SPORTS PHOTO ESSAY
President Welty welcomes back students. New furniture in the library. Behind the scenes look at Fresno State marching band.
A look at what sports you missed while you were on summer vacation.
OPINION FEATURES ONLINE
Monday Issue August 23, 2010 FRESNO STATE
COLLEGIAN.CSUFRESNO.EDU
SERVING CAMPUS SINCE 1922
WAC-ked
WAG Pack to help new students navigate campus By Andrew Veihmeyer The Collegian Photo Illustration by Matt Weir / The Collegian
school with opened arms. The MWC acknowledged that it would waive the entrance fee, which could save the athletic department a reported $1 million. “Over a period of time, we will both finance a buyout and the additional cost that we have,” Welty said. So why did the university choose to accept an invitation to the MWC knowing it was going to be hit by fees? Welty said that the opportunity to join the MWC was too good to pass up, even if it meant being penalized. He said that by joining the conference now, the advantages to Fresno State would be seen as beneficial in the long run. “This invitation provides an opportunity for Fresno State to take another step athletically and also another step academically,” Welty said. Athletically, being a part of the MWC
It’s inevitable. This week, a student will walk into an anthropology classroom expecting biology, another will be running around to find the closest bathroom, and someone else will try to find the Office of Parking and Transportation to contest their fresh parking ticket. In any scenario, take a deep breath and keep an eye out for the “Wag Pack” representatives, experienced students who welcome students and direct them to where they need to go. “Just look for our t-shirts,” said Arthur Montejano, the Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity Beta Nu Vice President and team leader of the Welcome and Guidance (WAG) Pack. Montejano coleads the group and oversees 35 students who have volunteered themselves this semester to ease the minds of lost students. “We did lots of recruiting,” said Montejano, which accounts for the higher number of volunteers this year. A training day was organized on Aug. 16 to ensure that members were ready for the large influx of students about to
See MWC, Page 13
See WAG, Page 6
Fresno State accepts invitation to MWC By Vongni Yang The Collegian The days of playing against the Idahos, the New Mexico States, and the rest of the Wester n Athletic Conference members on an annual basis is finally over. University officials announced last Wednesday that Fresno State was leaving the WAC to accept an invitation to join the Mountain West Conference. “Fresno State was certainly honored to be invited to become a member of the Mountain West Conference,” university president John Welty said. Soon Fresno State will be seen competing against the likes of Brigham Young, New Mexico, San Diego State and Texas Christian, alongside former WAC rivals Boise State and Nevada. Welty said that Fresno State hopes to enter the MWC sometime in the next two years, if not earlier.
“The sooner you get there, the better it is,” he said. “I’d like to see us move by Fall 2011 if possible.” The move to the MWC doesn’t come without penalty, however. Fresno State would be subjected to pay a reported $5 million because of its departure from the WAC. The university has said that it will use non-state funding dollars to help cover the cost of the penalty clause. WAC commissioner Karl Benson told ESPN that he expects Fresno State to pay the exit fee by Oct. 17. Benson called both Fresno State and Nevada “selfish” for leaving the conference, just five days after all eight WAC schools agreed to the $5 million buyout penalty. The agreement was made to protect the conference from future departures, but Fresno State decided it was still best to leave. With Fresno State leaving on bad ter ms, the MWC is welcoming the
Home Matters Remembering Kassie Lee 1988-2010 By Andrew Veihmeyer The Collegian Kassandra Brianne Lee, a recent Fresno State MCJ graduate, died of a pulmonary embolism on May 31, 2010, just a week after graduation. Her mother, Cathy Lee, was the last person to speak with her daughter the night before her death. Lee said that she never complained about any symptoms or problems to her on the phone that night. Kassie was found in the home that she had recently bought for herself. “When we found her, she was very See LEE, Page 5
Photo provided by Cathy Lee
Kassie Lee co-hosted a weekly radio show with her father called “Home Matters” on KYNO 1300 AM.
The
Collegian
Opinion PAGE 2
THAT’S WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING...
“I
n a 12-hour period, the WAC went from having a secure and prosperous future to once again not knowing what the future will hold.” – Karl Benson, ESPN.com
OPINION EDITOR, ANNA JACOBSEN • COLLEGIAN-OPINION@CSUFRESNO.EDU
MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2010
Welty welcomes back Around students for 100th year the room University Communications
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John Welty
elcome to campus for what will be an exciting year as Fresno State celebrates its 100th anniversary! I want to take this opportunity to give a special welcome to our 2,700 new freshmen, our 2,000 new transfers and 750 new graduate or credential students. Our new and returning numbers total about 21,000 students. Our celebration, which begins this fall and continues through Commencement next May, is an opportunity to look back over a century of excellence and to look ahead as we
als, Emmys, Grammys, the Super Bowl begin our second 100 years. It’s also a and other distinctions. reminder of how successfully we’ve We’ve also helped our neighbors worked together to overcome challengthrough volunteer service and partneres and help thousands of individuals ships designed to transform our region thrive to the benefit of others. and improve our quality of life. Fresno State has evolved from modWe have stayed true to the four Latin est beginnings as a normal school to words on our university seal: train teachers into an acclaimed, cul“Lucem accipe ut reddas” (“Receive turally diverse, 21st century university, the light that you may give it forth”). which offers educational opportunities As Bulldogs, I challenge each of you through eight schools and colleges. Our students have applied what they’ve to continue taking those few powerful words to heart this learned at Fresno State as leaders and year as we look back and look ahead to do-ers in communities throughout our next 100 years. California, around the world and clear I hope each of you has a wonderful into space. year at Fresno State! Our alumni are 9/11 heroes, judges, ambassadors, university presidents, John Welty is the president of teachers, farmers, doctors and nurses, California State University, Fresno. political leaders, military men and women, authors and artists, astronauts, inventors, athletes and business resno State has evolved from modest beginnings executives. as a normal school to train teachers into an acFresno State alumni claimed, culturally diverse, 21st century university, have won which offers educational opportunities through eight the Pulitzer schools and colleges.” Prize, Oscars, — John Welty Olympic med-
“F
The Collegian: New and improved
The Right Tone
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Tony Petersen
elcome back students! It’s time for another year of trudging to classes, usually on littleto-no sleep. It’s time for another year of cheering for our respective sports teams until our lungs give out. Another year of, ahem, reading The Collegian perhaps? This year, Fresno State’s centennial, it is our goal to publish stories that you, the reader, care about. And that includes this issue, with coverage of Fresno State’s move to the Mountain West conference, the new furniture in the library and the tragic death of Mass Communications and Journalism student Kassie Lee. Expect many hard-hitting, well-written stories over the course of the next
THE
two semesters, focusing on interesting topics that students will actually want to read. No puff pieces or press releases from us—that is our aim for this year. Another emphasis this year will be more editorials, likely once per week. We as a student body should take a stand on the issues we care about most, be it the school’s and state’s fiscal crisis or school-wide politics, and there is no better voice than The Collegian. As a student-run newspaper, we have a very eclectic group of writers—conservatives, liberals, independents, moderates, sports fans and band fans. We have no official political persuasion on this newspaper. But we understand that there may be times where we take positions that leave out part of our readership. That’s where you come in. We want your voices heard! Send in your letters-to-the-editor and comment online. Tell us how right we are. Tell us how wrong we are. We don’t care, we just want your opinion! And don’t forget about our special inserts! This semester we will have four: The Football/Fall Sports insert on September 9; the Centennial insert on October 15; The Stressbuster’s Guide on October 20 and the Basketball/ Winter Sports insert on November 3. We have a brand new redesign of our website up-and-running at collegian. csufresno.edu. It’s sleeker, cleaner and meaner! (It’s actually not meaner, I just had a thing going with the rhyming.) It looks amazing. And there will be new content online daily, thanks to the
Collegian
The Collegian is a student-run publication that serves the Fresno State community on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Views expressed in The Collegian do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff or university.
