Daily Titan October 25, 2010

Page 1

Vol. 88 Issue 30

October 25, 2010

Relentless Titans roll over

WHAT’S INSIDE

Trojans in brutal 49-10 victory

OPINION Hippie Health: Yoga for your soul ........................................4

As the women’s rugby team continues its preseason, they strike fear into opponents

FEATURES Day Tripper: An afternoon on an Oceanside pier ........................................6

See RUGBY, page 5

SPORTS Women’s volleyball: Stunned by Long Beach State ........................................5

dailytitan.com The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

Obama rallies for Democrats

LUCIO VILLA / Daily Titan President Obama stressed the importance of voting in next week’s election to a crowd of thousands at a rally at USC.

MICHELLE WIEBACH News Editor

The applause from a crowd of thousands erupted as President Barack Obama took the stage. He was welcomed like a rock star. “We need all of you to fight on. We need all of you fired up,” Obama said to a crowd of about 37,500 at the USC’s Alumni Park, Friday Oct. 22. At the main event, Obama rallied thousands, urging them to vote and represent the Democratic Party in the elections next week, Nov. 2. Calling on students, at the “Moving America Forward” rally, Obama stressed the significance of the 2008 presidential election. “Just like you did in 2008, you can defy the conventional wisdom that says young people are apathetic, the conventional wisdom that says you can’t beat the cynicism in politics,” Obama said. Obama has blazed across the West, in the hopes of re-energizing and sparking support for Democratic candidates running for office. This marks his longest campaign swing as president. He attacked Republican tactics by pointing out their agenda and how it has affected Americans. See VOTE, page 3

MARK SAMALA / Daily Titan Day two of FTX: Cadets shoot an M4 assault rifle at a shooting range on Camp Pendleton Marine Base. During this exercise the cadets rotated through different stances as they unloaded an entire magazine of rounds.

An Army officer in the making Cal State Fullerton ROTC cadets spend a weekend at Camp Pendleton for Field Training Exercise, FTX, an event that occurs every year LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ News Editor

Executing mock missions on mini obstacle courses, learning the stances and tactics used when shooting an M4 assault rifle, repelling down a 32-foot tower and manning their way through the terrain during land and night navigation is what a weekend at Camp Pendleton Marine Base looks like for Cal State Fullerton’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). Field Training Exercise, FTX, is the title of the weekend where first-and-second-year cadets from the ROTC program experience a taste of what the Army lifestyle is like. For third-

year cadets, FTX gives them the opportunity to build camaraderie with the squads and build leadership skills, said Cadet Command Sgt. Major Alejandra Alvarado. Every program such as FTX prepares the cadets for the next step in their training to become an officer. In between their third and fourth year, cadets reach their defining moment at a four-week-long course they call LDAC, a Leadership Development and Assessment Course, which serves as their final test. Their year in the program is referred to as MS1, MS2, MS3 and MS4. MS stands for Military Science. “How well they do in school, in leadership, in physical fitness and community service when training to become an officer

is assessed,” said MS4 Cadet Capt. Public Affairs Officer Steven Swaleh. “At LDAC, all of that factors into what branch they are going to get when they graduate.” Branch can refer to two things, the branch of the military a person chooses, such as Air Force, Navy, Army or Marine Corps or which branch or job they choose within one of the previous listed branches of military. For example, a person can be in infantry, armory, field intelligence and many others. When asked why these cadets chose the Army over the other branches, the majority said that it had the most job opportunities and variety as opposed to the others. See FTX, page 3

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES Fullerton war veteran fights a new fiery enemy Multimedia

www.dailytitan.com

A Fullerton probationary firefighter’s path to dedicating his life to serve a community he calls home KATIE EVANS Asst. Features Editor

ROTC Participates in Weekend-Long Field Training Exercise at Camp Pendleton Women’s Soccer See how the cadets spent their weekend at dailytitan. com/ftx

Scan to view

See the team Scan to view in action at dailytitan.com/ 2010/10/24/ womens-soccervs-cal-poly/

Contact Us at news@dailytitan.com

Mid-afternoon, a bell sounded. Four sets of eyes shifted to meet each other’s, a silent debate over who would answer the phone call. Before any decision could be made, a small figure bolted to the receiver and answered before spouting out code and darting into the garage to change. The others sighed in disappointment. They would have to leave their lunches to answer a call that was likely a false alarm. “This just went from exciting to not exciting,” said Hiram Channell fire truck engineer, before heading out to the garage after the others. Woo Young Kim, the rookie, and man who ran, took the call seriously regardless. As a probationary firefighter at the Fullerton Fire Department, it was part of his job, a job that seemed so temporary and unstable. “I can be laid off for any reason,” Kim said. Earlier that day, he prepared for a number of training evaluations that are required for probationary firefighters, evaluations to test knowledge, dexterity and skill. “If we don’t like the way your breath smells or your mustache, you’re out,” Channell said, as he readied the timer

JONATHAN GIBBY / Daily Titan Capt. Glen Banks of the Fullerton Fire Department opens the door to let in oxygen during a flashover training exercise.

for one evaluation in which Kim must dress entirely in bulky yellow fire-protective gear in under two-and-a-half minutes. “All we ask is that (Kim) be perfect and read our minds.” As Kim set off with haste, Channell joked around with Tillerman Roland Garcia about the rookie, seniority and what tasks to make him do next. “If we like you, we make fun of you.

If we don’t, we’re silent. It’s reversed like that,” said Garcia, gaze returning to Kim’s speedy actions with a smirk. “He’s the best rookie I’ve seen in a long time,” Channell said. “That’s why we tease him so much.” Kim finished as the timer hit one minute and twenty-eight seconds. After receiving pats on the back from the firefighters, he set off for another

“rookie evaluation,” not a shred of sweat or stress apparent on his face. “I’m still here but who knows about tomorrow, or even later today,” Kim said with a laugh. To become a firefighter, one must undergo 26 weeks at a fire academy before being assigned to a station. Once hired at the station, they become a probationary firefighter and go through three four-month evaluation phases. The first phase is riding along with paramedics. The second phase is riding with the fire truck. The last phase is riding along with EMTs. Kim just began his second phase and enjoys every minute of it. “It’s not the fact that I like the fact that someone needs help, but one of the engineers in this department broke it down to me very simply. They said, ‘It’s not that we get excited because someone needs us, the event already happened, we’re just going out there to help them.’ So, I like the thought that every time the tone goes off, I get a chance to make a difference to somebody’s life, whether it’s pulling down a cat or it’s an actual fire,” Kim said, as he polished parts of a chainsaw while the rest of the firefighters rested between calls amidst their 24-hour shifts. See FIRE, page 8


dailytitan.com

2

NEWS

October 25, 2010

IN OTHER NEWS Earthquake drill shakes up campus

INTERNATIONAL

Trafficking of Haitian children on rise since earthquake HAITI – After several days of going hungry, Maria said she surrendered to sexual propositions made by several men in the park where she begged in this resort town in the south of the Dominican Republic. Maria, 12, said she had sex with “many” of those men, sometimes for a dollar, while her cousins, 13 and 10, begged European and American tourists for coins. “I was hungry, I lost everything; we didn’t know what to do,” said Maria, explaining her decision to sell her body on the streets of Boca Chica, Dominican Republic. The three children told reporters from El Nuevo Herald and The Miami Herald that they left Port-au-Prince, Haiti, with the help of a smuggler after the January earthquake devastated the city.

NATIONAL

Palin blasts Obama at Orlando, Fla., rally FLORIDA — Ten days before Election Day, former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin rallied with the top of the Republican ticket and delivered marching orders to a state that could help swing the balance of power in Congress. The former Alaska governor and potential presidential candidate rarely paused for a breath in an exuberant, 30-minute speech in Orlando, Fla., trashing President Barack Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress for spending too much and accomplishing too little. The event Saturday at the Marriott World Center hotel felt like a mini-convention, with a live band, booths selling campaign T-shirts and buttons, and voters waving American flags and placards. Florida Republicans are gunning for a handful of Democratic congressional seats in Washington and vying to expand their grip on Tallahassee.

STATE California changes name of ‘food stamps’ program LOS ANGELES — California’s food stamp program has a new name, which officials hope will encourage more people to apply for the nutrition benefit: CalFresh. The new name and logo, an abstract representation of the diverse produce available in California, was launched Saturday at an event in Long Beach sponsored by the state’s first lady, Maria Shriver, to provide free medical, financial and educational services to low-income women. The rebranding of food stamps is the latest in a series of efforts to increase participation in the federal program, which offers qualifying families an average of $200 per month of food benefits in California. More than 3 million Californians receive the benefit every month.

For the Record It is the policy of the Daily Titan to correct any inaccurate information printed in the publication as soon as the error is discovered. Any incorrect information printed on the front page will result in a correction printed on the front page. Any incorrect information printed on any other page will be corrected on page 2. Errors on the Opinion page will be corrected on that page. Corrections also will be noted on the online version of the Daily Titan. Please contact Editor-in-Chief Isa Ghani at 657-278-5815 or at execeditor@dailytitan.com with issues about this policy or to report any errors.

KIRAN KAZALBASH

provided by the Valencia High School Art Department to make the event look more realistic. Those at CSUF during the ShakeOut drill were part of the 7 million plus Californians who participated. Students and faculty were notified of the event and drill in advance. “(I) felt that even if you knew when it was, it was an opportunity to practice transitioning from doing what you

normally do, to changing your state of mind and respond to an emergency situation,” Fisher said. “I want people to think about what it is like to have their daily routines greatly disrupted.” Jeffery Knott, professor of geology, said that Californians should prepare for an earthquake at a magnitude of 7.8 on the southern San Andreas Fault. “Duck, cover and hold if you’re in a building,” Knott said. “If you’re outside

and away from a building – stay there. Most people are injured or killed during the initial strong shaking – so your reactions during that first minute may save your life.” Knott said there have been 12 earthquakes in Southern California of a magnitude greater than 6.5 since 1900. According to geological data, there has been a large, damaging earthquake roughly every 10 years over the last 100 years. Many students agree that preparing for “the big one” should be taken seriously. “It’s important to practice earthquake drills in California because earthquakes occur here more often than the rest of the nation,” said Runa Alkaddumi, senior biology major. “Practicing safety is helpful because we must know how to respond to an earthquake so we don’t panic.” Though many felt that this event was just another drill, officials encourage all California residents to prepare for this inevitable earthquake. “No one is immune from disasters, but you don’t have to suffer greatly from them. Start getting prepared today,” Fisher said. “Practice drills, here and at home.”

cluded chapter advisers Tasha Diaz, Jillian Daver and Kay McKelvey, who has been apart of ZTA since the chapter’s inception in 1979. “They’ve really taken it seriously. For instance, the tug-of-war, they’ve been practicing for that for several weeks and the talent portion they’ve been practicing all week,” said ZTA’s chapter president Britney Myers, 22. Before the competition, Phi Kappa Tau was in the lead with 151 points, Tau Kappa Epsilon with 115 points and Sigma Phi Epsilon in third place with 72 points. The competition started with an introduction of the contestants, illustrating their charm and personality. Dominic Borelli, 19, a sophomore kinesiology major, said his bumper sticker would say, “I brake for cougars crossing.” After the introduction, the men

did an unsynchronized, flamboyant dance to the Weather Girls’ “It’s Raining Men” while wearing black shirts that said, “How do you separate the men form the boys?” in pink font. Tyler Van Pelt, human services major, was asked to properly display a breast exam. He took off his shirt, and suggestively did a self-breast exam as the audience swooned. The talent portion included: rapping, muscle flexing, lip syncing, flute playing, singing, stripping and dancing. Leo Ruffino of Delta Chi came out in a Dutch girl costume, complete with fake breasts. Ruffino was placing his hands over plastic glasses of water as music played. When his wine glass music wasn’t working, he finished off his skit by just dancing to the music. Danny Orton, a physics major,

said he enjoyed the talent show the most mentioning his favorite act. “It’s gotta be the stripping. In fact that’s what I’m gonna be thinking about when I get home,” Orton said. The men were then lined up as they awaited the results of the competition. Van Pelt ended victorious and was presented with a pink sash that read Big Man on Campus. “I was excited at the fact that I won the (contest) and the pride I have for my house. None of this is about me. It’s about ZTA and the tits,” Van Pelt said. ZTA earned about $1,600 in support of breast cancer awareness. Host, Crystal Martinez, 24, summed up the feelings of everyone at the event that night. “Some are small. Some are big. Some are misshapen,” Martinez said. “We’re all equal, and we love them all.”

