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APRIL 14, 1998
Christine Houser, left, practices her flute in preparation for the University Wind Ensemble’s trip to Japan starting May 5. Junior music major Robert Krizo, right,seems to be swallowed by his tuba as he practices in the Performing Arts building Monday afternoon. Art Pacheco, below, keeps the rhythm for the ensemble.
Northwestern prof fired for saying the ‘F-word’
AUSTIN, Texas—Figures released by the University of Texas indicate that Asian Americans are benefitting the most from a new state law designed to help more blacks and Hispanics get into top-notch state colleges. The law, put into effect last year, guarantees college admission to Texas high school students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their class. It was supposed to curb the effects of an earlier court ruling, which struck down affirmative action poli-
INSIDE
BASEBALL: Benito Flores has become the Titans ace pitcher with an 8-0 record and 2.73 ERA. See page 6.
University Wind Ensemble prepares to perform abroad
College Press Service
New admissions law benefits Asians more than other minorities
F U L L E R T O N
T U E S D AY
VOLUME 66, ISSUE 30
EVANSTON, Ill.—A Northwestern University chemistry lecturer said he was fired for swearing in front of a female student who didn’t like “the f-word.” Thomas Weaver told Wednesday’s Chicago Sun-Times that he has lost all of his teaching duties. Students said they admire the 52-year-old professor, who has been known to swear, drink liquid nitrogen and perform a variety of wacky stunts to get their attention. Weaver, a senior lecturer who has taught for 21 years, admitted using the word. He attributed his lapse in good judgment to teaching classes of 300 students each, training teaching assistants and supervising laboratory classes. Weaver said he still plans to teach summer school and night adult classes. He said he might also hire an attorney. Dean Eric Sunquist, saying student complaints are taken very seriously, said, “We have expectations on professional conduct by faculty.”
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Photos by Nathan Orme
Indiana University lets Filmmaker crusades air out of grade inflation against corporate U.S. n ACADEMICS: Midwest university
implements new grade-reporting system to better reflect students’ scholarly achievement. By CHAD BROOKS Indiana University
Indiana University thinks it has found a way to fight grade inflation, a problem considered by many to be one of the biggest problems plaguing higher education. Giving students better grades than they deserve
might enhance their resumes in the short run, but will devalue them in the long run, many experts say. After all, what good are good grades if everyone gets them? And if everyone gets good grades, what does that say about a university? “I am a great example of why the system is failing,” said Scott Hayman, a senior at Indiana. “I get great grades and barely do anything for them.” It’s clear that grade-point averages are on the rise around the nation. At the University of California at Berkeley, the average undergraduate
see GRADES/
Project Earth helps Arboretum bloom
n ARBORETUM: Volunteers “get
in touch with nature” by helping keep up the grounds while gaining experience for their majors. By JEREMY SCHERER Daily Titan Staff Writer
One public relations major has taken on a big project this year: Earth. Freshman Claudia Baba is heading a new group on campus, Project Earth, which is dedicated to help and expand the plant life in the Arboretum. The members’ goal is to improve the community by donating time every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon. Baba and her group’s dedication is clear. Baba commented that “as long as the Arboretum provides us with plants, we will be here.” The members are not only helping to plant trees at the Arboretum, they are also learning. Glen Williams, superintendent of agriculture for the Arboretum, helps the group with their planting as well as answering any questions they might have about a particular plant. Last month the group planted a Desert Museum Palo Verde. Williams explained that the tree is a new hybrid bought in Tucson and has only been available to the public for a year. The tree, which was planted in the Thorn Forest section of the Arboretum, is the only one in California. Terry Daubert, gardening specialist, said “it’s fabulous” to see the students to come out and help. As the Arboretum is developed, Greg Dyment, director of the Arboretum, said he
MYLES ROBINSON/Daily Titan
Geography student Janet Choate, left, and Gene Andreosky volunteer their time to help Project Earth and the Arboretum. would like to see more students visit the center to relax or study. Dyment said that the Arboretum is a great place for students interested in botany or other biological sciences to actually study the plant life in a natural environment. “For some of these plants, the next-closest place to see them is Arizona,” Dyment said. Baba said that after helping the Arboretum she feels that “In a way, it is like getting away from everything, and it is a chance to get in touch with nature.” The Project Earth group receives some help from the Arboretum’s staff in the mornings. Baba explained that “the staff lays out
all of the plants for us and where they are supposed to go,” but the actual planting is up to the volunteers. “The staff is really busy with the upkeep of the grounds and this is a way that we can help them to do their job,” Baba said. Sometimes it is hard to get volunteers for the group due to people’s busy schedules, Baba said. Anyone interested in helping with the Project Earth group can contact Claudia Baba at the Community based Learning and Service Center in the Titan Student Union or call 278-4665. The office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Copyright ©1998, Daily Titan
n FILM: Activist who took on
General Motors puts Nike Inc. in the hot seat. By GARY THOMPSON Knight-Ridder Newspapers