The Collegian California State University, Fresno 5201 N. Maple Ave., M/S SA42 Fresno, CA 93740-8027 News Line: (559) 278-2486 Business Line: (559) 278-5735 http://collegian.csufresno.edu
leadership of new Multimedia Director Allie Norton. Our online team has even been posting during the summer! It will be another great component of our award-winning newspaper. But don’t take my word for it—check it out for yourself. Speaking of award-winning, last year The Collegian won 11 awards from the California College Media Association, including second place in the category of General Excellence (you read right; we were voted the second-best college newspaper in all of California). And though that is fantastic, we have a little bit of healthy ambition. We want more. So this year, it is our commitment to keep churning out good stuff for you so we entertain and inform the reader, winning some more awards in the process. Because who doesn’t like awards? Let’s go for the gold this year! And take down the Trojans of Southern California, who bested us in the General Excellence category. But above all, we want to put out a product that you, the reader, can be proud of. One that you can’t wait to read on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, instead of just using it to do the Sudoku or to cover up your adopted son’s pee (yes, I just watched Big Daddy). One that is interesting and that educates the reader in an age when most news is uninteresting or uneducated. We strive to be different. We want what’s best for you. And that’s our goal for this year.
Letters to the Editor (collegian@csufresno.edu) All letters submitted to The Collegian must not exceed 250 words in length, must be type-written, and must be accompanied by a full name and phone number to verify content. The Collegian reserves the right to edit all material for length, content, spelling and grammar, as well as the right to refuse publication of any material submitted. All material submitted to The Collegian becomes property of The Collegian. Each member of the campus community is permitted one copy of The Collegian. Subscriptions are available for $25, on a semester basis. Staff positions at The Collegian are open to students of all majors. Contact the Editor in Chief for details. All content Copyright © 2010 The Collegian.
Editor in Chief News Editor Features Editor Copy Editor Arts & Entertainment Editor Sports Editor Opinion Editor Photo Editor Multimedia Director Webmaster Presentation/Graphics Developer Online Writer Videographer Videographer Online Reporter Online Reporter
How did The Collegian’s editors spend their summer?
Editor in Chief Tony Petersen: I spent much of this summer reading—Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton, The Conservative Affirmation in America by Willmoore Kendall and Ideas Have Consequences by Richard Weaver are just a few of the titles I finished (Google them). I also spent a few weeks in Surrey, British Columbia, helping a Mennonite church-plant run a Vacation Bible School. A very fulfilling summer indeed! Opinion Editor Anna Jacobsen: [Editor’s Note: Miss Jacobsen spent the last few days, including this production night, in Nicaragua, living it up. Just kidding. She was on a medical missions trip. We’re sure that is the highlight of her summer. If not, she can correct us on Wednesday.] News Editor Andrew Veihmeyer: I hiked for three days in the Dinkey Lakes Wilderness with my dad and brother-in-law. Sore backs, dehydrated food and toilet-free terrain. It was a great time but I think we were all sick of the mosquitoes. Features Editor Janessa Tyler: I took a road trip to Oregon with one of my close friends. The top of California is gorgeous, especially Mount Shasta. We went to visit our friends from Washington and to escape the Fresno heat. Unfortunately, Medford was just as hot as Fresno. Arts & Entertainment Editor Maddie Shannon: My summer started out like most college student’s summers: Booked up by job-hunting. After no one called by the middle of July, I gave up and resigned myself to another summer of lazily lounging around my parent’s house. The most eventful part of the summer started at the end of July when my friend, Jolene, moved out of her old apartment. Because she was “homeless” for a month until she could move into her new apartment, she spent a lot of nights at my house. Cue cheesy Cyndi Lauper song. The next month became one long, epic string of sleepovers, where nails were painted, girly movies were watched and random dance parties broke out amidst fits of giggles. While the first part of my summer was thoroughly boring, the last part spent with friends made this summer, by far, the best summer I’ve ever had.
