2007 12 06

FEATURES: Page A 6 Try out some of these holiday cocktails

Since 1960 Volume 85, Issue 52

OPINION: Recognizing the signs of an abusive relationship, page B 4 NEWS: New class hopes to shed light on the great ape conservation, page A 3

Daily Titan

Thursday December 6, 2007

The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

DTSHORTHAND The Klezmer Nutcracker Suite The Shirim Klezmer Orchestra will perform a unique reimagining of Tchaikovsky’s classic Christmas piece in the Meng Concert Hall on Saturday. Advance sales tickets are $25, while tickets at the door are $30.

Camp Titan Toy Drive Friday is the final day to drop off an unwrapped, age-appropriate gift in the TSU after choosing a child’s name from a display in the lobby.

Pub Concert ASI will hold its weekly concert in the Becker Amphitheater from noon to 1 p.m.

Free “Glow” Bowling Glow bowling will be offered free from 3 to 7 p.m. to students with a valid Titan Card.

Shoe rental is $2.50.

Celebrating

PHOTOS By Aline Lessner/For the Daily Titan

Eastside and Saddleback choirs are waiting for their turn to go up on stage and entertain the audience with Christmas songs.

Winter Festivities

Modern-day Grinch steals Christmas trees

Correction

Due to an editing error, the speaker in the pull quote was misidentified in the article titled “Afro-ethnic chairwoman inspires change and ideas” in the Dec. 5 issue of the Daily Titan. The speaker was Afro-ethnic studies Professor Jamel Donner. The Daily Titan regrets this error.

WEATHER Today Mostly Cloudy / High: 65, Low: 53

Friday Showers / High: 57, Low: 46

saturday Showers / High: 57, Low: 44

sunday Few Showers / High: 59, Low: 41

monday

Few Showers / High: 62, Low: 42

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

Traditional lighting of the Christmas tree happens during the yearly Winter Festival in Fullerton.

Above - Not everyone is happy about meeting Santa as Ian Slobodlen 14 months cries in his lap.

Holiday shoppers look for some relief Charity event organized Students try to deal with the giving spirit getting more costly in the wallet

By Celia Castanon

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

Tis the season to be shopping and with the holidays peeking around the corner, students are scrambling to find the perfect gifts for family and friends while juggling the cost of college and bills.

However, students are finding their hearts are not as big as their wallets.

Every person wishes they could give out the best gifts and it goes along with the old saying: “it’s better to give then to receive.”

But as students, understanding the financial responsibly and wanting to buy gifts for everyone in your cell phone list is a hard reality to face.

Parents, friends, family, spouses, boyfriends and girlfriends all know

that students are broke and they see percent discount. the daily struggle of being financially “Stores depend on 25 percent of unstable. revenue during Christmas,” RahmaThey already understand and don’t tian said. “They will do all they can to expect too much. get you interested in shopping.”

Mortaza Rahmatian, an economics Rahmatian is right. Stores are willprofessor at Cal State Fullerton, says ing to drop prices well below the regstudents should ular price and ofnot be spontanefer more percent ous when buying discounts than gifts and go into any other time the Christmas during the year. shopping season Web sites are with a plan and flooded with some organizaways to save tion. and – Mortaza Rahmatian, money “Set priorities Ehow.com says CSUF economics to start planning and find other professor ways to save this in January and holiday season,” put money aside Rahmatian said. every month.

“Gift exchanges, drawing names are It saves time from shopping from great ways to save money. Have some one store to the next to find the lowsort of plan.” est prices. Shopping online provides a Another tip Rahmatian gives is to great way to find the best deals and go leave the credit cards at home. Look directly to the store and may be able for good sales and take advantage of See HOLIDAY GIFTS Page A2

“

Gift exchanges, drawing names are great ways to save money.

Have some sort of plan.

“

FLAG POND, Tenn. (AP) – Authorities are on the lookout for whoever stole the tops off more than two dozen Christmas trees from Danny Tipton’s farm.

The thief or thieves raided the farm in eastern Tennessee sometime between Nov. 24 and last week and cut the top off the Fraser firs that were 10 to 12 feet tall.

“It’s like the Grinch stealing Christmas trees,” Sheriff Kent Harris said.

The culprit sawed the top six feet off about 28 trees and hauled them off the property, probably to sell off for use in smaller homes.

Tipton estimates they would get about $15 to $20 each.

by CSUF leadership class An on-campus event in the quad will be held for those who need help

By Elisabeth donovan

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

Caroline Bailey, a Cal State Fullerton professor of human services, has given her Human Services 350 student leadership class a chance to reach out to the public during the holiday season, indirectly assisting those in need.

The Human Services Student Association, along with Bailey’s students, will be holding “Bailey’s Charity Bonanza” today in the quad from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. to help students become involved with local charities.

“In my student leadership class, the students work to make communities stronger,” Bailey said.

“This student – designed project provides needs to both the campus and wider community. We’re outreaching to students to get them involved.”

Kris Aquino, a student partaking in the project, said his primary goal is to inform the public about the various charities in the neighborhood.

“We’re playing on the notion that a lot of students don’t know where or how to volunteer during the holidays,” Aquino said.

Students may also donate their spare change to the Orange County Food Bank.

Free snacks and beverages will be available to students who wish See CHARITY EVENT Page A3

Page Two

INTERNATIONAL NEWS Congalese women report rape cases by Angolan military

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) – Angolan soldiers routinely and repeatedly rape Congolese women who have crossed the border illegally in search of work in the diamond fields, an international aid organization said Wednesday. Doctors Without Borders said that over two weeks in October one of their teams saw 200 rape victims at their clinic in Western Kasai — a Congolese province bordering Angola. Angolan government officials contacted by The Associated Press said they weren’t aware of the allegations and could not comment until they had seen a detailed report. Congolese officials were not immediately available for comment. Testimonials describing multiple rapes and physical abuse perpetrated by the Angolan military were presented at a press conference. The Angolan ambassador in Congo, Joao Batista Mawete, declined comment when contacted by the AP Wednesday. According to the United Nations, about 400,000 Congolese live in diamond-rich northern Angola . Nicolai said there were similar reports of rape and abuse in 2004 but now there appeared to be an increase in the number of expulsions and incidents of sexual violence by Angolan forces.

NATIONAL NEWS Rate freeze compromise reached to curtail foreclosures WASHINGTON (AP) – The Bush administration has hammered out an agreement to freeze interest rates for certain subprime mortgages for five years to combat a soaring tide of foreclosures, congressional aides said Wednesday. The aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the details have not yet been released, said the five-year moratorium represented a compromise between desires by banking regulators for a longer time frame of up to seven years and mortgage industry arguments that the freeze should last only one or two years. Another person familiar with the matter said the rate-freeze plan would apply to borrowers with loans made at the start of 2005 through July 30 of this year with rates that are scheduled to rise between Jan. 1, 2008, and July 31, 2010. The plan emerged from talks between Paulson and other banking regulators and banks, mortgage investors and consumer groups trying to address an avalanche of foreclosures feared as an estimated 2 million subprime mortgages reset from lower introductory rates to higher rates. Through October, there were about 1.8 million foreclosure filings nationwide, compared with about 1.3 million in all of 2006, according to Irvine, Calif.-based RealtyTrac Inc.

STATE NEWS Enforcement on air pollution at large ports pursued LOS ANGELES (AP) – California regulators are taking aim at major shipping companies and thousands of individual truckers with two landmark measures intended to cut air pollution at large state ports and rail yards. The proposed regulations would force operators of cargo ships and other large vessels to use land-based electric power while docked, and require trucks operating at major ports and rail yards to reduce emissions. If approved, California would be the first state to impose such requirements on the shipping and transportation industries. California ports account for more than 40 percent of all cargo container traffic into the U.S. Votes on the two measures are expected to take place by Friday. The state’s initiatives come amid growing concern among residents living near major cargo ports about health risks due to air pollution. In recent years, however, many residents have begun pressing for industry and the state to do more to curtail the emissions from trucks and ships pulling into the harbor.

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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Copyright ©2006 Daily Titan

December 6, 2007

Hispanic student recruitment program draws ire CSUF professor wonders if there is similar services offered for black students

By URMI RAHMAN

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

An ambitious mission to recruit and retain Latino students to Cal State Fullerton through federal grants has provoked one professor to criticize the absence of similar services geared toward blacks.

The university, officially designated a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), was awarded a five-year $2.3 million Title V Department of Education Strengthening Grant in 2004.

CSUF reached the 25 percent Hispanic student population threshold that year and 50 percent of the populace consisted of students from low-income households as mandated by the government for assistance.

“The policy itself is inherently discriminatory against non-Hispanics,” said professor of Afro-Ethnic Studies Jesse Owens Smith. “There are lots of Hispanics here because of the money from the government.”

The grant aims to increase the number of Hispanic students in math-based majors, ensure their success through improved tutoring, instruction and services while also developing their leadership skills.

“Our goal is to admit qualified students regardless of race [but] our service area is Hispanic,” said Victor Rojas, project manager for special programs funded by the Title V Grant. “We’re trying to meet the needs of the community [because]

we’re the only HSI in Orange Coun- number of tutors at the Math Tuty.” toring Center, Links Mentoring Fifty percent of Orange County, program and advising services for which is the university’s service area Latino students. as mandated by the CSU Chancel“A lot of that grant money isn’t lor’s Office, is Hispanic as of June focused on attracting students, it’s 2005. focused on helping students who get University educators in Fullerton, here [to CSUF] to stay successful,” Santa Ana and Irvine created the Mink-Salas said.

Santa Ana Partnership in the early Success defined by the grant ad1980s in an effort to reach out to the heres to increasing the academic immigrant Mexican community. endurance and graduation rates of “Our service area citizenry doesn’t Latino students in the college of have a very high [number of ] African Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

A m e r i c a n s ,” In the fall said Dean of of 2004, afStudents Kanter the initial dy Mink-Salas. installment “The percentof the grant age of Africanwas awarded, American stuthe College dents we have of Natural on campus is Sciences and higher than – Kandy Mink-Salas, Mathematics [those in] our had 264 ChiCSUF Dean of cano students service area.”