Filmmaker and activist Michael Moore says that, in his own peculiar way, he’s carrying on the work of Mother Teresa. “She was trying to spread the word among the poor,” he said, “and I’m trying to spread it among the rich.” He isn’t getting many converts. Moore’s one-man crusade to bring a social conscience to corporate America remains a quixotic endeavor. In his first film, “Roger and Me,” he pursued—with hilarious futility—General Motors chairman Roger Smith, the executive who presided over the firm as it closed factories in Michigan and opened them in Mexico. “The Big One” takes Moore and his gripe about exported jobs to the executive suite of Nike Inc., where he meets with company chairman Phil Knight, and pesters him about Nike and its practice of paying Indonesian workers 40 cents an hour to make the firm’s $100 sneakers. Knight consents to an interview, aware, and apparently unconcerned, that Moore intends to embarrass him. “He knew who I was, my history. He invited me out there. He invited me with the cameras,” Moore said. “And here’s what’s weird. After going through the first grilling, he lets me back in three months later.” During the first interview, Knight tells Moore that Nike doesn’t make shoes in America because Americans don’t want to make shoes. So Moore makes a proposition: If the filmmaker finds American workers eager to make shoes, Knight will promise to hire them. Knight agrees, and of course, Moore promptly returns with a handful of affidavits signed by would-be shoemakers. Knight squirms like a snake in a snare. “I couldn’t believe he let me back in there,” Moore said, laughing. Of course, Knight backed off his promise. Nike didn’t hire any American workers. In fact, the company recently admitted it would
have to lay off more than 1,000 white-collar employees in this country. Moore said he could see that coming. “I told Knight that his whole company was a house of cards, and it Moore was going to come tumbling down. The arrogance of his position and philosophy is that it’s OK for his company to go overseas and make shoes for 40 cents. For that economic plan to work, other businessmen have to stay in America and pay workers $10 to $20 an hour, or there won’t be any market for Nike and its $150 shoes,” Moore said. His simplified economics probably wouldn’t withstand the scrutiny of academia. But the filmmaker’s ideas are not academic, they’re emotional—forged on the streets of his home town of Flint, Mich., a city devastated when automakers closed factories there. Where free traders see a long-term, big-picture scenario about a global wage equilibrium, Moore sees the immediate and painful human cost of dead jobs and dying cities. In “The Big One,” he leads up to his encounter with Knight by visiting a dozen such towns and cities across America. Moore said he likes to remind people that, despite the rosy economic numbers printed daily in the Wall Street Journal, many people in this country are suffering. “Just ask Nike. They’re laying off 1,000 people. They say it’s because kids have switched to hiking boots, but I don’t buy that. I think there are fewer and fewer people in this country who can afford to pay $150 for shoes,” he said. “Like the guy at Boeing who used to make $20 an hour building helicopters, and now makes $20,000 a year managing the Taco Bell on I-95. “The Bill Clinton statistics still show that guy as employed, but he ain’t wearin’ $150 shoes.”
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A GUIDE TO WHAT’S HAPPENING
BRIEFS
Seminar for success
The office of Educational Equity and the Faculty Mentor Program will sponsor a seminar on mastering career essentials such as resume building, dressing for success, dining etiquette and practice interviews. The seminar will be held at the Fullerton Marriott Hotel on April 17 from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The cost is $10 per person and will include a continental breakfast, lunch, workshop materials and a door prize drawing. Students are encouraged to dress in business attire and bring resumes. For more information contact Ben Hubbard at 278-3452 or Rick Reo at 278-4185.
Artisan to deliver presentation Frank E. Cummings III, professor of art and an Outstanding Professor honoree, will host the Outstanding Professor Presentation on Thursday at noon. Cummings has had his work previewed in the Smithsonian Institution’s Renwick Gallery of the National Museum of American Art, as well as in the White House Craft Collection. Three of his works this year were selected for the permanent collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The exhibits will be displayed starting early 1999. His work has also appeared in the movie “How Stella Gets Her Groove Back.” An 11 a.m. reception will also be held in Titan Student Union Portola Pavilion.
Department of Music “Love Songs from a Tenor” with Mark J. Goodrich, tenor in faculty recital, will be presented
April 17 at 8 p.m. in the Recital Hall. The recital will include a sequence of songs on love by Goodrich. Goodrich joined the music faculty in 1992, but before his arrival he had performed numerous operatic roles including Ernesto in “Don Pasquale” and Fenton in “Falstaff.” He has worked with opera director Cynthia Auerbach and performed at the Aspen Music Festival as a soloist. Goodrich recieved his Doctor of Music Arts Degree at the University of Michigan under George Shirley and recieved his Masters of Music degree from Yale School of Music and his Bachelor of Music degree from State University of New York at Fredonia. Tickets are available at the Performing Arts Center box office for $8, or $5 with Titan Discount. For more information call 278-3371.
Piano Scholarship A piano scholarship will be established on May 1 honoring pianist Alicia de Larrocha. The scholarship will represent a tribute to her by both the Department of Music and Eduardo Delgado. Delgado, who will present the scholarship, is an Argentinian-born pianist and friend of de Larrocha. In conjunction with the presentation of the scholarship, there will be a piana recital. A reception will follow the concert in honor of both de Larrocha and Delgado. The concert and scholarship presentation will be held at the Nixon Library and Birthplace Theatre. For more information contact Elizabeth Champion at 278-2434.
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April 14, 1998
TUESDAY
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Discussion on “Nonprofit Public Relations and the importance of volunteering in Public Relations” will be held in Titan Student Union Gabrielino room today at noon. Guest speaker Kathy McInermey will be leading the discussion. For information call Mia at 590-2260. Celebrate Spain today with a classical guitar concert performed by Dat Nguyen at 5:30 p.m. and a showing of the Oscar®-winning film “Bella Epoque” at 6:30 p.m. Both events are in Titan Student Union Titan Theatre. Admission is free.