Tony Petersen Andrew Veihmeyer Janessa Tyler Michael Boylan Maddie Shannon Ben Ingersoll Vongni Yang Anna Jacobsen Matt Weir Allie Norton Michael Howells Michael Uribes Danielle Gilbert Xeng Xiong Christopher Rios Danielle Villalobos Megan Morales
Local Advertising Manager Local Advertising Coordinator National Account Executive Account Executive/Special Projects Account Executive/Special Projects
Shadia Salem Daisy Cordero Joel Perez Alexis Williams Ashley DeYoung
Art Director Brandon Ocegueda Accountancy Assistant Anthony Samarasekera Distribution Manager Savannah West
Business Manager Advertising Faculty Adviser Editorial Faculty Adviser Online Faculty Adviser
Virginia Sellars-Erxleben Jan Edwards Reaz Mahmood Don Priest
MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2010
THE COLLEGIAN • OPINION OPINION EDITOR, ANNA JACOBSEN • COLLEGIAN-OPINION@CSUFRESNO.EDU
PAGE 3
The right is wrong on the Mosque Figuratively
With All Due Respect
U
Mike Boylan
pon news that plans were underway to build a mosque as part of a 15 story Islamic cultural center two blocks away from ground zero, Americans lost their collective heads. Politicians and news outlets (often one and the same) have hijacked this relative non-issue into a whirlwind of fear-mongering and illogical disconnects. This project is a relative non-issue. It is purely an emotional, symbolic and unsubstantive debate. What is telling are the immoderate reactions, emotionally charged conjectures and blatant hypocrisy offered by those who are adamant in their opposition. Many dissenters acknowledge what is terribly clear: That constitutionally speaking—and for better or for worse— the Cordoba Initiative, led by Imam Feisel Abdul Rauf, are fully at liberty to pursue the approved project on private property. Political posturing via media outlets often portray an exaggerated level of anxiety among the electorate, but polls have shown otherwise. Polls conducted by TIME, Rasmussen and NBC show the majority of both New Yorkers and Americans oppose the project. A recent statewide poll by Siena College in New York, as reported by the Associated Press, showed 63 percent of New York voters oppose the project, and 27 percent supporting it. For the respondents
who oppose the project, only half of them believe the developers actually have a constitutional right to build it. What we have here is a profound ignorance and solipsism—the extreme preoccupation with and indulgence of one’s feelings and desires; egoistic selfabsorption—that fosters a disconnect which is unflattering and averse to a civil society. Pervading blogs, editorials and the world of punditry is the delusion that allowing the construction of a mosque in close proximity to ground zero is insensitive and somehow dishonors America, the victims of 9/11 and those left to mourn them. To make this false connection takes a considerable dose of psychopathology and neuroses. It is like saying someone’s grandmother, who was murdered by a group of Hispanics, is dishonored when a Hispanic family buys a house to raise their family next to her gravesite. To say that a top-story Mosque overlooking ground zero dishonors anyone in anyway is to explicitly endorse the idea that Islamic institutions are “guilty by association,” a standard they do not hold when it pertains to the Inquisition and the Crusades with Christianity. Invoking the word “insensitive” by the boisterous chicken hawks—fervid supporters of military action that avoid combat themselves—should strike them as being quite pansy. Many on both ends of this dubious argument offer empathy for this view, but I offer nothing of the sort. A mosque at ground zero is no more “insensitive” to nationalistic Americans than it would be to all children when a Catholic Church decides to set up shop next to a playground. It also requires the
same disconnect—that because many Catholic Churches have operated with relative impunity and have protected their army of pedophiles, all current and future Catholic Churches and clergymen are associated with doing the same. We must ignore irrelevant arguments—what Imam Rauf’s beliefs are, for example—because it is far less complicated than this. It is the American way to acquire private property and do what one sees fit on that property within the confines of the law: Who cares how anyone feels about it? Dissenters on the right have, and should, revere such an enterprise. Freedom is not always convenient to what we believe, nor is it meant to affirm our world view or sense of self. Ultimately, this debate has illuminated how insular many Americans are, and the double standard they hold, when it comes to religion. Islam, like Christianity, is a missionary religion—that is to say both are predicated on expanding in numbers, power and influence, much like nations. I am not an Islamic apologist. But the fact remains, however repugnant the core claims of Islam and the texts of the Quran and the Hadith actually are, that if mosques were built on every block to the point where Christianity would no longer be the religious majority, it would not in the slightest way betray the integrity of this country’s religious freedom or demean any particular sect. American’s Christian majority is neither protected, nor guaranteed. Christianity does not have a monopoly on their religious majority. This is the price of religious freedom, for better or for worse.
“I
t is the American way to acquire property within the confines of the law: Who cares how anyone feels about it?” — Mike Boylan
Speaking By John MacIntyre Universal Press Syndicate
As the controversy over the Arizona immigration law continues, percentage of Hispanics who say that the hardships faced by Hispanic immigrants living in the United States are worth it in order to ensure a better future for their families, according to the newest IpsosTelemundo telephone poll: 81 Percentage of Hispanics who also agree—including 55 percent who completely agree—that in spite of the current economic conditions, immigrants who live in the U.S. are better off financially than they would be if they lived in their country of origin: 79 Source: Ipsos Reid Public Affairs. Average commute from home to work for Americans, according to a Gallup Poll: 23 minutes Percentage of U.S. workers who spend more than half an hour getting to work: 19 Percentage who commute for more than an hour each way: 3 Percentage of employees with a commute of more than 90 minutes who say they have had a neck or back condition that has caused recurrent pain in the past 12 months: 33 Source: Gallup. Year that Kool-Aid was invented by Edwin Perkins of Hastings, Neb., according to the U.S. Census Bureau: 1927 Number of different flavors that will be dispensed by the world’s largest Kool-Aid stand during the annual Kool-Aid festival in Hastings, Neb.: 22 Estimated number of gallons of Kool-Aid that are consumed worldwide each year: 500 million Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Average amount that the average American family will spend this year on back-to-school clothes, shoes, supplies and electronics, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2010 Consumer Intentions and Actions Back to School survey, conducted by BIGresearch: $606.40 Expected total spending on schoolaged children in grades K-12: $21.35 billion Projected combined K-12 and college spending, serving as the second biggest consumer spending event for retailers behind the winter holidays: $55.12 billion Source: BIGresearch. Percentage of Americans who say they are passionate about food, according to the Lawry’s “What’s Your Flavor” survey: 50 Percentage who watch cooking shows regularly: 34 Percentage of respondents who say they try a new flavor at least once a month: 66 Source: Harrison Group. (Readers can contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre@bwr. eastlink.ca.)
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COMMENT: The Collegian is a forum for student expression. http://collegian.csufresno.edu
PAGE 4 • THE COLLEGIAN • MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2010
MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2010
THE COLLEGIAN • NEWS NEWS EDITOR, ANDREW VEIHMEYER • COLLEGIAN-NEWS@CSUFRESNO.EDU
PAGE 5
Lee: Remembering the life of MCJ Student
CONTINUED from page 1
peaceful in her bed,” said Lee. Her mother recalls her daughter’s plans for her new home that were never realized. “She was waiting to put blinds up. She had paper in the windows.” A memorial service was held at Hope Lutheran Church on Sunday, June 6. Among those who spoke was Dr. Roberta Asahina, who had Kassie in several MCJ courses. “She didn’t even see her college diploma. We don’t even have it yet,” said Lee. A pulmonary embolism is usually caused by blood clots in the legs that travel up the body and block arteries in the lungs. Kassie leaves behind a loving, supportive family; father Bryan, mother Cathy, sister Kaitlyn Lee-Philips and brother Carson. In junior high school, Kassie joined a non-profit service organization, The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls (IORG) that encourages young girls to serve their communities and gain self confidence and leadership skills.
