Golden Gate Xpress Spring 2013 Issue 6

Garrett Randall (bottom) lifts up Atasha Bozorgzad with his feet while she finds balance.

They were doing acroyoga in the quad at SF State on Tuesday, Feb. 12. Photo by Mike Hendrickson / Special to Xpress

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: The Golden Gate Xpress will feature a photo every week in print and online from SF State students — and it could be yours! email your photos:

xpressnewsstaff@gmail.com

GOLDEN GATE XPRESS//

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

// 03.06.13

VOLUME LXXXXVI ISSUE 6

ACCESS DENIED:

SFSU CONFESSIONS GETS DELETED Pride Prom provides party paradise LGBTQ students celebrated together at a dance designed to accept anyone and everyone PRIDEFUL: Jennifer Moreno enjoys the Masquerade Ball during SF States Pride Prom in the Cesar Chavez building. Photo by Erica Marquez

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BY LOVELIE FAUSTINO | faustino@mail.sfsu.edu

T 36, VINCENT Mares was finally given the opportunity to participate in a tradition most experience in their high school years.

“I never went to my high school prom, but I feel like I’m making up for it now,” the communications major said.

In its third year, SF State Pride Prom continues to be a highlight for the LGBTQ community at school. Many like Mares were given the chance to go to a school dance and dance with whom they wanted. For Mares, that person was with his partner Jaime Galaviz.

“I think Pride Prom is a great idea, I feel like it makes everyone feel comfortable," Mares said.

"It’s nice to be adults and hang out in a safe and fun environment."

This semester's SF State Pride Prom Masquerade, with beautiful crafted masks, vogue dance battles and a long conga line filled with smiling laughing students, was successful just as in previous years.

Pride Prom was a concept originated by a former student Bita Shooshani from SF State’s CEASE program, or Creating Empowerment through Alcohol and Substance Abuse Education SEE DANCERS ON PAGE 5

BY JOE FITZGERALD | jfitzger@mail.sfsu.edu

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HE SFSU CONFESSIONS page which was scrolled and shared by thousands of SF State students shut down March 3, as the Administrator’s fear of legal battles grew.

Many schools have their own “confessions” pages, often started by students. SFSU Confessions followed a similar template, where students could submit anonymous secrets to the administrator of the page through a third party website, and the funniest and most scintillating secrets would be posted for the world to see. Anyone could access the page, and Although this is all posts were entered the end of the anonymously. page, it doesn’t Confessions ranged mean a new page from people admitting isn’t far away, crushes to students suggesting they wanthopefully, in the ed to commit suicide. near future we As more and more can come together students viewed and again and share posted their confesfunny, gross, sions, the Adminisawkward stories trator heard rumors around school about The Administrator, SF State trying to shut SFSU Confessions down the page.

“I decided to make the decision to shut down the page in efforts to protect myself for personal reasons,” he said.

SF State’s page jumped to over 3,000 Facebook “likes” in only a few weeks, with over 65,000 views a day in its peak week. The site mostly averaged around 35,000 views a day, according to Facebook data from the page.

The page’s popularity was part of the problem, said the Administrator, who wished to remain anonymous. He proved his identity by sharing screen data from SFSU Confessions via Skype in real time.

The Administrator still did not want his identity to go public, but was willing to reveal that he is a male, 18-year-old freshman.

SEE FEAR ON PAGE 11

“ SECRETS: (Above) The home page for what the original SFSU Confessions page used to looked like. (Below) The last two confessions posted by the administrator of the original page.

2 CAMPUS SF STATE SPEAKS OUT DO YOU THINK SFSU CONFESSIONS WAS GOOD OR BAD FOR SCHOOL SPIRIT?

DANIELLE KARTA, 19 MATH MAJOR

It was great. Everyone has similar insecurities and it’s great to realize that everyone is going through the same thing.

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CAMPUS COMMUNITY TO CHOOSE LEADERS

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EFORE COLLEGE, student government elections were usually nothing more than popularity contests. At SF State it’s just the opposite, with few people on campus even knowing that a student government exists.

It’s election season for the Associated Students Inc. and, given dismal voter turnout figures in years past, candidates are trying their best to get the word out.

“The ASI board of directors has a lot of power in the school experience on this campus,” Jen Yuen, assistant election commissioner for ASI said.

ASI is SF State’s version of student government. They provide programs including the Women’s Center and the Legal Resource Center, funded largely by the money paid from tuition. ASI also gave out $1000 scholarships to eligible students earlier this month. All that was required to receive a scholarship was enrollment in the University for the entire academic year with a 2.5 cumulative GPA and an essay written by the applicant.

Students are charged a $42 fee that goes directly to the ASI to fund the organization.

The power to vote for or against programs lies in the hands of students. However, some students believe there is just not

JESSICA TROST, 25

ANTHROPOLOGY MAJOR

It brought people together, but not covertly. I didn’t feel closer to students, but it was interesting to see people’s perspectives, when we’re all kind of in the same positions as college students.

Accreditation team visits SF State

BY BRAD WILSON

bradw949@mail.sfsu.edu

SARA JAY, 21

TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL WRITING MAJOR

It was good. It can expose different things about school that we don’t know about. Like, “This restaurant is dirty, don’t go there!” People were informed.

SHMULIK BOIKANER, 20 PHYSIOLOGY MAJOR

It’s a place that brought people together; everyone at our school is coming together and sharing their experiences.

Photos by: Virginia Tieman Reporting by: Brad Wilson

BY LAURYN HOFFMEYER | laurynrh@mail.sfsu.edu

enough publicity about on-campus organizations.

“It’s the school leaders and programs and stuff. I mean they are probably good programs. I don’t really know that much about them,” psychology major Kevin DeFranco said.

Sonya Soltani, communications major and active vice president of external affairs for ASI, believes that the best way to create positive change is to open the lines of communication between the board, staff and students. Soltani wants students to become proactive in the issues they face and voice their opinions through voting.

