February 11 2011

WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR VALENTINE’S DAY?

Comedies come to theaters this weekend A&E Baseball, softball starting up soon SPORTS Should we use the word ‘gay?’ OPINION

The Collegian’s website has your answers

friday Issue february 11, 2011 FRESNO STATE

COLLEGIAN.CSUFRESNO.EDU

SERVING CAMPUS SINCE 1922

RAMIREZ TAKES MORE HEAT AT ASI MEETING

O’Brien accused Fresno State of selling parking passes to “illegal aliens.” He presented a photo of Ramirez’s alleged bloody parking pass to ASI.

By Michael Kincheloe The Collegian Wednesday’s Associated Students, Inc. meeting picked up where it left off two weeks ago, with ASI President Pedro Ramirez as the topic of discussion. Ramirez was absent from the meeting due to an “academic commitment,” but the controversy that has surrounded him lately was unmistakably present.

Fresno State senior Neil O’Brien

was the only one to speak during the initial public comment segment.

O’Brien displayed a large photo of Ramirez’s blood-soaked Fresno State parking pass lying on the ground near the truck Ramirez was driving in last month’s highly-publicized crash.

“Fresno State sold parking passes to illegal aliens who could not drive legally,” O’Brien said.

The meeting was relocated from the University Student Union to the third floor of the Henry Madden Library.

Though previously posted, many were

not aware of the change, and this resulted in some members of the public arriving after the public comment session had ended.

The student senate approved $2,000 in funding to Club Verge for publication of their magazine “On the Verge.”

The magazine revolves around art and design, and is said to reflect both the Fresno State student body and the community of Fresno.

California State Student Association Executive Director Miles Nevin addressed the senate. He was in atten-

Dana Hull / The Collegian

dance “to explain to us exactly what CSSA is, what it does, and what their opinion of us is,” ASI Executive Vice President Selena Farnesi said.

Nevin spoke for a few minutes, and then stated that he would be happy to answer any questions concerning CSSA. Kristal Oliver, who introduced herself as Fresno State alumni, asked Nevin if CSSA “had paid for Pedro [Ramirez] to go to Washington, D.C. See ASI, Page 3

Smittcamp students lead campus in ASI

By Ana Mendoza The Collegian While there are only 200 students in the Smittcamp Honors program, four of their students were elected to serve in Associate Students, Inc. (ASI), which is designed to represent the more than 20,000 students at Fresno State.

Despite the disproportionate representation, these students seem to be essential to the well being not only of Fresno State, but of the Valley.

“The reason this program was created was because President Welty saw the ridiculous brain drain that happens every year,” Director of The Smittcamp Family Honors College, Honora Howell Chapman said.

“Thousands of students leave the Valley and they don’t come back after they graduate, because they get used to life on the coast or elsewhere and they think it is better and they don’t want to come back.”

Chapman said that many students decide to leave the Valley instead of opening shops, creating businesses, and “doing something to motivate [the Fresno] economy.”

Earl and Muriel Smittcamp and their family donated $1 million, which is what funded The Smittcamp Family Honors College in 1997.

According to Chapman, “President [John] Welty asked Earl and Mariel Smittcamp, ‘Can you help me create an honors college, so that we can invite

the best and brightest to stay in Fresno and hopefully those students will then become the basis of a growing economy?’”

“And that’s what President Welty was trying to do, was to keep kids from going elsewhere. And by doing that, you then hopefully have stronger teachers, stronger business people,” Chapman added.

Because Smittcamp students receive many benefits to increase their chances of success, some students have questioned if they can represent the average student, and know about the difficulties that Fresno State students encounter.

“Just because I don’t pay my tuition doesn’t mean that I don’t under-

stand the value of a dollar, or that I have never suffered a hardship, or that I don’t work for my own money, or that I don’t struggle to be here to make ends meet and to do a good job,” ASI Executive Vice President and Smittcamp recipient Selena Farnesi said. “I am still a student here. I understand the struggles of students here.

And I think I can accurately represent those students.”

Farnesi added, “Being a representative is not about your own personal experience. Being a good representative is about talking to the people you represent and finding out what their experience is.”

See SMITTCAMP, Page 3

The

Collegian

Opinion PAGE 2

“T

THAT’S WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING...

his administration does not appear to be fundamentally different than eight years under George Bush, but the panic and the reaction it has set off has seemed fundamentally different.”

– Jon Stewart

OPINION EDITOR, DANIELLE GILBERT • COLLEGIAN-OPINION@CSUFRESNO.EDU

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011

WEB-SPE@K

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR What is Valentine’s Day?

E

ver wonder if Valentine’s Day has a history?

Well is it does actually, it is more than what we Americans have made it out to be today. The whole take your main squeeze out to an over-priced restaurant with a set menu, cliché heart shaped box of chocolates in hand, and a kids stuffed animal that you present to your grown adult date to somehow profess your undying love. And, if you happen to be the poor soul who does not have a sweetie pie, you spend the night alone, eating your chocolate Bon Bons you had to buy yourself, by the way, and watch sappy love movies crying your eyes out, wondering what’s wrong with you, and why you suck, and no one wants you to be their Valentine.

Sounds pathetic? I’ve been there.But Valentine’s Day wasn’t always this way. In its humble beginning the gist of the holiday was to be thankful for the ones we love and

mindful of those who are alone on this day. Love can be actions towards others (or oneself) or based on affection.

