Online DailyTitan

www.dailytitan.com

Since 1960 Volume 83, Issue 45

Baseball Pro

Dirty Money

Article explores the muck you can find on your buck MONEY, p. 3

Lauren Gagnier begins his first full professional season next year SPORTS, p. 6

Daily Titan

Monday November 27, 2006

The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

Student Pleads Not Guilty Getting in Front of the Camera to Win ‘Audition’ CSUF student Gideon Omondi is accused of killing 4-year-old son By Adam Levy

Daily Titan News Editor alevy@dailytitan.com

A Cal State Fullerton engineering student pleaded not guilty Friday Nov. 17 to charges of firstdegree murder. Gideon Walter Omondi, 35, is accused of killing his 4-year-old son. Judge Roger B. Robbins of the Orange County Superior Court in Fullerton scheduled a review of documents subpoenaed from CSUF for Dec. 14. The court did not indicate what was in the documents. “At this point I can’t tell you,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Steve McGreevy said. “But there are some documents from Cal State Fullerton.” Defense Attorney Scott Van Camp said he did not know what the documents contained. “We’re not privy,” he said. In his first court appearance in six weeks, a stubbly Omondi was ushered into the North Justice Center Fullerton courtroom holding pen by a sheriff’s deputy. He smiled as he conferred with Deputy Public Defender Arlene Speiser before waiving his rights to an immediate hearing date. The judge scheduled the pre-trial

By Adam Levy

Daily Titan News Editor alevy@dailytitan.com

By Kevin Rogers/Daily Titan Photo Editor

Court Date - CSUF engineering student Gideon Walter Omondi pleas not guilty to murder charges on Nov. 17. hearing for Feb. 14 and the hearing for March 23. Speiser declined to be interviewed by the Daily Titan. McGreevy has indicated that Omondi will be charged under “lying-in-wait” circumstances, which could bring a harsher sentence. The district attorney is unsure whether he will seek the death penalty. “That decision isn’t made until a [different] stage,” McGreevy said.

The native Kenyan turned himself into Fullerton Police Department on at 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 10, allegedly telling authorities he had drowned his son, Richard, earlier in the evening. Officers dispatched to Omondi’s Fullerton apartment found the youngster’s lifeless body tucked into his bed. The boy’s mother, Helen Omondi, attended the hearing. Clad in a

white coat, she looked solemn as her ex-husband was ushered into the holding cell, occasionally leaning over to chat with a confidante. She declined to comment to the Daily Titan. Omondi, held in the medical ward while in custody at the Orange County Jail in Santa Ana, has not responded to the Daily Titan’s request for an interview.

Cal State Fullerton broadcast journalism major Camaron Abundes is set to report live on TV from campus Tuesday morning in the final stage in KTLA’s “The Audition” contest. Abundes will file her report from the walkway in front of the Performing Arts Center between the Nutwood Parking Structure and the Titan Student Union from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. The 24-year-old has overcome the odds in “The Audition” competition, and is one of the two final competitors in the running for the $25,000 grand prize. The contest, which started with 16 finalists, has been a series of broadcast majors. With the end of each round, judges eliminate half of the competitors. In the first round, Abundes broadcast both sports and weather segments. Despite a few mistakes, the judges agreed on Abundes’ potential. The second phase had Abundes, clad in a black business outfit, working against a blue screen through a fast-paced morning weather update.

The judges lauded her personality, confidence and poise to handle the broadcast, while admonAbundes ishing her to not rush through the segment. Making it down to the final four, the communications major broadcast a first-quarter update from the courtside of the Los Angeles Clippers-New Orleans Hornets game. Providing viewers with relevant information and statistics. Again, the adjudicators were impressed with Abundes’ delivery. Competition judge Barbara Lopez proclaimed her as “the one to beat.” In the final round, judged by Sam Rubin and Gail Anderson, Abundes delivered a pair of entertainment reports amidst the backdrop of auxiliary footage. Titan Communications has encouraged students and faculty to all to show up in school colors Tuesday morning and support Abundes in her quest to win “The Audition.”

Parking May Be Bad, but the College Multicultural in the TSU is Working to Improve the Situation By Salman Sheikh

For the Daily Titan

news@dailytitan.com

Parking may be bad, but the crunch is only in the beginning of the semester and then people settle in, said Will Nighswonger, contract project manager at the Design and Construction office. Kristin Beehler, a senior at Cal State Fullerton, said it takes her about five minutes of hunting before she can find a spot. “The structures have helped because it takes me half the time to find a place now, but it’s still bad – it seems that there are more students now,” she said. Although CSUF is known to many as a commuter school, not everyone is a commuter, as there are those who live on or near the campus. “I don’t have to worry about parking or the permit. I live close enough to ride my bike,” said Sebastian Kruegel, a graduate student at CSUF. Kali Woodland, a junior at CSUF, said it’s a relief to her to live on campus. “I can walk to my classes,” she said. The two new parking structures have added 4,000 parking spaces to

CSUF. Providing 2,500 parking spaces on five levels, the Nutwood parking structure opened in the fall of 2004 at a cost of approximately $23.7 million. An additional 1,500 spaces were added when the State College parking structure opened this past spring. The cost of the new structure was about $20.3 million, according to the CSUF Design and Construction Web site. The Nutwood structure was more

“

The structures have helped because it takes me half the time to find a place now, but it is still bad – it seems that there are more students now.

