Tuesday September 29, 2009
Since 1960 Volume 85, Issue 14
The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton
INSIDE DT
Volunteers aid in Moon Festival By Nikki Mao
Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com
FEATURES: What to look for at Long Beach’s first Comic Con, page 3
OPINION: This week’s Devil’s Advocate delves into the topic of reviving Titan football, page 4
Members of the Asian community, including members from Association of Chinese Students, showed up on Sunday, Sept. 27 at Arcadia County Park to support and volunteer in celebration of the 2009 Harvest Moon Festival. “This is the second year we have helped at the Harvest Moon Festival, and each year has been memorable,” said Natalie Kha, the president of ACS. “It provides our members with the opportunity to give back to the Asian community and view the different aspects of the Asian culture.” According to LA 18/KSCI-TV, the event organizer, Asian food, music and performances were offered to entertain around 50,000 people who attended this event. The Moon festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn festival falls on Oct. 3 this year and is one of the most celebrated holidays in the Chinese calendar. It is a date that parallels the autumn and spring equinoxes of the solar calendar, when the moon is at its fullest and roundest, according to their Web site. “Members of different ethnicities come out to see the various performances such as the opening lion dance and the fan dance. Then they leave the event with new knowledge about the culture, memories with friends and free stuff from all the booths,” Kha said. As one of the two most important holidays in the lunar calendar, the Harvest Moon Festival is widely celebrated among Asian countries. Thus, members of ACS were “working really hard at the event in order to gain experiences about learning the Chinese culture and being active in the community at the same time,” said Jonathan Cheng, a junior finance major and ACS’ vice president. The ACS was approved on May 15, 2008, with the intention of creating a network for Cal State Fullerton students with a background or an interest in the Chinese culture; they currently have 100 members
By Ron fu/Daily Titan Staff Photographer Jack the Dog high-fives children at the Harvest Moon Festival in Arcadia on Sunday, Sept. 27. The Association of Chinese Students club from Fullerton also volunteered their time at the event.
Tusk Force boosts spirit By Kymberly Snew
Daily Titan Asst. News Editor news@dailytitan.com
SPORTS:
Former Titan baseball player Justin Turner called up to the big leagues, page 6
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Summer is not over. Cal State Fullerton students have one last chance to participate in fun summer activities and show school spirit by attending this year’s Titan Tusk Force spirit week, “Fall Back into Summer.” A pep rally kicked off this week in the Becker Amphitheatre and on Titan Walk with music, performances and fun spirit games to win prizes which include free food, snow cones, popcorn and candy. “The pep rally was to pump people up about the spirit week and to let students know about the events that will be going on this week,” said Michelle Vinal, administrative director for the Titan Tusk Force. The events coordinator of Titan Tusk Force, Dwayne Mason, was able to came up with the theme for spirit week, “Fall Back into Summer,” and helped coordinate the events that will occur throughout the week. “I was really, really pleased with the pep rally turnout and how we started the spirit week; it was better than I expected,” said Mason. “We got a lot of support from the ASI executive staff, great support from Greeks and the spirit squad. Dance and hip hop teams came to perform.” Spirit week will continue today with a fashion show. ASI Productions Street Team and Titan Tusk Force members will be modeling clothes from the Titan Shops at the Becker Amphitheatre from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. “It is the 50th anniversary for the Titan Shops, and they will be having blowout sales and will be selling their orange Fullerton hats for $5; its original price is $20,” Vinal said. As the Titan Shops celebrate 50 years of service to the CSUF community, there will be a day of games, give-aways and deals. There will be a “sweet savings” event for students to pick a candy and unwrap deals. You can win from 20 percent to 50 percent off your next Titan Shops purchase at a “secret sale” from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. and a Titan Gear Grab ‘n’ Go following the fashion show. Two students will be picked from a drawing, which will begin at 9 a.m.
The winners will be announced at the ASI fashion show and must be present to win. Students will be given 60 seconds to fit as much Titan gear as they can into a JanSport backpack. Students with the most Titan pride will have their chance to express it on Wednesday at the tailgate before the men’s soccer game against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Titan Tusk Force will be in Lot G across from the soccer field from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. There will be competitions for students to participate in, a poster contest and the search for the student with the most school spirit. Students who demonstrate their Titan pride will win two gift cards, one to Yogurtland and another to In-N-Out Burger. “You can be face painted, whatever you think will be the most school spirited,” Vinal said. The poster contest will allow students to show their Titan pride and win a prize. The poster can be made before or during the tailgate while supplies last. They cannot show profanity or offensive words, and must support the CSUF’s soccer team, or stir up rivalry against Cal Poly. As a Titan Tusk Force member, Kim Ferrer, 19, kinesiology major said she joined the group at her freshman orientation to become involved on campus, meet new people and to go to games. “Going to games allows us to meet other supporters who are equally excited about the sport,” Ferrer said. “We get a huge turnout and great attendance to games when there is a tailgate. Everyone loves free food.” Among other events, the tailgaters “will be able to participate in fun spirit games such as team relays and pie-searching contests that will have students search through pie filled with whipped cream,” Mason said. Spirit week is a way for Titan Tusk Force members to become accessible to the student body, “we are spirited, loud, and accept everyone who wants to be a part of the Titan Tusk Force, we do not judge anyone based on an application, but it’s a way to show student pride,” Mason added. The last day to show CSUF pride is on Oct. 1 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. at the Titan Student Union Pub where students can
and always stay involved with others in the Asian community, according to their Web site. Besides celebrating and sharing the importance of Chinese culture, ACS members do have their own expectations toward the event. “My personal goals were to help out the community of my heritage and meet fellow involved peers. It’s a great time for the Chinese and Chinese-Americans to get together, learning and appreciating their culture,” said Roger Leu, a senior sociology major also a member of ACS. Tim Pham, a senior political science major, attended the celebration because he thought it was a good way to meet cute girls. At the same time, Cheng considered the significance of the Harvest Moon Festival and that it “is not only to learn, but also to get the organization (ACS) recognized and to be involved in the Chinese community on and off campus.” More than seven groups of cars brought over approximately twenty ACS members who volunteered for two shifts. The morning shift was from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with the afternoon shift from 12:30 to 5:00 p.m., said Crystal Ang, a business major student and the community liaison of ACS. “We didn’t spend any money on this event, but we got a lot from it. Every volunteer received a free shirt, lunch, and we all had a great time,” she added. The festival included various performers of dance, music and culture groups. YouTube singer David Choi and the winners of the third season of “America’s Best Dance Crew,” Quest Crew, gave their best on the stage to the visitors. Ang said she was lucky enough to be able to work backstage this year, and met some of the performers, such as Quest Crew, Paul Dateh and AJ Rafael. “I want ACS members to get involved in the community, but at the same time I want everyone to have fun, I think the Harvest Moon Festival did just that,” Ang said. “By volunteering in this event, we shared a great bonding experience to work together and gained leadership skills as well.”
Ready to rally
By jeremiah magan/Daily Titan Opinion Editor Rodrigo Calderon and other activists prepare for today’s protest by creating signs in front of Aloha Java café last night. Painted signs laid across the café’s tables among colored markers, coffee, wooden stakes and other supplies. The protest will begin at noon in the Quad.
“Win a Date” with an ASI leader. Mason and events coordinator, Melyssa Dela Cruz, who is also one of the co-directors of Camp Titan, will host the event. Interested students must bid at least $5 to win a date with a student leader. The winner of the date will have dinner, go bowling
and use the billiard tables provided in the Underground TSU for free. “This is a way to raise money for the ASI philanthropy and Camp Titan,” Vinal said. “ASI members will go bid to win a date because they know who the money is going to, we take these kids to heart.”
Page Two
IN OTHER NEWS INTERNATIONAL
COurtesy MCT XMap showing range of Iran’s Shahab-3 missile and number of U.S. troops in the region; Iran announced it test-fired its Shahab-3 missile, which is capable of reaching Israel and U.S. military targets in the Middle East and parts of southeastern Europe.
NATIONAL
Former CA lawmaker, unindicted co-conspirator
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (MCT) – Federal prosecutors have formally named former Republican Rep. John Doolittle as an unindicted co-conspirator in a corruption case against one of Doolittle’s former aides. In documents filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. last week, the government also named Doolittle’s wife, Julia, and nine other people as co-conspirators of Kevin A. Ring. Neither Doolittle nor his wife have been charged with a crime. They could not be immediately reached for comment Monday.
STATE
Pro-eater slaughters locals on ‘dog’ day afternoon
TEHAMA (MCT) – Tito Camarillo would have been crowned King of the Corn Dog Saturday night, had it not been for chance. Camarillo took Thursday’s final qualifier of the inaugural Corn Dog Eating Contest at the Tehama District Fair, packing away seven dogs in five minutes. He was poised for victory in Saturday’s finals. But chance brought renowned competitive eater Patrick Vandam from the land of 1,000 lakes to central California to visit friends, while he applies for graduate school. Vandam walked away with the $1,000 grand prize, provided by vendor Milo Franks in celebration of his 40th year selling corn dogs at the Tehama District Fair. When the buzzer sounded, Vandam was the winner, but Camarillo made a fine showing as a rookie, losing to the experienced Vandam by just two dogs at 11.
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 Skyler Blair at 657-278-5815 or at execeditor@dailytitan.com with issues about this policy or to report any errors.
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September 29, 2009
A new kind of service animal
(MCT) – Most people would panic if a 4-foot boa constrictor draped around their neck gave them a squeeze. Daniel Greene, 46, credits the snake’s embrace for helping him live a fuller life. So much so, in fact, that he has vowed to fight a tabled proposal by the federal government that would prevent him and many others from taking what they consider their service animals into stores and restaurants. He said use of his reptilian aide gives him greater confidence when he leaves home. “I was walking around playing Russian roulette a lot of the time,” he said of the period before he began using the snake, named Redrock, as a service animal. Greene, who lives outside Shelton, suffers from epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by unprovoked and reoccurring seizures. He said the snake, its reddishbrown body draped around him like a necktie when he’s out in public, senses when a seizure is imminent and gives him a light squeeze. The warning gives him enough time to take medication to head off the attack, alert someone it’s coming or move to an area where the thrashing is not disruptive. Greene blacks out during these episodes, but his wife, Karen, said the snake’s warning has headed off about a half-dozen seizures in Redrock’s five months with Greene. This month, Greene has had four seizures at night – she refuses to let the boa constrictor share their bed – but none during the day. “It’s very rare now that he has had a seizure during the day,” she said. Greene said he learned of snakes’ prescient ability by accident about a year ago with another snake, a 3-foot female python named Gaia. He has another python, Bronze, who will be Redrock’s successor when he grows too large. He could grow up to be 7 feet long. Greene took medications to control his seizures, but said they weren’t always successful and were damaging his liver. A study by University of Florida researchers concluded that some dogs have an innate ability to detect an oncoming seizure in their owners but noted the success of these canines depends on the handler’s awareness to their alerting behavior. The researchers said further research is warranted to identify and further train these dogs, although it appears none has taken place. Greene said he couldn’t have such a dog because his wife is allergic. Darryl Heard, a University of Florida researcher who studies snakes, said he’s unaware of any information that this ability extends to snakes, although he added that “it’s certainly possible.” Snakes have acute sensitivity to vibration and could pick up warnings in the body before a seizure, similar to how tremors precede a volcanic eruption, he said. “You might get subtle muscle vibrations or there may be changes in
blood flow that the snake is detecting,” said Heard, the associate professor of zoological medicine at the university’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Heard said there are risks in using a snake in this manner. A boa constrictor could mistake Greene in the
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You might get subtle muscle vibrations or there may be changes in the blood flow that the snake is detecting. – Darryl Heard,
Associate professor of zoological medicine
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Neighborhood waits in darkness By katelin paiz
Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com
The residential area behind Troy High School has had no power going to their street lights for more than two weeks. The outage will
likely not be mended for at least an additional two weeks, according to a press release from the City of Fullerton. Ninety street lights failed on Sept. 10, following a malfunction. Because the power system is dated, a new
