February 1 2010

The

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Senator introduces measure to campus

By Joe Bailey The Collegian A state senator introduced a measure, which would cap fee increases for students, to Fresno State Friday.

Re publican Sen. Jef f Denham held a press conference in front of the Henry Madden Library where he presented his measure that would institute a 10 percent cap on fee increases within the California State University (CSU) and the University of California (UC) systems, and provide a 180-day waiting period before students would have to pay those increases.

“We already had a 30 percent fee increase which many of us voted against,” Denham said.

“We want to make sure there isn’t a 30 percent increase next year. When does it stop?”

Denham said this measure would allow students adequate time to financially plan for fee hikes which will result in fewer students dropping out.

CSU student fees climbed 27 percent in the past fiscal year and fees have risen 190 percent since 2003.

“I worked two jobs going through college,” Denham said. “These types of increases would have forced me to drop out. I think it’s forcing a number of our students to drop out,” Denham said.

“Many other states have a three or six percent cap. We are asking for a 10 percent cap

Thaddeus Miller / The Collegian

Republican senator Jeff Denham held a press conference in front of the Henry Madden Library to introduce Fresno State to his measure that would limit annual fee increases and institute a waiting period for fee payment.

that should provide plenty of flexibility. A 10 percent cap is something UC and CSU systems can live by,” Denham said.

Vice president for student affairs Paul Oliaro said that the measure is worthy of discussion, but limiting what the CSU system can do while facing a multi-million dollar defi-

cit could cause further problems.

“When you are enforcing limits it can result in deeper class cuts and a reduction of services,” Oliaro said. “Our ultimate goal is to provide quality education for the students to earn their degrees.”

ASI president Jessica Sweeten was also hesitant

about restricting the amount student fees can be increased.

“The board of trustees and the board of regents do want the flexibility,” Sweeten said.

“We do not know when the state is going to cut us like they did last year.”

Sweeten said that the CSU chose to increase the student fees and implement furlough

days for the faculty in order to make up the deficit.

Denham disagreed stating that the CSU and UC systems should make up the deficit by being more fiscally responsible.

“This measure will force CSU and UC systems to live up to their means and the state government to do the same,” Denham said. “There are those that don’t want to cut the waste. There are a lot of common sense measures out there.”

Denham proposed that the University of California should sell its proper ties in Hawaii and Tahiti and close down the University of California Institute for Mexico and the United States.

In December, a Sacramento Bee article reported that the CSU wrongly reimbursed a high-ranking official $152,000 for expenses. The CSU system paid the official for stays at luxurious hotels and travel around the world, as well as internet and phone service at home.

If the measure passes through the legislature Gov. Schwarzenegger will need to sign it into law where it will immediately take effect.

“I think it’s going to be a tough fight,” Denham said.

“But, it is a bipartisan measure. We have democrats on the bill who co-authored. I do think we got a fight ahead of us. But I think it’s a fight the students are going to win.”

Task force charged with student success

By Thaddeus Miller The Collegian The university plans to meet, and hopes to exceed, the goal of a six percent increase in graduates by 2015, the vice president of student affairs said.

One method implemented by the administration is the Student Success Task Force (SSTF).

The Office of the Chancellor sent down an initiative in January calling for the increase in graduates and a greater representation of underserved students. The initiative also falls in line with President Barack Obama’s charge to make the United States the leader in college graduates by 2020.

The SSTF is made up of faculty, staff, administrators and students.

Provost William Covino, who co-chairs the SSTF with the vice president for student affairs Paul Oliaro, said that the target period will be six

years from when students enter the university.

“Part of what the [SSTF] does is talk about the many elements that comprise student success,” Covino said. “However, we all agree that the prime indicator of student success is graduation.”

An academic success course has been added, which is aimed at students who are in academic probation in their first semester.

“We’ll provide them further support in terms of developing study skills, time management skills and other kinds of skills that are conducive to greater success in their courses,” Covino said.

Failure to attend the course would delay those students under probation from registering.

Covino said that the administration and faculty are dedicated to the success of students in a timely manner.

“We certainly want the stu-

dents to complete their education here in a timely way, so that they can start their careers,” Covino said.

Paul Oliaro told The Collegian in an e-mail interview that his past experience has shown that the mentoring program may be especially helpful to underserved students.

“Success is graduating students, and also preparing them to think critically and have knowledge in their chosen field,” Oliaro said.

He said that the SSTF has continued to grow through the participation of students and faculty.

Oliaro also said that the current combination of general education courses and majors courses that are available to students across all disciplines help students to accomplish that.

“The focus of the plan is the six-year graduation rate, which [will] give students plenty of See SUCCESS, Page 6

Matt Weir / The Collegian file photo

Provost Covino co-chairs the student success task force.

Opinion The

Page 2

Collegian

That’s What the People Are Saying On the U.S. having troops in 175 countries here are 192 member states of the United Nations. To have troops stationed in more than nine of every 10 countries on earth is beyond the wildest dreams of any previous imperial power.”

“T

Opinion Editor, Tony Petersen • collegian-opinion@csufresno.edu • Monday, February 1, 2010

— Geoffrey Wheatcroft, World Affairs

Panhandlers gotta go As we drive throughout Fresno, we come across the defiant driver talking on their cell phone, the person driving unbelievably slow and of course the cyclists riding bikes in the middle of traffic lanes, as if they were riding solar-powered motorcycles. But what’s even more of a nuisance are the panhandlers who occupy the medians throughout the city.

For the last nine months, as I’ve driven through the intersection of Blackstone Ave. at Ashlan Ave., I have seen a middle-aged man standing like a statue while holding a sign, justifying why he needs my cash.

I’ve also seen him many times in the El Pollo Loco restaurant at that intersection ordering his lunch. Who says there’s no such thing as a free lunch?

This makes me wonder why I work full time and go to college.

Two weeks ago, I was in the westbound turn lane on Shaw Ave., waiting to make a U-turn. I was three cars back from the crosswalk as I noticed an older lady with a sign. She moved toward my car and motioned for me to roll my window down.

“Is she actually asking me to roll my window down?” I thought. She then proceeded to tell me her story, speaking in a manner that would leave an auctioneer winded. Despite having some money on me, I refused to

Setting it Straight Denton Dubbels donate, and with the push of a button, my window went back up. I couldn’t believe she had the guts to do that.

On March 26, 2008, an Associated Press story entitled, “Fresno City Council seeks to limit panhandlers in medians,” appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle (if a story about Fresno’s beggars appeared in the Chronicle, what does that tell you?)

According to the article, city council members voted to ask the city attorney to draft legislation that would make the practice of panhandling on medians either illegal or severely limited.

One exception would be for firefighters who are raising money for their annual fund drive.

Now that it has been almost two years since this issue was brought to light, I have seen nothing change. In fact, I think it’s gotten worse.

Some of the commentary that I’ve

either read or heard raises another point. Besides annoying drivers and ruining Fresno’s image, there also lies the issue of liability. Should a driver mistakenly hit one of these panhandlers, what would happen? Could the panhandler actually take the driver to court and win a sum of money for damages?

For many years, Fresno has desperately tried to attract businesses to come here and offer some jobs and establish industry. It’s even harder now, with only a few businesses expanding due to the poor economic situation. Having panhandlers at every intersection certainly won’t help attract businesses, unless captains of industry drive around Fresno thinking “Look at all these people I could put to work.” Yeah right.

Though Fresno has its share of problems, having panhandlers on medians at every intersection is one of the most obvious. It’s dangerous for them, drivers and it gives Fresno a bad image. It’s time for the city council to raise this issue once more. Fresno certainly has enough officers to patrol and enforce any new law regarding panhandlers on medians.

If this problem continues to be left on the back burner, we will all soon be driving through panhandler-organized “donation checkpoints.”

Letters to the Editor To the editor: President Obama’s campaign slogan for change said “change we can believe in,” and “change we need.” And yes, it’s nice to believe and have the need for change, but it’s going to take more than just words to make it happen.

Part of the nation’s money had been spent to fix roads that really did not need to be fixed at all. For example, Shaw Ave. was perfectly fine the way it was.

And soon enough, $2.25 billion will be spent on a high-speed rail system in California that isn’t necessary.

Sure it’s a great thing and will make California stand out, but during a time like this in which many people can’t even afford to buy food to eat, they could have made a better deal!

What happened to creating changes “so our country can thrive in the 21st century?” How can jobs be provided when “a high school diploma no longer guarantees a job?” What happened to “Our children are our future?”

Maybe our only hope left for higher

“I

t’s nice to believe and have the need for change, but it’s going to take more than just words.”

— Susan Xiong

THE

education is the passing of California State Assembly Majority Leader, Alberto Torrico’s bill, AB 656.

There’s no criticism here, and there’s no telling what to do in a position like what the president is in. All that’s really meant to say is for him to keep the words “I don’t quit,” and do what was promised to his American people.

Susan Xiong To the editor: This is a response to the article entitled, “Respect for others religions?”

First. let me say that I do agree with your skepticism dealing with scripture and universal implications. Michael Boyle touches on racism and sexism as examples as to how our society will respect religious beliefs that are diverse yet discriminate against attitudes that are deemed as discriminatory (which seems like an odd paradox).

To making that connection I give you a mental applause.

The thing though is that in the end, what does one (including you) hope to accomplish by not respecting one’s religious and faith-based beliefs?

Are you trying to persuade one that their views are outdated or foolish?

Do you wish to show that in an age of scientific inquiry that we can learn about the natural world through more objective means? If you conjured up a yes to any of these answers it would

Collegian

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make perfect sense, but that doesn’t mean you are correct, nor does it mean that the religious organizations of our society are correct. The fact is that your beliefs are based on a rejection of religious beliefs, so you would not be who you are today if there were not a religion for you to reject.

From the syntax of your column I can see you are passionate about this concept of accepting and rejecting religious beliefs. And I do enjoy the fact that you are willing to take the time to critically examine an issue as such, because most people will look at this column, see the “R” word and go running. My only real objection to this column is that it seems to be promoting religious discrimination, which our parents, media, and the rest of our biased society do enough of already.

We SHOULD respect the beliefs of other faith-based institutions besides our own because whether we acknowledge it or not, we have been influenced by their religious culture in ways that we don’t understand.

Our mental equilibrium shouldn’t be contingent on the rejection or bad mouthing of another group; we should find an intrapersonal path to this state and critically examine how our societies have shaped who we are. By doing this I believe we can see as to how ingrained religious societies are in our overall society, and in us as well.

Joey Wagoner

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 © 2009 The Collegian.

Editor in Chief News Editor Features Editor Arts & Entertainment Editor Sports Editor Opinion Editor Photo Editor Multimedia Director Webmaster Presentation/Graphics Developer Online Features Reporter Online Sports Reporter Videographer Editorial Board

Brian Maxey Thaddeus Miller Michelle Furnier Danielle Gilbert Brianna Campbell Tony Petersen Matt Weir Anna Jacobsen Elisa Jimenez Michael Uribes Lacee Solis Allie Norton Sergio Cortes Brian Maxey Tony Petersen

One-Finger Salute

Culled each week from discussions in The Collegian newsroom.

Thumbs up

China to ban eating dogs, cats China plans to end thousands of years of culinary tradition by taking dogs and cat meat off its menu. A law being drafted against animal abuse, China’s first, calls for the country’s thousands of dog butchers and dog meat restaurants to be closed down. Here at The Collegian we say it’s about time! Fido and Garfield deserve better than this!

Thumbs down The iPad

While Steve Jobs and Apple have always been cutting edge and trend setters, The Collegian cannot lend its support to Apple’s newest creation; a tablet-like computer called the iPad. It’s smaller than a Macbook and bigger than an iPhone, leaving it the perfect size for (SARCASM ALERT! SARCASM ALERT!) those who can’t fit it in their pockets and don’t want it sitting on their laps.

Thumbs up

To all those who made the obligatory iPad, Moses joke “Steve Jobs descended from Mount Apple with his tablet containing his 10 commandments.” Honestly, some form of this joke had to be made. Hey, it’s better than those who made the iPad and women’s product joke...

Thumbs down The NFL Pro Bowl

The Pro Bowl, for some odd reason, was held yesterday, the week before the Super Bowl (thus eliminating from participation everyone who is playing for the NFC and AFC championship teams), in Miami, NOT IN HAWAII! Are we sure NBA Commissioner David Stern didn’t plant Roger Goodell in the NFL’s post to purposely sabotage the NFL like he did when he made Gary Bettman the NHL’s commissioner?

Thumbs up

Bathroom quizzes As this editor was getting on his AOL e-mail account (yes, he still has one; no, you can’t make fun of him for it) a bathroom quiz was found on its home page. First question? Is it normal to go to the bathroom 10 times in a day. The answer? No. (Dang it!)

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

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Business Manager Advertising Faculty Adviser Editorial Faculty Adviser Online Faculty Adviser

Tatiana Dindia Shadia Salem Landon Reda Andrew Cabal Brandon Ocegueda Edgar Vargas Savannah West Anthony Samarasekera

Virginia Sellars-Erxleben Jan Edwards Reaz Mahmood Don Priest

Arts & Entertainment The

Collegian

Page 3 • Arts & Entertainment Editor, Danielle Gilbert • collegian-features@csufresno.edu • Monday, February 1, 2010

The daily crossword

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis Los Angeles Times

ACROSS 1 Cribbage pieces 5 Shaving gel alternative 9 More than disliked 14 Power co. product 15 “Tickle me” doll 16 Texas mission to remember 17 Volcano feature 18 Equestrian’s control 19 Organizes alphabetically, say 20 Broadway premiere 23 __-card stud 24 Corp. honcho 25 Natural spring 28 Making lots of noise 33 Genealogist’s chart 34 No-treat consequence?

35 Speech impediment 39 Arises (from) 42 Till bills 43 Like draft beer 45 1492 Atlantic crosser 47 Start of a wide-area police radio alert 53 Artist Yoko 54 By way of 55 Athletic shoe’s turf grabber 57 Seating for extra guests, maybe 61 Yell 64 __ club: singing group 65 Decisive victory

Puzzle by David W. Cromer

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PUZZLE SOLUTION: http://collegian.csufresno.edu Copyright 2009. Tribune Media Services, Inc.

66 Lower in esteem 67 Name on many Irish coins 68 Far Eastern detective played by Lorre 69 Texas Hold ‘em, e.g., and a hint to this puzzle’s theme 70 Boys 71 British weapon of WWII DOWN

1 __ Bill: legendary cowboy 2 Romeo or Juliet, marriagewise 3 Swiss city on the Rhone 4 First part of an act 5 Plant with fronds 6 Designer Cassini 7 Ugandan dictator 8 Seles of tennis 9 Discuss thoroughly

10 Often 11 La Brea stuff 12 CPR giver, often 13 Hair styles 21 MIT, for one: Abbr.

22 Berlin’s land: Abbr.

25 Porous organ 26 Brownish purple 27 Inquires 29 Tax-auditing org.

30 Keep after taxes 31 Davis who played Thelma 32 __-Magnon 35 Bonkers 36 Words before instant or emergency 37 WWII invasion city 38 Good bud 40 Wire diameter measure 41 NBC weekend hit, briefly 44 One doing a pirouette, e.g.

