2000 10 05

C A L I F O R N I A

S T A T E

U N I V E RS I T Y ,

F U L L E R T O N

INSIDE NEWS: New Blair Witch movie causes 3 nuproar on Internet and cable TV

Bouldering becomes latest climbing sensation

Healthy eating that is afford5 nableDetour: and close to campus

—see Sports page 7

T h u r s d ay

Vo l u m e 7 1 , I s s u e 1 7

O c t o b e r 5, 2000

CSU students push for voter registration in book of records nPOLLS: The drive started Monday and ends Oct. 10 at 5 p.m.

B y M arlayna S laughterbeck Daily Titan Staff Writer

While voter apathy runs rampant on college campuses across the nation, there are those who are fighting to make a political difference.

Elliot Sacks, Associated Students’ director of statewide affairs, recently kicked off an effort on campus to be placed in the Guinness Book of World Records for registering people to vote.

Coordinated by the Cal State Students’ Association, for which Sacks serves as the Cal State Fullerton representative, the push is part of a combined effort that

includes all campuses in the CSU. The drive to set the record began Monday in front of the bookstore and will continue until Tuesday, Oct.10 at 5p.m.

Laura Kerr, CSSA lobby corps officer at Humboldt State, said that the organization is eager to get more students involved in the political process because as the officiallyrecognized voice of all 360,000 students in the CSU, it’s difficult for CSSA to bring about positive changes for young people when they don’t exercise their votes.

“I’ve gone to Sacramento to speak to legislators,” Kerr said. “And they smile and are always cordial.

But they don’t really listen to what I have to say, because frankly, it isn’t in their interest.”

The problem, according to Kerr, is that to have real power, interest groups must either wield big money

or yield big votes, and at this time, CSSA does neither.

“I spoke to an aide to one of the state senators,” she said, “and he told me point-blank that most students don’t vote and so their opinions don’t really count.”

Freshman Eric Allen from Cal State Long Beach seems to have absorbed only part of that message.

Allen has just turned 18 and is not registered to vote.

Wearing a Dodgers’ cap and baggy jeans, the CSULB student said he takes no interest in politics and voter apathy is not exactly something that keeps him awake at night.

“I try not worry about things that don’t matter,” he said.

When Sacks was told what Allen said, his reaction was a mixture of disappointment and determination.

“It’s depressing sometimes because students don’t usually want

to get involved,” he said.

“But as much as people think their vote doesn’t matter, there have been many instances when a single vote per district has decided the winner in a presidential election.”

National statistics reflect a dismal voter turnout among young people, with some as low as 15 percent of adults between the ages of 18 and 24.

Business major Junrong Li also expressed disappointment with the lack of involvement among students.

Li, an international student from China, observed that even though he cannot legally vote in America, he is often more informed on the issues than his fellow American classmates who can.

VOTING/ 6

Trisha insheiwat/Daily Titan

Rebekah Ziegler registers to vote on Tuesday.

Views on debate outcome differ nPOLITICS: Some students feel it was unfair to exclude the third party candidates

By Darleene Barrientos

Daily Titan Asst. News Editor

Lisa Billings/Daily Titan

A young girl places a flower on the waxed statue of an American soldier that fought in the Vietnam War.

Statues rekindle memories of war

nCOMMUNITY: The two wax figures will eventually be cast in bronze

By Camille Jones

Daily Titan Staff Writer At the Vietnamese Broadcasting Company’s media center in Westminster, an 11-foot-3-inch

Titan

extras online n

Check out the Daily Titan online this year at http:// dailytitan.fullerton.edu.

New features and sections will be available this year!

American soldier stands beside a 10-foot-5-inch South Vietnamese soldier who is his ally in war and his friend for life.

Standing side by side, each man explains, through a recording, why it was necessary for him to take part in the Vietnam War. “I am fighting to protect and maintain what I believe in and what I want to live in — a democratic society,” said the voice that represented the collective spirit of the American soldier. ”If I am killed

while carrying out this mission, I want no one to cry or mourn for me.

I want people to hold their heads up high and be proud of the job I did. I am an American soldier.”

Prior to the American’s speech about how his fight was for democracy, the South Vietnamese soldier spoke, in Vietnamese, about how his battle was over land.

Binh Le, the president of the Vietnamese Broadcasting Company, said that in addition to each soldier’s verbal explanation for his part in the

war, the statues themselves also say exactly what each man was fighting for.

For example, Le said the South Vietnamese soldier stands with his helmet on, his gun on his shoulder and the index finger of his left hand pointing toward the ground.

The American soldier stands holding his helmet, with his gun down by his side and his eyes looking toward the future.

MEMORIAL/ 3

Tuesday night’s first presidential debate had viewers wondering who won, who lost, and what issues were being discussed. Polls show Gore as the winner of the debate, but Cal State Fullerton students had a different opinion.

“I only saw the closing statements, and those are supposed to cover what their views were,” Dave Kimura, a 24-year-old senior marketing major, said. “I did see that Gore was just rambling while Bush was clear about what topics he covered.”

Senior accounting major Noriel Zuazo, caught some of the debate while he was studying with a friend.

“They’ve been saying that Bush isn’t that smart and that Gore is a polished debater,” Zuazo said. “I saw the proof. The ‘fuzzy math’ comment made us laugh.”

Other students didn’t get a chance to watch the debates.

“I saw it on the news,” said Christine Kim, a 20-year-old junior piano performance major. “When I saw it [the news clip], I thought they were both just dodging bullets. I remember thinking, ‘Wow, what liars.’”

Kris Guillory, a 21-year-old junior arts and entertainment major, didn’t watch the debate, but generally doesn’t like all the personal attacks that the Republican Party has become known for.

“The ‘rats’ commercial was just stupid,” Guillory said. “I’m gonna vote for Gore.”

Brian Kim, a 19-year-old junior business major, had some strong feelings about the debate. Kim said that, from the debates, he could see that Bush’s agenda was less government and that Gore had more concern for the people and minorities.

“Bush is looking out for people who look like him,” Kim said. “He was politicking, talking sh— about Gore. Gore kept saying, ‘Let’s not point fingers, let’s discuss the issues.’

Even if I didn’t have my opinions beforehand, I would still vote for Gore after seeing the debate.”

Jeffrey Ansari, a graduate student in political science, thought that Gore handled himself well, even though at certain points, he interrupted both Bush and the moderator, and stumbled a few times. Ansari described Gore as looking like a car salesman.

“I don’t think they addressed the issues,” Ansari said. “They were both too busy trying to sell their programs.”

Political science Professor Bruce Wright said that the debate ended up being a draw.

“They [the debates] were pretty boring, weren’t they?” Wright said. “I didn’t think it was much of a debate. I thought Gore was good when it came to the issues, but I think Bush came across better for the general public.”

One interesting aspect of the debates was the absence of Ralph Nader, the Green Party’s presidential candidate, and Pat Buchanan, the Independent Party’s candidate. Even though he was excluded from Tuesday night’s debate, Nader secured a ticket to the debate, but was turned away at the door.

“It was a disservice to everybody,” Ansari said. “It is a terrible disrespect to everyone who is independent.”

Nicole Goodenough, a 24-year-old

DEBATE/ 3

Graduates create local business nCOMPUTERS: Most of the Smart Digital Technology staff are Cal State Fullerton alumni

By Jamie K. Ayala

Daily Titan Staff Writer Right across the street from campus is an alumni-run business, offering education, solutions, and services in computer information systems.

Smart Digital Technology was

founded in 1995 by Cal State Fullerton graduates Jim Baqual and Aftab Ali. Beginning in a small office behind Hope University with a focus in hardware sales, they expanded into a business offering a multitude of services.

It is an authorized Microsoftcertified technical education center and solution provider located at 680 Langsdorf Drive.

Although there are plenty of business opportunities in Irvine, the creators kept their loyalty to CSUF and remained local.

Eight of their 10 full-time employees are CSUF graduates and three more will be hired. Past intern and

current senior at CSUF, Katherine Sharifi, was hired as a junior consultant. She said that working with the alumni made the experience more positive.

“There’s room for growth and the experience reinforces my classes,” Sharifi said.

The company’s biggest accomplishments include being a part of Gov. Gray Davis’ program to help implement school technology by digitizing high school districts around the county.

Amjad Khokhar, in accounts development, started with the company a year after he graduated in 1996.

http://dailytitan.fullerton.edu

COMPANY/ 6

Mayra Beltran/Daily Titan

Katherine Sharifi, a senior at CSUF, works full time at Smart Digital Technologies as a junior consultant.

2 Thursday, October 5, 2000

news

two

A guide to what’s happening

BRIEFS Halloween Carnival Set at Park Ghouls, ghosts and long-legged beasts with things that go bump in the night, will find the welcome mat at Independence Park, Sat. Oct. 28 when the park hosts its second annual “Halloween Carnival.”

The carnival, which has been designed for children, will feature games, a Moon bounce and a costume contest. A haunted house is a special attraction that is guaranteed to scare the bravest of children.

Festivities begin at noon and continue until 3 p.m. in the Francis Wood Activities Center at the park.

Admission is free. A costume contest taking place at 2 p.m.

Tickets for carnival games are 25 cents or five for $1. Further information about the carnival may be obtained by calling the park at (714) 738-5369. Parents requiring special accommodations to participate must call the staff prior to Oct. 28.

Family Magic Makes its Way to the Brea Curtis Theatre The Curtis Theatre’s Guest Artist Series presents Family Magic. The performance is Oct. 21 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

This show is suitable for the whole family and it features some of today’s hottest stars in magic.

Family Magic features Loren C. Michaels and special guests as they perform with some of magic’s up-and-coming prestidigitators.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $7 for children. Tickets may be purchased by phone, mail, fax or in person. Discount rates are available for groups of 15 or more.

Parking is free.

The Curtis Theatre is located at the Brea Civic and Cultural Center.

The box office is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and one hour prior to perfor-

Fermin Leal Raul Mora Denise Smaldino Joel Helgesen Brian Haney Tennille Hopper Jessica Peralta Darleene Barrientos Rita Freeman Caesar Contreras Seth Keichline Vu Nguyen Gus Garcia Mayra Beltran Kristina Huffman Trisha Insheiwat Lori Anderson Darla Priest Kari Wirtz Lisa Berghouse Barbara Lake Craig Hashimoto Robert Kelleher Jeffrey Brody Executive Editor Managing Editor News Sports Main Photo

278-5815 278-5814 278-5813 278-3149 278-2128 278-2991

mances.

For tickets or further information, call (714) 990-7722.

Million Mom March to the Polls As children headed back to school and Congress went back into session, the Million Mom March recently announced a march to the polls in November.

The Million Mom March will engage in an intense, issue-oriented, get-out-the-vote campaign. By e-mailing, telephoning, mailing letters, registering voters and walking door to door, these women hope to get the word out.

These chapter volunteers will be active in 25 key congressional races.

At a news conference more than a year ago, the Million Mom March on Washington was announced.

More than 750,000 mothers and others rallied in a demonstration for gun control. Thousands also marched in more than 70 other cities across the country. Since then, the group has formed more than 225 chapters in the U.S. The Million Mom March wants lawmakers to require handgun owners to be licensed and all handguns to be registered. The group also stated that it wants to close the “gun-show” loophole, to limit gun buyers to purchasing one handgun a month and require consumer product safety standards for guns.

The organization has been working on common sense legislation in states such as California, Colorado, Oregon and New York.

In addition, the Million Mom March is tracking federal legislation and has issued position papers on several bills involving the gun issue.

For more information about the Million Mom March or the march to the polls in November, call (888) 989-MOMS or visit the web site at www.millionmommarch.org.

Executive Editor Managing Editor Managing Editor Business Manager Advertising Sales Manager Advertising Production Manager News Editor Asst. News Editor Asst. News Editor Sports Editor Sports Editor Detour Editor Opinion Editor Photo Editor Photo Editor Photo Editor Internet Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Production Manager Production Manager Graphics Editor Associate Editor Faculty Adviser Advertising 278-3373 Editorial Fax 278-4473 Advertising Fax 278-2702 DT online: http://dailytitan.fullerton.edu e-mail: dailytitan@yahoo.com

The Daily Titan is a student publication, printed every Tuesday through Friday. The Daily Titan operates independently of Associated Students, School of Communications, CSUF administration and the CSU system. The Daily Titan and its predecessor, the Titan Times, have functioned as a public forum since inception. Unless implied by the advertising party or otherwise stated, advertising in the Daily Titan is inserted by commercial activities or ventures identified in the advertisements themselves and not by the university. Such printing is not to be construed as written or implied sponsorship, endorsement or investigation of such commercial enterprises. The mail subscription price is $45 per semester, $65 per year, payable to the Daily Titan, Humanities 211, CSUF, Fullerton, CA 92834.

