BREAKING NEWS
SPORTS
CSU NAMES NEW CHANCELLOR
San Diego to Carson: We can’t quit you.
B ULLETI N
See page 7
California State University, Dominguez Hills
SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 • VOL. 26, NO. 2
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Virtual Reality: Spring Semester to Be Online DANIEL TOM Staff Reporter Additional reporting by Carlos Martinez, Robert Rios, Brenda Fernanda Verano
Welcome to five more months of the new (un) normal.
California State University Chancellor Timothy P. White announced Sept. 10 that all 23 CSU campuses will continue with mostly virtual instruction in the spring semester. That meant for the vast ma-
jority of CSUDH students nearly 18 months will pass between the last time, and the next time, they step foot on this campus. This is the second time White has announced a virtual semester. On May
12, two months after the spring semester was disrupted by the suspension of in-person classes, White announced that the continued uncertainty around the pandemic meant the entire fall semester would
be virtual with a few exceptions for certain classes. Fast forward four months and the only thing certain is still uncertainty. [See SPRING, page 9]
Love is Enough MELANIE GERNER Staff Reporter
Raven Brown Bullletin
Custodian Jackie Thomas makes student safety a priority, and does it with a (masked) smile.
Cleaning Offensive
Each morning before sunrise she pulls herself out of bed and drags her exhausted body into the kitchen to make coffee. After a brief commute to her makeshift workspace in the living room of the two-bedroom apartment, she sets her laptop on a TV tray and perches on the edge of the couch. So begins the race to complete as much school work as possible in a two-hour time frame. Kathleen Voyles is a student-parent and a single mom. Her 4-year-old daughter, Rylee, sleeps until 7 a.m. The dark hours of the morning are the only time when Rylee can’t sprawl across her mother’s lap while she’s trying to “do the reading” or complete an online exam. [See LOVE, page 5]
Pandemic Upside? Campus Never Been Cleaner RAVEN BROWN Staff Reporter Handwashing, mask-wearing, sanitizing, social distancing and constant disinfection. COVID-19 has changed the way the world functions and the California State University, Dominguez Hills campus is no different. With only 4 percent of the student body allowed to attend in-person classes this
semester, CSUDH is sparing no efforts in the fight against the coronavirus. In this first phase of having some students return to campus, the school’s custodial and nursing staff have established stringent protocols to ensure safety for students, staff and faculty. “Before each in-person class, we have 30 minutes to clean and disinfect the rooms completely,” Jackie Thomas, a CSUDH custodian, said.
“We make our rounds to every class being used and I have to make sure every surface is sanitized and safe for the next students coming in.” Thomas said that one of the buildings being cleaned the most frequently is LaCorte Hall, which is where art students who need access to kilns and other resources attend classes. Throughout these higher-traffic areas, hand sanitizer dispensers have been
placed per orders of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. According to the COVID-19 Response and Safety Plan, CSUDH has placed signage all around campus to alert the Toro community of the new safety procedures and cleanliness protocols. These signs include reminders for face coverings, social distancing, minimizing touching of shared surfaces
and arrows to ensure one-way traffic throughout buildings and walkways. In addition, the bathrooms on campus are now referred to as “single-use bathrooms,” meaning that only one person can enter at a time. These facilities are being cleaned routinely throughout the day in addition to classrooms, offices, [See CLEANING, page 5]
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WEDNESDAY, September 23, 2020
PERSPECTIVES
CSUDH BULLETIN
Before the Smoke, a Moment of Clarity
TAYLOR HELMES Managing Editor
When Bay Shore Avenue closes down in Belmont Shore, you know the summer season has arrived. Beaches begin to fill, despite the coronavirus pandemic and social distance guidelines, days grow longer ending in colorful sunsets, and academics and school work become an afterthought. Yet, at the ripe age of 24, I no longer believe in summer vacations. Between 12 units of online courses this summer and the continuous publication of the Bulletin since school closed down in the spring and prompted distance learning, I did not experience a normal summer vacation this year. Then again, what is normal nowadays? But when the opportunity to spend three nights camping at Yosemite valley came up, I decided this was my last chance to soak up the final days of my break between semesters. And we made it just before the wildfires and smoke began to affect the national park and its breathtaking views. But no matter how far I drove, the effects of coronavirus followed. Upon entering the main gate for Yosemite National Park, a masked park ranger greeted us. All employees, staff, and rangers wore masks. Hand sanitizer stations were located throughout the dining
and public areas and visitors were asked to wear masks. But the next three days would serve as a chance for my brain to decompress from the constant influx of information and news that had consumed my summer season and allow a sense of relaxation wash over me. The chilly, yet refreshing, water from the snowmelt in the Merced River did just that. Spending afternoons swimming and lounging in the river, making friends with both humans and ducks, I truly lost track of time. And I didn’t care to look at my phone to check. I simply looked at the sun’s location in the sky in relation to the mountainous geography and what direction I thought was north; I was off by about an hour and a half. The smell of wood and pine trees filled the air, incentivizing me to take more full, deep, and cleansing breaths. Not necessarily meditative, but more appreciative. Taking a break in the outdoors, also known as “nature breaks,” are underrated and truly invaluable. As I closed my eyes and listened to the natural noise around me, I felt my buzzing brain slow down. As a kid, I spent my summers playing with the neighborhood kids, participating in parks and recreational programs, and took family vacations. Coronavirus didn’t rob me of my summer though, rather time did. I would roll my eyes every time an adult
Taylor Helmes Bulletin
Before the wildfires took over the skies, Yosemite National Park provided a relaxing and restorative atmosphere
told me to enjoy my time as a child or tween and continue to imagine the independence and freedom that came with growing up. I wish I could tell 12-yearold Taylor to get out of her head and live in the moment, and to enjoy life without responsibilities. There are perks to summers as a 24-year-old, don’t get me wrong. At a moment’s notice, I can drive out to
Yosemite with my boyfriend and meet up with friends and his family to take a mini-vacation, I can drink alcoholic beverages throughout the day, and I can put myself to bed at whatever time I’d like! But all good things must come to an end, they say. As we drove nearly 310 miles back home the sky was gray and glum. I’d found out that wildfires had started throughout California during our stay
in Yosemite. Between wildfire and a pandemic, school being online and juggling adult responsibilities, it’s easy to forget to take a break and rest. Humans are not machines, and we are not meant to continuously exert energy. The world may literally be on fire, but if we take small moments to bring our thoughts to rest and recuperate then we won’t burn out.
Dear Jasmine: How do I not be a Jerk during a Pandemic?
JASMINE NGUYEN Editor-in-Chief
It’s been six months since I’ve been outside my home for more than an hour. Yes, I’ve gone grocery shopping, I even went to get boba with one of my friends. But, the largest part of this half year has been spent rewatching “Community” and “Avatar the Last Airbender.” I’m itching to go out. I am dying to see some movie, any movie, even a mediocre movie in a dark room for two hours, and maybe-- if I’m feeling a little crazy-- go out to dinner with several friends. But, of course, I can’t get ahead of myself just yet. These shelter-in-place restrictions got me locked inside the house yearning like some character straight out of a Jane Austen novel, as I watch Abed and Troy on my TV spend their time at some restaurant without masks. While my favorite fictional characters go about their lives, I am stuck waiting. And I wait because there’s still a pandemic outside, and people are still (unfortunately) dying from COVID-19.
Though, I have to wonder, how are we as a society going to interact with one another, there has to be some sort of white woman in her late 40s who can tell us how we should keep etiquette in this postCOVID-19 world. There probably is, but I think I have a few guidelines of my own. Especially since most advice has to do with being confrontational, and personally I’d rather die than tell someone they’re making me uncomfortable. So, here’s my guide on proper etiquette during a pandemic for those who hate confrontation. Scenario 1: You’ve driven all the way to your local supermarket and you realized as soon as you opned mask at home. No big deal, just run into the store right? Grab what you want and dip. Maybe hold your shirt over your face if you’re feeling generous? No! Unfortunately, if you do that you’re being a huge asshole to fellow shoppers and workers around you. And trying to half heartily making a mask isn’t going to cut it.
You got to go home, which is a pain. But honestly, you have to double-check that if you have a mask when you leave the house before you leave the door, make sure you got your wallet, keys, and mask! Or better yet, keep an extra mask in your car, bag, or by your door. Most stores now sell face masks, so next time you see one grab a pack to put in your car or bag, Daiso sells them for like a $1.50, I think they’re worth it. Scenario 2: Imagine this, somehow I don’t know if you’ve been invited to party at one of those Tiktok influencers parties before they shut down the power in their house, should you go? Come on, it’d be cool to hang out with social me-dia influencers right?Wrong! Please it doesn’t matter if the hottest Tiktok Star has invited you to hang at their house for their 21st birthday or your brunch group is really trying to party in their backyard, parties aren’t worth it. Just say no! I know it’s boring and Zoom parties aren’t as fun, but we’re in the middle of a pandemic. OK, so you've been doing
A post-pandemic society needs new rules.
great, no parties, no licking of doorknobs. And then: Scenario 3: You get a text from a friend wanting to hang out. Just the two of your. Sounds cool, but you've seen them on Instagram, hanging out in large groups and not social distancing. What do you do? There’s a part of you that wants to say no, but that’d be rude. you don’t have a reason to avoid this, it’s not like your schedule’s packed. Plus, you want to see your friend. But have they even been tested for COVID-19? They’ve been out a lot. This piece of advice is hard even for myself because like
Jasmine Nguyen Bulletin
I said, confrontation is a no for me. Forget that! In the year 2020 when there’s a pandemic raging and people are still going out you shouldn’t feel bad about asking people if they’ve been tested for the virus. This should become a societal norm especially if we’re going to be tr to return to normal and leave our homes. These are only a few scenarios but, the main lesson from this is just think about other people when you’re going out. I know this pandemic sucks, and staying home sucks but only caring about yourself and your own wellbeing isn’t going to get us out of this mess any faster.
CSUDH BULLETIN
PERSPECTIVES
WEDNESDAY, September 23, 2020
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Virtual Instruction: Pro and Con CON:
CARLOS MARTINEZ Web Editor
PRO:
CINDY CANAS Staff Reporter After a spring semester sliced in half, and this fall semester put on a mostly online track back in June, the only chance of having anything close to a normal college experience would have been spring, 2021. But that hope was dashed earlier this month when California State University Chancellor Timothy P. White announced virtual instruction would last until the end of the academic year. There are all sorts of reasons, and all sorts of reactions to the announcement. Following are pieces from two of our staff members that show the wide range of opinion, as each draws quite subjective conclusions on the objective reality that the next two semesters will be challenging.
CON When I first heard CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham’s decision to move all instruction online for the remainder of the 2020 spring semester, I was pretty stoked. I didn’t have to stress about hauling ass from school to work or vice versa, I could finally sleep for more than three hours a night and I could dedicate more time and effort on my assignments and projects. Just two weeks into the virtual semester, I was parked in a desolate McDonald’s at 2 a.m. screaming at my frozen laptop, my outfit of bike shorts and ripped T-shirt strangely fitting the emotional rage bordering on mental breakdown going on in my head. Why? I had just found out my internet access would be shut off for the rest if the semester and the internet access I had through my job was out of the question since I was furloughed. I wouldn’t say things got any better,but i somehow endured the mental and physical drain from the anxiety attacks and the constant parking lot-hopping to Starbucks or anywhere else offering sweet, sweet Wi-Fi. I passed all my classes with the hope that this would be a one-time experience. But then, on Sept. 10, CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White announced all 23 California State University campuses
Darlene Maes Illustration
Though it’s torture to some, others find virtual learning a more than suitable alternative.
will remain mostly virtual for the rest of the 2020-2021 academic year. This was due to a possible third wave of coronavirus. The second I heard the announcement, I wanted to scream. I was a little bittersweet about fall 2020 going virtual and was hoping that it wasn’t going to be a mess like in spring, but honestly I don’t want to go through it again. Online learning might be fine for some, but not to those of us who relied heavily on CSUDH’s resources in order to be academically successful. The pandemic has opened my eyes on how much we were taking physical classes for granted. We can’t just go to campus and use the Wi-Fi in order to complete our assignments like last year. With places such as the Loker Student Union and the library closed, it’s discouraged for students to wander on campus to get their assignments done. My kitchen table has become a cage match with my younger sister, a sophomore in high school, who is also learning online. The winner takes the table while the loser is stuck sprawled across the couch. Sometimes, Zoom meetings are in the middle of dinner and I have to get creative on places to work in peace such as creating a makeshift workspace in the garage, patio and, in extreme cases, the bathtub. There are many students at CSUDH who have siblings, roommates, or children who all have online class sessions in the same area at the same time. It’s hard to focus on your own classes when there are virtually four other ones going on in the same room as you. There’s also the chance of internet outages and unreliable internet connection with the volume of students logging in at the same time.
This leads students to hunt down areas where the internet is available, sometimes leading students back to campus which defeats the purpose of virtual learning. Computers, tablets and smartphones have proven to have issues at times as well. When these freeze during a class or a test, it becomes the issue of wasting our time trying to fix our devices; only to log back on and find out that class has ended. Granted, we’re still in the middle of a pandemic, and going back to how things were in fall 2019 is unrealistic. However, it still puts students who don’t have the resources at a disadvantage to learn and retain the material. Although online learning will have to do, for now, there needs to be a better way to help students and to ensure their success at CSUDH.
