Prowling For News Since 1999
Wednesday Dec. 8, 2021
Issue #VII Volume LIII
CSUSM planning for new science and engineering building By Nijat Mamtimen Staff Writer
Following the announcement of plans for a new science and engineering building in late September, the California State University Board of Trustees has greenlit the new project. California State University of San Marcos plans to build a science and engineering complex in 2024, investing approximately $60 million into this new construction project; but is awaiting approval from the state Legislature. The plans for the new science building call for a two-wing building, but the university might plan on expanding the wings and are trying to raise $20 million for the project. According to the Integrated Sciences and Engineering Building Feasibility Study (BNIM), the total new buildings’ land occupation is 80,000 square feet and the construction project includes programs like higher education, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and science study. The reason to expand the science and engineering complex, according to BNIM, was that the university had far exceeded growth projections. More specifical-
Photo by Valeria Serna The CSU Board of Trustees approved the university’s plan for a new science building.
ly, the College of Science and Mathematics has experienced an increase in students. “Prompted by existing space constraints and deficits, a need to provide space for a new engineering department, and accommodate future college growth, the University engaged BNIM to develop a feasibility study for a new 110,000 grows area feet (GAF) academic building,” according to the BNIM
website. The College of Science and Mathematics adapted a developed program and Zero Net Energy concept design, combining computer science, physics and engineering departments, along with many classrooms, study spaces and office spaces. The purpose of erecting the science and engineering complex for BNIM at CSUSM was “... [to] support innovative learning and re-
search on campus; and allow for a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and professional culture.” In an article by the San Diego Union Tribune, CSUSM President Ellen Neufeldt said, “[the new science construction] could take us to an entirely different level in the next phase of who we are.” “This will enable us to build out engineering, which has been full since we offered our first programs (in
2018),” said Neufeldt. In the past few years, the College of Science and Mathematics has expanded with the addition of new buildings and program expansions. According to the Union Tribune, there has been a push to expand on developing software engineering programs at CSUSM since 2016. ViaSat, a global communications company, contributed $1.5 million in 2018 to
establish an engineering program for the CSUSM campus. ViaSat has offered internship opportunities for the enrolled students and provided frequent expert lectures on campus regarding cyber security and other STEM related jobs. Simon Kuo, vice president of corporate quality at ViaSat, said that the engineering program has functioned like a microscope to discover students interested in science and engineering. The participating students obtain high professional quality, and they can work for electronic engineers, recycling or energy fields in the company. Donations from companies like Viasat to CSUSM have helped the university renovate classroom and lab space, the purchasing of new equipment and instrumentation and support the work done by students and faculty. Moreover, “The pavilion is ViaSat has been a longtime supporter of numerous programs across CSUSM, and the company has been an especially strong supporter of the university’s College of Science and Mathematics.” There are no details on where the building will eventually be built at CSUSM.
CSUSM holds event for departing faculty and staff By Kinsey Canez Staff Writer The Office of Human Resources hosted a farewell event for departing CSUSM staff and faculty on Dec. 2 in the USU Ballroom. According to the Office of Human Resources, “we had about 60 faculty and staff from all across campus participate in our Early Exit Program.” The program is part of a larger plan to make adjustments that meet future needs of the university to avoid layoffs and intended for those nearing retirement. Employees can voluntarily part or retire from CSUSM as part of EEP “no earlier than Dec, 15 and no later than Dec. 31,and receive severance pay in exchange. All universities in the CSU system are participating in Early Exit Programs in re-
Photo courtesy of Office of Communications CSUSM celebrates faculty who will be retiring at the end of the term.
sponse to Governor Gavin Newsom reducing funding for CSU campuses last year. The celebration began with an address by CSUSM President Ellen Neufedlt. She expressed gratitude for
the work her colleagues have done during their time at the university. A video montage of retirees followed. In the video, staff members reflected on their time at CSUSM while
some shared their favorite campus memories. Notably, outgoing faculty and staff spoke of the development they have witnessed during their time at the university, as some watched
CSUSM be built up, said Susie Martinez, a human resource coordinator. Steve Watters, a project manager at CSUSM, shared that he has had a hand in “pretty much every building on campus,” including the USU and numerous athletic developments. Pride made its way through the screen when faculty and staff reminisced on the emerging university they’ve been part of. “Being a part of a growing university, and the library from literally the ground floor, literally the get go, has been an incredible experience,” Library Service Specialist Cathie Dorsett said in the video. “I’m extremely proud of the accomplishments that this university has done in its relatively short time.” Another overarching theme of the event was cam-
pus community. Administrative assistant of the Office of Inclusive Excellence, Marilyn McWilliams said, “Being here on campus was very, very fulfilling. I was involved with them (students) on a daily basis.” After the video was projected to attendees, the reception became a space for casual conversations as colleague reunions and conversations sparked around high top tables sprinkled with desserts and beverages. “It’s not all just the big glorious things, it’s all the little things too. We are all an important part of what makes the whole be as great as it is,” Dorsett said. “Every single one of us is important and every single student is worth it.” For more information on the Early Exit Program, please visit https://www. csusm.edu/hr/eep.html.
2
News Editor: Marbella Ramirez cougarchron.news@gmail.com
The Cougar Chronicle, Wednesday, December 8, 2021
CSUSM expects to graduate more than 2,500 for fall
CAMPUS NOTES CSUSM lecturer appointed to California Native American Heritage Commission American Indian studies lecturer Stanley Rodriguez has been appointed to the California Native American Heritage Commission by Governor Gavin Newsom. Rodriguez is one of six appointments announced last month by Governor Newsom. Five of the appointments were made to the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC).
