Spring 2015 Issue 9

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Serving the San Francisco State community since 1927

President Wong prohibits travel to Indiana

INSIDE OPINION:

Sneak Peak into san Francisco’s new luxury bus line

KELLY SODERLUND kls10@mail.sfsu.edu

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SF State President Leslie E. Wong issued a statement Monday banning university-funded travel to Indiana in response to that state’s recent religious freedom legislation.

No SF State funds will be appropriated to support employee or student travel, according to a mass email sent by Wong to faculty, staff and students. Travel authorized prior to Wong’s announcement will require approval from the pertinent departmental vice president.

“It is unconscionable for this great university to spend its resources in a state that attempts to legislate discrimination of any kind,” Wong said in the statement.

Indiana’s controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act was signed into state law by Gov. Mike Pence March 26. The law allows for-profit businesses to cite religious beliefs as a defense when sued by a private party for discrimination and has been widely interpreted to target the LGBT community.

“Although marriage equality is established in Indiana, there is not a state-wide non-discrimination law that protects queer and transgender folks from being discriminated against,” said Mitch Hymowitz, Associate

ELITE: Sarah Stock rides a Leap

Transit bus toward downtown San Francisco out of the Marina District Monday, March 30.

ANGELICA EKEKE / XPRESS

Local restaurateurs provide business model for the deaf KELLY SODERLUND

W

kls10@mail.sfsu.edu

Religious Continued ON PAGE 3

hen the phone rings at Mozzeria, the Mission pizzeria owned

by SF State alumna Melody Stein and her husband Russ, it doesn’t make any sound. Instead, strategically positioned lights, located above the front door and along the bar flash in color-coded pulses.

It’s one of the many ways technology has helped Melody and Russ become owners of the first deafowned restaurant in San Francisco.

Yet Stein is quick to point out that they are Deaf, with a capital D. “It’s an identity,” Stein said, typing the words onto her laptop.

“Maybe parents of deaf babies will read (this). It’s my way of telling them for the first time it’s OK. They may be scared and don’t know what

to do or how to raise them. That’s why I say I’m Deaf. I am OK.” As the pizzeria’s chef, Stein developed Mozzeria’s Zagat-rated, Michelin Guide-recommended menu, which includes offerings like their Peking Duck pizza topped with roasted duck and hoisin sauce, a nod to Stein’s Chinese heritage.

Stein was born in Hong Kong in 1973 to hearing parents and moved to the Bay Area when Stein was 7, so she and her brother, who is also Deaf, could attend the California School for the Deaf in Fremont.

After graduation, Stein went to Gallaudet University for the Deaf and hard of hearing, where she met Russ and the couple moved to San Francisco in 1995. Three years later, Stein graduated from SF State, where she majored in hospitality

Pizzeria Continued ON PAGE 4

PHOTO COURTESY OF CLARE CASSIDY

WOOD-BURN OVEN: Russell and Melody Stein sit on the counter of Mozzeria pizzaria right before they get ready for dinner service.

Student targeted in caregiver wheelchair scam ANGELINE UBALDO aubaldo@mail.sfsu.edu

EMMA CHIANG / XPRESS

VICTIM: Lauren Well an SF State recreation, parks and tourism

major holds her phone with the email scam from Care.com in front of Whole Foods Market on Ocean Avenue where she works Sunday, March 29.

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The story of a deaf mother in need of assistance for her son who uses a wheelchair compelled one SF State student into accepting a part-time nanny job. But her empathy almost cost her $3,000 in an online scam.

Sophomore Lauren Well signed up for Care.com, a third party website that employs users for family and home care, last November. Two weeks after she signed up, a person under the alias “Julia” contacted her about a caretaker job for her son “Joe.”

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The woman told Well through email that she and her son were moving to San Francisco from New York for a fresh start because she had lost her husband and a nine-month-old baby in the car crash that left her son bound to a wheelchair.

“I felt my heart just kind of crunch up at this because I really wanted to help this woman out,” Well said. “I thought that she had gone through this huge ordeal and that she really needed somebody for her and her son while they were going through this really hard time.”

“Julia” hired Well without conducting a phone or in-person inter-

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view and gave Well the assignment of purchasing a wheelchair for her son as a first task. When “Julia” sent a $3,000 check in the mail, Well said she became skeptical.

“She sent me the check via FedEx and when I got the check, it looked extremely suspicious,” Well said. “It came from a bank in New Orleans and when I tried to Google the bank, I couldn’t really find anything.”

Well went to the bank to deposit the check and the bank teller said that the money would not be available for two weeks because it had to go

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Religious law incites national backlash

Continued from the front Director for the Queer and Trans Resource Center. “Synonymous with President Wong, the Queer and Trans Resource Center is appalled at Governor Pence’s decision to enact the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in Indiana.”

Indiana joins 19 other U.S. states which have enacted some form of a religious freedom act. However, Indiana’s statute contains specific language in two clauses that other states do not.

First, the Indiana RFRA states that a for-profit corporation’s right to the exercise of religion matches those of individuals or churches, a result of the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision in 2014. Second, it tranforms a business’s exercise of religion right into a justifiable defense against a private lawsuit by another person.

“To actually read that a governor endorsed it and signed the bill—I was just flabbergasted. And to say that it was not an act of discrimination belies the language of the bill itself,” Wong said.

Gov. Pence denied that the law’s intent was to allow a “license to discriminate”, calling reports ridiculous in a news conference March 31.

“Clearly there has been misunderstanding and confusion,” Pence said, blaming reckless reporting for the national uproar. He said the the bill would be amended to ensure it does not award businesses the right to deny services.

SF State is the first university in the U.S. to take concrete action against Indiana, home to the NCAA headquarters, although five Indiana college presidents released statements condemning the law. Wong’s statement follows San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee’s announcement March 28 that banned city-funded travel to Indiana on business for public employees.

“I think it’s an absolutely appropriate step that this campus has taken with our commitment to social justice,”

ILLUSTRATION BY JOURDON AHN / XPRESS

said Associated Students, Inc. President Phoebe Dye. “I’m really proud of President Wong for issuing that statement. It’s a good, progressive step for SF State to be on this side of history.”

Wong, a member of the NCAA Division II President’s Council, announced he would not attend a required council meeting in April in Indianapolis. He said a copy of his announcement was sent to NCAA President Mark Emmert and to California State University Chancellor Timothy White.

SF State Athletic Director Charles Guthrie said that while there are no planned team trips to Indianapolis, the

department applauded the University and President Wong for taking a strong stance against the Indiana legislation.

Guthrie said that SF State athletic coaches on NCAA committees will join Wong’s stance and will not attend any future meetings in Indianapolis.

“It would have felt weird for me to simply offer the critique of Indiana and leave it at that, “Wong said. “We’re different than others. We ask students to have courage, when they see something wrong to say something—and I felt that I saw something that was wrong, and I decided to speak out and do something about it.”

Online nanny scam lures SF State students Continued from the front through a security clearance.

After an extensive Google search, Well learned that she was one of several people lured into the same wheelchair scam. A user posted in an online scam forum the names, phone numbers and email addresses used as well as the content of emails from the scammer to the caretaker. Well said she immediately cancelled the check and blocked the woman’s number.

“I was just kind of in shock because I didn’t think this was going to happen,” Well said. “I almost sent $3,000 away to an unknown company. And then when the check would have bounced, it would have been on me to pay that money.”

SF State student Seazzia Castillo found herself involved in a different scam through the same website in January. Castillo said she accepted her first job at Care. com from a man who needed a personal assistant to run errands for him in the U.S.

while he was in Australia.

“I was under the impression that they (the employers) go through background checks as well,” Castillo said. “I don’t know how he got my mobile banking information but he had sent me over a copy of a check and said, ‘I’m depositing this over to your account.’”

He sent Castillo a $2,500 check and told her to pocket $400 as her salary.

According to Castillo, the check didn’t clear but $200 of her salary did. She spent the money and later found out that her account dropped to -$171, the amount spent from her salary.

The next day, her account dropped to -$2,500. After Castillo filed a police report, her account dropped to -$4,000.

“Apparently the guy had deposited money into my account and then took it out before they could catch that it wasn’t a real check,” Castillo said. “I don’t know how he was able to do that but it was just so annoying.”

Castillo said the bank reversed the overdraft fees and sent her what was in her savings and her last direct deposit.

According to Castillo, the police said they couldn’t do much because they had to attend to more pressing issues SF State freshman and Care.com user Meredith Coon said she heard about the wheelchair scam through three of her friends who were contacted by a wheelchair scammer, one of whom lost $150.

Coon requires all of her employers at Care.com to go through a mandatory background check before she accepts offers since she received an email from the wheelchair scammer. Coon said that she has encountered many employers who refused to comply.

“Most of the time, it’s either because they aren’t who they say they are or it’s just because they don’t want to go through the trouble,” Coon said.

A safety guide outlined on the Care. com website urges members to use the

monitored messaging system provided, be vigilant, conduct in-person interviews and contact them when a message or job offer seems like spam or a scam. The company also advises users to refuse check payments in amounts greater than agreed upon and to never transfer funds paid by check back to someone since that is a recognized Internet scamming technique.

A representative of Care.com declined to be interviewed.

Well continues to search for babysitting jobs through another third-party website, Urban Sitter, while maintaining her cashier job at Whole Foods.

“I’ve had friends who have had great experiences with Care.com and I’ve had friends who have had less than wonderful experiences with Care.com,” Well said.

“I think there’s always going to be people out there that are willing to go to lengths to scam people that are just trying to find a job.”

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LIFESTYLE & CULTURE 3

Artist expresses spirituality through music KALANI RUIDAS kruidas@mail.sfsu.edu

Inspired by the bone-chilling gloom of winter, Cory Teese took up his guitar and transposed his melancholy feelings into chords. By springtime, Teese had emerged from a contemplative fog with the creation of his first album and his one-man band Flowers in the Fence.

SF State English major Teese said he indulges his creative spirit through faith. His music presents an honest view into his inner world as it mirrors his spirituality and relationship with God, he said.

“In a way, my lyrics often become a conversation,” Teese said. “It’s a way for me to talk to God, to other people and to myself.”

Teese released his first EP “Winter’s Season” in May 2014, which featured instrumental accompaniment by his brother Kyle Teese on drums and their friend Jacob Montague on lead guitar.

Teese and his older brother have bonded through playing music together since they formed their first band, The Flow, at the ages of nine and 11, respectively.

