Student Takeover Blog: Faith Neuberger, Student Library Ambassador

Hi! My name is Faith and I'm an ambassador for the library, but I'm also a student. I have my fair share of stress and anxiety that comes from being a working & commuting college student. It can be hard to find time, or the energy to take care of ourselves. Our campus tries to do a lot to support the student community by providing resources and events that are "non-academic". Giving ourselves the care we need and deserve is so important to our college experience. Let's go through a few options that Cal State East Bay and the University Libraries provide!

Stress-Management is vital for your wellness. However, not everyone is a master in the art of stress management, unsurprisingly. If you are not one of those people, like myself, visit mindful minutes hosted by Peer Advocates for Wellness and librarian Gr Keer! It's typically a monthly event, so the option is there throughout the semester. Upcoming Mindful Minutes: April 19th 2023, CORE 338 Quail Room.

You can also borrow all kinds of board games, card games, and "lose-your-friends" kinds of games, like UNO 😈. The Library, Recreational Math and CS club, and Mesa have been hosting a monthly game night in the CORE. As a commuter student, I do what I need to do on campus and then all I want is to go home 💅. But, the first time I went to game night, I was able to socialize with people on campus and had a good time – I think you would too. Monthly Game Night: First Tuesday of every month, CORE 338 Quail Room.

If board games aren't your thing, there are plenty of events sponsored by clubs & organizations that want to create environments for you to relax, and destress, take care of your "non-academic" self! Look over BaySync or the Library's event page.

Physical exercise has not been my favorite self-care activity. I haven't been the biggest fan 🤪. However, I have fallen in love with weightlifting, and now have something that I can do to take care of my body and mind, thanks to the Raw Center. The Raw Center has something for everyone, it is a very spacious and clean environment. There is yoga equipment, zumba classes, pilates, weightlifting equipment, and more. Courts to play a friendly game of basketball, tennis, or volleyball. There's also a punching bag, so you can tape a picture of your frustrations on it and do your worst ❤. After the CORE library, the Raw is my favorite place on campus.

Use this free campus gym and all of its resources including non-exercise events and resources such as "Pause for Paws" if you want to pet some puppies, farmers markets, nintendo game events, nutrition workshops, and more! (There's a massage chair 😉) And shout out to the Girls Gains Club! If weightlifting and exercise is something you're passionate about, check out the Girls Gains Club, a group dedicated to creating a judgment free environment and empowering women on their fitness journeys!

My last best recommendation to give yourself a little love on campus is the Zen Garden. Fresh air and a peaceful nature environment can do wonders for yourself. You can go there to eat your lunch, do some homework, or just wind down. It's a beautiful garden located between the Arts and Education building, and the Pioneer Amphitheater. Watch this little video created by ASI highlighting the garden. Upcoming: There will be a Cherry Blossom Festival taking place in the Zen garden this year on the 23rd of March!

Your mind and body comes first so please, in addition to these resources, do activities that make you feel happy or relaxed.

-- Faith

Explore these online links and extra resources!
Wellness Library Libguide
Popular Reading Section; CORE First Floor
CORE Fav's; Spotify Playlist
Emergency Links
Women's History Library Libguide

Additional Events/Campus Life:
LSSC Pop Up: Vulva Time
Pasa Study Hours
Anime Club Meetings
Danza Azteca

CSUEB Libraries Links
Instagram
Youtube
LinkTree

Easy Tips for Creating a Personal Budget, Register here
Instructor: Lee Adams
Tuesday, 4/18, 12:15pm-1:15pm
CORE Room 338, California Quail Room

This hands-on workshop will provide simple strategies to get your personal budget in line, including using Google Sheets to track your spending. Bring your own laptop, or use one of the Library's. Individuals who require accommodations for this event, please contact Accessibility Services by April 14, 2023. Email: as@csueastbay.edu | phone: 510-885-3868.

Career Research, Register here
Instructor: Sharon Radcliff
Wednesday, 4/19, 11am-12pm
Core Room 301, Great Horned Owl Room

Come learn about how to do research on careers, companies, and organizations. How to find and use self-assessment career tools, and do pre-interview research. Individuals who require accommodations for this event, please contact Accessibility Services by April 14, 2023. Email: as@csueastbay.edu | phone: 510-885-3868.

Sustainability-related Careers, Register here
Instructor: Sharon Radcliff
Thursday, 4/20, 3pm-4pm
On Zoom

Are you concerned about climate change and environmental justice issues? Come hear about the growing number of sustainability related careers, and how to promote sustainability within an organization.

For more information about Money Smart Week, see the related LibGuide: Money Smart Week by Lee Adams

Student Takeover Blog by Marlene Paiz, Library Student Ambassador

I never imagined that writing a book would take as long as my brother did when he wrote: "The Strikers of Coachella: A Rank-and-File History of the UFW Movement." I assumed it would just take 2 or 3 years, but it took about 12 years of hard work. Around 2018, my brother visited the family in Coachella, California, bringing with him 10 cuadernos, each of those notebooks was a chapter of the book, which he ultimately neglected to take back with him. He left his notebooks behind and gave me a fun task: he wanted me to snap photos of each of the 10 chapters and send them to him through email.

Fast forward to today, February 2023…
I was filled with joy when I learned that my brother, Dr.Christian Paiz, would be visiting CSUEB to give a talk about his newly published book, and I was even more thrilled to learn a few weeks later that he would be delivering the author talk at the CORE where I currently work as a Library Ambassador. My roommates and I attended the author talk, and as I listened to him talk about his book, all I could think of was how delighted I am for him, especially after having watched him go through the process of writing the book. His book tells the history of the United Farm Worker (UFW) Movement in the Coachella Valley. The UFW fought to improve working and living conditions for farmworkers in the 1960s to 1980s.

My roommate Aislyn mentioned that she "loved hearing how passionate Christian is about making the brave people who fought for a better life heard. There seems to be little else documented from this very important time period from the people's perspective, so his work is incredibly inspiring. I'm glad their perspectives were made known before time sweeps them away." My other roommate, Angie mentioned "Christian Paiz was a phenomenal speaker educating individuals of the history of Coachella Valley on the viewpoints of immigrant workers and the conditions they had faced while working. He brought their stories to life by illustrating the conditions they faced and displaying photos of different individuals portraying that everyone has a story. I was intrigued …since I still have family who are farm workers and still strive for better work conditions. I appreciate hearing his book and look forward to reading it soon." Personally, I was astonished to learn that my hometown, Coachella Valley, formerly had a town called "Araby," which has disappeared. I had no idea it existed, in part because no one in my area ever brings it up, but it made perfect sense to learn that the town's name had something to do with how it was founded.

As part of the Library Ambassador team, and to help promote Dr. Paiz's book talk on "The Strikers of Coachella: A Rank-and-File History of the UFW Movement," I helped put together an exhibit that was decorated with tissue paper flowers in the colors that represent the UFW (red, black) and Black History Month (red, black, green). Putting the display together about farm workers helps me share the stories of people I used to serve in my community of Coachella Valley. It helps me raise awareness and inform the CSUEB community about the struggles and ongoing fights for safer working conditions, secure housing, labor, legal services, health services, etc. and further recognize that without the labor of farm workers we would not be able to access the fruits and vegetables that we eat. This is an ongoing fight for labor rights. This feels good because I want to take care of my community. I was astonished to learn that the Black Panther Party had supported the UFW by participating in the boycotting and other support.

Check out the UFW/Black History Month Exhibit which highlights our campus library resources - print books, ebooks, and online archives related to the UFW, the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the Black Panther Party (BPP), the Young Lords Party (YLP), and the Brown Berets. As well as the DISC Black History Month book display (also on the first floor of the CORE Library). We have also included resources on social movements from the 1930s to 1950s that paved the way for the Black and Latinx social movements of the 1960s.

Come check out the exhibit on the CORE Library's 1st floor!!!