Candidates for Associated Students President debate the issues Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Titan Student Union Alvarado A & B. The candidates running are Christian Tesoro and Eric Pathe. Associated Students Productions presents Fluoroscein Wednesday at noon at Becker Ampitheatre. Admission is free. “The Art of Cheapskate Living,” a free seminar on managing money, will be held Wednesday at noon in room EC-32. A free tote bag will be given to the first 25 participants.
“The Odd Couple,” the female version by Neil Simon, will be featured in the Arena Theatre. Running times: Wednesday through Sunday at 8 p.m.; additional performances: Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, call 278-3371. Tickets are $5-$7. The box office recommends buying tickets in advance. Friday night and Sunday at 5 p.m. are sold out. Associated Students Productions presents Ice-T Friday at 6 p.m. in Titan Student Union Pavilion C. Admission is free.
The Alternative Jazz Lab ensemble Cabana Boys performs Saturday at 8 p.m. in Fullerton College’s Campus Theatre. Tickets can be purchased at the Fine Arts Box Office, Monday-Friday from 10:30 a.m3:30 p.m for $5-$7. The Campus Theatre is located in the Theatre Complex, 321 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton. The Anthropology Student Association is sponsoring the “Margeret Mead Traveling Film & Video Festival Sunday at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. in Titan Student Union Titan Theater. Call 2783501 for film titles.
Waging war against the evil senders of Spam or How the Internet beats 10-321 Cyberspeak
Steve Muise
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ooking for cutting edge software can be frustrating when the descriptions on shareware. com do not seem to give enough explanation of what the program does or whether it’s any good. The beauty of the Internet is that there is always someplace where someone knows what they are talking about. I have found such a software site (at least for now). Jump over to www. hotfiles.com and see a fantastic collection, with recommendations and top picks galore. It is a good site run by Ziff-Davis, the publisher of several computer magazines. They have reviewed just about every type of software available, from personal information managers to games and Windows 95 enhancements. They even have a whole page dedicated to Mac software and news. icrosoft just recently started the rollout of Outlook Express 98. This is a free upgrade to any existing Outlook customer, but even
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cies at colleges and universities statewide. But the new data show that just one more black student in the top 10 percent is getting a chance to attend UT this fall, compared to 1996, before the court ruling took effect. Admissions for white and Hispanic students jumped 7 percent for each group. But Asian Americans were the big winners. Their offers increased 16 percent, even though they had not experienced declining enrollments under the court ruling. University officials said they hope parents will give the “top 10 percent law” time to work.
if you don’t have Outlook, go ahead and get it. The new 98 version has been redesigned to work the way people work. All too often new software, while it looks great, creates more work for people. Sometimes the extra energy that went into writing that report and creating the presentation isn’t always worth the time investment, but not with this new Outlook. They designed a screen called Outlook Today, where they put all your new messages, tasks and meetings for that day on one screen. The whole program is designed for people that are new to e-mail and don’t want to earn a degree in computer science before they can send and receive messages. here are several news agencies on the Web, some better than others, but one of the best sites is the New York Times Web site. They have just recently added a technology and sports section. The site is updated constantly, so the most current news is always available all under one roof. Swing by and take a look. re expensive long-distance rates keeping you from calling home to your family? The Internet can solve your problems. There is the free e-mail of Juno, and there are programs like netmeeting for the technically advanced, but what about
those that want to just call up and talk? That’s where companies like Qwest Communications International and IDT Corp. come in. They want to offer Internet long-distance service at rates as low as five cents per minute. They want to connect you to your family through the Internet, but some phone companies want the FCC to tax their service, which would push the price up, possibly to the same price as regular phone rates. So keep your eye on the FCC stuff in the paper if you are a frequent long distance caller. he war on spam took a turn for the better this week when Sanford Wallace, the self-proclaimed king of spam, decided to take a stand against it. (For those ignorant souls who did not read my article a few weeks ago, spam is unsolicited junk e-mail). After losing in court to Compuserve, Prodigy and AOL, Wallace has given up the battle to keep spam—just like the advertisements you get at home, except these come and fill up you e-mail box—legal. There is a bill in the House of Representatives called the Smith Bill, aka HR 1748. This would make it illegal to send spam. dobe, Netscape, and IBM have come together to create a new type of graphic format specifically
U of Washington wait-lists students to prevent overcrowding SEATTLE—Many high school seniors hoping to attend the University of Washington next fall may have to endure being wait-listed first. That’s because the university says it made the mistake of admitting 200 more freshman than it had room for last year. How could it have made such a mistake? University officials said more students actually accepted their invitations to enroll than had been expected.
and women equitable athletic programs is to cut the school’s wrestling and men’s track teams and give the money spent on them—roughly $300,000 a year—to women’s programs, a consultant has told university officials. The university hired the consultant to help it find ways to meet Title IX—a relatively new rule which stipulates that schools provide men and women equitable athletic programs. The consultant concluded that the university won’t be able to raise enough money to increase the number of sports it offers to women
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Consultant says university should drop wrestling and men’s track OXFORD, Ohio—The only way for Miami University to provide men
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for the Web. This new format is vector based, which means it can be smaller and more precise, and cleaner in the final product. This new format is competing against
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he whole program is designed for people that are new to e-mail and don’t want to earn a degree in computer science before they can send and receive messages.
