Spring 2014 Issue 9

N W A C I HO R F -A ON S bit N PAASHI t exhi F tuden GE 7

APRIL 2, 2014

ISSUE 9 VOLUME LXXXXVIII GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

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Police search for suspect who watched child porn on campus

BY MICHAEL BARBA mdbarba@mail.sfsu.edu

Police have opened an investigation into an incident that occurred March 22 involving a 63-year-old man who allegedly used a computer in the Cesar Chavez Student Center to view child pornography, according to SF State’s University Police Department.

An SF State related person called University Police after he and his roommate saw an older man watch eight or nine different pornographic videos of young males masturbating, according to University Police Officer Enrique Veracruz. “(The older man) would minimize the computer screen window when other students approached the computer station he was using,” said Officer Veracruz in a police report. “And then maximize the windows when they left and continue to watch the videos.”

Officer Veracruz identified the man from a photograph taken of him while he left the scene and determined that University Police are familiar with the subject from previous encounters. He is not a member of the SF State community, according to the police report.

The gray-haired man switched between two computers made available by SF State. On one, he viewed pornographic videos, and on the other, he checked his email, according to the police report.

The roommate who witnessed the incident said he coyly walked over to the computer terminal initially used, opened the browser and checked its browser history and saw a list of adult websites, said Officer Veracruz in a police report.

As the older man walked away from the computers, the witness took a photograph of him with his iPad. The SF State related witnesses studied at a table a few feet behind him when they noticed that naked people appeared on the older man’s screen, including one male who looked to be 15 years old, according to the police report.

One of the witnesses told Officer Veracruz that the males in the videos were “jacking off, lying naked, or undressing,” according to the police report.

Police spoke with SF State IT Consultant Long Tran, who discovered that multiple pornographic websites were visited recently, according to the police report.

After they searched the area for the older man with negative results, police took the iMac back to the police station, where they searched its browser history themselves and stored the computer as evidence.

“The only pornographic website on the computer’s browsing history was a live adult video chat room called “chaturbate.com,” said Officer Veracruz in a police report, adding that with the exception of several links, all the websites contained individuals

PA

VALDEZ MURDER TRIAL

PRELIMINARY HEARING PUSHED

BY CHRIS SANCHEZ | sanchezc@mail.sfsu.edu

NIKHOM THEPHAKAYSONE FACES WEAPON CHARGES AND CHARGED WITH THE MURDER OF SF STATE STUDENT JUSTIN VALDEZ

T

he trial of a San Francisco man charged with murdering an SF State student last September could begin by the end of this year, prosecutors said Thursday.

Nikhom Thephakaysone, 30, allegedly shot SF State sophomore Justin Valdez, 20, on Sept. 23, 2013, according to the San Francisco District Attorney’s office.

A slender and inexpressive Thephakaysone appeared in an orange jumpsuit at a court hearing Thursday where arrangements for the trial inched closer to a court date.

“I’m looking forward to the evidence being heard and having a just

SUSPECT: Nikhom Thephakaysone stands in front of Judge Tracie Brown in the San Francisco Superior Court’s Hall of Justice during a court hearing Thursday, March 27. He is facing felony counts that include assault with a deadly weapon, posession of an illegal firearm and the murder of Justin Valdez.

MURDER CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

PHOTO BY JESSICA CHRISTIAN / XPRESS

Sen. Yee arrested in FBI raid SEIZURE: An FBI agent removes evidence after raiding the Ghee Kung Tong temple and Chinese Freemasons building in Chinatown on Wednesday, March 26 following the arrest of Senator Leland Yee earlier this morning.

SPORTS

Professor uses sports to study psychology

BY HALEY BRUCATO hbrucato@mail.sfsu.edu

David Matsumoto wasn’t interested in the sport of Judo when he first started at seven years old.

But being the youngest of three boys, he was expected to follow in their footsteps when his time came.

“In fact, I hated it for a number of years, until I got better,” the SF State psychology professor and former Olympic Judo coach said. “You’re basically getting your ass kicked in the beginning

PHOTO BY JESSICA CHRISTIAN / XPRESS

BY ANDREW CULLEN | culle010@mail.sfsu.edu

California State Senator and former candidate for Secretary of State, Leland Yee, was arrested last week on corruption and weapon trafficking charges in a statewide FBI raid.

The raid on March 26 also targeted 25 others, including Raymond “Shrimp Boy”

Chow president of the Ghee Kung Tong fraternal organization and a former member of the American branch of the Hong Kongbased triad Wo Hop To. An affidavit filed by San Francisco’s U.S. District Court named Keith Jackson, former San Francisco School Board PresiYEE CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

OLYMPIC CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

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News

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XPRESS

Delegates seek extra funds in Capi-

YOURSELF

WE ASKED SF STATE STUDENTS:

What can SF State do to bring healthier eating options to campus?

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Have more stores like the store in Cesar Chavez that have healthier options. You can’t get anything healthy at the market.

JUANA MEDINA, 19 BUSINESS

“

Maybe that farmers’ market more than just Thursdays.

BEN POWNING, 23

”

COMMUNICATIONS

“

”

Probably lower the price of it, because right now junk food is usually cheaper than healthy food.

Also, increase the options cause there’s not that much.

ASHLEY GIBSON, 26 POLITICAL SCIENCE

Photos by: Rahcel Aston Reporting by: Chloe Johnson

The CSU system will get a budget increase of at least $142 million for the next year from the state, and possibly as much as $237 million, according to the California State Students Association.

While Prop 30 guarantees that the CSU system will get the extra $142 million, CSSA went to Sacramento March 18 to ask for an additional $95 million from the state, according to Associate Director of Community Relations Jared Giarrusso. While in Sacramento, the group met with Senators Mark Leno and Jerry Hill, Senator Leland Yee’s staff, and Assembly members Phil Ting, Tom Ammiano, Mark Levine and Kevin Mullin.

The extra money will be used by the CSU system to offer more courses, help more students graduate on time and build and maintain infrastructure. However, the system will not be able to admit any more students than it currently does unless it gets the extra $95 million.

“The $142 million would not support additional enrollments above current levels,” said President Leslie E. Wong. “It (the $95 million) is to enable admission of more students.”

A major priority for SF State is improving graduation rates and helping more students graduate within four years. President Wong said that he hopes to improve graduation rates with greater availability of classes, labs and advising services, which the extra funds should make easier to provide.

Cesar Arauz-Cuadra, who went to Sacramento with CSSA as a student representative, knows firsthand how frustrating it is trying to get classes at SF State.

After working for several years in the healthcare industry, ArauzCuadra decided to pursue a nursing degree but couldn’t get into the impacted nursing program.

“I was pretty devastated to find out I didn’t get into the nursing program last year,” said ArauzCuadra. “SF State had been my dream school for a while and I always envisioned myself completing my nursing degree here.

Plus, I’d spent five years working part-time in the pre-required

BY CHLOE JOHNSON | chloej@mail.sfsu.edu

BY THE NUMBERS

70%

Percentage CSU funding paid for by the state BEFORE the recession.

30%

Percentage CSU funding paid for by the state AFTER the recession.

$142 M $125 M $95 M

State funding given to the CSU system after the budget.

Minimum state funding after the budget expected to be given to CSUs this year.

Amount being requested after the extra funding is expected to be given.

courses.”

Arauz-Cuadra is now a health education major with hopes of getting into the nursing program this fall.

“I quickly found my classes saturated with students just like me, who either couldn’t get into nursing programs and gave up or are waiting to get into a program,” said Arauz-Cuadra. “As a result, health education became an impacted major this semester.”

While the extra money from the state will help SF State offer more classes, it still will not cover all the university’s expenses.

The Prop 30 funds also come with strings attached, according to Giarrusso. In order to continue to receive the revenue, SF State will need to keep tuition at 2011-2012 levels until 2016, make a serious effort to improve its graduation rate and take on some of its own bond debt that was previously being paid off by the state.

Although the freeze on tuition increase is likely to be a relief to most students, Giarrusso said it’s actually a mixed blessing.

“Without increasing tuition, it’s going to be really hard for us to reinvest in what we think should be a priority,” said Giarrusso. The tuition freeze could also lead to a dramatic tuition increase after Prop 30 expires in 2016, which Giarrusso worries would be more difficult for students than several gradual tuition increases.

When Gov. Jerry Brown signs the final budget in June, the University will know how much they will get from the state for next year.

Before then, advocates from CSSA are likely to go to Sacramento twice more, although they don’t yet know what the exact dates for the meetings will be.

President Wong is cautiously optimistic about the state’s response to the CSU system’s request.

“There are many competing groups and initiatives in California seeking additional funding, so it will be challenging but I do not think it is impossible,” said President Wong. “CSU needs to continue to emphasize how our graduates are getting jobs and are critical to sustaining future economic success.”

Murder suspect gets case continued CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE

decision rendered,” said Public Defender Managing Attorney Bob Dunlap, who is representing Thephakaysone.

Surveillance footage shows Thephakaysone and Valdez both rode an eastbound M-Ocean View Muni train the night of the incident. Thephakaysone allegedly shot Valdez in the back as he was exiting the train at the corner of Randolph and Bright streets in Ingleside at about 9:50 p.m.

According to Assistant District Attorney Scot Clark, additional footage showed

Thephakaysone brandishing the weapon on the Muni train just before the shooting.

Police arrested Thephakaysone at his Ocean View District home on Sept. 24, 2013 after the San Francisco Police Department released footage of him riding the train.

When police searched Thephakaysone’s home they uncovered survival equipment, two assault weapons and $20,000 cash.

At his arraignment last October, Thephakaysone pleaded not guilty to three felony counts including the murder of Valdez in addition to assault with a deadly weapon and possession of an illegal assault weapon.

Family and friends remembered Valdez as a joyful and caring person at a candlelight vigil at SF State last September.

Valdez was also an advocate for sustainability. Since his freshman year, the Garden Grove native was involved in ECO Students, a student-run environmental organization at the University.

Although Thephakaysone was also a student at the University and had taken classes on and off since 2008, police say the two did not know each other.

A preliminary hearing for Thephakaysone will be set May 15.

News

FROM FARM ECO STUDENTS HARVEST AND GATHER LOCALLY SOURCED PRODUCE FOR A CAMPUS DINING CENTER LUNCH EVENT

APRIL 2, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

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BY EMILIA ROSALES | eer@mail.sfsu.edu

Look no further for great local food in the Bay Area—home grown, organic fruits and vegetables from local farmers within a 250-mile radius will be brought in for an all-vegetarian, zero-waste “Farm to Fork” at SF State.

The Environmentally Concerned Organization of Students (ECO Students), in conjunction with the Sustainability Office, will host the fifth annual “Farm to Fork” lunch event, where all the food provided for the lunch will be sourced from within 250 miles of campus — including SF State’s local community garden behind Mary Park Hall.

“Farm to Fork is our chance to highlight sustainable food production in our area and to educate people about where their food comes from. We want to show people that it is possible to find delicious locally sourced food,” said Nick Kordesch, the sustainability coordinator.

Farm to Fork is a four-course lunch that will be held in Malcolm X Plaza April 17. This event will promote sustainable food production and local organic farms.

“It’s a way to connect the farmers and the food to the consumer and try to raise awareness about the importance of

RYAN LEIBRICH / XPRESS

GARDENING: (From left) Tyler Wescott, Audrey Janner, Sahar Navid, Morgan Kelley, and Michael Todd of ECO Students add straw to garden beds at the community garden behind Mary Park Hall Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013.

having locally sourced food, in terms of saving a lot on energy and transportation costs and also supporting local farmers and local economies and try to build a strong, local community movement,” said Tyler Wescott, the president of the ECO Students.

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Chartwells dining service on campus is responsible for arranging how the food will be transported to campus, preparing the food and setting up the event. The food will be bought from the local farmers, and either farmers will bring the fresh food to campus or Chartwells will make

arrangements to have a company go pick up the food for the farmer.

Sonoma, Central Valley and Sacramento are just a few of the areas the food will be sourced from. Kordesch and others in the Sustainability Office are still finalizing the list of farmers who they plan on working with this year.

“We like to participate and partner with the University when they do things that are near and dear to them that have to do with food. We’re all about food and if it’s local, the more the better,” said James Dame, the senior executive chef of Chartwells.

“Ninety percent of the labor we use is students on campus that we hire,” said John Penner, the associate director of dining services.

The lunch will be served at three separate sitting times: 11:15 a.m., noon and 12:45 p.m. Two hundred tickets will be sold; 50 of those tickets are designated for SF State students and the rest of the tickets are available for anyone else who wants to attend. The tickets will range from $10 to $15.

“The event is a nice time for the campus community to take a break from their busy schedules and come together to enjoy a delicious lunch,” said Kordesch.

