Thursday Nov. 13, 2014 by Daily Titan

Searching for Mr. Right

Titan women open season

Student discovers not to put her desires on hold in a relationship

The women’s basketball team begins their regular season Sunday at home

Features 5

Thursday November 13, 2014

Sports

Volume 96 Issue 41

The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

Titans win convincingly in semifinal Men’s soccer advances to the Big West Tournament championship at UC Irvine

MEN’S SOCCER

RUDY CHINCHILLA Daily Titan 5

YUNUEN BONAPARTE / DAILY TITAN

In the first of two days of meetings, the CSU Board of Trustees approved faculty and staff compensation contracts.

Trustees OK raises California Faculty Association among groups that received compensation approval

BRITTANEY CARPENTER Daily Titan The California State University Board of Trustees ratified collective bargaining agreements Wednesday for five unions that serve CSU employees. A three-year contract was approved for members of the California Faculty Association and California State University Employees Union, the union that serves CSU health care, operations, clerical, administrative and technical support employees. They will see a 3 percent raise in the first year and a 2 percent raise in the second and third years. The second ratified contract

applied to the student services Academic Professionals of California, which represents counselors, advisors and financial aid officers. These employees will get the same deal as the Employees Union–a 3 percent raise for year one, followed by a 2 percent raise during the subsequent two years. The same contract terms were approved for the International Operating Engineers and trade workers at the Maritime Academy in California. The agreement affecting the State Employee’s Trade Council and their building trades was ratified as a one year contract with a 3 percent raise in benefits and compensation. The CFA agreement regarding fair faculty compensation

with the CSU system has been of particular importance to faculty members. The previous board meeting in September saw several CSU professors and staff members speak on the lack of raises in compensation and the fact that it has increased financial pressure on CSU faculty. The ratification of the contract provides some relief for CSU employees. These contracts were ratified quickly, without any issues from the chairmen present. While members from each campus have the ability to ratify the agreements at their level, the second stage in enacting the agreements includes sending them to the chancellor’s office for approval.

Board of Trustees

Next meeting: • Thursday Nov. 13 • Meeting begins 8 a.m. • 11:30 a.m. public comment • Office of the Chancellor, 401 Golden Shore, Long Beach

SEE BOT 3

The Cal State Fullerton men’s soccer team continued their path toward the Big West Tournament championship Wednesday, downing UC Riverside 3-0. Fullerton faced Riverside for the third time this season, and was looking for their first win against the Highlanders after having tied the two previous matches. The first game of the season between both sides ended in a 1-1 tie at UC Riverside Soccer Stadium, while the second game ended 2-2 at Titan Stadium. Both matches were physical affairs, with Riverside committing 49 fouls over both legs and Fullerton committing 48. The game at Titan Stadium saw two Riverside players earning red cards. Titan Alex Cannas also went off with a leg injury in what was his and 11 other teammates’ senior night. Cannas has not played since. After that game, CSUF forward Marc Fenelus spoke out about the disappointing tie. “For me, it’s the biggest disappointment of the season because we played for more than 10 minutes with two men up, so we should have definitely won the game. There’s no excuse about that,” Fenelus said. However, the Titans did not disappoint Wednesday night. Fullerton couldn’t have asked for a better start to the game. Right before the fifth minute, Highlander Stephen Copley pulled down Fenelus as the Titan forward was gearing up for a one-on-one with UCR goalkeeper K.C. John. The referee blew the whistle, awarding Fullerton the

0 penalty and sending off Copley in the process. Ian Ramos stepped up to take the spot kick and converted from 12 yards, giving CSUF the early 1-0 lead. The goal was the senior’s fourth of the season, and second in the last two games. The Titans doubled their lead in the 12th minute. On the right flank, junior defender Colin Okirie played the ball forward to Ramos, who sent a cross to Fenelus. Fenelus struck the ball from 12 yards, putting the Titans ahead 2-0. The Highlanders tried to respond two minutes later via a Hector Romo shot, but they failed to convert. However, the Titans were whistled for a penalty in that same minute, giving Riverside the opportunity to cut the deficit. Michael Salazar stepped up to take the spot kick for the Highlanders, looking to put them back in the game. Titan goalkeeper Jeff Salt, however, had other ideas. Salazar took the shot, but Salt guessed correctly and made the save. The stop was Salt’s second penalty save in the last three games, having also denied Cal State Northridge last week in the regular season finale. In the 27th minute, Romo tried again to put UCR on the scoresheet, but Salt came up big again and denied the Highlanders once more. Riverside tried to flurry in the next eight minutes, firing off five shots, but each time they were denied. SEE SOCCER

