September 21, 2016

The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

Wednesday September 21, 2016

Volume 100 Issue 12

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Horrors haunt Hollywood Student

success discussed

Board of Trustees talks research, graduation rates ZACK JOHNSTON Daily Titan

MICAH AUGIMERI-LEE/ DAILY TITAN

The Bates Motel looms over frightened guests as a portion of the Terror Tram attraction at Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood. If one looks in the window, they may find Norman’s overbearing mother looking down on them.

Halloween Horror Nights transform Universal Studios KALEB STEWART Daily Titan

With seven mazes based on a wide array of popular horror films, Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights turns the self-titled “entertainment capital of Los Angeles” into one of L.A.’s best Halloween stops.

Universal Studios does not pull its punches with its

unnerving events. Whether it is the corpse-ridden halls of the “American Horror Story” maze, complete with the smell of decomposition, or “The Exorcist” and its reliance on satanic imagery, the mazes of Horror Nights don’t fail to scare. With frequent displays

of excessively graphic violence and jump scares around every corner, the event is not for the squeamish. The ghoulish celebration of cinematic horror is visceral and gory enough to appeal to slasher film veterans while maintaining enough theatrical flair to appeal to those

looking for a good Halloween fright.

A scare zone based off of “The Purge” film franchise is going to be many visitor’s first taste of the horrors of the evening.

SEE UNIVERSAL 4

The California University Board of Trustees had its first meeting of the semester Tuesday, discussing, among many things, the benefits and successes of externally funded student research and the system’s initiative to raise its graduation rates.

“In 2014-15, the total grant and contract revenue for the CSU system was over $567 million,” said Ganesh Raman, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research.

For schools across the nation, externally funded research is something that is very competitive and has been declining overall, Raman said.

However, California State University (CSU) is the contrary.

“In the CSU, we’ve been able to hold it steady and for the last few years we’ve been on an uptrend, and our goal is to grow this through our new initiatives, through our new faculty hires and through a number of multi-campus initiatives and groups that we have,” Raman said.

Involving students in research experience is considered a high-impact practice (HIP), something that Cal State Fullerton focuses on implementing. Various studies support a positive correlation between undergraduate research experience, success in graduating and pursuing careers, Raman said.

SEE TRUSTEES

2

Fullerton zoning issue draws controversy Melia Homes vote postponed to undecided date SARAH FENTON Daily Titan The Melia Homes proposal continues to be a pressing topic of interest at recent Fullerton City Council meetings, as a vote was made to move the discussion to a date uncertain.

The City Council was asked to take action on a development proposal to construct a 32-unit condominium on west Bastanchury Road. After public comments at the meeting Tuesday night, four out of the five city council members voted to move the item to a “date uncertain.”

The item was open for

discussion Tuesday night as a continuation from the City Council meeting on July 19, 2016.

The Melia Homes proposal would replace two vacant medical office buildings on west Bastanchury Road with a 32-unit residential community.

The plan would redesign the 3.3-acre property from an office space to a low/medium density residential community.

At the meeting in July, 19 members of the community spoke in opposition to this development while only five spoke in support.

However, at the meeting Tuesday night, there were only five members of the community that spoke during the public hearings.

All five spoke in opposition to the proposal.

SEE ZONING

3

GRETCHEN DAVEY / DAILY TITAN

Concerned residents of Fullerton attended the Fullerton City Council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 20. Some raised concerns about the potentially negative reprocussions of the Melia Homes development proposal.

Steam games can’t match Nintendo 64

Snowden is better off in Mother Russia

Computer game curation platform works well for those who can afford to spend the time and mon5 ey

If Obama pardons the whistleblower, then we are essentialy accepting the fact that his leaks are consid6 ered a crime

A&E

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Opinion

Edberg takes crown, Titans take second

Sports

Fullerton puts up solid team performance while star senior claims another spot in the CSUF 8 record book VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM

NEWS

PAGE 2 SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 WEDNESDAY

DTBRIEFS Burglary suspect dies in car chase

follow us @theDailyTitan NATALIE GOLDSTIEN / DAILY TITAN

Members of the Cal Sate Fullerton Board of Trustees discussed their goals for student graduation rates by the year 2025. Freshmen as well as tranfer rates were talked about.

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.

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Trustees: Board talks success rates CONTINUED FROM

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The research that students within the CSU are conducting include California’s coastal environment, the severe drought the state is facing and the health and wellbeing of local communities, Raman said.

One example brought up was CSUF’s student’s groundbreaking research in black holes and gravitational waves that changed the way the natural phenomenon is observed and studied.

The following item discussed was how the system derived its future graduation rate goals to meet the projected demand for California.

The CSU has set a goal for itself to raise graduation rates across the board for first-time freshmen and transfer students.

“These targets will continue the CSU on a path to become the flagship public comprehensive university in the nation in terms of completion rates and equity,” said Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs Loren Blanchard.

The advisory committee for the graduation initiative

spent the summer analyzing national graduation rates and working with researchers to establish these ‘ambitious,’ yet realistic goals,” said Jeff Gold, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Success Strategic Initiatives.

The six year graduation rate for freshmen in 2015

“

These targets will continue the CSU on a path to become the flagship public comprehensive university in the nation in terms of completion rates and equity

“

FOR THE RECORD

LOREN BLANCHARD Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs ranged from 35 to 76 percent, and is to projected to increase to a range of 55 to 92 percent in 2025. The 2015 four-year graduationrate ranged from 6 to 47 percent and is projected to increase to a range of 30 to 71 percent in 2025.

The percentage points range is to reflect the lowest and highest rates of

graduation among all 23 Cal State Universities.

For transfer students finishing in four years, the rates are to go from 58 to 83 percent to 68-93 percent. Transfers finishing in two years are expected to shift from 8 to 52 percent to 23 to 64 percent.

Each of these four goals is expected to be reached by 2025.

“Upon approval by the board and acceptance by the state, a one time allocation of $35 million will be made to improve our two-year transfer and four-year freshmen graduation rates,” Gold said.

The one-time allocation is a modest start to what the CSU estimates will be needed.

“When taken altogether, we estimate that we will need between $400-500 million in on-going baseline funding to fulfil the graduation initiative goals in 2025,” Gold said.

If these goals are reached, the CSU system will be on track to graduating an additional 500,000 students, not only meeting the system’s share in California’s projected need, but exceeding it, Blanchard said.

Grad expo held in central quad Programs showcased benefits, networking opportunities ASHLYN RAMIREZ Daily Titan Cal State Fullerton’s annual Graduate School Expo hosted over 120 different programs for student networking opportunities Tuesday.

Representatives from programs such as Chapman University, Columbia University, UC Irvine and Pepperdine University were just some in attendance, showcasing a multitude of opportunities.

CSUF’s programs were there as well, including Army ROTC, the American Studies Master’s Program and the Sociology Masters of Arts Program.

In terms of grad school applications, admissions counselor Shawna Holbrook from Samuel Merritt University in Oakland said that they receive over 3,000 applications for their physician’s assistant program. The amount they accept is low at only

44 applicants.

Associate graduate and International Admissions coordinator for the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences Dasia Fregoza said that over 1,000 applications were received for the fall term for its computer science program, with approximately 250 to 300 getting accepted.

The Office of Graduate Studies at CSUF offers students resources to in order to help them succeed in both their personal and professional goals.

Graduate Admissions coordinator Daphne Jones mentioned how admissions into the programs depends on different variables.

“I think we do get a great amount of people who apply to grad school, certain programs are larger than others. Some are a little bit more popular. Because of that, then they have to be a little bit more tight with their guidelines for who they are looking for and who they want in their programs,” Jones said.

When it comes down to financial aid, it is readily available for every program. Scholarships are

A suspect being chased by police crashed in Long Beach and was ejected from the car, according to ABC 7.

The soon-to-be deadly car chase began 5 a.m., Tuesday in Bellflower. The man was suspected of burglary and fled on the freeway at speeds up to 100 mph.

At the intersection of Long Beach Boulevard. and Victoria Street, the four-door sedan crashed into a white SUV and then hit a sheriff’s cruiser.

After the police declared the suspect dead, friends and family came to the scene. A man who identified as a family member crossed yellow police tape and was tased.

Police detained two men for allegedly defying orders at the scene.

- MEGAN MAXEY

Thief targets victims on Intsagram Maintenance worker Arturo Galvan, 44, who burgled 33 people between May 2014 and Dec. 2015, was sentenced to eight years in prison Monday, according to the OC Register.

Galvan was known for stealing technology like laptops and clothing from college-aged women. Eight of his victims went to Cal State Fullerton.

Galvan would track down the women through social media, staking out public places like coffee shops and using the geotags in their Instagram pictures to find where they live.

The sentence came after Galvan plead guilty to five counts of first-degree burglary, one count of felony attempted burglary and one count of misdemeanor resisting a police officer.

- JASON ROCHLIN

also available.

Graduate Student advisor César Montenegro, who works under the Strengthening Opportunities, Access and Resources (SOAR) program, said financial aid is available through FAFSA. Programs right now cost $2,500 for part time and $4,000 for full time students.

Some of the resources offered are academic assistance, the Graduate Student Success Center and SOAR. Janet Eyring, a professor and coordinator for the Teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL.) master’s program, was at the study abroad expo. TESOL is available to any major on campus. She said students who enroll in this program end up teaching overseas, in community colleges and adult schools.

Links to direct prospective students to grants, scholarships and financial aid, such as the Giles T. Brown Graduate Student Travel Grant and the Elevar Scholars Program, can be found at fullerton. edu/graduate.

OC victim to West Nile virus Various forms of West Nile virus have been diagnosed among 16 Orange County residents as of Monday, according to the Orange County Register.

There have been captured mosquitoes showing signs of infection across 27 local cities, likely due to ideal mosquito breeding weather. The California Department of Public Health reports that after contracting the virus, four Californians have died.

Most individuals who are bitten by an infected mosquito show no symptoms even after contracting the virus.

The district does not plan to use insecticide like last year and is instead advising residents to be aware, and to remove standing water from their homes.

- SARAH WOLSTONCROFT

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NEWS

PAGE 3 WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

GRETCHEN DAVEY / DAILY TITAN

Fullerton Mayor Jennifer Fitzgerald was on the City Council panel Tuesday night when the opinions for and against the potentially new 32-unit condominium were expressed by multiple citizens in attendence. The panel ultimately decided to regroup and deliberate on the vote further at a currently undetermined time.

Zoning: Council postpones decision CONTINUED FROM

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The residents surrounding this area of land created a Facebook page called “Citizens for Responsible Development” to “preserve the character, charm, and integrity of our neighborhoods.”

Bob Jensen, Fullerton resident and member of the “Citizens for Responsible Development,” has spoken

at multiple city council meetings against the current proposal presented by Melia Homes.

“The neighbors were really concerned about the density, the absence of amenities, no green space, no playground space for kids, its proximity to a major arterial highway,” said Jensen said about the Melia homes proposal.

The group expressed the

importance of preventing the precedent of density in regards to this issue.

The Facebook page shares quotes from city residents to city council members on issues in the community.

Jensen said that the ultimate goal is, “to reduce the density down to something acceptable and to make sure the quality of life is not trumped by profit.”

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Along with Jensen, the concern from the majority of the opposition is the increased traffic the development would bring, compatibility of project density with adjacent neighborhoods, privacy and the parking, according to remarks made at previous meetings.

The concerns expressed included the volume of traffic on Bastanchury Road and that the traffic from

Laguna Road School during drop-off and pick-up hours would be negatively impacted, which would increase if the 32 housing units were built.

Residents were also concerned that there would not be enough parking spaces on the property, resulting in extra cars lining up on Morelia Avenue. This street is currently used by some of the medical offices and

visitors of the Laguna Road School.

The lot would have 98 parking spaces including private two-car garages for each unit, according to the proposal from Melia Homes.

The city council did not make a decision on the Melia Homes proposal at Tuesday’s meeting and will decide on a future date to continue discussion.

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A&E Universal: Cinematic icons scare guests PAGE 4 SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 WEDNESDAY

CONTINUED FROM

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The actors within these zones deliver such passionate performances that it is easy to forget that they are not a legion of deranged psychopaths. Throughout the evening’s festivities, guests could be seen being chased into surrounding shops and restaurants by chainsaw wielding men and women. However, it is worth noting that many of these guests were laughing during the chase.

Savvy guests can pinpoint where each scare zone is located and avoid it if they so desire, taking refuge in well-lit non-scare areas.

Springfield, home of “The Simpsons Ride,” is accompanied with very friendly and cartoonish scenery. A stark contrast to the low-lit and edgy surroundings of the scare zones. The area is not in the least bit threatening, and anyone who needs a breather or guests with small children will find it a safe haven from the purging found in the rest of the park. Universal shows a great deal of respect for the squeamish by leaving Springfield untouched.

The dance group Jabbawockeez put on shows throughout the night which are both whimsical and charming in a way that the bloody and nerve-wracking mazes are not. The performance is meant to introduce variety to Halloween Horror Night and give attendees a break from the terrors of its other attractions.

Once guests enter the mazes themselves, there are no safe spaces. While “The Exorcist” shines the brightest in theming and scare value, every maze is a bone-chilling success.

Whether it is “Freddy vs.

Jason,” “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” Halloween” or “Krampus,” every maze is worth exploring.

Guests are dared to witness the stages of the exorcism from the the classic film, complete with a rocking bed and a demon possessed girl. Performers accompany all of the traditional factors of horror mazes, and the heavy religious imagery and symbolism keep it grounded in a more spiritually and psychologically upsetting vibe. Needless to say, if a guest slightly believes in the possibility of demons or Satan, the maze has the potential of impacting them on a much deeper level than those of “The Purge.”

In contrast, “American Horror Story” is the weakest of the attractions in terms of cohesion and theme. Fans of the television series will find the detailed recreations of the

MICAH AUGIMERI-LEE/ DAILY TITAN

The clowns have taken over the Universal Studios tram tour, which is suitably renamed the “Terror Tram” during Halloween Horror Nights. The tram is accompanied by a detailed backstory about a serial killer clown who has been seen stalking around the Universal backlot.

