C A L I F O R N I A
S T A T E
U N I V E RS I T Y ,
F U L L E R T O N
“Episode II: Attack of the Clones” scores better than “Phantom Menace,” but not by much
INSIDE NEWS: As a graduate, Megan Berry 3 nretired from the CSUF gymnastics team
—see Detour page 4
sports: Basketball coaches are 8 nconcerned about Allen Iverson’s pressconference comments about practice
T h u r s d ay
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M a y 23, 2002
Titan lab accommodates growing populanLIBRARY: The center continually works to update its services for the more than 30,000 students on campus By Angela Lopez
Special to the Titan Where is the most worn-out stretch of carpet in the main campus library? Where can you find Cal State Fullerton students burning the midnight oil during the last two weeks of the semester? For answers to both questions, look no further than the Titan Computer Lab in the library’s basement, where students come in droves to complete their
last minute assignments for the spring semester. Churning out papers, reports and final projects — students watch the hours go by while writing, e-mailing, surfing, downloading, researching and printing. For many of them the computer lab becomes their home away from home. But with all the things that can go wrong with 240 computers, 12 printers and 4 scanners, how does the lab run so smoothly? The answer lies not on the state of the art technology found in the lab, but on the people that work there. Rakhee Mistry, a student consultant at the Titan Computer Lab, is one of those people. Students may not know Mistry’s name, but her face is recognized all over campus. In the two years she has worked
at the lab, she has helped many students save their files, print their papers and “Zip” large files for e-mailing. It is 1:30 p.m. on a Friday and Mistry, an Information Systems senior, has just been relieved from her morning shift. She has been at the lab since 7:30 a.m. helping students with computer problems. From May 13 through the end of the spring semester the computer lab is opened extended hours to accommodate students working on final projects. “During the peak hours we have been at maximum capacity,” Mistry said. “It can get pretty stressful. “ Students depend on the computer lab since most courses today incorporate computers, Web pages or discussion boards as teaching and learning tools. The computer lab becomes an extension
of the classroom, playing a vital part in the students’ lives. “Students have projects due and deadlines,” Mistry said. “When something is not working they get mad at you, but I see it as just part of the job. I take it from the student’s perspective, because I am a student too.” Mistry, like each of the other 15 student consultants at the computer lab, is working under double pressure. They juggle their time between their on-campus jobs and their own school assignments. “I spend about 40 to 50 hours on campus,” Mistry said, “I don’t mind it, because I like what I do. I get to meet a lot of interesting people. Some students are regulars to the lab, so over time, we have become friends. I also enjoy
spending time with the students that I work with. We have a good team.” Consultants in the computer lab are trained not only on the technical aspects of the job, but also on good customer service. Afsaneh Hamedani, the Titan Computer Lab’s coordinator, lists interpersonal skills as the number one qualification for the job. She believes in maintaining an open environment among the students. “The more experienced students help the new hires,” Hamedani said. “Everybody helps each other and it is OK to ask questions. Our key word is teamwork.” The Titan Computer Lab is run like a customer service business. Amir Dabirian, the computer lab’s director since 1997, continuously looks for ways
to improve its operation. “My priority is to make sure the lab is the best it can be for students, Dabirian said. “They are our customers. Our goal is to have zero down time for the equipment to better serve the student population. “ The lab has been challenged by an upward trend in student growth. Last fall CSUF student enrollment surpassed the 30,000 mark – so the staff is constantly implementing new changes in an effort to run a more efficient operation. As part of this effort, the computer lab’s staff educates students on how to best utilize the many resources the lab has to offer.
