By Josh Adamson |Staff Writer| I am celebrating CSUSB's imminent switch over from quarters to semesters. The change cannot happen soon enough. The quarter system is an archaic, compressive and needlessly dense approach to the organization of higher education. Quarters represent a dying way of scheduling the academic year. Only 14.7 percent of universities use the quarter system, while 71.2 percent use semesters, according to an article by Inside Higher Ed. The same article also notes that the number of colleges that utilize the semester system increased from 62 percent to 70 percent between 1990 and 2001. Such findings are not surprising in light of the benefits of … [Read more...] about Quarters are going away. It’s about time.
Election leads to whispers of Calexit
By Josh Adamson |Staff Writer| The topic of state secession is newly relevant in the wake of Donald Trump’s electoral victory. Dubbed Calexit, these recent developments represent the latest iteration of secessionist movements that periodically arise after presidential elections. “These movements pop up from time to time,” stated Political Science Professor Scot Zentner. “The most well known in the last 20 years were some Texans demanding that their state leave the Union.” Zentner added that Calexit is partially motivated by California’s Democratic majority and sociodemographic makeup, which includes large numbers of Latin American and Asian immigrants. “People of all political … [Read more...] about Election leads to whispers of Calexit
California’s health insurance to see an increase
By Josh Adamson |Staff Writer| The changes in California's individual health insurance market will impact So-Cal residents and students in 2017. Premiums for insurance plans sold on Covered California will increase by an average of 13.2 percent next year. San Bernardino and Riverside Counties will have an average premium increase of 10.1 percent. Students were advised to shop around and consider their options. “CSUSB students can’t do much about the rate increases [but] aiming for the lowest priced plan and not being afraid of switching plans is one option,” stated Economics Professor, Yasemin Dildar. The majority of shoppers will be insulated from these increases by federal … [Read more...] about California’s health insurance to see an increase
Professors talk Islamophobia
By Josh Adamson |Staff Writer| Suspicion towards Islam and anti-Muslim hate crimes are increasing across the US. Such actions were recently seen in the arrest of three men who allegedly planned to use a weapon of mass destruction to target Somali immigrants in western Kansas. “Social surveys indicate we are experiencing the highest level of anti-Muslim prejudice in recent history, with Muslims representing the most disdained religious faith in the United States,” stated Brian Levin, director of the CSUSB Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism. Hate crimes against Muslims rose by 89 percent in 2015, according to an article by Levin in The Huffington Post. Levin anticipates … [Read more...] about Professors talk Islamophobia
I.E. construction continues
By Josh Adamson |Staff Writer| Inland Empire's local 91 freeway, which just closed two ramps due to construction, continues to delay faculty and students’ commutes to campus. “Construction makes me ten to twenty minutes late [to class],” said student Jose Loera, who added that his commute is slowed down ten minutes because of construction. The Riverside County Transportation Commission has stated that the 91 Project, which broke ground in 2013, is now 85 percent complete. Students who drive to campus are faced with extensive traffic, especially commuters who come to school from Riverside and Corona. "I live in Riverside, so the traffic is really only bad on the 91," said … [Read more...] about I.E. construction continues
Waiting for the great shake
By Josh Adamson |Staff Writer| The city of San Bernardino, which lies squarely along the San Andreas Fault, faced an increased risk of a major earthquake in early October. Future major quakes are still possible. Other nearby cities located on or near the fault include Palmdale and Desert Hot Springs. The alert came after seismologists recorded several small quakes that occurred around 100 miles east of San Diego, according to The Christian Science Monitor. “The recent swarm of earthquakes beneath the Salton Sea occurred close to the San Andreas fault, so the US Geological Survey issued an alert stating that this swarm could potentially be a foreshock to a magnitude seven or larger … [Read more...] about Waiting for the great shake
News Briefs
By Joshua Adamson |Staff Writer| Oct. 7 Bombshell Trump Video A previously unseen video in which Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump makes lewd comments about women was posted online by the Washington Post. The video, a conversation between Trump and Billy Bush, then of Access Hollywood, was filmed in 2005. Multiple Republican officials have called on Trump to resign from the race. Oct. 8 Vermont Police Shooting Justified Vermont prosecutors said that the fatal police shooting of an unarmed man was justified. According to state law enforcement, Franklin County Deputy Sheriff Nicholas Palmier shot Jesse Beshaw, 29, six times and brushed him on a seventh shot in … [Read more...] about News Briefs
Protesting and rioting moves west
By Joshua Adamson |Staff Writer| Protests erupted in El Cajon after the fatal police shooting of an unarmed black man last month. Alfred Olango, 38, was shot and killed by police after his sister had called the police to assist in subduing her brother. These protests in El Cajon are the latest of a series of demonstrations against recent police shootings of unarmed black men, following similar protests in other states like Louisiana and New York. Brian Levin, director of the CSUSB Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, stated that hundreds of civilians have been involved in fatal interactions with police in 2016. "So far this year over 700 civilians have been killed in … [Read more...] about Protesting and rioting moves west