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APRIL 2, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

PHOTOS BY JESSICA CHRISTIAN / XPRESS

TOP: Phoenix Blume-Lease (left) and Lain Lease man the booth for The LGBT Youth Space from San Jose, one of the many organizations with booths set up at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention San Francisco Bay Area Chapter’s Conference on LGBT Suicide Risk and Prevention in Cesar Chavez Student Center Saturday, March 22.

LGBTQ

SPEAKER: Dr. Ed Callahan, UC Davis’ Associate Dean for Academic Personnel for Family and Community Medicine, asks questions to a panel of specialists including Dr. Caitlin Ryan, Dr. IIan Meyer, and Dr. Patrick Arborne, during a discussion at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention San Francisco Bay Area Chapter’s Conference in Cesar Chavez Student Center Saturday, March 22.

Professionals host suicide prevention talk

C

BY EMILIA ROSALES | eer@mail.sfsu.edu

ompared to the national average of 8-10 percent suicide attempts of adolescents, the LGBTQ community has more than twice that number with a 30 percent attempted suicide rate amongst adolescents.

These facts brought professionals together for the Conference on LGBT Suicide Prevention Friday, March 22.

The San Francisco American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), health care providers and other professionals joined at SF State to speak on suicide prevention within the LGBTQ community.

“Community support literally saved my life,” said Mayela Zuniga, a youth mentor at the Rainbow Community Center. “I almost feel I get as

much out of the work as the clients that I serve. I don’t want them to go through any of the things that I went through and if they are going through it or anything worse, I want them to know they’re not alone and there is someone there to support them.”

Ann Haas, senior consultant of the AFSP, started the conference with an overview of suicide risk and prevention.

During Haas’ lecture, she presented statistics showing the dramatic difference in attempted suicide between homosexuals and heterosexuals.

Founded by Michael King in 2008, the study showed that 10-20 percent of LGBTQ adults have attempted suicide compared to 4.6 percent of U.S. adults who have attempted suicide.

Thirty percent of LGBTQ adolescents have attempted suicide compared to 8-10 percent

of U.S. adolescents who have attempted suicide.

Some of the speakers included Caitlin Ryan, the director of the Acceptance Project at SF State, and Ilan Meyer, a psychiatric epidemiologist from Williams Institute of UCLA. The group also dispersed into smaller “breakout sessions,” or discussions with a more focused topic, such as enhancing services to LGBTQ older adults, ages 40 and older, or working with faith communities to prevent suicide among LGBTQ populations.

The second half of the day was comprised entirely of these sessions, and gave attendees a chance to focus more on their topic of interest in a smaller setting.

“This is an important organization for me because people in my life have died from suicide,” said Maureen Sullivan, a volunteer at the conference

CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE

Yee faces corruption charge

JESSICA CHRISTIAN / XPRESS

EVIDENCE: An FBI agent removes bags of evidence after raiding the Ghee Kung Tong temple and Chinese Freemason building in Chinatown on Wednesday, March 26 following the arrest of Senator Leland Yee.

and SF State alumna. “We’ve had too many students die from suicide in the past 12 years.

The whole LGBT component is important because LGBT youth are at a much higher risk for suicide than other youth and they got plenty going on as it is being a teenager and then you add the whole societal component.”

The event ran all day, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Immediately following was a reception, completing the 10-hour day with food and wine.

“All the events are put on by volunteers; it is all made up of people who have been touched in some way,” said Ryan Ayers, the Northern California area director of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “None of this happens without people just caring enough to come and help put it on.”

President as the main connection between Yee, Chow and the internationally based Chinese organized crime group, the Triad, where Chow currently holds a “489,” or supreme authority position.

According to the document, Yee, who received his masters from SF State and other defendants “were involved in a scheme to defraud the citizens of California of their rights to honest services, and Senator Yee, Lim and Keith Jackson were involved in a conspiracy to traffic firearms.”

Isidro Armenta, an SF State alumnus and former ASI President who is running for State Senate, noted two other state senators, Ron Calderon and Rod Wright, were respectively charged with bribery and fraud earlier this year.

“In these three cases, we have seen voter fears come true,” Armenta said. He said that if any voter were to be charged with similar fraud crimes, they would not receive the same leniency as government officials.

The investigation began five years ago, when an undercover FBI agent was introduced to a “high-level member” of the

Community support literally saved my life.

I almost feel I get as much out of the work as the clients that i serve.

Mayela Zuniga, YOUTH MENTOR AT RAINBOW COMMUNITY CENTER

Chee Kung Tong, which authorities call a criminal enterprise. Yee then allegedly planned to buy automatic firearms and over the shoulder missiles from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a Philippines based Islamic extremist group. He then allegedly tried to arrange to resell them to an undercover FBI agent.

In addition to the weapons trafficking charges, the affidavit claims Yee and his campaign staff allegedly took bribes from Well Tech, an oil technology company, Chee Kung Tong and for medical marijuana legislation from undercover FBI agents.

FBI agents raided Yee’s Sacramento office, his home on 24th Avenue, a building on the 1700 block of Hyde Street and the Ghee Kung Tong Chinese Freemason Lodge in Chinatown in conjunction with the investigation.

Although Yee plans on pleading “not guilty” on March 27 his attorney Paul DeMeester announced that Yee would no longer be running for Secretary of State.

The next day, Yee was suspended from his duties as State Senator.

Yee was released on a $500,000 bond and awaits a trial date.

Arts & Entertainment

APRIL 2, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

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Professor draws history with graphic novel

H

istory and comic books may seem like an unlikely pair; which is why history professor Trevor Getz prefers the term “scholarly graphic novel” to define his work so far.

Getz takes areas of study he describes as “flattened” for a textbook and gives them layers.

The reader is no longer limited to interpreting the material through text: they have visuals, characters and a storyline.

Getz layered his lesson plan three years ago when he published “Abina and the Important Men,” a scholarly graphic novel based on the 1876 trial between Abina Mansah, a west African woman who escaped unlawful enslavement and her former master.

“She was the most silenced kind of person: young, black, African, enslaved; the people who get written out of history,” said Getz. “It was clear to me that Abina’s testimony spoke

BY JENNIE BUTLER | jennieb@mail.sfsu.edu

TONY SANTOS / XPRESS

PANELS: Professor of history Trevor Getz, poses in front of scenes from his scholarly graphic novel “Abina and the Important Men,” in the Humanities Building Tuesday, April 1. Getz recently created a company called Motion Education Applications Inc. to apply this graphic model to other areas of study.

to issues that weren’t discussed very broadly. I wanted it to reach a wide audience, not to become a scholarly paper that gets put on the shelf and read by 10 people.”