Applying nature’s miracles for practical solutions

Professor researches manta ray filter systems to improve wastewater treatments

AMBER UDDIN Daily Titan You’re in the ocean with nothing but an oxygen tank. Apart from the bubbles jetting out of your breathing apparatus, it’s peaceful and eerie. You can see something deep down below moving in the depths of the water, and you start to feel uneasy. Thirty feet below, a whale shark the size of a school bus glides past you. You feel insignificant. You remind yourself to breathe as it slowly makes its way toward you. Breathe. You move above it and climb on top as it opens its wide, gaping mouth and takes in water. Quickly, you snap a picture. *** This is not the ideal job for many, but for professor and biomechanist Erin “Misty” Paig-Tran, Ph.D., it’s not just a job, but a passion to know more and to unlock some of

COURTESY OF ERIN PAIG-TRAN

Manta rays are a type of filter-feeder fish, whose biological mechanics can be used to purify water more efficiently.

the mysteries that lie under the water—and it’s all for a greater purpose. Paig-Tran has been studying large filter-feeders in places like Hawaii, Yucatán and Scotland. A lecture she took as a graduate student sparked a question in Paig-Tran’s mind: How do very big

animals like manta rays, whale sharks, basking sharks and megamouth sharks sustain themselves by feeding on the smallest things in the ocean, like plankton? She questioned the current theories about how the fish were feeding and something told her there was more to

it. Dissatisfied with the answers to her questions, she began to investigate. That question has driven her not only to a career, but through years of innovative research both in the field and in the lab. It has prompted more and more questions like how these filters can be used to benefit humans and

their environment. Paig-Tran films the inside of the mouths of these larger-than-life wild animals as well as studying dead specimens in a lab. With the use of X-rays, CT scans or by taking casts of the internal structures, she uses 3-D imaging and 3-D printing to create models of the filters,

including life-sized models and larger. The 3-D printing method allows for the tiniest pores in the filters to show and Paig-Tran uses the 3-D prototypes to experiment with the way they work in a controlled environment, which is difficult to do with a live animal. Paig-Tran has been working on the use of the filter-feeders’ powerful filtering technology for applications in wastewater treatment, or even water faucets and vacuums. “Because their filters are so good at doing what they do because they don’t clog, we can now make manmade applications based on it,” she said. Wastewater plants have primary and secondary treatments which remove large waste and biological content, then pumps the effluent, or sewage, into the ocean. But Paig-Tran’s theory differs in that it uses the biomimetic manta filter to further purify the water, thus putting less harmful and dangerous sewage into the ocean. SEE MANTA

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PAGE 2 NOVEMBER 13, 2014 THURSDAY

NEWS CSUF students make DTBRIEFS Students gains in competition to rally at meeting

Group of business majors take second place in TD Ameritrade investing competition

ALEXANDER DOMINGUEZ Daily Titan

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Three Cal State Fullerton business majors placed second overall in the national TD Ameritrade “thinkorswim” challenge. The thinkorswim challenge, which focused on options and stock trading, handed over a virtual $500,000 portfolio to 246 teams from universities throughout the U.S. and gave them a list of companies they were able to trade. Thinkorswim wasn’t anything new for the team, and their familiarity lent the team an edge during the competition, allowing them to focus on making logical decisions and avoiding unnecessary risk, said Brandyn Young, a senior business administration major. The team, Tons of Fund, took an early lead, changing strategy throughout the competition in order to stay ahead of their competitors. The team began by first trading aggressively to move ahead, then taking a conservative approach while closely watching what their competitors were doing. “The toughest part about this competition was controlling emotions and acting on a logical game theory to maintain our lead,” Young said. “If we decided to play aggressively, the outcome may have changed for better or worse.” Aside from their previous experience with the trading platform, both Curtis Morrow and Young had experience as executives in the Financial Risk Management Association,

COURTESY OF CSUF

Chris Harraka (left), Brandyn Young (center) and Curtis Morrow (right) took second place in the ‘thinkorswim’ competition.

where they discussed the markets and options trading strategies with interested students. The team had a healthy lead for the majority of the competition, but that changed in the final few weeks of the contest when other teams began investing in companies that had shown earnings, giving the competitors the chance to gain ground on “Tons of Funds.” It wasn’t until the last days of the challenge that the competition really began gaining on the CSUF team. “I believe the people who came in third were pretty close to us for the last whole week,” said Morrow, a senior finance major. “The last week is when we saw the competition step up.” The competition ended Saturday, with Tons of Fund falling into second place behind Team GoMeanGreen from the

