Daily Titan: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 by Daily Titan

Vol. 87 Issue 21

March 16, 2010

Multimedia

Find out about animal shelters and how to help at:

dailytitan.com/animalshelters

Check out Muay Thai Kickboxing and why you should take this class! dailytitan.com/csufmuaythai

Arboretum hosts a game-filled Arbor Day event for tree lovers

TUESDAY

NEWS, Page 2

THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE: The FCC wants to provide highspeed Internet access nationwide. OPINION, Page 6

CSUF hip-hop team rises to the occasion SPORTS, Page 8

The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

Candidates debate in OC

Some professors ban laptops

Republican gubernatorial candidates Steve Poizner and Meg Whitman discuss the CSU system, among other things. By Juliana Campbell and Oscar Romero

Steve Poizner

Meg Whitman

Daily Titan Staff Writers

news@dailytitan.com

Republican party gubernatorial candidates Steve Poizner and Meg Whitman debated Monday at the Samueli Theater at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa. “It gives people an idea what the candidates are about and what they are saying,” said Dr. Gregory Brown, an assistant professor of criminal justice. Whitman and Poizner tackled spending restructuring, higher education expenditures and immigration reform. “The governor will have an impact on our education or state deficit,” said philosophy major Nick Heartmann. Poizner said he wanted to invest more into higher education by creating more jobs and bring back vocational programs to high schools to decrease drop out rates. Additionally, Whitman said she wanted to reform the spending problem and re-invest into the University of California and Cal State University systems. “The UC system, the CSU system and the community college system is the gem

Photo courtesy mct Colleges on the East Coast have banned the use of laptops during class. This trend may spread due to their disruptive tendencies.

By Kristie Surendranath Daily Titan Staff Writer features@dailytitan.com

In a recent article published in the Washington Post, professors from a number of colleges in the East Coast are banning the use of laptops in the classroom. The schools with professors imposing these bans include George Washington University, the College of William and Mary and University of Virginia. “(Laptops) are like putting on every student’s desk, when you walk into class, five different magazines, several different television shows, some shopping opportunities and a phone, and saying, ‘Look, if your mind wanders, feel free to pick any of these up and go with it,’” said Professor David Cole of Georgetown Law University in Washington, D.C. in an interview with the Portland Press Herald. Similarly, it is not uncommon to find about half of the students in a Cal State Fullerton classroom utilizing laptops during lectures. But exactly what they use them for is up for debate. “Once I’m in the classroom, it’s always on,” said radioTV-film senior, Kenneth Lopez, 24, “I’ll visit Facebook from time to time. I read articles on Yahoo. Sometimes I’ll play games, but more often than not, I do take notes,” Lopez said. Nonetheless, not all students use their laptops specifically for leisure.

Photos courtesy mct

of California,” Whitman said. Whitman also talked of cutting spending on administration and overhead, devoting the funds to the local schools. Her agenda included making schools more transparent and providing a letter grade for parents to identify the condition and qualities of the local schools. “We need someone that is for change

and for the people of California,” Brown said. “Students need an education.” The two candidates also debated the immigration situation that has long been a hot-button issue among Californians. On Whitman’s list of items are plans to instill a more strict and thorough version of E-Verify to hold employers accountable for illegal immigrant hiring

practices. She said that she also plans on taking initiative towards sanctuary cities and boosting spending on border patrol and equipment. “Let me be clear, I am a hundred percent against amnesty. No exception,” Whitman said. See GUBERNATORIAL, Page 2

OC man arrested for fraudulent testing news@dailytitan.com

tend a full course of study at colleges, universities and other institutions with language training programs. Although it is unclear if there is a specific proficiency exam that international students need to take in order to qualify for an F-1 visa, many institutions, including Cal State Fullerton, require all applicants whose native language is not English to present scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) prior to admittance. According to CSUF’s international students’ web page, students who do not meet the minimum TOEFL scores or wish to improve their English skills may enroll in the

American Language Program (ALP), does not occur in any form while an intensive English program that is students take any placement or prodesigned to ficiency tests. prepare inAll internaternational tional students students for The investigation began who walk in study in a take any when officers in Daly City to U.S. college tests are rein Northern California or univerquired to pressity. ent their I.D.s, discovered fake driver’s Mo n i c a after which licenses in a lost wallet. Snow, lectheir faces are turer and matched to the coordinator picture on the at the ALP card. While at CSUF said that there are stringent taking the tests, students have to measures taken at the center to en- leave their I.D.s on their desks while sure that cheating or impersonating proctors circulate the room. Faces are again matched to I.D.s when students turn in their tests once they are finished, Snow said. “With the measures we have in place here, it could be very difficult for students Tuffy to do that. I have been here the Titan 23 years and I haven’t had one incident Sir Tuffington Tuffsworth III yet,” Snow said. 1957 Snow added that M Titan 1 there are around 250 international stu4/1/1957 4/1/3000 dents at CSUF who Cal State Fullerton are enrolled in the ALP. Fullerton, CA The administrators and staff for the most part know the majority of the students as they interact with them on a daily basis.

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Eamonn Daniel Higgins, 46, a resident of Laguna Niguel, was arrested last week on charges of operating a ring of illegal test-takers who allegedly assisted international students in retaining their student visas by taking their proficiency exams and attending their classes. For the last eight years, prosecutors said Higgins aided mostly Middle Eastern students by taking or directing his associates to take math and English proficiency exams. Higgins then helped them hold on to those visas by taking college courses, passing finals and writing term papers in their names. According to court reports, the investigation began when officers in Daly City in Northern California discovered several fake driver’s licenses in a lost wallet. Each license had the same photograph of Higgins’ nephew but with different names. Higgins surrendered to authorities March 8, pleading not guilty to conspiracy to commit visa fraud. If convicted, he faces up to five years in federal prison. The F1 student visa is a non-immigrant Graphic by Christa Connelly / Daily Titan Photo Editor visa which allows foreign students to enter A sample student visa, much like the ones that were illegally retained by international students with the help of Higgins’ into the U.S. to at- criminal student syndicate.

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By Zam Anwar

Daily Titan Staff Writer

See FRAUD, Page 3

See LAPTOPS, Page 5

March 16, 2010

IN OTHER NEWS Arboretum celebrates Arbor Day early

Head of Youth League found guilty of hate speech JOHANNESBURG – Julius Malema, president of the African National Congress Youth League, was found guilty Monday of hate speech and harassment for saying that a woman who accused now President Jacob Zuma of rape had a “nice time” because she stayed in his house until morning and asked for taxi money home. South Africa’s Equality Court ordered him to apologize and pay $6,700 to a women’s shelter. Malema said he plans to appeal. The 29-year-old Malema, often lampooned in the media for failing woodwork at school, has made a name for himself as the angry young man of South African politics, hurling the kind of insults few others dare. As a result, he’s in the headlines almost as often as Zuma.

NATIONAL

Principal signed 7 teachers to buy, sell makeup

BALTIMORE –The principal of a Baltimore high school recruited seven Filipino teachers on her staff to buy and resell thousands of dollars of Mary Kay cosmetics, a business arrangement the teachers entered reluctantly but felt would keep them in good standing with their boss. Principal Janice Williams of the Institute of Business and Entrepreneurship high school in West Baltimore sometimes went to the teachers’ classrooms last school year to ask for their credit cards to purchase lipstick, perfume, foundation and eye makeup, according to three of the teachers, who said they never intended to use the products and were unable to resell most of them.

STATE

Dozens cited for furnishing alcohol to minors

SAN JOSE – Using minors as decoys, law enforcement agencies in Northern California issued 109 citations Saturday to adults who agreed to purchase alcohol after being shoulder-tapped by underage drinkers in front of liquor and convenience stores. Investigators with the California Alcoholic Beverage Control and 15 law enforcement agencies, including the San Jose Police Department, orchestrated the one-day effort in an attempt to curb teen drinking. Eighty-one people were cited for furnishing or selling alcoholic beverages to minors, 28 were arrested for other violations including illegal narcotics, drunk in public, open containers and parole violations, according to ABC. In San Jose, five people were cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor and two were cited for open containers. San Jose police was the only agency in Santa Clara County to participate in the operation. Other resulted in the Bay Area included: Oakland police, 10 people were cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor; UC Berkeley police, four cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor, one for open container, one for marijuana possession; Berkeley police, seven cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor, two for open containers, seven for false IDs; and Vacaville police, one person was cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor.

For the Record It is the policy of the Daily Titan to correct any inaccurate information printed in the publication as soon as the error is discovered. Any incorrect information printed on the front page will result in a correction printed on the front page. Any incorrect information printed on any other page will be corrected on page 2. Errors on the Opinion page will be corrected on that page. Corrections also will be noted on the online version of the Daily Titan. Please contact Executive Editor Sergio Cabaruvias at 657-278-5815 or at execeditor@dailytitan.com with issues about this policy or to report any errors.

Daily Titan Editorial

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By Ally Bordas

For The Daily Titan news@dailytitan.com

Cal State Fullerton hosted its own early Arbor Day event in the Arboretum March 14. The event was hosted by Cathy Housman and volunteers. When Housman, a Fullerton native, discovered that CSUF's Arboretum needed someone to direct an Arbor Day event, she stepped right up and volunteered herself. “Trees have taken care of us for so long, now it is time to take care of them,” Housman said. The event started with a brief orientation about what to expect for the next two hours and the history of Arbor Day. During the event, everyone participated in seven activities: “guess that tree,” “build that tree,” “camera game,” “meet a tree,” “silent walk through the Trail of Beauty,” “draw a tree” and a reading of the children's book, “The Giving Tree.” For the meet a tree game, everyone was split into pairs. One teammate was blindfolded and the other teammate would lead their partner to any tree in the surrounding area. Once the team reached a tree, the person blindfolded would have to feel and/or hug the tree in order to try and get a sense of what it might look like. Their teammate would then lead them back to the starting line. The individual took the blindfold off and had to go search for their tree based on what they felt during their time blinded. Jane Saunders, an attendee at the event and founder of See Jane Explore, which focuses on custom-

photo By Ally bordas/For the Daily Titan Cathy Housman directing attendees to build a human tree in order to understand how a tree functions.

izing events for families to attend in their local area, found her tree based on what the outside of the tree felt like. She said the experience was “surreal.” Not only did you have to trust your partner to lead you in the right direction, you got to experience nature in a whole new way.” The Trail of Beauty was the last activity. Housman asked all of the attendees to silently make their

way down a shaded path that had quotes hanging from the trees. Each of these quotes was about nature, the importance of preserving it and the beauty of what lies around us. At the end of the event, attendees sat and discussed the activities and how they felt about the importance of Arbor Day. “When it comes down to it, nature is important to the qual-

ity of life. I strongly believe in the preservation of nature,” said Sandy Marshall, an avid member of Save Coyote Hills, a group working to preserve natural space and habitats from becoming urbanized. On the way out of the Arboretum, each of the attendees was given literature about how to get involved, how to conserve nature and basic information about the importance of Arbor Day.

Salsa classes spice up Recreation Center

Estella Maldonado, a 27-year-old kinesiology major, is a new member of the group who had never danced salsa before. The CSUF senior said that she has learned the dance better in the one month she has been in the class, and has met new people along the way. Maria Resendiz, a 24-year old math major, recently decided to check out the dance class because she wanted to increase her dancing techniques, and thought that the class would be a good experience.

“It was a good exercise. It was fun,” Resendiz said. The Candela Salsa group has many performances and events coming up in April and May. One of their events is a beginner’s salsa workshop on April 23 from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. in the Titan Student Union, Pavillion A. The event will include a live performance by the Latin Beat Dancers, the more experienced salsa group on campus, and the Cal State Long Beach salsa group. Other salsa groups from UCLA, Cal Tech LA, Cal State LA and Pasadena City College have also been invited to perform at the event. A DJ and live salsa band are scheduled to play as well. The event is open to the public and admission is $5. The Candela Salsa team will also be performing at CSULB on April 24, and has been invited to perform at the College Salsa Congress in Pasadena in May. Gaona encourages students to join the dance group and said that it is an awesome way to meet new friends and get involved on campus. “This club is a great way to establish new skills with people in the same age range, making salsa much more enjoyable. It is a great way to learn the dance,” Nadayapa said.

state leadership and has brought They also appealed to voters by forth no soregulating lution. California Both cangovernment didates have spending established – Meg Whitman, and generattheir caming private GOP Canditate paign on sector jobs. reaching out “You are to those who have been victimized only as good as the people you work through job loss and the current di- for,” said Whitman, referring to how sastrous economic situation. government works.