“Cory is a joy to play with because he’s not just a musician, (he’s) a writer,” Kyle Teese said. “When we write, he doesn’t just come with chords and lyrics, (he has) a vision for something deeper that he’s trying to creatively express.”

Within its first year of activity, Flowers on the Fence was featured in the December 2014 issue of the New York-based magazine “Invitation Annual” and performed a radio show at San Francisco’s Mutiny Radio.

Love Week is an opportunity for Canvas SF to serve San Francisco, said SF State junior Angelique Fernandez, who organized the event. Their outreach ministry group, Canvas City Team, will volunteer with non-profit organizations.

Fernandez and Teese played music together with SF State’s on-campus Christian ministry group, City Cru, in the spring of 2014. Teese’s energy and musical ability made Flowers on the Fence Fernandez’s immediate

choice for the concert’s talent, she said.

“He brings excitement and shows so much passion in his performance and in his music,” Fernandez said. “I know his heart is on-track with what I’m looking to portray for the evening.”

During his 45-minute set, Teese will perform his album, “Winter’s Season,” in its entirety in addition to three new songs from his next project.

The songs on his upcoming album are centered on dreaming, as places he’s gone to escape, Tesse said. While Teese said his new project has a similar feel to “Winter’s Season,” it emulates his growth as a person and an artist.

“It’s evolved, I’ve evolved, the music has evolved and as the songs come together I feel they have a good place to fill for myself and others,” Teese said.

Teese said his original EP manifested from a period of introspective reflection. He explained that the name Flowers on the Fence encapsulates the idea of flourishing as a person, halfway between who he was while recording the album and who he hopes to be.

DANIEL E. PORTER / XPRESS One of his favorite bits of feedback about JAM SESSION: Cory Teese practices music in his room in the Sunset district “Winter’s Season” was a friend’s candid emotional Monday, March 30 as he prepares for an upcoming show were he will play response. his complete album from his one-man band Flowers in the Fence.

“My buddy was like, ‘Dude, I just listened to your album. It’s really good, but it’s sad as shit,” Teese said.

Teese said he also has his brother fine tune technical Using Montague’s technical expertise recording with aspects such as the song’s structure and melody. Kyle another of his projects, folk rock band Branches,Teese Teese said he feels privileged to help his brother’s vision said he has been able to experiment and further develop for Flowers on the Fence come to life. his musical ideas for Flowers on the Fence.

“I think Cory’s grown a ton personally in these last “It was fun working with someone so new to the few years, and the man he’s become has totally affected recording process and getting to see him create the layers his music,” Kyle Teese said. “And the way he shares his and textures within his tracks,” Montague said.”I’ll defijourney through life - that’s the stuff he sings about. It’s nitely be playing with FOTF in the future when possible. too real to avoid.”

It’s a fun change from the music I play most often.”

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I want to pay it forward by working with the organizations and creating jobs for the Deaf so they know they can be useful, not having low self-esteem when others don’t want to hire them.

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-Melody Stein

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE: Employee

Amanda Mosher uses an iPad to place a phoned-in order at the Mozzeria Pizzeria in the Mission district where all staff members are deaf Friday, Nov. 14, 2014.

DANIEL E. PORTER / XPRESS

Pizzeria duo thrives without hearing Continued from the front “Russ is from New York and is a big fan of NY pizza,” Stein said. “So I compromised with Neapolitan pizza. I traveled to Italy with my mom, (and) when we came back, I practiced pizza making at home. He loved it, and we started moving fast with the restaurant concept and business.”

While building Mozzeria, Russ acted as the general contractor and hired nearly all Deaf skilled laborers, including the electrician, plumber, furniture maker and hardwood floor installer.

“It’s been quite a journey,” Russ said. “Especially for us having to overcome barriers having to do with us being Deaf, (in addition to) the challenges in launching a restaurant. We all work hard to provide the best experience possible to our customers.”

Art displayed on the pizzeria’s walls was contracted by the Steins from Deaf artists, including one by a 16-year-old high school student. But the Steins didn’t just hire Deaf workers for the building of the restaurant.

Every employee at Mozzeria is Deaf-- many of whom have no experience in the restaurant industry before being hired by Stein.

“I want to pay it forward by working with the organizations and creating jobs for the Deaf so they know they can be useful, not having low self-esteem when others don’t want to hire them,” Stein said.

In the U.S., only 50 percent of civilians with hearing disabilities aged 18 to 64 were employed in 2014. In California, that number was slightly less at 47 percent, according to the Annual Disability Compendium.

Mozzeria’s employees communicate through sign language and message boards. A pad of paper and a pen are located on each of Mozzeria’s tables to ensure guests are able to communicate accurately with their server. Phone calls are routed through an app on Stein’s iPad, where a live video translator acts as an intermediary between the caller and Stein.

After opening the pizzeria in 2006, Stein found that some of the hearing patrons were insisting that the Steins put up a sign informing customers that they are Deaf.

Stein steadfastly opposed.

“You come here for the food,” Stein said. “Sometimes they wrote awful reviews on Yelp because we were Deaf.

It’s ignorance but now we are able to bridge the cultures and communities. The vast majority of our customers are hearing and they keep coming back because of the food.”

Currently, Mozzeria’s Yelp page boasts four stars and 357 reviews.

