IMPACT Magazine Spring 2017

SPRING 2017 NO. 8

S e c t i o n

IMPACT PALOMAR COLLEGE

M A G A Z I N E

Recovery and Redemption: A Palomar student’s journey back to the court

IMPACT SPRING 2017

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Join the campus newspaper or magazine sta 2

Jump up and get involved in your college career!

Our classes oer you: The chance to write, design or draw The opportunity to take photos The position of an editor Training in website design and video editing A community of like-minded students A place in Palomar history as the only archive of the college.

Contact Professor Erin Hiro for more information.

I M P A at C T ehiro@palomar.edu SPRING 2017

IMPACT M A G A Z I N E

2016-2017 BEST STUDENT PUBLICATION | WESTERN PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION 1ST PLACE | MAGAZINE COVER DESIGN | CALIFORNIA COLLEGE MEDIA AWARDS 1ST PLACE | MAGAZINE COVER DESIGN | ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS BEST OF SHOW | SAN DIEGO COUNTY FAIR 2016

Life isn’t grouped within periods of time connected by an overarching theme. There wasn’t a single motif permeating the collective thoughts of our writers and designers in creating these stories.

This year, IMPACT has no theme. Instead, IMPACT is a passion project--a collection of stories, such as our communities of transgendered youth or the transformation of one former gang member’s life. The stories our journalists found have resonated within them through their reporting and design to make the same Impact on our readers.

ADVISER

Jay Schultz

We all have different passions and different interests, even as journalists. We sought to capture the lives of the students on our campus not only physically within this institution, but the impacts they face outside the relative educational safety neatly confined by Comet Circle. From the discrepancies in pay our graduating women will face outside this college to the hashed-up recipes we make on measly budgets to sustain our daily activities, these stories will find a home within your own lives and hopefully resonate within it.

In college, and in life, new concepts and ideas can be overly complex. In the given moment of its introduction, we overthink our understanding of it into a simplified thought that’s then easily digestible. These collections of stories are our attempt at synthesizing the thoughts and feelings of a complex topic and creating a human element that is not only relatable, but it’s impact can be felt despite its complexities. As IMPACT has affected our lives, we look to this publication for it too to make an impact in your own world.

Sincerely yours,

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Johnny Jones

Kirk Mattu IMPACT Editor-in-Chief

ADVISER

IMPACT IS PRODUCED BY STUDENTS ENROLLED IN JOUNALISM 105-215, OFFERED AT PALOMAR COLLEGE IN SAN MARCOS, CALIFORNIA. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IMPACT OR FUTURE ISSUES, CONTACT ERIN HIRO AT EHIRO@PALOMAR.EDU IMPACT MAGAZINE 1140 W. MISSION ROAD, SAN MARCOS, CA 92069

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TABLE OF CO

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Overcoming Acne

6-7

Dancing to the Top

18-19

A Hidden Rarity Blooms

8-11

Beats and Blues

20-22

Weight Loss: You’re Probably Doing it Wrong

11-13

Producers’ Guide to Getting Top DAW’s

23-25

A Legend Rising

26-27

College Kitchen

14-17 EDM Culture: Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect

28-30

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ONTENTS The Girl Next Door

31-23

Psychology of a Fan

60-61

The Cost of Womanhood

70-73

Palomar’s Visionary

34-35

#Activism

62-63

A Look Inside a Hectic Mind

74-75

Reborn On the Court

36-39

The Great Meal

64-67 You Can’t Sit With Us

76-77

40-43

Campus Culture Shock

68-69 The Hidden Impact of Music

78-79

This Side of Parenthood Marijuana: from Black Market to Bright Future Dear Racheal

44-47 48-51

The Difficult Transition to Truth

52-54

From Gang Leader to Youth Leader

55-57

How To Cash In

58-59 IMPACT SPRING 2017

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OVERCOMING ACNE

BY KELLCY KOCINSKI ART BY MAYA DUMAS

occurs when hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin cells.

Acne is characterized by whiteheads or blackheads, pimples, spots, greasy skin and, in some cases, scarring.

Looking at my reflection each morning I pout my lip and furrowed my brow as I ran my fingers over my face, feeling every little, cringe-worthy bump.Acne controlled my thoughts before I even opened my eyes in the morning. My days were ruined as my worst fears about my skin were confirmed when I looked in the mirror.

There are three more spots just from last night? I washed my face every day. Why “What can’t I control this did I do to pizza face? After deserve this?” m y 18t h b i rt hday, acne hit me in the face as hard as it could, when most hormonal acne should be done.

I have always dealt with troublesome skin. When the hormones started up, my skin was a wreck, all over the place with pimples and spots. It was extremely difficult to ignore. I have oily skin, especially in the T-zone which is the forehead nose and chin area.

During high school, the t-zone would be the only place I would see blackheads, spots, pimples and a bit of scarring which caused discoloration.

Three days after I graduated high school, I moved 15 hours away from my small hometown to Escondido and that was when I started to get more self conscious of my acne. I could also say that was when dramatic eyebrows and contouring became a trend.

The blow up of social media has a huge impact on the way I perceived myself and others. I spent hours on different apps comparing myself to influencers while picking myself apart.

Having huge red, black and white blemishes was not exactly the most appealing and even with Snapchat filters and FaceTune, I couldn’t hide it.

I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what the cause was. I went vegetarian for eight months in hopes that maybe it was the processed meats that was triggering my acne. It actually seemed to make my skin worse because I found I was consuming more fried foods to avoid meat and I soon returned to my usual diet.

I tried treating my pimples with every drugstore face wash and spot treatment. Some would work in the beginning - burning and reducing size and appearance but eventually did nothing. I tried honey and oatmeal masks, melaleuca oil, coconut oil, I even bought a red infrared light mask which didn’t work.

Acne is a long-term skin disease that

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One morning before class my dad stopped me at the door and touched my face, wiping my foundation away. I became upset and embarrassed. I knew I was wearing far too much makeup as per usual but he had never called me out so hard IMPACT SPRING 2017

said he refused to let me take a pill that has so many gnarly side effects.

es hormone levels, which can lead to an increase in oil production.

Most side effects are mild like nose A huge reason why adult acne is bleeds and dry skin. However there on the rise in the female populaare some more severe like depres- tion specifically is the additionsion and birth defects. For my dad, al responsibilities that have ina big fear for he had, was me not creased women’s stress levels. being able to have children or having mood swings. Oddly enough, the For women, the pressure to work time period before Accutane was outside the home to help maintain the lowest I’ve ever felt in my life. a steady family income while at the same time maintaining a funcI am a college student with acne When you have acne, you feel like Thankfully, I only dealt with dry skin, tioning household is unique to this that is the only thing people acknowl- cracked lips and sore ribs after I generation of women in their 20s, edge about you. I became distant would weight lift. I stayed out of the 30s and 40s. Women have a preswith friends and even lost my boy- sun as much as possible and didn’t sure to look good, keep up with the friend. I would not go to parties, bas- drink at parties and now with much latest fashion and make sure their ketball games, take photos, go out to relief I have confidence with clear homes are cleaned with having skin.More than ever time to make dinner to stay healthy eat, or any event that before, adults are en- while making time for the gym. required me to talk to during the challenges Friends, jobs, and romance stress bepeople face to face.

So why is there of oily and acneic skin comes the perfect breeding ground I needed accutane. an epidemic with conditions. Studies for the formation of adult acne. It show that between is easy to feel smothered and overAccutane (Isotreti- adult acne?

40 and 55 percent of whelmed and acne doesn’t help. In noin or Roaccutane) the adult population fact, adult acne can be aggravated by is a form of vitamin A. It is taken orally and works by age 20-40 are diagnosed with low internal and external factors. When drying you from the inside out, re- grade, persistent acne and oily skin. adults become frustrated with the acne they already have on their skin, ducing the amount of oil released by oil glands in your skin, and helps Triggered by hormones, acne can it causes additional emotional stress your skin renew itself more quickly. occur at any stage in our lives. The which contributes to more acne, and Finally, I met with the doctor, so excit- primary factor leading to adult the cycle then repeats. ed that when I saw this woman again I acne is chronic stress. Chronwould be one step closer to being clear. ic and continual stress increas

L i f e s t y l e

for it. It was a harsh wake up call, he told me my makeup looked disgusting and only made my face look worse and that he was convinced my foundation was the problem.

That is when I went completely makeup-less for roughly four months trying to please him and prove to him it was not in fact my makeup but yet my skin in general. I went to class, work and home. I was mortified.

After my consultation I called my dad, whom I live with, to tell him that the doctor had said yes and gave him all the details. However, he is big on researching via google and asking his co-workers. He

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A Hidden Rarity Blooms

By Savhanna Vargas

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L i Sf ee cs t iy ol n e

B

right pinks and purples of

Distictis plants greet you upon first approaching the RS building, the current location of Grounds Services’ seed bank and nursery for Palomar College’s San Marcos campus.

An assortment of plants and potting materials surround the more antiquated building as Tony Rangel, International Society of Arboriculture certified arborist and interim supervisor for Grounds Services, enthusiastically opens the door to reveal a single fridge. Various plastic bottles and containers with labels for each species of plant line “...we had to get permission the inside of the refrigerator from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife shelves. service and the Hawaii Depart-

ment of Forestry to grow,”

He picks out a bottle of seeds belonging to Sesbania tomentosa. As the surviving seedlings make it towards maturity, they are further moved into a second

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structure called the shadehouse. The primary goal of growing out plants inside this structure is to test the resistances to both the weather and the pests that naturally occur within San Diego County. If results show a species of plant can adapt well to it’s new environment, the mature specimens are moved into the landscapes surrounding Palomar’s campus.

Stepping through the crowded nursery and shadehouse of foliage, several species of plants are placed neatly in a row for preparation of the South American garden that will be located on the south side of Palomar College’s future library. The design of the garden has been created with the idea of mixing California natives and drought tolerant South American natives in order to broaden both students’ and visitors’ options for drought tolerant and environmentally friendly plants in their own homes.

In the midst of Rangel’s explanation of the various species housed in the facility, a smile grows on his face as he spots a Dracaena sp. on one of the tables. At the top of this particular plant, flower buds have begun to grow. This

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is good news as the plant is not only rare, but will provide the potential to replenish their seed bank and continue their conservation efforts.

“We’re very excited,” Rangel states in regards to the future nursery with a fully functional seed bank.

Discussions have begun in regards to a potential visitor’s center being placed next to the new nursery in the years ahead.

IMPACT SPRING 2017

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Weight Loss: You’re Probably doing it wrong

BY JEREMY BROWN

Weight loss strategies and outcome depend the person, work ethic.

Remember all that effort you put in at the gym? Well all those miles you ran on the treadmill may have been for nothing if your goal was to obtain that perfect, summer bod.

When it comes to fitness, many of us want to put the most minuscule effort into everything we do despite wanting to look and feel our best.

This includes finding every little trick and shortcut to aid us towards our respective fitness goals. This is a dangerous and potentially counterproductive tactic as many practices that are believed to be foolproof have no scientific evidence to support them

ART BY MAYA DUMAS someone who has been inactive for the months leading up to suddenly taking a dance class. These classes are popular because of the results that come from upping one’s activity level following an extended period of low activity level. After the first month of so, however, many will find that dancing will only go so far after the body has gotten used to the movements and routine. Without a serious change in diet or any extra exertion, the body will become accustomed to the routine and start to require less calories to perform these movements.

Contrary to popular belief, running According to an article from Bodyis not the best form of weight loss. building.com, despite what you’ve been told, the best way to In fact, it may hinder lose fat may not be cardioone’s process. According to Bodybuilding.com, “Weight loss vascular exercise. “Studies have demonstrated that long-distance walking strategies after a weight training and running are the two depend on workout, the metabolism most popular forms of can be boosted for up cardio and fitness in gen- a persons eral. When it comes to work ethic.” to 36 hours post-workout, meaning rather than fat loss, however, almost anything else would be a better idea. burning say 60 calories an hour while sitting and watching TV, you’re burnPrograms like Zumba have exploded ing 70.” in popularity within the last couple of That may seem insignificant at first years because of the idea that weight glance, but extrapolate that over the loss can be achieved with minimal span of a few days and then to a few effort being exerted. This is true for weeks and those 10 calories begin to

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IMPACT SPRING 2017

really add up. Not only has weight training been proven to burn more calories during/after a workout, but the effects may be even more apparent further down one’s journey.

TheHealthSuccesssite.com describes a metabolic rate as “how our body transforms energy (think burns calories) to be able to run all its functions to keep us alive.”

So if we are concerned with losing calories, we want to make our metabolic rate as active and speedy as possible. Adding more muscle mass to our body is one of the most effective ways to speed up our natural metabolism. More muscle equals faster metabolism.

BornFitness.com says that it is important to remember that “The majority of calories you burn in a day are not through activity, but instead through your resting metabolic rate or (RMR).” So with that in mind, we can interpret that adding more muscle will keep our RMR elevated to a greater point than what it would be with less muscle.

This is not to say that cardiovascular exercises have no place in our fit-

L i f e s t y l e ness journey, it just may not be the most effective way to go about that journey. Self.com adds on to these points by stating that “weight training can help a person burn an extra 25 percent on top of the calories you torched during your workout.”

fact and are willing to exploit consumers whenever they can. Trainers and executives will tell clients whatever they want to hear so that they may take an interest in their product.

This is a common practice outside That same site suggests that, if you of fitness as well and is something only have time for one of either car- that we must take into account bedio or weight training, do weight fore making any type of purchases. training. The lasting efMarc Lobliner, owner and fects that come along CEO of MTS Nutrition, “Nothing post-workout will surcoined the phrase “Nothworks unless ing works unless you do,” pass whatever impact you do” a simple run may do. in reference to the effectiveness of the products Something else that is hindering many that he sells and recommends. Loblinaspiring gym-goers are the plethora er says that when muscles aren’t beof lies and deception that are in the ing stimulated over a period of time, supplement industry. Most of us want you will experience atrophy. As stated to get into the best shape possible earlier, the less muscle you have, the in the shortest amount of time. It’s slower your RMR is. He echoes the very easy to get discouraged when article from Bodybuilding.com by we don’t see the results we were hop- stating that, “walking and running are ing for in a certain time frame. So it extremely catabolic exercises. When would make sense for us to look for you weight train, you burn extra caloany type of aid or assistance that ries for about 39 hours after training. could help us boost our progress. When you do cardio, your body burns extra calories for about two hours.”

Unfortunately, some supplement It’s true that some supplements companies are keenly aware of this may have a positive influence on our IMPACT SPRING 2017

weight loss journey and an investment may be worth our while. It is just important that we do our research and take what we hear from experts and friends alike when it comes to fitness. We must be aware of the fact that everyone is different and will have differing factors that go into what helps that specific person most.

So the best way for one to find out what works for them is trial and error. If you find something that works, stick with that. If you’ve seemingly hit a wall or are seeing a regression in progress, it may be time to switch up the routine. Remember to keep learning and to beware of the lies and deceptions that may be thrown out by companies that are solely trying to get your money. Cardio is not necessary for fat loss. Cardio does not make you lose fat. Figure out how to work cardio vascular into your routine without depending on it in order to reap the most benefits.

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My M y College Kitchen College

Kitchen

PHOTOS & WRITTEN BY DAVID SANTILLAN

RECIPES MADE EASY FOR THE STRESSED STUDENT Most students in school aren’t meal prepping or even bothering to pack a lunch to class. We’re too busy drowning in homework or running off to class to even step foot into our own kitchens. Instead, what most of us end up doing is buying food at school or at fast food places

making us even more broke. I set out to find students who actually packed food for school and ask them for simple recipes that any student could make at home to save some bucks. Here are a few of them, including a recipe of my own.

PROTEIN OATMEAL

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S e c t i o n STEAK AND RICE

LEMON QUINOA

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DIRECTIONS: In a shaker, mix 1 cup of almond milk with 1 scoop of protein powder until fully uniformed.

In a separate bowl or to-go container place one cup of oats, and then add the milk and protein.

Add the cup of yogurt, your almonds and mix together. Chop up your desired choice of fruit mix and then garnish it over the oatmeal mix.

PROTEIN OATMEAL

Place in bowl and let it sit over night in the fridge to stiffen for 8 hours. Enjoy cold in the morning for breakfast.

Ingredients: 1 cup of almond milk 1 cup of oats

RECIPE BY TRISHA Prep time: 5-10 minutes Cook: 8 hours

Almonds (as desired to mix in) Full scoop (optional) protein powder Cup of yogurt (any flavor) Assorted chopped up fruit

Prep time:

DIRECTIONS:

15 minutes

Set your skillet on medium heat and add 3 tablespoons of cooking oil. While you wait for the pan and oil to heat up chop up your steak into smaller pieces and add Lawry’s seasoning salt, making sure it’s all evenly seasoned. Once the oil begins to simmer add the steak and stir around for about 5 minutes or until the meat is no longer red on the outside. Let it cook for another 15 minutes, and then the meat should be ready.

Total cook time: 40 minutes Servings: 4

Ingredients: lbs. of flank steak Lawrey’s seasoning salt 6 tablespoons cooking oil 1 cup of white rice 2 whole tomatoes 1/2 of an onion 2/3 oz. water 1 packet of chicken seasoning

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While your meat is cooking rinse your rice thoroughly using a strainer. Place another saucepan over medium heat and add 3 tablespoons of cooking oil; add your rice and begin to stir for 5 minutes or until golden brown. In between mixing slice two tomatoes in half and put them in a blender along with half of an onion; add 1/3 of water and blend. Pour this blend into the rice and let it sit until it’s cooked into the rice. Then, add another 1/3 of water and one packet of chicken seasoning, mixing it into the rice until its absorbed. Your rice should be ready. Serve with the steak and enjoy.

RECIPE BY: ANDRES ARRIAGA

STEAK & RICE

10 minutes Total cook time: 30 minutes

S e c t i o n

Prep time:

Servings: 4

LEMON QUINOA Ingredients: 1 cup of quinoa 2 cups of water red onion 1 bell pepper 1 lemon Pinch of salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS: Place a saucepan over high heat and add 2 cups of water into it. Once it’s near boiling or boiling add the 1-cup of quinoa to it and reduce the heat to low, let cook for 15 minutes.

While the quinoa is cooking chop up half of a red onion, and a whole red bell pepper into smaller pieces and set aside. Chop your lemon in half and squeeze the juice out into a cup using a lemon-squeezer.

RECIPE BY KELSEY HOOGE

Once the quinoa is ready place it in a large bowl and add the chopped ingredients along with the lemon juice, and a dash of salt and pepper for flavor.

IMPACT SPRING 2017

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DANCING TO THE TOP E

STORY BY SEJI GAERLAN ri Chikusa, a Palomar student has extensively trained in Japan in hopes to pursue dance.

With the goal of becoming a professional choreographer, Chikusa moved to the United States to achieve her goals as a dancer training under some of the biggest names in the industry and the urban dance community.

Hailing from a town close to Osaka Japan, Chikusa did not know much about the growing culture and the different styles of the Urban dance world until finding out about choreographers and groups such as Brian Puspos and Shit Kings over the internet. From then on, she felt a calling to want to train with some of these choreographers. ”After seeing dancers like Brian Puspos, and people who do that R&B style, I was like, oh shoot! where do they dance? and then I found out that they are teaching in Tokyo.” Chikusa said.

Chikusa moved to Japan’s capital,

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PHOTOS BY MYCAH WILLIAMS Tokyo, to attend a university and emerged herself into training with renowned international choreographers coming in as guests at local Japanese dance studios such as Keoni and Mari Madrid, Rie Hata, Brian Puspos and so many more.After training for quite some time, Chikusa learned about a training program in Los Angeles that could possibly further her career in dance. So without any hesitation, she signed up for the program hoping to become one step closer into achieving her goal on becoming a professional performer.

At the age of 19, Chikusa travelled to the United States with dance as her only goal in mind. “Since then, I started training twice a year here in the United States and also at the same time so I could improve on my English.” Chikusa said,“Whenever I come home, I would make money and come back here and my parents are so supportive.”

Chikusa didn’t waste time prioritizing her pursuit in dance. She enrolled herself in various dance studios in Los Angeles and San Diego, such as IMPACT SPRING 2017

Millennium dance complex, Studio Fx, Culture Shock and Movement lifestyle.

It didn’t take long for her to meet and network with like minded individuals in the dance community.

I didn’t come here to go on a vacation, I came to dance Balancing dance and school is not a simple task. For an urban dancer, rehearsals are an important time investment. Students who participate in collegiate dance teams and companies would dedicate most of their weekday evenings and most of their weekends rehearsing and training for upcoming competitions.

Chikusa is no stranger to this lifestyle.“I would come here to the United States during my spring or winter breaks, and come back weeks after the school semester would start. So it was a lot.” Chikusa said. To be able to pass the class, Chikusa’s professors would give her permission to travel to the United States in exchange of sending back reports of her experiences abroad.“I didn’t come here in

the United States to go on a vacation.

I wanted to be a successful dancer as my career. And my major is performing arts as well, so some professors understood what I was trying to do.”

Chikusa said. Now that she studies at Palomar College, Chikusa spends a majority of her evenings and free days rehearsing with her dance team to perform at upcoming competitions.

Mindset Is Important About three years ago, despite all of her hardwork, Chikusa was not able to make the cut in an audition hosted by her two favorite choreographers, Keoni and Mari Madrid. Competitively, only 13 out of more than 100 dancers were taken in to perform with them.

vest hours upon hours in rehearsals in to show their work for 5-10 minutes on stage. But these stages are not just your ol’ generic stages that you see in your school theatre or so. These stages and events are some of the biggest dance competitions in the world. Events such as Body Rock, Vibe, Maxt Out and Bridge are usually posted online for thousands of people around the world to see. Winners would get cash prizes from hundreds up to thousands of dollars depending on how big the competi-

by choreographers Isidro Rafael and Selene Haro, the team is composed by some members from different internationally known groups such as Choreo Cookies, Lost and Found and 220.

