C A L I F O R N I A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y ,
F U L L E R T O N
INSIDE OPINION: Excessive court cases may 5 nquestion the next president’s power
Is the end of the world coming?
SPORTS: Men’s basketball will play 7 nWyoming Saturday night
—see Doomsday Issue
WEEKEND
V o l u m e 7 1 , I ss u e 5 0
D e c e m b e r 8, 2000
Dreams of a light Christmas nSTATE: The summer electrical power crunch has returned for the holidays By Samantha Gonzaga Daily Titan Staff Writer
Mayra Beltran/Daily Titan
Student computer use at Titan Lab, like by economics major Ben Godfrey, contributes to the power shortage throughout California.
Christmas won’t be late, but the lights may be a little delayed. “We’ve been turning on the Christmas lights later than usual,” said Anaheim resident John Jones. “Ever since my wife and I got notice that
we’re at a Stage 2, we’ve been diligent about that. “It’s kind of a bummer because we want to show our lights off, but since it’s really important that we save energy, there’s no problem,” he added. As the holiday season depends and the consumption of electric power increases, California is facing the challenge of conserving energy. The state has had a similar brush this summer when the energy consumption required for air conditioning soared. In Walnut’s Mt. San Antonio College, for example, some classes were conducted outside during part of the summer and fall semester as an
Center cares for stuttering chil-
POWER/ 3
‑of
Over the years, professional wrestling’s popularity has wax and waned as athletes enter and leave the ring By James Moya
Daily Titan Staff Writer‑
By Sabrina Sakaguchi Special to the Titan
SPEECH/ 8
meetings with President Milton Gordon to devise conserving measures. Its importance appears to be paramount. “We came close to reaching a Stage 3 [Wednesday],” Gill said. “And CSUF can’t shut down, as its operation is long. At the moment, copious amounts of money are being paid to keep the power on.” A Stage 2 is when some sections of company buildings energy shuts down; those who do not rack up extra charges. CSUF, which has an agreement with Edison, is an example.
power wrestling
the
nHEALTH: About 10 clinics in the United States focus on speech impediments
A bouncy four-year-old with lively golden locks of short curly hair waddles down the hallway of the sixth floor of Cal State Fullerton’s Education Building. She had just finished saying hello to Dr. Sherri when she disappeared around a corner to give her ritual hug to a professor down the hall before starting her treatment. A few seconds later, she reappears and all that is left of her shining eyes and dimpled smile is the soft top of a small head, slumped shoulders and an obvious frown on her dropped face. Her professor friend wasn’t there. But the smile and dimples reappear when she is asked, “Are you ready to start your treatment for today?” Without a word or a look around, she stands up from the toys she was preoccupied with, quickly takes her folder and follows Dr. Sherri into a small treatment room. Nicole Daurio of Tustin looks forward to her weekly treatments and daily speech exercises because she knows they make talking easier for her. Nicole has been coming to Cal State Fullerton’s Center for Children Who Stutter (CCWS), for two months to treat a problem some parents conclude is just a bad habit — stuttering. “The couple weeks when it got really bad, Nicole seemed sadder and less outgoing,” said Nicole’s mother Karen. “I tried to get her to sing ‘Jingle Bells,’ and she wouldn’t even try.” Many times, according to her mother, a distraught Nicole could be heard saying, “I talk funny.” According to Sherri Wolff, clinical director for the center, doctors and child psychologists, who tell parents their children will simply outgrow the problem, commonly misdiagnose stuttering. “Stuttering is now believed to be a neurological disorder that is interacting with environmental and developmental influences,” Wolff said. In 1995, the Center for Children Who Stutter sprouted from a fouryear study housed on campus to provide assessment and treatment for children, preschool to elementary school age, who stutter. Although relationships between neurological activity and stuttering have been under many watchful, educated eyes since the 1930s, concrete certainty has yet to be established
effort to save electricity, This winter, Christmas lighting is placing a strain in California’s power grid. “One of the things affecting usage right now are Christmas lights,” said Bob Gill, from Cal State Fullerton’s environmental health and industrial safety. The peak time of that usage, according to Gill’s estimate, is between the hours of 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. A Stage 2 status has been issued for the past few days by the California Independent System Operator (CalISO), indicating the need for saving energy. CSUF has been conducting
Brian Wade/Daily Titan
WWF superstar “Stone Cold” Steve Austin is one of the main reasons to pro wrestling’s popularity.
Wrestling has always been around but has never had a mainstay in the mainstream until now. In the eighties and nineties the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), which is owned by Vince McMahon, had wrestlers like Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior that kept viewers happy. World Championship Wrestling (WCW), owned by Ted Turner, was the other major federation in the wrestling ranks. But it hasn’t been until recently; that wrestling has really taken off, especially in the WWF, which has taken over. “Watching the WWF is entertaining. The Rock is what makes me watch,” said freshman business major Josh Stillman. In the past, wrestlers used to try and pretend that their craft was real. It hasn’t been until now that creative teams are selling the fact the WWF and WCW is sports entertainment with a soap opera twist in which you could suffer injuries. According to Salon.com, WCW’S ratings are down 40 percent from a year ago, live show attendance has fallen 76 percent and its take at the gates is down 74 percent. Some WCW arena shows today barely draw a thousand people. The WWF has reached its recent success mainly due to two wrestling stars; one of them is a beer-guzzling, foul-mouthed man who calls himself “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.
Despite being out for nearly a year due to a spinal injury, the WWF continued without “Stone Cold” and garnered high ratings. The infamous McMahon versus Austin feud propelled the WWF to climb over the WCW in the ratings. The other superstar who is a cocky, electrifying man who calls himself the people’s champion goes by the name of “The Rock” and he has given the WWF an extra spark. Biography books by “The Rock” and fellow wrestler Mick Foley also known as “Mankind” have shipped over one million copies to bookstores and have been No. 1 bestseller’s, for a time according to Salon.com. The WWF's Monday night extravaganza called “Raw is War” routinely doubles WCW’S show called “Monday Night Nitro.” WCW’S ratings on TNT as well as on TBS are down 40 percent from last year. WCW is losing money and the WWF's Vince McMahon has pocketed $56 million and could earn $90 million this year, with revenues approaching $400 million. “’Raw is War’ is a great show and keeps me tuned in,” said junior Mike Hernandez. Despite their jobs in the squared circle, WWF wrestlers have begun to venture out to do appearances in TV shows and even adult magazine. Ratings for NBC's “Saturday
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Welfare reform still controversial issue with peonECONOMY: New welfare law shows that caseloads have decreased nationally by 56 percent since 1993 By Jamie K. Ayala
Daily Titan Staff Writer Behind the presidential battle, serious topics wait to be addressed by the next president of the United States. What will be included in the next leader’s public agenda? Will it be perhaps welfare reform? This controversial issue entails many perspectives, including those who believe welfare programs should be eliminated altogether. Many also believe the system should be revised again or have alternative strategies in handling the issue. The last welfare reform was in 1996, spearheaded by President Bill Clinton.
The welfare law, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, contains four goals. They are to help needy families so they are able to care for their children at home; to replace dependence on government benefits with job preparation, work and marriage; to prevent and reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies; and to promote and show support for two-parent families. With the new law in effect, caseloads are reported to have decreased nationally by 56 percent since 1993. Nicole Bay is a caseworker who determines the eligibility for public assistance and budgets cases in one of the San Bernardino County offices. She handles approximately 130 cases a month with a monthly caseload increase of 20 to 30. “Caseloads haven’t dropped enough to make my job any easier,” Bay said. “Our goal is to make welfare a temporary assistance, not a way of life.” On the other hand, Chair of political science and criminal justice Alan
Saltzstein said that the 1996 reform is working well. “There was little mention of welfare in the presidential campaigns because both parties agree that reform has worked better than expected. The number of recipients have declined in most places,” Saltzstein said. “There are reasonable jobs for unskilled people, we just need to watch carefully when the economy turns down.” Under federal welfare law, recipients are required to work in return for benefits. States are allowed flexibility in spending and expanded authority in the design of their own welfare programs, as well as food stamps, Medicaid, job training and childcare. All states are required to have 50 percent of their recipients in work or workrelated activities by the year 2002. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children & Families, California had the most welfare recipi-
http://dailytitan.fullerton.edu
WELFARE/ 3
Mayra Beltran/Daily Titan
A La Habra woman waits to receive Medicare benefits.
2 Weekend, December 8, 2000
news
two
A guide to what’s happening
BRIEFS The CSU and APC reach tentative agreement The California State University and the Academic Professionals of California (APC), the union that represents almost 2,000 CSU student service workers, have reached a tentative agreement that will run through to June 2003. The agreed contract involves a 6 percent pay raise, some of which will include all employees, as well as benefits for merit pay and seniority. Now that this tentative agreement has been reached, The California Faculty Association (CFA) is the only one remaining of the eight employment units in the CSU that still have yet to complete an agreement. The contract is retroactive to July 2000, which means the new bonuses will be added to workers’ salaries going back six months. The 6 percent pool will be divided among employees. Half of the pool will be an increase for all employees. Forty percent will be used for merit pay to reward good diligence. Another 10 percent will include employee bonuses for every fiveyear anniversary after the tenyear milestone with CSU. There are also bonuses for employees who earned graduate degrees during their employment and for professional development activities. The agreement is expected to be both ratified by the APC on Dec. 20 and approved by the CSU Trustees on Jan. 23-24. “We are pleased to have reached an agreement that includes a significant salary increase and an effective merit program that rewards employee performance,” said Jackie McClain, CSU vice chancellor of
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
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human resources. “This represents a significant effort by both the APC and CSU. We are hopeful that very soon we can reach a mutually satisfying agreement with the faculty union too.” —Mike Henderson
Fullerton Community Services Department offers “Santa’s Play Day” The Fullerton Community Services Department is eager to help make holiday shopping a bit easier this year. On Saturday, Dec. 23, “Santa’s Play Day” will take place from noon until 4 p.m. at the Brea Dam Recreational Area, 1600 N. Harbor Blvd for children ages 5 to 12. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to “Play Day,” to keep them occupied with activities. Events including crafts and games will take place. There will also be a very special holiday guest who will stop by for awhile. The fee for “Santa’s Play Day” is $8 per child and will include all the materials used such as in crafts. There is limited space available and parents are asked to register their children in advance by the Dec. 19 deadline. They can do so by calling the Community Services Department at (714) 738-6575 or by showing up in person at the department at Fullerton City Hall, located at 303 W. Commonwealth Ave. The department is located in the basement. Parents of children requiring special assistance to participate in activities are asked to notify the staff at the time of registration. For further information, contact Melissa Larken of the department at (714) 738-6581. —Mike Henderson
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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
CALENDAR EVENTS C ALE NDA R OF OF E VENTS Campus The Cal State Fullerton community is invited to attend the “Holiday Open House” on Friday Dec. 8 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Titan Student Union Portola Pavilion. Enjoy “Twelfth Night,” one of Shakespeare’s rowdiest romantic comedies ever at 8 p.m. Admission is $8, $6 with advance Titan Discount. For more information, call (714) 278-2434 or visit http://www.arts.fullerton.edu/ events. The Board of Governors for the
Patrons of the Pollak Library invite friends to join them for a luncheon and theatre party on Saturday Dec. 10 in room 130 at noon. For more information, contact Jane Iacovetti at (714) 278-2959. All students are invited to study/ cram at the Titan Student Union through Dec. 15, which will be open all night. For more information, call (714) 278-2468. CSUF’s Independent Latino Student Association invites students to party with them on Friday Dec. 15 at Marengo’s Bar and Grill in Los Angeles from 9 p.m. to 2 p.m. For directions or further
information call the ILSA hotline at (714) 703-3392.
Community
The City of Santa Ana Parks, Recreation and Community Services agency presents their 16th annual “Children’s Winter Holiday Party” at the Santa Ana Stadium on the corner of Civic Center and Flower from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This event is for children ages 3 through 12, and admission is free. For more information, call (714) 571-4200. Hear S. Brian Willson, a Vietnam veteran, speak about his crusade against U.S. imperialism
on Saturday Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. at the Patriotic Hall on 1816 Figueroa St. in Los Angeles. For more information, call (310) 838-8131. Take the “Holiday Fiesta and Home Tour” on Saturday Dec. 9 at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center on 1201 W. Malvern Ave. in Fullerton. Tickets are available at the door or in advance by calling the Center’s general number at (714) 738-6595. The Bowers Museum of Cultural Art features its first ever “Folk and Tribal Arts Marketplace,” on Friday and Saturday Dec. 8 and 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 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.
What are you doing to prepare for finals?
A. Studying B. Taking Vivarin C. Cramming D. Sleeping E. Cheating
Results will be published in Tuesday’s Daily Titan. Poll is unscientific
nline poll
Last week’s questions: What should happen now that Florida certified their votes for
45% 20% 11% 5% 18% 44 people responded with . . .