Right now there are 291 in-house patients at Children’s Hospital who deserve to be noticed and shown some love on supposedly the most loving day of the year. Could you make one of them your Valentine?

If you would like to make a difference by showing one of those kids you care about them this Valentine’s Day here is what you can do: buy a general Valentine’s Day card and a little stuffed animal and drop it off at The Collegian and your gift will be delivered to Children’s Hospital on Valentine’s Day. — Kevin-Dat Vu Communications Major

I I

Think before I you speak

By Danielle Gilbert The Collegian

Should Pedro be deported? I do not think so. I think because he is so close to graduating, we should let him finish college. Should Pedro be deported in the future? If he does not show some initiative to get citizenship, then yes. Citizenship takes sometimes six years to get. If he at least starts the process, then I am satisfied. My family adopted my sister from another country; I am somewhat accustomed with the time the immigration process can take.

— Daniel J. Harrison Economics and Political Science Major

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.

Perhaps in a feat of desperation Ramirez is pulling this publicity stunt to gain people’s pity so “he doesn’t have to go back to his dinner party”, but he is only gaining disappointment.

I am an immigrant myself; we all come from places where the rules are constantly broken. Ramirez comes to this country and does exactly what has ruined so many systems, and most importantly, behaves unethically by deceiving those from whom he expects trust and loyalty.

From one immigrant to another, I ask that he steps down from office on ethical grounds, rather than the excuse that he has to have surgery in his eye due to a car accident (not to mention he wasn’t supposed to be driving anyhow since he doesn’t have a license).

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

‘Philosotroll’: “I waiting for the part where you tell the whippersnappers to “get off your lawn.” To call this “curmudgeonly” seems appropriate; also, I like having an excuse to use the word “curmudgeonly.”

Response:

‘Hungry students disagree about new library food rules’ ‘Alex’: “As an employee of the library, I disagree with this article completely. Based on what I have seen. Starbucks’ cups, fast food restaurant wrappers/bags laid across tables and left in the stacks. It is completely necessary to have visitors to the library contain their food to specific areas.”

Response:

‘Hungry students disagree about new library food rules’ ‘elpmas’: “You’ve got to be kidding me, no one likes being restricted to one place to enjoy their meal, nonetheless, 2nd floor is always filled with students and noise of all sort.”

— Christian Lopez Biology and Philosophy Major

t has long been revered as merry — since its 20th century reinvention, people have been known to kill over it and die in the name of it. But today’s ignorant-minded have too casually altered the meaning of the, now homophobic, slur — “that’s so gay.”

Whether you support or oppose the lesbian, gay, transgender and bi-sexual community or not — have respect.

In 2008, the Think Before You Speak advertising campaign premiered.

Comedian Wanda Sykes and self-proclaimed triple threat

Collegian

‘joshua4234’: “Sorry to say, but nobody cares about your case. Park across the street, south of shaw, and walk 20 minutes to class because you can’t afford a ridiculous parking pass then complain that you’re in a hurry.”

Response:

From one immigrant to another

n my family, there are many people who are illegal immigrants to these United States, so I asked them what their views are on Ramirez and his current position here at Fresno State. With mixed emotions of pride and disillusionment, the general consensus was that Ramirez violated common ethical courtesy being an uninvited guest in this country.

“One doesn’t show up to a dinner party uninvited and expect to sit at the head of the table and pretend like everything is alright just because the dinner party they were previously at was a wreck,” said one of my uncles.

Yes, it is a big milestone for immigrants everywhere that one of their own has made it to the top, but the fact is that he bypassed legal and ethically appropriate hurdles that many have to get through to get anywhere. To go behind everyone’s backs and run for president of ASI was unethical and unfair.

Response:

‘The right of way’

‘The right of way’

An inaccurate accusation

was quite disappointed with the lack of intelligence in one of the Letters to the Editor in the Feb. 4, 2011, issue. It was concerning www.TheRealPedro.com. The letter indicated that it is racist to call Pedro Ramirez a criminal. First off, it is not racist; it is true. If you truly think it is not against to law to be in this country illegally, you are extremely unintelligent. Second, If you do not like the current immigration law, that is OK, but the reality is, RIGHT NOW, it is a crime to be in this country illegally. It is OK to think the current immigration policy is flawed, I think that too, but it is NOT OK to call someone a racist for accurately accusing Pedro of being a criminal.

THE

Culled each week from discussions on The Collegian’s website.

Hillary Duff made light of the common homophobic phrase as the campaign’s spokeswomen. Its aim was to stray teens away from using such defamatory slang so carelessly.

Statewide legislation has been advocating an antigay bullyng bill for years.

However, now, more so than ever, attention is being drawn on a worldwide scale.

Since the national campaign aired, more kids in the United States are disclosing their homosexuality with unprecedented regularity and doing so much younger,

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 © 2011 The Collegian.

according to TIME Magazine.

And the average gay person comes out just before or after graduating high school.

If these statistics are anything compared to those in Uganda then countless Ugandans who classify as HIV positive or homosexual could face the death penalty, pending passage of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill by Uganda’s Parliament.

Being homosexual in Uganda is illegal. And if the LGBT community has not been deprived of their human rights enough, the new bill could mean life in prison or death for

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homosexuals and supporters alike.

The worst of two evils shall prevail if the unconstitutional legislation comes to pass, as it is expected. Perhaps, what is as unjust is that a twoday conference held by American Evangelical Christians inspired the AntiHomosexuality Bill.

