Mustang Daily 07-09-09

TOMORROW: Sunny High 87˚/Low 53˚

Summer Mustang CA L I F O R N I A P O LY T E C H N I C S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y Runners will race from Morro Rock to Cayucos Pier on Saturday

China sends thousands of troops to the streets after deadly ethnic riots.

IN NEWS, 3

mustang daily staff report

Students may see up to a 20 percent fee increase and faculty may see a 10 percent pay cut as a result of the $584 million budget deficit facing the California State University.

CSU Trustees discussed options Tuesday to address budget cuts, including employee furloughs, enrollment reductions and student fee increases.The budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year is projected at $1.6 billion — $500 million below the allocated funds a decade ago, according to a press release from the chancellor’s office.

“We have never before seen such a devastating cut in a single year,” said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed in the release. “I am really concerned because the CSU system has a national reputation for access, quality and diversity.”

Although final negotiations have not been made on the monthly twoday furlough for all 47,000 CSU employees, such an action would generate about $275 million toward the $584 million deficit and prevent 22,000 classes from being canceled.

“I pay for a lot of my college so it will definitely impact me,” said computer science sophomore Skyler Durst.

“I came to the CSU to have a good quality education that’s also economical.”

The chancellor’s office also announced that students getting Cal grants A and B can defer university fee payments for the summer and fall terms because the state may delay the funding of these grants. Students will apply on a case-by-case basis to get short-term loans from the individual CSU campuses.

“CSU is committed to ensuring that this situation with the Cal Grants does not hurt our students’ academic progress,” said Chancellor Reed in another statement released Wednesday.

“Many students and their families rely on Cal Grants to cover the cost of education.We will do what we can to provide for the neediest of students, many of whom are the first of their family to attend college.”

Pell grants from the federal government will still be given to students that qualify.

The CSU will look to reduce its enrollment by 32,000 students and consider a student fee increase at the July 21 board meeting.

Lauren Rabaino and Tim Miller contributed to this report.

IN SPORTS, 8

IN ARTS, 5

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Volume LXXIV, Number 3

Student fees could increase again

Sherwood returns to DTB.

www.mustangdaily.net

Congresswoman discusses stimulus benefits for Cal Poly Lauren Rabaino mustang daily

An oral Hepatitis B vaccination and cartilage repair for those who suffer from arthritis are a few Cal Poly research projects being funded

by President Obama’s stimulus plan.

The university has received more than half a million dollars from the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) as a result of the $1 trillion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) — commonly known as the stimulus package.

Congresswoman Lois Capps visited campus last week to hear first-hand reports from faculty and students about how the money is advancing Cal Poly medical projects.

“Investing in healthcare research will help cure life-threatening diseases and increase good-paying jobs along the way,” Capps said to an audience of about 25 students, faculty

and members of the media.

Although Capps’ office organized the press conference, she said wasn’t there to talk, but to listen. She sat in the front row while professors spoke, then walked down the aisle asking questions to individual students.

“I know what it’s like to be in Washington, D.C. saying, ‘How can we get this economy going again?’ ... Being at home, being with constituents, you get the message that things are not right,” Capps said.

So, she came to Cal Poly to hear about the benefits of the stimulus.

Biological sciences instructor Kenneth Hillers is using money from a $210,000 grant to study “comparative and functional proteomics of germline chromatin in celegans.”

Put simply, he and his students are studying how chromosomes spread from one generation to the next.

The grant allows Hillers to buy necessary equipment, financially support students engaged in research and enhance student training.

lauren rabaino mustang daily

Local congresswoman Lois Capps came to Cal Poly to talk with students and staff about Obama’s stimulus package.

“Particularly what I’m interested in is training undergraduates to do biomedical research in order to enable them to go on and get good

jobs in high-tech areas,” Hillers said.

Hillers’ $210,000 grant was the see Stimulus, page 2

Cal Poly cares for a cache of cats on campus Kate McIntyre mustang daily

kate mcintyre mustang daily

Students can come care for cats at Cal Poly’s cat shelter, which has been operating for 17 years.

While it might not work with the fight song, having a cat as the Cal Poly mascot seems a lot more fitting than the mustang, since felines currently outnumber the mustang 80 to zero on campus.

Despite a strict policy regarding animals on campus (the owner must be holding a leash or the animal has to be secured in a vehicle), there were almost 400 feral cats living on campus in 1992, when Garrett Quindimil started the Cal Poly Cat Program (CPCP) as his senior project.

Since its founding, almost 1,000 cats have gone through the program, director Edie GriffinShaw.

The program significantly reduced the number of feral cats using the “Test, Trap, Vaccinate, Medicate, Alter, and Release” method developed by the National Feral Cat Resource Center, or specifically by neutering or spaying the cats.

CPCP relies on people to notify the staff about a stray cat.The program lays traps to catch the cat and then staff members bring it to a local veterinary clinic, where if it hasn’t been fixed already, it is neutered (males) or spayed (females), vaccinated and tested for AIDS, leukemia and rabies. Then its ear is clipped so staff members know which cats have been through the program.

Staff members and volunteers run the shelter (located on Mount Bishop Road off Highland) as well as 12 feeding stations spread around campus.

“It’s a wonderful program,” Griffin-Shaw said.

“When we first started, people thought we were just a bunch of crazy cat women. But when they realized what we were doing and why, a lot of the critics turned around.”

