Daily Titan: Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Since 1960 Volume 85, Issue 43

Wednesday December 2, 2009

The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

INSIDE DT

CFA addresses CSU restructuring

By Jamie Iglesias

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

FEATURES:

Suicide prompts student to promote prevention, Page 3

OPINION:

New video game may have gone too far, Page 4

The California Faculty Association discussed the issue of restructuring in the Cal State University and University of California systems on Tuesday. The CFA authored a white paper, a report addressing the issue, entitled “'Restructuring' the CSU or Wrecking It?” The press conference call focused primarily on the effects that restructuring has had on CSUs because of the

elimination of academic programs that are significant in higher learning.

The biggest concern of the CFA is the elimination of academic programs and the future impact that these changes will have on CSU campuses.

According to a press release from Lisa Cohen, some CSU campuses that are already undergoing restructuring are Bakersfield, Dominguez Hills, Humboldt, Pomona, San Diego and Stanislaus.

Susan Meisenhelder, general manager for CFA, began the meeting by

stating the reason the new white paper was written.

“These changes have dramatic, disastrous long term effects for the future prosperity of California, and it is important for the public to know what is at stake,” Meisenhelder said.

Lillian Taiz, president of CFA, summarized the white paper while David Bradfield, professor of music and digital arts and CFA chapter president at Cal State Dominguez Hills, addressed the effects restructuring has had on the campus.

Bradfield said he believes that the CSU is becoming “smaller, more elite and structured to serve the strict needs of corporate interests rather than the broad interests of a participatory democracy.”

He clarified this statement by stating that restructuring when it comes to core subjects is training students for trade work rather than training them to be critical thinkers.

Career training is a problematic end result because careers are changing and instead, students are trained to have

certain kinds of jobs instead of being life long learners, Taiz said.

Taiz sees this as a major problem at CSUDH because students do not have the variety of programs that they once had due to the impact restructuring has had on the campus.

Music, languages, multicultural studies, life sciences, art and physics were some of the subject areas mentioned in the press conference that are in jeopardy of being eliminated.

See CFA, Page 2

Titans slaughter hot dogs in Quad

By Amira Nesheiwat For the Daily Titan

news@dailytitan.com

SPORTS:

Lakers’ Bynum still learning the game, Page 6

Eyes darted left and right as impatient contestants were ready to down some hot dogs. On the count of five with five minutes on the clock, the hot dogs were quickly ripped apart. Contestants ate the meat first then dipped the bun in water to help them bite, chew and swallow faster.

On Tuesday, Cal State Fullerton students gathered around the Quad ready to witness a See HOT DOGS, Page 2

ONLINE:

Watch the video exclusive on Graffiti: Art or Crime? at DailyTitan.com/ Graffiti09

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Photo By Janelle Conner/For the Daily Titan Jake Tireheimer (left) and Alex Wilson devour hot dogs in an attempt to win the Entrepreneur Society’s first annual hot dog eating contest. Prizes were awarded to the top three eaters.

TitanCard offers multiple benefits to students

By Nicole Park

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

At first glance, the Cal State Fullerton TitanCard looks like any other school identification card, but it is anything but ordinary.

Along with photo ID, the TitanCard provides students with various discounts, rewards and services.

According to Maria Ventura, 23, a graduate student who works in the TitanCard office, the most common reason students visit is to add money to their card’s TitanTender.

“The minimum amount of money that can be added to the TitanCard is $1, but it can hold thousands. A lot of parents put money on the cards for students for books and living,” Ventura said.

When students go to Ventura to add just a dollar or two, she said it’s usually for printing. Most labs with printers on campus charge using Titantender only.

Ventura said the card can not only be used as an “on-campus debit card,” but opening an account at U.S. Bank, located in Ti-

tan Shops, will turn the card into a typical debit card linked to a bank account which will make it usable off-campus.

Along with the ability to hold money, the TitanCard can also save students money by providing them with many discounts on and off campus. The Starbucks in Steven G. Mihaylo Hall waives tax on all items purchased with the flash of a CSUF ID. Local off-campus establishments that offer TitanCard discounts include Pinkberry, Juice It Up and Regal Cinemas, among others. The full list can be seen at StudentSavingsClub.com.

Despite the perks of being a card-carrying Titan, the numbers show that students aren’t taking advantage of all the card’s functions.

Nick Nevins, 21, of the Titan Pride Center said, to date, 163 students have come by to claim reward points.

“Points earned are based on attendance to certain games,” Nevins said.

Upon attending games from a list of 16 dates chosen by Titan Tusk Force, students earn points

by swiping their TitanCards.

“All students need to do is swipe their card to get free stuff. There is no catch. We just want to encourage school spirit and Titan athletics support. By going to games, students can earn Titan Gear they want but can’t afford,” said Chloe Hernandez, Titan Tusk Force athletics coordinator.

Prizes can be claimed from values of one to eight points.

Senior Kim Fragola, 22, earned her Titans water bottle after at-

tending just one game.

