Fall 2016 issue 7

GOLDEN GATE XPRESS Serving the San Francisco State community since 1927

Volume CIII, Issue 7

FREE SINGLE COPIES

Wednesday – October 5, 2016

goldengatexpress.org

n National Hispanic Heritage Month

Latino enrollment rises, graduation rates lag behind

by Nik Wojcik nwojcik@mail.sfsu.edu Latinos, Chicanos and Mexican Americans comprise the largest ethnic group on the SF State campus.

Combined, they make up nearly onethird of the student population. The majority of universities and colleges have shown increased enrollment across the country, but data shows graduation rates don’t rise as quickly as admission numbers do.

The University’s enrollment numbers are in line with the California population as a whole, where Latinos outnumbered nonLatino Whites in 2014. SF State annual admission data reflects an 11 percent increase in Latino, Chicano and Mexican American enrollment from 2010 to 2015.

Guillermo Alejandro Murguia, SF State professor and Latino/ Latina studies department chair, believes Latinos are still getting the short end of the stick, even at a higher performing Hispanic-serving Institutions such as SF State.

“Institutions haven’t kept up with this new demand,” Murguia said.

The Education Trust released

findings of a 10-year study that examined enrollment and graduation trends for underrepresented minorities nationwide.

During the period of 2003 to 2013, they note that the graduation rate gap between White and underrepresented students — defined as Latino, Black and Native American — decreased by nearly 9 percent, with Latinos graduating at a higher rate than the other two groups.

Murguia acknowledges the University’s high retention and graduation rates relative to the rest of the nation, but knows it’s not enough.

Improvements are positive but slow-moving and at the rate of change noted by the Education Trust, it would take into the next century to close the remaining 14-point graduation gap between White and underrepresented students nationally.

Despite the rising Latino student population, Murguia questions the equal distribution of support and resources for a group that contributes considerable tax revenue.

“We’ve paid into the system but it hasn’t served to educate the population,” Murguia said.

Population cont. pg. 2

SF State denied grant money for HSI-STEM program

by Michelle Nunez mnunez93@mail.sfsu.edu SF State was absent from the list of schools, published Friday, that announced awards of federal grant money given to eligible Hispanic Serving Institutions.

The University applied to one of the three grant programs offered, the HSI-STEM program, competing against 414 other institutions.

Belinda I. Reyes, associate professor of the Latina and Latino studies department, was a member of the team involved in applying for this year’s HSI-Stem program and said the application process consisted of

proposing a comprehensive project that would be created with the HSIStem program funding.

“It was a nice comprehensive proposal,” said Reyes. “The proposal consisted of plans to expand the number of students; we focused on Latino students, but the things that we were proposing benefits everybody.”

According to Reyes, some of the proposed ideas consisted of creating more connections with community colleges to expand the Transfer Articulation Program that SF State offers, as well as plans to bring more students on the transfer pathway to SF State.

“We also discussed a pathway through Ethnic Studies, so students

could combine Ethnic Studies and Science and get a joint degree,” said Reyes. “There were a number of proposals.”

Christian Rivera-Nolan, a fourthyear biology major, felt disappointed with the news of our loss of potential funding.

“I feel like it’s unfortunate because we can do so much good stuff with more funding,” said Rivera-Nolan.

“I have a lot of friends with a lot of potential that are interested in the sciences and maybe health and they fall off track and end up in a different major or different career path because I feel like there’s maybe not enough safety nets.”

Serving cont. pg. 2

Undocumented SF State students share their stories in a three-part video series.

Check it out on goldengatexpress.org.

n National Hispanic Heritage Month: As part of our ongoing coverage of Latin American communities, Golden Gate Xpress will explore issues related to these identities in recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

Filmmaker screens film on campus

Combating ‘machismo’ culture

Word cannot define Latin Americans

Gators’ sports share cultural experiences

by Mariana Raschke – pg. 4

by Karina Bueno – pg. 4

by Victor Manuel Verdugo – pg. 6

by Josué De Los Santos and Laura Monique Ordoñez – pg. 7

NEWS

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goldengatexpress.org Wednesday | October 5, 2016

SF State Latino population grows Natividad Rangel, a 20-year-old history major and web coordinator for Hermanos Unidos de SFSU sees it less as a lack of resources and more of a failure to make people aware that resources exist.

“Resources are not promoted enough and can go years without being used,” Rangel said. “It may simply be an issue of programs outreaching to students in a much more efficient way.”

Rangel has seen membership at Hermanos grow substantially since the chapter was founded in 2010.

“Our alumni are constantly surprised by the numbers that show up meeting after meeting,” Rangel said. “Now we average 30 to 40 members per meeting. Before, it was around a four person meeting.”

The organization is what Rangel refers to as a familia that focuses on the three pillars of academics, community service and social

networking. Rangel says that Hermanos Unidos and their sister organization, Hermanas Unidas — established in 2012 — are simply Latino students helping themselves and their communities beyond what the school itself can offer.

Rangel believes the organizational support can especially help firstgeneration Latino students struggling with their new surroundings.

“Having jobs, being far away from home for the first time and adapting to college academics can be tough,” Rangel said. “We tend to find ourselves a bit lost.”

Elias Serrano, a 20-year-old SF State student and Hermanos community service chair, believes being a first-generation student has quite a bit to do with the low graduation rates.

“I think that a lot of times the burden of supporting the family at home falls onto the shoulders of my fellow first-generation students and most choose work over school,” Serrano said. “It’s a tragic truth.”

“

This whole college thing is attainable and that it’s a step in the direction our parents wanted to go when came here anyway.

Elias Serrano

Serrano believes the best way to help future generations of Latino students is to send a clear message.

“This whole college thing is attainable and that it’s a step in the direction our parents wanted to go when came here anyway,” Serrano said.

Networks like Hermanos and Hermanas may see more outside assistance for Latino students in the near future as SF State expects

to receive their first Title V grant as a designated “Hispanic-Serving Institution.”

Murguia hopes the extra funding will be as helpful in practice as it is in theory. It is still uncertain whether the designation and funding will speed progress toward greater equality in college education and completion rates for Latino students at SF State.

But this is just one school in the

“

Population cont. pg. 1

nation and many are further behind in terms of Latino enrollment and graduation rates. Until that gap can be closed across the country, Murguia likens the situation to being a disadvantaged kid eating lunch at school.

“It’s like everybody else has a whole sandwich, and we only have half,” Murguia said.

University found guilty of retaliation against former employee

by Breanna Reeves bjreeves@mail.sfsu.edu SF State was found guilty of retaliatory practices in a lawsuit brought by a former employee, in a verdict reached on Friday at San Francisco Superior Court.

The lawsuit was filed in February 2015 by Dr. Rashmi Gupta, who worked as an assistant professor of social work from 2006 until her termination in June 2014.

“The University appreciates the time, patience and energy of the jury and we respect their decision,” the University replied in a statement.

“However, SF State does not agree with the finding of liability and maintains that the decision not to grant tenure to Dr. Gupta was based on legitimate academic reasons.

We are reviewing the University’s options for appeal.”

Gupta was awarded approximately $40,000 for past economic damages and $322,000 in future economic losses, according to the plaintiff’s attorney, Aaron Gorfein of the Law Offices Of Elizabeth F. McDonald.

While the suit also alleged racial and gender discrimination, the jury found the University not guilty of these charges.

Gupta, a woman of Indian national origin, alleged that SF State performed discriminatory and retaliatory actions against her in 2009 when she complained that faculty of Indian origin were “being systematically paid less than their similarly situated colleagues,” according to court documents.

Since Gupta’s first complaint, she had been denied requests for

A suit against SF State concluded on Friday at San Francisco Superior Court, finding the University guilty of retaliatory action against a former employee.| Photo by Kelsey Lannin leave of absence, early tenure, and research funds to support her work, according to court documents. In 2012 Gupta filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regarding the denial of her requests.

Gupta’s complaints of racial and

gender discrimination against the University were protected under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, according to court documents.

“The matter went to arbitration and it was determined by the arbitrator that (SF State) had not properly

reviewed (Gupta’s) application for tenure,” according to court documents. “The arbitrator required that (SF State) re-review (Gupta) for tenure the following year.”

The plaintiff later dismissed her lawsuit because she was representing herself for that case in the federal

courts. She was hoping for a settlement agreement which turned out not to work, according to Gorfein.

“The litigation is not entirely over because she still has the possibility of receiving, also through the court, reinstatement to her former position,” said Gorfein.

SF State applies for, doesn’t win grant money Serving cont. pg. 1

“I feel like additional funding would have let us expand more on research opportunities and a lot of things that undergraduates need to be more competitive,” said Rivera-Nolan.

Biology major Felipe Marcias agreed with Rivera-Nolan.

“It’s a shame, honestly, because there’s a huge need for the resources here. It’s great that we’re getting a great education but that’s not all,” said Marcias. “I’ve got friends that are staying some extra years, friends in the biology department, trying to get into the labs and trying to get more experience but are struggling to do so because of funding.”

The HSI-Stem program had $98,906,089 in funding, which they distributed as individual institution grants among 91 HSIs. The highest grant recipients included California Lutheran University and East Los Angeles College, receiving $1,200,000.

The lowest recipient was New Mexico State University with a grant award of $555,884.

The reasoning behind grant amount disparity is unknown.

Golden Gate Xpress reached out to the HSI program directors, but was unable to get a quote before time of publication.

Though SF State did not receive federal funding this year, some students are not discouraged. Jesus j. Verduzco, an Urban

Studies and Planning major, is optimistic for future competitions.

“It doesn’t make me feel good to know that we lost, but I think it’s kind of motivating to keep trying to win,” said urban studies and planning major Jesus j. Verduzco. “I think this school really deserves it.”

Like Verduzco, Reyes is optimistic for next year’s competition.

“Now that we have put together a proposal that we can fix, it’s going to be a lot easier to work on it and tweak it next time around,” said Reyes.

NEWS

goldengatexpress.org Wednesday | October 5, 2016

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Car break-ins on rise citywide

by Jason Rejali jrejali@mail.sfsu.edu Car break-ins near SF State and the surrounding Taraval area have risen 30 percent in two years, according to police incident reports.

