2001 03 16

C A L I F O R N I A

S T A T E

U N I V E R S I T Y ,

F U L L E R T O N

INSIDE Titans begin three game series tonight against Cal Poly Mustangs

Women delve into the history 3 ofn NEWS: sensuality and sex toys n OPINION: Movie ticket prices on the 5 rise, but they may be worth it

Vo l u m e 7 2 , I s s u e 1 8

—see Sports page 7

stripped

WEEKEND

M a rc h 1 6 , 2 0 0 1

Student

of athletic status Cross Country and track runner, Leilani Rios, was forced to choose between her sport and her exotic livelihood

By Seth Keichline

Daily Titan Staff Writer

LORRAINE DOMINGUEZ/Daily Titan

Leilani Rios participated in one season of cross country until she was removed from Cal State Fullerton’s athletic program.

CSUF student crowned Miss Orange County nCULTURE: Shally Zomorodi is the first Persian-American woman to place in the pageant

By Elana Pruitt

Daily Titan Staff Writer After much stress, hard work and dedication this past month, Miss Orange County USA just wants to relax.

Shally Zomorodi, a 23-year-old senior at Cal State Fullerton, was crowned on Feb. 25 at the Four Points Sheraton in Fullerton.

Although this was not her first beauty pageant competition, it was Zomorodi’s most challenging and stressful time in her life.

“It was very overwhelming,” she said. “But it was a good test. I learned how to balance my time.”

Zomorodi will be graduating in May

with the double major of broadcast journalism and political science.

With more visible support than any other contestant, 59 family and friends showed up to the competition, while 15 of them were her club friends from the Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Society.

Last year, Zomorodi and nine other political science students discovered that a professor once dropped the society two years ago. They immediately found an adviser, and she has been vice president since the society’s rebirth.

“Shally’s very passionate about her work,” said Young Kim, president of Pi Sigma Alpha. “She never gives up on something, because she knows she has the power to do it.”

The 22-year-old political science major stated that Zomorodi’s good communication skills were important to her winning first place in all three categories. She went home with awards for Miss Congeniality, Miss Personality and Miss Orange County.

Zomorodi first entered a beauty pageant when she was 17 years old. She was working at a cookie shop when

Leilani Rios loves to run. She has run competitively throughout middle school, high school and college for cross country and track and field teams. But in her coach’s office, before the start of last spring’s season, Rios stopped running.

Cal State Fullerton Head Coach John Elders gave Rios an ultimatum that January day in his office — quit stripping or quit track. Rios opted to continue her work as an exotic dancer.

“I chose my job so I can afford to go to school,” Rios said, a kinesiology major. Rios, the first person in her family to go to college, wants to be a physical therapist.

“I don’t like the fact that they can kick you off [the team] for no reason at all because that’s not a right reason to kick somebody off the team,” she said.

Rios transferred from Cal State San Bernardino in the fall of 1999 to CSUF because of its improved athletic program. In November of that year, Rios began her work as an exotic dancer

at the Flamingo Theater in Anaheim.

Flexible hours and good pay allowed her to pay for tuition, books and rent, and provided the time necessary to compete in collegiate athletics.

Elders, who has been the head coach of cross country and track and field at CSUF for 13 years, said he didn’t want an exotic dancer representing his team or his program.

“I’m the one that is ultimately held accountable and ultimately that’s looked at for what happens with my team,” Elders said. “So, I have to protect the kind of image that we represent.”

One month before her removal off the team, Rios was working on a Friday night at the Flamingo Theater when she noticed several CSUF baseball sweatshirts and baseball hats. Rios said she felt the weight of multiple stares as she tried to avoid the group of men who she thought were Titan baseball players. She was recognized.

At the time, only Rios’ fiancé and sister-in-law knew of Rios’ work. Her parents thought she was a waitress at National’s Sports Bar and Grill. The thought of other people discovering

ATHLETE/ 6

Administrators look forward after audits nINVESTIGATION: Misappropriated funds were found to actually be misrepresented

By Samantha Gonzaga

Daily Titan Asst. News Editor

KIRA HORVATH/Daily Titan

Shally Zomorodi juggles her work load with the duties of her crown. she noticed an advertisement about the Miss California State Preliminary. She entered for fun and won second runner-up.

This time around, the more mature and politically-driven Zomorodi wanted a challenge. She was already working 40 hours as a waitress, taking between 18 and 24 units a semester, training a

young teenage cheer group into first place regional champions, and was vice president of Pi Sigma Alpha.

“Shally motivates me,” said Bruce Entezam, 24, her boyfriend of two years. “She makes me reach for my goals better and faster.”

MISS OC/ 3

Cal State Fullerton’s administration is moving forward after undergoing two audits in the past two months in the Enrollment Management / University Outreach Department.

An $800 advance to pay for a wedding and baby shower last semester was brought to the administration’s attention by a community watchdog organization headed by a CSUF graduate student.

“My group is committed to make sure that people are held accountable for their actions,” said Sammy Rodriguez, the chairman of Accountable Management.

Vice President of Student Affairs Robert Palmer and Sherri Newcomb, the chief financial officer of Business and Financial Affairs headed an internal investigation. Individuals involved in the authorization of two $400 advances were interviewed and the director of Enrollment Management / University Outreach Department, Charles Moore.

Findings showed that the requests were made under the guise of paying for sup-

plies needed for student and staff training. Stated in the investigation, it was not a misappropriation of funds, but a misrepresentation.

“The reason why this was misrepresentation and not misappropriation was the nature behind its spending,” Palmer said. “What makes this different from misappropriation is that no one spent money on personal gain.

“The key thing for us is, there was an element of dishonesty,” he said.

Two employees have been suspended for a month without pay. Their names were not released due to university personnel policy.

Moore did not know that the advances were made because he was on a sixweek paternity leave.

Though he regularly examines transactions made in his department, records of the money withdrawn for the parties never reached his desk. The money was withdrawn from the CSU Counselors Conference Fund, an auxiliary account by the CSUF Foundation.

“If something is willfully kept from my view as a manager, how would I know that [this] was happening?” said Moore.

“If records of these [transactions] appeared on my desk, no way would this spending have occurred,” he said. “I

FUNDS/ 3

Student held on $100,000 bail for stalking charges eTITAN xtras nCRIME: He was charged with assault, battery and obstructing police officers on a Feb. 21 incident

By Amy Rottier

Daily Titan Staff Writer Cal State Fullerton student Paul H. Chu was arrested for felony stalking and victim intimidation on March 14.

Chu allegedly had been harassing a 20-year-old female student since mid-January, campus police said.

After being arrested and charged for assault and battery, and obstructing police on Feb. 21, Chu was ordered to stay away from the victim by the school and the police. The victim arrived at her chemistry class in McCarthy Hall Wednesday to find Chu sitting at her desk with a large gold box of Godiva chocolates and a travel book on Mexico, according to the police report.

After telling Chu, “You need to go away,” she allegedly left the classroom to call the police. Chu is reported to have left down the east stairwell. When the police arrived they could not find him.

