Tuesday, March 12, 2013 by Daily Titan

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

Volume 93, Issue 19

NEWS 3

Faculty examine environmental hazards OPINION 4

E-cigarettes pose potential risk FEATURES 6

Cigar club smokes despite ban FITNESS 8

A diet is paramount in marathon training

dailytitan.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013 LOCAL | Fullerton

Perceptions clash over homeless population Fullerton residents for and against the shelter defend their viewpoints RAYMOND MENDOZA Daily Titan

Fullerton citizens, both for and against the idea of a year-round homeless shelter in their city, gathered en masse in the Fullerton Public Library Monday to discuss the proposed homeless shelter at 301 S. State College Blvd. The question portion of the town-hall style event was handled by Rusty Kennedy, a member of the Fullerton Homeless Task Force. A panel of officials gathered to dispel rumors and ease the questions of homeowners, concerned business owners and families who feel that a year-round homeless

shelter would impact the quality of life of residents. The hot topic of the evening revolved around safety and law enforcement. Community members aired concerns about sex offenders, homeless individuals with criminal records and illegal immigrants and the effect that it could have being in a residential area with school children. Director of OC Community Services Karen Roper said an armory shelter in Santa Ana, which is located next to a park and an elementary school, has been without any incidents concerning homeless individuals. However, Roper also mentioned the safety of Fullerton residents would be taken into consideration. SEE SHELTER, 3

NATIONAL | Domestic policy

MARIAH CARRILLO / For the Daily Titan

Jeffrey Cutkonp helps Elizabeth Mejia, a student who graduated May 2012, with her resumé and cover letter at the Career Center on campus.

Sequester exacerbates job cuts

CSUF students utilize the Career Center to help with employment challenges RAYMOND MENDOZA Daily Titan

In the months of steadily falling unemployment numbers, the automatic sequester cuts enacted last week mean a turn for the worse for unemployed Cal State Fullerton students. The effects of the newly enacted automatic sequester will cut the government’s spending budget by $1.2 trillion over the next ten

years and will be felt through reduced government hiring, emergency unemployment compensation and research done by various organizations such as NASA and the FDA. According to Stephen Fuller, a Mason University economist, the sequester will add another 2.14 million job cuts, with 325,693 from defense job cuts and 420,529 from non-defense job cuts, which include federal workers. However, even with the sequester just starting, the unemployment rate for the youths of Amer-

ica is at an alarmingly high rate. The latest data for the Millennial Jobs Report by Generation Opportunity is bleak, placing the youth unemployment rate at 12.5 percent for 18-29 year olds for February 2013. The report also notes that there are 1.7 million young adults that are no longer counted as unemployed since they have given up their job search. February unemployment rates for minorities were even worse, as African-American youths had an unemployment rate of 22.8 per-

cent and Hispanics youths were at 13.4 percent. Young women fared only slightly better with an unemployment rate of 11.5 percent. Jim Case, Cal State Fullerton’s Career Center director, has noticed the number of students seeking help is substantial and that spending cuts, caused by the sequester and current economic climate, will only exacerbate the unemployment rate, especially for those who wish to become government employees. SEE UNEMPLOYMENT, 2

Leaders envision plan to cope with gun violence Obama hosts a panel to create a more dependable emergency model system KEVIN BLACKBURN Daily Titan

As part of a plan to reduce gun violence, more than 100 leaders from across the country visited the White House on Feb. 27 to discuss how to make schools, institutions of higher education and houses of worship a safer place. President Obama seeks to create a more dependable emergency model system that would train students and staff to follow a new plan in situations that deal with gun violence. After several mass shootings in the last few years, the president and

his administration hope a new management plan can help to prevent further shootings that have already taken a toll on the country. Experts in law enforcement, emergency management and mental health as well as survivors from gun violence were in attendance to offer their experiences as help in creating a model plan. The panel of experts held a discussion in hopes of formulating a management plan that can help prevent further mass shootings. Paul Goldenberg, CEO of Cardinal Point Strategies and national director of Secure Community Network, helped lead the panel of experts. SEE PLAN, 3

FEATURES | Ethnic dance

FITNESS | Health

Chicano film series showcases culture

It’s endorphin time: The benefits of a good workout

On-campus organizations provide network of ethnic information to students

It’s 4 a.m. The sky is still dark and you feel sluggish getting out of bed. After putting on some workout clothes and brushing your teeth, you head out the door to the gym. On the way to the gym, you feel groggy and keep asking yourself why you bothered to get up so early when you could be sleeping instead. However, after exercising for about an hour at the gym, you head back home feeling fantastic, energetic and can’t wait to start the rest of your day. The exhilarated feeling many people experience after exercising can be scientifically explained. Exercising has been shown to release certain chemicals in the brain, which makes you feel better about yourself. A study done by Duke University researchers James Blumenthal and Michael Babyak in 1999 found that people who exercised for 40 minutes with a moderate amount of energy three to five days a week experienced the greatest amount of mood-boosting feelings, according to LiveStrong.com. Several chemicals including endorphins and serotonin are released in the brain while a person is performing a certain exercise. According to LiveStrong.com, endorphins are dispensed after an

Working out has never felt so good and it’s good for both the body and mind KRISTEN CERVANTES Daily Titan

ANDRES MARTINEZ Daily Titan

Swaying and sashaying in colorful skirts, the art of Mexican folk dancing illuminated the screen on March 6 in the Chicano Resource Center. The film Better, a drama directed by John Cantu, follows the story of a Mexican folk dancer that has just been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and hides it from her fellow dancers. The audience was taken on a journey with Lily, the protagonist, who fights to overcome her struggles. Better was the first film screened for the Mesa Cooperativa’s Chicano film series. Christopher Sandoval, Mesa Cooperativa president, said that the purpose of the film series is to give Mesa Cooperativa organizations an opportunity to showcase a film that relates to their community. The films are meant to share the experience with Cal State Fullerton and allow the organizations to moderate and discuss with their first-hand account. Co-hosts for the film, the CSUF club Ballet Folklorico, was in charge

ANDRES MARTINEZ / Daily Titan

Cultural film, Better, directed by John Cantu, was shown at the Chicano Resource Center on Wednesday.

of moderating the discussion and led the question and answer portion following the film. “It is important for us to participate in these events because it’s a great opportunity to get to know other areas in our campus. Its also a great way for other organizations to see that we do not only dance but we also try to teach and educate others of our history and our culture,” said Catalina Gonzalez, Ballet Folklorico president. Gonzalez said they chose Better because it’s relevant to the passion they have not only for dance, but to educate one another. “Sometimes it’s hard to open up to people, especially in our club. Sometimes its hard to let everyone know you’re going through hard times because you want everyone to

think you are strong,” Gonzalez said. For Gonzalez and the other members of Ballet Folklorico the film gives insight into the dance culture in Mexico. Jacqueline Sedano, co-artistic director of Ballet Folklorico and member of the group for four years, said the club allows her to be able to live, share, and educate the Hispanic culture through dance. “For me, Ballet Folklorico means a way to learn Mexican history, art, to educate others, and keep the history alive and it’s also a stress reliever,” said Sedano. Sandoval said he relates to the film as a “folklorista” because he feels the passion and identity of dancing Mexican Folk dance that the characters engage in throughout the film. “Furthermore, Latino stigmas

and values are expressed throughout the film, and gave much relevance to my upbringing,” said Sandoval. Better and upcoming films will likely be shown at the Chicano Resource Center to support the cultural resource center and provide an intimate setting, Sandoval said. According to Sandoval, the center acts as a home away from home for the Latino community on campus. Elizabeth Suarez, Chicano Resource Center coordinator, said that the resource center and Mesa Cooperativa share an organic bond. “These two entities work in collaboration to reach as many students as possible by creating a natural partnership when ideas are brought to the table,” Suarez said. SEE FILM SERIES, 6