There have been 46 auto burglary reports around SF State in 2016 so far. More than half of those incidents occurred in University Park North along Buckingham Way, said Interim University Police Chief Reginald Parson in an email.

“I’ve probably seen three or four car breakins already to start off the semester,” said business marketing major Kandi Patterson.

In the past year there have been 981 reported grand theft from locked auto cases in the Taraval area –– which is any items stolen worth more than $950. According to the San Francisco Police Incident Report that number is a 30 percent increase from the 652 reported cases from three years ago.

“They have been on the rise because of several reasons. The prosecution of them being dropped to misdemeanors and probation also helped the culprits,” said Captain Joseph McFadden of Ingleside Police Station. “So it is a very lucrative crime for the suspects.”

Petty theft from locked auto cases –– which is any items stolen worth less than $950 –– has gone down in 2016 with 290 reported cases, compared to 328 cases from last year.

Safety groups in the nearby neighborhood of West Portal are working closely with law enforcement to combat the issue.

“I became involved after my fourth car break-in –– I’m now up to six,” said Committee Chair of Crime and Public Safety at Greater West Portal Neighborhood Association Andrew Segal. “So yes, property crime has increased dramatically.”

Number of Taraval area car break-ins compared to city total

A comparison of car break-ins for the Taraval area and the total number of break-ins for San Francisco as a whole. The crime data was collected from the SFPD, which was recorded on Sept. 12 of each year listed.

According to the incident report over the last three years, there has been a 16 percent increase of grand and petty auto break-ins, resulting in a combined total of 19,993 reported cases in San Francisco.

Some residents have begun placing low cost

cameras in their front windows pointed toward their cars, which capture video that is then sent to the police.

McFadden said when there is an accomplice in the crime, the prosecuting of an auto burglary can be divided between the two assailants

resulting in reduced charges for both suspects.

“Auto break-ins are an easy way to make money for drug users and gang members,” McFadden said. “It is kind of like in the 1980s where car stereos were the easy thing to steal and resell.”

Campus sees changes to peer education

by Karina Bueno kebueno@mail.sfsu.edu The watermelon pink shirts with a recognizable PEACH symbol used to be a common sight in the quad and many could recognize them at first glance. The shirts were worn by members of Peer Education Advocating Campus Health created in 2005 to serve students through workshops, educational programs and counseling services.

They have been missed this year in the student center and in the sea of tables in the quad. However, PEACH hasn’t disappeared. Rather, they have evolved.

All three PEACH programs have been transformed into the Health Promotion and Wellness Unit, a new resource created to centralize support for mental health, sexual health, nutrition, food insecurity, substance abuse and sexual violence.

“They were separate peer programs that we felt could come together as a team and create (a single) peer program,” said Rick Nizzardini, interim director of health promotion and wellness. “It would be more efficient, more effective and do more things.”

Ingrid Ochoa, also known as “Mama Peach,” was the lead for Sexual Health PEACHes, offered some insight into the new and expanding program.

“We’re growing so we’ve been telling people they have to be flexible because yes in the past we’ve provided workshops and all these outreach events but we do want to shift in what we’re providing,” Ochoa said.

Ochoa explained that each chapter –– sexual health, wellness,

and nutrition –– were disconnected.

Although they were all offering educational preventative programs, housed in the Student Health Services Building, the different units usually never crossed over.

“The VP of student affairs, Luoluo (Hong), saw that we had two great programs that we can unite and become one bigger program so we could provide the resources and the services,” Ochoa said.

Because the three chapters of PEACH were each run by a single person, it often put a lot of strain on the lead to oversee the entirety of sexual health or the entirety of nutrition.

There were also some obligations PEACHes were required to commit to once enrolled in PEACH. Students were required to dedicate 10 hours a week and interns dedicated 20 because of how demanding the curriculum was. This often excluded students who couldn’t put in the hours because of their workload or because they also had part-time jobs.

“We were part of the health center but we really didn’t have a house to really have the support that we needed to really expand our services,” Ochoa said. “So we did as best as we could with what we had.”

The merging of the programs not only took PEACH out of the student health center but also made it possible for the program to offer a paid internship. Because of the changes to the program, as well as including an ambassador program, students are no longer required to put in 10 hours a week and meet every Friday, making it easier for more students to volunteer even if it’s only an hour or two.

Nizzardini continued, “We’ll still do things like working with students

SF State Health Promotion and Wellness Program Coordinator Ingrid Ochoa poses for a portrait in her office in the Student Health Center on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016. Ochoa is also a sexual health educator, SHS certified Peer Sexual Health Educators and an adjunct faculty member of the health education department. | Photo by Connor Hunt individually to change behaviour, also talking about how do we get university partners to change the environment.”

PEACH members were not completely left in the dark on what was happening with the program.

“It was a change for them too to know that the way that things had been going was going to be shifting,” Nizzardini said.

Ochoa explains the organization is not entirely gone. Some past sexual health PEACHes are working with the residential housing association in hopes to form a student ran PEACH group

that would focus mostly on freshmen and undergraduates in the dorms.

Derek Raskin, past PEACH member and SF State graduate, offered his insights into the program. Raskin felt many things could have been changed to help PEACH provide better outreach programs and opportunities.

