01-26-2012 by The Daily Aztec

Student fights protest charges Ashley Wardle was arrested protesting CSU’s tuition hikes

THURSDAY January 26, 2012 Volume 97, Issue 63 W W W.T H E D A I LYA Z T E C . C O M

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SDSU’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT N E W S PA P E R SINCE 1913

INDEX:

Sandy Coronilla investigations editor &

Carl Hensley staff writer

FINANCE BEAT

FOOD & DRINK

Cooking classes turn everyday cooks into culinary pros.

ANTONIO ZARAGOZA, PHOTO EDITOR

“I have first amendment rights. They can’t silence them by using the student code of conduct ... If they continue to raise tuition, students are going to continue to protest.” Ashley Wardle, SDSU graduate student Responsibilities conveying that Wardle must attend an informal hearing regarding her alleged misconduct at the protest the month prior. Accompanied by a union representative, Wardle met with university judicial officer Julie Logan, after which time Logan and her staff were to decide what punishment, if any, Wardle was to receive. On Jan. 6, Wardle received an email from the center with a proposed settlement agreement that included the sanction of suspension until Dec. 19, 2013, in abeyance. Basically, as long as Wardle signed the agreement, she could forego a formal disciplinary hearing. This means she could still attend classes at SDSU and graduate this December as she plans to do, but could not hold a leadership position in any campus organization.

Stocks started the week out stable, for the most part. The Dow Jones industrial average was down 11 points to end at 12,708, the Nasdaq lost two points to end at 2,784 and the Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose a fraction of a point to end at 1,316. The yield on the 10-Year Treasury note rose slightly to 1.92 percent. Gold also traded lower by a third of a percent to end at 1,673. Stocks continued trading lower on Tuesday morning with all of the averages down no more than half a percent. Data collected from the Monday close and Tuesday morning open on Wall Street.

Last semester, Wardle was the president of campus organization United Students Against Sweatshops, which succeeded in bringing the first-ever sweatshop-free clothing line, Alta Gracia, to the SDSU Bookstore. “I have first amendment rights,” Wardle said. “They can’t silence them by using the student code of conduct.” SDSU’s Manager of Media Relations, Gina Jacobs, declined to comment on Wardle’s possible sanctions. “It is university policy not to comment on the ongoing review of student conduct,” she said. “The Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities will follow its normal protocol for such cases.” The protocol will bring Wardle face-to-face with Vice President of Student Affairs James R. Kitchen this

week to try to resolve the issue. If attempts are unsuccessful, Wardle said she will move forward with a formal hearing rather than accept the settlement proposal sent to her earlier this month. An onslaught of support for Wardle has prompted the college community to come together. An email campaign has been launched asking SDSU President Elliot Hirshman to grant her amnesty. Students involved with the Occupy San Diego movement met on campus yesterday at 1:00 p.m. at the Peabody Coffee stand near the Education and Business Administration building to discuss Wardle’s situation and the dangers of using academic sanctions in response to students’ political activities. Despite the situation Wardle now finds herself in, she believes she did the right thing in November. “If they continue to raise tuition, students are going to continue to protest,” she said.

Regardless, this is just part of a small Stanford professor hosted open revolution taking place in the education online course An article by NPR reports that, last year, a Stanford University computer science professor named Sebastian Thrun and several colleagues decided to teach a class open to anyone with a computer and Internet access. Anyone around the world could attend, ask questions and even receive a grade, all for free. Stanford administrators however, would not allow credit or any certificates bearing the Stanford name to be given out.

ENTERTAINMENT Wilco played a beautiful set at Copley Symphony Hall on Sunday to a sold-out audience.

ENTERTAINMENT

SCAN CODE FOR F O OTAG E O F WARDLE ARREST

Two months ago, when San Diego State graduate student Ashley Wardle decided to attend a statewide protest on Nov. 16 of a California State University Board of Trustees meeting in Long Beach, she hadn’t envisioned being arrested. Before the arrest, Wardle said, “An officer pepper sprayed me.” “He hit me on my back with a baton. When another student from a different school stood between me and the officer, he was hit and arrested, too.” The protest was held in response to a proposed, and now approved, 9 percent system-wide tuition increase. Beginning this fall, student tuition will increase by $498 a year for all fulltime undergraduate students attending CSU schools. Additional cuts to higher education within the state system amount to $650 million for the academic year, according to the CSU Media Relations Specialist Erik Fallis. These cuts are what prompted people like Wardle to converge on the meeting of the financial board that day in November. The protest made headlines throughout the state after protesters caused a glass door at the chancellor’s office to shatter. Despite the protesters’ outrage, the board voted 9-6 to increase tuition. According to Wardle, protesters were gathered peacefully outside Chancellor Charles B. Reed’s office when some of the meeting’s attendees were kicked out unexpectedly. She couldn’t say for certain why the attendees were removed from the meeting, but their ousting caused some commotion. She said police began yelling at the protesters to move back, away from the office. Wardle and others refused, she said, because the meeting was still going on. The next thing Wardle knew she was being handcuffed and sent to jail. Four students, including Wardle and another undergraduate student from SDSU, were arrested and charged with impeding the police officers on duty that day. She was held in jail for 12 hours before being released. At her arraignment one month later, the district attorney did not file charges against her. Wardle assumed the worst was behind her, but she was wrong. During the first week of December, she received a letter from SDSU’s Center for Student Rights and

world. As Steve Henn states in the NPR article, nonprofits and start-ups are springing up, especially in Silicon Valley, in an attempt to transform the way knowledge and education are delivered to students. Thrun’s free, online course was a huge success. The course ultimately attracted more than 100,000 students from 190 countries. – Compiled by staff writer Chet Galloway

I was a freshman in high school when I caught my parents having sex ... I knew what sex was and what it looked like, but I’d never seen ... a free show of my parents. B A C K PA G E

W E AT H E R : SUNNY HIGH: 77 LOW: 48 SUNSET: 5PM

D A I LY

AZTEC Thursday, January 26, 2012

NEWS

1,200 solar panels installed on ARC’s roof THINKSTOCK

The new energy source will save millions, eventually Diana Crofts-Pelayo staff writer The Aztec Recreation Center is in the process of installing almost 1,200 solar panels on its rooftop, which will save the school more than $2 million throughout the next several decades. This means a savings of $79,800 per year in energy costs, with a solar panel lifespan of at least 30 years. The total cost of the project is $1.2 million, but because of a California Solar Initiative rebate of $700,000, the school’s net cost is $500,000. The installation is a 250-kilowatt system, which produces 475,000-kilo-

watt-hours. One kwh is equal to 10 old-fashioned 100-watt lightbulbs. According to the Associated Students Green Love website, its mission statement is to “pave the way for a full-scale sustainable movement by and for San Diego State University and the surrounding communities.” Glen Brandenburg, sustainability adviser for A.S., said one of the A.S. sustainability goals is to have all of its facilities become net-energy zero by 2020. This means buildings with zero energy can be independent from the energy supply grid. All A.S. facilities are aiming to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Existing Building: Operations & Maintenance silver certification or better. According to Eric Huth, the A.S. recreation director, the ARC is trying to achieve gold certification.

Glen Brandenburg, sustainability adviser for A.S., said one of the A.S. sustainability goals is to have all of their facilities become net-energy zero by 2020. He said a misconception is the exercise machines inside the ARC use an abundance of electricity. Most machines are wireless and the only machines requiring electricity have video boards. The biggest energy consumption is maintaining the building in general, such as the cost of the cooling and heating systems.

The ARC has implemented more than two dozen energy efficiency projects, including replacing all inefficient overhead incandescent light fixtures in the building with efficient fluorescent light fixtures and re-commissioning the building’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. Financially, Brandenburg said students and members of the ARC will

benefit from the installation because it will help membership fees remain relatively inexpensive. He also said there is a substantial sustainable benefit. “It helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions to slow global warming,” he said. According to Brandenburg, instead of having to burn natural gas to make electricity, they will use solar power. In addition, he said there is no planned inconvenience for students and members during the construction. Sullivan Solar Power is installing the ARC’s rooftop solar panels and is expected to be finished by April. The company also installed solar panels at the Children’s Center and the SDSU Aztec Aquaplex. Once the solar panels are completely installed, Huth said the ARC plans to display facts about the solar panels, such as how much energy the building is saving on its television screens.

SDSU’s lady Aztecs steal the show and win

PETER KLUCH, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

D A I LY A Z T E C Thursday, January 26, 2012

FOOD & DRINK

Culinary courses add flavor to local fixings seasonal ingredients,” Lerach said. “Whenever I hear someone in class say ‘I’ll make this at home,’ I think we’ve done our job.” Visit cupslj.com for more information.

Stephanie Schauer staff writer In order to sustain life, it is necessary to consume nutritious foods. This is no secret. However, taking the time to prepare and cook food can be an inundating task, especially for those who consider heating a Pop-Tart in a toaster oven to be chef’s work. In the wake of a new year, there is no better time to try cooking like the next Bobby Flay or Rachael Ray and taking a cooking class is a good way to begin. To the delight of prospective epicureans, San Diego offers a variety of locations to choose from when searching for the perfect culinary lesson.

Great News! Cookware and Cooking School

Veg-Appeal Vegetarians looking to add to their recipe lists or anyone looking to adopt an all-vegetarian diet may want to give Veg-Appeal a try. Launched by three vegetarians, Veg-Appeal’s goal is to promote health through class demonstrations that show how to make healthy food and lifestyle choices. The class not only promotes overall health, but emphasizes environmental sustainability as well. “Most people who are taking our classes are trying to adopt a healthier diet and working on getting the meat out and the dairy and the processed foods out,” nutritional consultant and co-owner of VegAppeal Tracy Childs said. Recipes used in class offer a bounty of fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains. Lecture-style classes offered in the past have included “Lean Meals on a

THINKSTOCK

Lean Budget,” “Healthy in a Hurry” and “Vegetarian Eating: Healthy People, Healthy Planet.” Class sizes and offerings are often dependent on the public’s interest. For the latest information, visit vegappeal.com.

Cups Located on Girard Avenue in La Jolla, Cups may be known for its organic cupcakes and strawberry milk “on tap,” but San Diego’s only 3-Star Green Restaurant Certification has a culinary secret it wants to share with the community: cooking classes with chef Jesus.

“The goal of any great teacher is to simplify and demystify the subject, and chef Jesus, who has been teaching cooking classes for more than a decade, does just that,” Cups founder Michelle Lerach said. The classes, ranging between different levels of experience, are focused on the use of organic ingredients and accommodating vegan and gluten-intolerant customers. Past classes have included “Super Foods for Health and Flavor,” “New Year, New You: Post-Holiday Raw Food Cleansing” and chef Jesus’ bimonthly cooking series, “Farm-to-Table.”

The classrooms are relatively small, hosting two to four classes per week and accommodating as many as 12 people per class. However, the intimacy is intended to provide a better hands-on experience, enhancing students’ culinary skills. At the end of Cups’ cooking sessions, students are able to take 30 minutes to sit down and enjoy the sights, scents and tastes of their culinary masterpieces alongside chef Jesus. “I founded Cups with the idea of offering a superior product produced in sustainable way, and to help our customers learn to cook with local,

Since it opened its doors on Garnet Avenue in 1977, Great News! has offered cooking supplies and tools for purchase, as well as classes for curious cooks to learn what to prepare using those tools. Great News!’ chefs cook everything from comfort food to French cuisine in a mostly instructional manner. However, depending on the chef, some will incorporate a bit of handson learning as well. Classes take place in state-of-theart classrooms, equipped with seven big-screen TVs, microphones for the culinary instructors and a seating capacity of 52 people. Next month, classes will range from a chili course to easy Italian cooking and, in preparation for Super Bowl Sunday on Feb. 5, a Super Bowl Prep Party class will take place on the week prior to the game. Students will learn how to prepare Chicago dogs with neon relish and a satisfyingly sweet caramel apple crisp with ice cream. No need to pack any bowls, mixers or kitchen knives from home to bring to class, Great News! has it covered. In addition, each student will receive a recipe packet to use for reference in future culinary endeavors. Visit greatnews.com for more information. Class prices for the three establishments mentioned range from $15 to no more than $80.

D A I LY

AZTEC Thursday, January 26, 2012

FOOD & DRINK

Nosh on nutritious dishes at Jyoti-Bihanga Vegetarian eatery offers a menu that carnivores can love Marie McCarty staff writer The Normal Heights vegetarian restaurant, Jyoti-Bihanga, may have an unusual name, but it’s one worth remembering. For students craving a more wholesome dining experience, this is the place to be. While the restaurant specializes in vegetarian

Sri Chinmoy and his students seek to achieve inner peace and oneness to lead a life full of true satisfaction. Additionally, Chinmoy’s philosophy is focused on physical activity and healthy living, making it an ideal restaurant choice for the health-conscious. The website states the employees of Jyoti-Bihanga are “very attuned to Sri Chinmoy’s philosophy of sports and meditation.” Jyoti-Bihanga involves itself with the active community by offering free meditation classes and organizing fun runs and official triathlons.

The cuisine at Jyoti-Bihanga reflects the philosophy of (Sri) Chinmoy by serving solely vegetarian dishes, as eating meat is believed to hinder the process of meditation ... cuisine, meat-eaters and vegetarians alike will relish in a mouth-watering menu of healthy and meat-free, yet satisfying options. Translated to “bird of light,” JyotiBihanga is owned by Mahiyan Savage, who operates the restaurant based on the philosophy of renowned spiritual master, Sri Chinmoy. According to the restaurant’s website, Jyoti-Bihanga “aspire(s) to create a small corner of the world that is inundated with the spirituality and philosophy of our meditation teacher.”

The cuisine at Jyoti-Bihanga reflects the philosophy of Chinmoy by serving solely vegetarian dishes, as eating meat is believed to hinder the process of meditation and inner peace. Employees of Jyoti-Bihanga are all students of Sri Chinmoy. According to the restaurant’s website, “everybody at JyotiBihanga takes their work as a spiritual service to humanity.” Jyoti-Bihanga’s best-selling item is a vegetarian interpretation of meatloaf,

KATIE FOSTER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

called Neatloaf. To make this dish, brown rice, grains, eggs, ricotta cheese, tofu and spices are blended together and baked, then topped with a tangy, tomato-based sauce. The Neatloaf is served with mashed potatoes, mushroom gravy and toast for $12.95. It can also be modified into a vegan dish

when made with no eggs or ricotta cheese. This recipe is so well-known, it is used internationally in other vegetarian restaurants connected by Sri Chinmoy’s meditation groups. For those with a more conservative palate, Jyoti-Bihanga also offers simple classics such as the Brahma Burrito, “the

ultimate vegetarian burrito,” for $7.50 or a Zen Avocado sandwich for $7.95. Venture outside of College Area’s limited assortment of cookie-cutter restaurants and stroll down to Normal Heights to drop by Jyoti-Bihanga, or visit their website at JyotiBihanga.com for more information.

D A I LY A Z T E C Thursday, January 26, 2012

OPINION LETTER TO THE EDITOR

‘Preachers’: Stand proud

he recent release of the San Diego State College Republicans’ “Teach or Preach” list, and the subsequent media attention given to the aforementioned list, raises several questions. The Jan. 24 issue of The Daily Aztec attempted to question the validity of the list, but missed an opportunity to make an extremely important point. Lx Fangonilo, president of SDSU College Republicans, was quoted as saying, “When teachers are preaching political biases in the classroom, we are not getting the education we paid for.” This statement speaks volumes about the “education” the folks who put this list together are expecting. On the topic of suppression of the liberty of discussion, John Stuart Mill said, “If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error.” The idea is this: When you are a student in a classroom you should absolutely be exposed to a great variety of opinions. Your existing opinions need to be challenged in order for you to reach a truly edu-

Kenneth Leonard English junior cated state. Possessing a spirit of open-minded inquiry is the very purpose of pursuing higher education. As your ideas are challenged, they are either strengthened or demolished through the process of exposure to other competing viewpoints. This is why we are here in college, people. Professors who openly share their experiences and opinions with their students are providing an incomparably valuable service. An expectation that professors will simply and mechanically deliver content and data to their students, without bringing their personal interpretations into play, is a shortsighted and narrowminded expectation, indeed. Students who would follow this list are ultimately damaging their own academic experience by attempting to limit their exposure to ideas that might contradict their own presuppositions. The list is a shameful exercise by the College Republicans, and it should be treated with disdain. I encourage you to embrace a plurality of ideas and worldviews while you are here at SDSU. This is the way to maximize your college expe-

rience, and, contrary to what Fangonilo may think, the opportunity to clash with ideas that are unfamiliar or disagreeable to you is exactly what we are paying for. To the architects of this petty and juvenile list, let me be the first to say: Academia may not be the place for you. You know, ‘cause of all the thinking and ideas and stuff. If you would like to receive data without interpretation, try the Internet. It’s not difficult to find people who will mindlessly agree with whatever you believe in online. Have fun developing your mediocrity. Maybe one day you will be able to find a job as a speechwriter for Sarah Palin, or something. In closing, I would like to address the teachers who were listed. If you were listed as merely a “teacher,” then it may be time to step your game up. Mix things up a little. Let the students know you are an actual human being with opinions and not just a walking collection of rote information. If, on the other hand, you were listed as a “preacher,” then congratulations on a job well done. Remember, you have a responsibility to continue pushing the student out of their comfort zone. Keep up the good work.

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E N T E R TA I N M E N T

L I V E A N D DA N G E R O U S

Tweedy reminisces during a beautiful set Conner Cox staff writer Wilco, perhaps one of the most versatile and critically-acclaimed bands of the last decade, performed downtown at San Diego’s Copley Symphony Hall on Sunday evening. The group is touring in support of its eighth studio record “The Whole Love.” The Chicagoan folk-rock veterans’ comparatively small but dedicated fan base filled every seat in the vintage theater. The show sold out in less than an hour, which has been the case for most of Wilco’s tour dates. At 8 p.m. the houselights dimmed as Jeff Tweedy and company humbly arrived onstage, opening with “One Sunday Morning.” The serene, 12minute track allowed fans to sit and admire the elegantly decorated stage set, which looked like a papier-maché weeping willow tree growing from the rafters. The set added to the excitement and beauty of the performance. The evening’s setlistconsisted heavily of the band’s newer material, but also included favorites such as “Shot in the Arm” and “Jesus, Etc.,” along with rarely performed classics such as “California Stars” and “Muzzle of Bees.” Aside from Wilco’s outstanding live performance, the charismatic interaction between frontman Tweedy and the audience made the show more entertaining. After finishing the first few songs, he joked, “We have so many songs now, we barely have any time to talk.” Later on in the show Tweedy said, “I think the last time we played this song (in San Diego), we were at The

Casbah,” which is another venue known for hosting much smaller artists. Shortly into the beginning of “Box Full of Letters,” Tweedy interrupted the song out of discontent with the quality. “I’m pretty sure that’s what we sounded like at The Casbah,” he said jokingly. Once more they exploded into the same song with more power and enthusiasm. It’s a tragedy Wilco will never be widely recognized as one of the greatest live acts. Although this recognition is justifiably deserved, it’s not the center of the artists’ interest. The members of Wilco are more focused on producing creative and genuine music for their fans, which is proof of why they are so remarkable. Setlist: “One Sunday Morning” “Poor Places” “Art Of Almost” “I Might” “Muzzle Of Bees” “Misunderstood” “Bull Black Nova” “At Least That’s What You Said” “Rising Red Lung” “Impossible Germany” “Open Mind” “California Stars” “Handshake Drugs” “Box Full Of Letters” “Born Alone” “Jesus, Etc.” “Pot Kettle Black” “Dawned On Me” “Hummingbird” “A Shot in the Arm”

Encore: “Whole Love” “Heavy Metal Drummer?” “Outta Mind (Outta Sight)” ANTONIO ZARAGOZA, PHOTO EDITOR

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AZTEC Thursday, January 26, 2012

E N T E R TA I N M E N T

U N PA U S E D

‘InFAMOUS 2’ DLC grounds game’s charge Jordan Pollock contributor

MCT CAMPUS

“InFAMOUS 2” is the superior sequel to the 2009 electricity-based superhero adventure game of the same name (without the “2” of course). Players step into the shoes of Cole MacGrath, an everyday bike messenger who has contracted the ability to absorb and expel electricity. With such powers, Cole is left with the decision to use them for good and become a famous hero or use them for his own selfish purposes and become an InFAMOUS villain. The decisions are the player’s choice and depending on which side of the law is chosen, the end of the game will vary between two possible endings. Let’s get one thing straight: Sucker Punch’s “InFAMOUS 2” was amazing. However, the downloadable content “Festival of Blood” is not even mildly enjoyable. What could have gone so spectacularly wrong in the DLC? To answer that question begs another:

If one has the best sandwich in the world, and a sandwich that was made in the same spirit only with terrible ingredients and gives one the insatiable urge to suck the blood of anyone and everyone, could one still like it? In two words, probably not. Basically, “Festival of Blood” takes all of the quality in “InFAMOUS 2” and adds vampires, while removing much of what made the base game great. Karma scale? Gone. The ability to pick your powers? Gone. Flood town and the industrial district? Completely ignored. Perhaps this has been a bit harsh, so let’s take a step back. “Festival of Blood” retains the slick game-play that “InFAMOUS 2” is known for, while adding a fresh coat of Gothic elements and two new powers to Cole’s repertoire. So now, not only can Cole spew electricity-based projectiles, but he can also transform into a colony of bats, travel a short distance and activate his “vampire vision,” which allows him to see objects otherwise invisible. Also, it allows players to see vampires hidden

among the denizens of New Marais (the game’s version of New Orleans). The addition of vampiric power does add a new dynamic to the game, but it is completely overshadowed by the underwhelming three hours of story. Granted, the story is fleshed out quite well during the short play-time, however, it’s still not long enough to actually care about the story. Bloody Mary, the antagonist of this side story, had potential to be a much more terrifying she-devil temptress of the night, but she just comes off as annoyingly overconfident. “Festival of Blood” is an interesting addition to the “InFAMOUS” universe, but ultimately comes up short in more ways than one. The addition of two new powers really doesn’t help shake the feeling this threehour side story really isn’t worth the cost. However, for huge fans of “InFAMOUS 2” who want to spend a couple of extra hours in New Marais, by all means, get it. For everyone else, this little side quest is best left untouched. “Festival of Blood” sets a charge Cole is just unable to deliver.

U N PA U S E D

BioWare’s new MMO, ‘Old Republic,’ a force Cody Franklin head of aztec gaming As soon as the player’s Imperial bounty hunter steps off the transport in Hutta, it is clear “Star Wars: The Old Republic” is going to be fun. Just moments into the game, players already become embroiled in a planet-wide gang war and a brewing rebellion. Oh, and gamers get paid to kill everyone they encounter. Damn it feels good to be a bounty hunter. Combat in “SWTOR” is quite good compared to other massively multiplayer online (MMO) games. Slashing enemies with lightsabers, shooting electricity from characters’ hands and blowing enemies up with rockets all feels much more intense than combat in other MMOs, especially when coupled with a myriad of stuns and knockbacks. Being able to take on large groups of enemies thanks to the huge arsenal of abilities makes gameplay feel heroic, unlike other MMOs where players struggle with simple one-on-one battles. Player vs. environment game-play is where “SWTOR” really shines. Every class has a unique and epic personal storyline full of rich storytelling on par

with everything else BioWare has created. It almost feels like gamers are getting eight different “Mass Effect” or “Dragon Age” storylines in one game, reason enough to purchase the game. Likewise, nearly all shared quests have well-crafted storylines, which often encompass entire planets. For example, when not hunting down targets for the bounty hunter story quests, players can take some time off to help turn the tide in Alderaan’s civil war or to kill convicts escaped from a millennia-old alien prison. Players also gain numerous different “companions,” non-player characters whom players can pick to accompany them on their adventures or send to do crafting and gathering. Companions also take part in the cutscenes, making the conversations feel very different depending on the companion you bring with you. Dungeons offer great stories and varied game-play. In one dungeon inside a giant droid factory, players meet (and fight) a familiar face from BioWare’s “Knights of the Old Republic.” In another, players complete a marathon of killing and puzzlesolving to gain the favor of the Colicoid species. In yet another, players assault an enemy starship and slaughter almost the entire crew in search of a traitorous general.

As for player vs. player combat, “SWTOR” has much to offer. Three very different warzones are open for instance-based PvP, including the exciting Huttball, which is similar to football, only with massive amounts of killing and a treacherous obstacle course to navigate. Upon reaching the level cap, players can also duke it out

while meant to be an aside to the main game, has turned out to be many players’ favorite portion. Graphically, “SWTOR” is gorgeous. With locales ranging from the seedy cities of Nar Shaddaa to the tropical oases scattered about the frozen tundra of Belsavis, players will come across some of the most gorgeous

Graphically, “SWTOR” is gorgeous. With locales ranging from ... Nar Shaddaa to ... the frozen tundras of Belsavis ... players will come across some of the most gorgeous landscapes to grace any MMO. on Ilum, a planet-sized open PvP zone. However, with wildly unbalanced server populations, it often leads to a horrendously one-sided affair. If questing on foot gets tiring, gamers can hop in their personal starship and take part in numerous space battles, an exciting mini-game that rewards players with credits and a myriad of loot. The space combat,

landscapes to grace any MMO. However, those with a keen eye will notice a distinct difference in texture quality between cutscenes and normal game-play, something that has irked many fans. The one area that “SWTOR” currently suffers in is user interface and systems. Players cannot mod their user interface or even resize it,

BEHIND THE NUMBERS

SPONSORED BY

FOR “Star Wars: The Old Republic” 200 6

though that is coming in a future patch. The games auction house, called the “Global Trade Network,” suffers from an excruciatingly poorlydesigned interface, coupled with often mislabeled items. While BioWare has done players a favor by centrally locating all dungeons, the lack of a group-finding system like the one in “World of Warcraft” can make it tedious and tiresome to put together a group of players in order to conquer a dungeon. Many crafting professions have almost no purpose at end-game, as drops and vendor gear post-level 50 are worlds better than nearly anything that can be created. In essence, it feels as though BioWare forgot about the “massively multiplayer” part in its MMORPG. Overall, “SWTOR” is a great experience, especially for fans of BioWare’s single-player games. While there are areas to complain about, BioWare has been incredibly open with the community about addressing many of these issues. It may not be the “WoW killer” that many were hoping it would be, but those looking for sci-fi settings, space adventures, rich storylines and visceral combat should do themselves a favor and give “SWTOR” a look.

Advanced Test Preparation

The development cost of “Star Wars:The Old Republic,” in millions of USD Time it took to develop and ship “SWTOR,” in years

500

Number of subscribers EA claims it needs to be profitable, in thousands

200

Lines of voiced-over dialogue in “SWTOR,” in thousands, a new record

Copies sold in the first week after release, in millions

Number of hours logged in the first 10 days, in millions of hours

Number of planets gamers can explore in “SWTOR”

Playable classes, each with its own storyline

Advanced Test Preparation

Score Higher, Aztecs!

D A I LY A Z T E C Thursday, January 26, 2012

E N T E R TA I N M E N T

PA S S T H E P O P C O R N

Director Asghar Farhadi and lead actor Peyman Moadi pose with the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film. The film has been nominated for an Academy Award in the same category and for Best Screenplay. | MCT CAMPUS

‘A Separation’ deserving of Golden Globe Andrew Younger senior staff writer Writer-director Asghar Farhadi’s Golden Globe-winning drama, “A Separation,” uses the titular separation of a married couple to expose the systemic failures caused by Iran’s Kafkaesque legal institutions. With the widespread protests (and subsequent crackdowns) following President Ahmadinejad’s disputed reelection in 2009-2010, the solidarity protests with the Arab Spring last year, as well as the heavy-handed government censorship and regulation of Iran’s film industry, it is remarkable a film this challenging was made at all.

Nader (Peyman Moadi) refuses to grant his wife Simin (Leila Hatami) a divorce so she can leave the country with their 11-year-old daughter Termeh (Sarina Farhadi). Simin believes the situation in Iran is untenable and she has an obligation to provide better opportunities for their daughter while Nader is obligated to care for his Alzheimer’sstricken father (Ali-Asghar Shahbazi). When the judge sides with Nader and refuses the divorce, Simin moves out and Nader is forced to hire an impoverished, devoutly religious caretaker, Razieh (Sareh Bayat), for his father. Shortly after, Nader comes home early to find his father tied to the bed,

BOOB TUBE SCOOP

Flag drops for new ‘Top Gear’ The acclaimed auto show on BBC begins its 18th series John Anderson entertainment editor Jezza, Captain Slow and The Hamster are back at it again, returning to the BBC for the 18th series of one of the world’s most popular shows. “Top Gear” has become so successful since the airing of its 2002 reboot it has inspired several spin-off shows all around the world, none of which compare remotely to the United Kingdom’s version, largely because of the charisma of its hosts: Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. The British auto show features test drives, celebrity interviews, racing and commentary about anything relevant to the lives of British drivers. Arguably the best parts of the show are the challenges that pit the three hosts against one another, often with the help of their anonymous “tame racing driver,” The Stig.

“Top Gear” has already attracted some controversy in the last month. The Dec. 28 release of the “India Special” prompted an outcry from critics, including the High Commission of India in London, for having vaguely racist undertones. Indeed, the premise of the adventure was to market British goods to the subcontinent through a series of culturally insensitive, slapstick and often terribly clever challenges. Fans of the show know this is not the first controversy to hit the “Top Gear” studio, nor will it be the last. Clarkson has built a well-deserved reputation for brutal honesty and for not pulling punches, especially in regard to issues he is passionate about. While “Top Gear” is readily available in much of Europe, it is somewhat harder to track down in the U.S. This has led many fans to BitTorrent, but for those who want to stay on the legal side of the fence, new “Top Gear” episodes can be purchased on Amazon Instant Video and some other streaming services. The first episode of the new season premieres this Saturday on BBC.

money missing from his drawer and Razieh nowhere to be found. When Razieh returns with no explanation and a demand to be paid for her daily wages, Nader pushes her out of his apartment. The situation escalates as Nader learns that Razieh is in the emergency room and Razieh’s out-ofwork husband (Shahab Hosseini) accuses Nader of putting her there. Either Nader must pay an exorbitant blood price or face the capricious Iranian court system, risking a lengthy prison sentence with no one to care for his father. The question of whether Nader caused the injury or if Razieh is merely attempting to extort money from him forces the audience to sep-

arate truth from lies and question what exactly was shown to them. In addition to a failing marriage, “A Separation” examines religious divides and distrust along gender and class lines as each character fails to understand the perspective of others. Throughout the film characters communicate through windows and doors that provide a physical manifestation of the emotional barriers between them. Director Asghar Farhadi cleverly uses Nader’s front door slamming shut on Razieh as the ultimate expression of separation and the cause of all his subsequent legal problems. However, Farhadi’s most inspired directing in the film is the single-

take opening shot in which Nader and Simin argue their cases for divorce directly into the camera, forcing the viewer into the role of judge. As the story reveals new insight into the characters’ motivations, Farhadi challenges the audience’s prejudices while commenting on the limitations of the Iranian justice system to find the truth in the midst of social upheaval.

Movie: A SEPARATION Distributor: SONY PICTURES CLASSICS Directed by: ASGHAR FARHADI Release Date: JAN. 20 Grade: A

D A I LY

AZTEC Thursday, January 26, 2012

E N T E R TA I N M E N T

A L L T H E W O R L D ’ S A S TA G E

SNEAK PEAK

‘Dividing’ decisively good Coachella 2012 lineup frustrates Conner Cox staff writer

COURTESY OF HENRY DIROCCO

David Dixon staff writer Spending time with an extended family is a relatable experience for almost everyone. It can be awkward because people are often so far removed from each other that it is hard to find common interests and values. The late Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, Horton Foote, plays on these uneasy relationships for big laughs in his play “Dividing the Estate.” The year is 1987 and Stella Gordon (Elizabeth Ashley) is an elderly mother of three grown children: Lucille (Penny Fuller), Lewis (Horton Foote Jr.) and Mary Jo (Hallie Foote). The offspring all try to encourage Stella to divide her property before she passes away. The problem is the matriarch has no interest in doing so, knowing her kids mostly want the estate for selfish reasons. The plot sounds like an intimate tragedy full of angry and disturbing dialogue. Leave it to director Michael Wilson as well as Horton Foote to make “Dividing the Estate” a comedy that finds the humor in confrontations. Even a person aggressively pushing a swinging door out of rage can be hilarious, because it feels so accurately realistic to the absurdness of life. Retaining most of the cast from the Tony-nominated Broadway production, including two of the playwright’s children, “Dividing the Estate”

features the kind of ensemble that gives quite a few memorable performances. Ashley is superb as the parent who is really the center of the show. Her effortless characterization is believable and her hysterically gruff attitude might have some audience members thinking about their own parents or grandparents. Ashley does not play Stella as some kind of cliché senior citizen. Instead, Stella’s intentions behind avoiding talk of the estate make sense and her friendship with the equally cranky servant Doug (Roger Robinson) brings

makes her very entertaining to watch by letting her bottled-up fury run wild. The only flaw with the production is the ending of Act I, which is slightly predictable. Be forewarned, there is a spoiler coming. By the time a character passes away in “Dividing the Estate,” the moment comes with very little shock, because there is an abundance of foreshadowing minutes before this happens. However, this plot “twist” takes very little away from the experience and Act II makes up for this by maintaining the humor from

Every January, music enthusiasts gather around their computers, waiting for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival to announce the year’s lineup. Unfortunately, this year’s announcement disappointed many festivalgoers who bought presale passes. Coachella has become one of the most acclaimed festivals in the world, in large part because it hosts the most celebrated and hyped upcoming artists. In the past it has featured major reunited acts such as Rage Against the Machine (2007) and Jane’s Addiction (2009). Last year the major headliners were Kings of Leon and The Black Keys on Friday, Mumford & Sons and Arcade Fire on Saturday and The Strokes and Kanye West as the finale on Sunday. The year before, Jay-Z, Muse and Gorillaz headlined. In a nutshell, Coachella’s lineup announcements are always a major event for music lovers. Last May, the live event promoter Goldenvoice announced Coachella 2012 would occur during two consecutive weekends, promising identical lineups in order to accommodate more fans. Though it seems fair to the customers, the new changes

and contractual obligations have prevented many acts from performing. Playing a double-weekend festival also interferes with many bands’ tour schedules. As a result, Coachella 2012 has an average collection of headliners and a weak undercard compared to previous iterations of the festival. Despite the disappointment, some outstanding acts will perform. The Black Keys return once more for the duo’s third Coachella performance in four years; an opportunity many bands never have. Radiohead — probably the most anticipated band in the rumor mill to headline — will perform on Saturday along with The Shins and Bon Iver. The biggest surprises of this year’s lineup are Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Coachella typically books a few rap and hip-hop artists, however most people expected the Beastie Boys to fill that slot. Other highlights of the lineup consist of acclaimed artists such as The Weeknd, St. Vincent, M83 and Florence + the Machine, along with reunited artists such as Pulp, Mazzy Star, At the Drive-in and Refused. Despite the criticism this year’s lineup has received, the festival is already sold out. Ticket holders are eagerly awaiting what will likely be a thrilling pair of weekends

The plot sounds like an intimate tragedy full of angry and disturbing dialogue. Leave it to director Michael Wilson as well as Horton Foote to make “Dividing the Estate” a comedy ... out a gentle side of her. Stella is as strong in these moving moments as she is in the hysterical ones. Hallie Foote earned a Tony nomination for her work as Mary Jo, the younger and more selfish daughter. She is a force of explosive power; especially in a big scene that reveals the real reason for wanting her share of the estate. It is hard to completely sympathize with Mary Jo, but Hallie Foote

prior events and concluding with a delightfully ironic climax. With “Dividing the Estate,” The Old Globe Theatre has started 2012 on a high note. It is another reminder of how stagecraft can be full of keen insight while still being consistently gut-busting. Tickets and information about “Dividing the Estate” can be found at theoldglobe.org.

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D A I LY

AZTEC Thursday, January 26, 2012

B AC K PAG E

FROM THE GEEZER’S DESK

HOROSCOPE

Birthdays and yucky sex

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (1/26/12) You're exceptionally cute on your birthday, so take advantage and soak it up! Allow yourself to revel in love, beauty and art as long as you can manage. Drench yourself in delicious flavors, colors and smells. Drink in the loveliness.

aturday is my birthday. 28. F—. Another year — poof! Velcro Nikes and Bingo Nights here I come! And you damn kids better offer me your seat on the trolley! I hope this birthday is better than last year’s. Twenty-seven saw me paying for my own two drinks and in bed by 11. And 26 saw me getting kicked out of Shout House for what I can only assume was behavior that would make Dionysus blanch. Here’s hoping 28 will be a happy medium. It’s up to me how it’s going to play out, not like when I was a kid and Mom and Dad planned my birthday for me. “Oh gosh, is it Jan. 28? Why, that’s my birthday! Whatever do you have planned for me, loving parents? A party in my honor with cake and presents — oh how wonderful! Oh, and there’s a DuckTales theme? My, it must be my birthday!” (If you’re reading this and want to throw me a “DuckTales”-themed party, I will not object.) I don’t even get presents anymore. What could my parents get me? “Here son, here’s that good credit rating you’ve always wanted.” I don’t need anything. My clothes haven’t changed since Clinton was in office (which I know speaks to my fashion sense). I have all the electronics I want (except for that new Tamagotchi). There’s nothing for them to get me. So they’ll call on Saturday, sing obnoxiously into the phone, tell me they miss me, then tell me what I’m doing wrong with my life and how it could all be magically solved by moving back to New York. Gee, thanks for the best wishes, guys. But they did get me some good presents growing up. I remember a red BMX bike. I remember a Notre Dame starter jacket, the same one all the cool kids had. (To you Californians, a jacket is something people wear when the temperature drops below 50.) I remember Pepper, my Irish Pointer mix. They gave me

Matt Doran senior staff writer many gifts, most of the time the ones I asked for and sometimes the ones I didn’t. But the best gift they ever gave me was an education. I learned much from them. I learned how to manipulate language. I learned how to make a Perfect Manhattan. I learned how to treat people. I learned where the dessert fork goes. I learned how to do the right thing. And I learned the value in being honest and real. It wasn’t long before my 15th birthday that I received one of the best gifts they ever gave me, although I didn’t come to appreciate it until later. The gift wasn’t intentional. Like all their other lasting gifts, they were making sure I was a good person, and they showed me how just by being themselves. The lesson of this story was born out of less than ideal circumstances, but I’m glad I learned it, and I wouldn’t have it any other way … I was a freshman in high school when I caught my parents having sex. I was at the bus stop at 6:55, on time, but the bus never showed. Thinking it had come early and I’d missed it, I walked home to ask my parents for a ride. Their bedroom door was closed — odd. Doors, other than the bathroom, are never closed at Chez Doran. Ignoring the barrier, I opened the door to find my mother humping and pumping my father. Upon realizing my intrusion, the sound my mother let out can only be described as a cornered pterodactyl. I knew what sex was and what it looked like, but I’d never seen it live, especially not a free show of my parents. My gaze lingered far, far too long, although I’m sure it was only a couple of seconds. They were both naked, yet I was the one who felt exposed. I suppose I should be thankful they weren’t doing anything kinky. There

were no toys or aids or weird positions or other people. It was good old-fashioned American husbandand-wife her-on-top sex. I shouldn’t be surprised, though. A conservative, Catholic couple in their 50s probably isn’t into anal beads. Eventually, I closed the door and ran outside. As I was taking my bike out of the garage to ride the eight miles to school, I saw the bus coming down the block. It had been late. Oh fate, what deviant tricks you play ... When I came home from school that day, my mother wouldn’t speak to me. I didn’t understand why she was mad at me, although now I see how embarrassed she was. When my father came home, we met in the hallway. It’s narrow. We stopped. I looked up at him, hoping he would give me a fatherson talk about how mommies and daddies love each other and sometimes that love is expressed physically and a healthy sex life is an integral part of a lasting marriage and how much he loves my mother and me and wants me to understand this is part of love and life. He didn’t. Instead, this is what I got. “What, you think you fell from the f—ing stork?” He brushed me aside and walked into his bedroom. Of course at the time I was stunned and angry. After some time I came to appreciate the comedy; now, I still appreciate the comedy, but I also see the gift. He didn’t make a big deal out of it. He didn’t trivialize it, but he didn’t inflame the situation by having a lengthy, potentially awkward discussion about it. He put it in perspective. That blunt line said it all.

To get the advantage, check the day's rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. ARIES (March 21 - April 19) - Today is a 7 Love's the game and the prize. Be thankful for whatever you get, and there's no resisting you. Push for a raise. Relax and enjoy it. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is a 7 The trick is to remain cautious, even as others get impetuous. Someone needs to keep it all grounded in reality. Do it lovingly. Serve the invoice with dessert. GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is a 7 - A blissful moment sneaks up, and love gets revealed. Resist the temptation to forget all responsibility. Savor it, and keep moving. You're that big. CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is a 6 Elders are in a good mood. Take advantage and make a request, the granting of which could benefit everyone. Don't launch until ready. Rest up. LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is an 8 The job's more fun than you expected. Find the perfect plan going forward. A lucky break leads the whole thing in a new direction. Celebrate with friends and something delicious.

Instructions: Complete the grid so 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.sudokudragon.com Solutions available online at www.thedailyaztec.com ©2012, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

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PLEASE NOTE: The views expressed in the written works of this issue do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec. Letters to the editor can be sent to letters@thedailyaztec.com. Story ideas can be sent to tips@thedailyaztec.com.

Difficulty Level: 3 out of 4

LO O K I N G T H R O U G H O U R L E N S

Photo Editor Antonio Zaragoza captured this photo of Wilco performing under a shower of soft synthetic light last Sunday at Copley Symphony Hall.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is a 7 Get more than you asked for. Count the benefits ... they outweigh any negatives. Slow down and think it over before saying something you regret. Silence is golden. LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is a 7 Find the perfect plan. Postpone a trip and avoid an expensive hassle. Take a quiet evening to kick back at home. SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is a 9 Edit your own romantic dream. You're lucky in love. It's a great time to be with friends, especially if it involves something artistic. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today is a 7 - Your home benefits from your creativity. Love flows freely. Relish a luxurious evening. Choose faith over doubt. Stoke it with candles and warm drinks. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is an 8 - Your mind paints stark colors against blank backgrounds. You see it clearly and say it so artfully. Passions run hot with intensity. Get it out there. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is an 8 - Not everything goes according to plan, but that's the beauty. It's really not worth losing your temper over. Your capacity to adapt is your strength today. PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is a 9 A beautiful transformation is underway. The reality may be quite distinct from how you fantasized it. Don't be afraid. You can do it.

BY THE MEPHAM GROUP, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

SUDOKU

-Matt Doran is a creative writing graduate student with horny parents whose passion burns as hot as the day they were married. Go get ‘em, Tom and Bambi. Email him at matthewtdoran@gmail.com to wish him a happy birthday.

DAWNED ON THEM

BY NANCY BLACK, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

ACROSS 1 Utah’s state gem 6 Stable newborn 10 Emblem 14 “Don’t try to be ___” 15 __ jure 16 Slicer’s warning 17 See 38-Across 20 Passed down, as folk mus. 21 Shop gripper 22 Four Holy Roman emperors 23 ’40s-’50s pitcher Maglie 24 Tangle of hair 25 P.D. alert 26 See 38-Across 33 Silver and gold 35 Absorb, as a loss 36 Via, ą la Burns 37 “__ you clever!” 38 Clue for 17-, 26-, 43- and 57Across 39 Intersect 40 Unlike Wellesley College 41 Board partner 42 Downloadable media player 43 See 38-Across 46 Clunker 47 Cruet fluid 48 Corn serving 51 That and that 54 Proverbial equine escape site 56 Sharp part 57 See 38-Across 60 Plotting 61 Head start? 62 Neutral shade 63 Dry run 64 No sweat 65 Being pulled DOWN 1 Knave of Hearts’ loot

BY RICH NORRIS & JOYCE LEWIS, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

Solutions available online at www.thedailyaztec.com 2 Fictional plantation owner 3 Guitar played with hands and feet 4 Dry 5 San Diego attraction 6 Having limits 7 Makes a choice 8 U.S. Open stadium 9 Rickey broke his stolen base record in 1991 10 “Assuming that’s accurate,” biblically 11 Winter garb 12 Guesstimate words 13 Takes home 18 Rogers’s partner

19 Last year’s frosh 24 Hot sandwich 25 Sequence of scenes 27 It’s not posed 28 Aptly named author 29 Holiday tuber 30 Dismissive bit of rhetoric 31 Highland tongue 32 Legendary seamstress 33 Eponymous physicist Ernst __ 34 Switch add-on 38 “I’m talking to you!” 39 PC key below Shift 41 Wicked

42 Turner memoir 44 Member’s payment 45 Where kroner are spent 49 Disco era term 50 Sign up for more 51 Letter-shaped fastener 52 Optimism 53 Granola grain 54 __ Bing!: “The Sopranos” nightclub 55 Some votes 56 First lady’s garden site? 58 Golfer Michelle 59 Hitter’s stat