46 Brokerage cust.

48 It’s nothing 49 Thingamajig 50 Security devices 51 Start again, as after a computer system crash 52 Military greeting 56 Wyoming’s __ Range 57 Firecracker cord 58 Hip bones 59 Socially inept type 60 Thousands, in a heist 61 Maple syrup base 62 “True Blood” network 63 Acorn’s destiny

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

Grand Theft impairment The 4-hour period of time that you cannot drive or function in society due to playing Grand Theft Auto. You may have the intention to steal a car, kill innocent people, and/ or drive recklessly.

Source: UrbanDictionary.com

DOWNTOWN ART LOOKS UP

By John Esquivel The Collegian When students think of downtown Fresno, thoughts of empty lots, condemned buildings, and a tragic reminder of what once was comes to mind. Within the last decade, some have tried to change that image with no success. Recently however,

downtown has been under the watchful eye of many due to the lively addition of the Mural District.

The Mural District, the creation of Reza Assemi, lies just south of the Tower District and extends to Broadway Studios. It has been an area of conversation lately

www.peacecorps.gov | 800.424.8580 | brai@peacecorps.gov

not only because of its luxury lofts, but also because its focus on the arts.

From the

newly opened Iron Bird Lofts on Divisadero Street, all the way to Broadway Studios on Tuolumne Street, large murals grace the walls of buildings that are newly constructed and those waiting to be revitalized.

Some people have had their eye on the Iron Bird Lofts since the developers unveiled what many did not expect to see: gargoyle sculptures at the corners of the building grasping onto their younglings as they attempt to fly away.

Many locals had different reactions to the sculptures.

“Anytime you do anything in public, there is no way to make everyone happy,” Assemi said.

Assemi said there are plans unveil a larger statue on the side of the Iron Bird Café close to the corner of Divisadero and Fulton Street, Assemi said. However, he preferred not to comment on the statue until its unveiling.

The loft showcases murals and sculptures from local artists like Josh Wigger and Francisco Vargas. Their signature styles can be easily identified by those who have seen their previous murals throughout Fresno.

Still, those who choose to live in the lofts tend to find the art appealing. Billy Delara, who currently lives in the Tower District, said she is moving into the H Street Lofts in March.

“There’s nothing else in Fresno like it,” Delara said, speaking of the presentation of the lofts. “It never really bothers me. I was going to protest when the neighborhood wanted to paint over the mural

in Tower.”

Delara added that he has seen the gargoyles at the Iron Bird Lofts and appreciated their presence.

“They’re pretty funny,” Delara said. “I tend to like stuff like that.” From what he has heard, it is definitely a statue that is bound to start some controversy.

For some students, the debate over how to present public art has been presented.

“A

nytime you do anything in public, there is no way to make everyone happy.”

— Reza Assemi, Mural District Developer

But for art major Roy Flake the two different sides are clear.

“Street art is one of my favorite types of art. I really appreciate it,” Flake said.

“However, there are people trying to keep businesses going. Their concerns are See Mural, Page 4

Page 4

The Collegian • Arts & Entertainment Arts & Entertainment Editor, Danielle Gilbert • collegian-features@csufresno.edu

Monday, February 1, 2010

The Mural District: the furture of dowtown Fresno

CONTINUED from page 3

legitimate.”

Flake also said he knows people understand the work and some students would like to be involved with what is going on downtown. “I know the debate is known among students and some may even present it in a similar style,” said Flake.

The Mural District has created some controversy based on what some would consider tasteful and what is considered outlandish based on the surrounding neighborhoods. It has sparked creative conversations between local residents and students alike.

The future of downtown Fresno, according to Assemi, is in the local arts whether people agree with it or not.

“We get a lot of negativity about Fresno in general. If I listen to negativity, I wouldn’t get anything done,” said Assemi.

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

Seducing Cindy

By Rick Bently McClatchy-Tribune Cindy Margolis often seen scantily clad in images on her Web page earned a spot in the 2000 Guinness Book of World Records as the “most downloaded” person in 1999. At the peak of her Internet popularity, Margolis was clicked into computers 70,000 times in 24-hours.

So the 44-year-old mother of three turned to reality TV. On “Seducing Cindy,” debuting Saturday night on the Fox Reality Channel, 25 bachelors, ages 18-71, make pitches to date Margolis.

Because of her longtime connection to the Internet, Margolis initially tried finding a guy on the Web. The winner turns out to be someone who at first glance wouldn’t have been her idea of the perfect date.

Doing this to find a date may seem odd but it fits Margolis, who became the first big Internet sensation by grabbing an opportunity. Now she’s doing it again.

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The Collegian is not responsible for nor does it assume any liability for its advertisers. We caution our readers to check out the legitimacy of all advertisers before doing business with any of them.

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These statues sit on top of the Iron Bird Lofts on the corner of Divisadero Street and Fulton Street. Created

by Brandon Grier, these statues are said to represent downtown Fresno. The statue of the young gargoyle dangling over the edge represents the downfall of downtown that many people have witnessed over the years.

The one statue of the gargoyle in flight represents the rebirth of downtown. Brandon Grier is also the artist behind a larger statue that will be unveiled in mid-February in front of the lofts.

