Spring 2013 Issue 3

TOP LEFT: Trey Allen is taken into custody by San Francisco Police officers to be cited for public nudity.

Allen was one of the many protesters outside San Francisco City Hall. The protest was in response to legislation making it illegal as of Feb. 1, 2013 to be publicly nude in San Francisco.

BOTTOM LEFT: George Davis, after announcing his candidacy for District 8 Supervisor, is escorted away from the scene by San Francisco Police officers. Davis is one of the four protesters arrested for public nudity during the protest, and has been cited 22 times and arrested 15 times for baring it all in public.

RIGHT: Trey Allen takes a moment away from protesting in order to escort a blind woman into San Francisco City Hall. Photos by Dariel Medina / Special to Xpress

GOLDEN GATE XPRESS //

GATHERING OF NUDISTS and naturists bared all at a protest against the citywide ban on public nudity at San Francisco’s City Hall Feb. 1. In light of the situation, political nudity advocate George Davis announced his candidacy for District 8 Super-

visor.

If Davis goes through with his plan to run for office, he would be going against supervisor Scott Wiener, who wrote the ordinance banning nudity. The legislation, passed Nov. 20 and finalized last December, prohibits

Untold story of SF State treasure

BY ELLIE LOARCA | emloarca@mail.sfsu.edu

The Humanities Building is home to an old tea house covered in bamboo flooring and is a place for ritual ceremonies

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VOLUME LXXXXIV ISSUE 3

Nudity ban spawns political activity

BY ERIN DAGE | erindage@mail.sfsu.edu

A

STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER PROUDLY SERVING THE SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY SINCE 1927.

nudity on San Francisco’s streets, sidewalks and various other public spaces. The ban went into effect Feb. 1.

“The concept of the nudity ban is that there is something wrong with the human body,” Davis said. “This campaign is to make sure political expression through nudity is recognized.”

Davis was arrested shortly after his announcement to run for political office. According to Davis, he has been cited 22 times and arrested 15 times for public nudity.

Those who choose to ignore the ban will be charged $100 for their first violation, with fines increasing with each offense. The ordinance does have exceptions, however. Public nudity has been deemed permissible for

San Francisco State is surrounded by a city filled with culture and tradition, but recently retired facilities manager John Holman knows about a small treasured piece of culture and history tucked away inside the Humanities Building.

A Japanese tea house sits in Humanities 117. Donated to the school by Adachi Industry in 1992, Toshiko Mishima, then-Japanese Program Coordinator, took advantage of the tea house and put John Holman in charge of collecting the pieces and keeping them safe.

“The Humanities Building was still being built at this time. I located a room in Burk Hall, Room 24,” said Holman. “The tea house arrived here in pieces, I had to report back to her of the upkeep and situation of the tea house.”

Once all the pieces of the tea house were received it was constructed for one day of celebration then torn down to be stored. After being kept in Burk Hall, the tea house was then moved to the basement of the old library.

“The campus was always pressured for space,” Holman said, “but after the Humanities was built I no longer had responsibility.”

Shortly after the house was erected in its current location, Mishima passed away.

“I feel a special connection with the professor SEE TEA ON PAGE 9

children under the age of five and during public events such as street fairs and parades. There is no exception for political expression.

In trying to lift the ban, public nudity activists filed a lawsuit to challenge the ordinance on the basis that the law violates the first amendment — free speech. The lawsuit was later thrown out by Judge Edward Chen, a former ACLU attorney, Jan. 29.

“The nudity ban is not a violation of the First Amendment,” District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener said.

SEE NEW ON PAGE 6

MEMORIES: Retired facilities manager John Holman once had a key to Room 117, but it had been years since he last saw the tea house. Photo by Virginia Tieman

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Selective eaters lack healthier food options

SF STATE SPEAKS OUT WHAT’S YOUR WEIRDEST WORK EXPERIENCE?

BY HOLLY NALL | hnall@mail.sfsu.edu

Demand for more meal options leaves SF State falling behind LAUREN YAPO, 20

TOP: Ike’s Place in The Dungeon at Cesar Chavez Student Center. The “Vegan Meatless Mine” is a popular alternative sandwich that includes vegan meatballs and soy cheese.

KINESIOLOGY MAJOR

Working in physical therapy, so this guy pushed the three of us around in rolling chairs. He was working on his knees. He had surgery.

DAVID WHITEHEAD, 25 PRE-HEALTH PROGRAM

At this nursing home, I went room to room painting toenails and fingernails. I didn’t get the mani, I gave them!

JESSICA CANONOY, 20 LIBERAL STUDIES MAJOR

Not weird, but interesting — I worked in this Pizzeria run by deaf people. They used Italian and American sign language at work... and I only studied ASL one semester in high school.

BOTTOM: SF State students line up for lunch at Ike’s Place. The location offers a variety of options for alternative diets, including: veggie meats, vegan cheese, and gluten free bread. Ike’s Place is open Mon.-Thurs. 10-7 and Fri. 10-4. Photos by Gabriella Gamboa

S

AN FRANCISCO State serves up a variety of dining options, but for students who are on restrictive diets, grabbing a meal on campus can be a challenge.

Not to be confused with “fad diets,” the short-term weight loss plans which enjoy fleeting popularity, restrictive diets are usually a long-term or even lifetime commitment for which motivations vary. Many people choose to eliminate various foods from their diet due to health concerns, allergies, personal or religious beliefs and environmental benefits.