Al Gore concedes
Continue court battles
Do another rere-count
Bush should start the transi‑
Give Clinton four more
news
Weekend, December 8, 2000
3
Crusader for peace at home and abroad Ananda Guruge brings lifetime of experience to the classroom This summer, Guruge was called to the UN Millennium Peace Summit, a historic first meeting of over 1,000 of the world’s preemiSome professors stand behind a podium to nent religious and spiritual leaders. The sumlecture. Some pace up and down in front of mit focused on the impact of religion on three the class. Dr. Ananda Guruge stands flamingo major problems: conflict, poverty, and environstyle, one leg on the floor and one leg tucked in mental deterioration. “The Muslims, Hindus, Catholics, and a lotus fold on the table. “He is relaxed, calm, he takes his shoes off,” Protestants…people who are supposed to be said Jason Gomez, a senior enrolled in the having their big differences sat together at the same table and pleaded “Religion and the Quest For for interfaith dialogue, coopMeaning” class. “He is a great eration and understanding,” professor. He uses a story-tellGuruge said. ing format, but they are stories “American tribes — the with a point. They come from Navaho, the Hopi, and the the heart, from his life experiApache — were represented. ence.” They wanted to preserve their Guruge, part-time instructor way of life for the future,” he in the department of comparasaid. “African tribal religions tive religion, has a wealth of wanted freedom from coerexperience from which to draw. cion, an end to conversions Born in Sri Lanka, he served based on dangling economic as a senior civil service officer incentives in front of needy of his country for 15 years, people.” including as assistant secretary Guruge is an active to the prime minister. member of the board of As secretary to the ministry directors of the Stop the of education, he played a role Violence, Increase the Peace in the establishment of the secFoundation. Founded in ond university of the country, Inglewood in 1992, the orgain which he held the chair of Ananda Guruge nization’s mission is to curb Sanskrit and linguistics. gang violence and provide Guruge has also been the Sri Lankan ambassador to UNESCO, France, and programs for at-risk youth. “Dr. Guruge has been consistently involved the United States, and has served 17 years as a staff member in the United Nations Educational, with our activities and rallies,” said Khalid Scientific, and Cultural Organization in Paris, Shah, executive director and founder of Stop the Violence. “He’s been a great friend and New Delhi, and Bangkok. “I joined international service because I brother to the movement. The youngsters in loved travel, enjoyed studying different cul- the program love the man.” “Violence is almost endemic in the inner tures, and wanted to do something in favor of city,” Guruge said, “and the innocent are somethe poor and disadvantaged,” he said. Guruge, 72, is vice president of the World times killed.” He has been to the funerals and memoFellowship of Buddhists and academic dean of Hsi Lai University in Rosemead. He lives with rial services for program members and to the homes of grieving families. his wife Darshanika in Huntington Beach.
By Lise Belke
Special to the Titan
POWER
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A worsening of a Stage 2 leads to Stage 3, wherein blackouts suddenly occur. These are more commonly known as “rolling blackouts,” named so after their randomness, and lack of indication as to when the power will resume. Edison’s Tom Boyd has advised that “the prudent thing to do is to reduce consumption in a power emergency . . . delay turning on holiday lights.” Institutions that agree to conserve power with energy companies like Edison pay more when energy continues to roll. Some have attributed the shortages of energy to deregulation. The government has released its control from the energy industry, hoping to allow for more efficiency. There is, however, no guarantee that the amount supplied will meet demand. At the moment, California borrows power from other states, which is put into the state’s power grid. “Some power is brought over from states, like Oregon,” Gill said. “There is a limit on the power California can get, especially when people’s demands go up, and they can’t be met.”
“Stop the Violence is doing something unique,” Guruge said. “They train young people, ages 18 to 26, to go between shooting gangs wearing a yellow T-shirt and shouting ‘Stop the violence, we are here between you!’ It gives both sides enough of a reason to stop.” “No one has been shot while intervening in gang warfare,” Guruge said. “We have the support of the police who call us to go in where something is happening. The organization has contributed to the 30 percent reduction of inner-city violence between ’94 and ’98,” he said. Guruge teaches “The Religious Roots of Non-violence” class at Cal State Fullerton. “Unless you have a hands-on problem, what you teach can be too theoretical and too distant,” he said. “If you want to bring about peace, home is where you should start.” “Dr. Guruge is a very fine human being,” said Dr. Benjamin Hubbard, chair of the department of comparative religion. “His mind is amazing. He has a heavy accent, but the actual words that come out are masterful, articulate, and clear. He’s a scholar in his own right.” Guruge is proficient in seven languages: English, French, Hindi, Sanskrit, Pali, and Tamil and Sinhala, languages spoken in Sri Lanka. He is the author of 40 books and 125 articles and research papers. He holds advanced degrees in Oriental languages, Asian history, and Buddhist studies. Guruge has received numerous honors, including the UNESCO Human Rights Medal in 1992, and the U Thant Peace Award in 1997. “The U Thant Peace Award is the second most prestigious peace prize in the world after the Nobel Peace Prize,” Hubbard said. “What gives me the greatest sense of achievement is that I can fit into any culture and feel at home anywhere in the world,” Guruge said. “I have been able to share my knowledge and experience through writing, teaching and meeting with people in 95 countries, and in the process, I have learned a lot.”
Mayra Beltran/Daily Titan
Muñeca Echeverria applies for Medical for her three children.
WELFARE n from page 1 ents in the country as of December 1999. The total was 1,333,820 recipients. New York had the second most at 760,931 and Texas was third at 342,810 recipients. The law permits broad variations among states in benefits and eligibility rules. The name of the cash-assistance program was changed from “Aid to Families with Dependent Children” to “Temporary Assistance for Needy Families,” to emphasize the short-term aspect. The limit for cash-assistance in California is 60 months, or five years. After that aid is stopped for the parent. A 1999 study showed that only a third of eligible families were receiving post-welfare childcare subsidies. Experts said it is unclear whether the benefits were being withheld by the states or families were just unaware of them. A 1998 survey conducted by Bonney & Company revealed that out of 2,221 adults 80 percent were in favor of welfare reform. Bay said she agrees that the current system should be revised. “Almost 70 percent of those I see want to really help themselves, the rest take it [welfare] as a way of life,” Bay said. “There are people who really need the help like those
whose families have fallen apart or who are taking care of children that aren’t theirs.” Bay suggested one way of reformation that should be taken into consideration. That is to discontinue cases where recipients did not cooperate, rather than to sanction [reduce grant] them. Do people care about the poor? A recent CBS News/New York Times survey indicated that they do. Out of 1,258 adults, 56 percent thought it was a good idea to select the person of a poorer family in hiring, promoting, and college admission over a person from middle to upper class family, if they were equally qualified. Twenty-seven percent thought it was a bad idea and 17 percent didn’t know. Bay said that the oldest recipient she had was 68 years old and taking care of grandchildren. The youngest was 14 years old and pregnant with twins. With these statistics how can welfare reform not be topical for the next presidency in order to make sure that the people, who need the assistance, get it? The debate on welfare may be unfueled for now, but as the economy changes in ways that that indicators can possibly foretell, the issue will remain on the back burner.
Diabetes on the rise among various age nHEALTH: About 2,200 cases of the disease are diagnosed each day By James Moya
Daily Titan Staff Writer‑ Many types of Diabetes surround people’s livelihood. The three most common types of Diabetes are Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes. According to Diabetes.com, 16 million Americans, meaning nearly one in 17 people, are diabetic. About 2,200 new cases are diagnosed each day. “I never really heard of diabetes, but recently I’ve heard a lot about it,” said undeclared junior Daniel Santos. While all three types of diabetics are different everyone who suffers from the disease has one thing in common. They have little or no ability to move sugar or glucose out of the blood into the cells where it becomes the body’s primary fuel. Glucose comes from blood, which everyone absorbs in the small intes-
tine. People rely on insulin, a hormone made in the pancreas. Individuals who have diabetes do not produce insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin that they produce. The difficulties with this process causes problems. Scientists say they think that diabetes results from a combination of genetics and environmental factors, including viral infections and a poor diet. Diabetes cannot be cured but can be managed. “Type 1 is usually caused by a viral infection. It causes the cells not to be functional. So they have to take insulin shots to compensate,” said Chair of the Biology Department C. Eugene Jones. People suffering from diabetes type 1 cannot produce insulin and need to take shots regularly to keep their blood glucose levels normal. This type of diabetes affects five to 10 percent of people who have diabetes. Risk factors include genes, ethnic background and those under 20. This type of diabetes usually occurs in Caucasians. A single gene has not been found that causes diabetes. Diabetes type 1 usually occurs after a viral infection as well as the mumps and the measles.
“Type 2 and gestational diabetes usually comes from a family with a history of it. Being overweight and having genetic tendencies are other causes of diabetes,” Jones said. Type 2 reaches 95 percent of individuals with diabetes. It produces insulin but the cells in the body are insulin resistant and do not respond properly to the hormone. Some people with type 2 use insulin but most of them can control the disease through a combination of routines such as weight loss, exercise, a prescription of oral diabetes medication and tight control. This type of diabetes comes from the genes and most people are usually 30 or older. Half of all new cases involve people over 55 years of age. Being overweight and giving birth to large babies along with using certain drugs is some known causes of this type of diabetes. It also runs in families and its most serious cases usually deal with people with obesity. Gestational diabetes develops in pregnant women. Nearly 135,000 American women develop it each year. It clears after women have the their child. But studies show that 40 percent
of women develop type 2 diabetes within 15 years after the birth. Pregnant women produce various hormones for their baby’s growth potential but that process prohibits the mother’s ability to properly use insulin for herself. Pregnant women should be screened around the 24th week of pregnancy when the diabetes hits. Complications caused by this type of diabetes are heart disease, strokes, blood vessel disease, kidney disease, eye diseases and nervous system problems. Diabetes is one of the nations leading causes of death. “Diabetes is on the rise like AIDS was and has to be dealt with,” said freshman psychology major Jessica Mason. Symptoms for type 1 include excessive urination and constant thirst. Type 2 symptoms include constant urination, thirst, weight loss, feeling weak, blurred vision, numbness in hands, slow healing bruises, frequent infections, difficulty with erections for men, unusual vaginal dryness for women, extreme hunger and vomiting. A number of tests can be used to
screen for diabetes. According to the Diabetes.com Web site, in order to manage diabetes individuals must find a support group. “Any one who is diagnosed with a chronic condition feels overwhelmed at first,” said Peggy Huang, a registered nurse and certified diabetes educator at the Diabetes Teaching Center at the University of California of San Francisco. According to new research from the Web site, diabetes can maybe one day be cured. Some people suffer from black outs when they have an attack, which is caused by low sugar and it is the same as losing consciousness. Alcohol and sex can lower glucose, while stress can raise glucose. People have to keep their glucose as close to normal as possible to lead productive lives. Insulin injections, healthy eating and glucose testing are treatments for dealing with diabetes. Also exercise, little or no alcoholic consumption, and receiving education about the disease will also help manage the disease. More research is needed to find out more about diabetes and the quest for a cure.
8 Weekend, December 8, 2000
news
The Age of Aquarius enters the Earth without significant
By Peggy Gomez
Daily Titan Staff Writer According to the stars, the Earth is entering the era of Aquarius. Bob Gill, professor of astronomy, said the new age will not affect humanity. “It’s not going to affect anything any different or more than having a new president can,” Gill said. Astronomy is an ancient science that was founded by primitive people that did not read or write. People used the night stars as a memory tool for survival. “Astronomical patterns repeat on a seasonal basis,” Gill said. People would plant and harvest crops based on when the Earth was in a particular alignment with the sun, moon or stars. One example Gill uses is the flooding of Egypt. Gill said that before the dam was made in the Nile Valley, people would look at the stars to predict
when the annual flood was going to occur. When the annual bright star on the eastern horizon at sunset would appear, people would use that as a warning to move to higher ground. Eventually, names were given to stars and stories were told, eventually making the 12 constellations. As the Earth moves around the sun, it also passes through the 12 constellations. Because the Earth is not perfectly spherical, larger around the equator than the poles, it wobbles on its axis. Precession, or one wobble, takes about 26,000 years. As the Earth precesses, it passes one of the 12 constellations. It takes about 2,160 years to pass through one constellation. Currently, the Earth is passing through the constellation of Pisces, thus the age or era of Pisces, to be followed by the Age of Aquarius. “Astronomers have re-drawn the constellations to match the seasons, therefore, they are not the same as ancient maps,” Gill said. There is not a set date for the first day of the Aquarian age, because maps of the constellations have been revised. Depending on which or whose calendar one chooses to go by, we may be in or entering into the new era.
If one chooses to use the univer- size science and reason preceded by sal current calendar, the era should turmoil. arrive in 2160 AD. Most astronoAccording to Santucci, some mers and astrologers agree that the believe there has been evidence of era will begin within the next 600 such turmoil — the fall of the stock years. market in 1929, for instance. “We have been entering the new Technology, invention, non-bioera for the past 100 years,” said logical families and socialism charJames Santucci, acterize the era. professor of The subsequent comparative reliera of Capricorn, gion. arriving in 4160 Like professor AD is expected to Gill, Santucci be a haunting era. also believes Those that exist nothing out of during Capricorn the ordinary will will be paying for happen. the destruction “I am very caused by prior interested in eras. these things, Jamie Wood, because they public relations make people do graduate, said crazy things,” she believes that said Santucci. the upcoming —James Santucci, era of Aquarius “That doesn’t comparative religion profes‑ is encouraging mean I choose to take them for sor a sense of indifact.” vidual autonomy. Santucci is familiar with the She explained that her own feelings notions associated with each era. of autonomy give her a sense of The Piscean era is connected to satisfaction. She said she doesn’t religion and Christ. Some relate need as much approval as she did the sign of the fish to Christianity, years ago. because Jesus told the 12 apostles “I think the influence of the they were “fishers of God.” Aquarian era really has something The Age of Aquarius will empha- to do with it,” Wood said.
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We have been
entering the new era for the
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nASTRONOMY: Primitive people that did read or write used the stars as a memory tool for survival
past 100 years
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leaving stutters in a limbo between a disorder and just a bad habit. “Many adults build their stuttering into their lives,” said Dr. Glyndon Riley, executive director and one of five founders for the center. “It controls so much of their lives, it effects everything.” Riley knew of a marketing major who had problems pronouncing “M” and spent two years as an accounting major because it was easier to say. According to Riley, the student had tried various treatments and eventually gave up. Finding the right treatment can be almost as hard as finding the right treatment center. Riley said there are about 10 clinics in the United States that focus on stuttering, most of which are managed by universities and colleges. Cal State Fullerton’s CCWS is one of the few that focuses on stuttering in children. “That’s the problem, stuttering is not classified as a medical disorder,” Riley said. Since treatment can average $5,000 a year per child and funding is not readily available for non-medical disorders, few institutions and clinics can focus on stuttering. Cal State Fullerton’s facilities are funded by the Boeing Co., the Department of Speech Communications, the School of Speech Communications and partially by parents of children in CCWS. “The center was created because there was a perceived need for a center to help everyone regardless of income,” Wolff said. Parents pay on a “sliding scale,” which is based on how much they can afford to pay. But making a profit is not the purpose of the center. According to Wolff, “The vision of the center is that children who stutter do not need to become adults who stutter.” Currently, CCWS has 16 children receiving treatment for diagnosed stuttering disorders. Nicole had problems with repeating words and the first syllable of words, but this is only one version of stuttering. Stuttering can also occur when whole phrases are repeated, words are prolongated or there are blocks of no sound while speaking. This inability to speak fluently can lead to avoidance of certain words or situations and to secondary behaviors of
What
Night Live” jumped 30 percent when “The Rock” was asked to host the show this past March. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin has appeared on the show “Nash Bridges,” while “The Rock” is slated to appear in the sequel of the movie “The Mummy.” WWF wrestlers also made appearances around this year’s political conventions, asking the candidates to take the smack down challenge on UPN's Thursday night show “Smackdown”. WWF toys fly out of stores and editors continue to line up at the
Jeff Almquist/Daily Titan
Nicole Daurio, 4, is treated by Dr. Sherri at the campus center. blinking and slapping a leg to finish a word or phrase. According to Nicole’s mother, Nicole had started to speak in a highpitched voice and would grit her teeth and close her eyes when she could not pronounce a word. But to distinguish between stuttering and normal disfluency, parents should consult a speech specialist. Even many school psychologists and doctors could give the wrong diagnosis simply because they haven’t had enough training in stuttering, according to Riley. The CCWS uses a variety of treatment methods, which are adapted for each patient’s needs. Treatments include speech motor coordination, fluency, shaping, stuttering modification, attitude and emotional adjustments and education of parents and teachers. “We treat the whole child,” Riley said. The center also aids CSUF students in the Communicative Disorders master’s program. These students are able to intern with the center and experience hands-on training with
CCWS patients. Local speech pathologists also utilize the center in order to learn of the latest changes in speech disorders and treatments. “We are all interested in people who stutter,” Riley said. “That kind of thing fascinates us because we all think we could be stutters.” Riley, along with his wife Jeanna, Professor Elizabeth Mechling, Department of Speech Communication Chair Robert Emry and the Dean of the College of Communications Rick Pullen, established CCWS because they believed at least 80 percent of stuttering children that could be prevented from become adults who stutter. Wolff said treatment is not designed to make children into talking experts. She said, “The goal is not to be perfectly fluent, just to improve speech.” The Center for Children Who Stutter can be found in Room EC683 and can be reached at (714) 2784570.
to do if your child stutters
Don’t… •Finish a child’s words or sentence for them. •Tell a child to just slow down when speaking. •Pressure a child to finish speaking. •Ignore the potential problem.
Do… •Use good listening skills. •Use turn-taking listening and speaking one at a time •Speak slower to the child •Use eye contact when communicating with a child
•Create a relaxed environment.
Did
you know?
•Stuttering can reoccur. •Treatment can take an average of six months to two years. •With the appropriate intervention, there is an 80 percent recovery rate. •The best chance to help a child who stutters is between the ages 2 to 6. •There are an estimated 5,000 preschool-aged children in the CSUF vicinity who suffer from stuttering disorders. •Stutterers typically have IQs 10 to
14 points higher than the general population. •Many stutters can speak fluently some of the time, like when whispering or singing. •Stutters have a wide range of personalities and emotional adjustments. •Most stutters can speak easily when they can’t hear themselves, are talking to pets or small children or are speaking to themselves in a mirror. •Famous stutters: James Earl Jones, Sir Isaac Newton, King George VI of England, Winston Churchill, and Somerset Maughan.
Illustration by Craig Hashimoto/Daily Titan
WWF's door hoping wrestlers will appear on their magazine covers to produce lucrative sales. Female WWF wrestler “Chyna,” who has been nicknamed the ninth wonder of the world, posed for Playboy recently. Other wrestling factions such as WOW and ECW are trying to hit the mainstream. The WCW tried to establish a brand name with the David Arquette wrestling movie “Ready to Rumble,” starring WCW grapplers but it did not do well at the box office. A few of years ago, these two sectors were in a ratings deadlock and now the WWF is on fire. Both companies’ shows seem to mirror each other.
Today in the sports entertainment world you need a lot of pizzazz to maintain the fans’ interest. WCW has been on the bottom before and got back on top by luring past WWF stars such as “Hulk Hogan” and “Macho Man” Randy Savage to get back to the top. Live telecasts have changed wrestling. Insiders from Salon.com have said that WCW’S choice to have “Nitro” on Monday nights like the WWF “Raw is War” was a mistake. “It’s really fun to watch and it takes you away from reality for a while and that’s why the WWF has been successful,” said junior advertising major Lydia Whiten.
news
Weekend, December 8, 2000
Daily Titan Crossword Puzzle
Weekly Horoscope: Dec. 8 to Dec. 14 Sagittarius Nov. 22 — Dec. 21 You will be feeling incredibly frustrated. Everything you try will turn bad and you won’t think you’re good at much of anything. But this sense of total incompetency and lowly mediocrity won’t last long. You’ll soon return to your old annoyingly overconfident and cocky self. Not that you’ll actually become competent, you’ll just feel that way. Capricorn Dec. 22 — Jan. 19 Lately you’ve been feeling in a pretty good mood. Things are going your way — you just landed that knew job, you’re paying off your loans quicker than expected, you and your significant other are doing well. The one thing that could ruin your mood, the one activity that makes bile rise to the back of your throat — spending money. Your second most-hated activity — giving. Third? Being in the same room with children. So with Christmas approaching, be prepared to cry yourself to sleep. Aquarius Jan. 20 — Feb. 19
Answers will be published in the Dec. 12 Daily Titan
ACROSS
DOWN
5. Preposition: To the extent of 6. NBC4 news anchorwoman 7. A hobo 10. Perceptible by touching 11. A person that transports something from on place to another 13. Comes from cows 18. What is the Chihuahua advertised for 19. Naval and Valencia are types of this 21. Once dunked a basketball blindfolded 23. An object that was preserved over time where most of the living elements were replaced by minerals 24. The first name of Mr. Rogers
1. He’s the Real Slim Shady 2. The building that’s across from the bookstore 3. Not much 4. The top portion of the basketball hoop 5. Their mascot is the Seminoles 7. To heat up water 8. Toy horses that you could style the mane and tail 9. Cinco (ESP) 12. Sick 14. What the “K” in James Polk’s name stands for 15. Not close 17. What all things are made of 20. To maneuver around something 21. A restaurant 22. To communicate with someone on the phone
Last Week’s Crossword Puzzle Answer Key
9
Why is everybody so mad at you? They accuse you of being spaced out and absentminded. They’re exaggerating, you tell yourself. I mean, your dog is just fine, one week without food actually did him some good. He was getting too fat. So you forgot to pick up your 3-year-old brother from daycare. It happens. The caregiver wasn’t that upset that she had to wait for you for three hours after closing. She agreed to not call the child welfare agency, right? And when you left your eggs frying on the stove … only one fire truck had to show up. Besides, there wasn’t even any structural damage. OK, whatever, I’d just keep away from having to take care of anything alive or potentially hazardous if I were you. Pisces Feb. 20 — March 20 You are not a pig. Just because you haven’t done your laundry in
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a month, your kitchen looks like a scientific experiment gone bad, and your bathroom looks like it harbors a rare infectious disease, doesn’t mean you don’t pick up after yourself. It just takes a while. A very, very, long while. Aries March 21 — April 19 You will be commending yourself on your giving and generosity. You are becoming quite the philanthropist, full of charity. Unfortunately, given the fact that you rely on thrift shops and secondhand stores to acquire gifts, most won’t view your giving as charitable. But you can’t possibly be expected to spend more than a couple of dollars on gifts. You have to save money so you can buy yourself that home entertainment center. Taurus April 20 — May 20 Ssshhh. Don’t speak so loudly. That party … you should have never gone to that party. The headache, the vomiting, the dizziness. Why is the room spinning? The world is gonna end. The entire planet is going to explode! Aggghhhhh. Why is this happening to you? Is it karma? Take it easy. It’s called a hangover, numskull. Gemini May 21 — June 21 You know, you just haven’t been taking your smart pills lately. Nine out of 10 of your activities will qualify to be placed under the “stupid move” category. Even your mother has been thinking you’re a few cards short of a full deck. But do not despair, you have many other fine qualities. You’re good looking … well, um, maybe not that. You’re a hard worker, ah no. Maybe you should despair. Cancer June 22 — July 22 Being the emotional creature that you are, sometimes your emotions run you. So it may be best to think things through before speaking. Unfortunately not everyone is as
patient as you and might become, well upset. Remember when that guy came running after you with the baseball bat? Or that other time when you had rotten eggs hurled at you? So that you don’t end up running down a dark alley at midnight for dear life, it might be best to keep your mouth shut until you recognize the potential consequences of your verbal outbursts. LEO July 23 — Aug. 22 You are lonely. You want a companion. Someone who loves you, adores you. Someone you can’t wait to see when you’re apart from one another. Someone who sits up at night thinking about you. Someone who lights up your life with a smile. Someone who is your other half. Try getting a dog, they require less feeding. Virgo Aug. 23 — Sept. 22 You’re annoying. Yes, you. You’re just too happy. Nobody could possibly be that legitimately happy. You’re just wrong. Get some misery in your life. Lose your favorite pair of heart-patterned underwear or something. Libra Sept. 23 — Oct. 23 So you made a mistake. It happens. Nobody’s perfect, especially not you. So don’t be too hard on yourself. Even though that was a world-class failure. Scorpio Oct. 24 — Nov. 21 Don’t be depressed. I know you think that everyone hates you. That people talk about you behind your back. That people call you bossy and obnoxious. That you’re selfcentered and self-involved. That you talk nonstop only of yourself. You know what they say is true. Actually, they’re being kind of nice about it. You never let it bother you before, so why is it bothering you now? — Jessica Peralta
Weekend, December 8, 2000
Titans look to avoid 1-5 start Saturday at home nMEN’S BASKETBALL:Titans face a tough Wyoming team Saturday night By Fermin Leal
Daily Titan Executive Editor Hoping to avoid a 1-5 record to start the season for the second straight year, the Cal State Fullerton men’s basketball team will face Wyoming Saturday night at Titan Gym. The Titans will go into the game having lost four of their first five games of the season. The Cowboys, a preseason pick to reach the NCAA tournament, come into Titan Gym with a 4-1 record. Wyoming lost its first game of the season Thursday night at Cal State Northridge. The Titans will take finals week off before they play their next game against the University of Baylor on Dec. 16 at Titan Gym. The game will mark the first time junior guard David Castleton will be eligible to rejoin the team. The junior college transfer from Orange
Coast College has not played this season because he was academically ineligible. Castleton was projected to be the starting point guard this season, replacing Kenroy Jarrett who graduated last semester. Junior Kevin Richardson and freshman Chris Smith have spilt time this season playing the point guard position. Richardson has not played that position before this year. “He’s playing where he hasn’t played before and he is definitely growing into it,” Titan Head Coach Donny Daniels said. Richardson at 6-5 is a versatile player. When he is not running the team from the point, he plays the off-guard, and small forward. He averages 11.8 points per game and 2.8 assists per game. Richardson’s offensive production however, has seen a slight fall-off since the return of senior Ike Harmon. Harmon has begun to take the brunt of the Titan offense. “It’s going to take some time before Ike can be the player he was in the past,” Daniels said. Harmon has led the team in scoring
the last two games, his first two full games this season. Harmon is scoring 14 ppg, shooting 59 percent from the field, and 6 rebounds per game. As a team, the Titans are shooting 46 percent from the field and their opposition is shooting 43 percent from the field. On the other side, the Cowboys are shooting 41 percent from the field and allow their opposition to only shot 36 percent. Wyoming has averaged 75 ppg and has held its opposition to 62 ppg. Individually, the Cowboys are led by guard Marcus Bailey. He is averaging 15.3 ppg and last week was named the Mountain West Conference player of the week. Another player the Titans will hope to contain will be Josh Davis. The forward has been scoring 11.3 ppg and grabbing 12.7 rpg. “They are very physical and an outstanding three-point shooting team, we’ll definitely have our hands full,” Daniels said The Titans have played Wyoming three times previously, with the Cowboys winning all three. The two teams last met in 1994 with an 80-62 final score.
Women lose to Waves, fall to 0-6 By Raul Ascencio
Daily Titan Staff Writer
MAYRA BELTRAN/Daily Titan
Guard Kevin Richardson moves the ball forward in a recent CSUF game. The Titans face Wyoming on Saturday at Titan Gym.
BCS Mess, why are the FSU Seminoles in the Orange nCOMMENTARY: Miami is ranked second in polls but not playing for national title By Scott Brown
Daily Titan Staff Writer Imagine you’re Butch Davis. OK, he’s a millionaire and you’re not.‑ He’s spending New Year’s in New Orleans and you’re not.‑ And of course, you’re dealing with finals next week… and he’s not. But all that’s irrelevant. Imagine you’re the head coach of Miami’s second-ranked football team, and though your Hurricanes beat
Florida State fair and square in the regular season, the Seminoles are headed to the Orange Bowl to play Oklahoma for the national championship. And you’re not. What exactly would you think of the Bowl Championship Series? You probably wouldn’t be too thrilled, and oddly enough Davis feels the same way.‑ Desperate to keep the bowls happy and avoid a playoff — remaining the only single NCAA Division I sport to do so — college football’s powersthat-be have stumbled through method after method in recent years to produce a bonafide national title game between the two best teams. The system worked reasonably well the previous two seasons: Tennessee
beat Florida State in ’98 and FSU took down Virginia Tech last year. But the BCS has a fundamental flaw — what if there aren’t two teams clearly ahead of the pack at the end of the season? That’s certainly the case this year.‑ Oklahoma is 12-0, the only undefeated team in the county and unquestionably deserving of a spot in the Orange Bowl. But who gets to dance with them? Why should it be Florida State – which got the nod, of course — instead of the 10-1 Hurricanes, who beat the Seminoles 27-24 at home in Wide Right III in October?‑ And for that matter, why not Washington, also 101, which beat Miami in September? Because the BCS says so, that’s
why. FSU finished second in the complicated ranking system, which is comprised equally of four parts: national polls, strength of schedule, computerized rankings and number of losses. No one can argue that the Seminoles are playing like champions right now: Steve Spurrier, for one, would undoubtedly stay silent of the subject, an unusual situation for him.‑ Florida State toyed, as usual, with the rest of the Atlantic Coast Conference before thrashing Florida three weeks ago in the regular season finale. But if games played in November were the only ones that mattered, they wouldn’t start the season in August. What this all points out, of course, is that the BCS has taken the place of
common sense. Both the AP sportswriters’ poll and the ESPN/USA coaches’ poll have Miami ranked second and Florida State third.‑ Thus, if not for the BCS, Miami would be staying home for Jan. 3, getting ready for the Sooners in the championship game. As it is, the Canes get the Florida Gators in the Sugar Bowl.‑ That’s certainly not all bad, but when you’re the No. 2 team in the nation and your only defeat was three time zones away and nearly three months ago, you have to be shaking your head as you watch your arch-rival — which you beat-get ready to play in the Big One. No wonder Davis was thinking about that new NFL job in Houston.
The Cal State Fullerton women’s Basketball team were deal their sixth straight loss of the season as they lost to Pepperdine 103-55 on December 6 at Titan Gym. The Titans were down early as the Waves slowly but surely built their lead. CSUF countered with a relentless defensive effort of their own throughout the first half, but could not contain the exterior jumpers sprung from the hands of Wave front-court sharpshooters Rasheeda Clark and Shandrika Lee. This duo had the hoop on target lock casting long-range shots from20-feet out and distancing themselves from the grasp of the Titans. Overall, six Wave players scored in double figures as they improved to 6-2 on the year. After a second half surge, the Titans struggled to execute their offensive game plan, due to the pestering press of the Waves, which brought about 10 second half turnovers. “The press hurt us, they pressed us the entire game, even when they were up by 40,”Titan Head Coach Barbara Ehardt said. Despite the 103-55 loss, the Titans walked away with their heads up and seemed unscathed by the defeat. “We played hard, we played together, and we played with heart,” Ehardt said. “ The 0-6 Titans will trade hoops tonight at St. Mary’s, the game will be played at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, December 8, 2000
Americans question integCourt cases during the presidential race can in fact harm the reputation of the next president
By Jennifer Mizzell
Somewhere along the campaign trail our presidential hopefuls misplaced their public mandates and never really bothered to go back and retrieve them. Instead both candidates have launched a particularly redundant PR spin pledging to unite our partisan torn country, (or maybe they just mean Florida), and impress the American public into seemingly undeserved approval. In the meantime the American people, (mostly disillusioned with politics as a whole) are left to grapple with confused court cases, partisan spokespersons, and rabid talking heads. Taking this into account it is hardly surprising that the public has quietly begun to question the integrity
of the election process and above all, the political legitimacy of the 43rd president. As our president elect sets up camp in the White House, he will be confronted with the cynical eye of the American public, and more importantly the scrutinizing eye of the media. With talking heads and pundits on the prowl, it will be overwhelmingly difficult for America’s new leader to overcome questionable ballots and manipulative court battles that may have, in effect, tarnished his reputation. Political science professor, Phillip Gianos agrees that although this presidency allows for a wonderful opportunity, it also presents a significant challenge for the new administration. Dr. Gianos explains that after the election the greatest task for the new president will be to get his party on board. When the existing legal battles come to an end and the president is inaugurated, Americans will undoubtedly move on, but this
election will ultimately come back to haunt the presidential party during the midterm elections in 2002. Another issue relative to party temperament is the question of partisan sabotage. Many pundits dispute whether or not the losing party will put both its elected and appointed officials to work promoting dissension and severe partisanship within government, thereby weakening the presidential administration and making way for their own party sweep in 2004. Senator John Breax of Louisiana noted Tuesday that although this scenario of partisan subversion seemed very doubtful, the most important speech given in this election will be that given by the loser. He also added that in order to achieve a stable administration the future president would need to adhere to the theory of bipartisanship and appoint members of both parties to
his cabinet. Clearly stated, the success of our president elect lies in the hands of successful governance, which in truth, is how it should be. Comparatively, in the election of 1876, Republican Rutherford B. Hayes won the presidency after a five-month struggle over twenty disputed electoral votes in Louisiana, South Carolina, and ironically, the notorious Sunshine State. After the contested election was resolved, many Democrats remained belligerent and unwilling to compromise. Nevertheless, Hayes proceeded to appoint Southern Democrats to local offices and approved funding for internal improvements in the south. As a result, southern Democrats began praising Hayes as “the greatest Southerner of the day.” Sure the election of 1876 was brimming with mudslinging, bribery, and partisanship, but with the help of a successful governance, Rutherford B. Hayes has been able to escape
chuck kennedy/Knight-Ridder Tribune
Gore expected Florida’s high court to resolve the disputed election.
much of the expected scrutiny by the history books. If history teaches us one thing, it teaches us a lesson in repetition. As the legitimacy of the future president is hung out to dry, perhaps our American heroes should consider avoiding the spin cycle and acknowledge not only opposing party members, but those officials who are willing to venture across the isle into the sphere of
bipartisanship. From the looks of this ongoing election, something tells me its going to take a lot more than fancy tax cuts and increased social security to wrap a tourniquet around this partisan wound. —Jennifer Mizzell is Special to the Daily Titan
Chestnuts roasting on a gas-powered fire-
With families spreading across the country, it has become difficult for families to be together during the holiday season and continue with traditions
By Terry Jolliffe
Every year at this time, we hear the same old platitudes about the commercialism of Christmas. Okay-so there will always be those nostalgia buffs who long for a world they’ve seen only on Currier & Ives Christmas cards-a world where the family tromps through the woods and cuts down the perfect tree. And while father trims and cleans
the tree outside, mother and children join in singing Christmas carols while stringing ropes of cranberries and popcorn while the aroma of homemade cookies streams throughout the home. Even though early American settlers considered traditional customs such as singing, dancing and exchanging of gifts as pagan, since the middle of the nineteenth century, the celebrations have become increasingly popular and commercialized. As an active wife and mother when my children were small, I was most grateful. For instance, I never had the time
or the inclination to drive for hours to a forest to find the perfect tree. I’ve never had a perfect tree-tree lots don’t have perfect trees. But with the bare spot in the tree turned to the wall, and enough lights and decorations, we were all able to stand back and admire our collaborative efforts each year. People used to have to make their own ornaments. And today, many people still take great pride in their abilities of ornament making. As with fruitcakes, gingerbread houses, decorated cookies, I found them all available at the local supermarket. And family and friends never
questioned my lovingly prepared frozen turkey, my favorite recipe for yams out of a can, and the readymade pumpkin and pecan pies I ordered from the bakery. Thanks in some measure to commercialism; I had more time to spend with my children on holiday break. I loved the sociability of the season, entertaining friends and family and Christmas music playing throughout the malls and taking my children to listen to the carolers. Watching my children take turns sitting on Santa’s lap each year, whispering their wish list in his ear, browsing through the Rodeo Drive
Letter to No meaning to the Editor
Christmas catalogs-all of that entertainment was free. But now, my children have all grown up-and now they have started their own families and their own traditions. And I’m proud of them for choosing some of the traditions they grew up with and are now passing on to their children—like buying and wrapping gifts for kids less fortunate to drop off at the large giving tree at the mall and putting together grocery bags filled with food for needy families so they too can enjoy a nice dinner. I never expected our large family Christmas’s would end. Most moth-
ers can’t think that far ahead-the time when their children will leave home. Well, maybe except for the teen years. But with our children spread over three states, it becomes increasingly difficult to all be together at the same time over the holidays. But the holidays are a time for reflection, a time to be grateful and to feel a sense of continuity and of oneness with those we love and care about. Thanks in some measure to commercialism, I had my time. —Terry Jolliffe is a Daily Titan Staff Writer
Christmas has become too commercialized in America
By Jamie K. Ayala
I am writing in response to Robert C. Belloli’s letter to the editor that was included in the Friday, December 1 Daily Titan. I am currently in my third year at CSUF, and I have only attempted to park in the east lots of campus a total of about 5 times in all the time I have been here. I will agree that parking in the west lots is a little easier, but I have to disagree that the parking on the west lots is a breeze as he makes is sound. During the Fall of 99 parking was so bad that when I got here for my 10:30 a.m. Tuesday/Thursday class I could not find parking even in the far corners of Lot A or G. I ended up parking in front of a friend’s house a 20-minute walk from campus for the first 6 or 8 weeks of the semester. I think that something definitely needs to be done about the parking situation. I think that first thing that could be done is for the parking police to better patrol the lots and ticket squatters. Once all the squatters have resolved to parking farther away, then we’ll see exactly how bad our parking situation really is and something else will be done about it (like possibly build another, larger parking structure?). -Laura Zazuetta
What happened to the traditional holiday season? Family get-togethers that only required smiles and conversation, meaningful traditions passed from older generations, and gifts from the heart. The holidays are here and in case you forgot—billboards, commercials, mailers, and crowds everywhere are here to remind you. What’s this year’s focus? Why the same as last year’s. . . presents! The holidays have become easy moneymakers for manufacturers and times of disappointment, pressure and aggravation for the average Jane and Joe. A dear friend of mine told me that she was stressed out because she has to buy 40 gifts for strangers in the office that she just started working with last February. With credit card, car insurance and loan payments due, she’s worried about the cost. But of course, as the new gal, she wants to impress everyone at the same time. Sure I enjoy gifts just as much
as the next person, but if buying them causes such hardship and hassle, leave me off the list I hear that the stars hire personal shoppers to save them the trouble. How impersonal is that? Shopping for another’s friends and relatives and letting the boss take the gratification. This year many consumers have decided to shop on the Internet, where you can enter a few details about your gift recipient and whala, a list of suggested gifts appear so you don’t have to put any creativity into it. The Gartner Group predicted ecommerce revenue to equal $19.5 billion after this season. That is a lot of money for not a lot of care for values or the consumer. The “perfect gift” ends up being the most expensive, the most popular and the most forgotten after it’s unwrapped. Where’s the thought, the care, the love? Certainly not in those retail stores that are raking in the money. Christmas Day is overrated. Everyone gathers around the tree and expects materialistic values to be packed in the Santa Claus wrapping paper. The most precious gift that I have ever received from anyone was from my husband. Although it wasn’t anything I could see or touch, he revealed it with the
utmost caution. Wrapped with sincere words and feelings was his heart. No one ever gave me something so meaningful. It’s the gift that keeps giving and a continuous reminder of what the holidays are really about. Not superficial gifts and forgotten traditions, but quality time with relatives and presents that come from or are made with the affection. With shopping day countdowns, falsified sales at every retailer, and ungrateful gift receivers, it can get pretty easy to forget the purpose of the holidays. Relax (easier said than done), follow your instinct on the importance of the festivities, and (what a concept) be the trendsetter amongst your peers by coming up with unique gifts. The season will pass quickly and come again to haunt shoppers next year, but the most memorable times will be the new gift idea.
courtesy of excite
—Jamie Ayala Is a Daily Christmas ihas become more about receiving than giving.
Marijuana proposition helps patients with illness-
Even though Proposition 215 granted the use of medical marijuana, it is still illegal to carry the drug in public grounds
By James Moya
Ever since the thought of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes came up, a controversy immediately followed. I feel that adults should be able to use the drug if they chose too. Unfortunately, they can not. But thanks to Proposition 215, the use of marijuana for medical use was granted. Marijuana, which has always been known as a bad thing, has now been found to do some good. People who suffer from illnesses such as cancer, anorexia, AIDS, chronic pain, spasticity, glaucoma, migraine headaches, and arthritis can now benefit from the drug, according
to researchers. Marijuana has also been found to help people with spinal injuries, hiccups, brain tumors, nausea, and vomiting. In dealing with Aids and Cancer Marijuana has been found to help the malnutrition factors of those diseases. Marijuana patients need a written referral or oral recommendation from a physician to use it medically. Anorexia sufferers can gain appetite stimulation from the drug. Marijuana also gives patients the mindset to deal with pain during and after surgeries relevant to their condition. Marijuana can also help people who suffer from blindness. Prop 215 does not allow the patient who may be using the drug for medical purposes, to possess it at anytime within public grounds. It is also illegal for them to grow it. An initiative that is going through the judicial system at the moment
is attempting to allow patients to grow their own marijuana in order for convenient use towards their illness. However, I agree with the use of it medically, but I would also agree that it should be used freely by adults. According to Greenspun. com, the war on drugs cost the taxpayer money each year. It seems more that police officers are more concerned with the use of the drug especially when the user is behind the wheel. Greenspun. com states that the driving under the influence of marijuana does no have the same effect as alcohol. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has been caught doing it; I feel that Kareem should be able to smoke it if he really wanted to. I remember during a newscast, people were able to visit shops or an institute where they were able to
smoke it freely. According to APB.com, the transportation of the drug has increased mainly from Mexico into the states. An operation put together named, Campaign Against Marijuana Planting, busted its record-breaking bust when in Sacramento, authorities seized $1.3 billion worth in marijuana crops on October 24. A total of 57 people have been arrested in connection to the bust. The risk of marijuana-growers is minimal so they can probably afford to loose a quantity during their attempt to sell it. In 1999, there was a Million Marijuana March in San Francisco to support marijuana use. Actor Robert Downy Jr. got caught on the suspicion of using drugs violating his probation from an earlier incident involving drugs. He is trying to plead his case through
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a friend of his that I observed while watching channel nine news. His friend stated that Robert Downy JR’s mug shot appeared the way it did only because he was exhausted from his work on the “Ally Mcbeal Show” and not of drug use. It’s people like Robert Downy Jr. that give marijuana a bad name. Even though his drug of choice doesn’t relate to marijuana. What people have to realize is that he does different drugs and the effects of those drugs are more severe than marijuana? Thanks to the Proposition, Marijuana has been legalized for medical use. The extra step has to be taken in which adults should be able to use it freely. —James Moya is a Daily Titan
Daily Titan Letters to the Editor should be brief and are subject to editing. They should also include a signature and telephone number. Editorials are the opinion of the editorial board, comprised of the Executive Editor, News Editors and section editors. Columns are the personal opinion of the writer. They do not reflect those of the university, the faculty, or the student body.