“There are 16 games students can earn points at and the biggest prize, the fleece blanket, is only eight points. We’re making it possible for students to earn the biggest prize twice per semester,” Hernandez said.

A list of eligible games, the prizes and their cost in points is available on the Associated Students Inc. Web site.

The TitanCard is also programmable to allow student access in

areas where not everyone is permitted. Certain students must swipe their cards to enter the dorm halls while some science labs require a security swipe that also provides the basic function of access to areas restricted to most students. Along with limiting which students may enter certain classrooms, professors also have the option to take attendance in large classes by having students swipe in.

For some, the card serves an even more principle function: transportation. The CSUF TitanCard doubles as a free bus pass for any of the Orange County Transit Authority’s bus lines. The card must be reactivated once a year in the TitanCard office in the main library.

“I love that the bus is free. It’s great for me because I come to school five days a week,” said Jeesun Kim , 21, a music major from South Korea who is studying at CSUF for one year as an exchange student.

From essential to incentive, the TitanCard is “the only card you’ll need on campus,” Ventura said, quoting the card’s official slogan.

Page Two IN OTHER NEWS 2

HONDURAS (MCT) – Honduras awoke Monday with three presidents: one just elected, one on vacation and another hunkered down at the Brazilian Embassy.

Manuel “Mel” Zelaya is claiming electoral fraud from his perch at the embassy, while newly elected Porfirio “Pepe” Lobo tries to convince the world that he is the legitimate president, even if his election took place under a de facto regime denounced here and abroad.

But there was some good news for Lobo on Monday. The United States recognized his government without flat-out saying so. And Colombia, Panama and Peru recognized his victory, as did Costa Rica. Still, part of Lobo’s challenge would be getting the nod from more countries. On Monday, Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina and Venezuela said they would not recognize the election.

NATIONAL

Police shoot and kill suspect in four officer’s deaths SEATTLE (MCT) – Maurice Clemmons, the suspect wanted in the slaying of four Lakewood, Wash., police officers, was shot and killed in Seattle early Tuesday morning by a Seattle police officer making a routine check of a stolen car.

Police also booked four people into jail on suspicion of providing assistance to Clemmons, said sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer.

One of those arrested is the alleged getaway driver and is believed to be a former cellmate of Clemmons in Arkansas, according to law enforcement and KIRO-TV. Several other people also will be taken into custody for helping Clemmons, Troyer said.

Clemmons was shot during a confrontation with a patrol officer, police officials said. He refused commands to stop and was shot by the officer about 2:45 a.m., the officials said.

STATE

Thousand Oaks couple sentenced in fraud case VENTURA (MCT) – A Thousand Oaks couple were sentenced to 10 years in prison on Monday for defrauding banks and cheating homebuyers and investors.

The couple pleaded guilty in March to two counts of bank fraud for falsifying the source of down payments on home loans filed for clients.

The down payments had been made using hard-money loans funded by investors, some of whom lost their life savings, according to court documents. Some of the couples’ homebuying clients did not know their down payments were borrowed. Only later did they learn that along with making their mortgage payments they also had to make good on the down payment loans, according to court documents.

The couple’s scheme generated more than $31 million in real estate loans.

CORRECTION December 1: In “Cartoons hold ground in college” on Page 3, Angelo Andrada’s last name was spelt “Andrado” on the second reference in the article. The correct spelling of his last name is Andrada.

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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Copyright ©2009 Daily Titan

From Page 1 With the lack of these classes, many students are now forced to stay longer in school to graduate.

Taiz acknowledged that the CSU is not standing by its promise to provide access to quality four-year education and instead is disappearing.

The CFA has expressed frustrations about the failures of CSU Board of Trustees and the chancellor to fight for the system, Taiz said.

Aside from financial increases, enrollment will be dramatically affected because of restructuring. Taiz states that the CSUs will deny 40,000 students acceptance compared to the 2,500 students that will be denied in the UCs. “We are denying an entire generation of students access to an education and in doing so, we are denying them a chance to achieve their American Dream. On top of that, however, we are digging ourselves into a deeper economic hole in California,” Taiz said.

Photo By Ron Fu/Daily Titan Staff Photographer (From left, clockwise) “Paranormal State” cast members Sergey Poberezhny and Ryan Buell have a discussion regarding paranormal experiences with Grant Adam, Layla Halfhill and Brian Patrick of the Los Angeles Paranormal Association on Tuesday at Cal State Fullerton.

Hot dogs: Aimed to help raise funds

From Page 1

fast-paced hot dog eating competition.

Eleven CSUF students put their appetites to the test by entering the first-annual Hot Dog Eating Contest, co-sponsored by Quality Toyota to benefit the Entrepreneur Society.

“We put together all our skills, creativeness and everything we learned from classes and guest speakers and basically we put together this event ... we kept brainstorming, and it got bigger.

It was going to be a barbecue, so it turned into a barbecue and a hot dog competition,” said Araceli Rivas, president of the Entrepreneur Society. “We wanted to come up with a unique fundraiser to help our club; we want to raise money for this club to give us a chance and an opportunity to visit business conferences and more.”

