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Wednesday, April 6, 2011

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ASI faces tough tests Low student interest among problems for new board members By Megan Taros ch3no2@mail.sfsu.edu A single table draped with a purple banner and lined with a few stacks of golden fliers was the only noticeable mention of the Associated Students

Inc., elections this year. It was difficult to tell that last year’s elections garnered crowds of students surrounding decadent arrays of balloons and banners following fierce campaigning. The new board, which mostly ran unopposed, is already in the process of creating more events, better means of marketing and more student outreach. “Our marketing hasn’t been too stellar,” said Nick Coluzzi, incoming vice president of finance who ran unopposed. “We need to start putting ourselves out there more than we have

been. We really need to brand ourselves on the events we put on.” One issue facing the new governing board is a lack of funding. Currently, students pay $42 in fees that go toward funding ASI and its functions. However, a new referendum would increase that fee by $12 over three years. “If the referendum doesn’t pass, this will be the worst job I’ll ever have,” said Coluzzi, who won with 449 votes out

ASI continued on Page 2

GREGORY MORENO — [X]PRESS

WINNER: ASI President-elect Andrew Gutierrez takes a proud pose on top of the student center.

RESOLVE It gets better

Journalist gives hope to victims of bullying By Chase Kmec ckmec@mail.sfsu.edu

AARON PEREZ — SPECIAL TO [X]PRESS

DROID DREAM: Attendees of WonderCon 2011 gather around R2-D2 at the Moscone Center South on April 3, in San Francisco.

The 25th annual comic book fest gives fans a chance to explore inner hero

The Force of fans fuels 25th annual WonderCon in SF By Spencer DeVine spencerd@mail.sfsu.edu There is a place where capes and masks are the norm, where comic books and superheroes are the topics on the tip of everyone’s tongues and where stormtroopers haggle over the price of a laser blaster. That place is WonderCon. This past weekend, the Moscone Center in downtown San Francisco hosted the 25th annual WonderCon, one of the most popular conventions for comics and new art in the United States. With a mixture of panels with prominent individuals in the business, sneak peeks into film and television adaptations of classic comics, and an exhibition hall with hundreds of booths, WonderCon is a must for San Francisco comic book fans. “I’m loving it so far,” said Jeff “Donut” Mears, a conference attendee dressed as Nintendo’s Wario. “This is the biggest convention that I’ve ever been to because most of them are out of state.” Part of the WonderCon experience, and a major draw for many in attendance, were panels high-

HEROES continued on Page 7

[[X]

SASHA TIVETSKY — [X]PRESS

OBSERVE: Comic book enthusiasts and artists gather at the Moscone Center in San Francisco for the comic art festival Wondercon on April 2.

SEE MULTIMEDIA, SLIDESHOWS, VIDEOS AND MORE ONLINE AT: PRESS GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG GOLDEN GATE

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CAMPUS..........................PG 2 SPORTS........................... PG 3 A&E.................................PG 4 CITY.................................PG 5 OPINION......................... PG 6 WEEKLY SURVEY.............PG 2

Dyke. Homo. Faggot. The sharp stings of each single word resonate to create deep emotional scars that can dictate a lifetime. In an effort to ease the pain of homophobic bullying, Dan Savage, an openly gay LGBT activist and journalist, has shone a hopeful light to the darkness that plagues student across the nation. Savage, along with husband Terry Miller, visited SF State March 25 for a lecture and book signing where many in attendance – both gay and straight – embraced Savage’s philosophy. “It’s good to know there’s something out there like this at the high school level,” said communications graduate student Miranda Olzman, 29. “People were always calling me ‘dyke’ and ‘faggot.’ Insulting someone for their sexuality is standard at that level.” The “It Gets Better” website, launched in September, aims to prevent suicide among LGBT youth by offering a beacon of hope during trying times. Thousands of adults have shared their stories through video messages with the theme that no matter how bad things are, they will inevitably get better. The website has been a resounding success, attracting more than 10,000 video postings and millions of views. The website’s popularity prompted publication of Savage’s book, which serves as a collection of essays and short stories from celebrities and ordinary people telling their stories. Olzman asserted that Savage’s efforts have been influential on LGBT youth. “We’d have a lot more dead teenagers if he didn’t speak about this,” Olzman said. Savage said that though “It Gets Better” has had a good start, much more needs to be done still. “Throwing a bunch of videos on the website doesn’t end it,” Savage said. “That can’t solve all problems. The point of all this is to give hope to disparaged LGBT youth.” Savage said the recent rash of troubling behavior among LGBT youth, namely 13-year-old Seth Walsh,

SAVAGE continued on Page 7 POLICE BLOTTER.............PG 2 REMINDER: McKenna Theater hosts a student dance concert April 7 at 8-10 p.m.

Campus

2 Wednesday, April 6, 2011

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Gators giving the grades SPEAKS

SF STATE

OUT

A weekly unscientific survey of SF State students.