Photo courtesy of Office of Communications A little over 2,600 undergraduate students have applied for fall graduation.
By Tania Ortiz Editor-in-Chief Roughly about 2,900 students are expected to earn their degrees from CSUSM at the end of the fall term. According to the Office of Registrar, 2,698 undergraduate students and 197 graduate students applied for fall graduation. Lisa Medina, Director of Admissions and University Registrar said via email that these are not the exact numbers of students who have degrees conferred for the fall. Medina adds that students’ records must be reviewed. The time frame in which the Office of Admissions and Registrar reviews students’ records takes about one to four weeks following the end of the semester.
Students who have applied to graduate in the fall are encouraged to fill out an exit survey, which helps the university respond to accreditation and reporting requirements. The survey also contributes to the development of programming and services to help students achieve their professional and academic goals. Students who fill out the survey by 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 21 are eligible to pick up a commemorative CSUSM Alumni pin from the Career Center. Students should have already received the link to the survey in their campus email. CSUSM is expecting to hold in-person commencement ceremonies on May 20 and 21. The university will continue to monitor state
and county COVID-19 regulations and advise students and their families to visit the commencement website to stay up to date as protocols and regulations continue to evolve. Students will be allowed to bring up to eight guests to the commencement, compared to last year where students were only able to bring two guests due to COVID-19 protocols at the time. The commencement ceremony will be live streamed available on the CSUSM website and the CSUSM app. In 2020 and 2021, CSUSM had more than 4,400 students graduate with degrees each year breaking the record from 2019, where nearly 3,800 students graduated from CSUSM.
Advertise with us! The Cougar Chronicle is the independent student newspaper at CSUSM. We dedicate ourselves to the education enlightenment of students and the campus community and uphold the highest professional journalistic standards, ethics and responsibilities. We offer an integrated multimedia platform for you to reach our audience: - Our mobile-friendly website, csusmchronicle.com, relaunched in fall 2015. - The Cougar Chronicle’s social media sites drive traffic to our website. Your advertising dollars support scholarships for our student journalists. Thank you for your support of student media at CSUSM! Contact our student Advertising Sales Representative via email at csusmchronicle.advertising@gmail. com to review our Media Kit. How to buy an Ad? 1. Review our ad rates and sizes to see what works best for your needs on our media kit. 2. Consult the publication schedule to determine the date(s) you want your ad to run. Order 8 days before publication. 3. Contact our student Advertising Sales Representative to discuss your ad needs at email csusmchronicle.advertising@ gmail.com. 4. Send your camera-ready ad artwork to us at csusmchronicle.advertising@gmail.com. 5. Pay for your ad though our online portal at csusmchronicle.com/advertise.
Stanley Rodriguez, who is from Santa Ysabel, has been a lecturer for the American Indian studies department at CSUSM since 2017. Rodriguez has also been director of the Kumeyaay Community College since 2018, he was the Kumeyaay language instructor at KCC since 2005 and an instructor and advisor at the Navy Drug and Alcohol Counselor School since 1995. New FAS Vice President is early to rise, and hard at work (CSUSM News Center) When Cal State San Marcos colleagues see Leon Wyden strolling through Craven Hall as the work day is beginning, few likely know that he already has been awake for several hours. Wyden rises every morning at precisely 4:20 a.m., and he does so without the aid of a blaring alarm clock. If that weren’t striking enough, each weekday he goes to the Crunch Fitness gym in San Marcos by the time it opens at 5 for a long, vigorous workout composed of cardio training and weightlifting. He hits the gym on both weekend days as well, but that’s not until 7 – only because Crunch doesn’t open until then on Saturdays and Sundays. Read more at https:// news.csusm.edu/new-fas-vice-president-is-early-to-rise-and-hard-at-work/. Student makes a difference through work with dance nonprofit (CSUSM News Center) Growing up in San Marcos, Lesly Rodriguez’s family didn’t have a lot of money. Her parents worked a lot. Often, that not only meant making sacrifices, but also less time for her family to spend together. But as an elementary school student, Rodriguez didn’t know of her family’s financial struggles. She had a normal and happy existence that eventually led her to Cal State San Marcos, where she’s now a senior on the cusp of graduating with an economics degree. Read more at https://news.csusm.edu/student-makesa-difference-through-work-with-dance-nonprofit/. CSUSM Police Department to host Toys for Tots drop-off The University Police Department (UPD) is hosting a drop-off for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots. The UPD is accepting donations until Dec. 16. New and unwrapped toys can be dropped off in the lobby of the University Police Department, located at 425 La Moree Road. UPD accepts all donations, big or small and will be picked up by Camp Pendleton Marines on Dec. 16. This is the second consecutive year that UPD has participated as a designated drop-off site for Toys for Tots, coordinated by Sargent Herman Hernandez. Students are also able to make online donations by visiting the Marine Corps Toys for Tots website. Currently, 13 active COVID-19 cases reported at CSUSM The CSUSM campus has 13 active COVID cases as of Nov. 28. There have been 245 cumulative COVID-19 cases this year. The data includes cases from students and employees who have tested positive for COVID-19. Additionally, the data shows whether individuals with COVID-19 were on campus or in an off-site campus program. The positivity rate of students, faculty and staff testing through on-campus testing is 0.42 percent as of Nov. 28. The numbers demonstrated in the current data include the cases only known to CSUSM and are not inclusive of positive cases impacting CSUSM community members off-campus. CSUSM data can be found on https://www.csusm.edu/ csusmasone/faq/current-cases.html. The data updates when there is a new case reported to the university.
The Cougar Chronicle, Wednesday, December 8, 2021
A&E Editor: Jaelyn Decena cougarchron.arts@gmail.com
3
CSUSM Theatre Department presents The Thanksgiving Play By Natalie Navarro Opinion Editor From Nov. 17-20, the CSUSM School of Arts produced The Thanksgiving Play in room Arts 111. Written by Larissa Fasthorse, The Thanksgiving Play is a satire about good intentions and insensitive actions. After receiving multiple grants to honor Native American Heritage month, Logan (theatre teacher/director) gathers local educators and actors to help devise a play regarding a politically correct and accurate retelling of the first Thanksgiving. Believing she hired an Indigenous actor to provide cultural insight Logan’s expectations start high and hopeful. However, once the group learns that their Indigenous holy grail is actually Caucasian, the production meeting gradually implodes. Innocent ideas quickly develop and become outlandish. The group questions their willingness to convey a story they cannot relate to. After several attempts, the group decides to abandon the issue and leave. They un-
derstand that no matter how good-intentioned they are, Indigenous Americans do not deserve to be left out of the conversation. Continuing to pursue the play perpetuates America’s ignorance toward them. The Thanksgiving Play highlights how sometimes we contribute to societal problems by attempting to address or fix them. Ignorance is as strong as ignoring the issues; opening discourse with the parties involved is a start towards progress. Representation matters even when it is not necessarily required. While many may not notice the lack of authenticity, there are always people who do. The Thanksgiving Play does a swell job expressing its message about inclusivity. Satire is a difficult genre to distinguish the central message from its humor. Although when done well, the message is brilliantly conveyed.
Photo by Angelica Parra
Photo by Angelica Parra
Photo by Angelina Parra CSUSM Theatre students perform “The Thanksgiving Play.”
Cougar Chronicle Song of the Week
Submit a song at: https://tinyurl. com/cougarsow
COUGAR CHRONICLE STAFF
The Cougar Chronicle is published twice a month on Wednesdays during the academic year. All advertising revenue goes to support Cougar Chronicle scholarships.
Editor-in-Chief Tania Ortiz Managing Editor Sasha Anand News Editor Marbella Ramirez A&E Editor Jaelyn Decena Features Editor Magali Castillo Opinion Editor Natalie Navarro Video Editor Jose Valdovinos
Web and Social Eric Hendricks Assistant Editors Christopher King Reporters Priscilla Cruz Jaiden Quiroz Jaden Whitehead Sayna Nassertorabi Nijiati Maimaitiyuming Cassidy Lovell Kinsey Canez Diana Beas-Soto Brittany Stroffolino
Photographers Angelina Parra Valeria Serna
Graphic Artists Angelina Parra Mallory Arcena Shea Hauswirth Fernanda Ugarte Administrative Coordinator Maria Clements Journalism Advisor Kent Davy
Weekly meetings Tuesdays in Craven 3500 during u-hour www.csusmchronicle.com csusm.cougarchronicle@gmail.com (760) 750-6099
Letters to the Editor should include a first and last name and should be under 300 words, submitted via email. It is the policy of The Cougar Chronicle not to print anonymous letters. The Cougar Chronicle reserves the right to reject any Letter to the Editor for any reason.
4
A&E Editor: Jaelyn Decena cougarchron.arts@gmail.com
The Cougar Chronicle, Wednesday, December 8, 2021
THE CHRONICLE ENTERTAINMENT RUNDOWN
By Jaiden Quiroz, Cassidy Lovell, Tania Ortiz| Staff Writer, Staff Writer, Editor-in-Chief
Podcast: Do You F***ing Mind?
Screengrab by Tania Ortiz
Do You F***ing Mind is available to listen on Apple Podcasts.
In her podcast titled Do You F***ing Mind?, Alexis Fernandez discusses important topics including relationship advice, anxiety, mindsets, passion about one’s goals, travel, positive views on body image, tools for motivation and tips focusing on the betterment of your overall health. Fernandez currently works as a personal trainer and pilates instructor, while working towards her masters in neuroscience. In her podcast, she emphasizes the importance of exercising your brain as well as your body. Fernandez works on providing her audience with an array of psychological facts to support her claims and gives personal examples on how she came to understand a topic.
Video Game: Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl
Photo from Wikipedia, property of Nintendo.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl are available on Nintendo Switch.
Book: It Ends With Us
Photo from Wikipedia, property of Simon and Schuster. It Ends With Us is available on digital reading platorms.
Colleen Hoover’s novel It Ends With Us stunned the reading community with its heart-breaking, true depictions of a modern day love story. The main character, Lily, has always been passionate about her goals, such as becoming a self-made businesswoman. She then meets Ryle Kincaid, a sensitive and semi-arrogant neurosurgeon. Their spark turns into a romantic connection, but Lily faces the hard hitting reality when Ryle expresses that he has no interest in a committed relationship. The storyline follows Lily’s fascination with Ryle’s no dating rule, her rekindled feelings with her first love, and how love always comes at a cost.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl were released Nov. 19. Remastered for the Nintendo Switch, these two remakes bring back the 2006 classics. Players begin by selecting a fourth-generation “starter” Pokémon: Turtwig, a grass-type; Chimchar, a fire-type or Piplup, a water-type. From there, players go on a quest to catch them all and prevent the evil Team Galactic from summoning powerful Pokémon. The main difference between Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl is the exclusive Pokémon unique to each game. Most notably, Brilliant Diamond features legendary Pokémon Dialga, whereas Shining Pearl features legendary Pokémon Palkia.
Album: Formula of Love: O+T+<3
Photo from Wikipedia, property of JYP Entertainment.
Formula of Love:O +T= <3 is avaliable on all streaming platforms.
