The global conflicts of 2014 will reverberate for years to come. It is a year of politics, war and race stirring together and, in some cases, erupting in a furious crescendo. From shattered borders of the Middle East and in the streets of the 'land of the free', these dark clouds gathering on the horizon are a sign of what...

Police brutality isn’t going to change until we do. As the college students and young adults who are supposed to be leading the way for future generations, for our future, how can we possibly even begin to reform laws when we are all so busy battling each others likes on Instagram and trying to afford the rising cost of a...

If you want to recreate the feel and culture of a traditional German Oktoberfest without serving sausages, schnitzels, chicken or any other meat, dust off your lederhosen and go see for yourself. On October 4, the world's first Vegan Oktoberfest will take place, right here in Santa Monica. Instead of meat they will offer many German-themed foods such as potato...

Friday morning on Third Street Promenade started with a chill. While notably busy given that it was only 9 a.m., the pure insanity that characterizes Black Friday hadn’t shown itself yet, and wouldn’t as the day progressed. Store employees, street performers, and even Bible pushers took their usual places along the Promenade. It was almost like any other shopping trip,...

Impatience and social anxiety turned violent on Monday when protestors took to the streets of Ferguson, Missouri after a grand jury decided not to indict police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael brown, an unarmed 18-year-old black male. Immediately after the decision, rioters began looting shops and setting fire to police cars, including police cruisers, and several...

While Ferguson plunges deeper into chaos, here in California the overlords of our university system have announced that anyone seeking a higher education will now have to face higher, greater fees. The devouring beast of capitalism, dressed in a monocle and top hat, has announced that UC fees will be raised by 5% every year for the next five years....

Two little words strike fear into the hearts of retail workers everywhere. The same two words that ignite enthusiasm and excitement in shoppers and bargain hunters. Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving, commonly known as Black Friday, is possibly the biggest shopping day of the year. It has become almost a holiday in its own right, with an official website...

Divert your attention away from the Ebola crisis or the wars of the Middle East because right next door, Mexico is beginning to quake. For weeks now, protests and unrest have swept through large swathes of our southern neighbor, putting into question the stability of Enrique Pena Nieto's dictatorship, ahem, presidency. It is perhaps the first sign of a social...

According to Santa Monica College Police Sergeant Jere Romano, a man is in custody in the Santa Monica City Jail for assaulting an SMC police officer after attempting to flee from custody. The suspect, identified by Romano as 22-year-old Rogelio Cabrera, is being held in custody for "battery on a peace officer, resisting arrest and an outstanding arrest warrant originated...

Situation 1: You were just lab partners. It meant nothing. Now they want to go out on a date and take things further. They just won't get a clue and won't stop texting you. Situation 2: You fail your history exam and you need extra credit. Instead of giving you an assignment to earn extra points, your teacher hits on...