Through the torn ACL, the nine-month long rehabilitation and the redshirted sophomore season, Shannon Hawari felt little physical pain. But the emotional withdrawal from being unable to play volleyball for nearly a year ate her alive. On Sept. 6, 2009, Hawari and the then-No. 10 Cal volleyball team faced Hawaii Read More…
I’ve had my desk since I was in the third grade. It’s seen me through all sorts of things: calculus and Jacques Lacan, puka shells and straightened hair, the death of my cat Milton and the ensuing existential crisis. As desks go, its surface is pretty plain — a natural Read More…
I hit snooze too often. Five more minutes of sleep can quickly turn into an hour. Suddenly it’s sunny and I’m running late for everything. Throw on a shirt and some pants, and I’m out the door. The drowsiness lasts for most of the day. I could blame it on anemia, Read More…
Ah, Friday. Not just any Friday. This, my friends, is Good Friday. That day in April in when you can wake up and walk through Sproul, unaccosted by enormous signs bearing blown-up pictures of people you’ve never met shamelessly begging for your vote. Would I like a flier? You know, it’s not Read More…
The American Standard: What is it, or what should it be? Politicians, philosophers, artists and just about everyone else have some opinion on the subject. Perhaps it’s a claim to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Or maybe it’s an ideology more closely related to that intangible thing we Read More…
God have mercy, doesn’t he know people can hear him? He does, but sometimes words just slip out. Such is the plight of that guy, suffering from the occasional bout of foot-in-mouth syndrome. It happens to a lot of people, but it doesn’t make it any less awkward. The faces reminiscent Read More…
My grandma has her first scotch around noon. She’s not an alcoholic — her first scotch normally lasts for a few hours. But it’s warm in Huntington Beach, and why not take the edge off with some Johnny Walker and a few ice cubes? She wears orange on St. Patrick’s Read More…
In a world without Robert Reich, where would we be? For starters, probably not out on Sproul that cold November night. Reich’s speech was critical in bringing thousands of students to the Occupy Cal protest last semester and was definitely an important moment for the movement to refund the UC. Read More…
My uncle tends to be contrarian. He relishes being able to play devil’s advocate and goes to great lengths to prove the smallest points — I look up to him. We’ll be sitting around drinking coffee, and I swear to God Atlas is shrugging and Ayn Rand is asking for Read More…
I’m new to the smartphone game. Every day I feel like I learn something new. A better app for this, a better way to store that. The way my phone has the capability to do so much in such a little frame, the way it documents and organizes my life Read More…