South Korean girl group Twice released their third studio album, Formula of Love: O+T=<3 on Nov. 12. The nine-member group channels the disco-pop vibes reminiscent of Studio 54. The album’s first single, “The Feels” was the group’s first English-language track and a few more, like “Moonlight” are sprinkled throughout. One of the standout tracks is “F.I.L.A (Fall in Love Again),” which embraces all the disco-glamour embedded in the album. Twice expands on the concept of love throughout this album and its multiple facets. Formula of Love: O+T=<3 is available on all streaming platforms.
Netflix adaptation of Cowboy Bebop stays true to storyline REVIEW By Sayna Nassertorabi Staff Writer
This review contains spoilers. During the past few weeks there have been some new releases on Netflix, among them is the live action version of the beloved anime Cowboy Bebop. If you are not familiar with the anime, Cowboy Bebop follows the life of three bounty hunters; Spike, Jet and Faye Valentine. The three bounty hunters dedicate their lives chasing down the most dangerous criminals in the solar system. In this live action adaptation, John Cho stars as Spike, Mustafa Shakir as Jet and Daniella Pineda as Faye Valentine. The original Cowboy Bebop aired from 1998 to 2000 and consisted of 26 episodes. The Netflix adaptation, as of now, is only one season and no information has been announced on plans for a second season. While there are notable differences in the Netflix adaptation compared to the original anime, the characters and storylines remain the same for the most part. The greatest part about the Netflix adaptation of Cowboy Bebop is John Cho’s
Photo from Wikipedia, property of Netflix. Cowboy Bebop reimagines the well-known anime to live action storytelling.
incredible performance as Spike Spiegel. One of the main points of Spike’s character in the animated series is him not having any fear of death and Cho does a great job at portraying this aspect of Spike’s character. For example, in the third episode of the Netflix adaptation there is an instance where Spike is about to fall off the roof but Jet rushes and
holds on to his leg; any person would be scared to death if they were about to fall off a roof. But what Spike did at that moment was to casually light a cigarette and smoke it. After Jet asks what he is doing he casually responds, “waiting for you to pull me back up!” This scene was brilliant because it perfectly captures Spike’s nonchalant attitude and is not afraid of
death. Even if you did not watch or only a few episodes of the animated version of Cowboy Bebop, viewers can easily grasp the storyline through the Netflix adaptation. Mustafa Shakir and Daniella Pineda also did a good job portraying their respective characters, Jet and Faye Valentine. The Netflix adaptation of Cowboy Bebop
has received some negative comments relating to the writing and the characters not being similar to the ones in the original. But viewers need to keep in mind that it is difficult to bring anime characters to life and have real actors perform them. Overall, if you are a fan of the animated version of Cowboy Bebop, then you’ll definitely enjoy the live-ac-
tion adaptation on Netflix. All episodes of Cowboy Bebop are available to stream on Netflix.
The Cougar Chronicle, Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Features Editor: Magali Castillo cougarchron.features@gmail.com
5
CSUSM faculty member reflects on her time at the university By Magali Castillo Features Editor Lourdes Shahamiri is the Catalog and Curriculum Coordinator in the Academic Affairs/Academic Programs Department. Shahamiri has held this role since 1991, publishing all CSUSM catalogs. In addition, some of her contributions include co-organizer of the creation of the Cesar Chavez statue, developed approaches for establishing the Hispanic Serving Institution status and currently serving on the Craven Taskforce. She has been a mentor to many students and a wonderful colleague. Shahamiri is retiring after 30 years of working at CSUSM. How long have you worked for Cal State San Marcos? I was hired on Oct. 31, 1991, Halloween day. I have seen the campus grow since I was hired. We were at the facility by the furniture store (Jerome’s). Things were very simple back then. There were only a few buildings. So, in all the time you have worked for Cal State San Marcos, what have been your responsibilities? Catalog and curriculum coordinator. I have been in this position since then and I never left. Do you like your role here? I love it. It’s fascinating to see all the programs come to fruition. My responsibility is not only analyzing the curriculum but making sure that the new programs are edited
Photo by Magali Castillo
Lourdes Shahamiri reflects on 30 years of being at CSUSM.
and submitted to the Chancellor’s Office after they are passed by the Senate. It’s fascinating when the students tell me, “we’ve heard that there’s a new program coming on board and to finally see it approved and placed in the catalog.” That has been one of my favorite things to see that their programs get approved. I think you answered my next question, which was what has been your favorite thing about working for Cal State San Marcos and I
guess with the role that has been your favorite thing? That has been! There’s a second part to the question that is. I’ve had the ability to participate in many initiatives on campus, and that has really enhanced my work. There are several that I can mention to you that really compliment my work. It was exciting to see initiatives come our way and just having the time you know to participate in them, and to do my work as well, one I can mention is our Cesar Chavez statue, that was one of my
favorite initiatives. I saw it develop from ground up and I want to say that it has been said that it was a top down approach to the project and it’s not so this was one of the most transparent projects. He was created from ground up, I know this because I was in the committee that brainstormed about creating a Caesar Chavez statue, and in fact there’s a brief history in the library that details how the statue came about. It was an honor to serve in that committee and to see the statue developing in such a
short timeline, this has never happened. I don’t think other universities’ committees started talking about it, and this was the Hispanic Advisory Council, which used to advise President Stacy back then and I was a part of it. It was April 1996 when we started talking about what we could do on the Cesar Chavez Plaza. The Plaza had already been named and some ideas from our group were perhaps we could do a bench, a fountain or a tile wall. And I came up with the idea of a statue. The group allowed me the flexibility to run with the project, and that’s how the project began. There’s a lot of detail that I can tell you, but I don’t know how much. But that was one of my favorite projects because it was such a short time. Imagine from recent promissory from April 1996 to his birthday on Mar. 31, 1997, the statue was installed, so it was an honor truly to see that project come to fruition with the family present in the community members. It was so symbolic to house a Chavez statue on campus because it was an opportunity for creating social change. It’s very symbolic to many students who are struggling to obtain an education. For all his work you know, the way he treated human beings, he gave them their dignity and worked hard for it. I saw it as an opportunity to honor him and his legacy and I’m so glad that I received the support from faculty, students, administration, and community members to finish this project in such a short timeline. It was amaz-
ing! So, that was one. Has there been something that’s not been your favorite thing about working at Cal State San Marcos? It’s hard for me to think negatively of Cal State San Marcos. It was a little bit difficult how many times I’ve moved during the growth. I’ve moved 13 times, in the span of time that I’ve been here, this is the longest I’ve been in this office. But because our unit was small at the time that they were building, they would move us to a different location so they could finish whatever they were doing and just find space for faculty. Whatever the situation was, we needed to move. I think that it could be one of my least favorite. Sometimes they would ask me to pick up and go during catalog production, so I was like “OK! we have to go, we have to go!” But other than that, it’s been a wonderful experience. What are your plans for retirement? Traveling, gardening, cooking and I’m open to whatever the future brings. There are many opportunities in the community to continue to make change, and that’s hopefully what I get to do. Do you feel like you have left great accomplishments when you leave your position? Aside from the Chavez statue, yes. The Hispanic Serving Institution status Faculty, continued on page 6
Recipe: Pressure cooker mac and cheese cooker, either an Instant pot or Ninja Foodi should be fine.
By Jaiden Quiroz Staff Writer Over this past year, I have struggled with maintaining my relationships with my friends, family, and with my university. Due to the pandemic, we have all experienced a loss of security, connectedness, and familiarity. However, throughout this hybrid semester we are learning how to gain that back and reconstruct the ways that we come to understand the definition of comfort. During my year in Zoom University, I learned a lot about my relationship with food, the importance of maintaining my overall wellbeing and finding joy in learning how to cook a variety of different comfort foods. One comfort food in particular that I discovered to be one of my favorites was this recipe for pressure cooker mac and cheese. This meal takes a total of 20 minutes to
Photo from Wikimedia Commons. Homecooked mac and cheese brings comfort to students during this time of the semester.
complete. Ingredients: This recipe requires you to have 1 (16 oz) box of small elbow style macaroni noodles, 3 cups worth of chicken broth, 2 tbsp of butter, 1/2 cup of sharp cheddar cheese,
1/2 cup of shredded parmesan cheese, and 1/2 cup Mexican four cheese blend, 1 cup of heavy whipping cream, garlic salt and salt and pepper to taste. Optional Topping: additional 1/2 cup of sharp cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup of
parmesan cheese and 1/4 cup Mexican four cheese blend and 1 cup Panko bread crumbs. However, I will note that even though water can be used as an alternative to using chicken broth, it does not have as much flavor. You will then use a pressure
Steps: First, you will add your chicken broth (or water) and elbow macaroni noodles into your pot. Stir the mixture around to evenly coat the noodles. Next, close the lid and steam valve of your pressure cooker and set it on high for six minutes, then quickly release the steam valve. The third step is to lift the lid and stir in your 2 tbsp of butter and allow this to completely melt into the pasta. Additionally once this melts, then you will sprinkle the ½ cup of sharp cheddar cheese, ½ cup of parmesan cheese, and ½ cup Mexican four cheese blend and stir in the 1 cup of heavy whipping cream until all of the cheese becomes melted. Stir in garlic salt, pepper and salt to taste. At this point, you have the option to either serve the
dish or add a few additional steps described below. If you choose to do the optional steps, you will first need to sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of sharp cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese, and 1/4 cup Mexican four cheese blend and 1 cup Panko Bread crumbs on the top of the noodles and do not stir it in. You will close the lid once more and press the air crisp button to 400 degrees and let it sit for 3 minutes. Please note, if your pressure cooker does not have the air crisp option you can pour the mac and cheese into an oven safe serving dish before adding the toppings. Once you have done that, sprinkle your cheeses and bread crumbs onto the top. Place the dish in your oven with the Broil option set to high. This will take approximately 3-5 minutes to melt the cheese and brown the edges. Enjoy!
6
Features Editor: Magali Castillo cougarchron.features@gmail.com
The Cougar Chronicle, Wednesday, December 8, 2021
DIY: Seed-starter holiday greeting card By Magali Castillo Features Editor In the spirit of the holiday season, sending holiday greeting cards is a great way to send to family or friends. There’s nothing more special when you make something from scratch for someone that you love.
Q: What do you call an elf that can sing and dance? A: Elfis!
Materials Needed: Scrap paper, plant seeds, Mixer (kitchen), Water, Decoration Items. Directions: Step 1: Tear the scrap paper into small pieces and put it in the mixer along with some plant seeds and some water. Step 2: Turn on the mixer to grate it to such an extent that it is still sludgy. Step 3: Take the mixture out and spread it on a clean surface such that its thickness is like a piece of thick sheet. Step 4: Let it dry out in a few hours, you can also cover it with a towel to soak the water. Step 5: Once it is all dried up, it will be a sheet of paper. Step 6: You can cut it in
Faculty: continued from page 5
was another initiative that I felt very happy to have been part of. There was an opportunity for me to partner with a community member, Bill Delafuente and he has done many things for our students. We talked and we decided that it was time for us to speak with administration and recommend that the Hispanic Serving Institution initiative move forward and so we did. We spoke with then President Karen Haynes about the importance of having the Hispanic serving institution designation, and we worked very hard. We developed three phases for accomplishing the status and that was another very important initiative for the campus, so I’m glad that I was part of it. Any advice for the new person that will be taking the role? “Enjoy the work as much as I do!” Curriculum is a very precise work, and we need to make sure that whatever we represent in the catalog is accurate and it’s a big job, it takes a lot of time, dedication and commitment. And I enjoyed every bit of it, and I hope that the next person will also feel the same way. Do you have any regrets? Anything that you wish you would have done differently?
