MEET THE FOUR ASI PRESIDENTAL CANDIDATES
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Wednesday, March 7, 2018
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Fresno State’s Award-Winning Newspaper
KIDS DAY
MORE THAN A FUNDRAISER Students share their ‘miracles’ at Valley Children’s 8 Holly, 199
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ica, 20 14
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By Hayley Salazar | @Hayley_Salazarr
heering people in bright orange aprons occupied corners of Shaw Avenue Tuesday as commuters stopped to purchase the annual Kids Day special issue of The Fresno Bee. Thirty years since its premiere, Kids Day, organized by Valley Children’s Hospital, The Bee and ABC30, has brought together nearly 7,000 volunteers across the Central Valley to raise millions of dollars to cover the costs of “uncompensated care.” The effects of the fundraiser have touched thousands of patients and their families, including some Fresno State students. Giving back Holly Wilson was 8 months old when she received care at Valley Children’s. After her adoption from Busan, South Korea, she came to the U.S. “riddled with illnesses,” including soft cleft palate, pneumonia and gastrointestinal problems. “When my parents told me the story of everything I endured at such a young age, it made me realize how fortunate I was to have been given the opportunity to live my life in the U.S. with a loving family and have the best team of doctors working on me to get me healthy,” she said. Wilson received treatment and surgeries during multiple hospital stays over the course of three months. Though she says she doesn’t remember much from that time, her story has inspired her to take part in Kids Day as a volunteer to
give back to the hospital and to study medicine. “I love doing it as it is a way that I can give back to those who did so much for me,” Wilson said. “But also it is because of the impact that these doctors have had on my life that I have chosen that I would like to go into the field of medicine in hopes that one day I, too, can impact someone’s life in that manner.” A sense of comfort Media, communications and journalism department alumnus and former Collegian staff writer Johnny Martin was rushed to Valley Children’s on his 16th birthday in 2009. After multiple visits to the doctor for severe headaches, Martin was rushed from Clovis Community Medical Center for a blockage in the third ventricle of his brain. The blockage covered the hole where spinal fluids flow between the brain and the spine. He received surgical care to relieve the pressure, and was referred to a leading oncologist at University of California, San Francisco to treat the blockage with chemotherapy. “This was a very overwhelming time in my life but being at Valley Children’s helped ease that a little bit,” he said. “They just had an atmosphere that was not like a normal hospital, even through all the seriousness you just felt a sense of comfortability that made that time much easier.”
See KIDS DAY, Page A3
Holly,
now
, now
Angelica
Johnny,
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Photos courtesy of Holly Wilson, Angelina Garcia & Johnny Martin
CRIME
Four arrested at University Inn By Christian Mattos @ChrisssyMattos
Four people were arrested at University Inn across Fresno State on Tuesday after police found a concealed firearm and possible narcotic sales activity. Fresno police Sgt. James Rossetti, of
the department’s Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC) tactical team, said the arrests came as a result of increased patrol of the area after two men were arrested last week in connection to an officer involved shooting last Tuesday at the University Inn. “Based on that, we have done extra patrols, and on today’s date, we made contact with people loitering inside of a vehicle,”
Rossetti said. Police arrived at the scene at about 1:40 p.m. and arrested Johnathan Noisey, who is believed to be in a gang, for possession of a concealed firearm, Rossetti said. Alleged Bulldog gang members Robert Thomas and Ashley Goodwin were also arrested for violation of probation. Jennifer Foster was arrested for using a handicap placard that belonged to a dead
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person as well as for a possible narcotic sale discovered upon searching the vehicle. Rossetti said the arrests are not connected to last week’s shootings nor do they appear to involve anyone from Fresno State – “other than [the suspect] wearing a Bulldog tattoo,” Rossetti said. Bineet Kaur also contributed to this article.
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A&E
A2 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2018
REVIEW
Fresno Foodie: Meltdown Bistro By Selina Falcon @SelinaFalcon
MASTERFUL
What’s the hype? Meltdown Bistro has become an integral part of Fresno’s ever-growing food truck community as it serves up its handcrafted melt sandwiches. Meltdown Bistro specializes in its melts, but also has sliders, mac and cheese balls, tater tots (plain, loaded and superloaded) and Kung Pao Brussels sprouts on its menu. The food truck’s signature drink is its watermelon sweet tea. It also offers water and soda. What’s the cost? Meltdown Bistro is reasonably priced, especially for a college student on a budget. I ordered the chicken Caesar melt, which is grilled marinated chicken breast, bacon, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato and Caesar mayo on a parmesan crusted bread. It was $9. I also purchased a bottle of water for $1, which is the same price as a can of soda. The sweet tea was priced at $4. Where is it? Food trucks are unique because of their mobility and never staying in the same place, so many local food trucks typically attend weekly events and rotate in and out. Meltdown Bistro frequents two places: Gazebo Gardens and Enzo’s Table. Gazebo Gardens is located at 204 N. Van Ness Blvd. and is a destination for food trucks and live music Thursday through Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m. There is a monthly list of scheduled food trucks on its website. Enzo’s Table is located at 1959 N. Willow Ave., and food trucks congregate outside between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The best way to find or confirm the location of a food truck is to follow it on social media. Meltdown Bistro is @melt-
Selina Falcon • The Collegian
Chicken Caesar melt from Meltdown Bistro.
downbistro on Instagram and Facebook and is good about posting where it will be. Worth it? Meltdown Bistro has quickly become one of my favorite food trucks in Fresno. The food is very reasonably priced for the amount you get. I went with a friend to Gazebo Gardens to have dinner, and we both agreed that our meals were not only delicious, but filling. The service is also quick and very friendly, which is always a plus. Overall, I think the best (and obviously the most important) part of Meltdown Bistro is just how good the food is. It has been a few weeks, and I’m still thinking about the perfection that was that chicken Caesar melt.
BRIEF
‘A Wrinkle in Time’ free for students Fresno State students have the opportunity to see an advanced screening of “A Wrinkle in Time” at Maya Cinemas Fresno 16 on Thursday at 7 p.m. While supplies last, and with a valid Fresno State student ID, students can
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
pick up one free ticket at the University Student Union Information Center. “A Wrinkle in Time” releases everywhere on Friday and is an adaptation of the book by Madeleine L’Engle.
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THE COLLEGIAN March 7, 2018 ASI Elections Special Issue
What we learned after speaking with this year’s presidential candidates
Alejandro Soto • The Collegian
(From left to right) Demi Wack, Sebastian Wenthe, Corey Miracle & Carter Pope II.
Wack commits to student success If there is a single asset that can hand Demi Wack the election @cres_guez as Associated Students Inc. president on March 20-22, it may be her political experience as a young student. Despite being only a sophomore and having spent just one year in ASI, Wack has acquired an impressive resume. She was tapped by current ASI President Blake Zante last year to be his vice president of external affairs despite having never been in student government at Fresno State. She is the sole voice for Fresno State in the California State Student Association, a body that meets to address needs of individual campuses at the state level. And more recently, she founded the California State Student Assembly – a group that connects student politicians from the California State University, University of California and community college systems and which advocates to the state on behalf of Central Valley students. Wack sat down recently with editors of The Collegian to discuss her run for Fresno State’s highest student political office. Her commitment to run for ASI president came after several of her close friends promised to support her. She would not have done it otherwise. “I wouldn’t want to be representing people if they didn’t want me to,” Wack said. “At the end of the day, I’m doing it because I really want to help students, and I think I can do a good job at it.” Wack formed her campaign around the needs of students – the name of her slate is called All4Students. She picked running mates who share her views on student issues. They
By Cresencio RodriguezDelgado
See WACK, Page B4
Wenthe wants your voice in the process When Sebastian Wenthe graduated from @razcanas high school, he had no idea that he would attend Fresno State. When he did, he decided to get involved on campus. Three years later, he’s president of Moot Court, Mock Trial and serves as the Associated Students, Inc. senator for clubs and organizations. He sat down with editors of The Collegian recently to discuss his latest venture – running for ASI president. Wenthe is no newcomer to student government. He began his career as a freshman, serving as the chair of the budget and operations committee for the University Student Union board as well as sitting on the ASI finance committee. He now serves as the senator for Clubs and Organizations. His campaign goals boil down to a few main points, each including a set of plans he would implement if elected. At the top of that list is safety, something Wenthe said many students don’t consider until something tragic happens. Better lighting and a potential bike-share program are just some of his ideas in creating a safer campus climate at night, he said. He also listed mental health as a top priority. He wants students to enjoy their campus experience without having stress consume their wellbeing. As for working with a group of newly-elected senators, Wenthe plans to continue the constant communication between senators and the executive team during the legislative process. He has observed that the current executive team has kept the senators busy by presenting new changes to the senators that they later relay to their
By Razmik Canas
See WENTHE, Page B4
Miracle strives for campus upgrades If elected as president of Associated @chueyee15 Students Inc., Corey Miracle wants to advance the campus in several areas, including mental health awareness, sexual assault prevention, campus parking and healthy food options. His leadership experience stems from previously participating in a legislative committee and the activities committee from ASI. He has also served as president of the Interfraternity Council at Fresno State, where he represented about 530 students, he told editors of The Collegian during a recent interview. He is a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Miracle said he started researching his campaign pledges about four months before presidential candidate applications were due. He asked students and organization leaders what they wanted to see changed on campus. They were mainly concerned about the previously mentioned areas. “With mental health awareness, that’s a point I know a lot of close people around me have struggled with – it has a personal tie to me as well,” Miracle said. “I think a lot of the things I’ve noticed that campus has done have been good. The only thing that’s been lacking is the assurance that there’s discretion.” On sexual assault, Miracle said prevention is important to him and his slate, “Building Fresno’s Future.” Though he stated that the percentage of sexual assaults has remained steady with the university’s effort to bring it down, he wants to make sure it remains an important topic. Although students have voiced their opinion about wanting a parking structure, Miracle said it is may not be
By Chueyee Yang
See MIRACLE, Page B4
Pope promises optimism Associated Students Inc. presidential @avh1996 candidate Carter Pope II is no stranger to politics. As a 19-year-old community college student in 2016, Pope ran for Fresno City Council. Although he lost to Garry Bredefeld for the city council seat by a wide margin, Pope hopes his experience with local government and his unfailing optimism will set him apart in the 2018 ASI elections. Pope is a political science and criminology major who plans to tackle a challenging list of issues. These include implementing what he calls “student family death support.” The program would attempt to provide meals and support students who may experience a loved one’s death. The university recently has seen two of its students die. Pope said losing a loved one could lead to students dropping out. Although he did not provide statistics, he said the idea is based on logic. Pope also hopes to develop a program that can train students to spot the signs of an overdose to prevent drug and alcohol related deaths on campus. A plan to place emergency call boxes near Greek houses and dorms would also be a main focus for him as ASI president, he said. Along those lines, Pope discussed the need to promote student mental health and suicide prevention on campus. He plans to require all students to complete a mental health survey which would help identify students at risk of suicide by placing a hold on registration. Pope also expressed a desire to work with local and campus police departments to prevent crime in “high crime areas” surrounding campus.
