WEATHER
Humorous ’Paul’ puts a spin on alien film genre
Listen to SJSU poet laureate Sally Ashton’s poetry at: www.spartandaily.com
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Daily
Volume 136, Issue 29
SJSU water-saving efforts make a splash with award Francisco Rendon Staff Writer
Photo: McClatchy Tribune
A rebel fighter celebrates on a smouldering tank Monday in the village of Zwinta, Libya, two days after U.S. and coalition forces imposed a no-fly zone over the country.
WORLD NEWS
U.S., coalition forces in standoff with Gadhafi supporters McClatchy Tribune BENGHAZI, Libya — Two days after U.S. and coalition forces imposed a no-fly zone over Libya, rebels moved Monday to retake the city of Ajdabiya, a crossroads in their fight to regain the territory they lost last week. Forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi still held the bulk of Ajdabiya, about 50 miles south of Benghazi, but rebels said they had entered the outskirts. Rebel forces said that after Ajdabiya, they would move to the oil terminal towns of Brega and Ras Lanuf, and the village of Bin Jawad, which they lost last week to Gadhafi loyalists, and then would tackle Gadhafi’s hometown of Sirte. But that seemed like an ambitious goal on Monday, for the forces in Ajdabiya were poorly armed and scattered, some coming to battle only with knives. The fall of Ajdabiya to Gadhafi’s forces Saturday triggered a wholesale exodus of Gadhafi opponents from Benghazi, which had become the rebel capital in eastern Libya. But when French fighter jets
bombed Gadhafi tanks here and the U.S. and Great Britain followed with Tomahawk cruise missiles and bomber attacks on Gadhafi’s antiaircraft defenses outside Tripoli, the rebels flooded back. The boost to rebel morale from the allied bombing strikes could be seen everywhere here. Residents who didn’t flee Saturday emerged from their homes for the first time in days. How far the allied bombers will go in supporting the rebel advance was unclear, however, and it isn’t certain that the disorganized and untrained rebel force would be able to retake the towns along Libya’s coastal highway without allied attacks on Gadhafi’s tanks and artillery. The war could well be headed to a stalemate. On Monday, the western city of Misrata sustained more attacks from pro-Gadhafi forces, which apparently were undeterred by the allies’ bombing campaign. U.S. Army Gen. Carter Ham, the commander of the U.S. Africa Command, which is responsible for Libya, told reporters Monday that the allies wouldn’t take sides in the conflict. The U.N. Security Council, which approved the imposition of the
no-fly zone last week, scheduled a closed-door session Monday to hear concerns from Russia, India and China over how the U.S., Britain and France had carried out the resolution. Despite the allied attacks, Benghazi seemed far emptier Monday than a few days ago, suggesting that not everyone is convinced the fighting here is over. The few shops that were open before the attack are now closed. Residents who remained had set up checkpoints near burned-out tanks and trucks, which rebels had abandoned as they fled Saturday. Residents took their children to the tanks and posed with them, sometimes planting a free Libya flag on the relics. Many suggested renaming the city’s main highway for French President Nicolas Sarkozy, conceding that pro-Gadhafi forces would have taken the city if France hadn’t mounted its air assault here Saturday. The road is currently named for Gamel Abdel Nasser, the Egyptian leader who supported Gadhafi’s revolt in 1969.
see LIBYA page 4
A coalition of organizations concerned with water issues in the Bay Area recently recognized SJSU with a Silicon Valley Water Conservation Award. The award, in the “organization” category, will be formally presented today at the Humane Society Silicon Valley in Milpitas. It is a recognition of SJSU’s efforts to reduce the amount of clean water wasted and to implement water recycling technology, said Peter Drekmeier, Bay Area program director for the Tuolumne River Trust, one of the organizations that presents the Silicon Valley Water Conservation Awards. “San Jose State University has done far more than any other organization to promote recycled water use,” Drekmeier said. “San Jose State University is not just one of our most impressive recipients this year, but in the history of the Silicon Valley Water Conservation Awards.” Katherine Cushing, associate professor of environmental studies and sustainability director for SJSU, said the award was a result of the attention SJSU has given this issue for some time. “We’re thrilled to have the university’s efforts be recognized,” she said. “I think that for over a decade, the university has really been a leader in recycled water.” Cushing said most of the credit should be given to Facilities Development and Operations, who put in most of the work in implementing these changes throughout the university. “It’s really our facilities people who do most of the work,” she said. In the past 10 years, SJSU has reduced its potable, or drinkable, water use by 40 percent, from 520 acre-feet per year in 2001 to 280 acre-feet per year in 2011, a difference of about 2,800 football fields, according to information from SJSU facilities and operations.
Professor fuses east and west in final art exhibition Leo Postovoit Staff Writer “I just look forward to traveling,” said Professor Arthur Kao. “I’ve been teaching too long and it’s time for me to retire.” “Miracles of Ink and Color,” on display in the second-floor exhibit gallery in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, is Kao’s last hurrah as a professor of art history. In his 22 years at SJSU and in his styling of ink paintings, his show blends the traditional influences of Eastern Asia and western Europe, borrowing from both Chinese painting and impressionism. All the paintings on display are for sale, and all proceeds will be donated to the library. “The landscapes have bright, vibrant colors,” said Natalie Panchenko, a freshman graphic design major and one of Kao’s students. “You can feel the warmth and movement in his work.”
