HOMECOMI HOMECO MIN NG 2010 Support the Spartans in Saturdayʼs Homecoming game by using the back page of todayʼs Spartan Daily.
INSIDE NEWS • Professor urges collaborative solutions to social problems 2 • Hopeful students seek out opportunities at job fair 2 • Historical Homecomings 3
Thursday, September 30, 2010
spartandaily.com
Volume 135, Issue 18
Homecoming festivities foster student fellowship ALEXANDRA RUIZ-HUIDOBRO
A&E
Staff Writer
• Local indie band chases stardom 4
SPORTS • Spartans face Aggies for Homecoming 5 • Spartan Briefs: Men’s and women’s golf 5
OPINION
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OUTSIDE
Bringing back old traditions and creating new ones — this is what Homecoming 2010 aspires to achieve and much more, said the executive director of the SJSU Alumni Association. Paul Richardson said Homecoming is about Spartans, recognizing past students and celebrating present students. “We want our students to take ownership over their week,” he said. “It’s their week and alumni’s week too.” Junior kinesiology major Michelle Avendano said she just transferred from a junior college and isn’t sure what she should expect in regards to Homecoming week. “I’m excited but I don’t really know what it’s about,” she said. The Homecoming festivities started off Monday with free muffins handed out at parking garages along with a schedule of homecoming events and will end with the Homecoming football game, Richardson said. He said Interim President Kassing brought back the tradition of Homecoming four years ago during his initial term. Kassing then brought together a team to create a strategic plan that would enhance the student body experience and its success, both inside and outside the classroom, Richardson said. “And as part of that, looking at the homecoming experience and engaging alumni back and also providing a series of events for our students,” he said. Two of the old traditional Homecoming events were brought back, Richardson said. “Back in the ’50s and ’60s they were called pushcart races,” he said. “It’s part of Greek Week now. “Greek Week, actually, does Greek Olympics and depending on the year, they do a similar type of pushcart race, they use chariots or, I think this year they are going to do wheelbarrow instead.” Another old tradition that has been brought back is the old bonfire, which
PHOTO: DONOVAN FARNHAM| SPARTAN DAILY
• The old ‘too much caffiene’ defense 6 • Growing into one’s face 7 • Immigration issue gets Colbert ‘bump’ 7 • Police officer abused his power 7
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Alpha Phi member Caitlin Leathers holds the legs of sorority sister, Amanda Blass, as they wheelbarrow race against Gian Winzer of Alpha Tau Omega and Sarah Ngo of Alpha Omicron Pi on Wednesday, Sept. 29.
Richardson said will be done differently. “We are not going to be able to build this huge bonfire in the middle of Tower Lawn, so there’s a huge butane fire that they bring in,” he said. “There’s a main stage and they also bring in fire dancers and it’s all sponsored and coordinated by A.S.” Brittany Erickson, director of programming affairs for Associated Students, said the Fire on the Fountain is a great way to celebrate Homecoming. “(Homecoming) brings students together and reminds them that it’s not
BREAKING NEWS PHOTO: CLIFFORD GRODIN | SPARTAN DAILY
The San Jose State Police Department was alerted about a stabbing victim on campus at about 9 p.m. Wednesday, according to Robert Noriega, an officer of the University Police Department. Noriega said the victim, who was in his late 20s to early 30s, was sitting on a bench between Tower Hall and the Science building where he stopped a student and asked the student to call 911. The victim had a wound on the right side of his torso, which Noriega said he received at Plaza de Cesar Chavez. Noriega said it was unclear to UPD why or how the victim came to SJSU.
just about the football game,” she said. “It’s about the tradition and it brings parents, students, alumni and faculty together and shows them how SJSU has grown and how SJSU will continue to grow.” Junior business major Sandy Ardian said she doesn’t care much about the Homecoming game, but will be attending Fire on the Fountain. “I went freshman year,” she said. “I didn’t go last year, so I’m going to go this year. It’s fun.” On Wednesday, SJSU fraternities
and sororities participated in the Greek Olympics, taking place on Paseo de Cesar Chavez at 4 p.m. on the grassy area near the barbecue pits. Starting at 4 p.m. today on Tower Lawn, students can participate in carnival games, juggling lessons, decorate cupcakes, and have salsa dance lessons hosted by a variety of student organizations and different departments on campus, according the the SJSU website. According to the website, Spartans
See HOMECOMING Page 3
SJSU receives federal stimulus money University officials work to allocate last installment of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds KELSEY LYNNE LESTER-PERRY Staff Writer
SJSU now has $6.7 million to work into the budget thanks to the final installment of federal stimulus dollars for all 23 campuses in the California State University system, said the director of media relations for SJSU. Pat Lopes Harris said SJSU is still in the
process of trying to figure out how that money will be used. One option is using the new funds to increase spring admissions, she said. “Right now we don’t have enough funds to admit any new students in the spring,” Harris said. “These federal stimulus dollars open up the ability of admitting new students in the spring.” But, the university needs to find a fair way to admit the growing number of applicants, she said. “If the $6.7 million will only pay for half of the number of students that qualify for admission,” Harris said. “We are going to need to figure out which half we are going to admit.” She said this is a difficult situation and decision to make because SJSU is committed to admitting everybody who is minimally qualified in Santa Clara County.
