INSIDE: Frida Kahlo
Annual exhibit opens in Long Beach, page 5
OPINION: The Devils Advocate takes sides on university reactions to H1N1, page 8 SPORTS: Potential of a ‘Freeway’ World Series is analyzed, page 12
Since 1960 Volume 85, Issue 3
Tuesday September, 8, 2009
The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton
State fires spark awareness By Maureen Fox
Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com
By Ron Fu/Daily Titan Staff Photographer (Above) A fire helicopter provides a water drop near homes on Skyland Road in Sunland on Sunday, Aug. 30. (Below) Members of the Tatanka Hot Shots watch as the fire approaches homes in Sunland on Sunday, Aug. 30. Helicopter water drops kept the fire from burning the homes.
The sun glows red behind a haze of smoke. Pepper-like ash dusts the tops of cars and rooftops. Thick plumes of smoke hover in the distance. Once again, Southern California is on fire, but Cal State Fullerton is safe from the 12 fires firefighters have battled since Aug. 26, two of which still rage in the foothills of Los Angeles and nearby counties. Although CSUF is not directly threatened by this year’s wildfires, campus personnel are closely monitoring the situation and are prepared to handle a fire emergency if the situation changes. Most of the fires have been put out, but the fiercest blaze, known as the Station Fire, continues to burn northwest of Los Angeles County and in the San Gabriel Wilderness area. The Station Fire, which authorities classified as arson, has claimed 157,220 acres, 78 homes and two firefighters’ lives. On Sept. 7, the U.S. Forest Service said the Station Fire is 56 percent contained and will be fully contained by Sept. 15. Despite the ferocity of this year’s firestorm, CSUF is safely out of harm’s way. Tom Whitfield, director of Environmental Health & Instructional Safety, said the fires look much closer to CSUF than they actually are. “Most of the winds are from the east and west and (the fires) are north, so it would take a big shift in the wind to come down in our area,” Whitfield said. “We are too far away, and it’s being blown in other directions.” CSUF and its surrounding properties have never suffered direct damage from wildfires. The Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary, a 12-acre preserve operated by the College of Natural Science and Mathematics, was surrounded by flames during last year’s fires but did
not burn. Irvine campus closed for one day two years ago due to smoke, but the main campus has never been shut down due to poor air quality or risk of fire. The wildfires have produced visible amounts of ash and smoke, but the Environmental Health & Instruction- visal Safety department has determined i b i l the air around the university is safe to ity in miles. Air quality on t h e breathe. Scott Bourdon, associate director of AQMD scale ranges from good to Environmental Health & Instructional hazardous. “We are what’s called moderate Safety, monitors the air quality around the campus each morning by measur- according to AQMD,” Bourdon said, regarding the particulate matter meaing particulate matter levels. “Every day we get updates from the surements on Sept. 3. But Bourdon Air Quality Management District, and said that was most likely due to smog they project the air quality,” Bourdon than to smoke. When Bourdon took the readings, said. The Air Quality Management CSUF was borderline good-moderate. Bourdon said District, or AQMD lists AQMD, is the CSUF in the air pollution Smoke Safety Tips moderate range control agency because it is part for Orange, • Stay Indoors - Choose inof the entire Los Angeles, door options when air pollution North Orange Riverside and levels are unhealthful. Keep your County region, San Bernardino windows and doors closed. Set your which is listed as counties. They air conditioning system on recircumoderate for the manage emislation mode, if available. next few days. sions from sta• Reduce Outdoor Activity Daily forecasts tionary sources Limit your involvement in outdoor are available by of pollution and activities and events that require visiting www. provide daily prolonged exposure and strenuous aqmd.gov. forecasts of air exercise or sports participation. When the quality. CSUF • Stay Alert - Listen to your loIrvine campus uses their forecal news and weather forecasts and closed for one casts as guideair quality alerts. If the air quality day during fires lines for campus in your area worsens, take necessary two years ago, safety. precautions and plan your activities particulate matA Q M D accordingly. ter levels had determines • Consult Your Physician - If reached the unair quality by you suffer from heart or lung probhealthy range measuring the lems, ask your doctor about treatwhen smoke setamount of parment or if you should leave the tled on the camticulate matter area. pus overnight, in the air, such as over 139 microsmoke and ash, by micrograms of particles per cubic grams of particles per cubic meter of air. meter of air. Bourdon said you can also Bourdon said the university had a rule determine air quality by the amount of of thumb that they would evacuate the
campus if air particulate matters got close to the 500 range. Bourdon said it is highly unlikely the air quality around CSUF will worsen significantly over the next few days. “We’ve been lucky with the winds,” Bourdon said, as they are blowing most of the ash and smoke away from the campus. CSUF remains untouched by wildfires, but if any blazes pose a threat in the future, the university is prepared to keep students and staff safe. Fire extinguishers, fire alarms and evacuation instructions are found all over campus. The university also constantly practices handling fire alarms. Catherine Halliday, program assistant for the President’s Scholars Program, has served as a fire marshal for the eighth floor in Langsdorf Hall for the last nine years. When the fire alarm sounds, she checks that everyone has left the floor then locks all of the doors and makes sure she or another fire marshal is the last person down the stairs. During her years as a fire marshal, Halliday has never seen a severe fire call. Though most pulled fire alarm calls turn out to be false, the university handles each call seriously. CSUF is protected from yet another Southern California firestorm, but if that changes, the university is prepared to deal with the emergency.
Arboretum celebrates 30th anniversary By Gikbert Gutierrez
Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com
More than just a museum for plants, the Fullerton Arboretum, celebrating its 30th anniversary this October, is a peaceful non-profit organization with a 26-acre collection of plant wildlife from around the world. The Arboretum is free and open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Anyone can feel free to walk around and observe the monstrous cactus garden, a towering 100-foot Ombu tree or just sit and relax in the shade as the plant life continues to flourish. New to the Arboretum environment is the Mojave plant life, Channel Islands’ plants, a farm that improves the agricultural foundation as well as an emphasis to drought tolerant education of plant life. Today the organization has more to offer than ever before; avian lovers can join in bird watching. For tofu
and organic food lovers, gourmet vegetarian cooking classes are offered to instruct individuals who are in search of healthy and delicious meals. There are also workshops available that guide learners on how to grow lawns and conserve water properly. Also made available to the public are community plots for rent at $100 for those that wish to grow their own fruits, flowers or vegetables in a 15-foot by 15foot plot. The community plots are only cared for by the owner that purchased the plot, and they are responsible for neatly
gardening and watering their own vegetation. Children can participate by visiting the pumpkin patch where they will learn songs, stories and activities. For $3, children ages five and up can enjoy Entomologists’ Bug Safari and explore and investigate friendly insects this Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Please call by Wednesday to register. Another fun event is the Survivor Plant World where children ages eight and up explore the most destructive plants. There is also Story Hour for children to listen to exciting stories in front of one of the Arboretum’s gardens. For more details
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TUSK magazine writers recognized
Loretta Sanchez on US, UN and education
Amy Dempsey and Bahar Ansari’s “Suburban Slavery,” published in TUSK, was selected as a finalist in the ACP’s 2009 Story of the Year contest. The article chronicled the story of Shyima , an Egyptian brought to California to work as a slave. Shyima’s parents negotiated the deal to help pay off a debt incurred by an older sister. Winners will be announced at the National College Media Convention in Austin, Texas, Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, 2009. The Associated Collegiate Press has offered universities a wide variety of resources since 1921.
The United Nations Association-Orange County Chapter welcomes students to have lunch with guest of honor Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez on Saturday, Oct. 3 from noon – 2:00 p.m. at Chapman University in Orange. Following lunch, the Congresswoman will speak on “The United States, the United Nations, and the Importance of International Education.” She will also field questions if time allows. The UNA lunch is open to all. For further information see the UNA-USA/OC Web site at http://www.una-oc.org.
on programs and events, they can be found on the Arboretum’s Web site. Every year, the third graders from the Fullerton School District tour the Dr. Clark House, built for the pioneer physician in 1894, which is located in the center of the gardens. The children then complete a project that fulfills the requirement for California history in public schools in the Fullerton district, said Education Manager Ami Becker. The grounds are solely for observation and exploration, so the public does not have authorization to touch, plow or remove anything from its natural habitat, said front desk receptionist Deni Hunter. Since Oct. 21, 1979, the Arboretum has been providing faculty, students and the community abroad with the opportunity to learn and appreciate the plant world through educational classes and activities, said Director Gregory T. Dyment. The mission is to provide the visitors with important information to
By Shruti Patel/Daily Titan Staff Photographer The Fullerton Arboretum hosts varied exotic plants for the Fullerton community to enjoy.
help everyone be good stewards of the environment and grant them a wonderful experience, Dyment said. The non-profit organization is funded by the state of California, the City of Fullerton’s redevelopment agency, Cal State Fullerton, and private individuals that are generous enough to donate their time and money, he said. The Arboretum’s 30th anniversary will be celebrated on Oct. 16 with a lasagna dinner, so for those that wish
Healthcare for America See page 3
to attend or volunteer be sure to call for more information. This weekend the Arboretum is holding a Salvia Spectacular Plant Sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to noon, there will be a volunteer open house for anyone to volunteer and learn how to help the environment. For a full list of prices, please call (657) 278-3407 or visit the Web site at www.fullertonarboretum.org.