This mural, painted by Robert Amador, is on the side of what will soon be Broadway Lofts. Located on the corner of Calaveras and Broadway, Reza Assemi hopes this new project will open in June. The latest project will

Photos by Matt Weir The Collegian

follow in the footsteps of Iron Bird Lofts and feature 23 living spaces.

Robert Amador has been gaining local notoriety for his art and as the curator for the Nihon Gallery, located in Fresno’s Chinatown.

Monday, February 1, 2010

The Collegian • Features Features Editor, Michelle Furnier • collegian-features@csufresno.edu

“I

am passionate about my family. They come first.

They have been there for me, my parents especially.”

— Jared Yurong, Business major

Student Q&A with Jared Yurong

Page 5

Silent, yet still speaking The ASL club encourages all signing levels.

By Tara Albert The Collegian

By Janessa Tyler The Collegian

Basketball was a big part of freshman Jared Yurong’s youth, but now he is focused on finishing college and being able to support his own family.

He is a business major and is thinking about an emphasis in entrepreneurship. He said he has considered starting his own men’s clothing line called Yurong Wear.

Yurong has played basketball since he was in kindergarten, and was the point guard on his high school varsity team for four years.

He plays at the Student Recreation Center from time to time and is part of a division two intramural basketball team called MGK1.

Yurong said family is very important to him, and he would like to be able to support his family like his father has done. He has one younger sister and one younger bother.

His father, Dale Yurong, is a news anchor for Channel 30.

Mouths are closed, no one is saying a word. Several pairs of hands are moving fast, signing various motions. The room may be quiet, but a conversation is taking place among several Fresno State students.

The American Sign Language Club (ASL) has been an active student organization on the Fresno State campus since April 1998.

The club provides students with a chance to interact with faculty and administration at Fresno State, as well as members of the deaf community.

“It is a complex, beautiful lang u a g e, ” A S L C l u b s e c r e t a r y Sharayah Hartman said.

The community plays a key role in the success of the club. The club gives anyone interested in ASL an

“I

t is a complex, beautiful language.”

Q: What would people find surprising about you?

A: That I used to play basketball in high school, because I’m short and not as big as basketball players now.

— Sharayah Hartman, ASL club secretary

Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?

A: Stuck up girls. I can’t stand them. They think they are too cool - fake girls. They will say hi to you one day and another day they won’t say hi. Or they will act like they are your friends but then sometimes they won’t.

Q: What did you want to be when you were younger?

A: When I was younger I wanted to be a basketball player, but it is not going to happen.

Matt Weir / The Collegian

Q: If you had superpowers, what would they be?

A: It would be to fly, so I can finally dunk.

Q : Who is the most influential person in your life?

A: Probably my dad.

He grew up in a poor family and went to college. He supports the family now. I am trying to be like that one day.

Q: What do you do in your spare time?

A: Whenever I have time, I like to hang out with friends and just chill and sleep.

Sometimes I workout, but not a lot.

Q: What are you passionate about?

A: I am passionate about my family. They come first. They have been there for me, my parents especially.

Q: What is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten?

A: Duck, but that’s not that weird.

Q: What are you most afraid of ?

A: Someone hurting my family or them getting hurt some how. And the doll Chucky scares me. It’s freaky, dolls are not supposed to look like that.

Q: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

A: I would go to Hawaii, because I have not been there yet. I am planning to go some time before I die.

opportunity to learn more about events in the deaf community, the culture and interpreting.

“I have always been interested in sign language. In high school I took it as my foreign language and I fell in love with it,” Hartman said.

The club organizes and hosts many events around the community.

Past events include silent dinners, study nights at Starbucks, silent social nights at Dog House Grill and Halloween parties and a silent sleigh around Christmas time.

“I love serving at the various deaf events,” Hartman said.

Most members of the club are communicative disorder majors with plans to continue in the field.

The ASL Club has even encouraged Fresno State students to branch out and change career choices.

“I decided to evolve my goals of becoming a teacher into becoming a deaf educator,” junior ASL club member Courtney Blohm said.

Anyone interested in ASL is highly encouraged to check out the club, regardless of one's major or plans to join the club. Students who want to learn a new language will have a chance to discover a new way of communication in the ASL Club.

“This is a club for anyone and everyone who has an interest in American Sign Language,” ASL club president Nathan Gomez.

Gomez advises anyone interested in sign language to take a class and attend a ASL Club meeting to learn more.

“We do our best to provide a friendly and supportive environment for our members at all signing levels,” Gomez said.

Page 6

The Collegian • News News Editor, Thaddeus Miller • collegian-news@csufresno.edu

Monday, February 1, 2010

Collegian news briefs

Black history month turns to the future

By Lolly Bowean McClatchy Tribune Black History Month typically has been a time to reflect on the achievements of prominent AfricanAmericans such as Jackie Robinson, Harriet Tubman, Thurgood Marshall and others. But for some, like Robin Price, this year's celebration represents an opportunity to look ahead.

Prompted in part by a more forwardlooking view of Black History Month, which begins Monday, Price has decided to spend the year mentoring a young student.

