TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014
Volume 95, Issue 15
Judge shares his hardships Halim Dhanidina is the only Muslim judge in California
-Born 1970
KYLE NAULT Daily Titan
MARIAH CARRILLO / Daily Titan President Mildred García, with support of Rev. Mark E. Whitlock, talked to the church congregation about college as an option even for low-income households at the Christ Our Redeemer African Methodist Episcopal church as part of “Super Sunday.”
García preaches for higher ed CSU Super Sunday event hopes to reach low-income students CECILY MEZA Daily Titan
Cal State Fullerton President Mildred García celebrated “Super Sunday” at an Irvine church, joining California State University presidents statewide to encourage the black community to attend college. García stressed to the congregation in Christ Our Redeemer African Methodist Episcopal church that college is not out of reach to those who come from low-income households. “Anybody that makes less than $70,000 a year could be approved for financial aid and go almost for free, so it’s not about the dollars,” she said. “There is financial aid dollars out there, so the children can reach their dreams.” She articulated the importance of preparing children for college courses by urging a partnership
MARIAH CARRILLO / Daily Titan President Mildred García enjoys the gospel music from the choir at the Christ Our Redeemer African Methodist Episcopal church during “Super Sunday” festivities.
between the black community and K-12 educators to ensure that children are reading at or above their grade level and taking higher math courses, like algebra, in high school. “We really want to strengthen our partnership to ensure that all children have the opportunity to come to the California State University system and reach their dreams of pursuing their college education,” she said. Curtis Silvers Jr., area
development director of United Negro College Fund of Los Angeles, also took the stage Sunday to explain that future students have the opportunity to gain financial aid to pay for college, and higher education is not out of reach for those who think they cannot afford it. “United Negro College Fund helps all kids of color to get an education,” Silvers said. Last year, the organization helped over 10,000
students at 900 universities receive financial aid to attend college, Silvers said. Silvers thanked attendees and supporters, encouraging them to never give up on the potential of childrens’ minds. “Always remember, thank you for supporting us in believing that a mind is a terrible thing to waste,” Silvers said. SEE SUPER SUNDAY, 3
JUDGE HALIM DHANIDINA
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Halim Dhanidina shared his hardships and experiences in his journey to become the first MuslimAmerican judge in the state of California as part of a presentation hosted by Associated Students Inc. Lobby Corps Monday. In an hour-long speech, Dhanidina chronicled the barriers he faced before he was elected to the superior court by Gov. Jerry Brown in May 2012 and provided advice to students. “If you’re a member of a minority group or an unpopular minority group, you have to put yourself out there,” he said. “Let people know you, even if they’re people you don’t want to know.” Not only did Dhanidina provide advice to the students in attendance, he also addressed the development of racial interactions in America. “At the heart of human interaction is the ability to empathize and to see yourself in other people, and when there’s bigotry, and there’s racism, and there’s discrimination, more often than not it’s fueled by a lack of empathy or understanding of someone else and an inability to identify with someone else based off a perceived difference,” Dhanidina said. Dhanidina graduated from Pomona College in 1994, earning a bachelor’s degree in international relations and ultimately obtained his law degree from UCLA’s School of Law. His achievements in the field include hearing over 52 jury trials, 25 murder cases and seven death penalty prosecutions. “It’s very important to get engaged in public life,”
-Earned undergraduate degree from Pomona College (B.A. International Relations) -Earned Juris Doctorate degree from UCLA School of Law -Deputy district attorney in Los Angeles County for 14 years -Became judge in Los Angeles Superior Court in May 2012 he said. “There’s something different about being involved in public institutions.” Dhanidina was appointed during a period of gradual shift in political culture nationally, which is encouraging more minority judges in order to create a more diverse judiciary. In California, 61.2 percent of judges and justices are white, 11.7 percent are Hispanic, 9 percent are black, 7.7 percent are Asian, 4.1 percent are unidentified and 3.8 percent are multiracial, according to 2012 demographic data provided by the state. Dhanidina said it is important for individuals who are pioneers in their desired fields to tackle the responsibility for their community. “Everyone wants to make the world more accepting and it’s kind of part of responsibility for those people who do it first, and this is repeated throughout history,” he said. SEE JUDGE, 2
Student gives firsthand account of chaos in Cairo, Egypt Freedom of speech leads to protests and changes in Egypt AMAL ROCKN Daily Titan
This past winter break was unlike any other. I spent my time roaming through the streets of Cairo, Egypt, where I spoke to young adults and saw the hostility between some of the people there. During my trip, I noticed how bad the traffic was. Cairo, an extremely busy city, has always been congested, but this year it has gotten much worse. However, traffic was not the only concern among people in Egypt. Freedom of speech has been the primary objective. Since the Arab Spring, the revolution that took place in 2011, Egyptians have
Courtesy of Shutterstock Thousands of people from an opposition group organize a massive anti-government protest.
fought to accomplish this goal. But matters have gotten worse. At least before, protestors were united. It is a war that is not
only between the people and their government, but among the people themselves. With the temporary military coup put in place this
past summer, the minimum amount of jail time for a student protester to serve, who has either participated in a demonstration or written graffiti against the military
INSIDE NEW CAMPUS APP Student creates Amuse Me app, which shows local events and activities around CSUF FEATURES 6 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @DAILY_TITAN
on any wall or street, is five years with a $50,000 fine. After talking to several student protesters and watching local news, I found that college students are the main targets, since they are the most involved. Many participate, or create protests–but at a great cost. Two students from Cairo University and more than 100 from El-Azhar University have died as a result of the Arab Spring. On Nov. 28, 2013, the murder of the No. 1 ranked student from Cairo University, Mohamed Reda, stirred students from both universities. Reda was killed on campus grounds, an assumed haven for students to speak their voice. A turning point for anger among students was the delaying of school without knowing when or if it would start. Classes were supposed
to start during the first week of February, but were postponed until Feb. 22, 2013. This was intended to prolong students’ time in college and deter protesting until they find a way to better deal with students who do. El-Azhar University didn’t notify anyone, even students, of its first day of classes. Pro-military universities have hidden police officers. They spy on students, waiting for any spark of action to occur that will put them to jail. This is happening everywhere, even Tahrir Square, a place that is supposed to be free for the people. It is the birthplace of the revolution, where Egyptians first went to refuse dictatorship during the Mubarak era. SEE EGYPT, 6
PROTEIN PACKED Eating the right amount of protein is a necessary health measure for everyone FITNESS 8 VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM