Wednesday, March 5, 2014

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W EDNESDAY, M ARCH 5, 2014

Volume 95, Issue 20

Students gear up for Greek Week festivities Proceeds from activities will help fund Camp Titan MICHAEL HUNTLEY Daily Titan

WINNIE HUANG / Daily Titan Carie Rael, a history graduate student, holds a sign during the Pizza with the Presidents panel Tuesday in the Quad.

Firing back on the fee Students criticize campus leaders during “Pizza” panel KYLE NAULT Daily Titan

Around 20 students blasted a proposed $240.50 per semester fee Tuesday, when a panel of eight university leaders opened themselves up to questions concerning campus issues. During the hour-long “Pizza with the Presidents” event intended for a wide array of topics, Cal State Fullerton President Mildred García and Vice President of Student Affairs Berenecea Johnson Eanes, Ph.D., found themselves frequently addressing the fairness and process behind the fee, which the university has called the Student Success Initiative. “Our Student Success Initiative fee conversation is an outgrowth of our strategic plan,” Eanes said. “We have been, over the course of a few months, having conversations that have grown into a formal consultation process.” CSUF has been seeking feedback on an initial proposal drafted by the Student Fee Advisory Committee last semester, which would increase campus fees by 67 percent.

WINNIE HUANG / Daily Titan CSUF President Mildred García speaks with Amir Dabirian, vice president of information technology, as Berenecea Eanes, Ph.D., vice president of student affairs, answers a question from a student.

Open forums have been held in the past weeks, and an online feedback form is available through the Titan Portal. Through the alternative consultation process, the campus community can give input on what has been proposed, which will be considered as the process moves forward. This method is supposed to allow for engaging conversations and thoughtful feedback, according to the Student Success Initiative website. While Eanes has pointed to the consultation process as a way to make sure everyone’s voice is heard regarding the fee, Ryan Quinn, a history graduate student and a member of the CSUF branch of advocacy group Students for Quality Education (SQE), thinks otherwise. Quinn pointed to the

lack of cooperation from the SFAC in allowing him to see committee documents. “I talked with various members of Dr. Eanes’ cabinet and I was trying to get the agenda minutes, the survey results, the facts and figures that they had,” Quinn said. “They were unwilling to do so … so I had to file a California Public Records Act (request).” The California Public Records Act gives the public access to information in possession of public agencies. “If they really feel like that this (consultation process) is in the students’ best interest, which is what they have been claiming, then why not have it be completely transparent?” said Travis Morgan, a member of the Associated Students Inc. Board of Directors.

Morgan, who represents the College of Engineering and Computer Science on the board, is the only board member who signed a petition pledging to oppose the proposed student fee, which was circulated by Quinn. “We understand that they are trying as much as possible to justify this fee; it’s very clear when you watch the video, when you look at the literature they produce, it’s all in favor of the fee,” said Carie Rael, a history graduate student and member of SQE. When panelists were asked if they would take a pay cut based on the percentage of fee increase they ask of students, administrators remained silent for 30 seconds before providing an answer. SEE PRESIDENTS, 2

This weekend, Cal State Fullerton Greek organizations will be participating in Greek Week in an effort to raise money for Camp Titan. Every June, Camp Titan takes about 150 children to the San Bernardino Mountains to introduce them to nature, heighten their self-awareness, increase their confidence and help them make new friends. The counselors at Camp Titan are student volunteers. But sending the children and the counselors to the mountains is costly. Greek Week usually raises $60,000 to help Camp Titan. During Greek Week, every fraternity and sorority will compete for banners to hang in their houses that they win in various ways, including fundraising. “Whichever chapter raises the most money for fundraising wins the banner,” said Marco Maralaie, a junior business major and president of the Delta Chi fraternity on campus. “All the houses are trying to raise money to win this fundraising banner, but at the same time it’s all going towards Camp Titan.” Greek Week is a great way for Greek programs to put their competitive nature toward a good cause since every chapter wants to win the most banners and is working hard to raise money for Camp Titan. “At the end of the day, it’s for the kids and that’s what we have to remember,” Maralaie said. “We can’t be blinded to such competition. Of course there is going to be competition with the fraternities, but at the end of the day, we’re doing it for

the kids.” The fraternities and sororities raise money by getting donations from local businesses and having their own fundraisers. “Every sorority and every fraternity will either do some fundraising, (such as going) to Pieology and if you buy a pizza a certain percentage will go toward Greek Week,” said Missy Mendoza, a junior communications major and member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority on campus. “Or we’ll go out to local businesses, and because it’s a tax write-off they’ll donate money.” Greek programs get donations from alumni as well. “Since Camp Titan has been around for a couple years now and a lot of alumni know about Greek Week ... they basically keep donating every year because they know about the philanthropy and they want to keep donating toward it,” Mendoza said. Some fraternities and sororities find unique ways to raise money. “We do coin drives on the Titan Walk. We build can castles, where we take cans and build them into houses and the food gets donated,” said Alana Polce, junior communications major and member of the Delta Zeta sorority on campus. In addition to the fundraising, fraternities and sororities will also compete in less serious activities, including wheelbarrow races, balloon toss and building a human pyramid. Greek Week also builds unity between the fraternities and sororities, Mendoza said. “You think you’re not going to hang out with them after (Greek Week has ended), but it opens up your eyes to more people that you can meet,” she said. SEE FUNDRAISING, 2

OC Music Awards rolls out red carpet Orange County musicians to be honored at awards ANDY LUNDIN Daily Titan

A plethora of bands and musicians with roots in Orange County will be honored for their musical talents Saturday at the 13th annual OC Music Awards in Anaheim. The ceremony, which will be held at the City National Grove of Anaheim, will commemorate some of Orange County’s most talented musicians, including

Courtesy of OC Music Awards The award ceremony will take place Saturday at the City National Grove of Anaheim. The show will begin at 8 p.m.

well-known bands such as Avenged Sevenfold,

Young the Giant and The Offspring.

“It’s really exciting to see all of the local bands come together for one night of honors and performances,” said Ashley Eckenweiler, producer of the OC Music Awards. “The room is filled with over a hundred artists and music industry professionals, so it’s definitely looking to paint an adequate and deep picture of all the different types of music that is produced in this county.” The ceremony will be distributing awards in over 26 categories, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist. The awards will also cover a wide spectrum

INSIDE ASI CANDIDATES Students hoping for government positions hold “meet and greet” near student housing NEWS 2 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @DAILY_TITAN

of musical styles, ranging from the familiar genres being honored with awards such as Best Rock award and Best Metal award, to the more non-traditional, niche varieties with categories like Best Surf award and Best Club DJ award. On the ballot for Album of the Year is Hail to the King by Avenged Sevenfold, The Winter Tick by Jeramiah Red, Falling Bough Wisdom Teeth by Kiev, Victim to Villain by New Years Day and Call Your Friends by Zebrahead. Young the Giant, winner of the Best Song award for their 2012 hit “Cough Syrup,” is once more on the

ballot for Song of the Year, this time for their single “It’s About Time.” Also among the awards to be given Saturday night is a category decided by fan vote: the People’s Choice award. The nominees for that particular category can be voted on by the public during the night of the awards ceremony via text messaging. The ceremony will also include live performances from several of the nominated bands and musicians, including Breach the Summit, The Originalities and Kiev. SEE MUSIC AWARDS, 5

BECKER CONCERT The Shade will take the stage Wednesday for ASI Productions’ concert at the Becker DETOUR 6 VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM


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Wednesday, March 5, 2014 by Daily Titan - Issuu