Spring 2014 issue 14

MAY 7, 2014

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SF STATE STUDENT SHOT, KILLED SUSPECT IN INVESTIGATION RELEASED

STEPHEN GUILLERMO, 26, WOULD HAVE GRADUATED THIS MAY IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

BY MICHAEL BARBA | mdbarba@mail.sfsu.edu

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San Francisco resident booked on suspicion of the homicide of an SF State student was released from jail Tuesday, according to the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department.

Amisi Sudi Kachepa, 68, surrendered to police after he allegedly shot and killed Stephen Guillermo, 26, early Saturday morning when the student entered a third-floor unit, two floors beneath his own apartment on the 900 block of Mission Street, according to the San Francisco CHECK ONLINE AT GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG Police Department.

FOR UPDATES “After what his brother called a night of hard partying with friends, he came back to his apartment building on Saturday morning,” his cousin Emil Guillermo wrote on an education website. “Right building, wrong apartment.”

While Kachepa was arrested in connection to the shooting of Guillermo, the San Fran-

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NO MATTER WHAT

LIFE THROWS AT HIM HE KEPT HIS SMILE ON ALL THE TIME.

SOWNAI SAETERN, LONG-TIME FRIEND

INVESTIGATION CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

COURTESY OF SOWNAI SAETERN

FASHION WITHOUT LIMITS PHOTO BY RACHEL ASTON / XPRESS

DANCING: JaRon McReynolds (left) dances with Roson Muhammad at the 20 year celebration of the Malcom X mural in the Malcom X plaza at SF State Thursday, May 1.

SPRING FASHIONS: A model struts the runway at Provoke, the student fashion show, Thursday, May 1 at the Galleria at 101 Henry Adams St.

Students celebrate Malcolm X mural

BY JULIA MIDDLEMISS | jmiddle@mail.sfsu.edu

May Day marked the 20th Annual Malcolm X Mural Celebration for SF State, while students and Greek life from around the Bay Area joined together to honor the murals creation.

According to the Cesar Chavez Student Center, the intent of the mural, along with the dedication of the plaza, was to honor, promote and understand the teachings of Malcolm X including: his legacy of political, spiritual, economic, and social philosophy; the fact that he was an independent thinker who contributed to the movements for civil and human rights in the 1960s; and regardless of status, everyone can speak and act for social change, justice, and freedom for all.

Malcolm X mural was painted May 15, 1996 beside the Cesar Chavez mural by SF State students Eric Norberg and Kamau Ayubbo.

MURAL CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

RACHEL ASTON / XPRESS

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BY MADISON RUTHERFORD maddie@mail.sfsu.edu

eather, lace, cotton, chiffon and everything in between graced the runway at the San Francisco Design Center

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as apparel design students showcased their designs.

Runway 2014: Provoke, the 20th annual fashion show, was put on by the Fashion Network Association and the apparel design and merchandising department at SF State Thursday, May 1.

“It’s been a lot of work, but its been

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so much fun,” said Sophie Calzada, vice president of FNA. “I’m a huge advocate for creativity and people combining over a passion of theirs, which is clothing and style and having fun. That’s my favorite part of it and PROVOKE CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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News

MAY 7, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

XPRESS YOURSELF WE ASKED SF STATE STUDENTS:

If Malcolm X were alive today do you think he would say social progress has been made?

CELEBRATION: Raven Rutledge cuts cake for attendees at the 20 year celebration of the Malcom X mural in the Malcom X plaza at SF State Thursday, May 1.

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I have no idea what he would think. In a way we’ve definitely made strides, but I don’t think we’re totally there yet.

PHILL DRISCOLL, 24 THEATRE ARTS

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I think to some degree, but I don’t think his vision has been fulfilled.

I think he would have something to say about (the Clippers).

JASON BELL, DIRECTOR OF PROJECT REBOUND

RACHEL ASTON / XPRESS

Mural celebrates student unity CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE

Malcolm’s widow, Dr. Betty Shabazz, was an honorary speaker at the dedication ceremony.

In appreciation of the importance that the Malcolm X Mural on the Cesar Chavez Student Center holds for SF State, Black Student Union members and faculty gathered students in the Malcolm X Plaza to embrace the diversity and unity on campus.

Over the years, the mural and student center have not only provided African American empowerment, but has encouraged pride throughout all races and cultures.

