April 9 2012

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MONDAY Issue April 9, 2012 FRESNO STATE

COLLEGIAN.CSUFRESNO.EDU

SERVING CAMPUS SINCE 1922

Fresno State alumnus part of groundbreaking autism research

By University Communications

Photos courtesy of ASI

Arthur Montejano was elected Associated Students, Inc. president for the 2012-13 school year before spring break. He will replace Selena Farnesi.

Montejano to take office June 1

By Alexandra Norton The Collegian After results were announced just before spring break, Associated Students, Inc. welcomed three new executives and 14 senators on June 1.

Arthur Montejano, a master’s student in the Kinesiology Department, was elected president with 620 votes, beating out Daniel Harrison and writein candidate Jose Nava. Harrison received 411 votes, and Nava received 116 votes.

On March 29, the votes from the threeday election were tallied by the League of Women Voters. Students were able to vote online from Tuesday morning until the election closed on Thursday afternoon. This year’s election drew 1,216 students, a smaller tur nout compared to last year’s 1,533 and 1,783 in 2010.

Montejano said in an email that his main goal as president is to fix the communication gap

between ASI and students by holding General Assemblies.

“My goals are to identify ways in which Associated Students, Inc. can help alleviate the burden of the everincreasing cost of higher education, increase opportunities for student development and make ASI more accessible to students,” Montejano said.

Montejano will be accompanied by Vice President of External Affairs Sean Kiernan and Vice President of Finance Rebecca Rosengarten.

“I will be the first person in this position,” Kiernan said. “So, I am going to shape the job duties for future incumbents.”

Vice president of external affairs was added after students voted in the position in early February. The position combines the duties of the current executive vice president and senator of legislative affairs.

Although Kiernan will be the first person in this position, he is unsure he will be able to serve the entire term.

“I am also applying for student trustee,” Kiernan said. “If appointed by the governor to that position, I will resign as VP of External Affairs.”

Kiernan is currently the senator for resident affairs and said if he doesn’t get appointed student trustee he will continue the community revitalization effort and continue as chair of the legislative affairs committee as VP of external affairs.

Rosengarten is also already a part of ASI and is a business major from

Capitola, Calif. She has served as Senate secretary since June 2011 and won the vice president of finance with 49 percent of the votes.

Like Montejano, Rosengarten also plans to help students learn about the resources available on campus.

“A few of my goals are to show students that ASI gives back to them in more ways than just activity grants for their clubs and grants for research,” said Rosengraten.

ASI will welcome ten new senators with four senators returning: Oscar Perez, Parmita Choudhury, Fernado Moreno and Kevin Boles. No candidates ran for the senator of the Craig School of Business.

A complete list of all senators can be found below. Montejano also said he can be reached for questions or concerns via email at ideas4asi@ gmail.com or on his campaign Facebook page at facebook. com/art4asi.

Rebecca Rosengarten

Sean Kiernan

Anthony Guzman II Senator of College of Arts and Humanities

Associated Students, Inc. Senators

Melissa Ellis Senator

Sarah McMaster Senator of Jordan College of Agriculture

Lucas Lundy Senator of Health and Human Services

Shawn Clark Senator

Lindsey Fidler Senator of Kremen School of Education

Moses Menchaca Senator of College of Social Sciences

Neil O’Brien Senator

Adrienne Olaivar Senator of College of Engineering

Fernando Moreno Senator

Oscar Perez Senator

Philip Kingsford Senator of Science and Math

Kevin Boles Senator

Parmita Choudhury Senator

Fresno State alumnus Dr. Brian O’Roak, part of the university’s inaugural Smittcamp Family Honors College class, is on a University of Washington genomic research team making headlines for a promising discovery that specific gene mutations increase chances of autism in children.

The data indicate that the risk of a child becoming autistic increases the older parents are and especially if the father is older than 35.

O’Roak was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Biology (Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology emphasis) from Fresno State in 2003 and also was the College of Science and Mathematics Dean’s Medalist.

After receiving his doctorate in genetics at Yale University in 2009, O’Roak joined the Eichler and Shendure laboratories with the University of Washington’s Department of Genome Sciences as a postdoctoral fellow.

