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
THE DAILY TITAN M O N D AY, M A R C H 6 , 2 0 0 6
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Vo l u m e 8 2 , I s s u e 1 4
SPORTS
OPINION
Titans beat Jackrabbits, look to Big West Tournament Page 6
Media giants keep true art from prevailing at Oscars Page 5
Plan B Meets Road Block
CSUF offers DC internship Students have chance to work with political official on Capitol Hill By Nohemy Martinez
Daily Titan Staff Writer
Emergency contraceptive pill available in 13 states, including California By Jessica Escorsia
Daily Titan Staff Writer
Recent petitions to the Food and Drug Administration have prevented over-the-counter access to the emergency contraceptive pill, also known as Plan B. Petitions to the FDA to allow unprescribed access to the pill nationwide have been denied even though all criteria have been met. A recent investigation shows politics had an unusual role in the decision, said Kimberlee Ward, vice president of public affairs for Planned Parenthood of Orange County and San Bernardino County. “The big fight is about how to make [emergency contraceptive pill] available all over the country,” Ward said. Currently, 13 states allow pharmacies to provide the pill without a prescription, including California. It is then up to each pharmacy to decide whether to distribute the pill overthe-counter. Ralphʼs pharmacy on Harbor Boulevard in Fullerton sells the pill over-the-counter without a prescription. Ralphs pharmacist Louis Mguyen said they have been offering the pill for nearly two years. He said anybody who wants the pill could come in, fill out a form, pay $45 and get the pill in 15 to 20 minutes. When asked about age requirements or other types of restrictions, he said, “Anybody can get it, no questions asked.” The pill is a high dose of birth control, contrary to the misconception that itʼs the abortion pill, RU456, according to the Web site. Ward said those against the pill use this misconception to turn people against the pill. “Emergency contraception is not a medical abortion. It will not affect pregnancy. It is simply a resource for women,” said Mary Hermann, director of health education and promotion for the Cal State Fullerton Health and Counseling Center. The pill works only up to 72 hours after un-protected sex, failed protected sex or forced sex. Ninety-five percent of women who take the pill correctly are successful, according to the Web site. However, the pill will not work if the woman is already pregnant. Also, in order for a pharmacy to distribute the pill, the pharmacist must first complete an emergency contraceptive training program. The Health Center provides the pill to students after they have seen a nursing practitioner and received a prescription, Hermann said. Students cannot receive the pill from the CSUF pharmacy without a prescription, she SEE PLAN B = PAGE 3
BASKING IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Reese Witherspoon poses with the Oscar she won for best actress for her work in “Walk the Line” at the 78th Academy Awards Sunday. See page 4 for a list of the Oscar winners.
Faculty Rallies Against University Budget Cuts Titans invited to participate in on-campus rally against under-funding, high fees By Cindy Tullues
Daily Titan Staff Writer
Hundreds of CSU faculty members across several campuses are holding demonstrations against university budget cuts and curriculum underfunding this week. “Californiaʼs economy is on the rebound and that means we have the opportunity to rebuild the CSU,” said Blanca Castaneda, California Faculty Associate student intern coordinator, in an e-mail interview. “Itʼs time to join with all the campus community students, professors, and staff, to take a stance against the chancellorʼs vision of the CSU and support our vision to rebuild access, affordability and quality for all.” Today, Cal State Fullerton faculty members invite students to participate in an on-campus rally against unjust faculty salaries, student fee increases, faculty retirement programs and the quality of education. The rally will be
held in the Quad at noon. “The rally is designed to get faculty support and send a message to CSU [trustees],” said G. Nanjundappa, California Faculty Associationʼs Fullerton chapter president. “We have not been happy with some of the proposals made by the CSU administration. We want to show our disappointment and displeasure about what is going on the bargaining table. Last October, the CSU trustees voted to increase student fees as well as a grand total of $1,178,892 salary increase, housing and car allowances for 27 CSU executives, said Berenice Dimas, California Faculty Associationʼs student intern at CSUF. The executive salary increase could have funded approximately 262 college courses allowing 10,000 students to get the classes they need to graduate on time, according to the association. Currently the CSU system is approximately $1.5 billion underfunded in student and faculty resources. Many say Chancellor Charles Reed and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger are to blame when they signed the CSU Higher Education compact for 2004/2005.
