The Golden Gate Xpress Issue #8

[X]press The Golden Gate

INSIDE:

City celebrates St. Patrick’s Day Pages 6&7

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

OPINION:

Contribution urges restructuring Proposition 13 Page 8

VOLUME LXXXX — ISSUE 8

Response system is lacking in structure Campus emergency plan is insufficient during tsunami

By Sara Donchey

sdonchey@mail.sfsu.edu

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER — [X]PRESS

KISS ME, I’M IRISH: Ashley Rapp (left) and Jenny Babcock (right) drink in the beer garden during the annual San Francisco St. Patrick’s Day celebration in front of City Hall March 12.

Parade launches St. Patty’s party More ‘lucky’ events on the way March 16th and 17th

Something cultural Irish California: An Evening with the California Historical Society Collection WHEN: Weds., March 16, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: 678 Mission St., San Francisco COST: $4 Something fun Irish Bank St. Patrick’s Day Block Party WHEN: Thurs., March 17, 1 p.m. to 2 a.m.

WHERE: Mark Lane, Financial District, San Francisco COST: Free before 4 p.m., $5 after 4 p.m.

Some way to get home Berg Injury Lawyers is once again sponsoring a “Safe and Sober Free Cab Ride Home” for those who enjoy the party a little too much.

In Alameda, Oakland and Berkeley, call (800) 281-4488 In San Francisco, call (415) 282-4141 For parade coverage, see pages 6 and 7

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER — [X]PRESS

DANCING: Students from the Keenan Irish Dance School performed along McAllister Street at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown San Francisco March 12.

In the wake of a disaster as massive as the earthquake and tsunami that recently rocked Japan, students are beginning to critique their own campus’s plans for emergency response.

San Francisco is no stranger to unpredictable plate tectonics: The unprecedented 1906 earthquake that ruptured the San Andres fault across 296 miles nearly destroyed San Francisco.

The “Great Earthquake” was estimated at between 7.7 and 8.3 in magnitude and claimed 498 lives within city limits. The recent 9.0 quake in Japan, considered to be the best-prepared country in the world for an earthquake, has claimed more than 3,000 lives and caused an estimated $100 billion in economic damage — so far.

Nuclear reactor’s two and three in Fukushima were deemed unsalvageable at approximately 1 p.m. Wednesday local time after the Japanese government found there was nothing more workers could do to prevent a nuclear meltdown.

So how would SF State hold up in an unparalleled disaster like this?

“I don’t know,” said Gayle Orr-Smith, the University’s emergency coordinator. “I don’t know about a 9.0. There are situations that would overwhelm.”

Orr-Smith said that disasters of such magnitude are nearly impossible to anticipate.

“You reach a point where it’s impossible to prepare for the unknown,” Orr-Smith said “That’s the reality.”

Although there may not exist a way to prepare for the unimaginable, SF State does have various lines of defense in the event of an emergency.

“Here we have a mass notification system,” said Orr-Smith. “Within two or three minutes, the whole campus would be notified about a disaster.

Sirens would be sounded.”

TSUNAMI continued on Page 9

UNSANITARY Trains

Study finds bacteria on BART seat

By Brenda Reyes breyes@mail.sfsu.edu Andrea Simpson, an SF State student, has made it a ritual to either change her clothes or get in the shower straight after a one-hour ride on BART from Daly City to her home in Concord.

The accounting major said she prefers to stand on the train and use the handrail to keep her balance rather than enjoy the soft, comfortable seats BART customers have been riding for 40 years.

“I knew BART was sketchy, but now that the truth is out, I have to be more cautious,” 18-yearold Simpson said.

The truth Simpson alluded to is that fecal and skin-borne bacteria, resistant to antibiotics, along with different types of mold were found in a seat

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on a train going from Daly City to Dublin/Pleasanton last week.

The report has received national attention, including from the New York Times.

However, Darleen Franklin, whom the Bay Citizen commissioned to execute the study, said riders should not assume that there is a big public health risk at this point because her results were preliminary.

“It would be inaccurate to say every seat on BART is contaminated with this bacterium because I only tested one random seat,” Franklin said. “I need a bigger sample.”

A more comprehensive analysis may eventually come, as Franklin said she would like to conduct

GERMS continued on Page 9

SEE MULTIMEDIA, SLIDESHOWS, VIDEOS AND MORE ONLINE AT: PRESS GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG GOLDEN GATE

]

SANDY HA— [X]PRESS

GERMS: SF State student Cara Stanislaw heads home after school by commuting from the Daly City BART to Pittsburgh/ Bay Point BART stations on Monday, March 14.

CAMPUS.....................PG 2&3 A&E.................................PG 4 CITY................................PG 5 FOCUS........................PG 6&7 OPINION..........................PG 8 SPORTS........................ PG 10

WEEKLY SURVEY.............PG 2 POLICE BLOTTER.............PG 2 REMINDER: Last day for Credit/No Credit is Friday, March 18.

Campus

2 Wednesday, Mar. 16, 2011

SF STATE

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BEAUTY Herstory month

SPEAKS Women’s

OUT

A weekly unscientific survey of SF State students.

“What’s the grossest thing you have seen on BART?” Reporting by Brittney Barsotti, Photos by Sasha Tivetsky “One time last week I sat down on BART and looked to the left and I saw puke all down the window.”

Nick Ivanovic, business, junior, 23 “I saw this man, I’m not sure if he was homeless or what. He was scraping the bottom of his feet while I was on my way to school. I stopped taking BART to school.”

Lisa Mazzanti, sociology, junior, 21 “Just half naked bums sitting on there.”

Roxy Ramero, leisure & development, junior, 20 “Used condoms.”

Jeff Davenport, finance, senior, 21

“I got on the train and everyone was on their phones at once. One guy got on the train and sat in vomit. He didn’t even realize it until he got off the phone.”

Devaughn Roseman, dance, sophomore, 20

image hit by labels

By Noemy Mena nmena@mail.sfsu.edu The unique societal pressures incurred by women of color involve facing intersecting oppressions of race and gender within the stereotypes prescribed by the mass media.

In honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s Herstory Month, SF State hosted the Questioning Race, Size and Gender in Beauty Standards workshop inside the Richard Oakes Multicultural Center March 10.

Students were able to learn about the negative and inaccurate labels that women of color often absorb from both peers and the media.

“These labels aren’t who you are,” said Genne Scott, an English major and student speaker. “But you have to fit the portrayal just to survive in society.”

Scott defines herself as a “boi,” a gender identity in which a woman feels comfortable acting and appearing masculine. Growing up exposed to images of “bois” with similar lifestyles, she questioned if her personality originated from life experiences or from societal expectations that were pushed upon her.

“As a ‘boi,’ I have to always define myself as masculine,” Scott said. “There’s always a performance and this pressure to be something that I couldn’t.”

Featured media for this week

Corrugated cardboard chaos hits CELLspace Would-be warriors accosted each other with cardboard weapons March 11 during Boxwars.

Founder Mat Kladney, who first experienced Boxwars in Australia, brought together recycling, punk rock and all out chaos to Potrero Hill’s

Scott said that from a young age, women are taught they should adhere to society’s demands instead of letting others accept their individual lifestyles.

“It doesn’t have anything to do with you because these labels were created before you were born,” Scott said.

Patricia Valladolid, an SF State graduate student and fellow speaker for the event, also said those labels had a strong affect on women.

“We’re hyper-exposed to these images,” Valladolid said. “There’s always this constant negotiation within yourself, a constant struggle. There’s never going to be a way to portray who you really are.”

Valladolid, who said her thesis subject is nutrition of Latinos in the U.S., questioned the obsession of dieting among women and the practice of shifting from living a healthier life to improving one’s appearance.

“Losing weight has some sort of social advantages,” Valladolid said. “Dieting is as

much a part of the American culture as eating.”

Valladolid also said women of color have even more pressure to look a certain way, with voluptuous hips and a curvy backside, they are often neglected in the narrow beauty standard that constantly shadows them.

Many speakers agreed that women of color should engage in an open conversation about their bodies when particular questions arise.

“Just tell them about yourself and educate them,” Valladolid said. “Open that gate so people won’t jump to assumptions.”

Similarly, Dr. Francine Shakir, moderator for the workshop, said women of color can positively change the perception of others collectively.

“It’s a complex process,” Shakir said. “We have work to do as women and need to be aware of how women are shaped. We are struggling to get past these limitations. We have the power to change that and what is fed to the media.”

Campus set to be infused with rhythm Inaugural music festival will bring world famous stars

By Megan Taros ch3no2@mail.sfsu.edu Gators will dance to a new beat at SF State’s first ever Rhythms Music Festival hosted by the Associated Students Inc. and Student Life.

The event begins today and will last until Friday, March 18.

ASI and Student Life established it with the hope of bringing together the campus community.

“For the past few years, there’s been a lockdown on these types of events due to some bad events in the past,” said Travis Northup, vice president of external affairs for ASI. “We finally convinced the University that it’s worth it to bring them back. This year, we’re really looking to create events to get students to want to be on campus more often.”

ASI Creative Arts Representative Franko Ali proposed the event, which began to come together when it gained support

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STANDARDS: Patricia Valladolid, center, presents “Las Dietas Sagradas” (The Sacred Diets) at Questioning Race, Size, and Gender in Beauty Standards March 11.

PRESS

CELLspace.

Bands Not Even a Mouse, The 132, and Bum City Saints created a frantic soundtrack for the masses of cardboard and duct tape. Dolores Park may house the next Boxwars event this summer. Check out [X]press Online for more information.

- Gil Riego

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from a variety of students as well as representatives from KSFS Radio. The event cost $19,000 and the money came from the financial board, which allots $3 million toward ASI and the many events and organizations that it funds.

Ali believes the investment of time and effort was well worth it.

“Just seeing the excited Facebook wall posts and hearing the word spread around campus has been more than enough to reassure me that this is a fantastic project to have undertaken as a student representative,” he said.

Rhythms begins today in The Depot and will feature bands such as Weatherbox, Boys IV Men and nine local bands. The event is free to the public.

Tomorrow, the event will focus on hip-hop, featuring three artists: From the Hip, Audible Mainframe and Del the Funky Homosapien. This will take place in Jack Adams Hall from 6 to 10 p.m. and is free for students and $10 for non-students.

“I’m very glad we get to rock at SF State,” said Tion Bukue, Del the Funky Homosapien’s publicist. “We’ll keep it funky and ‘edu-taining.’”

Del the Funky Homosapien

will also be hosting a hip-hop workshop where he will be having a question and answer session with fans prior to the show, which will be held from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in Knuth Hall.

“We like to get a chance to interact with the fans on a more personal level when we have the opportunity,” said Bukue.

The event will close with a Noise Complaint electro party that will feature three headlining artists - Designer Drugs, Tron Jeremy and MPHD. It will take place from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. in the Cesar Chavez Student Center.

The event is free to SF State students and a guests 18 or older.

“This event is going to be unlike anything most people on our campus have seen in their time here,” Ali said. “The variety in events…offer a bit of everything to all musical tastes.”

So far, 732 students RSVP’d to the event on Facebook and many students are praising the event for its uniqueness.

“It’s a really awesome idea,” said international relations major Krystle Prasad. “We’ve never had anything like that on campus before.”

Some students, however, be-

lieve that the event is not necessary.

“It’s a waste of time and money,” said Alex Royea, psychology major. “We’re in a time where we shouldn’t be spending money on things that are not strictly for education.”

Ali expects the event to be a success that will carry on for years to come.

“We tried to bring in some of everything,” Ali said. “Hopefully next year, with more student support and input, we can go bigger and louder, enhancing the campus community and giving students more of what they want to see.”

THE BLOTTER

Campus crime log from the past week

Snatch and stab

Officers responded to reports of a man being detained for attempting to steal from the bookstore in the early afternoon of March 10. Officers made contact with the subject and realized he was also in possession of a knife.

The suspect was arrested for possession of a knife and shoplifting and transported to San Francisco County Jail.

Puke and a pile of poo A community service officer was flagged down by a subject who reported feces and vomit in the lobby of Library Annex I on the evening of March 12.

Environmental Health and Occupational Safety as well as the custodial staff were notified and a police report was taken.

— Compiled by Tom Garcia

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Campus

Wednesday, Mar. 16, 2011 3

Powwow offers a look Japanese Student Association to back on culture, history raise funds for disaster victims TSUNAMI Relief

An American Indian celebration at ‘Time to Honor Women’ event

By Chase S. Kmec ckmec@mail.sfsu.edu Dressed in traditional regalia, various children got a taste of their heritage Saturday when they accompanied their elders in performing intricate dances and singing as part of a daylong event to celebrate women in Native American society.

“It’s great seeing the kids get pride and satisfaction in participating and observing their culture,” said Michael Orena, 27, an SF State cinema major.

Around 500 people crowded Jack Adams Hall March 12 to witness the SF State Student Kouncil of Intertribal Nations’ 36th annual “Time to Honor Women” powwow. The gathering featured traditional dances and music, including an allwomen drum circle, and representatives from tribal nations across the western United States and Mexico.

“It’s a very important and complex theme because there are so many ways to honor women,” said John-Carlos Perea, assistant professor of American Indian studies at SF State. “What’s important to see is that there’s no one way to do that.”

The event also recognized four women who have contributed to the strengthening of indigenous culture and knowledge.

One of the women who was recognized, Gabriela Segovia-McGahan, oversees operations for SF State’s American Indian studies and Raza studies programs.

The decision to focus on women at this year’s powwow was made last year when tribal artist and activist L. Frank Manriquez attended several SKINS meetings

and suggested the 2011 event take a different approach.

“We wanted to recognize and involve as many strong women as possible,” Manriquez said, who also served as the master of ceremonies. “Women do a lot of the work. What they’re doing is inspiring other women.”

Manriquez is a member of the Tongva and Acjachemen nations of Southern California.

“We don’t need applause, but we don’t need to be invisible either,” Manriquez said.

While Manriquez admitted to playing a large role in organizing the event, she ultimately concluded that the majority of the responsibility was in the hands of students.