Contestants competed for a hot dog eating champions belt, Photo By Janelle Conner/For the Daily Titan $50 for first place, $25 for secPictured are the contestants from the Entrepreneur Society’s first-annual Hot Dog Eating Contest. First prize went to business major ond place and $10 for third.

Philemon Ahn, who consumed thirteen-and-a-half hot dogs in five minutes.

Quality Toyota also offered an opportunity to win free Anaheim Ducks tickets. dergraduates from CSUF, and we cluded a hot dog, chips, a drink some water and eat a lot of cabbage and try to expand my stomach a “Quality Toyota of Corona is a like to support. We are community and a raffle ticket.

“We help sponsor events in hope little bit … I’ll be hitting up the family owned and driven.” operated business LensCraft- to inspire this sale of hot dogs,” gym tomorrow,” Ahn said, a busithat is commitness major. “I’m ers of Whitti- said John Ferted to supportgoing to be wearer also helped rell, general at ing community ing my belt every with the event manager programs,” said day for the rest of by donating a LensCrafters Gina Gordon, a the week to all my $100 and $50 in Whittier.

Philemon Ahn, Eight hot marketing direcclasses.” gift certificate tor for the Gor“We only had Contest winner for sunglasses dogs and three don Automotive six weeks to preto two lucky cups of water Group Inc. “We pare for this event. winners who were placed in are sponsoring this event because purchased a hot dog combo at the front of each It turned out to many of our employees are un- barbecue. The hot dog combo in- c o n t e s t a n t , be a great success, leading to the so I think for next victory of first year if we have place win– Araceli Rivas, more time, it will ner Philemon be a lot bigger and Entrepreneur Society a lot better. There Ahn, who president consumed seems to be a lot of thirteen-andpeople pumped up a-half hot dogs and excited about in five minutes. the hot dog eating competition,” “This was kind of last minute. Rivas said.

One of my classmates actually told Rivas said Entrepreneur Society me about the competition yester- members agreed to donate the exday, so I didn’t have much time tra food to a shelter in the City of to prepare, so I was able to drink Orange.

“

I’ll be hitting up the gym tomorrow.

“

It turned out to be a great success, so I think for next year if we have more time, it will be a lot bigger and a lot better.

“

Newly elected Honduran president seeks approval

“Paranormal” visits Cal State Fullerton campus

“

INTERNATIONAL

CFA: White paper was discussed

December 2, 2009

December 2, 2009

FEATURES

3

Phantom Student perseveres after boyfriend’s suicide vibration plagues expectant callers Sigma Kappa member tells her personal tragedy and promotes prevention

By Karen Dickinson For the Daily Titan

features@dailytitan.com

features@dailytitan.com

“Phantom vibration syndrome” is just another result of the technological age taking over.

This new syndrome, which can also be referred to as “vibranxiety,” is “the feeling when you answer your vibrating cell phone, only to find it never vibrated at all,” according to a USAToday.com article.

Blogs have been formed online by those who “suffer” from this syndrome.

“Experts say the false alarms simply demonstrate how easily habits are formed,” further states the Web site.

“I think my case might be a little more unusual as my phone vibrates erratically when I receive a text, so I am pretty much just imagining crazy-vibration patterns,” said art major Daniel James, 19.

Although he has never heard of the term made for this reaction, James found it somewhat pathetic.

“I am not really a talker, so I am constantly text-messaging. And I am sure I am not the only one. So the fact people are so dependent on their phones that they get anxiety over it is ... lame,” James said, “so I guess I am super lame.”

Psychology major Farrah Heravi, 22, applies what she has learned in her psychological studies to the way the syndrome affects her.

“I think it’s just a form of wishful thinking,” Heravi said. “Most of the time this happens to me is when I am waiting on a call back or I am in some form of a time crunch for information. My phone ringing seems to be the only thing I am thinking about at the time, so I keep tripping myself out thinking I feel or hear it.”

Child development major Kirstin Williams, 19, finds her trigger to be when she is interested in a guy.

“If I am expecting or wanting a guy to call or text me, I always feel my phone vibrating when it’s not. And then half the time I miss the actual call because I am over being tricked by my phone,” Williams said.

Although the situation may be humorous to some like Williams, others don’t see the humor.

“I already suffer from panic attacks, so if something as minuscule as my cell phone can set off an attack, you could only imagine otherwise,” said Luise Case, a communications major.

Neuroplasticity, which is “the brain’s ability to form new connections in response to changes in the environment,” according to USAToday.com, can be another explanation for the phantom vibration syndrome.

“When cell phone users regularly experience sensations, such as vibrating, their brains become wired to those sensations,” states USAToday. com.

James understood Williams’ case of expecting phone calls and imagining vibrations.

Although it may not necessarily have to do with relationships or persons of interest, any phone call or text he is waiting on makes his syndrome appear a little stronger, James said.

“It makes one wonder how this term got coined, and who coined it? Who heard of so many people complaining of this that it became a ‘syndrome’?” Case said.

