Author: rachelskeeney

Renovating the USU Fee

Published Nov 10, 2014 – CSULB – The Daily 49er

Limited seating, study space and a lack of centralized resource centers are all issues that the University Student Union hopes to address with a fee increase of $165 per semester, according to the USU referendum website.

The USU Board of Trustees, with the endorsement of the Associated Students Inc. Senate, voted last April to hold a referendum in February 2015 that would allow students to vote on a possible $165 increase to the current $179 USU mandatory fee.

The USU fee of $134 for students who attend in the summer would increase by $124 if the referendum passes.

The proposal for the USU referendum states, “The USUBOT recommends that a student referendum be conducted in late February 2015 so that the student body may decide with a simple majority if an increase of $165 per semester ($124 per summer) in the Student Body Center (USU) fee should occur for the construction, renovation, expansion, and operation of the University Student Union. The increased fee will not go into effect until the year the renovated sections of the USU open.”

“The USU needs renovation seriously,” junior English major Marissa Rogers said. “I can never find seating there, and it’s very outdated… If I were able to experience the renovated USU, I would definitely pay for it.”

The USU fee would not be implemented until the USU construction is finished and is ready for student use, according to the referendum website. Some students have expressed concerns about this piece of the proposal.

“Why should I vote on something that I won’t be paying for or experiencing?” Michael Harper, a senior political science major, asked. “Can’t we just get funding from the government, rather than feed off of this middle class?”

Vanessa Mendoza, USU Board of Trustees chairperson, said nearly 70 percent of students receive some sort of financial aid. Since the fee increase is a mandatory registration fee, meaning it must be paid when enrolling in courses, it could be covered by any type financial aid, including loans, grants and scholarships.

“As we struggle, we can think about the future students; we don’t want them to have those same struggles,” Mendoza said.

If the referendum is passed, student leaders and administration would meet to discuss a specific timeline for the expansion and renovation of the USU, Mendoza said.

The USU has not been renovated since 1998, and most of the equipment and space is outdated, Mendoza said. The last renovation added a third floor and a west wing to the USU, according to the USU website.

In order to gather information regarding what the students want out of the referendum, the USU and ASI went directly to the students.

“We interviewed, conducted online surveys and held focus groups to find out what the students want,” Mendoza said. “We showed them tentative designs of the renovation outcomes and got a lot of great feedback.”

According to the referendum website, 59 percent of students stated that they were likely to support a renovation or expansion of the USU.

“The referendum proposes to accommodate to current student needs,” Mendoza said. “The most common need is space.”

In many occasions, events held at the Beach Auditorium have had to turn away students due to lack of space, which has a capacity of 250 people, Mendoza said.

Mendoza said the campus population has grown substantially since its opening, and the USU has become more than just a place to eat.

“I hang out here every day I have class,” Abraham Juarez, a sophomore nutrition major, said. “It has a nice environment, but there’s always too many people crowding in the tables. Space is super limited to the students who all seem to congregate here.”

Voting for the USU Referendum fee increase will take place online February 25 and 26. If passed, the construction would begin in summer 2015, according to the referendum website.

See more at: http://www.daily49er.com/news/2014/11/10/renovating-the-usu-fee/#sthash.X27x0FzR.dpuf

ASI Resolves to help disabled students

Published Oct 16, 2014 – CSULB – The Daily 49er

The Associated Students, Inc. Senate passed a resolution in their meeting Wednesday that will allow the ASI to rent out electrical wheelchairs for student use.

Students facing disabilities, whether temporary or long-term, will be able to rent electric wheelchairs on CSULB campus.

“Now that the resolution has been passed, it will be sent to the President of the ASI, the President of the University and Disabled Student Services for approval,” Senator Marvin Flores said. “We won’t know what steps to take to fund it until it goes through the right people.”

In the Oct. 1 meeting, Senator Flores, author of the resolution, expressed his concern for the students who faced difficulty in traveling to their classes on campus.His concern was regarding those who had classes on both upper and lower campus.

The resolution states, “Students that have leg injuries (being temporary or permanent) or other disabilities that give the limited access to and from upper to lower campus in a safe and timely fashion to get to their classes.”

Meghin Hewitt, Junior Journalism student, was temporarily disabled requiring her to be in a wheel chair for a week. Hewitt said she found it difficult to go from class to class.

“CSULB needs some serious change in being wheelchair accessible,” said Hewitt.

