Cesar Chavez Festival takes place in UU Plaza. ARTS, pg. 4
Monday, April 9, 2012
WORD ON THE STREET What is the most unsafe thing you’ve seen someone do while driving?
Volume LXXVI, Number 100
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Police cracks down on distracted driving SEAN MCMINN
seanmcminn.md@gmail.com
Walking around campus, it is not particularly difficult to find someone just asking to have a run in with the law. Skateboarders cruise down Perimeter Road, bikers run through stop signs and hardly anyone obeys the 15 mph speed limit down the hill to Poly Canyon Village. But this month is devoted
to bringing attention to a different — and potentially lethal — behavior. This April is California’s first Distracted Driving Awareness month, and the effort has already begun at Cal Poly. “There’s a lot of people, a lot of vehicles and movement at the same time (on campus),” University Police Department (UPD) chief Bill Watton said. “It’s always very important to be paying attention.” Watton said UPD will join police agencies throughout the state in enforcing a
“I was part of a Chinese fire drill today.”
zero-tolerance policy on distracted driving this month. But because he sees Cal Poly as a learning environment, Watton said he wants to devote the first part of the month to education on distracted driving and then crack down after people become more aware. That is not to say, however, that police will always give warnings before ticketing drivers who use their cell phone. A 2009 study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that distracted drivers played a part in 11 percent of fatal accidents that year. That number was higher in drivers 29 and under; for them, 14 percent of fatal collisions involved distracted
drivers. Watton said the number of students he sees on their cell phones while driving around campus concerns him. He said students pose a higher risk to themselves and those around them because they have not been on the road as long as people who have been driving longer. “The day kids get their driver license, they’re inexperienced,” Watton said. “And experience does count for something.” But quitting cold turkey on cell phone usage in the car may be harder than it sounds. Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong is still getting used to the California law after transitioning from his old position at Michigan State University
• Paul Heckler biomedical engineering junior
GRAPHIC BY MELISSA WONG/MUSTANG DAILY
The number of recorded injuries caused by distracted driving incidents from 2000 to 2010 in California.
“Drinking, looking for directions and texting at the same time.” • Nicholas Ross electrical engineering freshman
“I’ve seen someone reading a book while driving.” • Brooke Zeigler biomedical engineering freshman
see DRIVERS pg. 2
Cal Poly passes WASC accreditation review VICTORIA BILLINGS
victoriabillings.md@gmail.com
Cal Poly received high marks last Thursday from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) review team after a week-long visit of classes, campus facilities and a special student forum. The team came to campus last week to review Cal Poly’s accreditation and evaluate the school. Though administration never thought Cal Poly’s accreditation was in danger, those preparing for the visit wanted to show Cal Poly’s best side, said Cal Poly Center for Teaching and Learning Director Bruno Giberti, who helped organize the visit. The better a school scores in its WASC report, the longer a period it is given before the next accreditation review, up to a maximum of 10 years. The report is not entirely finished, but based on the team’s final presentation, Giberti said Cal
Poly scored very high. “I think we can expect those 10 years,” Giberti said. At Thursday’s meeting, former Washington State University president and leader of the WASC team Samuel Smith commended Cal Poly on its dedication to improving the school. Cal Poly had shown improvements since the WASC team’s visit two years ago for an educational effectiveness review, Smith said at the meeting. That initial visit, which did not affect Cal Poly’s accreditation, instead helped the WASC team highlight areas the school should work on before last week’s visit. And in those past two years, Cal Poly made strides in the areas specified by the educational effectiveness review, Smith told those present. Cal Poly clarified the definition of a “comprehensive polytechnic” education and involved students in their fu-
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approximately one year ago. In Michigan, there is no fine for talking on a cell phone while driving. He said though he uses a Bluetooth device in his car to talk on the phone, he may occasionally sneak a look at a text message below the steering wheel while driving around San Luis Obispo, but only when he’s stopped. “The last year, year-and-ahalf, I’ve made a real serious effort to not talk on the cell phone (while driving),” Armstrong said. Political science junior Daniel Outlaw said he sees nearly a dozen drivers talking on the phone when he drives to school in the morning. Though he said he does not think it is smart to drive and talk, he believes there is a better way to regulate unsafe driving. “What would be better would be more enforcement against poor driving,” Outlaw said. “If someone’s driving poorly, that’s more important than talking on a cell phone.” Distracted driving encompasses more than just talking on a cell phone, Watton said. Adjusting the air conditioning, turning the channel on the radio, smoking, eating or talking to a passenger can all distract someone who is
Your commitment to having Cal Poly remain as an outstanding academic institution is superb. SAMUEL SMITH WASC TEAM LEADER
ture with initiatives such as the Student Success Fee, Smith said. Cal Poly also boasted a 10 percent increase in six-year graduation rates, from 65 percent to 76 percent during a 10-year period. The team also applauded work done to improve the campus and maintain Cal Poly’s good reputation. “Your commitment to having Cal Poly remain as an outstanding academic institution is superb,” Smith said at the meeting. In final remarks, the WASC team touched upon how Cal Poly has faced increasing
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budget cuts. George Pardon, the CFO and vice president for administration of California State University (CSU) Los Angeles, said Cal Poly’s commitment to maintaining and increasing services was rare among universities. “In so many situations people use the budget deductions as an excuse not to do something,” Pardon said at the meeting. Cal Poly, on the other hand, looked for new revenue sources and continued to fund classes and campus improvements, Pardon said at the final presentation.
INDEX News.............................1-3 Arts..............................4-5
The WASC team did name several areas that needed attention though, including continuing to improve graduation rates and focusing on increasing diversity. All in all, the WASC team gave a very positive review of Cal Poly, College of Science and Mathematics Dean Phil Bailey said. The compliments and critiques were both very useful, Bailey said. “The whole report was very positive, and the recommendations were right on,” Bailey said. “There are things we need to do, and I think we have a university commitment to do them.” Cal Poly will continue looking for new ways to improve diversity and graduation, Bailey said. But even with the critique’s, WASC’s report was gratifying, Bailey said. “When you’re going through see WASC, pg. 2
Opinions/Editorial...........6 Classifieds/Comics.........7 Sports...............................8
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Monday, April 9, 2012
WASC continued from page 1
something like this, you want to put your best foot forward,” Bailey said. “But you also have doubts about what that best foot is.” The WASC team’s report, though, confirmed that Cal Poly had done just that, Bailey said. The team’s report was especially rewarding because of all the work put into the visit, Giberti said. “To tell you the truth, I think that they were very complimentary in the exit meeting, but that didn’t mean that they didn’t have some hard questions in the interviews that preceded that,” Giberti said. Now that the WASC team has left, the members will finish writing a full written report that will go into more detail than the Thursday meeting. The report will be sent to Cal Poly for correction, and then presented to WASC to determine Cal Poly’s accreditation status. “Based on what they told us today, I don’t think we’re going to be complaining very much,” Giberti said.
DRIVERS continued from page 1
operating a vehicle. San Luis Obispo City Council member John Ashbaugh said it is very important for people to avoid distractions when driving. He also said he prefers to use Bluetooth when in the car, but will sometimes pull off the road to take calls. Though there has not been a fatal accident on campus in years, Watton said it is important drivers
understand that just a moment of looking away from the road can cause an accident. UPD statistics showed the agency issued 147 citations for distracted driving in 2011, and has issued 25 so far in 2012. UPD only issued 56 in 2009 and 2010 combined. California began its ban on cell phones in the driver’s seat in July 2008. A first-time fine for talking on a cell phone while driving is $159, and secondtime offenders can expect to pay at least $279.
NHA HA/MUSTANG DAILY
The use of electronics is illegal even at stop lights/signs.
Police searching for assault suspect
GRAPHIC BY ANDREW ROSS/MUSTANG DAILY
The most recent assault occurred near the intersection of Slack street and Longview Lane. UPD encourages students not to walk alone at night anywhere in San Luis Obispo. MUSTANG DAILY STAFF REPORT
mustangdailynews@gmail.com
Police are asking for tips after three possibly related cases of attempted sexual assault were reported in the last three months. The most recent reported attempted assault was April 5, when an unaccompanied woman was allegedly approached by an unidentified male on Slack Street near Longview Lane, who then knocked her to the ground and removed her underwear before she fought him off, according to a San Luis Obispo Police Department (SLOPD) press release.
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The case is the third of its kind — where a male approaches a victim from behind and tries to remove their underwear — reported since early February, said University Police Department (UPD) chief Bill Watton. Though police are not certain the suspect is the same, the cases are very similar, Watton said. The first assault allegedly happened in the parking structure on Grand Avenue on campus, while the other two reportedly occurred off campus, Watton said. The three reported attacks might not be the only ones that have happened, and police are looking for any other victims or anyone with knowledge of
the incidents, Watton said. “There may be others that have not been reported and we want to know that,” Watton said. Police would protect the identities of victims who come forward, Watton said, and tips can be sent to calpoly@tipnow.org or UPD at 756-2281. UPD has already received at least one tip, and are following up on it, though tips don’t always bring results, Watton said. In the meantime, people walking at night should stay in groups and be aware of their surroundings, Watton said. “The campus really is very safe but these things can happen anywhere,” Watton said.
