Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Volume LXXVII, Number 91
Giselle Ayala
Brandon Huang
Brett Olson
Jacob Van Staaveren
July 12, 1994 - April 5, 2013
Feb. 4, 1993 - Feb. 10, 2013
Dec. 24, 1991 - Sept. 2, 2012
Dec. 16, 1989 - Aug. 30, 2012
As Cal Poly mourns the loss of another student, the community is faced with a new question: How to cope in the face of
‘MANY TRAGEDIES’ ARYN SANDERSON
asanderson@mustangdaily.net
AUG. 29, 2012
Physics senior Jacob Van Staavern collides with a truck while skateboarding in San Luis Obispo.
AUGUST
THE YEAR IN REVERSE
isn’t one enormous tragedy, it’s many enormous tragedies,” Morrow said. “Each one is a huge loss, so multiplying that by the amount of students affected just this year is really tragic.” Morrow understands the impact of losing members of the Cal Poly community. The death of Huang in February drove her to seek counseling. “Can I tell you a secret? I’m proud of it,” Morrow said. “I have no regrets, and I have no shame. It was exactly what I needed then. I told President Armstrong the next day, and he highfived me and told me that’s The Mustang Way.” The Mustang Way began in athletics and was quickly accepted by the Cal Poly student body. The initiative explains 12 standards Mustangs should hold themselves to, including leading by example and accepting responsibility.
APRIL 15, 2013
APRIL 10, 2013
Brandon Huang’s toxicology report shows he had alcohol in his system, but cause of death is still unknown.
APRIL 9, 2013
AUG. 30, 2012
Van Staavern is pronounced dead at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center from fatal injuries.
see DEATHS, pg. 2
SEPT. 2, 2012
Theatre arts sophomore Brett Olson goes missing while at the annual Labor Day Float in Chico.
MARCH
Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office says Ayala’s injuries are consistent with a fall from a cliff.
APRIL 6, 2013
Ayala’s body is found in the surf by a jogger. Cal Poly is alerted once the body is identified.
Help is here
APRIL 5, 2013
While in Santa Barbara for Deltopia, sociology freshman Giselle Ayala goes missing.
FEB. 13, 2013
A candlelight vigil for biological sciences sophomore Huang is held in the University Union Plaza.
FEB. 10, 2013
NHA HA/MUSTANG DAILY
Huang is pronounced dead at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center shortly after arriving. Cause of death is not released.
LIGHT A CANDLE: The Cal Pol community has seen four memorials for deceased students this year, beginning with a memorial for theatre arts sophomore Brett Olson in early September.
SEPT. 9, 2012
After hundreds comb the area, Olson’s body is found by search and rescue teams.
SEPTEMBER
SPORTS, pg. 8 Granger anchors Cal Poly’s starting pitchers
SEPT. 17, 2012
Students and faculty gather for Olson’s candlelight vigil. Speakers include friends of the deceased student.
SEPT. 25, 2012
Cal Poly holds a belated memorial for Jacob Van Staavern.
OCTOBER
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FEB. 9, 2013
OCT. 2, 2012
Toxicology reports reveal Brett Olson had alcohol and cocaine in his system. Cause of death is listed as drowning.
University police respond to call for medical aid in Poly Canyon Village, where police found an unresponsive student — later revealed to be Brandon Huang.
NOVEMBER
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FEBRUARY
The Mustang Way also says Mustangs belong to “one community.” Because of this interconnectedness and the intimacy of the Cal Poly community, each death’s impact is amplified, Morrow said. In the wake of each death, ASI, Cal Poly administration and Counseling Services worked together to address the far-reaching impacts of losing an integrated community member. The challenge became addressing all affected community members to publicize available help, Morrow said. At least 50 percent of the students Morrow talked with did not have a direct relationship with the deceased students, but nonetheless were shaken, she said. “Counseling isn’t just available for
APRIL
The Cal Poly community gathers for Giselle Ayala’s memorial. Speakers include several of Ayala’s local friends and family.
JANUARY
S
ociology freshman Giselle Ayala’s death two weeks ago marks the most student deaths at Cal Poly in a fiscal year in the past six years. Ayala became the fifth student death of the 2012–13 fiscal year, which runs from July 1 to June 30, when she allegedly fell from a cliff at Deltopia, an annual spring break party in Santa Barbara. In September, physics senior Jacob Van Staaveren died in a skateboarding accident. Two weeks later, theatre arts sophomore Brett Olson died at the annual Labor Day Float in Chico. An undisclosed student committed suicide off campus in February and biological sciences sophomore Brandon Huang died the same month of undetermined causes. This is the most student deaths since the 2006-07 fiscal year, when there were eight student deaths, and in 2003-04, where there were 14. These years had a high number of auto accidents, according to Vice President for Student Affairs Keith Humphrey, who oversees programs including University Housing and Student Life and Leadership. Humphrey is no stranger to dealing with student deaths, though. As Dean of Students at the University of Arizona, he saw between 50 to 75 students die in a span of three to four years, he said (by comparison, University of Arizona has approximately 40,000 undergraduate students, whereas Cal Poly has approximately 19,000). The number of deaths at Cal Poly this year did, however, shock Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) President Katie Morrow. “I think it’s really easy to say, ‘Oh my gosh, this is so many student deaths,’ but I keep reminding myself that this
DECEMBER
INDEX
Opinions/Editorial..............6 News.............................1-3 ClassifiedsComics.............7 Arts...............................4-5 Sports.................................8
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MDnews 2
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Suspect in campus attack unlikely to be apprehended soon, UPD says
MUSTANG DAILY FILE PHOTO
University police sent out a campus alert on Monday night, warning of an alleged assault and battery on an unnamed female near Sequoia Hall earlier that night. The suspect is described as a white, college-aged male in a gray hoodie. MUSTANG DAILY STAFF REPORT
news@mustangdaily.net
The victim of an alleged attack on campus Monday night is choosing not to speak with police, according to University Police Department (UPD) Chief George Hughes, making it “very unlikely” officers will be able to identify a suspect. A female student was walking alone on North Perimeter Road near Grand Avenue when the attack occurred just before 9 p.m., Hughes said Tuesday. According to a crime report issued Monday night, a college-aged male pulled her from behind into a group of bushes. She was able to fight the man and escape. Cal Poly’s campus received a PolyAlert emergency text message and email alert near midnight, more than an hour after
DEATHS continued from page 1
friends, it’s for all of us,” she
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police learned about the incident. Hughes said he wanted to verify the report as best as possible before sending out the alert. “The reason there was a delay in this was because we were trying to validate the complaint,” he said. “We were trying to make sure it was a credible threat to the campus community. That’s one of our responsibilities.” UPD learned about the attack from one of the victim’s friends. Hughes said it will be more difficult for his officers to find the man responsible for the attack, partly because of the lack of information provided by the victim. If police do find him, Hughes said the victim would need to come forward before charges could be filed. The alleged attacker was last seen running away from the victim near Sequoia Hall, Hughes said. He is not sure if said. “All of these emotions are so valid, and everyone deserves to get help.” Director of Health and Counseling Services Martin Bragg directly oversees Counseling Services’ response to student deaths. The group does not generally see a huge influx of people after student deaths, though, he said. If the deceased student lived in a residence hall, Counseling Services works with University Housing, such as resident advisers and community advisers directly, to find the best way to offer support, Bragg said. “People react to death in different ways,” Bragg said. “There is the person who gets very tearful and outwardly emotional, but almost in a way more concerning is the person who isn’t. When I go into the residence halls and speak with them, if they’re just sitting there, and I’ve never met them before, I wouldn’t know if that’s out of character, but a person who knows them well like their RA can tell the difference.” After Huang’s death, Counseling Services went to Poly Canyon Village, and Counseling Services went directly to Yosemite Hall, where Ayala lived, after news of her death spread. Bragg went to Ayala’s floor to offer counseling services to
It’s a traumatic event this person has just gone through and sometimes people don’t want to talk to the police. GEORGE HUGHES UNIVERSITY POLICE DEPARTMENT CHIEF
the individual represents an ongoing threat to the Cal Poly campus, but noted university police have not received any similar reports recently. “It’s a traumatic event this person has just gone through and sometimes people don’t want to talk to the police,” he said. “I support whatever a victim wants to do, as long as they talk to someone.” Cal Poly’s University Housing staff is offering support to the victim, Hughes said.
Students often travel the area where the attack allegedly occurred, Hughes said. Though there are no cameras there, the police chief said he was hopeful someone saw something and will tell police. The crime alert posted Monday night advises students to travel in well-lit areas in groups and to report suspicious activity to university police.
those who lived in close proximity, while Bruce Meyer, head of counseling services, was available for counseling in the main lounge. Bragg and Meyer spoke to approximately six or seven affected individuals in Yosemite Hall that day, Bragg said. Counseling Services saw two to three more students come in to talk about Ayala’s death the following Monday and three to four more throughout the week. “Right after something like this happens, some people are disoriented almost,” he said. “It’s hard to think, it’s hard to eat, but one thing that’s very clear is that the memorial is important for them to begin to remember their friends, to laugh about the good times and begin to deal with the loss.” There are typically two to three counselors at the memorials in case anyone needs extra attention, Bragg said. Ayala’s memorial was originally scheduled for April 12, but students and staff from the Department of Student Affairs changed the memorial date to April 15 to allow Ayala’s family and friends time to grieve, per their request, Morrow said.
ing supported and taken care of,” Morrow said. “If there’s anything I can help do to support the students and carry on these memories, I’m open to it.” After Carson Starkey died from alcohol poisoning in 2008 in connection with a hazing incident, Starkey’s parents created Aware Awake Alive, a non-profit organization focused on alcohol awareness. There are also bike racks on campus to honor Starkey’s memory at the request of his parents, Morrow said. Morrow is in close contact with the families of the deceased, though no requests have been made for further memorials, education efforts or policy change, she said. The only related policy change in the works is that ASI is creating a consistent policy for flying flags at half-mast for student memorials. At the vigils for the deceased so far, all flags were flown at half-mast, Morrow said. But ASI wants to make sure there is a formal regulation in place, so that whether or not the flag is lowered does not change as student representatives come and go. With five deaths so far this fiscal year, and more than three months to go until the year’s closed, the long-term impact on the campus community has yet to be seen.