“I
think it made her appreciate Fresno and what she had at home.”
— Cathy Lee “I was in that when I was young,” said Lee. “It gave her really good public speaking. It’s sort of like a sorority in a way, but it’s all service based.” In one of her articles for IORG, Kassie told of her difficulties in junior high school and being teased by her classmates. “I devoted myself to studying,” wrote
Kassie Lee, “never made an effort to have any sort of social life and finished 8th grade with few fond memories. Then, I was given a fresh start.” During her time at Buchanan High School, Kassie involved herself in many things. She served as the editor of the yearbook, as president of her schools’ National Honor Society and as a member in a leadership program. She also spoke at her graduation. “She was really too busy, but she’d never admit that,” said Lee. In 2006, during her senior year, Kassie received the title of Grand Worthy Adviser for the California IORG, the highest position in the state organization. Instead of heading directly to college after graduating, she committed to a year of traveling, attending conventions and events as a public speaker to support the organization. “I think it made her appreciate Fresno and what she had at home,” said Lee. “I served as a grand officer with her,” said friend, Nicole Keadle. “She chose the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation as our state-wide service project.” Within a year, the group raised over $85,000 for the foundation, benefiting the families of children who had cancer. In addition, Kassie took on another project, advocating the importance of donating blood. In the end, 859 pints of blood were collected. “I can say that I am, without a doubt, a better person just for having known Kassie’s generosity and charismatic nature,” said Keadle. “She will be truly missed.” Along with her studies at Fresno State, Kassie served as a host of a weekly radio show on KYNO called “Home Matters”, a program dedicated to maintaining a home. She co-hosted it with
her father, Bryan. “They did it together,” said Lee. “My husband stopped doing it after Kassie died. He couldn’t do it by himself and he couldn’t even think about doing it without her.” Mrs. Lee explained her daughter’s unmistakable enjoyment and natural ability as a radio personality. “She liked it. I think she probably would have at some point dabbled in that.” At Fresno State, she pursued an English major and aspired to be an activi-
ties director until she settled on Mass Communication and Journalism. She graduated with a BA in advertising in May 2010, receiving honors and awards. “As I sit on one end of my couch with my best friend at the other…I can’t help but wonder how much longer I’ll be able to do this,” writes Kassie in a 2007 IORG article. “I don’t know what the future holds for the girl at the end of the couch and me, but I do know that I’ll enjoy every moment of the gift of life I’ve been given.”
Photo by Andrew Veihmeyer / The Collegian
On the north wing of the second floor, the tables that allow snack foods and meals are clearly labeled.
“21st Century Library” New food policy to keep building accessible By Andrew Veihmeyer The Collegian The Madden Library which reopened in early 2009, is adopting new policies this semester regarding food and noise. But for new and returning students, no need to worry. There are no merciless librarians standing at the entrance who put their index finger to their lips and hold trash bins up for people to throw out their barely eaten lunches before entering. In response to several student complaints last year, the library is seeking to limit the places where food can be eaten. “To students’ credit, we have not seen damage to materials from food and drink,” said Associate Dean of Library Services, David Tyckoson, who emphasized that it’s not the reason for the change. “The smell is distracting and if you get a group of people eating together, the noise can be distracting.” Other staff mentions that food and drink attract insects and other pests and can pose a messy threat to their rented property such as laptops. Tyckoson feels that food must be better contained in the building this semester. Under the new food and drink policy,
“W
e know people eat and drink while they’re studying. We’re not opposed to that.” — David Tyckoson, Dean of Library Services
the north wing of the second floor of the library is labeled a “Food Friendly” area, where meals purchased from the student union and elsewhere can be
brought in. Tables have labeled signs that indicate that food is permitted and welcomed. Library staff realizes the potential of allowing food in the library, since it may encourage more students to use the building, said Tyckoson. “When we opened up, we wanted to be a 21st century library, not a 19th century library”, he said, referring to the traditional atmosphere where food and drink were never permitted and silence was enforced in all areas. “We know people eat and drink while they’re studying. We’re not opposed to that. We’re opposed to the big messes,” said Tyckoson. With the new policy he hopes it will accommodate a larger amount of students who study in different ways. While some students excel in study groups or when listening to music on headphones or eating food, others still prefer the peace and quiet of a more traditional library, which is the goal the library seeks to achieve, he said. Along with the north wing of the second floor, less messy foods like chips and candy are permitted in other public areas of the library. But there are areas where food and excessive noise is not allowed, some that are very close in proximity to the friendly areas, like the south wing of the second floor. “The thing I don’t like about this policy are the different categories you have to memorize,” said graduate student Brian Dunlap, 26, stressing that by restricting some areas and permitting others with special exceptions on how messy the food is may be difficult to get used to. “But the whole goal they’re trying to get out of it is pretty good.” Tyckoson hopes that the posted signs on every floor will help new and returning students adapt well to the changes. Library staff won’t issue citations or kick students out for chomping on chow mien on the first floor, but they’ll likely be asked to head upstairs.
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THE COLLEGIAN • NEWS NEWS EDITOR, ANDREW VEIHMEYER • COLLEGIAN-NEWS@CSUFRESNO.EDU
fill the campus. “We walked around campus and refreshed our memories about where buildings were,” said Elizabeth Lopez, a team member who welcomed students to the Campus Housing Barbecue last Friday. “We give [students] support”, said Marina Aguilera. “We went through the training to figure out how to help and greet lost people.” This is only the second WAG Pack, said Josh Edrington, Leadership Development and Activities Advisor. Before WAG Pack, there was Welcome Week. “Welcome Week was coordinated by the staff in the Student Involvement Office separately
“W
e walked around campus and refreshed our memories about where buildings were.”
