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CSU rises above the rest
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Graduation, retention rates prove better than the national average By Mark Meyers Daily Titan Staff
A recent study placed California State Universities at the top of the class in terms of retention and graduation rates when compared to the national average. The report, which concluded in January, showed first-year retention rates and six-year graduation rates of CSU students. First-time freshman entering the CSU system in 1997 graduated at
a rate of 54 percent in the six-year time period – 10 percent higher than the national benchmark of 44 percent, according to the study. The report also showed that the first-year retention rate for first-time freshman stood at 79 percent as compared to the national average of 70 percent. “This analysis suggests that CSU campuses are providing students with the kinds of instruction, campus climate and services that are similar or better than those provided by other universities serving similar students,” said David S. Spence, CSU executive vice chancellor. Over three decades, CSU sixyear graduation rates have grown dramatically. In 1977, the number
was at 38 percent, in 1987, it grew to 47 percent, and has now grown to 54 percent. With so much growth, Spence said that averages in the 60s and 70s are not too lofty a goal. The study showed that Caucasians, blacks and American Indians are all enrolling at CSUs in proportion to their high school graduation rates. Latinos were found to be underrepresented, while Asians, Pacific Islanders and Filipinos were overrepresented. The report showed a continued disparity between the CSU eligibility standard and black and Latino eligibility rates. The CSU standard is a 33.3 percent eligibility rate, while the black rate is at 21 percent
and Latinos stand at 18 percent. However, the black and Latino eligibility rates in 2003 have grown since the study began in 1997. The black pool has grown from 13 percent to 21 percent, while the Latino pool has grown from 13 percent to 18 percent. The study also showed that freshman proficiency in English and mathematics has an impact on graduation rates. Namely, students who require remediation in their first year take longer to graduate. Annual CSU proficiency evaluations have shown that there are English and mathematics gaps by race and ethnic background as well. graduation 4
Land for faculty housing OK’d University Heights complex to be built on three acres in Fullerton By Courtney Salas Daily Titan Staff
James Carroll/Daily Titan
CSUF students participate in a radio controlled NASCAR race in the Quad Monday morning. The event was set up by ASI Productions.
Plans for University Heights are progressing. Cal State Fullerton’s latest faculty and staff housing community will be built on three of the six acres that the Fullerton Elks Lodge currently occupies. Paula Selleck, a university spokeswoman, said the new housing community will be located on Harbor and Brea boulevards. The Elks Lodge will be completely demolished and rebuilt on the same
Discovery Science Center hosts BubbleFest, magician World record holder keeps audience in awe while performing show By April Miller Daily Titan Staff
He emerged from the shadows dressed in black. With a single sweep of his wand, thousands of bubbles floated toward a group of children seated on the auditorium floor of the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana. With viewers’ eyes fixated on Fan Yang, a nine-time Guinness World Record holder, he transformed soap and water into works of art. His first creation was a
bubble within a bubble. Then, taking a puff from a cigarette, he took a soapy straw and blew smoke into the middle bubble, making a white-clouded ball within the clear bubble. With the skill of a lion tamer, Yang fanned the double bubble upward with his hands until the outer bubble popped. The clouded bubble lingered mid-air before bursting and leaving only a puff of smoke. “I love the bubble,” Yang said. “I don’t smoke, but smoke makes bubbles visible.” He used a smoke machine and two foot-long, clear, plastic tubes to fill his bigger bubbles. As his creations floated away and popped, soft music filled the air and a rain-
bow of lights flickered as he set up for his next demonstration. Yang sprayed water on a small round table he had pulled to center stage. Then, he built a set of bubbles resembling a bunt cake on the table. The rainbow of lights flickered from red to green to yellow, making the sculpture radiate with color. “Smoking is bad for your health,” said Yang as he filled the bunt cake bubbles with smoke and added another smoke-filled bubble on top. Next he poked a hole in the top of the bubble mound, turning the creation into a smoking volcano. “Let me guide you into a world of imagination,” said Yang as he continued to make a bubble within
side of the new housing community, Selleck said. “The Elks Lodge was looking for a developer who could develop a portion of their property, but also provide the means for them to obtain a replacement lodge for the present one, which is over 50 years old and in need of major repair,” said Bill Dickerson, executive director of the CSUF Housing Authority and the CSU Foundation. After University Heights was approved last September, Cal State University’s Board of Trustees started looking for a prime location. Eventually, they found the Elks’ land. “The Elks’ desire was to remain on the current site, but nearly all developers were not interested in sharing the six-acre site. We proposed the
purchase of a little over three acres of their property and the construction of a new lodge on the remaining portion, which they accepted,” he said. Dickerson said the new Elks Lodge will be located on the southeast portion of the existing site. Selleck said the new housing complex, called University Heights, will be the second housing community available to faculty and staff members. She said the first housing community, University Gables, was the first housing community available to CSUF faculty and staff members. This current community is located in Buena Park and is fully occupied. “University Heights will be more expensive than University Gables, yet attractively priced below the current market price in Orange County, about
April Miller/Daily Titan
Fan Yang showers the crowd with thousands of bubbles at the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana. Yang is a nine-time world record holder. His longest bubble is 156 feet. He will be performing through April 17. a bubble and filling the inside one with smoke. This time, Yang dazzled the audience by putting his soapy hand inside the outer bubble and pulling out the smoke-filled one without
popping either bubble. After making a few beach ballsized bubbles, Yang dipped his giant bubble hoop in the soapy
By Stefanie Franklin Daily Titan Staff
The fall of 2006 will welcome another new class of college freshman as each autumn does. The only difference is that this freshman class will have been admitted to Cal State Fullerton based on scores from a new Scholastic Aptitude Test. The SAT, which has been in affect since 1926, is a reasoning test used as one of several tools for student admissions into college. According to the College Board Web site, the SAT is a standard way of measuring a student’s ability to do college level work. “It was first established at 12 different northeastern colleges,” said
Caren Scoropanos, a spokeswoman The main difference is that the for the College Board. “They want- new SAT will have a section for a ed a standard way of comparing student essay. students across the country because There will also be new content high school education and grades from third-year preparatory math varied.” classes and addiWhile the exam tional short and is different each long reading pasI think it’s going to school year, and sages, and quantibe easier. I’m different versions tative comparisons better at writing are administered and analogies have so the essay will throughout the been removed from probably help my country six to seven the exam. times each year, Scoropanos said score. the SAT has been the last time the Lauren Kittle High School Student entirely revamped test was changed for 2006. According was in 1994 when to the Web site, calculators were versions of the test are generated permitted for the math sections. through a statistical process called Experts and educators who com“equating.” This ensures the equiva- prise test development committees lency between test versions. develop the test questions. Potential The new 2005-06 school year exams are sent to a second comversion will be a whole new exam, mittee of college and high school though with much of the same con- faculty and admissions for review tent. and recommendations for improve-
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ment. Some questions are submitted directly from educators. There will also be an un-scored section that allows test-designers to try out new questions with students for future test versions. The College Board Web site states that the new SAT will likely be required by universities for students graduating in 2006, though some schools may still accept the 2005 version. “If a student gets a 1600 on the old exam, they wouldn’t force him or her to take the new one,” Scoropanos said. “But students should check with the universities to determine the specific policy regarding the SAT.” A student concern about the exam is that it may be more difficult with the addition of the higher-level math questions and an essay portion. Though the writing portion was proposed back in 1990, the essay portion was only implemented
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Plans for Fox set in motion
Saved historic theater to open by 2010 after extreme renovations By Michael Ocampo Daily Titan Staff
recently with the advance of technology to score the 2.3 million essays, said Scoropanos. The writing pieces will be scanned into computers and administered over secure networks to professional readers who will score the essays. The Web site indicates that the new SAT will be different, but not necessarily harder. The test will still measure reasoning and problem solving ability like the old test, and though potentially more advanced math questions have been added, the Web site clarifies that there will be only a few. Mission Viejo High School student Lauren Kittle will be in the first class of students to take the test as a senior next year. “I think it’s going to be easier,” she said. “I’m better at writing so the essay will probably help my score.” Scoropanos said the College
Five months ago, the Fullerton Historic Theatre Foundation was at its wit’s end. On the losing side of a race against the clock, the foundation scurried to raise funds to purchase a piece of Fullerton before it would be torn down and an apartment complex erected in its place. Despite a grant from the city, numerous extended deadlines and aggressive fundraising, the foundation – a non-profit historic preservation group – was still $684,000 short of purchasing the dilapidated building, which was once heralded as “The Showcase of Orange County.” But after what one college paper dubbed “a holiday miracle,” – an anonymous $1 million donation – the foundation met and surpassed its goal of $3.5 million and bought the Fox Theatre on Harbor Boulevard and Chapman Avenue. Now that it dodged the wrecking ball, two questions remain: When will the Fox open? And once reopened, will the historic movie house succeed? The foundation and the city have an agreement to reopen the theater
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Revised SAT format adds essay, loses analogies Higher math, written portion now included in renowned exam
$100 to $150,000 below,” Selleck said. “This is the best deal in Orange County and provides a great proximity to Cal State Fullerton for faculty and staff members.” Selleck said the housing units are single-family homes, which will be built close together. There will be twin homes and condo style homes in the community as well. “This could make the difference for faculty members from out-of-state deciding to move to California for a job,” Selleck said. “Homes are more expensive in California compared to other states, so this community will be great for prospective faculty members.” However, not all faculty members