Daily Titan: Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Since 1960 Volume 85, Issue 20

Wednesday October 7, 2009

The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

INSIDE DT

First-hand experience with ROTC A full moon was out in mostly clear skies.

Clouds would block the moon momentarily Daily Titan Asst. News Editor like a ripped blanket pulled over a flashlight. news@dailytitan.com Isolation is the name of the game during The guide throughout my stay at Marine land navigation, so in addition to the darkCorps Base, Camp Pendleton, MS IV Cadet ness, cadets from the more experienced MS Kelvin Kwok, summed up my new and im- III class aren’t allowed to talk to anyone durproved view of the military: “The military isn’t ing land navigation, even if they are offering all about killing. We actually have a lot of fun words of encouragement to other cadets. This is seen as a breach of integrity during an exertoo.”

The Field Training Exercise (FTX) is a once- cise that relies heavily on self-confidence. “(Land navigation) challenges you mena-semester, Friday through Sunday, weekend activity that Cal State Fullerton’s Reserve Of- tally and physically,” Kwok said. He added ficers’ Training Corps’ hosts to introduce and that completing the land navigation without refine skills that cadets will use when they are help is an example of Army integrity.

The cadet I was following for night land active duty Army officers.

I was invited, and I attended the event from navigation was in the MS II class. He found Friday night to Saturday night and experienced two points that night with time to spare but activities normally completed by ROTC ca- did not continue on to the third because it is more important to make it back to base dets.

At the end of my stay, after five hours of camp within the time limit than to find all sleep followed by miles of walking, scorching the points.

After night land navigation, everyone heat and painful blisters, one might question walked or marched back to the barracks. We how I had fun during the FTX. I have four words to answer that question: arrived by 11 p.m. Lights out was midnight so we had a bit of time to settle in to our No pain, no gain.

I set out for Camp Pendleton in Oceanside bunks before sleeping.

But we did not get to sleep for long.

Friday night after work so I could join in an Wake up call was at 5:15 Saturday mornactivity called “night land navigation.” The activity relies and improves upon cadets’ combi- ing, and there was no yelling or banging on nation of good planning, miles of walking and trash bins for motivation. They all woke up on their own and quietly pulled on their faconfidence.

The object of the exercise was to use a map, tigues.

I walked with the group of cadets marchprotractor and pre-measured pace count to find ing to the firing range to take their Basic Rifle points that are scattered across miles of land.

Cadets learned how many steps they took at Marksmanship exam. The other half were to a normal walking pace in 100 meters. This pace complete the “day land navigation course.” count would be their tool for measuring dis- In the afternoon, each group would switch tance between points according to their maps. activities.

I was in the group scheduled for the shootCadets were to find at least three points or a maximum of five points and then report back ing range first, but the Marines didn’t show to base camp within the time limit to pass the up, so we weren’t allowed to shoot.

Instead, I was to join a cadet in the day course. In order to pass, they could not lose any of their tools, such as red flashlights or protrac- land navigation exercise.

“Day land navigation” follows the same tors.

The cadets used red flashlights, Kwok said, rules as night land navigation except that because white light ruins night vision after eyes cadets must find a minimum of five points in four-and-a-half hours or a maximum of have adjusted to darkness.

Friday night was not too dark, however. eight. Kwok and I followed MS III cadet Regina Loxsom, a student at CSUF. Clear skies prevailed through the exercise, with the sun beating down on Loxsom and Kwok’s army fatigues. I certainly had the cooler set of clothing with a pair of light pants and short-sleeve collared shirt.

At the beginning of the exercise, Loxsom was a bit hesitant to trust her planning and decisions. Kwok was there to give her advice if she needed it, but he couldn’t help her find her points. As she found more points and Photo courtesy Kelvin Kwok learned to trust her Cadet Devin Roth of CSUF leading Alpha Company during Sunday’s march. pace count, she was

By Damon Lowney

FEATURES: Commuting students develop unhealthy diets, Page 3

“

OPINION:

We, as student journalists, come together today with a single message: We will not tolerate administrations that, for their own benefit, try to silence the voice of the student free press.

Page 4

“

SPORTS:

Dodgers-Cardinals NLDS prediction, Page 6

ONLINE: A hypnotist entertains students, Dailytitan. com/CSUFHYPNO

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Photo courtesy Kelvin Kwok Cadets rappelled down this tower Friday. Some had to overcome their fear of letting the rope hold them.

asking less questions of Kwok and started to do things her way.

On the way to her second point, her pace count was almost spot-on; we were only a few meters away from the trail that would have taken us to the next point.

Loxsom decided not to take the trail because it looked closed off from where we were standing.

She decided to go around the bush and find high ground. We found the point this way, but it was the long way.

Kwok said that land navigation teaches people to think on their feet and not to second-guess themselves. Cadets learn to trust their pace count, as in Loxsom’s case, regardless of what the situation looks like.

Loxsom ended up finding three points in about two hours, which left her with two-andhalf hours to find the last two. This wouldn’t be easy because we had a lot of ground to cover.

Camp Pendleton is massive. The drive from Oceanside to San Clemente gives a clue to the vastness of this plot of government land, but

only by exploring it and seeing it from the inside can give it justice.

As Loxsom, Kwok and I traveled from point-to-point, the terrain was ever-changing.

We traversed dirt roads surrounded by hills with charred vegetation and ash to rolling hills with unobstructed views and plants that only reached knee-level.

As Loxsom lead us to her last point, we came upon a crossroad. Should we take the long way around and stick to trails, or should we rely on Loxsom’s compass and map skills and blaze a trail straight to the point?

Thankfully, we picked the latter.

We descended a small hill into a batch of trees and plants 10 – 15 feet high, and we plowed straight through within 15 minutes, saving us much walking and time. It’s worth mentioning that all three of us enjoyed a great sense of accomplishment by not taking the beaten path.

See ROTC, Page 2

‘Save the Gorillas, Save the World’

By Maureen Fox

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

Ian Redmond, a tropical field biologist and conservationist, spoke as “The Official Year of the Gorilla Ambassador” about the dangers of decreasing ape populations at a presentation hosted by the Department of Anthropology on Thursday.

