May 2 2012 by FresnoStateCollegian

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WEDNESDAY Issue MAY 2, 2012 FRESNO STATE

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Students seek financial assistance for summer Students who utilize financial aid during the school year find ways to sustain through the summer with campus resources By Taylor Gonzalez The Collegian More than half of the students at Fresno State take advantage of financial aid resources, but many must find an alternative income during the summer. Maria Hernandez has worked in the financial aid office for 32 years, serving as the director for the last 11. To students who are eligible, Hernandez is responsible for approving their financial assistance. “Annually, approximately 60 percent of the student body receives some form of financial aid,” Hernandez said. Hernandez said the applicants are a combination of students who rely solely on financial aid, and those who hold outside jobs. The select students who aren’t planning to take summer school courses won’t reap the financial aid benefits for the more than three-month period. “If the student is not enrolled during the summer, financial aid cannot be offered for that time period,” Hernandez said. Hernandez said it is important for students to keep in mind that available funding for summer is very limited. Lauren Hoekstra, a senior kinesiology student, has utilized the financial aid opportunities for the past four years. As a full-time student, she has maintained part-time jobs to make ends meet. “Financial aid has helped me immensely over the course of my college career,” Hoekstra said. “Without it, I would have struggled and might even possibly not have been able to attend a four-year university.” Hoekstra uses financial aid money for tuition and other expenses during the semester. When school breaks for

Ana Mendoza / Collegian File Photo

Fresno State students waited in line for financial aid last August. Approximately 60 percent of the student body receives some sort of financial aid in the form of grant, loan or work study. Students who use financial aid may need to find other means to cover expenses during the summer.

summer vacation, she’s forced to find other sources of income. “I will normally pick up a summer job alongside my per manent parttime job so that I can support myself,” Hoekstra said. Hoekstra has not only used financial aid resources, but also the resources offered by career services. She has been an active user of BulldogLink, a resource that has helped her to maintain a steady job within her major field of study. BulldogLink is a Web-based system

provided by career services where students can browse through job postings from on and off-campus employers. Director of career services Rita Bocchinfuso-Cohen has worked in the field for almost eight years. This department provides students with many resources, such as help deciding on a career path or major. They also do career testing, networking events and workshops in order to prepare students for job searches as well as connecting them with employers. Career services is an under-utilized

resource; only about one in four students go in for assistance. “From surveys that I’ve done in the past, it’s about 25 percent of the student population that uses our services,” Bocchinfuso-Cohen said. Bocchinfuso-Cohen said it would be ideal to have more students use the resources offered to them. With the competitiveness in hiring — for summer jobs especially — career services can help these students to maintain stability when they break from school and financial aid.

16-unit cap on fall enrollment has students scrambling By Stephen Keleher The Collegian Students are feeling the crunch after the CSU Chancellor’s Office announced in March that due to budget cuts, all 23 CSU’s would have to implement a unit cap on fall enrollment. “The Full Time Equivalent Student (FTES) calculation for CSU is 15 units,” said Erik Fallis, media relations specialist at the Chancellor’s Office. “This is what we have to base our limited budget on.” Fresno State has decided to set its cap at 16 units, one unit above the FTES and allowed by the Chancellor. State funding for education is based on the FTES formula, which is a legislative standard. As the CSU system has continued to suffer cuts in state funding, it has had to tighten enrollment rules to make sure that each student can make use of limited resources. Ryan Johnson, a junior construction management student, is a returning student after doing military service overseas. He’s on the GI bill, but still has to take out student loans to make up the difference. “I’m looking at probably what is being called a ‘super senior,’” Johnson said. “And probably having to go an extra semester next year.” Johnson will have to do an internship next year and said he wonders how the limits to enrollment will affect his program.

