The Daily Aztec-Vol 95, Issue 122

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Vol. 95, Issue 122

THE

DAILY

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

AZTEC

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

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1913

I N S I D E T O D AY RELATIONSHIPS

SDSU helps the state economy

CAMPUS COME-ONS Learn about the gentleman’s way to talk to the girl of your choice. page 2

SPORTS

A FRESH FACE Transfer guard from Washington State joins the San Diego State men’s basketball team. page 4

ENTRTAINMENT

SEX & MACGRUBER Read reviews on upcoming summer movies that are sure to be blockbusters. page 9 MCT Campus

TODAY @ SDSU EMC Charity Golf Tournament 10 a.m. at The Crossings, Carlsbad The Entrepreneurial Management Center will host its first golf tournament. The event provides a place for SDSU alumni to network.

For more of today’s headlines, visit:

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CONTACT GENERAL INFORMATION 619.594.4199

EDITOR

IN CHIEF, RUTHIE KELLY 619.594.4190 EDITOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

CITY EDITOR, RENEÉ VILLASEÑOR 619.594.7781 CITYEDITOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

FEATURES EDITOR, MATT SALWASSER 619.594.6976 DAILYAZTECFEATURES@GMAIL.COM

SPORTS EDITOR, EDWARD LEWIS 619.594.7817 SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

OPINION, TOM HAMMEL 619.594.0509 OPINION@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR, MAGGIE PEHANICK 619.594.6968 TEMPO@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

ART DIRECTOR, BRITTANY PASLAWSKY 619.594.6979 ARTDIRECTOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

PHOTO EDITOR, DAVID OLENDER 619.594.7279 PHOTO@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

WEB EDITOR, JOSEPH YOUNG 619.594.3315 WEB@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

ADVERTISING 619.594.6977

INDEX RELATIONSHIPS..............................................................2 SPORTS.............................................................................4 OPINION.........................................................................8 ENTERTAINMENT...........................................................9 CLASSIFIEDS..................................................................11 THE BACK PAGE.........................................................12

A report from the CSU Chancellor’s office estimates SDSU’s economic impact both regionally and state-wide. The report states that $5.43 is returned to the state economy for every $1spent on CSU funding. Approximately 60 percent of SDSU’s more than 200,000 alumni live and work in the city of San Diego, contributing to the local economy.

S A R A H K O VA S H A S S I S TA N T C I T Y E D I T O R

A report released May 10 explains San Diego State’s economic impact both regionally and statewide.

According to the report released by the California State University office of the Chancellor, for every $1 spent on CSU-related funding, $5.43 is returned to California’s economy.

SDSU plays a large part in CSU funding, making up 36 percent of the CSU’s economic impact, according to the press release.

This is the most recent report of its kind since 2004. However, SDSU did its own report about local economic impact that was published in 2007, according to Deborah Sandy, management analyst at SDSU. The 2007 report concluded that SDSU’s annual local economic impact is approximately $2.4 billion.

One reason for releasing the report is to prove spending money for education isn’t a drain on the economy, according to Hisham Foad, assistant economica professor at SDSU. “The statistics are trying to show that you don’t want to cut public education,” Foad said.

The report considers the value of degrees earned as well as the amount of jobs attributed to SDSU. “The impact SDSU has on our economy is due in large part to our ability to supply graduates to the region and the state; those graduates power the local workforce and enhance our community’s quality of life,” SDSU President Stephen L. Weber said in the press release. “An investment in SDSU and public higher education is one of the best investments state taxpayers can make.”

According to the report, SDSU sustains 13,000 jobs locally.

The economic impact of SDSU not only affects students, but California taxpayers as well.

“From a Californian’s perspective, it’s showing that public education is a worthwhile thing,” Foad said. “It’s actually something that has a positive economic impact, not 10 years down the road, but right away.”

Another consideration is money brought in by students from out of the area, according to Scott Burns, associate vice president of financial operations at SDSU. “We would count you (a student) as new money and creating an economic impact to the San Diego County because you wouldn’t be here but for San Diego State,” Burns said.

The release of this report is significant to the governor’s budget and past cuts in funding for education. According to Burns, the report could increase funding that could lead to opening more course sections and greater enrollment.

“The timing of this and the message of this is important to the legislator’s and the decision-makers of the state, that higher education has a return on investment for the state,” Burns said.

The governor’s budget is expected to restore funding to the CSUs by approximately $350 million. All 23 CSU campuses will be impacted by the restored funding and any potential funding as a result of the recent CSU report, according to Burns.

“I think it’s a really valuable and important point that producing an educated workforce and an educated population has positive economic impact on the region and the state,” Burns said.

WORLD NEWS Plan to send troops to the U.S.-Mexico border President Barack Obama is planning to send as many as 1,200 National Guard troops to the southwest border of the U.S. in a response to Republican and Democratic lawmakers’ demands for increased security. Although a date has not been set for when the troops will arrive, they will stay for a year in the four border states of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. A few hundred members of the National Guard are already stationed at the border. The additional guards will monitor traffic through official border crossings and analyze trafficking patter ns. Initial announcements of the deployment were not formal, although the administration later confirmed the plan.

