Daily Titan: Thursday, April 8, 2010

April 8, 2010

Vol. 87 Issue 31

Bad Religion:

After 30 years, So Cal punks still maintain against the grain.

SOUND-OFF, Page 5

THURSDAY

Titan gymnast to compete in regional tournament SPORTS, Page 12

Multimedia

Experience the San Juan Capistrano Swallow Parade, only on:

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Learn more about the recent US Census effort on:

www.dailytitan.com/census2010

The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

ASI campaign booths create confusion

Titans give blood, save lives The American Red Cross called on Cal State Fullerton students to save lives by donating much-needed blood and bone marrow Wednesday

By Ashley Luu

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

photo By Nick marley/Daily Titan Photo Editor Students cast their Associated Students Inc. votes via an electronic ballot on Wednesday.

By Katie Rossomano

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

Many of the candidates who are running in the Associated Students Inc. election have set up unofficial polling stations at their campaign booths. These “polling stations” are personal laptops brought by candidates and/or their supporters and connected to Cal State Fullerton’s wireless network. Genevieve Eldred, ASI elections commissioner, said that this is causing some confusion among students who mistake these for official ASI polling stations.

“Some students feel like they are being deceived,” Eldred said. She said due to changes in bylaws, no figures can be released as of yet.

Votes are processed through an electronic ballot. Students can vote on any computer on campus or any laptop that is connected to CSUF’s wireless network. Esiquio Uballe, associate dean of students, is overseeing the ASI election.

See UPDATE, Page 3

photo By Nick marley/Daily Titan Photo Editor The American Red Cross set up a blood donation vehicle where Valeria Velasquez, 20-year-old junior and business major, donated for her second time.

Students volunteered their time to donate blood or register as a marrow donor on Titan Lifesavers Day of Awareness at the Titan Walk, Wednesday.

The American Red Cross, Be a Hero Become a Donor and Music Saves Lives, were a few featured booths that educated passers-by on the importance of playing a role in saving a person’s life.

Project director for blood drives and health science major Antoinette Batino said that students who donate blood receive free music downloads, snacks and the potential to win tickets to the Laugh Factory and Grammys.

“If you spend maybe an hour of your time, you can save three lives by donating one pint of blood,” Batino said.

American Red Cross team supervisor Nora Whitehouse said that even though she has yet to meet someone who loves needles, students should donate blood to save lives.

“The Red Cross’s goal is to provide the safest blood for the American people,” Whitehouse said.

According to Batino and Whitehouse, students are mainly concerned about the large needle used when blood is drawn into a plastic bag.

“We don’t want the red blood cells to break down. To get that good blood out, we need a big needle,” Whitehouse said.

Business major Monica Gutierrez said that she has never been afraid of needles, and is donating blood

for the third time because it helps people. “(Students) should eat before, or go whenever (they) feel good,” Gutierrez suggested.

Be a Hero Become a Donor partnered with The Red Cross to raise awareness and encourage students to recycle their body through blood, organ, tissue and marrow donations.

“Without people sharing our vital resources – blood, marrow, organs – patients will not have hope,” said Gina Cousineau, co-founder of Be a Hero Become a Donor.

For bone marrow, patients are unlikely to match someone of the same race and ethnicity because tissue types are inherited.

According to Cousineau, all ethnic groups are underrepresented, even though seven million people are on the National Bone Marrow Registry.

Only 30 percent of siblings within a family will match, so it is important to add more strangers to the registry, she added.

As 6,000 people search for their match each day, the chances of people receiving a phone call to donate marrow are one in a million, Cousineau added.

Bone marrow candidates need to be between the ages of 18 to 60 and meet health guidelines.

“People are concerned with the ‘What if?’ Make the decision based on who you are and what you’re doing,” Cousineau said.

Cousineau added that most people perceive bone marrow transplants as painful and scary, due to misconceptions in television and media.

See DRIVE, Page 4

CSUF alumna Gradfest helps prepare goes into orbit Titans to take ‘the walk’

By Katie Rossomano

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

Cal State Fullerton’s Gradfest is a three-day event during which students can take care of all the preparations that are necessary for their upcoming graduation ceremony. Students can purchase their cap and gown, tassel, ring, bouquets or leis and more. They can also make an appointment for graduation pictures, order graduation announcements, build a custom diploma frame, join the Alumni Association and arrange for Kaplan’s test preparation for those who intend to pursue a master’s degree.

“Gradfest is a one-stop shop,” said Jennifer Mojarro, Career Center industry specialist, who was volunteering at

photo courtesy titan media relations Tracy Caldwell Dyson, in her second trip into space, will spend the next five months in orbit on board the International Space Station.

By Gina Baxter and Oscar Romero

Daily Titan Staff Writer & Asst. Multimedia Editor sports@dailytitan.com

Cal State Fullerton alumna and former track and field athlete Tracy Caldwell Dyson, left for the International Space Station (ISS) April 2 on her second space mission.

Caldwell Dyson was launched aboard the Soyuz Russian spacecraft from the Cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan along with two Russian cosmonauts, Alexander Skvortsov and Mikhail Kornienko.

“I think it shows how great our school is,” said Ryan Adams, 20, human service major. “Being an astronaut is sort of the epitome of what you can become, and it’s cool that CSUF helped her accomplish her goals.”

According to the Associated Press, on April 4, the ship dashed at a gut-wrenching speed of 8,000 mph to leave the Earth’s atmosphere and docked to the ISS, orbiting 200 miles above the Earth.

See CALDWELL DYSON, Page 12

Gradfest on Wednesday. She said students can take care of these graduation preparations elsewhere, but Gradfest simplifies the process.

Maria Ruiz, senior criminal justice major, attended Gradfest on Wednesday.

“It’s convenient, I just stopped by after class,” Ruiz said.

The services available at Gradfest are for students that plan to attend the commencement ceremony in May and have completed their degree the prior December or will complete it this May or August. Students can pick up graduation tickets at Gradfest. Celina Pugh, a senior communications major who was volunteering at Gradfest, said that before students can pick up their tickets they must view the graduation video online and then print out and bring the con-

photo By nick marley/Daily Titan Photo Editor Students gathered in the quad Wednesday to purchase Commencement necessities.

firmation page. The graduation video is available on CSUF’s commencement Web site. The tickets are free and each student receives six to eight depending on their major.

“This week is the best time to get tickets, they run out fast,” said Larry Martin, associate dean of students.

Jostens Inc. is the corporation that was contracted by CSUF to provide commencement regalia. Sean Sundquist, a Jostens representative, was helping students purchase their cap and gown on Wednesday.

See GRADFEST, Page 4

This week at the Becker: Tyler Matthew Smith, See Page 7

2

April 8, 2010

IN OTHER NEWS Marijuana initiative

INTERNATIONAL

Protests lead Bankok into state of emergency PHNOM PENH, Cambodia— After weeks of demonstrations that saw glitzy shopping malls blocked, blood splattered on the prime minister’s residence and tourism dented, Thailand’s leader on Wednesday declared a state of emergency in Bangkok, handing the army broad power to restore order.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva made the move after anti-government protesters broke into parliament, leading some lawmakers to make a dramatic rooftop escape aboard a Blackhawk helicopter even as other parliamentarians scaled compound walls.

“Red shirt” protesters who oppose the current government, as opposed to the “yellow shirts” in Thailand’s color-coded political system who generally favor the status quo, are calling for the dissolution of parliament and a new election within 15 days.

NATIONAL

Rescue workers hope to find miners alive MONTCOAL, W.Va.—Emergency teams stepped up a frantic rescue effort Wednesday despite dwindling hopes of finding four missing miners two days after a devastating explosion killed 25 men in the Upper Big Branch mine.

Crews began digging a fifth bore hole deep into the rocky mountainside in an effort to ventilate the deadly buildup of highly combustible methane gas, carbon monoxide and coal dust that forced rescue crews to retreat early Tuesday.

Gov. Joe Manchin III admitted the rescue crews hold only “a sliver of hope” that the four missing men survived.

“The odds are not in our favor because of the horrendous blast we had,” he told reporters who gathered at a nearby elementary school.

STATE

Congress steps into border-crossing cell phone debate

ESCONDIDO –Congress has swooped into the debate over a cell phone tool that would direct illegal border crossers to lifesaving water stations and other points of safety.

The federal intervention comes in the form of a demand letter from North County’s three congressional representatives, who want a precise accounting of taxpayer dollars associated with the effort spearheaded by a UC San Diego arts professor.

Reps. Brian Bilbray, Duncan Hunter and Darrell Issa also suggest in their letter to university Chancellor Marye Anne Fox that those working on the Transborder Immigrant Tool Project may be committing a federal felony by encouraging illegal immigration. The three Republican lawmakers want university officials to explain whether they believe the work is legal.

The congressmen write they believe the project is a “troubling use of taxpayer dollars” seemingly being used to “actively help people subvert federal law.”

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.

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Copyright ©2010 Daily Titan

on November ballot By hannah dellinger

sheriff and a Torrance police officer.

One of the monetary supporters of the initiative is George Zimmer, the founder of Men’s Warehouse, who has already donated $20,000 to the cause.

