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CLEVELAND OUT, SMITH OPTS FOR NBA
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Off-court struggles end in coach’s demise By Ben Ingersoll The Collegian Since infor mation was initially leaked Tuesday afternoon, the muchanticipated announcement regarding men’s basketball coach Steve Cleveland’s Fresno State basketball future was finally released: Cleveland is stepping down.
In a Thursday night press conference, Fresno State Director of Athletics Thomas Boeh announced that Cleveland would no longer lead the men’s basketball program, and would instead assume the role as special assistant for director of athletics. Cleveland’s new role was a way of See CLEVELAND, Page 8
Mike Howells / Collegian File Photo
Second-team All-WAC player leaves school By Ben Ingersoll The Collegian Just hours before Fresno State Director of Athletics Thomas Boeh announced coach Steve Cleveland would no longer lead the program, center Greg Smith declared his elegibilty for the NBA Draft. Now, with the two faces of the Fresno
State program the past two seasons no longer with Bulldog basketball, the program is headed for a major image reconstruction. The Fresno, Calif., native has opted to forgo his junior and senior seasons in a Bulldog uniform and test the NBA waters in the draft this June. See SMITH, Page 8
Demand is on the rise for child care at universities statewide By Michael Kincheloe The Collegian
Kyle Lowe / The Collegian
The Joyce E. Huggins Early Education Center is one of two facilities at Fresno State to provide student parents child care.
High unemployment numbers and dismal job prospects have prompted an increasing number of California residents to pursue higher education. Universities statewide have seen an increase in new students as well as an increase in new applications for financial aid. More and more of these new students are parents, and often the single biggest concern of a parent attending school is child care. Concerns about whether or not their child is in the proper environment may overshadow
many other issues, such as doing well on an exam.
“O
ur environment is designed to be an extension of the home.” — Renee Benell, Assistant Director, EEC
Two child care facilities at Fresno State are designed to alleviate these concer ns. The Campus Children’s
Center opened in 1973, and prepares senior child development students to work with young children and families. “We serve 42 families,” Child Care Program Associate Alma Major said. “Some are single parents, some are married.” Child development laboratory facilities serving infants, toddlers, and preschool children are maintained for instructional purposes. Students study child behavior and development under the supervision of faculty and laboratory teaching staff. A degree in child development proSee CHILD CARE, Page 3
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Opinion PAGE 2
“T
THAT’S WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING...
he basic physics and basic science really tells us that there can’t be any risk or harm to anyone here in the United States, or Hawaii, or any of the other [U.S.] territories. This is something that will likely take some time to work through, possibly weeks.” – Gregory Jaczko, chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
OPINION EDITOR, DANIELLE GILBERT • COLLEGIAN-OPINION@CSUFRESNO.EDU
‘Dogs made mistake by firing Cleveland W
ell, the day we were all waiting for is here. Cleve’s gone. Fresno State Director of Athletics Thomas Boeh announced last night that men’s basketball coach Steve Cleveland would be stepping down, his new position being “special assistant to the director of athletics” — whatever that means. This is the treatment the man gets for doing his job? Cleveland was brought to Fresno State for one reason — clean up a Fresno State men’s basketball program that was in shambles. Preceding Cleveland was Ray Lopes, a former assistant coach at Oklahoma, who, with the rest of his staff, made 457 illegal telephone calls to prospective recruits to the school. The school was placed on four years of probation for the incident, and was not able to have its full complement of scholarships until only this year. This was the situation when Cleveland was hired. “We’re gonna do this,” he said, “we’re gonna do it the right way.” Under this rubric, Cleveland has been an astonishing success. Fresno State has not had even a whiff of scandal in the program in the six years Cleveland has led the program. In addition, the men’s basketball team has vastly improved where it ultimately matters: in the classroom. As The Collegian’s Vongni Yang is reporting today, for the 2004-05 season — Ray Lopes’ final year at Fresno State — the
The Right Tone Tony Petersen
team’s Academic Progress Rate, a measurement for academic progress, was 725, the worst score in all of the NCAA since the APR was first used. Since Cleveland has taken over, Fresno State’s APR has risen to 928. Graduation rates have drastically increased and, at one point, the team’s GPA improved from 2.23 to 2.86. Granted, Cleveland has not had the greatest success on the court. He has had only two winning seasons in his six years at Fresno State, and his best finish in the Western Athletic Conference was third. But Cleveland has never had a full slate of scholarships until this past year, and to say this season’s disappointing record was unexpected is simply dishonest. Paul George left last year for
the NBA Draft, and Mike Ladd and Brandon Sperling both transferred to Washington State and Humboldt State respectively, stripping the team of its best player, a starting guard and its sixth man. He had a young team this year — the ‘Dogs had only one senior, Ned Golubovic. Greg Smith, who made the Second Team All-WAC team this past season, may not have left Fresno State if Cleveland had stayed. Kevin Olekaibe, a freshman guard, averaged 12 points per game, Tim Steed, a junior guard, averaged 10.7 points per game en route to being named to the WAC All-Newcomer team and Steven Shepp, a junior point guard, averaged about 2.5 assists for every turnover, providing a nucleus for a team that could be above .500 next year for the first time since the 2006-07 season. And Cleveland won’t be around to see if the team he brought here will fulfill its potential. Simply put, Cleveland was given the shaft by Fresno State. He left a good job at Brigham Young University, where he reached three NCAA Tournaments, to come back to his hometown and take over a squad that was a laughingstock. He turned the ‘Dogs into a respectable program again, and this is how he is rewarded? The ‘Dogs will probably have a better record next year, and many will likely say that it was time for Cleveland to go. And maybe those people are right. But it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It should for you too.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2011
WEB-SPE@K
Culled each week from discussions on The Collegian’s website and Facebook.
Facebook Response: ‘Pledge of Allegiance video posted by Neil O’Brien’ ‘Alexandra Sierra’: “Why do you keep bashing on Latin Americans or more specifically Mexicans? why so much hatred in your heart and mind?”
Facebook Response: ‘Pledge of Allegiance video posted by Neil O’Brien’ ‘Neil O’Brien’: “Oh and out comes the ‘racist’ card! Mam, my family is from Argentina and I’d gladly support a Latino candidate for ASI presidency if they weren’t Anti-American. In fact I have a better question for you. What makes you think I’m bashing Latinos? Being Latino myself and probably speak better Spanish than you do, I have ground to stand when those in elected office step out of line as is the case here.”
Facebook Response: ‘Pledge of Allegiance video posted by Neil O’Brien’ ‘Alexandra Sierra’: “Okay, now I have another question for you. What is your definition of an Anti-American? The reason why it seems that you are bashing on Latinos is because you have to question everything about them. Another thing you said, “Being Latino myself and probably speak better Spanish than you do” just tells me that you think very high of yourself and believe you are better than the entire world.”
Facebook Response: ‘Pledge of Allegiance video posted by Neil O’Brien’ ‘Manny Moon’: “Hate just promotes more hate. America includes North, Central and South America. People consider the United States the only America. If you look at a map you can see America encompasses a much wider area.”
Facebook Response:
Associated Students, Inc. approves employee benefits I’m dismayed at the ASI senate’s decision to approve a $20,000 benefits package for full time employees. They did so under the logic that a memorandum written by past executives promised them such, but that memorandum never existed. It was only a proposal. And even if it were a memorandum, it was never voted on, and therefore can’t be used as proof that benefits need to be increased. The argument that the ASI Coordinator’s job is comparable to other CSU positions and therefore is legally required equal benefits was also used. This is wrong, because according to ASI attorneys, ASI is not subject to that law because it’s funded by student fees, not the state. And even if that were a valid point, at no time was the ASI Coordinator’s job description presented to prove that it actually
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was comparable to other CSU positions. The information presented to the senate on this issue was clearly tainted, and funneled to them through the Personnel Committee as third hand hearsay. That’s another huge sum of money spent that didn’t need to be. That $20,000 could’ve been used to fund a club’s event or expand resources. This is another example of senators simply doing what they’re told, rather than looking at all the facts and making the right decision, and it cost students $20,000 of their fee money this time. I commend Senator Alicia Orozco for being the only person to vote against this. This kind of wasteful spending needs to end. — Sean Kiernan ASI Senator at Large Candidate
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.
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‘Pledge of Allegiance video posted by Neil O’Brien’ ‘Manny Moon’: “Neil please read Supreme Court case West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943). The Supreme Court ruled that the 1st Amendment forbids both compulsion of speech and prior restraint on speech. Saluting the flag is a freedom of speech. Any law compelling students against their will to salute the flag violates the 1st Amendment. So If I follow the Constitution, saying the Pledge of Allegiance is as constitutional as not saying it. I have spent a considerable amount of time studying the government even though I am Hispanic. Am I antiAmerican? What is your criteria determining this? Is it just your own set of criteria derived from your own biases?” Tony Petersen Dana Hull Janessa Tyler Vongni Yang Maddie Shannon Ben Ingersoll Danielle Gilbert Matt Weir Michael Uribes Allie Norton Michael Howells Francisco Cuellar Jeffrey Phillips Rachel Waldron Shavon Furrow
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THE COLLEGIAN • NEWS NEWS EDITOR, DANA HULL • COLLEGIAN-NEWS@CSUFRESNO.EDU
PAGE 3
Experts: No radiation worry for West Coast Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — The U.S. government and scientists insist that there’s no threat of radiation from Japan endangering people on the West Coast — but that hasn’t stopped roughly 1,000 worried Californians from flooding a state hotline. “Radiation is one of those words that get everybody scared, like ‘plague,’” said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, director of public health for Los Angeles County. “But we’re 5,000 miles away.” Some computer models tracking the possible path of radioactive material from the stricken Japan nuclear reactors suggest it could cross the Pacific, swipe the Aleutian Islands and reach Southern California as early as Friday. Even if particles waft to the U.S. coast, the amount will be so diluted that it will not pose any health risk. Wind, rain and salt spray will help clean the air over the vast ocean between Japan and the United States. Nuclear experts say the main elements released are radioactive cesium and iodine.
