1-14-10

MUSTANG DAILY TOMORROW:

Sunny High 66˚/Low 41˚

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 Teacher Feature: Meet assistant professor Anika Leithner.

ASI finds another alternative solution to Concerts in the Plaza.

IN ARTS, 6

IN NEWS, 4

Mikaela Akuna

www.mustangdaily.net

New Web site to offer more than teacher ratings Students can upload homework and tests on new publication Leticia Rodriguez mustang daily

mustang daily

A social networking site exclusive to Cal Poly students was launched last Monday by industrial engineering junior Johnson Nakano. Unlike other networking sites, such as Facebook and Myspace, MyCollegeLoop.com is solely event-based.

“The idea is not to keep people online,” Nakano said. “My vision is to let people go on and find something else to do.”

IN SPORTS, 12

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Volume LXXIV, Number 60

Students launch social network

Men’s and women’s basketball face off against Cal State Fullerton.

After the closure of the professor-rating Web site Polyratings last quarter, two Cal Poly students and a friend came up with the idea to offer a new Web site, one that advertises more than teacher ratings. The Web site, slostudents.com, was created and designed by Cal Poly students Slava Markeye, Brian Spence and their friend Alex Kennedy.

The site is intended to be a “one-stop shop” for students looking to sell and buy books, post

teacher ratings, calendar events and homework and test solutions. But for teachers who use the same tests and homework assignments year after year, slostudents.com could be a bigger tool for students looking for a way around studying.

Under section 684 of Cal Poly’s academic policies concerning cheating and plagiarism, cheating includes a student “taking or receiving copies of an exam without the permission of the instructor.” A violation of this policy generally results in an automatic failing grade and being kicked out of the class or, in extreme cases, the uni-

versity. Cornel Morton, vice president of student affairs, was hesitant to comment on the Web site without more information but could see the potential for concern.

“I’m sure the academic deans and faculty will have more to say about this, but on the face of it, I’m certainly concerned that the potential for compromising, what I will call, academic integrity exists,” Morton said.

The idea of backlash from Cal

unless it is copyrighted by the teacher.

He said if a teacher asked that a test be taken down — it would be — but he doesn’t think using the Web site would be considered cheating because teachers should have a different test from quarter to quarter.

“I could definitely see where it would be considered cheating because the tests are available,” Markeye said. “Though what I perceive, what I think might start happening, is the test

I’m a proponent of students learning anyway they can...The only thing I get concerned about is cheating.

—Robert Flores Agricultural education professor

Poly administrators was something that Markeye and his friends discussed.

While some teachers make past midterms available to students as a study tool, many only keep them in their office where the student can view them under the watchful eye of the teacher. Markeye doesn’t anticipate a problem with having a test online My College Loop is for Cal Poly students, clubs and affiliates. Users can create events and use Google Maps to tell students where it is.

“Our site has the potential to become the platform where Cal Poly students share events that are important to them,” co-founder Joel Camacho said. “We thought it would be great to create a networking Web site that actually encouraged real-life interaction.”

Camacho and Nakano had the idea about 18 months ago while sitting at home, bored, during summer break. Nakano expressed his idea of creating a site from which students could find out what’s going on around their college so that the phrase “there’s nothing to do” wouldn’t be an option anymore.

From there, Nakano asked Andrew Huard, Nakano’s roommate, see Networking, page 2

might be in different formats or they might be harder. I really don’t think there’s gong to be a backlash in tests by having the material there, but in other areas to compensate for the test being out there.”

A big concern for some teachers is see Web site, page 2

Poly grad appointed to CA lieutenant governor Sean Hanrahan mustang daily

Appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as lieutenant governor last November, Abel Maldonado was depicted by the Governor as “a terrific, loyal man that has worked very hard in public service … he makes decisions based on what’s best for the people rather than what’s best for the party.”

The son of an immigrant farmer, Maldonado, 42, grew up on the central coast of California, attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo as a Crop Science major — although his graduation has not yet been successfully confirmed — and was elected Mayor of Santa Maria in 1996 before serving three terms in the State

Assembly beginning 1998.

“I think I help (people) understand that anyone can do anything,” Maldonado said. “My father helped me to understand this. He came to this country with nothing but the shirt on his back, and built a successful life with my mother. And look at me — a son of an immigrant farmer, and I’ve come this far.”

The lieutenant governor nominee has a success story that speaks directly to the Latino and minority communities. Neither political party can ignore Maldonado’s ethnic contribution to the political arena in California.

It’s been more than 130 years since a Hispanic Republican held state office in California. But that alone doesn’t make Maldonado

popular with other lawmakers.

The appointment process requires the legislature to confirm or reject Maldonado within 90 days or before Feb. 21. Maldonado’s advancement to lieutenant governor is bittersweet, falling in the middle of the political battlefield.

Teaching California and U.S. politics, Michael Latner, assistant professor at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, understands Maldonado’s intrinsic value to those who sit across the aisle.

“His district is one of the four dominant in the state; his biggest asset is to be the dealmaker,” Latner said. “If Democrats lose Maldonado they could end up with someone else in his seat who is more of a threat. Democrats need Maldona-

do’s vote, it’s pivotal.”

Democrats considering the open Senate seat, in hopes to secure the position for one of their own, support Maldonado’s confirmation.

But still, Republican lawmakers show contempt for the moderate Republican legislator after he voted in favor of tax increases as part of the Democrats’ proposed (and long anticipated) budget to avoid state bankruptcy last year. During Maldonado’s tenure in the legislature, he always opposed tax increases.

This past year was the exception.

“I simply could not let our state go bankrupt due to our inaction on the Budget. My vote on the tax increase may have damaged my see Maldonado, page 2

2

Networking continued from page 10

to help program the basics of the site, but eventually employed professional programmers to create it.

“Honestly I’d probably just stick to Facebook,” animal science junior Sarah Gartland said. “It sounds like it would be more useful to someone who is new in town or had just moved (here). I’ve been here for three years, ya know, and I know where most everything is.”

The pair will try to make it more user-friendly and accessible than Facebook by allowing users to search under different categories and filter out excess events that they aren’t interested in.

One of the biggest challenges in creating the site is the time difference between the founders. Camacho is in Beijing studying abroad and Nakano is here in San Luis Obispo. The 16-hour time difference forces communication via Skype at odd hours of the day. The team is also funding the site out of their own pockets.

Aside from budgetary issues, communication with programmers was one of the biggest challenges

Maldonado continued from page 1

political career, but it wasn’t about me; it was about what was best for the people of our state,” Maldonado said.

If confirmed, Maldonado would replace John Garamendi, a Democrat elected to congress early November. But both the state Senate and Assembly must vote as a majority. The challenge is members of the Senate have already announced plans to run for the lieutenant governor seat. Indeed, if the Legislature rejects the nomination with a majority disapproval vote, a special election will be held later this year.

Informed by Senate President Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) that a special election would cost taxpayers a substantial amount of money, it is in the best interest of the state to act well before the deadline in order to consolidate

mustang www.mustangdaily.net

the team met. “(The site) just wasn’t as solid as I wanted it to be. Communicating what I wanted, my vision, to the programmers wasn’t always easy,” Nakano said while talking about having to push back the release date several times. “Once the friends and Google Maps feature was finished, I was confident enough in the basics of the site to open it to the public.”

Nakano revealed some of what users should expect to see in the future. Features like online ticketing (called Stamps) will allow users to purchase tickets to events online.

The site will also eventually allow users to upload their schedules to the site. This will create an avatar on their Google Map that shows their friends where they are at any given time.

Both students plan to maintain the site long after they’re done with college. MyCollegeLoop.com is scheduled to be complete before September 2010. Its Beta 1.0 version is already open to anyone with a Cal Poly e-mail address.

“By creating a profile you become part of ‘the loop,’” Camacho said. “Yesterday was the last day you were clueless about what was happening on campus.” the election to replace Maldonado with the June primary.

Mayor of Santa Maria, Laurence (Larry) Lavagnino, commented on Maldonado’s confirmation, Tuesday.

“I hope he gets it, but politics is a very, very tough business in Sacramento. I’m pulling for him,” he said. Sen. Sam Aanestad (R-Grass Valley) and Sen. Jeff Denham (RMerced), who are both contenders to replace Maldonado, did not wish to comment.

Despite the lieutenant governor seat exercising little authority — except in the absence of the governor or being ready to assume the position as future governor — the legislature should act quickly and consider not only Maldonado’s title in California politics, but how far he will be willing to lend himself to Democrats, crossing the aisle after a decision has been made, as Senator or as Schwarzenegger’s No. 2 man.

News editor: Kate McIntyre, News Designer: Kasey Reed mustangdailynews@gmail.com daily Thursday, January 14, 2010

News

Detroit random choice for terror attempt, officials told Todd Spangler detroit free press

WASHINGTON — The man accused of trying to blow up Flight 253 on Dec. 25 apparently selected the Detroit-bound flight at random, members of Congress briefed by Obama administration intelligence officials said Wednesday.

“There’s no Detroit connection that we’re aware of,” Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson of Mississippi said after a closed-door meeting with administration officials.

U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., said she got the same message in another briefing, this one for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, saying Detroit “was not specifically targeted.”

Ever since the alleged Christmas Day bombing attempt, questions have been raised why Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab chose to fly to Detroit from Amsterdam after a connecting flight from Lagos, Nigeria. But as intelligence briefings on the incident got underway with the House back in session in Washington, Obama administration officials were being asked about how the 23-yearold Nigerian could have boarded a U.S.-bound flight when his father had reported to American officials in Nigeria that his son could pose a threat.

Abdulmutallab, 23, is accused of attempting to detonate explosives he brought onto the aircraft as it descended into Metro Airport. Others on the plane subdued him and he and two others suffered burns. The aircraft landed safely.

Thompson and others said their focus is on making sure it doesn’t happen again. And while President Barack Obama tried to assure the nation last week that steps had been taken to protect against another intelligence failure,Thompson said he’s waiting to see what ongoing reviews

produce as well as proposals to add security and screening measures at airports internationally and domestically.

“It remains to be seen if anything has substantively changed,” he said.

For instance, though the Obama administration has apparently reviewed its various watch lists of potential terrorists and added names to the roster of those prohibited from entering the country, it remained unclear to members of Congress where the bar had been set.

“They don’t want to make announcements until they feel they’ve made the changes and they’re getting it right,” said Rep. Nita Lowey, a New York Democrat.

Because Wednesday’s briefings were classified, members of Congress largely declined to discuss the substance of what they heard. U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, who chairs the House intelligence panel, said there are still several lines of investigation he intends to pursue. Meanwhile, he said he’s confident Abdulmutallab’s interrogators “got a lot of information out of him.”

How much they got and whether they could have gotten more if he’d been treated as an enemy combatant, instead of charged criminally, is a question being raised by many congressional Republicans, including Rep. Candice Miller of Harrison Township, Mich.

She introduced legislation Tuesday to give the president “clear authority” to treat foreign terrorists as enemy combatants – meaning their cases would be handled by the military, not civilian criminal officials.

“I believe we lost valuable time and, I believe, valuable information by letting the guy lawyer up,” she said.

Hearings on the incident, including those by the Senate Homeland Security and Commerce, Science and Transportation committees, begin next week.

Web site continued from page 1

whether students will use the site as a way to avoid learning the material. Robert Flores, agricultural education professor said he’s not worried so much about tests being available, because most teachers make them available already. His main worry is that students will cheat and not attempt to learn the material.

“I’m a proponent of students learning any way they can, and some professors have a lot of material that relies on remote memory,” Flores said. “The only thing I get concerned about is cheating. Is there some behavior that’s inappropriate that’s gong on? If students are learning and progressing in the way we want them to progress in our programs, I don’t really see that as a problem. But I think permission from instructors is important if you’re duplicating them and passing them out.”

As it stands right now, some teachers don’t think the site will cause harm to students if it’s being used as a study tool. But Allen Estes, head of the architectural engineering department for the College of Architecture and Environmental Design, said he doesn’t consider the posting of quizzes and homework online to be cheating because he thinks professors should already assume students have access to previous midterms and should change up their tests regardless. If anything, Estes said the Web site might create more work for already over-worked professors but it could also even the playing field for the students who don’t have access to previous exams.

“The teaching load here at Cal Poly is horrendous. For a teacher that is teaching three or four different courses, that’s a terrible load,” Estes said. “Maybe (the Web site) is a good thing and we’ll have to clean up our act. Why allow some students the advantage because they have the correct friends?”

Having tests on the Web site though is only beneficial if the content is updated on a quarterly basis, business senior Caitlyn Arigo said. One problem she frequently encountered with Polyratings was outdated ratings on teachers that were years old and said that was one reason she stopped using the site. Likewise, she doesn’t see using the site as a form of cheating but can understand how some teachers disagree because of the wider availability of online versus passed from friend to friend.

“I think it’s about the same as if students passed on midterms quarter to quarter. I guess it’s a little more widespread because you’re not just giving it to your friends,” Arigo said. “I’m sure it will just result in teachers taking back midterms as opposed to letting students keep them and look at them.”

In the end, the copying and cheating of tests will only hurt the student, math lecturer Alberto Jimenez said.While he’s encouraging of students being creative with their learning, he said he wouldn’t endorse the copying and posting of work.

“Anything related to learning and sharing what you have learned is bound to be good,” Jimenez said.

“If what is being done is taking the homework and blindly copying it on a piece of paper and handing it in, it’s cheating their education and eventually it will catch up with them anyway.”

mustang daily

Thursday, January 13, 2010 www.mustangdaily.net

Word on the Street “What downtown business would you be most disappointed to see close?”

“I’d be disappointed if the shop with the hats and jerseys closed.”

-Drew Cesare, agribusiness senior

“I’d say any of the bars.”

-Jeremy Riforgiate, biological sciences junior

“Probably Hands Gallery. It’s so fun to go in there and see the creative jewelry and it’s a great place to buy gifts.”

-Kristina Blackwood, child development junior

“Cheap Thrills because it’s the only place you can get cheap video games.”

-Josh Grip, mechanical engineering senior

“Black Sheep bar, because dinners are great and drinks are great too. What more could you ask for?”

-Franky Hanna, city and regional planning junior

“If Firestone closed that would be the biggest shock because it’s so popular.”

-Nancy Hung Choy, aerospace engineering senior

compiled and photographed by jennifer titcomb

www.mustangdaily.net Always in color

Wire Editor: Jennifer Titcomb

News

3

Haiti president describes ‘unimaginable’ catastrophe; U.S. pledges support Jacqueline Charles, Carol Rosenberg, Jean-Cyril Pressoir and Luisa Yanez mcclatchy newspapers

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haitian President Réne Préval issued an urgent appeal for his earthquake-shattered nation Wednesday, saying he had been stepping over dead bodies and hearing the cries of those trapped under the rubble of the national Parliament.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama said the United States would launch a “swift, coordinated and aggressive” effort to save lives on the island.

Préval, in his first interview since the earthquake, said the country was destroyed and he believed there were thousands of people dead but was reluctant to provide a number.

“We have to do an evaluation,” Préval said, describing the scene as “unimaginable.”

“Parliament has collapsed. The tax office has collapsed. Schools have collapsed. Hospitals have collapsed,” he said. “There are a lot of schools that have a lot of dead people in them.”

Among those trapped inside the

mcclatchy-tribune

Residents of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, mourn as a girl’s body is removed from rubble on Wednesday. The Caribbean nation is experiencing widespread destruction in the wake of a 7.0 earthquake.

Parliament building but still alive was the president of the Haitian Senate, Kely Bastien.

Préval said he had traveled through several neighborhoods and seen the damage. “All of the hospitals are packed with people. It is a catastrophe,” he said.

In Washington Wednesday morning, Obama said search-andrescue teams from Florida, California and Virginia were on their way to Haiti, and that USAID would be coordinating a broad-based effort see Earthquake, page 5

4

mustang daily

www.mustangdaily.net

Teacher Feature Assistant Professor Anika Leithner Quick Facts

Hometown: Bamberg, Germany Started at Cal Poly: Fall 2006 College: Liberal Arts

Classes: European Union (POLS 383), comparative foreign policy (382), international relations theory (POLS 324) Q: Where are you when you aren’t teaching?

A: Most often, I’m either in patrick fina mustang daily my office working or at my Assistant Professor Anika house in Paso Robles with Leithner in her office. my husband and dog. I like reading a lot in my free time and I either do that at home or at a coffee shop. I also love going to the movies. I will go see just about anything!

Q:What is your favorite thing about Cal Poly?

A:The students! Oh, and I love the fact that I can buy Cal Poly chocolate, cheese, and meat. Everyone back home gets a big kick out of that. Especially my little brother who’s a farmer.

Q: What was the last book you read? Favorite book?

A: This is probably going to be super-embarrassing. The last book I read was Breaking Dawn, the last book in the Twilight series. I hope this won’t undermine my authority in the classroom. And just so you know, I’m definitely part of Team Jacob. By far my favorite book of all time is The Lord of the Rings, though!

Q: What are your goals in life?

A: You know how pitchers aways dream of pitching the ‘perfect game?’ One of my goals is to teach the ‘perfect class’ before I retire. I have about 30 more years to do it, so we’ll see. I’d also like to write a novel at some point in my life. I want to have kids, be a good parent, be a good friend, and I want to grow old with my husband, Erin. That’s about it!

Please send teacher suggestions to: mustangdailywire@gmail.com

News Earthquake

Thursday, January 13, 2010 tered. Petionville is a suburb about 10 miles from downtown Portau-Prince.

On Wednesday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the organization had released $10 million in “emergency funds” to set up immediate operations. He said Assistant Secretary-General Eduard Moulet would be dispatched to the region as soon as conditions permit.

OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza said the OAS “will do everything within our means to support the victims of this catastrophic phenomenon.” He said Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin was gathering damage information to report to the group’s Permanent Council Wednesday to allow member states to contribute to Haiti.

“It is at such times that people, governments and leaders across the hemisphere, as neighbors and friends of the people of Haiti, should show solidarity and support in a real, effective and immediate manner, guided by the country’s government, which knows best where the most urgent need lies,” Insulza said.

Haitian Sen. Joseph Lambert described the scene in Haiti.

Standing outside the Parliament building, he said:“Imagine schools, hospitals, government buildings all destroyed.”

When asked about the prospect of Haiti rebuilding, Lambert said, “It’s our country. We have no other choice. It’s a catastrophe but we have no other choice but to rebuild.” He expressed hope the

country’s international partners will help in rebuilding.

At least 20 aftershocks followed continued from page 3 the 4:53 p.m. earthquake, according to NOAA, and a tsunami alert to take food, water and emerwas briefly issued for the region, gency supplies to the nation, he then canceled. A blanket of dust said. completely covered the city for “We have to be there for them about 10 minutes, USAID conin their hour of need,” he said. tract employee Mike Godfrey told According to media reports, CNN from Port-au-Prince. survivors were digging through the “At this point, I’m frustrated rubble and stacking bodies along trying to find colleagues and staff,” the streets of Port-au-Prince, HaiGodfrey said Tuesday. “Phones are ti’s capital, after the powerful 7.0not working. ... I see some trafmagnitude earthquake rocked the fic, a little traffic on some of the island nation Tuesday afternoon. routes,” he said.

The earthquake has left the nation With phone lines down, many virtually isolated, with countless of the first accounts of the devascrumbled buildings, including the tation were being sent online via historic National Palace and the Twitter and Facebook.

United Nations headquarters.

Richard Morse, owner of the The U.N. confirmed five of its Oloffson Hotel in Port-au-Prince, workers had been killed and more sent tweets to the outside world. than 100 were missing. Among “Just about all the lights are those unaccounted for were the out in Port-au-Prince,” he said mission chief, Hedi Annabi, and Tuesday. “People still screaming his deputy, the U.N. said Wednesbut the noise is dying as darkness day. sets. Lots of rumors about which Préval said he has not slept buildings were toppled. The Cassince the earthquake. Other peotel Haiti behind the Oloffson is a ple slept in the streets because pile of rubble. It was eight stories they were afraid to sleep in their high. Our guests are sitting out in homes, he said. the driveway.”

“This is a catastrophe,” the first Women covered in dust lady, Elisabeth Préval, said. “I’m crawled from the rubble wailstepping over dead bodies. A lot of ing as others wandered through people are buried under buildings. the streets holding hands. ThouThe general hospital has collapsed. sands gathered in public squares We need support. We need help. late into the night singing hymns.

We need engineers.”

Many gravely injured people still While official details about the sat in the streets early Wednesday, scope of the damage were scarce, pleading for doctors. With almost eyewitness accounts and media no emergency services to speak reports painted a picture of wideof, the survivors had few other spread destruction that is likely to leave hundreds, options. if not thousands, Jarrod Seth of dead.

Seattle, who had A hospital was traveled to Haiti reported to have with his wife, collapsed and Sena, to adopt two people were heard children, had just screaming for help, checked in at the and the World Por t-au-Pr ince Bank offices in airport when the Petionville were quake struck. also destroyed, but “ E ve r y t h i n g most of the staff was chaotic,” Seth were safely acsaid of the scene counted for, the after he and his organization said. wife arrived at Part of the road Miami Internato Canape Vert, a tional Airport suburb of PortTuesday night. au-Prince, has col“People were falllapsed, along with ing all over each houses perched in other.

Ceiling the mountains of tiles came down, Petionville, where mcclatchy-tribune windows crashed. the quake was cen- Haiti’s National Palace is in ruins on Wednesday.

It was the scariest

www.mustangdaily.net

Goldman admits ‘improper’ actions in sales of securities

News

Briefs State

National

International

LOS ANGELES (MCT) — The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is having a busy month in San Luis Obispo County as it begins processing an application to renew Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant’s two operating licenses and wraps up an investigation into misaligned safety switches at the plant.

A team of NRC officials is here this week to meet with local elected officials, including the county Board of Supervisors.The meetings are “to acquaint them with the process that we will be using to review the license renewal application and to answer any immediate questions they might have. We see this as the first of several meetings of this type,” said Victor Dricks, NRC spokesman.

CHICAGO (MCT) — A police officer assigned to Kankakee Junior High School was placed on administrative leave after he allegedly shocked three boys with a Taser as part of an unauthorized demonstration of the device, Kankakee, Ill., police said Wednesday.

The incident happened Tuesday at the school, where the officer is stationed as a school resource officer.

According to a police statement, the officer used the Taser to “touch stun three male students, who reportedly volunteered for the approximately one-second tase as a demonstration.”

The officer was not authorized by the school, district or police department to do a Taser demonstration, police said. A parent later took one student to a local hospital where he was examined and released.

CAIRO (MCT) — Yemeni special forces killed a suspected al-Qaida leader and captured four fighters as the country increased pressure on the militant network operating in several key tribal provinces, officials said Wednesday.

Yemen’s government, juggling a civil war in the north and a secessionist movement in the south, had been slow to react to a widening al-Qaida threat. Its steppedup raids come amid international concern over the country’s ability to defeat a branch of Yemeni and Saudi fighters that has claimed responsibility for the failed Christmas Day attack on a Northwest airliner heading for Detroit.

•••

mcclatchy-tribune

Jamie Dimon, Chairman of the Board and CEO, JPMorgan Chase & Company answers questions during a break at the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission in Washington, DC. Greg Gordon and Kevin G. Hall mcclatchy newspapers

WASHINGTON — Goldman Sachs’ chief acknowledged Wednesday that the investment bank engaged in “improper” behavior in 2006 and 2007 when it made huge bets on a housing downturn while peddling as safe more than $40 billion in securities backed by risky U.S. home loans.

Lloyd Blankfein, Goldman’s chairman and chief executive, made the surprising concession at the opening hearing of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, a 10-member panel that Congress created to investigate and lay out for the public the causes of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

Blankfein and senior officers of three other of the nation’s most prominent banks told the panel that serious flaws in their risk models and business practices contributed to Wall Street’s meltdown and the massive taxpayer bailouts that followed. The commission also heard testimony that the banks and quasi-government mortgage giant Fannie Mae recklessly took on as much as 95 times more risk than they could cover, and that Wall Street excels “at pulling the wool over the eyes of the American people.”

5

mustang daily

Thursday, January 13, 2010

Blankfein faced the toughest questioning.

Commission Chairman Phil Angelides, a former California state treasurer, warned Blankfein that he’d be “brutally honest” in his questioning.

He asked why Goldman thought it was necessary to take out protection against investment-grade mortgage securities it was selling by purchasing insurance-like contracts known as credit-default swaps. Angelides likened it to selling a car with knowledge it had faulty brakes and then taking out an insurance policy on the buyer.

“I do think the behavior is improper, and we regret ... the consequence that people have lost money in it,” Blankfein told Angelides.

Until Wednesday, Goldman had insisted that it was merely managing its risks when it placed “hedges,” in the form of wagers against the housing market, various venues including in secret offshore deals, with insurance giant American International Group and on a private London exchange.

In November, McClatchy Newspapers reported exclusively that Goldman failed to tell investors about its contrary bets while selling $39 billion in risky mortgage securities it had issued, and another $18 billion in similar bonds issued by other

•••

LOS ANGELES (MCT) — During the heyday of Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara County, the pop star’s menagerie of animals included several giraffes.

But Jackson sold the giraffes to an Arizona animal center in the wake of his child molestation trial in 2005.

And now there is concern over the deaths of two of the animals over the last few months. One died in November and the other last week.

The cause of the deaths is unclear.

But the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals this week sent a letter to officials in Page, Ariz.

FORT LAUDERDALE (MCT) — The United States government on Wednesday halted all deportations to Haiti because of the earthquake there.

Matt Chandler, deputy press secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, said the government “halted all removals to Haiti for the time being in response to the devastation caused by (Tuesday’s) earthquake.”

He said he wasn’t able to provide an estimate for how long the suspension of deportations would last.

BEIJING (MCT) — Bouquets of flowers were laid in front of Google Inc.’s headquarters in China on Wednesday, a show of support for a company whose threat to exit China rather than tolerate more censorship is a dramatic shot across the bow of the Chinese Communist Party.

But while Chinese cyberspace was awash with chatter on Google’s gambit, state-media downplayed the news, saying Google had been a victim of cyber attacks in China but made no mention that the company also alleged that humanrights activists had their e-mail accounts hacked.

firms. The Securities and Exchange Commission and Congress are investigating Goldman’s swap dealings, said knowledgeable people who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue.

While conceding that its contrary bets were improper, Blankfein said that in most cases Goldman took those positions to offset bets it had underwritten for clients seeking to

wager on a housing downturn.

Similarly, he said that the firm got into the business of securitizing subprime loans to marginally qualified buyers on behalf of “sophisticated investors who sought that exposure.”

Angelides, who crusaded for corporate accountability as California treasurer from 1999-2007, pressed Blankfein to explain why Goldman plunged deeper into subprime

mortgages despite an FBI warning to Congress in 2004 that the lax lending standards could lead to a crisis. He also needled Blankfein for seeming to resist taking responsibility.

Goldman’s purchase of the dicey loans, Blankfein admitted, allowed subprime mortgage lenders “to go out and originate more loans. So to that extent, we ... played a part in making that market.”

•••

www.mustangdaily.net

Not Your Grandma’s Coupons!

Thursday, january 14, 2010

arts & Entertainment editor: cassandra keyse

ASI brings music back to UU Pilsner: a thirst with Sounds of SLO series quencher that won’t leave you too tipsy beer column

Raquel Redding mustang daily

Associated Students Inc. (ASI) is holding a concert series called Sounds of SLO, that will be held Tuesdays at 11 a.m. for the month of January at Backstage Pizza. The series will bring music back to the University Union (UU) featuring Cal Poly students and others from San Luis Obispo region.

ASI has scheduled three bands — PK, Take it SLO and Criticnue — to perform more intimatetype shows on the stage inside Backstage Pizza.

“We wanted to think outside the box to bring the music back to the UU, so we’re experimenting right now to see what happens,” Dave Carlsen, the musical entertainment student supervisor of ASI, said.

Before construction, ASI had Concerts in the Plaza, which was a concert series held every Thursday at 11 a.m on the stage outside of the UU. The Sounds of SLO and Music in the Market series are not replacing Concerts in the Plaza, but rather offering an alternative during construction.

“ASI has been providing music with Concerts in the Plaza for decades, we want to continue that as much as possible,” Missi Bullock, ASI program coordinatorl, said.

The ASI Web site estimated that the UU renovation project will be completed in April 2010. The stage where concerts occurred previously is being rebuilt.

raquel redding mustang daily

Cal Poly’s a capella group Take It SLO is slated to perform Tuesday, Jan. 19 as a part of ASI’s new music series Sounds of SLO. The three bands chosen all represent a different genre of music. PK is an indie rock and roll band that is popular with students. Recently they sold out a show at Downtown Brew, debuting their new full-length album Casting Shadows.

The next performance will be January 19 by Take it SLO, an all a cappella group that focuses on doing different interpretations on hit songs — very much like the TV show Glee.

“We are an all-student ensemble that performs all original arrangements,” Take it SLO President Amy Lebetsamer said.

“Look forward to a rendition of Ghostbusters.”

The last performance of the trio is Criticnue, pronounced critic-in-you. Their MySpace. com Web site describes them as “a unique sound that crosses several genres … impossible to compare them to any one sound or band.”

“Criticnue opened for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Their popularity and Heath Seagers vocals made me choose them as one of the performers,” Carlsen said.

Since the concerts are inside

“Oooh ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall; ninety-nine bottles of beer! Take one down, pass it around, ninety-eight bottles of beer on the wall!”

Good morning ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. Everybody k n ow s the classic ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall game.

While it’s a great drinking activity to enjoy with friends and family alike, please, in light of the recent swine flu scare, do not play this or other bottle- or cup-sharing games.

This has been a public service announcement.

Alright, now that I’ve done my good deed for the day, let’s get down to business — the business of pleasure. After all, that’s what beer makers are in, are they not?

