09-18-2014

THURSDAY, SEPT. 18 - SUNDAY, SEPT. 21, 2014 • VOLUME 101 • ISSUE 12 News • P2

Features • P9

Aztec travels to Thailand and volunteers at elephants sanctuary

SDSUPD to host open house for community

The 2013-14 San Diego State Mortar Board chapter poses with SDSU President Elliot Hirshman and previous presidents.

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#MORTARBOARD

The award-winning SDSU chapter of Mortar Board will offer a new scholarship for students that excel in academics and social service.

SNEAKPEEK

The San Diego State Mortar Board chapter, which received top national awards this summer, is developing a new scholarship for students that represent the chapter’s principles of scholarship, leadership and service.

The Jane K. Smith Cap and Gown chapter of Mortar Board will award the $1,000 dollar Mortar Board Merit Scholarship to a student who has a minimum grade point average of 3.5 and will be a senior the following fall semester.

“We’re really excited to launch this new program,” President of the SDSU Mortar Board chapter Maxwell Louie said. “We think this is a great way to give back to the SDSU community,” The scholarship application window will open Oct. 1. and close Dec. 1. Louie said the chapter hopes it will become an annual scholarship. The SDSU chapter’s endowment fund will allocate money for the scholarship.

The chapter, which is composed of the top 40 seniors that apply annually, hopes the junior that receives the scholarship will eventually apply to become a Mortar Board member, Louie said.

In August, the SDSU chapter attended a conference in Atlanta, Georgia, where it received the Golden Torch Award.

Louie said it is the second highest honor a chapter can receive, and, according to NewsCenter, it was granted to 24 out of 230 national chapters.

At the conference, the university chapter also received 22 Project Excellence Awards for various projects on campus and in the community, and was also one of five finalists for the Ruth Weimer Mount Award, the top award for Mortar Board chapters, which the SDSU chapter received in 2003 and 2012.

A new project the Mortar Board chapter developed recently includes a new digital format to this year’s academic planner.

“We felt that this would be a great resource for our students, and something that they’ve never really seen before,” Louie said.

In addition, last spring was the first time the chapter used an online membership selection process.

Louie said his organization also worked heavily with other chapters. He added that it was also involved in volunteer service events, such as stocking stuffing for elementary students in Mexico and backpack stuffing for troops in collaboration with the SDSU’s honors

P7 Swim and dive make waves MONICA LINZMEIER, EDITOR IN CHIEF

council.

Jane Smith, the chapter’s adviser, said receiving top honors was no surprise to her.

“As an adviser, it has been exciting to see the chapter win top awards for their work as a chapter,” Smith said. “However, I have been an adviser for the SDSU chapter for over 30 years, and they have always been one of the top chapters in the nation.”

She added that the chapter has been successful over the years because of the support from faculty and the administration.

Louie credits the accomplishments in large part to last year’s leadership team, specifically Megan Isaacson, the chapter’s previous president.

“She really drove this entire process,” Louie said. “And I really look up to her as a mentor. She’s guided me this year and she helped me out a lot last year.”

Applications for membership in the chapter are available in January and due in February. To be eligible, an individual must be a full-time student with a minimum GPA of 3.2 going into their senior year in the fall. The top 40 applicants are selected.

The SDSU Mortar Board chapter is one of six multidisciplinary honor societies on campus.

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2 NEWS

SEPT. 18 - 21, 2014 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: DAVID HERNANDEZ • NEWS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#SDSUPD

SDSU police to host open house DAVID HERNANDEZ NEWS EDITOR ___________________________________ The San Diego State Police Department will host an open house Friday from 3 to 5 p.m., allowing the SDSU community to view the police station and interact with members of the department.

“The purpose of the open house is to provide a casual environment for people to come and learn about what we do and how we do it, and to engage in a conversation about what else we can be doing,” Chief of Police Lamine Secka said.

Secka, along with officers, dispatchers, community service officers and other representatives from the police department’s different divisions will be present. In addition to touring the police station, attendees will be able to view displays of vehicles and equipment.

Secka said this is the second consecutive year the department will host an open house in this format, although SDSUPD has hosted several others in the past.

“We partner with the community all year long, and it’s important for us to understand the needs of the community and what their expectation is,” Secka said. “And it’s important for the community to understand what we do and how we do it and some of the resources that are at our disposal and,

The San Diego State Police Department plans to showcase vehicles and equipment at its open house.

STAFF PHOTO

likewise, some of the resources that are not at our disposal.”

He said one of the big issues the department faces is what he calls the “CSI effect.”

“People expect crimes to be solved in 50 minutes,” Secka said. “We like people

to have a reasonable expectation of what we can and can’t do, and then hopefully with that additional knowledge we can work together to make SDSU even safer.”

So far this semester, recent crimes such sexual assaults and thefts

reported to SDSUPD have resulted in approximately six crime alerts sent out to the SDSU community members.

“People say every year, ‘it seems like it’s more than last year,’ when in fact it’s not,” Secka said of the number of crime alerts SDSUPD sends out. “But it is our attempt to make our community aware of what is going on, and hopefully by doing that make it that much safer.”

Secka realizes students are heavily involved in social media and said SDSUPD is trying to have a greater presence online this year. Secka, dispatchers and other members who have been trained and have knowledge of social media and regularly have access to useful information, regulate the police department’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Secka said SDSUPD will attempt to continue building relationships with students and community members in various ways.

“Whether it’s through technology or through face-to-face interactions such as the open house, we’re going to continue to try to foster those relationships,” he said.

Secka, who became chief of police in February, said he hopes the open house will allow individuals to learn more about SDSUPD. “I hope everyone that comes will walk away with at least one if not more new tidbits that they learned or were able to talk about,” he said.

NEWS 3

SEPT. 18 - 21, 2014 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: DAVID HERNANDEZ • NEWS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#STUDENTSUCCESSFEE

Success Fee to fund student programs MARIA DEL CARMEN HUERTA STAFF WRITER _____________________________________

Aztecs have the opportunity to make use of $300,000 funded through the Student Success Fee this year by submitting a grant proposal by Sept. 24.

The money will be allocated to enhance student’s educational experience and bring new educational resources to the San Diego State community.

Proposals submitted will be considered and implemented in the spring 2015 semester. Although all students can apply, one of the prerequisites is that the activities or projects be open to all members of campus, such as a guest speaker event or workshop.

“Now what we don’t know is if they will fund partial programs, again since this is all new we don’t have a clue how many proposals will come forth how they will be funded, if they will be fully funded or some partially funded, or not funded at all and this is all new in the process,” Assistant Dean of the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts Randi McKenzie said.

Students are asked to try and sway

from conventional resources and come up with innovative ways to apply the funds, such as subsidized SDSU-led study abroad programs, according to an email sent out to PSFA students from the college’s council.

“

ALL THE APPLICATIONS ARE SUPPOSED TO IMPACT A PROGRAM, OR A GROUP OF STUDENTS, OR THE WHO WHOLE CAMPUS .”

- Kathryn LaMaster, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

The funding has a one-time limit and can’t be extended because there is no guarantee of annual funding

for a specific event or activity.

Students should submit proposals in collaboration with either a faculty, staff members, or administrators as support, according to the official guidelines.

After the deadline to submit a proposal, there will be three levels of evaluations in order to be considered for approval.

In the first level, three student peers will review the proposal. The Campus Fee Advisory Committee subcommittee, a student and a faculty or administrator will review the second level. The CFAC subcommittee members will ultimately decide how and to whom the money will be dispersed during the last level.

Chosen proposals will be posted on the CFAC’s website by Dec. 10. Students will be notified before winter break.

Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Kathryn LaMaster is the chair of the CFAC subcommittee and will be part of the proposal review process at levels two and three.

“All the applications are supposed to impact a program, or a group of students, or the whole campus, so the funds will never be allocated to a single individual,” LaMaster said.

Funds will increase every year by approximately $300,000 until fall 2017,

when it will be approximately $1.2 million and remain steady throughout the state.

LaMaster believes that the marketing process has been smooth and that they have reached students through multiple outlets, from messages on Webportal and Blackboard to mass emails, speaking with associate and assistant deans and Associated Students.

“There is no way possible that we’d be able to support these type of academically related programs without the students participation in the (Student Success Fee),” LaMaster said.

In the spring semester there will be an evaluation of the process from the pilot semester to correct some of the glitches from this semesters’ application process. The CFAC’s goal is to make the proposal process as welcoming as possible for students to apply.

“I would absolutely encourage every student to think about what they would like in their academic experience that they couldn’t get without the opportunity of these funds,” LaMaster said.

Students can familiarize themselves with the grant application process online at studentsuccessfee.sdsu.edu.

#MEDIACENTER

Library initiates MacBook rental program J.D. HODGES STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ For students who are tired of lugging their laptops around campus but like using one, the Media Center at SDSU library has a solution. Students can now check out MacBook Pros from the Media Center for up to four days.

The MacBooks are free to rent, and students can check them out from the checkout counter at the Media Center.

They have the Microsoft Office Suite installed, and there are plans to have the Adobe Creative Suite available on them soon.

Later this semester the Media Center will also be offering iPads, Nexus 7 tablets and PC laptops for students to check out.

“It ultimately is a program that supports our mission of supporting the student,” Lapin said. “Other schools have

done it, and it had been talked about by us for a few years.”

Lapin said funding for the MacBooks and other devices came from student referendum fees.

OTHER FEATURES The center provides technical support for students if their departments can’t provide help.

Lapins, who worked in the film industry, can especially help students when they need guidance in the use of editing software.

“We can show (students) how to use iMovie, or similar software if (they) need it,” Lapins said. “Give me 15 minutes with students and I can show them a lot on film and movie making.”

Besides film editing software, students can find help with other projects.

“We can walk you through simple things like making a PowerPoint

presentation if need be,” Lapins said.

The Media Center has an immense collection of music and movies.

“We probably have one of the largest collection of Americana CDs and DVDs in the country,” Lapins said. “I’ve got everything nominated for an Academy Award. It’s not a fluff collection, we’ve got some great stuff in the education and entertainment categories.”

The center also has several private rooms that students can use for group work.

The rooms have flat screen televisions, and the Media Center provides the cables needed to connect computers to them.

“It’s a great place to study and it is quieter here,” management information systems senior Drew Jasminksi said. “It’s nice down here also because you can reserve rooms ahead of time instead of first come, first serve.”

In addition to the collaborative rooms

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there are four “Macintosh Rooms” equipped with Apple computers. Two of those rooms have computers with Final Cut Pro, Apple’s video editing software, as well as a scanner and VCR. Lapins stressed that the Media Center wants to help students any way it can.

“My job is to see students succeed; when they come in with a problem I do everything I can do to help them,” Lapins said. “In the film industry I learned to ‘make it happen’ and I try to bring that here and to our students.”

Not all students are aware of all the resources the Media Center offers.

“I didn’t know about the loaning out of MacBooks, but I can see myself using it in the future,” international business senior Rafael Bedolla said.

The Media Center is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays and 12 to 6 p.m. on Saturdays.

4 OPINION

SEPT. 18 - 21, 2014 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: ELPIN KESHISHZADEH • OPINION@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

Who’sWho?

#ESCORTSERVICE

EDITOR IN CHIEF Monica Linzmeier MANAGING EDITOR Madison Hopkins NEWS EDITOR David Hernandez ASST. NEWS EDITOR Camille Lozano SPORTS EDITOR Kristian Ibarra ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Terence Chin OPINION EDITOR Elpin Keshishzadeh ASST. OPINION EDITOR KC Stanfield ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Nick Knott ASST. ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Ryo Miyauchi FEATURES EDITOR Kelly Hillock ASST. FEATURES EDITOR Chelsea Baer PHOTO EDITOR Jenna Mackey VIDEO EDITOR Wesley Beights DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR Kelly Gardner PRODUCTION DESIGNERS Kate Leonard Mark Anthony Santos

Students walking near Hepner Hall at night. Many students utilize the university’s escort service to walk safely around campus.

STAFF PHOTO

Escort service falls short TABI HOSHMAND CONTRIBUTOR _____________________________________

A

t approximately 11:40 p.m., my friend and I decided to head back to our dorms. Since we live in Chapultepec, I decided to call the San Diego State Police Department and utilize the escort service the school raved about first few days of the semester.

We were told to wait by the transit center and that an escort would meet us shortly. Usually, the wait time is approximated at 10-15 minutes. This wasn’t the case this instance.

A lengthy 25 minutes later, we began feeling uneasy and decided to walk to the dorms on our own. Luckily, we found a group of girls headed in the same direction.

In situations like these, slip ups are not okay — especially a slip up of 25 minutes. What if this one time the escorts showed up late was one time too many? It’s understandable for response times to vary, but that’s not the biggest worry. The uncertainty of response times is unreliable and unsafe. Consistency should be the top priority of this service because misinforming the students can be more harmful than preventive.

A service put in place to ensure safety shouldn’t be paired with time ambiguity and inefficiency.

Administrative Specialist for the university police department, Shawn Brown, explained it is currently working to improve its response times by training community service officers on bicycle.

“Response times vary depending on the number of escorts that are pending,”

Brown said. “Once they are bicycle trained, some of the delay time will be shortened because once they are done walking their escort they can bicycle to the next pending escort.”

What does their training mean for SDSU students? Should students stop relying on the escort service in the meantime, or are we expected to sit back and wait? Although training these escorts will be beneficial in the future, I’m more concerned about what’s going on right now.

Dangerous situations aren’t necessarily put on hold just because escorts are being trained.

Upon these delays, it’s suggested for students to call back and inform the dispatcher. Other recommendations include waiting with a large group of friends, staying in well-lit areas and remaining aware. How is it realistic to constantly be surrounded by a large group? SDSU is in an urbanized community and a well-lit area isn’t immune to strangers.

“We are always trying to improve our program to best serve SDSU,” Brown said. “Should there be cause for any suspicious activity or if any student feels they are not safe, they should report the circumstance immediately to the SDSU Police by dialing 9-1-1.”

The reason for having an escort system in the first place is to avoid situations when students would need to call 9-1-1.

Unfortunately, according to university police, if escorts are pending, it’s the best option when faced with such circumstances.

Business management freshman Andrea Chavez was waiting by University Towers when she requested

an escort to her car.

“They told me that they would be with me in 40 minutes,” she said, “I decided to just walk to my car without them, by the time I got there they still hadn’t gotten to me. They’re no help.”

The escort service is supposed to be of convenience for the students; with a wait time of 40 minutes, that is hardly the case. It’s unrealistic and unacceptable to ask students to wait that long without feeling unsafe and uncomfortable.

“I called at 9 p.m. to be escorted to my car from the Mediterranean Garden,” biology sophomore Marissa Peralta said.

“After 30 minutes of waiting I decided to walk instead.”

It goes without saying not every instance a student has used the service has been terrible and unreliable. But what does this say about its consistency?

“Two people showed up within the 1015 minute window they said they would be there,” nursing freshman Sheryl Warfield said. “They were respectful and friendly. I’ll be using it for all my late night classes.”

All these incidents go to show the amount of inconsistency associated with the escort service. This service is intended to avoid emergencies but how can we, as students, feel rest-assured and safe if we are being misinformed?

Even if there are time delays, students deserve to be given exact time frames, which will then result in their conscious decision to wait around or not.

We are encouraged to utilize a service that is not ready to be used. I am compelled to say it is better to find our own way back to wherever we’re trying to go. This service is appreciated, but its unpredictability is not.

VOLUNTEER WRITERS Tabi Hoshmand Jose Gutierrez Ryan Posner Allison Muhar Courtney Brown David Dixon Maria del Carmen Huerta J.D. Hodges Jazmine Mercado Rosaura Wardsworth __________________________________

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Tony Disarufino SALES MANAGER Adam Zabel SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Radbeh Rabaz ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Alfonso Barajas Shannon Lubar Sarah Richardson Kamila Sikorski ACCOUNTING & CONTRACTS Michael Bratt Kim Le __________________________________

GENERAL MANAGER Jay Harn GRAPHICS SPECIALIST Chris Blakemore __________________________________

What’sWhat?

ADVERTISING 619.594.6977 advertising@thedailyaztec.com EDITORIAL INQUIRIES 619.594.4190 editor@thedailyaztec.com PRINT The Daily Aztec publishes 5,000 copies twice a week on Monday & Thursday during the school year, and 3,000 copies every other Monday during the summer.

WEB Our website, thedailyaztec.com, publishes daily content & breaking news.

MOBILE Our mobile app, The Aztec App, is available for the iPhone and Android. __________________________________ The Daily Aztec has been San Diego State’s independent student newspaper since 1913.

SEPT. 18 - 21, 2014 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: ELPIN KESHISHZADEH • OPINION@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

OPINION 5

#THETACHI

Fraternity rushes with millions ELPIN KESHISHZADEH OPINION EDITOR ___________________________________

T

heta Chi has been all the hype recently at San Diego State.

Initially, I assumed it was just another fraternity getting a bit of buzz about something stupid. It just so happens, this something stupid is worth $4 million.

That gigantic Real-Wives-of-BeverlyHills mansion you’ve spotted under construction on Lindo Paseo isn’t President Hirshman’s new SDSU pad. In fact, it belongs to the recently reinstated fraternity, Theta Chi. If the name is ringing a familiar bell it’s because Theta Chi is the same fraternity that got raided for a drug bust in 2008. Along with five other fraternities, Theta Chi was suspended after a cocaine overdose triggered an investigation that lead to 75 arrests and a pile of cocaine, ecstasy and guns.

After a four-year penalized period, an entirely new group of members clearly haven’t learned a lesson from their predecessors, given that they are allocating $4 million toward building a new house.

It’s understandable that a fraternity as large as Theta Chi needs a large house, but given the infamous history clouding its reputation, properly allocating funds toward causes such as philanthropy or academia seems more fitting than impressive headquarters.

Although this fraternity returned to campus in 2012 with SDSU’s support, what proof is there showing that history won’t repeat itself? What steps is this fraternity taking to ensure another incident, such as the one in 2008, won’t replay itself? More importantly, has this campus not faced enough Greek-related tragedies to enforce stricter guidelines moving forward?

With another fraternity death last semester, a three-story mansion seems a more than a little inappropriate.

Admittedly, 2008 seems like a century ago and the fraternity has completely new members, but what hasn’t changed is the culture of Greek life and the partying reputation various houses are expected to uphold. Merely a placement of a fancy library in this new Playboy-style mansion doesn’t fix the dangers and problems associated with these huge fraternities. Libraries don’t prevent drug and alcohol overdoses, but rules and regulations do. To my knowledge, Theta Chi hasn’t extended any new guidelines ensuring the safety of its members.

“Our vision from the beginning was to be a balanced fraternity that puts academics first,” Chapter President Cody Rominger told U-T San Diego in a recent article.

Although the chapter’s 3.2 GPA eligibility is far beyond impressive, you can’t expect anyone to believe this 24,000-square-foot mansion is going to be used for raging study sessions.

My internal timeline predicts it won’t take more than a few weeks after the grand opening for the catering

kitchen and six private suites to be swarmed with underage drinkers and underclassmen feeling lucky just to have Instagram proof of the moment.

No individual with a 3.2 GPA is immune to drug or alcohol overdose — an all-too-familiar issue with fraternities at SDSU, especially Theta Chi. How many tragic headlines does it take to enforce strict and permanent regulations against these organizations?

In 2012, Sigma Alpha Epsilon President Barzeen Barzanji died of a prescription medication overdose.

Including the two deaths that occurred during the bust in 2008, the 2012 incident makes for a near average of one death per year related to fraternal incidents.

That’s three too many innocent lives, if you ask me.

These short, slap-on-the-wrist suspensions aren’t doing anything to help. Most of these suspensions entail short-lived, alcohol-free parties.

Reality check: that never actually ends

up happening. If anyone has ever attended a truly dry fraternity party, where not a drop of alcohol was in sight, I will issue a public apology.

College students should be old enough to make decisions that don’t completely put their lives at risk.

Judging by the fact that so many of these incidents involve underage students, it can’t be hard to imagine the peer pressure that goes into it.

But who cares? College students party and drink ridiculous amounts of alcohol with or without this oversized playground.

The problem isn’t the partying. The problem is replacing two houses on Lindo Paseo with a $4 million mansion for a fraternity that got busted for drugs, guns and an overdose less than a decade ago. I’m sure they’ll be thinking long and hard about the incidents that occurred under past leadership in their oversized suites.

For the rest of us, it’ll be nice to know how history apparently won’t repeat itself once more.

#SDSUATHLETICS

Special treatment: fast pass to SDSU JOSE GUTIERREZ STAFF COLUMNIST _____________________________________

T

here’s no doubt student athletes receive a considerable amount of assistance to ensure their academic success at San Diego State.

The Student Athlete Support Services program at SDSU includes tutoring, academic advising and even a learning specialist, all meant to provide academic support to athletes. But there should be limits to how far a school can bend its rules for student athletes, especially when it comes to admissions.

It’s certainly understandable that student athletes receive extra support from the school to accommodate for athletics. In addition to the schoolwork every student is faced with, student athletes devote countless hours to athletics, which many consider a fulltime job. This, coupled with the fact that student athletes may have to miss classes when traveling for games, creates a hectic schedule that barely leaves any time for sleeping.

I’m not without sympathy to student athletes who bring national recognition to SDSU. These special programs act as an equalizer to make up for the times athletics interrupt a regular education.

However, student athletes are on an unfair playing field when it comes to admissions.

San Diego State provides special services to some student athletes to aid with admissions and academics.

MONICA LINZMEIER, EDITOR IN CHIEF

Certain schools, such as SDSU, have allotted spaces for special admits. For California State Universities, special admits are students who don’t meet the 2900 eligibility index and/or don’t fulfill the A-G class requirements. To calculate this eligibility index, multiply a student’s high school GPA by 800 and then add his or her SAT score.

There were nine special admits given to the fall 2013 admitted students, all of whom were exclusively student athletes.

This number is low compared to other schools, but there shouldn’t be any special admits considering SDSU is an impacted school. I say this because nearly all of the majors at SDSU are impacted, meaning there are far

more applicants than there are spaces available.

In 2013, there were 74,458 applicants to SDSU. In this pool of applicants, surely several hundreds, if not thousands, of applicants were rejected even though they met SDSU’s criteria. But nine, who for some reason or another didn’t meet the criteria, were accepted.

“You can’t run a premier athletic program unless you have some flexibility with the admission,” Vice President of SDSU Enrollment Management Sandra Cook said.

Surely student athletes are prized assets. Last year, the men’s basketball team brought national recognition to SDSU after making the Sweet 16. For

2013, the total revenue from the athletics department was $42 million proving that athletes undoubtedly brought money and fame to the campus.

But what does it say when the campus bends its rules to accept a potential star athlete? It says it’s willing to treat student athletes differently than non-athletes.

More so, it says a student athlete is more valuable than other students. It said that nine times.

SDSU isn’t alone when it comes to special admits. In early 2010, The Associated Press reviewed admissions data of 120 schools in the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

At least 27 schools were identified where student athletes were 10 times more likely to benefit from special admission programs.

SDSU deserves some recognition for the low use of special admits, but since special admits are not required to be given exclusively to student athletes, they shouldn’t be.

Yes, there are cases where a technicality may cause the ineligibility of an applicant, but if SDSU is going to use special admits, it should do so equally with the rest of the students. The talent a student can bring comes in more than just the athletics department.

But again, given that the number is so low, SDSU should try to go at least one year without any special admits and see how it fares out. It probably won’t result in any major game losses and the school would be setting a higher standard for itself by holding all students to the same level. It would even out the playing field.

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SPORTS 7

SEPT. 18 - 21, 2014 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: KRISTIAN IBARRA • SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#AZTECFB

Aztecs to overflow Beavers’ dam RYAN POSNER STAFF WRITER ___________________________________ The San Diego State football team (1-1, 0-0 Mountain West) suffered one of its toughest losses in recent memory when they gave up a 21-7 lead to then-No. 21 University of North Carolina. SDSU eventually fell 31-27.

The Aztecs got last week off and will now head to Corvallis, Oregon to face off against the Oregon State University Beavers (2-0, 0-0 Pac-12) — serving as a rematch to the 34-30 loss the Aztecs suffered just last year.

The overall series between these two teams is tied at 2-2, but let’s take a look at how both squads stack up against each other this year.

OFFENSE To make matters worse after the tragic loss to UNC, it was discovered that senior wide receiever Ezell Ruffin — who led the team in receiving last year— broke his collarbone, and is expected to miss six to eight weeks.

“You think about those guys like Jake (Fely) and Ezell (Ruffin) and how bad they want to be out there, it makes you want to work harder,” senior fullback Adam Roberts said.

Losing Ruffin for any amount of time takes out a huge factor of the SDSU offense, but the game plan is expected to remain the same as the Aztecs will look to feed sophomore running back Donnel Pumphrey the ball early and often.

“Our game plan every week is that we want to be able to run the ball, our offense is built on running the ball,” Roberts said.

Senior quarterback Quinn Kaehler threw for a career-high 341 yards against UNC. But he also threw three interceptions, one of which went for a touchdown. If you remember last year, Kaehler also threw a pick-six against Oregon State, which ended up being the deciding factor of the game.

For Oregon State, it’s all about senior

quarterback Sean Mannion, who tore up the SDSU defense last year.

“He’s able to deliver the ball from the pocket better than most other quarterbacks I’ve seen,” Roberts said.

The Beavers also have a presence in the running game thanks to a dual threat consisting of sophomore running back Stormy Woods and senior running back Terron Ward, both of whom are averaging more than six yards a carry this season.

Edge: Beavers DEFENSE The Aztecs defense will have its hands full this week going up against one of the most experienced quarterbacks in all of college football, Mannion, who threw for more than 300 yards and had three touchdowns in last year’s meeting.

“He’s a great quarterback with great pocket presence, it will be our job to get after him and get back in coverage,” safeties coach Danny Gonzales said.

Last week the defense went up against one of the more dynamic quarterbacks in the country in junior Marquise Williams of UNC who beat SDSU with his feet and his arm. They now face Mannion who is more of a traditional pocket passer.

“We don’t really ever change our style,” Gonzales said. “We’re going to come after him and blitz him; we believe we can get pressure on the quarterback.”

The Beavers barely snuffed out a win against the University of Hawaii last week, a game in which they gave up 30 points.

Their defense has given up six touchdowns this year, all of which have been rushing. This is good news for a SDSU team that predicates itself on running the ball and has two talented backs in Pumphrey and junior Chase Price.

When these two teams met last year, the Beavers collected six sacks and two interceptions, compared to just one sack and no interceptions for SDSU.

Micah Seau (55), Trey Lomax (14) and J.J. Whittaker (7) lined up against Northern Arizona.

JENNA MACKEY, PHOTO EDITOR

“If we get to (Mannion) before he throws the ball then it will show up on the stat sheet, but either way we need to put pressure on him and make him feel uncomfortable,” said Gonzales.

Edge: Aztecs PREDICTION The key to this game will be whether or not Donell Pumphrey is able to

exploit a weak Oregon State run defense. Kaehler will also need to find a new favorite target, possibly sophomore wide receiver Eric Judge. Yes, Mannion is of the best quarterbacks in college football, but Oregon State’s inability to stop the run automatically makes the Aztecs the favorite.

SDSU 35 - Oregon State 32

#SWIM&DIVE

Swim and dive look to make waves in 2014 ALLISON MUHAR STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ While many San Diegans spent their summer swim time having fun, the 34 women who make up San Diego State’s swim and dive team have been hard at work, perfecting their skills.

The swim and dive team hope to start this season strong after ending on a high note last season. At the end of last season, the team finished second at the Mountain West Championships and sent six swimmers to the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championship.

SDSU’s swim team completed last year with its best finish and highest point total ever for the Aztecs at the national meet; coming in at 27th place at the NCAA Championships. With 28 points, the Aztecs finished this tournament with the highest score out of all the Mountain West teams. The team hopes to be able to continue on with that momentum and make this year even better.

Last season, SDSU had 12 members of the swimming and diving team named to the 2014 All-Mountain West team.

MONICA LINZMEIER, EDITOR IN CHIEF

Five of the six swimmers — freshman Anika Apostalon; seniors Chelsea Bailey and Maddy Dalcamo; and juniors Natilee Ruiz and Whitney Weisz — were sent to the NCAA Tournament last year are going to be staying on the team this season.

Bailey, Delcamo, Ruiz and Weisz

together set the school’s second-fastest time for the 400-meter freestyle relay at the NCAA competition.

Bailey, who set the school record in the 100-meter freestyle, said that although the team hasn’t had any meets this year, this season looks strong.

“This season is going to be an

incredible one,” Bailey said. “We have a lot of new swimmers and divers that are really going to make an impact on the team. It’s definitely going to be the biggest and best group of girls we’ve had in the history of SDSU.” The Aztec’s have a young team this year with 11 freshmen. Juniors and seniors make up about two-thirds of the team this season.

Bailey said the goal for this year is to have as many girls as possible qualify for NCAAs and to take back the Championship Title they held in conference during the 2011 and 2013 seasons.

The Aztecs enlisted the help of a new face to ensure they reach their goals.

In August, head coach Mike Shrader announced the hiring of Stephen Allnutt as the program’s assistant coach.

Allnutt had previously been an assistant coach at the University of Hawaii after graduating in 2011. During his time at Hawaii, he helped the Warriors win their first Conference-USA Invitational Championship title.

The first home meet for the Aztecs will be at 2 p.m. on Oct. 24 at the Aztec Aquaplex against Hawaii.

8 FEATURES

SEPT. 18 - 21, 2014 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: KELLY HILLOCK • FEATURES@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#STAYHEALTHY

SDSU offers health communication JAZMINE MERCADO CONTRIBUTOR ____________________________________ The Health Communication Student Organization started at San Diego State in 2011 alongside the Health Communication major in order to provide academic support and career guidance for students.

Currently, SDSU is one of the fewer than ten universities across the U.S. to offer health communication as a major and is the only program in existence on the West Coast. With the major providing a 360-degree educational approach, students are exposed to a variety of viewpoints both from within the health communication field as well as to perspectives from other disciplines. Today, the HCSO aims to provide its members with professional development, local networking opportunities, internships, and also encourages participation in community service.

While it’s difficult to assign an exact definition, Perry Pauley, a faculty member in the School of Communication and HCSO advisor, explains it as any “communicative activity that goes into shaping our health.”

Pauley goes on to say that health

communication includes everything from international discussions about health issues to private conversations about personal health and wellness.

Health communication is important to students because of the way behaviors develop.

“Research has shown that the patterns (students) establish in your first few years of independence stay with you for life,” Pauley said.

In short, the habits we form now, not only about the way we take care of health but also the way we talk, or communicate about it, will shape how we address our health issues, needs, and questions in the long term future.

Dr. Meghan Moran, an HCSO adviser and professor in the School of Communication, explains why society as a whole should be actively aware and interested in health communication.

“We have a responsibility to communicate to our communities, communicate to help change policies regarding our health,” Moran said.

Moran notes how vital it is for people to be able to pass on accurate, health-related knowledge, understand physiological processes as it relates to health and the choices we make, and to also recognize that people are not always rational when making personal health decisions.

The Communication building on campus houses the communication department offices.

JENNA MACKEY, PHOTO EDITOR

“If there’s a 14–year-old boy and the girl he likes offer him a cigarette, everything he knows about smoking and his good common sense is going to go right out the window,” Moran said.

The HCSO seeks to foster an environment where students can discuss these crucial health-related issues with their peers while also receiving scholastic support and professional leadership.

Members from all majors are welcome, whether you’re just interested in learning more about health communication or plan on having a career in the industry. Possible

careers in the health communication industry include patient education (helping patients manage their medical conditions), pharmaceutical sales and positions as healthcare advocates as well as roles within the government and public health sector.

For those interested in developing a more comprehensive overview of health communication, Pauley teaches COMM 321: Intro to Health Communication. This course satisfies the upper division General Education requirement for the Social and Behavioral Sciences portion for graduation.

SEPT. 18 - 21, 2014 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: KELLY HILLOCK • FEATURES@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

FEATURES 9

#VOLUNTEERING

LEFT: SDSU student Chaminie Dhalayan poses with fellow student volunteers and elephants. RIGHT: Dhalayan poses with an elephant at the Elephant Nature Park in Thailand.

COURTESY OF CHAMINIE DHALAYAN

Aztec volunteers with elephants Chaminie Dhalayan worked on an elephant sanctuary after her study abroad in Thailand ended.

ROSAURA WARDSWORTH CONTRIBUTOR ___________________________________ While some college students focused on their tan this summer, public health senior Chaminie Dhalayan dedicated her time to volunteering at an elephant sanctuary in Thailand.

“I knew I was going to study abroad in Thailand this summer for my international experience requirement, so I decided to do some research on reputable elephant sanctuaries that I could volunteer with while there,” Dhalayan said. “I’ve always been drawn to elephants they are some of the most intelligent, socially intricate creatures in the world. They are capable of complex emotions and are also known to be highly altruistic meaning they often help other species in distress.”

But upon further research into the matter Dhalayan found it more difficult to find an elephant sanctuary that was internationally recognized as humane and ethical. Eventually, Dhalayan found the Elephant Nature Park located in the Chiang Mai province of Northern Thailand.

The Elephant Nature Park was established in 1990 and is not only a sanctuary but a rescue center for elephants in distress. The park also specializes in rain forest restoration, cultural preservation and visitor’s education all while remaining independent of political movements and pressure groups.

“Most of the elephants living at the park were rescued from the logging, trekking and circus industries within Thailand where many endured severe physical and psychological abuse,” said Dhalayan. “I am so fortunate to have volunteered at such a reputable elephant sanctuary because many elephant centers in Asia force their elephants to paint and perform in shows using cruel methods of training.”

One of the most common techniques to domesticate these gentle giants is called “crushing.” According to National Geographic, crushing is when the elephants are tortured into submission often using extremely tight ropes and sticks that have nails piercing through them. The idea is to crush the elephant’s spirit. This practice has taken place for many years and many trainers believe the elephants cannot be tamed

without this method but there are other alternatives. In many American zoos they use a technique called “protected contact,” which trains the elephants using positive reinforcement rather than negative reinforcement. Even though this new method exists, it has proven to be quite difficult to instill in the minds of traditional Thai trainers.

While Dhalayan is sure most people know about the stories of elephant poaching in Asia and Africa she hoped to shed light on how to help.

“According to experts, if we do not take action now wild elephants in Africa could be extinct by the year 2025,” Dhalayan said.

Though preventing elephant extinction is not an easy task, there are many simple ways people can help. One way is by not buying any products that contain ivory. Another way is by supporting organizations, like the International Fund for Animal Welfare, that pressure governments to reduce the distribution of ivory within their countries, and last not supporting circuses or unrecognized elephant centers.

While volunteering at the Nature Park, Dhalayan had many duties including shoveling feces, bathing and playing with the elephants. Watching the elephants interact with each other without human interference was her favorite part of the program.

“It was really special to see them interact with each other naturally, like they would in the wild and is something I would never forget,” Dhalayan said.

In the future, Dhalayan hopes to return to Thailand and continue the work she started with the Elephant Nature Park. For now she is content with getting her health science degree.

For those who have upcoming study abroad trips or just international trips in general and want to volunteer, Dhalayan offers some advice.

“Do some research,” she said. “Make sure that the organizations you want to volunteer for are legitimate and are widely recommended, volunteering as an eco-tourist was truly an unforgettable experience that I believe everyone should try at least once.”

The Elephant Nature Park has many volunteer opportunities including becoming a Cambodia volunteer, where students would work with the Cambodia wildlife sanctuary to

help protect 1 million acres of jungle habitat. Another opportunity to make a difference is to become a vet volunteer: students would work side by side other veterinarians to secure the health of the animals and even a dog rescue volunteer.

To work with the Elephant Nature Park all you have to do is go to their website at and fill out one of their volunteer applications. The commitment can range from one to eight weeks and can be an lifechanging experience.

10 ENTERTAINMENT

SEPT. 18 - 21, 2014 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: NICK KNOTT • ENTERTAINMENT@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#BOYHOOD

Boyhood flick matures into classic COURTNEY BROWN STAFF WRITER ___________________________________ “Boyhood” is a crafty, nostalgic time capsule of growing up Leave it to director Richard Linklater to take something ordinary and craft it into a work of cinematic genius.

His latest film, “Boyhood,” is an epic narrative about childhood-toadulthood transition throughout a span of 12 years, as seen through the eyes of a boy named Mason (Ellar Coltrane).

It’s similar in concept to Linklater’s “Before” trilogy, in which the director checked into the lives of the same two characters every nine years. However, this time he filmed 39 days out of the year between 2002 and 2013 with his cast, including Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette.

We are introduced to Mason at the age of six and see him age until he turns 18. The performances of the young actors side by side with Hollywood greats are more than compelling. It’s almost like Linklater is constructing some sort of social experiment as the audience is invited to literally watch this boy grow into a man on screen.

The film transcends the barriers of typical coming-of-age stories by looking at mundane realities of life on a higher emotional scale in a unique way. “Boyhood” begins with a six-year-

‘Boyhood’ took an extensive 12 years to make, following the actual marturation of the principle actor.

COURTESY OF ATHENS CINEMA

old Mason lying with his back against crisp, green grass and face to the clouds — a perfect picture of childhood innocence. As time rolls on, we’re reminded of the milestones of growing up: first kisses, divorce, presidential elections and graduating high school.

However, the film captures those little, in-between moments that may have slipped through the cracks of our memory as well. Like a familiar taste, they come right back to the forefront.

The fads, sibling rivalries, relationships, financial woes, failed marriages were all small snap shots piecing the film

together as a very reflective memoir.

For millennials, “Boyhood” hits even closer to home. Mason is 18 and enters college by the end of the film, so it’s easy to find connections to one’s own life as he matures alongside the world around him.

“Boyhood” provides audiences with a nostalgic narrative meant to catch glimpses into overlooked memories in their own lives.

Linklater and the film’s stunning cast effectively transform raw realities of daily life into a heartbreakingly poetic work of art.

IN THEATERS...

BOYHOOD DIRECTED BY RICHARD LINKLATER STARRING ELLAR COLTRANE, ETHAN HAWKE EDITOR’S RATING

«««««

ENTERTAINMENT

SEPT. 18 - 21, 2014 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: NICK KNOTT • ENTERTAINMENT@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

11

#TIWILY

Dramedy fights family dysfunction DAVID DIXON STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ Director Shawn Levy is known for broad, mainstream comedies such as “Date Night” and the “Night at the Museum” series. His latest comedydrama, “This is Where I Leave You,” deals with serious subject matter not usually associated with his other films.

Based on the novel of the same name

by Jonathan Tropper, the story focuses on Judd Altman (Jason Bateman) an unemployed and recently divorced man who is not particularly close with his imperfect siblings. He is forced to reunite with his family after his atheist and Jewish father passes away.

His mother (Jane Fonda) tells her four children that their dad requested them to sit Shiva for a week in accordance with the religious ritual.

One of the pleasures of “This is Where I Leave You” is Levy’s laid-back style.

He tends to revolve his scenes around conversations that range from comically heated to calmingly casual. It also helps that Tropper, author of the original source material, writes these exchanges.

Tropper’s screenplay deals with weighty issues including love, infidelity, immaturity and the overall messiness of life. He effortlessly explores these issues in thoughtful ways that don’t take away from the occasionally raunchy humor.

Levy once again casts an ensemble full of well-known performers for his

IN THEATERS...

THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU DIRECTED BY SHAWN LEVY STARRING JASON BATEMAN, TINA FEY EDITOR’S RATING

««««

‘This is Where I Leave You’ brings together distant siblings who get gounded after their dad dies.

MCT CAMPUS

flick. Bateman showcases his knack for chemistry with fellow actors, which can sometimes be taken for granted. He has just as much rapport with his on-screen sister Tina Fey as he does with veteran actress Fonda.

Fey has rarely played such a sad role as Wendy Altman, a mother who is stuck in a difficult marriage. A subplot involving Wendy and her ex-boyfriend

CROSSWORDS

ACROSS 1 Scavenging seabird 4 “You gotta be kidding me!”

9 “Cast Away” star 14 With 12-Down, Rodin sculpture 15 “__ the big deal?”

16 Bustling 17 Sound that may be averted by holding one’s breath 18 “Take your time” 20 Machu Picchu dweller 22 Mashed taro, mostly 23 Promising words 24 1993 film loosely based on the Jamaican bobsled team

27 Cry 28 Graphic beginning?

29 Sass 32 Watch carefully 34 Equipped 36 __ wave 37 Beginning auspiciously ... like 18-, 24-, 46- and 55-Across?

40 Works on, as homework 41 Vocalist Vannelli 42 Heavy reading?

43 Ukr., once 44 Disney World visitor’s airport, on bag tags 45 Bluish hue 46 NCAA regional semifinals, familiarly 51 Acadia National Park locale

53 Word with game or room 54 Like lingerie models 55 Green-skinned movie villain 58 __City: computer game 59 Bull on a glue container 60 Beaufort __ 61 World Cup cheer 62 Anoint 63 Celebrated 2014 sports retiree 64 Site site DOWN 1 Moral code 2 Safari sight 3 Colorful candy since 1847 4 Grass bristle 5 Throw together

6 Georgia’s __Bibb County 7 Enjoyed some home cooking 8 Codebreaker’s org.

9 Tried one’s hand 10 Provides inside information for, say 11 2014 Russell Crowe title role 12 See 14-Across 13 Foxy 19 “You don’t have to” 21 They may be red 25 More than modify 26 Dome-shaped abode 29 “Love Actually” co-star 30 Memo words 31 Chinchillas, at times 32 “American __”: Neil Gaiman novel 33 Sci-fi staples 34 Like acrobats 35 “__ appétit!”

36 Weasel kin 38 “It’s a deal!”

39 Charon’s river 44 Title holders 45 Group with a common bond 46 “Oliver Twist” bad guy 47 Double 48 Grabbed a stool next to 49 Banishment 50 Queens athlete, for short 51 Flour producer 52 Peak 55 Site site 56 Paper with NYSE news 57 Part of HRH

Horry Callen (Timothy Olyphant) features some of Fey’s most touching acting to date.

As Judd’s brothers, Corey Stoll and former San Diegan Adam Driver act less like relatives and more like eternal rivals. It does not take long to believe the two of them have resented each other for years.

Some issues keep “This is Where I

Leave You” from being quintessential cinema. A couple of broadly comedic sequences, including several slapstick fights, do not gel particularly well with the generally subdued tone. Some minor characters, including Judd’s former boss (Dax Shepard) and Wendy’s husband (Aaron Lazar) are also not as well developed as Altman and it appears some of their scenes might have been left in the editing room.

Regardless, viewers will likely find the motion picture to be a humorous experience into the complexities of relationships. In spite of the flaws, “This is Where I Leave You” offers plenty for people who can relate to the dysfunctional characters or just like to watch them on the big screen.

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Prove it!

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12 THE BACK PAGE

SEPT. 18 - 21, 2014 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: KELLY HILLOCK • FEATURES@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#AUTUMNISCOMING

COMMENTARY

Pumpkin spice obsessed KELLY HILLOCK FEATURES EDITOR __________________________________

I

t’s the most wonderful time of year: the leaves change into golden hues and crunch beneath boots; there’s a chill in the air, favorite sweaters are worn and Monday night football returns. Day trips to Julian become commonplace and cravings for pie are intensified.

Okay, well, it’s actually still 90 degrees here in San Diego and most of us are already getting unfortunate backpack tan lines and arriving to class dripping with sweat. Regardless, it really is the most wonderful time of the year. And this time, it’s here early.

The Pumpkin Spice Latte has arrived at Starbucks. This is entirely preemptive of Starbucks, as it’s just barely September and most of the country is struggling with high temperatures. But if there’s one thing Starbucks does best, its indulging patrons with overly priced fantasies nestled in a white paper cup.

Needless to say, the arrival of the pumpkin spice latte presents a unique opportunity. I can now lay on my couch with approximately three fans pointed at me and sip a pumpkin spice Frappuccino, pretending I’m frolicking through 60 degrees and crunchy leaves. Thinking of sweaters makes me feel more sweaty than I already am, though.

Thanks to modern science, the pumpkin spice latte can be enjoyed in a multitude of fashions. Hot (which is

best saved for cooler temperatures), iced, blended in a Frappuccino or with a pump of mocha.

I can’t imagine a world where I’d have no choice but to choke down a hot pumpkin spice latte in a southern California August. Thankfully, I don’t have to. Regardless of preference, this latte is a phenomenon among us all.

In a way, it has become the posterchild of autumn. As we raise our pumpkin spice lattes and rejoice over the changing of the seasons, we Pin pumpkin-related recipes on Pinterest and start buying hoodies and boots like no one’s business. Too bad it’s all just a facade. It’s still 90 degrees outside.

I CAN'T IMAGINE A WORLD WHERE I'D HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO CHOKE DOWN A HOT PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE IN A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AUGUST. The nation’s obsession with pumpkin spice has transcended into all aspects of our taste buds. What used to be a favorite seasonal pie is now a favorite seasonal everything.

There’s pumpkin spice Oreos, pumpkin spice whey protein, pumpkin spice granola bars, pumpkin spice dog treats, pumpkin spice bagels, pumpkin

spice butter spread and pumpkin spice Pringles.

Some of these things should not be paired with the pumpkin spice flavor. This obsession has gone too far, America.

Dog treats? Butter? Pringles? Why? I am fairly confident dogs are only interested in bacon-flavored things and I can’t imagine a reason why I would need my butter to be anything other than butter. The line has to be drawn somewhere and, really, I prefer to keep all my pumpkins in one basket — or coffee cup.

However, it’s only a matter of time before I give in to consuming all pumpkin-flavored foods. Because this is 2014 and Pinterest exists, my autumn cravings are limitless.

Whatever pumpkin-spice flavored food item I can’t purchase at the grocery store, I can turn to Pinterest and find a plethora of recipes from protein shakes to brownies.

Pumpkins are part of the Cucurbita family, along with gourds and squashes, but neither recieve the level of appreciation pumpkins do.

Too bad "squash spice" doesn't sound appealing.

I’m not sure if the weather will ever cool down, but I know I can rely on stores and Starbucks to fulfill my pumpkin spice cravings and football to be playing on the TV. Summer isn’t over yet in San Diego, but the arrival of pumpkin spice everything means it has to be on its way. At the very least, we can enjoy the best of both seasons without committing to one. I can end a day at the beach with an iced pumpkin spice latte and cinnamon candle. What more could a girl ask for?

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AN ELEPHANT PILE-UP

Health science senior Chaminie Dhalayan captured these elephants while volunteering at the Elephant Nature Park in Thailand.

PLEASE NOTE: The views expressed in this issue do not necessarily reflect those of The Daily Aztec.

Express your concerns by emailing letters@thedailyaztec.com

HOROSCOPE HAPPY BIRTHDAY (9/18/14) Thoughtful planning eases your journey this year. Pinch pennies and stash the change. Blast your story to your peeps.

After 12/23, begin a new homebody phase for the next few years. Remodel for changes, and support your family.

Share dreams and fantasies with your partner, building into springtime romance. Love goes viral.

HOW IT WORKS: 10 is good, 1 is bad.

ARIES (March 21 - April 19) - Today is an 8 - Make practical plans for home improvement. Have your space nurture your well-being. Discipline produces results. Take responsibility for something that hasn't been working. Provide great service without talking about it. Action goes farther than words.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is a 6 - Words contain hidden meanings. It's not all apparent at first glance. Focus on new procedures and old standards. Take it slow to avoid mistakes. Meeting your deadlines increases your value. Others see your logic.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is an 8 - Avoid gabbing and put your back into your work, except to discuss methods and procedures with co-workers. Make hay while the sun shines. Write up the details. Count your wages after.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is an 8 - Continue to get personal thoughts down on paper. Carry a journal.

Circumstances dictate your destination.

Your experience is appreciated. It might be wise to get assistance if a communication's not getting through.

LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is a 7 Balance work with rest. There's plenty of action to dive into. Take it on like an endurance race. Thoroughly plan the route. Discuss the potential (and fees) in private. Keep variables hidden. Bring along a companion.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is a 7 - Your confidence is contagious. Look to your career future, and hang with friends in the business who can teach you.

Experience pays. Follow the rules. Keep practicing, and get coaching. Streamline your routine.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is an 8 - It could get chaotic. Rest your mind somewhere quiet for sudden insight. In a clash between art and utility, find a way to be creative without sacrificing functionality. Accept assistance. Friends show you the rules.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is a 7 - Take a trip with a friend. Explore as you work together. It could involve a difficult assignment, or a challenge.

Invest in efficiency. Commitment and faith are your most valuable gifts. Rest frequently.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today is a 7 - Event planning takes priority.

Discover new regulations or costs. Make sure you have your facts straight. Invest in your business. This is what you've been saving for. Don't say anything now.

Love blossoms. You're never alone.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is a 7 - A moment of controversy brings you strength. Heed words of wisdom from afar. Talk about money only with the one who shares it with you. Creative ideas emerge at home. Get outside and walk together.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is an 8 - Lively communications abound.

Assuming leadership means learning to delegate (especially if the job is difficult). You're gaining expertise. The old way can still work. Build the practical platform for future work. Sign papers.

PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is a 7 - Have fun with your partner. It doesn't need to involve a lot of talk. Support each other to pursue a passion. Invest in greater efficiency. Pay for it with your own money. Grab a good deal.