“Who is your favorite superhero?” Reporting by Spencer DeVine, Photos by Erik Verduzko “War Machine. He’s the dope underdog superhero and the only one who can take down Iron Man.” Dzu Nguyen, cell and molecular biology, senior, 21 “Dr. Manhattan because he’s naked all the time and he just doesn’t give a shit.” Lawrence Hood, business/German, sophomore, 19 “Batman because he doesn’t have any supernatural power. He’s a normal guy and gives us all hope.” Yaman Ahmed, undeclared, sophomore, 19 “My favorite superhero is Buddha because he can Zen zap people and they will go through their day at peace.” Christopher Kim, accounting, super senior, 22 “The Flash because he’s fast and he will never keep you waiting.” Miranda Cohen , international business, sophomore, 20

Students weigh in on pros and cons of campus tenets Aaron Salazar

aaronsal@mail.sfsu.edu

As University faculty members grilled students in the midst of midterm mayhem, the roles of the examined and the examiner switched as students were given a chance to grade the University. On March 24, SF State students took part in the accreditation process by sharing their academic experiences with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the organization that accredits SF State and other academic institutions on the West Coast of the United States. “We want to help this institution become the institution you will be proud to say you graduated from,” said Doris Ching, a member of WASC and the vice president of student affairs at the University of Hawaii. “It’s important that we hear a student

Featured media for this week

Changing of the guard SF State students poised together in Malcolm X Plaza, preparing to launch into an acrobatic performance. Their white, gold and purple uniforms shone in the sun, while their physical presence drew students near. Together they comprised the SF State cheerleading team,

I haven’t been able to get all my classes,” said Roxana Estrada, a junior majoring in business management. “It makes it hard for students to stay focused.” Because of dwindling state support, the CSU now operates with funding equivalent to the year 2000, when the system supported 70,000 fewer students, according to the chancellor’s office website. At SF State, 401 lecturers lost their jobs since 2008, resulting in 339 fewer class sections, according to the University’s website. But despite the reduction of resources, Ching assured students not to worry. “You are definitely an accredited University,” she said. “There’s no threat to your accreditation.” WASC takes the harsh realities of the budget cuts into consideration when evaluating the University, Ching said. The most important thing for WASC is that the administration does its best to uphold SF State’s mission under fiscal constraints. Accreditation establishes that institutions of higher learning adhere to certain standards of qual-

ity and takes a total of 10 years to complete, said Linda Buckley, associate vice president in the Office of Academic Planning and Development. The process unfolds in three phases. The first phase began in 2007 when SF State underwent self-examination. The University also drafted a proposal outlining the focuses of the accreditation process, Buckley said. According to the SF State WASC Institutional Proposal, the three themes that accreditation will focus on are a commitment to social justice and civil engagement; changing the University to support its changing population; and student success in terms of graduation, retention and writing achievements. The second stage, which SF State is currently undertaking, looks at the availability of resources for carrying out the University’s mission. The final phase is an educational effectiveness review, which will examine the level of students’ learning. It is scheduled for completion in October 2012.

ASI: Election illustrates apathy among student body continued from Page 1 of 475 total responses. “I’ll have to start looking at student organizations to cut, and programs like Project Rebound and the Women’s Center won’t be funded.” There has been no student body fee increases since 1992, therefore, ASI has not managed to catch up with the economic inflation. Because of this, the board currently faces a deficit. “My first goal is to get the referendum passed,” said Andrew Gutierrez, president-elect who also ran unopposed. “We’re providing so much more for students and we need funding. I’m already planning as if the referendum passed, and I would really like to be able to enhance our programs for the students.” Gutierrez won the election with 490 votes out of 521 total responses. Student involvement with the governing board and unifying the campus is also on the agenda for many of the incoming board members. Future ideas include an ASI newsletter and more town hall meetings and workshops. “We need to plug people where they want to be,” said Franko Ali, newly elected vice president of university affairs who also ran unopposed. “There are committees out there that need student representation, there’s residential life and relations that need to be kept between departments. Everyone needs to be connected.” Ali won with 496 votes out of

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voice.” A group of 20 students, both graduates and undergraduates, met with Ching on the fifth floor of the administration building to discuss their likes and dislikes of SF State’s performance in providing them with a quality education. Students praised SF State for its diversity in both demographics and program offerings— agreeing that exposure to diverse viewpoints enhance education. “The best thing that came out of that meeting was students being able to identify the positive and negative aspects of their campus,” said Filimon Richardson, freshman representative to ASI and an international business major. The biggest complaint students had was the abundance of overcrowded classes throughout campus. Many noted that overcrowded classes limit individual interaction with professors, hindering their comprehension of the material and making it hard to move on to upper division courses. “I’ve been here three years and

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which is made up of many members who are tumbling for the first time. The team is actively searching for a new coach who will bring new ideas to the team that will propel them to greater heights. Visit [X]press Online to view the full video and story. - Khaboshi Imbukwa

