Daily Titan April 6, 2011

Vol. 89 Issue 32

April 6, 2011

Mike Vitale puts his words to good use .................................................6

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Find out what your favorite candidates said during the debate at Dailytitan.com/ asidebate2011

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dailytitan.com The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

Elections Begin

The candidates for ASI president and vice president went head to head during a debate in a final push before elections begin today.

Concert to aid survivors CSUF and Fullerton College collaborate with a show to raise funds for Japan ANDREW KWOK Daily Titan

AISSA CANCHOLA - “We want students to be able to be involved with clubs and organizations...”

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Stand Up

NEWS Psychology Day helps guide students’ futures ........................................2 OPINION Facebook: Big Brother is watching you .......................................3 DETOUR Local band Goldenwest starts making waves in music ........................................6 SPORTS Senior gymnasts close out season at NCAA Regionals .......................................8

ONLINE

EXCLUSIVES dailytitan.com

ERIC NIU - “The main key for improving student life is communication.”

For full election coverage see page 4 and visit DailyTitan.com/asielections2011

Be Counted WHAT’S INSIDE

BRIAN MARTINEZ - “It’s about reaching out to students.”

A Japan benefit concert will be held by collaborating students from Cal State Fullerton and Fullerton College to raise funds, food and supplies for the disaster relief.

The concert will be held Sunday at the I.N.A. Mega Church at 417 S. Richman Ave. Proceeds from the event will be sent to food bank Second Harvest Japan.

“The reason why we chose this organization is because with such power houses like the Red Cross, the smaller ones that really need help are being overlooked,” said Anna Perdomo, coordinator of CSUF’s Japan Relief Effort.

Anywhere from 15 to 16 performers are scheduled to attend, including musical acts, poets and dancers. Among them are a Japanese dance company and a CSUF student who will be raffling her artwork, according to Perdomo and Chad Townsley, a student at Fullerton College. A presentation will be given by the president of Fullerton College, and the OC Food Truck will also be at the event, according to Willie Holmes Jr, an I.N.A. Mega Church member.

Coordinators will be accepting food, clothes, hygiene products and $5 donations.

See JAPAN, page 2

Scholarship helps cancer survivors

The American Cancer Society helps students who have been through cancer go to college

GABRIELLE ABUTOM Daily Titan

Young adult cancer survivors who desire to pursue a higher education but lack funding to do so can apply for the American Cancer Society’s Young Cancer Survivor Scholarship Program. California residents age 24 or younger who were diagnosed with cancer at 18 years or younger and are attending Cal State Fullerton may qualify.

College-bound or college-en-

ASI offers scholarships for students in organizations on and off campus.

Learn more at Dailytitan.com/ asischolarships2011

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rolled students who meet the requirements and are able to demonstrate financial need are eligible to apply. The program awards stipends of up to $7,500 per recipient per academic year for survivors’ educational expenses, according to Cancer.org. Receivers may use the scholarship for tuition, fees, books and supplies required for course instruction.

Joelle Kearny, 20, a business administration major, said the scholarship program has helped her drastically.

“When I was 13 I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the form of a bone tumor in my right leg,” said Kearny. “They replaced my knee and part of my femur with an internal prosthesis made out of titanium metal. Now my health is great and the scholarship program has given me the opportunity to attain an education that will help me with my future career. This program has given me the opportunity to share my story with others. It’s a very rewarding feeling.”

Since the program’s inception in 2000, more than $2 million have been raised to provide scholarships to almost 600 young cancer survivors.

Tara Hussey, 21, a nursing major diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2005, said without the scholarship program, she would not be the person she is today – the president of CSUF sorority Sigma Kappa.

See CANCER, page 2

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JONATHAN GIBBY / Daily Titan Titan junior second baseman went 2 for 3 and scored twice in CSUF’s come-from-behind victory Tuesday, producing a nine-run burst in the fourth inning.

Titans shred through the Waves, 13-3 CSUF baseball is now on a nine-game win streak after beating Pepperdine WESLEY RUSCHER Daily Titan

The No.12 Cal State Fullerton Titan baseball team improved its latest winning streak to nine in a row after crashing down on the visiting Pepperdine Waves 13-3 Tuesday at Goodwin Field.

Falling behind to the Waves 3-0 early in the game, the Titans exploded for nine runs in the fourth

inning and never looked back. In the fourth, the Titans sent 14 batters to the box and as a team hit for the cycle.

“I thought they responded tremendously well,” said Titan Head Coach Dave Serrano. “Early on in the season when we got down by some runs we panicked. We didn’t panic tonight, we stayed with ourselves.”

Pepperdine drew first blood against the Titans in the second inning. After a one-out double by

sophomore second baseman Joe Sever, back-to-back singles put the Waves up 1-0.

An error by Titan sophomore left fielder Carlos Lopez allowed both runners to advance into scoring position.

A deep sacrifice fly to center drove in the final Pepperdine run of the inning and the final run of the game for the Waves.

See TITANS, page 8

dailytitan.com

2

NEWS

April 6, 2011

CANCER: Scholarships for survivors who were diagnosed as children now have a chance to continue their education. Families affected by cancer of“I’ve been in remission now for ten face considerable hardship due to six years,” said Hussey. “Without this treatment and rehabilitation expenses. scholarship program, my family would Getting an education doesn’t have to not have been able to afford my college be hard.” tuition. Now I’m working toward beThe award stipulates that recipients coming a pediatric oncology nurse and are required to serve a minimum of 50 just celebrated volunteer hours my cancer-free for the Society birthday on my and are “expectactual birthday, ed to demonMarch 31.” strate behavior Those who were diagIlda Oroconsistent with peza, the comthe American nosed as children now munity mission Cancer Society have a chance to manager at Volunteer and the American Staff Code of continue their education.

Cancer Society Ethics.” VolunOrange County teer hours may -Ilda Oropeza Region, said she comprise of American Cancer Society encourages any anything rangOrange County eligible students ing from servto apply. ing as a Society “I think it’s spokesperson an outstanding to participating program that in fundraising really supports young cancer survivors events such as Relay for Life. and their families,” said Oropeza. “A Scholarship funding is limited to lot of cancer patients have to tap into undergraduate educational purposes their savings, and this scholarship only. money can really help them.