“May 19 was the birth of Malcolm X and African Americans traditionally celebrate his work because of how he transformed their thinking and also transformed himself as a model,” said Dr. Francine Shakir, culture and arts program director for the Richard Oakes Multicultural Center who lead the organization of the event.

The event kicked off at noon with various activities including poetry, di-

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CELIA LOBUONO GONZALES, 21 COMMUNICATIONS

Photos by: Rachel Aston Reporting by: David Mariuz

between administration and students defending the original mural broke out after the president of the University at the time, Robert A. Corrigan, ordered the mural to be removed entirely.

After students camped out under the mural in defense during finals week, the debacle finally came to an end when a crew under police protection sandblasted the mural off the wall to prevent students from recovering the original piece. Two years later, a new Malcolm X mural was unveiled that depicted two separate images of Malcolm X next to a silhouette of the African continent inside which, painted in black, is the United States. In the bottom left corner, muralists Norberg and Ayubbi inscribed a quote from Malcolm X: “Our objective is complete freedom, justice and equality By Any Means Necessary.”

“I hope people gain a better understanding of the truth, struggle, strength and resilience of people of African descent,” said author Dr. Joy Degruy while explaining her expectations for the event.

Security cameras caught pyro, later removed

BY BRADLEY FOCHT bfocht@mail.sfsu.edu

I think he would say the same forces are still at play. The same system dominates and people are still being oppressed.

versity exercises and presentations from Greek organizations in the Malcolm X Plaza. Emcees Anthony Amaro and Roson Muhammad kept the flow going throughout the day.

“We wanted this event to bring awareness and get people more engaged. I think today was good motivation for students to do so,” said Anthony Amaro, who hosted the event. “The only way you’ll create something is through your voice. That’s what we are trying to achieve today.”

“This mural celebration is about unity within the black community, and just letting people know they have support no matter what campus they’re on,” said Nicholas Ross.

However, the current mural is not the first version. A local artist painted the first portrayal on Malcolm X’s birthday May 19, 1994. The initial mural incorporated the face of Malcolm X surrounded by dollar signs, Stars of David and skulls and crossbones and was considered by many to be anti-Semitic. A series of paintbrush wars

hree security cameras that were installed on the first three floors of the Humanities Building have been removed after they served their purpose in identifying an arsonist more than a year ago.

University Police funded the camera installation in the Humanities Building as a matter of public safety and to aid in the investigation of arson incidents occurring in the Humanities Building in late 2012, according to Deputy Chief Reggie Parson.

Phase One Systems, installed the cameras for $3,160, which came from the UPD budget.

According to Parson, a campus department can procure camera installation in an effort to deter or detect theft and UPD does not need to be notified or approve the installation.

The arson incidents, which prompted

the installation of cameras, occurred in the Fall 2012 semester, and involved an individual setting If I’m being fire to trash cans watched by an in the Humanagency I have ities Building and the J. Paul the right to know Leonard library. about it.

According to Griffin, the Avery Hastings, suspect in one ENGLISH LIT. MAJOR of the incidents used a trash can from a nearby classroom as the source to start the fire.

UPD identified a suspect who was arrested, charged and convicted of three counts of arson related to the Humanities Building fires, according to Griffin.

Even though the cameras still remained in the ceiling after the suspect was convicted, Griffin said they are powered down and

disconnected so they are not recording and cannot be viewed live.

While the cameras were in use they were connected to a digital recorder. There was no video footage, no video feed/monitor and no active/live monitoring of the video camera, according to Parson.

However, students like Avery Hastings, an English Literature major, do not feel safer with the addition of cameras.

“There is a greater insecurity knowing that I’m being watched by someone who doesn’t want me to know they are watching me,” said Hastings. “If I’m being watched by an agency I have the right to know about it.”

Hastings is referring to the lack of signage posted by the cameras that alerts students when they are being recorded.

“I feel less safe,” said Barret Wall, English Literature major. “It’s suspicious so it makes me feel less ok.”

Recently UPD worked with Phase One Systems and uninstalled all three cameras in the Humanities Building, according to Griffin.

News

MAY 7, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

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District attorney’s office yet to file charges, pending further investigation CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE

cisco District Attorney’s Office has not yet filed charges and the shooting remains under investigation.

Xpress reached out to the district attorney’s office but they did not respond by press time.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Kachepa told other residents of the apartment building that Guillermo broke the knob off of his door.

SFPD officers discovered Guillermo, who was scheduled to graduate at the end of this semester with an international relations degree, dead inside his neighbor’s apartment around 1:40 a.m, according to SFPD. Officers immediately arrested Kachepa and booked him on a homicide charge at San Francisco County Jail, according to SFPD Officer Gordon Shyy.

“Kachepa will have a defense if he can show that he ‘reasonably’ thought that he

was in peril of imminent death or great bodily injury (due to Guillermos’ entry),” said Jeffrey Snipes, department chair of criminal justice studies at SF State, in an email.

Snipes said that the “castle doctrine” or the “defense of habitation” of California’s Penal Code, which justify the use of deadly force inside one’s own residence, could be relevant in the criminal case.

“No matter what life throws at him he kept his smile on all the time,” said Sownai Saetern, who knew Guillermo since middle school. “He is always inviting people to go out to have fun, to laugh, and to enjoy all the little things in life.”

PHOTO OF GUILLERMO COURTESY OF SOWNAI SAETERN

Guillermo immigrated to San Francisco from the Philippines in the mid-1990s, according to Emil. After his father’s death around four years ago, he worked two jobs to support his mother and younger siblings.

“The SF State community is saddened to hear of the sudden loss of Stephen Guillermo,” said Mary Ann Begley, associate dean of students. “Our thoughts and compassion go out to Stephen’s family and

friends during this difficult time.”

Members of the Guillermo family declined to comment on the incident.

A memorial fund has been set up in Guillermo’s name. Donations will contribute to a memorial service and can be made at www.everribbon.com/ribbon/ view/17200.

Additional reporting by Chris Sanchez and Jennie Butler

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News

MAY 7, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

FDA SEEKS TO PUT BANS ON E-CIGS AND VAPE PENS

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BY JAYDA MCCLENDON jmcclend@mail.sfsu.edu

he Food and Drug Administration released a recent proposal to regulate e-cigarettes, which could be a significant step toward helping college students breathe more easily.

The proposal would ban the sale of e-cigarettes, battery-powered devices that turn nicotine and other chemicals into a vapor that can be inhaled, from vending

VAPORIZER: Devon Vining, a senior cinema major, smokes an electronic cigarette near the Humanities Building Monday, May 5.

TONY SANTOS / XPRESS

machines, require disclosure of product ingredients and prohibit manufacturers from selling their products without a warning label.

Health Educator Christine Morley, who does outreach around smoking, tobacco and e-cigarette use, said that she thinks the new rules would allow college campuses to regulate the use of e-cigarettes along with other nicotine products that they restrict.

“It lets students know more what they are putting in their body and allows them to make a more informed decision in regards to using them,” said Morley.

Morley said that e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is addictive, and could be the reason why students who are occasional smokers become regular smokers during college. E-cigarettes also contain carcinogens and other hazardous chemicals such as diethylene glycol, which is found in antifreeze, according to Morley.

But that doesn’t stop some students from using them.

Peter Wu, a junior sociology major, smokes his vaporizer every day to cut down on tobacco use.

He has smoked tobacco for nine years and recently noticed a dif-

ference between smoking tobacco and using a vaporizer.

“Before I started vaping I would cough up dark to almost black stuff in the mornings and that same stuff started to clear up since I started vaping,” said Wu. “I will continue to vape, despite all of the negative media about it, because I know that it works.”

Erik Peper, a health education professor, said he agrees with the new regulations, mentioning that there should be restrictions on how e-cigarettes are marketed toward students. He said that he agrees with Wu’s comment, adding that

some students believe vaporizers are less harmful than regular cigarettes because the long-term effects on the body from inhaling them are unknown.

E-cigarettes come in fruit and candy flavors, which Morley said is partly why they have become more socially acceptable than regular cigarettes.

“I think there is a novelty around using them as well, that they are the ‘cool’ thing to use and try right now,” said Morley. “And the common misconception is that they are less addictive and healthier than regular cigarettes.”

PRIDE

Gators pitch in on Pride float

BY DAVID MARIUZ dmariuz@mail.sfsu.edu

For the first time ever, parade goers at this year’s San Francisco Pride will see the addition of SF State’s Gator Pride float.

At the parade, the float will follow a step team led by the SF State Cheer Team. The University’s contingent, which includes students, community members, alumni and SF State President Leslie E. Wong will march alongside or atop the float June 29.

Student Life, a division of the Dean of Students Office, will soon begin advertising SF State’s Pride float. So far they have gathered a flat bed trailer, several sponsors and nearly $4,000 in donations.

The theme of this year’s parade will be “Color Our World With Pride.” At SF State, staff said this could translate to “Gator pride,” and so parade goers should not be surprised if they

see a rainbow Gator marching this year.

“I think SF State wanted to be part of this great citywide event showcasing the gay community,” said Pam Su, the director of campus recreation.

“We are showing support for the LGBT community, and the city itself.”

Su, who is leading the group’s planning committee, said that students hoped for a float at last year’s parade, but started planning too late. This is the third year the University has participated in the parade.

The Alumni Association is also helping out again this year, trying to rally support and cover some of the costs. Student Life will soon circulate an online sign-up form, and in the coming weeks, the University will begin to contact the people on the form to ask their help in constructing the float.

“I’m hoping that we will get a great turnout this year without

GAVIN MCINTYRE / XPRESS FILE

PRIDE: Members of San Francisco State’s Pride float committee hold signs as they begin to march down Market Street as a part of San Francisco’s Pride Parade Sunday, June 30, 2013.

having to turn anyone away,” said Ryan Jones, alumni programs coordinator, noting that because there is a limit to how many people can participate in a contingent, some are inevitably turned away.

The earliest start date for construction is likely to be after this year’s commencement ceremony, but could be as early as the week before finals.

Plans are to build removable screens or pieces here on campus and then attach them to the float

the day of the event once the trailer has been moved down to Market Street.

“The float is the big addition,” said Su. “We’re also going be handing out Mardi Gras beadtype necklaces.”

There will also be t-shirts, a DJ and free lunch for participants sponsored by Chartwells, who will be donating food.

The Government and Community Relations Department played a big part in helping the University register with Pride

in past years. Jared Giarrusso, associate director of community relations said that about 70 students participated in the parade last year, and they hope to grow that number this year.

“We’re really excited to have a larger presence in the parade this year,” Giarrusso said. “I’m hoping at the very least that we’re able to hit that number again.”

Su said anyone who wants to help build the float is welcome to participate.

Arts & Entertainment

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Gamers sing ‘Let it Go’ to finals stress

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RYAN LEIBRICH / XPRESS

GAMING: Students play Super Smash Bros. at the Anime FX and Gaming Guild meeting in Menchu Hall Friday, May 2.

BY APRIL HALOG | avhalog@mail.sfsu.edu

s some SF State students enjoyed their last few weekends before finals, gamers and anime fans spent an evening doing what they love the most: playing video games and watching anime.

Except this time they weren’t doing it at home.

They were among friends at SF State.

Anime fans and gamers alike filled Rigoberta Menchu Hall Friday night during Game Night, a collaborative event from the Gaming Guild and the Anime FX. “It’s just to have a good end of the semester kick-off and thank the members for being part of the club the whole semester,” said senior cinema major and Gaming Guild Officer Alex Morrison.

The event wasn’t limited to Anime FX and Gaming Guild members, but was open to all students.

Students were encouraged to bring whatever video, board and card games they felt like sharing, as well as dressing up as their favorite video game or anime character, also known as cosplay, for the event.

“If you plan on gaming at home then you might as well hang with us on a Friday night,” said Gaming Guild President Alicia Jun, a junior liberal studies major.

Anime FX approached Gaming Guild to put on the event. It seemed natural as both clubs share similar interests and a number of members.

“We were totally down

with it,” Jun said.

“Games and anime are related in a way,” said Jeremy Marucut, a senior political science major and treasurer of Anime FX. “People who like anime-like games and vice versa. We just naturally blended.”

The Gaming Guild had yet to throw an event for its members and Anime FX wanted to throw one last event before the semester ended.

Karaoke was another popular activity during the event, aside from games.

Several attendees entertained the room by belting out tunes ranging from anime theme songs to popular hits like “Let it Go” and “I’m on a Boat.”

The main event was the Super Smash Bros. Melee tournament. The game was chosen due to its popularity in the club and on campus.

“It’s a reliable tournament as opposed to any other game where it’s hit or miss. I know there are a lot of Smash players here.” Morrison said.

The game attracted a total of 35 participants.

A few lucky Gaming Guild members won a vouch-

er for a PC game during a raffle.

Due to the limited budgets of both clubs, much of the equipment such as the televisions, consoles and prizes were donations and contributions from club members.

Jun said she paid for some of the raffle prizes out of her own pocket.

But the expenses paid off, with many enjoying the event.

Jenni Milan, a freshman physiology major, enjoyed the event. “It’s fun. I wish there was food but I get to meet new people and new friends.”

Milan said that she was stressing over upcoming finals but this event was a nice distraction and an awesome way to procrastinate.

The game night was a last hurrah for Anime FX officers who are stepping down and introducing the new club officers.

Marucut is stepping down from his position due to his upcoming graduation.

“I feel pretty sad (about stepping down). I recently got into (the) social club life. I want to see the club continue but time is an issue.”

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Arts & Entertainment

MAY 7, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

Unique plays among annual Fringe festival

JENNY SOKOLOVA / XPRESS

REHEARSAL: Coralise Specht (right) and Sunshine Roque rehearsing “Inay’s Wedding Dress”, one of the plays to be featured in the 2014 Spring Fringe Play Festival Saturday, May 3.

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BY ANNA HECHT | ahecht@mail.sfsu.edu

ith titles involving knives, spaghetti, girl mathletes and a bus full of memories, SF State’s The Fringe gathers unique plays penned by students and promises a fun close to the run of productions this semester.

The Fringe is an annual spring festival comprised of an eclectic mix of plays written by undergraduate and graduate students in the creative writing and theatre arts departments.

The festival first premiered around 1994, according to faculty adviser Roy Conboy, who created The Fringe off of an idea that began with staged readings and graduated to something bigger to offer students.

“We’re not just presenting plays,” Conboy said. “We’re really trying to give students the chance to work on the PROGRAM 1: next phase of playwriting.”

What: “Much Ado About The Fringe features Mathletes,” “Knife Skills,” seven unique plays, divided “Inay’s Wedding Dress” into two programs. The and “The Night Bus” plays range anywhere from five to 40 minutes and spotWhen: May 13 and 15 at light various topics, from a 7p.m., May 17 at 2 p.m. girl and her chef’s knife to a journey through a re-imagWhere: Little Theatre ined Africa to an all-girls mathletes team forced to let PROGRAM 2: a boy join.

What: Turn Your Head The latter, titled “Much Away,” “My Time Has Ado About Mathletes,” is a Come” and “The African 30-minute comedy written Spaghetti”

by Rachel Bublitz, a graduate student in the creative When: May 14 and 16 at writing department. Bublitz 7p.m., May 17 at 5 p.m. created the play as her entry into a contest asking for Where: Little Theatre comedies written by women, but knew she wanted TICKETS SOLD THROUGH her piece to stand out.

THE THEATRE BOX OFFICE “There’s so many stoOR ONLINE. ries, especially about high school girls, that are just about them being obsessed with boys and there’s nothing really else that goes on,” Bublitz said. “I wanted to write a story with an all-girls mathletes team and then a boy is forced to join the team and that’s where the conflict comes in.”

Bublitz has worked on her play since the fall through workshops during which Conboy said the plays in the festival are examined more closely and fleshed out.

He added that because The Fringe is not funded, a selection committee chose the best plays submitted by students that would also be easiest to produce. Each play is given actors, directors and production crewmembers, with many of them working in several of the plays.

Another one of these unique plays is “The African Spaghetti,” written by Casey Robbins, an undergraduate in the theatre arts department. The play follows the perspectives and dynamics of an early 20th century British family on a safari in Africa as they attempt to make it through the next 24 hours.

The 40-minute comedy is more of an interactive piece, according to Robbins, as it will allow the audience to be creative with the story and its setting.

“I intentionally set the play (and) called for a bare stage so the audience is using their imagination constantly throughout the play to fill in the holes,” Robbins said.

RACHEL ASTON / XPRESS

CAT WALK: A model struts the runway at Provoke, the student fashion show Thursday, May 1 at the Galleria at 101 Henry Adams St. in San Francisco.

Provoke: advocating innovation in fashion aged clothing from the University’s bookstore, all designed by everyone’s really excited to do students in the ADM major. The it together. “ goal of the event was to inspire DJ Seven maintained the the audience and “provoke” fast pace of the show, spinthem to think about innovation ning music that shifted as and sustainability. rapidly as the models changed “It’s basically meant to clothes. Models strutted down provoke and inspire people to the runway in evening gowns, be creative, and to provoke menswear, bridal wear, sportsexcitement in the audience,” wear and other one-of-a-kind said Johanna Renkvist, a fashgarments. Each of the 25 lines ion-merchandising student who consisted of four to five looks served as the backstage lead of designed from scratch by senior the show. fashion design students.