If you’re feeling suicidal or depressed, contact 1-800-SUICIDE or visit HopeLine.com

“

Tell Elise she was my greatest love and that I’m sorry it didn’t work out.

“

By Lauren Felechner

Daily Titan Staff Writer

Valentine’s Day 2009: Elise Larkin looks at a stuffed bear her boyfriend Adam gave her. The bear is holding a small box in its paw. She expects earrings, a necklace or maybe even a bracelet. But she opens the box to find a plastic heart that says, “Now you’ll always have my heart.” He was a simple romantic and the love of her life. The 21-year-old political science major at Cal State Fullerton recalled of her last Valentine’s Day with Adam.

Adam Ransom came from a Christian family of five. His parents were supportive and loved their children more than anything. He had many loves. One of them was Larkin, others were his nephews, his closest four friends and anyone else he called family. His favorite architect was Frank Lloyd Wright because he was captivated by skyscrapers. He played baseball all his life and and acquired a love for football. He had tattoos of his favorite quotations and art pieces; one of them carried the message: “The brightest stars burn out the fastest.”

He was an introvert while Elise was PHOTO COURTESY Elise Larkin an extrovert. He was skeptical about Sigma Kappa sister Elise Larkin poses with her boyfriend Adam Ransom.

Ransom ended his life people’s intentions; Larkin was not. after a series of depression and alcoholism. Sigma Kappa participated in a suicide prevention They loved each other nonetheless. walk held on Oct. 10.

“Me, I was happy, and I think some of that poured into him,” she said.

Their three-year relationship consisted “It will make me stop drinking,” he Ransom and herself. him,” she said. Larkin’s advice to those of a lot of outdoor activities, especially told Larkin. She didn’t try to stop him, Larkin has learned being angry who know someone with depression is overlooking the sunset at Signal Hill in not only because she knew how stub- doesn’t bring catharsis. Months later to never give up, never leave their side Long Beach. born he was, but because she knew it she wears a smile because of Ransom. and more importantly never underes“They were like two little kids in would only escalate into an argument. She got to experience love and still timate the power of depression. a movie,” said Kris Casebeer, Lar- He wasn’t the same person she had feels his love every day she wakes up.

“It’s a disease that eats people up,” kin’s cousin and Ransom’s childhood fallen in love with. His temper was She always carries that plastic heart she said. She urges people to seek profriend. Larkin’s parents didn’t approve short, and they didn’t go to Signal Hill Ransom gave her on Valentine’s Day fessional help immediately and never of him, but that didn’t stop her from to watch sunsets anymore. They were and knows she and Ransom will meet brush it off. loving him. not the active couple they once were. again.

On Oct. 10 Larkin and her sororSomething was missing from his Since the drugs were not helping, Today, Larkin focuses all her energy ity, Sigma Kappa, participated in one life – a void he was never able to fill. Ransom started taking at least five on bringing awareness to those around of the “Out of the Darkness” comLarkin explained that while the first Valium a day. He couldn’t even func- her. She said the biggest regret she has munity walks hosted by the American year of their relationship was smooth, tion at work anymore let alone walk is not acknowledging how serious his Foundation of Suicide Prevention. his depression became all too apparent straight. depression was.

“I’ve never lost anyone to suicide, within the second year.

Larkin decided the best thing to do “His job wasn’t enough, his friends but the walk really made me realize He would tell her things like, “If was stay at a distance for the time be- weren’t enough, his family wasn’t how prevalent suicide really is,” said I killed myself, I’d want to hang my- ing. She couldn’t handle how out of enough, I was not enough … to save CSUF student Gabrielle Ulrich. self.” She would worry and ask him to control he had become. He started clarify, only to receive a response along having manic episodes, and his friends the lines of, “Oh … just kidding, I’d found him face down in the water on never do that.” a trip to Lake Havasu.

Six months ago, in an attempt to He came back from the trip lookfill the void within him, Ransom be- ing worse than before. He had cuts gan heavily drinking. He would go to and bruises everywhere. “It was like Blondie’s, a bar that was within walk- me seeing him kill himself from the ing distance from his home, because inside. I knew the moment he stopped it was convenient. He knew alcohol caring about his appearance something would always was wrong,” Larbe there, and it kin said. She tried quickly became telling him how his escape. much his alcohol May 2009 and drugs were came around affecting her and which meant one how much she thing: summer. loved him, but For Larkin, it – Adam Ransom he was so clouded meant leaving for from the two to in his suicide note New York for an understand the internship. The effect he was havinternship was an important experi- ing on those around him. ence for Larkin. “It was something On Aug. 21, Ransom could no lonI was doing for my future,” she said. ger take the helplessness. He took VaRansom saw it as her giving up on him lium and Darvocet in large quantities — he urged her not to go as if she was and washed them down with alcohol. leaving forever. Blondie’s became his He had been doing his research and comfort while she was away. knew this was the way to kill himself.