Kao said his work blends the same type of inks used for hundreds of years in Asia on a paper made from rough rice reeds designed to free the motions that oil paintings freeze and let go the colors that watercolor paper mops up. “I layer the colors thick,” he explained. “Back home we were taught to do traditional paintings — very subtle.” A native of Taiwan, he grew up in the city of Changhua. At the age of 15, Kao began attending a local teaching college, called a normal school, in preparation for a career in education. He explained that he found his calling after meeting a mentoring professor taught him the conservative forms of Eastern art. “I fell in love with art there,” Kao said. With fundamentally different techniques from those taught in Western schools, Kao said he became an expert of the inkstick, Chinese ink and the other essential tools of the medium. After graduating from the normal school he
pursued a master’s degree in art history at National Taiwan University of Arts. The university is the oldest arts college in Taiwan and is home to many distinguished Taiwanese and Chinese alumni, including “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” Director Ang Lee. After graduating he taught at the university for several years. A visiting professor from Kansas University encouraged him to apply for a Ph.D. program in the United States. “I always wanted to go to America,” he said. “He drew up an application and then I went to Lawrence.” The export of Kao’s Asian traditional talents synergized with the Western influences in the United States produced the style that is uniquely his. “It is very zen in its nature — to have wis-
see ARTIST page 4
Energy analyst Jared Isaacson said the reduction has come largely from the campus’ efforts to use recycled water in watering the South Campus athletic fields, for flushing the toilets in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library and controlling the temperature of the chilled water tower, a part of campus cooling system. “There’s huge quantities used in these cooling applications,” he said. “Twenty million gallons (are used) in cooling campus athletic fields.” Recycled water is made available through the South Bay Water Recycling Program, which Isaacson said is an initiative brought about by the City of San Jose. The program makes available the option to pipe dirty water to the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant. From there, Isaacson said the water goes through “an extensive treatment process” and can be piped back to the university in a separate piping system and used in applications where the water will not be drunk. “We’re saving in the neighborhood of $100,000 per year in using the recycled water for these two functions, as compared to using potable water,” he said. “There’s significant cost savings.” Isaacson said the initial cost of installing a separate piping system is one of the barriers that prevent companies and organizations from using this program, as it can be expensive and time consuming. He also said the process is heavily regulated by the Department of Public Health to make sure the potable water and recycled water lines do not cross at any point. Purple signs saying “non-potable water” mark places where recycled water is being used, such as the South Campus athletic fields sprinkler system and should not be drunk, Isaacson said. The recent project to convert toilet-flushing water in the
see WATER page 2
CORRECTIONS • In Wednesday’s story titled “Presidential candidate thinks long term,” the quote “What is your stance on the importance of A1 athletics here at SJSU?” was misattributed to Shirley Reekie, chair of the kinesiology department. The quote should have been attributed to Sonja Lilienthal of the kinesiology department. • In a story from March 14 titled “Persian new year kicks off Iranian Studies Program,” Mahvash Guerami was the santour player, while Pezham Akhavass played the tombak drum.
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sPARTAN DailY
NEWS
Poet laureate’s mission: Bring poetry to people
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
CAMPUS IMAGE
Matthew Gerring Staff Writer
A creative writing professor at SJSU and incoming Santa Clara County poet laureate has made a name for herself in literary circles in a relatively short time. Just 12 years ago, Sally Ashton was taking classes with the man she is succeeding as poet laureate — SJSU professor emeritus Nils Peterson. “It’s been pretty exciting,” Ashton said. “Learning poetry, teaching poetry and working together, and now taking over his good work when he comes to the end of his twoyear term.” Ashton received her Bachelor’s degree from SJSU in 2001, where she took classes with Peterson through his last semester in 1999, and went on to receive a master of Fine Arts degree from Bennington College in Vermont. “I finally had time after doing a bunch of other things — life, marriage, kids, small busiPhoto Courtesy: SJSU ness…” she said. Since then, Ashton has published three SJSU lecturer Sally Ashton books, helped put on the first California Poetry Festival, began editing “Disquieting Muses part of Ashton’s job description as poet laureQuarterly,” an online art and poetry journal, ate. and started teaching. According to the Santa Clara County webShe began with private writing workshops site, the poet laureate will “act as an advocate which eventually led to teaching at SJSU. for poetry, literature, and the arts,” perform “It was really easy to connect with her as public readings and propose and lead a coma professor,” said Marena Domingo-Young, a munity project. former student in theatre arts. “She made the “It is going to be a project with an outreach material really relatable.” to people who aren’t poets,” Ashton said, but Domingo-Young said Ashton’s poems aren’t declined to go into detail. always what she would expect to hear from a “Not that it’s mysterious,” she said. professor. Ashton is the second person to hold the “She wrote one about Facebook and it was position — Peterson served the inaugural twokind of like a free-form prose poem, and I read year term from 2009-11. it,” Domingo-Young said. “It was weird to see Ashton said she started writing poetry a professor write about in high school, but Facebook. The way she stopped pursuing it sedid it, it was totally on riously. my level.” “It just became “She’s very creative something I would do as a professor — she now and then, and it knows how to get peowas not probably until ple excited about poI had some time to reetry,” said Persis Karim, ally focus on reading Ashton’s colleague and a lot and studying poformer professor. etry.” Karim said she can’t She said her poetry think of anyone more is influenced by Robert qualified for the posiFrost and Emily Dicktion. inson, and she’s cur“She has her own rently reading Charles unique style and voice,” Simic, Russell Edson Karim said. “She’s an and Brigit Pegeen Kelly. excellent candidate for She said her poems the poet laureate beare inspired by obsercause she’s really made vations — “It could be a commitment to poetother text I see, it could ry in San Jose and Santa be a particular piece of Clara County.” artwork, it could be an Persis Karim D o m i n g o - Yo u n g overheard snippet of Associate Professor, said that thanks to Ashconversation.” English ton, she is now pursuAshton said her ing her own interest in poetry is composed poetry, taking a poetry through careful compicourse, going to open lation and process. mics and downloading poetry podcasts, which “I compile fragments and sort through she said is “kind of nerdy.” them,” she said. “For the majority of times, I’ve “It’s a lot of fun for me to try to get people gotten some bit of insight that I will put down engaged,” Ashton said. as a little thought, and when I have time to She said she enjoys watching people begin write, it’s been brewing.” to make connections with poetry, and experiAshton said she doesn’t often get to work ence “this kind of — not necessarily magic, but from pure inspiration. this kind of a connection to who they are in a “I don’t have the lifestyle right now that alform that maybe they thought didn’t appeal to lows me to write only by being struck,” she said. them or apply to them at all.” Ashton will take the poet laureate post on The ability to engage people with poetry is April 1, the beginning of National Poetry Month.
“She has her own unique style and voice. She is an excellent candidate for the poet laureate because she’s really made a commitment to poetry.”