“The class was heavy. We had this huge, thick book and pretty much there was on-site training and on-site educating at the same time,” Raskin said. “People would come up with real problems and we’d give textbook answers. Life just doesn’t work like that.”

Because of the lack of resources

and room, PEACH operated from Student Health Services, but had a tough time carrying out the outreach they wanted to, which showed in the time Raskin was a PEACH. “I was really hoping that we would work outside the campus.

That’s something we weren’t doing.

We were working within a very small circle,” Raskin said. “Our message was very wide but our target audience was so small. We could have easy went off campus.”

Raskin does have hope for a student-run PEACH in the dorms and feels positive it could work out.

LIFESTYLE & CULTURE

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goldengatexpress.org Wednesday | October 5, 2016

n National Hispanic Heritage Month

Film explores Afro-Cuban history

by Mariana Raschke mraschke@mail.sfsu.edu Students and faculty filled the Richard Oakes Multicultural Conference room on Thursday for a film screening that shared a personal look into Afro-Cuban history and culture.

Guest filmmaker, Gloria Rolando arrived from Havana to co-present her new film “A Dialog with my Grandmother,” with Kym Morrison, assistant professor of history.

In the opening scenes of the short film, Rolando, whose voice-over narrates the film, says she believes when we write down history, we make room for family and loved ones.

Rolando makes room for her family history as the film recreates a conversation she had with her grandmother in 1993. Through the audiovisuals, which incorporate documentary and fiction, Rolando tells the personal history of her grandmother, Inocencia Leonarda Armas y Abreu. Abreu is the main character throughout the film, and although she is played by actors, her real voice can be heard in the conversation that is the central theme of the film.

The conversation is an intimate view of the relationship Rolando had with her grandmother and relates memories of Afro-Cuba’s history and culture. While providing an account of Rolando’s family history, the cassette recording between Rolando and her 90-year-old grandmother also evokes the tangible love and affection the two had for each other.

“This conversation belonged to a happy spirit. It is a conversation of love,” Rolando said.

One of the many elements that portrayed the diversity and richness of Cuba in the film was the music. Son, Cuba’s official music, was present throughout the film. The choice of

SF State history professor Kym Morrison clasps her hands together during the screening of filmmaker Gloria Rolando in the Richard Oakes Multicultural Conference on Thursday. Rolando answered questions from students and faculty after the screening of her new 45-minute film.| Photo by Garrick Wong

Gloria Rolando

songs revealed aspects of traditional Cuban spirituality and contributed to the lively tone of the film.

“All these songs were created by people.” Rolando said. “They were sung in one way in one house and another way in another house. I didn’t have to pay rights for them because

they belonged to people.”

The film often focuses on Abreu’s hands, a stylistic choice

by Rolando meant to highlight the type of domestic labor that is often invisible, but requires much energy and dedication.

“The hands mean history, work and love,” Rolando said.

Abreu spoke to Rolando about a time when societies in Cuba were divided between races and of Rolando’s Congo-born grandfather and the traditions he brought from his country.

Following the screening, some of the audience responded with enthusiastic remarks about the film.

“I’ve never seen a portrayal of

Cuba, so I really appreciate your film,” said graduate student Gabriel Gonzalez, addressing Rolando.

When asked by professor Morrison if recent growing autonomy in Cuba has facilitated her work, Rolando said it was still very hard because production in Cuba is based on funding and there are limited resources. Rolando said that free education allowed her and other Cubans to develop their craft and, despite the lack of resources, they maintain their artistic and cultural traditions.

Torina Craig, instructor and counselor at City College of San Francisco, asked where she could find more of Rolando’s work. Rolando

replied that some of it can be found at afrocubaweb.com.

“The reason why I said that was I felt it’s important to have an inclusive perspective of the African diaspora. Often we only get a narrow perspective and it’s important for my students to get that,” Craig said.

At the end of her exchange with the audience, Rolando recommended people engage in real conversations like she had with her grandmother.

“In the present, there is too much technology separating people. I don’t know how people fall in love,” Rolando said, eliciting laughter from the audience. “Get close to your elders. It is the biggest treasure you have in life.”

n National Hispanic Heritage Month

Experts say machismo culture harms Latino communities La calle y la casa. The streets and the home.

The Institute of Latino Studies University of Notre Dame explains that in Latino culture, la calle is primarily dominated by men while la casa is inhabited by women. In the Latino community, machismo is what often keeps la calle y la casa divided.

According to the Institute of Latino Studies University of Notre Dame, machismo often affirms socially constructed gender roles in Latino communities and takes a toll on the young boys and men of the community.

Originating in Berkeley in 1989, Hermanos Unidos at SF State was founded to break down the barriers within their community and challenge stereotypes and gender roles.

Luis de Paz, 2014-2015 co-chair of HU and outreach specialist for SF State said the organization is often a safe place for both him and his hermanos to safely speak.

HU holds closed door placticas, or talks, to help combat the reclusive and repressive nature that is frequently imposed on Latino men.

“It’s a mission of the org to talk and provide a safe space where everyone is welcome to share their story” de Paz said. “To a lot of us, Thursday nights are our therapy. A lot of guys have stayed in school because of that support that we provide.”

