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Since 1960 Volume 84, Issue 51
Life’s Necessities?
Erstad Comes Home
When luxuries become required, something must be wrong OPINION, p. 7
Angel nation pays tribute to its former halo OPINION, p. 8
Daily Titan
Blackman Earns Teaching Award
The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton
Pallet Fire Blazes in Anaheim
Psychology Professor returns from sabbatical to a honorary surprise
By Jenny houser
news@dailytitan.com
By erin tobin
news@dailytitan.com
SEE AWARD - PAGE 4
ROTC Salutes Seniors Farewell Daily Titan Staff Writer
Daily Titan Staff Writer
Melinda Blackman said she thought it was going to be a regular meeting, but it became a pleasant surprise for the Cal State Fullerton psychology professor. Currently on sabbatical, Blackman returned to school for what was supposed to be a discussion of the equipment committee for next year. Instead, CSUF President Milton Gordon showed up with a bouquet of flowers and a crystal apple. The surprises didn’t end there. Gordon then announced that Blackman was the newest recipient of the Carla Barnes Excellence in Teaching Award. “Everyone seemed to be in on it but me,” Blackman said. “They had known for two weeks.” The award was named after Barnes, an emeritus professor of education. In 1994, Barnes was awarded one of CSUF’s highest honor, Outstanding Professor. “Barnes herself was an exemplary teacher and a role model for those of us who had the pleasure of knowing and working with her,” said Joe Arnold, who chaired the committee that nominated Blackman and is also the dean of the College of the Arts. The award in Barnes’ name was inaugurated last year and was received by Raphael Sonenshein, a political science professor. “The award is designed to recognize an outstanding member of our faculty who has sustained a record of superior teaching across a number of years,” Arnold said. Blackman’s colleagues submitted letters of support; Blackman was then required to submit an application upon learning she had been nominated. “I feel too young to have received such an honor,” Blackman said. “Getting an award for something special is rewarding in itself.” As part of the psychology commencement ceremony on May 20, Gordon will be joined with the award’s namesake to formally honor Blackman. This is not Blackman’s first teaching award. After joining the CSUF psychology staff in 1996, she received the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Outstanding Teacher Award in 2005 and the Psychology Professor of the Year, an honor she has since received five times. “We have a lot of superior teachers here at Fullerton,” said Daniel Kee, the department chair of psychology. “[Blackman] is an outstanding member of the faculty.” Teaching has always been a part of Blackman’s life. Her mother taught kindergarten and her father taught high school, so there was little doubt that Blackman would follow in their footsteps. Still, she said it wasn’t exactly clear which path she would follow to do that. Blackman said she had
Wednesday May 9, 2007
By Caitlyn collins/Daily Titan Staff
By Caitlyn Collins
Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com
Black smoke filled the air yesterday evening from a fire in Anaheim in the 1300 block of North Miller Street.
The fire, at 1352 North Miller St., started behind Zack Pallets, a company that builds and repairs wooden pallets, according to Anaheim Fire Public Information Officer Jeff Lutz. “The fire was very hot, very intense,” Lutz said. “In fact, it was possible to feel the heat from the flames
at the intersection of Miller Street and Orangethorpe Avenue.” Kurt Johnston, 42, from Placentia, saw the fire from Fullerton and drove over to watch. Johnston joined dozens of others who stopped to gaze at the dancing flames – at least until a motorcycle
police officer began clearing the area. Fire departments from Anaheim, Orange, Santa Ana, and Orange County responded to the fire. Lutz said the cause of the fire was not yet discovered.
State of Students Speech Draws Few By John sakata
Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com
Delivered to a crowd notable for its lack of students, Associated Students Inc. President Heather Williams’ State of the Student speech foreshadowed an increase of oncampus events and a five-year plan designed to meet long-term student needs. Williams, re-elected last month over her former running-mate Javier Gamboa, said the university had doubled the amount of money
given away each semester in scholarships. Along with advocating for lower textbook and tuition costs, Williams said by fall, ASI discount cards would offer more perks and she said she hopes to introduce a rewards card offering gifts to students who attend sporting events. “If I leave any legacy behind, it’s that we really expanded our efforts to campus community and our community has developed over the last two years,” Williams said in an interview. “I hope to train leaders. You’re not a good leader unless you
train good leaders to take over when you’re gone.” Beginning July 1, Williams will serve her final year as ASI president. In her speech she said students can look forward to the scheduled opening of the Rec Center in 2008 and an expanded ASI Children Center set to be relocated toward the center of the campus. Since terms for ASI president end after only a year, Williams said most goals are set for the short term. Her hope before she leaves office is to implement a five-year legislative agenda and financial plan, to be
adopted by future presidents, to provide the groundwork for solving bigger problems. “By the end of my term, I intend to have fully developed a five year plan that will provide goals and support for the many student leaders that will come after me,” she said in her speech. Spearheading a drive for more on-campus participation, Williams referenced a host of ASI-sponsored events last year that included a HalSEE SPEECH - PAGE 4
Arboretum Offers More Than Plants By sarah gammill
Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com
Hidden beneath the rough exterior of Cal State Fullerton there lies another world, one of beauty, serenity and most importantly education. The Arboretum has been on the grounds of CSUF for almost 27 years, and during that time it has grown from an abandoned, dying orange grove to a lush 26-acre botanical garden that has something to offer for all ages. “It’s an interesting place because it’s big, it’s beautiful, it’s free, and it’s open all the time,” said Mark Costello, manager of the Friends of the Arboretum. Beginning from the ideas of a few CSUF professors and students, The Arboretum began with a house that now hosts regular tours. Dubbed the Heritage House, this house was first moved to The Arboretum before it opened. It was the home of the first doctor of Fullerton, Dr. George Clark,
By Sarah gammill/Daily Titan Staff
pond watching - A couple relaxes near the pond in one of The
Arboretum’s many botanical gardens.
and it first served The Arboretum as an office. It is now only for display available for tours every weekend, and by appointment. Run by the Victorian Society the house is decorated in a majestic Victorian style feeling, from clothes to old doctor tools, it gives the viewer a look into the past.
“It was scheduled to be destroyed,” said Eugene Jones, professor of botany. “It really served as a rallying point I believe for the community to support The Arboretum on the campus.” Since then, the botanical garden after three years of construction has grown to include over 4,000 types of
Tomorrow OPINION
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Losing my religion
MULTIMEDIA
ACTIVE DIALOGUE Brummer ties up some loose ends with his campus audience.
See the video of CSUF personal trainers explain workout techniques and services offered.
plants as well. “The key to The Arboretum that makes it unique is that it’s free every single day of the year, except for one event,” Costello said Greg Dyment, director of The Arboretum, hopes they will be able to expand that number in the next 15 years with a strategic plan that he just helped to finish a couple of years ago. “We still have some space that we want to plant, we’ve got new exhibits that we want to install,” Dyment said. “We’re just using our new facility that we just completed, and are looking forward to developing new educational opportunities and new museum exhibits.” The Arboretum also boasts four tree collections, which leaves the garden busy on the second Saturday of each month giving tours. The collections include the Woodlands Collection, the Mediterranean Collection, the Desert Collection, the Cultivated Collection and soon SEE PLANTS - PAGE 4
weather
TODAY
Several Army ROTC cadets from Cal State Fullerton will be recognized during a pre-game ceremony on Tuesday when Titan baseball faces off against Loyola Marymount at Goodwin Field. Titan battalion graduate and former Titan baseball pitcher Maj. Bill Fitzgerald will land a Blackhawk helicopter in the stadium and administer the oath of enlistment to the following cadets: Terry Dale Dale, 29, has attended CSUF for the past three years as a history major with a minor in philosophy. After serving the country as a sergeant in the Marines, Dale said he wanted to re-enter the military as a commissioned officer and pursue an activeduty career. “I joined the ROTC program because I could think of nothing greater then leading United States soldiers,” Dale said. “A lot of people forget what it means to be an American. I’m not saying you need to join the military to experience true selflessness, but being part of the military ethos promotes values that exemplify country before self.” Dale said after he attends several basic officer leader courses, he would be assigned to an active-duty artillery unit. Alexander Harry Marashian The 22-year-old political science major from UC Irvine has been instrumental in leading the younger cadets in the Titan Battalion this year. Marashian said he wanted to challenge himself, and leading soldiers was the most challenging task he could take on. He said he plans to take command of a combat unit and lead them successfully in whatever mission he is assigned with after he graduates from the program. When he is not training or in the classroom, Marashian enjoys backpacking and hiking places such as Yosemite. “Always retain an open mind and learn from all of your experiences, good or bad,” Marashian said as a word of advice to the younger cadets in the program. “I surprise myself every day with the things I don’t know and I consider myself lucky that I am able to learn from all my experiences in ROTC.” Victor Ting The 23-year-old business management and marketing major joined CSUF’s Army ROTC program to serve his country and have an adventurous job. “We supported each other and kept each other motivated,” Ting said. “And [we] developed ourselves further as future officers.” Ting said once he is commissioned, he would lead his men as an infantry officer. “You get out what you put into it,” Ting said. “The rewards you reap through this program cannot be bought. Committing yourself to this program and to the Army sets one apart as selfless and honorable.” Jerry SinHam Wong Wong, 24, an electrical engineering student from Cal State Polytechnic, Pomona, was born in Taiwan. SEE ROTC - PAGE 3
TOMorrow Sunny High: 80 Low: 59
Sunny High: 78 Low: 59