Of the 23 CSU’s in the state, none have electrical wheelchairs available to the students according to Flores.

UC Berkeley is the only college in California that has a resolution in place to help disabled students navigate campus by escorting them on carts to and from class. Colorado State University is the only public college in the west that offers electric wheelchair rentals to students according to the resolution.

“I think that this is a great step for now, I like that this option is being presented,” said sophomore fashion merchandising student Rebecca Jillian. “It’s extremely hard to navigate campus when walking; I can only imagine how hard it is to trek down the hill between classes in a wheelchair.”

The ASI Senate will also be working with Disabled Student Services (DSS) to present the resolution to the California State Student Association (CSSA). The CSSA will further review the resolution in order to possibly have the resolution be adopted by the CSUs as a whole.

See more at: http://www.daily49er.com/news/2014/10/16/asi-resolves-to-help-disabled-students/#sthash.ypxQSnyM.dpuf

ASI Votes to Free Willy

Published Oct 8, 2014 – CSULB – The Daily 49er

The Associated Students, Inc. Senate approved a resolution to cease the sale of SeaWorld tickets at the University Student Union information booth on Wednesday.

The resolution stated that ASI would “take a stance against the cruelty occurring at SeaWorld by suggesting the USU Board of Trustees reconsider the sale of SeaWorld tickets.”

ASI Senator Rick Payan said he has been working on this resolution for over a year.

“I’m glad, I’m happy,” he said. “Save the whales.”

Payan said he drafted the resolution in response to the documentary film “Blackfish,” which was directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite.

The documentary covers the life of male orca Tilikum, who is also the whale that killed SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010. The documentary features the sale of Tilikum to SeaWorld; the film includes his many incidents with trainers as well as commentary from former SeaWorld trainers on the treatment of the whale.

The popular marine park received a firestorm of debate and controversy after the documentary’s October 2013 airing on CNN, according to NPR’s website.

Payan said he brought this resolution to ASI because he thinks the university should take an official stance against animal cruelty at SeaWorld.

The USU sells SeaWorld tickets for $66, which is $18 less than the price of standard ticket at the park gate. For every ticket sold, the USU receives two dollars, ASI Communication Manager Lindsay SanMiguel said.

“We are not even providing them with the better discount here” Payan said to the board.

According to the theme park’s website, SeaWorld offers a permanent $20 discount to their tickets, making the tickets 2 dollars cheaper than those sold in the USU.

SanMiguel said that in 2013, the USU received $1,684 in revenue, which is a $736 decrease in revenue from the year before.

At the Oct. 3 USU Board of Trustees meeting, the board rejected a proposal to continue the sale of SeaWorld tickets at the USU.

The item will now go on to a campus services committee for further approval, and a proposal may be written at this point to discontinue the sale of the SeaWorld tickets on campus.

Correction: In the Oct. 2 edition of the Daily 49er, “ASI aims to pull discounted SeaWorld tickets from USU” should have reported that an adult ticket at the gate of the park is priced at $84, and an adult ticket sold in the USU costs $66.

See more at: http://www.daily49er.com/news/2014/10/08/asi-votes-to-free-willy/#sthash.06HGTEVI.dpuf

How to Snack Smart

Published Sept 18, 2014 – CSULB – The Daily 49er

It’s Monday, you’re running late for class so you decide to grab a quick bite at the school convenience store. Then comes Tuesday and you end up doing the same. But then the trip turns into a frequent venture. What are these frequent trips costing you?

At the campus convenience store, the price of breakfast came around to $6. The breakfast included a 1.5 ounce cereal bowl, milk, Pop-Tarts, Greek yogurt and a small coffee. If you were to buy these all at the grocery store, say Vons, you would be spending half of that money.

There are many methods to help cut the costs: budget your time, buy in bulk, buy off-brands and purchase in moderation.

Budget Your Time

It’s easy to be tempted by an extra fifteen minutes of sleep, especially when you’re waking up for an 8am class. But, in those 15 minutes you could prepare a salad-bacon bits included for half the price of what you’d pay in the convenient store. You also know the ingredients are fresher. Budgeting your time is key to saving money on food. When you’re already 15 minutes late you don’t have time to wait for the coffee you have in your cupboard to brew. Therefore it seems easier to just stop by the Outpost and pick up a cup. Many coffee machines are equipped with a timer, set yours for 10 minutes before you wake up, you’ll have fresh coffee to pick you up and you’ll save money through the semester.