“There has been more enthusiasm in the ASI program,” said Elise Ukestad, a 22-year-old women and gender studies major and SKINS member. “Faculty is responsive when students are genuinely interested. A lot of people wanted to make this powwow great.”

The day was not without its serious observances. An impromptu dance and tribal chant was performed in memory of the victims of the deadly earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan March 11.

Nonetheless, the overall festive mood of the gathering did not lose its momentum as varying dance and singing contests carried on throughout the day in all age groups.

Many of the attendees at the powwow had strong feelings toward the importance of the women-centric themes on display.

“I think it’s beautiful to be celebrating and acknowledging the woman’s role in Native culture,” said Cathy Douglas, an independent filmmaker who traveled from Sedona, Ariz., to see her son-in-law Eddie Madril participate in the powwow. “But I think at our core, we’re all human.”

By Audrey Arthur audreya@mail.sfsu.edu

Although no JSA members have lost immediate family members in the tsuThe devastation of the nami or earthquake, the tsunami following the mag- catastrophe has affected nitude 9 earthquake off the many close to the group.

“We were born and northeastern coast of Japan has left many fleeing while raised there, and we have heart there,” Fukai said. unaware of the next steps.

In a single day of funWhile Japan faces growing uncertainty, organi- draising, the JSA raised zations across continents more than $3,300 for the and seas are unreservedly victims of Japan.

At the answering time, the the call to f u n d s comfort. w e r e The SF b e i n g State Japaplaced nese Stuinto a sindent Asgle cardsociation b o a r d responded box in the immediately to asMiki Fukai, JSA Vice center of sist the rePresident the JSA table and lief, even before a formal group deci- was nearly filled Tuesday afternoon. sion took place.

Due to the hurried re“We didn’t wait,” said JSA Vice President Miki sponse by the JSA, the orFukai. “We were like ‘let’s ganization of the charity just do it now, right at this may have been lacking, but the compassion of the moment’.”

The JSA will be tabling cause is obvious.

While some threw in rain or shine from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. this week in an effort large bills others could to raise funds for those im- only throw in a few coins; regardless, JSA members pacted by the disaster.

Several JSA members said they were more than implored passersby to do- thankful for the emotional and monetary support of nate to the cause.

“A lot of innocent people the SF State community “I feel such support and are hurting and dying,” Fukai said. “We want students love, it was such a great to be aware of what’s hap- emotion to have,” Fukai said. “Our country is loved pening overseas.”

“

I feel such support and love, it was such a great emotion to have. Our country is loved by this city.”

415-586-9400

by this city.”

As a thank you to those who donate, the JSA table was littered with tiny origami figures to be given to those who give any amount Patti Patterson, a biology major, made a quick stop to give her contribution.

“My heart really does go out to the people there,” Patterson said. “We could suffer a similar fate in California, we should help each other.”

Patterson, who was saddened by the images of Japan, said she would likely come back to make another donation.

“It’s devastating to watch,” she said. “I think people should try every opportunity to help.”

The JSA is still holding conversation to decide which organization the funds will be allocated.

After the success of tabling, the JSA plans to continue relief efforts by coordinating future charity events.

Members commented that because the future of Japan is so vague, donating perishable goods could be of little help at this point in time.

“We want to raise money, as much as possible and as soon as possible,” said JSA career coordinator Mayumi Minoda. “Our one goal is to help people through their suffering.”

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A&E

4 Wednesday, Mar. 16, 2011 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Music Event: Rhythms Music Festival Venue: Cesar Chavez Student Center 1600 Holloway Ave. Date: March 16-18 Time: 3 p.m.

Price: Free Age: All Ages

Music Event: Marnie Stern, Tera Melos Venue: Bottom of the Hill 1233 17th St. Date: March 18 Time: 8:30 p.m.

Price: $12 Age: All Ages

Art Event: Lunar Mission Venue: Venue: Southern Exposure 3030 20th St. Date: March 19 Time: 7 p.m.

Price: Varies Age: All Ages

Fashion Event: Vintage Fashion Expo Venue: Concourse Exhibition Center 635 Eighth St. Date: March 20 Time: 11 a.m.

Price: $10 Age: All Ages

Charity Event: Stadium Stampede Venue: AT&T Park 24 Willie Mays Plaza Date: March 20 Time: 8 a.m.

Price: Free with $100 funds raised Age: All Ages

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New show puts spin on charity Vinyl transformed into art to raise funds for the needy

By Chris Ternate cternate@mail.sfsu.edu The walls of North Beach’s Gallery 28 looked as if a rainbow exploded inside a Capitol Records office.

Gallery 28 hosted the opening reception for an exhibit March 2 entitled Vinyl Transformations, in which records served as the canvas for numerous artists hoping to raise money for North Beach Citizens – an organization benefiting those in the neighborhood who are in need. The art exhibition runs until April 2.

“It’s so uplifting when you think that with budget cuts and grants disappearing, that there’s an organization doing something proactively, bringing a community together,” said Ethel Jimenez, the owner of Gallery 28, located at 1228 Grant Ave. The organization aims to help both the homeless and low-income residents in North Beach.

NBC worked with Gallery 28 last year to showcase skateboard decks that artists had worked on, raising $6,000.

This year, however, the organization’s creative arts committee chose a recycling theme, eventually using records as canvases.

“When I did the stuff on the skateboard, I did ‘collage-y’ stuff,” said artist Genea Barnes. “This time, I wanted to preserve the feel of the record.”

NBC held a silent auction to sell the pieces, but the artwork is also on the market immediately for a “buy it now” price. Various pieces have already garnered a number of bids.

The gallery also accepted donations directly to the NBC. Artists had the option of donating all or half of the proceeds from the sale of their pieces.

“I tend to donate a lot of art and think more people buy art through charity events,” said artist Amanda Lynn, who donated half of her earnings.

The donations reflect NBC’s goal of connecting the homeless to the community.

NBC, which filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola founded in 1996, is an active part of the neighborhood, offering various services such as the NBC Community Food Pantry that provides food to North Beach’s low-income, disabled and elderly residents.

“When a person comes to NBC and makes a commitment, they make one to you,” Jimenez said.

NBC has already assisted more than 100 people

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER — [X]PRESS

VINYL: An observer inspects the vinyl art pieces at Vinyl Transformations exhibition at Gallery 28 located in North Beach on March 12. get back on their feet – assisting with housing, obtaining identification and becoming employed.

“In any neighborhood, you have that kind of group trying to help out and each neighborhood has different needs,” Barnes said. “There’s a different type of feel for the needy in each neighborhood. It’s great when a coalition caters to the specific needs of a neighborhood.”

Vinyl Transformations offered a fun way to help the underprivileged. While unusual, the idea of using records was a welcomed change for many of the artists who found creative ways of utilizing the round space.

“It was cool, I liked the texture and it was pretty interesting to paint,” Lynn said.

While asked not to go too far out of the box when it came to creatively using the records, Jimenez said that they were flexible with the art, despite the limited space of the gallery.

Some chose to turn the records into sculptures and even made the record a portion of the work rather than the overall focus.

Barnes was one of the many who stayed within the boundaries of the record but said that she enjoyed working with the unique medium.