All applications must be completed I’ve seen firsthand how this program and received no later than April 18. changes people’s lives. We’re investing Applications are available at Cancer. in their future.” org/scholar. For more information “Science has advanced, people are contact Anna Edcomb at 510-464living longer,” Oropeza said. “Those 8221 or anna.edgcom@cancer.org. ...Continued from page 1

FOR THE RECORD

JAPAN: Fullerton schools unite to benefit victims of overseas disaster

It is the policy of the Daily Titan to correct any inaccurate information printed in the publication as soon as the error is discovered. Any incorrect information printed on the front page will result in a correction printed on the front page. Any incorrect information printed on any other page will be corrected on page 2. Errors on the Opinion page will be corrected on that page. Corrections also will be noted on the online version of the Daily Titan.

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LUCIO VILLA / Daily Titan The benefit concert for Japanese victims will be held at I.N.A Mega Church located on 417 S. Richman Ave. in Fullerton. Cal State Fullerton students are greatly encouraged to attend the concert and donate money, food and supplies. 15 to 16 Musicians, poets and dancers are scheduled to perform at the event.

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...Continued from page 1 “All the news right now is only covering the radiation; it’s not covering the disaster,” Perdomo said.

“People still need help … it’s not going to change any time soon.”

Perdomo lived and studied in Japan for 10 months.

“It’s such a beautiful culture; it’s

devastating to hear how many people have been affected,” Perdomo said.

Holmes, who is a part of the rap group Apso, organized the event with Townsley.

“It’s just something that you just can’t brush under the table or turn to the next channel; if it had been the San Andreas Fault, we would all have been in the same kind of mess,” said Townsley.

Townsley worked to organize a

benefit concert for Haiti and decided to do something similar for Japan.

“There’s no funding; it’s all volunteer work. That’s the beauty of it,” Townsley said. “Fullerton is not really doing anything, celebrities are not really doing anything – what can I give to those heartfelt people out in Japan who have given so much and received so little?”

CSUF’s Japan Relief Effort hopes to raise at least $1,000 to send to

Second Harvest Japan through the concert and other events happening on campus.

Members of Fullerton College’s own Japan Relief Effort have also expressed interest in contributing to the concert.

“We don’t push away anybody for not giving anything. If you want a good place to come on Sunday night, drop on by to I.N.A Mega Church,” Townsley said.

Psychology of immigration STEPHANIE GOMEZ Daily Titan

Psychology day helps students become more involved in the campus community With graduation fast approaching, the 17th Annual Psychology Day arrived just in time for psychology seniors worried about what to do with that fancy new degree.

Held Tuesday in the Titan Student Union, Psychology Day ran from 9 a.m to 2 p.m. and the theme was “Psychology of Immigration.”

“Today’s event is to show awareness of psychology and make contacts with different psychology students as well as give them information on keynote speakers that we have that come in from different areas to talk about psychology,” said Erin Cercelius, webmaster officer for Psi Chi National Honor Society.

Psi Chi and the Psychology Department Student Association collaborate together to organize and

execute the yearly event.

The PDSA is a resource for psychology students looking to get involved with community service.

“Mainly what we do is community outreach, that’s our goal,” said Donnelle Brown, the Inter-Club Council representative for PDSA. Plus it looks good on a resume, “having club involvement, community involvement, philanthropic involvement,” said Sarah Anderson, vice president of PDSA. The turnout was less than expected, with spring break and the sparse school budget being highlighted as contributing factors.

Anderson said people sometimes don’t have classes Monday and this event was on a Tuesday, so an extended spring break is what really decreased the numbers this year.

“If we had more funding for an event like this, which is our biggest event, we could make it better and bigger. I know last year we had funding from ICC to bring out keynote speakers. I believe if we had more funding we could make it bigger and better,” Brown said.

The students who did attend were able to hear firsthand advice from two different panels focusing on “What Can I Do With a Degree

in Psychology?” and “How to Get in/Through Graduate School?”

The last event of the day covered strategies for taking the Graduate Record Examination, an admission requirement for grad schools.

The two keynote speakers were not CSUF faculty or professors.

“We want to do something new and fresh, try to get people from different colleges,” Cercelius said.

JoAnn M. Farver from USC spoke on acculturation and the well-being of immigrant families and their children.

“I enjoyed learning about acculturation, which I never knew existed before Psychology Day, how different people come to America and how they deal with psychologically the change and culture,” Anderson said.

Manuel Casas from UC Santa

Barbara spoke about Latino immigration and the outcomes based on emotions and perceptions.

Anderson was very pleased with both presenters they had this year.

“The speakers are really interesting with the different topics they are talking about. They have done the research. They’re telling students about what research could be done in the future; I feel that it’s really informative,” Anderson said.

Anderson encouraged all students to come next year.

“It’s about having students be more aware of the different things you can do with a psychology degree, whether it is with a bachelor’s or with going on to graduate school, and also about the different research opportunities that are available once you decide to pursue that later in life.”

FOR THE RECORD March 22, 2011: In the article entitled “Raising Awareness for Breast Cancer,” the date of the club meeting was incorrectly published. Pink Ribbon Club will meet April 5 and April 19 in the Gillman AB in the Titan Student Union.

OPINION Never too old

April 6, 2011

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Video games aren’t just for kids—people of all ages are getting in on the action, too KRISSY PAINE For the Daily Titan

WILLIAM CAMARGO / Daily Titan Studying in a group with classmates or friends is an effective way to pass that rigorous class, especially when everyone involved puts forth the same amount of time and energy to excel.

More heads are better than one SARAH FERNANDEZ Daily Titan

Every student has his or her own method of studying.

Some love to study in groups while others prefer to be alone. It is a matter of preference.

Although it is up to the student to decide how he or she wants to study, it is sometimes more effective and beneficial to get a group of friends together to have a study night and go over some material.

Studies have even shown that group study sessions can lead to better grades.

There are many benefits to getting a study group together, but one of the main reasons is because it is more thought-provoking than studying by yourself.

It allows students to share their

ideas, get other points of view, as well as an opportunity to think out loud.

By doing these three simple things, students may be able to understand the material a lot better because it is being explained to them, thus allowing more communication to occur and having them think more deeply about the information.

