Daily Titan Wednesday, December 8, 2010 by Daily Titan

Vol. 88 Issue 51

December 8, 2010

Cell phones and

WHAT’S INSIDE NEWS Sexual assault statistics are low at Cal State Fullerton ........................................3

how they kill relationships Technology is beginning to affect how humans interact in daily situations, slowly removing the “human” element

Students make graphic

OPINION The Dating Game: Success in a brand new relationship ........................................4

More than 30 students in professor Christian Hill’s sequential art class recreated a classic story See GRAPHIC, page 2

FEATURES Women seek advice by writing on bathroom walls ........................................5

See CELL PHONES, page 4

novel and add their own twist

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

Texting is a distraction The consequences and realities of behind the wheel texting KRYSTLE UY Daily Titan

Hold the phone. On second thought; don’t. At any time, anywhere, people can easily compose, send and receive text messages. With busy schedules, society has become teeming with multitasking including those who text while they drive. It may seem harmless, but behind the wheel it’s dangerous. The need to stay connected has become increasingly fatal. The death toll for texting while driving was 16,141 from 2002 to 2007 according to a study conducted from the University of North Texas Health Center. The research was based on traffic data from the Fatality Accident Reporting System and texting records from the Federal Communications Commission. “We’ve been relying more and more on technology as it advances. People have so many priorities and responsibilities… the fact that we have the option to communicate through texting, we take advantage of it. People forget how their safety can be put at risk when they’re trying to keep up with such a fast-paced society,” said Andi Aguilar, 22, a sociology graduate student. The amount of fatalities is largely due to the popularity of texting. According to the CTIA, the International Association for the Wireless Telecommunications Industry semiannual survey, 1.5 trillion text messages were sent in 2009.

See DRIVING, page 6

ONLINE

EXCLUSIVES www.dailytitan.com

Multimedia

MARK SAMALA / Daily Titan Lobby Corps chair, Gregory Washington, provided information to students and showed student videos that Associated Students Inc. uploaded to social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter.

DREAM Act supporters launch virtual campaign Cal State Fullerton student representatives and supporters of the immigration bill rally on the Titan Walk and urge state leaders to vote MARK SAMALA Daily Titan

In an attempt to reach out to U.S. Representatives, laptops and cell phones were setup at Titan Walk yesterday to allow supporters to voice their opinions and personal stories about the DREAM Act. The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act would grant eligibility for citizenship to thousands of young illegal immigrants if they go to college or serve in the military for two years. “This act symbolizes a dream that can be fulfilled on a personal

level,” said Karina Gutierrez, 22, a graduate student at Cal State Fullerton. “But most importantly, it creates a dream for a better nation.” The legislation was first introduced to Congress in 2001 and again in 2007. After almost a decade, the bill did not reach Congress in September. The House and the Senate are expected to vote on the DREAM Act today. DREAM Act activists and supporters have spent the last hours urging senators and representatives to support the passing of the bill. Communities and organizations throughout the U.S. called Tuesday a national day of action inviting all Americans to step up pressure and inform people on the importance of the bill for families

and the nation in general. Student leaders of Associated Students Inc. and the Lobby Corps organized a virtual campaign to reach out and assist undocumented students as they strive to achieve their educational goals. “A virtual campaign is ideal for our students because the DREAM Act is time sensitive and up for discussion this week,” said Aissa Canchola, ASI chair and speaker for the Multicultural Caucus for the Cal State Student Association. “Posting messages and videos on our representatives’ social sites offers a face to those that speak for the DREAM Act. See ACT, page 2

Red Hat Society ages on their own terms MARYANNE SHULTS Daily Titan

PR Class Attempts World Record Find out if they Scan to view succeeded at dailytitan.com/ spot-a-spot

Bathroom Wall Confessions See what secrets Scan to view the bathroom stalls hold at dailytitan.com/ bathroom-confession

A dozen women sat in the restaurant, oblivious to the other patrons who were trying not to stare. Their ages ranged from 40-something to seniors. They were dressed and accessorized in shades of deep purple and bright red. Some were wrapped in feather boas resembling Vegas show girls. The group had two common factors. First, they were all wearing red hats. Some were only small veils attached with hair clips, while others had on large floppy straw hats, reminiscent of Parisian fashion in the early 20th century. Second, they were all laughing. Some emitted tiny giggles, while one rather portly woman, who sported the largest hat, was laughing so hard she snorted. The others in the restaurant weren’t quite sure what to think about the group, but the women were obviously carefree and having fun. The women are members of a chapter of the Red Hat Society®, an international organization of women whose mission is all about an alliteration of F-words: fun, friendship, freedom, fulfillment and fitness. Today they boast more than 20,000 chapters globally. Membership is open to women of all ages, but those under 50 are Pink Hatters and wear the most subtle hues of lavender and pink. Debbi Segall’s first encounter with Red Hat ladies was very similar. She was having lunch with colleagues in a

Courtesy of MCT Dallas Cowboys Gerald Sensabaugh makes a dangerous tackle on New York Giants’ Kevin Boss Nov. 14.

Concussions grow in NFL STEPHANI BEE Daily Titan

gall said. “The Verde Santa Fe Amigas have brought more than friendship into my life. Their personal and emotional support has helped me become comfortable in our new area and several are now good friends.”

“Hut! Hut! HIKE!” It’s a quick snap and the quarterback retreats from the pocket. He scans the field, looking to see who is open. Down the field, 20 yards away and going deeper, his wide receiver looks like a bullet shot out of an AK47. He’s all over this. The quarterback locks in on his target and uncorks the football. It spirals in midair with plenty of hang time. The wide receiver can feel a catch in his bones. “This is mine,” he thinks to himself. “I’ve got this.”

See RED HATTERS, page 3

See NEW STEPS, page 8

JOHNNY LE / Daily Titan Sue Ellen Cooper signs a book with her dog sitting next to her in the Red Hat Society headquarters. Cooper is well known among members.

picturesque upstate New York village and noticed the brightly-colored and happy gaggle of women. In 2004, her father gave her a red hat as a retirement gift. A bit embarrassed by his gift, she promptly stored it. A year later, they moved to Arizona.

Attending a party at her neighborhood clubhouse, she noticed the familiar red-and-purple decoration and inquired. She learned the Red Hatters were having a party and the chapter president was present. “They invited me to their next event and I joined immediately,” Se-

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NEWS

December 8, 2010

Graphic novel retells old story

IN OTHER NEWS INTERNATIONAL

Holiday greeting banned at Philippines International Airport PHILIPPINES – Immigration officers at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport were prohibited yesterday from wishing passengers a Merry Christmas. Earlier, the Bureau of Customs issued a similar ban and instead decided to just place “Merry Christmas” streamers at the arrival and departure areas of the airport’s three terminals. The directive was issued to avoid the impression that the officers were soliciting Christmas gifts and tips from passengers, said Ronaldo Ledesma, the officer in charge at the Bureau of Immigration. Ledesma said immigration officers should instead smile to greet passengers.