“You have to have the right people on your agenda”. Poizner elaborated on his more "radical" agenda for California. “I want to change the state of California by implementing some bold and sweeping reforms," Poizner said. These candidates face the daunting task of winning a state that is more than two-thirds of registered voters are democrats.

By Cynthia Figueroa For The Daily Titan news@dailytitan.com

Twists, turns and fancy footwork take place every Tuesday and Thursday from 1:15 p.m. - 2:15p.m. in the dance studio at the Student Recreation center. A group of about 20 Cal State Fullerton students gather weekly for Candela Salsa, a salsa dance class led by senior Sean Nandayapa, the Candela Salsa president. Nandayapa started the salsa group four semesters ago and has brought the Cuban dance to CSUF students. “I decided to start this group because of my experience in salsa. I started dancing in a club at Pasadena City College in 2003, and when I found out that there was no salsa club at CSUF, I figured that there should be one,” said Nandayapa, a 24-year-old kinesiology major. Candela Salsa is open to all students, and no experience is needed. Paola Gaona, an 18-year-old Spanish major and the Candela Salsa female instructor, said that beginners are welcome and that dance group instructors are more than willing to teach beginners even the most basics steps.The group incorporates partner dancing along with solo dancing, and is working hard to perfect its routines

photo courtesy of Alberto Oseguera Sean Nandayapa and partner demonstrate a salsa routine with fellow dancers.

and individual dance moves. The fee to join the class is $25 per semester, or $3 a day for non-members. It is recommended to wear comfortable, loose clothing to practice, along with salsa heals, jazz shoes or sneakers. The class is not just limited to teaching students the art of salsa dancing, but also embodies other aspects, such as the history of the Spanish dance and the different types of salsa dancing, including Bachata. “We learn everything about salsa,” Nandayapa said.

Gubernatorial: California Candidates debate From Page 1

Poizner vows to take a more “radical approach” and cut off the taxpayer-funded programs that help illegal immigrants. By doing so, he plans to eliminate the incentive for illegal immigrants to come to California. He also criticized Whitman’s approach. Her approach, Poinzer said, is already in effect through the current

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You are only as good as the people you work for.

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INTERNATIONAL

March 16, 2010

Irvine campus By Alison munson

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

Since 1984, Families Forward has been providing support to families in crisis. In 2002, Cal State Fullerton’s Irvine campus joined the organization’s efforts with its own food drives in the spring and fall. The Irvine campus is currently holding a food drive to support the participants of the Families Forward program, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to empowering families that have fallen into financial instability. “I feel that it is our responsibility to take care of (people),” said Reneir Cruz, 26, a senior advertising major taking classes at the Irvine campus. “Just put ourselves in their shoes, meaning, if we were in their shoes, we’d want someone to take care of us.” Food drives are a small portion of what Families Forward does to facilitate self-sufficiency in families. The organization has supported housing programs called “transitional homes,” back to school-assistance, career-coaching and life-skills counseling, all geared toward re-establishing families into their community. For Robert Flores, the organization hits close to home. For a short

time his family was a participant in the Families Forward program. “I’ve always given back to the organization because I believe strongly in their cause,” Flores said. It was Flores who approached Families For ward in 2002 in search of a way to give back and ended up organizing the bi-annual f o o d drives that go straight to what is called the “Food Pantry.” “They serve a lot of families, and in order to keep their food bank full, they rely heavily on donations,” Flores said. The Food Pantry is entirely dependent on what they receive from individuals and businesses to serve more than 150 families a week, he said. The Irvine campus donates approximately two to three boxes per drive but hopes to collect as many as 10, and with three weeks left to do-

nate, there is still m o r e

helps feed families

according to the Families Forward Web site. Mental illness and drug abuse account for only a small fraction of the homeless population. “We live in a wonderfully rich country and it’s surprising that we do have homeless people or people that are really in need,” said Stephen Messina, 52, junior, finance major on the Irvine campus. “Somehow I time to acjust feel like complish it’s something that goal, that doesn’t need photo courtesy mct Flores said. to be or something that “This food helps them to should be really easily curable. We cover other monthly costs and regain don’t see too many homeless people financial stability,” he said. in Irvine. We’re just not really afMany of the families assisted by fected.” the program are homeless or nearHomelessness has become stereohomeless. Job loss, divorce and typed, said Vanessa Gonzalez, 24, medical emergencies are among the a graduate student enrolled in the top reasons why people end up out master’s of business program at the of their homes and into the streets, Irvine campus.

“Sadly, I mean you wanna help them out and you wanna give them money, but there’s this stereotype that they’re just gonna take the money and use it for something else,” Gonzalez said. Cruz agreed. “(Sometimes) I felt that it was just something they were doing on the side. I felt like just from their attire I could tell that they weren’t homeless. Most of the time I give the benefit of the doubt … and do my best to share as much compassion as possible.” Though students are willing to help, many don’t know about the program or its cause, not even Gonzalez. “If there’s enough information out there about what the food drive is for and whose gonna receive the items for the food drive, then they can know and feel that they’re gonna help out a good cause,” Gonzalez said. “But there has to be that information out there.” Flores urges students to help any way they can and to commit to community service. Families Forward’s goal is to protect the innocent victims of circumstance, mainly the children of struggling families. “Some people assume because the Irvine campus is in the city of Irvine … there isn’t a need for services like Families Forward or food drives,”

Flores said. “That belief is completely false. I hope students gain an awareness about their community and leave with the passion to continue their good efforts. Community service shouldn’t be a one day or one week event. It should be a lifetime plan and commitment.” Although donating food seems like a small act and that not much could come out of it, the experience gives students a way to be a good person and do what’s right, Messina said. “I think you can take away probably nothing much more than a great feeling of helping, doing something constructive or positive in the world,” Messina said. “You can walk away feeling like you did something good, like you made a difference in your small way.” There are 26 transitional homes that the Food Pantry provides for. According to its annual report, 44 families were served last year and 83 of those family members were children. At this time, the Food Pantry is looking for dried and canned foods, such as canned fruits, canned chicken and beef, boxed juice, canned or dried soup, rice and pasta. Donations can be made at the Irvine campus in Room IRVC-101 until March 26.

fraud: MAN ALLEGEDLY AIDED INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ILLEGALY From Page 1