“I don’t think it’s fair for students,” Johnson said. “Sometimes they only offer one class for students in one semester. What if you’re only one class away from graduating? What if you’re a senior and you need 18 units? They’re not going to allow you to take that class?” Fresno State students have been limited to an initial enrollment maximum of 16 units for at least two years now

since 2010. However, until this registration period, the 16-unit cap was lifted after the early-registration period ends in August. Dean of undergraduate studies, Dennis Nef is looking over the possible exceptions to the 16-unit cap. “Under consideration is that we allow seniors who can prove they need to go above the cap in order to graduate in the fall,” Nef said. “And we are even

My Fresno State screenshot

Attempting to add more than 16 units in Fresno State’s “online student” center will see an error message preventing them from adding additional classes.

looking at recommending that seniors be allowed to go above the cap for both fall and spring if needed.” Nef is also considering letting certain high-unit majors receive waivers to the 16-unit cap. An example is engineering students like Johnson. The Dean will present his recommendations to Fresno State President John Welty, who will make a final decision sometime this summer. For first and second-year students, the cap may not be as critical as it could be for juniors and seniors. Sources in Joyal Administration point out, offthe-record, that a 16-unit cap may actually help freshmen to make it through that first difficult year. By reducing some lower-division general education classes it permits each freshman to more easily find space in the required classes. It also prevents freshmen from taking too many classes, which may be overwhelming to a student fresh to the university. But enrollment caps are only some of the problems that have come from the shrinking funds allotted for colleges in California. Lack of teachers and class cancellations left Spanish major Brenda Noriega short three classes, pushing her into “super senior” status: forced to go one extra semester in order to get the bachelor’s degree. “Because of the budget, they cut some of my g raduation classes,” Noriega said. “So I had to postpone my graduation for next year.”

The

Collegian

Opinion PAGE 2

THE REAL WORD OF THE DAY

boondoggle (noun) A trifling or pointless project, expenditure, etc. Source: Webster’s New World College Dictionary

OPINION EDITOR, TONY PETERSEN • COLLEGIAN-OPINION@CSUFRESNO.EDU

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

The crisis in education I

t is no secret that the American economy continues to struggle. Economic growth for the last quarter was a paltry 2.2 percent, below what economists and administration officials were hoping for. Unemployment remains stubbornly high, and nearly one-in-five Americans are underemployed. Young people in particular are having trouble gaining employment: according to the Center of Labor Market Studies The Right Tone at Northeastern Tony Petersen University, just half of all recent college grads are finding jobs. Part and parcel to the United States’ general economic malaise is the crisis in education. Last year, student loan debt was higher than credit card debt for the first time. Two-thirds of college students graduated with student loan debt in 2008, and the average student is $24,000 in debt after attaining an undergraduate degree. That number is much higher for students in grad school. Along with this, college tuition continues its rise unabated — for 2011, tuition and fees at public universities rose more than 8 percent, more than double the rate of inflation. At Fresno State alone, tuition has

nearly quadrupled in 10 years. As a result of this crisis, the educational aspects of higher education have suffered: Fresno State faculty and staff pay rates have not grown since 2007, the school has shed 300 jobs since 2008 and now students cannot even take more than 16 units, making graduating in four years much tougher. This bleak picture makes one wonder. Is this the only option for the university to make its budget? How much should college cost? Where does our money go? According to Fresno State’s budget book, academic affairs “consists of the policies, procedures and programs that fulfill the educational mission of the university, particularly those focusing on academic programs for both undergraduate and graduate degrees, majors of study and faculty.” Basically, it is college as we know it. Think for one second what percentage a university should spend on academic affairs. Go ahead, take your time. Have a number? Good. Was it 80 percent? Sixty percent? Fifty percent? Academic affairs, the portion of the university that represents the educational mission of Fresno State, takes up 37 percent of Fresno State’s total budget. Thirty-seven percent. Here’s a thought exercise. Suppose for a moment that our tuition only went to paying the faculty. There are 1,100 full and part-time faculty at Fresno State. Let’s be generous and give each member of the facul-