The Eichler and Shendure lab in Seattle is one of three research teams cited in media accounts of this scientific breakthrough, reported during April’s National Autism Month, which calls attention to the need for research, prevention and treatment.

O’Roak feels for tunate to have been an inaugural member of the Smittcamp Family Honors College.

“Being part of this new group of highachieving students with access to the best faculty and the honors curriculum was tremendous,” he said. “I believe this level of undergraduate education would stack up well against any ‘top tier’ university.”

The Smittcamp Family Honors College is designed to provide highachieving high school students a rigorous, enhanced academic, leadership and service experience at Fresno State, supporting Presidential Scholars with four-year scholarships.

“As a pioneering member of the Smittcamp Family Honors College, Brian set the bar very high for future President’s Scholars,” said Dr. Honora Chapman, a professor of Modern and Classical Languages and Literature who is director of the Honors College.

“His scientific achievements, founded on his excellent education at Fresno State and Yale, not only offer vital information about autism but they also inspire our present and future scholars to pursue their careers with the confidence that they, too, can make serious contributions to society. The Honors College is extremely proud to have him as an alumnus,” added Chapman.

O’Roak was the first in his family to be a university student and participated in the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program, which guides students transitioning from undergraduate to doctoral studies. O’Roak said, the McNair Program “helped me through the entire process and provided opportunities for scientific research under a faculty mentor” at Fresno State before he enrolled at Yale.

PAGE 2

THE COLLEGIAN • FEATURES FEATURES EDITOR, THOMAS PEARSON • COLLEGIAN-FEATURES@CSUFRESNO.EDU

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

Organic farm's You Pick event allows customers to pick their own produce

By Stephen Keleher The Collegian Eating organic produce can be expensive. While many supermarkets now sell some organic produce, prices can be up to twice that of non-organic produce.

At Fresno State's organic farm's "You Pick Saturdays," organic produce can be picked fresh for just a dollar a pound.

The event occurs on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month and has become a fun event for the surrounding community.

“We have a lot of turnout from the community," said student volunteer Gary Cannon.

"We show them how organic food is grown, and all our organic produce is a dollar a pound. You can’t beat that.”

Seniors often show up early and some are self-proclaimed m a s t e r g a rd e n e r s i n t h e Fresno community. These seniors not only buy some of the produce to support the far m, but also share their own experiences from growing organic produce at their homes.

Families also show up, often with young children. Student volunteers take the children through the plot, helping them identify what is growing.

“The next time they come out they get really excited,” Cannon said. “Then, they say for instance, ‘That is a root-

let.’ What 6-year-old can identify a rootlet? Not many. That’s neat.”

You Pick Saturdays are also attended by people in their early 20s and are typically couples. The volunteers help them identify the different crops and the different stages.

“A lot of people that come on a regular basis actually get to see the growing curve of the different produce from the stage where we just planted it, all the way to harvest,” Cannon said.

People can learn the correct way to harvest the different crops and take that knowledge back to their own gardens.

Cannon said it empowers them to know what the different crops look like in the ground and how to harvest each one.

The winter harvest is just

ending, so in April there will just be lettuce and broccoli during You Pick Saturdays.

“Once May gets here, we’ll be really kicking,” Cannon said. “For April, we have our cold weather crops, which are greens — lettuce and broccoli — but that’s really on its way out. It really gets going in May though and then all summer long.”

The next You Pick Saturday will be on April 14.

“A

lot of people that come on a regular basis actually get to see the growing curve of the different produce from the stage where we just planted it, all the way to harvest.”

— Gary Cannon, volunteer at organic farm

“Law school is as rewarding as it is challenging. As a farm owner experiencing the many challenges facing agriculture in California, pursuing a law degree is the best option for me and my family.”

Gabriel Delgado

BA, Agricultural Business CSU, Fresno

you’re invited to an

Informational Law Forum thurSday, apriL 12, 7-9pm at San Joaquin CoLLege of Law

Jonathan Conklin Professor of Law

This free informational law forum helps prospective students learn about law school, admission requirements, the amount of work involved, and if SJCL is right for you. The first portion will be lead

by Professor of Law Jonathan Conklin. Professor Conklin teaches Criminal Law and Procedure at San Joaquin College of Law, and is SJCL’s Moot Court Director.

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MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

THE COLLEGIAN • SCIENCE & CULTURE SCIENCE & CULTURE EDITOR, JOHNATHAN WILBANKS • COLLEGIAN-FEATURES@CSUFRESNO.EDU

PAGE 3

Stephen Hawking works his comedic chops on ‘The Big Bang Theory’

By Patrick Kevin Day McClatchy-Tribune LOS ANGELES — Stephen Hawking may have an impeccable understanding of space-time, but his comedic timing is pretty good too. At least that’s according to recent co-star Simon Helberg on Twitter, who noted the theoretical physicist’s “understanding of comedy in relation to time” during his appearance on CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” on Thursday.

In the episode, Howard (Helberg) subjects Sheldon (Jim Parsons) to a series of humiliating acts before he will hand Sheldon’s research thesis over to the scientist. Of course, Hawking wants to compliment Sheldon in person (and point out an error in his work), so the famous scientist appears in person.

It’s probably the first and only time you’ll ever hear a brilliant scientist say the word “boner” on network TV. Even though Hawking suffers from the degenerative disease related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which leaves him almost completely para-

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CALL FOR NOMINATIONS 2011-2012 Provost's Awards Nominations are now being accepted for the Provost’s Awards for the 2011-2012 academic year. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to submit nominations of full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty, or an academic program for the Assessment of Learning award.

Nominations may be submitted in the following categories: • Excellence in Teaching • Technology in Education • Graduate Teaching and Mentoring • Faculty Service • Distinguished Achievement in Research, Scholarship or Creative Accomplishment • Promising New Faculty Award • Distinguished Achievement in Assessment of Learning Nomination forms and instructions are available on-line at: http://www.csufresno.edu/academics/faculty_resources/ opportunities_awards/provost_award.shtml Forms are also available in the Office of the Provost, Haak Administration Center, Henry Madden Library, 4th floor, room #4116.

All nominations must be submitted to the Office of the Provost on or before 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 12, 2012.

lyzed and requires him to communicate through a computerized voice, he’s managed to be a very visible media presence over the years.

He always plays himself, making guest appearances on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Futurama,” “The Simpsons” and serving as host on the anthology series “Masters of Science

“I

t’s probably the first and only time you’ll ever hear a brilliant scientist say the word ‘boner’ on network TV.”

Fiction.”

Hawking is just the latest geek icon to guest star on the hit CBS sitcom. In past episodes, Leonard Nimoy, LeVar Burton, Stan Lee and Steve Wozniak all have made appearances.

The

Collegian

SPORTS PAGE 4

THIS WEEK...

The No. 10 Fresno State equestrian team will head to Waco, Texas on Wednesday to compete in the 2012 NCEA National Championships.

SPORTS EDITOR, ANGEL MORENO • COLLEGIAN-SPORTS@CSUFRESNO.EDU

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Raegan Pebley to succeed Wiggins as head coach Utah State’s Raegan Pebley to be introduced today as head coach

By Angel Moreno The Collegian In a 12-day tur naround, Fresno State announced the hiring of Utah State head coach Raegan Pebley to take over the women’s basketball program. She becomes the program’s ninth head coach, succeeding Adrian Wiggins, who left for a better-paying job at Ole Miss on March 26.

Pebley, 36, agreed to a fiveyear contract with Fresno State and will be introduced at a news conference today, with financial terms also to be disclosed.

“I love the potential Fresno State has,” Pebley told The Fresno Bee. “We’re going to play up-tempo basketball, being agg ressive, fun and exciting. We’ll also keep shooting the 3.”

Pebley was the head coach at Utah State, where she built the women’s basketball program from the ground up when it was reinstated in 2003 after a 16-year hiatus.

The Aggies finished 21-10 this season, setting a program record for wins in what was the best season during Pebley’s tenure. She was one of eight coaches in the nation who was named a finalist for the 2012 WBCA National Coach of the Year award.

In her nine seasons with the Aggies, Pebley led the team to its first postseason appearances since the program had been dropped in 1987. The Utah State program made the Women’s National Invitation Tour nament the past two years, including a secondplace finish in the Western Athletic Conference this season behind the Bulldog program she now inherits.