Copyright ©2000 Daily Titan

CAL E NDAR OF E VE NTS CALENDA R O F EVEN TS Campus As part of their independent films month, ASP presents “Happiness” at the TSU Theatre tonight at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

For more information, call (714) 278-3502.

Christopher R. Meyer, an associate professor with the chemistry and biochemistry department, will be presenting a seminar entitled “Regulation of Diverse Bacterial ADP-glucose Pyrophosphoylases” at McCarthy Hall 468 at 4 p.m.

For more information, please call Mary C. Flores at (714) 278-4253.

The Cal State Fullerton Department of Music presents the University Wind Ensemble & Symphonic Band in concert, featuring conductor Mitchell Fennell, at the Little Theatre at

8 p.m. tonight. Advance tickets are $8 and $5 with Titan Discount; at the door tickets are all $8. Tickets can be obtained at the Performing Arts Center box office or call (714) 2783371.

See “Three Sisters,” a dramatic play, presented by the CSUF Department of Theatre and Dance, by Anton Chekhov and directed by Donn Finn, today at 8 p.m. The play will take place at the Arena Theatre.

Advance admission is $8 for the general public, $6 with Titan Discount; all tickets at the door are $8. Tickets are available at the Performing Arts Center box office or call (714) 278-3371.

Visit the exhibit “A Salute to Orange County Journalism,” now open through Feb. 25 in the Atrium Gallery of the Pollak Library. Featured is a work-

ing newsroom of the past, a Linotype typesetting machine and Teletype machine. Also see a special collection of photographs by photojournalist Patrick O’Donnell, CSUF photographer and Orange Coast College Professor. For more information, call Dave Reid at (714) 278-3355 or email dreid@fullerton.edu. This exhibit is free and open to the public.

Closing today, the CSUF Main Art Gallery presents “Watershed/Sant Khalsa and Geoff Fricker,” an exhibit of photographs by Geoff Fricker, with a contribution by Sant Khalsa, of human interaction with California’s watersheds — rivers, lakes and streams — as resource, historical influence and life source.

The Cal State Fullerton Main Art Gallery is located at 800 N.

State College Blvd. in Fullerton, and is open Monday through Thursday, 12 p.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, 2 p.m.-5 p.m.

Admission to this exhibit is free.

Community “Domestic Priorities,” an exhibit brings together three California artists whose work draws parallels between the process of making art and the routine of domestic life, runs through Oct. 22.

The Muckenthaler Cultural Center Foundation is located at 1201 W. Malvern Ave., in Fullerton. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Admission costs $2 for adults, $1 for students and seniors, and children are free.

For more information call (714) 738-6595.

news

Thursday, October 5, 2000

3

Internet used as unique new method of promoting movies

By Samantha G onzaga Daily Titan Staff Writer

Last summer, hour-long lines and sold-out shows added to the busy buzz of activity normally found at The Block of Orange.

Its AMC Theatres was one of the few that showed “The Blair Witch Project” the week before it was released nationally.

Between free radio tickets and the rave reviews of critics, was the myth of the Blair Witch. Publicity for the first movie included putting up missing persons posters for Heather, Josh and Mike, the main characters, back east. There was also a Web site devoted to the Blair Witch legend.

The approach to publicity blurred the line separating film fiction and candid reality.

“Some audience members left the movie theater thinking it was real,” said 22-year-old Jaime Contreras. “Some people came to see it because it was recommended by friends. Others saw it to see if it’s the ‘real’ thing. It put The Block on my group’s [of friends] list of places to go that summer.”

Theater workers also noticed the hype behind the film.

“We were one of the few that had ‘The Blair Witch Project’ before all the other theaters,” said Robert Chaidez, The Block’s AMC 30 manager. “This AMC saw a lot of lines, and people had to buy their tickets in advance to make sure they got a seat.

“This year, ‘The Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2,’ will not be pre-released here. That decision is entirely up to Artisan.”

On Oct. 18, Yahoo!, Amazon. com, RealNetwork, Hollywood Stock, and other Internet-based companies will be teaming up with Artisan Entertainment to launch a three-day convention online. It begins at 9 a.m. Pacific Standard Time at www.blairwitchfest.com.

Artisan Entertainment has decided to employ the use of the Internet as a medium to promote the second “Blair Witch” movie.

Named the “Blair Witch WebFest,” the event promises to feature footage from the “Book of Shadows,” a chance to chat with

‘

It [the Internet] is much more broad. Most films have official Web sites for their movies.

‘

nPROMOTIONS: Artisan entertainment plans to launch a three-day online convention for Blair Witch sequel

director Joe Berlinger, giveaways, and a live concert by Godhead.

Viewers will need to download RealPlayer in order to watch these clips. Registered fans receive updates on events and extras that will also be showcased online.

In addition to these events are live broadcasts of pagan rituals and a SciFi Channel special, “Shadow of the Blair Witch.”

Amazon.com will enable those attending the WebFest to bid on props and collectibles. Hollywood Stock Exchange plans to give bonus dollars to its shareholders to use for trade.

“Artisan is focused on using the Internet because of the reach it has,” said Paul Breton, Artisan’s publicist for “Book of Shadows.”

“It is much more broad. Most films have official Web sites for their movies.

Those all contain the usual things, like biographies of the actors and clips from the movie.

Blair Witch had a lot of myths that surround it. The Web site puts special focus on that.”

Breton continued, “It is a way to extend beyond just static experience.”

“We are demonstrating Artisan Digital Media’s commitment to developing dynamic business strategies designed to help Artisan fully leverage the digital medium,” said Nicolas Van Dyke, president of Artisan Digital Media.

A small but steady fan base has a firm foothold on the Internet, which is displayed through Web sites dedicated to the authenticity of the Blair Witch legend.

“The net has an appeal, it is more intrapersonal,” said Cal State Fullerton’s Cynthia King, professor of public relations. “There’s the feeling, ‘we’re all part of the same group.’” “They did a good job in taking advantage of a medium.

This medium has an outreach to an audience that is Internet-savvy.

This is an innovative way to promote the movie; and they’ve got their target audience pegged.”

Contreras awaits the day of the Blair Witch convention. She has acquainted herself with the new cast online, and she has the synopsis of the plot down pat. The only thing missing is the actual day.

“This is truly something new,” Contreras said. “They were creative in the beginning, and they continue to come up with new things like this.

A convention online is just the start of something new with the way fans can connect to movies they love.”

COURTESY OF Tribune Media Services

Vice President Al Gore and Texas Governor George W. Bush kicked off the debate season Tuesday.

