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 W E E K O F M AY 2 2 – 2 5 , 2 0 0 6
w w w. d a i l y t i t a n . c o m
Vo l u m e 8 2 , I s s u e 5 4
SPORTS
INTROSPECT
With 1-0 win Sunday, Titans baseball clinches playoff spot Page 13
Prayer and religion: An examination of worship, faith Page 18
Devoted to God’s Call
Grad Speakers Settle on Topics
Christen Nguyen says God called her to a life of service. A trip to Vietnam, her homeland that she fled as a child, spurred her to consider a religious vocation.
One keynote speaker will stress friendships, continuing education By Cristina Rodriguez
Daily Titan Staff Writer
Community and sacrifice are two core concepts that Cal State Fullerton commencement speakers Bill Campbell and Rueben Martinez look forward to discussing. Campbell, Orange County Supervisor, plans to address three topics. “My sons told me to keep it short. I will probably discuss continuing education, giving back to the community and the importance of friendships,” he said. “Those are my key points in discussing how to have a successful life.” Success is nothing new to the supervisor, who was first elected to the office of the Third District in January of 2003, which includes Anaheim, Brea, Irvine, Orange, Tustin, Villa Park, and Yorba Linda. “By virtue of serving on the board I attend quite a number of meetings and social gatherings,” he said. Campbell recently welcomed President Bush during his recent trip to Orange County. Campbell is a California native and received his bachelorʼs degree in electrical engineering from Loyola Marymont University. SEE SPEAKERS = PAGE 3
Phil Gordon/Daily Titan
FAITH AND EDUCATION: Sister Christen Nguyen tells of how her parents escaped Vietnam and came to America.
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w e n t y - s i x - y e a r- o l d Christen Nguyen sits on a chair in the Titan Student Union, her hands grasping a bottled Starbucks Frappuccino. As her hand moves to twist the cap back on after taking a sip, there is a noticeable sparkle on her left hand ring finger: a simple, narrow silver band. Some young women her age would giggle shyly when asked about a ring on that hand, on that finger, remembering the boyfriend or fiance who gave it to them as a promise of undying devotion, or the husband who gave it to them as a commitment to a life together. Nguyen – a CSUF junior psychology major – neither giggles
Phil Gordon/Daily Titan
WARMING UP TO YOGA
Bikram yoga master Joe Vogt practices yoga manuevers in a room heated to 105 degrees in Downtown Fullerton. He believes improved stress management is a benefit of regular yoga execise. See full story on Page 6.
Great Park’s Future Comes into View With groundbreakings planned for the summer, disputed land takes shape By Sara Havlena
Daily Titan Staff Writer
After the closing of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, Orange County residents have been battling over what to do with the 4,700 acres of land. The Orange County Central Park and Nature Preserve Initiative was passed on March 5, 2002, which meant the land would be zoned for a park, not an airport. An online auction was held and the land was eventually purchased by a residential and community developer, Lennar Communities, for $649.5 million, according to the Orange County Great Parkʼs Web site. Lennar owns 3,700 acres, and the government kept 1,000 acres for permanent open space. Part of the purchase agreement states that the buyer of the base would
Irvina Kanarek/Daily Titan
CONSTRUCTION: Cones and signs divert traffic on a street near the Great Park. Roads are being widened to accomodate future guests.
give the city of Irvine 1,300 acres for a park and the rest could be developed for residential and commercial uses. That, of course, is a much greater financial deal than developing the whole thing as a park, said Marsha Burgess, manager of public affairs for the Orange County Great Park. The Great Park board of direc-
tors went through an international competition to select a designer for the park. The board wanted to have the community involved in picking the winner. The board encouraged residents and organizations to pitch ideas and held an online poll in which the public viewed and voted on the designs, Burgess said.
SPORTS
OPINION
ATHLETIC SUPPORTERS
PROPOSITION 82
Students donʼt make up much of the baseball teamʼs fan base
PAGE 13
SEE GREAT PARK = PAGE 8
INSIDE
Supporters and studies havenʼt made a case for raising taxes
PAGE 22
In January the board of directors selected the Ken Smith Landscape Architecture design team. The world-renowned New York-based firm, headed by architect Ken Smith, has several famous designs, including the East Pines Master Plan in New York, and Third Street Light Rail Project in San Francisco, according to the Great Parkʼs Web site. Development of the parkʼs design, borders, monuments, roads and look are underway. The plan should be ready over the summer, and a final presentation of the plan in November, Burgess said. Burgess said tentative ground breaking ceremonies are set for this summer, with construction beginning in the fall following the city of Irvineʼs approval of Lennarʼs development plans. But construction to widen the roads leading into the park has already begun. The key features of Smithʼs design include a canyon with a
MONDAY
By Julie Anne Ines
Daily Titan Staff Writer
nor calls attention to the unembellished piece of jewelry. Only when asked about it does she take the ring off her finger with little ceremony to reveal the message inscribed on the inside of the band: Jesus Christ Crucified. Nguyen is not married or engaged. She is a nun. She received the ring from a fellow “classmate” of hers who took her vows at the same time. She is not required to wear the ring. She just wears it to remind herself that she is “not available anymore” as she makes her way across campus – past couples holding hands or past fliSEE NGUYEN= PAGE 5
Boys & Girls Club Has Big Ideas for Its Home If all goes to plan, club’s facilities will be rebuilt at a site near current location By Dominic Kingdamo
Daily Titan Staff Writer
Big plans are in the making for the Placentia-Yorba Linda Boys & Girls Club. If things go accordingly, the land the current facility resides on will be sold to a private contractor and a new, state-of-theart facility will be built less than a mile away by December 2007. The current club is at the corner of Crowther and Bradford avenues. The new location is set to be just a few blocks north at Kraemer Memorial Park, which sits at the corner of Chapman and Bradford avenues. “The current building has been there since 1962, and while it was a good location at the time, there now are lots of commercial buildings in the area,” said Nathan Chappell, chief professional officer of the club. “The new location would have lots of green space for kids to run around in.” The current building is approximately 17,000 square feet, Chappell said, and the new building, which will cost $5 million,
will be approximately 25,000 square feet. The club will be getting $2.5 million for the sale of its current site but still needs to raise another $2.5 million to fund the new structure. “Weʼll be launching a development campaign on July 1, and weʼre working on getting a few sponsors in addition to hopefully getting help from the community,” Chappell said. The Boys & Girls Club organization has been helping to serve disadvantaged youth throughout the United States for the past 100 years. “From our humble beginnings more than a century ago, this great movement has guided millions of young people and transforming countless lives,” said Jim Caufield, senior vice-president of Boys & Girls Clubs of America in a press release. “Boys & Girls Clubs are, and must continue to be, one of the most unique and effective systems of informal guidance ever devised.” The current Placentia-Yorba Linda facility offers tutoring services, batting cages, arts and crafts, a drama stage, a climbing SEE CLUB = PAGE 5
WEATHER TUESDAY
Showers Mostly Sunny High: 69 Low: 56 High: 77 Low: 61
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY Mostly Sunny High: 78 Low: 62
Sunny High: 76 Low: 61
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W E E K O F M AY 2 2 – 2 5 , 2 0 0 6
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
Hamas, Fatah Tensions Rise
THIS WEEK: Final Examinations!
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Palestinian police thwarted an attack Sunday on a security commander – the second ally of President Mahmoud Abbas targeted in two days – as the rivalry between his moderate Fatah Party and the Hamas militant group threatened to explode. Abbas called on both sides to do everything possible to avoid violence and said he would open talks with Hamas later this week to end the dangerous power struggle.
MONDAY: Free sandwiches and goodies at the peanut butter study jam at the TSU Pub at midnight. MONDAY THRU FRIDAY: 24 hour study night at the Titan Student Union.
Iraqi Leader Vows Security
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY: Commencement celebrating the scholastic success of graduating students. CSUF proudly presents the graduating class of 2006. Visit www.fullerton.edu for additional information.
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iraqʼs new prime minister promised Sunday to use “maximum force” if necessary to end the brutal insurgent and sectarian violence wracking the country, while a suicide bomber killed more than a dozen people at a restaurant in downtown Baghdad. Although he focused on the need to end bloodshed, Nouri alMaliki also had to address unfinished political negotiations at a Cabinet meeting on the governmentʼs first full day in office.
NATION
OFF CAMPUS
Mayor Nagin Stresses Unity NEW ORLEANS – Newly re-elected Mayor Ray Nagin immediately began trying to mend ties with political opponents and crucial leaders on Sunday as he looked ahead to another four years to oversee reconstruction of this major American city. “Weʼre going to bring this city together. Itʼs my intention to reach out to every segment of this community,” Nagin said a day after defeating Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu. “This is our shot. This is our time.”
Congressman Investigated ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A congressman under investigation for bribery was caught on videotape accepting $100,000 in $100 bills from an FBI informant whose conversations with the lawmaker also were recorded, according to a court document released Sunday. Agents later found the cash hidden in his freezer. At one audiotaped meeting, Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., chuckles about writing in code to keep secret what the government contends was his corrupt role in getting his children a cut of a communications companyʼs deal for work in Africa.
LOCAL
‘Da Vinci’ a Hit at Box Office LOS ANGELES – Moviegoers gave their blessing to the “The Da Vinci Code” over the weekend, spending an estimated $77 million to see the Tom Hanks religious thriller. While the film didnʼt set a domestic box office record, it was the largest weekend opening of the year so far and became the second largest worldwide release after “Star Wars: Episode III.” It garnered some $224 million worldwide, according to Sony Pictures. The film also was the best domestic opening for both Hanks and director Ron Howard. Reports compiled from The Associated Press
DAILY TITAN EDITORIAL
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FLYING ON THE EDGE
Kevin Rogers/Daily Titan
Wingwalker Margaret Stivers holds the American Flag as she walks along a biplane in flight at the Planes of Fame Airshow at the Chino Airport on Saturday. Her sport preserves the flying circus tradtions of the 20th century.
MONDAY: Hardcore band, the Equinox Tour featuring Trapt with Shinedown and Halestorm performs at the House of Blues in Anaheim at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are between $22.50 and $25. Visit www.hob.com://venues/clubvenues/anaheim/ for additional information. WEDNESDAY: Madonna performs at the Forum at 8 p.m. Tickets are between $55 and $350. For tickets, call (714) 740-2000 or go online at www.ticketmaster. com. SATURDAY: “The Shadow Box.” A Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning play by Michael Christofer that tells the stories of three families who take up residence at a West Coast hospice to spend their final days with a loved one. Phillips Hall Theatre in Santa Ana. Tickets: $10 adults, $8 students and seniors, $6 for children 12 and under. 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
NEWS
W E E K O F M AY 2 2 – 2 5 , 2 0 0 6
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Historic Marketing Campaigns on View If Students Flake,
and different technologies used by advertisers at different times,” Chiang said. “The older graphics used to be more wordy, but now image is more dominant.” Mikela Oropeza, anthropology student at CSUF and retail coordinator in the OC Weeklyʼs advertising department, said she viewed the exhibit and immediately noticed the way women were portrayed. “The men look directly out from the poster or up towards an object, while women are shown with helpless expressions and always looking up towards the man or away from him,” Oropeza said of one of the galleryʼs old movie posters. “Itʼs kind of propaganda, showing that women should be docile and weak so that males can
look strong.” Chiang said she intentionally displayed some advertisements that modern society would consider inappropriate. In a late 19th century Harperʼs Magazine, Chiang said she enlarged an advertisement titled, “A Scrapbook for ʻHomely Womenʼ Only,” to show viewers a gender bias in past marketing techniques. The ad states: “We dedicate this collection of toilet secrets not to the pretty women … but to the plainer sisterhood, to those who look in the glass and are not satisfied with what they see.” “You donʼt get away with things like that today,” Chiang said. “It would be totally politically incorrect.” Gail Love, communications pro-
fessor at CSUF who has worked in the advertising field for over 25 years, said consumers today are much more sophisticated than they were in the past. “When you look at old ads you can see just how sophisticated consumers have become,” Love said. “Advertisers in turn have had to become more sophisticated.” Love said the exhibit is an excellent reminder of the impact advertising has on American society and culture. “The average American is subjected to around 3,000 messages a day,” she said. “America is a very commercially driven society.” Andy Warhol, who gained fame as an American painter and contributor to the pop art era, referred to art in advertising as art for the masses, Love said. Visitors have left comments and suggestions in two guest books at both wings of the gallery. One of those comments describes the exhibit as “a blast from the past and todayʼs history in the making.” Another reads, “Down with consumerism!” Some visitors wrote dissatisfied notes, one calling the materials “old junk probably from my grandmotherʼs attic,” Chiang said. Visitors should study the art and analyze the different subliminal messages aimed at influencing consumer purchasing, she said. “Thereʼs a lot of things if you read into the labels.”
tant in my life. I love to be around literature.” Martinez, 66, grew up in Miami, Arizona. He moved to California at 17 in Bill search of the Campbell “American Orange County dream.” Supervisor Martinez became a barber and in 1993 accomplished his dream by turning his love for literature into a blooming business. “The bookstore was born in the barbershop,” he said. “I was always loaning books out.” Martinez still has the same barberʼs seat, which has now been converted into an office. The wall is full of awards and honors that have been bestowed upon him over the years.
His vision turned into a reality with Libreria Martinez. Martinez has expanded his location in Santa Ana to a second store in Rueben Lynwood. Martinez “I believe Libreria founder when you and owner give a book to a child you give them the world.” he said. “With that in mind, anything and everything is possible.” Martinez is currently working on a biography, a childrenʼs book called “Born in the Corn,” as well as another book called “The Importance of Literature in The Latino Community Throughout the United States.” Martinez describes graduation as a reunion of unions, referring to the uniting of generations of family, friends and inspiration.
“Any meaningful act you do day in and day out, which requires commitment, I call success,” he said. Martinez plans to give some of his speech in Spanish and to emphasize the importance of sacrifice. “It takes generations of sacrifice, of sweat and tears to get a family member to graduate,” he said. “I call graduation, liberty and freedom.” Despite only having a high school education, Martinez realizes the importance of education, which is evident in his family. Martinez, who raised his children as a single parent, made sacrifices so his children could attend college. “All three of my children finished college,” he said. “Now my grandchildren are discussing college.” Martinez will address graduates during the first ceremony on Saturday, May 27, while Campbell will speak Sunday, May 28.
Classic signs, posters other advertisements on display in Pollak Library By Joey T. English
For the Daily Titan
The current art exhibit in Cal State Fullertonʼs Pollak Library, “Designed to Sell,” features marketing devices and creative presentations of American advertisers from the 19th century to present time. The display, located in both the west and east wings of the libraryʼs Atrium Gallery, consists of old enamel metal signs, movie posters, lobby cards, campaign material and other various advertising paraphernalia from companies such as Camel, Coca-Cola and Kodak. “I went around for many months to collect from different sources, things to present for this exhibit that I think will benefit many students,” said Veronica Chiang, director and curator of the exhibition, which began on April 3 and runs until July 19. Chiang said most of the collection comes from private sources, but the library holds its own small archive of movie posters and campaign material included in the display. “This gallery shows the different concepts, different approaches
SPEAKERS FROM PAGE 1
He also has a masterʼs degree in business administration from Harvard Business School. Campbell said his love for politics and community began when he visited Washington, D.C. as a young child. “When I first visited Washington, D.C., I fell in love [with it] and it made quite an impression on me,” he said. “I knew I wanted to give back to my community.” Rueben Martinez, owner and founder of Libreria Martinez: Books & Art Gallery in Santa Ana shares a love for giving back to his community. Martinez has been an advocate in the Latino community for years, promoting education and literacy while attempting to make a difference. “Iʼve always been a firm believer in literacy,” he said. “Literature has been very impor-
Images Provided by Veronica Chiang
MARKETING OF OLD: Classic advertising campaigns are on display in the Pollak Library through July 19.
Aid Is at Stake
Most meet requirements, but for some, financial aid flow can be cut off By Nicole Donahue
For the Daily Titan
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he threat of failing a class is upsetting in itself, but failing and losing financial aid can be absolutely devastating. Students who are receiving financial aid at Cal State Fullerton have some expectations in order to keep the monetary support of their grants and loans. With the acceptance of financial aid through the university, students are also essentially signing a contract to make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), which is defined in the handouts and the Financial Aid Web site. The requirements are based on qualitative and quantitative measures set by federal financial aid regulations. These conditions are crucial yet one of the most misunderstood aspects of financial assistance, according to the Web site. If a student earns less than 90 percent of their attempted units or fails to obtain a degree in what CSUF allots as a reasonable amount of time, their financial award is at stake. Director of Financial Aid Deborah McCracken, knows the penalties by heart. When financial aid recipients drop below 90 percent, they are put on a warning status, she said. “This is the only notification we send by letter,” McCracken said. “We regard it too important for e-mail.” Students can continue to accrue financial aid while under warning, but for only one semester. After that semester, their academic status must return to the designated standards. As for students who earn less than 70 percent, their awarded financial aid eligibility is terminated and can only be acquired again in the future if they requalify. As McCracken recited the conditions students must meet to be taken off warning status or to requalify for financial aid. Students need to attempt a minimum of six units and 100 percent of those units must be completed, in addition to earning a cumulative 2.0 GPA, she said. In regards to students who have
gone beyond the unit cap for a particular degree, which is 150 percent of the minimum number of units required, they are no longer able to benefit from financial assistance, she said. But if they graduate and choose to pursue a different degree, they can re-apply for aid towards their new educational path, she said. “Most of our work in the office is spent helping students achieve financial aid, and only some is spent helping students with Satisfactory Academic Progress,” McCracken said when asked if many students fall into this predicament. During the fall and spring semesters of 2004 and 2005, 87.2 percent of the students who received financial aid met the SAP requirements. But still 487 termination notifications were mailed during the fall semester, and 1,576 mailed in the spring, according to documents released by Financial Aid. Sean Slusser, of Academic Advisement, mainly advises students on the topic of general education, but will occasionally provide some assistance to students who have been placed on academic probation. The availability of tutors provided by the University Learning Center is a tool he tends to offer in situations where a student is struggling. “When you see students on probation, they arenʼt the ones coming in regularly for academic advisement,” Slusser said. “Itʼs often a surprise to them, and they werenʼt even aware of how they were doing academically.” Eric Justus became familiar with the rigors of paying back student loans when he failed to meet the financial aid requirements. Many times lenders begin to collect payments six months after the beneficiary can no longer claim status as a student, as was the case for Justus. But he decided to implement his right to appeal his eligibility termination. After meeting with his financial aid adviser, he sent in a written appeal that explained circumstances beyond his control causing him to not meet the standards his student loan and university required. Many options and resources are available to those who are faced with the threat of a financial aid warning status or possible termination, but it is their responsibility to utilize and apply them.
NEWS Stripper Students: Nude by Night, Clothed in Class 4
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Some women choose to work as exotic dancers to fund their college educations By Nicole Donahue
For the Daily Titan
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spray bottle of chemical disinfectant and a small white towel sit at the base of a polished metal pole in the middle of a small stage. The room is barely lit except for the rotating red and blue lights; the sound of their mechanics quietly hums and clicks as the disc jockey switches to another track in his black booth. Two men find empty seats near the back and adjust their ties in sync. The blase look on their faces seems to be a popular expression among the patrons, the only noticeable feature on the barely visible silhouettes that dot the room. There is the sudden glow of a spotlight on the metallic pole and wall-mounted speakers begin to pump out the sound of an electronic drum kit, hitting notes reminiscent of a human heart beat, and a sample of a woman breathing rhythmically. The song is “Bloodsport” by the Sneakerpimps. Jade, who for privacy reasons asked to be identified by her stage name, has been working the night shift at Fantasy Girls for the past four years while attending the University of Nevada, Reno. She graduated last semester at 22 years
old with a major in criminal justice. She paid her way through college with the money she earned skillfully gripping slick strip club poles with her thighs and learning the trade of erotic dancing. Erotic dancing might not be the most common way to pay the tuition and rent and books. But with a job that still maintains its taboos, people have various opinions regarding its employees, whether or not the G-string caddied paychecks pay for an accredited education. Alice Valdez, a Wells Fargo loan officer, has helped finance a number of clients who earn their wages stripping. “Most of the time theyʼre making an average of $300 to $500 a day,” Valdez said. “But itʼs hard to get out of a business that provides so much money; amounts that other jobs canʼt compare to.” Many times it is the late night and weekend shifts at strip clubs that pull in a large profit due to a higher attendance and a more expensive cover charge at the door. It is these shifts that exotic dancers joust for in order to receive a better salary. But Michael Solorza, a student adviser at UC Irvine, pointed out that these late nights could cut into dancerʼs study time. He recalled one womanʼs case. “It turned out she was working as an exotic dancer and the hours were interfering with her demanding school schedule,” Solorza said. “She ended up having to take a few semesters off.” Johanna Carrico, a student at Biola
N E W S @ D A I LY T I T A N . C O M
Photo Provided by Nicole Donahue
IN THE BUSINESS OF SKIN: A crowd gathers at Club Ultraluxx in Los Angeles. Some women choose to strip to pay for a college education. University, said a job in the strip club industry can have a lasting effect. Carrico and her boyfriend, CSUF alumnus Adam Mockett, are involved in the Christian Church group at Rock Harbor in Costa Mesa. They agree that their church would frown upon a career in stripping, but theyʼd hope the church would still offer support and respect an individual regardless of his or her choices. “I understand that college is really
expensive and hard to afford, but I do think there are consequences,” Mockett said when asked if heʼd condone stripping if the money was used for educational purposes. Mockett and Carrico believe people who put their bodies on exhibit for strangers are in danger of possibly feeling less valuable and, if in a relationship, could make their partner feel less valuable too. “The human body is a beautiful thing,
and someone is so much more valuable than that and should treat themselves as such,” Carrico said. Carrico went on to suggest that there are other options that can help make college more affordable such as loans, scholarships, and even jobs in the restaurant industry where tips can bolster a paycheck. However, it can be tough to find a job that pays enough to cover the bills and will be flexible enough with work hours that students can focus on school. Jadeʼs Fantasy Girls coworker, Heidi, was confronted with this problem. Heidi, who for privacy reasons chose to use her stage name, came from a family that was struggling to make ends meet. She was 21 and trying to make it through culinary school with a full-time job as a waitress. When her parents could no longer support themselves or Heidiʼs young siblings, she applied at Fantasy Girls and began working as a stripper to keep her family and education afloat. Heidi graduated from culinary school and is now financing a new home. She still shows up to Jadeʼs Fantasy Girls in her hot pink platforms, dedicated to the job that opened future doors, which could have otherwise been closed. Her former roommate, Justin Sullivan, expressed his support on her behalf. “Hard times call for hard choices,” Sullivan said. “Sometimes people need to make choices theyʼd rather not make for the sake of their well being and the well being of their family.”
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NGUYEN FROM PAGE 1 ers for concerts or parties – to attend the two classes she is taking as a part-time student. But a nun on campus taking classes? That was a question many that CSUF students, such as Imelda Kiswaga had when she came onto campus and saw a sister. “There were a lot of questions going through my head,” said Kiswaga, a second-year environmental studies graduate student. “I wondered, what is she doing here? What is she studying?” Kiswaga had seen sisters off campus in religious settings, but she had never seen them wearing nun attire while doing things in public. But take away the ankle-length, navy blue dress that Nguyenʼs petite frame almost gets lost in and replace it with jeans and a T-shirt; take off the navy blue habit that her Neutrogena-commercial-ready face peers out from underneath and replace it with a head of sun-streaked hair, and Nguyen is just a young woman who “was called,” as she says, to a life of religious service.
THE CROSSING
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guyen grew up in Northern California but clung to her Vietnamese descent. She vividly remembers immigrating with her parents to the United States after fleeing Vietnam in the ʼ80s as Vietnamese “boat people.” She remembers her mother leading her out of their home under the cloak of night, guiding her with one hand and holding her baby sister in the other. She remembers not being allowed to speak, then getting onto a boat packed with people. She remembers the darkness being dispelled by a bright light, hearing shooting, screaming and then splashing in the water around the boat. Her family had been caught then and had to serve time in concentration camps. Her mother took her baby sister to the womenʼs camp and her father took her to the menʼs camp. Nguyen recalls staying in a little house packed with people, being let out for just 10 minutes a day and being fed “really bad food” consisting of cabbage and rice. “If we were lucky, we got eggs,” she said. After a couple of weeks, she was let out of the camp, but her father remained
NEWS
“Some people are called to the marriage life, to be a mother, some are called to be single, and I’m called to be a nun.” Christen Nguyen Fullerton Student
behind to be “re-educated” by the government. When her family returned home, they made a second attempt to escape. Her father made it that time, but her mother had been held back trying to care for Nguyen and her baby sister. He made his way to America, and her mother was determined to join him and tried a third time to escape from the country. That time, they made it. It was her motherʼs persistence that led Nguyen to write a college admission essay about her mother titled “The Strength of a Tiny Woman.” But it was the devotion and sacrifices that both her parents made that contributed to her becoming what she is today. After arriving in the United States, her family lived in Pennsylvania for a year, and then moved to Sacramento. Her father washed dishes during the day and attended classes at night. Her mother worked as a manicurist. Even doing those jobs, her parents were still able to save enough money to send her to private school; because Nguyen had a scholarship, nuns paid onehalf of the tuition fees, and her parents paid the other. She remembers her father driving her to school in their yellow Datsun station wagon while other children emerged from shining BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes. She remembers never being able to buy new clothes. She remembers, however, that though her family was not rich and did not have many possessions, they were “rich in love.”
THE CALLING
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urtured by a strong family, Nguyen excelled in school, first attending private Catholic schools for her elementary and junior high school years and then attending public Mira Loma High School. Throughout her educational career, she maintained high grades while serving tirelessly in youth groups at her church. It was these high grades that got her accepted
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to a Stanford youth medical program in her junior year, then to UC Davis and UC Berkeley. Education was always her top priority, she said. Her heart was set on becoming a doctor, and everything she had done up to that point was leading her down that very road. But a phone call uncovered a different path. In the winter of her senior year of high school, Nguyen received a call from a sister in Southern California. Since she was very active in her church and had caught the attention of a nun who had then brought her to the attention of a mother superior – the head of a religious order, which are groups that nuns are a part of. She was invited to a religious retreat to see if the religious life was for her, but she said that she “didnʼt really feel anything.” She was still set on becoming a doctor. She was going to UC Davis in the fall. With goals set and a destination in sight, she passed by the path that the mother superior had offered. It was a summer trip to Vietnam that made her re-examine whether her calling was really in a clinic or in a convent. Nguyen said the trip to Vietnam changed her because it allowed her to see how fortunate she is. She recalls seeing children begging for food in the streets. These same children would ask her to speak English to them. “Sometimes we take so many things for granted here: our education, our opportunities to succeed,” she said. The children should not have been begging for food; they should have been in school, she said. “They are so small and innocent, and they have to live like” that, she said. So Nguyen wanted to do something. But what? She didnʼt know at the time; all she knew was that she felt moved. She also didnʼt know that she was now moving in a different direction. When she returned to the United States, Nguyen had every intention of calling
the mother superior and telling her that she was sorry that she could not join her order. She remembers dialing the number, speaking with the mother superior, hanging up the phone and then realizing that she had not declined to join the order. She had accepted. Her hand had moved to call the mother superior again and tell her she had made a mistake, but something stopped her. “I know it sounds crazy, but I felt a tap on my shoulder telling me to do this…. Something was calling me,” she said. Why she feels she should be a nun “is a mystery.” “You know that feeling that deep down inside your heart you know that this is the right person that you want to marry, this is the right place you want to be?… You just know it in your heart,” she said. “Some people are called to the marriage life, to be a mother, some are called to be single, and Iʼm called to be a nun.” She flew to Southern California just days after accepting. She was 18 years old.
THE COMMITMENT
N
guyen is now just two years away from becoming a fullfledged nun, a lengthy process that takes nearly 10 years. She lives in a convent in Santa Ana with 17 other sisters. She has been attending CSUF as a parttime student since last spring and will return full time in the fall. She is still the bright and capable student that she was when she was growing up. Her abnormal-psychology professor, Jinni Harrigan, said Nguyen is always “very eager, very attentive and always asking interesting questions” in class. But during the last five years of the process, Nguyen is considered a “real” nun, as she took the vows of poverty, obedience and chastity in 2003. But poverty surrounded by the opulent lifestyles in Orange County? Obedience when rebellion is encouraged? And most of all, chastity at age 26? “Even though Iʼm a nun, Iʼm still human,” she said. “I do find other people attractive; sometimes see boy and girl relationships – even married life – very beautiful.” “But when I think about it, I donʼt think I could leave my [calling] for that…. A lot of things can bring you happiness and fun, but not a lot of things can bring you peace and joy. The joy that I have and the peace I have is lasting. I feel it will never go away and nothing could take it away,” she said.
CLUB FROM PAGE 1 wall and a gymnasium, Chappell said. “At the new location weʼll be offering all the same activities but with increased space,” he said. “Weʼll have a bigger gymnasium. The current one is about 6,000 square feet and the new one will be closer to 10,000 square feet.” Lily Lorenzana, a Cal State Fullerton graduate, is the clubʼs current director of operations and has been working there for three years. “I think itʼs been a long time coming,” said Lorenzana in regards to the development of a new facility. “This building is really old. The kids deserve something newer, more facilities, better equipment.” In addition to providing a newer facility for the community, the location is conveniently closer to local schools and to the neighborhoods where many of the children live. “Weʼre in a non-ideal location and weʼre surrounded by industrial companies, factories, so itʼs not very conducive to kids in the community, so weʼre hoping the new building at Kraemer Park will be able to open up to more population,” Lorenzana said. While the club at Crowther Avenue has served the community for the past 44 years, the new facility will be able to provide the same services to even more young people in the area. “Depending on the season, we average about 100 kids per day here, but in the new building weʼd be able to provide for about 300 per day,” Chappell said. In addition to changing locations and constructing a new building, the committee is in negotiations with the city to change the name of Walnut Avenue, which runs into the park, to Positive Place. The clubʼs address would then be 1 Positive Place. However, the name change is not the main concern at this point. “Right now, the biggest challenge will be raising the $2.5 million,” Chappell said.
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NEWS
Fullerton Studio kept at 105 degrees so Bikram yoga participants can stretch bodies, minds during 90-minute class with 26 postures and two breathing exercises By Dominic Kingdamo
Daily Titan Staff Writer
W
hy spend the summer in an air conditioned room when Bikram yoga offers classes for participants who want to sweat out the toxins in their bodies in a sweltering 105-degree room while contorting their bodies in ways that defy the laws of physics? Bikram yoga is a particular style that was developed by Bikram Choudhury, an awardwinning yogi from India. “I was drawn to it initially because itʼs really demanding, itʼs really challenging, and youʼre pushed really hard – physically and mentally,” said Joe Vogt, owner and main instructor of Downtown Fullertonʼs Bikram yoga studio. Each Bikram yoga class – taught by one of the eight instructors – lasts 90 minutes and consists of 26 postures and two breathing exercises. “Most everybody can do them pretty well even their first day, but that being said, theyʼre very challenging even for advanced practitioners,” Vogt said. But one of the most challenging things about Bikram yoga isnʼt the postures, but the conditions the class takes place in. “Bikram yoga is done in a heated room to warm your muscles and allow you to work deeper and safer, as well as making you sweat, a lot, flushing toxins from your body,” according to the studioʼs brochure. Vogt said people grow accustomed to the 105-degree room. “Itʼs actually something that your body acclimates to very quickly. People learn to love the heat. You sweat tons. Itʼs a great purification,” Vogt said. “But itʼs really there to create a safer environment to do this deep stretching, and youʼre much less
Phil Gordon/Daily Titan
YOGA MASTER: Bikram Yoga master Jim Vogt believes that regular sessions of yoga can improve stress and weight loss. likely to pull or strain a muscle when you do the yoga in a heated room.” Besides the temperature of the room, Bikram yoga is unique in that classes are taught through verbal instructions. Advanced students go in the front of the room and beginners go in the back so they can follow along visually, and the entire time the instructor gives verbal directions and feedback. Vogtʼs studio has been in Fullerton for about 15 months, and itʼs flourishing. “Weʼve had about 2,000 people through the door thus far, and of those 2,000 people weʼve got about 415 members,” Vogt said. “We offer 26 classes every week, three to five classes every day, and the class sizes vary anywhere from about 10 to 30 people.” In addition to Bikram yoga being an intense physical workout, visitors to the studio will get
the impression that itʼs more than just exercise. “The yoga is one part that I want people to enjoy, of course, but then I also wanted to create a space that they were going to feel like it was someplace special for them be a member of and they could call their own,” Vogt said. Fred Ouweleen, a Fullerton resident, has been a member of the studio for over a year and said it was exactly what he was looking for. “The results I get out of it are so tangible – from a health point of view, from a peace of mind point of view,” Ouweleen said. “[I have] increased flexibility, and I think much more clearly.” Ouweleen attends classes about three times a week, and it has become his primary source of physical activity, replacing trips to the gym spent lifting weights. “I highly recommend it,” Ouweleen said. “Itʼs a chance to spend 90 minutes on yourself, and just with yourself. Itʼs not just exercise but the mind-body connection.” Joanne Arboleda, a kinesiology major at Cal State Fullerton, is a volunteer intern at the studio. Sheʼs been working there since March and regularly attends yoga classes. “It makes me feel good about myself,” she said. “Some of my aches and pains have gone away. I canʼt run or jog because it hurts me, but this has helped increase my muscle strength. You use muscles youʼve never used before.” She enjoys it so much that she has even thought about becoming a Bikram yoga instructor. “It makes me sad when I donʼt go,” Arboleda said. More information on the Downtown Fullerton Bikram yoga studio can be found online at, www.bikramyogaoc.com.
Y O G A
N E W S @ D A I LY T I T A N . C O M
Many techniques and traditions – Vinyasa Flow, restorative, Yin, Dahn, others – make for a versitile exercise that anyone can do By Alicia David
Daily Titan Staff Writer
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ooking to stay in shape nally for a hot yoga class.” and relieve stress at the A good class for beginners same time? is Hatha yoga, Schriever said. Yoga improves “The postures are very straightmuscle tone, flexibil- forward.” ity, strength and stamina, and it Restorative yoga is great for reduces stress and tension. Yoga older people or people with injualso boosts self esteem, improves ries, she said. “Itʼs a stronger physical pracconcentration and creativity, lowers fat, improves circulation, tice thatʼs meant to get a personʼs stimulates the immune system body back to where itʼs supposed and creates sense of well being to be.” and calm, according to yogasite. Yin yoga, which is good for com. all levels of students, is “longWith all the types of yoga held passive stretches that work classes offered, it can be difficult in bringing energy into the connective tissue,” to figure out which Schriever said. class is the right Dahn yoga is a one for a personʼs style that is also needs. “It’s a stronger good for students “Vinyasa Flow physical practice of all levels. is really good for that’s meant to get “Dahn is the building strength, a person’s body Korean word for stamina, flexibility energy,” Laurel and focus through back to where it’s Rudzik, instrucbreath and possuposed to be.” tures,” said Juli tor at Zen and Fit Stockstill, owner Yoga in Brea said. of the Yoga Room “It combines Janet Schriever in Anaheim Hills. breathing, stretching and medita“The class is Yoga instructor tion to feel and usually 75 to 90 improve energy minutes long. The flow in the body,” first 15 minutes Rudzik said. starts with sun Dahn is a Korean form of yoga salutations – a series of yoga postures – then more advanced that started more than 20 years postures that include strength, ago and has been in the U.S. for balance and flexibility. The class more than 15 years, Rudzik said. “Some types of yoga are more ends with final relaxation, which is traditionally known as sava- strenuous on the joints of the sana – a cool-down that involves body; however, this one isnʼt and final stretches which are good itʼs good for students of all levfor the lower back and mental els,” Rudzik said. According to yogasite.com, relaxation.” This class is good for beginners most books, videos and Web sites focus on yoga postures, breathing and advanced students. “Vinyasa Flow is a sweaty and meditation, but the tradition class,” said Janet Schriever, an of yoga also emphasizes love, compassion, knowledge and right Orange County yoga instructor. “The moving and breath- action as paths toward union. ing moves heat in the body and No matter if a person is beginmuscles, allowing the muscles to ning, intermediate, advanced, relax. This practice gives a per- injured or looking for peace of son heat internally, unlike Bikram mind, thereʼs a style of yoga to yoga which creates heat exter- try.
7 NEWS Campus 1st in State for Graduating Hispanics N E W S @ D A I LY T I TA N . C O M
Teacher says ‘they should be applauded for their endurance and courage’ By Nohemy Martinez
Daily Titan Staff Writer
Cal State Fullerton ranks first in the state and fourth in the nation for the most undergraduate degrees awarded to Hispanic students, according to this yearʼs Top 100 list issued by Hispanics Outlook in Higher Education. CSUF also ranks second in the nation for the most communicationʼs degrees awarded to Hispanic students. Campus fac-
ulty members said this is a huge accomplishment for Hispanic students. “These students work extraordinarily long hours while also attending class and completing studies, making their graduation an even more remarkable thing given the hardships set before them. They should be applauded for their endurance and courage,” said Robert Castro, CSUF professor of Chicano and Chicana studies. Faculty members agree that the majority of Hispanic students face great adversities that affect not only their families but also the school administration. “First-generation [Hispanic stu-
dents] do not have the path carved out for them.... It is a tremendous challenge for students and administrators,” said Nancy Porras, professor of Chicano and Chicana studies. Students, for example, have to deal with the unfamiliar paperwork when enrolling into college, Porras said. She said other obstacles Hispanic students face is helping their families pay for living and school expenses. “The summers are not breaks for them, they have to help the parents pay the family costs,” she said. “Many of my students who are first-generation Americans often
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come from families that are very limited economically,” Castro said. “Itʼs essential these students work while attending school. Work means food on the table, monthly rent, medical attention … basic survival.” The main obstacle, Porras said, is the language barrier. “Limited English prevents students from graduating college,” she said. “What can overcome that barrier? They have to study harder … go to the writing center,” Porras said. CSUF offers many programs that students donʼt take advantage of, Porras said. Being ranked No. 1 in the state also means “a lot of work from
staff, EOPS officers and the professors,” Porras said. Reyes Fidalgo, Chicano and Chicana Department chair, agrees that many students have the resources available but donʼt know how to use them. “What I find most often is that students do not know the system well enough to use it to their advantage. It only takes one person – an instructor, staff member or whoever – to notice the studentʼs capabilities and to open a dialogue that focuses on what the student would really like to become.... Then things start happening,” Fildalgo said. Porras said faculty and staff members offer students support even if theyʼre not one of their students. “We proudly support our students.... A lot of times this includes sitting and listening to
their concerns,” Porras said. Aside from grades and taking advantage of opportunities Fidalgo emphasized the importance of maintaining a good GPA. “The other issue that bothers me, and I see it too often, is that many students are not aware of the importance of GPA for any future plans. They work many hours, have families to attend to, and take more courses per semester than they should in order to finish as soon as possible without thinking of the limitations that a low GPA may create for them in the future,” Fidalgo said. Graduating does not guarantee being able to move forward and up, Fidalgo said. “I encourage students to participate in organizations and programs. There they may find out about things such as scholarships and internships,” Porras said.
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NEWS
N E W S @ D A I LY T I T A N . C O M
GREAT PARK FROM PAGE 1 terrace that transverses the park and ends at a lake, a botanical center and conservatory, an outdoor amphitheater, a runway military memorial, a sports park and fields with a great lawn. The great lawn will offer hot air balloons to view the park, themed gardens, fountains, hiking and biking trails, barbecue and picnic areas, fishing, childrenʼs playgrounds and concessions stands. The sports park will have soccer fields, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, an Olympicsize pool and track and field facilities. In a public ceremony on March 3, Southern California Edison pledged to donate 50,000 trees to the Great Park over the course of the next 10 years, according to the Web site. The runway memorial will honor the men and women who served at El Toro with an El Toro Museum. Pieces of the original runway will detail various military campaigns and explain dates and facts for visitors to understand El Toroʼs place in history. Over a year after the purchase, Lennar is ready to begin developing the commercial and residential properties, and the city is ready to begin developing the park, Burgess said. Part of the Lennar development will include an educational learning village – a little town that focuses on education. There will be shops and food, and hopefully Cal State Fullerton
Macintosh introduces new PC-friendly device, unites best of both worlds By Carla Boubes
For the Daily Titan
Irvina Kanarek/Daily Titan
YOU SHALL NOT PASS: Roads leading into the Great Park in Irvine are being widened. The Cal State Fullerton Irvine Campus figures to be a part of the new park. will be part of it, Irvine Campus Director George Giacumakis said. “I hope we are here as part of the community,” said Robert Flores, assistant coordinator of Student Affairs on the Irvine campus. “It would offer more services to students so they could have a seamless flow between community and education.” “I am excited by the idea that it will be bigger than Central Park,” Flores said. “It will
give us the opportunity for a vast recreational, educational and commercial use.” Giacumakis is not sure if the campus will stay in its current building or move elsewhere. He will just be happy to have the Irvine campus is established as part of the final Great Park. All of the information, maps and design presentations are available on the Orange County Great Parkʼs Web site at www.ocgp.org.
Filipina Looks for Bone Marrow Match at CSUF With match, Christine Pechera still has only 40 percent chance of survival By Mike Garcia
For the Daily Titan
Christine Pechera had six months to live. That was in 2002. She was diagnosed with lymphoma, had chemotherapy and was bedridden for three months. The cancer went into remission but came back in December 2005. Then, doctors told her she had one year to live. Now the 34-yearold filmmaker is looking for a bone marrow match, possibly one at Cal State Fullerton. “Finding a match is the first step
Rival Computer Operating Systems Create Love Affair
for me,” Pechera said. “The chances of me finding the same bone marrow match is like winning the lottery.” She said there are less than 30,000 people of Filipino descent in the National Marrow Donor Registry, a national registry of bone marrow donors. She said even if she is able to find a donor, there is only a 40 percent survival rate after the procedure. Anything could go wrong during the two- to five-year recuperation process. “It is a emotionally exhausting process,” Pechera said. “The uncertainty is the hardest.” Frances Teves, director of State Advocacy for public affairs and government relations, coordinated a bone marrow drive at Cal State Fullerton last week.
She heard Pecheraʼs story from a family friend. Tevesʼ objective for the bone marrow drive was to increase the awareness about donating bone marrow. “There are a lot of misconceptions out there about the registry and the bone marrow donation process,” Teves said. “It is a simple process, which takes only about 7 to 10 minutes,” Teves said. Teves said that there are 60 million people registered with the National Marrow Donor Registry and 3,000 people looking for a match. But the numbers donʼt tell the whole story, she said. Teves said minorities are unrepresented and that for Pechera, who is of Filipina descent, only 24,000 Filipinos are in the registry. Mimi Ko Cruz, a communica-
tions specialist for public affairs and government relations, also assisted with the event. Cruz created a press release for the bone marrow drive. She said that numerous media organizations called her about the story. “Everyone was interested in it because it was an important story to get out,” Cruz said. She said several TV stations taped interviews with Pechera and aired them on their news stations. “This story is about telling people of the National Bone Marrowʼs Registryʼs dire need of donors, and Christine is a prime example of the need,” Cruz said. For more information about the donating process visit www.marrow.org, www.savechristine.com, or contact the National Marrow Donor Program in Orange County at (714) 800-1611.
M
ac and PC have finally called a truce. After years of competing, Apple is said to release a new operating system that would enable Mac users to run Windows XP. Boot Camp, a dual-boot utility, works with Appleʼs new Intelbased computers. The new technology is the missing link between the Mac and the PC. Boot Camp will allow users to run the Windows XP operating system on a Mac featuring the Intel-Core Duo processor. “Itʼs in its beta stage,” said Angie Dulay, Titan Tech Center manager. “Thereʼs a rumor that with the new release of the Mac OS X, it will include Boot Camp,” Dulay said. “If that occurs Iʼd imagine more people would take advantage of that.” Users have the option of using Mac OS X or Windows XP. More programs will be available for Macs, as well. International business major Cat Charney owns a Mac. While she loves her computer, she said the lack of software available has set her back. “I had a problem in my ISDS 265 class, because Access isnʼt available on a Mac,” Charney said. Dulay said Macs has 3 to 5 percent of the market share and Windows has the rest, meaning more programs are written for Windows than there are for the
Apple systems. “There are certain Web sites that wonʼt let you download things, because you donʼt have a Windows operating system,” Charney said. For example, MTVʼs Web site streams music videos in RealPlayer and Windows Media Player. The Web site works in conjunction with Microsoft and does not support Mac OS X. Since the niche market for Macs is relatively small, compared to that of the PC, far less viruses are created for the Apple system. However, now that the Mac OS X will run Windows-based programs, it runs the risk of being more susceptible. PC users usually are reluctant to use Macs. Before the Mac introduced the Intel Core Duo, PCsʼ Intel Pentium was a faster processor. However, the new Intel-based Macs achieve a higher level of power, according to Appleʼs Web site. “At first I thought Macs were too difficult to use,” said Youthana Hoang, a communications major. “But after using them at school, I realized they are very convenient and well organized.” Hoang is considering switching from a PC to a Mac. He has his eye on the new MacBook Pro, which features the Intel Core Duo. “Organization on the Mac makes it very easy to use after you get the hang of it and the shortcuts,” Hoang said. “When you look at Windows PCs versus Apple, the PC may appear to be less expensive,” Dulay said. “People donʼt take into consideration features Apple computers have built-in, some of the nontangibles – ease of use, stable operating system, less susceptible to virus attack.”
N E W S @ D A I LY T I TA N . C O M
Study: Tobacco Ads Target Young Adults Evidence suggests industry encourages 18- to 24-yearolds to take up smoking By Dena Hamedani
For the Daily Titan
Evidence from tobacco industry documents collected by the American Journal of Public Health suggest that tobacco marketing strategies are aimed young people. Physician Pamela M. Ling and Stanton A. Glantz, who holds a doctorate degree, analyzed the tobacco industryʼs strategies encouraging young adults ages 18 to 24 to smoke. There are currently more than 40 million pages of previously secret tobacco industry documents available to the public. After analyzing numerous documents to find out how and why the tobacco industry markets to young adults, Ling and Glantz drew three conclusions. First, the industry views the transition from smoking the first cigarette to becoming a pack-a-day smoker as a series of stages extending to age 25, and the industry has developed marketing strategies to encourage initial experimentation, often by teens, but also to carry new smokers through each stage of this process, Ling and Glantz said in the American Journal for Public Health Forum on Youth Smoking. Second, industry marketers encourage solidification of smoking habits and increases in cigarette consumption by focusing on key transition periods when young adults try new behaviors, such as entering a new workplace, school or the military, and especially by focusing on leisure and social activities, Ling and Glantz said in the review. Third, tobacco companies study young adultsʼ attitudes, social groups, values, aspirations, role
models and activities, and then infiltrate both their physical and their social environments. Sheena Desai, a 21-year-old Cal State Fullerton communications major who doesnʼt smoke, said none of the tobacco industryʼs efforts can persuade her to start smoking. “No, I donʼt smoke. I never have because itʼs a disgusting habit and itʼs unhealthy for you, for obvious reasons,” Desai said. Not only is Desai a non-smoker, there are also no smokers among Desaiʼs circle of friends. “I think that people who smoke have no self-control. I think the people you hang out with, peers, along with the atmosphere you live in, have a bigger effect than advertisements, or marketing strategies used,” she said. Another one of the many documents reviewed by Ling and Glantz, explained how smoking evolves from a social means of connecting with peers in the teenage years to become a habitual response to stress or boredom in adulthood. “Yeah, I smoke socially. I think itʼs gross to smoke heavily; it makes you smell all the time. Itʼs sad that theyʼre dependant,” said Jennifer Norton, a 24-year-old social smoker. Although smoking may help teenagers deal with peer pressure, smoking can serve both social and coping roles in adulthood. Smoking in adulthood represents the ties with the old days and old friends as well as the more mature way of relaxing. Social smoking can later turn into excessive smoking based on the marketing strategies the tobacco industry uses to analyze stages of transition. “First of all, having a law that bans it makes people want it more. Ads may affect some people. I think the ads that are put out saying donʼt do it influence people to do it more because itʼs kind of like, ʻYeah, you canʼt tell me what to do,ʼ ” Norton said.
NEWS
W E E K O F M AY 2 2 – 2 5 , 2 0 0 6
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David Pardo/For the Daily Titan
FELICIDADES
Students wait in line before walking on stage Saturday during the 18th Annual Chicano Latino Graduation Celebration. Cal State Fullerton is ranked fifth nationally in awarding baccalaureate degrees to Hispanic students.
Children Paint Way to Creative Future at Event Imagine Celebration at Grand Central Gallery inspires creativity By Lauren Padilla
Daily Titan Staff Writer
Cooking lessons, landscape art, painting, purse making, ceramics and much more were present at the free Imagination Celebration on Saturday at the Cal State Fullerton sponsored event at the Grand Central Gallery. It was a non-stop day of exploration for children, families and interested parties of all ages. Alyssa Weins, the curatorial assistant at the gallery, helped organize the event. She said the gallery participated in the event in previous years but this year they chose to sponsor the event. The gallery wanted to orchestrate an event in which the community could participate in free events and workshops. Some of the workshops included landscape design, cooking lessons with professional chefs, paint demonstrations, graphic design explorations, window fashion demonstrations and sound design workshops.
Lauren Padilla/Daily Titan
CREATIVE: Extremo the Clown, also known as Scott Campbell, right, and Alyssa Weins are part of the Imagination Celebration. “We want to show kids and people that art can lead to all sorts of jobs,” Weins said. Nicole Steiman, owner of the ArtBar in the Santa Ana Artists Village, participated in the event by sponsoring her own tent where children could make various bags and art projects. She said she wanted to help show kids how fun it is to create their own projects. “With hands-on activities itʼs
always fun, the kidsʼ faces light up when they see their final creation,” Steiman said. Drums and bongos could be heard echoing through the festival. The band Too Many Bongos from the Los Angeles Philharmonic Society played for the children and often asked them to join in by singing and dancing. Albert Ramirez, a Santa Ana resident, brought his two children Jose and Ana to the festival.
Ramirez said Ana really enjoyed making a purse and Jose spent most of his time dancing to the bandʼs music. “Itʼs really cool theyʼre doing this for the community, it didnʼt cost me a dime too ... thatʼs always nice,” Ramirez said. Brad Remoff, the owner of the Pangea restaurant, across from the gallery had booth selling hotdogs, drinks and cotton candy for very reasonable prices. “We tried to keep things reasonable for the visitors. Itʼs a good cause, and we want people to enjoy it,” he said. A green, fire-blowing dragon came to life in front of children thanks to Extremo the Clown (Scott Campbell). He traveled from Seattle to help with the event. Campbell constructed a huge painting where children could participate and add their own creative touch. “I love working with children and see their reactions to the transformations the paintings make,” Campbell said. Savio Alphonso, CSUF art graduate student, walked around admiring the celebration. “I wanted to come because I figured it would be a nice day outside, and I thought I would enjoy the arts,” Alphonso said.
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INTROSPECT
I N T R O S P E C T @ D A I LY T I T A N . C O M
religion
an
Buddhist religion on
Photos by Kevin Rogers: (Top) The Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights stays faithful to the traditional architecture of ancient monasteries. (Middle, left) the temple is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day to all visitors who want to pray, meditate, roam the grounds or even eat. (Bottom, left) there are various Buddha statues within the temple gates. (Right) a Buddhist monk stands in the main courtyard of the temple in front of the Bodhisattva Hall, where the five great bodhisattvas sit. Each represents the exemplary Bodhi spirit the Bodhisattva uses in helping sentient beings.
I N T R O S P E C T @ D A I LY T I TA N . C O M
nd
INTROSPECT
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prayer
the rise in Southland By Jickie Torres
Daily Titan Staff Writer
The Orange County Buddhist Church in Anaheim has had a long history of change. Itʼs origins date back to 1920 when Howakai, or religious meetings, occurred in the homes of Orange Countyʼs Japanese immigrants. By 1931, a Sunday school had moved from a private home in Huntington Beach to a Japanese language school building in what is now Fountain Valley, according to the churchʼs brochure. Eventually a building was constructed to house the growing congregation. In 1942, the church, then almost entirely Japanese, was growing nicely into its community, when it was rocked with the news that the American government was evacuating all people of Japanese descent into internment camps designed to head off any threat to U.S. national security. The Orange County sangha, or assembly, was cast out to the Poston Relocation Center in Arizona. It took four years for the church to reopen its doors. Once people returned from the internment camps, the church was temporarily used as a hostel for families trying to resettle into permanent homes. After about six years spent in Stanton, the Orange County Buddhist Church finally broke ground on its current location in Anaheim in 1964. Since then, its membership has grown from its original few dozen families in the 1930s to its now 900-plus congregation. The church is a Shin Buddhist church that falls under the Mahayana tradition of the faith. Simply put, it is the more liberal of the two divisions of Buddhism, Theravada being the more conservative sect. Members of the Theravada branch stick very closely to the precise words, forms and practices of Buddha, whereas the Shins, like other Mahayanas, like to interpret the sutras, or religious texts, and follow the spirit of the Buddhaʼs teachings. His basic conventions were simple. According to Buddhist teachings, one must seek truth about universal life through meditation to reach a state of enlightenment. The faith stresses the ideas of impermanence, interdependency and change as a positive force. Once enlightened, one will truly understand the flux of the universe and as most generally agree, end the cycle of re-incarnation and reach nirvana. Rev. Marvin Harada has been with the church for 19 years. He attributes its popularity to the churches open-door policy and inclusive nature. “I think that itʼs a universal message, that it has something to say to people of all back-
grounds,” Harada said. “It doesnʼt exclude anyone, it doesnʼt require that you live a specific manner or that you adopt any kind of beliefs or doctrine.” He also says that itʼs been easier for Buddhism to spread in the West in the last few decades. “Because of the work of people like the Dalai Lama, people are becoming more aware and exposed to Buddhism, and they have interest and curiosity about it,” Harada said. The church now has a growing group of nonJapanese members. Bill Moore, a member of the church who is also on its Web committee, thinks that this is a result of positive experience and a willingness to learn.
“I think its just a matter of time that it will become a major religion here and I would love to ... see what it looks like.” Rev. Marvin Harada “Thereʼs a growing population of nonJapanese members, and they really embrace the meditation service and Buddhist education classes,” Moore said. “The feedback I receive, is that a lot of the non-Japanese discovered us through the Web site and their own personal seeking. They find us very open and familyoriented ... so they feel very comfortable. We donʼt have any drives for membership; itʼs just word of mouth.” Betty Furumoto has been with the church since it moved to Anaheim in 1965. She said the fact that the church is bilingual, holding services in Japanese and English, makes it different. “We are very welcoming and I think that makes people feel comfortable,” Furumoto said. “We also have an assistant minister here named John Turner, and I think the nonJapanese that come here seeking information can really relate to him, and heʼs so good.” Thereʼs also something to be said for the way the church has adapted to a modernizing world. “The monastic form of Buddhism would retreat from society. They looked at the secular world as a bad influence on the path to
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enlightenment,” Harada said. “Our form is very oriented toward everyday life, whether youʼre a doctor or lawyer or teacher. We donʼt try to retreat from society; we look for messages in everyday life.” One of the messages about everyday life in America is the current war in Iraq. “Political upheaval and tragedy in life have occurred throughout the 2,500-year history of Buddhism,” Harada said. “Man has always faced problems and suffering, but the fact is that Buddhists donʼt condone war.” This doesnʼt mean there isnʼt political diversity in the church. “In our congregation we have both Republicans and Democrats,” Harada said. “So they might have different viewpoints, but itʼs not like ʻall Buddhists have to feel ʻthisʼ or ʻall Buddhists have to think this way.ʼ There is no sort of dogma that mandates it. But, based on my study of the teachings, we try to promote non-violence.” There are other ways the church has modernized itself. In addition to a weekly show on KXLA, a public access TV channel, the church plans to update its offerings into the digital world with its digital media center. “One thing we want to do is Buddhist podcasting,” Harada said. “Itʼll be Buddhist lectures or talks that you can download on the Internet and put on your iPod.” “Or Buddhist books on tape, so a person who commutes to work can listen to a book on Buddhism,” he said. “So, of course you didnʼt have that 2,000 years ago, but thatʼs an adaptation to modern society.” Despite all these changes and adaptations, there are many ways the church maintains and honors its Buddhist traditions and its Japanese roots. The Hanamatsuri festival is one of them. Here, the pupils of the churchʼs many cultural programs will flaunt their achievements and wares. The Aikido, Kendo and Nihon Buyo clubs will display their work in the discipline of martial arts and dance. The cloth-dyeing group, the ikebana flower-arranging club and the bonsai students will offer examples of their crafts. Harada said he hopes the church will continue its trend of growth and prosperity. “I think itʼs just a matter of time that it will become a major religion here, and I would love to be around to see what it looks like,” Harada said. “I donʼt know if itʼs going to be that you have a Buddhist temple every few blocks or what form it will look like, but I really think that some point in the future Buddhism will be a major, major religion here.” For now, the church is focusing on how Buddhism has a major impact in its community. But, Harada said, the ministers and church leaders are discussing the churchʼs expansion yet again.
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GOSPEL By Kristi Allen
Daily Titan Staff Writer
The Good News Gospel Choir is hardly singular in its beliefs.
teaching students piano, singing, improvising
David Jones, a soloist in the choir. said.
and song styling, and helping arrange scores. He
Throughout the year, the choir presents various
has done consulting work for musical groups and
musicals and concerts designed to reach out to the
50 singers from all walks of life. The group per-
soloists and brought together a 100-voice gospel
community. The choirʼs main purpose is to wor-
forms most weekends at churches, fundraisers,
choir from two churches in Corona and Eastside
ship, but participants join for various reasons.
festivals and community events. Theyʼve released
Christian Church in Fullerton.
The multi-denominational choir features up to
two albums called “Unspeakable Joy” and “Light a Candle.” “I see myself as a catalyst who uses the medium of music to spread joy to others, “ Chris Coogan, the choirʼs founder, said. Coogan has had a wide range of experience
The Good News Gospel Choir is made up of
“Some would say rehearsals are midweek worship experiences, not to be missed,” Joy Snyder
men and women of all ages. Participants must be
said. “Others would say the support of, and fellow-
able to sing, but solo experience and the ability to
ship with other members is highly valued.”
read music arenʼt requirements to join. “We sing classical hymn arrangements, a cappella pieces, gospel and contemporary arrangements,”
To learn more about the Good News Gospel Choir visit www.cooganmusic.com/goodnews.
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Photo by Songha Lee: John Hirano, a minister at Mystical United Spiritualist Church, performs a spiritual and physical energy healing to Tim Becker during their fellowship gathering after service, Sunday evening.
ernative t l a
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By Julie Anne Ines
Daily Titan Staff Writer
SPIRITUALISM
SCIENTOLOGY
For John Hirano, a minister at Mystical United Spiritualist Church, Spiritualism is not just a religion. “Itʼs a way of life, of living, of connecting with your spirit, of embracing the love within and expressing that love,” he said. This way of life, Hirano said, has its roots with a woman named Volupsa of the Borian race who lived around 35,000 B.C. With her gifts of clairvoyance, Volupsa was able to save her tribe from an attack. Today, mediums play a significant role in the faith. They help congregation members connect with “the other side,” which is populated by spirit guides and loved ones who have crossed over. Hirano, a medium himself, said that a common misconception about mediums is that they “connect with the devil,” but this is hardly the case. The universal presence, which some faiths identify as God, is the source of his gifts. While there is no book in which all the teachings are codified, Hirano often uses the Bible in his sermons because of “the amazing lessons inside it.” He also takes teachings from Buddhism and the Quran. Ultimately, the use of mediums and sermons aim to teach people “to lead the best kind of life [they] can on earth, to practice qualities of compassion and kindness … to give service wherever [they] can,” and that “love, like life, is stronger than death.” Mystical United Spiritualist Church meets in the Learning Light Foundation Auditorium at 1212 E. Lincoln Ave. in Anaheim. For more information, call (714) 533-2311 or go to www.learninglight.org.
As a fairly new belief, Scientology has drawn negative attention and questions about its validity as a religious practice. However, Marie Murillo, the director of special affairs for the Church of Scientology in Orange County, hopes to educate people about the churchʼs beliefs. “Donʼt believe the first thing that you hear,” Murillo said. “Itʼs your responsibility to yourself and to others to get yourself educated before coming to your own conclusions and developing your reality.” Education plays a significant role for Scientology practitioners. At the church, people have access to parenting classes and classes on how to improve their marriages among a variety of others. These classes, Murillo said, teach lessons that can make peopleʼs lives visibly better. They also highlight the religionʼs belief that people create their own realities through the experiences they have had. The bedrock of the faith is its beliefs that man is basically good and is a spiritual being. The practice of the faith varies from person to person. Practitioners reach new levels of spiritual awareness as they advance in the faith. What defines the religion is the fact that practitioners donʼt have to believe the things they are told. “You come to your own truths,” Murillo said. The Church of Scientology, Orange County, is at 1451 Irvine Blvd. in Tustin. For more information, call (714) 5445491 or visit www.scientology-orangecounty.org.
WOMENʼS SPIRITUALITY
Ava, the priestess and founder of the Goddess Temple of Orange County in Irvine, calls all the other religions that exist today “sons” of the ancient nature-based religions that Womenʼs Spirituality has its roots in. The all-female congregation of the temple meets for weekly Sunday services to celebrate, to heal, to learn, to recognize the presence of the Sacred Feminine and to pray for Mother Earth. Ava said the faith aims to address an imbalance in the world created by a patriarchal society. “Men are an essential part of the world, but without a womanʼs influence they are lost ... They donʼt know when to stop,” Ava said. And when they donʼt know when to stop, the results are war and poverty. According to temple literature, “every phase of womanʼs life, from child to elder, is honored as essential to the balance and well-being of humanity and our Mother Earth.” At the Goddess Temple, women donʼt just go to sit and listen. They are the priestesses of their own lives, and they are guided by the divinity within themselves. They “are the sermon,” Ava said. The Goddess Temple of Orange County is at 17905 Sky Park Circle, Suite A, in Irvine. For more information, call (877) N-TEMPLE, or go to www.goddesstempleoforangecounty.com for service information.
I N T R O S P E C T @ D A I LY T I TA N . C O M
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taking sides By Christina Rodriguez
Daily Titan Staff Writer
Speaking of the Sunni and Shiite faiths might conjure up images of Iraq, war and terrorism. But in truth, the faiths represent part of a people – Muslims – who have grown to be misunderstood by not only Americans, but also people around the world. These two sects are part of a religion known as Islam. While believers of both sects share
“These ongoing tragedies are not actually motivated by doctrinal or interpretive differences of faith” –
Rahma and Abdur Rahim similar ideologies, the groups have been in conflict for decades. Sunnis and Shiites share a history and a conflict that dates back to the death of the Prophet Muhammad. The Prophet Muhammad founded the Islamic faith. After Muhammadʼs death, there was a difference of opinion as to who his successor should be, and thus two unique sects of Islam were formed and conflict was born said Cal State Fullerton Comparative Religion Professor George Saint-Laurent. The conflict that arose from the difference in beliefs between Sunnis and Shiites is political and religious.
“The Sunnis said that the “Khalifa” – the successor to Muhammad – should be elected while the Shiites said it should be a blood relative,” he said. CSUF Professor of History and Director of the El Toro Campus, George Giacumakis agreed. “Historically, Shiites believed they were the closest to leadership after the death of Muhammad,” he said. “Muhammad had no sons and did not establish a dynasty.” The Shiites eventually chose a fourth generation relative to Muhammad, named Ali. History Professor Touraj Daryae, said Ali was chosen for five main reasons. “First, he was one of the earliest converts; second, he was Muhammadʼs relative; third, he married Muhammadʼs daughter, Fatima; fourth, he fought in every war Muhammad fought in; and lastly there is a Shiite tradition that Muhammad, before his death, picked Ali to succeed him,” he said. After Muhammadʼs death Ali was chosen as Muhammadʼs successor. Ali and Fatima had two sons, Hasan and Hussein, who were blood grandsons of Muhammad, and therefore created a “blood dynasty”. Daryaee said the conflict became political when Hussein was assassinated. “There was this upset because of the idea of martyrdom,” he said. “Their leader had been martyred.” The conflict is also political because one group has been the dominant political force and theyʼre not willing to give up power, Daryaee said. Along with a political and religious conflict, Sunnis and Shiites differ in the way they interpret the Quran,
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Giacumakis said. “There are historical and theological differences between the two,” he said. “Theologically, Shiites said the Quran and its teachings could be followed allegorically rather than literally, the way the Sunni followed it.” Giacumakis said there is also an ethnic dispute between the faiths. “Shiites, who tend to live in Iran, speak Farsi, while the rest of the Muslim population speaks Arabic. The conflict has a bloody and violent past, but not everyone feels itʼs as prevalent as some make it seem. Rahma and Abdur Rahim Lutz of Arab World and Islamic Resources said Muslims actually donʼt acknowledge the conflict. “The vast majority of the worldʼs Muslims donʼt consider the differences between Sunnis and Shiites as grounds for conflict, and in fact [believers] pray side-by-side in mosques without ever asking each other about the issue,” they said. “There is a very strong element in the core Islamic teachings that Muslims are absolutely forbidden to kill each other.” Rahma and Abdur Rahim said that when acts of violence occur theyʼre the direct result of ignorance. “Most of the violence we see in the world – and this applies to all peoples – is sustained by passion, ignorance and desperation due to injustice or exploitation, mischievous behavior of the lower elements in society, or political maneuvering fueled by greed or love of power,” they said. “These are the real elements that promote conflict. These ongoing tragedies are not actually motivated by doctrinal or interpretive differences of faith.”
and
Photo by Songha Lee: A woman reads the Quran at the Islamic Society of Orange County in Garden Grove. Sunni women worship in a seperate room from the men, on the second floor.
prayer
PRAYER By Lisa Maiorana
Daily Titan Staff Writer
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JUDAISM: Over the past 1000 years, Jerusalem has been considered the center of the Jewish faith. When Jews pray, they always pray toward the east, facing Jerusalem as a token of respect. On the West Coast, all synagogues have an arc facing the eastern wall so the congregation can face the east when they pray. The Second Jewish Book of Why, explains that when Jews recite their prayers in silence, God knows itʼs a service of the heart. “I pray because it makes me feel better and brings me closer to God,” said Sharlene Kessler, a CSUF alumni who attends Temple Beth Tikvah in Fullerton.
Irvina Kanarek
CATHOLICISM: Catholics believe in many forms of prayer. The Liturgical prayer, which is also referred to as “Mass,” is divided into two parts: the Bible and the sacraments. Believers also may practice a type of formal prayer called a devotional prayer by using a rosary, praying towards the statue of a saint or toward a picture of a deceased. For beginners, reaching the state-ofbeing that is necessary to begin a devotional prayer, may take between 10 and 15 minutes. This state consists of letting the “mind calm down.” “The purpose is to draw us closer to God,” Monsignor Tim Nichols of St. John Vianney Catholic Church said.
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SHINTO: Shinto was originally formed out of Japan. Followers believe there is not one god but many gods – Shinto translated means “the way of the gods.” Practices of this belief include washing or “cleansing” the body and inside the mouth. Once this process is finished one must pass through Tori, which are gateways that separate the physical world from the divine world. Each shrine is specifically dedicated to each god. The gods only acknowledge those who are faithful to them. In return for faith, the gods help guide believers.
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ISLAM: Islamic prayer is considered formal. Before prayer, believers are to wash their face, arms, scalp and feet with water, but dirt or sand may be used as a substitute. To pray, believers face Kaaba, the house erected by Abraham and Ishmael and say “God is Great” in Arabic. They then must bow, prostrate and sit. During prayer, believers must stay in meditation of the “All Mighty” and say phrases such as “praise be to God” and “Thanks be to God,” and continuously ask for forgiveness. Muslims generally pray five times a day, but the durations of the prayer itself will last anywhere from three to 10 minutes.
S P O R T S @ D A I LY T I TA N . C O M
Where Does Bonds Stand?
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Softball Titans Take Early Exit in Regionals
The Giant slugger finally tied Ruth, but is hounded by rumors and innuendo By eric sifuentes
For the Daily Titan
Itʼs not uncommon to hear the name Barry Bonds and think of two things, great and controversy. Whether it is chasing records, being misunderstood, steroid rumors, not being a team player or whatever the media can find fault with him, Bonds attracts attention to himself no matter what he does. As Bonds hit his 714th home run against the Oakland Athletics Saturday afternoon to tie Babe Ruth and is one dinger shy of becoming the all-time home run hitter for a left-handed batter, many question his statistics and home run accomplishments due to rumors of taking steroids. Bonds played in only 14 games all of the 2005 season while recovering from a serious knee surgery that got infected. Many believe he could not recover from surgery because he quit using steroids. The infection was more serious than many believed it to be and just assumed it was because of steroids. “Barry had a rare infection caused by the surgery that is very painful and this could have happened to anyone,” said Rick Hatch, a specialist that Bonds saw at USC. Still in limited action in 2005, Bonds hit five home runs in only 42 at-bats. There is no doubt that Bonds has had a remarkable career but his numbers in 2006 speak for themselves. Maybe Bonds is off the steroids and cannot produce like he is used to doing and has done for 20 years. Maybe itʼs age, maybe he isnʼt making the same hard contact he has in years past with the one or two pitches he gets in a game to hit. Entering Saturdayʼs game against the Athletics, the 41-year old was only hitting .226 with five home runs and 14 RBI. He is on pace to hit 26 home runs this year after averaging about 42 home runs per season in his career. Still, Bonds is still a very dangerous hitter and is still pitched around and carefully just on reputation and everything he has done in his career. Bonds has 40 walks with 17 intentional walks in 35 games that he has played entering his 714th home run game. Bonds changes the game when he hits and that is something no one can take away from him. Still for the majority of fans, Bonds is the ultimate personification of todayʼs ʻme firstʼ professional athlete. Only a small minority would likely concede that with Bonds, he is what he is and with his greatness doesnʼt always come with a smile. Moments where Bonds shows his human side seem far and few between, if you arenʼt spending your time watching his television show, Bonds on Bonds. “He was the nicest guy and he even signed a baseball for me even though he did not have to and was courteous,” said Norma Sifuentes, an orthopedic worker at USC. The same cannot be said for Carlos Oliveras, whom Bonds posed a picture with, but refused to sign the Air Force servicemanʼs bounty when he caught Bondsʼ 713th home run. The media has turned their misconceptions into a weapon to vilify Bonds because most of the time, they do not get the answers and information they want out of Bonds. “He is Barry Bonds. He does not need to give interviews and be everybodyʼs buddy and make everyone happy,” said Jose Garcia, a Costco Wholesale Supervisor
SEE BONDS= PAGE 17
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david pardo/For the Daily Titan
JUMP ON BOARD THE BANDWAGON: While attendance for Titan baseball games spike up all-around when it comes to postseason, such as the 2005 Super Regionals, the student body at CSUF seems to take the teamʼs success for granted by not showing up to games at Goodwin Field.
Finding Support Among Their Fans Despite winning teams, a lack of student interest hurts CSUF baseball By christen d’alessandro
Daily Titan Asst. Sports Editor
Many would think if a highly populated and well-known college had a National Championship team on board, it would generate a high fan base. However, this is most certainly not true for the No. 2 Cal State Fullerton baseball team. Back in 2004 the Titans won the College World Series for the fourth time in the schoolʼs history. Presumably, a National Championship would likely attract more fans to their games in the years to follow. During the past two seasons, however, it hasnʼt been the case. Despite having a winning team, one that has been ranked as high
as No. 1 in the country by Baseball America, they get relatively little support from the student body. This season, the baseball team has only averaged about 2,000 fans to their home games at Goodwin Field. It may sound like a lot, but CSUF is the highest populated school among the CSUs at an enrollment of just over 35,000. Not to mention the majority of the fans arenʼt even CSUF students. Titan pitcher Wes Roemer said the lack of support is because Fullerton is a commuter school. Longtime fan and former president of the Titan Baseball Diamond Club Dick Yuhnke of Yorba Linda agreed. “Itʼs traditionally known as a commuter school,” Yuhnke said about why students donʼt come to games. Yuhnke has been coming to the games since the early ʻ90s and to this day still shows up to every home game and many road games. Fullerton student Brody Wegner,
a commuter from south Orange County, thought of it in a different way. “I know that the stadium is tiny so driving out there and not knowing if Iʼm going to get a seat just makes it not [as] appealing for me,” Wegner said. That brings up a question, why does a school with a top baseball program have such a small stadium? Goodwin Field can only accommodate 3,500 people, while in comparison to other big baseball schools, like Rice University in Texas and Tulane University in New Orleans, have considerably less enrollment but bigger stadiums. No. 1 ranked Rice has only 4,785 students who attend the school while their stadium can hold 4,500, which means that almost the entire student body could attend a baseball game. Another example is Tulane. It currently enrolls 13,214 students while itʼs stadium can hold a
slightly higher amount of fans as Fullerton, and their games are sold out every time. “There is so much to do in Orange County that people probably have better things to do on Friday and Saturday nights,” Roemer said. “The biggest crowd I ever played in front of was in Tulane and there isnʼt anything to do there so everyone goes to the games.” Lack of options may be one reason why schools like Tulane have so many more fans, but another answer would be that the Titans donʼt have a football team. Without a football team, the school doesnʼt generate much profit to help fund other sports, including the baseball facilities. Another good question would be where are all the student fans? Maybe the size of Goodwin Field isnʼt the problem, because itʼs
SEE FANS = PAGE 17
It’s Miller Time For Titans in Sweep Senior strikes out eight in 1-0 complete game shutout against Cal Poly By andy stowers
Daily Titan Staff Writer
The No. 2 ranked Cal State Fullerton Titans finished off the sweep of the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Mustangs Sunday afternoon on Senior Day before a crowd of 2,258 at Goodwin Field. In the final regular season home game for the seniors, two shined the brightest in a game that just a little over two hours to finish. All-American candidate Justin Turner provided the only run of the game and Dustin Miller (10-1) threw a complete game five-hit shutout to lift the Titans to at least a share of the Big West title and a trip to the playoffs. “Itʼs a good luxury to know we are going to be in the playoffs,” Titan Head Coach George Horton said. The No. 2 ranked Titans didnʼt need much offense to back up the stellar performance by Miller. He tossed the complete game, striking out eight and only giving up five hits. “Everything was working well today,” Miller said. “I knew it was going to be a good game for me in the second inning.” The only run of the game came in the bottom half of the sixth inning. Turner stepped up to the plate and took the first pitch over the left field fence. The home run was his fourth of the season and was only his second ever at Goodwin Field in his Titan career. “I didnʼt know it was going to go out at first, [but] I knew I hit it
good,” Turner said. Over the weekend Turner also moved into second place all-time on the Titan career hit list with a career total of 309. Mustang starter Casey Fien pitched an almost equally impressing game as well, nearly matching Miller pitch for pitch. Fien pitched eight innings, only giving up three hits and making the one mistake that Turner took over the left field wall. Miller gave a little scare in the bottom half of the ninth inning.
His last shutout came April 4, 2003 against Pacific. “The last time I had a complete game I gave out a two-out bomb in the bottom half of the ninth. I had flashbacks today,” Miller said. In his first full season since 2003, Miller had made the most of his time on the mound for the Titans. As the Sunday starter, he has been a solidifying pitcher for much of the season. Another Titan All-American candidate, shortstop Blake Davis
phil gordon/Daily Titan
DOMINANT: Dustin Millerʼs successful comeback in 2006 was capped by his eight strikeout, complete game five-hit shutout on Senior Day. After he hit Mustang first baseman Jimmy Van Ostrand on the back, Horton took a trip to the mound. “Dustin wasnʼt going to let me take him out,” Horton said, “I asked him how he felt and he just smiled. I have the chills right now after seeing that performance.” The complete game was the first of the season for Miller and only the second of his career.
was 1-for-3 to extend his season high hitting streak to 21 games. Van Ostrand finished 2-for-3 for the Mustangs. Titan catcher John Curtis was the only other batter to record a hit off Fien Sunday. Long Beach State beat UC Riverside 5-2 on the afternoon keeping the lead in the Big West for the Titans at three games.
Despite being swept the Mustangs battled the Titans in every game over the weekend. On Saturday, junior first base man Brett Pill hit a home run to back junior starting pitcher Lauren Gagnier in a 3-1 win over the Mustangs. Gagnier allowed only one run in 6 and one-third innings pitched to get his 11th win of the season for the Titans. On Friday, the Titans won by a score of 6-4. Sophomore starting pitcher Wes Roemer nailed down his 10th win of the season as he allowed four runs in 8 and onethird inning pitched. Reliever Ryan Paul took the mound for his first save opportunity for the Titans because closer Vinnie Pestano is out with an arm injury. Turner finished the game with three hits and an RBI. With just one win next weekend, the Titans would give the Titans the Big West Conference title once again. It would mark the 22nd time the Titans won a Division One conference championship since 1975. “This is what I came back for,” said Turner, commenting on returning for his senior year, “We compete to win, we show up every day to go to Omaha. Such a good program made the choice easy.” The Titans take on USC in a non-conference match-up Tuesday night and then head to Long Beach State where they will wrap up the regular season. The win improved the Titans record to 39-13 overall and 15-3 in conference while the Mustangs dropped to 27-26 overall and 8-10 in league. Fridayʼs game against Long Beach State starts at 6:30 p.m. and will be available as a CSTV.com Web cast.
The Cal State Fullerton softball team saw its 2006 season come to a premature end on Saturday afternoon in Californiaʼs Central Valley as the Titans were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament by No. 10 Stanford, 4-2, after staving off elimination with a 6-2 win over Tulsa at the Bulldog Diamond. Fullertonʼs season ended with a 37-24 overall record and its fifth Big West Conference championship in the last seven years. Stanfordʼs Laura Severson tossed 6 two-thirds shutout innings and the No. 10 Cardinal scored three times in the fourth inning to break up a scoreless contest as they eliminated Cal State Fullerton from postseason play with a 4-2 victory on Saturday evening. Stanford struck first against Fullerton and Candice Baker (2210) in the fourth, putting runners on the corners with no outs for Michelle Smith, who lined a shot to right field where Whitney Kroh made a running catch, but it was enough to score speedy pinch-runner Shoney Hixson from third for the 1-0 lead. Tricia Aggabao added an RBI single two batters later and Anna Beardman followed with another sac fly to left field to make it 3-0. Maddy Coon capped the scoring with an RBI single to center in the seventh. Fullerton broke up the shutout with two outs in the seventh as Crystal Vieyra got her first hit of the 2006 postseason, looping a pitch into left field to score pinchrunner Molly Perez to make it 4-2. Severson (9-0) then ended the game, inducing Amanda Kamekona to fly out to centerfield. Gollhardt led the Titan offense with a 2-for-3 night at the plate while Wheeler went 1-for-3 to finish her season on a four-game hitting streak and end the regionals hitting 5-for-9 (.550) with four extra base hits. Baker suffered the loss, allowing two earned runs on three hits while striking out four. Coon finished the night a perfect 3-for-3 to lead all players.
Softball Van Boxmeer and Baker Honored Cal State Fullerton juniors Candice Baker and Ashley Van Boxmeer were each named to the NFCA All-West Region First Team as voted on by the regionʼs coaches, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced Wednesday. Baker earns her second career all-region award as a utility player after earning the same first-team honor as a sophomore in 2005. Van Boxmeer, who was named to the second team as a freshman at New Mexico, earns her first allregion honor in a Titan uniform. Baker, who was also named to the All-Big West Conference First Team as a pitcher and utility player earlier this week, was Fullertonʼs ace in the circle, posting a 21-9 overall mark with a 2.18 ERA and six shutouts. She led the Big West Conference with 249 strikeouts and a .194 average against, while also ranking third in innings (202.1), second in wins, and fourth in ERA. She also played second base and shortstop, hitting .208 with 35 runs scored (fourth in the conference), five home runs and 16 RBI. She was also hit by a pitch 11 times - a total that ranked third in the league. Van Boxmeer, the Big West Co-Field Player of the Year in 2006, finished the regular season with a .314 average, 13 home runs, and 41 RBI. She ranked among the leagueʼs top 10 offensive players in 10 different categories, including leading the league with 45 runs scored and tying for the top spot with her 13 home runs. Information provided by CSUF Sports Media Relations www.Fullertontitans.com
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A Quest for Legitimacy The CSUF equestrian team is looking to rally more participation By natalie murillo
Daily Titan Staff Writer
Two years ago, Cal State Fullerton senior Laura Piper started an equestrian team on campus. Now, one of the members of the team, Michelle Young, made it to the National Championships, which took place in Philadelphia two weeks ago. “You needed someone to start it, so I started it,” said Piper, a 23year-old kinesiology major. Piper said riding horses has always been a dream of hers. “Thatʼs what I enjoy doing,” Piper said. She added she thinks the team has made much progress in a short time. Piper said riding reminds her there are other things in life and itʼs a love and a passion that “keeps her sane.” “An animal person would know, you have [to have] a connection with the horse,” CSUF sophomore Lizz Braley said.
Braley felt the past year went well for the CSUF equestrian team because it gained more members. She added it is hard to get people to join because of the fact that CSUF is a commuter school. Braley hopes the team will do better next year and hopes to have more activities set up besides going to shows. Since the team is a small group of people, they really get an opportunity to bond. They go to dinner together and spend time together. Braley would like for the team to go to more events the upcoming year because she said itʼs a great learning experience for the members of the team. Braley said she enjoys talking about horses all the time. “I donʼt even think about it anymore. I am constantly talking about horses,” Braley said. She trains horses for a living and plans to continue teaching as a career. “Horses have a personality, they get to know who you are, Braley said. “Theyʼre not going to stab you in the back like a person would,” Braley said. This year the team is hoping to get more people on the equestrian team and plan to get trainers for their horses.
SPORTS
S P O R T S @ D A I LY T I T A N . C O M
photo provided by laura piper
COMPETITIVE: Michelle Young is riding for the CSUF equestrian team. Young competed in the intermediate over fences class at the 2006 IHSA Nationals in Harrisburg, Penn. Although Braley said she enjoys competitions, she said the sport can get expensive. The cost to enter a show for two events, which are called classes, can range from
$35 to $45. There are different classes such as a jumping class and a flat class. “A jumping class is when there are fences and the person is judged
by how they handle the horse,” Braley said. “I was very pleased with the way all of the girls performed,” Young said.
Young, a liberal studies major,
SEE TEAM = PAGE 16
Making Their Team More Than Just a Novelty Act Going into their second season the Titan cheer squad has big plans By amy robertson
For the Daily Titan
With the semester coming to a
close, the Cal State Fullerton cheer squad will look to prepare for next season. “They have proven to be a success and an excellent addition to games,” said Carol May, the head coach of the squad. Planning for the new spirit team began in August 2005 as an idea of Vice President of Student Affairs Robert Palmer, said Andi Sims,
coordinator of Student Life and cochair of the spirit committee said. After a three round tryout process, the squad was formed that September. The final group consisted of 14 members, including two people designated to be Tuffy the mascot. “Unlike most cheer squads, this one was put together after the school year had started,” May said,
“The toughest part was getting 14 schedules to mesh.” The team practiced two nights a week and performed at all men and womenʼs basketball home games. The squad also participated in other campus events where they were asked to make appearances. As word got out about the squadʼs existence, many departments on campus began to utilize
the team, Sims said. The squad participated in such events as Discoverfest, a student affairs annual meeting, a golf tournament, and “Welcome to Cal State Fullerton” Day. May said Welcome to CSUF Day was a beneficial opportunity for the squad because it acted as an excellent recruitment opportunity. Self-promotion is not the squadʼs
main goal however. “Being that weʼre not a competition squad, we donʼt necessarily need the publicity, but the focus is on getting people to come to more athletics events,” May said. “[The squadʼs] No. 1 goal is to promote
SEE CHEER = PAGE 16
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CHEER FROM PAGE 14
and uphold Cal State Fullerton spirit and pride in being a Titan.” Next seasonʼs squad has already been chosen. After their second tryout in April, 16 made it on the final team, including five returning members and six first time freshmen. They will continue to cheer at
menʼs and womenʼs basketball games, however, there is a possibility that this coming year the squadʼs game attendance will branch out to include some volleyball and baseball games. May said they wonʼt necessarily cheer at baseball games, but they will go for support and to help with promotions, such as selling raffle tickets. Another change that will be taking place is that the squad will be adding a new aspect to their rou-
photo provided by carol may
ENERGIZING THE CROWD: Members of the CSUF cheer squad perform during halftime of a menʼs basketball game earlier this year.
SPORTS
tines and “will be implementing stunting this year in as far as the entertainment nature of an athletic game,” Sims said. Now, basketball games will include such dimensions as cheer support, stunting, a halftime show from the dance team, and a performance of the universityʼs fight song from the dance team and cheer squad. “Having all these aspects involved in one game adds to the entire game experience,” Sims said. Steve DiTolla, the CSUF Associate Athletics Director of Marketing, thinks the cheer squad has been a nice addition to sporting events. “[The cheer squad] has added a nice atmosphere and feeling of college basketball,” DiTolla said. Having the cheer squad present at CSUF games, Sims said, helps the crowd feel more a part of the game and has added student involvement. The crowds at games were not the only ones to feel the difference the cheer squad made. “It has been terrific having [them] at our games,” menʼs basketball Head Coach Bob Burton said. With the combination of the dance team and the cheer squad
S P O R T S @ D A I LY T I T A N . C O M
present at games, Sims said there is a definite home team advantage now. Building a relationship will be easier for the two this coming year now that the cheer squad has moved to the athletic departments, as opposed to being under the supervision of the Dean of Students. “With the squad moving into their second year, there is more room to branch out,” May said. She said now that the team is “in motion and everything is in place for next year,” there is the possibility to get more involved in other events and to begin fundraising. However, their main concern right now is summer plans. While athletic teams cannot practice during the summer due to NCAA regulations, the cheer squad will plan on starting practices in early August and will attend a cheer camp right before school resumes. Being able to start training and team building early in the school year will hopefully prove to be an advantage for the team. “The squad is growing, and I think that next year cheer will develop into an even stronger program,” said Jamie Kammerman, a junior sociology major and returning squad member.
TEAM FROM PAGE 14
feels as the team grows, they will become really strong. Young also said she enjoyed going to nationals. “I was excited, it didnʼt hit me until I got there,” Young said. She added riding in a big stadium, seeing the parade of teams, the color guard and the National
Anthem made the experience of nationals wonderful for her. Young hopes more beginning riders will join the equestrian team next year because the competitions also require beginning riders as well. Piper hopes more people go to zones, which is the competitions before nationals. The members of the equestrian team seem hopeful that the team will only get stronger at CSUF. “It teaches you a lot about commitment,” Young said.
photo provided by laura piper
SEE YOU AT THE SHOW: Lizz Braley is helping Michelle Young with last minute details before entering the show ring for her class.
S P O R T S @ D A I LY T I TA N . C O M
FANS FROM PAGE 13
never filled to capacity anyway. Itʼs hard to imagine that with so many students at Fullerton, the stadium rarely ever sells out. The majority of fans are members of the community and family and friends of the players. Bob and Marilyn Durazzo of La Habra have been coming to the games for 12 years now.
david pardo/For the Daily Titan
HIGH EXPECTATIONS: CSUF baseball has four national titles.
They said they would rather support college baseball than professional because college players arenʼt worried about the money and still play hard. “We get to see future stars here,” Bob Durazzo said. Marilyn Durazzo said she thinks the team doesnʼt get many student fans because the school doesnʼt advertise enough. There arenʼt usually signs or announcements on campus to let the students know about upcoming games or even that the team is playing so well. If people knew that they could be part of such successful program, they may think twice about coming out to a game or two. “I donʼt think thereʼs any promotion for the team,” Marilyn Durazzo said. Yuhnke said the only students he ever sees at the games are the occasional fraternity. He said they only come to yell at the other team and donʼt really know much about the baseball team. And now that the stadium doesnʼt serve beer anymore he said, fans come even less. Many people enjoyed watching CSUF baseball games while sipping on a beer, but the school recently changed the policy to accomodate the CSU system and alcohol isnʼt sold at Goodwin Field anymore.
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17 BONDS FROM PAGE 13
and fan. This has put a bad taste in the mouth of the media but they will follow him wherever he goes just like the fans that watch him play. Fans will follow Bonds even if they despise the man because he is chasing history. On the road, fans boo him yet when he hits a home run they cheer because they know as baseball fans the importance of each home run hit. With all of these achievements Bonds could go down as arguably the best player in major league history but perhaps with a very big asterisk next to his career accomplishments.
matt petit/For the Daily Titan
RING OF HONOR: Former Major Leaguer Mike Harkey is among 38 former Titans whose name and jersey numbers are prominently displayed in the grandstands of Goodwin Field. True Titan baseball fans wouldnʼt let that stop them though, Yuhnke said. Wegner thought that fans are fickle and always come out to jump on the bandwagon when a team is playing well.
Whether it takes another national title or through massive promotion of the program, it remains to be seen whether the Titan baseball team can play in front of a sold out Goodwin Field on a regular basis, “Itʼs the Southern California
sports fans, when youʼre doing well the fans will start coming,” Wegner said. “When Fullerton makes it to playoffs or the College World Series all of a sudden everyone will start wearing their Titan shirts and hats.”
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NEWS
openings
loss (At right) CSUF marks the 30th anniversary of Edward Allaway始s shooting rampage in the Pollak Library. Allaway, who is serving a life sentence in a mental institution, shot nine people on July 12, 1976, killing seven. (Below) Emeritus Professor L. Jack Bradshaw dies Jan. 7 at 82.
(Above) In January, the sports world sees the Pittsburgh Steelers win the Super Bowl. (At right) Titans baseball and softball teams have standout seasons. (Below) runners give their all in the Los Angeles Marathon.
CSUF始s Performing Arts Center and the Orange County Agricultural and Nikkei Heritage Museum open in the spring semester.
(Above left) The Gay and Lesbian Club hosts its drag show fundraiser in the TSU Pavilion in April. (Above right) The Coachella Valley Music Festival in late April draws thousands of music fans, including Nicole Messerschmidt of Germany, to the desert for the two-day event.
Cal State Fullerton students elect Heather Williams and Javier Gamboa president and vice president of Associated Students Inc. About 2,100 students voted, with 54 percent choosing Williams and Gamboa.
politics
show
SPRING 2006: SEMESTER IN REVIEW
victory
N E W S @ D A I LY T I T A N . C O M
N E W S @ D A I LY T I TA N . C O M
NEWS
W E E K O F M AY 2 2 - 2 5 , 2 0 0 6
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immigration
Thousands of demonstrators take to the streets in April and May to protest immigration reforms. Students left their classes to march several times, and workers left their jobs on May 1 to rally in Los Angeles as part of the “day without immigrants” protest. The chant “si se puede,” or “yes, we can,” was a common thread at the rallies. Immigrationreform bills are being debated and voted on in Congress now.
speech
Muslim groups protest at UCI, where cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad were shown during a debate.
Armenian groups march in Los Angeles for recognition of genocide.
action
A religious group known on campus for its vociferous proselytizing draws attention to its message in the Quad in May.
voice
tribute
Nighttime vigil in the Quad in April calls attention to sexual assault and its victims.
salaries
Teachers, students and staffers rally for faculty raises and an end to state budget cuts in March.
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Public Preschool Unjustified By Michael Ocampo
For The Daily Titan
In less than a month, California voters will decide the fate of education for all of the stateʼs 4year-olds. The crux of this lofty decision lies in Proposition 82, the universal-preschool initiative. If it is passed, California will provide education for all its preschoolers, with the stateʼs richest footing the bill. If it is rejected, the state of preschool education in California will remain the same. Since it gathered the some 600,000 signatures required to secure a position on the June 6 ballot, Proposition 82 has sparked intense debate over its intention and effectiveness. Critics of the initiative say it may force some preschools to close, and it wonʼt help the children who need it most. But who can argue with its supporters? Proposition 82 is intended to help kids. But it doesnʼt just give kids free preschool, its proponents contend that it will help reduce future crime and poverty. Apparently voters agree. The universal-preschool initiative has gained a majority of support, according to a recent Field Poll. Perhaps Proposition 82 has such strong support because of its intention. No voter would deny a 4-year-old the chance to go to preschool. So it is understandable that few, if any, voters would search out its shortcomings. Though supporters of Proposition 82 guarantee that preschool will bring less crime and poverty, they have yet to successfully prove it. Supporters have produced studies showing that preschool equals safer streets and more taxable income. Their most cited study is by the RAND Corp. According to the RAND report, for every state dollar invested in preschool, $2 to $4 dollars will be returned in terms of less crime, fewer social
services and wealthier taxpayers. But much of the RAND reportʼs conclusions were extrapolated from an earlier study on the effect of preschool on low-income, minority youths in Chicago – not middle-class kids in California. Thatʼs caused Princeton University and the Brookings Institute to question the validity of the RAND report. Further, the Pacific Research Institute criticized the RAND report directly for using unrepresentatively small sample sizes. In fact, even the RAND researchers acknowledged in a Los Angeles Times op-ed that the “benefits of universal preschool in the early grades are greatest for the most disadvantaged children.” But the most disadvantaged arenʼt the focus of Proposition 82. Proposition 82ʼs broad focus is all 4-year-olds across the socio-economic spectrum. If supportersʼ main selling point is that Proposition 82 will help kids, why not just take RAND Corp.ʼs suggestion and help the kids who need it most? More than 60 percent of children are already enrolled in some sort of preschool, according to the legislative analystʼs office of California. It seems that a better way for supporters to reach their goal – of keeping those most likely to drop out in school and off the streets – is to raise money for programs that already focus on helping disadvantaged kids, like the federal governmentʼs Head Start program. It may seem unfair to lambaste Proposition 82ʼs supporters and ignore its critics. But the burden of proof is on them. Supporters must justify amending such an initiative into the state constitution. They must prove to voters that Proposition 82ʼs intentions are not only desired, but that the initiative will in fact achieve those intentions. And without credible evidence to back their claim, supporters are unjustified in asking for universal preschool.
OPINION
O P I N I O N @ D A I LY T I T A N . C O M
Class of 2006: The World is Waiting By Jason Eichelberger
Daily Titan Staff Writer
As May continues its inevitable journey toward June, another school year is also marching toward its inevitable finale. For some, it has been an anticipated moment since the first day of school in August. It is a time to rejoice and celebrate the end of the nine-month strain of homework, quizzes, tests, projects and finals. However, for the class of 2006, the end of this school year will be different and will signify much more than just the end of academic pursuits. The class of 2006 is moving on to far more challenging and expansive pursuits where the stakes are higher and the margin of error is more minute than ever before. Graduates, welcome to the rest of your life. For many, commencement exercises will constitute the first time in memory that the demands of academia will no longer be placed upon them. School will no longer be the center of life. Gone will be the days
of worrying about taking a certain providing financial security and teacher, passing a difficult class stability for a family are just some or buying overpriced textbooks. of the benefits that are potenLeaving these obstacles behind tially obtainable. However, there will be undoubtedly and greatly is added scrutiny and pressure to be successful because failure anticipated. Yet in myriad ways, the con- at the professional level can lead clusion of college is a symbolic to a life of hardship, struggle and transition from the innocence unfulfilled expectations. of youth to the demands of real For those concerned about world adulthood, a realization experiencing difficulties in this that can be both intense and diffi- impending progression into the cult for some. It professional will mark a new world, there experience for are a couple Graduates, welcome to of basic keys most graduates, the rest of your life. one in which to help ensure their very sursuccess in this vival will hinge uncharted terriJason Eichelberger tory: upon the abilFullerton Student ity to create and 1. Persistence sustain an exisis the Key: The tence indepenreality for many dent of assistance from outside graduates is that the coveted contribution. “dream job” that is so desired The rewards of a success- may not be a viable option immeful move into the professional diately after graduating. This can realm of society are plentiful. The be a very difficult fact to endure opportunity to succeed and pros- for some and can lead to feelper in a chosen field, the ability ings of failure and disenchantto earn a consistent and bounti- ment. However, it is vital to use ful income and the prospect of any initial setbacks not as an end
to a dream, but an avenue to follow on the road to success. Whatever the profession or industry, there are always extra steps that can help those who stay persistent and active in achieving a preferred occupation. Remaining determined and strong-willed during the journey to reach predetermined goals even after initial disappointment, though difficult, is a crucial way to ultimate success. 2. Never Become Complacent: Once the dream job is secured, it is a personal responsibility to stay passionate and indomitable in the struggle to maintain it. The battle doesnʼt end once the mountaintop is reached; staying there and setting the standard higher are the obstacles that many donʼt realize before it is too late. It is important to understand that there will always be people trying to achieve similar and higher levels of success, and employers wont hesitate to provide these people with opportunities at your expense. Congratulations and good luck class of 2006. The world is waiting for you.
No One Wants to Share the Road With a Drunk By Lori Martinez
Daily Titan Staff Writer
Last year, my then-boyfriend was working rigorously to get out of a DUI. He was leaving a concert one evening after drinking a couple of beers a few hours earlier. After running a stop sign he was pulled over and arrested for driving under the influence. He complained about the police officers and the lawyers, but he never once took responsibility for his actions. Itʼs amazing that people continue to focus on how they can get away with drinking and driving rather than actually obeying the law. One Web site suggests not taking a roadside sobriety test or a preliminary alcohol screening breath test, but insisting on a urine
test. This usually takes some time vehicle is because alcohol affects and allows for your blood alcohol your ability to think and act rationally. level to lower. Hereʼs an idea: How about This is exactly what my exboyfriend requested. He refused everyone behaves responsibly. the roadside and the Breathalyzer And when you know that you are going to go test; he wanted a out drinking, urine test. People need to take find a desigUnfortunately, nated driver. the police interresponsibility for their preted that as actions and themselves. Not everyone being uncooperain the world tive and unruly loves to drink. Lori Martinez Fullerton Student and in the end it Nor do they just got him in want to share more trouble. the road with I pointed out, of course, that if a swerving drunken driver. he had not run the stop sign in the My best friend does not drink. first place he would not be in this She was raised by an alcoholic mother and understands that predicament. The truth is that when you addiction runs in her family and act rationally and obey all traffic therefore vowed never to drink. laws there is less chance of get- She still loves to go out to clubs ting pulled over at all. and go dancing. The reason why people are not Iʼm lucky. allowed to drink and then drive a I have a built in designated
driver. Sheʼs my best friend and when we go out to clubs, we go together. But at the same time, Iʼm not a big drinker. I donʼt necessarily like that sometimes the alcohol doesnʼt sit well and I end up with a major stomachache before I can even feel a good buzz. Therefore, I usually end up as the designated driver when I donʼt go out without my best friend. The main issue here isnʼt that the law is unnecessary or police are overzealous. The issue is responsibility. People need to take responsibility for their actions and themselves. Stop trying to push the blame on others or looking for the easy way out. The law may seem ridiculous but itʼs there nonetheless and itʼs time people grow up and start acting like mature responsible adults.
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OPINION
Immigration Talk Barely Effective
TITAN EDITORIAL
Providing insight, analysis and perspective since 1960
By Nohemy Martinez
Daily Titan Staff Writer
PAT ON THE BACK
T
he only positions in the United States that are closed to foreignborn citizens are the two top positions in the executive office: the presidency and vice presidency. Aside from these two offices, new citizens are free to pursue any position in society they choose. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is a prime example. Foreign-born citizens are also free to pursue careers as firefighters, judges and in law enforcement. It seems that, once someone comes to the United States, there is no limit to what they can achieve. At least no limit thatʼs imposed by law. The same isnʼt true with Mexico who, even as it leans on the United States to create a more liberal immigration policy, keeps many positions closed to foreigners. Even foreign-born Mexican citizens are barred from positions in both houses of congress, state legislatures and judgeships. Mexicoʼs president must prove that, not only was he born in Mexico, but that at least one of his parents was also.Mexicoʼs Interior Department recommends these bans as part of its “model city” and distributes these ideas to local politicians who turn them into law. When asked by the Associated Press, Mexicoʼs Interior Department couldnʼt provide a rationale for the bans. Foreign-born people make
up only 0.5 percent of Mexicoʼs population and, with such small numbers, obviously pose little threat to Mexicoʼs job market. Mexico also only allows 3,000 people to become new citizens each year. In contrast the United States grants citizenship to almost half a million people annually. Foreigners are also prohibited from participating in Mexican politics. The initial impulse might be to get upset about the lack of rights granted to foreign-born people in Mexico, given their recent pressure on the U.S. for looser immigration policies. But Americans should give themselves congratulatory pats on the back for being so dedicated to freedomʼs cause. A lot of policies enacted in the U.S. are questionable so far as freedom is concerned. But we all hold that people should have a voice. When we saw mass demonstrations by both legal and illegal U.S. residents, there may have been heated debate over the issues at stake. Some may have found the marches great, others ridiculous. But no one questioned the rights of these people to stage their demonstration and vent their frustrations publicly. And we wouldnʼt be so brash as to assume that because of a personʼs country of origin they would be unable to provide a benefit to society. Regardless of the post they held.
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.
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O P I N I O N @ D A I LY T I T A N . C O M
President Bushʼs speech on immigration this past Monday was nothing short of disappointing. The issue of immigration has taken its toll on the American public including the millions of immigrants that live in this country. The anti-immigration reform that was once labeled a strategy to secure the safety of Americans has now become anything but a ploy against terrorism. This issue, ironically, has strong similarities to an episode of “The Simpsons” called “Much Apu about Nothing.” In this particular episode a bear is spotted walking along Evergreen Terrace, the street where the Simpsonʼs reside. The police quickly capture the bear, and Homer begins to complain about the constant bear sightings. Homer, along with a group of disgruntled supporters, pressure Mayor Quimby to take action. The bear patrol causes taxes to go up, and in an effort to shift the blame onto someone, they mayor blames illegal immigrants. Quimbyʼs reasoning rested on the assumption that immigrants drained the cityʼs economy. Itʼs not difficult
to see the similarities between the characters and issues in the episode and the situation currently being encountered. The bear can be compared to the Sept. 11 terrorists, Homer to the Minute Men, the bear patrol to the National Guard and Quimby to President Bush. It appears that President Bush has no choice and in order to boosts his 30 percent approval rating he has resorted to mediocre measures of immediate military action that have surprisingly disappointed both those who are in favor and against an immigration reform. President Bushʼs claim that, “We have enough Guard forces to win the war on terror, respond to natural disasters, and help secure our border,” is an overwhelming statement. If there were enough guard forces to aid natural disaster victims then why, a year later, are there still hundreds of Hurricane Katrina victims sleeping in trailer parks with poor living conditions? How will the Guard forces win the war on terror by protecting the southern border? The Sept. 11 terrorists did not trample across the hot southern border to reach America. They acquired everything from legal student visas to temporary residency that they violated multiple times. If
some of them were caught, some of the attacks could have been prevented. Or how about the most obvious truth of all: the fact that the terrorists comfortably traveled in and out of the United States on airplanes? What does that say about our airport security, which was scrutinized for a while but now has been forgotten? For years now the U.S. government has presented statistics confirming the constant flow of illegal immigration, however they havenʼt provided statistics to prove that increasing law enforcement along the U.S. border will make a dent in the number of people illegally immigrating. The mere fact that President Bush is receiving opposition against his decision to include the National Guard should be a sign that itʼs not a clever plan. Itʼs a Mayor Quimby tactic, distracting the public from Iraq and preoccupying Americans by creating a diversion that now has people choking at each otherʼs throats. The hypocrisy does not end here; initially President Bush claimed that the guest worker program would provide a job for every American because there is no job that an American will not do. In his recent speech he finally acknowledged the fact that the jobs immigrants
are performing are the ones many Americans refuse to even apply for. Although Bush did not specify the types of jobs Americans do not want, he did mention that those jobs were the ones immigrants would perform in the U.S. through the guest worker program. What kind of progress is that? Shouldnʼt the guest worker program provide advancement for the American economy as well as the immigrants who participate in the system? Immigrants will continue to perform the crappy jobs they are currently performing, and eventually the notion that they will become legal citizens through a legitimate process will quickly disappear. Who has the time to learn English and at the same time be able to earn a living in California on a petty minimum wage? There is little difference between what is currently happening and what will happen in the future. Immigrants will continue to be exploited. But this time it will be legal and America will have the authority to send them back after itʼs through using them. Although Bushʼs reformation bill lacks fairness it has successfully managed to distract the attention of Americans away from the governmentʼs mistakes and onto the falsely accused immigrants.
Summer School Tuition Much Too High By Jessica Escorsia
Daily Titan Staff Writer
College students have a reputation of never having any money. That is a reputation students seem to live up to when they are forced to pay ridiculous course fees. And summer sessions are no exception. According to the CSUF admissions and records Web site, a fulltime undergraduate student will pay $1,260 for taking more than six units. That means you can take
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up to four courses and only pay that amount. However, when summer session comes around students must pay $210 a unit for each course. Basically, one three-unit course will run you half of what you would pay for a full semester. Six hundred and thirty dollars is a harsh fee to pay for a dedicated student who would rather spend part of their summer trying to get ahead in their classes. Many times durring the summer, the professors donʼt have the time in the 6-week session to go through the entire textbook. Assignments
are rare or only half of the amount you would get in a semester. And there is usually only a midterm and a final. This means because of the limited time students are restricted to a certain amount of information about the course. Students who take summer courses do not get the full benefits of taking a course in a regular semester. So why is it that it costs twice as much for these summer sessions? And thatʼs not even considering the $96 parking fee the student is stuck with they are only attending one six-week session.
Instead, it would be wise for students who want to take advantage of summer courses to take them at a community college, especially if a student is taking courses to fullfill their general education requirements. Fullerton Community College, which is just five minutes west of CSUF, offers a wide-range of courses in the summer for only. However, their summer session started in mid April. Students can look into other community colleges whose classes begin later than mid-April.