“Any time I get to think outside my normal box, it’s kind of fun,” Barnes said. “I get to think, ‘how do I get what I have in my heart on this?’ It gets my creative juices flowing and anytime I get challenged in that way, it gets me inspired.”

Barnes named her piece “Sea Green/Blue 7,” describing the colors in the work.

“I don’t like the idea of viewers getting confused,” Barnes said. “There’s so much artwork that I’ll look at, and I read the title and it’ll change the idea of what I think. I want the viewers to come up with their own thought.”

For the artists, the opportunity was a chance to be part of not only an organization, but also a part of the neighborhood.

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER — [X]PRESS

RECORDS: Vinyl art pieces at the Vinyl Transformations exhibition at Gallery 28 located in the North Beach district on March 12.

“I’ve worked in the neighborhood for over ten years,” Barnes said. “I feel I’m a part of it, so any chance I can give back with my artwork, I try to do that.”

Barnes’ sentiment is what the exhibit is all about: community cohesion.

“This event brought in the entire community,” Jimenez said. “Whether it’s writing a check or buying one of the records, you can make a difference.”

WOMAN Hear me roar

Feminism finds a new safe haven at SF State

By Devery Sheffer

dsheffer@mail.sfsu.edu

“Power to the Pussy!”

Seven women clad in matching pink shirts and berets chanted on stage at SF State’s Knuth Hall March 10, as they demanded a revolution in name of this year’s 16th-annual International Women’s Day Celebration.

Art forms of all mediums – including theater, poetry and dance – were incorporated into the event, which aimed to empower women and raise awareness of current women’s issues.

This was the first year SF State hosted the event that usually takes place at The Women’s Building in the Mission district.

According to the ReVulvaLution website, the theme for this year’s performance, more than 900 people attend the event annually. Loco Bloco, a nonprofit organizations that helped coordinate the event, collaborated with several other groups including The SAFE Place, a campus organization that is committed to combatting

sexual violence; the Good Samaritan Family Resource Center; Mission Girls; and One3snapshot.

“Women are naturally creative creatures,” said Aleks Zavaleta, executive director of Loco Bloco. “So it’s a platform to be able to heal yourself as well as bring out education and awareness to the community.”

According to Zavaleta, the event has been steadily growing both artistically and professionally since it first began as a small potluck celebrating mothers.

Now the event is a full production where women who are unable to speak out against gender injustices are provided a space in which they can voice their frustrations through artistic expression.

Each year the event has a theme based on current issues facing women.

The theme of ReVulvaLution challenges women of all ages to recognize and shed demeaning stereotypes in order to create new perspectives of gender.

The issues of body image, sexuality and living with HIV were topics covered throughout the event, which ended with a performance from Loco Bloco’s all-female percussion band, L’Guerreras da Paz. Kim Moon, a San Francisco resident, has been playing drums with L’Guerreras da Paz since 2006 after she was introduced to the free classes that Loco Bloco offered to the community.

The classes include stilt walking, drums, theater and dance.

She drummed on stage while her 8-year-old daughter and friend watched from the front row of the audience.

“She comes to practices with us and she loves seeing what women can do,” Moon said of her daughter. “This whole environment is probably one of the best gifts I can give her.”

Teaching a new generation of women about sexism and violence against women was the main focus of the event.

According to Zavaleta, society and

the mass media form an eraser to the progress made by feminists from the past and girls often don’t realize that they are being boxed into stereotypes.

Brenda Lopez, a high school student from Pescadero High School, attended the event with 10 other girls from the group “Puente”.

According to their website, the organization provides essential services to the people of San Mateo’s rural south coast.

Lopez and her friends enjoyed the event, she said, especially the comedic relief provided by the Pink Pussies, who marched and chanted messages of revolution while wearing ammunition belts loaded with tampons.

But Lopez and her friends did more than just laugh, they learned.

“I realized that women are being put down and that women are usually against each other,” Lopez said. “I think that in order to be able to fight the world, women need to combine and we need to work together and then we will overcome.”

City

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Wednesday, Mar. 16, 2011 5

Activists serve up beets, not bombs Local group uses discarded food to feed SF’s needy

By Christine Tjandra ctjandra@mail.sfsu.edu The sweet scent of carrot-ginger soup lingered to tinge the noses of those outside the 16th and Mission BART station. Pots filled with beans, vegetables and soup - all vegan - surrounded the volunteers serving food.

“Food, not bombs!” Daisy Collazo cried to passersby.

Food Not Bombs is not a charity group.

Developed in the midst of the Cold War as an anti-nuclear movement, Food Not Bombs evolved and widened its messages to include the need to feed the hungry.

Today, it is a movement consisting of loose-knit collectives that share vegan and vegetarian food with the goal of fighting hunger while at the same time promoting anti-capitalism and anti-war messages.

“Food Not Bombs is a statement against the wastefulness in a capitalist structure wherein massive amounts of food are being disposed of every day,” said Aiden Gleisberg, a volunteer with the organization. “So, we put that food to good use considering there are people who go without having food on a daily basis.”

He continued, “The second part is a political statement of getting a recognition that the government is investing billions of dollars on other efforts, particularly like the war, instead of to

people who are living in the U.S. arrested for sharing food, as he understands the difficulty of livThat’s the ‘not bombs’ part.”

For more than 20 years, the ing with limited resources.

Before he joined Food Not group shared food without a permit, a practice that got them into Bombs, Hexter experienced a petrouble with city officials. On riod of time when he had to contheir website, the group states stantly weigh shelter versus food.

“It’s like, ‘should I pay rent on they believe “revolution” does time or should I buy food?’” Hexnot “require any permits.”

In 1988, one of Food Not ter said.

In 2010, the Food and AgriculBombs’ chapters in San Francisco tried to obtain a permit for ture Organization of the United some community organizing for Nations reported that 925 million the first time, but was denied by people around the world are undernourished. the city.

After officials became aware “The idea of Food Not Bombs of the group’s movement, mem- is there should be free food for bers were repeatedly arrested for all,” Gleisberg said. “Food can sharing food. come for free.”

Collazo said she no longer Food Not Bombs collects food sees a real difficulty, like getting from various locations ranging arrested during from food banks her volunteerto dumpsters. ing, and she atThe group tributes this to tries to make the politics of use of good the city. In other food that othercities, it may not wise would be be so easy. thrown away.

“It has to The Food Not do with public Bombs group in opinion right the Mission renow,” she said. lies on regular “San Francisfood donations co just happens from Arriba to be a lenient Juntos, a nonplace where Aiden Gleisberg, volunteer profit group that people support works closely activism and things like feed- with immigrants. ing the homeless, which is a no“The food (that is donated brainer.” from Arriba Juntos) probably is In Orlando, under a city or- food that would otherwise go to dinance that was passed in July a dumpster, and we intercept it 2006, a permit is required for before it even hits the trash,” Colany organization that share food lazo said. with more than 25 people. The The Arriba Juntos organigroup continues to battle city of- zation obtains their food from ficials today. farmers, industries and grocery Ted Hexter, one of the volun- stores. teers at the San Francisco chapThe food can include items ter, said people should not be close to its sell-by date or test-

[X]PRESS ARCHIVES

REUSE: Local chapters of Food Not Bombs use food that would be thrown away to provide vegetarian or vegan meals to the SF’s hungry.

