2008 02 13 by Daily Titan

OPINION: England more interested in election than some Americans , page 3

SPORTS, Page 4

Frank Robinson named Big West Player of the Week

Since 1960 Volume 87, Issue 9

NEWS: Barack Obama looks to be the straw that stirs the drink, page 2

Daily Titan

Wednesday February 13, 2008

The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

DTSHORTHAND Professor’s death

Bringing the country to the OC

Dr. Mary Kay Crouch, who joined the Department of English, Comparative Literature and Linguistics faculty at Cal State Fullerton in 1985; passed away on January 21, 2008 after a brief illness. “Rhetoric – don’t leave home without it.” These words reflected the commitment she had to the power of the written word. She is survived by her daughter, Ursula Bohen, her son-in-law, Matthew Bohen, and two sisters. There will be a celebration of the life of Dr. Mary Kay Crouch on Sunday, March 2 at the Pollak Library North, Room 130 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Condolences may be sent to: “The Bohen Family,” 11056 Bellflower Ave., Fountain Valley, CA 92708.

Professional bullriders invade Honda Center – See page 6 for an article and more photos

Miss Fullerton beauty pageant on campus CSUF will soon be the setting of a life-changing event for two young women. This Saturday, Feb. 16, Miss Fullerton Laura Holliman and Miss Outstanding Teen Maren Lewis will be handing over their titles at the end of a scholarship competition to two of 14 contestants, all vying for the crowns. The contest will be taking place in the TSU Pavilions beginning at 7 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend; however, those with other Saturday night plans may check back here Tuesday for a full run-down of the big night and a look at the new Fullerton representatives.

Real life ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ story for two

By Nicole Padilla/ For the Daily Titan

Clayton Foltyn, rides Home Wrecker during flight 1 of the PBR tour at the Honda Center on Feb. 10.

CSUF gets a taste of Armenian culture Schools

enact a beef ban

Traditional songs as well as choreographed dances are the focus of the show By JOSHUA BURTON

Inhumane slaughter of sick cows is trouble for meatpacking company

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

A 6-year-old assigned to write a letter in class to a soldier in Baghdad created a real life ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ story for two adults. Sgt Jim Schultz, 47, who worked as a mechanic for the US Army Reserves, received his first letter from Jana Medvick in Pennsylvania. She then got her whole family writing letters to Schultz. Her mother Carol spoke to Schultz on the phone and the two began to speak daily. Now the family is no longer incomplete and the soldier is no longer alone. Source: ABC.com

WEATHER WEDNESDAY Partly Cloudy / High: 71, Low: 50

Thursday Mostly Sunny / High: 68, Low: 44

Friday Sunny/ High: 72, Low: 44

sATURday Sunny / High: 74, Low: 46

sunday

Partly Cloudy / High: 77, Low: 49

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

A night of traditional Armenian dance and music performances marked the first installment of a series of annual world music concerts at the Meng Concert Hall at Cal State Fullerton. The evening featured the Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble, a world-traveling group that plays classic Armenian songs with traditional instruments. Also on stage were the Glendalebased Zvartnos Armenian Folk Dancers. Lavishly costumed, they opened the evening with five choreographed Armenian dances. The turnout for the evening was surprising, even to Laura Lohman, an assistant professor of ethnomusicology and musicology at CSUF. She has spearheaded the event since last fall and couldn’t have been happier with its success. The concert last Friday marked the first time they had combined the traditional folk music with contemporary compositions by Armenian artists. Some of the songs performed had been in the Armenian culture for around 2,000 years. “The music is of an accessible style for everyone,” Lohman said. “Even for those who don’t have experience with traditional Armenian music.” News of the concert spread with the support of Armenian churches and organizations in the area. What was originally supposed to be a concert held in front of under 200 at the CSUF Recital Hall sold out four weeks before the show, prompting a change of plans that put the performance in the Meng Concert Hall, which seated 485 people the night of the event, Lo-

By ERIKA CARMONA

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

By RON FU/For the Daily Titan John Chookasian gives Adrienne Lagjian a celebratory kiss during intermission at the Meng Concert Hall.

hman said. “There’s a large, close-knit society of Armenians in the area,” said Phyllis Pivar, an Anaheim resident. She showed up to enjoy the Armenian dance styles on display. John Chookasian, the director and clarinetist of the music ensemble, darted through the crowd any chance he could to greet the people in attendance. Chookasian’s band has played before heads of state and numerous colleges and toured the world several times. They are a staple in the effort to preserve traditional Armenian music

and have even received the National Gold Medal Award after a performance before Armenian President Robert Kocharian. Chookasian, however, said he is always excited to play his music in front of those who appreciated it. “We’ve played in theaters with not a single Armenian in the seats,” Chookasian said. The evening was a celebration of the rich culture and music of Armenia. The subjects of the songs varied. Some represented love and longing while others were prayers. Some had messages as simple as

a mother insisting that her children eat well so they grow up tall. Many of the songs were written by Armenian immigrants in America paying homage to their place of birth. The need to preserve the Armenian culture was a strong sentiment throughout the show. Chookasian spoke between different songs and described the origin of each one. He finished the night by urging the audience to rally support for the Armenian traditions. “Three hundred thousand of our people died in the Armenian genoSee CONCERT, Page 2

While Cal State Fullerton students can still enjoy eating hearty, beefy meals on campus, others are not so lucky. Hamburgers, tacos, hot dogs and other beef-related food items are temporarily banned from several Orange County school districts after a warning about a Chino slaughterhouse. Local school districts were notified by the California Department of Education via e-mail on Jan. 31 to stop the distribution of beef items provided by Westland Meat Co., a main supplier to the National School Lunch Program. Westland Meat Co., a Chinobased food supplier, and its partner the Hallmark Meat Packing Co. were recently caught on video treating weak cows inhumanely. The undercover video shot by the Humane Society of the U.S. captured downed cows being beaten, dragged by forklifts, shocked and sprayed with water in an effort to get them standing. Cattle that are unable to stand or walk must be humanely euthanized or removed from the premises, according to California law. The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits processing meat from sick cattle. “I think morally and ethically it is wrong,” Chris Cabrera, a CSUF senior finance major said. “ I would avoid beef and try to eat healthier.” In order to comply with state See SLAUGHTERHOUSE, Page 2

See CONCERT, Page 2

Page Two

February 13, 2008

IN OTHER NEWS INTERNATIONAL

Judge Antonin Scalia defends ‘torture’ methods LONDON (AP) – One of the United States’ top judges said in an interview broadcast in Britain on Tuesday that interrogators can inflict pain to obtain critical information about an imminent terrorist threat. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said aggressive interrogation could be appropriate to learn where a bomb was hidden shortly before it was set to explode or to discover the plans or whereabouts of a terrorist group. U.S. interrogation techniques, including waterboarding, have been the subject of growing debate in the United States and could play a role in the military trials of six men charged in connection with the Sept. 11 attacks.

NATIONAL

More immunity granted for eavesdroppers

STATE

Schwarzenegger schedules a special election SACRAMENTO (AP) – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has scheduled an April 8 special election to fill the congressional seat left vacant by the death of Rep. Tom Lantos, D-San Mateo. If no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff will be held June 3 between the top vote-getters in each party. June 3 also is the date of California’s regular primary election. It will include the race for a full two-year term representing Lantos’ district, which includes southwestern San Francisco and all or parts of several other cities on the northern San Francisco peninsula. Democrat Jackie Speier, a former state senator, is the leading candidate to fill his seat.Lantos, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the only Holocaust survivor to serve in Congress, died Monday of cancer of the esophagus. He had announced in January that he would not run for a 15th term in the House of Representatives. In Washington on Tuesday, the House observed a moment of silence in Lantos’ honor and brought a resolution to the floor to express condolences. Lawmakers of both parties spoke in his memory and cited his support for human rights around the world.

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 executive editor Ian Hamilton at 714-278-5815 or at ihamilton@dailytitan.com with issues about this policy or to report any errors.

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By DAMON CASAREZ/Daily Titan Staff Photographer The George G. Golleher Alumni House on the Cal State Fullerton campus gave both students and members of the community an opportunity to vote.

Obama hopes to drive the youth vote and more The Illinois senator looks to separate himself from the rest of the candidates By ERIC BARTOLOME

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

Following the Super Tuesday primaries, research released by CIRCLE (The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement) shows youth voters favor Illinois senator Barack Obama and Arizona Senator John McCain as their presidential candidates. According to CIRCLE, “In the Democratic contests, Obama won the largest share of the youth vote in 10 Super Tuesday states. Clinton won the youth vote in three states Massachusetts, California and Arkansas. In the Republican contests, youth support varied by state.” Statistics in the report indicate a significant disparity between the turnout rate of young Democrat

and Republican voters. Over 2 million youth voters participated in the Democratic primaries compared to 900,000 youth voters from the Republicans. Cal State Fullerton assistant professor of Political Science Matthew Jarvis said he attributes this difference to youth voters’ dissatisfaction with the current administration. “The Bush administration and its very low approval rating [has] led to a lot of anger,” Jarvis said. “A lot of people on the opposite side Democrat] want to do something. Bush has really pissed off a lot of Democrats. So they have a lot invested in it.” Jarvis commented that Obama’s campaign, advocating “hope” and “change,” carries an instant appeal to voters 18 to 24 years old. Young voters, who have little investments and who show less partisanship, favor Obama, while an older demographic has leaned toward New York Senator Hillary Clinton. “Let’s not forget that Hillary Clinton sort of came into the light

for people starting in 1991,” Jarvis said. “So amongst the youth – this 18 to 24 demographic – [in] 1991, they weren’t paying any attention to politics,” Jarvis said. Jarvis said Clinton garners support, having been on the national scene for the last 16 years. The Democratic candidates age difference could also hinder or attract some youth voters. Clinton, at 60years old, is 14 years the senior of 46-year-old Obama. Republican front runner John McCain has also spent time in the nation’s eye. McCain came onto the scene in the 2000 election, where he was commonly referred to by the media as “the maverick.” “He tends to buck the party,” Jarvis said. McCain has sought to appeal to youth voters, making numerous appearances on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” a show which appeals mostly to a youth demographic.In the California primary, 16 percent of youth voters participated in the election – a four percent increase

from 2000. On Tuesday, youth voters came out across the nation. Youth voters made an impact most significantly in key states Massachusetts, Oklahoma and Tennessee, where the youth vote increased by at least 10 percent from 2000. Still, some in California would like to see young voters become more active. “I think it’s very discouraging,” said Associated Students Inc. Vice President Curtis Schlaufman when told about California youth’s 16 percent participation rate. “There are a lot of issues that effect youth 18 to 24.” Shlaufman said he sees issues like the cost of higher education as having a direct impact on the youth demographic. “Politicians will not pay attention to an age group not active in civic engagement or [the] voting process,” Schlaufman said. “When [politicians] feel they don’t have to be accountable to an age group that [group] becomes a target to budget cuts and other policies that affect us.”

Baseball’s Roger Clemens to take the stand Associated Press Whatever Roger Clemens and his accuser have to say for themselves before Congress on Wednesday, one thing seems certain: Clemens will be no Mark McGwire. “He IS here to talk about the

past,” Clemens’ lead lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said Tuesday as he accompanied the seven-time Cy Young Award winner through the hallways of Capitol Hill office buildings. Clemens was making the rounds one last time, wearing a gray pin-

striped suit and squeezing face-toface meetings into the busy schedules of the members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. He met with five congressmen over a four-hour span Tuesday, on top of the 19 he saw on Thursday and Friday.

“I enjoyed talking with him,” said Rep. Diane Watson, D-Calif., who said the discussion included baseball stories and personal accounts about the Sept. 11 attacks. “It’s always good to meet the person who is in the spotlight. I told him, ‘This is not a trial.’”

SLAUGHTERHOUSE: NOT A PRETTY SIGHT TO SEE From Page 1

law the Magnolia School District and Garden Grove Unified School District discontinued serving beef upon request. However, they are only two examples of the several districts impacted by the slaughterhouse warning. Both districts already had set menus for the month of February but had to rearrange them immediately. “It was a nightmare but we always have an emergency supply of food,” said Karen Papilli, Garden Grove Unified’s director of food services. About a week ago, students were to be served sloppy-joes, but instead they received a chicken salad, said Susan Sealy, Magnolia School District’s director of food services.

Next week’s beef teriyaki dippers Lynch assured CSUF’s dining serare being replaced with chicken vices has never carried beef products teriyaki tenders. by Westland. Currently, CSUF’s However, Titans and all those beef provider is Fresno Beef Co. who dine and Miller on campus Packing Co. can confrom Lodi, a tinue eating San Joaquin beef-related County supitems. plier. “FortuL y n c h nately, none continued to – Karen Papilli, of our venexplain that Director, Garden Grove Unified dors purif CSUF enDistrict Food Services chase beef countered from this the same scecompany [Westland] that has been nario as other local districts, campus shut down by the USDA’s Food would “immediately pull the prodSafety and Inspection Service,” said uct from operations and work to Tony Lynch, CSUF’s director of communicate any issues that would campus dining. warrant attention to customers.”

“

It has nothing to do with the wholesomeness of beef but with the humane treatment of it.

“

WASHINGTON (AP) – On Tuesday, the Senate approved new rules for government eavesdropping on phone calls and e-mails, giving the White House much of the latitude it wanted and granting legal immunity to telecommunications companies that helped in the snooping after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Protection for the telecom companies is the most prominent feature of the legislation, something President Bush had insisted on as essential to getting private sector cooperation in spying on foreign terrorists and other targets. The bill would give retroactive protection to companies that acted without court permission. The House did not include the immunity provision in a similar bill it passed last year. House Republicans now want to adopt the Senate bill, which would avoid contentious negotiations to work out differences between the competing legislation. About 40 lawsuits have been filed against telecom companies by people alleging violations of wiretapping and privacy laws. Bush promised to veto any new surveillance bill that did not protect the companies, arguing that it is essential if the private sector is to give the government the help it needs.

CONCERT: an eclectic mix of performances From Page 1

cide, but we’re still here,” Chookasian said at the end of the concert. The performance and events like it are strongly supported by the Armenian community, a support which could be felt in the words of the audience afterward. “It brings diversity,” said Alex Der Alexanian, an Orange Coun-

ty Armenian activist. “It teaches the community new cultures they might not know from their usual experiences.” Lohman said she hopes the strong attendance and support of big names like Chookasian will attest to the potential of CSUF’s music department to be a leading destination for world music performances.

Garden Grove Unified, however, is working closely with processing vendors. The vendors will examine commodity beef, a homogeneous product without brand association, to determine if it contains any Westland beef. If no Westland beef is found, then it will be considered safe for consumption. “[It has] nothing to do with the wholesomeness of beef but with the humane treatment of it,” Papilli said. Until further notice from the California Department of Education and the USDA, local districts will increase offerings of other nonbeef-related items. A statement from Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. is at: http://www. westlandmeat.com/

February 13, 2008

OPINION

The Brits love Clinton, Obama and Winehouse Hopefully Super Tuesday was a joyful event for everyone involved back home and voting was done in droves (or maybe a bit of this dry English humor is rubbing off on me). Here across the pond, we didn’t miss out on much except maybe actually voting, and some of us actually were able to get absentee ballots turned in before the cutoff date. Here in London, the American political race is mind-bogglingly popular – dare I say more popular than back home? It is not clear whether the interest is out of pure amusement or if it is genuine intrigue, but without a question every night there is coverage of the primaries both on the BBC news and SkyNews. That means there are nightly updates in campaign setbacks, the dropping of cleverly crafted names of events and jargon being thrown about, even when it is questionable whether the newscasters really understand what they are saying. The Brits, or at least the Londoners, seem to focus most of their interest on the Democratic race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. They seem to view the next

Titan Editorial

The Londoner

election to be groundbreaking for the United States, ending in either the first female or the first non-Caucasian president. Sorry Republicans, London seems already to have counted you out. London’s fascination isn’t limited to just coverage of the primary results. The candidates themselves have been given the English "star treatment." This, of course, includes every aspect of their lives being explored in the city’s newspapers, which made a point of mentioning Obama’s favorite English football team. If you are curious, he appears to cheer on the blue and claret-clad West Ham team. In fact, he has been cheering on the Hammer’s for about five years now if you believe the London papers. Not to be outdone, it has recently been disclosed that Hillary is a Manchester United fan. But the local television channels aren’t just interested in the candidates. The country is often propelled by the public and likewise, they are interested in what Americans think is politically important. Open with their own politics, Londoners don’t seem too hesitant to ask people to whom their vote is going and will correct you if they think you’ve made a bad choice. During the run into the New Jer-

sey primaries, the BBC even sent a reporter to what they called “Soprano Town” to question locals on what issues they thought were important in a segment set against the theme song from that recently ended show. Of course, all this coverage has to come with explanations as to the American government system and the primary system in general. Some of the explanations made more sense of the process than anything I’ve ever heard in 12 years of public schooling. Others make me wonder if anyone did any research. Yet it is a fun way to experience the city, and the speculation and questions from the locals are often amusing and curious. I guess in the end, it exemplifies America's influence on the whole world, one way or another. So vote carefully! On another note: Last Sunday was a big night on both sides of the Atlantic. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts held their annual star-studded award ceremony, lovingly referred to as the BAFTAs. Meanwhile, most of you, I’m sure, enjoyed the Grammys with all their spectacle. Britain seems proud of Amy Winehouse’s success and performance from a set near her rehab facility. It has been replayed numerous times, along with her remark

Providing insight, analysis and perspective since 1960

By Erin Tobin

opinion@dailytitan.com

that “Camden Town is burnin’ down.” To put the quote into context, Camden Town is a huge London marketplace known for catering to alternative cultures and a good place to be offered drugs. In other words, it's a college student’s haven, often declared a must-see destination for young adult tourists. On Saturday night, a fire swept through the area, destroying much of the market and Winehouse’s favorite pub, leaving many of the local uninsured artisans out of luck. So far, speculation ranges from acceptance that the fire was a result of ill placed incense to whispered accusations that the flames were set intentionally by people jealous about the amount of revenue generated by those who set up stalls in the market. What isn’t argued is the fact that London will be missing a much-loved tourist site for quite awhile, but Camden Town will be rebuilt.

Grammys were good, but not great Awards show a mixed bag of awkward speeches and glamorous celebrities By Tanya Obermeyer

Daily Titan Staff Writer opinion@dailytitan.com

The 2008 Grammys marked the 50th anniversary of the annual event and was said to be amongst one of the most extravagant of any year to date. The red carpet was draped with heavy dramatic curtains and sideby-side hanging chandeliers as the talent flooded through reporters and photogs on their way into the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Without a doubt, the show came with some pleasant and some shocking mo-

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ments. Kanye West, who lost his mother earlier this year, was nominated for eight awards and walked away victorious in four categories. West donned his trademark white sunglasses and performed an amazing rendition of his song “Hey Mama” from his latest album, “Graduation.” The crowd seemed pleased, but West was upset when the band, as they were instructed to do, played him off the stage during his acceptance speech for Best Rap Album – signaling that his time at the podium was up. In an MTV interview, Chris Brown said that West was revolutionary in his performance, adding that “Kanye will be one of those that is around for years and remembered as an icon, not a rapper.” Usher chimed in on West’s performance saying, “No one can truly understand the pain of what it is like.” I was somewhat torn on whether they should have given him extra time because of his situation. He has been fairly agitated in the past when he didn’t win (he through a tantrum backstage when he didn’t win at last year’s MTV Video Music Awards), so part of me says to let the man have his moment.

The other part of me has to say this is a live show and they have a schedule that must be followed. I get it, but really, why is he so angry? We all knew the rambunctious West couldn’t go an entire night without being ticked about one thing or another. But the best was yet to come. Ladies and gentlemen, Amy Winehouse’s performance and acceptance speech was absolutely shocking and awkward. I struggled to decide which was more uncomfortable to watch: the Britney VMA tragedy or Winehouse live via satellite. But if you noticed – because I did – the London satellite performance gave a special feeling to her unique display of entertainment. She stared into the camera, promoted her new tooth with a smile and managed to thank the lovely incarcerated husband. On a more positive note: she took home five Grammys, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Female Vocal Pop Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album, and was given a chance to show the world that she is capable of doing at least one show without being completely strung out. But this year’s show focused on more than just the music and performances. The Grammys seemed to be played up not only because of the milestone anniversary, but also because of the long-lasting writers strike. The award season has been somewhat boring for all the viewers be-

cause most of the talent backed the writers and refused to attend the events. But the Grammys were left out of the strike. It was nice to see the celebrity crowd in fine fashions walking the red carpet again and talking up all of their projects to the press. With the closing of the writers strike this week, the Grammys seemed like the perfect way to get Hollywood buzzing once again. In case anyone didn’t notice the other big winners of the evening, Album of the Year and Best Contemporary Jazz Album went to Herbie Hancock for “River: The Jonie Letters,” Hancock’s tribute to Joni Mitchell’s music. Best Rock Song went to Bruce Springsteen, who also won two additional awards, for his song, “Radio Nowhere.”

Strike ends. Now what? The entertainment gods have smiled on us – the insufferable writers strike is over. Gone are the fears of insane, ridiculous reality shows like “Farmer Wants a Wife” taking over. No longer will the public wonder about the future of the destined-for-disappointment movies like “Justice League of America” – previously on hiatus with an unfinished script. But even with the writers returning, these projects and many more horrible films and TV shows will fill the American media over the next few years as executives continue to deal with larger issues than their writers. The movie and television studios are struggling with a changing media that is making it hard for them to make the millions they have raked in for decades and, despite the return of the writers, executives are going to be stingy about where they spend their money. The TV studios are likely to forgo expensive new pilot shows, which means we’re more likely to see regurgitated spin-offs of more popular shows: Look for “Heroes: Origins” and “Heroes: Kids,” “The Office: The Dwight and Pam Chronicles” and “Las Vegas: State Line.” Even as writers hail the end of the strike as a victory and we sit through a fun, if strike-joke filled, Academy Awards in a couple of weeks, what does this mean for us, the audience? We fully support the writers and are glad the studio executives finally conceded to the will of the Writers Guild of America, forking over 2 percent of the revenues

Letters to the Editor:

from advertising, which supports online broadcasting of network television shows. But what about the quality of the programming? The return of the writers does not necessary mean the rejuvenation of prime time television. The same idiots who fill the airwaves with terrible shows year in and year out are still in charge and that’s not likely to change any time soon. Reality TV still reins supreme. Shows like “The Bad Girls Club,” “Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency” and “Celebrity Rehab” are more popular than ever and execs don’t miss a beat when it comes to ratings. The fact of the matter is that’s 2 percent more that goes into their pockets. They are well aware of what the public wants and when they find it, studios will milk that one idea for all it’s worth. And now the studios are more likely to make bad decisions simply because they have to be more careful with how they spend their money. Executives cannot afford to take chances on risky new, but potentially visionary, shows like “Pushing Daisies.” Instead they must go back to the well time and again in order to secure their ratings and, essentially, their profits. Even though the writers got what they wanted, 2 percent is a huge deal to the executives and could mean the difference between going forward with a dynamic show created by ingenious writers and a reality show made popular by angry girls screaming and walking around in their underwear.

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

SPORTS

When passion meets talent

February 13, 2008

Think Different. Think Simon. Professional athletes using steroids should redeem themselves by simon liang

Robinson is ‘the Big West Conference player of the week, every week.’ by michal olszewski

Daily Titan Staff Writer sports@fullerton.edu

Frank Robinson has played his basketball career with athleticism and a passion for being the best. But now Robinson is playing the best basketball of his life and he attributes it to what many athletes forget to do: just having fun. “I used to put so much pressure on myself to play well that I’d play bad. Now, I’m finally at the point where I just play,” Robinson said. The Cal State Fullerton guard was named Big West Conference Player of the Week last week, leading the Titans to two conference wins over Long Beach State and Northridge. The senior averaged 16 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in the wins, close to his season averages. When the games were on the line Robinson took over with his defensive play and stretched the leads in both games to seal the victories. “It was an incredible feeling. The only way to win that award is to have your team win,” Robinson said. He ranks second on the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 16.0 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. During his three years at CSUF, Robinson has amassed 990 points and 445 rebounds, placing him within striking distance of the 1,000-500 plateau. Only nine players in CSUF history have reached those marks. CSUF Head Coach Bob Burton said Robinson was one of his best recruits ever and a cornerstone of the program. “I felt great for him to get the award, but he’s the Big West Player of the Week every week,” Burton said. “Before he took basketball so seriously that it hurt him. It took him a while, but now he’s coming into his own.”

Robinson came to Fullerton after one year at East Carolina University and immediately made an impact. As a sophomore he was named Big West Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 11.5 point per game and 5.1 rebounds. But Robinson said he never thought he would end up in Fullerton when he was in high school. He was offered scholarships at George Mason University and St. Mary’s University, until an incident during his senior year at Chatsworth High School took them away. “There was a bully on our team that always tried to cause trouble. He kept pushing me around and I finally fought back,” Robinson said. “After that, everyone thought I was a head case.” Robinson was eventually allowed to go to ECU and was named the Pirates’ most improved player in 2004, but when Conference USA lost five teams to the Atlantic Coast Conference, Robinson decided to transfer back home. “Coming back home I didn’t think about playing in the Pac-10 or anything,” Robinson said. “When I got here [Fullerton] I thought it was going to be so easy. Then, in my first game against Pepperdine, I ended up with something like four points and five traveling calls.” Since then Robinson has come into his own and made a name for himself in the conference. Besides the Sixth Man of the Year award in his first season with the Titans, Robinson also earned honorable mention for All-Conference honors last season. Teammate and roommate Marcus Crenshaw, a junior guard on the team, was proud of Robinson being named Player of the Week. “He definitely earned it; he should have gotten more than that,” Crenshaw said. “Frank’s so good, but

Sports Columnist

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By Daniel Suzuki/Daily Titan Staff Photographer Senior guard Frank Robinson throws down a dunk at a Cal State Fullerton practice.

people don’t know how good he is. He’s the most underrated player in the Big West.” Robinson and Crenshaw moved in together when Crenshaw came to Fullerton, which helps explain their chemistry on the court. “Before he even signed here, he’d come from Detroit and stay in our living room for a week and a half and me and him developed such a good relationship that when he came and signed, I told him ‘You’re my roommate,’” Robinson said. Crenshaw said Robinson was like a brother to him. The two do everything together, from working out to partying. “He keeps me gounded. I know I always got someone to talk to with him there,” Crenshaw said.

The two share a special bond on the court as well. In the game against Long Beach State, Crenshaw and Robinson combined for 35 points on 14-23 shooting, giving the Titans their first win against the 49ers since Robinson joined the team. “It’s like when he goes off, I go off. I get excited seeing him play because he can shoot,” Robinson said. “When he shoots, it just motivates the rest of the team because the shots he make are just so crazy.” Now behind Robinson’s strong play, the Titans are third in the conference and in position to get a topseed in the Big West tournament. But to make sure that he doesn’t get too caught up in the chase for the title, he said he’ll just simply have fun.

Technology is getting more and more advanced, but when it is put in the wrong hands, situations can get chaotic. Have you ever had a virus on your computer? That is the detrimental effect of technology. But you are not here to listen to me ramble about computers, but rather a much more serious issue than that – steroids. The significance of the steroids era is that it is ushering in a vast amount of “cheaters” in professional sports. Many youngsters in this nation grow up watching and adoring sports stars like Kobe and Tiger, wanting to emulate them in every way possible. Many kids have the dream of going pro, so if Roger Clemens used steroids, little Timmy is going to want to use steroids to be like his boyhood hero. You might be sitting there thinking, ‘Who cares? Just let them play.’ But it’s not like that. The integrity of the game is comprimised when athletes cheat. The sports that Americans hold so dearly to them is no longer the same if the athletes are getting a competitive advantage. They are getting paid millions to entertain the masses. They are treated like celebrities, so of course they are held to a higher standard. They are role models, whether they like it or not. The worst day in baseball, if not sports history, occurred on Dec. 13, 2007. That’s the day the Mitchell Report was exposed to the public. The 409-page report revealed prominent names in Major League Baseball that allegedly used illegal substances during their playing careers. A total of 89 MLB players were accused of wrongdoing, but the focus has been on Roger Clemens, arguably one of the most dominating pitchers of all time. The ironic thing is that George Mitchell, the main inves-

tigator of the report, is the front office director for the Boston Red Sox. Why couldn’t they get an independent investigator so there wouldn’t be any bias? It is very intriguing that the Red Sox main rival the New York Yankees has the most players on the report. While the evidence against him is extremely strong, in this country it is “innocent until proven guilty.” However, like in the infamous Duke Lacrosse case, no matter what the eventual outcome is, his reputation is forever tarnished. As much as we want to give professional athletes the benefit of the doubt, in this day and age of deception, it’s tough to determine fact from fiction. Essentially, they are professionals with a job to do. The two biggest superstars that have been the scapegoats of the steroid era are Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens; two rejuvenated stars that have amazingly become better with age. It is not a coincidence that aging action star Sylvester Stallone said, “Everyone over 40 years old would be wise to investigate it [HGH] because it increases the quality of your life. Mark my words – In 10 years it will be over the counter.” I’m not here to accuse them of misconduct, but honestly, is there any credibility in sports now? Marion Jones lied. Floyd Landis got caught. Mark McGwire refused to talk about steroids under oath. Barry Bonds said publicly that he may have unknowingly used steroids. These stars had the utmost talent but didn’t want to work hard to stay on top. Like NBA star Kevin Durant said, “Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.” Unfortunately, athletes these days look to illegal substances for that extra push. Athletes who use performanceenhancing drugs have it coming to them. Someone will find out and there will be consequences. You would think that sports stars would be smarter than that, but apparently they’re not. Even so, I have faith that sports will eventually be cleaned up and regain some much needed credibility.

Classifieds

February 13, 2008

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

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

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

Transportation 3600 3700 3800 3900

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

Travel 4000 4100 4200 4300

Resorts/Hotels Rides Offered/Wanted Travel Tickets Vacation Packages

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

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

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

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

Housing 7200 7300 7400 7500 7600 7700 7800 7900

Apartments for Rent Apartments to Share Houses for Rent/Sale Guest House for Rent Room for Rent Roommates - Private Room Roommates - Shared Room Vacation Rentals

Advertising Information To place a classified ad, call

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4000

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6500

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Humorscopes brought to you by humorscope.com

Aries (March 21 - April 19) Today will be especially trying, and if you’re not careful, you could end up in a pretty grumpy frame of mind. Take precautions! Wear your E.T. underwear.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) Today is the day you will discover your larger cosmic destiny! A television infomercial and an 800 number are somehow involved.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20)

SUDOKU

Nobody will notice your new haircut, which you will ﬁnd intensely irritating. It’s not as if you always had an irridescent green mohawk, you know?

Cancer (June 21 - July 22) Dorothy Parker once said “if you can’t say anything nice, come sit next to me.” Today that will be strangely relevant to your own situation.

Leo (July 23 - August 22) You are being followed by ﬁerce warriers of the Nez Perce tribe. You know - those guys with the little frameless glasses on the chains around their necks? Not surprisingly, many of the Nez Perce became ﬁerce librar ians.

Virgo (August 23 - September 22) You’ve been yodelling in your sleep, again. Is it any wonder that you’ve been having trouble with your romantic relationships?

Libra (September 22 - October 22) Those spiders are growing larger around your house, and it’s becoming more of a challenge to escape. You may want to con sider acquiring a ﬂame thrower. (Hint: illicit nuclear dump nearby.)

Scorpio (October 23 - November 21) Today is a good day to crash through the underbrush, making loud snorting sounds. Beware of poachers, however.

Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21) Today you will get very dirty. Actually, though, it will be rather fun.

Capricorn (December 22 - January 20) Someone will ask you for your advice. Don’t give it! Or if they insist, simply shake your head solemnly, and mutter “Much bad juju”, and refuse to clarify. They only want a scapegoat.

Aquarius (January 21 - February 18) If a wolf is chasing your sleigh, throw him a raisin cookie. That, of course, is a metaphor for what will really happen.

HOW TO PLAY: Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9: and each set of boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

Pisces (February 19 - March 20) Poit twoonie squaggle? Floon morble tid bubbu taha, hen? Hen?

Sudoku is made possible by the people at www.dailysudoku.com

Features

February 13, 2008

Pro Bull Riding bucks through Honda Center The Professional Bull Riders brought the country to the Honda Center By Nate Jackson

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

In the blink of an eye, darkness blanketed the arena. Two pairs of glowing eyes flashed like rubies in the mist of snarling smoke blown from the snouts of two menacing bull-head statues. The feeling of tension in the crowd was almost as strong as the odor of dirt, leather and stale hay. In Anaheim, the sports event stronghold of Orange County, this is not your typical scene. But the people in the stands couldn't care less. They came to see one thing-–professional bull riding at it’s finest. The Professional Bull Rider’s eighth stop on the Built Ford Tough Series Tour rode into the land of Disney. The annual Anaheim Invitational at the Honda Center culminated in two-and-a-half hours of stamina, strength and skill from the world’s top 45 bull riders as they put themselves to the test against the weight and power of wild gangs of bucking bulls. Riding on this competition was a $24,500 prize along with the chance at a million dollar purse at the World Finals in Las Vegas in October. One of the couples in attendance at the event was Casey Arbiso and former Cal State Fullerton softball player Amanda Fernandez. “We’ve been here every day this weekend. It’s entertaining and it’s a family event too,” Arbiso said. The riders kicked off the event holding on for dear life under the thrashing bulls. With dirt and dust flying everywhere under the bull's hooves (including the mouths of everyone in the front rows), the riders had to focus themselves on one main goalstay on the chaotic, one-handed hell ride for eight seconds without getting “bucked,” or thrown off, in

By Nicole Padilla/For the Daily Titan

order to qualify for a score by three judges. “It’s a rush,” Fernandez said. “The adrenaline and the hits they take and the way [the bull riders] get back up and get back on the bull no matter what is exciting.” The action rolled on throughout the afternoon with some bonecrushing highlights of man versus beast. When it came to the bone crushing, the beasts usually won. Each rider took individual turns in two preliminary “Go-rounds” until only the top 15 riders were left to compete in the final round, the “Short-Go,” in which the winner would be named.

For a newbie to the world of PBR, an event like this may have seemed like a bit of a culture shock. Clusters of western-clad tail-gaters converged on the arena as country music blared from a booth near the entrance. Cowboy boots clacked on the cement up and down the aisles. The event had been raging since Friday and Saturday had also experienced a huge turnout. Cyndi Gilbert co-owns the Diamond G bull team alongside her husband Steve Gilbert out of Tocquerville, Utah. This was one of the competitions fiercest groups of horned Goliaths. “It’s a pretty expensive hobby,” Gilbert said. “My husband was a

bull rider when he was young and he always wanted to come back to it. The PBR has really brought the bull riding back. I mean, people will buy bulls for a million dollars.” Though she is an experienced professional when it comes to raising bulls, at heart, Gilbert treats these animals like her kids. Her biggest bundle of pride and joy happens to be a gigantic frosty-colored terror named "White Magic." The host of the event turned out to be as much of a highlight as some of the bulls. With a face covered in clown paint, a star spangled shirt and a pair of red and white Air Jordans, Flint Rasmussen put on a better show

than any newcomer to the PBR could have possibly imagined. Not only did he crack everyone up with his country-boy comedy, but he even gave people in the nosebleed section something to take home as he fired bunched-up T-shirts through a mini bazooka that flung them all the way to the upper deck. However, Rasmussen’s finest accomplishment that night came when he managed to get a middle-aged Wrangler-jean-wearing, brass-belt buckle-sporting cowboy named Bill to get up in the stands and bust a move to the song “I Like Big Butts” by Sir Mix-A-Lot. Brazilian rider Paulo Crimber ended up winning the contest in

A professional bull-rider hangs on for life and limb as his competitors look on.

the “Short Go-round” atop “All In,” a bull from the Naccarato Bucking Bulls team, with a score of 90.5 out of a possible 100 points. Crimber showed the control and heart of a dedicated champion as he fought and swung his free arm to gain position in the tight tornado-like spins of the bull. According to www.pbrnow.com, Crimber was more than happy with his performance at the BFTS bull riding tour. “I sure can't complain," Crimber said. “I'm healthy this season and riding well. I'm drawing good and I think right now I have the whole package. I'm ready for a gold [championship] buckle.”

By nicole padilla/For the Daily Titan Left: A stray bull is about to be roped in while a hat floats by. Right: A rider gets tossed off the bull as another cowboy waits to distract the bull.

World traveling pianist teaches CSUF students Master pianist brings his expertise, along with passion, to CSUF students By Sarah J. Cruz

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

Cal State Fullerton is home to a globe-trotting, Argentinian piano prodigy. But Eduardo Delgado is not as interested in the accolades he has achieved as he is in expressing his soul through music. He is more concerned with helping his students find their own expressive voices than he is with his mastery of the piano that has enabled him to play alongside some of the world's greatest artists. Eduardo Delgado is compelled to

share his music, to dig into his soul and pour it out through his fingers on the ivory keys. The CSUF instructor has traveled the world to learn and share his love of the piano. His musical path seemed clear even when he was a young boy. Delgado was raised in the city of Rosario, by a businessman father and a piano teaching mother. His mother, Amelia, was the major musical influence in his life. Delgado heard her as she taught piano and was blessed with a natural ear for music long before he had formal training. "I used to listen to the lessons, and at the age of three or four, I could tell when the students were playing wrong notes," Delgado said. "I would tell them the right notes to play." Amelia began to give piano lessons to Eduardo. His first public

piano performance was at the age of seven. Even now, at the age of 92, Amelia shows her passion and drive for her son and for the piano. She still tells him to practice every day. She is also an avid fan of music and goes to concerts almost every night of the week. Amelia still helps young musicians. Delgado's high school teachers recognized the same talent his mother fostered. They allowed him to go to high school during the day and take university courses at night. "They made an exception for me because they considered me to be very talented," Delgado said. After school, he won one of the most important piano competitions in Argentina. He then received a scholarship to study in Venice, Italy for a year. The trip to Italy began Delgado's life as a traveling musician, teacher

and eventually, a judge. Delgado studied and performed in New York at the Juilliard School of Music, Los Angeles, Europe, Hawaii and Japan. During his travels, he began to teach other students. This addition to his musical life was natural, given his mother's influence. His first full-time position was as a university professor in Japan. He says he never wanted to be tied down to a full-time, committed job, but maturity and financial needs led him to accept the teaching position. Alhough he was offered a contract extension in Japan, he wanted to return to Los Angeles to teach. Delgado has been teaching at CSUF since 1996. He teaches applied piano and keyboard workshops to students in the bachelor's and master's degree programs. His career as a teacher has not diminished his accomplishments as

a performer. He has played regular concerts and toured the world as a performer and judge. Audiences are moved by his emotion and expression. "Eduardo is a throwback to the 'Golden Age' pianists that we don't see much of anymore," said Julie Resch, Delgado's manager of eight years and friend for 15 years. She attended a concert of his at the encouragement of a friend and she was "incredibly impressed" with his performance. Delgado and Resch met and discovered they had mutual friends, including Martha Argerich, who Resch said is considered to be "one of the greats." Resch said that audiences are impacted by the emotional depth of Delgado's playing. "It's not just high virtuosity or surface brilliance," Resch said. "He plays with tremendous feeling and

audiences come away with an experience of his depths of expression." Among Delgado's favorite pieces to play are pieces by Argentinian composers like Carlos Guastavino. "No one plays them better than Eduardo," Resch said. Resch does not know where Delgado's talent comes from, but thinks it comes from deep within. "He has a way of expressing what is in his soul," Resch said. It is this passionate expression of classical music that sets Delgado apart as a performer and instructor. He has deep ties with his colleagues and students. "I love my students and am very proud of them. They have become my family," he said. For more information on Delgado and to learn about his upcoming performances, go to www.eduardodelgado.com.