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Child receives second chance nHEALTH: Linda Kerchner adopted a boy who shows symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome Third in Three Part Series But Rusty’s family gives him all the support possible. Kerchner encourages her son to do anything he is capaIt’s not very often that a ble of. child puts a lifetime sentence “We pray we can protect on their parents, but for one him and keep him out of family this is reality. the criminal justice system, Rusty was 2 1/2 months old knowing full well that many when Diane Kerchner and her kids like ours end up in jail husband brought him home. due to their lack of impulse When he was 3 years old they Kerchner control,” she said. adopted him and the social The Kerchners take trips to worker told them he might have fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). the local jail to instill in Rusty the value And the struggle progressed ever since. of not committing a crime and ending Rusty, now 7, is a brunet with brown up there. “We began this when he was six,” eyes. “He is cute,” his mother Diane she said. Although Kerchner loves Rusty very Kerchner said. “His nose is well defined, no longer flat, and his eyes no longer much she admits that living with an alcohol-exposed child is quite different show traces of epicantal folds.” But behind the little boy, is a child than she expected it to be. “We lock up all our food to keep whose future was snatched away even him from raiding the pantry and totally before he was born. Although Kerchner said Rusty is unpacking the contents of it onto the not officially diagnosed with FAS, he floor at night when he cannot sleep,” shows many symptoms that she said she said. But even locking up is not sufficient are definitely linked to his birth mother, enough for keeping Rusty out of miswho drank alcohol while pregnant. “Several of his physicians have seen chief. Kerchner said there are some preventhe features in him and no one has ever questioned me on this, but the geneticist tative measures they use to save time wouldn’t call it a syndrome because he and heartache. They have a motion detector sensor is also bipolar,” Kerchner said. “Many physicians hesitate to diagnose such installed in the hall to wake them up whenever Rusty awakens at night. They severe sentences without proofs.” Yet Kerchner said that it is alcohol for also have another installed inside the office in case Rusty succeeds in picking sure that did this to her son. “Rusty was exposed to methamphet- the door lock. “Although, if I am really tired, I amine and amphetamine and alcohol prenatally and tested positive for meth sometimes forget to turn it on,” she at birth,” she said. “He has a diagnosis said. And when that happens, there’s no of static encephalopathy and he has telling what Rusty might get his hands medically proven brain damage.” According to the FAS Community into. “Rusty is capable of trashing a room Resource center Web site, mofas.org, static encephalopathy is permanent or in minutes, due to his curiosity about everything,” Kerchner said. “We have unchanging brain damage. The site said that the effects on devel- had cut sheets with knives and scisopment depend on the part of the brain sors as well as totally destroyed rooms, involved and on the severity of the staples all over the floor, stuff pulled damage. Developmental problems may out and dumped, disorganized everyinclude any of a range of disabilities where.” And when it comes to cleaning, such as cerebral palsy, learning disabiliRusty wants nothing to do with it. ties and mental retardation. “He doesn’t make his bed very well “Rusty is qualified for special education under autistic-like behaviors,” yet, nor does he hang up his clothes, Kerchner said. “He is mildly autistic although he will be 8 in a month,” according to a norm test given by the Kerchner said. “His household skills are comparable to those of a 4 to 6school psychologist.” Because of his many incapabilities, year-old.” Rusty still doesn’t possess the capaRusty has a hard time making friends. He is often left out and tries to fit in and bility to unbutton his pants nor does he have the right skills to grasp to tie his Kerchner said he is sad and frustrated. She said he feels different from oth- shoes tightly. According to the Fetal Alcohol ers and knows he is different and he Syndrome Family Resource Institute’s doesn’t feel good about himself. “Rusty collects rocks and metal and Web site, fetalalcoholsyndrome.org, once took a shiny knife to school to children with the syndrome are unable impress people in an attempt to win to stay focused on tasks such as followfriends,” Kerchner said. “Rusty does not ing rules, finishing household chores, have a single friend in the world and has school assignments or keeping housebeen known to bring home invitations hold rules. to birthday parties which are addressed SYNDROME/ 4 to other kids.”
By Heather Hampton
Daily Titan Staff Writer
Laura L. Gaghan/Special to the Titan
Thrice belts out their hardcore punk sound to the huge crowd on hand at the Becker Amphitheater on Wednesday.