“Abina” won awards and became reading material at more than 250 colleges and universities. The book’s success inspired Getz to apply “Abina’s” model to other areas of study. He formed Motion Education Applications

Inc., a company creating digital applications that explain academic material with sound, graphics and text.

These scholarly graphic applications are meant to replace textbooks — which Getz believes limit the scope of learning — with a digital interface that allows users to engage with the material. Instructors can guide their students through the reading

with a digital lesson plan they create and students can interact by linking from the screen to more information, footnotes and forums with other readers.

The applications’ emphasis on user communication is designed to improve students’ understanding of history, English literature and other subjects that rely on analysis and discussion.

“I think any medium that

allows people to analyze and interact with the subject matter, opens a discussion and that allows history to be examined,” said Keith Riley, Getz’s former student.

A local venture capitalist recently invested in the scholarly graphic application. To further develop the project Getz needs additional funding, which he hopes to get from SF State in addition to high schools and businesses.

Soon, Getz will begin to recruit cinema majors, MFA students, graphic artists and computer science majors to join his existing team with his investor and two Oakland-based artists.

Getz hopes that like “Abina,” his digital endeavors will incite public discussion about the ways students learn and how schools can challenge their current education format.

“Fact is based on sources and sources are always to be evaluated,” said Getz’s creative consultant, Conrad Meyers II. “No matter what’s happening, you can always take a step back and be like, ‘Why is this important for me to know and why should I trust it?’”

Motion Education Applications Inc. plans to release its first scholarly graphic application before next fall.

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Career expo seeks to provide plenty of opportunities for students

I

BY APRIL HALOG | avhalog@mail.sfsu.edu

n a few months, thousands of graduating students will leave college life behind and be launched into the working world, losing themselves in the seemingly endless search for a real job.

SF State seeks to provide plenty of opportunities for students and soon-to-be-graduates to boost their sorely-needed job prospects.

SF State’s hospitality and tourism management department hosted the first CSU Northern California Hospitality Career Expo Thursday, March 20.

According to Julia Roselin, a lead student volunteer and a hospitality and tourism management major, the previous career

RYAN LEIBRICH / XPRESS

RECRUIT: Rebecca Shao, hospitality major, speaks with job recruiter Jimmie Lopez at the career expo Thursday, March 20.

fairs that the department hosted were catered strictly to SF State students.

“There would only be about 20 employers and about 200 students. This year there are six campuses from all over Northern California and 37 employers. We worked with the CSU system to collaborate and put on the event,” she said.

In addition to SF State, students from San Jose State, Chico State, East Bay and Sacramento State attended the fair.

Lisa McPheron, who serves on the CSU Hospitality Management Education Initiative team, said the idea of incorporating other schools in the career fair came from a national recruiter from Marriott International who suggested that a regional career fair, involving several CSU

DREAMS HAUNT ME

campuses, would attract more companies to come.

One of the main goals of the initiative is to create ties with CSU campuses and the leaders within the hospitality industry.

Students, dressed in their finest business attire, networked with local employers ranging from hotels such as the Marriott and Starwood hotels to culinary and catering companies like Bon Appétit and Susie Cakes.

For soon-to-be-graduates like Joyanna Lin, a hospitality and tourism management senior focused on restaurant catering, this career fair provides the “in” students need to start their professions.

“This career fair definitely helps us a lot because it gives us a way to talk to all these dif-

ferent companies that we never really have a chance to meet in person,” she said.

The career fair also gives students an idea of what companies look for in student applicants. For the hospitality and tourism industry, the right appearance and attitude helps land jobs, in addition to previously gained experience.

“We want to make sure they look presentable. Their professional attire, as well as their experience, qualifies them (for) whatever position that they are looking for,” said Lisol Petsas, human resources manager at Calistoga Ranch.

Even though the fair was catered to hospitality and tourism majors, the event was open to all interested students.

Graduating senior psychol-

ogy major Truong A. Truong came to the career fair because he wants to apply his degree to businesses rather than clinical or counseling.

Truong says he considers himself “realistic” when it comes to looking for a job after graduation. “(I’m) not surprised if I get turned down by a ton of places.

I have been actively looking but most places expect you to be having three years of experience in that particular field and a kid just coming out of college may not have that experience,” he said. “(By) graduating at SF State, even if you have a high GPA, you’re up against kids from Stanford, kids from Berkeley, kids from all over the place, so the job market is going to be a little fierce.”

Women Against Rape has concert to honor victims

BY ANGELICA WILLIAMS | anwms@mail.sfsu.edu

One of the most disturbing parts of life is when a nightmare turns into a reality. In one young girl’s case, her reality was a high school party rape that ripped her apart from the person she once was.

“Dreams Haunt Me,” a world premiere piece, was conducted and written by

Brad Hart, the conductor at Johansen High School in Modesto, Calif. The piece was performed by the SF State Wind Ensemble Thursday, March 20 to raise funds for Bay Area Women Against Rape.

The evening began with three musical pieces by the Johansen High School

LORISA SALVATIN / XPRESS

ON STAGE: Assistant Professor Dr. Martin Seggelke conducts the SF State Wind Ensemble in a concert at Knuth Hall to collect donation for Bay Area Women Against Rape Thursday, March 20.

Concert Band. After, the SF State wind ensemble finished the night performing “Dreams Haunt Me” and original pieces from Bay Area conductors Nolan Stolz and Mark Narins.

Silence fell over Knuth Hall as Hart came on stage to discuss the piece, written for a friend of his, the victim of rape. Hart met the subject when she was a freshman in college. She played in the band in her high school, and approached him through their musical connection.

She told him of a traumatic night during her senior year of high school, during which she had been taken advantage of by another female. She found herself at the wrong after party and had a little too much to drink. When she went to tell her counselor about the attack, no one believed her because she “couldn’t possibly get raped by another woman.”

“When we think about rape we usually have a pretty clear image of this weird nasty guy. This was not a guy, this was a lady that raped her,” said Dr. Martin Seggelke, conductor of the SF State Wind Ensemble.

The victim was left in a million pieces. She coped by writing her incident through poems and journaled to deal with the pain. Hart wanted to write about a real person’s life and he produced the wind ensemble piece from it, said Seggelke.