The University Testing Center at CSUF, located in University Hall, offers several tests, such as the English Placement Test (EPT), Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) test and the Examination in Writing Proficiency (EWP), all of which are required for admission to the university, placement in classes and graduation. Lorrie Harnach, coordinator at the testing center, said that students who take any tests are required to present a valid form of I.D., such as a driver’s license or passport. Seating is sometimes assigned and proctors should be able to move freely among examinees in order to effectively monitor testing. After tests are taken, I.D.s and faces are matched again and

names are compared to the ones on the answer sheets. Student signatures on answer sheets are also matched with the one on the student’s I.D. Although no such incident has occurred at the center to her knowledge, Harnach said that the possibility of students cheating or impersonating others cannot be ruled out. “If a student presented what appeared to be a valid form of I.D. where the picture matched the person, we would not have any way of knowing if it was fraudulent or not,” she said. LayTuan Tan, director of International Education and Exchange at CSUF, said that all international students at CSUF are part of the Exchange Visitor Program that is regulated and operated by the U.S. Department of State. Tan said that

at CSUF, all students with foreign visas are required to maintain continuous enrollment and have to report within ten days of a change in address or within 21 days of dropping a class. According to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Web site, Congress mandated a fee-based system to better keep track of international students and exchange visitors in the United States. To accomplish this task, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established the Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) under ICE. The Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is the database that allows SEVP to track international students, exchange visitors and their dependents to ensure that they are in the United

States for the purposes they stated. “This is bad news for the international education field,” Tan said of the visa fraud incident. “The Majority of our scholars are serious, bona fide students who come here for the quality of education that the U.S. provides. These things do happen, but they give our international students a bad name,” Tan said. Although Tan said that the implications of this incident could be huge and highly complicated, she added it was unfortunate that most media organizations were alluding to hints of possible terrorist ties within the fraud ring. “Just because these students are from the Middle East, they say they might be terrorists. You cannot say that, it is stereotyping,” Tan said.

photo By christa connelly/Daily Titan Photo Editor Flags line the wall of UH 244, Cal State Fullerton’s Study Abroad Office. As of fall 2009, 1,722 international students from 79 nations attended Cal State Fullerton.

March 16, 2010

Online gaming becomes fatal By Brian Zbysenski

Daily Titan Staff Writer features@dailytitan.com

Photo Courtesy bloom box Bloom plans to bring the technology into people’s homes and mix it with other types of green power technology, such as solar.

A power plant for your backyard By Lauren McCann

Daily Titan Staff Writer features@dailytitan.com

The worldwide craze of “going green” has greatly impacted the way inventors of renewable energy sources think. Former NASA scientist K.R Sridhar has developed a sustainable and efficient energy source that creates inexpensive clean energy. Bloom Energy founded Sridhar’s Bloom Box in 2001, but only now is the public eye catching a glimpse. CBS’s Lesley Stahl with “60 Minutes” called the Bloom Box a miniature “power plant-in-a-box” after an interview with Sridhar on Feb. 21, his first public appearance revolving around the topic of this previously confidential technological invention. The objective Sridhar wanted to reach with the Bloom Box was to maximize the amounts of energy produced with the least amount of emissions in an energy source. Sridhar has invented a new fuel cell, like a thin battery that runs 24/7 that is completely self-sufficient and

sustainable. During the “60 Minutes” interview, Sridhar held two Bloom Boxes and stated that the units can, “ … power an entire U.S. home, two European homes and even four homes in India.” A single unit, sized for personal home usage, is smaller than a shoebox in diameter. John Doerr, a partner with the venture capital firm who discovered and funded Google, Netscape and Amazon, sees Bloom Box as “the first clean energy investment.” Jumping on the “Go Green” bandwagon, 20 well-known companies in California, like Wal-Mart, eBay, Staples and FedEx have invested big money in Sridhar’s technology to use as their energy source. Google was Sridhars first customer, purchasing four units, each the size of a refrigerator. For the past 18 months, the units have been powering a portion of Google’s energy needs at their headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. Each corporate-sized Bloom Box is currently priced between $700,000 and $800,000.

Currently, California is the only state where Bloom Boxes have been installed. “A unit should cost less than $3,000 for home use in the next five to 10 years,” Sridhar said. Nonetheless, uncertainty may prevent Sridhar’s Bloom Box from making its way into the common home. “To know that Google and other big companies are using it, doesn’t really say too much. They have the means to try great new projects like the Bloom Box. Until facts and stats prove the box’s capabilities in mass quantity, I am a bit skeptical,” said public administration major Eric Frankman. There isn’t any need for power lines from an outside source. The Bloom Box is a stationary unit that will generate electricity in your own backyard. “If you can generate energy where it is needed, on the spot and still meet needs, you are going to lose emissions. It will be more efficient by nature,” said computer science major Ryan Lewis.

“Gamer” parents in Korea were spending countless hours raising a virtual child in an Internet café as their own infant starved to death at home. They were playing “Prius,” an online 3-D game in which players nurture an online girl, Anima, who has mysterious powers and grows up as the game progresses. Online gaming can be a dangerous addiction. It has become a relatively new trend that is growing rapidly throughout many countries. Ever since video games have exploded in popularity over the last 20-plus years, there have been a plethora of different gaming genres for almost anyone to enjoy. Every gamer plays different games for different reasons. However, some people take it too far. Depending on the game, it can become an addiction, tearing relationships apart. As failing school became a concern, Tawny Pascarella, a 22-year-old

English major, quickly found herself in arguments with her parents, not to mention disputes with boyfriends, about the time being spent playing video games. “I would get to the point where I wouldn’t talk to people. I’d forget to go to the bathroom. I wouldn’t eat,” Pascarella said. According to a study conducted by the NPD Group, over 63 percent of Americans play video games. Some games seem to attract all audiences. For example, social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace offer many different genres, such as card games, puzzles and strategy games, but the most played is “FarmVille,” made by Zynga. According to the Inside Social Games Web site, the massively popular farming game had more than 83 million monthly gamers, almost twice over the runner up the previous month. Cal State Fullerton student James Gobee has a 60-year-old father who finds himself spending a lot of time playing these types of games. “I guess I am somewhat addicted to the Facebook games,” Gobee’s fa-

ther, Ernie, said. “I play them every day, at night when every sane person has gone to sleep.” While this may seem common to some, Ernie also explains how an older game pulled him away from personal interaction,“I think I was more addicted to a computer game called ‘Heroes of Might & Magic.’ I would often be asked to come to dinner or join family functions because I was always on the computer.” Nonetheless, there are still others who play games just for entertainment and don’t let them affect their daily lives. CSUF psychology professor David Gerkens mentioned a study that revealed the positive affects that video games could have on gamers. The study, done by C.S. Green and D. Bavelier, showed that action games provide improved visual attention and processing over people who don’t play. Some play video games for other reasons, like stress relief. “Video games are my outlet for my aggression. If I’m not playing video games, I get really cranky,” Pascarella said.

