IMPACT Magazine Spring 2016 by The Telescope

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IMPACT M

2015-2016 BEST STUDENT PUBLICATION | WESTERN PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION BEST OF SHOW | SAN DIEGO COUNTY FAIR 2015-2016 MAGAZINE GENERAL EXCELLENCE | JOURNALISM ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ASSISTANT EDITORS PHOTO EDITOR DESIGNERS

ILLUSTRATORS STAFF WRITERS

PHOTOGRAPHERS

COPY EDITORS

ADVERTISING MANAGER ADVISER

Michelle Wilkinson Brooke LaFleur Shaina Blakesley Stephen Davis Kylie Dukes Kitty Pinney Ciana Wilson Rendall Mercado Collin Vore Alexandra Rothman Ali Williams Anissa Ocansey Belen Ladd Chanele Retuya Cody Jendro Colin Daugherty Daze Castillo Diana Guevarra Fern Menezes Kassidy Clark Maria Leyva Natalie Smith Rodney Figueroa Tamara Eakins

How do you define a generation? This is the question that we all face. As the millennial generation, people love to label us. But how do you define a generation that is educated, passionate and chaotic? Good, bad or ugly people chose to define us, instead of letting us define ourselves. We run around like chickens with our heads cut off attempting to live up to the impossible standards of society. Our clever and brilliant staff strived to showcase our generation, without defining it. For many of us, this is our last semester at Palomar. We are all growing up and moving on. Our passions are diverse from fashion and music to labeling and mental health. We had some extremely talented members of our team, ranging from writers and photographers to illustrators and designers. I am happy to have a chance to work with them before we all head off to take over the world. Sincerely yours,

Coleen Burnham Johnny Jones Hanadi Cackler Niko Holt Tracy Grassel Kyle Ester Mike Peterson Mike Adams Joel Vaughn Noah Callahan

Michelle Wilkinson, IMPACT Editor-in-Chief

Deb Hellman Erin Hiro

IMPACT IS PRODUCED BY STUDENTS ENROLLED IN JOURNALISM 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

TA B L E O F 17

Avoid Going Bankrupt, Apply For Scholarships

How we became the “Netflix and Chill” generation.

Mo’ Money, Mo’ Makeup

Why college students splurge on luxury products?

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Warning: labels are not meant to constrict our individual identities.

A Different Shade Of American

Melting pot is the new norm for Palomar.

Labels Are for Selling Records

Can you afford to go to college without one?

Hookup Culture

Palomar’s Second Language: Diversity

From Classroom to Catalina A photo essay on a class trip to the island.

Don’t Stress, Be Mindful

Everyone is American, no matter what race box you check.

A guide to a more positive mindset through mindfulness.

Minimizing Your Life Through Your Wardrobe Buying your first fashion staple is a lot like marriage.

Mental Health

Death, Thy Name Is Streaming

First, video killed the radio star. Now, music streaming is killing the CD.

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY NIKO HOLT | COVER DESIGN BY KITTY PINNEY

Stop the stigma and educate yourself on the signs and severity.

CONTENTS 47

Bacha Bazi

What is the monetary value of a child? Afghanistan has found the price to accommodate their disturbing needs.

The War Over The Soul Of Geek Culture The revolution will be digitized.

Eating Green

Vintage Heaven

Distinguished Faculty Of The Year: Candace Rose

Going above and beyond just lecturing.

Being a broke college student is toughâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;but trying to be a healthy, broke college student is even tougher.

You live your life in clothesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;this is how you can avoid breaking the bank.

Curls, Knots and Knowledge The history of black hair and the tragic assimilation that this taboo beauty was forced to suffer.

Taxies vs. Uber & Lyft The battle for your business.

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Story by Kassidy Clark | Design by Ciana Wilson

We are hooking up.  wipes right.

Growing up, we envisioned going on dates, falling in love and finding the one we’re going to marry. We saw this fairytale that we believed was supposed to happen. But instead, we find ourselves in a new bed with a new person.

Hooking up, however, is a self-defined term. The lines are blurred when it comes to talking about hooking up because the meaning is different to everyone. Social media plays its part in defining it and has an influence on this generation’s idea of hookups. Is hookup culture a myth, or are we actually hooking up more than previous generations?

The Definition First, we have to define hooking up. Is hooking up having sex? Or maybe just kissing? Studies vary. Paula England, sociology professor

at Stanford University, has found that 30 to 40 percent of hookups involve intercourse, while an additional 25 to 33 percent involve making out and some touching, but nothing genital. Similarly, Dr. Kathleen Bogle, author of “Hooking Up: Sex, Dating, and Relationships on Campus,” conducted a study on college students’ definition of hooking up and found that not everyone has the same thoughts on it. She found that some believed it was “having sex,” while some believed it was “fooling around” beyond kissing. She discovered that “hooking up” doesn’t have a precise meaning. So how can we be hooking up if we don’t know what it means? Well, it’s how we talk about it. It has

become a term we use to replace the sexual interaction. Does “hooking up” sound better than saying “I had sex”? Maybe. The reason for this is because the definition is so vague. Someone could say “I hooked up” and others could think they meant, kissing when they really meant having sex. So it can make someone look better if they don’t want people knowing the full details. However, it works the other way, too. You could mean kissing when they think you had sex, which could be better for you if you’re trying to show you’re sexually active. We could very much be misusing the phrase, which can cause people to think we are all having sex. We need to start defining the term “hooking up” better. We are not all having sex when we are hooking up, and that is what’s misleading.

Hooking Up in Social Media “Hey, do you want to Netflix and Chill later at my house?” Swipes left. Growing up in the 21st Century, we have adapted to the way of social media, from new apps to new slang. We have become this “Netflix and Chill” generation because of social media. Dr. Devon Smith of the Psychology Department at Palomar College said that she believes that the change in hooking up in this generation didn’t come from out of the blue. Likewise, her generation did not find casual sex bad or problematic. There might have been more of an expectation on traditional dating, but casual sex was always present. The difference in this generation is that we have social media. “Social media has sped that up, in a way that people didn’t anticipate,” Dr. Smith said. “Our interactions as a whole, not just sexual, has become much more casual. We are more fickle in our interactions because of social media. That has enabled us to think about sex in a very nonmeaningful way.” Dr. Smith has found that our generation is hooking up without dating more than her generation. We might be different, but this change isn’t out of nowhere. We

were always heading in this direction and, with the help of social media, we just got there fast than expected. According to Dr. Smith, that’s why the generation before ours has been freaking out about our hook up culture. It’s a fast change and it’s a social media thing that they feel they don’t really understand. And this is where the app Tinder comes into play. Our generation now has a road to sex at the push (or should I say swipe) of a button. It’s not that hard to download the app and find someone to hook up with. Has sex really become that easy? Yes, it has. This is the difference with us. Generations before had to actually get up off their couch and go find someone to have sex with (without wearing a neon sign that says “looking for sex”). Tinder is our neon sign. It’s easy to go on Tinder and

“It’s easy to go on and swipe right a few times to match with someone, and then message him or her about having sex. It’s so easy, a caveman could do it.” swipe right a few times to match with someone, and then message him or her about having sex. It’s so easy, a caveman could do it. According to an article in Vanity Fair, Tinder and the Dawn of the “Dating Apocalypse,” sex has become so easy that it is compared to online shopping. “Dating apps are the free-market economy come to sex,” Vanity Fair reported.

People will go on their phone and in a matter of minutes can find someone to sleep with. And now it has become an addiction. People are mindlessly going on Tinder and swiping left and right because they are bored. According to Vanity Fair’s reports, this generation might not have any intentions, but they do it because it’s instant gratification. They know they have the option and it’s available to them, so they keep swiping. Casual sex becomes even more casual when you’re merely doing it out of boredom or because “you can.”

The Myth Are we hooking up more or is our hookup culture just a myth? Hookups may be more common than dates, but we really aren’t hooking up much more. Most people believe that college campuses are notorious for casual sex, but a recent National Survey of Family Growth study found that one quarter of college students are virgins. Another study from them showed that a vast majority of college students talk about hooking up, yet reported few sexual scores. Palomar Student Nick Williams currently has a girlfriend that “took awhile” for their relationship to actually begin. They met in a casual way (at work) and started going on dates. No Tinder involved. However, Williams does believe our generation, collectively, isn’t dating as much anymore. “I guess it depends where you’re from,” Williams said. “We do have Tinder now and our generation is different.” According to Psychology Professor, Dr. Lisa Taylor of Palomar College, she has found hooking up has not changed at all, that people just think it has. She said that she believes the only thing that has changed is that we are waiting longer to get married— w e are getting married closer to 30 now. However, this is not necessarily correlated with hooking up. “Everybody does it and they say they don’t,” Dr. Taylor said. “And then everyone says ‘that’s not me, that’s not my family.’ And it’s always happened.” So are we actually the “Netflix and Chill” generation? Spring 2016 7

Photography by Kyle Ester | Design by Kylie Dukes

Lulu: Mexico

“I love people. I am passionate about people. I see that people need a lot of understanding and love, direction and advice,” she said alternating between English and Spanish. She worked in a foster home for 14 years, helping homeless young adults who wanted to go to get a higher education. For the last 20 years, Covarrubias has volunteered as a counselor for dysfunctional families, drug addicts and alcoholics. “I was always helping my family, other families, other places like orphanages, helping others. That began absorbing me...Now it is time for me to do this.”

Story by Maria Leyva Sixty-year-old Maria “Lulu” Lourdes Covarrrubias finished elementary school two years ago. The English as a Second Language Palomar student never had the opportunity to attend school until recently, and now defines school and learning English here at Palomar as her “passion.” Born in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, she learned how to read and write but never received a formal education because her family didn’t think it was necessary. She married at 17 and dedicated herself to her family and helping others. For the past 34 years, Covarrubias worked as a social worker in Mexico. 8 I M P A C T

Two years ago, Covarrubias began school in Tijuana. Within a year she had completed elementary and middle school. She began high school, but stopped when she started coming to Palomar to learn English.

she walks four miles everyday to get to and from school. Sometimes she doesn’t get home until 11 p.m. “Even though it scares me a lot [to walk], I am motivated because I am learning,” she said in Spanish. She is at Palomar four days a week, and hopes to to be here Monday through Friday next semester. “I love this school. It is now my passion. I love it, the language, English. I love it the people, Americans,” she said.

Fina: Dominican Republic

“It’s hard going to school when you’re older, but I was able to finish six years worth in six months,” she said in Spanish. Covarrubias resides in Tijuana, but travels to the United States with a permit. She used to make the trip from Tijuana to San Marcos everyday. Now, she lives with her daughter for half a year, returns to Tijuana for a month or two to renew her permit and returns back to the states for another six months.

Story by Rodney Figeroa

She learned about Palomar through her son-in-law. Now living with her daughter,

More than a year ago, Palomar Student Estivalis “Fina” Caraballo moved with her

family from the Dominican Republic to start a new life in America. For the now-17-year-old, the move immediately thrust her into a new environment, a new language and new sights that she had never been exposed to. Caraballo said her recollection of the U.S had generally been negative at first, often times seeing only the things that made the news in her hometown of Santo Domingo.

“You can learn the language and when you do, you’ll feel really proud of yourself and you’ll have conversations like this. You feel like you can do things by yourself again.”

Tudor: Moldova

The language barrier inspired her to sign up for the English as a Second Language (ESL) course at Palomar College while also attending high school. In just the last year, her conversational English improved greatly, she said. Her plans for the future are to stay in the United States and continue her education. Though she’s mildly homesick, she does have plans to visit Santo Domingo and her extended family there, calling home a big boost to her psyche. “It’s always hot but the people are very friendly, and it’s very beautiful,” Caraballo said. “I’m not saying that just because I’m from there, but I think everyone needs to see how beautiful it is.” Caraballo has aspirations to become a neurosurgeon when her time in school is finally over. For the time being, the ESL class has actually helped her make new friends, which in turn have kept her optimistic about her new life. The future is going to be interesting for Caraballo and her family, but she said has a positive attitude and inspiring words for anyone who is interested in emigrating to a foreign land. “Anyone who is an immigrant here, and especially those that don’t speak English, we have to work hard, hard, hard,” Caraballo said in English.

Padure said he is excited about possibly starting a culinary career with the goal of opening his own Moldovan and Italianthemed restaurant. “I am a professional chef. I (worked) three years in the restaurant for the diplomats... the embassy in Moldova. I want more English (before) I start my profession (in America). It is a profession (close to) my heart,” he said.

“The most difficult thing was talking to people, because my English was really bad,” Caraballo said. Fina’s proficiency in Dominican Spanish wasn’t helpful with her transition at all. “Mexican Spanish is very different,” Caraballo said. Not only could she not speak with Americans, she couldn’t even speak with the local Latino population due to subtle differences in the dialect, she said.

“I like the class because everyone is the same,” Padure said. “I like it because there (is) more practice (for) everyone. You know what (they say). I (also) want (to earn) my degree in my profession, if I can...maybe.”

His life was turned upside down at a young age, but Padure is not resentful, he just wants everyone to be happy in life.

Story by Cody Jendro As a child, Palomar Student Tudor Padure was abandoned by his parents and put into an orphanage with his five siblings. “My family is poor,” he said in broken English. “My mom, (went) to Moscow in Russia to work. She (gave) my sister, my brothers, (and) me...(to an) orphanage. I stayed nine years because my Mom (did not) have money,”

“What I didn’t have, I want to have. I want to help people. I want to write a book (about) my life because it is very interesting...I want for parents (to) give more time for (their) children, I want to open their eyes,” Padure said. He admitted that he still loves both of his parents and understands that it was hard for them to make it work, but he plans on spreading more love in his future and having children of his own.

Saida: Syria

He was born in Moldova, a small country which borders the Ukraine and Romania and is fluent in four languages and steadily learning English as a fifth. Throughout his 27 years, Padure has endured his mother leaving to find work in another country, the abuse of an alcoholic father, and the move to several countries with the hopes of following his dreams. “It’s hard because you want parents. We (did not have) money for clothes, no money for shoes. Nine years (of) my life I (did not) have mom, I (did not) have parents...my Dad, he liked alcohol. He (did not) like the children,” Padure said. His path ultimately lead him to marry an American and work for her father while he adjusts to the U.S. To learn the language, he enrolled in Palomar College’s English as a Second Language (ESL) class.

Story by Fern Menezes Saida Garabet, 69, is a native of Syria. She is a student in the ESL class at Palomar College. Her first language is Arabic and she continues to take the same English class repeatedly because she wants to “speak well,” and “speak correctly.” S P R I N G

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Her English is still somewhat broken, but understandable. During a conversation in English, there are a few pauses while she searches for the correct words. At times when she wants a specific word she’ll clap her hands together, with a smile, as if to make the word pop into her mind. But there’s no smile when she speaks of the home she left near Al Jazeera, in Syria. Garabet said, “My home today is (claps her hands) boom!” “We lost everything; it’s my story.” Her home in Syria was bombed a few months ago. Garabet has a heavy heart and yet remains a jovial person on the outside and quite animated when she is speaking. After her husband died nine years ago, she decided to visit family in the U.S. She arrived five years ago with the intention of staying for a short time. Since her arrival to the U.S. a civil war erupted in Syria and, along with the presence of

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ISIS, her government will not allow her to return. She thinks maybe it’s because she’s a Christian.

“We lost everything; it’s my story.” Garabet has four sons, two here locally who are not married and two remaining in Syria. Her sons who are living in Syria, one in Damascus and one Aleppo, are both married and have children. Every day she worries about them and prays that they are still alive. “So many are dying,” Garabet said. The Christians who are lucky enough to survive the bombings are now being

starved. The roads in Syria are blocked, making them unsafe to travel and supplies like food and water are not distributed to the people. She cannot go home and her sons and grandchildren in Syria cannot come to America. Garabet said her only peace comes when she receives a phone call from Syria and she can thank God that, for the moment, her sons are still alive. She continues to be hopeful about the Syrian people and her pursuit to become a citizen here even through all the unpredictable, possible outcomes in her life. Garabet’s exasperation shows in her statement: “What is possibility, I don’t know. What is the solution, I don’t know.”

MO’ MONEY, MO’ MAKEUP

Story by Ali Williams | Photography by Hanadi Cackler | Design by Ciana Wilson

he stereotype of the “struggling college student” is often misconstrued. While sometimes true, the idea that we are scrounging change, couponing and eating Ramen is usually far from the truth. We find ourselves frequently splurging on items that can be categorized as luxury, especially us women.

According to Forbes.com, makeup ranks Top 10 in female college spending habits and has been on the rise. These “starving” students are spending much more on high-end makeup than ever before and are classifying it as a necessity. Suly Jimenez said she picks up her biweekly check on Fridays and sprints to the nearest Sephora. She spends all of her time at Palomar College, where she attends school, and McDonald’s, where she works for minimum wage, but spends all of her money on makeup. Her hard work and tireless hours in between school and work disappear at the makeup counter. Spending hundreds of dollars on makeup for women may seem excessive but it has become the norm in our society. Makeup goes through trends just like anything else. Decades in the past seemed to stand by the “less is more” motto, which is far from the reality of today’s trends. These trends naturally call for more makeup, and more makeup equals more money. So how much money are “struggling” college students willing to spend? With Youtube stars such as Jaclyn Hill, Manny MUA and LustreLux taking social media by storm with their makeup expertise, it inspires typical young women and men to try and achieve these flawless looks. However, their ticket to flawless does not come cheap.

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These makeup gurus help make the glam look become the everyday look. Glam makeup does not just consist of a brightly tinted lipstick and a swipe of mascara, it is the whole nine yards. An average full face for these Youtube stars calls for: several steps of primer, layers of foundation, bronzer, eye shadow, eyeliner, contour and even false eye lashes. Not only is it expensive to obtain all of these products at their drugstore prices, but the majority of consumers lean on “prestige brands” that nearly triple the cost. On Ulta, the average cost of drugstore makeup products is around $8 when the average cost of prestige products is an astounding $34. Prestige brands like Benefit, Nars and Anastasia Beverly Hills have won over buyers by the quality of their products, and places like Sephora and Ulta tend to be the go-to places to shop. Unlike Ulta, Sephora completely eliminates the more affordable option of drugstore brands. Lisa Ballon, the manager at a Sephora, stated that most of her customers happen to be local college students. The majority of the time, she said, they spend upward of $150 in one transaction. Many makeup manics like Jimenez don’t mind spending the extra money, even when she has books to pay for. “It’s a necessity, it is the way I am able to express myself,” Jimenez said. She said that she has seen the effects it has on others and herself when she does not wear makeup. Jimenez works hard for what she earns at her job and her paychecks usually go to clothes and cosmetics. She admitted that she is lucky she does not have to worry about bills and costs because her parents take care of her. “I am blessed to be able to use my money on things I want, and what I usually want is makeup,” she said. She admits to spending around $200 a month strictly on her cosmetics needs but understands that that is extreme. Some people aren’t as lucky as Jimenez and have to scrounge and bargain for the products they use.

Andrea Hernandez, a sophomore at Mount San Jacinto College, said she is mortified that students are spending that much on cosmetics. She estimates at the most, spends $40 a month on makeup. Like many others recently, Hernandez has been relying on “dupes.” A dupe is an inexpensive product that works and appears identical to an expensive, high-end product. Dupes have been all the rage for people who want to achieve the perfect look without having to empty their pockets. Some of the more famous dupes are: E.L.F. Baked Eye Shadow ($2) compared to MAC Soft and Gentle Mineralized Skinfinish Highlighter ($32), Milani Baked Blush ($8) compared to Nars Blush ($29) and NYX Photo Loving Primer ($10) compared to Smashbox Photo Finish Primer ($39). According to BuzzFeed, dupes, on average, tend to save consumers $210 per year. Unlike Jimenez and Hernandez, Heather Mumson, a student at MiraCosta College, said she does spend money on items that she feels she does not need. “If I spend $20 on makeup, that is $20 I could have spent on my school supplies,” she said, adding that the only time she feels compelled to purchase her cosmetics is to replace her previous items. Because she has her own cycle, Mumson budgets around $10 per month, she said. As reported by Delta Cost Project, a new demographic is emerging among college students. They are able to spend more than they were before because they are living with family and have paying jobs. A recent poll shows that students are becoming “capable and influential” consumers and are able to spend a fair portion of income on high-end possessions such as makeup. College students are spending $4 billion each year alone, pushing the “broke college student” stereotype further. Young women nowadays are feeling empowered and confident by what makeup has to offer and make “putting on their face” part of their daily routine. So whether their monthly budget is $10 or $100, college students are finding ways to express themselves through makeup, no matter what the cost.

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FROM CLASSROOM TO CATALINA PHOTO & STORY BY

BELEN LADD A group of 22 students had a different kind of lecture when their professors took them on a threeday trip to Catalina in March. The 2016 Earth and Life Science department’s spring field course marked over 10 years of visiting Santa Catalina Island. Biology Professor Beth Pearson and Geography Professor Catherine Jain, led the hands-on course that highlighted some of Catalina’s native features -from examining the geography and climate of local peaks to snorkeling with the marine wildlife.

“The entire experience here has really confirmed for me that I’m in the right field,” biology major Katie Goodwin said. The class examined native, non-native and endemic plants and animals along with rocks and soil, which directly affects the biogeography of the island. Even edible plants were examined, which a few students daringly tasted. Some of the native species seen during the course included the Santa Catalina Island Fox, Avalon Hairstreak Butterfly, Bald Eagle and the Catalina Ironwood tree. One of the more

intimidating, non-native mammals was the North American Bison. This beautiful beast was brought to the island in the early 1900s for a film and was never returned to the mainland. The course was an opportunity for the students to discover their true interest and passion for the sciences by exposing themselves to the connection between the classroom and the field. Both professors could recall the exact moments when they fell in love with their work on field courses that were similar to the one they now host. They share their passions hoping to spark a newfound admiration for the natural world.

Top: Sergio Mendez ventures off to the peak’s edge for a better view of the coast. Bottom Left: Students gather boatside in anticipation of the island appearing in the distance. Bottom Right: Professor Catherine Jain shows students the different coastal rocks found at Little Harbor.

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5 1 Boats sway at Isthmus Cove under the night sky while the town of Two Harbors sleeps. 2 Anthony Julien examines a species of Spider Crab while Leila Figueroa admires from a distance. 3 Students and staff paddle to Fishermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cove to snorkel in the surrounding area. 4 Emerson Kinsey and Cailey Clarke lead the way to the other side of the Little Harbor to further explore the coastal rock formations. 5 The Ironwood trees of Catalina are endemic to the island which means they only exist on Catalina. 6 Moonlight iluminates the southwest coast of the island while the strong swell beats the shores.

7 Student Sergio Mendez looks at garnet crystals in a rock found at Little Harbor.

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Top Left: A male Bison near Two Harbors halts his grazing session to itch. Top Right: Professor Beth Person introduces students to another kelp species found growing on a rock at Little Harbor. Bottom: A view of the Bird Rock from Two Harbors with the glowing mainland in the distance.

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• transfer in as many as 72 undergraduate credits • earn up to 9 credits for fluency in spanish • affordable and regionally accredited • classes begin in september

Call Yolanda at (714) 368-0630 or (888) 316-5111 to get started, or email socal@springfieldcollege.edu.

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springfield.edu/socal 16 I M P A C T

Founded in 1885, Springfield College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

id I hear someone say FREE MONEY? According to Pew Research, a college graduate will earn about $650,000 more than a high school graduate over the years. So those late study nights, agonizing finals and cups of coffee will pay off eventually.

Each year billions of dollars flow into our college systems but very little of that money goes to helping you achieve your dream. Most of it goes to procuring the dreams of faculty and staff. If you are in need of financial help to get through school then scholarships might be just the ticket. Although a scholarship is a monetary award it is not always based on financial need. Until then it might benefit students to look into the many scholarships that are being offered. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s free money and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve earned it through your self-discipline and hard work. Kim Hartwell, Scholarship Program Manager at the Palomar College Foundation, says that all students are eligible to apply for one or more of the many scholarships available every year. Hartwell works with a team of five people that consistently raise S P R I N G

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money for the Foundation, raising $400,000 - $500,000 annually for the 120+ scholarship programs currently available.

academic progress, have a high school diploma or an equivalent such as a GED and be a citizen or eligible non-citizen.

According to Hartwell about 75 percent of their annual funds go to the general scholarship applications and the remaining 25 percent will be provided to other departments for their own scholarship program. For example, Nursing Program students can apply for two scholarships, one from their department and one from the general scholarships offered by the Foundation. These are separate applications.

· Application, essay, and letter of recommendation

The Foundation does more than raise money for scholarships. They also provide a substantial amount of money to the Textbook Assistance Program (TAP) and the Palomar Library. The TAP provides textbooks to students in need and the Library has many of the required texts available as a resource. A lot of hard work goes into keeping Palomar’s Foundation Scholarship Program industrious and all their endeavors are in support of student retention and success.

The application is completed only on the internet, through a thirdparty server. You’ll need an essay, a letter of recommendation and your application. The application is simple, just complete the questionnaire; download and attach an essay that tells your story, and attach your letter of recommendation.

“Aid could come from the federal government, state government, the college you’ll attend, or a non-profit or private corporation. You may or may not have to repay this type of financial aid.”

· Types of scholarships A scholarship could be career specific, such as nursing, sports or arts; student specific, such as gender, race, a potentially successful sports figure or religion; or school specific, where the college will disperse an award to an accepted qualified student. A scholarship award is based on financial need, excelling academically or excelling in a sport.

· When to apply Ideally the time to apply for a scholarship would be in high school. Some of the scholarships you might be looking at could take longer to process. Then again some will take only a few months. At Palomar you should apply in early spring for an award for the following school year.

· Eligibility and financial aid Financial aid is money to help you through college and it could come in several different ways from several places or institutions. Aid could come from the federal government, state government, the college you’ll attend, or a non-profit or private corporation. You may or may not have to repay this type of financial aid. Wes Luther, a Systems Specialist Modular Functional Assistant – also known as an analyst, works in the Financial Aid office at Palomar. Luther said that obtaining an award will not affect any grant eligibility; but it might affect the amount of money available as a student loan. To be eligible one must be enrolled or accepted to enroll at Palomar, maintaining a satisfactory 18 I M P A C T

Once you start the application process, be sure that it’s fully complete before it’s s u bm itt e d . According to Luther only about 66 percent of those applying will complete their applications.

The essay is about your education plan, what you’ve done up to this point and what you plan to do. Discuss your challenges, obstacles faced, work experience and since you’re human, don’t be afraid to make it personal. Try not to make your essay more than 500 words. Also, your letter of recommendation will carry some weight with the panel of judges. It can come from a clergy, counselor, professor, employer or whomever you think is qualified to vouch for your goals, attributes and your character. When applying to the Foundation you only need to complete one application regardless of the number of scholarships you’re qualified to receive. However you will need to submit a separate application to a specific department if you qualify for that scholarship as well.

· Application Review Process All the completed applications will then go to a committee of six faculty members that will review each and every submission. The committee is required to thoroughly review each submission in detail and in doing so becomes acquainted with every integral layer of the student’s education process. Great attention is given to the student’s academic achievements, grades, financial abilities, downfalls and future plans for accomplishing their educational goals. Each student will be given a score based on these factors. Once a total score is achieved the committee will review the qualifying applicants and match them with scholarships from a private donor and the Foundation. Top students may qualify, and usually get, more than one scholarship.

