Daily Titan - October 23, 2012 by Daily Titan

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dailytitan.com NATION | Election

Romney, Obama end last debate in foreign policy ‘agreements’

Presidential contenders vie for undecided citizens’ vote in dead-heat competition NICHOLAS RUIZ Daily Titan

ELEONOR SEGURA / Daily Titan

Gov. Gary Johnson spoke to a crowd of students in the Quad Monday to stand for the Libertarian Party that has classically been underrepresented in the national contest.

Third party represented Gary Johnson speaks about fiscal responsibility and “crony capitalism”

TIM WORDEN & CHRIS KONTE Daily Titan

Gov. Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party’s 2012 presidential candidate, visited Cal State Fullerton Monday to promote his message of limited government, saying that voting for a third-party candidate is not a waste of anyone’s vote. Johnson, who served two terms as the New Mexico governor from 1995 to 2003, originally ran as a Republican in this election, but switched to the Libertarian Party in May after a stagnant showing at the beginning of the election cycle. He is known for his views on low-tax-

ation and military nonintervention. He earned the nickname “Governor Veto” for vetoing what he claimed was more than 700 bills, in addition to 1,000 line-item vetoes while in office. By the end of his eight years as governor, the Washington Post reported the size of state government had been considerably reduced and New Mexico was basking in a budget surplus. Students had a chance to meet Johnson before and after the event, which was set up by the CSUF group Students for Gary Johnson. Many attendees to the noontime speech in the Quad wore Johnson and Ron Paul shirts. Johnson said citizens have the power to change the course of the country.

“You’re your own movie director, you’re your own producer, you’re on the screen. Do you like what you see? If you don’t like what you see, change your life. You have control of your life, and you can make that change tomorrow,” Johnson said to the crowd of nearly 120 students. Johnson made his name by founding a construction and handyman company, Big J, that grew to employ a thousand people. He had never been involved in politics before he ran for governor of New Mexico as a Republican in the 1995 election, something he said a Republican chairman at the time told him would not allow him to win. SEE SPEECH, 2

Mitt Romney and Barack Obama faced off Monday evening, debating foreign policy during their third and final showdown while Cal State Fullerton students watched the broadcast at the Pub in the Titan Student Union Underground. Romney adviser Dan Senor told CNN Monday that Romney plans on scrapping his old in-your-face strategy in favor of a calmer demeanor for the last night of debates. “I don’t think this is necessarily a debate where you’re going to see point-for-point scoring,” Senor told CNN. Romney also planned on bringing up the attack on Benghazi, Libya once again for another bite at the apple. Meanwhile, Obama hoped to capitalize on his experience with national security and foreign policy over the last three years, including the killing of international terrorist Osama bin Laden, according to Reuters. Nicholas Fabrizio, 23, a business major, is one of the many independent and undecided voters in this year’s election that are looking to the debates for a deciding factor. Fabrizio voted for Republican presidential candidate John McCain in 2008, but is not sure if he

Florida sets ethnic proficiency goals

Controversial strategic plan contested on local and national levels Daily Titan

Dormant flower reeks like Halloween Rare “Corpse Flower” budding in Greenhouse Complex, set to skip this Halloween but bloom next year DOMINIQUE ROCKER Daily Titan

Halloween is just around the corner, which means the creepy and the dead are popping up out of the Earth—literally. Amorphophallus titanum, more commonly and affectionately known as the “Corpse Flower,” is a plant that blossoms only once every few years, and when it does, it brings a stench to match the Halloween season. The intrigue surrounding the strange flower is about more than just the reek. Generally, this tropical plant goes through a slow growth process; it spends years as a long, leafy green stem that will grow tall, without flowering. Perhaps most interesting of all, it blooms every three or four years and does not stay open for very long. Edward Read, the manager of the Cal State Fullerton Biology Greenhouse Complex, explained the process. “Each year, it puts out one leaf, until the corn gets to a big enough size to flower. When it does, it will make a big inflorescent that lasts a month or two. When it opens, it only lasts like two to three nights,” said Read.

Courtesy of MCT

There are several leafy plants currently housed in the greenhouses (located behind the water towers across from Clayes Performing Arts Center). The Arboretum also had two Corpse Flowers given to them from the greenhouses. One of these, named Tiffy, last bloomed in 2006. Tiffy was originally planted in 1993 and has blossomed every three to four years from that

time until 2006. Tiffy’s spadix, the tall middle stem when the flower is open, was over four feet tall and still growing when it last bloomed. The spathe (petal-like structure surrounding the spadix) was expected to reach almost three feet across in full bloom. SEE FLOWER, 2

SEE DEBATE, 3

NATION | Education

JONATHAN WINSLOW

CAMPUS | Greenhouse

will take the red route this time around. “I don’t always side with the Republicans. I am willing to go with whoever I feel will do the job correctly,” said Fabrizio. He is wary of Obama’s economic record, but is no fan of Romney’s stance on social issues, including abortion. “Since I disagree with Romney’s stance on most social issues, I’m not sure which way to go. Him being pro-life—I’m very against that. You can believe what you want to believe, but you shouldn’t make the rest of the country believe in that same idea,” said Fabrizio. The debate viewing in the Pub was hosted by Associated Students Inc. and had several students in attendance, including Britney Bencomo, 24, a psychology major. Bencomo said she is a proud Democrat who has been politically active from her younger days. “Ever since I was able to vote I’ve really taken an interest because it affects me directly. Not only as a woman but as a student,” said Bencomo. Even though she already plans on voting for Obama, Bencomo looks forward to the debate just to hear what the candidates will say. Bob Schieffer, a CBS News correspondent was the moderator of the final debate, and opened by introducing the candidates and establishing the rules, such as the prohibition of reactions from the audience.

A new strategic plan approved for Florida’s public schools, which includes proficiency goals based on students’ race, has been met with some controversy in the past weeks with opposition claiming that these goals stunt graduation and retention rates. The plan, approved by the Florida State Board of Education earlier this month, is aimed at closing the achievement gap between different subgroups of students and includes performance goals based on the race and economic status of students. For example, the plan sets a goal of 92 percent of Asian students being proficient in math, while only aiming for 74 percent of AfricanAmerican students and 78 percent of economically disadvantaged students to achieve that same level. Proponents of the plan argue that a group-specific approach is justified in light of the considerable achievement gap between subgroups of students in Florida schools. The plan points out that currently only 40 percent of African-American students are at or above grade level in math, compared to almost double the number among Asian students. Additionally, reading scores are also greatly disproportionate, with Asian and white students 10 percent apart compared to Hispanic and African-American students which are substantially lower. It is believed by supporters of the plan that with such goals in

place, all students in Florida’s public schools will be at grade level in reading and math by 2022. Keeping track of the performance of students in categories arranged by race and economic standing is nothing new. The No Child Left Behind Act requires schools to report on how such groups of students are performing already. Scott Spitzer, Ph.D., a political science professor at California State Fullerton, said requesting such information from schools is an important part of tackling the issue of the achievement gap that does appear between different groups of students. “In order for us to address a problem, we need to be able to identify where we are at now, and be able to track progress, and the only way to do that is to measure it,” said Spitzer. “If you just hide your head in the sand and say, ‘Oh, we don’t want to pay attention to race,’ then you’re never going to address the problem.” Spitzer predicted this plan will likely not fly politically, due to the fact that it comes across to many members of the public as an attempt to racially stratify the public education system. Sofia Herrera, 18, a theatre education major, said she believes it is wrong to racially categorize students at all when it comes to education. “Just because I’m Hispanic doesn’t mean I’m dumber than anybody else,” said Herrera. “There’s some kids that are lazier than the others—maybe they just need a little push. They don’t need their standards to be lower just so they can stay at their level.” SEE FLORIDA, 3

NEWS

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THE DAILY TITAN

FLOWER: Exotic blossom pungent CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Unfortunately, Cal State Fullerton has not seen the Corpse Flower blossom since 2006. Read said this is because the two in the Arboretum were over-watered and died. The plants, currently in the greenhouses, were acquired through several steps of pollination. Traditionally, when the Corpse Flower opens, the stench is what attracts insects into the open petal-like structure, where they can pick up pollen or be used by the flower for food. Matt Dalphin, a biochemistry major, found it fascinating. “The Corpse Flower is interesting from a biological standpoint since its stench is thought to draw on insects for it to feed on, but most of its life is spent as an inconspicuous green stem,” said Dalphin. The flowers at CSUF were pollinated manually. According to Read, pollen was taken from the Corpse Flowers in the Arboretum and used to pollinate another flower in San Diego. Seeds were then taken from that flower and planted here in the Greenhouse. It will still be another four to five years before they will bloom. Amorphophallus titanum is native to tropical climates, typically in the central Sumatra rain forests in Indonesia. In Fullerton, the species reside in a specific greenhouse for tropical plants when not in the Arboretum among the various other unique plants. Kyle Eager, a computer engineering major, said he likes that CSUF is home to such rare and unique plant life. “It’s pretty cool that Cal State Fullerton has its own Corpse Flower. It’s something I’d expect to see in the rain forest, but not here,” he said.

Courtesy of MCT A “Corpse Flower” only blossoms once every few years and has a terrible odor.

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TUESDAY

DTBRIEFS

Gang member shot by Anaheim officer An Anaheim police officer shot and wounded an armed local gang member Sunday, authorities said. Pedro Mejia Jr., a 20-year-old documented gang member from Anaheim, was booked on suspicion of weapons violations and street terrorism after receiving treatment for his injuries at a hospital, according to Anaheim police Sgt. Bob Dunn and county booking records. The officer-involved shooting took place about 1:30 a.m. on Narda Street, just west of Philadelphia Street, Anaheim police officials said in a written statement. “This area has seen an increase in tension between two rival gangs,” according to the statement. The officer spotted Majia on a bicycle and tried to make contact with him in the area of Vermont Avenue and Philadelphia Street, however Mejia did not stop, quickly changed direction and rode away from the officer, police said. The officer went after Mejia and caught up with him, officials said. “It was during this encounter that the officer-involved shooting occurred,” according to the police statement. Further details of the circumstances of the shooting were not available. Mejia was treated for a single gunshot wound, police said. As is standard procedure when an officer-involved shooting takes place in Orange County, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office has launched an investigation. According to booking records, Mejia, whose occupation was listed as janitor, was being held in lieu of $20,000 bail pending a scheduled arraignment Tuesday in Santa Ana Superior Court.

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OCTOBER 23, 2012

Brief by BRIAN DAY

SPEECH: Presidential candidate visits CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“Well I did win, and I’d like to think it was based on what I had to say, which was, ‘Let’s just bring a common sense business approach to state government.’ Best product, best service, lowest price. Let’s keep government out of the bedroom, let’s keep government away from making decisions in your and my life that only you and I should be making,” said Johnson. Johnson urged students to reconsider the notion of “wasted votes,” or votes for a candidate who has little chance of winning, such as a third-party candidate. “I know right now that you’re all hearing this notion of wasted votes. What is more of a wasted vote than voting for somebody you don’t believe in?” asked Johnson. “The way we change things in this country is to vote for the person that most mirrors what you think.” Derek Leininger, a Students for Gary Johnson group organizer who is pursuing a master’s in public administration at CSUF, said no Californian’s vote counts anyway, since “our state always goes blue.” According to a Reason-Rupe poll released Friday, 53 percent of Californians said they will vote for Obama and 38 percent will vote for Romney. The poll has a margin of error of 3.8 percent. “To actually really make your vote count in this election, bolstering the third party is a very productive way to show the opposition that we’re not consenting anymore,” said Leininger, who became a Libertarian in 2007 by being attracted to Congressman Ron Paul. The Orange County Libertarian Party has reported a 6 percent growth in members over the last month and a half, according to Tom Hanson, chair for the Orange County Libertarian Party, who was present at the event. Others disagree with the viability of third-party candidates. Don

ELEONOR SEGURA / Daily Titan

Gov. Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party’s 2012 presidential candidate, autographs a campaign sign in the Quad on Monday. Johnson originally ran as a Republican, but switched to the Libertarian Party in May.

Matthewson, Ph.D., a political science professor at CSUF, said most libertarian views are immature, akin to a two-year-old who wants less rules to follow. “A well thought-out third-party candidate cannot win, but can force the other two candidates to face some key issues,” said Matthewson, citing Ross Perot as an example. Perot won 21 percent of the popular vote in 1992.

Historically, third parties have not fared well in presidential elections. In 2008, the Independent and Libertarian candidates managed only 0.56 percent and 0.4 percent of the popular vote, respectively, according to the Federal Elections Commission. Johnson was introduced by Assemblyman Chris Norby, who presides over the 65th assembly district, which includes CSUF,

and Steve Collett, treasurer of the Regulate Marijuana Like Wine initiative. Norby, a Republican and CSUF alumnus, said war should not be a permanent policy for this country, and that people who believe in freedom have a choice this fall. “Remember this: It’s much better to vote for somebody you want and lose, than vote for somebody you don’t want, and win,” he said.

NEWS

OCTOBER 23, 2012 TUESDAY

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THE DAILY TITAN

FLORIDA: Standards set based on race and status

DTBRIEFS

Geology grad student recognized A Cal State Fullerton geology graduate student was selected for the “Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award” by a national teaching association, according to a press release. Kelly Ferguson, who serves as a teaching assistant for physical geology, surface processes and hydrology, was given the award by the National Association of Geoscience teachers. “My goal when I teach is to inspire students to look more closely at the landscape around them, to get out in nature and to ask questions,” Ferguson said in the press release. Ferguson has been working with her faculty mentor Phillip Armstrong on research on rock dating methods, specifically in southern Alaska. The research involves the speed of rocks over millions of years as they travel from the center of the Earth outward. Ferguson credited her geology faculty members for their support and understanding. She is one of four that have been awarded this year. Brief by MATT ATKINSON

Castro denies death rumors Former leader of Cuba, Fidel Castro, denied media rumors that he is on his deathbed and has photos to prove it. According to Fox News, Fidel’s son, Alex Castro, leaked photos of his father leaning against a cane looking alive and well early Monday. The photos were published in the article, ironically titled “Fidel is Dying,” on the state-run Cubadebate website. Castro, 86, has been kept out of the public eye since March when he visited Pope Benedict XVI. He has also not regularly written for “Reflections,” a collection of opinion pieces, since June which added to public speculation that he may be ill. “I stopped publishing Reflections because it was really not my role to take up pages in our press which are needed for other work the country requires,” said Castro. Castro also noted that he does not suffer from headaches and called out a Venezuelan doctor who told Spain’s ABC newspaper that Castro had only weeks to live. Brief by JAZMIN SANCHEZ

Armstrong stripped of wins Lance Armstrong, the 41-yearold cycling legend, was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles Monday after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency found “overwhelming” evidence connecting him to a doping program. The agency announced that Armstrong, who was tested 218 times for doping, would also be banned from the sport altogether. Following the announcement, the French Cycling Federation said it is demanding Armstrong to return the nearly $4 million he won in the tours. SCA Promotions, a Texas insurance company that promised bonuses if Armstrong won the Tour De France, is also seeking their money back that could total up to $12 million. Sponsors like Nike, Radioshack and Oakley have left Armstrong’s team, but have vowed to remain supportive of his cancer-fighting foundation known as Livestrong. The cycling union will discuss later this week whether or not the seven Tour de France titles should be awarded to another cyclist.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

WILLIAM CAMARGO / Daily Titan

Jay Chen supporters watch the presidential debate Monday at the North Orange County Democratic headquarters.

DEBATE: Foreign policy focus blurred CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The opening question was about Middle Eastern terrorism, and more specifically the current controversy in Libya. Romney pressed home his views on the use of non-violence in the region. “We can’t kill our way out of this mess. We’re going to have to put in place a very comprehensive and robust strategy to help the world of Islam and other parts of the world reject this radical violent extremism,” said Romney. In response, Obama reiterated his actions in foreign policy during his administration thus far, culminating in going over his reaction to the killings in Benghazi and firing his first salvo at Romney. “Governor Romney… your strategy previously has been one that has been all over the map and is not designed to keep Americans safe or to build on the opportunities that exist in the Middle East,” said Obama.

Romney responded with his detailed plans for dealing with the Middle East once elected. Both candidates went on to discuss policies concerning countries such as Iran and Russia, both of which Romney detailed aggressive strategies in dealing with both. “Russia, I indicated, is a geopolitical foe, and Iran is the greatest national security threat we face. Russia does continue to battle us in the U.N. time and time again. I have clear eyes on this. I’m not going to wear rose-colored glasses when it comes to Russia or Mr. Putin,” said Romney. Obama reminded Romney of the importance of clear communications with fellow nations. “You’ve got to be clear, both to our allies and our enemies, about where you stand and what you mean,” said Obama, accusing his opponent of flip-flopping on foreign affairs. Later on, Romney accused Obama of not taking a tough enough stance on Iran, while the president stressed the importance of international cooperation with issuing sanc-

tions to hostile countries. Near the end, both candidates declared the importance of increasing the competitiveness of the United States, although Romney accused Obama of policies that were hurting the middle class. “The policies of the last four years have seen incomes in America decline every year for middle-income families, now down $4,300 during your term, 23 million Americans still struggling to find a good job. When you came into office, 32 million people on food stamps—today 47 million people on food stamps,” said Romney. At the close, both debaters imparted their closing arguments to the nation, asking for their votes on Nov. 6. “You know, we’ve been through tough times, but we always bounce back because of our character, because we pull together,” said Obama. “We need strong leadership. I’d like to be that leader, with your support. I’ll work with you. I’ll lead you in an open and honest way. And I ask for your vote,” said Romney.

Raul Perez, 21, a biology major, said that Florida crossed the line when they released a plan setting different racial groups at different levels. “It’s crossing the line when you set a goal, and it’s so much lower for African Americans and Hispanics than for Asians,” said Perez. Perez noted that even in California, as a Hispanic, he was made to take a test to ensure that he was at a correct English level from elementary through high school, despite going to school in the United States for his entire life and being in honor and AP classes. Florida is seeking a waiver to avoid penalties from not meeting the standards of the No Child Left Behind Act. Proponents of the new strategic plan say that these race-specific goals are necessary for the waiver.

ACHIEVEMENT GAP MATH COMPETENCY RATES 82% Asian 40% African-American

READING COMPETENCY RATES 76% Asian 69% White 53% Hispanic 38% African-American

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OPINION

OCTOBER 23, 2012 TUESDAY

China’s money manipulation will backfire If China continues to manipulate its currency, the yuan, it won’t just hurt the U.S.; the Chinese economy could collapse DANIEL BARBEAU For the Daily Titan

The United States has a major problem contained within its economic relationship with China, as highlighted by the recent presidential debates. Trade deficits, outsourcing, currency manipulation and government subsidies are all factors that riddle our often contentious affair with Asia’s largest economy. In 2011, the U.S. maintained a $295 billion trade deficit with China, and millions of jobs have moved overseas as companies look for ways to lower overhead by taking advantage of lower costs of living abroad. As bad as this trend is for the U.S., China is hurt even more by other effects of this situation. The crux of this dilemma is the Chinese government’s artificial devaluation of their national currency, the yuan. In order to maintain huge trade imbalances, the Chinese government pegs the currency artificially low against the dollar, thus ensuring that their domestic manufactures possess a competitive advantage against other nations’ relatively more expensive products. To maintain currency disparity, the People’s Bank of China must buy dollars and sell yuan, since currencies naturally balance as a result of trade in an international free market. For example, if an American construction company buys a million dollars worth of steel, the Chinese producer must then trade those dollars for yuan, thus increasing the supply of dollars while increasing the demand for yuan in currency markets. Because dollars are now more abundant and yuan less so, dollars will depreciate against the scarcer yuan, and the yuan will grow closer in parity to the dollar. Thus products from America become comparatively less expensive, while Chinese products more so. However, since the Chinese government actively seeks to maintain a trade imbalance, they rig the system by buying up dollars and selling yuan, thus making the yuan artificially cheap, allowing Chinese products to be inexpensive and unfairly competitive on the world market. This system ultimately hurts the Chinese people while enriching Americans with cheap products. In currency trading, value is neither created nor destroyed, but currencies’ values are transferred to each

other through fluctuating levels of supply and demand. By pegging the yuan low against the dollar, the Chinese government is adding value to American currency and standard of living by subtracting it from its people. With the yuan artificially inexpensive, products made in China but destined for export are out of reach for the Chinese workers who produce them and earn their wages in artificially devalued yuan. If the yuan were allowed to rise, this would give the Chinese people more purchasing power, and make their products more widely available on their domestic market. However, trade imbalances enrich the Chinese state as massive dollar reserves are built up and reloaned to the U.S. government for its annual budgetary blowouts. A cheap yuan also encourages the U.S. economy by enriching it with products that would otherwise be more expensive, thus raising Americans’ standard of living by lowering product prices. The Chinese government also consumes inflation pressure by purchasing excess dollars brought about by the trade imbalance, thus helping tamp down on the monetary excesses of the quantitative easing sessions. The dilemma for the U.S. is how to coerce the Chinese from manipulating their currency, but despite the rhetoric, this will be a problem that the Chinese, not Americans, will solve. At a certain point, the Chinese government will decide that the dollar is no longer a viable reserve currency in the wake of lax American monetary and fiscal policy. Chinese officials are already voicing concerns over the Fed’s quantitative easing, and if the dollar begins to lose value, China could decide to sell much of its vast dollar reserves and thus appreciate its currency. Instead of exporting their products, this action would allow an unprecedented rise in prosperity for the average Chinese citizen and encourage a massive domestic market for their products. Perhaps they would even create a new reserve currency in league with other emerging economic powerhouses in order to avoid the mercurial manipulated dollar. For the U.S., deep recession would be inevitable as cheap goods become expensive and economic activity reacts accordingly. Inflation could also increase, both from higher consumer prices and the flooding of currency markets with hoarded dollars. Chinese currency manipulation is a problem with few satisfactory solutions. One thing is clear; the U.S. needs China more so than vice-versa. Despite my personal sympathies, China monetary hawks who advocate an end to yuan manipulation should be careful what they wish for; they just might get it.

OPINION

OCTOBER 23, 2012 TUESDAY

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When the push for tolerance faces opposition A group promoting acceptance in America’s schools should not be a target on anyone’s radar RICARDO GONZALEZ Daily Titan

Elementary and middle school memories, although tinged with rosy nostalgia, can harbor some suppressed pain; a pain often with its origins in some form of childhood bullying. Though it’s an issue that persists today, many groups, such as the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and Teaching Tolerance, have consistently worked toward minimizing exclusion by spreading acceptance to students at a young age. Anti-bullying campaigns such as the “Mix it Up at Lunch Day” event—an initiative that encourages school children to break down social boundaries—would seem a godsend to those going through the struggles of growing up. Yet sadly, a group that claims to represent God is condemning these efforts. The American Family Association (AFA)—a Mississippi-based Christian group—has spoken out against “Mix it Up at Lunch Day.” Its mission, according to its website is “to inform, equip, and activate individuals to strengthen the moral foundations of American culture.” The group claims the event’s purpose is to spread a homosexual agenda. Though only conjecture exists to support the claims, the New York

Courtesy of MCT

Southern Poverty Law Center’s “Mix it Up at Lunch Day” event was started to help break up cliques in public schools.

Times reported around 200 schools had cancelled their plans for the event after the AFA began circulating this “knowledge.” One might argue that the event, which will happen at schools around the country on Oct. 30, does take a bit of parental power out of guardians’ hands. Students at participating schools will ostensibly be forced to sit

with a random peer (through school organized selection process.) But therein lies the conundrum, “Mix it Up at Lunch Day’s” randomness. A student has just as much chance of being paired up with a homosexual student as they do with a heterosexual one; they have as much chance of being paired

up with a student who practices a different religion as they do with one who follows their same faith. That alone seems to negate the assertion that the event promotes indoctrination of children into a single lifestyle, but if the AFA were truly clever, the group would utilize the event as a way in which to promote its

own agenda. For a single day, a child whose guardian supports the AFA might be paired up with another who does not and could easily do the same thing the group has imagined SPLC is doing. Despite the opposition, some 2,500 are reportedly still backing “Mix it Up at Lunch Day”—a number that continues to grow in the 11 years since the event’s inception according to the Times. It is also notable that not all schools that either refuse to participate or have pulled out since the AFA debacle necessarily support the group’s ideology, though it is difficult to see this as anything but a win for opponents. Of course, this is the political and ideological argument one must get bogged down in when viewing this initiative through such a jaded lens. Really, when it comes to conditioning children—our future generations— to the reality of bigotry and social inequality, we should not be counting wins and losses. At the real heart of the matter are the efforts of SPLC and Teaching Tolerance to integrate young peoples from all walks of life into a sphere of tolerance. If only for one day, school children might feel what it’s like to be on the other end of the social spectrum and at least be granted the opportunity to learn from it. They might, as kids often do, completely miss the point and learn nothing, but at the very least they would have the opportunity; not necessarily to accept, but to tolerate going forward.

