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U.S. military deaths in Iraq (March 2003-Oct. 26, 2005)
2,001
Last Wednesdayʼs death toll 1,982 The Associated Press
Page 10
American deaths in Iraq at 2,001 Somber milestone reminds US of heroes lost in ongoing war By COURTNEY BETH Daily Titan Staff
The American death toll in Iraq reached over 2,001 Wednesday, with the announcement that a soldier died in an accident the night
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before. The soldier, whose identity was withheld pending notification of relatives, died in a vehicle accident Tuesday evening near Camp Bucca, a U.S. detention center in southern Iraq, the military said. “As an American, I am feeling sad,” said Sgt. Robert Cisneros of the Cal State Fullerton military science department. “Iʼm sorry for the soldiers who were killed. We have a job to do, and death is a part
of war.” A roadside bomb destroyed a Humvee in a U.S. convoy on Wednesday, but no American casualties were reported in that attack. A U.S. warplane also struck a suspected insurgent safe house near the Syrian border Wednesday and may have killed a senior al-Qaida operative in Iraq. The figure was identified only as Abu Dua, who assisted in smuggling Syrian and Saudi fighters into Iraq, the U.S.
military said. The U.S. Senate on Tuesday observed a moment of silence in honor of the fallen Americans. “We owe them a deep debt of gratitude for their courage, for their valor, for their strength, for their commitment to our country,” said Republican Majority Leader Bill Frist. The milestone came amid growing doubts among the U.S. public about the Iraq conflict, which was
launched in March 2003 to destroy Saddam Husseinʼs alleged weapons of mass destruction. No such arms were ever found. “When you think of the numbers of people who went into this war versus other wars, itʼs still a smaller number,” said James Alexander of the Armyʼs military recruitment office in Newport Beach. “Itʼs bad that thereʼs a loss of a comrade, IRAQ 4
CSUF jumps to top of list
Tiny miracle
Programs on campus help students find solutions to graduate
Titan population beats other Cal States with highest enrollment
By KARI HAMANAKA Daily Titan Staff
By DANICA HART
Next spring will be the first semester at Cal State Fullerton for Han-wen Liang, but he has already used one of the universityʼs programs designed to aid student retention and increase graduation rates. The international business major recently submitted his application to the Educational Opportunity Program admissions office at University Hall room 231. This program provides support for students who are financially and educationally disadvantaged. “I just want to improve my English and my final goal is a bachelorʼs degree,” Liang said. Liang, a transfer student from Mount San Antonio College, moved to the United States from Taiwan in 2001. He said that the transition to learn English has been a little tough. The program is one of many programs under Student Retention Services that encourages students to complete their degree requirements and help increase their understanding of what it takes to successfully complete a degree. “We have to keep students in check,” said Ruben Garcia, EOP student assistant. “They have to meet their counselor four times during the semester. We help them with money and help them with classes.” Ensuring that college students stay in school and graduate RETENTION 4
Daily Titan Staff
focused on living with disabilities and disability awareness. The Dayle McIntosh Center, which spearheaded the event, offers a wide range of services to people with disabilities. “This event is about raising awareness,” said Rene Blest, a housing coordinator at the center. “There are people with disabilities in every age group.” Blest said that this event served to empower people with disabilities by teaching them about the different agencies that specialize in assisting them. She also hoped that those with-
With 35,040 students enrolled at Cal State Fullerton this fall semester, itʼs no surprise that it is the most populated campus of all 23 Cal State Universities. In fall 2004, CSUF was ranked third on the list for highest enrollment. The top five went to: Long Beach State with 33,479 students; San Diego State with 32,936 students; CSUF with 32,744 students; Cal State Northridge with 31,341 students; and San Jose State with 29,044 students. There are many factors that attribute to the increase of 2,296 students from last fall. “Our population is due to a combination of things. I think itʼs our location, the programs we have to offer and I think itʼs just general interest,” said Nancy J. Dority, assistant vice president for enrollment services. Students often determine which colleges to attend based on the programs and majors that the college offers. Both Rori Garfinkel and Tabitha Tetreault decided to attend CSUF because of the music education program offered. “Basically, when I was doing my research for what schools had good teaching credential programs and music education programs, I called CSUF and had the opportu-
DISABILITY 4
ENROLLMENT 4
OANA PUCAR/For the Daily Titan
Caiya Jewel Chornomud, nicknamed baby Chornomud by the staff, was born on August 25, 2005. A week after she was born, she was transferred to CHOC from Hoag Hospital due to increased respiratory complications. She lies in an incubator napping. Dwight Chornomud, baby Chornomud’s father, said “CHOC is one of the best children’s hospital in California and the NICU nurses are unbelievable.” Photo essay on page 3
Workshop spreads awareness of disabilities, help available Organizations, health agencies from OC host event on campus By ROBERT MCCRUM For the Daily Titan
Stand-up comedian Alex Valdez remembers his first show quite well. It was on June 6, 1977, at the Comedy Store in Westwood, Calif. When his name was announced, a sunglasses-clad Valdez made his way to the stage, guiding himself with a bright white cane. There, he turned to the audience and said, “Well, as you can all tell by
now, I am totally deaf.” The audience howled with laughter. At the third annual Disabilities Rights Workshop held at Cal State Fullerton on Oct. 20, Valdez said that he would not let his disability determine the course of his life. “I chose to make the very most of who I am,” he told his audience in the Titan Student Union Pavilion. “Disabilities may make us look different on the outside, but inside we are all very much the same.” The event was organized by several Orange County nonprofit organizations, as well as by the Health Care Agency of California. It consisted of speeches that
Student artists display work Titans awarded cash prizes for art piece entries in contest By JORDAN MASTAGNI Daily Titan Staff
Cal State Fullerton art students display their talents in an exhibit at Titan Student Union, on display through Nov. 4. Works line the glass case in the gallery, with pieces ranging in style from abstracts to sculptures and glass designs.
“There is a limit of one piece per student with size limitations being 3 feet by 4 feet for the flat pieces and about 18 square inches for the 3-D pieces,” said Greg Hansen, a graphic services manager for Associated Students Inc. The top three out of the 66 entries were awarded cash prizes. First place entitled, “Your word have I hidden in my heart” by Carla Rogue, took home $200; second place, “Society’s ties-fleeting dreams” by Michael Edtinger, $125; and third place, “Sun over New Orleans,” by Robin ProvartKelly, $75.
Rogue’s first place submission, which took over 35 hours to complete, was inspired by scripture from the Bible that refers to holding on to the word of God. “I started this piece in the beginning of the semester and it eventually was critiqued for an art class about two weeks ago,” Rogue said. Michelle Cairella of the Fullerton College Art Gallery was in charge of judging all of the submitted artwork. The diversity of the display ART SHOW 4
JAMIE FLANAGAN/Daily Titan
Juniors Vanessa Lee, Shelly Ruvalcaba, and Adriana Ruvalcaba admire Ruvalcaba’s painting and other pieces created by CSUF students in the TSU Center Gallery on Tuesday.