ALTERNATIVE MEDIA COLLECTIVE

Volume I Issue II Spring quarter June 3rd, 2005 Cellador Irvine Progressive Statement of Purpose: The 2004-2005 school year was Statement of Purpose: The Irvine Progressive is a non-partisan pub- the first year Cellador was recognized as an Alternative lication dedicated to fostering political awareness and intelligent dis- Media publication. It was founded to showcase creative cussion. We seek to provide a forum chiefly for viewpoints associated works of UCI students. Cellador provides the UCI com- with the political left at the University of California, Irvine. munity with a publication that allows students of all disci- plines to share and network with other students through their creative expressions. By printing quarterly through- Contacts: Heidi Khaled ([email protected]), Gerald Tan (gtan@uci. out the academic year, Cellador provides a consistent op- edu), and Alexander Phillips ([email protected]) portunity for students to view the works of other students and submit their work for publication.

Contacts: Christina Luiz ([email protected]), Zachary Horn ([email protected]) Jaded Statement of Purpose: Jaded magazine is a form of alternative media to encourage political, cultural, and personal discourse among UCI Irvine Review students. We celebrate and support the Asian Pacific Islander commu- nity through the retelling of the past, engaging of the present, and Statement of Purpose: The Irvine Review Foundation is a sharing a vision for the future. We hope to build connections and non-profit, non-partisan educational foundation estab- bridge gaps between people of different ethnicities and ways of think- lished to promote conservative ideas and enhance the qual- ing. The goal of the publication is not only to provide a space where ity of student discourse on the University of California, Ir- Asian Pacific Islander students can voice different opinions and artis- vine campus by publishing a student newspaper and by tic expressions, but also as a form of community activism through hosting educational campus events. education and awareness. Despite the fact that we are misrepresented, our images misconstrued, and our cultures miunderstood we are not Contacts: Ryan Peeck ([email protected]) JADED in spirit. This is what we are doing about it. Website: http://www.irvinereview.org/ Contacts: Diana Jou ([email protected]), Chris Dea ([email protected]), Rosanna Huang ([email protected]), and Annie New Forum Ly ([email protected]) Statement of Purpose: New Forum is a publication dedi- cated to UC Irvine's undergraduate creative writing. We take submissions of short fiction and poetry every quarter, Sanskriti and selected submissions will be printed in our quarterly publication. Statement of Purpose: Sanskriti (“culture”) is a monthly paper that aims to create a permanent forum for debate, discussion, and enlight- Contacts: Michael Hsu ([email protected]) and Julie enment on the various issues and topics concerning Hinduism and the Littman ([email protected]) Hindu culture. Sanskriti aims to capture not only the diverse views of the Hindu culture and heritage, but also aims to address misconcep- tions and distortions that have pervaded Western society. Sanskriti bridges the traditional Hindu beliefs to the contemporary Hindu out- Forest Fire look to raise awareness and understanding of the culture as a whole.

Statement of Purpose: Forest Fire aims to deliver the Contacts: Shravan Panyam ([email protected] UCI community with a looking into the world of inde- pendent music, food, culture and politics. We aim to pro- mote and support independent music, journalism, and other outlets of alternative media. Our goal is to keep an Medtimes independent perspective on local culture and beyond, Statement of Purpose: Med-Times is a medical/scientific newspaper while at the same time providing UCI students with new that assists in the advancement and awareness of the art and science and unique perspectives on independent artists and media. of medicine for the educational enhancement of University of Califor- nia, Irvine (UCI) community. Contacts: Jeff Kile ([email protected]), Tyler Moore ([email protected]), & Miles Clements (maclemen@uci. Contacts: Irvin Bussel ([email protected])

The Alternative Media at the University of California, Irvine is a collection of the independent newspapers run by UC Irvine un- dergraduates. The members of the Alternative Media Board include Cellador, Irvine Progressive, Irvine Review, Jaded, New Fo- rum, MedTimes, Sanskriti, Forest Fire, and South Asian Journal. Alternative Media meets on the 1st, 5th, and 9th Fridays of every quarter. These meetings are open to all UC Irvine students. Alternative Media is sponsored by ASUCI.

The Spring Quarter/Summer Issue of the Alternative Media Collective reviews the 2005-2006 year with featured articles from each paper. The purpose of the Alternative Media Collective is to provide a review of each independent newspaper and to organ- ize the distinct voices of each paper under the Alternative Media organization. Interested in getting involved? Contact the papers individually or email [email protected] PAGE 2 ALTERNATIVE MEDIA COLLECTIVE VOLUME I ISSUE I Cellador Throne Racer By Benjamin Folk December when the staff on location was at Bernard had been anxiously awaiting this day Cellador it’s lowest number, the residents of The Castle for the previous 364. He was determined to shuffled in slippered feet to the long unused, bring that old piece of paper covered in the sea-foam green tiled hallway that served as a scrawl of men not unlike himself back into his Bernard had at one time pioneered the track for Throne Races. possession.. Until last year he had been the sport of stock car racing. By following The first Throne race had taken place undisputed king of Throne racing, winner of closely behind another car he discovered that over a decade before Bernard’s time at The the Golden Crutch an unprecedented three he wound up in a slip stream, where a strong Castle. Began by a group of octogenarians years in a row. He lost to a cocky young sec- draft coming from under the car ahead of him growing bored with growing old, they had de- ond year resident had squeaked by him at the pulled his car along giving him an extra burst cided to add a little excitement to their twi- last moment. Hampton Grady O’Connor, a of speed. This slip-stream allowed Bernard to light years. Dubbing the rarely used hallway true blue Southern boy from Virginia, had de- make spectacular passes at the last second, “God’s Mile”, they gathered some unused feated the Peoples Champion. Since losing generally about one hundred yards from the wheelchairs to race up and down the green the right to hold that piece of paper in what he finish line. This was years ago, before endless tile. With one of them acting as judge and had come to think as their rightful resting amounts of money were being poured in to the one as lookout for the ever vigilant orderlies place on the top shelf of his closet, Bernard sport of racing. It had taken the competition roaming the halls they whiled away countless could not shake the feeling that people in the almost a full year to catch on to Bernard’s dis- hours in the soft light of fluorescent bulbs Castle looked at him differently. Where once covery. In that year Bernard not only won the humming softly overhead. he had had first dibs on the seat at the bridge circuit championship, he won it in a series of Word of God’s Mile slowly spread, as table that afforded the best view of one of the furious last second comebacks that left crowds all secrets inevitably do, and over the follow- two televisions in the day room, after losing to open mouthed in amazement and other drivers ing weeks and months a few more faces began Hampton it had returned to a first come first befuddled and yelling cheat. Bernard was at appearing in the hours between the after lunch serve situation. At lunch he could no longer first offended by their claims of foul play, but nap and the early evening card games. All count on Dennis to save him the good dessert. resentment quickly gave way to a satisfied new arrivals were immediately sworn to se- If the lemon meringue pie he fancied hap- amusement, for Bernard never cheated. Ever. crecy with most promptly telling at least one pened to be gone by the time he made his way Eventually, another driver caught on friend upon leaving. The Castle is a fairly through the buffet line then dammit, he was to the slip stream. Bernard had never been the sizeable institution, and as more and more out of luck, same as anybody else. As nice as technically superior driver, and once his secret people began showing up the hallway became the perks had been, and as much as he loved was out, the jaw dropping come from behind so crowded that racing became nearly impos- the feel of that wrinkly piece of paper between victories disappeared, as did the open sible. The spectators outnumbered the racers his fingers, they were not what drove him to mouthed crowds. His career ended quietly. 5 to 1, making the ever present threat of dis- win. Bernard’s fire drew its fuel from another Not with the grandeur of a fiery explosion he covery loom larger than ever. It is unclear source. The heart pounding, sweat drenched had always secretly hoped for. No, Bernard’s who was struck with the inspiration to make adrenaline of competition and the ease with final race was the only one he never finished. Throne racing an annual tournament, but the it which years, decades, melted away in the His car fell victim to the same physics that was during this time that the rules were writ- twenty or thirty seconds it took to get from had given him so many successes, drifting ten. Through the years those rules have been one end of the hallway to the other. Racing quietly to a stop in the 228th lap of the Vir- passed from trusted, liver spotted hand, to took the wrinkles from his face, filled his head ginia Beach 440. The year was 1944. T h e liver spotted hand, being put in the care of the (Continued on page 3) Throne races were an annual event at Long- previous years winner until the next race. view Retirement Castle. Every Saturday in Light by John Walbolt PAGE 3 ALTERNATIVE MEDIA COLLECTIVE VOLUME I ISSUE I From Throne Racer Bernard paged through his card catalogue really does. There are rumors, but no one (Continued from page 2) memory with his synapses firing at the walker really knows. He was married, but he’s not with thick black hair and made his hands aided pace of the elderly examining the scrap- anymore. I don’t know why. I don’t know strong again. It reminded him of being at book of facts he had gathered since his defeat what he used to do, no one does, so don’t be- Stella’s side, of standing at the top of the po- a year earlier. If he could only form a picture lieve ‘em if they tell you different. I tell you dium, a wreath of roses around his neck and a of his opponent perhaps his aching nerves Bernard,” At this she leaned in even closer fine mist of sweet champagne making a cloud would calm themselves. ‘He’s from Virginia. almost touching Bernard with her withered around his head. The racing reminded him of Let’s see… No one’s ever come to visit him. lips, lowering her voice even further. “The being alive. He eats the cafeteria food all the time, he must man is a bit of a blank slate.” Sitting in the day room Bernard be on the meal plan. I wonder what he did Bernard dropped his voice to match her con- couldn’t help but think of the upcoming race. before he came here? I bet he was a garbage spiratorial whisper. “Huh. That’s kinda what A month ago there had been 24 racers. Now man, or maybe a taxi driver. I bet Lucille I figured Luce. Thanks for the info though. there were only two. Bernard and Hampton. knows.’Standing from the couch corner he Don’t let me keep you from that game of The finals. Time for him to exact his revenge had been nesting in Bernard made his way, yours.” A look of excitement sketched itself from the young upstart. ‘I’m going to get legs stiff from sitting, to the bridge table across the wrinkles around Lucilles eyes. back my seat at the card table, that's for cer- where Lucy held court. “Luce. Hey Lucy, can “This has something to do with that race later tain.’ Bernard’s eyes lit up, excitement speed- I speak to you for a moment?” His smoke today, doesn’t it?” “Never you mind that ing up his aging heart until it drowned out the cured voice hovered over the table. A hearing Lucille.” “Ohhh, I knew it. I should never noise of the day room as he thought of the im- aid buzzed. The talk show audience erupted have gotten out of my seat. Damn it Bernard, pending race. 'I will for the love of god, get in to laughter. don’t you get me in to trouble. He’s a nice back that respect.' His time was coming. “Lucille.” “Bernard, you’re going to boy, and I don’t want you messing with him.” As his eyes roved across the dayroom, sliding have to wait for a minute to speak to me, I’m “You should know me better than that Lucy, over the Domino players, the cluster of white in the middle of something here.” come on. You know I’m an honest man. hair surrounding whatever talk show was on Abashed, Bernard had no choice but to stand Don’t you go worrying your pretty little head, the television and the inevitable bridge game, idly behind Lucille, waiting for her to finish you know I would never cheat. Now let me his eyes came to rest on the face of Hampton playing out her hand. help you back over to the table.” Always the Grady O’Connor. The knot in his stomach “Behave like a gentleman Bernard, gentleman, Bernard again offered his arm, and that had been tying itself tighter and tighter and don’t go standing there hemming and again Lucille refused. “Honest or not, I just over the last two weeks loosed itself, turning hawing like the world is waiting to hear what don’t want to give nobody an un-fair advan- in to a flock of butterflies beating their wings comes out of that mouth of yours.” tage in the race today. I know about those double time. ‘What is it with this guy? This ‘This never would have happened before. She tricks you used to pull, mister, and I want a kid is scaring me for no reason at all.’ would have loved to speak with me before. fair and square race today.” Silent Robbery of Freedom by Peter Park

On Anatomy Now this, I gotta stand here like a goddam With that she scooted across the floor as fast hand-maid.’ Bernard watched the big hand as her walker would carry her, leaving Ber- on the single clock in the day room move nard standing open mouthed in a deserted cor- By Summer Clemens slowly from hash mark to hash mark. The ner of the room. Cellador talk show cut to a commercial about the ‘Well I’ll be. That old badger has got you: wonders of the newest brand of diaper. The Luce on his side to. I remember when that you're courageous like a gun. pile of cards in the middle of the rickety ta- woman would bring me some of her niece’s you could suck to the flesh ble grew taller. “Excuse me ladies, I will be key lime pie every Thursday, and now she’d rape to the bone right back.” Lucille’s body shook as she rather stand side by side with that little punk.’ carve out in out in, in in in pushed herself up on the arms of her chair Bernard knew he needed to concentrate on the to peel each feeling from the skin ... before transferring her weight to an alumi- race. The hands on the wall clock said there when all i really want is: an eye for an eye tongue to a tongue num walker. She waved Bernard’s offered were less than two hours to go before the flag, lip to mouth arm away, irritated. Making their way (or pillowcase) would drop. He needed a plan song to be sung. across the room an air of secrecy swirled a strategy to resume his place as people’s when all you really want is: noise around Bernard. champion. Ambling back across the day room meat “Well,” she finally said. “What is it Ber- towards his favorite chair in order to do some sex nard? I was on quite a streak there you in- serious thinking, he found it occupied by an and violence, even. terrupted. This had better be worth my unfamiliar, heavily wrinkled woman, gum- time.”“Luce, you gotta tell me what you ming what could only be the remnants of a but press up to me, make yours like part of mine know about O’Connor.” praline chocolate bar. ‘Of course, of course. our bodies: “Hampton? What do you want with that Why would anyone save Bernard a spot? The like figures in old biology text books nice boy?” “Never mind what I want. Just old has been is washed up, he doesn’t need a with brightly colored lines running in complex cir- cuits. tell me a little piece about him. Do you place to rest his legs. Nope, not him.’ like children's drawings with disfigured faces, hold- know what he did to earn his living? Was he He scanned the rest of the room, hop- ing hands, married, that kind of thing.” “I don’t know ing to see a secluded corner with a vacant outmasked by a yellow sun. Bernard. Why do you wanna know this stuff chair where he could pull his thoughts to- yeah, our bodies are like something on a TV screen anyway?” A suspicious grimace was twist- gether. After circling the room, his cataract so im not sure what to make out of it. ing her lips, but Bernard figured she would ravaged pupils settled on a ratty corduroy and you're not sure what to make out of me, talk. She did nothing but gossip all day, of chair that had been pushed in to a shadowy someone who just talks, talks, talks course she would tell him. corner by the fire exit. as if words meant anything. She leaned in close to him, her silver curls “Ugggh, Christ!” Bernard actually spoke me: brushing against his shoulder. aloud, glancing around furtively before realiz- I’m like a gun with no bullets. “Now I don’t know much mind you, no one (Continued on page 9) PAGE 4 ALTERNATIVE MEDIA COLLECTIVE VOLUME I ISSUE I Irvine Review What America Can Learn from Israel’s Democracy An Israeli solution to an American problem

By Ryan Peeck and what resulted was “Jews and Arabs fi peacefully coexist despite different cultures, Irvine Review ghting on a piece of land, trying to live to- religions, and gether.” Even amid modern terrorism, Bed- ethnicities because the Bedouin “are part of ouin stand side-by-side with Israeli Jews; sev- Israeli society.” In the most fundamental and America is arguably the finest place enteen Bedouin were killed during the Inti- important sense, says Khaldi, “we are Is- on this earth to live and, out of some six bil- fada, two of them Khaldi’s friends. The Inti- raelis.” Khaldi admits that the Bedouin are lion people, those who live here are among fada, terrorism, war, and the economy each “losing [their] heritage, we don’t want this to the lucky few. America is one of the world’s affect the Bedouin just as much as the Jews. happen [but] it will happen gradually.” He ad- most advanced democracies and one of the Khaldi is proud of this, however, because de- mits that integrating two completely different freest places to live in the world. Still, there spite that “whatever happens to Israel will groups of people is difficult, and that “a shep- are times in which it is clear that some in happen to us” he knows that in the end “it’s herd cannot be made a high-tech engineer America have much to learn. our [the Bedouin’s] country.” overnight,” but even the Bedouin living in On April 18th, Israel’s newly ap- Khaldi’s goal in the United States is tents, “in the north, have satellite dishes.” pointed Deputy Consul General to San Fran- to help end the harsh anti-Semitism Jews face, Khaldi knows that “not everything is fi ne; cisco, Ishmael Khaldi, visited UCI, without particularly on campus. As he spoke about Is- Israel is not a perfect country… but I think we much fanfare. Khaldi is from Israel, grew up rael, however, it became clear that his story – are on the right path.” And though, no doubt, there, has Israeli citizenship, but is not a Jew. and that of the Bedouin – is something of an racism exists in Israel, just as it does every- He is, in fact, a part of the Arab minority that example of which Americans seem to have where in the world, Khaldi does not use it as a exists within Israel. Within that minority, he is lost sight. In the early 1900s, amid ever- trump card. “The chances are equal for us part of yet another minority; he is a Bedouin. increasing division, President Theodore Roo- [Arabs],” he says, “like every other Jew.” From 1931 until the creation of the state of sevelt made it clear that The difference between the Bedouin Israel in 1948, Bedouins and Jews fought to- “the one absolutely certain way of bringing minority within a minority in Israel, and mi- gether against Arab national movements and this nation to ruin, of preventing all possibility norities in America, is this attitude. The Bed- the British police. The Jews respected the of its continuing to be a nation at all, would be ouin in Israel have taken ownership. They Bedouins and saw that their interests could to permit it to become a tangle of squabbling have played a role in building their country, coincide. The Bedouins saw that in fact their nationalities, an intricate knot of German- and though there are challenges, Israel is as interests did overlap and that the Jews were Americans, Irish-Americans, English- much their country as it is anyone else’s. The willing to give them a voice in the political Americans, French-Americans, Scandinavian- Bedouin do not try to reconquer Israel for process, and so they cast their lots together Americans or Italian-Americans, each pre- “their people,” nor do they obstruct the Jewish and fought side-by-side. “As nomads, for serving its separate nationality, each at heart majority every step of the way. Americans years we were punished by the Ottoman re- feeling more sympathy with Europeans of that who are something else first, be they Mexi- gime that tried to [and] did prevent the Bed- nationality, than with the other citizens of the can-American, African-American, Irish- ouin from moving from place to place,” American Republic.” American, Arab-American, or German- Khaldi says. “The British police did the Nevertheless, almost a century later, American, need to take a step back and learn same.” The Jews tried to understand “the cul- Americans insist upon dividing themselves from a democracy much younger than Amer- ture and economic tensions that [the Bedouin] along racial, ethnic, and nationalistic lines. ica. had with the rest of the Arabic population,” Israeli Jews and Israeli Bedouins are able to It’s Our World Too: A look at conservative environmental policy

By Rachel Bigley Kyoto Protocol for the same reasons the U.S. RB: Critics have stated that President Bush’s Irvine Review Senate unanimously advised against it in alternative, the Asia Pacific Partnership, 1997 – it would have a significant, negative “will be ineffective without any enforcement impact on the U.S. economy, and it did not measures.” Why does this administration dis- Bryan Hannegan knows energy. The include similar commitments by developing agree? former senior energy advisor to President nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emis- BH: The key to addressing climate change is Bush and UCI alumnus has played an instru- sions. The non-partisan Energy Information to ensure that our future investments in en- mental role in shaping United States environ- Administration (EIA) analyzed the economic ergy technology and infrastructure are mental policy for several years. I recently impact of the Kyoto Protocol on the U.S. cleaner and more efficient. Fast growing na- asked Mr. Hannegan some questions about his economy and found that it would result in tions like China and India are rapidly expand- field of expertise and the Administration’s nearly $400 billion dollars on lost economic ing their energy infrastructure right now – progress. Although many liberal groups criti- growth and close to 5 million lost jobs. Kyoto and if we can work with them in a cooperative cize the Administration’s environmental ini- would have had a disproportionate impact on way to develop along a cleaner, and more ef- tiatives, the President’s environmental and en- the U.S. economy compared to the other sig- ficient path, then we can avoid the projected ergy agenda is arguably the most ambitious natories, and it would have put us at a com- large increase in greenhouse gas emissions and proactive in recent history. petitive disadvantage with respect to our from those countries. The Asia-Pacific Part- Among contentious environmental global trading partners, many of whom, like nership will engage countries that comprise issues, the Kyoto Protocol ranks high on the China and India, would not have similar emis- roughly half of the world’s economy, and half list. Liberal groups have been up in arms for sions limits. As a result, instead of reducing of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, in years over a refusal on the part of the Bush emissions here at home, EIA found that U.S. efforts to identify cost-effective opportunities Administration to commit the United States to firms would likely just move overseas to coun- for greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and this treaty. However, the Kyoto Protocol is, tries outside the Kyoto Protocol, where there then direct private sector investments to those according to many critics, inherently flawed— are no emissions limits and no taxes on en- opportunities so that we can get the greatest it would be detrimental to the nation’s econ- ergy required to ensure compliance with those emissions reductions for the lowest costs. Be- omy and would achieve dubious results. In limits. cause the private sector will gain access to my interview with Mr. Hannegan, I asked him Because President Bush recognizes the prob- new markets for their products, and be able to about this measure. lem with this treaty, he has united with the na- reduce emissions at a profit, there won’t be a Rachel Bigley: In what ways would ratifica- tions of Australia, China, India, Japan, and need for enforcement – the private sector will tion of the Kyoto Protocol contribute to a de- South Korea to create a more environmentally want to do more, not less. cline of the U.S. economy? Are there any and economically sound alternative: the Asia- While combining our efforts with those of other reasons why the President feels the Pacific Partnership. However, this, too, has other countries to reduce global pollution, the Kyoto Protocol is flawed? been denigrated by some liberal critics seek- Bryan Hannegan: The President rejected the ing to play politics with environmental issues. (Continued on page 5) PAGE 5 ALTERNATIVE MEDIA COLLECTIVE VOLUME I ISSUE I It’s Our World Too RB: What are the necessary steps we must ter Gulf of Mexico, and the North Slope of (Continued from page 4) take to decrease our dependency on foreign Alaska (including ANWR). Using the most Administration maintains that decreasing our oil as a form of energy? modern technologies and strongest environ- dependency on foreign oil is an equally im- BH: There are three ways to reduce our de- mental laws anywhere in the world, we can portant part of the agenda. This two-pronged pendence on foreign oil, and the Bush Admini- produce more domestic oil cleanly, and with approach enhances our national security and stration is hard at work on all three. First, as less environmental impact than ever before. economic stability, in addition to implement- the President suggests, we must produce more Instead of sending our hard-earned dollars ing stricter emissions standards. oil at home, from places such as the deepwa- and jobs overseas, we can keep them here at The Birth of 21st Century Minutemen The amazing ideas born of Starbucks dreams

By Vanessa Gonzales background checks, adds, “Because of our immigrants licenses.” Irvine Review inclusion of members (current and retired) of Gilchrist is currently working with law enforcement in our volunteer ranks, we Unfit for Command author Jerome Corsi on an have no problem weeding out prospective upcoming memoir of the Minuteman story Since the April 1st unveiling of the undesirables. Also, if someone presents him which they hope to entitle The Minuteman Minuteman Project, Jim Gilchrist has become or herself in an unfavorable manner, then we Project: Securing America for Legal a national figure, heading the national ask them to leave our ranks.” Immigration. volunteer campaign, lobbying for stricter Locally now, the Minutemen are A fan of legal immigration, Gilchrist immigration laws in Washington DC, and fighting for their First Amendment rights. is motivated by his desire to preserve running for the 48th District Congressional Recently denied a bid in the March 4th America’s economic and cultural future. seat - all to issue a wake up call to America. Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade, Gilchrist Discussing illegal immigrants taking the jobs Motivated by the porous Swiss cheese borders and the Minutemen were “ordered to stay out of American citizens, Gilchrist called the of Arizona, Gilchrist saw an opportunity for of Laguna Beach for the entire day” but being takeover the “last Trojan horse” in an all states to come together in the interest of a peaceful, law abiding group, they made the economic, rather than militaristic, fashion. preserving the homeland, an homage to the difficult decision to forfeit further legal action The result: the “shrinking middle class pays minutemen of long ago, and so the project and discourage any public protest. Gilchrist, taxes for everyone.” He points out that was named. in anticipation of the upcoming parade welfare and food stamps are reserved “for the Their first mission, adding support to commented, “We will sacrifice our First American poor, not every illegal alien who the Arizona border, required the guarding of Amendment rights for the day.” At the time of wants to bring their family here.” With the 23 linear miles. With the help of Minutemen this interview, the Minutemen had been huge waves of illegal immigration, those volunteers, the area was shut down for ten invited to the march in the Swallows Day benefits meant to help American citizens are days. The result: “Invasion came to an abrupt Parade of San Juan Capistrano. Days before going to citizens of a different country. As halt.” Through this, and successive the event, there were told the given the now Gilchrist indicates, “6.5 billion people is a Minutemen operations, Gilchrist’s theory familiar line: “the controversial, political death wish for the future of the country.” With proved correct: “Physical presence will help message of the Minutemen is not consistent the rate of illegal immigration increasing 10- secure the borders.” with the spirit of community that the parade 15% each year, by 2015 there will be 20 Since that first patrol in Arizona, celebrates.” million or more illegal immigrants crossing volunteer membership has skyrocketed and Last fall, Gilchrist ran for the the border each year. Within the next 20-30 the effectiveness o the campaign has pushed Congressional seat that opened in the 48th yearif things continue as they do, the United the Minutemen and their founder to the District, which encompasses the UC Irvine States will be a mirror image of what spotlight. Along with praise for “doing the campus. Frustrated with politicians inability to Mexico’s economy is today. Gilchrist stressed jobs Congress won’t do,” they have both bene confront the illegal immigration problem, that poorly guarded fences pose huge security praised by supporters received massive Gilchrist stated, “I had no intentions of risks to the United States and, because they amounts of threats and hate mail from making friends; I had the intention of getting are continually used by drug smugglers, slave opponents. the damn job done.” Running as a traders and terrorists, open this country up to The Minuteman Project website conservative independent, Gilchrist won 36% crime and danger. The refusal of illegal immi- clearly states “MMP has no affiliation with, of the vote at the polls, but was beaten by a grants to assimilate and learn English further nor will we accept any assistance by or few percentage points by the “financial deteriorates the fabric of our society. “Most interference from, separatists, racists, or powerhouses” of the Democrat and Americans want Americans here, despite their supremacy groups or individuals, no matter Republican parties who “buy their way into color or creed,” Gilchrist notes. He points out what their race, color, or creed.” In an effort office.” Although he did not win the election, that what we as Americans have is unity, and to further combat questionable volunteers, the he succeeded in calling attention to illegal that unlike the people of India with 26 lan- volunteer forms on the official website immigration issues. Focused on the guages, we share a English as our language; indicate a fee of $50 for a background check. Minuteman Project, Gilchrist is doubtful he our society, unlike many other fractured so- Potential volunteers are also interviewed by will run for office again- that is unless cieties, shares the common bond of communi- phone. Gilchrist, fully confident in the Viaregoso runs or “if Arnold grants illegal cation.

Teaching Liberalism: How college students are taught liberalism

By Ryan Peck that in one’s private life he does these things. main news item. Students, who by staggering Irvine Review Rather, the crux of the dilemma lies in the fact proportion do not keep apprised of the news, that these beliefs manage to affect the way come to classes indignant that this could be professors teach young, impressionable stu- allowed. They have no context, no under- The vast majority of UC Irvine pro- dents. standing of how or why it is happening, no fessors suffer from a critical flaw. It affects The immediate criticism of this posi- idea how to solve the problem, but they ada- their teaching and their students’ learning. tion will be that college students are anything mantly insist that, surely, “something can be The flaw? Liberalism. What does it mean that but young and impressionable. This, however, done” and that “we are just ignoring suffering professors are “liberal”? Does it mean they does not stand close inspection. Professors are people while we drive around Orange County vote Democrat? Does it simply mean they sometimes two to three times the age of their in BMWs.” These students then drive their align themselves left of center? And, if that is students. Not only are students relatively BMWs home and turn back on MTV. Do not what “liberal” professors do, why does it mat- young, they are extremely impressionable. doubt that this happens, and happens daily. As ter? Lest anyone think this is not the case, indulge younger generations become politically ac- A liberal professor most likely does the use of an example. MTV News – that is, tive, popular culture has an ever-increasing each of these things. He votes Democrat, ad- the segment of the broadcast that is neither a effect on the “in” issues. These students do vocates, in public or in private, for a world rap video nor a “reality” TV show – reports not think for themselves; they zone out listen- without borders, and staunchly defends a on the situation in the Sudan. Despite a couple ing to rap videos and MTV “News” and are, woman’s “right” to terminate her unborn references to pop-culture, this report is the child. The problem, however, is not so much (Continued on page 19) PAGE 6 ALTERNATIVE MEDIA COLLECTIVE VOLUME I ISSUE I Irvine Progressive Big Brother Is Not Allowed In My House By Puya Abassi President feels that FISA is hindering his “war assertion: “...if there is any amendment to the Irvine Progressive on terror,” then he can attempt to legitimately Constitution that employees of the [NSA] are change the law by introducing new legislation familiar with, it’s the Fourth.” it to Congress. It wouldn’t be hard to pass Well unfortunately for General Hay- We have arrived at a point that has with his party in control of both Houses and den, I, among many other people in this coun- been feared from the start of this experiment its quite fanatical allegiance to the President. try, have read the Constitution and the Bill of in democracy. Under a single administration, Point two: the President cannot claim Rights. The Fourth amendment clearly states: we have seen the rise of a leader who sternly war time executive power on an undeclared “...no Warrants shall issue, but upon prob- believes he has the Constitutional right to war that seems to have no end. President able cause...” To make such a mistake any- claim himself the absolute ruler of all he sur- Bush claims that “the war on terror is global where else would be forgivable, but this man, veys. In a felonious move of such arrogance and indefinite in scope...” which can be com- the head of the agency in charge or our na- and illegitimate power, President Bush bined with Article II of the Constitution that tional security, believes his organization has proudly admitted that he used the National states that wartime powers rest in the execu- the Constitutional right to listen to our phone Security Agency to eavesdrop on the phone tive branch. What results is no longer a de- calls and he doesn’t even know what the calls and emails of American people, alleg- mocratic president, but rather a dictator who Fourth Amendment says. edly to protect the nation from a terrorist at- will both unilaterally enact the measures his It cannot be denied that our country is tack. The crime he committed is not spying cadre views fit and determine the mechanisms on the brink of a presidential crisis. The man on Americans, but rather doing so without a of accountability (or lack thereof) by which who took an oath to uphold our Constitution is warrant from the FISA court (quite possibly such measures are checked and balanced. doing the exact opposite by maneuvering his the easiest court to obtain a warrant from). Most interesting is that the platform way around it, leading to circumstances where Mr. President, I strongly believe that of the right wing has always been about re- he has absolute power over our lives. Most right now the American people need some moving the federal government from our Democrats, along with several Republicans in protection from you. But to make the claim lives, based on the conviction that the govern- Congress, believe that the President exceeded that our President has committed a crime ment cannot be trusted to help us. For once I the limits of his power and as a result, hear- would be irresponsible on my behalf unless I will agree with the right wing. This govern- ings on the matter will be held in the near fu- had some evidence to prove that the President ment cannot be trusted, and the true scope of ture. has acted illegally and unconstitutionally. So I this wiretapping will most likely incite many The fact of the matter is, President shall elaborate the details as best as I can so Americans who do not agree with the presi- Bush intentionally and admittedly broke the that even the most simple minded right-wing dent’s actions. History, as it shows, repeats FISA law(USC Title 50, Chapter 36, Sub- ideologue can be convinced that this President itself, and what is currently taking place chapter 1) which is considered not only an im- deserves to be impeached, locked up, maybe sounds amazingly similar to the kind of ac- peachable offense, but also a felony punish- even tarred and feathered. tions Nixon authorized that lead to his resig- able by up to 5 years in prison and $10,000 Point one: the President cannot inten- nation. fine per count (Bush admitted to re- tionally break a law because simply he con- Point three: When the person in authorizing the wiretaps thirty separate times). siders it an inconvenience. The President, charge of the NSA does not know his U.S. But why has nothing seriously been done to along with Attorney General Alberto Gon- Constitution, we are in deep trouble. General deal with this problem? zalez and other administration members, as- Michael Hayden, the former head of the NSA President Clinton lied about an affair, sert that in today’s world of technology it and mastermind of the wiretapping program, got impeached, and nearly lost his office. Un- would be hard to obtain warrants from the was recently brought forth by the Bush Ad- fortunately, the exercise of the article of im- FISA court and act fast on a tip. While this ministration to hold a press conference in or- peachment is only possible by the House of assertion would seem hard to contend, many der to ease the mind of Americans on what is Representatives, which is currently controlled people including the highest lawyer of our going on in his agency. What resulted was by right wing sycophants who are determined land, Mr. Gonzalez, tend to forget that the truly terrifying. When asked by a reporter to preserve their President’s mandate. Every FISA provision allows for retroactive war- whether or not the wiretapping followed the citizen, whose rights are being unduly as- rants up to 72 hours after the act of wiretap- 4th Amendment in reference to the require- saulted, should be absolutely outraged. There ping. ments for issuing warrants and the NSA’s lack are those who defend the President’s actions, Translation: if there is a hot tip on a of probable cause, the General strongly re- believing that the Constitution and our free- phone-line that needs to be eavesdropped on, plied: “No, actually–the Fourth Amendment doms can be set aside to protect the nation the NSA can listen in on the conversation and actually protects all of us against unreasonable from future terrorist attacks. then obtain the warrant within three day after- search and seizure. That’s what it says.” In response to those people, Benja- wards. It is unjustifiable to ignore a law sim- While the reporter insisted that the Constitu- min Franklin phrased it the best: “The man ply because one does not like to go through tion made specific mention of probable cause who trades freedom for security does not de- the procedures of obtaining a warrant (which being needed, Gen. Hayden gave the brilliant serve nor will he receive either.” Amen. happens to only take a few hours). If the Killer Coke By Anita Issagholyan ments. Many of these squads have been work- Carlos Galvis, a leader at Coca-Cola's plant in Irvine Progressive ing in collaboration with official U.S. sup- Barrancabermeja. At least eight union leaders ported Colombian military and managers at working Coca-Cola plants have been mur- Nearly everyone has the nostalgic plants who produce for multinational corpora- dered by paramilitary forces since 1989. childhood memory of opening a cold can of tions. Handfuls of other workers have been kid- Coca-Cola on a hot summer's day. Nearly all The Coca-Cola corporation and its n a p p e d a n d t o r t u r e d . of us drink Coke or Coca- Cola products business associates have overlooked, finan- In India, communities surrounding daily. We buy the drinks from vending ma- cially supported, and even worked with Coca-Cola's bottling plants are experiencing chines and fill up our big gulps with Coke for groups such as these death squads in order to severe water shortages, as a result of Coca- necessary caffeine highs at 3 am. But have we break down worker's attempts to organize la- Cola's extraction of water from common ever thought of where our Coke comes from bor unions. groundwater resources. These wells are now or what affect it has on others? Of course not- In Carepa, members of the paramili- dry and India's water table is experiencing de- it's just a soft drink right? You'd be sur- tary murdered union leader Isidro Gil inside pletion. Coca-Cola also distributed its solid p r i s e d … his factory's gates. The next day they returned waste to farmers, calling it fertilizer. Tests In Colombia, four thousand trade and forced the plant's workers to leave the un- found lead and cadmium in the "fertilizer"- unionists have been murdered since 1986. ion by signing documents- with Coca-Cola officially deeming it toxic waste. Various Most of these murders have been executed by letter heads. agencies that have done tests on Coca-Cola right-wing paramilitary groups called, "death The most recent murder occurred in (Continued on page 20) squads," in an attempt to squash labor move- August 2003 when shots were fired at Juan PAGE 7 ALTERNATIVE MEDIA COLLECTIVE VOLUME I ISSUE I Unity among Diversity

By Heidi Khaled end to the war in Iraq, but to also protest vari- major problem. These are merely some of the Irvine Progressive ous US foreign policies and actions. Some, conundrums progressives face in unifying de- according to their signs, marched to end colo- spite a relatively high degree of variance. nial occupation in Afghanistan, Haiti, Pales- There are certainly core principles Where can you find drag queens, tine, and the Philippines. Others demanded that the progressive movement has always Muslims, abortion activists, businessmen, so- that the US stop its threats against Iran, Syria, thought to ideally stand for. Such values con- cialists, hippies, yuppies, veterans, anarchist Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea. Protesters sist of justice, equality, opportunity, peace, teenagers, Christians, and Native Americans, also called attention to domestic issues includ- and cooperation. Typically in large social all crammed into a single place? No longer ing reproductive freedoms, labor and immi- movements, different groups mobilize under a just in Republicans’ worst nightmares, this gration, Bush’s impeachment, and the educa- general cause that may contain very different, scene now takes place in their worst reality. tional system. if not conflicting, immediate goals. The And yes, these people have intentionally and These are certainly interconnected in- women’s rights groups advocating reproduc- repeatedly gathered, not in conflict, but in terests, and many would consider them wor- tive freedom, for example, may come into solidarity. thy to fight for, but they cannot all be ad- conflict with the convictions of religious This is a descriptive account of the th dressed at once. peace groups. Today’s progressive movement more visible elements of the March 18 rally At times I was even alarmed by some faces the challenge of reviving and consis- organized by A.N.S.W.E.R. to mark the third of the ideas demonstrators promoted. One per- tently emphasizing the principles shared anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. son, for instance, just stood there, repeatedly among most of its members and prevent con- The 20,000 demonstrators, while noticeably bashing a Bush mask with his fist. Others car- flicting details and constricted identities from less numerous in the attendance than those at ried signs in support of violently ousting the obscuring those that remain central to both the same event a year ago, were as heteroge- current administration. leftist ideology and the productivity of the neous a group as ever. The concept of this march, it seemed, movement itself. The turnout of very different and of- was to put forth a bold, forceful statement to There is much one may infer from ten competing interests at the rally, indicated the nation as well as its government—in par- historical precedent and apply to this demand- by the different signs, identities, and behav- ticular, the message that a great number of us ing endeavor. When the women’s, gay, and iors found there, begs the following questions: are still opposed to the war, and that we are civil rights movements banded together in the At what point does a movement become so still organized and willing to stand against it, 1960s, they did not do so primarily because fractionalized that it loses sight of its original for whatever it takes. But was this message each group liked and wanted to help the oth- goal? Is the nature of the progressive move- lost among the communication of so many ers. Their members did not even share similar ment too dynamic for it to unify and produce other causes and contentious interests? stances on many things that the others were genuine change? There appears to be a delicate balance fighting for. But they did manage to organize From a bird’s eye view (including between diversity and commonalities where under a single accepted notion —equality. those of the cameramen on building tops), the social movements are concerned. If too much And these groups were united in their com- march probably looked like a circus. People of the latter exists, then there is a chance that mon struggles against the different yet interre- sported costumes ranging from mockeries of the movement is not truly representative and it lated injustices sanctioned by the federal gov- the President to indigenous cultural attire; may risk losing credibility in promoting its ernment. some teenagers wore bandanas over their causes and goals. With too much of the for- Most within these social movements faces; some people roamed around practically mer, however, a movement will become so most likely agreed to disagree on the details naked; others drummed and danced as they fractionalized that it will not achieve consen- and perspectives that inspired their separate marched. sus on any particular issue, and disintegration causes. The fact, nevertheless, that they fo- Participants varied drastically in age is likely to occur. cused on common ideas and interests rather and race, but more importantly, in voluntary This brings me back to the question of than those upon which they diverged served to associations and direct political interests. a cohesive purpose. Are we really echoing the concentrate their strengths and organize to- Demonstrators represented not only the A.N. same principles when some of us are asking ward a vision that the majority of the public S.W.E.R. coalition ( Act Now to Stop War for peace and an end to the war, while others and politicians found worthy of pursuing. and End Racism), but also many other organi- are asking to reach the same end through vio- Interestingly, there are important zations, including Indigenous, Impeach Bush, lence? To further complicate such issues, the things we can just as well learn from our ad- South Central Farmers, and Veterans for anti-war camp has failed to acknowledge con- versaries as with history. Republicans have Peace, as well as anti-police brutality groups, flicting views on how to end the war in Iraq-- particularly succeeded in promoting their Palestinian and Arab associations, LGBT whether immediately, gradually, or through an agenda because they have continually focused rights groups, immigrant and labor rights internationally-mediated strategy. The move- on a simplified articulation of values and be- groups, high school human rights clubs, and ment has in result, avoided this contentious liefs that appeal to even the most varied inter- religious peace groups. area altogether, creating the perception that it People came to not only call for an lacks a clear solution to what it frames as a (Continued on page 20) Day Laborers Not Welcome in San Bernardino By Amy Williams on landlords who offer housing to undocu- UC Irvine Professor DeSipio told the Irvine Progressive mented workers. LA Times that such petitions and localized 2,216 signatures must be collected efforts are symbolic in nature and that “it is a Day laborers may no longer be able to before a proposal can reach City Council for a reaction to the perception that the feds are find work or residence in San Bernardino now vote. At the end of April, Joseph Turner, ex- failing.” Locals are responding to a series of that a proposal to limit the rights of day labor- ecutive director of an anti-illegal immigration perceived problems on which the state is not ers entitled the “Illegal Immigration Relief group called “Save Our State” submitted over acting: declining test scores in public schools, Act Ordinance” has qualified to go before vot- 3,000 approved signatures. If the ordinance is crime, and loss of power and identity. ers for approval. struck down by City Council, it will go before Advocates of the Illegal Immigration An explicit attack on migrant workers voters. Act in San Bernardino deny racist motiva- fraught with racist undertones, the act not only Due to the nature of their work, day tions, but rather argue that they are banding limits the rights of day laborers, but also calls laborers of all ethnicities are already subject together to stop unlawful behavior. Advocates for all official city business communications to exploitation. According to the National claim that they’re not trying to outlaw day la- to be conducted in English only–unless man- Employment Law Project, “50% of day labor- bor–they’re simply trying to make it impossi- dated otherwise by federal or state authorities. ers reported non-payment of wages by tempo- ble for day laborers to find employment. The proposal calls for a minimum fine rary day labor agencies or the on-site employ- The “Illegal Immigration Act Ordi- of $1,000 as punishment for hiring day labor- ers.” Because their work is temporary and var- nance” provides a loophole for those who ers, regardless of the worker’s documentation ied, protection laws are difficult to enforce; want to exclude Mexican children from public status, and a ban on publicly funded labor the Act increase will only increase hardship schools. Turner points out, “if an undocu- centers. If passed, the act will also prohibit for day laborers by forcing them to become mented family can’t live in the city, they can’t undocumented workers from renting or leas- dependent on employment agencies and pri- send their children to public schools.” ing property; it will also work to impose a fine vately-owned day labor centers. PAGE 8 ALTERNATIVE MEDIA COLLECTIVE VOLUME I ISSUE I New Forum Birdie and Bernard

By Alan Au funny how they play the same twelve songs over “Stop being such a mother, Birdie. I was just and over again on the speakers.” They both having some fun. Some damn good fun.” New Forum laugh. When Bernard and Birdie were both in Bed, “Whenever the album is about to reach the Birdie heard Bernard crying into his pillows on “The Indian belly dancer leaps through song ‘Rosita’, it freezes on a pricked rim of the the top bunk. Birdie turned away from the win- the beaded curtains, dressed in hot red disc. I don’t know how Rosita finishes.” dow and stared at the bottom of Bernard’s mat- with her face veiled,” Birdie made sure Bernard “Birdie, do you want to tell me one of your tress. He wanted see through the mattress and had not fallen asleep before he continued, stories?” make sure Bernard was not crying anymore. “dances around the man, teasing him with her “I…I don’t have any, Bernie.” Bernard came through the doorway. He had long and soft sleeves. As he tries to grab her “Ohh…they’ll come back.” two bottles of whiskey, with elephant logos, and kiss her, she disappears. He wakes up. It is “On television today, the funniest thing hap- tucked into his handsome hands. “Birdie!” only a dream.” pened. A woman breaks up with a guy and then “Bernie?” “What happens to the belly dancer?” Bernard she—“ Birdie suddenly remembered that Ber- “I want to apologize for the other day.” asked. nard had lost his wife and daughter to a divorce. Birdie smiled, saying nothing. “She…she’s gone…vanished…and you don’t “Well? What happens?” “I will take you somewhere.” why…it’s a mystery,” Birdie replied. “I don’t…remember.” “Where?” “Interesting story,” Bernard said with unwill- “Ohh..that’s okay…that’ll come back too.” “Just come with me. It is a surprise.” ing indifference. “So how was your day at work? Bernie.” Bernard stashed the two bottles against his “I’m just very tired. Today, the factory had me “There was an accident at the docks today, chest and zipped up his panther blank leather working over. So, good night Birdie.” and a man lost his index jacket. The sky was purplish black and the night “Good night Bernie.” finger. But I’ll spare you the details. Good murky and hazy, and it was late—they were nor- After Bernard, who slept on the top bunk, fell night Birdie.” mally in bed by now. They drove out of the city asleep, Birdie found himself alone in the “Good night Bernie.” and along the cramped apartment three floors above the Birdie told himself that he should have known tree lines and opened fields, where he saw a streets. Besides the occasional headlights flash- better than to bring up Bernard’s wife. Al- flock of lambs in the green shadows. ing through the blinds, the night felt still and though she divorced him six years ago, Birdie They were far away now—far from the cities, empty. still heard him cry late at night and curse her markets, shops and people. Bernard rolled ‘Did Bernie like my story?” Birdie wondered. name in his dreams. Bernard had tried to get his down the window and a cold wind rushed into He wanted to know how daughter back two or three years ago, but was the car. He placed two cigarettes in his lips, Bernard’s face looked like—how he reacted, if unable because of his income. Every Saturday, lighted them, and handed one to Birdie. Birdie at all—since Bernard was always on the top he still drove to his wife’s house and visited his took the cigarette and placed the moist end be- bunk and he always on the lower one. ‘Maybe if daughter, Mary, who he said had grown into a tween his own lips. I have known what happens to the Belly dancer, smart and beautiful nine-year old. When Birdie “Birdie, we’re almost there.” Bernie might like my story more.’ closed his eyes, he saw nothing. He tried to “Where are we going?” Birdie asked but When Birdie closed his eyes, he thought of sleep. Bernard came through the doorway. Al- wanted no answer. what happens to the Belly though he looked tired as he usually did, there “We’ll find out soon.” dancer until he fell asleep. was something in that tiredness that Birdie was Birdie began to hear waves slam violently Birdie knew he was in trouble when he heard not familiar to. against the shores. Bernard had brought Birdie Bernard and the landlady in the living room. “Birdie! It took me a while to find it, but I to the beaches. When Bernard came into the room, Birdie found it. This is the album they play everyday Bernard yelled out for Birdie to run as he pretended to be asleep. at your work. You can finally finish Rosita.” rushed to the shore. Birdie followed behind, “Birdie.” Birdie smiled. “But I don’t know if I slowly. Bernard soon ran so far ahead that only “Bernie…” should find out. For a month, I have grown used broken words reached Birdie. “Run…Birdie… “The landlady told me you forgot to pay the to Rosita never finding its end.” Run.” Birdie saw Bernard jump into the water rent for this month.” “Just keep the album and listen to it whenever with all his clothes “I…I lost my job.” you want.” Bernard suddenly fell to the floor on. As Birdie came near, he saw that Bernard’s “Don’t worry Birdie. I paid for it. But you and pulled his hands out of from his pockets and face was white angelic under the moonlight. should tell me these things.” pressed them against his tearing eyes, scream- “Thh…Thee..wateer…is…fine, Birdie,” Ber- “Sor…Sorry Bernie.” ing, “They won’t let me see her anymore.” nard said before he gave Birdie a smile. “Don’t worry. Today’s newspaper is over “What happened?” Bernard made splashes and allowed the waves there. Just try to find a new job. Okay?” “I got mad at Julie and knocked down the to him. He swam out a bit, but realized the “Okay.” glass table. She called the police and now they waves were too high, and came back. As Ber- “I’m going to the factory now.” have me on a restraining order. I can’t see little nard’s excitement died, he got out of the water “So…I don’t have to leave?” Mary anymore.” and laid on the sands. Birdie, who watched eve- “Leave?” Although Birdie knew he should say some- rything, laid beside him. “Since I didn’t pay rent for this month.” thing or hold Bernard, he did not know what or “Birdie, let’s hear one of your stories,” Ber- “Don’t worry Bernie. We have lived together how. nard said, now staring at the for almost five years. Of course I won’t make “I don’t know what to do anymore, Birdie.” shadowed horizon. you move away.” Later that evening, Birdie played the album Although Birdie did not want to bore Bernard “Okay.” on the phonograph. He found the end to Rosita, with one of his stories, “Good bye Birdie.” which was disappointing. Bernard did not say he began, “There was a man, a lone barber, and “Good bye Bernie.” anything more to Birdie that night. Birdie did while he cuts this woman’s hair—“ Birdie no- After Bernard went to work, Birdie had the not sleep. Birdie did not even try, he left his ticed Bernard’s body trembling, probably from entire apartment to himself. It was a withering eyes opened, staring out the window at the pur- the cold, he thought. apartment with yellow tiles on the kitchen floor plish black sky. He wondered what Bernard was “Bernie…” and fading white paint on the walls. thinking of, if awake, or dreaming of, if asleep. “Birdie, when I listen to your stories, I smile. Birdie brought the newspaper to the kitchen Birdie kept his eyes peering out of the window. They make me happy. I just wanted to let you table. As he skimmed through the column with He watched as the hazy blue from the morning know that.” After Bernard said that, he laid si- job listings, he found a rogue flower growing light first shone from across the electric lines lent. When Birdie peered over, he saw that Ber- from the cracked walls of the building across the and brown buildings, and as it made its way to nard’s curled up and still body was facing away street; it was a little withered and its colors a lit- the rest of the black night. Bernard came home and his rough blue jeans and jacket were soaked tle dulled from the white sunlight; it seemed like drunk and cheery with his cheeks flushed red black. Bernard had fallen asleep. As Birdie it had painfully pushed its way out of the scath- and dress shirt unbuttoned to his chest. stared out into the black sea, he felt scared. ing bricks. Maybe it did it for a little fresh air. “Bernie, where were you?” With Bernard asleep, the open sea and the wide Birdie looked at the clock. It was now eleven “I had myself a couple of drinks. That was shores felt empty and vast. o clock—Bernard would not be back for another it.” Birdie had waited for him through the night. “Bernie…Bernie…” he whispered, but Ber- seven hours. “The ladies down at the pub are beautiful, nard continued lying there motionless, asleep. “How is your new job, Birdie?” even and every one of them.” Lying on the huge beach, Birdie did not know “I have only been working for a week. It is “I…I was just worri—“ he could feel so alone. PAGE 9 ALTERNATIVE MEDIA COLLECTIVE VOLUME I ISSUE I Dostoevsky's Country

By Spencer Seward small hands on the windowsill where the corpse was thrown out. New Forum He does not cry.

Dostevsky's country. Losing myself in hats and tre Girls tell of brains ruining their braids nchcoats,the unending cold. Clothes hanging frozen like melancholy and grenades becoming overzealous candlelight icicles. in a surreal siege. Buried mothers. Lost fathers. Endless smokestacks and drab floral dresses on women who Sympathetic masked woman dissapearing, leaving only bits. line the street like statues. Bits. Pieces. Unmarked granules of humanity.

The school crouches, always worried now, it's windows They were thirsty, they said and obviously naked, in perhaps every way always frosted now, waiting. The fences wear shotguns. a person can be naked. In the aftermath, the roubles Occassionally, a guard smiles, perhaps seeing his own children piled up, coffers appearing in hospitals and antiquated bedrooms. in the jaded laughter. They wear black, but they do not wear masks A large eared boy asked, "How can they measure lives in money?" for fear of epileptic flashbacks. History's tragic, perpertually unanswered question. There is a reason no one places bill folds on graves. In the interviews, the children are calm, composed. They burn crayon portraits, pile up matches in an effort for "We have grown up too fast" another boy says. Scary, the insights vengeance. One boy meanders, trailing a camera and the hardened looks. The declarations of slit throats and through endless hallways, through depressing gray debris, pools of black masked blood. The skipping that will never look the same. these endless hallways. He points to the ground and says, They have become gazelles with only three legs. They are blank, mournful, "Here. Here is where they killed my father" and places his snow white paper. The saddest thing. Blank faces. Starch Egyptia

By Mark Hendrickson By Vanessa Chulapatrcheevin New Forum New Forum

We lay folded on the bed while the sheets washed. In the desert we shook the static You unrolled my fingers Out of satin sheets to lay them on the dunes with your fingers. And watched as beetles crawled Along the soft, white hillocks of fabric. Behind the blinds the heated afternoon— I was parched, you’d brought but we lay cold An old-fashioned gourd, filled in the wide room To the stoppered brim With honeyed wine so heavy and dark under the fan I spilled two drops on the white sand. whose air you held my hand to, Like mercury they ran then brought down. Down the slope of sand. And after them, you “I dreamed you worked on cars,” With your hair streaming back you said, Like a banner “I dreamed I had a man For all that the desert’s consumed. with rougher hands.”

From Throne Racer bridge and the men laying dominoes filled his The threat of losing focused Bernard’s atten- (Continued from page 3) ears. The sounds of the day room washing tion like nothing else would. The beginnings ing no one was paying any attention to the over him coated his mind with the mild seda- of a smile were turning up the corner of his shambling old man. tive of time. His eyelids grew heavy as they dry, cracked lips. The shadows were slowly Minerva Myrtle had supposedly had are want to do on the portion of the population stretching across the day room, the hands on an accident on the green corduroy fabric one that have walked this planet for over three the clock racing towards the finish line. The afternoon, and though it had never been quarters of a century. His chin crept towards day room had emptied of everyone but Ber- proven the chair was cast off, destined to his chest, and without any strategy for the up- nard, whose face had transformed into the gap spend the rest of it’s days gathering dust. coming race, Bernard’s snores began filling toothed grin of a boy who is seeing some of ‘Well, if that’s the way it has to be.’ Bernard his dust-covered corner of the room with the the many things that life has to offer. The lit- lurched past eyes trying not to watch, settling soothing rhythm of a boat floating idly on the tle hand on the clock was on the final stretch, his bones in to the dusty arms of the chair. calmest of waters. racing forward, unrelenting and unafraid as ‘Why am I so afraid of this cowboy? What Shuffle. Tap. Shuffle-shuffle. Tap. Shuffle. only time can be. Bernard was no longer pull- does he have that I don’t? He won that race Tap. Shuffle-shuffle. Tap. Bernard’s eyes ing for a fiery wreck, for a premature end of and stole my spotlight. He silenced the gos- opened to long shadows being cast across the the clocks race. He was eager now, anxious. sipers, I suppose. Now no one even wants to day room. People were rising from their daily Finally the checkered flag was waving the look at me. Christ, this chair smells like piss, posts, stretching, and beginning to file in to clocks hand had finished its final lap, it was and I’m sittin’ here ‘cause of him.’ the darkened hallway. Bernard watched for a time for the race to begin and Bernard had a The hands on the clock were inching forward. moment, content not to move, to be ignored. plan. God’s Mile was lined with giddy octoge- ‘Less than two laps left until the magic hour. ‘So this is it. Bernard found himself talking to narians anxious for the start of the race. The I need a plan, some sort of strategy. Think, his long dead wife with increasing frequency. patience they had spent a lifetime acquiring Bernard you old war horse, think.’ The sun ‘I’m glad you’re not here today, seeing your was being put to the test. The shuffle of slip- was streaming in through the windows on the man like this. Baby, what should I do? I pers and the high pitched whine of hearing East wall, reflecting off the ocean of tiles, fill- don’t even care any more. Don’t care if I win aids played as background music to the ex- ing the day room with a soothing, soft green or lose, don’t even care if I race at all. I just cited whispers of expectation. light. The sound of slippers sliding, and rub- want my friends baby, I just want you. Stel, “Who’s it going to be Georgie?” ber tipped canes hitting and holding their you gotta help me baby, I don’t want to go in “Vera, when are you going to learn not to put mark, exclamations from the women playing to that hallway alone.’ (Continued on page 18) PAGE 10 ALTERNATIVE MEDIA COLLECTIVE VOLUME I ISSUE I Jaded A Struggle within a Struggle: Zapatistas Women’s fight for Equality

By Crystal Hwang palities in Chiapas on the same day that the port base in the various communities, making Jaded agreement was enacted. Government response uniforms and weapons, securing supplies, pre- was swift and deadly; hundreds of lives were paring food, and staying constantly on watch lost when the military was sent to pacify the for government soldiers. Women also com- On New Year’s Eve of 1994, the rebels. Despite the cease-fire agreement in prise about 30% of Zapatista combat fighters. same day that Mexico joined the North Atlan- 1994, military occupation of Zapatista com- Still, improvements in the status of women tic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), a group munities was reinstated in mid-1997 and, have come slowly, facing resistance by many, of masked indigenous people seized the city since then, over 18,000 Native Chiapans have and victories have been won at a high price. of San Cristóbal de las Casas in the city of been displaced as a result of harassment and Indigenous women have often been Chiapas. Calling themselves the Zapatista Na- raids by army and paramilitary troops. On De- ignored and subordinated even within the tional Liberation Army (Ejército Zapatista de cember 22, 1997, 45 people attending a Ro- movement, struggling to learn Spanish in or- Liberación Nacional, EZLN), these armed man Catholic town prayer meeting in Acteal, der to communicate and participate in assem- revolutionaries declared war on the govern- mostly women and children, were massacred blies and organizations (30% speak only their ment of Mexico proclaiming their right to by paramilitary forces. Federal “investigation” native languages, not Spanish). The custom of autonomous self-government and the end of of the Acteal massacre has since resulted in dowry still exists in some communities, and neoliberal exploitation. The international the arrests and convictions of 55 individuals, the reproductive health of women is limited community was shocked and intrigued; rather all of them indigenous peoples. by lack of access to health services, contra- than a highly trained core of political rebels, What is the current status of the ceptives, and medical abortions. Women and the Zapatistas were ragged forces comprised EZLN in Chiapas? After the first two weeks children are the chief victims in armed con- mostly of peasants, some armed with make- following the capture of San Cristóbal de las flicts, comprising an overwhelming majority shift weapons. Further investigation revealed Casas, the EZLN agreed upon a cease-fire and of the displaced refugees and of those who the critical status of indigenous peoples of immediately entered into peace talks with the have been killed or wounded. By 1998, over Chiapas, a region that seemed to have been Mexican government. Both parties eventually 684 incidents of assault on women and girls in left behind in Mexico’s push towards First signed the San Andrés Accords on Indigenous Chiapas were documented in the span of four World development. Rights and Culture in 1996. But the consistent years, over half of which were rapes commit- In a country with 56 distinct cultures failure of policymakers to consider Zapatista ted by government and paramilitary soldiers. and 100 languages, Chiapas is one of the demands (including the right to collective use As in many countries, poverty strikes Mexican states with the highest percentage of of natural resources, representation at the na- women in Chiapas the hardest. “Nothing is indigenous people, many whom are of Maya tional level, right to their own media channels said about the indigenous as peoples, and even descent. Chiapas also suffers from the highest and the recognition of indigenous communi- less about the indigenous women; we do not rate of malnutrition, with an estimated 70% of ties as legal entities) and the passage of a spu- appear in any law that the government makes the population lacking adequate nutrition. The rious Indigenous Rights Law in 2001 because for it, we do not exist,” declared one infant mortality rate is double the national av- prompted the EZLN to break negotiations woman at a rally. Women typically wake up erage, wages are three times lower than the with the government. Until recently the EZLN several hours before dawn to collect firewood national average, and illiteracy among women has receded from media coverage, focusing and water and prepare food for their husbands is estimated at 63%. Chiapas produces 55% of mostly on developing the 32 autonomous and children. Many also work alongside men Mexico’s hydroelectric energy yet 70% in- communities within their territory and seeking in the fields during the day and return home digenous homes have no electricity and 90% support from international human rights or- afterwards to cook the evening meal, do have no running water. ganizations. Within local communities, deci- housework and care for their children. The roots of poverty and exploitation sions about food production, health care, “Doubly humiliated, as women and as work- of indigenous peoples can be traced back to th schools and communitarian projects are made ers, the Mexican indigenous women are also Spanish conquest in early 16 century, where through assemblies called the Juntas de Buen humiliated for the color of their skin, their as many as 12 million were killed by war, dis- Gobierno (Councils of Good Government). language, their culture, their past,” wrote Sub- ease, famine and involuntary servitude. In The Juntas rotate membership continuously, comandante Marcos, the now-famous pipe- 1917, Article 27 of the Mexican Constitution allowing all members of the community to smoking spokesperson for the EZLN. granted indigenous farmers the right to own serve on the seats and preventing individuals Zapatista women have firmly spoken the land they had been living on for centuries, from gaining too much authority. out about the lack of access to health care and promising the right to ejido or communal Although radical democratic self- resulting deaths of their children and older land. But in response to the Mexican eco- government has proven fairly successful, the family members from curable diseases as well nomic crash and pressure from Structural Ad- transformation of gender norms is still being as the dire shortage of schools and decent justment Programs (SAPs) put in place by the negotiated within the Zapatista movement. housing. At the National Indigenous Confer- International Monetary Fund (IMF), 85% of Since its inception, the EZLN has mobilized ence in Mexico City in 1996, their demands public companies were privatized in 1994 and the support of indigenous women. The suc- were presented by Comandante Ramona. In the government agreed to repeal Article 27 as cessful capture of San Cristóbal de las Casas the “Women’s Revolutionary Law” they de- a condition to joining NAFTA. was headed by Major Ana Maria, a young manded fair wages, the enforcement of rape Calling NAFTA a ‘death certificate Tzotzil woman who joined the struggle when and abuse laws and access to education, health for indigenous peoples,’ the EZLN seized San she was fourteen years old. Indigenous care and adequate nutrition for themselves and Cristóbal de las Casas and six other munici- women form the majority of the EZLN’s sup- (Continued on page 20) Aramark: The New Bully On Campus By Julianne Ong Hing sometimes unstable vendors for every food nerstone Café, Phoenix Grille, BC’s Cavern Jaded outlet on campus, the University was desper- on the Green, Cyber A Café, and the outdoor ate for a convenient food provider that had the food carts scattered throughout campus. In the summer of 2004, when student capability of keeping pace with the expanding For the University, Aramark was a government and campus groups were on hia- campus. With one eye on its pocketbook and safe option. By consolidating all of the food tus and the pace on the already quiet UCI another focused on the future, the University providers under a single management, UC Ir- campus slowed to a crawl, a multi-million turned to Aramark Corporation, one of the na- vine would have none of the annoyance of dollar contract was quietly signed that forever tion’s largest food and vending service pro- dealing with individual companies and their altered the underpinnings of the socioeco- viders. During that summer UCI administra- fickle business. It didn’t hurt either that nomic landscape of UC Irvine. tion signed a contract that gave Aramark total Aramark offered to pay for $2 million dollars The now-gutted Student Center was control of all food options on campus. worth of kitchen equipment in the new Stu- scheduled to come down and many contracts Aramark’s pre-existing management of resi- dent Center. Ray Giang, ASUCI Executive in the food court it housed were about to ex- dential dining halls in Mesa Court and Middle pire. After years of managing separate and Earth Housing was extended to include Cor- (Continued on page 11) PAGE 11 ALTERNATIVE MEDIA COLLECTIVE VOLUME I ISSUE I Aramark: The New Bully on Campus so high that many of its workers forego health University of California and automatically (Continued from page 10) insurance altogether. Aramark’s starting give them the protection of a labor union, Vice President of Administrative Affairs, wages are $8.50 per hour, but some food ser- along with extensive and inexpensive health commented that along with the other benefits vice employees who have worked at UCI for coverage, and options for a pension plan. of consolidation (fiscal stability and sheer over twenty years are still making the same It is not just workers at UCI who are convenience) Aramark provided, “to be hon- amount they did when they started. Most ap- hurt by Aramark’s presence on campus. est, the University gets a bigger kickback, palling, many full time Aramark employees Unless students organize and act we, too, are too.” Relinquishing control of campus food qualify for public assistance and rely on at the mercy of the corporation. Giang ac- operations to Aramark has been a panacea for Medi-cal, low-income housing, and other so- knowledged that Aramark “could theoretically UC Irvine administrators who were more than cial programs. UC Irvine has entrusted the en- be very good [for students], but the problem is willing to outsource the headache of food op- tirety of the campus food options to a com- that now, it’s essentially a monopoly and they erations to an outside company. pany whose central business tenet prioritizes do have the opportunity to gouge students and But all of this – the expediency and shiny new profits over people. have poor food quality.” oven ranges – comes at a heavy price. But just because these workers pre- UC Irvine is the last UC campus that Aramark Corporation is consistently named as pare and serve food on the UC Irvine campus subcontracts its food services. Students at a Forbes 500 top performing company, and in our residential dining halls, they are not af- UCLA, UCSD, UCSF, and UCSC have in re- also has a reputation for unjust labor practices. forded the same rights as UC service employ- cent years successfully organized to bring The corporation is able to outperform its com- ees. Aramark Corporation prohibits its work- their formerly outsourced workers under di- petitors by cutting costs off the backs of its ers from organizing or unionizing to fight for rect University of California employment. workers. The health insurance plan Aramark higher wages. An ongoing student-worker Outsourcing our service workers and over- offers its employees is so limited in its ser- struggle to bring Aramark workers “in house” charging our students can and must end now. vices but requires a monthly premium that is would make them official employees of the Safety First: The Politics of Suburban Living

By Patrick Appel something closer to an expanded Ikea than a Anything creative one might do to Jaded legitimate public space. As Professor Scott their property to try and eliminate the barriers Bollens of UCI’s Planning Policy and Design is subject to the decision of homeowners’ as- department said, Irvine leaves little room for sociations. Everything from the placement and We live in a literalization of the Pa- what he calls “spontaneous public space.” The size of shrubbery to when one can put up holi- triot Act. The basic principal of the 2001 Pa- public spaces that do exist, typically, and day decorations is mandated. The city, triot Act is the surrendering of certain civil ironically, are privatized. According to Bol- through the use of homeowners’ associations, liberties in exchange for a theoretically safer lens, there is little in the way of “public spaces is split into smaller and smaller sections, into state. Irvine, as a master planned community, where people can get together of all races, readymade communities, thus fracturing a lar- makes a similar trade. The city looks to pro- ethnicities, [and] income levels. [Likewise, it ger sense of citywide or state belonging. vide both economic and physical safety by is difficult to] rebel, or protest, or just voice Considering this isolationism, it implementing strict controls over the physical collective angst or frustration.” should come as little surprise that Professor landscape. This intentional minimalization of Bollens remarked the people he is most wor- Irvine’s #1 rank from the FBI as the spaces where crowd gathering, protest, or ried about are teenagers growing up “in Ir- safest city in the United States for cities with class interaction could take place can be seen vine, and other places like it.” He elaborated, populations exceeding 100,000 is the result of though the controls present in Irvine, for they “If they can’t get into productive trouble or such control. This ranking is the result of dec- go far beyond reducing criminal behavior. If fun, just finding creative places to be and feel- ades of hard work and billions of dollars, you have gotten lost in the concentric rings of ing like it’s fun, they are going to feel incredi- mostly on behalf of the Irvine Company. Irvine’s roads, which feel like they were laid bly stifled. I’m sure generations already have More than anything, it is city planning and out with the help of a spirograph, you have gone through Irvine and feel incredibly stifled policy that has produced this distinction. participated in Irvine’s policy of isolationism. and frustrated, and that can’t be healthy for However, the real basis of Irvine’s The road systems keep residential communi- that kid who needs to explore.” master plan doesn’t have to do with crime pre- ties out of the way and secluded. As a safety Whereas older communities favored vention; it has to do with money. The Irvine mechanism, this acts at the expense of com- safety through communal interaction, Irvine, Company, as a monopoly landowner, has been munal interaction. Through the confusing road and the many cities like it, use communal se- able to highly regulate the city in order to network, a type of gated community with hid- clusion. Front yards typically are not designed maintain security, predictability, and thus, den barriers is created. for utility, but manageability. Even recreation profits. Creating physical safety isn’t just a Likewise, this emphasis on business areas lack personality; for they consist mostly social policy; it protects property values and and personal safety is visible in the layout of of highly manicured community parks. tax revenues. homes. Houses are often sucked back from off Through their planning, these spaces have had The underlying economic interests of the street or the front of the house is literally much of the potential creativity drained out of the city’s plan can especially be seen in the barricaded from the neighboring properties by them because they do not lend themselves to design of the commercial sector. For one, Ir- a garage or wall. Houses are turned away imaginative manipulation. They are difficult vine lacks a downtown. It has no centralized from each other, giving the impression of cre- to use in the same way a highly refined living community area. The Irvine Spectrum, which ating safety, albeit through household discon- (Continued on page 20) has the closest resemblance to a downtown nect. area in Irvine, is really just an outdoor mall, The Mediterranean Diet: Jesus Approved

By Eva Meszaros best selling What Would Jesus Eat?, I found generously. The possession of a dorm meal Jaded that I was not far off in my assumptions. The plan will severely test one’s willpower. Dare I diet essentially follows and supports a more say it—even old J.C. would be impressed. familiar Mediterranean diet, which encour- Day 1: Wednesday Feeling lost, misguided, and packing ages a high intake of vegetables, whole grains, I began my journey rather optimistically in a little more weight than you’d like to? Then legumes, and fruit, a moderate intake of fish spite of my past, which is strewn with failed this age-old diet may be for you. The latest and red wine, and much less of everything diet attempts. Referring to my handy What fad on the dieting circuit introduces an ancient else. Would Jesus Eat? seven-day sample meal form of motivation—religion—and the devout I figured in the time it took the world guide, I prepared a tuna salad over lettuce zealots are (literally) eating it up. to be created, I could find spirituality and a with a splash of balsamic vinaigrette; a slice I’ll admit I don’t have much experi- weight loss plan that works for me. This week of honeydew and watermelon; a scoop of ence with organized religion, but I offered to would test my intentions to the point of mock- berry yogurt and cottage cheese for dessert; undergo the task of attempting the holy diet, ery. and a half-glass of grapefruit juice. Delicious! which I giddily anticipated would include Quick background: I am a resident One apple broke the fast between lunch and plenty of carbs and wine. advisor in the undergraduate dormitories, so I (Continued on page 18) With the assistance of Don Colbert’s earn a dandy 19-meal plan, which I waste PAGE 12 ALTERNATIVE MEDIA COLLECTIVE VOLUME I ISSUE I Sanskriti 2nd Star to the Right and Straight On ‘Till Morning

By Sweta Kikani the Persians, from Persians to the Babyloni- rectly above one’s head is known as the tenth Sanskriti ans, then on to the Greeks, Romans and Egyp- house, and directly below is the fourth house. tians. Western astrology has been consis- Then we come to the ninth house, which tently inconsistent throughout history, disap- stands just above our heads and slightly back. Tarot cards. Fortune cookies. Magic pearing with political and religious change, as This particular house is important as it rules eight balls. Weekly syndicated horoscopes. is evident during the Dark Ages and the “Age the religion factor in Vedic astrology. One Cher, Dion Warwick and their Psychic of Reason” in 15th century Europe, and reap- should note that many religions honor this an- Friends Network. Before the days of modern pearing when seemingly in their favor, as seen gle through various customs. For example, fortune telling, people once turned their heads in during the Renaissance. This discontinuity Jewish men wear a yarmulke, a small cap cov- towards the heavens in search of answers and in western astrology has led to proof of holes ering the back portion of their head. Simi- solutions to life’s many queries. Now a days, and missing pieces in providing accurate read- larly, many Hindu men shave every part of star gazing is left up to the romantics and pa- ings of the stars. With at least 5,000 years of their head except that part, which they let thetics, dreaming of Never never Lands and documented consistency, Vedic astrology is grow into a long ponytail known as a sheeka. galaxies far, far away. However, for at least a considered to be the most efficient and accu- It is also taught in the Vedas that the crown documented 5,000 years, Hindus have used rate form of astrology by professionals and portion of the head, which faces the ninth their knowledge of the celestial bodies to de- scholars of the subject. house is where certain types of yogis of the termine one’s future. Vedic astrology is based on the nine past used to burst through at the time of their One of six supplementary appendices, planets: the sun, the moon, Mars, Mercury, death and would actually leave their body the Jyotish Vedanga—Vedic astronomy and Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu. through that spot which is known as the astrology, has acted as a tool to help guide These are known in Sanskrit as Ravi or Surya, Brahma Rundrum. It is also interesting to ac- those who believe in its powers to rationalize Candra, Mangal or Kuja, Buddha, Guru, knowledge that their hair often curls in a certain occurrences, uncover pasts, and pre- Shukra, Shani, Rahu and Ketu. Also impor- swirling pattern on that part of the head, as if dict futures. There are six main branches of tant to Jyotish are the twelve zodiac signs, and the universal swirling pattern enters us at that Jyotish Vedanga which act as the foundation: the twelve houses on the “Kundali Chart.” It point. Gola-positional astrology, Ganita- is these twelve houses that are used to govern Today, astrology in Hindu culture is mathamatical diagnostic tools for analyzing all the different aspects of life. These houses most often used to determine auspicious dates the results of Gola, Jakta-natal astrology, are areas in space. Anywhere on stands on the for such events as weddings and moving into Prasna-answering questions based on the spe- earth, at that moment they are surrounded by a new home. Strong believers even find it cific time they were asked, Muhurta- space. For example, facing the eastern hori- necessary to choose their spouses based upon selecting an auspicious time to start some- zon where the sun rises is known as the first complimentary zodiac signs. Some even let thing, and Nimitta-omens. house. Across from the first house on the (Continued on page 19) From India, Vedic astrology spread to western horizon is the seventh house. Di- Ayurveda: India’s ancient healthcare system (without HMO’s)

By Jay Shah ingly different. Ayurveda understands the im- How can you incorporate ayurvedic Sanskriti portance of nature and it promotes harmony tips into your life? Ayurveda recommends between nature and us. Ayruveda also under- drinking a freshly squeezed lemon juice The healthcare system in this nation is stands the correlation between mind and body. mixed with a cup of warm water first thing in flawed. Aside from the corrupt insurance and Our mental and emotional state is equally im- the morning. Lemons are both antibacterial pharmaceutical giants, the underlying philoso- portant in governing our physical status. Simi- and antiseptic and even act as an antioxidant phy of cures and treatments of human diseases lar to modern medicine, ayurveda also con- to fight the harmful free radicals. Also, iced and illnesses seems erroneous. Have a head- sists of specialties ranging from internal medi- beverages are harmful to digestion and should ache? Here, pop in couple Tylenols. Suffering cine (Kayachikitsa) to surgery (Shalya Tan- be avoided, especially during or after a meal. from a stomachache? No problem, that’s eas- tra). In addition, every disease consists of One should also eat in a quiet peaceful envi- ily solved by the plethora of antacids available definitions, symptoms, pathology, medica- ronment without TV or even talking. Also ac- at any supermarkets. But consider a change in tions, treatment, and even diet and lifestyle cording to ayurveda, contrary to what we may diet or eating habits? Never, at least not until modifications. This structure is remarkably believe, lunch is the most important meal of it becomes life threatening. The problem lies similar to today but even more comprehen- the day because your body is naturally at its in that current approach to medicine involves sive. peak and needs the most nutrients and energy. relieving symptoms and not focusing at the According to ayurveda, everything in The heaviest meal of the day should be lunch underlying causes. Over the counter cough the universe, including us, is made from the and should not be skipped! Furthermore, wa- medications reduce brain sensitivity to the following five elements: space, air, water, fire, ter is the best beverage and is crucial for di- presence of bacteria causing a decrease in and earth. Balancing these elements in the gestion while caffineated drinks harm it. cough but don’t directly affect the bacteria correct manner is the key to physical health Lastly, ayurveda also suggests waking up be- present. The ease at which antibiotics are pre- and treating diseases. Certain elements have fore sunrise and sleeping before 11pm. The scribed makes bacteria increasingly resistant, the ability to come together to create physio- latter, however, isn’t very college friendly. thereby requiring stronger doses that usually logical functions. Space and air combine to Albeit a slow pace, the western world follow with unwanted side effects. This vi- from the Vata Dosha. This biological force is finally beginning to understand ayurvedic cious cycle isn’t a solution. The environment, controls movement and is evident in nerve im- treatments and medications. Many scientists what we eat, how we live our lives, and emo- pulses, respiration, and circulation. Fire and are investigating herbs and other naturally oc- tions are all indicative of our physical well- water combine to form the Pitta Dosha. It is curring remedies India has used for centuries. being. Ayurveda, the ancient holistic system responsible for transforming food into nutri- Recently, the western world discovered tur- of medicine of India, addresses these aspects ents and other forms of metabolism. Water meric and garlic. They discovered turmeric and promotes natural cures. and Earth combine to form the final dosha, the helps the immune system while garlic is im- Ayurveda, meaning knowledge of Kapha dosha. It is responsible for growth and portant for the heart. In fact, they realized gar- life, evolved roughly 5000 years ago amongst protection. The cerebrospinal fluid that pro- lic to be so beneficial that garlic is now manu- the Brahmin sages. This system of healthcare tects the spinal cord and brain is a type of factured in pill form. The appreciation and un- strives to maintain balances of energies within kapha. Interestingly, every individual has a derstanding of medicine and healthcare under us rather than focusing on symptoms. In addi- unique proportion of these three forces, mak- the system of ayurveda is vast and thorough. tion, no two individuals are the same; no two ing every individual and treatments to similar No wonder so many Indians are in medicine. individuals are composed of the same ener- illnesses different. Harmonious interactions gies. Therefore, treatments of two individuals among the three forces create balance and suffering from similar symptoms can be strik- health. Imbalances of the doshas are the root causes of diseases. PAGE 13 ALTERNATIVE MEDIA COLLECTIVE VOLUME I ISSUE I Philosopher and Yogi: Adi Shankara

By Aswathi Sreedharan sence of all knowledge. Through the state- worship Govinda, the supreme lord, because Sanskriti ment, "Ekameva Adviteeyam Brahma", or the the rules of grammar (secular knowledge and Absolute (Brahma) is one (Ekam) alone, not material acquisitions) will fail to rescue man two (Advitam), he explained to the world that from the cycle of life and death. He further “Yada yada hi dharmasya unity underlies the apparent diversity seen asks everyone to surrender themselves to the Glanir bhavathi Bharata everywhere. As per his analogy, while there feet of the Guru through the path of devotion, Abhudhanam adharmasya may be many types of sugarcane, the juice to attain freedom from Samsara, and achieve Tadatmanam srijami aham” that comes from them shares the same sweet- the oneness with the Brahman. While these The Bhagvad Gita, Chapter IV-7 ness. His discourse acts to reinforce the under- messages might be currently slightly out of lying message of the Vedas that truth is one, reach for most of us, they nevertheless reveal These famous words by Lord Krishna but the sages call it by many names. the complexity and vastness of the truth that in the Bhagvad Gita are a reminder to the Shankara’s interpretation of the originated in the Vedic period. world on His manifestation whenever there is Upanishads revealed to the world the four ma- Adi Shankara’s life shows that India, a decay of righteousness in the world. The havakyas, “ayam atma brahma”, “aham brah- despite numerous regional languages, and birth and life of Adi Shankara, undoubtedly masmi”, “prajnanam brahma”, and “tat tvam varying customs, was unified as one civiliza- one of Bharat’s greatest philosopher and yogi, asi”. These four vakyas, or statements em- tion. Bharat is one entity, and Sanskrit is the may be said to be one such manifestation. phasize the principle of non duality, and re- cement upon which this entity was con- Born in Kaladi, South India, between 700 and veal that the Atman, or the Self of man, is structed. Vedas and Sastras were respected 800 AD, Shankara lived to once again Brahman, that the Brahman is pure Con- and followed throughout Bharat, and formed enlighten the world of the teachings of the Ve- sciousness, and that human being is divine. the base of the once well-flourished civiliza- das. A true pravasi, Shankara traveled all over Shankara’s Advaitic doctrine taught that bod- tion. The idea of this unity, established and India, teaching and establishing the Advaita ies are manifold, but in these separate bodies, reinforced by Sankara through the creation of Vedanta, or the non-dualist philosophy. His the one divine, Brahman is present. Conse- the four mathas in four corners of Bharath, interpretations of the Vedas and the Upani- quently, knowledge of the self, Atma Gnana, namely, Sringeri, Dwaraka, Badri, and Puri, shads not only revitalized Bharath of the becomes essential. He thus taught the rules of seems to have diminished in modern age. As wealth she possessed, but also revived the Bhakti, Jnana, and Karma for achieving the the majority of us scramble to find the perfect age-old Vedic teachings that were on a de- awareness of this oneness with all that sur- job, the perfect family, and the best things for cline. rounds oneself, and that what is divine. ourselves, we have been forgetting the great- Leaving his mother and home behind, Any description of this yogi’s life ness of this ancient civilization, our duty to- Sankara wandered in search of a guru at the would not be complete without a word on wards our nation, and our responsibility in re- young age of 16. After taking up studies under Bhaja Govindam, a devotional song and a phi- viving what is our identity, and what is very Guru Gaudapada, he soon left to travel losophical treatise at the same time. Also much our own. Let us not delay a moment in throughout India propagating Vedic teachings, called Moham Mudhgarah (a hammer to crush joining hands in rediscovering and strengthen- in particular Advaita Vedanta. He realized and delusions), this song tells man to seek and ing ourselves, and our nation taught that Oneness, or Ekatvam is the es- Hinduism and the Environment Thang!

By Nishkaam Mehta looming climate crisis. Their pleas fell to deaf Capitalism succeeded where commu- Sanskriti ears, and last year we saw first-hand, the ef- nism failed in that it recognized that humans fects of global warming: an unprecented and were inherently selfish animals and provided Globally, there are about 1.9 hectares ferocious hurricane season, a catastrophic an infrastructure to further that goal. A new of productive area per person, but the average drought in Brazil, the worst-ever wildfires in breed of environmentalists now wants to har- ecological footprint is already 2.3 hectares. So Alaska, arctic glaciers at their lowest ebb in ness the power of the market economy to we would need 1.5 Earths to live sustainably. millennia, devastating floods in India - por- bring about environmental change. The Kyoto The largest footprint belongs to citizens of the tents of global warming's destructive poten- protocal calls for setting up a global exchange US, at 9.57 hectares. If the US provides the tial. for countries to trade permits to greenhouse benchmark for global consumption, 25 Earths Humans have trashed the planet not gases so that they can meet their obligations will be needed to satiate everyone’s wants. because we are evil, but because our current under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce emissons The earth is fast running out of resources. industrial mechanisms leave us no choice. Our and thereby mitigate global warming. Natural reserves are depleting and peak oil is skyscrapers, factories and farms, freeways and Economists cannot be trusted with the right around the corner. For the uninitiated, power plants were conceived before we had health of our planet. Everytime a tree is cut, Peak oil is the point in time when extraction even an inkling of how the planet worked. the GDP goes up. Everytime a trolley of coal of oil from the earth reaches its highest point They are primitive inventions designed by comes up from the mine, the GDP goes up. and then begins to decline. The issue is not so people who didn't fully comprehend the con- Everytime a person is diagnosed with cancer much of “running out” of oil as it is about not sequences of their actions. Every time you or diabetes, more medicines are made, and the having enough to keep the economy running. turn on the ignition, you're entangled in a sys- GDP goes up. In trying to harness the selfish- The ramifications of this are very similar to tem whose known outcomes include an in- ness of human beings, be it with competition, the human body. The human body is 70% wa- creasingly polluted atmosphere, oil-slicked opening up economies, the free market econ- ter and a 200 pound man hence holds 140 seas, and desert wars. omy has made us humans more self-centered. pounds of water. Given how crucial water is Activists have failed to move the Our planet belongs to us all and a market to everything the human body does, a loss of broader public not because they were wrong economy based solution to our environmental as little as 10-15 pounds of water is enough to about the problems, but because the solutions problems will only take us so far – providing kill a human body of dehydration. Similarly, a they offered were unappealing to most people. us with immediate relief with a selfish solu- 10-15% deficit in supply will be enough to Human beings are inherently selfish animals tion in a time when humans need to learn to reduce all of mankind to a post-industrial and they will not make the sacrifice of lower- be self-less in how they inhabit the earth. stone age. For example, the oil shocks during ing their thermostats or subsist lower in the It is time that we acknowledged that the 1970s, shortfalls in production as small as food chain unless every other human being of human beings as parasites have driven the 5% caused the price of oil to quadruple. The every other race, gender and nationality did so planet to a point where we have outgrown United States peaked in its domestic oil pro- before them. The activists called for tighten- ourselves. For our own survival, we ought to duction in 1970 and 33 of the top 45 oil- ing belts and curbing appetites, turning down explore alternatives to the current status quo. producing countries have now peaked with the thermostat and living lower in the food Hinduism presents one such compelling alter- world oil production set to peak by the end of chain. Most rejected technology, business, native. 2006 followed by a 3% decrease in oil pro- and prosperity over returning to a simpler way duction every year. of life. This is the reason the movement got so This severe economic disruption will little traction. Asking people in the world's take place in the shadows of an even more most prosperous and advanced societies to powerful climate disruption. For decades, the turn their backs on the very forces that drove environmentalist brigades have warned us of a such profuse is naive at best. PAGE 14 ALTERNATIVE MEDIA COLLECTIVE VOLUME I ISSUE I Forest Fire Sweatshops Versus Sexshops: The Gritty, Unshaven Face of American Apparel

By Jennifer Miller ceive only $7. There are no paid sick days ‘hip’py chic, introducing skin and visible Forest Fire and no paid vacations, and only two months cheek. The company has certainly had its ago did the company begin to offer health in- way with bawdy sex-induced ads. Of course, surance. And to think – they just earned $150 what better way to sell clothes than through If you were to ask me what I remem- million in sales. And although American Ap- sex? And better yet, clothes that are already ber most from my pre-adolescent years (apart parel is a better business model than many message-branded with heavy-duty sex appeal: from an extravagant Lego set and some other companies, it all seems a bit unfair and cool and sexy. Sexy cause it’s cool and cool aquatic wildlife swimming in a Price Club exploitative to turn what should be a noble cause it’s sexy. American Apparel isn’t nota- aquarium), it would be the weekly trips I took and ethical cause into a marketing ploy. Yet bly celebrated for sales of (plain) clothing, but with my mom to the local mom-and-pop bak- somehow, all of the economic and business- for company ads. I present to you AA’s x- ery. Unfortunately, it seems that now a certain related questions that have been swirling factor: porn. Yes, Mr. Charney, you are a fast-food Chinese chain has taken over and I around American Apparel seem to pale in very smart man. can’t help but think: Super, another fond comparison to the barrage of allegations that Before American Apparel stores memory that’s been replaced by orange have been hurled at owner Dov Charney. started popping up around L.A., I recognized chicken and sweet-and-sour pork. Charney, the yiddishe malchik-come- the brand because I many graphic tees and I’m not necessarily surprised, though, industry savant, started selling shirts while he band shirts that were printed in the “classic things like this happen all the time. Few small was growing up in Montreal, Canada. He girl” style. But I have become more aware of businesses can ever really compete with big continued to provide fitted shirts throughout the company’s increasing presence in the hip- corporations. But how about a big company his college years at Tufts University. At a ster sphere in part to the location of ads and with a small-business work-ethic? Is it possi- time when Hanes Beefy-T’s weren’t cutting it, their memorable content. Though clever re- ble for this kind of anti-capitalist, pro- Charney pioneered shirts to fit one’s individ- marks of comfort are scrolled at the corners of environmentalist big business to exist in to- ual physique. Today, Charney has moved for- the photographs, I ultimately had to wonder: day’s markets? Well, one company that has ward - not only selling shirts at AA’s retail Where did the clothes go? The tiny amount of recently jumped to the forefront of business- locations, but also selling bras, panties, shorts actual fabric photographed in advertisements bolshevism is American Apparel, the Los An- and pants. The clothes are minimal, mono- alludes to amateur porn. It’s obviously not geles-based clothing company famous for its chromatic and are always scantily plastered on the clothes that hold most viewers’ attentions, plain, fitted tees. By openly touting its thin, young models. but the indiscreet and salacious “real-life” “sweatshop free” claim, the business has be- Perhaps even more surprising is Char- shots of young women, who Charney claims come popular with today’s new generation of ney’s statement in a recent interview. His are also ‘real-life’ women – not models. young adults, who may or may not share a ris- comment concerned the company’s slogan as Maybe he forgot that most women can’t af- ing concern for labor issues. “passé” and this may suggest a different mar- ford to fit into the squeamishly small bottoms But so much of American Apparel keting path. I’m thinking he’ll want to pursue seems illusory. Despite the fact most workers further production of raunchier ads: no more (Continued on page 19) get paid an average of $10 an hour, some re- Wives

By Jeff Kile the place down, but did you guys ever end up D: Yeah, you always have power structures to Forest Fire playing that night? tell you what you should and shouldn’t do. D: We did! We were all set up, but the guy Any person should just be able to say what Wives are what rock and roll should who lived at the place was like “You guys they feel. be: loud, fast, aggressive and thought provok- have to stall for like an hour” and I know that R: Its not just for the sake of record or music ing. They were kind enough to give us an in- kids got pissed. But when we actually got to its like everyday we deal with fucking cops, terview and here are the results. start, it was insane! teachers, parents president and things like Forest Fire: You guys just got back from a big that. And we just happen to play music so I tour, right? R: We couldn’t load our stuff on stage, either. think inandvertintly that’s part of it. But I Dean: Yeah. We had to crowd surf it. think even if we didn’t play music it’d still be FF: How’d it go? FF: Yeah, there was only tiny door... the same thing. D: It was good, very good. FF: On your album (Erect the Youth Prob- D: We deal with it everyday, oppression man! Randy: It was AWESOME – the whole U.S. lem), the first people you thank is the Smell Or whatever you want to call it. FF: Wow. The entire U.S.? Where was your up in L.A. Do you guys find that the DIY FF: What’s ahead for you guys? favorite place to play? mentality of the Smell and the punk scene is D: Reefer! D: Oh fuck, fuck me… Iowa. important these days? R: That’s definitely going to print. R: Yeah, Iowa was pretty involved. All the D: Totally, it’s the most important thing to us. smaller towns in the Midwest were good. R: It’s all about community, you know? It D: Reefer, dude! Reefer! REEFER! In big, D: Smaller towns where you wouldn’t really doesn’t matter what it sounds like, what it bold letters! think that there’d be much happening. looks like or were it’s at, just as long as Randy: Actually, we’re going to Europe in ten R: Moline [Illinois], in the basement, A little there’s people that come together. days. We have a West Coast tour with Hospi- moldy but… FF: I really like the new album, by the way. tals coming up, actually, then we’re going to D: We played in the basement…yeah it was a R: Oh, thank you. Europe. little moldy. FF: It seems to me that the album is pretty Randy: Then we get back in November and R: Moldy Moline! political. Is that right? we’re going to record another record. FF: Any good stories? D: Kind of. I wouldn’t say it’s political, but Roy: We have a split coming out with Hospi- D: Tour stories…hmm…[to Randy:] What’s a it is definitely commenting on what’s going tals. good tour story? on today. I think it’s just important to be Dean: Yeah, and you know we’ll just be doing R: Swimming! We went swimming! aware of the people who claim to run your our thing…going to people’s homes, playing D: Yeah we try to go swimming as much as life. I mean, they have a blanket of power pasta-making music. we can. We met these kids at Niagra Falls, over people, but in the end it’s like they don’t Randy: … and swimming! We’d like to en- Canada that took us pool hopping. It was really have any power over anybody if you curage everyone … really hot while we were touring, so we tried choose to do your own thing. Besides, what Dean: …to swim! to swim as much as possible. do those guys have to do with us? Really not Roy: …and eat vegan food. FF: I tried to catch you guys at Fuck Yeah much. Dean: …and masturbate…and eat vegan food. Fest back in July, but there were like 200 kids R: I think it goes for all levels of political packed into a tiny loft and the schedule was agenda, even in everyday life, you know what all screwed up. I know the Fire Marshall shut I mean? PAGE 15 ALTERNATIVE MEDIA COLLECTIVE VOLUME I ISSUE I Flavor Country: Taco Mesa

By Tyler Moore the Tuesday dollar menu to purchase hor- bañeros and consider all salsas north of the Forest Fire chata. I’ve brought friends from as far as border soft-core. Which means no tips or Santa Cruz to sample the college budget am- stems. Okay, that was a terrible joke. Any- brosia known as TACO TUESDAY, but I re- way, my favorite salsa is the green, which has I rarely ever read the New University. fuse to step out of the economic efficiency of a refrigerator life of roughly two weeks. Or it I’m never on campus Monday and by the time the dollar menu. Here, you do the math. Ta- starts turning florescent pink. That, however, Tuesday comes around it’s just old news. cos: $1. Tortas: > $1. My editor says they are is not a joke. This Tuesday must have been some kind of worth it. I’ll have to take his word on this As somewhat of a non-sequitur, I re- exception. I got to class early and found a one. cently added an ornamental piece of metal to copy of this week’s New U discarded under So what kind of tacos would be of- dangle from my largest face orifice. This un- my seat. And what do I find inside? A Wheel fered for this more-than-reasonable price? fortunately meant no crunchy or chewy cate- of Life review. Can you say, “Old news?” I Rat flesh and expired cheese? My friend, gory foods for a few weeks. Which also mean what more can be said after both the OC your standards have sunken to deplorable meant that my Taco Tuesday streak would be Weekly and Forest Fire have reviewed the lows. The featured tacos change every week, disrupted. Right? WRONG! The beauty of same restaurant? Victor is still alive and kick- ranging from beer battered chicken to a the dollar menu is that it also features non- ing. They didn’t slip meat into every meal on ground beef concoction with mountains of taco items. These items include refried beans April Fool’s Day. Let all your friends know chopped onions and cilantro. The standard with a dollop of queso fresco, chips and gua- the New University is biting the Forest Fire taco selection features al pastor (marinated camole, and the ever-rotating soup collection. style. pork), carnitas (fried tender pork), and Past favorites include cream corn, lentils and I have come to the realization that the chicken (chicken, duh). The more than stan- beef, and the chipotle flavored caldo tlalpeño. top three priorities in my life are food, good dard taco fare comes with the standard assort- Cream corn came to my rescue during my people, and music. Taco Mesa gets 2.5 of ment of chips and salsa. stint in textureless purgatory. But loyal read- those priorities down solid. I usually make I found the dark red salsa to be too ers do not fret. I’m all healed up and ready to the trek out to Taco Tuesday with a good half “hot” and not enough “flava.” You see, salsa take on all sorts of culinary sensations for next of the Forest Fire staff. They’re a decent walks the thin line between spicy and savory quarter. Unless it’s a lava burger, which bunch. The music, however, gets only a .5 and, as expected, has the occasional stumble would probably force me to mourn the perma- rating because of the occasional bouts of reg- or fall. I consider the dark red to be a stum- nent loss of my taste buds. gaeton. But before any of that, I have a con- ble. Unless you were raised suckling ha- fession to make. I’ve only ventured outside of La Naranja: Orange County’s Newest Racial Crisis

By Miles Clements fervor for awhile now, with special attention the questions with a wry sense of humor and a Forest Fire being paid to Jim Gilchrist and his Minutemen sharp wit, often making his way into cryptic Project. If anything, it seems that the nation is or etymological histories. The result is an ulti- We all saw the pictures and heard the simply co-opting Orange County’s ongoing mately intelligent debate that brings forth the stories of the thousands of flag-waving protes- racial tensions and projecting them onto a county’s primary minority voice in a way that tors that filed through the streets of Santa much larger stage. both eases and confronts any hidden racial Ana. We also saw the pictures of the city’s For a small, 789 square-mile chunk of tension. “More than a safety valve, ‘Ask a finest watching over them with a careful eye land known for its overflowing wealth and Mexican’ is an indictment of the gabacho and an armory of riot gear. Propelled by dense, prefab communities, Orange County is mind,” Arellano explains. “The fact that this House Resolution 4437, a bill aimed at drasti- nowhere near as sterile and as some may be- column exists truly is a joke—really, what cally curbing illegal immigration, the protes- lieve. Bordering on a population of three mil- does it say about our society that a column tors ultimately led peaceful demonstrations lion people, roughly 65% of the county’s citi- that answers readers’ questions about Mexi- that resulted in only a handful of minor ar- zens identify themselves as being white, with cans exists?” Yet all joking aside, Arellano rests. But outside the streets and on the air- 30% of its inhabitants identifying themselves notes there is something to be said about the waves, the debate over illegal immigration has as Latino or Hispanic and 14% identifying power of “debunking and exploding” these become a bitter war. themselves as Asian or Pacific Islander. While stereotypes and myths. Gustavo Arellano, OC Weekly’s resi- 30% is certainly not a shockingly large num- What, though, does “Ask a Mexican” dent Mexican and recent Fox News guest, ber for the county’s largest minority, it is on really say about our county? Well, it reminds feels that “what little dialogue there was is par with the rest of California and is not terri- us that we aren’t living in a homogeneous and now [just] a screaming match on both sides.” bly far off from LA County. But the differ- white-plastered world. There are people who And rightly so. In what can only be described ence between Orange County and some other are continually questioned and ridiculed, peo- as a brutally hilarious and insightful moment areas of the state is that so many members of ple who are shifted out of the mainstream and in punditry, CNN’s Lou Dobbs, locked in an the county’s minority populations are being out of the public eye. Beneath the multi- argument with La Raza’s Janet Murguia, pas- relegated to invisible jobs in marginalized million dollar homes and classic suburban sionately proclaimed that he doesn’t “think towns, like Anaheim and Santa Ana, with the sprawl, there is and has almost always been a that we should have any flag flying in this latter’s population of nearly 350,000 being mass of people who literally run the county. country except the flag of the United States” 76% Hispanic. It’s not surprising, then, that While the poignancy of the immigration pro- and that he doesn’t care who you are, that Orange County has fostered its fenced-off, tests and “Ask a Mexican” are clear, they “there shouldn’t even be a St. Patrick’s Day.” bleach-blonde, white stereotype; that’s all that should not be the only events that force us to Then there’s Tom Tancredo, a Republican the county seems to want to be. think about what Orange County is and is be- Congressman from Colorado and Italian- But that’s where Gustavo Arellano’s coming. But that also doesn’t mean that there American, who went on record stating that he column, the wildly popular “Ask a Mexican,” should be a shouting match or ridiculous considers illegal immigrants a “scourge.” It enters. “Ask a Mexican” invites its readers to name calling. As Gustavo Arellano quips seems that for Congressman Tancredo, irony, bring forth any and all their Mexican-related about his television experiences, “It’s as if not revolution, is the ecstasy of history. questions, which have ranged from “It’s long they expect me to come out with machetes But what does all of this say about been a stereotype that Mexicans are lazy and gleaming. But it’s better to win your argu- Orange County? Well, not much that hasn’t shiftless. Could that be why you have prob- ments by their strength rather than ad already been said. After all, Orange County lems answering my questions?” to “Why do hominems.” And Arellano couldn’t be more has been an epicenter for anti-immigration Mexicans spit everywhere?” Responding with right. almost a cold calculation, Arellano answers ALTERNATIVE MEDIA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IR- VINE IS SPONSORED BY THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERISTY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE (ASUCI). PAGE 16 ALTERNATIVE MEDIA COLLECTIVE VOLUME I ISSUE I Medtimes “Follow Your Heart!” - Should I, Really?

By Zainab Saadi individual pursues will definitely have an ef- Self-control is crucial in maintaining a posi- Medtimes fect on that individual, and eventually on her tive community, a point acknowledged by or his community. everyone, whether politician, scientist or phi- Every year we have new data remind- losopher. Do you have a relationship? Do you ing us of how people are often itemized. A As we itemize people and shun self- have what Merriam-Webster's dictionary calls person sees about 400 ads a day, and though control, we stop living life with the intention a connectedness between people? This is ac- only about 9% of those are directly associated of doing what is ‘good’ or ‘right.’ The ‘good’ tually quite a hard question - or rather, quite a with beauty products, most use ‘beauty’ or that is what would really benefit us is too of- vague one. ‘sex’ as product appeal. Images of people are ten dismissed as being difficult to achieve, ‘Relationship’ is understood in so taken in a way that facilitates an observer’s and the ‘fun, free and easy’ becomes ideal in- many different ways by different people gaze upon them, objectifying the people in stead. These deficient objectives not only hurt nowadays, that regardless of how you answer ads. Ads parade desirable items before us, the individual, but also damage the commu- the question (whether you say yes or no), you each with emphasized characteristics – nity. Consider objects versus people – it is will not be sending out one message to every- women have the curves of their hips, waist, easier to inflict pain on the former. So it is one. John may think a relationship involves and arms emphasized, while for men, it is understandable that by itemizing and devalu- sitting down, chatting and being friends. Jane their brawn. John Berger specifically de- ing people, we are making them more prone may understand it as holding hands. Bob may scribes the objectification of women in his to violence. The rampant objectification of think you have a relationship going once you book ‘Ways of Seeing,’ stating: “Men look at women is not without its effect. The U.S. De- hug the person. Becky might see it as more women. Women watch themselves being partment of Justice says that in 2000, about a intimate hugs and kisses, while Kyle may be- looked at. Thus she turns herself into an ob- quarter million women survived rape or as- lieve a real relationship only exists with sex- ject--and most particularly an object of vision- sault (28 women per hour). Even in high ual activity. You have probably met all these -a sight." school, one in five girls reported rape. characters in your daily life. Undoubtedly, no This problem with this itemization is Our current standard of practicing clear cut definition of a relationship exists. widely noted. In fact, in ‘A Review of Gen- whatever form of a relationship we might de- Even in the field of psychology, Robert Stern- dered Consumption in Sport and Leisure,’ the sire at a moment can be synonymously berg’s triangular theory of love delineates at authors point out the problem but also go fur- worded: follow your whims, desires, or as least seven different types of romantic rela- ther and show use how “the product versus commonly put, “follow your heart.” Yes, tionships. person dichotomy is related to notions of pro- we’ve heard that. The brilliant Einstein has said, “What duction and consumption, valuable versus So let’s suppose communities have we can do is often different than what we worthless, and so on.” By focusing on a per- become perilously oriented toward transient, should do, and we should have the wisdom to son’s physique, as our daily lifestyles train us instinctive desires. We can choose to either know the difference.” Unfortunately, not only to do, we demean the person’s humanity and support that way of life or oppose it, encour- do we, as a community, not know what a rela- take away their worth. age or discourage it, by the way we behave tionship is, but most of us also do not know Not only do we, often unintentionally, everyday. Will we hug and hold every person what it should be. Such a nebulous situation turn one another into items, but the unre- that should cross our life’s path, or only our has promoted a society where people feel un- stricted behavior also molds a community select significant others? Eventually, only our bounded and free to experiment any definition were self-control is disliked. Murtadha Mu- spouses? Which behaviors will we restrict to of relationship they might desire at a moment. tahari wrote in his ‘Spiritual Discourses’ only a few people? Our role is simply know- “Be free!” is what we hear from left and right, book, “Most of our past moralists emphasized ing our own ideals – knowing what kind of an apparently absolute statement that supports resolution as a criterion for humanity. People, people we want to be. Knowing our ideals the current spectrum of ‘relationship’ activi- unlike animals, which are ruled by instinct, and sticking to them in times of doubt. So go ties. Yes, we love “free!”, but obviously the can decide to act against their own inclina- ahead, be an architect of your life, and as ever-present law of cause-and-effect has not tions. Thus a person of resolution is more hu- Gandhi put it, “be the change you want to see flopped yet, and any unrestricted life style an man than one who cannot control the 'self'.” in the world.” You’ll be quite happy you did. Alcohol, the Drink to Worsen Your Memory By TJ Shah & Leena Youssefian there has ever been before. There is a large tion by Donald Z. Weigler, et al. The study Medtimes variety of drinks that young people can concluded that for an amount of 2 beers, the choose from, including Smirnoff Ice and alcohol was able to disrupt NMDA-receptor Absolut, Skyy, Grey Goose, Heine- Mike’s Hard Lemonade. These “better tast- strength in the hippocampus, a part of the ken, Smirnoff, Jack Daniels, Captain Morgan. ing” alcoholic beverages provide alternatives brain involved in memory. NMDA-receptors Ring a bell? Perhaps it sounds a lot like your for the variety of students who don’t like the are involved in the process of consolidating grocery list on one of your Thursday evening taste of alcohol, but want to consume it under working memory (that which lasts from sec- runs to Albertsons. Thursday nights are the social circumstances. Buch also pointed to the onds to minutes) into long term memory times when students at UC Irvine and most amount of pressure from school and parents, (lasting days to years). Weigler’s results con- other college campuses across the country en- that add to the already present stress of being cerning youth, contrasts with previous results joy parties and dancing at clubs. There’s no a student. Stress can be difficult to deal with, collected from adult subjects. The study, on denying the social aspect of alcohol in our and as many students don’t know how to han- adults, showed that the same 2 beers’ equiva- mainstream culture. Parties, clubs and maga- dle this stress, they “turn to alcohol.” lent of alcohol had almost no effect on the zines display images that alcohol can be fun. The annual Monitoring the Future hippocampus. Therefore, it is not only the So when we have a cold beer in our hands, we (MTF) survey from the National Institute of amount of alcohol that is consumed which don’t think about the long-term effects it can Drug Abuse reports a rise in alcohol con- matters, but also the age at which it is con- have on us, rather, we worry about having a sumption among students in grades 8-12. sumed – adolescents need to be aware, and good time. Recent studies have shown the This observation in the rise of alcohol con- more careful. effects of alcohol on our brains… and the ef- sumption is significant to us since new fresh- According to the same study, a defi- fects are not pretty. man classes will be comprised of students in ciency was found in many types of memories To have a better understanding of age groups that started drinking before col- as a result of drinking. Subjects known to why so many students start consuming alcohol lege. have alcohol-dependencies had less functional at a young age, we interviewed Amy Buch, So drinking is increasingly a growing activity in the frontal and parietal regions of Associate Director of the Health Education issue with more people, but how will this the brain, particularly in the right hemisphere, Center here at UC Irvine. She explained that drinking affect them? A recent study of alco- when they were asked to conduct tasks related young people “think drinking alcohol is the hol consumption in adolescents and college to spatial working memory. These tasks in- norm now.” She added that there are more students was conducted for the Council on volved remembering the location of one's car better tasting alcoholic beverages today than Scientific Affairs, American Medical Associa- (Continued on page 17) PAGE 17 ALTERNATIVE MEDIA COLLECTIVE VOLUME I ISSUE I PMS

By Tin Wong iVillage Inc. and the National Association of That means 16.4% of the year a woman ex- Medtimes Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health periences those symptoms. PMS affects one’s (NPWH) demonstrated a majority of men and lifestyle, productivity, and mental health so it women agree that PMS negatively affects the is important to alleviate the stressor so that Imagine thousands of tiny men flee- sufferer’s relationship with a partner, relative, one can go back to normal functioning.” ing from the gigantic Godzilla. Now add their or friend. Surprisingly, the survey showed Because of this, she encourages shrilling cries to the frantic scene and you 68% of men, compared to 78% of women, women to talk to their health care specialist should have a good idea of how your boy- feel PMS had a negative impact on their rela- and find out what medicines work best. If the friend feels every “special” time of the month. tionship. On the other hand, only 46% of the cramping is unbearable even after taking No, you are not frightening like Godzilla, but men believe there is decreased happiness for medications, one should get it checked be- those menstrual hormones can sometimes the suffering woman, while more women, cause it might implicate other disease proc- seem to have a mind of their own, and can, 67%, believed the same. esses that are not symptoms of PMS. How- unfortunately, have effects quite similar to What is most surprising is that that ever, there are still several things a woman those of Godzilla. 98% of women know treatments for PMS and can do to improve her symptoms of PMS. The technical name for that “special” yet only 35% of these women use medications These include exercising regularly, avoiding time of the month is PMS, short for Premen- on a regular basis to relieve their PMS symp- stress around the time of her menstrual period, strual Syndrome. During this time -- right be- toms. This means that 65% of women feel and eating healthy. Wu recommends eating fore the menstrual period-- many women ex- that since PMS only occurs a few days a food high in complex carbohydrates – whole perience a mixture of physical and emotional month, they should just put up with the pain. grains and fresh fruit and vegetable- and symptoms. This can lead to headaches, Kelly Wu, however, a medical student at avoiding salt, caffeine, alcohol, and red meat. weight gain, breast tenderness, back or lower Western University is against this logic. She So, girls will experience PMS abdominal pain, irritability, aggression, poor encourages women to find ways to lessen the throughout a major part of their child bearing concentration, and of course, mood swings. pain of PMS because it actually comprises a years, and it is advisable to find ways to After hearing these symptoms, it is large portion of a woman’s life. She explains, lessen the pain during that period. Not only more understandable why Godzilla and a lady “A woman experiences PMS symptoms 5 will you, the ladies out there, benefit from it undergoing PMS can be two equally destruc- days a month. If we multiply 5 days a month in the long run, but so will those thousands of tive characters. In fact, a survey conducted by by 12 months, it will come out to 60 days. tiny men who may be otherwise fleeing. Understanding the Field of Psychiatry with Dr. Rimal Bera

By Poonam Kaushal strated, it is a field that has multiple avenues offers. Medtimes for promoting society’s overall mental health. A Clinical Professor of Psychiatry can Life with a career like Dr. Bera’s, as a further take his or her knowledge and experi- Psychiatry is a branch of medicine Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, involves edu- ence as a professor of medicine and a re- that focuses on treating mental disorders that cating first year medical students on behav- searcher, and maintain a private practice. Dr. afflict and hamper people’s daily lives. Men- ioral health, and third and fourth year students Bera has chosen to do so and spends eight to tal health is often dissociated from the tradi- during their psychiatry rotations. Residents ten hours per week with his patients. He tional view of physical health that focuses on who choose psychiatry as their specialization clearly involves himself with all dimensions eradicating bodily illnesses with tangible in medicine later return to the guidance of of his field and though it may sound over- symptoms. Mental health issues, such as de- such a professor during their remaining medi- whelming, he stresses that each area has indi- pression, schizophrenia, and even Alzheimer’s cal education. vidually improved upon his skills as a whole. disease, are often times the last types of prob- Dr. Bera explains that as his students Dr. Bera further explains that there is lems that come to mind when people think of are learning from him, he is learning from no right or wrong method in a field like psy- human diseases. them as “immediate consultants,” for example chiatry. Through clinical and research experi- Contrary to such subtle superficiali- about the most recent discoveries and under- ence, students must use their skills to address ties, mental health is just as important as one’s standing of clinical drugs. Dr. Bera shows a problem. Should one method not work, Dr. physical health for an overall satisfactory that psychiatrists are not restricted to the Bera insists that psychiatrists must be ready, quality of life. Dr. Rimal Bera, Clinical Pro- classrooms for providing maximum benefit to and determined to find alternative methods to fessor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at people. He explains that since doctors and re- correct the issue. the University of California, Irvine, explains searchers are “far from full understanding of Although a career in psychiatry is that mental disorders often accompany bodily the brain,” psychiatry, through research, pro- very specialized, requiring a combination of illnesses. Because of the complex interrelation vides one of the “last frontiers in science.” strong intellectual and interpersonal skills, Dr. between mental and physical health, psychia- By participating in research on new Bera’s educational background shows that ar- trists address and treat mental disorders medicines targeting various mood disorders, riving at the decision of actually practicing through a multifaceted role. Alzheimer’s disease, and Schizophrenia, and psychiatry does not happen all at once, but Psychiatry is not a field limited to by analyzing clinical trials on normal and ab- clinical practice, but as Dr. Bera has demon- normal brains, Dr. Bera, pursues answers to (Continued on page 19) the many questions that this scientific frontier From Alcohol things while under the influence of alcohol. low: 1) Have a sober designated driver. (Continued from page 16) Some of you may be able to relate with these (Someone who has had no alcohol, not the in a parking lot, copying a complex picture or regrets due to personal experiences or experi- friend who is just more sober than the rest of solving a puzzle. ences of a close person in your life. the group.) 2.) Eat before you drink. (There’s Other research found that alcohol These regrets undeniably have some a myth that eating bread acts as an alcohol consumption had the greatest impact on verbal sort of mental and, or physical effects on stu- sponge in your body. This is not true. You and nonverbal information recall. The mental dents. Since alcohol consumption has a nega- need to eat a balanced meal with bread and performance of alcohol-using adolescents was tive effect on memory, you’ll have a harder protein such as meat.) 3.) While drinking, also, unfortunately, 10% less than their non- time retrieving information that your brain avoid salty foods. (Salty foods can make you drinking peers. stores. You will slow down in many aspects, thirsty and allow you to drink more alcohol Every two years, there is a survey such as motor function responses to certain when you know you have had enough.) From conducted by Harvard University called the stimuli that your brain receives. This is evi- the Health Education Center, Buch advises ‘College Alcohol Study.’ It surveys 12,000 dent from the experimental evidence showing that there is no safe way for people to drink. students nationwide from over 120 colleges, a disruption of nervous system communica- So the next time you’re out and that cold beer with each college appropriately represented. tion in neurotransmitter receptors such as is sitting in front of you, at least keep in mind In 2001, 25% of the students surveyed from NMDA, one of the memory consolidation re- how you want to treat your irreplaceable brain UCI reported regret after consuming alcohol. ceptors. cells. There can be an alternative to the drink, The regret they reported stems from sexual Alcohol clearly has a long list of im- but not to the one set of neurons you have. behavior, driving behind the wheel of a car, pairing consequences. However, if you still saying things to others and even stealing choose to drink, there is some advice to fol- PAGE 18 ALTERNATIVE MEDIA COLLECTIVE VOLUME I ISSUE I

The Mediterranean Diet what doesn’t need cooking. J.C. would’ve My day of reckoning. Unfortunately, this day (Continued from page 11) loved my mom’s sour cherry soup. Saw some was much like the rest: accomplished and dinner, which was comparable in satisfaction friends that night; more mockery, but this is proud, with mild cravings and no visions. to lunch: grilled salmon, brown we-don’t-kill- decidedly an excellent conversation piece. No Slightly disappointed due to the lack of vi- bunnies-organic rice, salad, and my newfound guys, He didn’t eat Slim Jims, not even if they sions or spiritual recognition, I decided to in- companions—pita bread and hummus. I had existed 2000 years ago. But I’ll be dulge in a small brownie at dinner, half of imagined Jesus steering his shopping cart damned if He didn’t smoke some hookah. which fell to the floor after my first bite. I through the aisles at Trader Joe’s, awed by the Day 5: Sunday swear I felt a sting as if my wrist had been selection of olive oil. This was a big day. I had my first “skinny- slapped. With a furrowed brow, I took an- Day 2: Thursday day”, something to which, sorry guys, only other. My optimism from the success of day 1 was the truly effeminate are capable of experienc- It doesn’t take a prophet to realize the smothered as I realized it was Cinco de Mayo. ing. Those rare days when a girl wakes up, benefits of eating the way that anyone ate Certainly Jesus couldn’t be down with Mexi- and actually, if even for a brief moment, she 2000 years ago. Scratch out late-night (or can food (I checked the book just to be sure), feels skinny. These mornings are rare, cher- rather any) fast food runs, processed meals, though the dining commons didn’t care to ished and, despite the hasty passing of eupho- Wonder bread, and Twinkies, and you will support my endeavors. I essentially repeated ria, quite satisfying. have nearly eliminated America’s obesity yesterday’s meals, though instead of musing My parents and I visited my sister’s problem. Weight issues relate often to Chris- complacently over fruit and yogurt, I cursed new home for lunch. The meal began easily tian groups of the Southern states and parts of the absence of flan in the days of the wise enough—wheat bread and cold cuts; but what the Midwest, better known as America’s men. My leftover salmon, some rice, and is Mother’s Day without some extravagant “Bible Belt”, for the prevalence of fried food wheat bread lay before me at dinner, and I de- dessert set upon the table to challenge and in- at major functions and a general focus on eat- cided that brown rice tea sufficiently followed sult my efforts? The obscene Snickers-coffee- ing during church-related events. the guidelines. I dreamt that night—not of caramel-doused cake smugly engaged me in a Before scoffing in skepticism, think heavenly vigils, but of sweet, sweet flan. glaring match. It mocked me in its delectable about it. Jesus is good at what he does in the Day 3: Friday glory; snicker, indeed. Christian faith. Countless numbers of people Still a little grumpy from unsatisfied custard As my sister removed the device of base their entire God-fearing/-loving lives on cravings, I began to ponder what Jesus would torture from my view, per my request, a the practices of this holy figure, and it works. do when he got a craving. With my integrity strange calm overcame me. Was I succeed- So, why not have a little faith? Colbert’s book waning, I avoided the dining commons and ing? Finding spirituality? Or just really, really reads as clearly as an instruction manual, in- prepared for the six-hour drive home for hungry? The calm subsided, as I drove back to cluding chapters on each food group, tidy Mother’s Day weekend. During the drive, af- school that night, longing for ice cream. I summaries, the contents of an “ideal pantry”, ter explaining the situation to my friend and think I would’ve settled for a granule of sugar. and even a sample week’s worth of what Jesus compatriot for the journey north, the curiosity Day 6: Monday would eat and recipes for starters. The book arose as to what the big guy might consider Armed with Mom’s leftovers from home, I essentially describes a fathomable diet that enjoying on this 400-mile trek up the Califor- sorted through my food, only to discover be- anyone could follow; just take the Biblical nia freeways. Filet-o-Fish? Southwest Pita? A trayal on the part of my moldy pita bread. scriptures as poetic allusions, or clever anec- bag of Doritos? I settled for a Subway tuna Note to self: bread molds. Even on a spiritual dotes. sandwich on wheat. I wondered if He would journey. As my academic “hell week” began, Though my experience with the diet tip. the desire to binge ebbed and flowed, but my was far from enlightening, the motivating fac- Day 4: Saturday journalistic commitment prevailed. Celebrities tor may truly have an impact on the right con- Parents informed; your reporter mocked; often read about themselves in the papers. sumers. The implementation of this diet may Mom prepared the day’s meals accordingly. Would J.C. resist the beckon of The National have just the ingredients to influence a grow- Wheat, wheat, fruit, wheat, veggies. It’s ok Enquirer? One day to go; someone better ing (in both senses of the word) population of though—as everyone knows, mom cooks best make an appearance. Christian Americans to lead a physically (relatively speaking); hell, she even buys best Day 7: Tuesday healthier lifestyle. Jesus-approved.

From Throne Racer of our hearts.” His voice rose from an unseen now it’s time for the race. Now it’s up to you, (Continued from page 9) well of power, a majestic tone that filled the you old warhorse. You gotta take this bull by that question to me anymore?” “Well I put my hall from end to end. “Welcome, ladies and the horns, do what you been waiting to do all money on Hampton. Such a gentleman. He gentlemen, to the Longview Castle Throne these years.’ A cloud of excitement filled the deserves the Golden Crutch.” “Traitorous Race championships!" What passed for a air of the hall, held aloft by the coming race. choice Vera, traitorous. Personally, I would thunderous applause broke out from the gath- The twitter of people excited past the point of love to see that arrogant rebel bastard get put ered crowd. Bernard smiled hearing Rich- speaking in full sentences washed up and in his place. He’s acted like he’s owned this ard’s voice fill with emotion. All eyes were down the hallway. “Hampton sounds so place from the second he stepped in the gawd- on Hampton as his tall frame began ambling sure…” “Those damn chairs,” “… damn door. It’ll serve him right to have Ber- the length of the hall with the easy gait of Sliptstream…” “Oh, you’ll see Ruthie” nard put him in his place.” “Oh, don’t be such someone who has spent a life-time taking me- “Gretchen, where on earth…” “Pride and dig- a spoil-sport George. Hampton is a very fine ticulous care of their body. Bernard stared out nity. That’s all this is. Nothing more, nothing young man.”“Bernard is my friend, Vera, and the window, lost in a world that no longer ex- less.” But it was more, and Bernard knew it. I will stand beside him until the end of my isted. ‘When’s the last time I saw a sunrise? “Hey there Hampton, you sure you’re ready days.” Bernard stood at the furthest end of the Stella used to love getting’ up to go see that. for this?” Bernard towered above the chair crowded hallway, fifty yards of gleaming, dis- She’d talk about it for a month before, and holding Hampton. “Sure am pardner. Are infected tile from the finish line. Both sides then twice as much for a month after. That you?” of the hallway were now filled with gray blanket of quiet light creeping over the hori- Richard’s voice was strong and clear, hairs, silver hairs, auburn hairs, and hairs that zon. That was always her favorite, that one and Bernard’s ears were sharp, but he didn’t carried a hint of purple. The dull light of the second when the fingers of sunlight were just hear a word. He was miles away, years in the dying afternoon emanated from the single behind the horizon, waiting to reach out past, swimming in the pictures of his life. A window of the hall above the finish line. across the world. She would lean forward smile breaking across Stella’s lips like the “Ladies and gentlemen.” In his former life with the greatest look on her face, like she sunrise, flames shooting from the back of his Richard had used his booming vibrato to fill knew what was coming but wanted it to wait a car, a checkered flag flapping in the afternoon the halls of Broadway. In this life, he was little bit longer, like she wanted to stretch that sun, a splash of mud dirtying the cuff of his called upon to penetrate the layers of years minute for as long as she could. The stars dis- black funeral suit, waves cresting off a lonely that gently ensconced all of the ears lining the appearing one by one, and the look on her California beach. ‘My god,’ thought Bernard, hallway. “Welcome to the greatest show on face… Christ she was beautiful. I’d like to ‘I’ve never been so calm before a race in my earth.” Shuffle, shuffle went the slippers. see that again, the pink, and the blue. The life.’ He could feel his heart beating faintly in “Today is the day we have all been eagerly start of a whole new day.’ his temples. A small smile cracked his lips, a awaiting.” A whine like that from a swarm of Their thrones were perched at the smile no one had seen in many, many years. killer bees filled the hall as hearing-aids were starting line, faithful servants of the elderly A smile of victory. “Racers, ready?” adjusted. “Longview Retirement Castle is waiting to carry their cargo as far as neces- “Finisher, are you ready?” Richards voice proud to present to you, an event steeped in sary. ‘This is it,’ thought Bernard, ‘the time carried the length of the hall, where George history, an event that holds a space near to all has finally come, all the waiting is over and (Continued on page 20) PAGE 19 ALTERNATIVE MEDIA COLLECTIVE VOLUME I ISSUE I

Teaching Liberalism tion which has “always been the same.” A War I and World War II did eventually make (Continued from page 5) suggestion with which, obviously, many fel- its way throughout the world. The major pow- low academics would take issue. A Spanish ers eventually did relinquish almost all colo- not surprisingly, influenced by what they teacher casually offers “white flight” as an nial possessions. The phenomenon of some watch and hear. explanation for migration from the cities to whites leaving big cities is fueled by factors Having thus established the typical the suburbs, never mind that American cities such as crime and failing education systems, college student’s youth and impressionability, are growing. Met with confused glances after not a fear of people with different color skin. consider the effect of an adult authority figure further suggesting that whites do not like to be The teacher in this case essentially slandered that, as a professor, is in the most unique posi- around different people, the teacher simply whites who choose to leave the city as racists. tion to influence and shape the mind. One says “Orange County, no?” and then bemoans What should one assume of a teacher who graduate teaching assistant, one week into the the miserable experience of being forced to makes these suggestions but who also chooses quarter, flatly stated, “There is nothing wrong wake up in safe, clean, and beautiful Orange to live in Orange County? Why should Or- with being a communist.” Unsatisfied with a County every morning. ange County be stigmatized for being largely student’s suggestion that after World War I Each of these examples matter and wealthy and safe? Given the choice, would some people hoped, perhaps against hope, that each is evidence of a deeper problem. In every not many living in the inner city leap at the people could live freely and without war, the case, the accepted wisdom is being chal- opportunity to live in safe, wealthy areas? same teaching assistant immediately scolded, lenged. Academically, this does not pose a Liberal professors are not problems “What about Africa! Did anyone care about problem; in fact, the practice should be en- because they tell their students to vote De- them?” and in one breath discredited the no- couraged. Problematically, however, the ac- mocrat. It becomes problematic, however, tion that incremental progress is itself pro- cepted wisdom being challenged happens to when their students are impressionable and do gress. Of course, the student was not equipped be correct, but in each of these cases is dis- not take the time to consider the issues for to respond; the topic was the League of Na- missed. There is something wrong with being themselves. Therefore, when professors con- tions and Europe, not Africa. In a different a communist. Ask people from the former Un- sistently and surreptitiously attack the values class, a professor uses a character played by ion of Soviet Socialist Republics standing in and fundamental truths in which most Ameri- George Clooney as a proxy to suggest that bread lines; it did not work out so well for cans believe, students absorb these opinions world conflict is driven solely by oil, a situa- them. Intellectual progress following World as gospel and integrate them into their own.

It’s Our World Too Third, we must find ways to use oil more effi- Fuel Initiative is hard at work to create the (Continued from page 5) ciently, through cost-effective and reasonable next-generation of pollution-free hydrogen home, in America, and improve our energy increases in fuel economy standards, and use vehicles, which have the potential to virtually security. Second, we must invest in the devel- of advanced vehicle technologies like hybrids, eliminate our need for foreign oil imports in opment of alternative fuels such as ethanol clean diesels, and hydrogen fuel vehicles. the decades to come. and biodiesel that can be grown here at home Just last month, the Administration finalized By working together with other coun- from farm products and agricultural wastes. new fuel economy standards for light trucks tries abroad and here at home to decrease The President championed a Renewable Fuels and SUVs, increasing minimum standards by harmful emissions, we are slowing the global Standard as part of the energy bill passed last 15% over the next six years. The energy bill warming process about which so many scien- year that will require 5% of all U.S. motor signed into law by the President last year cre- tists worry. The Administration’s initiatives fuels to come from renewables by 2012, and ated new tax incentives, up to $3,400 per vehi- are necessary measures to promote cleaner air he extended tax incentives for the production cle, for highly-efficient hybrid and clean die- and more efficient energy sources. and sale of renewable ethanol and biodiesel. sel vehicles, and the President’s Hydrogen

2nd Star to the Right and Straight On ‘Till Sweatshops Verses Sexshops out, and what planned to be an application Morning (Continued from page 14) process concluded in an exercise in discrimi- (Continued from page 12) sold at shops. It can’t be denied that sex sells, nation. In order to be considered for a posi- the paranoia sink in further and insist on at- but Charney isn’t just running some clever tion, three ‘fun’ photos are needed. (Note to tempting to complete their life goals before marketing scheme, he’s also promoting a spe- self: red flag). Although other companies their predicted date of death, as many believe cific lifestyle. have been publicly targeted for stereotyping, it can be determined by the alignment of the Heralded as a business messiah (by American Apparel is really one to push the stars. Western ideology dictates that astrology himself), Charney walks a fine line between barrier. Photos are also taken of applicants is bunk, and should be brushed off as nothing au courant activist and “that creepy guy,” during the interview process - some pictures more than childish fun and heretical, pagan having been known to walk around in his un- are even turned into ads without the acknowl- rubbish. Some enjoy reading their daily horo- derwear at his Los Angeles factory. As the edgment of the individuals. Looks like Char- scopes and fortune cookies for fun and enter- Wonka of clothes, he celebrates the body, ney plays big daddy and big brother. tainment, even wishfully thinking their magic even going so far as to masturbate in front of I have to confess, though: I do own eight ball might give the answer you’re look- a Jane Magazine reporter. The New York some items from American Apparel. But I’ve ing for if you shake it just right, while others Times has also recently reported that three promised myself that I’m not going to buy find comfort in calling great singers of the past cases of sexual harassment are being brought into the whole sex-fueled “save-the-planet” who now do infomercials claiming to have against him. Oh, and have I mentioned what ruse. “American” Apparel was created by a psychic abilities, and for only $3.99 a minute he looks like? Think 70’s throwback, com- Canadian, it rarely puts a “real” all-American their fears are put at ease when they are reas- plete with cascading muttonchops and a keen girl in an ad and it employs Latino immi- sured that their ambiguous, but seemingly eye for the ladies. Charney likes to hire his grants committed to all the manual labor. At bright futures lay sparkling ahead. Whether female employees in person, be it in the least nobody knows what brand my AA looking at the sky or asking a celebrity, it is streets or clubs. After all, recruitments are the hooded sweatshirt is. evident that the stars are on our side. main staple for the sex-conscious ads. But who are these girls? Well, I wanted to find

Psychiatry students, residents, faculty, patients, and peo- (Continued from page 17) ple in the community that make psychiatry a rather in steps. Dr. Bera went to UCI Medi- truly rewarding profession for him. Interested in getting involved cal School from 1983-1987 and decided dur- Dr. Bera prove that it is a field that with Alternative Media? ing his third year in psychiatry rotations that can be intellectually and socially stimulating he enjoyed solving problems as puzzles and via diversifying one’s avenues of pursuing that other fields such as pathology were not psychiatry. Balancing a fulfilling career and Contact the papers individu- as stimulating in this problem-solving way. personal Dr. Bera enthusiastically concludes ally or email During his fourth year of residency, that if medicine is the goal in life, “really Dr. Bera was offered the position as a junior pursue it with 100% effort. If the passion is faculty at UC Irvine in the research unit. At there to be a physician, go for it. It’s not a [email protected] the time, Dr. Bera felt that including aca- perfect career but the opportunity to impact demic medicine in his career was more the people you are treating, and society is stimulating than clinical care alone. Today, it huge.” is this balance of interactions with medical PAGE 20 ALTERNATIVE MEDIA COLLECTIVE VOLUME I ISSUE I

Killer Coke Cola products to show that consumers care versity function, and it is only just that we are (Continued from page 6) and are aware when human rights are system- in support of the companies that the university products in India have found high levels of atically under assault. chooses to do business with. Coca-Cola has an pesticides. Still, Coca-Cola continues to sell At UCLA, students have banded to- incredibly severe history of human right viola- drinks laced with poisons in India, which gether in the establishment of a Killer Coke tions and nothing has been done to improve could never be sold in the US or Europe. campaign to enlighten fellow peers and chal- t h e s i t u a t i o n s . " In Colombia, the national trade Union lenge the campus to take action. It may be difficult to imagine filling your SINALTRAINAL has also accused the com- According to a member of the UCLA double big gulp with water instead of Coke. pany of committing human rights violations. Killer Coke campaign, "It is imperative as stu- But the next time you press that vending ma- A suite was filed in 2001; in 2003, the judge dents that we hold the University of California chine button or pick up a six pack of coke, dismissed Coca-Cola Company from the case. accountable. They say they follow a Code of consider the family members of union work- If you haven't noticed, Coca-Cola is Conduct and other documents of guidance for ers killed in Colombia and those harmed else- the major bottler and distributor of Minute issues of social justice, but it is obvious from where around the world. Drink what you Maid, Powerade and Dasani brand beverages- other socially accountable decisions made in want, buy what you desire- just be aware of - products you and I drink every day, products the past, such as divestment from Sudan and the powerful circumstances one can influence readily available in stores and on campus. kicking Taco Bell off campus, that student ac- through simple choices in the products pur- University students all over the nation have tivism is a driving force in the administration's c h a s e d a n d c o n s u m e d . taken a stand, boycotting and protesting Coca- wise decision. We as students make the uni-

Unity Among Diversity to fight certain battles when they are not inte- standing among others, and concentrate its (Continued from page 7) gral to those larger themes. This requires ex- various activists and methods to maximize ests within their coalition. If Democrats were tensive discourse through media and public collective power. Only in doing so can indi- to also promote broad ideas and purposes, forums in which people collectively articulate viduals of diverse views and identities con- such as non-violence and equality, they could those goals most important to the movement, vene and portray the unified front required to highlight the positive aspects that hit the core along with the ideas decidedly unproductive successfully change public policy. of progressive philosophy and avoid dividing to such ambitions, even those traditionally la- While variance within the movement and marginalizing those who disagree on the beled “progressive.” should be proudly celebrated, we should focus framing of more narrow and less prioritized In this particular social and political on what connects rather than divides us. In concerns. This way, both the abortion rights climate, the progressive movement certainly looking beyond such differences and grasping feminist activist and the devout Christian can has much to address on numerous fronts. I or- the bigger picture, we can both truly advocate agree that they both stand for the same princi- der to more effectively tackle those issues and appreciate diversity in ways that will pro- ples and play down the smaller details on central to the primary goals and long-term mote positive change, both within and outside which their views diverge when it serves them survival of the social movement, its members the movement. to do so, such as at an anti-war rally. D e - must cautiously select the main battles to mocrats must also be keen on when and where wage, encourage a common level of under-

A Struggle within a Struggle International Women’s Day. “We have begun tion of the Lacandona Jungle,” a proposal to (Continued from page 10) our struggle to make ourselves valued, to collectively write a new constitution, the their children. They also defended their rights make ourselves heard, to fulfill the demands EZLN is once again garnering attention from to decide the number of children they could that have never been met,” one woman de- the international community. The indigenous have, to choose their partners and the right to clared. movement has been a war against the forces participate and hold leadership positions in Demands made upon the gov- of colonialism and neoimperialism, as well as both affairs of the community and the revolu- ernment have yet to be recognized, and gender an ongoing fight for equality. Zapatista tionary struggle. In March of 1996, five thou- inequality is an issue that is still being con- women spoke out at the march on Interna- sand Zapatista women from Tojobal, Tzotzil, tested. With the recent passing of Comandante tional Women’s Day: “We struggle so that in Tzeltal, and Chol communities marched from Ramona after a long battle with cancer, and Mexico there is justice, that our rights be re- various regions of Chiapas in celebration of the release in June 2005 of the “Sixth Declara- spected, that we live as human beings and not

Safety First ary ones. The city’s population tends to be ra- Safety today is a bigger issue than (Continued from page 11) cially and economically homogenous because ever. With the media and the government an- room, with plastic wrapped couches and ex- of the lack of affordable housing. nouncing a constant stream of terrorist threats, pensive vases, is difficult to fully relax in. As a result, low-wage workers are im- cities like Irvine, and there are already many, The alternative to this smart planning, ported into Irvine. Largely Hispanic work are likely to become even more abundant. To also termed New Urbanism, is an alternative crews and cleaning crews enter the city on a what limits we are willing to go to for the sake form of community planning which produces daily basis; they clean the streets you walk on of security? Without a genuine connection be- denser neighborhoods, made to foster commu- and the classrooms you sit in, and yet they are tween city residents, the communities we are nity, not just profits. The dependence on cars invisible. This racism and classism is an insti- trying to protect are already lost. is minimized as much as possible, and the tutionalized practice, as residents we no Being a citizen today requires inti- commercial sector is integrated in as a compo- longer even have to be confronted with the mately understanding the politics of space. nent of community, a tool used to bring peo- poor “other.” As Bollens said, uncomfortable The world around you has been designed for a ple together. social dynamics have been “structured out of purpose. We can either buy into that mindset The economic controls in Irvine, par- the equation for us, made us feel safe…We or find ways around it, but we can’t challenge it ticularly around property values, have not don’t even have to deal with our own angst unless we know it exists. only isolationist principals but also exclusion- over the racial other, that’s power.”

From Throne Racer ing on the wheels until they were nothing but almost there, I’ve almost finished baby.” As (Continued from page 18) a blur. Two thrones, racing down God’s Mile. his arms moved even faster, a strange noise, LaForge was waiting, checkered pillowcase Neck in neck now, it was impossible to tell like that of swarm of bees descending from dangling at the ready. He waved it once, the who was in the lead. “Oh my!” “Look at the sky, filled the hall as the rubber rubbed all-clear sign. “On your marks…” Bernard’s that!” Thin beads of sweat traced paths from the throne wheels leaving a black scar fingers found a home amongst the ancient through the wrinkles lining both men’s faces. across the tile floor of Gods Mile. gears holding the Throne together. Their arms were pumping furiously against Her face filled his mind, taking him away “Get set…” “Go! Go! Go!” And off they the throne wheels. ‘You son of a bitch, I’ve from The Mile, away from Longview Retire- went, launching themselves away from the got you now you old coot’ thought Bernard as ment Castle, away from the life he’d been liv- starting line. Hampton, tight lipped, straining he pulled even to Hampton’s chair. Bernard’s ing for the last 15 years. The wind was rush- against the wheels, was in front off the line arms were moving faster and faster, as if be- ing through his full head of hair, his ears were with Bernard a half yard behind. Bernard, his longing to another, younger man. The wheels filled with the sound of her glorious laughter. face normally a willing palate for all emo- of his throne were spinning so quickly people The coast was flying by, each mile disappear- tions, was blank but for the tiniest gleam shin- who couldn’t see a thing without 2 inch thick ing behind them. The road lay long and wind- ing in either eye.“Come on Hamp..” glasses later claimed to see wisps of smoke ing, laid out in front of them. Fingers of light “Bernie,..” “Let’s go old timer..” “Ohh, I can’t appear in his wake as he shot ahead of Hamp- prepared to stretch from the sun across the stand it!” His arms worked like pistons, push- ton. ‘Stella honey, it’s almost time baby. I’m land, to paint a red tide against a silent world.