Chikusa and her project dance team is en route in preparing their set to perform as exhibition at some more big competitions known as Ultimate Brawl and Bridge Jr’s.

Hell Week If you know any dancers in your life, it is more than likely that person would react negatively after hearing the words Hell Week.

Fortunately, Chikusa did not take this as something that could damage her confidence in wanting to train more in Keoni and Mari’s style. She asked the choreographers if she could come in to their studio to train under them. Up to now, she has occupied herself as a working student, training under Keoni and Mari at their private studio.

“I think hell week is a useful way of prepping for upcoming competitions to making our way into having an editing perfected set that teams have been working on for weeks, or even months,” Brenda Yorm, director of my dance team FTDT stated. “It’s helpful for molding the muscle memory or memorizing choreography, blocking, formations and details in the set.”

When asked if she ever felt discouraged in dancing and wanted to quit, Chikusa just shook her head clearly stating no. She went on, saying that “mindset is important, if I think I cannot do that, then I can’t do that. So I try not to think that I can’t do it. Right now, I just want to live my life.”

Meraki, Chikusa’s project team, is not exempted from this despite having phenomenal dancers in the cast. Every minute is not wasted during rehearsals. Each time, a set is run through over and over for countless hours, it is ran with an intent to improve from how it was before.

Dance Teams and Competitions

tion is. However, sharing the stage itself alongside some of the people that you spent a big chunk of your day and night with in front of thousands of people is something to live up to in itself.

Being part of a dance team takes a lot of commitment and time investment.

Most of the time, college students would even plan out their class schedules throughout the upcoming semesters to fit in rehearsal times into their already hectic schedules. Many dancers who are involved in a team treat these activities as work, and take it to a professional level. Jessie Ma, a writer for steezy.co said, “Being a part of a dance team is no ordinary commitment. The sense of camaraderie and a shared passion/mission makes being on a team more like having an extended family.”

“It’s intent. It’s a conversation. It’s emotion. It’s a voice. It’s a social change.

Exploration. Creation. Vulnerability.

Empowerment. It taps into your soul and awakens something bigger, deeper.

‘What moves you?’ asks each individual to reflect on their movement, their inspiration, their expression.”

Many of the biggest choreographers nowadays were more than likely involved with a dance team or a company at a certain point in their lives.

Dance teams work tirelessly and in-

Just recently, Chikusa was able to perform at one of the biggest competitions in the nation called Urban Paradise at San Francisco, California. Her team “Meraki” was a project team directed

Shaun Evaristo, one of the pioneers of the urban dance community expressed his perspective toward these big events by saying:

IMPACT SPRING 2017

To these individuals, dancing is not just something that is fun. With the amount of investment that every cast member of a team, crew or a company has to put in is considered as work to its own degree.

Recollecting the Experiences Because of the countless opport unities that Chikusa chose to take upon, she was able to dance alongside some of the people that she used to look up to. Not as celebrities, but equal performers sharing the stage with each other.

As a final thought Chikusa stated, “In Japan we have a saying, those who have the same goals and mindset get to meet each other at one point in their lives.”

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“When I die, fuck it I wanna go to hell, ‘cause I’m a piece of shit, it ain’t hard to fucking tell.”

Story by Anissa Ocansey

The Notorious B.I.G unapologetically gave the world a glimpse into his psyche on “Suicidal Thoughts” from his final album “Ready to Die” with hip hop culture directly expose, in 1994. His death wasn’t self inflict- discuss and even remedy their mental ed, but his often dark lyrical content disorders through the art of sound. during his life spoke volumes about The National Alliance of Mental Illness mental illness. characterizes it as a condition that afMental health has been labeled as fects a person’s thinking, feeling or a trend. It’s seen as the latest claim mood. These ailments may disrupt to social media fame via retweets to someone’s ability to function in their share mental unrest in the most aes- daily life. Experiences vary, even people with the same diagnosis. thetically pleasing way.

In 2014, The Telegraph even claimed it has become “fashionable” to be depressed. Unlike the latest streetwear or runway fashion, mental illness is far from glamorous, and as usual, people of color are left out of the conversation.

Depression simply isn’t a wave of sadness that kisses your feet and humbly resides. It’s a reoccurring, overwhelming high tide bringing feelings of loneliness, inadequacy and self loathing.

Depression, Bi-polar disorder, PTSD Within the same expressive vein, mu- and anxiety are common mental illsic is an age old messenger delivering nesses. Statistics show that 1 in 5 indithe essence of the human condition viduals aged from 13 to 18 experience in the form of melodies, rhymes and a mental disorder. That adds up up to hooks. Just like the Notorious B.I.G, 43.8 million people in just the United many rappers and artists affiliated States alone.

The San Diego Union Tribune highlights that 911 operators and other authorities note that service calls regarding mental health have skyrocketed a massive 84 percent from 2009 to 2016 in San Diego County.

No one is immune; However the affliction can affect some groups more severely than others. Sociopolitical experiences including racism, sexism, and economic discrimination are key players in dissecting those fine lines.

On a racial spectrum, depression in the black community is extremely misunderstood.

The unique issues the black community faces pertaining to racism, inequality and the daily onslaught of microagressions creates a distinct arena within the bounds of mental health.

The face of depression and suicide is largely white; However, suicide is the third leading cause of death of black males between the ages of 15 to 24. The National Alliance on Mental Illness projects that African Americans are 20 percent more likely to suffer from depression than the rest of the general population. The CDC also reports that blacks have higher rates of severe depressive symptoms than whites.

Although the rate and intensity of mental illness is higher in black people, The CDC details that African Americans and Hispanic Americans used mental health services at half the rate than Caucasian Americans in the past year.

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M u s i c

For black men hyper masculinity plays a role in sweeping depression under the rug. Due to patriarchal concepts of manhood and the aversion to being seen as “too emotional,” black men will place a tight seal on what’s bothering them.

Madison Grey, author of “Depression: The other side of ‘Man Up,’” mirrored those sentiments.

“How many men turned their depression into anger, resulting in violence?

How many lives could have been saved, caps and gowns been worn, or prison beds left unoccupied if brothers just had the chance to open up?,” Grey said.

For black women, We’re expected to posses inhumane levels of strength, bearing life’s burdens with an impenetrable iron stance. Black women often become self fulfilling prophecies of the “strong black woman” stereotype that can do more harm than good in some instances. The notion that black women and girls have innately harsh attitudes contributes to mental illness going unnoticed.

“Masking up as superwomen is killing us,” notes writer Josie Pickens.

For individuals with intersectional identities, the venom’s potency intensifies.

health. Elements of culture the black community have picked up and retained reflect the journey and transition from traditional African customs to slavery and beyond.

“My mother is depressed, but is in denial. Things like depression don’t exist in my family,” Troy said.

tance of faith and community date back to slavery, a time where suffering for black people was inescapable.

Troy, who is of Jamaican heritage According to Mental Health Ameri- notes the impact Christianity and ca, black Americans are likely to be- music has on the black community.

Cemaka Troy, 25, a fashion major lieve depression is “normal” while “We just don’t entertain those ideas at Palomar College reflects on be50 percent believe it’s a natural part of mental illness. That’s just ‘the deving trapped between three worlds of aging. il’ trying to get in your head. Relias a feminine, gay black man as the Jerome, who is of Indian descent ex- gion plays a huge part. We’re taught source of his depression. to let go, and give it to God,” Troy pressed similar sentiments.

“My existence never felt normalized. said. “Music brings people together.

I’ve always been marginalized,” Troy “Mental illness in the Indian commuIt gives me hope, you know? When said. “The first time I found out I was nity is extremely taboo. Therapy is Beyoncé dropped Lemonade, it gave looked down upon and not believed depressed was when I found out the visibility to the joy and pain of black to accomplish anything,” she said. clinical definition of it. I was able to femininity. It gave us hope.” trace back and realize I’ve been this “India sees very high suicide rates “Depression makes you feel like you way the whole time… since junior because of this.” deserve to feel this emotions and high.”

Due to social stigmas surrounding music can be a powerful tool to lift Inadequate access to insurance and depression, for decades it has been you up, but it also can drown you,” health care, the cost of treatment referred to as “the blues.” The reJerome said. luctance to clinically diagnose the and the lack of experience dealing illness matches the way healing is When it comes to music, a study with black clients all contribute to conducted by neuroscientist Dr. black people’s collective aversion to approached.

Beck Inkster and psychiatrist Dr. the health care system, and even acAfrican Americans tend to seek out knowledging depression as a whole.

Akeem Sule found listening to rap informal methods of treatment like can help people visualize positivireligion, music and social support Culture influences every facet of an ty during bouts of depression and from friends and family. The imporindividuals’ being including mental bi-polar episodes.

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So it’s good for the listener, but what about the creators of the musical content?

This lyric attest to the foreign concept of openly speaking on depression and suicide in the black community.

The genre of rap and the culture of hip hop often gets a negative reputation for hyper masculine driven themes of misogyny, materialism, violence and crime. Those elements are very present, but doesn’t convey the full scope of what the genre conveys to the public.

Kid Cudi tapped into a new population of hip hop fans that feel isolated due to their mental health. The conversation surrounding mental health in hip hop snowballed when Kid Cudi reportedly checked himself into rehab after suicidal urges.

Hip hop has breeched cultural divides making it the most influential force in the world. There are songs devoid of substance, but the zeitgeist of rap and hip hop was birthed from the rise of oppressed voices.

It’s been used as a vehicle from everything to sharing personal beef and enlightening listeners on race, politics, poverty, police brutality and violence in predominately black ghettos. It’s a cerebral tour into a darker world; The impoverished inner city, behind the glimmer of gold chains many maybe unfamiliar with.

It reflects the black communities convoluted cries for help behind the machismo. Revealing the nature of mental illness in black communities through provocative lyricism and hypnotic beats is it’s hidden power.

Hip hop heavy hitters like Tupac, Nas, DMX, Kanye West, Eminem, The Geto Boys and countless other have musically exorcized their personal demons to create some of their greatest hits.

The state of Kanye West’s mental health has been publicized since 2007 after his mother died. Kanye addressed suicide and depression in the 2012 single “Clique.”

“Went through deep depression when my mamma passed/Suicide what kind of talk is that?”

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Los Angeles native Kendrick Lamar has garnered a huge following for the dream like and nightmarish parallels made in his music. Rap thrives on autobiography narratives on the pressures of life and new found fame.

In “These Walls,” Kendrick fluidly details physical and mental suffering.

In “Hood Politics,” Kendrick reveals he has survivors’ guilt because of his explosive success, while his community continues to suffer.

Rapper and trendsetter Lil’ Kim highlights homelessness, abuse, and self esteem. Missy Elliot, famous for her surreal sounds and visuals was dismissed due her dark skin and fluffier frame. She sources her painful childhood, sexual abuse, and depression as a part of her psyche.

Nerdcore hopeful and doctorate student who rhymes under the alias “Sammus” aptly named after the Metroid character of the same name places her battle with depression front and center on the song “1080p.”

She highlights her depression in the song.

“Prednisone -- I can barely breathe, Now the pressure gone but I barely sleep/So I ring your phone but you don’t respond/Had to put myself in some therapy.”

The resolution detailed in the song involved her going to therapy. Her access to education most likely influenced this choice, as many black people avoid this alternative. She expresses pleasure in her decision to seek medical help.

His 2015 album “To Pimp a Butterfly outlines a journey of self realization.

He begins as the proverbial caterpillar trapped by his own mechanisms.

The track “U” lunges deeply into the rabbit hole of self loathing. He directs everyone toward himself and indulg- “Now I see the past with some clarity, es in his inner turmoil. The sounds of Glad I took my ass to some therapy, clinking glass accompany the line Now I’m seeing the world in 1080p.”

“And if I told your secrets, the word’ll know money can’t stop a suicidal weakness.”

By the end of the album, Kendrick emerges from the darkness of his metaphorical cocoon a butterfly on the track “I”. He makes a bold declaration of self love despite his challenges, and replaces optimism with his previously negative coping mechanisms.

Black female rappers in the 80s and 90s faced similar demons, but also spar with an industry that’s hostile to women.

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The contrast between darkness and clarity, growth and destruction, along with sorrow and livelihood are in a contest state of magnetism in rap music.

These themes musically and socially present give insight into the state of mind that is often dismissed. Whether your flavor is bursting with intensity or mute and mellow, a mind has always been and always will be a terrible thing to waste and neglect.

Mental heath awareness aspires to respect and protect, even after the song ends.

M u s i c

Producers’ g u i d e t o Top DAW’s Story by Noah Callahan

Prior to the advancement of computer capabilities and digital audio workstations (DAW), songs were recorded to analog tapes and edited by cutting and pasting these tape recordings together.

Almost all music producer d i o e n g i n e e r s t o d ay r e l y o n create the music they publish.

and stuD A Ws t o

It’s not about the DAW itself, but how you use it.

What you put into the DAW will determine the quality, and finding one that works for you isn’t necessarily what everyone will recommend.

Finding the perfect DAW is about finding what works with your organizational style and flow. It’s better to be a master of a few programs than a jack of all trades if you’re looking to be a unique and stand out producer.

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Fundamentally, Ableton Live is geared toward electronic music production but the program is favored amongst producers from dance to hip hop.

Logic Pro If you have a Mac computer you already have a slimmed down version of Logic Pro with GarageBand.

With GarageBand, Mac users can get an introductory feel for a DAW and if it fits their respective flow, they can move onto the next tier with Logic Pro. Apple keeps their programs within their own MAC operating system, ensuring if someone is interested in a subsidized and cheaper DAW like Logic Pro then they must buy Apple.

This may sound evil and big business, but if you already own a Mac or plan on buying one then Logic Pro is a sound investment at only $199.

Logic Pro is best as an overall package for any producer or recording artist.

Apple’s long running clean, simple and accessible aesthetic is translated in Logic Pro, making navigating the program fluid. Logic Pro has all the essentials for audio recording and editing.

The midi editing in Logic Pro outpaces other DAWs on the market. The program also has on deck a 35GB stock of diverse and intricate synths, sample instruments, and studio-grade effects.

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The sounds of the instruments are nearly unmatched. As soon as you’re done installing you can compose music from classical to electronic dance music straight away. Logic Pro is favored by dance music producers because of it’s midi editing abilities and the programs ability to score projects as a composition allows electronic artists to build projects out of anything they find.

The range of plug-ins that come stock are excellent, and Logic Pro is full of other effects and midi instruments, however third party plug-ins are cut short as Logic Pro is incompatible with virtual studio technology plug-ins (VSTs).

Another con of Logic Pro is that it’s audio manipulation is nothing compared to what’s available on Ableton Live and it’s audio arrangement pales in comparison to the industry standard in Pro Tools.

From professional to beginning producers, users can combine Logic Pro’s synths, instruments, effects and live recording material easily into a single project.

Overall Logic Pro is great for electronic music producers, composers, and arrangers.

Ableton Live Ableton Live has a growing and loyal community of producers with tutorials readily available virtually everywhere. More and more artists are looking to Ableton Live for live performances and recordings on top of Ableton Live’s strong electronic production base.

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One of the many great features for Ableton Live is that the program allows audio files to be dropped straight into audio tracks within a given project. When doing this the program auto time stretches and syncs the tempo. On top of all this, Ableton Live can also sync the original tempo of a sample to project tempo easily.

This makes editing and sampling audio loops easy as Ableton streamlines the tempo syncing process.

Ableton Live’s strongest suit is its audio manipulation. Where programs such as Pro Tools is best for arranging many audio tracks with easy solutions to blending them all together Ableton Live makes manipulating audio tracks limitless--You can completely redesign audio samples into completely alien sounds.

The largest drawback to Ableton Live however, is the audio processing. Pro Tools is the best at bouncing audio projects with the highest quality sound and like many other digital audio workstations Ableton Live stumbles here.

Ableton Live just does not have the high quality audio engine Pro Tools does. This, however, can be solved by rewiring or rendering out stems and processing those stems in another software with a high quality audio engine.

Ableton Live looks and feels professional. The interface is comfortable and Ableton Live will teach users everything they need to know through it’s info viewer.

Avid, Pro Tools parent company, is known for having high quality studio equipment that is specifically built for Pro Tools. From entry level interfaces to pro-quality desks, Avid has interlaced their hardware with their software creating a highly remarkAbleton Live allows users to both able production line. perform live with many the control of many instruments, plug-ins Pro Tools has an all powerful audio and loops while also giving pro- engine that puts out the highest ducers the opportunity to compose quality audio for post recording, mixcomplex pieces. ings and edits. Many producers who don’t produce on the software will Ableton Live is ideal for anyone who render out stems and run through wants to produce music or play live the software’s audio engine for music with the assistance of an digiunparalleled sound. tal audio workstation. In terms of production Ableton Live can be used by The audio editing capabilities of producers from hip hop to dance.

Pro Tools is sleek and comfortable.

Splicing, looping and rearranging Pro Tools audio tracks is seamless with the Pro Tools is the industry standard all software’s workflow. other DAWs are judged against, and Engineers go to Pro Tools over all it is used in nearly all professional other DAWs in the recording indusrecording studios around the world. try for its ability to handle large reThe programs versatility is even facording sessions that are composed vored by the film industry for it’s use of many tracks. in writing and recording compositions.

Home producers can benefit from experimenting and becoming comPro Tools is hard to beat from the fortable with Pro Tools as using the perspective of a sound engineers console. It offers total control over limitless tracks with simple short cuts and an easy to manage work flow that makes piecing together a composition easier.

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software prepares producers for the real world of sound engineering because of its dominant use in big recording studios.

Producers can feel comfort in this and won’t have the need to bounce their tracks as they can send the raw software files to engineers who can then mix and master with complete freedom.

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It is easy to flip between a linear arrangement view and a cubic session view that give the user multiple viewpoints on their project, making sure the user does not miss a beat within the software.

Pro Tools’ the best and most well regarded program for mixing and arranging tracks, hands down. If you can wrap your head around Pro Tools you can nearly walk into any major studio and follow all the work surrounding you.

Pro Tools’ overall focus is on recording, mixing, arranging and engineering. If you’re strictly an electronic producer look to Ableton Live and Logic Pro instead.

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The essence of the singer Lana Del Ray can be found in her lyrics.

“I’m talking ‘bout my generation Talking ‘bout that newer nation And if you don’t like it You can beat it baby…”

[From Lana Del Rey’s song, Brooklyn Baby]

Dashes of bad ass blues and dark sedated lyrics like these are what cemented Lana Del Rey as the queen of alternative music and why our generation is witnessing a legendary artist in the making.

Real name, Elizabeth ‘Woolridge Grant, born in upstate New York, Lake Placid but better known by her stage name Lana Del Rey isn’t just an artist you would expect to hear from our generation. Our music that evolves around our generation now has to do with so much such as HipHop or Rap or anything mainstream playing in the radio that not many of us get to hear these artists such as Lana Del Rey. Whether it’s Hip-Hop or Rap Mainstream music many of us forget that we have such unique amazing talented artists that’s music isn’t to be found playing nowhere but with such a huge fan base, Del Rey’s music will have us thinking on what us music lovers have been missing out on.

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Ed Millet Del Rey’s manager for “Music Week” spoke about her upcoming music: “The new Lana record is brilliant but I won’t say too much about it here. The only thing I would say is that it’s something really fresh from her, a departure from her previous records, with some exciting collaborations on it. It will continue to solidify her reputation as one of the greatest songwriters of her generation.”

Her songs display the exoticness of her creativity and creative mind, bringing about a female artist that’s the complete opposite of today’s chart leaders (Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Rihanna etc.,) her voice can alternate from that to a 1950’s Nancy Sinatra that not many of us get the chance to hear. We should because a she’s a legend with a unique and angelic voice that is going to be remembered forever.

Del Rey’s music symbolizes her in many ways. The lyrics and vocals she sings to you not only will take IMPACT SPRING 2017

you to another world but will pull you right in like no other. Her albums wrap around you with lyrics with desire, happiness, violence and sadness into a tight bundle that Del Rey doesn’t always seem sure how to speak out but does surely think it strongly through.

The soft dreamy melancholy voice and music she sings out makes you feel as if an angel were singing to you, as if an artist from the 50’s were reincarnated into Del Rey’s angelic voice. She always has a define vision of what she is and what she wants to be, musically and visually with her style of unique music videos she has released in the past years.

Her influences and idols are a few not many of us from this generation will know: Loue Reed, Bobby Vinton, Nancy Sinatra, The Eagles and poet writers Allen Ginsberg and Walt Whitman. Her music is also influenced by few Hip hop artists she loves herself such as artist A$AP ROCKY and The Weeknd. Her re-

Lana Del Rey practically taunts you with her wide-reaching range of inspirations. She is a nostalgia hall of mirrors with an aesthetic of Hollywood and many different ways. Del Rey’s fan base is so big that not many people actually know how big her fan base is and how known her music is within these fans and hardcore music lovers. The fans and lovers can relate to her music in many ways but each have their own story to tell with her music.

“I feel like what she’s writing about is pretty different from other female artists, her sound is pretty unique, too. I feel like its very dream pop. It’s really pretty, makes you feel bitter sweet.”

Andy, a Broadcasting Major student attending Palomar College, said: “Lana Del Rey is a queen. She has this voice that I don’t think not many females artists could ever have like herself.”

Del Rey’s music will continue to influence our generation in many ways but will be a legend along with many of those that have left us with legendary music such as Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston, Janis Joplin etc.

