Monday, September 14, 2009

Vol. 95, Issue 9

THE

DAILY

w w w. T h e D a i l y A z t e c . c o m

AZTEC

Tw i t t e r : T h e D a i l y A z t e c

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1913

I N S I D E T O D AY STATE OF MIND

Drugs found in fraternity

BACK TO SCHOOL Will President Barack Obama’s speech brainwash or empower America’s youth? Page 3

SPORTS

Nicholas Santiago / Staff Photographer

The upcoming farmer’s market will be held on Campanile Walkway and host about eight to 10 vendors. The weekly event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Market taking over walkway HOME OPENER

Lindsey Martin / Assistant Photo Editor

Read about how the Aztecs beat up on Southern Utah and improved to .500 on the year. Page 5

TODAY @ SDSU Fit for Fun 5 p.m., Peterson Gym 240

This 13-week-long group exercise program consists of an hour and a half of cardio, strength, balance and flexibility training. For more of today’s headlines, visit:

www.thedailyaztec.com

CONTACT GENERAL INFORMATION 619.594.4199

EDITOR

IN CHIEF, FARYAR BORHANI 619.594.4190 EDITOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

CITY EDITOR, KEVIN MCCORMACK 619.594.7782 CITYEDITOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

FEATURES EDITOR, AMINATA DIA 619.594.6976 FEATURE@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

SPORTS EDITOR, EDWARD LEWIS 619.594.7817 SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

STATE

OF MIND EDITOR, ALLAN ACEVEDO 619.594.0509 OPINION@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

TEMPO EDITOR, ANYA MOBERLY 619.594.6968 TEMPO@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

ART DIRECTOR, ELENA BERRIDY 619.594.6979 ARTDIRECTOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

PHOTO EDITOR, GLENN CONNELLY 619.594.7279 PHOTO@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

WEB EDITOR, MYLENE ERPELO 619.594.3315 WEB@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

ADVERTISING 619.594.6977

INDEX STATE OF MIND.............................................................2 DATING & ROMANCE.................................................4 SPORTS............................................................................5 CLASSIFIEDS....................................................................7 THE BACK PAGE...........................................................8

K R I ST I N A B L A K E S E N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R

Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity has been expelled from San Diego State. In agreement with SDSU President Stephen L. Weber, SDSU Vice President for Student Affairs, James R. Kitchen, decided to expel the chapter from the campus community following a Chapter Review Panel hearing conducted by Student Affairs on Aug. 20. The fraternity had been placed on interim suspension pending the outcome of the hearing by Kitchen after the SDSU Police Department searched a house on Lindo Paseo Drive on April 17 yielded a large quantity of illegal drugs and implicated Sigma Alpha Mu members in drug sales. The fraternity was required to cease all activities and maintain all chapter-related facilities alcohol and drug-free during the interim suspension. Still, on June 10, another police search of an apartment in the Sigma Alpha Mu section of Fraternity Row found illegal drugs and evidence of drug sales. Between the two incidents, five people were arrested: three current students, one former student and one non-student. SDSU Director of Media Relations and New Media, Greg Block, said that the university has a zero-tolerance policy toward illegal substances and activities. “I think the message is that there’s no place for these types of activities on campus,” Block said. “This is a place where we want students to feel safe coming to school. We want students to learn and strive and grow and enjoy being in a college atmosphere and there’s no place in our college atmosphere for illegal drugs.” Block added that the two recent incidents were not the first for the fraternity. In fact, he said that the fraternity has a history of policy violations for more than a year. Another of its violations is serving alcohol to minors. Additionally, during Operation Sudden Fall, the campus drug bust in the spring of 2008, the university placed Sigma Alpha Mu on interim suspension and later lifted it.

Block said that the expulsion isn’t directly related to Operation Sudden Fall and compared the two events to “apples and oranges.” “Each incident is reviewed on its own merits over the course of time and disciplinary actions, if they need to be taken, are taken for each incident,” Block said. “These latest, because it was involving the dealing of illegal narcotics, took it to a whole nother level and that’s just not something that’s tolerated on campus.” Tyler Taylor, who became the president of Sigma Alpha Mu in the summer, said that the university’s decision was unexpected. “It’s shocking. It’s like you’ve been devoted to something for so long and then it’s gone,” Taylor, an international business senior, said. “It’s like losing a big part of your life; and then, afterwards, you’re wondering what you’re going to be doing next.” Taylor said the decision was fair, but he believes the punishment was too harsh. The expulsion revokes recognition of the fraternity on campus as an organization for at least four years. The national fraternity can apply for reinstatement after the end of the Spring 2013 semester. While no one was available for comment at the fraternity headquarters, Taylor said he believes they will apply to be reinstated in the future. The chapter has already filed an appeal for a lesser punishment. He said that it seems like the greek community is continually blamed for wrongdoings. “It’s not just the Greeks; (drugs are) everywhere,” Taylor said. “I hate to say this, but it’s college.” Block agreed that some may “point a finger at the Greek system,” but argues they should not. “This should not be seen as an indictment of the Greek system. It’s an unfortunate situation that’s happened. It’s not something that we like to do or that we take lightly, but it is something that would happen again if others choose to engage in these types of activities,” Block said. “There are a lot of good people in the Greek system and fraternities and sororities do a lot of good things for our campus and for our community. I think that should be understood and people should remember that.”