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573 total responses. Last year, 2,926 total votes were counted, which accounted for nearly 11 percent of the campus. Some candidates received up to 2,058 votes. This year, according to unofficial results, the most popular candidate received 496 votes. “I was extremely disappointed with the election,” Ali said. “If people are going to vote, people need to know about it. One of my other goals is to work on the election during the whole year.” Ali also hopes to continue the projects he was working on this year as the creative arts representative, including creating more events—something some students believe they don’t see enough of. “I know I pay for it, but I don’t see anything happening,” said Robyn Ollodort, psychology major. “And I didn’t vote for anyone because I didn’t know who was running, I didn’t know where to vote, I didn’t know anything about it.” Poor weather hampered campaigning and a change in election regulations, such as online-only voting and prohibiting the candidates from giving out food, also contributed to putting a damper on the election. “It didn’t really bother me,” Gutierrez said. “Last year we had sunshine, free food and we worked our butts off. It was different this year. Most of the people (I talked to) who did vote were from student organizations. I would rather get a vote from

someone I got to know than from someone whose vote I bought with a slice of pizza.” The push toward engaging students has some bemused as they viewed last year as more engaging than this year. “How am I supposed to feel represented by people who I don’t even know are representing me?” said Gabrielle Meindl, Japanese major. “I voted last year because I actually knew who was running. There was much more outreach last year. People came to my classes, there were fliers everywhere. This year I think I only saw one flier the whole time it was going on.” As the campus pushes to become less of a commuter school, ASI hopes more events will create a more welcoming environment for students. “While there’s not as much campus housing, the vast majority of students live close within the city or Daly City,” Coluzzi said. “That’s not too far for people to travel over here. We want a good, safe, secure place for students to hang out during the week and on weekends.” Members of the ASI board will also be required to attend the events in uniform under Gutierrez’s plan to interact with students more. “We’re students and it’s hard for us to do everything, but we can take the time to be there from 6 to 8 p.m. on a Friday,” Gutierrez said. “We need to be active. People may not like what we’re doing and we want them to tell us.”

THE BLOTTER

Campus crime log from the past week

The repeat offender Officers responded to reports of a suspicious person potentially casing the bike racks outside Mary Ward Hall early in the afternoon March 25. The same individual was seen stealing a bicycle from that location earlier in the week, according to the witness who made the report. Officers made contact with the 45-year-old suspect after a brief foot pursuit that ended in his arrest. He was charged with parole violation, resisting arrest, possession of narcotics and possession of burglary tools.

Dude, where’s my car? Two vehicles were reported stolen between March 25 and 28. The first vehicle was stolen from Buckingham Way between 12 p.m. March 24 and 8:50 a.m. March 25. It was later found abandoned on Rhode Island Street in San Francisco. The second vehicle was stolen from Pinto Drive between 1 a.m. and 4 p.m. March 28 and has yet to be recovered. There are no leads in either incident.

Belligerent bickering Officers responded to reports of a verbal altercation between two individuals along Chumasero Drive March 30. The incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. and resulted in one subject being taken into custody. The 20-year-old individual was charged with disorderly conduct, possessing alcohol as a minor and unlawful use of a driver’s license. — Compiled by Tom Garcia

GOLDEN GATE [X]PRESS - goldengatexpress.org

Sports

Wednesday, April 6, 2011 3

SWEEP Chico Wildcats stomp Gators

Gators drop to last in CCAA ranks By Juan Martinez juanm@mail.sfsu.edu Despite falling to last place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Monday, the SF State baseball team believes they will finish this season on a high note. The Gators are 11-20 overall but just 6-18 in the CCAA. They have yet to win a series in conference play and lost to the Chico State Wildcats 8-1 and 7-6 in a doubleheader match April 5. Still, the team took a step in the right direction when they hosted the Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes for four games beginning April 1. “We have lost some close games this season,” said coach Mike Cummins. “We’ve talked about turning things around and people needing to step up. We needed Friday’s and Sunday’s victories.” The Gators won the first game on Friday 1-0 behind junior lefthander Steven Dea’s eight shutout innings and an RBI single to left-center by ju-

THE GATOR SCOREBOARD

The latest game scores and statistics

BASEBALL 4/1 vs. Cal State San Bernardino W 1-0 4/2 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (DH) L 5-6, L 1-8 4/3 vs. Cal State San Bernardino W 4-3 (12) 4/5 at Chico State (DH) L 1-8, L 6-7 SOFTBALL 4/2 vs. Dixie State W 8-7 (8) 4/2 vs. Western Washington L 2-4 4/3 vs. Montana State-Billings L 3-9