PRO I understand how going virtual this entire academic year is making many students feel like they’re losing out on a genuine college education. And I agree that not having in-person classes, or a campus where we can study, interact with our classmates, and just hang out isn’t something any of us would have chosen. But the reality is that the coronavirus doesn’t care about whether seniors will have a real commencement, spotty Wi-Fi or the uncomfortable background noise that seems to slice through every Zoom session because of that one student who forgot to mute their microphone. It’s a fact that there is still a contagious, potentially lethal disease out there and
we should all remember that any hardships we may be encountering with a virtual academic year is not worth the price of catching it, or spreading it even unwittingly to those who it could really harm. And consider the positives. The majority of CSUDH students commute to campus from home or work. While I’m sure there are those who only have to drive a few miles, or who need to be on campus to utilize resources like the library or the career center, to me commuting causes awful stress driving at least an hour and a half to work. I work in retail almost 40 hours a week during the day and have to take most of my classes before 1:30 p.m. or after 5 p.m. on select days of the week. That means I always had to deal with traffic on the fairway and was constantly worried about being late and being docked attendance and participation points. Not only is that stress gone, but I’m saving loads of money on gas. The extra time I now have by not commuting to school coincides with improvement in my time management skills. Before COVID-19, my time management skills were a mess, as I never could figure out a way to keep from missing deadlines or forgetting where I placed the project papers or the assignment sheet before rushing out the door to head to class. But now that classes are outlined and everything is processed through Blackboard, deadlines, assignments and all class-related communication are automatically organized and easily accessible. Between Blackboard and Google Drive helping me stay on top of things, I now have time to plan my studying and school work time
more efficiently. Being online constantly has also helped me realize all the resources that are available virtually. The University Help Desk is readily available to answer and assist with any problems. Yes, I do miss my fellow students and a virtual environment can never replace a physical one. But we need to stop looking at virtual learning as an inferior replacement, or fall-back option to in-person classes. We need to embrace it as a new kind of learning that offers some pretty cool things. For example, in traditional in-person classes, professors often assign each student a partner to work with outside of class time who then come to class ready to discuss a situation. Many of my professors are doing the same through breakout rooms on Zoom, which I find makes interacting with classmates less awkward than it talking to them in class. Another tool that I don’t think I would have been exposed to, or at least appreciated, if not for virtual learning is headspace,an app that helps relieve stress and anxiety through meditation. COVID-19 has not gone away and isn’t going to disappear by the end of the year, which makes it more than reasonable for the CSU Chancellor to make the decision of extending online instruction through the end of the spring semester. Our health, and those we care about, is far more important than cramming into a classroom with minimal air circulation. If you’re a new, or returning CSUDH student this semester, you can check out some of the online resources here.
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WEDNESDAY, September 23, 2020
NEWS
CSUDH BULLETIN
MiFi for those with no Wi-Fi
Art by Chris Martinez
MiFi unit offered to CSUDH current students from IT as a resource for distance learning
CHRIS MARTINEZ Staff Reporter As the approximately 480,00 students enrolled in the California State University system continue navigating the fall semester online, having access to WiFi has become as important as bringing paper and pen to class. This is why California State University, Dominguez Hills, Division of Information Technology put together the IT Loaner program. The program offers laptops, webcams, head-
sets, MiFi’s and other course-specific technology equipment for CSUDH students enrolled in the fall. Bill Chang, Associate Vice President of Development and Digital Convergence, hopes the MiFi units will help fill the gaps of the digital divide. “Since March, we have distributed over 700+ laptops, over 230+ webcams, 230+ headsets, and 200 MiFi’s. We have ordered additional devices and are awaiting delivery from various vendors,” Chang said. MiFi is a brand name fora wireless device that acts like
a mobile hotspot. CSUDH students, faculty and staff can request the loan of a Mifi unit for the fall semester. MiFis are mobile internet devices that allow the user to connect their compatible devices such as a laptop, tablet or cellular phone to the internet. The process it uses is called tethering. The MiFi units run on LTE speeds but depend on cellular reception. The difference between the MiFi units and regular Wi-Fi units is that Wi-Fi is typically set into a specific
spot location, Such as on campus, Starbucks cafe or someone’s home.This means they can only reach a certain location before the signal is lost. But with a MiFi unit the internet connection runs through the unit itself and does not depend on a certain location. Tthe device is what holds the internet connection. It can be connected to a device by accessing the internet as long as there is a strong enough connection via LTE. According to Chang the current high demand for internet accessible devices all
around the worl, make the task of getting the Loaner Program in motion difficult “Our challenge was acquiring Mifi devices from the cellular vendors and then distributing all the devices in a safe manner as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines evolved.” MiFi units are available to currently enrolled CSUDH undergraduate and graduate students. According to Chang, “CSUDH I.T. is purchasing additional laptops for students that are faster and have more memory, additional MiFi’s, we are in the process of creating a virtual computer lab, and providing additional instructional technology equipment.” The return policy for the MiFi and other devices is still up in the air according to Chang, “With the recent announcement of Spring term staying on virtual instructions, we are reviewing the return plans and will announce the plans via email to those who have checked out loaner devices.” For more information on the Loaner Program and to request a MiFi device visit the students resources page.
Pull-Up Produce Offered at Bi-Weekly Farmers Market RUBY MUNOZ Staff Reporter The CalFresh Food Program continues its efforts to assist low-income families, students, and the community impacted by the pandemic by hosting a weekly farmers market throughout the fall semester.. The market is open to students and the local community every other Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon in Parking Lot 1. Attendees can purchase locally grown and fresh produce such as fruit, vegetables, and pre-packed food provided by local small business owners who focus on healthier dense food options. Even during a pandemic, CalFresh, Basic Needs and the Office of Sustainability want to make sure students still have the options to obtain nutritious sustainable foods. “We want to make sure students are making healthier choices because it’s going to make them feel better in the long run,” said CSUDH Cal Fresh Coordinator and Toro Alum, Carolyn Tinoco. “Right now with the state the world is in, the farmers market offers a great way to
do this safely.” The farmers market is also taking necessary COVID-19 precautions by having people socially distance by driving up and staying in their vehicle or walking up to the market while wearing a face mask. In addition, specific guidelines for vendors have been established for the fall semester. Some of these guidelines include wearing gloves, goggles, and face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Evelin Tamayo, the market managing director who was also in charge last semester, hopes students and locals take advantage of the market’s close proximity. “Students are given the opportunity to shop directly on campus without having to drive off campus,” said Tamayo. This is a useful resource for the very few students who are still living on campus, to be able to find fresh produce within walking distance. Tamayo explained that for many students sometimes balancing a school and work schedule interferes with students time to shop or eat healthy. She hopes that by hosting
a farmers market students will be more inclined to shop for healthier options. Tamayo said that the Hunger Action Los Angeles was one of the first organizations to provide the Market Match Program at farmer’s markets, which is an incentive program that matches EBT benefits up to $10, essentially doubling their spending power. CSUDH CalFresh partners with Hunger Action of Los Angeles which is a nonprofit organization that works to end hunger and promote healthy eating habits through advocacy, direct service, and community organizing. “We host community events and work with hospitals, schools, cities, and nonprofits. We often work with low-income communities interested in bringing a farmers market to the area,” said Tamayo. “With this, we bring local businesses and nutrition incentive programs that will benefit the community.” According to Tamayo, during the pandemic, they have been selling farm boxes available for delivery and contactless pick-up at the farmer’s markets on campus. People can help students by donating $30 to the Toro Pantry Box that will help
three CSUDH students have access to freshly-picked produce. The funds will be redistributed through the Basic Needs distribution events. The market wants to ensure that all students are
food secure and are able to purchase products that allow them to incorporate affordable healthy meals into their diet, especially students who are limited to food sources and are being affected by the pandemic.
Ruby Munoz Bulletin
Students can pull up in their vehicle, wearing their face mask, and purchase pre-packaged produce boxes.
CSUDH BULLETIN
NEWS
LOVE
ued all the way up until July.” During the summer, then 3-year-old, Rylee was promoted from a dandelion to a sunflower in her weekly Zoom preschool class provided by the center. But every meeting was a struggle to keep Rylee engaged. “Getting a 3-year-old to do a Zoom class is pretty challenging,” Voyles said. “Going from her first year in a classroom to trying to do Zoom once a week was hard.” When the center sent out a survey asking parents if they would return, Voyles decided she and her little one would. She said she trusts the staff and the program the center provides, and the small class sizes helped put her COVID-19 fears at ease. “I’m just worried about her social development. I think this is a key time when social
development is important.” Voyles said. “Being in lockdown with mommy for almost six months, it’s hard on me but I am sure it is hard on her too.” Last year Voyles earned a scholarship from the communications department and this year she continues to work toward completing her degree, even if she has very little time to study without the living soundtrack of a 4-year-old dynamo of energy underscoring everything. Her professors express admiration for her work ethic and enthusiasm. “It’s clearly apparent that her [Voyles] commitment to her education is unquestionable,” Chris Russo, a communications professor said. “She doesn’t miss class meetings, assignments, or discussions. She’s always on time and
ready to learn, and I deeply appreciate the dedication and focus she puts into every aspect of the courses.” During the fall semester Voyles has attended her remote classes via Zoom and often Rylee will appear on her lap during lectures. Sometimes Rylee will even try to floss professor Russo’s teeth or feed him a potato chip. “I think it’s really cool having Rylee pop in once in a while,” Russo said. “She’s an honorary Toro. Sometimes Rylee will check in with the class on important topics like unicorns or ice cream or rainbows.” “It provides a nice timeout for us on occasion, not only from the subject matter of the course, but also from the heaviness so many of us are carrying these days. It’s a moment where we can all smile at the hopefulness and innocence of a child, and it only takes a few seconds.” Voyles would like nothing better than the ASI Child Center to reopen. So would the ASI. But after first hoping that would happen this semester and then hoping for the spring, the ASI’s Shakoor said there is no set date to reopen. “We were hoping again as we closed for the fall, that maybe we will open in the spring,” Shakoor said. “Now we have to go back to the drawing board and figure out [if we are remote for spring] what can we do?” One thing ASI is offering families is an opportunity to apply for funds to help pay for child care at accredited facilities. The center is in its
employees had not been cut, Thomas said. Since Aug. 10, it’s been fully staffed with about 35 employees, most of whom work 8-hour shifts. Under normal circumstances, custodial services operates from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m., meaning somewhere on campus there is usually someone cleaning something. However, shifts are staggered so that more highly trafficked areas can be cleaned with the least amount of interference with the daily school cycle. As a result, many students may not notice the people doing the work that benefits everyone,but no one likes to think about.
But they notice us--and not just because of any messes we might leave behind for them to clean. “It might seem weird, but I miss the students,” Thomas said. “There’s nobody around. It’s frustrating.” But maybe the lack of people on campus makes those who are there pay a little more attention to each other. “I’ve gotten a lot of thanks you’s for being here, and it’s nice to hear that,” Thomas said. “It’s nice to see that younger people pay attention [like] that.” One of the few campus organizations that is operational this semester is also essential
to health safety, the Student Health Center (SHC). It has also increased its its disinfection measures, implementing a facility-wide infection control program. While the measures were in place prior to COVID-19, they are now enhanced with the focus on more frequent cleaning and modified clinic hours to ensure the safety of patients. Charge nurse Natalie Ashe is a part of a team of health professionals with the SHC that oversees the cleanliness and sanitization of patient care and staff areas. To reduce the risk of infection, only 10-15 students are allowed to be seen per day for non-COVID related
From Page 1
There was no way for Voyles to know that her senior year as an advertising and public relations major at CSUDH would look like this. Last year, before COVID-19, you could find Voyles and her then 3-yearold daughter on campus Monday through Friday. Kathleen was in classes or studying, while her daughter spent her days in preschool, with Miss Ashley and Teacher Alma at the Associated Students Incorporated Child Center. Every other week the two would share a meal together on campus. “Rylee would say, ‘I go to the same school as you Mommy’ and ‘We are eating at our school together,’”Voyles said. “That was something that was really fun for us.” When CSUDH stopped in-person classes, the child care center and shared lunches on campus stopped too. According to ASI Executive Director Rasheedah Shakoor, when the center closed for in-person services the second week of March, no one thought the closure would last long, and almost all of the families continued to attend via Zoom. “At the time the pandemic was happening, no one thought that it was going to last as long as it did, maybe just a couple of weeks,” Shakoor said. “Our teachers continued to provide Zoom instruction and that contin-
CLEANING From Page 1
hallways and lobby areas. Custodial services is part of the department of Facilities Services, which is within the Division of Administration and Finance. In typical semesters, custodial services cleans approximately 1 million square feet of building space, according to the Facilities Services website. Although there are far fewer bodies on campus this semester, those that are here are important enough that the number of custodial service
WEDNESDAY, September 23, 2020
Photo courtesy of Kethleen Voyles
CSUDH senior, and single mom, Kathleen Voyles and daughter Rylee
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third year of a four-year Child Care Access Means Parents In School grant that provides funds for childcare to Pell eligible students. These funds are in addition to ASI and state funding. “We do have funds available to help pay for childcare for our student parents if they are at an accredited facility,” Shakoor said. “We can pay for that childcare for them while they are in school.” To apply for these funds, eligible students should contact ASI Accounting Manager, Donisha Quiller or call the ASI office at (310) 243-3686. For the mother daughter tandem of the Voyles, child care, or the lack thereof, is a real issue. Voyles said she is considering federally funded Head Start programs or creating a learning pod with one other family she met through story time at the library. Rylee has a wish list of things she and her mom will do together “when the sickness is over.” These days, when air quality permits, the Voyles enjoy 3-mile walks outside. When inside their home, the mother-daughter duo enjoy arts and crafts and science projects together. And, yes, there is frustration, uncertainty and the seemingly endless timeline of life in lockdown. But Voyles knows nothing can cloud her perspective on what truly matters: “Now at the end of the day, as long as we still love each other, that is enough.” visits. “It takes about 5-15 minutes to clean the treatment rooms in between patients,” Ashe said. “This includes the drying time of the sanitizing solution, which is when the actual killing of germs on surfaces happens.” The nurses are responsible for minute-to-minute sanitization, Ashe explained, but the custodial services also come in and clean before the staff arrives and throughout the day if necessary. The SHC is operating with limited hours. For more information,call (310) 243-3629, or visit csudh.edu./shs, or www. csudh.edu.together.
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WEDNESDAY, September 23, 2020
SPORTS
CSUDH BULLETIN
U.S. Women Still Trailing in Pay
Photo by Chris Leipelt on Unsplash
The U.S. Women’s National Team .has won the last two World Cups but iis still looking at a steep difference in pay compared to the U.S.men’s team, which has never won a cup.
JEREMY GONZALEZ Sports Editor Major progress was made in the battle for equal wages between men and women in professional sports. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and the English Football Association announced September 2 that both of their men’s and women’s national teams will receive equal pay. “Since March of this year, CBF has made an equal value in terms of prizes and daily rates between men’s and women’s [soccer],” CBF president Rogério Caboclo said in a statement. “That is, the players earn the same thing as the players during the calls. What they receive by daily call, so will the women. There is
no more gender difference, as the CBF is treating men and women equally.” The English FA confirmed that equal pay for its women players had been introduced back in January. “The FA pays its women players exactly the same as their male counterparts for representing England, both in terms of match fees and match bonuses,” the FA told The Guardian. “This parity has been in place since January 2020.” England and Brazil now join Australia, Norway and New Zealand in paying equal wages to their men’s and women’s national teams. England and Brazil are two of the most well-known soccer nations in the world. These two soccer associations pro-
viding pay parity could have some implications on how and when the United States Soccer Federation might follow if it chooses to join the other five soccer federations that have implemented pay parity. In the U.S., the women’s national team has been at the forefront of the battle for equal wages, alleging gender discrimination in earnings and suing the U.S. Soccer Federation in 2019 for violating the Equal Pay Act. The team had its claims dismissed by a court this past May and a bid to appeal the decision was additionally denied. While the English FA has committed to equal pay, the money that England’s male and female players can earn from playing in major tournaments still differs tremen-
dously because of the gender disparity in prize money that is offered by UEFA and FIFA. The staggering difference can be noted from the bonuses of the most recent World Cup winners. The French FA had received $38 million because their men’s national team had won the 2018 World Cup over Croatia. The U.S. Soccer Federation only received $4 million for the women’s national team victory in the 2019 World Cup over the Netherlands. In comparison, FIFA handed the men’s winning team over nine times the amount of prize money. The U.S. women’s team has been far more successful than the men’s team on the international level. The women’s team just won its fourth World Cup
in 2019 while the men’s best finish came back in 1930 when the team placed third. The men also failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. The men’s and women’s teams from the U.S. have negotiated separate collective bargaining agreements, which set up different pay structures for each team, complicating the possibility of equal salaries. While the battle for pay parity within U.S. Soccer is still ongoing, having two major soccer nations announce equal wages within their associations presents major progress in the overall big picture The likelihood of the U.S. joining Brazil and England slightly increased and could make them revisit the claims made by the women’s national team.
The Rock Muscles Into the XFL
Art by Christopher Martinez
Recreation of the Logo used for the XFL in their inaugural season.
CHRISTOPHER MARTINEZ Staff Reporter Last year, the XFL (Extreme Football League) played its 10-week inaugural season which included players from all walks of football. The eight teams were made up of former NFL (National Football League), CFL (Canadian Football League) and college football players who carried aspirations to utilize the league
and get them in the NFL. The Los Angeles Wildcats played their season inside of Dignity Health Sports Park for the inaugural season. The team supplied a limite d number of free tickets to home games allowing CSUDH faculty, staff and students to see the XFL action in person. Unfortunately, through their first season the XFL filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which means the
business would have to be reorganized to become profitable again. The process would also include appointing a trustee to sell the company’s assets and use that money to pay off debts to turn the company around. Because of the bankruptcy, there was no certainty that players would fulfill their dream of one day playing in the NFL. Until Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Dany Gar-
cia teamed up with RedBird Capital Partners to purchase the XFL and its parent company for roughly $15 million. In a statement on Johnson’s Instagram he stated, “My dreams of playing in the NFL never came true, but now years later - I have the honor of buying an entire pro football league so the dreams of other players CAN COME TRUE.” While Johnson’s aspirations are warm-hearted in wanting to give players a chance at their dreams, the XFL already had some players from this previous season make the jump to the NFL. P.J. Walker, a 5-foot-11 quarterback for the Houston Roughnecks, led the XFL in total passing yards with 1,338 and touchdown passes with 15. The Roughnecks won all five games they played before the shutdown. After the XFL season, Walker signed an NFL contract with the Carolina Panthers for two years making
him the first player to go to the NFL. The second player to make the jump was quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, from the St. Louis Battlehawks, who signed a one-year contract with last year’s Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Two other players to make it into the NFL were, defensive back Deatrick Nichols (Houston Roughnecks), who signed with the New Orleans Saints on a one-year contract, along with defensive back Dravon Askew-Henry, (New York Guardians) who signed a two-year contract with the New York Giants. These four players come from different backgrounds and all saw the XFL as a way to push their game to the next level. The league has proven as a working feeder program for the NFL with the resurgence. With hope for an XFL return, there is no telling what talents will be on display once the league retakes shape.
CSUDH BULLETIN
SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, September 23, 2020
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NFL Season Kicks Off With (Some) Live Fans
Photo courtesy of Marcel (@freetousesounds) from Unsplash
The Denver Broncos will allow fans at their next home game Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High with limited capacity.
JONATHAN GHATTAS Staff Reporter Despite many believing the NFL season would not be possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league kicked off its 101st season in typical fashion Sept.10th, as the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs hosted the first game of the season against the Houston Texans. Unlike other ring ceremonies from the past, the Chiefs did not have the luxury to celebrate in front of their usual sold-out crowd for this season opener. Instead, the team allowed a limited number of fans into
Arrowhead Stadium, making them one of the very few teams to do so. Following guidelines set by the NFL, and with the approval of local government and public health officials, the Chiefs allowed 22% of their stadium’s capacity to be filled for their home opener. The team set in place strict gameday guidelines for fans to follow, and scattered seating throughout the stadium in order to reduce crowded sections. Concession stands and all other sales within the stadium were operated on a cashless basis to reduce contact and further provide safety for fans and workers. The Jacksonville Jaguars
joined the Chiefs as the only other team to allow fans into their stadium for their home opener (Sept.13) as they obtained approval from Florida’s state and public health authorities to host a limited number of fans. The Jaguars will limit their stadium capacity to 20% of the normal attendance throughout the regular season, and will continue to do so until conditions surrounding the coronavirus have improved. The only other NFL game to feature fans in the stands was in Denver where the Broncos allowed players to invite family members for the team’s Monday night
home opener against the Tennessee Titans (Sept.14) as a test run prior to allowing fans into the stadium. The capacity was limited to 500 loved ones in an effort to keep up with safety measures. The Broncos plan to allow fans at their next home game September 27th against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and will limit the stadium’s capacity to under 10%. As the season moves on, more teams are expected to allow fans back into their stadiums. This included the start of week two, as the Cleveland Browns allowed 6,000 fans to their home opener against
the Cincinnati Bengals, which is just a fraction of what the stadium’s capacity can hold. Joining the Browns in allowing fans were the Indianapolis Colts, who allowed roughly 2,500 spectators into Lucas Oil Stadium for their home opener this past Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. The Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys also opened their stadium doors to fans this past Sunday, as each team allowed a 20% capacity. The NFL now joins Major League Soccer and college football as the only sports in the United States to currently host fans at games with limited capacity. Top ranked schools such as Oklahoma, Notre Dame, and Texas all held fans at their respective home openers (Sept. 12) with limited attendance, and will continue to do so for the remainder of the college football season. More NFL teams have expressed that as the season progresses they would be willing to allow spectators back into their respective stadiums, giving fans a little something to cheer for during these difficult times.
Who’s Next, The Padres?
Chargers Exit Dignity Health Sports Park but San Diego State Aztecs Moving In DANIEL TOM Staff Reporter Los Angeles is about to become an even bigger football town. On Tuesday Sept. 15, San Diego State University announced that home games for the 2021 football season will be played at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, that state-of-the-art stadium right next door to our campus. San Diego State, one of the few California State University schools that fields a competitive football team, is currently overhauling SDCCU Stadium, formerly known as Qualcomm, where it has played the last 52 years. A new stadium development is set to open in time for the 2022 season. Initially, the Aztecs wanted to play a farewell season in the old facility before bidding adieu. However, to expedite construction and to ensure everything finishes on schedule, it was decided that the Aztecs would play off-site for this next season. In a press conference on Wednesday, SDSU Athletics
Director John David Wicker addressed the move to Carson. “At the end of the day, the move was cost-saving and [the university] elected to go with certainty,” he said. “With the move, our fans will see a significant, but much better change in fan experience. While it may take a little longer to get there, we expect our alumni from Los Angeles and Orange counties to come out and support and have easier access to their Aztecs.” Since opening its doors in 2003, the 27,000-seat Dignity Health Sports Park has played host to a variety of different events. It has hosted Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy since the building’s inception when the Galaxy made the move after splitting time with the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and Titan Stadium at Cal State Fullerton. Additionally, the Los Angeles Wildcats (XFL) and the Los Angeles Chargers (NFL) have called the stadium home in recent years. Though temporary, Aztec football’s move to Los Angeles will add to an already rich football culture that includes USC and UCLA along with the
Rams and Chargers in nearby Inglewood. San Diego State competes at the Division I level, and has been affiliated with the Mountain West Conference since 1999. Before making the jump to the Mountain West, the Aztecs were a member of the inaugural Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA) that included four other CSU’S including Cal State LA and finished the season undefeated. After a brief stint as an independent, SDSU joined the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in 1978 and after 20 seasons, left to join the Mountain West. The Aztecs have made bowl games the past 10 seasons, beat UCLA last year and among their many players who have played in the NFL is Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk. Among the other California State Universities, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Fresno State, San Jose State, and Sacramento State all field Division I football teams. Humboldt State, which competes at the Division II level, folded theirs after the completion of the 2018 season.
San Diego Shooter
San Diego State has made a postseason bowl game the past 10 seasons.
Glenn Marshall Bulletin
Chargers fans felt the love in Carson for three years.
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WEDNESDAY, September 23, 2020
CULTURE
CSUDH BULLETIN
Hey there COVID-19, you still out there? DARLENE MAES Co-Culture Editor It’s been six whole months since Los Angeles County was hit by the coronavirus. 26 weeks since Gov. Gavin Newson declared his Executive Order for the State of California in a attempt to limit the spread. Roughly 182 days ago was when normality was taken from our daily routine and replaced with unanswered questions and concerns. The stay-at-home order meant just that, staying home. Putting yourself at risk in order to support yourself during the developing health and economic crisis was a must to be considered essential. Parents feared for the safety of their children, family members feared for those considered “vulnerable” by the California Department of Public Health. The chaos of the pandemic obstructs the sense of time, leaving room for unpredictability. Now, six months later I ask; How is mask-wearing still up for debate? Where along the way did wearing a mask become political? If you walk into a store maskless, and are not held accountable--are we still in a pandemic? At this point, being deemed “essential” means nothing because now, phases of reopening with COVID-19 restrictions, within Los Angeles County have started. According to the California For All website, “California has a blueprint for a safer economy in the state with revised criteria for loosening and tightening restrictions on activities.” If you look around now public spaces are beginning to look normal. The uncertainty of the virus doesn’t seem to be as terrifying as it once was, does it? This false sense of calm can serve as the result of many
Art by Darlene Maes
Despite your doubt or maskless face, the Coronavirus is still out and about
who decided to stop listening to lawmakers, health officials, and to those who have been affected by the virus. Recently, you can see more people flock to retail stores with less of a wait time. Individuals who decide to endure the triple-digit weather by eating in a parking lot inside a plastic tent, rather than make home-cooked meals. And the six feet distance between others is a memo forgotten by those who also fail to remember what personal space is. As people have grown frustrated with navigating through COVID-19 some have decided to advocate for the ability to get a haircut, a fresh set of nails, or to crowd beaches on holidays. The energy spent on trying to justify not wearing a mask for the greater good and overall health of others
amid this pandemic is astonishing. All of that passion for the counterintuitive reasoning from those who think lightly of the situation, should be directed towards why it is a dire need to go to a restaurant? or “turn up” at large parties in Airbnb’s with no disregard towards others? The need to ignore the safety protocols provided by experts just leads to one result, the inability to reopen LA County altogether. Though many benefits come from re-opened businesses, some being, increase in revenue, new employment opportunities, and regaining financial stability--the elephant in the room needs to be addressed. When was it decided that the pandemic just went away? And that more businesses can reopen with less restrictions? The corona-
virus has made its mark in our surrounding communities and our campus as well. According to the California State University, Dominguez Hills COVID-19 Reporting website. Does it make sense to read this online in between classes, rather than to hold a tangible copy of the CSUDH Bulletin in your hand? I mean it’s crazy that we aren’t able to hang out on our campus and use the very services that we pay thousands of dollars for. Is it fair to miss out on celebrating another graduation and instead accept the virtual standards of Zoom University: CSUDH edition for the upcoming year? These questions were once hypothetical but became our reality because of the pandemic. The essence of the
“college experience” has been robbed by many students and it is not only at our own fault of selfish decisions. (because we all have made some.) But also at those who we continue to allow to underestimate the impact of social distancing, limiting time in public spaces and the obvious, wearing a mask. In another six months, it will mark one year of being stuck in isolation.. Memories made virtually and socially distant will serve as a reminder for the 52 weeks spent being cautious to some degree. A grand total of 365 days filled with every emotion while trying to make sense of this insanity. But by this time, with a continuous effort by many, it may just be the complete normal we are all hoping for.