Macromedia’s Flash format, which imports Adobe Illustrator and Freehand files and then creates animation using a vector format. The resulting animation is amazing, so I imagine Adobe will try to raise the bar, and earn your dollars by coming up with easy-to-use programs that will create even better web graphics. Steve Muise is the Daily Titan's “tech guy.” His column runs every week. Send comments and questions to the Daily Titan c/o Steve Muise, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, 92834. Or e-mail Steve at: without eliminating some men’s sports, President James Garland said Tuesday. The university suggested that the men’s teams be dropped by the end of the 1998-99 school year. Garland said he wants to make a recommendation to trustees in September. About 55 percent of Miami’s undergraduate students are women. About 42 percent of the school’s student athletes are women, and they get 31 percent of the money spent on athletic aid. —Tribune Media Services,1998
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NEWS n
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A landscaper for any medium
POLICE BLOTTER APRIL 6 • Santiago Aguilera was cited and released for possessing a fraudulent license. • Miguel Angel Urena was cited and released for possession of stolen property and removing serial numbers. • A student reported cash missing from his wallet after it was turned in to Public Safety. • Joel Leon was cited for driving with a suspended
NATHAN ORME/Daily Titan
Eddy Kwok, a Physical Plant employee and student working toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, paints a view of the Arboretum in his Drawing and Painting class Monday afternoon.
GRADES • from
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GPA rose from 2.91 in 1986 to 3.08 in 1996. In 1986, 47 percent of students had a C average. A decade later, only 35 percent fell in that range. At Duke University, the average GPA rose from 3.0 to 3.3 between 1986 and 1994. And in 1992, more than half of undergraduate students at Stanford University were getting grades of at least an A-minus. Officials at Indiana University had similar scores to report. Between 1976 and 1996, the school found that its average student GPA rose from 2.83 to 2.96. To ensure that a C remains average, and that average students get what they truly deserve, Indiana officials approved the Expanded Grade Context Transcript. Implemented in March, school officials say it is the first grade-reporting system of its kind to be adopted by any university in the nation. “What we are trying to achieve by this is a way to put each grade in a context so it can be appreciated and its value can be shown,” said Richard Carr, co-chair of IU’s educational policies committee. The new system of reporting offers much more than the traditional information: department, course title, hours of credit and grade. It also includes the instructor’s name, the average GPA of students enrolled in a particular class and the overall GPA of students enrolled in a particular section. The report also shows students how many of their classmates scored higher, lower or the same as they did. Carr concedes that many of Indiana’s faculty members don’t like the new system. “I must admit that when brought before the faculty, it didn’t pass unanimously,” he said. “There are many faculty members who want the right to give whatever grade they see fit.” Despite instructors’ complaints, many students have embraced the more detailed reports. “They really let you know how you did in comparison with the other people in your class,” said senior Jason Rosenthal. Even with the new system, Carr said he believes there is no way to completely stop grade inflation. Many experts agree. Louis Goldman, author of “The Betrayal of the Gatekeeper: Grade Inflation,” wrote that the trouble started in the 1960s, when professors gave students higher grades to help them avoid the draft. Today, however, he cites several factors contributing to the current problem. Among them is one Carr said he has observed at Indiana University: Teachers fear for their job security. “The younger faculty is concerned, and they do tend to grade higher,” he said. “Students want to be challenged, but they aren’t going to go into a class knowing that the highest grade they can get is a C.” Given time, the new system will help everyone, Carr said. “Is the average student being put in a bad position by this?” he asked. “Maybe. But we have to think of the people we’re most proud of. This group will benefit the most.”
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license. His car was towed from West Campus Drive. APRIL 9 • Jerome Archie’s vehicle was booted for outstanding parking citations. APRIL 11 • Fred Springe fell while in the Performing Arts Center. He refused any medical treatment.
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APRIL 12 • James Gallegos was arrested for alleged fraud and transported to Fullerton Police Department. •‑Gerald Danthony was cited and released for possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest. — compiled by Nick Brennan
Opinion
Tuesday, April 14, 1998
Put Social Security in a rest home
S
Melinda Gann
ocial Security began as a temporary measure by President F. D. Roosevelt, yet some 70 years later, the program is still in effect and in shambles. President Clinton has proposed using the 1998 budget surpluses to save Social Security. Many like to think that this is a Clinton attempt
to distract the American people from the recent sex scandals. In fact, Clinton has been speaking about Social Security reform for many years. Curiously, this is the problem. All there has been is talk, talk and more talk. The White House has yet to develop an official plan to save our beloved Social Security. According to officials, Social Security expenses are going to exceed Social Security income by 2012. However, the fund will not go bankrupt until 2029. So what is the big hurry? We have at least 30 years before the system goes belly up. Let’s wait at least another 10 years before we talk about this subject again. Maybe this attitude is a little unrealistic, but living in denial can be great fun. Perhaps the answer does not lie in saving Social Security, but rather in scrapping it.
