April 7, 2010
Vol. 87 Issue 30
Check out photos from the exciting Nuclear Cowboyz show Music, fire, and motocross stunts combine to form a unique show DETOUR, Page 4
WEDNESDAY
Titans slay Bruins at Jackie Robinson Stadium SPORTS, Page 8
Multimedia
Experience the Lebowski Fest for yourself at www.dailytitan.com/lebowskifest The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton
ASI elections begin today General elections for Associtated Students Inc. officials run from April 7 to 8 at various polling locations around campus
Lebowski-fest sparks up
photo By Christine Amarantus/Daily Titan Editor At Large “Mind if I do a J” a Big Lebowski fan says during a costume contest at the Lebowski Fest bowing party at Cal Bowl.
By Christine Amarantus
Daily Titan Editor at Large detour@dailytitan.com
photo By Christa connelly/Daily Titan Photo Editor Candidates gathered in the Becker Ampitheatre to answer questions about their platforms. Ice cream was served to students who attended and candidates wore T-shirts promoting their candidacy.
A closer look at this year’s Playing field increases available ASI positions with added candidates ington said. ASI was established in 1959 as the news@dailytitan.com result of student votes. It was known as Student Senate for 26 years, but Cal State Fullerton students will was re-named in 1976 when it behave the opportunity to vote for their came a non-profit organization. Associated Students Inc. representaASI is managed by an executives this Wednesday and Thursday. tive team which consists of the ASI The elected ASI officers will repre- President and CEO, Executive Vice sent the entire CSUF student body at President, Vice President of Finance, the local, state and national levels. Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Gregory Washington, ASI’s chief Governmental Officer and Chief governmental officer, said that ASI is Communications Officer. an non-profit organization that proCSUF students vote for the presivides students with auxiliary services dent and vice president who, once at CSUF. ASI fundelected, appoint ed the construction individuals for the of the Titan Student other executive poUnion, Children’s sitions. Center and RecreWashington said ation Center. ASI that the executive also employs over officers meet at least 300 students. twice a week for two “We (ASI) are hours each time. – Gregory Washington the go-between for “This week ... I ASI’s chief governmental CSUF students, have 11 meetings officer state legislature scheduled,” Washand even national ington said. Washlegislature. We’re ington is also the also the representatives to university Chair of Lobby Corpsan ASI comadministration and faculty ... if stu- mittee that represents students at dents don’t vote, they’re really losing state legislature. their voice and their influence over the decisions that ASI makes,” WashSee OVERVIEW, Page 3 By Katie Rossomano
Daily Titan Staff Writer
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(Working for ASI) has been a really great experience for me
See LEBOWSKI, Page 5
photo By Christa connelly/Daily Titan Photo Editor Candidates answer student questions the day before the commencement of Associated Students Inc. general elections.
By Zan Anwar
Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com
The Associated Students Inc. spring elections are here again, but unlike last year, there are four sets of candidates vying for the positions of president and vice president of ASI. Esiquio Uballe, associate dean of students and elections adviser, said that he hasn’t witnessed as many candidates running for election in the past eight years, and was pleased to see more candidates this time around as it made for
more awareness about ASI and what it does on campus. One of the reasons could be that more students want to get involved as opposed to just being apathetic or complacent, Uballe said. When things are not going well, when funds are tight, people want to either see or make changes, he added. “There are segments of students who may be disappointed and frustrated with the way members of the ASI allocate funds and these students may want to see a change,” he said.
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By Laura Barron - Lopez Daily Titan News Editor news@dailytitan.com
Saint Martin De Porres Catholic Church seated a small crowd that left the memorial mass of Marine Lance Cpl. Rick J. Centanni, Tuesday, with the echoing words, “I’ll never let you down, even if I could I’d give up everything, if only for your good … So hold me when I’m here and love me when I’m gone,” of 3 Doors Down, accompanied by a slideshow of pictures encompassing the life of Centanni, from his birth to the time of his death at the age of 19. For all who knew Centanni, those words reflected what he stood for. A song chosen to play at this memorial service
Shadow day enlightens
See CANDIDATES, Page 3
Hundreds attend fallen Marine’s service
photo By Laura Barron - Lopez/Daily Titan News Editor At Riverside National Cemetery, Marines fold the American flag over Rick J. Centanni’s casketß to present it to his parents.
He stares intently at the 10 pins. They taunt him with their mere stillness. Ball in hand, he positions himself for the roll. He slips as he releases it. As he lies dazed on his back in the waxed lane, a crowd headed by a handful of bearded men in yellow, shooting glasses and khaki vests shout, “Over the line!” and “Mark it zero!” followed by “You’re entering a world of pain!” Nearby, red bob-haired ladies, possibly naked beneath their green robes, sip Kahlua-vodka beverages, while look-a-likes of a familiar bum intermingle with other bowlers. To you, that bum is The Dude. Or His Dudeness. Or even El Duderino, if you aren’t into the whole brevity thing. Lebowski Fest LA, held April 3 in the Wiltern and April 4 at Cal Bowl in Lakewood, honors the ’98 Coen Brothers flick The Big Lebowski with a screening of the movie one night and a bowling party the next.
by his father, Santa Ana Police Sgt. John Centanni, who during the days leading up to the funeral, listened to that same song as he remembered his son. Centanni, a Yorba Linda native and alumni of Esperanza High School, was killed March 24, along with Sgt. Maj. Robert J. Cottle, 45, by an improvised explosive device (IED) while on patrol in the Helmand province, Afghanistan, according to the Department of Defense. Although the number of people inside St. Martin’s was small, seating only immediate family and friends, the mass of people surrounding the church and along Yorba Linda Boulevard reached high numbers. See MARINE, Page 3
photo By Charles PURNELL/Daily Titan Staff Writter President of the Candela Club Sen Nandayapa, 24, teaches attendees of the event how to salsa dance.
By Juanita Vasquez
Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com
Nearly 80 high school students from Anaheim and Santa Ana got to experience college firsthand by attending classes and touring the campus alongside Cal State Fullerton students during “TRIO Shadow Day” Tuesday. The event, put on by the Talent Search and Upward Bound programs at CSUF, was to help high school students experience college for a day by shadowing university students. “We want students to be comfortable and know that college is accessible to them and that it’s a reality,” said Adriana Badillo, director of the Talent Search Program. To first generation college students, college is even more daunting than it is for the rest of us, Badillo said. Without parent guidance or past family experiences to help them relate, some students don’t see college as a possibility. Badillo said this turns into “fear of the unexpected.” See SHADOW DAY, Page 3
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April 7, 2010
ASI election candidate statements
Editors’ Note: These statements have been edited for length, spelling, punctuation and AP style. They are the words of the candidates themselves and have not been verified independently of the Daily Titan. All candidates were contacted and given equal opportunity to respond.