· Waiting to hear After the judges have made their selection all recipients will receive an email containing the amount awarded and the name of the donor. At this time you will be expected to send a thank-you note to your donor and meet with them on Honors Night, which is held in May. Honor’s Night is when the donors that have contributed their money to the scholarships and students who’ve earned the scholarships get to meet. For the last 20 – 25 years hundreds of people have attended the event that validates all the hard work that everyone has put into the program. Honors Night makes it possible to commemorate all those involved in the process, especially the students. “It’s a great evening of celebration for the student, donor, and the Foundation,” Hartwell said.

Story by Diana Guevarra | Design by Kylie Dukes “American, I’m American!” I screeched into my mother’s ear as she came to answering the question of ethnicity on my grade school paperwork. My heritage is Filipino. Why lie? Throughout K-12, I was enrolled in white-dominant schools. I tackled adversity, whether it came to teasing from a classmate or being expected to be below average.

Professor faces adversity as a Mexican-American For Palomar Chicano Studies Professor Angelica Yanez, her race played an impactful role in the treatment she faced growing up as a Mexican-American. Yanez faced struggles growing up in a farm worker community while she had goals of succeeding academically. “You’re either poor or either rich, and it was divided by race. Field workers were predominantly Mexican and the owners were white,” said Yanez. During her school years, Yanez enjoyed her education but noticed the difference in treatment when it came to people of color. “I knew from a very young age that it was a one-sided experience that only favored or highlighted White Americans or Europe,” Yanez said, “I enjoyed school, and I believe a lot of students of color do, but they don’t see themselves reflected in the educational system or the curriculum.” 20 I M P A C T

Those events at the time fully convinced me that being a minority in the United States was something I had to denounce. I didn’t look or acted like ‘everyone else’, and ‘everyone else’ knew that. As a child, your main priority is fitting in, but the problem was no one noticed us. Being treated equal was the prerogative of the majority, not the minority.

“They know the feeling: ‘I’m here but where do I fit in into this larger school because of how eurocentric it is?’”Yanez said. As Yanez progressed in her academic career, the discrimination she faced account of her race and gender became more prominent to her. She noticed she wasn’t taken seriously in academics as opposed to men or other men of color. “I was told I was incapable of getting a Ph.D. and I wasn’t mentored right,” she said about her experiences in a studying Chicano Studies at UCSD. “When I went to graduate school, even other professors that said they were conscious or said they were about ethnic studies enacted sexism and racism towards women of color,” said Yanez. “By not mentoring us, and not treating us, it essentially made it harder for students to succeed in the college programs or graduate programs,” Yanez said, “We don’t have those networks or alliances it makes it pretty hard to survive in the educational system. That’s why there’s a high drop-out or push out rate for students of color.”

The “role” as an African-American Palomar ASG member Lazzaric Cadwell, 29 said his environment impacted him growing up. Cadwell was subject to moving constantly due to his father’s Army involvement. From Arkansas to Hawaii, to Texas, Cadwell saw a difference in what role he played as an AfricanAmerican minority. “You’re told you can go far in life and do all these things but I didn’t see anyone who was positive and who looked like me on TV,” Cadwell said. Cadwell, as a child, said he felt that minorities had to act a certain way as if they were always the ‘other.’ According to Cadwell, the most difficult thing growing up as a minority race was the difference between right and wrong. “I didn’t see people going to college every single day, so the opportunities that were supposed to be given to us as Americans didn’t seem like they were actually for us,” he added.

There aren’t standards for the unlimited potential that we’re born with. “So the feeling was ‘This is where you’re going to live and this is what you’re going to do in life’ so it didn’t feel opportunistic in that way,” he said. Currently majoring in business, Cadwell said he never found it the right time to admit that he wanted to be a lawyer and go to Ivy League. He only recently admitted his pursual of majoring in Law. “Being a lawyer would be farfetched because of the environment I was in,” he added.

From Korea, America to Japan International student, Noah Kim, 22, felt a racial pressure in being culturally diverse in America. Both Kim’s parents are Korean and he was raised in San Diego until 10. After, he went to Japan and stayed there for 10 years. “When I was in elementary school, I went to a private school in Escondido I was the only or one of the few Asians, I did feel that kind of racial pressure,” he mentioned about his experiences growing up. “Afterward, I went to Japan and I didn’t feel as isolated, but there was a language barrier and that was the cause of bullying. Language is very important to me and I try to master it, so they can’t tell the difference if I’m Japanese, Korean, American,” Kim said.

For Kim, his biggest struggle in American schools was the cultural difference he had.

Social issues can lead to academic issues of not feeling up to standard. Being of a different culture can affect your outcome of education.

“When you’re told you Kennedy School education specialist can’t do something as Ronald Ferguson found that just the simple fear of as acting as a majority is enough a kid, you believe it. It to distort young people’s behaviors, becomes a self-fulfilling including making them less willing to express a desire to excel academically. prophecy, especially for students of colors.” It’s time to “In an American school, the biggest struggle is cultural. I have certain cultural standards that don’t apply to the private schools I went to.” Kim explained, “Trying to adjust to that and still be native but contain my culture was difficult.

Why are minorities more likely to drop out? Equal rights for education have been fought for and etched in law with the “No Child Left Behind Act 2001.” But that act doesn’t protect students from the social injustice they can face that can further affect education outcome. Ethnic minorities such as Latino and Blacks have a graduation rate of less than 70 percent in public schools in 2012 according to governing.com.

stop “standards”

There was a cycling idea that minorities have different pathways in life. That they are set to be a certain way, and somehow just accept the inevitable. Telling yourself over again you’re not good enough, you start to believe it. Being young, I was confused when everyone successful didn’t seem ‘like’ me, or I wasn’t praised for being as successful as the next kid because I wasn’t the ‘standard’. Achievement isn’t limited to the anyone and being told you can’t do something growing up, you listen. It becomes, even more, difficult, especially as a minority.There aren’t standards for the unlimited potential that we’re born with.

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minimizing your life through your

wardrobe Story by Brooke LaFleur | Photography by Johnny Jones | Design by Ciana Wilson

here’s only one thing that “less is more” doesn’t apply to, and that’s obviously to chocolate, but it definitely does apply to your wardrobe. Dressing minimally might sound like a lot of work, but it’s designed to simplify the getting ready process, save time and money in the long run, and can even spark your creativity.

Erin Boyle from Darling Magazine describes the minimalist wardrobe perfectly, “the point isn’t to get rid of what you love, it’s to make room for those things to shine by clearing out everything you don’t.” With the budget of a broke college student and the wardrobe aspirations of Blair Waldorf, splurging on your ideal wardrobe may seem like a Netflix daydream. After all, there’s debts to pay off, nights out with friends, and unless you particularly enjoy TV dinners every night, then you’re most likely not breaking the bank every time you need a new clothing item. Here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be that way. A capsule wardrobe, coined by designer Susie Faux in the 1970s, focuses on the idea of investing in essential staples pieces that will last through trends, seasons, and even years. It’s a great way to curate essentials, without having to constantly update your closet. Courtney Carver, the founder of Project 333 (a project designed to help others create their own capsule wardrobes) told Business Insider, “I don’t have to give a lot of attention to what I’m going to wear. I’m saving time and money, and I find that with dressing with less, I get to wear my favorite things every day.” The typical capsule wardrobe consists of 30 to 40 items including tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, shoes, and excludes accessories. The wardrobe can be updated come the change of the

seasons and it’s encouraged not to shop during your period of embracing minimalism.

of the direction your personal style is leaning towards. After the tearful goodbyes are done, thinking about what you’re going to invest in is the next step for building your wardrobe.

Most peers and professors were appalled and even shocked at the idea of a 30-item closet. They shared that their wardrobes “In order to have a well-functioning wardrobe one must coordinate typically consisted of 150 items or more. In our modern times, the pieces. Buying one piece at a time that doesn’t match anything with bustling social lives and trying to is a bad investment. Think of your co-manage everything at once, having “With the budget of a broke clothes as an investment. If you don’t a minimalist wardrobe based on staple it, the item sits in your closet – college student and the wardrobe use and investment pieces is practically poor investment,” said Fashion Analysis unheard of. aspirations of Blair Waldorf, professor Rita-Campos Griggs.

For most of us, our wardrobe must- splurging on your ideal wardrobe “Most consumers spend 6% of their haves consist of a great pair of jeans, income (on their clothing),” can seem like a Netflix daydream.” annual your favorite white tee, and little Griggs added. black dress. Palomar student Bree In terms of investing, most of us will spend more on pricier items Howe considers her staple pieces “a good leather jacket, jeans, when we know they’ll be of extensive use and wear. When asked a cardigan and a scarf.” about investing, student Becca Peele said, “I invest in pieces like Applying minimalism and creating a capsule wardrobe takes leather boots and jackets, these things will really help when winter more than a quick closet run through, it’s like spring cleaning rolls around, and then they won’t need to be replaced nearly as times thirty, but it doesn’t have to be a dreadful process. Many often.” minimalism books will suggest holding the item to your chest, Buying your first great quality clothing item, designer or not, then proceeding to ask yourself if it brings your soul happiness. If is a rightful passage in a anyone’s world, but planning out your we’re being honest with ourselves, that’s not the easiest way to go. purchase is a lot like planning a wedding. Does it fit my style? Have I worn it recently? And how well it First you have love at first sight, I mean hello—who’s to deny the works with other items in your closet are questions you should bond between crocodile leather and the heartstrings of a woman? be asking yours elf. If the majority are no’s, someone at Goodwill No one. It’s the effervescent romance of: I want, no, I need. is going to love the clothing that’s being passed on. Then comes the proposal. The item has to love you back, you Working with a color scheme and having a pretty good indication know. Hell, it better love you back if you paid what you did for of your personal style is a huge help when deciding what to keep it. The honeymoon period that follows goes accordingly: What and what to toss. At the end of the process, you’ll have an idea

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size? What color? Should I get the classic style or should I go for the eclectic look? Now here’s the hardest part: the planning. So break out the big guns— YouTube, a probably unhealthy addiction after you’ve binged watched five hours of beauty tutorials. Go to the ‘ educational’ part, if you must use labels, and whip out the reviews. Reading up on the likes and dislikes will have a heavy influence on whether to purchase the item or not. After watching a few reviews of the item, I noticed many people bought them new or gently used off of Ebay for a great price. Being an inexperienced ‘Ebayer’ if you will, my first thought was that’s insane of them, who buys designer off of Ebay? Isn’t that like guaranteeing that you’re going to get ripped off? But alas I saw the light. And the light was the price difference.

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“If there’s anything I’ve learned from retail, it’s that everything goes on sale,” said student Kathleen Lalap. Doing your research and making sure if the item is authentic is crucial. If the seller doesn’t post pictures of all the trademark signatures it’s probably counterfeited. Stick with the ones who posted an original receipt just to be careful. After tearfully losing my first Ebay bidding experience for a new item with tags, I decided to keep going. But that’s what a relationship is, right? There’s a little bit of a bump in the road from time to time.

Building a wardrobe isn’t an overnight ordeal, but the process should be both exhilarating and relaxing and in the end, rewarding. Once the building is over, comes the creativity. Having limited options allows you to pair things you normally never would have, and forces you to hone down your personal style. Whether you decide to simplify, or jump into the idea of a capsule wardrobe, it’s about instilling clarity in your everyday life down to one’s personal style. Most have yet to wed their beloved investments and curated wardrobes, but when they do, it will be a glorious day of separation issues, photographs, and endless outfits. That’s how I discovered that for a fashion lover, our love for organized closets with endless options extends depths of the world (and also Ebay).

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Story by Cody Jendro | Art by Rendall Mercado | Design by Kitty Pinney

Nowadays, millennials have more control

over their music than any decade before them. Prior to the days of streaming services and digital downloads, physical albums were the primary source to obtain music. As technology has expanded — especially in the past 10 years — the options of streaming music, sometimes without purchase, has surpassed the idea of owning music. While many music enthusiasts may find streaming services appealing, there are benefits and faults to each service.

No more music stores Gone are the days of buying music off a store shelf. Music stores and overall sales are seeing a significant decline when compared to a decade ago. Billboard found physical CD sales dropped within the first half of 2015, but sales of vinyl records have grown. Compared to Nielsen’s reports from 2005 and 2006, album sales are declining. “Physical album sales fell to 62.41 million units in the first half of 2015, from 67.3 million in the second half of 2014. CD sales were down 10 percent, to 56.6 million. Vinyl grew by 38.4 percent, to 5.6 million… (In 2005 26 I M P A C T

and 2006), physical and digital album sales (amounted to) 553.4 million,” the source said.

A new way to find music Today, streaming services like Spotify and Pandora are the primary avenue for music listening. According to the 2015 U.S. Music Year-End Report, published by Nielsen, music streaming “doubled in 2015” while “sales continue to fall.” For college students on campus, the streaming trend is no exception. Natasha Box, 18, a first-year college student and Computer Science major, consistently uses Spotify. Box claims that Spotify offers great freedoms for the listener, but she was unaware of just how little the company compensates the music creators. “I use Spotify, because if there is a specific album or song, I can have that choice. You don’t get that with Pandora. With Spotify, you have a lot more choices. I use the free version (and) I knew there were issues with streaming services because of Taylor Swift, but I didn’t know how bad it really was.” As of March 2015, Pandora, the on-demand, curation radio website leads the pack of streaming services, while Spotify trails closely behind.