Chu had a 1 p.m. appointment with Dean of Students Sandra Rhoten and the police waited outside the

dean’s office during their meeting police said. When police saw that and questioned Chu directly after, Chu professed his love to the victim the report said. using her name on the inside cover When questioned, Chu repeated of the book, Chu then said that several times, “I screwed he was going to use the up again,” police said. gifts to bribe the victim to The police report said drop the assault and batthat Chu seemed delutery charges against him, sional and made referthe report said. ence to Rhoten requestThe victim and Chu ing cocaine in return for shared a science class her setting him up with together. The victim the victim. reported to the police that He also allegedly her meetings with Chu claimed that Rhoten and were friendly but brief. the victim were conspirThe report said that she CHU ing against him. never gave and indicaDuring the questiontion that she wanted to be ing, Chu first denied that the choco- more than friends. lates and book were for the victim, Since mid-January the victim had http://dailytitan.fullerton.edu

been annoyed by Chu’s repeated attempts to talk to her, according to the report.

According to the report she eventually told Chu, “Stop, leave me alone— I don’t even want to be your friend.”

On Feb. 16, the victim reported the harassment to campus police.

According to the report the victim did not receive any threats and did not fear for her life.

On that same day Chu followed one of the victim’s friends to her car after class begging her to give him the victim’s home phone number, address and place of work, and also asked why the victim did not

STALKER/ 8

online n

Check out the Daily Titan online this year at http:// dailytitan.fullerton.edu.

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Need to announce an event? Visit our Web site to download our NEW events calendar form. Get your club notice now.

2 Weekend, March 16, 2001

NEWS

two

A GUIDE TO WHAT’S HAPPENING

BRIEFS Exhibits at the Getty Museum New exhibitions are being showcased at the Getty Museum.

In following with its tradition of various art displays, the museum is presenting series that range from German portraits to illuminated manuscripts. These exhibits debuted in the beginning of March, and will continue through August.

German portraits produced between 1918 and 1933 reflect the social atmosphere of Weimar Republic after World War I. German artists were inspired by their new political freedom, and Berlin soon became the international center for art. August Sander approached portraiture with a new style that depicted the tiers of German society – from the farmers working the fields, to the unemployed. His work offers a glimpse of what Germany was before Adolph Hitler. This exhibit will be open until June 24.

Another exhibition is the making of a Renaissance painting.

This provides the opportunity to see the discipline behind such works. The processes will be presented through the methods employed by 16th-century artist Joachim Beuckelaer. Among the topics discussed are the selections of color pigments and wood panels. The science of exploring these methods will also be explained, such as infra-red reflectography and x-radiography.

This exhibit is currently open and will continue running until August 19.

Experiencing a shorter viewing period is “Ritual Splendor: Illuminated Liturgical Manuscripts.”

This exhibition shows 17 manuscripts from the Middle Ages.

These are all from the museum’s

Denise Smaldino Vu Nguyen Joel Helgesen Collin Miller Gus Garcia Darleene Barrientos Marlayna Slaughterbeck Samantha Gonzaga Darla Priest Raul Ascencio Damian Calhoun Magda Liszewska Jamie Ayala Lorraine Dominguez David Rivera Lori Anderson Caesar Contreras Rita Freeman Debra Santelli Darleene Barrientos Gus Garcia Kari Wirtz Robert Kelleher Jeffrey Brody Editor in Chief Managing Editor News Sports Main Photo

278-5815 278-5693 278-5813 278-3149 278-2128 278-2991

10th to 16th century collection of illuminated works. These works display the interpretations of the liturgies, and the way the life of Christ is celebrated and the life of saints commemorated. This exhibit is showing until May 6.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Campus A 24-hour study hall is now available in the Titan Student Union at the West Food Court.

It is open Monday through Thursday.

A Wind Ensemble will perform today at 8 p.m. in the Little Theatre. Tickets are $8 and $5 with Titan discount.

A.S. Scholarship Applications will be available today March 16, in TSU 207.

Editor in Chief Managing Editor Business Manager Advertising Sales Manager Advertising Production Manager News Editor News Editor Asst. News Editor Asst. News Editor Sports Editor Asst. Sports Editor Detour Editor Opinion Editor Photo Editor Photo Editor Internet Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Production Manager Production Manager Production Manager Associate Editor Faculty Adviser Advertising 278-3373 Editorial Fax 278-4473 Advertising Fax 278-2702 DT online: http://dailytitan.fullerton.edu e-mail: dailytitan@yahoo.com

The Daily Titan is a student publication, printed every Tuesday through Friday. The Daily Titan operates independently of Associated Students, College of Communications, CSUF administration and the CSU system. The Daily Titan and its predecessor, the Titan Times, have functioned as a public forum since inception. Unless implied by the advertising party or otherwise stated, advertising in the Daily Titan is inserted by commercial activities or ventures identified in the advertisements themselves and not by the university. Such printing is not to be construed as written or implied sponsorship, endorsement or investigation of such commercial enterprises. The mail subscription price is $45 per semester, $65 per year, payable to the Daily Titan, College Park 670, CSUF, Fullerton, CA 92834.

Copyright ©2001 Daily Titan

A Coed Tennis Doubles Tournament is scheduled today at noon on the Tennis Courts. Register by noon.

A Microsoft Office 97 Workshop is scheduled for Saturday, March 17 in the TSU Mainframe Lounge at 2 p.m.

During Women’s History Month on March 20 philosopher

Sandra Harding will speak in the Pollak Library, Room 130 at 2:30 p.m.

Park from 9 a.m. until noon.

For more information call (714) 738-6897.

Community

“Russian Hamlet, The Son of Catherine the Great will be performed March 16 through 18 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. For more information call (714) 556-ARTS.

A St. Patrick’s Day concert with the Irish-American Group Solas will perform at the Irvine Barclay Theatre on Saturday, March 17 at 8 p.m. For more information call (949) 854-4607.

For Arbor Day the city of Fullerton will sponsor a treeplanting program at Gilman

“God’s Favorite” will be performed through March 24 at the Garden Grove Playhouse.

Tickets are $10. For more information call (714) 897-5122.

Daily Titan Online Poll Voice your opinion through the Daily Titan’s online poll! Just go to http://dailytitan.fullerton.edu and click on the News or Opinion tabs and vote.

Online survey offers possible cash and parking privileges Cal State Fullerton is conducting an online survey as part of its compliance with local air quality conditions.

Although CSUF conducts this survey annually, this is the first time it will be doing so via online.

The process involves the sampling of 1,100 people comprising of faculty/staff and student employees.

Those selected to participate will be informed through their campus e-mail accounts. The selection process will take place in the week of March 12. A list containing the names can be found on Parking and Transportation Services’ Web site at parking.fullerton.edu.

The deadline for the survey’s completion is March 23.

Prizes will be awarded to those who finish the survey early. The breakdown of awards are as follows: -First 50 to respond get $50 -Next 51-100 people get $25 -The rest get $15 In addition to cash prizes is the chance to win parking permits.

“Special” Parking will be awarded to five people. The grand prize is a year’s worth of free parking, which will also have 5 selected winners.

Winners will be informed through campus e-mail by April 30. This information can also be accessed at Parking and

Applications are due today by 5 p.m. For more information call (714) 278-3295.