DEBATE

n from page 1

senior child analysis studies major, said that both excluding Nader from the debate and turning him away at the door was very unfair.

“They’re limiting our choices, prechoosing our society by not letting us have our full choices,” Goodenough

MEMORIAL

n from page 1

The South Vietnamese soldier points to the ground because he fights for the land. He has his helmet on and his gun up because his battle is not over.

His eyes do not look ahead. They are focused on what is still in front of him.

The American soldier has his hat off and his gun down because his fight for democracy is over.

He has achieved it.

His battle is over and so his eyes look to the future.

Le said that the two men represent friendship, not war.

He would like people to come down and appreciate the sacrifice that the two have made for their countries and each other.

Le would like young people to come down and see the statues so

AS makes activity plans for next semester nCAMPUS: Some of the goals for the upcoming semesters include a recycling program and campus safety

By Debra Santelli

Daily Titan Staff Writer Associated Students met Wednesday to discuss their 20002001 plans in a relaxed forum with student heads discussing future sketches for Cal State Fullerton’s activities.

AS’s executive vice president Linda Luna opened the meeting by addressing main goals for the upcoming year.

Issues like encouraging the growth of student clubs through AS sponsorship, ensuring the well-being and safety of students and monthly meet-

ings with administration and faculty headed the meeting.

Goals for students included a recycling program on campus, students being able to voice safety concerns to the university police and administration, and increase student involvement with AS directors and programs.

Evan Mooney, AS director of administration, discussed frequently asked questions of the instructionally related activities (IRA) fee referendum.

“A goal we want to achieve is to facilitate student involvement,” Mooney said.

The CSU system established the IRA fee in 1978 to provide financial support at the university. One concern discussed was the amount of the fee increase if the IRA referendum was to be adopted by the campus president. The current fee is $10 per semester and would increase to $18 for the spring and fall semesters of 2001 and go up to $26 a semester beginning in the fall 2002 semester.

http://dailytitan.fullerton.edu

Non-athletic programs would receive a 56.25 percent fund increase from the proposed IRA fee. Funds would go to programs like Tusk magazine, Model United Nations, Theatre, Opera, Choral Groups and student journals. The remaining funds would go to Athletic IRA programs.

Using IRA funds for athletic programs would enable university’s athletic department to increase student-athlete travel, uniforms and recruiting. It would also increase the number of athletes on scholarships.

The IRA fee increase is part of the goal list for 2000-2001 due to the fact that there hasn’t been an increase in 16 years. As of 1999-2000, CSUF’s campus-based fees were the 10th lowest in the CSU system.

AS would like to encourage overall student activities for CSUF and an IRA increase would help aid this.

There will be a vote on November 1st and 2nd for the fee increase.

The involvement of administration and faculty is another goal of AS for the upcoming year.

“We are trying to get the president of the campus involved in open forum meetings,” AS president Mary-Grace Cachuela said.

This would help to increase communications with administration and faculty participation. Having monthly meetings with representatives would give students opportunities to address student issues and experiences.

AS wants students to be aware of more activities available to them and to utilize AS as a resource. Some ways AS hopes to achieve this is by educating students on issues through open forums, empowering students to be an advocate on their own behalf and to provide opportunities and hands-on experience to get involved.

An increase of communications with organizations will be a goal for AS. Student club growth through AS, along with development of awareness through presentations at student clubs, is how this is hoped to be achieved.

said.

Others also shared Goodenough’s view.

“Not letting Nader debate is not representative,” 20-year-old junior Steve Loo, said. “There are people who would like to hear their views.”

Some were understanding of the of the limiting the amount of participants.

“I understand the exclusion,” said

Eric Trimm, a graduate student in history. “But I didn’t like either of the platforms.”

Jessie Castro, a 21-year-old senior public relations major, said that all the candidates should have had an opportunity to talk about what they were about.

“But then again, if enough people cared, I’m sure [the debate] would have included them,” Castro said.

that they too can appreciate those that fought for the freedoms that they now enjoy.

The exhibit is not only about the statues.

There is also a video presentation that talks about the contributions and sacrifices that both sides made to the war.

Le, who taught media production at Cal State Fullerton in 1996, said that he hopes more students can come and enjoy the free exhibit and presentation not only for the history that it represents, but also for the art that it is.

Tram Cung of Fountain Valley said that her mother and sister had already seen the exhibit and they encouraged her to go too.

Cung said that she will likewise encourage her friends and relatives to attend one of the seven daily shows because “It’s terrific. They [the statues] look so lifelike and they’re standing side by side for democracy,” Cung said.

The two wax figures of the men currently stand in the VBC’s media center until their final showing on Sunday when they will be taken and cast in bronze.

After its final casting, the memorial will be placed in front of Westminster’s City Hall.

The sculpture, “Molding Friendships,” was sculpted and designed by artist Tuan Nguyen, who completed the memorial exactly 25 years after the end of the war.

The memorial, which was commissioned by the Vietnam War Memorial Executive Committee and the Vietnamese Broadcasting Company, will stand in front of City Hall as a reminder of the friendships between the American and South Vietnamese soldiers and their sacrifice during the Vietnam War, said Le. “There is no greater friend than one who gives his life for another,” Le said. “We love you all and we appreciate what you’ve done for

4 Thursday, October 5, 2000

news

Today’s workplace attire addresses casual needs of professionBy Rita Freeman

Daily Titan Asst. News Editor Twill or pleated pants, sheath skirts, a sports coat, a long-sleeved, button-down blouse or a tie. The

look of a professional traditionally gives the impression of a conservative corporate. But as the traditional suit for men and women still is strong for those who have been working for many years, many students who are

david rivera/Daily Titan

Professionals dress more casually than ever before.

court and work with the public, we “I still have to dress professional, wear suits,” Kirkpatrick said. “I think but I can wear a polo shirt instead of if you work away from the public a button-down shirt and tie,” Reynoso wearing business causal is OK; but said. when in physical contact with people, Clientele at the business departwearing the traditional suit looks more ments at major department stores professional.” range from teachers to people preparReynoso said that giving the first ing for a job interview. Kirkpatrick impression is important. said he noticed the newer employees “When one dresses professional, wear the traditional suits. it gives off a good impression,” he “I notice that newer employees said. “People are not going to respect wear the blue power suits with the you if you do long-sleeved shirts not give off a and tie as opposed good image.” to the more businessPoonum casual look,” he said.

