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The independent student news site of San Marcos, California

The Cougar Chronicle

The independent student news site of San Marcos, California

The Cougar Chronicle

The independent student news site of San Marcos, California

The Cougar Chronicle

Opinion

AI use is on the rise, especially in universities.

AI in the Academic World

Celeste Yanez, Opinions Editor February 13, 2025

Academic dishonesty has been prevalent in the past few years. Professors have had to keep an eye out for misinformation in students' essays, a student impersonating one of their peers when taking an exam, and plagiarism. But now, professors and teachers all around the world must be aware of the use of...

Kendrick Lamar's powerful performance with his dancers forming an American flag.

Kendrick Lamar’s Halftime Performance: A Political Statement

Celeste Yanez, Opinions Editor February 12, 2025

Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance was illuminating, powerful, and symbolic. It is no secret that Kendrick is a lyrical genius, but also a master performer. Many people were anticipating his performance to comment on the current state of America: politically divided, and to take it as another opportunity...

Books are inherently political, but why don’t others think so?

Reading is Political: Why the Media We Consume Matters

Nahomi Garcia Alarcon, Arts and Entertainment Editor February 6, 2025

In today’s changing world, a new notion has started to take root in a small but very vocal group: the idea that books and politics should not share the same space. In social media, there is a growing trend of readers expressing their desire to escape political conversations by turning to BookTok and...

The land of the free is being contradicted by our President.

The Attack on Birthright Citizenship

Celeste Yanez, Opinions Editor February 6, 2025

On the day of Donald J. Trump’s inauguration on January 20, he signed an executive order that was a direct attack on the 14th Amendment. The 14th Amendment has been implemented in the U.S. constitution for 157 years, which grants those who were born or naturalized in the United States automatic citizenship.  After...

Your feed isn’t as free as you think. From TikTok to The Washington Post, censorship is everywhere—who decides what we see?

The Iron Grip of Tech Titans: Social Media Censorship

Nahomi Garcia Alarcon, Arts and Entertainment Editor January 30, 2025

In the early days of President Trump’s second term in office, the promise of “free speech” on social media platforms has turned into a battlefield. As tech companies like Meta and TikTok face accusations of censorship, multiple users are starting to raise alarms about suppressed hashtags, limited...

‘Queerness’ is a Third Gender

Saturn Salama, Assistant A&E Editor December 16, 2024

Queers have been forced into a third category of gender: normative man, normative woman, and the elusive, unidentifiable queer—capital Q.  Here, I mean to define the social gender of queerness, a phenomenon I’ve recently noticed. This is not to be confused with genderqueer or any non-binary identity....

Donald Trump's Re-Election

Donald Trump’s Re-Election

Nahomi Garcia Alarcon, Arts & Entertainment Editor November 19, 2024

Donald Trump has secured a second, non-consecutive term as president of the United States, defeating Vice-President Kamala Harris. His victory came after crucial wins in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, granting him the support necessary to reclaim the White House.  Trump...

CSUSM's Ballot Dropbox can be found at Chavez Circle

Tomorrow’s Vote: An Ethical Responsibility and a Reflection of Privilege

Nahomi Garcia Alarcon, Arts and Entertainment Editor November 4, 2024

Tomorrow is Election Day, a moment that underscores one of the most ethically significant choices citizens face.  As we approach this critical election, the conversation around voting is more vital than ever. In a democracy, the act of voting is not just a right; it is a profound responsibility that...

Voting will take place from October 21 to 23. 

Graphic courtesy of Campus Rec.

Op-Ed: Vote Yes for Wellness

Alyssa Loschiavo, Guest Writer October 21, 2024

Reflect on your first year at CSUSM. Perhaps you were a commuter, like me, eager to find ways to engage with campus life and connect with new friends. Or maybe you lived on campus, in the QUAD or UVA, and found yourself consistently searching for activities with friends or places to relax outside your...

Voting will take place from October 21 to 23. 

Graphic courtesy of Campus Rec.

Op-Ed: Your Vote, Your Campus: The Wellness and Recreation Referendum

Jacob Alvarez, Davis Hancock, and Kamilah Peay October 21, 2024

Imagine if past CSUSM students voted no on building the USU or the Sports Center. What would our experience be like here today? Would we even choose to go here? This time it is our turn to leave a legacy for our campus. Challenges & Solutions We, along with various other students, have been working...

Students Should Vote Down the Wellness and Recreation Facility Proposal to Avoid Sky-High Student Fees

Students Should Vote Down the Wellness and Recreation Facility Proposal to Avoid Sky-High Student Fees

Justin Gans, Opinions Editor October 16, 2024

Students have long advocated for better wellness and recreation services on campus. According to Campus Recreation, “when surveyed in the fall of 2023, 91% of students indicated that a new facility should be a high priority for CSUSM.”  Last semester, the “Be Well. Be You.” campaign proposed...

A rendering of the proposed facility, courtesy of CSUSM.

Pros and Cons of the New Fall Fee Referendum for a Wellness and Recreation Facility

Saturn Salama, Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor October 15, 2024

For those who have been following this series on Campus Rec, you have likely learned a great deal about Campus Rec but still have more questions. In the past couple months, I’ve talked with many different people at CSUSM, from professors to students to admin and the main theme the campus community...

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