HEAT IGNITES IDEA
EDITOR’S LETTER
A NEW YEAR
Hot Hot Heat’s show inspires a deeper appreciation for live music. page 3
Introducing a new Features section.
The SDSU men’s soccer team kicks off the season.
dailyaztec the
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
w w w. T h e D a i l y A z t e c . c o m
Vol. 96, Issue 4
San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1913
INDEX
opinion ... 2
entertainment ... 3
page 4
page 6
TODAY @ STATE “Mark Twain: An American Original” Celebrating 40 Years of Women’s Studies
Tw i t t e r : T h e D a i l y A z t e c neighborhoods ... 4
sports ... 6
classifieds ... 7
backpage ... 8
Sorry everyone, you have to go to class CSU Chancellor Charles Reed decides not to reinstate furlough days SARAH GRIECO MANAGING EDITOR
After a year of professors struggling to make up for lost class time caused by statewide mandated furlough days, the policy has come to an end. Starting July 1, San Diego State faculty and staff were reinstated the nearly 10 percent previously cut from their salaries last year. The decision to eliminate furloughs came from the California State University Chancellor Dr. Charles B. Reed. During the first week of class, many SDSU students may have noticed that their syllabi and calendars contained no required class cancellations stating, “furlough day.” Billy Kang, an SDSU senior, says he thinks it’s bittersweet to see furlough days go. “I think it’s really great for the professors, because they are finally getting what they deserve,” Kang said. “But at the same time, it’s a bummer we won’t have those days off anymore.” Kang thinks ultimately, the elimination of furlough days is a win-win for SDSU students and faculty. “Professors are going to be happy they don’t have to take the cut anymore, and happy professors means we are going to get an even better education,” Kang said. Media Relations Manager Gina Jacobs said the resources were available this year to give regular compensation to the staff and faculty. “Everything went back to normal,” Jacobs said. Thanks to furlough days last semester, SDSU was allowed to keep some part-time lecturers and add course sections back into class schedules. “The remainder of the furlough savings helped mitigate the loss of jobs and protect
the university from future cuts or underfunding,” Jacobs said. However, SDSU is still being mindful of its fiscal situation and the university is currently only hiring essential positions, as well as cutting back in other areas such as travel expenses. Jacobs said SDSU will continue to advocate in Sacramento on behalf of the university and the CSU system to make sure the legislature knows the importance of higher education and why it is a good investment for the state. Correspondingly, Reed recently rejected Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s executive order insisting California employees take three furlough days per month.
“Professors are going to be happy they don’t have to take the cut anymore, and happy professors means we are going to get an even better education.” — Billy Kang, SDSU senior “We want to let CSU employees know that we have received confirmation from the State Controller’s Office that our employees’ compensation is not impacted by this order,” Reed said in a press release. When asked whether furlough days will be implemented should the economy decline, Jacobs said that decision resides with Reed. Several freshmen and transfer students were not even aware returning students had experienced a reduction in class time. When asked about furlough days, freshman students Lindsay Grossman and Hannah Connell asked, “What is that?”
CRIME BEAT Man with bayonet
Pick Pocket
Aug. 26 – Officers arrested a male student last Thursday who was seen on the second floor courtyard of the Student Services building, carrying a large knife. The student was arrested without incident for carrying a weapon. He had a sheathed bayonet strapped to his leg. The knife was confiscated and entered as evidence and the San Diego State Police Department is investigating the incident.
Aug. 25 – An SDSU graduate student was pick-pocketed while visiting Mexico. The items stolen from the student included keys, an SDSU parking permit, driver’s license and SDSU student ID card. Lt. Michael Frawley of the SDSU Police Department strongly suggests students visiting abroad be aware of their surroundings and make sure his or her property is secure to deter pick-pocketing.
Harassing phone calls
File Photo
Last year, faculty and staff experienced a 10 percent pay cut and mandatory furlough days. CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed eliminated furloughs for all CSU faculty and staff starting this school year.
Aug. 25 – A faculty member received a phone call last Wednesday morning from a disgruntled former student, who stated the faculty member was the reason the individual calling was not in college anymore. An incident report was taken as threatening phone calls such as these could result in misdemeanor.
Parole violation Aug. 25 – A man was stopped at approximately 2 a.m. after catching the attention of SDSU police. After officers stopped him, it was found that the man had an outstanding warrant for violating his parole. The man was arrested and transported to jail. —Compiled by Assistant News Editor, Sarah Kovash