By Angelica Hernandez
See POPE, Page B4
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March 7, 2018
UPCOMING EVENTS
Coffee with the Candidates Date: March 16 Time: Noon Location: University Student Union Pavillion
THE COLLEGIAN
ASI ELECTIONS SPECIAL ISSUE
REFERENDUM
Battle for new student union building will soon come to head
Associated Students, Inc. Presidential Debate Date: March 16 Time: 1 p.m. Location: University Student Union Pavillion 2018 Associated Students, Inc. Election Date: March 20-22 Location: Online and in front of the Kennel Bookstore EDITOR’S NOTE: The Collegian requested letters to the editor from every candidate running for the 2018 ASI elections. Due to space constraints, the letters for president and senate candidates will publish in print on Monday, March 12, 2018. Below is a letter from the New USU Board of Directors regarding the New USU project. The Collegian will only print letters from those who responded to our request by deadline.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Vote YES for a Better Future! On March 20-22, you will decide whether we keep underserving our growing student body or if we build a better future. Our current University Student Union opened in 1968 to serve a population of 10,000. Now, our population has more than doubled (25,000+). It’s evident that the facility cannot serve a diverse student population. Needs have changed in 50 years. Crowded study spaces. Limited computers and printers. 286 clubs and organizations but only seven meeting spaces. Limited food options. Is this what you want for future students? The New Student Union project embraces a fee of $149 per semester but it will NOT be implemented until the building opens (2022-2023). We have the lowest combined student fees in the whole CSU system, plus, 83% of students receive financial aid and 62% get tuition and fees completely covered via scholarships and grants. “But what about classrooms?” Well, in the next two years $26 million will be invested into classrooms and infrastructure. It’s not an either/or. Imagine a 24/7 space, more food options, computer labs, and more resources to support students with their studies. Let’s not fail our campus, let’s not fail future students. Vote “yes” for the New Student Union. – Athena Niayesh Chair of the USU Board of Directors
Photo courtesy of the University Student Union
Proposed rendering for the New USU that will be voted on in a referendum starting on March 20, 2018.
By William Ramirez @willoveslakers2
W
ith the election for the new University Student Union two weeks away, yes and no campaigns are battling for student support. The “yes” side is especially pressed to win, with it being the second attempt at a new student union. If the referendum fails again, it could be another 10 years before it is revisited. Last year’s efforts fell short by 629 votes. In a letter to The Collegian, Fresno State’s Associated Students Inc. president openly supported the project, stating that it would be a chance to bring a modern student union to the campus like those at other campuses. Just recently, California State University, Bakersfield voted to approve an extension to their own student union. Just over 60 percent of the campus voted in favor of the $37 million expansion, which includes an aquatics center. At home, the New USU is priced at $60 million. It is a proposed three-story, 80,000 square-foot building. Should it pass, construction will be completed in about four to five years. The current University Student Union is expected to remain in its place, according to the University Student Union Board of Directors. Juan Guzman, University Student Union graduate assistant, said the new campaign began from “ground zero.” Everything about last year’s failed Bold New Union campaign was used as a learning experience to help guide the supporters through the New USU campaign, he said. The campaign was pieced together in three phases. The overarching goal was to accommodate a growing student population, according to Guzman. A “listening phase,” which ran from last summer until last October included the USU Board of Directors conducting surveys and focus groups to learn about students’ grievances with their first campaign. This listening phase led to changes in the design of the building.