— Elizabeth Lopez, WAG Pack team member
from Dog Days and included events such as Convocation, USU Open House,and Student Services Day,” said Edrington. After operating for years in this format we decided to make a change.” According to Edrington, Welcome Week needed reformatting to make it clear that it was a continuation of Dog Days, the orientation for freshman and transfer students, and not entirely separate events. It also was to streamline the goal of the program. “We were throwing a lot of information at new and returning students during the first week,” said Edrington. “[We realized] students were more focused on trying to figure out where their classes were located, where they were going to live, where they could find work, etc.” The program receives funding that goes toward member training, materials and supplies. “[They are] handed out at Fresno State Welcome events, equipment, and WAG Pack T-shirts which help new students identify who WAG Pack members are,” said Edrington. The WAG Pack team has increased in size this year, from 22 to 35 members in the team and Edrington welcomes the extra amount of members to better serve students. “This year we would like
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MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2010
the WAG Pack to be involved with welcome events throughout the entire 2010-11 academic year. There will be Welcome Booths in several locations on campus the first week of classes from Monday, Aug. 23 through Thursday, Aug. 26 from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Check out the full list of events that WAG pack will take part in this semesteronline at www.csufresno.edu/ studentactivities.
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Infographic by Michael Uribes / The Collegian Compiled by Danielle Gilbert / The Collegian
MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2010
THE COLLEGIAN • FEATURES FEATURES EDITOR, JANESSA TYLER • COLLEGIAN-FEATURES@CSUFRESNO.EDU
PAGE 7
Summer strike out By Bryce Graven The Collegian
It was a quiet and hot summer afternoon as 23-year-old Jesse Mendiola stood in front of his computer terminal at the Fresno State bowling alley. He stared at what appeared to be a blank screen. Three young women took
tur ns sliding bowling balls down the third lane and into the gutter. Salt-N-Pepa’s “Push It” blasted on the jukebox. Aside from Mendiola and the three women, the place was empty. Nobody was playing pool. Nobody was in the arcade. Nobody was watching television or playing X-box. The Fresno State campus had fewer courses during this
past summer’s intersession, according to course catalogs. With limited financial aid and the Central Valley heat, there wasn’t much incentive for students to be on campus during the summer. The bowling alley is one of the amenities that Fresno State offers during the summer. Located downstairs in the University Student Union, the
bowling alley is available to students, faculty, staff, alumni and the general public. Mendiola has been working at the front desk of the bowling alley for over a year. The junior recently returned to Fresno State after leaving his freshman year and spending three years at Fresno City College. Mendiola said working at the bowling alley is a “chill” job, especially during the summer. Mendiola said he has at least two years left at Fresno State and plans to continue working
“T
Craig, who lives a few blocks from campus, was among the few people who took advantage of the bowling alley during the summer. Students can show their valid student identification card during business hours to take advantage of the student discount. Students pay $2.25 per person, per game or $12 per hour for one lane. That is $1.60 less per game and $8 less per hour than the general public pays. Faculty, staff and alumni receive a discount, too. They
here were only three other lanes being used.”
at the bowling alley. He says that everybody at Fresno State should have an on-campus job. The bowling alley will be packed over the next few weeks with students enrolled in bowling classes and competitive leagues. According to Mendiola, these activities are not available during the summer. Chelsi Craig, a senior graphic design major, went bowling this summer on a Friday night. “There were only three other lanes being used,” Craig said. “It was still a lot of fun though.”
— Chelsi Craig, Senior graphic design major
pay $3 per person, per game or $16 per hour for one lane. With the fall semester here, the University Student Union will be crowded once again, with the sounds of pins falling and people having fun filling the air.
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COMMENT: The Collegian is a forum for student expression. http://collegian.csufresno.edu
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THE COLLEGIAN • FEATURES
MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2010
The
Collegian
Arts & EnterTainment Library provides new seating for guests FEATURES EDITOR, JANESSA TYLER • COLLEGIAN-FEATURES@CSUFRESNO.EDU
MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2010
“T
his furniture was part of the original design of the building, it just hadn't arrived yet.” — Susan Christensen, Coordinator of Facilities and Event Management
By Janessa Tyler The Collegian Out with the old, in with the new. The Henry Madden Library has some new additions this semester, in addition to the new food policy recently introduced. New fur niture was delivered to the building over the summer to give students a place of comfort. The new furniture is spread throughout the building, and on each level. “This fur niture was part of the original design of the building, it just hadn't arrived yet,” said Susan Christensen, Coordinator of Facilities and Event Management. “We try to provide a variety of seating options for students,” said Christensen. “I think everyone will notice the new furniture and be pleased.” English major Erik Reed works at the library's reference desk as a student assistant. “I spend a good chunk of my life in here,” he said. Reed said the fur niture would become more popular as the semester goes on, especially when students have time in between classes. “There's chairs on the second floor that you can rock in,” said Reed. “Those are interesting.” Students, faculty and staff have the option of using furniture of various colors and designs, as well as style. Special Projects Coordinator Cyndi Hoffman said the library “has a specific range of colors” that the building architect and the campus facilities planning group teamed up to develop. Hoffman said they refer to the colors as the “San Joaquin Valley Color Palette.” The building has a total of 72 different fabrics used. Each level has a specific color scheme designed to help guests find their way around the building. The building is 340,000 square feet with four floors plus a lower level, and north and south wings. It's easy for guests to get lost or confused. “The upholstered furniture was selected to compliment not only the carpet color, but the featured color from the 'San Joaquin Valley Color Palette,'” said Hoffman. All the fabrics in the library were chosen because they can withstand stains. The library is a public setting where people come in and out of the building all day. The fabric must be able to last a long time without looking worn. Hoffman said the carpets on the second floor, where Starbucks Coffee is located, are brown for a reason: To anticipate coffee spills. “There isn't enough maintenance staff to clean up after everyone,” said Hoffman. She encoura g es everyone who spills to report the accident to any library staff member. In addition to fabric selection, the fur niture was
designed to tolerate damages that may occur. Hoffman said a great deal of the new furniture is of modular construction. “Modular constr uction means that items were made up from individual pieces that, by design, can be more easily repaired and replaced because damaged or worn out parts can be replaced individually,” said Hoffman. Furniture selection goes beyond what meets the eye. The library is not only a place Mike Howells / The Collegian to study, seek help, read and more; it's a place to enjoy your- New chairs, benches and round tables are just a few of the new additions delivered to the library this summer. self.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR, MADDIE SHANNON • COLLEGIAN-FEATURES@CSUFRESNO.EDU
