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Prowling For News Since 1999
Wednesday Sept. 15, 2021
Issue #I Volume LIII
CSUSM students and faculty gear up for a new semester
WHAT’S NEW?
By Kristin Bergmann
A&E
Staff Writer
CSUSM officially welcomed students and faculty back on campus for the fall semester on Aug. 30. According to the Office of the Registrar, 16,723 students enrolled at CSUSM this fall semester, In comparison, 16,367 students enrolled during the fall 2020 semester. Over 2,200 classes are offered in a variety of formats. Roughly 580 classes are on-campus, over 1,090 classes are fully online and about 380 are following a hybrid model with alternating in-person and remote lectures. 67 percent of all enrolled students are attending at least one class with an in-person component this fall. In comparison, last fall that number was at only 5.8 percent. Now that over half the student population is back in the classrooms, weekly events are held across campus again, athletics are back on the field and various clubs traded zoom sessions for in-person meetings. The CSUSM community is back and thriving. However, with the pandemic still raging across the country and the variants on the rise there are various
Professor talks creativity and individuality
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FEATURES Students win big at CASINo night
Page 5 CSUSM students, faculty and staff made their return to campus on Aug. 30 for the 2021 fall semester.
safety protocols in place to ensure the safety of students and faculty. Over the summer, the California State University system developed a strategic plan to make the reopening process as safe as possible for everyone involved. All students, faculty and staff must upload their vaccination records by Sept. 30. Those who are not vaccinated need to obtain a medical or religious exemption from this requirement and must participate in the weekly mandatory testing program. The testing site on CSUSM is located inside the Clarke Field House. Aside from the vaccination requirement, all persons on campus are required to wear
masks in all inside areas, regardless of vaccination status. While eating or drinking inside individuals must keep a six feet distance. In all outside areas, masks are optional for those who are vaccinated. For unvaccinated people, masks are mandatory outside when a six feet distance cannot be maintained. Sanitizing stations are placed in various locations across campus. In high contact areas such as the University Student Union, surfaces are wiped down frequently. Despite these necessary safety measures, the atmosphere on campus is bright. Students are excited to be back in the classroom after a year and a half.
The kick-off Weeks of Welcome event dubbed “Miiyu” on Aug. 28 with a great turnout. Over 800 first and second-year students came together to celebrate the start of the new semester. Many participants had never been on campus before and attended the first in-person event since March 2020 with great excitement. That excitement grew even bigger when CSUSM opened its doors to over 11,000 students on the following Monday. Asking around campus revealed that many students seem to welcome the school’s decision to return to in-person classes. Priscilla, a junior majoring in psychology, says, “it’s cool to be back and see people
Photo by Valeria Serna
again.” Sierra, also a thirdyear psychology major, sees the classroom as a “learning environment that motivates you”. Human development major Trevor finds that he is “doing better in person”. Many faculty members are equally thrilled to switch the computer screen for a classroom. Nicholas Thomas, a lecturer for the communication department, states that “being in the classroom with students felt good - you cannot beat the power of student enthusiasm.” For more information, please visit https://www. csusm.edu/csusmasone/index.html. u
OPINION hurricane ida is the beginning of climate chage induced weather
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SPORTS q&a with volleyball's Kassy doering
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CSU system vaccine mandate brings new changes to CSUSM policies for campus community By Nijiati Maimaitiyiming Staff Writer
California State University San Marcos has mandated vaccine and face mask policies for faculty, staff and students during the fall semester. A COVID-19 Prevention Program requires CSUSM employees, students and visitors to campus to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccine or have a religious or medical exemption. Faculty, staff and students must upload their COVID-19 vaccination records by Sept. 30 through their myCSUSM accounts. Those seeking an exemption for religion or medical reasons may self-certify and provide documentation through myCSUSM and submit weekly testing records throughout the semester. Those who intend to remain off campus may also certify
their vaccination status. Under CSUSM’s “Face Covering Guidance,” faculty, staff and students must wear surgical, cloth, or paper masks whenever inside a campus building, except when alone, eating or drinking while maintaining social distance. CSUSM encouraged students to complete an online safety program, entitled “Fall 2021 Return to Campus: COVID-19 Awareness for CSUSM Students.” Students can find this training on Cougar Courses, containing information about the virus and its characteristics. Another university webpage, attacks myths surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines, Cal State San Marcos posted a report from the San Diego County Health Office titled, “Messenger mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines: Myth vs. Facts.” The webpage
Graphic by Fernanda Ugarte The CSU system announced its COVID-19 vaccination mandate in July for all CSU campuses.