[

UPDATED SPORTS COVERAGE AT: @XPRESSSPORTS YOUR SOURCE FOR GATOR SPORTS

]

nior infielder Nic Gauldin that scored junior outfielder/third baseman Chris Schindler from second in the eighth inning. However, the team dropped the next two games the following day as SF State lost 6-5 and 8-1, respectively, in a doubleheader April 3. “Splitting this series was important because in CCAA play we haven’t won a series,” said senior right-handed pitcher Nic Banaugh. “It is never good to lose at home.” The Gators bounced back and responded Sunday by defeating the Coyotes 4-3 in 12 innings thanks to another solid pitching performance, this time from Banaugh. Although he did not get the win, but instead was given a no decision, Banaugh threw 132 pitches and went 11 innings, giving up only one earned run on seven hits while striking out two before coming out in the 12th inning for junior outfielder/pitcher Jason Orchart. “I didn’t think about my pitch count too much,” Banaugh said. “I just went up to do my job and they didn’t hit my pitches.” Banaugh also said that he couldn’t have pitched the way he did without the help of his teammates who made incredible defensive plays throughout the entire game. “That was the best defense we have played all year,” Banaugh said. “Everyone in the infield and in the outfield picked me up.” After making an error in the first inning, which resulted in the Coyotes scoring two runs to open the game, Banaugh settled down once the Gators got on the board in the bottom of the first inning off a fielder’s choice by Orchart and an RBI-single by junior catcher Matt Quintero. Banaugh cruised through the next 10 innings, allowing just one run to junior catcher Eric Dow. Dow crushed a ball up the middle in the top of the fourth inning to bring home junior first baseman Brandon Day from second base, giving the Coyotes a 3-2 lead.

“This game was about Nic,” Cummins said. “He buckled down and gave us a chance to win. He was locked in and rolling.” The Gators’ bats went cold as the team failed to score again until the seventh inning. With the bases loaded, Orchart hit a sacrifice fly into left field, giving senior outfielder Ben Mielke enough time to score from third to make it a 3-3 game in the 10th inning. “Coach is always telling us about the lead-off hitter needing to get to second and eventually home,” said senior catcher Kevin Dultz. “It puts pressure on the other team.” The Gators had a chance to end the game in the bottom of the 11th inning when they again loaded the bases with just one out. But the Coyotes had other things in mind and instead forced Wood to line into an inning-ending double play. This strategy turned out to be the right move and deflated the Gators’ momentum at that time in the game, according to Dultz. “We were a little down when Wood hit a line drive right at senior infielder Erik Ornelas, who then threw Mielke out at second base for a double play,” Dultz said. “But we huddled up and told ourselves that we were going to win this game.” After catching and pitching in Saturday’s doubleheader, Dultz had just one plate appearance in game four of the series. Nevertheless, his pinch-hit at-bat ended up being the biggest play of the series. With two strikes, Dultz hit a floating fly ball to right field that dropped in for a single, bringing home Schindler, who slid head-first and avoided the tag at home from Dow, scoring the game-winning run. “Kevin was struggling coming into this series,” Cummins said. “I felt Kevin just gave us the best chance of winning in that situation.” Dultz’s RBI was his 11th of the season. He said he has experience hitting with runners in scoring position this season. “We’ve let games go by ever since the beginning of the season,” Dultz said. “The season is not over.”

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Baseball 4/8 vs. Cal Poly Pomona 3 p.m. 4/9 vs. Cal Poly Pomona (DH) 11 a.m. 4/10 vs. Cal Poly Pomona 11 a.m. Softball 4/7 at Notre Dame de Namur (DH) 3 p.m. 4/8 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (DH) 1 p.m. 4/9 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (DH) 11 a.m. For more information on game dates, visit www. sfstategators

TOENAIL INFECTION STUDY

Are your toenails thick and discolored? Researchers in the Department of Dermatology at UCSF are doing a research study using an experimental topical medication for fungus infected toenails. Subjects (age 18 and up) who currently have their large toenail(s) infected with fungus are needed. Study related medication, exams, and tests will be provided free of charge. You will be compensated for your time if you qualify. Call Dermatology Research, UCSF at 415-476-7122 or email: CRU@derm.ucsf.edu Find out more about the study and complete the initial screening questions online here:

www.tinyurl.com/ucsftoenail

A&E

4 Wednesday, April 6, 2011 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Music Event: The Dodos Venue: The Fillmore 1805 Geary Blvd. Date: April 7 Time: 8 p.m. Price: $27.50 Age: All Ages

Pageant Event: Miss Blow Up USA Venue: The DNA Lounge 375 Eleventh St. Date: April 8 Time: 8 p.m. Price: $10-$15 Age: 18+

goldengatexpress.org - GOLDEN GATE [X]PRESS

Getting ‘Real’ with making music Students create tunes that promote dance By Chris Ternate cternate@mail.sfsu.edu For the most dedicated artists, the tunes and beats bouncing in their heads can never be harnessed. This love for music can often lead them to live in the studio. For CCSF students Austin Jacobsen and Daniel Gomez, this could not be more true. For them, the trip from the mixer and keyboards to their pillows and sheets is about two feet. Turntables, computer screens and a beat pad are ever present in their bedroom like a third roommate, sprawled across the desk, sitting below sheets of notes taped on the wall. Not too far from them in the living room sit friends and SF State alumni Oliver Escardo and Jordan Spaulding, their manager and agent, respectively. “I’ve been their best friend for nine years,” said Escardo, the group’s manager. “I was there when they bought their first turntables.” It is from this close-knit group of friends that Jacobsen and Gomez were able to form Realboy, an electronic music group. Sophmore students at City College of San Francisco, Gomez is a psychology major currently on leave from school, and Jacobsen is an electrical engineering major. Originally from Los Angeles, they have been friends since kindergarten, and were inspired to create a sound that could bring people back to one of the most important aspects of music: dancing. “With a lot of music, there’s no dancing,” Gomez said. “You go to a