Copy Editor

The Great California ShakeOut hit the Cal State Fullerton campus last Thursday in an effort to get students and faculty ready for an earthquake of a potentially large magnitude. The drill influenced those on campus to think about how they should react if an earthquake occurred while classes were in session. “A big earthquake is coming,” said Sue Fisher, CSUF Emergency Management coordinator. “We don’t know when, but we must practice emergency drills to make sure we all know what to do when an earthquake does hit.” After dropping, covering and holding, people were ushered from their classrooms and offices to designated evacuation areas. President’s scholar volunteers were made up as injured people and were treated at a Mock Triage Center on the lawn near the Student Recreation Center. The Emergency Response team, made up of the Nursing, Student Health, Counseling Center and Athletics departments, operated the mock triage. Fake debris from buildings was

DAVID MUNOZ / Daily Titan Student Maggie Raschklo acted out what could happen during an earthquake on campus.

Male beauty pageant held for breast cancer

KRYSTLE UY Staff Writer

Ten brave men competed in Zeta Tau Alpha’s (ZTA) first ever men’s beauty pageant to support breast cancer awareness. The pageant was the last event in the competition with the winner earning the title Big Man on Campus. The competition included a Yoplait yogurt-eating contest on Tuesday and tug-of-war on Wednesday. Contestants earned points through money donations collected on the Titan Walk as well as attendance check-ins from members of each of the candidate’s participating organizations. Contestants were graded based on their talent, charm, appearance and ability to correctly answer questions about breast cancer. The judges in-

THIS WEEK AROUND

Daily Titan Editorial

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editor News Editor News Editor News Assistants Features Editor Features Assistant Detour Editor Detour Assistant Opinion Editor Opinion Assistant Sports Editor Sports Assistant Copy Editor Copy Editor Content Editor Photo Editor Photo Assistants Graphics Editor Graphics Assistant Multimedia Editor Multimedia Editor Multimedia Assistants Multimedia Coordinator Online Editor Adviser Main Line (657) 278-3373 News Line (657) 278-4415

Isa Ghani Rachel David Laura Barron-Lopez Michelle Wiebach Juanita Vasquez Keith Cousins, Stephanie Raygoza Carolina Velazquez Katie Evans Melissa Hoon Anna Gleason Gabrielle Abutom Serena Whitecotton Gilbert Gutierrez III Aaron Gilliam Kelsey Laney Kiran Kazalbash Brian Zbysenski Mark Samala Johnny Le, Lucio Villa, Heather Monteleone Jonathan Gibby Jennifer Chung Ashley Prager Oscar Romero Alexandra Andersen, Philip Cabrera, Deyja Charles Derek Opina Andrew Meshot Jason Shepard Editorial Fax (657) 278-2702 E-mail: news@dailytitan.com

Advertising Director of Advertising Production Assistant Production Assistant National Sales Executives & Promotions Directors Classifieds Manager Webmaster Account Executive Account Executive Account Executive Account Executive Account Executive Account Executive Account Executive Distribution Business Manager/Adviser

Main Line (657) 278-3373 Advertising (657) 278-4411

Adrian Gaitan Sidney Cumbie Jennifer Razo Katie Hennessey, Kassia Azimioara Taylor Tunno Daniel Gonzalez Liz Hernandez Amber VanOrman Maricris Tsigarida André Mosley Gilbert Gonzalez Daniel Zamilpa III Josh Linden Santana Ramos Robert Sage

Advertising Fax (657) 278-2702 E-mail: ads@dailytitan.com

The Daily Titan is a student publication, printed every Monday through Thursday. The Daily Titan operates independently of Associated Students, College of Communications, CSUF administration and the CSUF System. The Daily Titan has functioned as a public forum since inception. Unless implied by the advertising party or otherwise stated, advertising in the Daily Titan is inserted by commercial activities or ventures identified in the advertisements themselves and not by the university. Such printing is not to be construed as written or implied sponsorship, endorsement or investigation of such commercial enterprises. The Daily Titan allocates one issue to each student for free. Copyright ©2010 Daily Titan

C y@ tita c iol .m Co on ntta acctt U Uss a att n de t nwesw@ sda e isl k gn m.a com

CAMPUS

Monday African American Resource Center Mixer: H-220, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Fall Dance Theatre: Various days in October: Little Theatre, 8 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Tuesday Pizza with the Candidates: Becker Amphitheater, 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. State of the State: TSU Pavilion B, 7 p.m.

Wednesday ASI Elections begin: Various polling locations Men’s Soccer vs. UC Davis: Titan Stadium, 7 p.m.

Thursday Table Tennis Tournament: Titan Bowl and Billiards, 4 p.m. Sarah Plum violin: Meng Concert Hall, 8 p.m.

Friday Women’s Volleyball vs. UCSB: Titan Gym, 7 p.m. Verso Duo: Meng Concert Hall, 8 p.m.

Saturday Women’s Volleyball vs. Cal Poly: Titan Gym, 7 p.m. Men’s Soccer vs. San Diego: Titan Stadium, 7 p.m. The Patrons of the Library Lecture Series: LA Times journalist Tim Rutten Pollak Library 130, 2 p.m. University Singers and Concert Choir: Meng Concert Hall, 8 p.m. If you wish to add an event please send an e-mail to dtcopydesk@gmail.com


October 25, 2010

dailytitan.com

NEWS

3

FTX: SWEAT, PAIN AND STRATEGY ALL IN THREE DAYS ... Continued from page 1

Although ROTC cadets train at CSUF in Physical Training (PT) every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, FTX provides them with more than the day-to-day does. Their three-day exercise consisted of a set schedule. On Friday morning, mock executions of missions at a location called 12 Stalls on Camp Pendleton base were conducted. Their purpose was to give the MS3s practice at leading their squads and have the cadets practice strategy and critical thinking. Mid-day Friday, they moved to a Repel Tower at another location where cadets were given an opportunity to repel down a 32-foot tower, which teaches them how to operate not only on land but vertically, with heights, to gain confidence. Next to the tower, stations were set up for cadets to rotate through and be trained on various stances used when operating an M4 and breathing techniques when firing, which is called Pre-Marksmenship Training. After this concluded, ROTC moved on to their barracks, but their day didn’t end. Instead, training on weapons maintenance and land navigation continued until calling it a day at 9:30 p.m. Saturday began at 5 a.m. and cadets started at the firing range, where they put the techniques they were taught the previous day to use and were able to unload an entire magazine of an M4 through various stations. At each station they were required to shoot a limited number of shots while taking specific stances. In order to ensure safety, medics were on site and accompanied the CSUF ROTC throughout the entire weekend. One of the medics was Specialist Sampson Nguyen. Nguyen joined the National Guard three years ago and will be deployed in a month to Iraq. From his training as a medic he has learned valuable skills and life lessons. “What I’ve learned the most from training is to just be compassionate to everyone because a patient is a patient in the end,” Nguyen said. “That has helped me a lot in the civilian world.” Their next exercise trained them on land navigation, where they were given a set course and had to find specific checkpoints. When they arrived at each checkpoint they had to staple a paper to verify they were there. On Saturday night a navigation exercise was held and weapons were cleaned before retiring to their bar-

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARK SAMALA / Daily Titan At 12 Stalls, two cadets maneuver a ladder during an exercise designed to test their critical thinking skills. The exercise mocked the action of transporting materials over a mine field. This was the first exercise on day one of FTX.

racks. Sunday was a half day and consisted of another obstacle course and a Ruck March, in which the cadets were required to carry all their gear and lasted for around five miles. Cadet Kyle Ramirez, 20, an MS3 and CSUF mechanical engineering major, joined ROTC for his sisters, to ensure a secure future for himself and because he had always wanted to serve his country. “FTX has given me the chance to use my leadership skills and learn how to be a better mentor and trainer,” Ramirez said. “After I graduate I’m hoping for active duty and either signal core or engineering for my branch.”