Writing High
PAGE 9
College students lack writing skills, leaves them underprepared for school, job market
Student writing skills these days at California universities are a far cry from what they were in previous decades.This begs the question: Why? One suggestion is that a reduced value has been placed on conventional subjects such as English before the student ever arrives at the university. Lisa Weston, English professor at Fresno State, believes that too much significance is put By Micheal Kincheloe The Collegian
on testing during the student’s primary and secondary education, with not enough emphasis on grammar. “I don’t think that the elem e n t a r y s c h o o l s, m i d d l e schools and high schools are doing as much traditional grammar as they used to,” Dr. Weston said. “It makes learning so passive.” Certain students may develop bad habits that result in apathy towards their writing. These students give in to the impression that writing is not their strong point, and never
will be, and are content to leave it at that. But with roughly 90 percent of business communication now being done electronically- mostly through e-mail these apathetic students may be one of thousands who graduate every year, but are unable to find a job. Virtually every business employee must have the ability to write well. At a time when employers need employees with good writing skills, those who have substandard skills can make their employer look less professional and are often turned
away after interviewing for a position. An increasing number of new students are children who learned English as a second language (ESL). Some of these students immigrated to the United States while they were in elementary school, and others were born in this country but grew up speaking a language other than English at home. “They spoke one language at home and another language at school,” said Kirk Stone, Assistant Director of the
Fresno State Writing Center. Stone also said that writing assignments, such as essays, are often taught differently in high school than they are at the university level, which only adds to the uncertainty that ESL students face. Fresno State English Professor Chris Henson said that certain students have the ability to learn to write well, but their backgrounds make it much more difficult. “These things were not stressed at home,” Dr. Henson said. “A student whose inaccurate grammar was never corrected at home can cause him or her to be a step behind other students.” Dr. Henson added that, “Different kinds of advertising programs and video games could teach young people a language, but not one that will help them at Fresno State. People might have language skills, but not academic language skills.” Reading literature often has the effect of enhancing the teaching of composition skills by giving students access to the precision and capaciousness of well-written English. Dr. Weston is in complete agreement. “They never get to experience simply reading for pleasure. Language has its own rhythm, which helps as you develop your own writing skills. You don’t get that when you’re just reading a text-
Fu n s t u f f g o i n g o n this week to welcome you back to schoo l Wed, Aug. 26 at 11 a.m. Traditions Day Free Speech Area Wed, Aug. 26 at 8 p.m. Iron Man 2 Showing at S. Gym Field
Thurs, Aug. 27 at 11 a.m. Bulldog Beat at The Pit
PAGE 10 • THE COLLEGIAN • MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2010
MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2010
THE COLLEGIAN • ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR, MADDIE SHANNON • COLLEGIAN-FEATURES@CSUFRESNO.EDU
PAGE 11
Let’s DANCE
Athletics and music partner up to share dance team
By Kellcie Mullaney and Maddie Shannon The Collegian
Matt Weir / Collegian File Photo
The dance team, pictured at a home football game last season, is now being shared by the music and athletic departments. They are still a division of the marching band, but now recieve the same athletic support as the cheer squad.
The dance team, now in its second season, is under the joint direction of the music and athletic departments after a successful first year under band director Tim Anderson. Anderson’s idea to bring the dance team back to Fresno State stirred up skepticism in the athletics department, bringing about memories of the old dance team. “I wasn’t here at that time, but I heard that some of the old routines weren’t the most appropriate, and the uniforms we r e s o m e wh a t s k i m p y, ” Anderson said. “But when we restarted the team last year, we made sure the dances stayed clean and classy.” Despite the athletic department’s reluctance to bring back the dance team, Anderson’s pilot program proved that the new and improved team was a more appropriate version than the team the school eliminated. “Tim ran a nice program last year, and we are very pleased with their spirit and enthusiasm,” said band secretary Sindi McGuire. “It fits in well with the scheme of what athletics wanted to do.” Clarence Chiong, a sports licenser for athletics, took over as the athletic advisor for the dance team in April. “Our goal is for the dance team to perform with cheer to provide more entertainment for the fans,” Chiong said. “We want to provide the best possible experience for the girls.” The dance team rehearsed
new choreography for basketball season at dance camp in July, and learned new material for football season alongside the marching band in August. “We have a good team this year,” said dance coach Tiphanie McNiff. “We have strong veterans who are good leaders of our team, and I expect amazing performances out of them this year.” McNiff expects the team to perform at high school dance showcases in Fresno in addition to halftime shows. “We also want to have a bigger presence at basketball games,” she said. The dancers will perform on the field for the first time on Sept. 5 during the home game against Cincinnati. “Our team is so excited for the first game, and it’s a big one,” said Franki DiLiddo, a dance team veteran. “We are ready to perform and show the bearcats what the bulldogs are all about.” The athletics department intends to continue the feel of the program that started last year under the authority of the music department. “We want to provide a collaberation between the dance team and cheer to deliver a better product,” Chiong said. The music department’s agreement to share the dance team comes after a mutual agreement was reached last year. “The dance team is a wonderful addition to our university,” Anderson said. “They are a great group of young ladies who uphold the university very well.”
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THE COLLEGIAN • ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR, MADDIE SHANNON • COLLEGIAN-FEATURES@CSUFRESNO.EDU
The daily crossword ACROSS 1 Cause serious injury to 5 Casting choices? 10 Billiard cushion 14 Wrinkly tangelo with an unattractive name 15 “Sacro” addition 16 Bone in the arm 17 Auctioneer’s cry 18 “Bonanza” setting 19 U.S. gas brand of yore 20 Society’s elite 23 Rope, cowboy-style 24 Physicians’ gp. 25 Like professors emeritus (Abbr.) 27 Suffix that takes things to the extreme 28 A language of Pakistan 32 Animal prized for its wool 34 Bless with oil 36 “Nay” sayer 37 Some turkeys 40 Deliberately avoid 42 Crown 43 Pertaining to the largest artery 46 .035 ounce 47 Cambodian dictator Pot 50 Post-wedding title, often 51 Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the ___” 53 Address Congress, e.g. 55 Antacid preparation 60 Very small amount 61 Serenity spoiler
Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis Los Angeles Times
Puzzle by Mike Peluso
C
PUZZLE SOLUTION: http://collegian.csufresno.edu Copyright 2010. Universal Press, Inc.