University of North Texas at the last moment. “In the end, the first place team had a perfect storm and ended up taking the lead,” Young said. GoMeanGreen was able to generate over $600,000 in one day, after only being able to generate $400,000 throughout the competition. “The only days we weren’t in first place were the first day and the last day,” Morrow said. “We’re excited to take second, but we definitely thought we were going to get first, so it’s a little discouraging.” Team “Tons of Fund” was awarded with iPad minis, $2,000 each in a TD Ameritrade brokerage account and $20,000 toward CSUF. The team hopes to donate the $20,000 prize to the Applied Securities Analysis Program, where they manage the Mihaylo College of Business and Economics Endowment Fund.

Golf Research Lab open house to feature 3-D tech Students will be able to use motion analysis system to analyze golf swing

CYNTHIA PLEITEZ Daily Titan Science fiction and golf come together frequently in the Cal State Fullerton Golf Research Lab, and students will have a chance to take part during the lab’s open house Saturday. A 3-D golf motion analysis system will be on display Saturday at the open house event. The analysis is an opportunity for students and community members to experiment with the exclusive, state-of-the-art technology that is being unveiled. Since the Golf Research Lab is housed in the Biomechanics Lab, exclusive access to 3-D motion capture technology gives golfers a cutting edge. “Here at the Biomechanics Lab, we’ve been focusing a lot on golf performance research,” said Robert Dudley, director of the Biomechanics Laboratory at the Golf Research Lab. “We do 3-D motion capture analysis of the golf swing, we also measure ball flight variables, we have a launch monitor where we can track indoors where the ball would’ve gone if we were outdoors. Technology used in the camera motion-capture system is the same technology as the one used to create James Cameron’s film, Avatar.

Dozens of California State University students are planning to rally at the Board of Trustees meeting Thursday to voice their opposition to campus-based student success fees, according to the Los Angeles Times. The fees in question were put in place recently at a dozen campuses, including CSUF, to hire faculty and staff, increase course offerings and help support programs that were crippled during state funding cuts over a period of years. Students are complaining that there has not been enough information given on how the fees are used, and that the student population did not have enough say in the fees before being approved. The fees in question can range anywhere up to $800 per student on certain campuses. - AL DOMINGUEZ

Wounded man found at station A man with a gunshot wound was found at the Fullerton Amtrak late Tuesday night in a suspected gang-related shooting, according to the Orange County Register. Fullerton Police Department officers responded to loud noise complaints at the 100 block of East Truslow Avenue around 11 p.m. Police dispatchers continued receiving reports of gunfire at the same location as officers arrived on the scene. No one at the home was found wounded, however, police were given reports of a wounded man at the Amtrak station two blocks away. The 19-year-old victim was found on the southbound platform with a gunshot wound to the back. He was transported to UCI Medical Center in Orange with injuries that were not life threatening. - AL DOMINGUEZ

COURTESY OF CSUF GOLF RESEARCH CENTER

Students will have the chance to use the 3-D motion capture system to analyze elements of their golf game.

“We can create a 3-D skeleton of the athlete hitting the golf ball. Using that, we can calculate a whole bunch of different things that simply looking at someone can’t do or simply filming them in a 2-D aspect can’t do,” Dudley said. Though the open house is free to the public and will offer free demos and swing analysis, 1.5 hour sessions are also available at a cost for students. The Golf Research Lab is still finalizing its prices, but students can expect a $200 price tag per analysis. After making an appointment, golfers will be able to have retroreflective markers attached to them as they test their swing. The end of their interactive golfing session would produce a 16-page PDF

report, high speed video with 3-D overlay and animations of their swing. Recent simulator, projector and computer donations from an alumni have allowed the golf analysis research to produce the stateof-the-art experience. “We’ve had this technology in the Biomechanics Lab for a couple of years now, but the emphasis on the golf research has happened probably in the past three years,” Dudley said. Students and community members can attend the 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. open house by emailing csufgolflab@gmail.com or visiting the CSUF Golf Research Lab Facebook page at Facebook.com/ GolfResearchLabCSUF. The lab is located on the lower level of the Kinesiology and Health Science Building in room 019.

Probe lands on comet A space probe made history Wednesday when it successfully landed on a comet 310 million miles from Earth, according to CNN. The probe, called Philae, is the first spacecraft to have a controlled landing on a comet. Other spacecraft have crashed into comets before. The landing is a part of the Rosetta mission, which launched 10 years ago. The Rosetta traveled over 6.4 billion miles before arriving at the comet in early August. Phiale later separated from the Rosetta at around 12:30 am local time, and completed its landing seven hours later. - AL DOMINGUEZ

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NEWS

PAGE 3 NOVEMBER 13, 2014 THURSDAY

‘Tis the season for flu Flu shots will be available by appointment in the health center for the rest of the semester

ALEXANDER DOMINGUEZ Daily Titan

YUNUEN BONAPARTE / DAILY TITAN

President Mildred García took part in the trustees meeting.

BOT: Contracts to go to chancelCONTINUED FROM

Cal State Fullerton’s Susan Smith, who works for the payroll, benefits and retirement services section of the Department for Human Resources, Diversity and Inclusion, elected to speak during the public comment section, remarking how proud she is to witness the benefits of the CSU employees working in unison. She commented on her pride at the increase in

gender diversity which caused a round of applause from the room. Specifically, she commented on the increase in number of female presidents in the CSU system. “This was my first cycle on the bargaining team and quite the learning experience, and it has been an example of what can be accomplished in the CSU when we work together,” Smith said. “(The) system as a whole is changing, but change is gradual.

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We have a large volume of students who come into the Health Center sick. That particularly happens around midterm and finals seasons.

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YUNUEN BONAPARTE / DAILY TITAN

CSUF employee Susan Smith speaks to the Board of Trustees.

Cal State Fullerton Student Health and Counseling Center is urging students to get their flu shots. The center has partnered with the School of Nursing to provide students with free flu shots, deploying two mobile units that visited the main campus, Irvine campus and student housing over the course of two weeks. The mobile clinics will not be returning to campus for the remainder of the semester, but vaccines will be available while supplies last throughout the semester at the Health Center. Appointments can be made online or at the front desk.

NARAYANA DARST Interim Director of Health Education The event, in its second year, vaccinated nearly 1,700 people against the flu—significantly more than last year, when fewer than 1,000 people were vaccinated, said Darany Hoang, health educator at the Health Center. The event last year sported a Rosie the Riveter “You

MIMI HUNG / DAILY TITAN FILE PHOTO

The Student Health and Counseling Center partnered with the School of Nursing to offer free flu shots to students. The center will be offering flu shots by appointment while supplies last.

can do it” theme. The campaign this year took the form of “Captain Fullerton,” adapted from Marvel Comics’ superhero Captain America. “He’s helping to shield your health,” Hoang said. “Here on out, students will have to make an appointment with the Health Center to get their free flu shot,” said Narayana Darst., Interim Director of Health Education. The Health Center spent about one month publicizing the program, Darst said. They used posters, flyers, LCD screens and word-ofmouth to reach students. The Health Center and members of the nursing program hoped the event would help promote the importance

of taking protective measures during this upcoming flu season. The cold and flu season significantly affects students every year,” Darst said. “We have a large volume of students who come into the Health Center sick. That particularly happens around midterm and finals seasons. Students get stressed out and their immune systems get a little bit weaker.” Flu seasons are unpredictable in their timing, severity and flu type, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “We want you washing your hands, using hand sanitizer, staying home when you’re sick and not coming to school or work,” said

Ariana Finchamp, a student in her final year of the nursing program. “Definitely, the vaccine is going to help.” Once vaccinated, there is a two week period before the vaccinated person is immune to the disease. This has led to some accusations that the flu shot does not work, but also that it causes those who are vaccinated to become ill. “Many students will get their flu shot right before becoming sick or after, and that’s what leads to the myth that the flu shot will give you the flu,” Darst said. Students recieve their free shots by visiting the Health Center office or scheduling an appointment through the Health Center’s website, Fullerton.edu/shcc.

FEATURES

PAGE 4 NOVEMBER 13, 2014 THURSDAY

Students awarded fellowship

Five engineering students received a scholarship to fund their education

RACHAEL GARCIA Daily Titan Sneha Upadhyaya gets up to make her breakfast and turn on her computer every morning. It’s time for her to Skype her family that is 7,696 miles away. Her home and family are in a place comprised of tall, robust and rocky structures. The Himalayas are sacred to this area and its people, and it’s where she picked up hobbies like hiking and photography. Nepal is Upadhyaya’s home. She was born there, went to high school there and received her bachelor’s degree there. She had never been away from her family before enrolling in Cal State Fullerton’s Civil Engineering master’s program, and she doesn’t know if she is going to go back home permanently. She wants to continue with her education and receive a doctorate degree in the U.S. so that one day she can be a professor. “Sometimes it’s bad, you miss home, but if you think you are going to do something and go forward, it’s not that bad,” Upadhyaya said. She has always been good at math and science, but she wasn’t always sure if she was going to study engineering. “I like math and I used to think that if I don’t go into engineering, I’m probably going to end up with a degree in math,” she said. The Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation

YUNUEN BONAPARTE / DAILY TITAN

Fellowship award recipients are graduate students Sneha Upadhyaya of Fullerton; seniors Matthew Farrington of Mission Viejo and John Thurlo of Chino Hills; and junior Adrian Guzman of Anaheim.