Jamaican forces claim a gang leader’s stronghold Jamaican security forces were able to claim gang leader Christopher Coke’s slum stronghold on the nation’s capitol of Kingston. Still, t he security forces’ power surrounding the area continues to be weak. The battles that led forces to claim the stronghold left an estimated 44 civilians dead in West Kingston alone including least four soldiers and police off icers. According to U.S. authorities, Coke has been trafficking cocaine to New York City by hiring women to carry the drugs on flights since the mid-

1990s. The violence has not affected tourist areas, which are located more than 100 miles from Kingston or Montego Bay airport.

Arrest warrant for ex-leader of Thailand The Thailand Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant on terrorist charges for Thaksin Shinawatra, the fugitive ex-leader of Thailand. Thak sin is a figurehead for the recent protests in Thailand that have resulted in at least 85 people dead. Many accuse him of funding and orchestrating the Red Shirt p ro t e s t m o ve m e n t , w h i c h consists of his followers. Thaksin and other leaders of the movement deny direct involvement and influence in the protests. The Thai government hopes the arrest warrant will help in gaining the cooperation of foreign gover nments to repatriate Thaksin.

Earthquake in Japan A 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit at 5:53 p.m. Wednesday in Japan.

The quake was not severe enough to send a tsunami warning. The center was approximately six miles below sea level and happened near Okinawa, off Minamidaito Island’s coast. The quake lasted several seconds, causing buildings to sway and trains to stop as a result. However, no reports so far have shown damage or injury.

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The Daily Aztec

RELATIONSHIPS

Thursday, May 27, 2010

How to keep flirting fun and not offensive Tips for men about whether chatting with a woman is appropriate or not M AT T D O R A N S TA F F W R I T E R

It is no secret San Diego State is home to a pulchritudinous student body, particularly females. One only needs to walk the campus to observe the inordinate amount of comely coeds, and despite the budget cuts, there is no shortage of these attractive young women on the horizon.

Another class of SDSU women have graduated, but a new cadre will soon replace those who have left, and these nubile newbies are sure to garner the same whiplash glances from their male counterparts as their predecessors. But just because there seems to be an endless supply of these beautiful bookworms parading around campus, the young men of SDSU should not feel the need to seize every opportunity to flirt.

Knowing there is a time and place for everything, especially flirting, is one of the ingredients to being a mature adult, and the male student body needs to keep this in mind when propositioning female students on campus.

“The gym is probably the creepiest place to get hit on,” Alex Politeo, a hospitality senior, said. “I was laying on the mats and the creepiest thing — this guy comes up and stands over me. He started talking to me while I’m trying to do my abs. And then he proceeded to lie down next to me. It was really creepy.”

While the gym is known as a place where plenty of skin can be seen, women, like guys, go there to work out. Most women do not feel comfortable being asked out when they are sweaty. Women would prefer guys stick to getting their swell on and refrain from trying to get their swerve on.

Just as the gym is a place for exercising the body, the classroom is a place for exercising the mind, and most women wish guys would check their amorous advances at the classroom door.

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The art of flirting is complicated. While many women appreciate the act, some say flirting can be inappropriate at the gym, in class and even in friends’ company.

“When would that ever be a good time to hit on someone?” Jenny Reyes, a management senior, said when asked if she has ever been hit on in class.

“It’s not really the place,” Politeo said, echoing Reyes’ thoughts. Some women claim mild flirtation in class can be acceptable, but the full courtship press should be avoided.

A time and place where all women agree flirting is strictly off limits is anywhere dark at night, particularly if there are few other people around. This would seem like common sense, but there are those thoughtless males who lack the tact to save their game for the daytime.

“I would probably mace someone in the

face if they popped out of a dark corner,” Reyes said. Creepers beware: SDSU women may be pretty, but they come armed.

If the nighttime and the gym are out and class flirting should be limited, when and where is it acceptable for male students to hit on female students? Most women agree trying to talk to them when they are with their friends is awkward and should be avoided, but there are times when a woman is alone when she would be receptive to some male attention.

But it must be done with style and grace.

“Just be respectful. Any girl likes a nice compliment, but no girl likes to feel uncomfortable. If you want to say something nice to

a girl to start talking to them, that’s fine, but don’t do it in a weird way. There’s a way of doing it,” Shawnda Numan, a child development senior, said.

The rules for on-campus flirting seem to be generally the same for off-campus flirting: Be polite, be genuine and time it well.

“Timing is everything, guys,” Reyes said.

Women may be flattered to be hit on, and it can turn into something positive if done properly, but be sensible. Male students interested in meeting women on campus are encouraged to consider the timing and venue before approaching female students and keep the conversation genuine.

Prevent the fizzle during the summer sizzle a day at the beach without sunscreen. Here are some tips and tricks to help spend time with the person you adore while also keeping it light, so that no one feels smothered or annoyed with the constant togetherness.