– Kristin Beehler

“

New structures, with a third one being planned, helped CSUF’s cramped parking problems

CSUF Senior

expensive than the State College structure because it has more parking capacity and special architectural features such as the north-facing glass panels, which were added to complement the Performing Arts Center said Michael Smith, director of CSUF’s Design and Construction office. The combined $44 million proj-

Tomorrow News

Parallel Wars

Author Quang X. Pham discusses the similarities between the Vietnam and Iraq wars.

ects were financed by two 30-year CSU Bonds based on low-interest loans given to the university by the state, he said. “A part of the student parking fees are reserved to pay for that,” said Nighswonger. Currently, a one-semester automobile-parking permit for students costs $144. “Parking used to be $70 when I was a freshman,” said Celia Castanon, a senior at CSUF. CSUF has invested millions of dollars; however, students still have trouble with parking. Finding a place to park in the daytime is the worst, Castanon said. “Faculty parking should be reduced because their lots always have open spots,” he said. With the growing number of students, plans of expansion are underway. However, when dealing with heavy traffic flow, security must be kept in mind. The school is currently lacking camera surveillance in both of the new parking structures. “Safety is always in mind. Both of our structures were designed to have lots of cameras and the university police are working on that,” Nighswonger said. The two projects have been very successful and the latest one was completed six months ahead of schedule, Smith said. Plans are underway to erect another parking structure, located in lot E.

From dance to film, Greek organizations brought culture to CSUF By Aaron Holtsclaw

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

The second annual Culture Show was presented to a packed crowd Thursday, Nov. 18, in the Titan Student Union. The fraternities and sororities from the Multi-Cultural Greek Council performed a variety of acts showcasing many of the world’s cultures. Lambda Sigma Gamma Sorority Inc. began the night by performing an Indian dance led by council President Araseli Cuevas. “We decided to do something dif-

Clarification CSUF President Milton Gordon did not identify the university’s former chief financial officer by name when he was interviewed for a story in the Nov. 16 edition of the Daily Titan about a recent university audit conducted by the CSU Chancellor’s office.

ferent,” Cuevas said about her sorority’s choice of an Indian dance. “We embrace all cultures. We are here to show respect and pride in the differences we have.” The night’s second act was a short silent film about the Mayan and Aztec cultures presented by Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity Inc. that was viewed in silence by the audience. “It’s the best feeling that people learned something about the Aztec culture,” Lambda Theta Phi President Brian Valdez said. Valdez’s table was awarded $200 for being the best-pdecorated table, which was adorned with Aztec art pieces and flyers about the culture. The crowd featured an assortment of members and family from the different clubs, most of who were wearing T-shirts or sweatshirts bearing

the Greek letters of their respective clubs. There were long gaps between performances when groups were not prepared and a few technical difficulties slowed the show, but definite highlights made the show exciting. The crowd showed its appreciation by cheering after a great performance. Next up was Delta Sigma Chi with a presentation on El Salvadorian history, followed by Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Inc.’s presentation on tap dance. A member of the sorority tapped to “Smooth Criminal” by Michael Jackson in an outfit that resembled the infamous performer’s, but with two gloves instead of one. SEE CULTURE- PAGE 2

Cultural dance-

By Aaron Hotsclaw/Daily Titan

weather

TODAY

(From left to right) Chi Sigma Phi members Jamie Young, Ashley Wakayama, Julie Tran, Joan Baek, Lial Nam and Doreen Ogata dress as Polynesian dancers at the second annual culture show.

TOMorrow Few Showers High: 61 Low: 47

Partly Cloudy High: 60 Low: 41

2

November 27, 2006

In Brief

CAMPUS CALENDAR Culture: Aztec films, Indian dance featured (From Page One)

Titan Shops is holding its biggest sale of the year. The holiday savings end Dec. 2.

TUESDAY

Treatment options and symptoms for women and depression will be discussed in the Women’s Center UH 205 at noon. The Third Tuesday Recital begins at 1 p.m. and will feature CSUF music students. The performance will be held in the Recital Hall. Admission is free. A Blueprints Workshop will be held to help campus organizations coordinate meetings and events. The discussion will be held in the Titan Student Union Ontiveros room at 5 p.m. To RSVP for this event call 714278-7622. Space is limited to 40 people. Women’s Basketball v. Fresno State. The game begins at 7 p.m. in the Titan Gymnasium.

WEDNESDAY

Students are invited to attend Nancee Wright’s interview with doctoral candidate Kandy Mink to learn more about receiving a doctoral degree. During the session, students will learn the difference between a Ph.D. and an Ed.D, as well as receive helpful hints on how to succeed in the doctoral program.

THURSDAY

The Japanese band AUN will present a Concert and Workshop from 1 to 3:30 p.m. in the TSU Theater. AUN is currently on a mission to tour 100 schools to teach people about Japan. SUBMISSIONS: To have your event in The Daily Titan’s Calendar, please submit event information to news@dailytitan.com one week prior to the date of the event.

For the Record A mistake was made in the Nov. 16 issue of the Daily Titan in the rugby story in the sports page. The writer, Erin Tobin, was misidentified. It is the policy of the Daily Titan to correct any inaccurate information printed in the publication as soon as the error is discovered. Any incorrect information printed on the front page will result in a correction printed on the front page. Any incorrect information printed on any other page will be corrected on page 2. Errors on the Opinion page will be corrected on that page. Corrections also will be noted on the online version of the Daily Titan. Please contact Managing Editor Cindy Tullues at (714) 278-5693 or at ctullues@dailytitan.com with issues about this policy or to report any errors.

Daily Titan Editorial Executive Editor Managing Editor Copy Chief News Editor Asst. News Editor Asst. News Editor Sports Editor Entertainment Editor Opinion Editor Introspect Editor Photo Editor Photo Editor Copy Editor Internet Editor Adviser Main Line (714) 278-3373 News Line (714) 278-4415

Julie Anne Ines Cindy Tullues Joe Simmons Adam Levy Ian Hamilton Julianna Crisalli Laurens Ong Kirsten Alto Carmellia Munguia Jickie Torres Kevin Rogers Songha Lee Ben Weiner Grant Paulis Tom Clanin Editorial Fax (714) 278-4473 E-mail: news@dailytitan.com

Advertising

Director of Advertising Asst. Director of Advertising Ad Production Manager Production Designer Classified Manager National Sales/Promotions Assistant Promotions Account Executive Account Executive Account Executive Entertainment Account Executive Entertainment Account Executive Webmaster Distribution Business Manager/Adviser

Main Line (714) 278-3373 Advertising (714) 278-4411

Emily Alford Beth Stirnaman Keith Hansen Frances Casareno Rich Boyd Jackie Kimmel RoseAnne De Ramos Kathleen Cisneros Stephanie Birditt Layla Hanka Lesley Wu Sarah Oak Dan Beam Santana Ramos Robert Sage

Advertising Fax (714) 278-2702 E-mail: ads@dailytitan.com

The Daily Titan is a student publication, printed every Monday through Thursday. The Daily Titan operates independently of Associated Students, College of Communications, CSUF administration and the CSUF System. The Daily Titan has functioned as a public forum since inception. Unless implied by the advertising party or otherwise stated, advertising in the Daily Titan is inserted by commercial activities or ventures identified in the advertisements themselves and not by the university. Such printing is not to be construed as written or implied sponsorship, endorsement or investigation of such commercial enterprises. The Daily Titan allocates one issue to each student for free. Copyright ©2006 Daily Titan

During breaks in performances, different groups would call out a cheer for their group that would be answered by the various members to show pride for their brothers and sisters.The night’s showstopper was the Chi Sigma Phi sorority’s performance of a Tahitian dance. Senior business major Ashley Wakayama has been performing Polynesian dances for eight years. “We’ve been practicing really hard,” Wakayama said before the dance performance. Wakayama taught her sorority sisters the dance and had a solo performance after her group left the stage for the night. The dance was choreographed

The Hip Hop Dance group Comto prerecorded music and was performed to the crowd’s cheers and mon Ground performed next with a dance featuring 30 hollers. dancers. The muDouglass Barillas sic was from variand Kevin Rodriguez from Sigma I love the way hipous artists mixed Delta Alpha fol- hop makes you feel. to coincide with lowed the Polyne- It brings something breaks when differsian performance ent dancers would with a Brazilian out in you when you rush onstage and fight dance. The dance. take over from the dancers bang sticks – Stephanie Ramos tired dancers who together in a patUC Irvine Freshman just finished their tern reminiscent segment. The fiof children’s hand nale featured all 30 slapping games. As dancers and was the performance progressed, the pat- concluded to loud cheering from the terns of stick banging got more and people in attendance. more complex. “It was our first performance as a

“

“

TODAY

Film Depicts Jesus’ Birth By ALESSANDRA RIZZO

Associated Press Writer

VATICAN CITY - A movie about the birth of Jesus Christ made its world premiere Sunday at the Vatican, the first time a feature film debuted here. Some 7,000 people showed up at the benefit screening of “The Nativity Story” in Paul VI Hall, the auditorium regularly used for audiences with pilgrims, although Pope Benedict XVI was not present. “I think the pope is pretty busy,” quipped director Catherine Hardwicke, referring to Benedict’s upcoming trip to Turkey. “The Nativity Story,” which opens in the United States and Italy in time for the Christmas holidays on Dec. 1, describes Mary’s pregnancy and the trip she and Joseph undertake to Bethlehem, the town of Jesus’ birth. It explores Mary’s reaction _ of fear, doubt and ultimately faith _ to what is happening to her. Mary is played by Australian-born Keisha Castle-Hughes, of “Whale Rider” fame, who was not present at the premiere. Shohreh Aghdashloo, who was nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actress in “House of Sand and Fog,” stars as Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. Oscar Isaac portrays Joseph. The director’s previous works include “Lords of Dogtown” and “Thirteen.” The 102-minute film was shot between Morocco and Matera, a town in southern Italy where Mel Gibson shot “The Passion of the Christ.” Hardwicke praised “The Passion,” but said she tried to do a more uniting film than Gibson’s blockbuster about the last hours of Jesus Christ.

“There were some things he did that maybe were a little controversial. We wanted our film to be uniting and make the public see the similarities between religions instead of the differences,” she said. Before the screening, Archbishop John Foley, a U.S. prelate who heads the Vatican’s social communications office, praised what he called a dialogue between faith and culture. “Cinema, a powerful means of communication, once again carries a universal message,” he told the audience. Some made-for-TV movies have had their premieres at the Vatican. Earlier this year, Benedict watched one of them, “Karol, A Pope Who Remained Man,” which explored the life of his predecessor, John Paul II, who died in 2005. Despite the Vatican’s stamp of approval, Hardwicke said her movie sought to appeal not just to religious audiences. “We hope that people might relate to the relationship in the film, Mary and Joseph, and how their love grows and gets stronger as each one of them has challenges,” she said. Producers said earlier this month that proceeds from the event would go toward the construction of a school in a village that is some 25 miles from Nazareth, the town of Jesus’ childhood. The village, Mughar, whose population includes Christians and Muslims, was one of the Israeli towns hit by rockets fired by Lebanon-based Hezbollah guerrillas over the summer. “The Nativity Story” was produced by New Line Cinema, the company that made “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy.

new team,” said UC Irvine freshman Stephanie Ramos after the performance. “This is a starting point for us. I love the way hip-hop makes you feel. It brings something out in you when you dance.” The night closed with Theta Delta Beta Step Squad performing a traditional fraternity step dance with clapping and foot stomping. One member was overheard saying their goal was to “break the stage” before the performance by dancing hard. The stage did not break, but the crowd showed its appreciation with loud applause after the show. “It was a great turnout,” Cuevas said at the end of the night. “We had over 200 people in attendance.”

POLICE BLOTTER Monday, Nov. 13

Thursday, Nov. 16

8:26 p.m. Campus Police assisted a woman at the Humanities building who was complaining of dizziness and nausea.

2:21 p.m. A man was soliciting donations by the TSU, reportedly being verbally abusive to those who would not donate money. Campus police issued the suspect a warning.

8:28 p.m. A fire call was placed from Langsdorf Hall, based on a defective light pole emanating sparks from the bulbs.

6:51 p.m. Officers issued a warning to rugby players in conflict with parking officials issuing citations.

Tuesday, Nov. 14

Friday, Nov. 17

10:24 a.m. A suspicious persons report was filed about a male in his 30s who was believed to be intoxicated.

2:12 a.m. Campus Police were unable to locate a male who was allegedly loitering in front of the Chevron Station on Yorba Linda Boulevard.

4:42 p.m. Campus Police arrested a suspect on grounds of petty theft from the Titan Bookstore. 6:17 p.m. A woman called from the Cypress dorm reporting that she felt she was being stalked by a man, described as 5 foot, 3 inches, with dark hair and glasses and wearing jeans and a green sweatshirt. She saw the man peering at her through the peephole of her door, and believed he may have been watching her earlier. Campus Police conducted a field interview about the incident. Wednesday, Nov. 15 11:48 p.m. A woman from the Willow dorms called to report her angry ex-boyfriend claimed he was coming from Santa Clarita to “drop stuff off,” and that she should look by her car in an hour. Reports say that the relationship had been over for more than a year. Campus Police took a log note of the incident.

Saturday, Nov. 18 6:02 p.m. A medical aid call was filed from the Kinesiology Building about a man who may have injured his spinal cord while wrestling. 11: 44 p.m. A disturbance call was filed from Deerpark Place about a unit blaring loud music. The reporting party had described it as sounding “like a rock concert.” Sunday, Nov. 19 12: 37 a.m. Campus Police and local agencies assisted with a bar fight that took place at a bar off of Placentia Avenue. Approximately 15 subjects were fighting at the front of the bar. TUESDAY NOV. 21 12:14 a.m. Campus Police assisted with a disturbance call at the Sycamore Dorm. There were approximately 20 people present suspected to be drinking.

November 27, 2006

money

The Muck on Your Buck From bacteria to drugs, your cash may come with some hidden surprises by paolo andres

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

It has been said many times: “The love of money is the root of all evil.” Though some people may dispute this, money can be listed as one of the most unsanitary objects in the world. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Web site, the average life span of a $1 bill is about 18 months. For a $5 bill, the average life is 15 months. It’s two years for a $20 bill. And since coins are more durable than the paper bills, the average life of a coin is 25 years. Through their exchanges, bills and coins are now more than just a means to create commerce. Money has now become a vehicle for the spread of bacteria and diseases. In 1972, a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found fecal bacteria and S. aureus – a leading cause of soft-tissue infections, toxic shock syndrome and scalded skin syndrome – on 13 percent of coins and 42 percent of notes from 200 coins and bills tested. A study conducted by UC San Francisco in 1998 found cultured bacteria on money from common places of transactions such as delis, post offices and newstands. Though most of the cultured bacteria were harmless, 18 percent of the coins and 7 percent of the notes were host to bacteria to colonies of E. coli and the potential pathogen S. aureus. Though your wallet may be dirty, many researchers agree that the bill in your hand is not exactly the breeding ground for the diseasecausing agents.

Garrett Guenther, a UC Irvine biology graduate student and researcher, said, “Money is not the perfect place for bacteria to grow in.” Because the bills and coins cannot properly sustain growth and are therefore not the ideal environment for growth, bacterial development is often stunted while on money, he said. Marcelo Tolmasky, a Cal State Fullerton biology professor, said that though bacterial colonies cannot thrive on money, this doesn’t stop them from using the handbills as carriers to more sustaining environments. “Bacteria don’t need to grow to stay alive,” he said. “You can have bacteria and not have it grow but it can still thrive once they find the proper environment.” “That’s why money can be a way to transfer bacteria … I wouldn’t expect bacteria to grow on money. But I expect it to stay there,” Tolmasky said. Though the pathogenic organisms are abundant on the bills and the coins we hold, they only spell trouble under special circumstances where large amounts of bacteria breach our microbial defense grid called “skin.” Tolmasky said the skin “acts like a defense” against diseasecausing agents in our environment. Some bacteria are often beneficial since they occupy space within the body while denying potentially pathogenic bacteria the chance to grow. “We’re just sharing the world with bacteria. We give them what they need. They give us what we need. And everybody is happy,” Tolmasky said. “The world is full of bacteria that will occupy space,” Tolmasky said. “You cannot clean the environment from bacteria.” But cash may even be cruddier than people may assume. Besides the germs teeming on each bill,

money has another little secret. A large percentage of U.S. currency carries traces of cocaine. A study done by the Houston Advanced Research Center in Texas and the Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois found that 70 to 80 percent of cash tested in Miami, Chicago and Houston were found to have traces of the drug on them. Overall, the study found that the older the bill, the more cocaine it contains. Another study published in Journal of Forensic Sciences concluded, “Most Americans handle small amounts of cocaine every day, not as packets sold by drug dealers, but on the dollar bills that line their pockets.” But the money holder shouldn’t worry that holding their cash may lead to issues of sobriety and random drug testing. “Does that mean your grandmother in the Midwest is going to be contaminated by a bill handled by a drug dealer in Chicago?” asked David Kidwell, a chemist at the Naval Research Laboratory to Discover Magazine. “Not very likely. If money’s freshly dusted with cocaine, it will get on you, of course. But once money’s been handled and passed through machines, it’s too deeply embedded.” Discover Magazine chronicled a study done by Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., in which bank tellers were tested after a four-hour shift in handling cash. The study found that though cocaine was found on the money, none of the tellers tested positive for traces of cocaine. We know money isn’t clean. But it’s not necessarily going to kill us either. Though the cash we hold may be chock-full of bacteria and may not be the most drug-free object in our pockets, our body is designed to protect us from the dirt and the crud that we live with on a daily basis.

3

Chain Stores Deck the Shelves by christina martinez

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

With the holidays right around the corner, it’s that time of year again to crawl into the attic and pull out the many boxes of decorations. Even though it’s the holidays, plural, one theme dominates retail stores: Christmas. One of the traditional decorations of the Christmas holiday is a Christmas tree. However, there’s always the question of whether to buy a real or artificial tree. Catherine Howard, editor of “Christmas Tree Magazine” said real trees are better than fake trees. “Fake trees are advertised as ‘permanent’ trees,” Howard said in an e-mail interview. “The average fake tree lasts about seven years.” She said even though artificial trees are advertised as “flame retardant” they are actually made of petroleum, which can still burn and give off toxic fumes. However, Wal-Mart shopper Vere Miller said even though she will have a real Christmas tree for the holiday, her son-in-law will have an artificial tree. This is because her son-in-law has a baby and believes the artificial tree will be better for

it. Miller said she prefers a real tree mainly because of the smell. Target Greatland shopper Patty Sjogren said she has five artificial trees even though she only puts two out every year.  However, Sjogren said she does prefer real trees to artificial ones. “The average [real] Christmas trees sell for around $40,” Howard said. Without lights, the average 7foot 5-inch artificial tree sells for around $82. With lights, which was more common than trees without, they sold for around $138. A 100-count mini light set for the trees sold for around $2.  Depending on how many lights are on a tree, it could be cheaper to buy lights and just a tree rather than buying a tree that already comes with lights. Another traditional decoration, glass ornaments, especially glassball ornaments, are seen in many retail stores. A set of 18 to 20 glass-ball ornaments sold for around $5. The least expensive set was at Wal-Mart, where 18 glass ornaments sell for $1.98. The most expensive is at Sears, where a set of 20 glass ornaments sells for $7.99. Not all decorations are for Christmas trees though.

Miller came into Wal-Mart specifically to buy a wooden nutcracker for her daughter. She said the nutcracker was less expensive at Wal-Mart than at other retailers. Sjogren said she doesn’t usually buy decorations every year because she keeps all of them. She just found herself walking in Target and just stopped to look at the holiday displays. Miller also keeps most of her decorations and just added to the collection every year. She said her daughter just bought a new house and now it’s her time to start collecting decorations. The best time to start decorating is the first week of December, Howard said. “I leave the decorations up until after New Year’s Day,” she said. However, Howard said Christmas trees are a different story if the household is getting a real tree. “From a freshness standpoint, Christmas trees vary in species, and some varieties last longer than others,” Howard said. She said regradless if the customer buys one from their local Home Depot or tree farm, the trees should last for several weeks.

4

November 27, 2006

Opinion Titan Editorial Providing insight, analysis and perspective since 1960

Foot In Mouth

As the sand of 2006’s hour- to see those DVD sales slip), glass swiftly runs down, there’s and appeared on Letterman no question that this year will to tell the world, “The funny be remembered as the year of thing about this whole the foot-in-the-mouth, as a pair thing is that I’m not a racist.” of set-for-life Hollywood clowns Spare us, Michael Richards. acted upon their delusions of The vigor he demonstrated in grandeur, pressing the self-de- his outburst wasn’t exactly construct buttons on their careers in sistent with anything we’d see the process. soon from the We all know Rainbow Cowhat a Jewalition. bashing jackass Forgive our Mel Gibson cynicism – we can be when he While we don’t agree don’t claim to drinks. be experts in with what Michael Now, we p s yc h o l o g y, Richards said in his but the vithave Michael Richards crack- now infamous rant at riolic nature ing back at a of meltdown black heckler at the Laugh Factory, we leads us to bea comedy show lieve Richards support his right in L.A. with has a deepto say it an animated seated intolerdiatribe where ance of black he told Laugh people. DurFactory secuing the rant, rity guards to Richards made “Throw his ass numerous out, he’s a n--r e f e r -r!” ences to slavery and seemed Do we even need to begin to grow even more belligdissecting the stupidity of this erent once it was clear the one? audience began filing out of the It’s not as if the guy who stands. got famous via pratfalls and This would have made great bursting through doors had fodder for a “Curb Your Enthusome underlying George siasm” episode if it weren’t so Carlin-esque social com- real. mentary within his spiel – So Mr. Richards, while we he just liked saying the n-word. here at the Daily Titan defend Even worse, he implicated your right to stand up on the the audience of covertly sharing stage and remonstrate using his racist views, asking them “It racial slurs, don’t try and conshocks you to see what’s buried vince us that this was a random beneath y’all stupid m-----------s?” case of Tourette’s syndrome eiWhen the stupidness wore ther. off, Richards attempted to clean While we enjoyed your up his mess pronto, hiring a PR pratfalls and gags back in the firm to salvage his image, get- Seinfeld days, it is clear time has ting a ringing endorsement from passed you by – by about 150 Jerry Seinfeld (wouldn’t want years.

Letters to the Editor The Daily Titan welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must include the sender’s first and last name. Students must include their majors, and other writers must include their affiliation to the university, if applicable. The Daily Titan reserves the right to edit letters for length, grammar and spelling. Send letters to Julie Anne Ines, the executive editor, at jines@dailytitan.com.

Student Health Center AIDS Quilt on campus Tuesday / Thursday 11/28 and 11/30 on display from 10:00 to 1:00 Come see speakers on HIV/AIDS on Tuesday and Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:30

Contact Mary M. Hermann 714-278-2847 www.fullerton.edu/shcc

Trafficking Too Close for Comfort By Katy French

Daily Titan Staff Writer opinion@dailytitan.com

Last month, at the close of a local human trafficking case, an Irvine couple pled guilty to holding a 12year-old girl as a domestic servant for two years. I had been loosely following the case and was thrilled to learn that the couple will also have to pay the girl $152,000 for the time she was forced to work for them. But upon further reflection, I am disheartened that this crime occurred at all, particularly in our little bubble of Orange County. This case of human trafficking is the most recent to make headlines around here, but was not the first and will probably not be the last. There are certain crimes we hear about that may faze us for a moment during our morning cup of coffee. Maybe the latest CSI episode was

Human trafficking is not just a problem in countries across the ocean – it is a problem that hits closer to home than you’d think mildly disturbing. When we hear words like murder and human genocide we are appalled, but the shock wears off and we move on. But there are some crimes that are too brutally shocking and offensive to the core of human rights to just ignore – such as human trafficking. The simple fact that human trafficking still exists in a country as “modern” as we claim it to be is outrageous. Much of the country’s population still shudders to hear the word “slavery,” but is unaware that it is still happening to thousands of individuals. Some may argue that the number of people subjected to this particular crime is insignificant compared

to other crimes. But even one case of an individual’s rights being so severely violated should warrant social action. It is upsetting to know that mankind has yet to evolve into the respectable, caring beings we claim to be. But this social disease extends far beyond the traffickers and their victims. As in all criminal industries if there is no market and no clientele, there is no profit. We are disgusted when we learn of child pornography rings or brothels that offer young girls for sexual exploitation. But the customers are where the true disease lies. Only recently, with series like “To

Catch a Predator” are we beginning to see the vast array of individuals who engage in these types of acts. The width and breadth of these problems are inestimable and that is what is most disappointing. They extend beyond borders. As we now know the problem is not only in distant villages in Africa, but also in condos in Irvine. The child sex trade is as active in America as it is in Thailand. We are no exception and we have no excuse. Every social ill in existence is perpetuated by some acceptance. You cannot change the world, but you can change yourself. You can be the concerned neighbor who noticed the little girl next door never went to school and made the call that would change a life. Edmund Burke said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Do something.

’Til Different Cultures Do Us Part By Sheena Desai

Daily Titan Staff Writer opinion@dailytitan.com

In the popular HBO TV series on “Sex and the City,” the characters Charlotte and Harry fall madly in love with each other. They enjoyed the beginning of their relationship just as any other couple. The dating, meeting each other’s friends and sex were great. At least that is what Charlotte claimed. While in bed one night, Harry told Charlotte that he promised his dying mother that he would only marry a Jew like himself. Charlotte, being a semi-religious Anglican, became stressed over the decision of conversion, but she was open-heartedly willing to convert to Judaism since it meant being with Harry for the rest of her life. The root of the problem was that the two of them had dissimilar religious and cultural backgrounds. This was a show. In reality, there may not have been such a happy ending. I believe a relationship with someone of a different religion and ethnicity will lead to problems. If a person actively practices their religion, the thought of leaving it behind could mean losing one’s iden-

Discovering “happily ever after” goes beyond finding someone with common interests – it’s easier to have a relationship with someone with shared ethnic and religious backgrounds tity. Whereas for those have never been devoted, converting may not matter at all. The relationship may seem simpler in the beginning, but the seriousness of a difference such as this begins to matter when a couple has moved past the dating phase and into planning a future together. There are many other factors that become conflicts in inter-religion relationships. One major problem that tends to build a brick wall in front of marriage is conversion. In religions such as Islam and Judaism, marriage outside of the faith is forbidden. If they wish to marry someone of another religion, that other person needs to convert in order to marry, which can lead to disagreements. Another major issue that couples are confronted with after marriage is what religion they will raise their children in. It becomes contradictory for a child to follow two different reli-

gions, which can confuse him and affect his identity. There is a clash in traditions and customs that may lead to family disputes and an uncomforting feeling. One partner may celebrate special occasions in a way that may displease the other. Festivals and holidays will be very important to one while they may be just more dates on the calendar to the other. This could lead to a sense of alienation and awkwardness between the two people. For example, the holiday season and Christmas is a period that is significant to a Christian. If a Christian is married to a Muslim, the Muslim may not take that time into consideration. Also, Ramadan is a month of fasting for a Muslim. His or her partner of a different religion may see it as an inconvenience. Acceptance of one’s partner’s family is something important to most people. I, as a Hindu, would not be able

to imagine my husband being of a different religion and having to adapt to different views and beliefs every time I saw his family. Little things that would make me uncomfortable could possibly build up into something huge. For example, I am a vegetarian, as are many Hindus. I would feel uneasy sitting at a family dinner with a dead pig in the middle that has an apple in its mouth. Interracial marriages have a 41 percent chance of disruption after marriage, whereas same-race marriages have a 31 percent chance of falling apart. Interracial divorces make up approximately 3.2 percent of the annual global divorce rate, according to IRCruise.com. This shows that for those couples that decide to go forth with marriage by putting this difference aside, it will become a predicament over time. People in relationships who have common backgrounds are happily willing to share their culture with one another throughout life, not because they have to, but because they want to. It gives a couple a sense of togetherness and becomes a plus point in the bond they share. Their lives run on parallel tracks, which allow their values and faith to run side by side.

www.dailytitan.com

November 27, 2006

Index Announcements 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100

Campus Events/Services Campus Organizations Greeks Legal Notices Lost and Found Miscellaneous Personals Pregnancy Research Subjects Sperm/ Egg Donors Tickets Offered / wanted

Merchandise 2200 2300 2400 2500 2600 2700 2800 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300 3400 3500

Appliances Art/Painting/Collectibles Books Computers/Software Electronics Furniture Garage/Yard Sales Health Products Miscellaneous Musical Instruments Office Equipment Pets Rentals Sports Equipment

Transportation 3600 3700 3800 3900

Auto Accessories/Repair Auto Insurance Miscellaneous Vehicles For sale/Rent

Travel 4000 4100 4200 4300

Resorts/Hotels Rides Offered/Wanted Travel Tickets Vacation Packages

Services 4400 4500 4600 4700 4800 4900 5000 5100 5200 5300 5400 5500 5600 5700 5800 5900 6000

1-900 Numbers Financial Aid Insurance Computer/Internet Foreign Languages Health/Beauty Services Acting/Modeling Classes Legal Advice/Attorneys Movers/Storage Music Lessons Personal Services Professional Services Resumes Telecommunications Tutoring Offered/Wanted Typing Writing Help

