Monday, October 7, 2013

Page 1

Volume 94, Issue 19

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013

dailytitan.com

NEWS | INVESTIGATION

Audit concludes criminal activity Missing $58,000 prompts investigation, overhaul of cash-handling processes SAMUEL MOUNTJOY MIA MCCORMICK & ADRIAN GARCIA Daily Titan

WILLIAM CAMARGO / For the Daily Titan

President Mildred García sits at a table in her office on the tenth floor of the College Park building surrounded by souvenirs of her presidency.

García talks student issues

García sits down for lengthy exclusive interview with the Daily Titan Editor’s note: The following questions and answers are excerpted from an interview with President Mildred García that took place on Friday Oct. 4. Some questions have been altered for clarity and conciseness. DT: “This year, you spoke about $500,000 that is going to be allocated to tackle what is a $150 million backlog of deferred maintenance; what brought the university to that specific number? García: “Well, first of all, they

did a study under the vice president for finance administration to look at what was the issues with deferred maintenance. They came up with a list of major issues that we have. Remember, our buildings are over 50 years old, and if you don’t take care of buildings, things start to happen. So that’s number one. So there is this whole inventory of what needs to occur. And yes, we understand, I’ll give you more information, we understand $500,000 doesn’t go a long way, but it at least begins to look at what are the issues that we are confronting. Remember that we lost over $40 million in the budget crisis that we had, and

this is the first time that we’re getting some money back, and the bleeding has stopped, so that we get $125 million for the CSU, but we’ve been cut, at Fullerton, $40 million. So we’re now starting to see how do we allocate in those areas that are so important? For me, a good facility, and a safe facility, is important for a learning environment. So that’s why we started with $500,000. But I just gave my report to the Planning Resources and Budget Committee, PRBC, and we have allocated from the dollars that we have, next to $1 million for deferred maintenance, from the recurring budget, and then we have

some one-time dollars, those will come to us just one time, which we’re taking $2 million to make it a total of $3 million––over this year––for deferred maintenance. So we’re trying to put in as much as we can knowing that we don’t have, we have to really fund other things as well, but I don’t have to tell you students about McCarthy Hall, and I don’t have to tell you students about the buildings, and the escalator, and the elevators where some of our students got stuck about two weeks ago. So I know I don’t have to explain that. But we do have to think about the sewer lines. SEE Q&A, 2

HELENA REED Daily Titan

A West Coast atmosphere filled the Becker Amphitheater during Cal State Fullerton’s second annual Orangefest: Locals Only fall music festival on Oct. 4. The free concert, hosted by ASI Productions, featured food trucks and three live bands exclusively for the CSUF community. Although Friday night’s weather conditions were windy, Associated Student Inc. coordinators were optimistic that the sun would be the shining factor for the SoCal themed event. “I just feel like this is a really good opportunity to have a great time, meet people, hear some good music, get some free food and get some free stuff,” said Nicholas Jakel, 18, a business major and ASIP street team member. “You can’t really ask for much more than a bunch of free stuff.”

Danielle Manifold, 20, ASIP fall festival and spring concert coordinator, was the leading force behind this year’s Orangefest. “Using Southern California as the theme of the event, whether it was the sunshine, the beaches and good chill vibes, that’s what I was going for for this event,” Manifold said. After festival crew members finished setting up, ASI admitted students who had their TitanCards in hand. The first 450 students recieved free food vouchers to use at any vendor. Some of the food trucks at the event were Kala truck, Longboards Ice Cream and GD Bro Truck. The first band who took the stage was an alternative reggae five-piece, Pacific Dub. They delivered interactive performance with easy-going tunes and head bobbing mixes to the audience. Pacific Dub’s drummer admitted he was surprised by the crowd turnout. SEE LOCALS ONLY, 5

NEWS 3

Environmental committee plans for “Seeds for Change” OPINION 4

“Stand your ground” laws criticized DETOUR 5

Almost, Maine portrays highs and lows of love SPORTS 8

Titans defeat San Luis Obispo for first Big West win FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @DAILY_TITAN

DEANNA TROMBLEY / Daily Titan

SEE AUDIT, 3

Titans earn fifth draw of season

CSUF is unbeaten after the opening weekend of Big West Conference play Daily Titan

Orangefest brings in beachy SoCal vibes

Clerical Error In May of 2012, College of Arts staff noticed financial discrepancies within the department. They initially concluded a clerical error and began revising cash-handling processes. In January, an overdrawn account revealed that the mishandling was more serious than a clerical error. In total, $58,694 never made it to ASC: $45,011 in cash and $13,683 in checks. That same month, García wrote to California State University Chancellor Timothy White requesting an audit, which he requested of the Office of the University Auditor in February. The investigation revealed a variety of shoddy money-handling practices between the box office and the ASC.

SPORTS | WOMEN’S SOCCER

VINCENT LA ROSA

DETOUR | CONCERT

The second annual CSUF fall music festival delivered three live performances

The disappearance of about $58,000 from the Clayes Performing Arts Center box office was “likely the result of criminal activity,” according to an investigative audit released by California State University in August. On Friday, President García would not comment on the specifics of the report, calling it a personnel issue. “The individual who is alleged to have done this ... no longer works here,” García said. “The police will take care of any criminal action that must be taken care of, but we do have processes and procedures in place so this will never happen again.” The report shows that $58,694 was received by the

box office but never delivered to Auxiliary Services Corporation for deposit. ASC provides accounting services on campus.

A header by sophomore defender Morgan Batcheller in the 72nd minute forced overtime for the Cal State Fullerton women’s soccer team at home against Cal State Northridge on Sunday, but both teams would have to settle for a draw. A rematch of last season’s Big West Tournament final, the Titans headed into their match with the Matadors hoping to remain perfect through the first weekend of Big West play. But just as they did against the University of Hawai’i on Friday, the Titans spotted their opposition with the initial advantage, giving up the first goal of the game in the 36th minute. Starting the match with a much more energized and promising first 30 minutes than

their previous match, CSUF looked determined with strong pressure in the Matadors’ half and purposeful passing all around the pitch. But while the Titans did well to put CSUN under some initial pressure, it would be the Matadors drawing first blood in the match. Winning a throw-in deep in the Titans’ half, CSUN junior Leandra Walker picked out sophomore forward Kendall Moskal near the right corner of the Titan penalty area. Collecting the ball with ample amounts of time, Moskal easily sidestepped the challenge of Titan midfielder Chelsey Patterson before picking her head up and hitting a right-footed shot towards CSUF senior goalkeeper Lindsey Maricic. Unfortunately for the Titans, Maricic could only get fingertips to the dipping shot before it hit the underside of the crossbar and landed just behind the Titans’ goal line for the game’s opening strike. SEE SOCCER, 6

Custom Dodge Charger was displayed at the OC Auto Show.

NEWS | COMMUNITY

Anaheim Convention Center hosts car show Automakers showcase latest models at Orange County car show JAMES SMITH

For the Daily Titan

More than 500 new vehicles on display drove car lovers to the Anaheim Convention Center this weekend for the Orange County International Auto Show. The show featured a wide range of makes and models from 35 different automakers including specialty dealerships and aftermarket vendors. This year’s show provided a

stage for some of the world’s largest automakers to roll out and unveil their 2014 models. Among those unveiled was Fiat’s new 500L, the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 and Mercedes CLA class. Looking more Ferrari than Chevy, the 2014 Chevy Corvette had fans lining up for a chance to sit behind the wheel. “This is probably one of the best looking Corvettes they made yet and I’ve been a Corvette fan my entire life,” said Brian Gluck, a Los Alamitos resident and self-proclaimed gearhead.

DEANNA TROMBLEY / Daily Titan

Senior forward Nikki McCants and a Matador defender battle for the ball.

FOR THE RECORD IN THE ARTICLE PUBLISHED OCT. 3, 2013, ENTITLED “PROGRAM PROVIDES SUICIDE PREVENTION,” IT WAS INCORRECTLY REPORTED THAT CSUF HAD THE HIGHEST SUICIDE RATE AMONG CSUS. IN ADDITION, THE ARTICLE REPORTED THE CAPS PROGRAM WAS CREATED IN 2004 BECAUSE OF PROPOSITION 63, AND THAT CAPS AND ACTIVE MINDS MAKE UP THE CSUF COUNSELING PROGRAM. THIS INFORMATION IS INACCURATE AND THE STORY HAS BEEN CHANGED TO NOTE THAT CAPS WAS NOT FOUNDED IN 2004 AS A RESULT OF THAT INITIATIVE, AND THE TWO PROGRAMS DO NOT MAKE UP THE COUNSELING CENTER.

SEE AUTO, 3

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