11-19-09

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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

Olympic gold medalist Troop levels on hold while president is Amanda Beard speaks as abroad. part of ASI true life series.

IN ARTS, 8

IN NEWS, 4

Health care uncovered One students’ senior project is to educate about health care reform available.

For this event Hornstein coordinated a diverse panel of experts, which included a doctor, a lawWhen biology senior Rachel yer and the dean of admissions at Hornstein asked Cal Poly students USC Medical School. what they knew about health care “I was researching a lot of reform recently, she was shocked similar programs and I wanted it to find that the overall answer was to come from all different sides,” “not much.” This led to the idea Hornstein said. “I also found it to for her senior project, an event be more comprehensive.” aimed at educating students, facHealth policy advocate and ulty and the community about attorney Dr. Joel Diringer was the ins and outs of reform. The chosen as a panelist because he event, being held next Monday at has worked with farm workers the Alex and Faye Spanos Theatre, in San Luis Obispo for nearly features three hand-picked speakthree decades, Hornstein said. He ers. said that Congress is “It is really complinot really debating cated,” Hornstein said. “health reform” but “I don’t know everyrather medical insurthing and I have been ance reform. working on it for over The “real” cost a year.” of medical care is a The different opviewpoint that is not tions presented in widely discussed, Dithe bill are the main ringer added. source of confusion for “It (the bill) does people. From the “virlittle to address the tual marketplace” to —Rachel Hornstein real costs of medical single-payer, the health biological sciences senior care which are driven care reform debate has by preventable chronmany complex topics. According to Hornstein, the self. It was also fueled by her work ic diseases related to diet, exercise, personal habits such as smoking three big issues surrounding this this summer.

After working in Washington and environment,” he said. topic are accessibility, affordability Diringer has been consultD.C. with a few organizations and availability, she added.

“A lot of people have been working toward health care re- ing independently since 1991. As concerned about how it will af- form, Hornstein knew she wanted one of the original senior staff of fect their personal insurance,” to create an accessible event that the California Endowment (the state’s largest health foundation), Hornstein said. “It is a huge mon- would educate college students.

“I know what students want: Diringer worked to get over ey issue as well and it is good to free, food and fun,” Hornstein $50 million in 150 grants, which have a discussion.” helped to “improve health of lowCost is one of the factors peo- said.

The event will be held Nov. income Californians.” ple are most worried about when “Most of the money was geared 23 as one of a three-part series discussing health care.

College students might not be (one per quarter). The presenta- toward the under-served and the paying for their health care now, tion will help students to formu- uninsured,” Diringer said.

Dr. James Hornstein, Rachel but when they graduate many late an opinion on health issues.

This event is free and open to the Hornstein’s father, has been pracwill be.

When Hornstein visited class- public. Refreshments will be pro- ticing family medicine for 25 rooms and asked students who vided at 4:30 p.m. and the event years and is currently the direcknew about the health care re- will begin at 5 p.m. This event tor of ethics and palliative care for form, she only saw a few hands will also be live-streamed at mus- Community Health Systems in tangdaily.net/live with a live chat Ventura. He has taught bioethics go up in the air. classes at University of California, Los Angeles and University of Southern California. Rachel Hornstein said that his background made him an obvious choice for the panel.

Monday, November 23rd Why should The health care reform will 5:00 6:30 pm students care? have its effects on the health care Refreshments at 4:30 professionals as well. This includes Alex and Faye Spanos Theatre students going into the health care profession. Dr. Erin Quinn, dean of admission for the University of This event is free and Southern California Keck School open to the public. of Medicine, will provide a look Refreshments: Light food and into enrollment and admissions to drinks, including Einstein Bagels. medical school and how the reform could affect this.

“I hear a lot about the negatives about (the bill), but not about exactly what it’s going to do,” English junior Nick Georgoff said.

Hornstein stressed that undergraduates need to understand that they will have to buy into health care at some point.

“I am just used to being insured,” English junior Elizabeth Blaine said. “I guess you don’t really think about it.”

Hornstein’s background in this topic began in childhood with a family of health care professions and then pursuing the career her-

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IN SPORTS, 12

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Volume LXXIV, Number 45

Megan Hassler

Mustang football closes out season against Weber State on Saturday.

A lot of people have been concerned about how (health reform) will affect their personal insurance.

HEALTH CARE REFORM

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5k run to raise money for Special Olympics Kate McIntyre mustang daily

A Cal Poly recreation, parks and tourism administration class is hosting the second annual Campus Midnight 5k Fun Run tonight. More than 175 people have registered for the event, which funds San Luis Obispo Special Olympics competitions.

Last year, the event was put on by four students enrolled in Introduction to Program Design (RPTA 210); this year, the entire class is involved.

The 32 students began planning the race at the beginning of this quarter, with teams of four handling different aspects like promotion, sponsorships and registration.

Lauren Rosen, a recreation, parks courtesy photo and tourism administration junior, Tonight’s midnight fun run will said the project was a good start to raise money for the San Luis her future career as an event plan- Obispo Special Olympics. ner. Being able to work with such a large class and with three Special event last year will be running toOlympics staff members was helpful, night, including recreation, parks and she said. tourism administration senior Jessica “They have been there not as Goto, who said she’s really excited to someone we can fall back on but as see the event from a new perspective. someone we can go to with ques- She appreciates how much work the tions,” she said. “For the most part students are putting into the 5k bethey want this to be a learning expe- cause she knows from experience rience.” They give us ideas and let us how much time it takes, she said. run with it, she added.

The students who planned the see Run, page 2

Business profits from technology Miles Fairchild special to the mustang daily

Using a program called Elluminate, Fisher’s image appeared on his student’s computers. Using his PowerPoint notes, he lectured his students while they sat at home or in their dorms.

Fisher, an economics professor, was visiting Chulalongkorn University, the premier institution of higher learning in Thailand.

Fisher sent his students an email with a link to the video. The students could then see and hear their professor as he taught them from thousands of miles away.

They were free to ask questions via instant messaging that appeared for all to see. Elluminate allows up to six students to appear at once to talk with

their professor, if they turn on their cameras.

Fisher could take roll to see how many of his students were watching the lecture. Additionally, the session was also recorded for students to go back and view parts they might have missed.

The business college’s distance teach programs not only enhance learning, but also mirrors real-life and the types of interactions students can expect in the business world, said Frank Gonzales, instructional technology consultant for the Orfalea College of Business. Many big corporations in the world use programs similar to Elluminate in their business dealings, Gonzales said.

The college is aiming to help its see Business, page 2

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students succeed with the increased use of technology, said Brian Tietje, associate dean of the college.

“The Orfalea College of Business is strongly committed to supporting student success by leveraging technology to deliver learning experiences across both time and distance,” Tietje said.

The college is putting emphasis on business technologies to help reduce the average cost of instruction. The technology is also there to provide flexibility to help match different student learning needs, Tietje said.

There are several different tools in use right now at the college.The first is Blackboard, which is used by most professors at Cal Poly.

Blackboard helps a lot in making classes more efficient in that professors can see what resources students are accessing and how much they are doing so, economics senior Patrick Holder, a fourth-year economics major who tutors business students.

Business professors are using another tool called Aplia, an online homework program. Professor Eric Fisher said he has found the program to be very useful.

“Aplia is very good software, it creates mini scenarios for students to learn about economic principles like

News editor: Tim Miller mustangdailynews@gmail.com

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supply and demand,” Fisher said.

The program is practical for students and a good learning tool, Holder said.

Aplia gives problems and experiments for students to work out on their computers. It’s these simulated scenarios that are in-line with real situations that people in the business world face, Holder said.

Another system in place at the college is called iClicker. It’s an interactive tool that is built into PowerPoint for use in lectures.

“One of the main detractions of big lectures is passive learning,” Professor Fisher said. iClicker turns this around. Each student brings a small remote to class that’s equipped with buttons A through D on it.

Every 10 to 15 minutes a slide will appear with a problem on it and the available answers. The students must “click” the answer they want to try.

The results appear for the professor to see. From here the professor can determine where the class is at, in terms of which answers were the most common or how many students answered correctly, Patrick Holder said.

Not only does this keep students attentive, but also it gives them incentive to show up to class, Fisher said.

“It keeps the students a little bit more awake and gets them to see the importance of lectures and showing

News

There is a treasure chest of assets and tons of content available for professors to teach their students better —Frank Gonzales

Instructional technology consultant

up,” Fisher added.

The technology in place at the college has made learning and teaching accessible in many different ways.

“There is a treasure chest of assets and tons of content available for professors to teach their students better,” Gonzales said.

Instructional designer Teresa Cameron was hired at the college to promote and develop the program into the college.

But technology opens teaching and learning to occur in many different regions across time and space, Tietje said.

“We’ve made it possible for students to complete their courses while away from Cal Poly on their internships, while professors are off campus for conferences and research, and for guest speakers to visit our students ‘virtually’ from across the country and the globe,” Tietje said.

In the end, students get better learning environments and are given access to a wealth of resources, Cameron said.

Business sophomore Zach Kiolbasa said he feels that the technology is preparing him for the real world.

“I feel the technology state of the college is expanding and it’s good because I need to learn different ways to communicate with people in the business world besides face to face,” Kiolbasa said.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Run continued from page 1

“It was a lot of work. We had to do it from the beginning to the end,” she said.

Cynthia Moyer, a recreation, parks and tourism administration lecturer, said the students are finding the need to apply their skills with program design and communication, meeting the course objectives.

“The students have really taken ownership of this event,” she said. “We’re letting them make the decisions.”

Over the past 16 years she’s taught the class, Moyer estimated her students have volunteered more than 25,000 hours in the community.

Nick Howell, a recreation, parks and tourism administration senior, offered several reasons why people should sign up to run, including the event’s tie to Special Olympics.

“Special Olympics does a lot of good work in our community; it’s another opportunity to build your own community on campus,” he said. “It’s healthy, it’s fun, it’s safe and it’s a way to enrich your life.”

The event’s theme of “Ready, Set, Glow!” emphasizes its novelty as a nighttime run, which Howell said inspires more people to sign up.

“We thought that would be another really fun thing to do,” he said. “Running at night with a bunch of people is a fun experience. It’s fun to do things at night.”

Beginning at 10 p.m., there will be a DJ, instructors leading warm-up exercises and icebreakers to entertain people and get them to mingle. Howell added that they will try to make sure every participant gets an event T-shirt, which glow in the dark. Runners are also invited to compete in a costume contest, another aspect he thinks adds to the event. Last year tutus were a popular choice.

“We like to throw in a little bit of a twist. We did costumes last year and people really had fun with it,” Howell said.

Michael Lara, regional sports manager for Special Olympics, said the proceeds of the 5k will go directly to more than 700 athletes in San Luis Obispo County by funding the 12 year-round sport programs; around 300 athletes will be competing in a floor hockey tournament Jan. 16, 2010 at Santa Maria Fairpark. Last year the event raised $3,500 for Special Olympics.

“The money raised helps athletes do various competitions, it helps our area host competitions, it helps buy the uniforms and things like that,” Lara said.

Lara said the relationship between Cal Poly students and Special Olympics has been amazing because both sides benefit.

“They have a wonderful partnership,” he said. “It’s win-win on both sides.”

Since registration tends to speed up closer to the race, Howell said he expects to have more than the 300 participants of last year. He added that people have been very supportive in getting their friends to sign up.

“We’ve been targeting the student population; there have been people in the community who have expressed interested, though,” Howell said. “I’m sure people from around San Luis Obispo will come participate.”

The race begins at midnight.

The course starts at Mott Gym, runs around campus to California Avenue, then to Poly Canyon Village and Cerro Vista Apartments and back to Mott Gym. The event planners are taking safety precautions to ensure everyone has a safe race. The entire course will be lit and visible and the course is on major roads. The University Police Department will also attend.

It’s at midnight in November, Howell said, so people should expect it to be cold, but he couldn’t see Run, page 3

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California adopts rules to cut energy use by TVs Dana Hull san jose mercury news

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In a widely watched ruling that could be followed by other states, California passed first-in-the-nation energy efficiency standards for new television sets.

After two years of debate and fierce opposition from the Consumer Electronics Association, the five-member California Energy Commission unanimously voted Wednesday to require new TV sets sold in California to reduce electricity consumption 33 percent by 2011 and 49 percent by 2013.

Environmentalists and energy-efficiency experts applauded the move, noting that other states, as well as the federal government, are likely to follow California’s lead.

“The newly adopted California TV standards will be the most advanced in the world,” said Noah Horowitz, senior scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council. “If history repeats itself, we expect many policymakers around the world to establish similar standards in the not too distant future.”

The Energy Commission says the new standards, which apply to new televisions with screens that are 58 inches and smaller, will save consumers money on their electricity bills, help California conserve energy and avoid the need to build additional power plants.

“Efficiency in the energy business is job one in California,” Commissioner James Boyd said shortly before the 11:30 a.m. vote. “It is the cheapest, simplest way to serve this state and save our citizens money.”

Though recent public hearings have drawn scores of lobbyists from the television manufacturing industry, Wednesday’s vote was a relatively quiet affair. No one from the Consumer Electronics Association attended the hearing.

Commissioner Arthur Rosenfeld, who is widely considered “the godfather” of energy-efficiency standards, spoke of the day as a “great fall day in California.”

“We’ve come out with two tiers

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Thursday, November 19, 2009

of standards, and by the time they kick in we’ll save one whole power plant,” Rosenfeld said. “It’s a very good deal for society.”

The new regulations are expected to drive technological advances as manufacturers race to meet the Golden State’s new standards.

“If you care about energy efficiency, you can’t help but look at TVs,” said Andrew DeLaski, executive director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project. “Will the standards drive innovation? Absolutely. It’s a huge business opportunity. There is a market for efficiency.”

California has a long history of adopting efficiency standards for appliances like air conditioners, clothes dryers and refrigerators. The regulations have helped make the Golden State the most energy-efficient in the nation. But as consumers buy larger televisions and increasingly shift to flat-screen models — some plasma TVs use 500 kilowatt hours of electricity a year — televisions account for a growing amount of electricity use in the average American home.

TVs, as well as DVD players and cable boxes, now consume about 10 percent of a typical home’s electricity.

“We’re at a transitional moment where a lot of people are buying new televisions to catch up with digital broadcasting,” said Jennifer Amman, director of the Buildings Program at the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.

“Efficiency standards can help make sure that the consumer is able to buy a TV that offers the services they want with the least energy consumption.”

The Massachusetts legislature is discussing a television efficiency bill that is largely based on California’s new standards; Washington and Oregon are expected to take up the issue as well.

There’s also growing interest by the federal government, and the Federal Trade Commission is also looking at enacting some kind of labeling system that would give consumers a sense of how much energy various models of TVs cost to operate.

News Run continued from page 2

think of a reason except a natural disaster that would cancel the event. “Our main obstacle is earthquakes, so pray for no earthquakes,” he said.

After the race there will be an award ceremonies for the top three male and female racers and for those wearing the best costumes. Moyer said at least one Special Olympics athlete will attend the ceremonies. In addition, every runner will get a raffle ticket as part of their registration fee; the prizes include cycling and running gear.

Registration costs $25. Those interested can sign up Thursday from 10 to 11:50 a.m. at the booths by Dexter lawn and in front of the Rec Center or online at active.com/running/ san-luis-obispo-ca/midnight-5k-2009. Procrastinators can even sign up at the event up until 11:55 p.m. The event will last till around 1:30 p.m. Parking is free on campus.

The community tie and the unusual timing of the 5k make it worth attending, Rosen said.

“There’s always 5k races people can go to, but it’s rare that you’ll find a race in the dark, “ she said. “That’s a really unique aspect you’re not going to find anywhere else.”

Master calendar sets agenda Alexandria Scott special to the mustang daily

Don’t tell Jill St. John and Susan Olivas that there is nothing happening on campus — they know better They run the Campus Master Calendar, which is an online view of every event happening on the Cal Poly campus. Olivas is the university scheduler lead of the master calendar and St. John is a university scheduler.

“It’s a great place to look for athletic games, events going on at the Performing Arts Center, guest speakers and club meetings,” St. John said.

This year the calendar has an improved events Web site, easy to use programming and added features for people to contact University Scheduling, Olivas said.

The calendar software has filters so people can customize the calendar and look at what they wish to look at, St. John said.

The calendar is controlled by entities like Athletics, Associated Student Inc., Cal Poly Arts, PAC and the Epicenter, Olivas said. The entities organize and publicize events.

The calendar helps avoid event and classroom space conflict, maintains a climate of awareness as well as provides events to the public, she

said.

“The campus is amazing with the level of activity, learn by doing is put into action,” she said.“There has to be some sort of coordination.”

The master calendar displays room information and availability, St. John said.

“It provides direction in planning an event,” she said, “we’re hoping this is a starting point to help people figure out what to do, where to go.”

To get an event on the calendar, someone can go online to the request form or call University Scheduling, Olivas said.We will go through who is asking and what they are asking for. If the person isn’t a part of an entity, there will be a fee.

When scheduling an event, an inquiry form is filled out to determine the fee for using a facility, Emma Vincent, conference coordinator said. A student, faculty member or someone totally unrelated to the university who wants to rent a space, must go through Conference & Event Planning.

“Individual estimates are made, there are various fees for each client depending on what they ask for,” she said.

“The calendar can be found in the A-Z Index under ‘Master Calendar’,” she said.

It can also be found on the web at

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Thursday, November 19, 2009

News

Obama says decision to send more soldiers to Afghanistan is weeks away Margaret Talev mcclatchy newspapers

SEOUL, South Korea — President Barack Obama said Wednesday that he was still weeks away from deciding how many more U.S. troops to send to Afghanistan and that he would like to fire offi-

cials who had leaked details of his deliberations to the news media.

“We have deliberations in the situation room for a reason; we’re making life and death decisions that affect how our troops are able to operate in a theater of war. For people to be releasing info in the course of deliberations is not ap-

propriate,” Obama told CBS in an interview from China, one of several he did before he headed to Seoul as the last stop in a weeklong trip to Asia.

Obama said the leaks were “absolutely” a firing offense, but he didn’t say whether he would try to find out who leaked, and didn’t differentiate among those who may have leaked from the White House, from the Pentagon or from other agencies. The most recent battle of leaks erupted Nov. 7, after McClatchy Newspapers reported that Obama was leaning toward sending more than 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan.

Obama also spoke about the toll of weighing life and death decisions.

“You just don’t have a comparable set of circumstances: with two wars, a financial crisis as bad as anything since 1933, a host of regional issues that have to be dealt with, a pandemic. You have a convergence of factors that have made this a difficult year, not so mcclatchy-newspapers

Chart shows U.S.-S. Korea trade balance 1997-2009. much for me but for the American people. And so absolutely that weighs on me, because whenever I visit Walter Reed or other military hospitals, I see the sacrifice young people are making. That is a heavy weight. But it’s an extraordinary privilege, as well, and I wouldn’t trade my job for anything.”

He stressed anew that whatever he decides, the U.S. strategy depends on an honest Afghan government winning the support and trust of its people.

“We have a vital interest in

making sure that Afghanistan is sufficiently stable, that it can’t infect the entire region with violent extremism,” Obama told CNN. “We also have to make sure that we’ve got an effective partner in Afghanistan, and that’s something that we are examining very closely and presenting some very clear benchmarks for the Afghan government.”

As he spoke, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton broke off from the see South Korea, page 5

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Thursday, November 19, 2009

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South Korea continued from page 4

presidential entourage and headed to Afghanistan, where U.S. and European officials are publicly pressing President Hamid Karzai to root out corruption.

On the economy, Obama told Fox News that he’s considering new tax breaks to help businesses hire more people, but that he also worries that adding more to the national debt could help send the economy into a double-dip recession.

“There may be some tax provisions that can encourage businesses to hire sooner rather than sitting on the sidelines. So we’re taking a look at those,” he said.

“I think it is important, though, to recognize if we keep on adding to the debt, even in the midst of this recovery, that at some point, people could lose confidence in the U.S. economy in a way that could actually lead to a double-dip recession.”

After the interviews, Obama flew to South Korea, where he will tell leaders he’s committed to protecting them militarily from North Korea and to expanding free trade despite his concerns about the U.S.-South Korea agreement stalled in Congress.

He also will visit American troops before wrapping up his weeklong Asia trip Thursday.

Budget continued from page 6

They include a $1 billion partial sale of the State Compensation Insurance Fund, now under legal challenge from Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. They also include $800 million in transit money that courts said the state could not use for general purposes.

The $20.7 billion gap could grow even larger if courts toss out a $1.7 billion shift of redevelopment funds

Wire Editor: Jennifer Titcomb

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Word on the Street

“What is your favorite part of the Thanksgiving day feast?”

“Seeing my family and friends.

I really like the stuffing too.”

“I definitely like stuffing and mashed potatoes. Turkey is good too. ”

“I would probably go with mashed potatoes and gravy because I make them myself and they are the best.”

“Green bean casserole and stuffing for sure because they taste really good. I like to see all my family and friends too.”

-Matt Quan, architectural engineering junior

-Lana Haines, agricultural business sophomore

-Emily Morillo, architecture sophomore

-Allie Harold, art and design junior

“Stuffing and extra gravy because it tastes like home cooking.”

“I like brocolli and cheese casserole the best because it’s so delicious.”

-David Moore, physics junior

-Jason Miller, computer engineering sophomore

compiled and photographed by jennifer titcomb that faces review or deem furloughs illegal.

Another reason for the looming deficit is that lawmakers relied on onetime savings, such as delaying state worker paychecks by one day from June 30 to July 1. State leaders likely will search for similar solutions to help solve the next gap.

Taylor recommended Wednesday that state lawmakers move quickly and consider not only cuts but any possible revenue sources. He specifically warned against increasing tax rates, which could further stress the economy.

Taylor suggested the state could consider ending certain tax breaks for businesses by mandating that all multi-state firms use the same method to calculate their California taxes or eliminating enterprise zones, which provides tax credits to employers in specified areas. He said benefits of the latter program are questionable.

But Michael Shaw, California legislative director with the National Federation of Independent Business, said curtailing business incentives would hurt the state’s economic recovery.

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California budget hole still gapes after drastic cost cuts implemented Kevin Yamamura mcclatchy newspapers

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California once again will look under sofa cushions and scour every sector of state government to find another $20.7 billion to balance its budget over the next 19 months.

This time, however, state leaders won’t be able to reap savings from some of the state’s largest spending categories.

California can’t touch most funding for K-12 schools or colleges because the state is already spending close to a minimum amount required by the federal government.

The state can’t cut Medi-Cal health services until Jan. 2011 for the same reason. Those programs comprise more than half the state’s $84.6 billion general fund budget.

“We cannot reduce those areas very much more, so that closes off a very big piece of your budget,” said the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor, who released his $20.7 billion deficit projection Wednesday.

The news brings relief to education groups, but it puts more pressure on other programs that lack federal spending requirements. State leaders likely will pursue additional cuts in prisons, state parks and so-

cial service programs not associated with federal spending requirements or matching funds.

The Legislative Analyst’s Office report assumes that three-a-month state worker furloughs would end in June. But Schwarzenegger could seek to extend them further, barring the outcomes of court challenges.

Another target could be the low-cost children’s health insurance program, Healthy Families. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger once proposed eliminating Healthy Families and did cut its funding this summer, though he and lawmakers restored coverage for 600,000 low- and middle-income children in September.

“I think we’ve exhausted cuts that don’t shock the conscience,” said Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access California.

“We need to look to other solutions, including raising taxes and revenues, because the cuts that are left are unforgivable, including denying children coverage.”

California faces a new shortfall in part because lawmakers and Schwarzenegger relied on several risky solutions in budget agreements earlier this year. see Budget, page 5

Thursday, November 19, 2009

News

Afghanistan’s election turmoil continues in provincial races Hal Bernton and Hashim Shukoor mcclatchy newspapers

MAHMUD-I-RAQI, Afghanistan — Hamid Karzai may be Afghanistan’s next president — the result of ballot rigging and his opponent’s withdrawal from a runoff — but Afghanistan’s elections are far from over.

In the 34 provinces, legions of frustrated candidates who took part in district elections on Aug. 20 are still awaiting a final outcome. They say that the results of provincial balloting, which occurred the same day as the disputed presidential race, were skewed by insurgent violence, voter intimidation, ballot box stuffing and misconduct.

“There were people saying that if you give $20,000, we can make you a member of the council,” said Abdul Wahab, a provincial councilman who in preliminary results lost his bid for re-election in Kapisa province in central Afghanistan.

The Taliban issued repeated threats on Wahab’s life, and once tried to ambush him, in an effort to block his campaign. On election day, they prevented the delivery of many of the ballot boxes. No votes were recorded in Wahab’s district.

Provincial candidates have filed 640 high-priority complaints — Wahab’s among them — with the United Nations-backed Electoral Complaints

mcclatchy-newspapers

Four of Kapisa’s six districts, including the capital city of Mahmudi-Raqi (pictured), are considered relatively stable. But in two other districts, Tagab and Alasai, insurgents have made big gains in the past two years.

Commission, which is investigating them before issuing final results.

Because the outcome can hinge on small numbers of votes from a single district, the provincial polls are even vulnerable to manipulation than the presidential election is. The high-priority complaints — those that might alter the election outcome — span most of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces.

Because Karzai appoints governors, these councils comprise the only elected politicians at the provincial level. Their powers are limited, lacking even the authority to approve or shape the budgets allocated by the central government.

Yet U.N. and NATO officials hoped these provincial elections would produce a new crop of leaders who’d become partners in the international effort to rebuild Afghanistan, and also help root out the endemic corruption in the Karzai administration.

Provincial candidates are getting impatient waiting for these final results. In Nangahar province late last month, candidates who alleged widespread fraud held a news conference to call for a new provincial election and prosecution of those who stuffed the ballot boxes. They warned of protests in villages throughout the province if

their demands aren’t met, according to Pajwok Afghan News.

“We are treating these complaints as equally important as presidential election complaints,” said Scott Worden, an American who serves on the Electoral Complaints Commission. “It is important to resolve these so that ... local governments can be seen as legitimately elected.”

Many of the problems that roiled provincial elections appear to have converged in Kapisa, which is about 30 miles north of Kabul, and just east of Bagram air base, which houses the largest concentration of U.S. and other NATO troops. In one Kapisa district, election day violence shut down voting, and elsewhere, candidates allege that government officials put seats up for sale.

Kapisa, with a population of about 360,000, encompasses a plateau that offers spectacular mountain backdrops that hint of the American West, but with nomads who set up tents in some of the farm fields, and camels.

Four of Kapisa’s six districts, including the capital city of Mahmudi-Raqi, are considered relatively stable.

In two other districts, Tagab and Alasai, insurgents have made big gains in the past two years, however.

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SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.

(MCT) — An additional 6,700 doses of the H1N1 vaccine are on the way for San Luis Obispo public health officials to administer, and the vaccine should arrive in the area later this week.

Meanwhile, the county Public Health Department reports there have been 33 local hospitalizations and one death associated with the disease. It also has 154 confirmed lab samples showing the H1N1 virus in local patients, but the county department stopped doing the tests three months ago in part because the assumption now is that much of the flu in the community is H1N1 rather than of the seasonal variety.

DETROIT (MCT) — Michigan’s ban on racial preferences in public university admissions and government hiring was in court again Tuesday, another step closer to its assumed destination: the doorstep of the U.S. Supreme Court.

“I don’t see how they would give up, and we’re not either,” said George Washington, an attorney representing those fighting the ban.

At issue is the decision by Michigan voters in 2006 to make illegal policies like those at the University of Michigan, where officials could consider race in admissions decisions.

LONDON (MCT) — Britain’s Labour government on Wednesday detailed a legislative agenda that includes measures to cap bankers’ pay and to attack the budget deficit as the nation prepares for an election that must take place by June.

Opposition leaders branded the Queen’s Speech, written by the government and delivered by Queen Elizabeth II in the House of Lords, as pre-election grandstanding.

The speech included an outline of a financial-services bill, which would require banks and other financial institutions to draft “living wills” that would detail how their operations would be wound down if they were to collapse.

The measure would also give the Financial Services Authority the power to veto pay packages that it deems to overly encourage risk taking.

•••

SACRAMENTO (MCT) — In a widely watched ruling that could be followed by other states, California passed first-in-the-nation energy efficiency standards for new television sets.

After two years of debate and fierce opposition from the Consumer Electronics Association, the five-member California Energy Commission unanimously voted Wednesday to require new TV sets sold in California to reduce electricity consumption 33 percent by 2011 and 49 percent by 2013.

•••

WASHINGTON (MCT) — West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd has been around so long that nearly all lawmakers in Congress can remember reasons they love him — and many can recall how they once bitterly opposed him.

The veteran Democrat on Wednesday became the longestserving member of Congress in history, as he logged day No. 20,774, surpassing the record of Arizona Democrat Carl Hayden, who served in the House of Representatives and the Senate from 1912 to 1969.

As the senior senator, Byrd, who will turn 92 on Friday, is the Senate president pro tempore and third in line for the presidency.

•••

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVY BASE, Cuba (MCT) — Guards didn’t go through the prison camps Wednesday and unpin the presidential closure order from detainee bulletin boards. And the detention center didn’t put in an urgent call for reinforcements.

Rather,President Barack Obama’s acknowledgment — in television interviews in China — that his administration would miss its Jan. 22 deadline for closure barely caused a ripple in the place slated for closure.

thursday, november 19, 2009

arts & Entertainment editor: cassandra keyse

Four-time Olympian talks eating disorders in ASI True Life Series Katie Koschalk mustang daily

Chumash Auditorium was filled with chlorine-coated swimmers, complete with tosseled, wet hair and Cal Poly swim gear, as well as collegeaged women of all shapes and sizes and a scattering of college-aged men.

Amanda Beard, a seven-time Olympic gold medal winner in swimming, took the stage to share her story about struggling with bulimia Tuesday night.

Having dealt with an eating disorder for more than 12 years, Beard agreed to speak at Cal Poly to inspire others fighting eating disorders to get help.

“If anybody is struggling it makes them see that there are other people out there. It shouldn’t control your whole life,” she said. “I hope that people can listen to my story and see that I was able to overcome it and still achieve great things.”

After polling students last spring, Michelle Crawford, the Associated Student Inc.’s (ASI) program coordinator, said that issues such as body image and eating disorders topped the list of what students wanted to

learn more about. In response, Cal Poly contacted Beard to appear as a guest speaker for ASI’s True Life Series, a program where guest speakers talk about a variety of issues that college students can relate to.

Before this event, Beard had never publicly talked about her eating disorder.

“I haven’t purposely kept it a secret from the media. I was just never asked about it. This will actually be the first time that I’m talking to the public about it so I just hope that everyone bears with me,” Beard said.

“It’ll be nice to finally get this off my chest. It’s nothing for me to be embarrassed about.”

Part of Beard’s appeal is that students can relate to her story, Crawford said.

“Everything is very true. There is not a script. I think students typically leave feeling more educated and better about their own situation,” Crawford said.

Dressed in blue jeans and a casual black and white striped long-sleeved shirt, Beard immediately created a relaxed atmosphere by removing her high heels once on stage. see True Life, page 9

katie koschalk mustang daily

Olympic swimmer Amanda Beard held a meet and greet with students after her presentation in Chumash Auditorium.

mustang daily

Thursday, November 19, 2009 www.mustangdaily.net

True Life continued from page 8

“I’m a new mom and I just can’t take one more second in these,” she said. “Girls, you know what I’m talking about.”

After lightening the mood and providing the audience with a brief history of her childhood, Beard jumped right into where her eating problems began.

After gaining 25 pounds and eight

inches in height between ages 14 and 15, Beard participated in The Janet Evans Invitational, a swim competition in Los Angeles in 1997. Not accustomed to swimming with her new, more womanly body, Beard did not do as well as she expected. Newspaper reviews surfaced in the following weeks saying things like, “Beard is washed up, she has gained weight and she was a one-hit wonder.”

“I looked in the mirror and said, ‘I’m ugly, I’m fat, how is anyone going to love me?’” she said.

While Beard’s issues with her body

Arts

Arts editor: Cassandra Keyse mustangdailyarts@gmail.com

developed in her mid-teens, problems really took off when she began college at the University of Arizona in 1999.

Throwing up six to seven times a day, Beard became preoccupied with trying to hide her secret while sharing a dorm room with another girl by scouting for empty bathrooms and quickly throwing up in a garbage can when her roommate would leave the room.

“I would be throwing up just blood because my throat was so wrecked. It should have scared the

crap out of me, but it didn’t because being thin and pretty was my priority,” she said.

Beard’s swimming career also took a toll due to her eating habits.

“I was exhausted 24/7. I would go to classes then train for five or six hours each day. My swimming was struggling. At that time, I didn’t care as much about my swimming as I did about being thin. That just shows how sick I was,” Beard said.

After college, Beard began modeling for magazines including Playboy, Maxim, FHM and Men’s Health.

9 Beard recalled one photo shoot in particular that further escalated her bulimic tendencies. The client called Beard’s agent and told him that Beard needed to lose 10 pounds in two weeks. For those fourteen days, Beard did not eat any food. Meals consisted of diet pills washed down with large mugs of black coffee. However unhealthy it might have been, it worked.

“I looked good. Nobody around me knew what I was doing to my see True Life, page 11

by Ryan Sidarto

“Reverberations”

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mustang daily www.mustangdaily.net

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Arts

Cal Poly music ensembles team up for Bandfest Nicolas Ito special to the mustang daily

There was no rest for the musicians of the Cal Poly wind bands this Veteran’s Day, as they prepare for their own D-day: Bandfest 2009.

At 8 p.m. this Saturday, the two Cal Poly wind bands will be joined by the Pride of the Pacific Marching Band to perform their annual Bandfest at the Christopher Cohan Performing Arts Center.

This year’s title is “A Whirlwind of Color and Sound” and the concert will be conducted by music department professor William Johnson and Associate conductor Professor Christopher J. Woodruff.

Johnson, who founded Bandfest 43 years ago, will retire as conduc-

tor after this year’s performance.

This is a major event in the fall season for the Cal Poly wind bands, and they have been rehearsing intensely from the very beginning of the fall quarter, Woodruff said.

“Professional performers rehearse two or three times to perform several times,” Woodruff said.

“Our bands will have rehearsed for ten weeks to perform once.

They know the pieces backwards now. To perform only one time is very special.”

There are two Cal Poly wind bands:The Wind Orchestra and the Wind Ensemble, and together they are comprised of 121 students.

Bandfest is also an opportunity for the Cal Poly Marching Band to show its talent on a stage in front

nicolas ito special to the mustang daily

Students have been rehearsing in the H.P. Davidson Music Center for the entire quarter in preparation for the upcoming performance. of a real music audience.

“It’s a better condition than to play outside,” bass trombone player and city and regional planning sophomore Alex Jacobius said.

“And we get to show people that we can play music properly. We take advantage of [the occasion].”

Woodruff is also pleased about the Marching Band performing on stage.

“The Marching Band is big, and strong, and the audience is going to be blown away by its energy,” Woodruff said. “It is going to be visually very interesting. They will be spinning flags, rifles, sabers.

There will be a baton twirler too,

but not a fire baton, because it’s dangerous.”

Every year, Bandfest has a different theme, and this year’s theme is “the sky” — as is implied by the title of the program. The Wind Bands will play titles such as “Whirlwinds” by Richard Saucedo, in which each instrument gets its own solo part, and “To Tame the Perilous Skies” by David Holsinger. The audience will then be taken into space with pieces such as the “Star Trek Theme” by Jerry Goldsmith, and “Twelve Seconds To The Moon” by Robert W. Smith, a direct nod to the first historical flight by the Wright brothers which lasted 12 seconds.

“The title came afterwards, after we looked at the pieces that we chose,” Johnson said. “One of the things about Bandfest is that it is a festival. We want to provide a concert which has something for everybody, and so we have a great variety (of pieces). People won’t come back if they don’t like it, so we put in lots of consideration.

With the two orchestras and the Marching Band, we have phenomenal variety.”

The Marching Band will be performing more classic pieces, such as the “Star Wars Theme” by John Williams, and the “Magic Carpet Ride” by John Kay and

Rushton Moreve.

“All the pieces are really full of excitement and emotions,” saxophonist and music junior Lauren Wasynczuk said. “It’s going to be great. Everyone wants to be here.”

Mechanical engineering senior Tim Ulrich said that a piece to watch (listen) out for is “To Tame The Perilous Skies.”

“It’s climatic and dramatic, and it paints a picture with the music,” he said.

“The Marching Band is always a hit,” computer engineering sophomore Paul Case said. “The audience should be leaving their hair blown back by the awesomeness.

The professors share this confidence.

“It is the strongest group of wind and percussion students we have had since I’ve been here,” Johnson said. “High talent, high ability to learn, and high dedication. As a teacher, I can’t ask for more than that.”

Even as Bandfest approaches, the Wind Bands are already looking beyond and contemplating their next challenge: a performance in the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. They are set to perform as part of the Los Ansee Bandfest, page 11

www.mustangdaily.net

True Life continued from page 9

self though. The worst thing that you can tell people with body issues is, ‘you look great,’” she said.

Even after she dropped 10 pounds for the photo shoot, Beard was still just as self-conscious in front of the camera.

“I was in a bikini and everyone was staring at me. All I could think about was, ‘Oh my god. What are they looking at? Are my love handles too big? What’s wrong with me?’” she said.

The turning point for Beard came when she met her current husband, Sacha Brown, a photographer.

“Within the first few weeks of dating, he said to me,‘What is wrong with you?You need help.’ He was the first person to ever recognize what I was doing to myself. The best thing was finding that one person that wanted to help me,” she said.

Beard described days when she would be curled up around the toilet, crying hysterically because she thought she was fat and ugly. Brown was always there to scoop her up off the floor and tell her she was beautiful, she said.

After years of therapy, medication and self-reflection, Beard has her eating disorder under control, but still struggles with it everyday.

The recent birth of her baby boy, however, acts as constant motivation for Beard to maintain a healthy selfimage.

“When I felt a fist push against my stomach or felt the imprint of a foot, I didn’t care how big my butt got,” she said. “I want my son to grow up with a loving mother who is comfortable with herself.”

After an emotional presentation, Beard opened up the floor to student questions and comments which included everything from a person admitting they recovered from an eating disorder to questions about her past boyfriends.

Students seemed enthralled by her presence, buzzing with conversation as they exited the auditorium and lined up for a meet and greet, clutching cameras, pictures and pens for signatures. One girl even had a heart-to-heart with Beard, exchanging hugs and phone numbers.

Another girl, with Cal Poly swim team sweat pants on, hesitantly removed her jacket, exposing tanned,

11

mustang daily

Thursday, November 19, 2009 muscular arms. Beard addressed the student athletes in the audience during her speech, encouraging them to not be ashamed of their athletic build, as she was.

“Now I don’t feel as self-conscious showing off my arms,” she said to her friend.

Ariel Tormey, a kinesiology junior, attended because she is a swimmer and could related to Beard. “(I attended) because I wanted to learn more about her life and understand what she has gone through,” Tormey said.

Michelle Oden, a science sophomore, attended because she was getting credit for a class.

“I came out because I was getting credit for my biopsychology class.

We are learning about eating disorders, body image issues and things like that,” Oden said.

The enthusiastic response from the students was something to be expected as ASI decided to bring Beard to Cal Poly because she could talk about what students wanted to learn about.

“It’s important to us because it’s important to the students. We wanted students to become more educated and open up their eyes to the topics,” Crawford said.

The overwhelming requests for these topics should not come as a surprise as many college-aged people struggle with body image issues, said Ann McDermott, director of the emerging Cal Poly Center for Obesity Prevention and Education and kinesiology instructor.

“It removes some of the stigma and shows people that there are others who are dealing with the same issues. Eating disorders are so prevalent that people wouldn’t even begin to guess,” McDermott said.

In a survey conducted by the National Eating Disorders Association that involved both undergraduate and graduate students, it was determined that one in five people have had an eating disorder and of those people 70 percent never received help. The number one reason was cultural pressure, followed by stress, McDermott said. “(College) is a period of time where people are very aware of their appearance. If (an eating disorder) doesn’t personally affect you, chances are you know someone who it does.

It’s a pressure-cooker environment,” McDermott said.

Although this was the first time

Arts

Bandfest continued from page 10

mcclatchy-tribune

Amanda Beard is pictured before swimming the 200 Breaststroke at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. that Beard has talked to college students, she said that she wants to keep doing this because it is a good way to reach out to people.

In one of her final lines of the night, Beard said that despite her struggle with bulimia, every bad moment shaped who she has become today.

“I wouldn’t change anything about my past,” Beard said. “It has made me a stronger person today. I’m very comfortable with myself. I’m about 20 pounds heavier than when I’m competing, but who cares?”

If Beard could give any advice to those living with eating disorders she said it would be to learn to love your body.

“You know that saying, ‘Nobody will ever love you until you love yourself?’ It’s cheesy, but it’s so true.

You have to love yourself,” Beard said. “Wake up every morning and feel confident and sexy. Just be the best you can be.”

geles International Music Festival next June, and will start rehearsing in three weeks. All of the money raised at Bandfest will be used to support their trip.

“It’s a once in a lifetime event for most of the students, but right now, the students are fronting the expenses,” Woodruff said.

He said that he is hopeful the funds collected with Bandfest will lessen the load for the students.

Regular tickets cost $16 for the general public, $13 for seniors and $8 for students.

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

editors & staff editor in chief Emilie Egger managing editor Alex Kacik news editor Tim Miller 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, Katie McIntyre, Beth Shirley 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 manager Kristin Coplan ad designers Mai-Chi Vu, Sara Hamling, Justin Rodriguez, John Dixon advertising representatives Erika Powers, Giana Ronzani, April Manalotto, Adam Plachta,Tarah Brinkerhoff, Lindsey Bly, Jenna Perkovich, Jenelle McDonnell, David McCutcheon, Amanda Dennin faculty adviser Brady Teufel general manager Paul Bittick

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Thursday, November 19, 2009 Volume LXXIV, No. 44 ©2009 Mustang Daily “I don’t want to play.”

opinion/editorial Thursday, November 19, 2009

Editor in chief: Emilie Egger Managing Editor: Alex Kacik

mustangdaily@gmail.com

www.mustangdaily.net

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Assembly bill 656 would make CSU financial woes a little less painful I have to admit that when my professors announced their furlough days this quarter, I cherished the lost class time. I saw furloughs merely as days I could sleep in and miss class without penalty.

However, we all know there’s a more serious issue behind these furloughs than just gaining a blissful hour or two of extra sleep.

This year the CSU system is facing a $564 million cut in state funding, which amounts to a 20 percent reduction, while new applications to the CSU have increased by 53 percent.

CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed has said that the California State University system needs to drop student enrollment by as much as 40,000 to match the lack of state funding.

“You cannot see a 20 percent drop in revenue and serve the same number of students,” he said.

This week, ASI hosted Dollar Dilemmas to inform students about the budget crisis, and allow them to vent their frustrations. I was struck by Cal Poly students’ statements on Wednesday morning when I browsed the Dollar Dilemmas table in the UU. One student wrote about worries concerning the widening gap between the rich and the poor.

Another student feared he or she would not graduate on time because of the proposed cuts.

The impact of the cuts on students’ ability to attend college and graduate on time should not be underestimated. Every campus will have to decide how to allocate limited funds according to its priorities, which should, foremost, include admitting and retaining as many students as possible and ensuring required classes are offered.

At a recent press conference

letters

to the editor Citizens should be allowed to protect themselves Amid my frustration with liberals that want to take away my liberty, it’s nice to have a breath of fresh air in the article by Aaron Berk. Thank goodness there are

Reed said, “Denying students access to higher education is just about one of the worst things you can do in a recession.”

He went on to say, “The state needs our graduates to enter the workforce and help the state’s economic recovery. But, when your budget is cut so drastically, we are left with little choice but to re-

strict our enrollment.”

At least two underlying issues can be blamed for our current higher education budget woes.The first is the straggling U.S. economy.

Californians’ incomes were affected by the ailing U.S. economy toward the end of the Bush administration, which then affected state income tax revenue.

The second is that during the budget crisis last spring, Republicans in the state legislature absolutely refused to compromise and pass any bill that raised taxes on California’s wealthiest. This forced the legislature to rely heavily on cuts to fix the government budget.

But, as Reed pointed out in his statement, limiting access to the CSU or hindering students from returning to college for financial reasons hurts our economy in the future. The economy needs students to get into college, graduate and start working.

This is the legislature’s chance to make amends. The only viable solution to fix our economy is to pass Assembly Bill 656, which imposes a severance tax on oil companies that draw oil out of the ground. The money garnered from this tax would be used entirely to support the CSU system.

Republicans may oppose this bill because they believe it will drive away even more business from the state, or because they are simply opposed to imposing a new tax. This would be a valid argument if we were not discussing oil companies.

Fortune 500 ranked Exonn Mobile and Chevron as the first and third most profitable companies in 2009. Exxon hacked up $45.2 billion in profit and Chevron sliced off nearly $24 billion. I doubt they’re having any trouble sending their children to college or making sure the college their children attend offers the classes they need to graduate. They can spare a couple hundred million dollars to pay us back and help our economy.

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

john kraus newsart

young people like him that recognize, like the Founding Fathers, that there is a necessary right for people to bear arms. Someone commented yesterday, “get rid of guns and you get rid of the problem!” I respond by saying that criminals will always find a way. Gun bans don’t work in other countries, and they won’t work here. Creating a larger firearms black market and disarming law-abiding citizens creates a society of potential victims that are unable to defend themselves.

I don’t need a hypocritical politician telling me how I can legally protect myself, my property, and most importantly, my loved ones.

These morons in office are protected by bodyguards armed with what? Good intentions and smiles?

No. Guns! Some of these pieces of work also carried concealed weapons themselves! Take Feinstein, a known gun control advocate, for example. She carried a concealed weapon for protection years ago!

These elitist politicians must

think they are superior beings to us since they can arm themselves, but want to disarm you and me.

We, don’t, and never will live in an ideal world. Criminals don’t care about gun control laws. That’s what makes them criminals. To Washington and Sacramento: Let the people protect themselves and keep your filthy hands off of my rights!

David Lewis mechanical engineering senior

Thursday, November 19 2009

op/ed

‘Preexisting conditions’ denying victims care The young woman, who will be referred to as Sarah to protect her identity, was pinned to the wall, and the door was locked as he forced his mouth on her, sloppily shoving his tongue into her mouth.

She didn't want it, and although he was drunk, he was still stronger.

She continuously pounded against his chest and shoved him in an attempt to get away. Meanwhile, the man's friends were downstairs distracting the male friends Sarah had came to the party with. She eventually broke free but not before being left with an emotional scar that left her wary of men for weeks.

No, Sarah was not raped, but she was sexually assaulted. In the few weeks that followed the incident Sarah's symptoms could be categorized as acute post-traumatic stress disorder, a normal reaction to a scary event. She jumped when a male friend would touch her and wanted nothing more than to put the experience behind her. She didn't receive help to deal with what happened because she didn't want people to know but later in life, should she put down the event when filing for insurance, she could be denied or ruled ineligible for something that wasn't her fault.

The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network reports that in 2007, 248,300 sexual assaults were reported. In the United States, a sexual assault or rape happens every two minutes and 60 percent of the incidents are never reported to the police. Following an assault many victims feel guilty, ashamed, and believe that the incident was their fault. 'If only I hadn't worn that skirt.' 'If only I hadn't flirted with him.' The list is endless and none of it's true.

In an investigative article published October 21 by the Huffington Post, women were found to be routinely denied health insurance or long-term coverage because of protective medical measures they had taken following their assault.

Christina Turner told the newspaper that her doctor prescribed her a month's worth of anti-AIDS medication as a precaution. When Turner applied for new health coverage a few months later, she was denied because her records indicated she had taken AIDS medication even though she had explained about the assault. As a result, she went without health insurance for three years and now wonders if she made the right choice in taking the medication.

Turner isn't alone. Several women spoke to the newspaper about being denied based on

13

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PTSD stemming from earlier attacks. Now instead of receiving basic coverage for therapy or gynecological exams, some women are going without or paying out of pocket at Planned Parenthoods.

Doctors and nurses around the country are having to fight insurance companies on what is medically necessary. How is a rape exam, preventative AIDS medication, or therapy not medically necessary?

Asking a victim if their therapy is medically necessary is like asking them if they're sure the event really happened.Victims don't need to be second-guessed, they're bound to get enough of that from the defendant's attorney. The fact that women are being denied coverage based on pre-existing conditions such as PTSD stemming from a sexual assault or rape is not only

and men believe that by reporting their sexual assaults to their doctor is going to result in being denied health care coverage for their therapy and rape exams, no one is going to step forward. As it is, 15 of 16 rapists walk free. What kind of message are health insurance companies sending to victims if they're going to be penalized for receiving help and medical attention?

The purpose of medical examinations and therapy sessions for rape and sexual assault victims is to help them see that what happened to them was not their fault, that they didn't "ask for it." But by denying health coverage based on "pre-existing" conditions such as PTSD stemming from a rape, that's the exact message they are receiving.

I'll be the first to admit that I don't know much when it comes to health care even though I, ironically, work in a doctor's office.

What I do know is that I am a 21year-old college woman, making me four times more likely to be sexually assaulted.

If I were to be sexually assaulted tonight walking to my car my first instinct would be to call the police, report it and do whatever I could to put that bastard behind bars. But if I know that by receiving therapy or taking AIDS medication as a precaution is gojohn kraus newsart ing to affect my chances of receivunfathomable, it's absolutely dis- ing coverage as an independent gusting. adult, what would I do?

The United States population is I realize that insurance compajust over 308 million with approxi- nies follow the CYA philosophy to mately 46.3 million people report- the 'T', but these denials shouldn't ing to be uninsured in 2008. How be occurring. All around us people many of those people are without are concerned with politics and insurance because they took AIDS money and yes, I understand that medication as a precaution? Better but how would you feel if your yet, how many victims have insur- mother had to endure constant ance but are going without ther- flashbacks of a man forcing himself apy because insurance companies into her because she didn't want say their treatment isn't medically to be penalized by her insurance necessary? We're in a recession and policy? What if every time you with the poverty rate at an 11-year went to hug her, she erupted in high of 13.2 percent, people are tears because she didn't receive the penny-pinching at every oppor- therapy she needed to overcome tunity. But cutting costs shouldn't her trauma? be at the expense of sexual assault We don't have the answers to victims. They don't need someone these questions and honestly, I telling them they don't need ther- don't have an answer on how to apy, or that they will have to pay fix this. But these men and women for their own rape exam because shouldn't be denied and as a naof an assault that happened years tion, we need to work to provide previously. care for these victims. It's a heartSexual assault is one of the breaking story when it happens to most under-reported crimes and a stranger, but it's downright madvictims are six times more likely dening when it happens to someto suffer from PTSD, three times one we love. more likely to suffer from depression, and four times more likely Leticia Rodriguez is a journalism to contemplate suicide. If women senior and Mustang Daily reporter.

ally, I would have just banged on the wall. Nothing kills the mood quicker than having your neighbor suddenly tell you to keep it down.

When history repeats itself, it’s usually due to ignorance, a failure to learn about the patterns of the past. I don’t know what I would call “repeating history to get it over with”, but it doesn’t sit well.

In tyranny and revolution, there is substantial destruction of wealth, decreasing the standard of living.

We still have the power to overturn oppressive laws by electing officials who abide by the constitution.Tyranny should never be desired for any reason.

—Dan

In response to “The cycle of liberty continues” You cannot take away responsibility from the views you are espousing just by stating three sentences earlier that you don’t really mean them.You either believe something or you don’t , at least take ownership of it.

—Anonymous In response to “The cycle of liberty continues” Haven’t you contradicted your own advice in the method you chose to approach your loud neighbor? Instead of making an attempt to meet or get to know her, you left an anonymous letter. Not only that, you chose to threaten her (albeit an odd threat), rather than ask for some cooperation. Person-

—Sean In response to “Keeping quiet while having fun” Accepting mass shootings? Maybe you should look a little deeper.

You may not be aware, but in other countries mass shootings occur far less and in some cases non-existent. guns are only part of the issue.

—Jay In response to “Right to bear arms can provide protection” The illicit acts involving a firearm are already illegal.Murder is illegal. Assault is illegal. But restricting firearms as a means to an end makes no sense at all.

One can make crystal meth out of over the counter cold medicine.

Does that mean it should be illegal for me to take cold medicine when I have a cold? Just because cold medicine CAN be used to manufacture illegal drugs?

—Kevin In response to “Right to bear arms can provide protection” NOTE: The Mustang Daily features select comments that are written in response to articles posted online. Though not all the responses are printed, the Mustang Daily prints comments that are coherent and foster intelligent discussion on a given subject.

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mustang daily

Thursday, November 19, 2009 www.mustangdaily.net

sports

JaMarcus Russell benched, Bruce Gradkowski to start as the full-time starter, Russell was “disappointed, as you would expect him to be,” Cable said. “But I explained to him why and the reasons behind it and the decision’s final.This is where we’re going to go. And he came out today and worked hard and did what he needed to do.”

Russell has started all nine games this season. He started one game his rookie season and 15 of 16 last season.

He is the lowest-rated passer among quarterbacks who began the season as the starter. He also has the worst completion percentage among opening-day starters.

The Raiders (2-7) rank 31st, second to last, in offensive yards and points per game.

Eleven of Gradkowski’s 12 NFL starts came during his rookie season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Steve Corkran contra costa times

The JaMarcus Russell era officially is on hold.

Raiders coach Tom Cable said Wednesday that Bruce Gradkowski has replaced Russell as the Raiders’ full-time starting quarterback. Russell now is the No. 2, just ahead of Charlie Frye.

“It was an easy decision because I feel the responsibility for this football team to give them the best chance to succeed,” Cable said.

Russell was unavailable for comment before and after practice. He said Sunday that he supports Cable whether or not he is the starter.

Cable said that he has been patient with Russell, cognizant that the Raiders start two rookie wide receivers and were without running back Darren McFadden and left guard Robert Gallery for a large chunk of the season. But Cable said Russell’s inability to improve his accuracy, decision-making and game management and inconsistency in getting the ball to his wide receivers made a change necessary.

Gradkowski provides an upgrade in a number of areas, Cable said.

“His leadership, his management, understanding of what we’re trying to do, accuracy, just a lot of those intangible-type things,” Cable said of Gradkowski’s strengths. “(Let’s) give him a chance to get all the reps and go out and build some chemistry with the receivers.”

Gradkowski directed the offense at the beginning of practice Wednesday, as Russell watched from near the

mcclatchy-tribune

Former No. 1 overall draft JaMarcus Russell holds the second-worst passer rating in the NFL and ranks third worst in the league in passing yardage. sideline on one knee with his helmet off.

The Raiders selected Russell with the No. 1 pick in the 2007 NFL draft and anointed him the long-term solution for a position that lacked stability since Rich Gannon sustained the first of two major injuries midway through the 2003 season.

Russell signed a contract that guaranteed him $32 million. Cable said he is hopeful that Russell one day will develop into a dependable player.

“This is in no way giving up on

the guy,” Cable said. “This is just trying to jump-start this team and really break it down and make a decision based on what gives us the best chance to win.”

Cable said managing general partner Al Davis supported the decision.

Russell said Sunday that he was surprised by Cable’s benching him late in the third quarter of the Raiders’ 16-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

It was Russell’s second benching in three games.

When told he was being replaced

in 2006. He made one start for the Cleveland Browns last season, going 5-for-16 for 18 yards and two interceptions against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 18.

Gradkowski said before practice that he is ready for the challenge, unlike when he received his first NFL start.

“I’m further along and more prepared now than I was as a rookie when I got the call,” Gradkowski said. “So, I’m excited and we’ll see what happens.” Gradkowski’s only playing time this season came in relief of Russell.

“Having a full week of practice is huge,” Gradkowski said. “Just to get the feel of the receivers, the offensive line, how I call the play, the cadence on the line of scrimmage. Just everything is a big deal.The more reps I can get the better just as long as we can get things rolling.”

mustangdaily.net

Thursday, November 19, 2009

SPORTS

sports editor: Brian De Los Santos

mustangdailysports@gmail.com

MUSTANG DAILY

Cal Poly heads to Weber State in final game of season mustang daily staff report

Weber State forced Cal Poly’s potent offense into five turnovers in the first round of the FCS playoffs last year. Quarterback Jonathan Dally threw a career-high five interceptions, one turnover less than the Mustangs had all year.

Cal Poly fell to Wildcats 49-35 in its final game of the 2008 season.

For the second consecutive year Weber State will be the final contest in the Cal Poly football season as the Mustangs (4-6) travel to take on the Wildcats (6-4) this Saturday.

Heading into the last week of the

season, all postseason scenarios for the Mustangs are out the window, but the Wildcats still have a chance for a playoff spot.

“We’re going to try and disrupt what they’re trying to do,” Walsh said at Monday’s press conference. “If they think they’re a playoff team, let’s go beat a playoff team.”

The Mustangs saw their streak of six-straight winning seasons end with a loss against South Dakota last week.

The loss came despite Cal Poly’s best offensive output of the season. The Mustangs posted 48 points with 533 yards of total offense in their home finale.

But, Cal Poly allowed a season high 50 points and 553 yards themselves.

The Mustangs had been undefeated at home before last week’s loss and has yet to win a road game this season.

After starting the season 0-2, the Wildcats have gone 6-2 over the past eight games and remain alive in the race for an at-large playoff berth.

Led by junior quarterback Cameron Higgins the Wildcats average 29 points-per-game. Higgins has passed for 2,784 yards with 24 touchdowns this season.

Leading receivers Nick Toone and

Mike Phillips combined for 1,499 yards receiving. Toone was named National and Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week with his 181 all-purpose yards in a 29-7 win over Northern Arizona last week.

Leading rusher Trevyn Smith has rushed for 872 yards this season.

Cal Poly’s defense has struggled recently against the pass. Last week South Dakota quarterback Noah Shepard passed for 413 yards against a Mustang defense trying to get pressure on him.

“When you bring pressure you better get there,” Walsh said. “Because if you don’t it not fair to the players in coverage. Right now we’re not getting there and I think that’s making us a little gun-shy on how much we want to (blitz). ” Cal Poly surrendered three plays of 35 yards or more that ended up in scores. Since lining up against South Dakota State, the Mustangs have allowed a total of 162 points excluding a contest against Dixie State, with a 32.4 point per game average.

“I don’t think we’re playing as fast on defense as we’ve played (earlier this season),” Walsh said. “(Against South Dakota State we played) at a whole different speed than we are right now and I think that has a lot

to do with the wear and tear of the season.”

Offensively Cal Poly showed flashes of a very dominant passing game. Quarterback Tony Smith connected on 24-of-35 passes for 407 yards and six scores — all career highs.

His number one target last Saturday was junior wide receiver Dominique Johnson who caught 13 passes for 273 yards and a school-record five touchdowns.

“He may have the best hands that I have ever had the opportunity to be around,” Walsh said. “We (challenged him) to make some plays and he made plays in the course of that game.”

In the past three weeks, the Mustang rushing attack hasn’t been effective as it has been during the course of most of the season.

Over the span of the past three weeks the Mustang rushing game has averaged 122 yards per game. In those games, Cal Poly has a 0-3 record. In their four wins this season Cal Poly has averaged 217 yards on the ground per game.

Weber State has allowed 151 yards per game on the ground this season.

Kickoff is set for 11:05 a.m. Saturday at Stewart Stadium in Ogden, Utah.

nick camacho mustang daily

Over the past five weeks Cal Poly has thrown for 212 yards per game.

Quarterback Tony Smith has passed for 849 yards in those games.