Employment 6100 6200 6300 6400 6500 6600 6700 6800 6900 7000 7100

Business Opportunities Career Opportunities P/T Career Opportunities F/T Child Care Offered/Wanted Help Wanted Actors/Extras Wanted Housesitting Internship Personal Assistance Temporary Employment Volunteer

Housing 7200 7300 7400 7500 7600 7700 7800 7900

Apartments for Rent Apartments to Share Houses for Rent/Sale Guest House for Rent Room for Rent Roommates - Private Room Roommates - Shared Room Vacation Rentals

5

Classifieds

Advertising Information To place a classified ad, call

714.278.4453 By Fax: 714.278.2702 By Email: classified@dailytitan.com By Mail: The Daily Titan College Park Bldg. 2600 E. Nutwood Ave. Suite 660 Fullerton, CA. 92831-3110 Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9 am - 5 pm Rates: One insertion, up to 20 words .........................................$5.00 each additional word........$0.35 12pt Headline...................$1.60 16pt Headline...................$2.25 Border..............................$5.00 • Weekly and monthly rates are also available. • For classified display ads, please see our rate card for rate information. Deadlines: Classified Line Ads: 3 Business days before printing @ 12 noon. Classified Display Ads: 3 Business days before printing @ 12 noon. Payment: Please make checks payable to: "The Daily Titan" We also accept Visa and Mastercard Read the Daily Titan online @

www.dailytitan.com

3800

6200

6200

Transportation

Career Opportunities P/T Preschool Assistant Teacher Love Working with children? Wanted Permanent F/T Toddler Assistant Teacher and P/ T Pre School Afternoon Day Care Teachers. Must have 12 ECE units. Will train. $811/hr DOE. May count for CAS internship requirements. Non-paying internship also open for Pre-school and elementary Grade 1-3. Flexible hours. Montessori Huntington Beach. Call or send resume info@montessorichilddevelopment.com 714-848-2733

Career Opportunities P/T

DRIVING LESSONS

Offering behind-the-wheel training for a class C driver license. Lic. #I4027008. Ask for Neil (714) 595-1541.

5800 Tutoring Offered/Wanted Math Tutor All levels. Need Help? CALL! (562) 761-1791

6100 Career Opportunities FINE DINING SERVICE ASSISTANT Full training/ No experience necessary. Great attitude & service with a smile a must! Average hourly wage with tips $18.00 Apply in person Foscari 5645 E. La Palma in Anaheim Hills just off the 91 Fwy & Imperial Hwy. Just 10 minutes from CSUF 714-342-8076. Costco Roadshow Sales Seeking high energy, responsible sales people for yearround contract “Roadshow” work at local Costcos. Work Th-Sun. Make $500-$1000 per show! Only serious candidates please. Fax resumes/ inquires to 951-346-9336. Sales Cingular Wireless Agent Looking for people to work in our retail locations. We are a Cingular Wireless premier agent with locations throughout the LA/ OC/IE regions. Our sales people earn an hourly wage plus commissions and bonus. We offer flexible hours to meet your class schedules. Also included is paid training, medical, dental, and vision benefits . We also offer a 401k program. For an interview, call Robert @ 714-906-1518. P/T Business Opportunity Owner of a website mall online shopping business is expanding!Lookin for P/ T people. email nerilyn2004@yahoo. com or call LYNN 496-3230.

6200 Career Opportunities P/T NEED EXTRA MONEY? We are now hiring servers/bartenders to work for exciting events! Very flexible schedule! Great pay! Great way to earn extra $ for the holidays! Call The Party Staff: (714) 241-9222

Valet Positions Available

Valet parkers needed for special events aand possible part time. No experieence necessary. Great pay. Located in Orange. Contact Sonny Baca: 714-501-8111.

TEACHER ASST. PRESCHOOOL Irvine. Boost your career! F/T, P/T, or flexible schedule. $9-13/hr. ECE or enrolled. Call Rayann at (949) 854-6030. Local entertainment company seeking graphic designer to develop marketing campaigns. Going to produce ads that will appear in this paper. Can be used as internship credit. Contact Milton (714) 525-3160. Earn cash by taking smple surveys online! cashforsurveys.com

Hey Titans!

RuffaloCODY is looking for confident, dependable and personable individuals to work as part time fund raisers for reputable non-profit organizations, such as Stanford, Lucille Packard Childrens Fund, Marymount College, UC Berkeley, and Boalt Hall School of Law. Our benefits include: -Afternoon/Evening Schedules (4-5 hour shifts) Sunday-Thursday (Weekends Optional) -Hour base wage + attendance bonuses=$10.00 -Tuition Assistance -Located near campus (2 miles) -Great resume builder -Flexible Scheduling, SCHOOL first! -Opportunity to enhance communication and negotiation skills -Gain professional experience and contact opportunities -Work with other students -Paid holidays and personal time after 90 days CALL 714-738-1937 OR E-mail US AT ANDREW.BREWER@RUFFALOCODY.COM Member of the following organizations: NACAC, ATFE, NCNS, NIC and NSFRE

REALITY CONTESTANTS WANTED “DATE MY CAR...and me” New reality dating show to be filmed in Orange County. M/F 18-30. Contestant will check out 3 cars, then based on the look and feel of the car the contestant will select the car ( and the unseen owner) to share a date. Cable and TV debut. eCityWatch Productions. (949) 675-7070 New Faces Wanted Do you have what it takes to be a Model/Actor? Call now for a complimentary interview.(949)916-9000

6500 Help Wanted English, Science, Math tutors for k-12 wanted. Part-time (must be available on weds). (714) 577-8540.

7300 Apartments to Share WALKING DISTANCE TO CSUF Male roommate needed to share apartment; only $400/ mo includes all utilities. vkelly630@yahoo.com. (951) 675-0257

7400 Houses for Rent/Sale

P/T with IT(Online) Company

Position involves product costing, customer service, and general office support. Afternoon hours. Will train. Good starting pay. Near 57/ Chapman. Call (714) 746-3715

West Yorba Linda 4 bed / 2 Bath, single story, culdesac, dinning/living room, family room, air, new tile, appliances, paint etc. Large yard, gardner, $2450. (949) 363-7624. Available now. Condo near CSUF for rent. 3 bed, 2.5 bath, fireplce, 2-car garage with laundry, pool and spa, custom tile and newer carpets. Large master bed w/ large mirrored closets. 366-7207. WALKING DISTANCE TO CSUF Male roomate needed to share apartment; only $400/ month. Includes all utilities. vkelly630@aol.com. (951) 675-0257.