So think before you speak.

The next time you say “that’s so gay” when you mean that’s so dumb or so stupid, realize your words are powerful enough to impact a life, a community and a nation.

And knock it off.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011

THE COLLEGIAN • NEWS NEWS EDITOR, DANA HULL • COLLEGIAN-NEWS@CSUFRESNO.EDU

ASI: CSSA paid for Ramirez’s ticket to Washington

PAGE 3

SMITTCAMP: Four students from honors college in ASI CONTINUED from page 1

Dana Hull / The Collegian

Pedro Ramirez was absent from Wednesday’s ASI meeting. Miles Nevin of CSSA addressed the senate.

CONTINUED from page 1 [in support of the DREAM Act during the fall semester].”

Farnesi asked the senate if they would like “for the CSSA representative to answer the question.” A deafening silence filled the room after her question.

“I need a yes or no, senate,” Farnesi said. More silence.

“The public deserves to know,” Oliver said.

Farnesi asked for a show of hands from the senate as to whether they would like Nevin to answer the question, but there was no immediate response.

Far nesi told Nevin that he did not have to answer the question.

“I’m happy to answer it,” Nevin said. “The California State Student Association did pay for Pedro to go to Washington D.C. this fall. We were happy to do so.”

Nevin said that CSSA sent Ramirez, so that he could advocate on part of the DREAM Act. He went on to say that CSSA also supported AB 540, which allows California residents who are in the United States illegally to pay in-state tuition at UC and CSU if they meet certain criteria.

Mary Lou Bonneau-

State appeals court overturns Sony PlayStation murder decision Associated Press FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — A state appeals court has overturned the conviction of a former Central California college student in a 2007 shooting that killed one

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man and wounded two others in a dispute over a Sony PlayStation console.

The Fresno Bee reports that the Fifth District Court of Appeal ordered Fresno County Superior Court Judge Gary Orozco to hold a hearing to determine whether there was sufficient evidence to support the guilty verdict against 23-year-old Jonquel Brooks.

Orozco met with lawyers Wednesday and scheduled the hearing for March 11.

Brooks was a freshman at California State University, Fresno, when he fatally shot 19-year-old Brant Daniels and wounded two friends after they showed up at Brooks’ apartment to look for their stolen PlayStation.

Brooks says he acted in self-defense.

He’s been serving a life sentence since his 2009 conviction.

Rodrigue z asked Nevin if CSSA had “paid for Pedro’s attorney, too.” Nevin replied that they had not.

O’Brien asked why ASI needed to be part of CSSA, citing Fresno State President John Welty’s appeal for ideas to cut expenditures.

The Senate approved adding a regular meeting to its calendar of meetings.

After the meeting, BonneauRodriguez said that she was upset by the conduct of many of those who support Ramirez.

“They have a gang mentality,” she said. “They’re militant.”

Farnesi says she works at ASI 20 hours a week, and she also has a second job outside of campus.

According to Chapman, before Smittcamp was founded, “there weren’t even enough people interested in doing this kind of work because they are too busy doing other stuff.”

Because Smittcamp requires its students to have a certain number of volunteer hours, some students fulfill their volunteer hours by serving at ASI. Students who were granted a Smittcamp scholarship in 2010 had an average unweighted GPA of 3.92 (weighted GPA of 4.46).

T he Smittcamp Family Honors College accepts 50 students every year, and a total of 200 students at any given time.

As part of their scholarship, these students are granted free in-state tuition, a stipend up to $1100 for a computer, $200 for insurance and sometimes free campus parking.

According to their website, honor courses are required to have 25 students or less.

Smittcamp students also receive priority re gistration and access to the Honors College Office and its sources.

S t u d e n t s a l s o r e c e iv e interaction with University President Welty at his university home.

According to Chapman, 70 percent of the students selected are from the four areas in Fresno County. The other 30 percent come from other parts of California. A small number are from out of state and one student that she can remember came out of the country.

“Some however, choose to go somewhere for graduate school, but they may eventually come back,” Chapman said.

“We don’t force them to stay, so there is no contract that says you must stay.”

According to Chapman, Smittcamp students “are very reluctant to reveal what they are because they don’t want people to be jealous or to actually outright hate them.”

According to Far nesi, Smittcamp students serving in student gover nment are proud of their Smittcamp membership.

“None of them were shy as far as I know about sharing their involvement,” Farnesi said. “I am very forthcoming about being involved in Smittcamp, because quite frankly, it’s an honor.”

C

COMMENT: The Collegian is a forum for student expression. http://collegian.csufresno.edu

CSU will avoid fee hikes

By Juliet Williams Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The chancellors of the University of California and California State University systems said Monday that they don’t plan to seek student fees increases this year, despite a state budget proposal that calls for more than $1.4 billion in combined cuts to higher education.

But UC Chancellor Mark Yudof and CSU Chancellor Charles Reed said their promise won’t hold if Californians don’t agree to tax extensions that Gov. Jerry Brown is proposing for the June ballot.

“He already told Mark and I straight up: If this doesn’t pass we’re going to come back and cut you some more. We can’t afford to take any more cuts,” Reed told reporters Monday. “You have to pay for what you get.

Brown, a Democrat, wants to ask voters in a June special election to extend increases on income, sales and vehicle taxes for five years to help close California’s $25.4 billion budget shortfall through June 2012. He is trying to win Republican support in the state Legislature to get a twothirds majority to place it on the ballot, but GOP lawmakers have steadfastly opposed it Brown is proposing a combined $1 billion in cuts to UC and CSU, and $400 million in cuts to community colleges.