also notes that the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines cannot spread the virus but trains the human body to adapt. The report explains that the vaccine will not spread the coronavirus but can train the human body to adapt to the virus. The body will eventually fight the virus without unnecessary medical treat-
ments.The university’s report also debunks the rumor that the COVID-19 vaccine causes people to test positive for the virus. “If your body developed an immune response and tests positive on some antibody tests, a previous infection may have given some level of protection against the vi-
rus,” the website. Adding, “if your body developed an immune response and tests positive on some antibody tests, a previous infection may have given some level of protection against the virus.” Additional information is found at https://www. sandiegocounty.gov/content/ dam/sdc/hhsa/programs/phs/
Epidemiology/covid19/vaccines/COVID-19%20Vaccine%20Myth%20vs.%20 Fact%20ENG_SPAN.pdf. CSU leaders have sounded an urgent alarm: Get vaccinated if possible. “Each of our 23 campuses currently offers on-campus vaccination options to CSU students, faculty, and staff. Campus community members can also visit myturn. ca.gov to learn of other locations where they can receive a COVID-19 vaccine,” said California State University Chancellor Joseph I. Castro. “I thank everyone who is doing their part to protect themselves – and to protect all of us – as our state and nation continue down the path of full economic recovery,” Castro said. u
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News Editor: Marbella Ramirez cougarchron.news@gmail.com
The Cougar Chronicle, Wednesday, September 15, 2021
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Campus Notes 9/15 Veteran program receives $6 million grant to help student veterans discover careers in sustainable energy The Veterans to Energy Careers (VERC) program at Cal State San Marcos that helps student veterans discover careers in sustainable energy received a grant of $6 million from the U.S Department of Defense. The grant awarded to Veterans to Energy Careers from the Office of Naval Research covers three years at double the amount of the funding that helped establish the program at CSUSM in 2018. The original grant of $3 million required the program to place at least 30 student veterans into internships. Under the new terms of the grant, Veterans to Energy Careers is required to increase the number of student veterans placed into internships to 50 students. Currently, 15 active COVID-19 cases at CSUSM The CSUSM campus has 14 active COVID-19 cases as of Sept. 14. There have been 167 cumulative 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 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. New Campaign Encourages Campus to Take Stairs When Possible | CSUSM NewsCenter When Cal State San Marcos was taking small, tentative steps toward repopulating campus on a limited basis last fall, it faced a problem: Social distancing is really hard to manage on an elevator. In concert with state and local public health officials, CSUSM Safety, Health and Sustainability leaders determined that, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, each elevator ride would be restricted to one person or one household. Read more at https://news.csusm.edu/ new-campaign-encourages-campus-to-take-stairs/. Helping Others Leads to Growing Business for Alumna | CSUSM NewsCenter Chanel is the author of two children’s books, with a third anticipated for 2022. But her penchant for helping others struggling with their mental health led to another outlet for her writing as the advice she was giving her friends evolved into shorter affirmations to inspire others. “I just sort of played with the idea of putting these affirmations on canvases and seeing if people want to put them in places,” Chanel said. “And, oh my gosh, did that take off.” Read more at https://news.csusm.edu/helping-others-leads-to-growing-business-for-alumna/. CSUSM faculty still employed under university amid misconduct CSUSM professor Dr. Chetan Kumar, who was subject of a misconduct complaint, remains employed by the university. In an email, Chief Communications Officer Margaret Chantung said College of Business Administration’s Dr. Chetan Kumar “has been given an alternate remote work assignment that does not involve students.” In May, Voice of San Diego reported that university officials determined professor Kumar’s interactions with female students violated school policies. The university informed professor Kumar he would be fired on those grounds in November 2020. Professor Kumar and his union, the California Faculty Association, sent a letter to CSUSM appealing their decision. The union and university reached a settlement, showing that university officials agreed to allow him to keep his faculty job to avoid the inconvenience and uncertainty of continuing proceedings. Dr. Kumar did not respond to requests for comment. President Neufeldt to give annual Report to Community on Sept. 30 President Ellen Neufeldt is scheduled to give the annual “Report to Community” on Sept. 30. This will be President Neufeldt’s second time presenting the annual report to over 500 regional leaders from government, business and service organizations. The “Report to the community’’ will be live-streamed with a small in-person audience for sponsors. To register for the live-streamed event, please visit https://www.csusm.edu/ rtc/index.html.
The Cougar Chronicle, Wednesday, September 15, 2021
A&E Editor: Jaelyn Decena cougarchron.arts@gmail.com
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A conversation on creativity and individuality in scriptwriting with Professor Laura Skokan By Jaelyn Decena A&E Editor
One thing that makes CSUSM so special is the faculty; professors are always open to helping students to the best of their ability. A professor who always goes above and beyond for students is Professor Laura Skokan of literature and writing studies and art, media, and design. Professor Skokan instructs both creative writing and writing for digital media courses. Professor Skokan had a passion for writing that began from an early age. The first play I did was in middle school, I wrote somewhat of a Saturday Night Live parody. I was a part of the International Thespian Society and we performed it. Somehow people didn’t know that I wrote it, so the end was sort of a reveal. But
I felt pretty proud of myself that people thought it was someone who wrote it but really it was just me,” Skokan said. Professor Skokan also mentioned that “I also teach in the literature and writing studies department, but I’ve never really been good at reading. I’ve gotten better, but the one thing I’ve been good at since I was younger is dialogue. I can pick up dialogue fairly quickly, so I think that’s where my interest in script writing comes from.” Like many, Skokan had received inspiration from different people in the writing industry. “There are a lot of people I look to. Matt Weiner, who does Mad Men, just thinks about writing in such a beautiful and complicated way. I think it’s really lovely that he
shares his whole process and really walks people through it. Dan Harmon is another one who also loves talking about the process, which is why I kind of started falling into his little web,” Professor Skokan said. Professor Skokan went on to talk about the structure of film and writing that she admired. “Inside Out does such a wonderful job of where we’re following along with Joy and we don’t see the bait-and-switch happen with Sadness until the end. It’s such a nice way to end up teaching us something about how humans work and how sadness is a good thing.” said Skokan Adding,“that’s always what I’m striving for: not trying to go into ‘oh this arc pays off nicely’ or even ‘this is a very satisfying ending.’