While in New York, Larkin called At age 27, Ransom decided to end his her cousin to check up on things and life. Larken was at work when she rehe told her “Adam has actually gotten ceived the call.

100 times worse.” Larkin thought this When her parents told her what had to be an exaggeration but realized happened, her world collapsed and it wasn’t when she saw his bloated face everything lost its meaning. Food tastgreet her at the airport. ed like paper for the next two weeks.

“He looked just horrible. It wasn’t He left a note for his family and adlike he was overweight in any fashion; dressed Larkin in it: “Tell Elise she was it was the alcohol made him bloat,” my greatest love and that I am sorry she said. it didn’t work out.” She felt she was His depression had obviously got- cheated out of a response. ten worse, and Larkin could rarely find School started on Monday, and Ransom sober enough to talk to. Her Ransom died on Friday. Larkin knew partner was slipping away. putting her life on hold would only Ransom never sought professional hinder her progress. She started the help but began medicating himself. semester as usual but with an obvious He got Valium from a friend. hole in her heart. She became angry at

MultiMedia

Check out DailyTitan.com/cartoons for interviews where Associated Students Inc. members and other students talk about their favorite childhood animated shows.

The sorority raised $600 for depression research and other causes of suicide. Larkin said this is the first of many events she will take part in to generate awareness.

Larkin hopes to make suicide prevention an active philanthropy for her sorority, get involved with the AFSP and possibly start an awareness group on campus.

“It (suicide) basically kills everyone around them. It doesn’t just take that person’s life. It has taken my life and his parent’s life in a sense,” Larkin said.

“Laughter. It’s what’s helping me cope with it. Adam’s older brother and I just like to laugh a lot,” Casebeer said after losing one of his best friends.

OPINION

4

December 2, 2009

Letter to the Editor

Does the airport terrorism level in ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’ go too far?

By Ashleigh Johnson

Daily Titan Copy Editor opinion@dailytitan.com

On Nov. 10, Activision released “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” for XBox 360, PC and Playstation 3.

While the game has become a commercial hit, it’s also been making headlines with an eyebrow-raising mission sequence titled “No Russian.” Violence in media, specifically video games, is a topic that has been examined for years now to the point where any gamer – myself included – will greet the subject with muffled groans and rolling eyes.

Jack Thompson, a now-disbarred lawyer, gained some level of notoriety after attacking games such as “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City” and “Bully” for their violent content, claiming that they encouraged criminal behavior.

Extensive psychological studies were conducted to see if there is a correlation between video games and violence. A majority of these studies proved inconclusive.

While video game developers are certainly well within their First Amendment rights to add elements of violence to their games and there is no proven psychological link between abnormal

behavior and video games, at what point do buckets of blood cross the line from having some artistic merit and plot value, to becoming gratuitous?

In the controversial mission, you are placed in control of an American CIA agent going undercover to gather information on a Russian mercenary.

In order to remain undercover, the CIA agent takes part in a brutal massacre of innocent civilians in an airport, who initially watch curiously as the group enters, but then are quickly mowed down by a hail of bullets as screams fill the air.

It’s shockingly realistic and completely devoid of the “GTA” franchise’s bloody yet morbidly lighthearted vibe.

This segment of the game is crucial to the overall plot. However, the game designers could have still told the same story without subjecting the player to approximately 10 minutes of what essentially boils down to virtual slaughter.

Violence has its place in art – and yes, I do consider video games an art form. If done well, it can be used to deliver compelling messages, to shock the viewer outside their comfort zone into a new train of thought.

When used merely to shock and add a splash of color, it can traumatize half the audience and cause the other half to high-five in testosterone-fueled celebration.

The fact that the developer had a choice to avoid including buckets of blood, but did it anyway, proves that there is a line when it comes to violence in art and it’s possible to not only cross it, but then beat it to death with a baseball bat after having sex with it.

By Skylar Smith

Daily Titan Staff Writer opinion@dailytitan.com

The video game strategy is no stranger to controversy and negative media attention, and “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” is no different.

Many things about “Modern Warfare 2” are open to criticism, but one level is responsible for the brunt of the controversy.

In this level you play as a CIA agent whose task it is to infiltrate a terrorist group led by Makarov, a Russian gun for hire. Part of the job is to accompany him on a terrorist raid in a Russian airport where he plans to gun down civilians, and he does just that.

Before I begin to describe the scene, you should know that you have the option of skipping the level and continuing with the story. Not only that, you will never be forced to shoot civilians, you can simply watch and you will not be punished by the game for it.

The level begins as you descend in an elevator. Makarov turns to you and says, “Remember, no Russian.” As the elevator doors open you, Makrov and three other Russian terrorists walk up to a large group of civilians and

open fire.

You must then follow Makarov throughout the airport, choosing whether or not to join in the massacre, all the way up to the hangars where you must fend off waves of SWAT teams before reaching your escape vehicle.

To avoid spoilers, I will just say that this scene, however terrible it may be, is necessary for the plot as it is a turning point for the entire game.

Infinity Ward and Activision are taking a lot of heat for putting this in their game, but I believe this level, however painful and controversial it may be for some to play, is necessary.