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NEWS
WEDNESDAY, September 23, 2020
SPRING From Page 1
In his announcement, White mentioned administrative and logistical challenges, such as a fast-approaching deadline for campuses to publish spring 2021 classes, as one reason for the relatively early decision. “The result of the decision being made four months prior to the start of the spring semester allows universities to plan their online course offerings for students ahead of time and to make other arrangements if necessary,” he said in his announcement. The CSU’s accrediting body, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) plays a big role in this as it requires each campus to
seek authorization for courses offered virtually. A predicted wave of coronavirus cases in October and November, larger than the summer resurgence, and another projected wave in March, 2021, were also factors, White said. In a Sept. 11 statement, CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham assured the campus community that school administration is continuously working to support students and staff as we continue the virtual experience. “Your administration and executive leadership will create a workable plan moving forward this spring and the university will continue to support students, faculty and staff.” CSUDH Academic Senate Chair Laura Talamante believes
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this was the most responsible decision to make at this time. “I think that it’s the right decision and that it was really important he made it at this stage,” Talamante said. “This allows both students, professors, and the staff to prepare as much as possible for the spring semester. And to start asking questions now about what’s working, where do we need to improve, how can we meet student needs, faculty, staff needs because everybody has had to make major adjustments to how they do their jobs and how learning and instruction takes place.” Student reaction to the announcement was mixed. “I’m very sad but at the same time, what can we do,” said senior psychology major Kimberly Ramirez. “ We’re in
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the middle of a pandemic. Our safety comes first and I’m on board whether I like it or not. All we can do is adjust and be here for each other” Fifth year senior John Otero, a film/media & television major, isn’t quite as resigned. “It’s a bummer,” he said. “I really engage and accomplish more being able to meet in person with my peers and professors so I’m not looking forward to another semester of Zoom University.” However, not everybody minds another semester at Zoom University. “I can honestly say I enjoy online classes more than in person,” senior biology major Sylvia Sky said. “Not having to look for parking or rushing to work from class has brought my stress levels down. I find
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content provided during class more organized and easier to access because everything is online.” No one knows how the rest of this year and early next year will unfold. Will a safe and effective vaccine be readily available at some point during the spring semester? Could we potentially return to campus after spring break? Will graduating seniors, for the second consecutive year not have an in-person commencement? Whatever the answers to those questions ,this much is known: the decision to have a virtual spring semester means COVID-19 will continue to be a reality for all of us for at least eight more months.
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STAFF BOX EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jasmine Nguyen MANAGING EDITOR Taylor Helmes PRODUCTION MANAGER Yeymy Garcia NEWS EDITOR Brenda Fernanda Verano CAMPUS EDITOR Robert Rios
POLITICS EDITOR Iracema Navarro CULTURE CO-EDITORS Darlene Maes, Luis Gutierrez PHOTO EDITOR Nova Blanco-Rico SPORTS EDITOR Jeremy Gonzalez OPINION EDITOR Destiny Jackson
RE P O RT E RS Matt Barrero Raven Brown Cindy Canas Melanie Gerner Jonathan Ghattas Luis Gutierrez Darlene Maes
Carlos Martinez Chris Martinez Jeannette Montoya Ruby Munoz Carina Noyola Taylor Ogata Daniel Tom Anthony Vasquez
LAYOUT ADVISER Joseph Witrago LAYOUT ASSISTANTS Luis Gutierrez Chris Martinez EDITORIAL ADVISER Daniel Vasquez ADVISER Joel Beers
The print and digital version of the CSUDH Bulletin is published bi-weekly and is produced by students in Communications 355, News Production workshop. The views and expressions contained on both do not necessarily reflect that of the Communications Department, or the CSUDH administration.
The Bulletin operates within, and is protected by, the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. Comments, criticism, and story ideas can be emailed to bulletin@csudh.edu. We reserve the right to edit any letters for length, grammar and punctuation, and libel.
CULTURE
CSUDH BULLETIN
WEDNESDAY, September 23, 2020
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Disney’s “Mulan”: A Woeful Warrior Adaptation
Art by Carlos Martinez
Mulan (Liu) reveals her secret and asks to be persecuted to keep honor to her name.