Cadet Raymond Camargo, 19, an MS2, shared his thoughts on joining ROTC. “I didn’t expect to meet that many people and build so much cohesion,” Camargo said. “I expected it to be strict and ‘huah’ and ‘go army’ but instead I’m learning how to be a leader and teammate. I’ve enjoyed myself here.” Camargo said he would definitely encourage CSUF students who are looking into ROTC to join and that there is a lot to be gained from the program. Alvarado, an MS4 and CSUF Middle Eastern history major, was previously enlisted for three-anda-half years and has had two de-

Cadet Ranger Sgt. First Class Quick explains safety precautions that must be taken when shooting the M4 assault rifle and gave the cadets a run through on the way the exercise was going to be conducted. It was the first time firing an M4 for some of the cadets.

ployments. When comparing her deployments, she said her roughest one was in Iraq, where for the first month-and-a-half all she and members she was stationed with ate were meals ready to eat, (MREs) and used a man-made bathroom. Alvarado’s experience with ROTC has been a positive one and it was her fourth time being at FTX. “Some people are either cut out to enjoy the military or not and I personally have enjoyed it,” Sgt. Alvarado said. “I like what it’s about, I like the mission to create great leaders in military.” Alvarado hopes to become active duty and be stationed in Germany as soon as she can after graduating,

but for now she is a reservist. The next FTX will be held in the spring semester and will be more rough around the edges than the fall FTX. “Next semester we will actually be conducting battle drills and sleeping outdoors at FTX,” Alvarado said. Although every cadet had their own personal reason for joining ROTC, be it for a secure future, to support their family, to pay for school, to serve their country or to follow in the footsteps of a father or grandpa, they all seemed to be in unison in the pride they felt with being in the program and to every command gave a resounding, “Huah!”

MS1 Murphy of Alpha Company descends off a 32-foot repel tower.

MS1 Ortiz of the Bravo Company practices breathing techniques with an M4 assault rifle at Camp Pendleton, Calif. on day one of FTX. Before rotating to this station, Ortiz practiced various stances when handling the weapon.

VOTE: CANDIDATES, CELEBRITIES AND THE PRESIDENT

... Continued from page 1

“For most of the last decade the middle class has been hurt. Families saw their income between 2001 and 2009 drop by 5 percent,” Obama said. “That’s not my statistics. That’s the Wall Street Journal’s.” The crowd reacted with “boos” when Obama said Republicans are going to cut education spending by 20 percent. “This is at a time when the question of whether a country competes, almost entirely depends on how well we educate our children,” Obama said. Before Obama hit the stage, Democratic candidates and supporters spoke about the upcoming election and the importance of voting. Obama and other speakers never identified their opponents directly. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa opened the rally by showing his support for the president and for

his fellow party members and Californians. “All eyes are on California, this is our chance to show the world that we can put Californians back to work, we can fix our broken budget process, we can cap our fees for students at universities,” Villaraigosa said. John Perez, Speaker of the California Assembly, followed Villaraigosa. “Our opponents this year have more money than God, but all their money can’t buy the strength of Democratic grassroots activism,” Perez said. “When Democrats win, the country wins.” Other Democratic supporters such as celebrities Kal Penn of the Harold and Kumar films and Academy Awardwinning actor Jamie Foxx stressed the importance of voting and praised Obama on the work he has done. Penn took a hiatus from show business to work for the Obama administration at the White House.

Contact Us at news@dailytitan.com

Foxx emphasized that Democrats cannot lose their enthusiasm in this election. Gubernatorial Democratic candidate and incumbent Attorney General Jerry Brown took the stage to “Jerry” chants and stressed his plans for California’s future. “The country works when we share,” Brown said. “We have enough for our need but not enough for our greed. And that’s the spirit of collaboration of justice, of the movement forward.” Third-term incumbent, Sen. Barbara Boxer, followed Brown. Boxer, who is in a tight race with former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, highlighted the Republicans’ wealth and said they are trying to “depress voter turnout.” “(Republicans) are hoping that you don’t vote in this election,” Boxer said. “They are hoping that you don’t see the choice in this election.”

According to a Los Angeles Times/ USC poll, Brown led Whitman 52 percent to 39 percent among likely voters. His advantage has more than doubled since a Times/USC poll in September. Boxer also held onto her eight-point margin over Fiorina in the U.S. Senate race. After Boxer, Obama described the political atmosphere in Washington as a car that had been driven into a ditch by the Republicans during former President George W. Bush’s administration. Obama said that the Republicans walked away from the accident and the Democrats are working hard to get the car out of the ditch and that it is important to maintain a Democratic majority in Washington. “We’ve got to tell them, ‘You can’t have the keys back. You don’t know how to drive,’” Obama said. “‘You can ride with us, but you’ve got to be in the backseat.’”