Dimas said the rally is only one of many steps by CSUF to create student and faculty awareness and support. “Hopefully, we are taking students to Sacramento to let the governor know that we are concerned. We are [also] letting the president (Milton A. Gordon) know that we are aware that issues are going on,” she said. “We need him to speak out for us.” Since fall 2002, undergraduate student fees have increased by 77 percent and have become a great concern for current and prospective students. Nanjundappa, who also teaches sociology at CSUF, worries that increased tuition will affect future student enrollment. “We do not want fee increases to become a deterrent for qualified CSU students,” he said. “As student fees increase, affordability becomes a problem for middle class students.” Fees are expected to rise approximately 10 percent this fall. But as fees continue to rise so does the demand for faculty and classes. The university has proposed to hire 16 new faculty members across campus this year to SEE FACULTY = PAGE 3
Senate bill allows CSUF to offer degree only permitted to UC campuses By Elizabeth Simoes
Daily Titan Staff Writer
The CSU chose Cal State Fullerton as one of the first campuses to offer an independent educational doctorate degree. Californiaʼs Master Plan for Higher Education – which was adopted in 1960 – permitted only UC campuses
to offer independent doctorate programs. But Senate Bill 724 – which was sent by legislatures and signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in late September 2005 – gave approval for the CSU to offer the independent doctoral degree. The CSU then decided which campuses could initially offer the doctoral program. “It was like being selected to go the Olympics,” said Louise Adler, chair and professor of educational leadership at CSUF. “We were pleased.” The program comes with a certain amount of prestige and CSUF will uphold its reputation of high quality
OPINION
GYMNASTICS
HIDDEN TREASURES
Titan gymnastics team lose to Cardinals at home Friday
PAGE 5
Authors Spend Day in TSU Alpha Auxiliary of the Fullerton Assitance League celebrates book writers, raise money to help programs for children By Lauren Padilla
Daily Titan Staff Writer
degree programs, Adler said. “It will offer a high quality program at an accessible cost at a location people can get to,” Adler said. Before the bill was signed, the CSU allowed a limited number of doctoral degrees through partnerships with other universities. Since 2003, CSUF and UC Irvine came together to provide a joint Ed.D. in educational administration and leadership. “A majority of the courses were taken at CSUF,” said Ash Bishop, acting dean of the CSUF College of SEE DOCTORATE = PAGE 3
SEE AUTHORS = PAGE 3
INSIDE
Dear Mr. President, We appreciate all you do. Love, the UAE
SEE INTERN = PAGE 3
On Saturday the Titan Student Union was overflowing with people, predominately women of all ages. The room roared with conversation and laughter between friends and strangers, all brought together by the Alpha Auxiliary of the Fullerton Assistance League in celebration of The Annual Day of Authors. The celebration raised money for the Tiny Togs program --– which is designed to provide clothing and layettes for infants of women who donʼt have the resources to provide them on their own. “We also participate in Operation School Bound, which provides a backpack and two books to each child in need. We raised $30,000 last year and hope to make more this year. There is so much we want to do for the community, and this money helps us to do it,” said Becky Knaup, former Alpha chairwoman. Barnes and Noble representatives were also in attendance and donated 25 percent of all proceeds from the sale of the books of the authorʼs in attendance to the foundation.
CSU Doctorate in Master Plan
WEB
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The Political Science Department of Cal State Fullerton has introduced a summer internship program offering students a unique educational experience in Washington, D.C. The six-week program – initiated by CSUF professors – integrates education and job networking skills for students who are interested in politics or who want the experience of working on Capitol Hill. “You get hands on experience out on the field,” Professor Stephen Stambough said. Students participating in the program enroll in two political science courses: legislature and politics and internship in politics. The internship course gives students the opportunity to intern with a political official from an agency of their choice. Students are required to search for an agency on their own and professors recommend students submit applications as soon as possible. “Summertime is a busy time for internships,” Stambough said. “Federal agencies that offer work experience often take longer to hire so students should apply soon.” As part of the internship students organize and give
tours of the U.S. Capitol. Other tasks students perform include assisting legislative staff by providing research for hearings; briefings, speeches and interviews; attending and observing office meetings. CSUF students Karalee Etheridge and Tiffany Hahn both interned in Washington, D.C. before the program was established on campus and enjoyed the experience. At a recent meeting Stambough informed students the program requirements and both Hahn and Etheridge provided insight from their experience. “One thing you have to do is go for a walk at night to see all of the monuments,” Hahn said. The most important thing students must have is professionalism, Etheridge said. Hahn said students must maintain a professional congressional profile including everything from work attire, making sure all assigned tasks are completed, and most importantly the behavior of students outside the office must be of high caliber. The estimated cost of the program is approximately $2,475 for undergraduates and $2,535 for graduates. The total cost includes housing, round trip airfare and enrollment in six academic units. The summer session is open to students from all colleges. Students are
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Showers High: 63 Low: 47
Few Showers High: 62 Low: 41
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY Mostly Sunny High: 66 Low: 47
Mostly Cloudy High: 63 Low: 41