Gandhi, a Though the trasenior marditional business keting major, attire is still selling said the dress strong, department code depends stores are heading on the comin a more casual pany. When direction in sellshe interned ing clothes. Christy at a marketing Latchford, a sales firm, she wore associate in the Dress slacks and and Suits Department nice blouses. in Robinsons-May, “We could said women’s outfits not wear are becoming more jeans yet I trendy. was allowed “Women’s skirts —Tara Nowling are becoming shortto wear what I wanted,” graduate er, more animal Gandhi said. prints such as leop“I didn’t have ard are selling out,” to dress too professional to be profes- Latchford said. sional.”

She added that in women’s accesIt seems that with every business- sories such as scarves, snakeskin patlike profession, there are casual days, terns are very popular. like Casual Friday, where the employIn men’s wear, Lycra and Spandex ees are allowed to wear what they are appearing a lot in pants. Bryan want.

Johnson, a sales clerk at Nordstroms,

‘

We can dress casual

but

still have to

‘

nFASHION: The traditional business clothes are being replaced by khakis and short skirts

entering the business world now have a more casual yet professional image.

However, with each profession, the dress code varies.

Tara Nowling, a graduate in counseling and a social worker, said that her job she is allowed to dress in khakis, tailored jackets, slacks and plain-colored T-shirts.

“We can dress casual but still have to look professional,” Nowling said.

“I am not allowed to wear jeans or tennis shoes or tank tops, but by looking more casual, I appear approachable, open and warm.”

Robert Reynoso, a biology major and an employee at a bank, said he must dress very conservative.

“I must appear very professional,” Reynoso said. “I always have to wear a tie with nice slacks.”

He added that women must always wear pantihose and when skirts are worn, the hem can only be 2 inches above the knee.

“The women’s shoulders must always be covered,” Reynoso said.

“It’s like we’re looking for nuns, in other words.”

Many students said that dressing professional, however, gives off a good impression. Jeff Kirkpatrick, a graduate in public administration and a county employee for the district attorney’s office, said there are two different types of dress codes in his profession. When the employees are in public contact, they wear the traditional business suit. But when working behind the scenes, many male employees don’t wear ties, wear Dockers-style pants and polo shirts.

“Because many of us have to go to

look professional

said that the stretch added to pants and suits gives it a more modern and comfortable look.

“Fashion is becoming very comfortable and basic looking,” Johnson said. “Brands like Kenneth Cole are designing flat, front trousers with the stretch added in.”

Johnson added that bold colors mixed in with the typical blacks and browns are becoming popular.

“We are seeing more red, burnt orange or yellows intermixing with the black or browns,” Johnson said.

Nowling said she has noticed many business atmospheres are becoming more relaxed.

“In our society, we are becoming more casual and it allows people to feel more relaxed,” she said. “It’s allowing people to become more approachable.”

Latchford and Johnson both agree that a more causal look will remain.

“Lighter fabrics with pants and shirts, and I keep seeing animal prints,” Latchford said. “I think these will stay because they give a sense of femininity and they are sexy too.”

“Many more young people are entering the workplace and so they are incorporating their own style,” Johnson said. “And the media, with a lot of shows, are showing designer clothes like in ‘Ally McBeal’ and a lot of people want to wear those clothes.”

Gandhi said though she wants to stick with the traditional business suit.

“I want to carry the suitcase and work for a corporate office,” she said.

“When a person wears a suit, he or she

6 Thursday, October 5, 2000

Safety of study abroad programs nNATION: A committee studies the safety of study abroad programs after several recent incidents

By Caryn Rousseau Tribune Media Services Collegiate study abroad program safety regulations were under fire Tuesday during a House Committee on Education’s hearing prompted by the death of four students in India in 1996.

“We want to make it safer for other kids to study abroad,” said Anne Schewe, whose daughter Sara was killed in a bus crash with three other students in India.

“We just received this brochure and video that showed this wonderful trip. There was nothing in there about safety and risks.”

John Amato, whose daughter Virginia died with Sara in India, testified before the committee on behalf of the families of the four students.

Amato asked the committee to consider federal regulations that would make universities liable for the actions of the study abroad programs they contract.

“Our daughters died because Ph.D.s with no common sense were making decisions for them,” Amato said.

“What I wish I had known was that the academic side of the universities was making these life or death decisions.

Then of course I would never have sent my daughter on the trip.”

The only way students will be safe on future excursions is if schools fear litigation, Amato said.

“The only way to fix programs is for systems to be in place where safety experts oversee the trip,” Amato said. “We need a federal statute that says let’s talk about where you go when a bad thing happens.”

Michigan State University President Peter McPherson disagrees with Amato, saying the threat of litigation would only close off

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Khokhar said that the graduates who work there were active on campus by being a part of the Associated Students and the Leadership Institute.

He attributed skills and knowledge gained at school to his involvement in these organizations.

Yuri Betancourt, assistant dean of student affairs in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, said Khokhar has grown over the years since the time she used to give him reminder notes when he was at CSUF.

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certain countries from students.

“The quickest way to cut off parts of Latin America and Africa is to say to a university, ‘You’re liable for $25 million,’” McPherson said.

Michigan State University boasts the nation’s largest study abroad program with more than 7,800 students participating in the past five years.

McPherson said Michigan State requires students to have medical insurance and attend cultural orientation before they leave for abroad programs.

“It’s not possible to protect all people from all dangers,” McPherson said.

“But it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take every reasonable step to protect students.”

Rep. Tim Roemer, D-Indiana, said the House is interested in the safety of American students abroad.

“I would call for study abroad programs to create and implement comparable safety plans and inform students and parents of risk before tragedy strikes,” Roemer said.

McPherson said Michigan State has pulled programs in Zimbabwe in the past year because of dangers they posed to students.

When asked about the current situation in Israel, McPherson said the school has taken precautions to protect students.

“We’ve watched carefully,” he said. “We’re very sure our students aren’t anywhere near those areas.”

Michigan State plans to host a planning conference in the next year to review the quality, cost and security measures and to drive general awareness among higher education professionals, McPherson said.

Although Amato feels certain study abroad programs, including the Semester at Sea program that Virginia and Sara were on, lack quality standards he still did not discourage others from participating.

“We did the kind of due diligence any normal parents would do,” he said.

“We were excited for her. We all wanted to go.”

No students who have studied abroad testified before the committee.

“The company has grown by leaps and bounds,” Betancourt said.

Approximately 104 students receive technical training at Smart Digital Technology — from Internet to network skills.

Students experience real-life system errors and can observe actual operations.

After completing certificates, students are placed in a database where employers can seek potential employees for their particular needs.

Students have received jobs at Boeing, Toshiba and Xerox.

