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PERSPECTIVES: Sin City has many new monuments to cash, but a photographer’s quest for “Ol’ Vegas” still leads to neon nights and cable TV Please see page 4
NEWS: Do we need God? A CSUF assistant professor says no and sheds light on the rarely discussed topic in the Mackey Auditorium Tuesday Please see page 5
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William Langsdorf Dies at 93 nOBITUARY: Cal State Fullerton’s founding president turned an orange grove into a college By Kimberly Pierceall
Daily Titan Editor in Chief When William B. Langsdorf held his first Cal State Fullerton executive staff meeting 43 years ago, it was in his parked car on what would eventually be CSUF. With two deans, five faculty members and only four other administrators, Langsdorf turned an orange grove known as Orange County State College into Cal State Fullerton. In the 11 years he served as the university’s first president he witnessed massive changes to the campus and knew that one day, CSUF would boast more than 30,000 students. On Tuesday, the flag hung at half-staff outside the building bearing his name. Langsdorf, 93, died Monday of cancer. “He was one of my best personal friends and a personal and professional mentor of mine,” said Donald Shields, CSUF’s second president from 1970 to 1980. Langsdorf presided over Cal State Fullerton when Fullerton Union and Sunny Hills high schools housed the temporary classrooms. At that time, Langsdorf predicted CSUF would become one of the largest universities in the nation. “Frankly, I think it turned out the way he thought it would,” William Langsdorf Jr. said in a prepared statement. “They planned for the campus to reach 30,000 – and it does. His overall view of the campus centered on academic quality, and that focus on quality is the single most important legacy he left.” He created a Faculty Council, a new concept in the CSU, to fuel the role faculty and administrators
COURTESY OF CSUF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
William Langsdorf (second from left) in May 1974 stands with CSU Vice Chancellor Glenn Dumke, wife Eileen and Donald Shields. would play in CSUF’s creation. He was with the construction workers as they broke ground on the first permanent building and largest building in Fullerton at the time it was built, McCarthy Hall. When students voted to make the school colors royal blue and white and the mascot the Titans (semi-finalists included Rebels, Ocelots and Aardvarks), Langsdorf was there. And when students formed an elephant race club and invited schools from around the country, including Harvard, to race across what is now Lot B (“Dumbo Downs”), Langsdorf
was here. From Orange County State College from 1959 to 1962; Orange State College in 1962; California State College at Fullerton in 1964; California State College, Fullerton in 1968; finally to California State University, Fullerton in 1972, Langsdorf was president for most of the name alterations. Langsdorf was also here when protests ensued. Student unrest in 1970 surged when protestors barricaded themselves in the Performing Arts Building, staged fake funerals decrying the “death of
free speech” and torched temporary buildings. In 1968, Communications Professor Wayne Overbeck advised the then Titan student newspaper and said Langsdorf was fair to the press but thought the Titan was too sympathetic to student radicals. Despite this, Overbeck said Langsdorf was more of a statesman than a typical university politician. But the protests had exhausted Langsdorf, and finally in May 1970 he took time off and handed over the presidency to Shields.
“He played a very pivotal role in setting the standards and vision of what a fine state university should be,” Shields said. Langsdorf asked that no memorial service or funeral be held. The university has established a student scholarship in Langsdorf’s name. The family requested that donations be made to the fund in lieu of flowers. Langsdorf is survived by his wife, Eileen; his daughter, Sherry Haiman and son, William Jr.; and four grandchildren.
President, Pizza & Parking nEVENT: Students get a chance to voice their questions and concerns at the TSU to top school officials
SPORTS: Cross country runner Bryce Lighthall keeps his passion for running strong through a strict diet and an intense work ethic Please see page 8
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!
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Ever wonder how it feels to be discriminated against and walk in another’s shoes? Find out in tomorrow’s issue.
By Jared Kiemeney
Daily Titan Staff Writer
DEANNA LUCCI/Daily Titan
ASI President Alex Lopez and Milton Gordon answer questions.
Students came to Titan Student Union Pub on Tuesday, armed with their opinions and their appetites. About 100 students came to voice their concerns to President Milton Gordon and Associated Students, Inc. President Alex Lopez. Some of them came to eat pizza.
As could be expected, many students complained about the parking situation at Cal State Fullerton. Vice President of Student Affairs Robert Palmer also attended, and expressed an opinion that resonates with students. “We have a serious parking problem here and we desperately need additional parking,” Palmer said. Students will soon get their wish. CSUF is planning to build two new parking structures, the first of which was approved last week by the Board of Trustees. Gordon told students that ground will be broken on the 2,500-space parking garage in spring 2003, with the project being completed in fall 2004. The five-level parking struc-
ture will be located across from the Performing Arts green. The second structure will be constructed near the childcare center and will add close to 1,500 parking spaces. The structures will be built with money from student parking fees, which are at a record $99 a semester. That raised a question in one student’s mind. “Once the parking structures are built, will the fees decrease or will they continue to be where they are this semester?” Kevin McCormick said. “The fees are not going to
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LATimes Photographer Speaks About His Remarkable Journey nLECTURE: Don Bartletti gave an account of his trips and experiences behind the lens By Benjamin Becker
Daily Titan Staff Writer After spending three months trekking through Mexico and Central America – retracing and documenting the steps of a Honduran boy named Enrique who was bound for the United States – Los Angeles Times photographer Don Bartletti was dispatched to Afghanistan to cover the war on terror. His project was on hiatus, over 300 rolls of exposed film concerning Enrique’s travels remained shelved in Los Angeles. And now, two years later, Bartletti
speaks to students at Cal State Fullerton of his recently completed project titled “Enrique’s Journey: Bound For El Norte,” a six-part series published over the span of two weeks in the Los Angeles Times. “This is the work I am most proud of,” he said. “I think my efforts paid off.” Bartletti, who spoke at the Ruby Gerontology Center on Monday night, showed dozens of photos he took atop freight trains careening through beautiful and often lawless lands, and recalled the experiences he and his colleague, Times writer Sonia Nazario, had. “I didn’t live the torturous day after day, hour after hour that these guys did,” Bartletti said of his traveling companions, who risked their lives to come to America. Bartletti and Nazario proposed the project two-and-a-half years ago to their editors in which they would document the phenomenon of children and young
adults dangerously traveling on top of violently shaking freight trains through Mexico to reach the United States. They were given the green light from their editors and spent the next three months interviewing, traveling and photographing. “We wrote to the president’s office (of Mexico) asking for clearance to do this,” Bartletti said. “An aid responded with a letter, signed by the president, allowing us to.” Bartletti said that there were a few times when he and Nazario had to show the letters to law enforcement officials to be left alone. The letters, however, were minor forms of protection as they did nothing to prevent gangsters, smugglers and drug dealers from deterring them. Five men appointed to protect traveling migrants accompanied Bartletti and Nazario for a good portion of the trip. “It is their job to make sure that travelers aren’t assaulted or bothered by
BENJAMIN BECKER/Daily Titan
LA Times photographer Don Bartletti speaks at the RGC Monday. gangsters and other outlaws,” Bartletti said. He spoke about the obstacles facing such an assignment, like deciding whether or not to use flash photography at night, jeopardizing the success of migrants crossing the border. “It was one of the biggest decisions,” he said. Bartletti used the flash at night while the men and boys slowly slithered
across the river. From bank to bank, the half-naked migrants trusted Bartletti’s judgment and successfully crossed the Rio Grande without U.S. Border Patrol detection. Bartletti said Enrique is still in America and he is in contact with him, but won’t reveal his whereabouts. “The consequences of immigration is a huge story,” Bartletti said. “I want to continue to explore that subject.”
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2 Wednesday, November 20, 2002
page a guide to what ’s happening
BRIEFS Multicultural Leadership Week at Cal State Fullerton “Leaders Bridging Cultures” is the theme of this year’s International Education and Multicultural Leadership Week, Nov. 18 to 22 at Cal State Fullerton. The goal of the week’s events is to raise awareness of global and multicultural issues, international education and leadership. “We are facing a time in our nation when building bridges across cultures and nations is of compelling importance,” said Bob Erickson, director of international education and exchange. “Through this extraordinary celebration of domestic diversity and international education, we are opening new horizons for our campus community.” A Multicultural Leadership Resource Fair is planned for today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will feature cultural and ethnic clubs, as well as campus service centers and various ethnic sweets. On Friday, “Open Doors: New Challenges” will be held from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Academic Senate Chambers. It will be an informational session about regulations being put in place to closely monitor international students. The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, a mandatory program that is being implemented across the United States, will help provide direct electronic communication regarding international students to the Immigration and Naturalization Service, which is in charge of the student visa program.
CSUF has more the 1,500 international students enrolled and SEVIS is scheduled to be operational at CSUF by January. For more information, call the Multicultural Leadership Center at (714) 278-7366 or the International Education and Exchange at (714) 278-2787 or on the Web at www. fullerton.edu/international.
Arthritis Program offered at Senior Center The Fullerton Senior MultiService Center is offering a special exercise program that can help arthritis sufferers keep pace with the rest of the world. The program, called PACE, People with Arthritis Can Exercise, teaches a series of gentle movements and activities that are specifically designed to increase participants’ mobility and range of motion. The free program is offered on Thursdays from 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. and is sponsored by the center in cooperation with the Orange County/Long Beach Branch of the Arthritis Foundation. The Fullerton Senior MultiService Center is located at 340 W. Commonwealth Ave., west of Harbor Boulevard, in Amerige Park. For more information about PACE, call the center at (714) 7386305. Persons requiring special accommodations to participate in the class are asked to notify the staff prior to coming to the center.
Daily Titan
NEWS
CALENDAR OF EVENTS On Campus Nov. 20 Jazz Combo performs, directed by Chuck Tumlinson. Tickets are $10 or $5 with Titan discount. For tickets and information, call (714) 278-3371. “There’s No Free Lunch! The Key to Permanent Weight Loss.” Barbara McDowell, director of the Women’s Center, will talk about weight-loss statistics, and how to maintain your desired weight forever. Part of the Women’s Center Lecture Series. University Hall Room 205, noon. Nov. 21 Sorry to inform you that Mike Myers has made another “Austin Powers” movie. And guess what? It’s playing in the Titan Theater. “Austin Powers in Goldmember,” plays twice, once at 6 p.m. and once at 9 p.m. Please note: Britney Spears makes a cameo. “Chamber Music Honors
Gallep 2*2
Recital II,” a sampling of chamber selections by instrumental and vocal students. Admission is free. In the Performing Arts Center’s Little Theatre, 8 p.m. For more information, call (714) 278-3371. “The Paradox of China’s PostMao Reforms,” a lecture by Robert Feldman, emeritus professor of history. The lecture is part of the Past Shapes the Future: Europe and Asia Series. In the Ruby Gerontology Center’s Mackey Auditorium, 10 a.m. Woodrow Wilson is a superstar president and you need to know that. So, learn more from the film that is running in conjunction with the Review of the Twentieth Century Lecture Series. In the Ruby Gerontology Center’s Mackey Auditorium, 1:15 p.m. Nov. 22 Let’s see what’s on TV. You’ve got the Lakers versus Chicago, nah. OK well the Clippers are playing Denver, no no no. Wow,
what’s this? A chess tournament in the TSU Underground. Now that’s exciting. 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. “Brain Busters and Brain Boosters,” a lecture by who else, but the one and only Shvonne Striklen. This week she’ll keep your mind sharp, in the Ruby Gerontology Center’s Shapiro Wing C/D, 10 a.m. Women’s volleyball versus UC Riverside. The Big West Conference match starts at 7 p.m. in Titan Gym. For more information, call (714) 278-CSUF. “Trans•Form: Paper Art & Paper Engineering,” an art exhibit that celebrates the creative possibilities of paper, features the works of Ellen Jantzen, origami sculpture artists, silhouette art and pop-up and moveable books. In Pollak Library’s Atrium Gallery. The opening starts at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 23 Family Night. TSU
EDITORIAL Kimberly Pierceall Trinity Powells Robert Sage Heather Hampton John Paul Gutierrez Christina Guerrero Brian Thatcher Ricardo Sanchez Jr. Laila Derakhshanian Matthew Sedlar Trinity Powells Jaime Nolte Katie Cumper Brian Miller Cindy Bertea Matthew Sedlar Gus Garcia Abigaile C. Siena Ryan Hoppe Thomas Clanin
Creative Conceptions 4*4
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The Daily Titan is a student publication, printed every Tuesday through Friday. The Daily Titan operates independently of Associated Students, College of Communications, CSUF administration and the CSU system. The Daily Titan has 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. Copyright ©2002 Daily Titan
Nov. 25 Fall Recess, Nov. 25-Nov. 29. Works by Demott Petty will be on display in the TSU’s Center Gallery from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 2 Men’s basketball versus Morris Brown. The preseason game starts at 7:05 p.m. in Titan Gymnasium. For more information, call (714) 278-CSUF.
Event of the Week OK, this isn’t really an event but it is the most exciting thing that is happening in the coming days. Next week, you have the week off. No school! So what are you going to do on your week off? What was that, speak up. Oh, so you’re going to put in extra hours at your job, OK. Your boyfriend left you, that sucks. You had a vacation planned, damn. You what, oops, can’t print that. Anyway, enjoy.
Trigger Happy 2*2
Daily Editor in Chief Managing Editor Business Manager Asst. News Editor Asst. News Editor Asst. News Editor Sports Editor Asst. Sports Editor Detour Editor Opinion Editor Perspectives Editor Photo Editor Photo Editor Copy Desk Chief Copy Editor Copy Editor Production Manager Production Internet Editor Faculty Adviser
Underground. 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Erogenous Zone 4*5
Daily Titan
NEWS
Wednesday, November 20, 2002
5
God Isn’t Essential for a Moral Life, Speaker Says nDISCUSSION: Rarely discussed topic of humanism is broken down by comparative religion professor By Afni Adnan
Special to the Titan
MAYU OGURA/Daily Titan
The “America’s Changing Religious Landscape” lecture was hosted by Paul Levesque on Tuesday.
In the final installment of “America’s Changing Religious Landscape” lecture series, many gathered to hear a talk on humanism, a topic that is rarely discussed and is relatively unknown to the general public. Paul Levesque, assistant professor of comparative religion, led the discussion, which was held in the Ruby Gerontology Center’s Mackey Auditorium. Humanism, as defined by the American Humanist Association, is a “progressive life stance that, without supernaturalism, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead meaningful, ethical lives capable of adding to the greater good of humanity.” “It’s not static. It moves, it grows,” Levesque said, referring to the progressive nature of the movement. He also said humanism is the underlying core value of all religions.
