O DailyTITAN
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S Volume 84, Issue 44
Rising Student Loans
Titan Baseball
Loan companies benefit grossly at OPINION, p. 5 students’ expense
Wes Roemer pitches good game but is swept by UCR SPORTS, p. 8
D T T S V C S U, F
Center Offers Meeting Places
CSUF Runs for Charity
PART TWO OF FOUR
BY GRACE LEE
Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com
BY JACQUELYN RODRIGUEZ For the Daily Titan
news@dailytitan.com
BY REBECCA HARTNESS/Daily Titan Photo Editor
LISTENING INTENTLY - Students listen and take notes while speakers present information about urban farming during one of the many workshops at the Social Justice Summit at Cal State Fullerton on April 21.
CSUF Political Groups Examined BY STACY CLEMENTS, SAMUEL JIMENEZ, AND SEAN MCCORMICK Daily Titan Staff Writers
College campuses are typically scrutinized as the nesting place for left-wing politics, but like many stereotypes, reality tells a different story. Cal State Fullerton’s politically aware students and their diverse political groups dispel the myth and emerge as a microcosm of the nation. The element each of these groups share is their expectation that students will be more politically aware and informed so they can make responsible decisions at the ballot box. What divides them is their definition of what is a responsible decision. Eric Jones, a senior psychology major, reconstructed the College Democrats during the fall 2006 semester after a period of being on-again and off-again. “The purpose of the College Democrats is to get people aware about politics and to boost democratic activity,” Jones said. Jones assumed the role of
president, though he said he meant what is going on so we can make reto start the group and pass the torch. sponsible decisions when we vote.” The club’s leadership has yet to Samuels said she hopes to draw a change hands. larger crowd than her usual five, but Most of the club’s communication she said there are many more stuis via the Internet. Live meetings are dents on the mailing list. rare, but the College Democrats’ Samuels said her biggest fear of blue hearts still beat through their the future is apathy. She fears that political discussions that appear to people will do the wrong thing even be centered on when they know the war in Iraq. what the right “I didn’t thing to do is. think we had a “Too many Our purpose is good reason to people have the multifunctional. go there,” Jones NIMBY – Not Higher education is said. “We had In My Back Yard more merits for – approach, but the primary goal. Afghanistan than it’s everybody’s Iraq.” problem,” she – A U The Camsaid. M.E.Ch.A. chairperson pus Greens say The Greens they’re for grassfocus mainly on roots democracy grassroots deand participatory mocracy, civil democracy – but rights, workers’ they hope to hijack the bipartisan rights and anti-war participation. system. The group advocates nonviolence “We suffer as a nation when we and idolizes Gandhi and Martin Luonly have two channels. It’s not just ther King Jr. black and white,” said Charlotte On campus the group hopes to Samuels, the group’s president. “As persuade officials to exclusively use citizens we need to be more aware of post-consumer paper, biodegrad-
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The University Conference Center at the Titan Student Union offers a pavilion, theater, dining, catering, meeting rooms and outdoor settings. The Conference Center provides space for any occasion from banquets to seminars and workshops to weddings. “We will do all events,” said Jeff Fehrn, conference and meeting services manager. “Come into our door and we will accommodate you.” Students may not know the TSU offers a center for group events. “I knew about the TSU, but not about the conference center,” said Jackie Klabacha, 24, criminal justice major. “If I know anyone that has an event to plan, I’ll mention our school.” However some students are aware of the center. “I just went there for a conference, I was impressed, it’s nice and big,” said Jordan Jenison, junior, linguistic major. The Portola Pavilion is the largest room available. It offers banquet space for 600 and seating for 1, 200 that makes the room ideal for receptions and lectures, according to the University Conference Center pamphlet. The Titan Theatre is equipped with a large video screen, built-in stage and seating for 174. If a smaller space is needed, the center has 21 meetings rooms to choose from, ranging in capacity from 13 to 88 people. If a more intimate setting is desired, the outdoor garden patio and courtyard are available. The garden includes heaters, fountains, ambient lighting and sculptures. Dining for events is also offered. The Conference Center partners with Cal State Fullerton Campus Dining for catering. Campus Dining works directly with the customer to provide a specific menu for any event. An informal option is also available and box lunches, continental breakfasts and coffee service are informal options. For those who have made a long trip for a conference, campus accommodations are located at the Fullerton Marriot Hotel that is within walking distance of the conference center. Each room is equipped with a television with cable/satellite, Internet access, and voicemail. The hotel also offers complimentary parking, on-site restaurant, outdoor pool, fitness room and laundry valet. While the Conference Center provides for on-campus events, offcampus organizations can schedule meetings at the center. “What attracts people to come here is that we are here to provide services,” Fehrn said. “It’s a gathering place on campus to just come right over but also it’s good location in North Orange County, an easy place to find.” To plan an event, there are two full-time event planners on staff that will guide customers through the process. More information is available at http://ucc.fullerton.edu. For more information on CSUF Campus Dining visit online at www.csufcatering.com
Tuesday May 1, 2007
able eating utensils and to get all buildings on campus to the highest level of eco-friendliness. Murals, paintings and posters decorate the walls of the M.E.Ch. A office. M.E.Ch.A. starts its meetings every Friday afternoon gathered around a table with a traditional “Unity Clap” that originated from the farm workers movement in the late 1960s. “Our purpose is multifunctional,” chairperson Armando Urquiza, said. “Higher education is the primary goal.” The group supports immigrant rights and was outraged at the College Republicans bake sale March 14 on the Titan walk. The College Republicans handed out anti-illegal immigration pamphlets and had baked goodies on sale except for the brownies that had a sign that read “Free Brownies if you are an illegal immigrant.” M.E.Ch.A stood across from the bake sale in bold opposition SEE CLUBS - PAGE 3
More than 5,000 people joined together to participate in the fifth annual Donate Life Run/Walk at Cal State Fullerton Saturday. Balloons and doves were released to honor 800 donor families prior to the event. Kathleen and Craig Hostert founded the Donate Life Run/ Walk. After Kathleen donated one of her kidneys to her husband in 1998, the Hostert’s were inspired to start an event that would bring awareness to the community about organ and tissue donation. “My husband was on dialysis for two years and I was able give him a kidney transplant in 1998–and we just felt like we left so many thousands of people waiting behind, some of them were waiting for transplants, so we both decided to start this event,” said Kathleen Hostert, event director of Donate Life Run/ Walk. The Donate Life Run/Walk is not only the largest donation-based event, but it has also partnered up with different organizations like OneLegacy which is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives through organ and tissue donation. “Donate Life is a national educational campaign that we use to invite the community about organ and tissues donations,” said Sabrina Ho, Asian community development coordinator for OneLegacy. More than 95,000 people are waiting to get an organ donation in Southern California, Ho said. Some 250 volunteers from schools and churches all over Southern California devoted their time to the Donate Life Run/Walk. “It’s been great volunteering. I’ve been registering people and putting them where they’re supposed to be. It’s fun,” said Crystal Magallanes, 14, a volunteer. One of the donors being honored at the event was Erin Choe, Victor and Jennifer Choe’s 5-year-old daughter who died in a tragic swimming pool drowning. Upon her death, her coronary tissue was taken to give someone else life. The Donate Life Run/Walk has attracted more people every year according to Craig Hostert, co-founder and event director. “We hope it continues to grow and we hope that the word gets out,” Craig Hostert said.
Wushu Club Strikes Campus BY MICHELLE RAMOS
Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com
Armed with straight swords, sabers and spears, members of Cal State Fullerton Wushu Club flew through the air in the Quad at their first major CSUF exhibition in six years on Tuesday. Clad in traditional Chinese silks, the group performed a variety of aerial kicks and flips for a crowd of students. The performance-oriented sport, which is about as popular in China as baseball in America, has been imported to the U.S. through films such as
“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and “Drunken Master.” Seasoned Wushu athletes performed choreographed routines such as “drunken straight sword”, animal imitations, and “Southern fist.” Beginning Wushu students of kinesiology 153 also demonstrated a series of high kicks and punches. Philip Chen founded the Wushu Club in 1997. Chen, who trained under the same coach as martial arts movie star, Jet Lee, also began kinesiology 153, a 1-unit Wushu class. “Wushu is different from other martial arts. Kung Fu concentrates on combat, while Wushu focuses on muscle strength, muscle endurance,
cardio and flexibility,” Chen said. CSUF offers the only college Wushu class in the nation, and Dawei Sha, a retired professional Wushu competitor coaches the class. Sha, who began the sport at the age of five, knows the benefits that Wushu can bring to a student’s life. “CSUF students are really busy – Wushu can relieve stress and improve overall health,” Sha said. The traditional Tai Chi movements of Wushu resemble those of an ice-skater gliding across the ice. “In China, Wushu is a profession. It’s the most prestigious thing you
TOMORROW News
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PART THREE OF POLITICAL SERIES
MULTIMEDIA
TECHNOLOGY Public affairs reporting class examines how technology is used in political groups.
SEE WUSHU - PAGE 3
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BY MISA NGUYEN/Daily Titan Staff WUSHU ART - Wushu Club member Ngoc-Ha Ta, 21, performs an open-hand dance in CSUF’s Quad on Monday.
WEATHER
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TOMORROW Partly Cloudy High: 71 Low: 55
Partly Cloudy High: 69 Low: 55