They are in the business of pleasing the mouth or, what I like to call, “oral pleasure.” When in search of proper oral pleasure, one must

expand one’s horizons and look through even the farthest beer aisle at the liquor store. It was in this aisle that I came across Stiegl, a self-proclaimed maker of “world classic beer.”

If you remember last week’s column, you might recall that I had p ro m i s e d to appeal to the seeming masses and try a lager style beer, particu- larly a pilsner. As I cannot tell a lie, I have kept that promise. In fact, I went above and beyond. I have selected two different beers from Austrian beer-maker, Stiegl: the Pils, and the curious, yet enticing, Radler Lemon.

But first, here’s a little history.

While looking for information on Stiegl and its beers, I came across their Web site, which had this to say: “Elegantes, schlankes Pils, hell in der Farbe, mit herrlichem Schaum und dem Bukett von feinstem Saazer Hopfen.”

Of course, this was none too helpful, as I haven’t taken German

see Music, page 8

“Emerald City”

see Pilsner, page 8

mustang daily

Thursday, January 14, 2010 www.mustangdaily.net

Upcoming show brings Jackie Robinson’s story to Cohan center stage Mikaela Akuna mustang daily

A traveling play about Jackie Robinson is coming to Cal Poly’s Performing Art’s Center this Friday. The play about Major League Baseball’s most groundbreaking player is aptly named “Most Valuable Player” and spans from 1935 to 1949.

Between those dates, Robinson played for UCLA where he lettered in four different sports, played semi-professional football, joined the Army and got married. He did all this before signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945 and being named the National Leagues MVP in 1949.

“Student’s here don’t remember a time when there weren’t black p l a ye r s in Major League Baseball, so it’s interesting from a sociological perspective,” Cal Poly Arts Director Steven Lerian said. “Since it’s Martin Luther King weekend, I think it has a lot of relevance in that, too.” courtesy photo

Rick Spivey of the Dallas Children’s Museum plays the lead role of Jackie Robinson in their production of “Most Valuable Player.”

The show covers topics like the pressure Robinson faced being the first man to break the “color barrier” in the major leagues. Most of the play spans his time with the Brooklyn Dodgers and outlines his own personal sacrifices, and how he dealt with racism among his teammates and from fans.

“People have asked me if now that Barrack Obama is president, do I think this show is still relevant. Of course,” Sally Fiorello, the show’s producer and tour director, said. “People don’t realize what a big part of the civil rights movement (Robinson) was. Without him, we might not have an Obama.”

For those who are not baseball fans, Fiorello said that “Most Valuable Player” is still a show that they can get something out of.

Across the stage, there is chain-linked fencing and a series of platforms. There is a large screen where pictures are projected t h ro u g h out the show. The pictures start with modern day black athletes to give a perspective as to how far the United States has come as a society and then gradually takes the audience back to the ball parks of the 1940’s. There are also photos of old radios, soldiers and other prominent things of that time period.

They’re accompa see MVP, page 8

Arts

Arts editor: Cassandra Keyse mustangdailyarts@gmail.com

7

Student design receives national recognition Zach Lantz mustang daily

It’s not everyday that mundane school projects, sometimes seen as drudgeries, receive national attention and are proclaimed a vision.

Yet that’s what happened to architecture senior Sarah Jester who was recognized for her Architecture 351 class project by the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture conference in Chicago.

“I put my whole self into that project and it feels very good to get recognition for all that hard work,” Jester said.“I created something that was actually meaningful to other people, and that feels awesome.”

Jester was surprised to win, as she found out about her success while working at her internship.

“I checked my e-mail right before leaving … I turned to the architect behind me and said, ‘I think I just won an award,’” she said.

Titled the “Inhabitable Book Library for San Francisco,” her project won the award of distinction in architectural design. The project was completed as an assignment in Architecture 351, normally the first design studio architecture juniors take.

The objective of her project was to design a hypothetical satellite library for the library system of San Francisco, that drew inspiration from the shape of a book. The final appearance of the building was completed after transitioning the project from a physical model to a computer model.

Working on the project was difficult, Jester said. She described frustrations in moving from physical modeling to computer modeling.

“I had this bitter feeling toward the digital process, and I really just have a raw way of working, drawing by hand and being really messy and painting so digital stuff didn’t really work into that,” she said.

The digital transition can be challenging to new students but is still necessary, said architecture professor Thomas Fowler, who taught Jester’s class.

“There is a very different creative process that happens when you’re

using your hands to make drawings and even paintings,” Fowler said.

“Once you have to translate that to a different media, the jump sometimes is very difficult. It’s like going from pen and paper to a computer in terms of keyboarding something.”

Regardless of her struggles, Fowler said he was impressed with Jester’s project even in the beginning stages.

“She was always willing to try different things with her project, and she’s very good at taking criticism and coming up with alternative options for her project,” he said. “She has the right attitude, she’s very, what I call agile, and able to adjust to whatever the direction that’s needed to get something done.”

The winning of this national award was new ground, even for a reputable architecture program such as Cal Poly’s.

“In all my years of sending entries in, I’ve never had a student get the top honor. I’ve had them get honorable mentions,” Fowler said. “(Her project) was so well thought out and also so well connected to her vision about reading, and that’s what I want students to do. I want them to get a lot of themselves into these projects, and once they get to the actual building design, the transition is a lot easier.”

Because she won the top prize, Jester won free software for herself as well as for students in the architecture department. On top of that, she was flown to Chicago to receive the award.

“I was mostly stoked just to go to Chicago,” she said. “I mean, wining an award is cool, but they flew me to Chicago, and that’s way cooler.”

courtesy photo

Architecture senior Sarah Jester’s digital design titled “Inhabitable Book Library for San Francisco.

8

mustang daily www.mustangdaily.net

Pilsner continued from page 6

since high school. But, using my uncanny ability to figure out foreign languages, and with a tiny bit of help from the English version of stieglbrauerei.at, I was able to decipher its meaning. As it turns out, it translates roughly into: “A noble pils of golden color with a wonderful head and an excellent clean, crisp bouquet from using only the finest Saaz hops.”

Saaz hops are hops from the Czech Republic, somewhat near the city of Pilsen, Bohemia, where the Pilsner was born. This hop is known for its mildly spicy aroma and also mild flavor, two key as-

Music continued from page 6

Backstage Pizza the performers are to play acoustically. PK, which played Tuesday Jan 12, informed Carlsen that acoustic was unavailable, resulting in a louder show.

“I know it’s really loud in here, but for the next two performances it will be quieter, it’s been a little hectic,” Carlsen said during an intermission when the drummers drumhead broke.

Inside Backstage Pizza the music loud, resulting in people unable to talk to one another, unless the band was on a break. There were

pects of a pilsner. The Saaz hop is one of four “noble” hops, which are known for being low in bitterness and high in aroma.

The page goes on to say:“StieglPils is ideal to quench thirst.” This statement made the most sense to me out of any, as I can’t help but describe it as a bit...watery. Of course, this is a trait that I find is common throughout many lagerstyle beers.

Also according to the site, the Pils has an original gravity (roughly meaning the density of the pre-fermentation wort, which determines the amount of sugar that can be changed into alcohol) of 11.6 degrees, which is relatively low. It also has a bitterness of 30 EBU (European Bitterness Unit),

more students sitting in back than up close.

“I have an hour, heard the music, and wanted a slice of pizza, it worked out,” agricultural business junior Will Salmen said. “Not the kind of music I really listen to but I appreciate it. I would listen again if on campus at the right time.”

With the next performances being acoustic and quieter, students might sit closer to the stage.

“There is a chance Kevin will serenade someone during Accidentally in Love,” Lebetsamer said.

Music in the Market, another concert series at Via Carta Mall next to Campus Market, features out-of-town performers such as Ingrid Michaelson. Music in the Market is only on Thursdays and will be from January 28- February 18. Both Sounds of SLO and Music in the Market are not all quarter long and do not occur each week.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Arts

which is relatively low- to midranging. The combination of these two mild ratings along with the mild aroma and taste of the Saaz hops, made for quite the mild beer with 4.9 percent alcohol by volume (ABV).

In brief conclusion, this is a light, refreshing beer with that Saaz hoppiness. It isn’t a favorite of mine, but if you’re looking for a nice crisp beer to go along with some fish or poultry, it’s a good pick.

Finally, we get to the wild card, the mystery brew — the Radler Lemon. “Radler,” according to Stiegl, translates into “biker.” The beer was apparently created for the biker traveling around Austria who needed a refreshing beer without

MVP continued from page 7

nied by a soundtrack full of hit songs of the time and even a little country music to signify Robinson’s time in the South.

The show stars Rick Spivey as Robinson, Charles Roach as Brooklyn Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey, and

www.mustangdaily.net

www.mustangdaily.net Always in color

the heavy alcohol, and at 2.5 percent ABV, this drink should do the trick. This is not actually a lemonflavored beer, but rather it is half Goldbräu, and half lemon soda.

This makes for quite the refreshing beverage. As you can imagine, it is rather sweet, a little bitter, and to be honest, it’s downright tasty.

Well, as I wrap up this tasting and the column to go with it, I reflect back on the experience. I have to say that overall, the running theme throughout this column is refreshing. These two beers are mild and light. These will make great beers for the summer, or for later this month if we have another January heat wave (fingers crossed).

Next week, I will be upping the excitement by leaving my liv-

ing room for the tastings! I will be traveling to a local provider of everybody’s favorite refreshment to take some samples and to learn a bit more about the brewing process. What I discover and what I learn, I will bring back and share with you. Can’t wait? Neither can I. But we’re just going to have to.

And lastly, don’t drink and drive. Yes, I am talking to you. No, you can’t walk a straight line. No, you’re not invincible. No, you can’t out-run the cop car. Well, maybe the bike cop. Yeah, probably the bike cop, but it’s still not a good idea.

was directed by Andy Long.

Long, who is a “huge” baseball fan, took time to work with the cast to get the game scenes right.

“People who watch this show who like baseball will know if the actors have any idea what they’re doing,” Fiorello said. “Andy really tried to bring a reality to the play, even in actors who really didn’t know.”

“Most Valuable Player,” present-

ed by Dallas Children’s Theater, has shown at other universities nation-wide including Mississippi State and Saint John’s University.

The show begins at 7 p.m. tomorrow in the Cohen Performing Arts Center. Ticket prices are available online, and there will also be student rush tickets available at a discounted price at 6 p.m. at the door for Cal Poly students and children.

Adam Plachta is a business administration senior and Mustang Daily beer columnist.

www.mustangdaily.net

opinion/editorial Thursday, January 14, 2010

Editor in chief: Emilie Egger Managing Editor: Alex Kacik

mustangdaily@gmail.com www.mustangdaily.net

mustang daily The voice of Cal Poly since 1916

9

Show Wall Street you mean business: Move your money into a community bank

Everyone knows the story of George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” George represents an average family-oriented, kind-hearted American. He runs a small community bank geared toward helping the average family own their own home and achieve the American dream. Life is wonderful for George until a villainous large bank owner, Mr. Potter, nearly it and the lives of the residents of Bedford Falls by attempting to monopolize the small town and absorb George‘s bank in the process.

As an American consumer, I feel betrayed by our large financial institutions — much like George Bailey.

I grimace at the similarities between the attitudes of our bank executives and Mr. Potter. A New York Times report Tuesday revealed, “Bank executives are grappling with a question that exasperates, even infuriates, many recession-weary Americans: Just how big should their paydays be?”And it’s not just Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase who are receiving profits disproportionate to the reality of this recession.

The Times reports, “During the first nine months of 2009, five of the largest banks that received federal aid—Citigroup, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley—together set aside about $90 billion for compensation. That figure includes salaries, benefits and bonuses, but at several companies, bonuses make up more than half of compensation.”

The sickening report continues, “Goldman Sachs is expected to pay

its employees an average of about $595,000 each for 2009, one of the most profitable years in its 141-year history. Workers in the investment bank of JPMorgan Chase stand to collect about $463,000 on average.”

I understand that because our economy was in such disarray as a result of the Bush administration’s economic policies of deregulation and free market capitalism, it became necessary to bail out the banks so that credit would be more readily available to consumers. The thing is, credit isn’t really more available to consumers, and after being in such dire need of taxpayers’ help, these

banks clearly rebounded rather quickly — especially when their most pressing moral dilemma revolves around garnering the highest salary possible without raising eyebrows.

It seems like the entire financial system of America is built to penalize the consumer. I was reading about the calculation of credit scores, and I had the impression that simply thinking about my credit score would lower it. Maybe the rationale to bail out the banks was logical according to economics and business, but it seems today that nearly everyone in America has felt

the effects of the recession, except for these large financial institutions.

I think it’s time that we, as Americans, do something about that.

A simple movement has begun through a Web site called MoveYourMoney.info, which seeks to send a message to banks deemed “too big to fail.” The general idea is for people who belong to Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and Bank of America to move their money and credit cards out of these large financial institutions and into small, community banks.

This idea transcends political ideology, empowers the consumer, and supports local communities — and it’s not just an unknown grassroots organization. In the past week, the founders of the site have been on MSNBC and even The Colbert Report.

We can’t rely on our government officials to affect change in our financial institutions because politicians are generally crooked.

Instead, we must make the first move to show these licentious financial organizations that if they want our business, they must change their practices. I can assure you that as soon as I decide where I’m going to graduate school, I’m pulling my money out of my current gluttonous, morally decrepit bank, and changing over to the credit union in that city.

Stephanie England is an English senior and Mustang Daily political columnist.

pedro molina newsart

Look back for motivation to change the future The beginning of a new decade obliges us to reminisce on the last.

Some say we should put the past where it belongs and leave it at that.

Others choose to dwell on our mistakes, curse the past and long for the glory days. It has become trendy to belittle the past 10 years; TIME magazine has gone so far as to label it as “The Decade From Hell.”

It was marred by wars, natural disasters, financial meltdowns, health care crises, expanding gaps between the haves and the have not’s and a growing, at times violent, resentment for others with differing opinions and lifestyles. With such a lengthy and weighty list, it is easy to see why some would like to turn their backs on the last 10 years.

But for some, the last 10 years represent something entirely different. The last 10 years represent not the last gasps of an empire, but our individual ascensions into society, the time when we carefully crafted our personalities, became who we are. I, for one, find it a little insulting when some call the last decade nothing to get excited about.

We have been forced to be witness to the strangulation of the American Dream at the hands of neoconservative ideologues and power thirsty corporations. Former badges of honor such as our demo-

cratic principles and our constitution have somehow strayed from their noble beginnings. Our government no longer seems to be for the people, by the people, but for special interest groups, by corporate money.

I know I’m not alone in being unbearably frustrated at times with our leaders in Washington. In fact, it seems that today’s status quo is to distrust the government. Current political discussions are almost always accompanied with accusations of corruption and claims of ineptitude, far more so than praises for honesty and ability.

Yet surely we, the young people, can’t be blamed for this. We didn’t elect the George Bushes. No peer of mine was involved in the sub-prime mortgages scams or the repeal of the Glass-Steegle Act. I don’t recall any of us agreeing to bail out the “too big to fail” businesses, only to watch our parents and family friends lose their jobs and their houses. We have not been consulted on what we want our health care to look like.

They chide us for being too young and naive to understand the cold, calculated reality of the real world.

They roll their eyes at our idealism while they call us apathetic.

The beginning of a new decade causes one to look forward and

dream of what could be. For us, the 2010’s may be remembered as the time when we graduated from college, embarked down a career path or three and came to call new places home. Perhaps it will be remembered as the time when we began to start a family. As we begin to leave our adolescence behind, current trends make it hard to believe that our government is capable of making the 2010s something we can look forward to.

There is no hiding from the fact that drastic changes need be made. Currently, Washington may be ill-equipped to solve them, but the problems themselves are not unsolvable. A revamped health care system, equipped with a public option that lowers insurance rates and national debt is not a figment of our imagination. The issues are not unprecedented, and accordingly, the solutions need not be groundbreaking.

Whenever the government has brought about change, it only does so because it’s been pushed and prodded by social movements.

Whether it was Lincoln being pushed by the anti-slavery movement or Kennedy and Johnson pushed by the civil rights movement, progressive change has only come about through citizens’ move-

ments. Whether it was through educating, agitating, striking, boycotting or demonstrating, the idea was the same: to threaten those in power with the disruption of the stability they so need.

While we were not responsible, we will be looked upon to fix the problems of the past decade in the new one. I don’t claim to know how to draw up a health care bill, nor do I know how to organize a social movement. I do know that us young people have all the necessary tools to make our shunned idealism a reality. Careers and families don’t yet hold us back; we have the time and energy. We’ve shown the ability to unite for a cause, as exhibited by the last presidential election; we are in a unique position to spark the social movement this country direly needs.

We have to be that spark, if only so that, when we sit here 10 years from now, reflecting on what the 2010s meant, we can look back and know that we did not pass the buck. That we stood up for what we believed in, did not surrender our idealism but instead fought for it, forever shedding our stigma of apathy.

Zach Edling is a history junior and Mustang Daily guest columnist.

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 Kate McIntyre wire editor Jennifer Titcomb arts editor Cassandra Keyse online editor Megan Hassler sports editor Brian De Los Santos design editor Kevin Black copy editors Scott Silvey, Beth Shirley,Tim Miller, Haley Nahman, Will Taylor photographers Ryan Sidarto, Nick Camacho, Patrick Fina, Elizabeth McAninch, Daniel Triassi advertising coordinator Stephanie Murawski production manager Andrew Santos-Johnson assistant production manager Jason Cope business managers Brittany Kelley, Joe Merkel marketing manager Kelsey Magnusen advertising managers Kristin Coplan, Giana Ronzani ad designers Mai-Chi Vu, Sara Hamling, Justin Rodriguez, John Dixon advertising representatives Erika Powers, April Manalotto,,Tarah Brinkerhoff, Lindsey Bly Jenelle McDonnell, Amanda Dennin,Tess Capacasa, Erica Savage, Breann Borges 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

Thursday, January 14, 2010 Volume LXXIV, No. 60 ©2009 Mustang Daily

“No, but you’re hard to read.”

games Help Wanted

Nanny/Tutor Needed We need a Nanny/ Tutor for Monday- Friday from 2:006:00 pm in Arroyo Grande home. Must have experience in childcare and be highly active, fun and creative.

Laptop Repair www.laptoprepair.com Student Discount Fast Turnaround

Help Wanted

Graphic Designer Needed Creative Graphic Designer with Photography capability a plus. needed for new book project.

544-6007

BIKE FOUND!

Found near Grand Ave and Cal Poly! Probably Stolen! If you think it is yours, please call 805-541-2193 or 805-5448845 with description to claim.

Help Wanted

STAYING IN TOWN THIS SUMMER AND LOOKING FOR A GREAT JOB ON CAMPUS? Conference and Event Planning is Hiring 10-20 staff for summer conference season. Paid training begins in May. Seeking hardworking, responsible and positive individuals who enjoy working in a fun, fast-paced team setting! Customer service and cashier experience preferred. Optional on-campus summer housing at highly reduced rate. Flexible hours. PT/FT available. $8.00-$10.00/hour. Great internship opportunity.

Applications and job descriptions available in bldg. 170G (Cerro Vista Apartment Admin. Bldg) M-F 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. or on Mustang Jobs online. Completed Apps. and resume due by 2/ 17/10. Call (805)756-7600 for detailed job description to be emailed to you.

WHAT’S YOUR

RANT YOU WRITE IN

.

WE INVESTIGATE. m u s t a ngd a i l y wire@gmail.com

For Sale

To book flights, cruises, hotel and car rentals at competitive prices, please visit: www.theticketpavilion.com.

For Sale

Free List of Houses and Condos For Sale in SLO. Call for info on Federal Credits & Buying at Bottom of Market.

Nelson Real Estate (805) 546-1990

For Sale

Free List of Houses and Condos For Sale in SLO. Call for info on Federal Credits & Buying at Bottom of Market.

Nelson Real Estate (805) 546-1990

11

mustang daily

Thursday, January 14, 2010 www.mustangdaily.net

sports

Tennessee “got punked” by Kiffin’s departure John Clay mcclatchy newspapers

The characteristics that Tennessee loved about Lane Kiffin, his willingness to say and do anything, ended up biting the Vols in the end.

Coaches don’t criticize other coaches. Kiffin did. Coaches don’t publicly dis competing schools. Kiffin did. Coaches don’t challenge the NCAA with a slew of secondary violations. Kiffin did.

Coaches don’t willfully leave a Southeastern Conference school with a rich tradition and a massive fan base after just one season. Kiffin did.

Tennessee kicked old reliable Phil Fulmer to the curb and fell hard for the hot young thing. Kiffin was 33.

He was bold. He was brash.You loved it when he poked a needle in Urban Meyer’s ribs. Sure, he might have been a punk. But Tennessee considered him their punk.

And then Tuesday night, as my friend John Adams nailed it in the Knoxville News Sentinel, Tennessee “got punked.”

Lane Kiffin to Southern California was all anyone could talk about Tuesday night at the O’Connell Center in Gainesville. (The Gators seem to have a keen interest in what happens in K-ville.) Kentucky and Florida might have been playing basketball on the floor, but the main thing on everyone’s minds was the shocking football news out of UT. Just minutes before tip-off, Ken-

tucky Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart was at the media table asking whether the ­Kiffin rumors were true.

Internet searches commenced.

First, speculation.Then sources.Then confirmation. By night’s end, gossip had Tennessee students storming the school’s football offices. There were rumors of smoke bombs and police helicopters. Suddenly, a joyride by a quartet of gun-toting basketball players was old news.

Ah, anarchy in the UT. And you thought NBC was a mess. Jay Leno whined that NBC stood for “Never Believe your Contract.” In college athletics, it could stand for, “Never Believe a Coach.”

You had to know that somewhere Tuesday night, ol’ Fulmer was smiling.

The man with real egg on his face here is Mike Hamilton, the Tennessee athletics director, who signed a bad pre-nup. Kiffin’s ­monetary punishment for breaking his contract after just 13 months? A mere $800,000.

In a profession where Texas’ Mack Brown, the coach who helped lose the national title by calling that ridiculous shovel pass, had his salary bumped up to $5 million per year, Kiffin’s buyout is mere pocket change.

In the end, nothing changes, of course. Coaches have all the power.

They come, they go. They’re paid either way.

Even Billy Gillispie, whose twoyear reign of terror and error has only been accentuated by John Calipari’s

mcclatchy-tribune

After one season with the Oakland Raiders and another with the Tennessee Volunteers, Lane Kiffin returns to USC to replace Pete Carroll. Kiffin went 5-15 in Oakland and went 7-6 with the Volunteers. sudden success, wobbled away with more than $3 million, just to stay away and, of course, have nothing bad to say about his former employers.

The government is reportedly considering taxing Wall Street entities, thanks to their excessive salaries and bonuses.When might it start tax-

ing college athletic departments?

There are some faint ­indicators out there of a slight push-back. It is no longer OK for a coach to (allegedly) place a player with a concussion in a dark tool shed. At least not at Texas Tech. It is no longer OK for a coach to (allegedly) grab and slap a player as part of his halftime motiva-

tional strategy. At least not at South Florida. I guess that’s called progress.

But apparently it is still OK for a coach to sign a huge contract, preach loyalty, honesty, integrity and teamwork and then break those vows, easily as you please.

But then, come on,Tennessee fans, what did you expect?

mustangdaily.net Thursday, January 14, 2010

SPORTS

sports editor: Brian De Los Santos

mustangdailysports@gmail.com

MUSTANG DAILY

Men’s basketball travels to Cal State Fullerton Brian De Los Santos mustang daily

Remember streetball?

Sponsored by AND-1, a group of ankle-breaking hoopsters who would battle for bragging rights in a game not judged by point total, but by piecing together the most crowd-pleasing crossover.

But, hidden beneath the high-flying alley-oops and windmill dunks was a physical element filled with elbows and two-handed shoves.

That is what senior guard Lorenzo Keeler compared this week’s contest against Cal State Fullerton to — a game of streetball.

Tonight, Cal Poly (5-9, 2-1 Big West) will travel to Cal State Fullerton (7-7, 2-1 Big West) to take on the Titans.

“It’s going to be a dogfight,” Keeler said. “They want to get us like NBA Jam, they want to get the ball and push it and they want to dunk … It’s going to be a fun, fun, tough game.”

Fullerton opened conference play on Jan. 2 with a 67-63 loss at UC Davis.

Jacques Streeter and Aaron Thompson lead the team, each averaging 10.9 points per game.

Jer’Vaughn Johnson checks in with 10.1 points and Devon Peltier averages 9.0. Johnson leads the team in rebounding with 6.1 a game.

The Titans opened the season with an impressive win when they defeated Pac-10 powerhouse UCLA on Nov. 16, 68-65 in double overtime.

The Mustangs will embark on

nick camacho mustang daily file photo

Junior guard Shawn Lewis (23) has converted eight of his last 10 shots, including a flawless 4-4 performance from behind the three-point line against Pacific. Against the Tigers, Lewis scored 17 points. His season high is 22. their fourth road trip of the season. Tonight’s contest will tally Cal Poly’s 10th road game of the season, compared to the five they have played in Mott Gym. “When you’re traveling, it kind of wears on your body,” Keeler said.

“Airplanes, hotels, long bus rides, it wears on your body a little bit, but coach (Callero) does a great job of not over-working us, we have a

nice little plan every time we get to where we’re going and usually we come out ready for the game.”

Despite Callero’s plans, the road has not been kind to the Mustangs.

Cal Poly has a combined 2-8 record off its home court.

“We want to win every game, and to steal one on the road is huge ... If we beat them, we’re alone in third place,” Keeler said. “Any road

win is a great win. We’re jut looking to go in there, give it all we got, leave everything on the court and hopefully come away with the win.”

Cal Poly was projected to finish last in the Big West at the beginning of the season. The Mustangs finished last season with a 3-13 record in conference and a 7-21 record overall, with an incoming coaching

staff at the helm.

Despite weak results outside of the Big West, the Mustangs have opened their conference campaign 2-1.

“I am not surprised we are having success, but I am pleased we are,” Callero said. “In conference play, it’s about getting the (wins) … Ultimately to climb into the playoffs we have to get (wins) in the win/loss column of the Big West.”

The Mustangs lead the conference in six statistical categories as they head into the game against the Titans.

Callero doesn’t take merit in early-season statistics. He said he would wait until his team plays all conference opponents to assess their chances.

“You got to look at your sample size, and our sample size is three games,” Callero said.

Junior guard Shawn Lewis has made eight of his last 10 shots.

“Shawn’s shooting percentage is very similar to Lorenzo; they both really found their rhythm of when to shoot,” Callero said. “Shooting percentages is very rarely ‘Can I make a shot?’ It’s ‘When can I take the shot?’”

Keeler, the reigning conference player of the week, is the Big West’s leading scorer. The senior is averaging 26 points per game in conference play and stands six points ahead of the Big West’s second leading scorer, UC Davis’ Dominic Calegari.

“We look forward to the challenge, and we are going to take care of business,” Keeler said.

Women’s basketball set to duel Titans at home mustang daily staff report

The Cal Poly women’s basketball team is set to play Cal State Fullerton on Thursday night.

With the Mustangs’ recent loss to UC Davis, they are 2-1 in conference play and stand third in the Big West. Davis is ranked second while Cal State Fullerton, 4-0 in conference play, is first with its best conference start ever.

Women’s basketball head coach Faith Mimnaugh said in order to win a Big West championship this year, the Mustangs will have to be the best rebounding team in the conference.

With close to 50 turnovers in the last two games, the team has been working on emphasizing and not forcing

passes.

The injury bug is another opponent the Mustangs have battled this season. During the game against Pacific on Jan. 7, senior forward Becky Tratter left the game due to a foot injury.

“Anytime you hear crunching, that always concerns me,” Mimnaugh said. “Obviously having our best (defensive post) player out and somebody who is 10 points a game for us is a concern at this moment.”

Junior forward Kristina Santiago is coming off a career-high 29-point game in a losing effort against the Aggies. The Titans beat the Aggies Jan. 2, 68-57. “(The Titans) play really good team basketball,” Santiago said.“They are also a running team like we are, so we will have to keep up with them in that and see who gets tired first.”

Mimnaugh looks to the conference’s leading scorer and reigning Big West player of the week, Santiago to lead the team.

“She has so much say in the locker room and on the court, and other people respond to her,” Mimnaugh said. “They believe in her; what she says is gold. So if she gives them honey, she gets a nice treat at the end of it.”

The junior is averaging a doubledouble in conference play with 25

points and 11 rebounds per game.

Santiago recognizes this leadership role and the responsibilities that come with it, but also that basketball is a team sport. She said it takes every team member’s effort to win a game.

Mimnaugh and Santiago both said the most important thing the team has been working on is taking care of the ball. Santiago said opponents have had five to 10 more possessions than the Mustangs, and that “it is really hard to win a game when they have the ball a lot more than we do.”

Rachel Clancy, junior guard for the Mustangs, achieved a career-high 24 points against UC Irvine and continues to be a consistent scorer for the team.

“She’s embracing her role as a glue player and is really consistent across the board,” assistant coach Kerri Nakamoto said.

Nakamoto said she knows how close the race will be for Big West champion and that Cal Poly is a solid threat.

“In the past, we were coming in as an underdog. It’s a different mentality this year with people gunning for us,” Nakamoto said. “Every team is excited to play us.”

Cal Poly ranks atop the conference in three statistical categories as they head into its battle against the Titans.

“It is huge, especially since they beat Davis and we just lost to them,” Santiago said. “It would be a really big win for us if we could beat Fullerton on Thursday.”

Everyone is so good this year. It is

pretty much an even battle for who is going to take it this year, so it will be a dogfight with every game.”

Megan Hassler and Katherine Grady contributed to this article

ryan sidarto mustang daily file photo

Junior guard Rachel Clancy ranks sixth in Big West in scoring, averaging 14.7 points per game. Clancy also ranks eighth in field-goal percentage.