While some students plan to spend Halloween night partying in their costumes, passing out candy to trick-or-treaters or going door-to-door themselves, Ana Sanchez will be offering food and treats to the dead. What might seem like a morbid Halloween activity is actually a joyous and celebratory Mexican tradition, she said. “It’s a time to honor those who have passed on by celebrating their lives,” said Sanchez, 24-year-old health education major. Sanchez’s offering of food to the dead celebrates El Dia… Read more

Occupy Los Angeles has staked out the lawns around city hall for almost one month, but last week Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said they cannot continue indefinitely and asked city officials to draft restrictions as to when people are allowed on city property. LAPD has not yet made a decision if or when the police will take action to break up the peaceful encampment, according to media personnel for Chief of Police Charlie Beck. City officials and county health inspectors, who… Read more

It is estimated that more than 288,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, according to the National Cancer Institute. With such a high rate of occurrence, it has become common for most people to have a family member or friend who has or had breast cancer. October has been named Breast Cancer Awareness Month and foundations, such as Susan G. Komen for the Cure, take these 31 days to go full force on bringing awareness to the… Read more

A new bill passed by Gov. Jerry Brown permits girls ages 12 to 18 to receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine without parental consent. The vaccine is administered in three shots over the course of six months and wards against certain strains of HPV and cervical cancer. While the idea at the heart of the law is admirable, its execution is lacking. There are benefits to girls gaining access to medical care and making more decisions about their own health… Read more