‘Breaking Dawn’, breaks dreams
Andrew Fergin, Editor-in-Chief
December 1, 2011
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn is a bad movie. All heated debate about the series itself aside, the movie just isn’t very good on fundamental levels. To start, the acting is terrible. As an example, Edward and the other vampires have this weird habit of gazing blankly. Not to be confused... (more...)
Construction horizons the future of the quad
Andrew Fergin, Editor-in-Chief
December 1, 2011
As construction progresses on the campus consideration is now being given to areas that are more so a luxury than a necessity. On October workshops were held to discuss three different design concepts for a new quad area, each design is situated at the heart of the campus in the area near the... (more...)
Legend Q&A with Jacob Kurzer from Rule of Cool Gaming
Andrew Fergin, Editor-in-Chief
November 19, 2011
Legend is an upcoming tabletop role-playing game that emphasizes strong gameplay mechanics and simplistic rules. The full game will be available as part of a donation event to raise money for the Child’s Play charity starting on Nov. 25. However, a beta version ofhas already been released... (more...)
Former coach dies
Andrew Fergin, Editor-in-Chief
November 3, 2011
Retired coach Elie Charles Popa, born Nov. 4 1930, died on Oct. 14 due to heart failure. Popa joined San Diego Mesa College in 1964, the year the school was founded, and worked there until his retirement in 1996. In his time at Mesa College Popa coached football and taught physical education... (more...)
Senior Secretary dies in hospital
Andrew Fergin, Editor-in-Chief
October 25, 2011
Joyce Skaryak, Senior Secretary of Learning Resources and Instructional Support died Oct. 17 at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Mission Valley of a brief illness. Born in Upland, Calif., Skaryak joined Mesa College in 1974. She held a number of positions including Classified Staff President.... (more...)
Campus averts chemistry crisis
Andrew Fergin, Editor-in-Chief
October 25, 2011
A situation that could have led to a shut down of Mesa College’s chemistry labs has been resolved. The issue began when the SDCCD Facilities Department informed Mesa College that it would no longer be transporting waste produced by the campus. In an interview prior to the resolution, Professor... (more...)
Would you prefer Christ or cuffs sir?
Andrew Fergin, Editor-in-Chief
October 6, 2011
In the Alabama town of Bay Minette a program called Restore Our Community was recently put on hold pending investigations into whether or not it constituted a violation of separation between church and state laws. This is unsurprising given that the program is essentially a union between... (more...)
‘Straw Dog’ barks but never bites
Andrew Fergin, Editor in Chief
September 22, 2011
When Straw Dogs hit theatres in 1971 it was controversial, challenged the maturity of its audience with a drawn out rape scene that highlighted the victim’s inner struggle with their feelings towards their rapist, and was staggeringly immersive. Now, in 2011, Rod Lurie’s identically titled... (more...)
Jazz 88 Ocean Beach Music & Art Festival comes to the sand
Andrew Fergin, Editor in Chief
September 9, 2011
Sept. 10th, Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach will be transformed for the 6th annual Jazz 88 Ocean Beach Music & Art Festival. Hosted by KSDS Jazz 88.3 FM, the festival is a celebration of a sound that has become increasingly scarce over the years. The event will stretch from where Newport... (more...)
Staff Editorial: Bin Laden has become a martyr
Andrew Fergin
July 18, 2011
Since Osama Bin Laden’s death there has been no shortage of celebration across the United States. However, while Bin Laden’s death has been cathartic for many Americans, it is a superficial achievement. For nearly a decade the United States has been fighting what politicians dubbed the... (more...)
Fix the problem not the symptom
Andrew Fergin
April 14, 2011
Late into March there was a large controversy over news that an anonymous San Diego woman was selling helium hood method suicide kits. For the unaware, the helium hood method of suicide involves wrapping a hood over the user’s head and flooding the hood with helium via a tank connected... (more...)
Being Muslim does not mean you support terrorism
Andrew Fergin
March 22, 2011
This month a hearing titled “The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community and that Community’s Response” pushed for by Representative Peter King and hosted by the “Committee on Homeland Security” caused a great deal of controversy. The name of... (more...)
‘Beastly’ is monstrously bad
Andrew Fergin
March 8, 2011
For a movie with such a serious title, Daniel Barnz’s “Beastly” has more of a comedic yip than the roar implied by its title. Alex Pettyfer stars as the film’s male protagonist Kyle Kingsbury, a handsome and wealthy high school student who treats everybody like garbage.... (more...)
Former English Department Chair dies after battle with breast cancer
Andrew Fergin
March 8, 2011
Dr. Dorothy Berger, former Chair of the Mesa College English Department died on Feb. 28 after a long battle with cancer. Dr. Berger retired in 2002 after a 33 year career at Mesa College. She is remembered by staff as a hard worker and a caring person. Professor Jennifer Cost recounts “When... (more...)
Black History Month enriches the culture of American society
Andrew Fergin
February 22, 2011
America has frequently painted itself as a melting pot nation, a place in which cultures can coexist and contribute to a whole that is all the grander for its rich diversity. In this vein Black History Month is a derivative of the melting pot ideal. By celebrating African history and (more... (more...)
Staff Editorial: Bin Laden has become a martyr
Andrew Fergin
February 8, 2011
Public outrage over former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger commuting the sentence of Esteban Nunez (one of four men convicted for the murder of Mesa College student Luis Santos) from 16 years to 7 years has been wide spread, and rightly so. From the moment of filing the commutation Schwarzenegger... (more...)
Staff Editorial
Andrew Fergin
December 7, 2010
WikiLeaks, for those who are not in the know, is a website that has gained immense notoriety recently for making thousands of American military documents public, both in video and textual format. More recently, WikiLeaks released thousands of diplomatic cable letters detailing exchanges between... (more...)
24-hour San Diego
Andrew Fergin
November 9, 2010
San Diego is a fun city. Between the beaches, the general lack of real weather, and the bars it’s an easy city to have a good time in. However, eventually the sun sets, the night gets cold, and the bars close. For those who fancy themselves true night owls but want somewhere a bit nicer... (more...)
No Winter shelter yet for the homeless
Andrew Fergin
October 26, 2010
For the past few years come the winter season, San Diego has put up two tent sites to help the homeless; one for homeless veterans and one for homeless civilians. This year however, San Diego City Council members have been unable to agree on a location for the civilian structure. If this... (more...)
Women’s soccer routes Coyotes
Andrew Fergin
October 12, 2010
Twenty minutes into second half, forward Jocelyn Ortega stole the ball from a massive clash between the Mesa College Lady Olympians and the Cuyamaca College Coyotes at midfield and ran with it shooting for what became a break away shot that marked the first point for the Lady Olympians in what... (more...)
Staff Editorial
Andrew Fergin
September 28, 2010
The world is becoming a terrifying place. A look through the pages of any newspaper will say this. On the international platform however, the chief terror is not violence, it is not poverty, and it is not a few sick swine. No, the curse word of the world has become Islam. In Sweden we see the... (more...)
Progress on the Mesa
Andrew Fergin
September 7, 2010
For those who have spent more than a semester at Mesa it’s no secret there have been a number of perplexing construction decisions. The division of the cafeteria into the C-Store and a cafeteria is just one example. More recently is the construction going on around the outdoor parking... (more...)
25Forty brings quality cuisine at a quality price
Andrew Fergin
May 11, 2010
There is a preconception that has begun to take root that good food must cost good money; that for a restaurant to be any good it must make the wallet at least ten degrees hotter than the oven used to cook the meal. Recently, however, a restaurant by the name of 25Forty Bistro & Bakehouse... (more...)
It’s high time to legalize marijuana
Andrew Fergin
April 27, 2010
The legalization of marijuana has been the poster child of controversy in California for some time now. Recently, however, a bill titled AB 2254 has been approved for the coming November ballots, proposing to legalize marijuana. Though this may just sound like another effort by the hippies... (more...)
Urban solace
Andrew Fergin
March 25, 2010
Life is a cold, harsh and unloving place. All that a person can do at times is curl up with their favorite comfort food, turning that blue box of Kraft macaroni and cheese into a shield against life’s cruelties. Enter Urban Solace, an upscale restaurant featuring all of the classic comfort... (more...)
Mesa Switches to Pepsi
Andrew Fergin
February 23, 2010
Students are beginning to take notice of changes transpiring recently on campus at Mesa College. One of which is the replacement of all the soda products on campus, including energy drinks. There are still the same types of soda available on campus; the only difference is that they are now... (more...)
The Anti-Iron Man
Andrew Fergin
February 23, 2010
With $40,000 gone, ten years wasted and retirement savings at zero, Joseph Stack refused to be passive and decided to take control of his life by flying his plane into an IRS building in Austin, Texas. Currently there is little financial freedom in the U.S. and Stack’s desperation resulted... (more...)
“Edge of Darkness” Not Too Edgy
Andrew Fergin
February 9, 2010
A bright moon rises over a river somewhere in the mountains welcomed only by the sounds of crickets. The water is smooth and unbroken save for the three corpses slowly floating to the surface. “Edge of Darkness” is the newest film from director Martin Campbell. For those unfamiliar... (more...)
