C A L I F O R N I A
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U N I V E R S I T Y ,
F U L L E R T O N
INSIDE
Men’s soccer team blasts Concordia University 12-0
perspectives: Bad starts do not 5 nalways mean a failing grade in class ROTC cadets joined to practice 9 nforNEWS: upcoming Ranger Challenge
—see Sports page 7
W e d n e s d ay
Vo l u m e 7 1 , I s s u e 3 2
nPOLITICS: The initiative is a statewide school voucher program that has raised some controversy By Marlayna Slaughterbeck
Daily Titan Staff Writer High school dropouts commit 80,000 crimes against senior citizens every year, or so say proponents of Proposition 38 in their television commercials. “ I cannot tell you how much my ire is aroused when I see those ads,” said Lloyd Porter, a teacher from La Entrada High School. “Statements like that arise not from fact, but from desperation.” Proposition 38 is a statewide voucher program designed to provide $4,000 per student to parents who enroll their children in private schools. Entrada, along with Mary Sosa from the National Education Association, spoke out against the proposition at Associated Students’ Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday as part of an effort to inform students about what they see as a deceptive campaign. Entrada and Sosa told the board that the true aim of Proposition 38 is not to give parents a choice, but to take money out of taxpayers’ pockets to line the coffers of wealthy private schools. Referring to supporters of the proposition’s claims that it will give parents the benefit of sending their children to the school of their choice, Porter told the board that in fact, the schools will choose the students, not the other way around. “Their commercials are very misleading,” Porter said. “They lead you to believe that racial discrimination will not
be a factor but the truth is, they can reject applicants for any number of reasons, including gender and physical abilities.” Porter continued his assault on the validity of the proposition by saying that the voucher initiative could jeopardize government funds normally allocated for local police and fire departments, as well as community colleges and state-funded universities like CSU. Porter said that although Gov. Gray Davis has made a certain amount of positive impact since his election, state funding for public schools in California is nonetheless too low. He argued that while California public schools face issues other than those of a purely financial nature, the voucher program will not address them and will only make the overall situation worse. “I’m not saying you can just throw money at the problem and make it completely go away, but money certainly does help,” Porter said. Sosa then took the floor, emphasizing that the public education system is part of the nation’s democratic heritage and that it is the public’s responsibility to support it, regardless if some parents choose to send their children to private schools. “What is at stake here is whether or not our democracy can sustain the public education system,” Sosa said. She then added that, as with everything, there are two sides to the issue, and that the most important thing was that students were well-informed and that they do, in fact, vote. “Whatever your decision is — whatever your opinion in the matter — it is important that you do vote,” Sosa said. Commenting on the initiative, president of the Student California Teachers Association on campus, Roy Bird said that he too was opposed to the initiative. “It will hurt our schools and our communities,” American studies major Bird said. “It will cut funding for police and fire and will also affect the Cal Grant.”
Trick-or-treat!
Political funds initiative spurs debate nPROPOSITION: Bill aims to curb campaign contributions for election and political parties By Cindy Bertea
Daily Titan Staff Writer Proposition 34 seeks to limit individual campaign contributions in elections and establish voluntary spending limits, but political science Professor Bruce Wright said he believes this won’t change the importance of money in campaigning.
“Until there’s full funding of all campaigns, we won’t limit the role money plays,” he said. “Whatever you do, money will have a very large place in politics.” Currently, California is one of six states that does not limit state office candidate collections or expenditures for campaigns. The measure’s background began in 1974 when California voters approved the Political Reform Act, which established campaign finance disclosure requirements. The act required candidates for state and local offices and other campaign organizations to report campaign contributions and expenditures. In 1996, California voters passed
Proposition 208, which set limits on these contributions. A lawsuit challenging 208 and a subsequent court order blocked the enforcement. Political Science Professor Barbara Stone said the courts view the proposition as a violation of free speech via spending restrictions. Stone said the guidelines detailed in 208 were “fairly Draconian,” since the limits were set so low. Under 208, individual contributions for Assembly and Senate campaigns were set at $250. For statewide offices and governor, the limit was $500 for individuals. She also noted that the current measure, Proposition 34, is a legisla-
tive initiative amendment that was passed for the ballot without the chance of a public hearing. “Some politicians can’t live with the 208 limitations,” she said. “They would collapse if they had to live with those provisions.” Stone also said she believes that sponsors of the measure who hope to curb the practice of special interests buying candidates are naïve. Somehow, the money will reach a candidate’s campaign. “Candidates will find ways to reach voters, no matter what money is involved,” she said. With the 1996 proposition in limbo, the current ballot measure seeks reform in several ways.