Get in the holiday spirit with these jokes!
Screengrab by Tania Ortiz A homemade gift for the holidays makes a great gift for loved ones.
different shapes and sizes and use your decoration items to make it more visually appealing. Step 7: Add a note that if the piece of this greeting card is sowed in the soil, it will grow a plant at the spot due to the seeds mixed inside the paper which makes it really nice for nature. Tips: It is helpful if your No regrets. I learned a lot over these 30 years. The catalog has been done in so many different formats. Many software packages from designing the catalog that went online was a big change for this office, and I believe it was for the better. It was less work for me in terms of finishing the product and publishing it, and sometimes I asked myself, well it was a lot of work the way we were doing it before and always with the thought in mind for the students. “How would the students view the catalog best?” And then you have to move with technology as well. So, it was important for our office to move forward and create a better approach for creating the catalog, better design, I guess. Or creating the catalog. So, it’s been a wonderful experience. A lot of work in the past, you know, from collecting photos to going to check the blueprint, travel to having an online and having it in control, it makes better sense.
scrap paper is multi-colored as it helps in getting a more beautiful card. You can also add some seeds to the soaked, sludgy paper as you place it to dry.
Q: Why wouldn’t the Christmas tree stand up? A: It had no legs. Q: What kind of ball doesn’t bounce? A: A snowball. Source:https://parade.com/1059328/marynliles/christmas-jokes/ Clip art from Wikimedia Commons and Pixaby
The Cougar Chronicle, Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Column: What I look forward to
Graphic by Mallory Arcena Students look forward to the upcoming winter break.
By Jaiden Quiroz Staff Writer Winter break is right around the corner and I am here for it! I am counting down the days till I can go on vacation again because traveling is not only one of my main priorities, but it is also my favorite thing to do. The excitement I get from planning out a trip, to the experiences I have with my travel companions and the adventures I have at my destination. I always try to be in the moment and appreciate every challenge. I think traveling is important for everyone to experience because it broadens your horizons and grants you the opportunity to try new things outside of your comfort zone. Since childhood, I have had a passion for exploring and it has been so influential in my life that I choose a career that gives me the potential to move from place to place.
During break, I also plan to look into various Masters programs, attend a number of in person and online info-sessions and travel to campuses around the country in order to get a sense of what I am looking for. I have considered graduate school in the past, but I honestly haven’t committed to the idea up until very recently. One simple statement occupied my mind whenever I considered my future. I love to learn. This single phrase is what made me realize that I want to pursue my path as a student and continue my journey in higher education. Whether or not you plan to go to graduate school is based on what you think is best for you. Even though I am anxious about the decision, I know that I am up for the challenge because I think that I have a lot more learning to do. The last goal I hope to complete before the next semester is looking into and perhaps attending esthetician
school. Becoming an esthetician has always been a dream that I have put on the backburner because I thought that attending a four-year university and completing this type of schooling would be too rigorous of a schedule for me, especially going into my freshman year. However, now I think that I have developed the skills and confidence to pursue this goal. I plan to become certified by the end of next year while simultaneously applying for graduate school in the fall. The holiday season can bring about many emotions, positive or negative, but I believe that having a healthy balance of both is what the holidays are truly about. Personally, this break I plan on putting more time into focusing on my physical and spiritual health. Improving my time management skills, spending more time with my friends and family, preparing for my last semester at CSUSM, and strengthening my financial skills so that I am better equipped for life after earning my undergraduate degree this Spring. Although I am excited about my new course schedule, I am saddened by the fact that it is my last time registering here at CSUSM. I hope to take advantage of every opportunity I have been too afraid to chase as a lower class student. I am so excited to share this next semester with you. I wish you all good luck on your finals and hope you have the best winter break adventures. Happy holidays!
Opinion Editor Natalie Navarro cougarchron.opinion@gmail.com
7
Column: To The Cougar Chronicle: thank you By Tania Ortiz Editor-In-Chief The past two and half years have been eventful. My time here at Cal State San Marcos started during the fall 2019 semester; I had just transferred from MiraCosta College, eager to start this new chapter in my academic career. If you would’ve asked 2019 Tania where she would imagine herself in two years, she probably wouldn’t have given you an answer. Two years ago, I had no sense of direction; I knew I wanted to pursue a career in journalism but never really exhibited that energy, nor was I confident in my abilities to do so. I blame imposter syndrome for that; the voice in the back of my head telling me that I wasn’t good enough or amounted to the same kind of skill my peers had. When I first joined The Cougar Chronicle in August 2019, I had just finished my time as the print editor for The Chariot News at MiraCosta, so I was familiar with the newsroom environment. But every newsroom works differently, so I adjusted accordingly. With my previous experience, I felt somewhat confident in my writing and didn’t bother to review before submitting, which I would not recommend. It wasn’t until the editors edited my articles that I real-
ized I wasn’t really the writer I saw myself as and improvements needed to be made. At times, I felt inadequate to be a writer, but with practice and helpful tips from previous editors and our faculty advisor, my writing has evolved into what it is today. During the pandemic, it was hard not to fall back into a negative mindset; everything was shut down. We couldn’t step onto campus and the days felt long. However, I think being away from campus for almost a year helped me grow to love journalism and squash my imposter syndrome as that passion grew inside me. As much as I am tired of it, this pandemic gave me the time to work on myself as a person, student and journalist. While we couldn’t meet face-to-face in the Chronicle office every Tuesday and Thursday, my predecessors tried to keep that atmosphere alive in any way possible. My time at The Cougar Chronicle has taught me that anything is possible. As Editor-in-Chief this past semester, I learned more about myself as a journalist and how to manage a paper on a campus that is still transitioning back to in-person activities. This experience has been fulfilling for me as I continue pursuing journalism after graduating this semester. I’ve learned about being a better leader and finding new ways to engage with The Chronicle staff daily. While I will say, there were
road bumps along the way, many of which were unexpected. Managing The Cougar Chronicle in a hybrid format was not ideal, but I learned how to work with the barriers to producing content for our paper. I am very proud and impressed with our staff this semester, the majority of whom were new to journalism, produced great content, improving with each edition. To all the editors, thank you for all the work you have done in making this paper great in getting articles covered last-minute or designing the layout; thank you. I would also like to thank our faculty advisor, for helping me become a better journalist and editor. I’ve gained a better understanding of journalism thanks to your advice and help throughout this semester. The future is bright for The Cougar Chronicle, as the staff continues to create the best content. The Chronicle is being left in great hands and I’m excited to see their growth. Thank you, Cougar Chronicle, for the past two years. Thank you for allowing me to become even more passionate about journalism, for allowing me to serve as the Opinion Editor and, eventually, Editor-in-Chief and for allowing me to become a more confident writer. It’s been a pleasure to be a part of The Cougar Chronicle, thank you.
Major court cases offer opposing views of “justice” By Jaden Whitehead Staff Writer In the past month, there have been multiple high profile court cases that have made national headlines: the trial of the killers of Ahmaud Arbery and the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse. Ahmaud Arbery was murdered on Feb. 23, 2020 by father and son Gregory and Travis McMicheal and their neighbor William Bryan. Arbery was out jogging during the afternoon of the twenty-third, and the three men chased him down in their truck. Armed with pistols and a shotgun; they shot him three times. The men alleged that Arbery was responsible for a series of break-ins in their neighborhood, although none were ever officially reported to the police. They also argued that this was an act of self defense, as they
Graphic by Shea Hauswirth These high profile cases bring opposing views to light.
told the court Arbery was attacking them and they were acting in the interests of both themselves and their neighborhood. In every sense , it is impossible to say this was an act of self defense. These men armed themselves, got in their car to assault and eventually kill Arbery, who was unarmed and was merely jogging in the neighborhood. This looks less like an attempted citizens arrest and
more like a public lynching. This case has the backings of racial motiviations as well, as Arbery, a black man, was murdered by three white men. In the video of Arbery’s murder, filmed by one of the accomplices, Travis McMicheal is heard using racial slurs as Arbery lifelessly lays on the ground. At the end of this trial, justice was served. All three men were found guilty and are awaiting their sentencing,
facing life imprisonment. Conversely, the case of Kyle Rittenhouse and its decision have come under rightful scrutiny, as justice was not served. Rittenhouse was present at the Kenosha protests following the police shooting of an unarmed black man, Jacob Blake. However, he was there with the intention of defending businesses and in the process shot three protesters, killing two. Rittenhouse, who was 17 years old at the time, was charged with first degree reckless homicide, first degree intentional homicide and attempted first degree intentional homicide along with a misdemeanor weapons charge. The weapons charge was dismissed, based on a Wisconsin statute in regards to the length of the gun barrel. As for the rest Rittenhouse was found not guilty of all
charges, citing an argument of self defense that led to his eventual acquittal. I believe this finding to both be unjust and has the potential to set a dangerous precedent moving forward for any large scale peaceful protests. It is hard to justify what Rittenhouse did as a form of self defense considering he crossed state lines with a rifle purchased for him to be present at the Kenosha protests. To me, it is a similar situation to that of the Arbery case. Rittenhouse, being there with an AR-15, established himself as a dangerous presence, clearly to instill some sort of fear amongst the peaceful protestors. Especially when you take into account videos Rittenhouse posted to his TikTok, talking about how he yearned to shoot at protestors. People with a similar per-
spective who see how this case went, can now effectively bring a gun to a protest and open fire upon the protesters while citing self defense as a way to avoid sentencing similar to Rittenhouse. This is an indication that there needs to be wide sweeping changes in gun rights and how the court system views self defense laws. Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old at the time of the shooting, should have never been in a public setting with a rifle to begin with, and it is a failure of our system and a part of the depravation of the second amendment as a whole that brought him there to begin with. These major cases over the month have shown the United States both how far we have come in dealing with Cases, continued on page 8
SPORTS Women’s basketball coach excited to be back
8
The Cougar Chronicle, Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Cases: continued from page 7
racially motivated acts of violence, and how far we have to go in terms of gun rights and self defense laws in our country. Dangerous precedents have been set and can affect the overall safety of people exercising their right to protest. It is up to those in power to recognize these dangers and keep the people safe, and for the people to keep their voices heard in this general discourse.