A. Duke B. Stanford C. Illinois D. Michigan State E. Arizona

Who will win the NCAA Tournament?

Results will be published in Tuesday’s Daily Titan. Poll is unscientific

online poll R

Last week’s questions: What can be done to prevent tragedies like Santana High shooting?

12% 20% 18% 32% 18% 74 people responded with . . .

More parental guidance

Tighter gun control

Correction “Court finds student guilty” (March 15): Michael Ryan Schreiber was sentenced on March 14 for malicious may-

hem and possession of a deadly weapon. Charges were filed on March 6.

Heavier school security

Less media coverage

Cancel Jerry Springer

NEWS

Weekend, March 16, 2001

3

The Barbie doll ideal challenged by reality nIMAGE: Eating Disorder Awareness Week brings attention to the importance of a healthy eating regimen

By Heather Blair

Daily Titan Staff Writer What would Barbie look like if she were real? Besides the obvious looks of hair color, eye color, and race, she would probably be in a wheel chair, said Erin Hoch, a Peer Health and Education volunteer at Cal State

Fullerton.

According to a poster that decorated the eating disorders awareness booth, Barbie’s body is so disproportional that she would not be able to hold herself up. Her measurements for her bust would be 39 inches, her waist would be 18 inches and her hips would be 33 inches.

“No one in real life could support a bust that big with a waist that small, she wouldn’t be able to walk,” Hoch said.

Hoch, along with Wendy Wegner and Jennifer Barber, all students at CSUF, were manning the booth that was set up to recognize eating disorders awareness week. The original Eating Disorders Awareness Week,

that was supposed to be a couple of weeks ago, got canceled because of continuous rainstorms in Fullerton.

But the Peer Health and Education Program still sponsored a booth along the Titan walkway to inform students about the seriousness of eating disorders, and to give out free advice, fruit, pens and pamphlets.

Wegner, a volunteer and the philanthropy chair for Alpha Delta Pi sorority, said she thinks people may have been a little intimidated to come to the table because of the topic they were addressing.

“It may be intimidating but that is why we are giving away free fruit,” Wegner said.

Hoch said people may come for the

KIRA HORVATH/Daily Titan

Fruit and words of wisdom were distributed during Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

free fruit at first, but are encouraged to stay and look at the literature as well.

Each apple or orange that students could pick from one of two filled baskets had a bright yellow sticker on it that said, “Don’t weigh you self-esteem…It’s what’s inside that counts.” Hoch said if students don’t stop for any information, they will at least see the sticker.

One student was so happy to get free fruit that she took four apples and one orange.

Another student said he spotted the free pens from a mile away.

Robert Bravo, a 20-year-old business major, came for the free pens, but decided to look at the pamphlets as well.

Meanwhile Wegner kept asking passers-by if they would like any information or fruit.

One individual that Wegner talked to was a man who was on the Atkins diet. Wegner demonstrated her knowledge by telling him that nothing in excess could be good for his body.

Whether students are unhealthy, on a crash diet, or just needing advice from someone experienced in the field of nutrition, students can speak with nutritionist Ada Shulz, according to a flyer that lay on the table.

Schulz also leads a power lunch walk on the Titan track every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday for students, staff and faculty who want to join her.

Other flyers included a Body Mass Index (BMI) chart with formulas so students can figure out their BMI, a brochure on enhancing body image from St. Jude’s Medical Center, and handouts that say what to do if you know someone who has an eating disorder.

KIRA HORVATH/Daily Titan

Mimi Su reads a labeled piece of fruit about self-esteem.

Female sexuality a topic of discussion nSPEAKER: Noted author and historians talked about the law and vibrators

By Rita Freeman

Daily Titan Copy Editor The history of vibrators, legal issues regarding the selling of sexual toys in certain states and theories regarding female sexuality were discussed in the Pollak Library Thursday.

Students filled Room 130 as historian Rachel Maines and author Joani Blank spoke about the different topics of women’s sexuality.

“This event raised my consciousness of women’s sexuality on a college campus,” said Briseyda Romero, a women’s studies major and co-president of the Women’s Studies Student Association. “In talking about sexuality, as a young woman, I should not feel inhibited but free.”

Each woman presented stories about growing up in liberal families, how they entered the sex industry and different

MISS OC n from page 1 Zomorodi admits that being in a pageant and trying to balance her schedule has left minimal time for them to spend together, especially since Entezam is a recent graduate from the UC Irvine. Their relationship was divided between schools and towns. But despite their relationship strain, Entezam is complimentary of Zomorodi’s traits, believing her to be “confident and ambitious about life.”

Another challenge that Zomorodi set for herself was to lose weight. The competition did not force its required taste for a slim image, but it motivated Zomorodi to lose about 25 pounds.

She said that she was the heaviest and shortest girl in the pageant, and still won first place.

“It’s an opinion of five people and then you move on,” Zomorodi said about the chance she might have not won.

Zomorodi feels that her experience was very interesting and well worth her time and effort. About four months, ago she decided to start eating healthy and dedicated time to working out at the gym. The timely event motivated her to not give up. While other girls in the pageant were solely focused on winning the sash and crown because of its prestige, Zomorodi just wanted to have some fun.

“Every female has issues with weight because of the media,” Tania Cardona, 22, said. “She eats fine, goes to the gym and enjoys looking her best.”

Cardona is the Pi Sigma Alpha Events Coordinator. A political science and criminal justice major, she is also Zomorodi’s close friend and classmate. Cardona said that education is most important to Zomorodi right now, even though the pageant is her most recent accomplishment.

“She values education, and the pag-

incidents regarding the illegal selling of a vibrator.

Maines said she grew up with parents that were involved in the civil rights movement, walked in the Montgomery March and opposed the Vietnam War. During her senior year of high school, she was nearly expelled for speaking her views.

“The principal called my parents, and my mom was like, ‘What?’” Maines said. “Growing up with liberal parents, they supported me all the way.”

Blank said she grew up with parents who were very comfortable with nudity.

“I lived in Massachusetts and found my mom’s diaphragm and that’s how I learned about birth control,” Blank said.

Blank, who is the author of several sexual education books, including the “Playbook for Women About Sex,” “Good Vibrations: the New Complete Guide to Vibrators,” and children’s books, said she found it hard to publish her books.

She is also the founder of the shop Good Vibrations, which originally opened in 1977 in San Francisco, eant was just a forum for her to speak her mind,” Cardona said.

Zomorodi envisions a future for herself revolving around politics and justice. She plans to become a Supreme Court Justice, because the challenge in being the first PersianAmerican woman with a black robe, gavel and power in hand is attractive.

In a recent three-day trip to Sacramento with her campaign class this semester, Zomorodi was able to speak with state politicians, like State Assembly District member Paul Koretz.

The theme in her class, taught by Dr. Barbara Stone, is based on a mock campaign. The candidate is Zomorodi and her classmates have to create marketing techniques to promote her as a politician.

For the project, the laws that she is trying to get approved are banishing the use of cell phones while driving and putting children with drug problems in rehabilitation centers instead of juvenile hall.

In being the center of attention for an academic class, Zomorodi perceives she is not always treated with respect. Along with the difficulty in being the subject of a course and important to the determination of students’ grades, she can tell that both males and females begrudge her role against her.

Raphael Sonenshine, her political science adviser, described Zomorodi as “an excellent student and a very good organizer.” He said that because of her leadership quality, she doesn’t need much counseling.

In September, Zomorodi will compete in the official preliminary Miss California USA pageant. In the meantime, her focus is on midterms, committing time to her political science classes and exercising four to five times a week.

But Zomorodi’s passion for long hours of sleep is, of course, her first priority.

geared toward women to buy sex items.

She said she found it difficult to advertise in magazines.

“I used to place classified ads in Ms. Magazine, and I found no problems,” Blank said. “I wanted to advertise Good Vibrations and the magazine refused to advertise because it was ‘against their policy.’ I struggled for at least four years.”

She added that the magazine would print the ad if the word “vibrate” was not featured in the ad. After a period of time and problems, the ad was not printed because the name of the shop contained “vibrations.”

However, Maines said as she was researching for her book, she said that she found several magazine from around 1906 containing several advertisements for vibrators.

In her book she wrote about the androcentric model of sexuality.

“This theory rests on the notion that the penis penetrates into the vagina and that is the only real sex,” Maines said.

Associate Professor of Women’s Studies Ranae Bredin uses the Maines’ book, “The Technology of Orgasm,” as a required textbook for her gender

FUNDS n from page 1 would have reprimanded it.”

Another investigation conducted by the CSU Board of Trustees confirmed that money used for wedding and baby showers totaled $609.85. An audit was conducted from Feb. 1, 1999 to Jan. 5 of this year to see if any of the 42 transactions showed signs of misappropriation.

Among the findings were two additional occurrences of misrepresentation, three unauthorized money advances and nine incidents of improper usage.

At the time the advances were

and technology course. She said she teaches her course in three increments, computers, sexuality and reproduction technology and the media.

“In this book, I found that it did a good job with history, gender and technology,” Bredin said. “So many [books] completely eliminate the topic of sex.

Maine said she was “flattered to death” at the thought of someone using her book as a textbook.

“When the book was first published, someone asked me if I would sell it in sex stores,” she said. “ I just said I would be flattered if they did carry it.”

Blank said that one goal students took away from the event was ability to talk more open about sex.

“I want to try tackle the worst sexual dysfunction — the inability to talk about sex,” Blank said.

One student said he found the two women insightful.

“Learning about the history of the orgasm from the book and the panel really opened my eyes of the misconceptions of what was first thought of sex and about what doctors first thought [about it],” said history major Victor requested, guidelines regarding what the account can be used to pay for were still unclear to employees, said Palmer.

It would not be until Oct. 31 and Dec. 18, 2000 that payment for hospitality expenses would be made more specific.

CSU Executive Order 761 stated that, “payment or reimbursement for hospitality expenses are not permitted if they are related to employee birthdays, weddings, anniversaries…not related to the active conduct of university business.”

CSUF’s Presidential Directive No. 11 stated likewise: “Personal gifts…for University employee or student birthdays, weddings, anniversaries…Such items are a personal expense that should be paid for by the individual(s) pur-

DAVID RIVERA/Daily Titan

Joani Blank has written several books on sex education. chasing the gift or providing the meal / refreshment for the employee(s) or student(s).”

“In both cases,” said Palmer, “[employees] were operating under the assumption that the fund was unrestricted.”

But regardless of whether or not the policies were known, Palmer believed that lack of honesty was a judgement error. President Milton Gordon reflects the same frustration in the release he sent campus faculty and staff via email: “Despite the distinction between misappropriation and misrepresentation, dishonesty was involved, and I am greatly disappointed.”

Rodriguez has expressed his distrust in the administration’s ability to perform an impartial investigation. Palmer, however, said that two is enough.

“This has been dealt with thoroughly,” Palmer said. “And I’m satisfied that this issue is behind us.”

Gordon is also looking to the future.

The re-emphasizing of department directors’ understanding and responsibility over their budgets is a by-product of a lesson that he hopes everyone will learn from.

“We already have good procedures in place, but they need to be adhered to,” Gordon said. “Constant education, and monitoring of supervisors is also important. I look for every opportunity

6 Weekend, March 16, 2001

NEWS

ATHLETE

A sweeping success

n from page 1

ADAM BYRNES/Special to the Titan

At Alpha Delta Pi’s sponsored broomball, sororities took to the ice to raise money for charity.

her employment terrified her.

Gossip of Rios soon spread throughout the athletic department. Each day brought more looks and more stares on campus.

By now, the track and field and cross country teams knew of Rios’ secret.

Elders was the last to find out. In a casual conversation, an alumna mentioned to him that one of the women on the team was a stripper. “’Who can that be?’” Elders recalled.

He eventually discovered it was Rios.

After consulting with his wife, assistant coaches and university administrators, Elders scheduled a meeting with Rios where he then presented her the ultimatum.

“I had to really do some soul searching about what I really felt was the right thing … what’s best for Leilani and what’s best for our program,” Elders said.

“I didn’t deem that [stripping] represented the university in the kind of way that we wanted.”

Elders referred to the CSUF Athletic Code of Conduct, which is given to every student-athlete, to support his decision. He said two sentences particularly stood out to him: Titans represent themselves, their teammates and the athletic department in a positive way.

Most importantly, they give everyone who sees them a positive image of Titan student-athletes.

“Exotic dancing isn’t something that represents our athletic department in a positive way,” he said.

Denise Person, Rios’ sister-in-law, was shocked when she heard Rios was removed from the team.

“I was pissed [at Elders] for taking such measures,” Person said, who is also an exotic dancer at the Flamingo

CAL STATE FULLERTON ATHLETICS CODE OF CONDUCT OFF THE FIELD: Titans represent themselves, their teammates, and their athletics department in a positive way. They do not try to draw negative attention to themselves by such things as being abusive at a club or party.

When wearing something that associates them with their teams or their department, they act in a responsible and dignified manner. They respect people as they would like to be respected themselves. They follow the rules of society and do not act as if they are special just because they are student-athletes. Most importantly, they give everyone who sees them a positive image of Titan student-athletes.

Theater and played water polo at Cypress Community College. “She wasn’t representing CSUF at the club.

“It’s a double standard. Girls do what they want and they’re dirty,” Person said.

Others, such as the president of the California National Organization for Women, Helen Grieco, and the executive director of the Women’s Sports Foundation, Donna Lopiano, agree with Person.

“It’s just sexist crap,” Grieco said.

She said the fact that collegiate and professional male athletes are protected by their coaches for criminal offenses such as drugs, rape and battery is hypocritical to the way women athletes are treated.

“A woman is doing something legal, to earn a living, and she loses,” Grieco said. “If women were paid as much as men on all levels, it wouldn’t be so enticing for them to use their body to make money. That is what’s so hideous about it.”

After reading the Athlete Code of Conduct, Lopiano said Rios shouldn’t have been kicked off the team because she didn’t associate herself with the

team when she was at the club.