Have group / friend dates This is a great opportunity to round up the old gang of pals that seem to get forgotten during the school year with the stress of midterms, work and life in general. There are many options available when it comes to hanging with those familiar faces and almost any of them are sure to please. For something that can be enjoyed by everyone, consider going to an event, such as the San Diego County Fair. There, couples can enjoy their friends as the group meanders through booths and exhibits while also intimately sharing rides or a bag of cotton candy with each other. The Ferris wheel is an added bonus as it only allows two per chair, which provides some one-on-one time to actually talk, sans distractions.

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M A L L O RY S H A R P S TA F F W R I T E R

Finals have finished, the stress of school has diminished, and the season of hookups, breakups and keeping relationships alive has arrived. Students can almost hear the heat of romance sparking as people head into the summer months with no plans except to spend every minute possible with their part-

ners. But one problem frequents the relationship front: managing to keep the sizzle but avoid the fizzle that comes when spending too much time with a significant other.

While many could argue that spending time together in the summer months makes up for the dreary days spent studying instead of cuddling, it’s important to anticipate the other side of the problem. Spending too much time with a partner can lead to many issues, and burn a relationship faster than spending

their daily schedules. Whether it be watching the same TV shows every night or having one person do all the planning, no one gets excited with constant repetition. To add a little spice to the relationship, try something new. This is the time of year when people aren’t as tied down with other priorities. Try a day trip hiking some local mountains or parks, visiting an unfamiliar side of town or even let one attempt to woo the other with their master chef skills.

Reserve personal time Other ways to beat the heat and avoid the burn of a relationship is to plan some personal alone time. This will give a couple the chance to remember what they love about each other because they are going through periods of time without it. It could be witty one-liners they have during commercial breaks, the welcome home kiss after a day of work, or even that they return the movie rentals to the store on time so that no one pays the late fee.

Make it an adventure

Cultivate long distance ties

Challenge each other to have fun in a unique way. For example, print out a scavenger hunt list, make sure each person has a camera to take pictures as proof and pick a busy area such as a downtown location as the destination for the search. Set a time limit, a meeting place and go! Once the time is up, take the cameras and get them developed. Go for ice cream or another treat and look at each other’s finds and compare the pictures. The loser pays for the treat.

For those experiencing the strain of long distance relationships, there are three main things to keep in mind. First is to communicate and do so often. Even a simple text with a picture of what is happening with one’s day will suffice. Second, visit each other as often as possible to help maintain the physical aspect of the relationship. And thirdly, learn not to be overly sensitive when one partner is out and about for the night while the other is hundreds of miles away, bored and sitting at home.

Initiate some one-on-one date time Most couples experience a lull in excitement during the summer for one main reason: they get too familiar and comfortable with

Balance is the key to any relationship, especially in the sunny days of summer when the heat is scorching and tempers tend to flare.

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

Thursday, May 27, 2010

The Daily Aztec

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San Diego events kick off the beginning of summer M AT T S A LWA S S E R F E AT U R E S E D I T O R

“Star Wars: In Concert” For those “Star Wars” junkies who, just by chance, happen to also love concerts, the event of the year is in town tomorrow at the San Diego Sports Arena. “Star Wars: In Concert,” is a fusion of the legendary movie saga’s soundtrack, a live orchestra and edited scenes from all six films. Based on composer John Williams’ scores from the movies, “Star Wars: In Concert” is all about immersing the audience into the musical heartbeat of the legendary series, complemented by a giant, specially constructed LED screen. According to the event’s website, www.starwarsinconcert.com, the concert aims to show “the key themes, characters and story elements of the epic ‘Star Wars’ saga from a new perspective.”

May the Force be with you.

What:Star Wars: In Concert When: May 28 at 7 p.m.

Where: San Diego Sports

Arena: 3500

Sports Arena Blvd.

How much: $35 to $75

Kaskade Dynasty Tour In case club beats sound better than clashing light sabers, renowned techno and electronic

artist DJ Kaskade will be performing at the Kaskade Dynasty Tour this Saturday at the 4th & B nightclub downtown. Known for his No. 1 hit “Move For Me” on Billboard's Hot Dance Airplay chart two years ago, Kaskade has also received recognition on the U.K. Singles Chart.

According to www.wanttickets.com, online ticketing for the ages 21 and older concert has ended, but tickets may still be available at the box office.

What: Kaskade Dynasty Tour When: May 29 at 9 p.m.

Where: 4th & B, 345 B St. How much: $40 to $70 Padres Games Within the next two weeks, the San Diego Padres will be playing seven home games, so there is no excuse to be home, bored on any night between today and next Wednesday. To begin the baseball rally, the Padres will be playing the St. Louis Cardinals today at 3:35 p.m. Tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday, PETCO Park will be hosting the Washington Nationals at 7:05, 5:35 and 1:05 p.m., respectively. Another three-game series against the New York Mets will be played next week from Monday through Wednesday. Ticket prices for a single game are as cheap as $5 for a Park Pass (lawn seats) to a wallet-emptying $63.

What: Padres baseball games When: Today to next Wednesday Where: PETCO Park, 100 Park Blvd.