MICAH AUGIMERI-LEE/ DAILY TITAN

There are many eye-openingly violent images sprinkled throughout the scare zones and mazes in the park. “The Purge: Gauntlet of Fear” featured a car with two bodies strapped to the front of it, among other morbid decorations.

show’s locales stand-out scenes a hoot, but combining three of the shows seasons into one walkthrough creates an immersion-breaking discord. In one moment, a guest will find themselves in a demented carnival and the next, a motel filled with dead children. While far from a dud, it lacks the structured experience of “The Exorcist,” which is likely a result of its

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inspiration from long-running television series and not that of a single feature length film.

For those looking for something a bit different, the Terror Tram, presented by horror auteur Eli Roth, allows guests to walk around real film sets as psychotic clowns await to scare them. Guests can even take a photo in front of the Bates Motel from “Psycho,” complete with

Norman’s “mother” looking down on guests as they approach.

The lights of “Jurassic Park: The Ride” are turned down–almost off–allowing guests to appreciate the outdoor portions in the moonlight. There is also a dramatic change in the ride’s soundtrack before the final drop that makes it worth a ride, even if it may baffle most riders. Without spoiling the surprise,

it has something to do with “weaponry and flowers.”

Nothing that is open exclusively for Halloween Horror Nights falls flat.

In fact, unless the closure of Hogsmeade and “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” is a deterrent, there is no better time to visit Universal Studios than when the craziest, demons, clowns and slashers take it over. Though the lines can be as long as

two hours, Halloween Horror Nights is a great way to bring in the season for anyone with playfully morbid tastes. It is enough to make Norman Bates cry for mother.

Halloween Horror Nights ticket information is available on the event’s official webpage. Front of the Line passes are available for those guests willing to pay extra money to cut down on wait times.

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A&E

PAGE 5 WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

ASHLYN RAMIREZ / DAILY TITAN

Director/Writer professor Eve Himmelheber (Left) and Adriana Rodriguez (Right) talk during rehearsal for the upcoming student production “MoneyMatters,” which aims to shed light on topics surrounding financial responsibilty that may often go overlooked during formative college years.

“MoneyMatters” both onstage and off

Production entertains and educates students on finances ASHLYN RAMIREZ Daily Titan Financial struggles are a common problem amongst college students, and Cal State Fullerton’s theater and dance students are hoping to lend a helping hand. “MoneyMatters” is the musical child of graduate student Tim Alexander, professor of theater Eve Himmelheber and professional choreographer William F. Lett.

The theater program was conceived as “Rent: A Financial Literacy Presentation” and later morphed into what is now known as “MoneyMatters.”

Throughout the 35-minute production, CSUF students address a wide array of situations pertaining to handling money in everyday life. Sponsored by Bank of America, over $60,000 have been donated to the school

to help fund the financial education of its students. Bank of America will have a representative at the end of each production.

“When I was about to graduate, my supervisor and I were trying to find a way to make this show sustainable,” Alexander said. The solution to this problem was to partner with faculty on campus, particularly those in the College of the Arts, and make the class available to both seniors in the practicum class and junior understudies.

When this musical began, it was just an idea and something needed to be done to replace the stage production on campus at the time. Alexander, Himmelheber and Lett put together a cohesive piece about spreading valuable knowledge.

The well-known play “Rent” had been altered to incorporate financial literacy and was being performed yearly at CSUF. After four years, Lett said that “it had been time for change.”

What became a passion project for Lett, also became

a project centered on raising awareness for students everywhere. For Tim Alexander, it was all about personal experience.

“I’ve had to deal with trying to learn how to manage my own financial aid, scholarships and money,” Alexander said.

He said he feels that there’s a learning gap where kids come out into the world after high school and don’t know how to use a credit card.

For Alexander, being a part of the millennial generation, it was really important that the production be not only eye-catching but also interesting, edgy and fun.

The team aims to teach high school and college students what to do when they get to college. With seven characters, “MoneyMatters” looks at the financial woes of different students through the lens of pop culture. The glue that holds it all together is the platform used to address financial literacy– a game show done through song and dance.

Lett used pop culture to relate to student’s financial problems by incorporating iconic dance moves that could be easily recognized by others.

Popular songs such as Britney Spears’ “Oops!...I Did It Again” will be on the docket for songs performed by the theater students, alongside hip hop, jazz and other forms of dance. After Lett compiled all of the music and choreography, musical director Gregory Nabours was brought in to arrange it all.

Himmelheber wrote the production’s script from scratch over winter break in January. She felt that she really had to become educated on “hip fun music” in order to deliver the message through the songs for the production.