“

Food Not Bombs is a statement against the wastefulness in a capitalist structure wherein massive amounts of food are being disposed of every day.”

marketed products.

As Food Not Bombs has different chapters that operate independently from one another, a big city like San Francisco can have more than one group working within a community.

These groups operate their own autonomous “cookhouses” where they make their own decisions.

These groups, however, have some codes that the majority of chapters follow, like serving vegetarian or vegan food.

Most of the groups do not serve meat because it has a high-

er risk for spreading food-borne illnesses when served, especially if it is close to its expiration date.

The group also aligned with environmentalists by trying to feed people with plant-based diets, limiting human impact on the environment while further advocating its message of nonviolence.

A vegetarian diet is viewed as a way to avoid cruelty against animals.

Food Not Bombs is active in more than 60 countries with approximately 62 groups in California.

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6 Wednesday, Mar. 16, 2011

goldengatexpress.org - GOLDEN GATE [X]PRESS

Wednesday, Mar. 16, 2011 7

GOLDEN GATE [X]PRESS - goldengatexpress.org

Spectators gather downtown for parade, St. Patty’s celebrations

By Spencer DeVine spencerd@mail.sfsu.edu If green is your favorite color, you love finding pots full of gold coins and you have four-leaf clovers in your yard, then you’re already prepared for the greenest holiday of the year.

On March 12, San Francisco hosted its annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, which marched its way through downtown to City Hall. Crowds of greenclad individuals of all ages lined both sides of the road as early as two hours before the event on curbs, trashcans and lawn chairs in order to stake out a good spot.

As the crowds gathered to start the preemptive celebration of upcoming Saint Patrick’s Day this Thursday, it was plain to see that a majority of the spectators were not in fact Irish, though Humboldt State senior and music major Chris Werner said that didn’t matter on this holiday.

“Everyone becomes Irish on Saint Patrick’s Day, even if it’s just the green, so live it up,” Werner said.

Tom Dugan, who claimed to be 99 percent Irish with two Irish grandmothers and one Irish grandfather, said that the parade and other San Francisco events celebrating his heritage made it the best time of the year.

“I’m Irish, so I love this every year that I come because of the old fire engines, all the different historical troops, and the awesome music,” Dugan said. “I want to thank San Francisco for bringing me events like this.”

One of the leading historic groups was the Bushmill’s Irish Pipers Band of San Francisco. This band was formed in 1932 and pays tribute to Irish songs and heritage. Wes Weber, a member of the Pipers, said that his enjoyment of the holiday is not about Irish pride.

“It doesn’t mean all that much to me because I’m Scottish,” Weber said. “What my favorite part about it all is, is that we get lots of free beer because we get a lot more gigs this time of year.”

Although he loves the job’s free perks, music is still his passion.

“I love piping and I love to compete alongside this team,” Weber said. “The thing about piping is that it is hard to find, but once you find it you will never get rid of it.”

At City Hall, the end of the parade route, the festival swelled to considerable size. The event featured live entertainment, various kinds of food – from Italian sausage to chocolate-covered bacon – and a beer line perhaps longer than the parade itself.

Bands that took that stage included Culann’s Hounds, a hard-rocking Irish-traditional band, and Lucia Comnes, a violinist and singer who can sing in 30 different languages A vast number of spectators of all ages enjoyed the variety of activities and booths which were available to them.

For the kids, the festivities included a petting zoo, pony rides and a bounce house. For the adults, multiple seating areas were provided along with an extra beer garden, an open area which sold alcoholic drinks, so that nobody’s Saint Patrick’s Day would run dry.

After the parade, spectators had mixed reviews.

“On a scale of one to 10, I would probably give this parade a six,” said spectator Kathy Geer. “Not enough music was played, and it all seemed to rush by because the parade wasn’t long enough this year.”

Prior to the start of the parade, the floats, marchers and other assorted vehicles lined up along

JOHN H. BIRD— [X]PRESS

PEEKABOO: A girl looks out the window of the rear caboose of the train ride at the makeshift carnival at Civic Center on March 12 for St. Patrick’s Day. Second Street in the order they were assigned to march. Volunteers known as “marshals” organized the marchers, rushing up and down the line getting things together.

While still a tough job, many marshals found great joy in their position.

“Yeah we organize them, and you know it’s like trying to herd cats,” said Vietnam War veteran and parade marshal Richard Treat. “It’s fun though.

You get to meet new people, and you get to see the floats up real close and personal.”

Along with the musical acts and floats the Saint Patrick’s Day parade included highly-esteemed public officials such as District Attorney George Gascon, district seven supervisor Sean Elsbernd, and district four supervisor Carmen Chu. The vast number of bagpipes that sounded at the beginning of the parade, made it seem as if parade-goers were in an IMAX theater and the bagpiping was in Dolby surround sound.

However, not all the bands that played bagpipes: One of the marching band groups that stood out was the Humboldt State Lumberjacks scatter band, including Werner. Wearing T-shirts that said “Kiss My Axe,” the band played songs like Cee-lo Green’s “Forget You” and “I Got a Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas.

“Playing music is fun,” Werner said. “You get to make all kinds of connections with all kinds of great people,”

C

MARCHING: Tony Lei leads an Army JROTC team down Market Street as part of San Francisco’s 160th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 12.

EDWARD CHOW — [X]PRESS

ITY SEES GREEN

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER — [X]PRESS

BUCKETS: People on Market Street danced to the drumming of “Bucketman” before the St. Patrick’s Day Parade began March 12.

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER — [X]PRESS

FOUR LEAF CLOVER: Analise Gonzalez gets her face painted at the St. Patrick’s Day celebration March 12 at Civic Center Plaza.

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER — [X]PRESS

VUVUZELA: Finn Deuss toots a festive horn. Spectators gathered up to two hours before the event to get a prime spot along the route.

Opinion

8 Wednesday, Mar. 16, 2011

[X] press

VIOLENCE U.S. exaggeration

The Golden Gate

A PUBLICATION OF SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kelsey Avers - kavers@mail.sfsu.edu OPINION EDITOR Jessica Heller jeheller@mail.sfsu.edu ART DIRECTOR Geena Stellato geena@mail.sfsu.edu SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Daniel Gamberg gamberg@mail.sfsu. edu A&E EDITOR Eric Green egreen@mail.sfsu.edu CAMPUS EDITOR Tom Garcia tlgarcia@mail.sfsu.edu CITY EDITOR Kelly Goff kgoff@mail.sfsu.edu COPY CHIEF Caitlin Olson caitpat@mail.sfsu.edu COPY CHIEF John Blomster blomster@mail.sfsu. edu PHOTO EDITOR Eric Soracco esoracco@mail.sfsu. edu

MANAGING EDITOR Chris Haire - chaire@mail.sfsu.edu

MANAGING EDITOR Audrey Arthur - audreya@mail.sfsu.edu

EDITORIAL Relief effort

Japan needs aid now

A

9.0 magnitude earthquake, a 30-foot tall tsunami and a melting nuclear reactor are just the beginning.

Whole villages have been swept away. The power is out. Roads, airports and rail lines are all buried under water and debris, making logistics impossible. Food and water supplies are running low. Rebuilding will cost millions, if not billions, of dollars - and the Japanese Student Association is collecting donations.

They’ve been in the quad tabling and raised $3,317 its first day, a commendable effort. But, for every student that donates, far too many walk by, headphones in, sunglasses on, head down, completely oblivious.

Is this really how the SF State community is going to respond to a tragedy that could easily have happened right here?

We cannot let the apathy that has plagued our generation overflow into how we deal with this devastation. Sure, money is flowing into Japan from hundreds of countries and countless charities, but that doesn’t give students a right, or an excuse, to not give a few dollars.

Your donations would help Japan recover from a tragedy that grows worse seemingly by the hour.

Japan, a first-world country at the helm of modern technology, thought they were prepared for an earthquake. They had emergency supplies of food and water ready to be distributed. In fact, their buildings fared well when the initial quake struck.

In the end, though, the tsunami, which overtook existing flood walls and overflowed protective channels, caused the most damage. Farmland was flooded with sea water, and thousands of homes have been reduced to splinters and rubble.

These people need our help.

Japan faces years of rebuilding, and won’t be able to do everything on its own. They are looking to the rest of the world for help. This includes us.

Maybe the reason the donations haven’t come in as fast as for other natural disasters is because Japan is such an advanced nation. But, despite their preparedness, the country is still in critical condition.

Obviously times are tough right now. We’re all facing increased tuition and fees. We’re all working, paying rent, and trying to make ends meet. But, if the situation was reversed, would you want Japanese students ignoring an American relief effort?

No, probably not.

AARON TEIXEIRA Investigative Cartoonist

SPORTS EDITOR Alberto Penalva apenalva@mail.sfsu. edu MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Aaron Williams aar0n@mail.sfsu.edu FACULTY ADVISER Rachele Kanigel kanigel@sfsu.edu PHOTO ADVISER Ken Kobre kobre@aol.com MAGAZINE ADVISER Don Menn donmenn@mail.sfsu. edu

ADVERTISING Eva Charles echarles@mail.sfsu. edu PRODUCTION & BUSINESS Barbara Landis ggxads@mail.sfsu.edu Erika Rae Langdon elangdon@mail.sfsu. edu Susanna Ricio susy.r@hotmail.com CIRCULATION Cory Rayden crayden@mail.sfsu.edu I.T. CONSULTANT Arun Unnikrashnan arun@mail.sfsu.edu

goldengatexpress.org - GOLDEN GATE [X]PRESS

Don’t be fooled, cartel violence was overplayed

By Megan Taros ch3no2@mail.sfsu.edu

M

exico, the haven for spring breakers everywhere, is known for its beaches, low legal drinking age and the numerous travel warnings the U.S. placed against it. It makes sense because in Mexico, people can’t step foot outside without being shot by a ruthless member of a drug cartel, right?

Not exactly.

The numbers may seem scary, with 10,031 people reported dead as a result of the drug war as of 2009 — 2,550 alone in the rocky state of Chihuahua where Ciudad Juarez, Mexico’s murder capital, is located. When one considers the specifics of the issue, it is obvious that the U.S. is depicting Mexico as a nation that can’t control its citizens.

This is the quintessential example of the effects of racism and fear mongering. During the drug cartels’ years of freedom prior to ascension of President Felipe Calderon Hinojosa in 2006, the U.S. sold a number of guns to Mexico. Twelve percent of traceable guns are being used by the drug cartels.

It’s embarrassing that the U.S. has the gall to deem Mexico the only one responsible for this war considering its shady weapon sales.

That aside, the U.S. is the largest market for illicit drugs in the world.

Still, politicians prey on the Mexican drug war to propel racist anti-immigration legislation by citing violence and calling immigrants, as republican Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona said, “drug mules.”

This misunderstanding of the complexities of the war in Mexico has generated unfounded hatred that is dissolving a beneficial alliance with Mexico.

Discussion on the issue doesn’t even extend beyond the border states, except when tourist-laden cities are involved, at which point Mexico is depicted as anti-American, rife with violent cartel leaders willing to kill to make a political statement.

Mexico is marginalized as the U.S. ignores its diverse political landscape by portraying the entire nation as a trashy tourist trap that doesn’t extend more than a few miles away from the border.

When examining the numbers of Acapulco and Cancun, however, the numbers significantly dwindle: Quintana Roo, the state where Cancun is located, reported just 62 deaths since 2007, and 786 deaths have been reported in Guerrero.

The hysteria is growing greater despite everdropping numbers, including zero tourist-related deaths in cities with high American travel in 2010; still, Acapulco and Cancun are experiencing a 7.1 percent decrease in their economies in 2011 so far.

However, Mexico is still baring the brunt of the blame, even as the country took a risk to dismantle the cartels in order to protect its people.

Perhaps the U.S. should stop hiding its role in the war, stop its weak attempt to grab the reins and confess to the blood on its hands.

CONTRIBUTOR Reform property taxes

Fix what’s broken in Proposition 13, save public education

By Phil Ting assessor@sfgov.org Phil Ting is Assessor-Recorder of San Francisco and co-founder of Close the Loophole, the statewide organization to reform Proposition 13.

E

very spring brings with it the opportunity to right past wrongs and set a new course for the coming

months.

But when the new semester was ushered in, so too was the unfortunate reminder that California’s higher education system is still headed in the wrong direction.

On Jan. 1, a 5 percent tuition increase for the California State Uni-

ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION

versity system went into effect, costing students an additional $105 for the second half of the 2010-11 school year.

This increase is to be followed by a 10 percent annual increase, or $444, for the 2011-12 school year. And now the new state budget proposal asks for $1.4 billion in cuts to higher education, which will likely lead to even higher fees and deeper cuts.

The pain that has been inflicted while we raise tuition costs and reduce access to higher education is felt by more than students and their families. The only long-term solution to our state’s budget crisis is to grow our state’s economy. And there is no faster path to economic growth in our new knowledge economy than by increasing college opportunity.

SF State has been proactive in attacking its budget problems by establishing the University Planning Advisory Council. UPAC is designed to address ways that the school can save money while providing students with the quality education for which they pay. While taking this type of action is important, it doesn’t get to the root cause of the state’s budget crisis and subsequent inability to adequately fund higher education. To do that, we need to fix some of these systemic budget problems that create yearly shortfalls.

That’s why we need real long-term solutions to close the higher education budget gap. That’s one of the key reasons I have been building a movement to bring reform to California’s

The Golden Gate [X]press is a student-produced publication of the journalism department at San Francisco State University.

For more information or comments, please contact Chris Haire at chaire@mail.sfsu.edu.

WRITE US A LETTER

broken tax system - namely Proposition 13.

My proposal would institute a split tax roll that would continue Proposition 13’s protections for homeowners but create a more equitable tax structure for corporate commercial property. As passed in 1978, Proposition 13 included hidden major corporate loopholes that are costing the state nearly $7.5 billion per year. By fixing what’s broken in Proposition 13, we could generate billions in additional revenue at a time when our state is starved for cash.