Photo from IMDb, property of Laura Skokan and photographed by Will Reyna Professor Skokan of CSUSM’s LTWR and AMD departments on set for short film “Sweet Potato Man.”
I’m always looking for ‘is this saying something new? Is this saying something that will help people reimagine how they think about things?’” While the entertainment industry can be intimidating, knowing one’s self as a writer is what keeps audiences interested. It quickly
becomes clear that one of the most important things when pursuing script-writing as a career is to keep in mind the why behind one’s writing. Professor Skokan is more than willing to help out students, especially those planning to pursue an industry that can seem overwhelming and daunting. With her
wit, charm, and wide-ranged knowledge about the film industry as a whole, Skokan creates work that makes even those who feel invisible feel recognized. u
CSUSM School of Arts returns with in-person and virtual events for fall semester By Jaelyn Decena A&E Editor
As CSUSM begins to transition to traditional online learning, School of Arts departments such as the Theatre Arts are slowly transitioning to in-person performances and events. In-person performances allow more opportunities for actors to gauge audience response and connect with an audience. However, the majority of events are still being held online, giving many students the opportunity to join events in the comfort of their own homes. These are the events being held this semester as of this edition: CSUSM Arts and Lectures Series “Staying Safe When Relationships Go Digital”: This event is hosted by the Arts and Lectures Series and features Adam Dodge. The
The Cougar Chronicle is published twice a month on Wednesdays during the academic year. Distribution includes 1,000 copies across more than 20 stands positioned throughout the CSUSM campus. All advertising revenue goes to support Cougar Chronicle scholarships.
event highlights how even though the majority of dating has gone digital, domestic violence and harassment still exists even within a digital platform. The event takes place Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. via Zoom. “Global Movements for Social Justice”: This event features Dr. Antonio De La Garza, Henry Edward Frank, Dr. Meshack Simati and Dr. Darren Byler. Each speaker comes from a different cultural background, sharing their experiences as those advocating for social justice. This event takes place on Oct. 14 at 12:00 p.m. via Zoom. “Tell Them Where You’re From: Teaching Our Lives/ Stories”: This event features Dr. Irene Sanchez, an ethnic studies teacher at UC Riverside as well as within the Azusa Unified School
District. Dr. Irene Sanchez highlights the importance of showing how history impacts the lives of students and the importance of inspiring younger generations to want to partake in social change and justice. This event takes place on October 19 at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom. “Chola Vida: Homegirls Navigating the Barrio to Academia”: Chola Vida is an organization that supports women who are actively or formerly in gangs and encourages one another to attend college. In this event, Chola Vida will bring attention to the narrative of women in gangs that is often overlooked. This event takes place on October 19 at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom. “Rhythmic Ancestries: Film Screening with Choreographer/DJ/Curator Jose E. Abad”: This event high-
lights Jose Esteban Abad, an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community through dance and music. Abad will screen three of their short films as well as a Q&A. This event will take place on November 1 at 2:00 p.m. via Zoom. “Deported”: This is a screening of a short film titled “Deported,” by filmmakers Rachèle Magloire and Chantal Regnault. The film explores deportation from the perspective of those who have grown up in the U.S. and suddenly having to leave everything behind. The event also will feature Magloire, the film’s director, and Guerline Jozef, an immigration activist. This event takes place on November 17 at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom. Credit for information on these events goes to CSUSM Arts and Lectures Series. To find out more, please visit
their website at https://www. csusm.edu/al/index.html. CSUSM Literature and Writing Studies Community and World Literary Series: “Black Took Collective Event.” This event is a performance by Black Took, a group of Black LGBTQ poets who focus on exploring race, gender, and sexuality with experimental performances. Black Took uses dance, poetry, film and writing to engage in conversation with their audiences. The event will take place via Zoom on Dec. 9 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Credit on information for this event belongs to CSUSM’s Literature and Writing Studies department. CSUSM Theatre Arts The CSUSM Theatre Department presents “The Thanksgiving Play” by Larissa FastHorse.
COUGAR CHRONICLE STAFF
Editor-in-Chief Tania Ortiz Managing Editor Sasha Anad News Editor Marbella Ramirez A&E Editor Jaelyn Decena Features Editor Magali Castillo Opinion Editor Natalie Navarro Web and Social Eric Hendricks
Assistant Editor Christopher King
Reporters Priscilla Cruz Sayna Nassertorabi Diana Beas-Soto Richard Carpenter Nijiati Maimaitiyiming Cassidy Lovell Julieta Enriquez Kinsey Canez Kristin Bergmann Jaden Whitehead
Photographers Angelina Parra Valeria Serna Video Editor Jose Valdovinos Graphic Designers 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
“The Thanksgiving Play” centers around a troupe of terminally “woke” traching artists who scramble to create a pageant that manages to celebrate both Turkey Day and Native American Heritage Month. The play will open on Nov. 17 and run until Nov. 20. For details on showtimes, please visit CSUSM School of Arts website. Credit on information for this event belongs to CSUSM’s Theatre Arts department. Many other departments have yet to announce other performances and events for the Fall 2021 semester, be sure to stay updated through each department’s website, as well as with the Cougar Chronicle for more events by the School of Arts. u u
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.
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A & E Editor: Jaelyn Decena cougarchron.arts@gmail.com
The Cougar Chronicle, Wednesday, September 15, 2021
THE CHRONICLE ENTERTAINMENT RUNDOWN ByTania Ortiz, Diana Beas-Soto, Cassidy Lovell | Editor-in-Chief, Staff Writer, Staff Writer
Movie: He’s All That
TV Show: What If...?
Photo from Wikipedia, Property of Marvel Studios /Disney
What If...? is available to stream on Disney+.
Marvel Studios’ first animated series, What If…? flips the script on the stories that Marvel fans have come to love over the past decade. The animated anthology series is inspired by the original Marvel comic that ran off-and-on from 1977 to 1998. The series takes place in alternate universes with some storylines including what would have happened if Peggy Carter took the super-soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers, making her Captain Britain. The second episode of the series marks the late Chadwick Boseman’s final performance as T’Challa. What If…? is available to stream on Disney+ with new episodes every week.
Video Game: “Psychonauts 2”
Photo from Wikipedia, property of Double Fine Productions.
“Psychonauts 2” was released on Aug.25.
“Psychonauts 2”, a long-awaited sequel to the 2005 release of “Psychonauts”, has finally arrived. Play as Razputin Aquato, a young boy interning for The Psychonauts, a secret psychic agency determined to stop nefarious individuals from abusing mind powers. In a world where such powers are possible, not everyone uses them for good. It’s up to Raz to prevent an evil scheme planning on resurrecting a powerful villain. With quirky, colorful visuals and inventive gameplay, this platform-adventure game is a unique experience.“Psychonauts 2” is available to play on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Playstation 4 and PC.
Photo from Wikipedia, property of Netflix, or graphic artist
He’s All That is available to stream on Netflix.
Netflix’s remake of the 1999 rom-com classic, She’s All That, premiered Aug. 27 with a gender-swapping twist titled He’s All That. The film has garnered controversy over its casting choices such as TikTok star Addison Rae, and media personality Kourtney Kardashian. Despite its criticism, the film climbed to the number one spot on Netflix’s Top 10 during its opening week, suggesting immense popularity with audiences globally. Whether you watch the film for the laughs or just to reminisce on its predecessor, there’s no denying He’s All That is one of the most talked about films of 2021.
Single: “LO$ER=LOVER”
Photo from Wikipedia, property of Dispatch “LO$ER=LOVER” is available on all music platforms.
K-Pop group, Tomorrow by Together released “LO$ER=LOVER” on Aug. 17 as a part of their first repackaged album, The Chaos Chapter: Fight or Escape. “LO$ER=LOVER’’ is a continuation of the band’s dive into a pop-rock sound from their second album, The Chaos Chapter: Freeze, released in June. The concept for the track surrounds the loser’s desire to become a hero—or even a lover—to a love interest, emphasizing the group’s importance on love. The video accompanying the single takes on five different storylines, each starring one of the members. “LO$ER=LOVER’’ is available to stream now.
Halsey takes musical risks with newest album If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power By Tania Ortiz Editor-in-Chief
Following the success of their autobiographical album Manic, Halsey crosses over to alternative rock with their fourth studio album, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power. The singer teams up with Nine Inch Nails members and Academy Award-winning composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to tell a story inspired by the harsh realities of pregnancy and transitioning into motherhood. The album is accompanied by a film of the same name, written by Halsey and directed by Colin Tilley. And quite frankly, the album itself feels like a movie from track one to 13. Opening the album, “The Tradition” is a piano-heavy track with haunting vocals, setting the tone for the rest of the album. The opening track lays down the story being told, having to choose between love and power and the trepidations that accompany pregnancy and the transition into motherhood. Following “The Tradition,” “Bells in the Santa Fe” finds Halsey commenting on the
“Madonna-Whore” complex—a theme interwoven throughout the album—with lyrics “I could keep your bed warm, otherwise, I’m useless.” Moving the story along is “Easier than Lying,” which picks up the tempo with heavy drums and guitar chords that translate into Halsey’s lyrics that express anger and frustration. “Lilith” and “Girl is a gun” hold similar storylines about being an “untraditional” image of femininity, borrowing inspiration from Halsey’s perspective on identity and their experience from coming-of-age in the public eye. The latter half of If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power contains statement tracks, although Halsey’s entire album is a statement. These last few tracks round out the album beautifully. Halsey explores promiscuity and sexuality with the punk-rock-inspired track “Honey.” Lyrics like “she was sweet like honey / But all I can taste is the blood in my mouth / and the bitterness in goodbye” describes feelings of desire in a relationship. “Whispers” brings Halsey back to a prevalent theme in their music: their “self-de-
structive” tendencies and the intrusive thoughts that follow. The hushed vocals throughout the 3-minute song emphasize the concept of the singer having internal conversations with themselves. “I am not a woman, I’m a god” is a synth-pop track in which Halsey declares that they are not a woman but a god. The lyrics serve to reference the singer’s identity and gender fluidity, along with the concept of power in being “god-like.” “The Lighthouse” depicts the story of a siren, Halsey, luring sailors. The track has a very sinister feel with intense industrial-synth guitars and drums—a signature sound from collaborators Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The album closes out with “Ya’aburnee”—Arabic for “you bury me”—a love song told from the perspective of a mother to her child. The track lets listeners know that Halsey chooses love over power, singing, “I love the way my eyes make yours look green too / I think we could live forever / In each other’s face ‘cause I’ll always see my youth in you.” If I Can’t Love, I Want Power is Halsey’s best work
Photo from Wikikpedia, property of Justin Higuchi Halsey teams up with Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails in their newest album.
to date, bringing to light the harsh realities of going through pregnancy and becoming a mother. The altrock tone of the album felt natural, accompanied by
Halsey’s vocals, and thanks to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross collaborating with the singer for pushing them to take risks in their music. “If I Can’t Have Love, I
Want Power” is available on all streaming platforms and the film of the same name is in select theaters now. u
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The Cougar Chronicle, Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Features Editor: Magali Castillo cougarchron.arts@gmail.com
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Students gamble for a chance to win big Cinema night makes at casino night its return to CSUSM
Photo from Pixaby on Pexels Students had the chance to catch a movie on campus
By Julieta Enriquez
thanks to movie night.