Photo By nick marley/Daily Titan Photo Editor Addiction to online games, such as FarmVille, can lead to self-destructve behaviors, including a detachment from reality.

March 16, 2010

Reminiscing with retro games By Phillip Cabrera

For the Daily Titan

features@dailytitan.com

It’s weird to think that we’ve already completed a decade of the new millennium, it’s about time we sit back and take a look at which video games were keeping us occupied in the early ‘00s. In 2000, we saw the release of many great games. We also experienced the beginning of what would be become the third console war with the release of the sequel system, Playstation 2, and then the later release of the Xbox and Nintendo Gamecube in 2001. But since the PS2 was brand new in the market, the cream of the previous generation’s gaming crop was just meeting its potential. So, we’re here to take a look five of the most popular games we were playing a decade ago: 5) WWF: No Mercy (N64) November 2000 THQ’s follow up to its successful “Wrestlemania 2000,” this title enhanced the fun factor that four

people could have while playing a game, with over 70 characters to choose from, including some fan favorites like The Rock, Hunter Hearst Helmsley (HHH) and the Undertaker. The game even included lesser characters like Rikishi and Scotty 2 Hotty. “WWF: No Mercy” had something for all players. The game also shone with its single player mode, where had you go on the “Road to Wrestlemania” and choose one of seven belts to pursue, then wrestle your way accordingly until ending at the “Grand Daddy of Them All.” 4) The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (N64) October 2000 Coming out almost a year after the release of what some consider the greatest Zelda game of all time, “The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask” is definitely an underrated game because it swayed so far from the usual Zelda games. People (myself included) were thrown off by the game taking place somewhere different

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Laptops: banned at east coast colleges From Page 1

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than the usual kingdom of Hyrule; Zelda and Ganon are nowhere in the game, and you only had three days (in-game) to complete it. Nonetheless, after taking a second look at this game, it was definitely a fun ride and had an unexpectedly deep storyline. 3)Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (N64, PS1, Gameboy Color) September 2000 The hugely successful sequel “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2” is still one of the highest scored video games ever released. Radio-TVFilm major Ruben Angulo, 27, put it bluntly: “That game seriously rocked. I didn’t get much homework when that game came out.” THPS2 boasted a roster that included the legendary Tony Hawk as well as the likes of Bob Burnquist, Rune Gilfberg, Chad Muska and my personal favorite, Bucky Lasek. It also included an improved create-a-skater function and an impressive soundtrack, which included tracks like “Guerilla Radio” by Rage Against the Machine and “When Worlds Collide” by Powerman 5000. Many say that the series began to fall off after THPS2, and it’s a debate that’s still talked about to this day between gamers. Nevertheless, if you still have this game collecting dust on your shelf, give it a whirl so you can take a ride down memory lane. 2) Perfect Dark (N64) May 2000 Let’s face it, in 1997 (and beyond) “Goldeneye 007” had all gamers

pinned down in front of the TV for hours on end. Developer Rare knew it had a hit, but since it was unable to continue using the James Bond franchise, they developed their own storyline and characters, and used the same, but improved, engine. It was with this potent mix that we were introduced to Joana Dark. The story takes you on a 17 mission roller coaster ride that includes assassinating clones of the President of United States, helping a little gray alien who goes by the name of Elvis and eventually preventing one alien race from decimating another with planet Earth caught in the middle. Xbox 360 owners will get a chance to play the game again as it will be released on Xbox Live March 17. So, if you played this game and have a 360, get some friends over and have a blast with this gem. 1) Counter-Strike (PC) November 2000 Originally released as a mod to the PC series “Half Life,” “Counter Strike” quickly took on a life of its own. A squad of terrorists vs. an anti-terrorism unit trying to complete different objectives on a series of different maps: that’s it. No main character, no princess to save, no running around looking for the scroll to save the world. Just simple team-based gameplay that still has people playing this game to this day. If you want to play a game that helped pave the way to such hits like “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” and “Killzone 2,” pick up “Counter Strike.”

“Usually I don’t take notes with (my laptop), I write them,” said economics major Jason Thach, 28. Thach has carried his laptop to class for over a year now. “Many teachers have articles that they want us to read, and it’s nice to have a laptop during class to follow along,” Thach said. But most professors at CSUF don’t seem likely to jump to the extreme of banning laptops during their lectures. “I have way too much that I want to accomplish in the classroom to waste time worrying about whether someone is taking notes or surfing the web on a laptop,” said American studies professor John Ibson. A professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder tracked the grades of 17 student laptop addicts. At the end of the term, their average grade was 71 percent, almost the same as the average for the students who didn’t

come at all, as reported by the Washington Post. Ultimately, the responsibility remains with the student. “Students who visit Facebook or eBay instead of paying attention to class, participating and taking notes are insulting and cheating themselves much more than they are insulting me,” Ibson said. Students may think they’re keen at multitasking, but professors are not oblivious. “They may think they’re paying attention, but they’re not and it’s obvious,” said professor of American studies, Craig Loftin. “Students need to be aware that professors are aware.” What professors are more concerned about is how one’s internet use can affect the students around them. “If it’s distracting to other students, then it can be a problem,” Loftin said. Colleges have yet to restrict the use of laptops in classrooms completely. The benefit of keeping students off Facebook does not outweigh the cost of preventing professors from accessing educational Web sites.

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March 16, 2010

Web perspectives

Comments from readers of the Daily Titan

Will it be possible to provide high-speed internet access nationwide in 10 years?