In a 1983 poll conducted by the Democratic Leadership Council, 68% of Democrats polled felt that Social Security is in crisis, and 48% of those supported a gradual ending of Social Security, while phasing in individually controlled retirement accounts. Commentators of the 1980s may have been wrong about clothes and music, but they were right on with government policy. Howard Phillips, leader of the Conservative Caucus Public Policy Group, suggests eliminating the Social Security tax which he believes discourages employers from hiring full-time employees in favor of contractors. While that may or may not be true, Social Security has run its course. In addition, Libertarian Harry Browne believes it is due time for America to throw out Social Security. Browne suggests that the government could get out of the system by selling private
Don’t delay the inevitable: pay taxes
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Keith Mason
s you read this, I figure you have less than 36 hours to get that envelope time-stamped by the U.S. Postal Service. You know, the one with all your tax information inside. Are any alarms ringing in your head yet? Don’t be like my friends and “forget” to file. Failing to file your tax returns, whether you owe money or not, could cost you 5% per month until you file; if you file but don’t pay your full amount you could be charged an additional .5% per month on the amount that you owe. And if you think that you won’t be audited,
think again. Although fewer than 1% of Americans are audited every year (remember, there aren’t enough Internal Revenue Service agents to audit us all), according to a recent survey, Californian tax returns are four times as likely to be audited than those from Ohio. A representative from the IRS noted that during the year that study was taken the agency was investigating several huge fraud rings in California. Consequently, although one or two people may have been at the heart of the ring, several hundred false tax returns each qualify as one audit. But wait, there’s more. If the IRS can prove that you intentionally falsified or outright refused to turn in a tax return, you could be prosecuted, jailed and fined for your un-patriotic actions. And even if you want to return your tax forms but just didn’t have the time to do so, you can apply for a free four-month extension. As long as you apply for the extension by April 15 you will not be fined for your lateness. Of course, if you owe money to the IRS, you still will be charged a late fee for any owed taxes, but that beats the hefty fine imposed on those who don’t file at all.
And after four months, if you still haven’t finished your tax return and have a legitimate excuse for a further extension, the folks at the IRS might even grant you another two months, provided you file by August 15. So there is no excuse not to file your taxes this year. Unless you haven’t filed for years, like some people I know. I won’t mention names; you know who you are. These people I know, who haven’t filed since god-only-knows, refuse to file because of back taxes they owe as a result of past problems, like divorce and bankruptcy. And even though these people may actually have money coming back this year, they won’t file because of the steep penalties left over before. So don’t put off filing your return because it’ll just cost you money in the long run. And the IRS will gettcha.
KEITH MASON is the Daily Titan opinion editor.
assets to fund those currently dependent on FDR’s program. Let’s take children under 12 years of age, and remove them all from the Social Security program. For the few who paid into Social Security (like child actors), refund them. Cut them a check today. Continue to pay those of us 13 years of age and older. Those who counted on Social Security as retirement income will receive it, while the youngsters will invest and save for their own retirement. Just like they used to do in the good old days. Using the budget surpluses as a temporary solution to the continue Social Security crisis is a good plan. The White House should continue to pay for Social Security on the condition that it will end.
MELINDA GANN is a Daily Titan staff writer.
Letters: “I feel betrayed”
I have been the subject of a lot of questioning and bashing lately. I think that my opinion should be heard, too. So here it is: First off, I would like to thank those 2,435 students who voted, including the six who were undecided. The outcome of the election is not as important as whether or not students voted. I am just proud of all those students who went out and voted. It shows that people do actually care about their campus. What concerns me a little is the ninety percent of the student population that did not vote. I think that more people should get involved and take pride in their school. When I came to Cal State Fullerton I walked this campus as a loner. I needed some belonging. I didn’t feel that I was part of CSUF. I started to complain about things on our campus such as the parking problem or the lack of school spirit. My political science teacher asked me, “Why don’t you stop complaining and do something about it?” So I did. I got involved with Associated Students. I did it to get myself involved and try to get others to take pride in their school. Honestly, I believe that the cost of the proposed
EDITORIAL POLICY Columns are the personal opinion of the authors. They do not reflect the views of the Daily Titan or CSU Fullerton faculty, staff or student body. Editorials are the opinion of the Executive Board. Letters should not exceed 350 words, and must include the author’s legal name, major, class standing or staff position (if any), and a phone number. Letters are subject to editing and may be omitted by the editor. Send letters to: Letters to the Editor The Daily Titan 800 North State College Blvd. Fullerton, CA 92834 Or e-mail us at: dailytitan@yahoo.com fitness center facility was steep. I can understand why students did not want to pay. I realize that if some students had to pay for that proposed fee some of them would not be able to afford an education here at CSUF. I think that we need a Student Recreation Complex here on campus, but if it means sacrificing students’ chances to get a quality education, then the students don’t need one. My whole purpose of this election or any election in the future is to get people to get involved and take pride in their school. I think once people get involved and take pride in their school, and if costs go down for the complex, then and only then will students be unified and stand ready to build a Student Recreation Complex here at Cal State Fullerton. Chris Hulme, student representative, AS Finance Committee Hulme was first quoted in the Titan March 25 as saying “I feel betrayed” and “(Students) don’t care and obviously don’t know the facts.” Hulme wanted to set the record straight. Although he was disappointed with the final vote, he said he does not blame anyone for the way they voted. He said he was happy people took action and voted. -Ed.