PROPOSITION/ 6
34
Campaign Contributions and Spending, Limits, Disclosure
Official summary prepared by the attorney general
-Limits individual campaign contribution per election: statewide elective office, $5,000 (small contributor commit tees may double these limits); governor, $20,000. Limits contributions to political parties/political committees for pur pose of making contributions for support or defeat of candi dates. -Establishes voluntary spending limits, requires ballot pamphlet to list candidates who agree to limit campaign spend ing. -Expands public disclosure requirements, increases penal ties for violations. -Prohibits lobbyists’ contributions to officals they lobby. -Limits campaign fund transfers between candidates, regu lates use of surplus campaign funds .
Graduate fair helps students in preparation for the future nEDUCATION: Many universities were present for students interested in obtaining their master’s degree By Samantha Gonzaga Daily Titan Staff Writer
mayra beltran/Daily Titan
Seniors Erica Lopez and Lissette Martinez looked at pamphlets set aside by Staci Jung Kamey from Cal State Los Angeles.
mayra beltran/Daily Titan
Children from the Children’s Center trick-or-treated inside the Titan Student Union on Tuesday.
PROP
AS discusses Proposition 38
N o v e m b e r 1, 2000
By the time 9:30 a.m. came, Tom Smith had secured a parking space and was preparing to set up his booth. It would be one among the 102 university booths present for the Graduate and Professional Fair aimed at students — seniors, in particular — interested in pursuing a master’s degree. Though the fair did not start until 11 a.m., he and other college representatives were advised to arrive early.
Smith, an associate vice president for La Sierra University’s enrollment services figured it beats setting up at night. “The last time I was here, the fair was scheduled late into the early evening hours,” he said. “It was to fill the din of activity during such hours, I was told.” Smith surveys the students milling around the white train of booths and continued, “But I much prefer this. The numbers [of students] that have showed up are excellent.” Sponsored by the Career Planning and Placement Center, the Graduate and Professional Fair is held every fall. California universities along with institutions as far as the University of Michigan and Hawaii Pacific University had pamphlets, name cards and answers ready for students.
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“Other campuses hold similar events,” said CSUF Student Service Specialist Christina Alvarado. “This is a good opportunity for students, in terms of having more accessibility. “It gives them a chance to get more insight on what it’s like to be in a master’s program.” Scheduling the fair in late fall proved to have its advantages. With deadlines for spring admission approaching, the information each university representative provided can help an undecided student. For senior Sam Lee, meeting it was the determining factor for an educational future. “I was unsure if I wanted to go one step further by getting a master’s,” he said. “I had worries about distance, tuition costs, and the job market out there for someone like
FAIR/ 6
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!
u p co m i n g n
Chinese martial arts class to open next semester at Cal State Fullerton. Read about it in Thursday’s Daily Titan
2 Wednesday, November 1, 2000
two
A guide to what’s happening
BRIEFS Big Band All Stars at the Brea Curtis Theatre
C.S. Lewis Foundation Sponsors Forum Dinner
The Curtis Theatre’s Guest Artist Series presents Senior Class Big Band All Stars on Nov. 4. Performance times are at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Featuring music of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and others, the performance is filled with dancers swinging to the Lindy Hop, Jitterbug and Balboa Lindy, Tickets are $27 for adults, $25 for seniors and $17 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 always free. Box office hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and one hour prior to performances. For tickets or information, call (714) 990-7722.
The C.S. Lewis Foundation of Redlands presents a Faculty Forum Dinner at the Costa Mesa Hilton Hotel on Saturday, Nov .11 from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The theme of the evening is “The Christian Scholar in the World of Ideas.” All are welcome to attend. The keynote speaker is James Hunter, chairman for the department of sociology at the University of Virginia and director of the Institute for the Advanced Studies in Culture. He will discuss the struggle over American culture. The cost for the dinner is $40 per individual, $65 per couple. Graduate students are $30 per person and $45 per couple. Reservations are required. Call Jill Fort at (909) 793-0949 for information. The C.S. Lewis Foundation, founded in 1986, is a Californiabased non-profit organization that fosters a renewal of Christian scholarship and artistic expression in contemporary higher education.
Southgate Middle School visits campus On Monday, Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., students from Southgate Middle School are visiting the campus. The purpose for the visit is for underrepresented students from the school to get a feel for what it would feel like to attend college at Cal State Fullerton. The visit ranges from touring the campus, registering for classes and attending a class. Events include participants interviewing current CSUF students on issues relating to academic planning, choosing classes, and selecting a major and campus life in general. Professor Pam Guzman, department of sociology in the Titan Student Union, will facilitate a demonstration. Other visits around the campus include the Titan Shops. The closing program comes with a presentation about the Upward Bound Program facilitated by Janet Long, the director of Upward Bound. The visit was possible by a grant by Chase Manhattan Bank.
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
news DAR EVE NTS CALE N ND AR OF OF EVE Campus Jazz fans can enjoy a free concert by “OM” and Gretchen Lieberum at the Becker Amphitheater at noon. Sandra Sutphen and Barbara Stone of the Division of Political Science and Criminal Justice team will present “Know Your Candidates and Issues for the 2000 Elections,” a discussion on local and national candidates for office in the November elections at noon in University Hall 205. CSUF and the Center for the Study of Emerging Markets join together to co-sponsor a Global High-Tech Conference and Job Fair from 1:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. at the Titan Student Union. All majors are welcome
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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
Associated Students will be holding mandatory budget orientation meetings for all organizations planning to request funding through Associated Students 2001-2002. Failing to attend will result in ineligibility for funding. Meetings will be held on Nov. 6 at 11 a.m. at the Titan Student Union Ontiveros B or on Nov. 9 at 3:30 p.m. at the TSU 233. For more information, call (714) 278-3295. Visit the exhibit “A Salute to Orange County Journalism,” now open through Feb. 25
2001 in the Atrium Gallery of the Pollak Library. Featured is a working 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.
dignitaries, bronze statuettes of the gods, and jewelry in gold and other precious materials. The Bowers Museum is located on 2002 North Main Street in Santa Ana. For more information, call (714) 5673650 or visit /http://www.bowers.org. Attend the opening reception of “Arnie Hendrickson: Phantom Pain,” a series project grown out of Hendrickson’s fascination with the phantom sensation of missing limbs, at the CSUF Grand Central Art Center on 125 N. Broadway in Santa Ana. The exhibit will be open through Nov. 4. The gallery’s hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call Marilyn Moore at (714) 278-7750.
Community The Bowers Museum presents “Egyptian Treasures from the British Museum,” open through Jan. 2, 2001. This exhibit will cover a timespan of over 3,000 years, and among the items displayed are stone sculptures of pharaohs and
Daily Titan Online Poll Voice your opinion through the Daily Titan’s online poll! Just go to http://dailytitan.fullerton.edu and click on the News or Opinion tabs and vote.
Who are you going
Benefit game to honor Rodney Anderson On Nov.8 at 7:05 p.m., the Titan Basketball teams starts its new season with a benefit game for Rodney Anderson. Anderson was a freshman on last year’s team and was paralyzed in a random shooting near his parents home in Los Angeles. He is currently going through rehabilitation and hopes to be back at the university in the spring. All revenue from the game will go to the Rodney Anderson Assistance Fund. This was established to help pay for medical care beyond what the family’s insurance will pick up. Anderson and his family will be in attendance. For tickets and information on the game or Titan Basketball, call (714) 278-CSUF. For more information regarding the Rodney Anderson Medical Assistance Fund, call (714) 2487726.
to meet with representatives from companies like Ernst and Young, City National Bank, Lightwave Internet, and the Association of Internet Professionals. For more information, log on to http://www. csem.net/gp2000.
to vote for in the presidential race?
A. Al Gore B. George W. Bush C. Pat Buchanan D. Ralph Nader E. I haven’t decided yet
Results will be published in Tuesday’s Daily Titan. Poll is unscientific
nline poll
R
Last week’s questions: How do you plan to spend your Halloween? 22 people responded with . . .
5% 18% 23% 14% 41%
Go trick-ortreating
Go to a costume party
Watch “Blair Witch 2”
Smash pump-
Go to a haunted
news
PROPOSITION
n from page 1
The limits set by Proposition 208 will increase, voluntary limits for campaign expenditures will be set and prompt online reporting of contributions will be required. A penalty of up to $5,000 will be issued for noncompliance under Proposition 34. People who violate provisions of the Political Reform Act may also face fines. If passed, the campaign contributions by individuals for the Assembly and Senate will be limited to $3,000 per election. The contribution limit for statewide offices under Prop. 34, excluding that for governor, is $5,000.
Wednesday, November 1, 2000 Individual contributions for governor will be $20,000. Opponents of the measure believe these limits are too high, and note that it sets no limits on how much a political party, instead of individuals, can spend. Backers of the proposition say that California needs limits on campaign spending and contributions, and that those set by 34 are more realistic than the limits in Proposition 208. Political science professor Sandra Sutphen said there are other ways to reform campaign financing, and that people should think clearly about the measure before making a decision. “If someone is truly in favor of campaign reform, they should vote no on Proposition 34, because if passed, it will repeal a much tougher measure [208],” Sutphen said.
She suggested shorter campaign periods, possible free airtime, and public financing — much like the presidential election — as possible alternatives to solve the reform issue. One student believes the proposition, if passed, will not be successful. History graduate student Charles Delgadillo voted against the measure through absentee ballot. He cited the portion of the proposition that set voluntary campaign spending limits for state elective offices as a factor in his decision. “The limits were ridiculously low, no one will follow them anyway, since parts of the measure are voluntary,” he said.
FAIR
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me, a student interested in teaching. It was great that there were people here who will give definite answers as opposed to trying to find answers by reading pamphlet after pamphlet.” Even a moment at one booth can change the direction of one’s life. Anaheim’s South Baylo University student intern Julie Walls was originally a communications major who ended up studying oriental medicine instead. An introduction to the discipline changed her mind. Biology majors frequented the South Baylo University booth, displaying great interest in herbal medicine. The school realized the
market’s growing openness toward alternative medicine. It was, according to Walls, a burgeoning industry. “Alternative medicine is becoming more and more accepted,” Walls said. “They’re being accepted in HMOs and lately there has also been interest in holistic healing.” The throng of students began to thin as it approached 2 p.m. Some booths began to fold their banners; some stayed, opting to wait out until the fair’s end at 3 p.m. “Some of the students in our graduate program are CSUF students,” Smith said. “This event, the time invested in it; is definitely worth it.”
