SPORTS: CSUF baseball crushes the Pepperdine Waves 9-1, page 6
INSIDE: THE BUZZ Nada Surf talks about being popular in 2008
Since 1960 Volume 86, Issue 53
FEATURES: Look online for photos of enviromental art displays from 1970
Daily Titan
Thursday May 8, 2008
The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton
DTSHORTHAND Campus Life The Titan Student Union and the Associated Students, Inc. will sponsor the biannual All Night Study program May 5-16. During this end-of-semester program, the TSU will keep it’s doors open for 24 hours for two weeks. All Cal State Fullerton students are encouraged to participate in the free activities and services offered to help prepare for final exams. To kick-off finals week, the TSU will host “Cram Your Cranium” at midnight on Monday, Free scantrons, bluebooks and other school supplies will available for students to pick up in the TSU Garden Café courtyard. On Tuesday, May 13th , students will not have to leave campus to celebrate taco Tuesday. Instead, they can enjoy free food and giveaways at “Finals Fiesta” beginning at 10 pm in the TSU Garden Café courtyard. For a complete schedule of activities during the All Night Study program, visit the Web site at http://asi.fullerton.edu/ allnightstudy or contact Crystal Schmidt at (714) 278-5869.
Authorities found it easy to crack the college drug culture Associated Press
Undercover agents who posed as college students to bust more than 100 suspected drug dealers at San Diego State University never had to crack a book to gain acceptance on campus. All it took was cash. The federal agents went to one or two parties but never actually went to class or lived in the dorms. Instead, they merely arranged meetings with suspected dealers and asked about buying cocaine, Ecstasy, methamphetamine, marijuana and other drugs, authorities said Wednesday. “All it took was saying, ‘Hey, I go to State, can you hook me up?’” said San Diego County prosecutor Damon Mosler. “And then it was off to the races.”
The day after the drug sweep landed members of three fraternities in jail and led to the suspension of six frats, investigators revealed how easy it was to penetrate the university’s drug culture. Students who had gotten caught for fighting, drinking, minor drug offenses or other crimes quickly turned informants and used text messages to introduce their drug dealers to undercover agents. Dealers made handoffs in front of dorms, in parking lots or behind frat houses, sometimes in broad daylight in full view of surveillance cameras. They apparently made little effort to launder their spoils. One fraternity brother arrested Tuesday drove his Lexus directly from a $400 cocaine sale on campus to a nearby
bank, where he deposited the cash, according to court papers. That came as a surprise to agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, who were used to being thoroughly screened by dealers scared of being arrested. “They never gave any thought that we could be doing an operation there,” said Eileen Zeidler, a spokeswoman for the DEA office in San Diego. At least 75 people arrested during the five-month sting were San Diego State students, and 13 of them were from seven fraternities. All together, there were 128 arrests, 61 on Tuesday. Theta Chi had the highest number of students arrested, with five. Campus police started the probe a year ago after the cocaine over-
dose death of a freshman sorority member, but they soon called in federal agents to provide fresh faces on campus and supply the money needed to make drug buys. That was a major departure from the arms’-length relationship that has existed between colleges and police since the 1960s. For decades, police in many communities have largely turned a blind eye to drugs on campus. The DEA had been on campus at San Diego State before, to help investigate a student suspected of cooking methamphetamine for his own use in a campus chemistry lab, and campus police said they cooperated with the FBI after receiving a hoax threat in the wake of last year’s Virginia Tech shootings. Yet the invitation to federal authorities
was unusual because it involved an open-ended investigation that did not involve a violent crime. The ringleader, a 19-year-old, brazenly sent out text messages advertising weekend blowout sales on cocaine, authorities say. Apart from that, however, the fraternity did little to attract attention. In fact, it was known for having a no-alcohol policy at its rundown gray house. “Theta Chi did not have that reputation, nothing that would have led us to suspect they were the primary purveyors,” said Lt. Lamine Secka of the campus police. One informant told investigators the profits from drug sales were being plowed back into the fraternity’s operating budget, according to prosecutors.
A Blooming
Arboretum Photos by Taylor Tunno/For the Daily Titan
Some of the scenes from the Fullerton Arboretum’s 38th
City wants to split Florida in two states
annual Green Scene event held in April. Extended summer evening hours for the Arboretum will be scheduled for July
NORTH LAUDERDALE, Fla. - One city commission wants to divide Florida into two states: North Florida and South Florida. The North Lauderdale City Commission says in a resolution that it's not confident in state leaders when it comes to collecting and spending their own money. It also says it would be "in the best interests of the citizens and residents" to divide the state. Commissioner Rich Moyle says they're frustrated with the state Legislature "ignoring the cities in South Florida." But he acknowledges the idea likely won't pass. When asked Tuesday about the resolution, Governor Charlie Crist could only muster up a laugh. Meanwhile, other municipalities and counties are being asked to join in the resolution. The boundary line would be from Palm Beach County down through Monroe County.
through September.
Cutting gas in half
A man in South Carolina came up with an idea to cut his gas mileage in half, regardless of the odd looks his modified car receives. Mike Turner transformed his 1992 Honda Accord and with around $400 worth of material and a few days of work, he reduced the wind resistance, which doubles his gas mileage. Visit Yahoo news to see this video.
WEATHER thursday Mostly Sunny/High: 71, Low: 56
friday
An array of cacti and succulents were for sale at this year’s annual Green Scene event held at the Fullerton Arboretum [left]. A volunteer teaches a child at the annual Green Scene event about a succulent plant.
Spoiling mom on Mother’s Day A special time of the year focuses on the women who lead their families By KETURAH MILLER
Mostly Sunny/High: 69, Low: 54
Daily Titan Staff Writer
saturday Sunny/High: 73, Low: 56
sunday Sunny/High: 72, Low: 56
monday
Sunny/High: 70, Low: 54
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I
n celebration of the beautiful lives that our mother’s have given to each individual on this earth, children and adults will celebrate Mother’s Day on Sunday. This historical holiday goes back as far as the ancient Greeks, who paid tributes to Rhea, the mother of all goddesses, according to a Mother’s Day information Web site (www.mothersdaycelebration.com).
Many families will celebrate the hard work that mothers have endured by honoring them and thanking them. Many people will enjoy a special luncheon, dinner or just a quiet afternoon spent together. According to the Associated Press, 55 percent of men and women planned to spend an average of $70.30 on a gift for mom – up almost $4 from last year, despite the fact 82 percent of mothers would rather see their children spend less on them this year. According to the Associated Press, men also planned to outspend women this year with an average amount of $77.50 compared to $63.90 for women.
For those looking for ideas, there are more than a few suggestions available. Bahar Mandegar, 22, a student at Santiago Canyon College, is looking forward to hanging out with her mother and brother on Mother’s Day. “A few years ago, we took my mom to Laguna Beach and ate at Las Brisas restaurant and that was a lot of fun ... it overlooks the water and it was so pretty,” Mandegar said. “We might take her there again ... it was so beautiful.” On Mother’s Day, going out to a restaurant is always a great way to spend the day with Mom. Other restaurants worth trySee MOTHER’S DAY, Page 2