The marketing, the presentations, scheduling forums, talking to the Stantec guys — it’s all students this year. - Juan Guzman
Graduate Assistant for the University Student Union A faculty resource center and ballrooms that were included in the plans for the Bold New U were removed. Additions to the New USU include a 24-hour space, a rooftop terrace and a ballroom space that is now being redesignated as a multipurpose room. The biggest change, according to Guzman, came in the campaign itself. It aims to represent students more effectively. “The biggest thing was that students felt like they were not being included in the conversation,” Guzman said. “It was highlighted by the fact that in the forums, the administration would be leading the forums, or when we had presentations, it would be the administrators in the [presentations], or when we had the debate, it would be Dr. [Frank] Lamas in the [debate].” The campaign has been almost completely student-driven, with administration still supporting their cause but from an advisory role. The main adviser has been Colin Stewart, the associate dean of student involvement. “The marketing, the presentations, scheduling forums, talking to the Stantec guys, it’s all students this year,” Guzman said. Stantec Consulting Services designed the interior and exterior designs of the new
USU of the New USU. With the vote just weeks away, the New USU has gone into the “informing phase,” where the bulk of the work is. It consists of informing the campus of the details of the New USU and answering any questions students may have. Their methods of informing include presentations, forums and tabling. The presentations are curated to fit either 5-, 15-, or 30-minute time slots, and leave time open for questions. “The biggest thing is we explain why we are doing this again. Second we explain how this came to be. After that, we explain the timeline for the project. We explain how students can get involved, and then we go through the facts,” Guzman said. Guzman said the most frequent questions relate to the $149 student fee that would be added to students’ cost of attendance when the New USU is finished. According to the USU board, a raised student fee along with other fundraising will pay for the project. He said students argue that student fees should be used to renovate classrooms or alleviate the parking problem on campus. But he rebutts those arguments by stating that student fees cannot be used for academic purposes, and that building a parking structure is simply not cost-efficient. The USU board is getting creative to communicate the benefits of the New USU, even implementing a virtual reality tour of the new facility through an app called Kubity. These tours are administered through the board’s “Champions Committee,” which consists of students, staff and faculty who help advocate the New USU. “Champions range in duties from ‘I just wanna know what’s going on,’ to ‘I just want to table,’ to ‘I just want to get social media posts that I can post on my stuff,’ to ‘I just want to be a part of this conversation,’” Guzman said. The new committee has about 30 active members. The board has faced an uphill battle to gain support for the project, partially on
See REFERENDUM, Page B3
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March 7, 2018
THE COLLEGIAN
ASI ELECTIONS SPECIAL ISSUE
ASI ELECTIONS 2018
Why don’t more Fresno State students vote in the student elections? By Angelica Hernandez
ASI Elections - Voter Turnout Over the Years
@avh1992
T
he time for Fresno State students to cast their ballots for the 2018 Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) elections is rapidly approaching. Voting will take place March 20-22. With 43 candidates to choose from and the New USU referendum also on the ballot, students will have a chance to voice their opinion about future ASI leaders and campus developments that could have lasting effects. Despite decades of national get-outthe-vote efforts, often targeted to new and young voters on college campuses, the importance of voting has become increasingly more uncertain in recent years. Elections big and small have been plagued with low voter turnouts. ASI elections are no exception. Over the years, the number of Fresno State students who have cast a vote for student government has fluctuated. Just about 14 percent of eligible voters casted ballots last year, compared to a 10 percent voter turnout for the 2016-2017 ASI elections and a 9 percent turnout in 2015-2016. One factor to increased participation is most likely due to the controversial Bold New U referendum which was included on last year’s ballot. Although the increased participation of last year’s student body looks like a sign of progress, 14 percent of the campus population only equates to 3,228 students out of nearly 23,000 eligible voters. The low voter turnout on college campuses mirrors a trend in the U.S. political system as a whole, with only 55.7 percent of the U.S. voting-age population participating in the 2016 presidential election, according to a study from the Pew Research Center. The center found that the most common reason for not voting in the 2016 presidential elections was not liking candidates or campaign issues. And Fresno State students may be choosing not to vote in campus elections for the same reasons. In fact, 24 percent of college-age registered voters claimed this as the reason they did not vote. Fresno State student Cedric Hood expressed similar views about the ASI elections. Hood, a junior majoring in broadcast journalism, said he only voted last spring
REFERENDUM from Page B2
social media. A poll recently gave a grim indication of where the vote may head later in March. But it’s unclear if that’s anything to go by. Three hundred people who participated in a poll asking whether the New USU should be built voted against it. About 140 students voted in favor. The Facebook page has more than 13,000 members and includes current and former students. One of the biggest opponents of the project is the Young Democratic Socialists (YDS) group on campus. Monique Touchstone, head of the group’s “No New USU”
15% 14.18% 12.45%
10%
10.61%
9.43%
9.40%
7.70%
5%
5.87%
0% Year: Total votes cast: Total eligible voters:
2011-2012 1,533 19,921
2012-2013 1,216 20,733
2013-2014 1,912 20,286
2014-2015 2,620 21,041
2015-2016 2,051 21,830
2016-2017 2,355 22,193
2017-2018 3,288 22,771
Illustration by Casey Supple
The 2017-18 year showed the largest voting outcome since the 2011-12 school year. Voting records were provided by Associated Students, Inc. Students will vote this year from March 20-22.
because he knew someone who was running for an ASI senate position, but he has decided he won’t be voting this year. “I haven’t gotten a chance to hear what the candidates have to say,” Hood said. “I wish there was a way to have a more oneon-one connection with them. How else are you supposed to get to know someone?” The second most common reason for low voter turnout during the 2016 presidential elections was voter apathy. The Pew Research Center found that 25 percent of the non-voters said they chose not to vote because they were “not interested, or felt their vote wouldn’t make a difference.” The process of voting in the U.S. presidential elections, particularly with the Electoral College, has often fueled apathy in some voters and led them to question the true value of their vote. But for those seeking meaning in the voting process, the ASI elections offer
a straightforward and foolproof way to make your vote count. ASI elections only require a popular vote, which means that a single vote can have a huge impact. ASI President Blake Zante was elected after receiving only 150 votes more than Cecilia Ruesta during the 2017 ASI elections. If 630 more students, a fraction of the 19,772 students who did not vote, had voted “yes” for the Bold New U, the referendum would have passed. Not only does voting have a direct impact on the outcome of the elections, but the ASI candidates who move on to fill senate roles and executive positions have a tremendous influence on the campus, as a whole.
campaign, said the biggest reason for their opposition to the New USU is the student fee that comes with it. “We advocate for affordable higher education, so we feel a fee for anything like this is really just going against our actual goal, which is, eventually, tuition-free public universities,” Touchstone said. Fresno State enjoys some of the lowest student fee rates of the California State University System. It’s a common argument from supporters of the New USU. Touchstone also sees the low fees as positive thing. “I think [low fees] reflects the needs of our community. We are an impoverished area. Of course we need to have low fees. CSU campuses serve their communities.
How can we serve our communities if we’re not affordable?” she said. Touchstone added that many of the building’s features may be a bit unnecessary and that there are other areas of campus that could be improved instead, noting old machines in the Student Recreation Center. The Young Democratic Socialists believe the goals of the New USU can be achieved through small, incremental fixes, rather than through a new building, Touchstone said. “Little fixes can be achieved right now. We can buy a couple new machines, we could get some new chairs. Just little things to make campus better,” Touchstone said. She was a member of a panel last spring
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ASI functions as the direct representation of students on campus. Elected by the students, ASI representatives have the power to create a budget using student fees, implement projects across campus, provide funds for clubs and organizations, create grants, advocate for vital resources and fight for students’ rights through communication with administrators and lawmakers, ASI officials note. “They are the city council of the college,” Hood said, “They are the students’ voice.” If the state of the country’s political climate has left college students feeling like their voice has been taken from them, then the ASI elections are where students have the opportunity to reclaim it. The Collegian will host an ASI presidential debate on March 16 in the University Student Union Pavillion at 1 p.m.
that debated the Bold New U project. She was against that too. Touchstone remains skeptical about some of the research being presented in favor of the New USU, mainly the argument that the current USU cannot serve the current population. The Young Democratic Socialists will be hosting a forum on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in Room 203 of the Social Sciences building to give students a place to come and voice their opposition to the New USU. The USU board hosted its own forum last week. They have yet to announce plans for another one. Voting on the New USU will go from March 20-22. Students can vote online via their “MyFresnoState” accounts.
March 7, 2018
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THE COLLEGIAN
ASI ELECTIONS SPECIAL ISSUE
2018 Voting Guide President: Carter N. Pope II; Demi Wack; Corey A. Miracle; Sebastian K. Wenthe Vice President of Finance: Davis M. Ward; Ben R. Warmerdam Vice President of External Affairs: Diamond T. Morehead; Ryan J. Cherry; Nicholas M. Matoian; Primavera L. Martinez Senator of the College of Arts & Humanities: Sal Solorio; Hunter E. Sansom Senator of the Craig School of Business: Tej Pratap Singh; Alondra Salazar Senator of the College of Health and Human Services: Nour Basharaheel Senator for the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology: Jacqueline S. Taylor
Senator for the Lyles College of Engineering: Michael K. Merzoian Senator for the College of Science and Math: Lemuel Vince S. Rivera Senator for the College of Social Sciences: Colleen E. Busby; Jasmine C. Pierson; Excel Espino Senators-At-Large: Gina V. Gutierrez; Claire D. Copher; Elizabeth Rocha Zuniga; Marisa N. Chavez; Baltripat Singh; Bryce Johnson; Evangelia M. Pappas; Ramon Jimenez Ortega; Amber K. Malhi; Madison S. Milliorn; Christopher R.B. Rodriguez; Beverly PerezAlvarez; Federico Madera; Holley A. Estep; Hisham A. Qutob; Ruby Muniz; Chloe K. Vanderzwaag; Elias J. Karam; Sarid A. Morales; Jordan V. Cody; Cam Patterson New USU referendum Yes: In favor of constructing a New Student Union. No: Against the contruction of a New Student Union.
Eligible candidates according to ASI as of Feb. 21
Senator for the Kremen School of Education and Human Development: Alexandra Chavez
WACK
from Page B1 can get the job done, she said, adding in a bipartisan note that at least one member of her slate was an opponent in last year’s elections. Wack said her biggest pledge as an ASI presidential candidate is to improve campus affordability, awareness of services on campus and the availability of ASI representatives for students. Until voting ends on March 22, she
WENTHE from Page B1
constituents. It’s not only his senators he wants politically active, but the student body as a whole. He plans on implementing more ASI committees so that general students can sit in on the decision-making process while filling seats in ones that already exist.
MIRACLE from Page B1
feasible. “For each current spot that we have on campus, it costs about $2,000 to make,” he said. “The per spot price for [a parking garage] would it be about $20,000, which is 10 times more.” Possible parking solutions, Miracle suggested as candidate for ASI president, include encouraging students to carpool,
POPE
from Page B1 He stated that these areas have not yet been identified. However according to Pope, in 2014 there were six vehicle thefts on campus and by 2016 that number had increased to 28. And if elected, Pope told editors of The Collegian, he will work to make it easier for
will park her campaign outside The Bucket to engage students and seek their support. This mirrors one of her goals as ASI president, which is to attract more students to the ASI meetings and get them familiar with the ASI offices. She said she wants ASI to operate much like a “resource hub.” This year’s senate has been more efficient than previous groups, Wack said. She has observed that the senators are overworked and is planning ways to spearhead a restructuring of the senate to better meet the needs of students. That will likely include establishing a senator for graduate affairs, much like the
senator for undergraduate affairs. There certainly are more groups that may benefit from having a voice in ASI, Wack said. She said her support of the student press went without saying. She assured in her meeting with the editors of this publication that transparency within student government is above all. Questioned about her support of the New USU, Wack did not disclose a firm stance on the project, saying that she will support the project if it is seen as favorable to her supporters. She did state that there has been more education around the New USU than there was with the failed Bold
New U project. Wack said her position in the current executive team has positioned her to be a proud voice for women on campus. Her recent work to bring feminine products for women to campus bathrooms is an indication of her priorities. Wack’s presidency will ride – as she stated – on her commitment to improve the experience of the Fresno State student as someone who is from out of the Central San Joaquin Valley region.
“It’s an important part of the representative process,” Wenthe said. “It allows students from any classroom, of any major, of any type, to get involved and actually vote on things that happen within committee meetings and that eventually do get voted on by the senate.” With plans to tackle nearly $700,000 from a student fee reserve, Wenthe wants students to have their say in where their money goes. “We want to get people involved in
decisions that impact them,” he said. The voting power of students will also be used to once again decide the fate of the New USU, which Wenthe said he is not sure how he will vote on. Regardless it’s the campus’s decision as a whole, he said. Wenthe said public opinions change over time and that giving the proposed project a second chance may get more people to the polls. Only 3,063 students voted on last year’s project, according to numbers provided by the ASI.
“Personally, I see both arguments for both sides, and my position is that people should vote,” he said. “Just like last year, and we should hear what they say. And that should be the decision.” Wenthe believes his experience and ability to execute sets him apart from the other three candidates. His current work in ASI with multiple clubs pushes him to advocate for everyone to find their home on campus.
adding more shuttle stops to the campus shuttle – Bulldogs Express – and adding another shuttle bus. A $700,000 reserve of student fees has been the topic of discussion at recent ASI meetings. The funds are separated into three categories: Working Capital or Current Operations reserve; Capital Replacement reserve; and Planned Future Operations reserve. Miracle wants to use the funds to improve “faulty” buildings, classrooms and bathrooms, he said. “It’s disappointing that we have all
that going on and we have a nationally recognized library on our campus,” he said. “We have stairs that creak and bathrooms that are inadequate, so those are things I think should be fixed.” On the topic of the New USU, which students will vote on in a referendum during the 2018 ASI elections, Miracle said he will respect the decision of students after a previous similar project failed. “I know right now we have a lot funds being offered for it, and they will be lost if we don’t do it and that just sucks,” Miracle said. “That’s going to backtrack the project
a lot, but right now I think I just respect what the students want. I do encourage students to learn more information about it because the more information I learned, the more I supported it.” If the New USU referendum passes, Miracle said, adding restaurants with healthy food options, something he pledges to address, would be ideal. If it does not pass, he would like to collaborate with the University Dining Hall to provide more healthy food options.
students and teachers to report classroom issues such as broken chairs or damaged whiteboards. Being a transfer student, Pope wants to advertise campus resources with a poster campaign for students who may not be aware of the different services available to them. Although a recent program offering free feminine products to students has already been implemented by one of his opponents for president, Pope is promising
to add an emergency supply to keep baskets stocked. Pope is the only presidential candidate without previous experience with ASI, he said. His understanding of student government comes from attending meetings and talking with current ASI members. He stated that working with the senate would be as simple as talking to people one-on-one. When asked about whether the senate is efficient, Pope did not provide
an answer. Pope also stated that he would support adding more senate positions to ASI, but was unable to name any particular groups that could benefit from better representation. And as far as the New USU referendum goes, Pope said he has not yet developed an opinion about the proposed project. He said he wants to be “fully knowledgeable about it” before taking a stance.
NEWS
A3
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2018
SECURITY
Stolen hard drive exposes information By Hayley Salazar @Hayley_Salazarr
Fresno State released a campuswide email on Tuesday notifying students of “potential data exposure” after a university hard drive was stolen last December. Information of at least 300 current students and faculty was breached, including information of more than 14,000 former affiliates of campus. Most of the data is from 2003-2014 and may contain names, addresses, phone numbers, credit-card numbers, driver’s license numbers, full or last four digits of Social Security numbers and usernames and passwords, according to the news release.