Looking forward “It really matters to me that we’re being respectful of the family, and the friends are be-
Sean McMinn contributed to this report.
MDnews 3
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Boston looks for answers
MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE
SHASHANK BENGALI MICHAEL MUSKAL Tribune Washington Bureau
This jittery city awoke Tuesday to heightened security after two bomb blasts shattered the finish of its famed marathon, killed at least three people, wounded scores more and left everyone wondering who was behind the latest act of terror to cast a pall on the nation. More than 400 members of the National Guard patrolled downtown, securing the scene. The adjacent blocks around famed Copley Square were blocked off with metal barricades and police tape, and many streets were shut down to most traffic. Police and uniformed soldiers were allowing guests at nearby hotels — some still in marathon gear — to enter the restricted zone to retrieve their belongings from their rooms. Canine units were in the area. “Everyone should expect continued heightened police presence, and everyone should
continue personally to be vigilant,” Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said at a televised news conference with top officials Tuesday. “The investigation continues and until it is done, all of those in law enforcement represented by the leaders here will be present in force in the area around the blast and throughout the city.” Patrick said no unexploded bombs were found at the Boston Marathon, contradicting earlier reports. Only the two bombs that exploded were found, he said. “Yesterday, this terrorist brought to the city of Boston, tragedy,” Mayor Thomas Menino said and went on to praise first responders. An 8-year-old child was among the dead, and his mother and sister were among the 176 people who were injured when the explosions went off, within seconds of each other and less than 100 yards apart. At least 17 were listed in critical condition, officials said on Tuesday and were being treat-
ed at nine area hospitals. The blasts were near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, the traditional 26.2-mile race that is a feature of the festivities surrounding Patriots Day, a state holiday that commemorates the first battles of the American Revolution. Runners were hurled to the ground, windows were shattered in the heart of an area rich with famed buildings. Plumes of smoke rose over spectators as Boylston Street was turned into a zone of chaos. “This was a very powerful blast. There were serious, serious injuries,” Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis said. “This cowardly act will not be taken in stride. We will turn every rock over to find the people who are responsible for this.” President Barack Obama said Tuesday the bombings were being investigated as an act of terrorism and insisted that the country will not bow to such violence. “This was a heinous and cowardly act and given what we now know about what took
place, the FBI is investigating it as an act of terrorism,” Obama said in televised comments from the White House. “Any time bombs are used to target innocent civilians, it is an act of terror. “What we don’t yet know, however, is who carried out this attack or why,” the president said, pledging to use all resources to find those responsible. “We will find whoever harmed our citizens and we will bring them to justice,” he insisted. “We also know this,” Obama said. “The American people refuse to be terrorized.” In the wake of the attack, security was increased around the country. Police eyed commuters in subways, cordons of security around landmarks were extended and everyone was urged to report suspicious packages and people. With officials calling it an act of terrorism, it remained unclear whether it was international or domestically inspired. In Washington, a U.S. government official said Tuesday
Earthquake rocks Middle East MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE A powerful earthquake struck Iran on Tuesday, leaving scores of people dead and causing tremors across Saudi Arabia, other parts of the Gulf region and South Asia. Iranian media said the earthquake f lattened homes and offices near Iran’s border with Pakistan, killing at least 40 people in the sparsely populated region. Iran’s Red Crescent said it was facing a “complicated emergency situation” in the area with villages scattered over desolate hills and valleys. The semiofficial ISNA news agency and others described the quake, measured at least magnitude 7.7, as the strongest quake in more than 50 years. Iran’s seismological center said the earthquake was centered near Saravan, a sparsely populated area about 48 kilometers (26 miles) from the Pakistani border. The US Geological Survey put the preliminary magnitude at 7.8 and at a shallow depth of 15.2 kilometers (nine miles). The epicenter was located 201 km (125 miles) southeast of the Iranian city of Zahedan and 250 km northwest of Turbat in Pakistan, USGS said. The quake was felt as far away as Riyadh, Alkhobar, Dubai and Bahrain in the Gulf region and India’s capital New Delhi. A resident in Alkhobar told Arab News by SMS that the tremor was quite strong in the Eastern Province. Across the Gulf, high-rise buildings swayed and officials ordered evacuations as a temporary precaution, said an Associated Press re-
port. Dubai has the world’s tallest tower, the 828-meter (2,717-foot) Burj Khalifa. Strong tremors also shook tall buildings in India’s capital New Delhi and Pakistan’s largest city of Karachi, sending people running into the streets, Reuters quoted witnesses saying. A resident in the quake zone, Manouchehr Karimi, told The Associated Press by phone that “the quake period was long” and occurred “when many people were at
home to take a midday nap.” Pakistani news channels showed buildings shaking in the southern city of Karachi, where people in panic came out from offices and homes. There was no immediate word on any damage and people were seen standing outside their homes and offices even minutes after the quack rattled various parts of the country. In a message posted on Twitter, British Foreign Secretary William Hague sent condo-
lences to families of those lost in the Iran earthquake. Tuesday’s quake was the second deadly one to hit Iran in less than a week after a magnitude 6.1 temblor struck near Bushehr, killing at least 37 people and raising calls for greater international safety inspectors at Iran’s lone nuclear reactor nearby. In 2003, some 26,000 people were killed by a magnitude 6.6 quake that f lattened the historic southeastern Iranian city of Bam.
that there had been no intelligence about a possible attack in Boston during the weeks leading up to the bombing — a position that officials have maintained since the blast. “I received two top secret briefings last week on the current threat levels in the United States, and there was no evidence of this at all,” Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” Until this year, King was chair of the House Homeland Security Committee and is now on the Intelligence Committee. There was “no intelligence that seemed to be out there. Now people will look back and see if something was missed. I don’t know if there was or not,” he said. “This should be a wake-up call to everyone, that the war against terrorism is far from over.” The FBI is the lead agency on the investigation of the blasts. There have been no claims of responsibility, but at least one foreign group, the Pakistani Taliban, which has threatened
attacks in the United States because of Washington’s support for the Pakistani government, on Tuesday denied any role in the bombings. The FBI did serve a warrant late Monday and searched an apartment in the Boston suburb of Revere. Some investigators were seen leaving the house early Tuesday carrying brown paper bags, plastic trash bags and a duffel bag. Officials have described the explosives as relatively simple and not the kind of plastic explosive material normally associated with foreign terrorists. At the Tuesday news conference, FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard DesLauriers said officials are following a number of leads, but gave no details. ATF agent Gene Marquez said authorities are seeking amateur video and photographs to help their probe. DesLauriers would not discuss whether any suspects were in custody, but acknowledged that authorities were interviewing people.
MDarts 4
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Two bands that will rock SLO ALLISON MONTROY
amontroy@mustangdaily.net
On one hand, the twangy, confessional rock songs of an indie-rock mainstay. On the other, four confessed bowlpackers’ beach-ready odes to all things chill. For those interested in any of the above shenanigans, two upcoming San Luis Obispo performances should be of note. The Expendables to perform back-to-back shows at SLO Brew Members of The Expendables, a laid-back, reggaerock group from Santa Cruz, Calif., are bringing chill vibes and self-termed “California reggae” to SLO Brewing Co. Thursday and Friday. The Expendables vocalist and guitarist Geoff Weers said the band will be playing a lot of its popular songs, such as “Bowl for Two,” “Down Down Down” and “Sacrifice,” but will also be trying out a number of new tunes. “The crowd always likes ‘Bowl for Two,’ especially in SLO town, when it’s extra smokey in the room,” Weers said. “But what always makes me excited is playing the new material.” The group, which hopes to
The crowd always likes ‘Bowl for Two,’ especially in SLO town, when it’s extra smokey in the room. GEOFF WEERS THE EXPENDABLES VOCALIST/GUITARIST
release a new album “as early as possible” in 2014, has been playing in San Luis Obispo at least twice a year for the past decade, Weers said. “It feels like a hundred times,” Weer said. “SLO was one of the first towns we played in outside of Santa Cruz.” Boo Boo Records manager Frank Hayes said because The Expendables shows in San Luis Obispo tend to sell out, the band likes to play two shows when it performs here. “Every time they come to town they usually sell out, so they’ve done this thing where they do two back-to-back shows,” Hayes said. “Plus, you know, who wouldn’t want to stay in San Luis Obispo two extra nights?” Weer echoed Hayes’ sentiment. “SLO Brew is super fun and we always have a good time, so why
not do two shows?” he said. Hayes said this week’s shows are not currently sold out, but will both be “a pretty full house.” Tickets are on sale for $23 at Boo Boo Records. The shows start at 7 p.m. on Thursday and 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Modest Mouse takes a Coachella break for soldout concert in SLO
Indie-rock group Modest Mouse, which performed at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 12, will perform in San Luis Obispo on Wednesday.
Missed Modest Mouse at Coachella this past weekend? The band will be taking a break from the desert to perform a sold-out show tonight at the Alex Madonna Expo Center in San Luis Obispo before heading back down to Indio for Coachella Weekend Two. Modest Mouse has been on graduate student Collin
MacGregor’s playlist since he was in high school, but tonight will be his first time seeing the band perform live. “I’m super stoked,” he said. “And just excited to see them live and up close.” MacGregor said he hopes to hear Modest Mouse play its 2005 Grammy-nominated single, “Float On.”
MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE
“I really like their style of music, there’s not many groups out there like them,” MacGregor said. Tickets for the show sold out within five days, Hayes said. After the Postal Service concert sold out in less than a day, Hayes said the store wanted to “take more caution, just so if it sold out really fast we had
some tickets in stock.” Boo Boo Records stocked up on more Modest Mouse tickets than the store usually acquires for similar shows. “It was just kind of a way to take care of the local kids,” Hayes said. “For people who live in the area to not be denied a good show.” Doors open at 7 p.m.
REQUIRED VIEWING Humanities and LAES bring ‘must-see’ films to campus KASSI LUJA
temporary films including ‘Pulp Fiction.’” The series will end with a showing of Quentin Tarantino’s crime film, “Pulp Fiction” on The Cal Poly community now has the oppor- May 29. tunity to embark on a cinematic adventure Though forestry and natural resources jueach Wednesday night this quarter, thanks to nior Kim Zetterlund said she hasn’t heard of the humanities and liberal arts and engineer- the film series, she has seen Tarantino’s welling studies (LAES) departments. The two re- recognized motion picture. cently teamed up to put on a “must-see film” “(‘Pulp Fiction’) is definitely entertaining if series, highlighting classic motion pictures you like movies like that,” Zetterlund said. and various narrative film practices. The Some may find Tarantino’s film “funny,” she Expressive Technology Studios group is also said, but she doesn’t deny the fact that the sponsoring the series. movie has its gruesome moments. Every Wednesday at 7 p.m., a film deemed Before each screening, Luber, Gillette or essential by theatre and media studies lec- Phelan introduce the film, providing context turer Steve Luber, liberal arts and engineer- to those in attendance. ing studies program director David Gillette “The idea is to get them introduced to some and humanities and kinesiology lecturer of these directors, some of these actors, so Jack Phelan will be screened in the LAES lab, hopefully they’ll go back and find out more building 4, room 105. about (them),” Gillette said. “Ever since we started the This interest in film is what humanities program, this Gillette, Luber and Phelmedia arts (and techan hope to see grow. nologies) minor, a “I hope (students) lot of students get out of it exactly (are) interested what they’ve been in film and asking for, which unfortunately, is just a better because there background in are so many film history, a things we better apprecianeed to covtion for seeing er in media films,” Luber studies, film said. is a pretty miOne of the nor (portion) things people of (a) much struggle with is livlarger field,” Luing in a time where ber said. “We asked students have streaming the students what services such as Netflix and MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE they would be most inHulu, Luber said. Many of the terested in and the answer was films in the series, Luber said, are not commonly, ‘What are the films we have available on streaming services. to see as people who love film?’” “You can’t get (this kind of movie experiLuber, Gillette and Phelan originally came ence) sitting in front of the computer or even up with a list of movies individually and in front of a nice TV,” Luber said. “These films then collaborated to determine the films that were meant to be enjoyed on a very big screen.” would be in the series. And a top-notch movie experience is what “We went back and forth, (there was a) little viewers will get. disagreement here and there,” Luber said. “It “The sound in (the LAES lab) is really good; was great.” it’s like theater-quality sound,” Gillette said. The trio tried to incorporate a wide variety of An informal discussion follows each screengenres in the film series, with the oldest film in ing, providing viewers the opportunity to conthe series, Sergei Eisenstein’s silent film “Bat- verse about the film and share some insight. tleship Potemkin,” dating back to 1925. The screenings are open to students, faculty “(The series) provides a venue for students and and staff at no cost. Free movie snacks and faculty to get together, spark a discussion, enjoy water bottles will also be provided. film, put it in perspective with what we discuss The next film screening on Wednesday will and explore in the classroom and in the field,” be “Touch of Evil” directed by Orson Welles, Phelan said. “Luber put together (nine) great, with an introduction by Phelan. classic films that really cover kind of the history “It’s just a great opportunity,” Phelan said. “I and I would say groundbreaking filmmakers of hope the reasons the films have made it onto the last century, from silence to the most con- the list will be conveyed to the students.” kassiluja.md@gmail.com
MDarts 5
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Spicy Vegetables The sex talk you need, the way you want it Bland, raw broccoli offends me. From its texture to its smell and its plain, dirt taste. But we’d all rather eat our vegetables than have to listen to a badgering doctor or nutritionist explain that we’ve been remiss and now are stranded in a nutritional desert. The same process applies to sex talk. If you are a member of the sexual community, but refuse to participate in either private or public conversations about sex, then you simply shouldn’t be having sex. Fleeing from the truth about your sex life and the hard-hitting issues surrounding sex in our society — better yet, the Cal Poly community — is a form of sexual negligence. And sexual dysfunction is right around the corner of this denial. You could say sex talk is akin to eating your vegetables — spicy vegetables. I’m all about being appropriate, when it’s necessary. This column is not politically correct. Political correctness is another word for irresponsible silence. Political correctness will never find a home among words such as labia and scrotum. But aren’t you thankful I didn’t say vaginal fisting? Political correctness suffices when you need not anger somebody, but that is almost the last priority when writing a column. Sex talk brings up a lot of emotions (as I’m sure a few of you are experiencing right now) and is clearly controversial. So, I’m going to tackle this the best way I know how: head-on. Sex is a human instinct. I’m a product of it and you’re a product of it. Therefore, I’m just a normal woman speaking frankly about normal things. Sex: a normal thing I normally despise redundancy in all arenas of journalism, but this is a relevant exception. Sex is taboo in our society because of the fact that it is a very private thing, can be surrounded
by strong religious beliefs and, some psychologists believe, that its primal factor reminds us of how fragile we are. Often just the mere mention of sex causes people to uncomfortably wriggle and shift in their seats. Despite this taboo, we live in a society that is very sexually explicit. Just turn on the radio or MTV. Every day, people are exposed to sexual language and images. The juxtaposition of the stringent rules regarding sex and the public mass media sends mixed messages to our society and leads to social awkwardness. We’ve socially crippled ourselves from being comfortable enough to have a frank conversation about sex. But some of us are addicted to watching it play out on the television or reading about it in books such as “Fifty Shades of Grey.” The food equivalent to this is something like a donut. It’s full of empty calories, which is fine once in a while, but it won’t sustain you. People are flooded with sex from the media, but their minds and bodies are starving for proper sexual education. Not anymore — at least not on this campus. Is sex talk worse than violence? Ever heard of the phrase “If it bleeds it leads?” I find it fascinating that journalists sensationalize violence. But there seems to be an unspoken consensus that it is extraordinarily more shocking to talk about consensual sex than to describe how someone was murdered or raped. An example right off the top of my head is the case of Dystiny Myers. Now, I’m not saying sex should be frivolously and boisterously discussed anytime one pleases. There’s a time and place for everything. Nearly everyone who picks up this paper or clicks on the link to read this column has had sex or will have sex in
goDEEP
Julianne Roth is a journalism senior and Mustang Daily sex columnist.
their lifetime, yet its discussion is faced with incredible controversy. Sex taboos are fairly normal. They aren’t right, but they’re definitely widespread. Associate anthropology professor Stacey Rucas was able to shed a little light on the topic. “Sex taboos are common to cultures everywhere. Anthropologists have discovered that humans the world over tend to deeply obscure their most basic and animalistic instincts, such as sex and death, with overt symbolism, ritual and meaning,” she beautifully stated. This time, you asked for it Cal Poly students were anonymously surveyed by a marketing class last quarter about “what type of content (they) want to see in the Mustang Daily,” according to business administration senior Katie Russ, who is also the promotions director for Mustang Daily. Sixty percent of the students specified they were interested in a return of the sex column in the free response section of the survey. That being said, this is a college sex column, written by a college student, for fellow college students. It is not to be confused with professional medical advice or written pornography — it is more like the love child of both. Originally, this column was going to be about having sex in public, but we’re saving that one for later. Thankfully, anticipation can make the experience even more enjoyable. I thought I would bend over a little bit to the colorful critiques of this column and explain why there is a need for more sex talk on our campus. Perhaps I should have used the opportunity to introduce myself in my first column instead of jumping right into the topic. I assumed it would be more interesting for people to read about sex
than to do a kindergarten-type introduction along the lines of, “Hi, my name is Sally Sue and here’s a little about myself ...” Oh, excuse me — I just fell asleep. Unfortunately, juiciness is not in abundance this week. Although contrition is also absent from this article, I wanted to introduce you to the girl who gets your panties in a twist each week. This is not an opportunity for me to fulfill my allotted word count with my personal sexual experiences. However, I do intend to make these pieces fun — to spice up your vegetables, if you will. My aim is to promote a positive sex life for every person who stumbles upon this column. And most importantly, I’m here to offer you part of your healthy dose of spicy veggies. Feel free to email me or comment online with future column topics and ideas.
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MD op/ed 6
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
MUSTANG DAILY
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Wednesday, April 17, 2013 Volume LXXVII, Number 91 ©2013 Mustang Daily “NO MORE NEWS.”
MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE
Emergency workers respond near the finish line at the Boston Marathon Monday, where twin bomb explosions killed three and injured more than a hundred more in what the White House called “an act of terror.” At least one Cal Poly student and one professor were at the race Monday. The Associated Press reported Tuesday an official identified the explosives as pressure cooker bombs, which are often used in Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. GREG COTE
The Miami Herald
The heartache’s name might be terrorism, an evil plot of many, or the heartache might spring from a single deranged mind at work in a movie theater, or in an elementary school. The heartache might claim thousands of innocent lives or it might claim dozens or it might claim two, but, no matter the particulars, here we were once more on Monday, America, doing what we do: Dealing with it. Shaking heads and wiping tears. Dealing with it. One hand covering our mouths in shock, the other making a fist in outrage. Dealing with it. Trying to make sense of what is senseless. Again. This time it revolved around sports, ostensibly, although, of course, it didn’t. The Boston Marathon was the target, but the real target was an American institution. The real target was our shared peace of mind, our sense of security.
The Boston Bruins postponed Monday night’s home game out of respect for the tragedy’s victims. This story wasn’t about sports, though, any more than Newtown was about schools. This is part of the American story now and will continue to be. It is about vigilance, and resolve. It is about getting back up, always. The heartache might be orchestrated and come from continents away. It might be random and come from up the street. The blood runs the same. This time, two bombs exploded near the finish line, probably sounding for just an instant like the fireworks that might celebrate something. But this awful noise killed at least three people and injured many more. This awful noise severed limbs, according to the terrible reports. People screamed. Blood stained the pavement. We saw footage of people screaming and running. Chaos. We saw first responders going to work. Patricia Soden, 51, of Hollywood, Fla., had finished
the race just before the first explosion. She and her husband Bert, who also competed, are both OK. “All of a sudden there was this horrendous explosion. My heart stopped,” she told The Miami Herald. “Terrifying.” Kristen Craig, the twin sister of Miami Heat assistant coach Dan Craig, was on Mile 21 when the bombings took place. “She was rattled, but she’s OK,” Dan Craig said. Race organizers had set up a medical tent to treat the usual marathon stuff. Fatigue. Dehydration. There were water bottles on ice and sliced oranges in bowls. That medical tent would be needed Monday. In the most unimaginable, horrible way. Two other unexploded bombs were found nearby. An incident five miles away at Boston’s JFK Library was reported. There were obvious suspicions of terrorism, of what could turn out to be the biggest attempt at mass killings on U.S. soil since 9/11. We have seen this before. Felt this before. It happened to be Boston this time. It could have been
our town. The thing about terrorism is that no matter where it happens, it feels like our town, doesn’t it? Viscerally? Our hearts go out like it was. If adversity tests and toughens a man or a woman, then it must work collectively on a country. Well, America keeps getting stronger, folks. They keep trying to knock us down. We keep getting back up, our eyes a little sharper and our hide a little harder, but hopefully not our hearts, though. A marathon this time! Can you imagine? This was our oldest such race, in our most historic city. This was Patriots’ Day. Some 25,000 runners were competing, lined up at the start and thinking of nothing more than maybe setting a personal-best time. Or just finishing the race at all. A marathon might be the most intensely personal challenge of any sport. Is a body really made to run 26.2 miles? To some, it is an almost spiritual calling. Bigger than just running.
You want to say the finish line of a marathon is just about the last place you would expect such a thing as this to occur, but you stop yourself. Because where should you expect such a horrible thing? During a Batman movie? In a skyscraper office building? At an elementary school? Anywhere? Monday’s Boston Marathon had begun with 26 seconds of silence in honor of the Sandy Hook Elementary victims. The 26-mile marker, near the finish line where the bombs blew, had been decorated with the city seal of Newton, Conn. To expect the unspeakable anywhere is insane, an affront to civilization. To expect it anywhere to the degree we fear it anywhere, any time, means we have conceded something precious and irreplaceable. So we do what we do. We mourn the latest innocent victims who might have been us. We damn the latest coward killers. And then we get back up, somehow just a little bit stronger. We deal with it.
PETA: Veganism beats ‘going green’ HEATHER MOORE
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Earth Day, April 22, falls on a Meatless Monday this year, so people will have a double incentive to eat vegan meals. Vegan is the “new green.” You can do more for the planet by going vegan than you can by recycling, using cloth bags, taking short showers and walking to work. These actions are important and worthwhile, of course — but if you’re serious about saving the environment, you should opt for vegan foods instead of animal flesh. Meat just has no place on an Earth Day menu. According to the United Nations, meat and dairy products require more resources and generate more greenhouse gasses than do plant-based foods. Fortunately, a recently released U.S. Department of Agriculture report suggests that meat consumption is on a steady decline in the United States. Per capita meat consumption has fallen for four straight years, according to the most recent statistics. The 6 percent drop between 2006 and 2010 — the largest decline since recordkeeping began in 1970 — indicates that many Americans are fed up with meat. Several U.S. cities, including Aspen, Colo.; Durham, N.C.; Los Angeles; San Francisco; and Washington have even issued proclamations about eating less meat. And for good reason. Meat contributes to major health problems, including cancer, heart disease, strokes, diabetes and
obesity, as well as serious environmental issues, including climate change, pollution and deforestation. Researchers from the University of California Riverside claim that cooking just one charbroiled burger causes as much pollution as driving an 18-wheeler for 143 miles. A new Gallup poll shows that 58 percent of Americans “personally worry” about climate change. Worrying, though, really won’t do much good — but going vegan will. According to Loma Linda University researchers, vegans have the smallest carbon footprint, generating 41 percent fewer greenhouse gasses than meat-eaters and 13 percent fewer than vegetarians. A National Geographic report shows that vegans use less water, too. The average vegan indirectly consumes nearly 600 gallons of water a day less than the average
MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE
meat-eater. U.N. officials have urged everyone to go vegan to conserve resources and combat climate change. Some scientists even predict that people will have to go vegetarian by 2050 in order to counteract ever-burgeoning environmental problems. Let’s not wait until the planet is parched and extreme weather is a daily occurrence before we change our eating habits. Let’s continue eating less meat — or preferably, none at all. Great-tasting vegan foods are widely available. The National Restaurant Association says that vegetarian entrees are a “top 10” hot trend, and many ballparks, including Safeco Field in Seattle and Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, are offering new vegetarian and vegan options this year. Bill Gates and Biz Stone, the cofounder of Twitter, are investing in innovative new vegan companies, including Beyond Meat and Hampton Creek Foods, which makes B e y o n d Eggs. These and other companies are creating vegan meat, egg and dairyproduct options that are animal- and eco-friendly, cheaper than the “real thing” and just as tasty. Vegan foods are also cholesterol-free and generally low in saturated fat and calories, and each vegan saves more than 100 animals every year. Plus, if everyone goes vegan now — in commemoration of Earth Day — we’ll all be in good company.
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When Cal Poly pitcher Bryan Granger kicks back on the rubber and extends his arm to pitch, his sleeve pulls back to reveal the name “Sylvia” on the inside of his forearm. It is a tribute to his biggest fan, his mom. She shows up regularly to watch her son pitch against some of the best hitters in college baseball on afternoons in the spring. “She has always been a big part of my life and she’s always at my games,” Granger said. “We’d have a rocky relationship every now and then, but in my
senior year of high school, we got really close. I got this tattoo right after I graduated.” The thorns and roses that frame the tattoo speak to a once-difficult relationship. That can happen when your parents divorce while you are in the first grade. But while he is close to his mother, Granger’s success as a Cal Poly starter was the work of his dad. Mike Granger, a former pitcher at San Francisco State, made sure a bat and glove were thrust into the boy’s hands by the time his son took his first steps. “As soon as I could walk, I was playing with my dad,” the
younger Granger recalled. “He’s been my pitching coach my whole life, and I learned pretty much everything I have from him.” Having grown up idolizing the great Nolan Ryan and with an uncle drafted into the major leagues, his childhood was formed around baseball. The game, though, still runs in Granger’s blood. The path to Poly As a senior at San Benito High School, Granger hit 83 miles per hour (MPH) on the radar gun, fast for a high schooler, but not anything that made scouts drool. However, there was potential
at a Division I program like Cal Poly. “For me being a pitcher, the development started in high school,” Granger said. “I didn’t throw 90 (MPH) like I do now, so I couldn’t overpower guys. I had to learn how to throw inside and outside, mix pitches and pitch guys backwards. That’s when it started for me.” Granger’s first taste of San Luis Obispo didn’t come on a recruitment trip, but from a travel-ball game against San Luis Obispo High School. “We played at SLO High School, and it was just unreal,” Granger said. “I’m from a small town. I like it just like this. I like walking outside in the morning and seeing deer on the hillside and turkeys.” After discussing scholarship possibilities with other schools, he received an appealing offer from San Jose State. But after being recruited by Cal Poly pitching coach Jason Kelly, head coach Larry Lee made Granger an offer he could not refuse. The country boy verbally committed to Cal Poly as a wine and viticulture major. “To get money for school and play baseball … it’s unreal,” Granger said. The muddy hunt Quiet by nature, Granger bonded with his closest teammate in a different passion: hunting. Fellow Cal Poly pitcher Michael Dingilian had never hunted before in his life, but when Granger asked him to, he was more than happy to
Mustangs race past Broncos 7-2
R Cal Poly 7 Santa Clara 2 give it a try. But what the sophomore relief pitcher remembers from the experience isn’t the duck his teammate brought down over the muddy surf of Morro Bay. It was watching Granger fight his way through the knee-deep muck after retrieving his prize. “He couldn’t get out,” Dingilian said with a laugh. “I was out there on my first hunt, and I was panicking and thinking the water was going to come in and he’d drown. Eventually he was able to use the butt of his gun to finagle his way out. All I could do was watch.” The two have been best friends ever since. “Being teammates ... it’s like having family,” Dingilian said. “Everyone is pulling for each other, and it’s no different for him. When I went out there and got my first outing of the year, he was the first one out of the dugout to give me a highfive. That’s just kind of how it is between us.” After pitching his freshman year as a midweek starter, Granger developed a splitter and matured under Lee. “When pitchers come in as freshmen, the majority of them are not ready to be extremely successful at this levKEEP IT TO THE LEFT
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el of competition,” Lee said. “Bryan gained some valuable experience in getting his feet wet and competing in the midweek games. It is a natural progression that all players go through.” ‘Championships are won on Sundays’ Now in the heart of conference play, Granger (5-3) admits he is oblivious of his earned run average (ERA) — it’s 4.47. He hasn’t tallied 22 strikeouts, and he has no intention of recording how many walks or hits per inning he has allowed. It’s not that the numbers don’t matter; the righthander from Hollister simply doesn’t care. “I’m not the type of guy who looks at his stats,” Granger said. “I couldn’t tell you my ERA or how many strikeouts I’ve made. That stuff doesn’t matter to me. I just want to win.” Granger has made a name for himself as the Sunday starter for the baseball team, and the righty enjoys the challenges he faces on the mound. “I like having pressure,” Granger said. “As Coach Lee says, ‘Championships are won on Sundays.’ The pressure helps me focus and dial in on pitches.” The righty will take the mound on a Big West Conference series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m. as the second-place Mustangs (24-9, 6-3 Big West) host conference leader Cal State Fullerton (31-5, 8-1).
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