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, A P R I L 1 7 , 2 0 0 6
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SPORTS
OPINION
Will LA fans trade in their yellow for Clipper red? Page 8
TV executives are (finally) standing up to the FCC Page 5
ASI Strikes Down Policy Academic Senate holds off on new language requirement, delay could cost thousands
New Club Cooking Up Animal-Friendly Cuisine By Dominic Kingdamo
Daily Titan Staff Writer
A new club in the works on campus hopes to host vegetarian cooking classes. The Bhakti Club got its name from a Hindu word meaning devotion, or path of devotion. However, Sheela Vashishtha, the
clubʼs president, said the organization isnʼt necessarily religious in nature, though itʼs rooted in ancient philosophies. “Iʼm always wanting to get more involved on campus and I thought it would be a good way to introduce something different to Cal State Fullerton,” Vashishtha said. The club originally wanted to incorporate yoga into its name
because one aspect of yoga is vegetarianism, Vashishtha said, adding that the club wants to introduce ancient Eastern philosophies and spirituality to CSUF students. Vashishtha was raised as a vegetarian herself. Vashishtha is a senior psychology major at CSUF and had the idea to start the club after brainstorming with her friend David Jenkins.
Jenkins, who is also a vegetarian, teaches a similar cooking class once a week at UC Irvine through the campusʼs Bhakti Club. “The way a vegetarian cooking class comes out of a Bhakti Club is that vegetarianism is a way that you can appreciate life more by limiting the amount of violence you have in your diet,” Jenkins said. He said he prepares a quick
Daily Titan Staff Writer
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SEE REQUIREMENT = PAGE 4
State College structure completed ahead of schedule, partially open By Cindy Tullues
Daily Titan Asst. News Editor
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Christina House/Daily Titan Photo Editor (left) Songha Lee/Daily Titan (right)
TITANS SWEEP THE FIELD
(Left) Third baseman Crystal Vieyra screams after scoring a run during Game 2 of a doubleheader against Long Beach State. The Titans beat the 49ers 16-0. (Right) CSUF pitcher Lauren Gagnier pitches against UC Davis batter at the Goodwin Field on Friday night. The Titans beat the Aggies 11-2. See full stories on Pagepage 8.
Recent data shows majority of Titan grads excel during first years in teaching field By Natalie Murillo
Daily Titan Staff Writer
The latest annual Cal State Fullerton preparation program evaluation showed that 87 percent of firstyear teachers were prepared or more than prepared to teach in many subject areas for high school levels and levels from kindergarten to eighth grade. “Weʼve still got a long way to go,” Ashley Bishop, acting dean of the College of Education. “Weʼre very pleased.” Carmen Zuniga Dunlap said the
NEWS
PROTESTS
OBESITY
High school students discuss impact of walkouts at forum
evaluation is compiled by the first year studentʼs evaluation of themselves and an evaluator that is selected. The evaluator could be a principal or a department chair, but it must be someone who has been observing the teacher. “Youʼre never sure what 87 percent means,” Bishop said. “All you could do is look at yourself [CSUF] and look at other universities like yourself.” Bishop added that the results do not mean that other universities arenʼt doing better than CSUF in specific categories “If you take great students and if you take great faculty and you place SEE EVALUATION = PAGE 3
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Speakers to address students during 15th annual symposium By Kirsten Alto
Daily Titan Staff Writer
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tudents will show off their work in the field of language as the Linguistics Student Association hosts its 15th annual linguistics symposium all day today in the Titan Student Union. Four acclaimed speakers from universities, including UC Berkeley and UCLA, will join six graduate students from Cal State Fullerton to
INSIDE
Childhood obesity: “Americaʼs big health epidemic”
fter months of anticipation, Cal State Fullertonʼs State College parking structure opened today, adding new spaces to the campusʼs existing parking inventory. Students with a valid CSUF permit can now utilize the new parking structure, which houses approximately 1,500 parking spaces including nearly 75 surface spaces in Lot B. “I think it is fair to say that we have finally caught up,” said Mike Smith, director of design and construction for CSUF. One hundred and twenty ground level spaces are designated for short-term parking, but wonʼt be open until further notice. The six-story structure has an improved lighting system as well as interior painting to improve visibility, Joe Ferrer, CSUF director of Parking and Transportation Services said in an email interview. The $20 million structure also features two interior ramps to upper parking levels as well
as two entrances on Gym Drive and West Campus Drive. Though smaller than the Nutwood Parking Structure, the new structure provides convenient parking by the Titan Shops, Titan Student Union, Kinesiology building and future Student Recreation Center, Ferrer said. The new structure was funded by bonds that are being paid off by student and faculty parking fees, Smith said. “Everyone participates. Itʼs not just one or the other, ” he said. CSUF increased student parking fees to build the Nutwood and State College structures. “For future structures to be funded, a parking fee increase will be necessary,” Ferrer said. Despite not opening the structure on its originally scheduled date of April 3, the project was still completed three months ahead of the revised schedule. “The contractor is Bomel and they have done a fantastic job,” Smith said. “They brought it early.” The delayed opening was due to installation of the exterior, glass panels on the elevator structure, Ferrer said. “We cannot operate the elevators until they pass an inspection which could not be scheduled SEE PARKING = PAGE 3
Speaking of Linguistics
CSUF Teachers Top Rate
NEWS
PAGE 4
SEE BHAKTI = PAGE 4
More Spaces, Expect to Curb Parking Woes
By Jody Cason
he Academic Senate at Cal State Fullerton voted yes on Thursday to postpone a second language graduation requirement policy for another two years, which could end up wasting thousands of dollars. “I have spent at least 20 percent of my time each day thinking about and working on this issue for the past three years,” Janet L. Eyring, chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Literature, said. “I have been writing about, editing, discussing and commissioning this issue for a long time.” She said $40,000 spent in preparation of the language policy is “down the tubes.” Eyring added that she has been working on the policy since the fall of 2003, and her department is more than ready to accommodate an implementation of the policy. Associated Students Inc. Executive Vice President Heather Williams, who is a student-voting representative of the Academic Senate, said she definitely approves of the postponement because more research will enable decision makers to better analyze the impact of such a policy on CSUF students. Williams said 13 units of language study could prove too much for students to take on. “We just want to make sure this is something that we can realistically require of the students,” she said. Leon Gilbert, professor of modern languages & literatures at CSUF, said the Academic Senate has had plenty of time to do research, and they have done so. “The original policy was passed in 2002,” Gilbert said. “The [Academic] Senate has had four years to figure out the nuts and bolts of this implementation.” Gilbert said that one of the concerns of the Academic Senate is the fear that implementing a language requirement will cause the university to lose new students, as well as transfer students, to other schools that donʼt have language requirements. In spite of this fear, Gilbert said enrollment applications for next fall are already 10 percent higher than they were this time last year, despite language requirements. Tom Klammer, the dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, said there are other concerns to consider before implementing this policy. “Many components that are needed are not ready yet,” he said, adding that several classes that would be necessary if the policy were implemented have not been approved. There are also challenge exams
cooking demonstration and then brings a full vegetarian meal for everybody. Then participants may ask questions about vegetarianism and cooking in general. Cooking information is available for those who are interested, Jenkins said. Itʼs not a requirement to be a vegetarian or even to want to be
MONDAY Mostly Sunny High: 70 Low: 50
discuss topics such as Chinese speakersʼ English syntax, child language acquisition, Spanish speakers and teaching French. “The diversity of these topics is truly amazing,” said Alan Kaye, the Cal State Fullerton chapterʼs graduate adviser, who has been involved with the association for 35 years. Colleen Davis, chapter president, said she wanted to expose others to the association, and spark interest in its work. Having a diverse range of topics enabled the symposium creators to fulfill their main goals. “We want to show the best work happening in the lin-
guistics field, and we want to make it interesting for those outside the field and get them interested in what we do,” Davis said. The club would not only like to see students already mastering the art of language, but also those who havenʼt heard much about the topic. The event speakers were encouraged to discuss topics that wouldnʼt alienate the general public. “The speakers have been specifically instructed to give talks that are accessible to the general CSUF community,” Jayson Aguilar, vice president SEE LANGUAGE = PAGE 2
WEATHER TUESDAY WEDNESDAY Sunny High: 79 Low: 55
Mostly Sunny High: 80 Low: 55
THURSDAY Mostly Sunny High: 75 Low: 55
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SPORTS
S P O R T S @ D A I LY T I T A N . C O M
Lakers Reach Playoffs in Style The Associated Press
Christina House/Daily Titan Photo Editor
SATISFACTION: Pitcher Marissa Marzan (center) and her teammates congratulate third baseman Crystal Vieyra (No. 31) after she scores a run. Vieyra hit two home runs in the second game of their doubleheader.
Softball FROM PAGE 8 The 49ers didnʼt help their cause, committing three errors and only managing a single hit on offense. Martinez was tagged for 16 runs, 15 of which were earned, and 16 hits during three and one-third grueling innings. Just like the first game, the mercy rule was put into effect after the top half of the fifth inning. The
Clippers FROM PAGE 8 “Personally, I think the Clippers have a way better squad then [the Lakers] right now,” Nguyen said. “The Lakers only have Kobe.” With a power struggle clearly going on, is there room in LA for two teams? “I think it will help both teams if they are both successful because rivalries build fan enthusiasm,” Boyd said. “There are enough fans to support two teams in any city, in any sport.”
Titans improved to 25-18, while the 49ers dropped to 20-17. The two victories helped the Titans into sole possession of first place in the Big West Conference with a 6-2 record, moving them past the 49ers who fall to 5-3. With the sweep, the Titans returned the favor to Long Beach who swept them last year in Long Beach. “The wins were big for us, and they give us the confidence that we know we can take to our opponents,” said Baker, who earned a
victory in both games to improve to 16-7. The Titans swept a doubleheader for the third time this season and extended their winning streak to four games. The two teams were originally scheduled to play a single game on Saturday, but Friday nightʼs game was rained out forcing a double header. The Friday game that was rained out will be rescheduled for Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Anderson Field.
Now that basketball fans are seeing what it is like for the Clippers to enjoy similar success that Lakers fans have taken for granted over the years, many people are wondering how long this will last. With the Clippersʼ win-loss records historically being so poor, there is reason to believe that their recent success will be short-lived. Or is there? “If the Lakers were to miss the playoffs four or five years in a row, and the Clippers were to make it, youʼd see big shifts, big changes,” Boyd said. Even though the Clippers are performing well, the Lakers arenʼt
that far behind. Both teams are scheduled to make the playoffs this season. The Lakers have better playoff experience as a franchise and could surprise some people. If the Clippers do enjoy some postseason success and the Lakers take an early exit, the Clippers could try to emerge as L.A.ʼs dominant team. For now though, it appears Lakers fans are safe. “Itʼs not likely to happen in the near future because of the history and tradition [of the Lakers],” Boyd said. “That stuff is going to keep the Lakers on top for a long time.”
Helped by the absence of Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant put on his usual one-man offensive show and the Los Angeles Lakers easily clinched a playoff berth. Bryant made a late-season case for league MVP honors, scoring 43 points in a 109-89 rout of the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. “It doesnʼt really seem like weʼre overly jumping for joy, but it is a great accomplishment for us,” he said. “We came from last season when we didnʼt make it. This season nobody expected us to make it and here we are.” The Lakers are back in the postseason for the first time since losing the 2004 NBA Finals to Detroit. Their seeding has yet to be decided, but they could face Phoenix in the first round. “It is good to be back in the playoffs again. Thatʼs an important step for this club because of the number of young players we have that havenʼt been in the playoffs,” said coach Phil Jackson, who was let go after losing the 2004 championship. The Suns rested Nash and Raja Bell because of thigh-related injuries, leaving Shawn Marion to carry the load in Phoenixʼs first loss to the Lakers this season. He had 29 points and Leandro Barbosa added 16 before fouling out early in the fourth. Boris Diaw had 11 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds for his second straight triple-double and fourth of the season. “They execute the same way. Itʼs just that when Steve and Raja Bell come back, they have more
waves to throw at you and they do it for 48 minutes,” Bryant said. The game was over shortly after it started because the Suns shot a woeful 37 percent from the floor and couldnʼt stop Bryant, who notched at least 40 points for the 27th time this season. He sat down for good with nearly six minutes left. “We were dead and lifeless. It looked like it was Easter morning,” Suns coach Mike DʼAntoni said. “It was one of those games that they kind of knew we didnʼt need, and this was our third game in 3 1/2 days, and it looked like it.” Bryant made the gameʼs first
“It is good to be back in the playoffs again. That’s an important step for this club because of the number of young players we have that haven’t been in the playoffs.” Phil Jackson Lakers Head Coach
three baskets – on a driving layup, a steal and fast-break dunk and a 3-pointer. He also had a block of Marion and scored 25 points by halftime. “To get smacked like that is not easy,” the Sunsʼ Brian Grant said. “We needed Steve and Raja to get healthy. Even Shawn needs a rest before the playoffs start.” The Lakers led by 13 after one quarter and by 21 at the break after scoring the first nine points of the second period.