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The Daily Titan is a student publication, printed every Monday through Thursday. The Daily Titan operates independently of Associated Students, College of Communications, CSUF administration and the CSUF System. The Daily Titan has functioned as a public forum since inception. Unless implied by the advertising party or otherwise stated, advertising in the Daily Titan is inserted by commercial activities or ventures identified in the advertisements themselves and not by the university. Such printing is not to be construed as written or implied sponsorship, endorsement or investigation of such commercial enterprises. The Daily Titan allocates one issue to each student for free. Copyright ©2009 Daily Titan
Mark Richert, public policy director for the American Foundation for the Blind, said, “frankly, a no arachnid or no reptile rule is a sensitive thing in federal policy,” according to a transcript of a public hearing on the proposed amendments posted online. On Jan. 21, the day after President Barack Obama’s inauguration, the Department of Justice withdrew its draft final rules from consideration. It responded to a White House directive to defer adopting any new rules until they could be reviewed and approved by officials appointed by the new president. The Department of Justice did not respond to questions about the status of the proposed rules related to service animals. Lindstrand said she assumes they are dead. “I haven’t heard a whisper about it since way before the election,” she said. Like his serpentine companion, Greene remains vigilant. He supports changes in the law that a service animal must have a universally recognized badge or identification to be allowed into a building. He opposes restrictions on the species of animals that can be considered service animals. “I’m not fighting just to have my snakes,” he said. “I’m fighting for people to have true service animals.”
midst of a seizure for struggling prey Redrock would fall under a definiand apply a life-threatening choke tion of a service animal based on Greene’s assertion that he trained hold, he said. “I certainly wouldn’t have a boa the snake. Greene said he acclimated constrictor around my neck,” Heard Redrock to people and sounds and made him “public-friendly.” said. Last year, the Department of Greene said he removes the snake when given a warning and hands Justice, which enforces the ADA, him to his wife or another compan- proposed narrowing the definition ion. Redrock has never exhibited of service animal to a “dog or other aggressive behavior toward him or domestic animal.” It later reportedly narrowed the definition down to other residents, he said. “It takes a special kind of snake only dogs. to be a service animal,” he said. Around town, Greene said residents generally are curious about Redrock, but some are scared. He said he’s always respectful about people’s fears of snakes. He typically sends his wife in to notify employees of a store or restaurant that her husband is coming in with a most unusual companion. The proliferation of wild animals, such as Redrock and also including birds, monkeys and miniature horses, for use as service animals prompted the U.S. Department of Justice last year to seek to remove some species from coverage under the Americans for Disabilities Act. Federal and state laws require businesses to allow people with disabilities to bring in their service animals. The Americans with Disabilities Act defines a service animal as “any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability.” Therapy or comfort animals are not covered under the ADA. The law as written requires businesses and other public accommodations to take people’s word that they Photo Courtesy Mct have a service animal. A person with a service animal Daniel Greene has his 4 1/2-foot boa constrictor, Red Rock, wrapped around his neck during a can be asked if he or she has shopping trip in Shelton, Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 23. The snake works as a service animal, a disability but isn’t required alerting Greene to small increases in his body temperature that indicate the beginning of dangerous to show proof. The state epileptic seizures. (Tony Overman/The Olympian/MCT)
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does not require service animals to be certified or specifically identified. Greene wears a badge with Redrock’s picture on it to remind people of his rights under federal law. Laura Lindstrand, a civil rights specialist for the Washington State Human Rights Commission, said
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By katelin paiz/Daily Titan Staff Photographer A residential area behind Troy High School experienced an electrical outage. Streets affected by the outage are Chapman Avenue, Acacia Avenue, State College Boulevard and north of Dorothy Lane.
part will have to be manufactured through Southern California Edison and will take until around Oct. 13 to replace, said Pat Buttress, Edison public affairs manager for North Orange County. “This has happened before because this is an older system,” Buttress said. City officials normally fix street lights within a couple of days, but this is a special circumstance because the new equipment will have to be manufactured; their only choice is to wait, said Lyman Otley, building and facilities division superintendent at the Fullerton Maintenance Services Department. “It’s not a good thing, but that’s the way it is,” said Otley. “Edison explained that because this is an older-style circuit, there are no replacement parts available.” The outage has some residents who venture out at night worried for their safety. “It’s too dangerous,” said 22-yearold finance major Tam Nguyen, who resides in the area. “My sister and her roommate usually go to the TSU to study, and they come home around 2 a.m. ... so I think that there is a high possibility that somebody is going to grab them.” Nguyen is not alone in his concern. The City of Fullerton has been receiving calls from residents but
maintains that there is nothing that they can do about the situation, said Otley. “I just think the city should provide street lights one way or another,” said Aileen Hollowell, 83, who has lived in the area for 54 years. In regards to her safety, however, Hollowell seemed unconcerned. “This is just a very good neighborhood, and it has always been.” Otley is quick to point out that despite the loss of street lights, there has not been a big increase in crime. Even with the lights being off for weeks, some residents are completely unaware of the outage. Many people in the area are surprised to hear that their street lights had been out for over two weeks. One of these is Jonah Cruz, 19, a freshman at CSUF and local resident. After hearing about the problem, Cruz maintained that he is not concerned. “I don’t think it’s a big deal,” said Cruz. “It’s pretty bright anyway because of the school lights.” The area that is affected by the outage is bordered by Chapman Avenue, Acacia Avenue, State College Boulevard and the area just north of Dorothy Lane. In addition, the outage only affects street lights in the area behind Troy High School, and not houses or businesses, according to the press release.