In Machismo, Gender Role Conflict, and

Mental Health in Mexican American Men, authors Jose Fragaso and Susan Kashubek-West did a study questioning the ramifications of societal pressures on Mexican-American men.

The expectations and the programmed fear of showing weakness often puts a strain on young men in the Latino community. The stress can lead to depression and weaken the immune system leaving them susceptible to illness and diseases.

“It may not immediately affect us but in the long term it ends up affecting us a lot,” said HU fundraising chair and coordinator for La Raza, Adrian Sahagun. “I know friends that didn’t go to college and don’t have that support system and channel that emotion through alcohol. It definitely takes a toll.”

Marianismo is the woman that forms around a machismo man. She stays home, takes care of the children, stands by her man sometimes through infidelity, and embodies the Virgin Mary.

De Paz said he would often have to step into conversations between his parents and his sister to explain why she needed to be allowed out late at night to study.

“I have to be the voice, but I don’t want to be because I’m taking that power away from my sister,” de Paz said. “It’s a thin line. How can I be an ally but also not seem like the representative?”

Sahagun feels what truly makes a man is his ability to express himself without fear to break one of the many stereotypes placed on Latino men.

“It’s also breaking those stereotypes of not going to college, beating our wives which is what a lot of people think about the Latino male,” Sahagun said. “It should be the opposite.

“

I believe it’s changing due to the fact that millennials and centennials are now changing the mindset of those older generations.

It should be getting an education, furthering your knowledge, and being there for your wife and doing the best for your family.”

Rosalba Rojas, the 2015-2016 Hermanas Unidas co-chair, believes this generation is taking machismo and changing what it means for the community.

To Rojas, machismo stems from stubbornness, pride, and a lack of education.

Though she did see a prevalent machismo influence in her uncles she also observed the its weakening grasp on the men in her family.

“I believe it’s changing due to the fact that millennials and centennials are now changing the mindset of those older generations,” Rojas said. “I think it’s happening because current generations aren’t trying to fit standards, they’re trying to fit themselves in the world.”

Dani Alvarez, biology major and Latina/ Latino studies minor, identifies as Chicanx.

Chicanx and Latinx are gender neutral terms for those who identify as gender nonconforming, trans, nonbinary etc.

The gender neutral term is a way for people who do not identify with either male or female to reclaim their identities by making a term that

Rosalba Rojas

“

by Karina Bueno kebueno@mail.sfsu.edu

fits them.

“I don’t need your validation to be who I am, it’s more like validation that I exist and I am resisting the language that was put onto my people.” Alvarez said.

Alvarez said that machismo mata, or machismo kills. Alvarez stressed that in a culture where masculinity is rigid those who choose not to conform can often face violence.

“Look what happens with trans women.

There’s a thing called trans panic where a person kills a trans person because they got scared, Alvarez said. “Because you got scared it validates killing someone who is trans?”

Latinx and Chicanx started as a movement to be gender inclusive in languages and cultures that were heavily gendered according to Alvarez. Alvarez has also seen it adapted to other languages and cultures.

“Other cultures, other languages are started to use it too. It’s a ripple effect. Of people looking at their language and saying wow it’s not inclusive, Alvarez said. “And I think it’s beautiful. These words are saving people in my opinion.”

LIFESTYLE & CULTURE

goldengatexpress.org Wednesday | October 5, 2016

5

SF State ranks low in sustainability and staff can help SF State be more sustainable by getting involved and connecting people to others who are working on sustainability.”

One of the biggest setbacks for SF State’s environmental sustainability is its lack of space in comparison to other schools in the country. UC Irvine was ranked number three on the list, but compared to SF State’s 141 acres, UCI has 1,526 acres.

Lack of waste management in SF State’s residential spaces also negatively affects the University’s placement on the list. Many of the dorms on campus do not use the three-bin system, resulting in trash that could be recycled or composted going to landfills. With an influx of trash at the beginning and end of years, housing waste becomes an issue.

“Our current waste signage is really bad and a lot of people don’t really care,” said Amir Sahit, manager of SF State’s Environmental Resource Center. “It’s boring to look at, and we really want to have something interactive so that’s why we’re going into residential areas.”

Right behind the Mary Park residential halls is SF State’s Sol Patch ran by the Environmentally Concerned Organization of Students, an organization dedicated to

In Sierra Magazine’s sustainable school ranking released in September, SF State fell in at nearly last place, taking the 182nd spot of the 202 schools on the list. Ranks were determined by looking at each school’s on-campus organizations, waste management, curriculum and transportation use.

“Our hope is that this will create a kind of virtuous feedback loop of competition,” said editor in chief of Sierra Magazine, Jason Mark.

“That it will spur a sort of healthy intercollegiate competition in which schools will try to excel in order to look good on this public ranking.”

Sustainable SF State, part of the University’s office of physical planning and development, works to improve the environmental condition of the University. The department introduced the three-bin system to SF State in 2012, a system that separates waste from a single trash bin into compost, recycling, and waste bins.

“We can do better,” said Nick Rodesch, SF State’s sustainability specialist who submitted SF State for ranking on the list, in an email interview. “Students and faculty

“

We need to increase our capabilities by hiring more staff members and making sustainability a higher priority.

