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Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2017
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IMMIGRATION
FUNDING
Trump seeks to overturn DACA ruling Budget sets By Joseph Tanfani
Tribune Washington Bureau
T
WASHINGTON he Justice Department said Tuesday it will ask the Supreme Court to overturn a federal judge's ruling that prevents President Donald Trump from ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which currently offers protections from deportation for about 700,000 people who were brought to the U.S. as children. But the administration has not asked courts to put the ruling by U.S. District
Judge William Alsup on hold while the Supreme Court considers what to do. The effect of that appears to be to allow the DACA program to continue while the litigation proceeds. Although the administration is seeking a speedy review by the high court, the justices are under no obligation to expedite the case – or even to hear the administration's appeal. They could send the case back to a lower court for further proceedings. At minimum, the high court would likely take several weeks to consider the case. That could buy congressional negotiators additional time to come up with a legislative solution for the so-called Dreamers,
young immigrants who came to the country illegally as children. The Department of Homeland Security announced Saturday that it would once again start processing applications for renewal of DACA permits because of Alsup's ruling. The judge's ruling also ordered the department not to terminate any existing permits. The judge, who is based in San Francisco, made his ruling applicable nationwide. "It defies both law and common sense for DACA ... to somehow be mandated nationwide by a single district court in San Francisco," said Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
SPRING SEMESTER ARRIVES
Alejandro Soto • The Collegian
Fresno State resumed classes and operations on Jan. 16. Fog and cold temperatures welcome students back to campus.
aside less funds than anticipated
By Cresencio Rodriguez-Delgado @cres_guez
$92
California State University professors are not happy with Califormillion dollars is expected to make nia’s Gov. Jerry Brown. progress in the Their reaCSU’s Graduation son: underInitiative 2025 funding of universities. In a news release on Jan. 10, the California Faculty Association (CFA) slammed Brown for failing to “honor the promise of access to public higher education for all qualified California students.” The anger stems from the governor’s latest state budget proposal, which the CFA said provides much less funding than the organization had requested in order to ensure more students are able to attend public universities. Jennifer Eagan, president of the CFA and a professor at CSU East Bay, said the funds set aside for the CSU system are not enough to increase enrollment at universities and will lead to “tens of thousands of qualified students” being turned away. The proposed 2018-19 budget sets aside $92 million for the CSU system on top of their 2017-18 budget. Originally, the CSU chancellor and trustees had requested $263 million additional funds. The CFA said neither amount is enough to increase enrollment at the public universities. The CFA supports upward of $422.6 million in increased funding to accommodate a 5 percent growth in student enrollment in the 2018-19 academic year. “We must keep investing until every qualified student who is qualified and seeks a seat can get one,” said Lillian Taiz, CFA political action and legislation chair and professor emerita at CSU Los Angeles. “Our state cannot afford to drop the ball lest we accelerate a downturn.” But while the CFA appears to advocate for increasing enrollment, the state budget funds appear to favor increasing graduation rates for students already in school. According to the final state budget report, the $92 million is expected to be used to make progress in the CSU’s Graduation Initiative 2025, adopted by the board of trustees in 2016. Among the goals of the initiative are increasing the four-year graduation rate to at least 40 percent and increasing the two-year transfer graduation rate to at least 45 percent. The 2016 Budget Act included $35 million in one-time funding to jump-start those initiatives.