“I think that they should legalize it because people still do it even if it isn’t legal,” said Meera Alashamali, biochemistry major.

Proponents of the marijuana legislation argue that if it passes, law enforcement could focus its attention and resources on more serious crimes. It is also believed that passing the bill would make it more difficult for people under 21 to obtain marijuana, and could also lead to a harder time for Mexican drug cartels in California.

Opponents of the initiative include John Lovell, a lobbyist representing California Police Chiefs Association. Lovell and many others argue that if the bill passes, more people would start using marijuana.

“Those that smoke (now) will (continue), and those that don’t, won’t,” said Monique Marquez, an undeclared freshmen.

Some argue that the police would have more work on their hands preventing the misuse of marijuana if it is made legal.

“If it became legal for people over 21, it would be very similar to alcohol laws,” Brockie said. “It would probably be like alcohol enforcement.”

Opponents also remind supporters that it’s still a federal crime to posses and sell marijuana. If the bill passes, it will directly violate federal law.

For the Daily Titan

news@dailytitan.com

The initiative to legalize marijuana in California has reached the necessary number of signatures for a petition to put the proposed legislation on the November ballot.

The Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act will be on the fall ballots as supporters were able to collect more than 433,971 signatures.

If passed, the act would make possession of up to one ounce of marijuana legal for people over the age of 21. The legislation would also make growing up to 25 square-feet of marijuana per residence legal. If the bill passes, it will also allow counties and cities to grow, transport and sell marijuana to raise money.

“We would have to look at the new law and we would have to adjust our policies on campus,” said Lt. John Brockie of the Cal State Fullerton Campus Police.

The initiative turned in 694,248 signatures to election officials on March 24, and officials believe that about 523,531 of the signatures were valid.

The main supporter of the initiative is Richard Lee, an owner of several marijuana-related businesses in Oakland. He has spent more than $1.3 million of his businesses’ money on the initiative and has hired major political consultants such as Chris Lehane, who has worked in the White House and on presidential campaigns.

Supporters of the act include James P. Gray, a retired Orange County superior court judge, a former Los Angeles County deputy

Total

Factors

Physical harm • Acute, chronic, intravenous

Heroin 2.78

(Out of possible 9 points)

2.54

3.0

Cocaine

2.33 3.0 Risk of dependency Alcohol • Pleasure, psychological 1.4 1.93 2.21 dependence, physical dependence Social costs

Tobacco 1.24

2.21

Marijuana .99

1.51

1.42 1.5

4.0

2.17

8.32

6.89

5.54 4.87

Graphic courtesy MCT

Photo courtesy MCT Sarah Palin speaks at the Orange County Republican Executive Committee dinner.

Sarah Palin may speak at Stanislaus campus

By Gina Baxter

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

Imagine that Cal State Fullerton created a foundation built specifically to raise money for the university. Its job would be to plan fundraisers and gain private donations, all for the benefit of the students of our establishment. Now, picture that foundation paying upwards of six figures in order to get Sarah Palin to speak on campus and you’ll know what is going on at CSU Stanislaus, a sister school in the CSU system.

When Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, learned that a school foundation on CSU Stanislaus had planned an event featuring the former governor, he was surprised to find that the foundation would not reveal the fee that it payed Palin to speak at its $500-a-plate dinner, according to a secrecy clause written in Palin’s contract with the event organizers. At a time when each CSU system is struggling to make ends meet, and a school foundation is spending a large amount of money on a single speaker and then refuses to disclose that amount, has caused questions to be raised.

“In the wake of the CSU financial crisis, it’s pretty irresponsible,” said Justin Beerman, 22-year-old history major. “The CSU foundation is focusing on the draw of a celebrity, and forgetting that there are more important things that they could be spending that money on.”

The California Public Records Act requires CSU schools to keep all records open to the public, such as financial records and teacher salaries.

However, the Public Records Act does not require the same transparency from its many foundations, which use private funds to host events. As

far as CSU spending goes, students are not happy about the prospect of university money going towards expenses like these.

“It’s important for students to know what the university is spending money on,” said Asra Amiwala, liberal studies major.According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Yee decided to push for new legislation that would require CSU foundations to disclose all expenses as part of the public record.

“The CSU should immediately disclose how much money is being diverted from students to pay Sarah Palin’s exorbitant speaking fees,” Yee said.

Just last month, Palin received $100,000 to speak at a tea party rally in Nashville. And with the secrecy clause written into her contract with the CSU Stanislaus foundation, the students will never know how much Palin will be paid to speak at their campus.

“What people forget is that their (the CSU Stanislaus foundation) intentions are good,” said Ali Fazel, 22-year-old entertainment studies and philosophy major. “Those funds are being used to raise even more money that will help the university.”

Whatever the foundation’s intentions may be, the desire for a more transparent system is evident among many officials, especially concerning foundations that have such close ties with CSUs. Lillian Taiz, president of the California Faculty Association, agrees with Yee’s attempt to hold the CSU foundations to the public university standard.

“On the one hand, the foundation wants to declare itself private, but on the other hand, it’s inextricably connected to the university,” Taiz said.

While the event sponsors hope to raise at least $200,000 for the school, Palin will be paid regardless of whether people are willing to spend $500 to listen to her speak.

3

April 8, 2010

Librarians now textable

By Allie Mosier

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

photo By Zam Anwar/Daily Titan Staff Writer Jeanine Congalton discusses the negative impact of verbal agression in sitcoms at a conference in the Women’s Center on Wednesday.

Verbal aggression in sitcoms may lead to aggression in reality, speaker says

By Zam Anwar

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

The Women’s Center at Cal State Fullerton held a conference Wednesday on “Verbal aggression in sitcoms; understanding the comedic frame,” where Jeanine Congalton from the Human Communications department discussed viewer tendency to overlook verbal aggression in sitcoms.

Congalton spoke about increasing verbal aggression in sitcoms and reality shows on television and the negative impact it could have on viewers.

Congalton argued that verbal aggression in sitcoms can manifest itself into acts of physical and verbal aggression in the real world. Many sitcoms on TV today are all about insulting, bantering and ridiculing others, and insulters are often portrayed as articulate or clever people, she said.

Research has also proven that in most instances, persons in sitcoms who advance aggressive behavior or make aggressive remarks are usually applauded and are rarely punished, Congalton added.

Congalton also explained how most verbal aggression in sitcoms

is often portrayed in a comical context and how viewers sometimes see that as an excuse for the aggression.

“It is only meant to be funny, and never to move out of the character.

Viewers believe that it (aggression) does not leave that context,” she said.

Congalton mentioned findings by Sarah Coyne and Emily Whitehead, authors of “Journal of Communicationm,” who analyzed 47 Disney cartoons and coded 584 acts of aggression in their animated films. The research found that animated films like Aladdin, Cinderella and Pinocchio coded the most number of aggressive acts, while Bambi recorded the least amount of aggression.

“But this is Disney, where everything works out, and everyone is happy in the end,” Congalton said.

“And that may also excuse what happened in terms of violence.”

Rosalina Camacho, coordinator at the Women’s Cultural Resource Center who organized the conference said that it was important for students to attend such discussions as it gives them an opportunity to become aware of issues that they may not have previously thought about.

“As a women’s center, we want to put out as many workshops for stu-

dents so that they can be aware and also share the information with others,” Camacho said.

Speaking about Congalton’s discussion, Camacho said that students should be able to recognize verbal aggression, how they may be contributing to it, and what steps can be taken to curb it.

“I believe that we not only internalize what we watch, we use it as well, she said.

“People are verbally aggressive with their friends not just in a joking way, they do it to hurt them as well,” she added.

Lorena Lopez, 21, human services major, said that she attended the workshop because she often watched shows like the Family Guy and needed to understand why people found racist comments and random acts of violence so amusing.

“As a minority, I feel that regardless of the joke, it still hurts,” Lopez said.

Lopez added that she came away from the workshop with a better understanding of why she was so attached to Family Guy. “I think I am learning to figure out what it is about aggression in these comedies that is so funny and why we are still laughing,” she said.

The Cal State Fullerton Pollak Library has created an easier way for students to get in touch with librarians.

Students can now text message a librarian at 657-464-3787 with any library-related questions they may have, from finding a book to asking questions regarding research and library hours of operation.

“It usually takes two to three minutes before it reaches us,” Librarian Joy Lambert said.

The library also offers an instant messaging service, which allows students to instant message a librarian with their question.

Students can access the instant messaging service by going to the library’s home page and clicking on “Click for live help.”

“There are a group of librarians who have the instant message program on the computer so when a question comes through, either instant message or text message, it comes through the same channel,” Lambert said.

If you’re looking for a quick response to a question, Lambert suggests using the instant message service.

Even though text messages and instant messages go through the same channel, instant messages are received right away.

“Some libraries do text messages with actual phones and they pass those phones around to different librarians, where as we just have ours in a separate place,” Lambert said.

photo By Nick Marley/Daily Titan Photo Editor Texting questions about research or even library hours is now an option for students.

The text messaging service was started by Librarian Will Breitbach in the fall of 2009.

The library homepage reads that if questions are asked after normal reference hours, they will be received the next business day.