Liana Derus

“

by Kevin Vega kvega1@mail.sfsu.edu

SF State’s Integrated Waste Management employee, Eric Igtanloc, moves compost bins in front of the Administration Building on Tuesday, Sept 27, 2016. Photo by Perng-chih Huang promoting sustainability across all of SF State. Sol Patch is a community garden that holds educational events, socials and workshops, all with the focus of environmental awareness.

“I think that there needs to be a lot more money for sustainability projects,” said Liana Derus, environmental studies major and president of ECO Students. “We need to increase our capabilities by hiring more staff members and making sustainability a higher priority.”

Real Food Challenge is a club on campus that positively affects SF State’s ranking on the Sierra Club because of its fight for food sustainability. Real food is defined by guidelines set by RFC’s national branch. These guidelines include: local and community based foods, ecologically sound agricultural practices, humane animal treatment

and fair trade among the food. The club’s goal is to reach 20 percent real food procurement by 2020 using these guidelines.

“We’re trying to get a more sustainable purchasing and procurement with vendors on campus like Sodexo,” said Clement Tsang, president of the RFC. “We want to hold dining services and vendors accountable to their purchasing practices.”

RFC works with Sodexo, the company in charge of food procurement for the dining halls on campus, by going over their inventory and invoices and looking to see where improvements can be made. Though they’re focusing on Sodexo’s procurement now, Tsang mentioned they’re also working towards examining restaurants in the Cesar Chavez Student Center.

SF State

SF State scored the highest points on their transit initiatives by providing resources like bike parking stations and free shuttles to and from the Daly City Bart station. Beginning in fall 2017 Gator Passes will become available, allowing for even easier traveling along Bart and Muni lines.

Since 2013, the University has made it a requirement for all students to take an environmental sustainability class as part of its core curriculum. SF State also made history by being the first school on the West Coast, as well as the first public school, to divest from fossil fuels after its promise to end its investment in tar sands and coal.

“It’s important to note that true sustainability is not a destination, it’s a process,” Mark said. “No person is ever going to get to perfect, and that’s okay.”

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTING FEDERAL CRIMES (for 29 years)?/COMPLETE by Leland Yoshitsu

available on iTunes • Kindle • nook • ($2.99) ISBN: 978-1-945563-86-7

President Obama’s ‘SECRET CRIMES’ Today, it is important for the Public to know that our US Federal Government has secretly STOLEN, DESTROYED, AND ENSLAVED our FREEDOM, LIBERTY, EQUALITY, AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY by secretly NOT ENFORCING AND NOT DEFENDING our 14th Amendment (to provide all its citizens “equal protection of the laws” against Crime and Racism) as President Obama continues to secretly maintain and enjoy His UNCIVILIZED ‘OPPRESSIVE GRIP OF CRIME AND TERROR AGAINST HIS KIDNAPPED AND TORTURED’ Asian-American Hostages who still seek TRUTH AND JUSTICE after being severely punished and confined by the US Federal Government (for 29 years) for being the ‘INNOCENT VICTIMS’ of Federal Crimes by NBC. @lelandyoshitsu lelandyoshitsu.com see: Hillary Clinton’s letter to Leland (pg 4)

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OPINION

6

goldengatexpress.org Wednesday | October 5, 2016

n National Hispanic Heritage Month

KELSEY LANNIN

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF klannin@mail.sfsu.edu

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PRINT MANAGING EDITOR gpenna@mail.sfsu.edu

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ART DIRECTOR stadifa@mail.sfsu.edu

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CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR asrikant@mail.sfsu.edu

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METRO NEWS EDITOR nmadden@mail.sfsu.edu

SEKINAT SHIWOKU

LIFESTYLE & CULTURE EDITOR sshiwoku@mail.sfsu.edu

AMANDA DAVIS

LIFESTYLE & CULTURE EDITOR atdavis@mail.sfsu.edu

JORDAN VAIL

OPINION EDITOR jmv@mail.sfsu.edu

JOSUÉ DE LOS SANTOS SPORTS EDITOR dlsjosue@mail.sfsu.edu

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MULTIMEDIA EDITOR averylp@mail.sfsu.edu

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ADVERTISING & BUSINESS echarles@sfsu.edu

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WRITE US A LETTER The Golden Gate Xpress accepts letters up to 200 words.

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Send letters to Jordan Vail at: jmv@mail.sfsu.edu

ABOUT XPRESS The Golden Gate Xpress is a student-produced publication of the journalism department at San Francisco State University.

For more information or comments, please contact Kelsey Lannin at: klannin@mail.sfsu.edu

by Victor Manuel Verdugo vverdugo@mail.sfsu.edu

I’ve been asked numerous times, “Are you Hispanic or Latino?” and I always have to explain that I’m technically both. While people often use them interchangeably, there’s actually a big difference between the two terms.

I identify with the term Latin American, mostly because I believe it is the most accurate way to describe my people and my community. While I can’t say I would be necessarily offended with being called Hispanic, I find it problematic that people in the U.S. commonly refer to most Latin Americans as Hispanic.

Latin American, to me, is a more unifying term that reflects the similarities in culture of 20 different countries in Latin America. These countries share similar music, food and traditions, but it doesn’t mean they’re exactly the same. In the U.S., we’re rounded up into one group and expected to identify under a single identity despite being different in so many ways.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Hispanic refers to people who are of Spanishspeaking origin, including most Latin American countries and Spain, but never Brazil. Latino refers to those of Latin American origin including Brazil but never Spain.

The term first appeared on the 1970 U.S. Census, according to the Pew Research Center, and provided Latin Americans the opportunity to check a box that they felt best represented them.

The term also replaced inaccurate

terms like Spanish-Americans, Spanish-Speaking Americans and Spanish-Surnamed Americans, which previously failed to accurately describe people of Latin American descent.

“To me, someone who is Hispanic is someone who is trying to fit into mainstream culture,” said Latino/ Latina studies department chair Alejandro Murguia. “It’s bizarre that someone would want to want to identify with a term that was created by a government agency.”

Latino wasn’t added to the census until 2000 when it gave the option for people to identify under the category “Spanish/Hispanic/Latino.”

“These identifying terms have a political connotation, but they have evolved and been used differently as people adapted to these new identities,” Murguia said.

During Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re supposed to celebrate the contributions of notable Hispanic figures and communities to our culture as a whole. However, by using the word Hispanic we’re not being inclusive to Brazilians who also contribute to our identity in the U.S. While Brazilians might not speak Spanish, they still go through the same struggles as people from other Latin-American countries.

“Being called Hispanic just rubs me the wrong way,” Spanish major Ariel Castaneda said. “I prefer the term Latin American because it recognizes my family’s roots and history in Latin America.”

The Latin American community holds on to the culture and traditions of their countries of origin. We attempt to preserve the rich history of those who came before us. And

Graphic by Sheena Tadifa while we all have different points of views or different words for the same things, we understand the power we hold as a united group.

As our community grows, so does our influence and our opportunity to make an impact in society. The Pew Research Center also states that Hispanics or Latinos are one of the fastest growing minorities.

It’s important to remember that these identifiers are most commonly used for people who live in the U.S. In a way, they’re generalized umbrella terms to refer to a similar group of people. That’s why the term Hispanic unjustly groups us together, and separates us a from a huge portion of the community.

While all Latinos are undisputably American, we are expected to take on a hyphenated identity, or one that categorizes us as the “other” in a population full of immigrants.

“People in the United States

misuse the term American and appropriate it to only apply to people from the United States,” Murguia said. “It’s a terrible misuse of language because American applies to the whole continent and to South America.”

I understand these terms change over time and we’re already seeing a change as my generation prefers to use the word “Latinx” to make the identity more gender inclusive.

“All these terms are essentially problematic, including Latino,” Murguia said. “But for the sake of convenience I can accept Latin American because it includes North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.”

When speaking about Latin Americans, keep in mind that one word can’t perfectly define us because we are a diverse group with varying experiences and perspectives.

n National Hispanic Heritage Month

Latino identity isn’t defined by skin color

by Breanna Reeves bjreeves@mail.sfsu.edu I’ve always been the Black girl with a mom who speaks Spanish. Growing up, I gave little thought to the fact that my mom spoke to my siblings and I in English and to my aunts and uncles in Spanish.

It wasn’t until middle school that I realized I didn’t fit into society’s definition of what being Latino is. That’s when I first faced an identity crisis: I was too Black to be Latino.

The word Afro-Latino is relatively new to me. I never had a name for what I am. In middle school you were either Black, Latino or Hispanic. There was no in-between and you could never be both.

But I was. When I told my Hispanic friends I was Latina, they laughed at me and asked me to show them proof.

But what proof did I have other than my mother and her tongue? My mother never spoke to me in her native language — instead she opted to Americanize herself. At home, she spoke English and cooked American meals. But I never felt like she hid her identity. She spoke Spanish to my neighbors and causally to people in the grocery store. People were always shocked by it. “Look at this Black woman with braids speaking fluent Spanish,” they would say. “Who taught her?”

Their shock was surprising considering “...onequarter of all U.S. Latinos self-identify as AfroLatino, Afro-Caribbean or of African descent with roots in Latin America,” according to a Pew Research Center survey.

Identifying as Afro-Latino is a complex thing.

Afro-Latinos have a unique view of race, according to the Pew Research Center survey. The survey

“

That’s when I faced an identity crisis: I was too Black to be Latino.

found only 18 percent of Afro-Latinos identified themselves as Black. They also found that 39 percent of Afro-Latinos identified their race as “white alone or white in combination with another race.”

My mom is from Panama, a country with a long history of colorism. It doesn’t surprise me that other Afro-Latinos identify as white when so many Latin American countries have biases against darker-skinned people.

Ronald E. Hall discusses colorism among Latin American communities in the book: “Racism in the 21st Century: An Empirical Analysis of Skin Color.”

“The numerous color gradations (in Latin America and the Caribbean) make it challenging for racially mixed individuals to classify themselves in a color-coded hierarchy,” Hall wrote.

“Racially mixed individuals have the opportunity to fall on the lighter end of the color continuum and therefore develop a ‘White’ identity, which is associated with more opportunities and privilege.”

I always felt disconnected from my ethnicity because of my appearance and lack of knowledge of Panama. Not to mention I don’t speak fluent Spanish.

I wasn’t Afro-Latino, I was Black.

It was in high school when I started to grow more interested in learning about the other side of me. It was there where I met a classmate, Karina, who was also Afro-Latino.

I felt a sense of community when I met Karina because she was half Panamanian and half

“

GOLDEN GATE XPRESS

One word can’t solely define Latin Americans

Mexican. Even though she spoke fluent Spanish and I didn’t, I felt connected to her. Somehow, I thought she validated me because we had parents from the same place. I could talk to her about the disconnect I felt from Panama.

After a few years of being friends with Karina, she taught me that I didn’t need to prove myself to anyone. She never felt the need to defend her culture against those who questioned her. Watching her, I learned I didn’t need to verify my identity with anyone but myself.

Last summer, I visited Panama for the first time.

I was both excited and nervous because I still didn’t feel in touch with that side of me. But once I was surrounded by my extended family, I felt a part of that culture.

Despite the language barrier, I felt close to them as I learned more about my roots. My aunt told me about family history I never knew existed. I learned about my great-uncle who worked on the Panama Canal. My aunt talked about my great-greatgrandmother and about the family name (Logan) and how our family originated from the Caribbean.

I also learned Panamanians come in all different colors. I met Panamanians who were of Black, White and Asian descent.

That summer I learned Afro-Latinos are a diverse group of people. I learned I don’t need to validate my ethnicity to others.

SPORTS

goldengatexpress.org Wednesday | October 5, 2016

7

SF State Gators’ freshman middle blocker Abby Griffith spikes the ball during their loss against Cal State Dominguez Hills at the Swamp on Friday, Sept. 30, 2016. The Gators fell to the Toros in the fifth set.

Photo by Kin Lee

Women’s volleyball furious comeback falls short

by Jesse Saeteurn essej@mail.sfsu.edu The SF State Gators went toeto-toe against the Dominguez Hills Toros in a competitive five-set game but fell short in a comeback attempt.

The Gators fell to a disappointing 1-11 record and remain winless in their last eight games. Despite the loss, the Gators put together one

of the best games they played all season.

The Gators were down two sets and on the verge of another sweep but showed an unwillingness to give up late in the game.

Outside hitter Haley Halpert said the Gators fought harder than they had all season.

“We had a lot of heart when we played today, and we had a lot of fight in us,” Halpert said. “It takes a

lot of heart and effort to battle back from losing two sets.”

From the opening of the match, both teams were neck and neck and neither was able to take command of the game. Three of the five sets were decided by two points, and there were several late ties in each of those sets.

“I haven’t seen that kind of fight in us in a while,” Head Coach Matt Hoffman said. “I’m really proud of how they performed. We came a long

way.”

Hoffman said he was most proud of the team’s improvement in serving and passing.

“17 aces in a five-set match is amazing and we only got ace six times,” Hoffman said. “Our serve and pass is what kept us in the game.”

Halpert finished with a team and match-high 21 kills. Outside hitter Christine Johnson had a stellar allaround game with 15 kills, nine aces

and two blocks. Setter Linda Aerne tallied 44 assists, three aces and 10 digs.

“I think with them being so young, gaining all these experiences will help them grow and learn how to win,” Hoffman said.

The Gators will seek their first conference win when they host California State University, Los Angeles at The Swamp on Oct. 1.

n National Hispanic Heritage Month

Gators sports share cultural experiences

by Josué De Los Santos dlsjosue@mail.sfsu.edu Laura Monique Ordoñez lordonez@mail.sfsu.edu

How does the sports culture in country of origin differ from the U.S.?

It comes down to culture. In most Latin American Countries soccer is their livelihood. In America you have football, basketball, baseball; many sports to choose from and there is a lot of passion for those sports. The fan base for soccer is big but it will take time to for it get to the next level like in other countries in the world.

Do you take pride in being Hispanic, Latino/a?

I take great pride of who I am and where I come from. Despite the rich culture within the Hispanic community, many lack the opportunity to move up in their social-economic class. To be able to coach and teach for a living is a blessing. I hope to be an example for the younger generation of Hispanics/Latinos within our communities.

––Javier Ayala-Hil, Men’s Soccer Head Coach

What’s your family’s country of origin?

Both my parents are from Mexico.

Tell me about an experience where you celebrated your culture.

In the past my family and I have gone to Plaza Mexico to celebrate Dia de los Muertos. We’d walk around and see the different sets up people would do for their loved ones they have lost. While walking around celebrating the dead, we’d enjoy delicious food like champurrado, sugar skull candy and conchas and at the same time listen to great music.

––Adriana Calva, Women’s cross-country runner/Track and field athlete

What’s your family’s country of origin?

I am Mexican and El Salvadorian. My mom is El Salvadorian and my dad is Mexican. My mom was born in El Salvador and my dad was born in Guadalajara.

Why do you think it’s important to celebrate Hispanic Heritage? For you?

When my parents immigrated here it was really hard for them to start a new life, so they were ambitious in having me and my brother become a bit more Americanized but still keeping true to our roots.

––Kenny Trejo, Men’s cross-country