Fellowship Program, developed by the Department of Transportation, was created for students pursuing degrees in transportation-related disciplines. The grants are awarded competitively and funds the recipient’s education. Five students from CSUF received the fellowship this year and Upadhyaya was the only woman. The engineering field may be dominated by men, but Upadhyaya is too modest to reflect on what that means. “In my classes, there are

Distracted walking results in more injuries per mile than distracted driving. studies found in http://www.buffalo.edu/ news/releases/ 2014/02/022.html

only two to three girls … but I didn’t think it was that way,” she said. Upadhyaya specifically studies geotechnical engineering. This requires dealing with the soil and how to manipulate it with cement to withstand an earthquake. She runs shake-table tests that influence soils and cement at different frequencies to see what percentage of cement should be added to soil so that structures can withstand earthquakes. “We’re basically trying to see if the shaking

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intensity can be reduced by the use of such soil cement panels,” Upadhyaya said. She is not a stranger to earthquakes—Nepal is prone to them just like California. She experienced a few earthquakes, but they weren’t too destructive, she said. And, just like California, people are always talking about a bigger one coming. Although home is thousands of miles away, she has found a home in the labs and with her peers and

advisors. There have been times when she wanted to give up, but her faculty advisor, Associate Professor Binod Tiwari, told her to keep going. Tiwari, Ph.D., said she has done a great job in a $926,000 project that collaborates with Virginia Tech, UC Davis and the University of Texas at Austin. She guided high school and community college students who wanted to do an internship on the project that deals with reducing the effects of earthquakes

on structures. “She did a great job guiding those kids and bringing the project into fruition,” Tiwari said. Although there are good schools in Nepal, there aren’t very many opportunities, which is why she decided to study abroad, she said. Upadhyaya has taken some time off from the labs lately to finish her thesis. Meanwhile, she is also waiting to hear back from doctorate programs in order to continue her education in the U.S.

COURTESY OF ERIN “MISTY” PAIG-TRAN

One way that Paig-Tran studies the manta rays is by filming the inside of their mouths.

Manta: Fish to provide efficient water filtration CONTINUED FROM

“It’s really important, especially here in Southern California because we have what’s called the ‘Southern California bite,’ which means that all of our water recirculates. So whatever we pump out there gets recirculated back,” she said. Wastewater has become a big concern with the widespread drought. There are fears of not being able to supply water in the future to California’s 38 million residents. According to Paig-Tran, the manta ray filters can work with the process of desalination, the process which removes salt from seawater to produce fresh water, because it is such a slow process. Manta rays have a

cross-flow filtration system that doesn’t clog. The technology that currently exists is not as efficient. She is confident that these natural filters are a key to solving some of California’s current water deficiency problems. Paig-Tran has had many opportunities during her time at Cal State Fullerton to study rare specimens. Last year, she obtained a 14-foot oarfish weighing 250 pounds that died off the coast of Catalina Island to study. “I wouldn’t come to Fullerton if I didn’t love teaching. I love teaching. I wouldn’t have come to Fullerton if they didn’t let me do research,” she said. She has been in the middle of the ocean during monsoonal conditions

while fishing boats were on fire and sailors were bested by 15-foot waves tossing her 20-foot boat around. Yet, she knows the work she is doing is important. “If I’m in the wrong place at the wrong time, that whale shark gets on top of me, I’m not getting back up to the surface. If a manta hits me hard enough, I’m going to get knocked out,” she said. Paig-Tran sometimes and she sometimes questions her sanity. Her job isn’t easy and can be dangerous at times. And even though getting slapped by a manta ray is not outside the realm of an impossibility, she still loves what she does. “If I didn’t love it, I just wouldn’t do it,” Paig-Tran said.

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FEATURES

PAGE 5 NOVEMBER 13, 2014 THURSDAY

MARIAH CARRILLO / DAILY TITAN

This student has learned to enjoy her single life while some of her friends are getting married and throwing baby showers.