See STIMULUS Page 3
2 NEWS
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Professor urges collaborative solutions to social problems Staff Writer
Marin said Drabble’s research tied in with the campus reading book, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.” Maria Hernandez, a senior
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The theme was really about finding ways to advance collaboration. LAURIE DRABBLE Social work associate professor
justice studies major, said we are in a community that evolves around alcohol abuse and children being abused
and that the research Drabble presented gives answers to questions on the spot and small tips that help students in the future. “The most important thing is how effective collaboration can be for future problems or future things that can rise up with the whole domestic violence system and how our system is running right now,” she said. Drabble said students can benefit by deeply thinking of the systems they need to understand because each student is being trained in his or her own discipline but will have to interact with other people from other disciplines. She advised students to ask themselves questions such as: • What systems or disciplines am I going to need to work with? • How can I learn to work with them more effectively? • What do I need to know about them in order to work effectively?
PHOTO: JACK BARNWELL | CONTRIBUTER
An associate professor of social work at SJSU presented her research on drugs and alcohol Wednesday in the King Library. Laurie Drabble said the main focus of her research is drug- and alcohol-related issues and finding ways to successfully collaborate for addiction treatment and child welfare services. About 15 people attended the afternoon lecture and slideshow, which lasted an hour. Drabble said her research points out the importance of cross-system collaboration and addressing social problems and complex issues such as child welfare, and working with families who are affected by addiction and who are involved with the child welfare system. “Those families have serious problems and we want the kids to have a safe place,”
she said. Drabble said some of the counties she worked with were San Diego County, Contra Costa County and Sacramento County. She said she eventually worked in Santa Clara County after the study, and she would consider Santa Clara exemplary in terms of collaboration. “The theme was really about finding ways to advance collaboration,” Drabble said. “And one way to do that is to learn about what success for collaboration is made of, so that is the main theme of a lot of the studies. What are some of the pieces for successful collaboration?” The program was the first presentation in the University Scholar Series hosted by Provost Gerry Selter. “This series promotes a unique opportunity for showcasing important work, research and scholarly activities at SJSU for faculty members,” said Gina Marin, an administrative analyst at SJSU.
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REBECCA HENDERSON
Laurie Drabble, an associate professor of social work, gives a talk about addiction treatment and child welfare services on Wednesday, Sept. 29.
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How can I communicate about what it is I do, in order to make that work? “They also have to learn to understand some of these
complex systems not just about your own discipline but how the whole professional field works,” Drabble concluded.
Hopeful students seek out opportunities at job fair ALEXANDRA RUIZ-HUIDOBRO Staff Writer
while she was a student at SJSU. “I came to a few career fairs and although this is not how I got my current position, I definitely had some doors open up to me and I had some people calling me and asking me for interviews,” she said. Beata Nagy, a senior business administration finance major, said she is hoping to start her financial career after her fall graduation and found the recruiters to be approachable and friendly. “I feel like I had some positive feedback and ... I think they are going to contact me,” she said. Nagy said one company was only offering
an internship, but when she told them that she was graduating, the recruiter made a note of her expected graduation date on the resume for a potential position with the company. Edna Shamouni, a junior electrical engineering major, said she stood in a line of about 20 people, waiting to speak with a representative for Advanced Micro Devices. “I had a mock interview with them last week and they suggested that I come back to the fair and see them again,” she said. “There are a lot of people, and its hard because there are so many applications and so many people. I’m going to keep my fingers crossed.” Since SJSU is located in the Silicon Val-
PHOTO: JACK BARNWELL | CONTRIBUTER
As temperatures soared above the 90s outside, students kept cool inside the Event Center on Wednesday afternoon as the Fall 2010 Job & Internship Fair got underway. More than 300 employer representatives and more than 100 employers were present and ready to talk to prospective interns and employees, said Susan Rockwell, assistant director for employer services at the SJSU Career Center. Tawan Suttamitr, a freshman electrical engineering major, said he came to the fair with the intention of landing an internship. “I brought my resume,” he said. “I have mostly everything from speeches to my advertisement for myself.” He said his motivation for attending the fair was to beat out the competition. “Electrical engineering is really tough ... “Suttamitr said. “So I’m trying to get a head start against other people.” The Career Center has been hosting many preparatory events hoping to help students get ready for this fair, Rockwell said. “Resume writing, interComerica Bank recruiter Reatrey Rin speaks with Michelle Nguyen, a graduate viewing skills and job fair success workshops ... those student in accounting, during the Job and Internship Fair in the Event Center on events were all designed to Wednesday Sept. 29. help students be prepared,” she said. Bhoj Rai, a Peace Corps regional recruiter, said he came to the fair to inform students and graduates about the opportunities available to them through the company. “We are looking for people from various backgrounds to fill thousands of positions that we have opening next year,” Rai said. He said he is looking for students who are persistent, proactive and show genuine interest. Financial analyst Natasha Makovskaya is a recent SJSU graduate and has come back to the fair to recruit for her current employer, National Semiconductor. She said her company is looking for someone to fill a position that will become available in December right after fall graduation, and they will begin to set up interviews in November. Makovskaya said she attended some career fairs
ley, Rockwell said there are many employers that represent the financial and engineering industries. However, there were other industries present. “This fair is open to any employer ... there are lots of opportunities for students who are from a wide range of majors, not just business and technical,” she said. “But we do have about 25 percent of the employers that are open to all majors and about 20 percent of them were looking specifically for liberal arts majors.” The Career Center will host its next Job & Internship Fair in the spring.