ty an average of $100,000 per year. (The reality is closer to half that number.) With 20,000 students on campus, paying for this top-of-the-line instruction would cost each student $5,500 per year. That’s less than what we currently pay — without financial aid and with no state subsidies of any kind. Naturally, universities, like any other institution, need to pay for things like general maintenance, future expenses and administration. But should these and other non-educational university functions really take up 63 percent of the budget? What is the point of college anyway? Rather than attempting to solve the budget shortfall by instituting furloughs, raising tuition, capping units, freezing teacher pay and refraining from enrolling worthy students and hiring new teachers, surely the administration can find somewhere in the 63 percent of non-academic funds in the current budget from which to cut. As a number of Fresno State faculty put it in an advertisement in The Fresno Bee, “We insist that any future cuts must come from the non-academic and administrative side of the campus… It is time to rebalance the scales in favor of students, teaching and research and to deflate the bloated administrative and non-academic divisions of the university.” May it be so. Tony Petersen is the opinion editor of The Collegian. Follow him on Twitter @tonypetersen4.

Student loans politics The following editorial, via McClatchy-Tribune, appeared in the Los Angeles Times on Monday, April 30: President Obama set off yet another cacophony of partisan bickering in Washington by warning that interest on some student loans would skyrocket if Congress didn’t act soon. Last week lawmakers from both parties hinted that they were ready to solve the problem, albeit in a temporary and superficial way. But first they ginned up another meaningless political battle, leaving roughly 7 million students in the lurch. At issue is the interest on subsidized Stafford loans, which the federal government issues directly to low- and moderate-income students. In 2007, Congress cut the interest rate gradually from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent, but only for loans issued before June 30, 2012, after which the rate jumps back to 6.8 percent. The rationale for keeping the rate low is stronger today than it was in 2007, considering the alarmingly rapid increase in college tuition. But with student loan debt at historic highs, the availability of cheap loans may be a double-edged sword: It helps families cope with fast-rising college fees, but it encourages students to take on more debt. It’s worth exploring whether the federal government has enabled colleges to raise tuitions by making loans and grants available to more students, as well as the broader question of how to make college more affordable. There’s precious little time left to do so, however, before the interest rate on Stafford loans is set to jump. Leaders of the House and Senate education committees say they’re pursuing a one-year extension of the lower interest rate to buy time to work out a more comprehensive approach. The seeming consensus on a temporary fix, however, has given way to sniping over how to cover the $6-billion cost. Senate Democrats first proposed collecting more payroll taxes on high-income workers in small professional services firms; then their House counterparts called for cutting tax breaks for oil and gas drilling. House Republicans, meanwhile, offered a bill, passed Friday on a largely party-line vote, that would eliminate a fund in the 2010 healthcare reform law that finances state and local preventive care projects. It’s doubtful these cuts were chosen for their policy merits. Instead, the goal seems to be making the other side look bad. That’s how the game is played now in Washington. Even when Democrats and Republicans agree on a destination, they can’t help but pick a fight along the way.

McClatchy-Tribune

THE

Collegian

The Collegian is a student-run publication that serves the Fresno State community on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Views expressed in The Collegian do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff or university.

The Collegian California State University, Fresno 5201 N. Maple Ave., M/S SA42 Fresno, CA 93740-8027 News Line: (559) 278-2486 Business Line: (559) 278-5735 http://collegian.csufresno.edu

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 © 2012 The Collegian.

Editor in Chief News Editor Senior Writer Features Editor Science/Culture Editor Copy Editor Sports Editor Opinion Editor Photo Editor

Ben Ingersoll Local Advertising Manager Alexandra Norton Local Advertising Manager Stephen Keleher National Advertising Manager Thomas Pearson Special Projects Johnathan Wilbanks Art Director Sam Cosby Assistant Art Director Angel Moreno Distribution Manager Tony Petersen Accountancy Assistant Esteban Cortez

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Multimedia Director Webmaster Photographer Videographer Videographer Multimedia Journalist Online Reporter

Rachel Waldron Dalton Runberg Brad Soo Garrett Horn James Ramirez Sergio Robles Jeff Perlmutter