JOHN H. BIRD — [X]PRESS

MELODICA: Austin Jacobsen and Daniel Gomez, band members of Realboy, pose for a photo in their Sunset apartment in San Francisco. John Mayer concert and there’s assigned seats for you to sit in. You should be doing the things music makes you do.” The duo moved from performing

SFSU SPECIAL FREE DELIVERY plus

2 liter soda free with $20 purchase*

415-753-6004 3627 Taraval Street at 46th Ave. Coupon can not be combined. Expires: 5/31/11

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is seeking a part-time student with experience in website design and some familiarity with Wordpress, the software for web design. Responsibilities include helping to design a new website, add new content, and create archives of back issues. The intern should have enough initiative and sufcient experience in web design to be a self-starter. Flexible hours for 5 to 8 hours per week, at $12 per hour. DEADLINE: Applications for this internship are due by April 15. Please contact Norma Saylor in the San Francisco ofce of the American Friends Service Committee.

Phone: 415-565-0201

E-mail: nsaylor@afsc.org

CATHOLIC CAMPUS MINISTRY NEWMAN CLUB St. Thomas More Church Father Labib Kobti, Pastor 1300 Junipero Serra Blvd. San Francisco, CA 94132

(415) 452-9634

www.stmchurch.com/newman email: newman@stmchurch.com Weekly Meeting, For Current Activities: St. Thomas More: Cesar Chavez Student Center: (415) 452-9634 Mondays: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Close to campus! Please call Verbum Dei: (415) 573-9062

shows on the UC Santa Cruz campus to a more fitting music scene in San Francisco. Together, the group of friends formed Our House Records, Realboy’s record label and promoter.

“It’s the embellishment of our ambition and a by-product of our feelings towards something we love,” Escardo said. For Realboy, the line between friend and manager does not exist, nor do they think it should. “They’re the core, its more about trust than anything,” Jacobsen said. “Some guy in a suit does what’s best for him while my friend Oliver wants to make sure his friends are living well.” Despite close friendship, the group still maintains professionalism. “We get a lot done and it’s easy to get them motivated; I just try to help shape their business ethic,” Escardo said. “I believe in them a lot.” The company, which only has Realboy under its banner, organizes events in addition to managing the duo. “With Our House Records, we want to invite people to our house so they can get to know our circle,” Escardo said. This welcoming attitude toward fans is one of the group’s top priorities. In their experience, fans are not shy about contacting the group. “We respond to everyone on Facebook and we answer every question,” Jacobsen said. “So even if it’s someone asking about how we got a certain sound, we don’t want to be separated from our fan base.” As of now, the members of Realboy are happy with the group’s progress. “We’re too young to take ourselves seriously,” Gomez said. “We’re just focused on growing.” Despite a growing fan base, Realboy still appreciates the small instances of recognition. “It’s cool to go to In-N-Out and get noticed and have people say ‘Hey Realboy,’” Gomez said.

Volunteer at New Living Expo. We need students to help with the Green Team Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1. REGISTER TO VOLUNTEER: http://www.newlivingexpo.com

In exchange for your time and energy – you’ll receive a 3-Day general admission pass to attend the Expo, including Exhibits, Panels, Free Lectures and free workshops! Subsequent 4 hour shifts will earn additional General Admission Passes for a friend, or a special event of your choice.

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City

Wednesday, April 6, 2011 5

Upper Fillmore ups the ante on bars, eateries Supervisors repeal a decades-old law By Jennifer Terman jterman@mail.sfsu.edu The jazzy streets of the Fillmore, long filled with retail shops and a dearth of food options, will soon be home to more restaurants and bars that will offer more options to visitors and community members. The Board of Supervisors repealed the zoning laws late last month that limited the number of commercial restaurants in the area since its enactment in 1987, paving the way for an increase in business. “It has to do with the Upper Fillmore,” said AnMarie Rodgers, manager of legislative affairs at the San Francisco Planning Department. “There was a prohibition on new restaurants in the area since the mid-‘80s because people viewed restaurants as a nuisance, which is not the same situation anymore.” The Upper Fillmore runs north and south along Fillmore Street from Jackson to Bush streets and one block west along California and Pine streets. Some restaurant employees in the area are concerned about