62 What to do when you see red? 63 Clip with scissors 64 Rose-colored dye 65 Gael’s language 66 Army repast 67 Type of weasel 68 Admirer from a distance DOWN 1 Bodybuilder’s goal 2 Ancient Greek
MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2010
marketplaces 3 Sickbay superlative 4 He turned his daughter into gold 5 Spanish surrealist painter Joan 6 “King ___” (Elgar cantata) 7 Discarded dryer fluff 8 Russian country house 9 Diagram or plan 10 “Shoulda, woulda, coul
da” one 11 Bad bets at the track 12 Check for flaws 13 “7 Faces of Dr. ___” (1964 movie) 21 Rushmore or Rainier 22 Ripken of baseball 26 ___ chi (meditative exercise) 29 Decay 30 Went out, as a fire 31 Dismantle, as a sailing vessel 33 Lifeline location 34 Bee or Polly 35 Alternative to a chairlift 37 Shoulder inflammation 38 Toothpaste-approving org. 39 Slot machine fruit 40 ___ I Am (Dr. Seuss character) 41 Insulin, e.g. 44 Solicit bids 45 Currency in Freetown 47 Tasty bakery offering 48 At leisure 49 One who’s not out of bounds? 52 Like the game, to Holmes 54 Call again, in poker 56 Drinks like a cat 57 Bean paste 58 One of the continents 59 Lady’s counterpart, briefly 60 “Capital” ending
C
Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively. SOLUTION: http://collegian.csufresno.edu
Word of the Day
OMJ
As known to Jonas Brothers fans, this expression stands for “Oh my Jonas!” Source: UrbanDictionary.com
MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2010 THE COLLEGIAN • SPORTS PAGE 13 SPORTS EDITORS, BEN INGERSOLL AND VONGNI YANG • COLLEGIAN-SPORTS@CSUFRESNO.EDU
MWC: Conference switch comes with extra incentives CONTINUED from page 1 will improve the overall competition of the program. Competition between sports would be at a higher level in the MWC as opposed to the WAC. The conference is stacked from top to bottom. Just last year alone, the MWC had five schools participate in bowl games and four were invited to the NCAA tournament in men’s basketball. On top of that, the MWC had six schools finish in the Top 100 of the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup standings, which is a program that honors the success of each schools athletic programs. In comparison, the WAC only had two universities finish in the Top 100. “If you look at the overall strength of the conference, [it] provides us greater access for our teams [and] our studentathletes to the NCAA tournament, postseason play and bowl games,” Boeh said. “It really galvanizes our strength of schedule.” The prospect of generating more revenue while simultaneously cutting costs also played a role in the university’s decision to join the conference. Travel will be less in the MWC than it was in the WAC. The farthest trip the university would have to make for a conference match is to TCU at 1,300 miles as compared to Hawaii where it was more than a 2,500 mile one-way trip.
“If you take a look at some of the travel that’s involved in the Mountain West versus the WAC, there’s some cost-savings there,” Boeh said. “ There is going to be some opportunities for savings.” The chance to increase revenue is also there. By being a member of the MWC, Fresno State officials said that it can possibly generate more revenue through richer TV contracts, postseason games and increased ticket sales. Last season, the MWC averaged nearly 34,000 fans in football. In contrast, the WAC averaged a little more than 22,000 fans each game. “Essentially as we enter the Mountain West, we are going to realize additional revenue,” Welty said. “We believe we will also realize additional attendance at our events that will generate revenue.” The move to the MWC isn’t expected to be completed soon, so Fresno State athletics will be stuck in the WAC until the issues are resolved. The departure from the WAC ends an 18-year relationship with the conference where it saw Fresno State capture many conference championships in a majority of sports including softball, baseball and women’s basketball. “The WAC has allowed us to grow [and] has allowed our program to become known nationally,” Welty said.
Infographic by Michael Uribes / The Collegian Information compiled by Vongni Yang / The Collegian
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THE COLLEGIAN • SPORTS SPORTS EDITORS, BEN INGERSOLL AND VONGNI YANG • COLLEGIAN-SPORTS@CSUFRESNO.EDU
MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2010
While you were away... With the tenth overall draft pick in the 2010 NBA Draft in June the Indiana Pacers selected former Fr e s n o S t a t e swingman Paul George. He has since signed a four-year contract worth up to $3.9 million in his first two years.
Matt Weir /Collegian File Photo
The 14-year-head-coach of the ‘Dogs extended his contract through 2013 this summer, but took a pay cut in the process. He will make nearly 28 percent less in an attempt to salvage the athletic department finances.
Brianna Campbell /Collegian File Photo
Brianna Campbell /Collegian File Photo
Record-setting former Fresno State running back Ryan Mathews signed a five-year contract worth $25.65 million, $15 million guaranteed. Mathews signed on Aug. 1 allowing him to report to training camp on time. Despite going undrafted in the 2010 MLB Draft, Ribera (left) took second place at the inaugural TD Ameritrade College Baseball Home Run Derby on July 7 at legendar y Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha.
After falling to Hawaii in the Western Athletic Conference To u r n a m e n t championship in mid May, the Fresno State softball team (right) advanced to the NCAA Regional Championship. The team’s season ended there in a 7-2 loss to eventual national champion UCLA. Matt Weir /Collegian File Photo
Matt Weir /Collegian File Photo
THE COLLEGIAN • SPORTS PAGE 15 MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2010 SPORTS EDITORS, BEN INGERSOLL AND VONGNI YANG • COLLEGIAN-SPORTS@CSUFRESNO.EDU
Volleyball seeks improvement again with young squad By Ben Ingersoll The Collegian After making huge strides last season under third-year head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell, Fresno State volleyball has been working around the clock to once again improve the win-loss column. The ‘Dogs finished 2009 one game under .500 with a 15-16 (7-9) record and took third in the Western Athletic Conference tour nament. The 15-16 record was a significant improvement from the Netherby-Sewell’s inagural season leading the Bulldogs when they finished a mere 7-20 and second-to-last in conference play. Returning from 2009 are seniors Kelly Mason and Kasey Van Grouw along with junior middle blocker Brianna Clarke, who is a preseason All-WAC selection. All together Fresno State is equipped with a fairly young roster with half the roster either being freshman or sophomores compared to just four seniors. Mason, who plays libero, saw action in all 31 matches last season. She ranked high on the conference leader boards in digs while leading the team in that category with 471. The Bulldogs also will be faced with a challenging schedule, facing three Pac-10 foes in Oregon, Cal-Berkeley and USC, including four squads that reached the 2009 NCAA Tournament. In all, Fresno State will face 11 outof-conference opponents in three
separate tournaments before taking on WAC competition on Sept. 23 when they host Idaho. Fresno State has never won a WAC title in regular-season play or tournament play.