Several hundred students filled a lecture room at 5 p.m. in Mihaylo Hall, lining the walls and sitting on the floor, to hear Redmond speak about the importance of ape conservation and their impact on the world. Redmond’s presentation was titled, “Save the Gorillas to Save the World.”

As ambassador for “The Year of the Gorilla” campaign, Redmond travels the world, talking with politicians and groups to promote the conservation of gorillas and to gather funds for the rescue effort.

Redmond spoke for over an hour, explaining why gorillas deserve to be

protected and detailing their impact, both currently and if they become extinct in the world. Redmond said gorillas should be saved because of their economic benefits, their historical connection to humans, their natural beauty and their ethical right to live.

He talked about his own experiences working with gorillas in Africa, showing videos of gorillas in the wild and describing the people he met and the cultures he experienced.

According to Redmond, by 2030, only 10 percent of great ape habitats will remain free of the impacts of human development in Africa. Only 1 percent of orangutans will avoid the same impacts in Southeast Asia. Gorilla populations have had some recovery successes, but their numbers continue to drastically decrease.

“It’s a very fragile recovery, and I think it’s something we have to pay a lot of attention to,” Redmond said.

Dr. Peter Fashing, an assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology, specializes in the behavior,

ecology and conservation of wild nonhuman primates and is a co-sponsor of Redmond’s talk. Fashing believes the loss of gorillas would negatively impact the history of humanity.

“Along with the chimpanzee and the bonobo, gorillas are one of our three closest living relatives, “ Fashing stated in an e-mail interview. “What we learn from studies of gorillas helps us to better understand our shared primate past. Thus, losing a branch of the human family tree, especially one as magnificent and awe-inspiring as the gorilla, would be a tragedy for humanity.”

Fashing also said the end of the gorilla species would alter entire habitats, potentially contributing to global warming and would cause a drop in tourism revenues for countries that rely on gorilla ecotourism.

Redmond said that gorilla populations in West Africa are threatened by human destruction of their rain forest habitats, outbreaks of the Ebola virus and the bushmeat trade, where hunt-

ers kill gorillas and other forest wildlife as a source of food for humans.

Dr. Raffaela Commitante, an anthropology professor who specializes in orangutan conservation, heard about the talk from her anthropology connections.

By Kelvin Kwok/For the Daily Titan C o m m i t a n t e Field biologist Ian Redmond speaking about the effects gorillas have on said that the ex- their environment on Tuesday, October 6, at Miyhalo Hall. tinction of apes mitante maintains hope that the spewould throw off the balance of natural cies can be saved. systems.

“We all work towards better aware“Once extinctions start happening, ness and better conservation of these you just don’t know how that’s going to endangered species,” she added. snowball into mass extinctions of more and more primates, and we’re part of that order,” she said.

Despite the threats apes face, Com- See Dailytitan.com for the full story

See GAP Page 2

Page Two

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October 7, 2009

IN OTHER NEWS ‘TuffyWood’ benefits undeclared students

INTERNATIONAL

2009 deadliest year for troops in Afghanistan

NATIONAL

Guantanamo Prisoner’s death determined a suicide Cuba (MCT) - A Navy criminal investigation has concluded that a Yemeni man found dead in the Guantanamo prison camps’ psychiatric ward in June committed suicide, the detention center commander said Tuesday.

Navy Rear Adm. Tom Copeman declined to specify the method but said Mohammed Abdullah Saleh, 31, “unfortunately but successfully committed suicide” inside the prison camp’s 12-cell Behavioral Health Unit on June 1.

The Yemeni had been described at the time as a long-committed hunger striker who had been held at this remote detention center since early 2002 on suspicion of ties to the Taliban.

The death had been listed as an “apparent suicide” soon after prison camp staff discovered him “unresponsive and not breathing.” Different accounts attributed the cause of death, alternately, to asphyxiation and a drug overdose. Saleh’s body was returned to Yemen for burial the same week, after an autopsy.

STATE

Body found in Santa Fe Springs Dumpster

SANTA FE SPRINGS (MCT) Homicide detectives are investigating a body found in a Dumpster on fire in Santa Fe Springs.

Officials say the fire was first reported around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday in a parking lot on Firestone Boulevard, by the Santa Ana (5) Freeway.

Whittier police Sgt. Dominic Iraldo says firefighters extinguished the blaze, then discovered the body inside the trash bin.

Despite being badly burned, it was clearly visible the female victim had been bound at the hands and feet, said Officer Mike Dekowski.

No suspects were located at the scene and the case is being investigated as a murder, Dekowski said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Whittier Police Department at (562) 945.8250.

For the Record 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 Executive Editor Skyler Blair at 657-278-5815 or at execeditor@dailytitan.com with issues about this policy or to report any errors.

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By Jamie iglesias

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

“TuffyWood” gave students who are undeclared or undecided about their major the opportunity to learn about each of the colleges.

The event was held on Tuesday in the Titan Student Union Pavilions B and C. Laura Chiu, 19, an undeclared major nearing the end of completing her general education requirements, came to the event in hopes of finding the right path for her education.

“This is my last semester of general education, and I need to declare a major. I wanted more information about what the colleges have to offer, and I am hoping that an epiphany will come and I will pick a major,” she said.

Students were first introduced to those who helped put the event together and were then asked to do an activity to help them determine their interests.

The activities were geared to help students gain an outward and inward perspective of their interests, said Quinn Royston, 19, a business administration major and collaborator for the event.

After finishing the activity, students sat down again and were introduced to the Academic Advisement, Career Center, and Freshman Programs.

Then the assistant dean from each college gave a brief introduction of their college using the Web site to pro-

photo By todd barnes/Daily Titan Photo Editor Left: Alix Caramella, freshman, Joe Arnold, Dean of College of the Arts, Jennifer Mojarro, career specialist, and Jessica Abbott, freshman, participate in a personality excersise.

vide an overview.

