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
THE DAILY TITAN M O N D AY, M A R C H 2 0 , 2 0 0 6
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SPORTS
OPINION
Titan baseball players choose school over pros Page 8
Bush Administration aiming at wrong target with drug tests Page 6
Local Police Fight St. Patty’s Crime
Annual Show Salutes Culture
Celebrations in Fullerton, surrounding area call for police force By Julie Anne Ines
Daily Titan Staff Writer
While most St. Patrickʼs Day revelers enjoyed the holiday legally and safely, a small minority in the city of Fullerton and surrounding cities did not. For
Vietnamese Student Association hosts event bridging the gap between students, community
some, the holiday marked their deaths. Between 5 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. Saturday four people were reported dead, said Cullen Ellingburgh, the supervising deputy coroner for the Orange County Sheriffʼs Department Coronerʼs Division in Santa Ana. Officer A. Aleman, acting supervisor for the California Highway Patrol office in Santa Ana, which handles Fullerton and Central Orange County, said the
CHP was in “maximum deployment” for the holiday weekend. Traditionally the holiday sees an increase in both traffic-related accidents and disturbances. One such incident occurred right next to the university. At 11:56 p.m. Friday, the Fullerton Police Department and University Police responded to shots fired in the PennySaver parking lot, which is adjacent to the Off Campus Pub parking lot. Pub manager John Skehan said
“some idiot” was shooting into the air for fun, but no one was injured. Police apprehended the perpetrator in the PennySaver parking lot at 1:33 a.m., according to a police report. For the most part, Skehan said the pub crowd was “excellent” and did not present any problems. Other incidents in Fullerton and surrounding cities On Friday, Aleman said there were eight incidences of people
driving under the influence in the area that the Santa Ana CHP office covers. A fatal accident that occurred at 7 a.m Saturday is still under investigation, he said. For three in Anaheim, the night ended fatally. At 10 p.m. Friday the Anaheim police responded to a traffic collision at the intersection of Ball Road and Euclid Avenue, according to an Anaheim SEE ST. PAT’S = PAGE 4
By Dhillon Babeeta
For the Daily Titan
I
t was a night full of dancing and singing as 60 Vietnamese Cal State Fullerton students took the stage at the La Mirada Theatre for the Vietnamese Student Associationʼs 25th annual culture show. Parents, CSUF students and community members packed into the theatre for the show to begin. The theme for the culture show was Superheroes. The associationʼs board concurred a mythical story that paralleled the format of the hit movie “Batman Begins,” the associationʼs President Allen Do, a thirdyear business student, said. Titling their show “VSA Man Begins,” the association was able to incorporate the foundation of the club and its historical beginning. Each performance was weaved into the superhero storyline of the show. The show incorporated modern and traditional Vietnamese dance, as well as thriller and hip-hop styles into its format. There were both English and Vietnamese singers including an upcoming underground rapper Thata. Tien Ho, the associationʼs member at large, said Thata wrote the theme song for the culture show. Several participants of the show said participating in the show is a great experience. It celebrates the Vietnamese culture and is a great way to meet other people who attend CSUF. “I think this is what school is about,” Ho said. “I know in life everyone is busy, but being active in student life is also important.” Participating in the show allows students to meet other students within their major and in other majors as well, Ho said, adding itʼs a good way to make friends. The association hosted the show so that its members would take an active part in the Vietnamese community, Do said. The club hopes to promote awareSEE VSA = PAGE 3
The female elite runners get a head start before the male elite runners at the Los Angeles Marathon XXI in Downtown L.A. The Banco Popular Challenge awards the first runner to cross the finish line $100,000. See the full story on page 5.
Conference Builds Student Leaders By Natalie Murillo
Daily Titan Staff Writer
The University Leadership Conference was held in the Titan Student Union on Saturday to encourage emerging, intermediate and advanced student leaders to get more
involved in clubs and organizations on and off campus. Ruby Flores, director of the conference and accounting major at Cal State Fullerton, said the workshops ranged from social injustice to multiculturalism and leadership. SEE LEADERS = PAGE 3
The Power of Pow Wow Inter-Tribal Student Council sponsors event in campus Quad By Daralyn Schoenewald
For the Daily Titan
T
he sounds of Native American drum beats were heard by many as the Inter-Tribal Student Council held their annual Spring Pow Wow Saturday in the Engineering and
Computer Science Quad of Cal State Fullerton. The event featured competitive dancing in many different categories, including the menʼs Northern Traditional, which is one of the oldest types of Native American dancing. This style re-enacts the movement of warriors searching for the enemy. Another newer type of dance, the Fancy Shawl, featured participants swaying and swirling like butterflies around the arena. The beaded moccasinsʼ jingles
-– small bell-like ornaments – sewn on womenʼs dresses, and colorful feathers everywhere told of beauty and history in which hours were spent hand-crafting these intricate garments. Each dance takes skill, as dancers must step in time with the drum, move their body in harmony with the music and stop dancing when the beating of the drum stops. The drums are an inherent part SEE POW WOW = PAGE 2
OPINION
NEWS
GAY ADOPTION
COMEDY SHOW
Catholic religion interferes with adoption by gays
PAGE 5
Songha Lee/Daily Titan
LOS ANGELES MARATHON XXI
Sigma Phi Epsilon raises money for organization to fight HIV, AIDS By Orion Tippens
For the Daily Titan
O
ver 100 members and friends of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity participated in a philanthropic event for a night of festivities and fundraising at Thatʼs Amore Pizza restaurant in Whittier. The event sought to contribute to the prevention and awareness of HIV and AIDS. Raffle money and 20 percent of food and drink purchases went to YouthAIDS, an organization dedicated to promoting HIV and AIDS awareness in children worldwide. The fraternity opened the invitation to all students on campus in order to raise money for the organization. Total cash raised fell below expectations as the fraternity finished the night with $220. This
INSIDE
Arab-American Comedy Night produces laughs, insight
PAGE 4
Fraternity Hosts Philosophy Charity Party Knows No event was a first for the current event organizers. “We had hoped for more and we learned a lot from this event,” Michael A. Guzman, the fraternity event organizer, said. Members of the fraternity said they were proud to contribute to a cause that would define their roles as model citizens while having fun at the same time. “We are hoping to break the media stereotype, and present our fraternity as a powerful community leader,” Philip Calderon, philanthropy chair of the fraternity, said. While a noble spirit filled the air, familiar images of fraternity life remained. Many cheered on the dubious talents of karaoke singers and goofy raffle prizes, while some gathered to converse. Michael E. Guzman, manager of Thatʼs Amore Pizza, said the pizzeria celebrated its third anniversary on that same night. To commemorate the event, his son Michael A. Guzman, planned the event to designate the pizzeria as a central hub for hosting events that benefit the community.
Bounds
Female thinkers discussed, analyzed at Symposium 2-day event By Natalie Murillo
Daily Titan Staff Writer
The annual Philosophy Symposium “Intellectual Activism: Women Pushing the Boundaries of Philosophy,” was held in the Titan Student Union Friday and gave students and faculty a chance to discuss and analyze the work of Simone de Beuvoir, Hannah Arendt and Judith Butler. “I thought it was great, very enlightening,” said philosophy major Candice Adams, who attended the event on Friday. Adams, 22, said she enjoyed the symposium because she did not know a lot about women in SEE SYMPOSIUM = PAGE 4
WEATHER
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Mostly Cloudy High: 60 Low: 46
Cloudy High: 60 Low: 44
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY Mostly Sunny High: 66 Low: 47
Partly Cloudy High: 71 Low: 48
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NEWS
N E W S @ D A I LY T I T A N . C O M
IN
OUT
OTHER NEWS
N’ ABOUT
WORLD
ON CAMPUS TONIGHT: Titan baseball will take on Pepperdine at Goodwin Field at 6 p.m. Free for students with ID.
No Progress Since 2003 BAGHDAD, Iraq – On the eve of the warʼs third anniversary, nearly 1,500 U.S. and Iraqi soldiers on Sunday sought to root out insurgents from farming villages an hourʼs drive north of the capital, and at least 35 people died in insurgent and sectarian violence nationwide. Iraqi politicians still had not formed a government more than three months after landmark elections for the countryʼs first permanent post-invasion parliament, but they announced an agreement on naming a Security Council to deal with key matters while negotiations proceed.
TUESDAY: Disneyland and California Adventure discount tickets will be on sale at TSU Information Services. WEDNESDAY: The band Human will be playing from noon to 1 p.m. at the Becker Amphitheatre.
Belarus Election Questioned MINSK, Belarus – Thousands of protesters thronged the main square of the Belarusian capital on Sunday in defiance of a government ban, refusing to recognize a presidential vote that appeared all but certain to give the iron-fisted incumbent a third term. The crowd hooted when a large video screen broadcast a live statement from the Central Election Commission chief, who announced results that showed President Alexander Lukashenko headed toward overwhelming victory in Sundayʼs vote.
NATION Bush Doesn’t Call it ‘War’ WASHINGTON – President Bush marked the anniversary of the Iraq war Sunday by touting the efforts to build democracy there and avoiding any mention of the daily violence that rages three years after he ordered an invasion. The president didnʼt utter the word “war.”
Anniversary Sparks Protest CHALMETTE, La. – The third anniversary of the U.S.-led war in Iraq drew tens of thousands of protesters around the globe, from hurricane-ravaged Louisiana to Australia, with chants of “Stop the War” and calls for the withdrawal of troops. About 200 war veterans, hurricane survivors and demonstrators gathered Sunday at the Chalmette National Cemetery to protest how the military conflict overseas had hurt the countryʼs ability to help the Gulf Coast recover from last yearʼs hurricanes.
LOCAL Biggest Pot Bust in Region BERKELEY – Police arrested seven men and seized about 5,000 marijuana plants in what officers described as one of the regionʼs biggest pot busts in recent memory. In addition to the pot plants, more than 120 pounds of dried pot as well as handguns and stacks of cash were seized from seven locations in four cities, Berkeley police said Friday. The seven men, who have ties to Oakland, Brentwood and Castro Valley, were arrested Wednesday at a converted warehouse in Berkeley following a five-month investigation. Reports compiled from The Associated Press
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WEDNESDAY: ASI will host a 9-ball billiards tournament at 4 p.m. in the TSU Underground. Songha Lee/Daily Titan
PUMPED UP
Crystal Enriquez, 15, reads a scholarship brochure that was passed out to students in the AVID program at Pioneer High School in Whittier on Thursday. CSUF sorority and fraternity Lambda Theta Alpha, Latin Sority Inc. and La Hermandad De Sigma Delta Alpha produced an out reach program called ʻTodayʼs Dream, Tomorrowʼs realityʼ to inform high school students about college life.
COP
BLOTTER MONDAY: The statue of David located between the library and Student Health Center was reported to have graffiti on it. At 10:09 a.m., a call for medical aid was placed from the Humanities Building for a male, who appeared to be around 20 years old, having a seizure and coughing up blood. University police assisted. Two Hispanic males on motorcycles, at 2:52 p.m., reportedly stole a muffler from a motorcycle parked in the parking structure on Nutwood Boulevard. At 7:53 p.m., university police were called to assist another
POW WOW FROM PAGE 1 of the Native American culture. Lewis Doctor, head of one of the drum circles said the beating of the drums represent the heart beat of Mother Earth. “The beating of the drum keeps the spirits in balance. The wind carries the sound to the spirits and makes them happy,” he said. Both the southern style of drumming, with its varying tempo, and the northern style, with its steady tempo and higher singing pitches, were represented. The drum circles were also in competition. Winners received anywhere from $50 to $100 in prize money. The drum circle winners received $300. The age range of the dancers included the Tiny Tots category, in which children as young as 3 participated, and the Golden Age category where the elders danced. Saginaw Grant, who took third place in the menʼs Golden Age event, is a celebrity of sorts,
agency in clearing a residence on Ravenwood Court after reports of a burglary. TUESDAY: A female student with a preexisting leg injury requested to be driven to the Student Health Center.
two calls. When they responded to the third call, they were unable to locate the subjects in question.
WEDNESDAY: A call for medical aid was placed at 1:27 p.m. for a female who was throwing up in the womenʼs bathroom. She requested to be taken to the Student Health Center.
SATURDAY: At 1:29 a.m., university police were called to assist the Fullerton PD after shots were fired in the Pennysaver parking lot. A disturbance was reported from a church parking lot at the corner of North State College and Yorba Linda boulevards at 2:09 a.m.
THURSDAY: At 1:35, 5:20 and 5:37 p.m., a male called to report that his vehicle had been maliciously vandalized. He said that one of the two males that had vandalized his vehicle was on probation due to a hit and run accident. University police did not take any action for the first
SUNDAY: An officer cited an intoxicated male on the east side of the Off-Campus Pub at 12:30 a.m. At 3:28 a.m., six male subjects were reported to be fighting over car keys and a girl at a residence at Nutwood and Yale avenues.
appearing as a Native American in television shows and movies, including an episode of Friends. He has most recently appeared with Anthony Hopkins in The Worldʼs Fastest Indian. Despite the possibility of rain, the turnout was good. At one point, there was no room around the arena to see the dancers compete. Council member Mariana Magana said the turnout was successful, mentioning that over 100 students had shown up. Many students came for the extra credit offered by their professors and others came to fulfill a class assignment. Accounting sophomore Laquita Brooks said she wouldnʼt have come to the pow wow if not for an assignment in her Cultural Encounters class, but she said she was glad she braved the 45-minute drive from Los Angeles. “Itʼs really educational to see a culture outside of my own. All the colors and feathers are amazing up close and personal,” Brooks said. Robert Lerdsewanrut, senior Liberal Studies major, said, “All the different colors and the danc-
ing remind me of the Chinese New Year.” Magana said students attending for extra-credit purposes were required to check in when they got there, stay for at least an hour and check out when they left. Many ended up staying for more than the required hour. There were many vendors selling Native American crafts and jewelry. Kiva Keepsakes sold bracelets, necklaces and other trinkets to benefit the CSUF Anthropology Student Association. Bracelets were among one of the popular purchases of the day. Not to be missed were the Indian tacos -– ground beef, beans, lettuce and tomatoes smothered on a large piece of fry bread. Fry bread is traditional at pow wows. Many people enjoy putting either powdered sugar or honey to make it a sweet treat. The last dance of the evening was accompanied by thunder and lightning. As the emcee, announced the eveningʼs winners, it began to pour.
FRIDAY: Titan baseball vs. Long Beach State at Goodwin Field at 7 p.m. Free for students with ID. SATURDAY: Baseball vs. Long Beach round 2 at Goodwin Field at 6 p.m. Free for students with ID. SUNDAY: Baseball vs. Long Beach round 3 at Goodwin Field at 1 p.m. Free for students with ID. NEXT WEEK: Spring Break!
OFF CAMPUS THURSDAY: Fullertonʼs Maverick Theater hosts this comedy karaoke contest show every Thursday at 10 p.m. where the winner gets $25 or a entry in the finals where the grand prize is $250. This is nothing like youʼve ever seen. Entry costs $5. Visit www.mavericktheater.com for more information. THURSDAY: Too Short will be showcasing his “skillz” at Vault 350 in Long beach at 7 p.m. The Team, Young Soprano feat. Mack 10, O.N.E., Wylde Bunch and Wild Child will all be there, and the show will include a DJ performance by The Dynamiq Do-O. Tickets cost $30 advance, $40 at the door. Visit www.vault350.com for tickets and more information. SATURDAY: The city of Fullerton will host a day trip to the 61st annual Orchid Festival in Santa Barbara. The group will also visit Gallup & Stribling and the Earl Warren Show Grounds. Bring a bagged lunch or money to buy lunch. Participants must be 18 or older and must have a PIN Number to register. Obtain a number by calling (714) 7386575 between 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday - Thursday. The event is $44 for non-residents and $38 for residents. Visit http://ecom.cityoffullerton.com/classeconnect for more details. If you would like to submit an event to Out nʼ About please e-mail news@dailytitan.com
N E W S @ D A I LY T I TA N . C O M
FROM PAGE 1
ness of Vietnamese culture within the CSUF community and with others. Ho said the association hopes to establish an understanding of the Vietnamese culture, which has had a strong presence in the local community for the last 30 years. “The new generation of children has totally assimilated into the American culture and lost some of the Vietnamese culture,” Ho said. “We hope our culture night can help these two sides to understand each other.” The association is “committed to cultural awareness, community service, and providing a safe and inviting environment to learn about the Vietnamese culture,” according to the associationʼs Web site. Ho said the club was established for Vietnamese students who were outcasts in the community after the Vietnam War, adding that many refugees of the Vietnam War came to Southern California to set up businesses and send their children to local universities. “The kids had a hard time adjusting to the new culture and felt displaced,” Ho said. “The VSA was started for this purpose. They wanted to have a club where Vietnamese Students could congregate, share their difficulties and gain a sense of belonging.” The club has 50 members but there are many more Vietnamese students who attend CSUF, Do said. The association holds other functions and sponsors various events within the Vietnamese community. In the past they have held date nights and they will be hosting a basketball tournament, Do said. The association also takes part in the Rose Parade. The association welcomes “everyone who is interested in learning about the Vietnamese culture and encourage all of our members to participate in our various cultural and social events – we are all about creating diversity,” according to the Associationʼs Web site.
FROM PAGE 1
Flores, 22, said students who attended went to three out of the nine different workshops provided at the conference. “I believe a leader starts with self-confidence,” Flores said. Flores added that she worked on the leadership conference last year and students who attended said they felt a higher self-esteem. Jaunita Razo, assistant dean of students, said the fees collected fund the leadership conference and also a Title V grant to encourage engineering and natural sci-
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When Weight Loss Takes a Wrong Turn
VSA
LEADERS
NEWS
Students with eating disorders are encourged to seek help on campus By Alicia David
Daily Titan Staff Writer
T
rying to shed a few pounds by proper diet and exercise is one thing, but when obsessing about food and calories starts to run a personʼs life a much bigger problem could lie beneath. Symptoms of eating disorders – like anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder – include extreme emotions, attitudes and behaviors surrounding weight and food issues, according to the National Eating Disorders Association. There are many different reasons that can lead people to these potentially life-threatening psychological problems. “Psychological and emotional factors are a contributor,” said Sapna Chopra, of the Cal State Fullerton Counseling Center. “Childhood experiences like being teased because of oneʼs appearance or being sexually abused can also be possible contributors.” Todayʼs society doesnʼt appear to help the situation either, Chopra said. Models and celebrities plague
ence majors to develop leadership skills. Razo said the students really enjoyed the keynote speaker, Scott Greenburg, who is a renowned motivational speaker. “This program would not happen without the partnership of the volunteers, faculty, staff and community members,” Razo said. Many CSUF organizations attended the conference – such as the Future Business Leaders of America organization, Public Relations Student Society of America, The Latin American Student Association and Movimiento Estudiantial Chicano de Aztlan. The Volunteer & Service
TV screens and covers of magazines, which make everyday people feel as if they need to keep up with this unattainable competition, she added. “We live in a society that promotes and glorifies particular body types for women and men,” Chopra said. “This sets people up for failure when they try to live up to this ideal thatʼs promoted in media and popular culture.” Eating disorders can affect anybody no matter the age, gender or cultural background. “Thereʼs a myth that eating disorders only effect white, upper-middle class, heterosexual girls and women,” Chopra said. “The truth is that eating disorders affect … people of varying levels of socioeconomic status, racial [and] ethnic backgrounds and sexual orientations.” Itʼs important that those suffering from eating disorders find the help they need in order to recover properly. The sooner the problem is found the better. “Therapy is the way to recovery – lots of it,” Nicole Bourquin, the executive director of the Eating Disorder Foundation of Orange County, said. “In-patient [care] may be needed to medically stabilize a patient, but patients always need therapy afterward. The consensus is that recovery takes five to seven years – three to five if caught early enough.”
Center sponsored the “Dining and Networking” workshop for the conference. The CSUF ROTC attended the conference and ran the challenge course. Cadet Cathy Aboy, 21, said the challenge course, which is a field leaders reaction course where a group a people who have to complete a mission using the equipment given to them. “Theyʼre not impossible missions, but theyʼre missions that make you have to think outside the box. Theyʼre not straight forward missions,” Aboy said. She added stdents have to communicate and work together to complete the mission. Three awards: The Titan
Spirit Award, the Priscilla Oaks Multicultural Leadership Scholarship and the Titan Leadership Award were given at the conference. The Titan Spirit award goes to the organization that brought the most people to the conference. The totals were not completed. The Titan Leadership Award went to CSUF student Nancy Marquez and CSUF graduate student Joseph Salib. The Priscilla Oaks Multicultural Leadership Scholarship Award, which included $200, went to CSUF student Kylie Nguyen. The fee for non-CSUF students at the door were $20 and $15 for CSUF students.
For CSUF students struggling with this issue, there are ways to find help on campus. “The Student Health and Counseling Center provides assistance with eating and weight management issues via one-on-one consultation with nutritionist Ada Schulz,” Mary Hermann, Health and Counseling Services director of health and promotion, said. “Because eating disorders are often symptoms of other mental health issues, such as body image, students can [also] seek free assistance at the Counseling and Psychological Services.” Students are encouraged to get help on campus through either of these services by calling ahead and making an appointment. The counselors said they are happy to find students the help they need to start on the road to recovery. According to the National Eating Disorders Association: • Anorexia nervosa is characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss • Bulimia nervosa is characterized by a secretive cycle of binge eating followed by purging • Binge eating disorder is characterized by periods of uncontrolled, impulsive or continuous eating beyond the point of feeling comfortably full
By the numbers:
5’4”/140Height and
weight of an average American woman
5’11”/117Height and
weight of an average American model
98Percent of models who are
thinner than American women
40Percent of Americans who
have suffered or have known someone who has suffered from an eating disorder
40Percent of Americans who
have suffered or have known someone who has suffered from an eating disorder
10 million
Number of females in the U.S. fighting a life and death battle with an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulemia
1 million Number of
males in the U.S. fighting a life and death battle with an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulemia
Irvina Kanarek/Daily Titan
FOLLOW THE LEADER: CSUF students participate in leadership strategy games outside of the TSU on Saturday during the University Leadership Conference put on by ASI.
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NEWS
N E W S @ D A I LY T I T A N . C O M
Wrong Time, Wrong Place
ST. PAT’S FROM PAGE 1
1. Streams Apartments 2. 680 Langsdorf Dr.
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3. Stubrik’s Steakhouse
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4. 110 E. Commonwealth Ave.
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5. Rockin’ Taco Cantina 6. Back Alley Bar & Grill
4 3
8
7. Ziing’s 8. Diamante Bar Illustration by Ashley Fisher and Joy Lynch/For the Daily Titan
SYMPOSIUM FROM PAGE 1
philosophy. Shari Starrett, Cal State Fullerton professor and faculty advisor for the event, said this yearʼs theme was based on what students requested. “Itʼs really been coming along well,” Philosophy Club President Beata Bujalski said. Bujalski said students seemed to enjoy the event and the interaction with the speakers. The speakers, renowned scholars in the field of philosophy, came from all over the country. Bujalski said that an average of 100 people attended the sessions. Students were not the only ones who learned something from the sessions that spanned two days. “We love teaching but we also like doing research,” Amy Coplan, philosophy professor said. “I was really proud of our students,” she said, in regards to the student commentary on the discussions with the speakers. Coplan said the students did an excellent job and she thought it reflected well on CSUF. CSUFʼs philosophy symposium is the only one in the country where the undergraduates are able to comment on the very top philosophers in the world, and students are always up to the task, Coplan said.
Police Department news release. Upon arrival, police and paramedics found four individuals injured. They were transported to a local hospital. The 21-year-old female driver, identified as Anaheim resident Claudia MedelDiaz, and the 17-year-old passenger of a Nissan Sentra involved in the accident died after arriving at the hospital. The other accident occurred at 2:10 a.m. Saturday after two vehicles collided at the intersection of Ball Road and Roberts Street. A 36-year-old male passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. Fullerton had its own share of public disturbances, with many that took place in or around the cityʼs popular nightspots. At 6:12 p.m. Friday, a drunk driver was apprehended at the intersection of South Euclid Street and West Valencia Drive. At 7:37 p.m., at Stubrickʼs Steakhouse, located at 118 E. Commonwealth Ave., two females tried to fight another female. At 9:15 p.m., Fullerton Councilwoman Sharon Quirk called to report subjects coming from the Back Alley Bar and Grill, located at 116 W. Wilshire Ave., and blocking traffic.
Several subjects were reportedly fighting at 9:46 p.m. in front of Branaganʼs Irish Pub, which is located at 213 N. Harbor Blvd. Later, and at 10:39, an argument broke out inside. Another disturbance occurred at 10:33 p.m. at the nearby Rockinʼ Taco Cantina, which is located at 111 N. Harbor Blvd. Early Saturday, at 1:08 a.m., a male was reportedly brandishing a knife in Ziingʼs Bistro and Bar, which is located at 209 N. Harbor Blvd. At 1:33 a.m. at Brianʼs, located at 1944 N. Placentia Ave., a female tried to keep her friend from driving under the influence. She tried to take her friendʼs keys, but she kept refusing her offer. She called city police in order to prevent her friend from driving. At the Diamante Bar, located at 561 S. Euclid St., six subjects beat a patron with a wallet containing a chain inside at 10:39 p.m. Several Fullerton parties also posed a problem for police officers. At the Gamma Phi Beta house, intoxicated males were reportedly knocking on the door demanding to be let back in at 1:52 a.m Saturday. Loud music was reported at 110 E. Commonwealth Ave. at 9:31 p.m. Friday. Later, a party was dispersed at 10:20 p.m. at the Streams Apartments located at 1261 Deerpark Drive. A male was found urinating in a parking lot at the corner of North Highland and Amerige avenues at 1:56 a.m. Saturday.
Comedy Night Produces More Than Laughs Comedian brings cultural awareness to a highly receptive audience By Katy French
For the Daily Titan
T
hursday night in the Pub in the TSU Underground, ArabAmerican comedian Aron Kader performed in an event co-sponsored by the Inter-Cultural Awareness Association, Middle Eastern Studies Society and Womenʼs Islamic Network. When Kader stepped on the small stage and grabbed the microphone, all eyes were on him and all ears were attentive to what he had to say. Within minutes, students were cheering with pride and laughing as Kader did impressions of President Bush and spoofed Islamic terrorists. Before long there were over a hundred people hysterically laughing. The event was publicized on campus through flyers and word-of-mouth.
Although the majority of the audience was ethnically Arab, the performance was not just for Muslims and Arabs. Kader touched on such varied subjects as Dr. Phil, the crocodile hunter, foreign policy, country music, Ernest Hemingway and the Roman numeral. He addressed sensitive issues and made profound political statements, padded by wellcrafted jokes. Kader proved his talent by making the audience laugh despite talking about some of the most serious and prevalent problems in the world today. Noor Higley, organizer of the event and president of the Middle Eastern Student Society, spent over a month planning the show and booking Kader. Higley had seen him perform in Hollywood and felt that he would be an excellent vehicle to promote her societyʼs message. She wanted to help fight the stereotypes of Arabs in the media that she said are usually negative. “I feel that Arab-Americans are not really recognized as a group,” Higley said. “I liked Aron because he talks
“I feel that ArabAmericans are not recognized as a group. I liked Aron because he talks about human rights and recognition and is trying to do something.” Noor Higley Middle Eastern Student Society President
about human rights and recognition and is trying to do something.” Kaderʼs performance was the first “Arab-American Comedy Night” sponsored by the organization and the event was very successful. The societyʼs founder, Rashad Aldabbagh, was pleased with the performance. “We had a good turnout, I think a lot of people enjoyed
it,” said Aldabbagh who also helped plan the event. “And a lot of these people are not even students.” Indeed, many people in the audience were not Cal State Fullerton students. Although some had seen the advertisements on campus, some just came along with a friend and others were fans who came to enjoy Kaderʼs cleverly crafted monologue. Sally Hosn, political science major at UC Irvine, had seen him perform at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood and was hoping to book him at her school. “He was really funny and I liked what he was saying about the community,” Hosn said. In an interview after the show, Kader opened up about his career and his goals. Kader said before Sept. 11 there was virtually no Arab comedic community, and after Sept. 11 he found that the community became more active because it was starved for comedy. “Believe it or not, Iʼve found that the Arab community is more unified now than ever before,” Kader said.
He said comedy is a powerful way to unify both his own ethnic community and other groups because it offers people a chance to come together and share a laugh. “Comedy is the freest form of expression,” he said. He said post Sept. 11 people are especially fascinated with the culture and paying more attention to Arab-American comics. He has used this new attention to his advantage. Kader is currently touring with the “Axis of Evil” comedy tour. As for people who are offended by his material, Kader remembers what famous comedian Colin Quinn once said, “If you are not being offended, then you are being left out.” Back in the Pub, Kader was so well received that the audience urged him to stay on stage even though he had been performing for over an hour and a half. Kader later said his CSUF performance was the longest set he had ever done. But the audience was highly receptive and eager for much more and he only escaped by an “accidental” light cut out.
O P I N I O N @ D A I LY T I TA N . C O M
TITAN EDITORIAL
Providing insight, analysis and perspective since 1960
BUSH’S MISPLACED PRIORITIES
S
truggling to find a new avenue to make a largely failing and antiquated War on Drugs effective and fresh, the Bush Administration is pushing for high schools around the country to randomly drug test students who participate in after-school activities. The administration believes that the random drug testing would force students to veer away from experimenting with methamphetamines and marijuana, and stress that students who test positive wonʼt be subjected to criminal charges. In 2002 the Supreme Court ruled that students who participate in after-school activities could be forced into random drug testing by their school administrators. Since the ruling, 600 school districts in the United States have applied the heavy-handed tactic to discourage drug experimentation among teens. The school districts have largely done so at the request of the Bush Administration, which has spent $8 million on the testing programs since 2002. The administration has set aside nearly $15 million for student drug testing over the course of the next fiscal year. This is another instance of the federal government trampling on the rights of parents and their children, effectively using a state institution to control how parents raise their children. Even though Republicans
supposedly stand for less government intrusion into private lives, it appears that Bush is the sort of Republican who only supports less government when it suits his needs. He isnʼt above using a compulsory institution to exert his control over the masses that, in his eyes, are obviously not intelligent enough to make their own choices. But the biggest logical fallacy of Bushʼs plan isnʼt that it tramples the privacy rights of parents and kids involved in public education, but rather the assumption that students involved in after-school programs should be targets of random testing. Obviously, the students who are most at risk for drug experimentation arenʼt athletes or musicians or theater students. Bushʼs targets should be students who arenʼt involved in school activities at all. Instead of wasting tax dollars chasing deviant honors students who smoke meth to study for a big test, or menacing marchingband musicians who canʼt stay off the grass, the Bush administration should set aside $15 million to fund education: more books, more classes, and more after-school activities. Random drug testing isnʼt going to force students to stop using them, but an extra $15 million for education could give high school students something that they canʼt buy behind the liquor store for 20 bucks: knowledge and understanding.
Editorial Board Philip Fuller, 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.
OPINION
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Don’t Mislabel Loving Homes By Daniel Monzon
Daily Titan Staff Writer
Charity, as defined in a dictionary, is the benevolent goodwill toward, or love of humanity. However, in Boston goodwill has turned sour. Recently, the Boston Archdiocese said it would halt adoption services for gay couples once a state law requiring it to allow gays and lesbians to adopt ends. Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is hoping to draft a bill that would allow Catholic Charities to provide adoption services without serving gay couples. The governor also said that their religious belief states that marriage is between a man and a woman and that “children should not be sent into homes without a
mother and a father.” Granted, there are other adoption agencies that can the serve the interests of the gay community, but that is not the point. The children will be the ones who suffer. They will have to spend additional time in whatever facility they live, instead of being in a loving home. Thatʼs much better. What would Jesus do? Not this. The stateʼs four bishops have said that the law forces them to do something that they consider immoral. Immoral? There is more movement on this front than on the issue of molestation by priests, which, of course, isnʼt moral. Iʼm glad we have “straightened” that problem out.All these children want is for someone to love them, not for religious doctrine to ruin their lives.
The church is more concerned with ʻimmoralityʼ than these childrenʼs well being. Doesnʼt God love all His children? Or do His teachings lose all meaning when found to be an inconvenience? Let those who are without sin cast the first stone. Gays are no more or less immoral than heterosexuals, yet they are put through so much more. Discrimination is supposed to squashed, not given new life, especially not by a church. Jesus said, “As I have loved you, so must you love one another.” Do you hear that, Boston Archdiocese? His words are being twisted to fit an agenda. This action is as an affront to the teachings of Jesus, not a reflection. Gays are, in fact, normal. Sadly, hatred and ignorance remains a constant presence in their lives and in society.
In the long run this isnʼt going to be a big deal. No one can force anyone else to change his or her beliefs or attitudes. Whoever possesses them must make the change themselves. As much as I would like to see the Boston Archdiocese, and, for that matter, the entire Catholic religion, change their beliefs concerning gays, all of us believe what we believe. Nobody can say that anyone else is wrong in what they believe. We may not agree on whether homosexuality is immoral. Ok, fine. Catholic Charities has placed at least 13 children with same-sex couples. Granted, under state law they had to do this. Foster children, under the care of Catholic Charities, are waiting to be adopted.Theyʼll continue to wait. Certainly, theyʼll understand that itʼs for their own good.
New Plan For Education Needs Research By Jickie Torres
Daily Titan Staff Writer
Bush announced a new program, which he sold for the 2007 national budget at his yearly chore, the State of the Union Address last January. His latest inter-office Post-it opus is entitled ” The American Competitiveness Initiative,” This is just his latest in a long history of smoke and mirrors extravaganzas that this administration puts the American public through. ʻThereʼs no weapons of mass destructionʼ—yeah, yeah. Weʼve all realized that setting up camp on an oilfield while genuine American soldiers are convinced to fight for the freedom of a repressed people has itʼs obvious fiscal benefits. And you donʼt have to tell
that to Dick Cheney. What is really upsetting is that now Bush is extending his thinly veiled joke of qualified leadership to the educational sector as he feigns interest in getting American kids to measure up to the Chinese and Indian students we figuratively cheat off of in the global classroom. His plan, in fact, is reminiscent of a student in a classroom that has been handed a prompt for an in-class essay. This child – letʼs say a fourth grader – comes up with an idealistic, simplistic, under thought, over shot solution on “How to Make the American School System Better.” In this example, the fourth graderʼs naiveté prevents him from realizing that this doubling of the governmentʼs annual science and math research budget would ironically
or hypocritically, if you will, cut funding for the National Institutes of Health that conducts biological research. But that sounds like science, doesnʼt it? The new plan would also require the elimination of a $1.3 billion vocational training program for the state of California and would also cut two million-dollar College prep programs that prepare low-income students for universities. This child would, in effect, freeze the federal Pell grant at itʼs current cap of $4,050, a figure that is already dated at 2002, not to mention the TRIO program which helps disadvantaged adults get through college. Little fourth-grader, dosenʼt this sound like “education” to you? The worst part is that Bush is no fourth grader. He is supposed to be a competent enough adult to
run a country, let alone realize that such a plan would have many antieducation-minded side effects. But then again, having an idea titled the “American Competitiveness Initiative” sounds and looks a lot better than the “Iʼm Asking For a Record $439 Billion More For the Defense Budget Initiative.” In fact heʼs asking for that and a whole lot more for homeland security, troop deployment and weapons analysis too. We shouldnʼt be against improving the level of math and science in the classroom. I hate the fact that my cousin in the Philippines kicks my ass at Sudoku. But, to be honest, taking the weneed-to-be-smarter pill from the same man who doesnʼt mind that we outsource our jobs to these very same competitors is just a little too difficult to swallow.
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S P O R T S @ D A I LY T I T A N . C O M
IN THE SPIRIT
2006 LOS ANGELES MARATHON
By Elizabeth Simoes
Daily Titan Staff Writer
Sweat and perseverance oozed from relief-stricken faces that crossed the finish line of the Los Angeles Marathon Sunday morning. Over 25,000 runners participated in the 21st annual marathon that spanned 26.2 miles throughout the city. “This is the biggest marathon ever,” Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villagarosa said. “Itʼs a beautiful, glorious day in L.A.” The race kicked off at 7:50 a.m. with the wheelchair division and was followed by the elite women, handcrank wheelchairs, elite men and the general runners. Elite runners represented various countries and competed for a prize purse that included $417,600 and two Honda Accord EX V-G cars. Banco Popular and Honda sponsored the race that also presented other monetary awards and bonuses to runners who finished with winning times. The first runner to cross the finish line, Lidiya Grigoryeva of Russia, earned $135,000 and one of the cars. She completed the race in two hours, 25 minutes and 10 seconds. Benson Cherono from Kenya followed, winning $35,000 and the other Honda vehicle. “I wanted to improve my time,” Kenyan elite runner Thomas Omwenga said. He finished in fourth place in the menʼs elite division with a time of two hours, 11 minutes and 47 seconds. Omwenga, 26, has participated in various marathons, but this was his first L.A. Marathon. He said heʼs trained for three months. John Lucas of the United States also ran the L.A. Marathon for the first time Sunday. Although he did not place in the top five, Lucas said he was pleased with his time and enjoyed his international competition in the menʼs elite division.
“I did a mile,” actor Tom Arnold said. Arnold, who was on hand to cover the marathon for the television program “The Best Damn Sports Show,” joked about his personal goal but acknowledged all of the runners for their hard work. Runners participated in the marathon from numerous states and countries, but many came from Southern California, including Orange County. Jeremy Goebel, 21, is a comparative religion major at Cal State Fullerton and a third-time runner in the Los Angeles Marathon. “I run it because Godʼs given me the ability to run,” Goebel said. “I love to run and [for me] itʼs a form of worship.” Goebel ran the Long Beach Marathon last October and has stayed in shape since. To prepare for the Los Angeles Marathon he ran once a week and played ultimate Frisbee at his church for a few hours almost daily. “I donʼt train very hard,” he said. “Itʼs an ongoing thing.” High school student Dillion Miner, 18, moved to Pasadena from Colorado only three years ago and has run in the Los Angeles Marathon the last two years. His training includes running five to 18 miles every Sunday and playing volleyball or running short distance runs during the week. The most challenging part of the marathon for Miner was the final stretch. “The last six miles were the hardest because it was hard to concentrate,” Miner said. Minerʼs mother beamed with when her son completed the marathon. “As far as Iʼm concerned, he won,” Barbara Miner said. “I think he is amazing.” She added that his time improved by 45 minutes from last year. While some people ran in the marathon for fun or to keep in shape, other runners completed the race to gain
support for a cause. Clare Euginio, a recent graduate of UC Irvine, ran her first Los Angeles marathon Sunday to support a cause close to her heart. Euginio represented Gawad Kalinga, a Filipino organization, thatʻs name means “to give care” in Tagalog. Gawad Kalinga raises money to build homes for Third World countries, mostly in the Philippines. Euginio collected pledges and sponsorships to help her reach her goal of at least $1,200. “The more money I get, the more homes can be built,” said Euginio, who also ran the Long Beach and Seattle Marathons in 2005 for the same cause. Since she is running for the benefit of others, Euginio said she gains even more satisfaction from finishing a marathon. “I feel ecstatic,” Euginio said. “The pain youʼre going through disappears. Itʼs this high feeling.” She said itʼs rewarding to fulfill her personal goal of completing the marathon and to know that she is doing something for the poor and underprivileged. The Bilal Learning Center in South Central gained support from 81-year-old runner, Jesse Aluqdah. “I lost my leg in 1943 in World War II,” Aluqdah said. Even without his right leg, Aluqdah completed eight Los Angeles marathons – his first in 1988 – at the age of 63. Last year was his last marathon, but Aluqdah still runs in the 5K. He asked for a $5 donation for each mile in support of the school. “Iʼm a great believer in keeping the body in good shape,” Aluqdah said. “Treat yourself right.” After the marathon runners were treated to bottled water, snack foods and free massages. They also congratulated each other and met up with family and friends. “Everyone here is a champion,” Villagarosa said.
Photos by Christina House and Songha Lee
FROM TOP: James Fieberg of San Diego stands wrapped in an insulating sheet after finishing his first Los Angeles Marathon (photo by Songha Lee). / Male elite runners race through the streets of downtown Los Angles (photo by Songha Lee). / Lidiya Grigoryeva of Russia finishes first in the 2006 Female Elite Race on Sunday (photo by Christina House). / Robert Kiprotich Cheruiyot of Kenya, one of the Male Elite Race participants, relaxes on a curb shortly after crossing the finish line (photo by Christina House).
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Baseball Titans Consider Going Pro CSUF players return to school for better draft position, stable future
one more season. “Itʼs cool to hear that youʼve been drafted,” Pill said. “But I also knew I needed to come back and By Kirk Dingley get better.” Once the players decided to Daily Titan Staff Writer return to the university, they lose the opportunity to join the Major As the Los Angeles Angels of League organization that drafted Anaheim prepare to start another them, unless the team decides to season in April, many Cal State select them again in a future draft. Fullerton students will be forced After already being picked once, to eat a steady diet of Top Ramen the players will most likely be if theyʼre planning on seeing the chosen again, but there is always a Angels play at Angel Stadium. chance of an injury that could jeopTickets range from $28 to $400 ardize a playerʼs dreams of playing dollars and thatʼs not counting professionally and eventually in refreshments and a lucky “rally the Major Leagues. “You can get monkey” doll. injured in the Before plunging into further minor leagues “It’s cool to hear that financial aid too,” said Titan you’ve been drafted, debt, there is a senior second much smarter baseman Justin but I also knew I alternative that needed to come back ...” Turner, who was doesnʼt cost as drafted in the much. With a 29th round by Brett Pill valid student the New York Titan First Baseman I.D., baseball Yankees. fans can watch Turner says the Titan pros of the chances of tomorrow play at Goodwin Field playing in the big leagues are still for free. small even after being drafted and In 2005, five Titan Baseball he wanted to savor his time at players decided to spend another CSUF as a student athlete. year at CSUF after being drafted “Iʼm happy being a Titan. Iʼm by Major League Teams. also looking forward to getting “Itʼs a great feeling to hear that my degree in Kinesiology,” Turner youʼve been drafted,” said Titans said. junior catcher John Curtis, who Having a degree to fall back in was drafted in the 29th round case a player doesnʼt make it as by the Cleveland Indians. “But I a professional baseball player is knew I wasnʼt going because of important, but money also plays a the round I was drafted in. I knew major part in a playerʼs decision to I needed to come back and get bet- stay in school or to begin a profester and improve here at Cal State sional career in the minor leagues. Fullerton.” According to information proTitan first basemen Brett Pill vided on the Baseball America also got to experience the child- Web site, players drafted in the hood thrill of being drafted by a first couple of rounds receive signMajor League Team when the New ing bonus upwards of one milYork Yankees called his name in lion dollars and likely more. The the 45th round. Still, he also knew Angels first-round pick Jered immediately that he still belonged Weaver received $4 million as a in Titan orange and blue for at least signing bonus in 2005, but signing
WBC FROM PAGE 10
should be played after the World Series; others feel it would be ideal to play it mid-season like the NHL does with the Winter Olympics, where they set a time where no NHL games would be taking place. The latter situations do allow players to have the rhythm and timing down needed to be at peak performance. The teams of USA and Dominican Republic are probably the best examples of not being ready for the tournament. Both were looked at as having the deepest lineups but were unable to produce the runs that everyone thought they were going to prior to the beginning of the tournament. “In a perfect world I think it would work best right after the World Series,” Baseball Head Coach George Horton said. “You would have less players dropping out.” Horton is talking about the amount of players that were reluctant to get involved because of the timing. Unlike the lax environment of spring training, the WBC calls for a complete commitment because of the hunger of the teams to compete to win for their individual countries. The other concern of injuries can make MLB owners nervous, as their respective MLB players are multimillion dollar investments. While many MLB fans probably would have liked the championship game featuring two teams with more MLB players, most respective general managers and George Steinbrenner will be breathing a sigh of relief with only Suzuki and his fellow teammate Akinori Otsuka as the two Major Leagues playing for the WBC championship today. “I see why general managers and owners would be worried about injuries,” Horton said. “But there is the same possibility during spring training.”
SPORTS IN SHORT
Baseball Titans Take Series in Arizona Tucson, Ariz. - Justin Turnerʼs second home run of the series tied the ballgame and his RBI double in the top of the ninth proved to be the game-winner as No. 7 Cal State Fullerton swept Arizona with a 5-3 win Sunday afternoon at blustery Jerry Kindall Field. The start of the game was delayed 51 minutes and was then again held up in the sixth with a rain/hail storm delaying the game another 24 minutes, but the Titans persevered the elements to improve to 17-6. Fullerton has now won eight in a row and 17 of their last 20. Arizona dropped their sixth game in a row and fell to 10-12 on the season.
Softball CSUF Falls to Washington
David Pardo/Daily Titan
TURNING IT UP A NOTCH: CSUF senior second baseman Justin Turner decided to stay at CSUF after being drafted by the New York Yankees. bonuses for players drafted around the 10th round fall to approximately $50,000 and continue to decline with each of the 50 passing rounds. “I was looking forward to getting drafted higher,” Turner said. “I was a little disappointed.”
Turner, along with the Titan players who were drafted in 2005 such as shortstop Blake Davis [46th round, Cleveland Indians] and outfielder Danny Dorn [23rd round, Tampa Bay Devil Rays], hope to improve their draft standing in the next Major League Baseball ama-
teur draft by continuing to improve at the college level by showcasing their talents, playing for one of the top teams in the country. “Why not continue to enjoy the college experience and the relationships I have with my teammates,” Turner said.
Indiana, the defending champion, was eliminated in the first round, while runner-up Syracuse and UNLV were ousted in the second round. Providence, like Louisville last year, was coached by Rick Pitino and didnʼt make the field. Half of the Big Eastʼs record eight teams selected for the NCAA tournament are still around for the regional semifinals. Thatʼs twice as many as any other conference has left. Four of the five Big East teams still alive won Sunday _ Connecticut, Villanova, West Virginia and Georgetown. Pittsburgh was the only one to lose. Villanova and Georgetown are both in the Minneapolis Regional, so the best the conference can do is match its record three teams in the Final Four. In 1985, national champion Villanova, runner-up Georgetown and St. Johnʼs were in the Final Four with Memphis the only non-Big East team. Four conferences, the Pac-10,
Missouri Valley, Atlantic Coast and Southeastern Conference each have two teams remaining. The Missouri Valley started with four teams, something that caused quite a stir on Selection
10 all season. George Mason of the Colonial Athletic Association is the first team from its league to reach the regional semifinals since Richmond in 1988. The Patriots will play Wichita State, meaning a mid-major team will be playing next weekend with a Final Four berth at stake. “Thereʼs been talk about the Missouri Valley all year,” said Lamar Butler, who led George Mason with 18 points. “Hardly anyone has talked about the CAA. Itʼs hard to believe weʼre both in the Sweet 16.” The Atlantic Coast Conference went 4-0 in the first round but things changed dramatically in the second round. While overall No. 1 seed Duke and Boston College moved on to next weekend, North Carolina and North Carolina State both lost Sunday. The Big Ten wished it still had half of its six teams still alive. No Big Ten team will be playing in the regional semifinals for
Cal State Fullerton lost to visiting Washington, 5-4, in extra innings on Saturday night. The Titans fell to 16-15 overall and fell into the losers bracket to face Oklahoma before the game was cancelled due to rain with Fullerton leading 1-0 in the second. The Huskies jumped out early against Fullerton, plating three runs in the first. Fullerton had two golden chances in extra innings, but could not get the runner home from third. Information provided by CSUF Sports Media Relations www.Fullertontitans.com
NCAA Tournament Starts with Major Upsets
March Madness begins with surprise early exits; no repeat Final Four The Associated Press
None of last yearʼs Final Four teams will be around for this yearʼs regional semifinals and George Mason sent half of them home early. The 11th-seeded Patriots, one of the more controversial at-large selections in the field of 65, beat Michigan State in the first round and eliminated defending national champion North Carolina 65-60 on Sunday. Illinois, the 2005 runner-up was beaten 67-64 by Washington in the second round Saturday. Louisville, the fourth member of last yearʼs Final Four, didnʼt make the tournament this season. The last time none of the previous yearʼs Final Four teams were around for the second weekend was 1988.
“Hardly anyone has talked about the CAA. It’s hard to believe we’re both in the Sweet 16.” Lamar Butler George Mason Guard
Sunday. But Wichita State and Bradley are still around. Two other mid-major conferences have teams playing. Gonzaga of the West Coast Conference was expected to reach the third round considering the Bulldogs were ranked in the top
the first time since 1996, when the league had five teams in the field. All four No. 1 seeds — Duke, Connecticut, Villanova and Memphis — advanced to the round of the 16. Itʼs the second straight year that happened (two went on to the Final Four). Since 1979, when the field expanded to 32 teams, all four No. 1s have advanced to the regional semifinals 13 times. Bradley was the lowest seed to reach the regional semifinals. The Braves are the first No. 13 seed to get that far since 1999, when Oklahoma won its first two games before losing to Michigan State in the round of 16. Only two teams seeded lower than 13 have reached the round of 16: Cleveland State in 1986 and Chattanooga in 1997 were both 14 seeds. Both lost in the third round. This is Bradleyʼs first appearance in the round of 16 since 1955. Back then there were only 24 teams.
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The Associated Press
AMERICAN SIGH: Team USA members including New York Yankees team captain, Derek Jeter, look on as USA falls to Mexico, 2-1, in the second round of the inaugural World Baseball Classic at the Anaheim Convention Center. The loss eliminated USA from the Classic. Japan plays against Cuba in the finals today.
Players, Fans Show National Pride at WBC International play gives fans different baseball forum for country spirit By Jon Castillo
Daily Titan Staff Writer
While the game of baseball was invented in the United States, the gap of playing talent between the United States and other countries has closed significantly in recent decades. Team USA learned this first hand, in the wrong way as they were eliminated from the World Baseball Classic on Friday, a 16-team tourna-
ment they were supposed to win, or at least qualify to be in the finals. The tournament was not about a trophy or a ring; it had more on the line for the players: pride. The World Baseball Classic, in its first year of existence, was not about the superstars on the teams, but showcasing the passion of the countries involved. Cuba has proven that fact, methodically beating teams they had to in order to reach the championship game today, despite obviously not having any Major League baseball players on their roster. Ichiro Suzuki of Japan has proven to be an unpopular figure among Korean fans, when he said that it
would take 30 years for Korean coach Rick Eckstein said in an baseball to catch up with the level interview during a team practice of play in Japan. He finally got at CSUF. “Itʼs a very special event, some satisfacand itʼs an honor tion and much to represent your redemption, country and go “It’s an honor to with three hits represent your country out there and and two steals play as hard as ... and play as hard as in a semi-final you can play.” championship Angels pitchyou can play.” er Bartolo Colon game that led his Rick Eckstein told reporters Japanese team Team USA after the openover their bitter ing game for rivals, who had Dominican gone unbeaten Republic that he felt the weight of until last Saturday. “Representing your country and his country on his shoulders. That kind of passion for the tourbeing in this type of environment is pretty special,” Team USA bench nament made it worth playing and
was evident for much of the fans who eagerly supported their respective countries. What makes the WBC pure is the passion not only in the players, but what came out of the stands. Stadiums were being filled with fans donning their countries colors and waving flags in the air. From the outset of each game you could hear the back-and-forth chanting of countriesʼ names. “It was nothing like a regular MLB game,” San Diego State senior Ralph Wu said of attending the Mexico-Korea game. “The crowd was electric.” On the other hand, mixed emotions about the WBC left fans
unsure of the outcome of the tournament, even before it began. Major League general managers and owners expressed concern for the health of their players participating and the timing of the event. One can argue that the time period chosen for the inaugural tournament wasnʼt as ideal – especially for much of the American team, who were likely still in spring training shape and had not gotten to play together unlike some of the other teams in the tournament. Some argued that the WBC
SEE WBC = PAGE 8