theSpartanDaily.com
Volume 131, Issue 31
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STUDENT CULTURE
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Serving San Jose State University Since 1934
Bomb scare and reactive search turn up empty BIANCA deCASTRO Staff Writer
At about 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, University Police officers responded to a report of a suicide bomb on campus. “Everyone on duty, even if they were not in uniform, was involved in the search,” said Sgt. Santos of the UPD. According to Santos, a female student passing by two males overheard them speaking of a suicide bomb. The initial report described two unidentified males who were Middle Eastern or Indian.
The student said the two men were somewhere between the Art Building and the Heating and Cooling Plant. A call was received a short time later indicating that the men were in Tower Hall. While officers searched Tower Hall, Santos told student media there was no reason to believe that the story was made up. Some students in Tower Hall were caught off guard by police activity and were asked to clear the building. “I saw (the officer) speeding up here with the police sounds and all,” said
Joe Billiet, a freshman microbiology major. “I was like, what just happened? I thought it was a drill because they were so calm and they didn’t remove people from the sides of the building.” Some UPD officers were equipped with rifles and other large weapons as they scoured the building searching for the men. “We didn’t know what their intentions were,” Santos said. “It was the appropriate response because we didn’t have a lot of information.” Although Paseo de Ceasar Chavez
was littered with San Jose police officers and fire fighters working at a Safety Fair, Santos said that only the UPD responded to the call. “We did inform them (the police and fire department), with a description and the information, but there was not enough information to have them involved,” Santos said. One student expressed concern about not receiving a message from Alert-SJSU, an emergency notification
SCAREpage2
CAN SPARTANS CATCH BOISE? SJSU hopes to beat Boise State for the first time PAGE 4
Great America’s haunted house not that great OPINION
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How to be a nice guy without finishing last
Former SJSU linebacker Matt Castelo (No. 35) attempts to tackle former Boise State defensive back Austin Smith during last season’s 42-7 Boise State victory in Idaho.
Art projects focus on climate TAILGATING CORINNE SPECKERT Staff Writer
NEWS
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Buddhism and science: A match made in heaven
KRIS ANDERSON / Spartan Daily Archives
Students will be offered the opportunity to gain hands-on experience by working with artists in the creation of the first in a series of artworks developed to increase awareness of global climate change. Joel Slayton, a professor of art and design who was part of the panel of judges that included international participation, said one of the criteria looked for in artists was an understanding in their approach to the problem of greenhouse gases.
“We wanted the most interesting, radical strategies that we could find, and ultimately the winner would produce a piece of art unlike anything in the world,” he said. The Climate Clock is a collaboration between the university’s public art program, the Mantalvo Art Center and the city of San Jose. It will allow students the chance to work with three finalists teams that were chosen by a panel of judges in September. The artists of the three finalist teams are Usman Haque and Robert Davis; Chico MacMurtrie with
Amorphic Robot Works; and Freya Bardell, Brian Howe and Brent Bucknum. On-campus presentations of the projects will begin with the first team in January 2009, the second in fall of 2009 and the third in spring of 2010. The intervals will allow students to work with the artists on their designs for three months. “Students will get to participate with the artists in ways to help inform the designs,” Slayton said. “There will
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Panel tells real stories of domestic abuse KAAJAL MORAR Staff Writer
Imagine being afraid every night. Imagine being so scared of your father that you have to sleep with a knife under your pillow. Imagine watching your father abuse your mother and sisters. For author Yasmin Davidds, she didn’t have to imagine such horrors. “My father was very abusive to my mother, my sisters and I in every way,” Davidds said. As a child, she thought that the abuse they had suffered was normal and acceptable. It was only after she went to college, suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder, faced drug abuse and thought about suicide that she changed. “I had to change the way I saw life or I was going to die,” Davidds said.
Funded by Verizon Wireless on Tuesday, “Mobilizing Voices” was held for the first time in the Student Union where Davidds shared her story. Davidds said her father said he was “el rey de la casa,” which means the king of the house. “But ‘el rey’ does not give you the right to hit anyone,” she said. She addressed the difficulties of living with domestic abuse, the dynamics of unhealthy relationships and how to recognize and avoid abusive partners. A panel was held with four victims of abuse who are traveling with Davidds to speak about their experiences. Cecilia Vasquez, Megali Sanchez Hall, Bryan Rojas and Patricia Wenskunas took turns answering questions.