President/ Vice President
Joe lopez/andy lopez
Khang Pham/Mark Gonzalez
Joel Thayer/Beth Velasco
central and important themes for the 2010-2011 school year: We want to encourage student involvement with CSUF for many years to come. We are promoting membership in the CSUF Alumni Association for graduates or the Titan Ambassadors for current students. Stay connected and give something back to CSUF!
Board of Directors
We promote unity and equality for all clubs and organizations on campus, this includes sports. We want to encourage students to get more involved by going out and actually meeting with the students of the Cal State Fullerton community. We want to increase transparency by adding more availability for questions directed toward the president at events, such as ASI cookouts. We are focused on trying to expand more of an ASI presence to the Irvine campus, and the Fullerton community, by working with ASI clubs that have a dedication towards philanthropy and civil service. We want to invoke more Athletic equality by expanding ASI reach to sports clubs and future club sports. We want to open the line of communication between ASI and the alumni by creating positions within ASI. We want to provide the tools for students to accomplish all the goals. With balance comes change, Joel supplies innovation and Beth supplies experience. Together they are a winning team.
Joe Lopez and Andy Lopez are hard-working, dedicated and knowledgeable students running for the opportunity to represent the California State University Fullerton student body. They focus their campaign on four main aspects, which include advocacy, outreach, unity, and experience. They are committed to making student concerns heard and will continue to advocate on behalf of all of their peers. Joe and Andy are also firm believers in accurate, outspoken representation and shared governance. Getting the student body actively engaged with ASI is their main goal, and they want to provide students with the experience and resources that they need in order to make a difference on campus and in their communities. Joe and Andy are dedicated to all fellow Titans. They trust that clubs and organizations at CSUF bring the campus community together. Their previous leadership experience has prepared them to lead the CSUF student body with excellent knowledge and determination.
The only candidates in this year’s election who want to bring drastic change to ASI. $19,000 was spent on the Titan Pride Center in the Titan Student Union to help reach out to students. Out of 20 people surveyed by the Daily Titan, only one person knew what it was. ASI spent $100,000 on the Spring Concert and only allowed 2,500 students to attend. California State University Fullerton currently has 36,000 students. When the budget cuts happened, ASI did nothing and left it up to the students to organize rallies and protests against the cuts. When the library cut its hours, ASI again did nothing until a group of students organized a sit-in and one person actually handcuffed himself into the building. Only then did they respond and help out. Pham and Gonzalez want to tear down what ASI currently is and rebuild it into an organization that actually stands up for students rather than just one that acts as a mediator between the students and the administration. Vote for revolution.
Raymond (AUSTIN) nation/ krystal santiago
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I’m a second year student in the College of Business at Cal State Fullerton. Currently I am on the Board of Directors for ASI and try to advocate on behalf of the students in the Mihaylo College of Business. I am the only student committee member on the CSUF Housing Authority Board along with the president of CSUF, to represent 45,000 CSUF students. I am also on the University Scholarship Committee. Being an active member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, I have a passion for the position and I am trying to get more students involved and hopefully benefit them with scholarships experiences.
College of Communications eric thai
College of Engineering and Computer Science
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.
Editorial
Yue (Eric) niu
No statement.
For the Record
Daily Titan
College of Business
elvis amezcua
We are exceptionally qualified, strong and compassionate leaders on our campus as well as in our community. We bring to the ASI our unique perspective and a fresh, new viewpoint to the current “business as usual” that has been occurring within the current student government with our combined experience, maturity and wisdom. Frankly, we feel that we are, in fact, the most qualified candidates running for ASI president and vice president. We both believe we can make next year a greater and more successful one. We promise that we won’t let you down. Our campaign is centered on two
As a current candidate for Board of Directors for the College of Engineering and Computer Science, I will maintain stability on resources in order for the college to operate successfully. I do not see myself as just a freshman, yet a potential leader. I am a proud brother, and a representative of Delta Sigma Chi coed fraternity. Communicating, analyzing, and encouraging are skills I frequently use as a representative. Applying the skills as a Board of Director, I can inform current issues, suggest guidelines for student organizations and insure that ASI achieves its goals between the college and its students.
Rohullah latif Hello, my name is Rohullah Latif and I am running for the Board of Directors position representing College of Electronics and Computer Science. Presently, I am on the Board of Directors and would love to continue serving the College of Electronics and Computer Science. I am a really dedicated, honest and patient individual. Currently I am trying to strengthen the connection between the ECS and the rest of the school. I feel like Electronics and Computer Science is somewhat alienated from the rest of the school. Out of all the departments I believe ECS should be the most technologically advanced department because this great country is in need of engineers.
College of Health and Human Development Ryan adams (write in) My name is Ryan Adams. I’ve been attending this university for over two years now and this will be my second time running in an election. The first election did not go according to plan, but I’m here now to give it a second shot. Our university system has been through some rocky times, but we should hold the concept of resiliency in high regard. Resiliency is a concept which I abide by. As your representative I will used this concept to accomplish our goal: to better our campus life and our university.
lani akimi endo Lani is in her third year at Cal State Fullerton, majoring in child and adolescent studies with a minor in natural sciences. She currently serves on the Board of Directors as a representative to the College of Health and Human Development as well as executive president to the Child and Adolescence Studies Student Association (CASSA). Her past leadership experiences include director of administration to the Health and Human Development InterClub Council (HHD-ICC) and vice president and ICC Representative to CASSA. In addition, Lani has been involved in numerous committees and organizations including University Affairs Committee, Scholarship Committee, Delta Zeta Sorority and Student California Teachers Association (SCTA). Through these organizations, she is able to get a better perspective of the university as a whole. If re-elected, she plans to continue to represent her constituents, advocate for higher education and strengthen the leadership and involvement of students.
College of Humanities and Social Sciences LISA BRANDT (write in) No statement.
brian cone (write in) I am running for Board of Directors so that I may further ad-
vocate on behalf of our students specifically within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, whether it be regarding issues with classes in the college, club-based issues or programs within the college. My objective is to encourage majors within the college to become more involved with the many opportunities for career building, scholarships, clubs and employment within the department and programs and for those who just want to come to school for their education well I’ll still be here looking out for any issues that they might have too.
Lorenzo frausto (write in) I, Lorenzo Frausto, a political science major and Spanish minor running for board of directors for Humanities/Social Sciences will continue to work with a passionate zeal to strengthen our university’s collective voice. I am currently collaborating with other out-of-state universities to assemble a networking workshop where California State University students will have an opportunity to participate in a week-long seminar, focusing on, but not limited to, the following: community organizing, effective interaction with mainstream media and grassroots fundraising. Upon electing me as board of directors for Humanities/ Social Sciences, I will continue to pursue opportunities for active participation and advancement of CSUF students.
brittany herrick (write in) No statement.
willie holmes (write in) Coming for direct change for the student, I am here to unify the student body amongst the colleges, being on the board for the semester, I have had the ability to learn give of myself. I promise you I will try to change your frustration into gladness. I am the man looking toward the future and a man of the people. Your vote counts. Make change a reality on seventh and eighth.
robert ryan (write in) Hello to my fellow Titans! In my years of study, I have become well diversified in many subjects and matured in taking on responsibility. I am able to adapt to situations at hand and capable to develop a resolution. In years past, I have volunteered by assuming an active role in the community and partaking in local events. On campus, I am currently the Treasurer for the Criminal Justice Student Association. I would like to broaden everyone’s horizon with the opportunity to represent my college as a member of the board of directors. My name is Robert Ryan, and I want to do more for my colleagues and school.
College of Natural Science and Mathematics ELIZABETH SHIPLEY (write in) No statement.
April 7, 2010
ASI candidates: opponents square off for positions From Page 1 Students also had a chance to meet the candidates Tuesday afternoon at the Becker Amphitheatre as they pitched their goals and fielded questions from the audience. To the handful of students that showed up, the candidates introduced themselves and answered questions regarding their aspirations for the coming term. The executive candidates this year are: Joel Thayer and Beth Velasco, Khang Pham and Mark Gonzalez, Raymond (Austin) Nation and Krystal Santiago, Joseph Lopez and Andrew Lopez. Although all candidates were unified in their aspirations to have more student involvement and bring greater transparency to ASI, each set of candidates had their own pitch for the election. Khang Pham and Mark Gonzalez, who say they are looking to make drastic changes to ASI in terms of what it stands for and what it can do for students, are urging students to “vote for revolution” by supporting their team. Pham said that he feels ASI is not assertive enough when it comes to supporting students on issues such as
the recent protests on the budget cuts. He said he grew increasingly interested in ASI after the March 4 protests. “I saw people wearing ASI T-shirts and I assumed that the ASI was actively involved in the protest. Then I learned that they were only allowed to protest silently.” Pham said that he didn’t understand how ASI, who are representatives of the students, can be so passive in their approach to student issues. “I plan to be very proactive,” Pham said. "I will be out there with the students in all their efforts.” Raymond (Austin) Nation and Krystal Santiago, whose main goal is to have the student body and ASI come together, have a slogan as well. “We call it ‘Students Becoming One Voice,’ but it is also about instilling Titan spirit and pride,” Nation said. Santiago and Nation said they could bring a broader perspective, maturity and wisdom to ASI as they believe they are clearly more qualified than the rest of the candidates. “We also hope to create more events on campus, and have better networking among clubs that work with the ASI,” Santiago said. Nation added that another goal was to create more opportunities for stu-
dents to get involved on campus, especially those who don’t know what’s really going on. Joseph Lopez and Andrew Lopez said that their campaign is based on four main aspects: advocacy, outreach, unity and experience. “One of our goals is to be dedicated to all the clubs on campus; to serve them better and address their concerns,” Joseph Lopez said. Andrew Lopez said that the biggest issue was to get the name of ASI out there to the students. “We are students too, and we need to keep our ears open, hear more student voices, and be more transparent,” he added. Joel Thayer and Beth Velasco plan to reach out to students with their slogan, “New time, new faces, new game.” “Experience and innovation is extremely important in the new era, and we can supply that,” Thayer said. Velasco and Thayer said they would push for more alumni involvement in order to get increased funding for campus related events and clubs. Thayer also added that his focus was to work primarily with the naysayers on campus. “All they want is a voice, to be heard,” he said.
Marine: A hero remembered From Page 1
The procession route departing from the church passed by Centanni’s various alma maters, from elementary to high school, before taking the freeway to Riverside National Cemetery. The size of the procession, including the motorcade accompanying it, reached numbers rarely witnessed according to several police officers monitoring the service. The support for the family, the love and displays of respect for the fallen marine crossed boundaries: police agency boundaries and city boundaries. As the processional drove on the 91 freeway reaching Riverside, people lined the street bridges that overpassed the freeway, some in uniform, others regular civilians holding American flags or banners that read “Thank You.” “I knew Rick through my brother and after my brother enlisted, he was like a second brother to me because whenever my brother was gone on his duties, Rick was always there,” said Aisling Byrnes of the marine.
The effects of Centanni’s death were evident upon the faces of those closest to him. Joseph Patterson, one of Centanni’s closest friends and fellow marine, gave the eulogy. Centanni was his reason for becoming a Marine. “He was not selfish at all and would sacrifice anything for anybody, and he made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and for everyone in this country,” Patterson said. Centanni’s admirers spanned across age groups, from the young to the old. Andres Estrada, 16, recalled countless fond memories of Centanni and said that he looked up to him and wanted to follow in his footsteps. The fact that Centanni cannot live the life he had planned and the young age at which he died was sobering to everyone. Centanni planned to follow his father and join the Santa Ana Police Department after serving in the Marines. The Santa Ana Police Department did something it had never done in the history of the city, and made Centanni
an honorary Santa Ana police officer, giving Centanni’s father a badge, ID and name plate reading ‘Rick J. Centanni’. “Rick would have been a hell of a good dad, he never complained and my kids loved him,” said Chris Koelber, a La Habra police officer, who knew Centanni since he was 4 years-old. When asked what he would say to Centanni if he could, Koelber had difficulty getting his response out, but tearfully answered, “I’d say, I love you, he was like a son to me, and God bless you.” The memorial service united cities in honor of a fallen Marine, in honor of Centanni, whose character, according to many if not all in attendance, can be captured by the very tattoo he wore, “for those I love, I give my life.”