Baseball FROM PAGE 8 After the loss on Thursday, the Titans came back to win the series and increased their record to 28-9 overall, while the Aggies dropped to 13-18. Titan center fielder Brandon Tripp had two base hits, a stolen base and a RBI. “Today was the best game of all even though we
“We really hustled, we got after them, played with a high energy level and rebounded the ball extremely well,” Bryant said. Bryant finished 11-of-28 from the floor and made 20 of 23 free throws as fans chanted “MVP! MVP!” during the nationally televised game. “I really appreciate the support. It just shows a lot of love,” he said. “I donʼt go out and try to play for that. I go out to try to help us put Wʼs on the board.” Grant, a former Laker, would naturally pick Nash over Bryant for MVP. “If you could give two MVPs out, I would say give it to both of them,” he said. “But since thereʼs only one, Iʼve got to go with Nash, just because I play with him and Iʼve seen all the things he can do to really help this team evolve and help players evolve.” Nash could only watch in street clothes from the bench, getting booed when his face appeared on the overhead scoreboard. He and Bell didnʼt talk to reporters after the game. The Sunsʼ roster is crowded with injuries days before the playoffs begin. Nash, who missed his second straight game, has a right thigh contusion; Bell has a left thigh strain; Amare Stoudemire underwent season-ending knee surgery 1 1/2 weeks ago; Kurt Thomas is out for the rest of the regular season because of a stress fracture in his right foot; and Dijon Thompson had right knee surgery last month. “We were trying to work on some stuff out there. We werenʼt worrying about what they were doing,” Marion said.
scored more runs yesterday,” Horton said. “I really liked in the last two games how many innings we scored in instead of having one big inning.” Other Titans that contributed include catcher Cory Vanderhook, who had an RBI double and designated hitter David Cooper, who had a single and scored a run. First baseman Brett Pill got on base three times with a single and two walks. The Titans will play again on Tuesday against Loyola Marymount University at Goodwin Field at 6 p.m.
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Clippers Looking for Playoff Respect
SPORTS
S P O R T S @ D A I LY T I T A N . C O M
SPORTS IN SHORT
Track Women’s Relay Team Earns Win
The ‘other team’ in Los Angeles aims to change perennial losing image By Jason kornfeld
For the Daily Titan
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the NBAʼs most storied franchises. They have won 14 championships and have been Los Angelesʼ most popular professional basketball team. Then there are the Clippers. Known as LAʼs ʻother team,ʼ the only thing they have in common with the Lakers is that they play their home games at the Staples Center. Compared to the Lakers, the Clippers have zero championships and their last playoff appearance was nine years ago. Suddenly, the local buzz around the two teams are changing. The Lakers traded Shaquille OʼNeal in the summer of 2004 and have yet to regain the championship form that allowed them to win three straight championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002. The Clippers however, made some key acquisitions in the past off-season and now find themselves having one of their best seasons ever and even heading towards the playoffs. The Clippersʼ sudden success and the Lakersʼ recent struggle to get back to the top, have some NBA fans realigning themselves. For their efforts this season, the Clippers are starting to get some recognition and respect. On the other hand, with a 109-89 victory over Phoenix on Sunday, the Lakers have clinched another playoff appearance. The emergence of the Clippers this season, begs the question: Are the Lakers still Los Angelesʼ most favored team? Dr. Tom Boyd, Associative Professor of Marketing at Cal State Fullerton, thinks the Lakers still have the upper hand in terms of marketability. “You have to consider history,” Boyd said. “The Lakers are still more marketable because they are a dynasty,” Boyd said. The Lakers have NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, who has been enjoying arguably his finest individual season in 2005-06 after being hounded by much controversy in recent years. In the summer of 2003, Bryant was accused of raping a girl in Colorado. The case was dismissed but Bryantʼs reputation was scarred. “I think he is one of the better athletes in the NBA,” said Steven Terry, a kinesiology major at Cal State Fullerton. “Heʼs totally recovered from [the rape trial], and he is proving people wrong now.” At the end of the 2004 season, Bryant was a free agent and was close to signing a deal with the Clippers. That could have intensified the rivalry and solidified the Clippers as L.A.ʼs team, but never came to fruition. Meanwhile, the Clippers continued to develop young star Elton Brand who has enjoyed a breakout season. Brand possesses the likeability that Bryant used to have, back when he was known for winning championships with OʼNeal, rather than his fighting with his now former teammate and the controversy surrounding him in Colorado. “He [Brand] is one of the dominant players in the Western Conference,” said Kevin Mayberry, a communications major at Cal State Fullerton. “I just donʼt like Kobe as a role model and as a person.” The timing couldnʼt be better for the Clippers. Considering that the team is still not a championship caliber team, fans consider the Lakers as still going through a rebuilding process. The better the Clippers do, the more a legitimate rivalry continues to grow between the two Los Angeles teams. Steve Nguyen, a kinesiology major at Cal State Fullerton and Lakers fan, has noticed the Clippers improvement during the past season. SEE CLIPPERS = PAGE 6
Christina House/Daily Titan Photo Editor
EASY WORK: Titan junior pitcher Candice Baker was key in the Titansʼ two wins over the weekend. As a reliever and starter, she picked up wins on both ends of a doubleheader against Long Beach State on Saturday afternoon, as the Titan softball team annihilated its Big West foes.
Titan Bats Take Care of Business
Powered by 25 runs, the Fullerton softball team beat up on rival Long Beach to sweep doubleheader By tim young
half of the doubleheader. With two runners on base in the bottom of the second, Titan left fielder Ashley Van Boxmeer took a 2-2 pitch from 49ers starter Jennifer Martinez and hit it over the left field fence for an early 3-0 lead.
Daily Titan Staff Writer
With the help of five home runs, the Titan softball team outmuscled and outplayed rival Long Beach State, sweeping their double header with scores of 9-1 and 16-0 at Anderson Field on Saturday. “We wanted to make a statement of who we are,” Titan Head Coach Michelle Gromacki said. “I want our team to be pumped up against every team we play, not just our rivals.” The Titans closed out the first game with four runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by shortstop Amanda Kamekonaʼs two-run triple for a 9-1 lead. With the Titans already having won the first game due to the mercy rule, they wasted little time in grabbing the lead in the second-
“The wins were big for us, and they give us the confidence that we know we can take to our opponents.”
Candice Baker Titan Softball Pitcher
In the bottom half of the third inning, Titan sophomore third baseman Crystal Vieyra hit a two-run shot, the first of her two home runs
in the game. It padded the Titan lead to 5-0. Vieyra would finish the game 4-for-4 with three runs scored and five RBI, giving her new career highs in something other than being hit by the pitch. “Iʼve been working on a different swing in practice for a couple of weeks and today it really paid off,” Vieyra said. After Titan starter Candice Baker retired the first 12 batters she faced, the Fullerton bats decided to add some extra insurance. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Vieyra stepped up to the plate and hit a three-run home run, giving the Titans an 8-0 lead. Titan center fielder Jenna Wheeler added another home run in the inning and finished the game going 3-for-3 with two RBI. The Titans finished the inning leading 16-0, scoring 11 runs on 10 hits and sending 16 batters to the plate. It was the most runs scored by the Titans softball team since defeating Georgia State 16-1 in March of 1992. It was a demoralizing inning for the 49ers. SEE SOFTBALL = PAGE 6
Baseball Team Bounces Back to Take Series Outfielder Danny Dorn goes 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBIs. By christen d’alessandro
Daily Titan Staff Writer
The No. 1 Cal State Fullerton baseball team beat UC Davis, 81, Saturday afternoon at Goodwin Field to take the third game of the series. This game was a must win for the Titans, to take the series from the Aggies, since they had lost the first game on Thursday. “We were kind of flat on Thursday just expecting to win,” shortstop Blake Davis said. In the third inning, Titan left fielder Danny Dorn hit his first home run of the season. “It took me too long to hit that one,” Dorn said. “It felt good.” Dorn was 2-for-2 at the plate with two RBI and two walks.
