Mobilizing Equality by Union Weekly

Mobilizing Equality

Discussions shed light on feminism today September 29 Volume 75.6 lbunion.com

Intro

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude about it.”

Maya Angelou, author and poet Issue 75.6 Molly Shannon, Editor-in-Chief editorinchief@lbunion.com Alfred Pallarca, Managing Editor alfredp.union@gmail.com Connor O’Brien, Art Director connor.union@gmail.com Trevor Desrosiers, Advertisting Executive advertising@lbunion.com Eduardo Vargas, Distribution Manager distribution@lbunion.com

ART & DESIGN

By Molly Shannon

Illustration by Rose Feduk

Rose Feduk, Illustration Editor rosef.union@gmail.com

If you’re unfamiliar with the history of the Union

my other female relationships and vice versa.”

Abdallah Seoud, Assistant Art Director abdallah.seoud@gmail.com Michael Tewasart, Assistant Art Director tewasartm@live.com Truc Nguyen, Web Manager web@lbunion.com

Union? EDITORIAL Heather Sandburg, Opinions Editor opinions@lbunion.com Veronica Craft, Community Editor community@lbunion.com Jacky Linares, Athletics Editor Elizabeth Nguyen, Athletics Editor athletics@lbunion.com

Union Union

Renee Schmiedeberg, Arts Editor arts@lbunion.com Katie Cortez, Entertainment Editor entertainment@lbunion.com

“As I was reading ‘The Friendly Zone’ in last week’s Union, I expected some sort of transformation from the author with tips on how to get out of the friend zone, but no! All I got was a defeatist manifesto: ‘It’s better to have loved and been put into the friend zone then never to have loved at all.’ That is bullshit! Every guy who is or has been in the friend zone knows it one of the worst feelings in the world. It is the male equivalent of a girl being used for sex; being dragged over the emotional coals, just on the hope that if/when she breaks up with her boyfriend, that you will be there because she doesn’t respect you. Why would she? You let yourself be her emotional punching bag! By choosing to stay in the friend zone you are telling her that you don’t respect yourself enough to remove yourself from a relationship that not painful for you, just as those girls who hope that their physical relationship with their dream guy is going to be more one day. You may think she is your friend, but what you have is not healthy, as with any healthy relationship, there needs to be a balance of give and take for both parties to be

Sam Winchester, Music Editor music@lbunion.com Camille Hove, Lifestyle Editor lifestyle@lbunion.com Chrissy Bastian, Literature Editor literature@lbunion.com

even after expressing this to the other person, then it is your responsibility to remove yourself from that relationship. Also, you sensitive guys need to stop demonizing their ‘asshole’ boyfriends because even if they volunteered every week at the homeless shelter, they would still be assholes because they have her and not you. The reason girls end up with

Beatriz Villa, Food Editor food@lbunion.com Alex Berman, Travel Editor travel@lbunion.com Gumby, Grunion Editor grunion@lbunion.com Michael Wood, Senior Editor mwood.union@gmail.com

are girls and we have great friendships that are

at the Union the most (if not the most) attractive things in a guy. The only way to get out of the friend zone (and stay out) is to forget her and date other girls. You will either show her that you are a catch with many options and maybe get a chance next time she’s

COPY EDITORS Jonathan Gutierrez, Heather Sandburg STAFFERS & CONTRIBUTORS Dana Kerns, Helen Nguyen, Elissa Thomas, Janna Jesson, Codi Georges, Janea Wilson, Catherine Ruiz, Joel Martinez, Daniel Sunkari, Amanda Dominguez-Chio, Baily Mount, Emily Lyons, Lauren Hunt

for the Union

who knows that they deserve better than a guy who treats them like shit. Either way, you will be much happier than dying in the friend zone. Side-note: I am not saying that men and women can’t be friends, in fact I think that both men and women should have friends of the opposite sex. I have couple very close friends that

Disclaimer and Publication Information: The Union Weekly is published using ad money and partial funding provided by the Associated Students, Inc. All Editorials are the opinions of their individual authors, not the Union Weekly, ASI or CSULB. All students are welcome and encouraged to be a part of the Union Weekly staff. All letters to the editor will be considered for publication. However, CSULB students will have precedence. Please include name and major for all submissions. They are subject to editing and will not be returned. Letters may or may not be edited for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and length. The Union Weekly will publish anonymous letters, articles, editorials, and illustration, but must have your name and information attached for our records. Letters to the editor should be no longer than 500 words. The Union Weekly assumes no responsibility, nor is it liable, for claims of its advertisers. Grievance procedures are available

Opinions

Illustration by Abdallah Seoud

Ask the Menfolk: Feminism A radical approach is no way to solve anything

no gender

By Joel Martinez

By Jonathan Gutierriez

Feminism as a concept seems relatively simple: empowering women. But to what extent? Because I don’t label myself a feminist, I am not able to completely scope what feminism means, but I can try. Webster’s

man-hating movement, as they seek female superiority where men instead receive 77

that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.” In other words, feminism, in its ideal, is a movement to raise women to a niche of society where they are equal to men. I, as well as many of my male friends, completely agree with this idea and even support it. Why, then, does the word feminist have such a negative connotation? Well, in the case of my friends and I, it’s because the only feminists we have met or seen are very forward with their message

being women. Unfortunately, these activists are the ones who claim to spearhead the feminist movement and take up the most media attention. I fail to see how hating men and wearing period blood helps women make more money in their jobs or increases female involvement in careers with overwhelming male presence, like computer science or business management. It does not address situations where men are unfairly dominant. Why not instead make workshops oriented for girls to receive a more intensive education

On one hand, there is an unfair societal disparity between men and women resulting in male dominance. I am constantly reminded gender role expectations surrounding men and women, from household responsibilities to career options. For example, the idea of a stay-at-home mom is much more common than a stay-at-home dad (in fact, some people case of Mr. Mom). Earlier this year, President Obama even commented on the unfairness up about half our workforce, but they still make 77 cents for every dollar a man earns.” women to have a movement dedicated to the pursuit of equality, dollar for dollar. On the other hand, it does not seem to me that feminism represents a civil rights movement for women; rather, they seem like the Black Panthers. Organizations like on the idea of driving feminism forward as a

some demonstrations are excessive, such as where a group of feminist women wore white pants and intentionally stained them with

disagree with this radical feminism because I do not know, however, if these radicals are simply an outspoken group that comprises a mere minority of all feminists, or if they are truly the bulk of feminist activists. In the face of this confusion, a distinction should be made between feminism as a concept and

When a talented actress and graduate of one gets threatened because she speaks her mind, I am reminded of the importance of being a feminist. When a friend tells me she was sexually assaulted because a guy thought she

man sits behind a podium and pretends that he knows what’s best for a woman’s body, I am reminded that feminism is absolutely necessary—especially in today’s world. I think the problems that people have with feminism stem from two main ideas: people either don’t care enough, or they are People don’t care because they don’t think People are afraid to research feminism because they think they won’t ever be able to understand it. In its simplest form, feminism is the advocacy for equality amongst the sexes, and often times, it’s extended to is sought for on many fronts: economical, political, and racial, just to name a few.