Staff Writer
Photo by Cassidy Lovell CSUSM’s Casino Night made its return to the USU Ballroom, with students winning big.
By Cassidy Lovell Staff Writer
CSUSM’s annual casino night event made its return Sept. 3 after being forced to go virtual last year due to COVID-19. Upon arrival, students were given $500 in play money to gamble throughout the event. At the end of the event, accumulated money could be exchanged for raffle tickets. There were many games available for students to play, such as bingo, craps, roulette, poker and blackjack. Free food was also provided. Students had the option to pick from a variety of Panera sandwiches or salads. There were two separate
sets of prizes available for students to win. Bingo prizes were awarded to winners throughout the night. They included a toaster oven, wireless earbuds, polaroid camera accessories and a diffuser with essential oils. The raffle prizes included a Roku remote and popcorn machine bundle, two separate $25 gift cards to either Chili’s or Starbucks, a Keurig, academic supplies and the most desired prize, a $100 bookstore voucher coupled with AirPods. Felicity Bryson, a USU Live event programmer, describes the event and its planning. “For USU Live, we host and put on some fun events
for students. They’re always free, there’s usually free food, and some swag giveaways or fun prizes.” Last year’s casino night was held virtually on Zoom, and it was clear that the USU Live team was thrilled to be back in person and on campus. “[It’s] really just to connect with the students, especially now, since we haven’t been on campus in so long. We are all super excited to be having events with everyone again,” Bryson said. Kobey Lovell, a freshman attending his first CSUSM event, was selected as the lucky winner of the AirPods and bookstore voucher. He described the shock of winning, saying “I didn’t think
it was actually my number. I read my ticket like three times. I felt really lucky.” Lovell enjoyed the event, adding “It was fun. The food was delicious, and I played a lot of bingo. I would love to go back to more events. I made a lot of friends, and I also won AirPods.” Casino night is one of many opportunities for students to enjoy fun activities, eat free food and meet new friends. For more information on future events, visit https://www.csusm.edu/calendar/ u
The official return of movie night at CSUSM after being on hiatus from Covid-19 was hosted for the first time on September 8, 2021. The film that was screened was one of Marvel’s latest films, Black Widow. There were many students who came to watch Black Widow in the USU Full Ballroom practicing social distancing. Students brought their own personal blankets to sit down and free snacks were provided. Jenny, a biotech major said, “I think it is a great addition to have because it is college and we don’t socialize as much. To have events like this is great to socialize.” Another student, Long, a computer science major added “ I think it is great to be able to get together and socialize.” The University Student Union has a variety of upcoming events for students to connect. Cougar Cinema will be hosted monthly for students to enjoy films with other students while eating free snacks provided by USU Live! For more information on future films, visit https://www.csusm.edu/usu/usulive/ usulive-event-calendar.html
The perfect breakfast burrito recipe for a busy morning By Magali Castillo
Features Editor “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” a common phrase that many people can agree on. Skipping breakfast is not an ideal thing to do, especially if there is a long day ahead. There are many options on deciding what to eat in the morning; however a breakfast burrito is nutritious and filling. This recipe is a personal favorite of mine when I need something to fill me up for the full day ahead. Most of these ingredients can be found in your refrigerator and there is room to substitute items for dietary restrictions. Ingredients For this recipe you will need: 1 egg, 1 flour tortilla (I use whole wheat) , ¼ cup of shredded cheese, 2 teaspoons of chopped onions,
2 chopped mushrooms, a handful of spinach, ½ teaspoon of cayenne powder and 2 turkey sausages cut into small slices. Directions First, put a pan on the stove to start the heating process. It can be set to low. Next, spray or use olive oil on the pan. Grab the chopped onions and put in the pan and place the turkey sausages in the pan. Use a wooden spoon to move the turkey sausage with onion. Put in the mushrooms and mix them together. Now, you can move the heating process to medium. Crack the egg open into the pan with the shredded cheese and the handful of spinach mixing it all together. For the final step add ½ teaspoon of cayenne powder for some spice. Once the ingredients are cooked you can use either a tortilla griddle or the pan that you used to cook the ingre-
dients, if it is big enough to fit the flour tortilla to heat the flour tortilla. You can use butter or spray to flip the flour tortilla. Then grab a plate, put the tortilla in it and get the ingredients to put inside the flour tortilla. You fold the tortilla like a burrito and take a bite! This is a quick way to get a nutritious and filling breakfast burrito in your system. I like to cut some slices of orange fruit to eat but that is optional! Instead of grabbing a bagel or a donut make time to eat something filling instead of adding sugar to your tummy! It will go a long way in the end! u
Photo by Nishant Aneja via Pexels A quick breakfast burrito makes a nutritious and filling meal to start the day.
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Features Editor: Magali Castillo cougarchron.features@gmail.com
The Cougar Chronicle, Wednesday, September, 2021
CSUSM holds first U-Hour following campus reopining By Richard Carpenter Staff Writer
Photo by Tania Ortiz Students interact with each other and learn about different campus organizations, such as Greek life during U-Hour.
Cougar of the Week Do you have a cool job? Run your own business? Participate in greek
life or a school club? We want to feature you as Cougar of the Week!
Inspire your classmates and community by sharing your passions,
The COVID-19 pandemic forced many student groups, clubs and centers to interact with the CSUSM community through a computer screen for over a year. Now that CSUSM has opened its campus once again to students, there is an eagerness to get involved and experience campus life. Cougars had their first opportunity to learn about student groups, clubs and centers during the first U-Hour of the fall semester. The first U-Hour following the pandemic hosted 200 students, looking for a chance to get involved with their community.
Numerous groups, centers and clubs had small tables and games for students to participate in. The Latin@/x center held a hybrid meet and greet in the university student union with over 30 students in attendance and rounded out their event with interactive cultural games. While outside on the lawn Young Life College handed out popsicles and played games. When asked if there is more to come for this semester’s U-Hours all centers in the University Student Union assured that there would be many more events and activities to come. U-Hour, held twice a week, is time devoted for student
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interactions and mingling from noon to 1 p.m. The program was established to encourage freshmen in college life and encourage student participation in extracurricular activities beyond the classroom. Every U-Hour is held right in the center of the campus at the University Student Union, making it hard for students to miss. For future events coming up check out the student center page at https://www. csusm.edu/centershiring/index.html and for events that are happening at University student union check out: https://www.csusm.edu/usu/ index.html. u
hobbies, or just a little bit about yourself!
Whether you’re getting the word out about your school organization, a project
you’ve been working on, or just introducing yourself, Cougar of the Week is open to everyone.
To set up a short interview or recommend a friend, please email cougarchron.fea-
tures@gmail.com
Photo by Tania Ortiz Students interact with each other and learn about different campus organizations, such as Greek life during U-Hour.
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Pexels
Relax and have a laugh with these jokes Q:What do dentists call their x-rays? A:Tooth pics! Q:What did one ocean say to the other ocean? A:Nothing, it just waved.
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Q:Did you hear about the fire at the circus? A:It was in tents! Source: https://parade.com/1041830/marynliles/clean-jokes/
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EVENT CALENDAR 9/16
Latinx Heritage Month and Familia Welcome: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Virtual, USU Ballroom
9/16
Nail Your Interview: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Virtual, RSVP Online
9/23
Meet Jocelyn Approach: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Virtual, RSVP Online
9/23
Library Virtual Open House: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Virtual, RSVP Online
9/26
ASI Drive-in Movie Night: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
LOT F
9/28
Fall Job Fair: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Virtual, RSVP Online
9/28
ASI National Voter Registration Day: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Kellogg Plaza
9/29
CSU’s Got Talent: Cultural Intelligence: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Virtual
10/1-10/3
Family Weekend: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
USU 2300 Full Ballroom
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Graphic by Mallory Arcena
The Cougar Chronicle, Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Hurricane Ida is the beginning of climate change-induced weather By Natalie Navarro Opinion Editor
Twelve years ago, Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the state of Louisiana and destroyed everything in its path. The natural disaster cost a significant amount of lives and billions in damages. Since then, many had hoped these catastrophic events only occurred once in a lifetime. However, those dreams seem to be washing away. Eight days ago, Hurricane Ida reached the southern U.S. as a category four storm. Within a week it created noteworthy destruction, even causing power outages across Louisiana. Although Ida moved on to the northern states, several Louisiana cities did not have power. Those lucky to evacuate before the storm are warned to not return for several weeks as government officials are unsure when power would be restored. With the damages from Ida being considerably worse than Katrina, many question whether this will be the new norm due to climate change. While some may disagree with this sentiment, the evidence is bleakly presented in front of us. Climate change is real and affecting us now. Climate change is also often interchanged with global warming, as the rising temperatures have caused harsh winters and record heat
waves. Sea levels have also been rising due to the melting ice caps. Global warming is largely responsible for the severe droughts we are currently experiencing, as it seemingly rains less and less each year. Additionally, the rising temperatures are keeping the oceans warm, fueling tropical storms to be as powerful as they are now. The effects of climate change on natural disasters have been more noticeable within the past few years. In California, the fire season extended from just a few months to year-round. Seasonal storms are more powerful and last longer. We now see cities evacuate because storms are deemed too dangerous to withstand. Hurricane Ida is not an isolated event; it is only the beginning of the constant dangers we will experience due to climate change. Climate change and global warming have been warned about for decades, as large corporations are responsible for the excessive amount of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. Recent research also suggests that we are on the cusp of irreversible changes, which could bring the human race to extinction. According to a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the temperatures will not only increase hazardous weather but also negatively impact agriculture. Food is
By Kristin Bergmann Staff Writer
For the Spring 2020 semester, I was an international student at CSUSM. I came here from Germany to experience the ultimate college experience: a big campus, exciting events and parties on the weekend. Sadly, life said “no” and the experience had barely even started when it came to an abrupt stop. COVID-19 hit and in mid-March, we were all forced to take classes online. For me, however, the pandemic did not just shift my classes to virtual instruction, but it also sent me across the Atlantic all the way back to Germany. I was faced with a double
challenge: I did not only have to battle the unprecedented challenges of online learning but also the 9-hour time difference. I can tell you one thing: it is hard to keep up when classes suddenly start at 10 p.m. and assignments were due in the middle of the night. With over 5,000 miles between California and Germany, I felt disconnected from the life I had started here, but with being half-way through the semester, I had to push through. I’m glad I did. Despite it all, I slowly became accustomed to online learning and eventually found that my academic performance improved. I was more flexible, free to create my own schedule and maintained an efficient school-life
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California to participate in recall election during on-going pandemic
Graphic by Shea Hauswirth California voters have the power to vote out Governor Newsom during this recall election.
