Daily Titan: Thursday, December 3, 2009

Since 1960 Volume 85, Issue 44

Thursday December 3, 2009

The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

INSIDE DT

FEATURES:

Heavy metal isn’t dead yet, Page 3

Marijuana clinics’ existence analyzed

Federal grant to reinstate classes

By Damon Lowney

By Portia Bode

Daily Titan Asst. News Editor

Daily Titan Staff Writer

The pungent-smelling green plant known as marijuana is edging its way toward social acceptance. The Schedule I drug – grouped with other drugs such as heroin, LSD and ecstasy – was legalized by California for medical use under Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act of 1996. Anyone with a doctor’s recommendation is eligible for a medical marijuana license, which allows patients to exchange money for the drug at dispensaries.

As the drug becomes more mainstream in California and new laws are imposed, dispensaries as they operate currently could be phased out, said Matt (who asked that his last name be withheld), president of the Medical Marijuana Patients Choice Collective, a dispensary in Santa Ana. An Oct. 20 memorandum from David W. Ogden, deputy attorney general, stated state government, “Should not focus federal resources in your States on individuals whose actions are in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws providing for the medical use of marijuana.”

If cannabis is here to stay, patients can expect their cities to instate ordinances to regulate the drug, possibly taking a cue from the Los Angeles City Council, which said that it backs the sale of marijuana for medical purposes.

It will discuss placing an ordinance to limit the number of dispensaries allowed in the city to between 70 and 200, according to the LA Times.

“Here in Orange County it’s starting to look like LA,” Matt said. He also said that dispensaries haven’t been bothered too much. His dispensary is located in Santa Ana, where the sale of medical marijuana is banned but the city hasn’t yet complained about it.

and asked what was being done to fix them. Many told stories of how they knew friends who had abused the system and acquired medical marijuana cards without having a valid medical excuse. In response, the panelists stressed that their dispensaries and clinics do not abuse the system, and they check the validity of medical cards.

Bond continued to explain the ins and outs of running a medical marijuana dispensary. He informed the audience that they are run as non-profit organizations and that in Los Angeles 97.5 percent of dispensaries pay a sales tax, including his.

Former addicts presented an opposing argument to marijuana use.

They shared their experiences with addiction and the effects it had on their day-to-day lives.

Cal State Fullerton received a one-time $1.65 million federal fund in order to offer up to 264 additional courses and secure positions for lecturers for spring 2010.

With a $564 million cut to both the Cal State University and University of California systems during the fall, this money will directly benefit California colleges.

“Both the CSU system and the UC system are on the record of having said, ‘We don’t have enough funds to do the job that we want to do to provide high quality education to as many students who qualify,” said Paula Selleck, senior communications officer at CSUF. According to the U.S. Department of Education’s Web site, the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund program, a new one-time appropriation of $53.6 billion under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will grant governors money to advance education.

California will be provided with $3.2 billion for the first phase, and 67 percent of California’s total $4.9 billion allocation will help to mitigate the effects of budget reductions to education in May, stated a press release issued by Gov. Schwarzenegger’s office.

The ARRA allows states facing extreme budget difficulties to apply for 90 percent of funding for the first phase, with the remainder coming during the second phase.

Schwarzenegger petitioned for 90 percent of the state’s total SFSF allocation on Aug. 27, and the Department of Education granted the amount, stated the press release.

See PANEL, Page 2

See AID, Page 2

news@dailytitan.com

OPINION:

The hardest part about the holidays is everything, Page 4

DETOUR:

Things get creepy on campus with ‘Paranormal State’, Page 6

SPORTS:

The Browns: brother and sister athletes of CSUF, Page 10

ONLINE:

Check out how students from CSUF can go overseas and study abroad at DailyTitan.com/ StudyAbroad09

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See MARIJUANA, Page 2

news@dailytitan.com

MEDICAL MARIJUANA STATES: The Justice Department said it will not pursue patients or their suppliers in states where therapeutic pot smoking is allowed. Source: Marijuana Policy Project.

Cannabis community gathers for discussion

By Laura Barron-Lopez

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

Half-Baked, the forum held in the Humanities Building Wednesday night, was a fitting title for the topic of discussion: marijuana and the facts, myths and laws behind it. The forum held by Cal State Fullerton’s Substance Abuse Awareness and Prevention Student Association provided a panel representing multiple sides of the controversial drug. The discussion was intended to inform the audience and discover a better system for dispensing and controlling marijuana.

The panel consisted of a clinic manager, a dispensary owner, three former marijuana addicts from Narcotics Anonymous and the president of California As-

sociation for Alcohol/Drug Educators.

Interest for the forum was evident in the amount of students and community members who attended, taking up every seat in the lecture room. Some were there by choice, others simply for extra credit, but the intrigue was still there.

“I am here for extra credit, but I am interested to see if the videos and lectures we have in class are consistent with what the panel has to say,” said Danielle Ewry, a child development major.

When the questions covered marijuana legality, the tension rose.

Kandice Hawes and David Bond, panelists representing the dispensaries and clinics, found themselves under the most scrutiny. Certain audience members argued the numerous flaws present in the system

IABC offers free chair massages

By Nicole Park

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

The International Association of Business Communicators at Cal State Fullerton will be hosting an event to help alleviate students' biggest pain in the neck: finals week.

Fun Before Finals, a club-sponsored event, will offer free chair massages to all CSUF students on Tuesday in the Titan Student Union's Alvarado AB Room from 7 - 9 p.m.

“At IABC we understand that finals can be really stressful and can cause anxiety for students. We wanted to create an event where any student can come enjoy a free massage and have a chance to mingle,” said a public relations major Audrey Huynh, 23.

Huynh currently serves as the director of communications within the ASI-recognized club and will begin her term as executive vice president

of CSUF-IABC in the spring.

To celebrate the end of what she calls, “A successful semester for the club,” Huynh and fellow IABC executive board members will shift the evening atmosphere of Alvarado AB to be, “ambient, spa-like ... a place for students to relax” with dim lights and soothing background music.

Huynh said her team has prepared for the crowd of tired Titans by planning for “other forms of entertainment” during any waiting time that may develop. Fresh fruit platters and Starbucks coffee and tea will be provided for refreshments.

When asked if he'd attend the free event, business senior Danny Tran, 26, said, “Totally! Getting a massage is a much better way to spend a study break rather than running downstairs (to the pub) to get a beer.”

Tran blames his stress not only on the academics of school but also its related costs.

“It's crazy; I couldn't get into any classes and when I finally did, I found out I had to pay even more for them,” Tran said.

After acknowledging the newlyheightened costs and stressors of school, Tran said the massage, free of charge, will be a huge relief to him.

“I think it's an excellent idea, and we should have more events like this,” he said.

Priscilla Rodriguez, 21, a senior majoring in advertising, said that she has been under less stress this semester, but added, “Stressed or not, I definitely appreciate a free massage. I already told my roommate about it, and we're going.”

Huynh said the free event is provided, in part, by volunteer masseuses who are giving their time and holistic services. Local students from Fullerton College will also be participating.

Jesselyn Fernandez, 27, is an in-

dependent masseuse who is properly certified but only practices massages as a “side hobby.” Fernandez said her appointments are booked by personal referrals and family but that she was happy to donate her time after a friend told her of the event's need for massage therapists.

“I just like to offer up my time to events like this. I love giving,” Fernandez said, who also volunteers her hands to exhausted participants at Relay For Life events.

Huynh encourages students to take advantage of the opportunity, made possible by volunteers.

Page Two

2

IN OTHER NEWS INTERNATIONAL

Military prosecutors aim to broaden war crimes case GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE (MCT) – Armed with a new law, military prosecutors sought Wednesday to expand the war crimes case against an accused Osama bin Laden bodyguard to cover the years of the Clinton administration.

Judge Nancy Paul, an Air Force lieutenant colonel, struggled with two overarching questions shadowing the case against Sudanese captive Ibrahim al-Qosi, 49.

What changes he might face at a military trial, now that Congress has adopted a new Military Commissions Act, the third format since President George W. Bush created the war court in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Whether al-Qosi, who was captured in 2001, has ever been properly certified as an “unprivileged enemy belligerent,” the only category of foreign captive who can now face trial by military commission under Congress’ latest law.

“We are going to deal with this before we leave this island,” vowed Paul, who has been presiding over the al-Qosi case for more than a year. “We can’t go anywhere without it being resolved.”

NATIONAL Luxury retail sales dropped 7.3 percent in November NEW YORK (MCT) – It may be too early to call a turnaround in the luxury-retail sector.

Despite expectations that high-end shoppers are gradually coming back to stores and with retailers such as Macy’s Inc. and Saks Inc. indicating some improvement, the latest data suggest that the battered sector may need to do more to prove this pickup in momentum can be sustained.

Sales in the luxury sector declined 7.3 percent in November, their first drop since August after gains in September and October, according to MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse, which estimates U.S. retail sales across all payment forms including cash and check. The figure may have been distorted by the warmer start to the winter season in areas such as the Northeast, tamping down demand for heavier-weight apparel, MasterCard said.

“The (luxury) recovery may not have found sure footing,” said Kamalesh Rao, director of economic research for the SpendingPulse report. In an interview, he noted that Black Friday’s sales trends paled against last year’s levels, when stores instituted discounts of more than 70 percent off to attract shoppers heading into the holiday season.

STATE

Gift card drive jump started with $5,000 donation LONG BEACH (MCT) – This year’s gift card drive to help WomenShelter has started with a bang in the form of a $5,000 donation.

The big check comes from the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Foundation.

It matches a donation made last year.

“This is a perfect fit for what our foundation is all about,” said Rick DuRee, president of the foundation board.

“It is a local organization helping local people, and we believe our donation can make a real difference. We’re pleased to be able to help.”

The Grand Prix Foundation raises most of its money with charity events during Race Week preceding the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. All of the money raised is regranted to nonprofit groups serving the greater Long Beach area.

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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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

December 3, 2009

marijuana: Clinics’ role threatened From Page 1

“The important part is that (a dispensary) is a safe place to get (marijuana),” he said. “We all have to follow state regulations.” He also said that dispensaries take the sale of the drug off the streets, which reduces crime.

The big question now is whether marijuana should be legalized for recreational (as well as medical) use, or if it should be restricted purely for medical purposes and made into a prescription medication.

Currently, medical marijuana licenses are granted on the basis of a doctor’s recommendation, which is different from prescription medications. Those are regulated at the federal level.

Matt said that complete legalization is the way to go so anybody who wants the drug can get it. “I would love to operate it as a business and pay taxes,” he said.

If marijuana was made into a prescription drug, “I think (dispen-

saries) would get phased out,” Matt said. It would take awhile before that happened because the FDA would have to approve the drug for medical use, he said.

FDA approval of marijuana may be closer than expected, however.

On Nov. 8, the American Medical Association recommended that the government reconsider cannabis’ current Schedule I drug status, “With the goal of facilitating the conduct of clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medicines,” according to a report by the AMA. Drugs are classified as Schedule I if there is generally an unaccepted level of safety with no accepted medical use, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Web site.

Drugs are classified as Schedule II substances if they have an accepted medical use. Both PCP and cocaine are Schedule II drugs, states the Web site.

Andrew Yale, a student at Cal State Fullerton, said he thinks mari-

Photo Courtesy MCT Albert Maraz, owner of Lake Forest Alternative Center, weighs an order of marijuana for a customer in Lake Forest, Calif.

juana is “perfectly fine in society.” He said he is OK with how dispensaries currently operate.

“I would like to see it as a medication,” he said, because if it were legalized for recreational use it would be much easier to abuse.

Hayley Evans, a child adolescent studies major at CSUF, said, “I wouldn’t say I approve (of marijuana) but I don’t care (if it is legalized).”

She said she would also rather it be legalized for medical purposes.

“I think it will be abused more,” if

marijuana is legalized for recreational purposes, Evans said.

Evans believes the states should remain as decision makers in the matter of legalization. “I think if the state votes as a whole, it’s OK,” she said.

Currently, “No marijuana (is allowed) on campus, period,” said Lt. Don Landers of CSUF police.

Regardless of Calif. law, “The ultimate power that is over the campuses is the chancellor and board of trustees, and they said no marijuana,” he said.

AID: 264 classes added Panel: half-baked held From Page 1 Schawrzenegger announced on Sept. 15 that $1.3 billion of the expedited SFSF would be available for California’s school districts, colleges and universities this year.

Higher education will receive a total of $1.5 billion back to fill budget reductions.

The CSU received a one-time $25 million allocation for its 23 campuses. These university funds are available thanks to an additional $77.5 million one-time federal allocation that will help CSU to meet its payroll. In turn, CSU will be able to use funds from state support and student fee revenues previously set aside for payroll to add course sections, stated a press release from the CSU’s chancellor’s office.

“The CSU will reserve the remainder of the funds against what continues to be uncertainty about the state’s fiscal condition. The use of the remaining funds will be determined using the same criteria to serve as many students as possible and preserving as many jobs as possible while maintaining academic quality and fiscal balance,” said Erik Fallis, CSU chancellor’s office public affairs spokesman.

For CSUF, the administration plans to follow the direction of the chancellor’s office.

“These funds will enable us to re-

tain lecturers to teach these courses, which is consistent with our mission to provide the best possible education to our students and enhance their ability to graduate in a timely manner,” said CSUF President Milton Gordon in a letter to the university.

“What the stimulus money has allowed us to do is to offer about 81 sections. As a result, what we have been able to do is lower the student-faculty ratio so that the classes are not over (capacity) as they were in the fall,” said Angela Della Volpe, acting dean of Humanities and Social Sciences.

“We have been able to off-set the fact that some of the classes couldn’t be offered by raising the capacity of some of the classes that we could offer; this created large classes.”

The eight colleges received the same percentage of course sections.

However, since Business and Humanities and Social Sciences are larger colleges, they get more sections. This allocation was based on how many total full-time equivalent students are generated by the college, said Ephraim P. Smith vice president for Academic Affairs.

“What’s great about this federal fund is that it’s allowed us to restore some of the classes that we were cutting,” Selleck said.

From Page 1 Terry, whose last name was withheld because he is a member of Narcotics Anonymous and who is now 14 years sober, told his own story. “What made me realize that I was addicted was when I was rolling a joint at home sitting in between my wife and 2-year-old son and I was so stoned that I couldn’t remember what side of me my wife was on. I turned toward my son, who knew perfectly how to hold the joint, and it was at that point that I decided it probably wasn’t a good idea to smoke around my kid anymore,” he said.

Despite the differing viewpoints, the information provided insight to help people understand marijuana.

For example, the myth that doctors prescribe marijuana was set straight. Doctors don’t prescribe marijuana; they recommend it because prescriptions are regulated under federal law. In order to ensure the safety of their medical licenses, doctors give recommendations. That recommendation qualifies the patient to receive marijuana from dispensaries. Furthermore, the topic of dependency versus addictive nature was discussed.

Dependency means that chemicals cause a body to have withdrawal

symptoms, whereas addiction refers to the act of continually using a substance despite negative consequences, said Jack Kearney, president of CAADE. The reaction to the lecture was positive; many students rushed to the front once it ended to ask the panelists one-on-one questions.

Many students left the forum with more knowledge than they previously had on the subject.

Ishmael Naylor, a psychology major, and Kymon Blackwood, an Afro-Ethnic studies major, expressed their approval of the discussion and noted that the arguments raised were ones they hadn’t considered before.

However, Naylor said that he would have liked to see a panelist who had used marijuana but hadn’t as negative of experiences as the three Narcotics Anonymous panelists in order to show some middle ground.

This was SAAPSA’s first big event.

“As a club, we wanted people to have correct information from both sides and for the knowledge to come from people who do this as a career,” said Amy Saunders, a human services major with a concentration in substance abuse and community outreach coordinator for SAAPSA.

December 3, 2009

FEATURES

3

Cult fanbases keeps heavy metal alive of the decade, as other genres such as pop and the efforts from Testament, Slayer, Megadeth hip-hop came in to soak up some of the spot- and Sepultura, was able to keep its head above features@dailytitan.com light. murky waters, and most metalcore and thrash Even with well-established and hugely pop- metal bands today claim Pantera as either a diFitted jeans, ozone-destroying hair spray and ular thrash bands like Anthrax, Slayer, Testa- rect or auxiliary influence amidst a myriad of Tolex leather. The amplifier volume and gain ment, and of course, other bands. are turned up to the maximum, making a nice, Metallica, metal met Aside from the warm-sounding electric guitar, turn into a rag- its formidable match “power groove” ing, distorted onslaught to the ears. during this period, and boom, other types These were the sights, smells and sounds of the advent of the obof metal began to the early 1980s, when heavy metal music, a scure, demonic “death” emerge as well, sub-genre of rock music, became the dominant metal, with bands like including the infaforce in the music industry, with such bands as Cannibal Corpse and mous “rap-metal” Dokken, Kiss and Twisted Sister beginning the Satyricon, didn’t help fusion. “glam” metal era – when excessive makeup and much either.

Rap metal’s ori– Chris LaRocca, leather attire characterized by high-pitched singA fresh outlook was gins date back to KXLU 88.9 FM host ing was the norm. in order, which is premid to late ’80s Brewing in the mix, however, was another cisely what Pantera, when rap-rock was chapter of the sub-genre that changed the course one of the former unjust coming onto of the music forever: thrash metal. derground glam metal bands of the 1980s, did the scene. Hip-hop artists, like the Beastie Boys Thrash focused on the heaviness and aggres- when it exploded onto the radar in 1990 with and Run D.M.C., would take samples of rock siveness of the sound, and how articulated the “Cowboys From Hell.” music and integrate them into their composiaudio-assault can be with musical composition.

A different feel to the music, something that tions.

This was a flagship led by the legendary band retained the rigidity of metal but added a SouthIn 1991, Chuck D. of the rap group PubMetallica, with their 1983 debut album, “Kill ern touch in the mix, is what spawned the Dal- lic Enemy decided to re-record his 1987 ‘Em All.” las-based band’s brand of “power groove” metal song, “Bring The Noise,” with thrash metal You were considered a “metal head,” or “head that many metal heads consider to be the savior band Anthrax, as a way of recognizing the banger” if you followed this jagged-toothed path of metal in the 1990s. band’s homage to Public Enemy during to musical satisfaction.

The ’90s and early 21st century with their their shows by wearing Public Enemy Times became dark for metal during the turn “bowie knife-edged” brand of metal, along with T-shirts during their gigs. It is this composition style that would influence “numetal” bands like Limp Bizkit, P.O.D. and Linkin Park.

Still, even with the advanced efforts of Pantera, metal still seems to stay below the popularity radar, and its radio play is minimal if at all.

Chris LaRocca, a resident from the South Bay region of California, said he doesn’t listen to anything that is commercially recognized, or mainstream, and is devout to the underground aspect of metal.

“It’s tough for me because I can’t find myself listening to those bands like Shadows Fall and Opeth, and it’s not by virtue of how big or popular they are or how much mainstream acclaim they have; they just don’t embody the type of characteristics I enjoy in metal,” LaRocca said.

LaRocca said that he still does respect those bands and would not denounce them on “purely Photos courtesy mct musical terms,” as they do posAbove: Despite the advent of Internet downloads and iTunes, some record stores are still going strong. Sam sess a level of technique that Robertson re-stocks compact discs. Right: Metallica member Kirk Hammet plays a solo during “Master of shows their skill.

By Derin Richardson For the Daily Titan

“

Most of the big record labels are barely able to keep themselves afloat let alone sign really heavy, avant-garde metal acts.

“

Puppets” at a concert.

LaRocca, who hosts a metal radio show on KXLU 88.9 FM, also feels that some people listen to more “commercially-known” metal, which he feels is not as heavy as undergound metal, as a buffer to listen to the more extreme, death and grindcore metal that he listens to.

“I do think that’s the way metal is trending,” LaRocca said.

“Some people (want metal to) go o n

further, and some people don’t want it any more extreme than that.”

When asked whether or not metal would ever regain the luster it once had in the 1980s, LaRocca responded by saying that it would be more of a matter of classifying what would be metal back then and what would be considered metal now. That quality of music back then was drastically different now, so it would be tough to say.

“I don’t think any genre of music has any potential to do a sweeping trend now as it did back then. Most of the big record labels are barely able to keep themselves afloat let alone trying to sign really heavy, avant-garde metal acts,” LaRocca said. “More bands today will have the chance of making minor success than major success.”

Cameron Beemas of Torrance disagrees with the idea of metal being hardpressed for a shining return on the popularity market.

“I think a lot of new good stuff is coming out lately,” Beemas said.

Beemas said he has noticed bands like White Chapel and Oceana becoming a lot more technical with their music and feels that there might be a future in that.

“Metal still has a place in the industry.

It’s just that its era of fame has expired, that’s all,” said Ben Shostak, 21, a Cal State Fullerton senior.

While music industry analysts speculate that heavy metal will die out completely on a specific date and time frame, much like the calculated doom of newspapers by mass media experts, metal may be under the radar for now, but it still has a cult fan base that will continue as its life-line and will more than likely survive the test of time.

4

FEATURES

December 3, 2009

‘Peanuts’ parody brings critic back for seconds

By James Bean

For the Daily Titan

features@dailytitan.com

PHOTO COURTESY Christine Drew Benjamin “Peanuts” comic strip’s Charlie Brown and Sally equivalents, CB (Ben Sargent) and CB’s Sister (Grace Ann Murphey), star in the new production of “Dog Sees God” in Grand Central Theatre in Santa Ana.

Before beginning to write this review for “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead,” I must explain that I receive free tickets to all Cal State Fullerton-produced shows through an arrangement with Dr. Jim Volz and the department of theater and dance. Now that I have said that, I can tell you that “Dog Sees God” is a spectacular show and immediately after I walked out of the theater, I called some friends and made plans to see it again. And again. And again. On my own dollar. Yes, it is that good.

“Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead” follows an adolescent and copyright infringementfree Charlie Brown (now simply called “CB”) as he journeys through his teen years. After his beloved dog dies of rabies (and takes a familiar yellow bird with him), he is left to

question life, love, and the torments of high school. We see older versions of some nostalgic characters, and being a huge Peanuts fan myself, I was able to catch every single playful jab and inside joke that the show had to offer.

Although the show primarily focuses on CB and his hunt for truth, every character was fully fleshed out and I had no problem accepting them as real people. People with serious problems, sure, but real people nonetheless.

CB’s sister is busy transforming into every identity she can think of, his old best friend has been constantly stoned ever since he smoked the ashes of his beloved blanket, his new best friend is too distracted by slutty cheerleaders to care and his exgirlfriend has been institutionalized ever since she set the little red-headed girl’s hair on fire. Like I said, they have serious problems, but I sincerely cared about each and every one of them, especially the abandoned

friend who spends his lunches playing piano in an isolated room.

Be warned though, for as wonderful as this show is, it is definitely not a show to bring your grandmother Prudence to next time she is in town.

The themes of drug abuse, sexual identity and teen violence are intended for mature audiences, and the show will not apologize for any hurt feelings. It is uncensored, unadulterated performed without an intermission, and it was my favorite theater experience of the semester without a doubt.

Every single detail, from the simplistic set, to the molding of the characters, to the outstanding performances by the ensemble, even right down to the music that was chosen to play during scene changes was brilliant. Scenes between CB (Ben Sargent) and Beethoven (Garret Hummel-Esparza) in particular were absolutely stunning, and a scene between Hummel-Esparza and Ryan

Johnson left me breathless. Director Patrick Pearson really got to break loose with this show. His excellence in scene sculpting and his truly gifted eye gave “Dog Sees God” the raw kick in the teeth that the show begs for, and yet he was able to retain the softer and sweeter moments that had me in tears by the curtain call.

“Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead” is a spectacular show that should be seen by everyone who is not afraid of a little controversy. Even through all the show presents, it is hard to imagine anyone who couldn’t see the good in all this grief.

“Dog Sees God” will continue in the Grand Central Theatre this week and next. Tickets are $5 for students purchasing them at the CSUF box office next to the Nutwood Parking Structure, and $10 at the door (cash only for door tickets). The theater is located within the Grand Central Art Center 125 N. Broadway in Santa Ana.

Panhellenic president likes getting involved

By Beatriz Fernandez

Daily Titan Staff Writer features@dailytitan.com

Sorority life isn’t just about having fun and making friends. Sarah Voogt, the Panhellenic president at California State Fullerton, has shrugged off the misconceptions that many people have about sorority life and has helped changed the way sororities are viewed.

As the Panhellenic president, Voogt must oversee the six sororities, including her house, Sigma Kappa, on campus, conduct meetings with the Associated Students Inc. Vice President and Executive Senate and compile budget reports. “I have to report to the ASI president and inform her of how the sororities are spending the money they receive from ASI,” Voogt said.

The Panhellenic Council distributes the money it receives from ASI between the sororities and offers unbiased support Sarah to them. “Panhellenic makes decisions in regards to what benefits our sororities and make sure that the sororities are being run as they should,” Voogt said.

Voogt admits that part of her responsibilities include making difficult decisions that aren’t always popular.

Though she became the president in January, she understands the importance of being unbiased.

“Sarah has had to make pretty tough decisions as the president, but she’s been very good at being equal and never putting her house first.

She’s never had an alterior motive,” Laura Bergamini, Panhellenic alumna, said.

Voogt apologized for not being able to give details about decisions she has had to make. “We don’t dis-

cuss decisions we make, because we think it’s important to respect the privacy of our sisters,” Voogt said.

Though being the president has great responsibilities, Voogt also gets to interact with members of different sororities.

“I like that Panhellenic gets involved,” she said. “We support each sorority’s philanthropy and there are events, where we get to come together instead of compete with each other.”

Voogt saw being in a sorority as a great way to be a part of something. “I came from a really small high school (about 45 in her graduating class) and was a little intimidated by the size of our school,” Voogt said. “Being in a sorority seemed like an obvious choice for me.”

“Sarah’s always been a fun kid; she always made friends easily. She was the first in our family to join a sorority, but it didn’t really surprise me, because she’s outgoing,” Donna Voogt, Sarah’s mother, said.

Voogt Voogt was a cheerleader during her four years at Los Angeles Lutheran High School. Her mother believes that her personality has really allowed her to be the leader that she has become.

“She’s kind and if she sees someone in need, she always tries to help, but she is stubborn and sticks to her views. I think being the Panhellenic president has given Sarah the opportunity for (part of her character) to start shining through,” Donna added.

Bergamini believes that Voogt has given a lot to the sororities as well as taken from them. “I wouldn’t say that Sarah’s has changed, but she’s definitely proven that she’s able to handle the pressure. She’s a well-rounded person with good morals and high standards and she’s an great, outgoing leader.”

OPINION

December 3, 2009

Titan Editorial

Providing insight, analysis and perspective since 1960

Hope for the CSU’s future In May, the U.S. Department of Education made active strides to improve the overall quality education in America. The Department of Education provided California $3.2 billion for the first phase of its State Fiscal Stabilization Funds.

States that qualify for the assistance are given 67 percent of the total $4.9 billion allocation during the first phase of allocation, according to the Office of the Governor. The SFSF program is a new, one-time appropriation of $53.6 billion of aid under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The Department of Education will award governors approximately $48.6 billion under the SFSF program in exchange for a commitment to advance essential education reforms. These funds will help stabilize state and local government budgets in order to minimize and avoid reductions in education and other essential public services.

In August, Gov. Schwarzenegger petitioned for an advancement of funds. This was taken from the second phase of the SFSF, which was not scheduled to be released until December. The ARRA approved the advance because of a provision making it possible for governors to request the funds if they cite hardship.

On Sept. 15, Schwarzenegger announced that the Department of Education granted the extra $1.3 billion, meaning that California received a total of $4.5 billion for its education system. Higher education received $1.5 billion of the funds to make up for budget reductions made in 2008 and 2009.

The allocation of money has provided California State Universities with an extra $25 million for its 23 campuses to provide additional course sections and classes for students. Statewide, this will allow CSU campuses to add approximately 4,000 additional courses and retain up to 800 lecturers for the winter/ spring term. This is the only logical place the money

could have gone at this time.

Cal State Fullerton received $1.65 million, which is only a fraction of what the school lost during the budget cuts. The federal aid money has already been allocated creating 264 more classes and secure positions for lecturers for the spring 2010 semester, said President Milton Gordon. The classes that are added will be spread through out the eight colleges to help juniors and seniors satisfy their capstone classes in order to ensure a timely graduation.

The timing of the SFSF is just the thing students need to hear as the school takes steps toward improvements, something students have been asking for. But, the federal aid money is only a temporary fix to a problem that has been building for years.

In a greater attempt to restore the CSU’s $625 million or 21 percent budget cut from the last two years, the CSU Board of Trustees Finance Committee has established a budget proposal for 2010-11 calling for an $884 million increase in state support from the legislature and governor, according to a CSU press release. CSU is asking the state to restore funding of the one-time cut that was imposed this year as well as providing the needed revenue for mandatory costs, compensation and improvements in student services and instruction.

This proposal is a bit ambitious, but if it gets approved by the state, higher education will be given a greater chance to restore its learning opportunities, get rid of faculty furloughs, decrease tuition costs and decrease enrollment cuts. Due to the massive budget cut, CSU expects to reduce enrollment by 40,000 students over the next two years. It is becoming more difficult for prospective students to get accepted into CSUs to receive the education they want. The proposal for an increase in financial support is the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel for the CSUs.

An education without options

By Jonathan Montgomery Daily Titan Staff Writer opinion@dailytitan.com

Registering for classes used to mean I was guaranteed a stress-fest of closed courses, waiting lists, future petitions, horrible times and ambiguous professors labeled “staff.”

But as a senior, things were a little different this time around.

I was graced with priority registration. Instead of looking at a handful of classes all starting at 8:30 a.m., I now had the entire world in front of my eyes.

I had access to a fresh batch of classes, all open, just waiting for me to add to my cart and enroll; and boy, did it feel good. Yet, even in this time of great convenience, I was also struck with an unexpected, bittersweet realization.

Somehow, I was unsatisfied thinking about how this would be the last time I registered for classes at Cal State Fullerton.

My four years in this comfortable bubble was now coming to an end and staring at the white screen of class times and professor names presented not only a list of classes, but also a list of endless possibilities.

For the first time in my college career, I had the option of actually choosing three classes of my choice, and in doing so, I realized just how

many things I wanted to learn but didn’t have the chance because of certain major requirements and those intellectually stimulating general education courses (sarcasm).

Linguistics? English? History of Jazz? I began to feel cheated by time.

I sat at my laptop browsing through courses I’d never heard of but desperately wanted to take, and it made me question how much my college experience, outside of my majors, was about actually educating myself.

In retrospect, I feel I spent two years getting hilariously trivial GE advisement while continuing my quest to check off all the boxes on a yellow sheet.

It’s not that I dreaded all of my GE courses, some were great, but I found way too many of them arbitrary and way too similar to courses I had already taken in high school.

Most of the time the material went in one ear and out the other as it spilled onto a Scantron.

It goes without saying that one will learn more if they’re interested in the subject, and since I am paying for this education, shouldn’t I be able to choose courses inside my true areas of interest?

I agree that students should have to take extra courses, but with a little more choice and a refocusing of our

GE program, students may actually find themselves getting more out of their classes; heck, they may even try reading their textbooks for a change.

I see something wrong with universalizing education so everyone has to take the same thing, issuing a certain view that these are the classes to take in order to get a “well-rounded education.” Everyone is different; one size does not fit all.

So I question if this generalization of courses is helping or hurting in educating students.

College should be about personal growth and learning how to be a responsible person.

However, providing an outline each graduate must follow assumes, even as adults, we can’t decide what to learn for ourselves; simply with a little more student choice, I argue they are ensured a more personal, memorable, quality general education.

How funny, that at the pinnacle of my college career, I started wondering if I rushed through two majors, just to enter a terrible job market, without stopping to take a breath and simply seek and enjoy knowledge for what it is. At a time where I should be sick of learning, I felt like I didn’t learn enough.

Well, I guess there’s always graduate school.

5

Five Across the Eyes

“A slap in the face to those most deserving”

Hell for the holidays

by Jeremiah Magan

Daily Titan Opinion Editor opinion@dailytitan.com

I hate the artificiality of the holidays. I hate having to force a smile every time someone gives me a generic “Happy Holidays” greeting because they don’t want to offend me.

I hate having to throw on my best shit-eating grin.

I especially hate the music. From the day after Thanksgiving until New Year, our ears are bombarded with songs about mothers committing adultery with obese men and grandmothers being trampled by large, horned mammals.

You can’t escape it. Every department store and office building insists on driving its occupants insane with the unceasing jingles and chimes of the inexplicably beloved holiday tunes.

There are only so many Christmas songs a person can hear covered by R&B artists before they lose control and open fire in a Target parking lot, making the holidays just a little worse for everyone.

Charitable acts are a big part of the whole “good will toward men”

aspect of the holidays. Various organizations and groups of high school students go door to door and collect cans of creamed corn and chipped beef that have been sitting in the back of people’s cupboards for the past three years. It’s all very heart warming.

I don’t know if this is public knowledge, but people are poor all year round. Thousands of families don’t just lose all their money in the short time between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Giving because you feel guilty about how well off you are is a nice thought, but it is a thought that should be had a little more often, not just after a bunch of greasy faced teens squeak out an explanation about why they’re knocking on your door at 9:30 at night.

People get too involved with everyone else’s lives during the holidays. They push their holiday cheer onto everyone around them and get upset if it is not well received. If a person wants to be miserable during any time of the year, we should let them. Who are we to tell anyone that they are not happy enough for the season?

The old notion that the holiday season causes suicides to skyrocket is a myth. According to a Los Angeles Times article from 2007, suicides actually decline by close to 40 percent during the holiday season.

LA Times attributes this myth to the scene in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” where Jimmy Stewart’s character should have jumped in the freezing river, as a possible reason for this misconception.

I know hearing George Bailey say “I wanna live again,” 30 times every December makes me want to jump in a river. “A Christmas Story” makes me want to find a child playing with a BB gun and smash it over his head, just so I can save him from his parents constantly telling him “you’ll shoot your eye out.”

It may seem like I hate everything about the holidays, but that is simply untrue. The one thing I truly enjoy is gathering with friends and family, sharing stories and a few bottles of whiskey and patching up the inevitable alcohol-induced fights.

It wouldn’t be the holidays without a trip to the emergency room or the holding cell at our local police station.

Marriage: The real final frontier

By Beatriz Fernandez

Daily Titan Staff Writer opinion@dailytitan.com

The holidays are meant to be filled with happy moments with family and friends, and for the most part, they have been. But ever since my sister got married last month, I seem to get a lot of the same remarks from my family: “Let’s see when you get married” or “It’s almost your turn.”

I’m in no rush to get married. I’m 22, which I think happens to be a bit too young to even think about it.

Graduating is my first priority.

Nonetheless, the comments put pressure on me. I feel as though the only way to please some of my relatives is to get married. But they do not seem to understand that this is not Mexico, where women in my family are usually expected to be married by the age of 25 – any later and the rumors start. “She can’t keep a boyfriend” or “She’s not serious about life.”

I have more important things to do other than get married and have babies – and who says you need to be married to have a baby? I don’t dare mention this idea to my family, for fear I will be shunned for my way of thinking.

People need to stop looking for love and enjoy themselves. There’s always time to meet the person of your dreams and get married. Getting married means that I have to go from running things by my parents

to running things by a husband. It doesn’t seem ideal. Where’s the freedom? Where’s the fun?

People need freedom in order to figure out what they want in life.

Without their freedom, people would never be given the chance to know their likes and dislikes in people and in life.

Marriage is a tradition and people tend to feel comfortable with traditions, but marrying someone doesn’t prove that you love them. Just because it’s tradition, doesn’t mean it’s right.

That’s not to say I don’t think people should get married – by all means, if it makes you happy, do it – but I don’t think that people should concentrate on finding someone to marry instead of finding someone who makes them happy and who they feel comfortable with.

The archaic notion that people need to be married in order to be complete sets us back as a society and doesn’t allow for new practices

to evolve into what we call a “family.”

Forcing things only makes it more frustrating when it doesn’t work out.

I say don’t take life so seriously and don’t have too many expectations. I don’t need to add another item to my checklist in life at the moment.

Most of my relatives are very conservative and believe that I have to go to church and pray in order to be happy in life. I have a different way of viewing things, and I feel torn when I have to choose between family values and personal values. I feel that doing what feels right will make me happy. It’s a very simple rule to live by that has worked so far.

They depend too much on others and feel that a woman isn’t complete without a man, which is one of the most ignorant things I have ever heard. I don’t feel like I’m missing anything because I’m not married.

I’m fine without the extra responsibility that marriage would put on me.

yo u r w e e k ly d o s e o f e n t e rta i n m e n t

photos by ron fu/ Daily Titan Staff photographer

December 3, 2009

6

detour@dailytitan.com

Paranormal activity detected on campus Cast from popular cable TV show visit CSUF and give advice

By Krystle Uy

For the Daily Titan

detour@dailytitan.com

“Are you being haunted?”

Fans of the hit show Paranormal State were able to ask this very question as they revealed their experiences with the paranormal during the show’s tour visit on campus Tuesday.

Paranormal State embarked on a 10-city tour, which started Monday in San Francisco and will wrap up in New York.

Paranormal State, which airs on A&E, focuses on exploring the strange and unusual as the cast uncover mysteries involving paranormal activity.

Nena Pham, 18, a freshman biology major, shared her tale of an ominous sound she heard repeatedly at her house.

“I never heard it again. I don’t know of any deaths, but it’s not a new house. I was the only one in the room,” Pham said with a shudder.

Aside from storytelling, fans also had the chance to get their photo taken, which they could retrieve via the show’s official site.

Costa Mesa native, Natasha Ko-

secki, 21, was enthusiastic about the show.

“I like that this show likes to help people. It’s different from TAPS (the paranormal society which is featured on the show Ghost Hunters). They just investigate, ‘Oh your house is haunted or not.’ It’s impersonal compared to Paranormal State,” Kosecki said.

Two of the show’s cast members, Ryan Buell and Sergey Poberezhny, were on hand to take pictures with fans and to lend an ear to the fans’ stories.

Buell founded the Paranormal Research Society, the heart of the show, at the University of Pennsylvania when he was a sophomore.

The society then became the subject of the show when it was approached by A&E in 2006. The show is now set to start its fourth season.

An investigator for 12 years, Buell explained his passion for delving into the realms of the supernatural.

“I had my own experiences, so I wanted my own answers. It’s something very near and dear to me by investigating. I knew it wasn’t a cool thing to do, now it’s considered cool.

Back then it was kind of like a joke,” Beuell said.

The media has had a resurgence in the popularity of paranormal phenomena. TV shows like Fringe, Supernatural and Ghost Hunters and the widely successful film Paranor-

photos by ron fu/Daily Titan Staff Photographer

Above: (From left, clockwise) Paranormal State cast members Sergey Poberezhny and Ryan Buell have a discussion about paranormal experiences with Grant Adam, Layla Halfhill and Brian Patrick of the Los Angeles Paranormal Association on Tuesday. Below: David Huynh, 22, prepares to share his paranormal experience for the camera inside the “Paranormal State” bus. mal Activity all have become commercial titans.

Bueller said, “I think that it’s great that there are diverse programs out there that are showing different points of view. I do think that some of them are not the greatest, but I think there are some other ones that are good.

They are purely for sensational

purposes. I feel that that doesn’t help us, paranormal researchers.

The media is picking up on the fact that people are really interested in paranormal activity, not the movie, but in general. I think it’s great that there’s a lot of attention about the paranormal.”

With such popular interest, one might wonder what it takes to become a paranormal investigator.

“I think a true paranormal investigator is a mixture between a journalist, detective work, psychology and a scientist. The most famous investigators are actually journalists who then focus on paranormal phenomenon.

That’s actually my degree (journal-

ism),” Buell said.

Buell and his team of investigators have had many paranormal experiences, but none compares to the one that involved a politician’s family room.

