SEASON FINALE
AZTEC PRIDE
SDSU wins big in the senior’s last regular season home game. page 2
Monty Montezuma spread Aztec Pride during the final home game. page 4
dailyaztec the
Monday, November 29, 2010
Vol. 96, Issue 49
w w w. T h e D a i l y A z t e c . c o m
San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1913
INDEX:
Tw i t t e r : T h e D a i l y A z t e c
sports ... 2
TODAY @ STATE Jazz Week Smith Recital Hall 12 p.m. SDSU Jazz Ensemble Smith Recital Hall 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
backpage / classifieds ... 4
Suspicious item prompts bomb scare Aztec Center, Adams Humanities and the transit center were evacuated SARAH GRIECO MANAGING EDITOR
A suspicious package was left near the lower level of the San Diego State trolley station at around 1 p.m. last Tuesday, prompting security to notify SDSU police. According to Capt. Lamine Secka, a bomb-sniffing canine was dispatched and alerted police of dangerous chemicals. The trolley station closed and both the Metro Arson Strike Team and San Diego Fire Department bomb squad were sent to the scene. SDSU police also closed Adams Humanities, Aztec Center and the Chipotle apartment complex near campus. SDSU Police Cpl. Brian Weaver said it took less than a half an hour to fully evacuate the buildings and surrounding area.
After the text was sent, hundreds of students, faculty and staff gathered near the police-lined perimeter. Those who needed to travel by trolley were shuttled to nearby stations. Students received an emergency text from SDSU’s mass notification system at 1:44 p.m., which stated SDSU police were investigating the area. It also alerted people to anticipate interrupted trolley service and to avoid the station area. After the text was sent, hundreds of students, faculty and staff gathered near the policelined perimeter. Those who needed to travel by
Keturah Oberst / Staff Photographer
trolley were shuttled to nearby stations. Sophomores Alex Accornero, Julie Gall and Alex Difrancesco had class in Adams Humanities at 2 p.m. and were surprised to see the building blocked off. Gall was the only one of the three students to receive the emergency text message, while Accornero saw the warning on Twitter and Difrancesco heard the announcement from the campus loudspeakers.
Associated Students President Grant Mack rushed through the crowd of his constituents, barely pausing to take in the scene and declined to offer any comment or words of comfort to students. At 3:50 p.m., Secka announced that all campus buildings were reopened and San Diego Metropolitan Transit System would resume normal service. MAST and the bomb squad deemed the
suspicious item, a bag, was safe. The dog had detected a two-part chemical apoxy, but it was not explosive in nature. Secka said a surveillance video from the station would be used in the investigation to find the individual who left the item. However, no one has been apprehended yet. The chemicals within the bag are still undetermined, but a bomb squad is working to determine the contents.
SJP discusses Israeli-Palestinian conflict The student organization hosted a screening of ‘Occupation 101’ TANYA HUANG CONTRIBUTOR
Many San Diego State students were outraged after receiving an e-mail earlier this month informing them of another tuition and fee increase. In light of another fee increase, some of those students expressed their concern for how their tax dollars are being put to use during the Students for Justice in Palestine’s screening of “Occupation 101” on Nov 18.
“The nearly $14,630 every one of 5.8 million Israelis had received from the U.S. government by Oct. 31, 1997, cost American taxpayers $23,241 per Israeli,” Retired foreign service officer Richard H. Curtiss stated. “That’s $116,205 for every Israeli family of five.” According to ifamericansknew.org, Congress provides at least $7 million per day in aid to Israel, more than any other country. “We’re the ones who are supporting (the occupation),” filmmaker Abdallah Omeish said. “Yet we know nothing about it.” “My financial aid got adjusted, and they’re sending more money to Israel,” treasurer of SJP Kavon Iraniha said. “It’s not that we’re just paying for it. (The government) is allocating things from student funding to (Israel) to commit these crimes. I believe if we tackle this issue, it’s basically like a domino effect; we could tackle a lot of human rights issues.”
“Simply just stop tax money to Israel,” journalist and founder of If Americans Knew Alison Weir suggested. “They reach and take money from your tuition.” Students who were previously unaware of the harsh treatment of the occupation victims were shocked and awed by the emotional testimonies they witnessed in the film. Sniffles could be heard in all corners of the dark classroom during the film screening. Some even stepped out during the most graphic scenes. Omeish and Weir were prepared for the film to be criticized and held a panel discussion after the screening, during which they answered questions from students and participants. The Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America stated in a film review, “The barrage of unsupportable
claims and misrepresentations suggest that the filmmakers regard their target audience, college-age Americans, as easily manipulated and so uninformed about the relevant history that they cannot recognize the film for what it is — unalloyed propaganda.” “I’m not telling you to believe this film,” Omeish told his audience. “Go and do your own research. If you don’t know anything, then you can’t do anything. Your effort is something that can make a difference.” Iraniha said state universities invest in some of the same companies that take part in the destruction of homes during the occupation, such as Caterpillar, a bulldozing company. Now that students are facing times of financial hardship, he hopes they will feel more inclined to learn about such issues and how their tax dollars are allocated.