One issue that presented itself was the protection of victims by the law. Wenskunas promoted Proposition 9, which would enable Marsy’s Law – adding crime victims’ rights in California – to take effect. The point Wenskunas made was to protect victims as much, if not more so, than criminals. Hall said she tried to run away from her abuser. She would have been sent to jail after trying to use a pair of scissors to protect herself from her partner who was trying to choke her if she pressed charges. Instead of having to lose her son, she suffered through six more years of abuse. Wenskunas said she is not worried about being attacked again. “I don’t care what he’s doing any-
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LEAVES FIELD DIRTY AND HAZARDOUS RYAN BUCHAN Staff Writer
Broken glass, bottle caps, ashes, charcoal and cigarette butts litter a field east of Spartan Stadium. On this field, club, intramural and physical education athletes run, dive, slide and tackle each other. Rob Patchett, assistant director of Associated Student Campus Recreation, said he instructs the referees of intramural games to scan the field for dangerous materials before contests to reduce potential injuries. He said he thinks his staff does a good job because many of them play intramural sports as well and are familiar with the playing conditions and that he feels he is doing the best he can do under the circumstances. “There is no giant broken glass and charcoal vacuum, unfortunately, that exists,” Patchett said. The field is in this condition partly because it is home to tailgate parties for SJSU football games. “It creates a hazard for my players and the opposing team we play,” said Matt Caffiero, president of the SJSU
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FIELD Rugby player says conditions may become problem in future men’s rugby club and a junior justice studies major. Both Patchett and Caffiero said they have never seen a major injury due to the field conditions. “Even if it hasn’t become a huge problem yet, it is very likely it will be,” said Hideki Maniwa, a senior economics major and rugby player. Despite their knowledge of the hazards, students still participate in sports on that field. “If I were worried, I would not be playing rugby,” said Peter Brookfield, an undeclared freshman and rugby player. Garvey Shupe, a senior occupational therapy major and also a rugby player, said he prefers the field as a tailgating site and would
rather put up with poor field conditions than lose it. “I rather risk it because I like this tailgating spot,” Shupe said. “If you move this tailgating spot somewhere else, that would be lame.” Maniwa said the fields he played youth club soccer on in the East Bay were worse because of needles and other hazards that are similar to those on the SJSU intramural field. The field was in even worse condition at the SJSU-Hawaii football game in October of last year because of the combination of rain and tailgaters parked on the field, Patchett said. “That was a disaster,” he said.
“It just turned into a big mud pit; there was no grass left. Not only were there no lines left for flag football, there was no grass.” He also said he thinks the field would have been in better condition after that game if there were no tailgaters. Patchett said it was tough to get the field ready for the next flag football game six days later, and the game was played on different area of the field. He said there have been talks about improving the area with the South Campus Master Plan, which would provide new turf fields. Installing lights so intramural sports could be played at night has also been discussed, which would
Trash litters the field east of Spartan Stadium where fans tailgate before football games.
SPARTAGUIDE SPARTAGUID 23 TODAY
Student Showcase Hour 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. in the Music Building Concert Hall. Contact Professor Joan Stubbe 924-4649.
The Rock Are you a musician struggling in the midst of this business-esque atmosphere? Come to the Rock where you can find musicians, play music and be heard. 4:30 – 6 p.m. in the Student Union, Montalvo Room. Contact Jeremy Mallard at Maljeremy@gmail.com
Bible Study
Acts 2 Christian Fellowship has weekly Bible studies on Thursdays. 7 p.m. in the Student Union, Guadalupe Room. Contact Justin Foon at jfoon1@yahoo.com or (415) 786-9873.
Friday 10/24 Counseling Services’ Raising GPAs Workshop Do you want to learn how you may improve your GPA? Then come to this workshop and we will provide you with some of the insider tips. 12:30 PM Location: Clark 118 Contact Veronica Mendoza at veronica.mendoza@sjsu.edu.
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THURSDAY
Campus Pregnancy Support Team Services for women going through a pregnancy. 10:30 to 12 p.m. in the Student Union, Guadalupe Room. 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in Hugh Gillis Hall room 255. Contact Chelsea Jackson at 828-4816
Check out the Daily’s fan page! Go to “Applications,” add “My Pages,” and search “Spartan Daily”
STEFAN ARMIJO / Contributing Photographer
EVENTS CALENDAR
LGBTQQI Discussion Group A supportive, empowering, confidential environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and intersex SJSU students to share, discuss, and explore their personal experiences. 12 to 1:30 p.m. Location: LGBT Resource Center, 1st floor of building BB between CVC and the Aquatic Center. Contact Angela Krumm at (408) 924-5910
Proposition 4 Forum Hosted by Associated Students, organizations on both sides of Prop. 4 have been invited to speak to students. Students are encouraged to attend with questions and concerns. 12 to 1 p.m. in the Martin Luther King Jr. room 225/229. Contact Kathryn Linder at klinder@as.sjsu.edu
School of Art & Design Galleries
Sparta Guide is provided free of charge to students, faculty and staff members. The deadline for entries is noon, three working days before the desired publication date. Space restrictions may require editing of submission. Entries are printed in the order in which they are received. Submit entries online at thespartandaily.com or in writing at DBH 209.
Will you be our friends?
allow many students to participate who can’t now because of conflicts due to classes, Patchett said. He also said turf fields would be beneficial because the university would not have to repaint lines and turf wouldn’t deteriorate as quickly as grass. Rugby players said they would like it if the new fields could include goal posts that the current field is lacking. Patchett said the new fields would not replace the current fields and could be located next to the football teams’ practice fields, where the old Spartan Village stands. The Spartan Village is an abandoned housing complex located on South Campus.