They can combine with the salt in sea water to become cesium chloride and sodium iodide, which are common and abundant elements and would readily dilute in the wide expanse of the Pacific, according to Steven Reese, director of the Radiation Center at Oregon State. “It is certainly not a threat in terms of human health” added William H. Miller, a pro-
send real time data via satellite to EPA officials, who will make the data available to the public online. The monitors also contain two types of air filters that detect any radioactive particles and are mailed to EPA’s data center in Alabama. That information, as well as samples that numerous federal agencies are collecting on the ground and in the air in Japan, also will be sent to the
“R
adiation is one of those words that get everybody scared, like ‘plague.’ But we’re 5,000 miles away. — Dr. Jonathan Fielding, Director of public health for Los Angeles County fessor of nuclear engineering at the University of Missouri. Earlier this week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency deployed extra radiation detectors throughout the country to allay public concerns. On Thursday, President Barack Obama said “harmful levels” of radiation from the damaged Japanese nuclear plant are not expected to reach the U.S. The radiation stations will
Department of Energy’s atmospheric radioactivity monitoring center in California, where teams are creating sophisticated computer models to predict how radioactive releases at Fukushima could spread into the atmosphere. Inside Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory near San Francisco, scientists, engineers, and meteorological experts were analyzing those charts and maps to help poli-
Chunk of Calif. coastal highway falls into Pacific By Associated Press CARMEL, Calif. (AP) — Engineers on Thursday were working to figure out when they’ll be able to reopen a stretch of California coastal highway that collapsed into the ocean, blocking traffic to the scenic Big Sur region. A 40-foot section of Highway 1 crumbled just after 5 p.m. Wednesday following several days of rainy weather. The entire southbound lane is gone, and the soil under the northbound lane also was giving way. No one was injured in the slide, the California Highway Patrol said. Authorities have
closed the two-lane road to traffic indefinitely. T he collapse occur red south of Carmel near Rocky Creek Bridge, one of the iconic arch bridges that make the stretch of roadway, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway, one of the country’s best known scenic drives. California Department of Transportation officials told The Monterey Herald they would know closer to the end of Thursday when the road would be reopened. The closure comes as spring tourist season is about to get under way. “There is too much going down here to allow an extended closure,” Alan
Perlmutter told the newspaper. Perlmutter is a partner in the Big Sur River Inn, one of the many inns and lodges that depend on the dollars of tourists drawn to dramatic coastal vistas, where forested mountainsides plunge into blue seas. Other inns and restaurants reported a mix of no-shows and guests who were forced to stay longer because of the blocked road. The best alternate route to Big Sur from the north would require drivers to take Highway 101 inland through the Salinas Valley and drive over a steep, winding mountain road to the coast, adding at least an hour to the trip.
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cymakers predict where radioactive isotopes could travel. “The models show what happens if the situation gets worse, if the winds change, or if it rains to predict what could happen,” National Nuclear Security Administration spokesman Damien LaVera said. “The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has said they see no radiation at harmful levels reaching the United States, and we’re not seeing anything that is inconsistent with that.” An ar m of the United Nations earlier this week made a forecast of the possible trajectory of the radioactive fallout from Japan. The forecast only showed how it might move, but does not have information about radiation levels. On T hursday, air quality regulators in Souther n California said they have not detected increased levels of radiation. “So far there’s nothing out of the ordinary,” said Sam Atwood of the South Coast Air Quality Management District. The agency is continuing to monitor radiation levels at its three stations every hour and planned to post daily updates on its website. In the unlikely event
CHILD CARE: waiting lists can take up to a year CONTINUED from page 1 vides an excellent foundation for many careers in which children and families are the focus. It is also excellent preparation for graduate study. The CCC is located in two sites: a preschool program in the Family and Food Sciences building and an infant-toddler program in the Home Management house in the student residence section of the campus. The CCC is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Major said. The NAEYC focuses on the quality of educational and developmental services for all children from birth through age 8. T h e Joyc e M . H u g g i n s Early Education Center is located in the Kremen School of Education and Human Development. Both opened in 1994. Student families have priority at the EEC; those who have the greatest financial need are enrolled first. “We serve 124 children, ages
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that the situation escalates, the Califor nia Emergency Management Agency would coordinate emergency response efforts with state public health officials and local officials. “Worst-case scenario, there is no threat to public health in California,” said the agency’s acting secretary Mike Dayton. The California Department of Public Health, which set up the hotline, also has its own network of 8 monitors sampling the air, water, and soil for harmful substances, including radiation, said agency spokesman Ron Owens. Farther north in Alaska, people also have been asking where they can buy potassium iodide pills. Greg Wilkinson, a spokesman for the state Department of Health and Social Services, said the state doesn’t monitor or track private inventories, but he also said it’s seen no indication that potassium iodide will need to be taken by Alaskans in response to events in Japan. Health officials throughout the western U.S. have said there’s no need to take them.
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3 months through 12 years,” Assistant Director Renee Benell said. There are four preschool rooms, one infant room and one toddler room. School-age children are accepted during the summer months only. Those 124 spots are in significant demand. Most students are on the waiting list for six months to a year before their children can be enrolled. Applications are ranked according to family income, the age of the child and number of days per week that care is needed. Costs vary according to the age of the child and the number of days per week that care is provided. Infant and toddler care, which has the highest demand, can cost $134 to $672 per month. Student-parents who are unable to afford day care may apply for assistance through the campus Financial Aid Office. Those who are eligible will receive subsidies from the state to help cover tuition at the center. Early education can have a positive effect on a child’s development and success in school. The EEC tries to create an educational setting that is as much like the child’s home as possible; open communication and participation are more likely to occur when the school is regarded as a friendly and inviting place. “There’s a good mix of ethnicities and backgrounds among the children,” Benell said. “Our environment is designed to be an extension of the home.” The Huggins Center has 15 teachers and 20-25 student employees. There are three staff members in administration and three more working in the kitchen. “We have a really nice facility here,” Benell said.
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THE COLLEGIAN • FEATURES FEATURES EDITOR, JANESSA TYLER • COLLEGIAN-FEATURES@CSUFRESNO.EDU
FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2011
Take a bite of Fresno State's farm Bulldog Bark arrives at the Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market this month
By Thomas Pearson The Collegian A sw e e t a n d c r u n c hy chocolate bar is being launched at the Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market this month for $1.50. A mix of chocolate, roasted almonds and giant raisins grown on the Fresno State farm are fusing together to make a new treat — the Bulldog Bark. Despite being a new item to the Farm Market, it is already the top selling item in the store. Since coming out earlier in the month, the Far m M a rke t h a s a l re a dy s o l d approximately 500 bars. Criminology major Billy Jones said he’s sold nearly 30 Bulldog Bark chocolate bars on March 15. “Since the Fresno Bee came
“I
t's very flavorful with all the raisins and almonds.” — Kurt Kovac, Farm Market customer out with the article, I’ve sold tons of them,” Jones said. The name of the Bulldog b a rk i s a s p i n o f f f r o m “chocolate bark,” a term used in describing chocolate bars with a good amount of nuts and dried fruits in them. When the chocolate is broken into smaller pieces, it resembles
chunks of tree bark. The Bulldog Bark is shaped like a dog bone and has the Fresno State logo on it. Both m i l k a n d d a rk ch o c o l at e fl avo r s a re ava i l abl e fo r choosing. Customer Kurt Kovac said the Bulldo g Bark is high quality. “It’s very flavorful with all the raisins and almonds,” Kova c s a i d . “ T h e d a rk chocolate is very smooth.” The Farm Market worked closely with Fresno State alum and local chocolate maker Guy Debbas. Debbas also dips the almonds and raisins in chocolate that are sold at the Farm Market. Ru e a n d G we n G i b s o n Fa r m M a rke t M a n a g e r Jennifer Sobieralski and Debbas created the idea after noticing the popularity of the chocolate-coated almonds and raisins sold at the Farm Market. The pair then decided to take the two and create a chocolate bar with the Fresno State theme incorporated. The theme is weaved through the wrapper’s colors and the shape. “Todd Graves designed the bar for us and we thought the design was great,” Sobieralski said. “We thought the dog bone design would speak to people more than a regular rectangle since we are the Bulldogs.” Sobieralski said she is also looking to sell the Bulldog Bark beyond the Farm Market. She also has high hopes that the Bulldog Bark will become a mainstream item sold along with other the big-name treats.
Kyle Lowe / The Collegian
Customers can purchase Bulldog Bark at two places on the Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market counter.
The 190-calorie chocolate bar wrapper states, “T he proceeds of this product benefit the University Farm and the academic endeavors of the Jordan Colle ge of Agriculture and Technology.” The Farm Market recently participated in the inaugural Fresno Food Expo on March 11. Representatives from local stores, such as Save Mart
Super market and Costco, came and took samples of the Bulldog Bark. Sobieralski is hopeful one of the representatives will decide to sell the Bulldog Bark at their store. She also said she hopes to be able to sell the Bulldog Bark at Fresno State football games, as well as being sold as part of fundraisers for student groups. The proceeds
earned will help the school, the students and the Far m Market.
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USU Courtyard water leak construction finishes up By Sergio Robles The Collegian Repair work is wrapping up on the northside of the University Student Union after more than two months of having a section of the courtyard closed. The area around a planter was closed since the beginning of the semester for work crews to fix a water leak over by the bowling alley. Nursing graduate student Hayley Mehlhof f said she s t u d i e s i n t h e c o u r t ya rd every day that she has class on campus. She described the closure as “not attractive, but not upsetting either.” Mehlhoff also admitted not knowing exactly what is being repaired. Associate Vice President o f Au x i l i a r y O p e r a t i o n s Debbie Adishian-Astone said the source of the problem is the waterproofing membrane installed along with the building decades ago. It joins with the membrane installed w h e n t h e U S U P av i l i o n and USU Cour tyard were constructed in the 1990s. Leaks were first noticed two years ago in the area after heavy rainfall. Since then, the leak continued to pour as rain fell. Adishian-Astone said smaller and quicker repairs were done a few years ago
to stop some water seepage, b u t e x t e n s ive wo rk w a s needed this time in order to per manently repair the membrane. Since the USU extends as far north as the courtyard, they have been in charge of contracting and paying for the repairs. The latest repairs hit an approximate cost of $58,000. According to Adishian-
“I
only had to make a small change in my route from my car to class.” — Hayley Mehlhoff, Nursing graduate student Astone, this bill includes the earlier exploratory work. Wa t e r l e a k a g e i n t h e ceiling areas above the USU Recreation Center forced the USU to consider major repairs. The planter area had to be excavated to track the source of the leak. Adishian-Astone said that finding the source of the leak took approximately 30 days. Once it was located, work crews be g an the re pairs, forcing the closure of a section of the courtyard.
However, some students are not bothered by the closure because the location is not a heavy-traffic area. As a nursing student, the majority of Mehlhoff’s classes are located in McLane Hall, influencing her decision to study in the courtyard. The USU Courtyard is adjacent to McLane Hall. Despite the location, Mehlohff said the repairs aren’t inconvenient. “I like to study outdoors when the weather is nice,” Mehlhoff said. “I only had to make a small change in my route from my car to my class.” Business major Esteban Gutier re z said he studies often on campus and usually does so in and around the USU Courtyard. He said he only recently noticed the work being done because bad weather had kept him studying indoors since the beginning of the semester. “I prefer studying outside because of the sun and fresh air,” Gutierrez said. Adishian-Astone said the USU Cour tyard has been closed since work began in early January, although the actual solution to fix the leak began Jan. 29.
Matt Weir / The Collegian
The caution tape and cones block off the USU Courtyard pathway, making pedestrians use the stairs.
The
Collegian
Arts & EnterTainment FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2011
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR, MADDIE SHANNON • COLLEGIAN-FEATURES@CSUFRESNO.EDU
PAGE 5
Soil presented as source of life in documentary
Photo courtesy of John Chater
Debra Coons Garcia, director of “Symphony of Soil,” documents soil’s life-giving properties and how we can’t eat without it.
By Maddie Shannon The Collegian Soil ain’t dirt. It takes microbes and men — the magic between them — to turn common dirt into uncommon soil. “Symphony of Soil,” a film by director Deborah Coons Garcia that will screen at Fresno State on March 23, documents the fertility and life-sustaining properties of soil. It is a resource that humans, its beneficiaries and its destroyers, often taken for granted. “People that tend to be far removed from the soil don’t understand that it’s a precious resource,” Garcia said. “We
need to appreciate healthy soil and give back. We can’t just keep taking from it and taking from it.” S o i l , u n l i ke d i r t , s u p p o r t s a complex system of org anic life. Microorganisms, plants and animal life benefit from rich soil systems, the only source of nutrient-rich food. “Ground-up rocks deposit minerals in the soil to make soil what it is,” said Tom Willey of T&D Willey farms in Madera, one of the states’ premier organic vegetable growers. “It’s eroded and washed down, and makes the soil a rich place for food to grow.” Willey, who regards Garcia as a brilliant filmmaker, says society finds itself more and more removed from the
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“E
arly religions cultivated an appreciation of the soil. People were taught to be aware of the earth, that soil was alive, that the soil makes food and the environment healthier.” — Deborah Coons Garcia, Director of “Symphony of Soil”
smell and taste of soil. “Agriculture is such a big part of our lives,” Willey said. “But so few of us are still involved in farming.” Garcia’s last film, “The Future of Food,” chronicled the monopolization of the corporate food industry on seed supply and genetically engineered food products. “Symphony of Soil” is a follow-up. “The first film was well-received,” Garcia said. “I wanted to follow up to ‘Future of Food’ in the same realm. It’s a fascinating topic.” She said organic farming, the antithesis of the corporate food culture, is a crucial step in the direction of getting the world’s food industry back on the right track. “With so much consolidation happening in the corporate food industry, minerals are depleted in our food supply,” Garcia said. “You can see the effects of that in our society. So many health problems arise from poor nutrition, which relates directly back to the soil.” The San Joaquin Valley’s role in farm production is a unique one. Three of the top five producing farm counties in the nation are here. The soil’s productivity depends on how local farmers care for it.
“The San Joaquin Valley has very fertile soil,” Sharon Benes, a plant science professor at Fresno State, said. “We receive lots of sunlight and there is a lot of knowledge going into cultivation and production.” One of the main points Garcia touches on in “Symphony of Soil” is the rate of soil depletion in today’s industrial, pesticide-dependent farming society. The loss of farmable soil, an ever-increasing problem in modern times, occurs at a rapidly growing rate. “As a society, we’re paving over agricultural land one acre a minute,” Garcia said of the issue. “Not all soil is equally fertile. We can’t find rich soil just anywhere in the world.” The San Joaquin Valley’s soil faces erosion, which accounts for the loss of some soil nutrients. “We do live in a flat valley, but we still experience loss of soil particles,” Benes said. “Wind erosion, as well as rain erosion, can cause nutrient depletion. We have to continue to add carbon to the soil in the form of manures and crop residue as well.” Garcia stressed that cultivation of the soil, a basic tenet of civilization, was emphasized in early societies. “Early religions cultivated an appreciation of the soil,” Garcia said. “People were taught to be aware of the earth, that soil was alive, that the soil makes food and the environment healthier.” The film is being screened across the country in a first-draft format that Garcia is calling “Sonatas of Soil.” “It’s a stunning film,” Willey said. “It travels all over the world and shows how soil evolves from rock. In every way, it’s beautifully done.” The screening at Fresno State is scheduled for March 23 in the Satellite Student Union at 7 p.m.
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THE COLLEGIAN • FUN & GAMES ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR, MADDIE SHANNON • COLLEGIAN-FEATURES@CSUFRESNO.EDU
The daily crossword ACROSS 1 Allocate 5 Catch a second showing of 10 Liquify 14 “___ Breaky Heart” 15 Pitcher Hershiser and others 16 Annoy with sweetness 17 “If the ___ fits ...” 18 How duelists begin 20 Distant settlement 22 “Aladdin” apparition 23 Bit of filly feed 24 Kama ___ (Hindu love manual) 27 Congenital cleft 31 Qualifying bouts, for short 35 “Do as I say” 36 Perfumes 38 Billy Blanks’ workout: ___ Bo 39 Makes public 41 ___ juris (in one’s own right) 42 Honor the flag 44 Mozart’s “L’___ del Cairo” 45 Turns topsy-turvy 48 Gymnastics star Korbut 49 Excavation site 51 Authority level 53 Make good on a loan 55 Become compost 56 Broadway performer
Edited by Timothy E. Parker Universal Press Syndicate
Puzzle by Paul Jenn
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PUZZLE SOLUTION: http://collegian.csufresno.edu Copyright 2011. Universal Press Syndicate.
9 Cicero’s forte 5 63 Detailed account 66 Speak highly of 68 Bring home the bacon 69 “American Idol” alum 70 1952 Winter Games site 71 “A Visit from St. Nicholas” opener 72 Like some tree trunks 73 Wide shoe sizes
FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2011
DOWN 1 Paternal mates 2 “Can you hear me? ...hear me?” 3 “O Brother, Where Art ___?” (2000 film) 4 A way to see 5 Like some high-tech factory machines 6 Big Band and Victorian 7 Offshoot groups
8 Animal with a white rump 9 “C’___ la vie!” 10 TV character Ally 11 Dash of panache 12 Centers of activity 13 Au pair’s charge 19 Fiona, e.g. 21 Chum 25 Advantageous aspect 26 Uno, due, ___ 27 Bindle carriers 28 Banana plant fiber 29 Broadcast again 30 Bygone Barcelona buck 32 “I knew ___ along!” 33 Certain drupe 34 Body type in Detroit 37 Sally Field TV role 40 “Outstanding!” 43 How some boxers fight 46 Spot in a deck 47 Emaciated 50 Overwhelms audibly (with “out”) 52 “Pease porridge ___ ...” 54 Egg parts 56 Be an accessory to the crime 57 Attack, cat-style 58 One-third of a WWII film title 60 Agile deer 61 February gift 62 Big season at Toys”R”Us 64 It may be candied 65 “Truman,” e.g. 67 How-___ (book types)
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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
Workout imposter One who walks around in workout or gym-like clothing to give the effect that they have worked out or gone to the gym today or are planning to work out or go to the gym today when in reality they have not or are not going to. Source: UrbanDictionary.com
History of Fresno State in Pictures In honor of Fresno State’s Centennial
Archives photo by Joe Laspina / The Collegian
Jesse Solis, President of Los Trabajadores de la Raza, accused the School of Social Work of discriminating against Chicanos during a noon rally in spring of 1976 in the Free Speech Area. Solis called for a Chicano curriculum for the school that would benefit Chicanos and non-Chicanos. This photo ran in the Thursday, March 18, 1976, issue of The Collegian.
FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2011
THE COLLEGIAN • SPORTS SPORTS EDITOR, BEN INGERSOLL • COLLEGIAN-SPORTS@CSUFRESNO.EDU
PAGE 7
Cleveland leaves stamp on academics By Vongni Yang The Collegian While Steve Cleveland may have not done very well on the court — compiling a 92-98 record during his six years as Fresno State’s head coach — he did deliver on his promise to improve performance in the classroom. His teams may have stumbled in league play and they failed to reach the NCAA Tournament, but consider their academic progress under his leadership. Before Cleveland’s ar rival, the Fresno State men’s basketball program’s academic standards were abysmal. Through for mer head coach Ray Lopes’ final year (2004-05), the team’s Academic Progress Rate, which measures academic progress each semester, was the worst in the nation at 725. That score is the lowest rating that a basketball program has ever been handed since the NCAA started recording that figure in beginning of that season. A perfect APR score is 1,000. There are more than 300 Division I basketball programs in the United States, and still, Fresno State fell dead last. “He walked into a program that had quite possibly the lowest APR,” Susan Gutkind, assistant athletic director of student-athlete services, said. But Cleveland knew he had the heart and desire to reverse the program’s poor APR. For three seasons from 2004-07,
Fresno State basketball held the title of having the worst APR in the nation but under the direction of Cleveland, he turned that distinct recognition around. The team’s APR improved each season with Cleveland, starting with his first year at Fresno State. The team increased their APR by 62 points in 2005-06. It improved again a year later to 816 and again (891) and again (928). “His APR is skyrocketing,” Gutkind said. “It’s been great. It makes every-
“T
our program, restored our academic achievement. [He’s] done a wonderful job with the student-athletes in many, many ways.” Cleveland not only improved the APR scores, but graduation rates during his era reached an all-time high for the program. Nearly a dozen players have earned bachelor’s degree since Cleveland was named head coach, and at one point the team’s GPA improved from 2.296 to 2.86. Ajay Riding, a former Cleveland play-
he guys that come in, they are talking about graduation, they are talking about classes and majors. That’s a good sign.” — Susan Gutkind, assistant athletic director of student-athlete services
one’s life easier.” A rating of 925 is considered the benchmark, and Cleveland achieved that in four short years. From inheriting the worst academic program to turning it around to a respectable one is an achievement that shouldn’t be dismissed. “I do want to make sure that I express our sincere gratitude to coach Cleveland for his services over these past six years,” Director of Athletics Thomas Boeh said. “And particularly the way he has managed the program and retur ning integrity back into
er has felt the impact that the coach has had on him. Riding played for Cleveland during the first two years, and gained valuable experience from 2007-09 while serving as a graduate assistant on the Fresno State coaching staff. Riding is now an assistant coach at Sacramento State and also serves as the team’s academic coordinator. “Over the course of years, he’s been making sure that guys get degrees,” Gutkind said of Cleveland. But poor academics wasn’t the only thing that Cleveland inherited when he
took over — the program was hit hard by the NCAA for violations of former coaches and players, which set the program on probation until 2010. Cleveland had three less scholarships to work with, and limited practice time to teach on the court. It would take a magician and a flick of his wand to win in the classroom and win on the court with Fresno State’s troubled past and sanctions. The turmoil collected during the Jerry Tarkanian and Lopes’ era did Cleveland no favors, but he did deliver on a promise that his predecessors couldn’t — in the classroom. Cleveland’s legacy will always be known for the work and time he put into academics. Bulldog players now stress the importance of education as much as they do basketball. “The guys that come in, they are talking about graduation, they are talking about classes and majors,” Gutkind said. “That’s a good sign.” S e n i o r N e d G o l u b ov i c c re d i t s Cleveland for his success on and off the court. The Montenegro-born forward achieved elite academic status in the classroom during his time as a Bulldog. Golubovic became the only studentathlete in Fresno State history to earn Academic All-District honors. “He was the great part of my academic success because I felt I owed that much to him, to give him my best shot,” Golubovic said. “I give a lot of credit of my success to coach Cleveland.”
Matt Weir / Collegian File Photo
Ned Golubovic was just one product of Cleveland’s success off the court. The now-graduated forward was the only Bulldog to ever earn Academic All-District honors.
The
Collegian
SPORTS PAGE 8
THIS WEEKEND
The Fresno State women’s basketball team competes in NCAA Tournament first-round action in Albuquerque, N.M. SPORTS EDITOR, BEN INGERSOLL • COLLEGIAN-SPORTS@CSUFRESNO.EDU
FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2011
SMITH: Smith to test NBA waters CONTINUED from page 1
Mike Howells / The Collegian
Cleveland thanked Director of Athletics Thomas Boeh for the opportunity to coach, and departed saying he would continue to support Fresno State.