“Whoever logs in first will get the message from after-hours, and they will answer it,” Lambert said.

Statistics are kept on how many reference questions are asked through instant messaging and text messages.

Lambert said that there isn’t usually a lot of back and forth with text messages.

“We usually try to give as much information as we can in one mes-

sage and they tend to be easy questions about library hours, or how do I find a database,” Lambert said.

Michael Lopez, sophomore nursing major, said he was aware of the service but doesn’t use it.

“I would use it if I were looking for a book,” Lopez said.

Another student, Darlene DeGonia, an accounting major, wasn’t aware of the service but thought it was a good idea.

“I would use it, but I don’t text,” DeGonia said.

Students can use the text messaging service during normal reference hours at the library.

Update: fairness questioned From Page 1

“(Unofficial polling stations) could be seen as an advantage over some candidates that don’t have laptops,” Uballe said. However, ASI has reviewed the practice and decided not to prohibit it. “It is not prohibited because anyone can vote from

any computer that is linked to the campus mainframe,” Uballe said.

Students who are encouraged by candidate or candidate's representative to stop at their booth may not be familiar with ASI or the election.

“Some people don't know that they have other choices,” Eldred said.

However, they may vote anyway after

speaking only with representatives of one candidate.

While the unofficial polling stations may cause confusion, Uballe did not feel that the practice is unethical.

“It could be a good thing because more polling stations may encourage more people to vote,” Uballe said.

4

April 8, 2010

Biometric National IDs may become a reality news@dailytitan.com

Since President Barack Obama took over as commander-in-chief, he has grappled with many controversial topics, including the new Healthcare bill that recently passed, albeit in a severely altered state and the flailing economy.

Obama has campaigned on the concepts of “Hope” and “Change,” and with his newly proposed biometric ID card, at least one of them seems possible.

A biometric ID card is just like any other identification card in many ways: it includes the height, weight, color of one’s eyes and a picture. The main difference between a biometric ID card and a typical government or state issued ID is significant.

The proposed new biometric ID card would contain all of the same information, but also a fingerprint that is scannable. No two people have the same patterns on their fingers.

The government has not decided

Drive: Students donate blood From Page 1

“seventy percent of people who go on to donate, donate their stem cells through a blood donation method called apheresis.

It’s how people donate plasma platelets and red bloodcells. Only 30 percent are asked to donate

“

The government will be able to track our every move, which is not freedom...

photo By Nick Marley/Daily Titan Photo Editor People would hold a card with a fingerprint in addition to all of the information that is currently on ID cards.

“This ID card is just another way of Big Brother watching us,” Fierro said. “Why does every single citizen need it when they only need it for a certain few?”

Obama has been very clear on his immigration plans as of late. Although health care has been his most important topic, immigration is not far behind.

Obama would like to implement a “fair system” for those trying to become legal American citizens. One of the steps would be having them attain the new ID card, but bills must be passed first.

The ID card will be phased in, and current workers will only need to acquire one if and when they switch jobs.

The illegal immigrants who are already here will be able to become citizens, but this too will take time.

Every current citizen would be forced to acquire the biometric national ID card immediately, and it is estimated to cost close to $800 for businesses to obtain the necessary scanner. The price for citizens is undetermined as of yet.

Some owners seem to be hesitant, unsure of whether this will help or

hurt their business. Sonia Dickinson of San Diego owns a day care center, and many of the parents of the children at her center are illegal workers.

“I just wonder if this will put a damper on my business. If the parents have to go through all these steps like paying taxes, they might just go back to Mexico. There has to be an easier way to do this,” Dickinson said.

Although Dickinson is correct in that they would need to pay taxes, the ID card could benefit immigrant workers as well. The proposed bill would also make it less likely for workers to be deported.

Gradfest: that time of year From Page 1

By Nick Marley/Daily Titan Photo Editor A bus parked on campus was the sight of the blood and marrow drive .

bone marrow, which is very different than portrayed by the media. It’s an out patient procedure, done locally, where you are put to sleep.

While asleep, they take the marrow from your pelvic bone with the needle and donors claim to have little or no discomfort following the procedure,” Cousineau said.

Thirty donors have come out of the Be a Hero Become a Donor Drives. A majority of donors selected are males in their 20s, Cousineau added. “(Students) already understand the concept of donating blood. Who better to empower than students,” Cousineau said.

The next event will take place between April 20 and 22.

to Studio 94 for them. However, Studio 94’s representative Anna He said that the tassel’s appear- Bellow said that because Studio ance depends on a student's area 94 was contracted by CSUF, it is of study and that the gown for the only photography studio that can use the master’s degree gradCSUF logo. uates looks different St u d e n t s from the bachelor’s can use the degree gown. laptops at Jostens was also Gradfest to taking orders for graduation rings, – Maria Ruiz make an appointment for which range in price criminal justice major a photograph from $289 to $739. session or onStudio 94 Photogline from any raphy also has a repcomputer. resentative at Grad“The appointments go quickly, so fest. Studio 94 is a local company that was contracted by CSUF to instead of telling them (students) to take professional graduation pho- go home and do it, we feel it’s more tos. The photographs are optional, fair for them to be able to do it here,” and students do not have to go Bellow said.

“

Grad Fest is a one stop shop!

“

For The Daily Titan

how it would store this on a card yet, “The border will have less probbut may use a strip somewhere on lems,” Guzman said. “The computer the back so the card can be swiped can tell us who is an actual citizen easily. and who isn’t.”

The main purpose of the card is Although the ID card efforts will atto help immigrants get work quicker tempt to crack down on illegal immiand help them become a citizens. grants being able to get work, there are However, it could eventually be re- concerns among United States citizens quired for everything from voting that the system will lead to possible to travel. Many infringements upon countries in Euprivacy and civil librope currently erties. employ similar Kris Fierro is outmethods. raged about the new United States ID card. Fierro, who Customs agent, is a double major in Sergio Guzman, criminal justice and believes the pro– Kris Fierro political science, becriminal justice and cess is a great lieves the ID is flat political sccience major solution and an out illegal. upgrade to the “The ID has a E-verify system good purpose in currently in effect. theory, but what are they doing when “It will be much quicker and eas- scanning it every time? The governier to ID people orally then have to ment will be able to track our every input all sorts of data,” he said. “We move, which is not freedom, and of can swipe their card and be done course is against the law.” with it.”

Fierro would like to see Obama Guzman also believes this will al- come up with a better idea to check to low citizenship checks at the border see who is and is not eligible for jobs to run much smoother. in the U.S.

“

By Elliot Cook

The Alumni Association is offering a special rate for students who join during Gradfest.

Instead of a $39 annual fee, students can pay $25 for two years.

Shannon Matthews, a representative from the Alumni Association, said that some of the benefits of joining the association include online career services, access to the Student Recreation Center and discounts on medical insurance.

Those who join also receive three one-day parking passes. The Alumni Association is also sponsoring the Senior Barbecue on April 22.

The Gradfest tents are located outside of Titan Shops and are available from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., with April 8 being the last day.

5

April 8, 2010

Musicians’ untimely deaths linked

Punk band celebrates 30 years

By Matt Baldwin

For The Daily Titan

Soundoff@dailytitan.com

For fans of: The Adolescents, The Sex Pistols, Black Flag

By Melissa Hoon

Asst. Opinion Editor

Soundoff@dailytitan.com

Courtesy Epitaph Records Bad Religion is, from left, Jay Bentley, Greg Hetson, Brooks Wackerman, Greg Graffin, Brian Baker, and Brett Gurewitz.

left the band and was replaced by Peter Firestone.

It wasn’t always a smooth ride for It’s rare to find longevity in punk rock. Some of the genre’s biggest art- Bad Religion, though. Shortly after ists lasted barely a decade. Black Flag Bad Religion recorded and released was together for just ten years, the a more progressive-rock album, Into same length as The Clash. The Dead the Unknown. Bentley actually left Kennedys were around for eight the band during recording.

In 1983, Bad Religion went on years, not counting the re-formed Dead Kennedys minus Jello Biafra. hiatus after the release of Into the And The Sex Pistols, perhaps the Unknown, which was poorly received most well-known punk rock band of by the band’s core fan base. It wasn’t all time, were a group for just three until 1986 that the band reformed.

Bentley said it took a phone call from short years.

Which is why it’s incredible that band mate Greg Graffin, as well as the Bad Religion is celebrating 30 years as assurance that the Into the Unknowna band. And according to the band’s era Bad Religion was over.

So, Bentley came back. Joining the bassist Jay Bentley, he never thought the band would be around this long. group was Greg Heston of Circle Jerks “Looking back, a lot of people fame, who had previously played guiprobably thought as far as us per- tar on the track “Part III.” The band sonally that we were just kids going would then release Suffer.

Following the success of Suffer, Bad through a phase, which was upsetting to us,” Bentley said. “But more Religion released No Control, Against then that, punk rock, especially what the Grain, and Generator, all on Epiwas happening in Southern Califor- taph. Right before Generator, Firesnia was so small, given the size of it tone left the band, and was replaced

by Bobby Schayer. today.”

Bad Religion signed with Atlantic Bad Religion formed in 1980 with Bentley, vocalist Greg Graffin, Records, re-releasing Recipe For Hate, which saw the band guitarist Brett receive radio play for Gurewitz and The amount of tracks like “Ameridrummer Jay can Jesus” and Ziskrout. The success we’ve had is oneband gained hundred times anything I “Struck a Nerve.”

Bad Religion notoriety in the LA-punk scene could have ever imagined. would then go on to release Stranger very quickly – Jay Bentley, Than Fiction, which with the release Bad Religion would receive gold of their eponycertification in mous debut EP, America. It was and full length How Could Hell Be Any Worse? Both the first and only time Bad Religion were released on Epitaph Records, a would do so.

However, Gurewitz left the band newly minted label owned by Gurewitz. During the recording of How just before the release of Stranger Could Hell Be Any Worse?, Ziskrout Than Fiction to devote more time to

“

running Epitaph, which had just released The Offspring’s Smash, which would go on to become the highest selling independent album of all time. He was replaced by Brian Baker of Minor Threat fame.

After a couple mediocre releases, Bad Religion departed from Atlantic Records. Bentley says he doesn’t regret his time with Atlantic.

However, Bentley did acknowledge that the major label scene wasn‘t for Bad Religion at all.

Following the departure, Brooks Wackerman of Suicidal Tendencies took over for Schayer on the drums, and Gurewitz re-joined the group.

In 2002, Bad Religion released The Process Of Belief on Epitaph Records.

This marked the first time since 1993 that Bad Religion had released an album on Epitaph.

Bad Religion would go on to release two more albums, 2004’s The Empire Strikes First, and 2007’s New Maps of Hell. In May, they’ll head into the recording studio again.

Bentley says he’s humbled by the success and the longevity that Bad Religion has achieved.

“We’re a bunch of guys from the San Fernando Valley who started out, made a demo, made an EP and never had any intention or any idea that this would happen. The amount of success we’ve had is one-hundred times anything I could have ever imagined.”

When asked if Bad Religion had another 30 years of life in them, Bentley just laughed.

“Maybe? I mean, I didn’t think we’d reach the first 30 years.”

Bad Religion is playing April 9 at the House of Blues in Anaheim and April 10 at the House of Blues in Hollywood.

What do Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Brian Jones have in common?

Yes, they’re incredibly talented musicians who have contributed to music in more ways than we can count, but there’s one more thing: they died at age 27.

Welcome to the 27 Club, the most exclusive club in the music industry. As April 5 marked the 16th anniversary of Cobain’s death, perhaps it’s time we paid tribute to these artists.

“All artists (in the 27 Club) were totally unique in their sound, approach to their instrument and artistic vision,” said Phil Vandermost, Cal State Fullerton alumnus and musician.

Aside from the five aforementioned, dozens of artists are a part of the club, with deaths ranging from car wrecks (D. Boon of the Minutemen) to high blood pressure (blues musician Nat Jaffe) to injuries sustained from falling off a horse (Roger Lee Durham of Bloodstone) to gastroin-

testinal hemorrhages (Ron McKernan of the Grateful Dead).

However, the famous five – Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison, Cobain and Jones – are arguably the club’s most popular members because of their innovative contributions to music and society.

Take Joplin, for example. Despite her middle class upbringing and comfortable lifestyle, she became a loner and rebel and was influenced by blues and folk music.

At 17, she ran away from home and eventually began performing in San Francisco before joining Big Brother and the Holding Company.

“Janis was one of the first women who wasn’t beautiful by means of society. She marched to the beat of her own drum and was gritty and raw, and you could hear that in her vocals,” said Juan Castaneda, 24, se-

nior theater major. “She sacrificed herself for her art and opened doors for people to realize it’s okay for women to rock out in male-dominated professions like the music industry was during her time.”

Brian Jones was the first of these five artists to join the club in 1969.

A founding member of the Rolling Stones, he was known for his use of instruments that were innovative to the rock scene, like the sitar and marimba.

Like Jones, Hendrix was innovative with his instrument, the electric guitar. The “noise” he created with his Fender Stratocaster (a right-handed guitar that he played upside down, being left-handed himself ) in songs like “Purple Haze” forever changed the standards for guitarists See 27 CLUB, Page 7

GRAPHIC BY KRISTEN HULSEY and bianca de la rosa/Daily Titan Design Editors The most notable members of the 27 Club, clockwise from bottom, Kurt Cobain, Brian Jones, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. The musicians placed in the club all died at the age of 27, during the peak of their careers.

“

6

April 8, 2010

Jónsi – Go

She & Him – Volume Two

By Meghan alfano

By Gary Young

Daily Titan Sound-Off Editor

For The Daily Titan

Soundoff@dailytitan.com

Soundoff@dailytitan.com

For fans of: Sufjan Stevens, Múm, Sigur Ros

For fans of: Camera Obscura, Belle & Sebastian, Connie Francis Detractors of She & Him’s first album, Volume One, will most likely not be won over by their latest record, Volume Two. This album is a continuation of the moods and themes that Volume One conveyed.

Fans of the first album by this collaborative project between actress, Zooey Deschanel, and songwriter, M. Ward, however, will find plenty of catchy pop tunes that capture the vibe of driving along the beach on a sunny day.

She & Him’s music often draws comparisons to 1970s AM radio, The Beach Boys, Sun Studio artists and the Brill Building sound. Volume Two, much like Volume One, is a pastiche of their influences – female background singers crooning oooh’s and ahhh’s, songs written in the major key in 4/4 time, simple verse-chorus song structure, reverb-

Photo Courtesy Merge Records She & Him is M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel. “Volume Two” is out now.

drenched vocals and polished studio production embellishments are prevalent throughout this 13-track record.

The focal point of the album is undeniably Deschanel’s sweet, innocent voice. At times, her voice contains a slight country twang that brings to mind June Carter Cash. Deschanel’s lyrics are fairly simple and straightforward, and they consistently communicate themes of romance and heartbreak throughout the album.

“When I look at you, you look so bored. My baby, my darling, I’ve been taking a beating,” she pines on “In the Sun.”

Although Deschanel’s cutesy approach to songwriting has an endearing appeal to it most of the time, it occasionally results in some clumsy lyrics.

Take “Brand New Shoes” for example: “I had some brand new shoes.

They were all red, but they gave me the blues, and they’re running away.

They left me a letter.”

Ward, who has already established himself as a talented musician in his solo career and his work with Monsters of Folk, shines on Volume Two with his guitar-playing and his production, which gel perfectly with Deschanel’s songwriting and singing style. On their cover of the NRBQ song, “Ridin’ in My Car,” Deschanel

and Ward successfully recreate the upbeat vibe of the original. The way they take turns singing the verses is a nice dynamic that shows off a fine contrast of their two distinctive and unique vocal styles.

Deschanel and Ward have a good musical chemistry because they are both old souls – they draw on music from an older time as their main sources of inspiration. Their sound may borrow heavily from their influences, but She & Him undoubtedly have a knack for writing songs with infectious hooks that get stuck in your head and serve as a fitting soundtrack to the springtime. One needs to look no further than Volume Two for proof.

Despite album leak, band’s new release promises growth

By Matt Baldwin

leaked early last month, well before the scheduled June 8 release date.

Soundoff@dailytitan.com In response to the leak, Gabel posted the lyrics to White Crosses on his For fans of: The Replacements, personal blog so fans could learn them.

American Steel, Cobra Skulls According to Gabel, it’s more imporWhen an album leaks nearly three tant for people to hear the album, leak months before its proper release, it’s or no leak. safe to label said album as highly an“That’s the main point. We want ticipated. It’s also understandable if people to hear it,” Gabel explained. the band is a bit irked over the leak.

Against Me! is in a transition stage However, Tom Gabel sees it a differ- from underground folk-punk heroes ent way. to mainstream modern rock staples.

“Records leaking and stuff like that, They took a huge step towards rock it’s a fact of life today. superstardom with New It’s out of my hands Wave, but alienated once I’ve made the their previous fan base record. Nothing I with a much more tame can do about it. No sound. point in throwing a Gabel says that White tantrum or getting Crosses will follow suit. upset about it,” Ga“I think sonically we bel said. kind of expanded on Gabel, the front where we left off with man of Against New Wave.”

Me!, knows a thing How that will sit with or two about album White Crosses is out those in the alienated fan leaks. In 2008, New base longing for Against June 8 Wave, the band’s maMe! to re-create the band’s jor label debut, leaked debut Reinventing Axl Rose before the release. And more recently, is unknown, but Gabel isn’t too wortheir upcoming release, White Crosses, ried about what they think.

For The Daily Titan

“I’m not really interested in catering to anybody. We’re interested in making music that’s true to ourselves,” Gabel said. “People are free to listen if they want to, and if they get enjoyment out of that, that’s what we hope for…but at Photo Courtesy of Merge Records the same time, Against Me! is from left, Andrew Seward, George Rebelo, James nobody is being Bowman, and Tom Gabel. forced to listen to anything, and that they can expand their definition they’re free to listen to whatever they of what punk rock is. want.”

