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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
Daily Titan
Tu e s d a y, O c t o b e r 5 , 2 0 0 4
Police heighten campus safety
w w w. d a i l y t i t a n . c o m
Edwards vs. Cheney
Thar she blows
VP candidates to face off in tonightʼs televised debate By TERENCE HUNT The Associated Press
Students, especially females, should be aware of surroundings By BRITTANY KUHN Daily Titan Staff
Recent acts of vandalism and violence have raised studentsʼ awareness of their surroundings at Cal State Fullerton, a campus open to the surrounding public. After the attempted rape by a transient who was reported on campus last month, organizations, professors and police officers are encouraging students, particularly females, to slow down and keep their eyes open. “It was in broad daylight,” Cpl. Nigel Williams of CSUFʼs University Police said about last monthʼs assault. “We donʼt live in a bubble anymore. This was an isolated incident, but it can happen again.” Williams is referring to the unexpected time and place that the crime occurred –– on the third floor of the Performing Arts Center, Sept. 14 at 1:32 p.m. as the victim was exiting a stairwell, presumably on her way to a class. Williams said that students attempting to keep up with busy schedules, “have a tendency to walk around and not take in whatʼs around them.” According to Williams, this tendency puts female students at risk. He said he encourages students to be aware and report strange behavior of individuals on campus who are involved in suspicious activity, or someone not carrying a backpack or books. “If you see something suspicious or out of the norm, call the police,” he said. “Half of crime doesnʼt get reported.” Despite recent concerns, Sgt. Tom Gerhls, with the investigations department of the campus Police Department, said although awareness is necessary, students do not need to live in fear of campus violence. “Our statistics show that Cal State Fullerton is a very safe campus,” Gerhls said. “The last stranger-rape we had here was over 10 years ago. They happen very infrequently.” Despite this infrequency, Gerhls emphasized the need for female students to learn how to react in a compromising situation. Gerhls, along with the campus Police Department, said he promotes a program called Rape Aggression Defense, which is a free class that invites women to participate in a 12-hour program and four consecutive classes that teach self-defense techniques. In addition to this, the slogan, “The days are getting shorter. The nights are getting longer. Walk with a friend,” can be read on fliers posted throughout campus in response to last monthʼs attempted rape. Third Wave, a campus organization that focuses on educating the public about both domestic and international womenʼs rights, reacted to the recently attempted rape by producing fliers that warn students of the danger of staying out late as SAFETY 3
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ROB FINCH/The Associated Press
John Shepherd takes a photo of Monday morning’s eruption at Mount St. Helen’s. Shepherd made a non-stop 1,000–mile drive from his home in Southern California to see the potential eruption of Mount St. Helen’s. Shepherd, an avid “rockhound,” was so excited to get to Washington, he forgot to pack any extra shirts. He has not left his post as of Monday afternoon, but admits that he better go buy some new clothes soon. See brief on Page 2.
New faculty homes underway Construction for University Heights will begin early 2006
ciation for University Gables. “The main thing for us was to able to afford a house. We knew it wasnʼt going to be an investment property, but the main reason was for my wife to stay home with the kids. We are By ANDREW STRETCH very thankful for this.” Daily Titan Staff Cramp was one of 86 faculty and Not long ago Cliff Cramp was staff members who qualified to live a victim of gridlock. During the in University Gables — a low-priced, week, Cramp sat in eight-acre commuthe driverʼs seat of his nity designed specar, chugging along cifically for CSUF There are 16 the smog-infested faculty and staff people already Interstate 5, all in order members in associon the waiting to get to school on ation with the city list for the time. Cramp dreamt of Buena Park. University about moving closer Three years Heights. to where his job was later, the demand as an art professor at for lower-priced Gary Delsfium Cal State Fullerton, housing for faculty CSU Foundation but he simply could and staff continues not afford it. Luckily to be very high. for Cramp, the CSU After witnessFoundation changed ing the success of that dream into a realUniversity Gables, ity three years ago with the develop- the CSU Foundation and the Housing ment of the University Gables hous- Authority announced recently that ing project. construction will begin on yet anoth“Itʼs wonderful,” said Cramp, past er project, University Heights. president of the homeowners asso“Itʼs been more than two and a
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half years since we began discussions with the Elks regarding this purchase,” said Bill Dickerson, executive director of the housing authority and the foundation in a press release. “Itʼs great to see this project finally begin to take shape.” The University Heights development is planned to sit on what now is the Fullerton Elkʼs Lodge property located off Harbor and Brea boulevards. Preliminary plans include building 44 townhomes on the property, which CSUF is leasing for over 99 years. “Paying over an extended length of time helps make the housing more affordable for our faculty and staff, and at the same time it also works well by providing a steady flow of income to the Elks,” Dickerson said. The 1,600 to 2,000 square-foot homes are estimated to start from $350,000 to $400,000; nearly $100,000 more than the most expensive home in University Gables. Unlike Gables, which was part of a low-income housing project, faculty and staff will have no stipulations HOUSING 3
Fullerton grad soars in Neverland CSUF alumna lands job as Tootles in ʻPeter Panʼ musical By KYM PARSONS Daily Titan Staff
In a magical place called Neverland, where people never grow up, die or have any worries, Lindsay Nickersonʼs happy thoughts are becoming a reality. Since graduating from Cal State Fullerton last May with a degree in musical theater, she has been spending her time in Neverland as lost boy Tootles in the classic tale of “Peter Pan.” “Tootles is the underdog, heʼs a real go-getter who tries really hard, but things never seem to work out for him,” Nickerson said. Contrary to her character, things are looking up for Nickerson. “The thought of working in an office building all day, every day made me want to die,” Nickerson said. “So it was almost like there was no other option for me.”
In the first professional role of her career, Nickerson is currently performing at the La Mirada Theater for the Performing Arts, alongside Tony-nominee and former Olympic gymnast Cathy Rigby. After hearing about the casting call, theater professor Jim Taulli encouraged Nickerson to audition for “Peter Pan” because of her height and her acting and vocal abilities, despite the audition only being open to members of the Actors Equity Union. “ʻPeter Panʼ has always been my favorite show, so I was willing to do whatever I had to audition,” Nickerson said. “Next thing I know, Iʼm getting call-back after call-back.” When she finally got the call from the casting director that she had made it, she said she didnʼt believe it at first. “I made them tell me twice just to be sure that I wasnʼt dreaming,” she said. Although Nickerson said she was ecstatic about getting the role she wanted, she said she was also nervous
Courtesy of Lindsay Nickerson
about being the only one in the cast who was not a union member. “That really freaked me out,” she said. In preparation for the show, Nickersonʼs weeks have been spent TOOTLES 3
WASHINGTON – Usually just a campaign sideshow, this yearʼs vice presidential debate has taken on new life as a high-stakes showdown in a tightening presidential race. Dick Cheneyʼs mission is to slow John Kerryʼs sudden momentum, while John Edwardsʼ assignment is to feed doubts about President Bushʼs handling of Iraq and the economy. Four weeks before the election, both sides see Tuesday nightʼs faceoff as an important milestone in a race in which neither side can afford a mistake. “Everything that happens is important,” said Bush-Cheney communications director Nicolle Devenish. Anxious for a confidence boost, the White House is counting on Cheney to deliver a solid, steady performance to reassure Republicans shaken by Bushʼs scowling appearance in last weekʼs leadoff debate with Kerry. The vice president is expected to paint Kerry and Edwards as lacking the resolve to lead the war against terror and keep Americans safe. Democrats, meanwhile, are exuberant about Kerryʼs first debate and hope Edwards can keep the ball rolling by drawing on the same skills he used as a trial lawyer to win multimillion dollar settlements from
juries. Edwards is expected to portray Cheney as the architect of a misguided Iraq policy that was based on the erroneous belief that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. Edwards also is expected to criticize Cheney, the former chief executive of Halliburton, as a symbol of corporate greed. Cheney and Edwards are viewed favorably by about half of all voters, but Cheney has more negative ratings, a Pew Research Center poll suggests. About four in 10 voters view Cheney unfavorably; three in 10 see Edwards that way. Typically, vice presidential debates are tangential events with little impact or voter interest. After all, the race is not about No. 2 but the person at the top of the ticket. Even in the vice presidential debate, the real focus is Bush and Kerry, not Cheney and Edwards. Speaking for Cheney, senior adviser Mary Matalin said, “Heʼs going to make the arguments that Bush made. Heʼs not breaking away from where the president is.” Four years ago, 46.5 million people watched the first presidential debate between Bush and Al Gore, but then the viewership plummeted to 28.5 million for the vice presidential encounter between Cheney and Sen. Joe Lieberman. This year, both sides contend viewers will tune in because of the high stakes. “In a race thatʼs going to be decided by a few points, you canʼt break DEBATE 3
University shapes up with wellness program
Center helps faculty, employees get fit and healthy on campus By LEEANN MORRISSEY Daily Titan Staff
Amidst the sea of students that have class and workout in the Kinesiology and Health Science Building are a group of Cal State Fullerton employees also trying to get in shape and be healthy. With seven class sections currently offered, faculty and staff on campus can take part in the Employee Wellness Program. In the Lifespan Wellness Center, located downstairs in the new wing of the KHS Building, members work under a class leader to reach their individual fitness goals. The class leader doesnʼt force workout routines on the participants. Instead, the leaders watch over their participants to make sure they are using all of the machines correctly and getting a proper workout. The program is designed to let each member workout at their own pace and focus on individual areas of improvement, class leader Shawn Dolan said. “The program is individualized but designed by people who know what theyʼre doing,” said Professor Ron Oliver of the Education Leadership Department. Dolan explained the program as a mixture of an open-gym and a class setting. To enroll in the class, one must be a staff member and take a fitness and health risk assessment. The assessment is part of the one-time initiation fee of $25. If this screening results in a high risk, a physicianʼs release is required to ensure the safety of the
participant, Dolan said. Once the introductory fee has been paid, $48 is the cost to be enrolled each semester. So when all fees have been paid the cost is about that of other gyms. “Itʼs comparable to a fitness club, (with the) same basic purpose of a 24 Hour Fitness,” said Sandee Clay, an information and technology consultant in the Education Classroom Building. The program may be considered a perk for its members because of location. The fact that staff and faculty can work out in the same place that they are employed is an obvious plus, Oliver said. Clay said that since the program is on campus itʼs convenient because she can workout then go to work. Whether before, after or sometime within the workday members choose to workout, it is that much easier because it is on campus, class members said. Many said they are motivated to exercise because they donʼt have to go out of their way to get to a gym, adding that it gives them extra time to work out instead of driving to another facility. “Itʼs a nice opportunity to have an exercise workout program that integrates with the working day,” Oliver said. The program was designed because the school gym is always crowded, Dolan said, and in each class section of this program only 30 people can be registered. This gives everyone an opportunity to get equal time on all of the equipment. “Weʼve never had to turn anyone away because of crowding,” Dolan said. Classes are offered Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday.