By Alexis Corine McGowan and Isabel Melero (Contributing Writers) Despite shark finning being illegal, it is a continued practice today. With shark fin soup being a popular dish, many species of shark are at risk of extinction. It's quite common that sharks are portrayed as monsters, but in reality, they are the victims of brutal crimes being done by humans. Shark fin soup has caused major damage to the ecosystem, putting sharks in situations where they could potentially go extinct “Sharks play a crucial role in marine ecosystems. Usually sharks are top or mid level predators, which prey on a variety of vertebrates and invertebrates. Because of their role as predators, they … [Read more...] about Popular delicacy puts sharks near extinction
Opinions
Opinion: Reflecting on 2020 as a year of change
2020 has been one strange year. We are currently in a pandemic, the United States has elected a new president, and we witnessed people in America fight alongside the Black Lives Matter movement. Black Live Matter has become a global movement against racism and police brutality. Thousands of people from multiple different countries gathered to protest racism and police brutality after the killing of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police. The Black Lives Matter movement began to rise in July of 2013, 17 months after the death of Trayvon Martin. However, the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter did not become nationally recognized until 2014, when Michael Brown died by police hands. This … [Read more...] about Opinion: Reflecting on 2020 as a year of change
Vox pop: What are your thoughts on the credit/no credit option for this semester?
Due to the challenges brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic, CSUSB has once again offered students the ability to choose the credit/no credit option for their classes. Some students share their thoughts on the subject. "CSUSB bringing back credit/no credit as an option for classes this semester honestly creates a little more wiggle space with grades. Even though I’m unsure of how I’ll approach my own grades this semester, I know this option may relieve some stress for others. When going into semesters, I thought classes would be less hectic compared to how they were during quarters; I was wrong. With the option of credit/no credit being offered, I feel that this may push not only … [Read more...] about Vox pop: What are your thoughts on the credit/no credit option for this semester?
Vox pop: What are you thankful for?
With Thanksgiving approaching, some CSUSB students share what they are thankful for during these difficult times. "I am thankful for my parents, family, all of the supportive people in my life, my job as a behavior interventionist, my education, and my faith and determination. With all of these components, I have been able to overcome the many stressors that have been thrown my way this 2020 and, by doing so, I am most thankful to say that I will be graduating in December as a first-generation college student." "At this moment, I am most thankful for my family, friends, and, most importantly, staying healthy and protected throughout this pandemic. I am thankful for these things … [Read more...] about Vox pop: What are you thankful for?
Opinion: Benefits to wearing masks
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the United States, we are continuing to adapt to our new normal to further slow the spread of the virus. California Governor Gavin Newsom re-initiated curfew hours for many counties that forbids get-togethers from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. Continuing to stay 6-feet apart, avoid large gatherings, sanitize all our surroundings, and wear face masks are still highly encouraged to practice. However, many Americans are becoming selfish and refusing to wear face masks because they do not believe they are beneficial. Wearing a face mask or any sort of cloth covering the nose and mouth is proven to prevent those who are infected with the virus and reduce the spread … [Read more...] about Opinion: Benefits to wearing masks
Opinion: Teaching acceptance to better the mental health of autistic youth
A large contributor to depression and anxiety among those with autism is the apparent lack of acceptance that is essential for the human psyche to have. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines autism as “a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges." This is the definition of a very complex disability that affects approximately 1 in 59 children, according to the CDC. What isn’t said is that “more than 70% of autistic youth have mental conditions, including depression and anxiety,” says Carla Mazefsky, an associate professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. There … [Read more...] about Opinion: Teaching acceptance to better the mental health of autistic youth
Advice: Don’t forget to take breaks
As students, we are always accustomed to those long study or homework sessions at some point during the semester. The stress of exams, homework, and deadlines pressure us to do a lot of things in one sitting. Perhaps this may be last-minute, or just on your own accord, to get everything done in one sitting, but at some point it is essential to take breaks between these tiresome sessions. Taking breaks is a crucial part of any study or homework routine. According to the American Psychological Association, studies show that taking breaks can improve our moods and increase our performance. For fun, the study also shows that watching videos such as dog's playing can also make you feel less … [Read more...] about Advice: Don’t forget to take breaks
Vox pop: How has social distancing affected your friendships?
Students at CSUSB were asked to reflect on how the pandemic has affected their friendships. Alex Hernandez, Biology major, Junior “So for me personally, I definitely 'ghosted' or lacked in communicating with friends mainly because of all the mental stress I went through trying to handle work, school, and other obstacles all during a pandemic. I don’t really think people understand the idea that keeping up with your friends during all of this honestly takes a lot of work and, I guess in a sense, drains you a bit. It’s not that your friends personally drain you, but more of the fact that it’s mentally draining having to juggle so many responsibilities on top of trying to handle your … [Read more...] about Vox pop: How has social distancing affected your friendships?
Opinion: Positive vaccine updates don’t mean we are out of the woods yet
While Pfizer Inc. states the COVID-19 vaccine is said to be 90% effective, pharmaceutical company Moderna also published preliminary results claiming 94.5% efficacy of their vaccine against COVID-19. Moderna's vaccine does not require minus 70-degree Celsius for storage, thus, it can be stored and moved in a more affordable way. With this news definitely being worth celebrating, it is not the time to take COVID lightly, but time to buckle down and wait for the vaccine. The virus has already killed over 1.3 million people globally, and cases are still continuing to rise. While the feeling of living alongside COVID is still there, we must also get through flu season and winter without … [Read more...] about Opinion: Positive vaccine updates don’t mean we are out of the woods yet
Advice: How to maximize your LinkedIn experience
Even if you haven’t had any work experience yet, you should begin building your professional network. Depending on where you want to go in your career, you can connect with people who are doing what you want to do. You can connect with your peers from your classes in your major, so you can stay connected after you graduate. You can also follow companies you’re interested in working at. In addition to adding any work experience you may have that you want to include in your LinkedIn profile, and your education, these are some important things to know and think about when creating your LinkedIn profile. Professional Photo Do not use a silly photo of yourself for your LinkedIn account. … [Read more...] about Advice: How to maximize your LinkedIn experience