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Student shreds his way to success turn to page 4
MARCH 18, 2015 ISSUE 08 VOLUME C GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
Serving the San Francisco State community since 1927
Indecent exposure results in arrest
INSIDE: Civil engineering students prepare their model buildings for National seismic strength competition in Boston.
STEVE CALDERON snc@mail.sfsu.edu
after multiple reports of indecent exposure, upd apprehended a suspect connected to several cases. A total of six victims have come forward to the University Police Department in connection to a suspect arrested in Park Merced Thursday for multiple counts of indecent exposure, according to University officials. UPD officers arrested Kaine Sinclair near campus March 12 after they witnessed the suspect exposing himself to a woman, according Deputy Chief Reggie Parson, commanding officer for UPD’s Investigations Division. “The case is being investigated by the UPD,” Parson said in an email. “The UPD has increased our patrols and augmented our patrol techniques.” The officers apprehended 19-year-old Sinclair at 3:43 p.m. and took him into custody, according to the University’s crime log. Sinclair, who is not affiliated with the University, has been linked to an another reported incident of indecent exposure that took place March 9 in Park Merced, according to a Clery alert sent out to students March 13. spike Continued ON PAGE 2
TURN TO paGE 6 & 7 PERSPECTIVE: Chris Sanchez
(left) and Fiorella Vasquez hold down wooden beams to ensure the glue dries properly during construction of the balsa wood tower in the Science Building at SF State Tuesday, March 10. DRAKE NEWKIRK / XPRESS
Forum empowers women AVERY PETERSON averylp@mail.sfsu.edu
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former leader for the Los Angeles chapter of the Black Panthers Party and political prisoner for her involvement with the group shared her experience and wisdom March 14 at the 4th Annual Women’s Conference organized by Associated Students, Inc. Ericka Huggins spoke to the 300 audience members at the conference in Jack Adams Hall to join her in a discussion of equality and empowerment. She examined race, gender issues and her personal experience with social justice activism. “I think we are afraid of having conversations where we will be critiqued or where someone is vulnerable because of their ignorance,” Huggins said. “We need
MELISSA MINTON / XPRESS
MEXICAN FOLKLORE: Grupo Folklórico Los Mejicas perform at the 4th Annual Associated Students Women’s Conference: Empowered Women Empower Women at Jack Adams Hall Saturday, March 14.
speaker Continued ON PAGE 3
HIV survivor overcomes tragedy through education EVA BARRAGAN evbarrag@mail.sfsu.edu
When Gladys “Gizzy” Somarriba found out she tested positive for HIV in January of 2013, she immediately worried about what her family would think of her. “I told my mom over a text message, asking her if she would still love me,” Somarriba said. “I was crying hysterically, I was embarrassed. I didn’t want her to hate me. When I called to tell my dad, he hung up on me.” Shortly after being diagnosed, Somarriba experienced a state of depression that led her to cut herself in self-mutilation. It was through the help of antidepressants and the creation
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of her Facebook page “Gizzy’s Story” that Somarriba was able to cope with her disease and help educate others. “I know I’m helping other women through my page because they reach out to me,” Somarriba said. “If I can stop at least one person from having unprotected sex or if I can encourage at least one person to go out and get tested then I feel it is all worth it.” Somarriba decided to get tested after finding suspicious emails on her ex-boyfriend’s
documentary Continued ON PAGE 5
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ANGELICA EKEKE / XPRESS
SURVIVOR: Gladys Somarriba takes a break from work to sit in the sun off of 2nd and Stevenson streets in the SoMa district of San Francisco Tuesday, March, 17.
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MARCH 18, 2015
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Spike in indecent exposure reporting startles students in 2013
Continued from the front Sinclair’s case is ongoing and charges are pending, Parson said. Students received a second alert of indecent exposure that occurred in University Park North March 11. A woman reportedly saw an unknown man who exposed himself to her at 4:10 p.m. while driving a blue car on Buckingham Way. The suspect reportedly masturbated inside his vehicle while he drove by, according to the University police crime log. Sinclair was not connected to the March 11 incident on Buckingham Way, according to Parson. Sinclair’s arrest capped off a string of Clery alerts from the University last week. Biology major Enxhi Tahiraj said she appreciates the updates from the University regarding incidents on and around campus, but thinks there is a chance some incidents go unreported because some victims are uncomfortable with going to the police. “If more people are reporting it you feel like you’re not alone,” Tahiraj said. Tahiraj said that she’s happy UPD arrested a suspect, but wishes more would be done to prevent incidents from happening in the first place. “It feels better, but at the same time I wish there was more protection because I don’t see a lot of security around school,” Tahiraj said. “I
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I wish there was more protection because I don’t see a lot of security around school.
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feel previous semesters they were a bit more protective, but this semester I rarely see security or police at school.” Senior Maddie Pop was impressed with how quickly UPD responded and apprehended Sinclair. Pop said she agreed that there needs to be more done to prevent incidents like the one reported that took place March 9. Throughout the U.S., public fouryear colleges reported a total of 17 non-forcible sex offenses in 2013, according to a database of campus crime
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statistics provided by the U.S. Department of Education. Although there has been a recent surge of indecent exposures at SF State, in 2013 there were zero reported non-forcible sex offenses from any of the Bay Area public four-year colleges, the report stated. There have been five indecent exposure reports between March 9 and March 15, according to the campus crime map available on the school’s website. Parson confirmed at least six
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ILLUSTRATION BY JOURDON AHN / XPRESS
victims tied to Sinclair, four of them taking place near the intersection of Arballo and Pinto drives where Sinclair was apprehended. Police have not located a suspect in the indecent exposure case reported March 11 at UPN. UPD recommended students and staff take advantage of the Campus Alliance for a Risk-Free Environment escort program to minimize personal risk while on campus. Students can call (415) 3387200 to schedule an escort.
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NEWS 3
MARCH 18, 2015
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Through all the adversity we face, it’s great seeing there are still women willing to put themselves at the forefront of important issues.
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-Onyeomachi okoro
EMPOWERMENT: Ericka Huggins, the keynote speaker at the 4th
Annual Associated Students Women’s Conference: Empowered Women Empower Women, speaks to 300 members who attended in Jack Adams Hall Saturday, March 14. MELISSA MINTON / XPRESS
Speaker inspires activism in women Continued from the front to talk about everything if we are going to talk about anything. We have a collective wisdom that is profound.” Huggins was invited to speak by the director of the Women’s Center, senior Shani Winston, who said Huggins’ experience and message fit perfectly with the conference’s theme, Empowered Women Empower Women. Winston first attended the event three years ago and has organized it for the past two years. “This conference is an event that changed my life,” Winston said. “It made me realize a lot about myself and society, it opened my mind. I want people to open their minds and work together at the conference.” The conference was composed of speakers, a discus-
sion panel, workshops and a closing ceremony. Activities and educational workshops provided information about violence against transgender women of color, journaling through yoga and igniting women in politics. Huggins said that current systems in place in the world are inherently old and biased by race and gender. She said it was important to create an open and honest dialogue to address injustices that women and minorities face. Taking the initiative to conduct research and discuss important issues was essential, Huggins said. She emphasized the importance of eliminating labels and stereotypes and working together across different causes. “I’m not only African-American, I am a woman,” Huggins said. “I’m not only that, a woman is my partner,
and not only that, I’m a mom, a grandmother, a sociologist, a teacher and a meditator. All of these things are a part of me and we look at human beings in little boxes and our causes tend to be in boxes as well.” Volunteer Julio Leyva said he appreciated how truthful and easy it was to understand Huggins’ message. “I liked how she said if you are really passionate about something, you need to be visible and stand up,” Leyva said. Sophomore Onyeomachi Okoro volunteered at the event for this first time this year and said she was excited to be involved with the conference. “Through all the adversity we face, it’s great seeing there are still women willing to put themselves at the forefront of important issues,” Okoro said.
Civil rights leader boycotts ‘Selma’ film FARNOUSH AMIRI famiri@mail.sfsu.edu
Colia Lafayette Clark, a leader in the fight to gain voter rights for African-Americans in Selma, Alabama, shared her first-hand experiences at SF State as part of a national tour to discuss the movement March 10. While speaking with students during the event, which fell on the 50th anniversary of the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery march, Clark criticized the recently released motion film “Selma.” The film, which depicts the events in Selma from 1964 to 1965, debuted in the U.S. December 2014. Selma won both an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture. Clark said she refuses to watch the film because neither she nor her husband were consulted for the production even though they initiated the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee project at Selma and were crucial figures in the movement. “Whenever you’re talking about doing a historical film, you can’t do it without some fiction, but you can do a historical film without lies,” Clark said. “You can have fictional characters and incidents, but you don’t need lies.” Clark, who was 22 years old at the time of the march, said the film focuses on older individuals who were involved in the movement and gives only a small
MARLENE SANCHEZ / XPRESS
VOTER RIGHTS: Colia Layfette Clark speaks to students, teachers and community members in the Pierre Coste Room at CCSF Tuesday, March 10.
glimpse into the vital work contributed by the young students involved in SNCC. As members of the SNCC, Clark worked alongside the Dallas County Voters League in the years leading up to the famous march. The groups held citizenship classes to help African-Americans prepare for the literacy test required for voter registration. Clark said that SNCC’s organizing efforts were necessary because of the
economic intimidation and violence that African-Americans in the South faced when working to gain voter rights. Of the 15,115 eligible African-Americans in Dallas County, only 130 of them were registered to vote, according to a 1961 Civil Rights Commission report. Lloyd Pitts of the San Francisco Student Union organized Clark’s speech at SF State and felt the 50th anniversary of Selma was relevant to students and
current civil rights issues still faced today. “With movies, there is history and there is tradition and what tradition we are taught doesn’t always line up,” Pitts said as he introduced Clark. “So it’s good to have a person here who is so foundational in the movement and has pure historical perspective.” Despite the film’s recognition, Clark said she was not impressed with the motion picture based on what she has heard. She said she perceives the film as an inaccurate depiction of the events that occurred in the years that led up to the march. SF State graduate student Anthony Palmer worked with the San Francisco Student Union and other organizations to bring Clark to campus because he said he felt her input on that aspect of history and the film is important to showcase. “Yeah, maybe their portrayal (in the film) wasn’t so great,” Palmer said. “But the Legislative victories that the movement won can’t be taken away by a movie.” Even though Clark said her experiences were not accurately represented in the motion film, she is still optimistic about the concept of activism and hopes to inspire students to continue with their efforts. “When you begin to see Selma, know that only will you, the young people, be the ones who will start the demonstrations,” Clark said.
4 LIFESTYLE & CULTURE
MARCH 18, 2015
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Professor links cold temperatures with weight loss KALANI RUIDAS
While most people consider dieting to be cutting out their favorite desserts or juice fasting with only fruit and vegetables, scientists are buzzing about the latest and possibly most extreme weight-loss regimen called cold diet, where one exposes themselves to below-freezing temperatures to shiver away the weight. Good Morning America reporter Becky Worley published an investigative video segment last month exploring the practice of thermal dieting. To test the regiment, Worley stood in a chamber that blew cold air on her damp skin, sat in a tub filled with ice cubes and walked through the snow wearing nothing more than a T-shirt and running shorts. The team at Good Morning America visited SF State professor of kinesiology Matt Lee on campus to quantify the results of Worley’s resting metabolic rate and estimate her caloric output while wearing a vest lined with ice packs. The idea behind the diet plan relies on acute exposure to the cold that stimulates brown fat, which is stored and burned to
kruidas@mail.sfsu.edu
maintain the body's constant internal temperature, Worley said. “I would be hesitant to recommend cold exposure as a method for weight loss,” Lee said. “This is all kind of new so there’s a lot of questions, experimentation that research has yet to answer. It’s no replacement for exercise by any means.” In a 20-minute experiment, Worley burned 1.5 kilo calories per minute with the vest in comparison to the 1.4 kilo calories she burned without the vest, indicating about 7 to 8 percent rate of change, according to Lee's readings. This estimate projects that she could burn about 18 calories per day while wearing the vest. Scientists began studying brown fat in the1960s when researchers at the University of Ottawa sought to determine how small animals could survive harsh winters while hibernating. Then in 2009, scientists from the Massachusetts Medical Society discovered evidence that activating brown fat could play a role in adult metabolism and weight loss. University of California,
EMMA CHIANG / XPRESS
CALCULATION: Kinesiology major Jessica Wong measures the resting metabolic rate, RMR, of colleague Kolten Lundholm to calculate the caloric expenditure in the lab at SF State Monday, March 9.
Irvine science professor Wayne Hayes invented the Cold Shoulder ice vest that Worley wore in the video. Hayes said he was displeased with the way his product was portrayed because the reporter used the vest once, rather than over an extended period of time. “The Good Morning America piece swung its perspective more negatively and cherry-picked incomplete pieces of evidence making its effectiveness seem skeptical,” Hayes said. The vest is advertised to burn 500 calories per day. Hayes said he developed this estimate by conducting an informal clinical trial over the course of four weeks. In his experiment, Hayes documented his weight loss results for two weeks without
wearing the vest, then two weeks with the vest, while keeping close track of his caloric intake. During the weeks he wore the vest, Hayes lost one pound per week. He divided 3500 calories, or one pound of fat, by the seven days of the week he wore the vest, giving him an estimate of 500 calories burned per day. For best results, Hayes recommended wearing the vest twice a day for 60 to 90 minutes each session. Hayes tested the Cold Shoulder on science colleague Nick Hamilton, who over a training period of 14 weeks used the product during the final two. Along with diet and exercise, Hamilton maintained a consistent percentage of body fat after losing 0.8 percent throughout the entire course of his training.
Comparatively, the Cold Shoulder produced the loss of a full one percent of body fat during its implementation, Hamilton said. Hamilton also tried other cold diet methods, such as cold exposure, which involved taking walks out in the cold and cold immersion in a bath full of iced water. After 50 days, Hamilton was able to fully immerse his body in the bath. However, he noted that neither freezing baths nor chilly walks were as convenient as wearing the Cold Shoulder. “Think of it as another tool in your arsenal,” Hamilton said. “There are definitely benefits to constant exposure, but it’s a steady progression that works best in combination with exercise and good nutrition.”
Skater cashes passion into profit KALANI RUIDAS
kruidas@mail.sfsu.edu
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t 17 years old, Sam Gershwin watched intently over his father's shoulder as his experienced hands moved over the canadian maple to fashion Gershwin's first home-pressed skateboard. As a woodworking craftsman, Gershwin's father showed him the ins and outs of pressing his own boards in their garage at home. What started as a hobby, soon flourished into a business model that incorporated Gershwin’s love of all things skate. Now 19, cinema major Gershwin has channeled his creative energy into building a burgeoning skate brand called Freakwency. Along with fellow SF State students Tyler Stojack, Mycah Williams and long-time friend Andrew Rainbolt, Gershwin and his crew said they are establishing a name for themselves in the San Francisco skate scene. "Skating is my absolute passion," Gershwin said. "I started Freakwency because I want to be happy doing what I love most." Gershwin moved from Thousand Oaks to San Francisco with the dream of studying
KATE FRASER / XPRESS
GRIPTAPE: SF State Cinema major and owner of the skateboard company
Freakwency San Gershwin takes a break from skating near campus Monday, March 16.
cinematography and immersing himself in the city’s robust skate culture. After his first semester at SF State, Gershwin said he was more motivated than ever to find a professional manufacturer to continue Freakwency beyond his workshop garage.
Over a six-month period, his original supply order of 72 skateboards has dwindled down to four. Along with selling his products in person, Gershwin established a business relationship with the owners of Park Plaza Fine Foods, who distribute
his boards to the SF State skate community. Mark Khoury, co-owner of the Park Merced convenience store, said he was pleased with Freakwency’s sales. “A lot of kids recognize his boards in the store,” Khoury said. "I've even put in another order with Sam so we can continue selling his product here." Gershwin is working on getting his boards into San Francisco skate shops like Mission Skate and DLXSF on Market Street. With 20 years of experience in the skate industry, DLXSF buyer and manager Matt Cantor has seen most new skate companies take three to five years to define their direction, establish a presence and gain recognition. “What Sam’s doing is rad,” Cantor said. “He has a lot to think about when it comes to making his brand stand out, but that’ll come with time as he develops a style in his conceptual endeavors.” From getting shaken off the back of a Prius while hitching a ride to being chased down by a bulletproof vest-clad security guard, Stojack said some of his favorite memories with his skate crew involved causing mischief while shredding in the city.
“The best part about being in the Freakwency skate crew has been filming with my friends,” Stojack said. “It doesn’t feel like a chore. We bring the camera everywhere we go and film whatever tricks we’re working on that day.” Their upcoming video, "Get Yo Freak On!" will feature footage of the Freakwency crew’s antics, highlighting the elements of fun and spontaneity that Gershwin said he wants to emulate as the foundation of his brand. “I like watching skate videos where it’s obvious all the skaters are friends,” Gershwin said. “That’s what I’m doing with 'Get Your Freak On!' It shows our personalities and skate style, which is a big part of familiarizing people with our crew.” In addition to the video that will be released in October, Gershwin has several smaller projects in the works, including a new graphic design that will be released on March 21. “Freakwency and skating are pretty much all I think about,” Gershwin said. “This is what I want to do with my life. I want to continue doing what I want to do on my own terms and being my creative self, and I hope that I can make it doing just that.”
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LIFESTYLE & CULTURE 5
I realized that even though we are in the 21st Century, people still think HIV has a face. HIV can happen to anyone.
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-Gladys Somarriba
REFLECTION: In a screen grab from the short documentary called “Gizzy’s Story,” Gladys Somarriba applies eye makeup.
COURTESY OF TUCKER MORGAN
Documentary star shares her HIV story Continued from the front iPad. Somarriba had discovered him texting another girl in the past and after seeing his response to another man’s Craigslist advertisement about a “back massage,” Somarriba considered the need to get tested. Her boyfriend was sitting in the room next her when the nurse gave her the diagnosis. She said she knew it was her ex who infected her, but thought it was by accident. It was through social media that she discovered that her ex-boyfriend had been born with the disease and had known about it the entire time they dated “I just felt like everything was over,” Somarriba said. “I didn’t want to accept that the man I fell in love with and planned a future with knowingly infected me.” National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was commemorated March 10. Of the more than 1.2 million people living with HIV in the U.S., one in four are women, according to Greater Than website. Somarriba was 29 years old when she was diagnosed. “To me, everyday is HIV awareness day,” she said. In March, close to her one-year anniversary of living with HIV, Somarriba created a Facebook page to share her story with the public. Somarriba said she was motivated by the difficulty in finding an HIV/AIDS support group where she felt comfortable. When she revealed the truth about her infection to a support group for battered women at Kaiser Permanente, they told her that she did not look like someone who had HIV. “I realized that even though we are in the 21st Century, people still think HIV has a face,” Somarriba said.
“HIV can happen to anyone.” SF State Peer Educators Advocating Campus Health volunteer Alec Santos said part of the stigma some people have with the disease is having a misunderstanding of the distinction between HIV and AIDS. “Gizzy’s boyfriend may have infected her with HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus,” said Santos. “It is a virus that causes the progressive failure of the immune system causing a space for opportunistic viruses to thrive.” The P.E.A.C.H program provides HIV/AIDS education in various ways, ranging from in-depth workshops that are either done in the Student Health Services Conference Room or in classrooms around campus if requested, Santos said. “In regard to Gizzy and her boyfriend, that is a very sad and unethical situation,” he said. “By the state of California, people are mandated to inform their sexual partner of any infectious diseases that may be carrying. If someone who does have a virus and transmits said virus knowingly, the transmission is considered a misdemeanor.” Somarriba’s Facebook page inspired film students Tucker Morgan and Diana Chen to create a short documentary about how she was able to cope with the virus by sharing her story online and educating others. Morgan and Chen, who took a Bay Area Video Coalition documentary and community off-campus class offered by SF State, were given an assignment to profile someone in the community, and Morgan thought “Gizzy’s Story” was one that needed to be shared.
“I really admired Gizzy’s bravery,” Morgan said. “And making the film was kind of a way that I could support her and what she was doing.” Chen said she was so moved by the film that she entered it in the 54th annual SF state film finals while Morgan uploaded the film to YouTube. Although Somarriba said she has received a lot of feedback and support for sharing her story, she has also received criticism, including a response from one woman who accused her of lying about her disease. “I have tons of people question my story and I don’t understand why people think I would lie,” Somarriba said. “Who would want to be known as the girl with HIV? This isn’t a lifetime movie, this is my life and I’m not getting money from this or book deals. I wish I was lying. I wish it wasn’t true.” Somarriba said that despite having to deal with a lot of negativity and even receiving a restraining order from her ex-boyfriend after revealing his identity online, the positive feedback has outweighed the bad. She participates in the AIDS Walk every year and her ultimate goal is to become a guest speaker and share her story with young girls. She said she would like to eventually start her own HIV/AIDS foundation for women. “I would love for it to be a huge organization,” Somarriba said. “But even it’s just a weekly meeting in my living room where women can gather and support one another, I’ll be happy.”
6 & 7 SPOTLIGHT
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TOWER OF POWER For their senior project, a group of civil engineering students designed towers made entirely of balsa wood to test and measure stability against the force of an earthquake. PHOTOS BY DRAKE NEWKIRK STORY BY MARTIN BUSTAMANTE
martinpb@mail.sfsu.edu
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large crack rang out in the small classroom in the Science Building as the 5-foot-tall wooden tower toppled from seismic vibration. The students who made the structure moaned in unison as their first attempt to build an earthquake resistant tower failed. The tower, built entirely from balsa wood and glue, is a senior project made by the SeismiGators, a group of civil engineering students who for over the past year have been researching and testing tower designs to see how they measure up against the force of an earthquake. After their first tower failed during the seismic test, the team identified the mistakes and missed opportunities and have built a brand new tower. “I really trust our structure,” Vasquez said. “I feel it will do really well.” The SeismiGators’ new tower will compete against more than 30 other college teams in the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute’s Twelfth Annual Undergraduate Design Competition in Boston March 31-April 3. Teams at the competition will test the structural integrity of their model buildings on an earthquake simulator, which is a small platform that shakes horizontally in multiple directions. Thirty extra pounds of weight will be added to the structure to simulate the weight of people, furniture and other systems involved with a real building. Project advisor and assistant professor of civil engineering Zhaoshuo Jiang is hopeful for the design but spotlights the entire process as a learning benefit to the students. “To me the outcome is the not the most important thing,” Jiang said. “The process of doing this competition is the most important thing.” Before any adhesive is applied to the wood, the SeismiGators modeled and tested a rendering of the building in SAP2000, a structural and earthquake engineering software. Different designs were tested and vetted until the group was happy with a final design, said Aimee Sylvia, who runs the group’s website. The finished product resulted from a process of distilling the group’s favorite designs to fit the rules of the competition. Pieces were then drawn up in 3D-modeling software and a laser cutter on campus was used to cut the balsa wood, a lightweight wood also known as ochroma pyramidale that the competition rules required for the building material. Fitting and gluing the pieces together was the most time-consuming part of the building process. Teams of four people worked on the tower in twohour shifts on days that worked best with their schedules. “Even though you want to take your day off or something, no,” Vasquez said. “You have to be here, you have to do this and put your hours into it.” Through the countless hours of hard work, the students said they are proud of what they have accomplished. “It’s difficult to describe, but it’s definitely a labor of love,” Sylvia said. SEISMIC TOWER: (clockwise from above) Niam Fiorella Vasquez holds down a wooden beam of the balsa wood tower to ensure it glues properly in the Science building at SF State Tuesday,
March 10. Arzhang Derakhshani (left) and Christopher Sanchez (right) lift the 35-pound balsa wood tower while Fiorella Vasquez (left back) and Zihui Ma (right back) direct them toward the shake table for testing Friday, Feb, 27. The SeismiGator team has mixed reactions as the base of the balsa wood tower snaps and topples over during an earthquake test Friday, Feb, 21. Mike Honeycutt (left) and Arzhang Derakhshani insert 30 pound metal rods to add weight to their balsa wood tower before conducting a shake test Monday, Feb 9.
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CONTACT: (left) SF State Gator Jennifer Lewis collides with Holy Names University player Marissa Romero on a double play attempt in game one of a doubleheader at the SF State Softball Field Friday, March 13. (above) SF State Gator outfielder Aryn Guzman crosses home plate after hitting a home run.
DAVID HENRY / XPRESS
Gators win first doubleheader at home VINCE FAUSONE IV
vfausone@mail.sfsu.edu
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he Gators combined lights-out pitching with the long-awaited clutch hitting that has eluded the squad this season, downing the Holy Names University Hawks 4-0 and 9-1 for the team’s first doubleheader win at home Friday. Pitcher Megan Clark forced Hawks hitters into difficult pitch counts that resulted in countless easy outs during her first-game shutout. She stretched a no-hitter into the sixth inning before allowing just two hits by the game’s end. “I didn’t even know that I was pitching a no-hitter until someone told me,” Clark said. “You can’t think like that when
you’re out there.” A defensive turning point for the Gators came in the third inning, when catcher Sara Higa gunned the ball to shortstop Jennifer Lewis to catch a stealing Holy Names base runner. The throw veered slightly to the right, causing Lewis to leap for the catch and collide with the Holy Names player as she entered her slide. Lewis made the tag and walked away unscathed, while the other player remained on the ground before being supported off the field. SF State proved themselves offensively in the second game, putting up nine runs through the first two innings en route to their first eight-run-rule victory of the season. A two-run hit from right fielder Aryn Guzman sailed over the left-cen-
ter field fence to end the six-run second inning. “As soon as I saw that pitch I knew it was one I wanted to attack,” said Guzman of her second homerun this season. “We’ve been doing drills where we sight the ball out of hand in practice, and I think it helped us today. We showed that we can hit collectively as a team.” The Gators hit well from top to bottom, totaling more runs in two innings of the second game than in any full game this season. Guzman, Higa, left fielder Delanie Chrisman, center fielder Chelsea Brent and third baseman Lucy Fernandez all had multiple hits throughout the day’s two games. “It was really nice to see everyone hit well,” Fernandez said. “The hitting was
more consistent today. I’m hoping that we come back looking like this next week.” Head coach Cristina Byrne said she was glad to see her team take an early lead after watching them struggle to fight out of early holes often throughout the season. “We got the opportunity to play from out front which was great,” Byrne said. “We were aggressive early and the middle of the lineup hit well. It was good to have a break from conference play and now we get a couple of days of before next week’s practices which should be really good for the team.” The Gators will look to keep their momentum going into next week’s four-game series against a 14-14 conference opponent in Cal State San Bernardino.
Wrestling team ends season at Nationals ELIZABETH CARRANZA ecarranz@mail.sfsu.edu
A Gator wrestling trio said goodbye to the 2014-2015 season after placing 39th overall among the 48 teams competing in day one of the NCAA Division II National Wrestling Championships March 13 in St. Louis, Missouri. Mats covered the wooden floors of the Chaiftez Arena, as the Gator wrestling trio Andrew Reggi, Jordan Gurrola and Johnny Costa prepared to face off against some of the top wrestlers in the nation. “We were really focused and I thought we wrestled pretty well,” said wrestling head coach Lars Jensen. “It was a very tough tournament. We were a couple points away from having two All-Americans.” Fourth-year Reggi, who made an appearance at Nationals for the second consecutive year, started the tournament for SF State with a matchup against seventh-ranked in the nation Jake Cramer of Tiffin University. The 197-pound Gator fell short with a 9-0 decision but came back to win by fall against Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania’s Jalei Page. Reggi ended his SF State career with a nail-biting 6-5 loss against the nation’s top wrestler, Sam Mangum.
SARA GOBETS / XPRESS
FORCE: Menlo College’s Tyler Thomas gets pinned by SF State’s Alex Abono during a wrestling match at The Swamp Thursday, Feb. 12.
“I felt like I underestimated my opponent,” Reggi said. “I’m going to miss it. I love the program, my teammates, my coaches and I don’t regret anything.” Gurrola, who entered the tournament as the sixth-ranked in the nation, lost his first match at Nationals with a 9-7 deci-
sion to Minnesota State-Moorhead’s Blake Bosch. He then returned to the mat with another loss to Long Island University Post’s Joseph Calderon. Gurrola ended his breakout sophomore season with a 29-12 record, and was recently named to the First Team All-Rocky
Mountain Athletic Conference Team. One of the biggest highlights of Gurrola’s season was his second place finish at the 2014-15 NCAA Division II Super West Regional Championships Feb. 28. “Overall, I thought the year went well,” Gurrola said. “The whole year (I) prepared for this one tournament (Nationals) and I felt fine, but it just didn’t end as planned.” The next Gator that took on the mat was walk-on sophomore Costa. The 184-pound wrestler started Nationals with a draw against number-one-ranked in the nation Dallas Smith. When the second consolation round rolled through, Costa put up a fight against Shorter University’s Terrence Smith, but lost by fall in the last minute of the match. Jensen said the team will rest for the next three weeks and then hit the mats to start preparing for the 2015-2016 season to arrive. He said they will lose experience from senior wrestler Reggi, but said he has high expectations for the seven returning juniors, including Gurrola and Costa, as well as new verbally committed recruits. “We’re expecting big things next year,” Jensen said. “There are only 360 days left until Nationals again. I think next year we’re going to have a real break out.”
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SPORTS 9
MARCH 18, 2015
WARM -UP: SF State
senior softball player Courtney Gravel takes a break for a few moments as she prepares for the team’s doubleheader Friday, March 13.
ANGELICA WILLIAMS / XPRESS
Senior shortstop two spots shy of All-time hits record VINCE FAUSONE IV vfausone@mail.sfsu.edu
P
awing at the dirt with the spikes of her cleat and scanning the field over thick stripes of eye black, SF State’s standout shortstop enters the batter’s box in similar fashion before each at-bat. Her posture screams confidence but still maintains the torturous touch of calmness that unsettles pitchers and edges defenders onto their toes in anticipation. Even the white and purple helmet perched on her head seems in sync with the protruding blonde ponytail that whips around her shoulders as she takes off for first base. Simply put, it’s not hard to pick out Courtney Gravel for the prolific senior standout that she is. “Her demeanor is calm and focused and she doesn’t let anything or any situation get to her.” said SF State’s head coach Cristina Byrne. “I’ve received so many compliments from opposing coaches about her and the way that she plays.” A quick flash of Gravel’s bright green eyes can say more than she cares to, exhibiting resolve, disappointment and frustration all within the course of a single afternoon on the softball field. According to coach Byrne, however, her all-conference shortstop’s quiet demeanor does not prevent her from helping her teammates perform well on the field. “Courtney is reliable, competitive, and leads by example,” Byrne said. “She is quiet and unassuming in stature but she plays big. It has been an extreme pleasure
coaching someone like Courtney and after four years with her, I wish I could have another four.” The statistics on Gravel show her to be devastating at the plate and consistently so. She’s never batted under .300 in a season and has started nearly every game as the Gators’ shortstop since her 2012 freshman season. Her 167 career hits are just two shy of breaking into the top 10 for all-time hits at SF State, and with half a season left to play, she could possibly climb even higher on the list. Gravel is no stranger to success, having competed for a Sutter High School squad that won three section championships during her four seasons there. She was also a three-time team MVP during that period. Her stint as a Gator has been marginally less fruitful from a team standpoint, but according to Gravel, the drop-offs in wins at different points in her career have humbled her as a player and person. While Gravel remains mellow in demeanor out on the field, her support in the stands can hardly contain their excitement. Her friends, girlfriend and parents greet her with cheers before each plate appearance and applaud even louder when she does something well. “They’re always out there and it’s been like that since I could pick up a bat,” Gravel said of her parents. “Even when they don’t make it, my mom will tell me to call her right after the game and all that.” Gravel said growing up she could not wait to escape Yuba City, a small town north of Sacramento that is a
“
Her demeanor is calm and focused and she doesn’t let anything or any situation get to her. I’ve received so many compliments from opposing coaches about her and the way that she plays
”
- head coach Cristina Byrne
nearly three-hour drive away from SF State’s softball field. The distance does not deter her parents, who can often be seen occupying a spot in the steel bleachers behind home plate. “I will always cherish the memories that we have made during all of our softball travels,” said Courtney’s mom Tina Gravel. “It all leads up to the end, senior day, which I am sure will be an emotional day for both of us. I could not be more proud of the person that Courtney is.” Despite what has been a lackluster 5-17 start to her senior season, Gravel said she remains hungry for team and personal success as she closes out four remarkable years with the Gators. “You kind of just look for little successes that aren’t necessarily wins and losses when your team isn’t doing well,” Gravel said. “It makes you appreciate the good games and the wins that much more.”
10 OPINION
x FRANK LADRA
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF fladra@mail.sfsu.edu
NASHELLY CHAVEZ
MANAGING EDITOR nashelly@mail.sfsu.edu
MICHAEL DURAN
ONLINE SUPERVISING EDITOR michaeld@mail.sfsu.edu
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PRINT SUPERVISING EDITOR sportela@mail.sfsu.edu
KATRINA ANDAYA
CREATIVE DIRECTOR kandaya@mail.sfsu.edu
JOURDON AHN
PRINT CREATIVE ASSISTANT COPY EDITOR jahn@mail.sfsu.edu
DANIEL E. PORTER
PHOTO EDITOR danielep@mail.sfsu.edu
JENNAH FEELEY
NEWS EDITOR jfeeley@mail.sfsu.edu
TIMOTHY SMITH
NEWS EDITOR tsmith@mail.sfsu.edu
CALLA CAMERO
LIFESTYLE & CULTURE EDITOR ccamero@mail.sfsu.edu
NICOLE PARADISE
OPINION EDITOR nparadis@mail.sfsu.edu
ELIZABETH CARRANZA
SPORTS EDITOR ecarranz@mail.sfsu.edu
HANNAH MULLINS
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR hmullins@mail.sfsu.edu
PETER SNARR
MULTIMEDIA EDITOR psnarr@mail.sfsu.edu
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ASSISTANT MULTIMEDIA EDITOR ddunaway@mail.sfsu.edu
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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 Frank Ladra at: fladra@mail.sfsu.edu
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STAFF EDITORIAL
Society desensitizes nudity tolerance
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s students, we are constantly exposed to the environment around us—new experiences in the classroom, new interactions in social settings and new beginnings when we face life after graduation. For many college students, especially freshmen, this is the first time experimenting with sexuality and the bodies of others, but when news surfaces of a stranger exposing his genitals to people around campus, it is easy to question how much is too much. Last week, it was reported that SF State police arrested 19-year-old Kaine Sinclair for multiple acts of indecent exposure, the last of which he was engaged in just before authorities took him into custody. Now obviously the thought of some random person approaching unexpectedly with his junk hanging out might not be the most welcome experience for most of us, but at some point this individual may have formed the idea in his head that such an act might actually earn him a positive response from some willing soul. Where would he get an idea like this? His motives may never be known outside of a private counseling session, but for others, the desire to expose oneself so freely might be attributed to a paraphilic disorder, which may or may not have any sexual connotation. Or it may have roots seeded deeper into childhood influences, like the media. At some point in our modern society, the tolerance and acceptance of exposing one’s private parts has become so mainstream, viewing a person in his or her birthday suit is not only common, it’s convenient. Less than a century ago, it was still considered taboo in many parts of the country to reveal parts of the skin that were deemed
inappropriate for public. As the years passed, skirt hemlines grew shorter and shorter. Sport coats and long sleeves made way for polos and tank tops, and eventually shorts were acceptable attire in restaurants and churches across the nation. Intimate bedroom settings started appearing in all categories of film and television, including programming intended for family viewing. What was once a husband and wife scene with two separate beds pushed apart quickly turned into a flesh frenzy of activity that might teach young viewers more in one minute than they might learn in a semester-long high school sex education course. When pornographic entertainment like “Girls Gone Wild” and “Guys Gone Wild” appeared in television infomercials with images of young people across the country exposing their genitalia, many people responded with outrage and disgust. Ultimately though, the financial gain from these videos showed America that the moral majority was quickly losing strength, and suddenly the idea of flashing random people wasn’t so taboo anymore. With the advancement of smartphone technology, now having instant pornographic gratification is literally a finger swipe away. Internet giant Tumblr made posting personal images incredibly user-friendly and resharing them even more convenient. One naked mirror selfie posted in a lapse of judgment could be virally spread through the Web in a matter of seconds. Online social apps like Snapchat and Chatroulette have taken dialogue to an entirely different platform, where conversation is less about the words and more about what you can show your chat partner next. What that person
on the other end of the line does with your images is unknown to you, but don’t be surprised if what you thought was private suddenly surfaces in public. Why certain photo-sharing celebrities still haven’t been able to predict this possibility will forever remain a mystery. It might be safe to assume that almost every person of this generation has at one point or another taken a revealing photo with his or her smartphone. It might even be safe to conclude that those images have been shared with at least one or two people. But sharing one’s body is only acceptable in certain settings. Consider those individuals who might perceive the sharing of a photo as an unwarranted sexual advance. There is a dangerously fine line between casual flirtation and sexual harassment, and the definition can only be evaluated by the person on the receiving end. The opportunity to expose oneself has become far too routine. Yes, privacy is still sacred to most, but at some point we stopped caring so much about actual nudity. Some of us guard our private parts with tenacious security while others flaunt ourselves with nonchalance. When somebody exposes us something we don’t really care to see, what is it we’re really offended by? In the case of the recent indecent exposure, that was unsolicited harassment and highly inappropriate. However, with social media, it seems to be a matter of perception—some will take offense and respond accordingly while some will simply ignore the situation and move on—but the continued desensitization of indecent exposure only sends a message that such behavior is acceptable to everybody, when clearly it is not.
Millennials misconceived by previous generations
PRINT ADVISER kanigel@mail.sfsu.edu MULTIMEDIA ADVISER jgarnier@sfsu.edu
MARCH 18, 2015
HANNAH MULLINS hmullins@mail.sfsu.edu
My generation does not define me, nor does it hold truths for who I am and what I stand. Every time I have browsed through the Internet in the past few months, I have come upon a study, article or explanation of why my generation is the most stupid, selfish and entitled generation of all time. People in their late teens and 20s are considered the “selfie” or the “me, me, me” generation. We are illustrated as individuals who are self-obsessed with the image and the broadcasting of our lives through social media. Quite frankly, I disagree with all of it. Our generation is perceived differently because of technology, time, historic events and how the world has changed around us. The people who were raised in the new millennium don’t want to be selfish. We just grew up in a world that revolves around the technology and social media that helps broadcast our daily lives on the Internet. Young adults today face job challenges in a world of brutal recession where machines and technology have replaced physical jobs. Although we are viewed as an “incompetent generation,” we have succeeded in life priorities, optimistic viewpoints and our competency with technology compared with previous
generations, according to a Pew Research Center study released in 2010. The study also shows we are the most liberal group, accepting all individuals for whom they are and what life choices they decide to make. We strive to be technologically savvy and we are constantly improving the set of skills that are misunderstood by previous generations. An article recently released by the Huffington Post looks at the test scores of Millennials, calling us some of the least skilled people compared to test results of students from 23 other countries. This article was written without taking into account we have been referred to as the most educated generation in the history of America and we have the credentials to show it. The low-skill ranking is not because of a lack of education. It is because Millennials are heading in a different path with regards to curriculum. Where we once took classes on literature and history, this generation now focuses on data, social media and the advances of technology. When most generations before us ended their education after high school, we strive for more through numerous years of continued higher education, honing in on the skills we do possess.
Our generation is about the innovation of connecting through the Internet and other means of technology. The Internet takes away from face-to-face interaction with loved ones, but most seem to overlook the bright side of this technology. We are completely plugged in to those living near and far--friends, family and the world--making connections with the click of a mouse. Debating which generation is the most intelligent is an absurd argument. Every generation has its pros and cons, often inspired by what is going on during their time of youth and young adulthood. The successes and failures of a generation should not be a competition or an invitation for insults, but rather a time of realization of knowing that the human race continues to grow and succeed in ways we previously could not. At the end of the day, Millennials are making progress for a better future for all of us, not just the “selfie” generation. ILLUSTRATION BY KATRINA ANDAYA / XPRESS
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OPINION 11
MARCH 18, 2015
Attempt to ban U.S. flag detracts from patriotism
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MICHAEL DURAN michaeld@mail.sfsu.edu
s I walked inside the doors of the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia last fall, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of patriotism and pride for my country. Red, white and blue flags decorated the home where Betsy Ross hand-sewed the first American flag in 1776 and created the iconic image that represents the
entire country. Our flag is a symbol of the American Dream and what it means to be American. We as U.S. citizens should uphold that, not tear it down. Recent events at University of California, Irvine have taken away the sense of pride many of us have for the American flag. Associated Students of UC Irvine, the undergraduate governing body, passed a resolution with a 6-4 vote March 5 from the Legislative Council that would ban the hanging of flags of any country in their lobby. One of the members on the council said some students felt uncomfortable coming into the lobby and seeing that the flag was hanging on the wall, according to an article by the UCI campus newspaper. This caused debates on campus and led to the veto of the resolution March 7 by the Executive Cabinet. The UCI community began to exhibit actions of backlash, which included death threats to those
ILLUSTRATION BY JOURDON AHN / XPRESS
calling for the ban of the American flag, according to an UCI press release March 10. A meeting to discuss the veto of the resolution that day was canceled in response to the threat. The death threats to the council are unnecessary because they solve nothing. It is essential that students are showing they really care about the issue in other ways. Hundreds of students and outsiders took to social media, expressing their opinions about the recent vote using #Americanflag. My parents immigrated to the United States from Mexico when they were approximately five years old. Since my birth, they have tried to instill the American culture in me while simultaneously educating me about my Hispanic roots. Being born in the United States, I have embraced patriotism and cherished what it means to be an American while keeping my Mexican heritage. Part of that is embracing the American flag and the Mexican flag equally. With a Hispanic background, I can understand why the Legislative Council wanted to ban the American flag from hanging in the lobby. Although the intention of the flag was for decoration, according to the Legislative Council, it can be seen as a lack of diversity within the student government. In light of all of this controversy, the entire country watched to see how the university and its students reacted. Banning the American flag from a public university is sending a message that we should not respect such an important symbol of our history. The American flag is essential to our society and it has been with us for over 300 years. The red and white stripes represent the 13 original colonies and 50 stars symbolize the states of our nation. Our flag represents our beginning and where we are now. When we stand to recite the pledge of allegiance, looking to the flag, we stand for our patriotism and fundamental rights.