One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
With No Dorm To Live In, Student Trades Cal State LA For The Army
Adam Sanchez walks through the Cal State Los Angeles campus weeks after classes where moved online. His experience at the school and COVID-19 have radically changed his career path. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
Like all 23 California State University campuses, Cal State LA asked students to vacate its dorms when the coronavirus shutdown happened in March.
Most went back home. Some, like freshman Adam Sanchez, didn't have that option.
Even though he grew up less than two miles away in El Sereno, the campus felt a world away. He told us:
“I think that living in the dorms helped me a lot in getting through the first semester. Because at home, I don't have access to the internet.”
Exceptions were made for international students and foster youth, but Sanchez is neither. With no options left, he's dropping out and enlisting in the Army. He reports for duty on May 17.
READ THE FULL STORY:
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