“If you are born an artist, you have no choice but to fight to stay an artist,” Lana Del Rey saids in a FASHION Magazine interview in 2013.

Lyrically and vocally this legend in the making we are witnessing will forever change the female artist industry in many way lyrically and inspiration wise.

Games” had made a sensation over the Internet world wide on YouTube.

The hit single made her an international star queen rising in the making with her debut album “Born To Die” released in 2012, which sold over 77,000 copies in the first week, which was later certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Del Rey had recently released an album before “Born To Die” was released, “Lizzy Grant” which was released but had no recognition what so ever of who Lana was before her platinum record was worldwide sold everywhere. She took her vision of music and songwriting to more upbeat and pop beats that caught ears for such a huge amazing fan base she has now till this day.

After her debut album “Born To Die” was released she went on to tour worldwide from the USA to Germany and many other states.

“I’m not really great when it comes to stage. I’m new to this and yes, I do get stage fright but my fans know that. They’re there to see me sing, not too see a show most people expect to see,” Del Rey said in a recent interview with MTV, causing her to get hard critiques because of her debut performance on “Saturday Night Live” in 2012.

more experience with taking the stage and singing the music she loves for her fans, she has sold many shows worldwide and also always expecting huge amount of crowds at music festivals.

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cords always define a story throughout each track and a meaning to it all almost as if you were reading a book but musically.

Del Rey now takes the stages through out many music festivals and tours world wide giving us a show unlike any other female artist with just her microphone and her band by her side. She always opens with a song that gives us a feel and taste of the 1950s, such as in her Endless Summer Tour “Sleepwalk”

by Santo & Johnny young classic 1950’s male artists.

Some of her fans are famous.

“I’m obsessed with her, her lyrics are fierce,” R&B artists Adele said in a magazine interview. “The chorus of this song makes me feel like I’m flying, like that bit in your life when it goes into slo-mo. When you’ve got nothing to do and you’re staring out of the window and your mind goes to magical places.”

Lana Del Rey will continue to feed our ears with strong and lyrically music throughout our generation. For the fans and music lovers, Del Rey’s music is an absolute must and keep in mind this legend will forever be an icon and star queen in the making.

Many reviews and social websites had given her a hard time with the performance because they thought she wasn’t as good as they expected. Del Rey currently now has much

“If you are born an artist, you have no choice but to fight to stay an artist”

Del Rey wasn’t really known for her music until her hit single and home made nostalgic vintage and herself starring music video for “Video

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EDM culture: Peace, love, unity and respect

story by Gustavo Cristobal

Electronic Dance Music, or the more recognized acronym EDM, is actually an umbrella of many sub-genres such as Trap, Deep House, Electro House, Trance, and many more that has exploded within the last couple of years. This music genre, which for the most part does not have language barriers, is making its way to mainstream America. It’s doing so by spreading throughout the nightclub scene, consistently being played on the radio and by carrying a whole bunch of successful festivals. EDM is giving rise to a whole subculture that focuses on a concept of Peace, Love, Unity and Respect (PLUR).

Melissa Rodriguez, an EDM enthusiast from New York City, recalls being set up for the rave life at a pretty young age. “My sister at the time was about 13 years old and I was about 7 years old at the time (I’m 22 now), she would blast EDM around the house. I pretty much grew up loving this music at a young age and it carried out through my life,” Rodriguez said. “To have a sense of how old this music is -my sister would play things that most people probably won’t remember like Vengaboys, Alice Deejay, Lasgo, Cascada, and of course the legends like Darude and Tiesto. It’s the only genre I feel like I truly fell in love with.”

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Rodriguez is just one of the many people that have grown up to listening to this genre of music.

Jimmy Turco, 28, from the Alma, Colo., remembers how his love for Dance music started at around the age of nine. “It kind of stemmed from my Youth,” Turco said. “I was into a lot of Ace of Base as a kid, back then it was like pop, dance [music]. It would be on the radio and stuff and I remember that when I was a kid back then, I remember being in the car always loving Ace of Base.”

His journey within the sub-genres of EDM continued with the introduction of house music, which then followed the Electro path, then the Trance path, and eventually got into the Dubstep path with some Drum n Bass on the side.

“I saw one of the news shows warning parents about raves and I was like ‘I’m going to go to raves,’” Turco said.

“I remember searching the primitive internet in the early 2000s when I was far too young to attend.” He was 16 when he attended his first rave.

“I got real into the underground scene when I was young” Turco said.

“I went to a lot of warehouse parties in New York then in California I did the same thing there as well. I always stayed in the underground but I also like the big parties such as festivals like EDC and Ultra [Music Festivals].”

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The success of Electronic Dance Music ultimately comes from enthusiasts like Rodriguez and Turco, who both continue listen to the music as well as continue to attend the events that specifically tailor towards the EDM community.

A 2016 report at the International Music Summit in Ibiza around May 2016 estimated that the global economic value of electronic music is about $7.1 billion with a growth rate of 3.5 percent a year. Comparing that to the numbers in 2012, the total growth rate has gone up by 59 percent. The three main factors that have contributed to the positive outlook, according to the report, are the “growth of streaming, powerful emerging markets, and the maturation and sustainability of the U.S. market.”

The U.S. market especially, has been contributing to this growth, which started to become noticeable right around 2010-2011, which is dubbed as the dubstep era, according to Jonathan Flores. Flores, a 27-year-old DJ from Irving, Texas, recalls a couple of thoughts from his 10 years of being involved with the genre.

“This was when Skrillex was just becoming huge. He had just switched from playing in a rock band to this crazy, really new sound called dubstep,” Flores said. “Dubstep was just

“People who never knew about [EDM] and got into [EDM] are now hooked. Festivals like EDC and underground raves are places where people start connecting with others. You are starting to see people understand why they have been in the scene for so long and why the culture is the way it is,” Flores said.

“People are starting to stay in the scene and understand that the music is powerful. That there’s actually something here than just the pretty lights, drugs, and the crazy atmosphere.”

Peace Love Unity and Respect. This is the set of principles a philosophy of life that is incorporated with the many different types of bass lines of EDM, which ranges from 124 BPM (beats per minute) to 150 BPM. Pasquale Rotella, the Founder and CEO of Insomniac Events (the company behind festivals such as EDC Las Vegas and Nocturnal Wonderland in San Bernardino), defines what PLUR means in a Facebook post posted on July 2015.

“When I was first introduced to this concept it was in the early 90’s at undergrounds. At that time it was a Spoken thing. A discussion. Sometimes it was written in the corner of a flyer here and there. But they were

definitely the overriding Principles of attending an Event….and also for trying to live your Life Outside of Events. [...] #PEACE – To be in the same place as another, to exist simultaneously without conflict or adverse effects/reactions. #LOVE – To unconditionally feel great affection for a fellow being, and offer friendship regardless of race, sex, or creed. #UNITY – To come together and defend common interests and give a sense of well being among those who feel un-

accepted, to allow any and all to be a part of you and your friends. #RESPECT– To allow yourself to be who you are without expectations, and allow others to do the same while helping each other, giving those around you the pride, courage, and honor you would yourself. #PLUR” The whole concept of PLUR revolves around trading bracelets made out of chunky beads or pony beads and are

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referred to as kandi. Rave goers who are part of this PLUR ideology make their kandi by themselves, often inserting letters, symbols, and colorful beads that are all meant to be traded with someone else under the flashing lights and lasers through a process of a handshake. This handshake is a way of making a friendly connection with the other person; a form of physically expressing the lifestyle.

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hitting America. It had been hitting the UK for a couple years prior and so right around this time, somehow this music just became more in the spotlight.”

Peace is represented by a peace sign. Both people connect their peace signs at the tip of their fingers. Love is represented by a connection between the two hands that make up half a heart. Unity is represented by the touching of open palms.

Respect is then shown by the clasping of both hands. The kandi bracelets are then exchanged and passed over the clasped hands without breaking the contact.

After, PLUR gives out the vibe to hug one another. This handshake gives the kandi a story.

A story of how you met a stranger and just became friends with them and made a connection with someone who also shares the ideology.

Luis Vega, 21, Baldwin Park, Calif., had some positive things to say about his experience with the rave culture. “Before [raving], I was having trouble. I was being made fun of and everything and once I went to my first rave, I felt welcomed. Everyone was giving me high fives, hugs, trading Kan-

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di” Vegas said. “It’s one of the most powerful things to live by. I didn’t know about PLUR until I went to my first rave. That’s one powerful thing to live by and I like it you know. There isn’t much negativity in it. You only have one life so you go to love what you have.”

He thanks his cousin for introducing him to EDM and the whole community and said that it changed his world.

Shane Sumonsavadit, 25, Claremont, Calif., also feels very welcomed thanks to the culture behind the music genre.

“Once you step into that [atmosphere], everyone is just like outside of their comfort zone. You have that connection with everyone and for me, I can go crazy, be myself without being judged,” Sumonsavadit said.

“When I go into these raves, I don’t care what anyone thinks. Yes everyone is going to be doing the same thing as me. I feel connected with the atmosphere, the whole vibe of it and the people.”

When Sumonsavadit first started attending EDM events, he was not sure what he felt about the ideology of PLUR, but then started to understand the whole concept once he got more into the rave scene.

“It makes the culture,” he said.

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Another person who didn’t really get the rave culture at first was Jonathan Roupp, 23, Las Vegas, Nevada, who was a metal head for a very long time.

“Originally, I was really into heavy metal and punk music. My best friend is really into rave culture and EDM and tried to get me into it. I was a hater, I didn’t really understand,” Roupp said.

Roupp mentions how his friend convinced him to go to EDC Las Vegas in

2014 and how he fell fell in love with the rave atmosphere.

“It was crazy and mind blowing to me,” Roupp said. “The people there were so accepting and I wasn’t used to that because I was used to going to rock concerts” “PLUR is everything. It goes back to the basic human fundamentals. We all

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want to be accepted, no one wants to be outcast and no one to feel like they’re not loved by everyone. I think if more people adopted PLUR, then we would not have as much hate in this world as we do. I think that’s the reason why enjoy the rave community so much. They’re open minded and are willing to accept you in whatever way you want to be presented.

That’s the most beautiful thing about it,” Roupp said. “When I’m walking into EDC, I feel like I’m at home and truly at peace. I would love to see PLUR being accepted into other genres of music.

These people are strangers but I don’t see strangers, all I see friends and this is just one big hangout session. If I saw that you were dehydrated, I would give you water.”

And that’s what makes EDM so powerful and attractive. The diversity of people who gather up together for one common interest. The love of the music, to express themselves the way they want without being judged, and to just enjoy life and moments of unity and to care for one human being to another. Life can be filled with stress and many other factors that may make for negative moments, but once EDM is introduced into it, the positivity that other people, other friends that will give off of you will make you glad that you have discovered something that had made an impact in your life.

Story by Bethany Nash

Art by Anna Farrell

F e a t u r e s

The girl next door

T

he beginning comes out of nowhere, it is an unexpected turn that overpowers an individual’s life and sweeps them into a chaotic and traumatic experience. For instance, “ICE” a website for the Department of Homeland Security shares the story of Tonya, which is a pseudonym, a young girl who was manipulated into a lifestyle of human trafficking based on the logic of “if you love me.”

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Tonya and her mom had moved into an apartment, when she was 13, where Eddie, also a pseudonym, lived with his kids. Tonya and Eddie would see each other quite often, and be openly flirty.

When Tonya was 15 she was a runaway and began to live with Eddie after they reconnected at a grocery store. At first things seemed normal, Tonya cooked, cleaned, and would help take care of his children. Then one night they were at a bar and Eddie placed a relentless amount of peer pressure on Tonya by saying that, “if she loved him” she would sleep with this guy at the party, promising her it would be a one-time thing.

The painful reality is that human trafficking is hiding in every corner of the world. The places we are familiar with and the people that we know could very possibly be a part of this ever growing weed called human trafficking.

In 2001, San Diego was identified as one of the highest active areas for child sex trafficking by the FBI. The FBI also labeled North County as one of the top 13 highest intensity areas for child prostitution. California ranks as number four amongst the states.

Secretary of State (2013-2017), John Kerry, addressed the dominance of trafficking in the world today by stating, “If the cries of those who are enslaved around the world today were an earthquake, then tremors would be felt in every single nation on the continent on every continent simultaneously.”

Tonya gave into the pressure, but little did she know that this would end up being every single night thing for the next couple weeks.

She was unprepared for the emotional and Ami Carpenter, associate profespsychological damage sor with the Joan B. Kroc School of that this would cause.

Peace Studies at University of San DiTonya believed that she ego, collaborated with Jamie Gates, was doing this because professor of cultural anthropology at she loved Eddie, and Point Loma Nazarene University, to tried her best to handle the entirety develop a case study that investigatof the trauma that her mind and body ed human trafficking in San Diego. were suffering.

The study, known as “Measuring the Tonya stated, “Being able to sleep Nature and Extent of Gang Involvewith that many people and live with ment in Sex Trafficking in San Diego,” myself and get up every day and keep was funded by the National Institute doing it and just lying there being of Justice, and is one of the largest helpless was so hard.” and most comprehensive investigaTonya was rescued by U.S. Immi- tions into human trafficking in the gration and Custom’s Enforcement United States today.

(ICE) Homeland Security InvestigaIn San Diego alone, there are roughly tions (HSI) very own Special Agent 3,417-8,108 victims/survivors of huKeith Owens, who arrested Eddie for man trafficking every year and only his crimes.

1,766 will come in contact with law Owens stated, “As a special agent enforcement. Usually, a victim will with HSI, I believe it is a duty and be trafficked for an average of three an honor for me to assist and pro- years before they reach any sort of tect survivors like Tonya against hu- contact with law enforcement. The man traffickers who wish to exploit sex economy makes $810 million their innocence for greed, control trafficking underground, and the opand money.” eration is the second largest underground economy in San Diego follow“Any individual or group who wishes ing drug trafficking. to prey upon the vulnerabilities of any man, woman or child and force them The average age of a child being into a life of sex or labor traffick- exploited in commercial sex trafing should be prosecuted to the full ficking is 16 years of age. Recruitextent of the law. HSI continues to ment for the commercial sexual lead this charge,” Owens stated.

Is your child in a class room with a victim of child sex trafficking? Is your neighbor involved in a human trafficking ring?

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According to the Polaris Project and other sources, the following are key signs to look for with human trafficking: Appearing malnourished Showing signs of physical and sexual abuse Oddly long or weird “work” hours Lack of knowledge of one’s whereabouts A third party is always present and the subject cannot speak for themselves A loss sense of time Has constant fear, anxiety, submissive nature and depressive tendencies.

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exploitation of children (CSEC) is By knowing what to “see,” you al- man trafficking. We must begin to happening everyday on middle school low yourself to become aware of raise awareness in our school sysand high school campuses. Mean- your surroundings and situations. tems, homes, communities and crewhile 50 percent of adults that are “I started seeing it once I knew what ate a widespread awareness of the arrested for prostitution fit the legal to look for…I started seeing young prominence of human trafficking. classification for being sex trafficked. girls sitting at bus stops on Rosecrans In order to do so, education is the but not getting on the bus,” stated key ingredient.

Summer Stephan, who heads the hu- Carpenter in an interview with KPBS. Dr. Saisuree Chutikul, who is the chair man trafficking task force in San Diego and is the chief deputy district Palomar student Forrest Ponsot, is of the national subcommittee in Thaiattorney in San Diego, stated in an in- a 21-year-old, philosophy major who land that works to combat human terview with KPBS, “When you don’t desires to create a community where trafficking in their communities and have actual figures of the scope of all people can flourish. With this de- is on the board of trustees with the a public safety threat as big as the sire he has created a Human Traffick- ‘United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund trafficking of girls and women and ing subcommittee on the Palomar for Victims of Human Trafficking,” young boys then it’s very difficult to campus to raise awareness of human gave an interview with United Nations ask for the right resources to attack trafficking and to educate people on Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). the social injustice occurring in our this issue.”

“Education and knowledge of trafcommunities today. ficking in persons among all memSo, what do we do? How do we help?

In hearing heavily emotional content Ponsot stated, “It is local and my big- bers of society are key to beating we automatically desire to “fix” it gest issue is that people don’t know human traffickers. You have to use all of the means at your disposal to in a sense, and ask ourselves these about it.” raise awareness about the crime, its questions. But, what we should be Today, people do not want to know nature, causes and damage to vicasking is how do we make ourselves the sad truths that are consumtims - Governments, civil society, the aware? One has to want to see the ing are everyday lives. Is your child press, private companies: each and painful truth consuming our commuin a class room with a victim of every entity must work toward pronity in order to know where to begin. child sex trafficking? Is your neighmoting knowledge of this issue... Citbor involved in a human trafficking izen reporting is a major area which ring? The possibilities are endless. shouldn’t be overlooked. Victims can Everyone is a potential victim of huoften be society’s most marginalized members and it’s up to neighbors and friends to look out for one another.”

Don’t stay silent! If you are aware of or suspect human trafficking, speak up! If you are a victim or have been effected by human trafficking, speak up! There are people willing to help.

Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline 1.888.373.7888 or text help to BeFree (233733). Speak up, because it is your world, too.

Ponsot stated, “We are the future, and not a lot of people consider this.

There is some sort of duty encapsulated within that saying because we are creating the future, and what kind of future do we want to see?”

Has expensive items, but no means to have bought the items Oily hair Extremely timid Constantly has their guard up Referring to other individuals as “daddy” Distant behavior

Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline 1.888.373.7888 or text help to BeFree (233733)

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4

PALOMAR’S VISIONARY

BY KIRK MATTU

STRONG BEYOND BELIEF IMPACT SPRING 2017

Photography by Johnny Jones

In her signature bob and monochromatic outfit of black and white, the self-diagnosed shopaholic quickly flips through photos of her trip in Central America, stopping on a photo of monkeys she encountered on the trip as she exclaims in adoration for their affectionate faces and of photos of her zip lining through the rainforest.

Annette Blake, quickly shook her out of.

“I remember her sitting on the couch with her arm around me crying and saying, ‘I wish I could take it away,’ and there was nothing she could do. ‘If I could just take it away I would. What do you need me to do?’” Joi said.

Her mother would be there every step of the way, acting as a hype man for Blake and the rest of the family. “If you needed a fan, my mom was the one you wanted to be your fan,” she said.

Mark said that, “When she started [working in education] it kind of was a leap fall and I think the reason why it went so quickly for her was because she always had it in her mind very early.” This goal was a product of their mother and of the times they were living in, he said.

lege did Joi look into getting her advanced degree by the mentorship of Richard Rose, who would later become Modesto Junior College’s President in 2006. Rose mentored Joi and Bell on becoming college presidents and the ways in which to pursue such a goal.

“I knew that that was in her future,” Bell said of Blake becoming Palomar’s president in July 2016.

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S

itting in a sparsely decorated office with a few, passeddown awards and trinkets from presidents past, Palomar College President Joi Lin Blake gushes over photos from a recent trip spent in Costa Rica.

Within the first few months of acting President at Palomar, Blake suffered a devastating loss. “They actually called me at [Palomar] to tell me my mom passed away,” Joi said. From talking to her mother everyday on her way to San Marcos and seeing her every Sunday for scheduled hair appointments and dinner, Annette’s neighbors were the ones to break the news.

The trip has been in the works for years, said Damon Bell, Vice President “It was just devastating because even of Student Services and Achievement “At that time, the doors were opening when we look at her picture now we at Olympic College in Bremerton, for African Americans to go to college are like, ‘She was healthy. How did her Washington. It wasn’t until spring heart just stop?’” Joi said. break that the two friends, along with others, took the trip down “AN EXAMPLE FOR FEMALE “She demonstrated a strength south. during that time that really kind of AFRICAN AMERICAN helped other people kind of hold it “She’s gone and swam with doltogether,” Bell said. “You can’t be COLLEGE PRESIDENTS IN phins, she’s zip lining, she’s done all strong always. You can’t always be of those kind of things you would THE NATION “ the strongest person, but even when think someone in her position she’s been vulnerable she still has wouldn’t do or would be afraid to (due to affirmative action), the doors kind of a quiet strength about her.” do,” Bell said. were opening so my parents could go On their Costa Rican trip, Bell and Joi’s Blake, who took over as president in back to school and my mother was a friends reminded her to take a picmid-2016, was diagnosed with rheu- big dreamer and a big dreamer for us, ture with her mother’s purse. Joi had matoid arthritis at age 17, a chronic in other words she would set the tone brought it on the trip because of how autoimmune disease that attacks the for, ‘You two can be special,’” Mark much Annette had always wanted to body’s tissues and inflames the joints, said. He added that both their mother go to the country. and father had masters degrees, but according to the Mayo Clinic. had dreamed more for them.

Joi can be viewed as role model for “She has not let her disability slow her many students on campus and an acdown at all. In fact she looks for things Bell and Blake met at San Diego Mesa tualization of Palomar’s student deshe’s excited about and she never says, College in 2006, where she was hired mographic: a young African-American ‘Oh, you know I don’t know if I’ll be able on as the dean of counseling and Bell woman, a military kid, disabled, Spanto do it.’ She finds a way she can do it,” had recently became the college’s vice ish-speaking, a former community president of student services.

Bell continued. college student who was on both acaBlake, the oldest of two siblings—Mark “It’s been over 10 years now, it’s hard demic probation and the dean’s list, a Blake, a San Francisco Deputy City At- to believe it’s been that long,” Bell said. transfer student to a state school and a torney, and Timothy Blake, a pastor— San Diego native; but above all else Bell Mark said that Joi and their mother grew up in a military family. She was says Joi is a visionary and an example would always discuss getting their docborn in Guam and spent her youth in for female African-American college torate in education. “She always had it Japan and Denver, Colo. before settling presidents in the nation. in her mind about being Secretary of in San Diego.

Education and so I think she knew she “I never really said this before but she When Blake was first diagnosed with was going to do it, it was just a ques- kind of reminds me of a Rosa Parks rheumatoid arthritis, she had to drop tion of when, when she was going to type personality: really quiet, but out of Grossmont College for a semes- get her advanced degree,” Mark said. strong; strong beyond belief.” ter due to surgeries on her knee and It wasn’t until her time at Mesa Colfell into a depression that her mother, IMPACT SPRING 2017

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1

“My whole world revolves around basketball”

Story by Abraham Jewett

Photography by Johnny Jones

For as long as Vinessa Perryman, 21, can remember, basketball has been a part of her life. Growing up in Valley Center, Calif. she’d play at the Boys & Girls Club, where she excelled out on the court.

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“When we lost her, it kind of was devastating to us”

Perryman’s father would also take her After graduating from Valley Cento practice at the middle school near ter, Perryman instead unexpectedly her house, and eventually built Perry- walked away from the game, which at man her very own basketball court in the time was a big blow to Palomar’s their backyard. The court didn’t have program. a gate to keep the basketball from “We recruited her really hard out of bouncing away, but it didn’t matter, high school… and then she was going Perryman would just run and chase it through some personal stuff and she down herself. decided not to play basketball,” Head Living with two older sisters and a Women’s Basketball Coach Leigh younger brother, basketball became Marshall said. “When we lost her, it more than just sport, it became a way kind of was devastating to us.” of life, a special bond between the For Perryman, the stress of a long segirl they call “Hoopz” and a family nior season had taken its toll on her that has always supported her. psyche. Her team was underperform“My whole family played sports,” Per- ing, and while she worked to carry ryman said. “My dad taught me how them on her back, more often than not they would end their games with to do a layup.” a loss. Valley Center only won eight Perryman’s love for the game only games that year, finishing their seagrew stronger as she grew older, and son with a 69-35 loss to Cathedral she has the ink to prove it. A basketCatholic in the very first round of the ball tattoo on her right arm is a conCIF playoffs, a game in which Perrystant reminder of what drives her to man scored 21 points. be her best out on the court.

“I was just kind of bummed out over “Everyday I really think about basketthe previous season… I didn’t really ball… like how I can get better,” Perhave the mindset of kind of bouncing ryman said. “My whole world revolves back,” Perryman said, looking back around basketball.” at that time.

Perryman went on to play basketball It would be a few years before Marat Valley Center High School, where shall would hear from Perryman again, she led her team in scoring during who eventually decided to reach out her 2013 senior season averaging 18.6 through an email to the head coach. points per game. Perryman became viewed as a special talent who could “I got an email from her that was like bring a high level of play to the col- ‘hey coach, it’s Vinessa Perryman, and legiate level. Palomar College recruit- you know I really want to get back ed her heavily, and she commited to into basketball’,” Marshall said. “We were super excited.” play for the Comets.

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“I just went straight down”

“I kind of just landed straight on my knee and my knee just buckled and I just went straight down,” Perryman said. “I felt it and I heard it, too, like no one else said they heard it but I definitely heard it.”

During her freshman season at Palomar College, Perryman was a key contributor down the stretch for a women’s basketball team that won the 2015-2016 Pacific Coast Athletic Championship. Expected to be a Not the kind of player to let an injury major player in the 2016-2017 sea- stop her she attempted to simply “jog son, everything came to a crashing it out,” something that she quickly rehalt in the last scrimmage of the day alized wasn’t going to work. during the second to last practice of “I didn’t know right away what hapSpring 2016. pened, it didn’t really hurt but it just felt weird,” Perryman said. “It was It was the sound when it happened getting warm and swelling a little that alerted her that something was wrong.

bit and it was getting stiff so I knew something definitely wasn’t right.”

After getting X-rays, Perryman was told by urgent care doctors that nothing seriously was wrong and to take six weeks off, a simple request to comply with as spring basketball had just wrapped up for the year. Only later would she find out that what she assumed was a simple sprain, was actually a full ACL tear.

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An ACL injury occurs when you tear the anterior cruciate ligament in your knee. The tear can be partial or it can be torn in full, it is a common injury that occurs in sports where there is jumping and sudden stops or direction changes.

“I didn’t think I would ever tear my ACL… the injury it’s crazy… you never know the intensity of it until it actually happens to you,” Perryman said.

The shock of the injury hit Perryman hard, but for Marshall, losing her upand-coming player was a tough pill to swallow.

“She was a really big part of our playoff run last year… and then came out in spring was doing a great job improving and just came down and tore her ACL,” Marshall said. “It’s been hard because we expected to have her back this year.”

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“She was kind of like the young stallion”

It was in October of 2016 that Perryman went under the knife, hopeful that a successful procedure would be the beginning of a full recovery. Once the surgery was completed it became time for physical therapy, but before even thinking about basketball, Perryman had to be able to simply walk again.

“She was going to physical therapy but physical therapy that she was doing was a thing called ADL’s, which are activities of daily living,” Palomar Athletic Trainer Felicia Heise said.

“They were more concerned of her being able to get out of bed, take a shower, put dishes away, those types of things.”

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Along with the trainers at Palomar College, Perryman also had a familiar face supporting her as they recovered from their own knee injury.

Wyatt Johnson, Perryman’s 71-year-old retired grandfather, underwent a knee reconstruction surgery in June of 2016 which left him looking at a long recovery.

Together, Perryman and her grandfather leaned on each other, sharing tips and training methods while working out together at Johnson’s home in Corona, Calif.

while it was hard for her to move.

“The first days were the hardest days, it just hurt so bad,” Perryman said. “School was just starting, so I felt I had to go… I went to school three days after the surgery and it was really tough getting around.”

would tell her ‘ok you’re free to do light jogging’... and I realized after a day I’d have to literally watch her because she’s trying to do sprinting.”

Perryman had a routine, and she stuck to it. Day after day she made her way down to the training facility, working on basketball specific drills that included squats or light running.

Another step she took was to perA big mo- form daily ultrasounds on her knee, tivation for something which helped break up making her scar tissue while getting her loose. As way onto campus was Perryman’s the fall rolled by, with each training access to the athletic training room, session Perryman made progress. where she worked everyday with “It doesn’t sit well when Heise and other certified athletic you have to be on the sidelines” trainers on Palomar’s staff. The trainers pushed her hard, but Perryman’s Soon enough, there was a season to work ethic and determination to get be played. A season which Perryman back to full strength was never in spent on the sidelines, and yet remained very much in the game. question.

“Everyday I really think about basketball… like how I can get better,” Perryman said. “My whole world revolves around basketball.”

5

“[Perryman] kind of inspired and pushed me with my knee injury,” Johnson said. “You… kind of push each other and encourage each oth“With [Perryman] she was kind of like “Our girls that aren’t playing we let er and that’s what she’s been doing the young stallion eager to get out them know their voice is just as imto me.” there and do as much as she could portant as the active girl’s voice, and Back at school, the first days after as soon as she could,” Heise said. “It we need them to be just as dialed in her surgery were difficult for Perry- was difficult sometimes because we as everybody else,” Marshall said. man, who dealt with the pain even Perryman took this message to heart, and became a more vocal leader among her teammates, who quickly took notice.

“When I first met her I could tell that she’s kind of on the more quiet shy side,” teammate Quinesha Vanhook said. “Over last summer when she got hurt I noticed a big change in her, physically and mentally she became more vocal for our whole team.”

As the season wound on Palomar had great success with their squad on the court, all the while receiving support on the sideline from their wounded teammate, who was making progress, and fast. “[Perryman] was actually ahead of her rehab process… just because she was in here five days a week,” Heise said.

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S e c t i o n Dennis Greenhill, another certified A loss in the semifinals ultimately end- has high expectations of herself in athletic trainer at Palomar College, ed their season, however the future her return. agreed with Heise’s assessment and remains bright. Perryman will be able was equally impressed with how to return next season, and the expec- “My goal is just to be an all around quickly Perryman made progress in tation is that she will begin the year player, I feel like I am that now beher recovery. as the team’s starting point guard. cause I have sat back and watched what it takes, all the things you have “In 20 years that I’ve been doing “She’s going to be a great leader for to do, just seeing it from a differthis she’s probably one of the fastus next year,” Marshall said. “We’re ent perspective,” Perryman said. “I est solid recoveries,” Greenhill feel I can definitelosing our three said. “I’ve seen people come back ly help my team out point guards quicker but they’ve come back with next year.” this year… we’re serious problems.” really hoping Perryman’s recovery Perryman’s fast recovery has come as t h a t Vinesis the result of hard no surprise to those that know her sa is going to work, sacrifice, and an best, including Johnson, who likened come in and unshakable desire to his granddaughter to a wounded sol- take that role succeed and return at a dier out on the battlefield. over.”Among high level. The girl they teammates like call “Hoopz” lives for “It doesn’t sit well when you have to Vanhook, there basketball. Her coaches be on the sidelines and seeing your is little doubt know it, her teammates teammates out there,” Johnson said. that Perryman will succeed in any role know it, her trainers know it. Grand“It’s just like any athlete, or any solshe takes on for next year’s squad. pa? Yeah, he knows it. dier, you know you want to be out there in the thick of the battle with “I think she’s progressed a lot, she is a “The one thing that I really believe your teammates.” leader, more of a vocal person of our and see in Vinessa is the fact that “She’s going to be team, physically she’s unstoppable she wants to be better, she wants to a great leader for us” and there’s been a big change from get better, she wants to do better, her game from when she first came so she will,” Johnson said. “She loves The Comets would go on to finbasketball man, she loves basketball, to now,” Vanhook said. ish the regular season in first place she’s a basketball junkie… she needed in their division, and earned a spot in Perryman recognizes how she has to get back out there to get her fix.” the state championship tournament. grown over the past six months, and

The first days after her surgery were difficult for Perryman, who dealt with the pain even while it was hard for her to move.

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This side of parenthood

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F e a t u r e s Story by Cristina Angel Photo by Savhanna Vargas

he phrase “there are two sides portive. I’d say in general they were to every story” is common. really supportive but disappointed of What isn’t common is explor- course, as I was, too,” Waithaka said. ing the alternative, rarely purAfter Waithaka became pregnant sued, or questioned sides to that stoshe reacted just as one might think: ry. Lynette Waithaka, a 23-year-old taken aback, as her world suddennursing student at Palomar College, ly changed. It wasn’t instant, brash is an untouched, refreshing source acceptance of her circumstances. of truth.

The idea of having a baby before “For some reason I could not come achieving an established career or to terms with the pregnancy, so that being married is somewhat of a social was the hardest part for me,” Waithataboo in our society, full of mystery ka said. “I was like ‘I can’t get pregand assumption. Gaining clarity on nant! What are you talking about?’” the reality of that “taboo” is attainEventually Waithaka’s mentality able, and can even be found at the shifted as she realized it was time to schools we go to. take responsibility.

Waithaka and her 3-year-old son are “He motivated me,” Waithaka said. part of that minority of young, inde“He definitely changed my life. But for pendent families. the better.”

Despite it being unexpected, WaithaIn society, unexpected pregnancy is ka always saw herself having children. something even those in the media She had the desire to be a mother, tackle and discuss. It has become having spent time helping raise her a hot topic, one that has opposing sisters daughter. Waithaka’s plan was viewpoints of the same reality. to get her degree before getting settled in life and raising a child of her One example of an opposing viewpoint to unexpected pregnancy own, but plans changed. comes from Fox News writer Kim “I was actually at [Arizona State UniKeller, who believes that the incluversity] when I had him,” Waithaka sion of young parents is “condoning” said. “I had to drop out of school for teen pregnancy. Keller wrote an onthat period of time because I got so line piece published on June 2, 2014 , sick. I had a really tough pregnancy.” titled “Opinion: Teen Pregnancy Is An During her pregnancy Waithaka had Issue, But Should We Highlight It In to move back to her mother’s house, Our Yearbooks?” in order to deal with the physical An excerpt from that opinion article sickness of her pregnancy. While her summarizes Keller’s opinion: family showed support, it wasn’t an “Yearbooks that feature photos of baeasy reality for them to embrace. bies along with sports, honor rolls and “My mom was really disappointclubs seem to condone teen pregnaned at first, but after maybe two cy as just another part of high school or three months she accepted it,” life.... yes they deserve support.... but Waithaka said. so does the boy who’s working nights “The baby wasn’t going anywhere, to support his younger brother and so she came to terms with it. And the girl who’s studying six hours evmy older sister was also very sup- ery night so she can be the first perIMPACT SPRING 2017

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son in her family to go to college.”

Keller says in her article that “like it or not, some teens will become parents.”

It’s the undeniable world we live in, so the battle with those with more traditional views of family now must address the way they and the rest of the world should handle it.

Keller is in a subgroup that subtly but surely wishes for familial traditions to be untainted and clean-cut: just like virginity.

was a cheerleader and had too much fun, got pregnant, miraculously had a whimsical on/off relationship with the child’s father, and then had a gorgeous little baby and somehow had all the support in the world.

Sure, she had gossip and some family drama, but it all worked out-- it worked out perfectly to suit our own entertainment needs.

The reality is that teen parenting is still prevalent, but it’s gotten somewhat less common. According to the That’s one side of our society: those Center of Disease Control and prewho think that incorporating prevention, as of the year 2014, a tomarital parenting is “condoning” tal of 249,078 babies were born to for immorality. women aged 15–19 years, for a birth Then there are those that mean rate of 24.2 per 1,000 women in this to show support, but with flares age group. That’s nine percent less than the year before, but that doesn’t of naivete. mean those in the group of teen parThe culture we embed ourselves in, enting are having less struggle. the filtered images channels like MTV and E! News creates, are picturesque, In light of seeing these young parents quirky disfunction. The general sce- socially welcomed and accepted in nario of the teen mom of today is school settings, some consider emsome mid-western 16-year-old who bracing teen/young adult parenting as “support,” whereas others view it as “promotion.”

like real life. For them, they were the most likely ones to hold unrealistic perceptions about teen parenthood,” Martins wrote.

If you are a blank-slate viewer, one that has little to no personal experience in the life of being a single/teenage parent, impressions mean everything.

If all you see on the television is a radiant, perfectly dolled-up 17-year-old with a hunky boyfriend and beautiful child, still somehow able to have time and funds to go out with friends, finish school, and raise a family-- what would you think?

Clearly, the way this situation is viewed in school settings is a pressing matter. People are seemingly very for it to the point of naivety and aloofness, or very against it to the point of undue judgement. Either way, turning a blind eye in ignorance is common, just as the situation is.

Then, there’s this side of parenting: the side we live on and see in the flesh. Out of the darkness and into the light, here is the story of an everyday young, independent family.

In a study conducted by Nicole Martins, an assistant professor of telecommunications in the College of A typical day for Waithaka starts in Arts and Sciences at IU Blooming- early sunrise hours. After dropping ton, and Robin Jensen, an assistant her son off at Palomar’s child lab she professor of communication at rushes to her 8 a.m. class. the University of Utah, 185 high The day doesn’t always kick-start, but schoolers of middle-America it gets going in the end. were surveyed. The prompt was to see if shows “[My son’s] not a morning person, just like “Teen Mom” and like I’m not,” Waithaka said. “Morn“16 and Pregnant” ings are tough, for both of us.” were, in their Waithaka resumes her day with view, discouragthree classes; her last one ending ing a lifestyle of at 5:40 p.m. teen parenting, or glamorizing it.

Waithaka is confident her son is in good hands while at the center, and Martins was able is sure to make her time count while to draw a blunt she is on campus. conclusion from this study.

“In between my classes I’m just always reading, cause when I go home “There are some its not always a guarantee that he’s individuals who gonna let me read. He wants to read believe that this with me, or just… if he doesn’t get reality TV show is that attention, he just starts ripping

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S e c t i o n

pages out of the books,” she said with a laugh.

Nights back home and weekends aren’t necessarily care-free, either.

“Sometimes I just wait for him to go to bed and I’ll read or I’ll just put on Mickey Mouse for him for a little while. But yeah in general…its tough,” Waithaka said. “I always say I’ll do homework over the weekend but I don’t. It’s almost impossible.”

Her son’s father lives in Arizona, but Waithaka encourages him to keep his father in his life.

“I’m not the kind of person who will say ‘just leave your dad alone,’” Waithaka said. “I’m still trying to figure out how the whole situation is going to work.”

Waithaka also has a boyfriend of two years, since her son “I feel like it happens so frequently, portant step to move forward in life,” started walking. The three live as a people-- they don’t care. They just Waithaka said. “At least that’s how I family in Vista, so her son has support don’t. They just accept you the way grew up. That’s what I grew up knowyou are. I did have a professor though, ing. So I work. I work extremely hard.” from all over. who...I liked him, but he said... ‘PeoThe future shines bright in Waithaka’s “He does have a male figure in his life. ple that have kids that are at a young face with her son by her side. That I think that’s really important to have. age, there’s like a 10 percent chance “shine” in her face is the prospect of Not everyone has it. If I didn’t meet of them succeeding in life,” Waithadreamy Los Angeles sunshine illumi[my boyfriend] though, I’d still be doka said. “You’ll find the people who nating her passion for innovative proing it,” Waithaka said. are really accommodating and acgression, centered at the crisp, polAn avid learner, Waithaka, native to cept younger parents, and there are ished school buildings of UCLA. Kenya, Africa, stays regular in her lin- others who are just like ‘ oh you’re guistics. She speaks three languages: stupid, why would you do that? You For those that question which side of English, Swahili, and Kikuyu. She’s should’ve had an abortion.’ I’ve had youth parenting one takes, Waithaka also teaching her son to speak her both experiences. But I don’t care, as had one final thought. native tongue. “I’ll say a word, here long as my son is okay and I’m okay.

“Just accept it,” she said. “Those kids The rest is fine.” and there.” from those young parents are probaShe even took her son to Kenya for Independence was a recurring theme bly going to be the future. of Waithaka’s rationality of handling the first time this past January. life as a young, single mother. Gov“We had a blast,” she said. ernment assistance is absolutely not Waithaka has come to accept and in the cards for this student/parent. embrace the life she now leads with “I work extremely hard to her son. Her positive yet practical make sure I won’t have outlook prompted the question: what “He motivated me... He definitely to get on government does she think of society’s on-thesupport or anything like changed my life. But for the better.” fence mentality of young parenting? that. I’m sure everyone Waithaka has seen both the support- else works hard too, but I go the extra step to get the good grades in ive, and the non-supportive sides. school cause I know that’s really imIMPACT SPRING 2017

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from

Black Market Bright Future to

Story by Michelle Schneider Photography By Kayla Rambo

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ow that Proposition 64 or At a federal level, the use of cannabis “The Adult Use of Marijuana and its production is illegal regardAct” passed, people are legal- less of state laws, which creates a ly able to grow, possess, and smoke gray area for farms and businesses marijuana recreationally in California. to operate. Some fall prey to legal investigation without previous warning On January 1, 2018, dispensaries will by the FBI. be properly licensed to sell marijuana legally without a medicinal permit in “I was raided. There were helicopters California. As of now, 8 states have with spyware heat detectors flying legalized recreational use, and 26 over my property. The police lined us states allow people to use marijuana up with guns behind our heads,” said Dalton Moore, 29, a marijuana farmfor medicinal purposes. er. “They took everything except just Marijuana’s long journey to becoming enough for us rebuild. I plan to sell a mainstream topic of debate has led my land to the first investor coming to over half of Americans’ support. our way in 2018. My property is valAccording to Gallup, this is the first ued at $2.2 million. Once I sell it, I’m time in U.S. history that 58 percent out. I’ll be able to retire.” of the nation approves of marijuana legalization, compared to 12 percent Marijuana is a self-policing and modof Americans supporting legalization erating industry. The transition toward becoming a highly regulated in 1969. market is not an easy process. “Green Rush” pioneers often seek guidance to make sense of Prop. 64 and ensure legal compliance.

“This is a quasi-legal environment regarding the security and non-diversion of marijuana. A storefront can legally dispense following certain guidelines, and California is allowing you to form your own business to engage in best practices,” said Attorney Kimberly Simms, who specializes in corporate business formation, civil litigation, and medical marijuana laws. “But people are still being raided. You either

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“I always start with juxtaposing whats going on in California and what’s going on in Colorado. Almost immediately after the implementation of their medical and recreational marijuana laws, their rules and regulations were all clear,” said Simms.

a legitimate alternative to modern medicine. “When a doctor writes you a prescription, they get a little bit of money, which is why they don’t want to prescribe marijuana either.”

Marijuana cultivation wasn’t always a taboo subject before its prohibition and has roots deep within American history. During the 1800s, farmers grew over 2,000 acres of hemp in their southern plantations, and considered it a profitable asset to their crop.

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have the appropriate licenses and standards, or you’re black market.”

Simms believes the process of helping marijuana farmers, entrepreneurs, and investors transition into a legitimate business in California is a burden for most people due to the confusing enforcement mechanisms, policies, rules and regulations.

The upper flower of the plant causes people to experience a high when smoked, but hemp offers a greater Today the pioneers, activists, and purpose for cultivation. Paper, art supporters of the “Green Rush” canvases, rope, baskets, lighting oils, stand by their belief that marijuana clothing, and ship as a drug provides more than just a sales are just a few mental and body high, and that rec- of the products reational use should not be judged or made from hemp. condemned.