Searching... for Mr. Right | KALEY WILLIAMS Daily Titan Being single and in your early 20s is simultaneously one of the greatest and one of the worst experiences. I thoroughly enjoy drinking with my friends. I’m not promoting alcoholism, but I’ll admit that it’s fun to go to the bars when you should be studying for exams instead. It’s easy to write it off as part of the college experience, so I figure it’s best to embrace it. On the other hand though, I am single and

Learning that compromise isn’t always right

in a time where half my friends are writing papers while hungover and stumbling home from downtown Fullerton barefoot. The other half are planning futures with their significant others. Last week, I mentioned that my first love got engaged when I left for Europe in March. What I intentionally neglected to mention is that he was going to get married that weekend. I want to make it clear that I carry no regret for the choices that I made when I

was 18 and am in no way ready for marriage. I wasn’t ready to be a wife, and truthfully I’m still nowhere near ready for that step, but I think that when you’re 22 years old and uncertain about your future, the natural reaction to your first love getting married is complete and utter panic. When I saw his wedding pictures invade my Facebook newsfeed, my first thought was that I am going to die alone, which may have been a slight overreaction. Once I gathered my

emotions, I figured I should probably assess that reaction. What I came up with is that while he is my ex-boyfriend and ex-love, he is also my ex-almost. He was almost my future. He was almost my forever, and he was almost the love of my life. Perhaps some small part of me held on to that. Maybe I thought that we would find our way back to each other, but I know now that we won’t, and while the 18-year-old girl inside me that used to love him is saddened by that, a bigger

part of me knows that I could have never been the kind of wife that he wanted me to be. While I chose to be his support in a time when I probably shouldn’t have, I would have been expected to take a back seat to his career and his life if we had gotten married. That’s not who I am. In a time when I am uncertain about where I’m going in my career and how I’m going to pay the bills, I am certain that I would be unhappy as a secondary character in my own life.

I hold no resentment about how things ended between us. I chose to pursue my own dreams and he let me go. In all honesty, I’m truly happy that he found someone that wants the same kind of life he does. I, on the other hand, don’t want a life that revolves around someone else. I’m realizing now that while being in your early 20s and planning your wedding might be wonderful, so is drinking too much beer and dancing atop bars. I’m 22, single and I’m going to enjoy it.

Finding your niche DARRELL KING Daily Titan The Camera Absurda Club on campus hopes to build a community through photography. The club, whose name is a play off the term “camera obscura,” formed in 2009. They meet every other week to discuss photography in a fine arts context, current events in the photography field and help critique club members work. The club also hosts art events on campus and members attend galleries together. Club President James Doyle explains the club aims to build an organization and community within the photography department

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on campus. Doyle, who is a double major in creative photography and art history, also said the club has been a great way for him to meet people and build friendships. By being a part of the club, Doyle has met different photography professors and has even had his work shown in a gallery. Araceli Figueroa, a creative photography major with a concentration in art education, is the treasurer of the club. She said she joined Camera Absurda as a way to learn more about photography. “Coming into CSUF I hadn’t declared my concentration as creative photo because you can’t actually do that until you take certain courses, so Camera Absurda was a way for me to get a preview of what

the department was about,” Figueroa said. Collaboration is a key concept of art and something that Figueroa appreciates. “In my previous years, I would just work by myself. I wasn’t involved in a community of photographers or

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entity of the arts and club council, which helps us share our mission and vision with other organizations and clubs in the visual arts department,” he said. Camera Absurda is also ingratiating themselves with the campus community by hosting a screen-

We’re here not only to talk about advancing our photography, but also to create a community within the photographic program.

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The photography club on campus encourages students to be active in the field

Camera Absurda

D. HILL Camera Absurda Club Member specific creative thinkers, so it fostered this atmosphere of being involved with people who had the same interests as I did,” she said. Cal State Fullerton fine arts student D. Hill has been a member of the club since 2011. “Camera Absurda is an

ing on campus of student video work for members of the club, and other photography departments as part of the Titan Art Walk next Thursday. During the spring semester, Camera Absurda will host a lecture by UCLA Professor of New Genres,

Andrea Fraser to speak to their club members. Another focus of the club is active involvement in the photography community. They aim to challenge their members to produce work and get more involved, Figueroa said. That challenge has been well-received as Hill will be speaking at the Society for Photographic Education Conference in Burbank on Nov. 30. The conference joins photographic educators from different institutions, keynote speakers, students in the art community, and other artists to have intellectual discourse regarding art as well as presenting some of the work they’ve produced. Hill said Camera Absurda has taught him many things and has allowed him to be a part of the photography

community. “It’s made me a part of a community and share what I’ve learned. We’re here not only to talk about advancing our photography, but also to create a community within the photographic program,” he said. Figueroa said the community is important to Camera Absurda. “It helps you realize you’re not alone. Sometimes I would be in difficult situations, where I wouldn’t know how to advance my photography or how to put my work out there, or even network,” she said. Doyle said the club has about ten members who are active. Camera Absurda hopes to increase membership through advertisement and social media sites such as Facebook and Tumblr. They also host recruitment events for incoming freshmen.