NEWS 3
Thursday, September 30, 2010
HOMECOMING From Page 1 can make Homecoming posters and enjoy entertainment performed by SJSU students. Drinks and carnival-type food will also be available, according to the website. At 8 p.m. SJSU’s version of a traditional bonfire, Fire on the Fountain, will begin with Fire
Pixie, an entertainment group of fire dancers, followed by a rally that will introduce the Spartan football team, Richardson said. The crowning of SJSU’s Homecoming King and Queen will end the evening, he said. Friday is Service Day, starting at 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., and will be taking place in different areas of San Jose, stated Richardson in an e-mail, in which members of Greek organizations will be executing projects to give back to the community. He stated that Campus MovieFest will be
hosting a VIP Reception in the Tower Hall lobby starting at 5:30 p.m. The finale of Campus MovieFest will follow at 7:30 p.m. in Morris Dailey Auditorium, Richardson stated. Homecoming tailgate, both the Grand Homecoming Tailgate and the Greek Week Tailgate, will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Richardson stated. The Spartans will battle it out against University of California, Davis, at the Homecoming game
on Saturday starting at 5 p.m., he stated. Richardson has been with SJSU for more than 10 years and although he is not an alumnus, he said he definitely has Spartan pride. He said he wants students to get the full student experience, be proud Spartans, and make Homecoming their own. He said he is working on doing this by providing traditions that were here before, but also trying to reconceptualize and create new traditions for our students today. Eric Bringas of Sigma Chi dives for a water balloon during Greek Olympics on Wednesday, Sept. 29, as part of Homecoming.
PHOTOS: CLIFFORD GRODIN | SPARTAN DAILY
HISTORICAL HOMECOMINGS
STIMULUS From Page 1 Clifford Lacro, a junior hospitality and management major, said he looks for this money to benefit the students — new buildings, space for classes and cheaper tuition. “Every little bit counts,” he said. “They say the recession is over but we are still feeling it.” Lacro said he sympathizes with students who have been trying to get into
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... if this school is trying to have us get out of college sooner, they need to have more classes available for us with less students in them.
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STEFANI VILLELA
Sophomore occupational therapy major
On October 16, 1995, the Spartan Daily reported that ... about 150 students cheered on the Spartans at the Student Union Ampitheater for the Yellfest pep rally put on by As-
sociated Students for Homecoming (top). On October 31, 1997, the Spartan Daily reported that ... the “Mr. Cool” contest took place at the Homecom-
ing pep rally in the Student Union Ampitheater with cheerleaders putting the pressure on the contestants. The contestant who stayed on the block of ice the longest was declared “Mr. Cool.” It was a tie (above). On October 25, 1999, the Spartan Daily reported that ... a fire at the Spartan Stadium, causing the power to fail, forced the rescheduling of the Homecoming game (below).
SJSU during spring semesters — he dealt with that firsthand before being admitted as a transfer student this semester. “It is kind of unfair,” he said. “I’m here already, but I guess I should stop thinking about myself and think about other people. That’s fine with me. Let them in.” Stefani Villela, a sophomore oc-
cupational therapy major, said tuition should not be increased if SJSU is receiving funds. “I feel like the money should be used toward classes now,” she said. “Definitely not given to more people because if this school is trying to have us get out of college sooner, they need to have more classes available for us with less students in them.” Increasing sections and student services is another possibility for the stimulus funds, Harris said. “People tend to think that when we receive funding to increase the number of sections we offer, that we will take a 100-person biology class, and then offer two 100-person biology classes,” she said. Harris said the problem with doing that is a short-term increase in enrollment at the university. If SJSU doesn’t have the funding to support all those students, she said it’s more likely that the 100-person biology class would be split into two smaller classes. The class would get more faculty, but not necessarily increase the capacity of class, she said. Once the capacity increases, Harris said SJSU has to make sure there is enough funding to provide students with counseling, advising and all of the other services that come with being a student here. “This is what the administration now has to look at and figure out how to proceed in a fair and effective manner that reflects the intention of the federal stimulus dollars,” she said. “Which is to create jobs, which is why we hired faculty.” Senior art major Rachel Acosta said the school should use the money where it is needed most. “It could be more,” she said. “But Dudley Moorhead could use some of it. I mean, come on.” Acosta said another option would be to hire back old staff that had been laid off as a result of the budget cuts. The chancellor’s preference is that these funds be put to use in Spring 2011, Harris said. “We are not quite ready to commit to spring just yet,” she said. “We are going to study the situation and make sure we can do this in a somewhat organized manner.”
