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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

Saturn Salama, Staff Writer

Saturn is a staff writer for the Cougar Chronicle. He is a sophomore at CSUSM majoring in Literature and Writing. He currently works as CSUSM’s Climate to Action podcast manager, but his career goals center around the law and creative writing. Beyond these interests, Saturn has a deep love for traveling, nature, and his community. While he works at the Chronicle, he plans to uplift local artists and writers. 

All content by Saturn Salama

‘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...

Writer of the Month #2: René E. Wilde

Writer of the Month #2: René E. Wilde

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

René E. Wilde is this CSUSM senior’s pseudonym, inspired by Irish writer Oscar Wilde. After reading “A Picture of Dorian Gray,” which they deemed the “messiest love triangle ever,” they had...

CSUSM’s ASI calls for a ceasefire in new resolution

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

CSUSM’s Associated Students Inc., or ASI, created a resolution to “call for a bilateral, permanent ceasefire in Palestine.” This resolution expresses solidarity with Palestinian, Arab, and Jewish...

Director Shaun Heard on ‘Motherf**ker With the Hat’

Director Shaun Heard on ‘Motherf**ker With the Hat’

Saturn Salama, Assistant Arts and Entertainment Editor December 6, 2024

As Cal State San Marcos' “Motherf**ker With the Hat” production approached its debut, Director and Professor Shaun Heard shared his thoughts on bringing Stephen Adly Guirgis’ bold play to life. As...

Artwork Display at the Market

North County 4 Palestine Holds Art Market for Gaza

Saturn Salama, Assistant Arts and Entertainment Editor October 31, 2024

OCEANSIDE, Calif. – On October 20, North County 4 Palestine held a fundraiser for the non-profit human rights organization, Human Appeal, at the Hill Street Country Club in downtown Oceanside. North...

CSUSM Students Present a Modern Take on Caryl Churchill’s “Vinegar Tom”

CSUSM Students Present a Modern Take on Caryl Churchill’s “Vinegar Tom”

Saturn Salama, Assistant Arts and Entertainment Editor October 25, 2024

Last week, CSUSM students performed Carly Churchill’s play “Vinegar Tom” directed by Judy Bauerlein and Shaun Heard.  “Vinegar Tom” opens with a young woman lounging and talking with her...

SAWANEA Club’s Unforgettable Dabke Night

SAWANEA Club’s Unforgettable Dabke Night

Saturn Salama, Assistant Arts and Entertainment Editor October 16, 2024

On October 9, the South/West Asian and North/East African (SAWANEA) club hosted Dabke Night. The club President Zuzu Laban and Secretary Alexis Rahal taught 30-40 students Dabke, a traditional Levantine...

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...

Salvador de la Torre speaking at Fall Context Exhibit Artist Talk

“Impresiones”; the impressions Salvador de la Torre wants to leave

Saturn Salama and Nahomi Garcia Alarcon October 10, 2024

“Impresiones” is a 14-part collection by Salvador de la Torre exploring their experiences as a trans person and a Mexican artist raised in Texas. On October 1, de la Torre visited the Kellogg Library...

Writer of the Month #1: Taen Bounthapanya

Writer of the Month #1: Taen Bounthapanya

Saturn Salama, Assistant Arts and Entertainment Editor October 9, 2024

“When I write, I want to enjoy it, and I want to be there. I want my readers to come with me and be in the story.” — Taen Bounthapanya   Taen Bounthapanya is a student in CSUSM’s LTWR MA...

Fall Plan for Campus Rec Fees and New Wellness Center with Celeste Torsney

Saturn Salama, Staff Writer October 7, 2024

Last spring, students voted to keep the Recreation Fee at $35 instead of increasing it for a new Wellness and Recreation Center. Since last spring, staff at the Rec Center have reconsidered their plan...

Filipina Icons and Resistance: Women in Philippine History

Filipina Icons and Resistance: Women in Philippine History

Saturn Salama, Staff Writer October 2, 2024

On September 26, the WGEC celebrated Filipinas by highlighting Filipina icons and sharing Filipino snacks.   The WGEC staff first shared a brief history of the pre-colonial Philippines, where women...

Mexican Slum Rats concert

Mexican Slum Rats Love Deeply on New Album ‘SEE YOU AROUND’

Saturn Salama, Staff Writer September 27, 2024

Currently burning through their North American tour, Mexican Slum Rats, or MSR, are making a name for themselves. They are a five-piece band from Granada Hills, California, and they rock like nothing else....

Providing Students Opportunities to Get Outside with Celeste Torsney

Providing Students Opportunities to Get Outside with Celeste Torsney

Saturn Salama, Staff Writer September 25, 2024

If you’ve been looking to get active and explore, look no further. From sports clubs to fitness classes to outdoor adventures, Campus Rec is overflowing with opportunities to meet new people and start...

The Kellogg Library is still awaiting its new Library Dean.

CSUSM is Searching for a New Library Dean

Saturn Salama, Staff Writer September 23, 2024

On June 18, 2024, CSUSM began advertising for a new Library Dean. The Kellogg Library has been without a dean since last spring semester so the university recommended August 5, 2024, as the cutoff date...

Image of Tinashe

Tinashe Gets Nasty on “Quantum Baby”

Saturn Salama, Staff Writer September 13, 2024

Tinashe Kachingwe, better known as simply Tinashe, has over a decade of experience in the music industry. New fans might have discovered her from the viral hit “Nasty”, but her discography is full...

Trans Students Can’t Find CSUSM’s Gender-Neutral Bathrooms

Trans Students Can’t Find CSUSM’s Gender-Neutral Bathrooms

Saturn Salama, Staff Writer September 6, 2024

For the sake of this article, I will use trans to mean trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse students and gender-neutral bathrooms to also mean all-gender bathrooms.  CSUSM’s gender-neutral bathrooms...

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