Contact Ace Antazo at SJSU_Student_Galleries@ yahoo.com Gallery shows running from October 27th – October 31st: Gallery 2: Jessica Issler Gallery 3: Victor Malagon & Margo Jones Gallery 5: Xiaoqing Jing Gallery 8: Michael Risch Black Gallery: Wayne Madsen Herbert Sanders Gallery: Kirkman Amyx & Andrew Hedges
Pride of the Pacific Islands Hula and Tahitian practice. 8 to 10 p.m. in the Event Center, Aerobics Room. Contact Kristen Tom at (650) 270-4507.
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SCARE
UPD sergeant says not enough specifics for campus-wide alert; student disagrees system that sends text messages. “You would think that they would send a message like that out if you’re signed up for Alert-SJSU,” said Matt Perry, junior kinesiology major. “You sign up for it because they tell you to. Maybe they’re not as efficient as they should be.” Santos said the information was not specific enough to send through Alert-SJSU. Perry said he thought a general alert would have helped. “If they would have put out a message on Alert-SJSU, I think that it would help people be
more aware of their surroundings, look out for suspicious things and potentially ward people away from campus,” Perry said. Santos said UPD was unable to locate the men. “A thorough search was conducted by the UPD checking building after building and floor after floor,” he said. “For now, our main concern is securing a safe campus. We’re checking everything that has been reported to us.” The search was called off at 12:20 p.m.
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THURSDAYOCTOBER
ABUSE Victims can call HopeLine for people who can help them more,” she said. “He’s not going to hurt me anymore.” Marsy’s Law would have protected Hall if it were in place. Verizon Wireless supports HopeLine, which allowed callers to dial “#hope” on their phones to connect directly with people who can help them work through abusive relationships.
“Cell phones allow us to stay in touch with others, especially in a time of need or in an emergency,” said Christina Gonzalez, Verizon Wireless’s multicultural marketing manager. Davidds also stressed the idea that domestic violence is more common than the public thinks. Jackie Nguyen, a senior psychol-
ogy major, said she knew several survivors personally. One of them was a previous boyfriend’s sister. “It’s harder to talk about these problems because they don’t think it exists,” Nguyen said. Davidds has written many books. In her book, “Take Back Your Power,” she hopes to empower women by explaining
what power is and why it should be cherished. She urged people to take action against domestic violence by donating used cell phones, educating people, volunteering in shelters and speaking out when appropriate. “Break the silence,” Davidds said. “That’s the number one step.”
CAMPUSIMAGES IMAGES
Leonardo Rodriguez, a senior advertising major, locks his target in sight during an archery class.
HANK DREW / Spartan Daily
CLIMATE Non-artist says
artwork will ‘blow your mind’ be an opportunity for students across campus, but it will be selective. We’ll have to determine how students will get involved, which is completely dependent on the project.” The Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering hosted a seminar in May, where about 50 proposals for the Climate Clock were viewed. “It was neat when they had the colloquium because they put up renderings created by each artist,” said Pat Lopes Harris, SJSU media relations specialist. “And it’s neat to see what artists come up with. I’m not an artist, but it blows your mind. Highly imaginative.” Slayton has been working on this project for the past year-and-a-half and said one of the reasons he was drawn to the proposal of the Climate Clock was that he saw it as an opportunity to get SJSU involved. “When this project was brought to me, a light bulb went off and it was like ‘Oh yeah, we can actually take this idea and turn it into something globally important.’ And SJSU would have a substantial leadership role in the evaluation of the project,” Slayton said. Belle Wei, dean of the College of Engineering, said in an e-mail that she sees this project as an outlet for student involvement. “The Climate Clock initiative is a great way to get students
involved in interdisciplinary projects that teach them to be environmentally informed and responsible,” she said. “We promote projects that develop solutions for environmental sustainability. We want our engineering students to help the world reduce its carbon footprint.” Lopes Harris said that although one of the reasons SJSU became involved was for stu-
“We want our engineering students to help the world reduce its carbon footprint.” BELLE WEI
College of Engineering dean
dents, she thinks that it will also help increase environmental awareness throughout the city. “What we do here is first and foremost for our students but we are always cognitive that what we do here reverberates throughout the valley and that applies to the Climate Clock,” she said. The Climate Clock is expected to be unveiled in 2010 at the 3rd Biennial 01SJ Global Festival of Art on the Edge and will be displayed in Downtown San Jose. The final proposal selection will take place in July 2009.