By Luke Cherney

Daily Titan Staff Writer opinion@dailytitan.com

“Let the ‘socialist’ snivellers croak, let the bourgeoisie rage and fume, but only people who shut their eyes so as not to see, and stuff their ears so as not to hear, can fail to notice that all over the world the birth pangs of the old, capitalist society, which is pregnant with socialism, have begun,” said V.I. Lenin, in his “Prophetic Words.” Hello, comrade. “Imagine” a world where the Internet is available to all, where ultra-fast broadband networks are no longer a bill or service, but a necessity, like electricity or water; something most people need in order to survive. “Broadband is an infrastructure challenge that’s very akin to what we’ve faced in the past with telephones and electricity,” FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said in an article by Associated Press reporter Joelle Tessler. The FCC wants to provide Internet access for all in the next 10 years, but at what cost? In this rose-colored, Lennoninspired world, Tessler continued with the FCC saying, “that highspeed Internet access is no longer just a luxury but is critical for economic development, education, health care and other aspects of

daily life.” While most people could probably benefit from using the Internet for such useful tasks as looking up celebrity gossip, stupid cat videos or playing Farmville, to say that the Internet is critical for daily life is absurd. Furthermore, the FCC believes that you and the cable companies should pay for those who are less fortunate who don’t have access to high speed streaming porn. Just like Karl Marx said, “From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.” The FCC is doing this by charging it to the country’s platinum account, the stimulus bill that is already in the red for $7.2 billion for 2009. The plan calls to fundraise the rest of the gap by “reclaiming some airwaves from TV stations and auctioning those frequencies to companies that deliver wireless Internet access,” according to Tessler. Reclaiming – that sounds nice, kind of like sharing; big broadcasters should totally hand over their businesses to the government so everyone can use their services for nothing, just like John Lennon wrote, “Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can?/No need for greed or hunger, a brotherhood of man/imagine all the people sharing all the world.” But what if those companies don’t want to share? “In a statement Monday, the National Association of Broadcasters said it is also concerned that some aspects of the plan ‘may in fact not be as voluntary as originally promised,”’ Tessler said. While this 10-year plan may have obvious benefits for police, fire, medical and people who remain disconnected from a broadband line, the way to finish the plan seems reprehensible.

By fred bloom

Daily Titan Staff Writer opinion@dailytitan.com

The Federal Communications Commission is unveiling the “broadband plan,” which aims to provide faster Internet speeds to more Americans. The goal is to provide connections of 100 megabits of data per second to 100 million households in the country by 2020. The average speed of U.S. Internet connections now is 3.9 megabits per second, according to Internet monitor Akamai. Current U.S. Internet speeds are considered low by global standards. The country has only the 18th fastest connections in the world. South Korea, which leads the world in data transfer rates, averages 14.6 megabits per second. Each community in America will also get one “ultra-highspeed” connection in a place such as a school or hospital, which will be able to reach speeds of 1 gigabit per second. Only 65 percent of Americans currently have high-speed Internet access at home. Access to high-speed Internet connections is becoming an integral amenity, and not having it is a detriment

to the country’s economic growth. Due to a lack of adaptation, the U.S. has not taken advantage of innovations in health care, education, public safety and government. Achieving this goal within 10 years will be difficult because major corporations will not likely comply with FCC mandates immediately. Companies have used a lack of competition in the market for their financial gain. Comcast is raising prices beginning April 1 and AT&T has already raised prices in the recent past. However, the FCC plans to ensure companies will comply. In the executive summary of the broadband plan, the FCC outlines measures that will encourage companies to expand high-speed Internet access. Companies will analyze and publish data regarding the availability of broadband in new markets and develop disclosure to ensure consumers have the ability to make informed decisions. More importantly, the FCC wants corporations to update existing rules on telecom policy. The plan is to free up 500 MHz of wireless spectrum for broadband use and increase financial support for setting up broadband in underserved markets. If forced, the FCC will auction off spectrum to a bidder who must provide free or low-cost service. While leading corporations will be skeptical at first, they will realize the importance of developing the Internet. Competition may cause reduced profits, but using the full potential of the Internet will open up new, unexplored markets.

RE: Thousands protest cuts to public education, march to governor’s office So kids blame Prop 13, which is understandable since, as students, most of us don’t own property yet. BUUUUT... - The costs of running state schools in California have outpaced inflation. Shouldn’t schools learn how to run efficiently so cuts don’t hurt us as much? - I see a big UAW sign right in the front. What does the UNITED AUTO WORKERS have to do with our education? Or are they just to support the CFA (California Faculty Association), which only 2 or 3 years ago was threatening to strike (and if my memory serves me correctly, DID strike for one day) because of unfavorable negotiations. So here’s a question to any of the faculty reading this: Would you be willing to take a bigger pay cut? A cut to your pension plans? An older retirement age? Would you tell your fellow public employee unions to do the same? We could probably find a couple of billions for Fullerton that way! But no, the CFA would never agree to that… There’s a reason why these CFA teachers are protesting along with my fellow students… - Brian D. RE: Shades of Green: Vegan Arrogance I understand the writer’s point here. I have seen vegetarian people who will raise their noses if they see someone eating meat. They pump themselves with the feelings that they are doing a great act by not eating meat. Indeed, it is an act of compassion but at the same time those vegeatrains/vegan are doing equally wrong by having an inflated ego or sense of greatness on the grounds of maintaining vegetarian eating habits. Even Buddha, the Enlightened One, took meat and ate it with love when he was offered it. Because he knew a dietary rule can be bent sometimes to not break hearts. What counts in life is love beyond all reasons and sharing. A clean heart is way to God, not any strict diet. -Gru I don’t eat animals EVER and I never leave on any kind of trip without bringing my own food. That way, I have enough to eat and I can share my vegan food with other people and show them that it’s the best thing you can do for your body, the planet and the animals; it’s also cheap, easy and delicious to be vegan. Veganism is not a competition, it’s a moral baseline. Being vegan is the least I can do to help make the world a place worth living in. Thanks for the story, it brings attention to the problems faced by vegans when it comes to dealing with people who don’t understand what it means to live your ethics every day of your life. -Judith RE: Titan Editorials: Walking contradictions The author is obviously a anarcho-liberal-terrorist window licker who has no concept of the free market, god-fearing, guns rights and American patriotism. Sarah Palin is a GODDAMN saint. Glenn beck told me so, so it must be true. I’m so sick of the “gotcha” media always pounding on my girl! She is fighting for our LIBERTY and FREEDOM. Obviously, this is a sexist article. I mean, where are all the “Obamabot” hypocrisies in this article? Please be more fair and balanced in your reporting next time. -Parah Salin

The preceding are the opinions of the www.dailytitan.com commenters and are not necessarily the views of the Daily Titan, its staff or Cal State Fullerton. Comments are edited for grammer and A.P. Style.