Charles Barrett, 25, a master of music and conducting who was in charge of putting together the fundraiser, said “We really communicate a message in music (through the) audience’s engagement and feelings.”

The piece, haunting and dark, conveys the feelings of the girl left traveling this unwarranted journey and coping with the new feelings and insecurities it carries. By the end of the song, the audience was on their feet, shouting “bravo” as Hart bowed and was thanked for presenting a powerful piece that so many people could relate to.

Biology major Cinthya Chairez, 19, who was invited out by her friend, said, “(Dreams Haunt Me) had a mystical kind of theme. I thought it was going to be dark, but it had a lot of depth to it (as well).”

The Bay Area Women Against Rape representative Kathryn Howell was amazed and haunted by the piece.

BAWAR is a 24-hour crisis hotline where volunteers come and support the victims after they have been raped. They get a call and go to the hospital where the victim is at and help the victim cope through this traumatic incident. Howell was pleased and honored that the SF State Wind Ensemble was able to help with funding this important organization.

Arts & Entertainment

APRIL 2, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

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GENERALIZATIONS BROKEN DOWN IN BSU FASHION SHOW

BY MADISON RUTHERFORD | maddie@mail.sfsu.edu

ften misconstrued as a single culture, Africa is home to some of the most diverse neighbors in the world. The Black Student Union unraveled stereotypes to reconstruct African culture through their annual Pan African Fashion Show in Jack Adams Hall.

March 18, students modeled clothing lines from six Bay Area designers and performed in a showcase of four customary African weddings, blending the contemporary and the traditional.

The show encompassed the culture and heritage of countries all over the African continent, highlighting the unique culture of each place while encouraging solidarity.

According to Danielle Tompkins, the head coordinator of the show, the event promoted the education and celebration of the rich and multi-faceted tradition of the African diaspora.

“Pan Africanism is really a movement. It’s a movement of unity, basically uniting black people from all across the world, and that’s kind of what this fashion show does,” said Tompkins.

The whole concept of Pan Africanism is about coming together, being united as one. We all have these separate cultures and things and beliefs, but at the end of the day there are things that we can all share and it can fuse together in fashion.”

Tompkins’ vision for the show began with the concept of African weddings. She wanted to portray the traditional attire and practices of weddings across Africa because it is an unfamiliar concept to many Americans.

Models donned traditional Ghanaian, Nigerian and Cameroonian clothing and acted out the wedding ceremonies and traditions of each culture. The last scene was a traditional African-American wedding, which included the long-held tradition of “jumping the broom.”

Tachelle Herron-Lane, backstage manager of the show, said that celebrations with a broom have been an African-American tradition for centuries.

PHOTO BY RACHEL ASTON / XPRESS

STRIKE A POSE: Nchimunya Milambo (left) and Torii Martin wait backstage at the Pan African Fashion Show in Jack Adams Hall Tuesday, March 18.

“The broom was used in several ways: One, to keep the roads very clean and neat. Two, to ward off evil spirits. Three, to jump in harmony across an ocean or out of bondage,” said Herron-Lane, who is also an active BSU member and president of the Jabulani Student Organization.

BSU members modeled clothing and accessories that represented their African roots. Each line, three of which were designed by current students and alumni, incorporated a mix of urban and classical African styles.

Local designer Tia Wu presented a line of clothing for proponents of breakdancing culture, known as B-boys and B-girls. Her line was accompanied by a breakdancing performance, of which she also took part in.

“As a B-girl, we get a lot of injuries. There’s a lot of gliding problems, so we need a lot of special gear to help us to move, but at the same time, we want to make sure we’re in style and have that nice swag,” said Wu. “I just have fun, because breakdancing is a very fun dance. It’s about

exaggeration, its about elaborating movements and just bringing your own elements.”

Model and BECA student Hannah Wodaje believes the fashion show is a great way to break stereotypes and teach people from all backgrounds about Pan Africanism.

“There are so many different countries and cultures in Africa.

People tend to generalize Africa as, like, a state,” she said. “ I think showing the differences between cultures is the main goal (of the Pan African fashion show).”

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Opinion

APRIL 2, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

Government Control: ANDREW CULLEN

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF culle010@mail.sfsu.edu

JORDAN HUNTER

PRINT MANAGING EDITOR jordanh@mail.sfsu.edu

NENA FARRELL

ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR haydee@mail.sfsu.edu

NATALIE YEMENIDIJAN ART DIRECTOR nataliey@mail.sfsu.edu

EVELYN CAICEDO

ART ASSISTANT ecaicedo@mail.sfsu.edu

BAILEY RIDDLE

COPY EDITOR briddle@mail.sfsu.edu

JESSICA CHRISTIAN PHOTO EDITOR jac@mail.sfsu.edu

BRADLEY FOCHT

NEWS EDITOR bfocht@mail.sfsu.edu

DAVID MARIUZ

NEWS EDITOR dmariuz@mail.sfsu.edu

LAUREN SEWARD

A&E EDITOR lseward@mail.sfsu.edu

ANNASTASHIA GOOLSBY OPINION EDITOR agoolsby@mail.sfsu.edu

CURTIS UEMURA

SPORTS EDITOR cuemura@mail.sfsu.edu

Rules and regulations protect naïve people

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BY ANNA HECHT | ahecht@mail.sfsu.edu

he government is not the enemy here; yes, it controls aspects of our lives that we may disagree with at times but it is only to keep our nation from turning into complete chaos.

The recent ban on peanut butter in many elementary schools may have seemed ridiculous to those of us who grew up eating daily lunchtime PB&J sandwiches, but it was for the well-intended purpose of protecting children with peanut allergies.

When the Board of Supervisors supported a measure to restrict the sale of plastic water bottles in the city, it was not a decision meant to destroy the water-falling hopes and dreams of plastic bottle users.

It was a smart decision to help decrease the waste caused by enormous amounts of plastic that harm the earth.

Along with these bans, the most recent proposed taxing of sugary drinks may seem like the ulti-

mate pointless idea to some but if those people would view the larger picture and have a little confidence in San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors, they might see things a bit differently.

The group of supervisors who proposed the measure for the 2014 ballot have the city’s best interests at heart; as they did for measures such as the peanut butter and water bottle bans.

They are simply attempting to do something about the country’s obesity epidemic at the city level and their idea just might work.

Results have already been shown from increased taxes on tobacco products.

In 2012, the British Medical Journal released a study that included thousands of smokers in states where taxes had increased.

The study revealed that people who smoked the most cigarettes a day — 40 or more — had the biggest decline in smoking cigarettes. This shows that increasing taxes on such an addictive product may provide hope for a similar result with sugary drinks.

Some things are just too big for residents to handle on their own.

Soda and other sugary drinks are products that need to be monitored and, as much as people may hate it, taxed. It is not like the Board of Supervisors is out to get us either.

In February, SFBay reported on the positive outcome of the measure, saying that, “if passed, the tax is expected to raise approximately $30 million a year for the city. Forty percent would be earmarked for schools, 25 percent for parks, 25 percent for the Department of Public Health and 10 percent for community-based health groups.”

Those who only want to take a selfish angle on the sugary drink tax, most likely because they want their drinkable sugar untouched and untaxed, are closing their minds to the many benefits of the tax that exceed any negative ones.

This tax could help decrease an ever-increasing obesity rate in the U.S. It may be true that the city doesn’t boast a high obesity rate itself but prevention will help keep all residents fit and healthy.

The state has already taken part in a campaign to curb the obesity epidemic through California Project Lean.

The project aims to provide people with educational tools and resources to encourage smarter decisions when it comes to exercise and healthier food and drink options.

Billboards and posters from this project can be seen displaying the statement, “You wouldn’t eat 22 packs of sugar. Why are you drinking them?”

This project and Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move program, both designed to solve childhood obesity, try to address this epidemic, but in their own ways.

The Board of Supervisors isn’t trying to ruin your life by taxing sugar and tobacco, or by banning water bottles and peanut butter. It’s trying to make San Francisco the healthiest and safest it can be for everybody.

MICHAEL DURAN

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR michaeld@mail.sfsu.edu

ART BY JORDAN CERMINARA

RACHEL ASTON

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR raston@mail.sfsu.edu

WILL CARRUTHERS

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR wcarruth@mail.sfsu.edu

RACHELE KANIGEL

PRINT ADVISER kanigel@mail.sfsu.edu

SCOT TUCKER

MULTIMEDIA ADVISER tucker@sfsu.edu

KEN KOBRE

PHOTO ADVISER ken@kobre.com

EVA CHARLES

ADVERTISING & BUSINESS echarles@mail.sfsu.edu

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

SADE BROWNE

CIRCULATION sbrowne822@gmail.com

ALEXANDRA SOISETH

STUDENT GRAPHIC DESIGNER asoiseth@verizon.net

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

Letters are subject to editing.

Send letters to Annastashia Goolsby at: agoolsby@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 Andrew Cullen at: culle010@mail.sfsu.edu

Authority is stripping SF of its radical aura

BY CHLOE JOHNSON | chloej@mail.sfsu.edu

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he Board of Supervisors is obsessed with every infinitesimal detail of our daily lives, to such an extent that goes beyond their job requirements and into controlling our day-to-day routines.

If you don’t believe this, just look at the laws they’ve passed, or tried to pass, during the last few years.

Several recently proposed bans and taxes are related to consumption of popular foods and beverages. Soda is the current moral panic: a measure is on the city ballot for 2014 to tax soda like cigarettes and a proposed state level law would put warning labels on soda cans.

Just because they love to hate soft drinks doesn’t mean it’s the only popular comestible that has earned the ire of the Board of Supervisors.

In 2010, the city threatened

to outlaw the sale of Happy Meals with toys at McDonalds; last year the proposal of a water bottle ban came into interest; forbidden peanut butter in elementary schools has been on the rise in the past few years and the Kinder Surprise eggs were banned before they were brought to the U.S. This isn’t even touching on some of the other futile laws in the city. Instead of using existing recycling technology to solve our admittedly serious plastic problem, they just banned plastic shopping bags.

Despite being sold and manufactured legally, it is illegal to smoke a cigarette in the open space of outdoor public parks and festivals. Last Christmas, it was against the law to light your own wood-burning fireplace.

Even falling asleep outside could get you a ticket.

San Francisco has a reputation as a liberal city, historically being ground zero for issues such as the gay rights movement and lax marijuana enforcement.

This is a good thing; this is why people who were “different” flocked to San Francisco during the legendary hippie era.

But there’s nothing revolutionary or progressive about soda taxes and peanut butter bans.

In fact, regulations like this are closer to totalitarianism.

Laws against shopping bags, soda and water bottles are similar to right-wing efforts against birth control and relatively harmless recreational drugs. Where do you draw the line between personal details of people’s lives and that of fair game for government control?

While topics like warning labels on soft drinks sound like dialogue from a “Saturday Night

Live” skit, it’s actually no laughing matter. Once it’s considered politically acceptable to legislate matters such as this, they will eventually go after something that you like. Craving pizza?

Better have a couple extra dollars for the new cheese tax.

The most important thing that should be done to preserve San Francisco’s famous tolerance and freedom is to raise awareness and reframe the debate.

It should be known that banning and taxing items we all have the personal decision to indulge in is just the same as right-wing efforts to legislate who we can and cannot be sexually attracted to. And if people tell you that caring about this is ridiculous because we have real problems, remind them that what’s actually ridiculous is the fact that politicians care more about controlling than finding practical resolutions.

Opinion

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APRIL 2, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

ART BY JORDAN CERMINARA

BY LAUREN SEWARD | lseward@mail.sfsu.edu

e’ve all been there: a cheap motel room, more alcohol than any 20-something should hope to consume and a group of closeknit friends. It’s break and everyone is drunk.

College students use spring break, as well as every other break, as a chance to catch up with each other through the good ol’ American pasttime – drinking.

Some students hole up in a cabin with eight boxes of wine, three handles of Fireball Whiskey and only $40 worth of food for six people.

Some drop $600 per person on a dirty hotel room in Cabo for a weekend.

Others have staycations and just get drunk in a basement with fellow friends suffering from senioritis.

Binge drinking is an issue because the act engraves the idea that in order to have a fun and

9

relaxing break, one must loosen their morals through an obscene amount of alcohol.

The fact that college kids binge drink — defined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention as four or more alcoholic beverages in the span of a few hours — is not the issue.

The problem lies in the inability for these young adults to acknowledge the difference between a little harmless fun and the onset of a lifelong problem.

The idea that college kids use a vacation as an excuse to binge drink is not new.

It has been a largely public issue since the mid-1990s after

a number of highly publicized student deaths, according to an article by Henry Wechsler, PhD in the Journal of American

the destruction of friendships.