How much: $5 to $63 The Strange Days Tour 2010 The House of Blues downtown is hosting the hip-hop oriented The Strange Days Tour 2010, featuring Tech N9ne, Brotha Lynch Hung, Big Scoob, Krizz Kaliko, Die Nasty, Kutt Calhoun, Prozak and Cognito. The show is open to all ages, but for those younger than 18 years old, a parent, guardian or chaperone older than 25 must be present.

What: The Strange Days Tour 2010 featuring Tech N9ne When: May 31, doors open at 6:30 p.m., show begins at 6:45 p.m.

Where: 1055 Fifth Ave. How much: $23 “The Sky Tonight” Next Wednesday, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park is hosting “The Sky Tonight,” a monthly show focused on each month’s unique astronomy. This month will feature the planet Saturn and is sure to be a stunning experience for all viewers.

According to www.sandiego.org, the event fea

tures “a digital tour of San Diego’s night sky in California’s largest planetarium,” and “is perfect for ‘backyard astronomers’ or anyone trying to find their way around the universe.”

What: The Sky Tonight When: Next Wednesday at 7 and 8 p.m.

Where: Reuben H. Fleet Science Center’s Heikoff Dome Theater, 1875 El Prado How much: $10.50

Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon A 26.2 mile marathon is taking place in San Diego on June 6. The 13th annual Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon is sure to be fun for all.

“The much anticipated, newly revamped race route will feature more than 9 miles along San Diego’s scenic waterfront, include a stretch through PETCO Park and, for the first time ever, a 13.1-mile half marathon,” according to www.sandiego.org.

“With more than 20,000 runners and 100,000 enthusiastic spectators, this popular event is not to be missed!”

What: Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon When: June 6 at 6:15 a.m.

Where: Sixth Avenue & Palm Street How much: Free for spectators, but registration has closed for participants

TOP 5 SAN DIEGO BEACH BARS Maggie Pehanick, Entertainment Editor Aah, San Diego in the summertime. Let’s be honest: students flock to the beaches for more than good clean fun in the sun. Thus, The Daily Aztec has provided a guide to the top student-friendly dive bars spanning across the beloved beach scene. This list features bars from Ocean Beach all the way to Pacific Beach, and these surfside taverns serve everything from Heinekens to mimosas. So grab a towel, some shades and be prepared to spend all day (and all night) at the beach.

1. South Beach Bar & Grille 5059 Newport Ave., Suite 104

This Ocean Beach staple is always busy, and for good reason. Two words: Fish tacos. Yes, San Diego is the land of the fish taco, but

locals insist there is no better place to go for their mahi mahi fix. South Beach is also one of the only places to find the legendary shark quesadilla. On San Diego’s weekly holiday, Tuesday, tacos are $2 each. Happy hour takes place Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m., when patrons get half off all appetizers.

2. PAC Shores Café 4927 Newport Ave. (between Bacon and Cable Streets)

Dive bars come and go, but locals’ love for PAC Shores Café lives on. Located on O.B.’s main drag, PAC serves drinks suitably priced for budgeted students in a glow-in-the-dark, under-the-sea themed atmosphere. Take note: Parking in O.B. can be a nightmare, and visitors should know that PAC has a strict cash-only policy, so don’t plan on

whipping out the debit card after a round of Coronas with the boys.

3. Sandbar Sports Grill 718 Ventura Place

Hailed as one of the best places to grab a drink in Mission Beach, Sandbar Sports Grill is open late and boasts a friendly bar staff, multiple televisions (for patrons’ sports viewing pleasure) and a veritable nightlife scene. Sandbar is hoppin’ on Thursday and Friday nights, so after a particularly hard day of that summer internship, drag a friend or two along. The sports bar also offers a full menu starting with breakfast at 9 a.m.

4. Dirty Birds 4656 Mission Blvd.

While most bars offer a couple bucks for

tacos on Tuesdays, Dirty Birds ups the ante by presenting what may be the best deal in the county: a happy “hour” with half-off pitchers and wings all day. That’s right, every Tuesday. These are no ordinary wings either. In fact, some praise them as being the finest of all the beaches. Not just mild to spicy, flavors span from lemon pepper to spicy garlic to “Maple Chipotle BBQ.” The atmosphere is laid back and the drinks won’t break the bank.

5. Cass Street Bar & Grill 4612 Cass St.

Located in the heart of Pacific Beach, students can’t stay away from this great P.B. haunt. This beach pub contains a shuffleboard (for the elderly at heart) and offers above-average beach grub.

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Because of the abundance of seaside bars in the Ocean Beach and Pacific Beach neighborhoods, The Daily Aztec has chosen five standouts that are sure to quench any student’s summertime thirst.

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SPORTS

The Daily Aztec

MEN’S BASKETBALL

BASEBALL

SDSU suffers costly collapse in fourth Aztecs lose on the first day of the Mountain West Tournament at home E D WA R D L E W I S SPORTS EDITOR

The fourth inning started with a questionable call down the right field line. Seven runs, five hits and three walks later, the call effectively put the San Diego State baseball team into a hole it couldn’t climb out of.