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Sports theSpartanDaily.com
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Spartans prepare for undefeated Boise State
Spartans cornerback David Bowen (No. 23) tackles Boise State University’s Quinton Jones at Spartan Stadium on Nov. 13, 2006. The Broncos kicked a last-second field goal to erase an eight-point lead and beat the Spartans 23-20. SJSU has never beaten Boise State in eight attempts. MATTHEW KIMEL Staff Writer
The SJSU football team will face its stiffest competition of the season this week in a nationally televised game against 13thranked Western Athletic Conference opponent Boise State. The Spartans (5-2, 3-0 WAC) have won three consecutive conference games for the first time since 2000 and have won their first three conference games to begin a season for the first time since joining the conference in 1996. Although the Spartans are in first place in the conference standings, they have beat only four nationally ranked opponents since
1981. The good news, however, is that the Spartans’ four victories over nationally ranked teams have all occurred at Spartan Stadium, where they have won 15 of their last 17 home games. “They always play well at home,” Broncos’ head coach Chris Petersen said of the Spartans in a teleconference on Monday. “It will be a big challenge for us.” The Broncos (6-0, 2-0 WAC) are 8-0 all-time against the Spartans and have lost only three of 32 games under Petersen. Spartan head coach Dick Tomey said the upcoming game will be a “mid-term examination” for the team.
“Boise is a perennial champion in our league,” Tomey said. “They have dominated the league. They have only lost two conference games in eight years.” Tomey refused to release any information on weaknesses the Spartans could exploit against the Broncos. Tomey said SJSU needs to stop the run and win the turnover battle, which he said is the “statistic that equates to winning.”The Spartans and the Broncos are first and second in WAC turnover margin, respectively. The Spartans have forced 20 turnovers in their first seven games and have given up the ball 12 times. The Broncos have
caused 16 turnovers, while they have turned the ball over just 10 times. Junior center and guard Ronnie Castillo said the Spartans have not forgotten last year’s 42-7 loss to No. 21 Boise State nor the teams’ last two “heartbreaking losses” on national television. Last week, SJSU beat New Mexico State 31-14 on the road putting together a two-game conference road win streak for the first time since 2000. “It was a good win for us,” said Travis Jones, a junior linebacker for the Spartans. The Spartans offense was productive running the ball for the first time in weeks.
Senior running back Yonus Davis ran for 107 yards on 21 attempts, including a 32-yard touchdown on the opening drive of the game. Freshman Brandon Rutley gained 50 yards on nine carries.
JORDAN MCKONE / Spartan Daily Archives
“We were more patient with the run and they had shown vulnerability,” Tomey said. Junior quarterback Kyle Reed struggled, completing just 8 of 18 passes for 50 yards with three interceptions.
Sports theSpartanDaily.com
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SAN JOSE STATE vs. BOISE STATE
Friday, Oct. 24 -- 6 p.m. Spartan Stadium -- ESPN2 Broadcast
STAFF PICKS: Boise State 27 — SJSU 13 Joey Akeley, staff writer
Boise State 20 — SJSU 13 John Hornberg, managing editor
Boise State 24 — SJSU 21 Tommy Wright, sports editor
SJSU 10 — Boise State 7 Ryan Buchan, staff writer
SJSU 23 — Boise State 20 Matthew Kimel, staff writer
SJSU 21 — Boise State 20 Mark Powell, sports editor
SPORTS BLOG Read Spartan Daily staff opinions on this Friday’s SJSU vs. Boise State football game. Go to spartandailysports.wordpress.com
KRIS ANDERSON / Spartan Daily Archives Former Spartan linebacker Demetrius Jones (No. 46) grasps Boise State Broncos running back Ian Johnson (No. 41) at Bronco Stadium on Nov. 3, 2007. The Broncos won the game 42-7.
SJSU cornerback Christopher Owens (No. 29) and former KRIS ANDERSON / Spartan Daily Archives safety James Harrison (No. 27) try to strip the ball from Boise State receiver Toshi Franklin.
ONLINE:
Multimedia Exclusive Watch Dick Tomey’s interview at www.TheSpartanDaily.com
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A match made in heaven: Pushing for more than just voting Lecture shows similarities of science and Buddhism SELMA SKOKIC Staff Writer
ADAM MURPHY Staff Writer
The rift between science and spirituality was briefly bridged during a lecture at the Student Union with Abbot Jian-Hu Shifu of the Chung Tai Zen Buddhist Center of Sunnyvale on Tuesday. Shifu said he graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 1995 and went on to receive his doctorate in computer science from UC San Diego. It was during his time at the California Institute of Technology that Shifu rejected other religions and started to focus on Buddhism.
Zen master of Buddhism. He utilized his engineering background to draw comparisons between Zen Buddhism and science. “Usually we distrust religion because it goes against logic, but when logic and religion work together it can make a better life for people,” said Justin Joyce, a senior history major and the head of the Zen Buddhism Club at SJSU. “That’s how I got introduced to Buddhism. It was through science.” The lecture covered several scientific breakthroughs and related them back to the teachings of Buddha. Newton’s
“Usually, with Christianity, the connection is very thin, but with Buddhism they both seem to be relatively related.” KEVIN TRIEU
sophomore environmental studies major
“I was really amazed how he connects science and Buddhism together,” said Kevin Trieu, a sophomore environmental studies major. “Usually, with Christianity, the connection is very thin, but with Buddhism they both seem to be relatively related.” Shifu said Buddha went about seeking answers and enlightenment scientifically, and is what drew him to study Buddhism in Taiwan. Shifu explained that he made a serious commitment to Buddhism after he met Wei Chueh, a
laws of gravity were the first issues discussed. “There is something in common with all scientific laws,” Shifu said. “They are all causal. The apple falls to the ground because of gravity, the cause. ... Buddha also studied causal effects in life.” Buddha was trying to understand life and reality 2,500 years ago, Shifu said. “I think anyone can benefit from the Buddhist teaching,” Shifu said. “I look at it as a philosophy of life that anyone can benefit from.”
Einstein’s theories of relativity were also discussed and again Shifu connected Buddhism with science. “A sign of great science is when you take two things and tie them together.… Einstein said that matter is energy, that energy is matter. … Buddha taught that form is emptiness and emptiness is form.” Time slows down as something travels faster, according to Shifu’s interpretation of one of Einstein’s theories. Buddhism and mediation will make someone age slower, Shifu said. Shifu explained to about 20 students in attendance that exams are empty because they can affect you negatively, but overall the experience of studying and taking the exam can be rewar ding. “It can be good,” Shifu said. “It is good. You hate exams now, but you graduate and you will appreciate them. You can always interpret something in a different way. You can always turn an experience around. That’s the idea of emptiness. Shape it into something useful for you. That’s what Buddha said.” Shifu took over the abbotship, which is akin to a head priest, at the Chung Tai Zen Buddhist Center in 2005, according to the Chung Tai Web site. The Zen center in Sunnyvale is one of seven Zen centers in the United States, Joyce said. The main branch of the Zen school is in Taiwan, he added.
“On November 4, 2008, the real work starts. People need to hold politicians accountable for their promises,” said Tommaso Boggia, a staff member of Campus Progress, an organization that helps students be involved in progressive issues that organized the conference “Turning Youth Power, Into Youth Voting.” Although only 12 people attended the conference “Turning Youth Power, Into Youth Voting” on Wednesday night in the Almaden Room of the Student Union, their concerns echoed those of the entire youth population. “Are we going to be able to get a job after college is a question most college students are asking themselves,” said Katie Naranjo, the national programs director of the College Democrats of America. Boggia said that involvement does not stop in the voting booth; that people who voted need to stay involved past the election. Naranjo said voters have an obligation to stay involved with the issues for which they plan to vote. The Greenberg Millennial Survey, distributed to attendees at the conference, concluded that the Millennials, the generation born between 1978 and 2000, are rejecting the country’s current leadership and dominant institutions. Naranjo said it is a common misconception that young people don’t vote. From 1998 to 2002, young voters had a high turnout, she said, and from 2004 to 2008, those numbers almost doubled. Mark Savage, a senior sociology major, said youths today are
thought to be apathetic. “Civic engagement needs to be taught at a younger age,” he said. Savage added that young voters may not be able to cause any change alone, but could as a collective movement. Naranjo also said the people who are usually not involved are those that don’t have access to an education or the means to become educated on the issues occurring in politics. Boggia said this is a monumental time for America and the world. “If you have never voted in your life, this is the election you should vote in,” he said. “It is going to determine whether this country will remain a beacon of light in the world or shrink to become another collapsed empire.” Cesar Esquivel, a senior psychology major, said he attended the conference because he wanted to get an overview of what is
Classifieds
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Action Day Primary Plus seeking Infant, Toddler, and Preschool Teachers and Aides. F/ T and P/ T positions available. Substitute positions are also available that offer flexible hours. ECE units are required for teacher positions but not req. for Aide and Day Care positions. Excellent opportunity for Child Development majors. Please call Shawna for an interview at 2476972 or fax resume to 248-7350.
EMPLOYMENT
STUDENT WORK-GREAT PAY IF YOU CAN CUT IT *PART-TIME OPENINGS *$17.70 BASE-appt. Vector, the compay for students, has part-time openings available for customer sales/ service. The positions offer numerous unique benefits for students: *HIGH STARTING PAY *FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES *Internships possible *All majors may apply *Scholarships awarded annually *Some conditions apply *No experience needed *Training provided Earn income and gain experience! Watch for us on-campus throughout the semester, or CALL 866-1100 9am-5pm. www.workforstudents. com/ sjsu
ALMADEN VALLEY ATHLETIC CLUB seeking professional, selfmotivated and energetic individuals who demonstrate excellence in customer service for the following positions: member services desk, cafe service, personal trainer, swim teacher, child care provider, tennis instructor. Please forward your resume to Stephanie at smudgett@ avac.us.
UNDERCOVER SHOPPERS
Earn up to $70 per day. Undercover Shoppers needed to judge retail and dining establishments. EXP. Not RE. CALL 800-722-4791
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AFTER SCHOOL TEACHERS
K-8th private school seeks responsible individuals for extended daycare, P/ T in the afternoon (2:306pm M-F). No ECE units required. Previous experience with children a must. Please call 248-2464. (408)244-1968 (408)244-1968 EARN EXTRA MONEY Students needed ASAP Earn up to $150 per day being a mystery shopper No Experience Required Call 1-800-722-4791
VOLUNTEERS YWCA-SV Volunteer For Project Inspire After School Program. -Be a tutor or a mentor! -Make a difference at James Lick, Yerba Buena, Overfelt, or Andrew Hill High School. Interested candidates please contact: Carolina Avalos, Volunteer Coordinator, at (408) 510-4281 or cavalos@ywca-sv.org
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happening in the nation. Steve Franco, a representative from “VotoLatino,” an organization dedicated to getting Latinos involved in the political process said politicians need to realize that current youths are very media- savvy and they need to communicate with them using mediums they use. The conference included speakers from the Democratic Party as well as independents. However, no representatives from the Republican Party were in attendance. “Young Republicans are not as excited about McCain as young Democrats are for Obama,” said Andrae Macapinlac, president of the Democratic Caucus at SJSU. Savage said this election could change the course of politics in this country. “Whoever we elect is going to decide the faith of the world,” Boggia said.
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THURSDAYOCTOBER
SJSU-Boise game more than just, well, a game MARK POWELL
BINGE THINKING I know the rules of sports journalism: Don’t pick a side, don’t write like a cheerleader and don’t assume the athletes are your best friends. And I won’t. As one of two Spartan Daily sports editors, I know it’s my responsibility to relay and uphold these rules. And I will. But if you’re looking for a sports editor this Friday night when SJSU hosts Boise State University at Spartan Stadium, don’t waste your time checking the student section. I’ll be there, but for that night I’ll be picking a side, I’ll be leading some cheers and I’ll be treating the players on the field as if I’ve known them my whole life. Call it a one-day vacation. Boston Globe writer Dan Shaughnessy once said that a person has to be sports fan before they can become a sports writer — it’s just a natural progression. I agree with him. ESPN.com writer Pat Forde even admitted that several sports writers who attended Boise State’s amazing 43-42 Fiesta Bowl win over the University of Oklahoma in 2007 stood and cheered during the game’s conclusion, shattering the notion of “press box professionalism.” When you’re pursuing a career that rightfully disallows obvious allegiances, you can sometimes be paranoid about being so public with your fandom. I remember being there in 2006 when an eight-point fourth quarter lead evaporated against undefeated and BCS-bound Boise State. I remember a Bronco field goal as time expired beating the Spartans 23-20. I remember how a few of my closest friends and I stood next to one another in the bleachers as other fans filed out of the stadium. “Almost had them,” we thought as we began to shuffle our feet towards the exits — almost knocked off an undefeated team. I was there in 2007 when a twotouchdown lead with four minutes to go faded as SJSU fell to undefeated and BCS-bound University of Hawaii 42-35 in overtime. I remember the depressed silence that fell over the blue-and-gold contingency, and the empty stares on my friend’s faces even as I regretfully yelled in anger. “The students did everything we could to help them win this game!”
I spewed. “How much more support do they want from us?!” I remember talking to Spartan running back James T. Callier after the game. It was Callier’s fumble, the only fumble recovered by an SJSU opponent all season, that gave Hawaii a late chance to tie the game. Following the game, his expression was more befitting of a man awaiting execution than a Division-I college athlete. “We are with you man. Don’t worry,” I said to him, placing my right hand on his left shoulder. I don’t recall just whom I was trying to convince, he or myself. But I knew that when he said, “Thanks,” and looked at me with that same vacant gaze I had seen on the faces of my peers, I knew it would take time to get over the outcome. I still don’t think I am.
“The students did everything we could to help them win this game!” I spewed. “How much more support do they want from us?!” And so we find ourselves on the verge of a Friday night, nationally televised, only-game-in-town battle with undefeated, BCS-bound Boise State. Again. It’s the game we had in our grasp in 2006 and in 2007. Recent changes in administration, at the university level (Don Kassing then Jon Whitmore) and the athletic department (Tom Bowen and Dick Tomey), have put SJSU in a position to accomplish something once thought to be ridiculous a few years ago: cement a place in national sports consciousness. It may be the homer statement to end all homer statements, but I think SJSU can win. I think SJSU can clear that hurdle. I want it to. After this Friday, I know I will still have the chance to be a respected professional in my field, to uphold its standards and carry myself within it in the fairest manner. And I will. But after this Friday, I know I might not ever get the chance to witness, to experience, what could happen at Spartan Stadium — as a college student. I’m going to enjoy myself. “Binge Thinking” appears every other Thursday. Mark Powell is a Spartan Daily sports editor.
Chivalry isn’t dead; it’s hiding ALLIE FIGURES
Chivalry is not dead; it’s just on life support. And if anyone is to blame for its critical condition, I blame the modern woman. It is heard all the time among groups of unsatisfied women— whatever happened to chivalry? We long for opened doors, pulled out chairs and picked up tabs. Guys, I must give you some credit that is long overdue. Some of you do try. We complain that men have forgotten the fine art of being a gentleman. We say we want the things of romance novels, but we would really rather preserve our pride and stand a little taller than accept your open hand. Modern women have taken from you the opportunity to show your chivalry. Nowadays, women open their own doors while balancing a hot coffee and an oversized purse. We can change a flat tire in a pair of stilettos. And we make enough money to pick up our own tab, and yours too. We get mad when he does overextend himself and carry that heavy box as if our feminine selves cannot handle such a load. But we get disappointed when he doesn’t meet our lofty expectations and pull out our chair. Personally, I am a girl who loves to be spoiled by the attention of a man. I am
capable of opening a door for myself, but why not let the cutie in front of me feel like he is doing me a favor? I make my own money, but I won’t argue when you pull out your Visa. I do not believe in feminism. The word is sexist in itself. But the foundations of women’s rights and suffrage are not lost on me. Because of my girl Susan B. Anthony, I can now be a maverick and vote McCain-Palin (oh yes, I said it). As men, you walk a fine line between being a gentlemen and being a jerk. The good guy option sounds better by definition, but we all know we women crave some bad boy. So what is a guy to do?
I am capable of opening a door for myself, but why not let the cutie in front of me feel like he is doing me a favor? My dear friend Ricky feels that chivalry is not dead— it has just changed. We met up for drinks one night, and I was late as usual, but instead of getting a head start at the bar, Ricky waited outside for me. He sat me down, ordered and paid without any awkward tango of propriety. “What else would you expect?” he asked when I questioned his motives. “Why do girls always think something is up when a guy does something nice for them?” Chivalry hardly exists in our world
DAVID ZUGNONI, Executive Editor JOHN HORNBERG, Managing Editor COLLEEN WATSON, Opinion Editor MARK POWELL, Sports Editor TOMMY WRIGHT, Sports Editor ANGELO LANHAM, Student Culture Editor KIMBERLY TSAO, Student Culture Editor DINA BASLAN, Features Editor CARLOS A. MORENO, Photo Editor WILLIAM COOLEY, Online Editor JESSE KIMBREL, Assistant Editor MEGAN HAMILTON, Production Editor MATTHEW MOUNTFORD, Production Editor CHRIS BAUSINGER, Copy Editor SARAH KYO, Copy Editor RAMON HERNANDEZ, Advertising Director MEGAN ROCKO, Assistant Advertising Director DERRICK CHEW, Creative Director KRISTI RIGGS, Assistant Creative Director EMILY JAMES, Creative Assistant
Allie Figures is a Spartan Daily staff writer.
Beauty is in the eye of the computer? SARAH KYO
SUBTLY OBVIOUS Can you measure beauty? Some people think so. There is the oh-so-sophisticated, oneto-10 scale, with 10 meaning out of your league and one being a benchwarmer in a pickup game of Wiffle Ball. There isn’t an actual science to it or a universal set of standards that defines what is beautiful and what fell out of the ugly tree, hitting all the branches on the way down. There isn’t a formula for determining idealized beauty — or is there? A group of people in the name of science and progress have been working to fix that. Computer scientists in Israel developed a software program that uses a mathematical formula to doctor up photos of people into a supposedly more attractive version of themselves, according to a New York Times article. Above the printed edition of the Oct. 9 article are before-and-after shots of a woman who underwent — or, should I say, her photo underwent — the socalled “beautification engine.”
Without going under the knife or experiencing the puffiness, pain and bandages of the typical “Extreme Makeover” aftermath, the subject’s forehead became taller. Her eyes became smaller, a little less deep-set and further apart. Her face became less long but fuller in the cheeks, and her chin shrank a bit. Oh yeah, and through the magic of technology, her face became tanner. There definitely was a difference between the images, but did the woman’s face really need to be fixed up in the first place? What it all comes down to is a matter of preference. Really, preference was behind the “beautification engine” — the preferences of 68 men and women from Israel and Germany who were between the ages of 25 and 40. According to the article, the 68 subjects provided responses to photographs they viewed of white male and female faces, selecting the most attractive ones from the bunch. The scientists took the data and created a formula involving measurements between various facial features. Rather than determine the ultimate, ideal measurement of beauty, setting a lofty bar for every feature and measurement, the software program uses the information to determine the ideal measurements for a
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anymore. It seems to us that guys don’t do nice things for women without the expectation of something in return. I can see how guys would refrain from over gentlemanly behavior for fear of being accused of ulterior motives. Isn’t it the sweet, generous and charismatic guy who makes us question his motives? Does it always have to be the nice guy who finishes last? I think he has found the missing link between chivalry and the modern woman. “The thing about chivalry is that it’s supposed to be natural and effortless,” he said. “If you make it obvious, then you already look like a jerk.” Ricky can give the ailing art of chivalry some much needed resuscitation. He does it because he wants to, not needing recognition or anything in return. And all other guys should take note. So guys, don’t hold open that door looking forward to a pat on the back. Don’t pay for dinner hoping for something more than dessert. Be a gentleman because you want to be, not because we expect it. And ladies … stop expecting it. No one wants to do something nice for someone who thinks they deserve it. Acts of kindness should not be forced. Let him buy your drink. Let him kill the spiders. Let him carry your books (but hold your own purses). Let him pick up that big box; he won’t think any less of you.
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OPINION PAGE POLICY Letters to the editor may be placed in the letters to the editor box in the Spartan Daily office in Dwight Bentel Hall, Room 209, sent by fax to (408) 924-3282, e-mailed to spartandaily@casa.sjsu.edu or mailed to the Spartan Daily Opinion Editor, School of Journalism and Mass Communications, San Jose State University, One Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95112-0149. Letters to the editor must contain the author’s name, address, phone number, signature and major. Letters become property of the Spartan Daily and may be edited for clarity, grammar, libel and length. Only letters of 300 words or less will be considered for publication. Published opinions and advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views of the Spartan Daily, the School of Journalism and Mass Communications or SJSU. The Spartan Daily is a public forum.
particular face, thereby personalizing the results for each person. Perhaps results tailor made for every face are better than one high standard. Still, one has to ask why such studies and efforts are even being done in the first place. It is interesting that this particular study focused on two particular nationalities — Israelis and Germans — to evaluate other “white” people. Maybe the scientists wanted to take away race as a possible factor when the subjects were determining who was beautiful or who was not. Still, it would have been better for them to have done a bigger study involving people from other cultures. According to the article, various studies have shown that there is a clear pattern, regardless of characteristics such as race, age and gender, of what makes someone’s face beautiful: symmetry, youthfulness, smooth skin and vivid eye and hair color. For beauty in general, though, there are definitely differences in opinion. In the same world, there are products that apparently lighten and whiten people’s skin and products that darken skin and give it a summer glow; there are also devices that straighten hair for curly-haired folks and devices that curl hair for people with pin-straight locks. People often want what they don’t have. Again, what it all ultimately comes down to is preference: Different things are beautiful to different people. It’s that uniqueness — that nose you inherited from your father or that scar you got from falling off your bike — that gives your appearance some character. You can count on that. “Subtly Obvious” appears every Thursday. Sarah Kyo is a Spartan Daily copy editor.
QUOTE OF THE DAY “Senator Biden guaranteed that if Senator Obama is elected, we will have an international crisis to test America’s new president.” JOHN MCCAIN The Republican presidential candidate told a rally in Green, Ohio, on Wednesday.
Student Culture
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THURSDAYOCTOBER
2008
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theSpartanDaily.com
EVENT REVIEW: GREAT AMERICA’S ‘HALLOWEEN HAUNT’
Haunted house not as cool as line-free rides
RYAN BUCHAN Staff Writer
Great America is getting in the Halloween spirit by converting its park to a spook house. The park may not be the scariest place people can go to get their Halloween fix, but it does offer a fun experience. The park offered haunted attractions and scare zones, which features Halloween characters roaming around, but only a few were mildly scary. The Corn Stalkers maze was one the least fearful experiences. Chuck E. Cheese’s would produce more fear than this so-called haunted corn maze. Participants walk on a path with cornstalks on each side. Every so often someone that blends in with scenery will pop out of the cornfield in attempt to prompt a scream, but hardly succeeding. On the other end of the park was Werewolf Canyon. You walk into what looks like a cabin, and one of the rooms is filled with bunk beds. You never know what bed the monster is going to pop out of, staying paranoid the entire walk. After that, the journey
leads outside where you hear a chainsaw roaring on the other side of a fence. The chainsaw does a good job at diverting attention away from werewolves that sneak up behind you. I think this haunted attraction was more successful in scaring people because it diverted your attention away from what was going to scare you. Club Blood was good because it limited your vision with rows of cut-up sheets hanging from the ceiling, and you do not realize where you are going. The problem is the park does not take advantage of the lack of visibility and only has a few vampires to scare guests. Also available are three shows that stretch to be Halloween-related but can still be entertaining. Dave Hill, a hypnotist, uses his skills to hypnotize guests and force them to do embarrassing and entertaining feats, like singing, talking to their shoe and pretending to be an alien. Other shows include a comedy show and a magician. If you are a fan of roller coasters, then this may be the
best time of the year to go to Great America. In the summer, the lines for rides seem to be never-ending, and the only thing you get closer to is skin cancer as you burn in the sun. For Great America’s Halloween Haunt, many of the roller coasters are kept open, which feature a new twist – riding at night. Roller coasters seem to get a little boring after a while, but in the dark, you never know what is going to happen next. You can’t see the track, so every drop, loop and turn is a surprise adding to the thrill that roller coasters offer. The only thing better than roller coasters at night are roller coasters without lines. It seemed that most people were gathering for the Halloween attractions and avoided the roller coasters. At times, there were no lines and you could ride the roller coaster multiple times in a row. For the rest of the park, I think Great America should stick with what they are good at, and that is rides.
Photos by CHRISTIAN GARRUCHO / Contributing Photographer
Photos by DEREK SIJDER / Spartan Daily
TOP LEFT: Great America’s Halloween Haunt. TOP RIGHT: A Great America employee attempts to scare the amusement park’s visitors.
Students put their songbooks in order before practice on Tuesday.