CARLOS MARTINEZ Web Editor It was 1998 when Disney created an animated-action adaptation based on Chinese folklore, the story of Hua Mulan. a fierce warrior who disguised herself as a man and took her father’s place in the Emperor’s army against the nomads. It was a huge risk for the house of mouse because it haven’t created a movie like this before. A tale about an independent girl who evolves into a kick-ass fighter while restoring honor to her family name and going on an inner journey to find her identity in a male-dominated world. Disney only had three films with a female protagonist in its “Renaissance” era at the time:
“The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Pocahontas.” Despite each leading lady being extraordinary in her own right, they were still trapped in the traditional Disney princess role. So Disney had to learn to swap out itscultivated, branded culture in order to preserve and introduce western audiences to Chinese culture. Whether people loved Disney’s attempt to diversify its brand or hated that it felt Americanized, “Mulan” was a huge deal in 1998. According to The New York Times, Asian American representation was so considered a sub-genre in the 1990s due to scarcity. In fact, “Mulan” was released three years after “All-American Girl,” the first primetime sitcom that featured an Asian American cast. “Mulan” led the
push for more people of color to appear in front or behind the camera. Since 1998, the industry has seen a surge of Asian representation in films such as the 2018 adaptation of “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Parasite,” which won an Oscar for Best Picture. Now, the media conglomerate has decided to release a live-action “Mulan” on its Disney+ streaming service with a $30 “Premium Access” fee after facing delays of its release due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With expectations of it being as good or greater than the 1998 version, Disney had to make sure that “Mulan” was closer to its Chinese roots instead of being a movie about “America’s version of China.” In their ambitious attempt to bring Hua Mulan to life, Disney selected New Zealander Niki Caro as the director instead of an Asian filmmaker. Granted, she has experience with managing a coming-ofage film, “Whale Rider,” in which a girl breaks gender roles to become the chief of her tribe. Caro also has experience working for Disney with the sports-drama film, “McFarland, USA.” “Although it’s a critically important Chinese story and it’s set in Chinese culture and history, there is another culture at play here,” Caro said in an article with The Hollywood Reporter. “The culture of Disney, and that the director, whoever they were, needed to be able to handle both.” But it ignores the elephant in the room: a lack of Asian representation behind the camera. It blows my mind to think that it’s the same company that
produced “Black Panther,” a superhero film that serves as a milestone in Black representation in film. In addition to lack of representation, “Mulan” becomes problematic with two other controversies surrounding its production. According to The Guardian, the film location in the province of Xinjiang contains internment camps that abuse human rights of Uighurs and other Muslim minorities. Additionally, Mulan’s leading actress Yifei Liu announced publicly of her support of the Hong Kong Police during the 2019-20 Hong Kong protests. In a sense, “Mulan” is similar to the 1998 version by being risky for Disney. However, it’s for the wrong reasons this time. It becomes apparent that the film has an awkward disconnect from Chinese culture and still feels Americanized like the 1998 film. “Mulan” is a hypocrite of its own source material. In “The Ballad of Mulan,” the titular warrior goes to war in order to protect her family and be a voice of her people by fighting for them. With everything surrounding this movie, “Mulan” just simply rejects the warrior’s purpose. The movie does a great job on the costume and set designs as it’s able to capture the look of Ancient China. However, there’s a feeling of disconnect that brews somewhere along with the first half-hour of the film. There wasn’t much character development with many of the characters in the film. Most of them stayed the same for the majority of the film,
making them forgettable in the overall experience. Sorceress Xianniang (Gong Li) and Rouran warrior leader Bori Khan (Jason Scott Lee), new characters to this adaptation, were mostly used for the visual aesthetics of the film instead of being fully fleshed out villains that Mulan (Yifei Liu) faces on her journey. It’s hard to tell at first but as the film goes on, it becomes apparent that the film disconnects itself from Chinese culture and steers closer towards Disney’s “movie-magic” experience. As a result, “Mulan” transitions from being a movie about a woman’s journey into becoming an honored warrior to an unofficial Marvel movie with “Captain Marvel” vibes. Much of Mulan’s relatability with the kids who grew up with either the 1998 movie or folklore are stripped, leaving instead a superhuman who didn’t have to work 10 times as hard as her fellow soldiers. “Mulan” is a type of movie that is only good for killing time. It does have some moments filled with entertaining fight choreography and small banter within between the soldiers in scenes, but it does a half-hearted job on upholding the values of honor, loyalty and character familiar from its animated original. It becomes a perfect example of how risky films with significant culture are and how it can backfire if not handled with care. As a movie about a girl trying to find who she is inside, “Mulan” fails to find its own identity in the fight between the culture of a country and a conglomerate.
PERSPECTIVES
Finding Life in The Lifeless Body I Once Had MELANY RUIZ Assistant Opinion Editor I could feel my mind telling myself to calm down as a tear rolled off my cheek and into my mouth. I sat in a dim corner, an empty chair beside me, a wooden desk two feet away.” “I’m fine... I know I’m fine,” I rambled. “It’s okay sweetie, I am here to help you now,” a petite woman with black hair peppered with gray streaks reassured me. Her name was Dr. Norma Quintero. She was my therapist. This was the woman who diagnosed me with mild depression and anxiety as an 18-year-old sophomore in college. It had been an unbearable year. I just thought it was “normal” to think these
thoughts, feel these emotions. Every day I followed the same cycle: sleeping in and ditching class rather than do homework or fulfill my responsibilities, staying up all night, allowing the darkness to consume me as it lingered in my mind and devoured my thoughts. I hated being alive and I didn’t feel like I belonged in this world. I hated my job. I hated school. I hated that I had lost someone so close to me. I hated myself. I constantly glared at the black door labeled “Psychological Services”, as it reflected my deteriorating image back at me. “I’m fine,” I anxiously thought. “Every college student goes through this…” I kept thinking. My childhood friend died. I dreaded work and my irritating boss who came with the job. I was failing all of my
classes. My social and family relationships were shattered and I lost myself in a very dark, negative, and petrifying place. I came home from school with this throbbing headache I couldn’t handle, probably from not getting enough sleep. I went to my family’s medicine cabinet to take some painkillers to alleviate some of the pain. I found myself staring at the medications until one stood out. The sleeping pills grandma took for insomnia. . As soon as I realized what I was thinking, I shut the medicine cabinet and laid down on my bed. I genuinely began to think that if I were to act out on what I was thinking no one would know. I accepted the image of my psychedelic Bob Marley poster hanging on the back of my door with my Christmas lights that hung on the
door frame, being the last thing I would see, alive. “It could be a Saturday morning,” I thought. “I wake up late anyway, they would just think I’m sleeping... I’ll lock my door.” I began to draft my suicide letter in my head, “It won’t be painful, I’ll just fall asleep.” I was so close to doing it. But I wanted to have one last shot at this thing called “Life.” My 18th birthday was coming up, and I wanted to enjoy that last day with my family. I wanted to do everything I was afraid to do that day. I wanted to tell someone what I was going to do, so someone would know why. I finally confronted that scary black reflective door labeled “Psychological Services.” Which brought me to where I was sitting in that dim-lit corner of the room facing my therapist.
I stared at myself in the mirror, into my sunken dark eyes, my chapped lips, my six-day unwashed tangled hair and ghostly pale skin and I said: “I am not going to let you die.” I washed my hair that night and I slept for hours. I felt the radiant sun rays that beamed through my window on my face. I woke up. Now I could continue on about how therapy helped me, and ultimately saved my life, but I am here to simply tell you that I made it. I found life in the lifeless body I once had; Someone I wouldn’t have been able to see if I didn’t choose to wake up that morning. I found Melany Ruiz. For any mental health emergencies, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline