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Undocumented immigrant education activist to speak tomorrow.
Focus of tonight’s State of the Union: Economy and jobs.
IN ARTS, 7
IN NEWS, 3
Candlelight vigil for Haiti tonight mustang daily
A candlelight vigil for the crisis in Haiti will be held tonight at 7:30 on Dexter Lawn. Raise the Respect, a Cal Poly Student Community Services program, is hosting the event to raise money for those who fell victim to the 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti that occurred Jan. 12. The event will allow students to express their support for the Haitians, said Joy Harkins, a program coordinator of Student Life and Leadership. “I think a lot of students are looking for ways to show their support,” Harkins said. “The Student Community Center is looking for ways to help the students to act locally.” The vigil features various speakers supporting and honoring the innumerable suffering Haitians with a reading or a poem. Alcenat John Honorat, a native Haitian and a civil engineering junior, will talk about
IN SPORTS, 12
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Volume LXXIV, Number 66
Anieca Ayler
Injured athletes go through more than physical pain.
his family and friends as they deal with the ongoing disaster. Molly Roach, a child development junior, will share a reading on behalf of former student, Jack Strutner, who was present during the earthquake. Megan McIntyre, an industrial engineer sophomore, will be performing slam poetry. “Help Haiti Now” merchandise will be sold, including buttons, bags and pins will be given to those who donate. All donations and proceeds will go toward an organization aiding Haiti to be determined. “We hope that students can show their support in some way, either by spreading the word or giving a donation,” Harkins said. Co-director of Raise the Respect, Lauren Herrera, an industrial engineering senior, remains optimistic about the situation in Haiti. “It’s tragic that this earthquake happened and so many lives have been taken, but in some respects, it
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Former ambassador addresses students regarding economy
see Vigil, page 2
Educational tax credit expanded Megan Hassler mustang daily
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the federal government has announced an expansion of an existing educational tax credit. The credit was announced this month by the California State University system to inform students and parents that they may be eligible. This change is for tax years 2009 and 2010. The American Opportunity Tax credit (AOC) was created by the stimulus plan. This was an expansion of the existing credit, which was introduced in 1997. After an increase of the Hope credit last year from $1,650 to $1,800 it has now been raised to a maximum of $2,500. Other changes from the Hope credit to the AOC is that the first four years of post-secondary education, rather than just the first two, can be covered. Although the credit now includes the
first four years of higher education, the expansion of the credit is only for two years. After 2010, students can apply for the lifetime learning credit. To apply for this, a student must be enrolled in a post-secondary educational institution and be paying the qualified tuition and fees. The applicable fees have been expanded to include textbooks; however, this is not the only expense that can be claimed under the AOC. The qualified expenses have also been expanded to include books, supplies and equipment that are needed for education as well as the tuition and fees the old credit included before. At Cal Poly, students spend hundreds of dollars on textbooks every quarter. Some students can spend as much as $500 per quarter. Depending on a student’s field of study, their books can cost more. Biological sciences senior Sabina Gill says she spends an average of see Credit, page 2
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Former U.S. ambassador to Australia Bill Lane spoke to students Tuesday morning about economic challenges. Patrick Leiva mustang daily
Bill Lane, former U.S. ambassador to Australia, spoke to Cal Poly students yesterday in the University Union regarding challenges students face in the current state of the economy.
Lane said new opportunities were arising all the time for student employment, saying he wanted to encourage students worried about their future employment.Too much of today’s media is focused on the negative and students should remain open-minded with their options that come along, he added.
Before serving as a U.S. ambassador, Lane worked as a co-publisher of Sunset Magazine with his brother Melvin for almost 40 years. During the depression, Lane and his brother walked door-to-door selling the magazine and he said he learned see Ambassador, page 2
Prof awarded for architecture studio Mikaela Akuna mustang daily
A Cal Poly professor recently won the Creative Achievement Award from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) for his work and development of the Collaborative Integrative-Interdisciplinary Digital-Design Studio (CIDS) on campus. Professor Thomas Fowler began
work on expanding the studio in 2000 from what had been nothing more than a computer lab since its start in 1997. He wanted to grow the CIDS program on a large scale. Now, room 207 in the Architecture and Environmental Design building acts as a type of home base where Fowler can meet with CIDS students to discuss projects they may be working on. “I had the idea of evolving the
computer lab and integrating community projects into the course work. I feel strongly about the students I teach being involved in real projects with design and building. It’s an important part of learning,” Fowler said. CIDS is an integrative program that allows junior, senior, independent study and work study student see Studio , page 2
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Studio continued from page 1
participants. The program brings together architecture students as well as students from other disciplines to collaborate on projects.The goal is to teach students how to work in teams and communicate with people who specialize in other areas of a project to create a final product. “At first, students seem to get frustrated by having to work with other disciplines, but eventually they get used to the idea and learn to work well in teams,” Fowler said. The CIDS students have been involved with several projects around the community. A past team of more than 100 built an inflatable structure out of a quarter mile of plastic. The structure acted as a nomadic theater that took at least three weeks to develop and one to assemble. Currently, a team of CIDS students is working with the housing authority here in San Luis Obispo on a project called Housing Opportunity through Modular Environments (HOME). Students are working with professionals to create a single room occupancy development to function as transitional housing. The design team from HOME asked CIDS early on in their planning to collaborate on ideas. In fact, the project title and acronym for HOME was thought up by a Cal
Ambassador continued from page 1
how to remain optimistic during a difficult period. “Students should realize that what exists today isn’t going to be what happens tomorrow,” Lane said. Lane also said he wants students to have a passion for what they do and not to close off opportunities to other fields that are rapidly changing today. His message to graduating students is to remain patient since students will not find their “magic bullet right away.” Lane said students should utilize their education at Cal Poly and keep an open mind since something will happen tomorrow that nobody can predict. The presentation was sponsored by the Executive Partners Program through the Orfalea College of Business at Cal Poly. The program represents an organization of senior executives and college administrators
News editor: Kate McIntyre mustangdailynews@gmail.com
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Poly student. “Because they’re still students, a lot of their ideas are more forwardthinking than those of people who are already in the field,” Fowler said. “So (the design team) was interested in getting the opinion of many different kinds of students and getting their involvement and ideas on how to realize this project,” Fowler said. The HOME project has been in the works since June 2009 and is scheduled to be built within the next two years. Andrew Goodwin, a Cal Poly architecture alumnus, within the program as an independent study student who participated in design competitions. Goodwin, who now works for RA Architects in San Luis Obispo, commented on Fowler’s “unique” approach to teaching. “He’s well-known by students in the college of architecture for going above and beyond his eight-to-five duties as a teacher. He gave students like me the opportunity to investigate through competition. Now that I’m in the field, that is the best way to fully investigate design,” Goodwin said. Fowler brings in representatives from Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies (LAES), professors from other concentrations such as landscape architecture and civil engineering, and professionals who work in the field. They often guest lecture to his classes and look at student projects to give them ideas, critiques and tips. “Hearing something from some-
one other than a professor or teacher can be really important to students,” he said. “Getting professional insight on what they’re learning in school and how it connects to what they will be doing outside of school can be uplifting.” The CIDS program has grown largely in the last decade and continues to focus on real world experiences for its students. Some of their projects can be seen on an outdoor display in front of the Architecture building. “It draws more attention,” Fowler said. “I always tell my students that they need to find ways to present what they’re doing to anyone they meet. They need to find a way to tell their stories in a compelling manner so that anyone of any discipline can understand and appreciate it.” On receiving the awards, Fowler said that he submitted a portfolio to ACSA of projects that had been done by the group over the years, along with an updated resume. He said that although confident, his expectations weren’t high since most programs, no matter how outstanding, don’t generally get a response. Fowler will receive the award at the ACSA Annual Meeting in New Orleans on March 5, 2010. “Just teaching and not having this component would be boring,” he said. “Whether it’s a quick design or a more long-term project, this way there is always a level of real involvement for my students.”
who volunteer their time to share experiences with Cal Poly students. There are 11 members who serve on the leadership council for the program. Lane said he was honored to be associated with a program of executives who impart their knowledge with students. A group of around 50 people, including students and other executive partners, attended the event. One of the most interested students was environmental management and protection senior Lucas Rossmerz. He said he was interested in the international perspective on history and global growth that Lane had. “History is one of the most important factors in being successful today,” Rossmerz said. “We have many more advantages today that we need to utilize.” Rossmerz added that too many people are concerned with the here and now which hinders their ability for success. He said that he came away smiling and with a sense of American pride following Lane’s speech.
Mark Landon, founder and executive director of the Nature Corps, recommended that Lane speak to students after working together on preservation efforts in national parks. Landon has been involved with Cal Poly since the early 1990s through the landscape architecture department and has served as a mentor to Cal Poly business students for five months. Landon said he wants to instill a positive attitude in his students to meet today’s obstacles. He said life will always present a whole series of obstacles regardless of the economic conditions and does not want students to get down on themselves. “The most profound message that I want students to understand is that it isn’t what you get out of life, but what you give in life,” Landon said. Landon concluded by saying that life involves dealing with different attitudes and perspectives and the greatest rewards in life come from what people choose to give.
Vigil continued from page 1
has brought attention to a country that has needed aid for quite some time now,” she said. “I hope that we can help bring awareness to
Wednesday, January 27, 2010 million total have been affected by the earthquake, according to CNN. com. Survivors in the capital are left with little food or water and no electricity or phone service. Raise the Respect also hosted a fundraiser at Natural Cafe Monday night. The fundraiser raised more than $100, which will go to Sustain-
It’s tragic that this earthquake happened and so many lives have been taken, but in some respects, it has brought attention to a country that has needed aid for quite some time now. —Lauren Herrera
Raise the Respect director
the current issue in Haiti as well as provide some Haitians with some form of relief through our fundraiser efforts.” Though Herrera planned the event in accordance with the forecast, in case of rain, the event will be moved into the breezeway of the Business building. The earthquake struck 10 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital. An estimated 150,000 death toll has been reported by the Haitian Health Ministry. Another 194,000 have been injured, and 3
able Organic Integrated Livelihoods (SOIL), a non-profit organization that works toward making Haiti sustainable and is now directly aiding the devastated country. In addition, there is a collection bin for shoes, lightweight blankets and backpacks outside of the Student Community Services office, University Union, room 217. These are the most essential items for survivors in Haiti, Harkins said. Used shoes in good condition can also be dropped off at the Multicultural Center for their “Soles for Souls” donation this week until Friday.
Credit
Although it is simple to determine whether a filer is eligible, it is not automatic. To claim the credit, filers must fill out Form 8863 and attach it to a Form 1040 or a 1040A. Form 8863 is a single form used to apply for all Education Credits including American Opportunity, Hope and Lifetime Learning Credits. The tentative calculation for the AOC is done by first taking the total value of qualified expenses (the maximum to be used is $4,000) and subtracting $2,000 from this number. If the resulting amount is negative, the original number will be the tentative credit. Next, you multiply the last number by 25 percent then add $2,000. This credit can be taken advantage of for the next two tax years. The form can be found online, in the Robert E. Kennedy Library or anywhere other tax forms are located.
continued from page 1
$300 per quarter and when taking classes in the summer, her textbook expenses for the year can reach as high as $1,200. This new credit will allow some eligible students, or their parents, to claim these expenditures for federal income tax credit. If the student is claimed as a dependent on their parents taxes, then the parent must claim the credit. “My dad pays for my books, but I would tell him to (claim the credit),” psychology senior Melissa Fake said. In order to apply for the tax credit, you must pay for “qualified tuition and related expenses” and have a modified adjusted gross income of $80,000 or less or $160,000 for joint filers. However, filers whose income is between $80,000 and $90,000 (or $160,000 and $180,000) can also claim the credit, but the credit is reduced. For families or independent students who are eligible, this credit provides a way to get back some of the money spent on school. “My parents will take any advantage on taxes they can get,” biomedical engineering sophomore Jose Beltran said. Even if the tax payer does not owe any taxes, the credit is now 40 percent refundable, another change from the previous credit. This means after the tax payer files their taxes and claims the AOC, they can receive a refund of up to $1,000.
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Prop 8 trial: Researcher Obama to emphasize jobs, economy in State of the Union is cross-examined Maura Dolan
Margaret Talev and Steven Thomma mcclatchy newspapers
WASHINGTON — The Barack Obama who will deliver the State of the Union address Wednesday night faces a grimmer, more dubious audience than the popular new president who was riding high when he first addressed Congress last February did. Then, Obama was celebrating the passage of a $787 billion economic stimulus and expecting Democrats soon to control 60 seats in the Senate, enough to fend off Republican filibusters and allow passage of a massive overhaul of the American health care system. Now he labors under 10 percent national unemployment and a 48 percent job approval rating in the latest Gallup tracking poll. The stimulus’s true cost is now projected at $862 billion, and no health care overhaul has passed yet. The Democrats lost their slam-dunk Senate supermajority when Republicans won the special election last week in Massachusetts. A testy electorate also seems eager to boot many Democrats out of Congress
in this year’s midterm elections. Obama’s address, his first official State of the Union, is expected to acknowledge these shifts and deliver a sharpened populist appeal to the middle class and independent voters, along with a focus on creating jobs and reining in government spending. “I think the key in this speech, what he’ll discuss more than anything, is getting our economy moving again,” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday. The president also is likely to underscore his commitment to a health care bill, but to put it in the context of how it will serve the nation’s economic well-being. “The number one issue by far is jobs and the economy,” said Cliff Young, a pollster at Ipsos Public Affairs. “People are worried about their pocketbooks. Foreign policy is still on the radar, but it’s way down on the list. It’s domestic issues.” Obama needs to be empathetic about people’s problems and offer concrete solutions without overpromising, Young said. “There’s a malaise, a sense that the govern-
ment has not been able to get things done. The longer it lasts, the more likely he becomes known as the guy who can’t get things done.” Aides already have said the president will call for a three-year freeze on non-security discretionary spending. Republicans question his sincerity, however, with House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio saying that Americans should be “skeptical about his sudden change of heart.” Bob Lehrman, former Vice President Al Gore’s chief speechwriter, who teaches about the craft, said Obama must acknowledge voters’ doubts while standing his ground. “On the one hand, he has to say, ‘I understand the voters who are unhappy and I agree with them. I can see why they’re unhappy.’ That’s one of the most potent ways of showing an audience you’re a credible person, is to admit the other side has a point,” Lehrman said. “On the other hand, he cannot say, ‘So I’m abandoning all the things I wanted to do.’ He has to say, ‘I will keep fighting for the things I campaigned for that brought me to the White House: jobs, health care, climate change.’ “ He also can take credit for containing the economic crisis. Like past presidents, Obama is expected to touch on a list of issues before him, among them: —Sending more troops to war in Afghanistan. —Dealing with terrorist threats on U.S. soil. —Assisting Haiti after the earthquake. —Improving education. —Addressing issues important to his Democratic base that so far have had to wait, such as immigration, carbon emissions and gay rights. “The problem is he has two very different audiences: independents, who want to be reassured that he heard the message of Massachusetts, and progressives, who worry that Obama has forgotten the lessons of 2008 and their desire for fundamental changes in American policy,” said Darrell West, an expert on governance at the Brookings Institution, a center-left policy research center in Washington. “He needs both of them to be successful.”
los angeles times
SAN FRANCISCO — The head of a marriage and family think tank testified at the Proposition 8 federal trial Tuesday that same-sex marriage would weaken marriage and possibly lead to fewer heterosexual marriages, more divorces and “more public consideration of polygamy.” But under cross-examination, David Blankenhorn, founder and president of the Institute for American Values, acknowledged that he wrote in a book in 2007 that the U.S. would be “more American on the day we permit same-sex marriage than we were on the day before.” Blankenhorn was called as an expert witness by lawyers defending California’s Proposition 8 against a constitutional challenge by two same-sex couples. He is an author and researcher who is not associated with any university. He earned a master’s degree in history in England, where he studied the history of labor unions. Blankenhorn testified that he later worked as a community activist in low-income neighborhoods in Massachusetts and Virginia, where he became interested in the effect of fatherless families on children. After testifying that marriage was designed for two heterosexual parents to bear and raise children, Blankenhorn said he decided during the last two years to support domestic partnerships for gays and lesbians as a “humane compromise.” He said he previously had feared domestic partnerships would undermine marriage and discriminate against gays, but concluded that they were more legalistic arrangements than marriage. Under cross-examination by David Boies, an attorney for challengers of the ballot measure, Blankenhorn admitted he knew of no study that showed children reared
from birth by gay couples fared worse than those raised by biological parents. Blankenhorn also conceded that same-sex marriage would probably “improve the well-being of gay and lesbian households and their children.” A spokeswoman for proponents of Proposition 8 said she did not know the context in which Blankenhorn made the statement. Earlier in the day, a political scientist hired by defenders of Proposition 8 admitted under crossexamination that prejudice played a role in the passage of the 2008, anti-gay marriage initiative. “At least some people voted for Proposition 8 on the basis of antigay stereotypes,” Claremont McKenna College Professor Kenneth Miller testified during the third week of the trial on the constitutionality of Proposition 8. Boies, who cross-examined Miller, read aloud written statements Miller made that said minorities were vulnerable to ballot initiatives, and federal courts needed to step in and protect them. One of the statements was from a paper Miller wrote in 2005. Miller was hired by the Proposition 8 campaign to testify that gays and lesbians today have significant political power. The issue of power is important in the legal analysis over whether gays and lesbians need stronger, federal constitutional protection. Boies pressed Miller to say that Roman Catholicism was the most populous religion in California, with about 30 percent of the state’s population identifying itself as Catholic, followed by Southern Baptists. Trying to show that gays lack power to protect themselves at the ballot, Boies noted that the Catholic Church teaches that homosexual acts are a “serious depravity” while the Southern Baptist Conference says homosexual acts are an “abomination.”
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Saab sold, Ford hiring, GM building electric engines
Word on the Street “Do you think the U.S. should donate money to Haiti in light of the recent disaster?”
Jerry Hirsch los angeles times
LOS ANGELES — More signs emerged Tuesday that the auto industry is recovering from its deep slump, including the sale of the Swedish upscale car brand Saab. Ford Motor Co. said it will hire an additional 1,200 workers, and General Motors Co. announced a big investment in manufacturing electric engines. And sports-car maker Spyker Cars announced Tuesday that it will acquire Saab from General Motors. As part of the agreement, Spyker said it will form a new company, Saab Spyker Automobiles, which will continue the Saab brand. “Today’s announcement is great news for Saab employees, dealers and suppliers, great news for millions of Saab customers and fans worldwide, and great news for GM,” John Smith, GM’s vice president for corporate planning and alliances said in a statement. Ford said it will invest $400 million in a Chicago factory and will hire 1,200 workers to staff a second shift at the site, where the automaker will produce the next-generation Ford Explorer late this year. “The Ford announcement is highly meaningful. Ford is in the middle of a record number of new product launches. They are scheduling a 155 percent increase in production over last year in the first quarter in North American production,” said Sean McAlinden, chief economist for the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich. He noted that the Chicago announcement might mean the hiring of hundreds of “new entry” workers that cost half the hourly rate that current factory employees earn. He estimated that as many as 600 of the
“Yes, I do. I think it is our moral responsibility.” -Paige Spalding, psychology senior
“Yes, I think it’s important as a measure of goodwill if nothing else. The donation doesn’t have to be big. We are lending physical help and supplies.” -Amanda Ankrom, biomedical engineering junior
“Of course, because I don’t think our only commitment should be inside our borders. We are all people.” new hires could fall under this lesser-paid category. The new workers will start at $14 an hour and over a period of years will get raises to bring their wages to the same tier as current employees, said Mike Omotoso, an analyst with J.D. Power & Associates, the auto information company. “It was a concession the United Auto Workers union made to get Ford to hire workers and not be at a cost disadvantage compared with the other companies,” Omotoso said. He expects there will be plenty of applicants. “In today’s economy people are grateful for a $14-anhour job,” he said. The new Explorer, which will be built on the same frame as the Ford
Taurus and Lincoln MKS sedans already made at the plant, will get at least 25 percent better fuel economy than the prior truck-based version, Ford said. “This investment underscores Ford’s commitment to building world-class, fuel-efficient vehicles in America and creating new jobs that will contribute to our nation’s economic recovery,” said Mark Fields, president of Ford’s Americas division. The Explorer will feature the auto industry’s first seat belts that inflate upon impact, which Ford said will provide better protection for rear-seat occupants, especially “children and older passengers who can be more vulnerable to head, chest and neck injuries.” The inflatable rear seat belts spread crash forces over five times more area of the body than conventional seat belts. Ford said this reduces pressure on the chest and that it controls head and neck whipping for rear-seat passengers. The automaker plans to extend the technology to other vehicles in its lineup. Meanwhile, GM will spend $246 million to become the first major U.S. automaker to design and manufacture electric motors, which it sees as the core technology for hybrids and electric vehicles. “In the future, electric motors might become as important to GM as (gasoline-powered) engines are now,” said Tom Stephens, GM vice chairman for global product operations. The automaker plans to start selling its electric Chevrolet Volt model later this year. GM believes that by bringing the design and manufacturing in-house, it will lower costs and “improve performance, quality, reliability and manufacturability of electric motors by controlling design, materials selection and production processes.” The first GM-produced electric motors will appear in three years in the company’s next-generation, rear-wheel-drive hybrid vehicles. “Electric motor innovation supported the first wave of automo-
-Steve Cunningham, construction management senior
“I think they should donate just enough to make a difference.” -Cristina Deocampo, parks, recreation and tourism administration senior
“That’s our choice. There’s nothing wrong with it if they will benefit from our help.”
-Willy Agupos, city and regional planning senior
“No, why concern yourself with things you can’t control. We have more issues on our own plates we can’t finish.” -Ashly Sigle, architecture senior
compiled and photographed by jennifer titcomb tive growth a century ago with the electric starter, which eliminated the need for a hand crank and revolutionized automotive travel for the customer,” Stephens said. “We think the electrification of today’s automobiles will be just as revolutionary and just as beneficial to our customers. Electric motors will play a huge role in that.” A $105 million U.S. Department of Energy grant will be part of the $246 million investment. Omotoso
said the GM electric engine plans are linked to the company’s concern about being able to meet a 35.5mile-per-gallon federal fuel standard for its fleet in 2016. “GM wants to keep building trucks, so they need hybrid and electric technology to give them good fleet fuel efficiency,” Omotoso said. He said consumers should expect to see hybrid drive trains in many GM full-size pickup trucks and SUVs.
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L.A. Council votes no on medical marijuana John Hoeffel los angeles times
LOS ANGELES — In a 9-3 vote, the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday gave its final approval to an ordinance that will shut down hundreds of medical marijuana dispensaries and impose strict rules on the location and operation of the dispensaries that are allowed. The measure passed quickly, without debate. The ordinance, which the council first began discussing more than 4 years ago, will cap the number of dispensaries at 70 but make an exception to allow all those that registered with the city in 2007 and have remained open. City officials believe that number is around 150. Hundreds of dispensaries have opened in Los Angeles as the City Council debated its proposed ordinance and failed to enforce a moratorium on new dispensaries. City officials believe there are more than 500 that will be required to close
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Wednesday, January 27, 2010
under the ordinance, but some are already preparing to sue the city and collect signatures to force a referendum on the ordinance. The ordinance also requires dispensaries to be at least 1,000 feet from other dispensaries and so-called sensitive uses, such as schools, parks and libraries. Among other restrictions, dispensaries will be required to close at 8 p.m. and will not be permitted to allow marijuana use at the stores. The ordinance will not take effect until after Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signs it and the City Council approves the fees that dispensaries will have to pay to cover the city’s cost of monitoring. City officials are studying those costs and expect to propose the fees soon. Once the ordinance is in place, the city attorney’s office will send letters to affected landlords and dispensary operators telling them that they must close immediately. If the dispensaries remain open, the city attorney’s office likely will take them to court.
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SAN LUIS OBISPO (MCT) — A San Luis Obispo rescue team is expected to travel to rural Monterey County this weekend in hopes of finding 74-year-old George Carpenter, who has been missing since December. Investigators with the Monterey County Sheriff ’s Department spent most of the past weekend searching the rugged terrain between Big Sur and Fort Hunter Liggett in southern Monterey County where the San Luis Obispo man’s 1989 Jeep Comanche truck was discovered Saturday. Those search efforts were suspended Monday after concerns arose about increasingly stormy weather and a lack of clues indicating where to search next.
WASHINGTON (MCT) — The U.S. budget deficit will hit $1.35 trillion in 2010, congressional budget analysts estimated Tuesday, in a fresh piece of grim news for President Barack Obama. The estimate from the Congressional Budget Office assumes current laws and policies remain unchanged. Economic growth will also probably be “muted” for the next few years, the CBO said in its budget outlook for 2010. The CBO’s estimates come about a week before Obama transmits his fiscal 2011 budget to Congress, on Feb. 1.
MEXICO CITY (MCT) — Soccer-mad Mexico has been glued to the mystery around the shooting early Monday of Salvador Cabanas, a star forward for one of the country’s most popular teams, Club America, from Mexico City. On Tuesday, Cabanas lay in an induced coma in a Mexico City hospital after surgeons sought unsuccessfully to extract a bullet that was fired into his head in the men’s room of a nightclub called Bar Bar. He was listed in grave but stable condition. The shooting of the 29year-old Paraguayan player, who moved to Mexico in 2003, has pushed aside the Haiti earthquake and election-year political maneuvering as the top news story there.
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LOS ANGELES (MCT) — Toyota Motor Corporation is temporarily halting sales and production of eight models, including the top-selling Camry and Corolla, that it has recalled because the accelerator pedal can stick and cause unwanted acceleration. The automaker announced the recall of 2.3 million cars and trucks late last week. That came just months after Toyota launched its largest-ever recall because floor mats could trap the gas pedal and also cause sudden acceleration.
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WASHINGTON (MCT) — Four young men posing as telephone repairmen have been arrested for allegedly interfering with the telephones in Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu’s office in downtown New Orleans, including James O’Keefe III, a conservative filmmaker whose undercover videos have scandalized the ACORN voter registration operation. According to a federal affidavit unsealed Tuesday in New Orleans, O’Keefe and three others were charged with entering federal property under false pretenses to commit a felony on Monday when they told the senator’s aide they were repairmen and needed access to the main phone line at the reception desk.
•••
KABUL (MCT) — A car bomb blew up at the gates of a U.S. military base on the outskirts of the capital Tuesday, and Afghan officials said at least half a dozen people were hurt. The Taliban claimed responsibility. The attack, the second major strike in the capital in just over a week, appeared intended as a reminder of the insurgency’s growing strength in advance of a major conference in London on Afghan security.
wednesday, january 27, 2010
arts & Entertainment editor: cassandra keyse
book column
“Good in Bed” grabs attention and doesn’t let go
Stating one’s own excellence in the bedroom is a pretty bold claim to make in a national publication. So is exposing your ex-girlfriends’s weight (and the fact that it’s more than your own). These are just two of the things revealed in the column “Good in Bed” in the fictional magazine, Moxie, about the aforementioned ex-girlfriend and main character of Jennifer Weiner’s novel of the same name. “Good in Bed” is Weiner’s debut novel. It follows the life of Cannie Shapiro, labeled a “larger woman” by her ex-boyfriend Bruce, the columnist who uses their relationship as fodder for his column in Moxie. Cannie is a 28-year-old reporter living in Philadelphia and struggling with both her weight and recent breakup at the opening of the story. Cannie’s struggle with her weight began in childhood. Coupled with innumerable family issues gives Cannie a lot to be bitter about — and it shows. While her sarcastic wit is frequently clever and likable, she sometimes comes off as simply petulant. After being the focus of an article entitled “Loving a Larger Woman,” Cannie enrolls herself into an experimental weight-loss program, which leads to multiple startling developments. It is in this program that she meets Dr. Krushelevansky, just one of the many quirky and delightful characters in this novel. Dr. K, or Peter as he later comes to be known, is an incredibly understanding man who takes a special interest in Cannie and breaks the life-changing news (spoiler alert) that she is pregnant. This very unplanned pregnancy sends Cannie’s life into a tailspin, but also leads her to discover how important and loyal her friends and family really are. Her life takes a series of dramatic ups and downs, some almost unbelievable in their extremity, but fascinating to read about nonetheless. By mere happenstance, as part of her entertainment reporting duties, Cannie happens to meet famous actress Maxi Ryder and they strike up an instant and unlikely friendship. Maxi is a warm, undeniably lovable character with the means to change
Cannie’s life completely — which she does, in both direct and indirect ways. When Maxi finagles a deal for Cannie’s screenplay to be produced with Maxi as the star, Cannie flies to Hollywood to stay with Maxi for an unexpected extended visit, and it is there that the pure escapism portion begins. Cannie’s tale to this point has been, while not miserable, certainly fraught with troubles as she agonizes over her breakup in a way any woman who has been heartbroken can relate to, which is only complicated by the fact that the father of her baby will not speak to her. Add to this her family problems (“daddy issues that run deeper than the Grand Canyon”), her never-ending body issues and Cannie’s never-ending supply of clever quips start to veer towards just plain cynical. However, things start to look up when Cannie travels to the land of the rich and the famous, with a free passport in the form of Maxi. It is impossible not to be happy for Cannie when she finally catches. She meets famous actors, gets a makeover worthy of any socialite and settles into Maxi’s beautiful beachfront home. But with every high must come a low, and Cannie’s hits hard when she arrives back in Philadelphia. Suffice it to say that Bruce re-enters her life like a harsh slap of reality, and sends her life into an even wilder turmoil than before. Her struggle out of this black hole is heartbreaking, but her rise back to happiness is written with the requisite supporting cast of all great women’s literature. Weiner’s voice is relatable and engaging in her creation of Cannie, a truly unique leading lady who just can’t be kept down. This novel was surprising in all the right places, and written with such a sharp, smart humor that anyone who’s ever tried to navigate their way through singledom, life crises, a more-than-slightly dysfunctional family and big dreams will laugh and cry right along with every twist. Virginia Fay is an English sophomore and Mustang Daily book columnist.
mustang daily
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Arts
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Activist to speak on undocumented immigrant education
Arts editor: Cassandra Keyse mustangdailyarts@gmail.com
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movie column
“The Book of Eli” puts too much faith in visuals The Book of Eli [2010]
Daniel Triassi mustang daily
Undocumented immigrant activist Dr. Paz Maya Olivérez will speak in Vista Grande Café Thursday at 7:30 a.m. as part of Cal Poly’s Provocative Perspectives series. Olivérez is the executive director and founder of Futuros Educational Services, a non-profit organization that provides mentoring and scholarships to low-income and immigrant students. One-fourth of the nation’s undocumented immigrants reside in California, constituting 8 percent of the population, Olivérez said. Yet, undocumented students who have excelled academically in high school, but who are not legal residents, are ineligible for financial aid.The financial restriction is a barrier for students, through no fault of their own. They have no path to citizenship or success, Olivérez said. “A lot of times the assumption is that these kids are unready to go to college,” Olivérez said. “Now folks are realizing some of these kids are high school valedictorians.” Olivérez lecture is a part of the Provocative Perspectives series. The series has been at Cal Poly for seven years and brings a broad cross section of experts to speak about their thoughts and ideas on current and controversial issues that can effect Cal Poly students, faculty and staff, said Cornell Morton, Cal Poly vice president for academic affairs. “The primary purpose of the series is to support and encourage campus-wide dialogue on issues related to student success, intellectual freedom and diversity,” Morton said. Olivérez’ presentation will focus on student success with immigration reform. She first got involved in education as a K-12 teacher. As
Director: Albert and Allen Hughes Starring: Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Jennifer Beals, Ray Stevenson, Tom Waits, Michael Gambon
courtesy photo
Dr. Paz Maya Olivérez is the founder and director of Futuros Educational Services, a group that provides scholarships for low-income and undocumented students. an undergraduate at the University of California, Santa Cruz in the late ‘90s, she found that even as a teacher she could have an impact. While teaching, she saw a lot of systemic issues that motivated her to pursue educational policy, she said. “The school I worked in at the time was extremely dysfunctional and the students in the community were not receiving the quality of education they should,” Olivérez said. In 2008, Olivérez founded Futuros Educational Services. She said she was motivated to start her nonprofit because she thought there wasn’t any organization that focused on the needs of undocumented students. “Our goal is to focus on that specific population because we know they have a very specific set of needs,” she said. As a new company they continue to fundraise because undocumented
“Not so shady”
see Education, page 8
Let me start off this review by saying that “The Book of Eli” is indeed, in many ways, watchable.That being said, the process of watching the film is not an entirely enjoyable experience. Yes, the action is impressive. Yes, the visuals are engaging. No, the story isn’t good. The Hughes brothers’ first directorial effort since their underrated 2001 thriller, “From Hell,” “The Book of Eli” is a film that does a great job of grabbing your attention, but also succeeds in losing it. The story centers around a lonesome wanderer named Eli, portrayed marvelously by Denzel Washington, traveling on foot toward the west coast of the United States, 31 years after an apocalyptic event. He carries with him what seems to be the only existing copy left of the Bible, and he has made it his mission to protect it.Along the way he demonstrates uncanny survival and fighting skills, hunting wildlife and mutilat-
ing a group of highway thugs who try to ambush him. Eli is a skilled hand with knives, guns and martial arts. One look at the environment that he lives in — a desolate land reminiscent of George Miller’s landscapes in the “Mad Max” film ser ies — and it’s obvious that one must adapt or die. The Hughes brothers filmed this movie predominantly with shades of brown, blue, grey and black. They have created a depressing world where comfort is rare, and more importantly, water is gold. While watching the movie, you begin to think that Denzel’s reason for entering a small Western town would most likely be to find water, right? Wrong. This is where
the film’s plot garnered the most laughs in the audience. Eli’s motive for entering the obviously dangerous and unwelcoming community is … get see “Eli,” page 8
courtesy photo
Denzel Washington protects the last copy of the Bible in “The Book of Eli.”
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Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Arts
Education continued from page 7
students aren’t eligible for financial aid. With funds, Futuros is able to offer scholarships, application assistance fundraising for college, and group workshops related to preparing for college and applying to college. Besides establishing Futuros, Olivérez has also been instrumental in developing AB 540, The College and Financial Aid Guide for Undocumented Immigrant Students. AB 540 qualifies undocumented students to be exempt from paying significantly high out-of-state tuition at public colleges and universities in California.Where the law was a big step in terms of accessibility, in-state college tuition is still thousands of dollars. “Although students have greater access than they did, it is still really tough,” Olivérez said. To address the plight of undocumented students where AB 540 lacks, Congress must ensure the DREAM (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) Act goes forward, she said. The act provides access to financial aid and
“Eli” continued from page 7
ready … to charge his iPod.That’s right, an iPod.While you can give the writers credit for trying something unexpected and new, it ultimately works against what previously was an enthralling plot. The town is ruled harshly by a dictator-like figure named Carnegie, who ensures the obedience of his followers with the promise of a consistent water supply. Carnegie is played by legendary master of the craft, Gary Oldman (“The Dark Knight,” “Harry Potter”). Oldman, being denied even a single Oscar nomination in his long and outstanding career, is in my opinion the most underappreciated actor in cinema history. Just take a look at his filmography and you’ll be quick to see that he has had major parts in an unbelievably large number of praised films, further cementing his status as arguably the greatest character actor of our time with this latest role. Carnegie has an abused wife, or more accurately an abused concubine, named Claudia (Jennifer Beals).
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a thoughtfully mapped-out path to citizenship for qualified students. One such student affected by these laws is Nancy Guarneros. Guarneros didn’t find out until her senior year of high school when she went to apply for her driver’s license that she was an undocumented immigrant. Her mom was reluctant to tell her that she brought her over from Mexico when she was 8 months old. She hasn’t been to Mexico since. Guarneros first met Olivérez at an AB 540 conference in 2005. At the end of her presentation, Olivérez gave out her contact information. “I did eventually call her, she was so nice,” Guarneros said. “We met up at a coffee shop, she helped me apply for scholarships and to transfer schools.” Guarneros has now graduated with honors from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Because she is in the country illegally she couldn’t legally work while attending UCLA. She paid her tuition through tutoring and babysitting. Guarneros is currently in her masters program at UCLA. “I feel like I wouldn’t have gotten as far as I have without (Olivérez’) support and help,” she said.
Claudia’s daughter Solara, played by Mila Kunis (“Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” “Extract”), later serves as Eli’s sidekick who’s only wish is to take revenge on the man who has mentally and physically destroyed her mother. Carnegie needs Eli because he wishes to be in control of The Bible so that he would be able to expand and rule many more towns. The Hughes brothers have a distinct and dynamic way with imagery in this film, as seen in their earlier films like the before mentioned “From Hell” and career launching 1993 urban drama “Menace II Society.” The film definitely looks good, and the performances delivered from Washington and Oldman do enough to keep the film from being like every other played out post-apocalyptic blockbuster. Some people will like this film, some will love this film and many will most definitely hate this film. I personally am caught between hate and like, and will most likely be viewing the movie at least one more time. Alex Petrosian is a biological sciences sophomore and Mustang Daily movie columnist.
opinion/editorial Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Editor in chief: Emilie Egger Managing Editor: Alex Kacik
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The fire has faded when it comes to workable health care reform
Health care reform appears to be the only concern in Washington these days. In the words of Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., “The important thing for us now is to close ranks behind the president and get a bill done.” First there was the race to get it through the House, where it passed by a margin of two votes. Then, with fears arising that it would not pass, Senate Democrats went as far as buying the votes of some of their fellow Democrats to secure the bill’s passage prior to Christmas Day. And the pressure only seems to build. Now in final negotiations, Obama and congressional Democrats have officially excluded Republicans in order to work out the differences of the two versions without unnecessary resistance. What ever happened to democracy? Where is the bipartisanship that Obama promised during his campaign? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi keeps telling the American people that we are getting closer and closer to passing a bill, but at what cost? Why is Congress expediting a bill that has the
potential to deter mine our health and financial we l l b e i n g for years to come? One cannot even begin to comprehend the full implications of such a reform policy, especially in the period of a few months. Congress is rushing for the sake of rushing. Further, the Obama administration and key Democratic players decided against allowing C-SPAN to tape any of the negotiations. This undoubtedly begs the question: What do these leaders have to hide from the American people? All Americans are directly affected by the bill, and should be able to witness these negotiations. I can say with complete confidence that most college students would prefer staring at a microwave to actually watching C-SPAN, but we should at least be able to hear about what goes on behind these closed doors. Back in the initial forums and town hall meetings, the American people actually had a voice on this critical matter.Why the sudden secrecy, especially when the final details are being negotiated? Where is our first amendment right to free speech when Americans need it most? The Obama administration and Democratic leaders obviously don’t want us to know about the politi-
cal deals made within the chamber, as they are solely concerned with hastening the progress of this massive bill, and like those darn conservatives, the American people might get in the way. These leaders believe it is critical for Obama to create a lasting legacy, and show that he indeed effected “change.” With this landmark legislation on his record, the president will be able to make a name for himself, but with almost guaranteed negative consequences. In passing health care reform, Obama would be letting down the demographic that ultimately determined his election in the first place — young adults. As former CBO Director Douglas Holtz-Eakin predicts, “Young people are going to bear a disproportionate cost of this reform.” Everyone will be required to buy health care, and those that opt out will be required to pay heavy fines.Within a few years these fines will increase to approximately $750 a year (or more, depending on income). Regardless, the president and these legislators feel that this achieve-
ment is necessary to encourage and maintain a liberal Congress, and will do anything to ease its passage. It would be tragic to the administration if any momentum were lost in the process of (dare I say it) bipartisan negotiations. Well, sorry for the inconvenience, but the health care of our nation and the prosperity of our economy are at stake here. Congress needs to take a step back and think about the millions of Americans affected by this bill. “If we were struggling and making the bill worse with a 60-vote Senate majority, I don’t see how we make it better with 59,” Rep. Anthony Weiner of New York said. Is our future wellbeing not enough of a concern to thoroughly discuss and consider? Like it or not, the election of Scott Brown to the Senate will force Congress to take a step back and reassess this monumental bill. Having lost their 60-seat majority, liberal Senators no longer have the final word, and the Democrats in both houses will need to listen more closely to the American people. Brendan Pringle is an English sophomore and Mustang Daily political columnist.
pedro molina newsart
Poly doesn’t offer much in the realm of ‘real’ food It’s hard to find anything quite as good as a home-cooked meal with fresh ingredients. Finding the time between homework, classes and work to cook a fresh meal can be quite a challenge. If you live on campus you know first hand how difficult it is to cook your own meal and we can all agree it is a challenge to find food on campus that seems fresh and healthy. Yes, we do have fresh salad bars available but having a salad three meals a day becomes mundane fairly quickly. Don’t get me wrong, the dining service offers us many options and provides us a great service. We have full meals, snacks, drinks and study aids such as coffee available to us all over campus. But, the truth is, most of us don’t think about how our food gets from the farm to our plate. For the most part we eat what we eat because it looks good – whether or not it is actually nutritious. But where does our food come from? How is it produced? And how does the food get to our plates? At Cal Poly our food comes from all over the planet. As an agricultural school, one would expect we could sustain our own
food consumption. We have the infrastructure, the land and the right climate, but we still have to import our food from far away. We live in a place where we are capable of producing food close to where it is consumed. We have the ability to help our local economy by providing income for community members rather than income for huge corporations who use massive monocultures that spread diseases and viruses. So why don’t we? By convincing our campus officials, friends and families to buy local, organic and fair trade foods, we can be part of the solution, not the problem. Luckily there is a whole foods movement sweeping the nation. As students, we have a voice. We have the ability to choose where our food comes from. The Real Food
Challenge is a movement lead by students to promote local, organic and fair trade food on campuses around the country. Real food is healthy food, not junk food. Real food is fair. It comes from healthy people, local and abroad, that are treated well, not exploited. Real food is lead by the community not by corporations. Real food is not grown in ways that pollute the land. Real food is grown through sustainable agriculture to provide current and future generations with the necessities to survive. Whether or not you do anything about it, food justice affects us all. Students at Cal Poly and around the country are working together and taking action. You can join them. Student from more than 300 campuses nationwide are working together to pass initiatives on
their campuses. Here at Cal Poly, the Empower Poly Coalition is leading the fight for food justice. With the help of Slow Food and the Organic Farm, we are working to provide you, the students, with fresh real food. More than 200 students from across California are gathering for food justice from February 12-14 at the University of California, Santa Cruz. The summit, which is called Strengthening the Roots: Food and Justice Convergence teaches participants how to acquire the best techniques for your campus. Cal Poly will be represented, but all students are invited to join the fun and attend the convergence. For more information on how you can get involved here at Cal Poly, please email empowerpolycoalition@gmail. If you would like to learn more about the national Real Food Challenge movement or are interested in attending the Summit at UC Santa Cruz this February, please go to realfoodchallenge.org. Sam Gross is an environmental management and protection senior and Mustang Daily columnist.
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“See ham radio in action! On Feb. 2 the Cal Poly Amateur Radio Club will host a series of demos on Dexter Lawn. See www.w6bhz.org for more info.” “Get your ham radio licenses. The Cal Poly Amateur Radio Club will hold a testing session on February 6th @ 9:30 AM in 20-129. RSVP’s to calpolyradioclub@gmail are appreciated. See www.w6bhz. org for more info”
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Injuries continued from page 12
get back out there,” Didion said. Athletic injuries tend to fall into two categories, according to James Eggen, assistant athletic trainer in the Cal Poly training room. Contact sports such as soccer and football see more “definitive,” or acute injuries. Sports such as swimming, running and tennis on the other hand, tend to deal with over-use issues such as stress fractures or tendinitis. When one of Cal Poly’s intercollegiate athletes gets hurt, they head to the training room in Mott’s Gym. The training center is acutely aware of the mental aspect of injury. “We see them daily.We see how they’re doing emotionally as well as physically. We treat the whole athlete,” head trainer Kristal Slover said, adding that they work closely in conjunction with the counseling, as well as the Health Center. ASI club sports athletes, on the other hand, generally go to the Health Center, or off-campus providers such as San Luis Club Therapy. While there is no strict protocol for deciding if a player will be benched, “We’re always going to opt for what is safest for the athlete,” said David Harris M.D., head of medical services at the Cal Poly Health Center. “We leave a lot of these decisions to the training room.” Financial consideration does not change on account of being unable to play. “You don’t lose scholarship for being injured. That’s not the fault
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Wednesday, January 27, 2010
sports
Pete Carrol goes to work at Senior Bowl Danny O'Neil the seattle times
MOBILE, Ala. — Pete Carroll's sunglasses were perched atop his head. Reading glasses hung from his neck. They were his tools of the trade for a day spent eyeballing football prospects, watching everything from weigh-ins to workouts on a day that started when the coach grabbed one Krispy Kreme doughnut, two napkins and set off to find Seattle's future. Carroll's return to the NFL was more than just a storyline Monday morning. It was Seattle's new reality. "Great to get back into it," Carroll said. "To get back here, and just get in the mindset, and make sure that I take advantage of this opportunity." The NFL's decision-makers have descended here for the Senior Bowl. Well, not the game so much as the days of practice before the game, a leadup that began with Monday's weigh-in at the Mobile Convention Center. Players entered the room in groups of five or so. All were shirtless, wearing black compression shorts. Some wore socks, but those had to be taken off before they went on stage one at a time to be measured and weighed. Heights were called out to the fraction of an inch. Weights were rounded to the nearest pound. Carroll sat in the fifth row, right next to new Seahawks general manager John Schneider. They took notes.They whispered to each other as one by one the 100-some college seniors proceeded in this parade of
mcclatchy-tribune
Former USC safety Taylor Mays will be one of many NFL prospects on showcase in the Senior Bowl. potential. None of this is new to Carroll. He came to the Senior Bowl when he was coaching in the NFL in the 1990s. He came when he was coaching with USC, but that was different. More like a social visit. "I've come down here for years to see our players," Carroll said. "I've come back every year to stop in for a practice or something just to stay kind of connected. "It's work now." A lot of work. Seattle holds three of the first 40 picks in April's draft, and the new coach and general manager must decide where to start when it comes to rebuilding this roster. Carroll didn't have to look very far
for one idea Monday afternoon when USC safety Taylor Mays had the most ooh-inspiring hit of the South team's practice. Mays kept Citadel receiver Andre Roberts from coming down with the ball. Carroll coached Mays in college. Could Seattle bring Mays back to Seattle, where he attended O'Dea or will Seattle find that bedrock of a left tackle, a quarterback, or an offensive player who's a home-run threat in the open field? Those are the questions Carroll, Schneider and Seattle will be asking in three months of draft preparation that began in earnest on Monday in the opposite corner of the country. Schneider and Carroll sat together
at Fairhope Stadium on the 10th and top row of concrete benches, watching the South team practice. About halfway through the workout, a cheer went up that had nothing to do with anything on the field. Alabama coach Nick Saban was driven through the crowd, across the track and to the edge of the field. Saban wore a sports jacket, the reigning king of college football making a social call. The coach who dominated college football for so many of the previous nine seasons was on the opposite side of the stadium, eyes hidden behind sunglasses, hard at work, trying to see Seattle's future.
Oakland Raiders name Hue Jackson offensive coordinator Steve Corkran contra costa times
The Oakland Raiders hired Hue Jackson as their offensive coordinator Tuesday in a move that strips coach Tom Cable of his playcalling duties and gives the Raiders another person experienced at developing young quarterbacks. Cable went without an offensive coordinator last season, his first as the full-time coach, because of his preference for calling plays. Ted Tollner was the passing game coordinator. The Raiders confirmed Jackson's hiring in a brief news release. However, they did not make Jackson available for comment or provide any feedback from Cable on the hiring. "I'm hired as the offensive coordinator, and I'll be the primary play-caller," Jackson told Ravens. com as he packed his stuff at Ravens headquarters. "That's my role. It's a chance to go out and assist the head coach and be the best offense we can be." Jackson, Baltimore's quarterbacks coach the past two seasons, interviewed with Raiders managing general partner Al Davis last week. Cable did not sit in on the interview. However, Cable worked with Jackson at two previous stops, at Cal State Fullerton and at Cal. "Tom and I have had some
good conversations, but I spent most of my time talking with Mr. Davis," Jackson said. "What a man. He's one of the guys in this profession that you would like to have an opportunity to sit down and talk with, let alone work for. My conversations with him led me there. Hopefully, things will work as planned, and I think we're capable of doing it." Jackson's hiring bodes well for Cable sticking around as Raiders coach next season. Raiders senior executive John Herrera said Tuesday that Davis still is evaluating Cable's status. Cable is scheduled to represent the Raiders at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., this week. Quarterbacks coach Paul Hackett has not been spotted in Mobile, and his status with the Raiders is in question. One player said Davis ceased speaking to Hackett midway through last season because he tired of hearing Hackett's harsh assessment of quarterback JaMarcus Russell. Davis stripped Cable of his playcalling duty because of a lack of production last season. The Raiders scored only 17 touchdowns in 16 games and ranked 31st in average yards and points per game. Cable placed a large part of the blame on Russell, whom he benched after nine games. "We were at nine points a game
before, and it went to 16-something in the last seven weeks," Cable said at his year-end news conference in reference to how the Raiders offense performed better without Russell as the starter. Cable preferred Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye over Russell. However, Davis has other ideas. He still envisions Russell as a reliable NFL starter and is banking on Jackson providing the answers. Jackson is credited with the development of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer when they were together at Southern Cal and Joe Flacco in Baltimore. He said he is looking forward to working with Russell, Oakland's top selection in the 2007 NFL draft. "This guy was the first player drafted," Jackson said in an interview on ESPN radio. "It's going to be fun to see if we can get him up and playing the way we all wish that he can perform. It's not just about JaMarcus. The quarterback takes on a whole life by itself, but it's the team. The whole offensive unit has to perform well around the quarterback." Jackson canceled an interview with the Chicago Bears about their offensive coordinator vacancy, he said, because he is excited about the prospect of returning to his native state and helping the Raiders turn around their fortunes. Jackson was the offensive co-
ordinator for the Washington Redskins in 2003 and the Atlanta Falcons in 2007. The Redskins ranked 22nd in points per game and 23rd in yards per game in '03. The Falcons ranked 29th in points
per game and 23rd in yards per game in '07. He also coached the running backs for the Redskins in 200102 and the wide receivers for the Bengals from 2004-06.
mcclatchy-tribune
Hue Jackson was Baltimore’s quarterback coach for the past two season. With the Oakland Raiders he will be titled as the primary play-caller.
mustangdaily.net
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
SPORTS
sports editor: Brian De Los Santos
mustangdailysports@gmail.com
MUSTANG DAILY
Athletes suffer more than physical pain Mental burden of injury is often more difficult to overcome than physical setbacks Aimee Vasquez mustang daily
Sports-related injuries are a common occurrence among Cal Poly intercollegiate athletes, leading to gutted teams and painstaking rehab, but the mental burden of an athlete injury is often more pressing than the immediate physical effects. Many injured athletes suffer from post-injury depression, and are possibly at an increased risk for suicide, according to an article featured by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). “Injury’s part of the game. But it can range from the day-to-day to career-ending,” men’s soccer head coach Paul Holocher said. For athletes dealing with moderate to severe injuries and longer recoveries, the challenge is manifold. Many of them oriented their lives around physical proficiency, and now have difficulty with day-to-day tasks. Others miss the camaraderie of a team, or have difficulty taking the time off to recover. “There’s a big emotional component to injuries usually,” women’s tennis coach Hugh Bream said. “As an athlete you put about 20 hours a week into your sport.” During the recovery process from a disabling injury, many players deal with a sense of loss that can quickly slip into depression.
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Women’s baskeball senior guard Tamara Wells (right) and men’s soccer senior defender Josh Didion (left) both lost playing time due to injuries this season. Didion and Wells are both recovering from hip surgeries. “I want to be playing still,” senior defender Josh Didion said. “I feel like a chunk of my life is missing.” Didion, the oldest player on the men’s soccer team, underwent hip surgery this summer, in hopes of continuing to compete at Cal Poly.
Many athletes are so used to competing and training it’s hard to step out of that mentality. “I’ve been playing tennis my whole life,” 2009 Big West Freshman of the Year Andre Dome said. “I’ve never really taken a break. I
played almost every single day. Now it’s depressing because I can’t be out there.” Dome injured his hip last fall while competing in a tournament in Las Vegas, and will possibly have to undergo surgery in the near-
future. “I’m prepared to go under the knife to get this fixed,” Dome said. “I’ve been injured since I got to college. I just want to feel healthy. That’s the number one thing.” Another factor that injured athletes deal with is the reality that many might never return to their pre-injury ability. “The weird thing about doing surgery is you don’t know if it will turn out OK,” Didion said. “And the sad thing is that once you get surgery, you’re never going to be the player you once were.” Many athletes, accustomed to an active lifestyle, have difficulty taking the time to heal fully, and so find themselves injured over and over. “The hardest thing to do is take the time off to get healthy. I’ve never done it. I know a lot of guys who never do it,” Didion said. To go from a tight-knit team to watching from the sidelines challenges many athletes. “The biggest problem for players is that when they’re injured they don’t feel like they’re contributing to the team,” said assistant soccer coach Ziggy Korytoski. “When you’re looked at as one of the main guys on the team, if you can’t play, it’s very stressful. I’d even say depressing. You go to the training room, you do whatever you can see Injuries, page 11
Athletics sign pitcher Ben Sheets to one-year contract Tom Haudricourt milwaukee journal sentinel
MILWAUKEE — Ben Sheets, who likes to prove people wrong, did it again Tuesday. Those who said the 31-year-old right-hander would not command a big free-agent salary after missing the 2009 season were fooled when Sheets signed a one-year, $10 million deal with Oakland that includes another $2 million available in incentives. Sheets worked out for teams last week at his former college in Louisiana and showed enough for the Athletics to offer far more than most clubs were willing to commit, including the Milwaukee Brewers, his former team. “It was a very impressive workout session,” Oakland general manager Billy Beane said at a news conference
to announce the signing. “Ben keeps himself in great shape.We’re anticipating him having a great year.” Sheets pitched his entire eight-year career for the Brewers before sitting out last year after undergoing surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon near his pitching elbow. He turned down an arbitration offer the previous fall from Milwaukee and was set to sign with Texas until he failed the physical. The Brewers footed the bill for that surgery and were willing to consider re-signing Sheets at the right price. General manager Doug Melvin met with agent Casey Close at the winter meetings in Indianapolis in early December but considered the asking price too high under the circumstances. “I mentioned a figure that we’d be willing to take a risk at,” said Melvin. “He said he could get more than that. I said, ‘I’ll pass.’ “ Sheets played his final four seasons for the Brewers with a four-year, $38.5 million contract but had trouble staying healthy. Over that span, he made more than 24 starts just once, in 2008, when he went 13-9 with a 3.09 earned run average in 31 starts covering 1981/3 innings. Sheets was unable to pitch in that postseason because of the elbow issue that eventually led to surgery. The Brewers gave Sheets that multi-year deal after his best season in 2004, when he went 12-14 with a 2.70 ERA and a club-record 264
strikeouts in 237 innings. Selected in the first round of the 1999 draft, Sheets compiled an 86-83 record and 3.72 ERA for the Brewers, including a franchise-record 1,206 strikeouts. “Everybody looks at pitchers differently,” said Melvin.“I signed (closer Eric) Gagne for $10 million (before the 2008 season) but he pitched the year before. “Ben is pretty good when he’s healthy. He doesn’t walk people and he strikes out a lot of people. With our budget, we just weren’t prepared to take that kind of risk.” The winter meetings discussion with Close came after the Brewers agreed with free-agent left-hander Randy Wolf on a three-year, $29.75 million deal. Melvin then bided his time, watched the market and eventually added free-agent lefty Doug Davis with a one-year deal plus an option that guarantees him $5.25 million. Once Sheets showed scouts he was healthy again at his workout, the Athletics moved in quickly with their aggressive offer. Beyond the financial commitment, Sheets said he was impressed with the direction in which the Athletics are headed. “The whole thing revolves around winning,” he said. “The first time I talked to (Beane), he really sold me on the idea of this team. I’m a firm believer that when he says the team is going to be good, it normally becomes true.That got me excited.”
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Former Milwaukee pitcher Ben Sheets missed all of the 2009 season. Sheets has accumulated an overall 3.72 ERA in eight seasons. As for his health, Sheets said, “The elbow is doing great. Missing the whole year, my whole body feels a lot better. I feel renewed. I’m really antsy to get back out and compete. I really missed that.” Referring to his time with the
Brewers, Sheets said, “I’m the type that if things were to work out in Milwaukee the whole time, it would have been a lot easier to stay in one place my whole career.That’s baseball. That’s not the facts anymore. That’s what it is.”