Richard Marshall Toni Carmona Jan Edwards Prof. Emeritus Jim Tucker Dr. Tamyra Pierce Virginia Sellars-Erxleben

General Manager Financial Manager Advertising Faculty Adviser Editorial Faculty Adviser MCJ Chair Former Business Manager

PAGE 3 THE COLLEGIAN • NEWS WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012 NEWS EDITOR, ALEXANDRA NORTON • COLLEGIAN-NEWS@CSUFRESNO.EDU

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PAGE 4

THE COLLEGIAN • FEATURES FEATURES EDITOR, THOMAS PEARSON • COLLEGIAN-FEATURES@CSUFRESNO.EDU

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

'Cloudland,' a step forward for crime fiction By Oline H. Cogdill McClatchy-Tribune The effect of violence on small communities continues to be one of the most provocative themes for mystery fiction. Joseph Olshan expands that plot device for an in-depth character study of a woman who is emotionally stagnant because of her inability to forgive those she loves. Olshan, best known for his non-genre fiction such as "The Conversation" and "Clara's Heart," makes a bold and quite effective foray into crime fiction in "Cloudland." Using the hunt for a serial killer as his foundation, Olshan's sturdy plot builds on his believable characters. Olshan's greatest risk and his most persuasive is creating a lead character who is unlikable yet also intriguing enough to make readers want to delve into "Cloudland." While she calls a small Ve r m o n t t o w n h o m e , Catherine Winslow's community is even more insular the isolated Cloudland Road where only three families live. Catherine is pulled into the search for a serial killer after she finds the frozen body of a missing nurse during a walk in an orchard near her house. Catherine becomes the sounding board for her neighbor Anthony Waite, a forensic psychiatrist assisting the police in the investigation of the killer who has been striking in the upper valley region of Vermont and New Hampshire.

"Cloudland" makes striking parallels between the methodical police investigation and the chaos that rules in the neighbors' homes. Anthony's marriage is in tatters and their other neighbor has an unusual living arrangement. But it's Catherine whose prickly personality dominates the intriguing "Cloudland."

A f o r m e r i nve s t i g a t ive reporter and college professor, Catherine makes a good salary writing a syndicated household tips column. Catherine's own home is quickly corroding, which she can't seem to recognize. Too often, she wants to "gather the gloom" around her. Catherine is stymied by her failure to love uncondi-

tionally, to accept flaws in others. It cost her a marriage and is alienating her grown daughter. Yet, Catherine is unable to forget an affair with a student that had violent undertones "the sort of dark, disturbing love that cuts deeper than anything and in so doing becomes its own justification." Although Catherine turns

her back on people, Olshan's empathetic shaping of this character makes her hard to forget. And the author also often lightens the tone of "Cloudland" with quite a few household tips that also move along the plot.

ATTENTION FRESNO STATE STUDENTS: What is the Student Health Fee? The Student Health Fee is part of the institutional fees. It is defined as a OPEN FORUM for prepaid access to healthcare for all currently enrolled students under the Proposed Student Health Fee Increase Executive Order-943 of the CSU. Students are currently paying $93 per semester. Students are encouraged to attend one of these public forums regarding the proposed Student Health Fee increase.

Wednesday, April 18 12 Noon to 1:00 p.m. University Student Union 312-314 (Light snack and refreshments will be provided)

Tuesday, April 24

6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. McLane Hall 161

Monday, April 30

3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Library 3212

(Light snack and refreshments will be provided)

Thursday, May 3

6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Residence Hall Atrium

(Light snack and refreshments will be provided)

All currently enrolled students, with or without insurance, are eligible to use the no cost and low cost healthcare services available in the health center.

Why is there a need to increase the Student Health Fee?

Due to various factors that affected the cost of operating the University Health and Psychological Services, it is no longer able to sustain its level of service based on the current funding level. Its current funding level had been so low that there has been a significant decline in access for student users.

What is the new fee proposal?