I would argue that feminists don’t hate anybody; instead, (as cheesy as this may sound) I think feminists love people. In fact, advocating for everyone’s freedom of expression is a core belief in feminism. Feminists advocate for everyone to be treated isn’t about excluding anyone; rather, it’s about inclusion and unity. Feminism is a social movement. It’s encouraged that people unite together to help change social thought; one group wouldn’t be able to do that on their own. In order to unite with the cause, I’d like to take the time to admit that by not being a female, I have a privilege that I’ve abused. I’ve never had to wonder whether my sex or gender had any baring in how people viewed me. It’s not a mystery that women are still looked down upon in comparison to men. I can’t help but wonder how many opportunities I’ve received just because I am a man, not a woman. I think feminism’s role in my life has is teaching me how to use my privilege to

are man-haters” theory. If someone believes this to be true, I feel they don’t grasp the drive for female equality while the practice seems a drive for female superiority and male inferiority. I honestly believe that there is more to feminism than simply the radicals everyone constantly hears about, and doing some extra research will show that there are organizations better oriented towards empowering women, such as UN Women or Calvert Women’s Principles. However, the stop paying attention to the radicals before

example, a man who somehow encompasses characteristics or mannerisms that society treated harshly and is even seen as inferior. I feel this is the case because society somehow equates inferiority with being feminine. Extending this even further, these societal constructs leads some people to believe that being feminine is somehow degrading.

see what you have, it is easier to see what is being denied to others. When I think about all the problems women face (or even anyone that is viewed as inferior), I can’t help but wonder why anyone would allow any harsh mistreatment to a fellow human being.

Opinions

Putting Down the Wand

By Catherine Ruiz

Emma Watson UN Speech draws both criticism and support Emma Watson delivered such a compelling speech at the United Nations about gender inequality and the “He For She” campaign. She spoke passionately about the need for both sexes to get involved in feminism and dismantle patriarchy, but has received a lot of backlash for this speech, even though I think she did an amazing job addressing issues that we pretend are no longer problems. Watson’s speech is not original, since other women have been saying the same things for generations. While this is true, that does not trivialize her passion or willingness to put herself out there and talk about something she believes in. Watson is not taking credit for this new form of

thinking. She is simply addressing an issue that needs to be addressed. Watson is a well-known public figure who can make people listen to her. She can reach countless boys and girls who watched her as ‘Hermione’ in the Harry Potter movies and have them absorb her message, and address the countless people that feminists before her could not reach, but that does not make her any more or less credible than those other women. It baffles me that she is being criticized for standing up for what she believes in. The point is not whether these words were spoken before or not; the point is how many people were actually listening. Watson makes a great

point about the inequality we see and how it is time we all perceive gender on a spectrum, not as two opposites. Gender inequality is still alive, so why is it so hard for people to understand that Emma is not taking the words of others and pretending this is a new issue? Watson are still being paid less than men. Women are still expected to have children even if they do not want to. Men are still scrutinized for crying in the public sphere. Men are still expected to be aggressive and controlling in order to be manly. Watson clearly looked back at Hillary Clinton’s 1997 speech in Beijing and addressed what she saw was wrong with the

I’m Not Your Damsel In Distress

audience present. She is trying to include men into the equation since they do not feel feminism is for them and make changes just like any other feminist. As a feminist, I am truly disappointed that so many people are giving her grief over this speech. Threats to leak nude pictures because she spoke her mind? How does that even make sense? That’s a problem. A person cannot stand for what they believe in without making people angry and try to silence them, by threatening to kill them or invading their privacy. This is why we need feminism. I completely agree and applaud Emma Watson for standing up for what she believes in.

Words and Illustration by Rose Feduk

The gaming community needs to change its ways somewhere in between button mashing as ‘Cinder’ in Killer Instinct, and failing to get Scooby Doo Mystery. Through the acquisition of multiple Gameboys, standing in awe of friends’ rich video game collections with full shelves pages of Nintendo Power, my experience growing up was much like any other young boy’s or girl’s in the ’90s. Yet as I grew older, I realized that there were parts of gaming that seemed to exclude me. I realized that I exclusively chose male playable characters, particularly because there was something uncomfortable to me, even as a small child, about the large-chested, provocatively-posed women I had to choose from. Black Orchid and Laura Croft even seemed grunt with pleasure when they were kicked in the face. But the most actively excluding force in my gaming childhood were the boys that would make sure I wasn’t allowed a turn on their brand new Nintendo 64s, and who suggested that perhaps it would be best if I just watched. Of course, using kid logic it makes sense. Men and boys are the stars of video games, so obviously video games are for boys. As a girl I could only be Mario, saving Peach from the clutches of Bowser, and could never be dripping caverns of the Mushroom Kingdom. Much of gaming has changed since I

was a kid. Video games are increasingly seen as a viable medium for a unique form of interactive storytelling. As the medium continues to progress and girls like me have now grown into women, the consideration of the female experience has become more and more important. Even though, now, players who identify as female make up about 47 percent of the gaming population, for themselves in the video game industry, a place where many men become hostile if their supremacy is threatened. Boys similar to those that denied me of my Nintendo 64 experience are now probably those jerks at gaming conventions that leer over women and give them unsolicited advice while playing the new Super Smash Bros; the same ones that grew into Ubisoft developers who stated that creating playable female characters for the new Assassin’s Creed would be far too complicated; the same ones who badger you with questions just to see if you really do know enough about Skyrim to be deemed worthy enough to be a “gamer” and the same ones that threatened Anita Sarkeesian into hiding for fear of her own life, simply for calling the treatment of women in video games into question in her Youtube series. Despite the ever present and discouraging male attitudes that exist and may always exist, the future of gaming seems positive for women. More and more women are getting

into game development for themselves, making it possible to have female characters and storylines written by actual women. As women have an increasing hand in their own representation, female gamers of a new

generation may get the opportunity to be the peace of mind to enjoy some Goddamn video games.

Community

A Step Towards Sustainability Creating evironmental awareness through Transportation Event

Union Weekly: What is the event? When and where will the event be held? What does the event entail?

and many more.

Elissa Thomas: This is an event to promote sustainable transportation. The campus community is invited to join us for lunch with keynote speaker Chris Balish at the University Student Union Ballroom on Monday, October 6. The event will open at 11:45am, and a free lunch will be provided. Chris will speak from 12:15 – 12:45pm. We will also have information tables with representatives from Long Beach Transit, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Orange County Transportation Authority, Zipcar, Enterprise Vanpool, and League of American Bicyclists.

ET: The entire campus community is encouraged to attend: students, faculty, and staff.

UW: What organizations will be hosting the event?

impacts the student experience as well as the experience of surrounding communities. Rideshare Week is an annual nation-wide

ET: Parking and Transportation Services, ASI, and the Support Services Division are co-hosting this event.

Interview by Veronica Craft Graphics by Abdallah Seoud

UW: Who is the speaker for the event? ET: Chris Balish is the bestselling author of the book How to Live Well Without Owning a Car: Save Money, Breathe Easier, and Get More Mileage Out of Life. He is an expert in alternative transportation, car-free commuting, active lifestyles, and car use reduction. Chris has been featured on more than 800 radio and TV stations, and in more than 140 magazines and newspapers, including CNN, Newsweek, ABC News, MSNBC, National Public Radio, Forbes, The New York Times, Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, Variety,

UW: Who is welcome to come to the event?