According to the board of professors at CollegeBoard.com, there are five benefits to forming a study group.

The first is that it encourages students to take more notes. When we are alone and studying, we are much less likely to take good notes. When you are with other people, they may be able to help you when you are having trouble understanding the material.

The second benefit is that every student has something to offer to the group. Each person has different strengths they can contribute. One may have great memory skills while

another may be able to keep the group on track and not get distracted.

Socialization is a huge part of a study group. It is a lot more fun, but it is important not to get distracted.

There are many times when a study group will form and then absolutely no studying gets done. I know, I have been in that situation many times.

In a study group it is easier to cover more of the material rather than if you were by yourself. The more people you have in your study group, the more ground you can cover.

And last but not least, the fifth benefit that comes from forming a study group is the support system. Everyone in the group shares a common goal.

The goal is to succeed in whatever it is they are studying, whether it is a test or project. By sharing a goal, the group is more likely to offer their support to another member in the group.

The library is one of the best places to go study, especially for those who

Facebook: Keep it to yourself What you post reflects your true character—be careful who’s viewing HALEY OSTROWSKI For the Daily Titan

I think I speak for most of us when I say it is quite troublesome to see people are posting absurd status updates on Facebook regarding what kind of cereal they just ate, or that “Suzie just got a new phone and needs your numbers!”

Though these updates are generally harmless (unless you suffer physical pain from reading such nonsense, in which case I am truly sorry), many students don’t realize what they are posting online not only makes others worry about their mental health, but it can also get them killed, unemployed and leave them friendless.

Posting your address online along with your phone number and exact date of birth is just as bad as posting your Social Security number, the way I see it. It’s now easier than ever for predators to find us, so be careful what information you provide.

Sometimes our last names are enough to locate our place of employment or even where we live.

Google yourself and see what you find. From an employer’s view, do you think this person seems worthy of hire or is he/she just a plain hot mess? Would you befriend yourself or would you track yourself down and shake yourself silly for appear-

ing so ridiculous? Was it necessary to post that picture of yourself when you were “totally slizzered, man” during the party last Saturday night? I think we’re all guilty of a similar incident.

The Huffington Post offers plenty of stories on the topic of being “fired over Facebook,” including a Swiss woman who called out sick because she needed to spend time away from the computer and spent her time at home surfing Facebook. Needless to say, her employment was terminated.

A New England Patriots cheerleader was fired over a racy party photo on Facebook.

An English juror held a poll online asking her Facebook friends to weigh in on the case she was assigned to.

The list goes on.

We all want to be accepted among our peers. In order to accomplish this very important task, we need to learn what is on the minds of others our age and feed off the latest social trends. Facebook seems to be the most straightforward way to find out what is going on around us, keep up on the most exciting inanimate

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objects to take pictures of, or which lowest-calorie drink to pick up at Jamba Juice.

Let’s get real—our view of what matters in friendship has become distorted thanks to the virtual world of Facebook. On any given day, a girl I went to high school with is posting about how her ex-boyfriend is taking her back and a co-worker wants recommendations on alcoholic beverages to enjoy that night. When I let this new information sink in, my opinion of these people may change for better or worse regardless of the relationship I may have with them in person. The same goes for the way others think of me. The power of Facebook is greater than we think when it comes to keeping our friends close.

My recommendation to you is to stop and think about what you’re posting on Facebook. You can blame the privacy policy terms all you want, but you put your information out there in the first place and are really the only one to blame. Remember, no one wants to be killed, unemployed or friendless.

Happy Facebooking!

are easily distracted.

For those who stay on task when they study, it might be more fun to visit a local coffee shop or a small restaurant when you go hit the books with some friends.

When you study alone, it can be harder to concentrate because if you do end up getting off task, there is no one there to help you get back on track.

As I said before, it is a matter of preference. I still know people who absolutely hate studying in groups, and they just like to be alone.

Some people are, in fact, better off studying alone than in a group, depending on their attitude and how they approach other people.

Even though group studying is not for everyone, I do think it can sometimes be more effective. Not to say that you cannot be just as successful if you are alone, but I do think group sessions have more to offer.

I’m getting married in less than three months and instead of helping me with ordering decorations and picking out a cake cutter set, my 28-year-old fiance would rather play video games all day long.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand a lot of men wouldn’t be too interested in planning a wedding, but it goes to show there is no age limit to playing video games.

An Associated Press and AOL games poll found that “40 percent of American adults play games on a computer or a console.”

Key word: adults.

With today’s advanced technology in game consoles, such as the sensor remote for Nintendo’s Wii system, the age of an older player is only a number and not a reflection of how young they feel. Why is it that so many adults tend to spend countless hours staring at a computer screen or flat-screen TV for gaming entertainment? Many video game developers gear storylines and advertising toward children, yet adults end up shelling out up to 60 bucks per game for their own amusement. Nevertheless, video games create an escape from life’s problems and keep an adult feeling young by stimulating the mind and body.

One of the most recent and best examples of a person never being too old to play video games is the Nintendo Wii Sports. In 2007, news reports came out about elderly homes that used Wii consoles, not for the residents’ grandchildren, but for themselves.

The elderly can bowl, golf and even box without breaking a sweat -- or hip -- and be able to enjoy themselves and experience youthfulness again.

Mike Snider from USAToday.com wrote an article about residents of the Riderwood Retirement Community

in Silver Spring, Md., playing the Wii. A spokesman for Riderwood, Dan Dunne, told Snider, “The residents are organizing a Wii bowling league, and a Wii Olympics is in the works.

It truly is reflective of an active retirement community lifestyle.”

Video games are not only entertaining, but also a fantastic tool for any individual to express themselves in a way that is sometimes unrealistically possible. The most favored video games allow players to escape daily stresses and have a blast, sometimes literally.

According to Imagine Games Network’s Top 100 Games poll, the two most popular video games are Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Super Mario Bros, both classic games and a break from the norm.

When an adult denies that video games are highly entertaining and made only for children, that person is not allowing themselves an essential indulgence.

However, video games don’t have to be just an amusing way to pass time.

Steven Johnson, a columnist for DiscoverMagazine.com, compiled data in a piece explaining how adults playing video games is actually beneficial to their brain. He wrote, “A host of new studies suggest that video games build rather than diminish cognitive skills. Even a relatively simple tiling puzzle like Tetris has been shown to boost brainpower.”

There is also the Nintendo DS game, Brain Age, that tests the player’s brain with daily puzzles and math to help with memory and keeping the brain active.

As an Xbox 360 console owner myself, I know that playing video games is fun, relaxing, sometimes frustrating and a great way to keep my mind active.

My wedding date is quickly approaching and as I watch my fiance play his video games, I realize that it’s his way of unwinding and having a good time. Playing video games is a universally fun activity. With all the horrific news going on in the world, it doesn’t hurt to escape by blowing something up or unlocking a new level once in awhile.

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Be Counted

Choosing your next ASI student leaders I Voted

What about the debate stood out most to you?

“Some of the candidates were just trying to win students’ approval and others were stating their opinions and what they actually stood for.”

-Emily Highstreet

Debate

d a i l y t i t a n . c o m / a s i e l e c t i o n s 2 0 11

Daily Titan

ASI presidential and vice presidential candidates weigh in on the issues facing Cal State Fullerton

ERIC NIU

BRIAN MARTINEZ

Running for ASI President

Running for ASI President

Question #1

Question #2

What is your plan to advocate on behalf of the students, and how will you mobilize students on campus?

How do you plan on making students part of the decision-making process?

So whether this be through incorporating yourself within ASI and using the resources as Lobby Corps to go up to the state capitol and lobby your legislator, that’s a resource that we can provide to students, whether it be to empower student groups on campus to utilize the resources they have to mobilize and to empower and advocate on behalf of their individual causes.

The ASI as an organization should be there for them as well. In forms of advocacy as well, we need to be able to have student leaders that know how to advocate on behalf of students in the face of administration. This administration, it means having partnerships but being able to stand up to them and to not compromise and make sure students come first.

Communication is key to being an adequate meter to making sure that you know the needs of your fellow students. One of the best ways to increase those lines of communication is to have more open forums, to make sure your student leaders aren’t only coming to you when they need you to vote for them. To increase the lines of communication is to make the executive offices approachable and more inviting. Students need to be able to reflect their concerns and frustrations with their student leadership to make sure “we” know what’s going on.

So speaking of advocacy, it’s basically representation. The reason to come to Fullerton is to have a good, affordable education, and due to the budget cuts and economic crisis it has definitely had impact on us as students. What we’re going to do to is to tell legislators what the students think about it and how it impacts us.

VP Candidate Jay Jefferson: It’s important that we are mobilizing students on campus. More importantly, we need to work with campus organizations, making sure we are communicating effectively with the student population. We need a student government that is going to stand behind the students to move forward to bring change.

“(ASI) plays an important role in education. I believe as a school community, students should be more involved in what is going on with this.”

-Richard Wright

KEITH COUSINS

MARK SAMALA / Daily Titan ASI Elections Commissioner Dominick Prieto moderates the debate between ASI presidental and VP hopefuls.

AISSA CANCHOLA

“The candidates seem to be very passionate about what they’re talking about.

I’m not really into student politics, but it’s good to see them trying to better the campus.”

-Markese Freeman

The Great Pizza Debate 2011

Breakdown

Running for ASI President

“All the candidates were willing to do something about the parking problems on campus and they were willing to give up their parking privilages.”

-Narine Mehrabian

DTCOMMENTARY

VP Candidate Taylor Edwards: Right now events on campus aren’t very marketable, I believe. I believe students need to get more involved, we need to make stuff more available to students and let them know about it so that way their voice can be heard. We’re looking for student input on just about everything, whether it comes to ASI events because everyone here pays an ASI fee in their tuition fees, and I feel ASI events need to be more catered to the students, that way their voice is heard more and what they want is actually represented through us.

I think the key for us to improve communication is we have to realize in ASI that it doesn’t matter what I think, doesn’t matter what ASI thinks. What matters is what students think. ASI should be willing to take criticisms. First, we have to listen to students’ opinions, we have to market ourselves through the resources we have.

I feel like a lot of students on campus, they don’t even know how their voice can be heard. As a student leader I feel we should market ourselves more, be a lot more approachable, put ourselves out on campus more, have a lot more Q-and-A events and have good connections with faculty.

d e t o II V

Vo te

d d e t o IV

It’s election season once again at Cal State Fullerton and it seems as though if the mantra of “Vote or Die” carried any real weight to it, we would have a lot of dead Titans. Or at least that is what it felt like walking to the Quad, where the presidential and vice presidential candidates engaged in a debate.

The debate was moderated by, wait for it… ASI Elections Commissioner Dominick Prieto, because apparently he is the most impartial person for such a job.

It’s not like the school has a debate team or anything like that.

Presidential hopeful Brian Martinez made his opening statement to an underwhelming crowd of students. With that in mind, he stressed an increase of communication between ASI and students.

“Half the people on campus don’t even know this debate is going on,” said Martinez.

The only way it seemed people did know something was going on was the smell of sweet, greasy pizza, given for “free” to those in attendance. Notice the word free is in quotes – yep, those student fees we pay every year bought that supposedly free lunch.

Although my internal debate centered on the ethical dilemma of eating the provided pizza - my stomach won by the way - the debate going on onstage had all the trappings of something you would see higher up in government.

Key words like “change,” “communication,” “track record.”

I’ve heard this before. Is there some sort of assembly line that spawns politicians?

This is not to say there weren’t some moments that stood out over the course of the hour-long debate.

For starters, Team Rugby, formally known as Brian Martinez and Taylor Edwards, stood out as a genuine dark horse in the election. The way the two candidates

spoke made me think they had nothing to lose – but at the same time, they seemed to be the most unprepared.

Take, for example, Edwards’ response to the very relevant question posed by a student.

Essentially, the student said everyone running just looked like politicians and why would he ever trust them.

The response by Edwards?

“I’m not going to sit up here and bullshit you…”

That is just what the debate needed – a tendency to stray away from the stereotypical answers and a genuine response to the concerns of students at CSUF. Aissa Canchola had the look and demeanor of someone who had already won the election.

Someone in the crowd commented that maybe she already had.

But she was not above taking jabs at other candidates. At one point in the debate, Canchola commented, “I haven’t quit my positions,” in a blatantly obvious jab at Jay Jefferson, who resigned his post as ASI elections commissioner to run for VP. Jefferson also made a very interesting comment during the debate, calling out the administration for not being passionate about the students who attend CSUF. As the debate, and many 11:30 classes, came to a close, the crowd grew and the candidates grew more and more passionate in their campaigning.

But it was still all about the pizza. “I wonder if we can get multiple slices?” said one student.

It was indeed possible to get multiple slices - yours truly had two - and at the end of the debate it still seems as though everything is up in the air.

P Diddy and other celebrities aren’t around to make you vote, but vote anyway.

S e r i o u s l y, right now, go vote.

DTCOMMENTARY Performances range in quality PETER CORNETT Daily Titan

“I’ve noticed that every student wants something different for themselves, so we need to go out there and get that from them.”

Huh?! The confusing and vapid statements put forward by Associated Students Inc. vice presidential candidate Taylor Edwards were some of the strangest parts of the ASI Candidate Debate Tuesday. The performances by other candidates were less strange, ranging from totally lackluster to stunningly poignant.

Eric Niu and Jay Jefferson’s campaign had, by far, the strongest showing. Aissa Canchola and Megan Martinez came in second.

The performances of Brian Martinez and Taylor Edwards trailed at a distant third, appearing inexcusably unprepared and uninformed.

Aissa Canchola was the most outspoken presidential candidate in the panel and put forward rehearsed arguments and information at nearly every opportunity.

This team seemed to have a strong understanding of the issues and made a few powerful statements

on student advocacy. Canchola made repeated (but effective) appeals for making the campus more environmentally friendly.

The strongest performance came from presidential candidate Eric Niu and vice presidential candidate Jay Jefferson. Both of these individuals appeared informed, in command of the issues and genuine. Vice presidential candidate Jay Jefferson was the most impressive individual candidate at the debate. At one point during the event, he stood up and passionately made an argument, stating with perfect diction, “We don’t have an administration that cares.”

Responding to questions asked by the moderator and audience, Niu’s campaign hammered home their desire and passion for serving the students, Canchola’s campaign highlighted their extensive experience in leadership positions and the Martinez campaign fumbled ineffectually through their answers.

A PARKING

FULLERTON ARBORETUM

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MARK SAMALA / Daily Titan

CORPORATION DR.

Where to Vote (Official Polling Locations) DORM EXPANSION (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)

GYMNASIUM DRIVE

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Official Polling Location

I PARKING

“I don’t know what ASI does. I’ve seen posters about ASI, but I still don’t know who they are or what they do.”

-Deante Owens

CLAYES Official Polling Location

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E PARKING

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I Voted

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Election Rules ASI has created guidelines for the voting process

Polling Stations -Election staff must maintain an impartial attitude and cannot campaign in the election they are working at.

-Active campaigning may not be conducted within 50 feet of a polling station. Campaigning activities may not block the entrance to buildings.

Voting -Students may cast a single ballot within the academic college they are eligible to vote in.

Campaigning -Candidates and their supporters will use the highest standard of ethics when campaigning and discussing other candidates.

-A candidate or candidate’s team is not allowed to use personal computers to acquire votes from students.

Campaign Materials -No campaign material shall be posted in any campus computer lab.

How to Vote COLLEGE PARK

Follow these easy steps to cast your vote in the 2011 ASI Elections

I Voted Students can vote at any of the six polling stations on campus or online Wednesday April 6 and Thursday April 7.

-Five of the polling stations on campus will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the polling station located next to the TSU will be open until 8 p.m. Refer to the map above for their locations.

-Students may only cast one ballot for president and vice president and a Board of Director representative from their respective college.

-No food, beverage, tobacco or tobacco-related product shall be used to promote a candidate, with the exception of prepackaged snacks and bottled water.

-Candidate profiles and information can be found at Fullerton.edu/ asielection/apr2011/

-All ASI candidates are required to sign an ASI Conflict of Interest agreement prior to running in an election.

-No support may be solicited from candidates or issues from the faculty, staff, administration or non-student employees of the university.

If You Witness a Violation -Complaints against the elections commissioner, elections staff, elections commission members or the election process shall be filed in writing with the ASI Board of Directors.

“I don’t know what it is.

I know it’s like a student government. I heard it’s like the ASB of college. It’s just really not my kind of thing.”

-Devin Meyers

-Students can vote online at Vote.Fullerton.edu

-No campaign materials shall contain the name of any person without prior written consent of that individual. Any materials in violation will be seized and destroyed by the elections commissioner.

Conflict of Interest

“For me, they helped fund me to a conference in Nevada, so they helped me give back to the students, they give money to various associations and help with student life.”

-Rosie Jimenez

“(It’s important to know about ASI) so you could take advantage of all of the opportunities they have to offer and help out with big loans and the cafeteria as well.”

-Devon Hernandez

d a i l y t i t a n . c o m / a s i e l e c t i o n s 2 0 11

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6

DETOUR

April 6, 2011

Local band is golden

Book Dreadfully Ever After The newest installment in the PPZ series

California natives Goldenwest bring a fresh sound to the music scene

RACHEL DAVID Daily Titan

SABRINA PARK Daily Titan

Coming from behind a pleasant home in Lomita, Calif., explosions of different melodies harmoniously resonate together all the way to the street.

Inside, music equipment overflows a large room—Marshall, Behringer, Hafler and Morley brands advertise themselves on 5-foot speakers, pad controllers, mixers and keyboards.

A clear drum set sits on a zebra and cheetah-patterned rug, while clothes look as if they have been recurrently tossed inside the transparent kick drum.

This is the band Goldenwest’s recording studio, area of inspiration, and every now and then, where they sleep.

In between songs at rehearsal for the Texas Music Festival and SXSW, Colin Baylen, Shaun Profeta and Wes Smith take several breaks to talk about their band.

Smith met his fellow bandmates two summers ago at a show when his band Close But Not Quite performed at the same venue as Baylen and Profeta’s band – A Cursive Memory.

According to Baylen, when he and Profeta heard Smith perform, they immediately recognized his talent and decided to message him on Facebook to see if he was interested in collaborating with them.

“We liked his style,” said Baylen.

“I sent him three tracks and soon enough we were working in the studio.”

Hence, they formed Goldenwest with Smith rapping on the mic, Profeta on the drums and Baylen producing while on the electric guitar and keyboard. Both Profeta and Baylen also sing background vocals.

“Goldenwest is definitely on to something special. To see two bands from completely different backgrounds – A Cursive Memory (and) Close But Not Quite – fuse together and mesh so well is unreal,” said Richard Contreras, a friend.

“Wes’ uncanny lyrical ability mixed with Colin and Shaun’s infectiously catchy rhythms make for an undeniable musical force.”

All three band members equally contribute to the electric/hip-hop tunes, with Smith contributing considerably by acting as the band’s source of energy.

Throughout the entire Goldenwest rehearsal, held in Profeta’s home, Smith maintains his liveli-

Courtesy of Goldenwest The band has been playing together for only a year, but has already began to make waves in the music scene, thanks in large part to their booking agent. They have performed in Las Vegas and Cancun and will be performing at the Troubadour later this month in Los Angeles.

ness using fancy footwork, which includes jumping up and down with vigor. In between lyrics, Smith hypes a non-existent crowd by confidently talking into a microphone that he holds like a wine glass, cupping the “stem” of the microphone between his middle and ring fingers.

As Smith passionately and fervently articulates verse after verse into the microphone, Baylen skillfully multi-tasks between three instruments and Profeta wholeheartedly beats the drums with a refined expertise.

“They have really fresh sound, and they’re able to blend a lot of different styles together and make it work and appeal to a lot of different people,” said Spencer Riley Alfonso, a friend and fellow musician.

When talking about the music and who writes the lyrics, Smith said, “It’s 100 percent the three of us.”

Profeta said everything is an inspiration for the lyrics in their songs, saying, “I think everything (inspires us). I think that’s what’s awesome about Goldenwest; it’s about who we are and where we’re from.”

Baylen said making the music was inspirational in and of itself, saying, “We all just love music— bottom line.”

The EP, released March 22 on iTunes, Amazon and for free on the official Goldenwest website, includes seven songs: “Always A Party,” “Evaporate,” “Californicate,”

“Through My Eyes,” “Talkin’,” “Don’t Stop (Sun Drop)” and “Superfuturelove.”

According to Smith, the songs were written seven months prior to the release of their EP. Goldenwest’s song “Don’t Stop (Sun Drop)” has recently been featured as the Real World: Las Vegas theme song.

With a lasting smile on his face, Smith excitedly describes the premiere party for the popular TV show and how Goldenwest got to perform live in a penthouse suite at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas.

Dave Stone, vice president of music at Bunim-Murray who has known Baylen and Profeta since their previous band, gave Goldenwest the opportunity to have their music featured as the Real World theme song. “(Stone) heard our stuff, came out to a show and liked it,” Profeta said.

Profeta maintained that their lives revolve around the music, saying, “We’re just full-time musicians, slummin’ it.”

Smith expanded on the topic, saying, “(To) live creatively - to be able to do what you want and survive - if I can support myself and make music, that’s all I can really ask for.”

Though Goldenwest is only a year old, the band has made significant progress playing shows with the help of their booking agent, Gabe Apodaca.

The band has performed at The

Artist Idiosyncrasies by Mike Vitale Well-known OC artist Mike Vitale impresses fans with his poetic lyrics KACIE YOSHIDA Daily Titan

Emerging from Cal State Fullerton, alumnus Mike Vitale has become a veteran in the Orange County music scene.

With one full-length album as well as an EP that was released in early 2010, Vitale’s style of music is continually evolving with each song he writes.

Idiosyncrasies (2007), a 12-song acoustic album, showcases Vitale’s most private moments.

Produced by a slew of notable musicians and sound engineers, the album never falters and keeps listeners wanting more as Vitale seems to follow an intimate relationship from beginning to an unforeseeable end.

The acoustic guitar on the first track, titled “The Only One I Need,” pumps the microphone to a mere peak as the vocals soar over the arrangement with ease. The song tells a story of irresistible attraction between two people and quickly bleeds into the next song, “All The Reasons I Fell In Love With Her.” Following the theme of relationships, Idiosyncrasies is an emotional roller coaster that travels from exuberant love to drowning sorrow as the song “Last Night” repeatedly sings the words, “Saying I love you seems so cruel just

because it’s comfortable to you.

Why did you kiss our love goodbye on someone else’s lips last night?”

Vitale simply has a knack for writing songs that illustrate emotions very well.

When Vitale sings “On My Knees,” the album finally sees its purpose.

The alternately tuned song gracefully builds to a rich ballad that emphasizes Vitale’s pure and strong vocals with a beautiful, underlying strings arrangement.

At the climax of the song, he begs, “Please, I’m on my knees” in a way that is not whiny or cheesy, but heartfelt and easily relatable to anyone who has been in love.

“On My Knees,” the only song on the album recorded by wellrespected Orange County musician and sound engineer Marcus McMillian, is an all-star performance with perfect lyrics, melodies, strings, acoustic guitar and vocals. The song becomes more of a soundtrack to a story as listeners see in their minds the song vividly unfold. “On My Knees” easily reveals Vitale’s mastery of music and writing.

As an English major at CSUF, Vitale challenged his skills with poetry classes. And while currently Vitale is a full-time musician, his English degree has acted as icing on the cake with music.

The ninth track on Idiosyncrasies, titled “The Grocery Store

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Clerk,” is written in the perspective of a middle-aged woman attracted to a young grocery store clerk.

The cleverly crafted song makes Vitale a lyrical genius as he sings, “He hasn’t a clue what I have to go through every time he’s near me.

I wish to concede but my mind always lingers on the ring around my finger.”

Currently, Vitale is working on his third album with music that emphasises storytelling while taking a step back from emotionally wrenching songs.

Although a release date has not been announced, the album is reminiscent of childhood with songs titled “Recess” and “Latchkey Kid.” Another song expected to appear on the new album is “That Sheep and Those Sheep,” an interesting take on politics using the analogy of black and white sheep.

And while Vitale has been pleasuring fans with well-written songs at his weekly show at McClain’s Coffee House and Java Jean Bar, fans can only hope he will soon introduce another emotionally evasive song about heartache to appear on the next album.

To hear Mike Vitale’s songs up close and personal, he will be playing at Java Jean Bar in Anaheim Hills Thursday at 8 p.m.

Go to MikeVitaleMusic.com for music, show dates and blog entries.

City in Cancun, Mexico, the Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa, the Real World Suite at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, various house parties and most recently, at SXSW. “The progress and feats that Goldenwest have accomplished in the little time that they’ve been at it is remarkable. And with the way things are shaping up, it’s safe to say this is their summer,” Contreras said.

They will be performing at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, Calif.

April 22. Tickets are $15 each and can be purchased on their Facebook (Facebook.com/goldenwestmusic) or on their official website (GoldenwestMusic.com

Rampaging dreadfuls, blackmasked ninjas and cannibals, oh my! These are just some of the horrific wonders that await you in Steve Hockensmith’s recent work Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After, the most recent installment in the well-known trilogy based on the works of Jane Austen. There’s something for everyone in this Victorian monster-romance hybrid trilogy: romance for the hopelessly in love and guts and bowels for the sane individuals.

Hockensmith, an entertainment reporter turned novelist, is an awardwinning author whose short fiction can be found in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, the Sherlock Homes in America anthology, among other publications. With his most recent work, the author establishes himself as a talented satirist.

Dreadfully Ever After is the third and final novel in the Austen monster-mash-up series. After Seth Grahame-Smith’s New York Times bestselling novel hypnotized audiences, Philadelphia-based publishing house Quirk Books released a prequel, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls.

The final installment, picks up soon after Darcy and Elizabeth’s wedding. The work continues on with an engaging mix of comedy, gore and Victorian pretension initially developed in the mash-up of Jane Austen’s work and horror pioneered in Grahame-Smith’s novel Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

The third installment of the monster-mash-up trilogy revolves around martial art and sword-wielding gurus Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy defending their village against an army of zombies, often referred to as “unmentionables” or “dreadful,” in the assumed tongue of the times.

Things take a turn for the worst for

our intrepid master zombie beheaders after Mr. Darcy is bit by an unmentionable, leaving Elizabeth with the difficult decision of chopping off her husband’s head and burning his body or letting him turn into one of the undead.

Not exactly your typical first-fewyears-of-marriage issues that most newlyweds have to deal with. However, the situation brightens as Lizzy soon learns of a cure being created in London that has the potential to save her beloved from living an eternal life as a rotting, shambling husk of his former self.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After contains more descriptions of the killing of zombies and the overall invasion of the dreadfuls than Grahame-Smith’s Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which is more than likely due to the fact that the first installment involved inserting zombie scenes throughout Austen’s original work, whereas Hockensmith had to write a complete, original Victorian work clad with zombies.

For example, when describing a particular scene about a hand-springing ninja, Hockensmith inserts his lengthy descriptions, “At the apex of his flight, he pulled a katana from a back-scabbard hidden beneath his cutaway coat, and as he fell back to earth the blade bit into the dreadful’s head.” This gives the work a freer flow while maintaining the irony the first was known for.

Scattered throughout the novel are 15 illustrations of events happening in the book ranging from the maiming of zombies with the feisty caption, “She sent the top of the parasol spinning through the air to remove as many limbs as it might!” to a romantic embrace and liplock with the gruesome caption below, typical for these monster mash-ups, “It was heaven...even if she was standing in the spilled innards of a disemboweled dreadful.”

The tension between these two tones makes Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After a wonderful read. To see a trailer for the book check out QuirkClassics.com.

7

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2 9 1 7 5 3

4 8 6 3 9 1

9 2 5 4 6 7

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8

9 8 3 4 5 2 6 7 1 4 6 2 7 9 1 8 5 3 Daily Sudoku: Mon 4-Oct-2010

2 8 5 8 2 5 2 4 7 6 5

9 8

4 6 5 4 3 9 7 1

8 3 2

How To Play: Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9: and each set of boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

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Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) If you want to get it all done today, work smartly and avoid side conversations.

Others are willing to chat, but you need to focus. Catch up later.

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8 3 7 9 4 6

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) How to manage time and abundant tasks? Talk over your plan with a key individual, making adjustments where necessary. Delegate and charge into action.

3

4 6 5 4 3 4 2 6 7 8

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You fall in love with a new assignment. It’s different from what you’d expected, but challenges your imagination and allows independent thinking. Enjoy.

7 1

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Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Surprises at home require adjustment to your social schedule. You won’t miss out on anything, but careful planning becomes essential.

This could be fun.

9 8 2 8 5 8 2 5 2 4 7 6

6 1 8 5 2 9

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) You get more done today working from home. Use the travel time you save to create harmony and to complete artistic family projects.

8 5 3 8 9 3 9 2

5 7 9 8 1 4

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) You’re itching to break out of the shell around you. Don’t allow boredom to dictate outrageous actions. Picture the final outcome of your decisions.

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1

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Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Associates begin on a different track, but, by day’s end, you’re all together with the plan. Apply fresh data to make this happen. Don’t force it, just adjust.

5

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1 6 3 2 8 5

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Someone dumps their feelings, and you pick up the pieces. Combine compassion with diplomacy. Be sure you understand the problems before undertaking solutions.

3 4

easy

Cancer (June 22-July 22) Monday isn’t usually your most glamorous day, but today you find yourself imagining stardom and then grasping it. Let your enthusiasm carry you.

9

7 9 6 3 1 5 4 2 8

Gemini (May 21-June 21) Act independently today. Yet infuse every decision with compassion. Times may be tough for some colleagues. Stand ready to help them out.

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Taurus (April 20-May 20) Group energy is essential today. Everyone’s feelings could get in the way, if you don’t pay attention. Manage social interactions compassionately.

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Aries (March 21-April 19) You may feel that you’ve been around this bush already this month. Maybe you have. Now you understand the problem in a big way.

You choose a new direction.

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8

SPORTS

April 6, 2011

TITAN

SPOTLIGHT:

Ari Cervantes

JOHNNY LE / Daily Titan Titan senior right-hander Ari Cervantes pitched two complete games allowing only one run, seven hits, while striking out 11 in 14 innings.

JONATHAN GIBBY / Daily Titan Sophomore left fielder Carlos Lopez crosses home plate and high fives his teammates after his three-run blast over the right-field wall. The Titans showered the Waves with nine runs in the fourth.

TITANS: Baseball cuts back through the Waves with comfort at the plate ...Continued from page 1 The Waves added one more run in the fourth inning. With one out the Waves executed a perfect hitand-run play to put runners on the corners. The Titans almost escaped the inning unscathed when the Waves’ redshirt junior third baseman Miles Silverstein hit a tough grounder to short, but the Titans were unable to turn the inning-ending double play, instead allowing the Waves to add another run for the 3-0 lead.

Two straight walks to start the bottom half of the fourth got the Titan offense rolling against the

Waves. After a sacrifice bunt by freshman right fielder Michael Lorenzen pushed each runner 90 feet, Lopez erased the Wave lead with one swing of the bat.

Working the count to his favor, Lopez crushed the game-tying homer, his first of the season, off the banners above the right-field fence.

“The at-bat before he had me, he kept coming in,” said Lopez, referring to the Waves’ starting pitcher, sophomore southpaw Alex Najera. “The next at-bat I knew he was going to try to do it again. I was just trying to get on top of a ball and hit a line drive. I got the pitch I wanted to hit and I hit it.”

After the Lopez homer, nine straight Titans reached base safely, totaling another six runs. Sophomore shortstop Richy Pedroza tripled in three more Titans with the bases loaded to extend the lead to 6-3.

“I was just being really aggressive, hunting for the fastball,” said Pedroza. “He threw me something right in the middle of the plate and I just tried to drive it and found the hole in the outfield.”

Junior designated hitter Tyler Pill doubled to right field to drive in Pedroza and in his second at-bat of the inning, Lopez drove in his fourth and fifth RBIs of the inning with a bases-loaded single to left.

Seniors close out season at NCAA

Titan senior all-around specialist Shelly Cooper totaled a 38.275 that was good enough for 15th place in the postseason.

Baker ends with 38.550 for 10th place and Cooper scores 38.275 for 15th JESSICA Mc COY Daily Titan

Despite midterms, budget cuts, injuries and illness, the mighty Titan gymnastics saw no fear and stood tall through adversity. Battling it out with 14 other top athletes from around the country, two Titans stood strong against their opponents for a chance to take the title in the all-around competition.

Cal State Fullerton senior gymnasts Alaina Baker and Shelly Cooper competed and finished strong at the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Regionals Saturday at Oregon State in Corvallis, Ore. Baker placed 10th in the allaround event with a score of 38.550. Baker has made to it Regionals each season of competing for the Titans.

She was able to hammer out a 9.875 finish on floor, her best performance of the night, in a tie for fifth. Her 9.750 performance on vault was good enough to tie for 17th place. She felt the pressure hit her a little hard on bars, posting her second lowest score of the season with 9.325, but she saved herself with a stellar performance on beam with a 9.600.

“I was excited that I made it and I was able to compete. It was really fun to be my last year,” said Baker

Photographs By DANIEL ENOS / For the Daily Titan Titan senior all-around specialist Alaina Baker posted a score of 38.550 at the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Regionals Saturday at Oregon State for 10th place.

of her final year of performing for CSUF. Titan Head Coach Jill Hicks offered advice to Baker, and Baker knew what she had to do.

“Coach told me to give my all and that I had nothing to lose and to go out there and have fun, to compete, not stress and enjoy the sport,” Baker said.

Out of Cooper’s collegiate career in gymnastics, this was her first time competing in postseason play.

“I felt that I did really good, and it was nice to go out there and finish my senior year with making it to Regionals,” said Cooper.

Cooper finished with a combined total of 38.275, a half point off her career high that she set during the Western Athletic Conference Championships March 19, and she broke the 38-point marker for the sixth consecutive meet. She posted her second-highest score of the season on floor with a 9.775 to tie for 25th, 9.625 on vault, 9.475 on bars and 9.400 on beam.

“Up to the meeting I prayed a lot because I wanted to use my talents

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for a bigger purpose. I did it for God and no matter what the outcome was, I was satisfied because I knew what I had to do,” Cooper said.

With this being both Baker and Cooper’s last year competing, Cooper said, “Alaina did very well. I knew she wanted to make it to Nationals, but overall I thought she did really well.”

First place for the all-around event went to junior Leslie Mak from Oregon State with a score of 39.475. Following behind with second and third were seniors Rebecca Simbhudas with a score of 39.325 and Houry Gebeshian with a score of 39.300, both from the University of Iowa.

Hicks was extremely proud of her athletes.

“Both of the girls competed their routines. Overall, the ladies did a great job. It is harder to compete as an individual because you are used to your team support, but both of them handled the pressure and represented Fullerton well. I’m so proud of them,” said Hicks.

The Titans added another two runs in the fifth off three straight singles and a wild pitch by Pepperdine reliever freshman Michael Swanner.

A combination of aggressive Titan base-running, poor pitching from the Waves and some sloppy defense afforded the Titans with two more runs in the sixth, stretching the lead to 13-3.

Next up for the hot-streaking Titans are conference rivals, the UC Irvine Anteaters Friday at 7 p.m. at Goodwin Field. UCI is currently on a five-game win streak as the Titans look to keep their Big West record perfect in the three-game home series.

An ace in the circle tops the charts and earns Big West Pitcher of the Week SARAH FERNANDEZ Daily Titan

Cal State Fullerton softball senior Ari Cervantes was named to share the honorary title of Big West Pitcher of the Week March 28 after her stellar victories against Ohio and Cal State Bakersfield.

“I was really surprised and very excited,” said Cervantes. “It is a big honor, and it is my second time getting it. In previous years I have only won it once before, and that was during my sophomore year.”

Referring to her most recent three-game series against UC Santa Barbara this past weekend, Cervantes said, “Santa Barbara was a little more of a challenge because they have a better team this year.

I still felt confident going into the game though.”

Cervantes plans on continuing the rest of the season by working her hardest and strives to be better.

“We do have the rest of our conference games that are coming up. We have Riverside this weekend, and I’m just going to focus on that three-game series. I just plan on finishing this season strong,” Cervantes said.

Overall for Big West play, Cervantes is 1-1 in two complete games, 16.1 innings and eight strikeouts with a 1.71 ERA in three appearances.

Her dedication to her team and to her work is inspiring, and she continues to do the best that she can. She puts her all into what she does, and she will continue to do so.