WATER
From Page 1 King Library to use recycled water received aid from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, which was enacted by Congress in response to the economic crisis in 2009. “SJSU was one of the early adopters (of this program),” Isaacson said. “We’ve continued operating using recycled water and we’re expanding its use here on campus.” Cushing said SJSU plans to convert most of its main campus landscaping to recycled water this summer. Drekmeier said recycled
water’s practicality extends beyond immediate and environmental benefits. “People consider recycled water climate-proof because a lot of the water we count on now might not be available in the future because of climate change,” he said. “San Jose State University is helping to protect its future water assets. It is going to be in much better shape than organizations that really aren’t thinking ahead.” Evelyn Thorne, president of the SJSU environmental club, said she was glad SJSU is becoming sustainable. “I’m happy to hear 40 percent has been reduced — I hope the number goes up,” Thorne said. “What we do affects the Earth, and the
Earth affects us.” Isaacson said he felt that implementing the use of recycled water was important, but hoped the award would help spur the educational process and raise awareness of recycled water’s applications. “We want people to know what is going on — we want people to understand recycled water and not be afraid of it,” he said. “You look at the water and it’s not gross. You wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. “We figure you don’t really need to use the same water for drinking that you do for watering grass. This is a big step for San Jose State’s water conservation program.”
Photo: Michelle Terris / Spartan Daily
Students enjoy free food at the Associated Students House. The A.S. promoted its new scholarship program in which it is giving away awards totaling $81,500.
sPARTAN DailY
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
NEWS
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Photo: Vernon McKnight / Spartan Daily
Benoit Delaveau gives master thesis disertation to panel of judges in front of an environmental studies class Monday.
Student highlights film pollution in thesis defense Alex Wara Staff Writer Benoit Delaveau found a way to incorporate his love for photography and the environment. It was through his study of the two that he decided to base his thesis on them. Delaveau presented his master’s thesis defense to students and faculty on Monday in the Boccardo Business Complex. A master’s thesis defense is when a graduate student looking to obtain his or her master’s degree presents research in front of a panel who decides to accept or reject the student’s efforts. The student is asked questions regarding his or her work on the specific area of study and to explain the reasons for conducting research. After the defense the committee discusses whether the student has made a viable argument to obtain a degree. After a short meeting by the committee, Delaveau was successful in obtaining his master’s degree. “It’s fantastic,” he said. “It is not the end, but it is a very important day.” Prior to working on his thesis, Delaveau graduated from Ecole Louis Lumiere, one of the top photography schools in France. He also holds a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley in sociology and mass communications, with a minor in energy conservation. Delaveau presented his thesis work titled “Environmental impact of the Retail Photoprocessing Industry in Santa Clara County 1996 vs. 2006,” a project he worked on for three years. He focused on the harm that photoprocessing caused to the environment, including energy use, silver release and water consumption. Photoprocessing refers to when photos are printed onto paper using machines that are found at photo counters in stores, which was how most photos were printed prior to digital cameras. Through a series of PowerPoint slides Delaveau discussed the process’ environmental consumption starting at the photo lab, traveling through the water treatment plant and the
remains that flowed into the San Francisco Bay. Any harmful environmental materials that were not collected eventually ended up in the bay, one of the most noticeable of which was silver. Tiana Rae Tran, junior environmental studies major, attended the thesis defense and found it to be educational. “It was amazing, he was very detailed about all his work,” Tran said. “He brought up a lot of really good points that new technology will only bring up new environmental issues.” Delaveau found that the switch to digital produced a major change in the results. Because someone is now more likely to look at a photo on a computer screen rather than printing it out, Delaveau found a decrease in chemicals that were found in the area, as well as a decline of the amount of
photoprocessing machines. However, the amount of energy the photoprocessing machines used dropped slightly when comparing years because the machines still had to be kept active for the same amount of time. The two lab studies showed similar results except for what Delaveau referred to as Lab #2, which saw a drop in energy because the man who owned the photo shop turned off the machine more often than Lab #1 did. Although photoprocessing machines have declined since 1996 and the amount of silver released into the environment has dropped, Delaveau found that energy consumption is still a problem for the environment. He pointed to environmental factors such as the amount of energy it takes to view a photo on a computer
Photo: Vernon McKnight / Spartan Daily
Benoit Delaveau presents his findings to students and panel after three years of research on the effects photoprocessing to the environment. screen and the e-waste that consumer electronics produce. After the presentation Delaveau took questions from the committee before the announcement that he had received his masters. Gary Klee, a professor of
environmental studies who was part of the committee, knew Delaveau when he was a teacher’s assistant for him. “When he first came in he didn’t know what he wanted to do,” Klee said. “I suppose my major contribution was encouraging him to pursue
photography, which was his specialty.” Delaveau mentioned that working on a thesis has an array of emotions that someone goes through. “You have ups and downs,” he said “Hopefully you have more ups than downs.”
You are being honored... by the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
SPARTA GUIDE Sparta Guide is provided to students and faculty, free of charge. the deadline to submit is at noon, three working days prior to desired publication date. Entry forms are available in Spartan Daily, DBH 209. Entries can be e-mailed to spartandaily@casa.sjsu.edu titled “sparta guide.” Space restrictions may require editing or exclusion of submissions. Entry is not guaranteed. Entries are printed in order of which they are received.
Wednesday, March 23
6 - 8 p.m., King Library, Room 225/229 Cesar E. Chavez Community Action Center Proposal Writing Workshop Contact: Yan Yin Choy @ 408-427-1149 Space limited to first 70 RSVPs. Reserve at cccac@as.sjsu.edu.
Friday, April 8
10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Clark Hall statues garden Growing Roots of Wellness herb gardening workshop Contact: Yan Yin Choy @ 408-427-1149
Friday, April 29
6 p.m., Event Center 49th Annual Honors Convocation Contact: Jessica Larsen @ 408-924-2402
Phi Kappa Phi invites you to join the nation’s oldest, largest, and most selective honor society. If you’re a graduate student with a 4.0, senior with a 3.5, or second year junior with a 3.65 or higher... April 7th, 2011 is your last opportunity to accept your invitation!
Initiation Ceremony April 21st, 2011 at 5:00 P.M. at Engineering Building 189 Honoring Two Distinguished Award recipients, Chuck Davidson & Wiggsy Sivertsen
Saturday, May 14
6 p.m. - 12 a.m., Fourth Street Summit Center A Wish Come True gala by Delta Sigma Pi — Theta Chi chapter Contact: Arleen Cantor @ 650-740-5660
For more information visit: www.sjsu.edu/PhiKappaPhi
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NEWS
sPARTAN DailY
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
BUSINESS NEWS
AT&T merger tests Obama’s ties to business sector McClatchy Tribune
Photo: Vernon McKnight / Spartan Daily
Professor Arthur Kao’s artwork is a blend of Chinese traditionalism and American postmodernism. It is on display on the second floor of the King Library.
ARTIST
From Page 1 dom,” said engineering lecturer Jack McKellar. “It’s rare to execute such forms in ink: large brushes executing strokes.” McKellar, a Zen Buddhist and fan of Kao’s works, described how the works on display represent solid art. “There’s a lot of movement in art,” he said. “It moves from inside you, outward.” But just like zen art, McKellar said, it’s not about the execution of basic movement. “(The art) is a slice of life,” he said. “It’s clearer.” After Kao finished his Ph.D. he taught at Kansas, then Hong Kong. He then officially immigrated to the United States, and spent his time as a visiting professor around what he describes as “half of the world,” traveling from art universities in Tokyo to the art program at Princeton University in New Jersey. After the lectures and residencies abroad, his life became rooted. He married and had three children. Kao took a professorship at SJSU and has taught art history, usually with a focus in Asian art, since 1988. He only has one lingering unfilled desire. “I never taught my brush styles anywhere,” Kao said. “From what I know there is no accredited course anywhere on the style in which I paint.” Kao said if the university ever asked him to teach a course on his blended style, he likely would, and that he encourages his interested students to let the SJSU art department know of their interests. “I recently did a demo in one of my Asian art history courses,” he said. “The students were amazed. They wanted more.” Kao’s current plan, though, is not to teach any time soon — he’s about to travel. “I recently went to New Zealand and northern Europe,” he said. “I found amazing inspiration for my art. I look forward to wherever I go next. I want to take a cruise and paint pictures of my destinations.” Still, Kao said what the future holds for him is yet to come — just as his style has been a fusion of East and West, old and new, his vibrancy will persist. “I love blending the colors,” Kao said. “It puts a smile on my face.”
LIBYA
From Page 1 The scars from the fighting went beyond the bombed-out buildings, bullet holes and charred rebel trucks. Rebels had suddenly become distrustful of those around them after the discovery Saturday that many pro-Gadhafi forces came from Benghazi’s own population. Young men set up neighborhood watch groups to search for Gadhafi loyalists and fend off another surprise attack. It remained unclear who was governing the liberated east. Many members of the National Libyan Council had fled to nearby eastern cities and even to neighboring Egypt. The council leader, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, was in nearby Baida, his hometown. The council’s Benghazi headquarters was closed.
Photo: Vernon McKnight / Spartan Daily
Taiwan native Arthur Kao is retiring after 22 years of teaching art history.
Photo: Vernon McKnight / Spartan Daily
Arthur Kao uses watercolor to convey an interpretation of man and woman’s connection with the Japanese Sun God.
WASHINGTON — AT&T Inc.’s proposed $39 billion purchase of T-Mobile USA puts the Obama administration in a bind as it tries to mend fences with a business community still upset over health care and financial regulatory overhauls. President Barack Obama has tried to be more friendly to corporate America as he urges companies to boost their hiring to reduce the high unemployment rate. He also wants wireless Internet to be expanded to far-flung rural areas, something the acquisition could foster. But the Obama administration already is facing pressure from fellow Democrats and public interest groups to reject the deal, which would create a wireless behemoth and result in two companies — AT&T and Verizon Wireless — controlling 70 percent of the cellular telephone market. Consumer advocates warn that the combination would lead to higher prices for consumers, less innovation and even job losses through consolidation. And it could open the door to Verizon making a bid for Sprint Nextel Corp., now the fourth-largest provider, or to Sprint trying to gobble up smaller players. For those reasons, analysts said AT&T faces tough odds in securing the neces-
sary regulatory approval from the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department during reviews that are expected to last a year. “This is without question the biggest merger challenge the antitrust division has faced during the Obama administration,” said Robert Litan, a former Justice Department antitrust official under President Bill Clinton. He said AT&T has an “uphill climb” to convince regulators that the transaction won’t reduce competition, though the Obama administration has yet to turn down a major corporate deal. AT&T, one of the nation’s most politically influential companies, is poised for battle. AT&T spent $15.4 million lobbying Washington last year, the eighth-highest of all corporations. And it has ties to the White House — Obama’s chief of staff, William Daley, is a former president of SBC Communications Inc., which purchased AT&T in 2005, creating the current telecom giant. Unlike T-Mobile, AT&T is largely unionized and has support for the deal from the Communications Workers of America and the AFL-CIO, two influential Democratic constituencies. And AT&T said that as part of the deal, it would expand its next generation wireless service, known as 4G, to 46.5 million more customers than planned — including T-Mo-
bile’s 34 million subscribers. The service would reach 95 percent of the U.S. population, including rural communities and small towns, helping achieve goals set by Obama and Federal Communications Commission to connect “every part of America to the digital age,” AT&T said. To counter concerns about the merger, AT&T also is predicting better wireless service for its customers. Lawmakers aren’t yet sold on the deal, given the increased industry consolidation that would take place. House and Senate committees have promised hearings. Analysts and antitrust experts said any approval would have to come with tough conditions, such as forcing the new company to give up some of its airwaves in certain markets to allow for continued competition. The FCC also could require AT&T to abide by tough rules guaranteeing open Internet access on its expanded wireless network, even though FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski last year pushed through so-called net neutrality rules that angered many Internet providers and congressional Republicans. Such conditions usually aren’t permanent, but still could demonstrate that open Internet access isn’t an onerous burden for wireless companies, said Mark Cooper, director of research for the Consumer Federation of America.
TECH 5
sPARTAN DailY
Tuesesday, March 22, 2011
TECH COMMENTARY
Three dimensions of mediocrity Nate Morotti Staff Writer
Photo illustration: Brian O’Malley
Wireless routers such as this one found in Campus Village Building B are the primary access points for residents using wireless Internet in their dorms.
Campus Village WiFi shows poor performance Nic Aguon Staff Writer The primary Internet service provided at Campus Village struggles to keep up with Internet connection speeds found elsewhere on campus. The basic Internet service in Campus Village can only be accessed through modems installed in each of the residences located throughout both Campus Village Buildings B and C. To connect to the Internet in Campus Village, residents have to use an ethernet cable. “It’s sad that we have to pay for upgraded Internet when we are paying for everything else,” said CVC R.A. Caitlyn Ybarra. “It’s hard to do homework because it takes forever to upload and download assignments as well as other course material.” Although the residential rooms have to utilize modems to access the Internet, some of the common areas in Campus Village have high-speed wireless Internet access. However, high-speed Internet access is installed specifically in those areas for meetings or conferences that off-campus and oncampus groups can use for a fee. Each bedroom in Campus Village comes standard with a modem that tops out at 512 kilobytes per second symmetrically, according to SJSU’s campus housing website. This means that the Internet connection speed sends and receives signals at the same speed. CVA community assistant Jannie Archangel said that although wireless Internet is not available in student rooms, the Internet speed upgrade to five megabytes per second from one to three megabytes per second last year was a significant improvement.
Archangel said wireless Internet service has never been considered in Campus Village residences since University Housing Services are trying to keep the costs down. Ybarra said the Internet
gaming, according to the UTS website. “Even at $25 a month, it’s just not fast enough,” said Weston Furia, a freshman mechanical engineering major. “They should offer a 10 megabyte-per-second upgrade instead of 5 mbps.” Furia said the only major problem with the Internet service in Campus Village is that there are too many people using the same connection. “It’s an inconvenience to rearrange my furniture just to be able to go on the Internet,” he said. “So one of my roommates installed a wireless router and shares his connection with the rest of us.” Furia said residents should not pay for upgraded Internet and that it should come standard since SJSU is in the Silicon Valley. Undeclared freshman Mason Williams said the Internet connection is decent and functional until his roommates start playing video games online. Online gaming requires the use of Internet bandwidth and with several residents playing, it adds up. According to UTS, its goal is to provide cuttingedge technologies to their clients at reasonable prices. UTS currently provides service to more than 3,000 students and residences on campus. Overall, students feel the Internet connection in Campus Village needs to be upgraded or refined to better suit its users.
“It’s an inconvenience to rearrange my furniture just to be able to go on the Internet.” Weston Furia Mechanical engineering
connection overall in her room at CVC is unreliable and sometimes makes her frustrated. She mentioned that there are times the Internet just stops working when she needs it most. Despite the slow connection, students can upgrade to faster connection speeds for a fee. All students have to do is contact SJSU’s University Technology Services. For $24.99 per month, students can purchase the five megabyte-per-second Internet speed increase. The speed increase targets hardcore Internet users and is for downloading and online
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DIANETICS
THE MODERN SCIENCE OF MENTAL HEALTH
I recently went to see a movie at my local movie theater, a noble endeavor to be sure. When I arrived I noticed that the movie I was going to see was playing in two different theaters, one shown in the regular, 2-D way, and one shown in the 3-D format. I also noticed the significant price hike between the two. The experience left me with one thought — 3-D is killing the film industry. The way 3-D imagery works is deviously simple. The human brain takes in images through its two eyes, which each send different packets of information back to the brain. The brain then compares the information and develops a three-dimensional image. 3-D movies work by taking advantage of this function of the brain. The twodimensional movie is played slightly out of focus, then the movie-goer’s specialized glasses refine the blurry image so the brain can interpret it as a 3-D image popping out of the screen. 3-D is a clever piece of engineering, but not one the movie industry needs. The 3-D gag was first used way back in the 1980s to draw a crowd to the b-movie that producers knew wasn’t going to sell very well, because if you can’t give the audience a good movie, then you can at least distract them from the fact that they are watching a bad movie.
This is the exact same tactic that they are using today. Would anybody have gone to see “The Last Airbender” or “Alice in Wonderland” had they not been presented in 3-D? Probably, but they certainly wouldn’t have made as much money as they did.
“People need to start seeing 3-D technology for what it is — a gimmick.” When I went to go see “Alice in Wonderland” I felt rather cheated after paying the extra few dollars to be able to see Johnny Depp in weird makeup pop out of the screen at me. I even saw the film a second time, this time in boring old 2-D and felt the film was much improved without the distraction of 3-D enhancement. Hollywood isn’t content just to leave this phenomenon where it is. My heart broke a little when Lucas Arts Inc., a company which has already hurt me three time before, announced that they will be re-releasing all six of the Star Wars films in 3-D starting next year. This makes me worried about what other classics I will see cannibalized by this format in the future.
Should we all be looking forward to Charles Foster Kane hurling newspapers at audience members’ faces, or the Chief putting that pillow over our heads in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest?” And it’s not just the theaters we should be worried about. This technology is starting to seep into the home enwvironment as well, with the advent of 3-D televisions and gaming systems, such as Nintendo’s upcoming handheld console the 3DS. Video games are a special case in the issue of 3-D device, because unlike movies and television, the introduction of 3-D to games can change the actual experience you get from it, but the problem comes from the video game industry’s ability to use the tool correctly. If game developers can actually introduce an aspect to a game that not only integrates 3-D visuals into its gameplay, but also makes the feature a positive point for the game then I am all for it. If I’m going to be paying an extra $20 a game just to see pixelated images look like they’re in front of me, then I have a problem. The fact of the matter is that if three-dimensional technology doesn’t bring anything to the table for these media, there is no way that it will make the experience any better. People have to start seeing 3-D technology for what it is — a gimmick.
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sPARTAN DailY
A&E
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
MOVIE REVIEW
Humorous ‘Paul’ puts a spin on alien film genre Daniel Herberholz Senior Staff Writer With an extraterrestrial twist on the road trip genre, “Paul� tugs at the heartstrings while tickling the funny-bone. A script filled with comedy and purpose and a multitude of guest appearances made for a heartwarming, though not groundbreaking, flick. The film, written by “Shaun of the Dead� and “Hot Fuzz� stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, does a decent job of weaving together the story of two British geeks who happen upon a little green alien and help him try to find his way home. After enjoying a weekend at the famous Comic-Con in San Diego, science fiction writer Clive (played by Frost) and his friend Graeme (played by Pegg) embark on an RV tour of UFO hotspots such as Area 51 and Roswell. Soon after visiting the Black Mailbox, a landmark on the outskirts of Area 51, the two friends witness a highway car crash. When they search the wreckage they are welcomed by a small creature lighting a cigarette — yes, hilariously, the alien smokes. Clive immediately faints before the alien can introduce himself as Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen). Rogen’s laid-back baritone voice lends an unexpected but unmistakably lovable aspect to the title character — with the animators adding some Rogen-esque facial movement for flavor. Graeme asks if the alien will conduct an anal probe on the two friends, a common occurrence
in alien movies, and Paul cracks “Why does everyone ask that? What am I, harvesting farts?� Paul conveys to Graeme that he merely needs assistance in avoiding “the big guy,� otherwise known as the U.S. government, in an attempt to return to his home planet. Graeme agrees to bring Paul aboard the RV. Agent Zoil (played by Jason Bateman) is in hot pursuit of Paul, who escaped from captivity in Area 51 with the help of an inside man, because his boss intends to kill the alien to experiment on his body. Bateman is a smooth operator, portraying a secret-keeping, hellbent agent with perfection. The roles of brainless sidekick agents were filled by Bill Hader, who you can’t help but love, and Joe Lo Gruglio, whose idiocy induces laughs. Once Clive awakens, Paul tells him and Graeme that he looks so much like aliens in pop culture because his face has been used as the image for aliens since he landed in Wyoming 60 years prior. In that time it seems Paul has picked up on that culture, as he makes several funny impressions of famous aliens throughout the film. These references kept the levity of the movie alive, allowing it to acknowledge that it was one of many films in the alien genre while separating itself with a self-referential approach. Paul also reveals his two extraterrestrial powers — invisibility while holding his breath and healing via molecular manipulation. These, combined with the alien’s inclination to smoke marijuana make him the coolest extraterres-
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This road trip film, released Friday, boasts Seth Rogen as Paul, an alien stranded on Earth. trial since Stitch. Eventually, Zoilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s boss shows up â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ironically played by Sigourney Weaver, star of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Alienâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and chaos ensues. This guest appearance highlights Pegg and Frostâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s use of fellow celebrities for comedic purposes. Others in the film include Jeffrey Tambor, Jane Lynch and â&#x20AC;&#x153;XFilesâ&#x20AC;? star Blythe Danner. Pegg and Kristen Wiig (who played Ruth) had an adorable chemistry, encapsulating a geekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest dream of getting the girl without changing personality. Director Greg Mottola, known
for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Superbad,â&#x20AC;? pieces the duoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s script together well. Mottola does not take the film too seriously or sell its inspirational motives short. Paul advises Clive to use the extraterrestrial experience to encourage his writing and tells Graeme to be himself. Mottola keeps it simple, avoiding overdone camera wizardry and instead brings a crisp vision to the screen. The movie also boasts a great soundtrack, using everything from Marvin Gaye to Electric Light Orchestra, the B-52s to a cowboy
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swing version of the cantina song from â&#x20AC;&#x153;Star Wars.â&#x20AC;? The rendition was an amazing touch, perhaps a little out of place for a random Wyoming tavern but completely in line with the filmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nerdy attitude. Frost and Pegg combined to form a fantastic duo, a bromance without much romancing necessary. While â&#x20AC;&#x153;Paulâ&#x20AC;? will not go down as a comedic classic, it does break the mold of road trip movies, combining the genre with more nerdy fare to create a sassy and sweet cinematic endeavor.
sPARTAN DailY
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
OPINION
Don’t give in to the hysteria, leave iodide pills on the shelves A natural state for humans is the fear of advice of the hundreds of scientific reports the unknown. We are threatened by things that say a nuclear waste epidemic won’t take we don’t understand. over the world. Still, Americans seem to believe the large Several examples come to mind, such as radiation concentrations will take over our AIDS being spread by simple human touch homeland like the Black Plague and have inand the end of the world through Y2K. sisted on buying potassium iodide pills. In these situations, we were simply overAccording to a Vancouver Sun article, inreacting and so is the case with Americans dividual pills are being sold for as much as rushing to buy potassium iodide pills in fear $15 on eBay, and the demand for them conof radiation exposure from Japan’s damaged tinues to skyrocket. nuclear reactors. According to the U.S. Food and Drug AdNumerous reports have confirmed that some of Japan’s 55 reactors have experienced ministration, the pills can help prevent raJoey Akeley explosions, in some cases releasing large diation-induced cancer, but if used in high Akeley’s Alley amounts of radiation. doses they could have side effects, including More than 200,000 people living in Japan a diseased thyroid gland. have been evacuated in fear of overexposure to the nuclear It’s possible that Americans taking the pills is a gamble waste. that might help save them from exposure to lethal radiation. People living in close proximity to the blown-up reactors But there is also a strong possibility that the pills will be should evacuate immediately. useless and instead make people sick in the process. But the chance that large amounts of radiation will travel This isn’t to say that America should ignore what has thousands of miles and pollute U.S. shores is similar to a happened in Japan completely. large asteroid destroying San Jose State today. The entire world needs to learn from what happened in According to an article from the New York Times, health Japan and begin preparing for its own potential nuclear diexperts said the plume’s radiation had been diluted enor- sasters. mously in its journey of thousands of miles and that — at After all, California in particular could have a major least for now, with concentrations so low — its presence earthquake in the coming years, and if one of our nuclear will have no health consequences in the United States. reactors is damaged, we would be facing the same problems There’s always a miniscule chance that the hundreds of as Japan. scientific reports on the spread of radiation are wrong and Until our homeland is exposed to lethal radiation levels, the radiation will cause long-lasting health problems for the don’t rush to buy the overpriced potassium iodide pills. entire world. After all, science is always evolving and new experiments “Akeley’s Alley” is a weekly column appearing on Tuesdays. can prove old theories to be wrong. But for now, I’ll take the Joey Akeley is a Spartan Daily Copy Editor.
Important: The ability to think for oneself As we pass through our someone else has aldaily lives, we seem to shut ready pressed the butout the world around us, ton. I’ve observed a potentially to the decay of group waiting as long the world around us. as 10 minutes before We live as individuals they cross. The crowd in the collective and inwill build to hundividualistic group that is dreds, even on days society. On a daily basis we like today in rainy look to conform to othweather. ers’ behaviors so we can This bunch and achieve the status of being expectation to “just part of the “in-group” that keep moving” is also Leo Postovoit is society. another example of Multimedia Editor What’s intriguing, consensus logic — though, is the search for herd behavior. This is definition of the rules and where the individuals parameters by individuals to try to set in a group move and act together withrules for their own behavior. out any planned direction. We call it the search for consensus, This example borrows from last and without it we are like a bunch of week’s Spartapalooza event: how the loose ends that seek gathering. role of the individual student in the Since we’re looking to someone else’s school culture functions in the larger ideas, we’re tuning out our own opin- picture without any objection to clearly ions on the matter. Not participating or detrimental events. not speaking means some seriously bad Spartapalooza highlighted how peothings can happen. ple should be moderate in their alcohol This dependence on others to solve consumption and how men and women the problem is sometimes called the by- should not try to focus their defining stander effect, where individuals do not identity on body image. offer help or intervention in an emerUnreal and illogical expectations can gency situation. have damaging emotional, physical and Here are some examples where the social effects: though they persist in the bystander effect comes into full effect. microcosm that is the university, the Crossing the intersection of Ninth and students fail to see that actions have Santa Clara streets is a daily habit for consequences. The event encouraged many — one of SJSU’s parking struc- personal restraint by only moderately tures is just north of the crosswalk. consuming alcohol and to find definiAs groups amass they depend upon tion of self in terms other than body someone else to press the button to sig- image. nal the traffic controller to allow the I saw several heavily intoxicated stupedestrian crossings. Everyone believes dents at a party the same day wearing
the very same free T-shirts that were given out with these messages. This situational irony is just another instance where people knowingly ignore their ability to think for themselves. The final and most severe example of consensus behavior is groupthink, a term coined by Yale psychologist Irving Janis. This occurs when the group, often consciously, makes faulty decisions because group pressures lead to a deterioration of “mental efficiency, reality testing and moral judgment.” In the news lately we have an example where the United States just chose not to act. The U.S. serves as a de facto world police by employing the single largest and most powerful standing army in the world and housing the United Nations on its own soil. Not acting — or not acting soon enough — can have implications. Attacks by Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi has bodies lining the street. The now-declared war against Libya, if declared a few weeks ago, could have prevented thousands of people from dying. If the United States chose to play a more active role sooner, innocent Libyan citizens would have never had to face bombings from their own dictator. Though it may feel like rocking the boat, it is our duty. The political blockades for acting or not acting and when to do something can be frustrating, but it is a key duty as free-thinkers to think for ourselves. We are granted the liberty of individual thought in our society, and we are given the opportunity to take hold or forgo this freedom.
Comment on any of these opinions at spartandaily@gmail.com
7
Stop forcing me to grow up too quickly “What are your plans for after college?” For me, this is the single worst question I can be asked. Every time I attend a family function or see an old friend this subject somehow surfaces, bringing with it the uncertainties surrounding the impending doom known as graduation. While graduating from college is an honor that I will be extremely proud of, I can’t help but feel a crushing weight that I have to decide what I am going to do with the rest of my life. The amount of people around me taking the next big step in their life only intensifies this pressure. Take my family, for example. I have 19 cousins and I am the fourth youngest. All of the eldest children are currently living the American Dream. In the last year, three of my cousins have gotten engaged, two had babies and now my sister is pregnant. A few of my cousins are on their fourth child and I haven’t even graduated from college. My family members aren’t the only ones moving on with their lives. In my tiny hometown the harsh reality is if you don’t escape to college you end up doing one of two things: working seasonal tourism jobs or getting married and having children. The majority of the people settling down are at least two years younger than me. These people were still in high school long after I became independent and are now a step or two ahead of me. In our modern society, the younger generations are constantly being encouraged, pushed even, to take the next step in their lives. The voices of our elders are echoing in our ears urging us forward — go to college, get a job, get married, have children, be successful. It’s all just a little stressful. I have enough of a challenge completing my classes while working and maintaining a social life without having to worry about what I am going to do with the rest of my life. Mentors and teachers are constantly asking me what
Jaimie Collins Ya Know What I Mean? I’m going to do next. In high school, the questions were formed around what college I was going to attend. In college, they were more targeted toward what I was going to major in, where I was going to intern, whether I’m going to graduate school or where I want to have my first job. Why is it that I have to make a decision on how I want to spend the next 50 years? What is wrong with just living in the now? I completely understand it is smart to plan ahead, to view my future and follow a path. I am currently doing that but I can only plan for so much and most of the time, the plans I make for my life end up getting changed. As a freshman, I started out as a nursing major and somewhere along the road I turned into a journalist. It’s a complete mystery where that switch came from, but the point is that I never planned to be where I am now and I am sure that will be true in the years to come. I have no idea what I am doing after college. I don’t know when I want to get married or when I want children. I don’t know where I will be living this summer, let alone a year from now, and I don’t know where I will end up working. What I do know is I am determined to enjoy each day and will confront those lifealtering decisions when the time comes.
“The voices of our elders are echoing in our ears urging us forward — go to college, get a job, get married, have children, be successful.”
“Ya Know What I Mean?” is a weekly column appearing on Tuesdays. Jaimie Collins is a Spartan Daily A&E Editor.
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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@ gmail.com or mailed to the Spartan Daily Opinion Editor, San Jose, CA 95192-0149. 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 Communication or SJSU. The Spartan Daily is a public forum.
8
sPARTAN DailY
SPORTS
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
GYMNASTICS
Greer named WAC Freshman of the Year Melissa Sabile Sports Editor Freshman Julia Greer was recognized as Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year on Saturday night after the completion of the WAC Championships. Greer, who was rejected a scholarship in gymnastics by a number of different schools, was given an opportunity to compete on the balance beam for SJSU. “Julia’s is just a story that’s unbelievable,” said head coach Wayne Wright. “She was our last recruit. She was turned down by a lot of schools, as far as a scholarship.” Wright said he needed a beam specialist and thought Greer was really good. “Julia was just phenomenal,” he said. “I said, ‘let’s give her a scholarship.’ She did beam and as the season went on, I said, ‘Julia, you’ll be Freshman of the Year.’” Greer said she thought she was going to be walking-on to the Sacramento State team, and was not promised a spot on the beam lineup.
She said Wright gave her a chance that no one else would. “I thought I was going to go to Sac State, but obviously with a scholarship I was much more convinced,” Greer said. “He believed in me so I wanted to go here.”
“She’s just doing an outstanding job at representing San Jose State, especially as a freshman.” Wayne Wright Head Coach Wright said Greer turned out to be an asset to the team on more than just the balance beam. “We didn’t expect her to compete floor,” he said. “She ended up doing floor for us and being very consistent
and just doing a great job for us.” Greer said Wright had joked about the award with her, but she hadn’t given it much thought. “Wayne kept teasing me and telling me how I would be,” she said. “I wasn’t sure but I was really excited about it. I worked really hard all year and I’m really proud of this.” Wright said he believes that winning this award will help Greer grow as a gymnast. “She’s very talented,” he said. “I think anytime you win Freshman of the Year, it puts you in a position that you can get better and I think that Julia will continue to get better.” Greer said she is grateful for her spot on the team and proud of her award. “It’s been a good experience and I just love doing beam and floor,” she said. “It’s so much fun here.” Wright said he is pleased with her success and how well she has competed on the two events this season. “We’re really proud of her tonight,” he said. “She’s just doing an outstanding job at representing San Jose State, especially as a freshman.”
Photo: Vernon McKnight / Spartan Daily
Freshman Julia Greer performs on the balance beam during the WAC Championships on Saturday.
COMMENTARY
Spartan football team looking to redeem itself in 2011 season Melissa Sabile Sports Editor The SJSU football team is looking to pick itself back up for the 2011 season after a 1-12 record in the program’s first year under head coach Mike MacIntyre. The Western Athletic Conference football schedules have been posted and though the Spartans are not facing the Bowl Championship Series champions this
year, the team’s schedule may be just at tough as last year's. The team will first play No. 4 Stanford University for the 65th time in history in hopes for a better outcome than the school’s last two meetings at Stanford Stadium. In 2009, the Spartans suffered a 42-17 loss to the Cardinal sparked by two Toby Gerhart touchdown runs. The Spartans had a mere 228 passing yards, compared to Stanford’s 382.
2011 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Date
Opponent
Location
Time
Sept. 3 Sept. 10
Stanford
Stanford, Calif.
TBA
UCLA
Pasadena, Calif.
TBA
Sept. 17
Nevada*
Spartan Stadium
1 p.m.
Sept. 24
New Mexico State*
Spartan Stadium
1 p.m.
Oct. 1
Colorado State
Fort Collins, Colo.
TBA
Oct. 8
Brigham Young
Provo, Utah
TBA
Oct. 15
Hawaii*
Spartan Stadium
1 p.m.
Oct. 22
BYE
Oct. 29
Louisiana Tech*
Ruston, La.
TBA
Nov. 5
Idaho*
Spartan Stadium
1 p.m.
Nov. 12
Utah State*
Logan, Utah
TBA
Nov. 19
Navy
Spartan Stadium
1 p.m.
Fresno, Calif.
TBA
Nov. 26
Fresno State* Home games
Away games
*Conference games
The second game in line for SJSU is another Pac-12 matchup, as the team will head to Pasadena, Calif., to face UCLA. Though UCLA finished with a record of 4-8, the team was still able to manage at least 24 points per game — SJSU was only able to earn more than 24 points in three games last season. SJSU will host its home opener against Nevada and the Spartans have more to prove than ever against the Wolf Pack. In 2009, the Spartans were stomped by the Wolf Pack at Spartan Stadium, losing 62-7. Last year, the Wolf Pack ran over the team again, but not without a fight as the final score in Reno was 35-13. Without the deadly arm and long stride of quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who graduated, Nevada will have to find strength within other facets of its team. The Spartans will look for a win against the New Mexico State Aggies the week following Nevada, and after last season’s last-minute, heartbreaking 29-27 loss, SJSU will be looking for revenge.
Next, SJSU will hit the road again for two consecutive away games against nonconference opponents Colorado State and BYU. Following the roadtrip, the Spartans return for the Homecoming game against Hawaii. In their last matchup, the Spartans were unable to score more than one touchdown against the Warriors. SJSU will have time to rest after the Homecoming game and will have a bye week before three more conference matchups, starting with Louisiana Tech at the Bulldogs' home stadium. The Idaho Vandals will
make their way to Spartan Stadium the first week of November to take on SJSU. As the Spartans last game in the 2010 season, the 26-23 loss in overtime was perhaps the most gut-wrenching loss of the season. Utah State is the next conference game and SJSU will travel to Logan, Utah, with aspirations to beat yet another team that edged the Spartans last season, this time by four points. The team’s second-to-last game will be its last nonconference opponent as the Spartans will go up against the Naval Academy on Nov. 19.
The Spartans final game of the season will be a much anticipated game as SJSU will travel to face its rival, Fresno State. The Bulldogs were able to beat the Spartans in their own home last season with a 33-18 final score. With Boise State no longer in the WAC, the team back in action with 85 scholarships, a 1 p.m. kickoff time for home games, a full year of recruitment under MacIntyre and a new hopeful true freshman quarterback, the Spartans are aiming for a winning record this season and a way to reinvent themselves and Spartan football.