Vendors will sell food and wares at farmer’s market R E E M NO U R S TA F F W R I T E R

To support and promote a more sustainable lifestyle, San Diego State’s Aztec Shops, in partnership with the Enviro-Business Society and the Green Love Board of Associated Students, is organizing a weekly farmer’s market throughout the fall semester. Starting Sept. 17, the farmer’s market will take place every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Campanile Walkway. The goal of the farmer’s market is to provide a variety of vendors who all support sustainability in order to reinforce the “green” message, R.D. Williams, director of Campus Relations and Commercial Development for Aztec Shops, said. The vendors will offer a mixture of products including locally grown fresh produce, prepared food to take home and readymade food items that will be served on sustainable plates and eating utensils, he said. “We want this farmer’s market to be more than just buying food,” Williams said. “We want to spread the message about sustainability.” Instead of having to drive to a grocery store, the farmer’s market will serve as an accessible and sustainable alternative for students to get food, Williams said.

Although the main focus of the farmer’s market is food, vendors selling other types of merchandise and non-profit organizations promoting sustainability will participate in the event as well, according to John Rosselli, management senior and vice president of On-Campus Networking of the Enviro-Business Society. The farmer’s market is a test for the fall semester and it will continue until early December. Both Williams and Rosselli said they are hoping to gather enough support for the farmer’s market to continue it throughout the upcoming spring semester as well. Williams said the farmer’s market will start with eight to 10 vendors, but the goal is to increase that number to 20. The more successful the farmer’s market event is and the bigger it becomes, the more vendors will want to participate at SDSU, he said. “My biggest worry is that it’s going to go really well in the beginning and then slow down,” Rosselli said. “I’m optimistic that it’s going to be a great event.” Rosselli said they want a lot of feedback from students about what vendors they would like to see at the farmer’s market so it can be successful. Students can give their input at the EnviroBusiness Society’s booth, which will be present during the farmer’s market, he said. Students should be advised that vendors at the farmer’s market will accept payments of cash only.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS San Diego Police are investigating an alleged sexual assault after a female was found in the backyard of a residence early Friday morning. According to a San Diego State Police Media Bulletin, the victim said she was at a party at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house and was sexually assaulted outside the house’s backyard fence. The victim said she fell down the hill

from College Place into a backyard on Tierra Baja Way, where she was found crying and not wearing any clothes. According to the report, the suspect is a white male who was rushing the fraternity. Calls to the San Diego Police Department were not immediately returned.

—Compiled by City Editor Kevin McCormack

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The Daily Aztec

STATE OF MIND

Monday, September 14, 2009

Question: Did Obama’s back-to-school speech help or hurt schoolchildren?

MCT Campus

President Barack Obama asked schools to air his message to children across the nation last Tuesday. Many schools did not wish to air the speech and some parents opted their children out of listening to it because they believed it to be controversial. Obama discussed taking responsibility for education, staying in school and working hard to achieve goals. He also asked teachers to encourage discussion about his message in the classroom.

AGAINST ALL ODDS

FLAMING LIBERAL

Speech detrimental Meaningful message

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ur nation’s youth is being brainwashed. President Barack Obama recently spoke to schools nationwide, indoctrinating them with his personal beliefs. While many see the backlash of this supposedly inspirational speech as unpatriotic, conservatives have good reason to be upset and worried for their children. Obama’s address to schoolchildren was shocking. The speech focused on themes of staying in school and a personal responsibility for one’s education. These topics are all well and good, but the medium through which Obama forced response was extremely concerning. If Obama had simply given a speech, just as previous presidents have done, there would have been no uproar or conservative backlash. Instead, he went too far by disguising his opportunistic, self-promoting appeal to innocent schoolchildren, helpless to know otherwise. Obama coded his messaging with words and references children could not ignore. He used vernacular that was easy to listen to, he made references to new media Web sites such as Facebook, and even encouraged positive self-esteem when he told the children that “Every single one of you has something that you’re good at.” Words such as these would inspire any youth. These were not the concerns people have. The questions Obama posed to these young, impressionable youth were intended to indoctrinate youth to support Obama’s political views in subsequent years. Parents are rightfully concerned that our commander in chief may be trying to infiltrate schools and position himself as the “superintendent in chief” where he can manipulate the next generation of voters.