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news
Wednesday, November 1, 2000
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ROTC cadets spend weekend training for competition at Fort HunternMILITARY: One hundred students gathered to practice M-16 weapons qualifications and land navigation at the fort By Magda Liszewska
Daily Titan Staff Writer On the cold, rainy Saturday afternoon, at 1400 hours, sophomore cadet Elizabeth Nguyen stood on top of an 80-foot-tall rappelling tower, with a rope tied around her body, about to face her fear of heights. “I was shaky and quivering,” she said. With two instructors giving her final pointers and a fellow cadet securing the rope on the ground, she lowered herself, and approximately eight jumps and less than a minute later, touched the ground below her feet. “It was something I had to do,” she said. “I had to suck it up and drive off.” Then, since everybody had to jump twice, she did it again. “The first time I failed miserably,” she said. “The second time I
learned from my mistakes and did better.” And even though she said she does not consider her fear of heights conquered, she is ready to face it again. “The next few times I’ll do a lot better,” she said. Although she is a member of army reserves, Nguyen has never tried rappelling before. “It will be an experience I will never forget,” she said. Nguyen was one of approximately 100 ROTC students, from Cal State Fullerton and Claremont McKenna College, who spent last weekend at Fort Hunter-Liggett practicing M16 weapons qualifications, rappelling, day and night land navigation and an obstacle course. The purpose of the event was familiarization of army tasks for new cadets and planning and execution for the upper-class chain of command. Senior Ryan Gutzwiler said the events were designed to enhance cadets’ confidence in themselves, their colleagues and equipment. “The purpose is for people to have fun and at the same time receive some beneficial military training,” he said. Senior students were in charge of planning and executing the tasks.
Students enjoy live music at the café nCAMPUS: Two musicians become regular entertainment at The Garden Café By Debra Santelli
Daily Titan Staff Writer Sports, cheerleaders and fraternity parties are synonymous within the world of college life, but there are a few hopeful souls trying to veer from the “norm.” At The Garden Café every Tuesday at noon, two individuals are bringing musical serenity to Cal State Fullerton students for free. Luis Salazar, a graduate student in advertising and Abe Phillip, a psychology major, take time out of their hectic school schedules to play acoustic guitar songs for those students looking for a change within the campus dining areas. “I have been coming to listen to them play all semester,” said Sarah Worden, a senior theater major. “It’s relaxing to come down here, I can mellow out during my break and enjoy live music.” The noon serenade is brought to CSUF students through Associated Student Productions, and has been providing this entertainment for a few semesters. Salazar started playing the noon serenade last semester when he would come to listen to his friend and other musicians play on Tuesdays. “There used to be classical music and a saxophone player that would be here on Tuesday’s, but now it just seems to be us,” Salazar said. Phillip began playing with Salazar this semester after coming to The Garden Café and hearing him play.
The two have been playing together ever since. They take full advantage of the fact that they are the only musicians involved in the program. They have been writing their own music and recently put a song on the Internet. ASP has tried in the past to let students know about the musicians through fliers around campus and by posting advertisements on the digital screen next to the Titan Student Union. The two musicians tell as many people as they can. “It seems not that many people come and I’m not sure if it’s because they don’t know about us or the only people interested in coming are [just a few] people on this campus,” Phillip said. Despite the popularity of the baseball team, nestled around the world of sports there are many students, such as Salazar and Phillip, whose talents lay outside of athletics. Carrie Morris, a senior theater major said, “Even if I don’t get my food at The Rock and Roll Pasta, I come down here with my lunch to hear them play. It’s like a little oasis away from the noise and crowds, a place to clear your mind and relax.” “We are background music, we’re not a loud concert,” Salazar said. “People can come here and study, hang out, or do whatever and still hear themselves think. The two have generated interest from crowd members. They were recently asked to perform at a wedding for a fellow student who heard them play. They also began playing together outside of the university at different coffee shops and pubs, and plan on entering a talent show on campus in November.
Debra Santelli/Daily Titan
Luis Salazar plays the guitar every Tuesday at The Garden Cafe.
They left campus with instructors on Thursday to set up land navigation courses. The rest of the students arrived the following day. On Friday, cadets practiced fivehour day land navigation and threehour night land navigation. Equipped with compasses, maps, flashlights and protractors, they were expected to find at least five out of eight points, which were set up about six miles from their barracks. At night, with no visible moon to guide them, they had to trust their senses to find the way. Junior Anh Tren, considered land navigation to be the most challenging part of the weekend, even though she found four out of the eight points. “You go out there, and sometimes you don’t know where you are,” she said. “I look around, everything looks the same to me. I see hills here, I see hills there; they all look the same. I get lost.” Tren’s favorite part of the weekend was the obstacle course. On Saturday, students got 18 bullets to zero their weapons. Later, during the M-16 qualifications, they had 40 rounds to shoot the targets popping out from 50
to 300 meters away from them in sequences they tested on during the Ranger Challenge tryouts. Sgt. 1st Class Dutch Garner said that approximately 50 cadets were shooting M-16’s for the first time. Students came back to Fullerton on Sunday. Senior student Min Choi has participated in several field training exercises before. “The climate is much different than four years ago,” he said. “The facilities were much better [this time].” Several students, who qualified for the Ranger Challenge competition, during the Sept. 29 tryouts, had an opportunity to practice the tasks they will participate in Nov. 16-19. “We had to do a lot more exercises than most people did, because we are competing on Nov. 20,” said junior Daniel Kanousc. “We did extra land navigation, we also did rope, bridge and obstacle course, which most people didn’t get to do. I’m glad we got to do it again because I got to exercise more what I learned in the past.” Kanousc enjoyed all the parts of the exercise. “I loved the whole weekend. I wish I never had to leave,” he said.
Courtesy of ROTC
Cadet Victoria Velasco trains as part of her ROTC activities.
Wednesday, November 1, 2000
The first first test test isis always always the the The worst worst For a lot of students the first test, not the final, determines the ease and the direction of the semester story AND ILLUSTRATIONS By Craig Hashimoto
T
wo years ago, criminal justice major Frank Herrera sat in his American Studies 201 class nervously. The professor was handing back the exams that were taken the week before. Herrera was eager to get his. He had gotten a “D” on the first exam and the score on this one would determine where he would finish for the rest of the semester. With one test and the final remaining, his failing the exam could make passing the course improbable. Herrera got a self-assured smile after he received his test booklet back. He got a “C” and will have a chance to finish the semester with a satisfactory grade unlike his friend who was sitting a few seats away and failed the test a second straight time. For students like Herrera, exam days are like checking the progress on a fantasy football team. A great score could keep you in the running whereas a poor one could doom you for a semester. Students anguish at the thought of failing the first exam and then having to study more to get a passing grade. “Every semester, I’m thinking that I’m going to do well,” Herrera said. “Then the semester comes and I end up working too much to being too busy, and when the weekend comes, I’m too tired and I end up screwing up on the test.” Trying to get from failing to passing is surely not a requirement in becoming a slow starter, however most people would not consider improving from a 92 percent to 93 percent a slow start. “That’s me!” Cal State Fullerton alumnus Lenci Ordaz says when asked if he fits the slow starter mode. “In my Math 115 class, I failed the first test, got a “D” on the second test and finished with a “C.” Ordaz was known by friends as having a difficult time with the early in his college career and was always mentioned when asked about struggling slow starters. Ordaz, however, was patient and graduated last summer with a degree in communications. “It was all in my mind,” Ordaz explained. “I panicked and got stressed out and it was like: ‘How am I going to learn this?’” Staring blankly, slow starters cannot help trying to find explanations of their affliction. Aside from laziness, most end up making excuses about how the material wasn’t clarified, or how its tough to get into the swing of things oblivious to the fact that many of their fellow students are studying under the same conditions as they are. Many slow starters point out that it is difficult to do well on the first exam not knowing how the professor teaches. After the first exam, a student will have a better idea of how exams will be written and how to approach them. When the discussion of slow starting comes up, social psychology Professor Duana Welch refers to the hindsight bias where students overlook a concept because it seems familiar to them at first glance not knowing how it would appear on the exam. In other words, students think they know what will be on the exam when they really don’t. “As students come to understand my expectations and how their studying and test-taking relate to those, they may adapt and make better grades,” Welch said. “I have seen this on several occasions.” Even though Welch sees slow starters fairly often, others rarely do. Graduate student Tim Cooley who teaches a number of math courses says it is rare to see someone improve their grades dramatically from a poor test score. “With math, the scores are interdependent,” Cooley said. “Usually if you don’t know the material from the beginning of the course,you’re definitely not going to get it in the tests after that.” When talking about tests, the word intelligence comes
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to mind. Although scientists have been tried for years, they have not yet been able to define and measure intelligence. Probably the greatest of all slow starters was the Albert Einstein. According to 3-2-1 Contact magazine writer Rae Paige, Einstein didn’t speak until he was 3 years old. He didn’t say much even up until age 9. Einstein, of course was no delinquent, but knowing his slow mental development has baffled scientists for years. Einstein’s brain was examined numerous times by scientists, but nothing unusual was ever found. Of course Einstein and all other slow starters can consider themselves slow only because they are proven fast finishers. Students who start slow and finish slow will have to repeat the course. Herrera doesn’t make too many excuses, but he says he studies the class grade-point average when he gets his report card to take solace off of poor performances. “The class grade-point average gives you a pretty good idea of how hard the course was,” Herrera said. “If my grades were somewhere around where everyone else scored then I’m fine.” Herrera has no idea that his scheme is a form of social comparison which suggest that if one is going to do bad, it’s better to do struggle when everyone else stinks it up too. Starting slow is not an admirable position to be in — since subsequent exams becomes even more important. The scoring is especially precarious knowing that students often don’t see their final exam at all. Theoretically, a professor could give any score and there would be no way a student could be able to defend or come back from it. Some students have had hunches that professors would give the student the benefit of the doubt, but Welch says that students should not fall back on this notion because every professor is different and the likelihood that they’ll do it is unknown. “If a student persists toward success instead of giving up, there is a chance a professor may give the student a slight advantage in determining the final grade, but only
I wouldn’t have survived that American Studies class without the help of [my girlfriend]. She took better notes, got me focused and
if the student is truly on the border between grades,” Welch said. Of course, students could avoid the slow starting syndrome if they studied for the exam in the first place. Welch is one of several professors who stress not to procrastinate. She even has typed a detailed hand-out on how to improve grades. Still, while some students follow Welch’s suggestions, others say they simply don’t have time to thoroughly prepare for a rigorous exam. “It’s so frustrating,” Ordaz said, “I freak’n go over the material a million times, and the guy next to me didn’t study at all and gets a better grade than me.” Reality bites. Just as some students can score big with minimal effort, there are others who struggle just to pass. “I cannot say often enough,” Cooley says, “that with math, you have to practice. It’s the only way you’ll be
able to get the material.” Slow starting will probably always exist. Sometimes it takes an “F” for a student to get out of hibernation, although how they choose to improve on their grades vary. Another CSUF alumnus, Chiu-Ty Te who graduated two years ago said that even though he struggled on the first exam, he let his short-term memory help him cram the night before proceeding tests. Ordaz toughed it out when he wasn’t in a study group. Herrera got help from his girlfriend. “I wouldn’t have survived that American Studies class without the help of [my girlfriend],” Herrera said, “She took better notes, got me focused and helped me along.” Herrera’s friend wouldn’t want to hear such mumbo jumbo. He went to the professor’s office hours, took notes, attended class and still failed the class. Further proof that doing all the right things does not translate into a plausible grade. As the friend sulked in frustration, Te gave him a few words of encouragement: “Don’t worry, a lot of us went through exactly what you’re going through right now. It may not seem like it to
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Wednesday, November 1, 2000 Soccer America Men’s Top 20 as of 10/30/2000 1.Stanford 14-1-1 2.North Carolina 16-2 3.Connecticut 13-2-2 4.Indiana 13-3 5.San Jose State 16-0-1 6.Clemson 12-3-1 7.Duke 12-4 8.San Diego 12-1-2 9.Southern Methodist 15-3 10.Virginia 12-4-1 11.Creighton 14-3 12.St John’s 13-3-2 13.UCLA 10-5 14.Portland 9-5-2 15.CSUF 12-4-1 16.Washington 10-5 17.Furman 14-3-1 18.South Carolina 11-2-3 19.UAB 13-3-2 20.James Madison 14-2-1
Titans destroy Concordia, 12nNONCONFERENCE: CSUF scores most goals in Div. I team history against Division III Eagles By Caesar Contreras
Daily Titan Sports Editor A nationally ranked soccer team against a Division III soccer team with a 4-15 record. The results should seem obvious and they were as the Cal State Fullerton men’s soccer team blasted the Concordia Eagles 12-0 at Titan Stadium on Halloween night. It was the largest CSUF scoring output in the team’s 26-year history as a Division I program and the team’s biggest win since a 9-0 victory against UNLV in the 1992 season. But while a win is a win, Titan Head Coach Al Mistri says Tuesday’s night game was never supposed to take place. "The only reason we played tonight’s
game is because UCLA canceled its tournament and we couldn’t find any team to take its place," Mistri said. "We always want to face Division I teams but in this case it was either play a game tonight or no game at all." The Eagles were doomed from the start of the game as in the first 15 minutes CSUF got goals from Duncan Oughton, Art Ramirez, and Ricky Melendez. The quick lead enabled the Titans to use their substitutes early in the game and the subs responded with some added scoring punch as Tim Donnely and Hector Orellana added two more goals for a 5-0 first half lead. But while the Eagles got a breather at the half, the CSUF offense didn’t need rest as Donnely got the second half scoring at 46:11 with his second goal of the game. And the suffering continued for the Eagles as the Titans’ offense seemed to score at will, Brent Whitfield, Sean Giudice, Oughton, Luis Zavala, Hunter Lindsey and Keith Buckley all scored to complete the massacre of the Eagles.
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Ramirez said the team expected this type of outcome against the Eagles: "We figured they would be a little better, I kind of felt bad for them at the end," Ramirez said. All in all 14 different CSUF players scored in the game. Titan goalkeeper Scott Alexander and midfielder Jose Dumond got to play in their first games of the season as Dumond had three assists and Alexander made one save in the second half. Overall, Concordia had only seven shots while CSUF had 31. The win improves CSUF’s record to 13-4-1 on the season, they will play their final regular season game on Saturday at Titan Stadium against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The game will determine the Pacific Division Mountain Pacific Sports Federation champion, a Titan win or tie will give CSUF the Pacific Division crown while a loss and a UC Irvine sweep over the weekend will give the Anteaters the title. Game time is at 7:00 p.m.
(7-1, three first place votes) last wk 2 Titans become first DT No. 1 from AFC 2.St. Louis (7-1, one first place vote) last wk 3 Trent Green steps up as Marshall Faulk steals the show against the 49ers 3.Oakland (7-1) last wk 5 Kicking game in full swing as Raiders continue to pull out close ones 4.Minnesota (7-1) last wk 4 Vikes have only one week stay at No.1, it’s assumed they will never be back 5.Indianapolis (6-2) last wk 8 Colts get gutty win in Detroit, looking really strong at halfway point of season 6.Miami (6-2) last wk 7 Top ranked D allows 20 to the Pack, still pulls out the W 7.New York Jets (6-2) last wk 4 Bills take out Jets, still waiting for a collapse from Vinny and co. 8.New York Giants (6-2) last wk 8 Quiet 6-2 Giants stand in first in NFC East 9.Washington (6-3) last wk 6 Another national spotlight game for the Skins, another loss 10.Kansas City (5-3) last wk nr Sunday battle with Oakland may determine AFC West champion
LORRAINE DOMINGUEZ/Daily Titan
Titan defender Jason Clifford moves the ball in a CSUF match this season. The Titans beat Concordia Tuesday night.
Rodney Anderson Benefit Game November 8 at Titan Gym 7:05 p.m.
CSUF vs. Simon Fraser All gate revenue will go to the Rodney Anderson Medical Assistance Fund.