By Joseph Bedard Electronic media manipulation is impacting our current epistemology and has left our democracy flawed. Charles Metts, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at CSUSB. He has been a researcher in the areas of contemporary critical theory, visual culture, media criticism and aesthetics. His paper, “Reclaiming the Typographic Mind in an Age of Authoritarian Aesthetics and Bliss” was presented at the Union for Democratic Communication Conference, Media, Resistance, and Justice: The Fight for Humanity. Being a concerned professor for our democratic future, Dr. Metts provides his outlook on the promotion of pro-authoritarian ideologies through social media platforms. Q: During … [Read more...] about Dr. Metts supports the idea that electronic media is propagating anti-democratic, pro-authoritarian impulses
Politics
2020 experiences high turnout of young voters
Generation Z and millennial voters showed up in high numbers all across the country for the 2020 presidential election. According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), a majority of young People of Color (POC) showed support for Joe Biden. CIRCLE's data indicates the percentage of POC, ranging from ages 18-29, based on their race and preferred presidential candidate. Rose Sesma, a volunteer poll worker in San Bernardino County, said, "I felt so proud to see so many young people show up to cast their votes early. There's a lot of them and that means they're able to make a real difference." Researchers from Campus Vote Project and … [Read more...] about 2020 experiences high turnout of young voters
Anxieties ran high in the election week
Over the last month, millions of Americans have cast their votes on whether to keep President Trump at the White House or to elect a new leader for the nation. As of November 7, Joe Biden has become the projected president-elect. According to U.S. Elections Project, almost 60 million Americans had already submitted their ballots prior to Election Day. This outcome made many people anxious to see how the election was going to turn out. During Election Day, President Trump had a considerable lead. He was leading in all of the key swing states he needed to win. However, the state of Pennsylvania stated that they would halt the vote count until the next morning due to not having enough … [Read more...] about Anxieties ran high in the election week
Students show support for mail-in ballots
This year's presidential election is currently ongoing as citizens continue to turn in their ballots. Mail-in ballots have been around for a while now, but many people are just now realizing it as an option. Voting in person has been something most people did every election year and hundreds of people would gather to get into small polling areas and exercise their rights to vote. Due to the ongoing pandemic, some consider voting in person a risk. Many people have considered, and are still considering, voting by mail to avoid such big crowds. That way, they can feel safe while they vote, including students here at CSUSB. Jesus Estrada, a fourth year political science major … [Read more...] about Students show support for mail-in ballots
Local officials encourage campus community to vote
With elections around the corner, Senator Melissa Melendez, Dr. Robert Radi, a La Quinta City Council Member, and Lisa Middleton, a Palm Springs City Council Member, speak about the importance of your vote during the virtual press conference held by ASI. Dr. Radi started off the event by thanking ASI for organizing an event that emphasized the importance of voting to the CSUSB community. “It is of urgent need to inform every one of the importance of the upcoming election in a democracy. We don’t need to agree with each other, but we must participate,” said Dr. Radi. Middleton agreed with Dr. Radi, believing that citizens should exercise their right to vote. “The vote is fundamental the … [Read more...] about Local officials encourage campus community to vote
Students react to the first presidential debate
By Richard Mejia and Francesca Guidote Several students of CSUSB are still discussing their opinions on the first 2020 presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden that took place last week on September 29. Many students found the presidential debate unusual, in comparison to the previous debates. Jenevieve Loera, a fourth-year mathematics major stated, "I could not tell if it was a debate or if it was a yelling contest. I can not really remember what the questions even were." Denise Cerda, a fourth year biology major, commented on the interaction between the two candidates. "They were literally at each other's throats. This was a very different debate and I would not be … [Read more...] about Students react to the first presidential debate
Student candidates campaign via Internet
The 2020 Associated Students Incorporated (ASI) Elections are underway, but the road to victory for candidates has been an uphill battle as cyber campaigning has become the new norm. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, candidates have marketed themselves through various social media platforms and Zoom meetings. Though campaigning has become completely digital, this hasn’t changed the morals, values, and identities that students are choosing to campaign for. “It’s just a learning curve for how we are going to do what we would usually do on a virtual platform. Marketing is going to be a struggle,” said Presidential candidate Sage Keyner. Keyner has been involved in ASI for … [Read more...] about Student candidates campaign via Internet
ASI addresses 2020 Census at Faculty Senate meeting
Participation in the upcoming 2020 Census is being sought out by the members of ASI. Endorsements concerning ASI's resolution for the "Support of an accurate 2020 Census" was brought to the attention of the Faculty Senate meeting on January 14. The United State's constitution addresses that the federal government will allocate aid to the state's "respective numbers." California's state department has addressed that every Californian missed by Census 2020 will cost the state $19,500 in lessened program funding, such as housing programs, health programs, and education funding for grant programs. Senator Vassilakos-Long stated, "We're probably going to lose a representative after … [Read more...] about ASI addresses 2020 Census at Faculty Senate meeting
Greta Thunberg: The next generation of change?
16-year old climate activist, Greta Thunberg of Stockholm, Sweden has become the subject of political debate concerning climate change. On September 23, 2019, she gave a speech at the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York City and called on the leaders of the world to address the growing danger of climate change. "My message is that we'll be watching you," Thunberg said. "This is all wrong. I shouldn't be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean. Yet you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you! You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words. And yet I'm one of the lucky ones. People are suffering. People are dying. … [Read more...] about Greta Thunberg: The next generation of change?
Hearing from candidate William Pearce
Riverside County is preparing for the upcoming election. There are multiple issues that the county is currently facing such as the Riverside Transmission Reliability Project, homelessness, and city debt. The United States' local government is commonly known as the hidden government because many residents have no knowledge of their local representatives. Citizens tend to follow the Federal versus the local government without considering the impact that local government has on local citizens. "I love to serve in the community and because I grew up here almost my whole entire life, I thought this would be a neat way to give back to the community," said William D. Pearce, one of the … [Read more...] about Hearing from candidate William Pearce