Golden Gate Xpress - Spring 2012 - Issue 11

GOLDEN GATE XPRESS

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

// 04.11.12 //

VOLUME LXXXXII ISSUE11 9 ISSUE

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7

CLASSES GROW, RELATIONSHIPS SUFFER H CAMPUS MERGER H PART FOUR IN A SERIES OF FOUR STORIES

A NEW SPACE: Microbiology major Marizza Parcasio, 23, studies in the third floor of the newly-opened J. Paul Leonard Library.

The facilities boast new furniture and technologies to aid student studying.

Photo by Henry Nguyen

BY KATHERINE YAU | kyau202@mail.sfsu.edu

As budget cuts widen the chasm between student and faculty populations, some students may be struggling more than others for a little face time with their full-time instructors.

In 2010, some SF State disciplines had nearly 100 students per

professor, according to various data from the SF State enrollment office and school budget binders.

Business majors were the least likely to snag a minute with their tenure and tenure-track counterparts, with hospitality management majors outnumbering their professors 91 to 1 during 2010, according to University enrollment and budget data.

Students studying marketing and accounting followed closely behind with 71 and 68 students for every full-time professor that same year, respectively. These student to faculty ratios up to doubled the decade prior in 2001.

These ratios do not account for SEE RATIO ON PAGE 2

LIBRARY OFFICIALLY OPENS Construction for the new facility began the summer of 2008 and has now opened its doors to eager students.

SEE LIBRARY ON PAGE 10

Annex takes on new role after library completion

BY ANGELA RAIFORD | araiford@mail.sfsu.edu

Photo by Juliana Severe

As J. Paul Leonard Library stocks its shelves with books and readies its state-of-the-art robotic retrieval system, the Annex quietly moved out belongings and closed its doors as a temporary library.

Built and known as the Big Bubble in 2008, the Annex fulfilled its purpose as a placeholder while the new J. Paul Leonard Library was built during the past four years. Some students were surprised to see the doors closed since

broadcast and electronic communication arts major. “I feel that they are using the Annex for a good purpose but fail to inform the students of what is going on.

I hope that the new library will provide adequate services for students who need a study

After two years of being the “big bubble,” the Annex finally shifts its focus from study space to event center after being placed under jurisdiction of student affairs. the closure was never announced nor reflected on any SF State website.

“I find it very misinforming for those who walked all the way there and have to go back, at least in my experience,” said Jordan Brown, senior

SEE SPACE ON PAGE 2

04.11.12 | GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

2 CAMPUS

SF SPEAKS OUT WHAT’S THE MOST STRESSED OUT YOU’VE BEEN THIS SEMESTER, AND HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH THAT STRESS?

“Right before spring break, I had multiple classes with multiple projects...I slept a lot, (went) out with friends, tried to get my mind off of other things that are important or had to do with school.”

THOMAS CURRIE, 27 MARKETING MAJOR

“Honestly, when I had problems with my roommates, that stressed me out the most...I joined a gym and I went to all their classes, which is definitely a great way to take your mind off of something.”

ALYSSA BRIGHT, 19 CINEMA MAJOR

STUDENT-PROFESSOR RATIO TAKES A HIT POST-MERGER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

students who need those classes for minors, general education or prerequisites.

For pre-nursing major Katrina Han, even her biology and physiology prerequisites were a bit snug.

“I thought it was ridiculous. (Classes) had about over 100 (students) and only 1 professor, and so you never got the courage to speak to them,” Han said. Nursing majors in 2010 outnumbered their professors 71 to 1, three times as many students to professors in 2001.

Although last year’s college consolidation sought to preserve faculty, it remains to be seen if those efforts have actually achieved that goal. SF State’s marketing department, for example, holds 1,028 majors: 73 students for every tenure and tenure-track faculty member this semester.

Marketing professor Subodh Bhat said that a rising number of students with stag-

ELVYN MEJIA. 23

CRIMINAL JUSTICE MAJOR

OPEN SPACES: Students studied in the Annex weeks before the J. Paul Leonard Library opened. The Annex officially closed its doors as a temporary library and study space Friday, Mar. 16. Photo by Juliana Severe

space as well as access to computers.”

The library opened its ground floor where students can convene in the study commons area and pick up and request books in the beginning of the spring semester. March 26 access expanded to the fourth floor, with the third and fourth floors, open for students to traditionally browse through book collections.

With the new library finally open, the now-empty Annex has been set under the jurisdiction of Student Affairs.

“Student Affairs is currently planning to provide an event space,” Dean of Students Joseph Greenwell said. “There have been rumblings of of extra class space, a dance

studio and even a music festival.”

Plans for a music festival in the Annex have been put in place and will be hosted

by Associated Students, Inc. as the second annual Rhythms Music Festival. The event took place last year within The Depot and Jack Adams Hall.

“After the success of the first annual event last spring, we realized that we needed a larger venue,” Vice President of Student Affairs Franko Ali said. “Since the library will have its grand opening around the first week of April, the timing is really perfect.”

Scheduled for April 25 to 27, a mixture of genres and both student talent and larger musicians are set to perform, including chillwave artist Toro y Moi, according to Ali.

CRIME BLOTTER

Quasi-truthful ruminations loosely based on true events.

Compiled by Tamerra Griffin

“Midterms altogether; I had no sleep whatsoever and just had coffee nonstop just to keep me up. I learned from yoga to meditate for 30 minutes, to breathe, relax.”

YANA ASHIN,22

PHYSIOLOGY MAJOR REPORTING BY TAMERRA GRIFFIN PHOTOS BY HENRY NGUYEN

program absorbed within a larger school.

“One problem is that the number of students isn’t taken into account. Small programs are defined in terms of tenure and tenure track faculty, not in terms of students,” Snipes said. Many criminal justice classes are taught by lecturers, to make up for the student to teacher ratio imbalance.

In contrast, many departments in the College of Arts and Humanities have more balanced student-to-faculty ratios. Similarly, the College of Ethnic Studies averaged a 5-to-1 major-to-professor ratio in 2010.

Despite such results, child development senior Ashley Singh noticed that while some professors are tenure and tenuretrack, students might not benefit anyway, since not all are necessarily present every semester.

“A lot of my classes are taught by lecturers. It doesn’t really matter if there are enough professors or not,” Singh said.

Student activities to fill empty space

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“I have a lot of papers to do this month, and the way I’m dealing with it is spending a lot of time here in the library. I also go to Kung Fu Academy.”

nant faculty numbers have caused classes to steadily grow in size.

“When I first started, the studentfaculty ratio was about maybe 1/3 of what it is now. Some classes capped at 15, now there are as many as 45 students in my MBA classes,” Bhat said. “Obviously there is a deterioration in quality of education.

I used to have a better relationships with students.”

Since a program or department’s size is measured by the amount of permanent faculty, departments with a lot of students might seem smaller than they are. Since the University has begun the process of merging smaller departments with larger ones, this could cause big departments to be merged with other big departments.

This is the case with the criminal justice program; it only has four tenure and tenure track faculty to support 700 majors, according to professor Jeffrey Snipes.

Recently, criminal justice has become a

The festival will be the Annex’s first event.

The building will most likely be closed during the summer months to make the full transition into an event space, according to Greenwell.

All staff and faculty who worked for the Annex II and library offices in HSS have now been transferred to the new library.

Many student assistants have also been hired to work in the building, according to head of information, research and instructional service Darlene Tong.

The remaining two floors of the library, dedicated to the Sutro Library’s existing collection of rare manuscripts and genealogical books, will open to the public sometime next month.

04.04 through 04.10

(NOT SO) EASY RIDER

ONE HIT WONDER

TROLLING FOR ADMISSION

University police responded to a report of a stolen motorcycle on 19th Avenue April 3 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. While no leads have been identified, one can only presume that the thief was bored between classes and craved a thrill that back door boarding on the Muni could no longer satisfy. Hopefully, one glance at the exorbitant gas prices will move them to return the motorcycle to its rightful owner.

A resident of Serrano Drive contacted UPD the afternoon of April 4 after witnessing a driver hit a street sign, which was sent flying into her residence. Supposedly, the driver had been innocently looking for a parking spot when they thought they spotted the subject of the “Ridiculously Photogenic Guy” meme, and sped up to snap a photo of the internet celebrity.

Unfortunately, the realization came too late, and resulted in nothing more than a fallen stop sign on a resident’s doorstep.

University police responded to the Ethnic Studies and Psychology building April 6 to claims of harassing emails sent from a student who had been denied admission to an academic program. Apparently, the sender was in training to become the terror of the internet and was practicing the social media trend of trolling.

Knowing that there’s nothing better than confusing a teacher right back, the troll unleashed his fury. U MAD?

CAMPUS 3

| 04.11.12

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University appeals to SFUSD for vacant building After sitting largely unoccupied for 10 years, the empty building on the west end of campus may be acquired by the University from the city’s school district.

ABANDONED: A glimpse inside the abandoned School of the Arts building, which the University hopes to purchase. Photo by Wes Rowe/Xpress Archives

BY CAROLYN COPELAND | carolync@mail.sfsu.edu

It can be difficult not to notice the heavily-vandalized building located on Font Boulevard and Tapia Drive. Ivy covers the fenced-off building, and its windows have been boarded up for years. Although this former San Francisco School of the Arts has been vacant since 2002, school officials have big plans for the 2 1/2 acre property.

SF State has been interested in gaining ownership of the property for about 10 years.

“It’s been a long process because property values have gone up and down over the years,” said Nancy Hayes, the vice president and CFO of administration and finance. “We’re very positive that SF State will be able to gain access to that property.”

Owning the property would allow the University to move forward with the 2007 Master Plan, which prepares the campus to respond to an increase in student population by 2020. According to the plan, the property

would be turned into a Clinical Sciences building. The University would need to raise funds from the state to build the Clinical Sciences building, which would take several years once construction began.

Since the vacant building is no longer considered usable due to vandalism and plumbing issues, the University would tear it down and rebuild. Although the building has not been designed, Hayes said it would house classes and laboratories for nursing or physical therapy students.

The San Francisco Unified School District has owned the property since the 1960s and is currently in negotiations with the California Department of General Services, who hopes to purchase it for the University.

According to Monica Hassan, a spokeswoman for CDGS, if the SFUSD votes to approve selling the property, the next step will be for the State of California Public Works Board to approve the sale at a meeting in May.

If that should be approved, then the sale would proceed.

“The main issue has been valuation and price,” said Vice President of the SFUSD Board of Education Rachel Norton. “In the past, SF State has offered less than we believe the building is worth. Since both of us are public institutions, we have a responsibility to get the taxpayers the best price on both sides of the transaction.”

Money has been set aside by the state since 2006 in order to purchase the property for the University. SF State bid $11.1 million April 2 through the CDGS to buy the property. This is the third offer in five years.

That money expires if it is not used by June 30.

“The state won’t let us hold on to the money unless we use it,” said Hayes. “Right now the state is working with the school district to see if they will accept the latest offer. We’re all very anxious and hopeful that this property will be under SF State’s stewardship.”

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4 CITY

LGBT ADVOCATES UNITE AGAINST VIOLENCE AND INTOLERANCE INTERNATIONAL DAY HOMOPHOBIA AND TR AGAINST ANSPHOBIA RALLY MAY 17 AT NOON UN PLAZA, MARKET

AND UNION STREETS

An official day of solidarity against homophobia has been approved by the Board of Supervisors in hopes of bringing attention to fighting hate crimes.

BY ANA PREZA | acpreza@mail.sfsu.edu

Imagine living in a country where being gay is considered a crime. A place where people feel restrained from expressing their sexual orientation, are persecuted and always fear the day they may be imprisoned, stoned, beaten or killed for being gay.

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, commonly known as IDAHO, is a day that asks everyone regardless of sexual orientation to unite with LGBT communities to fight discrimination and violence.

Psychologists originally considered homosexuality a deviant sexual behavior, which led them to list it as a mental disorder. The National Institute of Mental Health conducted several studies and came to the conclusion that homosexuality was a normal and healthy sexual orientation. Those studies prompted the World Health Organization to remove homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses May 17, 1990, a day now immortalized by IDAHO in San Francisco.

The goal of this day is to bring awareness to the violence, discrimination and murder of people within the LGBT community around the world. Several countries in Europe and Central and South America have recognized May 17 as a day of action against homophobia and transphobia.

Late last month, then San Francisco Board of Supervisors adopted a

resolution petitioned by Gays Without Borders, a gay activist organization that fights for equality and rights for the LGBT community. They asked that San Francisco lower the American and United Nations flags for a 24-hour period in recognition of IDAHO. “Lowering the UN and American flag in the UN Plaza is a visual message of solidarity,” said Mark Petrelis, a member of Gays Without Borders in San Francisco.

The organization hopes getting politicians and the city involved will bring awareness to San Francisco and the Bay Area.

“I think it’s important for those of us who live in places like San Francisco where we don’t have to deal with those horrible situations that we acknowledge the suffering that other people have,” said David Campos, the supervisor who introduced the resolution to the board.

Petrelis believes that having the city officially recognize International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia puts the issue on a whole new level by putting a day that is not well known in the spotlight.

Gays Without Borders has participated in IDAHO for several years. Every year is different, and the participation has ranged from protesting homophobia in other countries to participating in kiss-ins at Harvey Milk Plaza. This year they plan to honor gay teens that have been

murdered in Iraq and Chile because of homophobia.

Petrelis wants to make American youth aware that being gay in other countries can get you killed. March 2, Daniel Zamudio, 24, of Chile was beaten and found with swastikas carved all over his body because he was gay. He died of his injuries 25 days later.

Although San Francisco is known for its acceptance of the LGBT community, discrimination and intolerance still exists.

Gay students at SF State face discrimination even on campus. Communications major Pablo Ramirez, the director of the Queer Alliance Organization at SF State, said his peers get obscenities yelled at them by other students.

Ramirez has experienced discrimination not just for his sexual orientation, but also for his race and his expression – the way he presents himself.

He hopes this day will bring awareness to the pain that discrimination causes, and makes people realize that it’s wrong.

“It’s always just hard because they are attacking your inner being, regardless of what it is – regardless if they’re teasing your hair or if they’re teasing the way that you look, the color of your skin, they’re teasing you,” Ramirez said, “It’s always going to hurt.”

CITY 5

| 04.11.12

GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

MUNI RIDE TO SCHOOL MAY SOON GET FASTER

T

BY KALE WILLIAMS | kale@mail.sfsu.edu

HE LONG JOURNEY TO AND from school may get shorter next year as Muni pursues a series of proposals to cut travel time along 19th Avenue.

The proposed changes are part of Muni’s ongoing Transit Effectiveness Project, which started in 2008 and aims to improve reliability and efficiency on some of the city’s most congested routes.

“We’re trying to find cost-effective ways to increase service and identify problem areas,” said TEP Project Manager Julie Kirschbaum. “There is no single magic way to make the buses and trains faster; it’s a package

MUNI STATISTICS M

The M metro line carries about 28,500 on the average weekday; 5,400 of which board at either the SF State stop or Stonestown.

28 The 28 bus line carries about 17,500 passengers on the average weekday; roughly 8,600 of which are in the affected area.

Average distance between 28 bus line stops now: 680 feet. If proposed changes are adopted: 1,240 feet.

Average speed of 28 bus line in affected area: 9.9 mph.

If proposed changes are adopted: 13.3 mph.

Time savings: 11 minutes off the average trip (26 percent).

Trip times are expected to improve drastically for SF State students with proposed system-wide changes to bus and rail services. of treatments that we hope to implement throughout the route.”

The treatments include giving buses priority at traffic signals, all-door boarding so passengers can legally enter through the back door, and extending the sidewalk in a few select locations so buses won’t have to merge in and out of traffic every time they stop. The sidewalk extensions would also increase safety by shortening the distance pedestrians have to travel when crossing 19th Avenue.

The 3.4 mile stretch of 19th Avenue, between Junipero Serra Boulevard in the south and Lincoln Way in the north, is one of the city’s most congested thoroughfares with more than 90,000 vehicles traveling the route on an average weekday.

News of improvements is welcomed by students who rely on Muni to get them to class on time.

“It’s generally pretty reliable,” said SF State international business major Otter Cole, who rides the 28 at least twice a day. “But I’m never surprised when it screws me over. It’s definitely not the most efficient system on the planet.”

Though most students seemed satisfied with the current level of service, almost all said that Muni had lots of room for improvements.

“It seems like there’s a lot of lag time between buses,” said Michelle Quintara, an art major. “It’s a huge pain.

Everybody has to get here one way or another and service gets pretty spotty when you move away from downtown.”

Besides giving buses signal priority by outfitting them with GPS trackers that can communicate with traffic lights, SFMTA is also considering a handful of other changes including transit-only lanes and removal and consolidation of a some stops.

“By eliminating certain stops, we think we can improve travel time,” Kirschbaum said. “A small portion of our customers may have to walk a bit farther to get to a stop, but they’ll have a quicker ride once they’re on the vehicle.”

Cole agreed that some of the stops seem unnecessary.

“It does seem like there are some redundant stops,” he said. “A little bit of a farther walk seems like a fair tradeoff for a shorter trip.”

The SFMTA hosted a community outreach meeting late last month to gauge public reaction to the proposals so that Muni riders had a chance to weigh in.

“This is something we want to do very thoughtfully,” Kirschbaum said. “Being mindful of transfer points and locations of things like senior centers.”

There are currently 22 bus stops in either direction along the affected area of 19th Avenue with an average distance of 680 feet between them. The proposed changes, if implemented, would increase that distance to 1,240 feet.

“One of the unique things about Muni is that we have a very high density of stops,” said Dustin White, a planner with the SFMTA. “Most people can walk out their door and be a pretty short distance from a stop. It makes for a very accessible system, but it also contributes to longer travel times.”

Buses currently spend more than 50 percent of their time at a dead stop, either picking up passengers or waiting for traffic signals, according to White.

The 28 presently operates at an average of 9.9 miles per hour on 19th Avenue. If all of the proposed changes are adopted, the SFMTA estimates it could increase that number to 13.3 miles per hour, shaving roughly 11 minutes, or 26 percent, off the average trip.

Increasing speed and reliability are important steps moving forward, according to Kirschbaum, because when people opt out of public transit it affects everyone on the road.

“When transit doesn’t work, people find other ways to get around,” she said. “When people leave transit and start driving, it creates a vicious cycle. More cars means more congestion, and then we’re back where we started.”

While nearly all of the improvements are focused on the 28, the proposed elimination of one of the two northbound left turn lanes at Winston Drive would also increase efficiency on the M metro line.

The SFMTA will be hosting community outreach meetings throughout the spring to discuss changes on all of the affected routes and plan to release an official study by early summer.

6 ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

04.11.12 | GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

TEACHING MATH WITH A NEW BEAT Allen Elementary has seen similar results since A classroom full of the program’s introducthird-graders stare at tion. Third-graders’ instructor Endre Balogh, California Standards Test drumsticks in hand, ready scores in math increased for the lesson to begin. from 70 to 79 percent Within minutes, 60 small proficiency, and fourth sticks lightly tap in rhythgraders’ scores increased mic unison, imitating his from 55 to 90 percent every instruction. Math proficiency between 2007 class has begun. and 2011, according Academic Music uses Cosgriff. music notation to teach Although the study students math concepts, a focused mainly on thirdprogram that was implegraders, Cosgriff has mented into the thirdbeen weaving the prograde curriculum at Allen gram at Allen Elementary Elementary School in San HEALTHY RHYTHM: Third-grader Jasmine Ochoa plays along to rhythms during a math lesson into kindergarten through Bruno, Calif., in 2007. fourth-grade classes. at Allen Elementary School, where music has boosted test scores. Photo by Nelson Estrada Since then, students in this “My students are program have boosted their definitely more engaged Balogh writes fraction problems directly math skills considerably according to prinbelow music notations on the board to show in math during Academic Music because cipal Kit Cosgriff, and a recently published it’s fun and an alternative way of seeing that each fraction of a whole number is distudy gives that claim backbone. rectly applicable to the beats within a whole how math is all around you, and not just Balogh, a music instructor, co-founder numbers in a math book to solve,” said music note. of the Academic Music program and SF Gina Grites, a third-grade teacher at Allen “The kids are continually - physically State alumnus, teaches third-grade students Elementary. and mentally - involved in the music,” said fractions through drumming, clapping and Balogh brings musical instruction to Sue Courey, assistant professor in the Demusic notation every Tuesday and Friday at partment of Special Education at SF State the math class for 30 minutes, after which Allen Elementary. He draws a direct conGrites takes over with a regular lesson plan. and co-founder of the Academic Music nection between musical notes and num“I’ve noticed they are better prepared program. bers; all the while, the students don’t realize mentally and their minds are ready and Courey and Balogh tested out the prothey are actually learning math. stimulated for learning that day’s concepts gram on 67 students at Hoover Elementary “The moment we brought music into in math,” Grites said.

School in Redwood City in 2006. Half of the classroom, the students were really Due to lack of funding, it is up in the air the students received regular math instrucengaged,” said Balogh. “We gave them whether Academic Music will remain a part tion, while the other half was introduced two-minute tests before and after drumof the math curriculum at Allen Elementary, to Academic Music twice a week for 45 ming, and they did better after.” which is the only school that currently uses minutes. This was done for six weeks in Students volunteer to come up in front the program, Cosgriff said. addition to the regular curriculum. of the class one or two at a time to step and She is applying for grants and raising The students who participated in the clap rhythms in 4/4 time. They step four money from donations and fundraising Academic Music program performed times per beat, and follow Balogh’s instruc- significantly better in math than the other events to keep the program running. tions to clap once for a whole note, twice “We would love to see this program at group. for two half notes, and so forth. other schools,” said Balogh. “We’ve done These results, according to the study Throughout each 30 minute lesson, the which took place at Hoover, were published extensive research, but it’s hard to tell the students tap drumsticks on pads and play overall impact of the program when only in the Education Studies in Mathematics recorders. About halfway through the class, Journal March 23 of this year. one school offers it.”

BY BARBARA SZABO

barbaras@mail.sfsu.edu

SF STATE For students who just don’t have the time to venture out into the city, there are plenty of tasty options on campus to indulge in at a fairly cheap price. From organic hotdogs at Underdog, to five-star quality meals at The Vista Room, the restaurants on campus generally cater to a student’s strict budget, while satisfying even the most sophisticated palate.

SWEET TOOTH

GOLDEN WAFFLE HINT: The aroma of caramelized sugar and iron-flipped Liége waffles seems to permeate the Humanities Building every Thursday. These waffles, a thicker and sweeter version of the traditional Belgian waffle, are best served with a generous layer of whipped cream and a dollop of Nutella.

SFSU Farmers Market

CHEAP EATS

NATURAL SENSATIONS HINT: This cafe is arguably one of the best go-to spots for getting food on the go, and is definitely the best way to get a whole wheat bagel with hummus for cheap. Try it out with their Pacific smoothie, which is a perfect blend of tartness and sweetness from the raspberries and strawberries.

Cesar Chavez Student Center

ROMANTIC

THE VISTA ROOM HINT: With excellent service and a three-course meal for only $15, it’s hard to believe this student-run restaurant is for a class located on the fourth floor of Burk Hall.

Their menu changes weekly, but be sure to catch the braised short ribs bourguignon served with creme fraiche carrot mashed potatoes.

Burk Hall

WILDCARD

UNDERDOG HINT: This newly-opened hotdog joint sure has a lot to prove. With an all-organic menu featuring vegan dogs, this establishment caters to carnivores and herbivores alike. Be sure to try their mouth-puckering Spicy Italian or their savory Underdog for a quick and easy lunch at an affordable price.

Cesar Chavez Plaza

AN XPRESS GUIDE TO DINING IN THE CITY. COMPILED BY EAST BAY DWELLER AND VORACIOUS FOODIE MATT MAXION, WHO ENJOYS WRITING ABOUT THE BAY AREA FOOD SCENE. HE IS ALSO THE SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR FOR THE GOLDEN GATE XPRESS.

Campus club for poetry turns two being the first group ever from a California was named “Grand Slam Champ” at last State University to join the College Unions fall’s S.P.E.A.K. poetry slam finals. She For junior Imani Cezanne, writing pouses her poetry as an outlet for her life expeetry is like saying a prayer. She likes it to be Poetry Slam Invitational. They will head to the University of La Verne in Los Angeles riences, such as trouble getting away from completely silent, so she can feel the words County April 18 to 21 to compete. an ex-boyfriend, which she spoke about at come to her as she puts them down on Robert Gluck, a professor of poetry at Battle of the Bay. paper. It was just as silent last Friday night, “I always say with spoken word and as she uttered the first word of her poem poetry that why I do it isn’t because I “Practice” at SF State’s first ever Battle like to do it, it’s because I need to do it of the Bay Poetry Slam. to survive,” said Davalos. “It’s a way for Hosting the poetry slam where local me to express the things I can’t say in a groups can compete against each other natural everyday basis. It’s my release to is just one of Spoken Poetry Expressed be able to do that.”

by All Kinds’ accomplishments since Expression through spoken poetry is it became a campus organization two not only beneficial to the performer, but years ago. Most importantly, it has creto the audience as well. ated a space for student expression.

“Some people are frightened to talk “I came from a community where about things they’ve been through and poetry and open mics are a big deal; once people like us get up there and there were numerous spaces for that let them know we’ve been through the expression in San Diego. When I got up same thing, and that you don’t have to be here I didn’t see that as much available scared to just let it out, it makes people SPEAK UP: Student Kimberly Davalos performs during the to students, particularly on campus,” Battle of the Bay Poetry Slam competition in McKenna Theater. feel so much better inside,” said Keenan said Cezanne, who is president and coEverett, biology major and secretary of founder of S.P.E.A.K. Photo by Gil Riego Jr. S.P.E.A.K. So she teamed up with fellow stuFreshman Maira Linares attended dent and friend Anthony May, and they SF State, said that performance has always several spoken poetry events in her home began hosting a monthly open-mic night been an important element of poetry and town of Palm Springs, Calif. The Battle of at The Depot where students can share and that a group like S.P.E.A.K. can bring a lot the Bay was the first S.P.E.A.K. event she connect with one another through perforto SF State’s diverse student body. has attended since she moved here and she mances of their poetry. This event brought “State is basically a commuter school was very impressed by the work she saw together a core group of people who had a and things like that, (which) are really comfrom all the performers, especially those similar passion for the spoken word, and it munity identified, are a fabulous addition to from SF State. was that group of people who became the “It was awesome,” Linares said. “They first members when S.P.E.A.K. officially be- the campus,” Gluck said. “Students don’t put their real-life events into these poems came a student organization in March 2010. just race on to campus and leave; they can find their peer groups here and find ways to and people who come to watch them really Since then, the group has grown in express their lives, interests and beliefs.” learn how to understand different types of members, hosted numerous events on camSF State grad student Kimberly Davalos people.” pus and met several of their goals, such as

BY DEVERY SHEFFER | dsheffer@mail.sfsu.edu

| 04.11.12

GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT 7

Conducting a comeback

BY KIRSTIE HARUTA | kharuta@mail.sfsu.edu

WIND OF CHANGE: First-seat trumpet, Jacob Nitsch, 28, warms up in the seats of McKenna Theater before a rehearsal session of the SFSU Wind Ensemble. The group recently started networking with the help of conductor and instructor Martin H. Seggelke in order to increase their profile. Nitsch recently received a scholarship to study for his master’s degree in music next fall. Photo by Gil Riego Jr.

F

IFTY MUSICIANS WIELDING saxophones, clarinets and bassoons bustled around the stage of McKenna Theater finding their places. Within a few minutes of beginning the concert, they were in perfect harmony, pumping out exuberant harmonies as their third concert of the semester began.

This group is a very different from the SFSU Wind Ensemble that Martin H. Seggelke met on his first day of conducting them last semester. Since being hired, Seggelke has turned what had become a hobby for a few dedicated students back into a full-fledged class and performing group.

“There were a couple of sturdy fellows who just at least met once a week and tried to play, but without a curriculum and without a faculty attached to it, you can imagine what happened – nothing much,” he said. “So essentially, we rebuilt from ground zero.”

The group’s current musicians hope to once again reach the high caliber they were known for prior to 2009, when budget cuts made it difficult for the department to hire and keep a conductor.

After spending last semester recruiting members and regaining the quality expected of a university-level ensemble, Seggelke is now focusing on building connections. Their first concert of the semester featured musicians from Chabot College, marking SF State’s first ever wind ensemble collaboration.

“Great ensemble, very fine musicians,” Seggelke

said of Chabot College. “I’m definitely trying to recruit people at the community college level to then finish their degrees here.”

In March, the highly regarded Cal State Northridge Wind Ensemble visited campus for a concert collaboration, and on April 5 Analy High School shared the stage in a performance of Whitacre’s “Lux Aurumque.”

Though Seggelke’s arrival to the department jumpstarted the ensemble’s outreach, his creation of the SFSU Wind Ensemble Council has effectively kept ownership and leadership of the ensemble in the hands of the students.

“It’s a new initiative,” he said. “None of the ensembles around here seem to do this yet.”

From communicating with other schools’ music departments to program design, the work of the council makes the ensemble very much their own.

“The main goal is to help with running the wind ensemble concerts, setting up the stage, working with ensembles that are coming in,” said Chad Goodman, a first-year graduate student and president of the council.

Where Seggelke really comes in as the teacher of this group is in the music selection. While he commends the students who stuck with it over the past few years, he strives to increase the level of the music they learn, now that a curriculum is in place.

“To sit there and honk is one approach, but how much do you learn?” he said. “I really want to make sure it’s worthwhile, and that they really learn something more about the music.”

The give and take between conductor and ensemble that is evident in their rehearsals also applies to the class curriculum. Seggelke gladly takes suggestions and picks pieces to maximize the educational experience.

The step-by-step approach has worked so far for this ensemble, and Seggelke means to continue upward, inspired by the legacy of Edwin Kruth, who created and led the wind ensemble through the ‘60s and ‘70s.

“What they’re doing is generating new excitement about the program,” said Dianthe “Dee” Spencer, director of SF State’s School of Music and Dance. “There’s a lot of positive energy surrounding the ensemble now. As more and more people come to the University specifically to be in the ensemble, it’s just going to grow and get better and better.”

Senior and baritone saxophonist Joe Rieder began with the ensemble in 2006 when it was still strong, and stuck around through its initial decline. He has high hopes for the group’s future.

“I think the legacy of the music department at this school is that it was a very strong department,” he said.

“I think it’s going to be that way again, and I think the wind ensemble is going to be the catalyst for bringing it back up to where it was back in the day.”

The ensemble, which students and faculty of any department can audition for and participate in, will host its final performance of the semester May 8 in Knuth Hall.

With plans to start touring in the fall, new musicians will be needed and anyone is welcome to audition.

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8

STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH:

SUICIDE IS NOT A SOLUTION FOR ISSUES

BY JUAN DE ANDA | juand@mail.sfsu.edu

“Katy” had a 4.0 GPA in high school and was involved in her school’s water polo team in Sacramento County. She never did drugs and had no visible signs of trauma. She was known as a driven and dedicated student.

But the 21-year-old hit her lowest of lows when she believed the only viable solution to all her problems was committing suicide.

“I always put on a front and I was always happy. Nothing ever slipped because I just was good at putting on a face and putting it all down where I didn’t need to show it,” Katy said. “I figured it was just easier to take myself out of the equation than to realize how great of a person I am as an individual and that I’m worth it.”

Katy is a pseudonym for a 21-year-old SF State kinesiology major and athlete who agreed to speak under a pseudonym about her mental struggle with suicide.

She tried to take her own life during her junior year of high school by binging on alcohol, which caused her heart to stop operating.

Emergency room attendants had to electrically jumpstart her cardiovascular system three times before her heartbeat finally resumed.

This attempt followed two earlier ones. She had tried to hang herself from a ceiling fan and drown herself in a bathtub.

Katy is one of thousands of attempted suicide cases, complex and multifaceted mental health issues that not only affect people of all ages, but college students in particular.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is the second-leading cause of death for 18- to 24-year-olds, with new outside studies suggesting that it has now become the leading cause of death.

The American Foundation of Suicide Prevention says that more than 4,000 people aged 15 to 24 die by suicide each year in the United States, and the organization notes that more than 90 percent of young people who die by suicide had at least one psychiatric illness at the time of death that was easily treatable.

According to Yolanda Gamboa, SF State crisis counselor, a variety of symptoms exist and are signs that should be taken into consideration with people who are at risk, but especially in college because it’s a time when students begin to live independently.

“The ages of 18 to 24 is when mental health issues begin to develop, and we here at Psychological Services try to catch it when it begins before it leads students to acting out on suicidal thoughts,” she said.

Risk factors include traumatic life events, feelings of isolation or depression, alcohol and substance abuse, trouble concentrating, not finding pleasure in previously enjoyed activities or any combination of the aforementioned characteristics, according to Gamboa.

In Katy’s case, trauma came in the form of sexual molestation by her 12-year-old babysitter when she was very young.

“I told my friends in junior year (of high school) that when I was 8, a girl forced me into a closet and started to touch me,” Katy said.

“I acted out. Started to doubt my sexuality, started to doubt myself, started to doubt why I was here.”

Katy felt that no one would listen to her because of the environment she lived in, and instead created a facade to mask her internalized pain.

“My town is a very small town, and nothing bad happens to anyone there. I felt like I was the only one who had ever gone through this and I felt very disgusted, very gross,” Katy said.

Katy isn’t alone, although the San Francisco Coroner’s Office noted in a report that increased community efforts have contributed to a decrease in attempted suicides.

According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of San Francisco’s annual report for 2010, ten people between ages of 17 to 29 committed suicide.

The San Francisco Suicide Prevention is the oldest communitybased crisis line service in the United States. Founded in 1962, the 24hour phone bank answers approximately 200 calls per day of people who feel distressed and might be contemplating suicide.

Eve Meyer, executive director of San Francisco Suicide Prevention, noticed that many college-aged students don’t call in as frequently as other demographics, and decided to offer 24-hour email and texting help as well.

Meyer notes a tendency for suicide occurrences to fly beneath the radar of society’s consciousness.

“People that consider suicide have disappeared from view and people don’t see them anymore. Our operators engage in a process of listening. Just listening to help the victim to grow and heal,” she said.

Meyer and Gamboa both said that there’s a taboo associated with people who have mental health issues and have attempted suicide.

“Everybody is saying that this shouldn’t happen because they look cute, gorgeous,” Meyer said. “This taboo keeps us from talking to each other, and it keeps us from learning how stop it. We don’t do much research into suicide: how it happens and its causes. We know a whole lot more about the sex life of salamanders in Sonoma County than about something that affects us all.”

Katy also noted a taboo against seeking help in her own experience.

“The big thing is people tend to bash getting help. They feel that like it’s a weakness and when you are at that point, honestly you are the lowest you can possibly go for thinking about suicide,” Katy said.

Katy affirms Meyer’s and Gamboa’s sentiments that suicide is a universal danger, but that there’s always help.

“People think that suicide is only happening with gay people, with people who have no friends, with the socially awkward. It doesn’t. It happens with everyone. It happens with jocks, it happens with the incredibly intelligent. It happens everywhere and that needs to be more known. It should be open. Everybody should know that suicide affects everyone and it’s not specific. It affects everyone. And there’s hope.”

SIGNS OF DEPRESSION COMPILED BY MICHELLE OLSON | maolson@mail.sfsu.edu

Eighteen to 29-year-olds are 70 percent more likely to suffer from depression than 60-year-olds in their lifetime, the National Institute of Mental Health reports. Women are 70 percent more likely to experience it in their life than men. And according to statistics, depression is a leading symptom for those who commit suicide. According to the Mayo clinic, a nonprofit medical care and research group, the signs of depression include: • • • • • • • • •

IMAGES COURTESY OF WIKICOMMONS

Lack of sleep or too much sleep almost every day Depressed mood much of the day, almost every day Feeling worthless or inappropriate guilt Low interest or pleasure in many activities Indecisiveness or lack of concentration Repeated ideas of suicide or death Slowed thinking or movement that others can see A dramatic weight loss or gain Low energy or tiredness almost every day

If you think you suffer from depression go to www.mayoclinic.com and search “depression self-assessment.” The self-test can help determine if you should seek help.

For help with depression, contact the nonprofit San Francisco Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance at (415) 995-4792, or visit their website http://www.dbsasf.org/ for support groups and educational resources.

|

9

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NOT A MINDLESS ISSUE

All college students experience anxiety. With exams, term papers and countless other stresses, the ability to cope in a constructive way is necessary to surviving until graduation. Luckily, there are many resources available on and off campus to get you through until your commencement ceremony.

FOCUSING ON ADHD IN COLLEGE STUDENTS

BY ANGELA RAIFORD | araiford@mail.sfsu.edu

Samuel Gunter wasn’t staring lazily out of the window because he couldn’t stand the teacher. He thought it was OK that his teacher had to repeat instructions to him once more than the rest of his class.

The SF State art major wasn’t an apathetic child, he just seemed like one.

“In elementary school I was the dumb kid, I guess. I would zone out really hard; I still do it today,” he said. “I was always off in my own head.”

Gunter, 22, was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder at the age of 9 and he isn’t the only student working to overcome the struggles of ADD in college.

The disorder, which is a subtype of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, was diagnosed to 4.5 million children between the ages of 4 and 17 in 2007, according to statistics by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While studies have not been done on the number of college students being diagnosed with the disorder, the main criterion is that symptoms must have been present before the age of 7, according to Floridabased psychotherapist and author Stephanie Sarkis, who specializes in ADD/ADHD treatment.

“It is a disorder that causes impairment in all aspects of a person’s life,” Sarkis said.

“It’s not about losing your keys occasionally or not paying attention in one of your classes. It is a pattern of behaviors that causes a person difficulty in virtually every aspect of life - academic, social and occupational.”

The complexity of the disorders has

made it hard to provide a strict definition; although, the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders test is often given to define it.

“The DSM criteria was originally written for children, but we’re finding that people don’t just grow out of it,” Sarkis said.

“Your hyperactivity may lessen somewhat as you get older, but you continue to have difficulty on a daily basis.”

Gunter states that he produced significantly better work and spent much more time concentrating on tasks after being put on Ritalin and then Concerta growing up.

“They put me on Ritalin at first from about 9 to 11, 12 maybe. At first it was great. When I started doing well (my parents) were so excited and so was I,” Gunter said. “What happened is as I got older the dosages got higher but a big side effect was that because you are very focused on your work, it’s hard to disengage sometimes.”