Sequential art class turns a classic tale into a new form of storytelling NIKKI MAO

For the Daily Titan

NATIONAL

Hiring plans strongest since 2008, survey finds WASHINGTON – Employers’ hiring plans for the upcoming first quarter are “the most promising” in more than two years, on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the Manpower Employment Outlook survey published Tuesday. A seasonally adjusted 9 percent of firms said they expect to hire in the first quarter of 2011, the largest percentage since the fourth quarter of 2008, according to the Milwaukee-based firm’s survey of more than 18,000 U.S. employers. For the fourth quarter, 5 percent of firms said they planned to hire, the same percentage as in the first quarter of 2010. Melanie Holmes, Manpower’s vice president of community investment, said that while the report does contain good news, it could be better. “We have 10 percentage points to go before we are at a strong number,” Holmes said.

STATE

MARK SAMALA / Daily Titan Graduate student Karina Gutierrez told students about their campaing strategies.

Treasury reports $12 billion profit on Citi bailout

ACT: STUDENTS SUPPORT

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Treasury said late Monday that its $45 billion bailout of banking giant Citigroup Inc. produced a $12 billion profit for taxpayers. The Treasury said it sold the last of its Citi stock, 2.4 billion shares, to private investors at $4.35 apiece, raising $10.5 billion. Combined with proceeds from previous Citi stock sales as well as dividend and interest income paid to the Treasury by the bank over the last two years, the government said it took in a total of $57 billion. “By selling all the remaining Citigroup shares today, we had an opportunity to lock in substantial profits for the taxpayer and avoid all future risk,” Tim Massad, acting assistant secretary for financial stability, said in a statement.

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.

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... Continued from page 1

According to CNN, the DREAM Act has transformed into a land of nightmares for parties on Capitol Hill. In a lame-duck session, Congress members have battled out the ups and downs of passing or rejecting the act. Student reactions to the act are mixed. “It’s OK for people not to support the act,” said Gregory Washington, 20, chair of Lobby Corps, “As long as they are willing and open to hear the opinion of those who are in support of the act.” Launching this virtual campaign to gain the attention of congress, the Lobby Corps recorded videos of supporters that spoke

in agreement of the act and sent them via web and social networks to house representatives that are in thumbs up of this bill. “Reaching out on e-mails, Facebook pages, Twitter and other social networking sites delivers a more direct and personal message,” said Joe Lopez ASI President. “Working into the 21st century, going virtual reaches more followers and gains attention.” If passed, the legislation would provide a path to citizenship to thousands of students who were brought to the U.S. illegally before the age of 16, have been in the country for at least five years, completed high school or attained an equivalent degree and agreed to join the military or attend college.

More than 30 students from professor Christian Hill’s sequential art class put together and retold a classic story, the Twelve Labors of Herakles, adapting it into a 100-page comic book, becoming the first graphic novel made at Cal State Fullerton. Like many versions, the story starts with Herakles’ birth and youth; however, meaningful details and twists were planted in the early chapters to give this burdened hero more depth and to shape a more connected plot. This version is about one key conflict; a bitterly hurt wife, Hera, who takes out her anger on her son, Herakles, according to the sequential art class’ blog. “Everyone in class first studied public domain versions of the Twelve Labors. Our brainstorming, group discussions and lectures on story design yielded a new and unique plot for Herakles’ journey,” said Christian Hill, the only professor and the organizer of this graphic novel. To inspire his students, Hill took the class on a field trip to the Getty Villa in Malibu, where a large collection of Greek and Roman artwork is on display. “It was interesting collaborating as a class to condense the multiple versions of the Twelve Labors of Herakles from both the Roman and Greek legends into one single story. We used this information when designing the many characters, creatures and settings that appeared in the graphic novel,” said Rachael Farwell, one of the graphic novel’s artists. In making this novel, Hill acted as editor and art director. “With the generous input of students, we fine-tuned the story, but

then I was the only one following the progress of every team,” Hill said. “It required keeping an eye on story continuity and visual consistency for the characters and backgrounds, even if each team had its own artistic style.” Among the artists, graduate students were assigned to work alone on their own episodes, while undergraduates worked in teams of two, with a “penciler” and an “inker.” “To have a whole class working on a graphic novel that will be published and that people can actually buy is something very fascinating,” said Eloisa Lopez, an animation major, who now works at Nickelodeon. “However, working in a group, always has its ups and downs, since sometimes you just can’t get into an agreement that you like. The major obstacle for this project was to decide what Herakles was going to look like. Some people wanted Herakles to look cartoonier while some pictured him with a beard and finally he came out as a handsome guy.” Lopez was not the only one who thought the biggest challenge was to settle down on character designs that the entire class could agree with. “We started with one person per design, and slowly eliminated and revised them,” said Zelda C. Wang. “I remember we spent most of the time with character designs and since we need to rely on classmates to finish the project as a whole, people were having trouble finishing their projects toward the end of the semester because they ran out of time.” As one of the two published artists in Hill’s class, Wang was awarded as the Best in Mystery and People’s Choice in the Tokyopop Rising Star of Manga volume 8 contest. Wang grew up in Taiwan, but she said her childhood was heavily influenced by anime, manga and music from Japan. “I feel fortunate that I am familiar with Asian cultures,” Wang said. “It gives me lots of inspiration and adds to my creativity and imagination when it comes to story making.” Different cultural backgrounds as well as specific personal interests might separate the teamwork on some level, but a lot of students still view this unique experience as a great learning opportunity. “It was so exciting that my partner and I had the task of illustrating the first episode,” said Andrea Ruygt, a senior illustration major. “We decided to not beat around the bush, and put in the sex scene so it was clear what happened. At first we went a little too far, and the professor had to make sure we kept it tasteful - we were having fun with it and working with grad students was great too.” Lopez said it is crucial for one to learn how to adapt and work with others, especially in the comic industry where so many projects are done with the collaboration of different people. Besides experienced artists like Hans Tseng and Zelda Wang, the team has a lot of new faces. “The passion apparent in the quality of the final art is amazing,” Hill said. “Especially since so many students had never drawn comics before.” Lopez was one of them; she said even though she had her share of graphic novels, she has always been the reader, not the artist. Ruygt’s said her personal goal with this novel was to gain experience because she had never done comics before. “I learned what it’s like to produce a comic in the real way, like they do in the industry - which means deadlines and working with other artists and art directors,” Ruygt said. “This is definitely one of my favorite projects of my college career.” Artists could also see their own work through the iPhone. “The iPhone and similar phones to it, have a growing and evolving apps base that surely would allow for comics viewing,” Farwell said. Hill said that many students and professors from other departments also contributed to the graphic novel. “One English major, Melinda Kirk, looked over my shoulder as we revised the final dialogues together,” Hill said. Additionally, they asked for help from professors in the Computer Science Department to help them adapt the graphic novel to mobile devices. This novel is now printed with Lulu.com and will have an ISBN in 2011 so that people can start buying it on Amazon.com next year along with the second graphic novel of Aesop’s fables retold and adapted to the colorful world of the American Far West. “We sensed a lot of excitement in this journey,” Hill said. “This challenge called for a big time commitment and long-term team spirit and it was totally worth it!”

