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Since 1960 Volume 84, Issue 14
More Oscar Coverage
Fat People on Bikes
Columnist Jeff Klima defends his social image OPINION, p. 5
Fans travel from around the world NEWS, p. 3 to attend awards
Daily Titan
Monday February 26. 2007
The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton
Evaluating Leadership CSUF ROTC conducts entire day training in Marshall Canyon By Jenny Houser
Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com
ROTC cadets stood in formation at 5 a.m. in parking lot E on Friday in preparation for a ten-hour training day. While some of the cadets struggled to stay awake, many were eager to board the buses and head to the training grounds in Marshall Canyon, La Verne. Upon arrival at the Fred M. Palmer equestrian training facility, cadets road-marched to their meeting point where they were greeted by the ROTC cadre. “Today will be the most important and difficult training this year,” Lt. Col. William Howard said to the cadets in formation. The Situational Training Exercise tests the cadet’s knowledge through various scenarios and objectives. The cadets are divided into squads and sent out on different missions. “The purpose and goal of the STX training is to give the cadets an opportunity to execute battle drills and tactical maneuvers in a realistic environment to prepare them for the Leadership Development Assessment Course, which is a required summer course prior to becoming a senior,” Howard said. “Everyone today is a third-year cadet,” said Alex Marashian, 22, political science major and fourth year ROTC cadet. The third-year cadets are observed by seniors who have already completed assessment course. They follow a squad of cadets and evaluate their leadership and decision-making skills. Marashian said they note how well the cadets react and keep their
cool in a situation. If the plan is well organized and executed properly by a cadets, they will receive a positive evaluation and a possible promotion. “ROTC program promotions are based off merit and what year you are,” Marashian said. “Everyone From page 1 here today is going to be evaluated as third-year. At the end of the year they go to camp and they can get their choice of job in the Army. If you do really well, you get your first choice. If you do really poor, you don’t.” The team-taught exercises allow seniors to develop leadership experience while encouraging and helping third-year cadets accomplish their missions. “This gives the seniors an opportunity to develop proficiency in planning, executing, assessing complex operations and providing performance feedback to subordinates,” said Howard. “Additionally, this is a critical opportunity for the senior’s professional development and leadership experience before being assigned to an Army unit as a lieutenant.” Senior cadets also play the role of opposition forces in the scenarios. They simulate an attack on a squad to gauge their reaction to the situation. “We use OPFOR [opposition forces] to play realistic battlefield enemy roles to give cadets an opportunity to see situations as they may experience in combat,” Howard said. During one scenario, a senior, playing the role of an opposition force, had agreed to help the squad accomplish their objective and find a weapon cache. While security elements weren’t looking, he attacked Cadet Merkes, “injuring” and dis SEE ROTC - PAGE 3
Mihaylo Name Under Question By Adam levy
Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com
A research project assigned by a Cal State Fullerton professor uncovered skeletons in the closet of Steven G. Mihaylo, the 1969 graduate who donated the largest pledge in school history to have his name adorn the $87.5 million College of Business and Economics building that opens next year. “If they want me to take my money back, I’ll be happy to do that,” Mihaylo said in an interview with the Orange County Register. Mihaylo’s company, Inter-Tel Inc. was sued for fraud in May 2002 by then San Francisco School District in connection with bid rigging towards a federal program that subsidizes providing low-income schools with Internet access. Two years ago, Mihaylo affixed his signature to a guilty plea stating
Inter-Tel Inc.’s indiscretions. The plea had stated the company’s salesmen had violated federal fraud and anti-trust violations. The company subsequently was forced to pay $9 million in fines and restitution, though Mihaylo was not personally accused of any illegal activity. “My company didn’t bilk schools with poor kids,” Mihaylo said. “Two individuals decided to do something illegally. We fired both of them. We made restitution.” The project that brought the issue to light was assigned by Hamid Tavakolian, a management professor who has taught at the university for the past 17 years. “The irony of the situation is they’re naming a [business] building after somebody whose company pleaded guilty to taking money from poor students,” said Tavakolian in an interview with the Orange County Register.
Tomorrow OPINION
Harmony in conflict
Police Stress Safety
ANIMAL V. HUMAN Columnist Harmony Trevino debate the merits of human suffering vs. animal rights
By Caitlin clift
Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com
ap photo/Mark J. Terrill
Gold fellas - Director Martin Scorsese accepts the Oscar for best director. Full Oscar results and coverage on page 3
Protestors and Oscars Share Space at Kodak By Jason Kornfeld
Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com
Blocked-off streets and massive chaos set the tone for Oscar Sunday as thousands gathered around the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood for their chance to see the stars. The closed streets didn’t stop the hundreds of Oscar fans from showing up and giving it their best shot. Hundreds of policemen patrolled the area around the theater by foot, car and bicycle. The bomb squad was even seen waiting in vans just in case something should occur. As people frantically tried to get close to the theater, policemen did their best to explain it was just not possible. One fan asked a traffic officer if she could cross the street. “That’s it, you won’t get any closer then that,” the traffic officer told the woman. She shrugged and walked away shaking her head to display her disappointment. Oscar fans weren’t the only people in the audience. Protestors from many different organizations were seen, clowns with balloons were on display, Team Slovakia ice hockey players were on
hand and even Star Wars legend Chewbacca made an appearance, though he declined an interview. Bystanders tried to get photos with Chewbacca, and tried to take photos of the red carpet as well. In an alley, members representing larouchpac.com were voicing their displeasure for Al Gore and his film “An Inconvenient Truth”. One of the members had a sign that read, “Flash! Al Gore wins Oscar for Best Scientific Fraud.” “The whole premise of ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ is a lie,” member Debra Geiber said. “They [the makers of the movie] faked the Co2 numbers.” According to member Maureen Calney, they were specifically there because of the expected large turnout from the Oscars. “We want to get that message out [Gore allegedly faking his CO2 figures],” said Calney. “That is why we have leaflet’s being distributed and we are going to have street theater.” Closer to the theater was a large group of war protestors getting a lot of attention. Chants of “What do we want? Peace! When do we want it? Now!” were ringing out. One man had a sign describing how the war
For the record The Feb. 22 issue of the Daily Titan erroneously reported a quote as coming from baseball Head Coach George Horton; the quote was actually said by Student Affairs Vice president, Robert Palmer.
had taken his son. Rivaling the attention of the antiwar protests was Adam Allee of Hollywood, who had his 8-foot green python on display. “I come everyday I want for a little extra cash,” Allee said. “I legally can’t ask for a tip but if people give it to me it helps.” Allee let anyone who was brave enough hold his snake, and plenty of observers were taking pictures. Back near the antiwar protestors one man stood on a barricade trying to gather supporters should he run for governor. He announced a statement whenever a white car drove by that more people die in dark colored cars at night then any other colored car. “When I’m elected governor, we will have all hybrid or electric cars,” he said. “Behold the white car!” Some of the fans witnessing gave a few cheers for him. Colin McDonald was with the group of antiwar protestors and gave his assertion of the war. “I just feel helpless,” McDonald said. “When I know there is a demonstration, I want to get out and help because it makes me feel like I’m doing something.”
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TODAY
Whether students are walking to their cars at night or driving in the parking structures, one of the most important ways students can stay safe is through awareness, said Sgt. Tom Gehrls of the Cal State Fullerton police department. Gehrls said when people are aware of their surroundings, including where they are and who is around them, they are less likely to be victims of crime. “Criminals like to surprise people. Very few times do they like to come up face-to-face and let somebody know that they’re upon them. So just being aware of your surroundings, [having your] head up and making eye contact with people is going to be the first thing that’s going to tell a criminal that this person is aware of their surroundings,” Gehrls said. In addition to being aware of their surroundings, Gehrls said students should trust their instincts. If something does not feel right or something seems suspicious, students should leave the situation and call the campus police if necessary, he said. Gehrls explained that students walking to their cars at night should be especially aware of what is going on around them. Even if the parking lots or parking structures are well lit, students should never walk to their cars alone, even if it means walking with a student they do not know. Students can also take advantage of the 24-hour escort service the university police offer, Gehrls said. Lt. Will Glen of CSUF’s police department said students should park as close to their classes as possible, even if it means moving their cars in between day and evening classes. Glen recommended that students take the time at the beginning of the semester to become aware of where the university police is on campus. Located on the corner of Gymnasium Drive and State College Boulevard, the police department is a full-service and fully-accredited facility. Glen also encouraged students to find where the blue emergency phones are located on campus. These emergency phones are located throughout the campus and on each level of the parking structure. The phones connect students directly to university police. “It’s so easy to be complacent when there’s not a whole lot going on around you, where you feel safe. But awareness is such an important consideration to always take,” Glen said. He said staying safe while driving, especially in the parking structures, also requires awareness. Students, faculty and staff need to drive slowly in the structures and pay particular attention to pedestrians, Glen said. “You have to worry about unsafe drivers, pedestrians who aren’t paying attention to where they’re at – they just cross arbitrarily in the middle of aisles without looking or waiting for cars to stop. You have to be very alert and aware in the parking structures on campus,” Glen said.
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