The Fullerton
Punk Invasion
By Laura L. Gaghan Special to the Titan
Do you know where local high school students are hanging out? They aren’t doing homework or studying for finals. They aren’t shopping at the malls picking out tuxedos or prom gowns. And they aren’t ditching class to see the latest band, Thrice, at Cal State Fullerton’s Becker Ampitheather on Wednesday at noon. Or are they? Tons of high school kids blew off afternoon classes yesterday to support Thrice, a four-piece punk band based out of Irvine that has been
together for more then three years. “It’s Thrice… it’s worth it,” said Christina Tate of Trabucco Hills High School. Thrice set out to play their 15-song set in the scorching heat and a huge crowd in attendance that required crowd control. “It was way more people then … it was amazing,” Dustin Kensrue said. Kensrue and Teppei Teranishi sing vocals and play guitar. Eddie Brekenridge, the bassist and Riley Brekenridge, the drummer, are brothers in the band too. Thrice ended their show with their own rendition of “Eleanor Rigby”
Tips encourage counter intellinSERVICE: Although it is not required, leaving 15-20 percent of the bill is often expected in the restaurant industry By Christine Zwaagstra Special to the Titan
Rachael stops in at her favorite coffee shop and a friendly face makes her a five-pump vanilla latte with soy over ice. She forks over cash for the coffee treat and when the smiling barista hands her back two quarters, she stares at the menial 50 cents and wonders if she should toss it into the tip jar.‑‑ So what is the standard for tipping that cutie behind the coffee counter? “Any tip is good, with the exception of pennies,” said Ryan O’Neill, 23, who works for Totally Coffee in Costa Mesa. He appreciates when customers
simply tip their change, thereby not holding up the line. While any tip will do for a cup of java, most services have tipping guidelines, which serve both ‘to ensure promptness’ and to show gratitude. The standard for tipping waiters and waitresses when the service is good is 15percent to 20 percent of the subtotal of the bill. Bartenders and cocktail waitresses should receive $1 to $2 per round for two to four people and more for larger groups. Roman Gutierrez, 30, a Cal State Fullerton student who has been waiting tables for five years, said while the standard is 15 percent, he averages 13 percent to 14 percent most of the time. Gutierrez pointed to off-duty police officers as the worst tippers, but gave no such specifics of the best tippers.‑ “Without a doubt, people in a good mood tip the best,” he said. Autumn Gray, 20, who has been working at Tony Roma’s for two
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years, said that Hispanics and African Americans have been stereotyped as being the worst tippers. “I really don’t know [why this stereotype exists]. I know that people in other countries don’t have the same tipping policy as here, or people think they get treated poorly because of what nationality they are,” she said. Gray added that even when tipped below the standard 15 percent she always tries to do her best. “I remember everyone that I’ve waited on and I still treat them the same each time,” she said. The standard for tipping a valet is generally $1 upon arrival and $1 upon departure or $2 to $3 total. Nicole Roloff, who works as both a valet and as a bellhop for Disney’s Grand California Hotel, said that there is the stereotype that people who drive expensive cars tend to tip poorly, if they bother to tip at all. “People with older, beat-up cars tip the best,” she said and cited tips from
$5 to $10. The standard for tipping a coat check or bellhop is $1 per coat or bag and $10 for bringing a person to the room with luggage. In some hotels, the bellhop will give a tour and provide other services, such as opening up the door and showing the room. Roloff suggested the more a bellhop does, the higher the tip should be. Hairstylists and manicurists should also be tipped appropriately, as a gratitude. Hairstylists should receive 10 percent to 15 percent of the bill and manicurists $1 or more depending on the cost. Taxicab drivers should receive 10 percent to 15 percent of the fare. Phil O’Neill, 21, a CSUF business major at Cal State Fullerton who works for Papa John’s Pizza, said that the pizza delivery guy appreciates $3 to $4 or 15 percent of the bill for bringing by a pizza pie.
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