“It’s unfortunate that people take Fans of the band’s older work might the viewpoint that they do sometimes be interested in learning that Hot Wa- in the punk scene as far as thinking ter Music and The Draft drummer, that the only way that you can have agGeorge Rebelo, was brought in to re- gression is if it sounds lo-fi. That’s not a place Warren Oakes, who left Against philosophy that I hold true.”

Me! to open a Mexican restaurant, White Crosses is scheduled for a June Boca Fiesta, in Gainesville, Fla. 8 release. A digital four track release, Gabel said that Rebelo has breathed I Was a Teenage Anarchist, featuring “new fresh life” into the band. two tracks from White Crosses (“I Was Whether or not Against Me!’s punk a Teenage Anarchist” and “Rapid Derock following will embrace White compression”) and two non-album Crosses is unknown, but Gabel hopes tracks, will be available April 20.

It is safe to say that fans of Sigur Ros will fall in love with Go, the highly anticipated debut solo work of the Iceland natives’ guitarist and vocalist Jón Þór Birgisson, aka Jónsi.

The album holds true to Sigur Ros’ signature sound; it is dreamy, ethereal and at times haunting, but with Go, Jónsi strays away from the band’s post rock resonance and maintains his own unique pop sound, mixing elements of classical instrumentation with pop-rock beats and experimental cadence. Jónsi strays away from the melancholic, pensive sound one might expect from the album, which features help from American composer Nico Muhly, who worked on Grizzly Bear’s 2009 success Veckatimest, resulting in a sound that is airy and blissful.

The album opens with “Go Do,” a bright combination of flickering flutes, acoustic guitar and pulsating percussion. “Animal Arithmetic” follows and continues the same musical aesthetic, leaving the listener with

immense anticipation as to what will follow. The album’s standout track “Kolniður” starts off slow, but gradually builds up. Although Jónsi sings in Icelandic on the track, the presentation of the music as a whole is sure to leave chills down the listener’s spine, even after multiple plays.

Another thing that sets Go apart from Sigur Ros releases is that it is written almost entirely in English, unlike the band’s albums, which are written sometimes in Icelandic, but primarily in “hopelandic,” the band’s own made-up language. However, the record still manages to embrace Jónsi’s distinctive falsetto, which makes the language difference unnoticeable at first, even to the band’s biggest fans.

Whether listening to each song individually or the album as a whole, Go is sure to entice audiences who are both familiar with Sigur Ros and new fans alike.

Editors’ Playlist Song you want played at your funeral Jeremiah Magan – Managing Editor “Murder in the City’”– Avett Brothers Isa Ghani – Multimedia Editor Main Theme from Star Wars Skylar Smith – Opinion Editor “Videotape” – Radiohead Danielle Flint – Copy Editor “I’m Lucky” – Joan Armatrading

April Ehrlich – Features Editor “Soul and Onward” – Do Make Say Think Brittny Ulate – Detour Editor “So Long, Farewell” – Sound of Music Meghan Alfano – Sound-Off Editor “Shadowtime” – Siouxsie and The Banshees

Nick Marley – Photo Editor “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” – Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers

Gilbert Guitierez III – Asst. Sports Editor Cute without an E (acoustic) – Taking Back Sunday

Christa Connelly – Photo Editor “When The Levee Breaks” – Led Zepplin

Adrian Gaitan – Copy Editor “One Day I’ll Fly Away” – Nicole Kidman

Kaitlin Paiz – News Editor “Here Comes the Sun” – The Beatles

Kristen Hulsey – Graphic Editor “Freebird” – Lynyrd Skynyrd

7

April 8, 2010

Becker: Tyler matthew smith harmonizes at amphitheatre From Page 1 ASI Productions presented Cal State Fullerton’s students, faculty and intrigued passer-by with an energetic and soulful mix of folk and jazz music performed by Tyler Matthew Smith in the Becker Amphitheatre Wednesday.

For the first official week of spring, the sun was shining bright onto Tyler Matthew Smith and the audience as the band showcased a blend of harmonious songs and optimistic lyrics.

“I listen to the beat and good lyrics of a song. His music brings you in feeling happy, it makes me feel at home,” said Brittney Panik, a high school student on a prospective college field trip.“Just being here, being able to listen to music, gives me a better sense of what CSUF has to offer.”

Tyler Matthew Smith was born in Nevada City, Calif., where he grew up playing instrumentals like the horn. His family embraced the

By Nick Marley/Daily Titan Photo Editor influences of 1960s music from Tyler Matthew Smith, right, and his band brought an acoustic, alt-folk set to the crowd the likes of Stevie Wonder, Jackson during the most recent Wednesday Concert at the Becker Amphitheatre .

Five, Bruce Hornsby and Stevie Stills. Today, Smith combines the lyrics. Although the sun was shin- being “Hamdulillah,” which he sounds of folk and R&B with a bit ing bright, the surrounding CSUF performed. “Hamdulillah,” a form elections and Gradfest events, of saying “Hallelujah,” is an inspiof world music.

Smith’s lyrics revolve around op- along with many other club pro- rational word that replaced a space timism and hope, focusing on re- motions, kept the audience at- of mumbling within the song when he was writing it. When permaining positive and believing in tendee number below 100.

Returning from spring break, it formed, the word “Hamdulillah” the good of the world. He writes was a nice way to resonates through the air. his songs based come back. With Another song Tyler Matthew upon the struggles Gradfest, we want- Smith performed was “Mystic Rivthat people face, ed something more er,” a song derived from thoughts and the rejuvenatlow-key so the mu- he had been having about life. ing outcome of con- To see Tyler Matthew sic wasn’t too over- Based on a story written a couple quering your fears.

Smith perform, go to: powering. It was re- of times in the Bible, “Mystic Riv“If I can get one laxing. I felt he was er” is a song Smith wrote that he thing out there, it’s like a folk version believes is universal. to help people see of Jason Mraz,” “The story is one that resothat it’s OK to be Katie Holland said, nates with many people of differvulnerable, otherco-coordinator for ent faiths from across the world,” wise we’re acting Wednesday’s Con- Smith said. With a reference to out of fear. If we certs at Becker.

Mahatma Gandhi’s quote: “Be allow ourselves to Smith is cur- the change you wish to see in the be vulnerable, the www.dailytitan.com/Tyrently touring the world,” it is clear that Smith is infear washes away,” lerMatthewSmith western states in- spired by ideals when he is writing Smith said. dependently pro- songs.

The songs permoting himself.

Smith’s first LP is due to release formed captured the audience through mellow vibes and smooth He has an EP of three songs, one at the end of June.

Multimedia

27 Club: age Striking similarity in artists’ demise From Page 5 who came after him.

“Jimi is so classic and has a unique sound that is such an innovation in his genre of music,” said Kevin Long, 22, senior music major and guitarist. “We wouldn’t have the music we have today if it weren’t for his milestone.”

Jonathan Blitzer, 55, of Long Beach, lived in the same apartment building in New York City as Hendrix during the last year of the musician’s life.

“Jimi had burst on the scene in 1966 in a tremendous flower of creativity after paying his dues in a number of conventional bands,” Blitzer said.

“Three years later, his creative fury was close to spent, and it’s not clear what he would have done had he not died.”

Morrison, frontman of The Doors, is considered by many to be an innovator of more than just music. While most psychedelic lyrics of the 1960s focused on drug use being positive, Morrison was the first to introduce through music that drug use could lead to bad experiences, like in “Break On Through (To the Other Side).” He clearly rejected conformity onstage, a stage presence which was mimicked by later artists like Alice Cooper.

“Morrison became the staple image of a rock star with his stage presence because he tried to become an actor before a musician,” said Luke Unrein, 28, of Corona.

“He’s also a poet and you can see that in his dark lyrics. He’s one of the first rock stars people try to imitate. But you just can’t imitate Jim Morrison.”

Grunge music was introduced

by Cobain and his band, Nirvana, with their new alternative sound and his dark and disturbing lyrics.

“Cobain was going through so much depression in his life, but he was creative enough to use that to make music that people related to,” Unrein said.

In addition to their contributions to music, some people have a different take on the reasoning for fame among 27 Club members.

“If (Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison, Cobain and Jones) hadn’t died

at the peak of their careers, they could have ended up dying out or becoming sell-outs,” said Felicia Flahive, 21, senior criminal justice major and singer-songwriter. “I think the fact that they died at the time they did is what made them so popular.”

While the causes of death of Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison, Cobain and Jones vary – including

drug overdoses, drowning and suicide – many agree that what led up to their deaths was the problems associated with fame.

“Fame is a bitch. People are demanding this and that from you and if you can’t stay grounded, you can resort to self-destructive habits,” Castaneda said. “If you do nothing but give yourself entirely, you’ll lose your own essence.”

8

April 8, 2010

Should the government put a 10 percent tax on tanning salons for opperating tanning beds?

By brenna Phillips

Daily Titan Staff Writer opinion@dailytitan.com

The Obama administration’s decision to attach a 10 percent tax for tanning salons to the health care bill has both users and tanning salon owners in an uproar.

While many may feel that they are being unfairly singled out by the bill, it really is no different than the government imposing higher taxes on cigarettes to dissuade people from purchasing them.