Pebley is taking over a Fresno State women’s basketball program that won four WAC ch a m p i o n s h i p s a n d made five consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament under Wiggins. With that, Pebley also inherits a Bulldog roster that went 28-6 last season and will lose just two seniors i n B l a ke ly G o l d b e r g a n d Veronica Wilson.

“There’s been tremendous success here, but that’s not something that scared me away,” Pebley said. “I always like to take a big bite and go

after it. I love challenges.

“I know the fans have high expectations. I know the Mountain West is a tough conference and it’ll be a challenge.

But I know that league very well. I expect to win championships and advance to the NCAA Tour nament,” she added.

Director of Athletics Thomas Boeh said he worked hard to hire a successful Division I head coach.

“We are thrilled that Raegan will lead and build upon the success of our women’s basketball program,” Boeh said.

“Throughout the search process Raegan continually displayed extraordinary combination of expertise, awareness, insight and personal character.

“Her extensive experience and accomplishments as a Division I head coach, combined with her close ties to our primary recruiting locations, makes her a perfect fit for Fresno State.”

Pebley’s success at Utah State earned her the 2011 WAC Coach of the Year award, and the 2012 Russell Athletic/ WBCA Region 7 Coach of the Year award.

Before taking over at Utah State, Pebley was an assistant coach at George Mason from 1997-99 under Jim Lewis and Debbie Taneyhill.

After George Mason, Pebley was an assistant under Tom Collen at Colorado State from 1999-01, where the Rams went 48-17 in her two seasons coaching. The Rams reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2001 and the semifinals of the WNIT in 2000.

The coaching lineage Pebley has taken has proven successful, as Collen is now coaching at Arakansas and was also one of the eight finalists for the 2012 WBCA National Coach of the Year award.

A native of Orem, Utah, Pebley played at Mountain View High School where she led her team to two state championships and was named a two-time Utah 4A Player of the Year.

Pebley went on to play at Colorado after high school, where she led the Buffaloes to a 106-24 overall record in her career, four conference

Photo Courtesy of Fresno State Athletics

Utah State head coach and 2011 WAC Coach of the Year Raegan Pebley will replace Adrian Wiggins as the head coach of the women’s basketball program. Wiggins left Fresno State to take over at Ole Miss on March 26.

championships, four NCAA Tour nament appearances including an Elite 8 finish.

Pebley was also named a twotime all-conference selection.

After college, Pebley was drafted into the WNBA by the Utah Starzz in the third round.

She played her second and final season in the league with the Cleveland Rockers.

“All of the pieces are in place,” Pebley said. “The women have character and talent, there is strong administrative leadership, tremendous fan support, engaged a l u m n i , t h e c o m p e t i t ive Mountain West Conference, and amazing high school and club coaches in the area that I will learn from, support and

lean on.”

Pebley will be introduced today and be gin her first season as head coach at the same time the Bulldogs will move into the Mountain West Conference.

SOFTBALL

Moses pitches Fresno State to a sweep over Utah State

By Angel Moreno The Collegian The Fresno State softball team swept Utah State in a three-game series over the weekend.

The ‘Dogs outscored the Aggies 17-2 in the three games, improving to 27-15 overall and 7-1 in Western Athletic Conference play. The Aggies fell to 11-25 and 2-7 in conference as the Bulldogs

improved their winning streak against the Aggies to 18 games.

Senior pitcher Michelle Moses shutout the Aggies in the Bulldogs’ 4-0 win Friday. Moses allowed three hits and struck out five in her second WAC shutout of the season.

Moses repeated her shutout performance the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader as the ‘Dogs won 8-0.

Moses, who pitched every inning of

the three-games series, allowed just one hit in the first game of the doubleheader.

Offensively, the Bulldogs came out in the second inning of game one, scoring eight runs on six hits. The inning was highlighted by Brooke Ortiz’s two-run triple down the right-field line.

In game two Moses continued her dominance in the circle, pitching Fresno State to a 5-2 win.

The Bulldog bats also came through in the second game as all five runs were driven in by different players. Brenna Moss led the team from the plate, going 2-for-4 with an RBI single in the fifth inning.

The Bulldogs will conclude their homestand today in a single nonconference game against Cal Poly with the first pitch slotted for 5 p.m.