A&E
2
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017
FILM
Q&A with David Burkman, director of ‘HAZE’ By Eric Zamora @ehhreec
Q: Can you give me a brief summary of “HAZE” and why you think Fresno State students should see it? A: “HAZE” started out just like any other movie: a movie that we hoped would be entertaining and thought-provoking and moving. And obviously it’s a departure from the way Hollywood usually treats the subject of Greek life, which ever since “Animal House” tends towards comedy… and treat the subject of hazing in particular as a kind of frivolous, innocuous kind of thing. The origin of “HAZE” was based primarily on my own experience, but we spent a couple of years doing pretty exhaustive research talking to people about their experiences and we wanted to do a movie that was sort of [on] the darker side of things. More authentic, realistic pseudo-documentary approach to this subject matter as a departure from the way in which Hollywood tends to create the subjects. So I think that it’s a particularly valuable movie for anyone to see, but especially I think college students and especially students who are involved in Greek life. We acknowledge that the experiences people have are incredibly diverse and not every fraternity or sorority does haze. But as evidenced by the media over this past year, particularly with four hazing-related deaths at prominent universities and from our own research, it’s pretty clear that hazing is on the rise and it’s getting harsher and deadlier. I think the movie is a great film just for anyone to see, and it deals with all kinds of themes relating to the nature of brotherhood, the nature of friendship. I think it’s the kind of thing that most people can relate to and identify with on some level. But in particular I think it’s become very apparent that it’s a useful film and an eye-opening film for people to start a kind of conversation about some of the darker aspects, and some of the not so productive aspects, of Greek life. Q: What were some of your favorite scenes to shoot? A: I mean, I think there were a lot of different scenes that were a lot of fun for different reasons. There’s sort of two ends of the spectrum. On one hand, it was very exciting to stage some of these party scenes … we tried to set up an environment where it felt like an actual party. Even though we didn’t have real alcohol or real drugs or any of those kinds of things, we had the props to make it feel that way, and we just let people do what they would do at a party. And they really committed and that was really excit-
The Collegian is a student-run publication that serves the Fresno State community. Views expressed in The Collegian do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff or university. collegian.csufresno.edu
ing – to see what people would do and just sort of film this sort of vérité style where we were just capturing what was happening. It was like we were staging each and every shot individually. Sometimes we did that, but it was mostly just a free-for-all. We had three cameras for those scenes, and we would just roam around. It was sometimes challenging because we’d sometimes find that we were shooting and we’d get one of the other cameras in the shot and, obviously, we couldn’t use that, but we shot enough stuff that we could piece together what we did. But to be honest with you, after months of shooting with massive crowds, huge hazing scenes, all that kind of thing, when we got down to the opportunity to shoot with just a couple of people – and I remember in particular … where Mimi is sort of repeating back to Nick in the dorm room – that stands out to me as one of the more challenging scenes. It really depended on terrific performances from the actors, but at that point it was really late in the shoot and everybody was really close at that point, and we were all really connected to each other ... I think the comfort level was really strong and they had practiced this and rehearsed this so much that they just really felt confident. It was great to, finally after so much noise and so much chaos and so many moving parts, just [have] a very limited cast in a small room, two people, and just shoot this very intimate dialog scene. It was refreshing and powerful. Q: What are you hoping that Fresno State students get out of watching “HAZE”? A: I think that as with any film that I will ever make and ever have made, my hope for anyone who watches my movies is that they get three things. That they’re entertained, that they feel something, and that that makes them think. And you know, the movies that I always love the best are movies that linger and stay with me, and they’re the kind of movies that I want to have conversations with people about. Sometimes debate about. Movies that are challenging and layered, and I hope that Fresno State students, students all over the country and audiences all over the country who get a chance to see the film are impacted in all those ways.
Jayme Aronberg
David Burkman, director of ‘HAZE,’ which is available now on DVD, Blu-ray and various digital streaming platforms. Visit hazemovie.com to see a full list of where to watch.
“I chose to attend SJCL because I saw how successful the attorneys were coming out of the school. I realized I could have a successful career with an education that was affordable.” Amanda Busick Fresno State BA, Sociology
Law School 101
Tuesday, January 23, 2018 from 7-9pm You’re invited to this free program to learn more about the legal profession and what a law degree can do for you! At this forum you will be introduced to law school, from courses offered to admission requirements. Register now at www.sjcl.edu or 559/323-2100 A Degree in any Major Qualifies you to Apply to Law School.