new competition, but say that if there are more people visiting and eating in the Fillmore then business shouldn’t be negatively affected. “We don’t know if it’s going to be another Mexican restaurant,” said Antonio Solano, manager of TacoBar on the corner of Fillmore and California streets. “If it’s the same type of restaurant, there is concern. But if there’s a demand for more business, then it shouldn’t be a problem.” Many residents from the surrounding area are receptive to having more food options. “I think it’s a great idea,” said Liz Hutchins, a resident of Pacific Heights, which neighbors the Fillmore. “There’s a nice sprinkling of restaurants, but more would be great as well. We’re always kind of checking out what’s new.” However, Hutchins is concerned that an increase in restaurants could lead to larger crowds and more traffic. “This is such a nice, quiet neighborhood in some ways,” Hutchins said. “More traffic on foot and problems with parking would be my only concern. I love the neighborhood feel of Pac Heights and how it’s not buzzing with cars and people all the time.” The new code change, pro-

posed by District 2 Supervisor Mark Farrell, will accommodate full-service restaurants, large fast food restaurants, small self-service restaurants or self-service specialty food establishments. But there will be qualifications as to what kinds of restaurants can be opened in the area, according to Rodgers. “Generally, chain stores are prohibited and something that has more than 12 establishments are prohibited,” Rodgers said. “All other independent restaurants are allowed.” Rodgers also noted that when the planning department receives applications for new restaurant permits, it takes into consideration hours of operation. The primary goal is for active use of businesses during daytime hours, rather than having late-night establishments. The repeal of the restaurant ban comes on the heels of other measures to increase commercial options in an attempt to revitalize neighborhood economies in the Castro and Noe Valley and along Union Street. While the supervisors have made the decision, it will be roughly another month before any new restaurants will be allowed to open, due to a procedure that allows public comment before any legislation is finalized.

JOHN H. BIRD — [X]PRESS

EMPTY: A recently repealed law may allow for more restaurants in the store-front filled area near Fillmore and Jackson streets.

Opinion

6 Wednesday, April 6, 2011

[X] press

OPENING DAY Violence

The Golden Gate

A PUBLICATION OF SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kelsey Avers - kavers@mail.sfsu.edu OPINION EDITOR Jessica Heller jeheller@mail.sfsu.edu ART DIRECTOR Geena Stellato geena@mail.sfsu.edu SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Daniel Gamberg gamberg@mail.sfsu. edu A&E EDITOR Eric Green egreen@mail.sfsu.edu CAMPUS EDITOR Tom Garcia tlgarcia@mail.sfsu.edu CITY EDITOR Kelly Goff kgoff@mail.sfsu.edu COPY CHIEF Caitlin Olson caitpat@mail.sfsu.edu COPY CHIEF John Blomster blomster@mail.sfsu. edu PHOTO EDITOR Eric Soracco esoracco@mail.sfsu. edu

MANAGING EDITOR Chris Haire - chaire@mail.sfsu.edu

MANAGING EDITOR Audrey Arthur - audreya@mail.sfsu.edu

EDITORIAL Tax extension

Voters deserve voice

alifornia’s higher education is at a crucial juncture. The budget crisis facing the California State University system is well-documented: a potential $500 million cut to its 2011-12 budget, ever-increasing tuition and a total $281 million budget reduction among the 23 campuses if Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed budget is approved. But amid Brown’s austere yet well-balanced budget, there is an opportunity for Californians to stanch the further desecration of the state’s education. That is, if Republicans cooperate. The governor is proposing a five-year extension of several temporary tax increases enacted in 2009. He wants to maintain the 1-cent increase to sales tax, the 0.5 percent increase to vehicle license fees and a 0.25 percent increase in personal income taxes. These taxes individually are barely perceptible; on the whole, in a state with more than 36 million people, they can greatly aid the state in its attempt to dissolve a $26 billion deficit. Unfortunately, Republican lawmakers are again showing their petulance, refusing to even allow

the tax increases to go on the ballot in June unless Brown agrees to a list of 53 demands. Never mind the potential $11 billion in annual revenue that the increase would create. Never mind the $1 billion reduction to the CSU system if not approved. Never mind that 58 percent of voters approve of the extension, according to a March 16 Field Poll. The Republicans are still holding firm. They are showing once again that bipartisanship is only viable to the extent their base allows. Still, Republicans, if not willing to support the increases, should at least support the idea of letting the voters decide. Higher education would benefit from the increases – as would the state in general. After all the students of California have endured, they deserve at least some protection. However, the legislature’s continuing dysfunction is discouraging. It is stalling budget talks and forcing the CSU system and this University (remember the college merger that is on hold) into an unnecessary waiting game. California voters support these measures. They should have a voice. Republicans, quit your obstructionism: This state should function as the direct democracy it is.

