The Daily Titan - Tuesday, October 30, 2012 by Daily Titan

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What’s Inside: NEWS 3

Budget cuts leave buses crowded OPINION 4

The electoral swing for the fences FEATURES 6

O.C. gets a taste of lucha libre Halloween Hearse Show - Costa Mesa celebrates the 15th Annual Trick or Treat Festival.

Vo l u m e 9 2 , I s s u e 3 2

FITNESS 8

Can chocolate be beneficial?

T U E S D AY, O C T O B E R 3 0 , 2 0 1 2

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CAMPUS | Registration

System delays cause class enrollment snags

Cal State Fullerton IT said fall 2012 registration errors were not the result of computer glitches ADREANA YOUNG Daily Titan

The fall 2012 registration cycle was met with unexpected issues, such as fall semester classes not being posted on the registration list for students to see. This prevented students from being aware that certain classes were being offered, and were then unable to register for that class.

“I guess that there was some kind of glitch in the registration system where our classes didn’t show up. It wasn’t just my class, but there were other faculty who would normally have two or three times the students in their class and all of a sudden they have eight and ten students,” said Maxwell Center director Dean Kazoleas, Ph.D., who teaches international public relations at Cal State Fullerton. Kazoleas’ class was one of the courses that did not show up on the registration list this fall. “Everything was scheduled and set, and all of a sudden, and it was like July or something,

STATE | Technology

Calif. passes law to allow self-driving cars on roads

Google takes the wheel as a leader in developing self-driving car technology IRMA WONG Daily Titan

A bill allowing self-driving cars on California streets was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown on Sept. 25. Brown signed the bill at Google’s headquarters in Mountain View alongside Google co-founder Sergey Brin and state Sen. Alex Padilla, who authored the bill. California is now the third state that will allow these innovative vehicles on the road. Senate Bill 1298 will not only authorize the operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads for testing purposes, but also establish safety and performance guidelines. The bill requires a human driver to be behind the wheel at all times so that the car can be manually controlled in case of an emergency. Google, the California Institute of Technology and other organizations have been working to develop the innovative cars for years. Google, however, has been somewhat of a poster child for self-driving cars and were one of the first to report its experimental runs in 2010, which is likely why the bill signing ceremony took place at its headquarters. The driverless cars are equipped with GPS, radar, video cameras, lasers and a significant amount of computing power. They use GPS and maps to navigate on roads and have sensors installed to react to

change while on the road. According to Mikhail Gofman, Ph.D., assistant professor of computer science at Cal State Fullerton, these self driving cars will also have a communication system of their own. “I’ve seen some research where they are trying to develop automatic accident avoidance algorithm, so basically each car communicates with each other car. For example, let’s say there are cars driving and there is an obstacle. The algorithm will tell each car how to pass to avoid an accident,” said Gofman. To date, Google has reported more than 300,000 miles of results with no accidents. According to HybridCars.com, former General Motors research and development executive Larry Burns said, “By 2015 we’re going to have auto companies selling features that are akin to cruise control on steroids… By 2020 we’ll have self driving cars.” Brown’s passage of the bill will now provide developers the legal support to modify and improve driverless cars since there are obstacles to overcome before they are cruising around without someone behind the wheel. NPR reported in early October that Google’s self-driving cars still need some adjustments. The report found that the there are still a few things these computerdriven cars could not do yet, like move in reverse and detect temporary road signs and dangerous weather conditions, like snow. SEE CARS, 3

the secretary goes ‘We just added your international PR class and I need the textbook for it,’ which I had already sent in before,” Kazoleas said. “It never clicked that it was somehow not added... (The class) didn’t become visible, or didn’t come out in the system, until summer when most students had registered.” However, according to Rommel Hidalgo, Senior Director of Information Technology infrastructure services, the issues came from the department and was not a glitch on the IT side. “There were no glitches in the system itself. It looks like this was a scheduling or processing issue within the department,”

said Hidalgo. “Classes are scheduled months in advance, many months in advance. So for a class to be added really late, that has to do with the processing.” Each department, not IT, sets up and schedules their own classes for the semesters, according to Hidalgo. Hidalgo said there could be a lot of different possibilities that could have contributed to the system glitch and that it might be due to faculty contracts that were pending processing. With impending budget cuts around the corner, these glitches come at a bad time for

SEE ENROLLMENT, 2

STUDENTS FALL IN FOR ROTC EXERCISES

ROBERT HUSKEY / Daily Titan

ROBERT HUSKEY Daily Titan

Cadets from Cal State Fullerton’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) traveled to Camp Pendleton over the weekend to conduct their semi-annual Field Training Exercises (FTX). The exercises cover a broad spectrum of mental and physical challenges that

test the cadets’ abilities. The ultimate goal is to prepare level three Military Science (MS) cadets for their Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) evaluation at Fort Lewis in Washington, D.C. in early 2013. The training exercises conducted over the weekend included multiple land navigation courses, two obstacle courses and a seven-mile ruck hike. Obstacle courses included team co-

operation and friendly competition between the multiple companies. During the sevenmile ruck hike, cadets carried rucksacks with a minimum weight of thirty-five pounds. The FTX exercises are designed to build team camaraderie as well as team leadership skills for the cadets. SEE ROTC, 3

LOCAL | Fitness

CAMPUS | Vandalism

Graffiti on campus light, police say

Riding the waves, cruising to fitness

Surfing is a workout where one can take advantage of living so close to the beach DOMINIQUE ROCKER

Tagging around CSUF is sparse and likely not due to gang activity, according to University Police

Daily Titan

SAM MOUNTJOY For the Daily Titan

A constant police presence on campus may have contributed to a low number of graffiti incidents on campus, said University Police Cpt. John Brockie. There have been just two reported acts of graffiti since Sept. 28. A low prevalence of tagging in the areas surrounding Cal State Fullerton may also be a contributing factor to the infrequency of graffiti on campus, according to Brockie. “When we do have graffiti, it’s not too often,” he said. Most graffiti on campus seems to be artistic, and Brockie said University Police has no reason to believe that the tagging is gang-related.

faculty and students, said Kazoleas. When deciding what to cut, classes with limited students in them are viewed as unwanted and unnecessary, and can therefore be cut to save money. “Basically we’re about to face some big cuts,” said Kazoleas. “I mean, we’re already operating on a budget that’s equivalent to 1995 where we had 30 percent less students. We’ve got more cuts coming and this is a bad time for that to happen. Because now people will be saying let’s look at the courses with low enrollment, and those courses had low enrollment.”

WILLIAM CAMARGO / Daily Titan

A trash can is tagged with a marker in a men’s bathroom in the Visual Arts building.

“Usually gang-related tagging identifies the gang—their moniker,” he said. None of the recent graffiti were reported to have gang-related markings. On Sept. 28, two separate instances of graffiti were found on the walls of McCarthy Hall. It appeared to be the work of a non-gang “tagging

crew,” said Brockie. The cartoonish, alien-like figures had been painted on the wall in differing styles and signatures. This suggested two-ormore culprits working with one another. SEE TAGGING, 2

Surf ’s up, dude! What do people picture when the word surfing comes to mind? Lean, tan dudes with long hair in Hawaii and Southern California? A long day spent at the beach? Salt water and sand in your hair? What about a full body workout and a difficult test of one’s mental endurance? In fact, surfing entails a lot more than sitting in the ocean on a colorful board all day. Perhaps surprisingly for some, the activity takes a lot of mental and physical capacity. “It’s a holistic workout,” said James Wu, a fifth year kinesiology major. “When you paddle out,

you’re working your arms. You engage your calves when you stand up, and you’re working your lower body and utilizing spatial awareness with your arms when you balance on the board. You’re also engaging your core to generate power and direction when negotiating the waves.” Surfers must have a lot of power and muscle tone to succeed in the water since they are working their arms, shoulders, back, core, and legs. “Paddling, catching a wave and riding a wave are all very physical,” said Giovanni Pasinato, a 21-yearold surfer. The activity lends itself to more than just the physical muscle toning, however. Surfers also have to deal with being in the water for long stretches of time, which requires a strong heart and lungs. SEE SURFING, 8

NEWS

PAGE 2

THE DAILY TITAN

OCTOBER 30, 2012 TUESDAY

PolitiCorner: Electoral Map

DTBRIEFS Smoking ban lowers risks

Obama Romney Toss up Leaning Obama Leaning Romney

Source: CNN

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ENROLLMENT: Classes affected CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

For students, these cuts of classes could mean a change in their schedule and possibly having to push back their graduation date. “There’s a computer science class I really need to take next semester. If it just suddenly disappeared, I would freak out,” said Andrew Holmes, an advertising major. Holmes said glitches like these would affect his graduation schedule eventually by having to switch when and what classes he would have to take to get his general education finished. “Many students don’t want to run the risk of changing their schedules, so they may not be getting classes they need to make progress toward graduation. Students may not have the classes

they needed,” said Kazoleas. Although registration issues such as this could have major effects in the future, smaller classes sizes allow for a better classroom environment. “It’s good and bad. It’s good in the sense, it’s always better when you can have more time with each student,” said Kazoleas. “But at some point we’ll be held accountable for generating credits given the number of students and faculty that we have and we may not do it now.” Even though the registration error may have caused many students to miss out on a certain classes, the error helped out others who may have not been able to get into certain classes because of their registration date. Students like Holmes, a transfer student with less credits, have a

“Students may not have the classes they needed.” DEAN KAZOLEAS, PH.D. Associate Professor of Communications later registration date. “I’m not sure I would have gotten into the classes I did as easily. And, I was actually pretty surprised that these classes were so small,” said Holmes. “Going from community college to a four-year, you always see on TV shows and movies the huge lecture halls and the second class I had was literally under 20 people.”

According to the research published in Annals of Internal Medicine on Monday, banning indoor tobacco use from bars, restaurants and workplaces has lowered the rate of heart attacks by one-third in Olmsted County, Minn. Sudden cardiac death rates in Olmsted County have also been reduced by 17 percent since the ban was put into place. The study showed that though the boost in tobacco taxes and anti-smoking campaigns between 2002 to 2007 caused many Minnesota citizens to quit smoking, it was not completely responsible for the drop off in heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths. Public smoking bans appear to have lowered the effects of secondhand smoke, which is now yielding the improvement of health in the residents of Olmsted County. The study also noted that while secondhand smoke has been greatly reduced in public areas, it can still be found in casinos, cars and apartment complexes, which share ventilation systems that can carry smoke to neighboring apartments. Brief by RAYMOND MENDOZA

‘Sociopath’ found guilty of murder An Alameda County jury Monday convicted Giselle Esteban, 28, for the firstdegree murder of 26-year-old nursing student, Michelle Le. According to the Los Angeles Times, the crime took place last May, and was the result of Esteban’s jealousy of Scott Marasigan, who had dated both Esteban and Le. The evidence against Esteban was heavy, and included a recording of Esteban telling Marasigan that both he and Le deserved to die. An FBI analysis of Esteban’s computer also showed that Esteban has searched the Internet for Le’s home address and ways to kill a person without getting caught. Esteban was branded a “sociopath” by Alameda County District Attorney Butch Ford. After the trial, Ford said he was gratified by the jury’s decision. Brief by RAYMOND MENDOZA

Anaheim pays police settlement WILLIAM CAMARGO / Daily Titan

A stall divider is tagged in a Visual Arts Building bathroom. Bigger and more elaborate instances of graffiti have been seen elsewhere on campus, but are usually promptly removed.

TAGGING: ‘Art versus graffiti’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

On Oct. 16, black spray paint was used to paint a detailed sad face on a wall of the east parking structure. Initials found near the graffiti were likely a type of signature by the artist, according to Brockie. Any graffiti found on campus is removed immediately, Brockie said. Physical Plant maintenance usually paints over or removes the graffiti the same day. There have been arrests made by campus police in relation to graffiti over the past few years. Brockie was unable to comment on specifics, but said there have been multiple culprits taken in suspected of graffiti on campus. “I actually haven’t seen any graffiti. The only graffiti I’ve actually seen has been in the housing from our residents,” said resident advisor Alesha Gilliam, 19, an entertainment studies major.

Gilliam said she felt graffiti and vandalism can be a big problem in on-campus housing. “I really feel they don’t give a crap, especially this year… they’re ripping down our signs for our programs,” she said. Art history major James Doyle, 21, said he thinks graffiti artists have differing motives for tagging the walls of campus. “I think as an art history major, I’m not that against graffiti. I think in some instances graffiti can be a positive addition, in an artistic way,” he said. “But if it’s offensive, or somebody gets offended by it… it should definitely be taken down.” Doyle also said he has not seen any graffiti around campus. “Are they doing it to beautify (the school) or are they doing it to offend people, or to make their school ugly?” Doyle said. The city of Fullerton has a graffiti reward program which offers a

reward of up to $500 for information which leads to the conviction of graffiti vandals. Graffiti can be reported anonymously by email or phone. Last year, volunteers from the CSUF Vietnamese Student Association removed graffiti by working with Project GO, a volunteer project organized by the Garden Grove Public Works Department. “There is clearly a distinction between art versus graffiti that damages the property in which it lies. Let us be superheroes and crime-fighters… and advocates for a clean city!” the event’s Facebook page stated. Multiple methods can be used to remove graffiti. Painting over graffiti is a method preferred by the city of Fullerton. High-pressure water-blasting and biodegradable chemical cleansers can also be used, depending on the location and the type of surface.

The City of Anaheim has revealed it spent $1.55 million to settle a shooting case that occurred four years ago this week, according to the Orange County Register. On Oct. 28, 2008, 20-year-old Julian Alexander was shot and killed outside his home when he apparently walked outside to investigate some noise. Although the officer involved in the shooting was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing, the family continued to pursue a civil lawsuit. According to the Register, public records show that Anaheim made the payment to Julian Alexander’s widow, Renee Alexander, after he was shot and killed by an Anaheim police officer. In addition to the substantial amount of money, the city paid Alexander’s parents an additional $50,000, including attorney fees. The settlement highlighted the vulnerability to lawsuits that cities undergo even when officers are cleared of criminal wrongdoing. Brief by LAUREN TORRES

NEWS

OCTOBER 30, 2012 TUESDAY

DTBRIEFS

Storm lands in New Jersey

PAGE 3

THE DAILY TITAN

ROTC trains for combat CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Hurricane Sandy made landfall at 8 p.m. EST Monday on the Northeast. According to USA Today, Hurricane Sandy struck south New Jersey near Atlantic City approximately an hour after the National Hurricane Center reported it was no longer a hurricane and had transitioned to a “post-tropical cyclone.” Nearly 400,000 residents were ordered to evacuate the area before the storm was to hit and more than 14,000 flights were canceled. The New York Stock Exchange also canceled trading on its floor through Tuesday. Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Baltimore and Boston also braced for heavy rains, severe winds and power outages. Higher elevation regions of West Virginia and Virginia faced blizzard-like conditions and up to three feet of snow. Craig Fugate, chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said FEMA teams were deployed from North Carolina to Maine and as far inland as West Virginia to provide supplies.

ROBERT HUSKEY / Daily Titan LEFT: Cadets search for a point in the brush of Camp Pendleton during a land navigation exercise.

BOTTOM LEFT: Recruits line up and listen to instruction during Field Training Exercises (FTX).

BOTTOM RIGHT: A cadet secures the rope as his colleague rapels down the rapelling wall during FTX last weekend.

Brief by LAUREN TORRES

Prices continue to fall in season Gas prices in Orange County continue to fall after a huge spike a few weeks ago. According to the Orange County Register, the average price at the pump Monday was $4.16, 27 cents less than last week. Since a gas price surge in early October where Californian’s saw prices jump to $4.66, the cost of gas has declined. Typically, gas prices go down when the winter blends come out at the end of October. The winter blend tends to be cheaper due to their more evaporative qualities, making it less environmentally friendly. The average gas prices in California are consistently higher than the national average, which is at $3.54 for the regular grade gas, according to the Daily Fuel Gauge report. Brief by ADREANA YOUNG

Chinese protest chemical plant After three days of protests in the city of Ningbo, China officials announced they would stop production on the expansion of a petrochemical power plant, according to The New York Times. Thousands of protesters in Ningbo followed other cities in China in objecting against an $8.8 billion expansion project for the chemical plant that would likely increase air pollution in China. Protesters were particularly concerned about a chemical called PX that many residents blame for a rise in cancer in the Zhejiang Province, which the coastal city of Ningbo is a part of. Officials agreed to stop the expansion, but residents say they are skeptical of this decision based on the timing, which precedes upcoming meetings to decide new leaders for China beginning Nov. 8, according to the New York Times. An estimated 100 people were arrested during the protests, but most were later released. The protests started last week when farmers of the city blocked streets near the plant. Saturday’s protests became violent after riot police shot tear gas and beat protesters. Brief by ADREANA YOUNG

CARS: Hands off CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Another issue to be resolved before the mass production and use of driverless cars are the laws regarding traffic violations made by computer error. David Velasquez, a theatre major, said he is torn between the benefits and concerns self-driving cars will present. Velasquez feels that self-driving cars might create a loss of jobs for people like taxi drivers, but that their mass production will make life easier. “I feel self-driving cars will enable us to lose the opportunity to drive but at the same time it can make the streets safer, and that can save lives,” he said. The price to mass produce such advanced technology will also have

to decrease to be a profitable product. Reports have shown that the technology put into a driverless car is currently up to $150,000, well above what most consumers are able to pay. Despite some flaws, the improvements self-driving cars can make are the reason for they are a main focus of Google and now the state. Orange County Transportation Authority spokeswoman Laura Shepard said as of now, public transportation has not addressed the impact that self-driving vehicles will have. “Yes I do encourage this type of research because of the possibility’s which it evolves. If we could implement an algorithm for avoiding accidents how much better will that be,” Gofman said.

Courtesy of MCT

Google’s self-driving car was made street legal by a bill, Senate Bill 1298 Gov. Brown recently signed.

Budget cuts crowd public transportation

OCTA was forced to cut more than 150,000 work hours from bus services and operations ALEX GROVES For the Daily Titan

Many Cal State Fullerton students use public transportation to get to and from campus. Since 1991, the Orange County Transit Authority (OCTA) has provided a way for them to do just that. In 2010, however, the transportation company cut 150,000 hours due to budget constraints. Some university students feel that in addition to these cuts, the rising price of gasoline has caused an influx in passengers that many OCTA buses can no longer accommodate. Students also cited that as a need for public transportation increases, OCTA remains ill-equipped in its current state. Among the routes that appear to be impacted is the Route 26 bus, which stops at the Fullerton Transportation Center before eventually arriving at the intersection of Commonwealth and Nutwood. With a large number of students taking advantage of this particular route, some have begun to wonder whether the problem of overcrowding might be mitigated if OCTA were to employ a double bus or a shuttle exclusively for CSUF students. “We need a bus or a shuttle just for students,” said sophomore Theresa Jones. Jones said that overcrowding has been a frequent problem during the instances she has taken the bus in the mornings and that a different system needs to be put in place.

CSUF’s Parking and Transportation Services could not comment at this time on their involvement with OCTA or any plans they might have for the future. “I think it’s fine besides getting a bigger bus,” senior Meagan Senkbeil said. “The first one in the morning and the last two in the evening get packed; it’s like herding cattle.” In order to facilitate a change in route or bus operation, a formal request must be filed with OCTA, according to OCTA bus driver John Hinsley. “I’ve submitted a request a few times,” Hinsley said. “I’ve been driving here for 32 years, and I’ve been driving this route for a little more than two. There’s a form we have to fill out and then OCTA makes the determination of whether or not we need another bus.” Hinsley also said he believes OCTA’s decision not to approve the request for an additional bus or a larger bus has something to do how OCTA receives funding from revenue garnered through California’s sales tax. OCTA spokesman Joel Zlotnik agreed with Hinsley, saying that there is a common misconception that public transportation is the type of business that makes a profit. On the contrary, Zlotnik says that 80 percent of OCTA’s funding comes from subsidies, whereas only 20 percent of the funding received is a direct result of fares paid. “Three major factors impacted our decision to cut service,” said Zlotnik. “Cuts in state funding, a decline in sales tax as well as lower ridership. All of these are a result of how the economy has been.”

RAE ROMERO / Daily Titan

Students crowd in a bus during peak hours of the day during the morning and afternoons. The Orange County Transit Authority will add 23,000 more hours to alleviate the pressure.

Zlotnik said when this “triple threat,” of economic factors caused hours to be cut, it affected the state of transportation throughout Orange County, not just Fullerton. However, changes have gone into effect this month. OCTA is planning to add 23,000 service hours in the coming fiscal year due to an increase in funding. Route 29, which runs from La Habra to Huntington Beach, and Route 47, which runs from Fullerton to Newport Beach, will both see an increase in service hours. With an operating budget of $267.5 million,

OCTA is looking to add even more routes in February. Although some may remain unconvinced that things will improve with the Route 26 bus, Zlotnik said that might not be the case at all. He said that OCTA monitors all buses three times a year, and that the transportation company makes a concerted effort to make improvements if doing so is within its power. “We certainly recognize that there are periods of crowding depending on the route and time of day,” he said. “If possible, we will adjust routes in order to alleviate the issue.” VISIT US AT DAILYTITAN.COM/NEWS

OPINION

PAGE 4

THE DAILY TITAN

OCTOBER 30, 2012 TUESDAY

PoliTalks

BRANDON TABBACK

Political past and present shapes a nation’s future In one short week, millions of citizens will take the time to place their votes into the ballot box to decide the “Leader of the Free World” for the next four years. The last months have seen the country witness hardfought debates, political ads and fiery rhetoric aimed at propping one candidate up and tearing the other down, all with the hopes that registered voters will check the box next to their names. These politicians have worked countless hours selling themselves to the American people, making speeches in contested states about how they could shape the country if they were given those four years in the Oval Office. This nation, though, is not a dictatorship. There are more complex pieces of machinery at work that are meant at once to limit the power of the Executive Office and provide a function for the creation and definition of laws. These shape our nation more than any individual holder of the presidency, and it is the holders of the legislative and judiciary branches that will check the power of the executive, whoever it may be. In this context, the two candidates offer different possibilities should they be given the chance to act as president. The reach of Obama’s presidency has been tested over the last four years, and the situation isn’t expected to change come Election Day. The House is still slated to be within Republican control, and the Senate, if it sees any real changes, will be pushing between Democrats and Republicans for whoever can convince one or two seats to vote on their side. The complications of Obama’s first term would echo into his second, having to deal with a Republican Party unwilling to compromise on any but their own strict terms. The Republican appointees in the Supreme Court would still have enough of the majority to challenge laws that Obama has passed, but not necessarily enough to strike them down, as was seen with the Affordable Care Act. Taking into account the increased leverage a second-term president has, it’s reasonable to assume that Obama would be more ambitious, and perhaps more forceful,

while definitely more experienced with getting his and his party’s ideas through the system. On the other side, using Romney’s experience as governor for a measure, his presidency would look a bit different. Having control of Congress, with possible challenges from the Senate, the Republicans wouldn’t have to compromise on any legislation unless the Democrats abuse the filibuster the way their opposition has in their last terms. Historically, Democrats have been far less organized, and generally do not function well when they attempt to be obstructive. This would give Romney immense leeway on policy direction and approval of law. The Supreme Court’s Republican leaning jutices would challenge his laws less, but this isn’t necessarily a good thing. As governor, Romney came up with quite a few very good ideas, but at times his reach turned them from innovative to questionable or even obstructive. Without the heavily Democratic state legislature to check his more destructive policies, he would have left office with a much worse reputation than that of a man with changing opinions. Adding further importance to the issue of the Presidency is the judiciary, currently the oldest court since the New Deal era. It is all too possible that whoever becomes president could decide who would sit on the Supreme Court. As it stands, the court is only one seat away from making such drastic decisions as overturning Roe v. Wade and already has the seats capable of making such terrible decisions as Citizens United. Should something happen to the health of the justices, four of whom are over 70, the party allegiance of the next seat would either be a slight re-balance of power, or it could set up the overturn of decades of legal precedent. Those seem to be the options in this campaign, taking into account a bit of context. Relative statusquo with possible reform or tea party fervor-led reactionary politics. As it’s balanced out, a vote for Obama seems to be a vote for the last four years; a vote for Romney seems to be a vote for the entire Republican Agenda.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR The Daily Titan welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must include the sender’s first and last name. Students must include their majors and other writers must include their affiliation to the university, if applicable. Letters must refer to an article published within the last week. Once a letter is submitted it becomes property of the Daily Titan. Publication of letters is based on the validity of content and may be edited for length, grammar and spelling. Letters may be sent to dteditorinchief@gmail.com.

Courtesy of MCT

Current polls show that the 2012 presidential election may ultimately be decided by a small number of “swing states” such as Ohio.

The few decide for the many

Our electoral college gives too much power to only a handful of states and counties JONATHAN WINSLOW Daily Titan

November is approaching, which means citizens all over the country will soon be pulling the figurative lever to decide who will run this country for the next four years. At least, that’s the image that we’re typically given around this time of year. The actuality is that this year, like most other election years, the race will be decided almost entirely by a small selection of states known as “swing states”. The major swing states include Florida, Virginia and Ohio. Breaking it down even further, the outcome of some of these swing states will be determined by just a few individual counties. That’s right, the entire election, in which the whole nation supposedly has a say, is ultimately going to be decided by approximately 106 counties. What’s more, those behind President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney’s campaigns seem to recognize this fact. The Associated Press reports that campaign advertisers have spent $127 million in these counties alone, one fifth of the national total, despite the votes from the same counties making up less than 5 percent of the totals from the last election. This strange situation is an outgrowth of the electoral college, our country’s method

of election, which has allowed for all sorts of inconsistencies and imbalances in the past. A quick glance at a map of the current election status will give a glimpse of how completely unbalanced the current system is. Despite nearly the entire middle of the country being completely red, the election is in a dead heat. All it takes is California, New England and a couple of other states to go blue, and the electoral scales are suddenly dead even. There have been jokes made about the coasts being the only relevant parts of the country, but to see the government apparently agreeing with this idea is somewhat uncomforting. The electoral system has generated some intense controversy in the past, most recently with the infamous recount incident in Florida during the 2000 race between George W. Bush and Al Gore. Gore won the popular vote, but due to just barely losing in Florida, historically a swing state and worth a great deal of electoral votes, he lost the presidency. At the time, there was a significant outcry and general murmuring amongst the public, arguing that something as important as the presidency should be left to popular vote. Ultimately though, like most topics of discussion around election time, these feelings diminished into nothingness

in less than a year. One can essentially look at the electoral college system as a sort of compromise made at this nation’s outset. It’s no secret that the Founding Fathers didn’t have the greatest confidence in the ability of the common man to make decisions regarding government. To put things bluntly, they didn’t want the uneducated anywhere near true political power. In keeping with these views, they used the electoral college as a sort of last-ditch defense barrier to shield against a disastrous selection. The side effects of this elitism have been responsible for a great deal of the major complaints about the electoral system. It’s very clear that it needs to change. As the last four years may have indicated, talking about change is significantly easier than making it. It’s nice to dream about a country with a more straightforward system that doesn’t allow for such lopsidedness, but it would be a political miracle for such a thing to actually happen. Ultimately, all of the people who have the power to enact such a change were placed there by the flawed system that we’re talking about. Since it’s obviously worked in their favor, what motive do they have to change it?

Halloween fun is a privelege, not a right Regardless of protest, sex offenders shouldn’t be near trick or treaters BEVI EDLUND Daily Titan

Trick-or-treating on Halloween is an American tradition. It happens on a night where it is acceptable to be someone or something different from normalcy. However, some registered sex offenders will have to stick to their own identities and be forced to opt out on the festivities. Just a month after approving a restriction on Halloween activities for sex offenders, Simi Valley was sued for violat-

ing their First Amendment rights. Adopted Sept. 10, the ordinance prohibits offenders registered in the city from displaying Halloween decorations, answering the door for trick-or-treaters or having outside lighting after dark on Halloween night, according to NBC News. It will also be required to post signs on their front doors reading, in 1-inch letters, “No candy or treats at this residence.” It’s hard to stay one sided on a subject like this. It seems obvious that the benefits of not allowing sex offenders to participate in Halloween festivities outweighs the argument that they should be allowed to participate.

In a perfect world, those convicted of being a sex offender would not have any rights at all, especially the right to their First Amendment. The steps taken by Simi Valley would be a good precaution to take to avoid victimization of children on Halloween from ever happening in the future. While most young trick-ortreaters are accompanied by a parent, to whom they have a very low chance of being victimized, there are adolescents who still go out and trick-or-treat. They may go by themselves or in a group. Either way, why take the chance of having someone becoming a victim of sex assault? There would be nothing easier than a minor to unknowingly walk up to the door of a registered sex offender and be lured into the house for “some candy.” Halloween seems to be the night where people let their guard down, i.e., accepting candy from strangers. Sex offenders are likely to prey on the innocent. The families of the sex offenders who are are suing the city say that both the prohibition on decorations and the mandatory sign violate free speech rights, according to the lawsuit. Others told NBC News that making these registered sex offenders put signs on their door is comparable to Jews in Nazi Germany who had to wear the yellow star on their clothing. How anyone could compare victims of heinous war crimes to those who have committed crimes themselves is beyond me, but the

point remains they should be punished for their vulgar offenses. Although this law would be great to warn people that there is a sex offender at the residence, and in the neighborhood, the problem with this ordinance is that it only paints a picture of safety, that these children are going to be safe on Halloween because the bad houses are highlighted, and may make parents’ safety radars come down. Another negative is that putting this law into effect means that anyone who does not decorate that night could be mistaken for a sex offender. Most parents are not concerned with finding out where the sex offenders are located in the neighborhood on Halloween; they’re preoccupied with getting their children in their costume or trying to keep them from eating too much candy by the end of the night. In reality, it should be the parent’s responsibility and the law to find out which houses have registered sex offenders. We’d like to imagine that for one day, particularly on a holiday, crime stops, but it doesn’t. In past years it wasn’t necessary for parents to be aware of sexual predators, especially on Halloween. However, with knowledge of sex crimes now becoming more public, parents should visit the Megan’s Law website and find out where the registered sex offenders are in their neighborhood. The responsibility and safety of a child is in the hands of the parents. The law, no matter how extensive, can only take precautions.

OCTOBER 30, 2012 TUESDAY

OPINION

PAGE 5

THE DAILY TITAN

2013 PAYROLL TAX 12.4 PERCENT

payroll tax on wages for social security

Employees pay 4.2 percent of the tax; employers pay 6.2 percent (tax recess) Excess is payed for by a $225 billion government fund; expires in 2013 (raising employee taxes to 6.2 percent) Economic growth under tax recess; (1.7 percent)

The Social (in)Security fund

Projected growth after recess expiration; (-2.4 percent) Projected liability; $8.6 trillion in the next 75 years

As undesirable as tackling the slippery slope of Social Security is, it’s the only way to solvency DANIEL BARBEAU For the Daily Titan

With current electioneering at full tilt, it seems there is no issue that is not polarized and politicized for the sake of highlighting supposed ideological differences between political parties jockeying for power and influence. So it may strike some as refreshing that Congress has found an issue that elicits broad bipartisan support through the expiration of the temporary payroll tax cut. However, there is no more dangerous third rail in American politics than Social Security, and any unwise politician who dares to elucidate the math behind the program soon becomes the target of angry histrionics and rabid denunciations. While acting as a vital elderly safety net, the program’s fiscal solvency is at risk, and without dynamic reform, its finances will reach crisis in the coming decades, forcing a reduction in benefits amid the backdrop of bankruptcy. Until recently, employers and employees split the 12.4 percent payroll tax on wages (under $110,000 and annually increased), from which the Social Security Administration purchases treasuries. In a burst of economic tinkering, Congress granted employees a 2 percent rate recess in 2011 and 2012, who now pay 4.2 percent (instead of 6.2 percent) of wages, while employers pay the full 6.2 percent rate. This would free up more disposable income, leading to more consumption and greater economic activity, but also tear a larger hole in the unfunded liabilities of the program, so Congress backfilled the fund with $225 billion in borrowed money. This tax holiday is expected to end and rates return to 6.2 percent next year. There is debate over the effectiveness of temporary tax cuts, but the drag on the economy from a 2 percent increase in payroll taxes could be problematic, with a JPMorgan study concluding a -2.4 percent annualized growth in 2013. This could prove significant after the economy has grown at a glacial pace of only 1.7 percent over the last year. The Social Security Board of Trustees projects an $8.6 trillion unfunded liability over the next 75 years that grows larger with every

report. Further, the $2.7 trillion in treasury “investments” is deceiving, since that money is soon spent by the government on farm subsidies or foreign wars, forcing more borrowing when retirees begin to collect benefits. Even now, the fund annually pays out more than it takes in and is projected to run this sum dry by 2033. Future inflation will accelerate this trend, and Fed induced low interest rates also hurt the program. Further, the payroll tax drains economic activity. When taking on more employees, employers factor in the total cost of hiring—such as payroll taxes, costs of regulation compliance, and insurance—in addition to wages. Therefore the tax buoys unemployment levels by making workers more expensive. Alternately, since businesses must also pay the matching 6.2 percent rate on workers, they simply pass this cost onto their employees with lowered wages. There are several solutions floated by politicians to right this listing behemoth. First, testing benefits could relieve some stress from the program by eliminating benefits for affluent retirees. However, this would philosophically undermine the premise of the system, transforming the pension program into an elderly welfare system. Slowly raising retirement age is already in progress. Further increasing retirement age to 70 for those now under 50 would relieve pressure from the system, but takes two decades to come into fruition while those youngsters reach retirement age. Another option is to slow the rise in cost of living adjustments, but this would necessitate the program carving out up to 23 percent of current retirees’ benefits to break even. Raising payroll taxes or lifting the cap on taxable earnings could also salvage the system, but the program is estimated to be up to 31 percent underfunded, necessitating payroll taxes to increase from 12.4 percent to 16.3 percent. This could result in greater economic stagnation and likely prove politically impossible. A combination of these options might be enacted to temporarily plug the fund’s hemorrhaging finances, but none will solve the program’s long term fiscal problems as the American population grays

and the worker to retiree ratio atrophies; tinkering at the edges SOURCES: of the program will not lead to fiscal solvency. ASSOCIATED PRESS Two approaches could be the most promising in saving the program. First, the federal government JP MORGAN could devolve the program to the states for implementation. DecentralSOCIAL SECURITY ized federalism is a defining characterBOARD OF TRUSTEES istic of American governance and the source of much success in our history. Although some states would undoubtedly squander the funds and magnify the original problems, many others would likely come up with creative and innovative solutions. Fifty laboratories of democracy would inevitably discover various successful approaches, which could be replicated in other state capitols across the country and uniquely tailored to local needs better than any top-down approach of a bloated centralized government. Further, allowing young Americans to voluntarily opt out of the system would allow financial independence for those who trust their own wits over government schemers when planning for their personal retirement and financial freedom. One thing is clear: Burying our collective head in the sand will not make this problem go away, and neither demagoguery nor demonization of reform will lead to revitalization. However, if the nation continues down this path of irresponsible spending, there is another ominous solution to unsustainable entitlements. Debt monetization and currency allow the government to escape impossible debt obligations by inflating its way out of past fiscal policy. In that case, the purchasing power of entitlement payments will come under increasing assault along with every other saved dollar.

From pornography to science teacher; she deserves a chance A history in an “unsavory” profession shouldn’t ruin this teacher’s career choice IRMA WONG Daily Titan

Although not a highly respected field, pornography is a legal industry for those who choose its work as their occupation. Courts in the United States have struggled with how the law should treat material that may be offensive or considered obscene to the general public. In the case California v. Freeman, the making of hardcore pornography was legalized in California by freedoms granted to Americans under the First Amendment of the Constitution. Adults are allowed to own, see, make or publish this type of

material, with some exceptions. Earlier this year, Stacie Halas, an Oxnard middle school science teacher, was fired for her involvement in the porn business, even though it was years before she started her career as an educator. Her past profession was reported to the school board after students had found one of her pornographic movies online. Oxnard school officials confirmed the allegations of Halas being in porn movies and uncovered her alias “Tiffany Six” shortly after. According to interviews with Tom DeLapp, a spokesman for Oxnard schools, Halas had lied about her past employment and that alone was reason enough to fire her. School district officials also claimed that students who knew about her time in the adult film

industry would be too distracted to effectively learn from such a role model. Last week, an NBC news segment was aired that reported Halas is currently in hearings, fighting to get her job back. Despite the scrutiny and opinions about her involvement in the adult film industry, she hopes to once again be a science teacher. School officials have commented to the press that Halas should not be reinstated as an educator, but those arguments simply aren’t strong. First and foremost, the fact that Halas did not list on her resume that she was in once in pornographic films should not be a main factor held against her; what should be the main concern here is that the school’s background check did not reveal her past.

As Halas’ attorney, Richard Schwab stated to NBC, “It was up to the school district to look into her background.” If a simple employment check was not verified by the school district in this case, more incriminating and dangerous facts can be left undiscovered in the future that can actually pose a danger for students. It is also important to take into account that Halas’ past profession is legal and was a temporary solution to financial problems she was facing at the time. Halas has stated to the press that her only reason for acting in porn was for money. In an article by the Ventura County Star, it is reported how Schwab even questioned a district official during a hearing as to whether it was appropriate to

teach students that when a person makes a mistake that’s not criminal, the person can seek change and improve. Instead of seeing Halas as a negative influence like district officials inferred in their response, she is actually the exact opposite. Yes, some will frown upon her involvement in pornography, but the fact that she reformed herself is something to admire. Halas was involved in pornography between 2005 and 2007, but had left that in the past by the time she started teaching in 2009. She left the adult film business to finish her education and get her teaching credentials, and that is an inspiring story. It is safe to say that everyone has made a mistake. Sometimes those mistakes are something that are

better forgotten or kept secret, out of fear of criticism. This was the case with Halas, and her past will not affect her ability to be a good teacher. The school district argues that her involvement in pornography is a negative influence and distraction. Halas, however, is not encouraging her students to do the same. She is educating them about science, which is a completely different subject. She is not showing students that she used to act in adult films, nor is she flaunting that fact. After all, the main argument against her is that she didn’t tell anyone about her past. She has the courage to fight for what she really wants, which is to teach, and that should be the real news factor here.

VISIT US AT DAILYTITAN.COM/OPINION

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THE DAILY TITAN

OCTOBER 30, 2012 TUESDAY

Local gym trains masked wrestlers World Power Wrestling offers lessons in lucha libre, as well as entertainment for crowds LAUREN TORRES Daily Titan

Music blasts as colorful strobe lights fill the air. The crowd cheers loudly as they anxiously wait for the next masked figure to emerge from behind the black curtain. With famous wrestlers such as John Cena, Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio and many other WWE, Mexican lucha libre and Japanese wrestlers, World Power Wrestling is the organization many aspiring wrestlers turn to for their training. World Power Wrestling (WPW) was established in 1996. It is the premiere lucha libre organization and lucha libre school in Southern California and the western United States, said Martin Marin, the founder of the organization and an active participant in the sport. “What we do is bring Mexican-style lucha libre professional wrestling to the public,” said Sean Thompson, 35, also known as “Stryker” or “Sgt. Sean Stryker.” “The sport is a little different from the American style of pro wrestling, it’s more acrobatic; usually people have masks and it also has a faster pace to it,” he added. Marin said he was fascinated with lucha libre as a child. “I’ve always liked lucha libre, I was always a fan growing up as a kid,” said Marin. “I was in love with the masks and the outfits.” Marin said he trained as a child to get involved in lucha libre, but he did not have the money to continue. “I had 11 siblings and it was really hard to make ends meet,” Marin said. “My mom had no money, she was a single mom and money was really scarce. “In the back of my head, it was always bothering me to become a wrestler.”

Marin said he recalls the day he went back to Mexico City, his birthplace, and met up with a friend he had not seen in a while. His friend invited him to accompany him to his job and Marin was taken by surprise. He kept questioning his friend if it was allowed for him to be present at his job. “We’re driving around and all of a sudden he stops and puts his mask on, and I go what the… what are you doing?” Marin said. “He says do you know who this wrestler is, I go ‘Yeah,’ and then he says, ‘Well I became a professional wrestler like we wanted to when we were kids.’” Marin’s friend gave him confidence by telling him he was well built. At the time, Marin was working out and in great shape to be a wrestler, so he took his friends advice and pursued it once more. “This is my life,” Marin said. “This is what I do for a living, since 1996… I started training before of course, it’s been 20 years.” Marin’s Lucha Libre Academy puts on shows once a week, Sundays in Santa Ana, Calif. “We’re planning on doing a different type of show where we put on a spoof of lucha libre, something with all different kinds of characters on Friday night, but it’ll all be done in English,” Marin said. “So we can introduce more lucha libre to other people.” Marin said that many WPW wrestlers, including Chris Jericho and John Cena, have had successful careers in professional wrestling. “Twenty years ago I trained with Chris Jericho, he’s a really good friend of mine,” Marin said. Marin said that not only does he help train aspiring wrestlers, but he helps them find their gimmick and develop their characters. Thompson has been wrestling for 12 years, and has been with World Power

WILLIAM CAMARGO / Daily Titan

World Power Wrestling has opened the doors for aspiring luchadores by helping them become professional wrestlers.

Wrestling since 2005. “Back in the late ‘90s there were only three promotions that were running wrestling as far as training schools and different styles and I had seen lucha libre on TV through Galavision,” Thompson said. Thompson said he was persuaded to wrestle in Mexico but out of the three promotions in southern California, WPW was the only one that offered lucha libre for its training. “I’ve wrestled in Mexico all the way

up to Utah,” Thompson said. Frankie “Top Notch” Segura Jr., 27, also joined World Power Wrestling in 2005 after he discovered an advertisement in a paper. “It’s my lifestyle,” said Segura. “It keeps me in shape, keeps me focused, keeps me off drugs and alcohol.” Segura said his goal is to go to WrestleMania. “What got me into wrestling was Bill Goldberg,” said Segura. “When I was 12 years old I saw him wrestle ‘Big Show’ and

the first words that came out of my mouth when I saw him do the jackhammer was ‘I want to be a pro wrestler.’” Marin’s lucha libre academy is open to the public. It is located at 1325 E. St. Andrews Place Suite B Santa Ana, CA 92705. It offers classes Monday through Thursday at noon, as well as from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information on classes or shows call (949) 929-5310 or visit their Facebook page at Facebook.com/luchalibrewpw

Moot Court course helps prepare pre-law students Teams of students compete in a mock Supreme Court trial at the regional and national level ALEX GROVES For the Daily Titan

ROBERT HUSKEY / Daily Titan

The Night Owl café in downtown Fullerton gives students a place to study, socialize or listen to live music.

The Night Owl provides late night comfort LAURA BILLITER For the Daily Titan

Perched in every cushioned corner, dozens of nocturnal coffee lovers armed with their technology of choice nest at The Night Owl Lounge. For a little more than a year, the eclectic café has provided Downtown Fullerton’s community with a late-night place to study, socialize or step into the local music and art scene—all over a cup of coffee. Advertising “All week 10 a.m. till Late,” the Night Owl sets its hours by its customers, not an eight-hour workday. “We never close any earlier than 1:30 a.m. and usually close around 3 a.m. or so. It really depends on the flow of people,” said barista Kelly Waugh, 21, senior at Cal State Fullerton. Waugh said she has worked at the café since it opened in December 2011. Co-owners Joe Rosati, 56, and Bob Anderson, 61, founded The Night Owl as a place “where artists, musicians and like-minded people could come together and enjoy each other’s diversity and complexity,” according to the café’s website. Live solo musicians in a richly curtained alcove of the café perform songs for the sleepless. It’s a Saturday night and a young singer with a crooning twang like a country guitar runs through his own acoustic repertoire of songs by Death Cab for Cutie, The Killers and Green Day. According to Waugh and The Night Owl’s website, the tip jar that sits on a stool across from the musicians not only collects money for the performers of these “indie” and “alternative”

songs, but also for the community. The Night Owl “matches dollar for dollar” every tip the musicians receive and anonymously donates the money in the form of a gift card to a local family in need. The coffee shop features local musicians and artists with “open mic nights” every Tuesday and art galleries that run approximately every month, Waugh said. Vibrant images of stylized, owl-eyed women and their feathered friends hang on the café walls between curtained windows, creating colored points of intensity among the passive, earthy hues. The gallery feature “Girls with Owls,” by Fullerton artist Holly Bliss, 23, began in August and will run through the end of October. “I started coming here more and more frequently and now that my artwork is up here, it’s kind of become my favorite place. It’s an awesome spot,” said Bliss. Love for The Night Owl also extends to the café’s Facebook page. “We enjoy your inspiring photos and intense amounts of delicious coffee,” wrote Aaron Spreier, a Facebook user, on Sept. 18. Even those who proclaim their dislike of promotions posted praise for the café. “I’m normally not the endorsing type,” said customer Ryan Pena in a Facebook post in March. “But damn it, this place has secured a spot in my blackened, tar riddled, heart.” The café, sitting on the corner of Harbor Boulevard and Amerige Avenue, offers coffee and tea choices apparently designed for the

college student budget. All drinks cost less than $5 and refills cost 50 cents, the cheapest beverage being the home roast priced at $1.75 for a “regular” size. In comparison, the four independent Starbucks locations in Fullerton—excluding those on the CSUF campus and in shopping outlets— sell its smallest and cheapest coffee for $2, no refills offered. In addition to drawing college crowds, The Night Owl also attracts officers of the Fullerton Police Department. Cpl. Sam Contino, 51, and his partner walk into the café in full uniform on their beat for a cup of the caffeine standard that’s “as good as Starbucks.” “I come to The Night Owl with my partner once or twice a week around midnight, one o’clock,” Contino said, whose beat runs until four in the morning. “My partner and I are in charge of everything in Downtown Fullerton, all the businesses. Before this place even opened I had to approve it—that’s how I knew about it.” In addition to standard Styrofoam to-go cups, coffee also may be served in a ceramic mug for those who choose to nestle in for a while. Of course, in keeping with the unique theme of the lounge, none of the mugs match. Elegantly scrawled on a blackboard menu behind the register, white chalk displays the different drinks and prices, and also boasts the lounge’s specific attributes. “We pride ourselves in customizing drinks for you,” it says in a cloud bubble. “We only serve organic fair-trade coffee,” says another.

While the vast majority of courses are riddled with in-class lectures and tests, Moot Court stands apart by putting students right in the action of a simulated Supreme Court Mock Trial. Cal State Fullerton is one of more than 250 universities that participates in American Collegiate Moot Court Association (ACMA), although there may be many more colleges and universities that participate on an intramural basis. Although the class is primarily composed of pre-law majors, anyone can join. Students’ majors run the gamut from criminal justice to liberal studies. Teams of students are judged based on their knowledge of the case by individuals who come from experienced law backgrounds. The Moot Court session lasts for around 40 minutes, with each group of individuals taking up about half that time to argue the case from their perspective. Of the 20 minutes a group has to win the judges over, each of the members must take up at least seven minutes. Moot Court has been a class at CSUF for six years now. Every year, the class has successfully qualified a group for nationals. In 2011, new ground was broken when political science major Brian Del Vecchio, who has since graduated and currently helps coach the team, was named the seventh best orator in the country, an impressive accomplishment for a state college with a relatively new team. Del Vecchio said he stayed involved in Moot Court because it helped him decide what he wanted to pursue in his career. “The reason that I do it is (because) it’s really changed my life,” said Del Vecchio. “Prior to finding Moot Court I was a pretty good student, but it wasn’t until I took the class that I decided I wanted to do this for the rest of my life.” Del Vecchio is not alone when it comes to being so passionate about the Moot Court class. Current president Amy Bailey shares

his passion and enthusiasm for the course. Bailey said she loves how she’s moved from the role of forming her own arguments into the role of a teacher, but she also said the thing that drives her most is her passion for the same subject as her peers. “My favorite part of the Moot Court experience is being able to go on Facebook at 3 a.m. in the morning and share a piece of information that you find with your fellow classmates, and then you find that they were equally enthusiastic as you were,” Bailey said. Pamela Fiber-Ostrow, the professor in charge of teaching POSC/CRJU 471, said the team has put in many hours to be accomplish their goals in competitions. In addition to weekend practices, students enrolled will spend anywhere between 15-20 hours in the library for additional practice during the week. “I’ve often wondered how I get away with asking so much of (the students),” said Fiber-Ostrow. “It’s because we have a lot of competitive people. It’s not one of those things for people who think, ‘Yeah, I’m just going to dabble.’” Fiber-Ostrow said before she admits students to the class, she interviews them in a “couch talk” to make sure they’re serious and committed about taking the course. She said this is important because once students have a partner, it would be unfair for them to leave the class. Fiber-Ostrow also checks transcripts to verify that students are capable of devoting the necessary number of hours to practice and class sessions without interfering with other coursework. With the semester already well underway, the class is inching closer to the tournament at the end of the year. For many students this is just the start of a longer process, with nationals right around the corner. The qualifier round for the National Moot Court Competition will be held Nov. 30 and last through Dec. 1 at Cal State Long Beach. Students who move on to nationals will compete at Regent University’s School of Law on Jan. 18. The case will be in regard to whether or not a preferential admissions program violates the Fourteenth Amendment of equal protection under the law.

October 30, 2012

Crossword

FOR RELEASE OCTOBER 27, 2012

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Horoscope

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Aries (Mar. 21-April 19) Boost morale and get the job done for a profit. Let yourself be talked into an outing with special friends. Let your partner do the talking, and empower the group to proceed. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Take on more work to pay off a debt. You’re in the spotlight, so enjoy it. Makes sure you have what you need, even if you have to ask for help. Return a favor. Gemini (May 21-June 20) Use this opportunity to let go of the old and build anew. Consolidate your position. A partner has a pleasant surprise. Document your findings. You’re lucky now. Cancer (June 21-July 22) You have the power, if you choose to use it. Improve your technology with a small investment and plenty of outsidethe-box thinking. Plan a trip with your partner.

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Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Your leadership skills improve. You are at your most convincing, but also allow yourself to be persuaded to a new point of view. Make an interesting discovery about love. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) The call of the wild is ringing. Respond passionately. Work with a member of your household to gain clarity. Determination produces results, possibly lucrative. Libra way, focus ative

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22) You get to have it your but you’re attracting attention. Too much on detail may create additional work. Get crewhile keeping the big picture in mind.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Discover something of value that you or someone else has hidden. Share the winnings. Getting along with others is extremely helpful now. Follow your intuition.

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Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Choose your challenge, and then try all different angles. Don’t get so busy that you forget to pay attention to friends. They offer good advice. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Romance fills the air. Resistance is futile. The whole thing helps you gain self-confidence. Get creative with color, line and expression, and share how you feel. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Love finds a way. There are so many friends you want to see. Turn objections to agreement through gentle persuasion. Your fame travels. Romance a competitor. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Make sure you know what’s required. Making a good impression with compelling selling points works. Accept wise financial advice. Power your way through tasks.

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10/27/12

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Friday’s Puzzle Solved

39 Island capital near Robert Louis Stevenson’s burial site 41 Repair shop offer 42 “Master and Commander” novelist Patrick 44 Body shop supply 45 Function runner 46 Sides

10/27/12

47 With 23-Across, actor/director/ writer with nine Emmys 48 Comics dog 49 “Switched-On Bach” instrument 50 Course 52 “Forever, __”: 1996 humor collection 53 Get past the bouncer 55 Vietnam’s __ Dinh Diem

PAGE 8

THE DAILY TITAN

FITNESS

OCTOBER 30, 2012 TUESDAY

SURFING: Can’t stop waves, learn to surf CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Alain Bourgault, a surf instructor at Cal State Fullerton, agrees that surfing works on more than just a few specific muscle groups. “I think surfing in general is a well-rounded activity,” said Bourgault. “Basically, surfers, to me a lot of times, are the people that are in the best shape because it’s not only cardiovascular, endurance ... you also have the anaerobic portion where you have to paddle quickly to get a wave or get out of the way of a wave.” The amount of time spent in the water, which for surfers is generally large chunks, has a physical effect on the body as well. “I surf between 2-3 hours; these hours are spent constantly balancing, which keeps your core engaged,” said Pasinato. Another physical aspect of body fitness that surfers perfect through their activity is flexibility. A lot of the maneuvers that a surfer engages in when catching and riding a wave require some sense of body movement and twisting. “Flexibility is key,” said Bourgault. “When I’m working with the beginners I’m trying to get them to do that pop-up, and the pop-up involves where you’re kind of doing a push-up and then you move into a lunge position… and people have tight hips, especially the guys… and getting that foot underneath your chest and far enough forward is really tough.” Physically, surfers must be in good shape to succeed, and the activity itself will help build the body for endurance. Yet what makes surfing a truly well-rounded exercise experience is the fact that it builds the body for mental endurance as well. “The mental comes in from fear. The fear comes out more so on bigger days. Also, keeping yourself in the water is a mental drain,” Pasinato said. That fear manifests in various ways for surfers. Whether it’s the fear of drowning, fear of sharks and other critters, or being out alone with essentially only foam and fiberglass supporting your body; surfing can be mentally as well as physically draining. “It’s hard for some people because you go from a safe position on your belly to your feet and it’s a hard transition,” said Wu. Half the battle for surfers is overcoming those fears and building their mental strength. It may get easier the longer one surfs, but it will never be a piece of cake. “Either you’re committed or you’re not, and it will throw you down, beat you up, and question you, ‘Do you really want this?’” Bourgault said.

ROBERT HUSKEY / Daily Titan

Surfer Giovanni Pasinato gets set to attempt to stand up on his surfboard at Huntington Beach, which he usually does for about two to three hours each session. Some other popular surf spots in Orange County are Trestles in San Clemente off Cristianitos Road and San Onofre just off the I-5 exiting Basilone.

Of course, all of this would mean nothing if surfers did not consistently get back in the water as much as they do. Bourgault talks about the fact that surfing can become like an addiction, and people will often spend hours all day every day, sacrificing work or family to catch that wave. While some do not go to that extreme, the benefits of surfing do come out of doing the activity often. “Like any good exercise program, whether

you’re losing weight or getting stronger or better at those skills, you have to do it consistently to obtain that,” Bourgault said. Consistency is the key to building a good mental and physical foundation that surfing really requires. Inside and out, surfers are constantly working their bodies in various ways. “I think surfing really lends itself to a lot of the activities that keep you healthy. It’s almost like a

As Seen on DT IRMA WONG

Cramming replaces huffing and puffing As a college student, I have come to learn that one of the most nerve-wracking times comes halfway through the semester. This period is best known for midterms—not an exciting prospect for students, and I’m no exception. Unfortunately, I cannot squeeze in all the information that might be on these important exams by cramming the night before since one can’t risk failing a midterm. These big tests are often are worth a huge chunk of the final grades. This semester served as quite a challenge, as I had three consecutive midterms. Staying up late to study had me looking like a raccoon with dark circles around my eyes. Midterms are also the reason I couldn’t dedicate an hour everyday to my P90X regimen, like I had been doing for the past two months. Compared to working out to the Tony Horton exercise DVDs seven days a week, I had to temporarily cut it down to three. I needed to make this change because my weekly schedule required much more effort due to the tests I had to study for. As I have mentioned in past columns, I’ve got a

full body type of work out. Not so much building a bunch of muscle strength, but more muscle endurance, and flexibility, and also aerobic capacity,” Bourgault said. The ocean is powerful and commands a certain type of man or woman to scale it. The activity gives a lot to the body, but it commands a lot as well. For those willing to put in the work, it is certainly worth the reward.

lot on my plate this semester. My commutes, regular homework, writing articles for the Daily Titan, work and ASI events all had to come before my workout plan recently. As a result of a busy schedule, I was deprived from sleep and suffered from more stress than usual. Horton states on the P90X website that “stress depletes your energy, strength, and desire, while poor sleep habits affect your moods and immune function.” This statement definitely describes what I felt the week before and during midterms. Overwhelming amounts of stress really unmotivated me to do exercise during the weekdays because I had so much to accomplish. I felt as though there were not enough hours to complete all of my tasks. On the P90X website Horton also said, “It takes a lot of energy to be stressed out. Allowing stress to overtake you means you’re having a tough time dealing with reality.” This statement rings true to me as I was having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that I had so much to do in such little time. I resorted to crying my stress away a couple times which actually helped. My average of four hours of sleep each weekday also added to my depleted levels of energy and probably made it easier for me to get sick with a minor flu. Keeping workouts off the weekday schedule this time around was not as bad as I thought it would be. Exercising on Friday, Saturday and Sunday still produced some results I did not expect. Since the start of my P90X challenge, I have lost a total of 13 pounds. I have been consistently losing weight every week, which is something I am very proud of. Although these weeks in particular might have not included a daily workout, my healthy eating habits have helped keep the off the weight that I previously lost. Eating the right combinations of food are making my metabolism work more efficiently even though I cut down to fewer workouts during midterms. The past couple of weeks of sleep deprivation and stress were not fun to endure, but luckily I got through them with good grades and other positive results.

JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWEEN: CHOCOLATE FACTS With Halloween comes costumes, pumpkins, scares and, most importantly, chocolate. Although most students will likely “forget” to count their calories this week, they can be assured that stuffing their faces with chocolate reaps actual benefits besides just a full stomach. Chocolate is rich in antioxidants, more than some types of fruit juice.

Those who eat chocolate frequently have lower body mass indexes than those who eat it less often.

Eating chocolate can regulate blood pressure while increasing blood flow.

Polyphenols, a type of antioxidant found in chocolate, can increase muscular performance.

It has also been linked to lower rates of heart disease and stroke.

Dark chocolate lowers stress hormones and lessens cravings for sweet, salty and fatty foods.

Chocolate can improve cholesterol. CONTACT US AT DTSPORTSDESK@GMAIL.COM

LOREN MANNING

/ Daily Titan