“The key to a successful business is to be hardworking, to desire and be focused — and to apply it daily,” Khokhar said.

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VOTING n from page 1

“If you ask most students who their favorite musical artist or celebrity is, they have an immediate response but if you ask them who Alan Greenspan is, they usually don’t have any idea,” Li said.

Li said the trouble may be that American students don’t appreciate their rights because they’ve never been deprived of them.

Not all students shirk their responsibility, however.

Kathy Holman is not only registered to vote, she even volunteered to help CSSA set the Guinness Book record by helping at the registration booth.

“My parents were not superpolitical,” she said. “But I was definitely raised knowing that I should [vote] — that it’s the right thing to do.”

Holman volunteered as a representative from the Alpha Kappa Delta Honor Society Fraternity.

The student interest group has set up an incentive program for other organizations on campus in hopes of getting even more students registered.

CSSA has offered to pay up to $250 toward the end-of-year banquet for the organization that registers the most people.

Organizations are each required to register a minimum of 35 people to be eligible.

So far this week, Sacks, with the help of Andreas Andreou, who serves on the statewide affairs committee with him, as well as other student volunteers, have registered 81 people to vote at their booth in front of the bookstore.

This number does not include the registration forms filled out by various campus organizations.

Sacks said that since no one has attempted to set this record before, thus guaranteeing CSSA’s place in the Guinness Book, he nonetheless hopes to register enough people to make an impact on those who might not otherwise care.

“It’s pretty savvy, we’re going for a record that no one else ever has before,” he said.

“But it’s more than just that. I really hope we can get more students involved.”

While registering several students Wednesday, Sacks was asked by a woman selling paintball passes at the booth next to him what he was selling.

“I’m selling democracy…at no charge,” Sacks answered.

trisha insheiwat/Daily Titan

Rebekah Ziegler fills out a registration form at the AS voting booth.

Judy Shepard doesn’t give up after son’s slaying

By Andy Argyrakis

TMS Campus Correspondent “Matt is no longer here because two men learned that it was okay to hate,” said an emotional, yet stiff-lipped Judy Shepard, whose son Matthew was slain in one the America’s most brutal hate crime nearly two years ago. “They were given the impression that society condones or is indifferent to such treatment of those who are not like them.”

Shepard’s plea for peace was one that seemed logical to those gathered at North Central College in suburban Chicago Thursday, Sept. 28, but she quickly pointed out that such behavior is easier said than done in American society.

She also told students of the additional struggles she experienced when she learned her son was homosexual. “As a parent of a gay child, your hope is that they can go through the entire day without an incident,” she said. “It would have been a great day if nothing like that happened.”

On Oct. 7, 1998, this mother’s worst nightmare came true when her 21-year-old son, a student at the University of Wyoming, was pistol whipped, tied to a fence post and beaten into a coma in freezing cold temperatures. Matthew was left to lay in misery for 18 hours until he was discovered and treated for abrasions, hypothermia, severe welts and a fractured skull at a nearby hospital.

Matthew held on for five days

COurtesy of tms campus

Judy Shepard, whose son Matthew was slain in one of America’s most brutal hate crime nearly two years ago, speaks to a crowd at North Central College in suburban Chicago.

after the attack, but the abuse gradually turned fatal. As he was laid to rest, his killers Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson were sentenced to life in prison.

“There was a bit of relief at first to know that Matthew’s suffering was over, but for us the suffering was just beginning,” Shepard said on behalf of her family. “There are still days when I can’t go on, but the love and support of those around me have sustained me. Matt would be disappointed if I gave up and that’s why I’ve been going around the country to show people what’s its like not to give up after such a tragedy.”

The Shepard family, including Matthew’s father Dennis and his brother Logan, started the Matthew Shepard Foundation to encourage acceptance and embrace diversity.

“Not every one is the same in this world, and out of those that are gay, I don’t know anyone who would choose to live their life in fear,” she said.

“Everyone has the right to live and should be treated with respect, like you would a brother and sister, because we are all from the same family.”

Such is the thinking behind the foundation set up in Matthew’s name, and Judy hopes that through her crusade, parents will learn to be more accepting of the lifestyles their children lead. Shepard was very accepting when learning of her son’s homosexuality.

When he first told her of his orientation, she continued to love him the same way she had before. “We all should make contracts with our children to let them know we love them unconditionally and that we will be there for them no matter what, just like I was with Matt,” she said. “Do you think the murderers’

parents stopped loving them after the crime?”

Judy noted that her husband’s acceptance of her son’s sexual orientation has been an example to other men across the nation to first love their children before they disapprove of their lifestyle. “For parents who can’t do that, I would just look at them as a mother who had their son yanked from them and wonder how could they turn away when they had the chance to be there for that child?” she said.

Judy noted that her other son, Logan, who had hoped to room with Matthew at the University of Wyoming, has also helped spread the message of acceptance.

“Instead of just saying his brother got killed or that he is now an only child, he tells people that that his brother was killed as part of a hate crime because he was gay,” she said.

“That shows that he is comfortable enough in his own skin to tell people what really happened and educate them that crimes of such magnitude take place but must be stopped.”

Shepard made it clear that the main audience that anti-hate awareness should be spread is the college demographic, particularly since that was Matthew’s age when he died.

“I have one wish for college students and that is that they would stop pigeon-holing everyone that is different then they are,” she said. “It starts with the faculty and administration on a campus making it clear that hate behavior will not be tolerated. If it doesn’t start with them, then how will students learn from their example? Students need to get involved to, by joining support groups on campus and discussing this issue so that their schools can be free from hate crimes.”

arts & entertainment October 5, 2000

Eating Healthy at Rutabegorz

Their veggie Thai salads, black bean burritos and curry chicken wraps will help you forget about burgers and fries Story by Debra Santelli Photos by Michelle Gutierrez

Y

ou won’t see a burger, fries, and a soda as the lunch special at Rutabegorz. If you’re in the mood for healthy eats like a veggie Thai salad, black bean burrito, or curry chicken wrap sandwich, you’ve come to the right place. At first sight Rutabegorz restaurant (or as regulars refer to it, Ruta’s), comes off more

Glam is so Marvelous Break out the leopard stretch pants and the torn Levi’s sheepskin denim jacket Grandma, ‘buttrock’ is back!

By Matt Capuano

Daily Titan Staff Writer With the onslaught of new bands sounding harder and harder in today’s music, it is rare to find a band that has stuck to the old ways of rock and roll.

It is evident that rock and roll isn’t dead, despite alternative music’s grip on the music scene. Bands like Poison, Warrant, Dokken and Skid Row, among others, are coming out of the wood work to revitalize their careers and classic rock and roll of the eighties and early nineties. You can add Marvelous 3 to this list of rock and roll preservationists.

Hailing from Atlanta, Marvelous 3 comes off as rock and roll to the bone. Their newest outing, ReadySexGo is as rock and roll an album can get. Their brand of in-your-face music and lyrics are definitely a throw back to the predecessors that came before them.

Straight off the beginning I felt like I was listening to a Poison album in every aspect, complete with the wailing in the background. Also, their style of blending hard rock songs with soft tear-jerking tender songs was reminiscent of the glam years of the eighties. Marvelous 3 even dresses the part, as evident as the back cover and inside photos.

Of course, no rock album would

as someone’s country cottage home than a healthy-style restaurant.

Nestled next to Fullerton’s farmer’s market and downtown museum, Ruta’s offers eye catching brightly colored murals painted on the outside and finished with Spanish-style orange tiles covering the roof top. Gardenstyle wrought-iron seats welcome you to the building and “established in 1970” sign is proudly painted by the entrance.

Artistic murals continue along the inside.

One of three separate dining rooms greets customers, “please seat yourself.” At the entrance, a display case filled with freshbaked, cookies in-house, dessert bars, and treats along with selections of papers and Ruta’s apparel for sale.

There are a dozen or so tables scattered about the front room and Ruta’s menus are all ready to be perused. The walls are covered in Egyptian paintings and vegetables, fruit, and eclectic animals scattered about. Little pots of bright, fresh flowers and plants line the Spanish arch-style windows.

The second room is not as brightly lit as the first room, but has a cozy feel to it. About half the amount of tables, closely set together, is the layout for this room. A 3-D art piece of a bagel breakfast with coffee and condiments hangs on the wall and the hand-painted murals is continued.

Local artists’ original paintings for sale are hung throughout this room. The back room is the largest and opens up wide from the cozy little second room. Tables and booths are scattered about welcome each customer. A piano is pushed up against the back wall with a painting of a lamp, which initially appears to be a real Tiffany-style lamp, sitting on top of the piano.

Rainforest-style trees adorn the walls into the corner, wrought-iron wine racks, and décor galore are scattered throughout the final room.

Servers in relaxed dress run from room to room serving guests what appear to be mountainous portions of food. We start our meal with humus and pita wedges ($4.00), which consist of diamond-cut toasted pitas, a round dish of humus and cucumber and carrot garnish.

The appetizer was blended smooth but without much flavor. A dash of Tabasco sauce and a squeeze of lemon did the trick. The veggie Thai salad ($7.25) was a huge bowl loaded with fresh chunks of vegetables, lettuce, rice, raisins, crunchy noodles, and peanuts. We chose the Thai-peanut & cilantro dressing.

The salad d r e s s i n g exploded with flavor and was surprisingly light. Ruta’s makes all their salad dressings in-house; one example of their inventive dressings are honeyginger, creamy herb and curry dressing.

The spinach salad ($6.95) is piled high with rich green spinach leaves, lots of fresh vegetables, eggs, and soy bacon bits. If you weren’t told the Michelle Gutierrez/Daily Titan bacon bits were Who thought that eating so healthy could be so tasty? soy-based, you never would have known.

We tried the honey mustard salad dressing. “if your green inside, your clean inside.”

Four college students started Ruta’s in 1970 Spinach lovers will flip over this menu item.

The vegetarian burrito ($5.95) was plenty starting out only serving coffee and desserts. It big and is stuffed with homemade vegetarian has evolved to a full-service, health-conscious chili, rice and cheese, wrapped in a whole restaurant. All their salad dressings, mayonwheat tortilla, served with salsa on the side. naise, sour cream and milk are low in fat.

Their vegetables are always fresh; never The salsa was a bit bland but the homemade canned and the meats are lean and low in fat. chili made up for that.

We also tried Ruta’s primavera ($6.95), Ruta’s saying is “you are what you eat, from which is an enormous bowl of penne pasta, your head to your feet. Don’t be a fast-food junky. Feel good, feel energetic and remember chopped fresh vegetables in a white sauce.

Topped with mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, to eat all your vegetables.”

The menu has endless selections of salads olives and tomatoes, the primavera is accompanied with garlic bread. Our favorite part and bean dishes.

It could deal with more tofu items for the of the dish was the cheese on top browned slightly and the garlic bread. The only thing vegetarians looking for high protein, low-carwas that by the time you ate your way to bohydrate dishes. There’s also plenty of lean the bottom of the bowl the sauce was a little meat dishes for meat lovers to pick from.

If Ruta’s doesn’t make you want to pass on watery.

For dessert we tried Ruta’s homemade car- the burger and fries, I don’t know what will. rot cake ($3.25), which was light, fluffy, and filled with carrots. The cream cheese frosting Where: 211 North Pomona, Fullerton was not overly sweet and the portion was very (714) 738-9339 generous.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Before ending our meal we all ordered a shot of wheat grass (single shot-$1.35, double Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. shot-$2.70), to get our minerals for the day.

Ruta’s has an elaborate selection of fresh juice Sunday Entrée prices: $3.75-$9.75, prices subject drinks, teas, and coffees. As Ruta’s menu says,

Vast’s second release is lyrically devoid of any inspiring notions Weaned on a heavy diet of synth pop, Jon Crosby, mastermind behind the band, can, at best, be labeled a big ‘wanna be’

be complete without the addition of a love ballad. ReadySexGo is no exception to the rule, with the song, "Cigarette Lighter Love Song" filling the bill. The lyrics are accompanied with the delicate sounds of the piano in the background.

The whole album is filled from beginning to end with excellent examples of classic rock and roll, with songs such as "Grant Park," "Get Over," and "Cold as Hell" leading the way in terms of lasting impressions. Marvelous 3 even ventures into the new wave era on the song, "I’m Losing You." A remixed version of this song is showcased on a hidden track on the album as well. One song that particularly impressed me was "Radio Tokyo," with its soft piano beginning moving into a smooth sounding guitar beat accompanied with all three members singing in unison during the chorus. This song is an excellent example to showcase this album.

All in all, I feel that Marvelous 3’s album, ReadySexGo is a wonderful flashback to the eighties era.

Unfortunately, I feel that during this time of music becoming more and more hardcore by the day, I feel that this album will quickly be overshadowed and lost in the process.