“Students have a lot to complain about, but they always think and hope someone else will advocate for them,” she said.

“ASI does advocate for you but there is only 18 of us and we need to know what students need addressed.”

Tomas Ortega, 20, a candidate for representative at large and a photojournalism major, plans on campaigning as much as possible to promote awareness among students.

Seeing that ASI is funded primarily through student fees, he wants to urge students to vote in this next campaign. Ortega agrees that students are not aware of the programs ASI has to offer or even what it is in general.

“I want to see the money I’m paying, and my financial aid go back into my pocket with these programs.” Ortega said.

If you see any well dressed people, most likely with clipboards in their hands and possessing a look of being lost, they are not touring the school for possible future enrollment; they may very well be members of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). This group is affiliated with our regional accrediting body and will be visiting SF State from March 5-8 for the Education Effectiveness Review (EER). This review, which takes place every six years, is basically a report card for the people who give us our report cards.

If students, faculty or staff wish to give their input to members of the WASC team, they will hold an open meeting Thursday, March 7 from 11:15 a.m. to noon in the J. Paul Leonard Library room 244. Students are encouraged to comment on issues regarding academics, student services and other various matters that relate to the quality of their educational experience.

An open staff meeting will be held

He believes that active participation with clubs on campus may help familiarize students with ASI and spread awareness.

Some students feel like opportunity is there but knowledge is lacking.

“We pay tuition and such, and some of that money is going towards those programs, so we should take advantage of it. Too bad no one really knows about it,” business major Kieran Pitt said.

Students can run for Executive Office, which includes the president or class and graduate representatives, which correspond to class and major, such as an ethnic studies representative and a junior class representative; each class and area of study having its own representative. Three positions are open for representative at large.

This person serves as the liaison between all SF State students and the ASI. To run, students must be enrolled for at least one semester prior to the election, while also maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.0 and be in good academic standing.

Yuen believes that students should take a more proactive approach to participating in what goes on at SF State.

“I believe that students should vote; it’s a huge way students can take part of the school and make changes as well,” Yuen said.

Campaigning continues until March 22, and voting will take place between March 18 and 22. Students can vote anytime during that period on the ASI website.

in the Administration building room 460 and an open faculty meeting will be held in the library 286. Both meetings will be from 11:15 a.m. to noon March 7.

For those that wish to express any concerns but cannot make the designated meeting times, WASC has set up a confidential email account to give everyone an opportunity to communicate with the team. This account is created for this visit only and once WASC leaves the campus, the account will be closed. Only comments made before or during the visit will be considered part of the review process.

These open meetings and email comments become part of the collected information that is reviewed by WASC members. The input from these comments will be considered as the team develops recommendations for SF State.

To communicate with the team, contact wasc2sfsu@yahoo.com. The WASC team is unable to meet students, faculty and staff individually so do not use this email to request private appointments.

International student of the week Name: William Cook Age: 25 Major: English and History From: Sweden First thing he noticed: It’s my first time in the U.S. and I figured I’d start off with San Francisco. I noticed the weather, and people are so nice here. They help out a lot, I rarely have to ask for help.

Things you miss about home: I miss fika. It’s very common in Sweden. It’s like a little break combined with drinking coffee and having a pastry, extremely Swedish.

Future plans: I plan to be here till Summer then I want to be a teacher for upper secondary school (or) high school.

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PRESIDENT WONG TO BE OFFICIALLY INITIATED

BY SAM MOLMUD | smolmud@mail.sfsu.edu

Consisting of community outreach, a dance and even a 5K campus lap, events marking the newest SF State president start this week

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OR THE FIRST TIME IN nearly a quarter century, SF State will observe the establishing of a new president.

Celebrating the investiture of President Les Wong March 14 and “new momentum for a new era,” SF State will host a series of events March 9 to 15 under the slogan: XLR8 @ SF State.

Investiture is the term used to describe the inauguration, or act, of establishing a new authority into office.

The investiture ceremony for President Wong will occur March 14, but SF State is extending the festivities to include a weeks worth of activities aimed at engaging the public and highlighting past and future accomplishments.

Among the events planned are a 5K campus lap, student dance, community service day and multiple receptions aimed at students and the University's extended community.

“We’re celebrating history here,” Robert Nava, vice president of university advancement, said. “This is a chance to showcase SF State and the quality we have.”

Students and a presidential investiture planning committee organized the weeks worth of events, underwritten by $120,000 from private sponsors so as to not tap into any state-financed resources.

“This is the first investiture we’ve had in 24 years,” Nava said. “We’re going to use this as an opportunity to engage the entire campus.”

The Student Life at SF State Facebook page started several pages for some XLR8 events, including the investiture ceremony, Noise Complaint dance, 5k and community service day. Regardless of the social media campaign and advertisement in the last issue of Xpress for the XLR8 events, some students are not aware of the

student-focused activities.

Jenessa Ponco, an 18-yearold marketing student, said she was not aware of the investiture events like the dance or 5K. "I just know that he (President Wong) did the Harlem Shake," Ponco said.