Rather than repeatedly raising college costs, let’s resolve to create the long-term fiscal stability and fairness we need to adequately fund higher education in California.

The Golden Gate [X]press accepts letters no longer than 200 words. Letters are subject to editing. Send letters to Jessica Heller at jeheller@mail.sfsu.edu.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011 9

GOLDEN GATE [X]PRESS - xpress.sfsu.edu

BART: New seats will not be available until 2015 continued from Page 1

the “Fleet of the Future,” a project that will replace seats in all an extensive study of the bacte- 669 train cars, is scheduled to deria she found on BART when she liver its first 10 pilot cars in 2015.

“We will be looking for ways is done with her master’s degree in microbiology at SF State this to improve the cleanliness of the car interiors in the upcomspring.

“What I found is meant to in- ing fiscal year budget, which we form people, not scare them,” are formulating right now,” Bob Franklin said. “My intention is to Franklin said. “This may involve bring awareness to people about additional car cleaners, new supan unknown world of microbes plies and a trial of new seating options.” that is out there.”

The BART Board of Directors According to Franklin, it wasn’t a surprise to find the bacteria in a has yet to select a model different place where people with differ- from the existing cushioned seats ent hygiene practices, and from since it is in the process of evaluating seats from transit agendifferent origins, visit.

She said the fecal bacteria cies throughout the country, Bob could have gotten on the train’s Franklin said.

Meanwhile, he said people seat from a baby’s dirty diaper or from an adult who defecated should use the hand sanitizer on his or her clothes. The skin- provided at all 44 BART stations borne bacterium is one that lives before and after riding the trains.

Still, the prion human skin mary concern and nostrils.

Darlene FrankFranklin is lin has is that mainly conit is becomcerned because ing increasingthe skin-borne ly common to bacterium she find antibioticfound showed resistant baccharacteris t ics teria. of methicillin-re“We have sistant staphylo- Darlene Franklin, SF State coccus aureus, a graduate student created the environment for bacterium people acquire through open wounds. bacteria to grow and become reThe bacterium then attacks the sistant to drugs,” she said. “It’s immune system, causing 19,000 the result of feeding antibiotics deaths each year, according to to food animals, whose feces goes the Centers for Disease Control into the soil we use for crops.”

According to the Union of and Prevention website.

She said the elderly, children, Concerned Scientists website – a people with open wounds, and non-profit organization that aims those with an already weakened to create a healthier and safer enimmune system are most vulner- vironment – because of the overable to MRSA. crowded and unsanitary living Yet, despite the potential conditions for animals, it is nechealth risks, BART President Bob essary to add human antibiotics Franklin said BART will not re- to the animals’ feed to accelerate place its seats until 2017. growth and prevent diseases.

“To change the current fleet The site said approximately 70 for a limited period of time when percent of antibiotics produced new cars are on the horizon in the country are used in feed would be expensive,” the presi- for animals. This allows bacteria dent wrote in an e-mail. “It would to become resistant to commonly be more cost effective to replace used antibiotics. our current seats more frequentHowever, with new seats not ly.” coming before 2015 at the earliThe agency currently chang- est, BART customers will have es BART seats every three years to hope the bacterium is not enat a cost of $12,500 and spends demic to the entire fleet. And if $595,000 every year to dry clean riders are concerned with the 300 to 500 of the 40,000 seats health risks, it might be a good each week. idea to follow Simpson’s advice – According to BART’s website and head for the showers.

We have created “ the environment for bacteria to grow and become less resistant to drugs.”

TSUNAMI: University’s plan ignores the campus’ geological weaknesses continued from Page 1 SF State utilizes the National Incident Management System, or NIMS, a systematic, nationwide approach to incident management mandated by the Department of Homeland Security in the wake of Sept. 11.

“It’s the framework,” said OrrSmith. “It’s a way for the entire country to organize and mobilize so that emergency responders everywhere in the nation speak the same language.”

NIMS literature makes it clear that it is “not a response plan,” and that it is not situation-specific.

When it comes to a physical response plan, SF State implements the voluminous, 77-page citywide emergency response plan.

Although rumors abound, many SF Sate students are not aware of the existence of an

emergency plan for their campus.

“I’m sure they have some sort of plan, although I don’t know what it is,” said junior theater major Jonathan Riley. “I just don’t know about it.”

The response plan at SF State is like many others throughout the CSU system.

Despite unique challenges related to earthquake safety - such as the schools’ construction on soft sediment that could compromise the structural integrity of buildings on campus in the event of a quake­—SF State follows guidelines issued for all California State Universities with no school—specific plan in place.

“The baseline for all planning is the same throughout the CSU system,” said Orr-Smith. “As state entities, we are required to maintain that level of consistency.”

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Sports

10 Wednesday, Mar. 16, 2011

goldengatexpress.org - GOLDEN GATE [X]PRESS

Softball starts strong but loses series Despite winning first game, Gators drop the ball against the Otters

By Juan Martinez & Natasha Artavia xpressnewsstaff@gmail.com Clutch hitting, solid pitching and spectacular defensive plays helped the SF State women’s softball team avoid a sweep to the Cal State Monterey Bay Otters at home.

Seasoned senior Gators’ pitcher Ashley Jackson faced off against freshman Otter Kylie Linnane in the first of the fourgame series with Cal State Monterey Bay at “The Swamp.”

Although SF State lost the series 3-1 and were outscored 14-8, they split the first doubleheader match with a 3-1 victory March 11.

“The bottom line is we have to do three things: pitch well, play defense and score some runs,” said fourth-year head coach Cristina Byrne. “When we do this, great things tend to happen.”

Making her 11th start of the season in game one, Jackson (4-10), with a 1.74 earned run average, proved why pitching is an art that requires durability and precision: she not only pitched all seven innings for a complete game, but she also notched her fourth win of the season.

“I mean no matter who was up there, they couldn’t get a hit off of her,” said senior outfielder Alyssa Esquibel. “There were some balls hit back to her, and she made some incredible plays.”

Despite giving up a leadoff single to sophomore outfielder Angelina Orozco and a RBI-single to senior catcher Shae Olds in the first inning, Jackson dominated the rest of the game.

With her 5-foot-11-inch frame, Jackson was able to use her short stride, quick release point and smooth delivery to shut down the Otters’ offense.

Facing 25 batters, she gave up no walks, four hits, and one earned run in the game.

“We fought back,” Byrne said. “She had 10 strike outs on 85 pitches. We also finally got that big hit by Alyssa to seal the game.”

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Track & Field 3/19 Hornet Invitational Sacramento, Calif. TBA Baseball 3/18 at Cal State East Bay 3 p.m.

3/19 vs. Cal State East Bay (DH) 11 a.m.

3/20 at Cal State East Bay 11 a.m.

Softball 3/18 vs. Grand Canyon University (DH) 1 p.m.

3/19 vs. Grand Canyon University 12 p.m.

3/20 vs.

Hawaii-Hilo (DH) 1 p.m.

For more information on game dates, visit www. sfstategators. com

ERIC SORACCO— [X]PRESS

OUT: SF State senior Kendra Wood is tagged out by a Cal State Monterey defender while sliding into third during the Gators’ first game of a doubleheader against the Otters at home on March 11.