American canna“I would argue that someone abusing bis activist Jack provides it to alleviate stress is not using it for H e r e the benefit. But I also don’t see any- d o c u m e n t a t i o n thing wrong with enjoying it as an that supports why alternative to alcohol. I don’t agree marijuana faced with this market mind that it can only retribution from a past when it once flourished in his book, “The Emperbe medical,” said Simms. or Wears No Clothes.” Marijuana or People who prefer cannabis for medihemp was first made illegal during cal use say it provides a healthier and the 1930s as a response to advanceholistic alternative to pharmaceutiment in farming technology. cals, and with less serious side effects.

Innovative machinery allowed for “Cannabis allows you to function and hemp to be grown and produced gets you well. You can sit there and at a mass level to the detriment of your pain goes away, and costs so timber and railroad industries; their much less than pharmacy drugs,” said impending doom of bankruptcy was Cooper Hale, a marijuana cultivator. feared as hemp was establishing itIt’s widely known within the mari- self as the main agricultural crop of juana community that its legaliza- the 19th Century. tion process is met with hostility It was reported that one acre of due to competing industries such hemp (which grow taller than some as alcohol, prescription drugs, and trees at 20 feet per plant) could rechurches, and they donate against place the same amount of pulp as the it. Some say a politician’s pock4.2 acres of woodland required in the et grows deeper as powerful men paper creation process. If there’s not behind the billion dollar industries as big of a demand for trees, then the provide them money to swing a vote use for transportation that’s capable against marijuana being legal. of delivering them become obsolete.

“Pharmaceuticals are a huge part of This explains why hemp is not cureconomics in America, what country rently a way to save our forests or doesn’t have a pharmacy?” explained provide bio-degradable bags at groHale. This is one perspective of the cery stores. corruption that surrounds why marThe corporate profiteers behind the ijuana is slow to being considered political veil bribed politicians to lob-

At a federal level, the use of cannabis and its production is illegal regardless of state laws, which creates a gray area for farms and businesses to operate

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by in favor of their monetary agendas, On the other side of the argument, similar to what’s happening today. some believe that marijuana as a They also had their hands in public treatment is not based on science, relations and advertising, and staged and has no business being considpropaganda to position marijuana as ered a legal alternative to opiates. a dangerous and addictive drug in the minds of the public through “yel- “Botanical marijuana is not a medilow journalism” - a highly exaggerat- cine, and there are serious negative ed and sensationalized style of news impacts from the use of marijuathat scared people against hemp cul- na,” said Scott Chipman, a Citizens Against Marijuana representative. “It’s tivation. a psychotropic drug, it’s addictive, “Now that weed is becom- causes cancer, psychosis, thoughts ing legal, the government of suicide, demotivates, and impacts doesn’t care about people heart and lungs. It’s harmful.” getting high or drunk. They Chipman argues marijuana is a gatesee it as making money off way drug and should be unaccesof it. Think about it: alcohol sible to people under 25 years old, doesn’t help you. You can’t the age when brain development is get well from it and it doesn’t help complete. He stands firmly against you function,” said Hale. marijuana legalization, revealing

Prop. 64 allows for licensees to grow, retail, transport, and distribute marijuana in California by following strict legal compliance.

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“More people are looking at it less than like a drug and more like a medicine,” said Hale. “I believe it should be legal. It’s a lot safer alternative to alcohol, and I figure if you can have one mind-altering substance legal such as alcohol, you can have another. Both are just concoctions of plants.”

The Food and Drug Administration has approved marijuana for medical use to treat anxiety, depression, glaucoma, nausea, pain, psychosis, seizures, sleep disorders and spasticity.

Marijuana gives cancer patients an appetite, helps with epilepsy, and alleviates Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

One army veteran Evan Krikorian shares his dark experience with using pharmaceuticals for pain before switching to marijuana. “I was like a zombie on medication. I’d sleep all day, throw up anything I ate, and I blacked out a few times. I ended up having to wean myself off and switched to marijuana.”

Marijuana helps more than just people with health ailments. The money made from taxes on marijuana products fund rehabilitation centers, homeless shelters, and youth programs like the Boys and Girls Club that were originally on their way to shutting down. Tax money from marijuana also fund research into sustain-

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able energy and goes toward repairing schools, parks, and other forms of infrastructure throughout the country.

Prop. 64 allows for licensees to grow, retail, transport, and distribute marijuana in California by following strict legal compliance. The future of marijuana extends beyond medicinal and recreational smoking as investors look for a quick ROI. They find opportunity within markets like real estate, product development, apps, and innovative dispensaries which promise a bright future. The history of hemp is repeating itself, except now it’s back with a modern twist.

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that a rehabilitation consensus shows the average age for people trying marijuana is 12 years and 4 months.

Growers and supporters against the prohibition want people to see that legalizing marijuana isn’t just about a child potentially abusing marijuana for a head change.

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LOSING A BEST FRIEND TO DRUNK DRIVING STORY BY MARIA LEYVA

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On Sept. 8, 2016 I was in Las Vegas with my best friend, celebrating my 21st birthday. A week later I was at her funeral.A day after we returned from our trip, Racheal was killed by a drunk driver on her way home from work. The other driver lived.

Everyday about 28 people are killed because of drunk driving. Everyday someone else doesn’t make it home.

drinking. Racheal did the same.

She always had someone to pick her up, or she would walk home.

She was conscious that getting behind the wheel after a few drinks was dangerous. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks this way. You never know when your path may cross with a drunk driver, changing or ending your life forever.

Racheal and I had planned our trip to Vegas from the day I turned 20. It was the first time either of us were going on a trip by ourselves, so far away from home.

In 2015 alone, The night before we were to leave a n e s t i m a t e d for Vegas, I had a family problem 10,265 people and wasn’t able to go anymore, were killed in but I urged her to go without me. drunk driving She left for Vegas early the next crashes involv- morning with her boyfriend, as ing a driver we had planned. with an illegal The next morning my father said Blood AlcoI should still go, because I had hol Concentraalready made those plans with tion (BAC), 67 her. I didn’t tell Racheal that I percent of these was going to be able to go, and I deaths involved a arrived at Vegas at 4 p.m. To her driver with a BAC disbelief, I showed up at our hotel of .15 or higher, a and surprised her there. number that has increased in the Our three days there were filled with early morning and late night last two years. swims at the rooftop pool at our I t h a d n e ve r hotel, miles of walking to the crossed my mind various hotels and casinos, and that I would one of course, various drinks. day be affected by drunk driving. At that moment, I would have I consider myself never imagined that one of the to practice safe best moments of my life, would

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On the day of my actual birthday, a week before my trip, I opened my birthday card to see that Rachel had written: “I’ll take care of you in Vegas and always.” Ever so true to her word, that’s exactly what she did.

Throughout our trip, she made sure I was having fun because this was “my trip.” We visited the places I wanted to, and she was always there to make sure I was getting the proper Vegas experience.

On our last night there, we took the bus to the old strip on Freemont Street. After a long day, and a few drinks too many, I was drunk for the first time in my life.

I was quiet and reserved, she was sassy, outgoing, and impulsive. She had no problem telling me when I needed to get my head on straight, but if I needed her, she would be there in an instant, dropping everything to listen, as if I was the only thing in the world that mattered at that time.

Racheal had the tendency to never let the people she loved forget that she loved them. Often, we would find messages left by her remembering us of this. She was silly, and we often found ourselves laughing. Now, these are the things I miss the most, her contagious laugh and her trail of messages.

driveway. I called her boyfriend to let him know, and I handed the phone to her dad, who was home at time, so he could know what was going on.

He took off without another word.

By then, news had broke out that there had been an accident on that road. I turned to a community Facebook page to ask for any information, and confirmed that her vehicle had been in the accident. Later, someone would comment that there had been a fatality.

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soon become a memory so happy and treasured, it would be painful to remember.

I called her boyfriend again, worried, and he reassured me that we could not give up until we knew if it was her or not. All we could do was pray.

We had the privilege of working toOn my drive home, I prayed and made gether. I saw her five days and at least promises of anything and everything 40 hours a week, although sometimes I had so that she would okay. At one We were trying to make it back the more if we had plans for the weekpoint looked in the rearview mirror bus, but it was late at night and as end. Everyday, we would leave work and saw the sky had clouded and usual, there were people everywhere. together. Before we parted ways, she turned dark. In just one spot at the It was hard to navigate the crowds, would always tell me that she would other end of town, where the acciwithout bumping into crowds of peo- see me tomorrow and I would always dent was, a ray of sun was shining ple watching the street performers, reply, “ bright eyed and bushy tailed.” through the clouds. lines of others waiting for their drinks That September 12 was different.

Today, every time I drive home and and the usual bridal party that had to When we were leaving that day, her look up at the sky, I think of her and walk arm-in-arm along the street. car wouldn’t start, a point that would remember that awful day.

In my clumsy, drunken stage, I recome up in the news that night and Within 20 minutes of getting home, member her reaching out to me and the future investigation. We tried to I received a phone call, and all I reholding my hand as we wove in and start it for 15 minutes, until a local member hearing was, “It was her.” out of people, not letting go until we person helped us and we drove sepwere at our stop, and not letting me Racheal was killed on impact when a arately home. get lost in the crowd. pickup truck driven by a drunk driver Halfway home, I received a call from crossed into her lane and struck her As we made our way back to our hoRachel’s boyfriend, saying that he Nissan Altima head on. tel, she stopped drinking, and took couldn’t get a hold of her. They had care of me like she promised she been on the phone when the call Before then, I had never thought would. She made us stop to get me much about loss and death. Losdropped and she wasn’t picking up. some water and food, not leaving my ing someone you love is something side in case I wandered off to talk to I assured him she was fine, but promyou’re never ready for. Losing somecomplete strangers. Repeatedly ask- ised I would turn around and drive up one this way, so sudden, feels like the the way she would have gone home ing me if I was okay. world has been ripped away from you. and make sure her battery hadn’t That’s the way she was. She was aldied. As I drove up the road she was It’s a concept you can never come to ways there for anyone that needed last on, I noticed cars flashing their terms with. I had about a half an hour her, and could go above and beyond brights and making signals for me to prepare myself for the worst, but to make her loved ones happy. to turn around. I drove on and was when the news is confirmed, you’re Racheal and I both grew up in Ra- stopped by a police officer who told overwhelmed by a feeling that’s almona. We had been in the same kin- me to turn around. I asked him for most impossible to explain. It feels dergarten class, but it wouldn’t be any information and gave him the de- like someone is reaching into you, until almost two decades later that scription of his car, but he replied that squeezing your heart over and over again. After that, you go numb and we would meet each other again and we could not give any information. everything feels like a dream, a nightstart a friendship so strong, it felt as I turned around and drove straight to mare you are so desperately trying to if we had known each other our enher house, to make sure she hadn’t wake up from. tire lives. made it home. Her car wasn’t in her I M PAC T S P R I N G 2 01 7

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Later that night, we were told that the accident was being investigated as a suspected DUI case. We would soon find out, that the driver had been driving with a BAC of .33, more than four times the legal limit of .08. His two kids, whom he had just picked up from school, were not properly restrained in their seats.

On impact, his four-year-old son was ejected from his seat through through the back window and into the bed of the pickup truck his father was driving.

Both children survived.

Racheal’s car was so damaged, they wouldn’t be able to get her out until hours after her death.

The Center of Disease Control and Prevention lists that a BAC level of .15, the highest level listed on their website, causes “ substantial impairment in vehicle control, attention to driving task, and necessary visual and information processing.”

At this level, the person should already have slurred speech, loss of balance, and poor coordination.

It is astounding to think how drunk this man was at only 4 in the afternoon and since that day I have often thought about him and why he would ever put his own children at such a high risk. I’m, not sure if I’ll ever get the answer to that question.

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To me, drunk driving will always be an act of selfishness. Accidents like this can always be avoided, but happen because of a wrong decision. This man selfishly put his kids’ lives on the line, took a life, and caused so much grief and pain to other families.

I don’t know how many times I have seen Racheal’s parents and asked them how they are to get the response that “they are doing” or “okay.”

I don’t need to ask to know what they are feeling.

The daughter they loved and raised for 21 years is no longer here. Her siblings miss their “Boohoo” as they used to call her. The nieces and nephews she would so often volunteer to babysit on her days off wonder where their beloved “tia” is.

Racheal lived for her family. There was not a day she wouldn’t rave about milestones in her nephews’ development, or her excitement about treating her niece and older nephew to a movie. She adored her father and when she talked about him, she would instantly light up. She admired her parents’ marriage and their love for each other. One of her biggest dreams was to get married one day and have a large family of her own. She had set the bar at 10 kids, although she promised to gift me her first-born.

She had plans for us, too. We liked to double-date often, and had already planned the places we would

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Seven months after she was taken from us, life without her never gets easier. We often joke about how she must have been livid when she found herself in heaven, because there is no way she would have ever volunteered to go. Not yet.

We miss her terribly; her voice, her big brown eyes, and the way she made our world a better place. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of her.

I find myself very fortunate to have known someone as great as Racheal. Living without her is hard because a piece of my life is missing, just as it is for everyone that knew and loved her. Every moment we shared together and all the memories I was left with makes me happy and grateful to have had her for as long as I did. Some-

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visit next. She had claimed the title of my future maid of honor, and anyone that wanted to dispute it, would have to fight her for it.

times I find myself looking up at the sky and wondering where my little Ray of sunshine is. Wherever that is, I know she is still keeping her promise and is always taking care of not only me, but all of her loved ones.

A few months ago, I participated in my first “Walk Like MADD” walk, a walk put on by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to raise awareness for drunk driving.

That day I learned that we were all victims of drunk driving. In one way or another, we had all been affected, whether we were involved in a drunk driving accident, lost someone to a drunk driver, or had been a drunk driver.

This is true. The ways people are affected by it are different, the pain is different, but coincidentally our lives are now different because of it.

ART BY MAURICE THOMAS

I IMMPPAACCTT SSPPRRI INNGG 22001 177

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The difficult to truth Story by Andrew Fox

Caitlyn Jenner’s shocking transformation on the cover of Vanity Fair started a national conversation on transgender rights, with massive support on one side, and blatant mockery on the other. Simply scroll through Jenner’s Instagram comments to find a completely mixed bag, from people praising her transformation, to others outright condemning her. It might be easier to judge celebrities

was 7, but at 15 he decided to tell his parents which came as no surprise to them as he found out.

than average folk. They feel unreachable--more tabloid entities than human beings. However, transitioning is “I didn’t like being called a lesbian. It’s something very real, and people are a label for a female,” Henry said. doing it every day in the face of all Being referred to as a female was the criticism and controversy. something that felt wrong for Henry, Female-to-Male “Pronouns such as: she, her, hers, miss Mason Henry, a 24-year-old transgen- and lady all felt very uncomfortable. der man from Temecula, always hung It would make me upset and irritable.” out with the boys as a female child. It When Henry was 22 he transferred to wasn’t until he entered middle school California State University Fullerton where he started to sense he was difwhere he met a few transgender men ferent. while volunteering at the LGBT center in Orange County.

“My body was starting to change dif“I instantly knew I was in denial about ferently than my male friends. I felt being a man. I decided to come out excluded from the boys,” Henry said. as transgender,” Henry said. “I finally “I wasn’t interested in the types of understood the feelings I’d had my games girls played, I felt socially awkwhole life.” ward around girls.”

Although he had yet to legally change Once Henry began high school, he his name, Henry wrote to all his prodidn’t have any interest in hanging fessors before the start of his senior out with guys but saw that women year that he wanted to go by Mason. would look at them more than himself.

His family however, was a hurdle that “I did not want their friendship. I hated was more challenging than a simple them, or so I thought. Really, I was email. envious,” Henry said.

“I told my sister first. I broke down Henry knew he liked girls since he and cried to her,” Henry said. “She

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My body hair is getting longer and friends before “What if I’m transgenI enjoy having it. I also love to grow der?” became “When will I transition?” hair on my face, shave it and then “That’s how I always wanted to be have it grow back again,” Henry said. Her pivotal moment finally came seen. My friends and family have al- “It’s the little things that make me feel when she decided on a new name.

“I knew I wanted to keep my initials ways been supportive, and my co- male in my appearance.”

JCM. I landed on the name Jessica workers treat me as male with no exHenry is happier than he’s ever been Christine McMurtry, and I wrote it out. ceptions,” Henry said. and views his transition as a life sav- Seeing it on paper, the way I wanted As the summer rolls in it will mark ing process. “It’s a choice I could nev- to spell it, the way I wanted it to look, Henry’s first full year on hormone er go back on or regret, because I feel that was powerful. I thought, ‘That’s replacement therapy, giving him the like my true self,” Henry said Male-to- my name,’” McMurtry said. physical attributes he’s been searchFemale Eventually she decided to contact a ing for. With the help of testosterone, doctor through a LGBT resource cenhe’s seen his body morph with broad- Male-to-female ter and began her transition with horer shoulders, thicker body hair and a Jessi Christine McMurtry, a 24-yearmone therapy. With the introduction deeper voice. old transgender woman and former of hormones into her body, her phys“I feel more confident in my clothes. Palomar College student from El Caical transition was underway. “Once I My hair is short and I enjoy styling it. jon, is answering a question in how far started transitioning, the clouds lifted she will go to be herself. and glory hallelujah! I came to know “Before transition I who I was, and started the process of identified as a gay reintroducing myself to myself,” Mcmale. Growing up, Murtry said. trying to figure out The fear of disownment from her parwho I was led me to ents crippled her from coming out to realize I was transthem, but McMurpy found that the gender,” McMurtry love they had for her still remained said. “Once I got to with a few ground-rules.

Palomar I saw people who were tru- “The rule was that I can dress how I ly living out their want outside the house. I can’t bring identities, getting to it in,” McMurtry said. be themselves.”

It didn’t stop her from accidentally Growing up in a running into her dad while out and Christian home, Mc- about. McMurtry was in line ordering Murtry never allowed food at a restaurant when she ran herself that luxury to into her father. live out her identi“He comes in and I’m like, ‘Oh shit!’ ty. “I hated the way He looked at me, and I looked at him.

I looked; I couldn’t He sat with me and asked, ‘So this is stand seeing myself how you like to dress? Ok, it’s not too in the mirror. I hated bad, just keep it outside the house.’” my clothes, I hated “My dad has come a long way from my body; I was dewhere he started,” McMurtry said. “He pressed. Eventually I told me, ‘I love you regardless but this thought, ‘Well, what is going to be hard for me, just be if I’m trans?’ I wasn’t patient.’ I started crying, just from sure.” hearing that he’s willing to work at McMurtry w e n t accepting it.” through the process On the other hand, McMurtry’s mothof self-discovery that er struggles to see her for who she is. many transgender “She told me, ‘You’re killing my son.’ I people go through, having a friend said, ‘I hope you can see I’m still your who was going through transition child,’” McMurtry said. that sparked her curiosity.

When McMurtry visits her family she It took McMurtry some serious wears very little makeup, a t-shirt and soul-searching and long talks with jeans instead of a dress. “I try to be laughed and said she knew she always had a brother.”

Ruvalcaba thought, “I can keep wishing and I can keep asking Santa, but it’s not going to make a difference. I repressed my feelings for a long time.”

Trying to combat his confusion, Ruvalcaba tried dressing a little more masculine, but always found himself somewhere in the middle of masculinity and feminitity.

Ruvalcaba met openly gay people after moving to Perris, California. He went out to gay bars and clubs where he experienced an acceptance he hadn’t felt before.

He finally had an epiphany when he discovered the popular drag-queen themed television show “Rupaul’s Drag Race.”

“When I saw that show I realized I’m not the only one that feels this way.

Seeing the show brought back those feelings I’d repressed,” Ruvalcaba said. “I decided to explore myself.”

Ruvalcaba had always had a desire to dress in drag at a young age and Rupal gave him the courage to do that. “I have pictures of myself at age 3, dressing up in my sister’s Princess Belle costume,” Ruvalcaba said.

Though he loves dressing up, he isn’t respectful. They’re in transition, too. seemingly stuck between masculine sure what this means for his future as The transition of having had a son and feminine. drag is a stepping-stone to self-disand now having a daughter,” McMurtcovery for him. ry said. However, dressing down is “It’s something I’ve dealt with my something she does only for her par- entire life. Growing up, I was always “There are so many things I’m quesents. “If Joe Schmoe down the street more interested in girl stuff, and my tioning, it’s still all new to me,” Ruvdoesn’t like what I wear, or thinks mom and grandma were very accept- alcaba said. “Just because someone what I’m doing is a sin, honestly, I ing of that,” Ruvalcaba said. “They’d tries on a dress, it doesn’t mean they buy me Barbie dolls to play with. It want to be female, some people just don’t give a shit.” was never weird. The only person want to explore. It’s also about being McMurtry hopes to complete her who didn’t accept it was my dad, but comfortable in your own skin. I know transition with sex reassignment sur- I only saw him on summer breaks so women that dress very masculine, gery, also known as gender confirma- it wasn’t much of a problem.” but that doesn’t mean they want to tion, as it would be the ‘icing on the be men.”

When the holidays came around and cake’ for her physical transformation. children were busy filling their Christ- At the end of the day, Ruvalcaba “I couldn’t picture my life going any mas lists with cool new toys, Ruvalca- knows he has a bright future ahead of other way. I’m here, thriving, and lov- ba had a much more personal wish. him, and plenty of time to decide who ing myself. Sure, there are moments I he wants to become. “I’m just happy “I remember writing letters to Santa think, what if I hadn’t done this? Then that I’m young, I can still figure out wishing I could be a girl. I had nothing I look at my life and the world around exactly what I want for my future. I’m to shed light on anything I was feelme and say, nah, I’m not going back!,” very lucky to live in a society that’s ing. I didn’t know about the world of McMurpy said.. more accepting than it has ever been drag, or even that transgender people before,” Ruvalcaba said. existed,” Ruvalcaba said.

Questioning James Ruvalcaba, 23, has always felt a little different from the other boys,

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Without an explanation for his feelings or an outlet to express himself IMPACT SPRING 2017

v

Gang Leader Youth Leader From To

BY MARCY CORTES

hen we look at the people in our communities we tend to see a lot of diversity. We judge others off of their appearance, never taking into consideration what it might be like walking in their shoes.

Gang members are probably the easiest to judge because we associate them to crime and violence. What we fail to realize is that we don’t know what may have lead them down their path or why they’ve made the choices that the rest of use would never think of making.

Some might see them as punks and troublemakers who will eventually end up as nothing more than criminals. Officer Perez of the Palomar College Police Department doesn’t see it that way.

“I don’t think they’re trouble makers, a lot of things go through my head like what’s their background, why are they in that situation and how is it that I can help them,” Officer Perez said, “I think that comes in time, as you deal with the youth of today and you see the disadvantages that they might have [such as their] parents working all the time.”

Fabian Duran was 16 when he officially joined a well-known North County gang. It wasn’t a decision that’s easily made on the spot. More so, he says there were all sorts of factors that lead

him towards that path. His childhood is one of them.

“As a Hispanic, low-income family it was tough,” Duran said. “Where I lived had a lot to do with it, too.”

What may seem unimportant to some could mean everything to others. Duran mentions this when he says that the parks in his community sucked. Being able to go to the affluent areas where the parks were nicer was not an option because the parents were always working.

While he acknowledges that his childhood was alright, he admits that there are privileges others have that he didn’t. Simple benefits such as being able to spend time with his family and being able to go places.

“We either didn’t have the money to trav el or we couldn’t go because our parents would be busy working,” Duran said.

JOINING THE GANG Fallbrook is where Duran has spent his entire life. He says the town played into his decision of wanting to be a part of the gang life because it was the “thing” to do there and what the younger kids looked up to, even if it wasn’t the right thing do. Palomar College Multicultural Studies Department Chair, Dr. Rodolfo Jacobo, knows firsthand about that

“As a Hispanic, low-income family it was tough”

being jumped by the other gang members is, in hindsight, nothing. If anything it’s something that helps prepare you for the unexpected.

“That’s showing love, you know, they’re welcoming you into it and so that the next time you get caught by an enemy you’ll be ready and you’ll know that you can take it because you’ve already been through it before,” Duran said.

The only thought going through his mind while being jumped was that it was all for a good cause and that it was going to pay off because it was going to make him into somebody.

His brother, Oscar, didn’t see it that way. When he learned of his younger brother’s gang affiliation, it was something that caught him off guard but he had also suspected for a while that his brother was involved with that life. Nevertheless, he feared for his brother’s well being because he knew how dangerous that life could be.

concept. As someone who attend- “It’s a sense of power, something ed Fallbrook High School, he saw it that you can’t really explain but as the reasoning behind some of his that you feel when you’re in a gang,” fellow classmates decision to join Duran said. the gang.

The purpose of being a gang member, “I went to Fallbrook High School according to Duran, comes down to back in ‘86 and a lot of those home- one word: family. It’s due in part beboys from back then were my friends cause often gang members may not but I mean what was there to do have any parental figures in their life or they may but they might not be [back then]?”Jacobo said. around enough for various reasons.

It’s a notion that Dr. Jacobo clariThis in turn can lead them to the gang fies.“There’s nothing [to do] and so because it is there where they find you’re out on the streets and there that sense of companionship that are no parents, not because they’re they’re longing for. bad parents but because, you know, they’re busy working or they [come Often in order to join a gang, you home] tired and perhaps there are have to be initiated into it. Duran no local avenues for them to turn to,” was initiated into the gang by being jumped in. “Jumped in” basicalJacobo said. ly means being beat up by the gang Duran’s belief was that joining a gang for a certain amount of time. It’s a turned you into somebody that othmove the rest of us might see as beers would respect and fear. It was ing absurd. However, Duran stated something that he wanted as well.

“I was disappointed in myself, I felt like I failed him as an older brother and I felt somewhat responsible for not being able to guide him or provide him with the love and support he needed to not get involved in the gang life,” Oscar said.

The gang life had both its ups and downs. Some of his experiences were LIFE AS A GANG MEMBER lovely, while others were horrible.

The The good parts, according to Duran, were sharing memories of all the fun times with his friends; doing things others never would and living life the way others never had.

He recalls how the gang life lead him to experiment with drugs and alcohol.

The heaviest drug he experimented with was meth, a drug that, according to him, is very big right now. They aren’t experiences he looks back on fondly.

During that time his thoughts were consumed by the need for meth, wondering how and where he would

There were times that he went home under the influence of drugs, moments that are probably best left forgotten.

“It also made me feel sad for him and for the poor decisions he was making at such a young age. However, I made many of the same mistakes as him and I feel like he might have seen me do the same at one point in my life.

Regardless, it was never a pleasurable experience seeing him under those conditions. My parents were the most affected by it I think,” Oscar said.

What was horrible was losing some of those friends to that lifestyle. Friends that he had known his entire life, gone in an instant. One fell victim to the lifestyle at the age of 14, having been shot, according to Duran, for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Another friend overdosed on drugs and another one was run over. He had a friend stabbed to death at a party in Oceanside by rival gang members.

The only thing on his mind at the time was disappointment because he had let his family down and he knew it. It’s a sentiment his brother echoed.

“I was already in way too deep but he saw that I was trying to do good in my life and so he arranged some things and I was able to get out,” Duran said.

“We were devastated. It was the first time my parents ever saw one of their sons incarcerated. My mom took it especially hard, she would cry nonstop because she couldn’t believe that Fabian had done what he did. She prayed every day he was locked up,” Oscar said

Still, he has to live with the knowledge that on any giving day he could face repercussions from having been involved with that life. It’s possible that a rival gang member could recognize him out on the streets and confront him over something that happened long ago.

Just like how he had his reasons for joining a gang, he also had his reasons for wanting to leave that life.

Now 21, he isn’t the same person he was when he was younger; his brother recognizes that as well, stating that it makes him proud to see the positive changes Fabian has made so far.

Going to prison might have been the best thing to happen to him, accordLIFE AS A GANG MEMBER ing to Duran, because it gave the time to reflect on all the choices he had made and decide what choices he was going to make when he got out.

His family was the motivation he used to turn his life around. He witnessed the people he would hang around with disrespect their mothers in ways that he would never think about doing. Those moments were where he started questioning his lifestyle.

He’s also had his close run-ins with “I started wondering why I was dosimilar experiences. ing this when I had a mother at home who cared, a mother who would go “I’ve been in those shoes, you know, out vvand look for me no matter what i’ve been stabbed, i’ve been shot time it was,” Duran said. at, i’ve been chased and beat up,” Duran said.

His brother also played a huge part The harsh realities of the gang life in his desire to want to change. He resulted in lost friendships that would motivate him by making him he’ll never get back. Perhaps most think about what he wanted in life. importantly, during that time, he He came to the realization that he same passion he had for being a gang lost himself. member could be used instead to fig“I’ve been locked up three times. I ure out what he really wanted to do went from Vista [detention facility] with his life. to George Bailey [detention facility] Yet, before he could actually start to East Mesa [detention facility].” the new chapter in his life,he had to The first time he was arrested couldn’t let go of the previous one. It’s not have come at a worse time. It just so something as simple as just walking happened to be his 18th birthday. away and never having anything to do with that life ever again. In or“I was arrested for burglary, assault der to leave, Duran had to speak in the second degree, battery and with an older “head” that basically breaking into a public business.” maintains order amongst the gang.

“I don’t regret my past but I definitely don’t miss that life because I knew I was in a situation where I would either end up in prison or dead. It feels good knowing that i’m actually doing something with my life,” Duran said, “I’m moving onto better things.”

F e a t u r e s

be able to get some more. “It felt lovely when you were on it but horrible when you weren’t because you wouldn’t know when you would get the next dime,” Duran said. A dime is the equivalent to $10 worth of any drug.

Story and Photos by: David Santillan

the girls that’d be using the product and advertising it. Prior to joining ness and become their own bosses Thirty-one year old Bruno Aschi- his partners, Aschimanini was selling instead of waiting to climbing that manini is probably the last guy you’d life insurance. corporate ladder like the last generimagine creating and selling trendy ation did. But according to research towels aimed at young women, but “Often times when you’re working a featured in Haber’s book, a vast 94% that’s precisely what he and his part- corporate jobs you don’t get home of millennials also want their work ners do out of their two-bedroom Pa- until dark. We wanted our job to to make some sort of beneficial immake a difference and we wanted pact in society or the environment; a cific beach apartment. control over our own destiny,” Aschi- brand with a purpose.

Along with Steven Ford, 26, and manini said.

Brandon Leibel, 26, they are foundJenny Amaraneni, 32, creator of SOLO ers and creators of the trendy beach This was quite the jump, from having eyewear, set out to do just that: a towel company named Sand Cloud, benefits and a 401k-retirement plan brand with a purpose. to selling towels out of an apartbased out of San Diego. ment, but not surprising. More and “I started the company after learnSand Cloud, as described by Aschimore millennials are deviating away ing about the need for eye care in manini, was created when Ford and from the career paths set by Baby the world and wanting to find a way Leibel woke up uncomfortable from Boomers, and carving their own way to address that need sustainably,” a nap on the beach and thought into the corporate world while si- she said. how awesome multaneousShe was part of San Diego State’s it would be to ly changing MBA program where she was enrolled have towels with the nature of in an international entrepreneurship pillows in them.

“I definitely think that the business course when she came up with the Since then the we’re a generation that is game. concept for her business. Amaranecompany has more aware about where ni had just finished reading “Out of In the book, ditched the pilour products come from Poverty,” by Paul Polak, who reveals b y J a s o n low-in-towel and where our money is the need for eye care in the world in Haber, The design in favor going.”

Business of his book, when she was assigned to of just simple Good, h e create a concept for a social entertowels with an classifies mil- prise as a project. It was then when assortment of patterns and designs. Aschimani- lennials as people born from 1980 she first conceptualized her brand. ni said they designs are all hand to 2000 and explains how the ‘now’ picked by their brand ambassadors, attitude of millennials has prompted them to start creating their own busi-

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IMPACT SPRING 2017

“When there’s an idea that you have in your head, do something,” said Amaraneni.

“The truth is it just doesn’t matter [how you start], get out there and try,” she said.

Aschimanini’s company, like Amaraneni’s SOLO brand, also stemmed from some philanthropic purpose.

Jean Case, an investor and philan“It’s like putting together a puzzle thropist, told Haber in his book, “This piece... you start with the corners and generation will use their role as a make your way towards the middle” consumer to make a point;” which said Aschimanini. meant that millennials who want to “Our end goal is to support marine make a change, make their life mat- They also agreed that you probably life and marine life organizations,” he ter, and hold an impact will start with wouldn’t get everything right when said, “a beach towel with a purpose.” you’re first starting to create your what they buy. brand but they did gave sage advice Sand Cloud and SOLO eyewear arHaber further described that pheon success for getting started. en’t the only ones going beyond their nomenon as ‘buy-cotting’, a sort of brands to make a social impact. Popactivism used by this generation to Amaraneni encouraged new entreular brands like Pura Vida are also show what matters to them the most. preneurs to find mentors that would centering their vision on charitable Collins validated Haber’s statement help them start their journey and ask cause. Created by Griffin Thall and by confirming that her generation is them questions.

Paul Goodman after a college gradaware of having social responsibility, “Find people in the community that uation trip to Costa Rica, Pura Vida and how that influences what they you admire and offer to buy them a bracelets encompasses their philosbuy. But how do millennials transition cup of coffee to ask them questions, ophy around living life to the fullest from being consumers to becoming I guarantee you’ll get that meeting.” and not taking anything for granted. content creators? How do they start She said that by doing this you’d be As of March 2017 they’ve given their own brands that also serve a making a connection with someone $935,358 to over 190 different char- bigger purpose? who’s experienced and also getting ities and looking to continue to exJust start. Both Aschimanini and Am- mentorship. pand their line of charity. But does araneni agree that there is no right having a brand that gives back matter first step on how to start. to millennials like research claims?

C u l t u rSee cF ti il oe n s

94% of millennials also want their work to make some sort of beneficial impact in society or the environment; a brand with a purpose.

“It’s an added bonus,” said 21-year-old Annalisa Collins, a business major at San Diego State University and one of Sand Clouds’ brand ambassadors.

“If there are two of the same product I’m going to go with the one that gives back,” she added.

When asked why she agreed to join on as ambassador she explained that Sand Cloud made a product that she would use while also giving back to a cause that she highly valued.

“I definitely think that we’re a generation that is more aware about where our products come from and where our money is going, we’re just very aware of social responsibility,” Collins replied.

IMPACT SPRING 2017

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can remember Feb. 1, 2009 as if it were yesterday.

I was in the living room, heart pounding, hands sweating as I frantically paced the room. At one point I felt as though I might pass out from anxiety. I had never experienced an anxiety attack before but this felt as close to one as I could imagine.

The moment passed and my heart began to slow, I could breath normally again and the feeling of gloom turned to joy. The anxiety induced moment was from Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger releasing a football as it spiraled into Santonio Holmes’ hands as Holmes would then tiptoe into the corner of the endzone securing the SuperBowl win. I don’t remember everything in my life, but I remember that. I can tell you every detail of that Sunday evening. Sports can do that people.

Some team winning or losing really shouldn’t have an impact on someone who isn’t even on the team and thus really has no impact on the outcome.

But it does.

The word fan is short for the word fanatic and according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary a fanatic is someone that is “marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion.”

Fans are passionate because they’re always enthusiastic about their team, and that enthusiasm brings about a devotion. The enthusiasm is what keeps the fans coming back, even if their team loses 100-0, there’s always a sense of enthusiasm that just maybe their team might win the next time out.

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Fans showing their devotion to a sport is not something new. Sports have been a big part of the world since the times of the Romans as thousands would gather to watch the gladiators in the Coliseum. Today we gather together to watch sporting events such as the Super Bowl or World Series. Sports have always been a part of society, so to has the relationship between teams and their fans.

To many fans, cheering on their team is a part of life. If their team wins, they feel as though they took part in the victory, conversely if their team loses they might feel as though they somehow didn’t contribute enough.

In other words, fans experience the IMPACT SPRING 2017

highs of victory and lows of defeat. Eric Simmons, author of “The Secret Lives of Sports Fans: The Science of Sports Obsession,” stated in a Washington Post article, “A sports team is an expression of a fan’s sense of self.”

Simmons added, “It is not an obnoxious affectation when a devotee uses the word “we;” it’s a literal confusion in the brain about what is “me” and what is “the team.” In all kinds of unconscious ways, a fan mirrors the feelings, actions and even hormones of the players. Self-esteem rides on the outcome of the game and the image of the franchise.”

In October’s National League Championship Series, the Los Angeles Dodg-

“Watching them lose two Super Bowls to the Giants was really difficult for The Cubs treated their fans with a numerous reasons. As a fan, there thrilling seven-game series in which comes a point when your team stops they fell behind three games to one, becoming ‘them’ and starts becoming before winning three straight--includ‘us,’” MacMahon said. ing a dramatic game seven that they won in extra innings. Many Cubs fans He continued by expressing the joy Hernandez was born, raised and cur- watched the whole series filled with of seeing the Patriots win the Super rently lives in Escondido, however anxiety. Their team after all, hadn’t Bowl this past February. “It was like she drives two hours north to watch won a championship since 1908; 108 euphoria as a fan that culminated with a, ‘We did it!,’” MacMahon said.

Dodger games in Los Angeles during years of being on the losing side.

“Sports to me [is just below] religion, baseball season.

Joel Glassman, 55, is an accounting but not by much. You have to be allHernandez said that she’s been a fan professor at Palomar who has exin and when you give your soul and of the Dodgers for quite a few years perienced the highs and lows that your passion to a team, a beautiful now. Despite the 93-mile commute come with being a Cubs fan. Glassthing happens.” back and forth, and the exhausting man is originally from Chicago and L.A. traffic, Hernandez makes it a pri- can remember going to home games In this last Super Bowl, the Patriots ority to catch as many home games at Wrigley Field on Sundays. He fell behind by 25 points at halftime, as she can during the season even described one playoff series game but after a furious comeback in the rushing to home games during the where he was teaching a class while the game was work week. on, but he would continu“I love going to the games. It’s like a ally check the score. different adventure every time,” Hernandez said. At the start of the Na- Before watching his Cubs tional League Championship Series win the World Series, Glassagainst the Cubs, Hernandez stated man remembers many oththat she was very excited but very er times when his team fell short from second half, the Patriots capped off nervous at the same time. The Dodg- the heartbreaking losses against the the comeback to win their fifth chamers took a 2-1 lead over the Cubs in Padres in 1984 and then the Marlins pionship. If you were a fan of the Atthe series before losing two straight in 2003. lanta Falcons it was utterly depressand falling behind 2-3 in a best of “I guess in a sense it’s just part of my ing, if you were like MacMahon it was seven series. life. It’s part of who I am, it’s part of as he described--euphoric.

Basically, game six was win or go my upbringing,” Glassman said on beThat’s the thing about sports, there’s home for the Dodgers and their fans. ing a devote fan. “So I think that if all a narrative. It’s a cycle that continues The Cubs took an early lead and never of a sudden it was taken away, there from season to season. Sports isn’t looked back. While the Cubs and their would be a void in my life.” just athletes playing on a field or on a fans rejoiced in the song “Go Cubs When the Cubs recorded their final court, it’s a story. People watch sports Go,” the Dodgers and their fans sat in out in game seven against Cleveland, because they want to be invested in the silence of defeat. Hernandez, like Cubs fans breathed a sigh of relief, that story. many other Dodger fans was heartfollowed by heartfelt cheers and broken by the end result.

Sometimes their team is on the lostears. Glassman described it by saying end of the story and sometimes “I felt devastated. I legit felt like I ing, “Relief and the exhilaration of it they’re on the winning end, but the wanted to cry, I did tear up a little finally happening, because I had nevstory always continues. Fans invest er experienced it before in my life.” bit,” Hernandez said. time and energy into sports because There’s two sides to every story. In Brook MacMahon, a 22-year-old Palo- it’s an escape from the other parts sports, there’s the winners and there’s mar student, is a fan of the Super of their lives. Fans are fans, because the losers. Hernandez and her Dodg- Bowl champion’s New England Pa- they are part of the team. Fans are ers had the misfortune of being on triots. MacMahon is from Escondido fans because they want to be a part of the story.

IMPACT SPRING 2017 ers played the Chicago Cubs for the right to play in the World Series. For former Palomar student Susana Hernandez, 28, it was a series filled with high aspirations, accompanied by a demoralizing end.

C u l t u rSee cF ti il oe ns

the losing side of this story. Cubs fans got to enjoy the spoils of being on the winning side of their own.

but has been a fan of the Patriots for 17 years. Growing up a fan, he said that he has been on both sides of the story.

Illustration by Kitty Pinney

“Football (soccer) fans experience more stress than players.”

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# spondent for Radio Free Europe/Rathe people of Iran would not have felt Liberty wrote that, “A number of # # confident to stand dio empowered and [Green Movement] activists have told # # up#for freedom and democracy.” # me they # used text messages, email, thousands of miles in a matter and blog posts to publicize protest # But # did Twitter really play a vital role actions.#However,#good old-fashioned ##### #of minutes, and given a few # # ## ##### in ## ##Movement? Mehdi Yahy- word of mouth was by far the most # # ## the Green # can # engulf # the atten# it# ### # ##hours # # # # # anejad, who# manager for a Farsi # # # # # tion ## ## ## # # an entire influential medium used #is asite # # # nation. # ### ## #to shape the ## ### # of # # # # # # # # # language news based#in Los An# ## activity.” # ### # ## # # ## # ## # # # # # postelection opposition # # ### # # This#new ## # # geles stated, “Twitter’s impact inside takes # of ## form ###activism # social ### # # # # ## ## # # # Iran is # zero … Here, there is lots of many faces and has many names, ## # # # # # # # # # # # # Save Darfur # # #as ## # # # and # ### #Instagram # ## buzz, ### such Facebook, ## ## you see most # ## ## # ###but once you#look # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # it may # ## # of it # are Americans # tweeting among Though more There is no conviction of morals in # #spread ##Twitter. # # # # # # ## # # # # # # ## # #certainly # ## #### #it# # ##quickly than a # wildfire, the realm of the web, and contrary # # ## ## to # # ## # ## # ##themselves.” # # # # # # # # # # # # does not burn quite as bright, nor what we’d like to believe, we cannot # # # # # of#hashtag # # # ## This is# the inherent ## nearly as long. ## ### # ## # # # ## # # danger ## # change the world through the same # # # # ## # # ## ### ## ### ### ## # # # # # ## ## # # manner of methodology we use to ## # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Hashtag activism or clicktivism, as it # #of ### # ## # # # # # # hit like and share on a cute picture Yet another issue with # # # # # # # # # # ## ## ## # #### # #is a form ## # ## has come to be known, of ## # # # # # # # a kitten. # # ### # # # # # # # Hashtag ## # activism, is that #exclusively ### # #### ## ## social activism that occurs # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # be#harmful # # social media and ## #on-## ## # other through In a study conducted by the journal # of # #actually # ## # # ## #it#can # # # # # # # # # # # line outlets. In recent history, it has Sociological Sciences, they looked at # # ## ### # to # true social activism. # # # prominent # # # ############ # # the “Save Darfur” cause. They ## ## become perhaps the most # # found # # # # # # form of protest. that directly following the inception # # # # # # # ## # ## ### ## # #### # activism. # # # # # Even though the Green # of the cause, it experienced extremely # # # # # # # # # # # # of# ## # The Green Revolution # # ## ## Movement is # heralded as one of rapid growth, garnering # one-fifth # ##### ## # ## # # # # # # # # # # # # examples of in- its eventual membership ## # # # ## # clicktivism’s greatest size In the summer of 2009, an # event # # ##of##1.17 ### # # # ## ## # # # # # # ## its been characterized as a million people in the first known as the Iranian Green Movement # # # ##two#months. # fluence, # # # # of Westerners sitting in front Out of this 1.17 million people, nearly # occurred as a result of a supposedly #bunch # # ## # ### #### by ## of recruited fraudulent presidential election. In the ## ##their computers tweeting about an 950,000 of them were # # # #### ###### # event on the other side of preexisting members. # world of social media, people became # happening # ## ## ## # the world.# entranced with the movement, and # # # # # ### # # What this study found however, ####was ### # # the tag #iranelection dominated the Golnaz Esfandiari, # # corre# # # # a senior # that after its original spike of activity # # # # ## # Twitter universe. # # # # # immediately following its inception # # # ## ## # # # # # # # # the cause gradually declined ## # #Western media outlets # ## # # # ## ### ### # in participation over the folwere # barraged with a # # #### # # # ## # # # # lowing years. Furthermore, myriad of reports de# ## ### # # ## # # # # ## ### # they concluded that “despite claring that protestors # ### # # # # ## # the Cause’s longevity and were using Twitter, # # # # ### # # # # ## massive size, only a fraction # #76% # e-mail and other forms # # Palomar # # #### ##### #of internet commu# # ### of Cause members ever en# #### # ### gaged in any type of ‘activnications to coordi## ### ## ## # ism’ beyond the basic act nate their rallies and # # # # # # # # # of joining.” demonstrations.

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Following the Green Movement, former U.S. National Security Advisor Mark Pfeifle said that, “Without Twitter

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Additionally, they found that “in the case of Save Darfur, recruited online activists were the least active of all.” This lends credibility to the idea

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andy4thewin I’m so down! Let’s definity do this!

Extra credit is always good! I’ll drive!!! @gabbyg73 @jenniferj

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C u l t u rSee cF ti il oe n s

SM

#gogreen #imready #allday #activism #carpoolforthewin #bring it #itsjustoneday #orwalk #support #doit #activism #takeastandfortheplanet #motherearth

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# # # # that merely asking people to serve # ## # # # in activism by offering up their vir# # # # tual support is ineffective. Because ## # # # # # # # # it is# just as easy to click away from a # # # # ## # ## # # # it is to click to a cause. # # cause # as # # ### # ## # ## # ## ## # # #again. # # # # # # # # # # # over # # # ## ## around, it was because of the ADA # # # # # In contrast, we have seen time and # ###that these # # ## # # issues were # # # ## # ## # resolved. # # that # #It ## # #the # traditional sense #time#again # ## # # # # ### # his critique # 403-20 White continued of click# # ## #and ## ##through#the House # protest of activism the # # ##acts as # #passed # # # # # # tivism stating “… clicktivist organiza# # # # # # # two months later. # # # # # # # # # single greatest vessel for change in a # # # dif# # ## # # # # tions are finding it# increasingly # # ## functioning # # # # # # democracy. # # # # # # # ## # # # to ficult to motivate their members The Capitol Crawl was accomplished # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # hashtag, like or share. any action ## without # whatsoever. # The insider # a single Capitol Crawl # ### # # # ## # ## be# # # # # # # # # truth is that the vast majority, It was instead carried out by men, # # Another # # # ##faultiness of # # aspect ## # ### of the # # # # # # # # women#and#even # who had tween 80 percent to 90 # # ## # ## percent of children ### # # # # # # # # clicktivism that needs to be taken # # even open # ### # the burning dedication ## so-called members rarely to see # their # # # # # # is # # consideration, ####into the severe lack # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## # # # aspirations # # expressed # # ## become a reality. # But now #campaign #### # ## emails.” passion # # # ## # in # ### of # gut wrenching # # # # # # # # lieu of passion, activism organizers # # # # sta- ### # ## # It was only through the fierce dedicathrough the # liking of a Facebook # # # # # # # # # # tus. 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People with disabilities # # ## sembly line of likes and shares, only eral information, it is no replacement were in many ways cut off from the # #### # then move on a week later to the for, and should not be in of itself to # conrest of the world in that it was sim#

Illustration: Victoria Josephine Rodriguez

Illustration:Jose Herrera

ply much more difficult to just get

next issue and restart the process all IMPACT SPRING 2017

sidered true activism.

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63

The Great Meal BY: EDUARDO CARNALLA

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l

S e c t i o n There is a border that separates what used to be one state, into two different countries. The world moves quickly and the separation between the nations of Mexico and the United States becomes more and more visible to the eye, as the interests of one Nation neglect the accords and the relations that they have had in the past; Cooperation was the main objective between these nations and now it is going down the drain with the new administration that the United States is having.

Therefore, another way of improving relationships with another country is also through one of the most sophisticated, yet most ancient way: Cuisine. The Gastronomical market in both the U.S. and Mexico has been supported by each other and their people have been the backbone for the industry for quite a while now. Tijuana has the most transited border in the whole world and also has become a sort of “war-zone� in the last decade in which after the ascent of President Felipe Calderon to power and proclaimed a war on drugs, it had a big impact on the border city.

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2008, you just couldn’t go out to walk or play with your friends and it was constant fear with which the citizens of Tijuana used to live with.

Going to school and find everything not going well and not even knowing if today you were going home early, because of a shootout, or not. That’s when a miracle came; 2010-2011 was a period in which the City flourished from the ashes and started an ar-

looking for a great pint in a great place in the city of Tijuana.

Although, not everything is beer in my hometown, for foodies, there are a number of gastronomic dining halls and food trucks scattered throughout the city. The number of food trucks has steadily risen and offer a wide variety of food that wasn’t available in the city.

BBQ, Strange meat sandwiches, Ramen, etc. Are the dishes that have become revolutionary around the city and it is a tradition to visit those trucks during the weekends, even when it is not a really good idea to visit them on those days since it is mainly overrun by teenagers and families who want to spend a good time with a great meal.

A new 20% tax on imports from Mexico has affected the ingredients necessary to make such iconic dishes tistic movement that still inspires young people from the city and from around Mexico to visit and show Tijuana what they really are all about.

Since then, the Beer movement came into full effect with various microbreweries being founded around the city and since then have become a staple for the Tijuana night life.

There are some examples like: “Donkey Punch,” “Insurgente,” “Baja Craft Beer,” etc. All of these share the same concept of doing their own beer through their own methods of using hops and other ingredients into the mix for the elaboration of a new beer; Chocolate, Pumpkin, and even Chile have been the examples for the Mexican eccentricity that define these microbreweries. It is a near religious experience the first sip you take from any of those beers and you will hear that from anyone who’s just starting to discover them. In an interview with Paste Magazine about Tijuana’s Beer renaissance, “Insurgente” Co-Founder, Ivan Morales said: “More and more we’re being known as a craft beer town, and it’s really blowing up. In the beginning there was more beer than demand, but now we’re finally at the point where there’s more demand than beer.”

This is a point correctly proven, as usually those breweries are full, especially on the weekends, with both connoisseurs and amateurs who are

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In between, there is a great option for those who long for those past days that are called: The 80’s. Sotano Suizo (Swiss Basement) is place considered one of the best by old people and by those who are looking for a great pint of Guinness and a huge hot dog named: The Mammoth.

Founded in the late 80’s, this establishment has become a staple of nightlife with good beer and great food. The places has a European style façade with armors, bells, torches, etc. which actually makes the experience feel “European” while you’re there sitting drinking a pint of their own beer.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Border…

San Diego is for the citizens of Tijuana a city to visit during the weekends to do activities such as: shopping, eating, visiting, tourist, etc. Now, it is still the same for the people and the interaction between these two cities has become even tighter during these last years and months. Both mayors of Tijuana and San Diego strive for these towns to become partners in business and social imIMPACT SPRING 2017

provement, one helping the other, just like brothers but from across a border.

San Diego just recently renewed a Cooperation Agreement with Tijuana amidst the tensions that are rising due to the Trump administration. Kevin Faulconer and Juan Manuel Gastélum signed the agreement for the cities to strengthen infrastructure, public safety and the environment.

San Diegans at first are reluctant to cross the International Border and we don’t blame them since they always get the bad news from the other side and that is totally acceptable.

Although, the tension have been tore down and the visits by Americans towards Mexico have become more often and usually in the streets of Downtown TJ you can hear tourists talking in English with the locals, instead of learning the local language.

Going to San Diego is a nice experience for tourists, although to live here has been quite the hassle since I can’t keep up with this far too plain and quiet life they have here; Give me a quick and loud life and I’ll be resting easy, can’t sleep at night due to how quiet it is outside that it gives me the chills. Now, the culinary scene for San Diego has been seen as the typical American restaurant, lots and lots of fast-food restaurants as far as the eye can see and that certainly is not the case, for there are more than just regular or stereotypical American restaurants in this city.

A fundamental part of U.S. History is Immigration, and from that, the country had a huge cultural growth and with that some of the best cuisine had become available for American taste. In San Diego, the chain of Filippi’s restaurant has become a staple for Italian cuisine in the city. They have operated since the 1950’s in our city and since then have expanded throughout the whole county and it is a delicious option for those who want something out of the conven-

For the time being, the restaurant was first opened in 2012 and it has been a massive success due to the amazing talent that chef Junya Watanabe has imprinted into the recipes of the restaurant. The lines for to enter or get a table are amazing and the most I’ve waited has been around 30-40 minutes average, though, the wait is worth it in the end. Ramen was introduced to Japan in the early 20th century and has slowly established itself as one of the signature dishes from the country with different variations in the regions of the Island. The International reception for the dish has been seen in the form of “instant cup noodle” heavily popularized by “Nissin.”

“Cup Noodles” are part of a non balanced diet for College students, as it is a quick meal and affordable. Just pour hot water, let it steam, and then you are ready to munch down on a delicious, yet non-healthy meal.

“RakiRaki” honors the tradition of Ramen from cities of Japan such as the “Yokohama Shoyu Ramen” and the “Oxtail Ramen” from Nagoya; The food here is good and at a great price and the best there is the “Happy hour” for those who enjoy drinking “Sapporo” or “Kirin” as cold as your ex’s heart. Yet, there is also a mix between American and Japanese cuisine in the form of “Ramen Burger.” This is a really weird combination.

Truly, the relationships with Mexico are treading on a thin line. But, in culinary terms it isn’t on a thin line, it’s on the way to hell. The misconception that the U.S. has about Mexican food is that it is cheap and frankly… that is a racist assumption. Chef Anthony Bourdain, executive chef of Brasserie Les Halles in Manhattan and Host of “Parts Unknown,” has said in an interview with Business Insider: “I would like people really to pay more for top-quality Mexican food. I think it’s the most undervalued, underappreciated world cuisine with tremendous potential.”

WThere’s a catch to all of this: the price. A new 20% tax on imports from Mexico has affected the ingredients necessary to make such iconic dishes. The estimated of avocados imported to the United States, according to “The Street” is an astounding 53 million pounds. As of the current publication of this story, Tacos are still being eaten yet some avocados do come from Mexico, although other producers are from the Dominican Republic and Chile.

C u l t u rSe e cF ti il o e n s

tional Italian food. Personally, from a Mexican point of view, this was something blown out of proportions, something awfully different to what I was seeing and eating in Mexico. This was the real deal, a cheese pie was in front of me and that was terrorizing my stomach and probably other’s stomach when they encounter the cheese beast for the first time.

California is also home to one of the nation’s biggest offenses to Japanese cuisine: California Rolls. Philadelphia Cheese? Avocado? What the heck is this? A Frankenstein-ish roll that has transcended and has become a staple dish at any Sushi restaurant in the world. But, among that there is a place I call the best in town and a favorite among those who love noodles or Ramen, “RakiRaki.” The Ramen joint is located in Convoy Street. Convoy District in Kearny Mesa is slowly trying to build itself up to be an official Asia Town.

Ping Wang, co-founder of the Convoy District Partnership has stated in an interview with the KPBS: “My goal is to have an ‘Asia town,’ where people can live, work and shop and do everything there.” Truly, a big dream and it is achievable with the right planning and infrastructure.

San Marcos has really thrown down the barrier of misconception that I had for Mexican food here in the United States and quickly became a fan and supporter of those small joints and also big restaurants that try to go one step beyond of what fast food restaurants have us used to. Therefore, it is a must stop for people who love Mexican cuisine and

A fundamental part of U.S. History is Immigration

Mexicans have a misconception that at the same time is true, that most food that is “Mexican” has ketchup or has an overload of American flavor on the food. “Taco Bell” is satanize in my country and there actually are no establishments for that chain in any city of Mexico. Near our college, there is a small place that tries to establish itself as an alternative to bad Mexican food and handled with the same care and joy that is characteristic from across the border.

IMPACT SPRING 2017

don’t want go to far as Chula Vista for a meal or so.

The sentiment that is felt towards immigrants in the United States has escalated, although we should remember who were the founders of the country and what was what truly united us all through a great meal.

Even though our sentiments and interests are different, Mexico and the United States and other countries are trying to bring down the walls and build bridges through dialogue, culture, business, and art. These are the true sentiments of a nation. The building of bridges causes cooperation and equality for all of those who want to lead a better life in this country and therefore, equality and multiculturalism are key objectives that should be achieved in today’s society and also passed forward to our children.

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Campus Cu W

hen I first came to America, I thought, “this is a land of giants.” Most people looked so big compared to people in my country.

When I arrived in the United States in December 2015, I had new and confusing experiences that left me bewildered, disoriented and so homesick that I felt like going back to my home country, Guyana (a small Latin American Nation on the Atlantic coast next to Venezuela) without completing my studies.

In my introduction to the Palomar College campus, I was impressed by the apparent affluence of most American students. I found that almost all students have cars and carry

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Palomar college professors want learning to be a collaborative experience and encourage participation from students both in class and during their office hours. For international students who come from acaOnline education is another great indemic environments with hands-off novation I discovered. It is a cheaper instructors, being able to approach and efficient method to deliver edufaculty members is a cultural change. cation. In my regular college classes, A professor said to me when my first most of my tests and notes are done semester had just began,”Consider online. There is little need to write faculty as your partners in the learnnotes in class except for the very esing process, as opposed to your susential points I may want to jot down. periors.”

The teacher usually emails the class the material that he/she is teaching. Palomar requires students to take a set of general education classes, regardless of their majors, to expose Shota Mochida, 24, a Palomar stuthem to a wide variety of subjects. dent from Japan, discovered assignThis can come as a surprise for interments and research papers can be national students who expect only to a tough challenge. “I was not familtake, for example, business or engiiar with the structure of a paper as neering courses. well as academic r e s o u r c e s a n d “When I saw my schedule, I was like, citations. It took ‘Wait, why do I have to do history? me a whole term I had question marks all over the to work both on place—I was just so shocked,” said my own and with Chahat Talgotra, a student from Inpeople in the dia. Though she initially struggled Reading-Writing with electives, Talgotra came to Center to get a realize that her extra classes, like good grade on a paper,” he said. meteorology, were exposing her to topics she wouldn’t have otherwise Another good thing is that grading pursued. is not only exam based. Labs, discussions, project, papers and pre- College life is not restricted to the sentations all count toward your final classroom. A huge part of the colgrade. In Guyana, college education lege experience happens after class— is highly competitive and many stu- and for international students, intedents compete for few college spots. grating socially can be a hurdle. A The consequence of this is that stu- lot of the international students want dents are expected to choose a ma- to integrate and connect, to experijor they want to study and when they ence more of the culture firsthand are admitted, they cannot change and have more American friends. But to another major even if they later many, are still waiting for the Amerrealize they don’t like their original ican students to approach them, choice. At Palomar, this is not the because in many cultures they are case. One can drop a major any time more socially reserved. if they don’t like it and can enroll in another major.

The first time I saw this, I thought the student was very rude and would surely get in trouble. However, I learned that it’s no big deal here.

“I think I was too hardened to the culture difference, I just rejected it, telling myself, No, there’s no culture difference” around expensive electronic gadgets like laptops, cameras and cellphones.

I was surprised to find my class environment very different from my home country. In other countries, especially mine, colleges are strict about students’ conduct in class.

Students can only bring their books and writing supplies to class, must listen to the professor and only participate in talking when called upon by the instructor. Making noise and other distractions are prohibited.

The classroom environment at Palomar is more open and relaxed. It’s not uncommon to see students bring drinks and food to class and eat while the teacher is teaching.

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Getting involved on campus is one way to meet new people, whether in academic clubs, social organizations, or even at part-time jobs. For another Palomar College student Ravi Achhra, 21, from India, working in the school’s Information Technology department helped him find a diverse group of friends and start to feel at home on the campus.

“I had trouble accepting people and building relationships the first two weeks,” he said. “By the second month, I had a lot of friends, and everything was perfect.”

The biggest advantage of being an international student, especially in the U.S, is the opportunity to meet people from all over the world and experience different cultures. While in college, you will find different people, interact with them and live together. This will help break barriers, help students relate to people different from themselves.

Although students from Asia, countries such as Japan, China and Korea have the benefit of coming here and meeting students from their country, since majority of international stuAnother surprise in America is a dents here are from those countries. trend known as the “freshman 15,” “ Yes! meeting people and making Weight gain is relatively common friends from their country makes it among new college students who easier for students to socialize, but aren’t accustomed to daily meals at at the same time it buffets. affects their ability to For international students, adapting practice English as a to new food in unlimited quantities second language, because they’re can be especially challenging. Many always communication with their enjoyed having pizza and pasta and friends in their native language and they gained a lot of weight when except taking english as a class they they came here. Now,some have de- do not practise their English skills cided that, they’re not going to eat enough.” Said the international stuall this “junk stuff” anymore. Palomar dent counselor, Ismene Vassiliadias. offers wellness services and nutrition One of the biggest disadvantage of counseling to help identify smart being an international student is havfood choices. ing to show that you have financial The United States is often called a support to complete your studies. In melting pot, mixing people from the ideal situation, you actually have cultures all around the world. Still, the money and don’t need to work.

American culture is distinctive, and However, this is not the case for most might be different from the students’ international students. College and living expenses are high and they own. may need to work to sustain them“I think I was too hardened to the selves, otherwise they will run out culture difference, I just rejectof money and may end up dropping ed it, telling myself, No, there’s no out of college. culture difference,” said Palomar student Robert Abramian, 24, from Immigration rules require that an Russia. Instead, “accept that there is a international student attend college culture difference, and accept that it full time otherwise they will be in is OK,” he said.

violation of the immigration laws and can get in trouble. One has to maintain at least 12 credit hours of classes during the Spring and Fall semesters.

Students don’t have to attend school during summer. The Government has an electronic monitoring system called SEVIS that monitors all international students to make sure they are actually attending college.

C u l t u r Se e F c it li eo sn

Shock ulture International students are not allowed to work off campus. However, they are allowed to work on-campus for up to 20 hours a week, including restaurants, computer labs, labs, security, bookstores, library, student organizations, shuttle bus driver, maintenance, events coordinator,

“This is a land of giants”

IMPACT SPRING 2017

school gymnasium and tutor. During the summer semester, international students can work more than 20 hours a week because they are not required to attend classes.

One of the best things about studying in the U.S. international students say, is the vast number of academic options. Almost every field of study is available in the country, and one can study everything from Russian history to nuclear physics.

Despite all the struggles of being international students, most think the challenges and difficulties are worth it. International students get to take in new culture, hone language skills, find new interests, make life long friends and gain life experiences.

One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.

69

THE COST OF WOMANHOOD WORK HARD

PAY HARDER:

THE GENDER WAGE GAP

ART BY MAURICE THOMAS

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BY EMILIA BURY

S e c t i o n

W

omen across every race, age group, and level of educational attainment earn less than their male counterparts. The existence of the wage gap is indisputable, but it has been both exaggerated and denied, simultaneously exploited as a political tool and swept under the rug.

Misinformation about the wage gap is present on both sides of the political spectrum. Democrats have often peddled the wage gap in order to appeal to female voters, while most Republicans have either denied or ignored its existence altogether. Neither approach is useful to women.

The pay disparity between men and women cannot be fixed if it is not acknowledged, but portraying it in an exaggerated, inaccurate manner is equally useless.

Attaining higher levels of education would seemingly help women close the wage gap, but it does not. In fact, women are more likely to hold college degrees than men but still earn less. At every level of education, women do not make as much as their similarly-educated male counterparts.

Women with advanced degrees face greater pay disparities than women with lower levels of education.

Women at lower wage percentiles experience smaller pay disparities relative to men who are also at lower wage percentiles. The minimum wage provides a wage floor, and as a result, men and women in the lower wage percentiles are much more likely to earn identical or similar wages than men and women in the higher wage percentiles.

United States will not reach pay parity until 2059

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median weekly earnings of women amounted to 82 percent of what men made in the same period. Despite minor improvements, the pay disparity between men and women has largely remained stagnant in recent years. A report by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research shows that the United States will not achieve pay parity until 2059 if progress continues as it has in recent decades.

Relative to white male wages, women of color are at an even greater disadvantage in comparison to white women. Black and Hispanic women face the largest pay disparities, earning 68 and 62 percent of the median weekly earnings of white men respectively. Asian and white women outearn black and Hispanic women, but they experience larger pay disparities against men of their respective races.

IMPACT SPRING 2017

Studies have shown that as women overtake male-dominated fields, salaries decrease within that field. Between 1950 and 2000, recreation shifted from being a male-dominated field into becoming a female-dominated one. As this change occurred, median hourly wages plummeted by over 50 percent, with inflation accounted for. Similar, though less drastic, decreases in hourly wages occurred throughout other disciplines.

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Outside the workforce, several factors contribute to the wage gap. Cultural attitudes regarding men and women shape how both act toward employers and within the workforce.

More than half of the unpaid work in the United States falls upon women.

Household duties such as cooking, cleaning and childcare are traditionally female responsibilities, and although that is slowly changing, women are still burdened with greater domestic responsibilities than men.

To some extent, their work at home can inhibit their ability to participate in the workforce as equals to men.

Motherhood, in particular, contributes to the wage gap significantly.

Following the birth of a child, men work more while women work less.

With each child, women are slated to earn about five percent less than they did before. Often, women must work part-time or seek jobs that are less lucrative but offer greater flexibility to accommodate their more demanding schedules.

“Women disproportionately bear the burden of caring for the children and the home,” said Devon Smith, a sociology professor at Palomar. “A lot of times, women are choosing these lower-status, lower-paying jobs because they need the job flexibility of being able to pick their shift.”

Unlike most Western countries, the United States does not require companies to offer women paid maternity leave. As a result, women can lose money while recuperating following the birth of a child.

In addition to lower wages, motherhood changes the perception that people have of female workers.

Studies have shown that people rate mothers as being less competent than women without children. Pregnant managers are considered to be less responsible and more irrational than women who are non-pregnant or not visibly so. They are also thought to be less committed and reliable.

Men, on the other hand, are not faced with similar perceptions. Being a competent worker is not thought of as incompatible with being a father. Fatherhood can, in fact, boost

a potential employer’s opinion of a man. Fathers are considered to be more committed than men without children. On average, fatherhood increases men’s wages by six percent, the direct opposite of what happens to women.

Women are regarded as the primary caretakers of children. Because of pregnancy and motherhood, women experience more career interruptions than men, resulting in them earning lower wages. As a result of greater career interruptions, women have less work experience than men, and this puts them at a disadvantage when negotiating salaries and wages.

Studies have shown that women are more reluctant than men to negotiate wages and ask for pay raises. While taking such initiatives is viewed as confidence in men, that same behavior is often misconstrued as aggressive and pushy in women.

Aside from gender discrimination, other factors contribute to the wage gap between men and women. Men consistently choose higher-paying occupations than women. They make up the majority in nine of the top 10 highest-paying college majors. Women, on the other hand, comprise the majority in nine of the top 10 lowest-paying college majors.

The wage gap is mitigated by differences in occupational choices or work experience, but women still earn less than men when it is adjusted for such factors. Figures fluctuate dramatically across various industries, but the wage gap remains consistent throughout the workforce.

Great strides have been taken to eliminate the wage gap between men and women, but past efforts have not been wholly adequate. As long as the devaluation of women’s work persists, so will wage disparities.

In all likelihood, men and women will continue to choose different occupations after wage discrimination is eliminated. While absolute pay equity between the genders is unnecessary, people should be paid the same amount of money for doing the same amount of work.

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O p i n i o n s

“

[Women] comprise the majority of 9 out of the top 10 lowest-paying college majors ”

IMPACT SPRING 2017

I’m hungry, I’ll grab a quick bite.

Oh, wait! I told Angela and McKenna I would go to the gym with them after school.

Look, someone tagged me in a photo on Instagram.

Wait... was that interview supposed to be for the newspaper article or for my broadcast internship?

Lighting is right.

Snap Chat fun!

I have two interviews to do with deadlines tonight.

My paper is going on four weeks late.

Why is my mom calling asking where I'm at?

Oh my gosh, it’s my brother’s surprise

Did I even get food?

I missed my brother’s surprise.

STORY BY ASHLEY MAGDALENO

Everyone is mad at me!

I suck at life!

I never accomplish my task!

I QUIT! This hectic smattering of thoughts and needs are what run through not only my mind on a regular basis, but of those who have Attention-Defecit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as well. Sounds like a headache, right? That’s only an hour’s length of thoughts.

I was first diagnosed with ADHD as a child in elementary school.

Having been raised in a strict Hispanic household, it was engraved in my head to make school my number one priority and to respect my teacher’s rules.

This included being on my best

behavior–always. Although I was never purposely rowdy, my teachers would have to consistently reassign where I sat in order for me to stop talking to the other kids, or to simply pay attention to their lectures.

The Mayo Clinic defines ADHD as, “A mental health disorder that includes a combination of persistent problems, such as difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior.”

Thinking that I grew out of my Symptoms childhood ADHD, I stopped takHere are the symptoms for refing my prescription of Ritalin erence: Impulsiveness Disorgaentering middle school. nization and problems prioriWhat I did not know then was tizing Poor time management that although my hyperactivity skills Problems focusing on a decreased, I did not outgrow certain task Problems listening ADHD. to instructions Trouble multitasking Excessive activity or Per the 2015 statistics from restlessness Poor planning Low the Center for Disease Conself esteem Procrastination Low trol and Prevention, “About frustration tolerance Frequent 30 to 60 percent of patients mood swings Problems followdiagnosed with ADHD in childing through and completing hood continue to be affected tasks Hot temper Trouble copinto adulthood.” ing with stress Problems reFast forward 12 years later, di- membering details agnosed once again with Adult Symptoms can range from mild ADHD as of January 2015, and to severe depending on the I’m forced in having the need individual. Many adults with to take a daily prescription of ADHD also have another menAdderall to help me complete tal health condition or a learnthe simplest of tasks. ing disability, showing similar

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Just because a person has the inability to focus on a subject, gets easily distracted or is unable to sit still during an hour-long lecture, does not mean they have ADHD. The Mayo Clinic suggests, “If your difficulties are recent or occurred only occasionally in the past, you probably don’t have ADHD. ADHD is diagnosed only when symptoms are severe enough to cause ongoing problems in more than one area of your life. These persistent and disruptive symptoms can be traced back to early childhood.”

Effects in your personal life Although most people think of adult ADHD as negative performance at work or school, it can also affect relationships by: • Not paying attention - Zoning off during a conversation canmake the other person feel ignored or unimportant.

• Forgetting - Unable to remember what was discussed,planned or promised will make you appear unreliable and seem careless.

• Poor organizing skills - Being disorganized makes it harder completing tasks,as well as keeping things clean.

The other person may view you as scattered and feel they need to parent you about putting things away.

• Impulsivity - Not having a mute button.

The other person’s feelings may be hurt while blurting out something in the moment.

• Emotional roller-coaster - There’s no controlling The other person feels as if they must walk on eggshells to not hurtyour feelings or make you explode on them. Discussing your problems is out of the question, because there is no calming down when emotions are high.

Getting diagnosed There are no tests that can confirm the diagnosis of ADHD, instead there are several step-by-step processes that help with a credible diagnosis of a patient.

As an adult, a primary doctor cannot diagnose you with ADHD. They will refer you to a psychiatrist to get evaluated.

Before being seen by a psychiatrist, the receptionist or assistant will ask you to fill out a lengthy questionnaire survey, with a rating system; the phycological test.

For example, “How often do you feel like you cannot accomplish a task?

One being always, five being never.”

Once you have completed the questionnaire, the psychiatrist will take you to their office and ask several questions to rule out other possible causes for your symptoms.

The questions may seem repetitive to the questionnaire you answered in the lobby, but they paraphrase the questions to see if your answers may have changed. The questions vary such as: suicidal thoughts, motivational levels, ability to sleep, concentration peaks or lows, daily life activities, i.e.

Then comes the information gathering.

This includes medical records, school records, family medical history, childhood memories (signifying that the person may have had the childhood form, even if it was not properly diagnosed at the time).

Finally, the psychiatrists use an ADHD rating scale to determine the level of your diagnosis.

Finding the right treatment for you The most common form of treatment involves taking medication. Stimulants, such as Adderall is the most prescribed drug because it balances the neurotransmitters.

There are other medications that are nonstimulant, such as certain antidepressants like Wellbutrin.

Other forms of treatment may include psychological counseling, informational classes about ADHD, trainIMPACT SPRING 2017

ing exercises or a combination of all the treatments; which in most Wcases work the best. Keep in mind that these treatments will relieve some of the symptoms, but they will not cure ADHD.

Taking control of your life again

O p i n i o n s

symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, dyslexia or bipolar disorder. Stephanie Gilland, 34-year-old mother of four, was diagnosed with ADHD as a teenager, and again 10 years later in her twenties. “Because I have anxiety, the ADHD makes it feel like I’m watching 20 different T.V. channels, and the anxiety makes me feel like if I don’t watch all 20, my world will implode around me,” Gilland said.

Now that you have a proper diagnosis, don’t let ADHD hold you back. Don’t be afraid to reach out and speak to someone as well. Find a support group or speak to your teacher or boss on what you can do to help you improve.

Allysia Britton, a 20-year-old college student, looks to family for support.

“Luckily, my mom has decided to help me out. She makes check lists for me.

As well as reminds me about appointments I need to make,” Britton said.

Take you prescribed medication regularly and place them somewhere you will not forget them (if choosing to take medications).

Stay organized. Make lists of what you need to complete. Be reasonable, and prioritize the items you’ve scheduled.

Breathe. This will help with impulse decision or controlling mood swings.

Try and follow be consistent.

a

routine

and

Cut down on distractions. If you can’t focus with loud noises, turn off the T.V., put your phone on silent and go into a secluded location to concentrate.

Burn extra energy off. Exercise is a win-win situation.

Ask for help. Don’t be afraid to ask to talk to someone and for their support.

As for me, taking the proper medication, consistently writing reminders to myself on sticky notes, carrying a daily planner, as well as going to monthly counseling sessions help. But I still have a hard time doing my daily tasks if I miss one of the steps in my daily routine.

I know that living with ADHD will continue to make things difficult in life, but that is if I let it take control. I am not, and you shouldn’t either.

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they can so often be stereotyped to be in our society?

YOU CAN’T SIT WITH US

STORY BY MORGAN BURNS

ART BY ANNA JESSEE FARRELL

fallout with my closest girlfriends during sum- Am I going to be the type of girl that mer 2016 caused me to preaches she doesn’t have girlfriends question my faith in our because “they are too much drama” or that because girls are too catty female generation. for me?

What was supposed to be a wanderlust, spontaneous road trip up This event of separation between mythe coast, led to a string of petty self and my best friends forced me arguments that led to a final, friend- to take a step back and re-think my ship-ending blow up. perception of female friendships.

Like any typical college girl navigating new found freedom, my life, up until this point, revolved around fantastic new adventures with my group of trustee partners in crime. I felt like one of the luckiest girls to be included in such a tight-knit squad.

You can imagine my distress in the moment this squad fell apart, all at once and instantly. What a way to feel lost, to feel floating, and hopeless.

I felt myself questioning all the ideals that had become my truth. I questioned the authenticity of female friendship and, even more shocking to my passionate, girl power activist self, I questioned my entire role in the feminist community. I questioned if I even believed in it all anymore, I questioned if I still had a role in the womanly realm.

I found myself asking, are women truly all the petty, superficial beings

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Up until the summer of 2016, I thought there was nothing that could break the bond that had been created within my very own girl squad. I found though, after the breakup between myself and my best friends, that towards the end of our friendship, the foundation lied more heavily on the posed photos for social media than it did on the actual authentic friendship.

I consider myself to be abundantly fortunate to live in a society where According to a study coordinated girl squads are deemed with such a by UCLA, friendship among women high power, reputable image. My ins- “shape who we are and who we are yet tagram feed is filled with lady friends to be. They soothe our tumultuous inexecuting dynamic slays and cheering ner world, and help us remember who each other on in the comments and a we really are.” picture with your babes will no doubt This science very accurately describes gift you more likes than a picture the sense of loss that accompanied a with you bae. Girl friends just rock a friendship breakup; photo op better than your boyfriend Why a friend breakup can be more ever could. greatly damaging than a breakup beIt’s more than just taking cute photween you and bae. tos for the ‘gram. Your girl squad is encouraged to be the foundation Having a strong group of female on which you stand on, a force of friends scientifically combats stress empowerment, and a reliable and and releases oxytocin, a calming agent in the body. This UCLA study non-judgemental support system. reveals estrogen as being an element As a member of the squad, you acthat enhances oxytocin. No wonder cept the role of the cheerleader, the we depend on our female friendships mother, the sister, and the soul partin our lives. No wonder losing that ner through all the diamonds and dirt friendship can result in a stressful, self life throws at you. Female friendships, questioning, downward spiral. when cultivated and engineered with love and respect, are a force of nature.

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OS pe icnt i i oo nn s

I realized that what I had grown comfortable to recognize as my Friendships often fall apart but there safe space, was actually a relationis a reason girl squads are given such ship that was damaging to my self notarity in our world. Having a strong worth, because that is group of lady friends is a life extendwhat the purpose of I lost the shape of myself. ing medicine. our friendship had beI lost the soothing come. It had become a The famed Nurses’ Health Study from of my tumultuous world. place that encouraged Harvard Medical School found “that degradation disguised the more friends women had, the less I lost the sense of who I really was. as loving advice. It dis- likely they were to develop physical guised the promotion of selfish mo- impairments as they aged, and the This, however, is not a pity party. tives as a selfless promotion of the more likely they were to be leading I lost these boundaries in order to a joyful life.” tribe. move past them. I was forced to escape my comfort zone in order to see In losing what I had assumed was a Losing faith in female friendships more clearly, to realize what I truly healthy shape of myself, the soothing because of one sour relationship is, needed in a friendship, to see the of my tumultuous world, and a strong according to this Harvard Medical sense of who I was, I learned that the School study, can be as detrimental qualities I truly value in women. damaging of these aspects derived to your health as puffing nicotine into When forced to take a step back and from the exact source that was meant your buddy. take a hard look at the friendship I to seed these qualities to grow.

In losing an unhealthy friendship had lost, I realized I was voluntarily subjecting myself to qualities in wom- For these reasons, I momentari- between women, I learned the imen I had told myself and told anyone ly found myself in a space where I portance of surrounding myself with willing to partake in a feminist discus- did not trust women, I did not trust uplifting, non judging, ridiculously a friendship with a woman. I found good women. sion with me, that I was against. myself stuck in generalities, that beWomen are a superpower to each othThe closest ladies in my life, pushed cause my friendship had lost its sense er. We are meant to inject love into on me opposing values that I stood of self, that all friendships would be each other’s souls. We are meant to for. I realized that, because I dependthis way. extend the lives of one another. We ed them on being such an important aspect of my life, that I also depend- What I have learned since then is that, are meant to be the saving grace of ed on them on being an important unfortunately, this friendship had be- this stress inducing world. come misguided from its purpose but aspect of myself too.

Female friendships are the wings that Your female friendships shape that science proves the opposite to carry our chains, without them, we m o r e o f y o u t h a n y o u m a y be true, women are meant to fall into have no chance of surviving. friendships that build a better quality conciously realize.

For our own health and each othversion of themselves and their life. ers, we are responsible to cultivate our tribe and uplift the members of this powerful collective of estrogen energy.

Like UCLA’s study revealed is created through female friendships, these are the things I lost when I broke ties within my own.

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Music is a universal language. The fact that it has a role in every culture despite differences in genre is common knowledge; however, what people do not talk about as often is the relationship between music and the mindset of listeners.

THE HIDDEN IMPACT OF MUSIC

BY HAYLEY STEVENSON

M

PHOTOS BY SAVHANNA VARGAS

are a fan of pop, jazz, classical, metal, hip hop or folk, hearing music is an emotional experience. Many mentally associate a sic preference is not limited certain significance with music; a school to one genre. In fact, when marching band, for example. By playing insomeone asks me what type of music I enstruments together, the band members bejoy, I have to think about it because the come a part of something because of their answer can change by the day. If I am at shared passion.

Similarly, rock fans often peace with the world and things are going wear T-shirts or wristbands as a way to get well for me, I might say pop or smooth jazz. the attention of people who listen to the On a less pleasant day though, I might say same bands.

Many religious rituals include alternative or hard rock music. I am an exmusic as a large role as well.Yet music tends ample of one in the large number of people to be taken for grantwho use music as ed without much an outlet because Escape through music is a thought. Most people avid listening is not dynamically universal experience. do not think about the only entertaining, various social aspects, but is an emotionpurposes, and effects of music. al experience. The contrast in instrumental

usics helps students with mood and learning. My mu-

and lyrical content between different genres allows for endless individual listening experiences. While different types of music can be enjoyable, they serve different purposes and have differing effects. In addition, the purposes and effects vary from person to person.Music is a universal language. The fact that it has a role in every culture despite differences in genre is common knowledge; however, what people do not talk about as often is the relationship between music and the mindset of its listeners.

Regardless of who you are, music has probably played a part in your life. Whether you

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When you are out at a social setting, it is a given that music will be there. Below the surface, however, are many questions to be asked that you probably don’t think about.

How is the music chosen? Why was the particular set of tracks used in that setting?

What is the significance to the people present to hear it, and what subtle effect does it have on the mindset of listeners?

Escape through music is a dynamically universal experience, but the answer to this question will vary with each individual: What music is it you are listening to?

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Particularly in the age of the internet, just about any type of music can be accessed by anyone, anywhere. Some requires more digging to be found than others, but it is all there to be experienced.

Most people will listen to a particular genre or a few select genres. This typically depends on the person’s interests, cultural backgrounds, and mood. Various types of music exist with a wide range of purposes and effects on listeners. So what are these purposes and effects?

Building a social community, for one. World Music Professor and Ethnomusicologist Ellen Weller was driven by a curiosity about the various ways that music is used and what it is for. As Director of the Palomar Symphony Orchestra, she found that music can bring people together. She is fascinated by the sense of community created by the various ages and backgrounds of people in the orchestra.

“I have all kinds of different people in this group coming together to make music in the orchestra; 50 people on stage, all there for their own rea-

Palomar Student Derian Olivares, 18, is passionate about folk music from Austria and Slovenia. When asked what the purpose of music is to him, he answered “To liven your soul; to make you happy, or to make you think”.

Olivares stated that listening to it definitely influences his perspective of life, because it makes him happy just to be alive. Since the music is full of upbeat and cheerful tones, listening to it instantly improves his mood “I and his view of the world. “Everybody really who knows me, knows what kind of mu- enjoy music that causes my sic I like...so it’s a part of me,” he said. mind to go into a bit of a relaxed state, sort of peaceful state. But As suggested by Olivares’ experience, not just that, more so my mind feels another effect is psychological. Accordright, or at ease,”Redmons aid. In ading to ScienceDaily.com, music not only dition, music can be used as a way to affects mood, but additionally it influhelp people cope with life struggles. ences the listener’s perception. Granted, music alone will not influence this, Palomar Student and Hip Hop Artist but generally speaking there is some Ruben Moreno, 19, commonly known truth to the stereotype that listeners of as AmonTheMC, uses his beats as upbeat pop music have a brighter per- a way to help people by providing ception of life than listeners of heavy something that listeners can relate to metal. It is for this reason that there are through music.

CD’s specifically made for psychologiMoreno was inspired to start rapping cal effects such as relaxation, positive when listening to beats on his lapthinking, happiness, and creativity. top when he was a freshman in high Palomar Student Jacob Redmon, 20, school. When starting out with his muCommunications Major, has noticed the sic, he posted handmade posters on effects on mood and perception. As the construction paper around his school son of what he describes as a “profes- with quotes and his name. He sio nal amateur” and a “musical con- stated that his name, “Amon” is an acnoisseur,” he has grown up in a house in ronym for “Ambition made of negativwhich music had a prominent presence. ity,” which reflects his desire to uplift people with his lyrical content about “The second that people learn that struggles that people relate to. something makes a sound, they will want to make that sound to be aesthet- His advice to anyone who wants to get ically pleasing to the ear,” Redmon said. started making music is to “focus on your message and what you want to Aside from his father’s instruments, sound like; try to be original.”

Redmon’s upbringing focused on standard rock. Now he primarily listens to Music preference can even be used to songs from soundtracks of entertain- learn something about the identity of ment sources such as films and video yourself or to get an impression of othgames, as well as independently creat- er people. Studies done at the Univered music mash ups on YouTube. sity of Cambridge revealed that many

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These studies, led by Dr. Jason Rentfrow, from the University’s Department of Social and Developmental Psychology and additionally a Fellow of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, found that sample groups usually assumed certain things about people’s personality, social class, ethnicity and values depending on merely their music preferences. Although prejudging people can sometimes have negative consequences, some people intentionally show off their music taste to express their identity.

O P I N SI O e cN tSi o n

people use music taste as a way to express their own identity, as well as a way to form a basic impression of others.

son. They leave whatever else they do outside the door, and they just focus on this one thing for three hours a week,” Weller said about the variety of people in the Palomar Symphony Orchestra.

Despite how much has been discovered to date about the influence of music on the mindset of listeners, questions are still raised by scientists about the connection between music and the brain.

For instance, certain disorders cause the brain to respond negatively to music; according to the TIME article “Music on the Brain” by Michael D. Lemonick, lesions in the temporal lobe can cause seizures at the sound of music, and contrarily, many people with autism have the potential to be extraordinarily talented musicians. Scientists have yet to figure out the reasons behind these odd discoveries, but it demonstrates that listening to music has clear effects on the brain.

Additionally, research is still being conducted on how to convert brain waves into music, according to Stephanie Pappas’ article “Brain Waves Transformed Into Music” on LiveScience.com. Scientists wrote that this music could eventually be used in biofeedback therapy which would allow patients to consciously control their brain activity.

To date, it has been established that there is a complex relationship between music and its listeners and musicians that varies with every individual.By being aware of the underlying effects of listening, it can be an enriching experience rather than just a source of entertainment.

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