Vegetarianism is a widely-followed restrictive diet, with Gallup’s 2012 Consumption Habits survey showing that 5 percent of Americans choose to eat meat-free. A further 2 percent follow a vegan, or plantbased diet, which eliminates all animal products including eggs and dairy.

SF State student Jackie Ho is president of the Health Education Students Association and has been a vegetarian for 16 months.

“Being a health education major you watch many different documentaries, and I watched ‘Food, Inc.,’” he said. “It got me. Right there and then I stopped eating meat.”

Ho says the biggest challenge has been access, since some restaurants still do not offer vegetarian options.

“It’s a growing process, but there are

still certain restaurants I can’t go into,” he said.

As a vegetarian at SF State, Ho feels his needs are being met, with nearly every eatery offering meat-free alternatives. His personal favorite is Ike’s Place, located on the lower conference level of the Cesar Chavez Student Center. Ike’s offers a wide selection of vegetarian and vegan options, as well as optional gluten-free bread.

“We are very careful not to cross-contaminate,” General Manager Patrick Manière said. “Especially with the gluten, because some people are very highly sensitive.”

According to the National Association of Celiac Awareness, an estimated one-in233 Americans have celiac disease. This amounts to roughly 128 SF State students.

Celiac disease is a degenerative digestive disease activated by gluten consumption, and is a common cause for gluten elimination from the diet.

According to Manière, gluten-free requests are less common at Ike’s, but he estimates that 5-10 percent of the sandwiches ordered are vegan or vegetarian.

Non-vegetarians can be faced with dining challenges on campus as well. Nutrition and dietetics student Jamie Starzyk recently started meat again after following a vegan diet. She is very careful to investigate the source where her meat comes from, assuring that it is grass-fed, organic and free from antibiotics and hormones. After doing

her research, Starzyk says she prefers to eat vegetarian on campus.

“I don’t eat any of the meat (at SF State),” she says. “It’s not sourced well.”

In spite of the many options, some students still express concerns over the nutritional value of these alternatives. Holistic health major Hannah Grasso has been a vegetarian for six years, and prefers not to eat on campus.

“My main concern is that campus food is not actually nutritious and does not provide us with the sustained energy we need to get through our classes,” she said.

“Whether you eat meat or not, a fresh and healthy meal is simply not available.”

Grasso says she would love to see a restaurant that makes fresh, organic food cooked to order, as well as a pressed juicery.

“I see that the school tries,” Grasso says, “but perhaps they are not bringing someone in who has this sort of dieting lifestyle and can make informed decisions about what students will want or need.”

In spite of its shortcomings, Starzyk admits that SF State has better options that any other school she has attended.

“Comparatively, I think San Francisco State is pretty high up there,” she said.

“Overall, I don’t feel like there’s enough vegetables. There’s very solid vegetarian options, but I can tell that the sodium content is really really high, and there’s not really much organic, either.”

International Student of the Week FELIX PORTILLO, 23

COMPUTER ENGINEERING MAJOR

I was the parking director at the U.S. Open, and I had to kick out this guy who apparently also tried to sneak into the White House, according to rumors.

Photos by: Andy Sweet Reporting by: Joe Fitzgerald

Name: Kien Tran Age: 29 Major: Marketing From: Vietnam What is the first thing you noticed about the United States: “Homeless people, there are just so many.

It bothers me because I didn’t experience that in Vietnam, also I live near Civic Center, it is sad for me to see them sleeping on the floor.”

After Graduation: “I have two more years here then I want to get my MBA in marketing here at State.”

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BY JOE FITZGERALD jfitzger@mail.sfsu.edu

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Alum returns to campus with innovation

Fresh out of SF State, business graduate Michael Perry entered the world of Silicon Valley with fire and passion, and a plan for a simple mobile phone app that he knew would sell like hotcakes.

Nobody cared.

“No one wanted to believe in us because we were from SF State,” Perry said.

Perry would attend networking party after networking party searching for investors. He shook hands with tech luminaries like Ron Conway (who was one of the earliest investors in Twitter, Facebook, and Google), and saw the same reaction time after time when he mentioned his working class credentials from SF State — a look of distrust.

“There’s a dirty reality about Silicon Valley,” he said.

“If you’re not from Cal or Harvard, or not a Facebook alumni, it can be really hard to succeed.” He didn’t let that get in his way, though.

Eager to prove valley investors wrong, the East Bay born 26-year-old decided to fund his company himself.

He raised money working at his father’s Volkswagen dealership and fundraising any way he could.

Thanks to the sweat of his brow and a need to prove himself, Perry succeeded — making a mobile phone app adopted on campus at SF State and at eateries across San Francisco.

“Gving” is an app for the Android and iPhone that is like a loyalty card for cafes and restaurants, as well as select retail stores. It’s like those stamped cards you get for ten coffees, and then your eleventh is free; but done via app. It’s free for customers to download.

Gving is used by over 400 restaurants, cafes and retail locations in San Francisco, with a few outside the city as well. The app is supported at eight locations at SF State: Taqueria Girasol, Tuk Tuk Thai, Sushi Grub and Go, Turtle Tower, Underdog, Taza Wraps to go and even Rac ‘n Cue. Bring up the app while you’re in line at one of those spots, and Gving will use location data to determine where you are, and bring up a list of the closest restaurants that support the app. The cashier enters a short pin,

El Qadah supports Perry not just because of his business savvy, but because they are fellow alumni. El Quadah graduated over a decade earlier in 1991 from SF State with a degree in international relations and economics, and has owned businesses on campus for over 18 years.