September 29, 2009
FEATURES
3
Theatre & Dance Fall Long Beach makes ‘Con’nections 2009 Preview City’s first annual comic book convention attracts superhero enthusiasts By Nicole Park
Daily Titan Staff Writer features@dailytitan.com
By James Bean/For the Daily Titan Nikolai Ivanov, portrayed by Ben Lambert, left, is in deep thought about his dying wife while Sasha, played by Hannah Parsons, professes her love to him in Anton Checkov’s “Ivanov,” opening Oct. 9 in Cal State Fullerton’ intimate Hallberg Theatre.
By James Bean
For the Daily Titan
features@dailytitan.com
Who among those reading this article would like to see what would happen if Snoopy from Charles Schultz’s comic strip “Peanuts” were to die of rabies, leaving the rest of the Peanuts gang to deal with their sexual frustration, eating disorders and budding drug and alcohol abuse? I see I only have some of you. What about if four incredibly prestigious and wealthy couples were to have a dinner party, only to find that the host has accidentally shot himself in the earlobe, causing deafness, hilarity and the deep desire of the politically-affiliated guests to keep their name out of the paper? How about if a schoolteacher from Mississippi runs from her sexually deviant past by her sister and her sister’s verbally and physically abusive husband? All of this, and much more has been happening only footsteps away from your biology classroom. The award-winning Cal State Fullerton Department of Theater and Dance has begun its fall season, headlining with Tony Awardwinning musicals and plays such as Neil Simon’s “Rumors,” a riproaring comedy about what would happen if the host of a very posh dinner party were to go missing, with only the gunshot from his bedroom to tell the story. “Everyone in the cast is a comedian in their own right,” said junior Bachelor of the Fine Arts acting student Collin Hurst. “We all are just using our own comedic skill to bring out the comedy in the script, and the script is hilarious to begin with.” “Rumors” begins its run on Oct. 2 in the Young Theatre on campus, and will be the first of the fall season to open. Opening next in CSUF’s nearby Grand Central Theatre in Santa Ana are two one-act plays. Woody Allen’s critically acclaimed “God” will have a back-to-back run with Andrea Green’s “For Tiger Lilies Out of Season.” Woody Allen’s “God” spoofs the business of acting, writing, directing, and even being a human being. The non-
sequitur show often steps outside its realm of reality to talk to the audience, and the improvisational skills of this cast will make this a show no one should want to miss. “For Tiger Lilies Out of Season” follows a woman recently diagnosed with a malignant breast tumor. The show follows her courage as she experiences the reality of cancer. These two incredibly contrasting shows will make for a very entertaining and eye-opening night at the theater. The night of one-act plays begins Oct. 8. Next on the roster is Anton Chekhov’s “Ivanov,” a stunning Russian classic about the brilliant Nikolai Ivanov whose dying wife has caused him to question his friends around him, and the world he lives in. “For me, the show is about insecurity,” said senior BFA acting student Andrew Campbell. “It’s a play about characters that put on a front, and many of them have a jaded view of reality.” The show also features veteran actress Svetlana Efremova-Reed, an acting professional who regularly teaches acting classes in Los Angeles and heads the acting classes of the more advanced students. The show is the only one of the season to take place in the Hallberg Theatre, the most intimate of CSUF’s four theaters. “Ivanov” opens on Oct. 9. A brand-new guest director, Jon Lawrence Rivera, has been brought in to direct this year’s main stage musical, the Tony Award-winning “Miss Saigon.” The show follows the tale of a Vietnamese bar girl who falls in love with an American GI in the heat of a war-torn 1970s Saigon. “I really want this musical to be seen as much more than singing and dancing. It affects me really personally, and I would love for the audience, for one night, to see the journey of these characters and to really experience what it was like in the ‘70s during the war,” said senior musical theater BFA student Jacqueline Nguyen. “I’m really excited, though, because I get to play my dream role.” Acclaimed and emotionally staggering, this musical is not one to miss. “Miss Saigon,” will be in the Little Theatre on campus and begins on Oct. 23. The next show to hit our Grand Central Theatre in Santa Ana is the hilarious “Musical of Musicals (The Musical!),” which spoofs the tradi-
By James Bean/For the Daily Titan A drunken Cassie, played by Ruby Hanger, flirts with Lenny, Collin Hurst, in an attempt to infuriate her husband in Neil Simon’s “Rumors.” Performances of the play will begin Oct. 2 in the Young Theatre on campus.