Infinity Ward is making a bold statement by keeping the “No Russian” level in its game, and it could possibly be a major stepping stone in how we view video games as an artistic medium.

The level is not meant to make the player feel good; no one in their right mind would play this level and want to go out and reenact the events. The level is meant to make an impact on the player, causing them to think about the reality and weight of incidents such as this.

“Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare” made similar moves by putting players in the middle of all too real situations, such as a nuclear explosion. This level left an impact on gamers worldwide.

“No Russian” is a level that the video game industry needed. Although the overall plot of “Modern Warfare 2” is weak at times, it’s moments in games like these that prove developers, like Infinity Ward, have the ability to push video games to be emotionally engaging and artistic.

After decades of gradual fee increases, the latest “deal” struck by the University of California regents to raise fees an unprecedented 32 percent has finally crossed the line.

A world-class education, essential for the success of yourself, your state and your nation, is slipping away from California’s social contract.

Since realizing the inevitable last fall, you’ve walked out, sat in and spoken up.

The outrage – real outrage – on UC, CSU and community college campuses is palpable. In fact, students’ reactions have received global media coverage. Of the massive protests last September, the UK Guardian wrote of the “shock” it sent throughout the capital.

So the die has been cast. The state of California has crossed the Rubicon. Sacramento wants your education back.

You’ve blamed the regents; suspicious of how readily they accepted the cuts and questioning of their compensation, you want answers.

You’ve blamed the governor for heaping the fallout of California’s colossal dysfunction onto the shoulders of its children and for seeming aloof from the plight of California’s students.

You’ve blamed the state legislature for doing its best to undermine your education and for allowing nearly every other function of the state to grind to a halt on its watch.

But something about these enemies doesn’t stick. The regents are only reacting to what’s coming down on them from the state capital, and their compensation alone doesn’t come close to closing the hole.

Even in good economic times, the Governor and the legislature only control a fraction of the budget. The rest is “locked in” by the spending priorities, restrictions by the political movements and bond measures of yesterday.

The legislature is a tempting target, but fees have increased during periods of Republican control and Democratic control, in both good economic times and bad. You have every reason to believe that you will continue to receive less education for more money no matter who wins what election where or when.

No, the fee hikes, the layoffs and the furloughs (like the IOUs, the prisons and the water) are bigger than Arnold Schwarzenegger, and they are certainly bigger than the regents. For this reason, you and your fellow students have been visibly frustrated trying to find the right target for your wrath, the most effective avenue for your collective action.

Should you look to Sacramento?

Today, at this very moment, the Capital exists in a state of controlledanarchy. Every lobbying firm and every interest group scavenges whatever it can from the public body; the feast has no strategy, no master plan and no guiding principle.

The beast has shown itself capable of devouring water systems, prison systems, roads, bridges and the social safety net, and now it’s hungry for the greatest university system in the history of our species. The monster cannot be tamed or captured, and its gluttony is ravaging us all.

Then it hits. The problem is Sacramento. Your enemy is Sacramento.

What do you do? When who controls the legislature or the governor’s mansion has largely ceased to matter and when the system and all its parts has become so fundamentally committed to destroying everything you love – from your parks to your health to your education – where do you turn? Do you tinker around the edges? No. You get a new system.

Last month, a coalition of advocacy groups called “Repair California” finalized and submitted two ballot measures to do just that, by calling for a California constitutional convention.

If the measures succeed at the ballot, we would be enabled to scrap the old system and build a new one, one that learns from other states and reflects the California of tomorrow.

No other reform proposal offers such an opportunity, not even close.

I don’t know about you, but I refuse to accept the status quo and what it’s doing to us. It’s time for us to seize our future. California needs you. This movement needs you.

Visit RepairCalifornia.org Adrian Covert Member, Repair California Proud CSU Alumnus

Alien in America “From the inside looking out”

Plight of the street people

by Isa Ghani

Daily Titan Multimedia Editor opinion@dailytitan.com

I was on a train when a homeless woman walked on board. She was asking for a couple of dollars for the ride. She looked so sad I would have given her money if I had any.

She was in the middle of what sounded like a sob story, but I don’t speak Spanish so I couldn’t understand her. Everyone in the train car just ignored her. The train left the station, and she was still on, with no ticket.

To me, this scene was strange, and I felt ashamed to be sitting there with my laptop, bottle of Coke and $300 cell phone when this woman just needed a couple of lousy bucks.

Sad thing is, I seemed to be the only person on the train who felt this way.

Los Angeles’s homeless population is large. According to the LA Homeless Service Authority, the homeless population of LA on any given day in 2009 is 48,053; that is more than the enrollment of Cal State Fullerton.

But it seems to me like most Americans just walk by homeless people without noticing them.

Don’t believe me? Walk down any major street in LA, be it West Hollywood, Sunset Boulevard or Third Street, and you will come across at least three homeless people. Some carry bags, some trolleys and some just sit with just the clothes on their backs.