“If Obama had simply given a speech, just as previous presidents have done, there would have been no uproar or conservative backlash.” While some extreme conservatives framed his speech as socialist propaganda, these critics were more concerned with his political views, which Obama did not delve into. The innocence of the speech hid the concerning lesson plan Obama provided for prekindergarten to sixth-grade classrooms across the nation. The questions following his speech were

ASHLIE R ODRIGUEZ S TA F F C O L U M N I S T

directly meant to get children to digest Obama’s words, without open debate, and made his comments seem more like orders to be obeyed. For example, one question went as far as to ask students “What do you think the president wants us to do?” If this isn’t shocking enough, another asks, “Are we able to do what President Obama is asking of us?” Taken alone, these questions are scary and eerily reminiscent to the People’s Republic of China leader Mao Zedong’s own “Little Red Book” that he made children read and memorize quotes from. The personality cult Zedong ignited through his “Little Red Book” is similar to Joseph Stalin’s own cult, both of which were meant to harness the blind loyalty of the uneducated. While Obama’s lesson plan was not as overtly political as Zedong’s, it was just as indoctrinating. It’s telling that Obama only provided a lesson plan for pre-kindergarten through sixth grade and not for older students. Older students would not be as easily susceptible to his propaganda — they are older and able to think for themselves. It’s shameful for Obama to take advantage of the innocence of youth. “The language attempts to glorify President Obama”, said Neal McCluskey, associate director of Cato Institute’s Center for Educational Freedom, “It could be a blatantly political move.” Obama could have avoided criticism by allowing teachers to foster open debate and analysis in their classrooms following the speech. Schoolchildren should have been prompted to discuss their thoughts on the message, not what Obama wanted them to do. His supposed attempt to motivate was a bold effort to indoctrinate. Schoolchildren should learn at a young age that it is also acceptable to question the president. A question such as “what did you disagree with?” may have served to quell many of the fears parents and schools felt. He should have avoided his self-promotion in America’s freethinking classrooms. He perverted his integrity, clouded his honesty and disappointed Americans by campaigning to impressionable children. Shame on you, Obama shame on you.

—Ashlie Rodriguez is a political science and journalism senior. —This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec. Send e-mail to opinion@thedailyaztec.com. Anonymous letters will not be printed. —Include your full name, major and year in school.

I

t’s about time the youth of America had a president they could be proud of. Last Tuesday, President Barack Obama gave an inspirational speech at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va. His remarks were broadcast through C-SPAN and schools across the nation had the opportunity to tune in. For some odd reason, many conservatives were up in arms about his speech, which began to draw criticism before it was even delivered. It was pegged as socialist propaganda aimed at manipulating the youth of America who would be helpless to combat his political agenda. All these claims are just a red herring attempt to distract from Obama’s real intent. During the speech, Obama was lively and conversational. He talked to the children about the importance of setting high goals and taking responsibility for their own education. Obama was hoping to inspire a new generation of scholars to attend class and listen to their teachers. This is a noble goal and a much more direct and practical first step in addressing some of the shortcomings of our current public education policy. Former President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act left a lot to be desired. Education reform will not come by setting arbitrary standards that provide punishments for students who were not able to meet them. Instead of providing empty promises through an underfunded education reform bill that leaves many children behind, Obama began his campaign for school reform by targeting and speaking directly to the consumers: the students. It is commendable for Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to work on drafting a speech that talks to youth about the importance of education and helps make it digestible to younger audiences. Critics also are damming the lesson plan that Duncan released to supplement Obama’s speech. The plan was aimed at pre-kindergarten through sixth grade students and allowed instructors to provide materials that helped students understand the major concepts of Obama’s speech. The lesson plan provided a good opportunity for young children to think critically about the messages in Obama’s speech. One question asked, “What new ideas and actions is the president challenging me to think about?” Those ideas didn’t deal with Obama’s political views or controversial issues he is currently supporting. Obama’s supposedly radical ideas deal with personal responsibility, being attentive and setting high goals. These are exactly the types of princi-

A L L A N AC E V E D O S TAT E O F M I N D E D I T O R

ples we should be trying to teach our youth. Too many times, we focus our energy on finding someone to blame for our problems. For once, we have a president coming to us at a young age and telling us we need to empower ourselves to create a future we want. Conservatives are just looking for another way of attacking Obama because they do not agree with his policies. It is shameful for conservatives to polarize a president hoping to empower youth in their journey through academia. Here in San Diego, Trustees of the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District voted to ban the live broadcasting of Obama’s speech because of many negative communications they received from concerned parents. Later in the week, Board President Penny Halgren and trustee Bob Duff apologized for their votes and stated they wished they could go back and allow the students to see the live speech. This shows the pressure and ultimate damage irrational conservatives may have on students’ opportunity to learn in class. This is telling of the weak character of the trustees, not just in the La MesaSpring Valley School District, but across the nation. By stating that the speech will be recorded for later viewing puts pressure on the teachers that show the video. This way, if parents complain, the complaints will be targeted at the teachers, not at the trustees. This is the coward’s way out of a controversial issue. Halgren and Duff’s apologies show their lack of informed decision making and puts to question their ability to think critically and in the best interests of students. We need elected officials who can prioritize the education of children and not the irrational fears of conservative parents and politicians that want to demonize a president because they don’t agree with his policies. It looks like Halgren and Duff could have benefited from Obama’s speech themselves. Maybe they would have learned something about personal responsibility. Good thing they recorded it.

—Allan Acevedo is a political science and comparative literature junior. —This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec. Send e-mail to opinion@thedailyaztec.com. Anonymous letters will not be printed. —Include your full name, major and year in school.

STATE OF MIND

Monday, September 14, 2009

The Daily Aztec

3

MEET IN THE MIDDLE

Joe Wilson must be reprimanded for “You lie!”

S

outh Carolina can’t catch a break. First, its governor goes missing on the job and uses taxpayer money to finance his extramarital affair. Now the state has to deal with Rep. Joe Wilson, who irrationally yelled out “You lie!” during President Barack Obama’s health care speech to a joint session of Congress. Wilson’s outburst was insolent and completely out of line. Instead of behaving like an educated and respectful congressman, he acted like a 2-year-old in the middle of a temper tantrum. Because of his childlike behavior, Democratic members of Congress are planning to admonish him, and rightfully so. Wilson did not conduct himself as a representative to the people of South Carolina. He needs to be reprimanded for his mistake and must apologize to the House. The moment Obama left the Capitol Building Republicans forced Wilson to make a statement regarding his outburst. Instead of a meaningful apology, Wilson gave a halfhearted excuse and stated, “I let my emotions get the best of me.” Wilson then humiliated himself and his party further by using the shameful incident for self-promotion. On Wilson’s campaign donor Web site, he posted a video saying, “On these issues, I will not be muzzled. I will speak up, and speak loudly against this risky plan.” Wilson insults the president and now he wants money for doing so. It’s ludicrous that Wilson is using his moment of unreserved hostility to garner support and money for his reelection campaign. Publicizing this episode of insolence will not garner Wilson more votes, it will simply show the people of South Carolina that he is a fool. He does not have an ounce of decorum in his character and now his constituents are aware of his coarseness and lack of tact. This has not been the first time something hit a nerve with Wilson. He has acted irrationally before. The Washington Post reports

SA RA H GR I E C O A S S I S TA N T S TAT E O F M I N D E D I T O R

that in 2002 his anger flared during a congressional session. He proceeded to yell at one of his colleagues for being un-American. Temperamental men and women have no place in Congress. If Wilson cannot respect the president while he is addressing the nation, then he should not be an elected official. Already, Wilson is experiencing backlash from his explosion. He will likely lose his upcoming reelection because of his heckling. Since the incident, his opponent Rob Miller has received more than $1 million for his campaign, which is more than triple the amount of Wilson’s donations. Miller’s popularity has also increased in the polls. Former strategist Mark McKinnon donated $1,000 to Miller and wrote, “I’m a Republican, but I’d rather have a Democrat in Congress who I may disagree with but who has some fundamental character that Wilson lacks.” The problem with politicians such as Wilson is they promote arrogance and division in Washington. Health care is a controversial issue for many people, but that does not justify standing up and screaming at the president. Obama was speaking to Congress to return civility and reason to the debate. Instead of sensibly discussing the problem, Wilson resulted to irrational fits of anger. It seems Wilson believed he was on an episode of “The Jerry Springer Show,” where there is audience participation, instead of a presidential address to Congress. He let his emotions run wild in a way that is rarely seen in a professional setting. Congress should not tolerate this behavior from Wilson. They need to admonish him for his conduct and require him to apologize to the House. South Carolina residents would be wise

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MCT Campus

Rep. Joe Wilson recently made headlines when he shouted “You lie!” during President Barack Obama’s speech.

not to reelect Wilson this November. He has demonstrated that he is reckless and cannot control himself. Elected officials need to work intelligently with diplomacy and tact to win on issues. If Wilson can’t control himself, he will lose any debate, no matter how passionate he is. We need elected officials who understand how Washington works and can achieve results, not hot heads that speak to promote them-

selves at the expense of their party and cause.

—Sarah Grieco is a public relations junior. —This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec. Send e-mail to opinion@thedailyaztec.com. Anonymous letters will not be printed. —Include your full name, major and year in school.

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DATING & ROMANCE

Monday, September 14, 2009

BOY MEETS BOY

Gay dating on campus easier than you think

U

Jupiter Images

nquestionably, San Diego State has some of the most attractive people on campus. At least, that is a general stereotype I am perfectly happy perpetuating. The problem many of my friends and I face when we admire attractive people on campus is that we’re not sure who would also be interested in us; and it’s not because we’re out of their league. Actually, it’s because we bat for a different team. For those of you who didn’t catch that subtlety: My friends and I are gay. It’s not always easy knowing who else around us is, and that makes finding Friday night dates that much harder. Curious straight friends, freshmen, and new transfers always ask the same question: Where do you meet other gay people? For the 21-and-older crowd, that question is usually answered with a list of all the gay bars in and around Hillcrest, the gay neighborhood in San Diego. Bars, however, leave little room to engage someone in conversation or get to know somebody. These places tend to be better for onenight stands or hookups. If that’s what you’re into, there are many online sites you can check out such as: www.gay.com, www.manhunt.com and www.adam4adam.com, which are among the more promiscuous sites. In terms of lesbian sites, I’ve heard Web sites such as www.flawles.com and www.pinksofa.com. Even with all of these online