By Sayna Nassertorabi Staff Writer
Graphic by Mallory Arcena Hurricane Ida is a wake-up call for what is to come if there is no action against climate change.
critical to human survival and its impending scarcity would ignite pandemonium throughout the nation and the world. With an increase in dangerous weather and lack of resources, we will see more city evacuations and mass displacements. We as a human race have placed ourselves in a position where we cannot keep up with the times. Storms like Hurricane Ida are our consequence. Of course, not everything is negative. There is a possibility for us to delay or mit-
igate the effects of climate change. However, we have to act quickly. In addition to reducing our waste and preserving resources, we must push industries to adapt their businesses to fit the climate. We have gone unchecked for far too long and the younger generations are receiving the brunt of the results. Unless we want more Ida’s and possibly worse fires paired with severe droughts, we have to be kinder to the future Earth.
Virtual vs. in-person learning: Across the Atlantic and back Column
Opinion Editor: Natalie Navarro cougarchron.features@gmail.com
balance. However, when CSUSM announced that we would return to in-person learning this fall, I was over the moon. The comfort and convenience that virtual learning has to offer simply cannot beat that classroom feeling. The day had finally come. On Aug. 30, for the first time in over a year, I found myself sitting in a classroom, surrounded by 30 other students. It looked almost like before the pandemic hit, except that everybody in the room was wearing a mask. Besides that, nothing has really changed. As always, the first week was syllabus week. The professor went over course contents, assignments and deadlines; most students zoned out halfway through. The
clicking of pens, the turning of pages and the occasional squeaking of chairs felt so familiar, yet so strange. Walking across campus and going to class was a normal routine. Now every day in the classroom is a wild experience I appreciate more than ever. Being back in the classroom with my notebook and planner in front of me felt like reuniting with an old friend. The world has turned upside down, my life is entirely different now, but in that room, it feels like nothing has changed at all. I enjoy having four classes, but only one class is still fully online - and it just can’t compare to my in-person classes. It certainly was right while the pandemic was rag-
Ballots have already been sent out to registered voters in California for Governor Newsom’s recall election. To some this may come as a surprise since it happens to take place during a pandemic. Which begs the question: is it really necessary to hold a recall election when the state is still recovering from a pandemic? The news about Governor Newsom being up for recall has been going around for quite some time. Critics of Governor Newsom believe it is necessary to hold a recall election due to their dissatisfaction in the way he responded to COVID-19. While his supporters think he did a great job responding to the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic came with a lot of negative consequences for the people. Among these problems were businesses closing down, people losing their jobs, grocery stores running out of necessities such as bottled water and toilet paper, etc. Along with those problems, states had to also enforce rules to stop the spread of the virus. Governors had to create their own action plans in response to the spread of COVID-19, according to
ing without a vaccine in sight, but circumstances have changed and I have mentally and physically switched back to in-person mode. That class feels so out of place now, yet I have to log into Cougar Courses every week and work on my assignments. It’s crazy to think that one year ago that’s what 100 percent of my classes looked like. While online learning helped me improve my time management and efficiency while being certainly convenient on days where I did not
their state’s data. . In every state you can find people who agree with the way their governor handled the COVID-19 pandemic, while at the same time you can find people who did not like the way things were handled. While some people want Governor Newsom to remain in office and some do not, voting will be easy for both those parties. Since the 2020 Presidential Election, which also occurred during the pandemic , a significant number of voters chose to mail in their ballots instead of voting in-person. According to the California Secretary of State website, if 50 percent of voters say no on their ballot the governor would stay in office and if more than 50 percent say yes the governor would have to leave the office, so it is important to vote for those who support and those who do not support the governor. While the recall election during the time of the pandemic might seem unnecessary to the group of people that support Governor Newsom, it seems important to those that were not happy with the way he handled the pandemic. Come Sept. 15, California may have a new governor but who knows how all this turns out. u
feel like getting out of bed. I would never want to go back. I am ready to be back on campus and gladly take on all the new challenges that lie ahead. I missed this campus and after a year and a half without it, I will never take it for granted again. u
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Opinion Editor: Natalie Navarro cougarchron.opinion@gmail.com
The Cougar Chronicle, Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Athlete spotlight: Q&A with Kassy Doering By Tania Ortiz Editor-in-Chief
Kassy Doering is a fifthyear computer science major at CSUSM. Doering is a middle blocker for CSUSM Women’s Volleyball team and has played on the team since the Fall 2017 season. COVID-19 put a strain on sports, forcing athletes— like Doering—away from the courts. But despite the extended break due to the pandemic, Doering is ready to make her senior season memorable. You just had a tournament last weekend, where I heard your game against Dominican went well. Were those the first games of the season? No, we’ve been playing some scrimmages, but that tournament goes towards our regional rankings. In the past, it was just scrimmages. They give us a certain time [limit] to play as many scrimmages as we can. That was the first tournament that we won three out of five sets in a regular season, but we don’t start conference play until Sept.16. How does it feel to play this season after such an extended break due to COVID?