The administration is hopeful, however, that there will be a good turnout for A WARM WELCOME: President Leslie E. Wong gets ready for his investiture by joining a practice session some of the events. Nava says with the SF State Gospel Gators. Photo by Frank Leal they expect about 70 students at the 5K event, with a team portance of sustainability and the University's and city’s being led by President Wong himself. efforts,” Greenwell said, “but also to give back to our The 5K campus lap is planned for March 10 to local community through service. I believe this is at the start and end at the quad. President Wong and his wife heart of our core values.” will join participants in walking or running around the The administration is hoping for a large student prescampus. Joey Greenwell, dean of students and one of the ence at President Wong’s investiture ceremony March main events organizers, says there will be refreshments, 14 at McKenna Hall. student DJs and prizes given out for “the most spirited “I believe that he (President Wong) has really runners with their Gator pride.” reached out to students in the short time has he been on Kicking off the week-long celebration March 9 at 8 campus,” Greenwell said. “I hope that we fill McKenna a.m. in Malcom X Plaza is “One Community,” a comwith students and show how much Gator spirit there munity service focused event co-operated by the school truly is at SF State.” and the Department of Public Works. Mayor Ed Lee and Noise Complaint, a student dance party, will cap the Supervisor Norman Yee are expected to speak regarding entire week of festivities on March 15 at 10 p.m. and go sustainability efforts on-and-off campus, as well as a until 1:30 a.m. President Wong and his wife will be presrelated eco-fair. ent to socialize and interact with attending students. The The school will oversee various service projects at SF event is strictly for SF State students and their guests, to State and throughout District 7 that day, including planting which Nava stressed there will be a tight screening of. trees, weeding, and graffiti abatement, according to the The full list of event times, details and RSVPs can XLR8 website. A lunch is planned for all who participate. be seen at the XLR8 @ SF State website.

“This event allows us to celebrate not only the im-

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EARTHQUAKE STUDY SHAKES SAN FRANCISCO

BY ERIN DAGE | erindage@mail.sfsu.edu

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URING THE FIRST 10 years of the 21st century, earthquakes around the world claimed the lives of at least 700,000 people, while earthquake-related deaths in the 20th century topped out at 1.5 million.

The death toll from earthquakes is expected to rise even more, according to a study by scientists at the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The study, Global Earthquake Fatalities and Population, fronted by USGS engineering geologist Thomas L. Holzer, estimates that 2.6 million to 3.1 million people are estimated to die from earthquakes in the 21st century. The study also predicts that 21 earthquakes with fatalities of 50,000 or more are to occur in this century.

Holzer chalks up the high death toll to a recent population boom and buildings that aren’t seismically retrofitted.

“Because of the population increase, it means there are more people living in hazardous areas, which means a higher death toll,” Holzer said.

In San Francisco, there are 2,929 buildings housing an estimated 58,000 people that are deemed unsafe if an earthquake of large magnitude struck, according to a report by SF Public Press. They are deemed potentially dangerous because they are “soft-story” buildings — structures built with multiple levels and wood frames, and ground-level garages that make them susceptible to collapsing on themselves during an earthquake of a high magnitude.

“Basically, the buildings that aren’t safe are the ones that are brittle and shake apart,” Holzer said. “The buildings that are safe are those that

are flexible and able to sway with the earthquake, rather than standing rigidly. Most of the problems with dangerous buildings are with the base.”

John Caskey, associate professor of the department of geosciences with expertise in the study of earthquakes at SF State, believes that San Francisco is at risk if a large earthquake hits because of its dense population and proximity to active fault lines.

“Any metropolitan area that is in earthquake country is at risk,” Caskey said. “The closer you are to a fault line, the stronger the earthquake — and San Francisco is in close proximity to four.”

Those faults are the San Andreas, Hayward-Mission Creek, Concord-Calaveras and Antioch faults. The USGS found there is a 62 percent chance that an earthquake of a magnitude of 6.7 or greater will happen in the greater San Francisco Bay region, where those faults lie in close proximity. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake that claimed 3,000 lives was a 7.8 magnitude earthquake.

In the meantime, San Francisco is taking action to prevent catastrophe with the San Francisco Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response Bond, approved in 2010. The $412 million bond seeks to improve the city’s emergency response programs by repairing the emergency firefighting water system, making neighborhood fire stations earthquake-safe and building an earthquake-safe public safety building.

Freshman SF State student, Paulynne Macaspac, has lived in San Francisco all of her life and acknowledges the looming danger that earthquakes in the Bay Area pose.

“It’s something that people don’t think about until it happens,” Macaspac said about earth-

quakes. “In the case that it happens, I have a first aid kit — I grew up in earthquake country, so my school put more of an emphasis on earthquake safety so I feel that I’m more prepared than some.”

In the spirit of being prepared for earthquakes, Supervisors Scott Wiener, David Chiu, Norman Yee, Mark Farrell, London Breed and Eric Mar sponsored a proposal earlier this month that would seismically retrofit the nearly 3,000 soft-story buildings, repairing the buildings to make them earthquake-safe by 2020 .

Estimates for retrofit could cost upward of $100,000 for each building, according to the city. The proposal is advancing at city hall and has not been put to a vote yet.

“California has got the message that you need to California has build buildings that don’t got the message collapse during earththat you need to quakes, now it’s just a matbuild buildings ter of implementing it and continuing to do additional that don’t earthquake outfitting,” collapse during Holzer said. earthquakes, now Until then, Caskey feels it’s just a matter that the San Francisco popof implementing ulation is just playing the it and continuing waiting game until the “big to do additional one” hits. outfitting “It’s not a question of if these faults will produce an Thomas L. Holzer, earthquake of a high magUSGS engineering nitude, it’s when,” Caskey geologist said.

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SFUSD may rake in $4,000 more per student

BY GUADALUPE GONZALEZ | ggonzale@mail.sfsu.edu

In a city where more than 12 percent of its residents live under the poverty level, the San Francisco Unified School District stands to receive close to $4,000 more per pupil, according to a funding plan proposed by Governor Jerry Brown.

California’s Department of Finance released Gov. Brown’s plan for school funding last week, which would give more money to school districts throughout the state, giving priority to districts We are hopeful with higher volumes of the signals we English language learnreceive from ers, foster youth and Sacramento students who qualify for will lead to a free or reduced priced positive imprint lunch. in San Francisco.

If approved by the It was really legislature, San Franencouraging to cisco Unified School hear the governor District, which has 27 percent of students who take a stance identify as English lanMasharika Maddison, guage learners and 61 Executive Director of percent who qualify for Parents for Public Schools free and reduced lunch due to low income, will

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see an increase from $7,250 to $11,171 per student.

But because of past budget cuts, schools might not see a difference for a few years.

“After decades of budget cuts, SFUSD has a structural deficit meaning we have areas where costs keep rising, yet the funding to meet these rising costs isn’t there,” SFUSD spokeswoman, Gentle Blythe, said.

“For example, the district spends more on services for students with disabilities, early education and student nutrition than the resources provided for these services and the costs of providing quality services in these areas, and others keep rising along with the costs of operations such as employee benefits and utilities.”

There are other efforts to improve California school districts, however. Prop 39, which passed with a 60 percent vote last November, would cut energy bills in public buildings, such as schools.

The initiative would allocate $1 billion in revenue annually from a closed corporate tax loophole for energy efficiency projects. There aren't enough funds from the bill to cover all of California's schools, but schools that serve lower-income families would reap the benefits, according to a report by the Daily Democrat.

San Francisco has already been a model of the governor’s plan for over a decade, according to Blythe. It utilizes school site councils made up of principals, teacher, parents and sometimes students at the secondary level to determine how school funds are allocated. Still, school advocates appreciate the governor’s plan.

Masharika Maddison, executive director of Parents for Public Schools, a non-profit advocacy group for San Francisco parents, believes that the plan will lead to better education in San Francisco.

“We are hopeful the signals we receive from Sacramento will lead to a positive imprint in San Francisco," Maddison said. "It was really encouraging to hear the governor take a stance.”

Parents in San Francisco had a similar response: It makes sense.

Rebecca Biega, a 32-year-old mother, expressed concern that with the rising cost of living in San Francisco, Brown's proposal could help those most in need.

"If it eventually pays off, then sure," Biega said.

"It is better to make the offer in the first place than to not plan anything at all."

Others believe that the plan will lead to a better future for students that are either English language learners, foster youth or live under the poverty level in San Francisco.

"I think it is a pretty good idea — I feel that the income inequality in San Francisco is high," Gaby Herrera, a senior international relations major, said.

"It's important to help children when they are younger, so they can break the cycle and get the education they need so that they can no longer remain poor."

The proposal went through its first legislative public hearing last Thursday. No decisions were made regarding the plan, and lawmakers have until July 1, when the final state budget is picked up for the fiscal year, to deliberate.

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Dancers recreate the perfect night CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE

and a group of students who wanted a dance geared toward the LGBTQ community.

“Bita (and) several other committee members and I worked hard towards a dance where there was no judgment or harassment.

A dance where you can be who you are, dress as you want and bring who you want,” Pablo Ramirez, 21-year-old biology major with an emphasis in botany said.

Ramirez, who is also this year’s Pride Prom coordinator, has endured his fair share of bullying and wants Pride Prom to be used as a fun and safe environment for the LGBTQ community.

“I did not go to prom in high school, but for different reasons than being gay. I personally didn't care for prom,” Ramirez said. “As a gay individual, I have been subjected to a plethora of harassment and oppression that I wish no one else to go through, especially not while they're having fun. Pride Prom is the safe place where anyone can have a good time and not be harassed.”

Joey Greenwell, dean of students, was approached three years ago by staff and students who felt a need to do something for the LGBTQ community on campus and has been helping with the prom ever since.

“With Pride Prom, it’s a particular aspect of our campus community, that often times maybe feel like they may not be as comfortable at a Noise Complaint dance,” Greenwell said. “But it’s great. It’s open to everyone, it doesn’t matter if you're straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer or questioning; everyone’s welcome to have a good

time and celebrate.”

Pride Prom is more than just an event to the LGBTQ community; it's also a time for second chances.

“Not a lot of students here had the opportunity to have their type of 'perfect prom' in high school because maybe it wasn't accepting there,” Jex Nguyen, an 18-year-old art major, said. “But tonight they do and I love that.”

Biology major Robert Gilbert, music major Cesar R. Lopez and hospitality major Cody Moore, all 18, attended their high school proms less than a year ago. But at Pride Prom they were given another opportunity to celebrate prom their way.

The trio engaged in a vogue dance battle during the prom that had them all laughing and hugging by the end.

“It was the same theme for my high school prom but I’m having a lot more fun here,” Gilbert said. “I can actually dance with who I want to.”

Lopez enjoyed Pride Prom more for the freedom to wear whatever he pleased.

“This dance is better for me because I can be out of dress code and my shorts get to be a little higher than my fingertip length,” Lopez said.

Moore caught pride goer’s attention when he did the splits on the dance floor, but to him and the LGBTQ community, getting to be together is what matters the most to their Pride Prom experience.

“The best part of Pride Prom? The people,” Moore said. “We’re fun, we all love to dance and we all just love life.”

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6 ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

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Alumnus slashes way to director spot at film festival

BY JONATHAN RAMOS | jonaramo@mail.sfsu.edu

Masachi Niwano knew he wanted a career After making a splash with his high school in film early on when, as a young boy, he'd senior thesis on horror films, Niwano enrolled in revel in the company of Freddy Krueger, SF State's film program. While there, he realized Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers while his his life's ambition of wanting to run film festivals. parents worked late nights.

While at SF State, he created a class on how to As the festival director for Center of Asian run a grassroots film festival and interned as an American Media’s CAAMFest, formerly archivist for CAAMFest under its previous name. known as the San Francisco International Asian With heavy construction on the first floor American Film Festival, Niwano has accomand a frenzy all throughout CAAMFest’s third plished his childhood dream aided in large part level office space near downtown, Niwano found by the influence of his unlikely mentors. himself in a space surrounded by boxes and file "My parents didn't believe in babysitters," cabinets similar to the ones he used to spend hours Niwano said of his unconventional playdates sorting through as an intern. with murderous villains from slasher films.

"In my head I was still thinking that I will "They believed in renting movies and just be the first Asian-American filmmaker to tell staying home and being a good boy." my story," Niwano said of his time as an intern.

In fact, watching up to 10 films in a single "Working here I realized that I won’t be the first. night was the norm for Niwano growing up.

There have been hundreds of pioneer filmmakIt probably served as preparation for his job ers," he said. as festival director, seeing that he takes part It's the legacy of such diverse filmmakers that in the viewing and selection of more than 100 Niwano hopes to nurture and cultivate through films showcased this year, when CAAMFest CAAMFest. The festival will serve as a showcase opens March 14 and runs through 24 at the for other SF State alumni including Debbie Lum. OUTSIDER: SF State alumnus Masachi Niwano serves as the festival director for CAAMFest, forCastro Theatre.

Lum's film, "Seeking Asian Female," is a docmerly known as the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. Photo by Samantha Niwano, who is also an SF State alumnus umentary that examines the controversial topic of Benedict in film production, grew up in Campbell, "yellow fever," where white men fetishistically seek Calif. As the son of Japanese parents who the companionship of Asian women. Lum's film immigrated to the United States in the ‘70s, serves as an example of the festival's programming their motivations," he said.

Niwano always felt like an outsider. His mother worked that aims to depict the complexities of the Asian-American While machete-wielding characters were welcome as a waitress and his father worked as a fish wholesaler. guests at the Niwano household, one name always drew ire experience.

It was during his parents overnight shifts that Niwano "We're just happy to be in a place where we can share and disdain; Disney. Niwano developed a distaste for all formed a connection with horror films. films from the house of mouse and "Aladdin" in particular. our stories," Lum said, who is also a former CAAMFest "When I was growing up I felt different from other peointern. However, regardless of race, Lum encourages "I just remember hating them all and finding them all ple, not only being Asian-American, but also identifying as students to partake in the festival. so disturbing," Niwano said. Niwano and his parents disqueer," Niwano said. "Growing up I felt like an outsider and approved of the stereotypical representations of minori"Film is a universal language and it doesn't matter I think a lot of artists have a similar foundation of feeling what culture you come from because anyone can find a ties often found in animated Disney films. different and that’s kind of where I started," he said. belonging in film," Lum said.

Niwano considers his disconnect from the whimsy of Most parents would shiver at the thought of allowing a Valerie Soe, an SF State professor of Asian American Disney films as his most defining moment rather than his 10-year-old to watch such violent fare as "Friday the 13th," appreciation for the blood-soaked horror genre. studies, spoke of the universality of CAAMFest's mission.

"A Nightmare on Elm Street" and "Halloween," let alone "I don’t see my story and I do think I have a unique story "A lot of Asian-American filmmakers are not just good filmallowing that child to develop such a sympathetic undermakers," Soe said, "they're really good filmmakers period." and a different perspective," Niwano said. With his back standing toward the villains. Niwano's parents encouraged Niwano and company hope to foster an all-inclusive firmly turned away from the magical kingdom, Niwano now his unique exploration of films and gave him free rein community with CAAMFest while celebrating the contrifelt free to pursue his artistic endeavors. when it came to selecting movies at their local video store.

For his 10th birthday, Niwano was given a video camera butions of Asian-American filmmakers.

"Whenever I watched these films, I never took them "Embrace it and be excited by it even if you don't feel instead of a bike. Niwano, along with his group of misfit as hypersexual or hyperviolent. I was watching them as like you're part of the community," Niwano said. "You'll friends that included "demonic-looking" twins with white a case study for these characters and trying to figure out learn so much about yourself." hair, turned filmmaking into a staple of his adolescence.

Student band of outlaws set to release new EP

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COMMON LOVE FOR Bulleit Bourbon and a shared idolization of David Bowie united members of Down and Outlaws on a smoke-screened journey toward raw, bluesy rockstardom.

On a summer night in 2012 at the SUB-Mission Art Gallery, the gritty stylings of Down and Outlaws entranced a live audience for the first time.

Now having played this year’s Noise Pop Festival and with their first EP, “Backwards From the Dead” on the way, the San Francisco based band is progressing — and fast.

Unlike the ‘80s infused synth pop normally heard throughout San Francisco these days, Down and Outlaws don’t hold back their rock roots. The demanding guitars and solid beats provide frontman Peter Danzig, 24, with the ideal canvas for painting with his whiskey-soaked screams.

“Random happenstance played a large role in the actual formation of the band,” Kyle Luck, 25, lead guitarist and SF State graduate, said. “(Brothers) Peter and Chris had just gone through a breakup with their old band, and I was band-less.”

Chris Danzig, 27, and his younger brother Peter, met Luck through friends in the San Francisco music scene and they happened to rent out units in the same practice space, according to Luck. Their band, however, was not complete. With the younger Danzig on vocals and guitar, the older on bass and Luck on lead guitars, they lacked a backbone to their band — the drummer.

Though the road to finding a fourth member was a rocky one, they knew they found their match with Jason Jones, 27. After sharing a bottle of whiskey at a barbecue in the Panhandle, their soon-to-be bandmate, Jones, agreed to jam with the band.

BY ADRIAN RODRIGUEZ | arrodrig@mail.sfsu.edu

“We were all feeling pretty ‘down and out’ at the time “I tend to gravitate towards music that has a bit of the band started,” Danzig said. “(It) felt like the best way an edge to it, stuff that’s more band oriented in the rock, to solve our problems was to be outlaws in a rock band.” metal, punk arena. I love live drums, loud guitars and Hence the name Down and Outlaws. rockin’ vocals, which they definitely have going on,” MiThe band wasted no time hitting the San Francisco lutinovic, who recorded the band at Hyde Street Studio music circuit.

C, said. “When we were tracking vocals for ‘Truth Be “I instantly was feeling the vibe of their music, or Told.’ That song has a sad, melancholy tone to it to begin maybe I just thought their cohesive black attire was the with, but when Peter started singing his vocal lines on top coolest thing,” Stephanie Escoto, The Depot’s assistant of the other tracks, our jaws hit the floor. The feeling and manager, said. “I can’t really say, but point being: they passion that came through the speakers had us all in awe. caught my attention.”

It was just beautiful — very inspiring.”

After hearing the band, Escoto was eager to book the The band plans on organizing their first tour for sumband herself. She then asked them to play at The Depot mer 2013 and hope to record a full-length album soon. for the first show of the Fall 2012 semester.

Down and Outlaws is now in collaboration with Escoto’s promotion group, Lone Wolves, which she runs with The Depot manager Gio Acosta. They’ll be throwing an EP release show at Elbo Room in the Mission, Friday, March 8. “(I’m) stoked that they wanted me to help,” Escoto said. “This show is gonna be a lot of fun, my mother is even coming up just for the show.

Down and Outlaws is her favorite band.”

Courtney Gattuso, SF State senior and Down and Outlaws fan said she is excited for what is to come from the band.

“Their sound is so nostalgic,” Gattuso said.

“You can definitely see their musicianship in their delivery, style and presence. They’ve definitely shown a huge improvement and that is saying a lot because the first time I saw them, I was blown away.”

OUTLAW: Peter Danzig fronts the band Down and Outlaws at The Depot in the Sound engineer Keith Milutinovic agreed Cesar Chavez Student Center at SF State. The band is set to release their new EP saying their genuineness shines in their perfor“Backwards From the Dead.” Photo by Adrian Rodriguez mance.

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8 OPINION

03.06.13 | GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

STAFF EDITORIAL

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

ACCREDITATION IGNORES STUDENT DISCOURSE

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CCREDITATION: one of the main procedures that keeps our departments and University administration sitting up straight and keeping tidy.

Accreditation is an evaluation of a university’s ability to meet its own goals and mission. Upon gaining accreditation, that university is considered part of the approved association of universities.

With threats of accreditation loss looming over CCSF, SF State is constantly reminded of the dangers of not passing the formal process. Credibility, prestige and a huge chunk of funding are at stake.

Although the chances of SF State losing its accreditation are astronomically slim, the review done by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is intended to evaluate SF State’s commitment to its mission and keeps the University accountable for its promises.

Unfortunately, the process in the past has failed to involve a diverse multitude of student opinion on SF State’s commitment to its own goals. In a 2011 report written by the WASC visiting team, only 21 students were interviewed on their experience, in which all gave a resounding, “Proud to be a Gator!” response to the evaluators.

Is it just us, or does that seem highly unlikely, considering that most of our student body doesn’t vote in campus elections, regularly attend school sports events or know the student newspaper (yours truly) exists?

If all 21 students did indeed

declare their Gator pride, then the WASC report ignores the sentiments of the majority of SF State students. The WASC report does not explain how the 21 students were chosen, but it leads Xpress to believe the interviews were voluntary and publicized poorly.

That is why we urge you (the school-spirited you, the cynical you and everything in between) to attend the WASC accreditation open meeting March 7, so the WASC, and SF State can hear both your concerns and commendations.

The lack of diverse student experience included in the accreditation process wasn’t the only thing alarming to Xpress. Distortions and vague descriptions of SF State’s progress were frequent.

Responses of SF State’s increased communication were highlighted by the school website’s “user-friendly navigation” and President Corrigan’s semesterly visits to the Xpress staff. If these are an accurate representation of communication at our University, then communication is disorderly and disagreeable at best.

SF State’s commitment to a LGBTQsafe campus was tracked as “being established,” but not further

explained. The Queer Resource Center, just opened in January of this year, after finding itself in a difficult two-year process for establishment. If efforts were clearly noted in accreditation reports, SF State’s progress could be aggressively pursued and accurately watched in cases like these.

We feel that if the student experience was adequately included in the WASC accreditation process; ambiguities, discrepancies and misrepresentations would not be the basis of evaluating our University and SF State would be fairly upheld to its standards.

While we receive emails and wait for Muni beside giant posters advertising a week of XLR8 investiture events, Thursday’s accreditation meeting is just as important (if not more) and should be publicized as so. We should be welcomed in celebrating a new administration, as well as criticizing the work of the last six years.

It would be very discerning if this Thursday’s accreditation meeting only hosted 21 students. In 12 years, the progress of SF State should be judged by more than the experience of 42 students, half of which are documented as, “Proud to be a Gator!”

The WASC accreditation open meeting will be held March 7, from 11:15 am till 12 p.m. in Library 244.

HOLLY NALL

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR hnall@mail.sfsu.edu

RACHELE KANIGEL

ART BY KIRSTIE HARUTA kharuta@mail.sfsu.edu

FACULTY ADVISER kanigel@mail.sfsu.edu

KEN KOBRE

PHOTO ADVISER ken@kobre.com

JESSE GARNIER

ONLINE ADVISER jgarnier@sfsu.edu

JUSTIN OROZCO

CIRCULATION jaorozo@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

Abiding insanity, my heroin addiction

B

EING A DRUG addict is the worst. I know. For almost five years I shot heroin every day. I lived the life of a heroin junkie: stealing, lying and doing whatever it takes

to get loaded.

It is an existence that bewilders those who’ve never lived it. So, when a disgruntled social worker in the Tenderloin recently told Vice magazine that the gritty, drug-infested neighborhood had sapped the life out of her, I understood. She went on to say that the homeless, drug-addicted clients didn’t want help. Instead, “they want money or they want drugs or they want death.” Again, I could relate.

The interview went viral. Many people were upset. They couldn’t relate like I did.

They criticized the woman, known only as Lorian, and accused the article of sensationalism. Haven’t they read Vice before?

Other social workers felt Lorian demeaned their work, exploiting the people she was hired to help.

I live in the Tenderloin, and life on the streets is hard to watch. Many of the things

BY BRIAN RINKER | brinker@mail.sfsu.edu

she said I agreed with. I had seen, encountered and lived, to varying degrees, the life that so repulsed this woman. And while some of Lorian’s observations are true, I understand the danger in judging huge swaths of people. No one can ever know what another person is thinking, and in my experience, addicts themselves can barely navigate through the webs of denial infesting their brains.

The life of a drug addict is a mystery.

Since addiction and alcoholism is centered in the brain, an addict’s own thoughts are his enemy. Imagine that your entire thought process is wrong: your thoughts tell you do to things that may get you killed or land you in prison—thoughts and actions that fly in the face of reason and self preservation.

In the depths of my addiction, I’ve risked death and disease. Here is a glimpse of my insanity: My drug dealer was an asshole. He would give me little pieces of dope if I ran errands for him. One day, he gave me hundreds of his used syringes to take to the needle exchange for him and swap them for clean ones.

While in the throes of horrible withdrawals, I dumped the hundreds of used needles onto the ground and began to search for

syringes that still contained heroin in them. I found many. But most of them were clogged up because the heroin had coagulated with the blood.

I forced the clogs through, squirting out what I could into a container. It was messy and disgusting. Needles pricked me. When blood and heroin coagulate, it turns into dark gelatinous goo. I would suck up as much liquid as I could into a syringe and shoot the heroin mixed with this guy’s old coagulated blood into my own veins. I would lick the bloody, gooey chunks off my fingers as to not waste a drop.

This became a routine. Every few months, I would relive this process. The first time was the hardest, though. I was desperately torn between the need to use and the fear of blood-borne disease. The compulsion won; it usually did. Once I crossed that line, it became easier every time.

Luckily, I never contracted a disease.

I was just like the addicts in the Tenderloin. They may have crushed Lorian’s spirit and they may get on my nerves, but they are just the reminder I need. Every day I see in them what I was like and what life could be if I go back to heroin. Living in the Tenderloin helps keep me sober.

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

AMERICA FEEDS THE LANDFILLS Up to 40 percent of food goes uneaten in the U.S. Food is packaged and shipped to consumers then often dumped due to spoilage

9

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all trash in landfills, according to the EPA. HE REFRIGERATOR DOOR When food is disposed into landfills, it rots and swings open and a robust odor hits becomes a source of methane. Landfills are a major you like a ton of bricks completely source of human-related methane, producing 20 percent disorienting your senses. What is of emissions in the United States according to the EPA. that smell? It’s rotten food.

By wasting food, we are also wasting the valuable Was it the chicken that’s a resources that went into making it. Fertilizers, energy couple days past its prime or the and water are all wasted. Around 14 percent of greenChinese food that you forgot to house gases associated with global warming are created throw out a week ago? Or was it those rotten tomatoes, during the growing process of food. once red, but now a light brown color?

There are even health hazards that come with Take it in. That’s the smell of overconsumption. disposing of bad food. There’s the smell, or the rodents Since the beginning of the 21st century, American consumers have been buying hundreds of calories more and insects that find a dinner in your trash.

There are many solutions to overbuying food. First, than those who lived in the 1950s, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. The total food buy less. It’s as simple as making a grocery list and sticking to it, and using a cart or basket that is small supply in 2000 delivered 3,800 calories per person per enough to only fit the essentials. day. The USDA states, of those 3,800 calories, roughly Second, take advantage of your freezer. If you know 1,000 calories were lost due to spoilage, plate waste, you aren’t going to finish those hamburger buns you cooking and other losses. The average family of four bought, freeze them and use them in a week. wastes about 20 pounds of food each month, nearly Third, be mindful of the expiration dates, but know $2,275 a year, also according to the USDA. that they aren’t set in stone. Expiration dates aren’t fedDue to overbuying, more food resides in landfills erally regulated (except baby food) and most foods can and incinerators than any other material in municipal be safely consumed for weeks after suggested dates. solid waste. More than 34 million tons of food waste “‘Use your nose, smell that gallon of milk. It’s betwere produced in 2010, according to the Environmental ter to use your senses as a determinant,” Sasha Lyutse, Protection Agency.

Policy Advocate for the Natural Resources Defense EatingWell.com states that most wasted food items Council, said. are vegetables. Sour cream, bread, herbs and citrus are Finally, compost your spoiled food. By composting, among the most wasted foods in the U.S. Many of these you are reducing the amount of waste being directed items are perishable and have a sell date or expiration into landfills by transforming it into organic waste, date. which can be used as fertilizer.

The real problem lies By composting, you are saving within the consumption itself. money on trash bags, waste Restaurants and individuals When Elissa Torres isn’t rescuing disposal fees and hauling costs. who buy perishable foods often wounded marine mammals or So think long and hard do not eat all of them. For hugging trees, the environmental before you buy that extra loaf example, restaurants are known studies minor spends her time of bread or king-sized tub of to collect huge trash bags full writing this column. cream cheese. Do your part to of discarded food every night.

It’s based on equal parts opinion, help reduce the roughly 40 perAnd doing that every night for statistics and life experiences. If you cent of food that goes uneaten don’t like it, read and recycle. a few weeks, months or years in this country. adds up to over 15 percent of

10 S P O R T S

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PLAYER

LAUREN VARNEY

WEEK

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

of the

Junior Lauren Varney helped the Gators clinch the eighth and final spot in the CCAA Basketball Championships. Varney averaged a double-double with 11.5 points, 10 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in two games.

PHOTO BY TYLER DENISTON/SF STATE SPORTS

SP OR T S SCHEDUL E

VICTORY: The SF State Gators celebrate after making a basket against Cal State Los Angeles during the second period of the first round of the 2013 California Collegiate Athletic Association Basketball Championship Tournament at The Swamp in San Francisco. The Gators won 57-47. Photo by Godofredo Vasquez/ Special to Xpress

FRIDAY (3.8) SOFTBALL

SF STATE VS. CAL STATE DOMINGUEZ HILLS (DH) NOON AND 2 P.M. (SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.)

WRESTLING

NCAA DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIPS ALL DAY (BIRMINGHAM, ALA.)

MEN’S BASKETBALL CCAA SEMI-FINALS SF STATE VS. TBD TBD (ONTARIO, CALIF.)

Gators advance

to CCAA Semi-Finals

Second-round opponent to be determined

BY DAN NELSON | danelson@mail.sfsu.edu

The SF State men’s basketball team routed Cal State Los Angeles 57-47 to move to the next round of the playoffs.

The Gators only shot 37.5 percent from the field, but were able to hold the Golden Eagles to just 28.6 percent shooting — including 1-18 from three-point range.

Forward Winston Demmin led the Ga-

tors with a game-high 17 points — getting to the free-throw line eight times. He also had nine rebounds and one block. Forward James Albright also flirted with a double-double scoring 12 points and grabbing seven rebounds.

The Gators went into the game splitting the season series with Cal State Los Angeles 1-1.

The game was attended by one of the largest crowds of the season with an estimated 759 in attendance.

James Tillman led Cal State Los Angeles in scoring with 16 points.

SF State will travel to Ontario, Calif.

March 8. The Gators will not know their opponent until the teams are reseeded then.

HUSTLE: SF State Gators’ Calvin Otiono (10, left) drives to the basket during the first round of the 2013 California Collegiate Athletic Association Basketball Championship Tournament at The Swamp.

Photo by Godofredo Vasquez/ Xpress BLOCKED: SF State Gators’ Winston Demmin (3, center) tries to go for a lay-up as Cal State Los Angeles’ Marc Wilson (20) stops him. Photo by Godofredo Vasquez/ Special to Xpress APPLAUSE: There were more than 750 fans present. Photo by Dan Nelson

SATURDAY (3.9) SOFTBALL

SF STATE VS. CAL STATE DOMINGUEZ HILLS 11 A.M. AND 1 P.M. (SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.)

WRESTLING NCAA DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIPS ALL DAY (BIRMINGHAM, ALA.)

MEN’S BASKETBALL CCAA FINALS SF STATE VS. TBD TBD (ONTARIO, CALIF.)

SCORE SCORES FROM THE LAST WEEK OF GATOR SPORTS

BOARD

MEN’S BASKETBALL

W

MARCH 5 SF STATE VS. CAL STATE LOS ANGELES 57-47

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

L

MARCH 5 SF STATE VS. CHICO STATE 49-62

BASEBALL

W

MARCH 3 SF STATE VS. CAL STATE STANISLAUS 5-2

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CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE

Fear of school sanctions brings down site Despite anonymity, the administrator of SFSU Confessions fears repercussions from University officials

11 He was concerned about his academic standing he said, and feared legal battles with SF State. He said that no one from the school had contacted him directly through his Facebook page, but the rumors began to swirl, and he wanted to pre-empt them. His parents were also concerned.

“If I was at risk then they wanted me to be protected,” the Administrator said.

Notably, Marygrace Delucchi, the area coordinator for SF State’s two campus dorm buildings, said in our previous coverage of SFSU Confessions that she did not believe SFSU Confessions should be shut down.

Instead, Delucchi started an online privacy education campaign by posting mock confessions onon Mary Park and Mary Ward hall bulletin boards, asking students to be careful what they post.

Other schools across the nation have cracked down on their university confessions pages, however. The Loras College confessions page in Iowa was shut down pretty quickly after it started, according to a news broadcast from their local news station KWWL. But the chance of similar legal troubles at SF State are not clear.

SF State Dean of Students Joseph Greenwell said that though the content of the confessions pages aren’t problematic, the use of the SFSU brand name might be the real problem.

“As far as my knowledge, there has not been any University conduct processes put in place regarding the confessions Facebook sites,” Greenwell said.

“However, where the University does have concerns is the use of the University’s name.”

According to Greenwell, using the name San Francisco State University, SFSU or SF State, correlates an affiliation or endorsement by the University although none exists. When violations like this occur the University will inform groups and individuals.

The Administrator of the confessions page also wanted to note that if he heard from SF State officials that his page was not in trouble of legal scrutiny, and he wasn’t in trouble academically due to his page, that he would start it up again.

An hour before the Administrator shut down his page, he made a final post hinting at new things to come.

“Unfortunately, there has been too much heat caused by this page,” he wrote. “Although this is the

end of the page, it doesn’t mean a new page isn’t far away, hopefully, in the near future we can come together again and share funny, gross, awkward stories anonymously together. Keep out an eye for bigger and better things to come.”

SF State student Catherine Anne Gastelum, an 18-year-old freshman, thinks the closure of SFSU Confessions can make the page better in the future.

“Not a lot of people realize how this page has hurt many students,” she said.

She grew concerned after seeing the mock confessions posted by Delucchi in the dorms. The mock confessions ask students to rethink posting mean-spirited comments, information that may lead to stalking, or “outing” students who may be in the closet.

“Hopefully, if a page like this is put up in the future, students will use it for the right reason, and not the wrong,” Gastelum said.

Though the original confessions page is down, four other copycat pages popped up almost immediately after it disappeared from Facebook.

At the time of publication, none had surpassed even 200 “likes,” while the As far as my original page had over 3,700 knowledge, there at the time it was deleted.

The original confessions has not been page Administrator said he any University still has 14 days to revive conduct processthe page before it’s deleted es put in place forever, and that he may yet reguarding the change his mind and bring confessions it back.

Facebook sites One of the admins of the Joey Greenwell, new confessions pages also SF State Dean of Students revealed one more interesting tidbit — the San Francisco Chronicle interviewed them for their own story.

The greater population of San Francisco and the Bay Area may now be the newest audience for the confessions pages.

SF State’s anonymous confessions are about to get a whole lot less private.

“

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