“This will be an embarrassing admission, but I couldn’t think of a worse person to write a show about financial literacy and responsibility,” said Himmelheber, whose son often mocks her lack of budget.

Himmelheber really pushed for a “tongue-incheek” sense of humor in order to make the topic of financial literacy engaging for students. She began with a storyboard of lessons that she wanted to teach and put everything together from there. Her students played an important part in her scriptwriting process, as they listened to the script beforehand to see if her jokes worked out.

“A lot of it was really paring down the unnecessary and I think that’s the hardest in any script, is saying, what is the story you’re telling?”

Himmelheber said.

When writing the script, Himmelheber imagined the production in her head and acted out the parts on her own. She felt that if she could make it not corny, another bad actor could make it work for them as well.

“I did it like a ‘Saturday Night Live’ skit, because I wanted it to be introduced as something fun,” Himmelheber said.

Himmelheber felt that if

it wasn’t fun, people would be bored, and that it would be painful for everyone. She created the characters based off of who she had in front of her, the students in her current class and also on herself.

Himmelheber, a self-proclaimed shopaholic, learned a lot about herself and budgeting through the program.

CSUF’s theater and dance students have managed to bring together both entertainment and education together in a way that benefits the entire audience. The main goal is to educate as many students and community groups as possible about responsible money habits, Himmelheber said.

“MoneyMatters” will tour different schools across Orange County. The cast will perform the production this Wednesday and Friday at 5 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.

The production will then follow up with shows on Oct. 3 and Oct. 5. All shows will be free of charge to students and take place in the Little Theatre in the Joseph Clayes Performing Arts Center.

Keep Calm and Game On Steam: The PC Gamer’s Dream How I learned to stop worrying and love my consoles KENYA BARRETT Daily Titan When it comes to gamers, there are three types: PC gamers, console gamers and those who like all platforms.

While I feel the world of video games mainly caters to console gamers, PC gaming has become fairly popular amongst gaming audiences.

Individuals who are strictly PC however, do not have the luxury of playing any and all games they please. Some titles are exclusive to consoles only, such as “Rock Band,” “Soul Calibur” and even my beloved Mario.

After doing some research, I stumbled upon a not-sonew platform that caters specifically to the PC gaming community. Steam is an online-gaming platform that debuted in 2002, allowing users to download video games to their laptop or desktop computer. In order to access the content that is offered, users must download the Steam application to their hard-drive and create an accompanying VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM/AE

account. Within the platform, there is a store that hosts a mix of popular titles including “Grand Theft Auto 5” and “NBA 2k17,” as well as new indie games that may not hit retail stores at all. With a variety of game genres and even a “free to play” section available, Steam offers something for every gamer to enjoy.

Although it seemed tempting, I was still very skeptical about trying Steam. Just based on my own personal experiences, I’ve noticed that with PC gaming, it really boils down to what kind of computer you have. Elements such as the graphics card, RAM and hard drive space all become a factor when playing games. So if you own a very generic computer with less than average specs, PC gaming may not be for you.

However, I recently ditched my old Dell laptop and obtained a five-year-old MacBook that runs way smoother and faster, so my doubts may be put to rest.

Honestly, I consider myself a console gamer. Growing up, the Nintendo 64, Playstation 1and Sega Dreamcast were my best friends. We used to hangout for hours on top of hours, until my thumbs

became sore from playing. By the time my parents bought our first home computer in the early 2000s, I already knew where my loyalties lied.

I was, and still am, the type of person to stand in line and wait for a new video game console to be released, even if the wait is more than an hour.

That’s true dedication.

As a gamer, I try to experience as many games and platforms as I can. With that being said, the first game I ever played on a desktop computer was “The Sims.” After originally being introduced to “The Sims” on the Nintendo GameCube and enjoying it, I noticed the computer version on the game shelves at Target. That prompted me to purchase it and give it a try on my desktop at home.

I will admit that I liked the desktop version better. I was able to download content from the internet, create massive-sized homes and make up my own storylines without worrying if it would all save on my memory card. Even though “The Sims” forced me to learn just about every key on my keyboard, I really enjoyed playing it. Eventually, I became a full blown Sims addict and found myself purchasing all games in “The

Sims” series including Sims 4, just for my desktop. “The Sims” gave me hope that the rest of PC games out there were decent too.

“Marvel Heroes 2016” was one of the many free games that stood out on Steam just because I recognized the brand. After waiting nearly 30 minutes or so for the game to download, I was let down by super slow framerates and glitches. Apparently, there is an option where players could play online multiplayer co-op, but I couldn’t enjoy that because my laptop froze. The gameplay seemed like it would’ve been fun had I owned a computer that was worthy. Unfortunately, I am a broke college student so my outdated MacBook was seriously put to the test--a test that it sadly failed.

Overall, Steam is a cool concept. Gamers can appreciate the different types of games available at prices they can afford. Independent game publishers can use the platform to increase the reputation of their games, so possibly in the future, those games can be released to consoles.

For now, I’ll stick to my consoles. PC gaming is something that will have to take some time to grow on me.

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OPINION

PAGE 6 SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 WEDNESDAY

NATALIE GOLDSTEIN / DAILY TITAN

Three years after Edward Snowden fled to Russia for leaking private government information, advocates of his heroic acts are calling for President Barack Obama to allow his safe return in the form of a pardon. While this is a very nice gesture, Snowden is better off in a country that he didn’t leak information about.

Snowden should just chill in Russia

Pardoning hero only makes government look like the good guy RISHU BHARDWAJ Daily Titan

Appropriately timed, the Pardon Snowden campaign is getting the Hollywood attention it really deserves, but the public seems to be falling into the “bring him home” chant far too quickly. The whistleblower is better off in the welcoming embrace of mother Russia.

The online campaign formed by the American Civil Liberties Union, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, calls for President Barack Obama to pardon Edward

Snowden and allow his Russian vacation to come to an end. The campaign has been backed by actors, lawyers, CEOs and many more who believe that Snowden should be allowed back home, completely absolved. However, Snowden should stay as far away from America as possible. Why would he want to come back to a country that persecuted him because he tattled?

While those in favor of the pardon think that Snowden’s sojourn has gone on for long enough, looking at the situation broadly reveals it’s laughably ridiculous context. If the informant was to touch U.S. soil, he would have a trial without a jury that would most likely have him sentenced to 30 years of jail-time

on the basis of espionage.

The man we have to thank for revealing the unconstitutional activities of the National Security Agency (NSA) are effectively changing the world and being threatened with no way of explaining himself.

One of the most illuminating quotes from Snowden summarizes the intentions for his crime.

“I didn’t want to change society. I wanted to give society a chance to determine if it should change itself. All I wanted was for the public to be able to have a say in how they are governed,” Snowden said in an interview with the Washington Post.

With that, Snowden is giving us what America was founded upon; democracy. In a true democracy, we should have a transparent

government that protects us instead of using us. A government that lies and spies will never work. The exploitation of our privacy rather than our protection is something that Snowden thankfully revealed to the public.

Elected officials lying through their teeth should have no right to make the “whistleblower” abscond. It’s ridiculous that the government and many others feel that Snowden is the problem here. Clearly, he is not. It’s amazing how even the leaked information showed that the U.S.A. was guilty of violating our constitutional rights concerning privacy, yet the ones committing the crimes are not indicted in any way. Yes, regulations were changed, but that just seems like the easy way out.

Without the leaks, we

never would have guessed that the abhorrent acts revealed were happening right under our noses the whole time, and that the people supposedly protecting us were behind the active suppression of its disclosure.

The same vitriol that all anti-Snowden speakers groan about is that his disclosing of national security secrets somehow put the public in danger. But in danger of what? Of the government? People should not be afraid of their government, the government should be afraid of their people.

Though that is a bit idealistic, given the astounding revelations that came about from the NSA, it still stands that without letting Snowden back in, the government is effectively saying that they are not wrong; that they

have completely fixed any wrongdoing they possibly could have done, and now the answer is to throw away the man who told on them.

The best thing for Snowden to do is forget America and that he or it is ever going back. The only thing to do now is to question what is in front of us, with our rigged and cartoonish elections. Snowden’s advice echoes throughout this time: “Being patriotic doesn’t mean simply agreeing with your government,” he said in an interview with the New York Times.

If you want to see that foureyed hero back in the land of the free and home of the brave only to be possibly murdered by anyone anti-freedom, then do your country proud by donating to the pardonsnowden.org page.

John Oliver wrong about charters HBO host delivers a biased segment that sparks controversy SAM ALSTON Daily Titan On Aug. 21, John Oliver, host of HBO’s satire news program “Last Week Tonight,” unleashed a biased attack against charter schools in the United States. The attack, which was unfair at best, undermined and glazed over the many successes that charter schools have had in helping the communities they serve in favor of bashing them for their failures.

After the segment aired, it came as no surprise that the Center for Education Reform (CER), a pro-charter organization, did not take kindly to the outlandish attacks on charter schools. CER redid their entire homepage to fight this attack. The center expresses their anger by saying, “(Oliver) leveled a very unfair, unfortunate, unbalanced, unwarranted and generally unhinged tirade against charter schools,” according to the CER’s website.

In response to the segment, the CER launched a video contest titled “Hey John Oliver, back off my Charter School!”

The center is currently offering a $100,000 prize to the winner’s chosen charter school so it can set the record FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @DTSPORTSDESK

straight, and show how much charter schools can help their communities instead of the negative stigma Oliver’s argument could spread.