Junior pitcher Addison Reed, who was cruising through three innings against Utah on Tuesday night, got touched up for eight runs (three earned), including seven in a 42-pitch fourth inning, as SDSU fell to the Utes 12-6 on the first day of the Mountain West Conference tournament at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

“I was just leaving it out over the middle of the plate,” Reed, who threw 117 pitches in six innings, said. “That was pretty much it. Just didn’t hit the inside spot or the outside spot, and they were hitting it.”

Utah third baseman Nick Kuroczko started the fourth inning with a high ground

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Washington State guard joins SDSU

ball which bounced in fair territory but landed foul. First base umpire Bill Van Raaphorst called it fair and after head coach Tony Gwynn came out and argued, the Utes rattled off run after run. Twelve Utes batted in the inning and gave Utah a 7-2 lead it would never relinquish.

“I didn’t really have the best angle — from the mound it looked foul,” Reed said. “But that didn’t determine anything that inning. I could’ve gotten out of it toward the end, but that was just one call, so I didn’t think that really had any effect on the way that inning turned out.”

The Aztecs made things interesting with a three-run sixth inning that pulled them to an 8-6 deficit. But after Utah answered with two runs off sophomore John Pecoraro in the eighth, SDSU didn’t threaten again.

Because the Aztecs lost their first game in the double-loss elimination tournament, SDSU took on BYU at 11 a.m. yesterday, and suffered a 16-8 loss to the Cougars. But on Tuesday night, Gwynn already knew the long road facing his team wasn’t going to be a smooth one.

“We’ve got six games to win,” Gwynn said.

“Your best pitcher just got beat. Your next best pitcher is out … We’ll see.”

SCORE BY INNINGS Baseball Utah San Diego State

000 110

701 013

022 000

R

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E

12 6

16 11

4 2

Courtesy of SDSU Athletic Dept.

Washington State point guard Xavier Thames, who averaged 4.6 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 17.6 minutes last season, has joined the Mountain West Conference-winning SDSU men’s basketball team.

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

It took a year longer than he expected, but on Monday San Diego State men’s basketball head coach Steve Fisher got his guy.

The schools announced earlier this week that Xavier Thames, a point guard who Fisher tried to recruit last year, will transfer to SDSU from Washington State.

Thames, a 6-foot-3-inch, 186-pound guard who averaged 17.6 minutes at WSU, will sit out the 2010-11 season because of NCAA transfer rules, but will be eligible to play for the Aztecs in the 2011-12 campaign.

“(Thames) will make a great practice player and gives us outstanding depth at the guard position as he prepares to play a year from now.”

— Steve Fisher, men’s basketball head coach

David J. Olender / Photo Editor

Junior pitcher Addison Reed gave up eight runs (three earned) in six innings. Reed and the rest of the San Diego State baseball team lost to Utah on the first day of the Mountain West Conference Tournament.

“He is an outstanding guard with a year of college experience,” Fisher said. “We recruited him out of high school so we have a pretty good feel for his game. He will make a great practice player and gives us outstanding depth at the guard spot as he prepares to play a year from now. We’re very excited to have him. He is a good student as well as a good basketball player.”

Last year, Thames, a three-time basketball team captain at Pleasant Grove High School, was looking for a college to play ball for in the 2009-10 season. He narrowed his decision to WSU, Iowa State and SDSU. Ultimately, the lure of the Pac-10 drew him north. “(Former Cougar head) coach (Tony) Bennett had recruited me to Washington State and he had a real good team at the time; so I was real high on them,” Thames said of his decision. “But I always had San Diego State in mind.”

As a freshman with the Cougars, Thames played in all 31 games as a backup guard, averaging 4.6 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists. But once it became apparent he would likely play a backup role again as a sophomore, Thames decided to transfer.

Fisher recruited him once again, and this time, Thames chose SDSU. “Coach Fisher’s a good coach,” Thames said. “(He) lets me play my game. That was my decision on that right there.”

Thames said he’s more comfortable playing the point guard position, but played the two-guard spot more at WSU. When Thames is eligible to play for the Aztecs, he will join a backcourt scheduled to feature incoming freshman LaBradford Franklin and sophomore Chase Tapley.

Until then, Thames is working on improving his game during his redshirt season.

“It’s going to be difficult because I want to get out there and play,” he said. “But I’m going to use that to my advantage and during practice and stuff just go against the guys and stay after practice and work on my game and get bigger during my redshirt year.”

SPORTS

Thursday, May 27, 2010

The Daily Aztec

MEN’S GOLF

5

BEATBOX

Aztecs struggle at Regionals SDSU finishes in a tie for eighth place at NCAA Regionals E D WA R D L E W I S SPORTS EDITOR

San Diego State men’s golf sophomore J.J. Spaun went bold. After a practice round before SDSU took the field at the NCAA Regional last weekend in Santee, he predicted a big-time finish for the Aztecs.

“If we don’t win it, we definitely will be going to nationals getting that top five spot,” Spaun said. “We expect to win here, and I know we have the potential to, and I’d be really surprised if we didn’t win.”

But SDSU faltered in last weekend’s three-day tournament at the Carlton Oaks Golf Club and finished tied for eighth with a 35over-par 899 — six strokes out of the all-important top five, which advanced to nationals.

