Daily Titan - April 27, 2009

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INSIDE: SPORTS

Titans shut out 49ers in softball series finale, page 10

Since 1960 Volume 85, Issue 42

FEATURES: Flicks from CSUF students debut at Newport Film Festival, page 6 OPINION: Health in a Handbasket, Walking for a cause, page 7

Daily Titan

Monday April 27, 2009

The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

Police search for suspect in rape near campus Fullerton police are asking the public’s help in locating the suspect who sexually assaulted a 19-year-old college student as she was jogging in Craig Regional Park Monday, April 20, evening. Sgt. Mike MacDonald said the woman was jogging near the ball diamonds at the park, 3300 N. State College Blvd., at about 8 p.m. when a car began following her. At one point the man driving the car got out and chased the woman, catching her and then throwing her to the ground, where he raped her. The woman said after the assault, the man got back into his car and drove off. A friend of the young woman who had planned to join her in jogging found the victim and took her for medical treatment. She did not require hospitalization. MacDonald said the woman described her assailant as black, with a very light complexion, 6 feet tall, weighing approximately 200 pounds, with short hair. At the time of the assault, he was wearing a white T-shirt and gray sweatpants. The victim said the suspect was driving a 2007 black Honda Civic two-door. Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of the suspect or his car is asked to contact Detective Ron Bair at the Fullerton Police Department at (714) 738-6762.

Theatre students nationally recognized Cal State Fullerton took home both national titles at the 41st annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, the first time in the history of the Irene Ryan Scholarship auditions that a single university won both awards. Graduate students Meredith Hinckley of Santa Ana (with acting partner Paul Collins of Santa Ana) and Adam Navarro of Costa Mesa (with partner Courtney Howe of Rancho Santa Margarita) from CSUF’s Department of Theatre and Dance received the two $2,500 fellowships. The awards recognize their work in campus productions of “The Night of the Iguana” and “As You Like It.”

Professor attends autism conference A handful of speakers, including CSUF Assistant Professor Suzanne Robinson, attended the “Autism Inclusion and Evidence-Based Practice” conference held in Brea April 24 and 25. The goal of this conference was to discuss the best practices for dealing with individuals who have autism. Dunnick Karge, the conference chair, has said that “Studies show that autism afflicts one in 150 children in the United States and is four times more likely to occur in boys.”

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Titans stampede Elephant races follow traditional ‘Day of the Titan,’ first started May 11, 1962 at the ‘Dumbo Downs’ By Rochelle Cadiz

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

Among clusters of fervent crowds at Welcome to Cal State Fullerton Day, was the Student Life Programs’ sponsored elephant races Saturday in the Quad. The day, which was devoted to all things CSUF was intended to provide prospective students exposure to the campus community and everything it has to offer through panels, workshops and open networking. Tables sponsored by various campus organizations circled around the Quad in front of McCarthy Hall and continued on the Titan Walk, leading to the Titan Student Union. Groups of students, friends and parents traveled around campus taking their first tours of the university. Prior to summer orientation for incoming freshmen, the welcome day was also a time for current students to show off their Titan pride. “Today is a time for incoming students and their parents to find out ways to stay invested in the campus. We’re one of the most recognizable schools in the nation.” said Aisha Brent, sophomore business administration major. A campus rich in history, the first elephant races date back to May 11, 1962, then known as the Day of the Titan, according to the CSUF Web site. Then named Orange County State College, the first race attracted 10,000 onlookers to a nearby spot known as “Dumbo Downs,” which was an isolated area standing near the current Titan Student

Union. Thus, the Titan mascot became an elephant. Although Saturday’s elephant races did not include the actual elephants of the historic 1962 race, students and spectators were excited nonetheless to show off their school pride. Participants were asked to create four-wheeled, human-powered elephants no bigger than five feet in height, width and length. “We made our elephant out of foil, a wagon and a pool noodle,” said Frank Sanchez, a freshman Radio-TV-Film major. Viewers couldn’t help but beam with smiles as student teams charged down alongside McCarthy Hall, pushing the miniature makeshift animals. The water polo club team consisted of Bailey Caulum, Kayleigh Atwater and Kelsey Camara. The team lost but finished with animated smiles on their faces. “I saw the races last year. It was cool to watch, so we said, ‘why not, let’s join,’” said Atwater, a junior child and adolescent studies major. The elephant they proudly made in less than two hours was made after they gathered the materials at Home Depot. The top three teams were awarded with certificates recognizing their contribution to the festivities. An award also went to the team with the most creative elephant. Although the race lasted only minutes, it created a lasting impression for participants and spectators. “It was fun making the elephant, and it will be just as fun taking it apart,” said Kelsey Camara, a freshman business major.

Photo By Lauren Worsley/Daily Titan Staff Photographer Britney Sepulveda, Mercedes Hansen and Jennifer Hart of the Equestrian Team combined with Matthew Nelms, Jeffery O’Brien and Eric Lichtenstein of the Rugby Team win the Elephant Races Saturday, April 25.

Water ‘scarce, limited resource’ in So. California

Photo by Jeremiah Dobruck Jim Thebaut, a documentary film-maker, accepts the Distinguished Communicator Award for his film ‘The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?’

Documentary focuses on the condition of the Southwest water supply By Jeremiah Dobruck

Daily Titan Staff Writer news@dailytitan.com

As part of Communications Week, Thursday night’s expert panel took a look at how precarious Southern California’s water supply is and explained how a major shift is needed if Los Angeles and Orange County residents want to stay hydrated. Attendees got a look at pieces of the documentary “The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?” by Jim Thebaut, before delving into questions about local and worldwide water issues. Being declared an “official Titan,” Thebaut received Cal State Fullerton’s Distinguished Communicator Award last Thursday for his work educating the public through his “Running Dry” films, documenting water problems throughout the world. “Every 15 seconds a child dies from lack of water or water-related illnesses,” Thebaut said. Every year, communications faculty vote on an individual to receive the award. Anthony Fellow, Communications chair and a director for the

Photo Courtesy of MCT A plan to carry more water along the California Aqueduct, shown at the Bethany Reservoir in Alameda County, Calif., in 2003, is under scrutiny for how it may affect farms and the environment.

MWD, said that this year the vote was unanimous for Thebaut largely because of his international humanitarian work including a documentary on South Africa’s water challenges. Fellow also said he hopes to get the Communications Department involved in Africa, and possibly have a study abroad trip there available in the future. “He’s trying to improve the planet, save the planet I should say – save humanity,” Fellow said. Thebaut received the elephantshaped award after returning from Africa Wednesday, and directly after parts of his documentaries were screened for Titans in a Communications Week event. “(Water) is becoming a very sacred and limited resource,” Thebaut said. His documentary detailed the strains being put on the Southwest’s water supply by perennial drought, an aging infrastructure and unconscientious use. “People love their lawns,” said Timothy Brick, panelist and chair

“You don’t recover from a drought of the board of directors of the Metropolitan Water District of South- with 82 percent of normal,” Brick ern California. “We’re using water said. Thebaut said water reserves are extravagantly.” well below half. By extravaAquifers, where ungantly, Brick derground water is means the 140 stored, are also begallons of water ing depleted. a day per person This does not Americans use, even address the which dwarfs aging infrastrucother nations ture and aqueduct, like Australia which carries water and Great Britfrom the Sacramenain, as reported – Anthony Fellow, to Delta to Southby Thebaut’s ern California. documentary. Communications A major earthPortions of chair quake would not the documentary screened that help the problem. night reported It could increase that every source water problems for of water Southern California uses is Southern California for years, Felunder great duress. low said. According to the documentary, Thebaut’s documentary reported the Colorado River has become that levies vital for getting water to overly stressed, and precipitation the millions of residents in Southhas been on a steady decline. Even ern California would not withstand though rainfall has been up this year, a 100-year storm or major earthit is only 82 percent of normal. quake.

He’s trying to improve the planet, save the planet I should say –­ save humanity.

DTSHORTHAND

In response to that, Brick said the MWD wants to ask citizens to use 10 percent less water and pay 20 percent more. That decision became official Tuesday when the MWD board voted to reduce the amount of water that local agencies get, and bump up the price this year and possibly next year as well. “We’ve reached the end of an era of cheap water in the Southwest,” Brick said. The MWD distributes imported water to local agencies, which governs how almost 19 million people get drinking water throughout Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura Counties, and is lobbying for longterm solutions everywhere from local government to Washington, according to the MWD Web site. The bright side, however, is that Southern California is making progress. Fellow said Los Angeles is using the same amount of water as in 1980, even with its expansion, and Brick said Orange County is a leader in reusing water – something he believes is a vital part of the solution. “Irvine is a model for all of California,” Brick said citing landscaping that is not water intensive, construction regulations and tiered rate structures that increase charges for citizens who overuse water. Thebaut said he believes a major shift is needed to support the Southwest’s water needs, but he’s optimistic it can happen. By individual conservation, adoption of California-friendly landscaping as opposed to oversized lawns, governmental regulations and planning out urban development, he believes there can be a major shift, but it has to be embraced by the next generation. “What was interesting to me is that we use so many gallons of water,” Cesar Gonzalez, a communications major in attendance, said. Gonzalez took the simple recommendations of the panel seriously: Turning off the water while brushing teeth and taking shorter showers. These simple steps are as key as major infrastructure and legal changes, according to the panel. “We’re not going to hell in a hand basket if we’re smart,” Thebaut said.


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