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LatinoVeterans Honored nEVENT: Celebration paid tribute to Mexican Americans who fought in the Korean War
nHERITAGE: Lydia Palacios-Rodriguez and her family honor their patriarch for serving in the Navy
OPINION: One gun-loving student voices his opinion over a Daily Titan editorial, and a news assistant declares Anaheim abortion trucks bad
By Margie Rivera
Daily Titan Staff Writer
Please see page 4
NEWS: Tired of taking those boring math and science courses? Music of The Beatles or Popular Culture may be up your alley Please see page 6
SPORTS: Brent Whitfield picked up a goal and an assist for the men’s soccer team during a 20 victory over Cal Poly on Saturday
The Cal State Fullerton ROTC Color Guard marches past Mexican-American Korean War veterans the sixth annual Veterans Day celebration at the Titan Student Union on Saturday. “We’re here to celebrate and com- of individuals, such as the MexicanBy Olivia Maciel memorate the service of the country American Korean War veterans and Daily Titan Staff Writer from Latinos,” he said. all veterans in general. According to the NationalArchives She said the efforts of the veterans Mexican-American Korean War veterans were honored Saturday at and Records Administration-Pacific constitutes what is now available in the Titan Student Union in the sixth Region, the Korean War, which a Democratic nation such as educaannual Veterans Day celebration was fought in the early 1950s dur- tion, civil rights health care and the coordinated by Latino Advocates for ing Eisenhower’s presidency, had ability to live anywhere across the approximately 2,370 Latino casual- states. Education, Inc. “If it had not been for our veterans This is the first time the event was ties. During this time, the United States it would be difficult for us to say, we held at Cal State Fullerton. Despite the harsh rains, the had sent their military to South Korea are Americans and we deserve the event attracted more than 1,500 to end the spread of communism American Dream,” Sanchez said. Aguirre and the committee for people and included guest speak- from the North and from China. The purpose of this event is to pay Latino Advocates for Education, Inc. ers, such as Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-Gardena), Congressman homage to the veterans’ contribu- began plans for the event in March and worked primarily through their Edward R. Royce (R-Fullerton), tions and sacrifices. “Latinos have fought in all wars – homes, volunteering several hours to Assemblyman Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) and Byung Ho Kim, Deputy from the Revolution to the present,” make the event possible. Although they asked for contriConsul General of the Republic of said Orange County Superior Court Judge Frederick Aguirre, president butions from a few Fortune 500 Korea. A letter signed by President of Latinos Advocate for Education, companies, such as Disney and Ford, they were denied the help and George W. Bush thanking the veter- Inc. Although many Latinos fought instead received contributions from ans was also read aloud. CSUF President Milton Gordon, and died during the Korean War, smaller companies such as Northgate who acknowledged the effort of the Aguirre said those who returned Gonzalez Supermarkets, and other Mexican-American Korean War vet- came to promote justice, equality community sponsors. “None of the staff (Latino erans, said “This is one of the most and to fuel the American economy. Sanchez said that she too, wanted Advocates) was paid. We put our inspiring assemblies we’ve had in to recognize a distinguished group hearts in this effort,” Aguirre said. our auditorium.
Daily Titan Staff Writer
TITAN
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Check out the Daily Titan online this year at http:// dailytitan.fullerton.edu. New features and sections will be available this year!
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Three of CSUF’s students entered a college animation festival at Cal State Channel Islands. Read more tomorrow
RONALD PAUL LARSON/Daily Titan
during the opening ceremony of
“Our goal is to recognize our proud heritage and to document the noble contributions of these patriots.” The event honored over 200 patriots with medals that Kim provided on behalf of Korea. Kim said that Korea was grateful to all the Mexican Americans and other veterans who left their loved ones and their comfortable lives to fight this war, despite that they may not get much recognition for it because it is a forgotten war. An attendee of the event, Betty Veloz, whose father, Gregory Jaramillo was honored at the event, agrees with Kim. “You don’t hear too much about this war,” Veloz said. “But to me this event is a little more special because it honors Latinos.” John Beckham, a Korean War veteran who is Mexican and English, said this event means a lot to him. Beckham joined the National Guards at 19 years old and worked as a radio operator in Korea informing troops of the enemy’s where-
HOLIDAY/ 5
Thousands have perished in combat, paying the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country. Others have survived and returned home to their loved ones. Cal State Fullerton graduate Lydia Palacios-Rodriguez is happy and thankful her maternal grandfather Eulalio Garcia came back uninjured from the Korean War. “Grandpa was the most important male figure in my life while growing up,” Palacios-Rodriguez said. “I was raised by a single mother and he definitely stepped up to the plate for us.” The 72-year-old California native was recognized along with hundreds of Korean War Mexican-American veterans Saturday at the sixth annual Veterans Day celebration. Palacios-Rodriguez and her family were glad their beloved patriarch was finally honored. They’re also proud to have paid tribute to the rest of the little-known Korean War heroes at the ceremony. “This group of veterans gave a lot to serve this country and helped make it what it is today,” she said. Garcia’s oldest daughter, Phyllis Palacios, said she’s very proud of her father and the rest who fought in the Korean War. “The event was very touching and moving,” she said. “It was wonderful to see all the people gathered together to recognize such fine heroes.” Garcia grew up in Los Angeles and was the youngest of five boys and one girl. He joined the Navy in 1948 and was sent to Korean waters before the conflict began, serving aboard the USS Fechteler DD870 and USS League Island for nearly four years. Among his many badges and medals are the China Service, Japanese Occupation and U.N. Medal Seaman First Class. Since he survived the war, the Buena Park resident feels he shouldn’t
CULTURE/ 5
Latin American Festival Focuses on Peruvian Culture By Olivia Maciel
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Student Restores Relative’s Legacy
Some poets seem to write effortlessly, as if dispensing the perfect word from a magical pen. Dely Mares, a Peruvian poet who shared her work with an attentive audience at the Titan Student Union Saturday night, said that’s because those are “flowers you give people from the heart.” The Asociación de Alumnos y ExAlumnos de Espanol (Association of Students and Alumni from the Spanish Department) hosted its sixth annual Latin American cultural festival and invited Mares to read her poetry. Each year the campus organization hosts this festival to dedicate and honor a particular culture or country in Latin America. Mexico, Argentina and Puerto Rico have been among the chosen themes of the event. This year’s focus was Peru. The festivities included piano, guitar and harmonica performances and a traditional Peruvian courtship dance called the sailor, in which a female dancer twirls her dress and handkerchief flirtatiously to her partner in hopes of getting his attention. Dr. Lydia Velez, assistant professor of foreign languages and literatures, who has been teaching at Cal State Fullerton since the mid-1980s, said she initiated and founded this event to provide alternative perspectives to
Latin American culture and diversity. “The purpose of this event is to share and teach the richness of these cultures,” Velez said. “It’s also to engage the outside community and to get them acquainted with students and the programs on campus.” According to the World Fact Book 2000, Peru, a country in South America, is home to about 28 million people, with 45 percent of its population Amerindian, 37 percent Mestizo (Indian and European mixed), 15 percent European and 3 percent black, Japanese, Chinese and other. The culture of Peru is a reflection of its history. It has witnessed indigenous civilizations such as the Incas and Spanish conquest. Mares, who received three degrees at Fullerton College and has taken several Spanish literature courses at CSUF, said she enjoys learning and coming back to a community that she was once a part of. “Medusa en el Siglo XX1 (Medusa in the 21st century)”, her first poetry book to be published was finished in April. “I first got inspired to write poetry when my first grandchild was born,” she said. She said she feels inspired by her loved ones, her experiences and both lands (the United States and Peru). Although the event consisted of mainly community members, particu-
MARGIE RIVERA/Daily Titan
Manuel Barreto and Alessandra Diaz dance “La Marinera” or “The Sailor,” a Peruvian dance. larly of Peruvian descent, few people intellectually stimulating,” Manley event and she said the event was a from other countries such as Stella said. “I feel that as an alumna of this student effort with the help of Velez. “Many students didn’t attend this Mariz Manley, a CSUF alumna from university it is important come back to Argentina, was among the attendees the university and keep in contact with time as they have in the past,” she said. “Maybe it was the rain.” and said she enjoys attending various the campus and its programs.” Despite the few attendees from cultural functions, especially literary CSUF, Yesenia Castillo, president of functions. “For me these types of events are the association, said she loved the