December 8, 2010

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NEWS

Sexual assault reviewed ANNA GLEASON Daily Titan

The last thing that comes to mind when walking through campus is being sexually assaulted. According to a report done by the Department of Justice, an estimated one in five women will be the victim of sexual assault by the time they graduate. “Alcohol is the number one daterape drug,” said Susan Leavy, crime prevention coordinator at the Cal State Fullerton WoMen’s Center. “A double standard continues to exist when it comes to alcohol use, which makes it important for women to be aware and stay conscious of their environment, even when at a party.” Sexual assault is defined as rape, attempted rape or any unwanted sexual touching or threats. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, sexual assaults are the most underreported violent crimes committed in the United States. Many of the assaults are performed by acquaintances of the victim, putting them under the category of non-stranger sexual assaults or “date rape.” “If you compare our crime stats to other schools as large as we are, I believe we are a very safe campus,” said Lt. John Brockie of CSUF Campus Police. “The crimes that we do have are primarily property crimes.” According to the Campus Crime Statistics report for CSUF, from 2007-09 only five non-forcible sexual assaults were reported on campus and only four forcible sexual assaults were reported in student housing. To help protect students, Campus Police is required to publish

“

Compared to other campuses CSUF is safe regarding assault

its Clery Report. According to the number of students living in housDepartment of Justice, beginning ing on campus.” in 1990, Congress wanted to ensure If a sexual assault is reported on that facilities of higher education campus, the campus police will rehad strategies to prevent and respond to the call. For most CSUs spond to instances of sexual assault and UCs, the campus police are a fully-functioning police departon campus. The first measure enacted was ment. “Any crime or criminal activity the Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act of 1990. reported by anybody on the Cal The measure was later renamed the State property, so between State Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus College, the freeway, Yorba Linda Security Policy and Campus Crime and Nutwood would be handled by Statistics Act in 1998, in honor of a the CSUF police. There are some student who was sexually assaulted colleges where they have security staff that handle disturbances, but and killed in 1986. The Act requires campuses to any actual crimes would go to the annually disclose any information local police department,” said Sgt. about crimes in and around cam- Andrew Goodrich, Fullerton Police PIO. “That’s not the case with the pus. The Act was amended to include Cal State or the UC campuses, they the Campus Sexual Assault Victims’ have full-functioning departments. Bill of Rights of 1992. The amend- Now, if they were to have some sort ment required schools to develop of major event, you can go back to prevention policies and to give vic- the ‘70s when they had the shooting tims certain assurances. The law was there, the Fullerton P.D. came in amended once more in 1998 to ex- because they just simply didn’t have the expertise or pand on these man power to requirements. handle that.” According If you compare our Even with its to the 2008 crime stats to other own police force, report, UCLA schools as large as we are, the school rarely showed the highest numI believe we are a very safe gets calls for sexual assaults. ber of sexual campus. According to assaults on a crime reports, campus of its - John Brockie Lt. campus police for a school of size. UCLA its large size, reported 36 CSUF is one of cases of sexual assault for 38,220 students, about the safest, having some of the fewest 0.94 assaults for every 1,000 stu- reported sexual assaults. However, if a sexual assault occurs, the camdents. Compared to other California pus has taken several precautions to campuses, CSUF has a relatively help victims through their time of low number of both forcible and crisis. “(The WoMen’s Center) can pronon-forcible sexual assaults. The number of sexual assaults vide counseling and support. We may be contributed to the small work closely with campus police number of housing on campus. and can accompany the victim if Leavy said the construction of new she or he reports the crime,” Leavy on-campus housing will increase said. “We partner with Community the potential number of sexual as- Services Program’s Sexual Assault Program who assists survivors with saults. “(New residential halls) certainly advocacy and accompaniment for raises the risk factor,” Leavy said. off-campus needs (i.e. court appear“We will be more than doubling the ances, medical appointments, etc.).”

JOHNNY LE / Daily Titan Sue Ellen Cooper, Queen Mother of the Red Hat Society, tells the tale of a painting given to her by the late actor Tony Curtis.

RED HATTERS: AGING PLAYFULLY ... Continued from page 1 The Beginning The Red Hat Society spawned 13 years ago when Sue Ellen Cooper impulsively paid $7.50 for an old red fedora in a thrift shop in Tucson. The hat brought a poem to Cooper’s mind, Jenny Jones’ “Warning.” The first lines of the poem begins, “When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple, with a red hat which doesn’t go and doesn’t suit me.” Cooper bought the hat. Being of a whimsical nature, Cooper gave the hat as a birthday gift for a friend who was nearing her halfcentury mark. Her objective was to encourage her friend to grow older in a playful manner and on her own terms. The red hat served as that reminder. The Red Hat Society was born. Cooper herself is the quintessential Red Hatter, referred to as “Queen Mother.” Dressed in a soft-hued purple A-line dress, adorned with a simple blood-red headpiece made with red feathers, she sits demurely in the conference room of the Red Hat Society’s “Hatquarters” in Fullerton, Calif., as she talks humbly about herself and the organization she started. Thin and stately, the laugh lines around her deep-set, yet bright eyes were earned with pleasure and defy her age. Emily Yost, the marketing director for the Red Hat Society, said she has experienced Cooper’s vision, not only from a business perspective, but from a personal one. “At my age, as a Pink Hatter, what she’s created is escape, play, empowerment and support,” Yost said. “Women today, with the economy, are working longer, living longer. We need to find a moment to relax.” Cooper started her own chapter, and the friends would don their red and purple garb and head out for some social, fun time together. The symbolism behind the red hat suddenly went viral as it had a profound effect on women Cooper encountered. Other women donned their own red hats, embracing the renewed outlook on the stereotypical dull life of a 50-plus woman. Suddenly it was OK to be filled with fun and friendship. Soon after the first small group of Red Hatters began venturing out in public, unsought publicity prompted hundreds, then thousands of women to ask how they too could join. With the sudden popularity and capabilities of the Internet, the RHS grew exponentially in its first years. Cooper said the growth initially began by word of mouth before being noticed by a magazine, and then locally by the Orange County Register. “There was a magazine called Romantic Homes. The editor was a friend of my “Vice-Mother,” Linda, and she thought it was the cutest thing when Linda said, ‘You won’t believe what I’ve been doing,’” Cooper said. “She said some day we’d like to do a story on that. It was a year or more before they actually called.” But, it was the article in the Orange County Register that spawned wider publicity. “It happened to be in December. We were colorful, we were jolly… happy story,” Cooper said. “It got on the newswire and that was the real beginning. The avalanche.” Red Hat Society jumps out of the hatbox and into the fire At first, Cooper couldn’t understand what these women wanted. To her, it was self-explanatory: Get a hat, get something purple and just go out. But they obviously wanted more than that. “I think the first thing that attracted women were the same things, the