Sports
Tuesday, April 14, 1998
Titan offense muffled n BASEBALL: Nevada stalls
Titan bats, but CSUF regains composure for two wins. By BRIAN DIERIEX
Daily Titan Sports Photo Editor The Titans entered this weekend series with a confident offensive mentality. They had been spraying hits throughout the field all year long, batting at a 3.14 clip. Eight players average above the .300 mark and the Titans have out-hit their opponents by almost 100 hits. But the bats were silenced by the University of Nevada (17-17) pitching staff, which entered the series with a 6.02 ERA and held the Titans to just 22 hits in the three-game series. “I was very disappointed with the offensive approach for the whole weekend,” Titan Head Coach George Horton said. “We got some hits, but we were as poor a hitting team as we have been in a long time. “Not only did we have a lack of success, but almost every team that has teed it up against them has had a lot of success
against the same pitchers.” But when it mattered the Titans came through in the last two games. Saturday’s game was halted by rain and delayed until Sunday. In Sunday’s game, in the bottom of the ninth inning, with the scored knotted at five, the Titan bats unleashed on Wolf Pack side armer Luke Drakulich. Catcher David Trentine ignited the rally with a line drive single that fell just in front of the center fielder. Gaby Halcovich replaced him at first base. David Bacani followed with another single to center field. Finally Greg Jacobs capped it off by hammering a double down the right field line, scoring Halcovich and giving the Titans a 6-5 triumph. Jacobs was also the Titans’ starting pitcher in the game. He allowed two earned runs while striking out six and walking three in 5 1/3. Mike Garner came in to relieve Jacobs with two runners on. Garner was ahead 0-2 to the Wolf Pack leadoff hitter Joe Inglett, but walked him to load the bases with only one out. Kirk Saarloos replaced Garner and only faced one batter in the inning as Paul
Bartolucci grounded into a double play. “That’s what my game is, throwing a lot of balls that sink and tail to get ground balls,” Saarloos said. Saarloos ran into trouble in the ninth inning with two outs. He gave up backto-back singles and was replaced by George Carralejo. He faced Don Price, who grounded out to first baseman Kevin Duck. The out and the Titan rally in the ninth gave Carralejo his third win without a loss. Despite control problems, Wolf Pack pitcher Matthew Rainer (2-1, 4.74) held CSUF in check early in the game, in Friday’s 9-4 Titan win. “Our guys weren’t recognizing his pitches,” Horton said. “We were swinging at balls and taking strikes.” Rainer hit three different batters, walked three and allowed only one earned run. For the Titans, Benito Flores pitched well enough to pick up his eighth victory with out a loss. Flores, however, was not quite as sharp as he usually is and was not getting the close calls. “He’s always a nibbler and he nibbles
MATT LEWIS/Daily Titan
Titan left-handed pitcher George Carralejo makes one pitch and picks up his third victory without a loss. The Titans defeated the University of Nevada 6-5 on Sunday afternoon. on the corners which gets him deep into counts sometimes,” pitching coach Dave Serrano said. “I don’t think he had his command tonight, but he showed a lot of
experience and came back and kept us in the game.” The Titans remained within striking distance throughout the game and took
the lead for the first time in the seventh inning. Pete Fukuhara started off the inning
see BASEBALL/ 7
Migrating
South
Benito Flores left Cal State Northridge after his junior year and is enjoying newfound success as a Titan Story and Photo Illustration by Brian Dieriex
H
e started his baseball career in Cal State Fullerton’s back yard at El Dorado High School, but the Titans did not seem that interested in him as Benito Flores remembers it. After spending his first three years at Cal State Northridge, he has become this year’s Titan ace with an 8-0 record and a 2.74 ERA, something Titan Head Coach George Horton could have never guessed four years ago. Despite pitching well in high school his numbers failed to impress many college coaches, like then Titan pitching coach Horton. Horton already had a pitching staff that would go on to help the Titans win the College World Series that year. But, the southpaw did catch the eye of Cal State Northridge Head Coach Bill Kernen. “(Kernen) went to go see another guy pitch from Los Alamitos,” Flores said. “He didn’t like him I guess. He saw me pitch and that night he called me and set up a recruiting trip.” It was his only option to play Division I baseball. “It was either Northridge or a junior college,” Flores said. “I thought it was in my best interest to go to Northridge to get the experience and see
what Division I baseball was like. “They also told me I would pitch.” As a freshman his numbers were far from spectacular. He had an ERA of 8.60, and in his 37 2/3 innings of work he allowed 54 hits, 38 runs and 20 walks while fanning only 21. “I was thinking I had to make a change or else I wouldn’t be playing very much longer,” Flores said. “I didn’t like where I was at.” He made a change entering his sophomore year when pitching coach Dan Cowgill dropped him down and taught him how to throw side arm pitches. “I used to pitch from on top all the time, and when he dropped me down it worked, the ball was running more,” Flores said. “It’s just another weapon I can go to.” Flores became one of CSUN’s best pitchers as a junior. His ERA fell to 3.09 and his strikeout to walk ratio was just under 3 to 1. He did this in a ball park that is well known as a hitters park. “Sometimes I’d wake up in the morning and see the wind howling and it would be my turn to pitch,” Flores said. “I would just think to myself
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By the Numbers 8
Number of wins, tops in the Big West
2.73
ERA, best mark in the Big West
Soggy record, playoff hopes left for softball after the rain n SOFTBALL: With two cru-
cial games cancelled due to rain, softball has its back against the wall. By JEFF HOWE
Daily Titan Staff Writer Rain once again stepped in and prevented Cal State Fullerton from salvaging a disappointing weekend. Splitting a double-header Friday night against Cal State Sacramento cast a postseason berth in doubt, and not being able to play the University of Pacific on Saturday prevented the Titans from gaining any ground in the Big West Conference. “We just need to win the rest of our games,” said Titan Head Coach Judi Garman. “Every time we lose we dig ourselves into a deeper hole.” Thanks to rain which was heavy at times, the Titans and the Tigers of UOP didn’t get a chance to meet and the games have yet to be rescheduled. However, CSUF and CSUS squared off on Friday, and the two games were as
different as night and day. The first game started strong for the Titans. In the bottom of the first, Rachel Olvera singled with one out. After Christa Saindon followed with another single, Christy Sears added a base hit of her own, driving in Olvera for the game’s first run. But that lead evaporated quickly. In the top of the second, Hornet third baseman Jill Haas led off with a single. Left fielder Lori Mattson reached on an error, moving Haas to third. An Andrea Block groundout drove in a run and tied the score. Two later singles by the Hornets drove in another run and CSUS led 2-1. Still, the Hornets were not done. In the top of the third, five straight base runners — one reaching after being hit, one on an error and another on a walk — manufactured four runs and put this game away. CSUF tried to come back in the bottom of the seventh, but it was too little, way too late. Left fielder Wendi Griffin led off with a single and scored when second base-
man Nikki Hart reached on an error. One out later, Saindon doubled in a run, closing the gap to 6-3. “We didn’t show up to play,” Garman said. “A friend said it was pathetic and that’s what I told the team.” But Garman had to like how her team came back in the second game. A walk, two singles and an error netted two runs for the Titans. However, the lead would not be a comfortable one. In the top of the second, a single and an error drove across one CSUS run, cutting the Titan lead in half. Hart led off with a double in the bottom of the third and it looked like the Titans were going to squander it. Two outs later, Sears singled in Hart to push the score to 3-2. The Hornets answered in the top of the fourth with a Haas homer. But in the see-saw battle that was this game, the Titans strung a hit batsman, a sacrifice bunt and a single together in the bottom of the fifth for their fourth run. Another CSUS run closed the Titan lead to 4-3, but that was all the Hornets
4
Complete games, more than double any other
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Number of strikeous, second on the team.
Perpetual rain puts a stop to track meet n TRACK: Most of Satur-
day’s meet at UC San Diego is cancelled, and what is not called off is hindered by the rain. By KERRY MURRAY
Daily Titan Assistant Sports Editor
MARY LOU GLINES/Daily Titan
The Titans split their first series with CSUS, but Donna Coombes and her teammates were rained out of their second series. would get. “We just wanted the second game more,” said catcher Dara Marzolo. “We executed better.”
El Niño strikes again. The Titan track team was able to compete in several events at the UC San Diego Invitational on Saturday, but for the most part the weekend was a wash out. “By noon it was just pouring,” Elders said. “The rain wouldn’t have been a problem, but the wind and rain combined definitely hinders performance.” Despite the poor conditions, Elders said a few Titans did get in solid performances. Phil Sitner placed third in the 5000meter invitational section with a personal best time of 15 minutes, 23.32 seconds. Stuart Gonzales also placed twelfth in the event out of field of 24 competitors with a time of 15:55.47. Adam Loo placed fourth in the 3000m steeplechase, running a 9:45.98.
Also in the men’s running events, Nick McMurray took first in his 800m heat with a time of 1:59.69. Elders said, however, that he opted to pull many of the Titan athletes from events because of the weather conditions. “We didn’t want to take the chance of racing some of our athletes in these conditions and have them get injured,” Elders said. Gary Charles, who was expected to make his first appearance in competition after being sidelined for nearly a month with a hamstring injury, was pulled from his event because of weather conditions. Pole vaulter Gary Van Sluis, triplejumper TreShawn Banford and 400m hurdler Omar Anderson also went home early when it started pouring, Elders said. In women’s high jump, Loren Gualco placed second with her 5’3” jump and Deanna Mendibles placed third with a 5’1” leap. Jennifer Berman from UC Riverside led the women’s field with a 5’5” jump. “They were able to get the women’s high jump in before it started raining,” Elders said. “But it was not a great day for
see TRACK/ 8
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FLORES n
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‘Oh no.’ “But I used that to my advantage because I knew the hitters were seeing that too, and they would take long swings, so I just kept the ball down.” In spite of all his solid numbers, he was still not drafted by a Major League team. At that same time CSUF was losing many of its pitchers to the draft including a trio of juniors, none of which matched Flores’ ERA. As CSUF was losing all its pitchers, CSUN was in jeopardy of losing its baseball team, which was cut after the season and then later reinstated. So amist all the turmoil at CSUN, Flores decided to return home, without much convincing from coach Mike Batesole to stay. “I felt it was the right place for me,” Flores said. “Coach Batesole told me he would have been shocked if I didn’t come here.” His return came at the right time for CSUF, as it had only two returning pitchers and a load of untested freshmen coming in. Pitching coach Dave Serrano said he is happy to have his experience on the staff. “He represents everything you want in a baseball player and a student athlete,” Serrano said. Another strong motivating factor in his decision to come to CSUF was to have a better chance to make it to the College World Series. He said there was even a chance that if the baseball program was not cut he still might have transferred. “We had 40 wins (last season) and still weren’t selected for a regional, because we weren’t in a league and couldn’t get an automatic bid,” Flores said of last year’s team. “Cal State Fullerton is always in it based on the fact they’re in a league and most of the time they win the league, like they did last year.” Flores was joined by Matador teammate Erasmo Ramirez in coming to CSUF. “He’s like an older brother to me,” Ramirez said. “I can talk to him about anything.” Although the two were not heavily
recruited out of high school, many colleges showed interest in the talented tandem as juniors. “We’d just look at each other and say everyone wants us now and when we were in high school we were nothing,” Ramirez said. Along with his success comes a strong leadership role on the field. “He’s vocal,” freshman pitcher Kirk Saarloos said after the Titans’ 6-5 victory over the Wolf Pack on Sunday. “When we’re quiet in the dugout or people aren’t in the game, he’ll call a huddle. “Like in today’s game he called a huddle right before the ninth inning and he said ‘let’s leave these guys out in the field and let’s score, and have them walk off the field with a loss,’ and that’s what happened.” One of the highlights this year for Flores was a game against UNLV where he kept the Rebel batters off-balance for 6 2/3 innings. His bid for a no-hitter was broken up by Ryan Ludwick. Flores then fanned the next batter, Tony Demarco, to end the inning. But, one of Flores’ pitching philosophies it to let hitters put the ball in play. “It allows me to throw fewer pitches,” Flores said. “In a game I don’t want to show all my pitches to one guy in one at-bat.” Flores also does not possess a blazing fastball, instead he relies on changing
speeds and movement on his pitches. “The number one thing coach Cowgill taught us, since we lack velocity, we have to make up for it with ball movement,” Ramirez said. “We live and die by that.” Flores also relies on the mental part of his game, and mentally visualizes before games. In his last outing against the University of Nevada he ran into trouble in the eighth inning, but managed to escape without giving up any runs. “The mental part is so important, because when you’re out there on the mound and you have the bases loaded and no outs, most people would go crazy not knowing what to do in that situation,” Ramirez said. “But, he does a good job of handling those situations and most of the time he comes out pretty good.” With his sucess so far his chances of being drafted by the season end are good. “If pro ball is in the picture I’ll take a stab at it, it’s just a matter of getting drafted,” Flores said. “I’ll go and I know I’ll have fun out there see what I can do. But, it’s not a do or die situation, it’s not the only thing in my life.”
BASEBALL n
BRIAN DIERIEX/Daily Titan
Benito Flores delivers one of his pitches in a game this year. The Titan pitcher has a perfect 8-0 record this year.
from page 6
with a grounder that just went under third baseman Matt Ortiz’s glove. Duck then smacked another grounder past a diving shortstop. Aaron Rowand brought them both in with a double down the left field line, which gave the Titans a 5-4 lead. CSUF added two more runs in the inning. In the top of the ninth inning Marco Hanlon replaced Flores on the mound and quickly retired the first two batters, but continued on to load the bases. “It’s something that has been creeping in on us,” Serrano said. “We get two outs and all the sudden we let up. “A lot of the runs that have been late are when we have two outs or two strikes. We’re trying to be too fine or we’re not going after guys to end innings.” Hanlon got Wolf Pack catcher Corky Miller to pop out to the catcher to end the game. The Titans lost their first game against the Wolf Pack on Thursday night, 5-1.
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Letters: Fitness center is dead, but readers objections are not
JOSH MENASHE/Daily Titan
Easy throws became difficult in the wet conditions over the weekend at a track meet at UC San Diego. Many of the events were cancelled due to the rain.
TRACK n
from page 6
us in the event.” Elders said the men’s high jump event went on despite the pouring rain. Cal State Fullerton’s Dominick Sturz won the event with his 6’4 3/4” jump. “They had to shorten the run-ups in the men’s high jump,” Elders said. “But the men were still jumping high.” Elders said most of the throwing events were canceled, but Mike Hem managed to place in the javelin with his 43’8” throw. In women’s running events, Elders decided to rest all of his top distance run-
ners for the Mt. San Antonio College Relays that will be held all day on Friday. Deumka Langford ran 13.2 seconds in the women’s 100m invitational which earned her a fifth place finish.
“Basically the weather hindered a lot of performances,” Elders said. “A lot of people didn’t get to compete.”
I must take issue with your comments from the March 26 issue of the Titan (Things must change before CSUF withers away, by Erin Whiteside). The primary premise of your argument for the fitness center/arena is that by constructing a building the school will be improved. How can you justify spending such a large amount of money on the construction of a building? What will this inanimate object do to improve this University? How will students learn better? How will teachers teach more effectively if there is a large building placed on this campus? Will students work better together? The real issue that we should all be concerned with is how can we make this a better place for us to learn so we can go out and make an impact in our world. You even say, “I only hope that AS will draft a new plan...” Why should you only hope? If you really think that
a facility is needed on this campus why don’t you take a stand that it gets done. Maybe you should look at what sacrifice you are willing to make to get something you believe will make your world better. Even though you, “absolutely loved this proposal to pass...” over 2200 of your fellow students disagreed with you. Frankly, I am surprised that only 307 people voted to support this facility—How many athletes are on this campus? Finally, I cannot understand why you are blaming AS and the “no” vote students. This is a state university that serves a reasonably diverse population and provides many learning opportunities. Athletics is a part of the university and it should get equal attention in proportion to its “size.” Obviously the administration has chosen to give athletics and recreation the facilities it now calls home. Whether or not the current facilities are appropriate I can’t answer. I would assert that the CSUF administra-
tion and the CSU administration should pursue funding for this project if athletics and recreation is important for the life of this University. Should students have to pay an extra 15-20 percent for each semester for an object that will benefit a purported “untold millions” of people? If this is such a beneficial project, then more should share the burden of paying for its construction. I think you should examine who you should be upset with over the demise of the fitness center. What did you do to rally support for this issue? How did you convince people that this place would be worth $150 per semester? If a similar facility is proposed in the future what role will you take knowing what you now know about “the apathetic student population” at CSUF? Vincent K. Smith Graduate Student Physics
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