THE ʻFRESNO STATEʼ MAZE The Collegian online has the video
How to party on Halloween A&E Newcomers will play big part on men’s basketball team SPORTS Students get creative with costumes FEATURES
FRIday Issue OCTOBER 29, 2010 FRESNO STATE
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SERVING CAMPUS SINCE 1922
HALLOWEEN ‘Dogs reach settlement with WAC By Vongni Yang The Collegian
Fresno State corn entertains By Melissa Mata The Collegian In Knott’s Berry Far m’s annual “Scary” Farm celebration, 13 mazes were built at the park this year exclusively from Fresno State corn stalks. The corn was cultivated by students in the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology. According to the Knott’s Ber ry Far m website, the theme park has “the world’s largest Halloween celebration.” “Thousands of people visit during this season, so the corn stalks need to be durable to withstand the number of visitors,” said Meghan Gardner, a Knott’s Berry Farm spokesperson. The theme park has occasionally had problems with corn stalks not lasting for the duration of the Halloween
attraction, so Gardner said they were looking for a “specific, quality product.” Gardner said the manager, who was not available for comment, “heard very good things about Fresno State agriculture.” Gardner said they were also interested in a partnership with Fresno State because Knott’s Berry Farm “wants to give back to the community, and one way to do it is to work with educational institutions.” “Knott’s Berry Far m approached us and asked us if we could provide corn for their mazes. It sounded like a very exciting task,” said Ganesan Srinivasan, director of the Fresno State agricultural operations unit. According to Srinivasan, Knott’s Ber ry Far m paid $4,500 for the field corn. The money will be set aside for the student farm at Fresno State.
“This was the first time a project of this nature was presented to us and it seemed like a good opportunity for our students,” said Srinivasan. Four Fresno State agriculture students planted and harvested the corn that was eventually shipped to Buena Vista, Calif. Agricultural education student Robert Calvert was one of the students involved with the project. Calvert, a senior at Fresno State, works as a field crop student assistant for the agricultural operations unit. Calvert said they usually get a lot of requests from seed and chemical companies, so the Knott’s Berry Far m request was a unique addition to their workload. Fresno State is famous for its award-winning sweet corn, but Calvert said the corn used for the mazes was field corn, which is usually grown to
serve as feed for Fresno State cattle. “The stalks from field corn are a lot stronger, more durable and taller than those from sweet corn,” said Calvert. It also takes twice as long to grow field corn. An estimated 120 days is necessary, so the corn was planted in the spring and early summer and was sent to Knott’s Berry Farm in late September. Calvert said the Knott’s Berry Farm request was not troublesome because the total yields were “a little higher than expected.” 10,000 yields were produced for the Knott’s Berry Farm mazes, amounting to less than half an acre. The mazes built from Fresno State corn stalks will be open to the public at Knott’s Berry Farm until Oct. 31.
Fresno State and Nevada have reached an agreement with the Wester n Athletic Conference regarding the two schools impending departure from the WAC to the Mountain West Conference. Both schools will stay in the WAC for all sports until June 30, 2012. By doing so, Fresno State and Nevada will now pay a much lower exit fee than first expected. “We’re pleased to have the process completed,” director of athletics Thomas Boeh said. “We made it clear that we would have preferred to play in the Mountain West Conference for 2011-2012 season, but given that we have a highly desirable financial outcome here, we’re in good shape. We’re fine with it.” Initially, Fresno State and Nevada were penalized $5 million each for leaving the WAC, but after nearly a month of negotiations Fresno State and Nevada reached a settlement and will pay the WAC $900,000 each. “We’re very pleased that this See WAC, Page 8
Students take part in breast cancer awareness By Melissa Jones The Collegian This October marks the 25th year of being the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and students throughout Fresno State got involved. More than 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer were reported in 2009. F re s n o S t at e A t h l e t i c s Marketing Assistant Kendra Miller said many of the sports teams throughout the athletics department have or will dedicate a night to breast cancer awareness. On Sept. 17, the women’s soccer team hosted their “Breast Cancer Awareness Night” against UC Irvine. Entry to the game was free, but $2 from every “Bulldogs vs. Breast Cancer” bracelet sold was donated to Komen Central Valley. Two hundred of the “Bulldogs vs. Breast Cancer” bracelets were sold, creating more than $400 in sales was generated.
Fresno State’s women’s volleyball team also dedicated a game night to breast cancer awareness on Sept. 25 against Boise St. and donated $1 of each ticket to Komen Central Valley. Survivors were also recognized at the game. “Fresno State Athletics has always had a great relationship with Komen Central Valley,” Miller said. Casey Mor ris, Susan G. Komen Central Valley Public Relations Chair, said that the organization likes to reach out to the local community. “Komen Race for the Cure cares about community involvement, especially when it involves students,” Morris said. “Since the race is hosted on campus, it makes it easier for students to be involved and to participate in the day’s activities.” The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Central Valley chapter, is now held on campus every October. The walk took place this past Saturday. “About 75 percent of the
money raised goes to fund local breast health education, cancer screening and treatment for the medically underserved,” Morris said. Race for the Cure is an outlet that many groups within the Central Valley have chosen to raise funds for. Pre-nursing major Sarah Thorpe participates in the race every year with her friends and family. “It’s a way that we can acknowledge that breast cancer is a huge threat to young women, and that awareness of the disease, and money, needs to be raised,” Thorpe said. This year’s race had an even bigger meaning to Thorpe. Thorpe, 19, recently experienced a scare that will forever change her view of the disease. “I had a biopsy for a mysterious lump in early October, but everything tur ned out to be okay,” Thor pe said. “It’s important that we don’t ignore it just because we’re so young.”
Athletics at Fresno State isn’t the only way that students are getting involved with awareness month. Many clubs on campus are also getting involved. Sororities at Fresno State, such as Kappa Kappa Gamma, have also participated in Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
“I
t’s important that we don’t ignore it just because we’re so young.” — Sarah Thorpe, Student, Fresno State
The sorority participated in Making Strides for Breast Cancer last October. Kappa Kappa Gamma member Lauren Ruh said that about 45 members participated in the walk. They plan to continue the tradition starting next October. “Most of the people who
signed up walked for someone in their life that had been diagnosed with breast cancer,” Ruh said The Paul Warfield Tibbets Jr. Philanthropy Club” on campus has helped raise money and awareness with organizations such as the Breast Cancer Prevention Fund. Another club, Colle g es Against Cancer, has provided students and staff with volunteer opportunities with the American Cancer Society, along with improved college communities with awareness and supporting programs. Fresno State’s men’s and women’s basketball team will hold their Breast Cancer Awareness Night on Feb. 24, 2011. “Not all sports compete in October, so we try and raise awareness of breast cancer all year long,” Miller said. Miller said that both the swimming and diving teams are also planning to dedicate a night at the end of January.