Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013

DAILY TITAN The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton T

Volume 93, Issue 4

NEWS 3

Filling out FASFA before deadline OPINION 4

Stopping dangerous school traditions FEATURES 6

Titan wins Miss Fullerton title SPORTS 8

Fitness: Healthy eating on V-Day

dailytitan.com

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2013

LOCAL | CSU obstacles

Chancellor explains challenges Chancellor White speaks with students regarding the budget and online courses ERINN GROTEFEND Daily Titan

Cal State University Chancellor Timothy White met with students on a “student level” to analyze some of the challenges facing the CSUs and his plan to overcome them at a press conference on Feb. 6.

Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed 2013-14 budget presented to the CSU Board of Trustees late last month included a road map of where the different funds are headed. One item included a $10 million increase for online instruction.

White said the funds would be used to invest in technology to enhance the learning environment and redesign courses to allow more students through “bottleneck” courses that have shown to impede students’ process of continuing their education.

“We need to get students through with the same high expectation of content in a different way,” said White.

White added that some of the bottleneck courses have high withdrawal, dropout and failure rates and that the CSUs have a moral responsibility to identify places where there are low levels of success.

Though the exact plan is not in place, the purpose of the funds is to build a bigger pipeline for more students to get through the system quicker; this might include more sections or online classes fused with discussion.

Many bottleneck courses hold students back but White guaranteed there is a system-wide initiative to eliminate them while allowing each CSU to shape their own curriculum.

SEE CHANCELLOR, 3

Countdown to CollegeTown DAVID HOOD & IAN WHEELER Daily Titan

A panel of city officials entertained public input during a special meeting on the status of CollegeTown, a rezoning project that could transform the urban geography of east Fullerton.

The project is now at its halfway point and is expected to be completed April 2014.

The two-block area directly south of the Cal State Fullerton campus will be sculpted by market forces, according to Charles Kovac, a project manager for the city of Fullerton.

The CollegeTown plan was orchestrated between three entities: Hope International University, Cal State Fullerton and the city of Fullerton, and will cost an estimated $1 million—about $330,000 for each of the three

parties. However, it will not guarantee the district will flourish with new development.

Instead, it is expected to show investors the business potential that is usually associated with owning property next to a college campus.

The CollegeTown concept was originally formed between planning officials from the city of Fullerton and CSUF as a long-term development plan for the area around campus and became one of the reasons Hope International decided to not move out of the area in 2010.

The idea gained momentum when Hope International sold part of its property directly south of its campus.

After the purchase and demolition of a 10-story office building, a private contracting firm began to build what is now University House, which is expecting to move residents in this May.

JOHN PEKCAN / Daily Titan TOP: University House is not technically part of the CollegeTown plan, but will likely serve as a model for future developments nearby.

Courtesy of City of Fullerton RIGHT: An artist’s rendering of how Commonwealth Avenue would look with a light-rail transit system running through the street.

When University House is completed, the land value of the surrounding area is expected to rise.

This could trigger a domino effect of new development and rising land values as tenants and developers scrap older buildings and build modern ones over the next several years, in compliance with the building and zoning requirements of the CollegeTown plan.

That process, however, would be completely market driven; the city cannot force current landowners to

make any changes to their property.

Project planners are now finalizing community outreach and technical studies in preparation for an environmental impact study, Kovac said.

Ideally, the two-block area’s capacity will equate to about 13,888

beds with almost 500,000 square feet of office space, said Karen Gulley, principal at the Planning Center DC&E, a consulting firm hired by the city.

SEE PROJECT, 2

CAMPUS | Enriching students

FEATURES | Mardi Gras

Four goals to improve CSUF over next five years Strategic Planning Steering Committee discusses third and fourth goals with staff RAYMOND MENDOZA Daily Titan

RAY WIKPOOR / For the Daily Titan Trevor Naya, a child who attended the Mardi Gras for Autism event, plays with a giant bubble wand. The event was held outside Bourbon Street in Fullerton.

Fundraiser celebrates New Orleans style JULIA GUTIERREZ Daily Titan

A taste of the popular New Orleans event Mardi Gras occurred Saturday with a charitable twist outside Bourbon Street in Downtown Fullerton.

Jazz, face painting, a magician and bubbles were just a few of the highlights at Mardi Gras for Autism. Families with children on the autism spectrum gathered for a day of fun to support one another with their challenges and successes.

To parents like Candice Deleon, the mother of a child with autism, this event helped them gain more information on how to deal with the disorder.

“My son Jaden, he is the one with autism. We’ve done a couple of events with A.skate (which encourages children with autism to use skateboarding as a method of socialization) … on Facebook, they posted a flyer for this (the event),” said Deleon.

Jaden pranced around with a Mardi Gras themed crown on his

head while his mother spoke.

“Every time we go to something like this it’s just nice for him (Jaden) to be able to interact and just do the different things that are here,” Deleon said. “They make it so that the kids can participate and get whatever they need.”

Many attendees were supporters who have no experience with autism at all. Kim Truong was one of them.

According to Truong, her daughter is not on the spectrum but was enjoying herself at the

event. Truong said the event was good for the kids.

Mardi Gras for Autism was created four years ago by Larry Houser, the co-owner of Bourbon Street and the founder and president of Fullerton Cares, a nonprofit organization that raises funds for Fullerton public schools’ special education programs.

Houser said his experience with autism is quite personal. His son Boyd, was diagnosed at 2 years old.

SEE AUTISM, 6

Cal State Fullerton’s Strategic Planning Steering Committee inched closer toward a finalized fiveyear plan concerning four goals that are meant to improve workplace usable skills for students, increase graduation rates, recruiting and retaining faculty and staff and increasing school revenue.

The meeting took place on Thursday in the Titan Student Union’s Pavillion A by first looking over the first two goals and closing out with public comments about their third and fourth goals.

The bulk of the meeting was based on goals three and four, as CSUF faculty members questioned various aspects of the goals and how they would affect the campus as a whole and the community.

Specifically, goal one states that CSUF wishes to “develop and maintain a curricular and co-curricular environment that prepares students for participation in a global society and meets workforce needs,” and goal two is meant to “improve student persistence, increase graduation rates and narrow the achievement gap for underrepresented students.”

Goal three is meant to “recruit and retain a high-quality and diverse

faculty and staff,” while goal four is supposed to “increase revenue through fundraising, entrepreneurial activities, grants and contracts.”

Each goal also had individual objectives such as better recruitment for hiring faculty and staff, increase philanthropic productivity and increase alumni participation.

The event was hosted by Jennifer Faust, associate vice president for academic affairs, and Robert Mead, chair for planning, resource and budget committee, as they answered questions in a town hall format.

During the announcement of goal three, Liz Breach, application development and support employee, asked about the priority of salary for CSUF staff members.

“I know management gets paid what they’re worth, but the staff do not,” said Breach. “The staff, they care about Cal state Fullerton and they work really hard and I hope you guys take this as a priority.”

As the public comments continued, John Beisner, interim associate vice president for human resources, said the goals were not fully formed and were missing important points involving finances and student involvement.

“As I read this, it seems like there’s half of it that’s missing,” said Beisner. “There needs to be some type of objective that staff must engage in mentoring students or advising student groups.”

SEE GOALS, 2

VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM/NEWS

NEWS

PAGE 2

THE DAILY TITAN

FEBRUARY 12, 2013 TUESDAY

Tips pour in as Dorner search continues TIM WORDEN Daily Titan

There is “probable cause” that a fugitive ex-Los Angeles police officer fled to Mexico around Thursday, according to a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Marshals Service that was made public Monday night.

The criminal affidavit complaint, filed in federal court on Thursday, states that homicide suspect Christopher Dorner may have fled the state of California to avoid criminal prosecution.