MULTIMedia
Visit the memorial online at dailytitan.com/rcmemorial
Shadow: learning the ropes From Page 1 The students who attended the event are participants of the Talent Search and Upward Bound programs. These two programs focus on providing services and motivating underrepresented youth to attend institutions of higher learning. Badillo said last year opened the eyes of high school students to what college is really like so the event was put on for its second year. Miguel Gonzalez, a junior at Century High School in Santa Ana and a participant in Upward Bound, said he wanted to learn more about the format of college classes. “The major difference in college is that people actually pay and choose to be here, so there's a lot more dedication and there's actual learning going on,” said Gonzalez, who plans to major in civil engineering. The student he shadowed took him
to a public relations writing class and although he said he wasn't entirely sure what what this major was about, he said it's always good to see new things. Yvette Garcia, a student volunteer and a senior at CSUF, said she didn't have anybody mentor her during high school and because her parents didn't go to college, she didn't know a lot about the college process. “I heard that volunteers were needed that could mentor kids, and that really hit home because I didn't have anybody mentor me. So I wanted to make sure that I came out and helped,” Garcia said, a human services major. Evelyn Soqui, an academic adviser with the Talent Search program, helped organize TRIO Shadow Day. She said they wanted to have an activity that dismantled the fear of being in a college campus in first-generation college students. Informing and preparing students for college was also an idea behind the
event, Soqui added. “Most of our students are from lowincome backgrounds, so this is the first time that anyone in the family has been navigating the system, there is also the fear of not being able to afford college, which is a big issue in the community that we work with,” Soqui said. This college process and experience was something that Angelica KrollRivas, a first year sociology student, didn't have. “I wish I did it when I was in high school because I'm a first generation college student and this would have helped me a lot,” Kroll-Rivas said. “I came here and I was lost.” She took a student to her Dance 101 class and said she hopes they get to experience what college is like and have fun. “I hope that this will give them the experience so that when they come here on their first day they can say 'hey, I remember this building! I went to the dance classes here!'” Kroll-Rivas said.
ASI overview: insight into the offices candidates vie for From Page 1
ASI Chief Administrative Officer Kathy Ting-Ting Yu said that she has many responsibilites, but her main role is to recruit and oversee presidential appointees. She said that her occupation requires 20 hours of work a week “ but I'm in meetings 15 to 20 hours a week already so I spend an extra 10 to 20 hours doing work in my position.” ASI officers recieve a scholarship, rather than a typical paycheck or salary. Washington said that the scholar-
ship funds about two-thirds of the cost of tuition and housing. ASI is funded by a student fee that is included when students pay for tuition. He said that it costs $74 a semester. Henoc Preciado, ASI vice president of finance, is responsible for all ASI funds. “This 2009-2010 fiscal year, ASI has a budget totaling $6,998,313 in operating expenses. These funds are distributed among the Inter-Club Councils, Funded Councils, Programs and a number of different things,” Preciado said. Other segments of ASI include the
Executive Senate, which is made up of the leaders from all student-run councils and programs that are funded by ASI; the Titan Student Union Governing Board, which consists mainly of students who vote on issues concerning the TSU; and the Board of Directors, which consists of two student representatives from the eight colleges. These representatives are elected by students. “(Working for ASI) has been a really great experience for me, it has been a great opportunity to get real-world government experience,” Washington said.
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by Gina Baxter
Daily Titan Staff Writer detour@dailytitan.com
Everyone has a secret. What's surprising is how many people are willing to share their secrets with the world. That’s what Frank Warren, the creator of PostSecret, learned when he began asking people to send in anonymous postcards with a secret on them to his mailbox in Germantown, Md. The only requirements were that the secret be truthful and that the sender had never told another person. Soon after beginning this creative art/mail project, Warren was inundated with hundreds of postcards, some funny, others startlingly PHOTO BY GINA BAXTER/Daily Titan Staff Writer honest and profound, proving that ‘PostSecret: Confessions on Life, Death, and God’ is on display until May 14 in the TSU. when it comes to secrets, people all across the nation are filled with sur- phenomenon. Since its conception others are inquisitive and thoughtprises. in 2004, PostSecret has accumulat- provoking, but each is a reminder of Now in its fifth year and still go- ed millions of followers on its blog how similar minds can be. ing strong, “PostSecret: Confessions and social networking sites like FaAllie Harris, 22-year-old theater on Life, Death, and God” opened cebook and Twitter. arts major, has been a fan of Postin the Titan Student Union’s center It has spawned four books to date Secret since high school, which gallery on April 1. Cal State Ful- and countless Web site archives, prompted her to stop by and exlerton has the unique distinction of all with people waiting to see what amine the new exhibit for more sebeing the first vennew secrets will be crets. ue in the state to revealed. “It's really incredible, this sense host this particular “I go on the you get of everyone being so interPostSecret exhibit. Web site to check twined,” Harris said as she walked This time, the sethe updated se- through the gallery. “It’s a beautiful crets are focused crets every Sun- way for people to express themselves on faith and God, day,” said Sarah and feel united with others, even if both controversial Shokair, 21-year- it's only on the back of a postcard.” topics that many old biochemistry With over 300 million viewers on students on cammajor. “It's amaz- its Web site, Post Secret has successpus, religious or ing how many se- fully created an outlet for those who not, can relate to. crets you can relate often have no other place to turn. “This is by far After realizing how many people – Sarah Shokair to. It makes you the coolest thing feel really small, were affected by the project, PostI've seen here,” seeing how every- Secret teamed up with the National Biochemistry major said Warren Lee, one is connected Suicide Hotline in order to spread a a 23-year-old marin some way.” message of hope to those affected by keting major. “l At the PostSe- depression. was just walking cret exhibit in the TSU, students What started out as just an art by and saw the exhibit and stopped can view real postcards sent to the project spurred people into acto check it out. A lot of people find project’s founders and get sense of tion in many life-altering ways, all it hard to talk about religion, but how many people have been affect- thanks to one man who opened his these people were brave enough to ed by this project. From confessions mailbox to the world. share their secrets with complete of illicit behavior to questions about “PostSecret: Confessions on Life, strangers.” the afterlife, each postcard leaves its Death, and God” will run until PostSecret rapidly grew from a own indelible mark on the viewer. May 14 in the center art gallery of small art project into a nationwide Some of the cards are heartbreaking, the TSU.
“
It’s amazing how many secrets you can relate to. It makes you feel really small, seeing how everyone is connected in some way.
‘Cowboyz’
Flying high with the
Secrets shared in the TSU
April 7, 2010
photos by mark samala/For the Daily Titan
Freestyle motocross riders take to the air during the theatrical performance “Nuclear Cowboyz” at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Friday, March 26. On tour was a cast of motocross performers including Adam Jones, Mike Mason, Nate Adams, Jeremy ‘Twitch’ Stenberg, Ronnie Faisst, Todd Potter, Beau Bamburg, Nixey Danielson, Jim McNeil, Dustin Miller, Matt Buyten, Brian Foster, Jimmie McGuire and Jackson Strong.
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April 7, 2010
Jackson alive and well in the Magic Kingdom
Clash of the Titans by Michael Arellano
Daily Titan Staff Writer
Captain EO
detour@dailytitan.com
Clash of the Titans crashed hard. This remake of the 1981 classic fell far short of the name that the previous movie had made legendary. My utter disgust with this movie could be in part because of my high expectations of what a modern perspective could offer to this extraordinary tale. The movie took on way too much and played up the worst of all its components. The writer seemed to be trying to balance the iconic legend of Perseus (Sam Worthington, Avatar) with his own creative ideas, and in true Hollywood fashion twisted the story to become a bitter battle between good and evil, pitting Hades, god of the underworld, against Zeus, lord of the heavens. Can anyone else see the biblical reference? Why couldn’t they just stay true to the story that obviously has had mass appeal since before the birth of Christ? On top of that was the added plot twist of humanity’s rebellion against the Greek gods. I sat through the movie trying to decipher who was good and who was bad, and at times I found myself hating the main character. Because he is such a proud man and a god killed his family, Perseus refuses to use the gifts that Zeus, his father, gives to him. In the end, he uses all the gifts without any resolution of his, or humanity’s, grievances against the gods. Also, while I never expected an amazing plot, I did expect some epic fighting scenes and a climatic ending, but again found the movie lacking.
by DAnielle Flint
Daily TitanCopy Editor detour@dailytitan.com
To be completely honest, the Medusa scene in the original Clash of the Titans is superior to the remake’s. The remake’s CGI wasn’t great and featured a Medusa that was way too humanoid. In the original, I was scared shitless by the Medusa scene as she slithered across the ground from pillar to pillar, sneaking up on her victims. The remake transformed her from a terrifying monster to some crazy snake bimbo turning men into stone. The final battle scene was over way too quickly and had no real fighting. The Kraken was turned to stone and crumbled in an instant. When Hades comes to avenge his creature, he is defeated in a matter of seconds after Perseus throws his lighting-powered sword at him. Absolutely nothing in the movie worked. The acting sucked, the plot was lousy and the CGI didn’t make up for any of it. With a movie this bad, they should have just bumped up the rating to an R by adding a gratuitous sex scene, then at least there would be an actual reason for me to sit through it.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Juliana Campbell
Daily Titan Staff Writer detour@dailytitan.com
Haunted by Brenna Phillips
Daily Titan Staff Writer detour@dailytitan.com
Haunted is perhaps one of Chuck Palahniuk's most overlooked books. Palahniuk, who is widely known for his novels-turned-movies Fight Club and Choke, seems to have written Haunted in response to the rise of the reality television. Published in 2005, the novel is a story about a group of aspiring novelists who are forced to work together during a writer’s retreat in an abandoned movie theater. The writers hope to create their best work by isolating themselves from the outside world. The main storyline is interrupted every other chapter by one of 23 short stories, each of which are the “work” of the writers at the retreat, and are also preceded by short poems. The format of Haunted can be confusing for first-time readers who are unaware of the premise of the novel, and it is sometimes difficult to keep track of the characters, who have named themselves after the plot of their stories, such as Director Denial or Comrade Snarky. In attempt to add dramatic flair to their story, which they believe will be made into a movie once made public, the characters begin to sabotage the food, water and electricity in the theater, and eventually resort to selfmutilation and murder in an attempt to outdo each other. As a result, the characters start dying off one by one in a manner that is reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. Even though the main plot line is filled with gore and intricately-detailed violence, it is the short stories that make Haunted Palahniuk's most disturbing novel. The short story “Guts,” which Palahniuk read to audiences during his book tour, tells the story of a man who loses part of his intestines in an accident involving masturbation and a pool drain and reportedly caused almost 60 listeners to faint throughout the book tour. Haunted is a blatant satire on the extremes that people will go to in order to achieve fame, and many felt that this time around Palahniuk has overdone the carnage in his novel. However, the grotesqueness embedded in every story seems to make the novel unique and a favorite among his fans.
“I have to go to school right now to get picked on, but in 20 years, these kids will be working for me,” writes Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon, Santa Buddies) in Diary Of A Wimpy Kid, directed by Thor Freudenthal. The movie follows Heffley as he tries to survive the first daunting year of middle school while desperately trying to fit in with the other kids and climb the popularity ladder. Unfortunately, his size (small and wimpy) proves to be detrimental and gets him in trouble as he tries to stand out in the sea of young middle-schoolers. Heffley’s right hand pal Robert Capron (Rowley Jefferson), who has a more easy-going attitude, does not seem to care about achieving popularity and ends up getting the advantage over Heffley. Diary Of A Wimpy Kid is nostalgic, bringing back memories of those scary middle school years of sitting next to the class idiot, not finding a place to sit during lunch, not being in touch with the latest styles or trends, or being called an embarrassing nickname (“Cheese Touch” in Heffley's case). Heffley feels that he is surrounded by idiots and writes down his thoughts in a journal – not a diary – writing, “One day I will have better things to do than answer people’s dumb questions.” He also draws cartoons to demonstrate how he feels at the moment, which is usually frustrated. Jeff Kinney, the author and cartoonist of the insanely popular book series the movie is based on, obviously knows all too well about those awkward years and his stories made for a delightful movie. I would recommend this movie to everyone because no matter who you are, you at one point attended middle school too. It is something that you can talk about for hours over a cup of coffee, reminiscing or shuddering at your memories of youth. The movie is hilarious and explores the humor of middle school.
If you haven’t already heard, the King of Pop is back on the big 3-D screen at the happiest place on earth. Michael Jackson stars as Captain EO in a 17-minute film with the same name, reclaiming the theater sandwiched between Space Mountain and Star Tours. Captain EO was a big hit in the ’80s, but waned in popularity as Jackson became less and less relevant. It was finally replaced with Honey, I Shrunk the Audience in 1998. Its return sparked a wave of nostalgia amongst avid Jackson and Disney fans alike, and it was no surprise when they flocked to the Magic Eye Theater for opening day. Having only acquired the ability for longterm memory in 1994 and no interest in 3-D movies until 2000, I was unable to see Captain EO during its heyday. I, like many curious members of my generation, was eager to catch a glimpse of the cause of all the hubbub. So, cutting to the chase – is Captain EO worth a side trip during your meticulously-planned day at
Disneyland? Yes. However, I wouldn’t recommend an immediate journey to the rattling and bouncing theater, nor would I recommend more than one viewing for the rest of your adult life – once is enough, trust me. Once you pass the gift shop window filled with Captain EO printed T-shirts (only $26.95!), you might find yourself face-to-face with a less than ideal wait time. I managed to slip in with a pair of goofy plastic glasses right as the doors opened and found a seat near the back, but don’t expect such a lucky break when you’re standing shoulder-to-shoulder with 300 of your closest friends. A woman whose job could easily be replaced by a recording welcomed the audience to the show, the crowd screamed and the room went dark. What happened next is still hazy. I won’t give away all of the super sweet details (a rotating asteroid made of paper mache ominously floating toward my face was the most notable), but I will mention that it was hard to contain my laughter throughout most of it. Glowing rainbows flying out of MJ’s T-shirt and turning trash monsters into attractive background dancers with feathered hair, a puppetelephant-marshmallow ruining absolutely everything and a robot with a
mustache cloud my memory when I try to recall most of the film. The audience participation was the icing on the deliciously bad cake. I doubt Lady Gaga gets the sort of reception MJ did when his jerrycurled head popped onto the screen for the first time. I was more impressed with the film’s score. “We Are Here to Change the World” had me tapping my toe against the sticky floor as the entire theater bopped along with the music. The story was lacking, and the acting was sub-par photo by adrian gaitan/Daily Titan Copy Editor at best, but that shouldn’t deter you One of the many Captian EO sovenirs available to fans. from seeing Capreasons varied, (a nostalgic return tain EO. to childhood, smug amusement or Michael Jackson’s 3-D debut is genuine enjoyment), no one was disless about quality of storytelling and appointed. Disney may be milking more about experience. There wasn’t a this cash cow for all he’s worth, but single person leaving the theater with at least they’re doing it with a classic; a frown on their face, and, though I can’t wait to show my kids.
made for endorsed athletes. Air Jordans are covered extensively. A beautifully designed release dates section tracks recent and upcoming releases, while the Air Jordan guide lists every pair that has ever been available to the public. Contrary to when the site first launched, accurate release dates can now be found easily. Nice Kicks takes the crown of sneaker sites because of its expansive features. It is safe to assume that most sneaker fiends are also basketball fans. Hence, the people at Nice Kicks scour the
NBA for the near daily feature, Kicks on the Court, which shows what current players have on their feet while in action. After all, it is tough to play like Kobe Bryant without a new pair of the Nike Zoom Kobe V. The Performance Review feature rates the newest and most popular basketball shoes available. Sneakers are rated on a scale of one-to-10 in various categories, including durability and stability. Throwback Thursdays is a weekly history lesson on shoes from the past, while Air Force Fridays highlight a
NiceKicks.com by fred bloom
Daily Titan Staff Writer detour@dailytitan.com
Have you ever noticed someone walking by, your eyes shift down and you wonder, “How come I’ve never seen those kicks before?” The reason is because you have never visited Nicekicks.com. Matt Halfhill started Nicekicks. com in hopes of providing the most accurate and relevant sneaker information to enthusiasts. Like many shoe collectors, he was frustrated over the lack of in-depth information found on forums and message boards. Over the past few years, Nicekicks. com has developed from a small blog with sneaker news to the premiere source for information on kicks. Once a mere place to get a sneak peek at upcoming releases, the blog now contains great features that have sneaker aficionados coming back day after day. The blog consists of general information that should be found on any sneaker site. Recent posts include a look at the Adidas Star Wars collection and a preview of the Vans spring lineup. Updates also contain looks at the exclusive editions of sneakers custom
lebowski: The Dude is celebrated From Page 1 Fans show up dressed as different characters, objects and even phrases from the film. Some simply came to bond with other bathrobe-clad fans, shouting lines directly from the movie to one another as they indulge white Russians. So why The Big Lebowski, you might ask? “Because Raising Arizona was not in a bowling alley,” said organizer Scott Shuffitt. “And because it is the most awesome movie in the world.” Shuffitt, who has been a part of the team putting the event together all over the United States and even the United Kingdom for the last nine years, co-wrote I'm a Lebowski, You're a Lebowski: Life, The Big Lebowski, and What Have You, a book on how to incorporate more of The Dude into one’s life. After all, the Dude abides. “It's been a fucking blast and I still am amazed that we're doing it,” Shuffitt continued. Some have compared going to Lebowski Fest to attending a midnight showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, where fans garb themselves in screen-accurate costumes, mimicking the movements of characters in the movie while audience members shout call-outs. “There are some similarities,” he said. “All the Achievers love Big Lebowski probably as much as folks who go to Rocky Horror Picture Show love their film.” Overall, Lebowski Fest was unbelievably fun. I had gone in years past and never had so much fun sucking at bowling. The people in costumes also made for an amazing experience. Two girls actually came as The Dude’s rusted-over car, and of course won first place.
different pair of the famous Nike Air Force One each week. The site’s only disappointment is the weak search engine. Posts with vague references to the search term appear as results. However, the problem can be solved by typing in more specific terms. Over two million unique viewers have visited the Web site and it has had over nine million page views. Recently, the blog even made the jump from the World Wide Web to the physical world by opening a Nice Kicks store in Austin, Texas.
6
April 7, 2010
Titan Editorial
Providing insight, analysis and perspective since 1960
Unrest inspires competition Cal State Fullerton’s Associated Students Inc. is a confusingly stated that it supported students who non-profit, student-run organization that controls protested, but not necessarily the protests. the millions of dollars brought in by mandatory stuThat might have been the inspiration for students dent fees. outside the current administration to run for the top The CEO of the corporation is elected by the spot. And there is, not surprisingly, a common theme students of this campus. This year’s election begins among the candidates: change. Having the courage today. But there is something different about today; and strength to actually implement true change and something special. The healthy competition posed by to directly advocate for the students is necessary for the four presidential candidates is a glimmer of hope the next candidate. for the campus. It’s doubtful that after winning last year’s election, CSUF students might actually be beginning to ASI President Juli Santos knew she and her vice presiunderstand how crucial the ASI presidency is to the dent and current presidential candidate, Joe Lopez, university. would have such a difficult year to weather. But whoCSUF is, of course, infamous for being an apathet- ever gets the top spot can look forward to just as dific, commuter campus. But compound that problem ficult a year, if not worse. with the current financial crisis and this year’s protests Even as early as last August, Vice President for Acaand it’s easy to see that the election’s victor has the demic Affairs Ephraim Smith warned that the 2010enormous responsibility of leading the student body 2011 academic school year could see a more difficult through the most turbulent time since the Vietnam financial situation than the current one. Gov. Arnold era. Schwarzenegger included an additional 10 percent Because of the volatile atmosphere, the presidency student fee increase in his state budget proposal for is more relevant to students than ever. But despite the next year. If passed by the California State University added relevance, the presidency has always been a po- Board of Trustees, student fees would have been insition of great importance to students. creased by 42 percent in two years. The ASI president not only oversees the distribuWhoever wins the election must be prepared to eition of millions of dollars to student organizations, ther protest along with the student body or weather he or she is the top CSUF student representative to another year of intense unrest. the California State University administration. That If next year’s president can put his or her money role cannot be overestimated when belts are being where their mouth is and implement change and tightened advocate for across the students, state. perhaps the It is the job student body of the ASI can continue president to to underadvocate for stand and the students appreciate he or she repthe imporresents. tance of the One of the presidency. criticisms of And that the current understandadministraing and contion is that nection with it has been ASI is the too hesitant first pivotal to directly change that advocate for must occur its students. before the At one point, wall of apathe ASI exthy can be ecutive staff Photo By Christa Connelly/Daily Titan Photo Editor dismantled.
Alien in America “From the inside looking out”
Student voting: An apathetic situation by Isa Ghani
Daily Titan Multimedia Editor opinion@dailytitan.com
I loved being in the United States during the recent presidential elections. It was the talk of the town; the merits of Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton, and Sarah “Tina Fey” Palin’s ridiculousness. People in America seemed to really care who got voted into office, and that’s what democracy is all about. It was beautiful. So why is it that no one seems to care about elections a lot closer to home? But before I get hate mail (again) I have to say that things appear to be different this year. As opposed to the “unopposed” situation we had at Cal State Fullerton last year, there are four parties running for Associated Students Inc. president and vice president this year. That’s a huge leap from just Joe Lopez and Juli Santos running and winning by default. On another side note, I have to tip my hat to both Joe and Juli as they seriously surpassed all my personal expectations regarding ASI. Their efforts in dealing with budget cuts and protests and their support for students over administration deserve at least the tip of a hat. There, hat tipped. Back on track, this year I went to the Coffee with the Candidates event, where ASI presidential candidates held a question and answer session open to any and all students. It was for students to bring their concerns, questions and queries to the people who might well be the next pair of student leaders on campus. Funnily enough, most of the people in the crowd weren’t average students, but appeared to be friends, family and frat brothers of the candidates. So CSUF, where the hell were the rest of you? I would put the total number of attendees at around 30, which
Photo By Nick marley/Daily Titan Photo Editor A group of students who took part in the “coffee with the canidates” event.
is a 0.1 percent representation of a 30,000 student strong campus. Now that’s just downright pathetic, Titans. I get it; you just couldn’t give a shit. You come to school, go to class then GTFO to go back to whatever suburb of Orange County you crawled from. Is that what you want from school? Not everyone is a commuter-college student. Not everyone leaves the minute class is over. I’m an international student, I live next to campus and I spend a lot of my time here. There are tons of interesting things going on after hours. I’ve had better parties on campus than off-campus sometimes. College students are fun to hang out with. So why not care about the school you spend two to four years of your life attending? In a time of budget cuts and economic crisis (they were going to cut large parts of the Humanities department for God’s sake!), it’s really weird to me that students still seem to not care about the student government elections.
Here are some things to consider: Does ASI even matter? Yes, because they are still in control of a multimillion dollar budget. The ASI president makes over $18,700 per academic year. Don’t want to be president? No problem – the V.P. makes $17,600, and 3 other positions below that make $15,400 a pop. It’s a pretty sweet deal, and a heck of a lot more than I’m getting paid to write this column. Does ASI affect you as a student? Yes, because every student makes a mandatory payment of over $200 per semester to ASI’s budget. So, if you voted for Obama because you pay tax dollars, why shouldn’t you vote for the ASI president? You sure as hell paid for it already. This election looks to be a good one, and we seem to have a great diversity in candidates: Joel Thayer and Beth Velasco are male and female, Greek and nonGreek with the message of unity for students. Joe and Andrew Lopez (no relation) are two current ASI members and frat boys. Khang Pham and Mark Gonzalez are business majors, and I’ve partied at their house (true story). Austin Nation, an older male nursing major, and his running mate Krystal Santiago, who is young, beautiful, intelligent and a business major. It already sounds better than the cast of 90210. Step up and vote. It doesn’t costu anything, yet could mean the world to you if you intend to remain a student at CSUF. In a time of dire budget cuts and a bleak future for California’s Master Plan for Higher Education, we need a few good men, and women, to take the lead and defend the rights of students whenever and wherever it is needed. So, for Tuffy’s sake, go vote.
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April 7, 2010
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Cancer (June 22-July 22) Pay close attention to significant relationships. Your karma is in the balance today. Heal old emotional wounds with compassion.
5 2 7 4
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.
4 9 8 6
9 2
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9 5 6 4 8 3 2 7 1 7 8 4 1 5 2 6 3 9
9 5 6 4 8 3 2 7 1 7 8 4 1 5 2 6 3 9
2 3 1 7 6 9 8 4 5 6 1 7 3 4 8 5 9 2 3 4 5 9 2 6 1 8 7
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(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2010. All rights reserved.
8 9 2 5 7 1 3 6 4 5 6 9 8 1 7 4 2 3
td 2010. All rights reserved.
Daily Sudoku: Mon 5-Apr-2010
8
5 9 6 1 2 7 3 6
1 7
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Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Do your best today to manage the group. Distress can arise when members take off in myriad directions. Get everyone’s cell number.
1
Daily Sudoku: Mon 5-Apr-2010
8 5 1 3
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Decisions made today will impact your life for a long time. You want to be practical, but imaginative, independent actions are your nature. Strive for a balance.
9 5
9 8 6 1
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Work within your emotional comfort zone to avoid associates who challenge your authority. There’s no need to be on the cutting edge today.
2 3
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Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) To maintain your creative edge, listen to your heart. If that gets confusing, make a list of pros and cons. You need to make a decision.
5 9 6 1 2 7 3 6
6 4 2 7
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Don’t plan on being the center of attention now. Instead, imagine clever solutions for intellectual or logical problems.