Individuals affected are expected to be notified this week. “We assure you that the university is addressing this incident as a top priority and ensuring that affected parties have been notified,” Chief Information Officer Orlando Leon wrote in the email. “Though this appears to be an isolated incident, we certainly take any data theft very seriously.” University officials said there has been no indication of the “misuse” of the stolen information reported, and that an ongoing investigation is in place. A call center has been established. Those affected can contact 877-646-7924. Individuals whose Social Security number, financial information or driver’s license was been exposed will have access to
Illustration by Casey Supple
free credit monitoring for one year. Fresno State President Dr. Joseph Castro said the university is reviewing cam-
BRIEF
RESEARCH
Survey: 7 out of 10 people in the Central Valley support DACA
Genaro Molina • Los Angeles Times/TNS
Los Angeles Harbor College student Brenda Soriano, second from right, and her mother Edilbertha Martinez, left, participate in a rally in support of the Deferred Action for Child Arrivals, or DACA program in Los Angeles on September 5, 2017.
By Jorge Rodriguez @jrod2763
A recent survey performed by Fresno State’s Institute for Leadership and Public Policy shows that 7 out of 10 people in the San Joaquin Valley support the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
COMMENT: to comment on this story visit our website collegian.csufresno.edu The program, signed by former President Barack Obama, gives young undocumented immigrants a two-year reprieve from deportation and a legal work permit
KIDS DAY from Page A1
Martin said he bonded with a male nurse over sports and common interests which helped him through his stay at the hospital. “The kind of miracles that place does is indescribable,” he said. “They give so many kids a second chance at life. They helped give me one, and they make the ‘hard times’ that much easier.” Step by step process In August 2011, Lauren Torres, a liberal studies major, gave birth to her first child who was born with jaundice. Her mother recommended Valley Children’s.
Courtesy of Lauren Torres
“It was very scary because I didn’t know what was happening since he was my first baby,” she said. “He was sleeping too much
puswide policies and procedures to avoid future incidents.
to remain and work in the U.S. It has also allowed recipients to obtain driver’s licenses and attend school. More than 200,000 out of the nearly 800,000 DACA recipients live in California. President Donald Trump ordered the program be canceled by March 5, but several legal challenges have kept the fate of the program in the hands of the court system and Congress, likely until the fall. The DACA survey was conducted from Feb. 5 to 15 and was based on random samples from registered voters in the San Joaquin Valley. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percent. Other findings in the survey showed that 93 percent of Latinos in the Valley support the program along with 68 percent of African-American and Asians. The survey showed that 61 percent of white, non-Hispanic voters support DACA. When voters were asked if they knew someone who would be affected if DACA was to end, 54 percent said “yes”. Nearly three-quarters of Latinos surveyed said they knew someone who was protected by DACA. “There are clear differences across party lines,” Jeff Cummins, co-director of the institute, said. “Nearly all Democrats (93 percent) support the DACA program, along with more than 3 out of 4 Independents.” The complete report and all the findings from the survey can be found in the institute’s website.
and not eating or having enough wet diapers and [was] very dehydrated.” She said the staff at Valley Children’s walked them through the treatment process step by step. The family stayed there for a week, and Torres was very appreciative of their care. “I love the fact that the community helps to raise money for the hospital,” Torres said in regards to Kids Day. “We donate as often as we can when we see places taking donations.” A happy patient For Angelina Garcia, her involvement with the hospital post-treatment doesn’t just include Kids Day. Garcia was in her second semester at Reedley College when doctors discovered a tumor in her brain.
Henry T. Perea joins Fresno State’s University Advisory Board By Bineet Kaur @hellobineet
Fresno State’s University Advisory Board has welcomed its newest member – Henry T. Perea, a Fresno State graduate who is the senior vice president of policy and strategic affairs at Western States Petroleum Association. The board is composed of 21 members who play a role in providing insight to the president on issues related to Fresno State. Perea received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Fresno State in 2001. He then received a master’s in leadership and management from the University of Southern California in 2014. He also served as a California assemblyman representing the state’s 31st District from 2010 to 2015. Western States Petroleum focuses on petroleum issues affecting the Western United States. Perea is also a former senior director of state advocacy for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.
She said she had a mixture of emotions during her time at Valley Children’s. Garcia was treated from April to June in 2014, and she is now a member of the Cancer Survivorship Program. The program enrolls younger patients after their third year of diagnosis and if they complete treatment in order to provide resources for health, group activities and follow-ups. “I suffered anxiety every minute because I was frustrated with not being able to do things like before,” she said. “I couldn’t walk or eat, anxiety was killing me. However, I would become a happy patient when the therapy dogs would come in my room.”