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Monday, April 9, 2012
SLO 5-0 Saturday, March 31 4:07 a.m. — A computer was bought with a fraudulent check on the 3900 block of Carissa Court. 8:51 a.m. — An assault occurred on the 1100 block of Chorro Street. Sunday, April 1 2:28 a.m. — A male prowler was reported looking into a window on the 400 block of Branch Street. 12:14 p.m. — A sex offense occurred on the 900 block of Islay Street. Monday, April 2 12:32 p.m. — A male hit a female on the 800 block of Marsh Street. 10:15, 10:16 p.m. — Two cases of child abuse were reported to the San Luis Obispo Police Department. 8:22 p.m. — A narcotics code violation occurred at Poly Canyon Village. Tuesday, April 3 1:13, 1:14 p.m. — Three people were cited for a narcotics code violation at the water tower on campus. 8:08 p.m. — A narcotics code violation report was made at Sequoia Hall. Wednesday, April 4 1:58 a.m. — A prowler was reported on the 400 block of Branch Street. Thursday, April 5 12:55 a.m. — A narcotics code violation occurred at Yosemite Hall. 9:41 p.m. — A male reportedly grabbed a female by the hair and pulled her to the ground on the 700 block of Foothill Boulevard. 11:58 p.m. — A narcotics code violation occurred at Cerro Vista. Friday, April 6 12:32 a.m. — A sex offense occurred on Slack Street. 12:45 a.m. — An assault/ battery report was made at the G-2 parking lot. 1:05 a.m. — An assault occurred on the 1900 block of Monterey Street. Saturday, April 7 10:12 p.m. — A citation was given for a narcotics code violation at Whitney Hall.
‘60 Minutes’ host dies MYRNA OLIVER
Los Angeles Times
As the self-described “black hat” of television’s premier newsmagazine “60 Minutes,” Mike Wallace crafted a persona of a probing reporter known for his often caustic questioning of sometimes reluctant guests on the program. Beginning in 1968, as one of the first hosts of the enduringly popular news show, he circled the globe, displaying his charm and wit and asking sometimes barbed, always penetrating questions of kings and presidents, business magnates and bureaucrats, entertainers and cultural personalities. Wallace, who had triple bypass heart surgery in early 2008, died Saturday at a care facility in New Canaan, Conn., the CBS network announced. He was 93. Of the roughly 800 pieces the pioneering correspondent did for “60 Minutes,” two stood out the most for him, Wallace told The Associated Press in 2006. One showed his tender side as Wallace persuaded piano virtuoso Vladimir Horowitz to pound out “Stars and Stripes Forever” in 1977. The other, in 1979, showed Wallace’s tough side as he became the first Western reporter to interview Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini after 53 Americans were taken hostage in Tehran. To Khomeini’s face, Wallace quoted Egyptian President Anwar Sadat as calling him a lunatic. “I figured what was he going to do, take me as a hostage?” Wallace said. “The translator looked at me as if I were a lunatic.” When he interviewed Nation of Islam minister Louis Farrakhan in 2000, Wallace set an incendiary tone: “You don’t trust the media; you’ve said so. You don’t trust whites; you’ve said so. You don’t trust Jews; you’ve said so. Well, here I am.” “So what?” Farrakhan said. Wallace so specialized in the hard-hitting search for skullduggery that beer magnate Joseph Coors once quipped: “The four most frightening words in the English language are ‘Mike Wallace is here.’” The comment was adapted into a “60 Minutes” ad, and Wallace displayed a framed copy in his office. Barbara Walters, a formidable interviewer and a competitor at ABC, offered a telling compliment on the 1997 special “Mike Wallace Remembers”: “The best interviewer in all of television — past, present and probably future — is Mike Wallace.” The veteran broadcaster stepped down as a full-time correspondent in 2006, when he was 88. He made occasional appearances after that, culminating with his final interview in January 2008, with baseball pitcher Roger Clemens. “60 Minutes” creator Don
I don’t think there would be a ‘60 Minutes’ if Don hadn’t found Mike. JEFF FAGER “60 MINUTES” EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Hewitt — who died in 2009 — told People magazine in 2006: “If they were allowed to put plaques up at CBS for the three journalists who would stand out, they would be Edward R. Murrow, Walter Cronkite and Mike Wallace.” Jeff Fager, the show’s current executive producer, told the Los Angeles Times in 2006, “I don’t think there would be a ‘60 Minutes’ if Don hadn’t found Mike. Mike was never afraid to say what he thought.” Wallace’s unapologetic style made for splashy, often emotional interviews — and the occasional dust-up. The controversy that most affected Wallace grew out of a 1982 “CBS Reports” documentary he narrated on the Vietnam War. The report stated that Gen. William Westmoreland had inflated enemy casualty figures to maintain support for the unpopular war. Westmoreland sued CBS and Wallace for $120 million but dropped the suit months into the trial. “The Westmoreland affair, professionally and personally, was one of the most difficult times of my life,” Wallace told the Chicago Tribune in 1989. “It was just devastatingly difficult because my integrity was put to question, and as a reporter, that’s the single most important thing you’ve got.” The 1984 trial triggered Wallace’s first bout of clinical depression, and he tried to kill himself by swallowing sleeping pills. He publicly acknowledged the suicide attempt during a “60 Minutes” tribute to him in 2006. With the support of Mary Yates, a longtime friend who would become his fourth wife, Wallace got the help he needed to treat his depression. He began seeing a psychiatrist and taking antidepressants, Wallace wrote in his 2005 memoir “Between You and Me.” In 1995, Wallace sparred with CBS executives over the network’s initial refusal to air his report on tobacco whistle-blower Jeffrey Wigand. The episode became the subject of the 1999 film “The Insider,” which alleged that CBS News delayed airing the report because it feared a debilitating lawsuit. Born Myron Leon Wallace on May 9, 1918, in Brookline, Mass., he was the son of Russian Jewish immigrants Frank and Zina Wallace. His father ran a wholesale grocery business. At the University of Michi-
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gan, Wallace wandered into the school’s broadcast center and found his metier. After graduating in 1939, Wallace got jobs in radio in Grand Rapids, Mich., and Detroit and was a communications officer in the Navy for three years during World War II. At Chicago’s WGN radio in the 1940s, he got his first opportunity to do one-on-one interviews, the format that was to be his life work and earn him 21 Emmys, five DuPontColumbia journalism awards and five Peabody Awards. He married college sweetheart Norma Kaphan, and they had two sons, Peter and Christopher. After divorcing in 1948, he wed Buff Cobb, an actress he met while interviewing her on WGN. The couple moved to New York and CBS where they had an early 1950s radio and television talk show, “Mike and Buff.” The show ended in 1953, two years before the marriage did. His next marriage, to artist Lorraine Perigord, lasted 28 years. In 1986, he wed Yates, the widow of his longtime producer Ted Yates, who was killed in 1967 covering the war in the Middle East. She survives him, as do his son Chris, stepdaughter Pauline Dora, stepsons Eames and Angus Yates, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
SLO COUNTY
STATE
SAN LUIS OBISPO —
MODESTO —
Two supposed cockfighting sites were found in Los Osos and Morro Bay. San Luis Obispo sheriff’s deputies took 218 roosters housed in cages at the two locations — one on 16th Street in Los Osos, the other on Atascadero Road in Morro Bay. Spurs and model roosters were also taken. No arrests were made. A nearby resident alerted authorities that the birds were possibly being raised for fighting.
It’s over, says Jordan Powers, the 18-year-old California high school student who quit school to move in with her former teacher. The 41-year-old James Hooker was arrested by Modesto, Calif., police Friday on charges of sexually assaulting a different teenage girl 14 years ago. Hooker posted $50,000 bail about 5 a.m. Saturday and was released from the Stanislaus County Jail, according to sheriff’s officials.
NATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL
OHIO —
ISRAEL —
The employment market may be picking up, but graduating seniors have in many cases known nothing during their college careers but economic turbulence and high unemployment. “Nowhere has the economic impact been as traumatic (as) for college seniors graduating in the last four years,” said Richard Berman, director of career services at Oberlin College. This year’s soon-to-be graduates are taking unpaid internships, social service work or going to graduate school.
Israel’s interior minister Sunday barred German author Gunter Grass from entering the country, in response to a new poem in which the Nobel laureate called Israel’s undeclared nuclear arsenal a threat to world peace. Interior Minister Eli Yishai said in a written statement that Grass’ poem “is an attempt to fan the flames of hatred against Israel and the Jewish people, and thus promote the idea with which he was publicly affiliated in the past when he wore the (Nazi) uniform.”
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Monday, April 9, 2012
Welcome to our (open) house
Leila Durmaz is a journalism freshman and Mustang Daily freshman columnist. As I walked to my classes last week, I encountered what seemed to be an endless number of tour groups consisting of parents listening intently and prospective students glancing around to take a look at current students.
Needless to say, I received many awkward looks I wasn’t sure how to respond to. So not knowing what else to do besides look back, I just smiled hoping they caught it before they looked away. But all the tours and the apparent increase in the feeling of excitement on campus all leads to one thing: the 19th annual Open House.
Although I experienced Open House last year, I vaguely remember it because I was caught up in the scheme of things. The campus was zoo-like, with thousands of people wandering around to explore each aspect of campus. It was overwhelming for me because I didn’t know what to do and what to check out. But with visitors on campus every day this week and Open House just around the corner, I thought I’d give you some tips so that you can better navigate Open House and this place I now call home. So this article is dedicated to you, prospective freshmen. First, during Open House, check out everything. Whether you’ve already decided to come here or you’re still considering it, it’s helpful to discover what Cal Poly has to offer. From clubs and greek life to academics, it’s important to see if this school offers something you possibly want to get into. Walk by all the booths, get some information and spend a little time talking with people, then check out another booth.
Be independent. Yes, you’re with your parents and they’re paying for your education, but don’t forget that college is for you. So wander a little bit and check out things that you’re specifically interested in. Don’t wait for your parents to tell you that you should talk to whomever in the engineering department, but do it yourself. Show that you can take the initiative to make a connection with someone in something you’re interested in. Remember to talk to people, especially current students. No one knows this school better than those students who have been here for a few years. You’ll definitely find helpful knowledge from these students, especially if a student is involved in something you’re interested in. If you spot someone in an Open House volunteer shirt or someone who looks like they know what they’re doing, don’t be afraid to go up to them and start a conversation. Ask what their major is, what they like about this school and this town and why they chose their major. If they’re majoring in something you want to major in, ask them how the major is,
how classes are and what they love about it. We’re excited to see you and are happy to answer any questions (and talk about ourselves). Of course, since Cal Poly is the school you’re interested in, it’s obviously your main attraction when you come to San Luis Obispo, but make sure to also explore the town itself. If you’re here on Thursday night, go to Farmers’ Market and walk down Higuera Street to experience the culture in San Luis Obispo with your family. Back at home, we have a farmers’ market twice a week, so I thought San Luis Obispo’s would be nothing special. I was wrong. Downtown is transformed for Farmers’ and is a great way for you to get a feel for what San Luis Obispo offers,
as well as a great way for your parents to pick up some groceries or great food. Make sure you visit downtown during the day, as well. Have a tri-tip sandwich at Firestone Grill, clam chowder at Splash Café or grab some coffee at Kreuzburg. Those are just three out of the many delicious food venues in San Luis Obispo, so whatever you choose will surely not let you down. Whatever you do, just make sure that you remember to keep an open mind because you won’t be able to experience Cal Poly and San Luis Obispo fully without one. Enjoy yourself and explore everything and anything to make the most out of your visit and open house weekend.
DAVID YRIARTE/MUSTANG DAILY
Students celebrated Cesar Chavez day last week with a student march to the UU while chanting, “Si, se puede” (Spanish for “Yes, it is possible”).
Students celebrate Cesar Chavez DAVID YRIARTE
davidyriarte.md@gmail.com
A Cesar Chavez Celebration kicked off Thursday during University Union (UU) Hour with a live band, inspiring speeches and a student march from Dexter Lawn to the UU. Chavez was a Mexican-American who is best known as a Latino civil rights activist. He also played a major role in the American labor movement, in which he promoted aggressive but nonviolent tactics. “He is a source of inspiration,” English junior Selene Roman said. “He did a lot with little resources. If he can do it, so can we.” Roman, along with other members of Movimiento Estudiantil Xicano de Aztlan (MEXA — a political group that focuses on social issues — marched from Dexter Lawn to the UU Plaza to commemorate Chavez’s march from Delano, Calif., slightly north of Bakersfield, Calif., to Sacramento in support of worker’s rights. The marchers arrived chanting “Si, se puede” (Spanish for “Yes, it is possible”) to a band playing traditional songs from the American labor movement. The live band’s lead singer Graciela Serna Nutter said she marched alongside Chavez when she was only 10 years old, and remembers the importance of the march. “There’s a few of us around now that were part of the
march and its history,” Nutter said. “Remember, honor and celebrate Chavez. It was amazing watching all the people marching up the street. I marched for something.” During his lifetime, Chavez traveled throughout Califor-
nia and gave speeches in support of workers’ rights. He also wanted Mexican-Americans to register and vote, to give them a voice when it came to political matters. see CHAVEZ, pg. 5
“The wheel deal” • PHOTO CREDIT Krisha Agatep •
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Monday, April 9, 2012
CHAVEZ continued from page 4
Chavez attacked social issues within his community. Today, modern languages and literature professor Gloria Velasquez said she wanted to use this opportunity to speak of the social injustices dealing with the Treyvon Martin shooting in Florida. “Chavez dedicated his life to the pursuit of social justice. I’ve been at Cal Poly for 26 years,
and for those 26 years, I have been trying to get students to think about ‘What can I give back, how can I give back,’” Velasquez said. “It is important to spread awareness of the Martin case, because it is about social justice.” The celebration spoke not only of current social injustice, but also was a reminder of how a group can create change with nonviolent tactics and little resources. “Don’t be afraid of those in power that you think are un-
reachable,” Nutter said. “They are reachable.” Chavez spoke of change and worked hard to fight for farmworker rights. According to Nutter, this is something we cannot forget. It was a hard struggle, and those who were a part of it will always be remembered. “We are celebrating today Chavez’s birth, his legacy and those who continue the work he left behind,” she said. “Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed.”
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Fossil fuels industry hangs onto wealth Bill McKibben is a professor at Middlebury College and founder of the global climate campaign 350.org. Last week, the Senate voted on a proposal by New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez to end some of the billions of dollars in handouts enjoyed by the fossil-fuel industry. The Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act was a curiously skimpy bill that targeted only oil companies, and just the five richest of them at that. Left out were coal and natural gas. Even so, the proposal didn’t pass. But that hasn’t stopped President Obama from calling for an end to oil subsidies at every stop on his early presidentialcampaign-plus-fundraising blitz. And this month Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders will introduce a much tougher bill that tackles all fossil fuels and their purveyors. Even if Congress can’t pass a bill to end them, those subsidies are worth focusing on. After all, we’re talking about somewhere between $10 billion and $40 billion annually (depending on what you count) in freebie cash for an energy industry already making historic profits. We should be outraged, but there’s a problem: The very word “subsidies” makes American eyes glaze over. It sounds so boring, like something that has everything to do with finance and taxes and accounting, and nothing to do with us. But bring yourself to focus on fossil-fuel subsidies for just a minute, and you will realize just how loony our policy is. Start this way: You subsidize something you want to encourage, something that might not happen if you didn’t support it financially. Take education. We build schools, pay teachers and give government loans and grants to college kids. Families too have embraced education subsidies, with tuition often being the last big subsidy we give the children we’ve raised. The theory is: Young people don’t know enough yet. We need to give them a hand and a chance when it comes to further learning, so they’ll be a help to soci-
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Monday, April 9, 2012 Volume LXXVI, Number 100
©2012 Mustang Daily
“Legit and couch surfing should not be in the same sentence.”
Monday, April 9, 2012
Mr. Bloom, The portion of the California Code of Regulations that governs their exclusion is as follows: 41500. Withholding of Recognition. No campus shall recognize any fraternity, sorority, living group, honor society or other student organization which discriminates on the basis of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, color, age, gender, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation or disability. The prohibition on membership policies that discriminate on the basis of gender does not apply to social fraternities or sororities or to other university living groups. Now, it has been a very long time indeed since I was an undergraduate, so my impressions may be very much out of date … and I would welcome correction by any greek letter organization that can provide me with any example within the last 10 years of: • A married pledge
ety in the future. From that analogy, here are five rules that should be applied to the fossil-fuel industry. Don’t subsidize those who already have plenty of cash on hand. No one would propose a government program of lowinterest loans to send the richest kids in the country to college. We assume that the wealthy will pay full freight. Similarly, we should assume that the fossil-fuel business, the most profitable industry on Earth, should pay its way. What possible reason is there for giving, say, Exxon a tax break? Year after year the company sets records for money-making. Last year it managed to rake in a mere $41 billion in profit, just failing to break its own 2008 all-time mark of $45 billion. Don’t subsidize people forever. If students need government loans to help them get bachelor’s degrees, that’s sound policy. But if they want loans to get their 11th bachelor of arts, they should pay themselves. We learned how to burn coal 300 years
ago. A subsidized fossil-fuel At this point, the greatest been given small gifts by industry is the equivalent of human challenge is to get off outfits to whom they then a 19-year-old repeating third fossil fuels. If we don’t do it return large presents, using grade yet again. soon, the climatologists tell public money, not their own. Don’t abandon important us, our prospects as a civi- Oil Change International subsidies just because in one lization are grim. So why estimates that fossil-fuel instance they didn’t work out. are we lending a significant companies get $59 back for The government gave mon- helping hand to companies every dollar they spend on ey to a solar power company intent on driving us toward donations and lobbying. It’s called Solyndra. The com- disaster? It’s like giving a fel- no different from sending a pany went belly-up. That lowship to a graduate student college financial aid officer stung. But since a $100 bill in we’re in the prothe expectation cess of figuring that he’ll give out how to peryour daughter Don’t subsidize those who fect solar power a scholarship. already have plenty of cash on That’s bribery. and drive down its cost, it still And there’s no hand. makes sense chance it will to subsidize it. yield the best Think of it as energy policy or the equivalent the best student of giving a highbody. school senior These five a scholarship to go to col- who wants to pursue a thesis rules don’t get at the biggest lege. Most of the time that on “Strategies for Stimulat- subsidy we give the fossilworks out. But a few kids are ing Doughnut Consumption fuel business: the right to going to spend four years Among Diabetics.” pour their waste into the atdrinking; consider them huDon’t give subsidies to peo- mosphere for free. But they man Solyndras. The subsidy ple who have given you cash. would be a start, a statement wasn’t well spent on those Most of the men and wom- that we no longer will be kids, but we don’t shut down en in Congress who vote each played for suckers and saps. the entire college loan pro- year to continue subsidies There’s just no reason to gram as a result. have taken campaign dona- hand the richest industry on Don’t subsidize something tions from big energy com- Earth a bonus to help them you want less of. panies. In essence, they’ve wreck the planet.
• A disabled pledge (and are all houses ADA compliant?) • A pledge as old as 30 • An openly gay pledge If any of the above cannot be provided, have there been any outreach efforts by greek letter organizations to rectify these omissions? If not, one might reasonably ask how much faith you should put in the official statements of non-discrimination every organization is required to sign each year. These same organizations also pledge (perhaps pinky swear?) not to allow binge drinking, underage drinking or hazing, and would never dream of taking advantage of intoxicated female guests at social events … yet I have heard rumors that these practices sometimes occur. I am curious about what, if any, measures the university takes to monitor compliance with the stated goals. Frankly, it seems unlikely that groups whose primary attraction is clubby exclusivity would be persuaded to be as inclusive as they claim. I have no objection to excluding groups with discriminatory practices, provided all groups are held strictly to the same standard. I strenuously object to excluding
only those who are unwilling to lie about them. Best wishes, — Mole
In response to “Christian Greek societies denied affiliation”
Adorable! Great photos. What a fashionable school — anonymous In response to “Spring Trends” Gee, if Cal Poly has a diversity problem, one has to wonder how the review committee treats colleges like Wellesley, Barnard, Smith, Sarah Lawrence, Bryn Mawr, Mills College and their ilk where men are not allowed to attend. Talk about a lack of diversity and sexual discrimination! — Drew In response to “Accreditation team gives Poly positive review” This really feels like a case of a solution looking for a problem. As the other commenters have pointed out, the name El Corral has relevance and a tradition
that shouldn’t be trivialized. It resonates with alumni and current students both, and that isn’t an easy thing to do. The name El Corral should remain. Poly Corporation should be spending your precious resources on things that a) bring real value to the student body and the campus, and b) better utilize what is currently there, without simply discarding it because it’s “old”. Please drop this campaign now. The number of negative responses alone should tell you something. There are probably a hundred people thinking the same thing for every person who has responded online. — Pat In response to “El Corral rounding up new name” Don’t stress over it too much Aaron, Coulter is nothing but a glorified c*** who found a brilliant way to cash in on it by acting the way she does. How someone who has absolutely no regard for other human beings is able to become as successful as she is beyond me. I truly hope the people laughing and applauding at whatever nonsense she was spewing out take
a minute to digest what she was actually saying and think of how it effects those outside of their close-minded bubbles. — Rick Santorum In response to “Coulter lacked mutual respect, not free speech” Thanks for the support MD! For anyone interested in an invitation to the beta, sign up with your email address at http:// grappple.com and you will be notified when it’s ready for use. — Will Hitchcock In response to “Christian Greek societies denied affiliation”
NOTE: The Mustang Daily features select comments that are written in response to articles posted online. Though not all the responses are printed, the Mustang Daily prints comments that are coherent and foster intelligent discussion on a given subject. No overcapitalization, please.
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MDsports 8
Monday, April 9, 2012
David Armendariz homers, Mustangs sweep Anteaters J.J. JENKINS
mustangdailysports@gmail.com
Kyle Brueggemann spent just one year at the United States Military Academy at West Point, but he learned a lot playing for the Black Knights. Things such as discipline, balancing workloads and plain old hard work that he brought to the mound on Saturday as the Mustangs (20-10, 4-2) defeated UC Irvine 8-1 to sweep the series. “Something that I’ve been able to use playing here is how to focus in on the task at hand,” Brueggemann said. “When you’re at the ballpark, you’re at the ballpark, and that’s the only thing on your mind.” But there’s one more thing Brueggemann would like to replicate during his time at Cal Poly: A trip to the NCAA Regionals. A week after Cal Poly dropped two of three games from Long Beach State, the junior from Olathe, Kan., pitched into the eighth inning and gave up one run on five hits to put the Mustangs one game out of first
place in the Big West and one step closer to that elusive postseason bid. The bats came alive early for the Mustangs, six days after being one-hit by Long Beach State. Mike Miller started the game with a single, and Tim Wise reached on a well-placed bunt down the third base line, and following a f ly out by Mitch Haniger, singles by Jimmy Allen and Nick Torres plated the two runners. David Armendariz got his first of four hits to bring in Allen, and the hot-hitting first baseman Tommy Pluschkell completed the rally with the inning’s sixth single to score Torres and chase the Anteater’s starting pitcher Phillip Ferragamo. “(While) watching video, we saw some holes in my swing, and we changed some stuff up,” Armendariz said. “I’m just trying to have quality at-bats throughout the season, and when you get the feel of having quality atbats, it starts rolling.” Armendariz completed his perfect four-for-four day with a home run to deep left off Nick
I’m just trying to have quality atbats throughout the season and when you get the feel of having quality at-bats, it starts rolling. DAVID ARMENDARIZ CAL POLY LEFT FIELDER
Hoover. It was his first career four-hit performance. “(Hoover) fooled me twice on the first two strikes, he had a great split,” Armendariz, who swung through those pitches, said. “I was thinking ‘Zone hit and see the box,’ and I saw (the pitch) in, it was a four-seam fastball and it felt good off the bat.” Last week head coach Larry Lee lamented his team wasn’t making competitive outs in its series against Long Beach State, but was more satisfied with Cal Poly’s response against the Anteaters. “We had a great approach, a great mindset and we created an opportunity to do what you need to do if you’re going to compete for a Big West title,” Lee said. “We brought up last week’s game (to the team), and today was just the opposite.” From the mound and in the field, the Mustangs were nearly flawless in their three games against UC Irvine as the pitchers combined to hold the Anteaters to three runs and the defense committed one error — a catcher interference call on Chris Hoo. Hoo more than made up for the error on Saturday as he drove in two on a double to deep left center field in the third inning to put the Mustangs up 6-0. Going into the year, Cal Poly wasn’t expected to have the type of success they are experiencing from the pitching staff. The weekend starters, Wagman, Anderson and
MAX ZERONIAN/MUSTANG DAILY
Cal Poly’s victories over UC Irvine marked the first time since 2006 that the Anteaters were swept in Big West Conference play. Brueggemann, were in their first year in that position, and Chase Johnson had been moved to the bullpen. The team was relatively inexperienced at the plate; five batters in Lee’s lineup started fewer than 17 games last year and two (Torres and first baseman Tommy Pluschkell) didn’t play at all for the Mustangs. But Lee isn’t one to pay attention to what outsiders say about his team, he had confidence that his team could perform at a high level from the beginning. “I thought we would have starters that can be threepitch mix guys,” Lee said. “I thought we had the chance of developing our bullpen, and that’s where we are right now with three solid starters and three guys at the end of
the game that are of quality.” The only run Brueggemann allowed on Saturday came in the fifth inning as UC Irvine loaded the bases with one out. Facing Tommy Reyes, Brueggemann forced the second baseman to fly out to left field which brought Jerry McClanahan home. He escaped when the next batter, Jordan Fox, grounded sharply to second base. “Brueggemann had good fastball intent with good conviction on each pitch he threw,” Lee said. “When the fastball has that life and you have fastball command, usually your off-speed pitches follow.” Matt Imhof didn’t allow a hit in two-thirds of an inning and Johnson shut the door on the Anteaters in the ninth after Torres threw Justin Castro out at home
following a single by McClanahan. A double play erased McClanahan on the basepaths and ended the game. It marked the first time since 2006 that UC Irvine was swept in the Big West; the Anteaters hadn’t dropped a conference series opener in 25 straight attempts. Seven Mustang starters had hits, only Haniger and Evan Busby were held off the basepaths. Cal Poly travels to UC Santa Barbara for a non-conference game on Tuesday then go to Cal State Northridge for a weekend set against the Matadors which are 1-4 in conference play. The team returns home to play against Fresno State on April 17 but don’t have another Big West home series until Pacific visits on April 27.
Big West Standings - Baseball Big West W-L
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Cal State Fullerton Cal Poly
5-1 4-2
UC Santa Barbara
4-2
Long Beach State UC Irvine
4-2 3-3
Cal State Northridge
2-4
UC Riverside UC Davis Pacific
2-4 0-3 0-3
Mustang Tweet of the Week