seeds, that got me interested in this–I needed to chill,” Cooper said. “I’ve always been kind of a driven person and I really wanted to play.” Cooper said she never felt the RHS needed formal promotion. However, she set up her first e-mail account and did the best she could to respond to the flood of mail. But she knew that the Internet was going to change the way society members kept in touch with both her and each other. “If the Internet hadn’t been in place and if I hadn’t learned to use the computer, I don’t know, it was probably the ‘perfect storm,’” Cooper said. “It grew so fast, the fact that we are still standing to me is the amazing thing because we didn’t try to make it happen. Some things do just because they are meant to be, I guess.” Today Cooper keeps in touch with members using the latest technology. Through the Red Hat Society’s website, she sends out a weekly e-mail broadcast as well as other breaking news. The highlight is the Queen Member Board, more commonly known as the QMB, the society’s custom social online network similar to the popular Facebook. Why be a princess when you can be a queen? Cooper describes herself as conservative and driven in her younger years as well. After her father returned from World War II, the family lived in several locations on the East Coast before finally settling in California. She graduated from Cal State Fullerton in 1968 with a degree in English, right at the height of an era known for entwining free love, drug use and rock music. The “Make Love, Not War” cohort. Defying the stereotype of her generation, she focused on her education. “I never even tried pot. I know all about that stuff but it never would have been me,” Cooper said. “I was not a kid in the sense you’re talking about. I was always like an adult. I would come home from school and do my homework.” Reflecting back, she realized at age 50-something that it was time to be a child. “I said I’ve got to lighten up. I’m

just so tired,” Cooper said. “But, it’s never too late to have a happy childhood so that’s what I’m doing now. Red Hatters are the true ‘Bffs’ Red Hat members are quick to confirm adherence and dedication to the society’s mission. The Raggedy Dames is a chapter located in Pennsylvania. Not only are the women friends, but their spouses and significant others as well. Their “Queen,” Laurie Lewis, discovered the society when visiting a friend in Florida who was in a Red Hat parade. “I thought it was the neatest thing, to dress up in purple clothing, wear a red hat and do nothing but have fun,” Lewis said. Returning home, Lewis started a local chapter. Her friends loved it — except her friend Marion Lenker, who thought it was silly. Within a few months, Lenker found herself apologizing as she’d done a 180-degree turn on her opinion of the RHS. She said it was the best thing she ever did. Lenker even won some of the chapter’s accolades, including the Miss Red and Purple Award. “Our chapter is a fun group. I say our motto is meet, eat and laugh. It is a chapter beyond compare,” said Lenker. “The reign for those awards is over, but I will forever continue to live up to the expectations of the Mighty, Mighty Red Hats.” The tail end of the baby boomers are now 50. An article published by the New York Times in 2004 said that women of this generation are more confident and independent, yet have often put their career and family in higher priority than female companionship. As they age, however, they realize the value and are tapping into its benefits. “I don’t care how we’re changing as a society, women are all about relationships,” Cooper said. “I don’t believe that there are very many women, no matter what age, who don’t eventually realize they need other women, they need bonding.” For more information on the Red Hat Society, visit their official website at RedHatSociety.com, or visit their Hatquarters at 431 S. Acacia Ave. in Fullerton.

JOHNNY LE / Daily Titan Sue Ellen Cooper sits in on a meeting with her marketing director Emily Yost as her dog Ollie sits nearby. Cooper rescued Ollie from an alley behind her house. dailytitan.com/news

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OPINION

December 8, 2010

There’s an app for that

ALLY BORDAS

Cous I Said So... Question everything

and a solid plan to transition out of Afghanistan and let their people take over and build a democracy? Well, not so fast. Two pretty big facts make me hesitant to believe that Americans will no longer be putting their lives on the line. Fact one: when Obama was elected president he promised to withdraw combat troops from Afghanistan by 2011. That seemed to work out so well that we decided to stay a little longer and enjoy the scenery. Fact two: the military commandKEITH COUSINS er of our troops in Afghanistan is Daily Titan not even completely sure that 2014 is a feasible date. “I think no commander ever is With the holidays growing closer going to come out and say, ‘I’m conby the second, I thought I would get fident that we can do this.’ some of my favorite politicians and I think that you say that you asmilitary leaders a gift. sess that this is - you believe this is, It’s quite a simple gift really, just you know, a reasonable prospect the A volume of the Encyclopedia and knowing how important it is– with a crease on a page none of that we have to do everything we them have apparently read before can to increase the chances of that – the page containing the “Afghani- prospect,” General David Petraeus stan” entry. said in an interview with ABC. It is my hope “But again, that when our I don’t think government there are any It’s our responsibility officials read sure things in as American citizens and the history of this kind of Afghanistan endeavor. And duty to the men and they will give I wouldn’t be women who serve our our occupation honest with of the country you and with country to question our a little more the viewers if leadership... thought. I didn’t convey For example, that.” according to In light of Wikipedia (Do not try this at home, these facts we must question the this citation was done by a profes- war itself. sional), Afghanistan has “witnessed No, Sarah Palin, I did not say the military conquests since antiquity, troops. I will forever be thankful including by Alexander the Great, that we have men and women willMuslim Arabs, Ghengis Kahn and ing to risk their lives so that I can sit many others.” at a laptop and vent about politics. More recently, the former Soviet But we must question the war. Union tried to control the region. We must question our reasoning What do all of these great em- for being there and question if the pires have in common? cost of it all is worth the end result. They all have failed to permaSebastian Junger said in his exnently control and exert their influ- cellent book, War, that “soldiers themselves are reluctant to evaluate ence over Afghanistan. America has been involved in the the cost of war (for some reason, the country since 2001, and just recent- closer you are to combat the less inly President Barack Obama spoke clined you are to question it), but to the media about his goals for the someone must. That evaluation, ongoing and unmilitary operation there. “My goal is to make sure that by adulterated by politics, may be the 2014 we have transitioned, Afghans one thing a country absolutely owes are in the lead, and it is a goal to its soldiers who defend its borders.” It is our responsibility as Amerimake sure we are not still engaged in combat operations of the sort we can citizens and duty to the men are involved in now,” Obama told a and women who serve our country to question our leadership about the news conference in November. Our allies in the North Atlantic conflicts we get into. If we don’t question them, they Treaty Organization seem to agree may never question themselves and with this sentiment as well. “If the enemies of Afghanistan continue to repeat the same decihave the idea that they can just wait sions over and over. So don’t be afraid to ask questions it out until we leave, they have the wrong idea,” ATO Secretary-Gener- about this war in Afghanistan. Don’t be afraid to ask yourself if al Anders Fogh Rasmussen told an alliance summit in Lisbon which it is really worth it and never stop was attended by the Afghan presi- being grateful and supportive of our dent and 48 countries with troops troops who are defending and sometimes dying for our freedom. in Afghanistan in November. So then finally, we have a solution Why? Cous I said So.

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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, and other writers must include their affiliation to the university, if applicable. The Daily Titan reserves the right to edit letters for length, grammar and spelling. Send letters to Isa Ghani, the editor-in-chief, at dteditorinchief@gmail.com.

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. Contact Us at dtopinion@gmail.com

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Courtesy of MCT

was inspired to write after she witnessed a supposed homeless person Daily Titan on the bus whip out a cell phone. Gahran goes on to advocate for Cell phones have changed our everyone to purchase smartphones, lives, and destroyed them at the same “Smartphones do matter. I own a smartphone, and I use it nearly contime. I do not know how many more stantly. (Over the summer I ditched times I will be able to endure wan- my iPhone in favor of the Droid Indering around campus watching credible)”. Cell phones do not really connect hundreds of students and faculty alike making public love to their cell us at all! Yes we can instantly get in contact phone. It is distressing, and most of all with each other, check e-mails and get news reports but is that really a uninspiring. There used to be a time when cell human connection? They make us scared to interact phones were a coveted item to own. My favorite times in high school with one another, invade our minds were the class periods when some- and implant a brand new slang lanone’s phone would randomly begin guage into our vocabulary that is less to vibrate or ring and everyone in the than impressive. Now when I text someone and class would make ridiculously loud distractions in order to save the cul- do not get a response they can make prit from getting sent to the Deans’ up so many excuses: my phone is broken, I lost my phone, I didn’t get Office. Fake coughs, pounding on desks your text. I swear… back in the day and turret-like shouts were all tactics there were no such excuses! You had to get creative to avoid used by fellow students in order to save the owner from embarrassment people and almost always had to respond to someone or they would just and a for sure grounding. show up on your doorstep. Ah man, the good ol’ days. I do not want a smartphone. Now as I sit in class I notice I am not tempted in the slightest that at least 90 percent of students have their cell phones visible dur- to go trade in my 1990s brick of a cell phone for ing class and at a smartphone. least 75 percent Smartphones of those students Have we become are going to will check their pull a Transso dependent on phones multiple formers 2 and times. technology to do all of change into And let’s not our work that we would super smart forget the prorobots that fessors, who also not know how to survive will take over either have their without it? the world! phones out on So much the desk and for getting check it throughprepared for when zombies attack, I out class time. I am mentally sick because of how am petrified of a technology apocalypse. OK, I will not be completely consumed we all are by technology. What happened to mail, you ignorant and at least acknowledge know, being delivered and put in our the fact that with so many improvements in technology a lot of good has mailboxes? Or documentaries, playing out- become of it. I admit it. But the question I have is when is side, long grungy hair and the phones that actually have cords? Am it going to stop? When is it going to I just wishing that we could all go be enough? Globalization has spurred so back and live in the ‘70s? Maybe. But I think my point is much international competition between countries that brilliant minds more valid than that. Amy Gahran, specialist for CNN, of our society are supercharged into wrote an article discussing how cell wanting to discover the next big thing. phones have changed our lives. But are these “next big things” Her article starts out very promising, but then takes a turn for the causing an outbreak of laziness? Have we become so dependent on worst as she begins making love to technology to do all of our work for technology as well. “Cell phones provide vital services us that we would not know how to and human connections. They con- survive in the world without it? I still crave stimulating conversanect people in dire need with services that can change (or save) their lives tions and debates that get me riled and offer new hope, even through up. Wake up! Or the puppeteer simple broadcast text messages,” (AKA technology corporations) will Gahran said. This is what Gahran permanently own you.

Courtesy of Flickr user Mike Kline

Letter to the Editor I am writing with regard to the “Double D” front page. While I respect the right to free speech and freedom of the press, I think this cover cheapens the Daily Titan. You often have some interesting, well-written articles and I’ve come to respect the paper, but putting something like this on the FRONT PAGE is cheap and exploitive. I think it’s fine to cover the contest, but not the way it was done. We talk about the over-sexualization and exploitation of women in our society and this sort of reporting only encourages such behavior. Thank you for your consideration. Heather Sutherland Student

The

Dating Game

Don’t let bliss blind you

MELISSA HOON Daily Titan

Butterflies and bliss that come with new relationships sometimes blind us from the reality of what lies ahead. Of course you don’t want to sound high maintenance or like you’re nagging from the beginning, but it’s smart to do the following early on in a relationship so you don’t run into problems later: 1. Get rid of remnants of expartners. Ex-partners can be a tricky conversation topic in the beginning of a relationship, but it shouldn’t be because having the conversation later will lead to more problems. Be up front and honest with each other about your exes early in the relationship. It’s not necessary to tell every detail of your past relationships, but it’s fair to give the gist. You and your partner should get rid of, or put out of sight any remnants of your exes. Do this openly and early on so you don’t discover his comforter the two of you have been sleeping with for the past year is his ex-girlfriend’s when you thought the entire time it was his sister’s. 2. Lay the groundwork for trust and honesty. Trust and honesty should come automatically with relationships, but they don’t. Be firm and up front with your partner from the beginning, letting him or her know how important trust and honesty is to you. Likewise, sincerely let your partner know you can be trusted and won’t lie. If you build a foundation of

trust and honesty early on, it’s less likely you’ll find out his co-worker did in fact give him a massage after he lied to you about it when you confronted him based on suspicion. 3. Say goodbye to ex-partners. Asking your ex how he or she is doing every once in a while is OK if it’s also fine with your partner. But carrying on a friendship where you regularly call, text or even hang out shouldn’t happen. Although you might consider the friendship completely platonic, it’s unfair to your partner because he or she probably doesn’t feel that way (which is understandable, considering you and your ex were once intimate and it could happen again). Talking with exes can also lead to lies since your partner is most likely not comfortable with your friendship. To avoid a blowout argument that might occur when your partner catches you deleting text messages from your ex, say farewell to your old lover as soon as you say hello to your new one. 4. Establish your views of the past. Some couples like to know everything about their partner and tell everything about themselves, but other couples think the past is the past and focus solely on their future together. Talk about how you feel about bringing your pasts to the table early. If you don’t do this, you might keep your past to yourself when your partner would love to know about you before he or she met you. Perhaps you’ll agree that you’d like to focus on your future together, but would like to know important details about each other’s pasts. If you both feel this way, it’s an important decision because you’ll know to pull your skeletons out of the closet before your partner stumbles upon them and your relationship becomes haunted, or even worse - doomed. 5. Discuss your relationship standards. Couples grow together and as individuals during relationships, but you know somewhat what you want from the beginning. It’s fair to you and your partner to casually discuss this because you’ll learn about each other so you won’t run into problems later.