“Exposure to sunlamps and sunbeds is known to be a human carcenogen,” according to the Report on Carcenogens by the Health and Human Services.

Since tanning bed users are knowingly subjecting themselves to harmful radiation, even though they are aware that they are dramatically increasing their chances of getting melanoma or other skin cancers, it is reasonable to charge customers a 10 percent tax to help fund the health care bill.

It only makes sense to use this tax to fund the health care bill since the American Academy of Dermatology estimates that the United States currently spends about $1.8 billion on treating skin cancers each year and $300 million on just melanoma. The tax could also potentially reduce

the future costs of treating skin cancers if it causes a decline in the number of users.

Even though tanning beds may not single-handedly cause melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, they drastically increase the user’s chance of getting it. Perhaps people should see this tax as a wake-up call for how serious the health risks are. Tanning salons often market their tanning beds as harmless and, unfortunately, many naive young people take their word for it.

Some tanning salon Web sites even go so far to accuse the government of making exaggerated claims about the side effects of tanning beds and are just creating “scare tactics,” but maybe people should be scared. Indoor tanning increases the risk of developing melanoma by 75 percent, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

People who use tanning beds underestimate the damage that they are doing to their skin, even though they are forced to sign a waiver stating the risks of using UV-ray emitting tanning products, many still do not seem to take these warnings seriously.

There is no doubt that, in our society, body image is valued above all else, and a healthy glow is considered much more attractive than being ghostly-white. But there are other tanning methods that people could consider using, such as sprayon tans, lotions and bronzer.

So, if this 10 percent tax discourages young people from using tanning beds because they can no longer afford them, then the government is only doing them a service, and saving them from a possible painful future of skin biopsies, stitches, scars and visits to the dermatologist in the future.

By Serena Whitecotton Daily Titan Staff Writer opinion@dailytitan.com

Photos Courtesy MCT Erika Greet, an employee of U-Tan, a tanning salon located near USC, demonstrates for a photographer the workings of an Ergoline Excellence tanning bed, January 6, 2010.

No matter what politicians and doctors tell you, the 10 percent tax increase on tanning salons will not stop Americans from using tanning beds or going to tanning salons.

The tax was partially created in order to stop Americans from getting skin cancer, but just like how cigarette, alcohol and soda taxes didn’t stop Americans from using these products, the tanning tax won’t do anything to stop Americans from meeting their next tanning appointment.

A CNN.com article says that nearly 30 million Americans go to tanning beds every year. A surprising 2.3 million of these tanners are teenagers, which, from my experience, means that these promgoing teens will be hooked for at least 20 more years, and give the industry the money it needs to last a long time.

There are over 18,000 tanning salons in the United States, according to the Indoor Tanning Association (ITA), and over half of these salons are small businesses run by women. The government is taking on a tiny industry in order to fund the healthcare bill, which is just cruel. The government needs to pick on an industry its own size!

According to the CNN.com article, about 1,000 businesses will be forced to close their doors because of this tax, leaving thousands women and men without jobs and dependent on government funded unemployment benefits.

Despite the loss of businesses and employees, the tanning salon business will continue to grow simply because Americans are addicted to tanning. A 2007 WebMD article suggests that tanning can be an addictive behavior, which explains why so many people go to the beds.

The same article even suggested that exposure to UV rays causes a “tanner’s high” similar to a runner’s high, indicating that tanning salon frequenters and industry won’t be going anywhere.

Instead of taxing the tanning salons, which will only cause complaints to local representatives and a possible trending topic on Twitter, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should simply regulate the business more thoroughly.

It already has simple, mindless regulations, like parental consent for minors and properly training the staff, but the money and intimidation would best be spent elsewhere.

The FDA has already said that tanning is as carcinogenic as smoking cigarettes, but instead of simply warning salon-frequenters, perhaps the FDA should limit the monthly amount of time in the beds, or not allow people under 18 to use them.

These limitations would still allow for the businesses to thrive, and give a greater warning to the salongoers. The government does want these businesses to succeed, right?

This ridiculous tax will end up costing more money in unemployment benefits than it will save women and men from potential skin cancer.

9

April 8, 2010

‘27 Club’ candidates

by Melissa Hoon

Daily Titan Asst. Opinion Editor opinion@dailytitan.com

The 27 Club refers to a group of musicians who died at age 27. The following is a spoof on young Hollywood, considering stars’ reckless behavior.

Let’s take a look at celebrities who have hypothetically gotten themselves into situations that led to their deaths by age 27.

Disclaimer: the following is not real; it’s just a humorous prediction of their impending peril.

Photos Courtesy MCT

Heidi and Spencer Pratt a.ka.

“Speidi.” Cause of deaths: double suicide.

It’s too late for Heidi Pratt to learn anything from the plastic disaster we call Joan Rivers. Her most recent plastic surgery was enough to transform her deformed Malibu Barbie body into an unrecognizable Frankenstein.

Even her beloved hubby, Spencer, couldn’t recognize her. Poor Heidi, she felt so unloved she hung herself with a noose she fashioned with her size 00 designer dresses.

Spencer didn’t shed a tear over her death until the tabloids stopped taking photos of him and his beard that emulates an albino Sasquatch’s pubic area.

Turns out without Heidi, there is no Spencer. He was so angry he stormed into Us Weekly’s headquarters and screamed, “The Beatles were never bigger than Jesus, but I am! If you don’t want me now, my soul will haunt this newsroom forever!” Then he shot himself.

Us Weekly had been saving the bubbly for when it would publish its Pulitzer Prize-deserving story on Brangelina adopting their next child, but as soon as the trigger was pulled, the entire staff started popping bottles.

“Ding dong! Speidi’s dead! Sing it high, sing it low! Let them know Speidi’s dead!” they sang.

So it was no delusional fairytale romance after all, but a true suicidal Romeo and Juliet tale.

Lil’ Wayne. Cause of death: syrup overdose.

Where there’s a will there’s a way.

By day, Lil’ Wayne talked to his fellow Riker Island inmates in New York about what new sick ink he would tat himself up with upon his release.

By night, his mind was plagued with a much bigger dilemma as he rapped himself soothing lullabies, like “Pill Poppin’ Animal.”

“I’m a pill poppin’ animal / Syrup sippin’ nigga / Syrup, syrup sippin’ nigga,” he sang as he rocked back and forth, trying to calm the withdrawls he experienced as a result of his promethazine with codeine syrup (or just “syrup”) addiction.

Ironically, his overwhelming dilemma was: how will Lil’ Wayne get his syrup fix?

As soon as it was “light’s out,” Wayne removed the photo of him flashing his gleamin’ grill at the Lamborghini dealership from his wall and started digging, Shawshank Redemption-style. He dug until he ended up in a sewer two miles from the prison.

Amidst the flowing sewage, he could hear angels singing because right before his eyes was a golden box.

Could it be? Yes, it was! His boys on the outside came through. He opened the box to find two dozen golden bottles of syrup. He immediately drank every bottle.

Then the syrup sippin’ rapper collapsed to his death in the muddy waters of the sewer.

The Olsen twins. Cause of death: starvation.

Fur coats. Bug-eyed sunglasses.

Oversized bags. Mile-high stilettos.

Obviously, Kelly Osbourne could never look cute wearing these fashions.

Why? She’s overweight by the cruel means of society, of course.

This is what Mary Kate and Ashley talked and laughed about as they shared a small bowl of green leaves at dinner in the swankiest New York City restaurant.

“Can you believe our waitress asked us what dressing we want?”

Mary Kate asked. “What a ditz!

Doesn’t she know salad dressing has, like, a million calories?”

“I know! What a heffer. Maybe she should lay off the dressing on her salad!” Ashley said as they stared at their waitress who couldn’t have been over 115 pounds.

“I couldn’t believe she put lemon in our waters! I’m pretty sure lemon juice has at least a few calories. Can you imagine what that could do to my figure?” Mary Kate exclaimed.

The two walking skeletons left and walked to their nearby penthouse.

They sat in their kitchen thinking about what they should have for breakfast the next morning.

“Let’s not be silly,” Ashley said.

“We shared an egg for breakfast two days ago. According to our diet, we’re not supposed to have breakfast for five more days.”

“Well I’m actually a little hungry,” Mary Kate said. “I know the perfect snack!”

The twins dashed to their bathroom and greedily snorted lines of cocaine off the bathroom sink. After trying on a dozen hideous, but “chic,” outfits that made them look like grandmothers, they went to the trendiest club in town.

“Lindsay Lohan ain’t got nothin’

on us! We’re so much cuter and weight at least 15 pounds less than her!” Ashley said as they partied the night away.

But they never made it out of the club that night. Their bodies were so malnourished because of their lettuce and egg diet that they died. Oh, to be young, rail-thin and “beautiful.”

Britney Spears. Cause of death: loss of blood.

It was late and Britney was alone in the enormous mansion that her teeny-bopper hits and her fabulous vocals bought her. She had just hung up on K-Fed and was crying a river – no Timberlake pun intended.

“Your beer gut is bigger than mine!” he had screamed. “And ‘Womanizer?’ Damn straight I’m a womanizer!”

He went on to rant about how his Amazon-like former-volleyball star girlfriend, Victoria Prince, is way hotter than Spears would ever be.

She was so upset that she threw her Grammy she so deservingly won for best dance recording for “Toxic” out the window. She jumped through the window and drove to the nearest club.

As the valet helped her out of her car, exuding the class she is known for, dozens of photographers began snapping away.

You guessed it!

Her Britney was showing (tabloid jargon for what is exposed when classy ladies “forget” to wear panties).

She danced commando-style with every guy in the club, chugged a case of Pabst Blue Ribbon and left just before she was drunk enough to drag her last dance partner/victim to Vegas to get married.

The next day, the tabloids reluctantly decided to throw ethics out the window. Britney’s Britney – this time without a star covering her nude area in print – was on the cover of every magazine. Mothers covered their children’s eyes as they darted past magazine stands at grocery stores.

Jamie Lynn Spears, who infamously became pregnant at 16, was the first to inform her sister of the news.

“You are such a whore, Brit!” she screamed over the phone.

Britney was so upset she grabbed the razor in her bathroom and began shaving her head.

She was so angry, the razor slipped. Oops, she did it again, but this time it had gone horribly wrong (or right?). She accidentally cut an artery in her neck. Blood spewed everywhere until there was none left in her body.

The pop princess died at 28, and was first to become part of Hollywood’s latest and trendiest club: The 28 Club.

Shades of Green “Made from 100% all-natural opinion”

Apple, all about the ‘green’

by April Ehrlich

Daily Titan Features Editor opinion@dailytitan.com

Apple knows its primary target well enough, which can be generally encapsulated as gadgetobsessed techies who may or may not have some concern for the environment. And that’s where their money lies – gadgets. Unfortunately, after plowing through every possible consumerist invention ranging from computers to music players to cell phones, the Apple store has run out of ideas.

That’s when the iPad enters the high-and-dry scene. Now, you can own an over sized iPod touch with a unique and completely unexpected name: the iPad! Geez, who would of thought?

Never before was I able to read e-books, watch YouTube videos, or listen to music on my MacBook because this overbearing keyboard has always been in the way. And who really needs more than 16 gigabytes of space or to run more than one application at a time?

The iPad is saving the world in many ways. With just $500 to $700, everybody can own this essential device that allows you to do everything your MacBook and iPod touch couldn’t (oh wait, what was that again?)

Another proclaimed feat is that this is an essentially “green” product. It includes eco-friendly features such as an enclosure made from recycled aluminum, powersaving LED displays (as opposed to LCD), mercury-free backlighting and an arsenic-free display glass. Meanwhile, the entire product is not made with PVC, a chemical commonly found in computer power chords, which releases toxic compounds when it

Photo Courtesy MCT Kristy Banathy of Elk Grove, Calif., was the first buy the Apple iPad at the Sacramento, Calif. Apple Store at the Saturday April 3, 2010 launch event.

is put in landfills.

The iPad’s battery also lasts 10 hours, making it more battery-efficient than a laptop. According to Green Living Tips, the battery is reusable for other applications even after it has reached the end of its life.

Despite its recyclable design and ability to conserve battery energy, the iPad eats at a much larger source of power. According to Greenpeace, it accesses an enormous energywhoring “cloud” of online services, which is stamping a larger carbon footprint on this planet than previously expected.

Basically, when any iPad owner watches a YouTube video, reads an email or downloads an e-book, it is reaching up into a network of energy utilized by millions of interconnected websites that are streaming, networking, storing, emailing and much, much more.

Greenpeace’s report “Make IT Green: Cloud Computing and its Contribution to Climate Change” shows that at this rate, this cloud of data centers and telecommunication

networks will consume about 1,963 billion kilowatts hours of electricity in 2020. That is more than the current electricity consumption of France, Germany, Canada and Brazil combined.

Even so, this all doesn’t change the fact that the mere existence of the iPad is wasteful. Even if it had no internet access, and thus couldn’t devour this supposed cloud of interconnected energy, we’d still be driving our cars to the nearest mall, texting and calling our friends along the way, and walk into the Apple store to fish out a credit card that hasn’t already been maxed out. Hello, debt!

Hello, failing economy!

Of course, I’m caught up in this internet mess just as much as anybody, and I am also a victimized owner of Apple products. Don’t get me wrong, they’re incredibly convenient. Still, the iPad is merely a regurgitation of of preexisting Apple products, thus making it a waste of time and resources, additionally signifying that the company has run out of ideas.

10

April 8, 2010

Big expectations for the ‘Blue Crew’ this season By victoria graciano-Guerreo Daily Titan Staff Writer sports@dailytitan.com

Which team has reached the post season three consecutive years and won the National League West division for the last two consecutive seasons, but has not won a World Series since the '80s?

If you guessed the Los Angeles Dodgers, you’re right.

Despite not winning a World Series since 1988, the Dodgers continue to have the highest fan attendance in the Major Leagues.

MLB.com reported that the Dodgers drew over 3.7 million fans at Dodger Stadium last season, with an average of 46,400 fans per game.

However, the Dodgers did finish the 2009 regular season with the best record in the National League for the first time since 1983.

So, will the Dodgers actually get to the World Series this season?

“Their bullpen will kill them down the stretch towards the end of the season,” said business major Luke Olmo.

Olmo is sure the Dodgers won’t “I expect Clayton Kershaw or even make it to the playoffs this sea- Chad Billingsley as starting pitchers son. for opening day,” Sanchez said.

“We have an awesome lineup this Sanchez believes that Torre started season and there is plenty of time the season with pitcher Vicente Pato pick up a pitcher that will get us dilla because of his experience. there,” said liberal arts major Isaac Picking up a new pitcher will not Sanchez. hurt the team, Sanchez said.

Even with the A pitcher like court battle bePedro Martinez, Despite not tween owner Frank who is a free agent, H. McCourt Jr. winning a World Series will be a perfect and Dodgers CEO since 1988, the Dodgers pick up, he added.

Jamie McCourt, “The Dodgers the Dodgers’ goal continute to have the are expected to is to put a cham- highest attendence in win the National pionship team on the Major Leagues.

League West title the field. again this year,” After general Figueroa said. manager Ned ColFigueroa is also letti hired Joe Torre Nov. 1, 2007, a Dodger hopeful for this season and the Dodgers have been able to make she believes, with Manny Ramirez, it to the postseason, winning their they can reach the postseason again. division in back-to-back seasons.

The Dodgers picked up Ramirez “That is what you call leadership,” in 2008, but even with Ramirez’s said art major Sabrina Figueroa. power was not enough to put the Figueroa, 27, has been a Dodger Philadelphia Phillies away in 2008 fan since the third grade. and 2009 in the NLCS. After a rough 11-5 loss on the seaAll around campus, hopeful fans son opener to the Pittsburgh Pirates, proudly wear their Dodger caps. fans around campus are hopeful for their favorite team.

Sanchez believes his team will A look into a Dodgers’ training sesmake a comeback in their home stasion: dailytitan.com/dodgertrain dium.

“

“

A long World Series drought has Dodger fans hopeful for a comeback

photo courtesy MCT Dodgers’ pitcher Clayton Kershaw delivers a pitch in the first inning during an exhibition against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Titan offense dominates Waves By cort tofoya

Daily Titan Staff Writer sports@dailytitan.com

photo By nick marley/Daily Titan Photo Editor Junior JR Grubert makes a spin move around a Pepperdine defender and scores a goal.

The California State Fullerton men’s lacrosse team competed against Pepperdine University in a home game Wednesday night for a 7-4 victory.

The Waves (3-5), who are tied for fourth place in the Southern Lacrosse Conference, could not contain an offensive surge by the Titans.

The match was close up until the fourth period, when the Titans blew the game open by scoring three goals within minutes of each other.

Prior to the game, Titan Assistant Coach Matt Cukro talked about how his team needed to get back to basics.

“We had a week and a half since our last game. So we practiced a lot on fundamentals and trying to run through our offenses and defenses,” he said.

The Titans controlled most of the first period play, keeping the ball in Pepperdine territory.

They played patiently on offense and scored first when a CSUF player

ran around from behind the goal and slammed the ball past the goalkeeper. Pepperdine answered back with a score of their own just before the period ended.

The second period was a physical one, with both teams called for multiple penalties.

One shot by the Titans was so close that it hit the post before bouncing back into play.

CSUF scored on a great pass right through the defense that set up for an easy goal by the Waves’ defenders.

At halftime, the score was tied at 2-2.

In the third period, another CSUF shot bounced off the post.

However, the team did score when one Titan sprinted and moved to the right side of the field, attracted three defenders and passed it back to the middle of the field for a shot on an open net.

Heading into the fourth period, both teams were tied at three a piece.

The Titans had other plans, as they rattled off three consecutive goals to put the game away with just

five minutes left to play, allowing the Titans to cruise to the win at 7-4.

Taylor Hucka, 18-year-old communications major, attended the game to watch her friend play.

“This is my first game. I like it, it’s intense. I might go to another game if it’s warmer,” Hucka said.

Estimated attendance for the game was 50 people, mostly parents of the players and CSUF students.

The game was delayed 30 minutes because Pepperdine’s team was stuck in traffic.

Titan Head Coach Kyle Morrison talked about what challenges lie ahead for his team.

“At this point in the season... we have three league games left. It looks like we’ll finish 7-0 in league play,” Morrison said. “The other two teams we’re playing we know pretty well. We have them scouted. Our toughest game will be against Loyola Marymount University.”

LMU’s men’s lacrosse team is ranked in the top 10 in the nation.

CSUF is now 8-4 and undefeated in league play.

The team plays again April 10 at 7 p.m. at the University of San Diego.

Remaining Games: 4/10 @ San Diego 4/13 Marymount College 4/17 @ UC Irvine 4/18 @ Loyola Marymount 4/23 Occidental

11

April 8, 2010

Crossword Career

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Horoscopes

Sudoku Sudoku brought to you by dailysudoku.com

2 6 5 3

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2010. All rights reserved.

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

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

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

4

4 9 9 6 1

3

6 2

9

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

Ltd 2010. All rights reserved.

Daily Sudoku: Tue 6-Apr-2010

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2010. All rights reserved.

7 5

8

4

5

9 2

5 3

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Consider ways to keep everyone focused. Creative minds (including yours) have a way of wandering off. Reiterate the purpose.

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.

6 2 8 1

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Keep the home fires burning today. You need space to pursue independent action.

Ask someone else to manage plans for this evening.

Daily Sudoku: Tue 6-Apr-2010

8 9 4 7

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) To get the most out of a relaxing time, display enthusiasm for someone else’s suggestion. Spend money judiciously, but don’t pinch pennies.

5 3

9

6 2

9 1 3 2

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) The only way to get anywhere today is through team effort. Focus on the most practical means you can find. Then, throw yourself fully into it.

5

3

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2010. All rights reserved.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Use your talents to resolve disagreements about the basics. Be prepared to restate your arguments for the sake of clarity.

4

8

very hard

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) The challenge now is to love what you’re doing for as long as you’re doing it, and to let go as soon as it’s finished. Release any negativity.

4 9 9 6 1

7 4 9 8

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Your desire for independence takes you out of your normal work routine. You don’t have to leave the country, though. Just let your imagination wander.

4

4 7 6 5

7

5

1 8 6 9 2

5 3 2 9

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is all about appearances.

Hair and accessories do matter. Achieve a unique look using materials already in your possession. You find yourself on stage.

5

2

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

Cancer (June 22-July 22) Everyone digs in, entrenched and stubborn. This would be a good day to pursue personal matters and save your enthusiasm for later. It will work out.

6

4

3 8 1 4

Gemini (May 21-June 21) Although you want to get your ideas out, now’s the time to carefully consider all the ramifications and modify your message.

7 1

1 5 7 6

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You may want to run away from home, but you need to focus on household matters.

Handle practical issues early, then escape to a movie.

Daily Sudoku: Tue 6-Apr-2010

Aries (March 21-April 19) Although money isn’t the real issue, that may be how you’ve been keeping track of who loves whom more. A better way is to see who can be most creative in expressing their caring.

http://www.dailysudoku.com/

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12

April 8, 2010

Gymnast receiving high marks By melissa hoon

Daily Titan Asst. Opinion Editor sports@dailytitan.com

This weekend, Cal State Fullerton junior gymnast Alaina Baker will represent the Titans in the 2010 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics West Regional at UCLA on April 10 at 6 p.m.

She will compete against five women in an all-around competition in hopes to advance to nationals later this month.

Baker, 21, health science major of Oak Grove, Mo., is not your typical loud and proud star athlete. Teammates say she is timid, but is the backbone of the team.

“Alaina is quiet but never fails to work hard,” Assistant Coach Eilea Selesky-VanScoy said. “She knows she needs to lead the team and represent.”

According to 20-year-old student assistant coach and former teammate Britney Jay, the Titans struggled until Baker’s strong floor routine during the Western Athletic Conference Championships March 27.

Her performance changed the team’s mood.

“(As a team, we) encourage each Baker doesn’t only excel in sports, other and help in any way we can,” she also excels in academics. Acsaid Baker, a full-ride athletic schol- cording to Hicks, she has been an arship recipient.

All-American, maintaining over a “I wish my team could be there 3.0 GPA each of her three years at with me (this weekend at region- CSUF. als).”

During warm-ups at practice, With a qualifying regional average Baker blends into the background. of 9.840, Baker is typically the high- Teammates and coaches say this is est score on the floor, Titan Head just Alaina being Alaina.

Coach Jill Hicks said.

“Alaina is the same every single According to the Collegiate Gym- day. Nothing ever changes with nastics Informaher,” Hicks said. tion Center as of “But when we April 5, on floor, compete, she’s a Baker is ranked warrior with this 73 out of 500 in tiger attitude.” the country, 15 Hicks said of 70 in the rethat Baker has gion and No. 8 improved since – Jill Hicks last year and has all-around in the head coach west region. added a new skill Baker has been on the beam, and a gymnast since is at a career-high age three, and notes that it’s nice to on the vault. have had her hard work pay off.

She said Baker knows it will take She hopes to become involved in her best to get to nationals. health education at a high school Practicing 12 to 15 hours per week or hospital, and though she doesn’t and with her sense of dedication and plan to continue in gymnastics after focus, Baker has what it takes to adcollege, she said she has enjoyed her vance, according to Hicks. time as a gymnast.

“In every sport, there are certain “It’s been a lot of fun,” Baker said. athletes who rise to the occasion,” “College gymnastics is not as stress- Hicks said, “And in this case, that’s ful as club gymnastics, and it’s more Alaina.” team-oriented because you get to Don’t be fooled by Baker’s modhelp each other.” esty. She said she’s excited for region-

“

She (Alaina) loves to compete, she gets good grades and she doesn’t complain.

“

Baker has uplifted the Titans with another great all-around season

als because she wants to make it to nationals. If her past performance accurately represents her skill, then there is no doubt that this is a possibility.

“Alaina is a hard worker and competitor and has the ability to excel under pressure,” said teammate Melanie Yamabe, 20, sophomore accounting major. “Pressure always makes her succeed.”

Baker attributes her success to the support of her parents, who travel from Missouri to watch all of her meets. Her teammates admit that it’s easy to support her because she is so supportive of them.

“Alaina comes in everyday ready to work hard. She makes things look effortless because it always comes natural for her,” Jay said. “She is a quiet teammate, but if you need something from her, she is always there for you. We can always count on her to hit her routines and do well in competitions.”

Baker seems to already possess the skills she needs to do well in regionals and advance to nationals, and the support she has from everyone around her might just be the extra factor to take her to the top.

“Alaina is a joy to have on this team. She loves to compete, she gets good grades and she doesn’t complain,” Hicks said. “She’s the dream athlete.”

photo By chad uemera/For the Daily Titan Junior gymnast Alaina Baker gets ready for practice in Titan Gym on April 6.

CALDWELL DYSON: CALLED ON FOR MISSION AT THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UNTIL SEPT. From Page 1

photo courtesy titan media relations NASA astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson graduated from CSUF in 1993.

At the ISS, the astronauts joined three crewmembers: Russian cosmonaut and space station commander Oleg Kotov, American astronaut and flight engineer Timothy J. Creamer and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut and flight engineer Soichi Noguchi, who have all inhabited the space station since Dec. 19, the Canadian Broadcast Company reported.

Caldwell Dyson is set to install a grapple on the Functional Cargo Block of the station, which will be accessorized with a robotic arm in the future.

This assignment will involve Caldwell Dyson taking a six-hour

space walk, reported Record Gazette staff writer David James Heiss.

The CSUF Web site indicated that the crew will also be conducting drills in preparation for emergency situations, in addition to running daily checks of the water purification system, air leaks and air circulation fans rechecked.

The crew is also in charge of managing three space shuttles, including the Discovery, which is transporting over seven tons of research equipment and supplies.

Caldwell Dyson graduated from CSUF in 1993 earning a bachelor’s degree in chemistry.

While at CSUF, Caldwell Dyson participated on the track and field team as a sprinter and long jumper.

“Tracy was a really hard worker, very dedicated, as a student and athlete,” said CSUF track and field Head Coach John Elders. “That was just part of her personality.”

During her time her CSUF, she won the Lyle Wallace Award in 1993 for her service in the CSUF chemistry department and was a Big West scholar athlete in 1989-91, according to NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) site. “(Big West Scholars) have to maintain a 3.0 beyond a certain number of units, and be a regular participant on the team,” said Elders.

Afterwards, Caldwell Dyson attended UC Davis, continuing her education and receiving a doctorate in chemistry in 1997.

According to JSC, the CSUF alumna was accepted into the NASA astronaut program in 1998 and by 1999, she was testing the Russian software and hardware for the ISS. In 2000, Caldwell Dyson won the Superior Accomplishment Award and in 2001 the NASA Go the Extra Mile Award.

The California native made her first venture into space in 2007 that only lasted 12 days and 18 hours.

“Having someone from CSUF who is working on a space station with NASA gives the school a good reputation,” said 19-year-old business major Peter Albertine.

Caldwell Dyson will complete her mission at the ISS and return to Earth Sept. 16.