OPINION

PAGE 6 NOVEMBER 13, 2014 THURSDAY

The comet landing stirs up nostalgia over U.S. space exploration GUSTAVO VARGAS Daily Titan The Apollo 11 moon landing might be one of, if not the most, inspiring moments in human history. This single event inspired the world and showed us that we could achieve the impossible. The Wednesday comet landing might very well have been another day that shapes our future, or at least it should be. The European Space Agencies’ mission, known as Rosetta, which was designed to gain an intimate knowledge of comets, has reached its goal of landing on the comet known as Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. While I might be more excited than most when it comes to space exploration, I’m certainly not the only one who feels that when something truly astonishing is accomplished, there is this sort of universal awe that we can all take part in. “To get the signal it had touched the surface was a major achievement––it was quite extraordinary. Philae is already taking measurements, sniffing the comet,” said ESA Lander System Engineer Laurence O’Rourke in an interview with CNN. This marks the first time that a comet has been so closely examined and actually landed on by a human craft.

There isn’t much known about the surface of a comet, so the long planning that went into this mission and the precise execution that was implemented so that this could be accomplished is no doubt incredible. “Apart from the amazing scientific results, the sheer challenge and ambition of such a mission is outstanding and illustrates how our space exploration of the solar system has become more advanced and successful. It gives us much to hope for in future missions,” said Daniel Brown, an astronomy expert at Nottingham Trent University in the U.K., in a CNN interview. It’s that sort of excitement that we need more of in this country. The moon landing for us was monumental. The NASA website uses the phrase “the human race accomplished its single greatest technological achievement of all time by landing a man on the moon.” That feeling of pride in our space exploration endeavor is something that we, as Americans, still have today. In fact, on the 40th anniversary of the moon landing, the vast majority of Americans––58 percent––said they supported the costs of exploration. However, despite the majority support from

COURTESY OF NASA

This photo was taken by the Philae lander on its descent onto the comet, roughly 3 kilometers above the surface. The mountainous surface of the comet made it difficult for the spacecraft to land.

Americans, NASA continues to fight a wide variety of budgetary cuts which have made this kind of pursuit more difficult. The U.S. is falling behind, as other world powers begin trekking into the forefront of space exploration and planetary sciences. Our country used to be very proud of our accomplishments in outer space. It was something that no one else really had, at least

not putting a man on the moon. As a country, we should have plenty to take pride in, and space exploration has always been one of those things. Since space travel and NASA receive less funding, the mystique and glorification of becoming an astronaut has faded, something that should be taken lightly. This country needs a common interest and a

common goal that is unique to us. That sense of togetherness is what will help pick us up as a nation. We should be investing in programs such as these that aim to push our civilization further and that aren’t afraid to dream and dive into the uncertain. It’s been too long that our nation, as a whole, has felt a truly inspiring accomplishment. Exploration across the centuries has

always instilled a sense of wonder and nationalistic pride. Whether it be a ship sailing for the New World or a manned moon landing, our nation needs something to be inspired by. The Wednesday comet landing was one of those inspirational moments as well as an indication that we can achieve great things together as a nation, regardless of our differences.

Artificial turf is poor choice for landscaping The rubber-based turf seems like a good choice in a drought, but better alternatives exist

ALEX GROVES Daily Titan In drought-stricken California, few things about the state’s water habits make sense. California residents either continue to maintain lush green landscapes reminiscent of the English Countryside, or try to replicate that feel with an artificial equivalent. Artificial grass landscapes have been supported by public park administrators, drought combatants

and other environmentalists, who argue that an alternative system to water guzzling lawns is necessary. After all, the average lawn soaks up 10,000 gallons of water per year. These environmentalists are right and wrong at the same time. Granted, we should seek out alternatives to natural green lawns in California, especially when we’re facing the fourth year of the worst drought in our recorded history. However, the use of artificial grass is riddled with problems that make it a less optimal choice amid all the other options.

