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VOLUME LXXXXVII • ISSUE 6
Gone too soon:
Student shot and killed; suspect awaits arraignment Alleged shooter was arrested and charged with homicide in the shooting death of SF State sophomore Justin Valdez.
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IKHOM Thephakaysone will be arraigned today at 9 a.m. on three felony charges including the murder of Justin Valdez; they were both SF State students. Valdez, the 20-year-old sophomore was fatally shot in the back of the head at about 9:50 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23, after getting off an eastbound M-Ocean View Muni train at Randolph and Bright Streets. San Francisco Police arrested Valdez’s alleged shooter, Thephakaysone, 30, the following day.
Police found no motive for the shooting. “This has been a painful week for our University community,” President Leslie E. Wong said. “But we are a community known for our compassion and caring, and those values will be a source of strength to all of us during this time of mourning and healing.” Thephakaysone was arrested at his Ocean View home where police discovered a cache of weapons including assault weapons, four knives and $20,000 in cash. He is being held without bail on three felony charges including murder, assault with a deadly weapon and
possession of an illegal assault weapon, according to the San Francisco District The defendant allegedly threatened two other people with his .45 caliber handgun the same night as the shooting. Bystanders saw him brandish the weapon outside a Thai restaurant earlier that evening. CBS SF Bay Area reported that Thephakaysone was caught on Muni surveillance revealing his weapon on the M line train just before the shooting. None of the nearby passengers seemed to notice.
SF State, friends and family remember Justin Valdez. Sept. 4, 1993 to Sept. 23, 2013
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2 NEWS SF STATE SPEAKS OUT HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE JUSTIN VALDEZ TRAGEDY?
TAYLOR MCGRAW, 22 BROADCAST AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION ARTS MAJOR
I’m sad, it’s senseless wviolence. Something like this shouldn’t have hap-
ANNA CISSOKO, 18 POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR
It’s easy to have an opinion and get angry but it’s not important if you don’t do anything about it, what is the SF State community doing about it?
LOGAN SOLL, 19 COMMUNICATIONS MAJOR
Maybe SF State should require at least one or two psychological check ups to make sure they are stable. Maybe if he (the shooter) talked to psychological services it could have been different.
CHANTAL TOM, 22 ENGLISH LITERATURE MAJOR
It makes me more nervous. There should be more oversight in Muni. It makes me think twice about things, it makes me more aware of my surroundings. Photos by: Virginia Tieman Reporting by: Bradley Focht
10.02.13| GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG OBITUARY
Justin Luke Valdez
Sept. 4, 1993 - Sept. 23, 2013
J
jdt@mail.sfsu.edu
USTIN LUKE VALDEZ, an environmental activist and passionate swimmer, died last Monday in San Francisco, Calif. Valdez, 20, was shot and killed exiting the M-Ocean View Muni line on Randolph and Bright streets in San Francisco’s Ingleside District. He was a sophomore at SF State, in pursuit of his goal to save the environment and exercise his love for aquatic sports. Valdez, a Southern California native, grew up in Garden Grove, Calif. with his older sister Jessica. He attended Garden Grove High School where he was known for discovering ways for his school to be environmentally friendly. “One day he made a raft out of recycled water bottles with oars and everything, he was ambitious, he was the kind of person you wish your whole team was,” said Eric Henninger, the head coach for men’s water polo at Garden Grove High School, who had coached Valdez in aquatics sports for four years. During his time at Garden Grove High
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School, Valdez was president of the environmental club. “He tried his best to encourage the people around him to be eco-friendly as well as surrounding his lifestyle around being eco-friendly,” said Christina Bui, his former girlfriend who currently attends UC Berkley. His high school classmates and teachers recall his work organizing campus recycling programs and “Lights Out Wednesdays,” a day set aside to conserve energy in unused classrooms. In 2012, Valdez graduated from Garden Grove High School and then moved to San Francisco to study environmental studies at SF State. He quickly became an active member in Eco Students, a club that works on environmental issues on and off campus. “He wanted to save the world, he wanted to take initiative and become the president of Eco Students, and I did see that in his future,” said Sharon Daraphonhdeth, Sustainable Initiatives program coordinator. He also maintained his love for swimming by joining dragon boating, a paddling boat racing sport, and water polo clubs at SF State.