Streaming is gaining steam The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) researched the current trends for 2014 and 2015, finding that streaming accounts for just over “27 percent of total industry revenues.” Streaming is now the way the world operates in terms of music. Platforms like Spotify, Rdio and Apple’s recently launched Apple Music allows fans to stream a countless number of their favorite songs. This allows the service itself to expose the listener to the hottest new material. The Verge, a magazine publication which thrives on world trends in news and entertainment, claims that each streaming service is largely the same. “The reality right now is that Apple Music and Google Play Music, Spotify and Rdio, and any other pair of other music streaming services sound pretty similar on the surface. They offer about 30 million songs for about $10 a month.” Palomar students prefer Spotify While these competitors’ offerings are the same when looking at the base product, Palomar students seem to gravitate more towards the connectivity of Spotify. Media Studies student Steven Garcea said he enjoys using Spotify most, even though he has used other services in the past. Garcea is one of Palomar’s on-air talents, broadcasting weekly from KKSM, the AM station located on campus. “I just started using Spotify when I started my radio shift (this semester). I like the control it gives me to create playlists and play any song at any time. I used to use Pandora and iTunes Radio, but it would play the same songs over again and wouldn’t let me choose the songs,” he said. Additionally, Palomar math major Victoria Mynatt said she uses both Spotify as well as Pandora and no longer buys physical albums. Between the two streaming services, Mynatt said she uses Spotify due to its high recommendation, and she enjoys the service most. “(They) were recommended by my brother and my friends and (I enjoy) Spotify because it can be customized,” Mynatt said.

While Spotify may be popular amongst the student population on campus, one global superstar has decided to bow out of the service due to low pay rates for music composers. In an article published by the New York Post in January 2015, Swift’s departure had very little negative effect on Spotify. The source explained even after Swift decided to remove her music, Spotify “has maintained its 25 percent conversion rate.” Spotify has managed to maintain their audience numbers amidst Swift leaving the company, but now that they are facing new competitors, research shows the company is facing challenges.

Apple launches an alternative

increase in pay is due in part to Swift’s threat voiced over social media to remove her catalog from iTunes and the new streaming service if pay rates did not increase. A report from the online journal publication Business Insider shows that, as of June 2015, Spotify and Pandora only pay artists and labels just over a nickel per stream. Apple Music has stepped up the streaming compensation angle by paying the largest amount of money for artists and composers. USA Today revealed upon the launch of Apple Music, the service “is paying music owners 71.5 percent of (the service’s) subscription revenue in the U.S., (and) about 73 percent outside the country.”

In June 2015, Apple — the mega company which is home to the iPhone and iPad — gave into the trend of streaming services although they initially saw it as a negative to the industry.

Now, the issue is, do students and music listeners in general want to pay for a streaming service that benefits the artists they enjoy, or would they rather use a free service which pays artists under a dime for a play percentage?

Last summer, the company launched a paid subscription streaming service called Apple Music. Unlike Spotify, Pandora, and Rdio, Apple Music pays music composers a larger rate. The

With time, we will be able to see which avenue listeners gravitate towards in the future. Streaming takes the current throne, but the listener is the one who will determine what truly changes the game. S P R I N G

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LABELS ARE FOR SELLING RECORDS

Story by Shaina Blakesley | Photography by Johnny Jones | Design by Kitty Pinney

You work at a music store that blasts the Top 40 playlists play on repeat, with a neon light constantly flashing “MUSIC SALE,” and you’re drowning in the pews filled with cases of records, cassettes and CD’s. You grow blind to the cliques each genre generates, however, your pessimistic coworker, Pauly, witnesses them all. A tall, pale man drenched in black walks in. Pauly mentions he is the lankiest person he has ever seen. He jaunts: ‘Why is he wearing his sister’s skinny jeans?’ ‘He wears more eyeliner than everyone in My Chemical Romance.’ Pauly’s hawk eyes follow the kid parading through the hardcore and post hardcore section, or as Pauly coined it, ‘cry and die emo music.’ Pauly slaps your shoulder and ogles the curvaceous girl that walked in, wearing ripped

Our society is composed of labels.

Labels for records, food, clothes and everything else. However, our society also labels things that shouldn’t be labeled, such as people. Good labels or bad, everyone still has multiple labels attached to them. We label ourselves and others label us, yet sometimes the labels don’t match. These labels trap us into a proverbial glass box, unable to get away from them. The problem with labeling is that we are individuals. An individual is defined as “a single human being as distinct from a group, class, or family.” As individuals, we should not be defined by the groups we associate with. Then why is that right stripped away from us and we are then rigidly categorized? Transcending the realm of stereotypes and the image that has been painted for us, allows individuals to understand that these labels do not sufficiently define who they are. A person is forever growing and reinventing themselves. One’s 28 I M P A C T

Daisy Duke shorts, a white crop top without a bra on and 5-inch stilettos. He imitates smacking an ass as she obliviously walks by. Pauly is not surprised when she struts to the counter with the newest Miley Cyrus album. A couple steps into the store in expensive Armani business clothes. Pauly begins to play an air cello a few feet behind the couple anticipating them to bee-line towards the classical section. Pauly’s eyes nearly pop out of his sockets when they approach the Norwegian death metal section. He claims they must be lost until they get super hyped up about a couple of the albums. Pauly, like most of society, judges people based on their appearance, but Pauly learned a lesson: labels are for selling records, not for people.

journey is never ending; all labels do is stifle metamorphosis, originality and identity. We are distinct human beings by design, because we are meant to be a rare commodity in this world.

The science behind labels According to the psychology principle known as the Labeling Theory, a stigma is characterized as a severely antagonistic label that alters a person’s self-concept and social identity. Society uses these stigmatized roles to manipulate and omit what they classify as deviant behavior. Howard Becker, an American sociologist who studied the sociology of deviance, wrote the book “Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance (1963),” where he defines a deviant as “the product of a transaction that takes place between some social group and one who is viewed by that group as a rule-breaker.” Becker claims that when a rule is broken, the person accused of breaking it is then viewed as a special kind of person “who

cannot be trusted to live by the rules agreed upon by the group,” making them an outsider. The author defines nonconformity as being merely by definition, as opposed to one comprised of characteristics. That is to say that divergent behavior is more a question of perception by a group than a tendency of the deviant person. Therefore accepting the label “deviant” means implicitly accepting the values of the social group making the judgement.

Fostering individuality It is individuality that provides the world with some of its greatest influences. Steve Jobs dared to defy the norm and fathered a brand that continually pushed the imagination of what is possible. Companies like Google looks to foster individuality by culminating all walks of life. Their example has been mirrored by other major corporations to breed success in an ever-changing environment. Their deviance from the norm has propelled their success.

S L U T

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Where is the meeting that denotes one group the “in” group and allows them to make the rules? I certainly want to attend and put forth my dissenting opinion in order to fashion a new norm where social judgement no longer lingers over our heads. Not only do we let people dictate who we are, but we also heavily compare ourselves with others. When people notice that how they feel, behave or think differs from someone else, sometimes individuals will label themselves.

Curating our own labels Self-labeling is just as harmful as others stigmatizing us. We each live different lives; how we deal with the events we face will always be different. Believing that we go against the grain of society does nothing but cause feelings of hopelessness and isolation. There is no generalized stereotype for what is normal, we each create our own definition of normal.

S L A C K E R

blue: the houses, the cars, the people, everything. Instead of having our own themes songs, we would all just walk around singing “I’m Blue” and we wouldn’t have to worry about difference: “Yo listen up here’s a story, about a little guy that lives in a blue world and all day and all night and everything he sees is just blue like him inside and outside.” Everyone would not have their own personality. It would be painstakingly boring to live like that. We don’t need a “perfect” utopia because then we would lose all sense of self. Not all labels are damning and negative, some paint you in a better light, but even those can be constricting. Characterizations like prom queen, star quarterback, class president, over-achiever, etc. can hold an individual to extreme standards and the slightest step off the pedestal could disrupt the impressions others have of you. People are constantly trapped in a glass box of society’s opinions and expectations of them. Not only will making a mistake be perceived as the end of the world, but people will use stereotypes for such highly esteemed labels. People associate the prom queen as being the most popular girl. In order to claim this title, you must be pretty, snobby, and an airhead. You wouldn’t expect the prom queen to go to Yale because the stereotyped prom queen is dim-witted. People who did not follow the “in” crowd tend to groan when thinking about the prom queen because it is associated with a bitchy rich girl that sneers over everyone else.

OVER-ACHIEVER

We judge ourselves just as much as others judge us. You can’t compare your relationship, grades, social life. with anyone else because it is entirely your own. What works for you, may not always be the best for someone else. Body image is one of the most self-deprecating ways we define ourselves in juxtaposition to others. People think they have to look like other girls or guys, and if we don’t then we believe we are disgusting, scrawny, ugly, less of a man. I know I am a victim of this. I have a terrible tendency to compare how I look and dress with other people. And I must say, I lose that battle every time. I always wish I looked differently: less freckles, less acne, no glasses, better complexion, more aesthetically pleasing facial features. Not only do I diss my appearance, but I sigh over my lack of a fashion sense. What is hard to realize and comprehend when I am feeling melancholy, is that I am me. I am the only me out there. There is no one else that looks exactly like me and that makes me special.

Trapped in a glass house brings in the blues I dread being like everyone else. It reminds me of the song “I’m Blue” by Eiffel 65. We could live in a world where everything is 30 I M P A C T

The star quarterback, of course, is dating the prom queen, and bullies the school nerd to do all his homework and essays. He is barely passing in every class because star athletes are all brawn and no brains. These labels don’t seem as harmful as slut, weirdo, or fag, but they most certainly are. These stereotypes have strict assumptions that go along with the title. The prom queen is considered stupid, but she could also be a bookworm, preparing her valedictorian speech. Not all star jocks are bullies and incapable of passing a class with high marks. Who defines these stereotypes? Where is it explicitly written,

with merit, that a quarterback NEEDS to be dumb, or the prom queen MUST be a preppy bitch?

Turn down the radio on stereotypes Labels, good, bad or self-identified, have no use in society because they cause an individual to fully commit to their stamp. This happens because they can feel ostracized, condemning them and leading them to fulfill the prophecy society created for them. Labels can also create stereotypes regarding who the person truly is. Stereotypes destroy individual identity, and casts people into a pool of sameness.

DROP OUT

you ever asked why they get called these names? They get called antisocial, freaks, weeaboos, nerds, geeks, and future school shooters. This generalization stems from one bad apple that fell off the same tree. I play video games, I like anime, but you never see me getting called those ugly names. So why are these people ostracized and subjected to name calling? I will tell you why; because society states that such behavior is weird. You can’t catch this “weird” disease, so being around them causes no harm to your life. There is no rationale for blacklisting an individual based on their interest in foreign cartoons. Every person has been the victim of labels. It isn’t easy to just let them roll off your shoulder; they penetrate your heart. You start to think you are those words. I started to believe that I was useless and worthless because I didn’t fit into the cookie cutter definition of society.

More than just stuck backstage The Stanford Encyclopedia of Psychology spells it out for us best: “when we perceive people in terms of stereotypes, we depersonalize them and see them as ‘typical’ members of their groups.” We are all bewitchingly extraordinary. We should be happy with who we are and fully embrace it without constraints. Labels are meant to sell music to fill your ears with beautiful lyrics and beats, not to overwhelm you with belittling tones.

The majority of students, in my experience, seem too timid to speak publicly about the turmoil they’ve faced by being labeled. So many claim to be over it, but they are petrified of returning to the gloomy days of being a label instead of just a human being.

H I C K

I witnessed a girl being deemed a slut because she met a new guy only shortly after coming out of a long-term relationship. What everyone failed to discover was that for three years she was subjected to verbal and physical abuse. She finally had the courage to leave because she ended up falling for her best friend of six years. But she was branded by those she believed to be her friends. Society views sexuality as this grotesque monster that should never be seen, talked about, or acted upon. It is deemed a heinous crime to sleep with someone who you are not married to because then you are labeled a whore. Yet there is no middle ground, you are either a harlot or a prude. Underneath all the skin, nerves and bones, we are essentially a sophisticated animal. How are we to turn off instincts simply because one degree of society dictates that it is wrong? Ultimately, what is wrong is that a selected few warranting what is acceptable and not for the majority. Tolerance should be taught in school along with sexual education. You know those kids that like to sit apart from everyone else, talk about anime, and play video games? Yeah, I bet you do and I bet you know all the unpleasant names they get called. Have

One thing everyone needs to hold closer to their heart is that we are not the labels society forces upon us, we are simply ourselves, and no one can take that away from us. We are all in a genre of our own. Everyone occupies their own section in the world’s largest record store. We all sing, dance, and live by our own beat; our theme songs vary because we have crossed different oceans and explored different roads. Don’t sell out your musical soul strictly because someone else deems it as being an unorthodox lifestyle. Your song is solely yours and it cannot be sequestered by a conservative or judgemental mind. S P R I N G

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A Guide to a More Positive Mindset Through Mindfulness Story by Tamara Eakins | Design by Kylie Dukes There comes a point in every studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life when the journey to the educational finish line feels as if it will never end. The simplest of tasks can begin to feel impossible to accomplish, and anxiety seems to take over. You probably know the feeling all too well. The undeniable pressure of balancing college, working to pay bills, 32 I M P A C T

and maintaining a healthy family life can cause even the strongest of characters to lose their way. When times of unease arise, many feel hopeless. In a survey by the Associated Press, it was found that 80 percent of college students say they frequently experience daily stress. Thankfully there is a way of life that can take these moments of stress away from

your soul. Incorporating the practices of mindfulness into your daily life will help you do just that. Mindfulness is a modern movement appropriated from ancient Buddhist roots. It involves being aware of yourself and of each moment that passes in your present life.

By following these few simple steps, you can tap into the world of mindfulness and experience the serenity that having knowledge of one’s self can bring you.

