Vol. 88 Issue 30
October 25, 2010
Relentless Titans roll over
WHAT’S INSIDE
Trojans in brutal 49-10 victory
OPINION Hippie Health: Yoga for your soul ........................................4
As the women’s rugby team continues its preseason, they strike fear into opponents
FEATURES Day Tripper: An afternoon on an Oceanside pier ........................................6
See RUGBY, page 5
SPORTS Women’s volleyball: Stunned by Long Beach State ........................................5
dailytitan.com The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton
Obama rallies for Democrats
LUCIO VILLA / Daily Titan President Obama stressed the importance of voting in next week’s election to a crowd of thousands at a rally at USC.
MICHELLE WIEBACH News Editor
The applause from a crowd of thousands erupted as President Barack Obama took the stage. He was welcomed like a rock star. “We need all of you to fight on. We need all of you fired up,” Obama said to a crowd of about 37,500 at the USC’s Alumni Park, Friday Oct. 22. At the main event, Obama rallied thousands, urging them to vote and represent the Democratic Party in the elections next week, Nov. 2. Calling on students, at the “Moving America Forward” rally, Obama stressed the significance of the 2008 presidential election. “Just like you did in 2008, you can defy the conventional wisdom that says young people are apathetic, the conventional wisdom that says you can’t beat the cynicism in politics,” Obama said. Obama has blazed across the West, in the hopes of re-energizing and sparking support for Democratic candidates running for office. This marks his longest campaign swing as president. He attacked Republican tactics by pointing out their agenda and how it has affected Americans. See VOTE, page 3
MARK SAMALA / Daily Titan Day two of FTX: Cadets shoot an M4 assault rifle at a shooting range on Camp Pendleton Marine Base. During this exercise the cadets rotated through different stances as they unloaded an entire magazine of rounds.
An Army officer in the making Cal State Fullerton ROTC cadets spend a weekend at Camp Pendleton for Field Training Exercise, FTX, an event that occurs every year LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ News Editor
Executing mock missions on mini obstacle courses, learning the stances and tactics used when shooting an M4 assault rifle, repelling down a 32-foot tower and manning their way through the terrain during land and night navigation is what a weekend at Camp Pendleton Marine Base looks like for Cal State Fullerton’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). Field Training Exercise, FTX, is the title of the weekend where first-and-second-year cadets from the ROTC program experience a taste of what the Army lifestyle is like. For third-
year cadets, FTX gives them the opportunity to build camaraderie with the squads and build leadership skills, said Cadet Command Sgt. Major Alejandra Alvarado. Every program such as FTX prepares the cadets for the next step in their training to become an officer. In between their third and fourth year, cadets reach their defining moment at a four-week-long course they call LDAC, a Leadership Development and Assessment Course, which serves as their final test. Their year in the program is referred to as MS1, MS2, MS3 and MS4. MS stands for Military Science. “How well they do in school, in leadership, in physical fitness and community service when training to become an officer
is assessed,” said MS4 Cadet Capt. Public Affairs Officer Steven Swaleh. “At LDAC, all of that factors into what branch they are going to get when they graduate.” Branch can refer to two things, the branch of the military a person chooses, such as Air Force, Navy, Army or Marine Corps or which branch or job they choose within one of the previous listed branches of military. For example, a person can be in infantry, armory, field intelligence and many others. When asked why these cadets chose the Army over the other branches, the majority said that it had the most job opportunities and variety as opposed to the others. See FTX, page 3
ONLINE EXCLUSIVES Fullerton war veteran fights a new fiery enemy Multimedia
www.dailytitan.com
A Fullerton probationary firefighter’s path to dedicating his life to serve a community he calls home KATIE EVANS Asst. Features Editor
ROTC Participates in Weekend-Long Field Training Exercise at Camp Pendleton Women’s Soccer See how the cadets spent their weekend at dailytitan. com/ftx
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See the team Scan to view in action at dailytitan.com/ 2010/10/24/ womens-soccervs-cal-poly/
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Mid-afternoon, a bell sounded. Four sets of eyes shifted to meet each other’s, a silent debate over who would answer the phone call. Before any decision could be made, a small figure bolted to the receiver and answered before spouting out code and darting into the garage to change. The others sighed in disappointment. They would have to leave their lunches to answer a call that was likely a false alarm. “This just went from exciting to not exciting,” said Hiram Channell fire truck engineer, before heading out to the garage after the others. Woo Young Kim, the rookie, and man who ran, took the call seriously regardless. As a probationary firefighter at the Fullerton Fire Department, it was part of his job, a job that seemed so temporary and unstable. “I can be laid off for any reason,” Kim said. Earlier that day, he prepared for a number of training evaluations that are required for probationary firefighters, evaluations to test knowledge, dexterity and skill. “If we don’t like the way your breath smells or your mustache, you’re out,” Channell said, as he readied the timer
JONATHAN GIBBY / Daily Titan Capt. Glen Banks of the Fullerton Fire Department opens the door to let in oxygen during a flashover training exercise.
for one evaluation in which Kim must dress entirely in bulky yellow fire-protective gear in under two-and-a-half minutes. “All we ask is that (Kim) be perfect and read our minds.” As Kim set off with haste, Channell joked around with Tillerman Roland Garcia about the rookie, seniority and what tasks to make him do next. “If we like you, we make fun of you.
If we don’t, we’re silent. It’s reversed like that,” said Garcia, gaze returning to Kim’s speedy actions with a smirk. “He’s the best rookie I’ve seen in a long time,” Channell said. “That’s why we tease him so much.” Kim finished as the timer hit one minute and twenty-eight seconds. After receiving pats on the back from the firefighters, he set off for another
“rookie evaluation,” not a shred of sweat or stress apparent on his face. “I’m still here but who knows about tomorrow, or even later today,” Kim said with a laugh. To become a firefighter, one must undergo 26 weeks at a fire academy before being assigned to a station. Once hired at the station, they become a probationary firefighter and go through three four-month evaluation phases. The first phase is riding along with paramedics. The second phase is riding with the fire truck. The last phase is riding along with EMTs. Kim just began his second phase and enjoys every minute of it. “It’s not the fact that I like the fact that someone needs help, but one of the engineers in this department broke it down to me very simply. They said, ‘It’s not that we get excited because someone needs us, the event already happened, we’re just going out there to help them.’ So, I like the thought that every time the tone goes off, I get a chance to make a difference to somebody’s life, whether it’s pulling down a cat or it’s an actual fire,” Kim said, as he polished parts of a chainsaw while the rest of the firefighters rested between calls amidst their 24-hour shifts. See FIRE, page 8