“Overall, it’s always disappointing because we expected to be at the national championships with this group,” head coach Ryan Donovan said. “We didn’t stick to our game plan, which was the most frustrating thing about the week.

We had a plan this week and for some reason, we didn’t execute.”

Oregon won the tournament with an 870, while Augusta State (880), California (886), UNLV (886) and Tennessee (886) rounded out the rest of the top five. CSU

Courtesy of SDSU Athletic Dept.

The SDSU men’s golf team finished six strokes out of the top five at the NCAA Regional Tournament last weekend in Santee, failing to earn a trip to nationals.

Northridge’s Nick Delio won the individual tournament with a 3under-par 213.

The Aztecs’ rough weekend started on day one when the team shot a 16-over-par 304. Every SDSU player shot at least a 3-over-par 75.

Junior Johan Carlsson led the team with his 75.

On day two, the Aztecs shaved 10 strokes off of their opening round total, finishing tied for seventh after posting a 294. Freshman Tom Berry carded an SDSU-best 72, but the Aztecs still headed into the final round eight strokes out of fifth place.

In the end, SDSU dug themselves into too big of a hole and

SDSU loses in NC A A R e g i o n a l The San Diego State softball team suffered a heartbreaking 4-3 loss Saturday to Fresno State at the NCAA Los Angeles Regional. SDSU (34-16) fell behind 4-0 in the first inning, and that was all the Bulldogs needed to secure the win. The Aztecs scored one run in the third inning and two more runs in the fourth, but came up just short of advancing.

S D S U c o m p e t i n g a t 2 010 NC A A Championships The SDSU Track and Field team will send 11 athletes to the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships preliminary round in Austin, Texas, taking place today through Saturday. The Aztecs’ pole vaulters will be well-represented, sending three of the 11 SDSU qualifiers and are led by redshirt junior Stephanie James, who is currently third in the West region with a vault of

14 ft., 3 in. The only other event with multiple athletes is the triple jump, with two Aztecs qualifying. SDSU will also send athletes in the 400 and 800meter dashes, 100 and 400meter hurdles, long jump and discus events.

Hoke announces 2011 nonc o n fe r e n c e s c h e d u l e In the 2011 non-conference portion of its schedule, the Aztec football team will take on “one of the most storied programs in college football,” according to head coach Brady Hoke, when it travels to Michigan to battle the Wolverines on Sept. 24 of next year. SDSU’s visit to Ann Arbor is the first since 2004, when the Aztecs lost 24-21. Along with the Michigan game, SDSU will compete against Cal Poly, Army and Washington State.

-Compiled by Assistant Sports Editor Agustin Gonzalez

couldn’t make a run on the final day, with all five Aztec players carding 72 or more.

“It was a disappointing week, really,” Donovan said. “I think that first round put us back a little bit and we just could never bounce back on such a great and tough golf course.”

Every player is expected to return next season, including Mountain West all-conference team member Spaun, who shot a 228 at the regional.

“We’re looking at this on the positive side — it gets more experience for us,” Spaun said. “All we can do is just learn from it and come back next year and just improve and make it there again.”

Maura Ochoa / Staff Photographer

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OPINION

The Daily Aztec

Thursday, May 27, 2010

FREEDOM HAWK

Kagan a poor choice for Supreme Court

P

resident Barack Obama’s nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan for the Supreme Court has been met with some obvious, albeit light, resistance from the Republicans in Congress. However, this is not the first time Kagan’s political nomination has been questioned. On Jan. 5 last year, Obama nominated Kagan to her current post as solicitor general — an odd pick for someone who has had limited courtroom experience at best. Not only has Kagan never argued a case in front of the Supreme Court at trial, but even more surprisingly, she has never argued a case at trial period. Her best qualification is probably that she and Obama worked at the Chicago Law School together. Cronyism pays yet again in this administration. As a result, she has had one of the most rapid advances toward a seat on the Supreme Court in our nation’s history.

She is unfit for the job. A political sellout should not be on the bench in the high court of America.

I am not a man that relies on someone’s experience when evaluating a person, but rather his or her character. Therein lies my problem with Kagan. She was selected by former President Bill Clinton to serve in his administration. She accepted two promotions from him and served loyally until the end of his presidency. After Clinton left office, she served as the dean of Harvard Law School. As dean, Kagan barred the military from the Harvard campus because of its “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Kagan felt the military’s recruitment was discriminatory toward homosexuals. Her exclusionary measure was ultimately halted by the Supreme Court and the military was allowed back on campus. In spite of this, Kagan urged the student body to protest the recruiters and speak out against the recruiting policy, calling the military immoral and highly flawed.

Kagan is free to believe whatever she wants, but when she used her position at Harvard as a bully pulpit to block the military from recruiting America’s top students, she was the one being discriminatory. By not allowing members of the military to get onto campus, Kagan grossly misinterpreted fundamental laws in America.

Yet another obvious slip up Kagan displayed was her selective memory about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” It is the government’s job to change this policy, not the military’s. The military just implements it.