LUCIO VILLA / Daily Titan A boy waves a sign reading “Vote 2010” as U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at the Democratic campaign, “Moving America Forward.” Others in attendance were Jerry Brown, Jamie Foxx and Kal Penn. dailytitan.com/news


dailytitan.com

4

OPINION

October 25, 2010

Health Yoga: Health for your soul

Courtesy of MCT

See ya later, Governator KEITH COUSINS Asst. News Editor

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s time in Sacramento is coming to an end and the action star may not get another chance to reprise his role as a politician. But while Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown eagerly await election results Nov. 2, I can’t help but wonder what the “Governator” is thinking about his six years in office. Perhaps he is reliving that moment – the one where he realized that no longer would he be fighting wizards, predators, mercenaries or caped-crusaders. Instead he would be entrenched in a political battle to restore a crumbling California. That moment of realization may have come Nov. 18, 2003, when Schwarzenegger gave his inaugural address in Sacramento. Will he relive those promises? Will he question whether or not he fulfilled them? Will he realize that the words in that speech make his actions over the last seven years look like a terrible sequel with absolutely no substance? “I know there are some of you who

say that the Legislature and I will never agree on solutions to our problems,” Schwarzenegger said in the address. “But I’ve found in my life that people often respond in remarkable ways to remarkable challenges.” If by respond to challenges the “Governator” meant cowering in fear and wetting themselves, then he was spot on with this campaign promise. As though the representatives in our state’s legislative branch could stop arguing long enough to realize they have an actual job to do. Instead, over the course of his tenure in Sacramento, Schwarzenegger has been anything but effective in getting the Legislature to work together at all. Take the recent stalls in writing a budget. It took them an extra 100 days to finally come to terms on a budget. 100 days. I seriously doubt that they weren’t being paid on those days either. What was the result of this extra 100 days of hard work? It has to be a pristine budget that will help pull California out of its economic woes right? Think again, according to an Associated Press article, “their spending plan looked to be so

tenuous that the next governor was expected to face a multi-billion-dollar deficit from the moment he or she steps into office next year.” So after six years it was business as usual in the Legislature. But he had to have fulfilled some of those other promises right? “I will not rest until our fiscal house is in order,” Schwarzenegger said in the address. Well he must not have gotten a lot of sleep over the years, because as he leaves the governor’s mansion the state’s deficit is somewhere around $19.1 billion. “I will not rest until California is a competitive job-creating machine,” Schwarzenegger said. Now we are about as competitive as everyone who tried to keep up with the then “Austrian Oak” when he convincingly became the youngest bodybuilder to ever win the Mr. Olympia title. A recent Los Angeles Times article said the unemployment rate in California is at 12.4 percent, making the state No. 3 in the nation in terms of jobless rates. Am I being too hard on Gov. Schwarzenegger? I think not. I am simply doing something not a lot of people tend to do these days when it

comes to politics – holding politicians accountable for their promises. Yes, there are a lot of other factors that contributed to the overwhelming crisis we are facing in California. Yes, maybe it is my fault for thinking of the governor as more of an action hero than a man. But when he said, “I will not rest until the people of California come to see their government as a partner in their lives, not a roadblock to their dreams,” I couldn’t help but picture him as a predator fighting bad-ass who would stop at nothing to succeed. We all should have paid more attention to a line early on in his speech, a line that truly summed up the rest of his time in Sacramento. “It’s no secret I’m a newcomer to politics,” Schwarzenegger said. “I realize I was elected on faith and hope. And I feel a great responsibility not to let the people down.” He was a newcomer; he was not experienced in politics. But we had faith, we had hope, that the Terminator could take on the political system and be different. However in the end, much like his all-too-brief cameo in The Expendables, he let us down.

NICOLE FELTON Daily Titan Columnist

Yoga: A Hindu discipline aimed at training the consciousness for a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility. Yoga has been practiced for centuries, focusing on spiritual, body and mental health. The term yoga is immediately associated with hippies, surprising I know. Although in recent years it has become more popular among mainstream society. Not just hippies are practicing yoga, now major athletes, celebrities and people of importance all practice yoga. Football players in the NFL practice yoga. When I heard this I had to laugh, thinking of a huge man contorting himself in ways that can be challenging for the average normal- sized person is a hilarious mental image. When I began to research this more I found yoga can help football players and major league athletes with their flexibility and balance, ultimately making them an all-around better player. A couple weeks ago I took a trip up to San Francisco. I had never been, so I took a tourist trip around downtown and found that there is amazing shopping, especially the three-story Forever 21. What took me by surprise was that half of the third floor of the Forever 21 was dedicated to yoga clothes and yoga mats. My

friend and I looked at each other at the same time and said, “Really?” Yoga has now become such a fad that even department stores, such as Forever 21, are carrying yoga merchandise. With this new-found popularity, I hope we don’t lose what the true meaning of yoga is. It’s more than just a workout; it provides healthful benefits for more than just our outside appearance, but what truly lies within us. Most of the time we are so focused on how we appear on the outside, that we forget to make sure our inner self is looking just as fine. “It is the internal self that you want to purify, and once you do, you’ll experience a positive attitude, a mastery of senses and a connection with a higher power,” said Kate Holcombe, founder and co-director of Healing Yoga Foundation in San Francisco. It might – no it will – sound weird, but practicing yoga allows you to have a better connection to your own body. How can you be more connected to your body when you already are literally connected to your body? It goes further than the song we all sang in elementary school, “the thigh bone is connected to your hip bone...” To practice yoga you focus solely on yourself, not what the person next to you is doing. Yoga allows you to let go of everything you are feeling or dealing with in your life at that moment. You clear your mind and try not to think about any of your day-to-day worries. Believe me, this takes a lot of practice, but allowing your mind to be absent of thought allows peace to overcome your mind and body. Once you have finished practicing you feel renewed and fresh. I know this can all sound like a bunch of bullshit, but try it, it might or might not be the right thing for you. It won’t hurt to try! Peace, Love and Recycle!

This letter is in response to Tonia Biko's letter responding to the article "Israeli Soldiers Share War Ordeals" by Natalie Bonilla. I honestly believe that there was little to no bias in the article. The two soldiers were only sharing their accounts of what they had seen and been through while serving. Nothing about how one group is better than the other was brought up. It was their account of their time as soldiers, not Zionists. My definition of terrorism is a person or group of people who kill unarmed people at nonviolent gatherings and in my eyes, both sides of the conflict are guilty of terrorism. I guess you've already figured out that I am neither a Muslim nor a Zionist, but this personally affects me because I am so tired of both sides claiming to be the innocent victims. I am also very tired of the sweeping generalities used to portray everyone on the opposing side as the devil. This conflict is never going to be resolved if both sides turn a deaf ear to what the other is saying and selfishly only pay attention to what the other side did to them. Hate instills more hate, and hatred pulls the trigger. Please listen to each other and stop playing the victim. Glenn Calderon Pre-business major

For the record Articles written for the Daily Titan by columnists, other Cal State Fullerton students, or guests do not necessarily reflect the view of the Daily Titan or Daily Titan Editorial Board. Only editorials are representative of the views of the Daily Titan Editorial Board.

Letters To The Editor The Daily Titan welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must include the sender’s first and last name. Students must include their majors, or affiliation to the university, if applicable. The Daily Titan reserves the right to edit letters for length, grammar and spelling. Send letters to dteditorinchief@gmail. com.

