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An assistant professor’s research earns her a $530K grant
n OPINION: Academy Awards fan supports this year’s Oscar security measures
SPORTS: A game that once was loved by 6 nmany children is slowly being taken away
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weekend
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M a r c h 22, 2002
Proposal may increase out-of-state nCSU: A $14.5 million budget shortfall may cause non-residents to pay 15 percent more in student fees By Erick Fierro Martinez Daily Titan Staff Writer
Psychology student Catherine Tiah came to the United States from Singapore in search of an education that would allow her to live out her dreams.
A ‘family’ affair
She began her journey at Cal State Fullerton last fall, hoping that her experience here would be similar to that of Irvine Valley College. Little did she know it would be so different. “ Our tuition is already sky high, it is difficult to make ends meet, and most of us international students who pay out-of-state fees can only work for jobs on campus that mostly only pay minimum wage,” Tiah said. Tiah’s reaction comes after a proposal announced Wednesday suggesting that out-of-state students, including international students, be required to pay a 15 percent increase in tuition starting this fall at California State
University campuses. This story is not uncommon at CSUF or at the other 22 CSU campuses. Richard West, the CSU’s executive vice chancellor and chief financial officer, said more than 10,000 students will be affected. These possible tuition increases come at a time when California faces a $14.5 million budget shortfall brought by a slump in state revenues, a collapse in the high-tech industry and additional deficits related to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. West said the board of trustees does not anticipate any further increases for out-of-state students and that in-
state tuition would not go up. “It is a systemwide problem that should incorporate all CSU students. I am only allowed to work 20 hours per week and support the California cost of living – it’s insane,” Tiah said. “The reason why I thought we were here was to add to the university diversity. An increase in fees would make many of us consider leaving to attend more financially considerate universities.” The tuition increase would generate an extra $11.8 million for the 23 CSU campuses. If approved by the legislature, it would be the first increase for nonresidents in more than 10 years.
“Morally, I think each student in the university should have to pay the increase in student fees,” said liberal studies major Courtney Matsushima. “However, I also believe that my family and I have paid state taxes for over 18 years, that should be enough to support the increases in my education, despite any budget shortfalls produced by our leaders. The state should have taken into consideration the possibility of budget shortfalls.” She went on to say that, “the lack of performance and quality of the CSU is not the students fault, they are responsible, not the students.” Hillary McLean, spokesperson for Gov. Gray Davis, said he doesn’t
expect to raise tuition, although the budget does call for all parts of state government, including higher education, to cut spending. The CSU Board of Trustees will vote in May over the proposal. If the trustees approve it, the proposal will move to the state legislature. Colleen Bentley-Adler, a spokeswoman for CSU, said a reason is that it needs to raise additional money for employees. She said they asked for 4 percent but Davis only was given 1 percent and she wants to raise that at least another half percent. “There is still 2 1/2 percent still in
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Presidents host free pizza party
See Page 10
nCAMPUS: Students can discuss issues of concern with university leaders through a Q & A session By Theresa Salinas
Daily Titan Staff Writer‑
JOHN PAUL GUTIERREZ/ Daily Titan
Maricela Licea operates the cash register at the Titan Student Union Food Court during the lunch rush. The eating establishment hosts a group of workers that refer to themselves as “the family”; they enjoy working with the students on a daily basis.
Students will have the opportunity next week to meet two of the university’s most powerful leaders and ask them questions about a barrage of campus issues. President Milton Gordon and Associated Students President Alex Lopez will dialogue with students during “Pizza with the Presidents” on Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. in the Titan Student Union Courtyard. Free pizza will be distributed at the start of the event. A moderator will introduce the presidents and during the last part of the session, students can ask the presidents questions. “You only get this opportunity once a semester,” Lopez said. “This is your chance to find out about what’s going on on-campus and to get your voice heard.” Issues that the presidents said they are likely to address include: parking, dorm construction, campus construction, a unit cap and rising student enrollment. Student Kelly Winters said she would like to hear Gordon’s view on the proposal to close off a section of Nutwood Avenue. “I cross that street everyday,” she said. “It’s dangerous...I want to know what can be done about it.” This is the third installment of “Pizza with the Presidents.” Gordon and former AS President Mary Grace Cachuela launched the program last spring as a way to increase communication between students and administrators. About 100 people attended the past sessions, which were held in February and April 2001. Organizers hope to attract about 75 students this year. Gordon said he continues to participate in the events because they allow him to hear student comments and respond directly to them. “They provide good feedback,” he said. “I’m always
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Check out the Daily Titan online this year at http:// dailytitan.fullerton.edu. Look for broadcast news coverage online this semester
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The first American female astronaut to fly in space, Sally Ride, will lecture at the TSU Monday night.
Couple found guilty in dog mauling of neighnVERDICT: Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel were convicted in Los Angeles for the death of Diane Whipple By Mark Migrino
Daily Titan Staff Writer After a five-week trial and two days of deliberations, a Los Angeles jury found Marjorie Knoller guilty of second-degree murder in the fatal dog mauling of her neighbor Diane Whipple. Knoller and her husband, Robert Noel, also were found guilty of all five counts including involuntary manslaughter and owning a mischievous dog. Noel may be sentenced to four years of prison time since he was not at the scene of the crime, while his wife may face 15 years -to-life in prison. The attack occurred on Jan. 26,
2001 in San Francisco when Knoller was on her way home from walking her two Presa Canaria dogs. This breed is well known for its ferocity. Bane, a 120-pound dog, attacked the 110-pound Whipple, a lacrosse coach at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, Calif., in front of her apartment while she was carrying groceries. The other 100-pound dog, Hera, shredded Whipple’s clothes and barked ferociously while Bane delivered fatal wounds to almost every part of Whipple’s body. Officials were concerned about holding the trial in San Francisco for fear that all the publicity would avert a fair trial. A few Cal State Fullerton students who watched the verdict on television agreed with the jury’s decision. “I have a friend who got bit in the face by a dog all because the owner was too careless,” said senior Ken Hidalgo. “She (Knoller) should have been careful around her neighbors. It’s supposed to be the owner who has control of a situation and not the animal.”
Badie Shuhaibar, a sophomore, said the punishment fit the crime. “Right now someone is dead all because someone could not control their animal,” he said. To illustrate the dogs’ explosive behavior, prosecutor Jim Hammer compared the dogs to guns and bombs in his closing argument. The prosecutor told the court that Knoller went back into her apartment and left Whipple’s wounded body lying in the hallway. The prosecution showed the jury 77 pictures of Whipple’s bloody lacerations. Defense attorney Nedra Ruiz contested that the couple could not have known that their dogs would kill. She portrayed Knoller and Noel as an innocent couple who rescued the dogs because they were being abused. Noel also released a statement last week that said Knoller tried to save Whipple by jumping between the two and even suffered cuts of her own. During the trial, the couple insisted to reporters that the attack was not their fault. Noel said that when
http://dailytitan.fullerton.edu
courtesy of Cnn.com
Marjorie Knoller reacts to her conviction of second-degree murder. Bane was out of control, Whipple She could have just slammed the did little to escape the attack. door shut. I would have.” In a TV interview Knoller said, According to CNN, this is a unique “Ms. Whipple had ample opportunity to move into her apartment. MAULING/ 8