By Cindy Bertea

Daily Titan Staff Writer Weaned on a heavy diet of synthpop, musician Jon Crosby returns to the record racks with his band Vast, ready to cry on society’s shoulder.

With elaborate sonic crescendos a characteristic on most tracks, the music on Vast’s second release, “Music for People,” is cliché and lyrically devoid of inspiring notions.

The first release in 1998, “Visual Audio Sensory Theater,” was performed entirely by Crosby and the band he has assembled for “People” adds nothing to this creation.

Guitarist Justin Cotter, percussionist Steve Clark and bassist Thomas Froggat, supplements Crosby’s vocal and guitar work.

Raised in rural Humboldt County, Calif., Crosby draws upon his smalltown isolation to construct his musical themes.

It’s ironic that he cites MTV, a purveyor of cultural homogenization invading homes far and wide, as a determining factor in his career. So much for that quirky isolation angle.

Instead of creating a sound unique to his region, Crosby’s work can be heaped into the pile of wanna-be rock stars that never quite attain their fifteen minutes of fame.

The recording itself is slickly produced, but the melodies lack any substance and sound like a bad Echo

& The Bunnymen rip-off.

The lyric sheet reads like a cut-rate sample of Nine Inch Nails material, but without the subtle nuances of true despair.

Unlike the talented Trent Reznor, Crosby’s idea of electronic music is matching his hair color with his iMac computer.

In the track “Land of Shame,” Crosby laments, “I’m on vacation in the land of shame.”

He’s definitely onto something, and should be ashamed about this embarrassing attempt at self-exploration. On the pseudo-serious “My TV and You,” Crosby’s true colors show brightly as he croons about his love for television.

“I was born to stare at who stares back at me,” he sings, proving that children raised on unhealthy doses of the boob tube, or MTV, will ultimately lack imagination and creativity to articulate their thoughts.

Released by Elektra, fellow label mate and Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich called “Music for People,” one of the best albums he has downloaded in a long time.

Sure.

Ulrich’s hit on Napster would probably be one of a handful, since there are no valid reasons to assault one’s hearing organs with this juvenile and self-indulgent record.

Lars Ulrich from the rock band Metallica sure digs him.

Listeners will recognize most of the material from somewhere else.

Crosby attempts to emulate the hits of already established artists, but comes up flat. He possesses one-quarter of the talent of musicians he admires, and it shows.

His influences are cited as such notable artists as Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, but the most obvious influences are scraped from the gutter

of ‘80s electronic one-hit wonders.

Try thinking what Smashing Pumpkins would sound like if fronted

by Howard Jones and you’ll get a pretty good idea of why to avoid this album.

“Music for People” is an apt title for this sophomore release. What kind of music, and for what kind of people?

It doesn’t matter, since this will surely bore just about everybody.

Thursday, October 5, 2000

Climbers look to

Bouldering

for an alternative

Bouldering offers climbers exercise for the mind and body

story and photo by Terry Joliffe e lays out his crash pad, slips on his rubber-soled climbing shoes, chalks his hands, and mentally goes over the moves, figuring out the sequence of the route where he will have to expend the least amount of energy. He’s getting ready to boulder, a different form of rock climbing, at Hidden Valley Campgrounds in Joshua Tree National Park.

Bouldering is the new wave of the climbing scene — climbing done without the use of ropes on a boulder that averages 20 feet in height. The rock offers traverses and short overhangs and the climber sometimes clings to dime-size holds on the rock. The boulder climbs are viewed as problems, solved mentally, like a puzzle, one piece at a time. It can be extremely intense, requiring strength and unwavering focus and concentration.

Shaun Hunter, of Washington, began sport climbing with his brother and two of his high school friends in 1993. He has rock climbed in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming, as well as Canada and Peru.

“The best way to learn climbing is to begin in a gym with a climbing wall and a controlled atmosphere,” Hunters said.

“There you will have instructors watching over you and the necessary safety equipment. The techniques for both rock climbing and bouldering are the same,” Hunter said.

Margie Floyd is the manager of Rockreation Climbing gym in Costa Mesa. She said most climbers at the gym do boulder-

H

ing as well as rock climbing.

“Bouldering takes more technical moves and strength, where longer rock climbs take more endurance,” Floyd said.

Hunter likes to push his body to the extreme, both mentally and physically.

“Unlike reaching the top of an indoor climbing wall, reaching the top at a local crag leaves you with such breathtaking views and more of a sense of accomplishment because reaching the top is a reward in itself,” Hunter said.

An increase in climbers has caused changes in the bouldering scene.

“Bouldering has become a very popular past time in the last five years and climbers are starting at a younger age, so the rating system or difficulty of a climb has changed,” Hunter said.

The rating system ranges from V0, which is the easiest, to V16, the most difficult of climbs.

“With the younger kids coming into the sport, their strengthto-weight ratio is higher, increasing the difficulty level of bouldering,” said Hunter, who has professionally taught beginner, intermediate and advanced climbing classes for more than a year.

“I coached gymnastics for three years, allowing me the opportunity of coaching a youth climbing team, from ages nine to 16 years. One of my kids, Kyle Rafa, 13, made it to the world’s climbing competition, part of the Junior Climbing Competition Association, where he will compete against the best climbers in the world in his age bracket this year in the Netherlands,” Hunter

said with a smile.

Chase Latta, a 17-year-old who began climbing four years ago and has been competing in climbing gym competitions for the past three years, works at Vertical World in Washington.

He said about half of the people that climb there prefer bouldering.

“I climb inside to keep in shape, but I like the excitement of outdoor climbing more,” Latta said.

Popular areas in the bouldering community to climb in California are Pirate’s Cave, Corona Del Mar, Turtle Rock, Irvine, Joshua Tree, Mount Rubidoux, Riverside and Buttermilks Country, eleven miles west of Bishop.

Most climbers are environmentally conscience and considerate, according to www.bouldering.com. But there is a common sense code of ethics for climbers.

For instance, when arriving at a pristine area to climb, leave it as you found it, or undisturbed.

Also, try to stay on previously accessed paths rather than driving over fresh vegetation and destroying it with your vehicle.

Latta added a hint for single men.

“The climbing gym definitely isn’t a place to meet girls because there are more guys that climb,” Latta said. “ And if you do meet a girl there, she’s probably going to be stronger than you.”

For more information, photographs and videos, visit www. bouldering.comand www.webcrag.com.

Shaun Hunter focuses on his next move on a boulder in Joshua Tree.

4 Tuesday, August 29, 2000

SPORTS

SPORTS

Tuesday, August 29, 2000

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