Griffin-Shaw and her co-director Ellen Notermann have a core group of 20 volunteers. The university allotted the space for the shelter, but staff and volunteers are responsible for all expenses, including vet bills, litter, cleaning supplies and food.

They work with community members to donate money and fundraise with events like raffles, golf tournaments, car washes and garage sales.

Rachael Maingot, 22, has volunteered at the shelter for nearly two years, two two-hour shifts a week.

“I first got involved because I had cats that passed away. I heard about it through the grapevine; then when I saw the shelter, it had a lot of cool cats;” like her favorite cat Snowy, who has one eye and no ears. “Everyone stares at him like he’s scary, but then they realize what a nice cat he is,” she said.

The shelter is a great place for people who love animals; the cat-human interaction is mutually beneficial, she said. see Shelter, page 2

2

Shelter continued from page 1

Biology senior Elizabeth Goodenough sees the shelter as an opportunity to learn.

“I want to have a career in a similar field. Ethology (study of animal behavior) and rehabilitation are my main interests. So working at a cat shelter is not so much work to me as it is honor knowing what I am doing is a part of something so much bigger to give homeless and abused animals the voice and help they need so badly,” she said.

Most of the cats found on campus were dumped by students; others were owned by staff members who went into nursing homes or died. The program also works with others around the county, sharing volunteers and providing space for cats when other shelters are full.

“Some cats are here for a short time. They may have been sick and needed to come in for medical needs. Others, like the old campus cats, are there until they pass away,” Griffin-Shaw said.

Bucky was one of the original cats in 1992. When she was found she was just a kitten; she’s now 17 years old, Griffin-Shaw said.

“She started her life as a very wild girl and wouldn’t let me touch her for many years,” she said.“She’s hard of hearing and is probably blind in her bad eye. She loves being in the shelter where she gets lots of attention and pets, a nice dry bed and where she is treatedlike a queen.”

mustang www.mustangdaily.net

In addition to caring for the cats, the shelter also has an adoption program. Since its founding, CPCP has adopted out over 700 cats, GriffinShaw said.

“Usually with someone you can tell if they’re there to have a friend.

We want the cats to go to good homes,” computer science senior and CPCP volunteer Daniel Luces said.

Luces has volunteered with the program since last summer; in March he adopted an orange tabby named Hitch.

“I think almost every volunteer has adopted one,” said GriffinShaw.

In addition to screening potential adopters and volunteers herself, Griffin-Shaw sees how a 10-yearold black cat named Woody responds to them.

“He’s a great judge of character and I watch how he reacts. He’s always right,” she said. “One time someone came in to volunteer. I wasn’t too sure if this was the place for him to work. I was trying to find a gentle way to discourage him from volunteering, when out of nowhere, Woody came up and starting rubbing all over him. I decided to give him a chance and he wound up being one of our best volunteers.”

The shelter has one large main indoor room and an outdoor area, both furnished with cat paraphernalia. The cats are free to roam around, except those who need medication, who haven’t seen the vet yet, or who aren’t the friendliest felines.

“The cats mostly get along. We

News editor: Tim Miller, News Designer: Kasey Reed mustangdailynews@gmail.com daily Thursday, July 9, 2009

News

do have a few bullies that we would love to find homes for. They would love to be only pets. We introduce the cats slowly so they get to know each other,” Griffin-Shaw said.

If you see a cat whose ear has not been clipped (which means it has not been through the program) or for more information, contact CPCP by calling Edie Griffin-Shaw at (805) 756-5220 or emailing egriffin@calpoly.edu or Ellen Notermann at (805) 756-1625 or enotterma@calpoly.edu.

Alleged robbery at off-campus housing

San Luis Obispo police responded to a reported robbery at gunpoint in Mustang Village apartments on June 30. Three suspects allegedly entered an apartment to rob the occupants of narcotics.

Visit mustangdaily.net for more information.

Stimulus continued from page 1

kate mcintyre mustang daily

Bucky observes her surroundings from her cage at the Cal Poly cat shelter where she’s lived since she was a kitten.

largest received by a Cal Poly group as a result of the stimulus package.

“The timing is really nice,” Hillers said. “Because, obviously, given the financial situation in California, the funding for the CSU system is being slashed and that’s going to have an impact on the experience that the students have.”

The financial crisis is a $584 million deficit that may force the CSU to raise student fees by up to 20 percent and require two-day faculty furloughs each month in 2009-10.

Mechanical engineering professor Stephen Klisch and biomedical engineering instructor Scott Hazelwood are using a $33,824 grant for a project that focuses on cartilage growth in biomechanics. The goal is to develop engineering strategies for the repair of tissue damaged by arthritis.

Arthritis is the leading cost of disability in the United States, Klisch said. The direct medical cost of arthritis and related conditions was about $81 billion in 2003. Klisch said there are also indirect costs like economic productivity lost from people suffering from arthritis.

“This kind of work may help to greatly reduce healthcare costs in the future,” Klisch said.

The $33,834 supplements a $210,000 parent grant Klisch’s project has received for the past three years from the NIH. The $33,834 is being used to provide summer internships for four undergraduate students, pay for travel expenses to an

academic conference and advancing research for the cartilage regrowth project.

Klisch’s group plans to attend the Biomedical Engineering Society meeting this fall in Pittsburgh if they can put together an abstract for the project before July 31.

Creating jobs through the multiplier effect By using money from the stimulus package, Cal Poly is creating jobs for students, the community and eventually, the world, Capps said.