“I like the fact that the assistant deans came. Instead of someone telling you information, you got information specifically from each of the assistant deans,” said Jessica Plascencia, 18, an undeclared major.

When the presentation finished, the students were asked to move to cocktail tables set around the room. The activity was named “Speed Majoring” because each time the bell dinged, students had to move to the next assistant dean.

It gets students moving, said Maruth Figueroa, coordinator of Freshman Programs. “I’ve sat in presentations, and it can be boring if you are just

being told information. It gives (students) the opportunity to talk to someone one-on-one.”

The event got people out of their seats, said Lea Beth Lewis, the assistant dean for Student Affairs in the College of Health and Human Development.

“I think it was the hallmark of the event.”

Students were walking around and networking with the assistant deans.

“Students came, and they were engaged with the presentation,” said Krystal Santiago, 20, president of the Health and Human Services InterClub Council and sponsor of the event.

Many of the students found that the information given to them was benefi-

cial in finding the right major.

“This event helped me because I am trying to find out exactly what I want to do. It’s good that they have such a small environment so we can gather and talk to everyone,” said Justin Rodriguez, 18, a radio-TV-film major.

“I was so confused, and I am now being pushed in the right direction,” Plascencia said.

Santiago was pleased with the turnout, and she hopes that the event will run next year.

On the other hand, Lewis was not as impressed with the turnout and thought that TuffyWood did not achieve the number of people that they had hoped for. Approximately 40 students attended the event. Those who did attend were engaged and met the goals of the event.

Lewis said that most of the comments they received from the people who collaborated in the event were positive: “Everyone that was here was attentive and involved. They were asking good questions, and they were moving around the room.” “(Students) were doing exactly what we wanted them to do for this event,” Lewis said.

Students who attended TuffyWood will not necessarily walk out knowing what major they are going to choose, but if they are considering a major, they will know who they will go to for help, Figueroa said.

There are resources at CSUF to help them, Lewis said. “Now they can attach a name and a face to those resources.”

rotc: CSUF Cadets spend weekend at camp pendelton from Page 1

Loxsom ended up finding five points and returning to base camp with plenty of time to spare. It’s a good thing she did because all MS III class cadets who didn’t find at least five points were ordered to complete another land navigation later that day.

The next activity planned for our group was to complete the Basic Rifle Marksmanship exercise.

“What the cadets are learning how to do (in BRM) is familiarize (themselves) with a weapon. They have sup-

posedly never shot a rifle before,” said MS IV Cadet Ian Greven, the officer in charge of the BRM that day.

“Today they are shooting M4 carbines,” Greven said. “The ones they have today have no (scope); they just have regular iron sights.”

I was told we wouldn’t be shooting in the three-round burst mode, but we would be sticking to single shots. That didn’t bother me much.

“You want to shoot from a natural position. You don’t want to jerk the weapon at all,” MS II Cadet Devin L. Roth, a CSUF nursing major, said.

“You try to keep as tight as you can,” he said. I would need to keep my elbows in and stay relaxed.

Roth told me that the targets we were shooting at were 25 meters away, but they had different silhouettes that would simulate the same target from 50 – 300 meters away.

In an ideal situation, there would be separate targets that pop up for a predetermined amount of time at actual distances ranging from 50 – 300 meters, said Cadet Nick Griepsona, battalion commander for CSUF ROTC. However, the program does not have the resources for that.

I was ready for target practice, but we had to wait for the group ahead of us to finish their BRM. My experience with guns was limited to a bolt action .22-caliber rifle I used to shoot at summer camp. I knew it would be nothing like the semi-automatic M4 I was about to fire.

I figured there would be more recoil force, and I knew from listening to the other firing groups that the M4's were definitely louder.

Some of the cadets in my group had never fired a gun, so as I walked up to the rifle I’d be using, I figured I would not be embarrassed by my abilities.

I was quickly taught the proper way to shoot the weapon prone and kneeling and then I proceeded to load the weapon.

I shoved the magazine into the gun and all that was left was to flip the safety from ‘on’ to ‘single-shot.’

I flipped the safety switch and got

ready to fire the weapon, my index finger hovering over the trigger like a lion ready to pounce.

And then, "BAM!" A shock wave went through my body. I freaked out for a second because I had not pulled the trigger before realizing that the sound I heard and the force I felt was from another gun fired next to me.

I collected myself and got ready to pull the trigger. I fired most of my forty rounds into my target but about 10 of them were mistakenly fired at the wrong one. It wasn’t too bad because somebody else fired a few rounds into my target to even it out.

The last activity I attended was the barbecue that night, and I saw the cadets at ease after a hard days work. They spent their downtime before eating and practicing their skits, which were performed at the end of the night.

After I scarfed down my hot dog and hamburger, each class (MS I, MS II, MS III, MS IV) performed a skit where they made fun of each other, regardless of rank. After spending over a day with these cadets, I could already pick up on some of the inside jokes.

In my day experiencing the FTX, I felt like I had known the cadets involved for a lot longer than 24 hours, and the drill sergeant harassing soldiers, like what I’ve seen in movies, was nonexistent.

MS I Cadet Rebekah Maxwell of Biola University must have been reading my mind when she said: “It hasn’t been that long, but it feels like family.”

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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 ©2009 Daily Titan

photo courtesy of Kelvin Kwok A cadet fires an M4 rifle in the kneeling position. The BRM exercise had cadets shooting prone and kneeling.

FEATURES

October 7, 2009

Commuting creates poor eating habits for students

3

‘Christmas Story’ child star makes his own movies now

By Sarah Smith

For the Daily Titan

features@dailytitan.com

Art history major Rosie Morales, 22, commutes almost two hours to and from school four times a week. While either stuck in traffic, cruising the freeway or battling her way through the parking lot, there is only one thing on her mind – time.

Time is a precious thing and Morales’ time could be much better spent doing something other than sitting in traffic or hunting for a parking spot.

In today’s fast food society, it’s hard to find the time to eat properly and stay healthy, especially for those who have to spend time behind the wheel.