Authorities have not been able to locate Dorner in the multicounty manhunt described as one of the largest in Los Angeles’ history. His burned truck was found in Big Bear on Thursday morning.

The document, written by Marshals Service inspector Craig McClusky, lists an accomplice to Dorner, named as “J.Y.” The associate has a family member who owns a residential property in Arrowbear Lake, Calif.

Dorner’s truck was found next to this property, the document states.

The document states that a detective found Dorner’s personal belongings, including his wallet and identification cards, near the U.S.-Mexico border at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

“There is probable cause to believe that Dorner has moved and traveled in interstate and foreign commerce from California to Mexico,” stated McClusky in the document.

According to the Los Angeles Times, federal authorities said the document reflected their thinking at the time, but Dorner could be anywhere.

The LAPD declined to comment on the document on Monday night.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, responsible for securing the border, joined the search efforts at the San Diego border crossing on Monday, according to the Associated Press.

In addition, the Orange County Register reports that the search force in Big Bear was trimmed from 125 to 30 officers on Monday.

“There is probable cause to believe that Dorner has moved ... from California to Mexico. ” CRAIG MCCLUSKY Marshals Service Inspector On Monday, Riverside District Attorney Paul Zellerbach charged Dorner with murdering a Riverside police officer, according to AP. Special circumstances on the murder charge could give Dorner

the death penalty if convicted.

The memorial for the slain officer, named by the Riverside County Sheriff ’s Department as Michael Crain, will be held on Wednesday.

Dorner is also a suspect in the Irvine double-homicide of Cal State Fullerton assistant women’s basketball coach Monica Quan and her fiancé Keith Lawrence.

The LAPD set up a Joint Information Center to receive Dorner related tips and media enquiries on Monday.

According to the LAPD, the information center will have daily media briefings on the case at 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. in front of the LAPD’s Police Administration Building.

More than 700 tips have been received as of Monday afternoon, according to the LAPD. There is a $1 million reward for assisting in the suspect’s capture.

The LAPD advises the public to call the tip line at (213) 486-6860 or 911 if they see the suspect.

FALSE SIGHTINGS San Diego 7 p.m. on Sunday. - Feb. 10 Point Loma Naval Base in San Diego on Thursday morning. - Feb. 7

Anaheim Raymond Avenue near the 91 Freeway on Monday - Feb. 11

Tarzana KFC, on Monday - Feb. 11

FOR THE RECORD It is Daily Titan policy to correct factual errors printed in the publication. Corrections will be published on the subsequent issue after an error is discovered and will appear on page 2. Errors on the Opinion page will be corrected on that page. Corrections will also be made to the online version of the article.

Please contact Editor-in-Chief David Hood at (805) 712-2811 or at editorinchief@dailytitan.com with issues about this policy or to report any errors.

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Three Anaheim residents were killed late Saturday night when they were struck by a vehicle while crossing a long stretch of road in the 100 block of South Western Avenue, according to the Orange County Register.

The driver, Buena Park resident Anthony L. Sanchez, 40, is under arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence.

The location of accident was between Lincoln and Orange avenues around 11 p.m. It occurred after the women left a baby shower, where one of the victims was celebrating the expectant arrival of a grandchild.

Two of the women died of injuries at the hospital but one woman’s injuries were so severe that she was pronounced dead at the scene.

This particular sweep of road is infamous for speeding as referred to by residents who would like to see speed bumps, stop signs or decreased speed limit added to this particular area in hopes to avoid tragedies of this nature.

A candlelight vigil was held on Sunday where friends and families could come pay respects to their lost loved ones.

Pope to resign February 28

E ditorial David Hood Ian Wheeler Erinn Grotefend Nereida Moreno Adrian Garcia Sam Mountjoy Bevi Edlund Julie Edgington Blanca Navarro Ann Pham Tim Worden Peter Pham Chris Konte Julia Gutierrez Robert Huskey Rae Romero John Pekcan Vanessa Martinez Ricardo Gonzalez Matt Atkinson Sima Sarraf Kymberlie Estrada Deanna Trombley Yvette Quintero Adreana Young Ashley Ruiz Justin Enriquez Angel Mendoza Gaby Martinez Tameem Seraj Ethan Hawkes David McLaren Ashley Isordia Raymond Mendoza Andie Ayala

Suspected DUI kills three

Brief by CRYSTAL CHAVIRA

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DTBRIEFS

Courtesy of City of Fullerton The CollegeTown plan proposes the reconfiguration of an 85-acre area just south of Cal State Fullerton.

PROJECT: Residents voice concerns over spending and traffic CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

A core CollegeTown goal is to make the area more pedestrianfriendly and expand public transportation services in the area—some concept art illustrated the possibility of light rail running through the center of Commonwealth Avenue.

Kovac said the project is going as planned, but some neighboring residents do not approve of the plan, maintaining that possible street closures would be a major strain for commuters who rely on Nutwood and Chapman avenues to board the 57 Freeway.

At a public meeting on Feb. 5, dozens of local residents filed into the Fullerton Library Conference Center to voice their concerns, such as unwanted noise levels caused by sponsored concerts in the “mixeduse” spaces.

Others claimed that traffic bottlenecks caused by the influx of new college residents would plague the area already bogged down during peak hours.

At the center was the city’s contribution, a $330,000 commitment citizens worried would come out of their wallets. Fullerton officials, however, confirmed the city’s portion would not come from taxpayer dollars.

“They key thing is having everybody understand what the project is without having misinformation or anything,” Kovac said. “As long as we get out what the information about the project is, we think that people will warm up to it.”

Gulley said the project as a whole has the opportunity to bring the neighborhood together in a way that fuses community and college life in a beneficial way.

“The vision for CollegeTown can really be captured in a single idea: In the future, CollegeTown will be a place where campus life and city life converge,” said Gulley. “What we mean by that is this will be a place that does not only cater to students, but also the broader community.”

Last summer state-level budget cuts waylaid every redevelopment agency in every California city.

Since city redevelopment funding is granted by Sacramento, developments are out of commission unless planning began before last summer.

“The redevelopment agency has been dissolved, but we still have obligations that we have agreements with, whether it’s with organizations or developers, that we still have to honor,” Kovac said.

“But once those are finished, then we’re done—we can’t create any new obligations.”

GOALS: Planning for students’ futures CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

While the language of the goals and objectives seemed simple enough, Jay Bond, associate vice president for facilities planning and management, was unsure of the meaning of specific bullet points within each goal.

“I was just reading through this and it seems like it contains a lot of jargon,” said Bond. “I’m not sure what ‘overall private solicitation baseline’ is: Does that have a meaning?”

However the goals were worded,

there did seem to be an overall satisfactory feel from the present faculty and staff.

Harry Norman, associate vice president for international programs and dean of extended education, said he thought the meeting worked well, as the feedback from comments and questions would better shape the goals for CSUF. “I think it was a good meeting with good input from the community about these particular goals and objectives,” said Norman. “I think what we’re going to see is that we’re going to take these ob-

jectives and we’re going to make some changes. Some of them will actually become strategies and there will be some change of language based on input today and I think that’s good.”

With the review for the goals and objectives nearing its end, the planning committee’s final steps are to present the goals to the campus at the beginning of March, finalize elements of the plans at the end of March and then present the final plan to the campus on April 12.

The plan is expected to be completed by June 30, 2018.

Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation Monday, citing poor health and his declining age according to USA Today.

Benedict, 85, became Pope in 2005 and is the first Pope to resign in 600 years as leader of the 1 billion-member Catholic church.

Speaking in Latin, Benedict announced his resignation to a small gathering of cardinals at the Vatican of his decision.