Titan pitching staff. Oliver also He also scored four runs. The Titans scored runs in mul- had two stolen bases for the tiple innings and combined for Aggies. 11 hits. Titan starting pitcher Dustin “Hitter after Miller got hitter was takthe win for ing quality the Titans to “I really liked in the last at-bats,” Titan increase his two games, how many Head Coach record to 7-1. George Horton In six innings, innings we scored in, said. Miller had instead of having one big four strikeThe Aggies inning.” outs, no walks scored their and allowed only run in the only one run fourth inning on five hits. when shortstop Brandon Ryan Paul Oliver led off relieved George Horton with a double Miller in Titan Head Coach and then stole the seventh third. Catcher inning and Tyler LaTorre had two strike hit a ball to outs and no second, which allowed Oliver to walks in two innings. score. Closer Vinnie Pestano came in Oliver was one of the only to finish the game in the ninth. offensive threats as he had three “Our relief pitchers were flawof the teamʼs six hits with two less the entire weekend,” Horton singles and a double against the said.
Aggiesʼ starter Bryan Evans suffered the loss, to drop his record to 3-5. Evans pitched four and a third innings, while finishing with three strike outs, three walks and allowing four runs off of seven hits. Aggiesʼ Paul Gonzales entered the game in the fifth and hit the first batter he faced with the bases loaded, allowing a run to score. He finished up with a walk and allowed three runs to score. Phil Rasmussen relieved Gonzales in the seventh, and Nik Aurora finished the game for the Aggies. Horton said that while the Aggiesʼ pitching staff came up a little short against the Titans, they gave it their all. “They arenʼt gifted with the same kind of arms that we have,” Horton said. “But they battled with them.” SEE BASEBALL = PAGE 6
A victory in the womenʼs 400 relay highlighted Cal State Fullertonʼs efforts over the weekend at the rain-plagued Mt. Sac Relays. Kimiah Hudson, Nancy Blake, Kandace Wilson and Destany Cearley combined on a run of 3:46.06 to beat out conference rival Cal State Northridge. Following were Rice, UC Santa Barbara, Northern Colorado and Boston University. The Titans also finished sixth in the 4x100 with Yewande Findley, Ashley Taylor, Kristyne Hanberg and Antonia Vega combining for a mark of 47:09. Other top performances were turned in by Jason Graney, who ran a personal best and the seasonʼs second-best Big West Conference mark of 1:51.85 to finish 11th in the menʼs 800 meters. On the womenʼs side, Dahamar Perez ran a personal best by almost 20 seconds in the 10,000 meters, finishing 13th in 37:14.49. And in the 100 meters, Fullerton placed ninth, 11th and 15th as Vega (12.:07), Findley (12:19) and Hanberg (12.28) all ran well. Cearley ran a seasonʼs best in the 400 hurdles to finish third in 61:41.
Tennis Women Pick Up Win in Finale Four wins in singles carried Cal State Fullerton to a 4-3 Big West Conference womenʼs tennis victory Thursday afternoon at UC Riverside in the Titansʼ final match of the 2005-06 season. The win was the Titansʼ first in seven Big West matches this year and improved their overall record to 6-15. The Highlanders fell to 5-13. Gina Le at No. 1, Ruya Inalpulat at No. 2, Shelly Injejikian at No. 5 and Chip Dunbar at No. 6, scored victories for Fullerton, which still has the Big West Championship Tournament later this month at Indian Wells.
Basketball Titans Sign Junior College Recruit Kenneth Alexander, a 6-foot7, 230-pound forward from West Valley Community College in Saratoga has signed a national letter of intent to continue his basketball career at Cal State Fullerton. The Richmond resident and graduate of Berkeley High School will have two seasons of eligibility with the Titans. Alexander averaged 9.7 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Vikings, who were state runnersup with a 33-4 record in 2005-06. Teammate Marcus Morgan, a 6-foot-6 sophomore forward, signed earlier with the Titans and Head Coach Bob Burton, who was head coach at West Valley from 1980-81 to 198586 and again from 1987-88 through 2001-02.
Information provided by CSUF Sports Media Relations www.Fullertontitans.com
O P I N I O N @ D A I LY T I TA N . C O M
TITAN EDITORIAL
Providing insight, analysis and perspective since 1960
CHANGING THE CHANNEL
T
he stage was set on Friday for a showdown between two immense cultural heavyweights when four major television broadcasters squared off against the Federal Communications Commision in a legal stare-down that they hope will not only reverse millions of dollars in fines levied against them last month, but also reverse the FCCʼs stranglehold on the airwaves. In an unprecedented show of solidarity, ABC, CBS, Fox and Hearst-Argyle Television filed notices of appeal against the FCCʼs fines, levied on March 15, and cited vagueness in the definitions of indecency and inconsistency in enforcement as reasons why they should be allowed to skip paying the fines. There were no indecency rulings against NBC. However, the network filed a petition so as to be included in the collective protest against ludicrous government restrictions of broadcast material. Although the FCC doesnʼt engage in prior restraint, the networks object to more government control over what viewers are and arenʼt allowed to see. They claim that strict FCC enforcement of decency standards cause the FCC to overstep its bounds. They also claim that various reasons for decency violations were unintentional, such as Janet Jacksonʼs now infamous “wardrobe malfunc-
tion.” Going one step further than they have in the past, the networks called the FCC unconstitutional. Itʼs astounding that in such a progressive age an antiquated government agency like the FCC is allowed to exist in a society that holds free speech in such high regard. The FCC violates the basic tenants of that value. Citizens have the right to express any ideas they feel are worthy of their expression – unless they want to broadcast their message. Then they must ensure there isnʼt anything unpalatable contained in their speech. But we should be free to express ourselves in a manner that we feel is necessary to meet our ends without fear of government restrictions or censorship. Itʼs about time a group of major broadcasters stood together to protect their collective free speech rights. In the process they are defending the guaranteed free speech rights for everyone. Some would argue that television should have different rules applied to it that any other forms of speech because itʼs beamed straight into the living rooms of all Americans. This argument only proves that television has a wide reach, and should be protected against the chilling effect of cold government censors.
Editorial Board Philip Fuller, Opinion Editor Nicole M. Smith, Executive Editor Kim Orr, Managing Editor In deference to the paradigm established by venerable Swiss philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, unsigned Titan Editorials strive to represent the general will of the Daily Titan editorial board and do not necessarily reflect the view of the university.