More issues arose, when Gunter used Adderall from age 14 to 19, something he calls “a terrible, terrible drug,” eventually leading him to quit his medications cold turkey.

“I was studying for an art history exam and I spent my weekend studying for it,” Gunter said. “I came out of my dorm room one day and my friends are like, ‘Sam, what happened to you? We haven’t seen you in three days.’ I realized that I had not left my dorm except to eat.”

SF State student Zehra Mohsin, 21, was always described by her teachers as a hyperactive student.

When diagnosed with ADHD at 13, she began taking Concerta alongside the antidepressant Prozac in order to better focus and maintain motivation.

Like Gunter, she quit taking her medications in favor of fighting the struggles of ADHD herself.

“I quit Prozac at 16 and when I turned 20, replaced Concerta with a high intake of coffee to keep me alert,” Mohsin said.

There is still the question of the disorder’s existence due to its unrefined definition.

“That’s the hard part about the disorder,” Gunter said. “There isn’t a whole lot of evidence that comes about with these (DSM) tests. I’m actually on the fence about whether or not it exists. I have known people who have been greatly helped by (taking medication for) it and greatly hurt by it.”

Moshin states that although it is a medically recognized ailment, she believes that it is often over-diagnosed.

“If you really want to know what I think,” Mohsin said. “It’s an over-diagnosed problem that is easily manageable with behavioral therapy and discipline and a healthy diet.”

Gunter said that through great difficulty he has been able to manage his condition without medication.

“It was hard at first, just trying to work without it. My grades kind of dropped for a little while. They went from being As and Bs to Bs and Cs and that went on through sophomore year and a little bit through junior year,” Gunter said.

“It was just hard to figure out ways to make myself focus without medication.”

PREVENTING TRAGEDY: SIGNS AND RESOURCES COMPILED BY JUAN DE ANDA | juand@mail.sfsu.edu

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the more of these symptoms a person shows, the greater the risk. The following warning signs are associated with suicide: • • • • • • • • • • •

Talking about wanting to die Displaying extreme mood swings Feeling isolated or withdrawing from social environments Seeking ways to kill oneself Showing anger or discussing revenge Sleeping too much or not enough Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose to live Sharing notions of feeling trapped or in unbearable pain Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs Talking about being a burden on people Acting anxious, agitated or reckless

If someone you know shows these warning signs, follow these steps: • • • • • • • • •

Do not leave the person alone Stay calm to respond more effectively and to reduce their anxiety or agitation If the situation becomes dire or dangerous, call 911 or take them to an emergency room Seek help from a medical or mental health professional Do not minimize the situation or depth of feeling, e.g. “It will get better tomorrow.”

Remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt Call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) Call the San Francisco Suicide Prevention Center at 415-781-0500 and www.sfsuicide.org Call the SF State clinical counseling office at 415-338-2208

10

04.11.12 | GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

New Chapter in University Architecture

Clockwise from top: Lino Ancheta, 37, works on a psychology graduate project on the third floor of the newly opened J. Paul Leonard Library. The library has special rooms dedicated for studying, lectures and media editing.

Photo by Gil Riego Jr. The new book retrieval system of the library can access and deliver a book within 15 to 20 minutes.

Photo by Henry Nguyen A crowd sits in the library Tuesday during the official opening of the new library. The previous library closed its doors in Fall 2008. Photo by Juliana Severe Robert A. Corrigan, SF State president, raises his fists in celebration during a ribbon cutting ceremony for the official opening of the library Tuesday. Erik Verduzco / Special to Xpress The new library sits between the Administration and Creative Arts buildings. Photo by Henry Nguyen.

| 04.11.12

11

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CHOKING CHASTE: WEIGHING RISK VERSUS REWARD

S THE INS & OUTS A WEEKLY SEX COLUMN

BY CASSIE BECKER

OMEONE’S HANDS tightening around your neck, cutting off blood flow and oxygen to your brain to the point that you feel like you’re going to pass out seems like a nightmare. Or a fantasy.

This is one of many ways to perform erotic asphyxiation, also known as breath control play, the practice of intentionally restricting blood flow to the brain for sexual arousal.

The practice differs from autoerotic asphyxiation in that it is generally performed with a partner as a form of kinky power play rather than alone in your room by self-hanging, the most common method according to Jane L. Uva’s article “Review: Autoerotic Asphyxiation in the United States” in the Journal of Forensic Sciences.

Even though there’s another person present in the room, erotic asphyxiation can be just as dangerous, and it remains one of the most controversial topics in the kink community. Some say that its appeal is its risky nature and encourage safe practice; others say the potential benefits just don’t outweigh the risks.

It works like this: The ca8 P.M. TO 10 P.M. rotid arteries on the sides of the neck carry lots of oxygen-rich

blood to the brain, so restricting that blood flow produces feelings of lightheadedness or giddiness, which heightens sensations during sex and masturbation, according to Columbia Health’s Go Ask Alice column.

When pressure is released, the rush of oxygen back to the brain gives a sense of euphoria. People do it by chest compression, a plastic bag over the head, or a cord, belt or scarf around the neck.

Shay, a medical expert who writes a kinky medical advice column called “Private Duty” for Kink-e-Zine and part

Since breaking up with her inner prude, Cassie Becker has done it all.

Her interest in sexual exploration has led her to write several blogs and break even more beds. She’s extensively researched and written about it - all with a sexy smile.

PANEL DISCUSSION

SF CITADEL

1277 MISSION ST.

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of StefanosandShay.com, cautions breath control play beginners.

“Breath control play is dangerous and, while there are ‘safer’ ways to do it, that’s kinda like saying there are ‘safer’ ways to race motorcycles - yeah, there are ways to decrease risk, but it is an inherently risky activity and the risk is never going to be zero,” she said. “Still, getting in the car to

drive to work isn’t a zero risk activity, few things are, so it’s all about the degree of risk that you find acceptable.”

The real problem, she says, is that beginners don’t know the risks that breath play entails.

“The biggest risk is that this type of play can cause cardiac arrhythmias - abnormal heart beats - that sometimes are harmless, but sometimes can cause you to go into cardiac arrest. This is an inherent risk of breath control, and if you’re doing actual breath control there is no technique that will take this risk away,” she said.

Jay Wiseman, a BDSM expert who has written extensively about the topic, is known in the kink community for being much more cautionary when it comes to breath control play.

“I do believe, based on studying these activities extensively, that they have a very questionable risk/benefit ratio and that they are both far more unpredictable and far more dangerous than many people understand them to be,” he said in his “Closing Argument” on breath play featured on his website.

Another one of his main concerns is the legal aspect.

“Any harm caused by them is likely to be both medically severe and legally indefensible. These medical and legal risks extend not only to engaging in these practices, but also to both allowing breath play at events one is putting on and/or to teaching how-to classes regarding these practices,” he said in the same piece.

The SF Citadel is hosting a panel discussion on the topic this summer, geared toward anyone interested in practicing breath control play.

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04.11.12 | GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

12 S P O R T S PLAYER

ZULEIMA JIMENEZ

of the

TRACK AND FIELD

WEEK

Junior Zuleima Jimenez has been chosen as the Xpress Player of the Week. Jimenez ran the second-fastest 10,000-meter race in SF State history Friday at the Distance Carnival. This was Jimenez’s first time competing in the event and she placed seventh overall with a time of 36 minutes and 50.12 seconds. Jimenez also received All-West Region accolades and was also named CCAA Newcomer of the year.

PHOTO BY TYLER DENISTON/SF STATE SPORTS

GATORS’ SPORTS SCHEDULE FRIDAY, APRIL 13 SOFTBALL

SF State vs. Cal State Monterey Bay 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

(Seaside, Calif.)

BASEBALL

SF State vs. Cal State Monterey Bay 3 p.m.

(San Francisco, Calif.)

Track star runs out of eligibility

BY ALVARO ALFARO| aalfaro@mail.sfsu.edu

SATURDAY, APRIL 14 BASEBALL

SF State vs. Cal State Monterey Bay 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

(Seaside, Calif.)

SOFTBALL

SF State vs. Cal State Monterey Bay 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.

(Seaside, Calif.)

SUNDAY, APRIL 15 BASEBALL

SF State vs. Cal State Monterey Bay 11 a.m.

(San Francisco, Calif.)

TUESDAY, APRIL 17 SOFTBALL

SF State vs. Cal State Stanislaus 2 p.m.

(San Francisco, Calif.)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18 SOFTBALL

SF State vs. Notre Dame de Namur University 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

(San Francisco, Calif.)

For every student athlete in the CHANGING FOCUS: Track and field athlete Meagen Moiola studies at the athlete’s study hall. Moiola is in her fourth year on National Collegiate Athletic Associathe track team and won’t be eligible to compete after this semester. She said she will be focusing more on academics. tion, timing is everything. Athletes Photo by Sam Battles have limited time and semesters to compete at the collegiate level, and ever, Feeley will be graduating this spring with a degree in history. each athlete aims to make an im“We’re at an advantage being athletes because we do get priority pression while competing for their school. With this in mind, timing registration every semester, which is amazing because we don’t have becomes a valuable commodity for student athletes and the practice of to be on the wait list for any classes,” said Feeley. red-shirting becomes a critical asset.

According to the NCAA, 73 percent of Division II student athletes Senior high jumper Meagen Moiola is in her last year of eligibility graduate within six years of initial enrollment. However, the program for the SF State track and field team. Moiola is currently in her best is designed to help student athletes graduate in four years to ensure season; she competed in the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships for the first time in her career, and earned a spot on the inaugural eligibility while enrolled and maintain a continuous flow of athletes.

“At some point they all have to be replaced. You don’t get to be NCAA Division II all-West Region team. The realization that this is here and compete (for) seven or eight years. That’s not the system,” her last year competing for SF State has pushed her game to a higher said Terry Burke, women’s track and field head coach. level. However, because Moiola was not red-shirted during her freshAthletes are pieces in the athletic program that come and go. They man year, it will remain a mystery how much better she could have are substituted with each passing season after they’ve served their time been next season; she isn’t graduating until spring 2013 at the earliest. and purpose. For Moiola, it would have been better for her athletic NCAA Division II grants athletes 10 semesters of eligibility to be career and the program if she had better utilized her time. on a collegiate team, but only four years of competition. A red-shirted Red-shirting is a choice made by individual athletes and while season still leaves athletes with a four-year window to compete and Moiola was not advised to prolong her competition status, she considallows them to stay on the team for an extra two non-competitive seered red-shirting after her junior year. But after three years of competimesters. The same rules apply to transfer students; the semesters they tion, the deadline passed without Moiola applying for the status and played at their previous college count toward the 10 total semesters. It is not uncommon for athletes to be red-shirted their freshman season to she continued to compete with her team.

“It’s pretty apparent that she is quite successful in this sport and provide an extra year to improve. doing great things for our team,” Feeley said.

“Then there are people who need the time,” Moiola said. “I’m Distance runner and teammate Cami Barnes was red-shirted in her probably someone who could have used a red-shirt freshman year.” freshman year and thinks the experience of being a red-shirted freshIn a perfect scenario, Moiola would have been red-shirted her man athlete is very different from being a competing freshman. freshman year and she would have been able to compete next year “I think a red-shirt learns and improves more,” said Barnes. “Espeto build on success she accomplished this season. Unfortunately for cially in the long run because you have this year where you’re trainMoiola, she came to SF State during a rebuilding period for the track ing and doing the same workouts as your teammates, but you’re able and field team that heavily leaned on the freshman class. The 2008-09 to practice different paces at different parts of the races because you season featured 16 freshmen on a roster made up of 32 athletes. don’t have any expectations.”

“I wish I would have red-shirted freshman year, (that) would have Burke is well aware of how the program works, which is why he been awesome,” said Moiola. “I was pretty excited not to be red-shirthas no ill feelings for how things have turned out for Moiola. He being because it was my first year in a college sport and I didn’t think of lieves that she came into SF State as a conference-level athlete based it until this year.” on her marks in high school.

The biggest factor to why Moiola is not graduating this year is “Most of the growth has happened last year. (Moiola) has become because she switched her major three times since first enrolling at SF much more focused,” said Burke. “But I wish that most of our seniors State in 2008. She declared sociology as her major before quickly had another year left, not just her.” changing to health education. After taking a few courses, she realized Moiola feels bittersweet about not being part of the team next year, that biology would be a better fit. but her academics now take precedent and she is glad to have more Student athletes are ensured priority registration, a privilege that time for studies. helps guarantee graduation in four or five years, tying their academic “I’m going to have a lot more time on my hands to focus on acaand athletic careers to the same time frame.

“I always hear people talking about how hard it is to get the classes demics, which has become very important to me. But I’ll definitely miss (the team),” she said. they need, but it’s an issue I’ve never had to deal with. But hopefully Moiola can’t stop to dwell on what could have been; her main it won’t be a huge deal,” said Moiola about not having athlete priority registration next semester. “That’s something I’ve been nervous about. focus is finishing the season strong.

“I know I probably could have done more had I gone longer,” said My fingers are definitely crossed.”

Moiola. “But I’m comfortable being done and I want to do the best I Just like Moiola, fellow senior and teammate Kelsey Feeley has can to finish on a good note.” been in the track and field program at SF State for four years. How-

SOFTBALL

BASEBALL

SCORES FROM THE LAST WEEK OF GATOR SPORTS

LOSS

April 5 vs. Cal Poly Pomona 2-8

LOSS

April 6 vs. Cal Poly Pomona 0-5

LOSS

April 7 vs. Cal Poly Pomona 4-20

WIN

April 7 vs. Cal Poly Pomona 3-2

LOSS

April 6 vs.

Humboldt State University 3-5

LOSS

April 6 vs.

Humboldt State University 3-11

WIN

WIN

April 7 vs.

Humboldt State University 14-12 April 7 vs.

Humboldt State University 9-3

S P O R T S 13

| 04.11.12

GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

Ground Victories

breaking

LEFT: Karla Moraza competes for the first time in a 10,000-meter run at the Distance Carnival, a track and field event at SF State Friday. Photos by Hang Cheng

TRACK STARS

BOTTOM LEFT: Kendall Dye, who placed 19th, competes in the 3,000-meter steeplechase race at the Distance Carnival.

RIGHT: Cross-country runner Ryan Chio competes in the 10,000-meter run.

Unofficially, he finished 17th in the event.

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The SF State Distance Carnival track event featured some notable performances in Gator history. In the women’s 10,000-meter event, Zuleima Jimenez placed seventh with a time of 36 minutes and 50.12 seconds. This officially moved her up into the school’s top five all-time list. In the women’s 100-meter dash, Hilary King placed fifth with a time of 13:0.09, closely followed by Kayleigh Hendrix (13:0.13) and Brittany Johnson (13:0.15) who grabbed sixth and seventh places, respectively. Cross-country athletes Ryan Woods and Tyler Deniston competed in the men’s 10,000 meter run. Deniston’s time of 31:20.62 made for a third alltime in SF State track history. Although the Gator men’s track and field team has not existed since 2004, the National Collegiate Athletic Association has allowed the team to compete in track events, but their results will not be officially recorded.

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04.11.12 | GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

14 O P I N I O N STAFF EDITORIAL

KELLY GOFF

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

SARA DONCHEY

ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR sdonchey@mail.sfsu.edu

SCOTT GRAF

PRINT MANAGING EDITOR sgraf99@mail.sfsu.edu

GODOFREDO VASQUEZ

MEDIA EDITOR gvasquez@mail.sfsu.edu

NATALIE YEMENIDJIAN ART DIRECTOR nataliey@mail.sfsu.edu

MICHELLE OLSON

ONLINE COPY CHIEF maolson@mail.sfsu.edu

CASSIE BECKER

PRINT COPY CHIEF cassbeck@mail.sfsu.edu

TAMERRA GRIFFIN

CAMPUS EDITOR tgriffin@mail.sfsu.edu

LISA CARMACK

CITY EDITOR lcarmack@mail.sfsu.edu

HUNTER MULICH

A&E EDITOR hunter@mail.sfsu.edu

KC CROWELL

OPINION EDITOR kcrowell@mail.sfsu.edu

KEALAN CRONIN

SPORTS EDITOR kealancronin@mail.sfsu.edu

KRISSA STANTON

BREAKING NEWS EDITOR kstanton@mail.sfsu.edu

HENRY NGUYEN

Making the best of preparing for the worst

San Franciscans are used to maintaining composure in the face of potential emergencies.

In a city where after an earthquake most of us race to be the first to tweet about it rather than racing to the door, we like to play it cool.

In light of the recent shooting at Oikos University, many students are left wondering what they should do in a campus emergency.

So what should we do if there is a gunman on campus? What about a downed aircraft? What about a gas leak? What about a flood or a fire?

If it took you more than a few seconds to know what you should do when faced with any of the above situations, you’re in trouble. If you’re still wondering what the official SF State emergency procedures are for any of those situations, you’re in an even worse position.

The range of emergencies that can occur on a college campus are varied, and each merits a different type of response. For example, it is probably a good idea to exit a building if it is on fire. But that same advice would be unwise if there was a gunman loose on campus.

In a recent email, President Robert A. Corrigan summarized resources for maintaining a safe and aware campus. He also shared how the university would communicate with students in an emergency situation. However, we need to join the resources we already have with an integrative contingency plan that deals with specific real life scenarios.

The truth is that in a stressful and potentially dangerous situation, we might not be able to wait around for a text message alert of stay tuned for an emergency broadcast. Conceivably, there might also be situations where administrators would be unable to use these tools to communicate.

Currently, SF State University Police do have a description of what to do in case of an active shooter on campus as well as how to

shelter in place and what to do in a building cally lost his life when he went back outside to evacuation. These are all a few clicks deep on investigate. the UPD website. It is imperative that we all Take the time this week to plan out what be familiar with these procedures. These are you would do in an emergency. You don’t know also safety guidelines that are easy to print and how soon this information might become vital. distribute across campus.

If you are a teacher, consider printing them out and posting them in a visible place in your classroom.

If you are a department chair, consider forwarding them to students and faculty in an email. If you are a student, print up a copy and keep it in your backpack.

It’s been shown across campuses that prior preparedness and a well-implemented emergency plan can foil or lessen dangerous situations.

In 2009, a 20-year-old female student at the University of California Los Angeles was stabbed during class. She survived due to the quick actions of a professor who stopped the bleeding and and alerted campus police who were able to quickly detain the attacker.

And even in truly tragic cases like the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting where there were deaths, first-person accounts show that the toll could have been higher if not for the quick actions of professors and students.

For example, Virginia Tech professor Kevin Granata saved 20 students by sheltering them in place in a locked office. Though ART BY SARA DONCHEY | sdonchey@mail.sfsu.edu they survived without injury, he tragi-

PRINT PHOTO EDITOR nenhenry@mail.sfsu.edu

GIL RIEGO JR.

ONLINE PHOTO EDITOR griegojr@mail.sfsu.edu

JUAN DE ANDA

ASSISTANT CAMPUS EDITOR juand@mail.sfsu.edu

ELISSA TORRES

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR elissat@mail.sfsu.edu

MATT MAXION

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR mmaxion@mail.sfsu.edu

RACHELE KANIGEL

FACULTY ADVISER kanigel@mail.sfsu.edu

KEN KOBRE

PHOTO ADVISER kobre@kenkobre.com

JUSTIN OROZCO

CIRCULATION jaorozo@mail.sfsu.edu

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

EVA CHARLES

ADVERTISING & BUSINESS echarles@mail.sfsu.edu

MONICA QUESADA

PRODUCTION ggxads@mail.sfsu.edu

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

Letters are subject to editing. Send letters to KC Crowell at: kcrowell@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 Kelly Goff at: kgoff@mail.sfsu.edu

Mental health resources overlooked

BY KEALAN CRONIN | kealan@mail.sfsu.edu What student hasn’t felt the increased heart rate illness, promotion of these services may prove before an exam, stomach ache when anticipating to be invaluable. future projects, perspiration while rapidly trying Students are also held partially responsible to register for classes? These feelings of anxiety are not uncommon for for not accessing these resources due to a lack of awareness or intercollege students to experience. Although the University offers outlets for est. Even though health costs are embedded into tuition, students don’t dealing with the constant pressure of the college experience, students are always utilize every aspect of this facility. Many students are unaware left ignorant of their underutilized resources. of the free and helpful resources that the University offers to deal with A recent study by the American Psychology Association found that anxiety and depression. the number of students on psychiatric medicines due to mental illness For example, each SF State student is entitled to five free psychologiincreased more than 15 percent in the last 10 years. The study also found cal counseling sessions each year. Regardless of how severe the anxiety, an increase of insomnia and depression among college students. it is important for students to be conscious of these services and to utilize This may not be surprising for those of us who are familiar with the every possible outlet offered. steady stress of budget cuts, rising tuition and class workload. What is Students may feel hesitant to take advantage of the psychological surprising, however, is the amount of untapped resources available for resources due to the stigmas associated with therapy or mental health. students just around the corner.

Students may think mental illnesses only refers to extreme cases of The student services at SF State is an amenity on campus that stuschizophrenia or bipolar disorder, but in actuality mental health and dents overlook as a way to cope with increased anxiety. While students illness can refer to temporary, severe anxiety and depression that many are aware of the Student Services Building as the place to pay tuition and students may experience in stressful situations. class fees, only a handful know about the Counseling and Psychological Some students may feel they don’t need any kind of mental health Services located on the second floor. Last year less than four percent of assistance, but an APA study found that students who discuss their conthe student population used the services at least once, according to front cerns with friends or counselors experience decreased anxiety and stress. desk operator Marcos Soriano.

These psychological and counseling services provide a healthy alternaUniversity President Robert A. Corrigan recently sent an email to tive when dealing with stress and anxiety that may help avoid mental students regarding the tragedy at Oikos University in Oakland, in which illness or health consequences. six people were shot. The email offered sympathy for the community, University of Michigan Health System experts released a study that discussed campus safety and urged students who may feel anxious or found a growing number of college students turned to stimulants like stressed about the event to visit the Counseling and Psychological SerADHD medications and energy drinks to help cope in times of stress. vices, which is designed to help students manage stress.

The study found that use of these stimulants could lead to depression, The magnitude of this event is unmistakable and it is inevitable that irritability, stomach aches and headaches. Serious use could lead to danmental health and depression is highlighted in times of tragedy. Howevgerous side effects including hypertension and stroke. er, the urging of campus facilities like psychological services should not This high level of anxiety and depression isn’t something the averbe saved for tragedies, but advertised to students year round. age student deals with. For those who do suffer from mental illness, Apart from the University website that offers wellness tips and an they may have already sought out coping strategies. But for all stuintroduction to stress, the University needs to take the promotion from dents, whether facing individual or community trauma, there needs to the computer and force it into the daily lives of students with flyers or an be awareness that there are on-campus resources available to deal with information booth. For a student suffering with severe stress or mental depression and stress.

CORRECTIONS FOR XPRESS PRINT EDITION

The story on page 1 of the 4.4.12 issue headlined “Voting extended, turnout low,” should have been attributed to reporter Brittney Barsotti.

Also in the 4.4.12 issue, in the story headlined “As departments and programs merge and others consider it, results unclear,” the name of Ramon Castellblanch was misspelled.

We regret our errors.

| 04.11.12

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