Although she couldn’t put a number on the of new jobs created, she said the multiplier effect is huge. Cal Poly is just the start to a chain of jobs to be created in the future.

First, students are hired to research a project; then, more faculty are hired as the research grows.When the findings are eventually released, billions of dollars and jobs go into making it a reality.

John Howard, the founder and president of Applied Biotechnology Institute — which works with Cal Poly students to conduct research on campus — said that for every one person Cal Poly hires, around 1,000 jobs are created down the line.

Klisch’s four summer interns, for example, will be in San Luis Obispo this summer and contribute to local business and real estate.

Small business, not medical research, will help economy Brian Klotz, the press secretary for Representative Kevin McCarthy — who represents the district from Bakersfield to Atascadero — said there is a better way to generate jobs.

Although Cal Poly is a “premier university” and its research projects “push the envelope in needed research and development,” the stimulus package isn’t the most efficient solution, he said.

“Our priority needs to be to improve the small business climate throughout our nation to create permanent jobs and turn our economy around,” Klotz said in a statement.“Helping small businesses — that create 70 percent of our nation’s jobs — is imperative to create employment opportunities for Cal Poly graduates and long-term jobs Californians desperately need during times of double-digit unemployment.”

mustang daily

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Wire Editor: Cassandra J. Carlson

News

www.mustangdaily.net

3

Briefs

eugene hoshiko

associated press

Chinese paramilitary police patrol in Urumqi, western China’s Xinjiang province, Wednesday. China flooded the capital of western Xinjiang province with security forces Wednesday after ethnic riots left at least 156 dead.

Chinese troops flood streets after deadly riots William Foreman associated press

In the city’s largest Muslim neighborhood, a quiet backstreet market displayed carts of watermelons, shops offered cold soft drinks, and smoky grills sizzled with lamb kebabs. Suddenly, someone yelled, “The Han are coming!”

The shout alerted Muslim Uighurs to the approach of marauders from the Chinese Han ethnic majority who have been fighting them in three days of bloody communal violence that left 156 people dead.

Within seconds, children scampered indoors and women shrieked.

From behind closed doors, the men pulled makeshift spears — actually long poles with knives or meat cleavers tied to the ends. Piles of rocks were gathered for ammunition. Although Chinese riot police kept the vigilantes away, the incident sent a wave of panic and terror through the Er Dao Qiao neighborhood.

Thousands of Chinese troops flooded into Urumqi on Wednesday to separate the feuding ethnic groups, and a senior Communist Party official vowed to execute those guilty of murder in the rioting in western China.

The crisis was so severe that President Hu Jintao cut short a trip to Italy, where he was to participate in a Group of Eight summit. It was an embarrassing move for a leader who wants to show that China has a harmonious society as it prepares to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Communist rule.

“After all this rioting, I’m still filled with hatred. I’m not afraid of the Han Chinese,” said a shopkeeper who only identified himself as Ahmet. Like other members of the Uighur ethnic minority, he declined to give his full name because he feared the police would detain him.

Long convoys of armored cars and

green troop trucks with riot police rumbled through Urumqi, a city of 2.3 million people. Other security forces carrying automatic rifles with bayonets formed cordons to defend Muslim neighborhoods from groups of vigilantes with sticks.

Military helicopters buzzed over Xinjiang’s regional capital, dropping pamphlets that urged people to stay in their homes and stop fighting. Special police from other provinces were called in to patrol the city.

The heightened security came amid the worst spasm of ethnic violence in decades in Xinjiang — a sprawling, oil-rich territory that borders Pakistan, Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries. The region is home to the Uighurs, who rioted Sunday and attacked the Han Chinese — the nation’s biggest ethnic group — after holding a protest that was ended by police.

Officials have said 156 people were killed as the Turkic-speaking Uighurs ran amok in the city, beating and stabbing the Han Chinese. The Uighurs allege that trigger-happy security forces gunned down many of the protesters, and officials have yet to give an ethnic breakdown of those killed.

In Rome, a Germany-based Uighur leader, Erkin Alptekin, told The Associated Press that “our countrymen in China” reported that 600-800 Uighurs were killed in the past few days and 3,000 were arrested.

“We were told (by fellow Uighurs) that 140 were dead on the spot” on Sunday and that their bodies were tossed into trucks and taken away by Chinese security forces, said Alptekin, who briefed the human rights commission in the Italian parliament.

“When the Uighurs heard the people were fired upon, parents all came out looking for their sons and daughters,” he said, adding that secu see Troops, page 4

State

National

International

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A group of 20 students studying in Japan through the University of California, Davis, have been quarantined after two of their Japanese tutors were diagnosed with swine flu, a program coordinator said Wednesday.

UC Davis summer abroad coordinator Kathy Cunningham said the students arrived in Kyoto on June 27 and were quarantined to a Kyoto dormitory on July 3.

Japanese health officials are monitoring the group for symptoms.

So far, no students have shown any sign of the disease.

One tutor was diagnosed with swine flu on July 3 and the second was confirmed on July 5, Cunningham said.

“We’re staying in contact with the situation and how it develops,” Cunningham said. “Whatever health precautions the Japanese take are their responsibility, and we are respecting that.”

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — A Las Vegas man won a courtroom battle Wednesday with the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles over his “HOE” license plate, which the agency tried to cancel on grounds that he was using a slang reference to prostitutes.

The high court said the DMV based its opposition to William Junge’s plate on definitions found in the Web-based Urban Dictionary, which includes user contributions. Justices ruled that the contributed definitions “do not always reflect generally accepted definitions for words.”

Junge, whose case was pursued by the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, said he got the “HOE” plate in 1999 for his Chevy Tahoe, after being told “TAHOE” wasn’t available.

L’AQUILA, Italy (AP) — Residents of this badly damaged city toyed with President Barack Obama’s campaign slogan on Wednesday, waving “Yes, we camp” signs as the U.S. leader visited the historic town square destroyed during an April earthquake.

More than 50,000 residents were left homeless when a massive earthquake sent ancient buildings crumbling and filled the streets with rubble. The earthquake that killed almost 300 left many others homeless and living in makeshift campsites.

Obama shed his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves as he toured the historic town square, Piazza del Duomo, with Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi. Obama apologized to the workers for his informality and congratulated the firefighters for their quick rescue actions.

“The firefighters of the United States are very proud,” Obama told one group of uniformed men.

•••

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.

(AP) — Jesse James Hollywood has been convicted of the kidnap and murder of a 15-year-old boy that inspired the 2007 movie “Alpha Dog.” A Santa Barbara jury on Wednesday also found the 29year-old guilty after deliberating for about four days.

Prosecutors say Hollywood orchestrated the kidnapping and eventual killing of Nicholas Markowitz in August 2000 because the teen’s half brother owed a drug debt.

Nicholas was taken to Santa Barbara, held for several days, before he was shot and buried in a shallow grave. Four others have been convicted in connection with the crime.

•••

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) —Gov. Sarah Palin spent another day on the move Wednesday at a time when many Alaskans remain mystified over her decision to step down and not finish out her first term.

The Republican governor racked up more air miles as she traveled to the small town of McGrath, an off-the-road hamlet of about 300 people in the interior part of the state. She signed an obscure bill extending the termination date of the Board of Veterinary Examiners. The bill is summed up on the state Legislature Web site in 18 words.

Palin did take time to tweet on her Twitter account, alluding to her sudden decision to resign.

“Today, try this,” the governor tweeted. “Act in accordance to your conscience — risk — by pursuing larger vision in opposition to popular, powerful pressure.”

•••

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Suspected cyber attacks paralyzed Web sites of major South Korean government agencies, banks and Internet sites in a barrage that appeared linked to similar attacks in the U.S., South Korean officials said Tuesday.

The sites of the presidential Blue House, the Defense Ministry, the National Assembly, Shinhan Bank, Korea Exchange Bank and top Internet portal Naver went down or had access problems since late Tuesday, said Ahn Jeong-eun, a spokeswoman at Korea Information Security Agency.

They appeared to be linked to the knockout of service of Web sites of several government agencies in the United States, though investigators are still unsure who was behind the attacks, Ahn said.

4

MuStang daily

www.mustangdaily.net

environmentalists unfurl banner on Mount rushmore

kate daVison associated press/greenpeace

Greenpeace climbers rappel down the face of Mount rushmore National Memorial in Keystone, S.D. on Wednesday to unfurl a banner that challenges President Obama to show leadership on global warming.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Environmentalists who hung a banner on Mount Rushmore National Memorial calling for a stop to global warming have been arrested.

A federal prosecutor says 11 people pleaded not guilty to trespassing and the misdemeanor crime of climbing on Mount Rushmore.

The environmental group Greenpeace says in a statement that its members hung the 2,300square-foot banner that read,

“America honors leaders not politicians: Stop Global Warming.”

The banner was removed about an hour after it was unfurled from the top of the mountain Wednesday and hung alongside the carving of former President Abraham Lincoln.

Greenpeace says the activists scaled the monument using rock anchors used by the National Park Service. A park ranger says tourists helped alert park officials.

-Associated Press

Thursday, July 9, 2009

News Troops continued from page 3

rity forces started to “disperse them by force, then started to beat them, tear gas them and shoot them.”

His account could not be independently confirmed.

More than 1,100 people were wounded in the violence. Dr. Yuan Hong of Urumqi People’s Hospital said most of the people treated at his facility were clubbed, while others had been cut by knives.

Li Zhi, the highest-ranking Communist Party official in Urumqi, told reporters that some of the rioters were university students who were misled and didn’t understand what they were doing. They would be treated leniently, he said, as long as they weren’t involved in serious acts of violence and vandalism.

But Li added: “To those who committed crimes with cruel means, we will execute them.”

He also repeated allegations that the riot was whipped up by U.S.exiled Uighur activist Rebiya Kadeer and her overseas supporters. “They’re afraid to see our economic prosperity.

They’re afraid to see our ethnic unity and the people living a stable, prosperous life,” he said.

Kadeer has denied masterminding the violence, and many Uighurs laughed off the notion that they were puppets of groups abroad.

“Not even a 3-year-old would believe that Rebiya stirred this up.

It’s ridiculous,” said Ahmet, the shopkeeper, He was quick to rattle off a long list of grievances commonly mentioned by Uighurs. He accused the

ng han guan associated press

A Uighur man reacts near a mosque when he is asked about how the Han Chinese mob attacked the neighborhood on Tuesday in Urumqi, China, Wednesday.

Han Chinese of discrimination and alleged that government policies were forcing them to abandon their culture, language and Islamic faith.

His neighborhood in southern Urumqi was targeted by mobs of Han Chinese who roamed the capital Tuesday seeking revenge. Ahmet’s friends had video shot by mobile phones and cameras that showed the stick-wielding Han men beating Uighurs. He pointed to blood stains on a white concrete apartment wall, where he said a Uighur was severely stabbed.

A Uighur college student who called herself Parizat added,“The men were carrying a Chinese flag. I never thought something like this would happen.We’re all Chinese citizens.”

The Uighurs accused paramilitary police of allowing the Han Chinese

to attack their neighbors. But in the video, the troops appeared to be trying to block or restrain the mobs.

On Wednesday, the government warned residents against carrying weapons on the street, and most people generally complied. But there were groups of Han Chinese who tried to find soft spots in police cordons and rush into Uighur neighborhoods.

One Uighur graduate student who called himself Memet greeted a foreign reporter in English by saying, “Welcome to the jungle!”

“I think the Uighur people lately are kind of happy. You can see it in their eyes, a bit of happiness. We’ve spoken up. People know we exist now,” he said.

-Associated Press writer Frances D’Emilio in Rome contributed to this story.

WORD ON THE STREET

“How would a 20 percent student fee increase impact you?”

“It doesn’t impact me that much because I’m graduating soon.

It’s important to raise fees because the quality of educatiion goes down (along with) the reputation Cal Poly has.”

–Andrea Schmidt, industrial engineering senior “It wouldn’t impact me right now because all I’m doing is student loans. So I’d pay for it in the future and it would make it harder to repay the loans.”

-Randy White, biomedica engineeringl junior

“Obviously it would cost a lot more. It would be harder, I know I’m already having a hard time getting loans and it would make me take more classes so I’d graduate sooner.”

-Tabatha Smith, political science junior

“Well I’m getting loans. I might have to a get a bigger amount of loans. I think they should be using the money to higher more faculty to teach.”

-Aaron Martinez, computer engineering junior COMPILED AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAUREN RABAINO & CASSANDRA CARLSON

Arts editor: Krizia Torres, Arts Designer: Amber Kiwan mustangdailynews@gmail.com

5

mustang daily

Thursday, July 9, 2009 www.mustangdaily.net

Arts

Sherwood returns to Downtown Brew Co. Katie Koschalk mustang daily

Swiping shaggy blond hair out of his eyes, Nate Henry, bassist and vocalist for Sherwood, clutches the microphone and delivers powerful lyrics to hundreds of dedicated fans.

The crowd shouts praise and dances to the catchy indie beats.

This is likely to be the scene tonight at 7 when Downtown Brew Co. welcomes Sherwood, the first local band to get signed and tour nationally, back to San Luis Obispo. “(Downtown Brew) has a cool, small club vibe. Three out of our last four shows sold out and our headlining tour sold out in advance, which was really cool. I think people take pride that we are a hometown band,” Henry said.

Sherwood has played at Downtown Brew at least 10 times and each show has been very successful.

Playing shows in their college town is like a homecoming for the band, bringing them back to their roots, said Korie Newman, Downtown Brew’s booking and venue coordinator.

The band has come a long way since its formation.

Henry and guitarist Dan Koch met at an open microphone event in 2001, when they were both attending Cal Poly.

“We were just a couple of college kids who had a dream,” Henry said.

The group was completed in 2002 with the addition of drummer Joe Greenetz, guitarist Chris Armstrong and keyboard player Mike Leibovich. The quintet’s style blends indie with catchy pop tunes and a rock n’ roll beat, citing The Beach Boys, The Beatles and Tom Petty as some of their musical influences.

According to Henry, the band name stemmed from a joke.The band members wanted to create an album that corresponded with scenes from the Disney classic, “Robin Hood;” much like Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” supposedly meshes with “The Wizard of Oz.” While they have yet to create a soundtrack for “Robin Hood,” Sherwood did produce two independent albums before becoming the first band to release an album through MySpace Records in 2002.

The record label helped propel them from small town college band to national sensation, with nearly one million MySpace friends and more than 18 million playbacks of songs on its MySpace page.

Starting off small and working their way up the music industry ladder, Sherwood has garnered a lot of worldwide success, attracting the support of even the unlikeliest of fans.

“We went to Japan last year and having people that don’t speak your language singing along to the songs, giving you flowers and crying when they meet you is really amazing. Going to Japan changed my life. I had a smile on my face the whole time,” Henry said.

Sherwood’s MySpace page has comments posted from fans across the globe, including places such as Holland, Denmark, Australia and many U.S. states.

“I love your music, guys. I especially like your ballads. Keep up the great soulful and honest songwriting.

Rock on,” writes Justin Henderson, a fan from Kansas.

Despite its huge online fan base, Sherwood finds that many fans won’t support the band financially by legally buying music or attending

Getting personal with Nate Henry: Q: Who are your favorite artists?

A: Smashing Pumpkins, Counting Crows,Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, good wellcrafted indie pop like Death Cab for Cutie and Iron and Wine. Kayne West. Anything you can appreciate.

Q: Any embarrassing moments?

A: One time, we were playing a concert at Cal Poly’s UU hour and Matt threw a tambourine like 50 feet up in the air and it came down and hit me in the back of the head.

Of course it would hit me.The whole crowd was laughing.

Q: What is your favorite musical venue?

A:The Fillmore in San Francisco.They are so artist-friendly. Or any place in Tokyo.They take care of you like no other.

Q: If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

A: Either David from the Bible or Conan O’ Brian. Growing up, I connected to stories of David in the Bible. He was very artsy, very poetic, but at the same time very much a warrior. He could crush a lion with his bear hands, but also wrote beautiful poetry to express himself. It is hard to find that combination in a man. And Conan O’Brien just seems cool. I’ve always wanted to hang out with him.

Q: If you were alone on a deserted island, whose music would you be listening to?

A: Johnny Cash. He has so many records and just seems like a really cool person. Maybe his songs would inspire me to build a fort or something.

Q: If you could have any superhero power, what would it be?

Why? A: I can’t decide if I’d want more of a superhero power or more of an X-Men power. I guess I would fly because that would be more useful over time.

COURTESY PHOTO

Local rock band Sherwood returns to its old stomping grounds with a show with Copeland at Downtown Brewing Co. tonight. concerts, Henry said.

“When the economy is down the first thing to go is entertainment,” Henry said.

The members of Sherwood, however, are not letting anything get in the way of producing more music.

Sherwood’s new album “Qu” was a year in the making and will be

released this fall. It will offer fans a unique blend of songs with an array of different themes.

“Most bands who are starting out write songs about girls. As we grow and mature and get life experiences, we can channel our experiences to write and inspire songs,” Henry said.

Henry said songs from the album

will step away from the cliché by including themes about apathy, war, mid-life crises and motherhood.

Tickets for the all-ages concert can be purchased for $15 at the door or $14 in advance at ticketweb.com, Boo Boo Records or Downtown Brew’s box office. Rock band Copeland will be opening the show.

mustang daily The voice of Cal Poly since 1916 Graphic Arts Building, Suite 226 California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, CA 93407 (805) 756-1796 editorial (805) 756-1143 advertising (805) 756-6784 fax mustangdaily@gmail.com e-mail

editors & staff editor in chief Emilie Egger managing editor Alex Kacik news editor Tim Miller news designer Kasey Reed wire editor Cassie Carlson sports editor Scott Silvey sports designer Kevin Black online editor Lauren Rabaino arts editor Krizia Torres arts designer Amber Kiwan copy editors Katie McIntyre, Breehan Yohe-Mellor photographers Nick Camacho, Patrick Fina production manager Andrew Santos-Johnson assistant production manager Jason Cope advertising coordinator Charlotte Lilley business manager Sarah Carbonel marketing manager Kelsey Magnusen advertising manager Kristin Coplan ad designers Mai-Chi Vu, Sara Hamling advertising representatives Erika Powers, Giana Ronzani, April Manalotto, Brittni Kiick, Adam Plachta,Tarah Brinkerhoff, Lindsey Bly faculty adviser Brady Teufel general manager Paul Bittick

write a letter Mustang Daily reserves the right to edit letters for grammar, profanities and length. Letters, commentaries and cartoons do not represent the views of the Mustang Daily. Please limit length to 250 words. Letters should include the writer’s full name, phone number, major and class standing. Letters must come from a Cal Poly e-mail account. Do not send letters as an attachment. Please send the text in the body of the e-mail.

By e-mail: mustangdailyopinions@gmail.com By mail: Letters to the Editor Building 26, Room 226 Cal Poly, SLO, CA 93407 Online: mustangdaily.net/letters

corrections

The Mustang Daily staff takes pride in publishing a daily newspaper for the Cal Poly campus and the neighboring community. We appreciate your readership and are thankful for your careful reading.

Please send your correction suggestions to mustangdaily@gmail.com.

notices

The Mustang Daily is a “designated public forum.” Student editors have full authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval.

The Mustang Daily is a free newspaper; however, the removal of more than one copy of the paper per day is subject to a cost of 50 cents per issue. printed by

University Graphic Systems ugs.calpoly.edu

ugs@calpoly.edu

July 2, 2009 Volume LXXIII, No. 3 ©2009 Mustang Daily “Apparantly turtles do it doggy style.”

opinion/editorial Thursday, June 9, 2009

Editor in chief: Emilie Egger Managing Editor: Alex Kacik

mustangdaily@gmail.com

www.mustangdaily.net

6

Txting Taboo: Should it letters to the editor be allowed in classrooms?

We do it late at night. We do it at the dinner table and while crossing busy streets. We do it at school behind closed doors. We do it so much our thumbs become sore.

It seems like everywhere you look you can see the brisk thumb symphony that is text messaging.

Spurred by the unlimited texting plans offered by carriers like AT&T Mobility, Sprint Nextel and Verizon Wireless, American teenagers deliver more SMS (short message service) text messages than telephone calls. Teenagers on average send and receive 2,272 text messages per month, according to the Nielsen Company.

The trend is worrying parents, physicians, and psychologists, who believe texting is leading to anxiety, distraction in school, failing grades, stress and sleep loss.

Educators argue texting threatens to eclipse the real reason students go to school: to learn.

California has imposed a ban on drivers talking on cell phones and text messaging. Will the mobile phone ban extend to classrooms next? Beginning this fall at every Templeton Unified School District campus, all electronic devices must be turned off and out of sight during the school day.

Rather than banning text messaging and cell phones at school, we need to embrace mobile phones to improve learning.

No one can stop the communication revolution. Although controversial, students have invented a new shortened language.

Some balk at text terminologies

and informal use of grammar, but it still is inventing. It sets a context for creative discussions and language that could provide a teaching opportunity if educators are willing to take advantage

multi-tasking generation. What many adults consider distracting simply isn’t. Some students argue text messaging actually helps them stay awake in class. As long as they are constantly doing something, they won’t completely zone out.

Often, students rely on having their mobile phones in class because of the convenience and safety factors.

“I can’t count how many times I have had to text my roommates when I get out of class early for a ride home so I didn’t have to walk alone in the dark,” said liberal studies senior Caitlin Adams.

Prompted by the Virginia Tech shootings, the Cal Poly Emergency Notification jennifer kohnke newsart System was set up in January 2008. The service allows the University Police Department to text message of it. students, faculty and staff in the Teachers can learn from stu- event of an emergency posing an dents. They can ask students to imminent physical threat to the verify information via their cell campus community. It can be acphones – from dates, to events, cessed via the Cal Poly portal. to speeches – any reference at all.

This is just one example of Professors can even send ques- how mobile is already being used tions, reminders or homework as- to benefit students. signments via text. Using phones Although they’ve never needkeeps students on task and pro- ed to use the service, the Univervides them with a learning op- sity Police Department continues portunity. to test the system on the second Taking away cell phones Wednesday of every month, Chief doesn’t solve the root of the of Police Bill Watton said. problem. Without a phone, stuIn the end, long division via dents will go back to traditional iPhone is much faster than via distractions: passing notes, doo- paper. But which device’s answer dling and daydreaming. A per- is better? son’s motivation determines their success.

Danny Triassi is a journalism Today’s students are part of a senior and Mustang Daily reporter.

Time for a high speed rail do-over vote

With the sidelining of AB 153, a bill giving the High Speed Rail Authority the power of eminent domain, as well as the right to issue debt, it’s time to admit how poorly informed California voters were when presented the HSR ballot item in the fall of 2008 and resubmit the HSR question to the voters.

Given the true costs of this railway could easily be in the $100 billion range, and that there is no clear source of funding for this debt, HSR needs a confirming vote before unleashing the untold billions for something that will never be used by most Californians.

With the advent of Broadband and wireless Internet communications, business-related travel will be less necessary in the future.This begs the question — who will actually use this incredibly expensive train?

Legislators — do the right thing and put this project back on the ballot for a “do-over” vote. Force the HSR supporters to provide the voters all of the information needed to fully appreciate the total costs of this train, by forcing them to publish a meaningful business plan, and meaningful operational cost information that will reflect the actual cost to run this train on a per-ticket basis.

Wayne Martin Former Palo Alto software consultant

“My kids are grown and doing their own thing, so thought we’d check out the ‘cool’ laser light show with in-laws and younger niece/nephews. Got a prime spot near Morro rock. We were just about to move spots when a lady said she researched the show and we should be able to see it. By 9:15 decided it was time to pack it in - laser show was miles away on the tiny screen and obviously lame and couldn’t really see anything from Cayucos either. It was definitely a 4th to remember. Felt bad for the kids since they got no fireworks. Guess we should have brought those little glow sticks or necklaces that you snap and they light up. It would have been more effective waving those around, than the laser show.

What a joke. If I’d paid any $ into that $25,000, I’d ask for it back!”

— Lori Response to “BLOG: Morro Bay laser show didn’t impress” NOTE: The Mustang Daily features select comments that are written in response to articles posted online. Though not all the responses are printed, the Mustang Daily prints comments that are coherent and foster intelligent discussion on a given subject.

www.mustangdaily.net br

ea

k

blog ing ne s ws

audio slid eshows

polls

vid

eo

mustangdaily d ily.nett always something new.

mustangdaily.net Thursday, July 9, 2009

SPORTS

sports editor:

Scott Silvey mustangdailysports@gmail.com

MUSTANG DAILY

40th annual Brian Waterbury race this Saturday Kate McIntyre mustang daily

The 40th annual Brian Waterbury Memorial Rock to Pier Fun Run is this Saturday. The six-mile race runs

along the beach from Morro Rock to Cayucos Pier. It begins at 7:30 a.m with the low tide.

“You’ve got the serious runners; the families with moms, dads, and kids; high school teams training

graphic courtesy of leaguelineup.com

The Memorial Rock to Cayucos Pier Fun Run begins at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

cross-country; people from all walks of life,” Morro Bay Recreation Supervisor Karen Sweeny said.

There are 15 age groups, ranging from under 10-years-old to over 80.The top runners usually finish in about 30 minutes; the slowest take around 2:30. A course sweeper will make sure no one is left behind.

Ed Cadena holds the men’s record with a time of 30:44; Linda Somer Smith holds the women’s at 34:53.

Brian Waterbury and his Cal Poly running teammate Terry Record founded the Morro Bay to Cayucos Fun Run. Thirty people attended the first race in 1970; it’s expected about 1,000 will race this Saturday, Sweeny said.

“It’s the right distance and close to home,” said Stan Rosenfield. “It’s well-organized and the people are great. It’s a beautiful race. You run along the beach, and it’s gorgeous.”

Rosenfield met Waterbury at the 1972 race and the two worked out several times a week for around 25 years. He also helped Waterbury start the San Luis Distance Club in 1973. Rosenfield and his wife Elaine will both participate in the race this year.

When Waterbury died of cancer on May 15, 2003, the San Luis Distance Club asked the Morro Bay Recreation and Parks Department to rename the race in his honor.

“That was truly a gift that will be forever and ever,” Waterbury’s widow Sue said. The race is part of his legacy, she said.

Brian Waterbury graduated from

Cal Poly in 1972. Soon after, he married Sue, who he met when Sue’s roommate offered to trade dates with her. Brian taught mathematics and computer science at San Luis Obispo High School for 30 years. He was also the cross-country and track coach. During his free time, Waterbury competed in over 400 races.

“He was energetic, very encouraging. He had high expectations and he helped you achieve them,” Sue said. “He was always laughing.

He was a fun person to be around.”

Brian’s family will be attending the race, as they have done consistently since 2003. His daughter Vikki and his granddaughter Kelsi will race.Vikki has run the race every year since her father died.

Sue was never much of a runner, but is always waiting at the finish line, she said.

“When we first got married, we decided to take a running class at Cal Poly. He started running backwards and laughing,” she said about Brian’s attempt to get her to love his hobby.

In addition to the race, Waterbury’s memory is honored by a $1,000 scholarship from the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation. The recipient is always a cross-country and track athlete and a strong math student graduating from San Luis Obispo High School. The money goes toward the recipient’s first year of college.

Jenna Kingma was the first recipient in 2004; Julia Uytteewaal is the 2009-10 recipient.

The Morro Bay Recreation and Parks Department will spend about $21,000 on this event, said Sweeny, who has organized the event since 2003. The profit from the event, estimated to be around $4,000, will go toward youth sports programs in Morro Bay, she said.

Participants can register at the Morro Bay Recreation and Parks Department (1001 Kennedy Way) from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on July 10 for $20, or for $30 at Morro Rock from 6:30 a.m. to 7:15 a.m. on Saturday.

Race packets for those who register before or on Friday will be available for pick up at the Morro Bay Recreation and Parks Department on Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. All participants can pick up their packets Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 7:15 a.m.

Shoreline Calvary Chapel will be serving breakfast at Morro Rock from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. It is free for registered racers and $5 otherwise. A band called the Mud Skippers will provide entertainment.

There will be an awards ceremony following the race at 11 a.m. at Morro Rock. All finishers will receive ribbons, and the top three racers in each age division as well as the top female and male runner will be given medals.

Buses will shuttle participants and spectators from the finish line back to Morro Rock parking lot every 15 minutes beginning at 8:30 a.m. Parking is free at the Morro Bay parking lot.

Rockets introduce Trevor Ariza Chris Duncan associated press

HOUSTON (AP) — Trevor Ariza liked what he saw in Houston enough to leave the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Rockets formally introduced the versatile forward on Wednesday after he signed a multiyear contract.

The 24-year-old free agent agreed to join the Rockets last Thursday night, switching places with free agent Ron Artest, who left Houston to play for the Lakers.

“I think this was the best place for me,” Ariza said.“I think I have more of an opportunity here.”

The 6-foot-8 Ariza averaged 8.9 points and 4.3 rebounds and shot 32 percent from 3-point range for Los Angeles in the regular season. He raised his stock during the Lakers’ championship run, averaging 11.3 points, 2.3 assists and shooting 47.6 percent from

3-point range in the playoffs.

Even after agreeing to terms with the Rockets, other teams were still trying to change his mind, including the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Ariza spoke to LeBron James, but said James did not indicate he would stay with Cleveland after next season, when he becomes a free agent.

“He had nothing to say about his future,”Ariza said.“He just told me that if I was to come there, we would have a good chance of winning.That’s all you want to do is win.”

Ariza expected that kind of attention because of how the Lakers finished their season.

“It was tempting — very, very tempting,” he said. “But at the end of the day, I felt like Houston was the best place for me. I got approached by some really good teams. I felt like I could help this team a lot more and help myself also by being here.”

The Rockets will need him as they rebuild for next season and beyond.

The futures of All-Stars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming are in doubt as they recover from serious injuries, and general manager Daryl Morey struck out on an aggressive effort to sign Marcin Gortat of Orlando to fill in for Yao next season.

McGrady could be out until February after microfracture surgery on his left knee, and Yao could be out for the 2009-10 season with a broken left foot.

The NBA granted Houston a disabled player exception inYao’s case and the Rockets used that money (about

$5.7 million) to sign Ariza.The Rockets still have money in a midlevel exception (also about $5.7 million) to use on one or more free agents.

With so much in doubt, Morey was relieved to lock up some longterm security in Ariza, who played only one season at UCLA before he was drafted by New York in the second round in 2004.

“We feel like he’s added something to his game every year,” Morey said. “We just see him as a young player who’s going to keep improving.You don’t find many players like Trevor who come into the league at that age, who continue to add to their game.”

Ariza said he dramatically improved his 3-point shooting last season and he should fit well into coach Rick Adelman’s free-flowing offensive system. Ariza said he and Adelman have talked about him taking a featured role next season.

“Every player wants to be that,” Ariza said. “I feel like I’m a part of something here.”

Ariza and the Lakers needed seven games to eliminate the Rockets in the second round of the playoffs. He admired the way the Rockets played in the series and that factored into his decision to come here.

“This is a great, young team that has a lot of potential,” Ariza said.

“They’re very, very scrappy and they never give up, and that’s the type of player I am. No matter what the situation is, I’m still fighting.”

sarah swanson courtesy photo

Rahsaan Bahati (not pictured) won the SLO Criterium Race and $3,000 in cash on Sunday in downtown San Luis Obispo.