How the American Opioid Epidemic Continues to Plague Modern Families

By Alec Nunez The American opioid epidemic continues to sweep the nation as more lives are lost, one of the most recent and emphasizing examples being that of a mother who, on June 14th, 2015, lost two of her children to the prevalent issue. The day’s events unfolded as follows: Becky Savage’s two eldest sons…

The High School Vaping Epidemic

By Alec Nunez In recent months, high school students seem to have taken up a new fixation: vaping. This new trend was acknowledged in a recent report by the US surgeon general, claiming a 900% increase in e-cig use by students in high school from 2011 to 2015.  Furthermore, the 2016 National Youth Tobacco Survey states 1.7 million…

Tustin Tillers’ Blowout Victory

By Alec Nunez The Tustin Tillers took on the Utah Braves this week in all-star fashion. Both teams experienced their fair share of ups and downs and had their own unique foothold on the game. In a season of twists and turns following multiple defeats and victories, the Tillers turned the tide of their struggles…

Mississippi Abortion Ban

By Alec Nunez Mississippi has made media headlines with its legislation moving ever closer to passing an outright ban on abortion past fifteen weeks after pregnancy. If passed, this will be the earliest abortion limit in terms of weeks after pregnancy in the US. According to Mississippi governor Phil Bryant’s spokesperson, Bryant will sign the…

The War On Drugs Rages On

By Alec Nunez The war on drugs has been waging for years, dating as far back as even the nineteenth century with the Opium Wars between China and Britain. Just like any other war, evolution occurs. This battle, however, has been taken to the home front, plaguing our nation and those closest to us. Drug use in the…

Florida Shooting Raises Questions of National Unity

By Alec Nunez The recent shooting that occured in Florida’s Parkland High School—that saw seventeen killed—has begun to stir the toxic waters that have flooded the country in recent years. Understandably, many are outraged that these events continue to occur without being detected or halted altogether. Recently, it seems the U.S. has devolved into a…

The Watch Dogs of Twitter

By Alec Nunez Recently, an undercover video of an investigative journalist group was released to the public exposing social media giant Twitter for their sub rosa monitoring of users. It was revealed that every direct message sent by users are reviewed and cached on a server. No matter the message, Twitter employees can and will…

2018 Grammys Controversy

By Alec Nunez The Grammy Awards are always a topic of discussion each year, never failing to stir up the pot of controversy. Whether it be questionable speeches or outlandish outfits, the award show always manages to find its way into headlines. This year was no exception. As audiences viewing the event from home eagerly…

Today’s Teacher Crisis

By Alec Nunez This last Tuesday, a Louisiana teacher was arrested for her impedance on a school board meeting when she proposed a question about wages. This question stemmed from a frustrating lack of understanding as to why the superintendent was receiving an increase in pay to fatten his wallet while other educators and support…

Breaking the Social Ideals and Stigmas of Modern Rap

By Alec Nunez The genre of rap, since its breakthrough into the mainstream during the late 1970s, hasThe genre of rap, since its breakthrough into the mainstream during the late 1970s, hasalways been shrouded in stigmas. The seemingly most prevalent of these stigmas being that rap is a violent outlet that promotes womanizing and drug use…

How Directors Make Audiences Cry

By Alec Nunez Sadness is difficult for a director to convey and have the audience feel. Emotions such as grief cannot feel forced or it will negate the director’s original goal of making the audience cry, nor can it be lacking as a result of attempting to prevent a forceful feeling. A bad filmmaker will…

The Killing of a Sacred Deer

By Alec Nunez After the acclaimed success of director Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Lobster (2015), 2017 brings audiences his latest work, The Killing of a Sacred Deer. Following Yorgos’ style of dark and twisted stories, this film follows Steven, a charismatic cardiovascular surgeon, who takes a fatherless teenage boy, Martin,  under his wing after he intrudes…