The Pope’s abdication will go into effect Feb. 28 and a new Pope will be elected before March 31.

A meeting will be held for cardinals under 80 years old to elect the new pope. The vote has to come out to twothirds of a consensus or a new Pope cannot be elected.

The first Pope to use social media, Benedict garnered a great deal of attention when he began using Twitter last year.

Brief by TIFFANY JOHNSTONE

Gas prices surge past $4 a gallon Gas prices are the highest they have been since October 2012 and are expected to rise as the spring season approaches, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in the U.S. is $3.59, which is 7.8 cents higher than the record set last Feb. 11.

The average price for a gallon of gas in California rose 14 cents to $4.05 in the past week alone, according to the LA Times.

With gas steadily rising, it has become a wakeup call to drivers. Their hard earned money is no longer going into any investment but instead straight into the tank.

The rise in prices is like a magic trick, it was not expected and it will not be as easy as waving a wand to stop the increase.

The question of electric cars, hybrids and small economy cars are coming to mind as the gas prices rise again for the spring season that is approaching the nation.

Brief by KRISTIN WISEMAN

FEBRUARY 12, 2013

TUESDAY

NEWS

PAGE 3

THE DAILY TITAN

CHANCELLOR: Online classes graduate students sooner CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“The goal fits everybody but how you get there is going to be the individuality of a campus,” White said.

One of the major challenges facing the CSU is the number of students applying and the ability of the system to deliver an education. The main issues are high demands for university services and finite resources that could include courses or faculty.

“We will grow only when we have the resources to make sure that when a student is admitted to a campus, they are able to get to classes in a timely way,” White said.

The blending of faculty, technology and students would create the learning environment of the future, White said. He added that money will probably not be saved but hopefully students are admitted and get through courses quicker with the existing resources.

Another part of the budget was to grow the student body by five percent because of high admissions demand. White’s view was to focus on being more “effective” with the resources the CSUs already have, which includes technology.

“We have to be smart in using technology where it makes sense,” White said. “Not to use technology as the end-all because that’s not what a university education is about.”

He stated that despite the benefits of online programming, a university education is about personal growth and working in a multicultural and global environment, which is some-

thing students cannot experience online.

The budget also included a transfer in of general obligation bond debt service. The CSUs currently, as well as in the past, issue bonds to complete major renovations and construct buildings. Many of the CSU campuses, including Fullerton, were built in the ‘50s and now require major renovations.

White said they are concerned about this part of the bill and are in conversation with Sacramento lawmakers about the intended and unintended consequences that could go sour.

“There won’t be future year’s supplements to pay for the debt service,” White said. “It’s going to limit dramatically the way in which the campuses can maintain themselves or grow and that’s a big concern.”

The Chancellor assured that the general obligation bond debt service does not have a big impact on the operating budget for the next couple of years. He said it is his job as a campus leader to worry about the next five to 20 years and that is where the “devil is in the details.”

General obligation bonds are paid back to the buyers with an interest rate paid by each campus. This, in turn, comes from public dollars of the student or the taxpayer pockets.

“People that have paid for this amazing system over the years are Californians,” White said. “Not an interest group, not an outlier political point of view … This is a California State University and never lose track of that.”

JOHN PEKCAN / Daily Titan California State University Chancellor Timothy White listens to the various concerns regarding the CSU on Feb. 6 in Long Beach.

Financial aid running dry

Asbestos-filled buildings deemed inhabitable YVETTE QUNITERO Daily Titan

Cal State Fullerton released its annual asbestos building report that details the location and gives information on campus buildings that may or may not contain asbestos fibers.

The 2013 report is compiled by CSUF’s Environmental Health and Instructional Safety, in accordance with California’s Notification Law and Safety Code Sections 25915. The law requires that notification be given for asbestos present in public buildings.

University employees were notified in January of the presence of asbestos in various campus buildings.

In general, buildings constructed before 1990, such as College Park, McCarthy Hall, Langsdorf Hall and the Humanities Building, are assumed to have been constructed with materials containing asbestos.

Asbestos is a mineral used in building materials for its fire resistant properties. It may be present in insulation, tiling, hot water and steam pipes, carpets, or other construction materials.

Colleen Wilkins, Environmental Health and Instructional Safety officer, said most asbestos on campus

is found within floor tiles.

If left undisturbed, asbestos does not pose a risk or health hazard to the campus community.

“If it’s in materials and no one is touching it, no one is playing with it, it’s not really a problem for workers,” said John Breskey, Ph.D., an assistant health science professor.

The risk of exposure occurs when construction or deconstruction are underway and asbestos comes out of the materials and into the air.

When this occurs, a removal job is scheduled. Willem van der Pol, Physical Plant director, said a removal job is typically triggered by another project.

“A remodeling project can potentially cause the disturbance of asbestos and makes it, therefore, a priority for removal,” Van der Pol said.

In 2012, various removal jobs were conducted in McCarthy Hall and the Kinesiology and Health Science, Humanities and Visual Arts buildings.

The removal jobs were completed in seven different months, with four of the jobs being completed during the course of the semester on weekends.

“Most jobs are scheduled for breaks or summer because there are fewer

Student Financial Services encourages students to apply for aid before Mar. 2 BEVI EDLUND Daily Titan

JOHN PEKCAN / Daily Titan Langsdorf Hall is one of the buildings that had asbestos removed in 2012.

people on campus,” Wilkins said. “Jobs are done on the weekend because no one but the police are here.”

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, inhalation

Asbestos on Campus

Source: CSUF

of asbestos fibers is the primary cause of asbestos-related disease. If fibers are not expelled through mucus secretions or coughing, they may become embedded in the lungs.

The three major types of asbestos-related disease are Asbestosis, lung cancer and Mesothelioma.

“It’s a mineral … so your immune system can’t break it down,” Breskey said. “It tries to break it down, but it can’t so it ends up making a lot of scar tissue and if you let that progress long enough over the course of years, you can actually end up getting respiratory diseases.”

To avoid health complications, many precautions have to be taken prior to removing asbestos. Removal must be done by specially trained individuals that are certified.

Small removal jobs are done by Facilities Operations trade workers, while large projects are done by contractors specializing in removal.

“We have a number of our trade workers who are trained in this kind of work and we do small jobs, typically as part of a maintenance activity,” Van der Pol said.

After extensive training, the abatement contractors set up a containment. This includes closing off the area with plastic or, if it is a single room, sealing the door and the air supply, Wilkins said.

Jobs are prioritized according to the availability of the contractor. The cost of the removal jobs spans a variety of projects.

Students are encouraged to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the March 2 deadline before funds deplete.

Financial aid awards are disbursed on a first come, first serve basis. The need-based grants will be the first to go because state funds are limited due to the economic recession of the past three years.

Mary Fallon, communications consultant of the Student Financial Aid Services Inc., said seven states are pushing students to fill out their FASFA as close to Jan. 1 as possible because funds may deplete faster than previous years.

“You don’t want to wait ...

If you know there is a limited amount of money, and it’s starting to disperse, you want the most you can be possibly eligible for,” Fallon said. “The sooner you ask for it, sooner you’ll be in that line for aid, that’s important.”

Fallon added that a lot of colleges tell their students to estimate their income tax in order to be in the system when disbursements are released, even if they have to modify it in the future.

The average aid award last year was more than $13,000.

“State grant aid for undergraduate students has dropped about 2 percent from five years ago,” according to the National Association of State Student Grant Aid Administrators. The downward trend is expected to continue.

First-time college students preparing their FAFSA might not be aware of the fund process. Fallon said the college decides how much aid students receive, not the state or federal government.

She added that every college has a different approach in determining how the funds will be distributed to students.