extended, vigorous workout and enables people to exercise longer. Serotonin, a natural mood booster, can decrease the feeling of depression. Maintaining a healthier lifestyle, along with exercising, can increase the production of these chemicals and brain cells. People lose brain cells every day, depending on the way they live. People who drink too much, smoke, eat poorly and are depressed or stressed tend to have less brain cells than people who live a different lifestyle, Jessie Jones, Ph.D., Cal State Fullerton’s health science chair and professor, said. “Physical activity, aerobics, in particular, helps us to develop these neurotrophic factors, which is kind of like an insulin,” Jones said. “You need that in order to actually develop those new brain cells.” Several types of exercises, such as sports and fitness classes, utilizes a person’s ability to multitask and impacts the brain more. These activities get people’s heart rate up and requires them to think, which is needed to get that good feeling. Alison Hy, 20, a computer science major, has taken up pole dancing classes as a way to get back into shape. She had a hard time making it to the gym so she tried pole dancing classes as an alternative way to exercise. “For me, pole dancing, or dancing in general, is a really good stress reliever from day-to-day classes and responsibilities,” Hy said. SEE MIND, 8

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NEWS

PAGE 2

THE DAILY TITAN

MARCH 12, 2013 TUESDAY

DTBRIEFS

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ON THE RISE

Source: OCTA The Fullerton Metrolink/Amtrak Station is located off Commonwealth Avenue in downtown Fullerton.

Public Transportation ridership is on a steady rise with skyrocketing gas prices as the likely culprit, according to the Los Angeles Times. A report by The National Conference of State Legislatures estimates an average savings of $10,000 annually. In 2012, public transportation participation rose 1.5 percent with 10.5 billion trips. Despite the slew of bad weather that slammed the east coast beginning with Hurricane Sandy, setting a loss of an estimated 74 million rides, ridership was still the second-highest since 1957. The Times reported a likely connection with increasing ridership and the waning of the recession. More jobs are bringing people back into the workforce, but still not out of the dark. Huge savings can still be made through public transportation. The increase is noted in major metropolitan areas across the na-

tion. The numbers are increasing despite cutbacks, which have forced 80 percent of transit systems to either cut services or raise prices. The Orange County Transportation Authority offers multiple services to fit riders needs including a seven day pass that tenders a 10 percent discount to students. The OC Link all-day weekday pass is $7 and allows access to metrolink and all local OCTA bus service throughout Orange County. The $10 weekend pass gives riders access to all metrolink systems, except Amtrak, beginning Friday at 7 p.m. through midnight Sunday. The ticket also includes transfers connecting rail or bus. The monthly pass also allows riders all privileges afforded by the weekend pass ticket.

Brief by CRYSTAL CHAVIRA

FOR THE RECORD

Overcrowding in CA prisons Lawyers for California inmates are claiming that prisons are more overcrowded than corrections officials admit, according to the Los Angeles Times. The lawyers are citing a state report released last week as Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration is preparing to argue their case in a federal court battle that the prison overcrowding situation is over. Prison lawyers filed on Monday for the 2011 document, on the study of prison overcrowding, to be admitted on record. The study shows that corrections officials and their experts calculated that the safe operating capacities of prisons are 15,600 under what the state is currently at. It also states that prisons have 6,000 beds less than the cap that the federal courts set for California to reach as part of an order to provide proper care for inmates. Although the report mentions that experts believe that prisons could also safely raise its prison limit by maximizing the amount of time prisoners spend outside of their cell.

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.

Brief by ETHAN HAWKES

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Earthquake rumbles SoCal

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MARIAH CARRILLO / For the Daily Titan

Marissa Herr, 20, a junior communication major at CSUF, uses Titan Connection to look for jobs and internships while waiting for a counselor to return with her résumé at the Career Center on campus.

UNEMPLOYMENT: Titan Connection averages more than 1,000 users per day Case said that while the unemployment rate for the nation is high, he notes that students are aware of the employment challenges in today’s economy and are utilizing school resources such as Titan Connection to gain job leads, internships and full-time jobs. “Students are being very proactive in many cases,” said Case. “They’re aware of the challenges in the economy and they’re doing everything they can to get started early and be focused.” Case said Titan Connection averages more than 1,000 users per day who sign in to look at job postings and that a large number of students speak with Career Center advisors for help concerning resumés. According to the California Employment Development Department’s website, the department is already warning individuals receiving federal extensions that the sequester could cut an individual’s weekly benefits by 10.7 percent. The website goes on to state that future cuts could be larger. However, regular state-provided unemployment benefits will not be affected. Students are also taking advantage of school-provided workshops that help with various techniques to use while searching for a job and interviewing. Laura Neal is one of the work-

shop speakers that is an industry specialist for art, entertainment and communications careers. Neal runs a workshop called “Recession Survival: Hot Tips for a Cold Economy,” which helps students prepare for a tough economic climate by building a strong resume long before graduation.

“... Everything you do throughout your college career is what helps build your resumé and makes you employable ...” LAURA NEAL Workshop Speaker, CSUF

“The general assumption by most students is that the job search is something that you do later on,” said Neal. “The truth is that everything you do throughout your col-

lege career is what helps build your resumé and makes you employable and builds your network on which you will rely to get a job.” She added that word of mouth and networking is still the number one way to get a job. While maintaining a high GPA is important, Neal urges students to branch out and seek connections by taking a part-time job or joining an on-campus group. The lessons and skills a student can obtain while serving in an internship or off-campus job are what helps create employable graduates, according to Neal. “The coursework is only going to take you so far,” Neal said. “Other experiences and co-curricular outside of the classroom learning is what fills in the gaps.” While the specific CSUF graduate student unemployment percentage is unknown at this time, Case said that Titan Connection is doing an employment survey for the graduating class of 2012. The survey will also take into account students who have successfully enrolled in graduate school. “We are doing a survey right now that will provide (employment/unemployment) data,” Case said. “What is clear is that it’s a job market that a number of students find that they do need to work very hard to find that first professional job after graduation.”

FEBRUARY 2013 YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE The Daily Titan is a student publication, printed every Monday through Thursday. The Daily Titan operates independently of Associated Students, Inc. College of Communications, CSUF administration and the CSU. The Daily Titan has functioned as a public forum since inception. Unless implied by the advertising party or otherwise stated, advertising in the Daily Titan is inserted by commercial activities or ventures identified in the advertisements themselves and not by the university. Such printing is not to be construed as written or implied sponsorship, endorsement or investigation of such commercial enterprises. The Daily Titan allocates one issue to each student for free.

Age 18-29: 12.5 percent African-American: 22.8 percent Hispanics: 13.4 percent Women: 11.5 percent

A small earthquake was felt in Southern California mid-morning on Monday. The epicenter of the 4.7 quake was near Anza and was felt as far as Los Angeles. The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported the quake at magnitude 5.1, but soon downgraded it to 4.7. It was the largest quake centered in the greater Los Angeles area since 2010, according to the USGS. Southern California has experienced larger quakes since then, but they had epicenters near to the Mexico border. The quake struck 23 miles south of Palm Springs just before 9:55 a.m. Reports came in to the USGS. through its “did you feel it” app from San Diego, Orange County and Riverside County. The USGS reported several aftershocks. Palm Springs police and the Los Angeles Fire Department reported no damage.

Brief by SAMUEL MOUNTJOY

State tax revenue beats forecasts According to new figures from the State Controller’s office, California’s state tax revenue is outpacing earlier predictions by $4.5 billion. The higher-than-expected revenue numbers are the result of income taxes coming into state coffers at a higher rate than was previously predicted last summer. The strong income tax numbers are making up for sales and corporate taxes, which have been low. Controller John Chiang said in a statement on Monday he was encouraged by the February numbers, which showed higher than expected number for both levies. State officials estimate California will acquire $10 billion, next month of the $61 billion that budget makers are hoping for at the end of the year. In April, the budget picture will become a lot more clear, when the state collects a majority of its income tax.

Brief by ETHAN HAWKES Source: Generation Opportunity FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @DTNEWSDESK

MARCH 12, 2013

TUESDAY

NEWS

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THE DAILY TITAN

SHELTER: Attendees ‘lack compassion’ toward homeless CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“Because of the operation that we have and the model that we expect to run, we will expect to address safety issues.” Roper said. Members of the panel were concerned that the shelter currently serving the city’s homeless, the seasonal Fullerton Armory Shelter at 400 South Brookhurst, is simply treating the symptom of homelessness as opposed to solving the Fullerton homeless problem. “After 26 years of talking about this issue, it is time to act,” said Orange County Supervisor Shawn Nelson. “If there’s a better site, by all means, bring it forward.” Nelson, when questioned about various alternate locations for the year-round shelter, took specific suggestions from the audience and noted that some of these proposed locations were refused because of asking price. “(Wickes Furniture) was one of the first sites recommended when we knew that recommending a site had to be more than just saying a name,” Nelson said. “Wickes was over 200,000 square feet and the asking price was north of $20 million … Its isolation was ideal and it is for sale, it was just too big of a facility and outside anybody’s concept of budget.” While a large amount of citizens present at the town hall meeting were against the proposed location of the year-round shelter, Sunny Hills resident Dawn Usher believed that the misconceptions of

Congress plans to reconcile budget

A homeless man stands by his belongings outside the National Guard Armory in Fullerton on Feb. 26.

homeless people make them unwanted in any community. “Frankly, I don’t have an issue of it being near a school,” said Usher. “If someone told me that there was a large percentage of homeless people that were pedophiles, that would be different. But I don’t think that’s the case, being homeless is not synonymous with being

a criminal.” Usher also mentioned that she believed a large amount of people attending the Monday meeting lacked compassion toward homeless. Usher felt that most Fullerton residents claim to believe in helping the homeless population, yet none of them want to help provide homeless services in their city.

Executive Director of Mercy House Larry Hayes mentioned that after years of working at Mercy House, he is adamant in giving homeless people the chance to get off the street and the opportunity to seek a better life was the first step toward eradicating all homelessness. “I do know this, if our goal is

ROBERT HUSKEY / Daily Titan to simply manage homelessness, if our goal is to say that no one can end it: we’ve already answered that question,” said Hayes. “The only chance we have to end this scourge is if we truly believe that we can.” Panel members also consisted of executive director of Fullerton Collaborative Pam Keller and Fullerton police Cpl. John DeCaprio.

Faculty confront desert hazards ANDY LUNDIN Daily Titan

ROBERT HUSKEY / Daily Titan

Capt. John Brockie explains to SRC workers what to do if a gunman were to attack the campus during training for employees in January.

PLAN: Panel presented with ‘opportunity to create models to promote community awareness’ Goldenberg helps private and public sectors achieve high performance in the face of complex business and security risks. He is also an expert in counter terrorism, cyber security, crisis and risk management, foreign policy, legislative affairs and new business development. “Through important efforts such as this week’s stakeholder gathering at the White House, we have the opportunity to continue to create models to promote community awareness ... and rapidly deploy the best practices, programs and exercises for establishing a common set of standards and practices,” said Goldenberg. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano also lead the panel for the administration’s future plan. Duncan and Napolitano lead

two of the three panels addressing the necessary management needs. One discussion topic focused on lessons learned from mass shootings. Kristina Anderson, a student during the Virginia Tech shooting, and Natalie Hammond, a teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary, were victims of the school massacres. Both joined the panels offering their experiences during school shootings. This event is one of 23 executive actions to reduce gun violence that the president put in place following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Besides developing the model emergency plan, the president has taken on other measures relating to gun violence. Obama has made his expectation known that he wants to strengthen background checks for gun sales and pass a stronger ban on assault weapons.

Cal State Fullerton biological science faculty members continue to examine different environmental hazards throughout the desert ecosystem, including potential impacts from humans. William Presch, Ph.D., professor of biological science, is investigating whether or not off-road vehicles affect the fringe-toed lizards’ residency within the San Bernardino County dunes. Presch has spent roughly five years completing research focusing on this specific breed of reptiles living in the sand dunes. The project to determine the consequences of vehicles was spearheaded by the Bureau of Land Management. “Some environmental groups were also concerned about this and were trying to close some of the open areas where these people can ride their sand rails,” said Presch. Presch, who completed his research with help from graduate students, discovered the lizards were not harmed by humans, and did not even come into contact with humans due to the desert conditions. As a result of the research, the proposal of closing off the dunes to off-road vehicles was denied by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Presch discovered that those driving in off-road vehicles typically prefer open areas, while the fringe-toed lizards only inhabit rocky areas. Also, the lizards typically come out during periods too hot for off-roading. According to Presch, the grant money he was to supposed to receive to continue the research of the Fringe-toed lizard has yet to be allocated. The lack of funds prevents him from checking the current status

Congress plans to throw down this week in a battle between the House and Senate plans to reconcile the budget. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray, DWash., will face off in a debate revealing each party’s focus to target the deficit. Former vice president candidate Ryan is confident in a 10year plan to balance the budget without raising taxes. Democrats will focus on closing tax loopholes in order to raise revenue and stick to Obama’s campaign for fairness in order to reign in the nation’s growing debt. The majority democratic Senate has already begun criticizing Ryan’s proposal to reform medicare. The national debt is currently at $16 trillion but since the Republican takeover of House in 2010, the divide has halted repeated attempts of reconciliation of both sides. Ryan has full faith that a compromise can be made with the president after conversing with Obama last week. Obama’s budget plan has not yet been introduced to Congress and most likely will not come until after Congress has come to a decision.

Brief by CRYSTAL CHAVIRA

Judge blocks NY soda ban

Professors research the effect humans have on lizards and water channels

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

DTBRIEFS

Courtesy of CSUF Biology Department

William Presch, professor of biological science, holds a fringe-toed lizard.

“The major consequence is that water becomes more concentrated in smaller areas and less concentrated over larger areas, and that shifts the whole productivity of the ecosystem.” DARREN SANDQUIST Associate Professor of Biological Science, CSUF

of the lizards, which he had been tracking with GPS. Darren Sandquist, Ph.D., associate professor of biological science at CSUF, has also been conducting research on the desert ecosystem. His research is based specifically on desert plant ecology. He is attempting to identify where plants living in the barren desert environment receive their water. Sandquist has also analyzed the effects of human interaction with channels of water in desert environments. He is focusing on the consequences of disturbing the landscape. Sandquist said adding roads or solar power arrays to deserts can cause a chain reaction in the ecosystem, thus affecting the channels which in turn affect the desert’s natural hydrology.

“The major consequence is that water becomes more concentrated in smaller areas and less concentrated over large areas, and that shifts the whole productivity of the ecosystem,” said Sandquist. Christopher Tracy, Ph.D., assistant professor of biological science at CSUF, is in the preparation stage of his research but has already planned out what he wants to accomplish. Tracy has examined lizards living on an elevation gradient that has varying degrees of temperature. He plans to look at the different levels of elevation and analyze how the lizards adapt to the varying temperatures as a means to simulate how they might adapt to climate change. “I want to use our local desert species to try to understand ways that lizards can avoid going extinct,” said Tracy.