For Zepeda, the name of the Liz Zepeda, Liz show conSTUDENT DESIGNER Zepeda, one jured up ideas of the designof pushing ers, drew the the boundarinspiration for ies of fashion her line from and thinking contrasting outside the crocodiles box. skin and “I would snowy mounsay (my tain peaks. line) was a The little more avant-gardaring than de makeup most,” said donned by the designer. her models “Provoke, for featured me, meant geometric pushing the RACHEL ASTON / XPRESS lines drawn limits a little FASHION SHOW: Attendees begin to crowd the Galleria at 101 Henry Adams St. more than othto resemble crocodile eyes in anticipation of Provoke, SF State’s student fashion show Thursday, May 1. ers.” and eyebrows The audiadorned with frosty rock candy. cohesiveness through a white ence consisted of several hun“I try and get my inspiration and green color palette. dred alumni, students, family from the earth, so elements of This is the first collection members and fashion lovers, all the earth, snow, fire, nature… that she has produced, but cerunited by the universal lanand I always pull from anitainly not her last. guage of fashion. mals,” she said. “We live in a She hopes to collaborate “Fashion in general is so beautiful world so why not pull with other designers, advocatimportant because it lets people from it?” ing innovation and creativity to express themselves in more Zepeda described the design produce one-of-a-kind, madethan just words,” said Renkvist. process as stressful yet rewardto-order garments.

“Everyone has their own pering. It took her two months The show also featured ception of it, and it’s really cool to complete her line, which garments that were repurposed to see people express themoffered a blend of diversity and from SF State banners and dam- selves through what they wear.”

CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE

Provoke, for me, meant pushing the limits a little more than others.

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Opinion

MAY 7, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

WHAT AM I EATING? 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

Enjoy pesticide-free nutrients by only consuming organic foods

BY ANGELICA WILLIAMS anwms@mail.sfsu.edu

Going through a drive thru, many people don’t realize the bad choices they are making when it comes to eating underpriced, bad quality foods on an everyday basis.

If they made the decision to eat organic foods, the benefits are priceless.

“Sales of organic food have been rising steadily over the past decade, reaching almost $30 billion in 2011, or 4.2 percent of all U.S. food and beverage sales,” according to the Organic Trade Association in an article in The Wall Street Journal.

Living in a world of fast food chains, many Americans are weighed down with over-pro-

cessed and chemical-infused foods that can be harmful to their bodies; they don’t question the obvious before they eat: ‘Where did my food come and how did it get here?’ On top of that, many people don’t even realize the advantages of eating organic food.

One of the benefits from eating organic fruits and vegetables is the amount of antioxidants available.

According to the American Chemical Society, fruits and vegetables grown organically have more cancer-fighting antioxidants than those that are grown conventionally.

ANNASTASHIA GOOLSBY OPINION EDITOR agoolsby@mail.sfsu.edu

And when you don’t have enough antioxidants, bacteria can creep into your body and leave you vulnerable to sickness.

If the lack of nutritional value doesn’t convince you to eat organic, then the abundance of pesticides should.

Many of the conventionally grown fruits and vegetables contain pesticides that not only kill the soil but leave an unnatural residue on produce left for buyers to ingest.

Sure you’re thinking about the hefty price tag on that container of blueberries, but buying produce that is in season can make a tremendous difference.

When it’s winter, don’t spend the additional five dollars on berries when pomegranates and persimmons

are in season for much more affordable price. It’s a matter of shopping smart.

We’ve all heard the saying “You are what you eat.” Do you really want to be that huge, overdeveloped tomato that’ll just create more challenges in the future? No, of course not; so put down that apple Safeway claims to be healthy just because it’s a ripe fruit and pick up something that is actually organic.

Not only will you benefit but our environment will benefit.

When organic produce is grown there is less fertilizer run-off killing aquatic life, less toxic residue in the ecosystem and fewer pesticide mutations overpowering our chemicals, according to an article from Greening Princeton.

We all need to eat organic so we know where our food is coming from, we don’t sabotage our body with unknown pesticides and we contribute to saving our diminishing environment.

CURTIS UEMURA

SPORTS EDITOR cuemura@mail.sfsu.edu

Organic food is not worth spending the extra money or living up to its nutritional hype

MICHAEL DURAN

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR michaeld@mail.sfsu.edu

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

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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

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BY TAYLOR LONIGRO | lonigro@mail.sfsu.edu

ART BY JORDAN CERMINARA

hen food is labeled organic, it refers to the process of how farmers grow and process agricultural products.

Whether they are fruits, vegetables, meats, grains or dairy products, the organic farming process excludes the use of pesticides, hormones, food additives and other unnatural substances.

People are absolutely obsessed with the idea of organic food these days. They shop at specialty supermarkets and attend weekly farmer’s markets to purchase the food that they are told is better for their body, just for a slightly higher price. But is organic food living up to all its nutritional hype? The answer is no, not really.

Sorry organic food advocates, conventional foods are just as nutritious as the organic counterpart. Researchers from Stanford analyzed data from 17 different studies in humans and more than 200 studies of the levels of nutrients

and contaminants in foods.

The conclusion? There were no significant differences in nutritional value, allergic reactions or foodborne illnesses between organic and nonorganic foods.

The study reassured all of us “regular food” consumers that although pesticide and hormone levels are significantly lower in organically grown foods, they are still so low in traditionally grown foods that it shouldn’t have a negative health impact.

Another problem? More than once, many like to think “USDA Organic” labeled foods are not actually organic. They’re right.

The USDA keeps a National List of foods that are conventionally grown or raised that are allowed to be labeled as organic products.

Casings of organically labeled sausages can be from conventionally raised cows that are fed hormones; because majority of the sausage is actually organic it is considered “organic.” It defeats the purpose and morals

of purchasing an organic product.

We might as well just go all out and buy the cheaper, conventional product.

Organic food is indefinitely more expensive to purchase than conventional food. When shopping for groceries, it is not worth paying twice as much for the organic spinach if the rest of your shopping list is not organic as well.

Everyone wants to ingest the highest quality of food possible but the bill associated with organic groceries exceeds the benefits the food has to offer.

According to the USDA, people who buy organic increase their grocery spending by $11$45 per month. That’s up to $539 more a year.

The annual spending on organic products can be saved or spent on other things that are directly more important whether it be charity, retirement or college expenses.

If the nutritional benefits aren’t astounding, why waste the money?

Sure, purchasing and consuming something labeled organic might make you feel

better about yourself but it can feel worse knowing that same expensive “organic” product is not actually 100 percent organic.

There are many benefits of eating organic foods, such as the positive environmental impact and better treatment on animals but from the perspective of nutritional value, it is just not worth the ridiculous prices.

There were no significant differences in nutritional value, allergic reactions or foodborne illnesses between organic and nonorganic foods.

Research Study, STANFORD UNIVERSITY

10

MAY 7, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

Track team finishes fifth in conference final

Sports SENIOR DAY

M

BY HALEY BRUCATO | hbrucato@mail.sfsu.edu

aya Cabi“I thought of nothing,” ness started Chung shrugged. “Usually I out her just focus on one thing and season with think ‘Get this right and you’ll a serious go far’, but this time I just natinjury and urally did what I’ve been doing just recently returned after in practice and did it well.” some time away.

Chung and Black both She only competed in half barely missed their second of the meets her teammates all-conference teams as Chung have in this outdoor season. placed fourth in the hammer “My foot injury has hapthrow, and Black tied for secpened before, there’s not much ond in the high jump with three you can do to make it better,” other athletes, but ultimately she said. “It never went away. I finished fifth because of the tie just (had) to fight through it.” breaker.

She hasn’t been able to The team finished in fifth practice the 400m hurdles all place with a score of 76.16 year and said she is still trying points overall, improving on to work out the kinks. last years performance when Despite all that, Cabiness they had a total score 59 points. was named CCAA Female Ath“We had a lot of athletes lete of the Year at the three-day run their best times, throw conference championships in their best (and) do their best La Jolla, Calif. over the weekmarks in the field,” head coach end and earned a place in the Tom Lyons said. “The team 400m hurdles at the National was working together very Championships at the end of well. We scored around the the month. amount of points “I knew we thought we I was tired would.” because it was a This year three-day event,” wasn’t withthe senior athlete out challenges said. “But I though as Hilary thought ‘This is King sprained it, this is what her ankle in ‘This is it, this we’ve worked the long jump, is what we’ve for all year which took her worked for all long...I really out of the 4x100 wanted to go out relay. year long...I there and kill Laura really wanted to it.’”

Stokes stepped go out there and Cabiness’ in last minute day started when to run and after kill it. she claimed a a rearranged second place lineup and slight Maya Cabiness, spot on the podisetback the relay SF STATE TRACK SENIOR um in the 100m team pulled a dash to earn Allsecond place CCAA honors in that event. finish just behind Chico State, Ironically, the only person who took home the gold. to beat her was her own team“Laura stepped in and did mate - Janesha Anthony, who a great job with that,” Lyons finished 13 seconds before her. said. “We just rolled with it.”

Cabiness made her way The relay team currently back to the podium shortly sits at 12th in the country, with after with a first place win in the top 16 relay teams qualithe 400m hurdles, setting a new fying for National Championpersonal record of 60.32. ships at the end of this month.

“I overcame some adversiBut other teams still have the ties,” she said. “But the whole chance to bump the Gators team came up and did what we as competitions continue this had to do to for our best.” week.

Anthony joined Cabiness “We won’t know until next as an All-CCAA selection but week if we make it, but we are they weren’t the only Gators, pretty optimistic,” Lyons said. as freshman Alex Jones placed “We had some really amazing third in the shot put, sophoforces in the conference meet, a more Ashley Black came in heptathlete (Ashley Black) for second in the heptathlon and the first time in seven years, sophomore Michelle Chung Maya for Athlete of the Year, finished second in the discus.

Michelle throwing the best “Well it was a little difmarks of her life in all three ferent this weekend, because events and Alex getting third I wasn’t hoping I would get (in throws) as a freshman.” lucky,” Chung said. “I had This weekend there will be good practices and I knew I a small meet put on by USF, a could do it.” final opportunity for the Gators Her mind was absoluteto get a mark to qualify for the ly clear moments before her Division II National Champievent. onships May 22.

TONY SANTOS / XPRESS

TOP: SF State Gator Jack Veronin (31) pitches to Cal State East Bay Pioneer Zac Chuvala (1) at Mahoney Field Sunday, May 4. BOTTOM: SF State Gator Dillon Meyer (4) is congratulated by his teammates after hitting an inside-the-park home run against the Cal State East Bay Pioneers at Mahone Field Sunday, May 4.

Inside-the-park homerun lifts Gators to victory on senior day

BY NELSON AMAYA slenon44@mail.sfsu.edu

In a game where six players donned purple and gold for the last time, one play reminded an SF State senior where he started.

An inside-the-park home run in the bottom of the second had Dillion Meyer nostalgic as the rare play drove in two runs and helped SF State defeat the Cal State East Bay Pioneers in the final game of the season, 5-3 at home, May 4.

“That brings me back to Little League. That normally doesn’t happen,” Meyer said.

“It’s funny, all of us infielders were talking about it the other day how the only way you’re getting an inside-the-park home run is if the infielder dives down the front line and he’s slow and it ended up happening and it was great. It was really funny.”

As Meyer rushed around the bases, he caught a glimpse of the infielder diving for the ball and thought the most he would get out of the hit was a triple as he reached second base.

“I looked at coach and he’s just waving me home and I was like, ‘Lets do this. I’m a little bit gassed but lets see if I can make it,’” Meyer said.

“It’s a good feeling definitely but it’s a home run in the books. It looked like it went over the fence so that’s the good part too.”

Senior pitcher Jack Veronin, in his final game as a Gator, went eight innings and had three strikeouts and gave up two runs on 11 hits.

He picked up his fourth win of the year in the final start of his career, but it wasn’t until Veronin’s final inning that the thought of this being his final game on the

I looked at coach and he’s just waving me home and I was like, ‘Lets do this.’

Dillion Meyer, SF STATE SENIOR

mound hit him.

“It didn’t feel real until about the eighth inning,” Veronin said. “I knew my time was winding down, but it was fun.”

Gators head coach Mike Cummins said the plan was for Veronin to go the full nine innings but saw that the Pioneers had other plans in mind.

“I wanted to get him a complete game on his last start for us but after the home run we just wanted him to get the win,” Cummins said.

Junior Cory Davis came in to close out the game and although he gave up a home run immediately after replacing Veronin, Davis was able to recover and picked up his 13th

save of the year.

Prior to the start of the game, Gators’ players Meyer and Veronin, along with teammates Taylor Wade, Trevor Diskin and Grady Espinosa, were honored for Senior Day. Third baseman Matt Vera helped Meyer lead the Gator offense with a pair of hits and two runs in three at bats.

Vera said he will be back next season and is excited because it will be his last.

“I’m going to be a senior, it’ll be my last year and I definitely want to go out strong,” Vera said.

The Gators ended the season with 22-28 record and finished eighth in their conference with a record of 17-23.