“It wasn’t featured on the show, but we were approached by the Catholic Diocese. Blood had materialized on the walls. Crucifixes were bending.

We had a forensic team go in there.

The material on the wall was blood and flesh-like material. There were a lot of eerie moments. That was never recorded,” Buell said.

The upcoming season is sure to deliver more harrowing and intense accounts on the paranormal.

“We did the West Virginia State Penitentiary. It’s been done by all the other ghost programs. Then we investigated the Jersey Devil in New Jersey. We did a really crazy demonic case also in New Jersey that was really weird, very strange. We also like to push the barrier. We’ve also dealt with a devil worshippers. We’ve also worked with a Jewish client; so it’s a very diverse group. We also did cases in Georgia and Kentucky. I mean there’s a lot that we did,” Buell said.

Buell is very passionate about investigating.

“I want to go to Lake Loch Ness to investigate the Loch Ness monster,” he said with a smile.

Real-life problems explored with the help of a ‘ramblin’ man’ Second generation director sends a ‘love letter to travel’ in his new project By rachel david

Daily Titan Copy Editor detour@dailytitan.com

On Nov. 23, ten colleges from around the nation, including Cal State Fullerton, participated in a conference call with Jason Reitman, director of Thank You for Smoking, Juno and most recently Up in the Air. Reitman’s third film focuses on Ryan Bingham, played by Oscar winner George Clooney, who is a man searching for his purpose and place in the world. He falls for shallow love constantly, isolating himself from serious relationships and is hired by companies to come in and fire employees for them.

However, Reitman said the film became, “about a man who was trying to figure out what he wanted in life.” Up in the Air is based loosely

on a book by Walter Kirn, a novel that Reitman calls, “a love letter to travel.”

Reitman said that what initially drew him to Kirn’s novel seven years ago was a fascination with the idea that a job firing other peoples’ employees actually exists and the fact that the main character was a collector of frequent flier miles, like Reit-

photo courtesy of paramount pictures

man. He wanted to humanize such an individual.

He went on to say that he made this movie “to make you feel a certain way and then that's it. Now I'd rather you talk to your friends about it or think about it yourself and try to figure out what the movie means to you.”

As was pointed out by several journalists from the colleges who participated in the interview, Reitman’s three films contain several of the same themes.

Loss of innocence and family relationships are at the core of each film.

Up in the Air’s loss of innocence is through Anna Kendrick’s character (Natalie Keener) ... (she) looks at Vera’s (Farmiga who plays Alex Goran, Clooney's love interest) character, wondering if that will be her 15 years from now as a career woman," Reitman said.

As far as family relationships go, “I think there is something inherently valuable about family connections ... (family) makes life more livable, particularly when times are tough,”

Reitman said.

He further stated that he is attracted to characters who live in polarized worlds since they usually have an “open-minded point of view of something that is usually polarized.”

Diablo Cody, writer of Juno, recently pointed out to Reitman another underlining theme throughout his three films: that his characters never have sex in a bed. “They have (sex) everywhere else but a bed: closet or on the floor. I can't even begin to think what this says about me,” Reitman joked.

It was also pointed out that his films are a hybrid of comedy and drama. “Comedy and drama are techniques, not genres. I don't like to

limit myself,” Reitman said. Within his dramedy films can be found an impressive array of musical genres.

The Daily Titan asked Reitman if he has a “directors” playlist that he listens to when working on a movie in order to put him in the “directing zone.”

Reitman answered, “Usually I have one song that gets me into the mood to write each film and strangely enough in all three of my movies those songs have not shown up in the movies. On Thank You for Smoking, it was the song “I Am A Man” by Steve Winwood; for Juno it was Yo La Tengo's “You Can Have It All;” and on Up in the Air it was Hank Williams’ “Ramblin’ Man.” Like Bingham in the film, Reitman

does a great deal of traveling. When asked by one of the college journalists what he enjoys most about being up in the air constantly, Reitman said, “I started enjoying going on flights for the same reason I enjoy going to the movie theaters; it’s a chance to unplug from your normal life and a chance to be surrounded by strangers. You know when you’re up in the plane, your cell phone doesn’t work and your closest friend is sitting in seat 17 J, and you can have a conversation with them that you couldn’t have with someone you know well. I can get most of my reading done on planes. And I collect miles; I collect miles like crazy.”

Up in the Air opens in select theaters tomorrow.

Multimedia

Photo by Ron Fu/Daily Titan Staff Photographer Dusty Rhodes and the River Band performed at the Becker Amphitheater on Wednesday afternoon. To check our clips of their performances visit DailyTitan.com/beckerdustyrhodes.

7

DETOUR

December 3, 2009

Funny family man has big plans for future A mix of family and work proves to be a successful combination for comic

By Krystle Uy

For the Daily Titan

detour@dailytitan.com

photos by susan smith/ For the Daily Titan Glen Hansard on piano and Markéta Irglová on guitar switch their usual instruments for a unique break in the show. The pair gained popularity with the release of the movie Once.

Indie sweethearts sing through the pain By skylar smith

Daily Titan Staff Writer detour@dailytitan.com

It was about halfway through the concert when Markéta Irglová, pianist and a singer/songwriter of indie-rock band, Swell Season, came on stage to talk about the Velvet Revolution.

“Twenty years ago thousands of students and protesters marched on Prague to peacefully protest and sing music,” said Irglová. “Eventually the communist Czechoslovakia was brought down.”

“If it wasn’t for the Velvet Revolution,” said Irglová, “I would not be on this stage today.”

She then invited a family friend on stage to help her sing one of those protest songs.

It was moments like these that made the Swell Season at the Wiltern, what I thought was going to be a typical concert, into so much more.

The band originally formed in Ireland under the name The Frames and was hugely successful, in Ireland anyway, with hits like “Headlong” and “Santa Maria." The lead singer and songwriter Glen Hansard started making music with family friend Markéta Irglová for the movie Once, which they both were the main characters of. This Irish indie film was a big hit in the States and the song “Falling Slowly” from the soundtrack netted them an Oscar.

Over the course of two years, Hansard and Irglová’s popularity exploded, leaving The Frames in the dust. So, to bring both Hansard and Irglová down to earth, Swell Season was created. Now, with two amazing albums out, the band has proven themselves to be a rising tide in the music industry.

The concert at the Wiltern was

a first for some, but most in attendance were long-time fans of either Once or The Frames.

“I saw the movie Once and then I fell in love with them afterward,” said Bryan Crawford.

Opener Josh Ritter surprised many with his quality heartfelt songwriting and Bruce Springsteenmeets-Glen Hansard sound.

“I met Glen in 2001 at an open mic gig,” said Ritter. “He then invited me to go hang out in Ireland, so I flew to Dublin for $93 and it was great. He’s the reason I’m playing today.”

Then for the first time in a while, I witnessed something I never thought I would see- the opening band got a standing ovation. Not just a measly 10 percent of the audience, but a good three quarters of the Wiltern were on their feet clapping.

Finally, as the lights flashed in the lobby and attendees found their seats, the lights went down. Hansard and Irglová both walked on stage and knelt down next to the lead microphone and opened with, “You Must Have Fallen From The Sky.” They were clearly in a good mood already as the rest of the band walked on and they immediately began performing songs from their new album such as “The Rain” and “Feeling The Pull.”

One thing any Swell Season fan can tell you is that Hansard has a knack for telling stories and loves to do so between songs. Every song performed is forwarded by an explanation of its meaning with a heartfelt story, or anecdote.

They range from funny little side comments such as, “Here is something you all (in LA) know very little about,” before singing “The Rain,” to stories of his band.

A very memorable story he told was about an elderly woman from

New York whom he met on an elevator in Chicago a few years ago. He commented on how lovely her coat was and she was surprisingly grateful for the comment. “She said, ‘When I bought this coat I decided I was going to live my life’,” said Hansard, quoting the woman.

The woman had apparently spent two years in her pajamas eating cereal and didn’t leave the house, depressed and doing nothing, until she bought that coat. “She said, ‘I don’t know why I’m telling you this, but my son was in that fucking building,” said Hansard, still quoting the woman. “‘He quit his job on Sept. 10 and he went back into the building to get his stuff.’” Although he didn’t say it, everyone in the audience knew the woman had lost her son on 9/11.

There were several people tearing up at this point when Hansard began an amazing performance of “Say it to Me Now,” telling the audience not to keep things bottled up, because it’s freeing to let it go.

As if all this emotion and musical beauty wasn’t enough, Hansard brought comedy into the equation when he welcomed Jason Segel, popular comedy actor of How I Met Your Mother and Freaks and Geeks, to perform his own song.

“I went and I asked these guys how to write a beautiful song and I think it was Markéta who said just write from the heart, and you know just include as much personal information as possible,” said Segel. He then proceeded to sing

a song in which he gave away his phone number to any Swell Season fans who would like to make love to him.

This concert was the most complete, entertaining, meaningful and joyful experience I have had in a long time. The night was brought to a close on a solemn but optimistic note when Hansard had everyone sing a farewell to the last of the Irish folk legends, The Clancy Brothers, Liam Clancy. The song was a medley of “Red Chord,” a Frames song, and “The Parting Glass,” a Clancy Brothers song.

As the night came to a close Hansard had everyone singing this one last line into the night, “Goodnight and joy be with you all.”

Not many family men have it in them to wake up early, go to work, make time for their kids and humiliate their father in front of hundreds all in the same day; Jim Breuer is the exception.

Breuer, the stand-up comedian and actor who rose to fame as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, as well as appearing in the stoner flick Half Baked, has a new focus these days: his family.

His new comedy show, “Family Man,” makes use of colorful impressions to illustrate life with his wife, children and his elderly parents.

“The new show is like Bill Cosby in a Metallica shirt,” Breuer said.

Breuer knew he wanted to be a comedian ever since he was a child.

He did some sketch comedy in his senior year of high school and started to perform at comedy shows in 1985, drawing influence from Steve Martin, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy and George Carlin.

“I knew in 1989 this is what I’m doing for the rest of my life. I’m an entertainer,” he said.

Breuer recounted his favorite memory from his career thus far.

“Probably the first time I got to do a sketch with Joe Pesci and Robert De Niro.” One of Breuer’s sketches on SNL involved him doing an uncanny impersonation of Joe Pesci alongside Colin Quinn as De Niro.

“They’re the ones that wanted to do it. They were there just to do one sketch with me.”

Breuer noted that he only does impressions of people he is a fan of.

“I’m a storyteller,” he remarked.

His break on SNL was a twomonth process, which included three meetings, “comedy club fate” and three auditions.

He was the last new cast member at the start of the 1995 season.

Breuer said, “My first big break was (at) the Uptown Comedy Club.

My next big break is yet to be seen.”

Breuer’s relationship with his father plays a significant role in Breuer’s act.

He does a very convincing, hys-

terical portrayal of his father in his stand-up, including re-enacting embarrassing moments such as the incident when his father had an accident in his pants. His father doesn't seem to mind and even accompanied him on his tour last year.

“I make sure I have enough time (with my family). I take them on the road with me,” he said.

Another project Breurer is working on that includes his father is a documentary film.

His future plans include the liveaction comedy film, The Zookeeper, in which he plays a voice, alongside Adam Sandler and Kevin James, as zoo animals who help their zookeeper woo a woman.

Breuer also has a TV pilot in the works with NBC, which characterizes his current stand-up show. He is currently seen in an ad campaign for Pizza Hut. When asked about the commercials, Breuer remarked, “It came out of the clear blue sky. No audtioning.”

Breuer also had time to write a book.

“It’s an autobiography – what was going on in my life while you were watching Half Baked, this is what was going on at home.”

Breuer also has a radio show on Sirius Satellite called “Fridays with Breuer.” The show is about real life, no talk of news or media is involved in the show.

“The stage is much different than radio. Radio is a well-oiled machine, flying off the top. At home (the stage), it’s just dad and son.”

Breuer has appeared in two onehour Comedy Central stand-up specials, Hardcore and Let’s Clear the Air which was re-aired on Nov. 25 with a special segment called Thanksgiving with the Breuers. It was filmed with his family a few weeks ago.

With such a busy schedule, it’s hard to imagine what leisure time he has, if any.

However, at the end of the day he’s still very much a family man.

When asked about what he does in his free time he said, “I play with my kids.”

Jim Breuer performed at the Brea Improv Nov. 19 - 22. His current tour will end Dec. 12 in New York.

The days of stoner jokes and "Goat Boy" may be gone, but a new comedic era of family hijinks is here to stay.

www.dailytitan.com

8

DETOUR

December 3, 2009

MUSIC

MOVIE

By isa ghani

By Jonathan Montgomery

detour@dailytitan.com

detour@dailytitan.com

MOVIE

By Skylar smith

Daily Titan Staff Writer

Daily Titan Multimedia Editor

detour@dailytitan.com

Up In the Air, the latest film by Juno director Jason Reitman, is an important movie not for the overlying plot and context, but because it also gives a realistic look at the effects of the recession on middle-class America.

George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, a character who lives his life on the road and up in the air. He flies from state to state doing the unwanted job of firing people at higher-end corporations and giving motivational pep-talks before they leave.

Bingham also gives speeches about being a traveling businessman. “How much does your life weigh?” asks Bingham to a room full of attentive businessmen. “The slower we move, the faster we die. Make no mistake, moving is living. We are sharks.”

This is the mindset we see Bingham in before things start to “go wrong.”

The company Bingham works for hires a young upstart, Natalie Keener played by Anna Kendrick, fresh from business school ready to move the business of firing people into the digital age.

Add on family drama, a “friend

with benefits” who Bingham starts to fall for, an incredible soundtrack, and a very well-done twist and you have an amazing movie.

However, what solidified this movie's importance to me, and hopefully others, is the bit of humanity that is portrayed during the firing scenes. The way each character reacts to being fired in this movie is startlingly realistic and adds depth to the fact that this movie is set during our modern-day recession.

Each newly-unemployed character plays his or her role beautifully, and even the big name actors who show up, such as Zach Galifianakis and J.K. Simmons, do amazing jobs portraying a harsh and common reality in today’s corporate world.

I cannot recommend this movie enough. Although in the beginning the movie may seem to be pulling familiar punches, make no mistake you are being set up for much more than expected.

You will walk away inspired and possibly changed.

Clooney gives one of his best performances in Up In The Air, and brings Hollywood cinema down to earth.

To me a cello is usually only useful for string quartets or to herald the sinking of the Titanic. Until, however, I listened to Oak and Gorski.

From light sweeps over the strings to heavier strokes of the bow, the cello provides a unique sound that ties Oak and Gorski’s blend of classical, country, rock and indie together so well.

With Ken Oak on vocals and cello and Ed Gorski on vocals and guitar, the Californian duo sing emotionally-driven songs that talk about heartbreak, relationships, cigarettes and booze. And they do it very well.

Their lyrics are simple, yet meaningful and full of emotion, sung in the mournful, slightly country twang Oak does so well. But it’s when Oak and Gorski hit those melodic harmonies together during the choruses where the music comes together perfectly, much like how their guitar and cello blend together perfectly in each and every song.

Their latest album, Good Advice, Bad Advice provides a good mix of songs, ranging from the melancholic “When The Evening Comes” to the upbeat “Pretty Far Gone” and “Suffocate Me.” I have to say at this point

that Oak and Gorski are even better live than on their CD. Perhaps it’s just the perfect simplicity of just a guitar and cello on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. Or maybe it’s the slower tempos and personal touch of their live performances.

They do prove versatile with their songwriting and instruments, switching up from soft, simple melodies on “Little Miss Blue” to a more urgent, edgier sound on “Steady Heart.” I sure haven’t heard a cello being used in that way. The emotional, personal lyrics make the listener feel comfortable and familiar, like two friends sharing stories of loves lost and won.

One problem I had with Good Advice, Bad Advice is that it was hard to listen to it in one long sitting. Regardless of whether the song was a faster or slower one, the heartbreaking lyrics that speak of pain and loss are heavy to handle all at once. Yet, I still walked away humming the chorus to “Little Miss Blue” on my way to go get some hot chocolate.

Two of the must-listen to songs of the album are “Little Miss Blue” and “Steady Heart.”

Daily Titan Staff Writer

The Road, directed by John Hillcoat, takes viewers on an emotional roller coaster as they follow a father (Viggo Mortensen) and son (Kodi McPhee) struggling to survive in a world that can no longer sustain life.

Food, vegetation and resources have run scarce, resulting in the deaths of many and causing some to resort to cannibalism in order to stave off hunger.

Hidden in an atmosphere that is mostly gray and desolate, where trees fall from old age, buildings crumble and the cold makes bodies tremble, is a world where humanity and morals also run scarce. Armed only with a pistol and a couple bullets, father and son must continue on their path while avoiding gangs of zombie-like human cannibals looking to survive by any means necessary.

Always on the verge of starvation, they travel south in search for food and shelter, hopeful of a better world with warmth and more children like the son. Through the father’s preaching, the son is able to continue the demanding conquest by assuring himself that they are still the “good guys” and that they are “carrying the

light” in their hearts.

The Road differentiates itself greatly from other post-apocalyptic films by focusing its attention more on dialogue and character development than the destruction of the earth itself.

The powerful performances of Mortensen and McPhee carry the story as they react to and embrace death, love, mistrust, starvation and anger.

However, as what tends to happen when dealing with most child actors, they lack the maturity and experience that comes with age. As a result, some scenes with McPhee seem cheesy, devaluing what could have been heart-wrenching dialogue.

Hillcoat paints imagery that is tense and disturbing, as well as includes sequences both warm and eloquent, such as the dreams the man has as he remembers his deceased wife (Charlize Theron).

The film as a whole shows an interesting take on what the lives of a father and son might be like as they travel a lifeless and lonely road; for on the road, continuous and unpredictable, exists only life, death and survival.

Event Calendar 4 FRIDAY

• The Cranberries Club Nokia • NOFX Pomona Fox Theater • Thrice Soma • Barry Manilow McCallum Theatre • Alesana Glass House • Airborne Toxic Event Walt Disney Concert Hall

5 Saturday • Fink Spaceland • A Skylit Drive Chain Reaction • Dramarama Coach House • Little Dragon El Rey Theatre • Girls UC San Diego • The Shys Echo

• The Ting Tings Nokia Theatre • The Rocket Summer HOB Anaheim • KRS-One Roxy Theatre • Less Than Jake Glass House • The 88 Echo • Stacey Q Gibson Amphitheatre

• Mickey Avalon 4th and B • Stellastarr* Spaceland

• Mark Farina Vanguard • “Back on Track” Walk-A-Thon Saddleback College • Artivist Film Festival Egyptian Theatre • Leighton Meester Club Nokia

6 sunday • Breathe Carolina Chain Reaction •Future of Forestry Calvary Chapel Golden Springs

• Cold Cave Echo • Lynhurst Hotel Café • Ballerina Black Three Clubs • Filipino-American Symphony Orchestra Pasadena Civic Auditorium

• Merry Tuba Christmas Americana at the Brand •“Home for the Holidays” Animal Adoption Irvine Animal Care Center

• Rude & Crude Glass House • The Aversions Alex’s Bar • Fernando Botero Exhibit Bowers Museum • David Carlberg Signing Barnes & Noble, Huntington Beach

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Daily Sudoku: Sun 29-Nov-2009

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Answer Corner

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Sports

10

December 3, 2009

Getting to know the Browns

By Steven Swensen

For the Daily Titan

sports@dailytitan.com

The demands of college life challenges everyone in different ways.

Classes, assignments, studying for tests and work schedules all pull us in many different directions. But student-athletes also have to deal with the demands of playing team sports.

For Gary and Torrie Brown, coping is as easy as depending on family ties.

Gary, a junior left fielder for Cal State Fullerton’s baseball team, is the older brother of Torrie, a sophomore striker for the women’s volleyball team. As individuals, they are making names for themselves as accomplished athletes. Privately, they are family members helping one another juggle the commitments of sports and college.

Having been drafted by the Oakland Athletics while at Diamond Bar High School, Gary chose to develop his skills at the collegiate level and has been rewarded for his decision.

A Freshman All-American for both Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball, Gary was also a Big West Conference Honorable Mention as a utility player.

Helping take Titan baseball back “It was exciting to be in a new to the College World Series in Oma- place and a new environment with ha this past season was a success he good teammates becoming friends,” hopes to build on in 2010. she said.

“We have a bitter taste in our However, the team struggled mouth because we felt that we were over the course of her first season the best team there, but it was a great and Torrie began re-evaluating the experience for our team to take in future. Initially, she was hesitant to and learn from,” Brown said. consider coming back home, particCommitted to winning and add- ularly to CSUF, because of the closeing to the legacy of championship ness to her high school and home in baseball at CSUF, Gary is leaving a Diamond Bar. mark on the field.

“Originally, I Yet his greatest was hesitant to contribution to stay so close to Titan athletics home, but Gary may have been a called me and simple phone call helped change my to his sister. mind, convincing Taking up volme to reconsider. leyball in high I trusted him school, Torrie when I made the was a natural fit. decision to come Like Gary, her – Julie Brown, home to family performance at and friends and Mother Diamond Bar join a competitive HS gained plenty team,” she said. of recognition.

With Torrie While there, she was a three-time and the CSUF women’s volleyball First Team All-Sierra League honoree team amassing an 18-12, which tied and named to four All-Tournament a school record for victories in a seateams during her career. son, big brother Gary is glad his efShe was also named San Gabriel forts paid off.

Valley Tribune All-Inland Valley “It’s great to see her around camPlayer of the Year after her senior pus, bump into (her) around study year. hall and to see her games. Having her Deciding to go away for school, at mine is a huge lift as well. I would Torrie played her freshman year at never tell her this, but it means a lot Georgia State and enjoyed her time having her,” he said. away.

Torrie attributes much of her suc-

“

My hope is that they will always be good examples and role models for others in areas of sports and academics.

“

Siblings Gary and Torrie Brown share more than just a bond with athletics

cessful transition to CSUF to Gary’s constant support.

“It’s a feeling of security to know he is there. He has been helpful with answering questions about school and helped me meet new people and make friends. He also sends me text messages to pump me up for big games, like our win against UCLA. It’s a good feeling,” she said.

Torrie’s season at Georgia State was the first time in her life that her mother, Julie Brown, wasn’t able to support and attend her daughter’s games and cheer her on.

“It was heartbreaking for her to be away for her freshman year because we have been there at all the games since they were kids. Once she decided to come back, I was so happy to have her close to home and with her brother at school,” Julie said.

Though a weekly challenge, Gary and Torrie regularly find time to meet up and head home to Diamond Bar for weekends with family and friends. Whether it’s going to a movie and dinner or attending church, whatever they do, the Browns do it together.

The family bond is strengthened over weekends back home and help Gary and Torrie return to school with the support to meet the challenges ahead.

“My roommates are not locals, so I feel very fortunate to be able to say hello to my folks and visit home whenever I want,” Gary said.

With the women’s volleyball team battling now for a conference title, Torrie’s contributions are an invaluable asset. Likewise, Gary’s ambitions and outlook for the 2010 baseball team are getting back to the CWS and restoring national respect and recognition for Titan baseball.

photo By chad uemera/Daily Titan Staff Photographer Gary Brown is in his third year with the CSUF baseball team while Torrie is in her first year with the volleyball team after spending her freshman year at Georgia State.

The two have equally high ambitions for life beyond CSUF as well.

Both communications majors, Torrie’s concentration is broadcast journalism, and she hopes to end up in sports broadcasting or the entertainment field.

Gary is concentrating on entertainment studies; his goal is to end

up playing Major League Baseball in the next few years.

While the future is definitely bright for these two standout athletes, Gary and Torrie are prepared for what is to come because of the commitment they have shown as siblings, athletes and students.

As for mom, Julie hopes that whatever they do, they honor those same commitments through helping others.

“My hope is that they will always be good examples and role models for others in areas of sports and academics. The foundation of what they’ve learned is respect for diversity, and I’m thankful they’ve been given the opportunity to do so.

While being successful, I hope they always advocate to others the importance of education and standing up for what is right,” Julie said.