from 10 a.m. to 6 a.m. supporting callers emotionally who were going through mental health challenges.

Mann said, “people started to tell me that me supporting them and relating to them was so meaningful to them. I realized how good that made me feel. It basically sparked this massive passion.”

Mann not only works full-time but she’s also in the graduate program at Pepperdine University, supports herself financially, and still makes time for family and friends on the weekends. She spreads her time and efforts out as far as she can because her personal motto is “I cannot do all the good the world needs, but the world needs all the good I can do.”

In 2016, Mann graduated from Cal State, Fullerton with her Bachelors of Science in Health Services with a concentration in Mental Health and a minor in Psychology. This gave her a foundation to be a successful paraprofessional counselor and therapist. During those years she was also a crisis intervention coach for a human services class at CSUF and a leader of a self/exploration course at CSUF in the human services department. She now works full time at a private psychology practice in Newport Beach called The DBT Center of Orange County as a Patient Services Representative. DBT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, is a type of behavior therapy that is meant to treat patients with Borderline Personality Disorder. DBT helps patients focus on how to deal with stress, control their emotions and help better their relationships they have with others.

How does she balance all of this? She said she keeps a planner to stay organized, meal preps ahead of time and sees friends on the weekends. During the week majority of her time goes to studying and work. Occasionally she takes a break to do nothing and indulge in self-care. Her career has definitely given her a different perspective of the world. “I work with a relatively well off population. From the outside you would think that these people don’t have problems or never struggle but that’s not true at all. I’ve learned to separate myself from judgment. I’ve learned that truly everyone I meet is facing some kind of battle that we know nothing about,” said Mann. She has seen, experienced and learned a lot in her career already but most importantly she has learned to stay hopeful.

“I'm the first point of contact for any patient, therapist, psychiatrist, or family member of a patient when they call our office,” said Mann, “My voice is the first voice they hear when they are asking for help— some of them for the very first time, others for the 100th time because everything has failed them thus far.”

“I’ve learned more about reinvention and faith. I’ve learned that it’s possible to turn your life around, no matter how dark it seems. I’ve seen it happen first hand. I’ve watched individuals go from living in a state of hopelessness to living a life with purpose. I’ve seen people find their life worth living right before my eyes,” said Mann.

Her job is to provide empathetic support. She said, “These individuals are usually in immense psychological pain. They often feel hopeless, sometimes suicidal, and 90 percent of the time very confused. I educate them about what DBT is, why it's different, and how it can help them build what the modality of therapy refers to as A Life Worth Living.”

Her advice to those who aren’t sure if they need a therapist is to, “look at their overall quality of life. If you struggle with past traumas, heartbreak, suicidal or homicidal thoughts, etc.—these are all things that can be addressed with a mental health professional.”

Right out of college Mann started working at the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Orange County branch. NAMI-OC is a non-profit designed to educate, provide resources to and assist individuals and families experiencing mental health challenges. There she worked as an

Mann said, “I would just say that help is out there. There are so many people in the world now who want to help and so many resources now. There is no reason to suffer in silence.”

Booking a Career: Natalie Wachenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Life as a Performer By: Paul Smith

Photo Courtesy Of: Natalie Wachen

INSIDE FULLERTON - summer - 2019

felt with a camera. And there is something so special about the fact that those moments you share with a live audience can't ever be relived or recreated, no matter how consistent a cast is from performance to performance.”

rom “Rent” to “Hamilton,” from “90210” to “Boardwalk Empire,” Fullerton College alumnae Natalie Wachen has had a career crossing many mediums of entertainment, bringing her smile and joy to each project.

She was born and raised in La Mirada and attended Fullerton College from 1997-2000 practicing voice, dance, and musical theater performance. Wachen studied with many teachers at Fullerton College, but has fond memories of two in particular—Al Morris and Arlyn McDonald. These teachers provided her with the encouragement and information she needed to pursue her career as an actor and singer.

he has played played many of the most iconic roles in the canon, such as Deena in “Dreamgirls”, Cinderella in “Into the Woods”, and most notably Mimi in Jonathan Larson’s “Rent.” “I am unspeakably grateful to have worked with that cast, that creative team, and to have played that role,” Wachen said. “Rent” is considered the first of a new era in contemporary musicals, with the character of Mimi Marquez being one of the most sought after roles.

“I couldn't have asked for better, kinder, more honest teachers,” she said. “I think about them often, and am so grateful I got to work with Al before he passed away. What they taught me about audition technique, preparation, and etiquette gave me a solid foundation that helped me get work in Los Angeles, New York, and actually, all over the world.”

Wachen entered the show as a replacement in the off-Broadway run. Being a replacement, you often don’t get much time to dive into the work and make it your own interpretation, but this was not her experience. Michael Greif, the original director of “Rent,” rehearsed with her for a month, adding in new blocking and restaging many numbers to make them fresh.

Wachen left the school in 2000 when she was ready to pursue her entertainment career full time.

“That's not typical, and it was really special,” she said. “The whole experience felt new and historic all at the same time.”

“Balancing work, money and school became really difficult, so I opted to focus on learning from the ‘on the job training’ I was getting by working in theater,” she said.

Not only was she part of the iconic show “Rent”, she also took part in a show even bigger than that, developing the early stages of “Hamilton” when it went by the title of “The Hamilton Mixtape.”

Right out of college, she was working throughout regional theaters and even did educational tours around the country, brining different informative pieces to students.

“It was inspiring to see a creative team made up of people who were literally at the top of their individual games work together with so much respect, excitement, and joy to create a piece of theater so unlike anything I'd seen,” Wachen said.

Today, Wachen works across the screen and stage, both performing arts, but wildly different mediums. She finds “artistic fulfillment in stories and characters more than in the platforms, themselves.”

hile not performing in theater or on the screen, she is leading The Natalie Wachen Quartet, a jazz combo that she put together to play brunches in Downtown Los Angeles.

Even though she loves the stage, there’s another element of film that fascinates her. “A camera can bring an audience so close to the action and dictate which piece of the picture they see at any given moment,” she said. “The tiniest curl of a lip or stiffening of a brow can't always read from the balcony, and the audience has so many choices of where to look… I love the intimacy and focus that TV and film allow.”

“Our specialty is happy jazz—good, old-fashioned favorites that warm hearts and put joy into dancin' feet,” she said. “We start most gigs with ‘Ac-Cen-Tchu-Ate The Positive’ and maintain a joyful, vintage Hollywood look and sound throughout our sets.”

They were on track to start recording album last August, but a tragic event put that on hold.

achen may be recognized for her recurring role on the HBO show “Boardwalk Empire,” a process that required her full commitment in order to land that part.

“Our pianist and my boyfriend, Tim, was in an accident that damaged his brain and temporarily paralyzed one side of his body,” she said. “He's still recovering, rehabilitating, and staying incredibly positive.”

“Boardwalk was only casting local hires for my role, and they didn't even know I lived in L.A..” she said. She paid for her own flight back to New York when she had landed a callback, stayed with a friend of a friend, all the while having a feeling this could be her job. Her feeling was correct.

Money is being raised on GoFundMe to help with Tim Butterworth’s medical expenses, and the quartet is still performing and planning for the future. The Natalie Wachen Quartet has continued to play around town with substitute pianists.

“Finally, I got the call that I'd booked it. My manager congratulated me, and suggested I turn it down,” she explained, due to the fact that cable TV does not pay as well as network. “I laughed pretty heartily at the idea of turning down an opportunity to work with such amazing artists, accepted the job, and moved to New York before the first table read.” Which she did while sitting directly across from Martin Scorsese.

“But I still hope to record the music Tim and I had been working on as soon as he's able,” she said. Looking back over her almost 20-year career, Wachen reminisced about advice for her younger self and what she’d tell aspiring actors.

While that may be her biggest television break yet, she has had a wide career in theater, her first love. “Theater is so alive,” she said. “I can always feel the audience, and I love that. There is an interaction in theater, a connection between the audience and me that I haven't

“Keep learning. Keep getting better. Hang on to your other hobbies, interests and friends because being a well-rounded person makes acting much easier and life much better,” she said. “Stay encouraged...Each step is important and it's hard to build on accomplishments you don't acknowledge.”

From Fullerton By: Paul Smith Photos by: Joan Marcus

Broadway is the goal for all theater actors, but so few are able to make it. They can train all their to do it, but many do. These select actors from around Orange County were able to make it to the have created Disney princesses on stage and on screen, Orange

Eden Espinosa

Stephanie J. Block Beginnings: Born and raised in Brea, Calif., attended Rosary High School in Fullerton and graduated from the Orange County School of the Arts in 1990.

Beginnings: Espinosa grew up in Anaheim, Calif., graduated Canyon High Schoolin 1996 and also went to Fullerton College.

Where Are They Now: Currently appearing as the legendary Cher in “The Cher Show,” a musical about the singer’s life and career. Block has earned rave reviews with many expecting her to win her first Tony Award for the performance.

Where Are They Now: Espinosa is currently touring the country as Trina in thecritically acclaimed revival of “Falsettos” and recently released a solo albumcalled “Revelation.” Notable Credits: Espinosa’s performances on Broadway include Elphaba in “Wicked,” Maureen in “Rent,” in which she was part of the final Broadway castand captured on film, and the title character in “Brooklyn.”

Notable Credits: Block has appeared on Broadway many times and her roles include include Elphaba in "Wicked,” Liza Minnelli in “The Boy from Oz,” Judy in “9 to 5” and Reno Sweeney in “Anything Goes.” Block received Tony nominations for playing Edwin Drood in “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” and Trina in “Falsettos.” Connect Back to Fullerton: Block performed with one of Fullerton’s most renown theater companies, Fullerton Civic Light Opera. As she told the BroadwayWorld website, “I was always involved in community theatre. I can remember my theatrical debut as Townsperson No. 3 in Fullerton Civic Light Opera's stellar production of Annie Get Your Gun.”

Connect Back to Fullerton: Espinosa returned to Fullerton College in May of 2014 to perform at the school’s Centennial Gala.

to Broadway lives and still not be able to break through the shiny lights of New York City. Many aren’t able highest of highs in any theater career. From Tony-nominated performances to performers who County has produced some of the brightest talents of this generation.

Erin Mackey

Susan Egan Beginnings: Egan was born in Seal Beach, Calif., and graduated the Orange County School of the Arts in 1987.

Beginnings: Mackey was raised in Fullerton, Calif., participated in "Fullerton Children's Repertory Theater" and graduated Fullerton High School in 2004.

Where Are They Now: Egan currently performs in many shows around the country including a tour of the concert series Broadway Princess Party where she performs with fellow actresses who have played princesses on Broadway.

Where Are They Now: She has returned to her role as Glinda in “Wicked” on the national tour after having played the role in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Notable Credits: Egan earned a Tony nomination for creating the role of Belle on Broadway in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.” On Broadway, she has also played Sally Bowles in “Cabaret,” Margy Frake in “State Fair” and the title role in “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” Egan also played Meg in the Disney cartoon “Hercules,” singing the famous “I Won’t Say (I’m In Love).”

Notable Credits: On Broadway, Mackey’s performances include Glinda in “Wicked,” Ali in “In Transit,” Hope Harcourt in “Anything Goes” and Oona O’Neill in “Chaplin.” Connect Back to Fullerton: She told the OC Register in 2008, “I was doing plays from kindergarten all the way through sixth grade, and I was in Fullerton Children’s Repertory Theater. I just kind of knew from a very young age what I wanted to do. I loved all the Disney princess songs and I loved being onstage.”

Connect Back to Fullerton: Egan has returned to the OC many times, including to teach a master class in theater at Cal State Fullerton.

E-CIGARETTES: A S A F E WAY TO G E T NICOTINE, OR NOT?

BY: MICHAEL ECHAVARRIA PHOTOS BY: JOHNNY BANEZ

INSIDE FULLERTON - summer - 2019

E-cigs were originally marketed as an item to help adults quit. As you’re walking through a haze of blueberry smoke in the Twilight Hookah Lounge in Fullerton, you get put in a hazy and light-headed mentality, the sense of the atmosphere is flowing through, very mellow and calming. Almost nostalgic, the flowing smoke reflecting the red hues from the toned-down red lights give the room a relaxed vibe. Everything continues to get more relaxed as you are sitting in the booth surrounded by many diverse people, surrounded in nothing but smoke and the low echoing of slow music. It may seem all hipster, new-use cool, but is it? Are e-cigarettes actually a trend to follow? When walking around and inhaling random clouds of fruity scents or smelling a cigarette, do you ever think, what is that smell, or where is that smell coming from? You’re watching someone suck on some USB-looking device, and think “what the hell is that person doing?” People now consume nicotine through electronic devices known as “e-cigarettes” because they often perceive them as a better choice instead of regular cigarettes. “I think people believe vapor/vape is more safe and does not have chemical or second- and firsthand effects,”claims Kelly Salazar, health education coordinator at Fullerton College. These new smoking devices such as “Juul” and “Suorin” are the most commonly used electronic cigarettes mainly because they are the two producers who create the flavors such as “cotton candy,” “berry blast,” “vanilla bean,” “bubble gum” and many more. These flavors may not appeal to an adult, but more to a millennial who would get excited about these flavors. Young teenagers perceive vaping as something interesting. Jazzy Lucker, a 17-year- old teenager from Brea, has been vaping since she was 13. She said

teens want to be like those “cool” people blowing o’s and doing awesome smoking tricks because it's the trend. “I don’t really get the point of smoking cigarettes when there are things like my Sourin," she said. "It's a small pocket device and it looks cute. When I was 13 I would see girls vaping in the restrooms doing cool smoking tricks and I asked if I could try it.” Salazar agreed that more young people start to use electronic cigarettes due to flavors. These have been a huge attraction to young smokers, she said. “Studies that have looked at youth and reasons for using a vape have found that they enjoy the flavors," said Salazar. "E-cigs were originally marketed as an item to help adults quit.” The use of electronic cigarettes was a way for people to quit smoking regular cigarettes, but now they are a way for a new target group to get hooked: teenagers. People perceive electronic cigarettes as a safer alternative to smoking, but are often not aware of the dangers and what kind of chemicals are used. According to 19-year-old Matthew Scott, an Army military police official and a fan of vaping, e-cigs and cigarettes both have risks. “Both cigarettes and vaping is bad, but at least with cigs you know what can happen, with vape we don’t, but hey they tell us it’s safer,” he said. The advertising by the companies that produce electronic cigarettes don’t often include warnings, such as the possibility of those devices exploding. Typically the vape devices that blow up are the devices that have been altered from the original state. Nor are there warnings about the flavoring diacetyl, which is a chemical linked to lung disease, or benzene, which is found in car exhaust, or the heavy metals nickel, tin and lead.

Nomadic Tendancies Story and Photos by: Jon Buzdar

I saw a young child with a severed arm wrapped in bandages. He was shirtless and the burn marks on his back looked fresh and raw. An older man escorted him down a different corridor as he yelled in pain. I stopped walking, my heart started to slowly sink and I felt a terrible feeling of grief rush over my body. I asked my uncle where the patients in this hospital had come from.

have very fond memories of growing up and visiting Pakistan as a kid. Now that I’m an adult, I'm about to get a real glimpse of the place I used to call home. I knew this trip would expose some extraordinary things, but I would have never imagined how intense things were about to get. From hospital beds and city streets to mountain tops and hotel sheets, I was born and reborn over and over again.

“Most of these patients are from Syria,” he said as he guided me towards the elevator. I was speechless and for the remainder of our time in that hospital, I didn’t say a word. I just nodded or shook my head when I was asked a question. I didn’t know how to comprehend what had just happened.

I walked down a large hospital corridor in the northeast city of Quetta, Pakistan. I was exposed one by one to men in a dire state of pain and discomfort. A man laid on his hospital bed with his leg held up in a sling, covered in a bandage. His face winced in pain as a doctor examined the other wound on his arm. In another room, there's a man with a bandage wrapped around his head, holding his young children in his arms as if this was the last time he would see them. A woman stood in one room talking to an official-looking man in a white coat with a burning cigarette in his mouth.

As a person who had only heard about the tragedies happening to the refugees in Syria on the Tv screens or radios, I was not prepared for what I had just experienced. I for the first time in my life, felt like I knew absolutely nothing about the world and my naivety was highlighted throughout this whole trip. This visit was only a couple days into a 30-day journey that was spiritually and emotionally one of the most difficult months of my life.

I took a deep breath as we got ready to make a turn around another corridor.At that moment, I saw something that will forever be engraved in my memory.

their shoulders and a very confused look of “who the fuck are you,” was also not very comforting to my already bubbling cocktail of paranoia, anxiety, and fear. I couldn’t have been more of a mess, scared and thoroughly convinced that I would not get back to LAX in one piece.

To be a stranger in a foreign country is one thing, but to be a stranger in the country of your forefathers is a completely different experience.

nly a few days prior I had landed in the airport of Quetta. My father was born in this region of Pakistan and would revisit frequently to help our relatives and the people of the region who he still felt very connected with. On this trip, he needed assistance because he was getting older and asked me to come along as a helping hand. I wasn’t too excited about the prospect when I was first asked. I had been working as a retail manager, recently moved into a new apartment in Orange Country and for all intents and purposes, I had a pretty steady life going for me. But like many people who find themselves waking up in the morning to the sound of an alarm and a routine that has become cumbersome and overly mundane, I wanted something more, I hoped that this trip would reignite the fire in my soul and hopefully bring about a change in my life that I clearly wasn’t finding in California.

Nevertheless, we trudge on. Just outside the doors of the airport was a man cooly leaning against his beat-up white Suzuki Mehran coup. This man was a family friend and someone whom I remember very fondly from my childhood. His warm smile and cheerful attitude was something that would make a weary traveler who had just endured a 20 hour trip across the world feel welcome. The streets there have no rules, no lights and, to make the experience more exciting, the cars had no seatbelts. We weaved through the streets, passing carts being pulled by donkeys, rickshaws, buses and the occasional heard of sheep that had veered away from the group. The streets were lined with vendors selling all kinds of fruits and vegetables, raw meat and cheaply made Chinese watches and sunglasses. The scents were invigorating. Motorcycle exhaust and fried samosas and pakora infused with spices and chilies. It smelled so familiar to my years here as a youth and...

That first day I walked off the airplane, I was immediately hit with a dry and unrelenting heat wave. Walking into the airport and immediately being greeted by men with AK-47 rifles slung around

INSIDE FULLERTON - summer - 2019

...very different from any of the aromas in Orange County. In the midst of all that was the overwhelming smell of open sewage and trash that lined every crevasse of the desert like landscape. I was in Pakistan, and boy, did it feel strange to be back.

etting used to the conditions wasn’t easy at first, but over time it became a part of who I was, like the warm glow on my face when I would step outside or the mosquito bites that would never go away. I couldn’t drink the water, due to any number of bacteria and viruses that would destroy my immune system. The heat was brutal. Mid-summer in the Middle East is a tragic love affair of continuous sweat and exhaustion. The average temperature in the afternoon was around 110 to 120. The electricity went out every couple of hours. That would result in all the fans going out all at once and you quickly started melting away as you tried to figure out how one can endure sleeping in these conditions. I had no access to the internet in the house and therefore no connection to the outside world. I was quickly reminded of how comfortable my life in America was and how much of a pompous asshole I was by complaining about the situation. I learned to keep my mouth shut, my head on a swivel and my opinions to myself. It took about a week of upset stomachs, terrible insomnia and pounding headaches to finally feel like I was accustomed to the conditions. I was finally ready to venture out into the wild. By the wild, I am referring to the streets of Pakistan. First, never run when you’re crossing the street. Cars will not stop and you gotta just slowly walk across as if getting hit isn’t a big deal Either way, insurance doesn’t exist and if you get hit, tough luck. Secondly, everyone has a gun. Get used to this and you will have a much easier time asking for directions or trying to find the local pharmacy. Literally every single store no matter how big or how small has at least one man with a gun standing in front of it. This is not to intimidate or scare you, it's for the safety of the people. There's a reason for everything. Lastly, people are kind and warmhearted if you treat them with respect. Everyone will greet you with a warm, “Assalamualaikum,” to which you should reply, “walaikumassalam.” That is Arabic for “peace be unto you,” and “and unto you peace,” respectfully. This was such a contrast to the very common standard of practice on the streets of Orange County, that consists of staring at the ground and avoiding any and every stranger that shares the street with you.

uring the first couple of weeks, we decided to visit my father's friend at a local hospital. That was how I ended up in that hospital in Quetta. As we walked up to the elevator that would be taking us to the third floor in the hospital, I could still hear the sounds of screams, fading away in the distance below us. The man who was running the elevator had to manually open and shut the door. This couldn’t have been the safest elevator, but at this point, I did not give a shit about the safety conditions. I was just merely trying to comprehend what was taking place before my eyes. We spent the next few hours chatting with my father’s friend and walking around the hospital. I would walk slowly behind my father and his friends as they would peer into different rooms, greet the doctors and marvel at how the medical equipment and service have been improved over the years. I never became numb to the sight of

INSIDE FULLERTON - summer - 2019

was a comfortable and safe topic as it didn’t involve religion or politics. I was personally a massive fan of an English team out of London by the name of Chelsea. He didn’t know this and I had made no previous indication on the matter. But without even taking a second to think he replied, “I'm a huge Chelsea fan,” to which I was immediately shocked and in awe of how crazy the coincidence was. It's fair to say that the car ride up to their house was enjoyable, eye-opening and comforting all at once.

bandages, the exam rooms and the screams. My uncle looked over at me and simply put his hands around my shoulder. “Before they built this hospital, there was no help for the thousands of people here, now they have a very important resource. Hope,” he said.

ut the experience that for me encapsulates everything about this trip, was the day I visited a holiday resort called Ziarat, which is located about 70 miles northeast of Quetta. At this point, I was still very much apprehensive, scared and intimidated by this country and by the prospect of traveling so far away from where I was staying.

To some, it may seem like a trivial and somewhat dumb thing to point out, but for me, at that moment I had realized that we were very similar. He enjoyed rap music, he watched movies and Tv shows that I loved and he even understood what it was like to be a college student with no real idea on what to do. He was my friend, the kind of friend that you meet and immediately feel like you must have been friends in a past life.

But I remember that morning very well. My dad's friend had sent his eldest son, a tall young man with short black hair that was combed upwards, to pick me up. I took a seat in the car and awkwardly fidgeted with my camera for a few seconds before realizing that I should attempt to make conversation with my gracious host. I asked if he liked football (soccer). To me, this

But for me, more than anything else, I felt like I was looking at myself if I had never left this country and moved to America.

INSIDE FULLERTON - summer - 2019

bout an hour later, we had finally made it to Ziarat. There were juniper trees everywhere, although most were very dry and about to die. Sheep and goats walked along the pathway that led up to a massive structure of two pillars that overlooked a beautiful valley in the distance. As we parked, so did another vehicle filled with men from another part of Quetta. They walked with us as we climbed up the somewhat steep trail leading to the top. There were dry brush and bushes that lined the pathway, goats would rush by and grab some brush to eat and then quickly jump back into the valley of trees below. There was graffiti on almost every rock that we passed, political parties and sayings in Urdu that I couldn’t understand. When we finally arrived at the top, I was left speechless and bewildered by the view. It was absolutely beautiful. There was a tall mountain to my left that looked like El Capitan in Yosemite and below me was a giant valley of trees and small mountains. I started taking pictures of the view, the mountain to my right and the people that had joined us on the journey up. Suddenly I wasn’t scared anymore. I felt comfortable. I felt like I was one of them. I was just as Pakistani as every other man standing on that mountain. That moment marked for me the single greatest epiphany I had ever had. I realized that I was focusing too deeply on our differences and what divided us. I was afraid of being seen as an outsider and I was scared of not belonging when all along, I was always a part of this country and I would always have a place to stand on this mountain top.

The moment in the car started something that would eventually lead me to walk up the mountain with a complete group of strangers and share with a moment that couldn’t be taken away. Pakistan is generally not a place that brings up positive and happy thoughts in the mind of most Westerners and trust me, I was very much one of those “Westerners.” But after spending 30 days amongst the people of Pakistan, I have a newfound respect for the people of this country and region.

his country was formed on a very shaky foundation as a result of the British government deciding to divide India. This country has been plagued by corruption, violence and rampant poverty. The people of this country have gone through a lot and have endured so much. I have seen first-hand what people can endure, what people are willing to sacrifice and how loving they can be to strangers. That hospital that I visited absolutely traumatized me in the beginning, but later I saw it as a beacon of hope for thousands of Syrian refugees. That man that picked us up from the airport wasn’t rich, but gave up everything that he was doing to help us every day. And every single person that I walked past on the street greeted me and put their hand over their heart as if to say that we were family. This isn’t meant to be a story encouraging you to pack your bags and fly to Pakistan, this is simply a reminder that not all preconceived notions are fact, that we are a lot more similar than we think. This may be a wake-up call for you to get out of your comfort

INSIDE FULLERTON - summer - 2019

zone and to truly see the world through a different lens. I hope you are able to one day experience what I have gone through and I hope that you have a life changing experience that makes you more aware of how similar we all really are. There's a big beautiful world out there filled with some of the most amazing people who are waiting for you to stop by and say hello. I hope to see you out there.

Birth Control: Not Just A Pill

With sex being a less taboo topic and women feeling more empowered, many more options of Birth control are available, allowing people to have healthier and safer sex lives.

BY: JAZLYN MORALES

"...TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR" Birth control comes in a number of ways, which can lead to confusion. The question is, which one should you use? From the Pill, to the ring, to IUDs, they each provide their own form of control and benefits. Although one may seem more appealing than the other, it is important to acknowledge the risks and benefits. “There is no cookie cutter birth control, it is not one size fits all solution,” said Health professional and Cal State,Fullerton graduate Katie Addicott.“There are many options, which makes it available for everyone.” It is easy to get the majority of information about birth control online, but other’s experiences are also something you could factor in to determine what’s going to be the best plan for you. Students have been taking advantage of the range of birth control options available since college have been offering free medical services. This includes free condoms, free or discounted birth control pills and other affordable varieties. There were a variety of reasons why each student was taking a specific form of birth control. First, the largest group, were those who used birth control to avoid unwanted pregnancy. Fullerton College criminal justice major Alaia Alonzo* first started using the Pill because she is 19, has a boyfriend and is a full-time student and feels that she can’t afford to take care of a child right now. The main benefit that birth control has given her is having a regular period and of course keeping her from becoming pregnant, but a downside has been the mood swings that come with the new hormones in her body. Engineering major Jay Sandoval* is a transgender student who had a copper IUD inserted in 2017. Sandoval prefers this form of birth control because of the lack of hormones. The IUD lasts from 3-12 years, which isn’t as demanding as the daily requirement of having to take pills. This allows more freedom and it can be removed at any time by a professional. “All hormonal birth control would have possibly made me more feminine and since I'm trans, I didn't want that,” said Sandoval. “I feel less anxious since I've never gotten a pregnancy scare. It actually gives me more peace of mind than condoms alone.” Environmental science major Aly Mendez* of Fullerton College decided to start birth control when she got in her

INSIDE FULLERTON - summer - 2019

first serious relationship. She chose to get the depo provera, or “the Shot,” because visiting her doctor every three months was more convenient for her than having to take a daily pill. “I would tell others to take it seriously when the doctor tells you that you gain weight and be sure to take the right vitamins because the shot does decrease your bone density,” said Mendez. Cal State, Los Angeles criminal justice major Emily Flores* finally decided to talk to her school doctor to get birth control, specifically the ring. She was initially using Plan B, or the “morning after pill,” as her main source of birth control but at $52 each, she wanted something more stable and less costly. Experts maintain this is not an everyday option for preventing pregnancy or disease, but rather an emergency method to be used in times of birth control failure. Medical professional Addicott noted that “the morning after pill is not an abortion pill. It doesn’t kill an embryo, but instead it inhibits ovulation.” Other students stated they use birth control for reasons other than preventing pregnancy. The reasons ranged from needing to balance their hormones for their skin,reduction of pain for period cramps and iron deficiency from excessive menstrual flow. Rio Hondo College psychology student Natalie Rodriguez* started taking Microgestin Fe 1/20 Birth Control Pills for period cramps and pain. She has experienced no physical changes other than a more consistent period. But initially she did experience some mood swings which eventually ended. “I had [cramps] so bad one time that I almost fainted, and I didn’t want to experience that again,” said Rodriguez. “If you are noticing any side effects that you don't like, don't try to push through it and hope it goes away. Speak to your doctor and ask to find a better brand of pills that works better for you.” While birth control is more of an open topic today than ever before, it’s still important to talk to your doctor and not just your friends. A doctor is truly your best option to know what specifically might be the best option for you.

*All names have been changed for privacy For more information about any specific birth control: plannedparenthood.org

INSIDE FULLERTON INSIDE- summer FULLERTON - 2019 - FALL - 2018

Belly Laughs and

IMPROV SHIMPROV BY: NATALIE HUERTA

INSIDE FULLERTON - summer - 2019

It’s Friday night and your friends have just called telling you they are making their way through the depths of Downtown Fullerton. You wait at the corner of the railroad tracks looking for the headlights on their Hyundai Sonata to come peering around the cross-street.

Battle: For the most interactive measure, you can battle with the boothman’s dice and if you roll lower than he does, you pay double! However, if you roll higher, admission is free. Take a chance, roll the dice!

To skip the door’s crusade for your funds, there is always a way to pay online and pre-order your tickets because the Maverick often sells out. But you will then miss out on the fun with the boothman.

The air is cold, but your palms are sweaty and you are left anticipating the laughs and smiles your group of friends will share, all thanks to your coordination and love for comedy. They drive past tempting dive bars with karaoke blasting on the outdoor speakers while heading towards a hole-inthe-wall theatre located on the “wrong side of the railroad tracks.” Literally.

It seems as though Improv Shmimprov is working quite well, judging by the turnout for each show. It is a struggle to find seating in this compact venue. If a person was to arrive late, or even on-time, seats will be near impossible to find.

Welcome to the Maverick Theater.

Improv Shmimprov typically has three pairs of people on stage all competing for the audience’s entertainment. In the very beginning, the host will pick an audience member who has not attended the show before and they use their arms to determine how loud the applause is for the couple teams.

The small door just down the road of the railside parking has been home to Fullerton’s legendary venue since 2003. It’s not in the most flashy of locations, but what’s inside is pure entertainment. On the off nights from showcasing musicals and plays, the Maverick near Santa Fe Avenue in Downtown Fullerton has been hosting Improv Shmimprov every Friday night starting at 11 p.m., ending sometime before 1 a.m. Accompanying the comedy, there is a bar serving beer and wine open throughout the show.

Though attending anything for the first time can be unnerving and worrisome for the newbie, regular attendees dish out a good piece of advice: “Expect nothing and everything.” The dynamic of Improv Shmimprov can be compared to a popular improv show called “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” with their offbeat games and antics.

Throughout the evening, the cast members invite the audience to be a part of the show. Though alcohol may play a role in the audience’s whimsical involvement in the show, it is indeed an all-ages event prefaced with the knowledge that the sketches and bits are ranging somewhere between PG-13 to R-rated. So don’t wrestle for your ID just yet...unless the bar beckons you, of course.

Often times, people wonder how exactly one can get involved with this comedy club. Ryan Clark of Improv Shmimprov, a member since 2004, explained that there was an audition process called Improv Idol where the cast members would pick 10 people and give them a show for the weekend where the audience vote on who would stay. “It was a lot of fun, but got problematic because sometimes the audience didn’t always agree with what we did,” said Clark. “So now we just sporadically have auditions when we need them.”

At the door, you are greeted by a person running the admission booth. At this comedy club, they do admissions a little differently than others you could say. The comedy group wants the admission process to be a bit of improv, ensuring a memorable experience. The boothman doubles as the host for the evening as well. Right from the get-go, you get to know the cast.

Mike Ransom, a member since 2014, shares that there really are no certifications of comedy one needs to audition for the Improv Shmimprov group, though it may be more helpful for the group to know what school of thought their potential comedian is interested in.

There are three different pricing options: Typical: This is only $7 and BORING! The boothman will not hesitate in letting

“Especially for this group, it’s more of a ‘fuck the rules, just go out and entertain’,” he said.

Dice: You can always take a chance and roll their 12-sided dice and pay what

Seeing as the show is all-ages, often times high school students from Troy and Fullerton involved in the theatre program or simply interested in comedy attend the shows to learn more about this brand’s comedy. Accessibility for students is bountiful for their growth in the entertainment community, say theater goers.

you know that.

you roll, upping the ante just a little bit.

“Expect nothing and everything.” 33

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Three-year Troy alumnae and current Cal State Fullerton student Katie Garcia shared that she goes to Improv Shmimprov quite often starting from when she was a senior in high school thanks to encouragement from her drama teacher, Brian Newell, who is also the Maverick’s main proprietor.

“it’s more of a fuck the rules, just go out and entertain’,”

“It’s very interesting to see what these comedians can stuff into a scene with the short time constraints they work with,” Garcia said. Wondering what’s so unique about this specific comedy group? Clark said there’s a special vibe at the Improv Shmimprov. “It’s just a bunch of people doing a shit-job at following the rules of improv and entertaining the audience entirely while doing so,” he said. Seeing as the comedy group works entirely on stage at the helm of the audience, the talent of these actors shines through as they include random people from the audience to build their scenes. There is really no way for them to prepare themselves for the scene besides spending their own time developing characters that could make a special appearance in one of sketches. For example, a first time attendee said they were summoned on stage to assist the actors in a sketch. It was a “finish the line” type game where they had to finish the player’s line without saying any words! With no prior knowledge of this, the volunteer had to think on their own feet to try to help the scene. This is a commonality at the Improv. It’s rounding 12:30 a.m. and bellies are aching. Your hands might be sore from the last round of clapping, but they're not sweaty with nerves anymore. After the anticipation was replaced with gratitude, your friends give you a slap on the back, thankful that you have enticed them into crawling out of their homes so late in the evening for a unique and humorous experience. Interested? Give it a go. Pay attention and let the actors teach you a thing or two about thinking on your feet while laughing hysterically. At the end of everything, what are the rules of improv anyway? Who knows, but those who show up at the Improv Shmimprov just might find out. Find your footing while walking through the doors of the Maverick Theatre every Friday night at 11 p.m. and laugh your night away at the expense of Improv Shmimprov’s eclectic group of comedians of all walks of comedy. Perhaps this small theatre on the wrong side of the railroad tracks got it right after all.

Fun fact: Newell actually had the very first opening show, an original multimediamusical about Elvis Presley at the Maverick Theatre when they had started hosting in the city of Orange. Photo by: Natalie Huerta

Mental Health in Hollywood By: Joshua Villafranco Just like everyone else in the world, celebrities are human too. They go through the same everyday issues that others face; even at times the characters they portray battle their own mental demons on the daily. Having to live in a demanding environment could put its toll on anybody, but for celebrities, they have the added pressure of being in the public eye. This pressure as well as other unique issues famous people face have led to several cases of celebrities dealing with mental health illnesses. Dr. Mary Henein, one of the psychiatrists on campus at Fullerton College, explained that mental illnesses have not been â&#x20AC;&#x153;socially acceptedâ&#x20AC;? which has halted the progress of breaking the stigma around them. A celebrity being open about their struggles with a mental illness may help break the stigma surrounding mental illnesses. Mental health is a serious issue that people still take lightly. According to NAMI.org, 20 percent of adults in the United States experiences mental illness each year. But for a certain few--1-in-25 U.S. adultsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; mental illness becomes so severe, the ability to live a normal, functional life is impacted. It becomes difficult for someone dealing with a mental illness, or in most cases multiple illnesses at once, to have the desire to carry on with their day to day activities. It can be so severe, thoughts of suicide appear. A mental illness can be anything from depression to autism to schizophrenia and everything in between. Photos Courtesy of: Unsplash.com

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Los Angeles-based college student Lupita Defranco, who suffers from depression and anxiety, explained that thoughts of suicide can start to appear with anyone dealing with a mental illness. “Depression and anxiety has made me feel very alone, worthless, and has made me think of suicide numerous of times,” she said. In recent years, many celebrities like Robin Williams, Chester Bennington, Anthony Bourdain, fashion designer Kate Spade and musician Avicii committed suicide, most likely due to their struggles with mental health issues. Many people, including experts in the psychiatric industry, feel that these mental illnesses coupled with issues going on in their personal lives and the constant pressure to perform for the public possibly fueled the desire for them to commit suicide to end their suffering. Mental illnesses can also lead to accidental death, as highlighted by the death of musical artist Mac Miller, who died of a drug overdose in September of 2018. Miller was open about his drug addiction and rapped about the issues he was facing in his 2018 album titled “Swimming” where his personal issues were fleshed out to his fans. “You can love it, you can leave it. They say you're nothing without it. Don't let them keep you down. What if I don't need it? There's something about it. That just freaks me out I just want another minute with it, fuck a little. What's the use?” Miller rapped. Other celebrities such as “Saturday Night Live’s” Pete Davidson and “Riverdale’s” Lili Reinhart are open about their mental health issues as well, but mainly on social media. Reinhart is an open advocate for mental health awareness. She speaks about her issues with depression and the struggles that the entertainment industry brings into one’s life. Reinhart sent out a series of tweets detailing her mental health struggles trying to bring awareness during Mental Health Awareness Month 2017. In her tweets, she detailed her journey with depression and how she copes with it, telling her fans to go out and seek help if they are suffering from the same issues. “To anyone out there who feels depressed or hopeless... do not f*cking give up on yourself. You're all you've got. And you deserve the world,” Reinhart tweeted.

But sometimes, celebrities turn to social media during their health crisis instead of after. This enables the public to see the real-time struggle. Such was the case with Davidson in the winter of 2018. After a very public breakup with his ex-fiance Arianna Grande (SP), Davidson took to his Instagram, stating, “I really don’t want to be on this earth anymore. I’m doing my best to stay here for you but I actually don’t know how much longer I can last. All I’ve ever tried to do was help people. Just remember I told you so.” This alerted many of his family, friends and fans to the issue at hand. This enabled him to get help, but it also alerted the public that celebrities can suffer from depression and feelings of hopelessness too. Defranco saw the struggle Davidson was going through. “Overall he is a human being who is hurting and still has to do it infront of millions of people.” she explained. But depression and anxiety don’t even have to be felt by the actor for the public to feel less alone. If the actor’s character in a movie or TV show is suffering from mental illness, there can still be benefits, such as an opening of dialog, feeling less alone and knowing how to get help. Shows like “13 Reasons Why,” “New Amsterdam,” and “The Fosters,” although controversial, have highlighted the repercussions someone dealing with a mental illness may have. These shows bring viewers into the lives of these characters and show what they are dealing with on a daily basis. Shows like these may give someone who is dealing with a mental illness the strength to come out and seek help for their issues so they don’t suffer from the same repercussions as the ones that the characters in the shows suffered. Celebrities struggle with being in the public eye on a daily basis. This fame can be used to help bring the issues they suffer with to light. Although tragic the recent suicides and deaths of celebrities that may have been to their struggles with mental illnesses has brought in much needed attention that mental health awareness needs. The more celebrities are open with their struggles with mental illnesses the more it may help their fans who deal with the same issues find the help they need.

A War of Words: The Debate Between Digital and Print Books

By: Marjorie Miranda

INSIDE FULLERTON - summer - 2019

ooks and stories have been a part of us for centuries and have come in all shapes and sizes. Now that we are living in a digital world, they have now become available online through our phones or Kindles like never before. But technology isn’t dictating everything. Take, for example, an article from the Wall Street Journal in 2017. The print book industry had gone up 5 percent between 2013 to 2016, while on the other hand, e-book sales had dropped surprisingly 17 percent in 2016. And recently, audible books, according to Pew Research Center, also have had a slight increase in popularity, going from 14 to 18 percent in 2018.

version of audio books called Audible. In 2013, Audible became popular because of YouTube influencers, such as Tyler Oakley, Lilly Singh and PewDiePie. Now influencers are being sponsored by Audible to promote the free trials to their audiences with the hope of getting more consumers to subscribe with them. “I do think some books need to be heard, like ‘The Help’ by Kathryn Stockett,” said Fullerton College’s librarian Jill Kageyama. “What was great about it was that each chapter was read by the different characters.” In addition to the auditory perks, e-books also offer budgetconscious and environmentally concerned people some

For me it is a break from the computer screen, you know where I don’t have this light glaring at me. So what could have possibly made these trends? It could be because of the different genres that people are into. Or perhaps YouTube influencers. Or maybe people are just in love with the old-school feel of a tangible book. Or maybe they want to read and have no time so they must listen instead. Some of the options that people have for reading are the old-fashioned print books or the apps, Kindle and Audible. Both Kindle and Audible were created by Amazon, and were said to be a game changer for publishers. This technology enabled more and more e-books to be read and sold, which broadened the literary marketplace. It also was a boon to the self-publishing arm of the industry. Since Amazon’s launch of Kindle in 2007, customers liked the feeling of just having the book on their phones and able to take the story everywhere with them. Not only was it convenient with being easily portable, it is also way more affordable. Digital books tend to be about 15-30 percent cheaper than their paper counterparts. With e-books, there comes a new market for audio storytelling. For example, Amazon now has their own

benefits as well. E-books cost less and since they don’t require paper or the materials to publish and distribute them, their impact on the environment is also substantially less. But that’s not enough to sway the masses. Others think that nothing beats the feeling of holding a physical book— admiring the cover, being able to flip through the soft pages and imagining the story in your head. “I think it’s easier to flip through it (book) and refer to page 61 then try to do that on a Kindle,” said Jane Ishibashi, librarian and advisor for the Leisure Reading Group at Fullerton College. This group meets every two months to discuss a certain book that they have choose at the beginning of the semester. “It’s a more personal experience. You can write Post-It Notes on it.” And for many, reading the “old-fashioned way” is emotionally enriching. “For me it is a break from the computer screen, you know where I don’t have this light glaring at me,” said Ishibashi. “I just think it is more relaxing for me. For some reason I feel more rushed when I am reading off a Kindle.”

a product of environment, DIY BY: Natalie Huerta PHOTOs BY: JOEY TOBIN

forever

INSIDE FULLERTON - summer - 2019 Fullerton is well known for its deep artistic roots. It is no stranger to

different, the community has adapted to an unique struggle of

art galleries, edgy stores, eclectic music shops and, of course, the

collaborating in a setting that is comfortable for people with

obligatory coffeehouse. But another thing Fullerton is not lacking

the same left-winged politics to better their community starting

is its influx of creative ideas and people with endless projects and

with creative outlets.

promise. Alex Ybarra of shoegaze band, Ridgeway, has been involved This is what is at the core of the DIY, or “do it yourself,” movement.

in various aspects of DIY since 2012 and spoke about what

Nope, not talking about building your own chicken shed or slapping

exactly it means to dive head first into a community.

some whitewashed shiplap on your walls. This is a movement where artistic people in the area band together to create safe spaces and

“I feel responsible for representing Orange County Alternative

open venues for others to enjoy and explore their craft. Everything

Music everywhere I go,” he said. “I guess I would rather it not

from art, poetry, zines, photography and music are welcomed at

be a bubble, though I think that is important for seeding new

these DIY communities sprinkled across town.

scenes in the beginning stages.

For those unfamiliar, this type of DIY is a form of project creating

“We have a lot to offer in Orange County musically, pulling

and organizing, absent of paid professionals--which promotes

from a lot of influences while still pushing original ideas, there’s

the idea that really anyone can put together any space, event or

a lot of different genres working together to build something

creative outlet they would like to.

great. I feel the need to get out there and share what we have with others from around the country and world. Always help

Often times, bands struggle to scrape up the money for the

out a touring band. They are just as important as locals for the

promoters of pay-to-play shows via Chain Reaction or House of Blues

success of a local scene in my opinion.”

in Anaheim. DIY gives these up-and-coming bands an opportunity to play their music whether or not they have $200 to spare on a

Many have equated this all-ages safe space in the community

20-minute set for 50 of their most generous friends.

to the old-fashioned speakeasies of the past. These DIY venues change regularly, from warehouses to houses to backs of

Orange County-based Pacific Nature is a DIY corporation that

stores to shops. If there’s a venue, hosting creatives alike,

collaborates with friends and like-minded artists. Alyx Poska of

those intrigued will show up.

Pacific Nature did more than his part to not only keep a diluting DIY scene and all ages safe spaces from dissipating, but he encouraged

However, these DIY venues are fighting a terribly difficult fight

(and continues to help) the community grow full of ambition and

against the city in order to stay a part of the community. The

hunger for a place for the people in this scene to spend their time

city’s permit requirements easily write a rather large tab to

and energy on.

cover for a growing group of individuals with sparing funds.

Poska defined this community as, “a shared space with aligned

To keep locations secure, attendees follow speakeasy-esque

morality and ethics,” later detailing the base of DIY revolving

fliers having the words, “ask a punk for the address.” The

around left-winged politics and a state of anarchy-- being

whole point is to get them to talk to others in the community,

sure to stay aloof from authority overseeing exactly what the

further fostering that mentality. All of this is to preserve the venue

community is up to.

in its entirety; this was seen most clearly with the demise of Poska’s infamous DIY venue, Riff Mountain.

No, Aunt Joan, this does not include actively attempting to overthrow your local government in three swift moves or

The venue stood since late 2017 and the curtain closed on Feb.

anything of the sort. A fundamental part of what makes a

19, 2019, officially because of the City of Fullerton’s requirements

space safe is the mutually understood idea that there is no

of permits for “loud concerts/public assemblies.” Due to lack of

toleration of homophobia, xenophobia, racism, sexism etc.

resources to attain these permits, the all-ages venue was forced to

Think of it as an almost resurfacing version of the ‘60s peace

shut down.

and love movement. Though the timing of that era is entirely

INSIDE FULLERTON - summer - 2019

It adds up to nearly $10,000 in expenses in order to find the

Chapman Avenue and State College Boulevard in Fullerton, has

space up-to-code enough for the city to legitimize it as a venue in

been hosting all-ages in-store showcases featuring both touring

a warehouse near Raymond and Orangethorpe avenues.

and local bands for the past five years.

Legitimate or not, fans said Riff Mountain was a perfect example

Chris Gronowski, one of the owners of the skate shop, shared that

of what DIY can do for you and what you can do for DIY. In fact,

he does not want to venture to booking through a paid professional

many saw new faces of DIY emerging from the suburbs of the area.

and much better prefers the charm of speaking directly to bands

A lot of supporters of the community found themselves venturing

all around in hopes of setting up an event.

into this culture for the first time through this space specifically. Gronowski said, “some bookers have gotten a hold of me wanting Poska related this cluster of individuals with the same goal to

to add us to a booking route while saying they would charge us

strawberry plants, in saying it was a rhizomatic structure based

and I thought, ‘what for? Is any of the money going to any of the

off Deleuze and Guattari’s philosophical concept. In short, there

local bands here?’ I’d rather work with the ones in my community.”

isn’t always a visible connection between people, groups, and communities. Sometimes, you have to dig a little deeper to really

Ybarra emphasizes that getting involved is simple if you “go to a

see the work and time poured into the venues that are made by

show at Programme Skate and Sound. Talk to people. Be friendly.

hand, simply based on the idea of togetherness and community,

Listen and learn from everyone. This scene might not be for you.

he said. And even then, not all pursuits for collaborations are

But if it is, you’ll know.”

successful. On a greater scope, Programme has put on large shows full of Though Riff Mountain is closed for good, the music, friendships,

energy and emotion such as Turnstile, Terror, Real Friends, Fury,

and art that has been sprouted here will not go unnoticed. Local

Prince Daddy & The Hyena and many more alike. Even if a

bands ranging from hardcore/punk [ie: Audacity, Chemical X

participant isn’t musically inclined or all that great with a pencil,

and DARE] to grunge/shoegaze/emo [ie: Gromit, Ridgeway and

photographers are who show other people what the community

No Better] have all shared the same stage and the same love for

is made of.

growing the space around them. Capturing the shared raw passion everyone in a space has for Touring bands from all across California, United States and

the same thing can be labeled as one of the most important jobs

countries including Japan, Mexico and Canada are touched by

according to the community. Photographers such as Michael

the communities that allow them travel so far from home with

Haight and Joey Tobin often dedicate their nights to doing just that

promise of local support.

for their new and old friends in the bands playing. Without them, how would the people along the fence in the community know

Participants in the scene say it is incredibly important for the

what’s happening? They wouldn’t, and this culture would turn into

community to stay hopeful and hungry for a continued practice of

an “if you know, you know and if you don’t, too bad” mentality.

DIY, seeing as the culture stretches far past state lines.

And that is nowhere near what the participants are seeking out.

Ybarra of Ridgeway stated in an interview that, “it is mind blowing

Gronowski said the best thing about a scene of music that

to me how far connections can go from there. I’ve made such solid

everything works in concert, relating the culture to an orchestra,

connections with people that I would have never even crossed

having the different parts work together to nurture one another.

paths with otherwise.” In like spirit, Programme partners with local promoters such as Despite the demise of Riff Mountain, various other spaces are still

Matt Ciaccio-Stevens under Local Deadbeat Agency who has been

around, thanks to businesses opening their doors to the creatives

active since 2015 and only grown from then.

in the area. Ciaccio-Stevens helps developing bands and artist all throughout The most famous venue, Programme Skate and Sound located on

the community. He’ll commission visual artists to make a flier and

For more updates on the strawberry sprouts of the Orange County DIY community, check out both Pacific Nature and Programme Skate and Sound’s instagrams. Plant your seed tere or attend a show and make new friends. Get involved in your local community and grow where you can. programmehq.com

Band: Prince henry & the hyena

even pay bands the money made from the door after supporting the business

“People participating in a DIY community are trying to build things for the

that allowed the show in the first place. It all comes back around.

people around them for the most part,” Poska said, later explaining that he has continued to make efforts to encourage others to get involved because

If you’re wondering how the community builds itself, Ciacco-Stevens shared

he has physically seen both his and his friends’ contributions.

that, “when I first started, I had been just a participant of DIY, going to shows and finding small, at the time, high school bands who had a passion worth

This scene of individuals is meant to inspire. These events are open to the

supporting. I found that small bands like this often didn’t have CDs, barely

public and widely accessible.

ever shirts or just physical ways to support their music. Gronowski emphasized the accessibility of the DIY scene in stating that he’s, “I started Local Deadbeat Agency with the intention of giving bands an

“sure someone started a band because they thought, ‘Cool! I can play this at

outlet of promotion so other people like us could support them. I started my

that skateshop down the street. I saw Fury there!’

company with shirts, hats and a cassette compilation of 10 local Southern California bands to sell so their fans could have something tangible of their

“I don’t mean that at as a ‘we’re so important,’ but more so that people

favorite local bands’ music.”

think, ‘well, they can do it, we can do it.’ We give people a place to put their music, and not just leave it in a garage.”

Many have said that people like this are notably important for the growth of a music scene according to supporters of DIY and other members of the

Friends, bands, artists and photographers all gather together to create the

community.

Orange County Alternative Music scene and without everyone involved, the room for growth would be shallow.

When Poska was asked about DIY, he mentioned that he and a larger group of friends full-supporting of the community try to help more people

So many events, happenings, and art is made right under the nose of some

understand, get involved, and appreciate the hard work put in by everyday

Fullerton locals. Stick your neck out just a little and see what creative people

people with the help huge heart and strong work ethic.

in your community are doing in their free time. It might just be the environment for you.

story and photos by: Jackie Valdez

What t A Musi Music Festival Festiva Experience xperience Actually Actually Costs Act sts Coachella, Splash House and more—all these music festivals can be exciting and if you’re anything like me, your wallet is looking a little depressing. Summertime equals festival season which also equals the brokest yet best months of the year. But how are all these kids affording their tickets— Mom and Dad buying them? Maybe. However, many festival goers pay for everything by themselves. What exactly does a festival cost overall? How much money do I need to save?

Let's go over ver the expenses!

INSIDE FULLERTON - summer - 2019

Coachella

Safari Campgrounds but Coachella has gone above and beyond and made mini houses that are air-conditioned and fully furnished—bed, dresser, night stand, mini fridge, bathroom and shower inside, Wi-Fi, chilled champagne upon arrival, personal golf cart attendant to take you to the spa, reserved tee times, housekeeping, transportation to and from the Palm Spring airport —you name it, it’s probably already there and if not concierge will help as best as they can. They also provide breakfast and dinner for two. This option includes your festival passes and costs around $25,000 for the weekend.

Let's look at the biggest name in music festivals: Coachella. A General Admission pass, GA, is three days and costs $429. If you’d like a shuttle pass with your ticket the overall cost is $509. If you’d like to go VIP then the pass is $999. There is also a camping option for Coachella. Camping at Coachella has a ton of different options. The basic camping options are tent camping and car camping which costs $125 each. Tent camping is what it sounds like. You get to camp in your tent on the campgrounds, however, you will have to park your car in one of the parking lots and walk your stuff over. Car camping on the other hand allows you to have your car at your campsite. If you’d like preferred car camping then it’s $325. You get a reserved spot for your tent and car near the entrance to the festival.

If you’re like me and want to spend the least amount of money as possible, I’d stay with a friends at a hotel nearby and split the cost. I’d also get a GA weekend pass from the Coachella website or from someone who is reselling their pass. Be careful doing this however because some people might try to scam you. It is always best to buy from friends of friends and meet up in person. If you can get a pass that is unregistered and not on someone else’s name then that’s even better, but it doesn’t always matter.

If you’d like a more upscale camping experience Coachella has Lake Eldorado and the Safari Campgrounds. Lake Eldorado is a secluded campgrounds area. This option provides campers with bigger and better tents furnished with bedding and sheets. There’s showers and flushing toilets along with around the clock concierge and private check-in. It is also near the vendors and general store on site, however, your cars must stay in the parking lot adjacent from the campsite. This option costs $2,458-$5,600.

splash house Now, let's look at a smaller name in music festivals. Splash House is a more affordable music festival in Palm Springs. This festival mostly plays house music. It takes place twice in the summer, June and August, however your pass will only admit you to one weekend. This isn’t a normal festival that takes place on a big plot of land. Splash House is essentially three pool parties at three different hotels that are within a mile from each other.

Lastly, the Safari Campgrounds is a very exclusive camping experience which includes your festival passes. These tents are fully furnished, air- conditioned—some even look like mini homes. If you camp here, you have access to golf carts to cart you from stage to stage. Coachella also provides private parking next to the festival and campsite, a short walk to main stage, showers, breakfast, late-night sets by popular DJs after the festival is over each night, an air-conditioned lounge room to hang out with other festival goers, and 24-hour concierge. Believe it or not, there are two options of camping within the Safari campgrounds; Safari Tents and The Resort at Coachella.

The festival itself provides shuttles to take you from pool to pool and the hotels they are held at are exclusively for the festival attendees to stay and is not open to the public. The festival passes alone without a hotel are $140- $180 plus fees. If you’d like to buy a hotel package, they range from $800- $2,250. Although that might sound pricey, the hotel packages are split between 2-4 people and it includes your festival passes. There is no VIP for this event. The three different hotels that Splash House uses are The Saguaro, The Renaissance, and The Riviera. Each hotel has an option for a regular hotel room, a balcony with a pool view, or a suite with or without a pool view.

Safari tents gets you your festival passes and a boutique tent beautifully furnished. This option is meant for two people at $9,500 but if you’d like to add people it’s $2,500 per additional guest.

Whether you are going to a bigger festival like Coachella or a smaller event like Splash House, it will cost a couple hundred dollars for your festival pass and place to stay.

If camping just doesn’t sound good to you, the Resort at Coachella is probably best for you. This option is still in the

food & drinks Yes, sadly, your food and drinks are not included with your festival passes. When you take your trip to the grocery store keep in mind that you will want water, beer, and liquor. If you are in a hotel that will most likely be all you need to buy. Your total cost at the grocery store should be roughly $100-$200 depending on you. If you get hungry for breakfast or dinner you can eat off site at a restaurant or inside the festival which will roughly cost $15-$30 per meal. If you are at a camping festival, you’re going to need to buy more food. Camping festivals are tricky. You can’t over stock on food or else you won’t have car space and you can’t under stock because you will then have to go looking for vendors to buy food from inside the festival. Overall, food shopping for a camping festival should cost around $200-$400.

outfits Shopping for a new festival outfit can be very cheap or very expensive. Now if you’re not into getting dressed up in a new outfit for a music festival then you can skip this part. Shopping designer name brands can get wildly expensive but let’s just say you are trying to budget. I recommend buying new tops and shirts and trying to wear shorts or skirts and shoes you already have. I do understand though that half the fun about these events is dressing up! For women I recommend Forever 21, H&M, and second hand stores. All these stores have affordable prices and cute and trendy clothing with decent quality. For those of you who don’t know what a second hand stores is, it is a clothing store that sells used name brand clothes at a good price. If you look hard enough someone’s old outfit can be your new one-of-a-kind festival show stopping outfit! Some people even DIY, do it yourself, outfits. You can easily YouTube how to make your own festival outfits and find some creative ideas! Ideas like these usually lead you to a fabric store like Joann’s.

how much did i spend? Now we are at the end of the weekend. It’s Monday and you are exhausted. You check your bank account and are shocked on the amount of money you spent. Whether you penny pinched or splurged is up to you. For me, when I calculate everything I spent I usually total around $200-$900 every festival if I attend the entire thing. The way I afford to go to these music festivals is, I pick and choose my festivals by how much the tickets are and if I can take work off. I also buy my tickets months in advance. Keep an eye out for payment plan options and price tiers. Try to buy early when these options are available. Now that you know how much a festival actually costs, will you be attending?

Don’t forget you are going to need an outfit for all days of the festival meaning you will need 1-3 outfits. This will cost you overall anywhere from $20-$300 depending on where you shop.

@insidefullerton