"There are so many young girls that need guidance; their mothers need guidance," said the 55-year-old event planner from Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood. "Not to say I'm a guru, but I have a great base. I'm excited about the prospects. I'm ready to share what I know."

African Americans have made historic gains in recent years, the most prominent example being the Obama family in the White House. Still, they are struggling through a silent economic depression because of foreclosures and unemployment rates greater than the national average. That has prompted some to see Black History Month as a time for service and to chart a more stable future.

That's exactly why Tim Lee plans to kick off an outreach project for at-risk boys in Chicago starting Monday, offering them counseling and guidance. His timing is strategic, he said.

"People are expecting to hear about black history, so this is the time when people are open and listening," said Lee, who is a youth pastor. "I use it to

take advantage. You can learn history from now until the day you die. But if you don't act, you in a very real sense are failing."

Lee already has the children at his church writing a play where they predict the state of black America 10 years from now. It's an exercise to make them imagine what murder rates, drop-out rates and HIV/AIDS infection statistics will look like if there is no intervention.

"If we're going to be serious, we have to act now to stop what we see," he said.

Although some are making their efforts more visible, taking an activist approach toward Black History Month is not new, said Barbara Ransby, a professor of African American studies and the director of gender and women's studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In fact, it's a natural step for people who understand history to then want to change the future, she said.

"Sometimes we think of history as stories that have closure," Ransby said.

"Slavery ended, so we can tell the history because it's over. The civil rights movement ended, so we can tell the story. A more activist approach to history is that history is always being contested and always being made."

The historical element and activist element are intertwined, Ransby said.

"History is not a blueprint for the present ... but there are lessons to be learned from what came before," she said. "History is the study of change over time. So if we don't like the way things are today, we are pretty much promised that they'll be different in 20 or 30 years."

SUCCESS: Program aids underserved students through mentoring

Ruling a third strike against Florida's gay adoption ban MIAMI—Vanessa Alenier of Florida is a new mother after a judge approved the adoption of her infant relative, who had been seized by child welfare workers.

When she asked the state for permission to adopt the 1-year-old boy, the application included a straightforward question.

Are you gay?

Although Florida has a 33-year-old law that bans gay men and lesbians from adopting, Alenier, 34, answered the question with an honest yes. She said she did not want to start her journey of parenthood with a lie.

A Miami appeals court is in the process of determining the constitutionally of the embattled adoption ban.

collaboration on research projects.

A press release from the Office of the Chancellor included an explanation of the initiative from California State University executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer Jeri Echeverria. “A big part of the challenge is that our student profile is not what most think of as a traditional college student," Echeverria said. "The average age of our students is 24, about 70 percent of them work, and a third of our students are the first in their family to attend college. All of these factors play a part in the approach that we are taking and our ultimate success in supporting students to achieve their degree."

and piled up in towers.

Daniel Rouzier, a Port-au-Prince businessman, hired two backhoes to dig three long, deep rectangular graves.

After digging the holes, the tractors scooped up the 2,500 earthquake victims and buried them in the communal graves.

Lawrence Garfinkel dies; statistician helped link smoking to lung cancer LOS ANGELES—Lawrence Garfinkel, the statistician who helped link smoking to lung cancer died Jan. 21 in Seattle. He was 88-years-old.

According to his son Martin, the cause of death was cardiovascular disease.

Garfinkel oversaw the training of thousands of American Cancer Society volunteers. He also helped conduct two of the largest epidemiological studies ever, enrolling more than 2.2 million men and women.

Garfinkel did not have a doctoral degree or training in oncology, but with those studies, played a key role in formulating the landmark 1964 surgeon general’s report on smoking and health.

Pakistan Islamist tied to CIA bombing believed dead AFGHANISTAN—The Pakistani Taliban leader who was linked to the Dec. 30 bombing of a CIA encampment in Afghanistan has died, Western military officials said Sunday.

Hakimullah Mehsud, whose Tehreeke-Taliban Pakistan movement was responsible for hundreds of deaths, sustained fatal injuries from a U.S. missile strike in mid-January.

Mehsud, who appeared in a video with the Jordanian suicide bomber who killed seven CIA employees at an Afghan outpost known as FOB Chapman, was Pakistan’s most wanted man and a top target for the U.S.

TARP overseer says bank bailout program has mixed results WASHINGTON—The government’s $700 billion bank bailout bill has met its goal of helping bring the financial markets back from the brink, but has not yet increased lending from the banks that received taxpayer assistance, a key government overseer reported Sunday. “On the positive side, there are clear signs that aspects of the financial system are far more stable than they were at the height of the crisis in the fall of 2008,� according to a quarterly report to Congress submitted by the office of the Special Inspector General for the government’s $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Earthquake victims buried in communal graves HAITI—Thousands of victims killed in the earthquake at Haiti were buried over the weekend in communal graves on the seaside hills of Titanyen, where Haiti’s dictators discarded the bodies of political opponents.

The dead had been dumped by the thousands among the thorn bushes,

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CONTINUED from page 1 time to explore their intellectual and career interests,� Oliaro said.

Associated Students Inc. senator Selena Farnesi serves on the SSTF. Farnesi said that the SSTF wants to create more consistency for students by using milestone advising to develop relationships between advisors and students.