A New York state Supreme Court judge blocked a bid to ban large sugary drinks Monday, according to the Wall Street Journal. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s attempt at a large soda ban was struck down by Judge Milton Tingling when it was determined the ban exceeded his authority as mayor. The ban would have barred sugary drinks in containers larger than 16 ounces from being sold in restaurants, movie theaters, mobile food carts, stadiums and arenas. Bloomberg felt the ban was needed to save lives, and felt similar legislation should be enacted in municipalities nationwide. An expert at Yale University’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity felt the soda ban was legally similar to a ban on artificial trans-fats enacted in 2006 by the board of health.

Brief by SAMUEL MOUNTJOY

Judge rules resentencing for convicted rapist A judge decided Monday to resentence convicted rapist Andrew Luster, relieving him from his 124-year sentence, according to the Los Angeles Times. Judge Kathryne Ann Stoltz decided against his retrial and stated the claims of the attorney for Luster did not hold up. Though Stoltz did comply that the original sentence needs to be reconsidered due to a trial court error. Luster, great-grandson to cosmetics mogul Max Factor, was convicted on 86 counts of rape and drug charges after a jury viewed self-made videos of the perpetrator engaging in sexual acts with three women who were rendered unconscious by the “date rape” drug. Stoltz ruled that the trial court failed to state reasons for handing Luster the maximum consecutive sentences on each count as required by law. Luster’s case gained national attention when he was caught after skipping his $1 million bail by celebrity bounty hunter Duane “Dog” Chapman in Mexico.

Brief by CRYSTAL CHAVIRA

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OPINION

DEVIL’S PAGE 4

THE DAILY TITAN

MARCH 12, 2013 TUESDAY

ADVOCATE TSA to soon allow knives onboard planes

Courtesy of MCT Starting April 25, airlines will begin allowing small knives under 2.4 inches through security. Other similar tools, like boxcutters, remain prohibited.

Lightened security marks a return to normalcy

Real dangers still exist in the air

PRO: STEPHANIE MERCADO

CON: RAYMOND MENDOZA

After the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) released a statement they would to now allow certain small pocket knives onboard airplanes, passengers and flight attendants alike have reacted with nothing short of disbelief. It’s been a long and hard battle for airport security since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001 to let passengers pass security gates unchecked with so much as a water bottle. The official statement released by TSA reads coming April 25, “Knives with blades that are 2.36 inches (6 centimeters) or shorter and less than a 1/2 inch wide will be permitted on U.S. airline flights as long as the blade is not fixed or does not lock into place.” Other sharp objects, such as box cutters, will still be disallowed on planes. Some sporting equipment including hockey sticks, golf clubs and baseball bats will also be permitted. Over reactions are running amuck since this announcement. The ban that initially kept all forms of stick-shaped weaponry was understandable post 9/11, but almost twelve years down the road, it seems to have only added to America’s paranoia. This new lift on a long-term regulation is one miniscule step towards normalcy. After 9/11, I understand the fear and paranoia in targeted areas like an airport, but for a petite young woman like myself to travel alone without so much as a nail file to

protect me was a little over the top. A two-inch knife, I’m sure, serves just as much of a threat as a 185-pound man with a body fat percentage of two; people themselves are sometimes more dangerous than the weapon they carry. Since the events of 2001, technology and security mechanisms have evolved to see passed the danger of small knives and into the bigger-picture of circumstantial jeopardies. TSA’s spokesman, David Castelveter, told Reuters, “The TSA had implemented a number of safety measures, including reinforced cockpit doors, allowing some pilots to be armed and federal air marshals on board airplanes.” Castelveter added these decisions were made with safety of crew and passengers at the forefront. The possession of a personal pocketknife, in particular, has forever been legal to carry on your person as an alternative to a handgun and permit. As somewhere so trivial as on airplane, transitioning between nations, we still hold our individual rights as American citizens. Not to mention, this change in regulations does not mean that everyone will walk on board with a knife in hand. It does not mean that airport security has become lenient and overly lax, nor does it mean that they will strip search each passenger to ensure that nothing else but a 2.36 inch knife,

less than a half-inch in width will pass through to the gates. Technology and security mechanisms have changed immensely over the years, focusing primarily on threatening issues such as security breaches targeted specifically at airports, to lead TSA to confidently believe that this new move to allow knives is indeed okay. However, it may be reasonable to react alarmingly as many already have, but there is no reason not to consider the possibility of Americans trusting the safety of their country once again. Twelve years is a long time to recognize most every angle of danger that this slight alteration can lead to. Castelveter said, “the decision was made to bring U.S. regulations more in line with International Civil Aviation Organization standards and would also help provide a better experience for travelers.” TSA, under heavy pressures as a strong representation of national security, clearly work with the passenger in mind. Capt. Sean Cassidy, first vice president of the Air Line Pilots Association International, said, perhaps summarized it best to CNN: “risk-based security benefits the industry, the airlines and travelers.” This might be perceived as a risk, but months and years down the line this new regulation will become just as much normal as it was when these same knives were banned after 9/11.

According to the recent statement from Transportation Security Administration head John Pistole, airplane security will now allow small knives in carry-on luggage starting April 25. Yet in a post-9/11 world, this could be a poor choice for safety concerned citizens. While the report also mentioned that the airplane cockpit will have reinforced doors—which would keep a knife wielding individual or any individual from forcing their way into the cockpit— and that certain blades will still be prohibited, I believe that the presence of a knife could be harmful for passengers and further disrupt the notion of safe air travel. Some would note that these small knives, which are restricted to a size of 2.36 inches, pose less of a threat thanks to better safety restrictions. However, it was this type of lax thinking that allowed terrorists to hijack several airplanes on Sept. 11. When safety restrictions are not followed, people can and will get hurt either through an accident or through indented force. The TSA’s decision is puzzling considering we live in a world where even the smallest breach in security could lead to an innocent person’s death. Yes, 9/11 was a long time ago and as a nation we should distance ourselves from overprotection, but the truth is that restrictions need to be en-

forced or else more people could be harmed in the future. Even though the 9/11 hijackers used box cutters (which would still be prohibited on airplanes along with fixed blades, knives with a molded grip and blades wider than half an inch) a small pocket knife can still pierce a person’s skin and could be used to create a hostage situation. The danger of a stabbing weapon is still possible, even with a small pocket knife. Regardless whether future terrorists may or may not be able to hijack or crash an airplane using pocket knives (due to better cockpit security), harm can still be done using a pocket knife and would therefore enforce the restriction of knives on a plane. It doesn’t take a genius to see that air travel has become increasingly tense over the years; people are still racked with fears of hijackings, concealed bombs and lunatics armed with box cutters. Restrictions are so intense that somehow baby formula and breast milk, along with any other liquid, must be in a container no larger than 3.4 ounces, for fear that that liquid could be used in the creation of a bomb. Having a knife of any size on board a plane would just add to the fear that comes with air travel. It would be only a matter of time before someone attempts once again to harm another passenger on an airplane.

While the pilot and the course of the plane might remain unharmed and unchanged, the point of prohibiting dangerous weapons is meant to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. The thought of allowing small knives on a plane is completely counteractive to any notion of safety. The concern is especially high with the Flight Attendants Union Coalition, since the risk of danger would be thrust upon passengers and crew members. The safety restrictions only seem to help the pilots and crew. According to a recent Reuter’s article by Deborah Charles, the flight attendants union coalition see the new statement as a “poor and short sighted decision.” “As the last line of defense in the cabin and key aviation partners, we believe that these proposed changes will further endanger the lives of all flight attendants and the passengers we work so hard to keep safe and secure,” the coalition said in a statement. It would appear that the TSA, after years of poor press, are attempting to soothe the general public’s fears concerning air travel. Yet, allowing dangerous weapons onboard a plane would do anything but cause relaxation amongst passengers and crew. These calls of concern from the airplane staff are concrete: Weapons have no place in the air, they will only cause panic.

A closer eye needed on e-cigarettes We still know little about the risks of the increasingly popular smoking alternative KRISTEN CERVANTES Daily Titan

Usually, at least I hope, most people who smoke cigarettes know how bad it is for them. If people don’t realize smoking is bad for them, here is some information that may make them think twice before taking another puff of a cigarette. About 443,000 people die every year from the adverse health effects from smoking cigarettes; more deaths are caused by tobacco use than HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol, car accidents, suicides and murders combined, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The health risks that come with smoking cigarettes can inspire many people to quit. Many concerned smokers looking for a healthier lifestyle are tempted to try any gimmick out there that might help them quit for good. One of those gimmicks is electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that deliver nicotine through vapor. Manufacturers of various e-cigarettes claim it helps people quit smoking. However, there is no definitive proof of that. The device has recently been under fire for needing more regulation by the Food and Drug Administration due to a boost in people who use it. A new study by the CDC has found that in 2011, about 21 per-

cent of adults who smoke tobacco have also used electronic cigarettes, according to NACSOnline.com. Smoking an e-cigarette may or may not be as bad as smoking a regular cigarette, but the device is still unhealthy and not the best alternative for people wanting to quit smoking. The FDA should take a deeper look into how e-cigarettes are regulated and how manufacturers might market the device towards children. Many consumers have no idea what type of substances are going into their body since there is almost no regulation on e-cigarettes or the composition of the liquids used in them. According to the FDA’s website, “e-cigarettes may contain ingredients that are known to be toxic to humans, and may contain other ingredients that may not be safe.” Meanwhile, e-cigarette manufacturers seem to be in no hurry to alert consumers of the ingredients in the devices, especially after seeing an increase in sales. “Manufacturers have exploited this regulatory loophole to aggressively market e-cigarettes, often with claims that they can help smokers quit or that they are a safe alternative to traditional cigarettes,” said Matthew Myers, president of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. E-cigarettes and the mysterious contents in them have not been studied enough to determine if they have long-term, negative health effects. Besides that, there are no studies to prove e-cigarettes actually assist smokers in quitting.

But, a recent study in Greece did find that e-cigarettes can alter a smoker’s lung function in minutes. Researchers found that after five minutes puffing on an e-cigarette, users showed signs of airway obstruction and inflammation, according to Reuters. “More studies on the long-term effects are needed,” Constantine Vardavas, lead researcher of the Center for Global Tobacco Control at the Harvard School of Public Health, told Reuters Health. Another problem with e-cigarette regulation is that manufacturers are able to alter the device’s look and taste to appeal to a younger crowd. Although they resemble a traditional cigarette, the various solutions available for these devices are available in fruit and candy flavors that appeal to children. “The familiar appearance and enticing flavors could actually encourage kids to try traditional cigarettes, rather than avoid them,” said Chris Hansen, president of American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. People can quit smoking at any age and there are many alternatives to help. E-cigarettes are not the only option and are not the best solution for beating a life-long addiction to tobacco. I’m in no way suggesting that quitting cigarettes is a simple thing to do. However, there are many resources out there to ease temptations and don’t involve putting more foreign substances in your body. Websites such as TobaccoFree.org aim to help smokers quit in a healthful way. The site suggests a number of ways

Courtesy of MCT According to the CDC, about 21 percent of adults who smoke normal tobacco cigarettes have also tried e-cigarettes.

to stop smoking for good, including smokers accepting that they need help, trying to go cold turkey and breathing techniques. Nicotine Anonymous’ 12-step program is an additional tool for smokers who want to talk with other people trying to quit. The program is modeled after the Alcoholics Anonymous program, where the first step is admitting to yourself that you have no control over tobacco use. It’s important for e-cigarettes to be regulated because smokers may become addicted to the device, alongside a traditional cigarette. The effects of smoking both are unknown and products shouldn’t be

Many consumers have no idea what type of substances are going into their body since there is almost no regulation on e-cigarettes ... sold without proper studies being done on them. “If large numbers of adult smokers become users of both traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes—rather than using e-cigarettes to quit cigarettes completely—the net public health effect could be quite nega-

tive,” said Tom Frieden, director of the Office on Smoking and Health at the CDC. Before smoking a regular or electronic cigarette, find out first how harmful it is to your health. Until we have the proper statistics, don’t become a statistic yourself.

MARCH 12, 2013

TUESDAY

OPINION

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THE DAILY TITAN

Couples betrothed over high bandwidth Legitimate in a handful of states, proxy marriages are still a relative unknown AMAL ROCKN For the Daily Titan

What do you think of when you hear the words, “I do”? Under most circumstances, especially in Western culture, we think of a beautiful white wedding with both a bride and groom and witnesses to their commemoration. Yet, in many Eastern countries, proxy marriages where a couple weds with the absence of one or both parties is legally acceptable. In an article in the New York Times, George Andrews, operations manager for a company that facilitates proxy marriages worldwide, said, “In the seven years the company has been in existence, business has increased by 12 percent to 15 percent annually to between 400 and 500 weddings a year.” Andrews said that proxy marriages are continually on the rise with advancing technology, including Skype and Google Hangout. How does this work? In the early 20th century, many

proxy marriages were held in the United States when men were on active duty in the military. In the U.S. now, proxy marriages are legal under law in only five states, including California. The state of Montana is the only state that recognizes double proxy marriages, a marriage in which both parties are not physically present and are represented by others. The Montana State Law recognizes full, legal proxy marriages in which one or two “proxies” stand in the place of the bride or groom and say “I do” for them if there is sufficient reason to do so. The solemnization must be held in the state to be legally lawful. MPPM, the Military Pay Proxy Marriage, assists couples in obtaining a proxy marriage as well as the significant benefits that come with one party serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. The organization states that, “As a general rule of law, internationally, virtually all nations will recognize the legal validity of a proxy marriage which is solemnized in another jurisdiction, even if the nation does not have the laws which allow for proxy marriages to be solemnized in the recognizing nation.” And as odd as it seems—that this

method would be so widely supported—this unusual kind of marriage is not a new trend. It dates back to early Medieval Ages. The famous Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were wed by proxy before she met him in France. Proxy marriages were conducted by representatives, then by telegraph, and until recently, by telephone. With technology, we have advanced in allowing couples to celebrate their union together over video conferences. This may sound romantic and may be a relief for some couples, but there are the underlying motives of these marriages. As many unable foreigners strive to make their way to the United States and obtain a legitimate citizenship. But sadly, some matrimonies also lead to forced marriages and abusive relationships. The New York Times examined the marriage between Punam Chowdhury, an American citizen, and Tanvir Ahmmed, who was in Bangladesh. As soon as the couple exchanged words of union, the connection was cut and the wedding was over. Although this couple seemed full of joy and were feeding each other virtual cake, many couples’ stories

are not as heart-warming. Yet it is also common for couples’ marriage contract to be legally recognized upon their arrival, only to then see spouses suffer abuse, abandonment and thus increased divorce rates. Archie Pyati, deputy director of the Immigration Intervention Project, told the New York Times how such marriages can even occur without consent in some countries, or to women who are currently still children. Thankfully in the United States, those applying for citizenship through marriage must be interviewed by the Homeland Security or State Department to be cleared of fraud. Couples wedded by proxy are not required to provide information about their online or informal wedding, but if officials find out, it could be automatically void and counted as fraud. Hopefully, this helps cut down on some of the more unsavory elements of the practice, but there’s no guarantee. And although proxy marriages could be helpful for those who are separated or in the military, they should be examined on a case-by-case basis. Next time you get the notion to say “I do” online, make sure to check your Internet connection.

Courtesy of MCT The idea of proxy marriages has been around for a long time, but now modern technology makes the process easier and much more common.

Wal-Mart not the right face for California’s health care reform The state needs to cover its residents, but this is the wrong way to go about it MICHELLE TUYUB Daily Titan

Courtesy of MCT

Kim Jong-Un, current leader of North Korea, has used U.S. sanctions to bolster support for the various nuclear programs.

Sanctions alone cannot change a conflict NICOLE WEAVER Daily Titan

After seven years of United Nations sanctions against North Korea, it doesn’t seem like a few more are going to matter too much. Even if they’re “some of the toughest” ever imposed by the U.N., according to Susan E. Rice, the U.S. Ambassador. Kim Jong-Un, the leader of North Korea, has continued to build nuclear weapons despite crushing sanctions against an already perilous economy. These sanctions, which are intended to deter Kim Jong-Un from his nuclear ambitions, have only seemed to fuel outrage against the United States. Kim Jong-Un’s father has been developing nuclear weapons since 2006 and has no intention of halting the program. He has already fired off successful test missiles, raising alarm for the rest of the world. The capability of North Korea developing powerful nuclear weapons would grant Kim JongUn leverage to be taken seriously at the bargaining table for global issues, and it’s assumed he will use them against South Korea, Japan and the United States. However, the people of the North Korea don’t see the development of nuclear weapons as a problem. The media moguls in Seoul tend to maintain somewhat of a competitive nature when it comes to their loyalty to their leader, and they have jumped at the opportunity to cultivate hatred towards the U.S. by promoting propaganda for their cause. Due to the propaganda being

generated, North Koreans have threatened military action against the U.S. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like the U.S. can do much about that. It won’t matter if we change our approach with the sanctions. Even if we were to give North Korea money to help their economy it won’t matter; North Korea is a dictatorship that has proved to be completely unreasonable.

Still America always seems the one to blame in global conflicts, doesn’t it? With the support of China, it seems like this will only further lessen the effect of sanctions. North Korea receives 95 percent of its imports from China, providing the country with large amounts of oil and food. And North Korea has been deeply relying on China since 2006, when the sanctions were put in place. It also doesn’t seem likely that China will heed our call for international peace by pulling its support from North Korea. If China did in fact enforce the U.N.’s resolution, North Korea would erupt into chaos and its citizens would flood into China as refugees. This is not the first time we have seen propaganda being generated in the wake of actions implemented

against other countries on behalf of the global community. We see it with Iran and the sanctions against Iran due to their threats of wiping Israel off the map. It’s clear that Iran propagates hatred against Jews due to Western culture, i.e. America. Still America always seems the one to blame in global conflicts, doesn’t it? Apparently, according to Isaac Ben, a writer for YNet, one opinion for the hatred of Israel stems from the threat of destroying Iran’s desired way of life outlined by Holy Scriptures. In order to prevent this from happening, an all-out war is required against nations that aspire to change it, and Iran sees America as leaders in that agenda. I suppose we can also use Japan during World War II as an example. Japan generated mass amounts of propaganda during the war to promote their agenda. Essentially, Japan wanted to counteract claims that they were committing atrocities and that Westernization was detrimental to their regime. The propaganda, as propaganda is wont to do, presented Japan as victorious and encouraged its people to hate the U.S. and that attacking the U.S. was necessary. It was also meant to unite Japan, China and Manchukuo against the U.S. Evaluating past conflicts and current conflicts, it doesn’t seem like changing our course of action against Korea will do much good. Conflicts exist and the urge for power is monumental. Kim Jong-Un will push for completing North Korea’s nuclear weapons project despite the sanctions in order to give himself power to compete with the global community.

The health plan Covered California is attempting to partner with Wal-Mart franchise in order to help enroll Californians in a health care plan. This can come as a shock to some who do not see Wal-Mart as a company who should be representing the health care for the state. Let’s think about this for a minute; since when has Wal-Mart been the “shining example” of what is right when it comes to health benefits? The company has had quite some trouble in the past for not treating their workers the best. Covered California’s purpose is to make it simple and more affordable for millions of Californians to get high-quality health insurance. This is contradicting to WalMart whose focus seems to be to make it harder for their employees to qualify for their health insurance. Covered California has a goal of 2.3 millions of all Californians having health insurance by the year 2017. It could be beneficial having Wal-Mart as a proxy that enrolls people into health plans, because of the huge amount of people that visit the store, yet it does not seem right because of the stigma surrounding some of its practices; its focus seemingly to make it harder for their employees to qualify for their health insurance.

The Los Angeles Times reported that many of the Wal-Mart employees do not qualify for health insurance themselves and thus have to turn to programs like Medi-Cal for coverage. Additionally, Wal-Mart has recently raised the amount of hours worked to be eligible for health care from 24-30 hours. Wal-Mart said this occurred because they were trying to follow the federal healthcare law, but this is just another hoop that their employees need to jump over just to receive health care.

There are other companies that reach ... Californians that also take care of their employees. Labor unions have concerns that health care advice is coming from a hypocritical place. According to the United Food and Commercial Workers union’s Western States Council, website, “‘Walmart jobs’ are now cultural shorthand for low-wage, dead-end positions with poor benefits and few opportunities for advancement.” Because of Wal-Mart’s low wages to their employees they have

the highest number of employees reliant on government assistance. Wal-Mart employees used around $2 billion annually from the people that received government help from programs like Medi-Cal and food stamps. Covered California’s argument is that the program is not responsible for Wal-Mart’s financial decisions and that their responsibility is not to fix that problem. Agreed, but partnering with Wal-Mart is essentially having the company represent Covered California. Wal-Mart is standing by its innocence saying that they are more than generous when it comes to offering health insurance to their workers. Still, it’s difficult to see WalMart paying only 60 percent of all costs for employees that are eligible for health insurance as overly generous. Wal-Mart’s bad reputation is not hidden, rather it comes forth from labor unions, community groups and organizations who have criticized Wal-Mart for its lack of care for their employees. Californians signing up for Covered California is an important task, but the outlet for doing this should be somewhere else other than Wal-Mart. There are other companies that reach many Californians that also take care of their employees. California does not need a company many perceive as greedy representing a plan that is supposed to help people many times coming from low-income families to receive health insurance.

VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM/OPINION

FEATURES

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THE DAILY TITAN

Campus cigar club lights up

MARCH 12, 2013 TUESDAY

Titans lead the way to better business skills Proactive Leadership students present inventive practices to campus clubs

JOHN PEKCAN

CODY LEONG

Daily Titan

It was a beautiful Fullerton night, complete with complimentary drinks and smokes. Just across the street from the new University House, the Cal State Fullerton Cigar Club had its first meeting of the semester. The cigar club is a school recognized establishment and has been running for three semesters. Calvin Nyo, 22, president of the Cigar Club, is one of the original five founders. To be recognized by CSUF as a club, members had to do piles of paperwork and receive the approval of many administrators. Through the last few semesters all but Nyo have moved on from the club. The first meeting for the Cigar Club covered the basics of the art of cigar smoking—the proper holding technique, the importance of a humidor as well as the crucial ashing or the lack thereof. Tony Vercillo, a marketing professor, was also in attendance and contributed his wealth of knowledge to the participants. After explaining to the other members some of the etiquette and some history behind cigars, Vercillo told a story of how cigar knowledge is a crucial business asset. Vercillo spent most of his career in the food industry and part of his job included closing deals with vendors. He had been working for months on closing a deal and just couldn’t get it. Finally, Vercillo decided to do some research about his colleague and discovered that he was a golf enthusiast. He took him golfing out in Las Vegas as he thought this would do the trick. To his dismay, his client was not impressed. Halfway through the course Vercillo was frustrated and starting poking around. He finally posed the question: “Do you like cigars?” he asked.

A trio of Cal State Fullerton students are leading the way to better leadership skills. Rohullah Latif, Robert Gates and Jonny Leggett are the founders of Proactive Leadership group as a part of the National Society of Leadership and Success. The mission of the three men is to revamp leadership skills among campus clubs and provide them with information that will last them the rest of their lives. Originally formed this past summer, Latif, Gates and Leggett worked to find a way to improve leadership skills amongst their friends. According to the founders of the group, they feel they are qualified to teach these skills because they have experience in leadership at CSUF. “Between all three of us we’ve held a lot of leadership positions on campus,” said Latif. “We’ve been to a lot workshops, we’ve read a lot of books. We learn all this and we see this as a way to give back to the students,” he added. Latif is now opening up his own company in loss prevention and security called LP Nation. After being complimented on the great job they did, they figured that they could go bigger and decided to present to clubs on campus. Seeing results after the presentations made them ecstatic and provided them assurance that they were doing the right thing. Proactive Leadership group founders believe that they need to teach people how to follow through with their words and put it to practice. This they say, is the key to becoming a successful leader in the world today. “A leader with nice words doesn’t cut it, but a leader with strong actions to back the words, thats what people follow,” said Gates. The trio make action plans for the particular clubs they present to and help them stay focused on tasks. The men act like mentors to the clubs and do so by making sure that the club sticks to what was planned.

JOHN PEKCAN / Daily Titan

Jeff Kawabe, treasurer of the cigar club, relaxes with an Acid Blonde cigar at the first meeting on Feb. 15.

He found his client’s weakness. “I have a special treat for you,” said Vercillo. Vercillo said he had a special cigar in mind. This cigar was brandy dipped, cream of the crop batch. It was the type of cigar that Fidel Castro smoked. Vercillo believes that cigar conversation was the nail in the coffin for his business deal. He said that was only one example, many of his closest relations and conversations occur during a cigar smoking session. After the opening story, the group started interacting and discussing their preferences and experiences. The group meets about four times a month and the membership fee is $40 for the semester. It guarantees you a cigar on each meetup. The first meeting cigars were Acid Blondes. These cigars cost

about $10 at a local shop, however the group is sponsored by Old Towne Havana in the Orange Circle and gets discounted prices that Nyo said he could not disclose. “There is a rebirth in cigars especially with young people, not just old people,” said Nyo. “I noticed a niche in young people smoking cigars. If there are a lot of people smoking cigars, there must be a reason why.” Cigar smoking can open up more vendor connections as well as other business opportunities, Nyo said. The group had varying levels of experience and enthusiasm. There were attendants who had been smoking for less than a year, as well as experienced veterans such as Gabe Jordan who used to work at a cigar lounge. Nyo believes that cigars are worth the money. He said that cigar smokers

shouldn’t be spending less than $6 on a cigar at a vendor and at a lounge smokers shouldn’t spend less than $10. Jordan, 22, a business administration major, joined the party with his own tobacco pipe. He argued that as much as he likes cigars, five bucks in pipe tobacco goes much longer than a $10 “stick.” Jordan said for him the $5 worth of pipe tobacco can last him up to a month. Yet, the price of a cigar is not the only issue that cigar club members face. Last August a tobacco ban was put in place prohibiting smoking on campus. Aside from the negative connotation smoking conjures, for the members of the CSUF Cigar Club, taking a moment to chat over a slow burning cigar is a good way to relax and reminisce.

Even though it is not the easiest task to do, the proactive leaders are still willing to do the job because they want to help make students become the best possible person they can be. If that means calling them everyday to make sure that the club sticks to what was planned, or physically helping with work, Latif, Gates and Leggett say they are prepared to do it. Lexi Schaffer, president of the Society of Women Engineers and a mechanical engineering major, believes that her club learned valuable lessons from the presentation that the three proactive leaders gave them, such as managing time, being accountable and learning about the situation task action result, STAR, technique. The STAR technique is a government fundamental that is taught to prospective employees. To demonstrate how to use the technique, Gates said that instead of just saying that someone is a good communicator, they need to also show how they are. By showing examples of how you are a good communicator, it makes the employer more inclined to hire you. He said that this is the most overlooked, underutilized tool that can help someone get a job. “I was surprised,” said Shaffer. “It was a shock to me like I need to be thinking about all of these things and thinking about the future and what I can do now to progress towards the future.” Syvannah Kooyman, 21, a mechanical engineering major, said she believed that the techniques she has learned from the proactive leaders’ presentation have been beneficial and eyeopening for her. She said that it has only been a few days since she learned these new skills and that she has already put them to use. The presenters said they are honored to be able to provide insight on these skills to clubs on campus. Latif said that it is great to be a student leader on campus. “You’re bettering yourself and your skills, but you’re bettering someone else’s skills as well and in the end it helps the entire campus, the club and the entire student population,” said Latif.

History of racism courses open up discussions for greater tolerance MI-MI SESSIONS For the Daily Titan

About 40 students chanted racial slurs, broke bottles and ignited fireworks outside of a minority student union building on a college campus in Virginia. Over 700 miles away, at the University of Mississippi, a similar occurrence took place—this time with more than 500 students. The literal acts of segregation have withered away with time. However, racism has become more covert in institutions like education. Byron Marsh, 26, a psychology major, says he has been a victim of racism and has learned how to become more accepting of himself. Marsh sees little difference and more similarities in ethnic cultures. For example, in his History of Racism class, Marsh listened to a fellow student express her struggles be-

ing of Filipino and Hispanic descent. “I was analyzing some of her struggles and comparing them to multiracial (African-Americans) and noticed that a lot of things are the same,” said Marsh. “People struggle with racial identity all the time.” According to the Cal State Fullerton course description of the history of racism course it intends to investigate the historical roots and current expressions of racism. The course also suggests techniques on how to combat social, political, religious and economic prejudices today. Natalie McCarthy, 28, a public relations major, said that taking the History of Racism course has opened her eyes. She says it has made her more aware of institutional racism and how society views people based on how they percieve other people’s physical apperances.

“Racism is a very elusive thing, it is not a subject, it is not a verb, it is an ‘ism. It is the result of some kind of form of action, be it written, verbal or physical.” ERNEST BRIDGES Professor “It is sometimes difficult to explain who you are because of what people see, is how we take them,” McCarthy said. Teaching courses on campus that will enhance leadership qualities and enable self awareness has been a major goal in Professor Er-

nest Bridges teaching strategies on the subject of racism. “Racism is a very elusive thing, it is not a subject, it is not a verb, it is an ‘ism,” Bridges said. “It is the result of some kind of form of action, be it written, verbal or physical.” In the course students receive

an in-depth and uncensored view of America and how racism was embedded into it. “The knowledge of the history and how it has been institutionalized is very important so one can recognize what it is today,” said Bridges. Institutional racism is defined as practices that operate within social institutions to penalize and/or exploit individuals who are inferior. Although racism is institutionalized, the power of the individual plays an important role in society as well. CSUF is home to a culturally diverse student body with 33 percent Hispanics, 2 percent AfricanAmericans, 21 percent Asian/ Pacific Islander and 29 percent Caucasian students who comprise the population. Nevertheless, some CSUF students say they rarely experienced or witnessed racism on campus. Reem Alfayez, 23, a computer

science major, is an exchange student from Saudi Arabia. Alfayez, who began an American language program last March, expressed how welcoming students have been on campus. “We are all similar, minus a few cultural differences,” she said. Alfayez said she has experienced racism once since she has been in the U.S., but it took place off campus. “There are no specific laws to protect women (in Saudi Arabia),” Alfayez said. “So if the government won’t protect us, our parents will protect the females so we are living a good life.” Instead of racism being boisterous and socially displayed, silence in its movements question if it’s still prevalent in today’s society. However, erratic acts of prejudice remind us of how complex the topic is and how strongly students influence change in society.

FILM SERIES: Dance film entertains and teaches CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Suarez said that the Chicano Resource Center serves as a hub that provides a number of resources for Latino and non-Latino students who have an interest in researching the history, culture and politics of the Latino culture. Being under the umbrella of the Chicano and Latino student organization, Mesa Cooperativa serves to promote the needs of Latino students. The club also works to provide academic and social opportunities for students through activities such as these film showings. CONTACT US AT: DETOUR@DAILYTITAN.COM

Mesa Cooperativa was founded in 1992 by Chicano and Latino students and faculty members interested in a supporting network for students on campus. Since then it has brought cultural, social and educational events to students. Norman Zeledon, vice president of Mesa Cooperativa, said that the club helps to promote and highlight the Latino and Chicano community on campus with their 14 organizations. Future film screenings in associations with the Mesa Cooperativa film series, such as Destino, are in progress, according to Gonzalez.

FITNESS

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THE DAILY TITAN

MARCH 12, 2013 TUESDAY

Running is more than just an activity In just about every daily choice, whether it’s having another beer or staying up late, I consider how it is going to affect my running and make a choice accordingly. I believe that running is more than just something I do everyday. It’s a lifestyle. It is impossible for the human body to maintain a training schedule while drinking upwards of six drinks the night before a run, getting four hours of sleep and eating a mixed diet of hamburgers and burritos. Living a healthy lifestyle also has its other extreme. Paleo, vegan and other diets can be incredibly healthy when executed smartly, but these may be too difficult for starting and experienced runners alike. These are drastic steps. Power to the people who can manage to stick to the strict standards of Paleo, but for the rest of us, we need to find another solution. While there are many aspects to living a healthy lifestyle, eating habits seem to be the most difficult for people to alter. Much like designing and executing a training regiment, planning a healthy diet should be attainable. Think baby steps that you know you can handle. You might be able to stick with a diet for a week, but after you break down and go back to your old ways, it will be a week of effort and suffering wasted. While I do not profess to be a dietician or nutritionist, I know what works for me. I still eat the occasional hamburger, and yes, I will partake in the occasional late night Del Taco run. But most days

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I try to remain conscious of what I’m eating. I have three main philosophies when deciding what and when I eat: make your food, eat often and eat balanced.

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Make your food:

Packing a lunch and cooking your meals is the easiest way to eat healthy. For many, it’s difficult to find the time to go grocery shopping and cook. Most full-time students are part-time employees as well, making it difficult to find the time to fry up a meal when homework and work take up the majority of their free time. The unavoidable truth is that we all have to make time to eat right. I’ve gotten to the point where I can set my coffee machine up and pack a lunch in less than 15 minutes. If students combined all of the time that they spent scrolling through their newsfeed on Facebook or checking their Instagram, they’d probably have enough to time to pack three to four lunches on a daily basis. Going to the grocery store is a hassle. I despise it. Driving to the store, resisting the urge to buy everything, loading up the car and taking everything inside … it’s a process. Now, think about it from a financial perspective. By going to the grocery store, you can save tons of money. Every sandwich you buy at school is $5 or $6. Every burger with fries that you buy at The Habit is going to come out

The unavoidable truth is that we all have to make time to eat right.

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to about $7. If you are buying a soda, tack on another $1.50. If you buy anything but regular or iced coffee, tack on another $3 to $4 more bucks. Now think about that money in terms of hours worked. My reaction: I guess going to the grocery store and cooking isn’t that bad ...

Eat often:

Eating often should not be confused with eating a lot. Believe me, I enjoy nothing more than stuffing my face and falling into the sweet bliss of a food coma. Unfortunately, these eating habit are taxing on the metabolism. I eat something small every couple hours and choose either lunch or dinner (or both) to be my larger meal. I try to eat about six small meals a day. These small meals are more like snacks. A bag of carrots, pretzels, trail mix and dried fruits are all good for small meals. Fruits like bananas and apples are also

easy to throw into a backpack before heading to school. I eat simple, but hearty meals for lunch and dinner. Sandwiches are a staple of mine because they are easy to make the night before school or work. For breakfast and dinner, I find easy recipes that don’t involve a lot of ingredients and have been working my way up to more advanced recipes. My breakfasts usually consist of either a bowl of cereal and yogurt, eggs or oatmeal. For dinner, I make a lot of pastas and fry meat and vegetables to go with it. My meals do tend to be very carbohydrate heavy, but with the amount of miles I’m putting in and the active lifestyle I lead, I could use the extra fuel.

Eat balanced:

Think of every meal in terms of components. When I cook dinner, I try to include a meat, a starch and a couple of servings of vegetables or fruits.

By getting in the habit of eating fruits and vegetables with every meal, you are satisfying a portion of your hunger that may have been filled by that box of Oreos in the back of your pantry (I make the box difficult to reach so that I don’t eat a third of it when I’m scrounging for food after a run). Another strategy in eating a balanced diet is simply not buying sweets. For example, I avoid buying beer, ice cream, cookies and soda at the grocery store. This allows me to save money and cut those foods and beverages out of my diet. This may sound a little masochistic for some, but the truth is, after a couple weeks you won’t remember what you missed. What people do not realize is that a diet is a set of eating habits that involve what you eat as well as how you eat. While you should be conscious about what you eat, I have found that the how is much easier to change for the beginning runner.

Although there aren’t as many studies out there about how reducing stress by exercising correlates with brain function, diminishing stress at least decreases the negative impact on the brain, according to Jones. She suggests students take yoga and tai chi classes to help relieve stress. If students find that they don’t have time to exercise, there are several ways to get a workout while on campus. Students can park further away from classes, walk around campus more and take the stairs instead of using the elevator, Jones said. “You’re probably going to be able to think better once you get to class because you’re already getting more blood flow to the brain,” Jones said. Cambria Johnson, 20, a business major and the school’s cheer captain, uses the Student Recreation Center and works out at least four days a week. Johnson said she finds that after working out in the morning she feels more rejuvenated and is a lot happier. “That’s what keeps me going, the feeling afterward,” Johnson said. “If I don’t work out I feel a little sluggish.” Despite many people feeling exhilarated right after exercising, the longterm positive effects working out has on the brain takes time. “Changes in the brain does not occur immediately and it’s something a person needs to do for awhile,” Jones said. “It generally takes about six months to see any differences in the brain.” Exercising can be tedious and time consuming, but having a healthy mind and body is worth taking a few hours out of the week to workout, even in the dark early hours of the morning. “(Exercising is) just good for your mental health and physical health,” Hy said.