THE COLLEGIAN FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
FRESNO STATE'S STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1922
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SAINT PATRICK’S DEALS INSIDE
CAMPUS IN COLOR
Alumni help bring highspeed rail to the Valley By Roger Muñoz Collegian Staff
Photo by Matthew Vieira • The Collegian
Fresno State alumni are leading the way in planning the high-speed rail project in California, an effort passed by voters in 2008 to create a “bullet” train that runs from San Diego to San Francisco. Diana Gomez, Central Valley regional director for the project, said Fresno State alumni are actively involved in various positions responsible for the monumental project. She said Fresno State graduates are public information officers, contractors and consultants. Gomez graduated from Fresno State in 1988 with a degree in electrical engineering, who has always been involved with transportation, was excited about the magnitude of this one-of-a-kind project. “I was working with [The California Department of Transportation] before, and I was working in the area of mobility,” she said. “And this project here, the high-speed rail, is one of the biggest projects that will focus on mobility. It’s going
Both the Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market and the Sierra Nevada Mountains were clearly visible from the fifth floor of the Peters Business Building Thursday, March 13.
Police advised ASI to take March 5 meeting into recess By Ricardo Cano and Brianna Vaccari The advisor of Associated Students, Inc., Tara PowersMead, said Thursday that the University Police Department advised the senate to stop its March 5 meeting midway after audience unrest, contradicting executive vice president Justin Whisten’s Tuesday statement, “I made the decision to take a recess.” Fresno State Police Lt. Jim Watson confirmed that a university police detective advised Whisten to call a temporary recess midway through the meeting. The meeting, featuring a large crowd present mostly to pro-
test and voice concerns of discrimination against underrepresented minority groups after several student organizations were denied funding, was temporarily stopped by Whisten after being advised by a campus police detective. The meeting’s mediation role falls under the executive vice president’s responsibilities. When asked what was taken into consideration before deciding to stop the meeting midway, Whisten said in an email Tuesday night, “I made the decision to take a recess and clear the meeting room after many willful interruptions from the public.” At that point, Whisten was advised by police detective Joshua Faith to take the meeting See ASI, Page 3
See ALUMNI, Page 3
Peachy poetry on campus By Yesenia Valle
Special to the Collegian Yellow school buses fill the Fresno State parking lots, and groups of children are running all over campus while teachers and parents watch over them. This can only mean one thing- the Peach Blossom Festival is in full bloom once again. This year, Fresno State hosted the 56th annual Peach Blossom Festival. Thousands of children attended the first day on Thursday, and thousands more will attend today. Peach Blossom is a poetry festival in which 150 schools participate in from across the Valley, from Delano to Livingston. “The festival gives children the opportunity to learn oral interpretations and perform them in See FESTIVAL, Page 3
PARTYING LIKE IT’S 1989
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Photo by Matthew Vieira • The Collegian
Students from Fremont Elementry in Fresno preform their routine Thursday for the Peach Blossom Festival in the University Theatre.
ASI PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE 12: 30 P.M. MARCH 18 USU ROOM 312-314
ASI CANDIDATES
==> CANDIDATES PRESENT PLATFORMS: ASI candidate’s letters to students explaining their campaigns. [PAGE 2]
MEN’S HOOPS
==> SEASON-ENDING LOSS: ‘Dogs men’s basketball loses to New Mexico. [PAGE 8]