"I think it's going to be great for the students at Fresno State," Farnesi said.

A January article of The Collegian reported that the initiative included other efforts: implementation of a student success plan, one on one mentoring between faculty and students, mandatory advising for students in academic probation and faculty-student

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The Collegian • Sports Sports Editor, Brianna Campbell • collegian-features@csufresno.edu

Page 7

Tough economy tests Olympians Part time jobs are in order to get through the tough economy

By Linda Robertson McClatchy Tribune Shannon Bahrke roasts cof fee.

Michelle Roark blends perfume. Noelle Pikus-Pace sews hats. Torin Koos promotes pears. Megan Sweeney tends bar.

America’s Winter Olympians work just as hard off the snow and ice as on it. They have no choice. Tough economic times are battering them like a blizzard, so they have opened businesses or taken part-time jobs to pay the bills.

Scarce sponsorships during the global recession have forced Olympic athletes to compensate for the loss of income with entrepreneurial ventures and old-fashioned minimum-wage paychecks.

For many, the road to the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver and Whistler has been paved with extra sweat. Their reward is a shot at a gold medal. They have no illusions about striking it rich in their chosen sports.

It’s exhausting to spend hours practicing runs down a moguls course, then hours more in a warehouse grinding, packaging and shipping coffee but that’s what Bahrke endured in order to make her third Olympic freestyle skiing team.

“We used to get a lot of money

chain that employed about 85 athletes at its stores, including Bahrke.

The USOC will receive $255 million in TV revenue for the 2010 and 2012 Games, but national governi n g b o d i e s, wh i ch de pend heavily on sponsors, have struggled to maintain the stipends and bonuses Photo Courtesy of McClatchy Tribune athletes need to get through a season. through our equipment and apparel Slow sales in the snow sports induscompanies, but now we’re lucky to get try have forced companies to trim a pair of skis,” Bahrke said. “I’ve been back. The U.S. Ski and Snowboard on the ski team for 12 years and this Association made pay and budget cuts was the first season I had to invest my that affected staff and developing athown money in the sport. It was either letes. U.S. Speedskating lost sponsor pay my own expenses or retire.”

USB, a Dutch bank that went bankAt least Bahrke has plenty of cafrupt, and grabbed the lifeline offered feine to keep her going. She started by comedian Stephen Colbert, whose the Silver Bean Coffee company, which Colbert Nation website fans have has six blends, including her signature pledged $300,000 in donations.

D-Spin blend. The 2002 silver medalist “In a time when non-profit and arts employs other skiers in Salt Lake City organizations are going under, we’ve and donates a portion of her revenue to had to get creative,” said Janine Alfano, athletes on the U.S. team.

USOC chief development officer, who “It’s not yet turning a profit but I’ve said fundraising in 2009 increased to been able to pay for travel to World $9.5 million from $5.8 million. “We Cups, two training camps and massage had the unique timing of a short gap therapy,” she said. “People may define between the Beijing and Vancouver you by the medals you win but I’ve Games and were able to keep the always wanted my own business. This momentum going. Our performance is is the other side of me.” a credit to how passionate people are The U.S. Olympic Committee was about the Olympics.” careful to protect funding for its elite Pikus-Pace, a skeleton racer, is hopathletes when it laid off 54 employees ing that passion will translate into and cut its budget 5 percent to $135.5 more sales of her SnowFire hats. She million last spring. It lost key sponsors designs the knit beanies lined with General Motors, Bank of America and fleece and distinguished by the spiky Home Depot, the home improvement

“hair” growing out of them. She’s makes a red and blue USA model and summer hats. She’s sold over 2,000, for $8 to $30 apiece.

“The economic crisis has trickled down from corporations to us,” said Pikus-Pace, who is married and has a two-year-old daughter. “Running a business while training and traveling in Europe has created more stress but I’ve been able to make ends meet. This will open doors for my future.”

Pikus-Pace lost her Speedo sponsorship when the company decided to focus on summer sports. To save money, her husband, Janson, built her a sled last summer to replace a broken one.

Buying a new sled costs up to $10,000, plus $5,000 for five sets of runners.

“Janson works in a steel fabrication shop and he spent hundreds of hours reading the regulations, studying the design and using a computer program,” she said. “My first run down in October, I said, ‘OK, I hope this works.”

They nicknamed the sled Habu, after the fastest jet in the world.

“I love it,” she said. “It’s taken me to the Olympics.”

Pikus-Pace, of Orem, Utah, was a medal favorite in 2006 before she sustained a double-compound fracture of her right lower leg when a runaway bobsled hit her during practice. She estimates expenses for a U.S. skeleton athlete on the World Cup circuit to be $25,000-$30,000 a season if he or she is not on the U.S. World Cup team.

Financial support from the national and international federations and the USOC adds up to about $15,000-$20,000.

She’s getting sponsorship help _ and free diapers for Lacee _ this Olympic season from Pampers.

Men’s Basketball:

Women’s Tennis:

vs. Boise State Broncos Final: 49-65 Jerry Brown led the Bulldogs in scoring with 10 points and also had 7 rebounds. Center, Greg Smith had 9 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocked shots.

Sylvester Seay also scored 9 points and had a game-high 8 rebounds.

vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Final: 1-6 Senior Anastasia Petukhova secured a super-tiebreaker victory 4-6, 6-3, (10-7).

Renata Kucerkova and Olga Kirpicheva also pushed their matches to supertiebreaker sets but lost.

Women’s Basketball: vs. San Jose State Spartans Final: 68-31 Emma Andrews came off the bench to lead the game in scoring with 19 points and matched a game-high with 3 assists. Jaleesa Ross had 18 points and 3 assists to go with her 7 rebounds and 4 steals, both team highs.

Men’s Tennis: vs. Texas A&M Aggies Final: 4-3 Senior Tejesvi Veerepalli picked up a straight set victory 6-1, 6-2. Rikus de Villiers and Remi Boutillier combined for an 8-6 win in doubles play. Mirko Zapletal and Taylor Leiby also won their doubles match 9-7. vs. Rice Owls Final: 4-0 Rikus de Villiers led the way with his 6-2, 6-2 victory. Remi Boutillier and Siddharth Alapati also had straight set victories of 6-1, 6-4 and 6-3, 6-2.

Boutillier and deVilliers won their doubles match 8-3 as did Taylor Leiby and Mirko Zapletal 8-5.

Final: 2-5 Anastasia Petukhova won her singles match 2-6, 7-5, 6-0. Renata Kucerkova was victorious in straight sets 6-2, 6-1.

The two also combined to win their doubles match 8-3.

In the week coming up: Women’s Basketball: at Hawaii, Saturday at 7 p.m.

Men’s Basketball: at Hawaii, Saturday at 9 p.m.

Equestrian: vs. Stanford, Saturday at home at 9 a.m.

Men’s Golf: at Tuscon, Arizona, on Monday Track and Field: at Savemart Center on Friday Men’s Tennis: at UC Berkely, Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., vs. Santa Clara, Sunday at home at 10 a.m., vs. San Francisco, Sunday at home at 5 p.m.

Women’s Tennis: vs. Saint Mary’s, Friday at home at 5 p.m.

Swimming and Diving: vs. San Jose State, Saturday at home at 12 p.m.

Sports The

Page 8

Collegian

Sports Editor, Brianna Campbell • collegian-sports@csufresno.edu • Monday, February 1, 2010

Matt Weir / The Collegian

The Fresno State baseball players takes the mound at Pete Beiden Field to get ready for spring training, pitching to teammates in scrimmages on January 30-31.

Spring training begins in preparation for the season ahead

By Ben Ingresoll The Collegian Bulldog baseball will not take the diamond against Nebraska for almost another three weeks, but practice is now under way in preparation for the

much anticipated home opener.

Head coach Mike Batesole’s 2010 squad began spring training Friday and competed in two live scrimmages over the weekend at Pete Beiden Field.

Saturday’s scrimmage and practice lasted nearly three hours and also

marked the first media day. The afternoon mostly showcased sophomore Tom Harlan and junior Gene Escat on the mound, with senior Zac Bischoff filling in late.

Excitement was definitely in the air

If the guys returning all get a little bit better, then I think we can handle it.”

Over the course of the initial three days, Batesole was especially pleased with the performance of his pitching staff. Josh Poytress and Taylor

“W

e have 21 preseason games against Big 12, Big West and Pac 10 opponents that will definitely have us ready for the WAC play.”

— Mike Batesole, Head Baseball Coach

Matt Weir / The Collegian

Head Coach Mike Batesole takes time in between innings to talk to his players and discuss live situations and how to handle them.

among the players. With a lot of shouts of encouragement and communication, the Bulldogs look like a confident unit early on.

The Bulldogs boast a top-40 national ranking in the Collegiate Baseball Fabulous 40 preseason poll, the only team in the WAC listed among the nations preseason elite.

Some concern entering the initial days of practice may be the age and experience of Batesole’s team. Leaders such as Tom Mendonca, Alan Ahmady and Holden Sprague are now out of Fresno State uniforms. And with only five seniors on the 32–man squad, the 11 newcomers and returners such as Danny Muno and Dusty Robinson should expect to play a prominent role in the ‘Dogs pursuit of a third straight WAC championship.

“Obviously, losing Tommy [Mendonca] is going to be a tough spot to replace,” Batesole said. “We’ve brought in a couple guys and each one picks up a little bit of the slack. We have a chance to throw them out there.

Garrison saw the bulk of the pitching time during Sunday’s scrimmage, giving the ‘Dogs plenty of security on the mound.

“The good news is we get to stretch some of our pitchers out,” Batesole said. “We’ve been working hard. We have them in some bullpens, up to 30 or 40 pitches depending on the guy, and the last couple days we’ve been able to stretch some guys out to 60 and 70 pitches. That means by opening day we should have our starters ready to roll.”

Opening day features the premier of Fresno State’s tough schedule against opponents from quality conferences this season. Big 12 foe Nebraska comes in on Feb. 19 for the first game in the four-game series. Batesole, however, sees the vigorous schedule as an opportunity for improvement rather than a road block.

“It’s an excellent schedule,” Batesole said. “We have 21 preseason games against Big 12, Big West and Pac 10 opponents that will definitely have us ready for WAC play.