tion of musical theater with five very stylized acts, which imitate every major musical composer from Rodgers and Hammerstein, to Stephen Sondheim. Each act has one very relatable theme in common: not being able to pay rent. Any fan of musical theater, or even those who enjoyed the film adaptations of “Chicago” and “Sweeney Todd” will be in stitches by the end. “Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)” will begin its run on Oct. 30. The Pulitzer Prize-winning “A Streetcar Named Desire” will follow “Rumors” in the Young Theatre in mid-November. A show that has been called “one of the greatest stories in American theater” by critics around the world, “A Streetcar Named Desire” follows the tale of disgraced southern bell English teacher, Blanche Du Bois, to her sister’s apartment in New Orleans. “Blanche has just been thrown into this world,” said grad student Brian Rickel, referring to the gritty world of post-war New Orleans. Blanche’s presence, although welcomed by her sister, Stella, creates a serious rift in Stella and husband Stanley’s animalistic and sexual relationship. The conflict between husband and wife, and eventually between Blanche and Stanley, reachs a fever pitch leading to a gripping climax. “A Streetcar Named Desire” will begin its run on Nov. 13. The closing show for this fall’s Grand Central Theatre season is the quaintly titled, “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead,” directed by the award-winning Patrick Pearson. Fans of Charles Schultz’s “Peanuts” may recognize the characters as very similar to those in the comic strip, but the clever renaming of the characters has helped this play survive a possible copyright infringement. “Dog Sees God” begins with the funeral of CB (Charlie Brown)’s beloved dog. Themes of budding homosexuality, marijuana use, and paternal abuse run rampant in this sometimes serious, sometimes hilarious play. “Dog Sees God” begins its run on Nov. 19. Finally, the fall season ends with a bang, as the Fall Dance Theatre begins to wrap up the semester of drama and comedy. With a theme of the most precious and frail moments of life, the Fall Dance Theatre promises to be the best date-night in southern California. The Fall Dance Theatre will begin on Nov. 19. This fall’s season of theater and dance holds two distinct advantages over other forms of entertainment: the first being that it is much cheaper than a movie. The average movie ticket costs between $11.50 to $13.50, depending on the movie and theater. The second advantage is a very simple one: performances at the theater are truly more memorable. I can remember distinctly every show I have seen live, and most movies I have seen form into a giant blur in my head. There is something about watching the living, breathing people making the story unfold before my eyes that tops cinema in every way possible. Tickets can be purchased at the box-office near the Nutwood Parking Structure or on www.tickets.com.
“Comic Con is the ultimate con. It’s a bit of a risk to try to pull it off in Long Beach when we already have it in San Diego. All I have to say is, if you’re a fanboy, and you don’t attend at least one of these each year, then you are not a fan, you’re just a boy,” criminal justice major Matt Jensen, 24, said. The event Jensen refers to is the inaugural Long Beach Comic Con, scheduled to be held Oct. 2 - 4 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Comic Con, short for “comic book convention,” caters to the eclectic comic book culture and subcultures. “I look forward to it here in Long Beach, and I can’t wait to see what it’ll be like. I mean, Anime Expo and (San Diego) Comic-Con have exploded into such huge conventions that I look forward to experiencing something newer and smaller,” business major Elizabeth Plavdjian, 22, said. Indeed, the Long Beach event will be much smaller than San Diego’s seasoned annual fan convention. Drew Seldin of Seldin Gross Public Relations projected an attendance number between 7,000 to 10,000, whereas the San Diego event in July boasts an estimated 125,000 attendees. “It’s a fraction of the size of SDCC. It’s taken San Diego ComicCon decades to grow to the size and stature they enjoy today and there’s no shortcut to achieving that level of success and recognition. We feel really lucky to have a few film screenings set up, but nothing like people have come to expect at Comic-Con,” Seldin said of LBCC. Some comic enthusiasts on campus are wary about their expectations being filled due to the infancy of the new Long Beach con. “I won’t attend Long Beach Comic Con this year, mainly because this is its first year. I have no idea who’s in charge or whatever, so for all I know
PHOTO COURTESY MCT Legendary comic book writer Stan Lee, creator of such notable characters as SpiderMan, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four and the Incredible Hulk will among the guests appearing at the Long Beach Comic Con Oct. 2 - 4.
it could be boring or a big disaster. I’ll read up on how this year’s con goes, and maybe I’ll attend next year if I like what I hear,” Kevin Lam, 18, said. The freshman visual arts major did see an advantage of having a con nearby. “It’s really convenient having a comic convention near CSUF. San Diego Comic-Con is a couple of hours away, so in order to attend all four days I would have had to get a hotel (room) or drive a lot. Because LBCC is so close, I would be able to just drive back home and attend the next day.” Seldin points out another advantage to having two yearly cons in the region. “We have a robust and diverse dealer floor, so people can shop for unique and hard-to-find items. This is complemented by an incredible turnout from the comic book publishers, who are sure to impress attendees.” “When we envisioned our inaugural Long Beach Comic Convention, we saw an event that was going to be a crowd-pleasing event for fans of all
things pop culture. With Thomas Jane and an iconic creator like Berkeley Breathed, we continue to build on our vision for the show. Having these popular, talented artists at our show, lets fans know that Long Beach Comic Con is here to stay,” event planner Martha Donato, president of MAD Event Management said in a press release on Sept. 8. The comic and mass media guest list, including industry greats such as Stan “The Man” Lee, Jim Lee, Berkeley Breathed, Thomas Jane, Jeph Loeb, Seth Green and the rest of the creative team from the animated television series “Robot Chicken.” “Comic-Con has become so mainstream, attracting even Hollywood to use it as a venue to promote and test out the waters for its new movies. So I guess the “nerds” are the new cool kids. But I guess we knew that all along,” Plavdjian said. The full list of artists, celebrities and exhibitors can be found online at longbeachcomiccon.com. Tickets are $25 per day, $45 for the whole weekend. Children 12 and under are admitted for free with a paid adult accompanying them.
OPINION
4
September 29, 2009
Child porn or family tradition? By Summer Rogers
Daily Titan Staff Writer opinion@dailytitan.com
Should football be brought back to CSUF and could the school support the team?
