Fall 2014 Issue 2

BURNING MAN:

CULTIVATING SELF-EXPRESSION IN THE BARREN WASTELAND ON PAGE 6 SEPTEMBER 3, 2014

VOLUME LXXX ISSUE 2

Serving the San Francisco State community since 1927

ASI president resigns one week into semester JENNAH FEELEY REPORTER

Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) board member Sara Padash will now head the student government board following the resignation of former President Kenneth Collins. The board announced the change in presidency Aug. 27, one week after the start of the semester.

“Thank you all for having faith in me to fill some big shoes,” Padash said to fellow board members. “I can only hope to be just as great of a leader as he (Collins) was.”

RYAN LEIBRICH / XPRESS FILE Collins, RESIGNATION: Former Asso- who was not ciated Students, Inc. President present at Kenneth Collins. the meeting, privately distributed his letter of resignation to members of the board, but did not make public the cause of his withdrawal from office. ASI Executive Director Peter Koo insisted that Collins cited “personal reasons” in his letter.

“Even though I’m not the happiest person having to step out, I know Associated Students is in good hands,” Collins said.

ASI bylaws ensure that the Vice President of Internal Affairs takes the presidential seat if the elected president steps down from the position.

The board’s vote last Wednesday confirmed that Vice President of Internal Affairs, Padash, will assume the presidential seat.

“I commend him on the work he has put in,” said Celia Gonzalez, liberal and creative arts representative. “He has done a lot behind the scenes and it is going to be difficult for the rest of the year.”

The former president won his seat with a 41 percent vote in the spring election. Collins’ presidency followed four prior years of involvement with the ASI board, two of which he served as an executive member.

VP CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

New coaches, new home, new outlook KYLE MCLORG REPORTER

E

ICE: Coach Ryan Papazian addresses the SF State hockey team during a late night practice at Nazareth Ice Oasis in Redwood City, Calif. Sunday, Aug. 31.

MARTIN BUSTAMANTE / XPRESS

quipped with a new coaching staff and a slew of both new and returning talent, the SF State Gators Hockey Club looks to take big strides forward in its second full season.

The Gators finished with a disappointing 2-14 record in the team’s inaugural campaign as a Pacific Collegiate Hockey Association Club HOCKEY CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Custodians forced into new contracts

CUSTODIAN: Carlos Rosales, a custodian for 22 years at SF State, pushes a trash can around the bottom floor of the Cesar Chavez Student Center Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014.

SARA GOBETS / XPRESS

CHLOE JOHNSON REPORTER

Despite working on campus for over 30 years, one custodian said he started as a “new employee” July 1 after the University took control of the formerly independent student center, reducing his health benefits and reversing his seniority.

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Custodian Augustin Cazares, who has worked for the Cesar Chavez Student Center since 1978, said that he was forced to work while suffering from back pain when not offered paid vacation or sick leave, a result of the student center’s change in management and a shift in custodial contracts.

NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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A&E

Alumna wins Emmy for ‘House of Lies’ JANNELLE GARCIA REPORTER

A coveted gold statuette was placed in the hands of SF State Alumna Chikako Suzuki, for “Outstanding Art Direction” of the Showtime series “House of Lies” at the 66th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Aug. 16.

Suzuki cultivated, guided and brought to reality the art design vision for the third season of “House of Lies,” a comedy that focuses on the lives of management consultants who will stop at nothing to close business deals.

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TRANSPORTATION

Commuter costs on the rise at SF State DANIEL RIVERA REPORTER

T

he commute to SF State became more expensive Monday, with the price for a single ride on Muni increasing to $2.25. The surge in cost follows the introduction of a $1 increase on daily parking passes on campus July 1.

“I don’t like it,” said student Coel James, who rides public transportation three times a week. “If I’m paying more, there should be more buses, (more frequent and) more clean (service).”

San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority (SFMTA) boosted the price of monthly passes, including the Adult “A” Fast Pass, from $76 to $80, and the “M” Fast Pass, from $66 to $68, to match the single ride increase. The fare for a Lifeline monthly pass, a discounted pass for limited-income residents, rose from $33 to $34 as well.

“If you’re commuting twice a day, it adds up,” said student Bradley Lewis, who rides the 29-Sunset to and from campus.

He added that the price bump for adult commuters seemed unwarranted.

SARA GOBETS / XPRESS

PARKING: (Clockwise from left) Associate Professor Victoria Lyall purchases a parking pass in Lot 20 on the first day of Fall Semester, Aug. 25. A student purchases a daily parking permit in Lot 20 on the first day of Fall Semester, Aug. 25. Student Leah Linden examines her freshly purchased daily parking permit in Lot 20 on the first day of Fall semester, Aug. 25.

Monthly passes for seniors, the disabled and youth remained unchanged, but are expected to rise along with the fast passes in 2016.

CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT

VP assumes leadership of ASI “At the end of the day, all he wanted was what was best for the students,” Padash said. “He did a great job here and it is sad to see him go.”

Padash began her career with ASI as an intern and then served as the health and human services representative before becoming the vice president of internal affairs.

“People love Sarah Padash.

It’s hard not to like her because she’s so driven and so passionate and she cares a lot about the students,” Collins said.

With Padash taking on a new role as ASI President, the Vice President of Internal Affairs position remains vacant. Padash will be accepting letters of intent from those interested in the position and will then choose a candidate she feels fit to present to the board for consideration.

Once the recommendation is presented to the board, the members will vote to approve the candidate. Sept. 1 was the deadline for the letters of intent. jennah@mail.sfsu.edu

SFMTA spokesperson Paul Rose said that the price increments are the result of a formula “that aims to keep pace with inflation.”

“In 2009 our board of directors made the decision to raise fares incrementally, rather than by a large sum all at once, based on this cost of living for-

mula,” Rose said in an email.

Along with the Muni fee hikes came a rise in the SF State daily parking permit fee from $6 to $7, which took effect over summer and was the first increase of its kind in two years.

The raise in parking costs was enacted to pay for a $4.2 million debt accumulated during a seismic retrofit, an earthquake safety precaution for buildings, to the parking garage near Cox Stadium, according to Reggie Parson, deputy chief of the University Police Department.

“Parking is not supported by the State General Fund,” Parson said, adding that a reduced number of vehicles parking in the garage also contributes to a need for increased funds. “Parking fees pay for the maintenance of the parking structure.”

Shaye Morin, a 19-yearold student, said though the rise in parking prices might be problematic at first, the funds are going toward something the school needs.

“In the short term it’s a little annoying like any increase,” Morin said, who does not drive to campus. “But if it’s helping the school be more safe, I’d be more willing to pay it.” dmrivera@mail.sfsu.edu

CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT

Negotiations underway for new contract

CUSTODIANS: Bernie Carrera (left) and Carlos Rosales pose for a photo in the bottom floor of the Cesar Chavez Student Center at SF State Tuesday, Sept. 2.

AMANDA PETERSON / XPRESS

When custodians ended their contract with the Teamsters union and joined a new contract with the California State University (CSU) Employees’ Union after July 1, they lost their seniority, some of their health benefits and much of their paid sick leave and vacation time.

According to the custodians, they were given the choice of signing the new contract or losing their jobs.

Four of the custodians decided to quit or retire rather than take the deal, and the custodial staff is now only 11 people – down from 15 last semester.

“I can’t see a doctor in the daytime because I lose money,” said custodian and former union steward Naresh Mathur, whose paid leave hours were reduced from 16 to six

per month. “We are the custodians, we do the dirty jobs. You should thank us.”

Negotiations over severance packages to compensate for the lack of seniority are still ongoing, according to the custodians. Dean of Students Mary Ann Begley confirmed the reduced benefits package, but also said that negotiations are ongoing.

“When the decision to dissolve the student center was agreed on, the University agreed to take over maintenance,” said Begley. “The conversation is still happening with the Teamsters union.”

But the custodians, who fought for union representation for 10 years before finally joining the Teamsters Local 856 in 2006, are unsatisfied.

Mathur said he feels the University “discriminated against” the custodial staff.

While all other student center employees were able to use their vacation time this summer, the custodians could not. They are the only former student center employees who are now employed directly by the University instead of Associated Students, Inc. (ASI), according to custodian Carlos Rosales, a former union steward.

“The choice was to be employed by the University,” said Peter Koo, executive director of ASI. “We tried to ensure that if you had a job with the student center, you would still have a job.” chloej@mail.sfsu.edu

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SF State rolls out bicycle maintenance program TIMOTHY SMITH REPORTER

A new bike safety and repair program will wheel through campus starting mid-September to accommodate the growing bicycling community and curb the University’s environmental impact.

The Power to the Pedal project will sponsor bi-monthly educational workshops to provide information on bike safety and repair, as well as a mobile maintenance station on campus.

According to SF State’s Sustainability Coordinator Nick Kordesch, the new effort will help achieve the University’s sustainability commitment to alleviate the physical space constraints and traffic congestion issues around the school.

“Our job is to get people to commute to campus in a greener way, which means cutting down on people driving alone and encouraging ride-share, public transportation, biking and walking,” Kordesch said.

Though there have been efforts in the past to build a larger biking community at SF State, many of them have failed due to a lack of continued support and funding.

In 2012, the school installed

SARA GOBETS / XPRESS

BIKE RACK: Tim Stone works the front desk at the Bike Barn at San Francisco State University in San Francisco, Calif. on Tuesday September 2, 2014. Stone has been working at the bike barn for a year now.

public bike maintenance stations at the walkway between the new J. Paul Leonard Library and the Creative Arts Building for students to repair their bikes. Those stations disappeared within a year.

“The bike fix-it station was vandalized and rather than

replace it, we decided to pursue a vandalism-proof solution,” Kordesch said.

Liana Derus, a junior at SF State and manager of the sustainable initiatives office, said Power to the Pedal will not be encountering the same problems.

Power to the Pedal has

mounted the maintenance station onto the back of a bicycle and will have a person responsible for it throughout the day. Their plan is to secure the equipment in the Bike Barn to prevent theft during the off hours, according to Derus.

“That’s really unfortunate

that they were taken advantage of, but ours is always going to be supervised,” Derus said.

Making bicyclists feel confident about riding to school was another issue the program faced.

“I think a lot of kids chose not to ride to school because it’s dangerous and scary to them,” said Giovanni Corralejo, a parttime employee at the Bike Barn.

Alex Foster, a mechanical engineering student who commutes from Noe Valley on his bike, believes the project will be a resource for the bicycling community.

“I think it’ll be great for students who are hard up for cash, and wouldn’t be able to ride to school otherwise,” Foster said.

The project is funded by the Mary A. Crocker Trust, a San Francisco-based foundation focused on advocacy projects that seek solutions to current environmental problems in the Bay Area. Last year, the Trust awarded the school’s sustainable initiatives office $10,000 to fund the project.

The grant covers tools and supplies for the initial year and employee wages for the project manager. The program is now accepting applications from students to join as interns. tsmith@mail.sfsu.edu

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XPRESS YOURSELF WE ASKED SF STATE STUDENTS:

How were you affected by the power outage?

OUTAGE: Campus representatives sit at an information booth providing class relocation information outside the Ethnic Studies and Psychology Building Thursday, Aug. 28.

MICHAEL DURAN / XPRESS

Campus blackout traps at least 3 in elevators

A

ALMA VILLEGAS REPORTER

&

“

It messed with my schedule. It was the worst time to have a power outage.”

”

JENNIFER LOPEZ, 33 LATINO STUDIES

MICHAEL BARBA PRINT MANAGING EDITOR

power outage struck 13 buildings across campus Wednesday, Aug. 27, trapping at least one former student in an elevator of the Ethnic Studies and Psychology Building and others in elevators at Thornton Hall and the Student Services Building, according to the University Police Department.

“I’m afraid the building is going to fall apart,” said Estefania A. after someone freed

her from the elevator of the Ethnic Studies and Psychology Building by prying the doors open.

Police and an elevator technician from plant operations responded to the scene at 12:56 p.m., and checked all other buildings on campus.

The outage, caused by a water leak that closed the Ethnic Studies and Psychology Building, prompted officials to relocate classes Thursday, Aug. 28.

Administration made class information available

for students and faculty at an information canopy in front of the affected building and online.

“We wanted to take an extra step for those students who hadn’t read their e-mail or read the SF State News,” said campus spokesperson Ellen Griffin.

Kinesiology major Warren D’aouza had 15 minutes to get to class, but had to stop by the canopy for class information.

“I didn’t have time to read my e-mail today,” said D’aouza, who said he was aware

of the power outage, but had expected the situation would be resolved by Thursday.

Last December, a partial power outage in Lot 20 prompted the University to provide free parking for the campus community.

University officials reopened the Ethnic Studies and Psychology Building Tuesday, Sept. 2, according to Griffin.

avillegas@mail.sfsu.edu mdbarba@mail.sfsu.edu

Wong aligns SF State with Mexican college MICHAEL BARBA

PRINT MANAGING EDITOR

“

My class was in a different room. It was in the library.

”

STEPHANIE NARVAEZ, 19 PSYCHOLOGY

“

It was kind of annoying because I found out I was relocated to the other side of campus.”

”

EDDIE ESCOBEDO, 25 LATINO STUDIES

Photos & Reporting by: Nashelly Chavez

President Leslie E. Wong signed SF State into its first partnership with a Mexican university Aug. 29 at their campus in Tijuana, opening doors for an exchange of students, faculty and research between the institutions.

“At San Francisco we’ve been looking to Asia and to Europe, and interestingly enough we had no partners in Mexico,” said Wong in a video interview with Tijuana Press. “And about a third of our students are of Mexican heritage, have hispanic heritage, and I thought, why aren’t we looking south?”

The partnership with Centro de Enseñanza Técnica y Superior (CETYS), a Mexican university with campuses in Tijuana, Mexicali and Ensenada, is aligned with a national push for the exchange of students between the United States and Mexico, known as Proyecta 100,000.

The government project, which SF State can now better contribute to since the California State University (CSU) system recently reversed the suggestion that its students not study in parts of Mexico, intends to send 100,000 undergraduate students from Mexico to the United States, and 50,000 from the

United States to Mexico, over the next five years.

“For several years with the disruptions that were occurring in Mexico, travel was not encouraged by the CSU,” said Robert Nava, vice president for university advancement, “But the situation has improved.”

Last week, Nava crossed the border with Wong and Jose Galvan, associate vice president and dean of the college of extended learning, for a two-day visit to the Tijuana campus, where he was “not at all” worried about safety.

“We were so impressed,” said Nava. “There’s a lot of economic developments in the city. We felt very secure and we were very impressed with the infrastructure and their culture.

(It’s) a very dynamic city.”

Though Wong said that the partnership is centered around the colleges of business between universities in the interview with Tijuana press, it will apply to other schools at SF State as well, according to Nava.

“Its going to provide our students and faculty an opportunity to develop greater professional experiences in Mexico and Latin America,” said Nava.

According to Nava, Wong first made connection with

SOFIA LIMON / XPRESS

CETYS through his personal relationship with their president, Dr. Fernando Leon Garcia, and through an intern and mentee of his, who traveled to SF State from the Mexican university.

“Dr. Lupe Sanchez did an American Council for Education fellowship (at SF State),” said Nava of the intern. “It’s a very distinguished fellowship, and she was here for a year observing President Wong and doing a menteeship.”

Following the partnership, other schools in the CSU sys-

tem, including Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, have expressed interest in partnerships south of the border, according to Wong. San Diego State University has already partnered with CETYS, according to Nava.

“Many of us feel that the future for young people will involve Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela—all of the southern hemisphere,” said Wong in the interview. mdbarba@mail.sfsu.edu

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT

Graduate now works for hit HBO shows Suzuki was shocked when her name was called to receive the Emmy. “I didn’t expect that! We didn’t think we would get nominated,” she said.

Suzuki expected the HBO comedy “Veep” to sweep all of the awards at the Emmy’s because the show had been nominated and won several awards at the Art Directors Guild, AFI Awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Suzuki and the rest of the crew were unaware of their nomination until they read comments of congratulations left by friends and co-workers on Facebook.

In addition to her Emmy, Suzuki was nominated for the “Excellence in Production Design” award at the 2014 Art Directors Guild.

Suzuki graduated with a bachelor’s degree in theater arts from SF State in 2000 and pursued her master’s degree in scenic design from the School of Drama at Carnegie Mellon University. Suzuki said that she learned a lot from Carnegie’s program, but that she acquired much of her knowledge and skills from the professors in the art department at SF State.

“I owe so much to professors at the art department,” Suzuki said. “State has so many incredible professors. If you go to other places you will notice that the professors (at SF State) are really good, so students should take advantage of that,” Suzuki said.

Suzuki originally attended SF State with the intention of studying costume design, but changed her career path after enrolling in a set design class taught by scenic design professor John Wilson.

“I just loved (set designing),” Suzuki said. “After that I kept taking his classes and then I became a set designer. He was a great professor.”

After receiving her Emmy, Suzuki said the first thing she did once she returned to her seat was snap a picture of the Emmy in her hand and send it to her former professors from SF State.

“I sent them the picture saying ‘This is for you!’,” Suzuki said.

“I was really excited of course,” said Wilson once he heard that Suzuki had won an Emmy. “Chikako graduated in 2000 and 14 years later here’s this picture in my email of her hand holding an Emmy.”

HOLIDAY LANDA / SPECIAL TO XPRESS

EMMY: SF State alumna Chikako Suzuki poses with her award at the 2014 Creative Arts Emmys, Aug. 16.

Wilson said his first impression of Suzuki was that she kept to herself but was a serious student.

“She showed up in my beginning design class and was really shy. She opened up eventually and made a lot of progress,” said Wilson, commenting that Suzuki was a student that went beyond the minimum, and beyond his expectation.

He is excited to see what other accomplishments Suzuki will make, and advised Suzuki to keep working with her strong dedication. “Don’t give up, let’s get another Emmy!” he said.

Students from SF State are encouraged by Suzuki’s accomplishments. Georjean Morado, 21 and a sociology major, said Suzuki’s award benefited SF State and its students “It’s great for our school because it will really show people how great our cinema, BECA, or any major related to arts really is. It’s just showing students that people who graduate from our school really can do amazing things,” Morado said. Currently Suzuki is art director for the third season of HBO’s show, “The Newsroom” and ABC’s “Scandal.” jannelleg@mail.sfsu.edu michaeld@mail.sfsu.edu

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Burning Man brings life to colorless desert FRANK LADRA PHOTO EDITOR

Colorfully clad desert dwellers traverse the sweltering terrain on bicycles adorned in bright costume fur and twinkling lights, their bodies covered in a uniform layer of off-white dust that blends with the chalky ground for as far as the eye can see. Scattered in the distance are various art pieces, some of them large and structurally sound enough to support the dozens of people who are climbing them.

The penetrating heat is overwhelming but as the sun slowly falls behind the distant mountains, the circular shaped city composed mostly of tents and RVs comes alive with thumping electronic music and illuminated, modified art vehicles. In a matter of days, there will be no trace that any of this ever existed.

This is Burning Man, the annual event devoted to art, music, self-expression and self-reliance.

This year’s festival, which always falls the week before Labor Day, and is located in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, attracted an estimated 65,000 individuals from all over the globe, who made the trek to the former lake bed now known as the Playa.

Created by the Burning Man organization, Black Rock City LLC, the week-long experience encourages attendees to participate in a plethora of unique and enlightening activities that range anywhere from naked yoga meditation to thunderdome suspension battling. All-night

FRANK LADRA/ XPRESS

TODD COOPER / SPECIAL TO XPRESS

TODD COOPER / SPECIAL TO XPRESS

CREATIVITY: (Left) Burning Man attendees observe the detailed interior of the Temple of Grace Thursday, Aug. 28.

Designed by long-time sculptor David Best, the 70-foot structure, like each temple built annually, was commonly regarded as a place of reverence to pay respects for those lost during the previous year. (Top right) The art installation “Splash” created by Mark Lotter exhibits 3840 lights that alternate colors to create various patterns, Thursday, Aug. 28. (Bottom right) Burning Man participants visit the 72-foot-tall art sculpture, Embrace, which took 160,000 pounds

music camps construct dance environments on the outskirts of town that attract party-goers from across the Playa.

In recent years, critics have challenged the Bohemian society, claiming that millionaire and tech leader presence on the Playa

has begun to shift the event’s usual hippie-like nature. Tattered shade structures and rusty fire pits are gradually being overshadowed by luxury motorhomes and electric generators larger than most standard family cars.

Solar panels charge Segway

personal transporters. Numerous theme camps offer eccentric foods like sushi and smoothies with high-end cafe service.

However, Burning Man’s longstanding spirit of community continues to thrive. In fact, many of this year’s participants

O

HANNAH MULLINS REPORTER

n a campus strewn with art on lawns, in trees and even in the form of crocheted bikes, many SF State students are still unaware of the three art galleries available to view, free of charge.

Liza Boozer, a former student and artist, knows this all too well.

The sound of giggles and gasps surrounded Boozer as she fumbled around in the bushes to pick up her unnoticed art display of Barbie dolls that had fallen beside the Fine Arts building. As she looked at the dismembered, red paint-spattered dolls, she commented on how the piece is meant to represent the “murder” in eating meat.

“I did it to send a message,” she said.

Though the image is shocking, students continue to walk right by these art displays outside, and barely know about the galleries indoors.

Art history major Rosa Santos, who transferred to SF State from community college this year was excited to see what the department has in store for her. Santos, however, said she had no clue about the gallery in the Administration Building displaying alumni work.

“Nobody talks about that,” Santos said with regard to publi-

RYAN LEIBRICH / XPRESS

GALLERY: Tom Comitta, poet, performs sound poetry for the guests at the “If Elvis Presley was the King, who was James Brown?” opening at the Cesar Chavez Art Gallery on Thursday, Aug. 28.

Galleries on campus remain a secret to many students cizing events on campus. “(Advertising the galleries has) got to be through Facebook and Twitter.

That’s the only way information spreads, not paper handouts, nobody reads those anymore.”

The fine arts department displays two exhibits each semester in the Fine Arts Gallery, but it’s hard work that seems to go unnoticed by SF State’s community.

“The first is a professional, the second is student work,” said Sharon Bliss, the associate director for the Fine Arts Gallery.

Currently on display is Shenny Cruces’ exhibit “Keys,” which is shown until Jan. 5. Cruces received her masters in fine arts in 2011 and continued to exhibit her art as well as teaching after she graduated. Her work includes

collecting objects that were once cherished and have found their ways into flea markets and other places.

The art continues at SF State with other exhibits, such as “Allegorical Procedures: Bay Area Collage, 1950-Present,” which opens at 1 p.m. Sept. 20 and features the work of over 20 artists as well as some live performances.

have challenged the naysayers’ criticism, contending that tech advancements have actually contributed to Burning Man’s success and growth over the years.

On Thursday, Aug. 28, TEDx hosted an independently organized TED event in Black Rock City to discuss various advancements in technology that are tied into the Burning Man spirit of community and gift giving.

Ben Davis, creator of The Bay Lights on the San Francisco-Yerba Buena Island extension of the Bay Bridge, discussed the removal of the current light installation that will begin in six months. He then revealed plans to reinstall a sturdier, longer-lasting version of the lights that will be unveiled in February 2016, while millions of eyes are trained on the Bay Area for the Superbowl.

He went on to announce the proposed installation of Light Pipe, a 2-mile extension of light that will be added to the newest extension of the Bay Bridge that connects Yerba Buena Island to the East Bay. “This will be aesthetic equity for the East Bay, especially with state funding to baseline the cost,” said Davis, who found inspiration for his light projects from his experiences on the Playa in previous years. “In the gifting spirit of Burning Man, the idea is that San Francisco and the East Bay find a common light to allow the Bay Lights to represent the beauty in all of us.” fladra@mail.sfsu.edu

Another event hosted in the fine arts gallery is the 27th Annual Stillwell Student Exhibition.

Deliberated by their peers, undergraduate and masters students will display their latest work in video, photography, ceramic, sculpting and more. The gallery will open to the public for free from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning Nov. 12.

The art gallery in the Cesar Chavez Student Center on the terrace level also regularly hosts free events with food, drinks, entertainment and more. The members of Associated Students, Inc. joined the San Francisco Public Library and the Cal Humanities War Comes Home Initiative to host an open call for veterans or family members of a veteran to submit artwork for their upcoming show “Coming Home: A Veterans Artwork Exhibition.”

The deadline is Sept. 30 and all types of art forms from painting to letters and poetry are accepted.

The fine arts department has resources for anyone wanting to admire or get involved in the art scene on campus, but remains unknown to many students.

“I wish people would talk about it more (because) I haven’t heard one thing about the galleries,” said fashion student Riley Johnson. “And that’s disappointing because I want to know more.”

hmullins@mail.sfsu.edu

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PHOTOS BY EMILIA ROSALES / XPRESS

PERFORM: (Left) EXIT Theatre is located in the heart of the Tenderloin District and home to this year’s Fringe Festival, where SF State alumni will perform from Sept. 5-25. (Right) SF Fringe Fest Production Manager Amanda Ortmayer hangs the finishing touches in EXIT Theater, Friday, Aug. 29, in preparation for the festival.

SF Fringe Festival features SF State’s own EMILIA ROSALES REPORTER

In the heart of San Francisco’s Tenderloin District, underground artists and theater junkies, including some from SF State, will have the opportunity to do what they love at the 23rd annual SF Fringe Festival.

State alumni and students, among hundreds of others, will flock to EXIT Theater to perform over 150 live shows in 16 days, beginning Sept. 5 through Sept. 25.

Gloria McDonald received her bachelor’s of fine arts in theater from SF State in 2013.

McDonald is a member of the performing group BrickaBrack and will perform the self-pro-

duced play titled “Daffodil: A Play on Happiness.”

“There is so much work beyond acting that goes into a show and I didn’t really realize until I went to SF State,” said McDonald. “I left there as a more rounded theater artist.”

Other groups have SF State alumni as members, such as “A Date for the Evening” and “Genie and Audrey’s Dream Show!”

Amanda Ortmayer, the production manager and technical director of the festival, has produced the festival for 10 years.

Ortmayer is responsible for hanging all the masking tape, changing the light bulbs, dealing with all the theater companies on an individual basis and

much more.

“I have stayed with the EXIT Theater because the mission statement of the EXIT, in particularly the SF Fringe (Festival), is one that I believe in and I think is very valuable,” Ortmayer said. “(The mission is) to provide opportunity for performers and artists.”

Each year the festival’s pieces follow a new theme. In previous years, themes for the performances have included topics like cancer, as well as controversial topics such as Hitler.

This year the performances are mainly composed of solo acts simply because they are easier and cheaper to produce.

This year, nine shows are

performed a night during the festival, with three in each room or venue provided by the theater. On any given night up to 1,000 people can come in and out of the EXIT Theatre doors.

Mikka Bonel, a technician and volunteer for the festival, graduated from SF State in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in theater arts.

Bonel said she widely shows her support in preparing for the festival because she wants to be involved in helping the theater community any way she can.

The festival is non-curated, according to Ortmayer, meaning any individual or group can apply to be perform in the

Festival.

“Producers aren’t in charge of telling audiences what art is,” Ortmayer said. “It is allowing artists - whether they be popular, experienced or produced, or not - the opportunity to perform and allowing audiences to decide whether they like the show or not.”

At the EXIT Theatre, artists are given first priority. Second priority goes to the audience, which is why tickets have been made so affordable.

The EXIT Theatre is located at 156 Eddy St. and tickets are $10 at the door. All the profits will go directly to the performers. eer@mail.sfsu.edu

Local bands and comedy fill The Depot’s fall calendar

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CECILIA ABATE REPORTER

ith the pressure of September’s academic demands settling in thick, new students will be pleased to find free, convenient fun just under their feet on campus.

The Depot, as some fresh faces may not know, is SF State’s on-campus music venue, conveniently next to the pub and located on the lowest level of Cesar Chavez Student Center.

The venue hosts live music, open mic nights, poetry events, art socials, dance nights, comedy/improv events, film screenings and game nights.

All events are free and for all ages, unless noted otherwise. The artists listed can be found on Soundcloud or Bandcamp.

The Depot has six events lined up for September to start the semester off strong.

September 3: Art Social & Board Game Night, 4-6 p.m.

The Depot is providing paint, brushes, music and blank wall space for anyone who wants to come in and get creative. This event is all ages and open to the public - bring a friend and some board games.

September 4: Trails & Ways, Dot Vom, Bobey, Two Kings, 6-9 p.m.

Trails & Ways is a four-piece group that describes its sound as electro-pop.

They’ve released two EPs and are hitting The Depot in the middle of their U.S tour.

If they sound familiar it is because they were on last month’s Outside Lands lineup. Ó Jafet Vargas, 19, and an International Business major, has never been to The Depot before but is excited to see his favorites.

“I’m really looking forward to this event,” he said. “My favorite band is Dot Vom. They’re the only reason why

RYAN LEIBRICH / XPRESS

MUSIC: Taylor Michele Cottingim sings and plays guitar during The Depot’s Open Mic Night on Thursday, Aug. 28.

I’m going on September 4th.”

Dot Vom is a recently-formed, self-described “dream punk (drunk)” group that has a demo for free on Bandcamp and a slew of different members.

They are currently playing shows around the Bay Area.

Bobey is a solo act who describes

his sound as “playful math loops.” Brendan Page (Bobey), a 21-year-old broadcasting major, said he hopes people like his new sound at the upcoming show.

To read more of this article, visit goldengatexpress.org cabate@mail.sfsu.edu

8

OPINION

SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

PRO & CON: ASL ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE

Obnoxious fad or a benefit to the cause?

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

SARA GOBETS

PHOTO EDITOR scgobets@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

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

O

THOMAS DE ALBA SPORTS EDITOR

n a regular day, our social media outlets are loaded to the brim with selfies, “Novembeards” and Harlem Shake videos to give us our fill of good old fashioned time wasting.

The last thing I needed was another viral trend to hog up my internet time.

However, this latest trend where people dump ice water on their heads is one I’m willing to let slide.

For those who spend their time outdoors instead of on Facebook or Twitter, let me explain this latest internet sensation.

The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Ice Bucket Challenge dares people to take an ice-cold bucket shower in exchange for raising awareness and money to find a cure for ALS. The challenge took the nation by storm last month, and continues as one of the internet’s most popular sensations to go viral.

It drew the participation of many, ranging from our friends and family, to celebrities and professional athletes.

Detractors of the ice bucket challenge deem it annoying, pointless and for some living in drought-stricken California, wasteful.

I think it has a lot to do with perspective. From my viewpoint, I think if I had to give up space on my Facebook feed for these videos, I would do it any day.

I don’t see the harm in giving up the spotlight to a community represented by a mere 12,000 people diagnosed with the disease, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

The trend undoubtedly brought exposure and awareness to a rather marginal community, and its impact was felt.

According to statistics from the ALS Association, it raised $94.3 million from July 29 to August 27. This is a significant increase from 2013, where the association reported to have only received $2.7 million in the same time frame.

A $92 million boost is nothing to sneeze at. In fact, it’s something to behold.

When someone or something becomes popular, the public eye tends to pull it in multiple directions.

While many came out in adamant support of the cause, others went in a different direction by making parodies

DOMINIQUE SANTOS/ SPECIAL TO XPRESS

of the challenge to diminish its value.

Mega64, a popular YouTube group that parodies video games, made their own joke version of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge video.

The video featured the group dumping several buckets of water on their heads while showing images of Snoop Dogg doing dance moves, flashing text saying “ALS ALMOST CURED!” and nominating polarizing figures like Casey Anthony, Edward Snowden and Oprah.

The video was well-received by the public, garnering over 500,000 views, over 13,000 likes and only 376 dislikes.

I think the video’s intentions were harmless, and I understand where people who relate to the video come from.

Fads are generally perceived as annoying, and people enjoy having a good laugh at things they can’t identify or empathize with.

However, these people are missing the point. The point of this challenge was to bring a small and struggling community to the forefront of popular culture, and give them the support they need.

If you asked me what ALS, or even what “Lou Gehrig’s disease” was before this trend began, I would have no plausible answer.

It’s extremely difficult to make an internet fad turn into something useful, but the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge did just that.

There are several issues that are more prominent in today’s world like gun control, suicide and breast cancer. Their resolutions are equally important, but I’d say lets give the ALS community a little more time in the spotlight. It’s their first time, and they deserve it. tdealba@mail.sfsu.edu

TIMOTHY SMITH REPORTER

Can we stop the whole ice bucket challenge thing now and just go back to donating?

The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Ice Bucket Challenge is a social media phenomenon that is intended to promote awareness about ALS, a crippling disease that affects between 12,000 and 30,000 Americans, depending on where you get your figures. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports as low as 12,000 people have ALS, but major charities claim that number is closer to 30,000.

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has undoubtedly been a success as far as donations go, but what makes this one viral phenomena so influential? Vanity. Trends like these are fueled by our desire to be perceived a certain way.

That’s the problem.

The massive influx of donations is a side effect of our desire to look charitable, not be charitable.

There are numerous versions, but the whole scene goes something like this: once someone has nominated you to participate, you have 24 hours to donate to an ALS charity or film yourself being covered in ice water. From there, you nominate three other people to participate in the challenge as well.

Participants seek to promote awareness on an exponential scale by encouraging the participation of multiple other people at the end of the video.

That’s where the challenge aspect comes in. No one likes to turn down a challenge, and no one wants to look like they don’t care about a good cause. That’s just brilliant marketing.

According to those standards, abstaining from the ice bucket challenge effectively means you don’t want to help those in need – however easy it may be.

In this case, many would say the ends justify the means. People are donating; that’s what’s important, right?

Supporters of the challenge point to the financial figures, arguing that the sheer amount of money donated outweighs the criticisms, however valid.

The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association reported that they have received almost 35 times what they received in the same period last year, according to a press release published Wednesday.

Those are outstanding figures, but they don’t tell the entire story.

It’s a hard question to ask, but does ALS warrant a massive influx of notoriety more so than other illnesses that continue to plague our country?

It’s an uphill battle arguing against the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. It’s for a good cause, it is raising extraordinarily large amounts of money, and the charities it goes to are well-vetted organizations that spend the money responsibly, but there’s more to it than that.

This is not an argument against charity; it’s an argument against jumping on the bandwagon. ALS is a horrible disease and those people who have it deserve as much support as we can muster, but there are other important causes that haven’t received nearly the same amount of coverage.

Suicide prevention is a wonderful example. According to the CDC, suicide made the top ten causes of death in the United States in 2011. Almost 40,000 people died from some form of self-inflicted harm that year, and the trend has continued.

In this country, more people die from suicide every year than there are people with ALS, but our nation’s general aversion to the topic of suicide keeps coverage to a minimum. Is that fair? The answer is no. ALS is just what we want to care about this month.

The bottom line is, a social media trend should not dictate how or why you choose to donate to charity. Honestly, it dilutes the meaning of the gesture. tsmith@mail.sfsu.edu

OPINION

SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

ANNA LARK / SPECIAL TO XPRESS

Caffeine: an everyday addiction LAUREN SEWARD

ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR

A couple cups of coffee or tea are a great way to get back into a heavy workload after three wonderful months of fun in the sun, but what happens once you find yourself drinking a cup every two hours? Or if you start chugging sugary energy drinks to get that afternoon kick?

Although a cup of coffee or two is quite beneficial in the morning, when college students find themselves turning to excessive amounts of caffeine, such as popping caffeine pills to keep up with their busy lives, they have to take a step back and reevaluate their consumption choices.

In 2006, the National Coffee Association (NCA) shined light on an often overlooked addiction in the United States. Reports show that about 68 percent of our nation admitted to being “hooked” on coffee. The next year, New Science Magazine’s Richard Lovett reported that 90 percent of North American adults consume some form of caffeine on a daily basis, making this legal substance the most commonly used drug in the nation.

Caffeination is great. People become much more productive, excited to work and in general, happy. But on top of all that productivity lies an underlying truth: your body will actually begin to crave - no, need that extra kick throughout the day.

Imagine if you were to stop using caffeine right now. Within 24 hours, your mind will feel foggy.

Your muscles will ache and you’ll want to lie on any flat surface, curl up in a ball and fall asleep.

After drinking coffee, Monsters and Mountain Dew over an extended amount of time, the human body will continue to need them, just as with any drug.

According to a 2012 Gallup study, coffee

consumption, overall, has remained relatively consistent since 1999, and yet more and more people say they are dependent on caffeine, according to Lovett. The introduction of new types of caffeinated beverages, such as energy drinks (Red Bull, Monster, Full Throttle) could contribute to stable numbers of coffee drinkers over the years during a time when more and more people admit to be caffeine addicts.

Basically, if anyone ever finds themselves crawling on the ground, desperately seeking a fix to wake them up out of their sleepy slump, a caffeine savior is not farther than a stroll down to the next block.

In 2005, Phusion Projects LLC began producing Four Lokos, a caffeinated alcoholic drink which gained popularity among college students for giving them both a quick jolt of caffeine and a speedway landing into drunkenness. The company quickly fell under scrutiny by health advocates and watch groups after the drink grew popular among teenagers, on college campuses and led to reports of heightened binge drinking and a series of deaths.

Years later, Four Lokos are still sold but contain less caffeine. Phusion promises to be more careful in their advertising, especially ads that may have seemed directed to minors.

Regardless, the fact that a malt beverage can get young adults drunk and give them that caffeine buzz is unnerving.

College kids have to be more careful when deciding how to get themselves up in the morning, but a cup of coffee every day (or five, during finals week) is nothing to be ashamed of. lseward@mail.sfsu.edu

XPRESS YOURSELF

WE ASKED SF STATE STUDENTS:

Do you think the ice bucket challenge is a good way to raise awareness?

Photos & Reporting by: Lulu Orozco

”“

“

”

Yes, I did it. I know we are in a drought, but I just used a little bucket and I donated.

It wasn’t much about bringing awareness to ALS, but more on what celebrity was throwing ice water on their head next.

KYNDAL DUNBAR, 21

HUGO NUÑEZ, 25

MARKETING

ENGINEERING

9

10 SPORTS XPRESS YOURSELF WE ASKED SF STATE STUDENTS:

SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

Men’s soccer coach known to craft winners from underperforming programs

What is your favorite sport at SF State?

“

Cheerleading, because I was in the Cheerleading club in high school.

”

YUI YOSHIKE, 20

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

HELEN TINNA/ XPRESS

REVAMPING: New men’s soccer coach Matt Barnes talks to Midfielder Manny Serrano as the rest of the team looks on during practice on Friday, Aug. 29.

SERGIO PORTELA REPORTER

“

Rugby, I respect that sport a lot.

”

ALAN GARCIA, 18 BUSINESS

“

Basketball, it’s a very intense and aggressive sport.

”

RONALD MURILLO, 20 HISTORY

Photos & Reporting by: Liz Carranza & Thomas De Alba

Everywhere Matt Barnes coaches, he gets results. In his two previous head coaching stops, he took non-contending programs to the playoffs in the first seasons he was there.

At his first head coaching job at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, he led the team to its first postseason victory and in his second year, he led them to win the California Pacific Conference.

He also spent a year at Lubbock Christian University, where he led the team to it’s only first place finish in the Heartland Conference.

Barnes now faces his greatest challenge at SF State, which finished last in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Conference at 3-14-1 in 2013, and haven’t had a postseason berth since 1978.

“It’s been kind of a perennial losing program and we were just picked two days ago by our peers to finish last in our conference again,” said Barnes. “(But) I’ve been taking over teams since I’ve started coaching, teams that need help and programs that need help and I’ve

made a living off turning things around.”

Barnes was a late addition to the soccer program, after new Athletic Director Charles Guthrie hired Barnes one week before the season started. According to Barnes, most coaches are hired in the spring and given the opportunity to recruit.

“It’s hard coming in, I didn’t know any of the players before (and) I’m meeting guys my first day of practice,” Barnes said. “I don’t know exactly who was on the team last year, who’s been recruited, who’s a walk on (and) who’s planning on redshirting. I didn’t have any idea on what I was walking into.”

Even after the late start, Barnes got the team on the right track by both preaching hard work, and putting in the hard work himself.

“I talk a lot about being blue collar, so I want my kids to wake up everyday and come to work and work hard,” said Barnes. “I’ve had to mimic that, so if I come here and I work really hard for these guys, and I’m showing them how much I care, and how bad I want them to be successful, (then) they will, and I think they have.”

Barnes’ played multiple positions throughout his playing career. First he was a goalkeeper in high school, then he transitioned to a defender in college and finished off playing forward as a professional. His well-rounded experience helps him relate to the players he coaches.

“He’s a real player’s coach,” said senior Hayden Roberts. “We can already tell we’re improving (and) you can see a change in the team.”

Senior Kevin Johnson agreed, adding that Barnes seems to really care about his players.

“We want to give him the same effort he’s giving us, that’s the biggest change,” Johnson said.

According to Barnes, the most important lesson he wants to teach his players is to always compete.

“More than anything, I’m trying to create competitive men I really believe in,” Barnes said. “If I can instill that in these guys through the medium of soccer then I’m going to be pretty happy looking back on my career.” sportela@mail.sfsu.edu

CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT

Hockey club prepares for sophomore season Team president Andrew Duenes said the coach-less team of 2013 will be a thing of the past by the time the puck drops at their season opener. The club takes on the San Jose State Spartans at 10 p.m. Sept. 27 at Sharks Ice in Fremont.

“Honestly, our biggest strength will be having coaches this year,” said Duenes, a 22-year-old left-winger.

According to Duenes, the team

had a coach last season who showed up to help during practices, but could not make it to many games. As a result, some players called line changes and plays behind the bench at game time in place of the coach.

Duenes approached two graduated members of last year’s team, Ryan Papazian and Kevin Barlow, to return for coaching roles behind the bench.

“I’m totally excited to fill those

shoes,” Papazian said. “I’ve been playing for my whole life, so I’ve gone through the years watching coaches and seeing what they’ve done.”

Matt Gold, a 21-year-old left-winger for the Gators, said the team embraced having former teammates now drawing up plays.

To read more of this article, visit goldengatexpress.org kmclorg@mail.sfsu.edu