Early studies are questioning whether there’s a possible correlation between this type of greenery and possible illnesses, an issue of particular concern with landscaping that uses in-fill, or pieces of shredded tires. A report from environmental organization Environment and Human Health, Inc. stated lab tests of in-fill or “tire crumbs” revealed that it has volatile organic hydrocarbons with carcinogenic potential. Further studies are needed, but any indication that a substance we plan to use regularly could be carcinogenic should be taken seriously.

It’s also important to talk about the negative safety and environmental impacts of the substance. Studies have shown that areas where artificial grass is planted have a tendency to be warmer on average than places where natural landscaping is planted. A National Public Radio report chronicled work by Columbia University climate researcher Stuart Gaffin on that topic. He determined that exposure to direct and continued sunlight caused artificial turf to reach temperatures of about 160.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Such research should

serve as an indication that the same substance would be an ill-advised choice for a person’s yard. In addition to the heat effect, there are various other problems. One of them is that artificial grass can cause damage to its surrounding ecology. Some types of turf have smothered organisms located in the subsoil beneath them. Chemical runoff from the turf has been shown to pollute waterways where aquatic organisms live. One of the best possible alternatives to artificial grass is native and drought tolerant gardens.

Not only can the gardens be attractive, but they have the added benefits of lacking turf’s aforementioned problems. California natives require minimal irrigation beyond regular rainfall, according to the California Native Plant Society. When we’re facing a steep and difficult drought, there’s no question that people want to do the best they can to save on water, and they should. In this case, the best answer is to go back to what works: a return to a time when man didn’t try to impose his own vision upon the land, be it natural or artificial.

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ARIES

CANCER

(MARCH 21 - APRIL 19):

You will have to expect a few disturbances in the harmony that has reigned over the past few days, Aries. For example, your needs may not match those of your mate or close friends, or you may feel restless.

TAURUS

(APRIL 20 - MAY 20):

As a person who embodies affection and tenderness, Taurus, you may feel especially resentful about today’s mood. It will be difficult to charm a smile out of anyone or achieve any semblance of harmony.

GEMINI

(MAY 21 - JUNE 20):

A longing for comfort and the small, simple pleasures in life is likely to cripple your initiative today, Gemini. Have you decided to withdraw from the career whirl for the time being?

LIBRA

(JUNE 21 - JULY 22):

For the past several days, Cancer, you’ve been fairly lucky in financial and material terms. But the day ahead will be an exception.

LEO

(JULY 23 - AUG. 22):

The way you act when you first meet people is typical of Leo. What is it that you do? You try to teach them something. It seems that you always have a lesson to impart, making you prone to giving advice when it isn’t always wanted.

VIRGO

(AUG. 23 - SEPT. 22):

Your philosophy of life comes naturally, Virgo. Others need to study, listen to experts, or sign on to various allegiances. You, on the other hand, already have a profound outlook on life that you surely inherited from your past experiences.

(SEPT. 23 - OCT. 22):

It isn’t because your new projects demand such precision that they’re causing you problems, Libra. You tend to think details keep you from having a global vision, but that simply isn’t true.

SCORPIO

(OCT. 23 - NOV. 21):

Yes, Scorpio, this is a good moment to abandon old beliefs and moral values. Your view of life has changed and, above all, you’re more aware of how your outdated, preconceived ideas sometimes poison your life. The past no longer concerns you.

SAGITTARIUS

(NOV. 22 - DEC. 21):

f you aren’t careful to keep your eyes straight ahead and focused on the future, the past is likely to catch up to you, Sagittarius. Don’t look back, even if you don’t see anything in front of you. You must continue to move forward.

CAPRICORN

(DEC. 22 - JAN. 19):

This would be the moment to say yes to your destiny, Capricorn. You’re a little frustrated because things haven’t been moving forward the way you’d like. But now that opportunities are coming your way, you find you’re holding things up.

AQUARIUS

(JAN. 20 - FEB. 18):

Don’t expect to meet the partner of your dreams today, Aquarius. Rather, your romantic hopes are likely to meet with frustration. It would be better to devote your energies to something more realistic, such as your financial situation.

PISCES

(FEB. 19 - MARCH 20):

There’s some likelihood that a recent meeting with an influential person has put a damper on your hopes for your projects.

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JOKES OF THE DAY Distracted walking results in more injuries per mile than distracted driving.

Q: What does a shark like to eat with peanut butter?

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Stop then text

A: Jellyfish!

Q: Why did the boy eat his homework?

A: Because his teacher said it was a piece of cake!

Q: Why did the boy eat his homework?

A: Because his teacher said it was a piece of cake!