“All of the servers speaking sign language made for an intimate and unique dining experience,” wrote one reviewer on Yelp. “On top of that the food was delicious!

The radicchio pizza is the best pizza I’ve ever eaten!”

Local success and press recognition ranging from the New York Times to Huffington Post translated into the purchase of a food truck trolley that allows the Steins to accept catering orders. They purchased the trolley in Florida and then drove it back to San Francisco, stopping at schools for the Deaf and offering students the chance to taste their pizza.

“Now, after the food truck tour, I see young kids looking up to us and (they) want to make pizzas one day.”

6 ASI SPRING 2015 Election

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ASI SPRING 2015 Election 7

KELLY SODERLUND kls10@mail.sfsu.edu

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AVERY PETERSON averylp@mail.sfsu.edu PRISCILLA SALAHUDDIN prodarte@mail.sfsu.edu

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As the April 6 Associated Student, Inc. voting nears, candidates elected to the Associated Students Board of Directors will have the opportunity to make lasting decisions affecting SF State student life, campus events and programs. Golden Gate Xpress sat down with ASI President Pheobe Dye to discuss four of the issues most pertinent to the student population.

Points of interest

Student TRANSPORTATION At a University town hall meeting to Dye and Charles. several years ago, the administration “It’s really crucial that whoever queried students in attendance on what gets elected will be knowledgeable, “ they most wanted to see on campus, Dye said. “There are nuances to these Dye said. The answer they received (transportation) issues, and whoever is was better, more reliable transportation, on the Board needs to be able to carry according to Dye. on the work that’s already been done.”

A large number of students comSuch nuances include whether a mute to SF State, and many do so by general student transportation discount way of either BART, SFMTA (Muni), would be combined onto a single pass, or some combination of the two. Of be loaded onto a student’s SF State ID, the campus community, 26 percent ride or separated if an agreement with Muni BART to and from school. and BART cannot be reach concurSF State President Leslie rently, according to Dye .

E. Wong, along with ASI “It’s looking good that Vice President of Exwe’ll be able to reach an ternal Affairs Naeemah agreement (with BART Charles, have had and Muni) this summer or several meetings with next semester,” Dye said.

BART and Muni to reach “BART has never done anyan agreement that would thing like this, providing a create a general student disbenefit that effects a large popcount for Bay Area ulation of students. It’s public transportation so important the new of Students ride BART services, according Board is consistent.”

26%

Student ORGANIZATION funding SF State is home to NEARLY 250 recognized student organizations SF State is home to nearly 250 recognized student organizations, each of which has access to funds allocated by ASI from student fees in order to subsidize approved events.

“We love student organizations and we want to be able to fund every org (organization) we can,” Dye said. “This year a ton of new orgs (organizations) applied for funding and unfortunately, by the time others that applied, closer to the deadline, the money was already allocated.”

Dye said that the allocation issue has caused student organization funding to be a hot topic this semester. Before, there was always a “pot” policy–in other words, all of the student organizations that applied had equal access to a pot of funds.

Due to the unanticipated number of new

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student organizations, some of the established student groups that previously had received funding for events were turned down this semester.

“For the board this summer, a huge project will be revisiting the student org (organization) funding packet by looking at how our campus is changing and creating different guidelines,” Dye said.

Some of the factors the board will examine to determine student organization event funding will be which organization is submitting the proposal, what time and the specifics of the proposed event to be funded.

“By far, it’s definitely the board’s biggest project,” Dye said.

to and from school

RECREATION & WELLNESS Center

CAMPUS SAFETY Despite recent reports of sexual assaults, including the arrest of a man for multiple incidents of indecent exposure, Dye asserted that the number of assaults hadn’t necessarily risen-- there are just more being reported. She explained that the increase in reports was a result of Title IX and concerted efforts across CSU campuses to make students feel more empowered in the wake of a sexual attack.

“Our campus is encouraging students to come forward and report any situation in which they feel uncomfortable,” Dye said. “SF State is making a great effort to negate the idea that being a victim of a sexual assault is taboo or shameful, to promote social justice and equity, and to support students in becoming more aware of how to report a sexual crime.”

Dye said ASI reviews all Clery

reports sent out by Luoluo Hong, Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management and Title IX Officer.

Hong is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the overall implementation of Title IX compliance, education, and receiving complaints against students, employees, and third parties.

ASI’s role in campus safety is to support and promote Hong and the University’s efforts in increasing sexual assault awareness, through organizing campus safety walks, for example, Dye said. Any new Board member elected to ASI will also need to take part in monthly training from Hong on Title IX. “It’s really important that ASI continues to collaborate with campus administration and engages in conversations to increase safety and conversations about sexual assault,” Dye said.

ASI candidates

SPEAK UP: For more on each candidate visit goldengatexpress.org

Meet

SF State’s imminent $86 million Recreation and Wellness Center, a two-story facility that will be equipped with fitness rooms, weight training spaces, a spa, pool and an outdoor field, is expected to break ground over the summer.

“We’re really excited about the center and just figuring out all of the tiny details,” Dye said.

Those details include deciding who will have access, how much that access will cost and the services that will be offered. Dye said that this would include determining whether recent alumni whose student fees helped pay for the Center would get a discounted price for a membership and what the price point for extra services, like massages, would be.

After the elections, ASI will be tasked with drafting a constituency for an assembly board and sub-assemblies that will kickstart as early as April, according to Dye. As of now, Dye said the assembly board will be divided into seven distinct areas: business and finance, risk management, standard operating procedures, a programming model which will be the area that ASI has the most involvement, deciding which activities the center will offer such as yoga classes, personnel, construction, and finally, marketing and education.

“I feel like I have the experience as being a first generation college student, a transfer student as well as being one of seven children so I come from a big family and have a lot of people looking up to me as a role model. I feel that I’m bringing the perspective that’s low-income, that knows you have to work to get through school this is just a reality that we’re all in so I feel like we can all share that identity.”

Sharlana Turner 25, Public Administration Running for Graduate Representative

While most ASI candidates run unopposed, students will decide between two contenders for Vice President of Internal Affairs. Current VP Sarah Pishny is seeking re-election as newcomer Evan Gothelf challenges her for the seat.

THE candidates:

Evan Gothelf 20, Computer Science/Philosophy

Running for Vice President of Internal Affairs With four years of experience with Associated Students, Inc. under her belt, Sarah Pishny said she knows what it takes to be Vice President of Internal Affairs.

The 21-year-old political science major hopes to secure the position for a second term in the upcoming 2015 ASI spring election.

“I’m blessed to say that I have the experience I do,” Pishny said. “I think holding the position I do now wouldn’t have happened without all of my experience.”

As a freshman Pishny worked as an ASI intern and was later awarded the position of Special Events Assistant, which she held for two and a half years.

According to Pishny, working for Special Events familiarized her with ASI and the various student organizations on campus. She said she believes it would be difficult for someone new to come in now and play catchup.

“I had that kind of backstage access to the board and how they worked and so by the time I ran I was pretty versed in what I needed to do,” Pishny said.

In the upcoming Associated Students, Inc. election filled with incumbents, Evan Gothelf is entering the race as a newcomer. He said his fresh ideas and past involvement with student government make him an ideal representative for students.

“I’m running a campaign that I don’t think has ever been seen here,” Gothelf said. “I’m facing all current incumbents that are all working together. I’m looking at the entire executive board who has no one running opposing them.”

The 20-year-old sophomore double majoring in computer science and philosophy has hopes he can secure the position of Vice President of Internal Affairs in the 2015 ASI spring election.

During his second semester at SF State, Gothelf founded a chapter of the fraternity Alpha Kappa Sigma, which now has 59 members and is nationally recognized. He said his fraternity has a different message than the current Greek community.

“My fraternity is not out there

This year several resignations left the ASI board shorthanded resulting in Pishny holding two positions: Junior Representative initially, then VP of Internal Affairs.

Horst Carreno-Bauer has known Pishny for over two years and worked with her when they both ran for the ASI Board of Directors last year.

“She’s a good candidate because even when something may be unpopular yet morally right, Sarah does not back down and makes her stance known,” Carreno-Bauer said.

As a member of the board Pishny assisted with several ASI projects such as developing a discounted Muni/BART pass for students.

Pishny said she values school spirit and wants to increase the amount of activities and events offered for students.

“I want students to feel a pride for going here other than being proud of their academic achievements,” she said.

She said she is proud of the board’s recent accomplishments related to safety such as repairing both the sound waves for visually

to look the coolest, it’s not out there to think we are better than everyone else,” Gothelf said. “It’s trying to provide a sense of person, a sense of involvement, a sense of doing something greater than yourself.”

Robert Cornwell met Gothelf last year and is the Grand Treasurer at Alpha Kappa Sigma.

“He always pushes us and strives to get the most out of each individual in our fraternity whether it is something as simple as designing a t-shirt or flyer, or putting together a sixmonth plan of action to further our chartering process,” Cornwell said.

Gothelf said his experience creating a fraternity could translate to the ASI position by helping him boost morale on campus and in his interaction with student organizations.

“I’ve really learned how to take on responsibilities, manage people in a way that really has a purpose for the greater group and the greater commitment of doing something better,” Gothelf said.

Communication Studies major

Alexandra Velasquez met Gothelf in on-campus student housing last year and said she knows him well.

“I have seen Evan’s progression,” Velasquez said. “I have seen him transform from a once slightly timid boy to an overachieving leader.”

When Gothelf first came to SF State he said he was shocked the college did not offer a discounted transit pass. He said if students had an easier way to get to campus they would attend more school events.

If elected Gothelf said he hopes to create an app with a live feed to broadcast ASI’s daily events. He said the app would be managed by students to promote students’ ideas and organizations.

Gothelf said he is comfortable working with ASI and there are several members he highly respects.

“They don’t really have a vision as to how much power they think they hold,” Gothelf said. “I think they need someone to show it’s okay to push back in a way that’s not being conventional.”

impaired students and the emergency lights with buttons that contact campus police.

“I hold campus safety to a very high regard because this place is a supposed to be a home away from home for students and if you can’t feel safe where you are learning how are you going to learn?” Pishny said.

ASI president Phoebe Dye said she and Pishny are well acquainted from their experience working on together on ASI. “Students should know that she is one of the most passionate board members I have and serving students in the best way possible is on the top of her priority list,” Dye said.

Pishny said she values her outgoing personality and ability to instantly make new friends, which she thinks will be useful with her campaign.

“Talking and understanding and connecting has always come easy for me and I think that it shows in my personality a lot,” Pishny said.

“I think that easy connection with people will really help me with this election.”

Sarah Pishny 21, Political Science

Running for Vice President of Internal Affairs

“What I want to do is tweet updates on what is going on during the meetings. Instead of students not being able to give us feedback because they can’t show up or because they can’t meet with us directly they could just tweet us, DM us and send us a direct message on Instagram. I want to give students an access to us digitally.”

“I’m not afraid to speak out against other members as well as staff as well as the student body itself to make sure that we’re going towards the best possible thing that SF State can be and the best possible thing that Associated Students can be. I want to make sure that students are being heard and that student values are actually being accomplished and achieved.”

Alexandra Velasquez

Forest Klein

19, Communication Studies Running for Junior Representative

19, Political Science & International Studies Running for College of Liberal & Creative Arts Representative

8 OPINION

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STAFF EDITORIAL

Water restriction targets wrong group 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

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CREATIVE DIRECTOR kandaya@mail.sfsu.edu

JOURDON AHN

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By now, it should be no surprise to any California resident that the water supply is disappearing, and while drastic measures need to happen to ensure the survival of millions of people, officials need to take a closer look at who really is squandering what little remains.

When senior water scientist Jay Famiglietti of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory at CalTech announced earlier this month that California is down to only one year’s supply of water in its reserve, the public started to take a heavier interest in a water recession that has been happening at least as early as 2002, when satellite monitoring began tracking water levels.

The State Water Resources Control Board released a plan of action this month to regulate statewide water usage, including activities like washing vehicles and watering landscapes. The regulation also instructs that restaurants provide water to customers only by request and that hotels offer guests the option for laundered towels instead of automatically replacing them.

While this immediate response shows progress in the right direction, regulating urban water usage will not make a valuable enough effort in overcoming a drought that has already depleted the state for four years and could possibly turn into a predicted 20year mega-drought.

New mandate puts water conservation requirements on homeowners, restaurants and hotels, but the state’s farming industry is the most wasteful The reality is recreational water use is not the main culprit in California’s water problem.

It’s the agricultural business, which uses 80 percent of the state’s available water every year.

Of the more than 12 million acre-feet of the state’s water lost each year since 2011, nearly two-thirds of that can be traced back to groundwater pumped for agricultural irrigation in the Central Valley. Coincidentally, that water source now includes digging into a supply of ancient water that hasn’t been tampered with since it fell to earth 20,000 years ago, according to the Center for Investigative Reporting.

To make matters worse, California’s agricultural business, the exclusive provider for many of the U.S.’s produce options, continues to increase interests in many water-intensive crops, like walnuts, lettuce and the ever-thirsty broccoli, which uses nearly five and a half gallons of water to produce just one

head for consumption, according to a recent investigation.

But the most harmful crop in California’s fight for survival is the almond, whose industry has grown more than 50 percent in the last decade as the demand and retail value for tree nuts continue to climb.

It takes one gallon of water to produce a single almond. According to Mother Jones, the amount of water used to grow California almonds in one year could supply all of Los Angeles’ water supply for nearly three years.

Ironically, 70 percent of U.S. almonds are exported to other countries, the majority of it to China, which seems even more asinine when taking into consideration that agriculture is only about two percent of California’s economy.

Yet the SWRCB mandatory regulation is targeting urban and suburban residents all over the state, who use only about 20 percent of the available water supply annually.

California is in a very serious situation, and changes need to happen immediately.

Conservation measures are a good start, but it sure seems like the agricultural business could use some mandatory regulation as well, especially with non-essential foods that could be grown in other parts of the nation, where water isn’t disappearing at such a frightening rate.

On-screen love projects false standards

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friend and I recently happened upon John Green’s novelmade-film, “The Fault In Our Stars,” while looking for something to watch on TV. I tried to sit quietly through the movie’s cheesy dialogue, but after a few minutes I finally exploded into a hysterical tirade about how I hate plot lines similar to many of Green’s other novels.They often center on an unconventionally pretty, rebellious female character whose sole purpose is to inspire an introverted adolescent male to come out of his shell.

“Oh, you mean the Manic Pixie Dream Girl?,” my friend coolly interjected as I continued to rant.

I paused for a moment to conduct a quick Google search. Coined by film critic Nathan Rabin in his 2007 review of “Elizabethtown,” he describes the Manic Pixie Dream Girl as “that bubbly, shallow cinematic creature that exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach ILLUSTRATION BY JOURDON AHN / XPRESS

KALANI RUIDAS kruidas@mail.sfsu.edu

broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures.”

I continued my online exploration to discover that I don’t hate the MPDG, I hate what she represents. The waifish indie packaging of the MPDG is only the contemporary form of an age-old patriarchal trope that portrays its female character as a one-dimensional helper, or muse that assists the male “hero” of the story in achieving his destiny.

Similarly, the modern-day MPDG has no career, familial ties or aspirations of her own. Her role is reduced to an unattached nymphet open to fulfilling the quixotic fantasies of her sad-sack love interest.

While it may be nice to watch onscreen, there are detrimental consequences to transposing the MPDG fantasy to real-life relationships. People are not props to be used for self-actualization. In real life, foisting one’s hopes and dreams onto another person is the surest way to be disappointed.

In real life, no woman as appealing as the MPDG would dedicate all her energy to convincing some dude with the personality of a dry sponge that he’s worthy of love.

The male equivalent of the MPDG renders that exact fallacy. The Manic Pixie Dream Boy lives to fortify the object

of his affection with desperate, consuming devotion.

“The Fault In Our Stars’” MPDB is played by Ansel Elgort as Augustus Waters. From his affinity for “V For Vendetta” to the way he dangles unlit cigarettes from his lips “as a metaphor,” Elgort’s character is an angsty teen dream. It almost makes his cringeworthy one-liners, like “All efforts to save me from you will fail,” seem rather cute.

Maybe another reason I resented the MPDG is because I recognize parts of her story in my own life. Sometimes I date guys I think I can fix, while other times I’m the romantic sucker who wants to be saved.

But unlike the MPDG, my cheery disposition has never truly compensated for my hot but broody exes’ apathy.

Alternatively, I’ve never been satisfied by living vicariously through someone I thought was perfect. No matter how impressed I was by my “dream boys’” creativity or seemingly nuanced worldview, neither of those factors really contributed to my own happiness.

Although it’s tempting to project the alluring ideals of the MPDG/B onto people in real life, it never works out as well as it does in movies. Manic Pixies are just a far-fetched Hollywood myth.

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APRIL 1, 2015

Luxury bus line offers elevated commute

OPINION 9 TRANSPORTATION: A Leap transit bus moves along Battery Street March 30 as a new service offered to people traveling between the Marina District to Downtown San Francisco.

HANNAH MULLINS hmullins@mail.sfsu.edu

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an Francisco is a place of opportunity. While some move here to start a business, others move for the plentiful jobs this metropolis has to offer. The opportunity to live out the American dream of starting something new and different should never be shamed, nor frowned upon. But for some reason, individuals that come up with new ideas for start-ups in San Francisco continue to incite controversy.

Leap, a privately-owned bus company, launched its route from the Marina district to downtown San Francisco March 18.

Leap has created a luxury bus line for anyone’s daily commute and hopes to expand to other neighborhoods in the Bay Area, according to their website. Everyone is welcome to ride Leap, but as of now there is only one route available.The modern buses are equipped with a snack bar and spacious seating so riders can relax on their way to work for only $6 each way.

I’ve had multiple friends post to Face-

ANGELICA EKEKE / XPRESS

book and Twitter that they were upset that there are more buses in the city. Regardless of those who are unhappy about Leap, I am one of the few unafraid to say I totally support more transit options. Transportation is a big conversation topic in San Francisco--everything from Google buses to Uber and Lyft, they all have flaws.

Before I had a car in the city, Muni was my primary source of transportation.

I would have to hop on the bus and pay the $2.25 to get to work, pick up some groceries or just to run an errand. It was unreliable, crowded and something that honestly stressed me out. I can’t count the number of times I had a woman cut her toenails next to me or a homeless person yell at me. My 7 a.m. transit options to Union Square were never on time or they were overcrowded and would drive right past me, putting me in a bad mood for the remainder of the day.

Having the option to relax on the way to work and possibly grab an over-priced

snack for breakfast sounds worth the four extra dollars to ride to work in Leap’s new buses. Having a bus every 15 minutes during peak hours also makes Leap a more reliable transit option, instead of watching a loaded Muni pass my stop.

Critics argue that these types of transportation options will decrease the City’s input of money and effort into public transit, but I don’t believe that’s the case.

Regardless of the arguments, there are still going to be some people who want to take the cheapest ride and suffer through the uncomfortable situations MUNI has to offer. This city prides itself on the amount of public transit routes and riders. Although I would choose to ride these trendy new buses, it doesn’t mean the majority of the population would.

Another benefit to this new system is that it creates more job opportunities.

Opening the doors to new types of businesses like Leap who would help boost the economy. The new transit line offers room

for business expansion, affordable luxury and more choices for the San Francisco community.

Every individual should have the freedom to choose how they want to commute to work and there should be options so everyone is comfortable. This is not the first company of its kind, but it is the first to promote something semi-affordable so it is more obtainable to everyone, not just the wealthy. Most commuters desire transportation services that do not demand an absurd amount of money and are dependable.

Although I have not had the opportunity to ride Leap’s new luxury buses, I am looking forward to trying it out when I’m in the area. Leap is a great way to encourage people to stop driving and use a new form of public transportation that is preferable to a dirty old bus. Transportation options are a necessity, especially for a diverse community of students, professionals and people who want to get where they’re going and quick.

10 SPORTS

APRIL 1, 2015

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Close loss exemplifies team improvement VINCE FAUSONE IV

vfausone@mail.sfsu.edu

Looking out over the pock-marked infield, coach Cristina Byrne measured the expressions on the faces beneath purple SFSU visors. The white bases of SF State’s softball diamond were already stained reddish-brown by the cleats of the visiting Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes. It was the second inning of the afternoon game March 21, and the Gators had fallen into a 5-0 hole.

Facing an early deficit was nothing new for the 7-21 Gators, and consistently playing from behind has been one of the team’s biggest problems this season, according to Byrne. The game marked the ninth time the squad had trailed by three or more runs before the third inning, and they have yet to come back from a score disparity of that size. Their level of play despite a demoralizing first couple of frames showed how far this team has come since losing by five or more in seven of their first 14 outings.

DAVID HENRY / XPRESS “A lot of times this year we have let games get away TAGGED OUT: SF State Gator infielder Lucy Fernandez tags a Cal State San Bernardino runner out at third base in game one of a doubleheader at from us before we even have a chance to be in them,” the SF State Softball Field Friday, March 20.

Byrne said. “I tell them in those situations, let’s make this inning or this at-bat count. That’s all you can do. They’re Statistically, the 2015 Gators softball team had just re- tors’ recent offensive surge. a young team and they’ve really been rising to that chalcorded an unprecedented string of at-bats. Only once this After falling down 1-2 in the count, Higa cracked a lenge.” season have the Gators scored more runs in one inning, ball into deep left and watched her first career home run One and a half scoreless innings later, first baseman and never while they were trailing. In fact, four runs was sail over the head of a retreating Coyotes outfielder and Selina Rodriguez had stretched her lead off at-bat into a more than the Gators scored in any single game throughbeyond the chain link fence. drawn-out 3-2 count. On the next pitch she shot the ball out their first 13 contests of the season.

“It felt really good,” Higa said. “This team is so over the fence in left-center field.

Two innings later, the Coyotes once again seemed determined and I’m glad to be able to contribute. Every Rodriguez had entered the game with a .237 batting to be hitting off of an invisible tee sticking out of home chance I get to give it my all, I take advantage of that.” average, indicating a comparatively slow start to her plate. The visitors tacked on another five runs to make the The Gators have been on the rise in ways that their season. Her early struggles are not uncharacteristic of the score 10-4. record has not begun to reflect, and the March 21 game team’s veteran hitters. All five of the returners who batted Throughout the month of February the Gators posted was no exception to that trend. Higa’s homer was the last above .250 last year have hit at a lower average than they only 27 runs in 16 games. Their opponents scored 84 scoring for either team in the contest that ended 10-7. finished with last season. times during the same stretch. In March’s 12 games howIn the defeat however, the Gators showed as much For the rest of the fourth inning the Gators picked ever, the squad’s offensive improvement has brought that heart as they have in any game this season, and the rest of apart the Coyotes’ defense, adding three more runs. Suddisparity down to a 45-63 run differential. Despite spothe year remains replete with possibilities, according to denly, a Gators team that had been beaten by five runs or radically solid pitching performances, particularly from Byrne. more 10 times at that point in the season found themace Megan Clark, SF State’s opponents have consistently “We can build off of a weekend like this,” Byrne said. selves in the thick of a 5-4 battle. scored just above five runs a game on average.

“This is the best ball I’ve seen this team play. I think “We have great chemistry as a team, and it really Fernandez struck again in the bottom of the fourth. they’re just starting to realize how great they can actually shows when we play together,” Fernandez said. “We’re The RBI hit brought up Sara Higa, a freshman who has be.” just trying to do as well as we can with what we have.” batted .365 this season and been a huge part of the Ga-

Gators strive to make a playoff appearance

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he combination of good offense and defense has pulled the SF State men’s baseball team from a rocky 2-8 start to winning eight of their last twelve games, giving them a renewed focus to make playoffs.

The Gators had trouble winning at home early in the season, losing their first five games at Maloney Field. Shaking off the beginning season jitters, the team has placed fifth in the California Collegiate Athletic Association standings with a 9-7 record.

“I think we’ve been pretty average,” said head coach Mike Cummins. “We’ve done some good things, it’s the consistency.”

Junior Nolan Sheridan got off to a great start for the Gators’ pitching staff, posting a 3.29 ERA in 41.0 innings pitched, allowing 15 earned runs and only walking nine players.

The rest of the pitching staff has produced average results with a combined 4.97 ERA that places the team eighth in the CCAA standings for pitching.

The Gators’ offense has been a shining part of the young season with the team hitting a solid .279 average. At 87 times being struck out, SF State holds the

JOHN MONTOYA jmontoy1@mail.sfsu.edu

MARLENE SANCHEZ / XPRESS

SIDELINE: SF State Gator Carter Gambrell (11) plays the air guitar at the game against Cal State Stanislaus Warriors Sunday, March 29.

CCAA record for fewest in the league this season.

“Our hitting is a lot better,” said second baseman Fernando Escobar. “We just have to lock down on defense, keep that

important and clean that up a little bit.”

Senior Mark Lindsay has led the Gators in four statistical categories including hits, batting average, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. In addition,

junior outfielder Jacob Lopez stands out as an offensive leader for the Gators by holding a hitting average of .304, with 21 hits and 15 RBIs. “I think we’ve done good so far,” Lopez said. “But we can always do better and we gotta look to come out in the second half hot and win more games. I don’t think we have to change much, we just have to practice hard, keep fighting and keep working.”

The Gators have 19 games remaining in the 2015 season, and while currently sitting in the middle of the pack of the CCAA conference, a playoff appearance is in play.

Six of the Gators’ upcoming nine games will be on the road with a tough schedule against Cal State Monterrey Bay and Cal State San Bernardino. Beginning in mid April, SF State will have nine of ten games at Maloney Field, giving them a number of home games to make a playoff push.

“I think we have to be more consistent,” Cummins said. “We have to get what we practice translated into the game when the pressure is on.”

SF State continues the second half of the season this weekend against Cal State Monterey Bay in a four-game series.