Matt Weir / Collegian File Photo
Senior Kelly Mason averaged 3.87 digs per set in 2009, good enough for third in the WAC.
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The
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SPORTS PAGE 16
MWC benefits at Benson’s expense It’s safe to say Wester n Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson probably hasn’t slept well for much of this summer. After all, how could he sleep in peace after the one thing holding together the conference he runs bolted for bigger and better things nearly ten weeks ago? Yes, that “thing” is two-time BCS B ow l c h a m p i o n a n d WAC dominion Boise State. But as if the WAC wasn’t already shaping up to be another Sun Belt Conference, this Ben there, done that week’s news has really Ben Ingersoll thrown Benson for a loop. U p o n l e a r n i n g o f o u r b e l ove d Bulldogs and neighbor state rival Nevada’s sudden Mountain West invitation, Benson now finds himself heading up a six-team conference in the coming years. I feel for Karl Benson. Not just because he will most likely be the face of the weakest conference in the country, but the fact that only one of his conference mainstays truly deserved to be invited to the MWC. Since Boise State stormed onto the scene in 2006 with a Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma, it has compiled a near perfect resume worthy of stiffer conference competition. Neither Fresno State nor Nevada has won a WAC title in recent years, or even come seriously close for that matter. Your sympathy should go out to Benson, even after he went all Dan Gilbert on the ‘Dogs and Wolf Pack, calling the programs “selfish” and hinged the WAC’s certain downfall on their recent separation. Benson is even threatening to hold the programs in his dwindling conference until 2012 and is banking on millions of dollars in buyout money as a last stand, so to speak (see Page 1). Although blaming the conference’s demise solely on this summer’s events is a little extreme, I still can’t help but think Benson was left at the altar on his wedding day. Prior to June 11, the WAC was in decent shape, with a perennial national contender at its forefront, and able contenders next in line. Then Benson’s nightmare ensued and in a matter of days he became the commissioner of perhaps the most hapless conference in major college football. I am just as excited as the next guy to see new faces come through Fresno. I admittedly felt goose bumps when President Welty made the formal announcement of the conference change during Wednesday’s press conference. The MWC is indeed the closest thing to a BCS conference without actually being one, so when presented with this opportunity, of course Fresno State is going to bail. Factor in the obvious financial increase in the long run and the expanded fan base Fresno State will see, not just in football but all sports, and the decision was a no brainer for the administration. So obviously the decision was beneficial, but did we deserve it? After all, the choice to jump ship revolved around football, the biggest athletic moneymaker. But the ‘Dogs have dropped two straight bowls and have finished no better than third in the WAC since 2003. Welty may be “confident” in Fresno State’s pending success as a MWC member, as he said in Wednesday’s press conference, but something tells me he won’t be getting a Christmas card from Benson anytime soon.
Bulldog sound byte of the week...
confident that we will be successful as a member of the “I amMountain West Conference” – President John Welty
on the Bulldogs’ conference change
SPORTS EDITORS, BEN INGERSOLL AND VONGNI YANG • COLLEGIAN-SPORTS@CSUFRESNO.EDU
MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2010
Soccer kicks off 2010 ‘Dogs play home-opener today against Long Beach State
Matt Weir/Collegian File Photo
Senior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Revel is Fresno State’s all-time shutout leader and a key component on the Bulldogs’ defense.
By Ben Ingersoll The Collegian With a travel-tested schedule and roster packed with returnees, the Fresno State soccer squad has the tools to restore its winning ways from the past. The burning question, however, is how second-year head coach Brian Zwaschka’s will utilize his 17 players from last year’s 6-13 outing in which the ‘Dogs were outscored 14 goals to 26 and failed to win consecutive matches. One significant hurdle Zwaschka’s team will face early in 2010 is its rigorous out-of-town schedule. Of the Bulldog’s 19 regular-season matches over half are away from the friendly confines of Bulldog Stadium, including two in Miami, Fla. and two in El Paso. “It’s going to be difficult in terms of back-to-back weeks of travel and they both happen right after classes begin,” Zwaschka said. “So, it’s not the perfect setup, but I think it will be interesting in that it will give the team a little bit more time to bond on the road as well as the idea of playing out-of-region opponents. Guiding the ‘Dogs through the rough schedule will be preseason All-Western Athletic Conference selections Kendall VanDine and Kaitlyn Revel. Both carry defensive mindsets with VanDine being the Bulldog’s top defender and Revel holding the Fresno State all-time shutout record with 24. “They’re both really good leaders,” Zwaschka said. “It tends to be easier to lead from defensive positions because you’re behind everything in support and you see what’s going on. With Revel in goal, she has the best vantage point and she has a very strong leadership presence and a voice that helps guide the team.” Despite the on-field leadership from VanDine and Revel, Zwaschka stressed the importance of a complete team effort for the duration of a match. The ‘Dogs battled tough with Cal-Berkeley in an exhibition match, but fell 2-0 to Pepperdine in the season opener on Aug. 20. Zwaschka also welcomed six new faces in his first Fresno State recruiting class, a group he is confident will contribute early and often. “It’s a combination of freshman that are capable of playing from the get go, they are ready to contribute just like the returners,” Zwaschka said. Fall camp began on Aug. 4, and since
Matt Weir/Collegian File Photo
Junior Kendall VanDine started every game last season, playing 1,685 minutes as a sophomore. Head coach Brian Zwaschka said VanDine is the “coach on the field.”
then the ‘Dogs have taken few breaks, practicing two-to-three times a day in preparation for what lay ahead. Zwaschka, who is in his second year leading Fresno State soccer, hopes the rigorous offseason work put in by his team will pay off in the long run. “We have done a really good job in our preseason building up in our ability to hold the ball,” Zwaschk said. “I think Pepperdine was a hiccup in that we kind of panicked in our first real game situation. But everybody knows that we’re better than that and I think that once we get passed one more step of trust as a team, we’re going to be in really good shape because this team is very capable of holding the ball and
dictating play.” Fresno State last won a regular-season WAC soccer title in 2006 but has finished second place twice and sixth place each of the last three seasons. The ‘Dogs won’t begin WAC play until Sept. 30 when they host reigning conference champion San Jose State, but realize the opportunity on the table during preconference play. “There is definitely value, in particular if we can get results,” Zwaschka said. “But to see teams that we aren’t going to see or hear of regularly, to be able to go away and play our game, and hopefully get some results out of regional that can also play into RPI.”