1 Start your day with a centered soul

Instead, we must view our thoughts from an outsider’s perspective. When you start to realize that you are not your thoughts or emotions, you learn how to acknowledge them, understand them, and then let them go. “A thought or emotion emerges, you notice it, and it passes by because you allow it to,” Singer writes. “This technique of freeing yourself is done with the understanding that thoughts and emotions are just objects of consciousness.”

How you begin your day is an imperative step to being mindful. Waking up in the morning can become something you look forward to instead of dread. Start by sitting up in bed and taking a few slow, deep calming breathes. Relax your mind. Acknowledge that it is a new day and mentally let go of anything negative that may have occurred the day before. Once you feel tranquil and centered, get out of bed and begin your daily routine.

When we begin to see ourselves as the director of our conscious mind, it becomes easier to react to the changes in our lives in a healthier way. Let your emotion have its moment internally, and then send it on its way.

3 Worry less,

Smile more

“If you aren’t centered, your consciousness is just following whatever catches its attention. People who are not centered don’t hold jobs well and relationships do not tend to work out for them. They are all over the place; their energy is scattered,” said mental wellness coach Michael Singer.

Acknowledge your thoughts and emotions without dwelling on them

4 Spend quality

Time with Yourself

The relationship that a person has with themselves is the most important one of all. Most times we fear the thought of being alone. When we learn to find peace and happiness in moments of solitude, it opens the door to a whole new sense of self-awareness. Treat yourself to a “Soul Session.” Take your favorite book, a snack, and sunscreen and head to the nearest beach. Go on a morning hike. Visit a place you’ve always wanted to see.

Tony Robbins, one of the world’s most influential motivational speakers said, “All human behavior is the result of your state of mind and body.” In order to live a stress free life you must think positively. Aaron Long, a Social Science major and the president of the Student Veterans Organization at Palomar College has been incorporating this practice of mindfulness into his own life since 2014 with much success.

Sometimes, when an unexpected event or uninvited circumstance throws you off the course you had set for yourself, panic sets in. More times than not we allow ourselves to be consumed by the subsequent negative emotions we feel.

you will notice a shift in your mood and realize that a little positivity can go a long way.

“I imagine how I’d like to live my life and capitalize on the opportunities that then arise. The benefit of practicing mindfulness is the incredible belief that anything is possible,” Long said.

“Happier individuals equal a happier world. People who care about taking care of themselves will in turn be taking care of the planet,” Amanda Froelich of mindbodygreen.com said. You will soon start to find happiness in spending time alone with yourself. It will become a relationship that you cherish and will help you to have a better outlook on life overall.

“Incorporating the practices of mindfulness into your daily life will help.”

Assume that your day will be a productive and successful one rather than doom it from the start. Smile more. Instantly S P R I N G

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sig

e nn

Mental health is serious. The brain D should be treated with just as much care and consideration as the body, but people overlook their mental health and ignore symptoms of illness, because it’s “just a phase” or the idea of having a mental illness is “weird”. Many people feel labeled and judged by their mental health and illnesses.

ith

y or

l ta

“All-consuming” is how Sarah*, 22, described her battle with anxiety. It was interfering with basic tasks such as walking on the sidewalk, answering the phone, and logging onto the computer. “I didn’t know how bad it was until it got too difficult to show up to class, if I was one minute late to class, I just wouldn’t go because I was so petrified of walking into the crowded room and everyone looking at me,” Sarah said. “I dropped my classes, I didn’t want to get a job because talking to people gave me anxiety, and I was just really stuck. It led to me getting depressed because I was angry at myself for not being normal. that’s kind of when I knew that something was seriously wrong and I needed to get help,” Sarah said. On how she overcame her anxiety, she said “I found a therapist and I began to take medication. Of course it doesn’t solve all my problems, but it makes it manageable, I don’t feel as hopeless.” 34 I M P A C T 34 I M P A C T

In Spring 2016, Palomar just began its new Behavioral Health Counseling Services, located in the Health Center. Lenka Schalke, director of Palomar Health Services, said that there will be three licensed therapists for student use with a limit of six visits per semester. Individual, couple, or group therapy is offered in a completely confidential environment. Students must make an appointment. Seeking a therapist can be very helpful for figuring out a specific problem or just to be heard. Palomar’s efforts in Mental Health Awareness are completely free

for all students due to the mandatory Health Services fee and a great perk to take advantage of. According to the National Alliance of Mental Health, one in four college students have a mental illness, but 40 percent don’t seek help. There are more than 200 types of mental illness, the most common are: anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and OCD. According to Psychology Today, our generation has greater levels of stress and psychopathology than anytime in the nation’s history. The most common illness affecting college students is depression. In a survey done by the association for University and College Counseling Center Directors, 36 percent of college students felt some sort of depression. Depression causes someone to lose interest in things that they usually enjoy, and wrecks havoc on their eating, sleeping, communicating with others, and especially their ability to study/work. A serious issue surrounding depression is the result of suicide which is the second most common cause of death of college students. The symptoms of depression include feeling sad and helpless, change of weight and appetite, fatigue, feelings of guilt, trouble concentrating, unexplainable frustration, and thoughts of suicide. Recognizing the signs and determining the symptoms of depression result in the most confusion. The easiest and safest way to figure it out is to talk to someone like a trusted friend, parent, or Palomar licensed therapist. Anxiety is almost as common as depression, but just as severe. According to the 2014 National College Health Assessment Survey, 22 percent of students said that within the past 12 months, anxiety has affected their academic performance. Knowing when to seek help for anxiety is tricky, since it seems like everyone has anxiety when finals or major tests arrive. It’s time to seek help when your “mood state interferes with your ability to function at school” according to Psychology Today’s Gregg Henriques Ph.D.

A helpful reminder according to Henriques is to manage your emotional reaction to stress rather than attempt to change the stressful situation. To manage anxiety for an upcoming test or major assignment, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recommended to watch your diet, get plenty of sleep, and give yourself enough time to prepare. Waiting until the last minute to study for a test is going to elevate your anxiety. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder varies depending on the individual. The symptoms for OCD include: fear of contamination/dirt, requiring things to be symmetrical/orderly, aggressive thoughts of harming yourself or others, unwanted and repetitive thoughts like sexual aggression or religious aggression. Bipolar Disorder is categorized into 2 episodes: a manic episode, where a distinct period of abnormally high mood lasts at least one week, and a hypomanic episode which includes a distinct period of abnormally low mood lasts at least four consecutive days. Manic and hypomanic periods switch on and off, with fluctuating lengths of time. Bipolar

Disorder can be serious, so medication is crucial for managing it. Contact a practitioner for medical help if you feel that you are suffering from Bipolar Disorder. The stigma surrounding mental illnesses is the biggest barrier for people to overcome. Mental health is common and resources are available for anyone, no matter how lost and isolated you may feel. College is supposed to be the best part of your life, but the stress can make it difficult, which may lead to developing a mental illness. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be afraid to reach out for guidance, even if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a mental illness because keeping and developing a healthy mind is necessary for managing your life. For questions or concerns here are a list of helpful hotlines: Depression/Bipolar/Anxiety support: 800-273-TALK (8255) National Institute of Mental Health Information: 866-615-6464 Crisis Call Center: 800-273-8255 or text ANSWER to 839863 Suicide Prevention Services: 630-482-9696 *For the purpose of this story, last names were not used due to privacy. S P R I N G

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;The annual award was presented to Rose for her excellence in teaching, but what really sets her apart, goes deeper than just that.â&#x20AC;? 36 I M P A C T

One of these tactics is the team test that have an opaque, scratch-able cover over the possible answers for all the questions -- such as a lottery ticket -- and allow students to see the correct answers instantly while still being graded for those that they scratched incorrectly. “What’s great about it is that when they leave that test they actually know the answer, even if it took them five tries … And they’re high-fiving each other in class when they finally get them right, it’s great. That’s why I like teaching,” Rose said.

Story by Daze Castillo | Photography by Niko Holt Design by Kylie Dukes Among the crowd of Palomar employees, Cinema Professor Candace Rose, like the horror film fanatic she is, has emerged suddenly from the fog and into the spotlight. And the spotlight has its perks: one plaque, recognition at next year’s orientation, a $1,000 honorarium, and a private parking spot that reads “This spot reserved for distinguished for Faculty of the Year.” Rose, who is only in her second year teaching at Palomar College, was selected as Palomar’s Distinguished Faculty of the Year in March. She received the coveted prize for both her work in the classroom and her work for the school, which includes committee involvement and even teaching a weekly yoga class for employees. Rose first became interested in film in her late 20s, when she returned to college and took a film history class at Scottsdale Community College, where she later taught the subject for nearly 10 years.

Around this time, Rose met her husband, a filmmaker, and started film company called Gas Mask Films, where they collaborated on independent horror films such as “Dead Fall Trail” and “Speak No Evil.” From these experiences in the industry, Rose has been able to transcend her enthusiasm for film into the classroom. Dani Eddy, a narrative production major, has taken two of Rose’s cinema courses and was not surprised about her recent success. “A lot of kids that take her classes are just doing them for General Ed,” Eddy said. “But they come out loving them and I even had a few friends who ended up majoring in film after her class.” However, teaching Cinema can include certain difficulties such as: a higher number of students, larger classrooms and shorter instructional time. To cope with this, Rose has implemented a variety of progressive learning methods that emphasize broad classroom involvement.

Rose added that these testing methods, which refrain from monotonous academic structure, can be valuable to students who have test anxiety or other educational difficulties. And because there are such a large number of students in her classes, she feels that it is especially important to constantly discover new methods of interactive instruction. Rose teaches classes that often differ distinctly in both film knowledge and interest. Her classes include general education courses like Cinema 100, where students come in with significantly less familiarity with film. These courses are different from more advanced classes, such as Science Fiction Film, where students are typically well-versed in the subject beforehand. She described each course as having its own personality, and therefore, having its own distinct approach for instruction. And although Rose expressed her excitement for her more in-depth courses, she conveyed a nostalgic appreciation for her general education courses, remembering how the love of film first flickered in her eyes during a similar class. “It’s really fun,” Rose said. “I get students who maybe don’t know very much about film, or maybe didn’t realize how much they enjoy it, or how much goes into it. So its always fun to sort of see the light bulbs go on and listen to students say, ‘Wow! I never even looked at a movie that way.’ And so they’ll come away from that class looking at movies in a completely different way than before the semester started.”

S P R I N G

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THE

WAR OVER

GEEK CULTURE THE

SOUL OF

The revolution will be digitized

Story by Rodney Figueroa | Art by Rendall Mercado | Design by Kylie Dukes Once upon a time, there was a thing called geek culture. It probably sat in the corner of the lunchroom as a gathering of people playing Magic: The Gathering, or showed up as people staring intently into their Gameboys in small groups. This was around the time when the popularity of terms like ‘fear is the mind killer’ and ‘it’s turtles all the way down’ were mystic call-signs between a small cadre of people. They were the social outcasts, the “weirdos” who liked Magic the Gathering and traded Pokemon cards in the lunchroom as though their very essences depended on it. Then it died. Forums quickly filled with people lamenting the onset of change, “When was the last time you saw someone gushing about Blade Runner, or even acknowledging that Forbidden Planet existed? Where is the wonder at the possibilities of the future, or at the magic of a mythological past? What happened to nerds?” lamented Owyn Merrlin, poster on Escapist Magazine Forums

38 I M P A C T

“...Then it came back.” And why did the whole culture go from a collection of people who would give each other the shirts off their own backs if necessary -- if for no other reason than that they’d all known what it feels to be mistreated in the past -- to a collection of asshats shouting obscenities at one another?”

Something changed. In 2013, the new Geek Culture launched into the public eye, fresh-faced and full of vigor, a phantom of its former self. It might have been the result of a feeding frenzy with the downtrodden geek trends being ripped apart by pop culture, looking for the next big thing

to swallow and convert. Suddenly it was no longer viewed as a hobby for freaks and geeks. It was cool to like “Star Wars;” it was cool to watch Goku power up to Super Saiyan and talk about it openly. All of those inside jokes — all of the secret language that acted as a doorway to Geek Culture — was suddenly burned away. Geek Culture had been invaded, and little did anyone know that the ensuing battle for the soul of our fandoms would spark some of the best and worst things about the culture we love. That’s where we are now: at the beginning of 2016 —where it’s cool to be a nerd. “The introduction of a lot of different pop cultures, the “Star Wars” craze. The whole wanting to bring everyone into the game

community and kind of create that casual gamer aspect. I do see a lot of different people coming towards that and I’m not sure what to think of it. When you see all these different people starting to jump ship from ridiculing us you almost have a feeling of ‘where did the change of heart come from?’” Jeremy Jacobs, a Computer Science student, said. You could become an overnight expert on just about any subject you wanted —whether it’s the entire mythology of “Indiana Jones” or the secret meaning behind the items in “Bloodborne.” The success of the iPhone turned everyone into a walking encyclopedia and if it wasn’t expertise you were seeking, passion for just about anything could be found. People who grew up having to deal with bullying at the hands of “preps” and “cool kids” suddenly had to watch this culture that they believed to be theirs, born of social ostracism, be taken over and morphed by their oppressors. These ‘imposters’ or at least as they were seen, were suddenly changing a lot about the culture that were used once as a form of escape, things held dear, the things that so-called ‘nerds’ poured over day and night and became experts in the hard way - these things suddenly no longer belonged to them. It was quickly approaching a critical point of no return and the backlash began to brew. Dozens of new labels for everyone

snaked through popular outlets like Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook: “Sexy Cosplay” here, “Fake Geek Girl” there, “Social Justice Warriors” and “White Knights” abound. Strangers… foreigners to something that some thought never really belonged to them anyways. It wasn’t just limited to comic books, though: computer tech, video games, conventions... all would see a slow incursion by popular culture. Similarly, video gaming, typically seen as a boy’s activity, was starting to welcome new characters and embrace new concepts, began to abandon voluptuous super vixens as staple characters and design more relatable men and women as their lead roles. The tools in this culture war would be plenty. Hate mobs, forums, digital dog piling, and gangs of online marauders with plenty of free time and anonymity to say the things they really felt would just be the tip of the iceberg. The culture war is based on a perceived invasion of Geek Culture. Some selfproclaimed “old blood” geeks were suddenly faced with the reality that the culture they felt that they created was no longer theirs. Newcomers into Geek Culture were accused of trying to manipulate and sterilize the culture for their own reasons, predominantly because it was now ‘trendy.’. Forums like “Return of Kings” quickly loaded up with anonymous men

lamenting any and all changes to once popular geek media. One such complaint was about how “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” was social justice propaganda over a woman and black man leads. The attacking of others often came as a response and sought to punish people with dissenting views. This categorizing of others quickly led to labels like “fake geek girl” or criticisms on the legitimacy of someone’s ‘geek cred’ if someone didn’t see “Star Wars” during opening weekend. This mentality evolved predominantly behind Gamergate, a ‘movement’ claiming to demand editorial ethics in video games, but used as a hate mob against anyone that did something to video games that was outside of the norm. Incidents often went as far as making threats of physical violence, and photos of the homes of victims sent to them via social media. Some popular online personas chose to speak up about harassment in Geek Culture were threatened, including Felicia Day, owner of Geek and Sundry, an online community dedicated to curating Geek Culture. Her personal information was doxed -doxing is the public release of private information on the internet. Day publicly responded to The Guardian about the incident, “I have tried to retweet a few of the articles I’ve seen dissecting the issue in support, but personally I am terrified to be doxxed for even typing the words ‘gamer gate’. I have had stalkers

and restraining orders issued in the past, I have had people show up on my doorstep when my personal information was hard to get.” Day’s information was made public after she spoke out about feeling a general sense of unease in Geek Culture and about the passive-aggressive abuse of those claiming it belonged to them. As Geek Culture continued to become mainstream, conventions saw a large uptick in popularity. The practice of cosplay became the next forum of opinions. Because the majority of Geek Culture is male, the surge of cosplay was at times seen as an invitation to harass the cosplayers, usually always female.

Forty percent of internet users claim to have been targeted for harassment while 73 percent polled claim to have been witness to some form of online harassment as seen in one of several polls by the Pew Research Center. Women end up bearing the worst of the harassment, likely due to the nature of online communities being vastly male dominated.

Change is happening regardless of the opinions of those who seek to rip Geek Culture back into the private depths it once came from. Some are more than welcoming to the change. “To be honest. I’m sort of happy that a lot of people are seeing what I’ve seen my entire life. They’re actually enjoying what I’ve enjoyed. There’s always going to be those people who just hate it or want nothing to do with it or will still continue to have the views of a bully who looks down on someone who enjoys this geek culture. But it’s changing and I think it’s for the better,” Matthew Little, a local student, said.

Suddenly these attractive fictional characters, some of which were fawned over by their fans for years had a physical form. This led to the loosening of social constraints, as if the cosplayers were simply there to fulfill some kind of culture dream fantasy. The advent of the “cosplay is not consent” ethical rules at popular conventions thrust social justice into the realm of geekdom, and was met with mixed backlash. Some young men had a tendency to view more scantily clad characters as invitation to gawk, to touch, and to openly fetishize the person in the costume. The Pew Research Center has spent the better part of 2015 drawing up statistics for various types of internet harassment. What complicates things is that the nature of online harassment is broad and still not fully understood as what constitutes harassment. Many have the opinion that people are overly sensitive about the behavior of others online, while others point to targeted personal attacks and harassment that goes far beyond simple name calling into the realm of physical assault and stalking.“It’s weird being told that a hobby that I’ve had for 25 years isn’t for me, because I’m a girl. I’m older than some of the people that like the things that I do and they’re the ones telling me I don’t belong because I’m a woman. Either that or they think I’m a 13 year old boy,” argued Stefani Wierzbowski, a local artist.

40 I M P A C T

though. Perhaps the rise of the culture war is a sign of the death throes of the stereotypical basement dwelling geek. It might mean that people might have to become comfortable with both new and old ideas surviving this culture clash. The more this acceptance of Geek Culture presses on, the louder some will scream about its destruction or decay, it’s only natural that a cultural change would draw this kind of criticism.

“We defined online harassment as having had at least one of six incidents personally occur to someone: name-calling, efforts to be purposefully embarrassed, physical threats, harassment over a sustained period of time, sexual harassment, and stalking,” according to the Pew Research Center. Geek Culture continues draw an ever growing audience and has spawned newer variations of classic titles: Batman, Superman, and the rise of Marvel movies. New original series and more than ever before and yet. The idea that Geek Culture is in some sort of danger is a chief concern of many. It’s wrong to be all doom and gloom about Geek Culture

For every vile-filled argument, there are dozens of old and new fans who are waiting feverishly to find out what “Civil War” is all about in the Marvel Universe. There are new, more diverse characters being designed to spread the fandom even further. It’s not perfect, not in the least, and the erasure of the colorful past of geek culture is something that shouldn’t be allowed to happen lest we forget where all of these amazing stories and relationships came from, perhaps be used to build deeper personal relationships within our collective groups. No amount social of change has ever been undertaken without some realignment of our personal desires. The relationships that could potentially spark from the influx of new fans might be something worth preserving after all. Tyler Howell, local student and gamer spoke of how such a relationship helped him in his personal life. “ This is how I actually got my first job. Back when I was in 8th grade playing World of

Warcraft all I wanted to do was go home and play. My mom would joke with the other parents that I played an online game when someone on the adult soccer league told me they played too. He’s a 40 year old dude I’m like 12! I start talking to this guy and the next thing we know we’re hanging out in WoW together, years later he gave me my first job.” If the sheer size of the culture is any indication, then there will always be room for all manner of things to like. Artists and writers are hardly in limited supply for work, and new narrative directions can only improve longstanding character and story arcs by adding depth. There’s also strong credence for protecting the history of Geek Culture, many of the things that pop culture seems to take for granted were birthed from a small collected group of people that kept the lights on for small comic shops and kept an industry alive until it had matured into the economic and social powerhouse it is now. Simply letting popular media sterilize the culture by packaging and

shipping it kills a lot of the subtle personality that allowed us to get here in the first place.

"This is an era of rapid and unmapped change, but it could potentially lead to a culture that is a better, healthier, and foreseeably more inclusive one." At the end, maybe we can hope when all of the infighting ends that we’re truly left with the people that cared, or the people who genuinely care about the type of content that they see and try to expand on it, and improve it. That we all collectively realize that we all like these things and that we can enjoy

them without sacrificing each other in the name of some social conflict. Geek Culture is going to continue to change and the fires of old may die down, but the new fires, these new things that the culture has created have added more raw content, created more individual fandoms, and created new groups of people far beyond what could have been possible with a more limited scope. Geek Culture is currently feeling its way through a rough patch. This is an era of rapid and unmapped change, but it could vpotentially lead to a culture that is a better, healthier, and foreseeably more inclusive one. The effort to continue evolving into something great shouldn’t be ignored or abandoned, it should push forward and continue to be something that everyone wants to be a part of. Matthew Little one of the interviewed students, said it best “There’s a little bit in this hobby for everybody.”

ADDICTED TO SOCIAL MEDIA? JOIN US. Palomar’s Campus Newspaper, The Telescope is looking for writers, photographers, designers and social media addicts to help produce the campus newspaper and its website www.the-telescope.com in Fall 2016. You will become a part of history by contributing to the only archive to Palomar’s 70 years as a college. There are two ways you can get involved: Take Journalism 105 (Class number 70474) It is a 3-unit lecture/lab class that meets Monday/Wednesday mornings.

Too busy? Try Journalism 110L (Class number 70491) This 1-unit class lets you work on your own schedule with no class meetings.

For more information, contact Professor Erin Hiro at ehiro@palomar.edu or 760-744-1150 ext. 3762

Story by Chanele Retuya | Photography by Coleen Burnham | Design by Kitty Pinney

Picture this. You walk into a store, come across a clothing item you like, and walk up to the cashier to pay without even glancing at the price tag. As nice as that lifestyle sounds, most people don’t have the luxury to buy whatever they want. Luckily, shopping at local thrift shops is a convenient way to keep up with the latest fashion trends, without putting a hole in your wallet. Thrifters may occasionally stumble upon a few items that have hidden stains, minor rips or pieces of clothing that have faded in color. Regardless, thrift stores are full of hidden treasures that are worth searching for.

Tiffani Cortes, a student at Palomar College majoring in advertising said that she went thrifting for the first time with a friend last summer. Her friend’s car got overheated, and while they were waiting for his brother to come pick them up they decided to go to a Goodwill across the parking lot to kill time. A vintage Dooney and Bourke crossbody bag instantly caught Cortes’s eye, so she quickly grabbed it off the rack before someone else could. After digging inside the purse to find a price tag, she was surprised to find out that it was only $7. “It was so cheap, I felt like I stole it,” Cortes said. Rebekah Baier, an avid thrifter and the face behind the blog, “The Life of B” has been thrifting ever since she can remember. She considers her mom a “champion shopper,” and has tagged along with her on marathon shopping trips throughout her childhood. In her blog, she explained how she would cringe at the thought of possibly being seen by someone she knew. When she found a Pentax 35mm camera in mint condition, she was thrilled, and overtime her love for thrifting blossomed. “I can spot a Patagonia sweater from across the room, a pair of Baby Gap jeans under a strewn pile of clothes, a J. Crew cashmere hoodie on a rack of 50 similar items,” Baier stated in her blog. Timothy Vega, 18, said that he started thrifting when his mom dragged him to come along with her. He was embarrassed to death and didn’t want to go, but he found out that he could actually find some good stuff. Vega stated that thrifting

42 I M P A C T

regularly has saved him money because he could find items that would normally be found in a mall or retail store for almost 95 percent cheaper. Vega came across a pair of Air Jordan 5s while thrifting. He said that once he fixed them up and repaired them, it could sell for prices in the hundreds. He explained that he would probably never get rid of them because they are a constant reminder that you can find great things in the store. “You can find shoes or a jersey that was made in the 90s at thrifts. You would only be able to find a jersey like that on eBay for an expensive price,” Vega said. A well-known YouTube personality, Paul Cantu, has surpassed over 200,000 subscribers by bringing along a camera with him to record his Trip to the Thrift videos. He walks up and down the aisles, sifting through racks while making hilarious comments about the items he comes across. “Cheaper gear equates to an obese wallet” he said in a phone interview.

Cantu said he was inspired by other YouTubers who would make videos of their thrift finds. When they stopped making content, he decided to “fill the gap and do it in a more entertaining way.” When shopping he said that he searches for vintage Champion Jerseys, vintage Nautica, Polo, and anything that is loud and straight out of the 90s. “Any brand that has a dope aesthetic will enter my cart,” he said. He racks up many comments from his viewers, asking if he would like to trade

Best Thrift and Resale Shops in San Diego/ North County Goodwill (Rancho Bernardo & Vista) Buffalo Exchange (Hillcrest & Pacific Beach) Lost and Found Recycled Fashion (Hillcrest) Flashbacks (Encinitas) Savers (Murrieta)

an item or if they would be willing to sell something to them. Due to his fans support, he decided to run a vintage website where he flips vintage gear to make a little change. After making videos for a year Cantu had about 1,000 subscribers, and it was at that time Cantu said to himself “I’m going all in, and will become huge.” Nathanael Martinez, a Los Angeles resident said in a Skype and phone interview that he became an avid thrifter three years ago. He shares his finds on his YouTube channel by making thrift hauls of his recent purchases. He currently has eight denim jackets in his collection, “I’m obsessed with them because I can literally throw them on with anything and it just ties together the whole look. Plus they aren’t very heavy so you can wear them all year round” he said. Since Martinez makes men’s fashion videos, he said he feels that shopping and getting new clothes ties into creating good content for his viewers. “If I was always shopping at high-end stores, I would be struggling and wouldn’t be able to provide quality content. Thrifting definitely helps me with my videos without breaking the bank,” Martinez said. Thrifting involves a lot more patience than shopping at a department store. There will be times when shoppers will spend hours trying to find something worth purchasing but end up walking out of the store empty-handed. That’s all part of the thrifting experience.

Outfit Choice You’re going to be constantly trying on tops, so the last thing you want to wear is something too tight or a shirt that requires a lot of buttoning and unbuttoning. It would also be smart to wear a neutral colored shirt like black,

grey or white since it will match with a majority of the clothes you try on.

To Buy or Not to Buy If you’re on the fence about whether or not you want to buy an item, go ahead and throw it in your cart anyway. If you put it back on the rack, you might have trouble remembering exactly which rack you. Save yourself the trouble.

Clothing Quality Just because something is inexpensive doesn’t mean that you absolutely have to purchase it. Try to look for quality items that have minimal wear. Flip clothing items inside-out to make sure that there aren’t any stains or holes in them, then repeat the same step just to make sure. Ask yourself if you’re actually going to wear it and the specific occasions you can wear it to. S P R I N G

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CURLS, KNOTS, AND KNOWLEDGE

Story by Anissa Ocansey | Art by Rendall Mercado | Design by Kitty Pinney In the modern world, traces of history are always present. The architecture of buildings, the latest fashion trends, and even the matrix of nature all have ancestral patterns which delve into ancient roots. It’s no coincidence that hair bares a similar historical connection to its modern forms. From an African-American perspective, hair has been an integral feature of black history for centuries, and continues to manifest itself presently. Men and women alike have contributed to and mirrored vital aspects of culture that have transcended time through hair.