By Gilbert Gutierrez III Daily Titan Staff Writer opinion@dailytitan.com
What would it take for Cal State Fullerton to bring football back to Orange County? Why not bring it back? Sure, the CSU system is in economic turmoil – forcing students, staff and faculty to face the difficulties of fee increases, furlough days and decreases in enrollment for the next two years. But by the end of those two years, the university should have compiled the necessary finances and saved a bundle for the school to work with. We can expect a great deal of support from fundraising if the necessary organization is done. The last time football graced CSUF with its presence was in fall 1992. The reason for the team’s departure was the fact that it was too expensive for the school to afford the Division I-A program. President Milton Gordon said in 1992 that the athletics department would save an estimated $425,000 from the team’s cut. But he also promised that the team would return in 1993 in the Division I-AA level. But the university has yet to restore the team or its funding. Many of the teams on campus
today acquire their funds from fundraising and alumni to begin with, so how is it that the university cannot allow football supporters to fund Orange County’s big and bad brawlers on the grid iron? Let’s be honest, folks, $1 million could be all it takes for a football team to perform for one solid year. The boosters here in Fullerton may not have deep pockets, but with proper research and an extensive amount of support in advertisement, the community can look forward to seeing a new-and-improved football program. Unity and passion come from the coordination and love of the game of football. Students, faculty and families all across the CSUF community would come together at Titan Stadium to cheer on our beloved athletes. In 1991, Robbie Nayman, vice president of Student Affairs said, “A lot can be said for what people who participate in intercollegiate sports learn from the experience, like leadership and initiative.” Just think about how much of an influence our student-athletes would gain from by having their chance to shine on the football field in front of a deeply appreciative Titan community. Now picture this, a sunny Saturday comes along and the CSUF campus comes to life for something more than extensive lectures and research papers. At Titan Stadium, students can dare to witness the mysticism of relentless tackling, miraculous catches from a Hail Mary pass, or an interception being brought back and scored for a touchdown. Call me selfish, but I think it’s time to ask yet another question: “Are you ready for some football?”
By Marc Donez
For the Daily Titan
opinion@dailytitan.com
I’m a realist. I’m not oblivious to the glaring fact that the university, as a whole, just would not support intercollegiate football. The strongest of evidence lies within our student body. You would think a school with 37,000 students could support a football team, right? Wrong. We are horrible at supporting anything that does not involve personal gain. The majority of Cal State Fullerton students come to school, sit through lectures, take their exams and then fight traffic so they can get home in time to catch “Dancing With the Stars.” Don’t believe me? Last spring, students voted on a referendum that would have increased fees, subsequently providing the athletic department with the necessary resources normally needed to compete at a higher level. The referendum did not pass, leaving the athletic department scrambling for money – something they are growing more than accustomed to. Yet, the most shocking detail about the voting was not the referendum being defeated, but rather the voting turnout. Not even 3,000 votes, on a cam-
pus of more than 37,000, were accounted for. Personal gain could not be achieved by voting, so why even do it? Not convinced yet? Attendance for men’s basketball, which is arguably the most popular sport on campus, is abysmal. In my two plus years here at CSUF, I have been to one soldout men’s basketball game at Titan Gym, which houses 4,000 seats. Most men’s basketball games are lucky to draw an “announced” 1,500 fans. In reality, only about 1,000 fans show up to watch a team that isn’t even two years removed from a NCAA tournament birth; the first in a generation for CSUF. As much as I love our athletics program, we just do not have the foundation, both as a school and as a fan base, to support high-caliber intercollegiate football. The student body just does not care. And because of that, the administration does not care. I cringe at the thought of football actually being reinstated at our beloved commuter school. I cringe at the thought of our student-athletes being greeted to about 3,000 fans in 10,000-seat Titan Stadium. Our student-athletes deserve to have the resources and support to compete on a high level. They deserve far better treatment than what our student body gives them. But what do we care? Athletics don’t affect us. It doesn’t enhance our degree, make our university more recognizable or bring a sense of unity to a campus that desperately seeks it. Nope, we have to fight the traffic before “Dancing With the Stars” comes on.
So you’ve just started getting serious with a new guy/gal, and now it’s time to bring them home to meet Mom and Dad. The first thing Mom does is whip out the naked baby pictures. You are embarrassed to death, but you think it’s all right because your date probably has naked baby pictures too, which their mom will show to you. While being embarrassed to death, does it ever cross your mind, even for a moment, that your parents are perverts; or even worse, child pornographers because they took naked baby pictures of you? Mine and everyone’s answer should be, “Hell no!” Everyone has naked baby pictures, and I’m sure that everyone has tried to either take the photos from their mothers to prevent a situation like the one described. Recently, a family in Peoria, Ariz. was torn apart and put through hell because the parents took naked baby pictures of their daughters. A.J. and Lisa Demaree took 144 family photos to a local Wal-Mart to be developed at the photo center. Among the photos were innocent pictures of their three daughters at bath time. However, a photo developer at Wal-Mart didn’t see the photos as innocent. The photo developer called the authorities, informing them that there were nude photos of the Demaree children. The police launched an investigation and searched the Demarees’ home. The search turned up video and more photos of the children sans clothing. According to the article, “Bath Time Photos Prompt Child Porn Allegations’,” by ABC News: “A report issued by local authorities described the photos as ‘child erotica’ and ‘sex
exploitation.’” The Demarees’ lawyer, Dick Treon, retorted that the person who filed the police report was “unqualified to make such judgments.” After the police investigation, Child Protection Services took the three Demaree daughters, aged 18 months, 4 and 5 years, for more than a month and placed them in state care. The Demarees’ names were placed on a sex offender registry for a time, and Lisa Desmaree was suspended from her job at a school for a year. Fortunately, after examining the photos, a judge threw out the charges against the Demarees. According to legal expert Dana Cole in the ABC News article, “in cases of child pornography authorities need to prove sexual intent on the part of the parents, and that after the judge reviewed the case and the Demarees underwent psychological evaluation, it was determined that there was no such intent.” The Demarees are now taking legal action against Wal-Mart, the city, and the state for the child pornography allegations. I can’t believe that this country has gotten to the point where parents now have to live in fear of taking photos of their own children, all because someone else may see them as pornographic, erotic or inappropriate. It’s an American tradition spanning back years that parents embarrass their children by showing family, close friends and new boyfriends/ girlfriends nude baby pictures. What is this world coming to when people are not allowed to capture moments in their children’s lives because they might be perceived differently by someone who was not even meant to see the photos in the first place? What’s next, not being able to take photos of your children playing with family pets because someone might see it as an obscure form of child bestiality? Come on.
Nerdgasm “Exploring the highs and lows of nerd culture”
Petitioning sanity by ashleigh johnson
Daily Titan Copy Editor opinion@dailytitan.com
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away (the Internet), a mighty team of warriors banded together to force William Shatner to attend their much-touted “Star Trek” convention in their small hometown. And so, the brave warriors brushed the Top Ramen crumbs from their Spock T-shirts, picked up their petition forms and bravely ventured where no nerd dared venture before. Outside. But the cruel sun burned their pale flesh, the jocks stole their lunch money and their cherished T-shirts were permanently stained a sickly yellow by the sweat that poured from their bodies. They quickly retreated to the cool sanctuary of their mothers’ basements, frightened and confused by the strange world that they had just ventured into. Many moons (and Mountain Dew bottles) later, a dungeon master by the name of Francis decided to fight fire with fire. If he and his people could not venture to the nearest Wal-Mart in order to stand outside and collect signatures, then he would use the lure of convenience to hamper the common man’s ability to petition. Thus, using the mystic arts of HTML and C++, online petitions were born. Though these accursed documents would call attention to a cause if done properly, their legitimacy would undoubtedly be called
into question when 16-year-old girls endlessly petitioned for the right to have sex with Robert Patterson. This, coupled with the fact that it would be difficult to verify signatures on a virtual petition, would lead to the downfall of many a cause. These were dark times indeed. Several years later, at a budget meeting for the Daily Titan … “We are spending way too much of the budget on ponies and professional hitmen, and this has to stop. We’re trying to raise money, people!” I heard Skyler Blair, Daily Titan executive editor, say once I regained consciousness. Nail polish remover is a helluva drug. I was suddenly overcome by the vision of a choir of angels signing a glorious melody as a soft, white light enveloped me. A gentle breeze tussled my hair and I felt myself beginning to attain total enlightenment. I knew what I had to do. “Puppy terrordome!” I shrieked suddenly, sitting bolt upright in my chair. My colleagues stared at me in surprise – a couple even backed away from me slowly, my genius clearly overwhelming them. “Two puppies enter! Only one leaves!” I yelled again, gesturing wildly. “We can give them teeny, little swords and everything.” The entire staff was silent for several minutes. “What?” Someone asked, breaking the tension. I sighed. “All right, chuckleheads. Y’all listen carefully now, and I’ll make sure to go slow. Puppy terror-
dome. Two puppies ent—.” “We heard what you said,” said someone else, rudely cutting me off. “I think the ‘what?’ was meant to be incredulous. As in ‘what the hell is wrong with you?’” “So … Is that a yes?” “If it will get you out of the room, then yes. Just take this petition and—.” But I had already burst out of the room before Blair could finish; my tinfoil hat (it keeps the government out of my brain) angled jauntily on my head. I did not question my fate at the time, but after several weeks without food and water, I became desperate for signatures. One day, as I stood outside of a local Walgreens during a storm I was approached by an emaciated-looking man in a trench coat. “Hey, Baby, the name’s Frances,” squeaked the man, taking care to cover his freakishly white skin lest he get burned through the thick layer of clouds. “Wanna get some signatures the easy way?” I was young and desperate. Easy prey. Before I knew it, I was spamming thousands of online message boards with worthless petitions. But despite my efforts, I yielded zero results. Suddenly, I realized what had happened: I was wasting my time. If I continued down the online path, the puppy terrordome – from its Labyrinth of Hate, to the tiger pits and to the McDonald’s play castle – would never reach fruition. And so I parted from the dark path. My quest had only just begun.
For the record Articles written for the Daily Titan by columnists, other Cal State Fullerton students or guests do not necessarily reflect the view of the Daily Titan or Daily Titan Editorial Board. Only the editorials are representative of the views of the Daily Titan Editorial Board.
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Have
else you
9/29/09
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7 Ancient 8 Dancer Charisse 9 Separate grain from chaff 10 __ Julia, who played Gomez Addams 11 Opposed to 12 Hissed “Hey, you!� 14 Football’s “Prime Time� Sanders 17 Wharton’s “__ Frome� 18 Perform better than 22 Former quarterback Dan 23 Being aired, as a sitcom 24 Muscle cramp, e.g. 25 Noticeable navel 26 City near Syracuse 27 Ten-year period 28 Stopped slouching 29 Domed Arctic home 30 Want badly, as chocolate 31 Sharpens 36 River of Florence
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6
Sports
September 29, 2009
Titan called up to bat
photo courtesy of mattbrownphoto.com for the daily titan Justin Turner became the 47th former Titan baseball player to get the call up to the majors when he joined the Baltimore Orioles for a series against the Boston Red Sox.
By Samantha Dabbs For the Daily Titan
sports@dailytitan.com
Another Cal State Fullerton baseball player made it to the majors, just three games before minor league baseball came to an end. Former Titan second baseman Justin Turner joined the Baltimore Orioles after playing three-and-ahalf years of minor league baseball. The 24-year-old CSUF graduate had no idea he was getting called up until he was handed the itinerary to go from Baltimore to Boston by his manager. Turner says that he already had his bags packed in his car to head back home for the off season when he got called into his manager’s office.
Turner credits his time at CSUF as being crucial to getting him where he is today. When Turner takes a look back, he insists that he was nowhere near ready to play professional baseball straight out of high school. “If I didn’t go to Fullerton, I wouldn’t be playing baseball right now,” says Turner. Turner acknowledged the coaching staff at CSUF including current Head Coach Dave Serrano, who recruited him out of high school. Serrano said that Turner’s ability to show up every day to work hard set him apart from many players. Turner said that the coaches at CSUF pay a lot of attention to detail, which now helps him playing professional ball. The former Titan and cur-
rent University of Oregon skipper George Horton described Turner as one of the smartest players he has ever coached. “I am amazed, but not surprised because of his work ethic and instincts for the game,” Horton said when describing his reaction to Turner being called up. Turner was a part of Titan baseball’s 2004 National Championship team and currently holds the highest fielding percentage of middle infielders at CSUF. When asked to comment on his record, Turner seemed as though it was no big deal. “Records are going to get broken,” Turner said. “It’s a pride thing.” According to Horton, Turner’s knowledge for the game made many of the younger CSUF players respect him. Turner said that when he was a freshman, players like Kurt Suzuki, now with the Oakland Athletics, taught him key elements of the game. Because of this, Turner said that he enjoys carrying on the Titan legacy and keeping in touch with the younger players. Senior catcher Billy Marcoe remembers Turner being the main leader of the team when he was a freshman. “I learned how to be a Titan from him,” Marcoe said. Another current Titan, junior infielder Gary Brown, who never played with Turner, often calls the major leaguer for advice. Brown said he looks up to him as a mentor because of Turner’s talent and determination. According to Brown, Turner told him not to try so hard and taught him how to slow the game down. That same advice came into play for Turner during his first major league game while at bat against the Boston Red Sox. Turner says that during his first at bat he was nervous and even shaking a little bit. “I had to slow things down and back off,” Turner said. Turner’s first major league hit came when they matched up against the Yankees. When asked about it, Turner spoke of the excitement he felt after he got the hit. The rookie adds that it was the same night that Derek Jeter broke the record for the most hits of all time at Yankee Stadium.
Post-season Sox hex Angels The Angels have found little postseason success against the Red Sox. By maureen fox
Daily Titan Staff Writer sports@dailytitan.com
Curses are rampant in the history of Major League Baseball, from the belief that discussing a no-hitter while it’s in progress jinxes the pitcher to the curse of the Black Sox, where the 1919 Chicago White Sox team cursed their franchise to lose the playoffs for 90 years by throwing their own World Series. And now, it appears a curse is forming for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, one that causes the Angels to repeatedly lose post-season games against the Boston Red Sox. Since 2004, the Angels have lost the playoffs to the Red Sox three times. While the Angels’ tendency to lose to the Red Sox in the playoffs is relatively new, it is likely the curse is not. This curse could simply be an old one repackaged. In 2004, the Boston Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years. The decades-long drought was popularly known as the “Curse of the Bambino” because it was believed the Red Sox were cursed to lose numerous playoffs the year they traded Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. When the Red Sox finally broke their curse, they swept the Angels to do it. By crushing the Angels to win the 2004 World Series, it seems Boston’s “Curse of the Bambino” has moved west to plague Anaheim. Time and time again, the Angels have lost the playoffs to the Red Sox, despite being the favored team to win in 2004, 2007 and 2008. One could argue the Red Sox infected the Angels with their curse as far back as 1986. After all, in 1986 the Angels were one strike away from heading to the then 26-yearold franchise’s first World Series appearance when they suffered a shocking defeat to the Red Sox. The
photo courtesy mct The Angels’ Erick Aybar turns a double play over Red Sox’s Jason Bay during Game 4 of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts in 2008.
Angels, leading three games to one in a seven game series, needed one more strike to secure the fourth win to beat the Red Sox in the American League Championship. But the Red Sox’s Dave Henderson hit a 9th inning home run that won them the game and put Boston on track to win the next two games, eliminating the Angels from the playoffs. When the Angels finally won the World Series in 2002 as the wild card team, they stunned everyone by upsetting the New York Yankees, the Minnesota Twins and the San Francisco Giants. However, their victory did not include beating the Red Sox. Oddly enough, the Angels’ inability to beat the Red Sox during the playoffs has not spread to the regular season. The Red Sox are a tough opponent, but the Angels hold their own and have often played better than the Red Sox statistically. Since 2004, the Angels have won nine of 17 series against the Red Sox and tied twice. The Angels won five out of nine games and two of three series against the Red Sox this sea-
son alone. The Angels even swept the Red Sox twice, both in 2008, the same year they won eight out of nine games against Boston during the season. So why do the Red Sox continue to cream the Angels during the post season? Is it their star players, such as Jason Bay and Kevin Youkilis? Is it their belief that with the “Curse of the Bambino” ended they are unstoppable? Or is the Angel fans’ belief in this new curse the reason for their increasing lack of faith in their team to defeat the Red Sox? If the Angels hold onto their division lead and make it into the American League Baseball Playoffs in October, they will once again face off with the Red Sox, who hold the wild-card spot. Can the Angels beat the Red Sox, proving the belief in an Angels vs. Red Sox curse is ill-founded? Or will the Red Sox eliminate the Angels again, showing an Angels vs. Red Sox curse is more than just superstition? Buy a ticket, switch on the radio or turn on the TV and watch the drama unfold for yourself.