NEWS
3
INTERNSHIPS
4
ENTERTAINMENT
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Vol. 96, Issue 20
2
Thursday, September 30, 2010
SPORTS
CLASSIFIEDS
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BACKPAGE
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SPORTS
The Daily Aztec
Thursday, September 30, 2010
WOMEN’S SOCCER
SDSU starts MWC play with high hopes ELI BALDRIGE S TA F F W R I T E R
The San Diego State women’s soccer team was frustrated. It came into last weekend thinking it could get a pair of wins, but instead went 0-2. So head coach Mike Friesen walked into the locker room after Sunday’s defeat to Cal Poly and looked at his disappointed team. “Who in here wants a fresh start to the season?” he asked. Twenty-one hands went in the air. “Well, here’s your chance.” After a tough beginning to the season, SDSU (2-7-3) starts conference play as the defending Mountain West Conference champs this weekend when it faces TCU (55-1) tomorrow at the SDSU Sports Deck. The Aztecs think this can be a turning point to a disappointing start. “We get a redo on the season,” Friesen said. “And we get to go into this weekend 0-0-0.” SDSU has faced some adversity this season. After an incredible run last year, the Aztecs lost four key contributors. Then, before the season started, senior captain Cat Walker was injured and has been sidelined all year. Because of those losses, the team is very young and is starting seven-to-
eight underclassmen each game. The inexperience, coupled with one of the toughest pre-conference schedules in the country, all contributed to the subpar start. SDSU has played several ranked teams, many of which are in the top 10. The silver lining is that despite a grueling schedule, the Aztecs kept it close in every game, highlighted by a hard-fought 10 loss to the two-time defending champs, then-No. 1 North Carolina. Although the beginning of the season has not gone as planned, Friesen thinks his team can be successful in conference play. “I think we’re one of the better teams talent wise (in the MWC),” Friesen said. “But we are going to need to make some changes.” SDSU faces the Horned Frogs, who are coming off a 3-0 loss to Texas State, at 4 p.m. tomorrow. But if the Aztecs hope to beat their conference foe at home, they will have to contain TCU junior forward Jordan Calhoun. Calhoun already has four goals and two assists this season. Luckily for SDSU, it will only have to play one game each of the next two weekends. The Aztecs can rest and prepare for one game each week, something they haven’t been able to do all season. “We are very excited to get a new start,” senior forward Michaela DeJesus said. “And conference play is where it really matters.”
FORECASTING THE MOUNTAIN
David J. Olender / Photo Editor
The SDSU women’s soccer team believes it can turn its season around when it starts conference play tomorrow.
AT A GLANCE
W H E N : 4 p.m., tomorrow W H E R E : SDSU Sports Deck W H Y T O W A T C H : The Aztecs begin MWC play hoping to defend last year’s conference crown.
Editor’s note: Each week, The Daily Aztec will pick the winners of every Mountain West Conference game.
FRIDAY, OCT. 1 BYU at Utah State SATURDAY, OCT. 2 Air Force vs. Navy, Colorado State vs.TCU, New Mexico vs. UTEP, UNLV vs. Nevada,Wyoming at Toledo NAME: Edward Lewis (27–4)
NAME: Matt McClanahan (27–4)
TITLE: Sports Editor
TITLE: Staff Columnist
PREDICTION: BYU, Air Force,TCU, UTEP, Nevada,Toledo
PREDICTION: BYU, Air Force,TCU, UTEP, Nevada,Wyoming
QUOTABLE: “Cowboys and Aztecs both
QUOTABLE: “Toot it, and boot it.”
have byes this week? Looks like I’m gonna be playing a lot of Madden this weekend.”
NAME:
Agustin Gonzalez (26–5)
VS.
VOLLEYBALL
Peacock has a unique journey BEAU BEARDEN S E N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R
NAME: Dan Perez (26–5)
TITLE: Assistant Sports Editor
TITLE: Senior Staff Writer
PREDICTION: BYU, Air Force,TCU, New Mexico, Nevada,Wyoming
Nevada,Toledo
QUOTABLE: “F--- yeah! Go Giants!”
QUOTABLE: “Would anyone have ever
PREDICTION: BYU, Air Force,TCU, UTEP, guessed the Aztecs would have a better record than the Chargers at the end of September?”