OPINION
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A Court Of Public Opinion By Jason Eichelberger
Daily Titan Staff Writer
In America, the most common legal precedent is that people are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty. That principle is the foundation for a legal system that awards those suspected of committing crimes the opportunity to prove their innocence before a jury. Unfortunately, this notion has become lost among most Americans, where public opinion seems to be the only court that matters. Perhaps no facet of society is more subjected to public opinion than the sporting world where athletes, once revered and glorified, are coming under increasing suspicion from the American public. Sex scandals, inflated contracts, and selfish play have become rallying points for public opinion that paints athletes in a negative
light. However, no issue has been more exemplary of public opinion at its worst than the steroids scandal that has rocked Major League Baseball. And at the core of the scandal is the gameʼs biggest villain and hero, Barry Bonds. Bonds, the enigmatic superstar of the San Francisco Giants, has enjoyed one of the most celebrated and illustrious careers in American sporting history. Encompassing the last 20 years, Bonds has won an unprecedented seven Most Valuable Player awards, by far the most in MLB history. He has been named to the All-Star team 13 times, and won 8 Gold Gloves as a left fielder. He is third on the all-time home run list, trailing only Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron, both of whom Bonds could pass by the end of this season. He holds the single season record for home runs, clubbing 73 in 2001. He is also the only
player in MLB history to have both 500 home runs and 500 stolen bases. His prowess as a hitter is so well respected that Bonds rarely even has a chance to hit the baseball. He is the all-time leader in walks (2,318) and intentional walks (609), and not surprisingly, holds the single season record for walks (232) and intentional walks (120), both set in 2004. Despite these jaw-dropping career numbers and accolades that have re-written MLB record books at a dizzying pace, Bonds has faced even more public scrutiny. Never popular with fans and media for coming across as surly, arrogant, and unapproachable, Bonds has seen his public persona nosedive even more rapidly in the face of the steroid controversy. He has been repeatedly accused of using performance-enhancing drugs and detailed notations have been released that report his
alleged use. Bonds, who has steadfastly denied using steroids, has never failed a drug test. Yet many have already labeled him a cheater and a fraud, calling for his accomplishments to be stricken from the record books and his eventual place in the Hall of Fame denied. Should Bonds eventually test positive or admit to steroid use, he should be unequivocally denounced for tainting the game. But until that day, the American people owe it to themselves to wait before making judgment and in the process, overlook a truly remarkable career. It is unfortunate that a man who has accomplished so much and shared his unique talents with the world for two decades is embroiled in a battle against an opponent much more formidable than anything he has faced on the baseball diamond.
issue. Last week in The Orange County Register, an article regarding the Iran nuclear program stated that Iran had successfully enriched uranium for the first time, which puts them one step closer to the development of atomic weapons. Although it is understandable that our federal government would fear Iran having nuclear weapons, there is no reason to go to war with Iran despite the media presence in recent weeks by pundits who think that war with Iran is inevitable. The U.S. government should concentrate on the war on hand before they continue to lobby for action against Iran. We have been at war with Iraq for a long time, Saddam Hussein is on trial and we need to focus our efforts on ending a war that has already caused a lot
of deaths. The Orange County Register article stated that while Iran has successfully enriched Uranium, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinjad said his country does not aim to develop nuclear weapons. In a previous article, The Orange County Register reported that Iran believed it has a right to process nuclear power. We are the pot calling the kettle black when it comes to this silly argument. The U.S. has nuclear weapons and can use them at any time. Iran has only successfully enriched uranium, which is a step toward making nuclear weapons but they donʼt have any weaponsgrade uranium ready as of now.
This is a tough diplomatic situation, but the U.S. government needs to shift its focus toward the situation at hand in Iraq. The U.S. government canʼt be everyoneʼs mommy and daddy. The United States should let another one of the member nations in the United Nations act as a nuclear watchdog because we are already dealing with our own messy issues. On pollingreport.com there was a recent poll that showed that 50% of the United States feels that we should use whatever force necessary to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. I am a “glass is half empty” kind of girl. I feel that this further shows it is a bad idea to keep pushing to have action against Iran.
U.S. Shouldn’t Worry About Iran By Natalie Murillo
Daily Titan Staff Writer
If we are already fighting a long, painstaking fight, why should we be trying to kick up dust anywhere else? The United States has been “intensely lobbying” the United Nations to act against Iran for refusing all voluntary cooperation in regards to its nuclear program. Instead of complying with U.S. demands to scrap its nuclear ambitions, Iran has chosen to defiantly continue persuing its nuclear goals and the U.S. government is not liking their actions one little bit. In recent months the news media intensely reported on the Iran
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OTHER NEWS
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ON CAMPUS
Car Bomb Kills At Least 7
TUESDAY: Titan baseball takes on Loyola Marymount at 6 p.m. at Goodwin Field for their last home game before heading off to Stockton to face Pacific on Friday at 2 p.m.
BAGHDAD, Iraq – A car bomb killed at least seven people and wounded 24 on a busy avenue in Baghdad on Saturday as Shiite politicians floated a proposal to end the standoff over a new government by having Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari step down – but only if his replacement comes from his own party. The blast occurred at lunchtime outside an east Baghdad restaurant frequented by police officers, four of whom were among the injured, Sgt. Sabah Mohsen said. All the dead were civilians, police said.
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY: ASI elections will be held campus-wide.
Taliban Hideout Attacked
WEDNESDAY: ASI hosts a concert featuring “Long Live Logos” at noon in the Becker Amphitheater.
SARTAK, Afghanistan – Security forces backed by U.S.-led coalition helicopters attacked a suspected Taliban hideout in southeastern Afghanistan, sparking an intense battle that killed 41 rebels and six police, a senior official said Saturday. The fighting was some of the heaviest after Taliban threats to intensify attacks as the warmer weather melts snow on mountain passes used by the militants.
THURSDAY: ASI hosts two screenings of “Memoirs of a Geisha” at 6 and 9 p.m. in the Titan Student Union Titan Theater.
NATION
Poll: Income Tax Unfair WASHINGTON – Taxes rise and fall from one administration to the next, but the unpopularity of the income tax system is constant. An Ipsos Poll finds that almost six of 10 people say the system is unfair, a percentage virtually unchanged from two decades ago. The perception of unfairness is spread fairly evenly across income groups – though their reasons may differ. More than half of those who make less than $50,000 a year said itʼs unfair, and more than six in 10 of those who make more than $50,000 felt that way.
Missing Boys Found Dead MILWAUKEE – Two boys missing for almost a month apparently drowned in an icy park lagoon near where they were last seen, and authorities said Saturday foul play was not suspected. Purvis Virginia Parker, 11, and Quadrevion Henning, 12, disappeared the afternoon of March 19 after they asked Quadrevionʼs grandfather whether they could play basketball at the nearby park. The bodies were found in the park lagoon on Friday.