I’m so grateful that I got another season! With COVID happening and us [the team] not being able to get in the gym, I kind of took that time to focus on myself—in terms of physically and emotionally. I used my coaching job at a volleyball club to get those extra reps I wasn’t able to get [here] at Cal State. Did coaches give you a rundown of what you should be going over, or was it just individual training over the extended break? Every week during COVID, we would have team meetings with our coach. We talked about doing things on our own time. Our physical trainer, Fernando Brown, gave us ideas of what we should do to start and progress from there. In terms of volleyball workouts, our coach Andrea Leonard said, “make sure you’re touching a ball.” In this sport, with three days of not playing, you can get rusty. So, constantly having to touch a ball, whether it’s setting against the wall, passing to yourself, anything you can to just maintain that
Photo Courtesy of CSUSM Athletics Kassy Doering (#12) is entering her senior season with CSUSM Women’s Volleyball.
touch. What are you looking forward to this season? I know you mentioned this was your senior season; what goals/what are you looking forward to accomplishing as the season progresses? For the past year and a half, our team has been meeting on Zoom every week and has established that team chemistry, and I’m just looking forward to seeing that team chemistry in action on the courts now that we’re together in person. In terms of personal goals, play every day better than
my previous best self. Going back to the team dynamic, how was it like that first practice back? How was it like getting to know each other now that you are all able to meet physically? Honestly, this team is the most well-bonded team I have ever been on. Straightaway, we meshed beautifully on the court. We had to brush off some rust after not being able to play collegiately for over a year. But after our first practice, we were already synched together and finding our rhythm already. Which, I think, is faster than any team
I’ve been on. What’s the best part about playing volleyball at CSUSM? That’s a tough question because there’s so many great things! Well, the best part about playing here at CSUSM is getting coached under Coach Andrea. That was one of the reasons why I came to this school, in terms of volleyball. Watching her coaching and how she made me a better player right away, just from a camp I went to. I’m like: “this is the coach I want to play under.” In terms of the best part, volleyball is [just] a family
off the bat. You come in as strangers, and after the first practice, you’re already family. In terms of what it entails, which is trust and support. It’s what volleyball needs, especially on the court. For me, that’s one of the best parts, just developing that second family straight away. Catch Kassy and the Women’s Volleyball team in action at their first home game of the season on Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. in The Sports Center or on the CCAA Network. u
Athlete spotlight: Q&A with Corbin Thaete By Marbella Ramirez News Editor
Corbin Thaete is a defender for the Men’s Soccer team at CSUSM. Thaete is a defender for the team and has been playing soccer for CSUSM since the Fall 2019 season. What is something that makes playing for the CSUSM soccer team a unique experience? It comes down to two things, I think it’s our athletic administration so everybody, our athletic directors, our sports information directors, they all do a great job with student athletes as far as communicating with us. Being involved in what we’re doing in school and athletically. The second thing is our coaching staff. I think you look across the board at all of our coaches, not just our coach in general but I see this in every coach.They care about every one of their athletes more than just a player for their team. It’s a lot of developing them off the fields, off the track, to make them a better person for the rest of their life. And I think that, you look at athletes who have graduated, guys or girls that have gone
on already and they’re doing huge things and it’s because they were developed by such great coaches and taught so many great things while they were playing here. How does it feel to play the season after an extended break due to COVID? I feel super good. For like 18 months we were all trying to find something to do. I went back to going to the park with my mom to kick the ball around but now we have access to everything that we took for granted and it’s awesome. It’s just being able to see everybody in the training room walking around the cornfield house, walking to and from games, and it’s so much fun to play too. I mean don’t get me wrong, like, that’s what we all came here to do and what we all focus on every day but, it’s also the small things that sometimes you take for granted and you don’t realize how fun or how interactive it is until you actually have to miss it for a year and a half. How has the team dynamic changed after coming back from break?
Photo Courtesy of CSUSM Athletics Corbin Thaete feels good to be back on the field with playing soccer for CSUSM following the pandemic.
It brought us closer together. I think throughout this we kind of never got to really see each other. So now, we all are. Even when we’re not on the field, we’re hanging out a lot, just trying to make the most of our time and make the most of what we can do. And then on the field we’re well suited because we know each other so much better. How would you describe your first game since COVID? The first game felt good. You could tell that we were a little lacking. The game taught us a lot of stuff and what we need to work on go-
ing forward. I guess, coming back from COVID. In general, it was just a really great experience being on the field again and we had a huge crowd and a lot of athletes showed up for us and we really appreciate that from everybody. It was a big, big moment kind of coming back and doing that, as it was the first time I played in front of my parents in two years, and some of my friends so it was nice. What advice would you give to prospective CSUSM athletes? It’s been tough for everybody but it’s something that
our coach tells us all the time, “it’s just the process,” and that can mean a lot of different things too. But for us it’s just control what you can control. If you’re looking to be a prospect, you have to do everything you can to get your foot in the door. Get seen by somebody. So, whether it’s sending out emails all the time or trying to talk to a coach. Come out to some games, just get your foot in the door, and control what you can control. Catch Corbin and the Men’s Soccer team in action at their next home game Sept. 18 against Cal State San Ber-
nardino at “The Cage” or via livestream through the CCAA Network. u