The proposal is to increase the Student Health Fee by $5 annually beginning Fall 2012 over the next four years for a total increase of $20 by the year 2016. This will mean that the current semester fee of $93 will gradually increase over four years to a semester fee of $113 per semester. The last student health fee increase was passed by students in 2005 and ended in 2009.

How is the input being gathered?

Input is going to be gathered from many student groups to include the following: Associated Students Inc. Senate, University Student Union Board, President’s Lunch Group of Student Leaders, Resident Hall Advising Group, International Student Associations, Intra Fraternity Council, PanHellenic Council, Student Dietetic Association, Online surveys via email, website, and Facebook, and open forums. After all the input is gathered, the result of this alternative consultation will be presented to the Campus Fee Advisory Committee for possible consideration by President Welty.

Fresno State students are encouraged to express their opinion about a proposed student health fee increase to the current student health For further information about the Student Health Fee Increase, please go to: www.csufresno.edu/health/News fee to be assessed starting in the Fall 2012.

The

Collegian

SCIENCE & CULTURE TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

SCIENCE & CULTURE EDITOR, JOHNATHAN WILBANKS • COLLEGIAN-FEATURES@CSUFRESNO.EDU

PAGE 5

Future Army officers train in San Luis Obispo By Johnathan Wilbanks The Collegian Waking up at 4:30 a.m. and putting on a 40-pound ruck-

sack to do training exercises might sound extremely challenging to the average person, but for Army cadets it’s a way of life.

–Drink responsibly–

T he Reserve Of ficer Training Corps (ROTC) held a field training exercise in San Luis Obispo. Cadets were evaluated in

field conditions as they led missions such as ambush, how to deal with civilians on the battlefield and collecting reconnaissance information. “We trained approximately 138 cadets,” said Lt. Col. Figlioli. T hey were from Fresno State as well as UCSB and Cal Poly. The purpose is to intermingle our third year cadets with cadets from other schools to take them out of their comfort zone.” “This is in preparation for summertime attendance at a leadership development and assessment course, as well as Army airborne and air assault school.” For a combat simulation training exercise, all cadets were issued M16 rifles and some squad automatic weapons (M249 SAW). T h e y we re l o a d e d w i t h blank cartridges to give them a feel for what real combat is like, minus the bullets flying through the air. The opposing force was also made up of Army cadets who were defending their position with M240 Bravos. “It’s really loud,”said Chris Cooper of the Fresno State ROTC. The squad leaders were yelling orders, and the evaluators were throwing variables at them.” From 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. nighttime land navigation was prac-

ticed. A compass, protractor and red-lens flashlight were the only tools allowed for their navigation in the darkness. After getting about an hour and a half of sleep, the officers in training had to develop and execute a plan. “Cadets get little sleep and are put under stressful situations as they lead other cadets o n ev a l u a t e d m i s s i o n s, ” Cooper said. It’s just kind of the ultimate test to see if people can perform on little sleep.” It was called squad tactical exercises, meant to pair the cadets with people they did not know for evaluation. “I was assigned to conduct an ambush, and I did very well on it,” said Megan Maloy of the Fresno State ROTC. I was a little unconfident on where my objective was, but I trusted in my squad.” “The leadership pulled through,” said Eli Racusin of the Fresno State ROTC. “We ended up assaulting at the right time. The claymore went off... it got pretty hectic fast and we just laid down massive amounts of fire for a solid minute or two.” On Sunday, everyone went back to the barracks to clean the M16s and their living quarters over the weekend. They nursed their wounds and packed up to head home.

PAGE 6 • THE COLLEGIAN • WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

PAGE 7 • THE COLLEGIAN • WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

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SPORTS PAGE 8

SENIOR WEEKEND...

The Fresno State softball team will honor seven seniors in its three-game series against Louisiana Tech at Bulldog Diamond. SPORTS EDITOR, ANGEL MORENO • COLLEGIAN-SPORTS@CSUFRESNO.EDU

2012 NCAA TENNIS TOURNAMENT

TIME TO ‘MAXIMIZE’

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

BASEBALL

Bulldogs will need bite against Aggies By Tim Salazar The Collegian

Esteban Cortez / The Collegian

L.A. Bound Head coach Jay Udwadia (left-to-right), assistant Derek Schwandt and junior Francis Alcantara react to Fresno State’s placement in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs will travel to Los Angeles to play San Diego in the first round.

In its third-straight trip to the NCAA Tournament, Fresno State will face San Diego in the first round By Angel Moreno The Collegian Fresno State will play No. 25 San Diego in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Los Angeles Tennis Center. The Bulldogs (20-4) were placed in the Los Angeles Regional along with No. 4 seed UCLA and Eastern Kentucky who will be playing against each other in the other first-round match. The first and second rounds will take place May 11-13. Ranked No. 33 in the nation, Fresno State has accomplished its season

goals of winning the Western Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships and for head coach Jay Udwadia, he has had zero complaints. “So far I can’t complain. We’ve had a tremendous season winning the WAC, making the [NCAA] Tournament, you want to take care of those and then you want to try and maximize beyond that,” Udwadia said. In the previous two years, the Bulldogs have won their first-round matches but have failed to get past the second round. Udwadia believes that the do-or-die

Women’s tennis season cut short Collegian Staff Fresno State’s season was cut short Tuesday after not receiving one of the 33 at-large bids to the 2012 NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs failed to clinch the Western Athletic Conference’s automatic bid to the tournament when it lost to Hawaii in the finals, 4-3. Head coach Simon Thib0deau said he was proud of his team’s effort this season despite not being selected into the NCAA Tournament field. He also wished the men’s team the best of luck and the women’s program was on hand to support and congratulate the men’s tennis program on their NCAA Tournament draw.

Fresno State finished 21-4 with a No. 51 national ranking this season that included a runner-up finish in the WAC Tournament. Losing just one senior to graduation in Laura Pola, the Bulldogs had a young roster and Thibedeau hopes that this year’s adversity will help his players develop as they move from the WAC to the Mountain West. While the team’s season comes to an end, some Bulldogs will still have a chance to continue on their individual tennis season when the 2012 NCAA Tournament for singles and doubles players is announced today.

format of the NCAA Tournament will motivate the team to further success. “If you lose you’re out, so I think that’s motivation to keep on winning. I think we’re going to crawl our way through and fight really hard,” he said. F resno State is coming of f its second-straight WAC Tour nament title and will face a San Diego team that lost to No. 7 Pepperdine in the finals of the West Coast Conference Championships. The 2012 NCAA Tennis Championships will be held in Athens, Ga., May 18-28

Fresno State will take on UC Davis in a single-game nonconference showdown at 6 p.m. today at Beiden Field. The Bulldogs are coming off a series loss to Nevada and finished the month of April going 5-9 with a 2-4 mark at home. Bulldog pitcher Tom Harlan is coming of a nail-biting 1-0 loss to the Wolf Pack where he only allowed two hits in 6.2 innings of work. He had a nohitter going into the sixth inning that was broken up by a single by Nevada’s Brooks Klein. The loss was Harlan’s seventh but he leads all starters with a 2.59 ERA. The Bulldog offense boasts three players batting above .300 including Trent Garrison who is one home run away from leading the team in all three triple-crown categories. This will be the only time this season that the two teams will meet with their game on April 10 being canceled due to weather. Five of the Bulldogs games this year have been either postponed or canceled. The Aggies are coming off a month where they went 5-11 with a record of 3-9 away from Davis. Overall, the Aggies are 6-15 in away games. UC Davis has five players batting above .300 among eligible batters three of which are in the top three among the team in RBI’s. They have scored nine or more runs twice this season. The Aggies starting rotation are led by ace Dayne Quist who pitched in Friday’s game losing to UC Santa Barbara 8-2. It was Quist’s first loss of the season giving him a 6-1 record. He also has a team leading 2.52 ERA. The Aggies could also potentially use Spencer Koopmans or Ben Burke who have spot started for the team which will be likely since this is a Wednesday game.