“It appears discriminatory that the men were not similarly disciplined,” Lopiano said. “They were wearing garb that identified them as student-athletes, unlike the female. Her behavior is perfectly legal, and so is theirs. But if the college considers stripping at a club to be a serious offense, so it should be equally serious to engage in the behavior of going to a strip club.”

A year later, Rios is still angered by Elders’ decision.

“I don’t represent the school when I work,” Rios said. “It’s two totally different things.

“He shouldn’t worry about the image of the team. I don’t care what anybody thinks of me,” she said. “He shouldn’t care about what other people think.”

But Elders does care. He said he would have made the same decision, whether it’s an all-American athlete or the last runner on his team, because a stripper represents his program negatively.

Rios consulted a lawyer last year and considered filing a lawsuit. But she says she doesn’t want any money and doesn’t want to hurt the university’s

8 Weekend, March 16, 2001

NEWS

Daily Titan Crossword Puzzle

STALKER n from page 1 want to be his friend, according to the report. The friend refused and when she got into her car, Chu held onto the door handle and continued to beg, the report said. Finally, the friend agreed to take Chu’s phone number to give to the victim. The report said the friend viewed Chu as desperate but not angry.

On Feb. 21, Chu left a note and candy on the victim’s desk and tried to make conversation with her, the report said. The victim refused and reported to the teacher that he was bothering her. The teacher spoke with Chu, according to the report.

After class the victim left quickly but Chu caught up with her in the Quad, the report said. When she tried to leave him he allegedly grabbed her arm. Chu allegedly grabbed her arm two additional times when the vic-

Answers will be published in the March 23 Daily Titan

ACROSS 1. The addition of two numbers 3. A song by Soul for Real 8. Gangster George Kelly 10. Fe 11. To take with oneself to a place 15. Of the same measure, quantity or value as another 16. Where the Democrats National Convention was held in 2000 19. A preference that interferes with impartial judgement 21. To mock 22. An ice cream flavor 23. A red fleshy vegetable

DOWN 2. Soft, pulpy matter 3. A geometric shape 4. To pull or jerk with force 5. Slogan is: “All the News That’s Fit to Print” 6. Being present everywhere 7. To shut with force 9. Morally good 12. Dashing, showy in appearance 13.____ Straits 14. A black seasoning 17. An image that is worshiped 18. A light golf stroke in an attempt to put the ball into the cup 20. A car

Last Week’s Crossword Puzzle Answer Key

tim tried to leave.

According to the report the victim became scared and stared crying. She asked a male student that she did not know to help her. The student called the police and was escorting her to her car and Chu followed them, police said.

When the police arrived, Chu was still following the victim and her escort. When the police asked Chu to identify himself he refused numerous times and was arrested for obstructing a police officer, police said.

Later, after Chu admitted to grabbing the victim’s arm, he was charged with assault and battery.

On March 9, the victim heard Chu call her name when she was leaving chemistry class. She warned him that he could get suspended and sent to jail for bothering her, the report said.

“I know, but if you would just listen to me, I will never bother you

again as long as I live,” was Chu’s reply as stated in the report.

The victim was concerned because he also asked her why she was not in class the day before, according to the report.

The victim called the police and Chu left.

The next contact Chu had with the victim was when he was waiting for her at her desk with candy and a travel book.

“We kind of take it personal when one of the students makes a nuisance of theirself like that. Things like this can happen to anyone,” Detective Keith Caires said. “We have to protect our homefront.”

Chu’s bail was set at $100,000 and was still in jail Thursday.

The campus police requested that Chu’s bail be raised because he continued to commit crimes while he was on bail for his prior charges of assault and battery and obstructing an officer, Caires said.

Weekend, March 16, 2001

Who’s liable for public library porn access?

By Jonathan Hansen Parents cannot force libraries and librarians to monitor the Internet usage of children who access pornography; said a California appellate court last week.

The case was filed on behalf of the parents of a 12-year-old boy who downloaded pornographic pictures ten times at Livermore’s main library in Northern California, and later printed these pictures out at a relative’s house and passed the pictures out to his friends.

The 1st District Court of Appeals in San Francisco rejected the claims of the boy’s mother and ruled that a library cannot be sued for damages for providing unsupervised Internet access.

In its 19-page opinion, the court said, “There is a crucial distinction between providing minors with harmful matter on the one hand, and maintaining computers where minors may obtain such matter, however easily, on the other.”

I think this case and the court’s ruling, besides being an instance of boys being boys, is a step in the right direction with regards to library Internet usage on more than one level and like the court said, the case draws some crucial distinctions.

First, libraries are and should be guardians of the First Amendment.

A library should be a facility of all ideas whether these ideas are popular or not. A library’s primary function is to facilitate learning by offering its patrons the ability to examine a multitude of viewpoints.

A library is not in the business of policing what people read, but in the business of providing patrons with the material that they wish to read.

I think restricting Internet usage in America’s public libraries contradicts a library’s primary purpose and is akin to burning books.

The Internet is a valuable resource for research on any number of subjects and restricting its usage is simply

wrong.

But don’t get me wrong.

I do not advocate downloading porn at our libraries especially by minors, but I think the court drew a second distinction in its recent ruling, and that distinction is — responsibility.

Parents alone should assume the responsibility for raising their children.

I know that it is impossible for parents to be with them all the time and I know that children do things they are not supposed to, but parents should teach them values.

These values, hopefully, will stick with the child and guide a child’s decisions.

The child will make mistakes in judgment, but that is where the real learning occurs and where the real parenting takes place.

Increasingly, America is becoming a society that refuses to take responsibility for anything.

We blame everyone but ourselves and after we are done pointing fingers, we sue the person or people at whom we were pointing.

It was my parent’s fault, societies fault or the librarian’s fault.

This case snatches the blame away from library employees for watching what children do and correctly places the responsibility where it belongs — with the parents.

Besides, do parents really want critical decisions about their children to be made by underpaid public servants?

Also, the damage done to minors who see pictures of naked people, in my opinion, is minimal. With cable, magazines and videos, kids have enough alternatives to the Internet in learning about sexuality and total sheltering is virtually impossible.

Children are going to learn about sex and sexuality somewhere and that is why it is important parents play a crucial role in this education by assuming responsibility at home.

— Hansen is a Daily Titan Staff Writer and any response to this column can be sent via e-mail to dailytitan@yahoo. com

Unscheduled classes are unfair to students

By Amy Rottier This semester a CSUF instructor cancelled one of his scheduled classes so he could make it to the opening day of Dodger Stadium, which he hasn’t missed in seven years.

But, he warns the class, “This is not a free day off.”

In order for the teacher to be able to attend this opening day of baseball, his students must make up the missed class on a Saturday field trip that is worth 15 percent of the grade.

The syllabus includes this trip so conflicting plans aren’t made.

But what if a student already has plans? Like work, for instance.

It is hard enough for students to survive with full school loads, homework to go with it, and work to support themselves. As for free time — yeah right. To take a Saturday off of work, away from homework, or away from personal sanity is an unfair request.

Since the class schedule book mentions nothing of any Saturday classes,

Please Note: Letters to the Editor should be brief and are subject to editing. They should also include a signature and telephone number. They can be addressed to The Daily Titan, College Park 670, CSUF, Fullerton, CA 92834 or e-mailed to dailytitan@yahoo. com.

Editorials are the opinion of the editorial board, comprised of the Executive Editor, News Editors and section editors.

Columns are the personal opinion of the writer. They do not reflect those of the university, the faculty, or the student body.

the professor has to offer an alternate way to make up the points.

A five to eight page research paper is given as the only option. This seems more like a punishment for missing a field trip explained as fun and involves a mere few hours of checking out geological occurrences.

A five to eight page research paper involves hours of research on top of hours of writing. This seems unjust and even discriminatory. Kind of like when professors create their make-up tests to be more difficult.

How can a teacher take a day off for recreation and expect his students to make up his vacation day on a Saturday. It’s not like the students get the whole day off. Most of them have to come to school anyway. Having this class cancelled might even create huge gaps in their schedule to where they are stuck on campus with hours to kill.

Teachers rarely tolerate student absences, especially for baseball games. Some teachers even require written documentation of authenticity of absences. And if a student misses more than a designated amount, often times their grade is lowered.

Let us not forget that students are paying the instructors to teach them, not to rearrange their schedules at their whim.

This instructor covers himself by offering the alternative, but it isn’t fair.

My question is, shouldn’t the instructor handle the situation more responsibly? And if an instructor knows about his absence, legitimate or not that far in advance, how hard is it to find a substitute teacher? It can’t be that hard for a general education, 100 level class.

And if a field trip is included in the syllabus it should be made for a day when class is scheduled. Expecting students to make up a professor’s personal recreation day with one of their personal days is unacceptable.

Like professors, students have really busy lives outside of jam-packed school schedules. Even if students don’t have to work or other important engagements on the weekends, they deserve a little rest.

— Rottier is a Daily Titan Staff Writer and any response to this

Campus Voices n Reporting on alleged incidents I am writing in response to an article that your newspaper published in March 8, 2001. The article concerns allegations of an incident that happened at the Cobb Residence Hall on the morning of March 6, 2001. The article that was published was written in a very unprofessional manner. First, the alleged incident was an individual act, and did not involve Sigma Pi Fraternity in any way, shape, or form. The article claims that I was arrested at the Sigma Pi house. This is completely wrong. I was arrested at 2100 Teri. Pl. This is a housing complex, and is in no way recognized by CSUF, the city, or Sigma Pi Fraternity International as an operational fraternity house. The slightest amount of research by a decent reporter could have absolved this misinformation.

There was absolutely no reason to mention the fraternity in the article. To slander the good name of a great organization, simply to enhance sensationalism in a story is poor journalism. Second there were no interviews given by people involved in the alleged incident. Without a first-hand account of alleged incidents, the story is incomplete. Only bits and pieces of the night were published, leading readers to an un-fair, and un-found conclusion. (Once again, poor journalism.) The article mentions e-mails that are described as harassing. By who’s account? The reporter did not personally read related e-mails, nor was anyone questioned about them. I have not been brought up on any charges of harassment, nor have I been convicted of any. To report these as “harassment-related e-mails,” is completely out of line. In

Next time an evening at the movies is planned, better bring the big bucks. As theaters plan to raise prices in the near future, taking a date to see the latest new release may prove to be too costly for many college students.

Everything seems to be more expensive these days. Clothes are more expensive. Food is more expensive. Even newspapers are becoming more expensive, with the Los Angeles Times doubling the price of a weekday paper.

Or is it that everything is becoming cheaper? Lower priced cars make the dream of owning a new car affordable for more people than in recent decades. Stores like Styles For Less and Clothestime offer good clothes at even better prices.

And for cheaper food, just ask anyone on this campus how much they can buy at for three dollars at Del Taco.

So where does the movie industry fit it?

The increase in price (up to $10 per evening ticket) is only an increase of about $1.50. And shouldn’t movie-goers expect to pay more for what they essentially are demanding?

The expectations of the average movie patron are nothing like they used to be. A simple plot with some nice shots of a sunset is no longer enough to satisfy. Movie watchers want to see dinosaurs and meteors destroying New York City and creating those images can cost thousands if not millions of dollars.

Besides the increasing cost of film production, resulting in big ticket movies, theaters must also battle the increasing costs of general operations.

With utility bills on the rise, the average movie theater will spend $4200 a week to show the films and keep the lights

— Michael R. Schreiber (PLEASE NOTE: THIS LETTER TO THE EDITOR WAS PRINTED AS IS AND WITHOUT ANY CORRECTIONS MADE)

n Media misrepresents women in politics Men, prostitutes, and evil, overbearing witches.

Sounds like the weekend programming on the WB? Even worse. It’s the list of the very few ways the media represents women in national politics.

Let me clarify myself with examples. Janet Reno, we all know her as the sweaty, insecure dictator of her own dance party on Saturday Night Live, (played

by Will Farrell, a male actor). Likewise, the media has made much ado about Katherine Harris’s cosmetic decisions, resulting in the over-sexualization of Florida’s secretary of state (think: less like Giselle in a micro-mini, more like old French whore). Finally, Hillary Clinton, in her pre-Yiddish accent, posttwang days, was treated harshly for her leadership in promoting universal health care — and let’s not mention the word she was called that rhymes with those who mythology has riding on broomsticks.

Yet we know these women were neither males, street walkers, nor practitioners of Wicca. They were politicians in powerful roles who were unafraid to take risks and stood strong in the midst of controversy.

Our new First Lady Laura Bush, however, has somehow evaded such gross characterizations. In fact, she gets flattering coverage on the front page of the LA Times for traveling to Texas to redecorate her ranch.

In a story slugged “Laura Bush: Job Success,” that appeared in February 19th’s LA Times, Bush is portrayed as a woman of “good breeding” whose accomplishments in her first month as first lady include picking a pretty dress for the inauguration, and moving the first lady’s office “back to its traditional place in the East Wing, a statement” the LA Times notes, “that she would not be med-

Cost of tickets on the rise, but you get what you pay for

By Melanie Bysouth

fact, once of the females involved has attempted to gain contact with the newspaper on several occasions.

It is her desire to help clear some of the confusion regarding alleged incidents. There has been no reply from the Daily Titan as of yet. Are we to infer that the Daily Titan does not wish to follow up on a frontpage article? Or should we assume that the Daily Titan is not concerned with truths, but rather sensationalism? Only time will answer these questions.

Lastly, the article makes reference to “Schreiber's victims.” Once again, I have not been convicted of a crime. Furthermore, considering nobody involved in the alleged incidents was injured in any way, this description is misleading and slanderous. The article goes on to describe my car, which has a personalized Sigma Pi licenses plate. After the publication of the article in question, my car has been the recipient of more than one act of vandalism. I believe this to be the direct result of your poorly written accounts of alleged incidents. The article completely slandered my name, as well as that of my fraternity. I believe a printed apology and a retraction of all inaccurate, misleading, and circumstantial statements is in order.

I will be waiting for a response in the newspaper.

and video games running. Payroll costs have also effected expenses as minimum wage continues to rise.

And with movie watchers demanding stadium seating and THX stereo sound theatre owners are scrambling to renovate old theaters while building new state-of-the-art facilities they hope will exceed movie-goers expectations.

So as the theaters change with the times, is it asking too much for the average person to help pay for all the changes?

It’s not like the ticket counter is the only place a movie patron hands over their money. With $5 buckets of popcorn, $3 boxes of candy and $4 cups of soda, theaters are most certainly turning a sizable product. But who says you have to buy all those snacks?

Movie-goers can eat first or forego the munchies for a few hours. And if you must have snacks at the movies, people have been known to bring their own.

And speaking of choices, no one is forcing you to go to the eight o’clock showing. There are afternoon movies and most matinee prices run into the early evening.

For those who insist on seeing films in the evening, the Titan Student Union frequently shows new releases for free and a college I.D. card will offer a discount at virtually all movie houses.

There is also the option of waiting until the new movies arrive at the bargain theaters, where the average cost is about $2.

So there is really nothing to complain about. Ten-dollar movie tickets may seem excessive but no one is making movie-goers buy them. But if you feel like boycotting the theaters in protest, the local video store will be happy to fill the void.

— Bysouth is a Daily Titan Staff Writer and any response to this column can be sent via e-mail to dailytitan@yahoo. com

dling in matters of policy” (italics are mine). In an article appearing later that same week in the Times, she was described as a “homemaker” whose itinerary included major meetings with first-graders, the White House chefs, florists and ushers.

Now don’t get me wrong. Bush is not my target here. I like to think of myself as an enlightened feminist, one who respects the decisions that all women make, no matter how traditional, as long as they are the true authors of their own choices. So, First Lady Bush, if drapes and appetizers are your thing, you go girl.

But the media, those who are usually accused of liberal bias, are worse than being simply one-sided.

Behind your PETA wall calendar, you hide your reverence for James Bond-esque chauvinism, and you are quick to protect the former president’s own objectification of the women in his life. I bet you even tape Baywatch.

It seems that you, the media, don’t think women should be in politics. If female politicians exert their leadership skills, they are really just men in skirts.

Or, if they show any sign of femininity, they are over-sexualized or praised for the traditionally subject role as housewives.

If that’s the message, they should know that we see them for the Rudy from Survivor they really are — narrow-minded, old-fashioned, and blindly loyal to white males with questionable ethics. And like our old pal Rudy, you, my journalist friends, better keep your opinion to yourself if you want to survive.

— Minna Easter

Weekend, March 16, 2001

Sun Devils take out Titans, 6-4 nKIA KLASSIC:CSUF falls to 0-2 in home tournament

By Caesar Contreras

Daily Titan Copy Editor It wasn’t as heartbreaking as the last loss but Arizona State’s 6-3 win over the Cal State Fullerton softball team on Thursday evening hurt in a different way.

Behind solid pitching and timely hitting the Sun Devils handed CSUF its second loss of the Kia Klassic and made the Titans 0-2 in Pool C of the Klassic.

ASU (23-7) improved to 2-0 in Pool C with the win over CSUF (20-8) and along with the winner of a Thursday night game between Fresno State or Oklahoma makes ASU the only undefeated team in the 16team tournament.

The loss makes CSUF’s game today against DePaul a must win. If the Titans go 0-3 in pool play they will have to face the top-seeded Pool B team and that may be Arizona, the number two-ranked team in the nation.

But Titan Head Coach Michelle Gromacki wasn’t thinking about any potential matchups after the ASU loss.

“We came in fired up but made some mistakes and found ourselves down,” Gromacki said. “We just have to take one game at a time and not worry about who will play.”

CSUF got the lead early as a Jenny Topping RBI double scored Gina Oaks in the first inning and a Julie Watson RBI bunt scored Jodie Cox, Watson reached first base on the fielder’s choice.

The Sun Devils rallied back in the third inning of right-hander Cox as three straight RBI singles scored three ASU runs.

Both teams added runs in the fifth inning as a Erica Beach RBI single scored Kara Brun for a 4-2 Sun Devil lead. But Topping hit a mammoth home run off Kirsten Voak to make the game 4-3.

Topping’s seventh home run of the season and 31st RBI sailed over right field and landed in the adjacent softball field where another Kia game was being played.

A tight 4-3 game got broken open in the seventh inning as Sun Devil third basemen Phelan Wright launched a RBI triple to score

Brun and a error by Titan shortstop Amanda Hockett scored Wright.

Wright finished the game with three hits and two runs batted in.

The extra run support helped make Beach a relaxed pitcher as she entered the bottom of the seventh inning.

“Those extra runs helped out because one long ball and the game could have went extra innings,” Beach said.

The right-hander got her second save of the season as Voak picked up her eighth win against two losses.

Cox went the distance as she fell to 9-3.

Beach was pleased with her team’s great start at the Kia. “It was important to win this game for our morale and to help us win the pool,” Beach said. “It will just make our opponent in the elimination bracket easier.”

Right now CSUF’s chances in the elimination bracket look bleak but today’s game against the Blue Demons will determine CSUF’s Kia fate.

DePaul is 1-1 in pool play with a 4-1 win over North Carolina and 3-0 loss to the Sun Devils.

DAVID RIVERA/Daily Titan

Gina Oaks’ headfirst slide into home plate gave the Titans an early lead last night.

Pieces are falling in place for Titans nBASEBALL: Newcomers help round out CSUF into complete unit as Cal Poly series begins tonight

By Damian Calhoun

Daily Titan Asst. Sports Editor Last season Mike Rouse was a fixture on the Cal State Fullerton bench.

This season, Rouse is a fixture in the Titan lineup at shortstop, starting in 17 of the Titans’ 19 games this season As the 25th ranked Titans (11-8) welcome the Cal Poly Mustangs into Goodwin Field for a three-game series beginning tonight, Rouse is just happy to be on the field.

“Sitting out last season was tough, it feels great to be out on the field and competing with my teammates,” Rouse said. “Even though I didn’t play last season, I still had fun. But you can only have so much fun in practice.”

“When all you do is practice, you are never able to get the finality of watching all of the things that the coaches teach you and what you work on in practice come forward in a game,” Rouse said.

Rouse is doing more than just competing this season. Rouse, a junior transfer from San Jose State, is the Titans’ leading hitter with a .333 batting average and one of the main reasons that CSUF’s offense has awakened in the past two weeks.

In the Titans’ three-game sweep over the Houston Cougars, CSUF pounded out 22 runs on 35 hits in what head coach George Horton calls the team’s best offensive performance of the season.

“That was the best and consistent offensive series that we have had this season,” Horton

said. “What made it good was that we didn’t rely on any one particular guy, it was a complete effort by the entire team.”

“They executed very well,” Horton said of the team’s stay in Houston. “Our plate discipline was excellent. We used our walks and that helped our running offense that helped us get our run production.”

Also helping the Titans were the facts that the Cougars were struggling and their starting pitching wasn’t on the same level as some of the other pitchers that CSUF has faced this season.

“It wasn’t easier going against freshman pitchers,” Horton acknowledged. “But it was obvious that the quality of their pitching staff wasn’t the same as we have faced before.”

Which leads CSUF into this weekend’s three-game non-conference series against conference foe the Mustangs (16-5). Jon Smith (4-0, 2.06) will start the series tonight against Brian Haskell (2-0, 4.10).

Cal Poly, under the direction of Head Coach Ritch Price, heads into town on the strength of an eight-game winning streak.

Offensively, the Mustangs are led by outfielders Bryan Gant (.385 12 RBI) and Phil Thompson (.369 13 RBI). Both guys played a key role in the Mustangs’ 8-0 record last week.

“The program under Price has made steady improvements each year. They had a down period in ’98 when they had a lot of seniors graduate, but I do not expect them to go through a period like that again,” Horton said.

“The way they are playing, they will only get better by the time conference time starts.”

Another bonus from the recent trip to Houston, was the performance of freshman starting pitcher Darric Merrell. Merrell (1-1, 1.63) earned his first win of his Titan career with a seven and 1/3 outing last Saturday.

Babak earns NCAA honor in first day of Iowa meet

By Raul Ascencio

Daily Titan Sports Editor

DAVID RIVERA/Daily Titan

After sitting out last season, Mike Rouse has become one of the Titans top threats.

Merrell will take his customary Saturday start against Cal Poly right-hander Tyler Fitch (2-1, 4-50). The series concludes Sunday with Kirk Saarloos (4-2, 1.31) opposing Jared Blasdell (3-1, 6.03).

“That was his best outing of the season,” Horton said of Merrell’s start against the

Final meet of the year has CSUF in

C

O M M E N T A R Y

March Madness illicits hefty workplace

By Jim Reynosa

Daily Titan Staff Writer

nGYMNASTICS: Ranked sixth in the region, Titans prep for strong competitors

By Melanie Bysouth

Daily Titan Staff Writer After a meet that found Cal State Fullerton setting nine records in a dominating victory at home, the Titans are focused and ready for the challenge that awaits them in Corvallis, OR this Saturday.

CSUF, ranked sixth in the region, will face University of Washington, Oregon State and Seattle Pacific University in a meet that will be the last of the season, with only the Big West championship and regionals remaining.

“We are very excited about the meet,” head coach Julie Knight said. “If we hit the routines, we will beat our 195.075.”

The Titans strongest opponent will be the OSU Beavers who are ranked third in the Big West and 15th in the nation. The Beavers also feature four nationally ranked team members, with two ranking on more than one apparatus.

Although the Beavers lost their last meet, to the University of Utah (ranked second in the nation). OSU still managed to earn a team score of 196.050. With scores like that, they will offer great challenge to the Titans.

Also boasting high scores are the UOW

Cougars. “He hasn’t had a chance to establish himself because of all of the rainouts that we had, but he pitched aggressive and he was successful, we do not have any reservations about sending him to the mound.

“He will win a lot of games for us this season,” Horton concluded.

Senior Babak Nejadmaghaddam, the lone CSUF representative in the NCAA Championships, fulfilled an evading four-year dream of “All-American” glory Thursday, as he tussled to an infallible 2-0 record in the first two rounds of play.

In his opening afternoon bout, the 197-pounder squeaked past Ryan Pallinger of American University by a 7-6 score.

Babak’s evening match with Pittsburgh’s David Sandburg proved to be just as tedious, as a late-round takedown granted Nejadmaghaddam a 3-2 triumph.

The acquisition of his first All-American honor does not mark the culmination of Babak’s collegiate career just yet. Nejadmaghaddam, still stationed in Iowa City, will hit the mat again tonight, competing in the quarterfinals against 5th ranked Owen Elzen of Minnesota.

If Nejadmaghaddam’s trademark technical agility should carry him into Saturday’s finals, he will be first Titan to claim a second or better position in the NCAA Championships.

MICHELLE GUTIERREZ/Daily Titan

Joanna Hughes provides the balance as CSUF beams toward the year’s end.

Huskies, ranked fourth in the Big West and 21st in the nation. With two nationally ranked team members, the Huskies hope to continue their recent improvement of their regional qualifying score (RQS) and defeat the Beavers in Corvallis, something UW has never done.

Offering virtually no threat to the Titans regional ranking, the SPU Falcons can hope only to avenge the devastating losses in recent meets and end their season on a positive note.

With less than three-quarters of a point separating third-ranked Oregon from seventhranked Boise, the race for the regionals is far from over.

As team scores continue to climb throughout the Big West region, CSUF will face more competitors than the three waiting for them in Corvallis.

While focusing on the quad meet, the Titans cannot ignore fifth-ranked California or seventh-ranked Boise, as both schools possess extremely high scores they hope to include in their RQS. “If we do our best and score higher than a 195.075, and Boise scores a 194.250, we will stay ahead of them,” Knight said.

Yet both Cal, with a 196.075, and Boise, with 197.050, risk losing their highest scores if

With the NASDAQ falling faster then the spacestation Mir we, here in the sports section of the Daily Titan, have figured a nifty way to boast the economy.

Simply sweep all the offices and frat houses here on campus this week.

It’s that time again, time to fill out those little brackets that are found in every paper in America.

And even if you know nothing about NCAA Basketball championships, you do know enough to pick some teams and put down a few bucks in an office pool.

But did you know that you are breaking the law?

In case you have forgotten, wagering actual money is still against the law in these United States except for Nevada. But Nevada doesn’t count.

But when it comes to NCAA hoops office pools, we all take the persona of police captain Renualt in the film “Casablanca,” who says to Rick Blaine: “I am shocked, shocked to discover gambling in this establishment!” And just as he finishes the quote, a clerk approaches and hands Renault some chips: “Your winnings, sir.”

“Oh, thank you very much. Now clear this casino,” Renault says.

The troubling aspect here is that all this office pool wagering is on college athletics. Doesn’t the NCAA have enough problems with athletes having the graduation rate as high as their show size, or boosters supplying fake jobs to athletes and

Bobby Knight throttling various students? Also, Jerry Tarkanian insists on recruiting from Twin Towers. Wait a minute, Fresno State is in the tournament with a record of 25-6. Maybe Coach Daniels should ask Tarkanian for some advice?

Anyway, it’s just a shame.

Many say that NCAA pools are an innocent distraction but we disagree. Hundreds of thousands of man-hours are lost each year due to the office pool; why, the tool in Xerox paper and toner alone is enough to bankrupt the Marshall Islands.

What is it about our culture that we cannot seem to enjoy a sporting event without some wager attached to it? Would anyone have watched the Super Bowl this past January if they didn’t have money on it? You know some sort of proposition bet such as who would score the first receiving touchdown? (Brandon Stokley! Woo Hoo! Err..ahem) College basketball should be appreciated for it’s true virtues: unbridled school spirit, athletes who play the game for the love it, and being able to watch a team mascot get the crap beaten out of it in the parking lot. And for my money, that is the ultimate in school spirit.

So go ahead; continue with your office pool.

But don’t be surprised if the police suddenly burst in yelling “Raid!” and slap you in cuffs. And then you, my friend, will be going to jail for a long, long time.

But don’t worry. As we are writing this, members of the campus police are asking us for advice.

Take Gonzaga with the points.