Some scare me, like the time on the Santa Monica Pier when I saw a homeless man, complete with cardboard box, cradling something blond in his arms amongst the rags he was wearing.

At first I was startled, thinking, “Good God, this man stole someone’s child!” until I realized it had four legs.

Then I thought, “Oh my God, this man is cradling a dead dog!” until I saw it move. I then let out a huge sigh of relief.

As I walked away, I was shocked that I could even consider it a possibility that a homeless man in Santa Monica, a place frequented by the rich and famous, could possibly be cradling the body of an abducted child.

Yet I seemed to be the only one who gave him a second glance.

There are all sorts of homeless people, or “street people” as I call them, in California. There are the angry types who yell obscenities at passers-by, the crazy types who talk to themselves in alien languages and the pitiful ones who whine for some spare change.

I used to give it to them, until I realized that this only encouraged them. Thus, they would either ask for more or converge on me in greater numbers, not unlike the zombies you see in B-grade horror movies.

Seriously, I actually had a homeless guy bum a cigarette off me, ask for some change and then ask for another cigarette, “for the road.”

But then I feel like a douche for not giving them anything when it looks like they really need it. Take the Carl’s Jr. incident: a disheveled Asian guy walks up to me in a Carl’s Jr. and asks me if I speak Vietnamese.

When I say “no,” he then asks for some change. With another “no,” I send him away, only to realize he is barefoot, muttering to himself in what is presumably Vietnamese, and he looks malnourished.

He then digs around in his pocket, pays for a cheeseburger in pennies and asks for some water. The guy at the counter gave him all of this grudgingly. As he shuffled away with his dirty feet, I cursed myself and my CrissCut Fries.

It makes me wonder, where are

these people coming from? Was it some tragedy like an accident or a series of unfortunate events that led them to live out of a stolen shopping cart? Where are their families? Are they there by choice or are they just crazy? I’m tempted to ask sometimes, but I’m too afraid of the answer.

What I do know is that when you have a city like LA, Washington, D.C. or New York, you get the street people. It seems like the bigger the city and the higher its skyscrapers, the larger the slums and the lower the levels people stoop to.

Yes, I’m talking about those poor souls who pick through trash for leftovers and attempt to smoke cigarette butts.

In November, California evicted people from “Tent City,” the biggest homeless encampment to date. Numerous shelters offered housing to these people, but that’s just like taking Claritin for a flu. We’re treating the symptoms, not the disease.

Meanwhile, we have wannabe reality stars crashing White House parties and bank CEOs requesting billions in bailout money. Be ashamed America.

How can we live in such excess and be able to buy family-sized Toblerone chocolates when people are starving? It’s a situation that boggles my mind, and I don’t like it. But I also don’t know what to do about it either.

As I sit in the train I see an uniformed Metrolink security officer with a gun and radio going into the next train car, where the homeless woman went.

I wonder what’s going to happen to her next. Presumably she is going to get kicked out of the train, but we’re miles away from where she got on and miles away from where she wanted to go.

Maybe that’s what being homeless is really about, never really having a place to belong.

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Sports

December 2, 2009

Bynum has much to learn from team this season (MCT) – The life of an NBA player isn’t unlike that of a full-time student: Keep busy trying to learn lessons from much older, wiser folks most of the year. Go party it up when the much older, wiser folks are resting.

Then get the summer away from the much older, wiser folks to do as you wish.

If you’re committed to making something of yourself, though, you use that summer to do more learning and not just more partying. The Lakers’ most promising pupil - Andrew Bynum - has shown in recent summers that he understands that.

After his injured knee healed last offseason, Bynum again went to Atlanta for a month to live in his personal trainer’s home (with his personal trainer’s kids) and lock in on a simple life of serious workouts.

The more polished post moves and that suddenly sweet left hand are proof of the work he put in.

So are the improved pick-and-roll defensive mobility and the greater explosion to the basket.

All those things were focal points of Bynum’s workouts, and now he’s averaging 18.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in building an excellent case to be a first-time All-Star this February.

All that is great stuff, but summer internships or tutorials aren’t where you learn the most, remember. NBA classes are again in session, and the rooms will always be filled with other students. You need to be able to learn and grow along with them, because this is a team sport.

As impressive as Bynum has been so far, he still has much to learn. A

game last week vs. the Knicks was a reminder of that.

Bynum was frustrated enough that he drew a technical foul just before halftime for howling at referee Ken Mauer, who didn’t see Bynum get hit on the wrist. Bynum seemed more intent on forcing individual offense than playing team defense, in general - and especially in the opening minutes of the second half, when he decided to stick to his man, David Lee, instead of protecting the paint against the Knicks’ dribble penetration.

When Bynum finally did go to help, he got into a weird spot on the baseline near the basket and wound up awkwardly screening teammate Derek Fisher off New York point guard Chris Duhon. When both Bynum and Fisher tried to chase Duhon, no one rotated to Bynum’s

PHOTO COURTESY MCT The Lakers Lamar Odom, left, and Andrew Bynum, practice at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif., June 5, 2009 before their Game 2 NBA Finals matchup against the Orlando Magic.

man, David Lee, and Bynum didn’t even try to get back and contest as Lee accepted Duhon’s pass and dunked.