“By the time I get home, I’m an animal,” Morales said. “I’m starving after being in class all day, and I’m always thinking of food on the way home.”

If she passes a McDonald’s, she said, she’s done for.

Cal State Fullerton is largely a commuter campus, and while college students aren’t exactly known for their healthy eating habits, these folks have it a little harder than the rest.

“Once I’m home I just want to eat and go to bed,” said Jessica Baez, 20, a sociology major.

Baez has a one-hour commute every Tuesday evening on the bus because her sister cannot Photo courtesy Mct pick her up. Even this single While trying to juggle work, school and other responsibilities, many students find themselves eating fast food or skipping meals entirely. Long commute wears her down.

Nearly 40 percent of the es- commutes to and from Cal State Fullerton often contribute to an unhealthy diet among students. timated 35,000 students who We all know it’s important to eat a than to stop at a Burger King drive- healthy, organic foods that can be attend CSUF are commuters achealthy breakfast, but we need more thru. easily made or are already ready-tocording to CSUF Admissions and than that.

“Fast food or food here at school go and many of them are inexpenRecords. On avAccording to isn’t cheap, so it makes more sense sive. erage, each comthe U.S. recom- to bring some with you, and it’s way There isn’t much need to stop for mute is over 25 mended daily al- healthier,” said James Maynard, 23, that greasy hamburger or Egg Mcminutes, more lowances and the a kinesiology major and physical Muffin except for a serious craving. with traffic.

“I try and bring snacks,” said Mobasic four food trainer at the CSUF Student Recre“It’s all about rales. “Granola bars mostly. They algroup system, ation Center. what you’re goThere are alternatives to french most fill me up.” the human body ing to munch on It’s a good tip for those of us who needs certain fries and pizza. in traffic,” said – Rosie Morales, nutrients to stay On campus, there are even a few have to face that long drive morning Banafshe ShariArt history major and night. healthy, nutri- places to grab a healthy snack. fian, professor of And even for those of us that The Fresh Kitchen, located in ents that can’t be health sciences at found in most the Titan Student Union, and The don’t, grabbing a granola bar is betCSUF. Nutwood Café both provide healthy ter than a bag of Doritos any day. fast foods.

And they do make it easy to “It’s psychological in our society,” That’s not to say eating fast food fare. munch. or stopping at the vending machine Yet, economically, even these don’t said Sharifian. “You’re thinking, Big Macs, hot dogs, candy and once in a while is a crime; the key is make a lot of sense on a day-to-day ‘What am I going to eat or drink the like, are a few easy, but not-sowhile I’m on the road?’” moderation. basis. healthy, food choices readily availBut please, if you must stop at that But it’s still healthier to pack a Markets such as Trader Joe’s, able to the munching population. sandwich and grab a water bottle Henry’s and even Albertson’s carry drive-thru, give the salad a chance.

“

I try to bring snacks. Granola bars mostly. They almost fill me up.

“

Student holds ‘language exchange’ to help improve his English while in United States To help understand others while spending a year in U.S., Sean Chou put up fliers for translation aid

commendable to do so,” said Zemin Ying, a 19year-old student from China, who is now attending CSUF’s American Language Program (ALP).

He said Chou was “very brave since international students need more encouragement to step out

By Nikki Mao of their comfort zone.”

Daily Titan Staff Writer “The idea is good; however I won’t do the same features@dailytitan.com thing. I really want to improve my English, but Although there are flyers posted everywhere on at the same time, I found it’s hard for me to put campus a peculiar flyer recently posted at the Ti- myself out there. I’m only willing to do this if an tan Student Union is not like many of the others. English-speaking student approaches me first,” said Wenhao Zhang, 20, an ALP student who’s It deals with language skills.

“If you’re leaning Chinese or interested in Chi- been in the U.S. for two months.

Chou is worried that no one will actually connese culture, please, take a look … My name is Sean … I’m eager to sharpen my English verbal tact him; however, there is someone on campus skill. So I’m here to find one who are interested sharing the same needs as Chou.

“Being that our campus does not offer any rein language exchange,” states the black and white source in the way of tutoring, finding some sort flyer.

Sean Chou (Hsiang Chou), a 22-year-old inter- of language exchange situation like this is really national student from Taiwan, has only been here my best option,” said Steve Dowler, a CSUF student who is now taking business-level Chinese, in the U.S. for a month.

After pursuing his bachelor’s degree at the Na- a class that “is so incredibly difficult that there tional Taiwan University, he decided to come here would be no way a non-heritage speaker could for the one-year exchange program “in order to pass the class without some kind of external resource.” explore different culture Both of them are and to broaden horizons.” looking forward to Chou said he came up gaining more knowlwith this “language exedge from each other. change” idea simply beAccording to Chou, cause he wanted to speak their study content better English. will focus on specific “Being an international requirements from student or an ‘FOB’ (Fresh both sides.

Off the Boat) here in the “I think there is poU.S., everything seems so tential to learn more fresh to me, including verway because it is bal English. I need to prac– Steve Dowler, this much more responsive tice more, and the best way Language exchange participant to personal needs,” to do so is to practice with Dowler said. a native speaker,” Chou Using language skills said. “There must be other to gain more language ways to learn English as well, but language exchange is the most efficient skills might be new to CSUF students; however, Chou said this is a very common way to learn a way to improve my oral speaking skills.”

Many international students agree with Chou’s foreign language in Taiwan. A lot of international action: “It’s totally understandable and somehow students there are using this kind of method to

“

I think there is potential to learn more this way because it is much more responsive to personal needs.

Sean Chou learn Chinese.

“They post the information on the Internet, bulletin board, and there are language-exchanging clubs as well,” Chou said. “It is just so helpful, money-saving, and also a lot of fun.”

Dowler also agreed this kind of language exchange is “quite possible to become a trend here, as the language popularity grows while the school still does not offer any tutoring program.”

Chou said in his eyes, knowledge is the most valuable thing for a person, adding, “Knowledge is tradeable, that’s why we have to pay the tuition.”

