Bees, an unsung hero in bringing food to you. They work hard pollinating produce aisle delights. It is a task ensuring plants reproduce and thrive— without bees, the food supply would be in peril. Well, it kind of is these days. Bees are dying and ditching their hives around the world, a scary prospect as our own elementary subsistence depends on these little guys. Since 2007, between 30 and 90 percent of honey bees have been mysteriously dying and abandoning… Read more

Black Bean Soup This soup is another recipe from Vegan Yum Yum. I love this soup for a quick fix. It’s a one-pot meal—perfect for a college budget and for when you’re in a pinch. Black beans have the added benefits of being rich in antioxidants that benefit not only the health of your skin but can help reduce your risk of cancer.  Black beans are also high in fiber which will keep you fuller longer! Ingredients: 1-2 T olive… Read more

The California Faculty Association is holding a member vote the week of April 16 and April 27 to approve a two-day “rolling” strike that would start Nov. 17 at campuses across the CSU to demand a contract agreement. According to a Q&A on the CFA website, the proposed strategy would be, “In a two-day rolling strike all 23 campuses would be broken into groups, with each group of campuses going on strike for two days on different dates. As one… Read more

As a foodie and admitted food snob, I’m a hard egg to crack. Gayle’s Perks coffee shop is tucked away next door to a CVS; located just blocks away from CSUN, near Balboa and Nordhoff. At first glance, the location can be a bit off-putting, as it is a challenge to find it in the endless strip-mall schlep. However, the charm of Gayle’s Perks won me over. A bumper sticker greets you at the cash register: “May all beings be… Read more

  Vegetarian Chili I’m a big fan of chili, a BIG one. There are so many different fun ways to customize each batch, the options are endless. In the fall, I love making Drunken Pumpkin Chili from the Veggie Belly blog. This recipe is a result of lots of trial and error, and trying new things. Feel free to change it up to your liking. Chili Ingredients 1 onion, diced 1 red or green pepper, chopped 3 stalks of celery,… Read more

A.S. approved funding $1,000 to Moviemento Estudantil Chicana/o de Aztlan (MEChA) for the Raza Youth Conference Tuesday after three failed motions on the floor. MEChA originally requested $1,300 from A.S. to pay for the transportation of high school students from underprivileged communities to enable them to attend the event. A large group of MEChA members and supporters spoke during open forum to argue for the additional funding. “It will be a reflection on A.S. and their priority for higher education… Read more

I recently picked up a copy of “Vegan Yum Yum,” a book published by one of my favorite vegan bloggers. The recipes in this thing are killer. So, naturally, I had to try my hand at one of the more interesting ones. Note, this is the first time I’ve ever had peanut butter in soup. I know, it sound weird, but the combination of sweet (raisins and yams) with the savory flavors of the peanut butter and spices make an… Read more

Jessica Jewell daily sundial A petition on Change.org went viral on the web during the last few weeks, spotlighting bad U.S. agricultural practices. With over 220,000 signatures, the petition demands the U.S. Department of Agriculture to stop buying “pink slime” for public school lunches. The USDA is buying 7 million pounds of Beef Products Inc. Boneless Lean Beef Trimmings (BLBT) for the National School Lunch Program. The product essentially is a toxic filler that when incorporated into ground beef, brings… Read more