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WEDNESday Issue DECEMBER 12, 2012 FRESNO STATE
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SERVING CAMPUS SINCE 1922
HOLIDAYS
Plant Science Santa Claus visits Fresno State Club flourishes in competition By Haley Lambert The Collegian Fresno State’s Plant Science Club is the recipient of the President’s Trophy given by the org anization Students of Agronomy, Soil, and Environmental Sciences (SASES). Oct. 19-24, club members attended the SASES international meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio. Sarah Alator re, a senior plant science major, was awarded the Golden Opportunity F e l l o w s h i p, t h r o u g h t h e Golden Opportunity Institute. The institute was developed by the Crop Science Society of America, which is funded through the Agronomic Science Foundation. Alatorre was awarded the fellowship based on her achievement and interest in crop and soil science. T he trophy competition required each club to give a five minute speech about the goals and achievements of their organization. “The presentation that they did was really very touching,” said agronomy professor Bruce Roberts. “It focused on the ‘Discovery, Diversity and Distinction’ of the Plant Science Club.” Roberts said this theme not only highlighted the club’s student diversity, but it also showcased the fact that each student participates in extracurricular projects. Some of these projects are focused on independent scientific research. Such projects include studies on herbicide affects on tomatoes and
Student sues Fresno State faculty By Mark Smith The Collegian
Roe Borunda / The Collegian
ONE LUCKY ’DOG: The Fresno State Dance and Cheer team along with Victor E. II visit Santa in the Smittcamp Alumni House Library on Dec. 7. Fresno State welcomed alumni, students and friends to take photos and enjoy holiday cookies.
the bio-fuel crops. Ten universities competed in the Speech competition. These included Kansas State University, U n iv e r s i t y o f I l l i n o i s , Colorado State University ( Fo r t C o l l i n s ) , O k l a h o m a S t a t e U n ive r s i t y, P u r d u e University, North Carolina State University, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Fresno State, Iowa State University, Texas A&M University. Alatorre said Texas A&M
University won the last three years in a row. As of last year, the Plant Science Club has organized several community service projects. All projects use the produce grown by club members. This fall the club donated pumpkins it had grown to a haunted house operated by United Cerebral Palsy. The Plant Science Club has been active at Fresno State since 2006.
Photo courtesy of Sara Alatorre
The plant science club won the President’s Trophy Speech Contest during the Cincinnati Students of Agronomy, Soil, and Environmental Sciences meeting. From left to right: Sara Alatorre, Benjiman Nakayama, Mayra Guzman, Meiyue Wang, Nadia Juarez, Jorge Angeles, Helen Maka, and Katrina Steinhauer; Back L-R: Touyee Thao, TariLee Frigulti and Carlos Acosta
A current Fresno State student government senator filed a civil lawsuit against seven campus officials and professors last month after he alleged his civil rights were violated following an incident in May of 2011. Neil O’Brien, Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) senator of parking and safety on campus, filed an official civil complaint against, among others, Fresno State President John Welty and Paul Oliaro, vice president for student affairs on Nov. 14. The complaint alleges a pattern of “conspiracy to violate [O’Brien’s] civil rights” by “left-leaning” campus officials stemming from an incident that took place on May 11, 2011. O n t h a t d a y, O ’ B r i e n approached professors Victor Torres and Maria Lopes of the Chicano and Latin studies See SUE, Page 3
Chicano Alumni Chapter Annual Awards give five students scholarships By Katherine Ayala The Collegian Friday will mark the 2012 C h i c a n o A l u m n i C h ap t e r Annual Awards Banquet as five scholarship recipients will be recognized, as well as the recipient of the Legacy Builder Award. This year the chapter will g rant five scholarships to Fresno State students Belen Gome z , Breanne Estrada, Lourdes Lazcano, Paulina Flores Jimenez and Vanessa Bautista Sandoval. The Fresno State chapter will honor and present Alex Contreras, 60, of Donaghy Sales, Inc. with its Legacy Builder Award. The award recognizes “somebody that has contributed over the years to our community over the years in different ways,” said Esther Ramos, pres iden t of th e Ch ican o Alumni Chapter of Fresno State. “This year we decided to chose Contreras for his longstanding contribution, not just in our community but the com-
munity in general and helping out so many nonprofits — so many community organizations — with different sponsorships through Donaghy and then helping them with fundraisers as well,” Ramos said. Contreras said he felt honored because he knew the people that had been honored to receive the award in previous years as he had attended the banquet before. “I had to ask him again if he was sure he was asking me — if he had the right Alex,” Contreras said laughingly when he became aware he would be the recipient of the honorary award. For years, Contreras has reached out as an active member of organizations and as a board member of the Clovis Chamber of Commerce. His work with Donaghy Sales has allowed him to be able to help organizations. Contreras helped org anize Navidad en el Valle, or Christmas in the Valley, in 1977. This was a telethon that See AWARD, Page 3