Program Builds Cardiovascular Health nFITNESS: Ghost Run, sponsored by Rec Sports, promotes wellness and gives rewards for hard work By Shannon Gibson
Daily Titan Staff Writer For those seeking to incorporate more cardiovascular fitness in their lifestyles, a self honor system health program is available for those that carry a Rec or Titan card at Cal State Fullerton. In between and after classes, Associated Students, Inc. Rec Sports offers cardiovascular fitness for students, faculty and staff located on campus. “The Ghost Run,” which is held until Dec. 8, is a cardiovascular program aimed for students, staff and faculty members. Sponsored by CSUF’s ASI Rec Sports, the program emphasizes student’s cardiovascular health fitness by participating in any form of cardio-fitness ranging from biking, swimming, running, rowing, skating and even walking. Students can pick up a form at the Physical Education Lab located in the Rec Center where they log their specific date, time and distances based on an honor system. For every 42 miles completed, participants receive a prize including a T-shirt and water bottle. The
ultimate goal is for contestants to reach 167 miles. Alison Wittwer, assistant director of ASI Rec Sports, is searching to find new opportunities to increase students’ participation and health awareness. “This is the first time we’ve ever tried it,” Wittwer said. “We’re always trying to find new stuff to increase our students’ involvement.” The program is not only designed to inform students, but also faculty, staff and students are encouraged to pass on the knowledge and importance of cardiovascular health. “Because cardiovascular health is so important, I want to try to do some type of promotion to encourage people to not just lift weights and not just go to a classroom, but to really start taking better care of [their] cardiovascular health,” Wittwer said. Started as a Halloween promotion, the Ghost Run features a highway map with a start and a finish that shows distances of towns from Death Valley to Calico Ghost Town. At each town there is a prize and calculation of distances. “It’s a visual thing,” Wittwer said. “I had to find something that went along with Halloween.” For many athletes, they like to think in a distant mindset such as Al Morinaka, a 34-year-old biology major and triathlete who is actively involved in the Ghost Run. “I was very happy to see that the school supported athletics here,”
Nat’l BArtedning 2*2
Morinaka said. “It encouraged me to do even better.” He believes the program is a good incentive to not only stay in shape, but to boost morale and encourage fellow athletes to participate. A participant in the Master Swim Program, coached by Dave Macayaon, the former Navy Seal, recently completed the Ghost Run in an astonishing 290 miles. Morinaka’s training regiment was a completion of 1.5 hours of straight training, specifically for triathlon competitions. In less than three weeks, Morinaka biked from Lakewood to Corona that took seven hours. “It took me about six PowerBars and three Goos (high carbohydrate energy gel),” Morinaka said. “I’m sick of Gatorade and I don’t want to eat another Goo again.” In addition to biking and swimming, the fitness extremist participated in the Florida Iron Man where he covered 140 miles in 10.5 hours and placed 233 out of 1,800 contestants. “It’s good to see the school actively supporting the students towards athletic endeavors,” Morinaka said. Fitness Lab attendant and intramural attendant, Gerald Soriano splits his time between the two positions and is very pleased with the cardiovascular fitness program. “I think it’s a really good incentive for people to do cardio activities,” Soriano said. “Usually when people think of the gym, they think of playing basket-
ball, racquetball or lifting weights. Anaerobic activities instead of aerobic activities,” he said. The marketing major explains that a majority of students cover a great distance just walking on campus, especially if one is parked remotely in Lot E and then have to walk to class in the College Park Building. “That’s about half a mile,” Soriano said. “So you can even count that on the back of the Ghost Run sheet.” While the Ghost Run is a selfphysical and mental challenge that disciplines participants without actually competing against other athletes, it’s kind of a race for the first person to get 167 miles, Soriano said. “It’s a race against yourself, basically,” he said. “You’re not competing against anybody else. It’s just to see what you can do personally. It helps you get motivated to do some exercise and this helps guide you. They’re (students) on campus and they might as well take advantage of it.” Bernadette Ruiz, 26, a liberal studies major, is another active Ghost Run participant who was recently rewarded for completing 109 miles. Ruiz started the Ghost Run last semester. Part of her one-hour workout regiment includes 30 to 40 minutes of stationary biking as well as lifting weights four times a week. “It’s an incentive to work out as well as the physical results,” Ruiz said. “Basically all you need is your Titan card and a towel. Coming here straight after class is a real
Prime Internet 2*2
It is also a teaching that has to do with any philosophy that emphasizes worth and dignity of human beings and rejoices in human achievements. Secular humanists, in particular, believe in these principles but they do not believe in God. Most of them usually describe themselves as either atheists (those who do not believe in God) or agnostics (those who believe that it is impossible to know whether there is a God), according to the Council of Secular Humanism. They rely on scientific methods and research to answer questions that concern human beings. While this philosophy conflicts with the teachings of many religious institutions, secular humanism is “dedicated to the fulfillment of the individual and humankind in general,” the council said. The council also describes secular humanists as people who “do not rely on gods or other supernatural forces to solve their problems or provide guidance for their conduct.” “Secular is the choice to be moral,” Levesque said. “Humanists have a different set of ethical principles but are not necessarily anti-religious.” He said humanism goes back all the way to the days of Enlightenment, where the primary focus was on human beings and not God. In the United States, approximately
76 percent of the population consider themselves Christian. Less than 20 percent refer to themselves as “non-religious.” “In our American system, there is a big fight of what ethical system we’re going to follow,” Levesque said. However, as stated in the First Amendment, the government cannot implement one dominant religion. During the lecture, a question was raised about whether a person can be moral and ethical without believing in God. “The answer I give to you is yes,” Levesque said. He pointed out that morality usually stems from a religious doctrine, whereas ethics is a more non-religious point-ofview. Bob Stewart, who attended the lecture, has been a member of several churches such as the Unitarian Universalist Church and the Mormon Church. “[The lecture] was good,” he said. “I didn’t understand some of the terms he used but it was interesting.” Carla Smith, a junior, also found the lecture to be eye opening because humanism isn’t a widely known theory. “I honestly didn’t know much about humanism, but after coming here, at least I have some idea of what it means.”
COURTESY OF ASI REC SPORTS
Ghost Run covers the 167-mile jaunt from Calico to Death Valley. stress release.” Anyone with a Rec Card or student identification is welcomed to take advantage of the Physical Lab. Rec Cards are free and can be obtained at the Rec Center. The card entitles students, faculty and staff to use the weight room, pool and check out equipment. “We’re here for the students and we want the students to use
all of our resources because it’s for them,” Soriano said. “They should be able to use it.” The Fitness Lab hours are Monday through Thursday from noon to 1:00 p.m.; Monday and Wednesday 3:00 to 9:00 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday 3:00 to 8:00 p.m.; Friday noon to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday noon to 3:00 p.m.
Diamondhead 2*2
American Univ. Paris 2*3 University of La Verne 2*6
Golden West 2*6 Planned Parenthood 2*3
6 Wednesday, November 20 ,2002
Daily Titan
NEWS
HIVTesting Offered at Fullerton nHEALTH: CSUF’s Student Health Center provides students with confidential examinations for a small fee By Angela Holman Special to the Titan
Orange County is known for its beautiful beaches, almost-perfect weather and as the birthplace of Disneyland. It’s also the fifth-ranked county in California to report AIDS cases, according to the California Department of Health Services (CDHS). In Orange County, 2,896 people are living with AIDS. According to the CDHS, 15.3 percent of the reported AIDS cases in California are among people 20 to 29 years old. That’s not counting people who
are HIV-positive, but don’t have AIDS. “Young adolescents under the age of 26 are at an increased risk for getting HIV,” said Kristin Rhodes, a family nurse practitioner at the Student Health and Counseling Center at Cal State Fullerton. HIV tests are offered at the Student Health and Counseling Center at CSUF, as are tests for other sexually transmitted diseases. Making an appointment with a health care provider is all it takes to get an HIV test at the Health Center. There is no charge for a general appointment. “Basic services are free, because you already pay a health fee with registration,” said Laura Chandler, director of health education and promotion for the Health Center. “The HIV test is $16 for blood work,” said Zarita Moore, cashier at the Health Center. Test results are confidential, meaning the only person to see the
results are the lab technician and the health care provider. “I know who the person is when the lab results come in, but only the birthday and sex of the patient are released to the public,” Rhodes said. According to the California Health and Safety Code, unauthorized disclosure of test results are prohibited. Results are given to patients at a follow up appointment two weeks after the test. Rhodes said she didn’t see as many students getting tested for HIV as she’d like to, but that she did do about 20 tests per month and there are five other health care providers at the Health Center doing tests too. “It takes a lot of courage to get tested, it’s intimidating to wonder what the result is,” Rhodes said. Intimidation may account for why many students get tested and never go back for their results. Rhodes
said that she thinks it’s important the Health Center does HIV testing. “HIV goes across economic and social status and knows no barriers,” Rhodes said. For those who can’t afford to pay $16 for a HIV test or don’t want to be tested at the center, the County of Orange does offer free HIV testing. The Health Care Agency’s Special Diseases Clinic in Santa Ana offers free HIV tests on a walk-in basis. “It’s all free, Orange County is one of the few counties that offers free everything when it comes to special diseases,” said Flerida Cavale, a public health nurse for the Orange County Health Care Agency. The CDHS Office of AIDS estimates that more than 72,000 Californians have HIV. As of Oct. 31, 2002, there are 50,327 Californians living with AIDS. Some 77,186 people have died of AIDS related causes in California since 1981 and that’s
‘Frasier’Writer Shares Hollywood Life nTELEVISION: CSUF Radio/TV Film Society invited William Lucas Walker to discuss the ins-and-outs of the biz By Nicole Graziano Special to the Titan
According to William Lucas Walker, television’s greatest witty bits stem from a scriptwriters’ very own life experience. Walker has written comedy scripts for such leading shows as “Will and Grace,” “Frasier,” and “Roseanne.” Additionally, he is the co-creator and co-executive producer for “The Chris Isaak Show.” “With this background, he is able to answer most questions regarding the sitcom-writing process,” Radio/TV Film Professor Shelley Jenkins said. Walker, a sitcom writer, talked about his personal progression in the scriptwriting business to Jenkins’ RTVF Sitcom Writing class and students affiliated with the TV Film Society last week in the Titan Student Union.
notoriety, funding and Walker informed publicity was at his a room of approxi“The best mately 35 students that disposal. Celebrities such his greatest experience as Christopher Reeve, while studying journalKatherine Hepburn and thing to ism and theater at the John Malkovich (before University of Maryland anyone knew who he do is read was his volunteer work was) donated hefty sums in the literary department money and provided crappy stuff. of of an off-Broadway thesufficient networking for ater company. He read Walker. That is how stacks of plays, promisAs he braved ing and poor alike, and Hollywood’s television you learn to industry in the late 1980s, became inspired to create his own small theater luck surfaced for Walker company. in two forms. One was write” Walker eventually a script he submitted for rented out a small theater “The Wonder Years,” William in New York with the while the other was a script Lucas financial assistance of he submitted for “Murphy friends and family where Brown.” he and other hopefuls The success of these in the theater industry two pieces granted produced short one-act Walker the pride and plays. He began to experiment with prestige he was seeking as a newbie to scriptwriting, shaping a plot and devis- Los Angeles. A Warner Brothers working characters. After creating his first shop praised a script he had written for dark comedy, aspirations to act and “Roseanne,” landing him a job with produce, fell to the floor. the mega-network. “The best thing to “The experience in the theater tele- do is to read crappy stuff,” Walker said. scoped things for me,” Walker said. “That is how you learn to write.” As Walker’s mini-theater grew in From the set of “Roseanne,” Walker
PSK 3*10.5
said. “You should feel very good that there are a lot of students that want to be sitting in the same seats n from page 1 that you’re sitting in.” One student didn’t want to be decrease,” Lopez said. “The reason is that this campus sitting in that seat if it was in the is growing at a ridiculous rate,” he Food Court. “I’m tired of eating the same said. “Our campus is very popular here in Orange County and really food for the last four years,” Gabe it’s a great campus, so parking is Anderson said. That too, may soon change. always going to be an issue. The “Just a few weeks ago we finmonies that continue to be raised for parking will be set aside for ished our third survey about what students want on campus for food,” future use.” Some students complained that Lopez said. “We’re taking a close while their fees are building these look and considering a couple of options … we strongly structures, they will be encourage student gone before construcfeedback on this tion is complete. issue.” Students also com“If you were Lopez referenced the plained about a portion changes that have been of their fees helping made to The Pub as evito pay for a new stuhere last dence that changes will dent recreation center, be made in the Food which won’t be comyear you Court if the students pleted until fall 2006. want those changes. Gordon explained “If you were here last the reasons behind would know year you would know this. that our Pub used to “Our students have that our Pub look like The Max from traditionally, from the ‘Saved by the Bell,’” time the University was founded, been used to look Lopez said. “But we gave it a facelift and willing to pay for completely renovated facilities even though like The Max it. There’s also a lot of they won’t be here as a live entertainment down student to take advantage of them,” Gordon from ‘Saved here, it’s a great place to come for students.” said. But Gordon appeared “The whole Titan by the Bell’” most passionate when Student Union was one student asked about not here even 10 years bringing football back ago; and the students Alex Lopez, to CSUF. that actually paid for “One of the burdens the construction of it I carry is that I’m the had graduated and president that got rid gone on, long before. of the football team,” I really feel the reaGordon said. “When son all of you here today are so fortunate in the facilities you have we discontinued the sport, we had is that all of the students that have the lowest attendance in the United gone on before you were willing to States in Division I. I’d love to do the same thing that you are now have the sport, but it’s extremely doing. That’s a great tradition and expensive. We would have to have I’m always pleased that students the community raise the funds to are willing to take on that respon- support it and when I say that, I’m talking about millions of dollars … sibility.” The need for students to take on if at any time there’s a community such responsibility will continue as group willing to pursue the kind the number of students continues of money we would need to bring football back, I’d always be interto grow. “There is great demand,” Gordon ested in sitting and talking with them.”
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progressed to work with “Frasier,” a completely different experience for him. “The show was run like a clock,” Walker said. Walker examined the titles of the television scriptwriting industry, commenting on the progression from a staff writer to a story editor to an executive story editor to a co-producer and so on. “Everyone basically does the same thing, except one has been with the show one year longer,” Walker said. Walker also cautioned Cal State Fullerton students on the grittiness of the television scriptwriting industry and the tough competition. According to Walker, jokes literally have to present themselves on every page of a sitcom script. Characters cannot go as deep in a sitcom as they would in a onehour drama. He admits that he prefers working for one-camera shows, which include those without a prompted laugh track from a studio audience. “I wish this could have been promoted more on campus,” said Jennifer Corlett, a senior TV Film Society member. “The attendance at these events shows the speaker that students are
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Daily Titan
Wednesday, November 20, 2002
BELOW: Taking photos inside a casino is illegal but I managed to sneak a photo of the well loved Elvis slot machine inside the New York New York Hotel and Casino.
RIGHT: The originality at many of the new hotels on the strip is lacking. However, the lions at the MGM Hotel and Casino are one of the more interesting and creative sculptures found in Vegas.
a v i V Las Ph o to E s s ay a n d S to r y B y Jaime
Nolte
My first trip to Las Vegas was when I was 15. My parents thought Vegas would be a great family vacation. This was way before it became the kid friendly Disneyesque eyesore of today. I was stuck in the Mirage with no cable television. For two days I watched that lame public access channel on how to gamble. By the end of the weekend I could have cleaned up on the roulette table but sadly I was still a minor. That day I decided I would never go to Vegas again. C’mon, how great can this place be if they had no cable television? Five years later I found myself in Vegas again. It’s 2 a.m. and the plan is only to stay for a few hours and then go home so no one knows where me and my other three friends disappeared to. I won $5 at a slot machine, got kicked out of two casinos for being underage and I spent most of my time sitting at a restaurant at Excalibur eating soggy nachos and drinking a Coke. I had a little more fun this time mainly because my parents thought I was safely sleeping at a friends house minutes away. They had no clue that I was living it up in Sin City. After my second trip to Vegas, I developed a strange fascination with it. Well … with the old Vegas I had only seen in movies and in books. In the days of the Rat Pack and even Elvis, Vegas was home to some of the most interesting neon signs and architecture. The Sands, The Dunes and the Desert Inn are just a few of the old hotels that are no longer standing. They had to be
demolished so that the family-fun centers could be resurrected to bring in more money and a higher class of clientele. Luckily, some of the old signs from the past are still standing and I was determined to photograph them before they were destroyed. Three years after my stealthy trip to Vegas another friend of mine showed up at my doorstep at 8 a.m. wanting to break in his new truck. So I grabbed my camera, film and of course gambling money and we set off on our one-day adventure to Las Vegas. We arrived in Vegas around noon and drove down the strip looking for the right place to start. We ended up at the Paris hotel since it was fairly new and we both wanted to check it out. Even though my heart belonged to “Ol’ Vegas,” the new, cleaner, higher class Vegas intrigued me. I started off taking photos of the Paris, the Bellagio, New York New York and Venetian hotels, but grew bored. They were just copies of places that all ready existed. They weren’t original. Trying to find old hotels and signs in Vegas isn’t as easy as it sounds. Many of the old hotels are still standing, but their signs have been replaced by new, less interesting ones. Many of the hotels have switched to large-screen televisions or really boring billboards and have gotten rid of the neon. Of course none of the older hotels and signs are grouped together. They are spread out down the strip. At its beginning, there is the Tropicana; in the middle there is the Flamingo and at the very end
there is the Stardust and the Sahara. I photographed those and everything in between, but still wasn’t satisfied. I wanted Ol’ School Vegas and didn’t care if it was still attached to a hotel or not. I remembered seeing a neon graveyard in an old New Kids on the Block video and again in that horrible “Vegas Vacation” movie with Chevy Chase. So my search began seeking this so-called neon graveyard. After two hours of searching, asking every tourist info booth about it and turning up nothing, my friend suggested I was crazy and that we give up and go get drunk. No one had heard of it and some lady that had lived in Vegas for 60 years had no idea what I was talking about. After a few rum and cokes at the New York New York, I gave up my search for the old Vegas signs. We called it a night, grabbed some food and headed home. I never gave up looking for those old signs and I continued to look for them online. About a year ago, I found that there is a Neon Museum in Las Vegas and that I wasn’t crazy. The museum has been open in Downtown Las Vegas since November 1996. They refurbish and display old signs for all to see, most of which have been installed on Freemont Street. Eleven years after my first visit, and what I said would be my last, I can’t get enough of Las Vegas. Of course the trick is never to stay too long; if you win big stop gambling; bring a camera with plenty of film and always get a room
ABOVE: The Stardust Hotel and Casino still uses an older, elaborate neon sign to entice those highrollers to come on in and hit that mega jackpot.
LEFT: The ABOVE: The Candlelight Wedding Chapel offers traditional ceremonies as well as more flamboyant ones performed by the king himself – Elvis. The Chapel has also seen many celebrities walk down its aisle such as Bette Midler, Ray Liotta, Whoppie Goldberg and Michael Caine. Wedding chapels in Vegas are like Starbucks in Orange County; they are everywhere.
vibrant, pink neon still glows brightly at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino. The bright lights can be seen from half way down the Vegas strip.
Daily Titan
Wednesday, November 20, 2002
Light on a Distance CSUF runner Bryce Lighthall uses alternative methods, such as veganism, to get a leg up on his competiBy Katie Cumper
Daily Titan Photo Editor He strides down a path with an even pace and casts off each mile he runs like rainwater sliding down a roof. His bluegreen eyes focus only on the road ahead and they hold not even a flicker of recognition to any other reality. Mile after mile he moves up, around and down hills and valleys. He uses this time to “take a break.” It’s a break only a distance runner can relate to. For Cal State Fullerton crosscountry runner Bryce Lighthall, this is the only time he knows why he may have been put on this earth. “When you’re out on a long run, you just think about everything. It’s a total reflection and such a break in your life – it improves your head,” he said. He admits, however, that running long distances takes a different mindset and a runner needs a somewhat sadistic side to run the 10 to 12 miles that he runs most days. “You have to like pain, or you won’t reap the benefits in running long distances,” he said. It’s no wonder he finds the new cross country T-shirts at Enterprise High School in Redding where he grew up amusing. “I went back to visit the team last season and they had on shirts that said ‘Our sport is your sports’ punishment,’” he said. He believes many people have the misconception that distance running is “silly and easy.” “Most football players couldn’t do what we do,” he said. “The lifestyle we have is so different – we always have to be at our highest level of fitness.” Lighthall has chosen a path less traveled when it comes to eating healthy. He became a strict vegetarian four years ago. “Sometimes people give you crap because you don’t eat any animal products,” he said. “Usually it’s the people that aren’t’ healthy themselves – I’m stronger and faster than they are.” His level of fitness, achieved in part
from eating nothing made from an ani- vated me so much,” he said. “And I mal, didn’t come without problems found out he has an amazing Vo2 Max though. (oxygen intake) – he’s genetically tal“Last year I found out I was anemic,” ented. I also like to read about old boxers he said. “Now I really watch everything like [Muhammad] Ali and [Joe] Frazier. I eat super close. I eat regular meals I can relate to their lifestyle because they – three to four a day, as well as soy were so dedicated to their sport.” protein and a liquid antioxidant. Making In high school Lighthall said he never these changes had added to my overall finished a book. level of fitness.” “Now reading has become an extreme “Veganism,” he said, “is a very dan- motivator for me and my biggest hobby,” gerous way to live if you don’t do it right. he said. Although he looks forward to anothYour bones can become weak even more than eating a crappy American diet. It er season of cross country at CSUF, forces me to pay attenLighthall reveals that tion to my body.” track season is where his One of the reasons “When you’re out heart is. Lighthall became a “When you’re at a vegan is because he track meet, so much is on a long run, doesn’t believe “we going on – it’s a big smorreally need to survive gasbord of events. It’s you just think by eating meat.” amazing and you meet “If I am going to eat about everything. so many people. Even an animal,” he said. though people might “I’m going to kill it It’s a total reflec- be on another team and myself [and] not expect you’re trying to compete them, you cheer some guy making $7 tion and such a against for them. It’s a mutual an hour do it for me. I respect [and] camaradewould feel like a cowbreak in your life” rie,” he said. ard. “One of our coun“My parents are supBryce Lighthall, portive of my running,” tries’ small ironies is that we condemn other he said. “And they help CSUF runner nations for eating dogs me through those down while we kill cows,” moments I have – they’re he said. “Why is a dog always there to pick me more valuable than a up. My dad raced road cow? Killing animals for nutrition is bikes in the Pro-am. He understands murder. It’s pretty political for me” what elite competition is and what it Lighthall’s passion for keeping his takes.” body healthy has not gone unnoticed by Every once in awhile, Lighthall gets his coach, John Elders. nostalgic and thinks back to high school “Bryce is well informed about proper and when he played soccer and rode nutrition,” Elders said. “He’s probably BMX bikes – especially when he opens the most dedicated runner I ever coached his closet and sees his dismantled bike. – he’s really into what he does. He’s got “BMX riding is all about doing 20talent, but not the most talent, but his foot sets of doubles and crashing on your love of running coupled with work ethic chest,” he said. “I know I’ll want to do and passion set an example of what it that again if I put it together. I never do takes to be a success in his training.” anything halfway.” Part of the passion Lighthall has for Jordan Horn, a CSUF freshman runrunning comes from the inspiration he ner, noticed Lighthall’s drive. From gets from other venues. the moment he met him earlier in the “Lance Armstrong’s biography moti- season, he felt respect for him and his
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racing ethics. “He was the first person to talk to me,” he said. “He is the most dedicated runner I have ever known. He talks to me and tells me how I should race and he likes to have fun, but when it comes to racing he’s really serious.” The only bad time to try and talk to Lighthall is after a race, according to Horn. Teammates learn quickly to keep a distance once he crosses the finish line. “Every time he races he’s mad at himself because he know he can do better,” Horn said. Lighthall could be considered a latebloomer in regards to how late he began to realize how much potential he had as a runner. “I started taking running seriously my senior year in high school,” Lighthall said. “And it wasn’t until I got out of high school I realized I could do something with my running.” He hopes to someday train at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. This will hopefully come after he earns his teaching credential in history. “My plan is to substitute the first couple years out of college,” he said. “At the same time focus on my training as much as possible and hope the club picks me up.” Lighthall’s work ethic will be what gets him there, according to CSUF assistant coach Felipe Montoro. “Cross country requires focus for an extended period of time while dealing with extreme discomfort,” Montoro said. “Bryce works harder than anybody at this and he brings to the team this work ethic and a commitment to a certain lifestyle.” Lighthall has one more season left of both track and cross country at CSUF. Horn doesn’t believe Lighthall has even begun to reach his peak in distance racing. “I think he’s going to be a great runner in the future,” Horn said. “He’s going to do great things in running.”
VIKRAM MAHAN/Special to the Titan
CSUF runner Bryce Lighthall feels truly at home on a race course.
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