Tuesday, September 8-Thursday, September 10, 2020

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Tuesday, September 8 Thursday September 10, 2020

If CSUF switched to Canvas, why is Titanium still used? NOAH BIESIADA Asst. Editor

Cal State Fullerton is managing two separate online class systems as students and teachers adjust to a largely virtual semester, creating some frustration among students. CSUF announced its plans to end its contract with Moodle, which provides the Titanium system, in April 2020, with plans to transition to the more widely used Canvas by the start of fall 2021. Despite many student complaints over splitting their time between two systems, the plan was always to have a

Volume 108 Issue 3

The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

transition period for professors to move over to Canvas, said Berhanu Tadesse, the associate vice president of technology services. “The transition was planned before COVID hit, and all along we had allocated a one-year transition period to make sure that the courses are properly migrated over,” Tadesse said in a video conference. “As a matter of fact, a lot of people thought we had a shorter window than it needs to be when we set it up.” Tadesse said the strain on the department of information technology has been less than what he initially expected, which he pinned on the large number of CSUF students who come from local

community colleges that routinely use Canvas, and part-time professors who also teach at community colleges. He also said that Instructure, Canvas’ parent company, provides more support for the IT department than Moodle was capable of. “One of our concerns about Moodle is if there was any experience with downtime, would we be able to recover in time with the limited support through sources we have on campus,” Tadesse said. “Canvas is definitely a better-maintained system than Titanium.” SEE LEARNING

WHAT’S INSIDE? Student-Athletes Test Positive For Coronavirus

Opinion: Stop sharing the deaths of people of color

3

HUYEN TRAN TRAN / DAILY TITAN

Student housing Film students adjust to numbers reduced new ways of producing by more than half With COVID-19 guidelines, CTVA courses struggle to create content.

Initial capacity for the fall semester was set for over 550 students, but CSUF prioritized space for approximately 230 occupants.

ZARA FLORES Asst. Editor

The number of students within Cal State Fullerton housing has dropped to approximately 230, along with approximately 20 for staff, said Larry Martin, the executive director of housing and residential engagement. According to an FAQ posted by the Housing Department, the initial capacity was set to 561, a 73% reduction in housing to allow proper physical distancing. The initial 73% reduction has increased to an estimated 88% reduction in housing compared to previous semesters. Campus leadership and the housing department worked together to coordinate the applications for student housing. The applications prioritize students who have in-person classes on campus, those with housing insecurity, instability and students who live far from campus. Samantha Davis, a CSUF student who applied for housing, said that it was a lengthy process that was delayed multiple times. Students had to return to their portals to add more information, sign safety guidelines and make their case as to why they should be allowed on

campus, with the final decision made in late July. Despite the reduction and delays, nearly all the rooms that can accommodate social distancing measures are occupied, Martin said. Only apartments with kitchens were made available and are limited to two students, each with their own bedroom and bathroom to avoid unnecessary contact, and any additional rooms are locked. But there is still some room available for emergencies. “We have a limited amount of space set aside for self-isolation if needed. And then also we have some emergency housing for students who may work with Tuffy’s Basic Needs,” Martin said. Tuffy’s Basic Needs Services Center is a CSUF program that is set to help students who are facing food, housing and clothing insecurity and offers financial assistance. There is a floor in housing allocated for students seeking emergency housing, Martin said. The center can connect students to off-campus housing as well.

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SEE DROP 3

DIANA JARRAH Staff Writer

Every facet of American life has changed since March, including the once untouchable film industry. With productions coming to a grinding halt, Cal State Fullerton’s cinema and television arts students have also had to change the way they’re creating their own student films this semester. Before the pandemic, students could expect to walk into cinema and television arts 425: Production 2, knowing they’ll be able to produce a 15-minute short film. With a $10,000 budget and methodical planning, students were able to pave their own cinematic experience. Though students will still get that opportunity, on-set collaboration will look a little different. Noah Hwang, senior cinema and television arts student and COVID-19 safety coordinator for cinema and television arts 425, said that the safety of students on set is the top priority for everyone involved. With the class still in pre-production, students have been keeping in mind what will be creatively possible with the current social distancing measures. “When we write the script we try to consider the fact that we’re writing it during a time where we know we’re going to be producing it over the next few months,” Hwang

said. “We know that we’re going to be shooting in this environment.” While Hollywood also begins to revive productions, Hwang’s role as a COVID-19 safety coordinator has even become an industry standard, according to a report by the Directors Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Teamster’s Committees. “I would not have been surprised if the school said we could not do this entirely and just decided that itwasn’t worth it,” Hwang said. “But, I’m glad that they’re allowing this to happen because I think that the reality is that if we are to try to imitate the industry, then the industry is starting to get back into production mode.” Some of the production safety precautions will include scouting locations that allow students to practice social distancing, taking students temperatures before stepping on set and labeling entrances and exits to direct traffic f low, Hwang said. Fellow crew member and senior cinema and television arts student Regene Galope said that although production will still be happening, it won’t compare to previous semesters. “There’s something about bouncing off ideas in person that’s really different than, you know, doing it

virtually on Zoom,” Galope said. “Sometimes, I feel like the medium of Zoom just totally discourages it because there’s so many people, and then you try to say something but you just let that other person talk.” Another issue that students run into is gathering inspiration. SEE CHANGE 5

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