“You know what, I’m sorry. I sincerely am sorry that this thing didn’t get turned on the court, because I really believed that it would.” – Steve Cleveland
CLEVELAND: Coach let go after six years CONTINUED from page 1 restructuring his contract, which was set to expire at the conclusion of the 2012-13 season. Instead, Cleveland will hold his new position with the athletics department until May 4, 2012 and will “remain at his current state level compensation,” as Boeh put it. Since taking over a troubled program in 2005, Cleveland compiled a 92-98 record in six years and just two winning season, in which he took the Bulldogs to the National Invitational Tournament and finished with a 22-10 record. Since that season, Fresno State reeled off four straight sub .500 seasons, including a 14-17 (6-10 Western Athletic Conference) mark this past season. “We’re always going to want the program to have integrity,” Boeh said. “Our first and foremost mission will always be to make sure that the program’s integrity and the institution’s integrity is protected at all costs. Coach Cleveland did that for us.” While Cleveland said he has no regrets about the effort and attitude of his teams over the last six years, he does take full responsibility for the continuous unsuccessful seasons. Cleveland took over the Fresno State program feeling the effects of NCAA sanctions left by preceding leadership and painfully low Academic Progress Rate scores. Cleveland restored both issues, but on-the-court struggles, coupled with depleted fan and booster support, now has Boeh and company searching for a new coach. When Fresno State does appoint a new coach, which Boeh declined to discuss in detail, Cleveland said he will
still back the program with whatever direction it chooses to go in. “Will I have a discussion with the new coach? Probably so, and I’m going to do everything I can to help him and support him,” Cleveland said. “I want them to be successful.” Boeh said that discussions regarding Cleveland and the prog ram’s future began immediately after Fresno State’s first-round exit from the WAC Tournament nine days ago. Cleveland stayed behind in Las Vegas, as did Boeh. The two met on Saturday and speculation began as to whether or not Cleveland would be the future face of the program. Boeh said the discussions spilled over into this week, and the news that Cleveland would not return began to leak to many local and national media outlets. The decision to let Cleveland go came after the final season in which Fresno State will be a WAC competitor. Next season, the Bulldogs will make the jump to the Mountain West Conference, a league Cleveland is very familiar with. Cleveland spent eight seasons leading Brigham Young to a 138-108 record, including three NCAA Tournament appearances. But Cleveland was adamant that switching conferences would require heavy support from fans and the athletic department, no matter the team’s record. “It would be very naïve on everyone’s part in this room and this community to think that we could do business as usual and think that we’re going to have the kind of success in the Mountain West that we want,” Cleveland said. “It’s not going to hap-
pen. It has to be a change and people have to come out and support through difficult times and good times.” With a small handful of players on hand watching the Thursday night announcement, Cleveland thanked Boeh, the media and the community. Cleveland also said he will begin having individual player meetings this morning at 9 a.m. and expects them to run into the afternoon. “I want these young men to be a part of this program,” Cleveland said. “I want them to continue to be here and do what they need to do, and it’s important to me.” Current recruiting also came into discussion. Fresno State already has one player, former George Mason player Kevin Foster, signed to a letter of intent, and 10 other players targeted on the recruiting trail as well. Cleveland said he hopes those players will still remain interested in Fresno State, but the targeted players will rest in the hands of whoever Boeh appoints to lead the program. Cleveland’s associate head coach Jeff Reinert is in control of the program as of right now and will monitor team workouts with assistant coach Lee Moon. Cleveland had a meeting with his players and assistants prior to Thursday’s announcement, and left them with a lasting impression. “I told them I loved them,” Cleveland said. “I told them that I would be in their lives not just in the next year or two, but I’m going to be in their lives the rest of their lives.”
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VIDEO: Go online to see parts of Thursday’s press conference. http://collegian.csufresno.edu
During Smith’s two-year Fresno State career, the Bulldogs went 29-35 overall and 13-19 in Western Athletic Conference play. Smith averaged 11.6 points and 6.95 rebounds per game in two seasons, and led the team this past season with 11.7 points per game. He was fourth in the WAC in rebounding with 8.1 boards per game during the 2010-11 season. Smith is the second player in as many years to leave school early to play professionally. Paul George, who led the Bulldogs in scoring during the 2009-10 season, opted for the NBA Draft and was an eventual lottery pick, going No. 10 overall to the Indiana Pacers. George has played in 47 games this season, starting five and averaging 8.1 points per game, eighth best among rookies. ESPN.com ranks Smith as the 16thbest center prospect in the upcoming draft. George faced a similar fate when he initially announced his declaration for the NBA Draft but impressed scouts and quickly climbed up the boards. The recently let go Cleveland said he will remain in close contact with Smith and his decision to take his talents to the next level. Cleveland said he has already talked to Smith’s uncle, but will continue discussions with the two this weekend. “We’re going to have some discussions, and whatever Greg decides to do I’ll support him,” Cleveland said. Smith collected second-team AllWAC honors this season, a year after the 6-foot-10 NBA prospect was named the WAC Freshman of the Year as well as being named to the 2009-10 WAC All-Newcomer Team.
Graphic by Matt Weir / The Collegian