The clip of the segment has since reached almost 6 million views on YouTube, and sparked a serious outcry against Oliver’s claim that charter schools are generally a bad system, taking away funding from traditional schools. However, the positive statistics that Oliver so kindly left out, show the opposite on a larger scale.

Charter schools are usually very community-based. They create “safer, stronger communities,” and can be credited to making “an inner-city ghetto into a bustling and safer neighborhood or bringing families in rural America together,” according to the CER. During the 18-minute segment of the show, Oliver focused on only the worst and most specific examples of charter schools across the United States. The show portrayed charter schools as unequipped to provide high quality education, and as untrustworthy institutions that are not deserving of government funding. In fact, it is these very institutions that need and deserve the most support.

A 2014 survey of charter schools across the United States found that when compared to more traditional public schools, charters

tended to receive significantly less revenue per student (roughly 36 percent less), and that the general demographics of the students they serve tended to be from lower-income and minority groups.

These schools are not only helping students who are minorities and who come from families near or below the poverty line, but they are helping students who struggle to learn in a typical classroom environment. This is done by giving them a different approach to quality education–something Oliver doesn’t seem to recognize.

Going even further, a study conducted in 2016 by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools found that more than 400 new charter schools have opened this year. Adding to the 6,800 charter schools that serve over 2.9 million students across the country, parental interest in these high-quality forms of education is growing, so diluting them to be untrustworthy isn’t helping anyone.

Oliver’s general argument came down to the idea that since some charter schools have been mismanaged, all charter schools are bad.

Not only were his examples highly irregular cases, but most of his sources were old. Dating from 2012 or earlier, some of the clips he aired featured people whose clothes and hair have been out of style for decades.

By focusing only on the negative statistics, Oliver missed out on the chance to highlight the positive effects that charter schools have on the students and communities they serve. Oliver complains that the private funding and running of charter schools leads to a corrupt administration. While there have been cases where this is true, the majority of charter schools benefit from this type of oversight. Mainly because it allows for schools to run without the red tape of government policies that tend to stifle any kind of innovation and progress that administrators and teachers try to enact. This just proves that one cannot judge the whole by the shortcomings of a few.

Only time will tell if the attack by Oliver, who has been compared to Oprah by the New York Post in his ability to influence a wide reaching audience, will have any lasting damage on the integrity of America’s charter school system. Hopefully Olivers’s words won’t be heeded by the nation’s public since charter schools are a great experiment for American education.

While no one has yet to win the contest, hopefully the prize money donated and the pro-charter content in the videos will be able to reach as many people as Oliver shouldn’t have.

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CLASSIFIEDS

PAGE 7 WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

Quotes for the Day

“I would rather die of passion than of boredom.”

- Vincent van Gogh “Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.”

- Brené Brown

SUDOKU

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6 3 8

6 9

8 4

2

5

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4

2 9

1

6

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6 5

2

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5 2

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5

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Personal Hygiene

BATHING, SOAP, PERFUME, WASH, TOOTHPASTE, WATER, RAG, SHAMPOO, HEALTHY, SHOWER, SHAVING, FLANNEL, TOWEL, DEODORANT, GERMS, SWEAT.

HOROSCOPE PROVIDED BY tarot.com

ARIES

(Mar. 21 - Apr. 19)

Sometimes you leave too many things for the last minute yet there are only so many hours in the day to be productive. Nevertheless, you might actually believe you can breeze through your chores in the flash of a moment.

TAURUS

(Apr. 20 - May 20)

The baton is being passed to you and you’re eager to run your leg of the race. If you are involved in a group project at work, it might be your turn to step up and do your part.

GEMINI

(May 21 - Jul. 20)

This is a pivotal point and although you might not see immediate results from your work, everything you do now opens a portal into your future. Small acts are catalysts for big change.

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CANCER

(Jun. 21 - Jul. 22)

Just continue on your present course without trying to impress anyone because your actions speak louder than words. President Harry S. Truman said, “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”

LEO

(Jul. 23 - Aug. 22)

You are in control of your destiny whether or not you realize it. Each time you drift in an unproductive direction, redirect your thoughts back to the here and now. Clear your plate to make room for more.

VIRGO

(Aug. 23 - Sep. 22) You are weary of running around in circles, wondering if you’re making any progress at all. It’s as if you are Ulysses, fighting the many-headed Hydra; each problem you solve is replaced by two more.

LIBRA

(Sep. 23 - Oct. 22)

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22 - Jan. 19)

You possess a surplus of secret http://www.dailysudoku.com/

Others see you as a wide-open book, but you are probably harboring secret tales that cannot yet be shared.

Although you’re quite adept at being discreet when necessary, you’re tired of monitoring every little word.