7600 Room for Rent NEW HOME + FREE INTERNET 2.5 miles from CSUF. $525 / mo + $199 deposit. Female preferred. No pets. Discount with lease. 714-879-2649

7700 Roommates-Private Room ROOM FOR RENT: Large, nice, brandnew, near park and football field. Lots of parking. Best area in Anaheim (State College & Fwy 91), 5 minute from CSUF house. Cable wireless internet, some cooking, and 999 channels of cable TV. Washer dryer – U Students only. 475 - 550$ month. Cell: 714-422-5616. emails: PhamVincent88@ yahoo.com

7700

Roommates-Private Room

Need a Room! College student, male, employed, needs a place to live! Looking for private room anywhere from $0-$600 a month. Please help! E-mail designsbykeith@gmail.com!

6

November 27, 2006

SPORTS

Catching Up With a Former Titan Mound Ace Part I: Lauren Gagnier’s evolution from a CSUF project to a pro prospect

Titan Media Relations

BY JONATHAN SAAVEDRA

The contract of Cal State Fullerton women’s basketball coach Maryalyce Jeremiah has been “rolled over” one more year from its current expiration date of April 30, 2008, to April 30, 2009. Jeremiah is in her 11th season at CSUF where she became the school’s winningest women’s basketball coach when the Titans won their season opener at San Jose State on Nov. 11. Her current Fullerton record is 141-155, and her 27-season career record is 404-300.

Daily Titan Staff Writer sports@dailytitan.com

It’s not uncommon for most baseball players to have jittery nerves during games. In fact, it’s part of the game. But it is a bit unusual for a player to be nervous during practice, which is how former Cal State Fullerton pitcher Lauren Gagnier felt on June 6. It was just another day of practice for the Titans, but it was also the first day of the 2006 Major League Baseball draft. “It was funny because that day at practice was a little bit different,” Gagnier said. “People at practice were like, ‘Nah, I’m not worried about it,’ but I think deep down some guys had it on their mind. Not necessarily worrying about it, but definitely on their mind.” The 6-foot-2-inch pitcher discovered he was chosen by the Detroit Tigers in the 10th round when he saw his name on MLB’s Web site after practice. “It was a pretty amazing feeling,” he said. “I kind of took a sigh of relief once it happened.” The road that led up to that day was a bumpy one for the Santa Cruz native. After earning three letters and compiling a 10-4 record with a 1.83 ERA and 122 strikeouts his senior year at Santa Cruz High School, he encountered difficulties and struggled when he entered the Titans’ nationally recognized baseball program as a freshman. “I don’t think he was extremely street smart,” Titan Baseball Head Coach George Horton said. “He was a little naive. The system came

By MATT PETIT/For the Daily Titan DETERMINED INDIVIDUAL – Former Cal State Fullerton pitcher Lauren Gagnier worked his way up for the Titans and was drafted by the Detroit Tigers. a little difficult for him in his early years here.” Horton said that Gagnier and fellow freshman at the time, Nolan Bruyninckx, earned the nicknames Harry and Lloyd because of Gagnier’s tendency to leave expensive items, such as his laptop and cell phone, on the bus. “They took a lot of ribbing and struggled with a lot of the signs and the system,” Horton said. “It got to a point where jokingly we called them Harry and Lloyd from ‘Dumb and

Men’s Hoops On a Roll Titan Media Relations Cal State Fullerton men’s basketball team tries to match its 5-0 start of 1989-90 tonight when the Titans visit Eastern Washington in Cheney. Tipoff time is 7:05 p.m. The host Eagles are 2-3 but probably provide the most difficult challenge on this eight-day, three-game

Jeremiah Gets an Extension

road trip. EWU’s losses have come on the road – at UNLV, at Gonzaga and, most recently, in a 7-point loss at No. 16-ranked Washington. Fullerton leads the series, 3-0, and is 1-0 at Reese Court. The Titans won here on Dec. 10, 2004, in overtime, 70-68, on a 3-point basket at the buzzer by Jermaine Harper.

Dumber.’ Lauren was Harry and Nolan was Lloyd.” Despite the ribbing during practices and bus rides, Gagnier was immediately thrown into the fire as he was a starter against Stanford the first weekend of his freshman season in 2004. “I got that start the first weekend against Stanford, which was pretty amazing for me being a true freshman,” Gagnier said. “I was filling in for someone, but I got to start the first three weekends for one of our

hurt pitchers.” Gagnier posted a 2-2 record in 26 innings and had a 4.50 ERA as a midweek starter and as a reliever as a freshman. In his sophomore year, he had a 3.18 ERA and a 3-0 record coming out of the bullpen in 21 appearances. “I think it would be pretty fair to say that his career up until his junior year was a little inconsistent,” Horton said. Gagnier made major strides dur-

ing his junior year and pitched a 14-5 record, which tied him for the most wins in the country with Texas Christian University’s Jake Arrieta. Gagnier helped the Titans get into the College World Series and finish with an overall record of 50-15. “The biggest transformation for him and why he became as consistent as he was as a junior was his mental game,” Horton said. “His mental toughness, his dedication – it all came together for him. All the bits and pieces came together.”