Vol. 88 Issue 35
November 2, 2010
Sufjan Stevens Opens musical floodgates New album Age of Adz blends acoustic and electronic sounds See ALBUM, page 5
Free or discounted food for student voters
To entice student voters local eateries will be offering specials to voters See COMMUNITY, page 3
WHAT’S INSIDE OPINION Sex and violence in video games goes to vote ........................................4 DETOUR Shiny Toy Guns and Seven Year War Halloween bash ........................................6 SPORTS Bee in the Know: Postseason expansion ........................................8
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Life of CSUF alumni artist Patrick Merrill is remembered HEATHER REST Daily Titan
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stared creepily at the tour party, while a screeching young girl ran to the bride and groom to murder them. Throughout the house, spooky creatures shook rattling cans and scared guests when they least expected it. “By far more entertaining than anything at Knott’s Scary Farm. At Knott’s you can pinpoint where people are, but here you can’t see people ahead of time,” said Daniel Selnick, a senior computer science major. From 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. children were invited to a less scary version of the story along with trick-or -treating throughout the house. Guests at the end of both tours were treated to cookies, candy and drinks on the patio.
Community members, educators, family and friends gathered Saturday afternoon to celebrate the life of Southern California artist and renowned print-maker Patrick Merrill. The day consisted of a memorial service, an artist panel discussion and an exhibition opening at Begovich Gallery; Patrick Merrill: revelation, which will run through Nov. 9. “He’s got a really diverse background as an artist and as an educator. So we have a lot of people from all over here today,” said Dana Lamb, Visual Arts Department chair. “His prime medium was print making. The work is based strongly on his social and political perspective and observations in his life; he had a very interesting life.” Merrill died Aug. 31, 2010 after a battle with cancer. At the service, Merrill’s close friends played the electric guitar blues as over 300 people congregated in the courtyard of Cal State Fullerton’s Visual Arts department. His wife Debra R. Winters, an art writer and historian, described him as a “blues man,” she reminisced about his rough edges, his passion for politics and his belief in the human spirit. Merrill’s impact on the art community was vast. He graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a bachelor of fine arts degree and from CSUF with his master’s in fine arts. He was the curator of the W. Keith and Janet Kellogg University Art Gallery at Cal Poly Pomona from 1997-2009. He was instrumental in thrusting the Ink and Clay competition to a national level, an annual contest that lets print, ceramic and sculpture makers compete for bragging rights and prize money.
See HOUSE, page 2
See MEMORIAL, page 2
Vending Machine See what’s for sale at the new vending machine at dailytitan.com/ shop24
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Shekell pleads guilty to charges KEITH COUSINS Daily Titan
Former Cal State Fullerton student Jessica Shekell pled guilty Thursday to two counts of vehicular manslaughter as well as to felony drunk driving causing injuries. Shekell, 23, was driving her car while drunk on the wrong side of the 91 Freeway, when she crashed head-on into an oncoming vehicle Oct. 26, 2009. The collision left Sally Miguel, 49, and her sister Patricia Miguel, 30, dead. If convicted, Shekell faces up to 19 years and eight months in state prison. After going to two Placentia bars with friends, Shekell drove eastbound on the westbound lane of the 91 Freeway. See SHEKELL, page 2
State-of-the-art convenience store installed
JOHNNY LE / Daily Titan Sociology majors, Kristian Van Hoogmoed and Sofia Rosas browse the items available from the new 24-hour convenience vending machine, Shop24. “There is every kind of energy drink you could ever want,” Hoogmoed said. See AUTOMATED CONVENIENCE STORE, page 3 for full story.
Haunted house scares up funds KRYSTLE UY Daily Titan
The Student Ambassador’s Association held its first annual haunted house event at George C. Golleher Alumni House, Thursday. A long line of costumed guests wrapped around the house as they eagerly awaited the thrill of a good scare. Heidi Ignacio, a junior nursing major, clutched her friends tightly while waiting in the long line. “I was a bit scared just (because) we had to sign a release waiver, (in case of an accident on the property)” Ignacio said. From 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. guests were led through a foggy graveyard and into the haunted house, which was covered by yellow “do not enter” tape.
Tour guides recanted a scary story of betrayal, murder and a wedding written by student ambassador, Katelynn Monday, 21. The story told of a doctor who fell in love with a farmer’s wife and killed the farmer after an advantageous accident in order to marry the widow. At the wedding, the widow and farmer’s daughter killed her mother and the doctor. Upon entering the house, guests were led through a dark hallway where eerie banging and groans were heard. Afterward, tour guides led them with flashlights to the kitchen where the doctor was mutilating the farmer’s body with various tools. The next scene featured ominous figures staring blankly at the tour party while framed photos of people with moving eyes followed visitors. The end of the tour was the wedding where guests
NFL’s crackdown on head-hunting stiffens defenders MATTHEW PETROPULOS Daily Titan
KRYSTLE UY / Staff Writer The band well known for its theatrical stage shows came out dressed as pigs along with other flamboyant outfits, and some attendees were left unimpressed.
Glitz and glamor is not enough for Of Montreal KRYSTLE UY Daily Titan
Indie pop band, Of Montreal brought the glitter, glitz and glam to the Hollywood Palladium Oct. 30. Of Montreal, a band led by flamboyant and rambunctious Kevin Barnes, are no strangers to what it means to put on an extravagant live show. Their set featured the usual wild animal-masked actors, each playfully and sexually interacting with a bemused Barnes. Confetti
and streamers were strewn toward an energetic crowd, clearly feeding off of Barnes’ crazy show antics. The band opened up with “Coquette Coquette,” the lead single off of their latest album False Priest. While False Priest showcases Of Montreal’s efforts in evolving while capturing the low end of dance rhythm and blues and ‘70s soul and funk, the album does not mirror the high energy of Skeletal Lamping, an album so frenetic and sexual, but addictive.
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See CONCERT, page 6
Ray Anderson, the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations, said Monday that harsher fines and possibly suspensions for helmet-to-helmet hits could be coming immediately, even for first-time offenders, according to NFL.com. The National Football League took action after the week six games where there were many “flagrant” and shocking hits. “I think it is cool for player safety. However, I do not think it is consistent because it only protects the offensive players. The defensive players will have to change the way they play the game while the offense can keep playing their styles of football,” said Nahum Berham, a Cal State Fullerton business finance major. Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison, New England Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather, Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson and New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul were all guilty of illegal hits. The NFL has become more aware of these hits because of the amount of concussions. A player that suffers a concussion has to go through multiple tests relating to the brain and head to be cleared for action. The NFL has also started to think of suspending players that lead with their helmets. However, Commis-
Courtesy of MCT
sioner Roger Goodell will have the final say on the matter. “I do not think it appears fair for the players to be suspended. It is the NFL, players are supposed to hit hard. I think it might be detrimental to the sport of football if we have
players easing up on the plays,” said Dorado Quick, a CSUF business major. Also, suspensions are being brought up because players are not getting the message from the fines, however big they are.
Former New England Patriots safety and now analyst for NBC’s Sunday Night Football, Rodney Harrison, has been vocal on the matter that fines are not working. See HEAD-ON, page 8