Community colleges would raise fees by $10 per unit to offset about a quarter of the cuts under Brown’s proposed plan.

Reed’s comments Monday were the most explicit threat to date of the further deep cuts that Democrats say are possible without a tax extension.

Sabrina Lockhart, a spokeswoman for Assembly Minority L e a d e r C o n n i e C o n w ay, R-Tulare, declined to comment on the “hypothetical’ scenario of voters rejecting tax increases. But she said Republicans are committed to protecting education funding.

“We need to fund core functions of government, so we’ll look at the budget debate globally. Public safety and education are examples of core functions,” she said. “We believe we can find savings elsewhere to protect budget priorities.”

A spokeswoman for Senate Minority Leader Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, declined to comment on the chancellors’ statements.

The chancellors of all three systems testified at a budget hearing in Sacramento, where they said they are prepared to make deep cuts to administration, teaching staff and services for students.

They warned, though, that California’s renowned higher education system is being jeopardized and they are likely to continue to turn away hundreds of thousands of students.

Califor nia Community Colle ges Chancellor Jack

Scott said if the proposed budget is enacted, his system will have to turn away 350,000 students next year because it will not have enough classes to offer.

“We are particularly good at creating those mid-level jobs” such as firefighters, nurses and mechanics, Scott said. “We are, of course, a bargain, even with the suggested increase of $10 per unit in our tuition next year.”

“The low-hanging fruit was picked long ago. We are looking at layoffs. We are looking at program elimination, at shrinking the enterprise,” Yudof testified.

He said the budget bills Brown hopes to get enacted

by March “represent only the best-case scenario.”

The UC Board of Regents i n N ove m b e r ap p rove d a plan to raise undergraduate tuition by 8 percent next fall while offering more financial aid. The hike comes after the 10-campus system increased undergraduate fees by more than 30 percent over the past year to offset deep cuts in state funding that led to staff furloughs, fewer course sections and reduced student enrollment.

C S U t r u s t e e s vo t e d i n November to raise tuition for undergraduate and graduate students by 5 percent for the current winter and upcoming spring terms, and by another 10 percent this fall.

PAGE 4

THE COLLEGIAN • FEATURES FEATURES EDITOR, JANESSA TYLER • COLLEGIAN-FEATURES@CSUFRESNO.EDU

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011

Smittcamp Alumni House opens its doors to more than alumni

By Janessa Tyler The Collegian The new University High School isn't the only eye-catching building on campus that captures the attention of guests, students, faculty and staff.

Along Matoian Way sits a two-story white house that draws in visitors to the Fresno State campus for more than one reason.

“The main purpose of the Smittcamp Alumni House is to have some place where alumni can have a building, an image to associate with the alumni,” Jennifer Burgess, Alumni House manager, said. “We have the Alumni Association that is housed here.”

Burgess said the Alumni House is a landmark for visitors. Visitors can stop by the Alumni House for maps, directions and endless information about the campus.

“This is kind of like their home base before they venture out on the campus,” Burgess said.

Weddings, receptions, banquets, company interviews, g raduation parties, bridal and baby showers and retirement parties are just a few events that can take place at the Alumni House. Beside the multiple events, Fresno State is the only California State University with an alumni house on campus.

The $2.2 million Alumni House opened its doors on March 21, 2000, after three years of construction and preparation. Earl and Muriel Smittcamp and their family donated $1 million to start the construction of the Alumni House in 1997.

The Smittcamp's and their four children are Fresno State alumni and have been dedicated supporters for multiple years.

“The Smittcamp family were the original donors who helped build the house,” Burgess said.

Executive Director of the Fresno State Alumni Association Jacqui Glasener said the vision to start an alumni house was created by Bill Forbes, a 1948 Fresno State graduate and the building committee chair.

“He was absolutely passionate about having an alumni house,” Glasener said.

Glasener said Forbes was a good friend and tennis partner with Earl, and the pair would discuss the future of an alumni house on the tennis court.

Burgess has been the house manager for 15 months and hears a great deal of misconceptions about the Alumni House. She said the two biggest misconceptions are that President John Welty lives there and that it's a hotel. “ We a c t u a l l y d o n ' t h ave a n y over night visitors,” Burgess said.

“We're only open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.”

Leo Barajas, a mass communications and journalism major, works at the front desk, greeting guests and taking the role as the house secretary. Since his start of work at the Alumni House last June, Barajas has had his share of prank calls and guests coming into the house claiming that there are bedrooms upstairs.

“People think it's the health center,” Barajas said. “People think it's the president's house — President Welty.”

The Alumni House has four rooms, but no bedrooms. It includes an alumni library, a small conference room, a large conference room that can be divided into two smaller rooms and a faculty lounge that composes most of downstairs.

Downstairs also includes a culinary room, a long hallway directing guests to the conference rooms and the alumni library, an elevator and several bathrooms that makes up the first floor

Kyle Lowe / The Collegian

The Smittcamp Alumni House is 10,000 square feet with a foyer, three conference rooms, library, faculty lounge, kitchen and two courtyards.

of the Alumni House.

The Jensen Library has more than just books. A marble fireplace, game tables, televisions, and pictures of wellknown alumni decorate the library.

Guests have a choice of staying inside or walking outside to a small courtyard and fountain.

“Dr. Welty has rented out the room and he's hosted [opera singer] Andrea Bocelli,” Burgess said. “He hosted a dinner in there when he came to the Save Mart Center.”

The McMurty Conference Room is the smallest room in the Alumni House, providing an intimate space for 10 guests. The Board of Directors Conference Room and the Whitten Family Conference Room can be combined to provide space for more than 100 guests.

The Thorbur n Faculty Lounge accommodates approximately 20 guests and is 346 square feet.

A large staircase on the left of the Markarian Grand Foyer peers over a black baby grand player piano, leading to the offices for the staff of the Fresno State Alumni Association.

One of the most recognizable pieces in the foyer is a 180-pound, handcrafted chandelier. “ T h e foyer chandelier c an be lowered from the ceiling to be cleaned,” Burgess said. “A specialist cleans each individual crystal by hand.”

The glass double doors are etched with a design by one of the Smittcamp's daughters, Betsy.

Burgess said the staff decorates the Alumni House for the winter holidays by setting up a 14-foot Christmas tree, bright lights, wreaths and garlands.

Santa Claus also makes an appearance during the first week of December for family pictures.

Burgess said decorating the inside and the outside of the Alumni House takes a whole day.

The Alumni House is open Monday through Friday. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and guests are more than welcomed to browse through the Alumni House and its features.

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Arts & EnterTainment FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR, MADDIE SHANNON • COLLEGIAN-FEATURES@CSUFRESNO.EDU

PAGE 5

Weekend of Movies Comedies will pack local theaters this weekend

By Maddie Shannon The Collegian Moviegoers this weekend can expect local theaters to be packed with audience members looking for a laugh.

Whether your type of comedy is of “The Office” variety, slapstick or playground humor, three comedies debuting this weekend will have local audiences laughing through Sunday.

Here is this weekend’s lineup of movies.

Just Go With It (PG-13) What it’s about: Plastic surgeon Danny prides himself on his unconventional pickup trick: He wears a wedding band to get women to sleep with him, capitalizing on their sympathy by pretending to be stuck in an unhappy marriage. But when the girl he actually wants to marry finds the wedding band, a little white lie turns into a giant web of lies. Danny’s assistant, Katherine, and her kids eventually become part of his plan to reel his girl back in.

Why you should see it: Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston, who play the lead characters, carry the story very well compared to their performances in past films.

Critics of both will find this film to be not much different from films they’ve done before, but fans of either actor won’t be disappointed in this comedy.

Starring: Adam Sandler, Jennife r A n iston , Nicol e Kidman, Nick Swardson and Brooklyn Decker.

Gnomeo and Juliet (G) What it’s about: T h i s q u i rk y re t e l l i n g o f Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet features the most unexpected of characters — garden

gnomes. The blue gnomes and the red gnomes have been enemies for as long as either side can remember. When Gnomeo, one of the blue gnomes, and Juliet, one of the red gnomes, meet one night and fall in love, they’re told that their love is doomed. But despite the odds, they find ways to get together.

Why you should see it: “Gnomeo and Juliet” has an all-star cast, a must for an animated film (if the characters have any emotional depth).

This version of Romeo and Juliet, intended for younger audiences, doesn’t feature anyone killing themselves in the end (did I give too much away?).

Starring: James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Michael Caine, Maggie Smith, Ozzy Osbourne, Hulk Hogan, Dolly Parton and Patrick Stewart.

Cedar Rapids (R) W h a t i t ’ s a b o u t : Tim Lippe, a failure-to-launch insurance salesman, goes to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to represent his company at an insurance convention. In the few days he’s there, he befriends three seasoned insurance industry veterans who show him the ropes. Wild nights, multiple shots and a prostitute make his experience in Cedar Rapids a weekend to remember.

Why you should see it: Audience members who enjoy the comedy of “The Office” will enjoy the humor Ed Helms delivers in this film.

Filmgoers with more intelligent senses of humor will find this movie to be nothing but cheap laughs.

Starring: Ed Helms, John C. Reilly, Anne Heche, Alia S h aw k a t a n d S i g o u r n e y Weaver.

News Briefs

Brief news for the brief attention span

Photo graphic by Matt Weir/ The Collegian

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge has granted Kelsey Grammer a divorce, clearing the way for the actor to remarry later this month.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Maren Nelson agreed Thursday to grant Kelsey and Camille Grammer a divorce and settle financial issues at a later date.

Camille Grammer has estimated in court filings that the former couple’s shared property may be worth $20 million.

Kelsey and Camille Grammer were married in 1997 and have two young children together.

Attorneys for the former “Frasier” star and Camille Grammer, who appears on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” told Nelson

they will set aside $2.3 million while financial arrangements are handled.

The 55-year-old actor has told David Letter man last month that he plans to marry Kayte Walsh sometime in February.

NEW YORK (AP) — It’s only 2011 but Lady Gaga wants her next album “Born This Way” to be the best of the decade.

The perfor mer tells the March issue of Vogue her fans deserve “nothing less” than that. She also doesn’t want to record “something trendy.”

The album’s first single of the same name is described as a gay-pride anthem, which the singer tells the magazine she wrote in 10 minutes.

PAGE 6

THE COLLEGIAN • FUN & GAMES ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR, MADDIE SHANNON • COLLEGIAN-FEATURES@CSUFRESNO.EDU

The daily crossword ACROSS 1 Soft ground 4 Wash with elbow grease 9 Complain ad nauseam 14 Weather vane dir.

15 Part of many action flicks 16 Singer Neville 17 Thread for needlework 20 Card deck for divining 21 ___ the run (grab something to go) 22 Revise text 23 Some ­whiskey bottle sizes 26 Gymnast Mary ___ Retton 29 They precede mis, on a music scale 30 Lets (up) 31 Stepladder step 32 Napoleon’s sentence 33 Ab exercise 35 Sheltered span 38 Joan of Arc’s crime 39 Group of chicks 40 Purim’s month 41 Use a roller and brush 42 Floor-­washing aid 45 Boeing offering 46 “Scooby-Doo” character 48 Chewable stimulant 49 Wayne Gretzky, once 51 “Plan 9 From ___ Space” 52 Hole-making device 57 Word after “share and share”

Edited by Timothy E. Parker

Puzzle by Judith Hanks

C

PUZZLE SOLUTION: http://collegian.csufresno.edu Copyright 2011. Universal Press Syndicate.

58 Expressed wonderment, in a way 59 Contender for your title 60 Harold of silent film 61 Injects with Novocain 62 Where ­supper is slop DOWN 1 One holding a sign at the airport, e.g.

2 Like a messy bed 3 Razing remains

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011

4 Loch Lomond local 5 Ho ___ Minh City 6 Unit of absorbed energy 7 Employ 8 Tete toppers 9 Floats, as an aroma 10 Something about Mary?

11 Breathing aid 12 Rejections 13 Three out of nineteen?

18 Go to waste

9 Yes, in “Fargo” 1 23 Kind of tale 24 Tahiti, e.g.

25 What a horse eats from 27 “___ Upon a Time in America” 28 Disgusted reply 30 They’re no longer hitched 31 Racer Ricky 32 At any time 33 Sidekick 34 Warden’s fear 35 Surrender, as territory 36 Collection of some Handel bars 37 Windjammer slammer 38 Leon Uris book “The ___” 41 Local clergyman 42 Themes 43 Yellow and black cat 44 Negotiation between enemies 46 Swung around, as on a pivot 47 Drakes and roosters, e.g.

48 Mongrel 50 Stomach-turning 51 Two-to-one, e.g.

52 Trusted friend 53 Wing of a building, perhaps 54 Written debt acknowledgment 55 Resistance unit that sounds like a meditation word 56 Bird’s bill

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

Birthday Eloping The act of going on a trip to avoid the dramas of celebrating a birthday at home.

Source: UrbanDictionary.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011

THE COLLEGIAN • SPORTS SPORTS EDITOR, BEN INGERSOLL • COLLEGIAN-SPORTS@CSUFRESNO.EDU

PAGE 7

SATURDAY, FEB. 12, AT 7 P.M., DEE GLEN SMITH SPECTRUM

Bulldog Game Day Fresno State Bulldogs (11-13, 5-7 WAC)

vs.

Utah State Aggies (22-3, 11-1 WAC)

TV: WAC SPORTS NET RADIO: KMJ-AM 580 Analysis by Ben Ingersoll The Collegian

Breakdown: Bulldogs Fresno State basketball hit a bit of a stride for the first time in over five weeks, and it could not come with better timing.

The Bulldo gs won three straight games from Feb. 3 through Feb. 7 for just the second time this season, but now travel to Wester n Athletic Conference powerhouse Utah State on Saturday.

Head coach Steve Cleveland’s Bulldogs have lost eight straight games to the Aggies, dating back to 2007.

Fresno State hosted Utah State last month and lost 52-39 in the Bulldogs’ worst offensive output all season.

Fresno State held the Aggies to 52 points, the best for a Utah State opponent this year. But the ‘Dogs shot a season-low 27 percent from the field and scored also scored a seasonlow 39 points.

Since the loss, the team has posted a 4-4 record but has had

stellar play from guard Kevin Olekaibe. The true freshman missed Monday’s game against Cal State Bakersfield nursing a wrist injury, but is averaging a team-best 13 points per game.

Center Greg Smith also garnered WAC Player of the Week honors for his play from Jan. 31 through Feb. 6. During the week, Smith averaged 17.5 points and seven rebounds per game. He will likely have to defend Utah State star forward Tai Wesley.

Breakdown: Aggies Just when it looked like Utah State would cruise to a perfect Western Athletic Conference regular-season record, the Aggies got a wakeup call on the road.

Idaho, who sits fourth in the conference standings, knocked of f the nationally-ranked Aggies 64-56 on Wednesday. The loss snapped Utah State’s 17-game winning streak, but the Aggies still have a firm hold at the top of the WAC standings.

The loss was only the third for the Aggies this season. The other two losses came at the hands of nationally-ranked BYU and Georgetown.

The Aggies are led by firstteam All-WAC forward Tai Wesley who averages 14 points and eight rebounds per game.

Wesley posted a double-double in Utah State’s loss to Idaho.

The Aggies’ second and third leading scorers come from

their frontcourt in guards Brockeith and Brian Green.

The trio of Wesley, Brockeith and Green combine to score 36 points per game, more than half of the team’s nightly output.

Utah State has won the last two regular-season WAC titles, posting a 39-5 record in conference play since the 2007-08 season.

Head coach Stew Morrill, who is in his 13th season at the helm, has been awarded the last two WAC Coach of the Year honors.

Keys to Victory 1. Force three-point attempts The Aggies shot just 33 percent from beyond the arc in the loss to Idaho. Utah State was 5 of 28 on threes.