Students The partnerenrolled and ship allowed 100 “other CSUF to realHispanics.” In ize its purpose the 2006 Fall as an HSI and to establish pipeline semester, it had 318 Chicanos and programs for students in Santa Ana 135 “other Hispanics.”

College and high schools to aid the In the span of two years, the coltransition process into a university. lege saw a rise of 89 individual ChiThe collaboration has increased cano or Hispanic students in mathcollege awareness in Hispanic house- based majors. holds through such programs as the The central issue, Smith pointed Parent Institute for Quality Educa- out, is that the federal government tion, which educates parents on the does not provide grants specifically significance of higher education. designed to recruit black students.

The initiatives of the grant enabled The efforts of an HSI are also university professors to mentor oth- meant for non-Hispanic students er faculty members on reaching out because federal money cannot be to Latino students in math-related used solely for one ethnic minormajors. ity group. The initiatives however, The grant has also increased the largely benefit Hispanics.

“

The percentage of African-American students we have on campus is higher than [those in] our service area.

“

A2

“You can get money to recruit any student but black students,” Smith said. “This is insidious racism, which addresses the minority problem for everybody but blacks.”

California’s educational institutes can no longer recruit students through scholarships or federal money based on ethnicity after Proposition 209 passed in 1997.

Low-income households became the new target for college recruiters as a result.

A major component of the Title V Grant is to increase the recruitment rates of all students majoring in math, science, engineering and computer science, according to the Title V Newsletter.

“A lot of black students stir away from math,” Smith said. “[That is] the key to doing well in college.”

The College of Natural Science and Mathematics had 62 black students enrolled in the fall of 2006, which is a rise of 11 students since CSUF received the Title V Grant.

To increase black student enrollment at CSUF, administrators collaborate with the African-American Resource Center, Student Diversity Program, Council of African-American Parents and black churches in L.A. “Sometimes we may target a school or a community group for special outreach activities because of their demographics,” said Dawn Valencia, director of university outreach, in an e-mail interview.

The university works with local communities, establishes pipelines from K-12 institutions and while everyone may benefit from the programs, the county is mostly Hispanic.

Peer mentors program helps psychology majors

By SARAH MOSQUEDA

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

Psychology is the second most popular major at Cal State Fullerton.

A large majority of CSUF psychology students go on to graduate school. Yet, the stressful and confusing process of finding information on the application process as well as scholarship and grant information can drive even a psych major crazy.

The Peer Mentor Program offered by the department of psychology is designed to curtail that confusion and answer any other questions students may have by providing students with information, resources, and even offering services such as tutoring and counseling.

“We are a large department,” said Daniel Kee, director of the peer mentor program. “We have 1,200 majors and two graduate programs.”

With such a large department, it’s

easy for students and their questions to get lost.

“There is so much that students don’t know, and they should,” said Laura Castro, a long-time peer mentor and editor of the psychology department newsletter that is distributed three times a year.

The mentors also visit high schools and junior colleges to inform students of the program.

“Part of our overall advancement scheme is to provide outreach,” Kee said.

The program reaches out to current students by providing mentor office hours.

Each semester between 10 to 20 students go through the application process, which includes an interview with Kee. Once selected, the mentors then commit to a number of outreach activities as well as set office hours. With so many mentors, there is always somebody available to talk or answer

question.

“The mentors are really a students personal search engine,” Kee said.

“They might not always have the answer, but they have the resources to find it for them.”

Jenn Barlett, now in the psychology graduate program, worked as a peer mentor for two semesters as an undergraduate before moving into her current position as an adviser in the psychology department.

“Some students may not feel comfortable walking into an office and just asking them questions,” Barlett said.

Castro agrees.

“It’s not very likely that students will reach out to faculty,” Castro said.

“This way they can talk to students just like them.”

“The mentors aren’t like just like students in your classes that say, ‘I heard you have to take this class,’” Castro said. “They know more than students in your classes who might not have the right information.”

For students who have questions but don’t have the time to talk to neither a peer or a faculty member, there’s the newsletter.

“Some students don’t want to go to academic advisement,” Kee said.

“Maybe they just have a quick question, or they are just shy. They can get answers from the newsletter.”

Often, student questions are turned into articles, like a recent issue which informed students on how to go about getting an internship, after mentors noticed many students seeking information about that.

Castro, who edits the newsletter, sees it as an important part of the program.

“The newsletter is important not only for the peer mentor program, but for the entire psychology department,” Castro said. “It really is our main tool in communicating with students about upcoming events, resources, and awards, scholarships and grants See PEER MENTORS Page A3

HOLIDAY GIFTS: GIVING presents ON A BUDGET From Page A1

to call in advance and put the item on hold.

Thriftyfun.com provides an even better way to spread the joys of Christmas spirit and leave your wallet full instead of empty.

It says the best gifts are those handmade.

Invite some friends over to help with baking cookies, decorating the house or creating Christmas gifts.

Chances are they will remember the time spent together rather than the present that was given to them.

The worst thing is to feel pressured to buy expensive gifts for family and close friends.

Set a limit as to how much you’ll spend on each person and be reasonable with the budget. Rahmatian said a good price range for your immediate family is $25-$30 and friends $15-$20.

If a family is too big to buy presents for everyone, suggest a gift exchange where everyone draws a name in the family and only have to buy for that particular person.

Franklin Cho, store manager of Kohl’s Department Stores in La Habra, said to take advantage of store promotions.

“Pay close attention to advertising,” Cho said. “Wake up early Sunday morning and browse the ads in

the newspapers. Take advantage of the special times stores offer to receive extra discounts. Just make the effort to save.”

Susie Hayman, a compulsive shopper who is always on a budget, has learn a few things about shopping.

She has to be careful with her money since her full-time job is taking care of her disabled daughter and there is only one income; coming from her husband.

“I like to go to outlet stores for deals. I basically avoid shopping at the mall unless it’s a store that has a sale and I have a coupon like Linens N Things. I read all the ads in the Sunday newspaper and look for sales

and specials. One thing I do to save on Christmas wrapping is buy it from the Dollar Tree store or the 99 Cent store,” Hayman said.

She also has a game plan and has a list of ideas of what to buy and for whom, and does a lot of shopping online.

“It’s a great way to avoid the crowds, look for the sales online and have them sent to me for free. I avoid crazy kids and crowds by doing this,” she said.

So whether it’s buying gifts, making gifts, or making memories, Christmas this year can be affordable for everyone, even with tuition coming up in January.

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NEWS

December 6, 2007

New CSUF class educates students about the plight of the great apes Professor Norman Rosen’s concerns goes beyond just teaching

By Sylvia masuda

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

E

veryone has a cause, an issue they take on to attempt to better civilization.

Some are staunch advocates of finding an AIDS cure.

Others want to spread the word on global warming. For some, cancer is their cause.

Norman Rosen is out to save the apes.

The Anthropology Department and the part-time anthropology professor will offer “Great Ape Conservation” this spring semester.

The class is focused on educating students of the plight of Southeast Asian and African endangered apes.

Sumatran orangutans from Indonesia and two gorilla species indigenous to Africa are dangerously close to extinction, according to the World Conservation Union’s Species Survival Commission and the International Primatological Society.

In 2000, the World Conservation Union received increased reports of bonobo and chimpanzee hunting.

Logging and palm oil businesses have deforested orangutans’ homes; in the U.S. and elsewhere, people keep primates as pets in unsuitable environments.

“Everybody’s got to wake up because we’re losing animals at such a rapid rate, it’s just incredible,” Rosen said. “There are more and more extinction problems.”

Rosen first learned of primates’

Courtesy of CSUF Anthropology

adverse conditions when the anthropologist took a trip to Africa 20 years ago.

He saw beautiful areas of land excavated and uprooted for the logging business.

He walked into villages to find chimpanzees tethered to chains to be sold as pets.

When he discovered this, he wanted to change their circumstances for

the better.

“I just immediately said, ‘Oh my goodness,’” Rosen said. “’I need to take what it is I have. I want to help them. I don’t want to see them go extinct.’ I wasn’t aware about how bad it was.”

The Anthropology Department does offer a few courses that address primates – Rosen’s primate behavior class being one of them. But those

classes are “very introductory,” Rosen said.

Furthermore, many who attend these courses are there to fulfill G.E. requirements rather than to pursue a focused interest in anthropology.

“If we are to recruit students in the future to work in the field, to help conserve these four great apes, we really need to teach them and get them to understand the natural and

life history of the apes,” Rosen said.

In the class, he plans to have students study apes in zoos. Primates behave considerably different in captivity than from the wild.

“You find when most people go to zoos, they always want to see the chimpanzees and orangutans,” Rosen said. “The interesting part about apes versus other monkeys is that apes are so similar to humans, behaviorally,

genetically and socially.”

Social structure and limited space are two of the biggest issues in captive primates.

In the wild, chimpanzees, bonobos and gorillas live in large social groups.

In zoos, however, because of space and cost restrictions, these groups are broken up into smaller sizes.

Captive apes, Rosen said, are passive and bored. Areas for roaming and play is cramped.

The class may also encourage and inspire students to travel to distant continents to study apes on a deeper level.

Though Rosen is not directly involved with any study abroad programs, he works hard to help students find a proper facility to gain field experience when they show an interest in traveling,.

Close contacts in Africa and Southeast Asia don’t hurt, either. “[Students] go overseas and when they come back, they are so wired, and they have developed a passion which is incredible,” Rosen said. “They just fall in love with the culture. They fall in love with the animals. They’re so enamored with what the issues are and they want to help.”

These exotic lands present myriad challenges to endure.

The harsh environments of the tropical forests and savannahs of Africa, Southeast Asia and South and Central America aren’t the most pleasant of places.

“Living in that environment is not like staying at the Marriot or the Ritz Carlton,” Rosen said. “There’s lots of bugs and other things, so you have to have a positive attitude. When you’re in the field observing wild animals, there are very few luxuries.”

PEER MENTORS: OFFERS A Gunman kills 8 during a mall rampage in Nebraska wide vaRIETY OF resources The Associated Press

From Page A2

and how to apply for them.”

The peer mentors also run a Web site that updates students on activities and events between newsletters.

“The mentors really act as liaisons from the department to the students,” Barlett said. “Just getting the word out about new classes, workshops, guest speakers, everything.”

The department hopes to get more people involved.

“I wish more students would take advantage of the program,” Castro said.

“I think a lot of people don’t know about it even though we try to adver-

tise it as much as possible,” Barlett said.

As an advisor in the Psychology Department, Barlett tries to the mention the program whenever she can.

“I always recommend peer mentors to students interested in going on with psychology,” Barlett said. “It looks great on resumes, it puts them in touch with faculty advisers for letters of recommendation and it’s a great experience. It really is fun.”

The peer mentors office is located in H-515.

For more information, the program’s Web site is located at: http:// psych.fullerton.edu/mentors/.

CHARITY EVENT: OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY to help out From Page A1

to visit the event.

“We want to refresh the campus community before finals,” Bailey said. “We’re going to offer lots of food options. Even if students want to stop by for a minute, they can grab some food and fliers.”

Information will be offered from roughly 40 charities, including the Orange County Food Bank, Toys

for Tots, the Orange County Rescue Mission, The United Nations Association and Outreach Concern.

Bailey said she is proud of the work her students invested in this project.

“They came up for this idea on their own,” she said. “It’s great to see students develop a project focused on outreach.”

A man opened fire with a rifle at a busy department store Wednesday, killing eight people in an attack that made holiday shoppers run screaming through a mall and barricade themselves in dressing rooms.

The young shooter, who left a note predicting, “Now I’ll be famous,” wounded five others, two critically, then took his own life.

Witnesses said the gunman sprayed fired down on shoppers from a thirdfloor balcony of the Von Maur store using what police said was an SKS assault rifle they found at the scene.

“My knees rocked. I didn’t know what to do, so I just ran with everybody else,” said Kevin Kleine, 29,

who was shopping with her 4-yearold daughter at the Westroads Mall, in a prosperous neighborhood on the city’s west side. She said she hid in a dressing room with four other shoppers and an employee.

Police found the first victim on the second floor, then several more near a customer service station on the third floor.

The shooter, identified by police as 20-year-old Robert A. Hawkins, was found dead on the third floor with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Omaha Police Chief Thomas Warren said the shooting appeared to be random. He would not release the victims’ identities and gave no motive for the attack.

Hawkins was kicked out by his

family about a year ago and moved in with a friend’s family in a house in a middle-class neighborhood in Bellevue, a suburb wedged between Offutt Air Force Base and the Missouri River, said Debora Maruca-Kovac, who along with her husband took in Hawkins, a friend of her sons.

“When he first came in the house, he was introverted, a troubled young man who was like a lost pound puppy that nobody wanted,” Maruca-Kovac told The Associated Press.

Maruca-Kovac said Hawkins was fired from his job at a McDonald’s this week and had recently broken up with a girlfriend. She said he phoned her about 1 p.m. on Wednesday, telling her that he had left a note for her in his bedroom. She tried to get him

to explain.

“He said, ‘It’s too late,’” and hung up, she told CNN. She told the AP she called Hawkins’ mother, went to the Maruca-Kovacs’ house and retrieved the suicide note, in which Hawkins wrote that he was “sorry for everything,” would not be a burden on his family anymore and, most ominously, “Now I’ll be famous.”

Maruca-Kovac said she took the note to authorities and went to her job as a nurse at the Nebraska Medical Center.

Hours later, Maruca-Kovac said, she saw victims being brought in.

President Bush was in Omaha on Wednesday for a fundraiser, but left about an hour before the shooting.

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NEWS

December 6, 2007

Hustle and bustle to welcome season Downtown Fullerton’s 11th annual Winter Festival brought families and Christmas enthusiasts out en masse on Dec. 1.

From shopping and dining, to snowball fights and quality time with Mr. Claus, Christmas came alive.

Guests also had the opportunity to view a variety of vehicles at the Motorcycle Show and Classic Car Show.

Photos By Aline Lessner/For the Daily Titan

Right - Blythe Burrer, Micah IIsalciolo,13, and Darren Luong, 12, play in the jungle gym while their parents explore the festivities.

Above - The view from above shows the long line parents and kids wait in to meet Santa and get a free photo.

The 11th annual winter festival offered visitors everything from shopping and dining to entertainment like this classic cars exhibit.

Left - Alan Smith and his dog Pipsqueak are not the only friends shivering at the event.

Above - Rure Triffet, 9, relaxes under a blanket in the sunny but cold December weather during the classic car exhibit at the festival.

Features

A5

Ruining lives on both sides of the car

By Jennifer Church

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

When Cal State Fullerton student Ashley Elizabeth Knight-Nelson, 21, died in a head-on freeway collision Nov. 16, friends and family were reminded of the dangers of drunkdriving.

The crash happened on the 55 North connector freeway to the 22 West when Knight-Nelson, a passenger in a 2002 Honda Civic was struck by a 2007 Toyota Tacoma traveling the wrong way on the 22.

The Orange County Register reported that Brian Burchfield, the 22year-old driver of the Toyota Tacoma was taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Program Specialist for Mothers Against Drunk Driving in Orange County, Sandy Gutierrez said in 2006, an estimated 17,602 people died in alcohol-related traffic crashes – an average of one every 30 minutes.

These deaths constitute 41 percent of the 42,642 total traffic fatalities. Of these, an estimated 13,470 involved a driver with an illegal Blood Alcohol Content (.08 or higher).

Regardless of the end-results of drunk driving, the people involved remember lessons that will last a lifetime.

Christina Valenciana, associate professor in the department of Elementary and Bilingual Education still remembers receiving horrible news in the middle of the night about her mother and sister in June 1990.

“I was pregnant with my daughter at the time,” Valenciana said. “They told me my mother and sister were taken to Whittier Presbyterian [Hospital].

Valenciana’s mother, Emilia Castaneda and sister, Amelia Valenciana were at a stoplight on Imperial Highway and Euclid Street in La Habra when they were rear-ended by a drunk-driver going 60 miles per hour.

She was told to bring a change of clothes because the ones her mother wore were too bloody. Emilia had

a concussion and a fractured skull.

Amelia also had a concussion and had severely cut her arm.

The events that followed are now hazy after many years, but she remembers seeing the driver in court.

“It’s very demoralizing to sit in the courtroom and see the young man joking around and laughing,” Valenciana said.

When Valenciana and her family contacted MADD for resources, they found an indispensable advocate for victims of drunk driving.

They soon became volunteers for MADD after meeting people who shared the same plight, if not worse.

“A lot of us go through life and think these horrible things only happen to other people,” Valenciana said. “They think ‘this won’t happen to me’ when they get behind the wheel.”

To this day, Valenciana volunteers at sobriety check points whether it’s just to hand out fliers or bring hot coffee to police officers.

“It’s so easy to designate someone to drive,” Valenciana said. “It’s not that difficult to stay at a friend’s house or have someone pick you up.”

On the other side of the coin are people who have received DUI convictions but were lucky enough so that no one was hurt as their lapse in judgment led them behind the wheel when their BAC was over the legal limit.

CSUF student, Sean Voght, 23, was on his way home from a friend’s house after drinking in February 2006.

“I left a buddy’s house at around 11 p.m.,” Voght said. “I didn’t feel drunk.”

When his tire blew out on the freeway, Voght said he knew he would be in danger of getting busted for driving drunk.

He had a total of eight beers within two hours.

Voght pulled over and started to walk towards the off-ramp when he was questioned and eventually arrested by the California Highway Patrol.

“I blew .18,” said Voght, who is a marine biology graduate student.

The aftermath of his arrest led Voght to believe that even though he was very lucky no one was hurt when he was driving under the influ-

“

A lot of us go through life and think these horrible things only happen to other people.

“

Driving drunk can be disastrous, even if no one is hurt

– Christina Valenciana

associate professor, Department of Education

ence, the experience provided a very expensive lesson.

For about $2,500, Voght hired a DUI attorney to somehow prove that he did not intend to drive home drunk since he left his car keys in the ignition that night. On hindsight, Voght knows it was a stretch, but he was desperate to hold on to his driver’s license.

In the end, his attorney told him he was going to get a DUI conviction anyway and suggested he plead guilty.

Voght said he would have ended up with maximum court fees of about $8,000 with a guilty plea so against his attorney’s advice, he plead not guilty.

He paid $2,400 in court fees and was court-ordered to enroll in an alcohol education program for six months.

He was also ordered to attend about six Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

Voght said he doesn’t think much of his alcohol education classes.

“It’s an inconvenience,” Voght said. “You already know the lesson, coming in. The people working there aren’t educational at all.”

The classes consist of watching old videos having anything to do with alcoholism and taking about the effects of alcohol to one’s family, work and society as a whole.

The classes cost Voght about $730.

He now pays an additional $240 annually in car insurance and the DUI conviction will remain on his record for 10 years.

After $5,870 in DUI-related expenses and many hours in alcohol education programs, Voght now knows better to get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol. “[Taking] a taxi is much cheaper,” Voght said.

Phlogging

Photos Courtesy by Arttoday.com

By Cameron Pemstein

As quickly as it appears, it’s suddenly gone, taking with it a mysterious sense of being. It leaves the earth untouched and unchanged, making it almost impossible to prove it was ever there. Man has always been intrigued by fog. Even though we understand it scientifically, we’re always taken by its strange unpredictable mood. And if you want to capture the fog, make sure you keep your lens dry. And be careful, because you never know what you might find, or what might find you, lying in the foggggg...

December 6, 2007

GSFF

A6

FEATURES

Steamy Winter Mix equal parts: 267 Vodka Infusion Cranberry 267 Rum Infusion Mango

Mix over ice and garnish with a lime wedge; enjoy as if you were on the other side of the equator!

Mango Nog Your favorite eggnog 267 Infusion Mango to taste

Sprinkle on a dash of nutmeg and feel warm all over!

Santa’s Secret Bag 267 Rum Infusion Mango 267 Tequila Infusion Chili Pepper

Pour chilled 267 Rum Infusion Mango into a martini glass; float tequila on top and share the secret with friends!

Mulled Wine 2 bottles dry red wine 4 ounces port or brandy 12 whole cloves 4 cinnamon sticks 1 large orange, zested.

Combine ingredients in large pot, bring to a simmer.

Don’t allow mixture to boil.

Heat for 20 minutes, serve.

Champagne Punch 1 cup triple sec 1 cup brandy, 1/2 cup Chambord, 2 cups unsweetened pineapple juice 1 quart chilled ginger ale 2 chilled (750 ml) bottles dry Champagne

In a bowl combine the triple sec, brandy, Chambord and pineapple juice.

Chill, covered, for 4 hours or overnight. In a large punch bowl combine the triple sec mixture, ginger ale, Champagne and ice cubes.

Cranberry Bog Cocktail 4 ounces champagne 1 ounce cranberry juice whole cranberries, for garnish Mint leaves for garnish.

Combine champagne and cranberry juice in a champagne flute. Drop a few whole cranberries in the glass and garnish with mint leaves.

Brandy Milk Punch 2 ounces brandy 1 cup whole milk 1 teaspoon powdered sugar 3 ice cubes or cracked ice Freshly grated nutmeg.

The holiday season means This time of the year, social drinking seems more commonplace

By Kevin Manahan

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

Family gatherings, flying wrapping paper and live footage of a frenzied Times Square are common images that come to mind with the upcoming holidays.

But a bottle of bubbly or a festive cocktail are just as conventional to the typical holiday celebration, and Cal State Fullerton faculty and administrators advise students to party safely when the drinks start pouring.

“This time of year is associated with alcohol and drinking,” said sociology professor Victoria Elmquist.

“Who doesn’t think of New Year’s Eve and celebrating with a glass of champagne? That’s certainly how it’s depicted.”

Elmquist, who teaches sociology of alcoholism class, said there is an increase in drinking at this time of the year because there are more opportunities for alcohol to be served and shared. College students have more parties with friends and coworkers, drinks are served with holiday meals and alcoholic gifts are exchanged.

Freshly grated nutmeg in a cocktail shaker, combine the brandy, milk, and sugar with 3 ice cubes, and shake until frothy, about 1 minute.

Strain into a double-old fashioned glass with cracked ice.

Exp 11/30/07

Exp 11/30/07

Exp 11/30/07

“National data does show that college age drinking does increase around the holidays, especially around Christmas and New Year’s,” wrote Mary Hermann, director of health education and promotion, in an e-mail interview. “Studies have indicated that students have more access to alcohol when at home with parents celebrating the holidays, and have more time to party, with less responsibility because they don’t have schoolwork or other obligations.”

Among the reasons students drink during this period is to release the anxieties and burdens they have carried throughout the semester.

“Probably the biggest reason that would affect students at this university is the fact that finals will be over in mid-December,” Elmquist said.

“Many students look at drinking as a way to celebrate the fact that they’re not having to turn in assignments anymore, not studying for exams, and really look to drinking as a way to kind of let loose.”

Dean of Students Kandy Mink Salas agreed that drinking among students does increase after finals are over, adding that the rise in alcohol consumption may coincide more with school year cycles and vacations, such as spring break, than holidays.

“I think that for some people, they use alcohol almost to medicate,” Salas said. “If they’re really stressed, they’ll drink because they

“

People during this time of the year tend to overindulge in a variety of things.

Drinking is just one of them

“

Find a new favorite

December 6, 2007

– Victoria Elmquist,

Sociology professor

think it relieves stress. Or after an experience like getting through finals, they’ll use it to celebrate or to de-stress. Those are the times I worry about the most.”

Elmquist said another reason students may drink is to deal with family at home.

Some students who go home for the holidays may find it difficult or unpleasant for whatever reason and turn to drinking as a way to cope with that stress.

Overall, Elmquist said drinking is just a part of a larger group of extravagances many people take too far during the holiday season.

“People during this time of year tend to overindulge in a variety of things,” Elmquist said. “Drinking is just one of them. It might be that they’re overeating, overspending and [also] overdrinking, so it’s kind of a no-holds barred situation.”

Compared to students at other

universities and colleges, Salas said CSUF students tend to drink at lower rates and that there is a high percentage of students who simply choose not to drink, according to self-reported assessments.

Hermann added that CSUF students are generally less likely to binge drink, which consists of five or more drinks for men and four or more drinks for women in one sitting.

“CSUF students actually drink alcohol more responsibly than other college students,” Hermann said.

“Historically, college students across the nation binge drink at a rate of 40 percent. CSUF binge drinking rates haven’t gone above 30 percent since we started heavy data collection over six years ago.”

In addition, there is a lower rate of alcohol-related incidents on campus compared to others, but Salas said that is partly due to the lower number of students living on campus.

“I don’t want to say that our students don’t have problems with alcohol, because what I suspect is that our students may have the same kinds of challenges with alcohol use that other college students have, but they might just be doing their drinking other places off-campus,” Salas said.

Elmquist said drinking is generally seen by college students as a way to assert their independence.

However, freshmen are most at risk to the negative effects of alcohol

FEATURES

December 6, 2007

time to stir up good cheer because many of them are inexperienced and have not yet learned their limits.

“It’s real common for alcohol use and binge drinking to increase during these years because as kids are away from their parents’ homes and have gained a lot more independence, they see drinking as a way to gain independence or to be seen as an adult,” Elmquist said.

Because of these risks and the fact that many students do their drinking off campus, Salas said the university works to provide outreach and education opportunities to help students address drinking and alcoholism issues.

Education programs are designed to teach students how to recognize the signs of alcoholism or alcohol poisoning in themselves and in others, as well as how to approach someone who has a drinking problem.

One of Salas’ biggest concerns is students who do not normally drink getting into situations where they may feel pressured to drink. While she realizes that preaching a single “don’t drink” message is unrealistic in our culture, Salas said students should keep in mind that drinking is not the only way to have a good time.

“If you don’t drink, know that it’s OK,” said Salas, who prefers to just drink a diet Pepsi with lemon at holiday gatherings because her husband is not a drinker. “If you just decide

not to be a drinker, know that you’re not alone…You can still have a lot of fun with people and go out for New Year’s or go dancing or do whatever, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to drink alcohol.”

However, Elmquist said that it is difficult for many non-drinkers to abstain from alcohol because it has such a prominent place in the college student culture.

To deal with this problem, Elmquist said students can try sipping on one drink for the whole night, or even walking around with a beverage without actually drinking it.

“Alcohol is something that there’s a lot of social pressure involved with,” Elmquist said. “People go to parties and when everyone’s drinking, you can easily feel like the odd person out or like you’re not going to fit in. Just always remember that the only person you really truly have to answer to is yourself.”

For those who do decide to drink, Salas said there are several things students should keep in mind to stay safe.

One of the most important things is setting a limitation plan before drinking, as well as having an open discussion with friends about who will drive and what they will do in case everybody in the group ends up drinking.

Salas said many students do not make plans because they are afraid of

how they will be perceived.

“I think it’s out of embarrassment that people don’t want to talk about it, but I wish people would talk about it more,” Salas said. “That way if you find yourself in a situation, you already have a plan on how to get home safely.”

Elmquist said students should remember that gender and weight both play a role in a drinker’s tolerance level. Women metabolize alcohol slower than men and typically weigh less, so they should be particularly careful about how much they drink.

Because drinks at parties and bars are often poured freely without being measured, Elmquist said students should pour their own drinks.

When determining the number of drinks, Elmquist said it is helpful to remember that one 12-ounce glass of beer, one 5-ounce glass of wine and 1 ounce of hard liquor are all equivalent to one drink.

When friends are drunk or passed out, people might try different methods to get them sobered up.

But Elmquist said students should not try giving friends a cold shower, walking them around the room or anything else to try to expedite the process.

“Your body metabolizes alcohol at a constant rate,” Elmquist said.

“There is nothing you can do to speed up that process.”

If a friend is passed out, Elmquist

said students should lay the friend on their side with their knees up to keep them from choking.

If the friend sustained any head injuries, took drugs in conjunction with the alcohol or seems unresponsive, students should call 911 immediately.

Despite the consequences of overdrinking, Elmquist said many students drink because of the perceived benefits.

“College students consistently say they do have more fun when they’re drinking with other college students,” Elmquist said. “They use it as a way to loosen up, to calm down, to reduce anxiety, to connect with one another. They report being able to socialize more easily.”

In addition, Elmquist said studies have shown that having one to two drinks a day, when following the equivalency guidelines, can actually be healthful.

Red wine is said to be particularly beneficial to the cardiovascular system.

Elmquist herself enjoys having spiced eggnog, a mixed drink of eggnog and rum, or Bailey’s Irish Cream with coffee during the holidays. But although people are attracted to alcohol because of its social effects, Elmquist said it is important to drink responsibly.

“Can alcohol produce those results? Certainly, it can,” Elmquist said. “But the key is moderation.”

A7

When celebrating this year try to provide the classics Associated Press

Unless you’re just out of college, “BYOB” is no way to throw a party.

You can have sophisticated invitations, delicious food and glamorous guests. But really, most people are going to want a good drink.

This doesn’t require offering a full bar or expensive Champagne, but it is a time to be creative.

For the inexperienced barkeep, this can mean whipping up a theme drink that can be prepared ahead of time and will require little attention during the party when you may otherwise be occupied.

For our holiday dessert parties, my wife and I go with tradition — a potent eggnog with bourbon, dark rum and brandy that is best made four to five days before the party.

It’s really an easy recipe for a beginner. The only stumbling block is separating the yolks from the whites — of course, that’s after first getting comfortable with the idea of using raw eggs.

While the chance of getting salmonella has dropped considerably since it became law to wash eggs before they get to market, some people still aren’t comfortable eating them raw.

You can also consider trying shell eggs — not egg products — that have been pasteurized, or heated to a temperature that kills salmonella bacteria without cooking the egg.

Rebecca Hays, managing editor of “Cooks Illustrated,” said the magazine tested recipes — including eggnog — with pasteurized and traditional shell eggs, and found the former produced slightly less rich results.

But she said that with all the cream

and alcohol in eggnog, the difference will be imperceptible.

I’ve always had trouble separating egg yolks from the whites, but I recently learned a trick that simplifies this.

Over a bowl, crack an egg into your hand. If you just barely spread your fingers, the whites will drip through and into the bowl while you hold the unbroken yolk.

Since eggnog can be a divisive drink — too many people only know the store-bought variety, which doesn’t do the nog justice — it’s a good idea to offer another drink, too.

New York mixologist Michael Waterhouse suggests a mulled cider that he has served at his restaurants, Dylan Prime and Devin Tavern. It’s a simple drink that tastes better the longer it sits, so make it ahead and serve it in a slow cooker set on low.

If you’re pressed for time and need to serve it right away, Waterhouse suggests adding a few more cloves and another cinnamon stick. Otherwise, know that while whole cloves are tiny, they impart a strong flavor, so go easy on them.

Waterhouse’s recipe calls for Maker’s Mark Bourbon (full disclosure, he used to be a salesman for the company). He says he prefers it because “it’s an easier sipping bourbon. It’s less harsh because it doesn’t contain rye.”

He encourages you to add more bourbon if you do not find his recipe to be strong enough, but no matter how much you add it’s important to reduce the heat before you do so to prevent the alcohol from burning off.

After all, it’s a party.

Hot Mulled Cider 1/2 gallon apple cider 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1 cinnamon stick 6 whole cloves 12 ounces Maker’s Mark Bourbon Dried apple slices, for garnish

In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the cider, sugar, cinnamon stick and cloves. Bring to a low boil, stirring occasionally.

When the sugar is fully dis-

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solved, reduce heat to low and add the bourbon.

Serve in a heavy glass or mug, and garnish with sliced dried apple.

Serves 8.

A8

DAILY TITAN

December 6, 2007

B1

Breakdown of the 2008 BCS bowl matchups

SPORTS

Recovering once again

December 6, 2007

by Siamak Djahanshahi Daily Titan Staff Writer sports@dailytitan.com

National Championship No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 LSU For the first time this century a two-time Bowl Championship Series victor will be crowned. The Buckeyes won it in 2002 by defeating Miami and the Tigers won it the following year against Oklahoma.

This year’s version of the national championship features two of the top defensive units in the nation.

The Buckeyes are No. 1 in the nation against the pass giving up only 148.2 yards per game. They’ve also shown they are equally as impressive against the rush giving up only 77 yards per game.

The Buckeyes’ offense averages an efficient 32 points per game and is one of the better rushing teams in the nation. Running back Chris Wells ran for 1,463 yards and 14 touchdowns while anchoring their offense. Quarterback Todd Boeckman finished the season with a 150.3 quarterback rating and 23 touchdown passes.

The Tigers have also shown they can be a dominant defensive unit being No. 7 in the nation against the pass while giving up only 180.8 yards per game. Behind their defensive leader and projected top pick in this coming NFL Draft, Glen Dorsey, they are No. 14 against the run.

Offensively, the Tigers are a much more dominant team averaging 38.7 points per game behind their potent rush and pass attack. They are led by Quarterback Matt Flynn who has done a good job since taking over the starting quarterback job after Jamarcus Russell went to the NFL. He finished the season with 2,233 yards and 17 touchdowns.

The Rose Bowl No. 7 USC vs. No. 13 Illinois

The red hot Bulldogs going against Hawaii’s high-powered offense lead

by Heisman candidate Colt Brennan, makes to be one of the most intriguing match-ups of all the bowl games.

Hawaii comes into the game leading the nation in scoring, averaging a whopping 46.2 points per game. Behind Brennan’s 38 touchdowns and 166.32 quarterback rating Hawaii showed they are the most exciting and explosive offense in the nation.

Brennan’s 4,174 yards and 38 touchdowns were split equally between the three wide receivers, finishing the year with over 1,000 yards receiving and 37 touchdowns between them.

The Bulldogs are coming into this game with a chip on their shoulder after being the odd man out of the national championship game. Along with the Trojans, the Bulldogs are believed to be one of the hottest teams in the nation after winning their last six games convincingly against tough competition.

See BCS BOWLS, Page B2

Redshirt freshman and co-captain Pete Kingman refuses to be discouraged after breaking his leg a third time

by Elyse Marozick

Daily Titan Staff Writer sports@dailytitan.com

The soccer season has ended at Cal State Fullerton, but Co-captain Pete Kingman has a long road ahead of him.

Kingman is due to go in for surgery on Dec. 20 to repair a broken leg suffered in a game earlier this season.

Injury is something that is all too familiar to the 22-year-old England native. Two days before he was scheduled to fly to the United States to begin training with the CSUF men’s soccer team, Kingman suffered compound fractures of both the tibia and fibula of his right leg while playing in a local game with a his training team.

“I figured I would get a little runout before my flight,” Kingman said.

That was Jan. 4, 2006.

Since then, Kingman has gone through countless hours of surgery, physical therapy and rehabilitation in hopes that he will soon be able to play for the Titans again and show his coaches and teammates all that he has to offer.

If asked three years ago if he believed that he’d be living in Southern California playing soccer, Kingman would have laughed. Even more absurd would have been the thought of recovering from not one, but three season-ending leg breaks in the past

two years. again. While at the tryout, two exGrowing up in Andover, a small CSUF soccer players saw Kingman’s suburb about an hour outside of skills and recommended him to the London, Kingman recalls playing new head coach at CSUF, Bob Amsoccer for as long as he can remem- mann. ber.

Ammann and Kingman imme“I can remember kicking a ball diately set up a trip to Fullerton so around in the park with my dad Ammann could see Kingman play. when I was around three,” King“I saw a very complete player [in man said. “My dad got me onto a Kingman], someone who reminded team, my mom drove me to ev- me a lot of an ex-player of ours who ery practice and I would make my left to go pro,” Ammann said. younger brother, Robbie, play goalie Kingman was offered a scholarso I could practice ship to play for shooting on him.”

CSUF which he Kingman joined Ammann said to readily accepted. the Portsmouth “I really liked get me over as soon Football Club when Fullerton,” Kinghe was 12, a youth as possible and they man said. “I had academy geared would take care of me. only ever been to toward training the states for holiathletes to become – Pete Kingman, day, but my family professionals. He CSUF men’s soccer never made it to remained with California. I loved the club until the it instantly.” age of 16 when he Then things moved on to play took a turn for the for the Association Football Club worse.

Bournemouth. At 19, Kingman was Ammann was at home the Saturreleased from the club and found day he got the phone call from Kinghimself contemplating what he man’s dad telling of his broken leg. would do with his life. Although he “My first reaction, being I had wanted to continue playing, he fig- never spoken with Pete’s dad, was ured he would just fall in to business that he had been killed,” Ammann with his father. said.

That’s when the opportunity of a “My heart stopped when I relifetime presented itself to Kingman. ceived the phone call because I could An ex-coach of his told him of a hear in Mr. Kingman’s voice how tryout being held in Atlanta, King- distraught he was. As terrible and as man jumped at the chance to play disappointed as I was, it was almost a

“

“

The Sugar Bowl No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 10 Hawaii

By karl thunman/Daily Titan Photo Editor

Twenty-two-year-old co-captain, Pete Kingman, is determined to return to the playing field after breaking his leg again.

relief that it was only a broken leg.” went straight in to surgery to repair Kingman was devastated. the broken tibia. This time around, “All I could think about was how a metal rod was placed in his leg to I was not going to America,” King- act as the bone. The healing process man said. “But Bob [Ammann] was was much quicker and Kingman was amazing with the whole situation cleared to play only four months and said to get me over as soon as later. possible and they would take care of The athletic trainers had warned me.”

Kingman that he needed to be comIt wasn’t until seven months later pletely healed before playing because on July 12 that Kingman could final- a second break could mean an end to ly make the trek over to the U.S. Af- his career. Kingman listened to the ter being caste for four months, two advice but remained strong. in a cast to his hip “My mum is aland two in a half ways positive and cast, Kingman was Pete is like a coach taught me to be ready to get on the like that,” Kingman field. He rehabbed but he is on the side of said. “I knew if I for six months his teammates. thought negatively, thinking he would I wouldn’t heal fast. be ready to play in I knew I’d October, but the – Bob Ammann, play again bedoctors would not CSUF men’s soccer head coach cause my doctor clear him to play. said I would be alHis leg took the enright.” tire year to heal, but The 2007 season Kingman didn’t let started and Kingthat discourage him. man was named co-captain alongDoctors finally gave Kingman the side Shafii. Ammann saw a strong, green light after Christmas and he but fair leader in Kingman. was able to play in two spring scrim“Pete is like a coach, but he is on mages when a freak accident hap- the side of his teammates,” Ammann pened in March of 2007. said. “It is difficult to point out Fellow teammate, Amir Shafii, negatives to your own colleagues, kicked the ball to Kingman in but he comes from an environment practice and it hit his leg just right, where that is part of being a soccer breaking it again. player. It is not very often that you Ammann took him to one of the find players of his age that have that top doctors of the U.S. National much awareness from the actual Team, Dr. Mike Gerhardt. Kingman See KINGMAN, Page B2

“

“

With the idea of keeping a tradition alive, the Tournament of Roses chose Illinois as USC’s opponent to continue the traditional Pac-10 vs.

Big 10 match-up. In their second BCS bowl game appearance of this decade the Fighting Illini are going to have their hands full with a USC team that’s 4-1 in bowl games this decade with and two national titles to go with it.

The Trojans are coming into this game as one of the hottest teams in the nation defeating their last four opponents and convincingly beating the then No. 6 Arizona State Sun Devils.

During that four game span USC Quarterback John David Booty threw eight touchdowns to only one interception including a masterful performance of 375 yards and four touchdowns against the Sun Devils.

The Fighting Illini experienced a complete turnaround from what their season was last year. Finishing last season at 2-10 nobody thought the Illini would make any noise this year. In the previous four seasons combined they only won a total of eight games.

Fortunately for the Illini fans, their players proved everybody wrong with an impressive 9-3 record and handing No. 1 Ohio State their only loss of the season.

Titans basketball looks to successfully wrap up road trip Courtesy of Cal State Fullerton Sports Information IN A NUTSHELL The cold (24 degrees) of Missoula was more conducive to success for the Titans last week than the fair weather (78 degrees) of Tucson, so the Titans should feel more comfortable and confident in the chill of Michigan this week. CSUF (4-1) will end a 4-week, 4-game stretch on the road Saturday night at Central Michigan, which will take a 1-5 re-

cord into a Wednesday night game at Robert Morris. Snow is expected this week in Mt. Pleasant. The Titans are coming off a 100-91 shootout victory at Montana after a 91-65 loss that wasn’t that close at Arizona two nights earlier.

SERIES HISTORY The Titans are meeting the Chippewas for only the second time.

Fullerton logged a 75-42 victory in California in 1975-76.

Central Michigan is scheduled

to return this week’s game on Dec. 6, 2008. CSUF made one previous visit to Michigan, losing to Earvin Johnson’s Michigan State team, 9289, on Dec. 9, 1978.

ABOUT THE CHIPPEWAS Central Michigan was picked to win the Western Division of the Mid-American Conference by The Sporting News but it got off to an 0-5 start before winning at DetroitMercy on Saturday night, 70-66.

Second-year Coach Ernie Zeigler is

a former UCLA assistant. CMU has the top returning scorer in the MAC in senior guard Giordan Watson, who is averaging 16.3 points to lead the team thru 6 games.

Swingman Nate Minnoy (6-3, 260) is averaging 11.7 points and a team-high 5.8 rebounds. Central Michigan is located in Mount Pleasant, which not coincidentally is situated in the geographic center of the state about 150 miles northwest of Detroit, hometown of Titan guard Marcus Crenshaw.

LAST 30 ROAD WINS Under Bob Burton, the Titans have made dramatic strides as a road team. In the past three seasons plus this season to date, they are 30-26 (.536) away from Titan Gym. For the previous 10 seasons (1994-95 thru 2003-04) the combined road record was 30-115. With a 3-11 mark in his first season (2003-04), Burton’s total CSF road record is 33-37.

HEALING MAN CUTLEY See TITANS, Page B3

SPORTS

B2

December 6, 2007

kingman: co-captain hopes to return

By karl thunman/Daily Titan Photo Editor After surgery on Dec. 20, Kingman hopes to recover and rehab quickly to rejoin his team in the summer.

coaching side. For his age he has a much greater tactical defense than the other players.”

With a new season underway and a new title of co-captain, Kingman began easing his way back into the game as both a player and a leader.

He played for short intervals for a couple games before the unbelievable happened.

In the Oct. 10 home game against UC Riverside, Kingman went up for a header and knew he was going to land wrong. He landed awkwardly and his opponent landed on top of him. Everyone could hear the bone crack.

For the third time in two years, the same leg was broken.

Saving him this time from what could have been a bad break was the metal rod.

The tibia fractured and spiraled around the rod, but Kingman was able to walk that night.

Although the trainers said this would most likely be it for playing, Kingman thought otherwise.

“I knew it wasn’t that bad, be- said. “We want him on that field; cause I know my body,” Kingman I want to see that guy play because said. “Dr. Gerhardt said he had seen he is such an incredible asset to the a lot worse so that was encouraging team, but my role is really to help as well.” him make good life decisions. We Assistant athletic trainer, Brent want our athletes to leave after four Smedley, said the trainers, coaches, years in better health than when they and specialists are all working very came here.” closely with KingKingman’s teamman to ensure a mates and closest healthy recovery. friends know that “Our main goal if anyone can come is to help Pete get in back from three to the right hands of injuries of this exthe right physicians tent, it’s him. and we have the His first roombest one,” Smedley, mate when he ar– Bob Ammann, who has been with CSUF men’s soccer head coach rived in America CSUF for 10 years, was Jacob Shumsaid. “We are helpway. ing him make deci“Pete is such a sions that are not strong person for only best for his sports performance what he is going through,” Shumbut also for his life.” way, 20, said.

Smedley said with an injury like “When you first meet him, you Kingman’s those are the kind of would never think that he has gone questions that come up. through three broken legs with the “My biggest concern for Pete attitude he has. He is ready to bounce is his long-term health,” Smedley back and have this surgery again and

“

He is definitely not silent in regards to being a voice for the team.

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from Page B1

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that’s heart. He’s got a lot of heart and desire to want to continue contributing to the soccer program.”

Being sidelined for most of the time he has been at CSUF, Kingman has had plenty of time to watch and learn from the coaching staff.

As a Kinesiology major emphasizing in coaching, he has found something positive in his months of down time.

“Being injured for so long, I’ve realized I still want to be a part of the game even if I can’t play again,” Kingman said. “Watching Bob [Ammann], Adam [Reeves], and Jerry [Laterza] and their enthusiasm for the game, it makes me want to coach.”

Close friend and teammate, Shay Spitz, 19, couldn’t think of a better leader than Kingman.

He said that the main thing that allows Kingman to lead is the fact that he doesn’t care what people think.

“He [Pete] will tell it how it is,” Spitz said. “He’ll tell people if they’re out of line if it’s for the better of the team, regardless if someone is going to hold a grudge.”

Spitz said Kingman is not only a great leader but a great friend to have as well. He knows that Kingman is one of those friends that will be around for a long time.

With surgery being moved from Dec. 5 to Dec. 20, Kingman is anxious to begin the healing process.

He believes he will be out six to eight months but should be cleared to start practicing with the team next summer.

“I can’t wait to fully repay the faith that Bob [Ammann], Adam [Reeves], and the team have put in me,” Kingman said.

Ammann is looking forward to his return as well, calling him the silent captain.

“We’ve never really gotten to see Pete at 100 percent,” Ammann said.

“It’s discouraging but not as nearly as it is for him. He wants to play and I want him to be out there. He may be silent in regards to playing on the field at the moment, but he is definitely not silent in regards to being a voice for the team.”

Think Different. Think Simon.

Simon Liang

Crossing paths at opposite directions The 1972 Miami Dolphins are arguably the greatest team ever, having been the only undefeated team to actually win the Lombardi Trophy.

The 1934 and 1942 Chicago Bears went undefeated in the regular season, but they lost the championship game both times.

However, we jump 35 years later and we stumble upon the 2007 Dolphins.

Who could’ve predicted the result?

They were 2-2 in the pre-season, which doesn’t mean much but maybe it wasn’t going to be this drastic.

After 13 weeks of the grueling NFL season, the Dolphins are 012. Miami has lost a whopping six games by a matter of 3 points in each of them.

If only they had a little more gas in the tank, they could be 6-6 right now instead of the having a big fat zero in the win column.

The Dolphins have become the laughingstock of the NFL, some viewers even tuning in to watch Miami lose all of their games this season.

But hey, there is an upside to being the worst team in football; they can get the number one pick in the draft next year. With players like Glenn Dorsey, Jake Long, and Darren McFadden, the top spot is an envied one.

Their week 16 matchup against the Patriots is the most intriguing game of the season. It will feature possibly an undefeated team and a time struggling to get a win.

Now, I flip to the other side of the NFL power structure, the New England Patriots, the team that everyone not from the east coast despises.

I’m completely honest when I say that after the Pats beat the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX, I officially hated them for being so good. They won all three of their Super Bowls in the last five years by a total of nine points combined!

They are extremely wellcoached but Bill Belichick really has a problem with running up the score. In some games this season, even when the score has been out of reach he has still gone for it on fourth down.

There’s a part of me that doesn’t want New England to go undefeated but the truth hurts. Their remaining schedule is not all that tough. So along with the rest of America, stay tuned when the Pats go 16-0 in the regular season.

They had scares against the Colts and the Eagles, who exploited their defense, but in the end the Patriots came out with the ‘W’.

During the offseason, when I first heard news of the Patriots signing Randy Moss, my reaction was, “Uh oh, the rest of the league is done.”

Moss is a game-changing receiver who makes big plays. Teams didn’t want to touch him because of his erratic behavior in the past. I can’t blame the guy, he was pushed out of Minnesota and the Raiders were just an awful excuse for a football team.

With Moss at his arsenal, quarterback Tom Brady finally has that big-play receiver he never had. I mean he won three Super Bowls without Randy, how many can he win with him? Scary thought.

As much as I want someone else to win the Super Bowl this year, it is inevitable that the Patriots can and will win the Super Bowl.

bcs bowls: fiesta showcases two possible championship teams (rom Page B1

During their current six-game win streak they’ve knocked off No. 11 Florida, No. 18 Auburn and No. 23 Kentucky.

The Bulldogs, who give up only 21 points per game and 205 passing yards per game, will have their hands full against the best offense they’ve seen all year.

Fiesta Bowl No. 4 Oklahoma vs.

No. 9 West Virginia In an interesting scenario, the Mountaineers could have found themselves playing for the national championship, but instead they lost to a poor Pittsburgh team and took themselves right out of the conversation. Now they get to face a team that just crushed the former No. 1 Missouri in the Big 12 title game.

Oklahoma is going to have to rely on their offense to get the job done in this match-up of two exciting offenses. Oklahoma has one of the most potent offenses in the nation, No. 3 in the nation scoring 43.4 points per game. Versus non-conference opponents Oklahoma averaged 61.5 points per game.

Oklahoma is tough against the run but their problems covering against the pass might become costly in a game against a Mountaineers team that runs an exciting spread offense. Ranked No. 68 against the pass and giving up 232 passing yards per game The Mountaineers offense is one of the most explosive in the nation as they average 293 rush yards per game in their spread offense. Quarterback, Patrick White, lead the team with 1,185 rush yards and 1,548 passing yards. Running back Steve Slaton had 1,053 yards and 17 touchdowns of his own.

The offense that features a running quarterback is one of the most dangerous on the nation. The duel running threat of Slaton and White causes problems for any defense because White can run or pass whenever he chooses.

Orange Bowl No. 3 Virginia Tech vs. No. 8 Kansas Jayhawks The Hokies, winners of the ACC, will meet a surprising Jayhawks team in the Orange bowl. For the first time ever, Kansas was a relevant

topic in the national championship conversation.

The Hokies however, had high expectations preseason, but after being blown out in the second week by LSU they had their work cut out the rest of the season. The Hokies, No. 2 in the nation in defense giving up only 15.5 points per game relies on their defense to shut down their opponents.

Four times this year they held an opponent to seven or less points and never allowed any opponent to score more than 23 points in a victory.

They are also No. 4 in total defense right behind LSU and USC. The Jayhawks, who had their miracle season came to an end when they lost to No. 4 Missouri in the final game of their season, is experiencing their best season ever. Blowing out teams and No. 2 in scoring, averaging 44.3 points per game, the Jayhawks are the real deal. The Jayhawks are lead by quarterback Todd Reesing with 3,359 passing yards and 32 touchdowns.

Not only is their offense impressive, but their defense is also ranked in the top 10 in the nation. They give up only 16 points per game and 91 rush yards per game.

Hanging ‘em up

Wrestling matches up against No. 2 The once-popular boxing Minnesota Courtesy of Cal State Fullerton Sports Information Cal State Fullerton will battle No. 2-ranked and defending national champion Minnesota in a dual meet Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. in San Luis Obispo, where the Golden Gophers also will wrestle the host Cal Poly Mustangs.

Minnesota fell out of its No. 1 national ranking in this week’s USA Today/InterMat/NWCA Division I team rankings. But the Golden Gophers still have eight wrestlers ranked individually in the national top 20 -- at every weight except 197 and 285.

CSUF is “receiving” votes and just out of the Top 25 after an eighthplace showing over the weekend at the Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas. The Titans’ 133-pounder, T. J. Dillashaw placed second in Las Vegas and jumped into the No. 14 national ranking for is weight class.

Other ranked Titans are heavyweight Wade Sauer at No. 5, 149pounder Morgan Atkinson at No. 10 and 184-pounder Ian Murphy at No. 14.

Minnesota has the No. 1 149pounder in Dustin Schlatter and a pair of No. 2-ranked wrestlers in Manuel Rivera at 141 and Roger Kish at 184. Jayson Ness is ranked No. 3 at 125.

CSUF is 1-1 in dual meets with a rout of Portland State and a 1-point loss to Cal Poly.

Titan wrestlers place in Vegas tournament Courtesy of Cal State Fullerton Sports Information Junior T. J. Dillashaw placed second at 133 pounds to lead Cal State Fullerton to a share of eighth place at the 26th Annual Cliff Keen Wrestling Tournament in Las Vegas.

Junior heavyweight Wade Sauer, who was seeded second, settled for fifth place in the heavyweight competition at the 48-team tournament.

Senior Morgan Atkinson, who was seeded eighth, took sixth place at 149 pounds.

Michigan won the team title with 127.5 points. Missouri was the runnerup with 125 points followed

by Ohio State at 121, Nebraska at 112.5, Wisconsin at 107.5, Illinois at 100, Edinboro at 85, Fullerton and Pittsburgh at 68.5 and Hofstra at 61.

Dillashaw lost in the finals to Kenny Jordan of Nebraska on a 7-0 decision. To gain that spot, Dillashaw beat Jesse Cruz of Western State, 131; Ricky Deubel of Edinboro, 8-4; Raymond Dunning of Adams State, 4-3; and Jeff Hedges of North Carolina-Greensboro, 9-3.

Sauer pinned Brady Punt of South Dakota State, scored a technical fall over Terry Tate of Edinboro and then decisioned Ed Pendergrast of Navy, 4-2. But he lost in the quarterfinals to J. D. Bergman of Ohio State, 6-5, and then lost in the consolation round to Kyle Massey of Wisconsin, 2-0, before gaining fifth by default from Tervel Dlagnev of Nebraska-Kearney, the man he lost to last week at the NWCA All-Star Classic in Oregon.

Atkinson scored a major decision and a pin but then lost to Josh Churella of Michigan, 11-3. He won two wrestlebacks by 2-point decisions before losing to Lance Palmer of Ohio State, 6-0. In the battle for fifth place, he lost a second time to Churella, 5-3.

At 184, Ian Murphy won two decisions but then lost two, the second in overtime.

B3

SPORTS

December 6, 2007

is now losing much of its fanbase to new forms of physical competition

By Mike Withers

For the Daily Titan

sports@dailytitan.com

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the fastest growing sport in the country. It continues to set pay-per view records and dominates the 18-35 age bracket, according to Dana White, the president of the UFC. Thus, leaving the sport of boxing in the dust.

The owner of the UFC is Lorenzo Fertita, a successful businessman who also owns the Palace, Sunset and Santa Fe Station casinos in Las Vegas.

“Everything the Fertita family touches turns to gold,”said Jimmy Jackson, a former employee of the Fertita family.

Jimmy Jackson is now the manager of the Westminster Boxing Club in Westminster, and is a boxing purist. Yet he finds himself out buying mixed martial arts gloves for one of his female fighters on Tuesday morning.

“MMA is a new fad that’s here to stay,” Jackson said. “I’m looking into getting a wrestling mat and an octagon. We have to accept this sport if we want to survive.”

Jackson is one of the many people that understand how the fighting world is changing.

“Most people are MMA fans, and come here to train in MMA,” said TJ Lancaster, general manager of LA Boxing in Fullerton. “It’s a much more explosive sport.”

Bobby Nader, a Cal State Fullerton student and MMA fan enjoys MMA over the more-traditional boxing.

“I like it because it combines all aspects of fighting,” Nader said. “We

all learn how to box first, but MMA combines boxing with wrestling, Ju-Jitsu, and Muay Tai. It’s more of a real fight.”

Nader, without question, is in the majority. MMA has grown so quickly that it is even receiving coverage on ESPN’s SportsCenter, something that boxing rarely gets. Even the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather fight, which was touted as a fight of the decade, saw little coverage on the show.

But when Chuck Liddel and Quinton Jackson fought in the UFC, it was all over SportsCenter.

Heisman finalists announced Associated Press Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, trying to become the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy, and Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, the runner-up for last year’s award, were among the four finalists selected Wednesday.

Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel and Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan were the other finalists.

They will all be in New York on Saturday night when the award is given to the top player in college football.

The Heisman race took a while to develop this season and seemed wide open until the last month when Tebow, McFadden and Daniel emerged as front-runners.

Since the first Heisman was given to Chicago’s Jay Berwanger in 1935, all 70 players who have won college football’s most prestigious award have been juniors or seniors.

Tebow could break that trend.

The ultimate dual-threat quarterback at about 235 pounds, Tebow ran for 838 yards rushing and an Southeastern Conference-record 22 touchdowns.

He’s also the nation’s second-leading passer, completing 68 percent of his throws for 3,132 yards, with 29 touchdowns and just six interceptions in his first season as a starter.

Tebow’s already had a historic season, becoming the first major college player to run for 20 touchdowns and

throw 20 TD passes inone season.

McFadden was one of the preseason favorites after finishing second to Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith last year. His candidacy lagged with a mediocre October, but he gave himself a boost with a spectacular November. In the final month of the season, McFadden tied the SEC record with 321 yards rushing against South Carolina, and ran for 206 yards and three TDs and also threw a touchdown pass to lead the Razorbacks to a 50-48 triple overtime victory over then-No. 1 LSU. McFadden could become the fifth player to win the Heisman the year after being the runner-up, joining Tom Harmon of Michigan, Glenn Davis of Army, O.J. Simpson of USC and Herschel Walker of Georgia.

Daniel was one of six quarterbacks to reach 4,000 yards passing this season. He threw for 4,170 yards and 33 TDs to get the surprising Tigers within a victory of reaching the BCS national championship game.

Brennan led Hawaii (12-0) to the only perfect regular season in major college football and its first BCS appearance, but his numbers were down from last year because he lost some time to injuries.

Running the Warriors’ run-nshoot offense, Brennan passed for 4,174 and 38 touchdowns. He also set the major college record for career touchdown passes with 131.

“We have to accept this sport if we want to survive.” - Jimmy Jackson “MMA is grabbing the WWE fan base,” Jackson said.

Jackson said what MMA is doing right, is it allows anyone a chance at fighting, and will then give that person a fair shot at winning. A fair shot is something that does not always happen in boxing.

“It’s still the same old people in [boxing fights.]

Marco Antonio Barrera has been around f o r e v e r,

somebody else should get those title shots,” Jackson said.

Jackson added that even when boxers do get those title shots, it’s not always a fair change. Jackson used the example of Steve Forbes and Demetrius Hopkins, who is the nephew of Bernard Hopkins. Jackson said anybody who saw that fight would say that Forbes won it easily, yet Hopkins got the decision.

A lot of people do not know the fight was headed by Golden Boy Promotion, a promotional team owned

by Oscar De La Hoya. One of De Le Hoya’s main partners is Bernard

Hopkins, uncle of Demetrius. Many people in boxing circles feel that the fight was fixed.

“That is the [stuff] that has to stop,” Jackson said.

He said it was good that fighters like De La Hoya and Hopkins are moving into the promotional side of things, thereby forcing people like Don King and Bob Arum out of the picture. But, Jackson said they still need to give fighters a fair chance.

“If you are fighting someone in their home town, you almost have to knock the guy out because it would be so hard to get the decision,” Jackson said.

Something similar to that would never happen in MMA. Granted, most fights end in a knockout, but the fact that a fighter is fighting in his hometown, or is the favorite coming into the bout, is rarely a factor in MMA fights.

Therefore, corruption that is perceived to run rampant in boxing is minimal in MMA. It is clear that boxing needs to change its ways. Almost every other sport in America has made changes to make that sport more fan friendly. In baseball, the fields have gotten smaller to induce more home runs.

In football, you can’t hit the quarterback, and in basketball, the contact you can make as a defensive player has been minimized.

Many boxing purists feel that such changes need to be made in the sport they love. Possible options are rewarding points to the boxer who is pressing the fight, or withholding a portion of the purse from the boxer if they are not fighting, which is done in Pride Fighting (a version of MMA). HBO’s Larry Merchant even suggested shrinking the ring.

Jimmy Jackson doesn’t think it is that complicated.

“People just need to be more honest, and get more fighters exposure rather than the same guys,” Jackson said.

“Boxing isn’t going to die. It has been around forever and it will always be around. It’s a great sport.”

Titans: CSUF road trip wrap up from Page B1

The Titans’ returning first-team All-Big West Conference senior forward returned to the practice floor during Thanksgiving weekend, came off the bench at Arizona and started at Montana, six weeks after suffering a fractured right ankle. Last season he missed only one game despite a broken thumb. He led the Big West in rebounding last year and led the team with 9 against the Grizzlies.

AKOGNON LIKES TEMPO Josh Akognon is averaging better than five 3-point field goals per game at 26-for-57 (.456) while leading the team and the Big West Conference in scoring at 24.2 points per game. The Washington State transfer led the Cougars in scoring in 200506 but made just under two treys per game while averaging 10.3 points.

ROBINSON REBOUNDS Frank Robinson bounced back from one of his worst games as a Titan to score a career-high 30 points at Montana to go with 5 assists and 4 rebounds. He was 1-for-7 from the floor in Tucson and 11-for-16 in Missoula. He continues to lead the team in rebounding at 6.2 rpg.

CRENSHAW STARTS Junior guard Marcus Crenshaw, the Big West Conference’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2006-07, started at Montana on Friday after 31 consecutive appearances off the bench.

He started his first three games as a Titan in November of 2006 when the roster was short three suspended players. He leads the Titans in 3point field goal percentage at .481 (13-for-27) and is only 18 away from moving into the Titans’ all-time Top Ten list for successful treys.

MORGAN SHINES ON T.V. Marcus Morgan had his best statistical game against easily the toughest opponent he has faced in his 35-game Titan career. He scored 13 points and grabbed 9 rebounds while playing solid defense at Arizona.

Two nights later in Montana, with a large contingent of family members watching, he got into early foul trouble and finished with only 2 points and 3 rebounds in 13 minutes of action.

OPINION

Providing insight, analysis and perspective since 1960

Religious groups try to boycott another movie, making it money President of The Catholic League, William A. Donohue, has called for a boycott of “The Golden Compass” because of its anti-religious themes. Donohue says the author of the original novel (known in the United Kingdom as “Northern Lights”), Phillip Pullman, wanted to “denigrate Christianity” and “sell atheism to kids.”

Donohue, among many other prominent religious group representatives, are asking for a boycott of the film (out tomorrow).

This, however, will not work.

The strength of Hollywood’s advertising intertwined with a tasty controversy only makes us more curious. Hollywood is constantly telling us to see/read some new creative work, but when it causes an uproar with religious groups, then our eyebrows peak and we move closer to it, wondering what could have caused such a fuss.

If anything, religious groups calling of a boycott will help “The Golden Compass.” Sometimes, a boycott is just the right marketing tool that studios or publishers need.

Religious groups have called for plenty of boycotts over the decades, but many times, it just makes the the film or book even more popular.

There are two other prize examples of controversial books turned into movies, aside from “The Golden Compass.”

Letters to the Editor:

Look at Harry Potter. The Christian Broadcasting Network called for a boycott, among many other religious groups, suggesting that the J.K. Rowling’s book series (and later the movies) could prompt a child’s serious interest in witchcraft. Lindy Beam, a “youth culture analyst” for Focus on the Family, wrote an essay called “What Shall We Do With Harry?” In it, Beam laid out her concern for the “desensitization to witchcraft” and the idea that Rowling “does not write from the basis of Judeo-Christian ethics.” Rowling is now rumored to be wealthier than the British Queen.

Look at “The Da Vinci Code.”

The Vatican even called for a boycott. The book spent 58 weeks on the best sellers list and the film made $758 million internationally.

Time and time again, churches and religious groups call for a boycott, but often it just makes the public want to participate more.

Tainted art is seductive to us.

It’s just like when our mothers and fathers would tell us we couldn’t stay up late to watch television or whatever rated-R movie they rented. We saw the shows and films years later and we knew why we couldn’t watch it then, and it made us giddy.

Tell us not to see something, and ... there’s a good chance we’re going to see it.

Any feedback, positive or negative, is encouraged, as we strive to keep an open dialogue with our readership. The Daily Titan reserves the right to edit letters for length, grammar and spelling. Direct all comments, questions or concerns along with your full name and major to Executive Editor Ian Hamilton at ihamilton@dailytitan.com

Love’s Black Eye Women should recognize the signs of an abusive relationship

By Eleni Reed

Daily Titan Staff Writer opinion@dailytitan.com

During the time my ex and I were together, he gave me the biggest rush of my life. It was as if I was living a romance novel fantasy. He had beautiful brown eyes, surrounded by long, curly lashes.

A 6’3” body that was perfect in proportion of belly and muscle. His succulent voice would send shivers down my spine and to be in his embrace was the only place I wanted to be at times.

I didn’t understand what was happening to me and why I was feeling such love, lust, attraction and a burning desire for someone at this magnitude.

We even talked about marriage, a word that normally made me nauseous.

My heart beat his name…

Until he beat me.

The high he gave me was force-fed. This mastermind of manipulation knew exactly what he was doing: locking me in, chewing me up and spitting me out.

The abuse came on slowly and I was so blinded by love that I didn’t see it coming. In hindsight, my story makes me sound like an idiot. How could I have not seen it, but for a short time, he could do no wrong.

I never considered myself one to take abuse or have low self-esteem – which is usually assumed with girls in horrific relationships.

Always having a good job and a direction in life, typically I was “better” than my boyfriends, who weren’t always as focused as myself.

Deep down, I knew these flings were temporary.

He wasn’t like the rest, though. He had a good job and a decent car. We had the same friends, interests and always had a blast. Loverboy charmed my ego and made me giggle like a little school girl.

My other boyfriends were quick to put me down when they weren’t content with their lives.

My favorite insult was “whore.” That was usually in response to me not wanting to stay at home

Courtsey of listverse.com with them and going out with my friends.

Typically, these guys didn’t have money. So, I would ask them, “how I could be a whore if they weren’t paying for me?”

They never liked that and all ended up being exes for a reason.

Therefore, he was a release from the prior immature “gentlemen.” In the end, he was the worst of them all, but he did me the biggest favor of my life.

“

The situation got so crazy that I started being extra nice to him, just so he wouldn’t hurt me, my cat or anything in my apartment.

The perfect smile with the slightly yellow teeth was flashed with mischief. For two months he put me through hell.

My charming man would watch me outside my apartment to see if I was cheating on him – I was oblivious. Not satisfied that I wasn’t, he would go through my phone, pin me down and scream that I tell him what “bad things” I had been up too. But how could I? I loved him.

Prince Charming was the one slamming heroine, having sex with prostitutes and doing meth behind my back.

The situation got so crazy that I started being extra nice to him, just so he wouldn’t hurt me, my cat or anything in my apartment.

He had already damaged my car and broke down my front door.

Nonetheless, up until this point, he had not “hit” me. But, the mental abuse was more than enough.

I couldn’t leave my apartment (I was living alone at the time) without someone watching my place. Of course, he had the key. I tried to change the locks twice, without his knowledge, but I bought the wrong set.

Finally I had an “exit” plan. It was holiday season and school had just ended for winter break.

My employer was giving us days off. I was going to change the locks, take my things and go into hiding.

He got to me before my great escape.

Christmas Eve was spent with his family. They knew he was on drugs and felt sorry for me. We were all pulling for the best, but there was no changing him. He was too far gone without explanation.

The night encountered some violence, but he would not leave my side.

So we attended a party at my friend’s house. I didn’t want to be alone and was too ashamed to admit my woes.

For the first time in a while, he and I were See LOVE’S BLACK EYE, Page B5

The Higher Ground Chavez and Putin still holding on to socialist ideals Aleksandra Wojtalewicz In the United States, presidential candidates are scrambling across the nation to gain support from voters who will put them in power. It seems like the leaders of other countries had a similar idea, yet they only cared about the power part.

Over the weekend, two leaders were involved in election scandals that the West calls manipulated and undemocratic — since they schemed to hold on to their power for longer: much longer than the constitution of each country allows.

In Latin America, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez encouraged voters to support his constitutional referendums, with one allowing him to seek re-election indefinitely. Chavez controls practically every part of Venezuelan government and majority of the media. His country is affected by inflation. The very socialist programs that Chavez has taken to help the Venezuelan majority, the poor, are not working. The poor are the ones that are affected the most. The country is in a slump, and access to goods in government subsidized supermarkets is dwin-

“

Both should know, especially Putin, that socialism or “democracy” shaded by socialist maneuvers, will not last.

“

Titan Editorial

December 6, 2007

“

B4

dling. Forget about the poor being able to afford goods – start with stocking shelves.

And now, he has pulled the ultimate dictator move, which he shares with former Soviet Russian leaders and his fellow friends in Cuba and Iran: become an authoritarian ruler, yet have elections so it looks democratic. Thankfully, Chavez’s presidency for life bid was shot down by voters 51 percent to 49 percent. His presidency officially ends in 2012.

But will that stop Chavez? Did the student protestors who highly criticized and rallied against Chavez in the streets of Venezuelan persuade Chavez his rule is ending, and it will stop? Chavez still has less than five years to create a plan to find loopholes of the constitution. Not that it matters anyway, since acting unconstitutional and

undemocratic for supposedly the sake of his country is Chavez’s expertise.

But, for our sake, Venezuelan’s sake and even his own sake, he needs to realize that socialism will survive. He needs to learn from his citizens, who democratically voted against his power trip, and in democratic spirit turned to the streets to protest the dictatorial president.

Yet returning to socialist roots seems to be the trend. This weekend’s parliamentary election in Russia was won by Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party by approximately 65 percent. Europeans and Putin opposition call the elections rigged, since opposition groups were excluded and administrative resources were abused, according to the Los Angeles Times. Yet most of all, Putin seemed to lead the election, a task unfit for the president. Yet although his term as president will be up next year, with the victory of United Russia, Putin can continue to exhort influence as a national leader. Unlike Chavez, Putin has helped raise the standard of living for his country’s citizens and paid of his nation’s debt. Yet in his attempt to become a national idol (just like Soviet figures would do to create followers to enhance their power), Putin is straying away from democratic means. Russian society can’t create democratic political parties or enjoy various media, for the opposition, critical of Putin’s governance, finds itself jailed.

Both Putin and Chavez need to realize they need up to give up their power. Both should know, especially Putin, that socialism or “democracy” shaded by socialist maneuvers, will not last. Venezuela and Russia are not stabilized by the governance of these two leaders.

Instead, their potential as a capable civil society is ceasing.