Jessica Peacock’s path to the San Diego State volleyball team was anything but ordinary. She was born in England, then moved to Australia when she was 2 years old. She learned how to play volleyball how to be an effective player there. “It’s good, (but) it’s different,” Peacock said of volleyball in Australia. “It’s not as big of sport there ‘cause we don’t have collegiate athletics. So it’s better to come here, but I still love Australia.” In Australia, she attended Heathfield High School in Summertown, South Australia, and was eventually named to the school’s Team of the Century. Then she ended up at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls. After two successful seasons for the Golden Eagles, Peacock had several schools recruiting her. University of Florida, Florida State, Washington State, the University of San Diego and many other schools wanted the skilled first-team All-American on their squads. But one thing in particular helped convince Peacock to come to SDSU. “I loved it here, I loved the people,” Peacock said. “I visited lots of
other schools and nothing fit. The people here made the difference, everyone was friendly.” Peacock’s first six appearances as an Aztec were off SDSU’s bench, but that hasn’t been the case as of late. She has started in four of the last five matches and had an outstanding performance against TCU last Saturday with 10 kills, eight digs and three blocks in a 3-2 win for the Aztecs. “I think she’s done a great job of stepping up,” junior outside hitter Paije Pearson said. “(She has) become a consistent hitter on the court and also has an amazing and powerful jump serve.” She may have already proven herself to her teammates, but this is just the beginning, she said. “I think I still have a lot more to give,” Peacock said. “So I’m excited about getting the opportunity to show what I’ve got and hopefully it gets better and better.” Peacock will have that chance when SDSU faces off against No. 18 Colorado State at 6 p.m. tonight in Fort Collins, Colo. The Aztecs (7-7 overall, 2-0 in Mountain West Conference play) are sure to be tested. The Rams return five starters and 10 letterwinners from a squad that won the MWC title last season. However, this matchup is crucial for both SDSU and Colorado State (11-2, 2-0) as there is currently a tie for first place.
AT A GLANCE W H E N : 6 p.m. W H E R E : Moby Arena
in Fort Collins,
Colo.
W H Y T O W A T C H : SDSU hits the road for a challenging matchup with No. 18 Colorado State.
VS.
NEWS
Thursday, September 30, 2010
The Daily Aztec
3
New use found for old KCR Radio room
Brooke Valls / Staff Photographer
Students of all faiths and denominations can now use the KCR Radio room for meditation or prayer, located in the lower level of Aztec Center, after registering.
ALEJANDRA PAZ CONTRIBUTOR
Many people on campus may wonder what happened to the KCR Radio room in lower Aztec Center. After months of sitting empty, the old radio room has a new purpose. It is now a nondenominational meditation space open to all students who wish to pray or meditate. Kamilah Albahri, Associated Students multi-cultural caucus chair, said she believes a meditation room was really needed on campus because some students find it difficult to pray outside on concrete when it rains. “The Muslim students pray outside on concrete,” Albahri said. “When it rains, it’s really uncomfortable. There was a big need
for an indoor meditation space (for students) to go in there, meditate and feel safe.” After collecting signatures around San Diego State and going to meetings, the MCC took a unanimous vote to open a meditation room. The room is essentially an extension of the Cross-Cultural Center and will be part of Modern Space in the future. “The Muslim Student Association tried numerous times to find an indoor location where students can perform their prayers and meditate,” Albahri said. “I went to the MCC as (an) MSA representative and told them that we have many Muslim students that are in need of an indoor space to perform their prayers, there’s no place to pray, what can the MCC do for us?” The room is nondenominational, meaning people of all faiths and all spiritual back-
grounds are welcome. Albahri said this makes it easier for Muslim students, as most do not feel comfortable praying in front of people because of the stares. “SDSU prides itself on being a diverse campus and one that is very conscientious of the needs of students,” Albahri said. “A meditation space is something that was really needed. We have a very large Muslim population on campus and Muslims pray five times a day. Three of the five prayers we perform here on campus.” According to the MSA, it is important to pray on a daily basis and it makes it easier to get through the day, as students, if they have a quiet room open to them for meditation. Collectively, MSA said, “As Muslims, it is imperative that we complete our five daily prayers and with this room, we are able to
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easily and comfortably do that. This room amplifies diversity at SDSU by opening communication and dialogue between the many different groups on campus. Any curious individual can observe our prayers and approach us with questions and comments that we will gladly receive and welcome.” Some individuals are concerned at SDSU, however. There have not been petitions or publicized complaints, but some students are not afraid to speak their minds about the new meditation room. “I think that it is a nice gesture and a cool idea but maybe not for a school-funded building,” Whitney Berry, a sophomore, said. “Not everyone is religious and I feel that the school should use the KCR station (room) for something more practical that everyone at SDSU can use and enjoy.” However, Dr. Tanis Starck, director of intercultural relations at the CrossCultural Center, noted that the meditation room is for everyone — even those not specifically religious. “With the collaborative partnership between A.S. and Student Affairs, this mediation room opened this year and welcomes all individuals, including those from multifaith religion and spiritual life including spiritual seekers of all kinds,” Starck said. The hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. The room was officially opened on Sept. 7. To obtain access to the room, students need to register their Red IDs in Meeting Services, located on the top floor of the Aztec Center. In about half an hour, the card will be registered and students can swipe it to enter the room. This is not an area for students who want to use it for reasons other than meditation.
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The Daily Aztec
INTERNSHIPS
The pros and cons of being an intern Although internships can be beneficial, some may end up hurting students DAINA YOUSIF S TA F F W R I T E R
For many students, internships are simply seen as a step in the right direction toward their careers. However, the rules and the generalizations associated with them are more complicated than some realize. Internships obviously have their perks. As a study by The Wall Street Journal points out, the average percentage of entry-level hires who come from interning as an undergraduate at the same company lies between 20 and 65 percent. For many undergraduate students, this is ideal, as they are interested in securing a position in the work field post-graduation. But freshmen and sophomores have yet to receive adequate training in their fields, and because of this, employers are hesitant to hire them.
