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
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Titans closer to NCAA
Gay students group hosts event so others feel safe in sexuality Daily Titan Staff
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News International auto show highlights cars at studentfriendly prices 3
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Coming out, being proud By ASHLEY MAJESKI
Titans defeat University of Pacific Tigars, 3-2, in physical matchup
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Alex Faris remembers it well. After coming out to his parents, his father rejected him for a while and his mother blamed herself, becoming what Faris calls “ultraCatholic” to try to get her son to change. He grew up in Oklahoma, where admitting he was gay was extremely hard to do. Faris was just one of many members of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Alliance that told his coming-out story at an event Thursday that celebrated National Coming Out Day. The day is recognized around the country on Oct. 11 but was celebrated early at Cal State Fullerton due to facility availability. It has been celebrated on campus since 1999. The day is meant to encourage people who are gay, lesbian or bisexual to acknowledge their sexuality. “When we do it in this setting, it keeps it healthy,” Faris said. “When they come out here, itʼs a step toward getting out of their own personal closet.” The ceremony started with a welcome speech from Dean of Students Kandy Mink, who told the audience of around 50 people to “be proud of who you are” and that the university supports them. The nightʼs keynote speaker, alumna and former LGBA member Rhianne Bergado talked about her
own coming out and performed a few spoken word pieces. “When I was coming out, I was trying very hard to be everything everyone wanted me to be,” said Bergado, who encouraged audience members to keep their identities in tact. Bergadoʼs performance was followed by the Coming Out Ceremony, in which audience members go on stage to talk about their journey toward acknowledging their sexuality. They then break a glow stick to symbolize their breaking out of the closet. Many had similar stories of not being accepted by parents and friends or of having to struggle to accept themselves as a gay person. “It helps us understand what others are going through,” said Monique Leinow, LGBA secretary. “It personalizes it.” Natasha Negrete, the LGBA president, feels events like this are vital to the organization. ”Iʼve always looked at this event as sort of a safe zone,” said Negrete, who acted as the master of ceremonies for the evening. “Itʼs a day to recognize and bring awareness.” After breaking the glow sticks, members walked underneath a rainbow-colored balloon arch and stood on the dance floor below. “Itʼs lonely right now, but in the end, no oneʼs alone,” Negrete told the people as they stood on the dance floor. “In the end, weʼre all going to be out there with you.” Faris explained that it is much easier to come out in a setting PROUD 4
JAMIE FLANAGAN/Daily Titan Staff
LGBA leaders Alex Faris and Natasha Negrette explain ceremony proceedings during the clubs Coming Out event.
Celebration canceled Taiwan Awarness Week called off due to lack of funding By CHISATO KANEGAE Daily Titan Staff
A lack of resources forced the Taiwanese Student Association to cancel Taiwan Awareness Week, which was scheduled for this
week. “Due to the lack of budget and short preparation period, [the Taiwanese Student Association] decided not to hold the event,” Kelly Wang, president of the association, said. No further information about the clubʼs budget and fundraising efforts was given. The club intended for the week to be a celebration of Taiwanese
independence, as well as a way to spread more knowledge about Taiwanese culture. “The events are non-profitable and free for all CSUF students in order to effectively [promote] Taiwanese Culture to American Society,” Wang said in a prepared statement. Had it been successful, the TAIWAN 4
Model of success Cancer suvivors take to catwalk for St. Jude Medical Center benefit
Opinion ASI fee increase promises growth in extracurricular programs; not worth the money 5
Surf Report Huntington
3-4 ft. waist- to shoulder-high with occasional 6 ft. and fair conditions.
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Weather Monday Sunny 82/56º Tuesday Sunny 80º/55º Wednesday Sunny 86º/57º
By DIANIKA ABBOTT Daily Titan Staff
The lights dimmed, the music blared and anxious audience members stared at the runway in anticipation. Adorned in the most chic fall fashions, she walked down the elevated T-shaped stage with a confidence that screamed “take my photo.” And though her enthusiasm and selfassurance inspired the audience to cheer with glee, there was an underlying story – Monica Martinez-Lagda, 38, was participating in a fashion show to help raise funds for cancer, which she has battled for five years. Many men and women like MartinezLagda, participated in St. Jude Medical Centerʼs 16th annual A Walk Among Stars, yesterday at the Anaheim Marriott in hopes of contributing to the center that works each day to help restore their lives. Sharon Nelson, co-chairwoman of the 2005 planning committee, said this event serves as a way to recognize and celebrate the lives of cancer survivors and raise money for St. Judeʼs Virginia K. Crosson Cancer Center. The center – which specializes in cancer NICOLE M. SMITH/Daily Titan Executive Editor detection, diagnosis and treatment – proMonica Martinez-Ladga receives the finishing touches on her makeup before walking vides information and support groups for the runway at St. Jude’s 16th annual “A Walk Among the Stars” event Sunday. Funds people battling various forms of cancer. raised from the event will go to the Virginia K. Crosson Cancer Center, which specializes Martinez-Lagda, who discovered that she in cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment. had breast cancer after a self-examination,
Friday Sunny 80º/59º Compiled from The Weather Channel
CANCER
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Walk for Cure heightens diabetes awareness Event at Fullerton park nets money for disease research By MARIE ARCEO Daily Titan Staff
Thursday Sunny 89º/59º
said that the centerʼs library helped educate her about the disease. “I was only 33. I never thought I would die,” she said. “I just wanted to know as much as possible about the disease so that I could get better.” Martinez-Lagda, whose mother was diagnosed with breast cancer a year before her, said that she knew she was at high risk because of her family history but never thought that she would get the disease. Doctors said her breast cancer was in its second stage. Martinez-Lagda said that though the breast may identify femininity, she knew she had to do something to prevent the cancer from getting worse. She had to have a mastectomy. “It was either my breast or my life,” Martinez-Lagda said. “I quickly learned to identify my beauty in other ways.” Marie Crosson, a committee member and benefactor of the center, said this event is a way for others to meet the people who receive from the centerʼs services. “The uniqueness of this event is that it puts a face on what the hospital is trying to accomplish,” Crossen said. “People donʼt want to support a building or a machine. They want to support a person.” Judy McAlister, the communications manager of the St. Jude Memorial Foundation, said A Walk Among the Stars uses the stories of the cancer survivors to make people aware of the services provided by the center. “These models are wonderful testimonies to the care, comfort and compassion that the [centerʼs] physicians and nurses provide,”
Thousands of supporters laced up their shoes Sunday to raise funds for diabetes research at Fullertonʼs sixth annual Walk for the Cure at Craig Regional Park. The 2.1-mile walk around the park united friends and family members of people with diabetes to work toward a common goal:
increasing awareness of the disease. “There are 200,000 people with diabetes in Orange County,” said Louise Cummings, executive director of the Fullerton walk. “Twenty-thousand of those people have type 1, juvenile diabetes.” According to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, type 1 diabetes accounts for almost $300 trillion in U.S health care costs. Each hour, someone is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Fullerton is one of many cities in Southern California that hosts the annual walk to raise money
for a cure. Approximately 1,500 people registered for this yearʼs walk. “Itʼs a family-friendly event with 30 companies and about 200 families,” Cummings said. “We have new teams and returning teams.” Among those walking was the Haller family, whose team walked for Austin Haller – a 2-year-old boy from La Mirada diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. A few team members came from as far as St. George, Utah, to participate in the event. “Austin was 22 months when
he was diagnosed with diabetes,” said David Haller, Austinʼs father. After a routine visit for what seemed to be a standard diaper rash, doctors found an excess of sugar in Austinʼs urine. Family members also took notice of the sizeable amount of fluids Austin consumed as a baby. The team raised more than $3,000 from 55 friends and family members who took part in the walk. “Itʼs nice to know that there are other kids that go through the same thing that Austin goes
through,” David Haller said. “It was amazing.” One of the major sponsors of the Fullerton walk was The Coca-Cola Company. The corporate team brought more than 100 walkers from Orange County and raised more than $20,000, said Rick McCoid, a Coca-Cola branch manager. This yearʼs walk raised approximately $320,000 for research and a possible cure for diabetes. Donations, pledges and contributions from friends, families and DIABETES 3