2. Get Ned going During Fresno State’s three-game winning streak, the senior scored in double figures. Golubovic’s strong play inside frees up looks for center Greg Smith.

3. Get a spark off the bench The starters scored just 25 points for the Bulldogs last time these two teams met. The problem is, the bench had just 14 themselves.

Getting some life off the bench from guards Garrett Johnson or Tyler Johnson could make the difference on the upset bid.

Mike Howells / The Collegian

Player to watch: Nedeljko Golubovic, forward

ALLEN: Reggie Miller’s all-time three-point record falls CONTINUED from page 8 family man and I’m excited.

This is great. This is great for the game of basketball. You know why? We’re focusing and talking about shooting.”

The record-breaker came on a transition basket from the right side on a pass from Rajon Rondo. The sold-out crowd at the TD Garden — the visit by the rival Lakers would have been enough for that — cheered, and his teammates rose out of their seats.

After the quarter ended, Allen exchanged a few words and another hug with Miller, then went down the sideline to receive his family’s congratulations.

“It’s so serendipitous that it happened the way it happened. For us to be sitting here, Reggie’s in the building and he’s in the building able

to work the game,” Allen said before the game. “He just told me he was proud of me and he was excited for me. He said he was glad that he could be here in this moment.”

M i l l e r h a s b e e n c h e e ring Allen on as he pursed the record, and the for mer Indiana Pacers star said people shouldn’t be surprised.

“All records are made to be broken,” Miller said. “I had a conversation with Ray earlier tonight and he was like, ‘When I was a rookie and I came to Market Square Arena and I saw you for 3 to 3½ hours before (the game) shooting, that’s how I wanted to patent my game.’”

A 6-foot-5 guard from Connecticut, Allen is the No. 25 scorer in NBA history, entering the night with 21,855 points in a 15 year career w i t h M i lw a u ke e, S e a t t l e and Boston. He is already

the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made per game since the shot was introduced to the league in 1979, with an average of 2.4. “ H e ’ s j u s t a m a c h i n e, ” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said before the game. “He shoots every day. He works on it. He runs every day. You look at his body. If you’re a young player just look at Ray Allen if you want a long career. He’s the ultimate pro.”

Allen got to the record a little faster than Miller, needing 6,430 shots to reach the record — a percentage of 39.8. Miller took 6,486 shots from 3-point range in his 18-year career with the Indiana Pacers, making 39.5 percent.

Allen said beforehand he had unexpected trouble sleeping on Wednesday night, with the combined anticipation of an NBA finals rematch against the archrival Lakers and the

chance to break the record.

“I was like a little kid,” he said. “Just the game itself is big enough and being on the precipice of breaking this record takes you to another level. ... Being here in this moment and being able to say this moment is before us, it seems pretty overwhelming.”

Allen entered the season needing 117 to pass Miller, and he entered the night needing one to tie and two for the record. With the crowd cheering in anticipation every time he got the ball beyond the arc, he missed his first attempt and then made his second, from the top of the key.

Allen gave a fist pump while teammate Nate Robinson raised one finger in the air.

The next time down, Paul Pierce passed him the ball on the left side and Allen fired up another shot that, to the crowd’s dismay, went off the

rim. He missed the next try, too, but then got the record on his fifth 3-point attempt of the game.

“I think it’s a remarkable thing he’s achieving tonight,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said before the game. “It is something to watch for and I hope he gets rid of it right away.”

During the second quarter, the Celtics showed a video with him making 3-pointers through his career — first with the Milwaukee Bucks and then with the Seattle SuperSonics. The number “2,561” was repeated in green and white on the message board that ringed the scoreboard and on the one that circled the arena.

YANG: Longer schedule would present more injury risk CONTINUED from page 8 millions of dollars in guaranteed money despite being unproven. Colle ge players are entering the league with a bigger paycheck than their counterparts. Veteran wages are miniscule as compared to first-round picks, unless

they’re a franchise player.

And then there comes the players. The game of football has changed. It’s faster, more violent, more dangerous and players are bigger and stronger than ever. Injuries are piling up as fast as Steven Strasburg’s 103 mph fastball.

In the Super Bowl alone,

seven players missed time because of injuries and many others were left shaken up after ferocious hits. Star players Donald Driver and Charles Woodson spent most of the game in street clothes.

But dealing with injuries during a player’s career isn’t the main factor here. It’s

when they’re retired, when the effects of their playing days really start to set in. The NFL pension plan needs a new framework, and the NFL needs to figure out whether it really wants to expand to 18 games despite the risks of injuries to its players.

If these problems aren’t

addressed soon, the last NFL play that fans will remember is Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers taking a knee to seal the game. What a boring play to go out on.

The

Collegian

SPORTS PAGE 8

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY

San Francisco Giant Willie Mays signs the highest contract to date at $130,000 per year in 1966.

SPORTS EDITOR, BEN INGERSOLL • COLLEGIAN-SPORTS@CSUFRESNO.EDU

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011

NFL, NFLPA need to agree

Softball opens the season with a home game against Sacramento State, while baseball hosts the annual alumni game When the Fresno State baseball team hits the diamond this Saturday for its annual alumni game, fans will get a chance to see several of their favorite players, past and present.

Current Bulldog stars like Garrett Weber, Jordan Ribera and Danny Muno will face off against past legends like 2008 College World Series Most Outstanding Player Tommy Mendonca, Steve Susdorf and Eric Wetzel.