4 A&E
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Local indie band chases stardom JAIMIE COLLINS
little help from My American Heart, a rock band from San DiGreek mythology claims that the month of ego that inspired April Chase’s April belongs to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess music. of love. My American Heart held In the basic sense of the word, “chase” means their last Bay Area show in Januto follow or seek something. Combine the two ary, with April Chase performordinary words and you are left with a saying that ing the opening act and using roughly means “to seek love.” the occasion as an opportunity This is what five local musicians had in mind to release their first CD. when they set out to perfect the craft of play“I think that is when things ing music, creating a band and dubbing it “April really started taking off,” FerguChase.” son said. “Our motivation right now is our fans and the April Chase gained immense people who are listening,” said lead guitar player popularity after it won the first and vocalist Tim Ferguson. “It’s always fun to go annual Bay Area College Activiout to play a show and have people sing your lyr- ties Network Battle of the Bands ics. You can see them mouthing the words to the and were given the opportunity song — it’s awesome.” to perform on June 25, 2010, as April Chase currently boasts five extremely part of the Vans Warped Tour. talented members: Ferguson, Carina Valdes Since then, the band has on vocals, Roderick Sajor on the drums, Brian gone on to perform at a variety Walker on bass and Mark Sahagun on guitar. of venues throughout the Bay With an average age of 20, the the up-and- Area, including the San Jose coming indie-pop band has experienced excep- Civic Auditorium, which can tionally fast-paced success, performing more house more than 3,000 people, SJSU senior photography major Tim Ferguson plays the bass guitar and writes songs for band than 60 shows in the last year and releasing their and alongside well-known acts April Chase during their performance at Left Coast Live in San Jose, June 25, 2010. first album in January. such as The Higher and Story of Combining catchy lyrics with outstanding the Year. vocals, their record is titled “In the Midst of The band’s fame hit a peak Sirens” and is an extended play (EP) record, when it hosted a music video release party for tempting to produce a different type of music. meaning it is shorter than a full album and con- the song “Turn It Down” at an open-mic cafe. “We wanted to make music that would aptains only five songs. The entire place was sold out, which was a first peal to a larger audience,” Ferguson said. Out of its first five tracks, the band’s most for the band. While Ferguson said it is hard for the band to popular song is titled “Turn It Down” and tells “It was really crazy because that same time a be classified within one particular genre, April the story of leaving a lover behind. year ago, we could barely get 10 people to go to Chase loosely fits into an alternative, pop-rock “You’re all the things I can’t ignore / I need to our shows,” Ferguson said. “Now we could get category, with indie traits and influences from leave you for now,” Valdes sings. “And it’s break- 100-plus.” groups similar to Paramore and Phoenix. ing me under the floor / but I think I’ll be fine in Long before anyone imagined the level of With strong motivation and determination, this parallel divine / With nothing by my side, I success April Chase would achieve, Ferguson the group is currently in the process of releasing think I’m fine.” and Valdes were bandmates in a Christian group a new EP. Even though it doesn’t have a release Containing simple yet addictive melodies, that Valdes played bass for. date yet, the new album will most likely be rethe majority of the band’s music focuses on the Ferguson had joined with the other three corded and mixed by the end of the year. The subject of love. members of the band to form April Chase and new tracks will express a shift in theme, taking “It’s the easiest thing to write about,” she said. was auditioning singers when he filled in for the on more of a dance feel than the first album. “It’s relatable to other people and it correlates guitar player at Valdes’ church. After the new record is released, Valdes said with our band name.” The two musicians quickly became friends she hopes the band can collaborate on a fullAll of the songs on the album contain lyrics and when Ferguson heard Valdes sing, they length album once they receive the studio time. written mostly by Ferguson, with additional left the group “We want everyone to experience the full Carina Valdes performs as lead singer help from Valdes. and devoted their April Chase and experience all of our songs,” of April Chase. “I just want to portray something that is hon- passion to April she said. est for me and make it into a song,” Valdes said. Chase. Emphasizing that music is more than a After “Hopefully it will mean something to other That was about hobby and that each member is in it for the people and they can relate to it. Just to create an two years ago, and big picture, the band is itching to get the next responsibilities took over their lives, the memreleasing a honest song — that’s all that matters.” in the meantime album released, hoping that it will determine bers of the band practiced twice a week. Now, CD, The group released their first album with a they have been atwhat happens for the group within the next they try to practice as much as they can — once a week on average — in the bandmates’ garages five years. playing at “(We want to) put out something we are re- and bedrooms. Warped The life of an artist is not always easy but the ally proud of and keep pursuing it as far as we band advises aspiring musicians to keep trying. can,” Ferguson said. Tour and In the meantime, April Chase is building its “There was so many times where we go to a winning network through local shows while planning show that we are so stoked for and there is only Battle