By Kinsey Canez Staff Writer Last year, Renee Jimenez met with her women’s basketball team only via Zoom to discuss everything from binge TV to emerging social justice issues. In an interview with the CSUSM coach last week, Jimenez talked about the abrupt ending of the 2019 season. She and her team had flown to Hawaii for the NCAA tournament in March. Then the pandemic hit. News broke that the NBA had shut down and the NCAA followed suit. “All these things happened within the five hours that we were in the air on that Wednesday. I’ll never forget it” she said. While in Hawaii, Jimenez got a phone call that the season was over and that the team needed to get on the next flight home. The season and the tournament were uncertain. “We didn’t know it was going to be months before we saw each other again. So when we started school this past August, that was the first time I had seen my kids in 17 months.” she said. In those virtual meetings, Jimenez tried to help her players make sense of the disruption and find opportunities for connection. “We had a lot of individu-
Photo Courtesy of CSUSM Athletics/Greg Stiller Coach Renee Jimenez reflects on being a coach during the pandemic.
al one-on-one meetings with our players. We got to learn a lot more about them as people, about their families -- things you don’t always have time for as a coach,” she said. Jimenez also spent time with her newborn twins, who joined a sibling later in 2019. Reflecting on her coaching career, she said it began with a sports loving family and many afternoons playing basketball in her driveway in Ventura. Jimenez took up hoops around the age of eight or nine and continued to play until she graduated
from San Francisco State University in 2004. While thoughts of a coaching career c a m e in high school, “ o n c e I got to college I started to really figure it out, like this is what I want to do,” she said. “And, so I just started
By Tania Ortiz Editor-In-Chief Men’s basketball earns win against Cal State Dominguez Hills
Photo Courtesy of CSUSM Athletics Men’s basketball is off to a great start this season.
to take a 43-point lead—the largest lead of the game— brought men’s basketball up 79-36 with less than five minutes of game time left. In a post-game interview, head coach BJ Foster praises the men’s basketball team and breaks down their strategy that helped gain victory over Dominguez Hills. “Tonight, we did a great job at the offensive boards,” said Foster, “we did a very good job at crashing the board.” “I’m more pleased for another game that we followed the game plan. We were right on top of where we wanted to be,” said Foster.
later, Jimenez served as the head coach at Cal State Monterey Bay. CSUSM hired her to coach women’s basketball in 2015. Jimenez’s usual mornings start bright and early with breakfast for her kids before school. Then comes a schedule filled with some variation of practice, weights, game film, scouting and game prep. “The end of the day comes and it’s back to family. It’s picking kids up from school, taking them to practice, making dinner” she said. “My work time for my team is
another victory at the Sports Center on Dec.1 against Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Cougars ended the game with a 71-65 win over the Torros. The Cougars had a rough start, trailing behind Dominguez Hills 11-7 until the first media timeout. CSUSM quickly recovered and snatched a 12-11 lead from the Torros after going on a 5-0 run. Redshirt junior Sydney Buckley scored a three-pointer from the corner with 23 seconds left on the clock for the first quarter, giving CSUSM an 18-15 lead over Cal State Dominguez Hills.
Fellow redshirt junior Dynnah Buckner sneaks in a layout in the final seconds of the first quarter, increasing the lead to 18-17 following the first ten minutes. During the second quarter, redshirt senior Akayla Hackson delivered a three-pointer which catalyzed an 11- run to increase the lead to 29-23. The Cougars close out the first half with a 37-31 lead over Dominguez Hills. CSUSM didn’t let their lead go away during the second half. Buckner scored 10 of her 16 points in the third quarter, helping sustain the lead over the Torros. The Cougars faced a four-min-
“We didn’t know it was going to be month before we saw each other again.” —Renee Jimenez
Sports Recap
CSUSM men’s basketball earned a landslide victory against Cal State Dominguez Hills at The Sports Center on Dec.1. The Cougars won the game with an impressive 7941 score against the Torros. Dominguez Hills quickly took an early 2-0 lead in the first minutes of the game, but CSUSM was able to take back control of the scoreboard by scoring 19 points within the first 20 minutes of the game. The Cougars ended the first half with an 18-point lead over Dominguez Hills. Twelve out of 25 CSUSM rebounds came off the offensive boards in the first half. During the second half, the Cougars could sustain their lead over Cal State Dominguez Hills, gaining a 4222 scoring margin. After a three-pointer by Chase Bowsher, the Cougars were able
to kind of make decisions in college that set me up to be in the coaching world.” After graduation, Jimenez worked b a s ketball camps at Stanford University before landing an internship there as a video coordinator. Several years
With this victory over Dominguez Hills, men’s basketball stands 6-0, continuing their best start as an NCAA member. The 38-point margin of victory tied CSUSM’s record for the largest-ever win against an NCAA Division II institution. This game also marks CSUSM’s first victory as a ranked team in Division II. The Cougars also join Cal State Chico as the only team in the CCAA conference without a loss this season. Women’s basketball dominates Dominguez Hills Women’s basketball gained
when I’m with them and then it’s after my kids go to bed.” Asked about her coaching philosophy, Jimenez said, “It’s really about the student athlete experience and making sure that that’s all encompassing for them.” On the court, her focus is strong defense. On Dec. 2, Jimenez clenched her 200th career win as a coach as the Cougars beat Cal State Dominguez Hills 71-65. As for the rest of the season, Jimenez said she’s optimistic. She and the team are set on a conference championship and a spot in the NCAA tournament once again.
ute drought during the fourth quarter but quickly recovered and improved their lead to 66-59, with a little over two minutes remaining in the half. CSUSM was able to close out the game with the 71-65 victory against Dominguez Hills. The victory over Dominguez Hills marks head coach Renee Jimenez’s 200th win in her career as a basketball coach. The win also extends CSUSM’s CCAA regular-season win streak to 11 wins; the streak dates back to the 2019-20 season, where they won a share of the CCAA Regular-Season Title.
Photo Courtesy of CSUSM Athletics Women’s basketball takes a win against Seattle Pacific in their home opener.