Ethan Axtell

I am a journalist from Southern California. 

Courthouse News Service •

Volcano-induced climate change allowed dinosaurs to rule Earth

Dinosaurs evolved to withstand temperatures of up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Other creatures did not. (CN) — Four episodes of intense volcanic activity over a two-million-year period released an extraordinary amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, increasing the global temperature and humidity and setting the stage for the rise of dinosaurs. This period known as The Late Triassic Carnian Pluvial Episode (CPE), occurred over 230 million years ago. Researchers from the University of Birm
Courthouse News Service •

Volcanic eruptions that caused Permian mass extinction also brought huge spike in global temperatures

The volcanoes spewed so much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere the planet warmed by between 45 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. (CN) — A rapid rise in CO2 emissions primarily released by the Siberian Traps volcanism drove the end-Permian mass extinction 252 million years ago which obliterated 90% of all marine species and 70% of land species including insects — a "rare distinction among the major extinction events." A study published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Scie
The Eastsider LA •

New Cal State LA dorms will house up to 1,500 students

El Sereno -- A new dorm that would house 1,500 Cal State LA students and more than double the number of people living on campus is on track to be completed on Aug. 1, according to campus officials. The new dorms that loom over the 710 Freeway are long overdue, according to some students who have lived on campus. Valerie Ruiz, who has lived in the existing dorms, said they are dated, “old, not nice.” So the new dorms will be good for incoming students. “New dorms. New atmosphere,” she said. “W
University Times •

BREAKING: Cal State LA announces details for in-person commencement

The commencement ceremony is one of the few major university events whose fate is left in question due to the coronavirus pandemic. UPDATED: May 4, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. Covino announces Tuesday that graduates will not receive guest tickets nor be able to walk the stage. UPDATED: April 13, 2021 at 3:30 p.m. Covino announces Tuesday that graduation ceremonies will take place at Rose Bowl Stadium. An in-person commencement that will celebrate the Class of 2021 and 2020, is being planned for Saturda
University Times •

Big reptile, big monkey: A meditation on “Godzilla vs Kong”

“Godzilla vs Kong.” I keep wanting to write “King Kong vs Godzilla” since that was the title of the original 1962 showdown between these two nasty heavyweights. A film that I actually owned on VHS as a kid. Giving this film a letter grade would be a waste of time, but I will provide a few ways of thinking about the movie. If you watch “Godzilla vs Kong” as a serious adult film connoisseur, you will probably determine that it is a bad film with a hilariously awful script and poor direction. That
University Times •

What are Golden Eagles watching?

With more spare time on their hands, Cal State LA students share what they have been watching. Films and TV shows that have been nominated for this year’s Oscars or honored at the Golden Globes ceremony are among them. In a long thread of responses on a Facebook post by the UT, students brought up films and shows like “Nomadland,” “The Nightstalker,” and “The Queen’s Gambit.” Social work major Sahida Luquin, wrote that the standout shows and films she has watched recently include the Netflix s
University Times •

“Credit/No Credit” not offered for the 2020-21 academic year

Despite being offered in the Spring 2020 semester, the “credit/no credit” grading option won’t be offered for the 2020-21 academic year, according to the dean of undergraduate studies Michelle Halwey. Traditional grading resumed over summer and is set to remain in place. Halwey wrote in an email that during an Educational Policy Committee of the Academic Senate, “There were extended discussions about the pros, cons and challenges of implementing non-traditional grading.” She said that before t
University Times •

Unpacking President Biden’s policy agenda

Despite weeks of efforts from the Trump administration, Joe Biden has been sworn in as president of the United States. With four years ahead, Raphael Sonenshein, executive director of the Pat Brown Institute at Cal State LA, said he expects significant policy changes under a Biden administration. “[Trump and Biden] basically disagree on everything. In many ways, Trump’s presidency was devoted in matters large and small to erasing the eight years of Barack Obama and Joe Biden in health care, env
University Times •

Cal State LA community responds to sports protests

Some athletes in the NBA and NFL are taking a stand for social justice in wake of the social justice movement in 2020. Creative Commons Photo. “Athletes should have a say when it comes to social injustice in their communities and use the platform they have to spread the message,” said fourth-year history major Dagoberto Bobadilla Jr. Some athletes in the NBA and NFL are taking a stand for social justice. Players in the NBA wore social justice messages on their jerseys and voiced their concerns
University Times •

BLM protests leave some Cal State criminal justice students questioning the system

As she follows news of violence by police around the country, recent Cal State LA graduate Salma Lopez is torn about her major and career path: criminal justice. “I just got my bachelor’s in criminal justice this year and it has crossed my mind whether I even want to be part of a law enforcement agency anymore,” said Lopez, “All of the corruption that is shown on television makes me feel like not even being part of that.” In the wake of the global protests against police brutality, misconduct
University Times •

Bobby Lee Verdugo: A civil rights activist. To his family, much more.

Bobby Lee Verdugo dressed up as Santa Claus for his family. Photo courtesy of Maricela Verdugo. His loved ones remember him as a great father, the family comedian and “Santa Claus.” Verdugo died on May 1 at age 69, surrounded by his family. Verdugo protested discrimination and high dropout rates of Latinx students as a student leader of the 1968 East L.A. high school walkouts. The walkouts inspired the 2006 film, “Walkout,” in which Verdugo was portrayed by actor Efren Ramirez. Verdugo, who g
University Times •

Movie theaters eviscerated by the pandemic

Throughout the Los Angeles area, theaters like this one in Pasadena are closed amid the coronavirus outbreak. (Ethan Axtell/UT) Since the rapid expansion of the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent quarantine, the American economy has sustained immense damage, with virtually no sector being spared. The film industry, and specifically, movie theaters, have been essentially decommissioned temporarily in the interest of social distancing. The number of films released to theaters dropped 96 per
University Times •

Opinion: Hearing out Sanders’ supporters and other voices on Twitter can be exhausting but enlightening

Bernie supporters still want to have sway in the presidential campaign. (Photo by Parker Johnson on Unsplash) Looking for elevated and articulate political discourse on Twitter is like searching for Michelin Star cuisine in a dumpster, guided only by your tongue. You’ll never find what you’re looking for but you just might discover what people are eating. In other words, you might not find brilliant political insight on Twitter but you may introduce your tongue to the unsanitized and distinct
University Times •

Balancing a dream with life’s realities

Lesley Elizondo didn’t have much growing up. Her dad died when she was six, so she and her family moved around Los Angeles frequently in search of better living situations. So when Elizondo revealed to her mom her dream to pursue film-making in college, her mother’s reaction didn’t come as a surprise: “How are you going to make money?” Elizondo knew that her mom’s question was a valid one and she was good at math, so there was a possibility of a STEM career. But she wanted to follow her heart.
University Times •

El Monte set to build its first skate and dog parks

The city of El Monte has a concept design of the Gibson Mariposa skate park. Image courtesy of the city of El Monte. The city of El Monte is moving forward with its plan to build the city’s first dog and state parks. This month, the city council approved a contractor for the project, along with about $400,000 from its Art in Public Places funds, according to a city official. The council awarded a contract worth up to $551,000 to Spohn Ranch, Inc. for the project. Late last month, the council
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