[X]press The Golden Gate
A&E:
Mario, Bowser and Donkey Kong FTW! Art exhibit displays video game culture. Page 6
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
INSIDE:
Charlie Sheen coverage: Just right, or overdone? You be the judge. Page 8
VOLUME LXXXX — ISSUE 7
Half a year later, deal reached in Haley case Former cheer coach pleads guilty to embezzling funds By Megan Taros
ch2no3@mail.sfsu.edu
SASHA TIVETSKY — [X]PRESS
UNREST: CCSF student Amanda Maystead speaks into a megaphone during the protest of the budget cuts and rising tuition during the Day of Action rally on March 2 at SF State.
Day of (in)Action lacks numbers Protest to save colleges fizzles from rain, lack of student support
By Chase S. Kmec ckmec@mail.sfsu.edu March 2, 2011 will most likely be remembered as the ‘Day of Little Action.’ This year’s Day of Action to save public education across California garnered some attention, but did not draw huge crowds at campuses statewide as expected—and SF State was no exception to the lower-than-expected turnout. An estimated 100 students and faculty began rallying at Malcolm X Plaza and marched the two miles from the Cesar Chavez Student Center to City College of San Francisco’s main campus on Ocean Avenue. “Given the weather, we didn’t expect to see that many people marching,” said Akasha Perez, 21, a political science major and member of Students for Quality Education. “I think the day went well and I’m proud of the support
MARCH 2 continued on Page 9
ERIK VERDUZCO — [X]PRESS
PICKET: A woman chants with other students and teachers protesting budget cuts at the corner of 19th and Holloway avenues.
After nearly six months of court appearances, former SF State cheer coach Ashlee Nicole Haley pled guilty to one count of embezzlement Monday. The prosecution recommended to Judge Jeff Ross that Haley be sentenced to three years probation with credit for time served, 200 hours of community service, and pay restitution in the amount of $14,864.02. Haley, who was accused of accepting $20,000 from her teammates and using the money for personal expenditures, was initially charged with 12 counts of grand theft, 16 counts of obtaining money under false pretenses and one count of embezzlement, all of which were dismissed—excluding the embezzlement charge. When Haley last appeared in court March 1, the defense and the prosecution were haggling over the amount of restitution due after Haley’s claim that some funds she was charged with embezzling actually went to teammates’ uniforms. The final amount she will pay reflects the money actually spent on the uniforms. The decision not to give Haley jail time was based on the attitudes of some of the other cheerleaders from whom the money was taken. “Most of the victims wanted restitution versus jail time,” said Sanaz Nakein, district attorney for the case who specializes in large-sum embezzlement cases. “That’s something we took into consideration.” As a part of her probation, Haley will also have to submit to searches at any time with or without probable cause. After paying the restitution and completing her community service hours – 93 of which have been completed as of Feb. 10 – Haley will be allowed to have her charge dropped from a felony to a misdemeanor. “It’s not likely that we’ll object to this,” Nakein said.
HALEY continued on Page 9
RIGHTS Better workplace
CALLS FOR CHANGE:
Domestic workers seek better treatment By Kelly Goff kgoff@mail.sfsu.edu Calls for paid sick days, overtime pay and a safe and healthy workplace were just some of the demands that had men and women packed in a meeting room at the Women’s Center in the Mission district March 6 calling out in chorus, “Si se puede!” The list is part of the California Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, a document outlining steps for better treatment of the state’s estimated 200,000 household workers, including nannies, housekeepers and caretakers for the elderly or disabled. The California legislation, which is modeled on a successful effort that became law in New York last year, is slated to be heard in committee March 20. “So many of us want to be good employers, but we
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don’t know how,” said Jessica Lehman, a leadership organizer for Hand in Hand, a group that advocates for education of domestic employers. Lehman told the crowd, “If we’re going to have justice overall, we need to be standing together.” Supporters hope that their push for greater protections for household workers will soon be realized after Tom Ammiano, the state assemblyman who represents San Francisco, and fellow assemblyman V. Manuel Perez of Coachella introduced AB 889, which includes the bill of rights, to the legislature Feb. 17. “This is a job that should be treated like any other job,” Lehman said. Activists say that the bill will give employees greater access to basic workers rights such as rest breaks, workers
DOMESTIC continued on Page 9
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A woman acts out her experience as a domestic worker during a play performed as part of an event honoring the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day and launching a campaign to support the California Domestic Workers Bill of RIghts March 6.
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CAMPUS.....................PG 2&3 CITY............................PG 4&5 A&E................................PG 6 OPINION..........................PG 8 SPORTS....................PG 10&11 WEEKLY SURVEY.............PG 2
JASMINE BEAGHLER— [X]PRESS
POLICE BLOTTER.............PG 2 REMINDER: “Fool for Love” play in SF State LIttle Theatre, March 11, 8 p.m. $ 8 in advance, $15 at the door.