“Obviously a high achieving (academic) student from a lowincome household would probably get more money than a lower achieving student from a rich

household,” Fallon said.

The majority of college students qualify for some sort of financial aid, even if it is just a federal education loan. Fallon said it is unusual that a student would not qualify for any aid at all.

Lizzi Chen, 22, a graphic design major, receives between $1,0003,000 of financial aid. She said it is better than nothing and free money always helps.

Although she gets help from her parents, Chen does not take out student loans and instead has to pay her parents back after she graduates.

The first year Chen attended CSUF, she filed her FAFSA and received about $10,000. Each year her check gradually got less and less but Chen plans to apply for financial aid next year and get what she can.

She recommends others apply for aid as well, regardless of their financial situation.

“The sooner you ask for it, sooner you’ll be in line for aid, that’s important. ” MARY FALLON Student Financial Aid Services

“Even if it’s $500 … that’s your books right there,” Chen said.

Julie De La Pena, 36, a liberal studies major, said although she does not currently receive aid, she would like to in the future. De La Pena is able to pay tuition right now because she works full time but considers it hard.

“Right now (I’m) living at my dad’s. So I don’t have to pay all the expenses that I normally would,” said De La Pena. “I’m kind of just getting by when I make those payments.”

For students planning to take courses over the summer, aid will be included if they filed for financial aid during the 2012-2013 academic year.

VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM/NEWS

OPINION

PAGE 4

THE DAILY TITAN

FEBRUARY 12, 2013 TUESDAY

Immigration at the forefront ANDIE AYALA Daily Titan

In Obama’s recent inauguration speech, the president emphasized once again a desire to improve immigration policies in this country.

It is surprising the president is shedding so much light on the subject given that immigration was mentioned so few times during the debates in the election process. As a Latina voter, I would have liked to see much more attention being brought to the issue of immigration sooner.

Nonetheless, the desire to move forward on immigration reform is commendable, even if it is just to maintain the support of the Latino community.

Still, one has to ask, do these new policy changes offer substantially different alternatives from what illegal immigrants have had to choose from before? Will they make immigrants to the United States, those who had been too afraid before, comfortable enough to come forward and want to apply for legal residency?

According to the Los Angeles Times, Obama’s new reform would allow those who have been living in the U.S. illegally and who have U.S. citizens as family members to apply for a visa without leaving the coun-

try, a practice that could help keep families together. If approved, there would be a “brief ” visit back to the person’s native country in order to pick up said visa.

The time families would spend apart would only equal about a week, as opposed to the excruciating wait times many applicants have endured.

Still, according to the LA Times, the immigration agency doesn’t plan on hiring more staff to its office and it already receives an overwhelming amount of applications per year. Once the new reform is passed, given that the immigration agency considers each application individually and considers the “totality of the applicant’s circumstances,” there could be just as few applicants considered for amnesty into the country.

While the intention for betterment is there, the effect of these delegations could be the same as the systems currently in place: A surplus of applications in an already crowded office cannot necessarily guarantee prompt responses, and could leave applicants in an equally lengthy process.

The immigration agency also does not review applications unless the applicants can express an

“extreme hardship” being faced in their need to become American citizens. But what exactly defines an “extreme hardship?” The guidelines for deciding are so vague, I predict problems arising from applicants whose applications fall into the cracks of this new system with unclear and confusing regulations for being part of this country.

Besides, why must it be a requirement that a person who applies for a visa be going through an “extreme hardship” if the person is willing and able to work in some of the most bottom-of-thebarrel jobs available? Surely if they haven’t faced “extreme hardship” yet, they soon will.

A noteworthy plus in the new reform is that those who have been denied a visa in the past can re-apply for a new visa with this new reform (though those who have been deported, cannot).

However positive, aspects of the reform need to be ironed out before these proposals can be seen as a win for immigrants. Despite this, it is good to see the administration putting a greater emphasis on the issue, as it affects so many living in the United States; currently 11 million undocumented residents occupy our borders.

Improving the flawed Electoral College JOSEPH BATCHELOR Daily Titan

Just weeks into President Barack Obama’s second term, the Republican Party has begun planning a new strategy to win next year’s election— starting by rebranding the party platform with a focus on appealing to both women and minorities.

More radically, they have proposed a change to the landscape of the election process as a whole. Republican state legislators have proposed a bill that would alter the Electoral College voting system from a statewide winner take all, to dividing the votes by congressional districts.

Nebraska and Maine have already been operating in this way, and states including Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania have considered the change.

This bill is not the first attempt by the Republican Party to influence a presidential election. Just last year they attempted to require voters to present government issued photo identification before casting their vote.

It was a clear strategy to prevent specific “undesired” American citizens from participating in the election.

This new voting system would have greatly favored the Republican Party in the last election. Under this proposal Obama would have received only four of the Virginia’s 13 electoral votes according to the Washington Post.

The bill’s sponsor, Virginia state Sen. Charles W. Carrico Sr., said to

the Post: “The last election, constituents were concerned that it didn’t matter what they did, that more densely populated areas were going to out vote them.”

The Democratic Party has, in no surprise, condemned the bill as completely partisan.

At this time the bill is receiving little momentum as the Virginia Senate has recently shot it down, although Sen. Ralph Smith said he would have supported the bill if the change would be a nationwide one.

Still, others like Paul Ryan have displayed his opposition for the changes in his state of Wisconsin.

“Neither political party is innocent in these games of manipulation.”

But even if these proposed changes did receive majority support, it would hardly be the change we need.

The Electoral College is an outdated system to begin with, as we are no longer a public with insufficient information about candidates due to a lack of transportation and communication. We now live in an educated society with the ability to communicate with one another like never before. Information is instantly available through the media and internet.

Furthermore, the Electoral Col-

lege is fundamentally undemocratic.

It does not guarantee the candidate with the highest vote will become president. In fact this has occurred in our nation’s history four separate times, most recently in 2000 when George W. Bush defeated Al Gore by receiving the greatest number of electoral votes, but not the popular vote.

These sort of anomalies create so many questions of where this country might have gone and what could have been prevented. One might still argue that reasons like these are the reason why there should indeed be a drastic change to the system, but the changes on the table right now simply are not right.

The last thing we need to do is make the Electoral College more complicated, producing a voting battleground of partisan districts. Presidential campaigns are long enough without having to fight for each individual district. If anything, we should remove the Electoral College all together and have a true democratic vote of the people.

Neither political party is innocent in these games of manipulation. In fact, according to The Wall Street Journal, Democrats have proposed similar bills in the past when felt at a disadvantage in a state.

Both parties hate to lose and will try anything to win at the expense of the peoples vote.

Here is an idea: Instead of manipulating an election, try earning the vote with a message that appeals to the hearts and minds of voters rather than swing a flawed system.

Courtesy of MCT

Robert Champion’s son, Robert Champion Jr., died as a result of a hazing incident at Florida A&M University in 2011.

To escape from the haze Hazings may be tradition, another death like Champion’s. but they have proven to be Though monitoring schoolunacceptably dangerous wide acts of hazing may be looked PETER PHAM Daily Titan

The time-honored tradition of hazing colleagues, teammates and pledges is something that has probably been around since cavemen hunted pterodactyls in groups. But have we really evolved that much since the times of clubbing each other with big sticks?

On Nov. 19, 2011, an incident occurred at Florida A&M University where a student died after being hazed. The victim, Robert Champion, 26, was a member of the school’s marching band.

Champion died due to severe muscle damage, succumbing to the injuries he received as part of the hazing ritual by his bandmates.

The incident was part of a tradition for the marching band known as “Crossing Bus C.” New members would have to run from one side of the bus to the other while being punched, kicked and beaten by senior members.

“His muscles were beaten so badly that they were destroyed like you would see in a heart attack,” said Dr. Howard Oliver, a forensic pathologist and former deputy medical examiner in the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office, to CNN. Makes a gang initiation look like a walk in the park, doesn’t it?

Sure, hazing looks hilarious in movies and sitcoms, but the reality of it is it can be extremely dangerous. In the case of Robert Champion, it proved fatal.

After Champion’s death, the university created positions to monitor hazing in order to prevent

upon like a way to prevent students from having fun, celebrating tradition and getting to know new members, it can potentially save a life. Because of Champion’s death, students at Florida A&M must now sign an anti-hazing pledge before they are able to register for classes, as well as agree to report

“Makes a gang initiation look like a walk in the park, doesn’t it?” any suspicions of hazing immediately to school officials.

While this pledge may not completely wipe out hazing around campus, it is definitely a start in the right direction. By signing this, students will now be aware, somewhere in the back of their minds, that hazing needs to be reported. Even if the majority of the student population refuses to honor the contract, there will now be some who will keep a vigilant eye out.

Maybe one of those few will even prevent a death.

And Champion’s death is hardly an isolated incident. More recently in November 2012, Northern Illinois University students faced criminal charges after a 19-yearold freshman student, David Bogenberger, died from consuming massive amounts of alcohol poisoning after a ritual for the Pi Kappa Alpha house on campus.

Bogenberger’s autopsy showed

that his blood-alcohol level was five times the legal limit to be able to drive.

Though the main Pi Kappa Alpha international office in Memphis stated that their fraternity has never had rituals that involved alcohol or hazing, there’s really no way they can be present at all their chapters to monitor such things.

By creating a system where hazing rituals are monitored, reported or prevented, lives can be saved.

Like with Florida A&M University, positions can be created solely to focus on anti-hazing. Staff members and campus employees can be trained to deal with hazing through workshops and seminars.

Through these simple measures, steps can be taken toward a new school environment where extreme initiation rituals and hazing will be a thing of the past, much like the guillotine, the iron maiden and stockades.

Budgetary issues will arise as a result of the new positions created and salaries to be paid out, but when it comes to the safety of students and children, school board members and parents will more than likely offer their support and funding.

Monitoring hazing on a schoolwide scale seems like a daunting and thankless task, but it must be reiterated that it is done so to save lives. Parents can sleep well knowing that there is someone watching over their children and keeping them out of harm’s way.

If the anti-hazing policies had been stricter or there had been someone to monitor these activities sooner, perhaps the harm done to these students might have been prevented; perhaps the Champions and the Bogenbergers might still have their sons.

NOTABLE HAZING DEATHS David Bogenberger (November 2012) Cause: NIU student died from alcohol poisoning from Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity hazing.

Reaction: Pi Kappa Alpha house shut down at NIU; 22 students charged by police.

Robert Champion (November 2011) Cause: FAMU marching band member beaten to death during “Crossing Bus C” ritual.

Reaction: FAMU forced to monitor school hazing, placed on probation by NCAA.

George Desdunes (February 2011) Cause: Cornell student forced to drink until unconscious during a fraternity hazing.

Reaction: Desdunes family sued Cornell students involved; all were eventually acquitted.

CONTACT US AT: OPINION@DAILYTITAN.COM

OPINION

DEVIL’S FEBRUARY 12, 2013

TUESDAY

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ADVOCATE Vicodin faces stricter FDA regulation

Regulating drugs and prescribers will lessen abuse PRO: CRYSTAL CHAVIRA

The Food and Drug Administration would like to see higher restrictions put on the leading ingredient in Vicodin, hydrocodone. And most would argue for compelling reasons. The current argument up for debate is whether higher restrictions should be put on the drug or the physicians who prescribe it.

The answer is both.

Raising this drug to a Schedule II narcotic will automatically make this drug harder for physicians to prescribe it. As a Schedule II, the U.S. Justice Department reports Vicodin will fall under restrictions such as no automatic refills and no oral prescriptions.

Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 36 states, including California, currently have prescription drug monitoring programs. This program utilizes state run electronic databases to help monitor not only patients at risk of abuse but prescribers who “clearly deviate from accepted medical practice” as well.

The CDC also reported, “More than three out of four people who misuse prescription painkillers use drugs prescribed to someone else.”

As such, there seems an obvious need to focus on monitoring the drug itself which can be accomplished through reclassifying this

ingredient to a Schedule II. This is a national epidemic sweeping through the U.S. The CDC reported in 2012 that prescription drug overdoses have tripled since 1990. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reported a steady increase from 2002 in the age groups from 12-17 who take prescription drugs for nonmedical use.

Among those identified as 12th graders, Vicodin was the most commonly abused drug.

In 2009 emergency department visits doubled from 2004 with cases that involved prescription drug abuse.

On top of all this, CaliforniaWatch.org reports a rising trend in Orange County in the numbers of teens and young adults overdosing on prescription drugs and heroin. Officials have even found evidence linking the rise in heroin overdoses being due to the affordability of prescription drug abuse.

Many parents in Orange County are urging for help with this problem. They want people to be informed of this rising epidemic that is cutting many lives far too short. They have fought back with documentaries such as “Behind the Orange Curtain,” a film that documents testimonies of outraged parents who have lost their children to addiction.

And for those who believe it is a long step from Vicodin to heroin, think again. “Behind the Orange Curtain” suggests many heroin users start using to save money.

Although this research is very new, the testimonies are coming from addicts themselves that they were starting these addictions as young as 13 and 14 years of age with prescriptions for high school athletic injuries and dental work.

Many claim that they began heroin by 17 and 18 years of age.

According to the CDC, access to these prescriptions are easy, confirmed by addicts who rifled through their family medicine cabinets in order to get high.

Some addicts even report to selling discarded prescriptions of dying family members.

Statistics alone are not enough to bring the national spotlight to this growing epidemic. The efforts put forth by the community and the burdened parents do best in representing the victims. “Behind the Orange Curtain” brought the faces of the victims and the faces of their parents into light.

Inventive ideas like these help make the connection that these aren’t just statistics, these are our children, but it can only do so much.

If we cannot protect them, then hopefully higher regulation can.

Courtesy of MCT The Federal Drug Administration classifies all drugs on their likelihood of abuse.

Education is more useful than regulation CON: MATTHEW LIGHTNER

The Food and Drug Administration does not need to reclassify hydrocodone (Vicodin) as a Schedule II drug when they could spend more time educating the public on preventing overuse and overdose.

The FDA is holding hearings on whether or not to raise the narcotic level of hydrocodone from Schedule III to Schedule II. The rating is mainly used to determine the possibility of abuse or dependency.

By comparison, LSD and Marijuana are Schedule I drugs with the highest rank. These drugs seem to make their way into the average college party or rave even with the highest regulation rank.

As it stands, hydrocodone is in the same class as anabolic steroids.

If the FDA agrees to increase hydrocodone to Schedule II then the drug would be classified with drugs such as cocaine and methadone. Despite this, people still find ways to get cocaine and meth.

In most cases an average person can assume that the people snorting cocaine or smoking meth were told one statement: “Drugs are bad, mkay.” This is hardly the way to control such substances. The weekly newsletter for the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, suggests the proper way to deal with opi-

ate overdoses is to stop the high dosage users and people who see multiple doctors for prescriptions.

“These data suggest that prevention of opioid overdose deaths should focus on strategies that target 1) high-dosage medical users and 2) persons who seek care from multiple doctors, receive high doses, and likely are involved in drug diversion,” states the report.

The answer is simple when looked at from an academic point of view. Every person reading this paper was taught a concept at one point in their lives: Prescription drug safety is a concept that needs to be taught just as reading or writing is a concept that that needs to be taught.

And simply, if the FDA passes this new regulation some people may not be able to cope with the pain they feel on a daily basis.

Vicodin is prescribed for patients feeling moderate to severe pain. It saves people the torment of the aches after a surgery or a bad accident. There are many people who use Vicodin for back spasms or to relieve pain from a fractured foot.

Most of us have had our wisdom teeth pulled out—I was one of those people. I took Vicodin while the pain of having my teeth ripped out of my mouth was still lingering.

The prescription ended and that was the end of the Vicodin; I was taught not to overuse a prescription drug that could lead to addiction by my doctor and parent before my surgery took place.

According to the CDC, 55 percent of people who abuse prescription painkillers received what they were given from a friend. Doctors prescribed the meds to these people 17.3 percent the of time.

If there is more regulation on how the public gets Vicodin, wouldn’t it be assumed that the average person could call someone to buy it from?

Hydrocodone’s increase to Schedule II status falls under the larger drug debate. Americans aren’t educated on the proper uses and how to prevent addiction with prescription drugs. American’s aren’t usually taught how to avoid general drugs; that is, outside of the D.A.R.E. presentation kids sit through in elementary school.

Education can prevent all these problems from spiraling out of control. If parents would teach their kids to be safe, then there would be less cause for alarm.

There are always going to be people who take things too far and abuse a product. Regulation is just another way to get out of having an actual conversation about how to use a product.

A blind eye turned toward surveillance Against the wishes of many Americans, government “snooping” still persists DANIEL BARBEAU For the Daily Titan

It seems that there was once a time when Democrats decried the excesses of the surveillance state expanded under the Bush administration. In 2008, then-candidate Barack Obama confidently assured Ivy League adulators in a campaign speech at Dartmouth College that, if elected, the age of George W. Bush’s warrantless wiretapping program would come to an abrupt close.

Democratic senator and soonto-be Secretary of State John Kerry blasted this domestic spying scheme in 2006 as a “clear violation of the law” and called for a special counsel to investigate possible illegality, while then Attorney General Eric Holder lamented that “I never thought I would see a president act in direct defiance of federal law.” Al Gore even mused that these wiretaps could constitute an impeachable offense.

Today many of these same Democrats seem to have forgotten their previous concerns over privacy and civil liberties in favor of expanded state surveillance. On Dec. 29, the Democrat controlled Senate, including Sen. Kerry, voted by nearly a three-quarters margin (73-23) to extend the controversial surveillance measure for another five years. Campaign promises notwithstanding, Obama signed the bill into law behind closed doors the next day.

The dubious program began under the Bush Administration in the months following the 2001 terrorist attacks. It allowed electronic snoop-

ing by the National Security Agency (NSA) to read overseas electronic correspondence to include internet records, emails and phone conversations of any individual outside of the United States, without reasonable suspicion or a judge’s wiretapping warrant.

Of course, this unprecedented cyber-dragnet inevitably captured a massive amount of unsuspecting American citizens’ private correspondence as they, or their electronic servers, communicated across international borders, and enabled the NSA to sift through the data irrespective of national status.

The program further allowed the NSA to collect information on an American citizen for seven days without court oversight and only when the government specifically implicated an American citizen for targeted surveillance would a warrant be retroactively sought from a secret court. Such a system looked to be ripe for Orwellian style abuse, and was even declared illegal by a federal judge in 2010. Other questions remained, such as whether foreign intelligence agencies are encouraged to spy on Americans and swap the information with one of the federal government’s sixteen spy agencies in order to avoid weak technicalities.

Would any readers wager that their emails have never been scanned unknowingly by a government algorithm-driven software program designed to pick out suspicious combinations of designated words?

In 2008 legislators passed this first Foreign Intelligence Security Act (FISA) bill that granted the illegal Bush-era spy program a legal aegis and bestowed immunity to telecommunication companies who aided and abetted the government in its illegal domestic data collection

Courtesy of MCT Despite publicly lambasting the idea of government surveillance in 2006, John Kerry voted in December to extend the Foreign Intelligence Security Act.

scheme. However a sunset provision of five years mandated the law’s expiration on Dec. 31, which set up another confrontation between the lofty promises of candidate Obama and cynical machinations of Obama.

This Bush-era program, once so derided by Democrats, has again been codified into law and glazed with a phony veneer of legality by wide bipartisan consent. Despite past abuses and little oversight, both legislative bodies and the president approved of the program’s extension with little debate.

Unfortunately, the Senate easily crushed those few senators who at-

tempted to add amendments to deliver a modicum of protections to American citizens. Sen. Rand Paul tried to affix an amendment specifically encasing electronic correspondence within Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure. His fellow senators rejected his provision by 79-12.

Sen. Jeff Merkley proposed an amendment requiring the government to disclose the NSA’s secret court proceedings. Again, it failed to pass by a margin of 54-37.

Sen. Patrick Leahy tried to add slightly more oversight to the bill and shorten its reauthorization time,

but only managed a paltry 38 votes in favor. Finally, Sen. Ron Wyden attempted to attach a bill requiring a report on the previous effects of warrantless surveillance on Americans’ privacy, but fellow senators again defeated the amendment by 52-43.

Disconcertingly, even these milquetoast amendments to provide a scrap of restraint against government surveillance failed to attract enough support to pass.

The ever-growing ability for the federal government to snoop, spy and intercept the daily communications of American citizens appears truly troubling, despite bureaucrats’

soothing assurances of paternal benevolence. Even more distressing is the evaporation of Democrats’ once principled defensive positions surrounding Fourth Amendment rights, and the migration of such concerns from the mainstream to political fringe.

Lamentably, the vast majority of Republicans also remain apathetic or even hostile to notions of personal liberty and privacy from government eyes. Hopefully constitutional protections against unlawful searches and mass invasions of privacy by governmental dragnets will someday return in vogue.

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FEATURES

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Daily Titan

A slight, cool breeze blows through your hair. Birds start chirping and as you look straight ahead, the vibrant colors of the sunset shine in your face.

While enjoying the scenery, you notice the pathway you’re walking on includes a panoramic viewpoint of Fullerton, Brea and the rest of Orange County.

It’s a breathtaking view only hiking the trail can get you.

The view comes from hiking along the Panorama Trail in Fullerton, just one of many worthwhile trails to embark on in the city. Fullerton is full of unique hiking trails, but only a few are considered the best. Some of the better trails are Panorama, Juanita Cooke Greenbelt and Fullerton Loop.

Panorama Trail is a little over a mile and a half long. The dirt trail begins on the East Coyote Hills Trail on Bastanchury Road. Throughout the trail, hikers may come across a few bikers and horseback riders. However, the views are what this trail is known for. Hikers can stand behind a small wooden fence and gaze over Fullerton homes and mountain tops.

Located at the peak of Panorama Trail hill is its own nature preservation area. The Panorama Nature Preserve includes sweeping views, along with a habitat for several types of well-known and rare birds.

However, if a hiker happens to get tired from catching the views or finishing the downhill portion of the trail, there is a resting place along the way. Even though the Panorama Trail starts out easy, it requires a little bit more stamina to complete because of its sudden steep incline. Once hikers conquer this trail, they will end up on

Brea Boulevard.

Another familiar and enjoyable course to take on is the Juanita Cooke Greenbelt Trail. This two and a half-mile journey is also known as a commuter path since it leads through neighborhoods. The trail is a dirt pathway that connects to the Bud Turner trail. Both of these trails were named after riders from the Fullerton Recreation Riders equestrian group.

Juanita Cooke Greenbelt is a great trail for anyone looking to hike, bike, dog walk, horseback ride or even take a light stroll to appreciate the natural scenery.

