Nearly eight months ago, Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi posted a message on Facebook announcing his intention to commit suicide. “Jumping off the gw (George Washington) bridge sorry,” he wrote. Clementi, who was 18-years-old, took his life after his roommate and another student used a webcam to live stream video of him engaging in homosexual acts. Dharun Ravi, 19, has 15 criminal charges pending and faces several years in prison if convicted of the most serious charge, bias intimidation. Molly… Read more

Pro Maria Orellana Contributor In addition to increasing tuition costs, the other big expense students have to carry is the cost of textbooks. Students are always trying to find the cheapest alternative when buying textbooks, like online sellers, used bookstores or sharing with a friend. An increasingly popular option is to buy the digital version or e-book. Students should make the switch to digital textbooks because it is less expensive, allows access to hundreds of works, and can be stored… Read more

As of their final meeting of the academic year, the Associate Students senate had $12,729 in their unassigned contingency fund and $21,905 in their academic related resource fund and will see their budget increase next semester. Director of Finance Vahan Khodanian said that although the fiscal year does not end until the last day of June, the senate is safe in its finances. “We’ve been pretty consistent,” he said.  “I’ve allocated  a lot but they’ll be fine to finish the… Read more

Award-winning Los Angeles Times’ reporters Jeff Gottlieb and Ruben Vives, who uncovered corruption in the city of Bell, gave a presentation Tuesday in the USU about the challenges of investigative journalism. They discussed the process they went through to uncover these stories, from requesting public documents to crunching numbers and figuring out the salaries of Bell city officials. Gottlieb and Vives have received numerous awards in journalism, including the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for their investigative pieces uncovering… Read more

Luz Sanchez has been through a lot. She was mugged for her school books. She also saw her mother become a victim of domestic abuse. She was also forced to move to the United States in search for a better life for her and her son. But these obstacles have not stopped Sanchez. The cinema and television arts major took on modeling jobs to pay for bills and expenses. While taking care of her son she is continuing her education…. Read more

A.S. senate voted against two resolutions drafted to express their official stance, a rare occurrence for the body that generally approves all memos put before them. “We’ve had an actual discussion,” said Senator John Biltz, after back and forth contemplation was over.  “I usually assume everything will pass but we have progressed some and gotten into substantial details of discussion.” The final senate hearing of the semester heard debate over A.S. support of Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax extensions and opposition… Read more

Students who meet in-state tuition requirements are closer to getting financial aid. The bill is on its way to the governor’s desk. AB 130 was passed by the state assembly and is now moving to the senate. Its companion bill, AB 131, has been put into suspension. AB 130, authored by Assemblymember Gil Cedillo, states undocumented students would receive “specified financial aid programs administered by California’s public colleges and universities,” according to Cedillo’s website. Conrado Terrazas, communications deputy for Cedillo,… Read more

After five NBA championships, including a three-peat in 10 years in Los Angeles, how would the Lakers send their farewells to the Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson in his last year? Well it was not the tribute I think Jackson wished for. In fact, I doubt any coach would want to be a part of what happened Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks. The underdog Mavericks crushed the Western Conference-favorite Los Angeles Lakers, 122-86, culminating the series with a 4-0… Read more

As graduation approaches in a week, I feel the need to reflect on the past when I thought this day would never come. Heading into college as a teenage mother, I had my daughter and the thought of getting my education went out the door. I understood the sacrifice that I needed to make. So I stayed at work until two weeks before I had her and I went straight back to work a month after her birth. At this… Read more