LOCAL
Pregnant Robot Gives Birth VALLEJO – Noelleʼs given birth in Afghanistan, California and dozens of points in between. Sheʼs a lifelike, pregnant robot used in increasing numbers of medical schools and hospital maternity wards. The full-sized, blond, pale mannequin is in demand because medicine is rapidly abandoning centuries-old training methods that use patients as guinea pigs, turning instead to high-tech simulations. Itʼs better to make a mistake on a $20,000 robot than a live patient. Reports compiled from The Associated Press
DAILY TITAN
HAUTE DOGGY COUTURE
Kirk Dingley/Daily Titan
Long Beach celebrated itʼs annual Haute Dog Easter Parade Saturday to raise money for local pet charities.
COP
BLOTTER MONDAY: A request for medical aid was placed at 5:26 p.m. at the Police Department for someone who was experiencing a possible allergic reaction. University Police assisted the individual. TUESDAY: Suspicious circumstances were reported from the Willow residence hall at 2:03 p.m. A caller notified University Police of people possibly smoking marijuana within the building. WEDNESDAY: A medical aid call was placed from Visual Arts at 1:35 p.m. A female had fainted next to the Visual Arts deanʼs office, and the caller could not confirm whether she was breathing and conscious at the time of the call. University police assisted. An attempted auto theft was
reported from Lot E at 2:26 p.m., as the ignition of a car seemed to have been punched out. University Police took a report. At 6:48 p.m., suspicious circumstances were reported from the Titan Shops. A male subject was reportedly holding a 5- or 6-year-old boy “weirdly” and did not appear to be related to the child. University Police were unable to locate the subject. THURSDAY: A call was placed from the Sycamore residence hall to report suspicious circumstances occurring in the alley behind Sycamore and Valencia halls at 12:17 a.m. The caller said a male, who is possibly a transient, frequents the area and masturbates. University Police were unable to locate the individual. A woman reported at 8:18 a.m. that her daughter was on her way to school and was being followed by someone in another vehicle. At 10:24, a student reported receiving death threats. University Police took a report.
A vehicle was reported stolen from Lot E at 4:15 p.m. University Police took a report. FRIDAY: A suspicious person was reported at University Hall at 5:19 p.m. The male, who the caller said had a “strong, foul odor,” was acting erratic and talking to himself about God while wandering the hall on the third floor. University Police were unable to locate the man. SATURDAY: A call regarding a disturbance was placed from Valencia residence hall at 1:32 a.m. The caller reported that approximately 20 subjects who were filming a movie had brought alcohol and provided it to minors. The caller requested University Police to assist in clearing the room where the subjects were. University Police took a report. SUNDAY: At 2:01 a.m., a caller reported that his vehicle had been burglarized. University Police took a report.
LANGUAGE FROM PAGE 1
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of the association, said. The event was specifically designed for non-specialists while also benefiting linguistics students, he said. The association is predicting a strong turnout for the event because of the close ties linguistics shares with other fields such as anthropology, modern language, psychology and sociology. Students have put in countless hours of work to organize this yearʼs symposium, including fundraisers and other preparations, Kaye said.
FRIDAY: Deadline to enter the inaugural Pollak Library Prize for Undergraduate Research Papers and Project. All CSUF undergraduates who completed a research paper or project for class credit during the Summer 2005, Fall 2005, or Spring 2006 semesters are eligible. SATURDAY: The Second Annual Social Justice Student Summit will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. in the Titan Student Union. The Summit will feature interactive, thoughtful and engaging workshops on the ongoing civil rights movement, environmental justice movements, labor solidarity movements, womenʼs struggles, immigrant rightsʼ struggles and more. The event is free for students and will include lunch. For a detailed schedule or to pre-register visit the Cal State Fullerton Web site.
OFF CAMPUS THURSDAY: Newport Beach kicks off its 7th annual weeklong film festival featuring 350 films including Academy Award entries, Sundance selections, a spotlight series, and childrenʼs festival, from both the independent and studio worlds. For a detailed schedule and tickets visit www. newportbeachfilmfest.com. THURSDAY: Ice Cube comes to the House of Blues, Anaheim for a 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets cost $35. THURSDAY and SATURDAY: Jimmy Buffet and the Coral Reefer Band play the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $36-126. If you would like to submit an event to Out nʼ About please e-mail news@dailytitan.com
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Night of Taiwanese Culture ‘Obesity Epidemic’ Big Problem Unhealthy lifestyles, eating habits make staying fit a challenge for busy Americans
By Orion Tippens
For the Daily Titan
Taiwanese culture touched the hearts of Cal State Fullerton students last Friday, as the Taiwanese Student Association presented its first ever “Taiwanese Culture Night” in the Titan Student Union. Over 100 students gathered to enjoy the fest of culture and entertainment representing the best offerings from the tiny island east of China. “We are quite grateful that everyone made it here, even with all the rain outside,” said event hostess and club president Kelly Wang. Festivities began with a visual presentation, loaded with slides of gorgeous landscapes and stunning landmarks. Club spokespersons narrated the presentation, which was supplemented with fun facts about Taiwan. The speakers also shared advice for those who may someday set foot on Taiwanese soil. Attendants enjoyed a diverse selection of entertainment. Rock band ZELA infused the event with a blend of modern Taiwanese pop music. Visual delights followed with presentations of Chinese folk dancing and a Shao-Lin kung fu demonstration. Spectators listened to traditional music in the form of Chinese flute and violin solos. “It doesnʼt matter if youʼre Taiwanese or American, anyone of any ethnicity can enjoy Taiwanese culture,” event host Johnny Jou said. Attendees were offered Bento, a popular Asian dish consisting of rice, meat and vegetables. Boba tea, a drink originating from Taiwan and containing tiny tapioca balls dropped in either milk or fruit juice, was also
PARKING FROM PAGE 1 until after the glass panels were installed,” he said. The elevators are now safely operational at the southeast side of the structure and will “deliver pedestrians onto a new mall north of the Titan Student Union,” according to the Design and Construction Web site. CSUF plans to add additional parking structures on campus in the future, but no official plans have been made, Smith said. “As student enrollment goes up, we will have to get more parking,” he said. “There is
By Alicia David
Daily Titan Staff Writer
A
Orion Tippens/For the Daily Titan
TAIWAN IN TSU: Students partake in music and traditional Taiwanese food at the “Taiwanese Culture Night” Friday. provided by Lollicup Coffee and Tea Café in Fullerton. After dinner, attendees enjoyed a sampling of Taiwanʼs “Night Market” carnival games – simple amusing challenges that are popular in busy metropolitan areas of Taiwan. Spectators cheered each other on in games including the classic ring toss challenge and bottle pick-up. Later, raffle winners received goodie bags filled with cultural delights. TheAssociation for Inter-CulturalAwareness and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office of Los Angeles contributed to the event, which the club hopes to make an annual affair. “We would like to give a huge thanks to everyone who supported us, especially the Titan Student Union for making this possible,” club member Michael Lin said. going to be more parking without a doubt.” Many students are eager to park in the State College structure, but some still have their doubts. “I have been here for three years and parking has always been a problem,” kinesiology major Sandra Vanderfort said. “The other parking structure helps out a lot, but it is still really hard to find parking.” Vanderfort, like many other students, parks her car in neighboring residences when she canʼt find available parking. “What is the point to spend over a $100 on a permit when there is not even enough places to park?” she said. “Hopefully this will change the parking situation. I have high hopes.”