GET YOUR COFFEE
There are some who argue against hiring underclassmen. In fact, some departments and internship coordinators at San Diego State do not allow students to obtain credit for internships until their senior years, because if unqualified students take internship positions they aren’t prepared for, they won’t fully understand what the job or field entails. Just as interns are exemplified in sitcoms such as “The Office” and “Scrubs,” the fear is inexperienced students will be relegated to running errands or filing papers as opposed to getting on-the-job experience. And such on-the-job experience doesn’t always have the form of compensation that students may want or need.
Even seniors may have to choose between paying the bills now, or sacrificing money for an internship ... For example, if a student in California has an opportunity to intern at the job of their dreams, they must turn it down if it is unpaid and school credit is not offered. Unfortunately for students, internships demand time from students’ busy schedules, and many are not paid. Even seniors may have to choose between paying the bills now, or sacrificing money for an internship they can only hope will allow them to steadily pay the bills later. With a struggling economy and a lacking job market, some students will do anything to get their foot in the door and expose themselves in the field. But this also allows for problems. Again, many argue students attempt to obtain internships too early and without the proper educational training. Therefore, they aren’t able to implement their skills because they haven’t learned them yet. As students search for internships, they may want to keep all this in mind to ensure the internship is beneficial .
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Students gain work experience abroad RACHEL VERBITS CONTRIBUTOR
As finding a job after college is becoming increasingly difficult, students are looking for that special something that will get them noticed when they graduate. Perfect grades and extracurricular activities used to be just the ticket to help land a dream job, but with competitiveness reaching an all-time high, undergraduates need to do more to get companies’ attention if they want to get hired. Students at San Diego State are looking beyond the beaches of Southern California and across the Atlantic for the answer. The College of Arts and Letters offers a London summer internship program that combines studying abroad with the opportunity to gain work experience. Students in almost any major can participate in the eight-week program, and although the internships are unpaid, semester credits can be earned. For $7,875, the program includes room and board, the internship and study course, transportation, university membership and field trips to some of the most famous attractions in England. Students will also have access to 24-hour emergency services as well as health, accident and travel insurance. The fact that the program lasts for only a summer is a perk for busy students who don’t want to study abroad for a whole semester or year. Participants tend to be looking for a more flexible program so they can organize their work and family life around it without putting their lives on hold. For the past three years, Maren Castaneda has been the program coordinator for the London-based learning experience. “Essentially, the students outline what area of study they are interested in,” Castaneda said. “We encourage them to go
into specific detail in what they want to get out of the internship. Once they get to London they have a short orientation and are set up with an interview with a company, and if all goes well the student gets the position. If not, they repeat the process until they find a match.” Experiencing another culture and lifestyle will make for a summer college students won’t soon forget. Internships abroad are especially prestigious, which is good for students who are particularly interested in business, marketing and international relations. “These kinds of international work experiences are a distinguishing factor on any résumé,” Castaneda said. “I recommend it highly for a student wanting to get into (a) competitive job market.” However, because the program lasts for about half the time a regular study abroad and / or internship experience would, it requires more dedication on the student’s part. It’s a more committed course that involves going through the work visa process, which for the United Kingdom, is a particularly rigorous one. For those who are willing to invest the extra effort, the experience is an incredibly rewarding one. If England doesn’t sound exotic enough for a summer internship, programs in Madrid, Dublin and Geneva can catch students’ adventurous eyes. The International Student Center offers even more study abroad internships that people can choose from based on location and their major. For the full list of programs, speak with an adviser or go to the International Student Center website and check out the Study Abroad for SDSU Students section. To find out more about the London Summer Internship Program, go to www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~londonsp. For those who are looking for work, play and a once-in-a-lifetime experience, this opportunity is sure to fit the bill.
Answer phone calls
INTERNSHIPS
Thursday, September 30, 2010
The Daily Aztec
5
Hands-on experience supposed to jumpstart futures EMMA SECKER S TA F F W R I T E R
As today’s job market evolves and changes, so do the expectations employers place on college graduates entering the workforce. More and more, today’s employers are tossing aside student transcripts and asking graduates an even more imperative question: “What is your internship experience?”
Internships are meant to mirror real-world job tasks and not just use students to do the office’s busywork. According to a 2006-07 research study conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates, employers are now more than ever seeking candidates who demonstrate a broader base of knowledge and skills in realworld learning as opposed to possessing “book smarts,” or theoretical knowledge from the classroom. Director of San Diego State Career Services, Dr. James Tarbox, will attest to the importance of student internship experience as a supplement to a college degree in the eyes of today’s employers. “Internships are absolutely crucial,” Tarbox said. “Many careers in areas such as accountancy, public relations and hospitality and tourism management require them from their prospective employees. Internships demonstrate to employers that the graduate is trainable.” According to Tarbox, the first step to take toward snatching this opportunity is talking to friends, family, university staff or Career Services representatives to determine which internship options would go best with the student’s skills and career goals. Students
will want to gain experience in fields that will equip them with skills and knowledge transferable to their future careers. However, students should not fret about choosing the “wrong” internship. These opportunities can be just as helpful in weeding out careers students might not be well-suited for, or exposing students to other jobs within the field they may prefer that they had never before considered. SDSU alumnus and NBC San Diego television anchor and reporter, Artie Ojeda, informed a classroom of SDSU television and journalism enthusiasts this week how instrumental his college internship with Channel 8 was in getting him to where he is today.
organize your files
“Networking was the most valuable aspect of my internship,” Ojeda said. He explained the story of a contact he had made during his internship viewing him on television years later, and offered him the job with NBC he still has today. Students should waste no time beginning to research internships they would like to pursue. Though not difficult to find, internships must be applied to in advance and require students to be proactive. Tarbox stated the best time for students to assume internships is during their junior or senior years of
college when they have developed adequate time-management skills and an academic foundation to build upon. Entering into an internship too early, Tarbox warned, can impede a student’s academic and social development and can actually work against a student’s future career. Internships can be time-consuming, typically asking students to devote anywhere from 10 to 15 hours per week during the school year and up to 40 hours a week during the summer. Because of this, students with part-time jobs
Brooke Valls / Staff Photographer
might have a difficult time squeezing an internship into their schedules, and in some cases may have to make a decision between keeping their jobs or starting an internship. However, there are internship classes for select majors (about 45 of the 81 majors offer them) students can take through SDSU that earns them school credit along with the internship experience, which will help students who have to work for a living kill two birds with one stone. To take full advantage of their internships, students should speak with whomever is in charge of the position they are interning for from the beginning to make sure duties and job tasks are clearly defined. While students may have to carry out menial tasks such as making copies and fetching coffee some of the time, it is important the students’ help is not abused. Tarbox explained the percentage of actual field experience students can expect to receive from their internships ranges from 100 percent in internships such as accountancy to
about 60 percent in others. Students should never feel as though they are wasting their time. Internships are meant to mirror real-world job tasks and not just use students to do the office’s busywork. Tarbox also recommends students whose interests do not have a relevant internship offered to speak with different businesses about creating one. This might seem far-fetched, but brave students have been successful in doing this in the past. Internships are an avenue for students to prepare themselves for their future careers and the awaiting job market after graduation. Employers in today’s world look strongly toward their applicants’ extracurricular activities and field experience, making college transcripts and GPAs perhaps less essential. Fortunately for students at SDSU, many internship opportunities are available and accessible to all students, and those who are interested in learning more about this process are encouraged to visit the SDSU Career Services center or search for internships online through the career services.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
ENTERTAINMENT
The Daily Aztec
7
PASS THE POPCORN
Fincher’s film will have 500 million fans MAGGIE PEHANICK E N T E R TA I N M E N T E D I T O R
It’s no wonder Facebook magnate and target of new film, “The Social Network,” Mark Zuckerberg, has publicly denounced the validity of Friday’s surefire blockbuster. Director David Fincher paints Zuckerberg as shrewd, emotionless and vengeful. Whether the portrayal is closer to caricature than truth is in dispute. One thing that isn’t? Fincher’s take is artful, intriguing and truly fascinating. Rarely do audiences walk away from a Fincher film wondering what to eat for dinner. Fincher has a way of capturing imaginations and creating a world with brilliant stories, scripts and characters. Although this time he takes a number of creative liberties with the true story of the inception of Facebook, “The Social Network” is no less intriguing than the director’s previous cinematic successes such as “Se7en,” “Fight Club” and “Zodiac.” The film begins at Harvard University in 2003, with a young Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) explaining the importance of being accepted into a final club to his girlfriend (Rooney Mara). According to Zuckerberg, affiliation with a final club is the key to achieving popularity, friends and ultimately, a wonderful future. This theme of elitism and restricted access is one that carries throughout the whole film. Soon after his girlfriend breaks up with him in the opening scene, he launches a full-scale virtual character assassination. Unfortunately, because of the historical limitations of pre-Facebook world, Mark is forced to use old-school blog sites such as LiveJournal to disseminate his scathing remarks. From his booze-induced
Courtesy of Sony Pictures Publicity
Jesse Eisenberg said he didn’t want to replicate the real Mark Zuckerberg’s mannerisms or qualities. Rather, he created a cynical and complicated character of his own.
rant, an idea is born. Hacking into the university’s directories, Mark creates Facemash, a program that allows students to compare photos of two students and select who is the better looking of the two. A relatively simple concept in light of today’s Web capabilities, but the site garners enough hits to crash the network, capture the attention of the faculty, and more importantly, the attention of the charming and athletic Winklevoss twins. The twins, both skillfully played by Armie Hammer, have an idea for a Harvard dating site, an idea Zuckerberg agrees to collaborate on. After weeks of dodging e-mails and being shady with his co-conspirators, he launches his own site, The Facebook, financially backed by his best friend, Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield).
According to Zuckerberg, The Facebook is built on the idea of “taking the entire social experience of college and putting it online.” While audiences know how the story ends — with 500 million Facebook accounts worldwide and Zuckerberg as one of the world’s youngest billionaires — many may not be familiar with the scandal and lawsuits that led to Facebook’s status as the No. 1 social networking site. In the backdrop of Harvard’s acapella singers and crew team, Fincher crafts an atmosphere of dark exclusivity and a main character fueled by lack of acceptance and trapped by the ego of his own potential. Eisenberg is the ideal actor to portray Zuckerberg. He is not a blank slate, rather a vessel for clever dialogue, this time deepened by an inner sadness carefully covered by defensive pretentiousness. Accom-
panying Eisenberg is a combination of established and up-and-coming players. Andrew Garfield, a name soon to be synonymous with the “Spiderman” franchise, plays Saverin, while Justin Timberlake — who apparently had to beg for the role — tackles yet another winning performance as Napster founder and Bay Area bum Sean Parker. So while Zuckerberg may be actively boycotting the film, ultimately the majority of those sitting in the theater seats will likely leave the cinema and check their Facebook pages. Clearly, the guy did something right.
Movie: The Social Network Directed by: David Fincher Release Date: Oct. 1 Grade: A
ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE
First play of the semester sets the bar high DAVID DIXON S TA F F W R I T E R
“The Labyrinth of Desire” is an inventive adaptation of a 400-year-old play, “La prueba de los ingenious.” The complex plot begins with an intelligent woman named Florela (Rachel Dexter) scheming to get revenge on her ex-fiancé, Alejandro (Matthew Curley). Florela tells her friend Ricardo (Chris Wollman) that Alejandro wants to marry Laura (Sophie Ethridge), the daughter of a wealthy duchess (Marie Dasteel). Incognito and with a new name, Florela meets Laura and asks if she can be her secretary. Upon agreeing, they start to become
close friends. While their friendship progresses, Laura knows that she needs to find a husband in order to please her mother. She plans to host a tournament to see who will make the ideal mate of the men interested in her. In a bizarre plot twist, Florela falls for Laura, and wonders if there is any way they can end up together. “The Labyrinth of Desire” is similar to William Shakespeare’s comedies, including “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Twelfth Night.” Several elements that bring to mind the famous playwright are themes of unrequited love, mistaken identity and instances where certain characters speak in soliloquy. Shakespeare’s influence complements the show and makes the play stronger.
There are many standout performances that give the production energy and humor. Jon Wat earns a good amount of laughs as Camacho, a smart messenger boy with a sarcastic personality. Curley, perfectly cast as Alejandro, plays the role as an insecure man with brief moments of narcissism. Dexter is conniving and clever as Florela, and does a fine job of showing vulnerability as the show progresses. Sophie is engaging and has a warm stage presence that makes her a character easily likeable. Co-directors Peter Cirino and Delicia Turner Sonnenberg and the production staff should be noted for making “The Labyrinth of Desire” an enjoyable experience. The sound board operator, Shaun Rosten, played clips of
songs to occupy scene changes, including a memorable mash-up of “The Andy Griffith Show” and Beyoncé Knowles’ “Single Ladies.” While “The Labyrinth of Desire” takes place in modern times, the costumes have an enchanting old-fashioned feel to them. “The Labyrinth of Desire” is very easy to recommend, because it manages to be an entertaining, engaging and timeless story about how true love is not easily attained. Thanks to a confident cast and Caridad Svich’s humorous writing, it makes for an enjoyable night at the theater. “The Labyrinth of Desire” is playing at San Diego State’s Experimental Theatre until Oct. 3. Tickets and information can be found at theatre.sdsu.edu.
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The Daily Aztec
ENTERTAINMENT
Thursday, September 30, 2010
PASS THE POPCORN
‘Superman’ may be children’s only hope for future Documentary tackles the challenges facing American children MORGAN DENNO S TA F F W R I T E R
No, “Waiting for ‘Superman’” isn’t about the actual Superman, but just as everyone loves the iconic comic book hero, everyone will love this film. The documentary is about the failing public education system in America, which seems to be a relevant topic because almost everyone in the country is affected by public schooling. It’s easy to remember a teacher who inspired and another teacher who didn’t motivate. Learning has become plagued with the “wrong teachers” in the “wrong schools” in the “wrong areas.” The film weaves through the journeys of five children hoping to get out of the typical public school forum by getting accepted into charter schools. “Waiting for ‘Superman’” allows audiences to wonder if America really does need a hero to save our children from the mess our schools have become. “Waiting for ‘Superman’” is directed and co-written by Davis Guggenheim, who is most well-known for his 2006 Academy Award-winning film, “An Inconvenient Truth.” Not only has Guggenheim worked with Al Gore, but he has since collaborated with President Barack Obama and even with Jack White, The Edge and Jimmy Page in his 2008 documentary “It Might Get Loud.” However, experiences with his own children are what encouraged him to take on this challenge of epic proportions. The film presents the public education system’s statistics in a simple and easily illus-
trated way, allowing viewers to absorb the information while effortlessly learning. The heartbreaking interviews show the complete vulnerability of these children whose future lay entirely in the hands of fates. Anthony, a fifth grader living in Washington D.C., resides in the part of the country with the lowest reading proficiency scores. He says, “I want my kids to have a better life than what I have.” The Washington Post called Anthony’s future middle school an “academic sinkhole,” which means his only hope of receiving a quality education is to get accepted into a charter school. Daisy, another fifth grader, lives in Los Angeles with her two parents who never graduated from high school. Daisy wants to become a veterinarian or doctor and has already written to colleges asking them to please keep a spot open for her. Despite her best efforts, her future high school has been deemed a “dropout factory,” and a charter school in her nearby East L.A. neighborhood would be a chance at a better education. However, because these charter schools have so many applicants and so few available spots, their acceptance processes are limited to a “lottery” system. The film takes a pro-charter school stance, but suggests that if public schools had better teachers, more attention was given to students and there was a unified learning curriculum, the public education system would work more efficiently. The film is powerfully executed, the interviews are filled with vulnerable emotions and the facts are represented in simple ways that can be easily understood. “Waiting for ‘Superman’” is a mustsee movie for everyone.
Movie: Waiting for ‘Superman’ Directed by: Davis Guggenheim Release Date: Oct. 8 Grade: A
Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Davis Guggenheim’s documentary is being praised by critics as having the potential to change the nation.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
ENTERTAINMENT
The Daily Aztec
9
LIVE AND DANGEROUS
Phoenix soars above expectations at Open Air Theatre
Its performance had audience members ‘hooked on Pheonix’ DAVID J. OLENDER PHOTO EDITOR
France brought the Statue of Liberty to the U.S., Americans put the French into fries and now an immensely popular alternative rock group. This year, Versailles’s own Phoenix has come
blazing onto to the American rock scene faster than the rise and fall of MC Hammer. Last Tuesday, the group heated up San Diego State’s Open Air Theatre, accurately translating its pitch-perfect album sound to the stage on this year’s world tour. The band tore through song after song, opening with “Lisztomania,” stopping momentarily to relocate to the soundboard to the middle of the arena. Lead singer Thomas Mars voiced three solos backed by acoustic guitar, one of which he sang in French. The language change was interesting and though Mars was most likely trying to gain a
David J. Olender / Photo Editor
David J. Olender / Photo Editor
more intimate connection to his audience, this brief part of the show felt slightly awkward and untimely. It was late in the show and the slow and steady pace made it seem as if Phoenix was about to end its set without having yet played the resounding “1901.” To the surprise of many, the group’s most popular song sounded from center stage immediately after the calming French serenade, reviving the energy of the audience and reminding all the crowd members why they bought a ticket in the first place. Phoenix was absolutely amazing live and the night could not have concluded any better
than it did: with thousands of screaming voices chanting the chorus to “1901.” The intense design of lights that hovered over the front of the stage was a fantastic visual complement to the live music. The solos may not have been as soothing as intended, but the bulk of the show was fast-paced and Mars had spectators fully engaged as he played songs from the band’s last year’s album, “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.” Phoenix is both a mythical creature and the capital of Arizona, but today it stands alone as an excellent live show. Reminiscent of The Killers, Phoenix is easy to listen to and makes its genius appear effortless. Merci, Phoenix.
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ENTERTAINMENT
The Daily Aztec
SNEAK PEEK
Thursday, September 30, 2010
TURN IT UP
Lead vocalist promises Spoon Kottonmouth Kings’ new album fans a smashing performance is nothing new for the rappers ent tracks with the same common denominator. Many songs in this album are an ode to various legal and illegal substances, marijuana being the most revered of all. In the song “Reefer Madness,” the rap group takes an educated stance as to why marijuana has not been legalized. One group member speculates, “Got a black president. In my mind, in my time that s----s unbelievable. I love Obama, I love all people, I just can’t believe that a plant’s not legal!” Other standout songs in this album include “F--- the Police,” which has a similar sound as the song “Teach Me How to Dougie” by Cali Swag District. The group ends the album with a more acoustic, almost sentimental approach in the song “Simple and Free.” While other groups tend to grow with new releases, Kottonmouth Kings stay stagnant with its marijuana-centric lyrics. Its list of albums reads like a roster of failed Pauly Shore movies: “Hidden Stash II: The Kream of the Krop,” “High Society,” “Rollin’ Stoned,” and “Fire It Up” are among the less than clever titles. Though the words may be humorous, it can hardly be called quality music. Twenty tracks later, Kottonmouth Kings fans have one more album from this group to weed out from their iTunes libraries.
The California group’s tracks run high with illegal references ERIKA CUEVA S TA F F W R I T E R
Courtesy of Nasty Little Man
MAGGIE PEHANICK E N T E R TA I N M E N T E D I T O R
Spoon: not just the world’s handiest eating utensil, also an inventive indie-rock band headed to Soma this Friday. Chances are, anyone who has watched the late teen dramas “The O.C.” or “Veronica Mars” has heard its pop beats. The band’s tunes were featured on the soundtracks of feature films such as 2006’s “Stranger Than Fiction” and “(500) Days of Summer,” among others. The alternative rockers have achieved mainstream popularity, especially with younger listeners. Perhaps the band’s most memorable hit is the 2002 working-class youth anthem, “The Way We Get By.” Also on the radio waves are 2005’s “I Turn My Camera On” and most recently, the 2008 single “Don’t You Evah.” In January, the popular group released its newest album, “Transference,” which debuted
at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. Of the 11 tracks on the album, lead singer Britt Daniel said his favorite tracks are “Out Go the Lights” and “Nobody Gets Me But You.” Daniel said “Transference” has a very different style than Spoon’s previous hits, as the group drew inspiration from New York, where the album was recorded. “It’s not as radiorific,” he said. “The tracks are less produced. They are the versions we did for ourselves, then we just liked them.” Friday will mark the Portland-based group’s first appearance at Soma. So why should students make a pilgrimage down to the San Diego venue? According to Daniel, the group has its own sound and though it doesn’t “reinvent the wheel,” it does put on one hell of a good show. Tickets are $28 and Spoon takes the stage at 7 p.m. For more information about Spoon, visit its website at spoontheband.com. For tickets and concert information, visit Soma’s website at somasd.com.
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After 15 years and several marijuanathemed albums, rap group Kottonmouth Kings has released yet another album that stays true to its roots. “Long Live the Kings” will not disappoint any diehard Kottonmouth Kings fans. Those who haven’t heard this album have missed nothing apart from a filthy, guilty pleasure.
Other standout songs in this album include ‘F--- the Police,’ which has a similar sound as the song ‘Teach Me How to Dougie’ by Cali Swag District.
Artist: Kottonmouth Kings Album: Long Live the Kings Label: Suburban Noize Records Grade: D -
This album is festering garbage. The subject matter in this album is unwavering from Kottonmouth Kings’ past endeavors. The Insane Clown Posse, Big B and Tech N9ne are featured on three differ-
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My accidental night in Mexico
I
jotted the following down after it happened freshmen year. This is, by no means, a typical Tijuana, Mexico story: It was dark, and clouds of pollution filled the sky. We were in Tijuana. It was supposed to be a night of experiences, one filled with drinking and the potential to see something blatantly f—-ed up. Expectations of witnessing a donkey show made me giddy. These hopes proved to be nothing more than pipe dreams of youthful glamorization. Cheap beer fueled my fury as we eagerly bounced from club to club. At some point we arrived at a popular nightspot, and I quickly took the liberty of entering the club first. An hour or so passed before I discovered a text stating my companions had been denied entry into said club. I would have been unnerved in any other situation, but my drunken buffoonery led me to believe otherwise. I was in Tijuana and nothing could break my high hopes set prior to this journey. Comprehending the blurred words, I was further led to believe my companions had taken a taxi back across the border. I walked outside and dealt with the reality that I was alone. At this point, I was stumbling to and fro, unable to see a hundred feet in front of me. Then my luck changed. A local girl started walking next to me. “You want f—-?” she candidly inquired. “No, no. I don’t want that.” Visibly a hooker, I had a disinterest in exposing my penis to any sort of bio-toxic environment. Then something happened. She started fondling me, and I shrieked in surprise. I gathered myself and told her I wasn’t interested. I continued walking. Eventually, I turned to my right and saw that she has disappeared into the night. My Tijuana fling had vanished. Oh well. I reached in my pocket for my phone only to find it missing. It took me a moment to comprehend why. The Tijuana prostitute stole it. She rubbed me to distract from her thievery. How devious. I had no phone, no dinero, no knowledge of Spanish and no way
C O N T AC T GENERAL INFORMATION
NOAH HENRY S TA F F C O L U M N I S T
of leaving Mexico. I found it difficult to find an ATM machine. My mind was a flurry of crazed neurons. I couldn’t act or think in a way that could productively change my circumstances. I decided to sleep for a few hours on somebody’s apartment doorstep. It was potentially a bad decision, considering the possibility that the person who lives there could dissect people and sell their organs on Craigslist. But, it was where I passed out at 3 a.m. At some point, the man came home and stood over me in contempt. “Sorry,” I said, and got up. I then moved to a narrow alley and hid there for no particular reason. I was pretty sure murders had happened in that alley. I moved locations again and walked back to the apartment doorstep to lie down. Rain fell on my face. Flash ahead to 5 a.m. when I’m a little bit more sober – but not by much. I decide to make an attempt to travel across the border. My logic was that I’d find an ATM, take a taxi and then take the San Diego trolley home. Upon entering the streets, I found the city vacant. Parks, streets, buildings – empty. Everyone had scurried back to their dens. But there was someone else out on the street. Who could this be? It turned out to be someone about my age. He was a local boy who probably just got off work selling seashells. He didn’t speak English, but I could still communicate to him that I was looking for the border. I hoped he wouldn’t fondle me and steal my wallet. We walked together for a while. He informed me the border was that way. He pointed in no particular direction, “Este camino!” I didn’t trust his judgment because I was skeptical of Mexicans at the moment. But I went anyway. I walked for a while along a main street. I saw cramped businesses, vibrantly strewn colors of yellow and red, plastic and other pollutants and the occasional tumbleweed. No border anywhere. No signs that could direct my drunk-
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en disarray. Nothing. There was a faint shade of sunrise indicating the morning was near. I walked, a gringo pilgrim making his way to Mecca. But nothing changed. Still the same streets, same crappy cars and same shame that I was spending the night in T.J. Then, off in the distance, appeared a taxi. It was coming to save me and take me away. Hopefully this driver would take me to an ATM so I can pay him. He stopped and I got in the back. “ATM?” I said. “Sí,” he said. Cool. It felt like we were driving with boulders instead of wheels. I could actually feel the car slipping, devoid of traction. We arrived at an ATM. I prayed that my card would work and shoved it in the slot. It worked. I pulled out $60 and thanked Jesus. I collapsed in the back seat. “Take me to the border.” The fee rapidly climbed, and I wondered if this was just some more Mexican chicanery. Maybe he tampered with the fare calculator so that it demanded more money. A—hole. I was still sluggish as we arrived at the border crossing, and I was flabbergasted at the monumental fee. Forty dollars. Forty dollars for a measly five-minute drive? Whatever. I paid the man and exited the cab. I had arrived. No more weirdness, no more anxiety and no more fear of being shanked by Danny Trejo. I was free. I waited in the customs line as I thought about the delirious and dreamlike countenance of the night. I could have died. Maybe I trust people too much. Maybe my impulsive curiosity will someday endanger me. Maybe I’m lucky. As I reminisce, I saw a sign that gave the Mexican exchange rate: 1 USD = 14.575 Mexican Pesos. And then I ponder the possibility that Mexican taxis calculate dollars instead of pesos. Not likely. Damn. I’m never drinking again.
—Noah Henry is an English senior. —This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec.
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BY LINDA C. BLACK, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (9/30/10) Your own imagination generates questions that are central to your happiness. Evaluate ideas first in seclusion. Then activate them throughout the year, one at a time, and measure progress regularly. Later dreams show where and when to change course. ARIES (March 21 - April 19) - Today is a 5 - Divide your time between imaginative group activities and personal meditations. You need to sort out logical questions. Share results. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is a 6 - A casual meeting at a social event crystallizes an idea you have for a gift. You're certain that your partner will love it. GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is a 6 - Your own imagination can get you in trouble if you don't bring it down to earth somehow. Refocus your intention in a more public direction. CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is a 7 - The month ends on a note of adaptation to the needs of others. You have a broader perspective about interdependence after today. Contribute and prosper. LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is a 6 - An associate asks a tricky question, and you must resolve a problem now. Make sure you understand the details, before you blurt out your lucky response. VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is a 6 - A co-worker suggests that you can do
all the work yourself. You're not so sure. Ask questions and then divide it up more fairly. LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is a 6 A younger person demands greater independence. You struggle with preconceptions about their maturity. Lengthen the leash in a safe direction. SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is a 5 - A call from home may pull you out of a meeting. You can probably resolve the problem in a moment. Maybe they just need to hear your voice. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today is a 5 - Messages become garbled in transmission. Before you do anything, repeat back what you heard and clear up all questions. You'll be glad you did. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is a 5 - You may worry over financial independence unnecessarily. A professional provides inspiration and advice, setting you in a new, positive direction. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is a 5 - The fabulous outcome you anticipate can be yours. If you want something done right, do it yourself. Delegation reaps half today. PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is a 5 - Doubts about your role in a partnership activity resolve when you ask questions. Then your intuition matches logical reality. Accept the offer. © 2010, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.
SUDOKU
BY THE MEPHAM GROUP
Level:
1 2
3 4
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.sudoku.org.uk.
Solution available online at www.TheDailyAztec.com © 2010 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.
CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Bouillabaisse base 6 “Coffee Cantata” composer 10 “Once I had ... love and it was __”: Blondie lyric 14 So out it’s in 15 In unison, musically 16 Caffeine source 17 One of Israel’s 12 tribes 18 Bird bonnet? 20 Shows scorn 22 Director Wertmüller 23 Hound over a debt 24 Bird boo-boo? 26 Ruby of “A Raisin in the Sun” 27 Favorable times, as for pics 28 Marshland 29 Afternoon services 31 Mazda MX-5, familiarly 33 Granola grains 34 Bird brain? 39 Author Silverstein 40 First first name in Olympic gymnastic tens 41 Cardinal Cooke 45 1,000 G’s 46 Free TV ad 49 Suffix with expert 50 Bird backpackers? 53 Cubs, on scoreboards 54 Morlock haters 55 Clawed 56 Bird bottoms? 59 “Tootsie” Oscar winner
EDITED BY RICH NORRIS AND JOYCE LEWIS
Solution available online at www.TheDailyAztec.com 60 61 62 63
Ireland, to poets Cuba, to Castro Polecat relative Something to take lying down 64 It helps you get up 65 Orchestra section DOWN 1 1997 Depp title role 2 Close again, as a change purse 3 Unlisted ones 4 Cornered, in a way 5 Frightful 6 Milky Way, e.g. 7 “Be __”: “Help me out”
8 Georges Braque, for one 9 Bum 10 Oberhausen “Oh!” 11 Considerable amount 12 Traditional song with the line “Je te plumerai” 13 Blue state 19 Zola novel 21 Furtive type 25 Get in the game 30 16-Across, e.g. 31 Miss’s equal? 32 Landers with advice 34 Wonderland cat 35 Finder’s cry 36 Title 37 Keats or Shelley
38 Artist’s choice 39 Price that’s rarely paid 42 Depilatory brand 43 French city near a Chunnel terminus 44 Diva, stereotypically 46 Mambo bandleader Tito 47 Faked, as a fight 48 Autumn blooms 51 Former French textile city 52 Use the soapbox 57 Tolkien’s Treebeard is one 58 Doofus