Bynum wasn’t happy and appeared to say something that expressed his frustration before he ran down court to play offense. Fisher is almost never one to bark at a teammate, yet he couldn’t restrain himself this time; Fisher yelled back at Bynum in disagreement.

It all happened in front of the Lakers’ bench, so Phil Jackson and his coaches understood. Think they sided with the oldest or the youngest Laker?

Indeed, Jackson immediately got Lamar Odom up off the bench to check in for the 22-year-old Bynum less than three minutes after halftime, way before Odom usually reenters the game. At this point, two things happened: 1. Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw got up from his seat and walked down toward the end of the Lakers’ bench. He stood there for several minutes in front of a seated Bynum, listening to Bynum’s side of the story - but telling a much better story of his own about how team defense and continued effort always supersede how annoyed any one defender might be about his assigned man scoring.

2. The Lakers - united by Jackson’s intolerance for Bynum’s petulant, selfish moment - went on a 17-0 run. I think what happened was Kobe Bryant ran for one score, returned an interception for a touchdown and then Ron Artest kicked a field goal while wearing nothing but his boxers.

No, actually, Fisher hit a 3-pointer as soon as Shaw began casting his shadow over Bynum, and the Lakers’ lead swelled from seven points to 24 without Bynum returning to the game.

It was an emphatic statement on both fronts about this being a team game now on the big stage, not some drill being done all by yourself under the hot Atlanta sun. Ultimately, the sport is all about playing well with others.

“We got it straight,” Jackson said

photo courtesy mct Lakers center Andrew Bynum shoots over Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard during Game 5 of the NBA Finals at Amway Arena in Orlando, Fla., June 14.

later when asked about his “teaching point.” “He was concerned about having helped - he’s the helper a lot of times on defense - and he was worried about his man scoring instead of helping the guard. And he kind of gave up on the play, and I think he understood that you can’t give up and stop playing.”

Said Bynum: “I missed a couple of assignments. ... I knew exactly what he was talking about; I was

just tired of David Lee getting dunks.”

Big picture, it’s no big deal, you might say - and you’d be right. The Lakers won, and Bynum is doing well overall.

What will be a bigger deal, however, is if Bynum actually learns something from this and modifies his behavior hereafter.

That’s what school is all about, right?

Tiger to receive ticket for crash

PHOTO COURTESY MCT Tiger Woods walks away with his wife Elin after his USA team’s defeat at the end of Day Three of the 36th Ryder Cup at the K Club in Straffan, Ireland, on Sep. 24, 2006.

(MCT) – After five days of tabloid frenzy and speculation over Tiger Woods’ early-morning crash outside his Isleworth mansion, Florida Highway Patrol troopers issued the findings of their investigation: Woods was driving carelessly, they said Tuesday afternoon. He gets a ticket.

The penalty? A fine of $164, plus four points on his driving record.

The fine was paid Tuesday, according to court records.

Woods won’t face a criminal investigation.

The Orange-Osceola state attorney’s office and troopers decided there was insufficient evidence to issue a subpoena or require blood evidence be handed over, said Maj. Cindy Williams, commander of Troop D, which covers the Orlando area.

People involved in the incident made no claims of domestic violence, Williams said during a brief 3 p.m. EST news conference announcing the conclusion of their investigation.

“Mr. Wood’s status (as a celebrity)

impacted in no way” how troopers handled the investigation, FHP spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Montes said.

Woods’ attorney Mark NeJame said the decision was good news.

“All I can say is that I’m pleased with the outcome. I have no further comment. It’s over,” NeJame said.

FHP is in charge of the investigation into the accident, which sent the world’s top-ranked golfer to the hospital with facial lacerations and bruises. Woods’ injuries forced him to withdraw from his charity golf tournament this week in California.

At 2:25 a.m. Friday, Orange County sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call on Deacon Court in Isleworth.

There, they discovered Woods had driven his Cadillac Escalade over a fire hydrant and into a neighbor’s tree.

Woods was on the ground being tended to by his wife, Elin Nordegren Woods. He had facial cuts, was bleeding in his mouth and was nonresponsive.

Nordegren told police she used a

golf club to break out windows in the SUV to free her husband from the wreckage.

Woods was transported to a local hospital, and FHP called his injuries “serious,” a designation used for all injuries requiring hospitalization.

He was released from Health Central Hospital in Ocoee less than 12 hours later.

Woods later issued a statement on his Web site taking responsibility for the accident. He has not appeared publicly since the crash, and speculation that the accident was related to a disagreement between him and his wife over rumors of an affair ran rampant.

Blood was not drawn from Woods the morning of the crash, and he repeatedly turned away investigators who sought to interview him at his mansion.

On Monday, troopers deliberated over whether to pull the golfer’s medical records from Health Central. Personnel there may have collected blood samples which could show what chemicals were in his system.