healthy lifestyle and wellbalanced diet arenʼt always easy to stick to in a nation strapped for time and addicted to super-sized fast food combos where the ordering is as simple as 1-2-3. Because of this, obesity among Americans continues to be a big problem. To help combat the problem, Cal State Fullertonʼs Center for the Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles and Obesity Prevention held a community conference April 13 to discuss “Childhood Obesity Prevention: Awareness and Beyond.” The centerʼs aimed to reflect the needs of the community by providing education and outreach to children and their families regarding healthy lifestyles and the prevention of obesity, according to the centerʼs Web site. “Childhood obesity is going to be the next big health epidemic,” Janice Picardy, clinical coordinator of pediatrics at St. Jude Medical Center, said. Some of the major factors contributing to this problem are fast food, inactivity and parents, Picardy said.
EVALUATION FROM PAGE 1 them in a rich environment, you should have scores like that,” Bishop said. She also attributed the high percentage to the programʼs careful selection process, adding that systematically trained mentor teachers, seasoned veterans who help rookies through the first couple years of their careers, help as well. “I think that itʼs really important to the faculty that our graduates go out and do great things for the schools,” said Dr. Hallie Yop Slowik, graduate coordinator of the Bilingual/Bicultural Education and Elementary curriculum.
“Everyone lives such a fast-paced their child will outgrow this problem, lifestyle now. Parents either arenʼt cook- but once it starts itʼs a lot of work to ing because they donʼt have time or lose [the weight].” because they donʼt know how to,” she Besides providing children with more said, adding that fast food has become physical activities, parents can also the easy choice for research and learn busy parents espeabout the obesity cially when meals issue through books “Everyone lives such include a toy that and the Internet, she appeals to the child. added. a fast-paced lifestyle The conference “They need to edunow. Parents either cate themselves by reviewed local and aren’t cooking because reading labels on the state programs on foods that they are childhood obesity and they don’t have time buying. Concerned wellness, identifing or because they don’t parents can also factors that could hinwant to.” der the development contact their childʼs of a healthy child pediatrician to have Janice Picardy and exploring new their child checked strategies to address out. This generaPediatrics Clinical tion is going to end this health concern, Coordinator up having diabetes, according to the centerʼs Web site. heart disease and “Obviously the hip replacements problem is due to lack of exercise,” [because of excess weight],” Stover said Nancy Stover, director of Titan said. youth gymnastics. The conference, held in the “Thereʼs a lack of play. Itʼs easy for Kinesiology and Health Science parents to send their child to the com- Building, featured several guest speakputer or TV [and use technology] as a ers and a panel discussion regarding babysitting mechanism.” obesity, and it filled the room to capacOne way parents can solve this prob- ity, Shari McMahan, director of the lem is through an organized sport, center and professor of health science, Stover said. said. “Parents donʼt take advantage of Conversations in communities and these opportunities,” she said. schools about the issue will hopefully “They need to help their child by lead to early prevention of obesity, she controlling what they eat. They think said. Bishop attributed the success of the program to the deans of other departments at CSUF for being tremendously supportive and to President Milton A. Gordon as well. “The great majority of people in our teacher preparation programs are from Cal State Fullerton,” Bishop said. Despite a high percentage success rate, the College of Education is still looking for ways to improve the education it offers aspiring teachers. One are of improvement is the integration of technology as support for the student and also for the teacher, who uses computers to chart the progress of students. Using technology for record keeping allows a teacher to look at test scores and see what a studentʼs strengths and weaknesses are, Dunlop
said. Bishop said the College of Education will identify three things to improve upon in an upcoming meeting with the chancellorʼs office. Preparing students to work in diverse settings with students of diverse backgrounds is one things Bishop said the college plans to address because itʼs tremendously challenging for the college to prepare students to step into a diverse environment in such a brief amount of time, she said. Bishop said another aspect they want to improve on is better preparing the future teachers to work with students who have special needs. After meeting at the chancellorʼs office, the department chairs will assess the areas to be improved upon.
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Protesters: More Support Needed Socialism May Fix Walkout Forum provides platform for youth to voice concerns over HR 4437 By Noraly Hernandez
For the Daily Titan
High school protesters at Wednesdayʼs High School Walkout Forum said they would like support to help organize their May 1 protest and to establish a network between Orange County high schools and community leaders. The forum, hosted by the Chicana and Chicano Studies Department, the campus Chicana and Chicano Studies Student Association, MEChA and the Chicano and Chicana Resource Center, was aimed at offering the protesters support by listening to their concerns to better help them achieve their goals. “Your courage, bravery and your audacity to actually ruffle things up here in Orange County has to truly be acknowledged and respected,” said Alexandro Gradilla, assistant professor in the Chicana and Chicano studies department.
BHAKTI FROM PAGE 1 one. Anyone is free to join the club or attend one of the classes. Jenkins said the goal is to provide information about vegetarianism in general. Plant-based diets built around a variety of foods can be a healthy choice for people suffering from chronic conditions like heart disease and some types of cancer, according to the Discovery Channel Web site. People trying to lose weight may find a vegetarian diet is helpful. However, Kristy Richardson, a teaching assistant in the Kinesiology and Health Science departments on campus, said in a written statement that health risks associated with an improper vegetarian diet include an “increased risk for deficiency in protein, iron (anemia), zinc, vitamin B12, calcium (osteoporosis), and vitamin D.” Jenkins, who isnʼt a student at CSUF, has no official position in the club and will be involved in the cooking classes as a featured guest. “[Bhakti is] a way in which to appreciate different aspects of life, different cultures, a different way of viewing the world, the origins of things and where they came
REQUIREMENT FROM PAGE 1 and proficiency tests that a student can take to meet the requirement, which arenʼt ready either, he said. Students, too, have mixed feelings on a university-mandated foreign language requirement. Brittney Llamas, a human services major, said that she would have been more attracted to transfer to CSUF if the policy was implemented when she applied two years ago. “Learning a second language gives a student more opportunities in the job market after leaving school,” she said. Samantha Meyer, a senior at Ocean View High School in Huntington Beach, however, said she would not choose CSUF if the policy were implemented. “If it involves more money for credits and more school work I will probably consider going to
Students from Santiago, Garden municated with them and we told Grove, Fullerton Union, Santa Ana them where we were going. They and Savanna high schools in Orange helped us with the traffic; they County as well as El Rancho High blocked cars so no accidents hapSchool in Los Angeles County pened; the cops played a very good described their motives for organiz- role for us.” ing and participating Despite publicity, in the walkout. not all high schools “I gained so “To me the signifihad leaders to succance of the walkouts cessfully organize the much strength was to let everyone protests, and some to keep fighting violence did erupt. know that if we all for my people.” organized and we got “No one was really together, we could leading [the protest] Abraham Medina have a big impact in until we hit Flower Santiago High Student society, and we could [Street] and we met raise awareness about up with Saddleback what was going on,” High School, Valley said Garden Grove High School High School and Century High junior Jose Covarrubias, referring School. There were thousands of to the proposed immigration reform students there just walking,” said bill, HR 4437. Sarahi Flores, a sophomore at Santa After meeting with students of Ana High School who walked for various high schools throughout six hours. Orange County, making multiple Flores said Santa Ana police phone calls, distributing fliers and intercepted the protest and used posting bulletins on MySpace. pepper spray on rowdy students. com, Melissa Lopez, a junior at Santa Ana police could not confirm Garden Grove High School, and reports of violence at press time. Covarrubias were able to organize Despite threats of suspension, their walkout. expulsion and community service, “The cops were a big help to many of the students were just us,” Covarrubias said. “We com- given Saturday school detention, from, and appreciating life in general,” Jenkins said. In the future Vashishtha wants to involve more than just cooking classes into the club. “We wanted to do something where the students actually get something out of it and they learn something,” Vashishtha said. “And itʼs an aspect of yoga that everyone can benefit from mentally and physically.” Esiquio R. Uballe, associate dean of Student Life, said that while the club isnʼt officially up and running yet, it currently has temporary recognition by the school, also referred to as ad-hoc status. The school recognizes the club, but a few more steps still need to be taken to complete the process. Uballe said this status allows the club to advertise and try to garner interest, but still limits them from certain privileges granted to fullfledged clubs and organizations. “We have to look at it. Is there an interest there?” Uballe asked. “We put it on the student to let us know that … there is a group of students that are interested.” To receive full recognition a club must have a minimum of five members. Members must complete training classes and compose a written constitution, Uballe said. If the Bhakti Club or vegetarian cooking classes sound appetizing, Vashishtha welcomes anyone to email her at hevensent923@yahoo. com to find out more information. Cal State Long Beach,” she said. Talk of a foreign language requirement became an official university policy statement for CSUF in June 2005 and was scheduled to take effect in the fall of 2006. The policy statement would have required all candidates for the baccalaureate degrees to show proficiency in a second language, with some exceptions, as a condition of graduation. It would have provided students a variety of ways to satisfy the requirement, one way being the completion of three semesters in a second language at a community college or university. A second way would allow students to take three years of one language in high school. CSUF already requires incoming freshman to have completed at least two years of one foreign language in order to be admitted, though three are recommended, according to the University Outreach Web site.
which some did not complete. “The scary part was the next morning when we had to go to the administration office, but even then I knew that what I had done was because of a cause,” Lopez said. “I felt strong for it, and I was going to go all the way with it.” The students asked for support for the May 1 protest, referred to as the “The Great American Boycott 2006,” in which the public is asked not to purchase or use any of the services provided by immigrant workers to demonstrate their contributions to the economy. “For the event that is coming up, we want to focus and try to see what we can do collectively,” said Abraham Medina from Santiago High School. “Together we can [make a] bigger impact.” For the high school protesters the forum was a successful event. “I gained so much more strength to keep fighting for my people, for the justice that we all need, no matter what race,” Betsy Amalfi of Fullerton Union High School said. “It gave me the confidence to stand up with no fears at all and face those who want to shut our voices down,” she said.
Songha Lee/Daily Titan
GOINʼ GREEN: UCI senior Jonathan Wratten looks on as David Jenkins demonstrates how to make stuffed focaccia during a vegetarian cooking class at UCI.
America’s Problem
Panel addresses question: ‘Who is responsible for the African American poor?’ By Melissa Fitzgerald
For the Daily Titan
B
ill Cosby unleashed a hailstorm of debates with his controversial comments that criticized blacks for the high number of unplanned pregnancies, poor parenting, crime and high dropout rates. “The discussion has been ricocheting around black radio talk shows and in newspaper and online columns since,” the Washington Post reported in May of 2004. Cosbyʼs comments and the current conditions of the black community after Hurricane Katrina were spotlighted April 13 during a panel discussion, sponsored by the African American Resource Center, at Cal State Fullerton on April 13. Sabrina Sanders, the moderator of the three-hour event, posed questions about cultural shortcomings and hip-hop controversies. The panel consisted of distinguished members from the community and current students who voiced differing opinions of the topics at hand. At the onset of the discussion, CSUF student Stacy Ellis said both the lack of positive role models and the inability for those who have not struggled to empathize with other who have struggled are causes of the black poor problem. Though she somewhat agreed with Cosbyʼs comments, she did not feel that they were the right way to handle the problem of poor, struggling blacks. Hinesmon-Matthews said that rather than Cosby pointing fingers at individuals, he should consider the shortcomings of institutions that have failed the poor and impoverished. She mentioned problems but she said solutions lie in surveys, writing to the legislature, and in students and faculty who can discuss and challenge the problems facing the black society. CSUF Afro-ethnic studies Professor Jamie Wilson had a vastly different approach to a solution. He said many things are to blame, including Americaʼs capitalistic society. Socialism,
Wilson said, has the potential to fix Americaʼs problems. He pointed out that “slaves were a capitalistic enterprise.” He also suggested that the minimum wage should be raised to at least $15 an hour. Clyde Woods, a professor a UC Santa Barbara, suggested activism. “Young people need to lead now, not when they get old,” he said. Wilson said that the black population should turn off the TV, stop logging onto their MySpace accounts and organize events that matter. The eruption of applause and whistling at this suggestion could be heard clearly through the Titan Student Union Pavilion. Woods also broached the topic of the hip-hop lifestyle and whether it has a negative effect on the black community. The whitehaired panelist said hip-hop culture appeals to more than just the younger generation. “Hip-hop isnʼt just a youth culture,” Woods said. “Some of those cats are older than me.” After the discussion, an audience member said he didnʼt believe there are any barriers for blacks, and he asked why blacks let white T-shirts and hip-hop style define their culture. Wilson answered, saying blacks need to recognize the system does work against them, and that there are barriers. In closing, UC Irvine lecturer Kristine Wright had a suggestion. She said that since the discussion was targeted on the poor, the panel should have been represented not only by the affluent and the educated but also the poor and working class. The panel featured Lezlee Hinesmon-Matthews, a lecturer at Cal State Long Beach who worked for more than 10 years in the field of urban planning and community economic development; Jamie Wilson, assistant professor of Afro-ethnic studies at CSUF; Clyde Woods, assistant professor at UC Santa Barbara who specializes in the study of urban poverty and culture; Kristine Wright, a sociology lecturer at UC Irvine; Nnamdi Okafor, Western region vice president of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity; Stacy Ellis, a student member of CSUFʼs Sistertalk; and Marty Sellers, singles and young adult director at the Friendship Baptist Church of Yorba Linda, according to a university press release.