The Gators’ big hit came in the fourth inning after a walk by senior pitcher and designated hitter Kendra Wood.

Wood later advanced to second base after senior third baseman Lea Cardenas reached first base on an Otters’ error.

With runners on first and second, freshman middle infielder Jenna Robertson hit a single to left field off Linnane.

While Robertson’s shallow hit didn’t push across any runs, it did load the bases for Esquibel.

With the score 1-0 Otters, Esquibel got a hold of a ball and crushed it into right center for a three-run double.

“I think the team performed amazingly,” Jackson said. “My teammates got me the lead, so I didn’t have to worry about that.

I just had to pitch. It gives me free range to mess with hitters knowing that I don’t have to throw from behind.”

The Gators returned to the mound the following day striving to make up for the

5-1 loss in game two.

In an unusual last minute decision by Otters head coach Andrea Kenney, Linnane was bumped to start game four preventing another “Jackson/Linnane” pitching duel.

Unfazed by the switch, senior catcher Kelsey Wood was confident that freshmen pitcher Jordan Stanaland would fare well against Linnane.

“This is my fourth year doing this, so I am used to Monterey,” Wood said. “I know they are a good team so it’s not too surprising.”

Fresh out of Notre Dame High School and a first-time collegiate athlete, Linnane cruised through six shut-out innings while striking out five batters.

With her team up 3-0, Linnane’s no-hit bid came to an end in the bottom of the seventh inning after Cardenas and Esquibel hit back-to-back singles up the middle.

Kendra Wood’s sacrifice fly to right field

drove in Cardenas from third and placed pitch-runner sophomore outfielder Kylie Herrada on second base after a wild pitch thrown by Linnane.

Having runners on the corners, the pressure for the Gators to make a comeback rested on the shoulders of pinch-hitter and sophomore catcher Kelly Mast as she set foot in the batter’s box.

“I was a little nervous (when the ball) went higher than what I would’ve liked,” Mast said. “But, then I got excited when I saw it dip down.”

Mast’s single to center tied the game 3-3, offering SF State the chance to emerge victorious in extra innings.

However, the Otters’ three-run rally in the top of the eighth crushed SF State’s hope to even the series.

“I have never doubted their fight,” Byrne said regarding the effort the teams has made this season. “Our record isn’t indicative of that.”

Wrestlers end the season as All-Americans Three Gators earn national honors, team finishes 19th

By Sara Donchey sdonchey@mail.sfsu.edu Lars Jensen achieved the one goal he had in mind at the start of his 28th season as wrestling head coach: Three of his wrestlers emerged from nationals as All-Americans.

Six SF State wrestlers traveled to Kearney, Neb., to compete in the NCAA Division II championships March 12.

Naveed Bagheri, Josh Nolan, and Gene Choi each earned All-American honors, with Choi and Nolan placing eighth in their respective weight classes and Bagheri claiming the fifth-place spot.

Pierre Bondoc, Matt Thomas and Isaiah Jimenez also competed but suffered losses in the consolation round that eliminated them from competing the second day.

“I was pleased,” Jensen said. “There have been a couple of years where we didn’t have even one AllAmerican, so just to get one is nice. After all our hard work, having three is pretty good.”

The Gators dropped from 15th place on the first day of competition to 19th overall out of 41 participating schools with 18.5 total points. NebraskaOmaha claimed its third-consecutive title with 102.5 points.

Jensen acknowledges that part of the challenge of competing at a national tournament is coping with the weight of such important matches.

“It’s a lot of emotion,” Jensen said. “If you make one mistake, that could mean not placing. It’s the culmination of a whole season in 30 seconds. It’s pretty exciting.”

This year’s tournament was not without its ex-

citing moments, with a few Gator matches coming down to the wire.

After winning his opening match against Limestone College’s Bryan Sopko 6-5, Gene Choi suffered a frustrating defeat when he was pinned by St. Cloud State’s Shamus O’Grady.

“It was a little disheartening,” Choi said. “But after that match, I knew I had to just forget about it.”

Choi proceeded to the consolation round to wrestle Newberry’s Josh Whitlock in what Jensen dubbed one of the most exciting matches of the tournament.

Choi, who was behind for most of the match, made a glorious comeback in the last 30 seconds that secured the victory, his All-American status and a joyful celebration.

“I almost had an ulcer afterwards, heartburn and everything else,” Jensen said. “So here we are, we all get together, and we’re giving each other highfives and everything because we got three AllAmericans. That was probably the most gratifying moment right there.”

The impromptu celebration was something that Choi hadn’t quite witnessed in his four years as a Gator wrestler.

“You couldn’t take the smile off my face,” Choi said. “Everyone gave me high-fives, all the coaches, even the athletic trainer. No one’s ever high-fived me after a match.”

Josh Nolan and Naveed Bagheri were also able to fight through the first day of competition, and both were able to capture All-American honors on the second day. Similar to the heartburn-inducing thrill of Choi’s consolation match, Bagheri was able to capture the attention of the entire gymnasium in his own thrilling contest.

“Naveed probably had the most exciting match of the entire tournament for anybody,” Jensen said.

“I had people come up to me and say ‘Oh, that was great’ – even the opposing coach.”

The quarterfinals match against Nebraska-Omaha’s Mario Morgan was one of the most exciting, but the last-minute loss was a hard pill to swallow for Bagheri, who had hopes of a national title.

Bagheri led most of the match, but was pinned late in the third period with 6:26 left on the clock.

“That was pretty upsetting,” Bagheri said. “I’m not going to say I’m disappointed, but I’m not going to say I’m satisfied. Right now, I’m still hungry.”

Looking back on the season, Jensen admitted he has no regrets and cited the team’s many successes as proof of a job well done.

“We placed in the national dual meet tournament,” Jensen said. “We beat division I Stanford we had six national qualifiers, we hosted regionals and we had three All-Americans—that’s a good season.”

THE GATOR SCOREBOARD

The latest game scores and statistics

WRESTLING 3/11-12 2011 NCAA Division II Championships Kearney, Neb. 19th of 41 (18.5 pts.)

TRACK & FIELD 3/12 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships Albuquerque, N.M. tied 22nd with 8 points BASEBALL 3/11 at CSU Monterey Bay L 2-3 3/12 vs. CSU Monterey Bay (DH) L 1-2, W 6-4 3/13 at CSU Monterey Bay W 11-5 SOFTBALL 3/11 vs. CSU Monterey Bay (DH) W 3-1, L 1-5 3/12 vs. CSU Monterey Bay (DH) L 1-2, L 3-6 (8)

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UPDATED SPORTS COVERAGE AT: @XPRESSSPORTS YOUR SOURCE FOR GATOR SPORTS

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CATHOLIC CAMPUS MINISTRY NEWMAN CLUB St. Thomas More Church Father Labib Kobti, Pastor 1300 Junipero Serra Blvd.

San Francisco, CA 94132

(415) 452-9634

www.stmchurch.com/newman email: newman@stmchurch.com Weekly Meeting, For Current Activities: St. Thomas More: Cesar Chavez Student Center: (415) 452-9634 Mondays: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Close to campus! Please call Verbum Dei: (415) 573-9062