2007 10 15 by Daily Titan

FEATURES

PAGE 3

CSUF’s “Frozen” is, dark and complicated

Since 1960 Volume 85, Issue 26

OPINION: CSUF students discuss the misperceptions of the Greek systems, page 4 NEWS: Authorities clamp down on overcrowding in bars and restaurants, page 2

Daily Titan

Monday October 15, 2007

The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

DTSHORTHAND Reducing global warming in SoCal Patrick J. Michaels, senior fellow in environmental studies at the Cato Institute, will discuss reducing the effects of global warming in a public lecture Tuesday. The discussion will be held in the Titan Student Union’s Titan Theater from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Professor Michaels will refute the notions that global warming is either a false phenomenon or an imminent disaster and reducing its effects in the southland. For more information, contact Radha Bhattacharya at (714)2783652 or rbhattachary@fullerton. edu.

‘Cuffed man has freedom of dress TULSA, Okla. (AP) – Some fashion statements draw more attention than others, and wearing handcuffs while walking near the Tulsa County Courthouse is one that got noticed. A man wearing a pair of handcuffs on one wrist drew the attention of passersby Friday, who contacted law officers. But it turns out it was just his idea of a fashion statement, said sheriff’s Sgt. Jody Britt. The man, whose name was not released, was wearing “goth” clothing, with one end of the handcuffs on his wrist, making it appear as if he had escaped custody. “Wearing a set of handcuffs near a courthouse is not exactly the most intelligent thing you could do,” Britt said. Deputies stopped the man and checked for warrants. None were found, and he was released.

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[The Daily Titan] have the unique ability to reach every student on campus and to shape the thoughts and opinions of them.

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– Curtis Schlaufman, ASI Executive Vice-President See Opinion, page 4

YOUTUBE: DANCE LIKE SOULJA BOY

Titans shut out Pacific Senior Brianna Buffington leads CSUF to 3-0 win with two goals By Laura Burrows

Daily Titan Staff Writer

news@dailytitan.com

al State Fullerton senior Brianna Buffington scored two goals and freshman Christina Murillo scored her third goal of the season in a 3-0 win against the University of the Pacific Tigers in Sunday afternoon’s women’s soccer game at Titan Stadium. The Titans improved to 7-6-1 overall and 22 in league play and broke a three-game losing streak. The Tigers fell to 6-5-3 overall and 1-21 in Big West play. It was a well-matched game as the ball continually shifted possession in early play. Neither team managed to get a shot off until 15 minutes into the action. The Titans took control of the pace of the match by the 30th minute but the game remained scoreless at half time. Red-shirt sophomore Danica Ramirez said the team was having difficulty connecting “up top.” “We are not having a good game. No one will run up for it, they are all hiding in the back,” Ramirez said at half time. “Some one needs to be selfish.” CSUF Head Coach Demian Brown said FriSee WOMEN’S SOCCER, Page 6

By KARL THUNMAN/Daily Titan Photo Editor

For Muslims, Ramadan consists of reflection A month long religious observance ends with a three-day celebration By Urmi Rahman

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

Viral superstar DeAndre Ramone Way, better known as Soulja Boy, has released a “how-to” video to coincide with his hit song “Crank Dat.” In it, the 17-year-old rapper goes through the dance stepby step, giving fans the chance to perform the moves along with Soulja Boy and his background dancers. Numerous home videos of people dancing to the song have already popped up online. Duration: 4:01

WEATHER

TODAY High: 72 Low: 56 PARTLY CLOUDY

TOMorrow High: 69 Low: 54 PARTLY CLOUDY

Main line: (714) 278-3373 News desk: (714) 278-4415 Advertising: (714) 278-4411 E-mail: news@dailytitan.com

Titan redshirt freshman Tamara Dewey [#15] and Pacific Tiger freshman Sammi Teramae [#24] fight for the ball in Sunday’s match at Titan Stadium. CSUF shut out Pacific 3-0.

The sacred month of Ramadan, a display of sacrifice, worship and celebration for Muslims worldwide, ended Saturday. For many students at Cal State Fullerton, a month of fasting provided lasting and humbling insight. The fasts fall on the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar. Muslims abstain from food, beverages, sex and smoking from sunrise to sunset. Fasts fall in accordance with when the Holy Quran was sent down from Heaven to Prophet Muhammad. As a student who kept his first Ramadan fast as a Christian, Abrahim Appel, 29, said religion should be how Islam represents it. “It was very difficult denying yourself not your needs, but your wants,” Appel said of fasting. “It strengthens your mind and your quest to get near God.” At the end of Ramadan, the sighting of a new crescent moon signifies Eid-ul-Fitr, or the feast of fast breaking. A three-day-long celebration ensues with family and friends gathering for prayer, large meals and an exchange of gifts. Children also receive money from their parents and relatives. The night before Eid, Muslims, primarily of South Asian descent, celebrate Chaand Raat, or the night of the moon.

Photo By Urmi Rahman/Daily Titan Staff Writer Prayers took place last Saturday at the Santa Clara Fairgrounds in Northern California.

Appel converted to Islam six years ago and found the ethics matched his own. The faith taught him to have selfcontrol, to not judge others and to deny basic human needs to appreciate and connect with the less fortunate. Appel avoided drinking and said he was happier for the experience. During the last month he broke his fast at sundown. “Not all Muslims are the same. We’re all trying to pursue truth in our own way,” said Appel, the only Muslim in his family. Born and raised a Muslim in Cali-

fornia, 19-year-old graduate student Fatima Rangoonwala started keeping Ramadan fasts in grade school. “It is a challenge to balance time [with] worship and study[ing],” said the psychology student, clad in a lightly-beaded black hijab. For Rangoonwala, the observance is not just about abstaining from food, but about creating a God-conscious mindset and training herself to avoid immoral behavior for the year to come. It was difficult to fast as a child, but with time she understood the significance and benefits. Rangoonwala spent the weekend

attending morning prayers, visiting family and exchanging gifts. Although her counterparts celebrated with music, shopping, henna and food, Rangoonwala observed the night before Eid as a sacred time for worship. “It is better to pray and worship [that night] and not deprive ourselves from the benefits that can be attained,” said Rangoonwala, whose family fasts and attends mosques. Rangoonwala said she enjoys having iftar, the meal eaten after sundown, with sisters at school because of the bond it creates. The CSUF Muslim Student As-

sociation holds Monday through Thursday evening iftars for all students fasting and even those curious and hungry. An iftar with chicken, samosas, rice and drinks is made possible through donations and with help from students and alumni. The MSA has seen a wide range of ethnicities in membership ranging from African, South Asian to Middle Eastern. “We’ve had everything from sheep to pizza,” said the association’s president, Kevin Santos-Flores, 24. The last 10 days are especially significant for Muslims. The 27th day is Laylat-al-Qadr, or the night of power, which celebrates the night of the revelation of the Quran to Muhammad. “Worship during that night is equivalent to 1,000 months of prayer,” Rangoonwala said. “A lot of things Muslims practice is cultural and it’s not bad. It is more important, [however] to do religiously sound things.” The celebrations are different for Appel, whose mother’s one-year death anniversary marks a spiritual weekend spent with prayer and memories. She passed away in the last hours of the October 2006 month of Ramadan. For the students of CSUF, the month of fasting carried different meanings. “It is an honor for me to have this position,” said Santos-Flores, who is also a convert and of Salvadorian descent. “[It helps] makes sure I am the best Muslim I can be.” For more information, the Muslim Students Association National Web site at: http://www.msanational.org/

Page Two

INTERNATIONAL NEWS Blackwater removal from Iraq is possible in 6 months

BAGHDAD (AP) – U.S. and Iraqi officials are negotiating Baghdad’s demand that security company Blackwater USA be expelled from the country within six months, and American diplomats appear to be working on how to fill the security gap if the company is phased out. The talks about Blackwater’s future in Iraq flow from recommendations in an Iraqi government report on the incident Sept. 16 when, Iraqi officials determined, Blackwater guards opened fire without provocation in Baghdad’s Nisoor Square and killed 17 Iraqi citizens. The Iraqi investigators issued five recommendations to the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, which has since sent them to the U.S. Embassy as demands for action. In talks between American diplomats and the al-Maliki government, al-Askari said, the U.S. side was not “insisting on Blackwater staying.” Al-Askari said the Americans have been told that another demand, Blackwater payment of $8 million in compensation for each victim, was negotiable.

STATE NEWS Congress pressures universities to reduce tuition prices (AP) – Colleges and universities raked in money by the billions last year. But their investing success now has a price — a movement in Congress to force the wealthiest schools to spend more of their money to keep down tuition. In recent weeks, a string of colleges and universities have announced enviable investment results. Leading the way was Yale, which earned 28 percent over the year ending June 30, increasing the school’s endowment to $22.5 billion overall. But while those numbers were coming out, some members of the Senate Finance Committee in Washington were wondering aloud why the rise in endowments isn’t stemming tuition increases. At a hearing last month, lawmakers batted around the idea of forcing at least some of the wealthier colleges to spend more savings on reducing costs. Private foundations are required by law to spend at least 5 percent of their endowments each year on their missions, but public charities — a category that includes colleges – face no such requirement.

CAMPUS CALENDAR

TODAY: Women & Hip Hop, from noon to 1 p.m.: An Afro-Ethnic studies professor discusses the role of women in hip-hop culture in UH 205. Dating Violence, from noon to 1 p.m.: The Women’s Center spotlights unhealthy dating relationships in UH 205.

Free “Glow” Bowling, from 3 to 7 p.m.: Glow bowling offered for free with a valid Titan Card. FRIDAY: Vocal and Piano Concert, from 8 to 10 p.m.: Graduate students from the CSUF Vocal Program perform classic Italian songs in the Recital Hall.

Free Billiards, from 3 to 7 p.m.: Billiards offered for free in the TSU Underground for students with a valid Titan Card.

SATURDAY: Violin and Piano Concert, from 8 to 10 p.m.: Violinist Thi Nguyen and pianist Hoang Nguyen will perform in the Meng Concert Hall.

WEDNESDAY: Fall Texas Hold’em Classic, at 4 p.m.: Students are invited to a round of poker in the TSU Underground.

SUNDAY: Symphonic Spooktacular, from 4 to 6:30 p.m.:. Pianist Navah Perlman performs in the Meng Concert Hall.

For the Record It is the policy of the Daily Titan to correct any inaccurate information printed in the publication as soon as the error is discovered. Any incorrect information printed on the front page will result in a correction printed on the front page. Any incorrect information printed on any other page will be corrected on page 2. Errors on the Opinion page will be corrected on that page. Corrections also will be noted on the online version of the Daily Titan. Please contact managing editor Julianna Crisalli at (714) 278-5693 or at jcrisalli@dailytitan.com with issues about this policy or to report any errors.

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The Daily Titan is a student publication, printed every Monday through Thursday. The Daily Titan operates independently of Associated Students, College of Communications, CSUF administration and the CSUF System. The Daily Titan has functioned as a public forum since inception. Unless implied by the advertising party or otherwise stated, advertising in the Daily Titan is inserted by commercial activities or ventures identified in the advertisements themselves and not by the university. Such printing is not to be construed as written or implied sponsorship, endorsement or investigation of such commercial enterprises. The Daily Titan allocates one issue to each student for free. Copyright ©2006 Daily Titan

October 15, 2007

Fullerton bars and restaurants tightening safety Overcrowding forces the fire department to shut down two establishments By Jason Higginson For the Daily Titan

news@dailytitan.com

Business boomed in downtown Fullerton’s bars and restaurants as crowds made their way to Harbor Boulevard for a drink and a bite to eat. The owners might have been happy but the fire department was not. According to a report by the Downtown Working Group, Downtown Fullerton has become too crowded and problematic, enough so that the fire department and Fullerton City Council forced two restaurants to close. “We were alerted by [Fullerton] P.D. of conditions inside the venues after they made routine visits,” Gary Dominguez, Fullerton fire department’s operations chief, said. Fullerton police have been working with the fire department to monitor conditions inside bars, clubs and restaurants in the downtown area. Florentine’s Downtown Grill and Revolucion, both on Harbor Boulevard, were temporarily shut down on Sept. 18 after preliminary inspections by the fire department determined the packed restaurants created fire hazards. The fire department closed Florentine’s for about a half hour while they inspected the bar and restaurant. Florentine’s manager, Patrick Sullivan, said the fire department came in around 1 p.m. ordering him to “close down and have people wait outside,” so an investigation, which included hand-counting the customers, could be conducted. “We were 30 [customers] over our

Photo By John Sakata/Daily Titan Assistant News Editor Revolucion was one of the bars temporarily closed down last month because of overcrowding.

150 maximum occupation,” Sullivan said. Karla Rosado, a frequent Florentine’s customer from Fontana, was unaware of the closure. “[I’m] glad to see something was done, because there’re times I’ve come here and it’s difficult moving around,” Rosado said. Florentine’s was given a written warning, Sullivan said. Fines for overcrowding start at $100 and increase to $500 after the third offense, according to Dominguez. To prevent any fines, a new security team at Florentine’s is taking steps to monitor the capacity, including a head count of all customers. “We’ve begun policing ourselves,” Sullivan said. The fire department inspections came after the city council voted last

July to place a six-month moratorium on new liquor licenses in the downtown area as the city seeks to impose new ordinances on alcohol sales. The council passed the moratorium to study the impact of the new ordinances. The Downtown Working Group, consisting of city officials, concluded in a report last May that downtown Fullerton is plagued with problems directly related to overcrowding. The subsequent problems included disturbances, fights and “alcohol-related waste,” according to the report. It also stated these problems have “put a demand on public services” like the local police and the fire department. As a result, the city council has sought to return Downtown as a clean, orderly and desirable location.

The proposed ordinances would require new liquor license holders and transfers in Downtown to serve alcohol between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 10 p.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday. Businesses with new liquor licenses would ban “exterior advertising … of any kind or type, including advertising directed to the exterior from within, promoting or indicating the availability of alcoholic beverages,” according to the proposal. This includes a ban on any type of happy hour promotion where prices are reduced. Additionally, the proposed ordinance would affect businesses with current liquor licenses by banning alcohol being served on outdoor patios after 10 p.m.

A group of college students lost in a cave are found Associated Press A group of college students who didn’t emerge for more than a day from a cave they were exploring have been found safe, an emergency worker said Sunday.

The two women and one man were found in a 500-foot-long crawl space about the width of a sewer pipe, said Frank Urias, division commander of Austin-Travis County emergency medical services. They are expected to be pulled from the cave in a few

hours. “The victims are uninjured, our crews are safe; it doesn’t get any better than this,” Urias said. The three University of Texas students had gone into a narrow passage near Austin called Airman’s

Cave on Saturday morning and told friends to call for help if they weren’t back by midnight, said Austin Fire Department Lt. Matt Cox. Crews had said earlier that four students were missing but now say there were only three.

COP BLOTTER: Campus alerted of two male robbery suspects On Monday, Oct. 8, a campus-wide alert was received warning that two male robbery suspects who stole money and were armed with a 45 cal. handgun and a 9 mm. handgun that could be in the area. MONDAY, Oct. 8 10:48 a.m. Disturbance at TSU: Male and female subjects were arguing and threatening to hit each other. Police responded and everything was cleared. 11:30 a.m. Disturbance at Quad: A disturbance was reported when a man holding a sign began yelling about religion. 3:26 p.m. Medical aid at Health

Center: Police responded to a 26year-old female experiencing severe head pain, nausea, dizziness and sensitivity to light.

30s was found semi-conscious and breathing. It was possibly related to a diabetic condition. A report was taken.

9:30 p.m. Property vandalism at PS 1: A motorcycle was vandalized and a helmet was stolen. A report was taken.

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 10 4:25 a.m. Suspicious person at Langsdorf Hall: A suspicious male was reported near the women’s bathroom. Police were unable to locate the person.

10:38 p.m. Suspicious person at Birch Street: Police responded to a dorm where two men and four women were throwing vegetables at a person’s balcony. The victim requested officer assistance. TUESDAY, Oct. 9 12:46 p.m. Medical aid at Engineering Building: A male in his late

1:32 p.m.: Petty theft at University Police: A report was taken regarding a wallet that was missing from the Kinesiology Building. 2:46 p.m. Traffic accident at E. Yorba Linda and N. State College Boulevard.: Officer assistance was need-

ed at a traffic accident involving two vehicles. Injuries were reported. 10:56 p.m.: Suspicious vehicle at Lot E: Remnants of a vehicle were found scattered in the parking structure. The vehicle appeared to have been in an accident. THURSDAY, Oct. 11 4:43 a.m. Stolen vehicle at Lot E: A construction worker reported his vehicle had been stolen after returning from work. FRIDAY, Oct. 12 7:17 a.m. Suspicious vehicle at Lot E: Police were advised of a gray Chevy with the door open for 20 minutes and with nobody nearby.

October 15, 2007

Features

Playing an academic researcher exploring the contrast of nature versus nurture, Kristin Yukech interviews Joe Calarco’s character Ralph Wantage, a recemt;y arrestted man with a history of violence against childrenin the play “Frozen.”

By Mallory Turner/For the Daily Titan

A new play chills stage of the Grand Central Art Center By Laura Burrows

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

The Cal State Fullerton Theater and Dance department is not known for refraining from authentic, honest and the occasional scandalous theater production. However, this fall’s season ticket package neglects the eccentric productions set both on campus and at the department extension located in Santa Ana. “Frozen” is a relatively new play written by British playwright Byrony Lavery. It reflects on the inner workings of the mind of a pedophile. Its dark themes, haunting imagery and allusions to true-to-life occurrences leave the audience in a fit of both horror and enchantment. Season ticket holders do not receive tickets for this show. These passes feature other, more mainstream, productions such as Tom Stoppard’s “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead” and Thomas Edward West’s “I Married Wyatt Earp.” “It’s too provocative and edgy to be listed as part of the theater package,” Monica Bergstrand, a “Frozen” actress, said. “Frozen” runs at Santa Ana’s Grand Central Art Center till Oct.

27. The center is a 45,000 squarefoot, three-level structure complete with student living/studio spaces available to visual arts graduate students. The theater is centrally located in the building. The three-sided thrust stage is the centerpiece of the small, intimate space. It is used for CSUF productions and is available to participating artists in residence for performances, film presentations and lectures. Recent CSUF College of the Arts graduate Shannon O’Donnell was afforded the opportunity to direct a play at Grand Central last spring at the completion of her directing degree. Typically, productions done at this location are offbeat, driven less by spectacle and more by intense drama. O’Donnell chose to direct “Frozen” as it was a difficult play to read, but absolutely enraptures the audience and is suited for the theater space. “I went through 20 to 25 scripts and I kept picking this one up and putting it back down because it was hard to get through,” O’Donnell said. “By the end of the script I had no doubt in my mind that at some point in my life I would direct this play. I fell in love with it.” Casting for all CSUF semester

productions is done at the same time. All of the directors of the various shows come together and audition each individual and hold call-backs for which ever performers best suit the varying productions. Two hundred fifty people went to the summer auditions in August, 60 were called back for “Frozen” and the final three began rehearsals at the beginning of the semester. The three-actor cast of “Frozen” revels in an array of sinister monologues and resolute soliloquy in this acclaimed and controversial drama. Together, a mother, an academic researcher and a man with a history of sexual violence examine the consequences of a fatal kidnapping. CSUF graduate student and Grand Central resident Joe Calarco plays Ralph Wantage, the kidnapper and accused pedophile. Calarco said Grand Central is an idyllic place to work and live. Santa Ana was considered run-down before Grand Central was constructed in 1996, but the addition has brought new life to the so-called “artists village.” “This was the play I wanted,” Calarco said. “It is a lot more laid-back here. Shannon is still in charge, but because of the intimate nature of this location, we all can put in our input.” Undergraduate theater student

Hot music fills up fall nights By Alyssa Dikitanan For the Daily Titan

news@dailytitan.com

Grammy Award-winning group the Caribbean Jazz Project performed at Cal State Fullerton’s Meng Concert Hall as the kick-off performance for the 2007-08 All That Jazz series on campus. The Caribbean Jazz Project started in 1993 when Dave Samuels was asked to put together a series of summer concerts at the Central Park Zoo in New York. “We found that our sound was enticing,” said Samuels. “We explore all the music that came together in the Caribbean. Our influences come from western Europe, western Africa and the indigenous people of the Caribbean, which is a significant cross-cultural [melding] of music.” That enticing sound, in which instruments change every couple years to keep the music growing, has been calling to audiences worldwide for the past 14 years, Samuels said. The group currently consists of Samuels on vibes and marimba, Alain Mallet on piano and B-3 organ, Lincoln Goines on bass, Vince Cherico on drums and Roberto Quintero on congas and percussion.

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“The music that said. they play is a fasSamuels decinating blend of scribed a humorLatin beats and ous Grammys afsmooth jazz.” said terglow moment Charles Tumlinin which he went son, CSUF’s dito a convenience rector of jazz stud– Dave Samuels, store in New ies. “Their sound Founder of Caribbean York to pick up is interesting with the newspaper Jazz Project the improvisations the morning afthat they do but ter they won. The they keep a good attention to tone group’s picture from the Grammys color and blending.” was on the front page so he picked Tumlinson explained there are up four copies. two traditions of Latin jazz: a CuWhen the cashier questioned him ban feel, which is a louder, higher about buying four papers Samuels energy, and a Brazilian feel, which is explained that it was a special day a more subtle sound, very light and for him. delicate. The cashier looked at the front “The Caribbean Jazz Project fits page of the paper and saw a huge nicely in between the two traditions, picture of John Mayer, who won a capturing the best of both worlds. Grammy the night before as well. That is what makes the group so The cashier looked at Samuels and unique,” said Tumlinson. asked him if John Mayer was his The group has produced nine son. acclaimed recordings. The 2002 reThe small, yet intimate, crowd cording “The Gathering” garnered warmly applauded the Caribbean them a 2003 Grammy Award for Jazz Project’s performance at Meng Best Latin Jazz Recording. Hall. The audience consisted of both They also received Grammy nomi- young and old. Heads nodded and nations in the same category in 2004 feet tapped as the upbeat Latin beats and 2006 for their next two record- had the crowd moving in their seats. ings, “Birds of a Feather” and “Here “It was an interesting assortment and Now.” of sounds,” said 22-year-old Jayme “It was an unexpected surprise Brown, a CSUF student. “I’ve never and honor to win a Grammy. That thought of putting Caribbean inmoment was special, just an amazing fluences together with jazz and I rush and that exciting feeling will be thought that they complimented with us for a long time,” Samuels each other very well.”

It was an unexpected surprise and honor to win a Grammy.

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Band blends sounds from Europe, Africa and the Caribbean

Monica Bergstrand plays Nancy Shirley. “Frozen” is Bergstrand’s first production for CSUF. She was surprised at the lack of attention received from the theater department. “This show is strong enough to draw in a crowd, but even people in the theater department don’t know about it,” Bergstrand said. “We are not neglected, it’s just surprising that people have no idea that such a good production is going on down the street.”

Ticket and Showtime Information Dates: Oct. 18-20 and Oct. 24-27, all shows start at 8 p.m. Tickets: $10 at the door, $5 in advance with Titan Card

Grand Central Art Center is located at 125 N. Broadway Ave, Santa Ana

Opinion

October 15, 2007

GREEK FALLOUT

Titan Editorial

Providing insight, analysis and perspective since 1960

There’s news and there’s opinion The opinion pages of the Daily Titan this semester have featured subjects including the rising cost of textbooks, tuition increases, the prostitution of college students online, immigration, the Patriot Act, the genital mutilation practiced by Muslims around the world, Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s controversial appearance at Columbia University and the slow re-building efforts of New Orleans. None generated as much response as an opinion piece written last week criticizing Greek life. In fact, most of those other articles generated no response at all. Of all the issues Cal State Fullerton students face and of all the problems in the world, the article titled “The high cost of Greek life” offended Greek students so badly that they lashed out en masse and generated more comments in a short span of time than any article we’ve seen. At the time of this writing, 75 percent of the issue’s reads belong to the Greek opinion article with almost 60 comments. These numbers trample just about every other political or social topic on dailytitan.com. Something that bothers us as journalists is that the reaction to this opinion has caused an incredible amount of damage to our credibility in a small community like CSUF. The factual, accurate coverage of a dozen Greek events

is erased because people don’t see a difference between “Opinion” and “News,” just as they don’t see a difference from Fox News and CNN. It’s easy to forget good news, but still, some people plea for only happy stories. As one commenter says, “if you don’t have anything nice (or factual) to say, don’t say anything at all!” As journalists, we look at all news in the same way. There are no good or bad stories – there are just stories to be reported as accurately as possible. And as for opinions, whether they are negative or positive, full of research or bursting with emotion, they are simply the opinion of one individual. Despite coverage of Greek Week and numerous fraternityand sorority-sponsored events throughout the year, people think this is the only story we’ve covered simply because it is critical. Prior to the article, most of the Greek representatives contacted by the Daily Titan for news pieces were hesitant to discuss Greek activities for fear of being perceived negatively. If that trend continues because of this article, it will only add to the perception of secrecy and inclusiveness within the Greek system. With a policy of “no comment,” many students are forced to make their own conclusions.

Reader Response: ASI vicepresident urges relevance I am writing in response to the opinion article titled “The High Cost of Greek Life,” published Wednesday Oct. 10, 2007 by Urmi Rahman. I would like to point out that I am not a member of the Greek community and I personally know the person who wrote this article. I have known and respected Urmi for as long as I have known her, and I would hope that this was huge error in judgment and a case of misinformation. That being the case, I could not disagree more with the theme of the article and I am deeply disappointed that this respectable newspaper opted to publish the article. I feel that the Daily Titan is as much a part of the campus community as any other club or organization, and the publication should have the right to publish whatever it chooses as long as it is based on facts, relevant and in good taste. However, this article is full of salacious stereotypes and goes beyond the boundaries of relevant and in good taste. I found the article to be juvenile, a non-issue that is unworthy of coverage and it tarnishes the integrity of the newspaper. Some of the best and brightest student leaders I know come from the Greek system. It is the Greek system which collectively contributes more to our campus and the community through independent philanthropies, Camp Titan and various community outreach programs. It ignorant to stereotype the Greek system; are we not all conformists to some aspect? Whether it is conform-

ing to religion, culture or even our own social groups no matter the size, surely then one could call everyone a conformist. It is human nature to assimilate and adapt to their surroundings. It is something all of our ancestors did when they came to this country and something we do every day. The Greek system is not perfect, but neither is any other campus organization. We all have our problems, yes, even ASI. Don’t let the few bad examples ruin it for the whole. I would urge the Daily Titan to think about the material they put in their paper. They have the unique ability to reach every student on campus, and to shape the thoughts and opinions of them. As a result, printed words can unite or divide a community. Let us all work together to understand our differences, to create a better campus community and school pride. Let us put aside our preconceived notions and get to know someone from a different social group or organization. Let us move away from stereotypes and misconceptions, talk about the positive aspects of a group. No student group on our campus deserves this kind of portrayal. I would hope that the Daily Titan focuses on reporting insightful, relevant, compelling material of substance and integrity. Sincerely, Curtis Schlaufman Executive Vice President of Associated Students, CSUF, Inc.

Misconceptions of the Greek culture By Elisabeth Donovan

Daily Titan Staff Writer opinion@dailytitan.com

It seems like whenever I’m clad in Greek letters, someone flashes me an awkward stare. When revealing to people I’m a sorority girl, I often get asked the same ignorant questions. “Do you drink a lot?” or “Do you really pay for your friends?” are the most frequently asked questions. I reply by explaining that sorority life isn’t how most people think of it. For years, the media has portrayed Greek life as a mindless waste of time. Sorority girls are linked to an endless list of stereotypes, including: drunks, snobs, slackers, conformists, airheads and bitches. Our society loves glamorizing the bad and overlooking the good. After all, people indulge in negative images. Ironically, the people who label us are the ones who refuse to converse with us. If you’re guilty as charged, here’s a chance to open your mind. Let me begin by affirming that I’m not a typical stereotype. In high school, I participated in choir and

drama. I’m not a “popularity-obsessed” person, as some may call it. I decided to rush a sorority because I didn’t know many students on campus. Because Cal State Fullerton is a commuter school, I figured a sorority would give me “the college experience.” By “the college experience” I mean becoming involved and meeting new people, not partying every night. In the fall of 2006, I went through recruitment. I met women from each of the six great houses and we discussed what interests we had in common. The women I talked to didn’t ignore me because I wasn’t a blond cheerleader. Rather, they were interested in my personality. I picked the house that seemed like the perfect match. Because of the Greek stereotypes, I feared being judged in the beginning. This turned out not to be the case. I met women who accepted me for who I am. By becoming a sister, I learned these stereotypes aren’t only exaggerated, they’re wrong. While people claim we pay for our friends, that statement is far from true. Our dues, which aren’t

Conformity does not lead to loss of identity I read something last week about the Greek community that upset me. It upset me, however, not as a member of a sorority, but just as a person in general. It was the first time I truly felt hurt after reading a newspaper article. I wanted to lash out and attack right back and go into the defense mode I learned while playing basketball in junior high school. But despite my desire for retaliation, I came to the decision that it would not be in your or my best interest. The more I thought about it, I realized that my column is an outlet. It’s a place for me talk to you about what’s on my mind and what’s affecting me at the moment. And, hopefully, it’s a place for you to learn from me and be somewhat inspired, for lack of a better word. The article I read, as I’m sure much of the Greek community is familiar with by show of its feedback, was an outline of why people do not join sororities, though it could apply to Greek organizations as a whole. One issue I would like to address specifically was the statement about people losing their individuality upon joining sororities, conforming to the brainwashed mentality of their sisters. There is so much wrong with this statement, but the idea of conformity particularly interested me. Firstly, by adhering to this belief about sorority women, you, yourself, have fallen victim to the big bad conformity wolf. By accepting such stereotypes without question or investigation, people become followers of the media-produced depictions of such groups. The problem with these depictions, however, is they are often times overly exaggerated and altogether fictional. Perhaps they were true once upon a time, but as eras change, so do images and people. I would actually argue that more people fall prey to such conformist thinking than you may like to believe. In fact, I think just about everyone is a conformist, to some degree, and that’s not necessarily a horrible thing.

In order to pass a class, you must conform to the syllabus set up by the professor. Women invested in the fashion industry conform to new styles that come about each season. Similarly, technologically-obsessed people will follow the trends of the iPod, for example, and buy into whatever new model is the current hot item. Even following the opposite of what’s “popular” is conforming to the contradiction. To illustrate this, I had friends in high school who were very into the punk culture. They dressed “punk” every day. However, around junior year, the punk trend became very popular in mainstream fashion. My friends, repulsed with the idea of being trendy, decided to

that expensive, go toward sorority events. We participate in formals, exchanges, scholarship banquets and sisterhood events throughout the year. The money also goes toward our philanthropy. Greeks hold many events that raise profits for charitable organizations, including The Alzheimer’s Association, the Ronald McDonald House and Campfire USA. Every spring, the money generated during Greek Week sends over 150 underprivileged children to Camp Titan. Many people believe Greeks spend more time partying than studying. However, they hold important leadership positions on campus. Our own Associated Students, Inc. president is a sorority sister. Sororities are often accused of hazing their new members. Hazing is illegal and we wouldn’t partake in it. We appreciate every woman who joins and would never harm her. In fact, we welcome new members with open arms. The most prevalent sorority stereotype assumes that we’re all conformists. People believe that because

we dress alike, we’re forced to think and act alike. But not once have I compromised my personality to conform to a standard. Being a sorority sister is like being on a team. Teams always wear matching uniforms to symbolize their unity. A woman doesn’t need to change herself to be unified with others. Sorority houses don’t exist to haven college females stuck in high school mentality. Instead, they serve as a catalyst to bond women from different backgrounds with different hopes and aspirations. The friendships and memories I’ve made through this experience will last a lifetime. While some may find that statement cheesy, it’s true. My time in a sorority has taught me to take negative statements with a grain of salt. If people choose to label me based on what they’ve watched in a movie, it’s their problem. That doesn’t make them any better than those they’re verbally attacking. Sorority has not molded me into some superficial, frivolous clone. It has equipped me with the tools to succeed in life.

The Social-Light By Amy Robertson stop dressing in punk clothing. Thus, they let popular fashion standards dictate their behavior. To avoid conforming to the fashionable styles, which they already had established as their own style, they conformed to that which was the opposite. Conformity, whether you like it or not, keeps society running and is apparent in all of our lives. Without it, there would be chaos. There are established standards, dominant attitudes and powerful trends we all find ourselves following from time to time, even if it’s as simple as following the laws set up by the government. Sororities, like any organization,

have rules that members must abide. These guidelines keep the sorority running smoothly and help maintain our standards of excellence. A minimum GPA requirement, I’m sorry to disappoint you, is one of our many standards of excellence. Conforming to rules does not mean people must lose their identity in such obedience. If anything, it’s a challenge to maintain adherence while still developing and exhibiting your individuality. Let’s face it – in today’s culture, people have the opportunity to lose themselves to their environment or to more dominant personalities. It’s a feat to remain true to yourself nowadays no matter where you are, sorority or not.

CLASSIFIEDS

October 15, 2007

Index Announcements 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100

Campus Events/Services Campus Organizations Greeks Legal Notices Lost and Found Miscellaneous Personals Pregnancy Research Subjects Sperm/ Egg Donors Tickets Offered / wanted

Merchandise 2200 2300 2400 2500 2600 2700 2800 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300 3400 3500

Appliances Art/Painting/Collectibles Books Computers/Software Electronics Furniture Garage/Yard Sales Health Products Miscellaneous Musical Instruments Office Equipment Pets Rentals Sports Equipment

Transportation 3600 3700 3800 3900

Auto Accessories/Repair Auto Insurance Miscellaneous Vehicles For sale/Rent

Travel 4000 4100 4200 4300

Resorts/Hotels Rides Offered/Wanted Travel Tickets Vacation Packages

Services 4400 4500 4600 4700 4800 4900 5000 5100 5200 5300 5400 5500 5600 5700 5800 5900 6000

1-900 Numbers Financial Aid Insurance Computer/Internet Foreign Languages Health/Beauty Services Acting/Modeling Classes Legal Advice/Attorneys Movers/Storage Music Lessons Personal Services Professional Services Resumes Telecommunications Tutoring Offered/Wanted Typing Writing Help

Employment 6100 6200 6300 6400 6500 6600 6700 6800 6900 7000 7100

Business Opportunities Career Opportunities P/T Career Opportunities F/T Child Care Offered/Wanted Help Wanted Actors/Extras Wanted Housesitting Internship Personal Assistance Temporary Employment Volunteer

Housing 7200 7300 7400 7500 7600 7700 7800 7900

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6200 Career Opportunities P/T Hotel bellman/guest services wanted. Full/Part time positions available incl. weekends. Starting wage $10/hr + tips and extras. Award winning family hotel across from Disneyland. Applicants must be CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERTS, upbeat, outgoing & active. Apply in person 9am - 5pm any day of the week. Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel, 1380 S. Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92802. www.hojoanaheim.com. Get Paid To Play Video Games! Earn $25 - $120 to test and play new video games. www.videogamepay.com. PR Job For Artist/Designer Caly Design Research, a toyota company, is seeking PR/ Media Relations Coordinator at our Newport Beach Design Studio. Candidate must posses a dynamic and engaging personality; design/ visual art education and/or exp; and professional writing experience. Responsibility will be to represent and promote Toyota’s automotive designs to the public and media. For more information and to apply, visit www.toyota. com/talentlink. No Calls please. Clerical full time position for small size construction company. Must possess excellent computer and phone skills. Call 714 9782500. Earn $800-$3200 a month to drive brand new cars with ads placed on them. www.adcarclub.com. Real Estate Investor Seeks Students Earn a potential $15k-$20k month while we coach and mentor you Jeffery (951) 813-2554 set4lifeinvestments@yahoo.com

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Humorscopes brought to you by humorscope.com

Aries (March 21 - April 19) It’s time for you to consider being kinder to your feet. And stop taking them for granted! For example, when’s the last time you sat down and had a nice friendly chat with them? Do it today!

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SUDOKU

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Cancer (June 21 - July 22) Good day to doodle.

Leo (July 23 - August 22) Excellent day to study gastroenterology, or pos sibly to go bowling.

Virgo (August 23 - September 22) Good day to work on your catapult. You never know when it could come in handy. Besides, it’s good to worry your neighbors a bit -- keeps them civil.

Libra (September 22 - October 22) Beware of midget bookies, today. It’s ok to get one of those tiny little poetry books, though, if you feel you really must.

Scorpio (October 23 - November 21) Excellent day to blow soap bubbles in unusual places. See if you can get them to drift by people who are thinking too hard.

Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21)

Today’s a good day for original thinking and bursts of creativity. Also, not a good day to wear flammable clothing.

Capricorn (December 22 - January 20) Today you will have a lot of trouble with non sequit urs. Pizza doesn’t have to have cheese, you

Previous Puzzle

know.

Aquarius (January 21 - February 18) You will be intensely jealous of a rival today. Finally, you will realise that it isn’t doing you any good to be jealous, so you’ll switch over to envy.

Pisces (February 19 - March 20) Flour tortilla day, today. You know what I mean.

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Sports

October 15, 2007

women’s soccer: Second half frenzy snaps losing streak

(from page 1) ay’s loss in overtime to Santa Clara brought on the emotional letdown that was the catalyst of the slow start on Sunday’s game. “Losing in overtime hit the girls emotionally so we had to recover from that blow before we could play our game,” Brown said. “When we got to half time we sat the girls down and asked them to bring back the energy they had on Friday ... that pep-talk was all they needed.” The Titans started strong in the second half. Buffington scored the first goal of the game in the 55th minute. She headed the ball into the net from the 6-yard line off a flick from the fresh-footed substitute Lauren Cram. Cram scored a goal of her own in the 61st minute, but a delayed offside call on Murillo by Assistant Referee Adam Brugman forced Head Official Kia Dehpanah to recall the goal. The recall did not hinder the Titan offense. Forward Tanya Slusser barely missed the goal as her shot skimmed the top of the Pacific net after she managed a half-field breakaway play. Murillo took control of the resulting goal kick and scored, unassisted, the second goal of the match in the 64th minute. Pacific keeper Jamie Souza made a save from a hard shot by Buffington from the left corner of the 18-yard line, but Buffington scored her second goal off a corner-kick minutes later. Buffington led both teams with a total of five shots. The Titans finished with 14 shots and four fouls while the Tigers trailed with nine total shots and six fouls. Titan defender Jenae Gibbens said she is looking forward to the team’s next match against the Big West preseason favorite, Long Beach State. “We are out of our slump. This one win is going to turn to two as soon as we play Long Beach,” Gibbens said. “It took us a while to find our rhythm today but once we found it, we were unstoppable. We won’t have trouble finding rhythm against Long Beach.”

By aline lessner/for the daily titan Titan sophomore Tanya Slusser (36) and Tiger Chelsea Gomes (9) fight for position.

By aline lessner/for the daily titan Titan defender Casey Schostag (8) blocks Tiger Lydia Jackson (15) from the ball in Sunday’s match at Titan Stadium.

Titans impressive in loss against the Santa Clara Broncos on Friday by Phillip Radke

Daily Titan Staff Writer sports@dailytitan.com

Cal State Fullerton women’s soccer suffered its sixth loss of the season Friday night, with the Titans falling to No. 6 Santa Clara University 3-2 in overtime. Control of the ball belonged to the Broncos for most of the match as they kept the Titan defense on their heels. The Titans’ defensive line was able to hold up well one-on-

one against the Broncos, but corner kicks would dictate the pace of the game as the deciding goals came on Bronco set pieces to win. Early in the match neither team showed much push up front as the ball stayed close to midfield for the opening minutes. The Bronco offense gave Titan goalkeeper Shannon Simpson some trouble before the break, forcing her to take control of the net to deflect several close calls. The Broncos brought more pres-

sure early in the second half. Several runs were made at Simpson before sophomore Kiki Bosio scored the first goal of the game on an assist from freshman Jessie Baddley. In the 65th minute, the Broncos had a throw-in from Bosio. The throw was to senior Chioma Igwe whose shot put the Titans in a 2-0 deficit. The Titans would soon answer with a rally of their own. A big push from sophomore Tanya Slusser resulted in a penalty kick

after Bronco goalkeeper Meagan McCray held Slusser down inside the box. Slusser capitalized on the kick to score her first career goal and put the Titans within one goal of the Broncos. “The keeper took a bad touch, which set me up for that shot,” Slusser said. “We got robbed of a couple goals this game but we played really well.” The Titan second-half rally continued. In the final minutes, CSUF scored on a throw in by junior Je-

Think Different. Think Simon. Simon Liang

Musical chairs for the AP Top 25 The Associated Press

The battle for Los Angeles Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen! Now … introducing your Los Angeles Clippers! OK, there were probably some boos. It’s really not going to be that bad. With Elton Brand out until the All-Star Break, everyone is counting out the Clips. Don’t do that just yet; they still have Sam Cassell. Yes, he may look like an alien but he is a savvy veteran who puts teams on his back and carries them to victory. Point guards Cassell and Brevin Knight will provide much-needed leadership. Cuttino Mobley and Corey Maggette look to bounce back after so-so seasons. The two will combine for 35 to 40 points a night. Look for Chris Kaman to break out and average a doubledouble again and be a defensive force. Thank God he got rid of the Chewbacca look, which had to be the NBA’s worst fashion statement. I really like Quinton Ross. He’s a hard-nose player who can play multiple positions and be a shutdown defender, much like Cal State Fullerton alumnus Bruce Bowen. Unfortunately, this will not be Shaun Livingston’s season, as he will still be sitting on the bench with injuries. I like his suits though, if that matters. Tim Thomas will be solid again, but Brand’s presence inside will be missed dearly. My sleeper for the team is rookie Al Thornton. He will be an exciting player so watch out for him. He can possibly enter the slam dunk competition. He’s that good. Now … introducing your Los Angeles Lakers! Okay, not as many boos – good. So, what did the Lakers do in the off-season? They did pick up Derek Fisher, but these days he is only a shooter, so look for Jordan Farmar to get

nae Gibbons to freshman Geminesse Martinez. This was also Martinez’s first career goal. Within two minutes of the overtime’s opening whistle, the match was decided by a goal from Broncos sophomore Katherine Reynolds. CSUF Head Coach Demian Brown was optimistic about his team’s performance. “This is a great measuring stick for us against this nationally ranked team,” Brown said. “I feel our play tonight was very impressive.”

half of the playing time. The resignings of Walton and Mihm are decent but they are still not contenders. Let’s hope Andrew Bynum stays consistent. Sure, he used to be my MySpace friend (which showed he was still a kid), but A-Train needs to rise to the occasion. He added muscle in the offseason so he should improve this season. As for Kwame Brown, his name should be next to butterfingers in the dictionary. Once he learns how to catch Kobe’s gifts he might eventually lose the “bust” tag that has followed him since he entered the NBA. This is the year where Farmar shows the league why he was picked in the first round by the Lakers after his sophomore year at UCLA. And the award for the worst free-agent signing last year goes to … The Los Angeles Lakers! Thanks Mitch! Let’s hope Vladimir Radmanovic doesn’t go snowboarding again and separate his shoulder. Wait, he supposedly lied about that and said he slipped over a piece of ice. That’s where $30 million went – to a 6”10 shooter who is terrified of driving to the basket. Lamar Odom will come back strong this year and finally be a formidable sidekick alongside KB24. As for Kobe “Black Mamba” Bryant, he will take the scoring title again. No one needs to worry about Kobe; he will do his thing no matter who is around him. As for the battle for Los Angeles, the Clippers will miss the playoffs at the 10 spot. The Lakers will slide into the seventh spot and pray for a first-round matchup that has nothing to do with the Phoenix Suns. It won’t be a championship year for any of the So Cal teams but it’s a step into the right direction.

A day after the top two teams in the AP Top 25 lost, the Ohio State Buckeyes jumped two spots Sunday in the media poll and became the third school this season to hold the No. 1 ranking. The Buckeyes (7-0) beat Kent State 48-3 Saturday and have played only one team that’s been in the rankings at any point this season. In a season in which 10 ranked teams have been beaten by unranked teams, just avoiding the upset bug has been enough for Ohio State. An unpredictable season took a new twist Saturday when LSU, in its second week as No. 1, was upset 4337 in triple overtime by Kentucky. A few hours later, California, poised to move up one spot to No. 1, lost at home 31-28 to Oregon State. It was the first time in 11 years the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the AP poll lost on the same day. The Buckeyes received 50 of a possible 65 first-place votes, and were not the only team to advance. South Florida, which had never been ranked before this season, moved up three spots to No. 2, leapfrogging No. 3 Boston College. The Bulls received 11 first-place votes after a 64-12 victory over Central Florida. BC’s workmanlike 2714 victory over Notre Dame helped get the Eagles one first-place votes. No. 4 Oklahoma and No. 5 LSU each received one first-place vote, as did No. 12 Arizona State. The rest of the top 10 was No. 6 South Carolina, followed by Oregon, Kentucky, West Virginia and Cal, which slipped eight spots to No. 10. Virginia Tech was No. 11, followed by Arizona State and Southern California, which fell another three spots to No. 13. USC was the preseason No. 1, but lost the top ranking three weeks ago after a lackluster victory at Washington. The Trojans slipped to No. 10 last week after being upset by Stanford. Florida was No. 14, followed by Kansas and Missouri, which were tied at No. 15. Hawaii, Auburn, Texas and Tennessee rounded out the top 20. Georgia, Texas Tech, Cincinnati, Michigan and Kansas State were the final five.