of the possible adventures of a West Coast tour. a bartender and one other person watching us,” The group hopes to travel through Califor- Ferguson said. “I just feel like as long as you keep the Bands, nia by the end of the year, pairing with The Pa- at it and keep trying, you will get somewhere.” we have a rade, a similar band that was awarded $10,000 “It falls on determination and putting yourin a recent Battle of the Bands competition. self out there,” Valdes said. “A lot of people give fan base. Ferguson said the rush he experiences from up easily and if you don’t and you keep pursuing performing motivates him to pursue music, what you want, it will get really easy for you to TIM FERGUSON especially when fans come out just to hear the get where you want to be.” Senior, photography major band play. April Chase plans to perform at Morris Dai“After releasing a CD, playing at Warped ley Auditorium at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 7. They will Tour and winning Battle of the Bands, we have also be showcased as part of the Dare to Love Up and coming alternative-rock band April Chase is from San a fan base,” Ferguson said. benefit concert at the Korean Community CenJose. Before the pressure of schedules and adult ter in San Francisco at 6 p.m. on Oct. 8. Staff Writer
PPHOTO COURTESY OF: MARK J. SEBASTIAN
PPHOTO COURTESY OF MARK J. SEBASTIAN
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PHOTO COURTESY OF: CHRISTOPHE GONZALES
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SPORTS 5
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Spartans face Aggies for Homecoming MELISSA SABILE Sports Editor
PHOTO: CLIFFORD GRODIN | SPARTAN DAILY
The Spartans will face the UC Davis Aggies for the third time in the past four seasons in the SJSU Homecoming football game Saturday at 5 p.m. at Spartan Stadium. "They are a very good football program," said head coach Mike MacIntyre. "They have a history of winning, 32 seasons, I believe, of a winning record. Coach Biggs has been a great coach, they have a good team." After the Spartans' 56-3 loss against No. 13 Utah last Saturday, MacIntyre said the team is preparing for its next opponent by understanding what went wrong in last week's game. "We've got to learn from our mistakes we made and correct some things we did in the kicking game wrong," he said. "I'm a firm believer that each Saturday is a game of its own — you put behind the negative things, carry forward the positive things and take the negative things with corrections and learn from them. The other team is going to try to attack those same areas you are weak in." Senior safety Dominique Hunsucker said the team is excited for Homecoming but isn't going to look at beating the University of California, Davis, as a simple task. "Last week it was a tough game for us," Hunsucker said. "We came out and played hard but we just made mistakes here and there and playing a good team like Utah, they're going to capitalize on those mistakes. So this week we really have to minimize those mistakes and continue to play hard with great intensity." Hunsucker, who previously played as running back, will be switched to safety for Saturday's game, since the Spartans are dealing with the loss of senior safety Duke Ihenacho. "Pretty much my whole career here I've been flipped around a lot, just according to what the team needs," he said. "I've always been a willing guy just to go wherever the team needs me. I'm a well-rounded football player I guess you could say." The Spartans have lost many key players because of injuries — some for just a few games, others for the remainder of the season — including sophomore tight end Ryan Otten, junior cornerback Alex Germany, sophomore linebacker Kyler O'Neal, and sophomore cornerback Ralph Johnson. "We've got quite a few men who are having to step up and play more than they have been playing, on defense especially," MacIn-
Senior safety Dominique Hunsucker attempts to take down Alabama’s Trent Richardson during the Sept. 4 game in Tuscaloosa. Hunsucker, who started as a running back, will be moved to safety in the Spartans’ Homecoming game against the UC Davis Aggies.
tyre said. "We've moved a couple guys over, Wade O'Neill and James Orth from offense to defense — Bené Benwikere and Dom Hunsucker having to start and play the whole time as safety." MacIntyre said despite the change of positions, the team will be prepared to take on UC Davis. "There are some guys playing some spots that they haven't had a lot of reps at but they understand what to do and so they'll be excited about playing," he said. Returning this game will be senior offen-
SPARTAN BRIEFS Colorado air stifles women’s golf team in Golfweek Conference Challenge, finish 12th Staff Report
In the first round of her college career, Tiffany Nichols led the SJSU women's golf team by shooting one-under par. But like the rest of the team, her scores suffered the following two rounds because of what head coach John Dormann called, "a very difficult walking golf course, kind of side of a mountain type of thing." The Spartans finished 12th of 18 teams. "I think fatigue set in for a lot of players," Dormann said. "I think that's generally why the scores rose for pretty much everybody over the second and third days." Nichols tied with junior Madeleine Ziegert at 230 for the tournament, good for 40th of 90 golfers. Junior Judy Ho placed 61st with a score of 240 in three rounds. "(Nichols) might have gotten a little ahead of herself after shooting 71 (in the first round), maybe started thinking a little too much," Dormann said. He said the team has been struggling so far this season. "We need to take advantage of our birdie opportunities, we need to make our birdie putts," Dormann said. "We have to stop making the big mistake. We need to iron those two things out." SJSU made it to the NCAA National tournament last year, which he said means the team has a higher level of competition at tournaments this season. "Our team is going to have to rise to the challenge," the coach said.
Mark Hubbard wins Mark Simpson Invitational golf tournament, men’s golf team takes fourth Staff Report
For senior Mark Hubbard, a Denver, Colo. native, the best part of winning the Mark Simpson Invitational in Erie, Colo. was playing for a home crowd. "My dad, growing up, came to every one of my sporting events, and my mom too, but she gets to fly out to tournaments," he said. "That was the first time he had seen me play in college so it was super cool to do it in front of him." His three-round score of 209 — seven under par — put him in first individually. "It was really fun to watch because he hadn't really been to Colorado in his whole career actually here, so for him to go there and win was exciting," said senior Matt Hovan. Hovan scored 212 in the tournament, which was good for third individually. The two seniors led the team to fourth of 14 teams overall. "I actually felt pretty good, I wasn't that nervous at all during the tournament," he said. "I feel like the tournament was easier than practice because I've been practicing at such a high level." Hubbard's best hole of the tournament was in the second round, when he shot an eagle on the seventh hole — one hole after a double bogey. Hubbard birdied both holes on day one, and stroke for par on each in the third round. "My coach was there to get me through the tough spots," he said.
sive guard Ailao Eliapo, who has been out from an injury he suffered during the first game against Alabama. "A couple of guys who were injured have more serious injuries than I did," Eliapo said. "So I'm just thankful that I get the chance with
rehab and all the trainers, working out with the strength and conditioning coaches — they're getting me back, getting me right physically, mentally and even emotionally." Eliapo, who suffered a high-ankle sprain during the end of the first quarter of the game in Tuscaloosa, said he feels ready for this weekend's game. "Just seeing how everything is going right now, you can't always take things for granted," he said. "I feel real good about it overall. Hopefully we'll come out and mesh together and get ourselves a W." Senior quarterback Jordan La Secla said the team is coming off of a hard loss and needs to learn from last week's mistakes. "As good as Utah was, I feel like we still underestimated them a little bit," La Secla said. "Never underestimate any team you play, no matter how good they are." He said the team made some good plays last week, but this week it needs to play with intensity and toughness. "We ran the ball at times pretty good last game," he said. "I don't think we ran the ball in the spots we needed to run it well, but we did have some big runs and it's something we can look to. We just have got to take care of business. We're coming off a pretty hard loss so we need to be excited to play, but we think we're going to have a lot of big plays." MacIntyre said the team is excited about playing for Homecoming and playing in front of its own fans. "It's going to be a great game and I hope we come out on top," he said. "If we do what we do and take care of our own business and play hard we will have a good opportunity to do that." Eliapo said he is anticipating a lot of good things from the whole team. "This game we are expecting a real competition, we're not trying to overlook UC Davis, they're a real good team," Eliapo said. "Coach is preaching to us — ‘It's not what they do, it's what we do.’ So right now, on both sides of the ball, with different guys stepping up, we're trying to build up that swagger and come out here and compete. All we need is that chance. It's all we can do."
6 OPINION SPARTA GUIDE
Thursday, September 30, 2010
The old ‘too much caffeine’ defense
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 emailed 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.
SJSU Homecoming Events Sept. 30 Fire on the Fountain: SJSU’s Homecoming Pep Rally Place: Tower Lawn Time: 6-11 p.m.
Oct. 1 International Quiz
Place: Barrett Ballroom, Student Union Time: 12:30-4 p.m.
Greek Week Service Day Place: N/A
Time: 8 a.m. -5 p.m.
For more information contact Blake Balajadia: (408) 924-5961
Campus MovieFest Grand Finale Place: Morris Dailey Auditorium Time: 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 Homecoming Pre-Game Party
Place: East Field, Spartan Stadium Time: 1-4:30 p.m.
Homecoming Football Game Place: Spartan Stadium Time: 5 p.m.
Hats off to Teachers: Tailgate Social Place: East Field, Spartan Stadium Time: 3-4:30 p.m.
JEN NOWELL Staff Writer
The intake of excessive amounts of caffeine from sodas, energy drinks and diet pills have led one man to admit to a murder he now says he didn’t commit. It took jurors only 1.5 hours of deliberation on Friday to reject Woody Will Smith’s claims of caffeine intoxication and to convict him of murder. The Kentucky man, 33, had been charged with the May 2009 strangulation of his wife Amanda Hornsby-Smith, 28, and went to trial last Monday. The jury convicted Smith and recommended a life sentence. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 20. Smith’s attorney argued that his client had ingested so much
caffeine that it left Smith temporarily insane and unable to consciously know what he was doing, let alone commit a crime such as murder. Prosecutors, however, have said their expert witness can testify that Smith tested negative for having any diet pills or energy drinks in his system soon after the killing ocurred. But wait, this is not the first time the caffeine intoxication excuse has been put to use. In 2009, a man in Washington state was cleared of charges for running down two pedestrians with his car. Each victim survived with a broken leg after Daniel Noble of Idaho, awoke one morning, left his house in his pajamas and slippers, went to Starbucks and downed two large coffees and then drove the eight miles to Washington where the two men were hit. There is a slight catch in the scenario, however — Noble was diagnosed with a rare form of bipolar disorder that is triggered by extremely large amounts of caffeine. Two large cups of Starbucks’ overly strong coffee will surely do the trick. But back to the Smith case, Dr. Roland Griffiths, a behav-
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
ioral biology professor at John Hopkins University, has stated that caffeine intoxication can cause nervousness, excitement, insomnia and rambling speech. In the weeks prior to the killing, Smith said he hadn’t been sleeping, was downing five to six soft drinks and energy drinks a day and was taking diet pills. He ingested more than 400 milligrams of caffeine a day, while the American Psychiatric Association defines an overdose as consuming more than 300 milligrams. Smith’s insomnia was apparently caused by his fear that his wife would take their two children and leave him. If you ask me, that sounds like more of a motive than some caffeine defense. Smith strangled his wife with an extension cord, bound her feet with the same cord and used another electrical cord to tie her hands. All that work combined with the fear of losing his kids, and I am being told that he wasn’t aware of his actions. Smith had a close personal relationship with his victim, om. while Noble’s was random.
I can believe Noble’s caffeine defense more than I can comprehend Smith’s. If Smith had gotten off with his caffeine defense, next thing you know everyone would be using the too-much-caffeine defense, especially in today’s society where Starbucks’ coffee and No Fear energy drinks are running rampant among an overworked and overstressed population. A day doesn’t go by on SJSU’s campus where I don’t see at least a dozen students with an energy drink in hand. Just last week, the Monster Energy drink truck was parked outside the Seventh Street parking garage, giving away free cans of its beverage. Are the people involved in the Smith case trying to tell me that the Monster Energy employees handing out free drinks are lending to society’s next crazed killers? Look out college students, beware of any cars that are heading in your direction and quickly gaining speed, and double check your roommate’s electrical cords to make sure they haven’t gone missing.
This le t respon ter is in se to th ion sto e opin r senior y ‘Matriculat s i on Sep ’ which appe ng ared t. 28.
I think itʼs great that access to education is so accessible to everyone. Iʼve witnessed the phenomenon first hand during my time at West Valley College. Every semester, Iʼve noticed more and more students on campus who appeared to be at least 30 years old. If people just want to keep busy or have a desire to learn, then there is no reason why they shouldnʼt pursue going to school. In addition, I think with a lot of people getting laid off from jobs, those people see going back to school as an opportunity to start fresh and pursue a different career path. Great article. - Nick Celario, Journalism Major
OPINION 7
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Growing into Immigration issue gets Colbert ‘bump’ one’s face
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workers as they need to harpolitical world, such as vest crops. Elmo and Angelina Jolie, to It would address the isboost visibility on imporsues of illegal immigrants tant issues. and labor by creating a So if a red, fuzzy citizen government-certified labor of Sesame Street can be an pool. expert witness, there’s no The “Take Our Jobs” reason a television personcampaign argues against ality who participated in a the notion that immigrants real campaign can’t. are taking jobs away from Colbert used his celebriMICHIKO FULLER unemployed citizens. ty status to put a headline in Colbert took the field job Staff Writer the paper and exercised his and found he didn’t want it. right to satirize the governMaybe, he mused, if there was a system ment in his trademark deadpan style. in place to hold farmers accountable and The point of the Colbert Report is improve working conditions, then more exactly to put scrutiny on our political citizens would want those jobs. system. “I’m not a fan of the government doing He could have advocated the United anything,” Colbert said. “But I’ve got to ask: Farm Workers through other outlets, but Why isn’t the government doing anything? going to Congress was elemental to his Maybe this Ag JOBS bill would help. I don’t underlying message. know. Like most members of Congress, I Our government can be ridiculous. haven’t read it.” Shows such as “The Daily Show” with Jon Stewart and “The Colbert Report” would be out of business if politicians weren’t feeding them Colbert took material every week. It’s a good thing Colbert is the field job and using his clout to bring awarefound he didn’t ness to a broader audience want it. by calling attention to issues that might ordinarily get glossed over. Quips like that are probably what caused So let the eye rolling ensue. More people Congress to sour toward Colbert. listen to Colbert than C-SPAN and that’s a Congressional hearings have been good enough reason to make him a weekly host to characters further away from the feature at hearings.
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A friend of mine who fell off the grid recently got back in touch with me after years of no contact. He called me that nickname, and he’d been gone six years — it had been at least that long since anyone had called me by that name. One hot summer day while I was working at my very first job, a 40-something father got angry with me and called me KEVIN HUME a “pink-faced mother f***er.” Humor Me I was 15 at the time. Take a look at my picture. Sometimes my cheeks See my face? See my pink make me feel unattractive cheeks? and unappealing to girls. My face didn’t always look I’ve thought about visiting like that. a dermatologist to see if there I remember being a kid was a way they could be treatand having tons of freckles ed and made less noticeable. across my nose and cheeks. In an era where you can I couldn’t tell you exactly fix the things that irk you on when the freckles vanished your body with surgery and and the redness crept into other methods, it’s hard not my face. to end up considering your Maybe it was always there, options. and maybe you’re having a That lack of confidence in hard time one’s looks being able can cause to tell befolks to go cause of the under the grayscale knife and Airheaded photo. regret it. Whatever Airheaded Heidi Montag the case, Heidi Monis a perfect I’ve had a tag is a perlove-hate fect example example of relationship of how peohow people with my ple utilize utilize plastic pink cheeks. plastic surA n y gery to try surgery to try time I do to feel better to feel something about how remotely they look and better about athletic, be later wishing how they it playing they hadn’t. my drums look and later U l t i or hitting mately, the wishing they the gym, co n f i d e n ce hadn’t. my cheeks you can gain turn an emby acceptbarrassingly ing who you vibrant red, are and how and they you look can stay that way for quite some make all the difference in life. time. Awesome. For all the grief they’ve Give me a couple of drinks caused me, I’m glad I have a and there’s no hiding that al- bit of color in my face. cohol-induced reddish glow After all, I am 50 percent from my face. Irish, so it kind of comes with I have to shave at night be- the territory. fore I go to sleep or my face At 26, I’ve more than acwill be so sensitive that I’ll cepted the skin I’m in and the end up being bright red and face I have. hot all day long. My cheeks give my face Sometimes when the character. blood rushes to my face, my I can’t imagine what cheeks get so hot that I’ve I’d look like without that sought out cold compresses pinkish hue. and ice to make the uncomfortable heat go away. They’ve also caused me “Humor Me” is a biweekly quite a bit of insecurity. For a long time, my friends column appearing on Thursdays. Kevin Hume is the Spartan used to call me “Pinky” beDaily Multimedia Editor. cause of my cheeks.
Eyes rolled when Stephen Colbert took his over-the-top “Colbert Report” persona to the steps of Congress to testify on behalf of the United Farm Workers’ “Take Our Jobs” campaign. Colbert spent a day in the fields with migrant workers and was asked to appear before Congress as an expert witness. The comedian’s appearance was absurd. “I certainly hope that my star power can bump this hearing all the way up to CSPAN 1,” he said solemnly, holding up his index finger. The “bump” Colbert referred to is a term he coined himself for the surge in popularity that people and issues receive after appearing on his show. That’s exactly what he did for the United Farm Workers, but for the record, Colbert’s testimony only made it to C-SPAN 3. Media response from the event has made up for falling short on C-SPAN 1, as Fox News expressed outrage and members of Congress from both sides of the aisle who considered the satire inappropriate. Republicans didn’t much appreciate being mocked in their halls and Democrats feared the repercussions of making light of a serious situation. The proposed bill Colbert testified for, the Agriculture Job Opportunities, Benefits, and Security Act (Ag JOBS bill), is a measure to legalize undocumented workers with a blue work card and allow farmers to hire as many
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Police officer abused his power Do you trust your police officers? The answer should be “yes,” but now I find myself questioning what would normally be a reflexive response. On Sept. 21, the San Jose Mercury News reported that a San Jose police officer was under investigation for carrying out a fake arrest against a teenage boy for having sex with the RYAN FERNANDEZ Rated R officer’s stepdaughter. According to ABC News, on Aug. 30, the officer came to the boy’s home. He said he was going to arrest the boy for sexual assault and later handcuffed him. The boy’s parents caught part of the incident on video, with the officer saying, “Not a good thing that the person you had sex with is a cop’s daughter … Growing up and being in high school, a cop’s daughter is not someone you mess around with. You’re stupid.” I understand that it’s sometimes necessary to scare the crap out of people to get a point across, but those words made it clear to me that this was something personal for that officer. The code of ethics for the San Jose Police Department states “I (the officer) will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities, or friendships to influence my decisions.” Better yet, Section C 1445 of the San Jose police officers’ duty manual states: “When on or off duty, Department members will avoid becoming officially involved in quarrels or disputes occurring in their own neighborhoods, unless the incident involves an immediate threat to human life.” The boy had sex with the officer’s stepdaughter before this “arrest” happened, and they had been dating since
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middle school — you can’t tell me that the officer’s actions were not influenced by his feelings, nor that this dispute was not in his own neighborhood. This entire debacle was an exercise in poor judgment. I’m sure the officer was quite restrained in his response, despite whatever outrage he might have felt about his 14-year-old daughter having sex with a 15-year-old boy. It’s too bad he didn’t have enough restraint to keep himself from confronting the boy and his parents by riding to their home on a police motorcycle and in full uniform. I have no doubt that the officer in question had only his stepdaughter’s well-being in mind, but he should have first acted as a parent, leaving his uniform behind. Instead, he chose to act as a police officer, with all the authority his position and badge implies, ostensibly to scare the boy straight. This wasn’t about the boy being “scared straight,” as Terry Bowman, the officer’s lawyer, told ABC News — this was just about scaring him. As I recall, the original “Scared Straight!” involved prison inmates beating juvenile delinquents over the head with stories about their incarcerations, not cops warning teenage boys away from their daughters. Somehow, I don’t think premarital — and purportedly consensual — sex between teenagers about a year apart in age is quite in the same category as any crime that would earn a life sentence in prison. This is the sort of thing that undermines the trust the public needs to have in its law enforcement. Trust should be the foundation for authority, whether it’s between parents and children, politicians and their constituents, or police officers and the public they have sworn to protect. “Rated R” is a biweekly column appearing on Thursdays. Ryan Fernandez is a Spartan Daily Copy Editor.
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