Buy in Bulk

Buying in bulk benefits the consumer by saving them money. And today, saving money is a wonderful thing. College students are in the perfect state of having to save money. Minimum wage paying jobs, little hours, long study hours, buying alcohol — these all give way to the stereotype of the “starving college student.” What if I said you don’t have to be one?

Costco, Food4Less, Fresh&Easy, Whole Foods Market — these all give buyers opportunities to buy in bulk. That protein bar you purchased may have cost you around $1.50. A packaged box of nine of those bars would probably only cost you $5.

Buying Off-Brands

When faced with the decision of generic or band names, many people get wary. It is a common misconception that generics don’t taste as good. They do. The best thing about them: they are so much cheaper. Target’s store brand “Market Pantry” offers fruit snacks, chips, and nuts that are all significantly economical. They are also sold in convenient single serving and they don’t sell many off brands at convenient stores, which is why they are often much more expensive.

Purchase in Moderation

Just like your mother said, “don’t let your eyes be bigger than your stomach.” You’re walking down the cereal aisle when suddenly the aisle connects to the cracker shelf. There they are, your favorite cheese crackers sitting there in their cheesy glory. Your temptation brings the worst out of you and you end up grabbing the box of crackers and place them into your basket. This scenario is all too familiar to most. That wandering eye, that lustful passion you have for those cheese crackers have gotten the best of you and your wallet. However, buying only the things you need is essential to saving money. Yes, those crackers are delicious, but they’re costing you way too much, that being your wallet and your waistline. The idea is simple, but difficult. Buy only what you need.

See more at: http://www.daily49er.com/blog/2014/09/18/how-to-snack-smart/#sthash.ofUE6gWg.dpuf

ASI lacks new business, continues animal cruelty resolution

Published Sept 10, 2013 – CSULB –The Daily 49er

With a lack of new business on the past weeks’ agendas, Associated Students Inc. advisors suggested that the ASI senate and board of directors start working on new resolutions during their weekly meeting on Wednesday.

ASI is now eight weeks into its meetings and for the first two weeks of the fall semester, ASI has not had any new business added to the agendas.

“I’m just concerned that we are now at meeting No. 8 and we’ve only had one resolution… it’s not really fit for us to have no new business on the agenda,” ASI Executive Director Richard Haller said. “Now is the time when you should start drafting resolutions to present to the board.”

However, Senator-at-Large Rick Payan has drafted a resolution against animal cruelty that he will show to the board once the drafting is finalized.

“It is connected to the students at large just the way it is worded, that the ASI should not support the sale of Sea World tickets,” Payan said.

“Being a college senator, you’d obviously write about issues concerning the students,” ASI Vice President Nayiri Baghdassarian said. “But it could also be something you notice on campus or something that could regard the students.”

ASI holds meetings once a week in the Dr. Stuart L. Farber Chambers on the second floor of the University Student Union every Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. – See more at: http://www.daily49er.com/news/2014/09/10/asi-lacks-new-business-continues-animal-cruelty-resolution/#sthash.ofbDsiNi.dpuf

Fitness Crosses Over

Electronic music pumped loudly in the park as the “Dynamic Duos 2” CrossFit competition welcomed CrossFit gym groups from all over the state at the Marina Green Park in Long Beach.

The competition was held for teams of two, competing together in three “Workout of the Day” sets. These sets included intervals of burpees, weighted squats and pull-ups.

The event featured the competitions in beginner to advanced portions, allowing all types of CrossFitters to participate.

“This is why I love CrossFit: you get to see yourself grow,” CrossFit Evolution competitor Chris Valor said. “I used to be a beginner, and now I’m already working out as an advanced competitor. It’s cool to see how far CrossFit has taken me.”

Many different CrossFit affiliate gyms, or “boxes” as the CrossFitter’s call thy gyms, joined to compete against each other as well as against themselves.

“It’s fun to compete in your hometown,” said Brandon Kubo, a competitor from CrossFit Long Beach. “I just hope we can do Long Beach justice.”

CrossFit was founded in the early 2000s by coach Greg Glassman in which, according to crossfit.com, Glassman was the first person in history to “define fitness in a meaningful, measurable way” by combining cardiovascular and strength training.

CrossFit optimizes fitness by integrating varying types of strength exercises, gymnastics, core training and cardiovascular exercises into fast-paced, timed workouts, according to crossfit.com.

“I absolutely love that CrossFit focuses on the entire body,” CrossFit Long Beach competitor Melissa Jones said. “I never have a dull workout.”

The benefits of the workouts of CrossFit include burning large amounts of calories and increasing strength in all regions of the body and mental awareness of the body’s limits and agility, according to crossfit.com.

“Not only do I get an amazing workout from CrossFit, but the relationships I’ve made with my fellow CrossFitters [are] definitely the best thing I’ve gained from starting [CrossFit],” Jones said.

However, there have been multiple reports of herniated discs, muscle and tendon ruptures and rhabdomyolysis – a disease caused by overworking the body that can swell muscles, intensify soreness and introduce kidney failure, according to getbetterhealth.com, a medical news source website.

“This regimen is no joke and should be taken seriously,” CrossFit Evolution coach Kevin Gherhart said. “But if approached in the right foot, it’s very beneficial.”

The event highlighted the basics of the Workout of the Day. The competitions included an interval workout combining dumbbells and water at the beach.

Special Olympics Southern California sold tickets to a beer garden that included beers from Redland Brewery Hangar 24, as well as food options. All the ticket proceedings went to the Special Olympics of Southern California, according to the event’s press release.

– See more at: http://www.daily49er.com/sports/2014/09/21/fitness-crosses-over/#sthash.f52UjSZK.dpuf

Coffee Confidential: Spilling the Beans

Published Oct 22, 2013 – Palomar College – The Telescope

Co-authored with Daniel Galigo

Over 54 percent of Americans drink coffee on a daily basis, but most people don’t know the origins and varieties available to them.

There are over 40 different strands of coffee plants that span all over the globe. Each strand has its own unique flavor that can be roasted over 10 ways, changing its taste entirely.

It all started in the 13th Century when Ethiopian shepherds noticed their sheep had become extremely energetic after eating from a certain berry plant. The story goes that the shepherds picked the berries, which they named coffea and boiled them into a stew.

Years passed and the spread of the coffea plant reached all corners of the world. The soil and resources from different geographical locations added different flavors to the berries. The province of West Java in Indonesia is notorious for their coffee as it is grown near the base of a volcano adding earthy notes to their berries.

Once the coffea plant is ready to be harvested, the berries are picked and stripped of its seed known as the bean. To bring out the bean’s flavor it must be aged. The standard age is one year although reports have shown some can age up to eight years.

The beans are now ready for the most iconic part of their lives, the roasting. How long and how high the temperature is when roasting the beans all adds to the flavor of the coffee. High temperature allows for a more smokey flavor while low temperature gives the coffee more earthy aromas.

The bold flavors you see in coffee comes from long roasting and high temperature periods. This form of roasting adds rich flavors to the beans. Lighter roasts take on the flavors of tea with soft notes and mellow fragrances.

The coffee is now ready for its first taste test. When tasting coffee, it should be enjoyed black in a two-to-three ounce cup. First take in all the aromas the coffee has to offer by smelling its notes and roast. Once smelled take a small sip and let it cover your pallet to ensure taste. Doing this allows you to taste its acidity and body from the region it was grown in.

Tasting is crucial because it allows the recipient to know what flavors are going to be prevalent if one adds cream or sugar. Full body means more bold flavors, to counteract the body we add cream. Acidity means bitterness, to balance the bitter we add sugar.

What all kinds of varieties and roasts there are so many ways you can enjoy a cup of coffee. Join us next issue as we go over the preferred brewing method used by coffee experts all over the world, the French press.

http://www2.palomar.edu/telescope/2013/10/22/coffee-confidential/

Coffee Confidential: Green Coffee edition

Published Dec 3, 2013 – Palomar College – The Telescope

Co-authored with Daniel Galigo

Not many know it, but most Americans drink beverages every day that contain coffee. Yet it doesn’t taste or smell like a regular cup of Joe.

Green coffee extract is a recent upcoming trend that has sparked a lot of attention in the coffee-drinking community. It allows the recipient to have all the benefits of drinking a cup of coffee without the taste and flavors that come with it.

This method first came into the scene when researchers wanted to find a way to use the medical properties coffee has to offer without drinking cup after cup. They found that keeping the beans in the unroasted form ensures a higher amount of chemical chlorogenic acid.

The high amounts of chlorogenic acid from the beans is used in a variety of medical purposes. A study done at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania followed 16 overweight diabetic adults. These participents were given green coffee extract pills varying in dosage for 12 weeks. At the end of the study they had lost 18 pounds and had more regulated blood sugar. The scientists Joe Vinson, Bryan Burnham, and Mysore Nagendran concluded thatthe efficacy of green coffee extract in weight loss is plausible.

Diabetes and weightloss are not the only benefits green coffee has to offer. A specific type of extract found in brands such as Naturex and Sveto helps combat high blood pressure in as little as 28 days of treatment.

While no side effects from the extract are confirmed, the supplement does contain caffeine and could cause problems for people who are caffeine intolerant. It is important to use decaffeinated coffee extract if you suffer from high blood pressure or diabetes. If you drink regular extracts, side effects may occur.

Of course there are other ways to enjoy green coffee without taking a pill. In 2011 Starbucks launched their Refresher’s line of beverages. These drinks were all fruit based, but all had green coffee extract in them. It gave their customers an option to still have the benefits of coffee while enjoying different flavors.

Home brewing green coffee extract is always an alternative as well. Any brewing method will work, but for best medical result it is better to use a stove top. Simply coarsely grind the green coffee beans and place them in a pot with triple-filtered water. Let the contents cook for 15 to 20 minutes to allow full brewing. Once the extract is ready, filter them through a strainer. The extract can then be drank as is or can be mixed in your favorite beverage.

As the semester draws to a close, so does the Coffee Confidential. However, the coffee experience doesn’t end with us. With so many different roasts, teas, and methods, your coffee journey has only just begun.

http://www2.palomar.edu/telescope/2013/12/03/coffee-confidential-green-beans/

$67 Million complex to be built

Published Oct 10, 2013 – Palomar College – The Telescope

A $67-million Athletic Complex is set to begin construction on the San Marcos campus in the winter of 2013, according to Palomar officials.

An athletic/kinesiology building and a home football field where games will be played will highlight the new athletic complex that will be built on the north side of the campus near Borden Road.

The project will be funded by Prop. M, a voter-approved construction bond passed in 2006. The majority of the money and the largest addition to the complex will be spent on a new state-of-the-art, indoors athletic and kinesiology building that will replace the Dome at the south part of campus.

At the 2013 Hall of Fame Induction, President Robert Deegan showed his enthusiasm about the new Athletics facilities. “We will be building a first-rate facilities to match the first-rate kinesiology program that Palomar offers” Deegan said.

Taking over for the purpose of the Dome, the new building will host all indoor sporting events and all the Coach’s offices and training rooms as well.

When asked about the new facilities for indoor sports, Coach Leigh Marshall, women’s basketball head coach expressed her excitement for the new facilities.

“It will be nice to have a court with better lighting and air flow” said Marshall. “I will miss having home-court-advantage though, seeing as the team was 9-0 last year” Marshall added.

According to Facilities Director Chris Miller, once the construction on the Athletic Complex is finished, the Dome, which is considered to be a historical landmark designed by the notable architect Buckminster Fuller, will be remodeled into a museum for Palomar.

One of the newest additions to Palomar will be the project of a home football field. “The team will not have to play at Escondido High School anymore,” Miller said. The field will have spectator seating on both sides of the field, a smaller, 1,000-seat bleacher area for visitors and a 2,500-seat bleacher set for the home spectators. It also has a press box.

Also included in the athletic complex will be two sand volleyball courts, a competition pool, one pool that will be used for kinesiology and practice, six new tennis courts complete with spectator seating for 100, brand-new natural turf softball field and a practice field reserved for any field sports.

Although not part of Prop. M, a new baseball field is the first portion of the complex to be built. The project is to break ground at the end of this year and is projected to be completed by Feb. 15, 2014, in time for Spring baseball.

Included within the confines of the athletic complex, a new Child Development Center (CDC) will be placed in the field between the existing soccer field and Palomar’s Arboretum.

In place of the present CDC near Parking Lot 12, a 1,600 space parking structure will be built. The structure is projected to break ground in May of 2015 and be completed in May of 2017.

“The students will be given more spots in replacement of those that will be taken over in lot 9,” Miller said.

http://www2.palomar.edu/telescope/2013/10/10/palomars-new-athletic-complex/