ONLINE: for more on this story, visit our website: fresnostate.edu/collegian
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NEWS
3
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017
OMAR NEMETH
They once shared the same stage, now he wants a statue to honor him By Razmik Cañas @raz_canas
A
fter his friend and fellow performer died this month, Jamaal Bethea hopes to keep his legacy alive. Earlier this month, Fresno State sophomore Omar Nemeth died from an apparent drug overdose after spending the night at the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity house. Nemeth was not a member of the fraternity, according to the organization’s national headquarters. Recently, Fresno State President Dr. Joseph Castro said there are no plans to punish the fraternity. Even Fresno police, in a news conference after Nemeth’s death, said there were no pending criminal charges in connection with Nemeth’s death, which was considered an accidental overdose on Xanax pills. Fresno police said the exact cause of death would not be known until an autopsy is performed and toxicology reports are finalized. Bethea said he met Nemeth in 2014 when they were both part of the rap group Higher Class and toured the state. “[He was] just starting out,” Bethea said. “He was motivated and very hardworking.” Bethea called Nemeth a “16-year-old genius” who wanted to excel as an artist. He recalled during their tour that the audience memorized Nemeth’s lyrics word for word – something that didn’t happen to other performers in the group. After the tour, the group members went their separate ways. That’s when Bethea’s relationship with Nemeth began fading. But though they lost touch, Bethea said he always knew Nemeth was using his musical talents to shine a spotlight on a social cause he felt strongly about – the very cause that likely took his life. “He wanted to use the music and the money from it as a vehicle to further his biochemistry studies to cure addiction,” Bethea said. By all accounts, Nemeth was enthusiastic about his future and always shared his plans with others. But after he began college, Bethea said, Nemeth began associating with people who were affiliated with the drug culture. In Bethea’s eyes, Nemeth never seemed to fit in. “They didn’t have as much integrity, dreams or goals as him,” Bethea said. He said he expected Nemeth would eventually move away from that lifestyle. It must have been a phase, he thought. “He was very quiet, very reserved, very observant,” Bethea said. “He was extremely intelligent for his age.” But Nemeth, at 19, had his life cut short. He had decided to spend the night at the fraternity house. At about 1 p.m. Jan. 3, Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer said, Nemeth’s girlfriend left the fraternity house. Nemeth’s younger brother realized Nemeth was unconscious and began screaming for help. Three other fraternity brothers began doing CPR, according to Dyer. An ambulance was never called, according to police, and instead Nemeth was driven
Jamaal Bethea speaks about Omar Nemeth, who died on Jan. 3, 2018, at Fresno State.
Alejandro Soto • The Collegian
WATCH: for video on this story, visit our website: fresnostate.edu/collegian
Omar Nemeth
to Saint Agnes Medical Center by a friend. Nemeth died around 2:40 p.m. It was a difficult reality for Bethea, whose birthday was also on Jan. 3. He said he holds guilt for not reaching out to Nemeth before it was too late. “I felt like I could have made that difference,” Bethea said. While Bethea’s left to wonder what more he could have done for his friend, there is a community at Fresno State aiming to step in before it’s too late for others. A group of students are expected to take part in a planned drug awareness walk on Jan. 20. It will begin at the Free Speech Area on the university campus at 9 a.m. And the Fresno State Student Health and Counseling Center, in a statement to The Collegian, said it is committed to help students recover from addiction and substance abuse issues, too. The center offers a program called Bulldogs for Recovery. The goal: be “a resource for improved health, wellness and student success.” It was success that Bethea wished for
Alejandro Soto • The Collegian
Fresno police investigates the death of Omar Nemeth at Delta Sigma Phi on Jan. 3, 2018.
Nemeth. Now that he is gone, Bethea’s found other ways to still let Nemeth know he has his friend’s support. Bethea plans to honor Nemeth’s personality through a statue he hopes to bring to campus. He hopes it symbolizes power. “I don’t want his legacy to be that he was a drug addict. I think that’s a terrible misrepresentation,” he said. His vision for the statue is to honor Nemeth, but to also serve as a symbol of hope for others, Bethea said. “It’s going to show [that] he wasn’t a drug addict, he was more than that,” Bethea said. “We want to put it in a place many people can see it, many people can absorb it, many people can reflect on it, as well.” For those plans, Bethea said, he hopes to raise $40,000 by using music, the craft that he and Nemeth bonded over. The proceeds from “Miracles,” a song he produced, will go toward the funds for the
statue, Bethea told The Collegian recently. The song was originally written for women’s empowerment, but Bethea now believes the message resonates with the spirit of Nemeth. The song can be streamed at godrythm. bandcamp.com. He also plans to film a portion of the music video in front of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity house. “The song is here to express that anything is possible through love of self,” Bethea said. “Anybody can take a piece of positivity from this [song].” He said that Nemeth was very passionate in making his dreams a reality. And maybe the song can create a campus conversation on substance abuse and its effect on society, Bethea said. “I was always told, ‘Watch who I look up to,’ because that’s who I’ll be under and I don’t mind looking up to [Nemeth] in his life or in his death,” Bethea said.
SPORTS Will the ‘Dogs persevere? 4
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017
BASKETBALL
Ramuel Reyes • The Collegian
Senior Jaron Hopkins drives the ball forward against New Mexico on Jan. 13, 2018. The Bulldogs won 89-80.
By William Ramirez @willloveslakers
A
3-3 record in Mountain West Conference play is fitting for the Bulldogs men’s basketball team that has been so hot and cold to start the season. After a seven-game win streak that ran from the middle of November to mid-December, the ‘Dogs have yet to re-establish that game. The team’s inconsistent play is a new trend this season, but what is not are the struggles causing it. Free-throw shooting is something head coach Rodney Terry has been stressing since the start of the team’s exhibition games in October. But the team is currently shooting 66.9 percent from the line, which ranks the ‘Dogs ninth in the conference. “We make [free throws] during practice,” guard Jaron Hopkins said. “Everybody at least shoots 75 percent or better in practice.” Hopkins added that shooting them in the game is much different because of fatigue and loss of focus. The guard said making shots come down to simply applying the form they have learned and never straying from it. This time around, free throws are also causing problems on the defensive end. The Bulldogs are giving away an unsettling amount of points at the line. Bulldog opponents have shot a total of 134 free throws this season. This is the most a team has given up in the conference. Those same opponents are making nearly 80 percent of those free throws when facing the ‘Dogs. “We just got to play without using our
THIS WEEK IN SPORTS
WATCH: for video on this story, visit our website: fresnostate.edu/collegian hands, this year in college basketball the officiating is much tighter,” Hopkins said. “We’re an aggressive team on defense.” The team has been surrendering a high number of points, even in its wins. In the six conference games, the team is surrendering an average of 74.8 points per game. “We lose sight of what’s most important, and that’s getting stops. We have to take pride in our defense and not worry so much about offensive execution,” forward Sam Bittner said. The offensive execution is definitely something the team has been doing well. The ‘Dogs rank second in the conference and 15th in the nation in field-goal percentage. In their victory against New Mexico on Saturday, the ‘Dogs set a school record for 3-point percentage in a game when they made nine of 12 attempts (75 percent). The ‘Dogs won 89-80. “I thought our guys did a really good job at attacking and making decisive, simple plays. I thought we did a nice job of finishing around the basket tonight,” Terry said after the game. When the ‘Dogs find a rhythm in their offense and maintain it throughout the course of an entire game, the team usually finds a way to win. The team is 10-1 in games where it finishes with 15 or more assists. But, when the offense is not there, the defense is not there to make up for the lack of scoring. This is ironic seeing how much Terry emphasizes defense. “We are going to be a whole different
WEDNESDAY Women’s Basketball vs San Diego State - 7 p.m. Men’s Basketball at San Diego State - 8 p.m.
FRIDAY Ramuel Reyes • The Collegian
Junior Deshon Taylor attempts a layup against New Mexico on Jan. 13, 2018.
team by the time we get to the [Mountain West] tournament. There is still a whole lot of basketball left. We are only five games into conference play,” Terry had said after their 70-64 loss to Boise State on Jan. 9. Terry added that he feels the team is nowhere near its full potential at either end of the floor. Fresno State will continue to try to tap into that potential as it leaves the Valley for its next two games. The ‘Dogs play San Diego State on Wednesday and Air Force on Jan. 20.
Wrestling vs. Utah Valley - 7 p.m. Track & Field at UNM Cherry & Silver Invitational
SATURDAY Men’s Basketball at Air Force - 1 p.m. Women’s Basketball vs. Air Force - 2 p.m. Women’s Tennis vs. Sacramento State - 11 a.m. Track & Field at UNM Cherry & Silver Invitational Water Polo vs. Indiana at Santa Barbara- 11:20 a.m. Water Polo vs. CSUN at Santa Barbara - 6 p.m.