Bomb threat shuts down the center of campus as police dogs scour the student center
November 19, 2014 ISSUE 13 VOLUME XCIX GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
BOMB ON PAGE 2
Serving the San Francisco State community since 1927
KELLY SODERLUND / SPECIAL TO XPRESS
Evidence emerges in Valdez murder trial LULU OROZCO
ohlulu@mail.sfsu.edu
In a preliminary hearing postponed for months after SF State student Justin Valdez was shot and killed, investigators presented fingerprint analysis Tuesday to connect a suspect to last year’s murder. Nikhom Thephakaysone, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of 20-year-old Valdez as the student stepped off an eastbound M-Oceanview Muni train in the Ingleside neighborhood September 2013, appeared thin in an orange jumpsuit at the Hall of Justice. “I did a side-by-side compar-
NASHELLY CHAVEZ
ison to the left thumb of Nikhom Thephakaysone,” said Lyn O’Connor, crime scene investigator. “The magazine to the known weapon and the left thumb print was of Nikhom Thephakaysone.” Alongside the murder charge, Thephakaysone pleaded not guilty to a felony count of assault with a deadly weapon and possession of an illegal assault weapon at his arraignment Oct. 2, 2013. Assistant District Attorney John Rowland entered several pieces of evidence in the court-
nashelly@mail.sfsu.edu
room, including photographs, an ammunition magazine, a .45 caliber handgun and a bullet casing. No fingerprints were found on the handgun, according to O’Connor. Two fingerprints were found on the ammunition magazine but only one was usable for analysis and identification. Defense Attorney Robert Dunlap asked O’Connor if she had compared potential matches, besides Thephakaysone’s, to the identifiable fingerprint found on the EXPERT CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
NASHELLY CHAVEZ / XPRESS
AUTHORITY: Crime Scene Investigators John Evans and Lyn O’Connor speak during an intermission in the preliminary hearing of Nikhom Thephakaysone at the Hall of Justice Tuesday, Nov. 18.
Proposed UC tuition hike garners concern within CSU
2011 tuition plateaued at
$11,220
2008 tuition raised to
$6,202
stabilized at
$5,472
2003 tuition increased to
DANIEL PORTER / XPRESS
2007 tuition
$4,271
‘Taste’ serves up food and panoramic views downtown area. “Seeing the event in full swing — when all the guests are enjoying Exquisite culinary creations, their night — is probably the bigCalifornia-grown wines and pangest high,” said event chair Jennifer oramic views of downtown San Whitney, describing her favorite Francisco brought foodies togethaspect of Taste of the Bay. er to enjoy a night put on by the Approaching graduation in hard-working students December, Whitney of SF State. has been a part of Taste Students of of the Bay since she the hospitality and transferred from Ohlone tourism management College her junior year. department have been During her first semester encouraged over time in the program, Whitney to volunteer at the volunteered for the event Seeing the University’s biggest and knew she wanted it ticketed fundraiser event in full to lead her to a career in event from their first event planning. swing is class all the way After her first year, probably the Whitney joined the through graduation. Last wednesday biggest high. committee and held night celebrated the the title of restaurant 18th annual Taste of Jennifer Whitney, manager in 2013. As EVENT CHAIR restaurant manager, the Bay at its most spacious venue yet: Whitney helped solicit the City View located at the top of restaurants and wineries to the Metreon shopping center in the participate in the event. South of Market neighborhood, home to sprawling views of the NICOLE PARADISE
nparadis@mail.sfsu.edu
STUDENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
T
UC TUITION CSU TUITION
rose to
$2,772
FOODIES: Japanese exchange student Kana Hashimoto (left) serves spicy tuna tacos from Spiral Sushi to Yuyi Zheng (center) and June Qi (right) at Taste of the Bay presented by the hospitality and tourism management department at the City View on top of the Metreon in San Francisco Wednesday, Nov. 12.
DANIEL RIVERA
dmrivera@mail.sfsu.edu
he University of California president’s proposal to increase tuition by 5 percent over the next five years, which is scheduled for a Nov. 19 vote, has drawn opposition from students and concern within the California State University system. The proposal, announced Nov. 6, would result in an added cost of $612 to students for the 2015-16 fiscal year alone according to a press release from President Janet Napolitano’s office. Caitlin Quinn, external affairs vice president of the Associated Students at UC Berkeley, opposed Napolitano’s proposal and said the hikes would make it more difficult for students to obtain higher education. “My initial reaction was shock, betrayal and disgust,” Quinn said. “Steady increases of up to 5 percent are not feasible for many California families. Another $600 next year simply is not within their reach.” SF State President Leslie E. Wong worried that limited space at SF State coupled with these tuition hikes would
@XpressNews
2011 tuition
INFOGRAPHIC BY KAITLIN AGUILAR / XPRESS SOURCE: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF PRESIDENT & CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY BUDGET
hamper students’ ability to receive an education. “Those are the issues being discussed,” Wong said. “What do we do if demand goes up and, as is the case now, we have no room?” The latest data show that 446,530 students were enrolled in the CSU system in Fall 2013 and 223,359 in the UC system in 2012. Tuition for an academic year in the CSU system in 2011 cost $5,472 and has remained the same, compared to the UC’s $11,220. Computer science major Moaan Ahmed did not know how to feel on the proposal, but said it should not deter students who want an education. “I think generally people are just going to deal with it,” Ahmed said. “Students can pay for a 5 percent increase if they take scholarships take more loans.” Nursing major Geraldine Cabrera thought the proposed increases would generate more enrollment in the CSU system which may hamper timely graduation for SF State students. Cabrera said having taken classes in a community college prior to enrolling at SF State in 2011 lessened her course work but worries that increased enrollment could create competition for classes at CSU CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
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NEWS
NOVEMBER 19, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
False report of explosives evacuates student center
ALEJANDRO GALICIA DIAZ ELIZABETH CARRANZA
ecarranz@mail.sfsu.edu
MICHAEL BARBA
mdbarba@mail.sfsu.edu
galicia7@mail.sfsu.edu
IDA MOJADAD
idajane@mail.sfsu.edu
NASHELLY CHAVEZ
nashelly@mail.sfsu.edu
PHOTOS BY FRANK LADRA / XPRESS
SEARCH: San Francsico police officers Brian Barba (left), guiding Max of the K-9 unit, and Carol Margetts investigate Malcolm X Plaza in front of the Cesar Chavez Student Center Thursday, Nov. 13.
P
olice determined that a bomb threat called into the campus bookstore was false after San Francisco and University police departments evacuated and searched the student center last Thursday. The threat caused police units to shut down the Cesar Chavez Student Center for several hours last week while they searched for a potential bomb in the building. University police received a call at 11:06 a.m. and began evacuating people one minute later, according to University spokesperson Adrianne Bee.
“When people first heard the alarm nobody got up or anything, everyone just sat there and went back to their stuff,” said broadcast and electronic communication arts student Cory Sullivan. “A lot of people don’t take these things seriously when it’s not a drill. There was no panic or anything, everyone was at ease.” When the police came in to evacuate, the student center's occupants began to shuffle out and by 11:19 a.m. the building was clear, according to Bee. SFPD wrapped caution tape around the facility and sent in an initial three bomb-sniffing
dogs, followed by two more K-9 units. “We usually get (the dogs) because they can sniff things people can’t,” said SFPD officer Brian Barba. “They can get into the nooks and crannies.” At 11:27 a.m., the Emergency Notification System notified students of the threat and released information of alternate study locations in the Towers Conference Center. Classes remained in session, which left some students asking why the rest of the campus was not evacuated. “They told us to move 30 feet away, but I honestly feel we shouldn’t even be
on campus,” said Sandy Carillo, an Alpha Pi Sigma sorority member. Police found no threat to the building and gave the all clear at 12:58 p.m. Within minutes, it was business as usual at the center. “I am grateful for the rapid response of our University police and the San Francisco Police Department,” said SF State President Leslie E. Wong Wednesday. “We have returned the building to service and remain vigilant about campus safety.”
VACATE: (LEFT) Students gather on the lawn of the SF State quad after police evacuate the Cesar Chavez Student Center Thursday, Nov. 13.
SNIFF: (ABOVE) San Francisco police officer Brian Barba guides Max of the K-9 unit along the front of the bookstore in the Cesar Chavez Student Center Thursday, Nov. 13.
NEWS
NOVEMBER 19, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
SF State’s Crime Blotter COMPILED BY XPRESS NEWS STAFF
Between Sunday, Nov. 9 and Sunday, Nov. 16 the University Police Department responded to 30 incidents. Here are some of the highlights.
Saturday, November 15 CROWD FIGHT Officers responded to a report of a group of people in a physical altercation, in front of Grijalva Drive at 12:57 a.m. With SFPD, campus police subdued the fight and issue two warning cards.
Friday, November 14
Thursday, November 13 BAR BRAWL Officers received a call about an altercation in The Pub at 9:09 p.m. After officers arrive, both parties were contacted and no further incidents were reported.
Wednesday, November 12 BROKEN LEG Police were notified of an injured person at 7:27 p.m. who broke their leg at the Gymnasium. The injured person was contacted by officers and taken to San Francisco General Hospital. FALSE ALARM Dispatchers were alerted of a fire alarm that was set off from the second floor stairwell of the HSS Building at 8:19 a.m. After no smoke or fire was detected, officers decided an unknown person set off the alarm.
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Expert declares homicide CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT
magazine, to which she responded “no.” Crime scene investigator John Evans, who was on the scene of the crime, said in court that the firearm and magazine were found in a storm drain at the intersection of Orizaba Avenue and Lobos Street, less than a block away from where the shooting happened at Randolph and Bright streets. “There was no firearm number, it had been obliterated or defaced, ” Evans said about the weapon. He also said that the .45 caliber handgun was unloaded when police found it.
Ellen Moffatt, forensic pathologist for the medical examiner who was at the crime scene to identify the body, revealed in court that Valdez was not killed as a result of a gunshot wound to the back of the head. “He died as a result of the gunshot wound to his back,” said Moffatt, who concluded that the manner of Valdez’s death was homicide. No bail was set for Thephakaysone at his arraignment last year. During the hearing Dunlap asked the court to set an appropriate bail, which Superior Court Judge Brendan Conroy denied. Thephakaysone is scheduled back in court Dec. 2 at the Hall of Justice.
Monday, November 10
CAR BURGLARY Police identified suspicious behavior from a subject near a parked vehicle at Lake Merced Boulevard at 8:16 a.m. After determining they had just burglarized the vehicle upon contact, officers arrest the subject for auto burglary and probation violation. The subject was transported to the county jail and officers notified the victim.
GRAND THEFT Officers took a report of a theft totaling $1,000 that occurred in the City Eats Dining Center some time between Nov. 7 at 12:30 p.m. and Nov. 8 at 2:00 p.m.
HEALTH REPORT Police received a report from someone with thoughts of hurting themself in front of the University bookstore at 3:02 a.m. Officers contacted the subject and transported them to SF General Hospital under protective custody.
PUBLIC INTOXICATION After an officer spotted a man on campus at 3:26 a.m., the man ran towards West Campus Green. Police were able to find the man, who was deemed highly intoxicated, and he was taken into protective custody.
Sunday, November 9
NASHELLY CHAVEZ / XPRESS
OFFICIAL: Assistant District Attorney John Rowland awaits the start of Nikhom Thephakaysone’s preliminary trial outside Department 20 at the Hall of Justice Tuesday, Nov. 18.
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NEWS
NOVEMBER 19, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
CSU could absorb aftershock of proposed UC tuition increase LORISA SALVATIN / XPRESS
FINANCE: Psychology graduate student Stephanie Gluck makes a payment at the Bursar’s Office in the One Stop Student Center Tuesday, Nov. 18.
CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT
the CSU level. “That would negatively impact us because more people would be coming in and classes would be getting full with people trying to graduate on time,” Cabrera said. “It’s a horrible cycle.” Napolitano said the new long-term stability plan would provide the funding universities need to cover student costs such as housing, textbooks and supplies that have not been addressed by the state. If approved by the Board of Regents, the plan is expected to increase enrollment, maintain the system’s financial aid pro-
gram and shorten graduation time. The proposal breaks away from the California’s 2014 Five-Year Infrastructure Plan, which allocates funding for state-funded universities on the condition that tuition is not increased. Tuition and fees for undergraduate studies have not increased since 2012, according to data from the UC system. Gov. Jerry Brown outlined predictable funding for maintenance over the next five years under the conditions that universities push for affordability, increase degree completion rates and freeze tuition increases according to H.D. Palmer, deputy director for external affairs for
the California Department of Finance. Palmer said the proposed increases were not justified. “It’s just a proposal, but the administration’s commitment to education has been known from the start,” Palmer said. “The governor has always been opposed to increases to tuition for students.” The University of California Student Association, a collection of students and student government organizations from the UC system, voiced their opposition to Napolitano’s announcement, claiming it to be a political move by the system to acquire more state funding. The association also said the UC system left students
out of the decision-making process. “UCSA views the plan proposed by UCOP as one that does not prioritize students, but rather holds them hostage for the future of their education,” the association said in a Nov. 6 press release. “Instead of using students as political pawns, the UC and Regents should consider partnering with students on a meaningful level to advocate to the state for more funding.” The UCSA is expected to release details of a demonstration planned for Nov. 19 urging the board to reject the measure, according to their Communications Director Bridget Botelho.
Minimum wage increase to exclude University workers CHLOE JOHNSON chloej@mail.sfsu.edu
SF State student and bookstore worker Lindsi Lakatos has worked at the campus bookstore for two and a half years, and has found making ends meet on low wages to be a struggle. While Lakatos received a boost in pay after Follett purchased the bookstore in 2012, she still felt the need to get a second job. “Before, it felt like I couldn’t even pay my rent,” Lakatos said. “But now that I have two jobs, I feel like I can be comfortable.” Still, Lakatos said she never has extra money. The San Francisco Minimum Wage Ordinance, which voters passed Nov. 4, aims to help low-wage workers. Under the law, the city minimum wage will increase incrementally over the next four years and by 2018 the minimum wage will be $15 per hour. Despite the raise for San Francisco’s workers, it is still legal for student workers employed directly by SF State to be paid the lower California minimum wage of $9 per hour, according to S.F. State economics professor Venoo Kakar. “Hourly wages for stu-
HELEN TINNA / XPRESS
SERVICE: (LEFT TO RIGHT) Cafe Rosso employees Oday Alsalni, Ally Walker and Qaed Hammad serve the SF State lunch time rush Tuesday, Nov. 18. Cafe Rosso employees, who begin their employment making the San Francisco minimum wage, will be effected by the new wage that takes effect Jan. 1, 2015.
dent workers on campus vary significantly,” Kakar said of a survey she took among 130 student workers. “For instance, the hourly wage for students working at resident services is $9.75, at the library is $10.50 and as IT staff is $12.” While outside organizations operating on campus must
pay the city minimum wage, work-study positions and other jobs where the University is the direct employer must only pay the state minimum. For this reason, some students avoid on-campus employment. “On-campus jobs are a last resort,” said creative writing major Priscilla Little. “I’m not
going to get a job that pays me less if I can go across the street and get one that pays me higher. It’s hard to support yourself, especially as a student.” Other students are more concerned with career building than money and some feel that the benefits of direct employment by the University out-
weigh the lower wages. “It’s good to be on campus,” said Maxwell Breem, who has a job in the Career Center through work study. “It’s very flexible because they know I’m a student. I think on-campus jobs will remain sought-after because of convenience.” Breem also said that University employment is a good way for student workers to make connections and get references after graduation, another reason he chose the lower paying work-study option. The Minimum Wage Ordinance had widespread support, and no organized opposition, said Service Employees’ International Union Local 1021 spokesperson Shum Preston. “Raising the minimum wage is becoming a consensus idea among the public, policy makers and most economists — especially in this era of economic insecurity,” Preston said. Lakatos, Breem and Little agreed that a $15-per-hour minimum wage would significantly affect their quality of life and ability to pay their bills. “This will allow some of us to advance,” Preston said. “And it also shows the political power of policies that directly benefit working families.”
NEWS
NOVEMBER 19, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
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Students share the world at a glance TIMOTHY SMITH
tsmith@mail.sfsu.edu
Oscar Villagrana knew he had made it to the right place when he arrived in Amsterdam. There, he saw large crowds of people cruising down walkable streets instead of the gridlocked traffic associated with large American cities. A senior in SF State’s music program, Villagrana chose to study abroad in Amsterdam last academic year to immerse himself in the music of the city and engage in the bicyclist culture of Holland. “They set the bar much higher when it comes to musicianship,” Villagrana said. “The biggest thing was that I was introduced to new bands, new composers and new complete genres that I don’t know how I would have run into otherwise.” Villagrana was one of five panelists who discussed their experiences studying abroad during the World at a Glance: Europe presentation Monday at the Rosa Parks conference room. The panel was a part of the 15th annual International Education Week, which is designed to cultivate global relationships and promote international education programs throughout SF State. Noah Kuchins, the coordinator for study abroad and international programs at SF State, said international education does not just mean sending people
DANIEL PORTER / XPRESS
CULTURED: Parisian exchange students Brendon Novel and Auriane Denis-Loupof describe life in Paris during International Education Week in the Rosa Parks conference room in the Cesar Chavez Student Center Monday, Nov. 17.
out — it also means bringing in students to enrich the University community. “We have 2,500 international students at SF State that are creating a lot of diversity, offering a lot of viewpoints, and bringing their perspectives from their respective countries and upbringing,” Kuchins said. “I think that’s something that’s instrumental to what international education is supposed to mean.” The first of many panels this
week also included a short presentation from two international students from France. Auriane Denis-Loupof, who studies international relations at SF State, started by dispelling a few stereotypes about French life. “Yes, we eat croissants, but it’s not every day,” Denis-Loupof said. “Mostly, we have like baguette and butter.” Denis-Loupof spoke highly of the American higher education system during her presenta-
tion, noting that in France large class sizes make it difficult to build relationships with educators. “The relationship between teachers and students here is amazing,” Denis-Loupof said. “Here teachers want to be friends. In France, your teacher is your teacher — there is a huge gap between you.” President Bill Clinton organized the first International Education Week in 2000 to cele-
brate the impact and benefits of international education. Today, more than 100 countries participate in the festivities worldwide, according to the State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs webpage. To celebrate, the University will host a culture fair in the quad, international lunches at City Eats Dining Center and Read About Your World in J. Paul Leonard Library every day this week in addition to films and panels on international topics. The cinema department will screen Turkish films on Wednesday at 4 p.m. in Fine Arts 193 with David Selim Sayers, who helped create the Turkish Studies program at SF State. Globalization Pressures in 21st century Latin America is set to discuss statistics and data regarding the impact of technology on people in the Latin America region. The event will be held Thursday at 12 p.m. in Rosa Parks Room D in the Cesar Chavez Student Center. City Eats will finish off its week of international lunches with a spread of Moroccan dishes at 11 a.m. Friday. “The partnerships that we form are what I would call a way of marrying up,” Kuchins said. “We try to set up those partnerships to give our students the best academic opportunities overseas.”
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
NOVEMBER 19, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
PHOTOS BY DANIEL PORTER / XPRESS
SCRUMPTIOUS: (LEFT) Executive Chef Michael Zito of Cafe Claude prepares chicken liver moose in puff pastry at the Taste of the Bay event presented by SF State’s hospitality and tourism department at City View at the Metreon in San Francisco Wednesday Nov. 12. (ABOVE) Executive Chef Michael Zito of Cafe Claude places chicken liver moose in puff pastry onto a serving platter.
CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT
The committee is made up of 16 dedicated students who work together and plan all year to make the event bigger and better than the last. Now in her last semester, Whitney said her main goal this year was to get a larger space for the event. “This year’s capacity at the Metreon is about 1,200 people, where as in the past there have been problems fitting guests in the venue,” Whitney said. “This year is way bigger.” Taste of the Bay 2013 was held at the Julia Morgan Ballroom in the Financial District. In total, 20 restaurants and 19 wineries were featured at this year’s event, compared to 15 restaurants and 10 beverage vendors in 2013. Participating restaurants included BIN 38, Hillside Supper Club, Cowgirl Creamery, Luce and many more. Lagunitas Brewing Company, 21st Amendment
Student scores largest venue yet for ‘Taste’ Brewery and Hook & Ladder were just a few beverage vendors keeping guests’ thirsts satisfied. “There’s a good number of vendors this year,” said hospitality and tourism management student Ortal Shaitrit. Shaitrit added that she enjoyed the decor and environment that the Metreon provided. As event chair, Whitney looks over the committee as a whole and also helps brings in sponsors. The money raised at the event directly impacts many students in the department, funding guest lecturers, SF State’s on-campus restaurant The Vista Room, student scholarships and other
program needs. Annually, the event receives many donations and sponsors each year. Nancy Lee Mar, a friend of the University, is the biggest presenting sponsor of Taste of the Bay, donating $50,000 each year. Other sponsors included Lori’s Diner, which donates $10,000 annually and the JW Marriott, which provides hotel accommodations. Mariana Atwood, Taste of the Bay auction manager said in the initial stages it is discouraging asking for free items to the event, but in the end it is worth it after seeing how everything comes together.
“The best part is seeing how much money we’ve made,” Atwood said. This year’s live auction raised more than $10,000 alone. A signed jersey by San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain was the first of nine items to be auctioned off. Last year the student-driven event raised a $140,000 net profit and the committee believes they made even more this year, according to Whitney. In addition to raising money, Atwood said that being apart of the hospitality and tourism management department at SF State is rewarding in itself. Students who serve as committee members, who don’t already have a job in the hospitality industry, get a chance to see what is it like to run an event and go through the whole planning process. “This department provides a lot of opportunities to get involved and real world experiences that employers are looking for,” Atwood said.
Harvest concert showcases semester long training CECILIA ABATE
cabate@mail.sfsu.edu
Amid winter colds and midterms, four SF State vocal groups have trained all semester for a harvest concert where they performed their skills for charity. The concert at Lakeside Presbyterian Church last Friday featured four vocal groups: the Women’s Chorus, Chamber Singers, the University Chorus and an independent SF State-based student group of voice students called Vocal Point. Penny Bloomenthal, a staff member at Lakeside Church, has overseen the annual concert before, and said the church feels privileged to have a lasting relationship with the school and does other charity work with the local Food Bank. “We go down four times a year and work physically down in the food bank, packaging up food,” Bloomenthal said. “We also have events where we provide food for the food bank. David Xiques has directed the SF State University Chorus for several years and assists with the Harvest Concert every year. “This semester, the University Chorus is presenting some patriotic pieces, as well
as other American pieces,” Xiques said. “We begin preparing for it in the beginning of the semester. After the first three days, we start our rehearsals right away.” Rehearsals took up most of the time of his classes, where the students would stand, holding their sheet music binders, singing as close to perfection as they could reach. “All four ensembles performed last week at Knuth Hall,” Xiques said, prior to the concert. “I can tell that they’re very into the spirit of the music, and they’re really performing it well. I’m very excited for them.” Xiques added that performing for charity is a great part of the concert. “In the past, we’ve had someone from the San Francisco Food Bank come and say a word,” he said. “They’re always very grateful. When we go in to drop the donations off we get the most wonderful thank-you’s.” Xin Zhang is a graduate conducting student from China and the director of the women’s chorus. Zhang has been in the U.S. for just under two years, singing for seven years and a member of the choir for four years. “This is the second time that I did the
MARTIN BUSTAMANTE / XPRESS
ELEGANCE: Jonathan White solos in the University Chorus’s performance at the 13th annual Harvest Concert in Lakeside Presbyterian Church Friday, Nov. 14.
Harvest Concert, and the first time was last year, the first semester that I came to America,” Zhang said. Zhang said she was nervous for the concert, but eager to raise money for the Food Bank and sing in front of an audience. The vocal groups have been preparing for this performance and the upcoming concert in December throughout the semester. The groups picked a number of songs to perform within the first few classes and began rehearsing the first week. Vocal students arrived three hours early to help set up and rehearse in the church. Elegant and dressed in all black, with the men in suits, students spilled across the lawn and steps, as they laughed, talked and huddled in
groups to perfect pieces. Megan Maurer, a music composition major in the University Chorus, has been singing for 10 years and participated in the Harvest Concert for the third time. “I’ve been doing this harvest concert since 2012 and we’ve raised a lot of money for the San Francisco Food Bank,” Maurer said. Although Maurer has kept busy in school, she’s still enthusiastic about performing. “I’m super excited,” Maurer said. “It’s really amazing to perform with a group of your peers who are also passionate about making beautiful music, not to mention raising money for a good cause.”
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
NOVEMBER 19, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
DEVELOPER: (RIGHT) Abdur Chowdhury, Twitter’s former chief scientist, takes a photo of the audience for a live tweet during his talk about social media, online searching, and mobile apps in the Humanities Auditorium, Thursday, Nov. 13. (FAR RIGHT) Twitter’s former chief scientist Abdur Chowdhury, right, poses for a picture with associate professor in the communications department Christina Sabee outside the Humanities Auditorium, Thursday, Nov. 13. AMANDA PETERSON / XPRESS
SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter, ‘Steven’ and the age of smartphones REUBEN DEVERAS rdeveras@mail.sfsu.edu
It’s not everyday that a person tweets about his or her departure from a company, to the company. But Abdur Chowdhury, former chief scientist of Twitter, announced his leave in exactly 100 characters with a quote from science fiction writer Douglas Adams’ Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. “So long, and thanks for all the fish,” Chowdhury tweeted to his numerous followers. “@twitter was an amazing experience & even greater set of people.” Chowdhury, the current CEO of Pushd, a company that develops mobile apps, visited SF State last Thursday to talk about the power of social media and the direction it is heading today. The event was hosted by the communications department and initiated by director Christina Sabee, who knows Chowdhury through their children’s school. She invited Chowdhury to a question and answer segment in the Humanities
Building auditorium. Students, professors and anyone interested in Chowdhury’s work were encouraged to leave their phones on and tweet #abdursays to interact with the speakers. “He sees large pools of data and how it relates to social media,” said Sabee of Chowdhury in an interview prior to the event. “So much of it resonated with me.” Chowdhury started Pushd after leaving Twitter to initially pursue other interests. He said he left the company because he could not spend the rest of his life skiing and drinking to find happiness. “Everyone’s gotta find their happiness,” he said. “Happiness to me is waking up at 3 a.m. perplexed by a problem that I want to solve.” Two years after his departure from Twitter, Chowdhury and his company received $1.4 million in investment capital to work on a secret project, according to Venture Capital Post. This project was later revealed to be an iOS application called Steven, where users are able to
automatically update their whereabouts on bringing people together online. through emojis. Samuel McCormick, associate proBecause it allows users to seamlessly fessor of communications studies, was integrate their life and their actions into that audience member. He said that people the application, are more inclined to do Chowdhury calls courageous acts because Steven “the heartsmartphones give off a beat.” sense of protection to its During the users. event he held “There’s some kind of “Everyone’s gotta a camera and false sense of security that find their happiness.” took a picture of comes from having a phone,” - Abdur Chowdhury the audience and he said, in regards to how havposted it on Twitter, ing a smartphone makes people Former Chief Science of Twitter writing “what’s more self-confident. “The cool up?” with three thing about this is this is no longer smiley-faced just speculation, studies say that this emojis and the is occurring.” #abdursays tag. Sabee said she hopes that communicaIn the Q&A portion of the night, tions students will learn from Chowdhury, one eager audience member asked about since social media goes hand-in-hand with Chowdhury’s work and how it relates to their studies. loneliness in social media. Chowdhury did “I hope they will get a sense of how not give a definite answer to the question the work they’ve been doing fits with the but stated that his work focuses primarily perspective of a CEO,” Sabee said.
When the going gets tough, the going gets green TAYLOR LONIGRO
tlonigro@mail.sfsu.edu
Green Festivals have been educating communities all over America for about 13 years, providing healthier alternatives for living economically, socially and allaround pro-environmentally. Thousands of people attended Green Festivals across the country in Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C. and Chicago this year, and last weekend at Fort Mason was San Francisco’s turn to enlighten the Bay Area on sustainable and healthier living. Known as the nation’s longest-running sustainability event, the festival offers a wide variety of products and
services to work, play, eat and live because it is a beautiful chance to make a sustainably through. From fashion and difference in the world.” beauty to design and construction, there As an active humanitarian, vegetarian was something green for everyone — and and employee of Green 11, an organic eco-friendly cars were available for test refill store in the Inner Sunset, SF State driving. senior Shelbie Bradley found “There are so many fun, attending the festival to exciting and compassionate be an enlightening and elements to putting-on important experience this festival,” said Green to people living in Festivals, Inc. President the Bay Area. “We would love to make Corinna Basler, who has “I feel like the it even bigger and better worked with the orgapeople who live and to be in more cities nization for over a year. in San Francisco spreading the beautiful, “As a vegan vegetarian, already have a leg green message.” I do the job not because up when it comes it’s from nine to five but to knowledge - Corinna Basler, about the green lifestyle,” Bradley Green Festival said. “But because this President city attracts so many tourists, a bunch of people who aren't familiar with this way of life were able to gain a lot of knowledge about living green.” Throughout the weekend, Green Festival attendees engaged in discussion panels, inspirational speeches, ILLUSTRATION BY SOFIA LIMON / XPRESS
vegetarian and vegan cooking demonstrations, educational family activities and plenty of retail. There was even a sustainably built bar that filled the pavilion. And with discounted admission for students, seniors, bike riders, public transit riders and union members, the festival was very accessible. “I got to test out a bunch of products I have always been interested in but never purchased,” said Christina Paiva, an SF State graduate and festival attendee. “I purchased things that not only are better for my body but are better for the earth, and I supported companies doing good things. It was a win-win.” The festival was informative and was meant to open the eyes of people to healthier and more green ways to live. With an attendance turnout numbering in the thousands, exceeding the expectations of Basler, it did just that. “Of course when putting together exhibitions many improvisations come along the way,” Basler said. “We would love to make it even bigger and better and to be in more cities spreading the beautiful, green message.”
SPORTS
NOVEMBER 19, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
9
CROSS COUNTRY
Record number of runners headed to regionals ELIZABETH CARRANZA ecarranz@mail.sfsu.edu
SF State’s men’s and women’s cross-country teams returned from incredible Saturday finishes, running over hills in 100 degree weather at the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship race, and now set their minds on Regionals. “I was very happy with how the team performed. We ran very well and have progressed nicely throughout the season,” said head coach Tom Lyons. “The men and women have been very patient and focused on the postseason. I believe that was the key to our success.” Women’s team captain
Paxton Cota led the way for the Gators, finishing third overall with a time of 22:36 and earned All-CCAA honors for the third time in her career. Right behind Cota was freshman Cori Harral, who finished 11th overall with a time of 22:52 and received AllCCAA honors for the first time. “I feel really good about it,” Harral said. “It’s great to know that I am still improving and that the training is working.” The women’s team finished fifth out of 10 teams, which is one of the its best finishes since 2006. With regionals approaching, the team is working on a strategy to make the most of their opportunities, Harral said. “We are going to try to run
in a group because it helps us move up in the race,” she said. “We are able to push each other and it ultimately leads to a faster time.” Leading the way for the men’s team was Drew Feldman, who had a breakout season after finishing first in three out of four races for the Gators. Feldman finished third overall in the race with a time of 25:24. “You train a whole season for those races, but I try not to get a big head about it,” Feldman said. “My motto is to move forward and move on to the next thing, so that’s Regionals and hopefully Nationals.” Men’s team captain Logan Smith led the middle of the Gator pack by placing 12th overall with a time of 25:51. Benji Preciado also had a
good race after placing 15th with a time of 25:54, which earned him All-CCAA honors for the first time. Smith said the weather was a challenge, but was happy that the team performed well together to place third among the eight teams. In 10 years at SF State, this is the most runners coach Lyons has ever had in the top 15. “I think it’s a great achievement,” Smith said. “There was a strategy me and Tom came up with, sticking with packs. Drew and Benji had their own thing up front. I had myself, Michael Garaventa, and Kenny Trejo with me. I think if we keep this — our top five running very well — and be solid, we’re going to be set for Regionals and go to Nationals.”
The Gators will travel to freezing Billings, Mont. Nov. 22 for the NCAA Division-II West Region Championships where the men’s and women’s teams will fight for a spot for Nationals. There, the two teams will face many challenges such as racing on an unfamiliar track, toughing out potentially sub-zero temperatures and battling non-conference teams for a ticket to Nationals. “Coach Tom is pretty good on making sure we’re in shape for when it matters,” Feldman said. “We’re pretty refreshed and we’ve been training all season. Our team is ranked 7th. If we could leap frog just one more team, we can qualify.”
ILLUSTRATION BY SOFIA LIMON / XPRESS
10 OPINION
NOVEMBER 19, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
STAFF EDITORIAL
Student-teacher relationships: Where should we draw the line? BRADLEY FOCHT
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF bfocht@mail.sfsu.edu
MICHAEL BARBA
PRINT MANAGING EDITOR mdbarba@mail.sfsu.edu
LAUREN SEWARD
ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR lseward@mail.sfsu.edu
EVELYN CAICEDO
ART DIRECTOR ecaicedo@mail.sfsu.edu
KAITLIN AGUILAR
ART ASSISTANT kaitlina@mail.sfsu.edu
SOFIA LIMON
ART ASSISTANT slimon@mail.sfsu.edu
FRANK LADRA
PHOTO EDITOR fladra@mail.sfsu.edu
NASHELLY CHAVEZ
NEWS EDITOR nashelly@mail.sfsu.edu
IDA MOJADAD
NEWS EDITOR idajane@mail.sfsu.edu
ANNA HECHT
A&E EDITOR ahecht@mail.sfsu.edu
It starts with a chat during a professor’s office hours. Then the relationship thickens, and a cup of coffee is shared among buddies. Soon after, the two find themselves getting beers in the pub, discussing topics from the most recent lecture. Before you know it, a professor and student are having drinks outside of campus and the relationship has officially escalated beyond an academic structure. Where should the line be drawn between an appropriate and an inappropriate student-teacher relationship? There isn’t an exact answer — at least within University policy — but there should be. In light of this past semester’s controversy surrounding a professor and the invasion of privacy charges brought against him, we as a student body are left wondering how there are no rules at SF State that prevented Mark Landis from inviting a number of students to party at his Castro home. Months later, his alleged filming of 16 current and former students in his bathroom, and therefore 16 misdemeanor counts of invasion of privacy, was revealed to the general public. Many of us have befriended professors
and other faculty members over our years at SF State. All students should be able to have one faculty member who has changed the way they think about education, who they have put trust into and felt a stronger connection with. This school has many caring, interesting and devoted staff members who may be great to kick back with and share a beer. Regardless of these strong connections, it is still inappropriate for a professor to act like a fellow student the moment they leave campus. Any rules, spoken or unspoken, that hold true on campus should be held with the same merit throughout the whole course of a professor’s career. Now, this is not an attack on all professor’s who choose to meet with their students outside of the classroom to have one-on-one discussions. This is also not a claim that all faculty who do this are likely to commit inappropriate actions involving the students, such as Landis allegedly did. While a solidified rule could have prevented Landis’ actions from taking place, it could also make it less easy for professors to choose favorites among students, or give some students more attention and time than
others. Students can have favorite professors, but it’s unethical for professors to choose favorites of their own. Students are often young and impressionable. They need to be taught from someone they respect as above them, not as a peer. As soon as a professor is allowed to remove themselves from this position of power and become equal with their students, they diminish the quality of education for those students. When this happens, it is not the professor or student’s fault. These relationships (whether romantic or purely platonic) and the weakening of a professor’s control over their students are the fault of the University’s loose policies on student-professor relationships. We propose a call to action for all of us students: until the University steps up and defines this line we need to draw it ourselves. No student and faculty member shall interact in a manner off campus that is not intended to better the student’s education or future professional lives. No house visits. No favorites. No partying. Having a mentor is one thing, but having a beer buddy is another.
MADISON RUTHERFORD OPINION EDITOR maddie@mail.sfsu.edu
THOMAS DE ALBA
SPORTS EDITOR tdealba@mail.sfsu.edu
MICHAEL DURAN
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR michaeld@mail.sfsu.edu
WILL CARRUTHERS
MULTIMEDIA EDITOR wcarruth@mail.sfsu.edu
RACHELE KANIGEL
PRINT ADVISER kanigel@mail.sfsu.edu
JESSE GARNIER
MULTIMEDIA ADVISER jgarnier@sfsu.edu
SCOT TUCKER
PHOTO ADVISER tucker@sfsu.edu
EVA CHARLES
ADVERTISING & BUSINESS echarles@mail.sfsu.edu
ARUN UNNIKRISHNAN I.T. CONSULTANT arun@mail.sfsu.edu
SADE BROWNE
CIRCULATION sbrowne822@gmail.com
SHAWN PERKINS
STUDENT GRAPHIC DESIGNER smperk@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 Madison Rutherford at: maddie@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 Brad Focht at: bfocht@mail.sfsu.edu
College retail jobs test patience, instill valuable life skills DAYVON DUNAWAY
ddunaway@mail.sfsu.edu
As the holiday season fast approaches, any student working in retail knows the perils of trying to keep up with the pace of customer and managerial demands. Some say the job is easy, people working these jobs know better. However, working in retail instills important values in college students by exposing them to real life social experiences that will carry them throughout the rest of their lives. These values are patience, respect and endurance. The core lessons learned working retail while in college are a result of being plowed with human interaction. You talk to customers, coworkers, managers and the occasional executive. You are trained to present yourself in a professional way in every circumstance. Having experience working with a diverse group of personalities makes you a competitive candidate for future employers. Working in retail trains you to act like a proper and mannerly person despite being faced with preposterous situations daily. This is a testament to your interpersonal and problem solving skills which are an asset to most jobs out there. For students, it’s best to work at it now instead of trial and error after graduation. Retail employees are arguably the most admirable because their job is to smile through everything, and that sense of composure is valuable. Perfecting this trait in retail can ultimately carry over into the career path of your choice. Some might say that working retail in college poses no real benefit. Being paid minimum wage while being forced to put up with rude customers, demeaning managers and shady coworkers might sound more stressful than beneficial.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SOFIA LIMON / XPRESS
According to GlassDoor.com, the highest retail wage averages around $12 per hour. Why would I put myself through such unappreciated labor for this measly amount? I could be doing an internship, volunteer work or focusing on school. This is true, but retail pushes your social skills into overdrive. Walking up to greet strangers and engaging in conversation you could care less about, with a paycheck as incentive, forces even introverts to develop social skills. San Francisco voters rallied Nov. 4 to make a $15 per hour wage a reality by 2018. This is a big step in the workforce for jobs in and out of retail. Maybe $10.74 an hour isn’t worth the struggle, but $15 might be just what you need
to stick with the retail machine. In any case, minimum wage isn’t the only incentive for college students to work in retail. You work there to get a paycheck, but it goes beyond the money. It’s about the experience. When you leave the world of retail, you have stories of the many times you were faced with an obstacle and overcame it, which is a popular interview topic. Employers in your field want to know about you and working retail reveals what type of person you are based on your social interactions. Anything you do in college should be relevant to your future goals. If developing yourself and being a competitive job candidate is part of that plan, you’ll have to build your experience somehow.