It was a policy put in place by Clinton’s

MCT Campus

Elena Kagan, the current dean of Harvard Law School and Solicitor General of the United States, was nominated for the Supreme Court by President Barack Obama.

P AT R I C K W A L S H S E N I O R S TA F F C O L U M N I S T

administration, which she worked for. Any documents or verbal testimony of Kagan voicing objections to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” during her time serving Clinton have yet to be produced. Instead, she remained silent and was promoted twice in four years.

If Kagan had moral courage or any real objections to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” she would have never accepted a job working for the administration that created it. At the very least she could have voiced her outrage to the former president.

But she didn’t. She used her position of power at Harvard to slap the men and women who serve America — including gay

and lesbian members — right in the face, even when they were in no way responsible for the policy she felt was unfair. Kagan seems more inclined to climb political ladders than to stand up for her morals, at least until it is convenient for her to do so.

Her belligerent actions at Harvard and deliberate misinterpretation of basic forms of the law and government policy scare me.

This, coupled with her lack of experience, makes her Supreme Court nomination troubling. She is in over her head. She is unfit for the job. A political sellout should not be on the bench in the high court of America.

The appointments made by this president have already led to widespread failure.

Attorney General Eric Holder has proven unfit for his post when insisting that New York City host civilian trials of enemy combatants, which put thousands of New

Yorkers at risk and shoved a financial security burden upon them. We also can’t leave out Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair, who have let three terrorist attacks slip through in the past seven months — Fort Hood, the Christmas Day bomber and the Times Square bomber. America cannot allow yet another appointee who has proven her own incompetency to be put into a position of power.

when CENTCOM General David Petraeus authorized an expansion of clandestine military operations in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and other regions of the Middle East.

ing that it leaves the door open for racial profiling, and also called on the federal government to come up with a comprehensive plan to fix the U.S.-Mexican border.

Democratic members of Congress stood and applauded Calderon’s remarks on Arizona’s law, while Republicans remained seated, with no applause.

—Patrick Walsh is a political science senior.

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

NEWS TO KNOW An independent international investigation team has found that North Korea is responsible for the torpedoing and sinking of the Cheonan, a South Korean ship, on March 26. Soon after the attack, South Korea announced it was suspending trade with North Korea and is currently seeking strong international response against Kim Jong Il’s communist regime.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently landed in Seoul, South Korea to monitor the precarious situation, as the two countries formally cut all ties, which has led to increased tension between the two nations and presented the possibility of future military conflict.

1

Since the April 20 explosion of a BP offshore oil rig, which left 11 dead, the company has yet to provide a solution to seal off the source of oil leaking into the Gulf of Mexico. President Barack Obama has continued to express frustration about the restraints of the federal government in its response to what could become

2

the largest oil spill in U.S. history, reportedly telling aids to find a way to “plug the damn hole.” BP has estimated that around 5,000 barrels, or 210,000 gallons, have been leaking every day, while scientists have provided much higher estimates, ranging to as many as 84,000 barrels a day. Engineers from the U.S. Government and BP are now working together to find a way to stop the spill.

Obama will be visiting the damaged Louisiana coast tomorrow.

This week, reports confirmed that the Department of Defense has approved a broad covert military operation directive, called the Joint Unconventional Warfare Task Force Execute Order, to expand intelligence gathering in the Middle East and Africa.

While the directive does not authorize offensive action, it does allow intelligence missions in Iran, which could potentially provide the foundation for military intervention if tensions between the U.S. and Iran continue to rise. Sources from the Defense Department say the policy dates back to last September,

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Rand Paul, a Libertarian Party representative and the son of former presidential candidate Ron Paul, recently defeated establishment Republican Trey Grayson in the Kentucky GOP Senate primary race. Paul, using a similar political message as his father, has drawn more representation and attention toward the Tea Party Movement. Paul will compete against Democrat Attorney General Jack Conway in Kentucky’s November general election, despite never running for political office before.

Obama recently invited Mexican President Felipe Calderon to speak in front of a joint session of congress in response to a new law passed in Arizona that aims to decrease illegal immigration by making it a crime to fail to provide proof of citizenship upon the request of a state officer. Calderon criticized Arizona’s law, claim-

5

After missing a court hearing because of her 2007 DUI, actress Lindsay Lohan has been ordered to wear an alcohol monitoring bracelet at all times. The troubled actress claimed that she missed a court hearing because her passport was stolen while attending the Cannes Film Festival. Her attorney argued that the bracelet would interfere with a movie she will be filming in Texas, but the court ultimately forced her to wear the device. The court also ordered Lohan to submit to weekly drug tests and complete a series of alcohol education classes.

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—Compiled by Senior Staff Columnist Patrick Walsh

Thursday, May 27, 2010

ENTERTAINMENT

The Daily Aztec

9

PASS THE POPCORN

‘Sex and the City’ sequel too glamourous K AT Y M C C R E E RY S TA F F W R I T E R

“Sex and the City 2” can be summed up in one word: Ridiculous. The girls from the “Sex and the City” phenomenon are back in a sequel to the first film based off the highly popular “Sex and the City” TV series. The show originally developed from a novel

by Candace Bushnell about a single girl and her three best friends discovering life, love and (most certainly) sex in the bustling city of New York.

The first “Sex and the City” movie, which came out two years ago, left off with the marriage of narrator and relationship columnwriting heroine, Carrie Bradshaw, and her long time, on / off, never fully ending, love / hate affair with the notorious “Mr. Big.” When the sequel starts two years later, she can hardly recognize her new title as Mrs. Preston instead of Carrie Bradshaw. The chase is finally done and settled. Life with Big is starting to grow into a routine, which comes as a startling fright to restless Carrie.

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Her best friends include Miranda Hobbes, the lawyer whose job is starting to take away time from her son and family; Charlotte York, who’s figuring out that life with two young kids is a lot tougher than the dream she imagined; and Samantha Jones, who at “52 f—-ing years old” (as she describes herself) and is post-cancer menopausal, is out to prove she has still got it — which she does.

Through an astronomical strike of luck, the girls are flown out for an all-expenses-paid trip to Abu-Dhabi, “the new Middle East.” Ridiculous events are sure to ensue with this group of fun-loving city gals in the religiously conservative city of AbuDhabi, especially with the extremely sexually promiscuous Samantha.

The over-the-top decadence includes an absurd fivestar resort, personal butlers and wardrobe changes every 10 minutes into any and every high-class designer couture. These ridiculous scenarios throughout the entire movie become annoying, making it hard to believe any of the events could actually happen.

The film mostly centers around the gritty details of finding and

maintaining happiness, although fashion was always the heart of the series. However, it is hard to take any movie seriously when it includes a cameo by Liza Minnelli performing Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” at a gay wedding. Still, the underlying message of the movie — the inability to define the lines or rules to any marriage or relationship — was very reminiscent of the original show.

“Sex and the City 2” contains plenty of glitz and glamour, yet fails to capture the same sparkle of the original show.

Although the fashion and setting were visually tantalizing and the moral blur between the lines of black and white was thought-provoking, the movie was too extreme and unbelievable.

Spoiler alert to all true “Sex and the City” fans: Aidan appearance!

And warning to any Miley Cyrus haters: Miley appearance!

Movie: Sex and the City 2 Distributed by: New Line Cinema Directed by: Michael Patrick King Release Date: May 27 Grade: B-

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

PASS THE POPCORN

Brand gives surprisingly fun encore in ‘Greek’ A L L I E D AU G H E R T Y MANAGING EDITOR

Judd Apatow is at it again. So is Aldous Snow.

In 2008’s “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” Aldous, played by Russell Brand, prowls the beaches of Hawaii in his rock star way with his latest girl, Sarah Marshall. In the newest Apatow-produced creation “Get Him to the Greek,” Brand returns with his luxurious, brunette locks and stubble-covered chin to once again portray the front man of his oneman band, Infant Sorrow. This time, however, he’s gone out of control.

Record company intern Aaron Green (Jonah Hill) is eager to please his boss Sergio Roma (Sean “P. Diddy” Combs) by thinking of a way to make money for the business. A diehard Infant Sorrow fan, Aaron suggests the company hires Aldous to perform a 10-year anniversary concert at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. Sergio accepts, and Aaron is rushed off to London to collect the rocker and bring him to the infamous forum. From there, only insanity and chaos ensue.

Hill, also a “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” veteran, is wonderful in his part as Aaron.

Although the character doesn’t require too much, Hill’s lovable personality continually captivates audiences. Brand, on the other hand, is what holds this movie together.

Without him, “Get Him to the Greek” would only be mediocre. His face manages to portray innocent and guilty, sweet and rude all at the same time. Brand’s on-screen charm demands viewer attention and never lets it go, partly because of his ability to emanate rock star status without actually being a rock star in

real life. Aldous is walking sex, 20 times more powerful than his gritty version in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.”

Supporting actors also do well in this zany flick. Combs’ portrayal of Sergio is priceless, as he delivers hilarious punch lines and serves as somewhat of a foil to Aaron.

Elisabeth Moss also steals hearts as Aaron’s sweet, workaholic girlfriend Daphne Binks.

Rose Byrne plays saucy and tenacious starlet Jackie Q, Aldous’ ex-lover.

The humor in “Greek” also stands out.

Although most of the jokes are a bit cliché, director / writer Nicholas Stoller manages to make them seem original. The snippets of pop culture, such as magazine covers and clips from Aldous’ and Jackie’s music videos, give the movie realism in a fun way while providing character insight at the same time.

Plus, the songs are super catchy, albeit extremely provocative.

Yet perhaps the most stunning feature to this film is the abundance of location. “Get Him to the Greek” was shot in London, New York City, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Each place provides marvelously vivid backdrops while simultaneously adding authenticity to Aaron and Aldous’ wild adventure from the United Kingdom to California. For more information on “Get Him to the Greek,” visit www.gethimtothegreek.com.

Movie: Get Him to the Greek Distributed by: Universal Pictures Directed by: Nicholas Stoller Release Date: June 4 Grade: A

Courtesy of Universal Pictures