African tribal headdresses and hairstyles indicated one’s family background, social status, age, tribal origin, and marital status. For example, men from the Wolof tribe in what is now modern-day Senegal and Gambia, wore braids when going to war. When in mourning, women would adopt more subdued styles, or would abstain from styling their hair completely to express their grief. Grooming the hair was a vital practice amongst many african tribes through the continent. Both sexes spent hours washing, oiling and fashioning their hair into braids, twists, and locks to ensure it remained healthy. In addition to certain hairstyles being cultural staples, many African ethnic groups correlated hair with spiritual divinity. Due to up and outward direction natural unprocessed african hair in it’s varied textures tends to grow. One example is the Bantu knots which originating from the ancient Bantu tribe, a massive population that migrated from west Africa to central and south Africa around 1500 B.C. “Hair is like an antenna, it connects you to the world. Our hair grows up to the sun” said Dr. Willie L. Morrow, a local San Diegan entrepreneur, inventor and selftaught chemist. Morrow’s contributions as an inventor and his company, California Curl, also serves as an integral facet of the vast history of black hair care. Remember his accolades for later; it’ll all come full circle like a full, fluffy ‘fro. Retrospectively, the transatlantic slave trade—beginning in the 16th century and stretching to the 20th century— brought over 11 million Africans to to the new world. Initially, Africans in America brought many customs with them when they arrived in Jamestown in 1619, including hand-carved combs crafted with wider teeth to accommodate their coils.

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Through forced migration to the Americas and the brutalization of African people that ensued during the slave trade, African people were confronted by their first loss of identity. They were not allowed to worship their own gods, or speak their own languages. Even the native names of Africans were stripped from them as they transitioned from humans to chattel in the eyes of potential masters. Antique grooming traditions began to disappear. As chronicled in Ayana Byrd and Lori L. Tharps’ literary work, “Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America,” the 1700s brought the foundation of the complicated esteem black people experience with their hair. Slaves weren’t even allowed to refer to the kinks, coils and curls on top of their head as hair. Instead, they had to identify it as “wool,” as whites often coined it as. This categorization contributed to the dehumanization that black people endured during slavery. Though extremely disenfranchised, slaves still found methods to care for their hair through the use of lard and butter. A much different formula from the oils, nut butters and herbs their ancestors routinely used. Eurocentric perceptions of beauty were systematically enforced on the enslaved. Lighter complexions and less “nappy” hair were considered valuable attributes. These attributes also allowed biracial slaves more privileges such as the liberty to read, and access to better food and living conditions inside of the plantation, versus the cramped, poorly equipped cabins the majority of the slaves withstood. Eurocentric beauty ideals in turn were internalized by many black people even after slavery’s four century streak ended.

Post slavery, the desire to have what is deemed to be “good hair” — that is, hair that is closer to the straight, silky texture of whites and less coarse and coiled — continued to prevail. “Good hair” became a prerequisite for entering certain schools, churches, social groups and business networks. It determined one’s eligibility for a job. Nearing the end of the 1800s, a straightening tool known as the hot comb was used to temporarily straighten hair. Halford H. Fairchild cites the work of social scientist J. Philippe Rushton in a scholarly article titled “Scientific Racism: The Cloak of Objectivity,” stating “Rushton has advocated a theory whereby Asians, Caucasians and Africans, as a result of evolution, may be ranked on a wide variety of personal and population attributes i.e intelligence, sexual restraint, and social organization.” The tight curls and dark features of African descendants earned “Negroids,” as termed by Rushton, a slot at the bottom of the totem pole behind Caucasoids, and Mongoloids. Fairchild that Ruston’s ideology is based on false merit, but was widely popular and approved in popular and scholarly media. In response to the conditioning propaganda, black communities continued to internalize Eurocentric beauty standards. As the need to assimilate into the dominant white culture intensified, methods for altering the texture of African American hair began to expand, birthing the beginnings of the black hair care industry. In the early 1900s, hair care enthusiast and entrepreneur Madam C.J. Walker, curated a wide range of black hair care products, including shampoos, conditioners, and chemical straighteners that provided a lasting effect, the temporary results of the hot comb couldn’t match alone. Walker’s premiere line was widely popular within the black community and earned her a fortune, making her the first black female millionaire the United States had known. The counterculture of rejecting the idea of assimilation was ushered in by Marcus Garvey, Jamaican born political leader and journalist in the 1920s. Garvey’s

philos ophy is intrinsic to the principles of Pan Africanism, an ideology and movement that supports the solidarity of African people worldwide. Garvey strongly advocated black communities in America and beyond to embrace their natural hair and African aesthetics that had been annexed from the culture through the colonization and slavery. Garvey’s philosophies inspired the framework of Rastafarianism, a theology birthed in the heart of Jamaica in the 1930s. Followers of the Rastafari way of living had a deep affinity for dreadlocks. The hairstyle’s name originated from early Europeans, who considered the texture of the sculpted ropes to be “dreadful” on the African people they encountered, thus many African Americans who don the style prefer the term locks, whether they affiliate themselves with the theology or not. The popularity of locks increased following the success of musicians Bob Marley and Stevie Wonder. Along with braids and the Afro, locks remain one of the most distinctive black hairstyles today. Both of the natural styles represent the beautiful possibilities of natural hair, undeserved as a symbol of black identity in contrast to the submissive nature of assimilation.

The political climate of the 1960s introduced a new assertion of black identity as African Americans were taking mass action against segregation and inequality. “We look at our hair care choices within the context of the world we live in” said Dr. Joanne Cornwell, another local proprietor of her own hair care line dubbed “Sisterlocks”. In this particular era, the iconic Afro became a popular representation embracing black heritage, and resisting white beauty standards that had been deeply ingrained into black culture. Enter the innovative creation: the original afro pick, curated by Dr. Morrow. “The comb was the foundation of my business,” he said. Now worth $9 billion annually, Dr. Morrow has dedicated his life to catering to the needs of black hair in its various styles and textures. Under white interpretation, afros represented something infamous. Afros were also associated with the Black Panther Party — who were historically non-violent — yet Afros were a precursor S P R I N G

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of violence and devout militancy other than a celebration of one’s culture.

on celebrities like Alicia Keys, Beyonce, and NBA star Allen Iverson.

Though a positive affirmation of black hair reigned in the 1960s, the internalized hate we had for our own hair still manifested itself through sales like the Jheri Curl in the 1980s, which was crafted to chemically loosen tight coils.

The year 2010 and beyond displayed another shift in the hair habits of black women. According to the market research firm Mintel, it’s estimated that the black hair care business as a whole is worth $774 million.

By the 1990s, a variety of natural and chemically driven styles could be seen on black women and men. Braiding techniques resurfaced, and box braids gained a large following, especially after Janet Jackson donned them in 1990s RomCom “Poetic Justice,” alongside late rapper Tupac Shakur.

Relaxers that were once in high demand, raking in 179 million dollars in sales during 2008, sharply dropped. The firm predicts that relaxer sales are aimed to decrease 45 percent before 2019. The drop in sales is correlated to the vast numbers of black women deciding to abandoned the “creamy crack,” and embrace their natural roots. Although ancestral hair aesthetics are being rediscovered and worn proudly, negative attitudes towards natural black hair still prevail.

The arrival of the new millennia displayed a diverse combination of black hair care methods and styles. Relaxers and straightening methods were still very prominent, however, cornrows, braids, afros and other natural styles were a common site in black communities, and

In the realm of professionalism, natural hair styles are often viewed as a detriment. Reflecting the discriminatory practices of

the past, many black people still endure microagressive, incomplete perceptions of our hair, or are denied access into certain institutions, or jobs from potential employers altogether. The connotations that come with embracing one’s own natural hair isn’t native to the Unites States. In London, Simone Powderly had her hair fashioned in braids when attending an interview for a sales job. Though qualified for the position, she was told by her potential employer that her hair do was not suitable for selling “high-end” products. When it comes to discussing cultural appropriation, and cultural sensitivity surrounding black hair, considering the deep rooted, tangled history we have with our hair is paramount. White celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Kylie Jenner, Katy Perry, and most recently Justin Bieber, have all sported hairstyles associated with black culture. The controversy that surrounds the backlash white people receive stem from the element of privilege white people have that isn’t weakened due to their choices in dress or hairstyle. They do not inherit the negative stigmas of black hair that African Americans endure while partaking in elements of culture that were once stripped from us. One could argue that “it’s just hair,” but many African Americans feel a much more visceral connection to our hair. “It’s not just hair,” Dr. Morrow said. “Hair is a part of your outfit, it’s a part of your dress, it’s always been an important part of black folks dress.” His inventive genius and contributions to the black hair care industry were honored in the form of an exhibit at The Escondido Center for the arts in February. The exhibit, titled “The History and the Hair Story: 400 Years Without a comb,” explored the generations of back beauty. Although the stigmas and struggles surrounding black hair still prevails, it still serves as a cornerstone for affirming one’s identity and celebrating one’s individuality. “Hair is a conversation,” Cornwell said. “Our hair is saying something... I know my hair says I am me, I am not you.”

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BACHA BAZI Story by Alexandra Rothman | Design by Kitty Pinney

Unfortunately, virtually no one knows this practice exists.

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The Dark Side of Afghanistan Joining the U.S. Marines is hard. It takes dedication, hard work, and sacrifice. But Marine Lance Cpl. Gregory T. Buckley did not expect what was coming. Stationed in Garmsir, Afghanistan, the 21-year-old Buckley discovered that Afghan officers were bringing young Afghan boys on base and sexually assaulting them. He told his father that he would lie on his bunk at night and listen to the screaming of the boys as they were being sexually abused by Afghan officers. Determined to stop these atrocities, Buckley went to his American superiors. Yet, he was told not to interfere. Buckley was then shot and killed by a follower of an Afghan policeman. It was same policeman who Buckley accused of performing these cruel acts on young boys. This story, told by the Washington Times on July 27, 2014, is a tragic one. An innocent American soldier was killed while trying to stop a horrible and disgusting tradition that is happening right now. The act that Cpl. Buckley was trying to stop is called Bacha Bazi, also known as “boy play.” The Olympian reports on Nov. 5, 2015, that Bacha Bazi is when adolescent boys under the age of 18 who are groomed for sexual relationships with older men are bought — or, in some instances, kidnapped — from their families and forced them to dance and perform sexual acts for older, powerful men. In fact, A 2014 study by Hagar International found that on average, one in 10 Afghan boys they interviewed had experienced Bacha Bazi. Unfortunately, virtually no one knows this practice exists. Every day, college students tweet, blog and post about social injustice. Whether it be about the LGBTQ community, racism, or white supremacy, this generation is quick to jump on the social justice train. But why isn’t this something that we talk about? It’s necessary to understand the background of this crime. For decades, Bacha Bazi has existed as a harmful yet traditional practice in Afghanistan. In the 1980’s, the warlords who were in control of Afghanistan engaged in pedophilia because having a dancing boy was a sign of power and social status. Bacha Bazi was banned by the Taliban until 2001, when Mujahideen commanders rose. Since 2001, the practice of Bacha Bazi has grown more rampant. In fact, according to an article by “Refinery29” in Sept. 2015, 50 percent of Afghan men had their own dancing boys. The majority of these men are ones who have high social ranking, including politicians, warlords, and generals. Allah Daad, a notorious warlord, told local reporter Sayed Ibrahimi “Some men enjoy playing with dogs, some with women. I enjoy playing with boys.” 48 I M P A C T

In the PBS produced award winning documentary entitled “Dancing Boys of Afghanistan,” an undercover journalist travelled to Afghanistan to learn more about Bacha Bazi. A young dancing boy named Omid was interviewed. He stated, “I started dancing at wedding parties when I was 10, when my father died. I get paid maybe two dollars for the night. Most of the time, the men take me to the hotels and gang rape me. They are powerful and rich men. The police can’t do anything against them.” Young boys like Omid are stripped of their identity, privacy and individualism when they are forced to dress and act as a different gender. A young boy named Kamal who was rescued out of Bacha Bazi told FairObserver.com on July 17, 2015, that a part of him had to die so that he would not feel pain.

Exploiting young children by making them perform unwanted sexual acts is dehumanizing and will leave emotional scars of sexual abuse and violence on entire generations. An SDSU student named Fayaz Nawabi, whose parents are from Afghanistan, explained how difficult it is for college students to get involved in movements against Bacha Bazi. “We’re talking about another country here. It’s hard to instill your values in another country.” When asked about what college students can do against this crime, he almost laughed. “Kids are more interested in thirsty Thursday than anything else,” he said sadly. “People don’t like to read entire articles. A student will see this and say, ‘Oh wow, every Afghan does this.’ But that’s not true. It creates weird stereotypes and causes more problems.” “I think it will stop eventually, but not by the hands of the U.S. Government because Afghanistan people will not listen. It needs to be taken care of people by the inside.” A popular Afghan quotation states, “Women are for children, boys are for pleasure.” However, the childhood of young boys like Omid are being stolen when they are forced into a dark world where they have no freedom, no chance of an education, and no family. We can not remain silent for any longer.

EATING GREEN

Story by Maria Leyva | Photography by Tracy Grassel eing a broke college student is tough. Trying to be a healthy, broke college student is even tougher, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not impossible. Sure, buying Top Ramen is cheaper than organic kale, however, what these foods will do for our bodies is the key.

Being healthy is not buying everything organic, gluten free and fat free, but eating a balanced diet in moderation. At the same time, on a college budget, this sometimes seems unrealistic, but is attainable through some planning. A study of about 200 freshmen attending a public university concluded that 1 in 4 students gained an average of 10 pounds during their first semester. Students who ate fewer fruits and vegetables, more fatty foods and slept less gained the most weight.

Dietician and Nutrition Professor Halle Elbling tries to teach her students that â&#x20AC;&#x153;the big part (of nutrition) is understanding what nutrients are important and what they do for your body.â&#x20AC;? Elbling believes one of the reasons why students are more likely to eat unhealthy is because of their internal and external cues of hunger and eating. My Net Diary, a free food diary and calorie counting app, defines internal cues as signals that come from the body and are usually feelings of hunger. Once the individual is eating, these cues will also make them feel full. External cues come from the environment that include aromas, sights, places and work or school schedules. Hanging out with friends or just being on campus can be external cues for students to eat unhealthy even if they are not hungry.

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Being Healthy On Campus Elbling believes that there are healthy options available for students on campus, but they “have to be influenced.” Psychology major Juan Carlos Quezada believes it all depends on a student’s choices. The bookstore and snack shop have a variety of trail mixes and nuts, for as low as $1. Fresh fruit, small salads and already-made sandwiches can be found at the Snack Shack near the Q building and the Comet Cafe.

one of the only things he regularly buys while on campus to because he said the food is expensive for him. The second year history major, who was on his third cup of coffee by 8:45 a.m., always has two cups of coffee before leaving his house and will treat himself to another cup while on campus if he has time between classes. He will also have one before bed to help him relax. Elbling has noticed the trend of coffee and energy drinks among students.

At the Palomar cafeteria, salad bar Greens to Go serves fresh vegetables every day. Students and staff can create their own salad, and may add a whole wheat biscuit as a side. Grille Works makes hamburgers, sandwiches and fries. In the morning, they also make breakfast sandwiches, and offer healthier options like replacing the eggs with egg whites.

“They do have that salad bar, and I see people there all the time. There’s plenty of healthy stuff,” he said.

The Energy Fix Graef is trying to cut soda from his diet to avoid consuming empty calories, picking up a coffee habit in the process. Coffee is

At the same bookstore, water bottles sell for $1 to $3, depending on their size. At Starbucks, a cup of ice water, in any size, is free.

The Most Important Meal of The Day In addition to drinking enough water, eating breakfast regularly is also important in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A 2011 study on adults aged 19 to 64 conducted by the British National Diet and Nutrition Surveys concluded that adults who skipped breakfast had a higher fat intake within a 24-hour period than those that ate breakfast.

“You can find healthy snacks if you know that they’re there and know what to look for,” Elbling said.

Nineteen-year-old Aaron Graef has purchased most of the food that the cafeteria offers, the Grille Works being his favorite, and thinks that the food is healthy.

customized.

Students in a rush are more likely to skip breakfast, but there are many breakfast options that require very little time and preparation:

“A lot of (students) don’t understand that you can still gain weight by drinking calories,” Elbling said. In a study of about 500 college students, 51 percent reported drinking more than one energy drink a month. At the bookstore, an energy drink is about $2 to $3. Coffee at the Java Hut and Comet Cafe is about $1.80 to $5. Prices for Starbucks coffee range from just under $2 to over $5, but vary depending on how big the drink is and how much it is

• Protein shakes are convenient because it only requires some fruits and vegetables to be thrown together in the blender. These shakes can be prepacked and kept in the freezer or refrigerator, ready to be used in the morning for students in a hurry. • Oatmeal can be made with a variety of ingredients. It can be made as dry oats with a scoop of peanut butter, the oats and water, or can be made using any type of milk for extra nutrients, and topped with fruit. It can be microwaved and ready in about one minute. • Toast can be made using any type of bread. For healthier options, whole

No Bake Oatmeal Energy Bites

Triple Berry Kiwi Smoothie

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup frozen strawberries

1/2 cup almond butter (or substitute peanut butter)

¾ cup frozen raspberries

1/2 cup chocolate chips

½ cup frozen blueberries

1/3 cup raw honey

2 kiwifruit, peeled and sliced

1/4 cup ground flax seed

1 cup orange juice

In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together. Roll out teaspoon sized balls and place on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Freeze until set about one hour. Enjoy and keep leftovers in a Ziploc bag in fridge or freezer.

Place the frozen berries in the blender and let them thaw for about 10 minutes.Add the kiwifruit and the orange juice and blend on high until smooth.Top with more kiwi or berries if desired.

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wheat bread can be used and toasted for less than a minute. It can be eaten plain or with peanut butter, almond butter, sunflower butter, fruit jelly, avocado or fruit. • Protein Bars require no cooking and can be eaten on the way out the door or while walking to class. •

Fresh fruit can be washed in 30 seconds or less.

• Quesadillas can be made with whole wheat tortillas for a healthier option. They can be microwaved and ready in 20 seconds. • Hard-boiled eggs can be made the night before and refrigerated. They can be peeled in under a minute in the morning or the night before. • Nuts can be grabbed on the way out and snacked on throughout the entire day. For breakfast, Graef usually eats eggs and bacon along with his 2 cups of coffee. Quezada likes to have a bowl of cereal. According to Elbling, breakfast should always have a good balance of some lean protein, fats and healthy carbohydrates; a balance that will keep students full longer. When it comes to saving money, she advises students to plan and spend as little money on campus as possible. “I think people need to understand that if you plan a little bit, and have some food at home, you’re gonna save some money,” Elbling said. She believes that investing in their health now, students can prevent chronic diseases later on.

Eat Better, Save More Quezada is on campus four days a week and usually brings his own lunch. Chicano Studies major, Diego Martinez will stop by Subway if he needs to buy food while on campus because it is healthier. Graef tries to avoid buying food on campus, because, when he does, he will usually end up spending $6 to $8. Bringing food from home can save students a lot of money. Buying food in bulk from the grocery store can also be a good investment.

or special sale days that can help save more money. Sprouts Farmers Market has a weekly ad and monthly deals. Shoppers can also take advantage of their Double Ad Wednesdays. Every Wednesday, the current and new ad overlap, allowing shoppers to get sale prices from both ads, giving them twice the savings. Their website also has printable coupons, and if signed up for their mailing list, shoppers can receive exclusive promotions and coupons. Vallarta Supermarkets also have one day sales in addition to their weekly sales. Every Wednesday, they have a one-day super sale on a variety of items, including fruits, vegetables and meats. Trader Joe’s is another option. While some find it expensive, others said it is cheaper than Sprouts and note the store’s open return policy. If a customer buys a product that has expired, is damaged, or that they didn’t like, it can be returned for a full refund. Also, a shopper can sample any non-alcoholic product they want, so they are assured to like the product before they purchase it. Simply ask an employee and they will provide a customer with a sample of any product they wish.

It’s More Than Just Food Although Elbling sees many unhealthy eating habits around campus, she also notices the good ones. ”I see a lot of students that are walking around with water bottles and with workout clothes on,” she said. Graef likes to hike a couple times a week to maintain his health, along with eating two meals a day and trying to get the right nutrients. For Quezada, eating healthy and exercising regularly is the key to being healthy. “If anything, at least twice or three times a week, go and do something for 30 minutes. Be active,” he said. For Martinez, “Not consuming a lot of junk food and going to the gym at least twice a week” is a healthy habit to pick up. For Elbling, it all comes down to balance.

“I eat off campus more because it’s convenient, it’s just too pricey and things off-campus are just no longer convenient because I live just a couple blocks from Palomar,” Graef said.

“I think every food that’s eaten on campus by students can eventually be balanced if they’re taking care of themselves and they’re exercising,” she said.

Some foods that Elbling recommends to buy are: canned beans, canned fruit in 100 percent fruit juice, dry and uncooked beans and lentils, oatmeal, large packs of tortillas, and brown rice. Most can be purchased for as low as $1 a pound and can be stored for a long time.

As for the college student budget, there are options available for students to have a healthy diet, and the extra spending they do is an investment for the future.

Many grocery stores and supermarkets also have discounts

“What you do now will hurt you later,” Elbling said. “If you have to even pay a little bit more for price, a little bit more now, for healthy foods, you’re going to pay less later.”

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re llin Vo

augherty

Colin D Story by

You need a ride. Maybe you are at the airport, going out for the night, or are already out and had too much to drink. So you pull out your phone to get a ride.

Now the question is: who is giving you a lift? Do you call a traditional taxi or use an app on your phone like Uber and Lyft? New ridesharing apps like Uber or Lyft seem to be the new way of getting around. A lot of people are leaving taxi companies and moving on to Uber and Lyft because, among other things, taxi companies charge a lot more money for fare than either mobile app services.? Many people have different opinions of Uber and Lyft compared to taxi companies, and when students and faculty around the Palomar College campus were asked different questions about the two transportation options, 52 I M P A C T

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a lot of the students and faculty had different opinions on each question that was asked, which brings up the question: do people prefer Uber and Lyft over taxis?

A new ride home Uber is a ridesharing company headquartered in San Francisco that was founded in 2009. Consumers can track the Uber driver’s car that is coming to pick him or her up on the mobile app. Uber does not provide company cars and requires their employees to use their personal cars to pick up customers. Lyft is very similar to Uber. Lyft was founded in 2012 and includes an app to track the Lyft driver’s car just like Uber does. From the first quarter of 2014 in San Francisco, Uber lured 58 percent more business users than taxi companies did. Then in the first quarter of 2015, Uber rose from 58 percent to 71 percent more business users than taxis.

“I could see [Uber and Lyft] running them out of business,” Palomar student Trenton Wernli said regarding taxis. Uber and Lyft are “cheaper and more convenient, which makes a big deal.” Palomar student Shamar Turner believes ridesharing apps will drive taxi companies out of business. “We all use our phones all the time and the Uber app is a simple app to download you know and it’s an easy app to use,” Turner commented. “I think it’s more accessible. It’s a lot easier to do than call for a taxi,” Turner said of the ridesharing apps.

Cleanliness a factor in the switch The majority of students and faculty believe Uber and Lyft will run taxi companies out of business. This leads many to question if Uber and Lyft will become the modern version of taxi companies. In a 2014 article by the South Florida Sun – Sentinel, taxi cab customers reveal what

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they thought about riding in a taxi cab. In the article, previous taxi cab users said they were disgusted by filthiness of the cab, and said the back seat safety belt was covered in an “oily substance” which left a stain on their shirts. As well as “smelly hamburger wrappers” during summer without an air conditioner. Customers also complained that the cab drivers arrive either too early or too late. Palomar student Fernanda Cruz explained that she has had similar experiences in a taxis. Cruz stated that she has taken a taxi that was filled with garbage from the previous passenger. Since that bad experience, Cruz now prefers ridesharing apps over taxis.

Money talks for taxis The majority of people interviewed stated they believe taxi fare is too high and the apps’ rates are more reasonable. Student Alexander Brooks stated he prefers ridesharing app rates over taxi fare since their rates are more reasonable than taxis. “Reading all the signs on the sides of taxis saying like, ‘ten bucks for

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a tenth of a mile’. It’s pretty ridiculous,” Brooks said. An advantage ridesharing apps have over taxis is that you can have an idea on how much your ride will cost you before the driver arrives by typing in the end location to the mobile app which will then give you an estimation on how high the fare will cost you before you arrange your ride. Palomar Professor Daniel Finkenthal said he prefers taxi cabs and has been taking taxis his whole life. Finkenthal said over the course of his life, he has used taxi cabs around 200 times and has never used Uber or Lyft once.

Taxis fighting back Rebecca Harshbarger of AM New York wrote that taxi cab drivers and supporters rallied against Governor Andrew Cuomo’s support of Uber and the taxi cab drivers opposed Uber’s business model. Harshbarger’s article states how the taxi cab companies in New York City are worried that taxis will vanish from the city, which is looking like Uber is becoming the modern taxi cab. When Palomar student Patricia Martinez was asked if she feels safer riding in a taxi cab or an Uber and Lyft driver’s car, she said, “I guess you can get crazy taxi

drivers and not so good Uber drivers. So I guess it just varies.” However, ridesharing apps show you their driver’s rating from previous passengers so you know if the driver is safe, reliable, and can get you to your location on time. Taxis do not offer the same feature. Taxis have not converted to a more technology friendly method. They utilize more traditional method of just calling and personally requesting a taxi. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti passed a law to let Uber or Lyft pick up passengers at Los Angeles International Airport. Council members made the two companies drivers pass a driver’s screening test and that they treated their passengers with respect before the law was passed, further catapulting the ridesharing apps popularity.

Less wait for alternatives Brooks believes that ridesharing apps have one key advantage over taxis. “Better wait times. It tells you where they are,” said of the apps’ tracking features. Brooks stated he would prefer a ride with a ridesharing app over a taxi. The majority of people interviewed believe that ridesharing apps are a better alternative to taxi companies, due to better wait times, easier to track drivers, and more reasonable fares. Ridesharing apps look like the preferred means of transportation and they might eventually evolve into the modern taxi. S P R I N G

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IMPACT STAFF Editors

Michelle Wilkinson:

Brooke LaFleur:

Shaina Blakesley:

Stephen David:

Editor-in-Chief

Assistant Editor

Photo Editor

Writers

Alexandra Rothman

Ali Williams

Anissa Ocansey

Belen Ladd

Chanele Retuya

Cody Jendro

Colin Daugherty

Daze Castillo

Diana Guevarra

Fern Menezes

Kassidy Clark

Maria Leyva

Natilie Smith

Rodney Figueroa

Tamara Eakins

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Photographers

Coleen Burnham

Hanadi Cackler

Johnny Jones

Tracy Grassel

Niko Holt

Kyle Ester: Not Pictured

Copy editors

Mike Peterson

Joel Vaughn

Mike Adams

Noah Callahan

Designers

Ciana Wilson

Kylie Dukes

Kitty Pinney

Illustrators

Rendall Mercado

Adviser Erin Hiro Advertising Manager

Collin Vore

Deb Hellman S P R I N G

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