Contact Us at dtopinion@gmail.com


SPORTS

October 25, 2010

5

49ers stun volleyball

‘Eaters munch men’s soccer ELLIOT COOK Staff Writer

The Cal State Fullerton men’s soccer team traveled to UC Irvine Saturday to play the No. 8 ranked Anteaters. The Titans (5-8-2, 3-4) knew it would be a tough game coming in, but were unprepared from the start. Just three minutes into play, the Titans found themselves down 1-0 on a UCI goal shot outside the box. The Titans tried to respond on a free kick from junior midfielder Kevin Venegas but no one was able to put a head on the curving ball. UCI then struck again on a huge throw-in that was headed into the back of the net. UCI was scoring off corners often, as they scored two more before the half ended making it 5-0 at half time. Venegas knows the team has to improve on their energy as a team. “We don’t come out with any fire. We can’t continue to do this. The team knows this, but doesn’t do anything about it. It’s not just one player it’s the team as a whole,” Venegas said. In the second half the Titans tried to cut into the lead and finally did when redshirt sophomore defender Jesse Escalante put his head to a Venegas ball that went past the Anteaters’ goalkeeper to make it 6-1. CSUF managed to score another goal, off a Venegas shot on the right side for a final score of 7-2. Jesse Escalante knows what his team is capable of, but believes they can’t keep getting into holes. “The early goals we have been giving up is not OK. If we want to make the tournament we can’t get into holes. There’s teams like (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo) that are making their push at us from the bottom of the conference table,” Jesse Escalante said. His brother, freshman defender Bryan Escalante agreed. “Once we go down we are shellshocked. We have a few more games in the regular season so we have a little time to play to our potential like we did against UC Santa Barbara,” Bryan Escalante said. The Titans next play will be at home Wednesday against UC Davis at 7 p.m. in a battle for third place.

dailytitan.com

AARON GILLIAM Asst. Sports Editor

JOHNNY LE / Daily Titan CSUF women’s rugby returns to the field for yet another relentless season of trys, bruises and scars, as they walk all over the Trojans from USC in a near perfect victory, 49-10.

Women’s rugby tackles USC ALLY BORDAS Staff Writer

The Cal State Fullerton women’s rugby team competed in their second preseason game of the 2010-11 season. On Oct. 23, the team played the USC Trojans at home on the Intramural Fields and won 49-10. The last time the CSUF girls played USC was last season and it did not go as well as it did this past weekend where the Trojans upset the Titans 13-5, so this was redemption. In their first home game, the girls had a lot of fans come out and cheer them on. Fans had banners, horns and chants going throughout the game. At the end of the first half the

score was 27-5, CSUF. This is when the game started to get rough. Christina Hartman, 21, is starting her first season of rugby this year. As she prepared to enter the game after the second half began, she said, “Each try is worth five points. You have to run the ball into the try zone and touch it to the ground to get the points.” In rugby lingo, a try is similar to a touchdown in football. Hartman also said that after someone scores, the team’s kicker attempts to get the conversion, which is worth two points. In a conversion, the kicker has to place kick the ball through the try zone and in between the two posts at the end of the pitch. One of the kickers for CSUF, Kirsten Lunt a first-time rugby player, had the loving support of her par-

ents. Ken and Terri Lunt said, “This is our first time watching her play. It is very exciting.” In the second half, when the score jumped to 37-10, an injury occurred when a USC player tackled a Titan hard to the ground. She was running the ball up the pitch and her head slammed into the grass taking most of the hit. Shortly after, the game resumed and the Titans continued to put the hurt on the Trojans in the try zone. The last two trys for CSUF occurred just as the time was winding down. Titan freshman forward Sabrina Kraft, ran the ball the length of the field and got tackled just as she touched the ball to the ground in the try zone, giving CSUF an even bigger lead over USC; 42-10. Titan kicker,

Lunt, gained the conversion points as well making the score 44-10. Kraft, another first-time rugby player, believes the team will do great things this year. “I think we are going to do well. We get along really well and we are like one big family.” In the final minutes of the game, the Titans worked together to win the ball on a breakaway and gave CSUF a 49-10 win just as the whistle was blown signaling the end of the game. Because the CSUF team is in preseason right now they practice Mondays and Wednesdays to prepare themselves for their upcoming season, which starts in late December. Check out the rugby website for information on games, practice times and fundraisers.

The Cal State Fullerton women’s volleyball team faced their long-time Big West Conference rivals, the Long Beach State 49ers, for the second time this season. The Titans (17-5, 6-2) were handed their second loss of the year (in conference play) and their first loss at Titan Gym this season ending their 11-game-home-winning streak. When asked about this loss ending their home streak, Titan senior libero Cami Croteau said, “It wasn’t a big deal to me, but in my last game ever against Long Beach, it would have been nice to beat them.” After losing 3-1 (25-17, 23-25, 1825, 17-25) to LBSU, the Titans are now tied with the 49ers for the firstplace spot in the Big West Conference. When asked about the fan support, Saddler said, “I loved the crowd. It was awesome to see all of the support even from Long Beach and for breast cancer awareness. It was great that the word got out and so many people came and supported. I really appreciate it.” The Titans looked to maintain their lead in the second set as they jumped to a 3-1 lead early in the second set, but the 49ers quickly fought back and evened the score up at 13. “I think going in, certain players wanted to do more than what they needed to do and everyone just kind of overplayed a little bit and extended themselves mentally and tried to be too perfect, which led to some unfortunate errors and the momentum changed pretty fast,” Titan Assistant Coach Vinh Nguyen said about his team’s performance in the second set. Although the Titans only hit .135 as a team and recorded 26 errors on 171 attempts, Brown led all players with 14 kills and Maurer and Saddler combined for 23. Saddler also earned her sixth double-double of the season by collecting 11 digs. The Titans continue their home stand Oct. 29 and 30 as they host UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in Titan Gym. Both matches begin at 7 p.m.

Titans blanked by Gauchos MICHELLEE COOPER Staff Writer

WILLIAM CAMARGO / For the Daily Titan Redshirt senior forward Geminesse Martinez leans in for a header against UC Santa Barbara.

On Sunday the Cal State Fullerton women’s soccer team recognized their five seniors as they took on the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. Unable to penetrate the Gauchos (88-2, 3-4) defense, the Titans (6-11, 3-3) ended the game scoreless with UCSB, ending the night 2-0. Both teams came out on the field aggressively, but were unable to make a move during the first 30 minutes of the game. It wasn’t until the 32nd-minute of the game that the Gauchos were able to take the lead. Once the ball was dropped off, UCSB senior defender Kailyn Kugler made the assist that allowed junior forward Jacqui Simon to make a shot from the top of the box. As the time on the clock ran out, the Titans trailed behind the Gauchos in the first half, heading off to halftime behind, 1-0. During the second half in the 81st-minute, the Gauchos were able to make their second goal of the night when Kugler broke away from the pack, having an open shot to make the goal, as the Gauchos sealed their victory, 2-0. Titan freshman midfielder Brittany Dobbs said the team had a good night, but they were unable to take the win. “They could have had more composure,” said Dobbs, who wishes she could be on the field playing alongside her teammates, instead of on the sidelines healing from an ACL surgery. “The game wasn’t as good as we hoped for,” said freshman goalkeeper Lindsey Maricic. “We’re missing heart and passion.” Maricic said this is a tough game to play when the team is not unified. “We need to find what works for the team,” Maricic said. “The motivation wasn’t there and we weren’t able to prove ourselves.” UCSB freshman defender Lindsay Gankema said she was proud of her team and what they were able to accomplish in the game. “We played very connected,” Gankema said. “We played the best to our abilities.” The Titans will travel to Cal State Northridge Oct. 28 and then to UC Irvine Oct. 31 in their final regular season matches. dailytitan.com/sports


dailytitan.com

6

FEATURES

Daytripper Oceanside: A hidden beach treasure for train travelers KELSEY LANEY Copy Editor

Train travel is definitely a quick and easy alternative to the freeways, especially on a Saturday, headed south to Oceanside. Though the price may seem a bit steep, $17 there and back; the free parking at the train station, the ocean views along the ride and the fact that it lets you off right along the beach (eliminating the need to spend money on beachfront parking) makes the cost worth it. The Oceanside Transit center is a mere block from the beach and the beautiful coastal views allow the hour and 18-minute train ride to pass rather quickly. Once there, the beach is your playground with activities and attractions for everyone. My favorite part of Downtown Oceanside is definitely Ruby’s Diner on the pier. Ruby’s is a ‘50s-style diner, complete with a jukebox and a variety of milkshakes that are out of this world. Being a vegetarian, I was impressed with all the vegetarian options Ruby’s boasts. Guests also have the option to eat on the patio, which my server explained provides a romantic atmosphere at sunset when the tables overlook the changing skies above the ocean. Along the walk down the pier to Ruby’s, I was interested in all the crowds gathered at either side with their fishing poles and bait boxes. Whether it was a man by himself relaxing in a lawn chair, or an entire family spending time together, the enjoyment in such a simple activity was clear. I rented a fishing pole, the standard price is $5 per hour plus a deposit. I certainly didn’t catch any-

dailytitan.com/features

thing, but the boy next to me did, and his squeals of delight showed how proud he was of himself. I was lucky enough to travel to Oceanside in the midst of a surf competition, and though it was nothing like the Huntington Beach Surf Open, it was still relaxing and enjoyable in its own way. Vendors were present as well as food carts. I purchased McDonald’s French fries from the McDonald’s window at the entrance to the pier and parked myself on the sand to watch the surfers. I was surprised to see how many young kids were involved, one boy in particular looked no older than 11 years old and he was surfing better than some of the adults! If surfing isn’t your thing, take a walk about a block up from the beach and you’ll meet loads of restaurants and shops. There were many surf shops that I browsed through, complete with clothing, wetsuits and boards. The restaurants range in cuisine; from Mexican to pizza to Italian there is something for anyone. There are ice cream shops and for those who like Boba, Bubble Tea had a

delicious passion fruit green tea. At night areas of the streets in Downtown Oceanside are decorated with strings of lights that add to the transformation into a nightlife scene. What makes Oceanside interesting is the different people you meet. The Marine base, Camp Pendleton, is near Oceanside and many Marines spend their free time out on the Downtown streets. The military discounts provided by many of the restaurants and shops indicate the large military population throughout the city. The parking lots are also a gold mine for anyone who plays the license plate game (like me) even without a car! Oceanside may be a beach city, but it has more to offer than just a beach.

KELSEY LANEY / Daily Titan A view of the pier and Downtown Oceanside from the two-story Ruby’s Diner.

October 25, 2010

Pumpkins arrive at Irvine OLIVIA BOUNVONGXAY Staff Writer

The Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch, nestled deep in the woods of the Orange foothills, is taking on its successful fifth year. As Halloween gets closer, families are making their way down to enjoy a little old-fashion holiday fun. “It has always been a kind of tradition for us to go to the pumpkin patch together,” said 21-year-old Gregg Sherman. Sherman, a local resident, is enjoying his second year at the patch with his two younger brothers. Sherman, along with many other families, came for all the attractions this pumpkin patch has to offer. “I might seem a little old for this,” he said. “But I know it’s important to have family time, and everyone always seems to enjoy themselves here.” Children come in costume to search for their perfect pumpkins. Out of hundreds to choose from, the spots of orange lying on beds of hay make a great backdrop for photo opportunities which is a trend for couples and their little ones. Pumpkin patches have their traditional hay rides, carnival games and all-American grub, but this one in particular is unique. An old fashion train loops around the Irvine Regional Park making a circle back to the pumpkin patch, a favorite attraction among visitors. The 12-minute train ride takes you to the oldest live oaks in Orange County and gives a narrated tour of the scenic historic landmarks. There are also pony rides for children and horse rentals with riding trails for adults. The Orange County Zoo is just a five-minute walk from the park with over 100 native animals to Southern California. Katie Falcon, marketing and event manager of the Irvine Park Pumpkin Patch, said every year it gets better. “This year, new to the pumpkin patch, we upgraded our haunted house, built in an old saloon and jail cell and also added panning for gold,” Falcon said.

OLIVIA BOUNVONGXAY / Daily Titan The many pumpkins that the park offers are considered to be a favorite attraction for visitors.

Sharon Nguyen, a 25-year-old mother and newcomer to the Irvine pumpkin patch, said she is going to make this a tradition for her family. “My daughter really enjoys this, and when I see that she’s happy, it makes me happy too,” Nguyen said. The pumpkin patch will last until Halloween day. There is a $5 parking fee. For tickets, activity prices and additional information visit www.IrvineParkRailroad.com. “We start planning the events here eight to 10 months in advance,” Falcon said. “This year, we have more attractions and even brought in more advertising.” Falcon explains how the closer they get to the holidays, the crazier it gets. The biggest event of the year for the Irvine Regional Park is the Christmas Train, an enchanting night ride that takes you to Santa’s Village. This event will be open to the public starting Nov. 26.

Multimedia

Pumpkin Fun for Everyone See what the Scan to view Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch has to offer at dailytitan.com/irvinepumpkin

dailytitan.com/features


7

October 25, 2010

Hey! Guess what movie thi s quote is from!

Crossword

“What’s the use of worrying about your beard when your head’s about to be taken? ”

brought to you by mctcampus.com

Write your answer on the Daily Titan’s Facebo www.facebook.com/daok: ily. titan or send a tweet to: www.twitter.com/daily_ tita

n

2000

Spem/Egg Donors

EGG DONORS NEEDED We are seeking attractive women of all ethnicities under the age of 29 who are physically fit and maintain a healthy lifestyle. $10,000 plus all expenses. If you have a desire to help an infertile family please contact us. E-mail: Darlene@aperfectmatch.com 1-800-264-8828 www.aperferctmatch.com Perfectly matching donors with families since 1998.

You will be fortunate in the opportunities presented to you.

Horoscopes

brought to you by mctcampus.com

2 8

9 5 1 4 7 1 5 9

2 4 1 5 7 9

5 7 2 6 4 8

5 1 2 8 6 7 4 3 9 3 7 4 2 9 5 6 8 1

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) A group member decides to grab the chief’s role. Go along with this for today in order to get anything done. Make logical changes for best effect.

Daily Sudoku: Tue 12-Oct-2010

2

8 1

9 1 3 8 1 6 7 5

1 5 4 5

8 3

9 7 8 1

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2010. All rights reserved.

5

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Hopefully, you have the supplies to utilize your talents. The results are so great that they move others to tears. This is a good thing.

How To Play: Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9: and each set of boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

7 9 8 3 5 2

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Group members see the value of major changes to a project already in motion. Stick to practical procedures to get your part done.

Daily Sudoku: Tue 12-Oct-2010

3 2 9 1 6 4

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Passionate dreams come true today, by combining efforts with a trusted group. If everyone works together, you get the desired results.

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2010. All rights reserved.

5

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2010. All rights reserved.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today you see the value of recent efforts. Stress eases when you see the light at the end of the tunnel. Take care with written communications.

4 8 3 7 1 5

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Take extra time with your appearance today. A difficult task seems easier when you know you look your best. Relax at home in private celebration.

8 1 1 3 1 6 7 5 8 8 1 3 1 5 6 4 3 7

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) If you want to climb a mountain today, make sure to bring all necessary equipment. Fresh air and good company make the day sweet.

4 5 2 9 8

easy

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Focus intensely on the creative aspects of your work at home today. Don’t worry about practical outcomes just now. There’s time enough for that tomorrow.

7

6 1 5 9 8 3

Cancer (June 22-July 22) Someone grabs the leadership position and causes some stress. To maintain creative output, remind them of their core commitments. Acknowledge the team.

9 3 4 8 2 6

3

3

8 6 7 2 9 1

5

4 5 7 9 2 8 1 6 3

Gemini (May 21-June 21) Co-workers must act as a unit to achieve best results today. Blend your talents into your projects. You achieve almost seamless results.

Sudoku brought to you by dailysudoku.com

Daily Sudoku: Tue 12-Oct-2010

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Get your associates to focus on work early in the day. If you wait until later, you lose valuable rhythm. Listen to ideas from the oldest team member.

Sudoku

http://www.dailysudoku.com/

Aries (March 21-April 19) Combine creative effort with your favorite person. Two heads are better than one when solving today’s tasks. Don’t spin your wheels alone.


October 25, 2010

dailytitan.com

8

FEATURES

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JONATHAN GIBBY / Daily Titan Probationary firefighter Woo Young Kim and truck engineer Hiram Channell raise a ladder during an early-morning evaluation exercise simulating a search and rescue mission in a four-story commercial or housing building.

FIRE: FIREFIGHTER-IN-TRAINING ... Continued from page 1 All of the firefighters at the Fullerton Fire Department agreed: Woo Young Kim’s reasons for becoming a firefighter were moving. “He said to me, ‘Sir,’ – he says ‘sir’ because of his Marine experience, he said – ‘I’ve been in the Marines for two years destroying, I’m here because I want to do good this time.’ It was very humbling,” Garcia said. “I didn’t really think of the fire service until about my first deployment (to Iraq),” Kim said. “We were about to go on a patrol when a couple of rockets came into base, hit one of the buildings. Some firefighters showed up, and at the time I didn’t know this, but they were actually civilian firefighters who volunteered to go out there and protect the bases of the soldiers and Marines.” “This was at night, and I was watching them work, and then it kind of hit me that all the gear on them was – literally, everything on them was there to help someone or save someone’s life and then I looked at my Marines and myself and I realized everything on us was just basically there to kill people,” Kim said. “I do love the Marine Corps and it is an honorable, honorable career, but at the end I felt that if I had to do something for the next 30 years, I’d really like to help people and save lives instead of taking them.” Kim’s morning was spent completing multiple evaluations. The first was getting dressed quickly. The second was completing ladder raising with proper calls and form. The third was prying open a wrecked car with the Jaws of Life. The fourth was reciting every specification about each tool on board the fire truck. The fifth was sawing ventilation holes on a rooftop. He also underwent multiple training exercises such as Search and Rescue in a manhole, and a live fire exercise that practices flashovers, or when smoke and gases in confined spaces meet with oxygen and cause a wave of flames overhead.

Firefighters gaze up at the flames overhead during a flashover training exercise that simulates combustion that occurs when a fire is exposed to fresh oxygen.

Woo Young Kim is tested to dress in fire-protective garments in under two-and-a-half minutes.

After this nighttime exercise, Kim hurried into the garage to retrieve a cooler full of water and Gatorade to hydrate the members of the Fullerton and Brea Fire Departments who also participated in the exercise. Before joining the others in removing his gear, he quickly passed out water bottles to each firefighter, sweat drops forming on his brow from the heat he had just endured.

Kim’s 24-hour shift was only halfway complete. He had 12 hours left of janitorial, menial tasks in addition to answering fire calls and the teasing of other department members. One firefighter looked up at his offering from his kneeling position, took the bottle from Kim gratefully and respectfully said, “Thank you, sir.”

Between calls, rookie Woo Young Kim washes windows and performs other menial tasks around the firehouse garage.

A firefighter is assisted in dressing with a mask that will provide 15-minutes worth of oxygen during the flashover training exercise. The oxygen tanks have motion sensors that trigger beeping alarms if the person wearing them does not move after a certain amount of time.

Contact Us at dtfeaturesdesk@gmail.com


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.