A L L A N AC E V E D O S TAT E O F M I N D E D I T O R

sites, there is still a void for people who are hoping to have a face-toface connection and get to know that potential special someone. On campus, some students attend Pride Action Committee or Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Student Union meetings that are held on a weekly basis. These meetings allow you to meet up with other gays on campus, but after the first few weeks, I’ve noticed it tends to be many of the same people who attend. If you want to get more involved on campus, I’d caution not to play where you work. Many of us have had to deal with the awkward situation of working with an ex or a former one-night stand. With a smaller dating pool, this is even more likely to happen in the LGBT community. Because the gay community is smaller, it’s easy to know or hear about other gay people on campus before you even meet them. This could put more pressure on an introduction, or even deter you from talking to someone you find attractive. In my experience, there is no rhyme or reason to where or when you could bump into somebody gay who you may be interested in dating. You don’t need to be surrounded by gay people all the time to meet someone. I’ve met people at work, on the bus on the way to school and even in class.

My current boyfriend, John, and I met at a charity fundraiser. His gal pal introduced us because she thought we’d be good friends. Once we started talking, we clicked right away. Even though we began the night thinking we didn’t know anything about each other, it turned out we’d met before when he’d come in to volunteer for the local campaign against Proposition 8. When we became friends on Facebook we realized we had three other friends in common. This gave me the opportunity to do some investigation on this guy before it became too serious. It’s unfortunate that the gay and straight ally community is small, especially on campus. But if you’re trying to find a special someone, use it to your advantage. In reality, the closeness of the gay community is a pain when some of us may have a reputation, but it’s also your best friend when you want to know more about a person you’re interested in. You don’t need to go on a sketchy Web site or get drunk at some gay bar only to find a onenight stand, unless that is what you’re in to. If you want to find a potential date, the best place to start is by asking your friends — gay or straight. We all know someone who is gay. —Allan Acevedo is a political science and comparative literature junior. —This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec.

Guidelines to dealing with a friend breakup

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riendship is intimate. Close friends are people you tell everything to, share experiences with and learn enough about to read their emotions and gain trust in their opinions. Similar to choosing a significant other, selecting a close friend can take time. Some people are fortunate enough to find lifelong friends in adolescence. Others find that as they mature, it is easier to make initial connections with people they have significant similarities with. No matter where or when you find a friend, if the fridnship ends, it can be painful. If you are truly considering ending a friendship, you should consider some important points.

Strengths can be weakness Everyone has something that makes them desirable. It could be a person’s willingness to volunteer free time or perhaps it’s one’s ability to take on a leadership role in any situation. While these strengths may make a person desirable on a resume, the reality of these strengths in a friend could cause problems. A person who has a lot of commitments is going to have limited free time. Friends who contribute a lot of time to school or other activities have to balance time in their lives and will all too often have to decline friendly invitations. Additionally, someone who is a constant leader might have a controlling personality. If your friend has a strong personality, you should be prepared for occasional disagreements.

N AT A L I A V A N S T R A L E N S TA F F C O L U M N I S T

Time passes; people change Some people can be friends for years and as time passes they lead different lives and don’t see each other as often. When they do get the opportunity to see one another, it’s as if their bond never faded. This is a sign of a strong, adaptable friendship.

“If their friendship is important to you, they deserve respect and honesty no matter what the conversation is.” Others could be considered “casual friends.” These are friends who are in your life because of certain circumstances or the phase of life you are in. They are present but may not be as dependable. It’s OK to have both types of friends, but it’s important to know the difference between the two. If you’re going to end a friendship because you aren’t being treated as a valued friend, first consider why you feel that way.

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Just like relationships with a significant other, friendships require extra time and effort to work. While losing a friends is difficult, it’s important to know if their friendship is truly valuable. If it wasn't, they still deserve honesty and respect when it comes time to part.

Honesty is the only policy If a person can’t be completely percent honest with a friend, that friend isn’t worth having. Some friends are there to talk about anything and some friends are more of the basic conversation type. Whichever type he or she is, being honest about your life and your feelings is necessary. If their friendship is important to you, they deserve respect and honesty no matter what the conversation is. If you feel uncomfortable talk-

ing about something to your friend, don’t bring it up. However, if a friend is not acting the same and gives off a negative vibe, perhaps something is up. Give your friend a chance to talk things out while being conscious of their needs and opinions. Don’t allow the fear of an argument prevent an opportunity for honest communication. Unlike your family, you can pick your friends. As with any relationship, family, significant other or close friend, there will always be

things that come up that will require compromise, compassion and sometimes effort to resolve conflict. For the most part, a friendship should bring out the best in a person. Picking a close friend is difficult, but losing one is even harder. —Natalia Van Stralen is a journalism and political science senior. —This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec.

Monday, September 14, 2009

SPORTS

The Daily Aztec

5

FOOTBALL

Brown shines as SDSU wins in home-opener Offense dominates on the ground and in the air at Qualcomm Stadium D AV I D P O P E A S S I S TA N T S P O R T S E D I T O R

It was in front of probably the biggest crowd they’ll see at home this year — against a Football Championship Subdivision school. In short, it was a game the San Diego State football team was supposed to win. While it wasn’t perSDSU 35 fect or flashy, SDSU (1-1) took care of SUU 19 business against Southern Utah (1-1) on Saturday night, winning 35-19. But one moment that stood out was a goal-line stand right before the end of the first half. “All goal-line stands are good, but it was fun,” senior linebacker Jerry Milling said. “That was the high point of the game for the defense. We played tough down there, and we’re going to improve off that.” As the defense held strong, cheered on by a loud crowd of more than 42,000, the toughness head coach Brady Hoke has been preaching since he came to the Aztecs was on full display. “I thought that was a huge play in the game,” Hoke said. “Because you take some momentum away from them going

into the locker room at halftime.” While the defense made its presence felt, it was once again SDSU’s offense that stole the show. Sophomore quarterback Ryan Lindley had a rushing touchdown on a QB sneak and completed 20 of his 30 passes for 287 yards with two touchdowns in the air. One of those scores went to junior wide receiver Vincent Brown who put on an absolute clinic against the SUU secondary. “You can’t cover (Brown) in zone coverage and we didn’t have an answer for him in man-to-man,” Thunderbirds’ head coach Ed Lamb said. “He’s very dynamic.” Brown finished the night with six catches for 142 yards. Aztec fans are used to seeing big numbers put up by the passing game, but going back to the emphasis on toughness, the SDSU running game broke through as well. Junior running back Brandon Sullivan racked up 111 yards on the ground and established himself as the lead back on the 2009 Aztec squad. “Coach (Al) Borges preaches running the ball every week,” Sullivan said. “We ran the ball tonight fairly successfully. We are going to come out in practice tomorrow and work on our running game. Try to perfect some more things and take the running game to the next level.” SDSU’s next game will come on Saturday as the Aztecs hit the road to take on Idaho.

Glenn Connelly / Photo Editor

Junior Vincent Brown had six catches for 142 yards and caught a touchdown pass from sophomore Ryan Lindley.

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SPORTS

The Daily Aztec

Monday, September 14, 2009

LEWIS’ LAW

Secrecy mires Aztecs’ first victory of 2009

Glenn Connelly / Photo Editor

Freshman running back Anthony Miller scored the first touchdown of his San Diego State career on Saturday against Southern Utah. After the game, head coach Brady Hoke did not make any freshmen available to the media, including freshman defensive back Leon McFadden, who blocked an extra point and scored a defensive PAT on a lateral.

O

n Sky Show night; on home-opening victory night; on Brady Hoke’s firstever win as San Diego State football head coach night; it’s just a shame that it came to this. There was a time in Hoke’s brief SDSU head coaching tenure when secrecy was celebrated. When closed practices, late depth charts and it’s-all-about-the-team quotes

E D WA R D L E W I S SPORTS EDITOR

signaled change on Montezuma Mesa. But on Saturday night, the fine line between secrecy and paranoia was crossed. The media was denied its job, and the fans — the ones who buy the tickets, the ones who show up in droves at Qualcomm Stadium to support the Aztecs,

the ones who eat, sleep and breathe SDSU football — were denied the chance at insight. True freshman defensive back Leon McFadden blocked an extra point, eventually got the football in his hands and rumbled 63 yards to score a defensive PAT to give the Aztecs two points. It was most likely one of the top-five best plays of Saturday’s college football games, and do you want to know

what he had to say after such an unbelievable play? Well, so do we. True freshman running back Anthony Miller ran for 18 yards and scored his first-ever touchdown as a college football player. Do you know how he felt after picking up six points for SDSU? Neither do we. Hoke has issued a gag order on his freshmen players and will not allow them to talk to the media.

Why? He once said it was just his “thing.” Now, “just his thing” is costing reporters. Writers can’t speak with outstanding players because of a Hoke Rule. But that’s OK, right? The media still got to talk with junior running back Brandon Sullivan and junior wide receiver Vincent Brown, who both had stellar performances, right? Sort of. Hoke has turned post-game reactions into an Aztec recruiting video. It’s more of an SDSU advertising campaign than a press conference now. When Sullivan, who rushed for a career-high 111 yards, was asked how it went out there on the field, he responded: “Of course it’s fun to be out there with the ball, but at the same time, the offense has to progress, work hard, come out tomorrow and improve off that.” Wait. That has nothing to do with your career-rushing night. Really though, Brandon, you topped your career-high by more than 40 yards, what’d you see out there? “I was just following the front five. Whatever holes they created, I just tried to fit in there.” OK, Sullivan’s a team guy and isn’t going to toot his own horn. How about you Vincent, you racked up 142 yards and a touchdown, how’d it go out there? “We were just running whatever coach called,” Brown said. “He saw some things on their defense. Some plays we executed pretty well and that’s what we ran.” The company line is being toed so much so that it might not even be worth having a press conference for any more. As one reporter joked in the elevator after the post-game presser, you could turn in a story without players’ reactions and it wouldn’t make a difference. Look, we members of the media get it. Coaches coach and players play. But at the end of the day, reporters report. And on Saturday night, we were denied that opportunity. —Edward Lewis is a journalism junior.

—This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec.

CROSS COUNTRY

New coaching staff brings change to runners After a disappointing 2008, SDSU looks to bounce back this fall CHUCK HERRMANN CONTRIBUTOR

For most people, running five miles in one day seems like an impossible feat. For others, five miles in one week is even asking too much. For the athletes of the San Diego State cross country team, a five mile run fits in with brushing their teeth or tying their shoes. The team begins the year with two new coaches, head coach Shelia Burrell and assistant coach Jason Karp. And with these new coaches come new schemes and mindsets. Coming off a last place finish in the Mountain West Conference last year, and this year’s coach’s poll predicting the same fate, SDSU can only focus on the present. “Our goal is to take this year to

get the new system in place, rebuild and develop these girls and this program into a real winner,” Karp said. The Aztecs bring back senior Rachel Williams, who qualified for the NCAA West Regional last year. The team kicked off the season on Sept. 5 at the Fullerton Invitational and placed a solid ninth out of 26.

Mark your calendars The 65th Annual Aztec Invitational will be the best opportunity for SDSU fans to see the team in action. “The Aztec race is the most exciting,” Williams said. “Getting to race in front of the home crowd, family and friends.”

Newcomer to watch Player to watch Williams leads SDSU in this rebuilding year after she completed a strong 2008. She is back after a season in which she qualified for the NCAA West Regional and only hopes to continue that pace as she leads the team this season.

Key losses The Aztecs lost Anne Vieira and Kristin Glen this season, but expect freshmen Jordan Davis and Marianne Hogan to help fill the void. The newcomers are already two of SDSU’s top six runners.

Senior Darien Buc is no newcomer to the team, but after a hiatus from cross country last year, she returns this year to try and replicate the performance that put her in the top 10 SDSU runners in the 4, 5 and 6K in 2007. Watch for her to make big things happen this year for the Aztecs.

Quotable “This team has been plagued by so many injuries,” Karp said. “It will be great to see all the girls perform now that everyone is healthy.”

Glenn Connelly / Photo Editor

After finishing in last place in the Mountain West Conference standings last year, new head coach Shelia Burrell brings new philosophies and schemes to Montezuma Mesa.

CLASSIFIEDS

Monday September 14, 2009

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The Daily Aztec

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THE BACK PAGE

The Daily Aztec

How to snooze during class

H

ead teetering side-toside, eyes half shut, the echo of a lone voice becoming fainter ... If any of this sounds familiar, congratulations, you’ve fallen asleep in class before, which is a honored university tradition. Whether trying to sleep off the previous night’s debauchery or the professor’s drone is akin to three TYLENOL PMs, there’s nothing wrong with trying to catch some extra Z’s. Unfortunately, hostile professors, as well as fellow students, might not be so sympathetic to your sleepy plight and may take pleasure in waking unsuspecting nappers. Apparently they look down on us slackers just because we don’t have a use for them fancy schoolin’ theories and such. If you can relate, don’t worry, I’ve penned a guide to help you discretely rebel against those elitists who believe being conscious during class is mandatory for a passing grade. First, blending in with the environment is key and begins before even setting foot in the classroom. To start the day off right, look for the most generic clothing in your closet: that red San Diego State sweatshirt grandma bought you freshman year, worn flip-flops and one of those plastic beer-dispensing hats are all acceptable classroom attire that won’t attract a second look. Also, a pair of sunglasses will come in handy, but ladies, please refrain from wearing those huge obnoxious ones.

JARED W HITLOCK S TA F F C O L U M N I S T

Of course, slipping into a sleep coma is less noticeable if you sit in the back of a lecture hall, but sometimes the most boring professors come with small classrooms where you’re easily visible. That said, if finding a seat in a miniature class normally resembles a game of musical chairs, then I suggest showing up five minutes early because seat positioning is very important. Nature offers some valuable lessons in this regard. To avoid the professor’s gaze in a small classroom, like a group of gazelle being chased by a cheetah, it pays to be in the middle of the pack. You scoped out a seat in the middle of class and wearing appropriate attire, but you slumped over too far and alarmed everyone in the room by passing out. This rookie mistake brings us to our next lesson: Posture. I’ve noticed many homeless people have perfected the art of maintaining a straight back while asleep in order to prop up their change cup. If you have a chance, study how they do it. Once you’ve perfected the act, why not further imitate their behavior outside the classroom by holding out a change cup of your own? Chances are if you look ragged enough in your beer-stained shirt you’ll help offset those tuition increases with some extra change. Bonus points for including a cardboard sign as well.

On another note, the buddy system isn’t just for a guy trying to pick up questionable females, but it also applies to a classroom setting. Find another morally dubious friend to monitor your sleep habits in case of a sleeptalking episode. Also, a buddy can help alternate note-taking duties, saving precious nap time. Lastly, if a professor is eyeing you suspiciously after a peaceful sleep, placate him or her with comforting words at the end of class. Nearly every professor seeks validation to justify that extra time spent in graduate school. Tell them the lecture was enlightening and it made you want to look into the subject matter (note that it may be awkward if the professor happened to spend 50 minutes reviewing SDSU sexual harassment policy). From my personal experience, people forget most of the information presented in class somewhere down the road. Coupled with college students needing more sleep than our professor counterparts the decision is clear: The next time a sleepy feeling overwhelms you, don’t try and fight it. Instead, come prepared and take solace in knowing you’re silently beating the system.

Monday, September 14, 2009

DAILY HOROSCOPE

BY LINDA C. BLACK, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (09/14/09) Join an enthusiastic group that shares your core beliefs. Find something you can get riled up about; there are lots of great causes out there.You can make a huge difference, even in your hometown. ARIES (March 21 - April 19) - Today is a 7 Listen carefully to a loved one's story, even if you've heard it before.The gift is in the attention you're giving. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is an 8 - Coached by a loved one, you're moving along quickly on a household project. Once it's done you'll be able to relax. GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is a 5 You can finally afford something you've saved for and wanted for a long, long time. CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is an 8 - There's plenty in reserve, so keep it there. Don't even talk about it.You're too willing to go over budget. LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is a 6 There seems to be some confusion. Keep going for the big prize. A lucky break works in your favor. VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is an 8 By working extra shifts, you could bring in

extra cash. Develop other talents, but don't quit your day job yet. LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is a 6 Your friends come to the rescue just in time.They won't let you miss this opportunity. All ends well. SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is an 8 - A lucky break helps you out of a jam. Watch for it; it's not going to come up and shake your hand. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today is a 6 - You're tempted to spend down your savings.That's not a good idea. Don't stretch yourself to the limits. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is an 8 - Postpone business decisions until later today and/or tomorrow. By then you'll know what to do. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is a 5 - There's a way to be more efficient, and you can find it. Keep thinking about it while you're doing your work. PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is an 8 - You don't have to explain your actions to anyone. Hide out and rest; you'll need the energy. © 2009,TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

—Jared Whitlock is a journalism senior. —This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec.

SUDOKU

BY THE MEPHAM GROUP

Level:

1 2

3 4

Instructions: Complete the grid so

LOOKING THROUGH OUR LENS

each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk.

Solution available online at www.TheDailyAztec.com © 2009 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.

CROSSWORD

HOME LIGHTS photo editor glenn connelly captured this scene at Qualcomm Stadium for SDSU’s opening home game. The KGB Sky Show celebrated the light show tradition of new beginnings for the team.

ACROSS 1 Places for chickens 6 Teapot feature 11 Roman 901 14 Comics orphan 15 Skier’s jacket 16 Youthful fellow 17 London art museum, as it was formerly known 19 Some MIT grads 20 Extreme degrees 21 LPGA teen phenom Michelle 22 Tibet’s capital 24 “__ you ready for this?” 25 Its seat is Jackson, Wyoming 28 Oinker 29 Proofs of age, briefly 30 Ones making money 31 Pointy-eared “Star Trek” guy 33 Cookie holder 34 Small jazz combo 35 It shows a book’s name, author, publisher, etc. 39 Parts of the Rockies: Abbr. 42 Boiling 43 Kitchen allure 47 Norse mariner Leif 49 AT&T competitor 51 King, in France 52 Photographic memory 54 Prickly chestnut case 55 Blackmore’s “__ Doone” 56 Paul Bunyan’s tool 57 Piece of sausage 58 Stock mkt. debut 59 Multi-flavored ice

EDITED BY RICH NORRIS AND JOYCE LEWIS

Solution available online at www.TheDailyAztec.com cream 63 Fire, to the French 64 Actor Zimbalist Jr. 65 “__ the loneliest number”: old song lyric 66 Ambulance destinations, for short 67 Goes bad, as milk 68 Strolls in shallow water

9 Kiev is its cap. 10 “Fire and Rain” singer/songwriter James 11 Vacuum __ 12 Orchestra conductors, formally 13 “Sounds about right to me” 18 Dumbfounded 23 Big game tracker 25 __ torch: patio DOWN light 1 Short snoozes 26 Twice-monthly 2 Traveling away tide from home 27 Irene of “Fame” 3 Very busy 32 Radiologist’s pro4 Pumpkin desserts cedure, briefly 5 Part of a line: 33 Fast plane Abbr. 36 Norse thunder 6 Bowler’s challenges god 7 Opposite of neo- 37 “The __ Ranger” 8 Source of iron 38 “Passages” author

Sheehy 39 Insurance company with Snoopy on its blimp 40 State cop 41 __ oxide: laughing gas 44 Circled the earth 45 Canadian cop 46 Smooch that even misses the cheek 48 Political candidate lineups 49 Adages 50 First symbol on a musical staff 53 Supply party food for 57 Pale-green moth 60 ET’s vehicle 61 One-man show about Capote 62 Use oars