However, many forget the simple fact that drinking obscene amounts of alcohol results in laziness and contradicts the reason a university is worth attending: to get a degree.

According to sobering statistics gathered by the Core Institute in 2010, 31 percent of college students missed a class due to substance abuse and 22 percent tanked an exam or essay.

The institute has estimated that approximately 159,000 of the nation’s current freshmen will drop out of school because of alcohol or drug use.

Binge drinking can have a negative effect on anyone’s life if they continue these uninhib-

SCHOOL BREAK:

Booze benders cost more than just money College Health.

There are a number of obvious downsides to these weeklong booze feasts — early onset alcoholism, the ruin of a quarter of a lifetime worth of morals and

ited chugging tactics even after the fun ends.

Up to a week of productive hours can be lost while under the influence, as well as the following week.

Students need to consider compromising their binge breaks for the sake of safety and health.

When approached with a thorough game plan and safe intentions, these carefree trips can leave college kids’ hearts and iPhone photo albums with some of the best memories of their lives.

Shortening the length of a party-induced vacation can actually help preserve these memories so they do not get lost in the chaos alcohol creates.

Regardless, when the holidays end and it’s time to hit the books again, reality will set in quick if these habits continue the next weekend.

Think wisely and acknowledge when binge drinking is casual college fun and when it is just a problem.

XPRESS YOURSELF WE ASKED SF STATE STUDENTS:

What was your most memorable experience this break?

Reporting by: Annastashia Goolsby Photos by: Rachel Aston

”“

“

”“

”“

I went down to Monterey and my buddies and I rented a hotel room along the water. At night, we hung out on the balcony telling stories and smoking cigars.

It was 12 a.m. and I was walking down a hallway in a dorm when there was this stench of feces. This girl came out of her room and she was so drunk that she had peed and pooped in her room.

I was working at Scala’s Bistro in Union Square and A-Rod dined at my restaurant.

ERIC ROBERSON, JUNIOR

OMAR VILLASENIOR, FRESHMAN

KELSEY TULLOCH, JUNIOR

COMMUNICATIONS

BUSINESS

HOSPITALITY

I went to the Mystery Spot and saw a water bottle roll up a plank instead of down.

”

EVA HAMAL, SOPHMORE UNDECLARED

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APRIL 2, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

Sports

SF State wrestler named All-American at Nationals

BY TAYLOR LONIGRO lonigro@mail.sfsu.edu

After three team members placed in the top of their brackets at Regionals, the SF State wrestling team proved that they had what it takes to compete at the national level. Andrew Reggi, Zach Jimenez, Isaiah Hurtado and head coach Lars Jensen headed to Cleveland for the NCAA Division II National Championships to represent SF State’s 51st consecutive qualifying year, but an unexpected travel situation interrupted their high expectations.

The trip began stressfully. Disastrous weather resulted in the Gators’ cancelled flight out of San Francisco to Cleveland.

After their grueling 27-hour trip and a layover in Chicago, the Gators and Coach Jensen finally made it to downtown Cleveland on the morning of Thursday, March 13; only 24 hours before the competition.

The championships took place at the Public Hall in downtown Cleveland from March 14 to 15. Head coach Lars Jensen as well as the three Gators can all agree that the travel crisis was a major impediment in the overall quality of the three wrestlers’ performance.

“I thought we didn’t have the best performance,” said Coach Jensen. “I think if we had the proper travel and everything else, we would’ve done a lot better. I expected all three guys to place.”

Business management major Zach Jimenez competed in the 184 bracket in Nationals this year but fell short of placing within the nation’s top wrestlers.

“For me, I think losing my first match kind of made it a little difficult for me,

JESSICA CHRISTIAN / XPRESS FILE PHOTO

LOCKED UP: Senior Zach Jimenez throws Cal State Bakersfield opponent Sean Pollock over his shoulder during their second to last home match, following a 5-4 decision win Friday, Jan. 31.

mentally, going into the second match,” said Jimenez. “I knew I had to wrestle, but the thought of it being a win or go-home situation definitely sticks in the back of your head.”

Jimenez greatly stressed that the travelling problems were a major contributor in his overall composition. The pressure caught up with him resulting in his elimination in the first round. The two-time national-qualifying senior ended his collegiate wrestling career with a 2614 overall record.

“His goal was to win a national title,” said Isaiah Jimenez, Zach’s brother,

teammate and assistant coach. “I just said ‘you’ve got to do this better you’ve got to do that better.’”

Unfortunately, Zach did not make it to the podium with the national title that he strived for. But despite the mishaps and his quick elimination, competing in Nationals for the second time, and last, was well-earned for him.

Andrew Reggi also lost his first match to Upper Iowa’s Carl Broghammer who was ranked second in the nation going into the championships. He then was eliminated after a loss in the second round. The junior finished the season with

a 28-12 record.

Wrestling in the 133 bracket, Isaiah Hurtado already guaranteed himself a spot as one of the top 8-ranked wrestlers after his two victories Friday. After his wins it was all about trying to get in the right mindset for the following day.

Ending the season and his wrestling career as 8th in the nation, we say goodbye to Hurtado as well. It was not an easy road to achievement, but with the help of Coach Jensen, Hurtado takes the title as 62 All-American and 89 in overall Gator wrestling history.

“The highlight definitely was Isaiah winning his last match,” said Jensen. “To have at least one All-American is very gratifying.”

Coach Jensen is the backbone of the Gator wrestling team and his skill and support did not go unnoticed. At the end of the finals on March 15, Coach Jensen received the Bob Bubb Coaching Excellence Award voted by his colleagues of his coaching association.

Only one coach in each division receives the award each year, recognizing outstanding coaching performance. It’s a pretty big deal.

“I knew I was nominated for it, but it was kind of a surprise,” said Jensen.

“It’s nice that the coaches recognized our limitations of travelling and the fact that we have only one scholarship.”

There were some unfortunate and unavoidable circumstances that the Gators had to cope with this year at Nationals, but they pulled through nonetheless. With an outcome of three national qualifiers and an All-American, SF State is proud to be represented by such a talented group of wrestlers and we look forward to what next season has to offer.

Gators experience life on the road, living with strangers

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BY MICHAEL DURAN | michaeld@mail.sfsu.edu

wo Gator baseball players were given a rare opportunity last summer: live with complete strangers while playing with Division I athletes. Catcher Mark Lindsay and pitcher Peter Reyes both had this chance.