UW: What made Parking and Transportation Services, ASI, and Support Services Division want to host this event and bring attention to sustainable transportation? ET: We are all committed to sustainability and want to work together to spread awareness about environmental health and sustainable living. Transportation to, from,

As a University, we have a special role in society as educators, future graduates, and leaders. We can look at almost any aspect of our lives through the lens of sustainability: from food to cars, and from our education to social justice. When we make choices, we must ask ourselves: in the long term, is this sustainable, and can this be continued no, then we must look at better alternatives. By making sustainable transportation choices, we ensure a better future for our environment and ourselves.

Student organization hopes to create a safer campus By Dana Kerns is to break down stigma regarding sex and self-care, as well as advocating for the reproductive wellness of all people. Thus far, we have been raising awareness about various causes through school wide events, such as Week of Welcome and Smorgasport--you might have seen us with our dildo ring toss and vulva game! This past week, we tabled for Governor Jerry Brown to sign into law Senate Bills 1053 and 967. What most of this semester will consist of for the organization is awareness and responsibility for sexual assaults on campus. Considering this issue in particular has gotten extremely

UW: non-sustainable transportation? ET: Non-sustainable transportation (one person per car) pollutes our air, congests our streets, and costs a lot of money. When you drive a car, the engine burns fuel, which creates carbon dioxide. According to the EPA, in 2012, CO2 accounted for about 82 percent of all US greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, contributing to climate change by adding heat-trapping way to reduce CO2 emissions is to reduce fossil fuel consumption. According to the National Resources Defense Council, if every car carried one more passenger during its daily commute, 32 million gallons of gasoline would be saved each day.

UW: Why is sustainable transportation so important? What are some of the better or more sustainable transportation options?

Get the URGE To Be Involved In the midst of several active and rising feminist forces on CSULB’s campus, Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity (URGE for short) has begun to make its mark at several school events. Formerly Choice USA, URGE rebranded this summer following the Western Regional Conference in Long Beach’s own Hotel Current. Since the emergence of the new title, URGE board members Nathalia Diaz, Karina Sarabia, Dana Kerns, and Nathan Sollenberger have focused to create an inclusive space for all those involved in the reproductive justice movement. Our main goal as an organization

ET: Transportation forms 60 percent of the University’s carbon footprint. Sustainable transportation includes walking, biking, carpooling, vanpooling, and taking public transit. These sustainable ways of commuting reduce emissions of climatechanging greenhouse gases. For example, our current vanpools each reduce an average of 128,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually, helping the university reach its sustainability goal. Transportation choices impact personal health as well as environmental health. The 2012 Alliance for Biking and Walking Benchmark Report found that states with the highest levels of bicycling and walking have the lowest levels of obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

prevalent at a plethora of universities this past year alone, URGE is planning a “Party Culture 101 Forum” to be held in the fall. This event will invite all those on campus to attend in order to be educated on rape and molestation within our age group, and how barriers surrounding this subject can turn from victim blaming to criminal accountability. We hope that by working together, students on this campus can create a safe and supportive environment to talk about sex, reproduction, and the social injustices behind them. Meetings are held at 5pm on Wednesdays in LA1-305.

More Feminist Clubs On Campus F.O.R.C.E: Feminist Organization Reclaiming Consciousness and Equality They have their meetings every other Monday, and their next meeting will be Oct. 6th in the USU room 303(Redondo Beach room) at 6pm. See you there! WGSSSA: Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Students Association The association is a social and conscious raising group, fostering solidarity within the CSULB’s WGSS department and feminist community. They have biweekly meetings, and their next meeting will be September 29 at 6pm in the Library’s basement.

Athletics

“I like to be strong, and sports do that for me...”

Kicking Grass, Taking Names

Fresh Meat

Personal experiences of a female athlete By Jacky Linares

Photo by Oscar Bautista Michalla Geer has played sports the majority of her life, starting from the age of seven and ranging from basketball to softball. “I’m really competitive. I like to be strong, and sports do that for me,” she expressed. In her childhood, she recalls being told she was overweight, and although it was her parents’ solution to her “problem,” she credits sports for giving her healthy self-esteem. The sport she feels is the most personal to her is volleyball, which she began to play in the eighth grade and continued throughout high school. “It was a sport I chose to play,” Geer said when recalling her initial sense of freedom. She started playing in her junior year of high school and quickly got the attention of her coach with her talent. She was often told she had potential to take the sport beyond high school. When her parents enforced the idea that she ought to take her volleyball career Michalla Geer tosses a frisbee during her afternoon practice

Life with No Regrets How Ultimate Frisbee empowers women By Jacky Linares

Photo by Oscar Bautista

Brianna “Goldie” Harris thanks Ultimate

they have a history of misogyny in their leadership which the Women’s team is trying to overcome. Now in her third year as part of No Regrets (the name of the Women’s Ultimate Frisbee team), she remembers how they were often excluded by the Men’s Team in planning events to promote the sport they were also a part of. “A lot of work, those men,” she said shaking her head, but states that the women’s team is not keeping quiet about being left out anymore. The team wants to cooperate in order to make the Ultimate Frisbee community on campus stronger.

Moving around a lot when younger, Harris said she had never really developed the social would’ve stayed in her personal bubble, had it not been for Ultimate Frisbee. “I’d be more quiet and reserved and alone,” she says. She has played sports all her life, and gives them the years. Harris recalls getting comments when she played for her high school’s basketball team because she was part African American. “It’s not a negative stereotype, but it’s annoying,” Harris says. Now, in college, she tackles another annoyance—the Men’s Ultimate Frisbee team. Harris states that

further, Geer began to feel resentment towards it, because she couldn’t stand the pressure that was placed on her. “It was a blessing almost,” Geer said after explaining how she avoided the sports scholarship road when she received a back injury. She had still gotten offers from out of state colleges, but rejected them, and decided to come to CSULB. She has begun her second year at CSULB by engaging in a new sport: Ultimate Frisbee. Geer stated that although ultimate frisbee caters to her competitive needs, she still enjoys the laid-back atmosphere. “We [perform] a cheer for the other team after the game,” she said when describing the type of sportsmanship she never felt with her high school volleyball team. Geer hopes to continue Ultimate Frisbee throughout her college career, as she appreciates the personal satisfaction it gives her.

FRESHMAN: Sammie McWilliams TEAM: Ultimate Frisbee MAJOR: Theater Sammie McWilliams has only been playing on the CSULB Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Team for four weeks, but she also has had experience in her high school, so its rules are nothing new to her. She encountered the team while exploring Welcome, and says she started loving the sport because of the teamwork that goes along with it. She explains that in Ultimate Frisbee, there are three handlers (the frisbee throwers) and four cutters (those who weave in between the players). There’s a 10-count, where the handler has 10 seconds to decide who they’re going to throw the frisbee to next, and if the frisbee is dropped, there’s a turnover, and vice versa. McWilliams mentions that a favorite moment at practice was when she blocked a throw, something that she’s very proud of. She sights Brianna “Goldie” Harris as a role model for throwing, and aims to improve her technique this season out

By Jacky Linares Photo by Oscar Bautista Brianna “Goldie” Harris performs a tossing drill with her teammates.

Arts

A Full-force Female By Amanda Dominguez-Chio

Eiko Ishioka

Eiko Ishioka, one of cinema’s most innovative, versatile and inspiring designers, accomplished so much before her untimely death. Ishioka studied at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, where she planned to become a graphic artist. Although her father encouraged her to create art during her childhood, he discouraged her from following him into the business. In Japan, graphic design was known as a “man’s game.” Determined and persistent, Ishioka graduated in 1961 and began working for the advertising division at Shiseido, a cosmetic manufacturer. Rather than following the Japanese societal-constructed gender roles that pressured women to be quiet and submissive, Ishioka broke radical ground by featuring women that had a “big body, big expression, big everything,” referring to women big in temperament rather than literal measurement. Over the years she continued to revolutionize culture, choosing to feature women from remote areas of the world such as Morocco and India. Late in her career, she garnered acclaim for her costume design recognition for her stage and costume designs in , a 1988 Broadway play. Ishioka went on to win an Academy

The Fall

Immortals; Mirror Mirror

Award for her costume design in Francis Ford Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992). She collaborated frequently with director Tarsem Singh, providing costumes for four The Cell (2000), The Fall (2006), Immortals (2011) and Mirror Mirror (2012). If that isn’t enough, she’s also contributed to the 2008 Beijing Olympics with her mesmerizing costume designs. was when watching Bram Stoker’s Dracula. An immaculately detailed wedding dress learn about its designer. The next occasion occurred while watching The Fall, in which

Waddell. In one scene, she wears a long kimono. On her head and over her face, she wears a headpiece resembling petals that also mimick sliding doors. Many museums around the world house her work in their permament collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Having died of pancreatic cancer on January 21, 2012, Ishioka’s contribution to the art world made a tremendous impact, creating beautiful and surrealist designs.

The Fall

Mirror Mirror

FEATURE

Mobilizing Equality Discussions shed light on feminism today Words by Molly Shannon Images by Connor O’Brien

A good chunk of the US population has become quite stimulated lately, due to a handful of recent events. Emma Watson delivered an impressive speech to the UN, and a Columbia student Emma Sulkowicz has been using her dorm mattress to send a powerful message against sexual assault. Sam Pepper uploaded a controversial “social experiment” video, and only a month ago legendary singer Beyoncé sent social media platforms into a frenzy with her self-proclaimed feminist performance at the MTV Video Music Awards. However, Queen Bey isn’t the only one to bring this term to the table—in fact, all of these events have a little something to do with “feminism,” whether it’s obvious or not. Watson’s speech confronted key misconceptions about feminist ideology, Sulkowicz’s mission has sparked other college students to help carry the weight

all of these happenings, there are still a lot of people left misinformed about feminism, or confused with how it ultimately ties in with these particular events. We are in the midst of beginning a new chapter for women and gender equality, which is why it’s so important, now more than ever, to educate those who are not familiar with the term. Several people know little to nothing about feminist beliefs, and the word “feminist” has undeniably been associated with negative connotations (see: stereotypical, bra-burning man-

modern feminist movement stands for the achievement of equity and empowerment. We spoke with several prominent women at CSULB including Esperanza Aceves, Dr. Jean Caveness, Pamela Lewis, Pam Rayburn, Julissa Salas, and Dr. Shira Tarrant, asking them to weigh in their own thoughts about what feminism truly means today. The general Sam Pepper’s videos brought the consensus is that feminists are not a YouTube and Twitter communities bunch of stereotypical, bra-burning together in the name of speaking man-haters. out for women’s rights. But among

FEATURE

What’s in a Name? people are exploring the issues and committing When one hears the term “feminism” or ... We still have an incredibly high [sexual most likely come to mind—some good, some

experience rape or attempted rape before up the recent kidnapping of the 276 Nigerian

rights on the grounds of political, social, and get stuck on the term. thought of as “extreme” or “radical” for their

speaking out, several female journalists have experienced aggressive or verbally assaulting

Do we still need feminism? A particular Facebook campaign entitled of anger and entitlement,” Tarrant said, “The

education, sexuality, reproductive health, and and you anticipate it...The message is that opinions against feminism by posting photos of themselves holding signs stating phrases such as “I respect my boyfriend,” “I love makeup,” feminism to push back...” most popular arguments on the page are that The modern feminist essentially has beliefs similar to one of the earlier movements

to be educated on the other side of the matter

that feminism is an equal rights movement, but individually, I think of it as an advocacy groups that are at a disadvantage socially.” fairness and equality, but not many people movement. Whatever cause you are passionate look at the feminist movement in a similar about, you advocate for those individuals. has noticed that her female students are less For feminism, there are the basic standards, comfortable and more tentative about speaking like equality and protection. And there are Some of the issues feminism addresses have my female students speak up in class, even in assault, and media representation. Esperanza Aceves is a student here at Cal State, majoring in

Equity, equality, and empowerment A misconception concerning feminist ideals that has surfaced quite often is feminists aim

prepared and may or may not have read the Half the Sky campus ambassador. She believes, to be a parent or care for an elderly family campus present themselves; “My male students member, regardless of gender identity.” She Jean Cavenes, Assistant Dean of Students, put on a snapback and roll into class, and my expressed that these matters are not privileges, female students have clearly spent a great deal

[female] CEOs or COOs. We have to pull up about it.” Dr. Shira Tarrant, a professor in Studies) department, noted, “Some people are issue. Tarrant expressed that, “Feminism is

FEATURE

a profession and go about it with dignity without being degraded, or be in a position of being victimized. [We should be] educating people to stand up, as far as feminism goes.” In addition to achieving equality for women, whether it be socially, politically, nationally, or globally, a core feminist ideal has to do with empowerment. “Be a role model, be who you are, value yourself, assert and advocate yourself,” Pam urged. “We’ve taken the backseat, regarding men and women and their families and careers

what feminism is ... if we could just get away from the word ... There are men that want paternity leave, and want to be home just like their wives, happy to embrace that change and acceptability.” Both Lewis and Aceves agreed that men want change, based on personal experience. “Years ago you didn’t see [men wanting to be home with their families], but it’s changing,” Lewis said. For Aceves, she and her husband made the decision together, when it came to that they decided she should focus on school and work, and that he would stay home to take care of their children. “My hubby has stood up for himself being a stay-at-home dad, and I’m proud of him. He’s stood up for me pursuing my education.” She used Mets second baseman, Daniel Murphy, as an example of the importance of family values. Earlier this year, Murphy chose to take paternity leave after his wife gave birth to their child, and in return received criticism for his choice. “He chose to be with his family and wife rather than the opening. Sportscasters brought him down and degraded him for making that choice. That is a feminist issue and a family issue ... We need to put emphasis on how we value strong families and bring back our values by supporting decisions which support families.”

ground for everyone.” Helping students feel empowered and encouraged is also one of the ways the Women’s Resource Center helps students. Pam continued, “We want to show we’re here for support for everyone, and lift them up for success.” And though the feminist movement is generally oriented to women, Tarrant expressed that it is ultimately a cause for the equality and empowerment for all. “It’s not about just men and women, but all genders. It’s about looking at the intersection of gender, race, class, age, ability, documented status, the interaction of privilege and subjugation... women of color, people of color, trans women; queer, genderqueer and/or sexually queer individuals … It’s part of the fabric of feminism that we’re looking at, and concerned with the well-being of all people while keeping a gender What’s next? lens in the center.” When discussing feminism, it’s important to go about it in a respectful way. Cavenes Men in the feminist movement Now, it’s time to address the big elephant in as we explain why an issue is important … If the room: can men be a part of the feminist you don’t try to hit somebody over the head, movement? The answer is YES. Tarrant had and you’re willing to engage, usually people much to say, having written two books on the are willing to listen ... We need to create safe subject, Men & Feminism and Men Speak Out: spaces to have these kind of discussions, Views on Gender, Sex and Power. “Are men part of because there are those who want to but don’t the movement? Can they be? Of course, we need even have the language to start them. So, we all hands on deck! It is not acceptable to think as a whole community have to ask ourselves, that when certain groups are subjugated, those what are the ways we can start them? Maybe it’s same groups have to do all the work to clean up little discussions, or after a club organization the social problems ... There are so many men, meeting. There are lots of ways we can have even on campus, who want to get involved as these conversations.” well.” Cavenes explained that men do “practice Regarding making a change, Rayburn said, everyday feminism. If they hear something “Change is hard for anyone ... there’s always that struggle of power. People don’t like to give they’ll call it out as unacceptable.” Pam agreed, that up; no one really likes change. It means “Men don’t like to use that word (feminist), but they advocate ... Everyone can say that they’re is scary. But we can embrace it more.” Aceves a feminist. If you’ve ever seen something also recognizes that “it may take generations and thought, ‘Hey, that’s not right. There’s to graft it out, but we can do it.” As for Salas, something wrong here,’ then you can say ‘I’m a she believes part of making a change is “being feminist,’ because you’re questioning the status aware of inequalities, not just for women, quo. You’re saying there’s inequity here, and we but for people of color, people in lower socioshould do something. If you’re questioning it, economic standing ... It’s important to educate you can say you’re a feminist whether you’re a not only men, but women as well. Many women man or a woman. People are misinformed on don’t understand what feminism is.” Part of

being educated is staying aware of what is going on around campus, in the city, state, and country. There are many ways to get involved on campus, such as attending various events and participating in clubs. The Women’s Resource Center will be hosting events in October to emphasize the importance of Domestic Violence Prevention and Awareness Month. In addition, we have FORCE (Feminist Organization Reclaiming Consciousness and Equality), which provides an open space to discuss women’s issues through a feminist lens. It is very intersectional and inclusive, and they welcome more students to join in their meetings every other Monday at 6pm in USU 303. FORCE will also be working with ASI to launch the “It’s on Us” campaign, related to the national movement for preventing sexual assault on campus. And of course, Salas reminds us that voting season is just around the corner, so it’s important to know who you’re voting for! Educate yourself on the people running for stand for before coming to a decision. Your progression toward equal rights, reproductive justice, sexual assault prevention, and so much more. We have the right to these things, plain and simple—it doesn’t have to be complicated unless you make it so. You’ve read the stories, you’ve obtained all the information needed to make a decision. Let’s support Emma Watson, Beyoncé, and Emma Sulkowicz. Let’s join Esperanza, Jean, Pamela, Shira, Pam, and Julissa by being vocal when we know something is wrong. This may or may not be starting to sound like a cheesy celebrity-endorsed PSA, but it’s true—we’re stronger working together.

The Clothesline Project Wednesday, October 22 10am-3pm at Speaker’s Platform Take Back the Night Wednesday, October 22 5:30pm-6:30pm, Maxson Plaza 6:30pm-9:30pm, Anatol Center Stalking Awareness and Prevention Wednesday, November 17 5:30pm-8pm USU Ballroom

Music

POINT/COUNTERPOINT Are popular female artists being sexually

By Daniel Sunkari I just watched the Hype Williams-directed music video for Jennifer Lopez’s “Booty” featuring Iggy Azalea. And now that I’ve picked up my jaw, I’ll write. The video was seriously nothing short of soft-core porn: a series of half-second shots of J-Lo writhing against Iggy and shaking her butt, while a fast beat chugged in the background. The song itself was repetitive, catchy, and disastrously stupid, probably made as a how-to guide for illiterate strippers or porn stars. Minaj’s recent “Anaconda” showcases much of the same content, as do a plethora of music videos and songs made in recent years. Virtually all women in popular music bodies. We’ve created a nasty cycle: out with the Lauryn Hill’s and Queen Latifah’s, in favorite male rappers aren’t the only ones carrying the torch of misogyny anymore. Last month, the feminist world erupted in applause when Beyoncé stood in front of a sign that read “Feminist” during her VMA performance, as a sermonette played in the background. I thought it was laughable at best, considering that it took place between Beyoncé’s and her backup dancers’ naked stripper routine, which repeatedly recited “Bow down, bitches.” But it appears that there is a prevalent brand of feminism that admires the sexual woman that’s doing it. I’d say feminism is shooting herself in the foot, but truthfully, the bullet’s probably closer to her heart. I can’t help but think what would Susan B. Anthony think if she were to watch “Booty?”

What would Sojourner Truth think? How hard has feminism worked to prove that women can be more than sex objects, but worthy of value for their minds, their souls, and their contributions? Why do feminists scream for acknowledgment of a woman’s worth while simultaneously supporting the degradation of themselves to naught but a pair of breasts and a butt? Seriously, what true feminist would appreciate the commodification of women’s bodies? This is the misunderstanding: a Sex in the City sort of feminism tells girls to be as promiscuous as possible, because hell, the guys are doing it! But we already know guys are generally pigs when it comes to sex. The feminist response should not encourage women to be pigs as well, but hold men to a higher standard. I see a lot of anti-sexual assault videos pop up every week. Feminists ardently war against a culture that over-sexualizes women, but turn around and praise that I think this is a big reason why so many people do not take modern, western feminism seriously. It’s become a mixedbag of pettiness and incoherent doublenoble goal in mind: the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes—and no one denies the merit of such a goal. But inconsistencies of ideal rise and feminism loses its credibility—unless it stands against it.

By Renee Schmiedeberg I didn’t want to write about this. I felt like enough people have already talked about this, and oh, they have. They just didn’t say the right things. and music video, “Anaconda,” is about. But do we know what she is about? If you know her at all, you know that she has never really been concerned about giving others what they want. She could not care less if her work was pleasing or even palatable to your senses. like it or not is irrelevant. Minaj loves men, I’m sure, but she really doesn’t need their approval to validate her existence (and you don’t either). bell hooks, author of Feminism Is for Everybody begins her illustrious book with “Simply put, feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression. men are the enemy.” The oppression hooks writes about here includes the oppression of a woman’s sexuality. Ultimately, when Minaj expresses herself sexually, she overtly challenges the oppression of female sexuality, especially that of black female sexuality. Minaj’s feminism is not as acceptable as others because she fundamentally challenges our culture—what modern feminism is supposed to do, hey hey. There are some moments in “Anaconda” in which Minaj bounces the behind of a woman who seems to be propped up to Minaj’s hand

level just for this purpose. And, bare with me, it is hard to read this as anything other than

Minaj really have gotten to where she is now in her male-dominated music genre, if she didn’t appeal to heterosexual men? Sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to do. I don’t want to and shouldn’t have myself, for women, for any male ever called “girly” or for other oppressed groups of people in the world that if I named them all, I would exceed my word limit. a book, and eat some grapes. Yes, I have argued, written articles, debated, read and fought, and I am tired. But this is my lot. I am allowed to be tired, but only for a short amount of time. Yes, I could stand against the wall and wait for it to blow over—except inequality society do not just blow over. And they won’t blow over until we, all of us, help throw them Epilogue: If any of you Union Weekly readers out there would like to respond to this article, come on down! My goal is not to prove I am right, but to get you thinking and to educate as many of us as possible.

Music

Songs to Shake the Patriarchy The Union staff picked their favorite empowering songs which will make you feel like the strong, beautiful and independent individual that you are. To listen to these songs and more, follow the Spotify playlist at http://ow.ly/C1VBR

Entertainment

Hits Among Network TV’s Fall Line-up Gracepoint

Forever

A to Z

By Emily Lyons

By Lauren Hunter

By Liam Brown

Welcome to the seemingly perfect small town of Gracepoint, California! This quaint, coastal town is tranquil, the people are

Immortality, a curse, death, crimes, and a mysterious phone call; are you hooked yet? ABC’s new television show Forever premiered earlier this week and did not fail

My reaction to the pilot episode of NBC’s new series A to Z could best be described as a love-hate relationship. Incidentally, our two leads seem to share in this show’s obsession with alphabetization. In the beginning of episode one, “A is for Acquaintances”, we meet Andrew, played by Ben Feldman and Zelda, played by Cristin Milioti. It’s not too hard to describe their characters thanks to the frustratingly heavy-handed narration. “Andrew is a guy’s guy” who “likes Liam Neeson movies,” and works for an online dating website. “Zelda is a girl’s girl” who “likes manicures,” and enjoys a successful law career. As it turns out, they work in the

episode, you get the sense that everyone pretty much knows everyone else. So, when a 12 year old boy’s body is found on the beach, and a murder investigation ensues, the town this just don’t happen in Gracepoint. The town’s inexperience with murder is played by Breaking Bad alum Anna Gunn, who As a Gracepoint native, she has personal ties to the family of the deceased boy, Danny Solano. She clearly feels for the Solano family in their time of hurt and loss. Miller’s investigative counterpart and new boss, takes a brazen, blunt, and impersonal by David Tennant, is familiar with murder cases; after bungling a previous case, he is determined to solve the Gracepoint murder. As a new arrival in town, he is poised to view the town citizens objectively. He doesn’t see them as members of a neighborly community. He believes that any of them could have killed this 12-year-old boy, given the right circumstances and motivation. are jam-packed full of potential clues surrounding the murder. Blink, and you will be sure to miss something important. Later episodes delve into the secrets, scandals, and lies that are hidden behind the lives of those suspected of Danny’s murder. New angles are considered. Characters initially passed over as being unimportant suddenly are seen in a more sinister light.

Illustrations by Sam Winchester

music, silence, and camera angles are used strategically to amplify the intense mood of Gracepoint. Viewers will immediately get caught up in the task of answering the question “Who killed Danny Solano?” If you are ready to be sucked into an intense, 10-part mystery series, leaving you on the edge of your seat, trying to solve the mystery along with detectives Miller and Carver, then, buckle up and get ready for the series premiere. Your only disappointment will be at the end of each episode, as a torturous 167 hours stand between you and murder mystery masterpiece!

examiner Dr. Henry Morgan, a man who has been alive for the past 200 years and does not know why he cannot truly die. He studies calls it. His one real friend, Abe, played by the talented Judd Hirsch, is the only person who knows Henry’s secret. You instantly fall in love with Abe and feel empathic towards Henry who must live a very lonely life. The pilot episode opens with a subway crash that kills Henry. He then magically appears in the Hudson River, since ever time he dies, he always comes back to life in water. There are so many metaphors that could be used to describe why the writers chose water as their rebirth method, but who has the time? meet Detective Jo Martinez, played by the beautiful Alana De La Gaza. Without giving away too much of the episode, but knowing how shows tend to work, can you say future love interest? It’s clear that they will be working together on crimes in the future, possibly bringing them closer and closer together romantically. together in the show; kudos to the casting director. The dialogue is informative, but not too revealing of important plot secrets. The humor is witty and quick. For a man to have up a few tricks. Together they solve a crime, but like any good guy trying to get through life, there has to be a villain. Mysterious phone calls to Henry from his “fan” leads you to believe we have a Sherlock/Moriarty complex going on. A man that will someday, in a later episode perhaps, meet his match. This show is something that should be

their paths cross. The show’s gimmick is intriguing, but it can’t avoid some of the more tired romantic comedy pitfalls. Both leads have obnoxious best friends as obvious foil characters, and been-there-done-that jokes often abound: Andrew, aside from being “a guy’s guy,” also likes the theme from Titanic—it’s funny because that’s not something “a guy’s guy” would be into. And if you like having your jokes explained to you, as I just did, A to Z has a habit of that too. However, by the end of the show, there’s something quite charming about the whole able to rise above the shoddy script they’re given from creator Ben Queen: they’ve got chemistry, and when they’re not surrounded own with very natural delivery. A to Z, at least in its pilot, goes by the numbers of a typical romantic comedy. But that’s not to say that I wasn’t rooting for these characters by the episode’s end. They’ve got charm, and overall this episode can be—at the risk of losing my own guy card—cute.

delivers as the lead protagonist and his costars seem to be up to par as well. I predict a bright future for this television show and look forward to watching it every week. A-Z starts Thursday, October 2 at 9:30pm on NBC Gracepoint starts Thursday, October 2 at 9pm on FOX Forever airs on Tuesdays at 10pm on ABC

Entertainment

Women on Screens Big and Small Katniss trumps a dystopia By Helen Nguyen “Started from the bottom now she’s here.” There probably should be some wine with the cheese I’m serving because Katniss Everdeen is a true example to that phrase. Though the story of The Hunger Games struggles Katniss Everdeen has to overcome can be taken into context for today’s society. Whether it is working hard in order to put

Now I want to take you readers someplace else—imagine a REAL-life Katniss Everdeen;

to meet a women who emits such a strong analytic perspective on life. Society today sees women who are “strong and analytical” as somewhat provoking because it isn’t what is considered “normal” for them. But that is what makes Katniss Everdeen a great character—she is not afraid to go against the social norms in order to do what is morally right. Bias and discrimination are produced that shouldn’t be so.

Bri struggles in Utopia By Elizabeth Nguyen This is what happens when you know someone on TV: “Is now a good time to time for me to answer this question in relation to my feelings about this reality show and the female who quoted this. I’m

I had known her personally. It’s just the fact that she comes from my high school—that’s what leaves me with a sick feeling of disgust.

would be nice to be the prettiest girl in the FOX reality series Utopia afraid I must clarify and relive the disgust I felt from watching. Utopia is supposed to be a social

could have my pick of the men.” This is a quote from Bri in the beginning of the show. I seriously wanted to hit my face into the desk. reason why you came onto the show in the

crazy people trying to enforce their opinions on others while supposedly building a new society of their own. Fifteen people are placed in a “Garden of Eden” and told to build a utopia because there are no laws or rules. Quick question: Did anyone else wonder if

blood boil. I have a grudge against those who feel entitled. Men should not feel entitled to another’s body and neither should women. in the butcher shop. As impossible as it is a mindset like that doesn’t belong. It sets

particular personality I wish to talk about.

creation of a perfect society. It’s not perfect if everyone isn’t treated fairly and isolated.

school as I did. my “relationship” with Bri Nguyen on Utopia. Nguyen. She said this after a lustful evening with another participant. I don’t know what was more awkward—the fact that they were

you should be feeling a “sense of pride” just it’s the complete opposite.

Literature

Not Your Average Femme Fatale A feminist critique on Harris’ Silence of the Lambs By Bailey Mount

Illustration by Claire DeWilde

Set in the late 1980s, Thomas Harris’ The Silence of the Lambs followed a highly unusual protagonist for that time period. Special Agent Clarice Starling was not what readers expected after the gritty and undoubtedly male protagonist Will Graham. The universe she occupied was not prepared either. Both a woman and a field agent? Despite the fact that women have joined the FBI since 1972, the thought was unheard of. Hannibal Lecter was a manipulative serial killer who evaded the law for decades, killing and eating the parts of those he found to be discourteous. What would he do to a young woman? ‘Buffalo Bill’ was preying on formidable, heavyset women. How easily could he overpower someone as small as Clarice? Yet through a swirling sea of doubt, Clarice emerged unscathed. Her small stature became an asset. Her empathetic nature became a weapon she wielded. This was Clarice Starling, and she ran towards empowerment in a man’s world. The other FBI trainees trailed behind her, coughing in the dust of her ambition. From the beginning of Silence of the Lambs, Clarice’s value is downplayed. Her superior, Jack Crawford, assures her that her assignment was “more of an interesting errand”. Clarice is not disclosed the major details of her case because the thought of such a horrifying assignment would obviously be too much for her. He even goes so far as to ask if she “spooks easily,” expressing concern at her apparent feminine fragility. Clarice

the novel, Clarice proves time and time again that a woman can be her own knight

“Not yet.” She is not afraid when meeting Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a calculating and cultured serial killer dubbed “Hannibal the Cannibal” by the papers. Indeed, Clarice is a fearless heroine throughout the book. When Clarice descends into the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, it is the descent into hell. It is hazardous; it is

and in doing so does something that no agent has done thus far: obtain useful information from Hannibal Lecter. It is that tenacity, that overwhelming

men. The bars close behind her, and we, the readers, are afraid. She is a gentle, tantalizing lamb in a den of hungry lions, and a man, far more intelligent than she, waits inside. She is in grave danger and must be rescued by someone, preferably male. However, Clarice rescues herself, and that is the best thing about her. Throughout

makes a connection with Lecter. She saves the day and does it all without stopping to Furthermore, it is her relationship with Dr. Lecter that drives the novel and her empowerment. She is advised to “tell him nothing personal.” Anyone with any emotional ties to Hannibal has ended up professional. It is her inability to do either of those things which enables her to break through to Lecter. Her emotions, scorned for being “feminine” in the Bureau, enable her to establish a relationship with him. She is not cold towards Lecter as a male trainee curiosity. Likewise, her emotional nature captivates and intrigues the doctor. And although she is encouraged to,

work, and this draws Lecter to her. He wants to see if he can break her, as he has broken so many people in the past. She makes it clear that she will not fall prey to his pattern of psychological abuse. Even when Dr. Lecter forces her to give up her most painful childhood memory in not break. She gives him what he wants and is resilient. If anything, his attempt at belittling and destroying her motivates her more to succeed. She expresses emotional interest

nature that empowers Clarice in a world of she belongs in the FBI with her male peers. She dominates her career by refusing to prove herself. She does not prove; she only does. She does not crumble at the feet of a psychopath, but brings him down from his pedestal. By the end of the novel, she ascends to reverence in the FBI, simply by not removing neither herself nor her gender from her work. And the men, like the lambs, stopped screaming at her.

Lifestyle

Feminism is for Everyone

By Catherine Ruiz

A Day in the Life: Feminist

And it’s a pretty easy choice, too

Illustration by Rose Feduk

By Janea Wilson

Scandal Get Away with Murder

Joys of Being a Woman “What a slut!”

By Codi Georges

Cats are cool, and cat calling is not

The View

How to

Travel

How Not to Travel

Graphic by Abdallah Seoud

The dangers of staying with strangers

By Janna Jesson

I took a train from Venice to Padua, Italy because I had no where else to go. The old man hour away from Venice. I stopped at the Padua train station, because I didn’t know which bus

work, the shower was dismantled, and the door

that he had no clue about hostels, and his

“...they were expectant, acting like I owed them my body in return for their hospitality.”

long after, his friend

and I gathered our things to go with him light illuminating her long gypsy dress, her messy hair, and her worn-out baggage trailing if she asked for money, but she opened her

to be staying somewhere that night, but she couldn’t get in contact with the man who would let her into her rented place. I asked

guys got out their weed and started smoking

We followed the two men in the Padua darkness, through streets near train tracks and dim-lit alleys. We were stopped by a crazy man looking for drugs, and one of the guys

up and get away from him before the police came. When I was certain they were taking

my legs and picking me up. I wasn’t sure how the night would turn out, but I fell asleep with

came back with beers. kisses on me as I waited for the bus to get to it was two in the head each time so his lips would land on my said casually. The guys got more touchy as the kept petting my hair awkwardly, tangling his hand in my strawberry

Louisiana said she was missing 100 euros

was

where else to go, and they were kind to me,

uncomfortable.

them my body in return for their hospitality. guy forced a kiss on me. I backed away and

electricity and no lights. The plumbing didn’t

book a hostel beforehand.

Drunk with no luck in Stockholm is how to be an alcoholic. With the sky constantly spewing out snow and rain, there was pretty much nothing else to do but would consciously replace the act of buying my weekly meals with the act of buying pure liquor for my partying needs. With this kind of lifestyle I was sustaining, it should not was in my future. When a group of 20 friends and I planned

people in line to stock up our rooms and suitcases with copious amounts of cheap

pesto salad, you name it, we ate it. When nighttime approached, we prepared to drink and I were rocking matching tees with the

me. We pre-partied in our hostels, drinking all kinds of beer and liquor each of us had

I downed the bottle of wine I bought in less than an hour while sharing a bottle

straight for a bottle of wine with an alcohol hindsight, I learned

By Alfred Pallarca Hangover-like blur. Later, I found out what happened by looking through a series of embarrassing pictures taken by my friend’s camera. I was kicked out of the bar that we apparently entered at some point of the night. We apparently frolicked around the city entered a few restaurants, ran around the city like fools, formed a pyramid for no reason, and

“The trip where I was supposed to meet and party with all these beautiful Swedes went down the drain.”

been sharing anything alcohol related with for the night. The following day was spent sightseeing and eating a lot of pesto as it was the cheapest item from the local market we

girl and asked her where in the world I was. was too drunk to understand. I desperately looked for my friends and realized they were that at some point, we all got separated after up alone in some hotel, and another one

a girl is beyond my dismay. I got out of the metro and tried to figure out where I was, but I decided I was too drunk to make any significant life decisions

and bystanders throughout the whole night. The detrimental part of my trip was when I befriended

me out, but honestly, at the time, nothing made sense. I ended up sleeping in the city center alone, maybe with a homeless person, until I came to my senses and took a cab to our hostel. I ended up spending

girl in the metro, talking to her about the meaning of life until I passed out hugging her. I remembered asking her to wake me

way to the hostel. The trip where I was supposed to meet went down the drain. I lost so much money

consumption that night, would become a

Food

“I was 32 when I started cooking, up until then I just ate.” – Julia Child Food Features: Julia Child

Making Nana’s Homemade Flan A family recipe for grandmother-granddaughter bonding By Veronica Craft Anyone that knows me can attest to the fact that I’m not a great cook; in fact, I’m pretty accident prone in the kitchen. Despite the fact that my entering a kitchen can almost guarantee a burnt something, my Nana told me I needed to learn to make her famous

By Beatriz Villa Today, Julia Child is recognized as the American Chef who brought French cuisine into American homes. As a television personality in The French Chef women than simple recipes, and she did. She set out to change the way American women saw themselves. In her early life, Julia Child worked as a copy writer in New York, and eventually, became a worker for the Secret Intelligence division during WWII. It wasn’t until she started cooking that she found an outlet for her real talent. Mrs. Child didn’t make cooking appear exclusively for women. Her kitchen was a space that resembled a tool shed; her heavy machinery consisted of toys such as a 1950s potato ricer, heavy-duty rolling pins, and a traditional French chef’s mandolin. Mrs. Child’s unconventional cooking show created an outlet for women to express their creative personalities. “She let women who watched her feel that they would be heard, that they could do anything she could do,” Bob Spitz commented on Mrs. Child’s work. “She wanted women to be proud of what they did. That was so important to her. That pride. She has found it. And she wants In the 1960s, Julia Child was an inspiration to the women who watched her show. Through cooking, Mrs. Child inspired women living in cookie cutter America to be creative, fearless, and to have fun. “Learn how to cook—try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be creative, and above all have fun.” Mrs. Child relayed an important message for her female viewers throughout her popular television show: You don’t have to be perfect. Mrs. Child was able to change the lives of American women through a small and unconventional outlet: Food.

passes down to all the women in the family. dozen times during my sixth grade summer break, until I perfected it. Flan takes awhile to make because you have to let it bake and then sit in the fridge for about six hours. During which time, we would watch The French Chef with Julia Child, and bond with laughter. In honor of my grandmother and for our spotlight on feminism this week, I want to share the homemade recipe from one of the most inspirational women in my life. Nana’s Famous Flan My Nana’s Ingredients are as follows: 1 can sweetened condensed milk 1 inch piece of cassia cinnamon bark 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 5 eggs 2/3 cup of sugar 1 cup whole milk 1 tablespoon corn syrup 3/4 cup half-and-half cream Here are the steps I would follow alongside my Nana: 1. First, we would always combine sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup of water in a saucepan over medium heat and bring it to a boil, Nana would always tell me wait until it was a dark amber color and then pour it into a nine-by-two inch round cake pan. 2. In another saucepan, we’d combine condensed milk, half-and-half, whole milk, and cinnamon bark, and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Then remove from heat and let it steep for 10-12 minutes. 3. two, hazardous, steps, I would whisk eggs until they were perfectly blended, and then I would remove the cinnamon bark from the milk mix that had been steeping. We would then combine the warm milk mix and vanilla into the eggs. Once combined, we’d strain the milk and pour it into the nine-by-two inch

Illustration by Jay Jenkins

cake pan the syrup is in. At this point, your kitchen will smell delicious. This is one of my favorite smells because it reminds me of cooking with my grandmother. Next, Nana would ask me to carefully place the cake pan in a large roasting pan, and into the oven, which had been preheated to 325 degrees. Then she would take boiling water and pour it into the roasting pan until the cake pan was sitting in about an inch of water. We would let it bake for 1-1 1/2 hours; when the time was done, she would insert a toothpick into the

“We would watch The French Chef starring Julia Child, and bond with laughter.”

Finally Nana would remove the flan with her duck shaped ovenmittens, cover the flan with plastic wrap, place it in the refrigerator, and let cool for six hours. She would always let me cut it when it was done. We would always have a bite before my mom would pick me up from her house.

summer days brought us closer than I ever thought we would be. I will always cherish the Child with her.

Volume 75 Issue 6

Monday, September 29, 2014

LBUNION.COM

DISCLAIMER: Tory Bolton here! WHAT TEAM? WILDCATS! WHAT TEAM? WILDCATS! WILDCATS? GETCHA HEAD IN THE GAME! Get your head in the game and contribute to the Griunion. Team practice is at USU 116, Long Beach, CA 90815. This page is satire/parody and does not represent ASI nor the CSULB campus. Submit shit via email to grunion@lbunion.com.

If You Want to Write When I turned 21, I discovered two bits of knowledge that I hope to pass on to you right now.

he has sex with horses! Crazy, right? BUT the horse he sleeps with is a lady horse and is

“writer,” because you put words on a page, but

the politician! “OH NO,” right? The whole story

coalescing with bile covered pizza bits.

up with the BEST ideas relative who lived 15 years before the story was told. Trippy, I know. directions I never could have conceived unless I had been lucid. Last week, I wrote a story about a politician who has this deep dark secret: by Poo Teen

the president for the past couple years, hoping Congress to replace the word “write” with the

Rollback that Attitude What

terrible

day I total

Finally, I found a worker that could help all on par with Sax Fifth Avenue. No one rushed calorie free baby food is located?” I asked. He

that could be spent on way

could not walk through that aisle—he would So I tried blending in with the other

by Ice Scream

When he refused, I knew I had to leave the store. But it was so big that I got lost! I ran around, drenched in sweat. How dare they

Anyway, I was forced to walk into this thing

Who Dat Who Dat the realest! Yesterday, damn business, station

when

was

on the radio! You never change the station when Iggy is on the

not hers!

she would not accept Tupac? What the fuck? by Money Doo Doo

she tries changing the

INSIDE

FUN FACT: ONE OF US POOPS IN A BOX, THE OTHER IS A CAT

LOCAL BRIDE CELEBRATES HER SPECIAL DAY BY GRINDING OFF HER HOO-HA

DAD EARNS STREET CRED BY DOIN THA STANKY LEG

LEAKED! KEVIN BACON METHOD ACTING FOR HIS ROLE IN HOLLOW MAN, GUM DUMMY!