“I always look up to people who graduate from our campus and are street-wise,” El Qadah said. Though his locations only just started using Gving, and therefore have seen modest use so far, he’s optimistic things will pick up. “I love the idea,” he said.

Taqueria Girasol is seeing more success with Gving, though. Fatima Zepeda, a cashier at the taqueria, which is housed in the Cesar Chavez student center, said she sees at least ten students using the card a day.

“The campus users are vital to Gving’s business,” Perry said. “When you look at our data set, 70 percent of our users are under 35 years old. Students really emTECH SAVVY:Since graduating from SF State, Michael Perry has used brace the app, and embrace saving money.” his entrepreneurial spirit to create the Gving App— an iPhone and Android Notably, he has signed up stores at UC Santa Cruz application helping out local businesses by rewarding loyal customers. and CSU Channel Islands, and is in negotiations with Photo by Frank Leal MIT and Washington State University.

But Perry’s drive to succeed isn’t just monetary. The and boom, you’re stamped. working class guy from the East Bay has something to prove.

Store owners can track how often you’re using the “[SF State students] need to have a chip on their shoulGving app at their location, and they can use that data to der,” he said. “We all need to start fighting to change the “give” the customer more freebies and promotions. This perception of what SF State brings to the table. There are wealth of data is the kind of thing Facebook and Twitter so many students at SF State that are in this mindset that are monetizing on their own web pages. they’ll put their resume on LinkedIn and get any old job.”

And though money is vital to every business, the The competition out in the world is much fiercer he tech startups are a boom and bust venture — three out of said, noting the pushback he got in Silicon Valley. Your four startups don’t return their investments, according to degree doesn’t guarantee you anything but mediocrity, research by Shikhar Ghosh, a senior lecturer at Harthe rest comes from yourself. vard’s business school. His report, which came out late “You could be someone that just goes along for the last year, paints a dismal portrait of most Silicon Valley ride,” he said. “Or you could decide to say ‘hell with it’ startups’ futures. and change things for yourself.”

Allam El Qadah, owner of several campus restauYou can download “Gving” from www.gving.com, rants, said he was “incredibly impressed” by Perry’s and follow the company on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ business ethic.

GVINGapp.

Fierce professor teaches self-defense

BY HOLLY NALL | hnall@mail.sfsu.edu

J

UDITH FEIN’S small stature and casual demeanor may give the appearance of a gentle woman, but make no mistake, as the cliche goes, there’s more to Fein than

meets the eye.

“She’s amazing,” nursing major Jessica Jordan, said. “She could probably beat me up.”

Fein teaches a Monday night self-defense class to about 50 SF State students, most of them female.

Originally from New York, Fein was first introduced to martial arts while serving in the Army during the Vietnam War. As a military intelligence captain stationed in Korea, and the only woman in her unit, Fein was often restless.

“There was very little to do,” she said.

“You could go to the officers club and drink or gamble, and I didn’t want to do that. So I went to the gym, where they had free instruction in taekwondo.”

With disciplined practice, Fein acquired her black belt in less than a year.

“Normally it takes people years,” she said, “but when you take six days a week for two hours a night, you condense time.”

While in Korea, Fein was harassed and discriminated against because of her gender. After resigning her commission in the Army, she decided to make a difference by teaching self-defense to others.

Upon her return to San Francisco, Fein was the subject of a newspaper article. Wadsworth Publishing Company took notice, and asked her to write a book.

GETTING DEFENSIVE: SF State students taking Dr. Judith Fein’s self-defense class on Monday nights learn how to intimidate and aggressively shout “back off” to prevent an attack. Fein has been teaching self-defense for 38 years and runs both programs at SF State and CCSF. Photo by Jessica Worthington

Four books later, her latest, “Breaking the Intimidation Game — The Art of Self-Defense” is based on about 35 years of rape resistance studies. According to Fein, the focus is on the psychology of self-defense: “what works, what doesn’t work, and why.”

Fein has now been teaching self-defense for more than 38 years, and currently runs the programs at both SF State and City College of San Francisco. She says the most rewarding part of the job is the feedback she receives from former students.

“I like to empower people and it’s very thrilling for me to keep getting success stories back from people who fight back and win,” Fein said.

CCSF student Ashley Suehiro says she feels safer and more empowered now that she is taking Fein’s class.

“I was a victim of domestic violence,” Suehiro said. “So I decided to learn new techniques to defend myself and help with my confidence.”

Suehiro hopes to become a therapist and use her self-defense training to help

others.

Fein posts success stories on her website, and uses them as teaching tools to inspire her students. She also shares her personal self-defense experiences with the class. One of these stories involves her being threatened at an art exhibit while carrying expensive photography equipment.

“I looked up and I was surrounded by six (attackers). They came in like a pack of wolves,” Fein said.

Once approached, she assumed a fighting stance, screamed aggressively and “turned into the incredible Hulk.”

The men backed off.

In addition to the physical skills she teaches in her class, Fein stresses the psychology of self-defense.

“Whoever wins the battle for intimidation wins,” she said. “People that are passive lose.”

Fein believes that most attacks can be prevented by remaining alert. Her greatest annoyance is the sight of people walking around in public engrossed in their phones.

“They’re going to get targeted,” she said. “If they can be aware while they are using their cell phones, and send signals that they are aware, they’re going to prevent most attacks from happening.”

With continued practice of the self-defense techniques taught in her class, Fein says her students will build the muscle memory necessary to act instinctively in an emergency.

“When you fight back, you don’t have any time to think,” she explains. “You have to act.”

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College Labor provides unique job opportunities

BY GUADALUPE GONZALEZ | ggonzale@mail.sfsu.edu

MOVIN’ ON UP: Nick Martino (left), a marine biology major, and Kevin Mendizabal (right), a political science major, are both employees of an online job search called College Labor which helps provide “odd” jobs to students. Martino and Mendizabal help pack Andrea Lamari’s belongings.

Photo by Erica Marquez

A WEEKLY ENVIRONMENTAL COLUMN BY ELISSA TORRES elissat@mail.sfsu.edu

Greenwashing: buying into false advertising

I

MAGINE YOU STUMBLE UPON a clear container filled with bright green dish soap. It reads: “for every bottle of soap you buy, twenty cents will be donated to help save giant kapok trees found in the Amazon Rainforest.” Realizing you can kill two birds with one stone, you put the product in your cart and feel charitable because you’re doing your part to help preserve the Amazon. You just got played.

Every day, we are bombarded with advertisements showing how environmentally friendly certain products and services are. This concept is called greenwashing. The act of greenwashing is misleading and makes the consumer believe they are doing a noble thing for the environment when they aren’t.

Companies are obviously more than willing to jump on the green bandwagon in an effort to appear environmentally aware. The truth is that the little “green” things they do, or claim to do, are so slight that they aren’t green or environmentally conscious at all.

There are several examples of greenwashing products.

Coal is one of the leading greenwashing products. The term “clean coal” is a term that we’ve heard politicians use, but there is no such thing as clean coal. Coal is not sustainable, whatsoever. The burning of coal emits carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) into the atmosphere.

Soft drinks have also unfortunately been inducted into the greenwashing hall of fame. All soft drinks use an enormous amount of water and leave behind tons of waste. Coca-Cola came out with a “go green” campaign partnering with the World Wildlife Fund to preserve seven of the world’s major rivers. This is greenwashing at its finest.

It takes 2.5 liters of water to produce a one liter bottle of Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola sells 1.5 billion beverages a day in over 200 countries.

According to a study from Business Pundit, “in 2006, Coca-Cola and its bottlers used 80 billion gallons of water to produce its beverages — equivalent to onefifth of the daily water usage of the U.S. Approximately 40 percent of that went into producing their line of drinks that include Coke, Sprite and Fanta.”

“A few years ago I noticed an increase in products advertised as green. I always thought it was the company’s way of adapting to the new market,” broadcast electronic communication arts student Allison Pulido said. “It was in my environmental issues in the media class that brought the idea of greenwashing to my attention. It made me upset that companies would extort a cause like the environment for profit. I was also upset because it made me realize I have probably fallen victim to greenwashing.”

Not all products claiming to be “green” actually are. Companies are more than willing to take advantage of customers and their willingness to help the environment. The first step in dodging greenwashing is to look at the labels. Don’t be fooled into purchasing a product because it says it is environmentally friendly. Second, check out the companies’ website and educate yourself on what makes them “green,” if in fact they are. Third, compare products to others like it, and investigate the changes they are making to be “green.”

When Elissa Torres isn’t rescuing wounded marine mammals or hugging trees, the environmental studies minor spends her time writing this column.

It’s based on equal parts opinion, statistics and life experiences. If you don’t like it, read and recycle.

W

HEN SF State sophomore Kevin Mendizabal was in dire need of a job, two of his closest friends directed him to a website where he doesn’t have to look for work. The work looks for him.

The website, College Labor, is a Bay Area network founded by San Francisco natives Joey Toboni and Justin Ohanessian. The site connects students like Mendizabal with people who are willing to pay college students for their labor.

Thus far, students from nine Bay Area schools, including SF State, have collectively earned themselves about $11,500 at $29 per hour for doing jobs like catering or helping with a move, according to the College Labor website.

“Our goal is not only make money, but how we can make this a good experience,” Ohanessian said.

The idea for College Labor came up when old high school friends Toboni and Ohanessian returned home from college during the summer of 2004 and their funds started to run dry. When searching for the perfect job had negative results, the pair started posting advertisements saying they would do anything for money.

Since then, they have both finished college, but continued with their business model and launched College Labor in September 2012.

Through College Labor, students sign up for the service and go through a brief screening before being admitted into the network.

Students are then notified via text message, email or Twitter when a job becomes available.

The first person wanting to pick up the job has to pay a small percentage of the total job quote.

According to the College Labor website, this is to ensure that the worker is committed to “show up on time, and to get the job done.”

Ultimately, it is the student who is paying for the service.

“It’s easier than going out and handing out resumes,” second-year psychology major Ben Meis said.

Meis believes it’s a good idea, especially since it works with students’ schedules, but was unsure about the fee, calling it “kind of a turn off.” He also showed concern that the jobs don’t provide steady, secure income.

Maria Guadalupe Diaz, a liberal arts senior, had a different perspective.

“You could see it as getting paid back,” she said. “I’m a little skeptical, but I do understand. It shows you’re responsible and dedicated to do the job. I would be up for it.”

Mendizabal now has a perma-

nent job making deliveries, but still plans on doing gigs for College Labor. As of now, College Labor has not lead to any career moves for him.

“It only benefits me so I don’t see why I would stop. The way the system works, I guess, it’s perfect,” Mendizabal said. “Honestly, College Labor is a godsend. It’s nice to have extra money without it conflicting with school. I always recommend it.”

Plans for the website are to expand the network throughout the rest of the Bay Area, and eventually the entire state.

“ Honestly, College Labor is a godsend. It’s nice to have extra money without it conflicting with school. I always recommend it Kevin Mendizabal, SF State Sophomore

New political runner aims to oust Wiener CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE

“That argument is specious, as the federal court found.”

Gypsy Taub, organizer of the protest, was one of the four individuals arrested for protesting the citywide ban on public nudity. Taub is a single mother of three that stars in the local cable television show, “My Naked Truth,” which advocates nudist ideals. She speculates that the public nudity ban has its roots in San Francisco’s changing demographics.

“The main reason for this ban is gentrification,” Taub said. “It’s about catering to people who have more money and making San Francisco ‘more clean.’ It’s about paving the road to charge more for housing and break San Francisco’s spirit.”

Wiener and fellow supervisor Mark Farrell have recently brought a bill to the floor the would effectively get rid of rent control for 2,000 housing units in San Francisco and could raise the prices of those living spaces, according to a BeyondChron report.

Though both Davis and Taub would like to see supervisor Wiener out of office, Wiener encourages the competition.

“George Davis, as with any District 8 voter, has every right to run for supervisor,” Wiener said. “I have no problem with competition. It’s a privilege for me to hold (this seat), and when it’s time for my reelection, I’ll remind the voters about the work I’ve done for the district and the city and ask the voters to grant me the privilege of representing them for another four years.”

This isn’t Davis’ first time running for political office.

In 2007, he was one of many that ran to oust then-mayor Gavin Newsom. After his loss in that election, many expected him to give up.

“Many thought I should have felt bad and (left) with my tail between my legs,” Davis said. “My runs have always been strategic, and not necessarily to win. My goal is to put the naturist movement out there more and prove that nudity is a form of political expression.”

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8 ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

BY LOVLIE FAUSTINO

faustino@mail.sfsu.edu

‘That Jones Gal’ set to make history

Stephan McGrue, 22, is making history by producing and directing the first all-black leading musical cast at SF State with “That Jones Gal.” As a theater arts major, McGrue was inspired to have an all-black cast by watching his best friend, Jasmine Williams, 22, direct the SF State Theater alum’s production “36th Street Blues” presented by SF State’s Brown Bag Theatre Company. Williams wrote and directed the play. Starring an ethnically diverse female cast, she told stories of personal love, struggle and triumph through movement and poetry.

“I felt honored that Stephan was so inspired by my piece to do one of his own,” Williams said. “It’s really historic what he’s doing and I’m honored that my work could encourage him, it’s amazing.”

McGrue’s independent musical “That Jones Gal” is his own adaptation of the 1954 musical film, titled “Carmen Jones” directed by Otto Preminger. The all-black lead cast musical is set during World War II and tells the story of sassy factory worker Carmen Jones, who sets her sights on Joe, a young and handsome soldier already taken by the sweet Cindy-Lou. Carmen uses her seductive tactics throughout the musical to tempt Joe and claim him as her beloved.

In the film, Dorothy Dandridge played the lead role of Carmen Jones and was the first African-American to be nominated for the Academy Award for best actress category. It was the ideal story for McGrue to showcase an all-black leading cast and provide issues that an audience could appreciate and relate to.

“It’s so relevant today even though it was made back in the ‘50s, it’s just timeless,” McGrue said. “It’s love, tragedy, betrayal, sex. They are all topics that take place in our time today; it’s a film that holds stories that young people can relate to and connect with.”

McGrue pitched the idea of an all-black leading musical to his theater advisor as an independent study project. William “Bill” Peters, theater professor at SF

BY KRISTEN MARTZ

kmartz@mail.sfsu.edu

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State, encouraged him to find a cast and crew and pursue his dream production.

“When he first told me about his project I thought it was really exciting. It’s always exciting to see someone grabbing onto fresh ideas,” Peters said. “I’m absolutely proud of him, all of our students are self-motivated and it’s always great to see students setting challenges for themselves.”

When McGrue started, he went in search for his cast and held school wide open auditions. It was a way to find and embrace the black students at SF State.

“I don’t see too many black students in the department; I feel like I can count the number of them on my fingers and when it comes to the main theater productions it’s usually the same people,” McGrue said. “I wanted to show the black community, I wanted to show that we have talent too.”

McGrue finalized his script and had the perfect cast, but needed just the right music to complete the story.

Oscar Villagrana, 26, music major and music director of “That Jones Gal” was approached by McGrue after his school jazz concert. McGrue really thought that Villagrana could help bring classical ‘40s jazz to the musical.

“My first reaction to Stephan was that this guy had really big musical ideas,” Villagrana said. “But I was willing and hopeful to get it as close to his vision as possible.”

McGrue had his fair share of highs, but like most productions, also had problems throughout preparations.

He had a space, but due to priority, a different director received it. Professors offered him a smaller venue but he had his mind set on his ideal production. He looked at other outside options, but workers at the Creative Arts Technical Services helped get him Knuth Hall for the end of February, and SF State’s Black Student Union made sure McGrue would have a space to premiere his hard work.

“The reason why BSU wanted to help sponsor and promote “That Jones Gal” is for the simple fact that our

TEAMWORK: Student director Stephan McGrue huddles with the cast of ‘That Jones Gal’ Photo by Samantha Benedict

members are like family and we try to create a family-like environment; Stephan seemed very passionate and strong willed about his senior project and when he shared his goals with us we were immediately on board,” BSU coordinator. Skky Foster, 21, said. “BSU is here as a resource for students here at SF State to use and network with; we have to be supportive of one another and try to point each other in the right direction.”

McGrue accomplished all that he set out to do, but he credits his achievements to the students who helped him make his dreams come alive.

“I’m humbled that I could represent the black community at State but I honestly am nothing without the students who came together for one goal,” McGrue said.

“Everyone who worked on this team deserves their credit; I’m just the one who happened to lead them there.”

“That Jones Gal” will be shown at Jack Adams Hall, Feb. 23 at 2 p.m.— Knuth Hall Feb. 21 - 23 at 7 p.m. — and Feb. 24 at 2 p.m.

Professor practices what she preaches

Alexandra Sessler has just finished a day at the office teach- graduate assistant for Professor David Xiques in Fall 2010 and Sessler graduated from SF State Summer 2012 with a ing students and, while most working people are heading home then moved on to become a teaching associate to teach with masters in music, concentrated in classical voice performance, for the night, she is now rushing to her nighttime performance.

Professor Cyrus Ginwala. which advanced her to a “lecturer” title.

Teacher by day and performer by night, SF State professor and “When she was still a student, Alex demonstrated so much lead“I’ve always felt that singing, many times, is really a night recent alumna Sessler has a true passion for her singing. ership in the voice area of the School of Music and Dance. In my job. Rehearsals are at night, performances are at night. I wanted Since Sessler realized her dreams as a student, she’s particiteaching, I often encourage and depend upon student leadership and music to be my day job, and I wanted my day job to be teaching: pated in multiple performances for various companies, started her I am grateful for her expertise in vocal production and in language teaching music, teaching private voice, teaching voice in a classown music ensemble and taught for three years at SF State. pronunciation,” Xiques said. room setting,” Sessler said.

Sessler may have an accomplished music career already unDuring her education, Sessler performed with many local Though she has achieved her goal of teaching music to colder her belt at age 27, but that choice wasn’t always clear to her. music companies including Lamplighters Music Theater, lege students, the constant challenge she enjoys so much hasn’t “I went to community college first for psychology, and I Golden Gate Opera and Opera Cultura. Xiques also encouraged escaped Sessler in her career. was getting all As, but I was pitifully bored. I excelled at it, Sessler to join the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, of which “That’s part of what I love about teaching voice: there’s albut I require a challenge, I enjoy challenge. After a year, I was she is now an American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) ways a problem to solve and it’s different for every person. That’s like, ‘What else am I good at?’ and I was like, ‘I think music union member. the thing that keeps me really committed and really interested,” could be good.’ It’s kind of hard, the Sessler said. academic side of it is difficult for me, but Pushing for constant change and performance-wise I’ve always excelled,” improvement in her students stems Sessler said. from Sessler’s own philosophy, which With the change in direction, Sessler her students appreciate. found herself at the University of Miami. Af“The most wonderful part about ter attending for her Bachelor’s of Music in her teaching is that she always wants to classical voice performance, Sessler worked improve. This philosophy also applies in her way to SF State for graduate school. her attitude towards her students: she al“I had the goal of finding a school ways wants our best efforts. In return, the where I would have the opportunity to rewards are great because we get to create perform and to teach, and SF State had a beautiful music,” Rachel Larsen, one of small enough program where I would get Sessler’s students, said. that individual attention,” Sessler said.

“I don’t tolerate anything less than While Sessler was attending Univermy best, but my best can always get sity of Miami, Joshua Habermann came better, unlike perfection that’s like, once from SF State to become Head of the Uniyou get there, that’s it. What do we versity of Miami Choral Department. Conget after that? So I just keep on strivversing with Habermann opened Sessler’s ing for a better best and I encourage eyes up to the possibilities at SF State. the same in my students. I encour“He made it sound like SF State age risk-taking, like if you’re afraid was exactly what I had wanted to reach of being too loud, who cares? I try those specific goals, so I came in feeling to encourage my students that it’s a like ‘Okay, this is what I want and I’m safe place,” Sessler said. going to make it happen by going to this Along with teaching at SF State, school,’ and luckily everything fell into Sessler still teaches private lessons place,” Sessler said. with Bronstein Music, performs As a student, Sessler taught private regularly with the San Francisco lessons at Bronstein Music starting Symphony Chorus and has recently in 2008 when she first moved to San co-founded an early music ensemREHEARSE: Alexandra Sessler, 27, SF State instructor by day and opera singer by night, leads an opera lesson at SF Francisco. She later began teaching as a ble called Mission Baroque.

State as Osvaldo De Leon, 31, plays piano. Photo by Andy Sweet

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Listen to Holman recall his experience watching over the tea house at www.goldengatexpress.org

REMINISCING: Holman reflects about collecting pieces of the tea house and stresses his obligations of keeping the tea house safe and well maintained. Photo by Virginia Tieman

Hidden tea house showcases Japanese culture, ceremony CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“I feel a special connection with the professor who was in charge of curating the house, she was a terrific person, everybody loved her,” Holman said.

Holman greatly respected Mishima and took good care of the tea house. He worked at SF State for 34 years and always felt a close connection to it.

“My best experience was the safe keeping, this (is) a very important piece because it brings a real culture,” Holman said.

Sitting unused for almost a decade, Professor Midori McKeon decided to make use of the tea room and began studying the tea ceremony in Japan. The Japanese program now uses the tea house to instruct undergraduates on Japanese architecture and culture.

“The very existence of the tea room prompted me to learn the tea ceremony, to get certified.

It took eight years of weekly practice for me to get certified as a tea teacher in the 400-year-old Omotesenke tradition of tea,” McKeon said.

The tea house is not only used for instruction but also has annual tea ceremonies for the

campus community.

According to Holman these tea ceremonies are long rituals, lasting anywhere from 40 minutes to four hours, he had been invited to many but only found himself attending once.

“I don’t have that kind of patience to wait, it’s a long process, they light candles and they take tea and they pour it and pour it, it’s a ritual thing. It’s not something where you think you go in rock and rolling and drinking tea like its a coffee shop,” Holman said. “I mean you don’t want to get up and leave, but I did.”

Holman is now one of the only people who took part in the history of the tea house since its inception at SF State. Before he went into retirement he contacted Associate Dean Susan Shimanoff to share his story.

“He said to me ‘I am the person who helped take care of it and helped assemble it,’ John didn’t want to leave the university without leaving his part of the story,” Shimanoff said, “I was touched by his wanting to us to have this history, he has such a wonderful demeanor.”

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10 O P I N I O N

02.13.13 | GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG STAFF EDITORIAL

Become a global citizen: study abroad KALE WILLIAMS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF kale@mail.sfsu.edu

BRAD WILSON

PRINT MANAGING EDITOR bradw949@mail.sfsu.edu

ADRIAN RODRIGUEZ

ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR arrodrig@mail.sfsu.edu

ELISSA TORRES

ART DIRECTOR elissat@mail.sfsu.edu

WYATT McCALL

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR wmccall@mail.sfsu.edu

NENA FARRELL

PRINT COPY CHIEF haydee@mail.sfsu.edu

SAM MOLMUD

ONLINE COPY CHIEF smolmud@mail.sfsu.edu

VIRGINIA TIEMAN

PRINT PHOTO EDITOR tieman@mail.sfsu.edu

JESSICA WORTHINGTON

ONLINE PHOTO EDITOR jlwphoto@mail.sfsu.edu

ELLIE LOARCA

CAMPUS EDITOR emloarca@mail.sfsu.edu

ERIN DAGE

CITY EDITOR erindage@mail.sfsu.edu

MATT SAINCOME

A&E EDITOR saincome@mail.sfsu.edu

LINDSAY ODA

OPINION EDITOR loda@mail.sfsu.edu

DAN NELSON

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR danelson@mail.sfsu.edu

JONATHAN RAMOS

ASSISTANT A&E EDITOR jonaramo@mail.sfsu.edu

HOLLY NALL

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR hnall@mail.sfsu.edu

RACHELE KANIGEL

FACULTY ADVISER kanigel@mail.sfsu.edu

Y

OU’VE ALREADY heard this speech: study abroad is an opportunity not to be missed. But only about 500 SF State students study abroad every semester, according to the Office of International Programs at SF State. This means the majority of SF State students will not have studied abroad by the time they graduate.

So although most of you have heard of this amazing, life-altering, fascinating experience, you still have reservations about doing it.

We’re here to clear up some of those concerns.

The most obvious concern is that study abroad will prolong graduation. For some, this is true, but for others, with careful planning, it can give students the units they need. According to the Coordinator of Study Abroad Services, David Wick, study abroad can be helpful for students in impacted majors like psychology and business who can’t enroll in needed classes at SF State, but have no problem doing so in other countries.

If you’re at all interested in studying abroad (which you will be after reading this editorial), the best thing is to start researching what’s out there for you, and plan how you will enroll in classes until then.

Studying abroad gives you an edge in the global labor market. Right now there is a whole world of college students who are equally ambitious, equally talented, who can probably speak more languages than you do and are trying to get the same jobs as you. You might already be at a disadvantage, but studying abroad coupled with a semester of basic language skills can turn you into an ideal job candidate internationally. Employers are constantly seeking people who understand other cultures and markets.

To fully appreciate and be critical of our Western, American society, you need to have lived elsewhere for an extended period of time. Study abroad makes you, in essence, a better citizen — bringing back the best ideas from a different country, and making you an advocate of what is already done well here. Seeing other countries also makes you more aware of your own privilege as an American.

Study abroad gives you the opportunity to travel for a semester or more. After graduation, it is difficult to take

ART BY KIRSTIE HARUTA kharuta@mail.sfsu.edu

time off from work to travel for so long, especially in your first years on the job. Many adults will not get the opportunity to travel again until after their kids are grown and they retire.

Study abroad causes students to be completely independent. Complete independence gives you the freedom to figure out who you are without friends and family’s expectations. You are forced to choose your own roles and purpose.

Like the experience of leaving home for college for the first time, study abroad gives you the chance to find yourself.

And lastly, once you’ve spent a semester or two in some far-off land, you will become the cool, experienced, cultured world-traveler that everyone wants to talk to at dinner parties. You’ll have the best stories about riding camels through the countryside and bartering at exotic flea markets. You’ll have wisdom to share about other cultures and peoples. You want to be this person. You want to study abroad.

KEN KOBRE

PHOTO ADVISER ken@kobre.com

JESSE GARNIER

ONLINE ADVISER jgarnier@sfsu.edu

JUSTIN OROZCO

CIRCULATION jaorozo@mail.sfsu.edu

Get out of here, this is my bandwagon

BY BRAD WILSON | bradw949@mail.sfsu.edu

ARUN UNNIKRASHNAN I.T. CONSULTANT arun@mail.sfsu.edu

EVA CHARLES

ADVERTISING & BUSINESS echarles@mail.sfsu.edu

SADIE CROFTS

STUDENT GRAPHIC DESIGNER sgcrofts@mail.sfsu.edu

WRITE US A LETTER The Golden Gate Xpress accepts letters no longer than 200 words.

Letters are subject to editing.

Send letters to Lindsay Oda at: loda@mail.sfsu.edu

ABOUT XPRESS The Golden Gate Xpress is a student-produced publication of the journalism department at San Francisco State University.

For more information or comments, please contact Kale Williams at: kale@mail.sfsu.edu

Now that the smoke has cleared and the tears are almost dried up from a 49ers Super Bowl loss, we can now address what no successful sports franchise is without: a bandwagon. San Francisco certainly was decorated in much more red last week than it would have been five years ago and yes, this is a result of bandwagoners.

No, I’m not talking about an elaborately decorated wagon used to transport musicians in a parade.

What I’m talking about is a group of people adopting a popular point of view for the primary purpose of recognition and/or acceptance of others, at least according to Urban Dictionary.

I’m a big sports fan and I understand what being falsely labeled a bandwagoner is like. I was born and raised a Detroit Red Wings fan thanks to my mom, however, I was born and raised in Southern California; two places that just don’t seem to match. If you are truly a fan of the team, you learn to take the irritating accusations and brush it off.

Fortunately for myself, when I get accused of riding the Red Wing bandwagon, I get to counter their accusations with, “Hey, my favorite football team is the Oakland Raiders.” Boy, does that shut them up quickly.

Now, in defense of the people who yelled at me when I was a 12-year-old boy in a Red Wings hat, I can understand where they are coming from. I can maintain a calm demeanor about this whole situation rather than screaming a string of alcohol-fueled profanities.

A lot of sports fans begin their allegiance for a team at a young age, so as corny as it sounds, it becomes a part of them and their

lifestyle. It’s why sports fans are crazy when their teams lose; it’s like they were emotionally defeated by a metaphorical concept brought to life through a sports team. So when a team like the 49ers gain a solid winning streak and random people start rocking the red and instagramming their TV game days, life-long fans are insulted. It’s juvenile, I understand, but unless you’re a sports fan, this may go over your head.

I can guarantee that at the Giants Fan Fest, there were probably fewer fans at AT&T park than during the World Series. Just a biased opinion, the surplus of “fans” during the World Series probably found celebrating a team year round at the aforementioned festival may not be as cool.

If you’re not present during a team’s struggle, why do you get to enjoy in their success? Please stop worshipping Joe Flacco when Eli Manning was your main squeeze a year ago.

But hey, without bandwagoners, that dude in front of the 76 gas station on 19th and Judah probably would not make any money.

Knock off souvenir and T-shirt stands depend on that type of fandom.

I was in Los Angeles when the Kings won the Stanley Cup last year and thanks to a soulless city who ignored the their struggles for the past 20 years, an average joe was able to make a profit off of a wouldbe sports fan who just wants to buy a name, authentic or not.

Yes, a bandwagon does have its financial profits and brings people a sense of belonging, but have some pride even in the losses. When the San Jose Sharks continue to blow their playoff appearances, don’t hide that ugly logo, rock it with a smile.

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SP OR T S SCHEDUL E

PLAYER of the WEEK MARK LINDSAY BASEBALL

Sophomore catcher Mark Lindsay went 3-for-5 with four RBIs, including a walk-off single to complete a threegame sweep last weekend. He also caught two runners stealing.

FRIDAY (2.15) BASEBALL

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PHOTO BY TYLER DENISTON/SF STATE SPORTS

SF STATE VS. CAL STATE L.A. 2 P.M. (LOS ANGELES, CALIF.)

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

SF STATE VS. CAL STATE L.A. 5:30 P.M. (LOS ANGELES, CALIF.)

MEN’S BASKETBALL

SF STATE VS. CAL STATE L.A. 7:30 P.M. (LOS ANGELES, CALIF.)

SOFTBALL

SF STATE VS. SONOMA STATE 7:30 P.M. (ROHNERT, CALIF.)

ON THE MARK: SF State catcher Mark Lindsay (19) bats during a baseball game against the Holy Names Hawks at Maloney Field on Sunday. Photo by Erica Marquez

Gators roll over Hawks Baseball squad wins three straight games and caps weekend with walk-off

SATURDAY (2.16) BASEBALL

SF STATE VS. CAL STATE L.A. 11 A.M. (LOS ANGELES, CALIF.)

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

SF STATE VS. CAL STATE DOMINGUEZ HILLS 5:30 P.M. (CARSON, CALIF.)

GATOR PILE: Teammates swarm catcher Mark Lindsay after his walk-off single on Sunday. Lindsay hit a 2-0 pitch to right-center field to win the game 9-8 in the bottom of the ninth inning. Photo by Erica Marquez

MEN’S BASKETBALL

S C O R E

SF STATE VS. CAL STATE DOMINGUEZ HILLS 7:30 P.M. (CARSON, CALIF.)

SCORES FROM THE LAST WEEK OF GATOR SPORTS

B O A R D

SOFTBALL

SF STATE VS. SONOMA STATE 11 A.M. (ROHNERT PARK, CALIF.)

For same-day coverage, go to

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BASEBALL

W

SF STATE VS. HOLY NAMES UNIVERSITY 2-0

W

SF STATE VS. HOLY NAMES UNIVERSITY 6-4

W

SF STATE VS. HOLY NAMES UNIVERSITY 9-8

MEN’S BASKETBALL

W

SF STATE VS. CHICO STATE 63-59

W

SF STATE VS. CAL STATE STANISLAUS 64-50

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02.13.13 | GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG