Since 1960 Volume 85, Issue 40
Thursday November 19, 2009
The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton
INSIDE DT
AICA Saint Motel tour ends at Becker opens mic on social problems
FEATURES:
By Jamie Iglesias
Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com
Archers of CSUF practice in stadium, Page 5
OPINION:
No chance for a fair trial in U.S., Page 6
Photo By SHRUTI PATEL/Daily Titan Photo Editor A/J Jackson (guitar/lead vocals), Aaron Sharp (guitar), Greg Erwin (drums) and Dak (bass) from Saint Motel perform their brand of indie rock on the stage of the Becker Amphitheatre Wednesday as a part of ASI Production’s free concert series.
DETOUR, Page 8
Greek influence spanning throughout CSUF Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com
DETOUR:
Highs and “lows” of the Sanrio superstar, Page 10
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At a time when Cal State Fullerton is concerned with campus leadership and economic policy, the agendas of student leaders have been put under a microscope. Among the factors being examined is Associated Students Inc.’s longstanding relationship with fraternities and sororities. While many students remain happy with the policies of ASI, some have voiced concern over the number of student government leaders involved in Greek Life. ASI’s executive staff is comprised of six members, five of whom have been involved in Greek Life. Three of them are active members and two have served as presidents of their fraternities. As student leaders, the executive board is involved in the process of allocating funds to ASI-sponsored
clubs. major, when told the number of Some of these organizations in- student leaders involved with Greek clude the National Pan-Hellenic organizations. “I think it’s probably Council, which has been approved more indicative of them being able for $8,465 for to get a large the 2009-10 number fiscal year; the of people Multicultural to vote for Greek Counthem.” cil, which has Fellow been approved CSUF stufor $10,880; dent Jessica the PanhellenMerriam, ic, which has 21, a health been approved science mafor $23,470; jor, also and Inter-Fravoiced conternity Councern. – Joseph Lopez, cil, which has “I think ASI executive vice president been approved in general for $16,035, it’s hard for according to anyone not ASI’s 2009-10 involved in budget. the Greek Life to get into the stu“(ASI) would definitely favor to- dent government,” Merriam said. “I ward the Greeks for sure,” said Mi- know I’ve had friends who tried and chael Rodriguez, 23, an economics it was really difficult.”
“
If you are a member of the Greek community, you are more likely to get involved not only in just ASI but the other clubs, organizations and areas on campus.
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By Katelin Paiz
In response, executive staffers were happy to offer their take on the situation. “Honestly, the stuff that we do doesn’t affect one person or one group,” said Kathy Ting-Ting Yu, ASI chief administrative officer and alumna of one of the Panhellenic sororities. “The decisions we make affect the entire school. I know it sounds like we have the power to (affect policy in favor of Greek organizations), but we actually don’t.” Executive staff members are quick to point out that there are checks and balances involved in the disbursement of funds, which are designed to prevent any misappropriation. In the allocation process, every ASI-funded organization submits a budget according to its needs. The budget goes to various parts of ASI, including the Finance Committee, the Board of Directors, the ASI President and ultimately to See GREEK INFLUENCE, Page 2
Titans collect toys for children in need this holiday season By Susannah Blakey For the Daily Titan
news@dailytitan.com
One way to celebrate the holidays is by giving a gift to the Titan Toy Drive, a benefit for underprivileged children. Students can participate in the toy drive, which runs through Dec. 10, by selecting the name of a child aged 7 – 14 from the Titan Toy display in the Titan Student Union and donating a gift that is suitable for the child’s age. The toy drive, which has been a part of Cal State Fullerton for 18 years, is coordinated by the TSU Information and Services group and Camp Titan. Each year, the goal of the drive is to collect as many gifts as possible for the children. “Last year we had 778 toys, and each child received five gifts, which was really nice,” said Pamela Skawin, the Information and Services manager. Camp Titan, founded in 1969, happens one week every June. The camp takes about 140 underprivi-
leged children from the Orange County area to go camping in Big Bear. CSUF students, trained as counselors, volunteer their time to Camp Titan. The children are invited back to CSUF in December to celebrate the holiday season. The toy drive is a way for students to give back to their community, said Christina Median, 22, a senior student manager of the TSU Information and Services and human services major. “It’s a way to give back to our campus. I know we are busy with our classes and we don’t have time to do community service, so it’s a way for all students to come together and serve the community as a whole.” Students can donate money as well as gifts. Monetary donations will go toward buying bicycles to be given away during a drawing at a holiday party for the kids. Target offers the toy drive a discount on the bikes. To make the day more festive, Camp Titan and the Student Athletic Advisory Committee wrap the gifts and throw a party to make receiving the toys memorable for the
PHOTO By Jeff lambert/Daily Titan Staff Photographer Shown are the collected toys on display in the TSU before they are gift wrapped.
children. At the party, the children open their presents in the TSU, and those whose names are drawn receive bikes. English major Joshua Rodriguez, 21, participates in the drive because he can relate to the childrens’ situation. “I grew up in a low income neighborhood, and I like to help out people in the same situation whenever I can,” Rodriguez said. Students who want to participate should bring their unwrapped gift to Information and Services along
with the nametag of the child they are sponsoring. Skawin said that gifts should be limited to toys; no personalized gifts or clothing should be donated. Medina said that the main goal of the toy drive is to make the day special for the children. “We want to make their holidays better. I know that with the recession going on, they might not get as many gifts. This way, they know we are there for them, and we want to make them smile.”
Issues of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and many others will be tackled at today’s Rally Against Hate event in the Quad from 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. The Association for Inter-Cultural Awareness and Associated Students Inc. are sponsoring the event to bring awareness of hate crimes, discrimination and prejudice. “We have a bunch of council members within AICA and multicultural clubs who are coming together to squash stereotypes, squash labels and bring awareness to the campus,” said Trina Tan, 19, AICA’s advocacy coordinator. The event will start with resource fair participants from various backgrounds setting up their tables in the Quad and providing students with information about their culture or organization. The main attraction is the Clothesline Project where people from different cultural organizations on campus write and draw on shirts to express themselves. “Some of the stuff makes you tense, but discrimination still goes on, and different groups that you would not even think of experience it as well,” said Zohra Latif, 19, the public relations coordinator. The shirts come in a variety of colors and will be hung around the Quad so students will have the opportunity to see them. AICA events coordinator Sabrena McDonald, 20, attended the event last year, and her favorite aspect was the Clothesline Project. “There were words there and certain things that you never want to see, and I appreciated the time people took to write those things and to put their emotions on the shirts,” McDonald said. There will also be a “Wall of Prejudice” and a “Wall of Hope” where students will be able to write their experiences and comments. “The Wall of Progress” will show the advances society has made since the 1960s. Sylvia Mendez, who was the young girl involved in the 1946 Mendez v. Westminster desegregation case, is one of the speakers who will share her experience with segregation and discrimination. Cal State Fullerton sociology professors Angelique Harris and Carter Rakovski will discuss sociological perspectives of prejudice attitudes, and Associate Dean of Student Life Esiquio R. Uballe will discuss immigration issues. Throughout the event, students will have the chance to speak out, write of their experiences and write a pledge on a heart-shaped piece of pink, green or yellow-colored paper. These pledges will go up on the “Wall of Hope,” and each person will get a flower to represent their commitment, Tan said. An open microphone will be available at the event, and students will be encouraged to come up and share their experiences dealing with discrimination. McDonald will be on the stage most of the time to try to get students to come up and share their experiences. “This event will open students’ eyes and show them that there is still a lot of work that needs to be done in the community,” Tan said.