SPORTS
A4 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2018
BASEBALL
Fresno State sacrifices for win By William Ramirez @willoveslakers2
T
he Diamond ‘Dogs sacrificed a lot for their 3-2 victory over the University of San Francisco on Tuesday. The team’s sacrifices came in the form of bunts and flies. The team’s three runs involved at least one of those actions. With second baseman Jeremiah Burks and outfielder McCarthy Tatum on first and second base, respectively, the ‘Dogs proceeded to tie the game at 1-1 thanks to a Zach Presno sacrifice bunt followed by a Nick Warren sacrifice fly. The ‘Dogs continued this trend to tie the game at 2-2 in the fifth inning. This time, centerfielder Zach Ashford provided the sacrifice bunt, while Korby Batesole brought Warren home with a sacrifice fly. And to win the game, the ‘Dogs scored off of an errant throw by second baseman Aaron Ping. Of course, Auston Chastain was only in scoring position because of a sacrifice bunt by Warren. Textbook bunting paved the way for the ‘Dogs’ victory, each one coming off the bat at a perfect angle and speed to make it too difficult for the infield to stop the runners from advancing. “We moved runners over with some sacrifices and with this team, I am going to have to be a fan of them because that is just how we are going to have to play,” said head coach Mike Batesole. “When we have done it that way, we have won. We have outstanding infield defense and if we continue to pitch like we are pitching and scratch out some offense, that is how we are going to have to win this year.” The team worked hard for its runs, and it made sure the Dons had to work just as
Fresno State Athletics
Senior Korby Batesole at Bob Bennett Stadium. Fresno State defeated San Francisco 3-2 on March 6, 2018. The Diamond Dogs will host New Mexico in its Mountain West home opener on March 9, 2018.
hard for theirs. The ‘Dogs had an excellent defensive outing, only allowing five hits. Both of the Dons’ runs were the result of an error that they were able to capitalize on. Right fielder Austin White made sure to make up for his error of losing a routine fly ball in the lights, which eventually led to a Dons’ score. He caught a fly ball at the wall a few innings later, and then went on to zoom toward a ball that could have turned into a double or a triple, had he missed it.
“I love that guy. In my 25 years of coaching, he has about a big of heart as anyone I have ever coached, and to see him persevere is awesome,” Batesole said. The pitching staff shared the workload, with five different pitchers taking the mound. The Dons had little to no success against all five pitchers, finishing the game with only five hits. “A lot of guys came in and did their parts on the mound. I think we got eight of nine of their leadoff hitters out which you have
to do against USF because they play that inside-out game and they are really good at it,” Batesole said. The ‘Dogs finished with eight hits but were simply able to capitalize on one more opportunity than the Dons. The recent experiences with competitive games had not gone in their favor. Fresno State had lost its three previous games by one run. The ‘Dogs will be in action again this weekend in a three game series against the University of New Mexico.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
BRIEFS
Season ends at Mountain West Tournament
Khristian Olivas to the NCAA Championships The NCAA announced on Tuesday afternoon that Fresno State’s redshirt sophomore Khristian Olivas earned one of the six at large bids, punching his very first ticket to the NCAA Wrestling Championships alongside teammate AJ Nevills. Head coach Troy Steiner credits Olivas’ “solid season.”
By Nugesse Ghebrendrias
Taylor, Williams earn All-MW honors
@nugebear13
The Fresno State women’s basketball team endured a 32.7 percent shooting effort that sealed its early exit, 71-55, to the lower-ranked Colorado State Rams at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Junior guard Candice White and freshman Aly Gamez combined for 21 points on a lackluster 8-for-24 shooting. The Bulldogs came into the matchup as one of the nations’ best-shooting teams, but couldn’t find points when they needed them most. The first half opened neck-and-neck. Neither team could get a hold on the game. By the halftime buzzer, the score was all knotted up at 26. The Rams opened the second half on fire, leading to a 26-point quarter. Fresno State, on the other hand, couldn’t buy a bucket. In the third quarter, the Bulldogs scraped out 11 points and seemed to be in panic
Ranked No. 22 by Coaches Panel Ranking, Olivas finished his first season at Fresno State 26-7 overall with a 17-3 dual meet record, including three wins over ranked wrestlers. The 2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship will take place in Cleveland, Ohio, from March 15-17.
Alejandro Soto • The Collegian
Freshman Aly Gamez on Feb. 3, 2018 at the Save Mart Center. Gamez led the ‘Dogs with 13 points on March 7, 2018 against Colorado State in the MW Tournament.
mode. The Rams seemed to be unfazed by the Bulldogs’ lack of bite in the second half. While the Bulldogs rode a seven-shot miss streak heading into the fourth quarter, Colorado State seemed to take over for good. The Rams outscored the Bulldogs 24-8 in the last quarter to win the game and advance to the next round of the Mountain West Tournament.
The Mountain West Conference men’s basketball coaches named Fresno State junior guard Deshon Taylor first-team All-MW and All-Defense Team, while sophomore forward Bryson Williams picked up thirdteam All-MW. Taylor’s season numbers consist of a ca-
reer-high 32 points, an average of 18 points per game, and a school record of 197 made free-throws. As for Williams, the sophomore averages 13.9 points per game and is No. 2 in fieldgoal percentage going 107-of-188.
White, Gamez and Utti honored by MW Junior Candice White earned All-Conference honors after an impressive season for the Fresno State women’s basketball team. Leading the Mountain West in scoring with 19.3 points per game, she is also the only player in the conference to rank in the Top 15 in scoring, rebounds, assists, steals, free-throw percentage and 3-point
field-goal percentage. As for freshmen Aly Gamez and Maddi Utti, both made the All-Freshman Team. Gamez leads all Fresno State freshmen in free-throw percentage, steals and 3-point field-goal percentage while Utti leads in field-goal percentage.