1
5
7 3 9 5
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Bend to your partner’s wishes, but don’t break. The feelings you tend to suppress should be expressed, either now or in the near future.
8
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Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) This could be a stressful day. Accept the challenge to transform gloom into gentle spring sunshine. Everyone benefits from your effort.
1 7
2 7
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Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Use your impulsiveness to move a project forward, but don’t paint yourself into a corner. Consolidate your own position.
4 8
(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2010. All rights reserved.
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5
1 7 5 2
Taurus (April 20-May 20) You find yourself thrust into a philosophical argument. The easiest way may not be the best way. Remember your commitments. Gemini (May 21-June 21) As you participate in family or social events, notice how natural it feels. You’ve come a long way, baby. Relax and enjoy the ride.
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April 7, 2010
Baseball upsets No. 3 UCLA By brian whitehead
Daily Titan Staff Writer sports@dailytitan.com
If you just so happened to be 15 minutes late to the Cal State Fullerton vs. UCLA baseball game Tuesday night, you missed just about everything. The Titans (16-11) jumped on the No. 3 Bruins (23-2) early and often at Jackie Robinson Stadium, gathering five hits – three of which were home runs – in the first inning on their way to a 6-1 non-conference victory. “(The five-run first inning) allowed us to relax,” Titan Head Coach Dave Serrano said. “That allowed us to settle in, and allowed Kevin (the starting pitcher) to put some big zeros on the board early on ... I like the way we set the tone offensively.”
Redshirt freshman designated hitter Carlos Lopez put the Titans on the board first with a two-run dinger to right field, scoring junior shortstop Christian Colon, who led off the game, with his eighth double of the season. “My main thing right there was trying to get the ball in the air, get something elevated,” Lopez said. “The ball carries pretty good over here so I was just trying to get a fly ball to score (Colon).” Following a groundout, junior second baseman Corey Jones hit his fourth home run of the year, a solo shot to right which gave the Titans an early 3-0 lead. Not to be outdone, sophomore first baseman Nick Ramirez followed a double by senior catcher Billy Marcoe with a two-run shot of his own – his third on the season.
“(The first inning) was a really big deal,” said junior southpaw Kevin Rath. “It gives me a bunch of confidence knowing I can go out there and just throw strikes because even if they score runs I know we’re going to put more up. That was a huge first inning.” Five runs was all Rath needed to keep the Titan lead. In his third start of the season, he induced eight groundouts, none of which was more important than the third out in the bottom of the fourth. “As long as we continue to play with the energy and emotion that we have right now, and keep sticking together, we got a good baseball team,” Serrano said. “We’ve been battle-tested as much as anyone in the country. We’ve played some good opponents up to this point.”
photo By brian whitehead/Daily Titan Staff Writer The Cal State Fullerton baseball team looks on as No. 3 UCLA gets ready to go on the field at Jackie Robinson Stadium April 6.
Titan gymnasts honored for their outstanding academic achievements By alison munson
Daily Titan Staff Writer sports@dailytitan.com
photo By chad uemera/For the Daily Titan Junior Shelly Cooper is one of seven CSUF gymnasts on the WAC All-Academic Team.
Seven of the 18 gymnasts who represent the Cal State Fullerton gymnastics team have been named to the Western Athletic Conference Winter All-Academic Team, an honor bestowed upon a select few student-athletes in recognition of their academic accomplishments. The All-Academic Team is a list comprised of student-athletes across the country who have met a basic list of requirements. In order to be eligible for the list, a student-athlete must have completed at least one academic year at their respective institution, they must obtain and maintain a 3.0 grade point average and they must participate in at least 50 percent of their team meets. “There are not that many studentathletes in the country let alone student-athletes with all-academic honors,” said Kaitlin Reid, a 20-year-old sophomore and kinesiology major. This is Reid’s second consecutive naming to the All-Academic Team. “It’s nice to be recognized for being successful in both sports and in
school,” she said. Alongside Reid are seniors Shannon Kawada and Kori Underhill, juniors Alaina Baker and Shelly Cooper, and fellow sophomores Taylor Kearns and Vanessa Klass. This is not the first time these gymnasts have been honored for their academia. All seven of the girls have been named at least once and some twice before. Underhill, a 22-year-old kinesiology major named to the AllAcademic Team for the third time, credits gymnastics Head Coach Jill Hicks for helping keep up with her grades. “If we get below a ‘C’ on a test or an assignment then we have to go talk to her and see what she can do to help us to bring that grade back up,” Underhill said. “I’ve learned that you can’t procrastinate like you did in high school and even though gymnastics can be more fun, school really does come first.” When students are recruited to join the gymnastics team, they are told right away that the order of priorities at Cal State Fullerton are school, gymnastics and social, said Hicks.
“It’s a very serious commitment,” Hicks said. “When I recruit them I say academics first and I mean what I say. A lot of the time we have to teach the gymnasts how to not be stressed and how to take tests.” Hicks requires eight hours of study hall a week for all gymnasts who are below a 3.5 GPA every year until graduation. An academic counselor also helps students sign up for appropriate classes and if a gymnast is having trouble, Hicks gets personally involved. “We usually talk about (the problem),” she said. “We try to figure out what’s wrong, maybe it’s study habits or maybe they just don’t understand their professor. We try to confront the situation, not avoid it.” Along with Hicks’ personal GPA standard, CSUF requires all studentathletes to maintain a GPA of 2.0 as well as the completion of a percentage of their degree requirements that increases every year in order to compete in meets. “It keeps kids on track,” Hicks said. “It keeps coaches accountable and it keeps students accountable. It makes sure that they’re working to graduate.”
Gymnastics instills discipline in student-athletes, agreed Hicks, Reid and Underhill. It comes with the nature of the sport and most of the gymnasts have been practicing their whole lives but there has to be balance between athletics and academics, Reid added. “Being a gymnast is a completely different lifestyle,” Reid said. “We’re elite level athletes but our coach definitely pushes academics. But that’s why we’re here, that’s why we’re in college, because gymnastics isn’t going to last forever. You have to be able to have fun with both.” With all of the struggles that accompany simply being a student-athlete, Hicks commends her gymnasts for powering through a tumultuous time of trying to save the gymnastics program that lost all university funding last spring. “These gymnasts are a good example of how to be good in school,” she said. “There’s some stigmatism about athletes not doing well in school but when faculty and students on campus have the chance to say something about athletics, they will remember these gymnasts in class now and how well they did and how great they were.”how great they were.”