Nerdgasm “Exploring the highs and lows of nerd culture”

Fan-freakin’-tastic FanFiction by ashleigh johnson

Daily Titan Copy Editor opinion@dailytitan.com

Hi, my name is Ashleigh and I’m an Internet-holic. During my time of surfing this majestic series of tubes, I’ve seen a lot of things that should be viewed by no mortal eyes. In short, I’ve seen things – terrible, terrible things. But few of the aforementioned horrors are as psychologically scarring as the online guerilla warfare that fanfiction continues to wage on the English language. Fanfiction, for those who don’t know, is a piece of fan-written fiction. I hope that cleared things up. Because I am evidently a masochist, today we will be taking a journey into the pestilence-filled halls of Fanfiction.net. Join me in my moment of torment, won’t you?

“The Marine Biology Episode” by Manda2247 (a “Bill Nye the Science Guy” fanfiction). Defining quote: “’Ugh. What am I going to do next?’ His season finale episode had just finished taping, and now he had to begin working on the script for his next episode. ‘I really want to do an episode about polar bears. They have such cool fur.’” Commentary: Look, the fact that this is Bill Nye fanfiction should be a dead giveaway to its terribleness. In this epic saga, Bill Nye decides to do a show about polar bears because they “have cool fur.” His producers don’t want to do a show about polar bears because, you know, that’s a fricking horrible idea. Bill Nye uses what I can only guess is voodoo trickery to convince them otherwise. “Where are my panties?” by andyoullenjoyit (a “Grey’s Anatomy” fanfiction) Defining quote: “Meredith smirked. ‘Now where are they?’ ‘First drawer on the right,’ he mumbled sullenly. Meredith walked over and grabbed them triumphantly. ‘Ha! I win! Thanks for the help, Addie!’ She kissed Addison and gave Mark the finger when he whistled. She sashayed out of the room and when Addison didn’t follow her immediately, yelled, ‘Addie, you coming?’” Commentary: Whoops! I guess I should have warned you all about the spoilers there. Because I know you were all on the edge of your seats to know where the aforementioned panties are. My bad. In this piece, we are introduced to Meredith, who apparently has one (and only one) pair of panties. The author never specifies why her roommate, Mark, took her panties, so I’m forced to conclude that he’s holding them in the name of science. Meredith uses her +7 Charisma skill to recapture her panties. Also, she’s a ginormous bitch. I don’t know what kind of a person andyoullenjoyit is, but I think it’s

safe to assume that, judging from the screen name, he or she is a registered sex offender. “Dino Thunder Infusion” by Falcon4Crane (a “Power Rangers” fanfiction) Defining quote: “Looking once more at Zeltrax, Tommy morphed and prepared to fight him. They fought for several minutes before Tommy had to call on his staff to fend off Zeltrax. He then hit the ground to cause a quack to knock Zeltrax off balance. Sensing that his time was up, Zeltrax disappeared through an invisiportal. Tommy stared at the spot where Zeltrax was standing and shook his head and powered down. He walked onto the dig site to find anything that might give off energy. When he couldn’t find anything, he left to check on the kids’ progress with the dino zord.” Commentary: Look, I have no idea what the hell is going on at all in this story. I tried reading it, I really did, but then I realized that this thing was 14 chapters long and I was all like, “screw that noise.” So yeah. Anyway, from what I can gather, there’s this egg and it has a robot in it. So this dude Tommy is trying to protect the egg but this other dude named Zeltrax wants it. Tommy fends him off with a stick that apparently makes duck noises and then he goes on to inspect the progress of the child slaves he keeps in his Sweatshop of Justice. There’s more, but I have to go shotgun a can of gasoline now. “Nightmare at Sea” by Ashleigh Johnson, age 9 (a “Titanic” fanfiction) Defining quote: “The next day when Hannah woke up she didn’t remember where. ‘Oh now I remember.’ she said.” Commentary: HA HA HA HA! What an idiot! I’ll bet this chick’s parents wish there was such thing as a postpartum abortion. HA HA! Wait, who wrote this? Shit.

March 16, 2010

Health

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Daily Sudoku: Wed 10-Mar-2010

medium

6 8 3 5 1

2 7 8 4 6

7 1 5 6 9

4 3 2 1 7

5 9 4 3 8

How To Play: Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9: and each set of boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

3 5 7 9 2

3 5 7 1 4 9 2 8 6 1 9 8 3 6 2 7 4 5 2 4 6 5 8 7 1 3 9 5 6 9 8

2 1 7 5

4 3 8 2

8 4 6 3

6 1 7 3 8 9 4 1 1 6 9 7 7

3 5 1 7

7 9 2 4

1 2 4 9

Daily Sudoku: Wed 10-Mar-2010

6 8 3 1

9 7 5 6

3 5 7 1 4 9 2 8 6

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Insistence on getting your way works out. You wanted more recognition, and you accept it in the form of cash. Others are willing to pay.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 6 -- You could easily spread yourself too thin regarding both activities and finances. Set aside the rent money before you start.

8 6 1 2 4

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Some of your logical ideas are getting away from you as others inject emotions. Present a clear vision of the goal to the team.

1 6 9 7 9 7 7 6 4

9 4 6 8 3

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Associates go in different directions today, but all want you on their teams. How to make it work? You’ll figure it out.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 7 -- Broaden your perspective. There are four or five factors to incorporate into a practical plan. Consider the flow of elements.

1 2 9 7 5

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Co-workers spread out their work all over the available space. Be careful where you step!

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 6 -- You happily control three irons in the fire. But six? That takes intense effort and focus. Divide the problems and conquer one at a time.

8 1 6 1 7 3 8 9 4 1

Cancer (June 22-July 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Your partner’s attention is scattered. Expect input from two or three very different sources. Don’t make a final decision.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- You feel an urgent need to start the next project. Others are still mulling over yesterday’s results. Ease them into the future.

6 1 9 4 7 3 8 5 2 8 7 3 6 2 5 4 9 1 4 2 5 8 9 1 3 6 7

Gemini (May 21-June 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Financial pressure causes you to rethink part of your plan. Imagination allows everyone to trim down in a logical, systematic way. It turns out well.

Sudoku brought to you by dailysudoku.com

Daily Sudoku: Wed 10-Mar-2010

Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 7 -- You receive more support for your ideas. The person in charge listens carefully but demands the final say. Be flexible.

Sudoku

http://www.dailysudoku.com/

Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is an 8 -- The challenge today is to use all this energy without going off the deep end. Love every minute! Then, share that feeling with your partner.

March 16, 2010

Team Elevate: hip-hop from the soul by Gina baxter

Daily Titan Staff Writer sports@dailytitan.com

At 7 p.m., Cal State Fullerton’s campus is much quieter than in the daytime. Students walk past the Student Recreation Center, bundled up in sweatshirts and pants as a group of girls inside the gymnasium talk and stretch in a loose circle. They flip the switch on the portable CD player they have brought along, and when the music starts, the girls come to life. This is Elevate, CSUF’s hip-hop team, and they are ready to dance. So why a hip-hop team? “Ballroom dancing just didn’t work out,” 21-year-old junior business major Kayla Newte laughs. Elevate meets every Monday and Wednesday to practice for up to three hours and is made up of eight women. Senior public relations major Shari Williams, 21, leads the dance crew with grace and authority. The team warms up together at the beginning of each practice, chatting and joking until Williams calls them to attention, her voice sharp and crisp as she counts out the beat to a new routine. “We’ve got a fundraiser coming up at a club called Tia Juana’s that we’re preparing for,” Williams said, as the girls practiced behind her. “We do stuff like this every so often to raise money for things like competitions, costumes and other things we need.” The school’s hip-hop team is underfunded and does not receive as much attention as other teams on campus. “What a lot of people don’t know about us is that each of the girls has a long background history of dancing,” senior advertising major Alysha Young said. “TV shows like ‘Ameri-

Shari Williams, far right, leads Cal State Fullerton’s hip-hop team’s practice inside the main entrance of Titan Gym on Feb. 3, in preparation for the March 19 talent show fundraiser.

ca’s Best Dance Crew’ showed people that there are different forms of dance besides classical ballet, which is what we try to show people when we perform.” Elevate has performed at a variety of events, from campus-sponsored events like basketball games, to opening up for rapper Drake at the ASU

Fox Theater in San Bernardino. The girls get together twice a week to practice new routines and keep their dance moves fresh and have formed a tight bond with each other. With a total of just eight members, this small group often goes unnoticed until they hit the stage,

charming the crowd with their infectious smiles and energetic performances. “We’ve performed at competitions at USC, The Grove in Anaheim, you name it,” Williams said. “We’ve got a talent show fundraiser on March 19 that is helping support victims of the Haiti earthquake that we’re still try-

The Walk-Off: Softball Big Dreams

Daily Titan Staff Writer sports@dailytitan.com

There are many reasons to hate the rain. You might hate it because it soaks your clothes, you’re not a fan of cold weather, it prevents you from going to the beach, or maybe you just love sunny skies. I hate it because it has routinely postponed our 2009 Corona AllMale Softball League title defense. Don’t get me wrong, nature itself can be glorious. Birds chirp, trees sway, the sun shines and green grass grows. We’re talking romantic novel type stuff here. However, much like Father Time, at times Mother Nature can be a real bitch. How else can you defend her purposely preventing the team in red

“

By Brian Whitehead

shirts from taking the field every We added another Jack Morris, Sunday night to annihilate incom- which skyrocketed the average age petent competition in front of our to about 35, and acquired a college millions – OK, six – adoring fans? golfer who tips the scales at a good A couple months back, after com- 5’6” 130 pounds.) pleting our inaugural season of beatLike any team unsure of itself, we ing down inept opposition, someone nervously shifted our infield around decided we were a bit before the ready to “move up” start of the new to the Big Leagues. I mean, could you season. Why? BeWithout argument imagine the damage cause throwing to or a single “Wait, a 5’4” first basewe’re still not that that would occur if man just wasn’t good” thought, we Manny Ramirez or cutting it. So what packed our balls, Barry Bonds played we did was move bats, gloves, cleats our 6’4” shortstop and Gatorade and shortstop?... to first, our third joined the ranks of baseman to short Corona’s finest. and one of our (Sidenote: In the offseason we outfielders to third. made a couple notable acquisitions. Problem solved. At least until we They were in no way “blockbuster hit the field. moves,” but moves nonetheless. We With these changes in effect, my didn’t ink Jason Bay, Matt Holliday buddy and I (looking for another or John Lackey. way to insult our friends) calculated We didn’t get Johnny Damon or the respective “Man Averages” (as Chone Figgins at a discounted price. we called them) for our infield and Shoot, we didn’t even try to land the outfield. Cuban defector who doesn’t speak a Our results were astonishing. lick of English. (Sidenote II: There’s an unwritNo, our acquisitions were more ten rule in baseball that prohibits along the lines of the Washington big boppers from playing the infield. Nationals signing Adam Kennedy or This rule is in place because steroids the San Diego Padres acquiring Da- – er, weight training – doesn’t necesvid Eckstein. sarily boost your agility.

But in softball it does wonders, right? I mean, could you imagine the damage that would occur if Manny Ramirez or Barry Bonds played shortstop? It would make “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” look like a fender-bender.) To make a long, and depressing story short (literally), we came to the conclusion that if the Smurfs ever fielded a softball team, they’d trot out a bigger outfield than us. So much for the big boppers playing the outfield. Anyway, we took the field opening night armed with our bizarro softball team and a title to defend. Like the very first time we took the field as a collective unit, we were expecting the worst, but hoping for the best. In the top half of first inning, we spotted the opposing team five runs thanks to some typical shoddy defense. In spite of the errors, the other team’s size, hitting ability and matching uniforms oozed expertise. Not even five minutes later, in the bottom half of the inning, they generously gave us 14 runs on approximately 150 errors. So much for “moving up to the Big Leagues.”

ing to put together as well.” Although the group lacks a permanent dance space and university funding, they have found creative solutions to keep their organization going. With a Facebook page and links to videos and performances on Youtube, CSUF’s hip-hop team has

Photo By Nick Marley/Daily Titan Photo Editor

dedicated a lot of time and effort into doing what they all love most – dancing. While they may not be the most popular dance team on campus, team Elevate is a strong, organized club that has provided these students a chance to express themselves creatively through dance.

Titan Athletics Home Calendar Baseball 3/16 vs. ASU 6 p.m. 3/17 vs. ASU 6 p.m. Softball 3/17 vs. Purdue 7 p.m. 3/18 vs. Fresno 6:30 p.m. 3/19 vs. Texas 6 p.m. 3/20 vs. Louisville 1:30 p.m. 3/21 vs. Louisiana 11:15 a.m. Tennis 3/17 vs. Houston 2 p.m. 3/21 vs. Wyoming 10 a.m. Lacrosse 3/19 vs. Biola 7 p.m. Men’s Rugby 3/20 vs. Occidental 1 p.m. Women’s Rugby 3/21 vs. USC 1 p.m.