AARON TEIXEIRA Investigative Cartoonist

SPORTS EDITOR Alberto Penalva apenalva@mail.sfsu. edu MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Aaron Williams aar0n@mail.sfsu.edu FACULTY ADVISER Rachele Kanigel kanigel@sfsu.edu PHOTO ADVISER Ken Kobre kobre@aol.com MAGAZINE ADVISER Don Menn donmenn@mail.sfsu. edu

ADVERTISING Eva Charles echarles@mail.sfsu. edu PRODUCTION & BUSINESS Barbara Landis ggxads@mail.sfsu.edu Erika Rae Langdon elangdon@mail.sfsu. edu Susanna Riccio susy.r@hotmail.com CIRCULATION Cory Rayden crayden@mail.sfsu.edu I.T. CONSULTANT Arun Unnikrashnan arun@mail.sfsu.edu

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Senseless crime is no reason for fans to retaliate By John Blomster blomster@mail.sfsu.edu

ast Thursday heralded the dawn of the 2011 baseball season and, with it, the reconvening of arguably the most storied and bitter rivalry in professional sports. This year’s first confrontation between the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers, however, was marked more by what happened in Dodger Stadium’s parking lot than on its field. As if to add insult to injury to the first of three losses to the Giants’ arch-rivals in the season-opening four-game series, two Dodgers fans blindsided and savagely beat a Giants fan after the game, hospitalizing him and causing permanent damage to his head. Forty-two-year-old Bryan Stow of Santa Cruz is currently in a medically induced coma and has had part of his skull removed to account for swelling in his brain. The backlash has been significant: The Los Angeles City Council, the Dodger Organization and the Giants, among others, are offering a total of $100,000 in rewards for any information on the attackers, and the Giants are set to dedicate their April 9 home opener to Stow. As one of the worst attacks on a fan in recent history, such violence to a member of the Giants fan base is no doubt inflammatory enough to prompt comparable retaliation the first time the Dodgers and their fans set foot in AT&T Park. It makes sense; loyalty to one’s team is one of the guiding principles in baseball, and retaliation against offending opponents has always been one of the checks and balances among players dating back to the days of Christy Mathewson and Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown, when brawls on and off the field were common and a “proper” lady wouldn’t be seen at a baseball game. It’s the age-old law in baseball: You hit one of our batters, next inning we hit one of yours. But an attack like the one Thursday goes far beyond any mere sports rivalry. Such abhorrent violence has ruined a man’s life, and while it may be natural for fans who genuinely revile all things Dodger blue to want to cause similar pain, further fan attacks will only further defame and denigrate the sport that is such a vital cultural institution. If the World Series championship did nothing else, it enlivened and united fans all over the Bay Area and beyond in unadulterated adulation, realizing lifelong dreams for many while rekindling and creating new loyalties for others. But loyalty to a sports team is not an excuse to send someone to the emergency room, and Giants fans should be wary of sinking to the level of the attackers last week. Further violence and retaliation in any form – much like the Giants’ 1-3 record – is not a start to a season befitting of defending World Champions. It will be astronomically more rewarding to enact payback where it really counts: on the diamond.

CRISIS Nature over man

Arrogance, technology make world vulnerable to elements By Christine Tjandra ctjandra@mail.sfsu.edu Japan is not a novice when dealing with earthquakes. The country is so well-prepared in case one strikes that even elementary students are knowledgeable about emergency procedures. But this recent occurrence is different. The 9.0-magnitude earthquake, the largest recorded in Japan, triggered a tsunami, a number of smaller earthquakes – and a partial meltdown of Fukushima nuclear plant. As if that weren’t enough, now Japan has to deal with an enemy that cannot be touched, smelled or heard. It spreads almost undetected and uncontained. The enemy is called radia-

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tion, and it has found its way into our 21st century vocabulary. Undeniably, Japan is one of the world’s foremost technological powerhouses. It is the world’s second largest producer of automobiles, Asia’s leading country in Nobel Prize recipients in science, and is home to the Shinkansen train, noted as one of the world’s fastest. Despite the long list of achievements in the technological department, Japan was slow to respond to the Fukushima plant meltdown. The country has tried every possible way to contain the risk of radiation to avoid a disaster similar to Chernobyl. Nevertheless, the process is still ongoing and success is still in doubt. Radiation is a new enemy that was

invented by humans. It is the product of ignorance. It is the consequence of our wasteful lifestyle and our high demand for energy. And maybe the damage to the reactor happened because there is an ounce of arrogance in each of us. There exists a belief that men have conquered nature. The world never questioned the risk of building nuclear reactors in a country that reports 1,000-1,500 earthquakes each year because many thought Japan would be equipped to handle a strong earthquake. Besides, Japan has a long history of dealing with frequent earthquakes, and it has always come out just fine. This confidence led the country to build more nuclear plants to generate

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the energy it needed to fuel its economy and industry. Japan has a total of 55 nuclear reactors, with several other nuclear power plants in the works. How could a country so prone to earthquakes have so many nuclear reactors? It was necessary. It was necessary, that is it. Unfortunately, we cannot fully prepare for a nuclear meltdown, at least not now. Nuclear energy is necessary to accommodate our wasteful lifestyle, so it is us that caused the problem. However, we must remember that when we think our technology is one step ahead of nature, nature can easily prove us wrong.

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HEROES: Comic favorites storm the stage at Moscone continued from Page 1 lighting important figures and companies that help define the comic book scene. These panels included everything from “Life after trauma: To Be a Superhero or a Supervillain,” which featured a psychiatrist discussing the affects of post-traumatic stress disorder on the development of heroes and villains, to “Webcomics: New Horizon,” which discussed the affects of web comics on the industry. Dan Dedio, co-publisher of DC Comics since February 2010, said in a DC Comics panel that he feels as though the panels were meant to be an interaction between publishers and fans. “We want to hear from you,” Dedio said. “We want to know what you like and don’t like, because it’s all about getting you excited about comics.” During the panels, fans continually asked publishers about comics and books that were cancelled in 2010, but Dedio said it was a waste of energy to focus on what is gone. “What I tell all fans that I talk to, because this is how I used to read comics, is just enjoy the comic books that are still around,” Dedio said to the crowd. “Enjoy what you have.” The convention was also home to many other famous figures such as Joe Quesada, chief creative officer of Marvel Entertainment, and Robert Kirkman, writer of the Walking Dead comic book and television series. The main exhibition hall was a site to behold, with superheroes, supervillains and other assorted comic book and video game characters rushing from booth to booth to snag quality comic books and merchandise. The hall included more than 100 booths selling graphic novels, DVDs, original art, clothing and even plush toys in the shape of

human organs. “The dealer’s room most definitely would be my favorite thing at the convention,” Mears said. “That would be because of the wide choice of nerd-dom that I’m given to choose from.” The exhibition hall was also center stage for famed personalities including the original Incredible Hulk Lou Ferrigno, Peter Matthew, the voice of Chewbacca in several projects, and Halloween icon and TV personality Elvira. However, the revelry was not only reserved for the regular conference attendees, but also the exhibitors and dealers who contributed to the creative energy that flowed through the Moscone Center. “I come to all of these things and noticed there was a lack of upper-class steampunk gear, and now here we are,” said Mikie Graham, a representative for Five and Diamond, a boutique for alternative cultures. “These conventions are nice because of hanging with all my friends and chilling while in my element.” WonderCon – the creation of Bay Area retailers and comic fans in the late 1980s – also celebrated its 25th anniversary. The convention took place in Oakland for 16 years until Comic-Con took control in 2002 and had the event moved to the Moscone Center. The celebrities, panels and the gathering of fellow comicobsessed fans are some of the favored aspects of WonderCon. When a Boba Fett-Wolverine mixture can pose for a picture with a stormtrooper, a werewolf and the Flash, a community is naturally created. “This year’s become a big social gathering for all of us fans,” said Roxanna Meta who proudly donned the shining costume of the original Aquaman. “I’m just finding people that I know all over the place.”

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SAVAGE: ‘It Gets Better’ shows light to students continued from Page 1 a Tehachapi, Calif., student who hanged himself last year after years of being bullied because of his sexuality, prompted him to create the project. Walsh’s death led to the introduction of Assembly Bill 9 in the California State Legislature. AB 9, also known as “Seth’s Law,” is an anti-bullying measure designed to create a safe school environment for all students, especially LGBT youth. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano introduced the bill Dec. 6, and after being amended March 21, it has now been re-referred to committee. Like those he hopes to reach through his project, Savage’s sexual orientation forced him to deal with issues growing up. “I was bullied when people perceived me to be gay,” said Savage, who came out when he was 13 years old. “My parents were both involved in the church and it took a while for them to fully accept who I was.” Savage said that the problem is not confined to the schoolyard and that LGBT-related bullying can be the result of parental influence. “Does it get easier for these kids?” Savage asked. “No. But you can handle anything this messed up world throws at you.” Various celebrities and media outlets throughout the world

have praised Savage’s concept. “We want to bring down the old order,” Savage said. “We’re going to speak to (LGBT youth) whether their parents want it or not.” Savage, who also writes the syndicated newspaper column “Savage Love,” has generated controversy in the past for his comments about public figures who have condemned homosexuality – such as Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum – yet he is continuing on his quest to make homosexuality more socially acceptable. John Wranovics, 19, an English major and LGBT ally but said he had friends who came out to him in high school and is a Savage fan. “I find his campaign fascinating and inspirational,” Wranovics said. “When my friends came out, I found it easy to accept. What (Savage is) doing now is incredible.” The book went on sale at the SF State bookstore March 22 and has sold fairly well, according to Ken White, manager of the SF State Bookstore General Books Department. “Getting this message out in books and YouTube, in ways that people who are not in supportive communities can access, represents such a huge, amazing step,” White said. All proceeds from the book go to LGBT youth charities.

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Come hear top experts in the state of California discuss why CSU and California public education in general are in a state of nancial crisis, whose interests are at stake, the role of labor unions in defending public education and democracy, and what we can do to defend SFSU and public education in general. join us in this rare opportunity to listen, ask questions, and make comments. Our panelists include: Sylvia, Economic Policy Institute and Fred Glass, Communications Director, California Federation of Teachers

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