SCORPIO

(Oct. 23 - Nov. 21)

One of your strengths is your ability to talk about issues that others avoid.

The chatty Gemini Moon’s current stay in your 8th House of Deep Sharing allows you to approach a sensitive topic in a light and easy manner so others are not frightened off.

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 22 - Dec. 21)

You don’t know what to think if someone is overly serious one minute and then lost in a whimsical fantasy the next. In fact, the noise of the outer world complicates any decision you must make now.

weapons in your arsenal and you’re willing to use them when needed.

Although quick fixes might seem impossible, you can pull a rabbit out of a hat today.

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20 - Feb. 18)

Trying to meet all your commitments is an uphill battle today, especially if you’re captivated by one intriguing idea after another. Although your mind is in exploration mode, you’re still expected to apply yourself to the tasks on your list.

PISCES

(Feb. 19 - Mar. 20) Balancing the inner and outer worlds is tricky, especially if you try to do it alone. Sharing your dilemma with someone you trust may lead to a surprising breakthrough.

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SPORTS

PAGE 8 SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 WEDNESDAY

MATT BROWN / CAL STATE FULLERTON SPORTS MEDIA

Martina Edberg began the 2016-17 season strong Monday and Tuesday, closing out the WSU Cougar Cup with a 10-under 206 overall score. In the second round of the tournament, Edberg completed four consecutive birdies on holes 10 through 13.

Edberg takes top spot at Cougar Cup Senior continues to cement her legacy as a Titan HAYLEY M. SLYE Daily Titan Cal State Fullerton women’s golf was propelled to success at the WSU Cougar Cup with help from a heroic performance from Martina Edberg.

The star senior placed first individually and led the team

to a second-place tie.

Fullerton was only bested as a team by Idaho, which finished the tournament even par. The Titans finished 4-over 868, with Edberg pulling off a 10-under 206 overall. She ended the tournament seven strokes better than Idaho’s top two performers.

Her 66-stroke third round score is the second-best in her Titan career and in the Fullerton record book. Edberg’s 65-stroke performance at last year’s Cougar Cup

is first. She also broke her 211-stroke record for lowest 54-hole individual score.

Day one: In her first round as a Titan, Gonzaga transfer Daniella Uy finished with a 6-over 78, enduring a triple bogey on the fifth hole and a double bogey on the 15th.

Despite a birdie each on the front and back nine, Uy ended at 6-over in the second round as well.

Edberg is the premier record-holder in the Titan golf

books since the program was brought back in 2009 and shows no sign of relenting in 2016. She finished day one with a 4-under 140, putting her solidly in first place. The next best competitor on day one, Astha Madan of Sacramento State posted a 1-under 143.

Edberg managed three birdies in the first round and six in the second.

Brittany Farrell was the next-best performing Titan, finishing day one tied for sixth place with a 1-over 145

through two rounds.

Brittney Sok didn’t fare as well as her teammates, shooting 24-over.

Day two: Uy’s 12-over day one was too much for her to overcome in the third round. Although she shot a 1-over 73 and 2-under 70 on the back nine, Uy ended the tournament at 13-over-par 216 overall.

Edberg managed an eagle on the 17th hole of the third round on top of her five birdies throughout the first

fifteen. Her first place finish solidifies her as the Titan with the most top-five finishes. Edberg is also two behind Tisha Alyn Abrea for career top-20 finishes.

Sok added seven strokes to her day one results, ending the weekend with a 31-over 247 while Elsa Lundquist added a 12-over 84 performance in round three.

The Titans head to Aurora, Oregon Monday to compete in the Rose City Collegiate hosted at Langdon Farms Golf Club.

TITAN TEAMS IN CONTEXT: Men’s soccer

Women’s soccer

Women’s volleyball

Record: 4-4 Streak: L1

Record: 3-6 Streak: L3

Record: 5-9 Streak: L3

The Titans’ Alex Heilmann is still the leading scorer in the Big West Conference despite failing to find the back of the net over the weekend. Fullerton’s 4-4 record is second best in the conference behind UC Santa Barbara (4-3) and UC Riverside (4-3).

Cal State Fullerton has lost three straight games, and been shutout in all of its losses.

Jennifer Stuart’s 27 saves rank fifth in the Big West, but the Titans have allowed an average of 1.1 goals per game while only scoring .67 of their own. Their 3-6 record ranks last in the conference, with UC Santa Barbara (8-1) and Hawaii (7-1-1) ranking as the top two teams in the Big West.

CSUF (5-9) is tied with UC Irvine for the second-worst record in the Big West, while UC Santa Barbara (9-4) sits as the top team in the conference. Standout transfer Shimen Fayad’s 167 total kills rank fifth in the Big West, and Kyra Smith is fourth in the conference in blocks per set with 0.98 per game.

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