The alumni game kicks off the Bulldogs’ 2011 season and expectations are high in anticipation of another successful season. Conference coaches predicted Fresno State to finish first in the Wester n Athletic Conference this season.

“It’s always nice to be ranked and picked to finish first,” inter n and for mer Bulldog Ryan Overland said, “but it comes down to you want to be there in the end.”

The exhibition match will give spectators their first look at this season’s squad, which includes many returning core players and a few new faces that are expected to make solid contributions. “ Fa n s w i l l s e e a l o t o f returners that will be familiar from last year’s team like,” Overland said. “Jordan Ribera, Danny Muno, guys that have been here for a while, experienced college players get back on the field again.

There will be some freshmen that are expected to be called upon, Tyler Linehan, left-

handed pitcher; Aaron Judge will seem some time in the outfield.

There’s a very talented freshman group.”

After taking on the alumni team, Fresno S t at e w i l l play its first game at home a g a i n s t G o n z a g a followed by Ore gon State.

A n o t h e r ye a r with a stiff s ch e d u l e w i l l pit the Bulldogs against many talented teams including Nebraska and San Diego.

“The schedule is definitely hard,” Overland said. “The non-conference games will be a good test for the team heading into the WAC. They’ll take it one game, one weekend at a time.”

Despite the preseason ranks, polls and early accolades, the Bulldogs maintain the will be well prepared to take on any team and make another run at a championship.

“For these guys they’re going to go about doing things right and shouldn’t really matter who’s in the other dugout,” Overland said. “As far as fans are concerned, there are a lot of quality teams coming to Fresno this year, so it should be exciting.”

The Fresno State softball team will open its season with

Matt Weir / Collegian File Photo

By Brandy Flores The Collegian

F

a double-header against rival Sacramento State this weekend, and it couldn’t come soon enough for the anxious players.

“My mentality is just come in there and kick butt,” pitcher Michelle Moses said. “I’m excited to play. I think everyone’s ready, and I think we have a great team and I’m looking forward to the things we’re going to do this year.”

The Bulldogs will be return-

Kobe Bryant.

“I’m just so happy for him because this is one of the best guys,” Miller said on the TNT broadcast. “He’s so humble, he’s so giving, he’s a great

ollowing Super Bowl XLV, the thought of the NFL owners locking out the players for next season dawned on me.

What if there is no 2011 season? No preseason games? No regular season? No playoffs?

Not even a meaningful pregame show? No Super Bowl?

If all 32 owners and the NFL Players Association do not come to terms on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement

by March 4, expect a lockout. The Yin and Yang old CBA that Vongni yang for mer NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and then-executive director of the NFLPA Gene Upshaw extended in 2006 expires on that same day.

It will be a shame if the CBA isn’t extended before the deadline, especially for fans.

This could have been avoided from the very beginning, but representatives from both sides could never agree. The players want more money and better health care benefits after their careers are over, while the owners want to save money by cutting players’ salaries.

In 2008, owners voted unanimously to opt out of the CBA that was extended in 2006. By opting out, the 2008 and 2009 seasons were played under a salary cap, as it has been the past two decades and shortened the agreement by one year. Last season, the NFL played out without a salary cap for the first time since 1993.

So with three years to work out an agreement from both sides, many expected that the multi-billion dollar industry would be able to come to terms quickly. But it hasn’t, and fans will pay for it.

Now, the NFL’s lifeline rests in the hands of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, league owners and the NFLPA with less than a month to settle their disputes.

This week representatives from both sides met for what was supposed to be a two-day event to negotiate a new CBA, but still, not much progress was made. The meetings didn’t even last to the second day.

Owners want to extend the season to 18 games by cutting two preseason games and adding them to the regular season, while also setting up a wage scale for rookies drafted in the first round. It’s fair, the pay scale at least. Rookies are paid

See ALLEN, Page 7

See YANG, Page 7

ing most of their players from last year’s squad, but have picked up a f ew f re s h m a n wh o they believe will not only make a considerable contribution this season, but entice the fans as well with their play.

“Girls like Brooke Ortiz — she’s very fast and I think that fans are going to love and enjoy watching her cause she’s a great addition to our team.” shortstop Hayley Gilleland said. “Vonnie [Martin] can hit the ball very well, so I don’t think it just relies on the upperclassman, we have underclassman that are going to step up as well.”

The Bulldogs will hit the road for their first month of the season before returning home on March 10. The team will finish their second half of the season in WAC competition before hosting the WAC Tournament at Bulldog Diamond May 11-14.

Head coach Margie Wright, who is entering her 26th season leading the ‘Dogs, said fans attending Saturday’s home opener should expect to see a lot of exciting plays and great hitting from the team and to see that they have returned to their highly competitive level of play.

“I want them to walk away thinking Fresno state softball is back to where they were before,” Wright said. “And I think this group is a really good group to try to do that.”

Ray Allen is new three king in NBA Associated Press Ray Allen broke the NBA record for 3-pointers on Thursday night, sinking two in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers as the

man he passed, Reggie Miller, sat courtside working the TV broadcast.

Allen hit his second 3 of the game with 1:48 left in the first quarter to reach 2,561 in his career — a number that flashed on the scoreboard in

green and white while the TD Garden erupted in applause.

The 38-year-old Celtic celebrated little as he got back on defense, but at the next whistle went over to Miller for a hug and a handshake, then bumped fists with Lakers star