Captain America for president

Neither Obama nor Romney possess the spirit of a leader; we need that star-studded man with a plan in office TIM WORDEN Daily Titan

Blurred Youth JULIE NITORI

An introduction: The transition into femininity The first time I wore a dress it felt right in a way that I didn’t expect it to. I was a boy in girl’s clothing, vulnerable in my exposed femininity. I did such things under the guise of performing noise music with my friends several years ago. Amongst the secretion of bodily fluids, scrap metal, burnt candle wax and damaged microphones, the act of dressing up as a girl was to only be similarly interpreted as shock value. It was only during these times that I was ever a “girl.” Throughout life, it’s often easy to justify your actions in denial of what the heart has to say. After all, the act of “becoming” a girl was a performance in itself. It was art and this was only punk rock, or so I told myself then. I often claimed my dressing up was a sort of rebellion; an expression of my feminine side that society did not allow me to explore. Ultimately, it seems I got away exploring such ambiguity under the safety net of what people thought was a performance. However, my doubt of who I truly was slowly began to lessen. I knew that all of this was something more real to me. Eventually, those days soon passed and since then there haven’t been many situations where I could explore such an act under a public setting, but when alone I still do so, and those times alone have only grown more frequent, more intense, and with an appearance I deem only more convincing. When you’re born into this world there are already certain labels that are attached to you. For me, it was being born as a “boy.” Yet despite that continual reinforcement, I have never quite felt like a boy. In fact, I’d like to say that I completely reject the notion of being male altogether. From that claim alone, I guess I am what society calls a “transgender.” “Transgender” is truly an um-

brella term. For some, it means merely accepting yourself as the gender opposite in which you’re born. For others, it may mean the change of appearance, whether that be by clothes, hormones or surgery. The definition of transgender can go on forever, but what’s really most important is knowing who you are and what you want despite any labels. I am not a boy. I am a girl. I’m happy to say these words, because for the first time in my life I don’t have an excuse for myself. This time I am being completely honest. Yet for the sake of clarification, I’d like to define who I see myself as personally; a transvestite: One who crossdresses to appear as the opposite gender. Crossdressing does not define your sexuality, nor is it always fetishtic. It’s about feeling right in your body. During the times that I’m a boy, my perception of myself is low and my self-esteem wavers, but as a girl, I feel content with my body and myself. Perhaps such self-directed words are difficult to say no matter what body you’re in. I think that’s why the struggle of a transgender is no different from the struggle of anyone else who is afraid to accept and love him or herself. I am not happy because I’m accepting “becoming” transgender for the first time, I’m happy because I’m accepting who I really am for the first time. Whether you are transgender or not, it doesn’t matter. You can still read the words to come. The only care I do have is that the words I do say come out right. That they remain simple, relatable, and most importantly, human. From that, perhaps anyone can share in what I have to say and can accept not only me, but also others in general. Being transgender is only being human.

It’s October and the presidential election is in full swing. We watch as President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney debate, cheering our respective candidate while blotting out the other. And soon, perhaps during last night’s presidential debate, undecided voters must make their final decision with the election only 16 days away. Not me. I’ve already made my choice. I was undecided until early October, but while watching the first presidential debate, it came to me in a spark of inspiration. I’m voting for Captain America. Yes, the Marvel Comics superhero who wields an American flag shield. Don’t get me wrong: I think both candidates are OK. I’ll even concede that Obama has a trustworthy face. I just have a complete lack of faith in the political system, that’s all. Both candidates are, simply put, good alternative choices. They are more of the same bland crop of American politicians who are unwilling to think outside the box and are eager to spend America’s money. The debates have shown that Obama and Romney lack backbone, sticking in the shallow end with a “war of words.” That’s boring. If Captain America has a problem with you, he will tell you outright why you are lying. Some shield throwing and punching may be involved. For example, in the mid-2000s Civil War storyline, the American government forces all superheroes to register to the government with the “Superhero Registration Act.” Seeing this as a tremendous overstepping of government authority, Captain America vehemently rejects this unjust law. Since he is breaking a federal law, a group of U.S. special forces agents surround him with guns drawn. His response? “Weapons down or I will not be responsible for what comes next,” he says.

Illustration by PETER PHAM / Daily Titan

Despite what his name and what his red, white and blue costume and shield might suggest, Captain America is no blind follower of the U.S. government. He fights for what he believes in.

Romney couldn’t even summon that amount of backbone in his dreams. Captain America stays away from politics, but he knows when his country has its priorities in reverse. In Captain America #128 (1970), he comes across a Vietnam-era university protest with students rioting against police officers and an “aloof ” college dean. “Here’s where I oughtta step in and make like a swingin’ hero! But how do I know whose side to take? What the heck—the cops don’t need any help—but these kids do!!” he says. In 1974, months after the conclusion of Watergate, Captain America discovers that a high-ranking government official (assumed to be President Richard Nixon) is working for an evil terrorist group. He promptly rejects the U.S. and calls himself the Nomad. Captain America’s fans have always been attracted to his courage. Beyond his suit he is, after all, Steve Rogers, a scrawny young man who was not able to get drafted into the army during World War II. But his determination makes him the perfect candidate for the “Super-Serum.” He’s the target of bullies, the un-

derdog, and he brings this into his role as Captain America, where he now has the strength to fight for the underdogs. His selflessness and defensive nature are perfect presidential qualities. “Captain America is not here to lead this country. I’m here to serve it. If I’m a captain, then I’m a soldier,” he says in a 2003 issue, adding: “I am not a ‘superhero’... I am a man of the people. Together, you and I will identify and confront America’s problems. Together, we will figure out what we are and what we can be. Together, we will define the American Dream and make it an American reality,” he said. He’s an idealist who is not bogged down by a political party. He doesn’t campaign in swing states, he goes out and fights evil. But these issues are all chump change compared to the real reason why Captain America deserves the leader of the free world honors. On the cover of his first-ever comic book appearance, in March 1941, only months before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Captain America is shown doing something extraordinary. He is decking Adolf Hitler in the jaw. That’s bad-ass.

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OCTOBER 23, 2012 TUESDAY

Minuteman Missile Launch Facility revisited what I told them about our old squadStudent goes back to the site ron facilities. he worked at 40 years ago It was enjoyable to visit with airmen during the Cuban Missile Crisis RICHARD HARTMAN For the Daily Titan

We were gathered on a bright, sunny Saturday in the Little Belt Mountains of Montana to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first Minuteman Missile Launch Facility to come on alert during the Cuban missile crisis. There were plenty of clouds around, mostly piled up behind us on the higher peaks. There had been a question about us going out there because it had been raining that morning in Great Falls, Mont. But there it was, LF Alpha 06 sitting about 100 yards away and slightly changed since the last time I was at the site 40 years ago. I was the team chief of an ElectroMechanical Team (EMT), a basic troubleshooting and repair team, when we were diverted to A-06 because the Launch Control Facility (LCF) had lost contact with A-06. We successfully penetrated the site and quickly discovered that the air conditioning duct to the equipment racks was lying on the deck, not in its normal location. Quickly, we did an emergency shutdown of the missile and other battery powered equipment and called job control to get replacement power supply drawers because the ones on site had burnt out. Afterward, I was told that the site was haunted, but during our meeting in Great Falls last week others were insisting that it is A-05 that is haunted. Maybe the spectre moves around. This gathering had been initiated by the Association of Air Force Missileers (AAFM) two years ago. I knew it would be a large gathering, but I had not realized how much the Air Force had bought into it. I had visited the Missile Maintenance Squadron earlier in the week and received a warm welcome and a very detailed tour. They barely believed

that actually work on the sites and I think they appreciated having a visitor that understood missiles. Upon our arrival at A-06, we were greeted by a Montana state trooper and a U.S. Forest Service police car that were at the access road to the site to make sure that other drivers behaved themselves as the buses turned into the road. About half way uphill to the site the buses had to make a left turn through the cattle guard onto the ranch that is to the east and south of the LCF. We watched with trepidation as the bus ahead of us churned up the road and started to lean over. Thankfully, we all made it without disaster. A helicopter arrived before I got out of the bus. Inside the helicopter was our guest speaker for that night and the senior officer at this ceremony, Gen. C. Robert Kehler, commander of U.S. Strike Force Command and a former missileer himself. He had been at LCF Charlie 01 earlier visiting the launch crew. The ceremony had a somewhat serious tone, commemorating a time when our nation almost got into a nuclear war. It was noted that President John F. Kennedy later referred to the Minuteman Missiles coming to alert status during the crisis as his “Ace in the Hole.” There was no doubt that the Soviets knew that Minuteman Missiles, in their hardened shelters, were being made ready. They were ready because of the effort of Air Force and contractor workers to bring up the first sites months ahead of schedule. One of those contractors was located just a couple of miles from Cal State Fullerton, North American Aviation’s Autonetics Division in Anaheim, Calif. They built the guidance system for the missiles. This trip was a bucket list item that I can now check off. Somehow I knew 40 years ago that Minuteman would still be around.

A ceremony was held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first Minuteman Missile Launch Facility to come on alert during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The ceremony took place in Great Falls, Mont. and had a serious tone.

Courtesy of Richard Hartman

Richard Hartman worked as team chief of an Electro-Mechanical Team, a repairing and trouble shooting team. His team was assigned to repair an A-06 when the Launch Control Facility lost contact. He worked at the site from 1969 to 1975.

Photos by RICHARD HARTMAN / For the Daily Titan

TOP: The ceremony focused on remembering a time when the United States almost entered a nuclear war. The guest speaker was Gen. C. Robert Kehler, commander of U.S. Strike Force Command and former missileer.

MIDDLE: Hartman received a warm welcome when he visited the Missile Maintenance Squadron, who all gave him a detailed tour of their facilities. This group of airmen currently work on the site and exchanged squadron stories with their visitor.

BOTTOM: LF Alpha 06 was the first lanuch facility to go on alert during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The facility, located in the Little Belt Mountains of Montana, looks slightly different than it did 40 years ago. The site was rumored to be haunted in the ‘70s.

October 23, 2012

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Aries (Mar. 21-April 19) Write three wishes. For the next month, get your finances in order. Don’t tell everyone what you have. Build courage by supporting someone else’s leadership. Delegate to perfectionists. Taurus (April 20-May 20) For the next four weeks, compromise is required, and results are rewarding, especially in romance. Provide smart leadership. Work with friends to get the word out. Gemini (May 21-June 20) Your workload is heavy. Break your own glass ceiling, and shatter personal limitations. Trying new things is easier now. Fix up your place. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Figure out what you’ve got coming. Make sure you have plenty of provisions at home. Keep your objective in mind. Life gets lighter for a time.

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Benefits of going healthy with kale

OCTOBER 23, 2012 TUESDAY

Bump in road to recovery

Back to Basics

Growing trend of eating a form of cabbage called kale has become a staple in some diets

LOREN MANNING

LAUREN TORRES Daily Titan

The phrases “green is good” and “go green” are often used today but that does not necessarily mean or refer to recyclable energy. In this case, it refers to a new trendy leafy substance, kale. In the green vegetable category, we have our peas, celery, lettuce, spinach, cabbage and now kale. According to the Food Reference Guide, kale is a form of cabbage. However, it does not grow in a tightly bound head, but on long, fibrous stalks that cascade out from the center of a bunch. Although its popular form is the dark green leafy type, it surprisingly comes in other colors as well, including purple, white and pink. Kale is an original grown crop of Europe and can withstand harsh temperatures and almost all climates. It is a versatile vegetable that is nutritionally healthy and beneficial for all diets whether you in eat it raw or cooked. Additionally, it can be steamed, sautéed, boiled, baked or stir fried. WebMD attributes Kale as a nutritional powerhouse, indicating its benefits are primarily linked to the high concentration and excellent source of antioxidant vitamins A, C and K. Vitamin K is necessary for a wide variety of bodily functions, including normal blood clotting, antioxidant activity and bone health.

Courtesy of MCT Types of kale are characterized by green, white, purple or bluish green color and leaf shape. Kale is also packed with antioxidants and reduces the risk of cancer.

Beyond antioxidants, the fiber content of kale helps lower blood cholesterol levels and reduces the risk of heart disease, especially when kale is cooked instead of raw. Other benefits include eye health and cancer risk prevention. Although kale seems like a great benefit to one’s health, it most certainly is not easily found in your everyday grocery store such as Albertsons or Vons. That is what makes it such a sought after product. Kale can be found at Whole Foods market or Mother’s Market, as well as some local farmers markets. Jessica Sharpe, 24, child and adolescent studies major, said she absolutely loves kale especially since maintaining her health and staying in the best shape possible is her goal. “I’ve tried Kale in two forms, in a juice drink from the juice bar at Mother’s Market, and someone made it for me cooked in a pan with salt and pepper,” said Sharpe. “It was crispy and was eaten like a chip”. Sharpe recommends to others who have yet to try kale to eat it in a salad versus the juice form because you cannot taste it as much in juice form since other

vegetables are often present. Some would argue that buying healthy food like kale is more expensive and less convenient than going to a fast food restaurant, but Sharpe disagrees. “If you go out to eat a lot it ends up just as much because it all adds up. That money could be saved and used in buying healthier foods such as kale,” Sharpe said. However, students like Stacy Hernandez, 21, a criminal justice major, and Melissa Mendoza, 21, a liberal studies major, feel that people are living off of a limited budget instead of taking into account healthier options because of the economy. Hernandez has not heard much about kale, but said she hopes to try the vegetable one day. Mendoza has yet to try it as well, but said that it’s not a practical food choice for students. “I feel if the fruits and vegetables were cheaper, the people would be buying more of that instead of the fiftynine cent ramen,” said Mendoza. If students have the money or are interested in a healthier lifestyle, it would be beneficial for them to consume kale because of all of its health benefits.

I had been so excited to share my story of finishing up decompression back-therapy and moving on to exercising while implementing my paleo diet plan. Instead, I got sick, and that story got put on the backburner. Since my last column about two and a half weeks ago, I’ve been doing pretty well in regards to the diet and staying strong. I now have a special recipe book with pages upon pages of yummy new recipes that are mostly paleo. Most of them are absolutely delicious and I would actually prefer them over one of my usual favorite pasta dishes, which has really made me question my self identity. I feel as if I am just now opening my eyes to the world of cooking that I had thought I had seen before. I’ve noticed the many wonders of spices and what they can

do for a meal. I stand back in amazement of the actual appearance of my dishes and the beautiful colors arranged on the plate in front of me. Who knew that food could literally look so gorgeous? I’ll be honest, and a tad bit proud. I’ve turned my entire household into a paleo-obsessed machine, including the dog. My boyfriend and I make sure that chicken or beef is always the first ingredient in his food rather than corn or wheat flour. He also gets a heaping amount of fresh veggies if he’s lucky, with zucchini being his favorite. However, I’m absolutely itching to start exercising again. Walking, running, hiking... whatever! I don’t care what type of workout! Especially when considering that my therapy should have concluded much sooner. I became sick and had to stay home for a week or so from therapy while miserably munching on foods that I couldn’t actually taste because of my congestion. The only positive thing that came out of my week with the sniffles was a new and extremely spicy recipe involving shrimp. It did the job a couple of nights and cleared my nose right up. So now I’m left counting down the days until I can really put my body to the test. It’s been a long four months of back therapy and various different doctors, but I’m glad that I got it taken care of sooner rather than later. My focus has been on restoring my health and body, and hopefully in just a couple of weeks, it will get its first dose of exercise.

Paleo Sloppy Joes Ingredients:

Directions:

2 Tbs Olive Oil 1 medium onion, chopped 1 medium anaheim chili pepper, chopped 1 Tbs minced garlic 1 lb ground beef, browned 1 (15) oz can tomato sauce 2 Tbs Chili Powder 1 ½ tsp ground cumin 1 Tbs brown sugar 1 acorn or spaghetti squash, cut in half and cooked

1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add oil when hot. 2. Saute onion, pepper and garlic until tender. 3. Add browned ground beef and stir. Then gradually stir in tomato sauce, sugar and spices until hot. 4. Serve in squash halves.