FEATURES

December 8, 2010

dailytitan.com

ALEXANDRA ANDERSEN / Daily Titan Confessions, quotations, pictures and aphorisms line the walls of the women’s restrooms in McCarthy Hall. Their messages often include vulgar statements, comments on sexuality, political ideals, feminist outlooks and proclamations of sexual identity.

Messages on the wall How writing on the bathroom wall has become a way for women to seek advice from other students anonymously ALEXANDRA ANDERSEN Daily Titan

You pass it every day without so much as a fleeting thought. It covers freeway passes, it is carved into desks and trees, and it lines the walls of bathroom stalls. Graffiti has become so ubiquitous that its intent is routinely overlooked and its words are seldom viewed as anything more than the defacement of property by careless delinquents. But what are the stories behind these anonymous scribes? Are these words merely written for cheap thrills or is there a deeper expression beyond the surface? Across Cal State Fullerton’s campus, female students are hiding behind the cloak of anonymity and tagging the walls of the women’s restrooms. The stalls proclaim: “Don’t be afraid,” “legalize weed November 2010”, “remember you’re beautiful without him or her” and “good luck on your tests!” Girls pose the questions: “Is casual sex with friends OK at all?” “How do you go from being boyfriend and girlfriend to just friends?” and “why are guys so dumb?” with a list of reasons from several different participants. One student writes, “If I had to choose between loving you and breathing, I would use my last breath to say I love you” and another confesses, “Having depression has ruined me but in some ways, it’s saved me too. I know who I am now.” “I just have to stop and read it sometimes because it’s interesting. I think it’s way easier to write on a bathroom wall than to go up to someone’s face and talk about it. That’s why this generation is so addicted to Facebook and all the other social networking sites. They don’t know how to have interpersonal communication. There’s a complete lack of faceto-face (interaction),” said Ashley Pillabough, an English major. Anthropology major Breana Cumberland

enjoys reading the graffiti and is disappointed when the conversations are painted over. She worries about the people who ask for personal advice. “I feel like they don’t have anyone who they can go to, to talk to. It sucks when people write ‘you’re stupid’ or ‘you’re a bitch.’ It’s like really? Support! Even if it’s from a bathroom wall,” Cumberland said. However, not all students are as receptive to the graffiti as Pillabough and Cumberland. Freshman Michelle Ruiz said, “I don’t think it’s right. It’s just a waste of time. They’re asking for advice on a bathroom wall. There are things here at school you can go to to get help where you don’t have to vandalize the school.” What Ruiz refers to are the eight individual counseling sessions that each CSUF student is allotted per academic year. The service is covered by the student health fee but the sessions are remarkably underutilized. According to the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) appointment statistics, of the 68,873 students enrolled at CSUF during the 200910 academic year, only 1,162 students visited a counselor using an average of six sessions. Students may opt for anonymous disclosure rather than seek counseling due to shyness or the lack of a support system, but Sapna Chopra, a professor in the master’s program of counseling, believes that it is society’s perception of therapy that prevents people from reaching out. “Over the past 10 years or so, there has been a real rise in the number of students with serious mental health issues, not just on our campus, but across the country. And sadly, there is still a great deal of shame and stigma for many people to seek help.” Ya-Shu Liang, a licensed psychologist at the Counseling and Psychological Services (part of the Student Health and Counseling Center) said that the biggest issue she sees students for, is stress. She urges any student who is considering counseling to try it at least

once. “Coming here doesn’t mean you have a diagnosis. There are tons of people (who) will never seek help, so coming here means that you’re brave enough to talk about it with somebody who might know a little more than your peers. It’s not like your friends and parents are not helpful; it’s the role that they have. They cannot help by having an opinion. They are not really impartial but what a counselor can do is be more objective.” Nursing major Rachelle Ramiento proposes that the anonymous outpouring of emotions on the restroom walls is just another trend of our generation. Ongoing projects such as Post Secret, where people anonymously share their secrets on homemade postcards and send them to a designated P.O. Box, and 1,000 Journals, an experiment that attempts to follow 1,000 journals as they travel across the world and continuously change hands, have catapulted the phenomenon of anonymous self-disclosure to fame. At a time when our means of communication are faster and more accessible than ever, it’s hard to understand how it has led to an emotional disconnection from our peers where, for some, anonymity seems like the only way to have their voices heard. In the 2010 Healthy Minds Survey, 9 percent of CSUF students admitted to seriously thinking about attempting suicide, a statistic higher than that of the number of students who visited CAPS. Not everyone is comfortable seeing a counselor or sharing their problems with family and friends but anyone can hide behind a pen or a screen name without worrying about being associated with their message. Whether you see graffiti as vandalism or just another mode of expression, it is here to stay. Pay attention to its words and you just might find that there’s a stronger connection between you and your fellow students than you initially thought.

Not only is the graffiti wrtiten on the stalls, but words and pictures cover the trash bins and walls.

Trees of conversations branch into various directions and grow until they are covered with paint.