“However, language exchange may be better since we provide almost the same ‘product value,’ no additional fees. It’s fair and equal. That is what ‘exchange’ means,” Chou added.

PHOTO COURTESY MCT Director Peter Billingsley, who played Ralphie Parker in “A Christmas Story,” is shown on the set of “Couples Retreat.”

MCT – Peter Billingsley was on the other side of the world at Bora Bora’s St. Regis Resort describing his working conditions for making the new comedy “Couples Retreat.”

The phrase “working conditions” may not be entirely appropriate.

“To my left is this beautiful beach,” he said by phone. “I’m in a house built on stilts over the water where we shot several scenes.

On the deck there’s a hot tub ... you can jump from the hot tub into the sea. In the floor is this big glass pane, and I can see fish swimming under my feet.”

If the name Peter Billingsley rings a bell, it’s because when he was only 11 he starred in one of the most beloved movies of all time, “A Christmas Story.” He played Ralphie, the kid desperate to get his hands on a Red Ryder BB gun.

Now Billingsley, 38, makes his directing debut with “Couples Retreat,” opening Friday. It’s about Midwesterners who get a great rate on a tropical vacation, then find that as part of the deal they all have to undergo marriage counseling.

Among the players are Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Kristin Davis, Jason Bateman, Faizon Love, Kristen Bell, Malin Akerman and Kali Hawk.

“You could say that the water here is a cast member, too,” Billingsley said. “I mean, it’s really that blue color you see in the movie. Remember Bomb Pops when you were a kid? That blue band on the bottom? That’s exactly the color of the water here. I’ve never seen anything like that in the Bahamas or Hawaii. All you have to do is turn on the camera, and the ocean makes you look like a visual genius.

“People in Hollywood would say, ‘Oh boy, you shot in Bora Bora? That’s so far away. It must have been hard,’” Billingsley said.

“Well, cry me a river. What it was, was heaven on Earth. Whatever logistical problems we encountered — because we were filming in a place where they don’t usually make movies — we dealt with gratefully.”

Billingsley acted for years before and after 1983’s “Christmas Story.” But for the last decade he has worked mostly as a producer of movies (“Iron Man,” “Zathura”) and TV shows (“Dinner for Five”).

“Jason Bateman and I have a running joke that after 35 years each in this business we should be retiring. But I love what I do.”

Unlike some child actors, Billingsley has carved out a satisfying career.

“I’ve always been self-motivated, but I can’t take a ton of credit for any success I’ve had,” he said. “It’s a difficult world for lots of child actors ... and it’s difficult to be a teenager under any circumstances. Add to that notoriety and fame, and things can go really wrong. But I had a terrific family and grew up very normal in Phoenix. When I was at home I had chores, and if I didn’t act right, I couldn’t do films. So that proided a foundation that let me keep perspective in a business with lots of highs and lows and rejection.”

Billingsley, a bachelor, said a successful show business career is more a marathon than a sprint.

“You have to pace yourself. As a producer you start with a concept and shepherd it through the script to the delivery of the film.

It’s a very long journey for an hour and 40 minutes of movie.

An actor can come in with a specific energy and get it on film over several days or weeks, but as the producer I’m responsible for the overall trajectory of the project.”

He said he was fortunate that for his directing debut he was working with friends. Vaughn has been his best bud since they met two decades ago at an audition. And Billingsley spent several years with Favreau on “Dinner for Five.” In “Couples Retreat,” he was working from a screenplay

by Vaughn and Favreau.

Even when he was on the set of “A Christmas Story” he was fascinated by the mechanics of moviemaking, Billingsley said.

“I always had an interest in the process. Between setups and even when I wasn’t in a scene I’d be on the set. I was curious about the decisions they were making, about lenses and camera angles.

“Even after that film I’d seek out advice and guidance from Bob Clark (the writer/director of “A Christmas Story). When I told him I wanted to be behind the camera he said, ‘Go spend time in the editing room. That’s where you’ll learn the most important lessons about directing.’”

Almost 30 years later, do fans still recognize him?

“Yeah. Usually around Christmas time. Right after it’s played for 24 hours straight on cable.

“But I don’t mind being remembered for ‘A Christmas Story.’ I’m certainly proud of that movie. And it’s nice to be associated with a project that has given so many people so much joy.”

“

OPINION

4

October 7, 2009

Inter-Collegiate Editorial

For the record

LACC President’s actions illegal Los Angeles City College’s student-run newspaper, the Collegian, is an award-winning publication that has been in continuous print for 80 years. Its staff of approximately 30 students works tirelessly to publish high-quality content while adhering to rigorous journalistic values.

The Collegian is a training ground for writers, reporters, columnists and editors, as are thousands of other student-run publications that hold to the same principles, standards and ethics.

But LACC’s president, Jamillah Moore, has made calculated attempts to hinder the students’ right to a free press.

She has tried to forbid a company working with the college from speaking to the student press; she has tried to pressure student reporters to sign releases for recording public meetings; she has violated California open meeting laws by requesting that reporters identify themselves; and she has attempted to silence the Collegian by slashing its budget by 40 percent – when the budgets of other student organizations were cut only 15 percent.

Adam Goldstein of the Student Press Law Center said that if he had to choose the biggest First Amendment offender in the country, he would most likely choose Moore.

And now, Moore is attempting to move the Collegian under student services, where the administration would have the option to edit all content, monitor stories and determine the direction of the paper.

An attack on free speech anywhere is an attack on free speech everywhere.

That is why we, the undersigned, have come together to universally condemn the actions of Moore and the actions of any administration that makes deliberate efforts to break the free speech of student publications.

As students, we have been taught to expect an environment where freedom of speech will go uncontested.

And as student journalists, we expect our administrations to understand that we strive to be an objec-

Letters to the Editor:

tive voice of reason. But we also recognize that any publication that disturbs the comfort of the comfortable will be challenged.

Student journalists at the University of Pittsburgh, the University of New Mexico and the University of Oregon, as well as countless untold others, have seen such assaults on their rights. This cannot stand.

We, as student journalists, come together today with a single message: We will not tolerate administrations that, for their own benefit, try to silence the voice of the student free press. We will continue to rebuke those in power who attempt to diminish that freedom, and we will not be silenced.

This editorial was published in and endorsed by the following student-run newspapers: The Collegian, Los Angeles City College; The Cornell Daily Sun, Cornell University; The Daily Orange, Syracuse University; The Daily Princetonian, Princeton University; The Daily Sundial, CaliforniaState University, Northridge; The Daily Trojan, University of Southern California; East Los Angeles Campus News, East Los Angeles College; FSView & Florida Flambeau, Florida State University; The GW Hatchet, George Washington University; The Ithacan, Ithaca College; The Maneater, University of Missouri; The New Hampshire, University of New Hampshire; Oregon Daily Emerald, University of Oregon; The Rocky Mountain Collegian, Colorado State University; The Roundup, Pierce College; The Stanford Daily, Stanford University; The University Daily Kansan, University of Kansas; Washington Square News, New York University; The Daily Titan, California State University, Fullerton Daily Titan News article about the situation at LACC: dailytitan.com/2009/09/la-city-collegeconsiders-cutting-funding-to-their-studentnewspaper/

Any feedback, positive or negative, is encouraged, as we strive to keep an open dialogue with our readership. The Daily Titan reserves the right to edit letters for length, grammar and spelling. Direct all comments, questions or concerns along with your full name and major to the Daily Titan Opinion Desk at opinion@dailytitan.com.

Illustration By Jonathan Montgomery/Daily Titan Cartoonist

Articles written for the Daily Titan by columnists, other Cal State Fullerton students or guests do not necessarily reflect the view of the Daily Titan or Daily Titan Editorial Board. Only the editorials are representative of the views of the Daily Titan Editorial Board.

Alien in America “From the inside looking out”

Always ask her age

by Isa Ghani

Daily Titan Multimedia Editor opinion@dailytitan.com

Here’s a tip I have for all foreigners and immigrants coming to America for the first time: always, always ask for her age.

I’ve been here for nearly a year, and there have been more times than I would care to admit when I’ve tried to hit on a girl who has been (ranging from slightly to extremely) under the legal age of consent – which in California is 18 years old.

Here’s my disclaimer though: I haven’t done anything wrong (yet). I always figure it out in time (barely).

And it honestly is very hard to distinguish the age of teenage girls in America (at least for me).

I’m Asian and from an Asian country. I didn’t know many Caucasians, Latinos or blacks growing up; thus, my age-judging skills are lacking. To this day, I would honestly not be able to tell you off the top of my head how old I think Nicole Kidman really is because she does not look 42.

Or how old Brooke Shields was when she appeared topless in “The Blue Lagoon.”

She was 14 at the time the film was shot. Only four years until she was of legal age when she appeared half-naked in a Hollywood film (though she did later testify that body doubles were used for some of the scenes).

For someone who didn’t grow up around here, it’s hard to play “Guess her age,” especially with Caucasians.

It’s especially hard when so many girls dress, let’s be tactful here, “mature” for their ages.

I have approached, or been approached, by girls who looked 18 to me. I will admit I made advances

only to find out later that she, or on one memorable occasion, they, were only 15 or 16. Of course, I immediately backed off and insisted we become platonic friends. Crisis averted.

But some people don’t see anything wrong with taking a 13-yearold to bed. Perhaps Roman Polanski could give us tips on what not to do in that situation; or depending how you look at it, what to do.

When I first read about Polanski, I scoffed and said to myself, “What an idiot.” Now, I’m not so sure.

I do not approve of pedophilia.

What I mean is that I think it’s just wrong to have sex (consensual or not) with an underage girl.

If you’re underage too, well that’s kind of a gray area – but regardless, I’m just about to turn 21, so there should be no reason for me to eye 16-year-olds.

Yet, I do. Why? Because they look so damn mature and … well-developed.

In the course of doing research for this article, I came across a surprisingly large amount of controversial, yet legal, Web sites that showcase pictures of teenage girls – in seminude and provocative poses – with models who range from 13 - 17 years of age.

In all cases, parents had given legal consent to let their daughters be photographed and put on the Internet for leery old men to drool over, all for the price of $24.99 a month.

The loophole allowing this to take place is that if the girl’s aren’t completely nude, it’s legal – but, to me at least, still morally wrong. *NOTE: All this was done purely for the purpose of researching this article. I swear, I do not have these bookmarked in my browser, nor do I frequent these Web sites.

What disturbs me is that there obviously is a demand for these Web sites. Someone out there is forking over $25 a month to (presumably) jerk off to photos of 13-year-old girls. I personally doubt that people buy these photos to put up on their mantel.

OK, so perhaps human beings are just that depraved. What disturbs me even more is that, although some of these girls are listed as being 14 or 16, they definitely do not look it; they look much older. Therein lies the problem.

It’s all well and good if everyone had an age disclaimer on the back of their heads, telling the world how old they are.

It would be great if the world were like Facebook, but it’s not, and sometimes we guys have to learn this lesson the hard way.

I am often shocked when I find out people’s real ages, and I guess Caucasians age differently than Asians. I’ve also made the mistake of under-guessing people’s ages because this is California, the land of cosmetic surgery.

Maybe I’m going about this all wrong.

Maybe I should stop guessing and start every conversation with an attractive girl with: “So, how old are you?”

Or maybe I just haven’t been around enough girls to learn the difference between “jail bait” and “fair game.”

If you have some tips, I would love to hear them.

But for now, I think I’ll start going to bars. At least there I’ll know that every girl inside is at least 21, or if she isn’t, that’s what those handydandy X’s on the back of their hands mean, quite literally: No Entry Here.

Letterman not so innocent

By Brittny Ulate

Daily Titan Detour Editor opinion@dailytitan.com

A self-described “creepy” old guy has sex with a few (much) younger females while dating the woman who would later become his wife and mother of his child, and he gets a round of applause.

Why? Because he is David Letterman, and in the public eye, he becomes infallible because he was able to turn his indiscretions into a punch line and made his alleged would-be extortionist the butt of his jokes.

This is the dilemma that the late-night host finds himself in now. Last Thursday, Letterman brought to light his past affairs and let his audience know that he had been allegedly blackmailed by another CBS employee, producer Joe Halderman, for $2 million, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Because he has a readily available media outlet, Letterman has been able to divert attention away from his indiscretions and has unfairly pointed it toward his alleged extortionist.

Using the tried and true songand-dance routine, Letterman was able to divert attention from the fact that he cheated on his current wife and mother of his child, and

instead mocked his alleged extortionist and turned the matter into one big joke.

Halderman does not seem to have any type of viable defense, or any defense for that matter. So who should the public hate more – the cheater or the extortionist?

And going beyond public support, morals versus legality also comes into play.

Letterman has publicly apologized for his actions, like any good public figure caught with his hand in the cookie jar does, and it seems his adoring audience has accepted it and is now ready to feed the “evil” extortionist to the lions.

Yes, cheating is morally reprehensible, and the damage Letterman has done to his family will be more difficult for him to undo than canceling the $2 million check he cut for Halderman.

Halderman not only wanted to take Letterman’s money, he wanted to destroy his life. Halderman allegedly threatened to write a screenplay about Letterman’s affairs if he wasn’t paid off.

Either way, he has done irrevocable damage to not only the veteran TV show host, but to his family as well. Affairs are hard enough to deal with without them being in the public eye. The matter should have been one that was

kept between Letterman and his wife.

With Letterman freely turning this incident into a media freefor-all, it seems that Halderman is not only guilty of extortion, he’s seemingly guilty of extorting a celebrity, maybe the worst offense of the two.

It’s hard to take sides when it comes to this case. On one hand, it’s hard to side with a cheater, no matter how popular he is with the American public – so it becomes easy to vilify the man who is threatening the lovable Letterman.

But it’s not fair that Halderman is becoming the only one with a tainted record. Letterman should not be turning this incident into part of his monologue, appealing to his crowd for support; he should have just apologized and then removed the subject from the spotlight.

By making his audience judge and jury in this case, he is trying to remove blame from himself and place it solely and firmly on Halderman.

This is not only wrong, it is repugnant. No one has the right to do this when they are in a country that has a judicial system strong and capable enough to resolve the matter, especially when that person is guilty as well.

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Sports

The Walk-Off

The not-so-impressive success story of a rookie adult softball team that always seems to win by double digits

By Brian Whitehead

Daily Titan Sports Columnist sports@dailytitan.com

15-4. 19-5. 29-6.

No, those aren’t the odds I’m going to find a job after graduation, or the odds Kanye West is going to interrupt – wait, OK, we’re good – as I was saying, those aren’t the odds Kanye is going to interrupt this article before I finish it.

Those, my friends, are the lopsided tallies from my first three allmale, slow-pitch softball games. Impressive, huh? Hardly.

A couple months ago, a bunch of my buddies decided to create a slow-pitch softball team comprised of basketball players, “Madden” experts, fantasy football gurus, golf wannabes, football enthusiasts and two 56-year-olds.

Not exactly the 1927 New York Yankees.

By the way, just in case you were wondering, our team name – though creative – is what you would call offensive.

I can’t put it in print without being lit on fire by the editor-in-chief, so let’s just say it’s so offensive the scorekeeper simply refers to us as “the team in the red shirts.” Other than the two 56-year-olds, we’re all 21 – 22 years old.

As you can see, the old adage is correct: Age ain’t nothing but a number.

We began the season unsure of our potential but optimistic we could at least compete. With help from a slew of incompetent competition, we’ve not only competed, we’ve managed to start the season

October 7, 2009

Think Different. Think Simon.

3-0, scoring an average of 21 runs a game. Naturally, the gaudy numbers coerce you to envision a team similar to the 2004 Boston Red Sox. Well, stop. We’re not. Not even close.

We’ve played three games already, and I can count the number of times we’ve hit the ball out of the infield on my fingers and toes. Tee-ballers hit it out of the infield more often than we do. Yet, here we are, undefeated through the first three games of the season.

How’d we get here, you ask? To be completely honest, I have no clue.

I guess most of the credit can be attributed to our collective childlike energy and enthusiasm.

Our youthful energy works in two ways.

On one hand, everyone on the team can run out a grounder bobbled by a clumsy infielder, or manufacture a double out of a dropped pop fly by an uncoordinated outfielder.

Conversely, everyone on the team swings at anything within a mile radius of home plate. Seriously, the pitcher could throw a ball covered in dog crap and we’d take an ill-advised hack at it. What I’m trying to say is we’re not very patient. At all.

All things considered, we’re not that bad.

Understand that me saying, “we’re not that bad,” isn’t a compliment by any stretch of the imagination. Our last opponent committed a staggering 12 errors in a mercifully shortened four-inning game. 12 errors.

Has that ever happened before? Has O.J. Simpson made that many mistakes?

The game before, our opponent committed eight errors in another sloppy, shortened game. (If you’re tallying at home, that’s 20 errors in two games.) It’s safe to say we’ve been the beneficiary of some horrible defense, like Kobe’s 81-point game in 2006. But hey, we can’t help who we play, right?

For full story, log onto dailytitan.com/2009/10/the-walk-off-4/

photo courtesy mct Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, Wednesday, July 29. Kershaw and the Dodgers’ pitching staff will need to step up and provide quality innings if they are to make another deep run into this season’s playoffs.

Even though the Cardinals have two Cy Young candidates, the Dodgers’ youth movement will propel them into the National League Championship Series Garland or Vicente Padilla can get it done. sports@dailytitan.com The Cardinals have relied on their two big arms throughout the season: Playoff season for baseball has fi- Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainnally arrived – and boy has it been wright have been the two best pitchone crazy month. The drama from ers in the NL all season, and there is the last-minute pennant races had no disputing that. They have a comme at the edge of my seat, game af- bined 36 wins and 356 strikeouts. ter game.

Can you say wow?

Even though the Dodgers have the They remind me of the Curt best record in the National League, Schilling-Randy Johnson duo that they have been playing like a team led the Arizona Diamondbacks to with no purpose. It took them five the 2001 World Series title. Yes, games to close out the NL West with it’s quite a comparison, but I really their magic number being one. The haven’t seen a one-two punch like St. Louis Cardinals had a lackluster this in quite some time. finish as well, losing seven of their And I still haven’t gotten to the last nine games. most complete player in baseball, In September, both teams were Albert Pujols. slumping with the back end of the The guy plays great defense, hits Dodgers’ starting rotation in a flux, for average and power, and so far has and Cardinals’ closer Ryan Franklin been clean. What’s not to love about slowing down with a 7.56 ERA. this guy?

The “Blue Crew” started the seaAfter that, he has one of the best son off strong hitters in baseand came out of ball protectthe gate with a ing him: Matt The “Blue Crew” Holliday. But bang. They held the league’s best started the season off the Cardinals’ record for most one glaring of the season and strong and came out weakness has played 50 games of the gate with a to be their without Manny bullpen. bang. They held the Ramirez.

W i t h They have relied league’s best record for Franklin being on the young nuan exception, cleus that General most of the season, the guys beManager Ned Col- and played 50 games fore him have letti wisely kept been mediocre intact. Outfielders without Manny at best. Expect Andre Ethier and Ramirez. this to be exMatt Kemp have posed in this become bona fide series. stars this season.

This series Ethier is the MVP of the team, and will come down to the sixth through his clutch play has been contagious. ninth innings. Which team will exStarting pitchers Chad Billingsley ecute in crunch time? Which team and Clayton Kershaw have been up will fold under pressure? and down, but when they want to I am choosing the Dodgers in five turn it up, they both have ace po- because: tential.

1. Since the season started, I felt With a solid bullpen, some trusty like this is their year. veterans like Casey Blake and Orlan2. I believe Kershaw and Billingdo Hudson and the addition of in- sley will shine under the bright fielder Ronnie Belliard, Los Angeles lights. has cooked up a winning formula.

3. The Dodgers’ bullpen will be Around this time last season, the dominating.

Dodgers’ starters were lights out 4. Joe Torre knows how to win in against the Chicago Cubs, but they October. no longer have Derek Lowe, and Hi5. I don’t know about you, but I roki Kuroda is not in the mix. am dying to see a Dodgers-Yankees They will need to hope that John World Series.

By simon liang

Daily Titan Asst. Sports Editor

“

“

6

Twins knock off Tigers in extra innings for final slot in playoffs (MCT) - After 162 games, the Twins and Tigers weren’t going to decide the American League Central title until everyone watching had chewed their fingernails to a nub.

Tuesday’s one-game tiebreaker brought 12 innings of pure tension, with enough plot twists to fill a book.

Anyone who tuned in for the end saw Alexi Casilla hit a single to right field, scoring Carlos Gomez from second base with the winning run, as the Twins celebrated a 6-5 triumph.

Gomez raced around third base and slid head-first, even though the play wasn’t even close. Players rushed from the dugout to mob Gomez, then hustled out between second and third to mob Casilla, an unlikely hero for the unlikeliest of nights.

An announced crowd of 54,088 the largest regular season crowd in Metrodome history — was delirious, celebrating the Twins’ fifth AL Central title of the decade.

Once again, the Twins could have closed their 28-year chapter in the Dome but continued adding pages.

The victory gave the Twins another date with the Yankees on Wednesday in the American League Division Series, the team that handed the Twins first-round losses in 2003 and 2004.

The Twins went 0-7 against the Yankees this year, and they are 5-26 against the Yankees in New York under Gardenhire, counting the postseason. Of course, the Twins haven’t faced the Yankees in three months, and they’ve become a much more confident team.

As the players celebrated, Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” was one of the first songs blaring from the loudspeaker, followed soon after by the popular R&B song “Ain’t No Stopping us Now.” The Tigers had held at least a share of first place every day since May 10, but the Twins caught them by going 17-4 down the stretch, while the Tigers went 10-11.

The Twins became the first team to overcome a three-game deficit with four to play.

“I don’t think we’ve played that bad,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said before the game. “I think the Twins have made a phenomenal run.

Unbelievable run.”

The Twins overcame an early three-run deficit, as Orlando Cabrera’s two-run homer in the seventh inning gave them their first lead. But Magglio Ordonez tied it for the Tigers with a home run off Matt Guerrier in the eighth.

After a Houdini-like escape by Twins closer Joe Nathan in the ninth inning, the Tigers grabbed the lead in the 10th on a two-out RBI double by Brandon Inge. But the Twins tied it in their half and nearly won it right there.

Tigers left fielder Ryan Raburn who had misplayed a sinking liner

by Michael Cuddyer into a triple to start the inning might have cost his team the lead, but he threw out Alexi Casilla at home plate to end the inning after catching Nick Punto’s liner.

The Tigers looked certain to take the lead in the ninth, when Curtis Granderson’s bloop single to right field put runners at the corners with no outs. But Nathan struck out Placido Polanco, who averaged just one strikeout per 15.2 plate appearances this season, making him the second toughest batter to strikeout in the American League.

With two strikes, Polanco took a curve ball, and home plate umpire Randy Marsh, whose strike zone seemed inconsistent all game, called strike three.

It was a huge out, but Ordonez was next. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire held a conference on the mound, and Nathan decided to go after Ordonez, who lined into an inning-ending double play.

Cabrera caught the ball at shortstop and fired to first to get Granderson, who had strayed too far off the base.

The Twins had their own chance in the ninth, as Nick Punto worked a 10-pitch walk to start the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Denard Span.

After Cabrera grounded out, the Tigers intentionally walked Joe Mauer bringing Carlos Gomez to the plate.

For full story, log onto dailytitan.com/2009/10/twins-defeattigers-in-12-innings/