Cal State Los Angeles opens a new living space for students of color amid controversy, Yosemite National Park expands, Star Trek turns 50
The perils and the pitfalls of moderating presidential forums, as demonstrated by Matt Lauer
NBC's Matt Lauer faced flack Thursday after his prime-time sitdowns with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Wednesday evening.
From social media came a
and accusations of unfair questioning and failure to fact-check. Others knocked the Today host for letting Trump overpower him during the interview.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeMpEgO8lYY
With the first presidential debate a little over two weeks away, many are left wondering if last night is a preview of what's to come.
For a deeper look, Take Two spoke to Hadas Gold, media reporter for Politico.
Press the blue play button above to hear the interview.
Cal State LA's new black student housing questioned, but it's nothing new
California State University Los Angeles students are back on campus now, and one dorm is making a lot of news.
The school's Black Student Union asked for a new housing option last year. So the university rolled out the Halisi Black Scholars Living-Learning Community.
It's a dorm for students who are interested in the black community, or who are black.
Critics are calling it "segregated housing." But Cal State LA student Jonathan Thomas supports the dorm.
"It says black housing, they automatically equate it with black only and it's just people who identify as black so it can be for anybody," he told our media partner NBC4.
To give us some perspective on themed housing on university campuses and how they fit into a larger conversation about safe spaces for students, Deepa Fernandes spoke to Sarah Brown, a reporter with the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Interview Highlights
On themed housing and other instances where it has been controversial:
You see quite a number of residential areas basically structured around a cultural theme, so it might be African-American culture, it might be Latino culture, it might be Native American culture, so there are dozens and dozens of examples of housing structured around these themes, just as Cal State LA's new housing opportunity is.
Where there's been some controversy at places like the University of Connecticut and University of Iowa, they involve living-learning communities that really are targeted toward black students very specifically, but at Cal State LA what officials there have said is that's not the case at all. This is open to all students who are interested in African-American culture.
On the source of the controversy:
The word "segregation" has been thrown around a lot by critics, so in the case of Cal State LA as well as at Iowa and UConn, you see headlines like "black-only housing" and "segregated housing for blacks," so a lot of critics are saying, you know, 'why are campuses segregating black students away from the rest of the population? Isn't that problematic in and of itself and doesn't it miss one of the main reasons students go to college, which is to interact and learn among a diverse student population? Campus officials I talk to will often counter and say, 'first of all, these housing communities are nothing like segregation because it's voluntary.' And they'll add that just because students live in the same residential area, doesn't mean they're cut off from other students on campus. They spend most of their day in classes, in the library, doing extracurricular activities with other students on campus, so that's not the way the critics portray these communities at all...This controversy mostly seems to be the result of right leaning or conservative-leaning media outlets drumming up a controversy where they isn't much of one at all.
On what themed houses do for students:
Particularly on predominantly white campuses, one thing you'll often hear from students is that they are surrounded throughout the day by students, faculty, staff who don't look like them, and these themed houses allow students to find community support among peers who understand the unique challenges and difficulties that minority students face on campuses...so these communities allow them to success more, both academically and socially.
Click the blue audio player to hear the full interview.
The Ride: Mercedes-Benz invests in delivery drones
German auto maker Mercedes-Benz is taking to the skies. On Wednesday, it announced a partnership with the drone startup Matternet to deliver small packages short distances with a concept called the Vision Van.
Able to carry packages up to 4.4 pounds across distances of six miles, the drones are designed to reduce delivery times in traffic-congested and remote areas that are difficult to reach with established roadways.
Working in conjunction with all-electric delivery vans, the drones attach to the van roof above an opening that leads to the vehicle's interior compartment. Before the drone takes off, a robotic arm finds the package and moves it to a special box inside the hatch, which then opens for the drone to pick up the item and fly away, guided by GPS to its destination.
Join The Ride's Sue Carpenter and Alonzo Bodden for a special live show on Monday, Sept. 19 at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. A reception begins at 6:30, and the show begins at 7:30. It's free, but you must RSVP.
Gentrification: how a changing neighborhood affects local schools
Californians are no stranger to gentrification. As people find cheaper housing, this often means long-term residents get pushed out among other changes to the neighborhood and community.
So, how does gentrification affect access to education and the demographics of the students who go there?
It's a question explored by KQED reporter, Zaidee Stavely in her coverage of segregation in Oakland schools.
Take Two's Deepa Fernandes spoke with Zaidee Stavely about how gentrification is changing the educational landscape in Oakland.
To hear the full interview, click the blue arrow above.
Great news for nature lovers: Yosemite is expanding
The National Parks Service turned one hundred this year and now they have another reason to celebrate. After many years of effort, Yosemite National Park is expanding to include Ackerson Meadow - the park's largest expansion since 1949.
Take Two’s A Martinez spoke with Markley Bavinger, Sierra Project Manager for the Trust for Public Lands about Yosemite's newest addition and what visitors can expect.
Highlights
On Ackerson Meadow
Ackerson Meadow is an expansive meadow system that can be enjoyed by visitors either that pass through Evergreen Road on their way to Hetch Hetchy or Camp Mather or even now it that it is open to the public, wants to get out of their car and...see the majesty of that landscape.
On the importance of the expanding Yosemite
This is the biggest expansion in seventy years. It’s a little known fact that Yosemite was actually reduced by about thirty percent from its original boundary between 1905 and 1937. Ackerson Meadow was one of the properties that was taken out of that original boundary line as a result from pressure from private sector interests. As of yesterday, this land was actually returned to Yosemite National Park.
On the size of Ackerson Meadow
It’s four hundred acres which doesn’t sound like much but Yosemite only has about three percent of its acreage as meadow habitat and that equals approximately a third of all the plant species in the park, so as a biodiversity hotspot, this is really one of the most important places that is now a part of the park.
On the threat to endangered wildlife
It’s something that the park is giving serious considerations to and it's been part of our discussions from the beginning. I think that the fact that this land is going to Parks Service is really a wonderful benefit to all those species given that their mission is so completely connected with protecting land for natural resources. I think as we look ahead, we can trust that the Parks Service is going to be doing everything they can to protect those very concerns.
On accessing Ackerson Meadow
It’s just off of Highway 120. You head towards that Big Oak Flat Entrance and head up to Hetch Hetchy off of Evergreen Road.
*Quotes have been edited for clarity
Click the blue arrow above for the full interview
Why Apple can get away with dropping long held standards
As you've probably heard by now, Apple announced that it's getting rid of the headphone jack on its newest version of the iPhone.
During the presentation, one Apple representative justified their decision with one word: courage. But this isn't the first time that Apple's been "courageous." They've gotten rid of long-standing technology before (floppy-disc anyone?).
Shara Tibken is a Senior Writer with CNET and she joins Deepa Fernandes to talk about how Apple keeps getting away with big moves like this.
To hear the entire conversation click on the audio embedded at the top of this post.
Daily life in Manila is terrifying for some
In the Philippines, the death toll from a controversial anti-drug campaign has soared past 2,000 people in two months, say officials. Deaths have mounted as more raids and police shootings took place this week in the country's capital, Manila.
The driving force behind the action is the country's new President Rodrigo Duterte who came into office in June with a pledge to rid the country of drug violence.
Deepa Fernandes speaks with Aurora Almendral, a reporter on the ground in Manila about what day to day life is like there with death as a constant presence.
How an OC Supervisor sees homelessness in his area
Homelessness is a growing problem in Southern California, and it's affecting more than just areas like Skid Row and Venice.
In Orange County last year, officials estimated that more than 15,000 people were homeless for at least one night, a 20 percent spike from 2013.
Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do joins Take Two to explain how local leaders like himself are trying to come up with plans to address the issue while also helping those in need.
Celebrities, lies and a literary 'hoax': The JT Leroy story
Once upon a time there was a young man, a writer, named JT Leroy ... the JT was short for Jeremiah Terminator.
LeRoy's backstory was turbulent and dark. Many believed that's what made this young man such a good writer. His book, Sarah, about a prostitute who works the truck stops in West Virginia - earned LeRoy fans across the world.
He hung out regularly with famous musicians and actors. He was a celebrity. But then came the discovery that JT LeRoy wasn't a real person - he was the creation of the woman who actually wrote those books.
LeRoy was of many personalities and identities she adopted over the years. Her real name is Laura Albert and she has her OWN dark past - she spent much of her teen years institutionalized and in a group home. She was a victim of physical and sexual abuse who struggled with addictions.
Laura Albert opens up about her life and her literary deceptions in the new documentary "Author: the JT LeRoy story".
Take Two's Alex Cohen recently spoke with Albert and the film's director Jeff Feuerzeig.
To hear the full interview, click the blue play button above.
Alex Cohen and Jeff Feuerzeig will talk more about the film and its making tonight at the Landmark Theater, more info here.
At 50, Star Trek continues to live long and prosper, thanks to its fans
It's the 50th anniversary of Star Trek and with five TV series, 13 films and countless fan-produced works, the series has indeed, lived long and prospered.
And to borrow another Star Trek phrase– it has also embraced fan fiction boldly, in a way no popular series has before. Unlike other fandoms, Star Trek embraces and encourages fan fiction and fan-created works. These productions become so popular in fact, they often gain praise or a special appearance from the series original cast.
In celebration of the show's golden anniversary, we check in with a super Trekkie fan, Vic Mignona. He is the writer, director, producer and star of Star Trek Continues, a critically acclaimed and popular fan-produced series.
Interview Highlights
The Trekkie fandom is very special in that, there’s lots of encouragement to create stories within the universe, can you explain that phenomenon.
"Star Trek is just its own, special phenomenon. It appealed to people in a unique way. It inspired people in a unique way, that no show had ever done quite the same before it. The fans actually saved Star Trek, not only saved it but they perpetuated it over the years and kept it alive to the point where motion pictures were made, new series were released and lots and lots of fan productions with fans of all varying levels of skill and background, paid homage and tribute to their series...which is exactly what I've done."
Fan fiction isn't new most series have some form of it, but a lot of the times for the hardcore people in each series, sometimes there's an eye roll reaction...so what do you think makes it different with Trekkies, they seem to embrace fan fiction?
"They embrace fan productions because they understand that...for the most part are made by people out of a passion and love for the original material. They don't do it to make any money, they don't do it to achieve any level of celebrity, they do it purely for love of Star Trek, and for me personally, I started Star Trek Continues because when I was nine or 10 years old and I discovered the original series of Star Trek it inspired me in ways that no TV show had before. Tt encouraged me to try my hand at creative endeavors and now fast forward 40 years later and Star Trek Continues is not only my love letter to Star Trek, but I'm able to bring all of these skills that I've developed and use them to pay tribute to the thing that inspired them in the first place."
The show marks its 50th anniversary this year, how do you see the legacy of it moving forward?
"There has to be a reason why we're still talking about it 50 years later, you know? It's not about spaceships. It's not about fighting Klingons. It's not about beaming down. It's about the human condition. Telling stories like I mentioned earlier, of ethical questions and moral issues and the best Star Trek always did that, whether it was the original series, or Next Generation, or Voyager, or Deep Space Nine or Enterprise, or the motion pictures. Any of those took on those kind of questions and they told stories that people could relate to...what we hope for Star Trek is that it continues to advance those ideals that made it so timeless in the first place. Taking on difficult issues and solving the problems together."
Answers have been edited for clarity.
To hear the full interview, click the blue play button above.