While some stduents are supportive of the anonymous disclosure of others, some of the other responses are harsh. dailytitan.com/features

December 8, 2010

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FEATURES

DRIVING: RESISTING THE TEXTING TEMPTATION

... Continued from page 1

That number has doubled since the ban on texting while driving That’s a 25.7 percent increase was introduced in 2009. The Auto Club also stated that from 2008. Some people can’t even imagine the California Highway Patrol isleaving home without having their sues 200 texting citations each phones right by their sides. People month, in contrast to 12,500 want their information just like handheld cell phone citations they want their coffee: fast, conve- monthly. Presently, 30 states have laws nient and instant. At the touch of a button, people imposing bans on texting while can post a status update on Face- driving. California state law imbook, upload a video to YouTube poses a $20 fine for first offense, and a $50 fine for subsequent ofor Tweet about their day. What drives that need to con- fences. However, the California stantly be connected? Carter Ra- Highway Patrol says the actual kovfki, a sociology professor said fine is $149 because of penalty asthat social interaction is vital to all sessments. A study conducted by the Highhumans. “Social interaction confirms our way Loss Data Institute revealed sense of reality, our understand- that texting bans in four states ing of ourselves and the world we (California, Lousiana, Minnesota live in, and it gives us our sense and Washington) had not reduced of identity and self. Interaction crashes. Conversely, collisions had among peers and friends is most increased in three of the four states important in our teenage years after the ban as California rose the and early adulthood. We have left highest with 12 percent. The study is evidence that the our families and do not yet have spouses, children, careers. The ban has no effect on texting. Texpull of interaction with friends is ting can be done discreetly since extremely strong for college stu- the task is not seen in the driver’s window. dents,” RakovsOf course fki said. ... The pull of with technolNow it’s even ogy, there’s aleasier to stay interaction with friends ways an easy connected with is extremely strong for way to be up to the people who date with social matter most college students ... circles. just by carrying Drivers who a phone, but - Carter Rakovsfki want to stay that need isn’t Sociology Professor connected can always as imuse a mobile portant as you application called DriveSafely, think. The Insurance Research Coun- which reads text messages and ecil reported that one in five drivers mails aloud in real time. The apadmitted to texting while driving plication will even send a confirin the past 30 days; with 31 per- mation text to the sender with a cent of drivers age 24 and younger customizable message like “I’m and 41 percent of drivers age 25 driving right now, I’ll talk to you later.” to 39. Of course the best thing to do is Texting drivers are 20 times more likely to get in an accident simply turn the phone off or leave than those who aren’t distracted. it on silent. The temptation will be elimiIn a survey of 4,000 vehicles in Orange County, 2.7 percent of nated if drivers aren’t alerted to a drivers were spotted texting, ac- text message or e-mail. Less discording to the Automobile Club tractions will lead to better drivers and more safety on the road. of Southern California.

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CELIA LIRA / Daily Titan Many college students are not fully aware of the consequences that occur as a result of being spotted texting while driving, thus drivers easily dismiss the law and committ accidents.

“I know it’s dangerous. I know I do it from time to time. I think people are going to continue texting while driving because the chances of being caught are so slim. There needs to be higher consequences,” said Zach Salazar, a senior criminal justice major who hopes to become involved with law enforcement some day. People are spotted texting everywhere and the trend will continue to rise. You see people on their phones during class, on the job and now while driving. A higher fine could make drivers think twice about texting while driving. But beware, the next time you text your friend while driving could be the last.

Statistics to take into consideration In 2009, 5474 deaths and 448,000 injuries attributed to distracted driving according to U.S. Department of Transportation. The California Highway Patrol issues 200 texting-while-driving citations per month compared to 12,500 handheld cell phone citations. According to a study conducted by The Auto Club, texting while driving has doubled since the texting ban went into effect. The study also concluded that 1.1 percent of drivers are texting while driving. Women are more likely to text than men (4.3 percent to 2.1 percent). According to the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Ft. Worth, distracted driving crashes are more common in urban areas. Overall 40 perecnt of all crashes happened in urban areas in 2008 up from 33 percent a decade earlier. In 30 states, texting while driving is banned.

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December 8, 2010

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Horoscopes

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9 1 4 6 3 8

6 9 8 2 5 7

2 3 7 5 1 9

7 1 9 2 8 6 5 3 4 5 6 2 3 9 4 7 1 8 Daily Sudoku: Mon 8-Nov-2010

8 3 1 7 6 2

3 9

8 5 6

6 5

9 3 8

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.

Daily Sudoku: Mon 8-Nov-2010

December!!!

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) If you want to get it all done today, work smartly and avoid side conversations. Others are willing to chat, but you need to focus. Catch up later.

8 3

5 7 2 9 8 3

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) How to manage time and abundant tasks? Talk over your plan with a key individual, making adjustments where necessary. Delegate and charge into action.

6 3 9

1 5 6 3 4 2

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You fall in love with a new assignment. It’s different from what you’d expected, but challenges your imagination and allows independent thinking. Enjoy.

9 1 7 6

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Surprises at home require adjustment to your social schedule. You won’t miss out on anything, but careful planning becomes essential. This could be fun.

8 5

7 8 1 4 9 6

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) You get more done today working from home. Use the travel time you save to create harmony and to complete artistic family projects.

2 9 3

4 6 5 8 7 1

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) You’re itching to break out of the shell around you. Don’t allow boredom to dictate outrageous actions. Picture the final outcome of your decisions.

5 3

3 4 9 7 2 5

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Associates begin on a different track, but, by day’s end, you’re all together with the plan. Apply fresh data to make this happen. Don’t force it, just adjust.

8 2 3 1 6 4

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Someone dumps their feelings, and you pick up the pieces. Combine compassion with diplomacy. Be sure you understand the problems before undertaking solutions.

hard

Cancer (June 22-July 22) Monday isn’t usually your most glamorous day, but today you find yourself imagining stardom and then grasping it. Let your enthusiasm carry you.

9 8 3 5 7 1 2 4 6

Gemini (May 21-June 21) Act independently today. Yet infuse every decision with compassion. Times may be tough for some colleagues. Stand ready to help them out.

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Daily Sudoku: Mon 8-Nov-2010

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Group energy is essential today. Everyone’s feelings could get in the way, if you don’t pay attention. Manage social interactions compassionately.

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Aries (March 21-April 19) You may feel that you’ve been around this bush already this month. Maybe you have. Now you understand the problem in a big way. You choose a new direction.

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SPORTS

NEW STEPS: PRECAUTIONS NEEDED FOR RECOVERING PLAYERS Nothing can stop him from making this reception. He throws his gloved hands up, his tingling fingers ready to secure the ball and metalspiked feet prepared to continue the mad dash to the end zone. The crowd is screaming. He turns. Just a bit further… WHAM! It’s a direct hit. One so strong the brain clatters in the skull. The receiver crumples immediately, clutching his head. His helmet lies seven feet away. He tries to collect himself, but he can’t focus. Teammates and opponents begin to circle him as trainers barge their way through the huddle. The dazed look on the player’s face says it all: He has suffered a concussion. The trainer signals to the coach. This receiver’s game is over. That was the case in September for Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Stewart Bradley who suffered a concussion during a game against the Green Bay Packers. He was taken to the sidelines, where team trainers performed an unspecified test before Eagles’ Head Coach Andy Reid threw the weary player back in the action. When Bradley did not feel better later in the game, he was removed permanently. The Eagles did not handle Bradley’s situation correctly, and across many sports leagues, the prevalence of concussions is growing. Concussions are defined by Dr. Tony Strickland, CEO of the Sports Concussion Institute in Los Angeles and an Associate Clinical Professor of Neurology at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, as “A blow to the head, neck or body that transfers energy to the brain and alters the way that a person thinks, feels or behaves.” When a player suffers a concussion or experiences concussion-like symptoms, the athlete should not return to play under any circumstances that day. Players should be monitored for “Issues related to the orientation (where they are); do they know where they are, who they are or why they are there?” Dr. Strickland said. “Nausea or vomiting, which are very significant for an impact that may involve potentially significant adverse (neurological) damage.”

Situations like Bradley’s are not unique. However, despite regulations in place to keep players healthy, some teams and coaches do not allow for an appropriate recuperation period and for the possibly-concussed athlete to undergo a battery of tests to determine the severity of the injury. “(The athletes) need to have an assessment to be sure that they are free of concussion symptoms and the neurological exam is resolved prior to a return to play, even if their symptoms were thought to be clear,” said Dr. Vernon Williams, who specializes in neurology and pain management at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic. Athletes want to be out on the field, in the midst of the action, and may attempt to hide concussive symptoms to get back on the field Courtesy of MCT faster. In an ideal situation, a brain scan would have already been taken Players can suffer concussions whether they make head on contact with each other or not. so that doctors could consult the “As helmets become larger, they in an interview with Sports Illustratscans to what the player’s brain looks become heavier, and they can affect ed. “But the interesting thing is that like following the concussion. “The athlete is either going to sig- people’s vision,” Dr. Williams said. the model we use for concussions nificantly underreport or not report “You can have other kinds of prob- is based on deaths. We think you their symptoms,” Dr. Strickland said. lems with neck injuries, so there’s a get hit on one side of the head, the “If we have a baseline and know what limit to which a helmet design can brain sloshes to the other side and is they look like before they are injured, reduce concussion severity and fre- bruised - the ‘coup contracoup’ modwe won’t have to rely on the athlete quency. There are newer designs that el. It’s 200 years old and based on the because if they are symptomatic, they are being developed and studied, and gross anatomy of corpses. You have a are not going to be able to perform they are making a difference, but it concussion bad enough to kill you, neuropsychocan only be a yes, there’s likely bruising!” logically as they personal difFurthermore, concussions can would have if ference, it can’t impact a person’s memory and abilYou can have other they were not the ity to learn new information. Former kinds of problems with neck eliminate symptomatic.” problem.” football players including Wally Hilinjuries, so there’s a limit to H o w e v e r, While there genberg, a member of the Minnesota current reguis no way to Vikings’ Purple People Eater defense, which a helmet design can lations only eradicate con- had brains so damaged when they reduce concussion severity require that cussions or risk, died that there were hardly any unhelmets are cathere is still the damaged sections. and frequency... pable of withopportunity to Instead of changing the games of - Dr. Vernon Williams standing forces prevent more today, Dr. Williams believes teaching Neurology and pain management that could cause severe injuries, proper playing techniques could have skull fractures. like second-im- a huge impact on concussion reducThere is only so much a helmet pact syndrome. tion. can do; simply wearing one does not Second-impact syndrome occurs “The more people are educated guarantee that there will not be a con- when a player who has been injured, about concussions and risk, you start cussion. suffers another concussion before the to realize you can have an impact on Other collisions and forces can first concussion had been resolved. concussion frequency and concuscause an athlete to suffer a concus- Potential side effects include, “An in- sion severity by teaching proper techsion. Redesigning helmets can bring creased risk of herniation, edema and niques,” Dr. Williams said. “You can support, but there are limits to the swelling in the brain,” Dr. Strickland also have an effect on concussions by amount of work that can be done. said. teaching people to play the game in a Adding cushioning or other modifi“The cumulative effects of even manner that reduces the risk of headcations to various sporting helmets sub-concussive impacts can be the to-head, head-to-elbow or head-tocan adversely affect the athlete. same as boxers,” said Dr. Todd Aaron knee contact.”

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... Continued from page 1

December 8, 2010

Head injuries: More than a bell-ringer STEPHANI BEE Daily Titan

Of 14 deceased NFL players who had rigorous testing on their brains postmortem, 13 were diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which cuts off the cell life in the brain. Major League Baseball is currently considering a seven-day disabled list for players suffering from a concussion. Dr. Todd Aaron who spoke to Sports Illustrated feels that this is simply MLB’s way of covering its tracks, “Most severe concussions take longer than seven days. At a week, most teams would be willing to play a man short and it’s not a significant difference in any respect. Unless they make it a mandatory seven days, but even then, we’d see misdirection diagnoses.” The NFL is now fining players for illegal hits that occur when a player leads with his helmet. They are escalating fines for players who have committed an illegal hit multiple times. A person’s head does not have to hit the ground or take a direct blow to suffer a concussion. Whiplash can also lead to concussions. According to Dr. Tony Strickland, CEO of the Sports Concussion Institute in Los Angeles and an Associate Clinical Professor of Neurology at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, a concussion does not mean that a person’s longterm health will be compromised. The treatment plan determines that, “It depends on whether or not they are managed effectively,” Dr. Strickland said. “If they are managed effectively, they are going to have minimal to negligible impact on long-term health. If they are not managed as occur, and are not done so in a state-of-the-art manner, then they could have an adverse impact on an individual’s long-term health.” If helmets do not fit properly, are too old, or do not have the ap-

propriate padding, it significantly increases a player’s chances of suffering a concussion. According to a New York Times article published Oct. 20, more than 100,000 youth football players are wearing helmets that are too old to provide adequate protection. Dr. Vernon Williams, a neurologist at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, believes that the most effective way to manage concussions are a person-to-person plan. “My personal opinion is that there’s a significant variability from one athlete to another in terms of rate that they will return from a concussion,” Dr. Williams said. “I’m less in favor of having a hard and fast guideline based on a specific period of time and more in favor of an individual assessment of individual athletes to find out when that individual has recovered from a concussion. There may be significant differences from one player to another with respect to their recovery.”

DTSHORTHAND Noel takes down three on the mat The Cal State Fullerton wrestling team placed 29 out of 36 schools in competition at the Cliff Keen Invitational Wrestling Tournament in Las Vegas. Senior Todd Noel was the only Titan to take away three wins of his five matches. Noel defeated wrestlers from Duke, Boise State and West Virginia, but lost to wrestlers from Cornell and Purdue. Cornell won the tournament with 140 points and Wisconsin fell short behind in second place with 101.5 points. The Titans return home Saturday Dec. 11 to face Minnesota at 6 p.m. in Titan Gym. Brief by Samantha Dabbs