2005 10 06

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

T h u r s d a y, O c t o b e r 6 , 2 0 0 5

The Buzz

Introspect

‘A time to love’

Study, travel overseas: Euro-style

Wonder on life, new album See Insert

Inside

This Issue Sports

Titans travel tough road

Vo l u m e 8 1 , I s s u e 2 1

w w w. d a i l y t i t a n . c o m

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Titans mourn recent death

CSUF ‘plants seed’ at forum CSU system national leader in diversity among universities

Former staff member succumbs to cancer, campus memorializes

By DANICA HART Daily Titan Staff

CSUF men’s soccer beat down in Big West opener by UC Santa Barbara 8

Opinion Campus professor raps on need for strong writing skills in, out of classroom 4

Surf Report Huntington

1-3 ft. ankle- to waist-high and fair conditions.

San Clemente

1-3 ft. ankle- to waist-high and fair conditions.

Compiled from surfline.com

Weather Thursday, Oct. 6 Sunny 87º/59º Friday, Oct. 7 Mostly Sunny 82º/58º Saturday, Oct. 8 Partly Cloudy 75º/55º

By RORY JURNECKA

While the Cal State University system leads the country in being the most diverse in higher education, its main focus Wednesday was on the Vietnamese community.

With the growing population of the Vietnamese community, the CSU system and the Vietnamese American community leaders have been working hand-in-hand to help promote education.

Cal State Fullerton hosted a Vietnamese community forum at the Garden Grove Community Meeting Center to discuss ways that the CSU system and the community can partner together to meet the communityʼs needs.

The CSU system is currently the most diverse higher education system in the country, with more than 53 percent minority students, CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed said.

“This fall at California State University, Fullerton, we have over 2,000 Vietnamese students enrolled at our university. And since 1991, Cal State Fullerton VIETNAMESE 3

Vietnam refugee, Le Thi My (left), reunites with her family at LAX on Sept. 26 after being stateless in a Philippine Refugee camp. CSU programs aim to help ease trasition for the Vietnamese community.

U.S. opens up for 229 Vietnamese immigrants to land

By MARIE O’NEIL Daily Titan Staff

After what was probably one of the longest journeys of their lives, 229 Vietnamese refugees landed on U.S. soil to be reunited with their families and settle in the United States.

They were in a state of uncertainty, refugee camps in the Philippines for 16 years, where they were stateless — not considered Vietnamese or Filipino citizens.

“I think itʼs about time that they got here,” said Mary Kay Crouch, associate professor of

Student auditions to haunt scary theme park for Halloween

By LISAJOYCE VERGARA Daily Titan Staff

With October under way, people are preparing for Halloween and its upcoming events.

Knottʼs Scary Farm, the Queen Maryʼs Shipwrecked and Magic Mountainʼs Fright Fest, will hold big events to celebrate the coming of Halloween.

I have wondered how those monsters in the park are selected and if

they have to be actors. Deciding to go through the process, I took my curiosity to the Fright Fair Haunted House and Haunted Trail auditions at Pierce College in Woodland Hills.

Along with a Haunted House themed “Factory of Nightmares,” a Haunted Trail, and a kid-friendly Haunted Corn Maze will be ready to spook those who dare.

I arrived at the audition dressed as a vampire – my plastic fangs not fitting right so I did without them.

The process was simple: an application, including actor information and history; a medical release form incase of injury on the job; a media release form, with the pos-

of Saigon,” he said.

In 1977 to 1979, tens of thousands left by boat. Then, in 1982 the Orderly Departure Program allowed the refugees to leave by commercial airplane, a much safer way to travel.

Last, in 1988, the Amerasian Homecoming Act was created bringing more than 25,000 Amerasians and their immediate family members.

According to a national survey conducted by Ohio State University, they altogether number 77,000.

And now the refugees from the Philippines have come to the United States.

They arrived Monday night – Sept. 26 – at LAX, and were welcomed with tears and joy, REFUGEES 3

NELSON

3

sibility that the actors/monsters will be photographed or recorded for media purposes; and, a schedule of hours the actor can work.

After the application process comes the hardest part, the audition.

Greg Sheaks, a West Hills resident, was one of the first ready to tryout. Sheaks did his “Hereʼs Johnny” impression from the Jack Nicholson horror flick “The Shining.”

“This is my first year doing this type of event and it sounds like fun,” Sheaks said. “During the auditions I just applied and had to act crazy, which is a normal thing.”

He passed the audition and was

chosen for the event.

“The coordinators assign you a role on whom you will become and where you will be placed,” Sheaks said. “The owners have a vision and I donʼt want to reinvent it, my job is to portray it.”

Michael Kean, a Canoga Park resident, has been an actor for 13 years, performing haunts of this type. He has performed at the Fright Fair for the past five years.

Kean had experience with these types of haunts and I did not. He gave me tips on what to do and expect.

“For the audition, you have to be HALLOWEEN 2

GABRIEL FENOY/Daily Titan

Lisajoyce Vergara auditions for the 2005 Fright Fest as the vampiress Ayana, Queen of the Damned.

Ethnic workshops to stop violence Four-part program aimed to help prevent assault directed towards women

Compiled from The Weather Channel

By KARI HAMANAKA Daily Titan Staff

U.S. military deaths in Iraq (March 2003-Oct. 5, 2005)

The Associated Press

English at Cal State Fullerton.

She is also on the board of directors at St. Anselms Cross-culture Community Center.

“St. Anselms will be involved with the funding for the refugees to become settled in the United States and getting them things like a social security card,” Crouch said. “This will help them get started. The center will also help the refugees to meet again with their relatives and families from around the nation.”

There were four major waves of refugees before this new wave of Vietnam refugees moving from the Philippines to the U. S., said Jeffrey Brody, professor of communications at CSUF and expert on Vietnamese related topics.

“The first wave left in l975, when about 140,000 Vietnamese people fled Vietnam after the fall

Reporter turns into monster for maze

Monday, Oct. 10 Sunny 80º/55º

Last Wednesdayʼs death toll 1,927

The warm, blustery Santa Ana winds are blowing the Cal State Fullerton flag at half-staff this week in memoriam of Carlene Nelson, a former university staff member, Carlene Nelson who passed away last Monday from complications due to cancer.

Nelson, a 24-year-veteran of the universityʼs Information Technology team, retired from her position shortly after her most recent cancer diagnosis.

Friends and colleagues of Nelson expressed sadness and surprise by the news, despite their knowledge of her illness.

Doctorsʼ diagnosed Nelson with cancer about two months ago.

“We were talking to her family and then within three days, four days, she was gone,” said Kerry Boyer, an IT network analyst at CSUF. Boyer, whose office was next door

Refugees finding hope

Sunday, Oct. 9 Sunny 76º/56º

1,943

Daily Titan Staff

The Associated Press

JAMIE FLANAGAN/Daily Titan

Sue Passalacquat teaches a four week course designed to make participants culturally sensitive advocates in decreasing domestic violence in Asian American communities.

Gender roles and stereotypes portraying Asian American women as passive and quiet, may create barriers for violence education and prevention, Executive Director of the National Asian Womenʼs Health Organization Afton Kobayshi said.

For the organization, a non-profit group based in San Francisco, education about

health concerns related to Asian American women and their families is important.

Linking health issues such as domestic violence and assault to how cultural roles and stereotypes can sometimes hinder the learning process is their top priority.

While Kobayashi said that failure to report or be informed of domestic violence and assault among Asian Americans is no different than with other ethnicities, she said that culture does play a role in how problems are solved.

“In Asian families, thereʼs a tendency to not talk about personal problems,” Kobayashi said. “These are things thought of as shameful and things that donʼt happen in a normal family, let alone in an Asian family.”

With October being Domestic Violence Awareness month organizations such as the National Asian Womenʼs Health Organization promote the prevention of domestic violence and assault through workshops and lectures.

Cal State Fullertonʼs Womenʼs Center also participates in a similar education campaign.

This is the third semester that the center offered a violence prevention program to Asian American females.

The program is funded by the National Asian Womenʼs Health Organization, which also sponsors the same informational series at Long Beach State and Fresno State in an effort to target college-age females.

VIOLENCE

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NEWS

2 Thursday, October 6, 2005

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Fasting for faith

OCT. 6, 2005

B

Today to Oct 16: The Orange County Performing Arts Center presents “Evita.” Tickets may be purchased by calling CenterTix at (714) 556-2787 or online at www. ocpac.com.

Iraqi parliament reverses election rules

Today to Oct. 9: The California International Auto Show will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center. There will be an exotic car display, a live DJ, and a presentation of “Herbie: Fully Loaded,” courtesy of Disney. For more information, visit www.caautoshow.com

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Under U.S. and U.N. pressure, Iraqʼs Shiite-led parliament Wednesday reversed its last-minute electoral law changes, which would have ensured passage of a new constitution but which the United Nations called unfair. Sunni Arab leaders, who had threatened a boycott because of the changes, said they were satisfied with the reversal and were now mobilizing to defeat the charter at the polls. But some warned they could still call a boycott to protest major U.S. offensives launched over the past week in western Iraq, the Sunni heartland.

Nation DeLay, successor Blunt swap donations WASHINGTON – Tom DeLay deliberately raised more money than he needed to throw parties at the 2000 presidential convention, then diverted some of the excess to longtime ally Roy Blunt through a series of donations that benefited both menʼs causes. When the financial carousel stopped, DeLayʼs private charity, the consulting firm that employed DeLayʼs wife and the Missouri campaign of Bluntʼs son all ended up with money, according to campaign documents reviewed by The Associated Press.

High court clashes over assisted suicide

WASHINGTON — New Chief Justice John Roberts stepped forward Wednesday as an aggressive defender of federal authority to block doctor-assisted suicide, as the Supreme Court clashed over an Oregon law that lets doctors help terminally ill patients end their lives. The justices will decide if the federal government, not states, has the final say on the life-or-death issue.

Senate approves detainee treatment rules

WASHINGTON – The Republican-controlled Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to impose restrictions on the treatment of terrorism suspects, delivering a rare wartime rebuke to President Bush.

Defying the White House, senators voted 90-9 to approve an amendment that would prohibit the use of “cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment” against anyone in U.S. government custody, regardless of where they are held.

Local Media leak causes Red Cross suspension PASADENA - The spokesman for the local American Red Cross chapter has been suspended for seven days without pay for allegedly leaking information to the news media about a convicted con man hired as a Red Cross fundraiser.

Dereck Andrade, who denied he was the source who instigated news stories, was suspended Tuesday, his attorney James Otto said, adding he would file a complaint with the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing.

Fred Brito, who worked at the San Gabriel Valley chapter for more than a month before Andrade discovered his background during an Internet search, used bogus credentials and a phony name to get the Red Cross job in August. He was fired on Sept. 19.

“They claim heʼs the source that broke the story. Itʼs unfounded, and in our opinion, itʼs illegal,” Otto said.

Brito was fired in April from a fundraising job at the University of California, Los Angeles, after he was arrested on a parole violation.

Reports compiled from The Associated Press

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Muslim students pray the fourth daily prayer before ending their first fast in the holy month of Ramadan.

Did you

KNOW?

By ERIC SANDERS Daily Titan Staff

Tall tales from within Superdome Practically every American has heard the stories – the continuous reports of rape and murder inside the New Orleans Superdome during the calamity of Hurricane Katrina, but were the reports entirely true?

According to New Orleans police, who are re-examining information, the stories that came from the Superdome have little to do with facts.

Police have no official reports of rapes and no eyewitnesses for any sexual assault.

The state Department of Health and Hospitals accounted for 14 bodies from the Superdome and the convention center, two of which were suspected of being victims of murder, according to an Associated Press article.

The stories about babies being raped, children with slit throats and

HALLOWEEN

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entertaining and have the willingness to do something; at the same time be creative,” Kean said. “You can teach people how to pop out and scare people, but if you donʼt have the energy behind it, youʼre not going to scare people.”

Kean auditioned this year with a comedic Egore impression.

Although he had past experience, he still needed to audition.

“I donʼt mind auditioning; itʼs only fair and itʼs been a great experience,” Kean said. “I like working

bodies piling up in the basement are exaggerations that grew out of desperation, public officials also said.

Rick Pullen, dean of the College of Communications at Cal State Fullerton, spoke about the problems journalistʼs faced reporting at the Superdome.

First, it was difficult for reporters to see first hand what was happening, and second, they were relying on sources that were not credible, he said.

“Reporters are only as good as their sources,” Pullen said.

“Unfortunately we donʼt always know if sources are telling the truth.”

But during a time when media credibility is declining, Pullen thinks the media needs to re-examine itself.

“When you have a story thatʼs extremely controversial, the lesson for the media is, letʼs make sure itʼs real,” Pullen said. “Make sure you have the truth if itʼs going to affect America.”

The false reports during the first week of the flood made interesting stories, but may not have been accurate.

In The Times-Picayune, an Arkansas National Guardsmen told the paper of a freezer in the con-

vention center that housed 30 to 40 bodies, but a formal Arkansas Guard review later uncovered that no soldier had ever seen any bodies.

David Newton, first sergeant of the Louisiana National Guard, was inside the Superdome and expressed his criticisms of the mediaʼs inaccuracy.

If the media wasnʼt indoors, how were they going to report what was going on, he said.

“Ninety percent of the people were happy and grateful that someone was helping them. I didnʼt see anything resembling what the media was reporting,” Newton said. “It just shows you how much the media spins everything to get a story.”

Though officials disagree with the media about what happened in the Superdome, there are organizations there to help – just in case.

Robert Coombs, director of public affairs at California Coalition Against Sexual Assault, said that organizations that provide resources for sexual assault victims are still needed in the Gulf Coast.

“Sexual violence is one of the most unreported categories of crime,” Coombs said. “Just because it isnʼt in a police report doesnʼt mean it didnʼt happen.”

with the people who hold the event.

They take care of their actors and feed them every night before they work.”

Finally, it was my turn to audition for a part. I decided to be Ayana, Queen of the Damned – a name I thought up on the way to the audition. I threw in an English accent and deepened my voice to get an eerie tone.

For one minute, I was another person – a vampire thirsting for blood. I wiped my lips on my fist and smeared my lipstick purposely to get the impression I bit myself for blood.

It was intense. It was dramatic,

like I was auditioning for a part in a sequel to “Interview with the Vampire” or something.

Linda Carberry, talent coordinator, was in charge of the auditioning and placement of the actors for the trail and the factory.

“For those auditioning, I love for enthusiasm, adaptability and energy,” Carberry said. “The biggest part is energy in the house. The more energy the more electrical currents though the house. If you can feel energy from actors, youʼll have a tense audience that will put them on the edge.”

Carberry said she also looks for individuals who want to scare and

Oct. 6 thru 8: Arthur Millerʼs play “The Crucible” will be playing at the Fullerton College Campus Theatre. Show starts at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $15 general admission, and $12.50 for students and seniors.

For more information, call (714) 992-7433.

Oct. 7: The CSUF Jazz Ensembles I and II will be performing at the Little Theatre in the Performing Arts Building. Show starts at 8 p.m. For more information, call (714) 278-3371.

Oct. 7: The city of Fullerton is hosting a reception for local artists, art organizations and supporters.

The event will be held from 5-6:30 p.m. in the courtyard of the Villa del Sol on Harbor Boulevard. For more information, call (714) 738-6311.

Oct. 7 thru 8: “Some Americans Abroad” by Richard Nelson will be performed at the Arena Theatre in the Performing Arts Center. Show starts at 8 p.m. For more information, call (714) 278-3371.

Oct. 16: The Volunteer and Service Center will be participating in the 21st Annual Aids Walk Los Angeles. To join or register on your own, go to www.aidswalk.net/losangeles or call the AIDS Walk office at (213) 201-9255.

All events are free and on campus unless otherwise indicated. If you would like to have a specific entry added to the calendar section, please send an e-mail to news@dailytitan.com. do not care about payment.

“Fright Fair is owned by Robert McBroom, a special effects artist whoʼs worked with Fear Factor and this will be the largest event theyʼve done in the years past. The Haunted Trail in the corn maze will have a collapsing bridge across a lake, the factory will have a dropping ceiling, floor and spinning tunnel,” said Carberry ”Most of the proceeds for the event will go to Pierce College to build an agriculture learning center.”

This Saturday, I will be a monster for the day at Fright Fair so stay tuned for my adventure continued in Part II.

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VIETNAMESE

NELSON

has awarded almost 4,000 degrees to Vietnamese students during that period of time,” CSUF President Milton A. Gordon said. “We are fortunate and most appreciative of the support we have received from the Little Saigon community as well as all of the Vietnamese students who have studied and who have graduated from our university,” he said.

CSUF was one of the first Cal States to offer courses in Vietnamese and introduce The American Dialogue Series – a four-part community forum discussion focusing on the Vietnamese community – both starting in 1996.

Assemblyman Van Tran (RGarden Grove), who is the first Vietnamese American to be elected to the state legislature, attended the event as the keynote speaker.

The panelists consisted of Hai Phan, one of the first Vietnamese students at CSUF in 1969 and the president and CEO of Dexteus – a surgical advice company in Irvine; KimOanh Nguyen-Lam, the associate director of the Center for Language Minority Education and Research at Long Beach State; De Tran, publisher and editor of Viet Mercury; Trangdai Tranguyen, alumna and founding director of the Vietnamese American Project at CSUF; and Co Pham, president of the Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce and president of the Vietnamese American Medical Institute.

“It is important that we have the access and the full partnership with the Cal State system so that we provide more access and opportunities for the newest immigrant communities. The CSU system currently serves and can further meet the needs of this growing segment of Californiaʼs population,” said Van Tran. “Cal State Fullerton has an Intercultural Development Center and I know that Professor Son Kim Vo is the coordinator and she also serves as a vital resource to the Vietnamese community, students and families as well.”

The CSUF Intercultural Development Center aims to promote cultural awareness and to help advise Asian and Southeast Asian students.

“It is imperative that we engage in research that directly effects our community and our future,” Tranguyen said.

The forum allowed discussion about easing studentsʼ transitions from high school to college.

“Iʼve always believed in the statement that if there is a will, there is a way. What I hope to do today is just to plant the seed and begin to water that and we will have follow-up meetings to discuss this because I know this is something that I would really like to see happen,” NguyenLam said.

The CSU system has a few outreach programs that are in effect right now.

CSUFʼs College of Communications set up the Yen N. Do Scholarly Research Fund, which supports faculty research on certain Asian minorities in California.

The newest outreach program offered by the CSUʼs is the “How to Get to College” poster. It is an “easy-to-follow” guide that helps elementary students prepare for college. The poster is printed in Vietnamese, English, Spanish, Chinese and Korean.

“Iʼve seen a lot of changes in our community. If you want to help the community grow and do better, then we need to focus on education,” Pham said.

to Nelsonʼs for 23 years, said they shared many happy memories together.

“Sheʼs known all my kids since they were little. Sheʼs gone to baby showers with me. Sheʼs gone to deaths in my family with me,” Boyer said.

Boyer said one of Nelsonʼs most endearing qualities was her love of learning.

“She was like a little kid, everything was new to her. Anything she had to learn she approached like it was new, magical stuff. She was always learning everything,” she said.

Other staff members agree.

“She was like a sponge,” said Pat Nelson, campus IT office manager. “She always wanted to take

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REFUGEES

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according to a L.A. Times article.

“It all started with the fall of Saigon 30 years ago,” said Son Kim Vo, coordinator of the Intercultural Center at CSUF. She is also a Vietnamese refugee.

“Many of the refugees came by boat, but about 50 percent didnʼt make it to their destination because of pirates, weather conditions, hunger, thirst and illness,” she said.

Vo remembers her own experience when she left Vietnam in 1981.

“For three days I went with my

VIOLENCE

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“This is the age where violence [in relationships] starts to happen,” Kobayashi said. “When youʼre in college, youʼre trying to establish an identity and youʼre trying to get involved. Itʼs sort of a critical juncture.”

The curriculum for the Asian American women series will change in the spring to reflect comments made by past participants on how the program could be improved.

Similar to the National Asian

in everything.”

Pat Nelson said she is not related to Carlene Nelson, but it was often a subject of joking.

“She always kidded me that we were sisters. She was just a really wonderful person. We really got to be good friends,” Pat Nelson said.

Friends say another endearing trait of Carlene Nelson was her ability to listen to others.

“She was a transparent kind of person,” said Mike Marcinkevicz, university director of Network Computing and Security. “People would come to talk to her about any kind of problem.”

She was like the mother that friends never had because they could tell her everything they couldnʼt confide to their own mothers, Boyer said.

“Carlene … you could say [to] her anything and it would never shock her. She was that open. I

mean she might have gone back to the bathroom and start laughing, but literally you could say anything to her,” she said.

Carlene Nelson received her bachelorʼs degree in sociology from CSUF in December of 1981, and went on to get a masterʼs degree in 1983. She also had a doctorate in human and organizational systems from Fielding Graduate University, located in Santa Barbara.

Her husband, Lorin, and her two children, Kathy and Tim, survive her.

Carlene Nelsonʼs family has arranged a visitation on Friday, Oct. 7, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Fairhaven Mortuary Chapel, located at 1702 Fairhaven Ave. in Santa Ana. The memorial service will take place in Santa Ana on Saturday, Oct. 8 at Trinity Presbyterian Church, located at 13922 Prospect Ave.

father and my husband,” Vo said.

“We were each given one jicama for three days. This [provided] the water and food that we would need.”

There were 136 refugees on the boat with her and her family. However, they never talked to anyone.

“We tried to keep the secret of our escape,” she said.

What she remembers most of her journey at sea was being “so thirsty.” When she and the refugees made contact with U.S. soldiers in America, they gave her a Coke.

“I still remember how the Coke tasted,” Vo said.

Voʼs sister and husband left

Vietnam in 1980. They had to leave separately or the Vietnamese law officers would become suspicious, she said. Vo delivered their two daughters to them before they boarded the boat.

“I told [the girls] that we were going to visit relatives,” Vo said.

Her sisterʼs husband died during the voyage, due to starvation and illness, Vo said.

What Vo admires most about Vietnamese people is their diligence, hard-work ethic and ability to accept change, she said.

“When the situation changes in Vietnam they adapt well,” Vo said.

“In other words they have survival skills.”

Womenʼs Health Organizationʼs goals with domestic violence training and education, the Womenʼs Centerʼs program informs students of the stereotypes and gender roles placed on Asian American women.

“We hope [student participants] take this information and go out and share this information with their communities,” said Sue Passalacqua, the centerʼs associate director and one of the workshop facilitators.

Enrollment for the workshop closed with the first class meeting last week.

However, further resources available on campus include a domestic

violence class open to all students on Oct. 29. The class is from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and a reservation is required.

Another campus resource is the Asian and Pacific Islander discussion group that meets Mondays from noon to 12:50 p.m. The group provides a forum for members to discuss stereotypes, relationships and time management.

“Some of the stereotypes and gender roles can create barriers to these resources that can help,” Passalacqua said.

At the first meeting of the centerʼs workshop, the nine students

Thursday, October 6, 2005 3

Gone with the wind

GABRIEL FENOYI/Daily Titan Staff

Kiteboarder Charles Herbert took advantage of strong, warm Santa Ana winds at Newport Beach, Wednesday. Winds reached 45 mph. enrolled in the program discussed how the media portrays Asian men and women.

Some of the ideas brainstormed last Friday included words such as obedient, quiet, passive, exotic and over-sexualized to describe the stereotypes of Asian women.

Each class is designed in a lecture and discussion format where participants discuss their ideas or experiences with gender or cultural stereotypes.

Since the curriculum of the program is so culturally specific, enrollment was limited to Asian American women.

“We felt that this model worked so well,” Passalacqua said of teaching violence prevention and awareness in a culturally specific setting.

“It helps build trust and safety when you can share. There are commonalities found within each culture.”

“Those commonalities, however, does not mean that a workshop with women of all ethnicities would not be effective in communicating a similar message on violence education,” she said.

Although, based on her experience, she found that smaller groups work best because students are more open for discussion.

OPINION

4 Thursday, October 6, 2005

Titan Editorial

Providing insight, analysis and perspective since 1960

Our chemical romance The AIDS epidemic.

The obesity epidemic.

The United States and the rest of the world endure hundreds of thousands of illnesses, both mental and physical. But no one talks about the silent killer.

Its name?

Depression.

About 18 million American adults cope quietly with this mentally debilitating disease, according to a Web site for the National Institute of Mental Health. Itʼs a disease that can hit anyone, anytime, anywhere.

It could last about a month or throughout oneʼs lifetime.

But not only is it a wordless disease because those suffering from it refuse to talk about its detrimental effects, itʼs also unpredictable.

Both the general public and lawmakers have relatively acknowledged the impact of depression, even declaring today National Depression Screening Day. But we at the Daily Titan hope that for every brave victim who begins the long journey to conquer the illness, he or she doesnʼt take the more accessible path to emotional stability by turning to

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medicine.

Instead of depending solely on pills, even taking the advice of mental health experts who might be too eager to write prescriptions, rely on the one thing that can never fail: oneʼs innate sense of right and wrong.

After all, with the exception of true friends and beloved relatives, it is the victim – no matter how chemically imbalanced – who knows whatʼs best for himself. At the end of the day, even the most well-intentioned of counselors and doctors need to make a living; and opponents of the pharmacology industry have criticized distributors for only wanting to make money off of depressed individuals.

Weʼre not trying to pull a Tom Cruise by declaring that psychiatry, psychology and pharmacology are evil industries.

Nor are we fooling ourselves into believing that ingesting some vitamins and getting some exercise – as Cruise advised to Brooke Shields, who suffered from postpartum depression – a logical solution.

But believing that permanent happiness resides in a bottle of Prozac is also not the answer.

Editorial Board Julie Kim, Opinion Editor Nicole M. Smith, Executive Editor Kim Orr, Managing Editor

In deference to the paradigm established by venerable Swiss philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, unsigned Titan Editorials strive to represent the general will of the Daily Titan editorial board and do not necessarily reflect the view of the university.

KING FEATURES SYNDICATE

Save writing, better America

Cal State Fullerton alumnus, now a teacher, discusses the importance of literacy

By CHRISTIAN P. MILORD For the Daily Titan

Have you noticed that people donʼt write letters as much as they used to? While many forms of written communication have diminished, the quick gratification of cell phones, e-mails, and instant messaging has escalated.

It is sad that writing appears to have lost much of its value.

As I was growing up, I recall that my father would write to his kids quite often because many of us attended boarding schools in Canada. Sometimes he would write in longhand, while on other occasions, heʼd type long letters.

I would try to respond to most of his letters and learned how to put my experiences and ideas down on paper. Besides, we couldnʼt afford periodic phone

calls.

That early correspondence became part of the foundation for my adventures in writing.

Like writer William Safire, I didnʼt have much training in writing, but I began to keep a philosophical journal during my final two years of high school; I continued journal writing in college and as I entered the occupational world. I would jot down thoughts regarding relationships, travel odysseys, courses studied or interesting work experiences.

This hobby has endured intermittently right up to the present.

I remember publishing a poem in a Society of Friends publication. I also wrote articles for the monthly newsletter while serving a tour in the U.S. Coast Guard.

All of this practice helped me to write essays, letters and term papers throughout my high school and university years. Much of my creative, persuasive and technical writing was self-taught and refined through observation, practice and reflection.

When I began teaching in the

private and public schools of California, I continued to write and encouraged my students to write. I have taught over 2,000 students, and they understand the importance of developing skills in a variety of writing formats.

Perhaps schools ought to include “Write Across America” with their Dr. Seuss-inspired “Read Across America” activities.

How do I motivate my students to read and write?

Well, I try to model my words with personal action. I tend to read voraciously, and I still write letters and make entries in my journal.

Sometimes Iʼm amazed at how well students write when a teacher models the learning process.

Even students who appear uninterested often surprise me with their articulate compositions.

At times I record their oral presentations with a video camera. I also remind them that they donʼt have to be like William Shakespeare in order to be effective communicators.

If we urge youngsters to read

and write early on, we might worry less as they move on to high school, college and the professional world. If students engage in productive reading and writing, they might not be tempted to plagiarize in their assignments.

Moreover, writing skills are required at universities as well as in most careers. In business environments, employers expect employees to write coherent emails, letters and other correspondence.

After all, one of the great strengths of civilization is the collective memory and literacy of its population. It would be a shame to weaken the beautiful legacy of the written word passed on to us by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Indeed, many U.S. presidents, including Harry Truman and Ronald Reagan, were prolific writers.

It is my hope that writing doesnʼt become a lost art in our society. My students and I are doing our part to make sure that it endures as an integral part of our future.

Former CSUF coach voices concern over loss of youth gymnastics team

By KEVIN SKENE For the Daily Titan

Late this summer, while many of Cal State Fullertonʼs faculty, staff and students were away for the break, the university and the Fullerton community lost a unique program on this campus.

As a consequence of the Athletics Departmentʼs recent reallocation of space to facilitate the more frequent extension of bleachers for its basketball program, the campus lost the Titan Youth Gymnastics Competitive Boysʼ Team.

Unknown to many in the university, this group of boys has been bringing great respect to CSUF, competing with pride and distinction throughout the states as the Titan Juniors. This past season, they fielded the best Level 8 team in Orange County to compete in USA Gymnasticʼs Level 10, the highest level of junior competition in the United States.

This is understandably devastating for these participants who lost their treasured opportunity to train in their chosen sport with their best friends and teammates, all in such an enriching campus environment.

The loss of the Titan Juniors

Boysʼ Gymnastics Team is particularly tragic on a number of other levels that are more difficult to fathom. This loss was so unnecessary.

The needs of this program to continue and thrive, despite the departmentʼs space reallocation, were so very modest. With just a little cooperation and the retention of a tiny space in the 6,800 square-feet gymnasium, it could have continued to compete.

Compounding the tragedy of the departmentʼs decision was the manner in which it was implemented.

Its unwillingness to directly communicate with those that would be most directly impacted by its space reallocation plan prevented these boys and their families, who in several individual cases have brought tens of thousands of dollars in revenue to the campus, from having virtually any advanced warning that their childrenʼs gymnastics program was in jeopardy.

Only through hearsay, just a few days prior to the equipment moversʼ arrival, were some parents able to prepare their children for the possible loss of their team.

Ultimately, the final department decision to terminate the Titan Juniors Boysʼ Competitive Team

was communicated to staff, children and parents by, after arriving on campus, finding the boysʼ essential equipment torn down. Some team members have yet to even have the opportunity to say goodbye to their longtime friends, training partners and coaches.

I deeply regret my lacking the skill or power to persuade the university bureaucracy to achieve a solution that would fulfill both the interests of the department and the small but critical training needs of these children, or at the very least, to provide them with more time to make a smoother transition to another program.

As the former coach of the youth gymnastics team, I am saddened by the loss of a cherished opportunity to uniquely enrich the lives of children in Fullerton by sharing with them a few hours a week in my spare evenings, the benefits of

PROVIDED BY KEVIN SKENE

my 30-plus years of experience in the wonderful sport of gymnastics, and the gratification of helping children grow from shy little kids into confident, young adults.

I was so looking forward to providing my gymnastics instruction, along with an occasional academic or life lesson sprinkled in, to the fine young boys in our program, the children of faculty, staff and students both in and outside the CSUF community.

This is no way for a university administration to treat staff and families that have been so loyal in their support of the university for so long.

INTROSPECT

Daily Titan

Thursday, October 6, 2005 5

introspect@dailytitan.com • (714) 278-2991

Studies

By RACHEL DOUGLASS For the Daily Titan

In August of 2004, Charlotte Greene, like many other students, boarded a plane that would take her on what might have been her lifeʼs greatest journey. As she waited in the airport, the intensity of what she was about to do weighed upon her shoulders.

“I felt like I was making the biggest mistake of my life,” said Greene of her study abroad experience.

ABROAD

But for Greene, arriving in Aix-en-Provence presented several new challenges.

“The beginning was the easiest,” she said. “But I was afraid to speak the language.”

Greene, a French major now in her senior year at Cal State Fullerton, found the language proved to be one of her largest barriers.

In France, she was also challenged with the task of finding housing for the year, figuring out the transportation system and

University Aix-Marseille through CSUFʼs International Programs.

She felt that the education system at the university was extremely rigorous.

“It was more about learning and less about getting good grades,” Greene said.

She said the program was also very well organized and that program coordinators basically “held our hands.”

The program helped students to find housing. Conveniently, she found herself living in a small

“I wanted to get away from the monotony of life and the close-mindedness of the U.S.” – Charlotte Greene, Fullerton Student understanding the fluctuating exchange rate.

She said, however, that she was relieved to leave the United States.

“I wanted to get away from the monotony of life and the close-mindedness of the U.S.,” Greene said.

As Greene dealt with her new challenges, she found herself acclimating to the culture that she had originally felt so awkward in. She quickly became used to the different and much slower lifestyle.

“The people there were much more laid back,” she said. “They worked to enjoy their lives.”

Greene studied abroad at the

studio in the “centre ville” (center of town), just a five-minute walk from her university.

From her window she had a picturesque view of Aix-enProvenceʼs must famous church, La Cathedral Saint Savior.

Everyday she could hear the church bells ring, which for her served as a reminder to go to class on time.

Itʼs been a little over a month since Greene returned from her study abroad experience. She said that it is hard for her to find her place now in this fast-paced life.

“It was such a life changing experience.” Greene said. “I would recommend it to anyone.”

The ultimate Euro-trip

An off-beat how-to on backpacking through Europe JORDAN MASTAGNI/Daily Titan

By JORDAN MASTAGNI Daily Titan Staff

Whether walking through the Forum of Ancient Rome or drinking a pint of Guinness with a local Irishman, backpacking through Europe is a great way for college students to travel.

Throughout my occasionally inebriated and often adventurous European trek, I explored cities including: London, Amsterdam, Munich, Venice, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid and Paris.

Planning is essential for a successful adventure. One thing is

advance. July and August are extremely popular months for traveling so prices tend to be higher.

After making travel arrangements, decide whether to book all accommodations at once; it is nice to have the freedom to change plans on a whim.

Youth hostels are located throughout Europe and are great places for backpackers to stay.

Hostels range from $25 to $30 per night.

The train system in Europe makes traveling to other countries simple. Eurail passes provide a

Everything was there except for the money.

Once you decide to start exploring, donʼt hold back.

At night, the Eiffel Tower stands as a cheap alternative to nightclubs. I met a few Aussies at the pub, and we went to the park in front of the brilliantly lit structure with a bottle of cheap wine.

One guy brought a guitar, and we sang and laughed until dawn.

Amsterdam is an interesting city, but donʼt walk in the bike lanes. I saw a cyclist pummel an elderly woman who was later hauled off by an ambulance.

“The Germans I met in Munich drank a lot of beer ... Do not try to outdrink these people.” – Jordan Mastagni, backpacker certain; pack light.

Decide how much money to bring. ATMʼs are available in many cities, but calculate the exchange rate. Always carry cash and a backup credit card for emergencies.

Research the different countries on the itinerary, and buy a guidebook to plan the adventure. This will become your bible.

Unless you are fluent in multiple foreign languages, a phrasebook is a handy tool to have. If you at least make an attempt to speak a little Italian in Venice, for example, a local will welcome you more openly than if you were to say, “Excuse me, do you speak English?”

Book flights several months in

cheap and easy way to see the continent. Purchase a pass before leaving the United States because they are not available in Europe.

Money belts are convenient for keeping important documents. But consider your surroundings when taking the belt off. I went to the beach at night in Barcelona and took mine off to go swimming.

When I returned, it was gone.

My passport, Eurail pass, credit cards and 150 euros – basically my life – were all gone. Panic set in, and I envisioned myself begging on the streets of Barcelona for the rest of my life. The next thing I knew, a stranger walked up and told me that he had found a black bag down the beach and asked if it was mine. It was.

Many of the big European cities offer pub-crawls. Basically, these are tours of pubs around the city. The streets are taken over by pub-crawlers eager for drinks.

It is a good trek on foot, so wear comfortable shoes.

The Germans I met in Munich drank a lot of beer – they use beer for their cereal. Do not try to outdrink these people. I attempted to keep up and failed miserably.

Make sure to allow yourself plenty of time to spend in Europe.

Take at least a month or two if possible. This way the trip is not rushed and you can actually absorb all that surrounds you.

If you have thought about traveling, then you are ready. Book a flight and go.

N Most dangerous places

Her quest took her away from her friends, family and the only world she had ever known and brought her to a strange and foreign land: France.

What waited for Greene and the anxious students on her Air France flight lay twenty minutes from Franceʼs second largest city Marseille, in the tiny town of Aix-en-Provence.

Both locals and foreigners lovingly refer to this town as the city of a thousand fountains.

Although there are not quite a thousand fountains, travelers can find a different and completely unique fountain in every nook and cranny within the cityʼs limits.

JORDAN MASTAGNI/Daily Titan

By ASHLEY MAJESKI Daily Titan Staff

o one will argue that traveling and kidnapping of foreigners especially can sometimes be uncomfortable. The frequent.

Not surprisingly, the country of Iraq long lines at the airport, the uncomfortable seats and screaming kid behind you made the list at number five, due to the on the airplane all make for a less than ongoing war. Kidnapping and execution perfect day. Usually, however, knowing of American citizens by terrorist groups that you will soon arrive at your desti- make this country a place to avoid.

Completing the list of dangerous nation and be able to relax is enough to travel destinations were Kyrgyzstan, endure the discomfort.

Unless youʼre going to one of the Liberia, Somalia, Sudan and Togo.

“Egypt is also a huge tourist spot, worldʼs most dangerous travel destinabut it is also pretty dangerous,” said tions, that is.

Every year, Forbes.com publishes a Pike, adding that STA doesnʼt sell many list of the most dangerous places to visit travel packages to the Middle East.

Dr. Alan Kaye, a CSUF professor in the world. and expert on the Though many of Middle East, said these places arenʼt typiI wouldn’t really he would add the cal spring break or honwant to visit any countries of Yemen eymoon destinations, country ending in and Saudi Arabia to some people still decide ‘stan’ the list of dangerous to venture there, whether destinations, due to traveling for business or frequent killings and visiting family. Others Steve Nelson kidnappings of forstill, travel to see the Fullerton Student sites that these countries eigners. have to offer.

“You have to keep “If somebody is going to these Third a low profile being an American if you World countries and expecting to drink go anywhere in the Middle East,” Kaye margaritas on the beach, thatʼs not a said. good way to travel,” said David Pike, Though many of these countries have a travel advisor from STA Travel on a lot to offer tourists as far as history campus. and landscape, many Americans feel itʼs Topping the Forbes.com list for 2005 not worth the risk. was Afghanistan, a frequent site for “I wouldnʼt really want to visit any terrorist attacks, kidnappings and assas- country ending in ʻstanʼ,” said Steve sinations of American citizens.

Nelson, a kinesiology major. “There is With former Taliban groups and the added presence of terrorists for the members of al-Qaida still at large, people that live in those countries. I also Afghanistan is a highly dangerous place wouldnʼt like to visit any country where for visitors. cannibalism still exists.”

Coming in second, is the African Though traveling to dangerous counnation of Cote dʼIvore. Despite its abun- tries is not recommended, there are dance of natural resources, including some ways travelers can stay safe when cocoa and diamonds, this country is a traveling abroad. threat to visitors due to recent political “Any place can be dangerous if turmoil and poor public health. Yellow youʼre not prepared,” said Pike, who fever and cholera run rampant in the suggested never keeping your money all country. in one place. He also suggested giving Third on the list, is the Democratic all passports to the hotel to keep in their Republic of the Congo, a country in safe. Travelers should also carry a miniCentral Africa. The Congo is highly mal amount of cash. Most important of unstable and in many areas, rape and all, always be aware of surroundings violence are common. and avoid traveling alone.

The island nation of Haiti placed “A place may have great beaches fourth on the list because it has no orga- and cheap food,” Kaye said. “But itʼs nized police force, making carjacking certainly not worth your life.”

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