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Since 1960 Volume 84, Issue 6
The Chief of the Ninth
That’s Me in the Corner...
Losing my Religion questions OPINION, p. 7 God’s indifference
Former Titan Chad Cordero and his split personality SPORTS, p .12
Daily Titan
Thursday February 8, 2007
The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton
Birth Control Change By Jennifer Church
Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com
By KARL THUNMAN/Daily Titan Photo Editor SATURDAY IN the pond - Chicago’s Jason Scheff and James Pankow party like it’s 1971 at Honda Center Saturday night. The Rock ledgends drew over 8,000 people to Front and Center, a CSUF sponsored event to raise money for the Presidential scholarship.
Chicago Headlines ‘Front and Center’ By Marina zarate
Daily Titan Asst. News Editor news@dailytitan.com
Cal State Fullerton hosted the annual concert event, “Front and Center,” on Saturday to a crowd of 8,000 at the Honda Center. The concert is a scholarshipgenerating event for the President’s Scholars and for other stu-
dents at CSUF. Stefanie Light, University Advancement director of stewardship and events, said a preliminary estimate of total funds raised was just over $120,000. Musical group Chicago headlined the event. CSUF theatre and dance performers along with alumna Melanie Taylor, class of ’82, opened for the
MULTIMEDIA
o Check out dailytitan.com for a slideshow of Chicago photos and other performances from “Front and Center.”
Grammy Award-winning band. According to Carrie Stewart, associate vice president for university advancement, “Front and Center” is a great way for CSUF to reach out to
Daily Titan Executive Editor news@dailytitan.com
There were many layers to Michael Scott Cyran, the 43-year-old Fullerton man who fell to his death off of the Nutwood parking structure Jan. 26. A pair of Cyran’s longtime family friends said the man was a gentle soul whose medical conditions precipitated the man’s fatal fall. Cyran’s death was ruled a suicide by the Orange County Sheriff’s Coroner. “We don’t know if he jumped or if he fell,” said Tracy Gamache, a 25year-old Cal State Fullerton liberal studies graduate. Gamache, who knew Cyran for over five years, said she “felt it was pertinent for people to know that he had an illness; he was clinically diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic.” Gamache’s sister Lisa Nelson, 47, said, “It’s not necessarily a suicide.” The woman said Cyran had a ten-
tickets at the club, plaza or terrace levels to watch the concert. Fewer than 1,000 attendees were seated on the floor in front of the stage and received dinner prior to the concert in a black tie affair. Gold or silver tables ranged in SEE CHICAGO - PAGE 2
ASI Discusses Surveillance
Jumper Loved by Many Friends By adam levy
the Orange County community. “This event is important to the university perspective,” Stewart said. “We outreach to the local community and region to showcase what a great university CSUF is and what our school and students have to offer.” Attendees of the event had the option of purchasing a gold or silver table on the floor of the arena or
By Kilmeny Duchardt For the Daily Titan
news@dailytitan.com
Photo Courtesy of tracy gamache happier times - Michael Scott Cyran, the Fullerton man who comitted suicide Jan. 26., had a love for the ocean, as he enjoyed surfing and fishing
dency to withdraw socially and pace around at times. CSUF police reports from Jan. 26 confirmed a man was pacing and shouting atop the structure. Nelson said Cyran was able to cope and function with his state of mind relatively well, as “he hadn’t suffered for three years – he wasn’t just some crazy guy.” Nelson said Cyran was an Army veteran who had served in Operation Desert Storm. She said he was on disability from Veterans Affairs at the time of his death. Gamache said he had previously worked as a surgeon’s assistant. The women said Cyran had a passion for the sea and his main hobbies were fishing and surfing. “He said he was close to God at the ocean,” Gamache said. “He was a man of God.” Gamache said more than 100 of
Monday Sports
frank deford speaking in newport beach LECTURE SERIES Sports Illustrated Columnist to appear at Newport Beach central Library
Cyran’s friends and relatives congregated for his funeral on Feb. 3. The song “In the Arms of an Angel” was played in his honor. They recanted memories of their departed friend, most notably Cyran’s competitive playfulness when playing the “White Elephant” game at Christmas. Nelson said Cyran was a good man who never said an unkind word about anyone. “He’s a great guy – and he’ll be missed,” she said. “Mike was probably one of the most kind-hearted and genuine people,” Gamache said. “He had an infectious smile that could light up a room.” Due to an erroneous source, The Daily Titan reported Cyran’s name as Michael Scott Zyram in its Jan. 29 issue.
weather
In the recent past the Nutwood parking structure has played host to a number of security issues, including a suicide, auto theft, vandalism and an attempted kidnapping in November 2006. Some have suggested that installing security cameras in the parking structure could help reduce such crimes. Because of high costs and the size of the Nutwood parking structure, the idea does not seem feasible, according to Cal State Fullerton Police Chief Judi King. Cameras at the entrances and exits of the structure would allow police to catch license plates, according to Edward Lemoine, Fullerton police officer. “I don’t think you are going to prevent, but catch,” said Lemoine. The Nutwood parking structure design has the necessary wiring in place to permit the installation of cameras. The new campus police headquarters, due to open in fall 2008, will be complete with a video monitoring room to provide surveil-
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lance for future cameras within the campus and parking structures, according to King. “We are going to go that way eventually,” King said. “It is our hope that we can expand the system.” King said she anticipates these changes to occur incrementally within the next couple of years and believes this new system will assist in response and investigation. “The system is just going to be able to help us do our job better in apprehending crimes,” King said. King said she anticipates additional safety issues, even with the cameras. “By putting in cameras, there is an expectation of safety,” King said. Institutions, she said, have been held liable for this reason in the past when there has been failure to detect crime. The whole idea of cameras watching students seems weird for business major Payam Shahfari. “I would oppose it for speeding and fender benders, but for criminal reasons … yeah,” Shahfari said. SEE CAMERAS - PAGE 3
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Cal State Fullerton students may have fewer choices in birth control methods if the Food and Drug Administration decides to raise the standards on future guidelines for birth control pills. The FDA is currently working on improving standards for the pill, according to an Associated Press report, but is having trouble deciding on an acceptable failure rate. The report said that in the 1960s, the FDA only approved birth control pills that failed once per 100 women in a year. More recently, the FDA has approved pills that have twice the acceptable failure rate, with up to two pregnancies per 100 women in a year of use. Today’s birth control pills, referred to as “next generation” pills, contain lower doses of the hormones estrogen and progestin, which can cause side effects such as nausea, weight gain and spotting in high doses, said Faith Felix-Colburn, pharmacist of the Health Center. Felix-Colburn also said the new pills reduce the risks of suffering from blood clots and strokes. A concern with the newer versions of the pill is that the clinical studies involved women who do not represent the average American woman. The report said the women who were tested were “younger, skinnier and healthier” than most. That leaves out smokers, obese and older women. Felix-Colburn said that the most popular birth control prescriptions at the Health Center are “low dose” pills. Birth control methods such as the Nuva Ring, a plastic ring insert, as well as birth control pills Desogen and Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, are some of the low dose options. “The Nuva Ring is most popular because of its convenience,” FelixColburn said. It is a flexible ring worn in the vagina for three weeks. Desogen and Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo are called low dose pills because they contain 35 micrograms or less of estrogen, Felix-Colburn said. The Nuva Ring contains 15 micrograms of estrogen, which falls under the “very low dose” category. Felix-Colburn said that the dosage is enough for contraception, but the chances of spotting are higher. Cathy Baker, the center’s assistant director, said students see a clinician when they come into the center for birth control and decide on the best method after going through a questionnaire. Felix-Colburn said women are better off taking birth control pills, regardless of the failure rate. “Everything is only 99 percent effective against pregnancy. You are safer using birth control pills than not at all,” Felix-Colburn said. The center offers affordable birth control methods to students ranging from $3 to $17, Felix-Colburn said, but not for long. She said that state budget cuts will result in higher medication costs as early as next month.
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