Volunteer families housed them for approximately three months, while providing food, shelter and transportation.

“It was definitely strange at the beginning, but I got used to it,” said Lindsay. “I like doing it, it is a great experience. Of course I would do it again.”

While Lindsay was playing for the Palm Springs POWER baseball team, he stayed with a family of two for the entire season. Allan and Joanne Horwitz provided Lindsay with everything that he would need.

The couple, both die hard baseball fans, were eager to open their home to young players who were getting started in their baseball career.

“We do it because we want to help any upcoming baseball personnel,” said Joanne. “It is a great experience and we love doing it.”

Lindsay was provided a separate place from their actual house. He was fed everyday and lived almost as if he wasn’t there. Lindsay would only see the Horwitzs in the morning and spend the rest of the day at the baseball field.

Host families are strictly on a volunteer basis. Andrew Starke, president and owner of Palm Springs POWER, meets with the families to assure that there is a healthy and clean environment for the players to live in.

No financial compensation is given to

families, but they are provided tickets to games to watch the players they house.

“These families do it out of the goodness of their heart,” said Starke.

“They open their arms completely to these players.”

Starke ensures that every player has the right fit in the host family. Starke looks for families who have younger kids to provide them with role models. The collegiate baseball players bring that.

“This is an opportunity for older baseball players to be a role model for the youth, to give them advice or to spend time with them,” said Starke.

Reyes joined Lindsay on the POWER team, but Reyes’ host family cared for him differently. The family would leave Post-it notes around the house for him to read that would say, “Here’s your food” or “Have a good day.”

Reyes lived with a single mother who had a younger son. It was the first time the host family has done this for any baseball player.

When Reyes was not playing on the field, he would spend quality time with the host son playing catch and providing pointers to help the Little Leaguer become a better player.

“It was really hard to be away from home,” said Reyes. “(But) it was really cool to have that little kid around. I just got to be there for him and that was great.”

Both Reyes and Lindsay got to celebrate at the end of the season as POWER won their third league championship in a row. Lindsay ended the season with a batting .328, while Reyes finished with a 2-0 record and a 1.21 ERA.

VIRGINIA TIEMAN / XPRESS FILE PHOTO

ON DECK: SF State Gators’ Mark Lindsay (19) watches the pitch as it passes him during a game at Mahoney Field Friday, Feb. 1, 2013.

Fellow Gator teammate Grady Espinosa was also able to play in the same league as Reyes and Lindsay, GODOFREDO VASQUEZ / XPRESS FILE PHOTO but unlike them, Espinosa was able to stay with his own family.

WIND UP: SF State Gators pitcher Peter Reyes delivers the baseball versus Cal State Los Angeles during “The team was local, so I could a game of the doubleheader at Mahoney Field March stay with my family,” said Espinosa.

3, 2012.

“It was really cool that I got to play on the same team with my younger have the same experiences as Lindsay and brother.”

Reyes, he did get to play his own teamEspinosa’s younger brother, Greg mates in the league.

Espinosa, plays for the Orange Coast “It was a relaxed environment for us,” College baseball team during the regular said Espinosa. “We just got to go out there season. and do what we love.”

Although Espinosa did not get to

Sports

APRIL 2, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

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CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE

Olympic experience fuels professor’s research until you’re good—it’s not fun.”

But Matsumoto stuck with it, and 43 years later, he became one of the four individuals in the USA to be promoted to seventh degree black belt in Judo by the age of 50.

He said the sport recharges his mind to put all his energy into his life and work, and he was able to combine his love of Judo with his research.

As an undergraduate student studying psychology at the University of Michigan in 1979, his interest in nonverbal expression developed. An expert on reading micro-expressions, gestures and nonverbal behavior, he has been studying it ever since.

Later, he coached as a volunteer on the Olympic level and traveled around the world, all while still teaching at SF State.

“I was one of the few coaches apart of a team that got a gold medal in 1999,” Matsumoto said. “To be there, see it happen and to hear the Star Spangled being played and the flag is raising (while) you’ve got your athlete on the podium...it is an amazing experience.”

Matsumoto was then able to study the most extreme display of intense, real and raw emotion outside of the laboratory.

As an official of the International Judo Federation, he was able to survey the 2004 Athens Olympics games up close.

Matsumoto and his team examined physical reactions of players when they know they’ve immediately won or lost.

He discovered that even though silver is a higher level of accomplishment, in terms of emotions those second-placers are “generally sadder and have more regret” than the athletes in third.

“Bronze medalists win their last match, while silver medalists lose their last match and are left thinking of what could have been,” Matsumoto said.

He said the need to understand these behaviors is vital to our everyday communications with one another in the real world.

“If we don’t pay attention to it, we are probably missing a lot of the messages people are sending during our interactions,”

Spring 2014 Issue Out Now

he said.

Scott Madey, professor of psychology at Shippensburg University, did a similar study at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic games. Madey said it is seen over and over—people are not happy and do not appreciate what they have.

“It is counterfactual thinking,” Madey said. “Silver (medalists) think of a better state they could have achieved, and bronze (medalists) imagine a world that was worse, one without a medal.”

He said if there is a better understanding of this, people will have an improved psychological state. “One with an appreciation of what we have. It goes across cultures; it is something we all engage in, despite our different lives.”

Heather Reid, philosophy professor at Morningside College and co-author of “The Olympics and Philosophy” questions if the animal-like expressions that Matsumoto studies are truly instincts at all.

“I wonder, how much these natural tendencies (are) biological and how much are cultural,” Reid said. “We see gestures repeated across time for winners, so we might be replicating the actions we have already witnessed.”

Matsumoto plans to study whether expressions of dominance and triumph occur or not in both summer and winter Olympic games.

“I believe it always occurs regardless of the sport, but we are looking forward to documenting that in research,” Matsumoto said.

Although he said coaching a team on the Olympic level was very stressful, he knew ever since he was a Judo novice that he would one day be sharing his knowledge. He took over a Judo club and changed the name to what is today known as the East Bay Judo Institute.

“Since I was young, my first Judo instructor always instilled in me one of the things we have to do as a student is give back,” Matsumoto said. “As a part of my Judo training I knew that I would also be helping others by teaching what I know.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID MATSUMOTO / SPECIAL TO XPRESS

BLACK BELT: Psychology professor and Olympic-level Judo coach David Matsumoto practices with students at the East Bay Judo Institute in El Cerrito, Calif.

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