Justin Valdez was one of the most kind, caring, open-minded and strong individuals that the world has known EVAN TORRES special education major
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“He showed up to every practice, he would go out of his way to help new individuals get better,” said Ben Diaz, president of SF State men’s water polo club. Friends and acquaintances knew Valdez as a zealous and compassionate individual who was a friend for everyone and also cared deeply about the earth. He enjoyed biking to scenic areas around San Francisco, soaking up sun at Dolores Park with his friends and bringing anyone he knew to watch the sun rise and set. “Justin Valdez was one of the most kind, caring, open-minded and strong individuals that the world has known,” said Evan Torres, a special education major at SF State. “He was one of the best friends I’ve ever had.” The Valdez family accepts donations to fund a memorial service in Southern California. Donations can be made to the family’s GiveForward fund at www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/c253/justin-valdez-memorial-fund
Campus community searches for answers; suspect identified as SF State student
UNIVERSITY REACTION Thephakaysone transferred to SF State in 2008 as a full-time student majoring in dietetics, the same department that manages the Vista Room, according to UniversiAfter a year he enrolled in classes as part of the Open University program — an option for people who aren’t pursuing degree programs — and has since, been an off-and-on again student at SF State. President Leslie E. Wong said the University plans to increase the frequency and visibility of its ‘See something, Say something’ campaign, which was introduced after a bomb threat in the Creative Arts Building last semester. However, he did not elaborate on how. Although the Valdez shooting didn’t take place on campus, SF State students have expressed a need for this increased sense of security. “It reminds me that I need to be cautious and safe, even though it proves there’s some things you can’t avoid,” said Ryan Miller, 31, liberal studies major. “It’s crazy, I didn’t know him personally, but it’s scary. You’re at this school and the school becomes apart of you, so it hits you personally pretty hard,” said SF State student Jamielyn Williams, 20. “It was a random incident, and that makes it even more scary; it could have happened to anyone.” SF State junior Robyn Shigemitsu rode the same train as Valdez that Monday night. She watched Valdez get off the train and saw a man take aim and shoot.
Shigemitsu didn’t know Valdez personally, but she attended a candlelight vigil hosted by the University last week in conjunction with the vigils in Valdez’s hometown of Garden Grove. “I don’t want to remember him as a boy who was shot late at night. I wanted to learn about a boy that brought light into people’s lives,” she said. Valdez was a member of Eco Students, the student-run sustainability club on campus, as well a member of the men’s water polo team.
Students in need of support during this time are encouraged to seek counseling offered by the University’s Counseling and Psychological Services. Contact (415) 3382208 to set up an appointment.
Related staff editorial:
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NEWS 3
GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG | 10.02.13
News Briefs
19th Avenue parking threatened by planned M line extesnion idajane@mail.sfsu.edu
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS The San Francisco Fire Department will host their Neighborhood Emergency Response Team training Oct. 1, 8 and 15 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Towers Conference Center. The three days of training will teach participants to respond to emergencies and act as part of an emergency response team. It will include disaster preparedness trainextinguishing training. The University encourages faculty, staff, students and alumni to attend this free training program.
GREAT SHAKEOUT EARTHQUAKE DRILL SF State will participate in the Great California ShakeOut Earthquake Drill Thursday, Oct. 17. The University will join schools across the state as they participate in the exercise. When the outdoor sirens sound at 10:17 a.m. participants will drop to the ground, seek cover underneath a table or desk and hold on until the exercise is over. The event is meant to reinforce earthquake preparedness by training everyone to drop, cover and hold on. Government buildings and businesses will also participate in the yearly drill.
SUICIDE PREVENTION The Oct. 4 deadline to register for SF State’s Suicide Prevention Conference is fast approaching. The University is inviting faculty, students and staff who provide services to students to share in suicide prevention training during the Oct. 18 conference. Organizers are attempting to raise awareness, reduce the negative stigma and connect students to resources. The conference is sponsored by the SF State Student Mental Health Initiative and funded by Proposition 63 and California Mental Health Services Authority and includes a continental breakfast and lunch.
SCHOOL SPIRIT Students and faculty are encouraged to wear their school colors, purple and gold, every Friday to celebrate Gator pride. These colors symbolize campus community.
BOTTLE REFILL STATIONS throughout campus. The student group Take Back the Tap campaigned last year for the University to install the carbon footprint. Reusable water bottles help save the environment and reduce student expenses, according to the group. The water fountains still work, but have now been
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HE SAN Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) proposed eliminating parking spaces along 19th Avenue to make room for a new M-Ocean View Muni line that would run underground through Parkmerced, during a meeting Tuesday, Sept. 23. Two conceptual designs, revealed by the SFCTA, would each run the M-Ocean View line underground from St. Francis Circle to Stonestown Galleria and possibly extend to Daly City BART. Some attendees, like
sanchezc@mail.sfsu.edu
environmental studies major Anthony Serna, were concerned about the proposed elimination of 19th Avenue parking and the impact on students already residential areas. “It all seems like a good idea parking is more of an issue,” Serna said. “If people took Muni and there’s safer biking, parking isn’t the issue.” The SFCTA has until through the area, under the Parkmerced Development Agreement. Caltrans is funding most of the project, but SF State and Parkmerced have also designated $1.8 million and $70 million, respectively.
ASI WOMEN’S CENTER IS OPEN The Women’s Center, a safe space for women on campus, is now open for the fall semester with a brand new staff. To celebrate they’re hosting an open house Oct. 7 at 1 p.m. in the Cesar Chavez Student Center room T-116. Students attending the Open House can learn how to get involved with the center and upcoming events.
three to four years. “We’ve got so much data on why 19th Avenue is the problem it is,” said Peter Albert, manager of SFMTA Urban Planning Initiatives. “We’re following through on our obligation with munity.”
SF State Crime Blotter Between 9/23 and 9/30 the University Police Department responded to 32 incidents. Here are some of the highlights.
TENURE The SF State community is invited to celebrate professors who have been granted tenure or who were promoted this year. A celebration complete with refreshments will be hosted in their honor Monday Oct. 7 from 4 to 5 p.m. in demic Affairs is hosting the event.
“For SF State to pay only $2 million seems like a drop in the bucket,” said Aaron Goodman, architect and previous Parkmerced resident. “The bigger impact on the district is SF State.” The 19th Avenue transit planners deemed the longer subway and bridge design as the most effective, saving $2 million per year in operating costs and running 35 to 45 percent faster. A shorter subway and tunnel, saving $90 million, would return the M line to street level at Buckingham Way instead of continuing to run the northbound line underground until it reaches Parkmerced. The tunnel, however, would cost $160 million more than the bridge. Miguel Guerrero, Associated Students, Inc. health and social sciences representative, was also concerned about the 19th Avenue design plan. “To decrease the parking demand, we have to make sure public transportation is more affordable for students,” he said. The commute could get easier for students taking BART, with the proposed extension of the M line on a bridge to the Daly City station, costing an estimated $200 to 300 million. The study will conclude by the end of the year and the environmental review and design
9/27 Medical
A skateboarder took a tumble from his board and
9/25 Grand theft
Someone had their $2,000 Macbook stolen after they left it unattended for 15 minutes in the library at 8 p.m.
9/26 Driving while suspended driving without a license.
9/27 Sleeping in car
Police saw a man sleeping in his car with his dog outside the former Sutro Library at 12:05 a.m. He was released at the scene and told to take care of an outstanding warrant from BART police.
at 1:47 a.m. Medics were called to the scene and they transported the skater to Kaiser Permanente for treatment.
9/27 Resisting near Winston Drive for questioning at 10:10 p.m., when they were forced to call for backup from the San Francisco Police Department. Two people were for treatment to injuries received during the arrest.
9/28 Marijuana
ing weed on the access road to Lot 6 at 12:45 a.m.
4 NEWS
10.02.13| GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
TB testing freeze takes toll on SF State elinker@mail.sfsu.edu
Many SF State students, like nursing major Kana Thompson, undergo tuberculosis testing as a requirement for jobs and class programs. However, the SF State Student Health Center placed a temporary freeze on TB testing last month when local labs proved unable to provide accurate blood test results. According to health center blood sample tubes — among other potential causes — 39 percent of blood tests returned without results. “The Student Health Center not offering any testing is a huge problem,” Thompson said. “If you’re not getting tested you can lose your job or get kicked out of your program.” According to the manufac-
quality control issue with the curnecessary for tuberculosis tests, rendered it unusable. This is the second shortage in six months. The health center could no longer provide the standard TB skin test, and instead offered a $50 blood test as an alternative, for the past several weeks. The percentage of indeterminate results from blood tests, however, is higher than expected, according to Alastair Smith, Student Health Center director. The center has tried to identify the cause of error, working closely with the tubes’ manufacturer and the lab that processes the blood. that it’s lots of little problems:
little problems with the tubes, little problems with the timing,” Smith said. “It’s usually not one big error, it’s a multitude of little errors. We need to look at all the things that could be contributing to this problem.” The diagnostic problem has been linked to the mitogen tubes that are used in collecting and incubating the blood, according to Smith. containers used for the Quantiferon blood tests — the mitogen in the tubes reacts with the blood and TB antigens, providing positive or negative tuberculosis results. It’s still unclear whether the problem lies with the tubes’ manufacturer, Qiagen, or with the length of time between the
blood draw and testing at Quest laboratory, the offsite lab used by the health center. “There were and are still a lot of unknowns,” said Aimée Williams, Student Health Center lead health educator. “The results weren’t at the accuracy level we thought they should be at, so we’ve stopped the tests until it’s all resolved. We don’t want to give students inaccurate results and scare them.” The current scarcity problem will not be resolved until November, according to Matt Conens of the California DepartWhile college students are often more at risk for diseasmononucleosis, their risk for
developing tuberculosis is equal to that of the general public, according to Conens. Until the national supply of Tubersol has been restocked, the Centers for Disease Control blood tests be substituted for skin tests and that the remaining available skin tests be allocated to priority needs, such as TB contact investigations. Williams recommends students check the Student Health Center website for updates on testing availability. Blood testing is available at Center for $80 or at SF Depart-
munization and Travel Clinic for $105. The AITC is also offering skin testing for $40.
Students compete for cash prize in Campus MovieFest
M
slenon44@mail.sfsu.edu
ORE THAN 100 teams of
up the line on the red carpet for Campus MovieFest as the competition kicked off last Wednesday, Sept. 25, at SF State for a chance to win cash prizes and the opportunity to make a short “What we do is we provide students they have a whole week to make a want to do,” said Ismael Castillo, CMF event assistant manager. “We always get random submissions at SFSU, especially with the diverse community that we have here.” The deadline for students to submit by a panel of SF State students, staff and faculty chosen by the Associated
Chorng for Best Comedy. “From the top 16 we give awards for Best Drama, Best Comedy, Best $20,000,” Castillo said. “Also if you win a whole year of Adobe Creative the Cannes Film Festival.”
shaw, 20, cinema major, are more than ready to compete at CMF. “There’s really nothing like this at all in Australia, it’s a completely who is from Australia but is living in the U.S. for the semester. 23, a double major in broadcasting and electronic communications arts and
a comedy based on their brief time adjusting to life in America in comparison to Australia. He added that they also show their outside look of American society.
“We’re making a story about us, basically based on our daily life. We live in Daly City and it’s going to be about us being obnoxious versions of ourselves Castillo said the SF State winners will then go on to compete in the national CMF event. all across the nation in the next level at CMF Hollywood,” Castillo said. “And that’s where the bigger cash prizes are.”
festival, Castillo said CMF is able studios for students at the Hollywood event. vals in the past,” Castillo said. “We’ve had people from Fox Studios, Universal high-pitched meetings and training as well as opportunities with paid gigs so it’s pretty awesome.”
The latest videos from Xpress: Glass blowing class faces steep odds against cancellation next semester. Students race cars for product design class. Check online Thursday. Check them out on GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG | 10.02.13
A RT S A N D E N T E RTA I N M E N T 5
Arts festival celebrates Palestinian culture
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culle010@mail.sfsu.edu
ARM WIND GUSTED through the empty halls of the Creative Arts Building, carrying with them the faint harmony of Arabic violins, tradition and hope. This is not in Bethlehem, the seat of the Abrahamic traditions, but SF State, this year’s host of Bright Stars of Bethlehem’s Room for Hope. Last weekend, September 26 to 28, the three-day festival celebrated Palestinian music, art and culture dance, art and music. The festival aimed to separate the Palestinian people from the ideas of its political turmoil and showcase its vibrant cultural heritage. All the proceeds from the event will go to children’s academies and family programs in Palestine. “It is not political,” said Rasmyah Hammoudeh, an SF State international relations graduate. “The proceeds go directly to the people, to give them hope.” The Art From Bethlehem exhibit in the Richard Oakes Multicultural Center Gallery kicked off the festival, showcasing Palestinian art. Following the opening was the Intro to Dabka Dance performance and a poetry reading that combined poets from throughout SF State and the Bay Area. Before traveling to other parts of the U.S., the Diyar Dance Theatre also performed last Thursday. The troupe is comprised of 40 volunteer dancers, some as young as 15, all from Beit Sahour, a Palestinian town near Bethlehem that lies in the shadow of the West Bank barrier. “These kids have been living under harsh condi-
32,000 readers will see your ad! GGX Ads: 415.338.3133 echarles@sfsu.edu
tions,” Hammoudeh said. She said although many of the young volunteers in the group have been raised under a harsh socioeconomic setting in the West Bank, the purpose of the troupe is to revive Palestinian cultural identity through the beauty of modern and traditional dance. Last Friday, seminars took place at SF State regarding startups and entrepreneurial opportunities within Palestine, a country that faces harsh sanctions from the U.S. mentaries about Palestinian history. Mahasen Nasser-Eldin, director of “Restored Pic-
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photographer in Palestine, said she intended her work to “take women out of the political context of the 1920s” in Palestine. “Restored Pictures,” like most of the works featured throughout the festival, seeks to highlight Palestinian culture and achievement on its own merit, rather than weigh it down with the constant political turmoil associated with Palestine’s divided government. “Our history is scattered and fragmented,” said
Nasser-Eldin. “It is important for current generations (of Palestinians) to explore the continuation of life.” inars and musical performances. Mitri Raheb, one of the key organizers of the event, also gave his keynote speech. He pointed out the important role of religious diversity in Palestine, where much of the population is Christian, Jewish and Muslim. Raheb also is the head of both the University and the Lutheran church that helped put the entire festival together. The festival ended with a musical performance from Georges Lammam, Miles Jay, Tareq Rantisi, Ali Amr and Gabriel Navia in McKenna Theatre. Their performance illustrated a wide variety of Arab music, not necessarily This echoed the theme of religious diversity at the festival and in Palestine. Hammoudeh explained that Bright Stars of Bethlehem was actually a Christian organization, which recognizes the vast religious diversity within Palestine. “The purpose of this festival is to put all politics and religion aside and focus on the culture,” she said. “This is who we are. We are proud to be Palestinian.”
6 A RT S A N D E N T E RTA I N M E N T
10.02.13| GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
Air Force band brings musical variety to Knuth Hall
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S SENIOR
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thew Garza concluded his opening speech, three musicians, dressed in dark blue Air Force uniforms, walked in unison toward center stage.
may have expected more traditional renditions of military marches like “You’re a Grand Old Flag” were greeted instead by a fun and lighthearted number that set the tone for the rest of the recital. The United States Air Force Band of the Golden West performed a chamber recital in Knuth Hall at SF State Friday, Sept. 27. While the music was dominated by woodwind instruments, the performers played a variety of musical styles including classical, folk and romantic. The band was approached to Seggelke, a music professor at SF State whose expertise in wind ensembles and his professional relationship with members of the band led him to extend the invitation.
Local artist featured in SF State exhibit describes his creations
“Originally when I came to the area I went to a concert and was just blown away, quite literally, they were fantastic,” Seggelke said. “I heard that they were having smaller chamber ensembles within the large band and that they travel, so I said ‘Would you be willing to play at State,’ and they said ‘Yes, of course we would.’” The music that the USAF Band of the Golden West plays is usually in order to ensure that the music properly suits the different types of proceedings the ensembles play. But Garza, the band’s trumpeter, proposed the free-form recital seJason S. Plosch, as a way to not only empower the musicians but to also challenge them. From there, the musicians took an interest and organized their own ensembles in order to perform the music they are passionate about. “I may reach out through email and say ‘Here’s our particular dates for the recital series, if you would like to participate let me know,’ and people kinda do their own things,” Garza said. The recital series is just one of many events that the Air Force
Student art showcased at first Creative State event ayesha@mail.sfsu.edu
Highlighted by the Alexander String Quartet and the world premiere of a composition by Pulitzer Prize-winning professor, Wayne Peterson, the University’s
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AN FRANCISCO ARTIST, JASON JÄGEL, lectured students about his work as a part of professor Lewis deSoto’s graduate seminar class last Thursday. Jägel displayed his artwork with slides dating back to 1995 until present, and shared with students his personal experiences in creating his art. Being the compulsive doodler that he is, Jägel’s work contains drama, language and a fusion of colors. ing that of his and his daughters.
in the Fine Arts Gallery at SF State.
See the video on GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
State Opening Day showcase last Sunday. However, most visitors arrived earlier for play readings, readings, a dance showcase, a live radio broadcast and a Gregorian chant, all of which were mostly performed by students and free to attend. Artists Series for free chamber music for the current semester. The opening night was also an opportunity for the school to showcase the work of students from other programs at the University before the general public. “It’s just very exciting to be able to show the diversity of the different parts that we have here at San Francisco State and to be able to share those with the public and the community in general,” said Todd Roehrman, associate dean at the University. concert but arrived a few hours early to see everything else that was going on,” said Jone Broer, an attendee
performing arts.
were written by SF State students part of th arts play development program. Similarly, t poetry readings included handpicked poems who conveyed emotions of happiness and s they read aloud in the choir. The Gregorian chant, that gathered a cro 30 people in the Fine Arts Gallery, was perf a group of students enrolled in a Gregorian and their professor at the University. “The one (chant) that was performed is tion of Italian materials called the de Bellis
manager of the Fine Arts Gallery at SF Stat The students, along with professor Paul dressed in all black, lined up against one wa
GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG | 10.02.13
A RT S A N D E N T E RTA I N M E N T 7 Sloat Blvd.
shawnw@mail.sfsu.edu
2675 Ocean Ave San Francisco 415-584-8098
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occupied military zones to entertain and support our troops. The Air Force band not only entertains both current and veteran members of the military, but is also used as educational and promotional tools to members of the community. “We want to use music to portray the excellence that is happening all across the Air Force,” Garza said. “Obviously every job that the air force does, the professionals are highly trained and the band is no different.” While formal ceremonies require the band play more traditional military tunes, Friday’s recital allowed for more creative freedom. “On this one, it’s special because everyone that performed got to choose what they wanted to play and what ensemble they wanted to play with,” Garza said about the performance. “We may not normally have a clarinet quartet on
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base that performs, so it’s kinda cool to get to put that together and perform some really cool music in this setting.”
Nineteenth Ave.
band performs. Being the only active Air Force band west of the rently serves 13 Air Force Bases, 8 Air Force Reserve Wings and 6 recruiting squadrons along the West
high standards of professionalism and conduct set forth by military personnel, there was an element of leisure and fun that was evident by the audience. “(The recitals) are a little bit more laid back, just because we get to be more in charge of it Levin said. “I want more musical things people are going to remember,
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Arnold, it’s just very catchy, and uplifting and fun. That’s what I like,” said Levin on her musical choice for the evening. While budget cuts currently restrict the Band of the Golden West from touring outside their local area, they currently have many concert appearances set throughout the Bay Area over the upcoming months. “We are out here to tell the Air Force story,” Garza said. “To kinda let people know that excellence is happening all over the world right tomatoe bac now, and to remember thosebacon, who lettuce, avo- s, onions, mushroom on, avocado, s& served before us.”
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Fine Arts Gallery and mesmerized their audience with a profound recitation of a chant that dates back to 1450. Ellison, a part-time lecturer for the history of music and the Gregorian chant choir at SF State, also included noted hand gestures and frequent bows during the performance in hopes of really incorporating the manner in which the chant was performed in the 15th century. After the students wrapped up their performances they joined the audience and eagerly walked over to the
chamber music concert series in San Francisco, featuring superb, admission-free performances by some of the world’s most acclaimed ensembles since 1955,” said
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8 OPINION
10.02.13| GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG STAFF EDITORIAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF arrodrig@mail.sfsu.edu
PRINT MANAGING EDITOR jonaramo@mail.sfsu.edu ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR loda@mail.sfsu.edu ART DIRECTOR hnall@mail.sfsu.edu PRINT COPY CHIEF haydee@mail.sfsu.edu ONLINE COPY CHIEF jordanh@mail.sfsu.edu PRINT PHOTO EDITOR sbenedic@mail.sfsu.edu
ONLINE PHOTO EDITOR mhendric@mail.sfsu.edu NEWS EDITOR jdt@mail.sfsu.edu
NEWS EDITOR cpalmer@mail.sfsu.edu
Shed cynicism, remain hopeful in memory of Justin Valdez
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HE RANDOM AND senseless killing of Justin Valdez this last week left SF State and its extended community of friends and family shaken. Too often we are bombarded by local news of motiveless and unnecessary murders, young lives being cut short and the heartbreak of losing a loved one. We are left confused, devastated and angry at the lack of reason as to why Valdez was killed. The loss of a fellow student especially hits close to home, as many of us relate to Valdez’s ambition to gain a higher education and build the foundation to a better life. Losses like this demoralize and instill unnecessary fear. Many of us use the same public transit as Valdez to get to and from school. Some walk through the same neighborhoods, and many of us can relate to moving far away from home to experience college. But we cannot become fearful because of this, nor hardened or cynical. Doing
so would upset the positivity, ambition, promise and fearlessness Valdez’s life represents. By paying attention to the life of Valdez, the good example he set and the warm response of our community, we can uproot the seeds of despair that so easily plant themselves in our consciousness in times of such a heinous act. An “accomplished swimmer” and president of his high school’s environmental club, Valdez is remembered by his peers as someone who pursued his passions. CBS Los Angeles reported that Valdez was even voted at one point, “Most Likely To Change the World.” His efforts to establish a recycling program at his high school demonstrated his passion for creating a better world. The outpouring of support and empathy for Justin Valdez’s friends and family epitomizes the best of our society: at last Thursday’s vigil, through social media and the public donations to assist the family with funeral expenses. These numerous testaments to the positive nature of people drive home the fact that despite the tragedies of this world, there
will always be myriads of people ready to help. San Francisco is still arraigning Nikom Thephakaysone, Valdez’s alleged shooter. We eagerly await answers. Perhaps that is what SF State, friends and family need for closure and peace. details from last Thursday night, we should not let the attribution of blame and guilt consume us. In the very end, our ability to learn from the best of Valdez will serve his goals for a better world more than any negativity ever could. It’s in tragedies like this, though horrible in nature, we should remember how valuable our siblings, parents, children, friends and family are. All of us encounter sorrow on varying levels in our lives. Ultimately, it’s from coming closer to our loved ones that we cement connections that make us stronger than if we were alone. Building on that positivity, even in the depths of dark times, will foster more good than any mindless act will ever accomplish.
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Smartphones are tools, not accessories If I have a perfectly good smartphone with no operational issues, and I decide to spring on the newest, fastest design on the market, what does that make me? For millions of people, it means they became the owners of the new iPhone 5S and 5Cs that recently hit the market. In our pocket computer generation, access to the Internet and fast mobile browsing is something most of us take for granted — and as a necessity. Clearer resolutions, snappier processors and faster web response all enhance the user experience, whether that’s the ability to take and post the perfect Instagram photo, quickly grab driving directions or swiftly end a trivia disagreement with a friend. But how often do we need to swap out old gear for newer technology? Data from 2011 Recon Analysis shows that on average, Americans change their phones every 21.7 months, as opposed 46.3 months in Japan, 51.5 months in Italy and 80.8 months in Brazil. The desire for newer and better is arguably strong among our generation, particularly in this country. That desire comes with a cost, one that has been draseveral years. The Wall Street Journal published an article last year highlighting some families that set aside nearly $1,000 to upgrade to the new iPhone 5 at the time. Data from the article shows that the average family’s cell phone bill rose to $1,226 annu-
ally in 2011 from an average of $1,110 in 2007. When we look at our personal necessity and what we actually need as students, can owning a smartphone? And even if so, what about upgrading each time to a new model of the current phone we have comes out? There is no doubt that smartphones in general have a myriad of uses. Like any tool, they have effective purposes. The slew of apps out on the market offer ways memo recording and more. At what point does the need to access all of the information rectify the need for a newer phone, or Some of us require smartphones for our line of work. Depending on our
kharuta@mail.sfsu.edu
smolmud@mail.sfsu.edu
will demand that we have some sort of Planned obsolescence, the practice of manufacturers intentionally creating a product doomed to become outdated or An article by World Crunch highlighted the issue across multiple industries, where products are manufactured with failure programmed into their lifetime, and foreseeable costly repairs near or equal the cost of buying a replacement item. With smartphones that have a limited amount of battery charges before deterioratand worn and hardware that eventually clogs up in speed, the need to replace a smartphone will likely plague anyone that owns one and depends on its operation. Being able to discern the priority level of such an investment in one’s life is undoubtedly important for students monitoring their spending. The lifelong skill of knowing when and when not to spend money is something that everyone needs to learn. Having the latest and greatest piece of technology may be a education, but may not serve us so well in the long run if only to quench our need for retail therapy.
OPINION 9
GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG | 10.02.13
Diverse, active social media presence attracts employers
I
N A GENERATION that grew up in the rise of the Internet and boom of social media, it’s amazing to me how little my peers use it to its fullest potential. Everyone has their own concept of themselves that they reveal through social media posts. We’ve all got friends and ones who put every bong and drug-induced endeavor online. The latter drives me crazy. As college students and professionals at any age, we should be seeking to create a strong professional presence online. Social media strategies aren’t just for businesses, they’re for individuals too — at least the ones who want jobs. Social media isn’t just a fun place to post your MySpace quizzes anymore. It’s a skill and a new resource for hiring managers to see if you’re really their cup of tea. According to Forbes, CareerBuilder.com did a survey of 2,303 hiring managers and found that 37 percent of them
scan potential candidates’ socharacter and personality, and sometimes even base their hiring decision on what they
Facebook. I’m looking at you, who wrote that as a skill on the week. minimal and inappropriate tweets, incorrect spelling of the blog site Tumblr and blank Pinterest pages.
said Malorie Lucich, communications manager at Pinterest and ‘06 SF State alum. I won’t deny it: I’m obsessed with Pinterest, and have met people who feel the same way. But this is also a site that I hear much less about than Instagram or Vine. While women
stalking you. CareerBuilder.com more likely also asked why to use it than companies men according check social to Hypebot. media sites. com, I’ve got Guess why? more than “65 percent enough girl said they do it friends (and to see if the job guy friends, seeker presents for that matter) himself or herthat have made self professionA WEEKLY CAREER COLUMN BY NENA FARRELL ally.” barely posted Mark anything. haydee@mail.sfsu.edu O’Toole deWhy is scribes eleven that? Not sure. detailed things recent graduates Let’s look at Pinterest for But after reading O’Toole’s are horrible at in “Congrata moment. It’s a site focused article, either use it or delete it. ulations Graduate! Eleven around creating individual “People use Pinterest to Reasons Why I Will Never create wishlists, plan projects, Hire You.” My favorite obser“pins,” or pictures/graphics get inspired about places to vation? Number seven: “You that are linked to websites, visit, and more,” said Lucich. Don’t Get Social Media (But blogs or recipes. “Students “(Students can) save articles Think You Do).” It’s targeted can use Pinterest to showcase around a topic they’re interat graduates who claim social their online portfolios (such as ested in or books they want to media expertise, but only use published writing samples),” read, collect webinars or talks
Ready to
Launch
The Cesar Chavez Student Center’s Audited 2012/13 Financial Statements are now available at www.sfsustudentcenter.com
relevant to their area of study, discover tips for their job search, and more.” Lucich suggests following ing group boards for projects, collecting ideas on a board for job interviews, following news sources and creating a “pin now, read later” board. This goes beyond Pinterest. Sites like LinkedIn and Twitter especially should be updated and maintained. Even though none of us use Google+, I bet you have a Gmail account, which means you have another your name. And like O’Toole says, use it or delete it. So here’s to hoping you clean up your Twitter feed and Google+, before someone with A Type A overachiever, -
10 S P O RT S
SF State hockey club hits the ice for debut season srubin@mail.sfsu.edu
10.02.13| GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
T
HIS semester, the ice hockey team at SF State will season ever
What started as a disestablished roller hockey team, captains Dennis Groenlund and Andrew Duenes resurrected into squad set to compete in the Hockey Association. This fall, the men’s team is scheduled to play against league competitors like Santa Clara University, Stanford and CSU Sacramento. “We’ve been working on this for at least a year,” said Groenlund, an environmental studies major at SF State. “Andrew and I built this team brick by brick.” When Groenlund and Duenes took over last year, the Sport Club Council put the team on full probation. The SCC organizes the 14 athletic teams that are not part of the SF State athletic department, and provides access to campus facilities and campus recreation funding. The previous roller hockey team leaders failed essary paperwork, said Groenlund, which put the team in bad standing with the council. The pair took over the club and promised the SCC they were serious about revitalizing the team. They compiled hours of volunteer work, attended
Freshman athlete spotlight Denise Hernandez: Soccer treyaw@mail.sfsu.edu
weekly SCC meetings and tabled in the quad to get back in good standing with the school. To stay in shape, dedicated players would travel some nights at 10:45 p.m. to Redwood City to scrimmage with the San Jose State team. This June, the team was approved. A few months later, after joining the PCHA league, the team secured the historic Cow Palace — former home of the San Jose Sharks and current home of the San Francisco Bulls — as the team’s home ice. “We thought ‘oh, lets get Cow Palace, why not,’” said Duenes, a mechanical engineering student at SF State. “We aimed high, and it all came together.”
learn when you’re older,” said Duenes. “It’s not possible to just join if you are interested.” This year’s team has a mix of players at different experience levels. Some have been playing since childhood; Groenlund has been ice skating since age two, and his casual hobby quickly developed into a passion for hockey that lasted through his travels from his homeland, Sweden, to the U.S. Others are still skating at an intermediate level. To helwp train the new team, a few players recruited their trainer Simon Yaghyayn, a hockey player with 17 years of coaching under his belt, to be the new head coach. “We’ve only known him for
now that the matches are set and jerseys are purchased, is to establish a strong base of dedicated teammates. Groenlund and Duenes are graduating next year, and hope that their teammates can keep up what they started. The team recruited a maxi-
had,” said Duenes. But, in those hours, Yaghyayn has put his players through the gauntlet. The coach has been teaching fundamentals of the game — defensive zone coverage, positional play without the puck, and pressuring the puck in the offensive zone, but players said he also runs some violent drills. One, called the gauntlet drill, has them push a teammate aggressively into the wall to prepare them for the game’s harsh physicality. “They show a lot of heart and are passionate about the game and are ready to compete, so it should be an exciting season,” Yaghyayn said.
but saw interest from many more when it solicited in the quad at the beginning of the semester. Because of the high interest level, the team expects to host tryouts next season. Hockey requires a unique skill set and passion, Groenlund and Duenes said, one that demands mental pressure. “It’s not a sport that you
5 against Santa Clara University at the Nazareth Ice Oasis.
D
ENISE HERNANDEZ HAD quite the prep career at her alma mater, Katella High, in Anaheim, Calif. league selection and a two-time team MVP. Hernandez will be joining the Gator’s squad this year as a
on the team. “She brings good ball skills and technique,” he said. “It’s a big jump from the high school to college level, but since the start of the season, (Denise) has become stronger on the ball and been able to shield the ball game Sept. 15 against Humboldt State.
S P O RT S 11
GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG | 10.02.13
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Season coach enters 34th year with team
E
clifto@mail.sfsu.edu
MEN’S SOCCER
FRIDAY Oct. 4
SF State v Cal State Monterey Bay 12:30 p.m. Otter Sports Center Seaside, Calif.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
SF State v Cal State Monterey Bay 3 p.m. Otter Sports Center Seaside, Calif.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL SF State v Chico State 7 p.m. The Swamp San Francisco, Calif.
SATURDAY Oct. 5 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL SF State v Cal State Stanislaus 7 p.m. The Swamp San Francisco, Calif.
SUNDAY Oct. 6 MEN’S SOCCER
SF State v Chico State 11:30 a.m. Cox Stadium San Francisco, Calif.
VERY AFTERNOON, as the SF State women’s soccer team runs through daily drills at Cox Stadium, head coach Jack Hyde, whistle in hand, loiters close to the sideline as he watches the players run drills. His body is completely still, with his hands anxious to jump in and teach. “He’s always trying to get his players to the next level, even if we think we’re on the top of our game, he tries to push us harder,” senior Mari Mendizabal said. This is Hyde’s 34th season as head coach of women’s soccer. Under his leadership, Hyde has established women’s soccer as a recognized sport at SF State, escaped budget cuts, advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championships and giate Athletic Association conference title. “Sometimes you don’t walk straight into the job that you love. You’ve got to work hard to get there. I was joking with them (the team) yesterday, when I got off the boat here, nobody ran up to me and asked if I wanted to coach. I had to work hard,” Hyde said. Born in Birmingham, England, Hyde left Great Britain in 1968 and lived in Africa and eventually Canada for a year where he worked as an engineer. He moved to America in 1978 to take over as assistant coach of the North American Soccer League for the Oakland Stompers. Hyde left his coaching position with the Stompers the same year. In 1979, the then current SF State’s men’s soccer coach Luis Sagastume recommended Hyde for the position and Hyde was hired. When Hyde arrived at SF State in 1979, the school didn’t recognize women’s soccer as an ofsoccer were playing at the club level, but didn’t get did. In 1982, Hyde played a role in changing that. “We got a petition going around, and we got over 60 or 70 odd names that said they wanted to play and (SF State) accepted and created a women’s program,” Hyde said. In 1982, SF State agreed to acknowledge wom-
letic program. He continued to coach both the men’s and women’s side until 1994 when current SF State men’s head coach, Joe Hunter, took over the men’s program. Hyde agreed to be women’s head coach and has held the position for 34 years and counting. But his journey with SF State wasn’t so smooth. In the early 90s, the athletics department lost nearly 80 percent of their operating budget.
“It looked as if we were going to fold, not have athletics,” said Hyde. He and many others from the SF State athletics department went to the center of campus to convince students to vote on a referendum, which provided the lost 80 percent of funding for SF State athletics. The department prevailed with a passed referendum. In 2002, SF State advanced to the NCAA title. “We took the Gatorade water (bucket) and poured it on him (Hyde) and he was so happy,” Their current record stands at 1-4-1 record conference record (2-4-2 overall). They play against teams that have more money than SF State and that can create a disadvantage for Hyde. “There’s a little disparity, other teams have more money than we have. They’re able to hook the better players. That’s just a matter of fact,” Hyde said. Still, budget hasn’t deterred him from meeting his goals for SF State women’s soccer. “He’s constantly making sure we are getting all the resources we need, whether it’s athletic training or tutoring. Anything to push us to be a better person and better soccer player,” said Smith. Hyde, although dedicated to SF State women’s soccer, isn’t certain about the length of his stay or retirement. “It (retirement) could be tomorrow, it could said. “When I don’t feel that I’m excited about being there on the sideline and being involved (I’ll retire).”
WOMEN’S SOCCER SF State v Chico State 2 p.m. Cox Stadium San Francisco, Calif.
SCOREBOARD Men’s Soccer
For coverage, go to
GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
Cross-Country
Roy Griak Invitational
v Cal State Stanislaus Sept 27: won 2-0 v Cal State East Bay Sept. 29: lost 0-1
16th out of 40 teams.
Women’s Soccer
Women’s Volleyball
v Cal State Stanislaus Sept 27: lost 0-1 v Cal State East Bay Sept. 29: lost 0-3
19th out of 33 teams. v Cal State LA Sept 27: won 3-2 v Cal State Dominguez Sept. 28: won 1-2
12
10.02.13| GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
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