Anneliese Esparza is a senior literature and writing studies major serving as The Cougar Chronicle's Editor-in-Chief. She also freelances for local publications. After graduation, she hopes to become a reporter (and eventually an editor) for a mid-size local newspaper. In her free time, Anneliese enjoys playing piano, reading, spending time with her family and hanging out with her three cats. Twitter handle: @a__esparza
CSUSM will hold five separate commencement ceremonies on May 22 and 23. Since last year’s commencement ceremony was postponed due to COVID-19, both the classes of 2020 and 2021 were invited to attend.
Each...
I remember the first time I walked into a Cougar Chronicle staff meeting. It was September 2019, my first semester at CSUSM after transferring from Palomar College. I had never been on a newspaper staff...
Michael Schroder, the former dean of extended learning, is now under criminal investigation by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office for how he spent tens of thousands of dollars in university...
Ten music students specializing in vocal performance, composition, piano, bass guitar and more performed or will perform in three livestreamed recitals this month. An additional six music seniors performed...
Isaac Eddens is one of the two video editors for The Cougar Chronicle. He is in his third academic year at CSUSM majoring in art, media & design with a minor in video/film Production. Isaac plans...
The CSU announced a vaccine requirement for a safe return to campus. To read the written story with more information, click here.
Jose Valdovinos is one of two video editors at The Cougar Chronicle....
College of Business Administration dean to retire in June
Jim Hamerly, dean of the College of Business Administration (COBA), will be retiring on June 30.
Hamerly has served as COBA dean since 2014....
To watch a video version of this story, click here.
The CSU system announced in an April 22 press release that faculty, staff and students accessing campus locations will be required to be vaccinated...
The library has announced the 12 winners of this year's CSUSM University Library Award for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity. The undergraduates came from 11 disciplines and each won $600 and...
The Academic Senate is calling for Craven Road, Craven Circle and Craven Hall (pictured) to be renamed because of their namesake's past comments about undocumented immigrants.
University announces in-person commencement ceremonies for classes of 2020, 2021
CSUSM announced that they will hold five commencement ceremonies for the classes of 2020 and 2021 on May 22 and 23.
Each...
Selena Gomez’s latest musical project, a seven-song EP called Revelación, finds the singer exploring love and independence while paying tribute to her Hispanic heritage (apart from one bilingual song,...
State delays giving CSUSM its requested supply of vaccines
While the state has given a supply of vaccines to other local colleges such as San Diego State University, University of San Diego and...
Currently no active coronavirus cases at CSUSM
There are no active cases of COVID-19 at CSUSM as of Mar. 8. There have been 113 cumulative cases over the course of the semester.
CSUSM may have...
Music’s biggest night is nearly here, as the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards are scheduled for Mar. 14. Who will go home with an award and who will go home empty-handed? Here’s my best shot at predicting...
Even while some other universities are facing declining enrollments in the time of COVID-19, CSUSM’s enrollment has remained steady throughout the pandemic.
According to Associate Vice President...
Song: “Gasoline” by HAIM (feat. Taylor Swift)
Alternative rock band HAIM teamed up with Taylor Swift to release a remix of their song “Gasoline” from their album Women in Music Pt. III....
Library to unveil virtual pandemic exhibit
The Kellogg Library will unveil a new exhibit, “Stories & Snapshots: Documenting a Year of the Pandemic,” on Feb. 23.
The exhibit will feature...
In-person classes and resources to resume this week
The USU computer lab and the ASI Cougar Pantry will reopen the week of Feb. 15. Additionally, the few spring classes that are in-person will be allowed...
Michael Garrett is a fourth-year criminology major and ASI’s President & CEO for the 2020-2021 academic year.
What do you do in your role as ASI president? What is a typical day like for...
To see this story in video form, click here.
As part of the effort to fight COVID-19 in the region, San Diego County has begun to operate a vaccine supersite center at CSUSM.
Beyond providing a...
Citing the high number of COVID-19 cases in the county, the ASI Cougar Pantry will not resume food distributions until Feb. 17.
Read the written version of the story here.
The Academic Senate passed a resolution on Wednesday to expand the credit/no credit (CR/NC) grading option for the 2020-2021 academic year. The resolution passed with 57 votes for, three against and one...
To see this story in video form, click here.
ASI Cougar Pantry will not resume food distributions until Feb. 17, according to an update posted on their website. The Cougar Pantry did not hold distributions...
To see this story in video form, click here.
CSUSM’s annual security report revealed that 2019 had a net increase in reported crimes and violations of state and local drug, liquor and weapons laws...
This story was updated on Dec. 16 to include CSUSM's extension of the fall 2021 application deadline, current COVID-19 numbers and an update on CSUSM's plans for spring break.
CSU anticipates return to...
A team of five CSUSM business students have partnered with the North County based news organization The Coast News Group for their Senior Experience project.
The College of Business Administration requires...
No decision on commencement plans
The university has not yet made commencement plans for spring 2020, fall 2020 and spring 2021 graduates.
According to Chief Communications Officer Margaret Chantung...
Web Series/Podcast: Critical Role
Beginning as a web series on Twitch in 2015, Critical Role continues to provide laughs and thrills both on and offline today. Critical Role features a group of...
Suspected Poway synagogue shooter may face a federal death penalty trial
Federal prosecutors are considering whether to pursue capital punishment for John T. Earnest, the alleged Poway synagogue shooter...
Students for Quality Education demanded that CSUs defund university police departments on Oct. 1. However, CSU Chancellor-select Joseph I. Castro told The Cougar Chronicle in a Sept. 30 press conference...
“Our number one goal this semester has been about the care of our student athletes and providing care, resources and support,” said CSUSM Director of Athletics Jennifer Milo.
Enrollment remains steady
While some colleges are seeing a decline in their enrollment numbers, enrollment has remained steady at CSUSM.
CSUSM’s final stateside enrollment is 14,643 for the fall...
Services like on-campus childcare and the recreation center are currently unavailable, leading some students to question why they are still charged fees for the services.
In its fifth year, the Latin@/x Center is continuing to offer students the events, resources and support that it always has - just virtually.
The Latin@/x Center’s goal has been to provide Latin@/x...
The College of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (CSTEM) distributed over 500 take-home lab kits to students this semester.
The kits corresponded to labs in several disciplines including...
CSU Chancellor-select Joseph I. Castro introduced himself to his constituents and spoke about what he hopes to attain as chancellor during a live broadcast on Sept. 25.
“I am so thrilled to be Chancellor-select...
A comment on a CSUSM Instagram post sparked differing opinions on whether the university should censor speech deemed contrary to its values or allow such speech because of First Amendment rights.
A...
Book: Educated: A Memoir
Tara Westover’s 2018 memoir chronicles her inspiring quest to gain an education despite her tumultuous upbringing. Westover was raised in rural Idaho by survivalist Mormon...
For many people living in quarantine, it’s a roller coaster of emotions. One moment you’re convinced that the world is ending; the next you’re having a lengthy conversation with your dog.
Below...
The end of the spring semester is usually a time where students showcase their creative projects to the campus community. While this familiar tradition has been disrupted because of the pandemic, departments...
Amid the meteoric rise of Zoom in the wake of COVID-19, several universities around the country have experienced security problems on the platform. Such security breaches are nicknamed Zoombombing and...
TV Show: Running Wild with Bear Grylls
British survivalist turned reality TV star Bear Grylls might be best known for his iconic series Man vs. Wild, but he does something a little different in...
Ever since 1996, April has been designated as National Poetry Month, where we take the time to recognize and appreciate the art of words. We might tend to think of poetry as a flowery, outdated art form,...
The Academic Senate unanimously passed a resolution that will ease several academic policies in the hopes of providing respite to students struggling during the pandemic on April 8.
Entitled “Temporary...
In this time of self-isolation, CSUSM students aren’t letting physical distancing get in the way of standing together to voice their support of a credit/no credit grading option.
Several petitions...
Single: “Didn’t I”
OneRepublic released their new single “Didn’t I” on Mar. 13. The song is from the band’s upcoming album Humans and is about love lost. The lyrics reminisce about...
With movie screens around the country going dark to help stop the spread of coronavirus, streaming services are the only way to catch a new movie. One such film is Disney+’s recently released coming-of-age...
The Academic Policy Committee (APC) of the CSUSM Academic Senate is forming a resolution that would make changes to academic policies such as credit/no credit, withdrawals, probation, disqualification,...
After the coronavirus pandemic prompted the university to transition to online instruction, faculty were forced to radically retool their course structures and quickly come up with creative solutions to...
Shana Medel is a Visual Arts major and vice president of the staircase exhibition, an art club here at CSUSM. She is interested in many mediums of art, but is drawn to patterns, whether that be organic...
Nina Elder, an artist, researcher and lecturer, visited campus on March 3 for a public lecture as part of the Department of Art, Media and Design’s CoLab Series of Visiting Artists.
“I make work...
March is Women’s History Month, a month designated for us to recognize women’s contributions to history and importance in contemporary society. Given the scope of its influence in the wider culture,...
TV Show: Gentefied
Netflix’s newest original series Gentefied follows the Morales family’s life in the East Los Angeles neighborhood of Boyle Heights. The series tackles the generational gap differences...
On Feb. 28, CSUSM students had the opportunity of hearing from author Kazim Ali read from and speak about his work. The reading was hosted by the Literature and Writing department as part of their Community...
With an eccentric yet likeable young protagonist, valuable messages and lots of humor, Disney+’s newly released Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made is a solid film that demonstrates that Disney is putting...
Single: "Underdog"
It’s hard to believe that Alicia Keys has been on the music scene for nearly twenty years, but with her signature soulful vocals and expressive lyrics, her music is just as powerful...
The 92nd Academy Awards is just around the corner, scheduled to take place this Sunday Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. Despite recent concerns regarding the lack of diversity in its nominees, winners and voters as well...
Rarely does a movie make you truly reflect on what sort of attitude you should have towards others and yourself in your day-to-day life. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood shatters the shallow goal of...
For many, Christmastime is a busy season filled with visiting, traveling, decorating and shopping. While it’s easy to get overwhelmed, it’s important to relax and fully take in the magical, special...
The CSU Board of Trustees Special Committee to Consider the Selection of the Chancellor continued their search for the next chancellor of the CSU system during an open forum at CSUSM on Dec. 3. With the...
Are you a glass half full or glass half empty type of person? Our perspective on whether we choose to be optimistic or pessimistic immensely affects our outlook in life. With Thanksgiving coming...
TV Show: High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
Disney+’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series breathes new life into the original High School Musical movies. The show is not...
EP: Hallucinations
On Oct. 25, alt-rock band PVRIS released Hallucinations, an EP with five songs. The band explores elements of electro and melodic synth-pop while keeping true to the roots...
Halloween may have come and gone this year, taking the goblins and ghouls along with it, but not all monsters are imaginary. There are real-life monsters that are just as scary as the ones that live under...
Members of the CSUSM community set up colorful altars to honor those who have died at the annual Dia de los Muertos Celebration on Oct. 31.
Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (M.E.Ch.A.),...
It was a lively, festive night of music, dance, food and games at the Latin American Cultural Showcase on Oct. 17.
“The Latinx Center is closing Heritage Month with a bang tonight as we...
CSUSM formally unveiled the newly renovated and expanded Epstein Family Veterans Center in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 10.
The existing building was renovated and an additional building...
TV show: Dark Tourist
The Netflix documentary series follows New Zealand journalist David Farrier as he dives into the world of dark tourism. Visiting nuclear wastelands, the spot of JFK’s assassination...