The Daily Titan - February 21, 2012

Page 1

February 21, 2012

Vol. 91 Issue 11

Mardi Gras Festival Lands in Long Beach Who says costumes have to wait until October? Kids, adults, dancers, paraders, mimes and clowns all came together at the 2012 Long Beach Mardi Gras Parade & Festival at Rainbow Harbor.

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STEM CELL RESEARCH

NATIONAL | Washington’s debate

Contraception bill causes tussle HHS bill might affect students under CSUF health insurance DAVID HOOD

For the Daily Titan

ANIBAL ORTIZ / Daily Titan Dhruv Kumbhani didn’t know what he wanted to do before joining the CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research Program. He studied with Nilay Patel, Ph.D, assistant professor of cell biology.

Biology department receives funds

California Institute of Regenerative Medicine gives students money ERINN GROTEFEND Daily Titan

Cal State Fullerton’s Biology Department was awarded $1.28 million from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). CIRM has funded 13 CSU campuses and three community colleges in California. Nilay V. Patel, Ph.D, CSUF assistant professor of cell biology and director of the CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research Program, said the program helps prepare undergraduate students for a career in stem cell research.

“CIRM’s goal is to bring stem cell-based therapies to the clinic,” said Patel. “Their multifaceted approach has created many career opportunities in the field.” Patel said the program introduces students to stem cell research and qualifies them to fill positions and promote more research. He said this research created a boom in jobs for stem cell researchers at all career levels and has resulted in a shift within the biotechnology industry. Kathryn Dickson, acting chair and professor of biological science, said this program gives students fundamental techniques, skills and knowledge for the career they have chosen. “These programs are time intensive and hands-on for the

student,” said Dickson. “Students work with faculty in other institutions and gain more than they do in a lecture classroom.” Dickson said training students in stem cell research is important to fill workforce needs in an area of science that is developing methods for therapeutic purposes. She emphasized the importance of this program because it allows students to receive funding during their internship. The 14-month long program is divided into two sections. From June to December, students take classes at CSUF for more than 40 hours per week and from January to July, students intern full-time at the host laboratory. When students attend CSUF, they are enrolled in stem cell

research or research-related courses. Patel describes this as a “training phase” for students. During the internship phase, students are provided a stipend of $2,500 per month during the seven months. Students also receive a partial tuition reimbursement of $2,500 for the spring semester. The host research laboratories are the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), University of California, Irvine, University of California, Riverside and University of Southern California. Patel said these locations were chosen based on proximity and their commitment to stem cell research. See CELLS, page 2

LOCAL | Police department

Fullerton Police Department moving forward City wants to get past the controversy with ex-police chief VANESSA MARTINEZ Daily Titan

The Fullerton Police Department is looking to move forward after former Fullerton Police Chief Michael Sellers’ retirement went into effect Saturday, only three days before independent investigators release the first of three reports on the death of Kelly Thomas. Mike Gennaco, chief attorney for the Los Angeles Office of Independent Review, will share his findings with the council Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. at the Fullerton City Hall, according to a press release from the city of Fullerton. After Sellers announced his retirement earlier this month, the Fullerton community is looking to move on after the controversy following Thomas’ death, said City Manager Joe Felz. Sellers’ announcement coincided with the resolution of his workers’ compensation claims, according to a press release issued earlier this month by the police department. Sellers will receive approximately $150,000 for his workers’ compensation claims, including legal fees, in

WILLIAM CAMARGO / Daily Titan Dan Hughes, acting chief of police for the city of Fullerton since Jan. 3, took over after the retirement of Kevin Hamilton.

addition to his retirement. Felz said the medical claim “resolves any further liability on the part of the city” and “represents a true retirement, where there is no responsibility in Fullerton taxpayers for future medical costs for him.” He also said the city has seen a wide range of reaction to Sellers’ retirement, but there is an overall desire to move on. As far as selecting a new police chief, Felz said no candidates have been determined, nor will be for a few months — meanwhile, he and the council will

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be reviewing their options. “We have an excellent acting chief at this point, Dan Hughes,” said Felz. “He will be in that role (for) the next several months.” Acting Chief of Police Dan Hughes said the department is doing things differently, like allowing entrance to the press and being more open to the community. Hughes began his career in 1983 as a police cadet and was hired as a police officer in 1985. See CHIEF, page 3

President Barack Obama’s mandate to require all employers and public universities to provide free contraception, with the exception of some religious institutions, is still being fought in churches and by conservatives who say that it is not enough. It is now known as the “Contraception Compromise.” It all began Jan. 20, when it was reported that U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius released a statement with the issued mandate. “Today the department is announcing that the final rule on preventive health services will ensure that women with health insurance coverage will have access to the full range of the Institute of Medicine’s recommended preventive services, including all FDA-approved forms of contraception,” said Sebelius in a U.S Department of Health and Human Services news release.

The controversy continued in a meeting in the Oval Office a few weeks later where President Obama, New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, Joshua DuBois, the White House director of faith-based initiatives and Vice President Joe Biden debated the idea of mandatory contraception coverage by churchrun hospitals and colleges. “ ... We’ve reached a decision on how to move forward. Under the rule, women will still have access to preventive care that includes contraceptive services — no matter where they work. So that core principle remains,” said Obama in a press conference to announce the decision for the compromise. On the morning of Feb. 16, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform met in Congress to hear “Lines Crossed: Separation of Church and State. Has the Obama Administration Trampled on Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Conscience?” which was a panel comprised of inter-religious authorities from Catholicism to Judaism. See HHS BILL, page 2

SPORTS | Baseball

Freshmen debut in series loss to Florida The No. 16 Titans went 1-2 against the nation’s No. 1 team this past weekend BLAKE FOGG Daily Titan

The opening series started out rough for No. 16 Cal State Fullerton baseball team, dropping their first two games against No. 1 Florida, but they managed to overturn a three-run deficit and take the final game 8-5 Sunday. It was a tough task for the Titans playing against the defending College World Series champions and seven preseason All-Americans, but they proved they can play with the best in the country. Game one saw the pitching matchup of Titan junior pitcher Jake Floro and Gator junior pitcher Hudson Randall. Both pitchers started strong, allowing one hit and one run through four innings. With the game tied 3-3 going into the bottom of the seventh, the Titans introduced Jose Cardona to replace Floro. The freshman pitcher struck out his first batter, but loaded the bases by giving up a single and walking two straight batters. He was replaced by another freshman pitcher, Kody Gauna. Gauna cashed in all the runners by hitting a batter, allowing a sacrifice fly and two RBI singles to give the Gators a 7-3 advantage. The Titans couldn’t answer back and lost game one. In game two the Titans gave up a four-run fourth inning to lose 5-2 and the series. Junior first basemen Carlos Lopez got the Titans on the board with an RBI double in the first inning. The Titans added to their lead in the third inning when junior right-fielder Anthony Hutting hit an RBI grounder that

brought in Lopez for a 2-0 lead. Titan starting redshirt freshman pitcher Grahamm Weist allowed only one hit through three innings when the Gators offense exploded for four runs on four hits in the fourth inning to take a 4-2 lead. Florida seniors Daniel Pigott and Preston Tucker hit consecutive oneout singles. Junior Mike Zunino had a basehit to right center fielder Pigott. Then freshman Taylor Gushue hit a triple in the right field corner scoring Tucker and Zunino to take a 3-2 lead. Freshman Justin Shafer’s sacrifice fly into left field scored Gushue adding their fourth run in the inning. Junior relief pitcher Austin Maddox retired his first 10 Titan batters and pitched four scoreless innings as the Titans dropped the second game 5-2. The Titans salvaged the weekend series by winning the last game 8-5. Titan reliever Gauna allowed one run and six hits over five innings to earn the win. Freshman designated hitter J.D. Davis was 3-for-5 with a three-run homer in the sixth. Lopez had three hits and a three RBI game and Lorenzen had three hits and picked up the save. The Titans went down 3-0 in the second inning after three-hitbatters, a walk and two-run single by Pigott. The Titans scored four runs on five hits in the fifth to take a 4-3 lead. Lorenzen’s infield single scored Greg Velazquez and Ivory Thomas’ double off the left field wall scored Pedroza. Lopez two-run single brought in Lorenzen and Thomas to give the Titans the lead. See BASEBALL, page 6


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The Daily Titan - February 21, 2012 by Daily Titan - Issuu