For hikers wanting to do some light walking on Juanita Cooke Greenbelt, be prepared for the delightful aromas along the way with the fresh smell of flowers and citrus trees. After completing the wide end of the trail, hikers end up near downtown Fullerton.

For the adventurist looking for an exhilarating bike ride, the Fullerton Loop provides more of a challenge. This thrill-seeking trail is 12 miles long and begins on Berkeley Avenue, with the loop portion starting at the south end of Juanita Cooke Greenbelt.

Fullerton Loop might be difficult for beginning bike riders, but there are night rides on Thursdays to help enthusiasts get used to the rougher trail. Experienced bike riders will appreciate the unrefined setting and variations of the hilly pathway.

Even though Fullerton Loop is known for being a great biking trail, hikers can still enjoy walking along this pathway and catch a glimpse of the Fullerton Municipal Golf Course.

Dog walkers can also enjoy this trail because there is a house along the way that offers water for dogs.

For the hikers looking for an easier route, the edge of another trail, the

TUESDAY

AUTISM : Organizations brought together

Fullerton trails lead to unexpected adventures KRISTEN CERVANTES

FEBRUARY 12, 2013

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

MIMI HUNG /Daily Titan

Hiltscher Park Trail is one of many hiking trails in the Fullerton area.

Brea Dam, provides a steadier course.

The Hiltscher trail is also along Fullerton Loop.

Hikers walking only the loop portion of the trail will end up covering about 10 miles.

As you finish taking in the magnificent views of Fullerton from the Panorama Trail, you stop and take a deep breath in. You are able to

take in the warmth from the sunset, smell the surrounding fresh aromas and relax.

The ambience of these peaceful yet invigorating hiking trails takes you away from the everyday stresses of life.

Through these invigorating trails, you’re able to appreciate the natural beauty of Fullerton.

For Houser, Mardi Gras for Autism is about the kids and the families. “(It’s) an event in a fun environment where kids with autism and typical kids can blend in. What we like to call that is acceptance. We like to educate our crowd and families who aren’t necessarily affected by autism to look and learn,” said Houser.

Houser also said that about 2,000 people were expected to attend Mardi Gras for Autism and that he hoped the event would raise about $10,000.

Many organizations teamed up with Houser for the event to support the cause.

Brian Bartholomew, the owner of Gymboree Play and Music and a member of the board of directors for Fullerton Cares, began working with Houser a year ago through a different event.

According to Bartholomew, when visiting the Gymboree corporation in San Francisco, he was able to get the company to donate bubbles and bubble fans to be sold at the event to benefit Fullerton Cares.

These items were a hit for attendees. Bubbles floated through the air throughout the day.

Swipe4TheKids, an organization that handles processing of credit cards and gives a percentage of funds to local charities and school programs, also partnered with Houser for Mardi Gras for Autism.

Mike Lansford, the former NFL placekicker for the Los Angeles Rams and organizer for Swipe4TheKids and director of sports enhancement for Pomeroy Equitable Solutions, said 30 percent of the funds from processed cards went to

RAY WIKPOOR / For the Daily Titan Proceeds went to Fullerton Cares.

Houser’s organization.

“He invited us and he promoted us very well to be a part of this great event, promoting Fullerton Cares,” said Lansford.

Many other booths were featured including Cal State Fullerton’s Autism Speaks U, a club that raises awareness and funds for Autism Speaks.

Ray Sadri, a communicative disorders major and the co-president of Autism Speaks U, showed enthusiasm about CSUF’s participation in the event.

“What I love about it (Mardi Gras for Autism) is how it brings so many different organizations together,” she said.

Right beside Autism Speaks U, another excited bunch of Titans were eager to discuss the new Center for Autism.

Erica Howell, Ph.D., a special education assistant professor, said CSUF is very active in the issue of autism. The newly developed Center for Autism on campus will feature an applied developmental core and an education core that will help those with autism experience success.

Titan crowned at local pageant The new Miss Fullerton plans to break beauty competition stereotypes CHELSEA BOYD Daily Titan

Salisha Thomas is living the life of a typical college junior, with one major difference.

On Feb. 2, she won the title of Miss Fullerton 2013.

With her new title comes a delicate balancing act.

In the midst of her hectic schedule as a full time student and a theatre arts major (she has a role in this spring’s musical, All Shook Up), she will also be making appearances at community events and services.

She will also prepare to represent Fullerton in the 2013 Miss California USA Pageant in Fresno.

Whoever is crowned Miss California goes on to compete for the title of Miss America.

This is the first win for Thomas, who was born and raised in Fresno and has been competing in pageants since she was 17.

Thomas, now 20, said she is still in shock about the win as she has always competed without expecta-

tion of taking home a title.

“I do it for the scholarships,” she said. “This time, I actually wanted to win.”

It was that change of mindset that made all the difference, she said.

To many people, being a pageant girl means a lot of smiling, waving and looking good in a bathing suit.

Movies like Drop Dead Gorgeous and Miss Congeniality have done little to refute these ideas.

Thomas, along with the Miss Fullerton organization, wants people to know that these are misconceptions.

At its heart, the Miss Fullerton competition truly is a scholarship program.

Young women compete in the areas of talent, interview, evening wear, casual wear and, yes, swimsuit.

Thomas said the evening wear and swimsuit areas are worth less points than the talent and interview portions, but they promote physical fitness, poise and well-roundedness.

Kathy Hikawa, the executive director of the Miss Fullerton program, is quick to separate the Miss America program from other pag-

CONTACT US AT: FEATURES@DAILYTITAN.COM

FRANCIS GACAD / For the Daily Titan

Thomas won the Miss Fullerton 2013 title on Feb. 2 after competing in the areas of evening wear, talent, swimsuit wear, interview and casual wear.

eants, which she said “are really more of a swimsuit competition.”

Hikawa stresses the importance of the scholarship as well as the community service that goes into the job of being Miss Fullerton.

According to Hikawa, Miss Fullerton is a non-profit organization

where all money raised goes to scholarships and charitable organizations.

The contestants are required to raise at least $100 for the Children’s Miracle Foundation.

Hikawa said they even stress the importance of contestants using

what they already have for the competition.

“We don’t want [contestants] to go out and spend a lot of money.

Wear what’s in your closet,” said Hikawa.

Thomas heeded that advice, wearing a dress she had worn in her first pageant, as well as one she’s had in her closet since the eighth grade.

Thomas said she is passionate about showing people that the negative connotations that surround pageant participants are simply untrue.

“I feel like people just think pageant girls are dumb and they’re catty and snobby,” she said. “That is not true … people look out for one another, and these girls are really smart.”

That passion came in handy when, during the onstage interview, Thomas was asked what she would do to dispel those misconceptions.

“I said I would invite them to the show and so they can see that these women are talented, eloquent and elegant,” Thomas said.

Jared Kaitz, a close friend of Thomas’ who attended the show, said it was at that moment he knew she had won.

“She nailed it,” said Kaitz. “(She) always hates this particular section … but this time she walked out with confidence, waited for the question and responded with a perfect answer.”

Hikawa said the evening gown portion of the show was the moment she believed Thomas had sealed the deal.

“It was just a ‘wow’ moment,” she said.

Hikawa said Thomas’ voice and her strong interview were poignant moments in the competition.

Thomas sang the Lena Horne ballad “Stormy Weather” for her talent display.

After winning the title, Thomas has become an ambassador for the community.

She will appear at local charity events and work with both the Children’s Miracle Foundation and the Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

Thomas’ personal platform is focused on children with disabilities.

Hikawa and Kaitz agree that despite her busy school schedule, Thomas will excel in her duties as Miss Fullerton and do well in the Miss California competition in June.

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THE DAILY TITAN

Healthy dining on V-day AMANDA ZIVE Daily Titan

It’s time to put some New Year’s resolutions to the test with the first potentially calorie-loaded holiday of 2013 upon us, Valentine’s Day. Skip the chocolates and hit the town at one of the many local spots promoting healthy choices.

One of Fullerton’s own, rich in history and flavor but low in fat, is Rutabegorz. Just southeast of Chapman and Harbor on Pomona Street, the evolved coffee house has become known as a hippie hangout. The unique artwork on the walls pales in comparison to their unique, ever-changing menu.

They have a wide variety of dishes that are vegetarian or use lean protein.

Rutabegorz has a wide range of flavors including Hispanic inspirations such as their chicken enchilada verde, which has white meat chicken, cheese, olives and onions in corn tortillas, topped with cheese and green sauce.

Brown rice and beans are served on the side.

The restaurant also boasts some Asian inspiration with their veggie mu shu medley, which has stir-fry style vegetables and mushrooms on a bed of brown rice. This dish is topped with thin almonds and hard noodles to add a little crunch.

The menu includes an array of sandwiches and wraps including a Greekinspired falafel wrap. It also comes with hummus on the side.

Ruta’s artwork is something to come for, but its chili is something to come back for. They offer three to six daily soups as well as two kinds of chili.

Ruta’s Killer Chili is a vegetarian chili made with pinto beans, soy protein and seasonings, topped with cheddar cheese and tomatoes.

If you’re looking for something casual and vegan, the Loving Hut in Orange could be just what you are looking for. Located in Orange on Tustin Avenue just south of Chapman Avenue, its is a little spot that offers up big tastes at reasonable prices. Most dishes are around $10.

Many of the items on this menu are Asian soup, noodle and rice dishes with a bit of Hispanic influence. Some of the highlights are the hainam grilled rice, which is a grilled soy veggie filet with seasoned rice and vegetables with chili sauce, and the royal noodle soup, which is rice noodle with soy protein, tofu, king mushroom and fresh herbs, with a twist of lime and a hint of jalapeno.

The Loving Hut has an assortment of classic sandwiches and burgers, made with vegan-friendly substitutes.

The choices range from a Philly sandwich or BLT to the BBQ burger, a garden soy patty with BBQ sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles.

If you’re headed north, the Seafare Inn in Whittier proudly cooks up entrées that have been approved by the American Heart Association.

Their menu has a wide variety of fish and other seafood. If you stay away from the lobster tail, there are many lean choices on their menu including salmon, red snapper, catfish, a calamari steak and a crowd favorite, the grilled pecan crusted tilapia. You can choose healthier cooking styles like broiled or grilled.

Seafare Inn also has a couple of chicken dishes like the grilled lemon pepper chicken breast. All meals come with side options including salad, cole slaw, baked potato or tomatoes.

If you head to Los Alamitos Blvd just south of Katella, there is a lowfat Chinese food restaurant called Fortune Cookies. Fortune Cookies restaurant cooks with canola oil and uses all-white-meat chicken, lean cuts of beef and seafood. Brown rice can also be substituted for white rice.

They have a selection of appetizers, including minced chicken in lettuce cup, which has finely chopped chicken and vegetables with spices.

Their chicken entrées range from mild to hot, like their broccoli chicken and garlic chicken. The broccoli dish is cooked in a light mild sauce while the garlic chicken has a kick along with the Asian style vegetable.

They have lean beef entrées such

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FEBRUARY 12, 2013 TUESDAY

Genesis of a challenge

ROBERT HUSKEY / Daily Titan

Rutabegorz offers a wide array of healthy food options in Orange County.

as the mongolian beef, which has bamboo shoots and green onions.

In the filet mignon French style, the meat comes cubed and served on a bed of lettuce.

Fortune Cookies in Los Alamitos also showcases some healthy seafood dishes like the shrimp with lobster sauce. The shrimp is accompanied by water chestnuts, peas and carrots with mushrooms in an egg white sauce.

There is also another section on the menu for vegetable courses. The veggie chop suey brings together snow peas, water chestnuts, broccoli, carrots and bean sprouts in a flavorful dish. Each menu item here was under $10.

Finally, if you’re heading south toward a romantic sunset at the beach, stop at Seasons 52 in Costa Mesa, which boasts a menu where every item has less than 475 calories. They have a huge menu, as well as many specialty menus. Whether you are vegan, trying to go gluten-free or watching your weight or sodium intake, Seasons 52 has just the menu you are looking for.

If you ask for a lactose free menu, there will be many choices including the oak-grilled filet mi-

gnon with potatoes, fresh vegetables and roasted mushrooms.

They may also offer you a low sodium menu with either a prix fixe, threecourse meal or a la carte options such as lemon-chili crusted salmon roasted on cedar plank, with carrots, fresh asparagus and potatoes.

If you prefer a gluten-free diet, another menu awaits you. There are appetizers and salads along with entrées including oak-grilled beef, chicken or market fish selections that can be made to order using salt, pepper and extra virgin olive oil; it comes with roasted potatoes, asparagus and carrots.

The vegetarian menu has a wide range of flavors including sonoma goat cheese ravioli simmered in tomato broth, roasted garlic, fresh basil and their vegetarian tacos made with black beans, roasted peppers, pico de gallo, guacamole and cilantro, topped with sour cream.

Seasons 52 has a couple of other specialty menus worth taking a look at, as well as some sweet treats. Show that special someone how much you really care by making healthy choices you can both enjoy.

“I won.”

Those are the words that I am going to say when I collapse over the finish line of the Orange County Marathon in May. While I’d dare not compare my future accomplishment to the glory of Pheidippides’ last words (“We won”) after his legendary run from the battle of Marathon to Athens in 490 B.C., it will have great meaning for me.

I started running nine years ago and have not stopped since. While I’ve taken time off to cope with injury and illness, rest assured I wanted nothing more than to be out on the road again.

I take my shoes with me whenever I travel. I’ve been drenched in my own sweat while running in the Georgia heat, I’ve basked in a kinder sun while running Hawaii’s coastline and I’ve almost been hit by cars while looking the wrong way running the streets of London.

I ran cross country and track all four years of high school.

While I may not have thought of those years fondly while suffering through an interval workout on the track, I will always remember them as the best years of my life.

As I finish my last semester of college, I can’t think of a better end to my educational career. After nine years of training, this will be the ultimate final exam.

Many may see athletics and academics as two separate endeavors.

They’d argue that intelligence isn’t being developed while shooting a basketball, throwing a punch or running around a track. In reality, playing a sport is one of the best compliments for developing a strong mind.

While I may not be the sharpest person of my class, it’s the discipline and the work ethic that I have learned from running that

Road to the Marathon ANDERS HOWMANN

has given me the ability to perform in school, develop my skills as a journalist and lead a team.

Even the most passionate and talented professor could not have matched the teachings of the road.

Aside from the 100 mile ultra marathons, I see the marathon as the ultimate test for endurance runners. It’s 26.2 miles of pain and mental fortitude that has been run since the first Olympic Games in 1896. This race is not confined to professionals either. Thousands of people across the world, young and old, compete against themselves every year.

If they can do it, then I surely can … and you can too.

I’d like this column to chronicle my journey to the starting corrals and give anybody who has ever been interested in running a marathon the knowledge and training methods that are needed to complete one.

I will scour the Internet to find the best training schedules for runners of all skill levels. I’ll reach out to expert sources in order to bring you the best tips possible.

And finally, I will chronicle my progress over the next couple months, documenting my mileage, cross training, lifestyle adjustments and diet.

Whether its a marathon or jog around the block every now and again, it’s my hope that I’ll manage to convert a few readers to runners.