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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

Sara Freitag

Sara Freitag, Opinion Editor

Contact: [email protected]

All content by Sara Freitag
On Aug. 13, 2014, young boys pose for the camera in the slums of Curundú, a subdivision of Panamá City, Panamá.

[Photo] Perspective sheds light on perceptions of education

Sara Freitag, Opinion Editor April 30, 2018

On Aug. 13, 2014, young boys pose for the camera in the slums of Curundú, a subdivision of Panamá City, Panamá.

Words have the ability to create and promote a world of peace.

Words, the beginning of either hate or peace

Sara Freitag, Opinion Editor April 21, 2018

To anyone who believes that individuals who advocate for language change are overly sensitive, liberal snowflakes, I would like to ask you a question. Do you believe there is veracity in the statement,...

Nuts, seeds, fruits, and leafy vegetables are versatile staples to  a plant-based lifestyle.

[Photo] Veganism should not demand an all-or-nothing mentality

Kody Cowell, Assistant Opinion Editor March 29, 2018

Nuts, seeds, fruits, and leafy vegetables are versatile staples to a plant-based lifestyle.

The Whole Bowl, a nutrient-filled entrée, is the perfect go-to for lunch or dinner.

[Photo] A restaurant that will make your day

Sara Freitag, Staff Writer/Photographer May 16, 2017

The Whole Bowl, a nutrient-filled entrée, is the perfect go-to for lunch or dinner.

It's never too late to join the marathon towards gender equity.

Part three of a series on feminism…one issue in a world of many

Sara Freitag, Opinion Editor April 3, 2018

Eyes drooping, coffee yet to kick in, you struggle to keep your head up as the steering wheel serves as a brace for your sleep-deprived body. News from Florida jolts your otherwise comatose being awake....

National Clear Your Clutter Day can help you get out of the past

National Clear Your Clutter Day can help you get out of the past

Sara Freitag, Opinion Editor March 7, 2018

Emptiness rotted in the pit of my stomach.  Tears welled in my eyes day after day for weeks.  I felt defeated and knew not how I would go on.   Two and a half years ago, I lost what meant...

Just as the artist's rendition portrays, labels, can have an oppressive effect on individuals.

Part two of a series on feminism… forget the labels

Sara Freitag, Opinion Editor March 7, 2018

Feminists do not always look the same. For example, I wear heels (quite a bit). I over-pack. I love to look and feel feminine. I am at times indecisive. Yes, these are all stereotypes of women... specifically...

Just as a marathon runner would not quit after 25 miles, we should not give up before gender equity is reached.

Part one of a series on feminism, an unfinished marathon

Sara Freitag, Opinion Editor March 3, 2018

What marathon runner reaches 25 miles and gives up, saying “that’s good enough”?  In the same way, how can we -- educated constituents -- give up and say, “society is good enough”? There...

Become an educated citizen, and understand where your funds come from

Prison expenditures outweigh increased tuition costs

Sara Freitag, Opinion Editor February 7, 2018

A year spent at Harvard University may be considered one of the most costly ways to spend said time; yet, the fiscal demands of an unexpected institution surpass even those of this Ivy League. According...

Find your place in the movement, and join hands with others to propel society forward.

Take a stand, use your voice and join a movement to promote social justice

Sara Freitag, Opinion Editor December 8, 2017

A movement. The eight-letter word encapsulates current and future conditions of an array of people groups. Without the unity of individuals toward a common cause, we would have had no Women’s...

Babies lost due to premature birth can be thought of as a rose bud which never had the chance to fully bloom.

In honor of my sister, Lisa, and other lost premature babies

Sara Freitag, Opinion Editor November 23, 2017

I have three brothers and no living sisters, yet I was not the only daughter born into my family.  On Aug. 18, 1987, my older sister, Lisa, was born at 20 weeks and amounted to the size of an adult hand....

Don’t be afraid to express appreciation for those around you - whether it’s Thanksgiving or not.

Change the world through words of appreciation

Sara Freitag, Opinion Editor November 23, 2017

Have you ever received a genuine compliment that blew you away?  Not just a “you look nice today,” but an “I appreciate you for…” or “you impacted me by…” Our world is starving for...

Nuts, seeds, fruits, and leafy vegetables are versatile staples to  a plant-based lifestyle.

Why I lead a future-minded, plant-based lifestyle

Sara Freitag, Opinion Editor November 13, 2017

My finger pads kissed the keys of an upright piano which was the only barrier between myself and my attentive audience – aside from a 40 to 80 year age gap and mental or physical impairments.  Cozy...

Break free from the emulation of a cookie-cutter life, and be yourself.

Resist the cookie-cutter life

Sara Freitag, Opinion Editor November 13, 2017

I have a dream.  To one day see every man and woman regard themselves as uniquely beautiful, talented and an essential puzzle piece of this world we call home.  To blur the lines of harsh comparison...

A purple ribbon is the symbol of awareness for domestic violence.

A first world “victim mentality” undermines true victims

Sara Freitag, Opinion Editor October 31, 2017

The victim mentality.  We know it well.  “It’s always you and never me.”   In our first world society, it is easy to think about “me, myself and I,” demanding instant gratification and...

Sabrina Belknap poses in her creative “do it yourself” costume.

[Photo] A nifty, thrifty Halloween costume idea

October 26, 2017

Sabrina Belknap poses in her creative “do it yourself” costume.

Everyone has a story: don’t judge a cover before you’ve read the content.

Beyond the surface level: an acquaintance today and a friend tomorrow

Sara Freitag, Opinion Editor October 12, 2017

Eighteen years ago, a small blonde-haired, blue-eyed young girl dragged herself into a classroom filled with children who looked nothing like her.  They spoke a language that she could speak and understand...

”After facing a temporary disability due to a snowboarding accident in 2016, Biss has now learned to confidently embrace her identity-scar and all.”

[Photo] How a traumatic accident taught me to be mindful

Danielle C. Biss, Contributor October 12, 2017

”After facing a temporary disability due to a snowboarding accident in 2016, Biss has now learned to confidently embrace her identity-scar and all.”

Students speak on DACA and immigration

Sara Freitag, Opinion Editor September 28, 2017

Our beloved CSUSM community comprises individuals of diverse backgrounds, yet we make one student body.  The last several weeks have held a commotion of political rhetoric, changes and uncertainty for...

Expressing your voice in class can be daunting but is well worth the risk.

[Photo] Loud Voice, Great Mind

Alexa Morales Garcia, Features Writer September 28, 2017

Expressing your voice in class can be daunting but is well worth the risk.

Yoga, an act of self-love, is a great way to help you through your semester.

Yoga, a college student’s best friend

Sara Freitag, Opinion Editor September 28, 2017

  Who hasn’t at one point found themselves grudgingly dragged to a fitness class by some friend or family member? CSUSM Yoga instructor Louise McDougall first became acquainted with the art...

Three ways to revamp your bedroom

Sara Freitag, Opinion Editor September 13, 2017

Whether freshly moved into a cramped dorm or still rocking the same bedroom since childhood, we could all utilize creative ideas to masterfully maximize the space we call our own.  What better way than...

What an A minus taught me about identity

Sara Freitag, Opinion Editor September 13, 2017

Last semester, I received an A minus, and my life went from being “perfect on paper” to now “flawed.” For my entire academic career, I had prided myself on possessing a 4.00.  In fact, I hid...

InterVarsity changes lives

Sara Freitag, Staff Writer/Photographer April 18, 2017

  Ryane Fennema, a leader for InterVarsity, shares some of the ways that this Christian club on campus has impacted her throughout her college experience. InterVarsity is formed around small...

Plantains, a cousin to the banana, are a staple in the Panamanian diet.

[Photo] “Mi Casa es Su Casa”

Sara Freitag, Staff Writer/Photographer February 24, 2017

Plantains, a cousin to the banana, are a staple in the Panamanian diet.

Shirly Najjar shares details of her life in Demark and its comparisons to her time in the United States.

[Photo] Hailing from the land of salty licorice and sarcasm

Sara Freitag, Staff Writer/Photographer February 25, 2017

Shirly Najjar shares details of her life in Demark and its comparisons to her time in the United States.

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