The S tate Hornet May 5, 2010
C alifornia S tate U niversity, S acramento
Faculty salary raises on hold
E st . 1949
O ne C opy F ree
Report shows lack of skills
SACRAMENTO STATE DIVERSITY | MULTICULTURAL NIGHT
By Lauren Greenwood lgreenwood@statehornet.com
By Timothy Sandoval tsandoval@statehornet.com
As the school year comes to a close, California State University faculty will not receive the salary increases promised in the 2007 collective bargaining agreement with the CSU system. A neutral fact-finding team recently concluded that faculty salary increases are “unwarranted” in the current budget situation, according to a CSU press release. The CSU and the California Faculty Association negotiated faculty salary raises in the 2007 collective bargaining agreement, a written contract concerning terms and conditions of employment, rights and duties of employees and pay increases. In the agreement, which will expire on June 30, the CSU promised to pay annual salary increases to faculty members. They agreed on three different types of annual salary increases. The first was a general salary increase, which was a raise for all faculty members. The second was a service salary increase, also known as “step increases” provided to those who have completed a negotiated amount of time, said Erik Fallis, spokesman for CSU Chancellor Charles Reed, in an e-mail to The State Hornet. The third was the equity salary increase, which is a two-year program that is supposed to address pay inequity between faculty members. Inequity exists because people with more experience are being paid less than newly hired faculty. After fiscal year 2007-08, the CSU paid only the equity salary increases. The CSU did not pay any of the agreed-upon salary increases in 2008-09. John Kagel, a lawyer and
More than half of the freshmen in the California State University system are not prepared for college, according to a recent report by the Legislative Analyst Office. In 2008, approximately 57 percent of admitted CSU freshmen needed to take remedial classes in math or writing, according to the report. Sacramento State admits more than 70 percent of freshmen who need to take such courses. Professor of educational economics Jessica Howell said she was alarmed by the high figure. “I teach an intro econ class where you need to be able to divide and multiply, and you occasionally need to write some sentences. In general, I think the skill set I see is pretty poor,” Howell said. Howell, who has written extensively on the subject of remediation, said a variety of factors could contribute to the high number of students in California who are not prepared for college. “We have a lot of non-native speakers who obviously are required to need remediation in English,” Howell said. Howell said high school teachers often do not focus on college-level skills in the classroom. For example, most high school seniors are required to take British literature, even though the English Placement Test for the CSU does not ask any literature questions. For several years, Learning Skills Center Director Robby Ching and many others have worked on developing a plan called the Early Assessment Program. The plan would create high school courses that would focus more on college-level writing and math skills. Ching has been develop-
see Salary| page A4
Caroline LeDoux State Hornet
Members of several clubs, fraternities and sororities at showcased their dancing skills Thursday night at the Multicultural Night held in the University Union. Also featured and break dancing and belly dancing.
see Freshman| page A4
Bill to limit student fee increases Stereotypes don’t By Lauren Greenwood lgreenwood@statehornet.com A Senate bill that attempts to provide some relief to college students by limiting student fee increases each year is now being amended in the Legislature. Senate Bill 969, authored by Sen. Carol Liu, D-La Cañada Flintridge, would impose a percentage cap on how much the California State University Trustees and UC Regents can raise student fees each year. The board of trustees is the governing body of the CSU system and the Regents govern the UC system. In an earlier version of the bill, the cap was at 5 percent of student fees from the previous academic year. Robert Oakes, Liu’s spokesman, said this version of the bill seeks to give some predictability to student fee increases and start
the discussion on what would be an appropriate percentage cap. “People and families know that the cost of education continually increases. It’s a roller coaster of fees, and when you are a student or parent trying to budget for the next four years, it can be difficult,” Oakes said. The bill also requires that any CSU and UC fee increases cannot go into effect until six months after the decision. Senior government major John Ryan, who testified in support of SB 969, said students had to come up with the extra money to go to school because of the fee increases imposed since last year. Last year, Sacramento State increased student fees by 12 Source: Office of Budget, Planning & administration
Matt Erikson State Hornet
see SB 969| page A6
hold for contender By Kalie Barnes-Young kbarnesyoung@statehornet. Being a pageant queen was not originally part of Sacramento State student Irina Rospotnyuk’s plan. “It really fell into my lap,” Rospotnyuk said. “I didn’t know what to expect when I first applied.” The liberal studies major applied to the Miss California USA organization at the suggestion of a friend, not thinking that she would be selected. In early April, Rospotnyuk received the call saying she had been chosen to compete for the Miss California title this November in Palm Springs as Miss Fair Oaks. see Pageant| page A6
“I didn’t really think about it,” she said. “I thought I would try something new since this
Yana Yaroshevich State Hornet
Irina Rospotnyuk will compete as Miss Fair Oaks at the Miss California USA.
INSIDE THE STATE HORNET PARTY IN THE CSUS
UN SIMULATION
KATRINA ZHELTOVA
See what original items student designers exhibited.
Playboy released its Top 10 Party Colleges, and we’re not on it?
Representing unknown countries in a UN conference is not an easy task. But Sacramento State delegates have been beating out Ivy League schools for seven years in a row.
Why is this tennis star walking away from the team?
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Opinion | A5
News | A2
Sports | B4
SPRING FASHION SHOW
5K FUN RUN
This race was no sweat for its more than 300 participants.
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The State Hornet Issue 14 | Volume 62 | No. 28
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News Section
Hard work, preparation pays off for UN Simulation class By Cahil Bhanji cbhanji@statehornet.com Sacramento State students in Ronald Fox’s UN Simulation, or Government 138 class, don’t just earn a course grade; they also gain real-life experiences and bring prestigious awards to the university. UN Simulation is dedicated to preparing students for the United Nations simulation conferences. In the fall semester, the group attends the American Model UN conference in Chicago; in the spring semester, they attend New York’s National Model UN. This semester, Sac State’s Model UN delegates won the Outstanding Delegation and Outstanding Position Paper awards for its representation of the Third World Network, a non-governmental organization. Delegations came from more than 30 countries. “In the last seven years our success has been truly remarkable,” Fox said. “At the American Model UN in Chicago we have won Overall Best Delegation in six of the last seven years.” Overall Best Delegation is the highest award given at the American Model UN conference. Sac State delegates have
won for representing countries such as Colombia, Brazil, Cuba, Venezuela and Mexico. “When on the American Model UN 2009 Delegation as a representative of Brazil, Sac State was awarded the Outstanding Delegation award,” said senior government major Elizabeth Martinez. “Only four out of over 100-plus university delegations are given this prestigious award.” Martinez hopes the prestige the award brings to the university will encourage it to keep the program running despite the negative economic climate. The conference in New York, held every fall, has become an international competition, with representatives coming from Japan, China, Germany and other countries, Fox said. Fox’s experiences in attending the Model UN conferences and teaching the course has made Sac State a strong competitor, beating out Ivy League schools and other universities. The UN Simulation course is open to all majors, but is usually taken by students with an interest in international relations. The program started out as an extracurricular activity in 1977. In 1992 it officially became a credited course and
Courtesty Photo
Ronald Fox’s UN Simulation class recently won Outstanding Delegation at New York’s Model UN conference.
part of Fox’s course load. The class is offered every fall and spring semester for credit. The selection of the students is a task Fox doesn’t take lightly because there are so many factors in picking a strong delegate, he said. “Someone could be Albert Einstein brain-wise, but an ineffective delegate because they’re introverted,” Fox said. Preparation for the Model UN conferences begins before the start of the semester, Fox said. Fox wrote a 250-word manual that instructs students on how to prepare. Before the conference, students already know what country they will be representing and in which committees and caucuses they will participate. Fox said research vital to the preparation because most of the countries the students will represent are not well-known. “I prepared by researching the topics for my specific committee and becoming knowledgeable about UN actions and resolutions that related to those topics,” said graduate international relations student Chris Arns. Arns attended the Model UN conferences in Washington, D.C., and New York City. Graduate international relations student Louis Cathemer said he has seen the hard work Fox has put into the class and knows it is about more than just winning awards. “I can say that Dr. Fox can’t do anything halfway; you might call him a perfectionist. He demands excellence from his students who are capable of it, he picks the students who are capable of producing,” Cathemer said. “Students learn a lot more because he is so demanding. Students respect him for that; I know I certainly do.”
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ASI board election results: International honor society Vote Impact! wins majority recognized as best chapter By State Hornet Staff news@statehornet.com The student political party Vote Impact! won all but one position in the Associated Students Inc. 2010 elections held last week. Junior economics major Terry Martin will succeed current
ASI President Roberto Torres for the 2010-11 school year. “I feel so great. The first thing I did after the results - and being elected - was I called my mom, and she was jumping up and down, and telling my family what had happened,” Martin said.
Martin won 43 percent of the total votes. His closest opponent, senior journalism major Vince Vicari, won 26 percent of the vote. Nine percent of the entire student body voted in the elections, down from 13 percent last year.
ELECTION RESULTS PRESIDENT
Terry Martin, Vote Impact!
43 percent
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Rylan Gervase, Vote Impact!
100 percent
VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE
Chris Smith, Vote Impact!
43 percent
VICE PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS
Sarah Couch, Vote Impact!
52 percent
VICE PRESIDENT OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Sarkis Piloyan, Vote Impact!
52 percent
DIRECTOR OF ARTS AND LETTERS
Grace Nicolas, Vote Impact!
66 percent
DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS
Blake Menezes, Vote Impact!
76 percent
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
Lee Cha, Vote Impact!
100 percent
DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCES
Sergio Tapias, Dreams are for Real
68 percent
DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Valerie Plevney, Independent
100 percent
DIRECTOR OF NATURAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS
Nielsen Gabriel, Vote Impact!
63 percent
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
Michael Soto, Vote Impact!
65 percent
DIRECTOR OF UNDECLARED
Sarah Gwinn, Vote Impact!
100 percent
GRADUATE DIRECTOR
Caitlin Hicks, Vote Impact!
100 percent
UNIVERSITY UNION BOARD
Lily Rankins, Vote Impact!
59 percent
By Ricky Alejandro ralejandro@statehornet.com
years because most students could not afford the $100 membership fee. However, the Omicron chapter has stayed active, organizing fundraisers and other scholarship opportunities, while many Phi Beta Delta chapters have not. The committee that honored the Omicron chapter included an awards chairperson and two selected board members. Each region of Phi Beta Delta has a vice president who receives regular reports from each chapter in his or her region. These reports include the activities and accomplishments of the chapter, as well as the number of members. The regional
Delta is an honor because I’m getting recognized for doing something I love to do, and The Sacramento State chapthat’s travel abroad,” Fox said. ter of the Phi Beta Delta honor Phi Beta Delta is the only society has experienced the honor society specifically dieffects of budget cuts this year, rected toward the recognition of but the lack of funding hasn’t international study and research. stopped its members from The honor society was created making the most out of what in 1986 at CSU Long Beach, they have. and was eventually established Despite having a smaller at more than a dozen California budget than most Phi Beta universities. Delta chapters at other Sac State’s chapter has 42 acCalifornia universities, and a tive members, which include 13 decline in student memberU.S. students, one international ships, the Sac State Omicron student and 28 faculty and staff chapter was recognized as the members. top chapter in the Western Each member of Phi Beta region. The region is made Delta has experienced or adup of schools from more than vocated for international study. 11 states, as well as Student members chapters in Guam have spent at least and Bulgaria. Phi one semester abroad, “It’s a struggle to be able to support Beta Delta is made and faculty members up of five regions are engaged in teachinternational education at a time of internationally, with ing or research on financial difficulty. In a way, there was representation from overseas education. a feeling of validation and I was very all 50 states. Sac State staff mempleased to be acknowledge.” Catherine Turrill, bers of the Omicron - Catherine Turrill, Sac State art profeschapter typically work sor and president of president of Sac State’s Phi Beta Delta in the Office of Global the Omicron chapter, Education. said the award was Roy Dixon, very special considchemistry professor ering the current cuts that Sac vice president then submits and the Phi Beta Delta chair of State has experienced. these reports to the committee, awards and scholarships for the “It’s a struggle to be able to which then decides what chapter Omicron chapter, said the award support international educawill be honored with an award. could increase student interest tion at a time of financial The Omicron chapter conin Phi Beta Delta and internadifficulty. In a way, there ducts activities on campus, tional travel. was a feeling of validation which include receptions each In order to become a member and I was very pleased to be semester for international of the Omicron chapter of Phi acknowledge,” Turrill said. students and fundraisers to Beta Delta, a student must apply “This award was far more raise scholarship funds for the or be nominated by the local than an accomplishment; it chapter. A souvenir sale is one membership. Students who want was an accomplishment in a fundraiser where students and to apply for Phi Beta Delta can time of difficulty, which was a faculty members bring items pick up an application from triumph over adversity for our from their travels to raise money the chapter coordinator before chapter and for our university for scholarships to support U.S. the initiation banquet each as well,” Turrill said. students who want to study semester. The Omicron chapter had internationally. “As a chapter, we are responsinot been able to organize all Krissy Fox, Sac State alumna ble for promoting international events and fundraisers that and member of Phi Beta Delta study,” Turrill said. “Although we were planned for this year since 2005, joined the honor are exposed to many different due to lack of money and staff society after she spent two years cultures here in America, every involvement. Turrill said the in Spain, where she received her American citizen should experichapter has not received as bachelor’s and master’s degrees ence and understand the divermany recommendations or in Spanish. sity of other countries, and how applicants as it did in previous “Being a member of Phi Beta they view the United States.”
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Salary: Pay increases denied due to budget crisis Continued | page A1 head of the fact-finding team, said in his report that in 200708, equity payments went to 2,000 people, but the second set of payments for 2008-09 were not paid at all. Because of this, some assistant professors are now paid more than associate professors. “The CSU had the responFact-finding team’s conclusions: 1. General salary and service salary increases are unjustified during the curent budget crisis. 2. The CSU should pay for 2008-09’s equity salary raises and service salary increases that would address inequity.
sibility to have shown that it at least specifically considered and then discarded the equity program in its pay schedules on its merits of favor of funding something else, which it did not establish in this record,” Kagel said in his report. The fact-finding team determined that general salary increases and service salary increases are not justifiable because of the economic crisis, according to the report. The team concluded, however, that the CSU should pay the equity salary increases negotiated in 2008-09, and service salary increases that would help address inequity issues. “After days of arguments, the chancellor’s negotiators never said that the university lacks the funding to enact the faculty pay increases negotiated in the
contract, but that there were other priorities,” Kagel said. Kevin Wehr, president of the Capitol chapter of CFA, said the faculty union believes the CSU will not pay any salary increases in fiscal year 2009-10 because it has not paid the promised salary increases in the past two years. Fallis said the CSU’s general fund support has been cut by $625 million, or 21 percent, over the past two years. The CSU agreed to pay for the equity program, as long as the CSU is not required to use “new money” to fund the increases. Wehr said it is important for faculty members to receive the salary raises promised to them by the CSU. “The faculty (members) are really angry and demoralized. Paying a just salary is a way
of respecting the work we do,” Wehr said. “We’ve had enough difficulty with furloughs and it is time for the administration to show some respect and pay us what we deserve.” Although the fact-finding team’s conclusions are not what CFA wanted, members of the faculty union went to Chancellor Charles Reed’s office to ask for equity salary and service salary increases that addressed inequity. The chancellor’s office refused. Fallis said the costs of these two salary increases would be too expensive for the system. “The implementation of both the service salary increases and the equity programs are estimated at an annualized cost of $23 million,” Fallis said in his e-mail. CSU’s budget for 2009-10 was
$4,239,727,000. The cost of the equity and service salary increases are onehalf of 1 percent of the annual CSU budget, said Andy Merrifield, Sonoma State political science professor and member of the CFA bargaining team. “Don’t get confused about $23 million being a large amount. That would be the full implementation of the service salary increases and the equity programs,” Merrifield said. CSU offered faculty members $1.7 million in unspent funds to go toward salary increases, but CFA rejected the offer, according to the press release. Merrifield said the CSU’s press release doesn’t reflect all of the facts. The CSU is rolling over $1 million as obligated by the contract. The remaining $700,000 are leftover funds
from other programs, he said. “The CSU is required to put money toward faculty salary increases. They aren’t offering any new money,” Merrifield said, The CFA will try to make the CSU fulfill its obligations and also try to solve inequity problems during the next contract negotiations, Merrifield said. He said the dispute between the CSU and CFA will last long after the contract expires next month. “I have colleagues who can’t afford to buy a house, who are paying for diapers for their babies on credit cards. The CSU pays 12 to 20 percent below average salaries for professors. That’s not sustainable,” Wehr said. “Students and faculty have the same interests of affordability, quality and accessible education.”
Freshman: Incoming students not ready for college Continued | page A1 ing a course that emphasizes expository reading and writing. Students would read multiple writings on social topics like obesity or bullying, and write fact-based essays on the topic. “Seventy-five percent of students end up in remediation because of their reading scores,” Ching said. “I mean critically reading, challenging texts, finding out what arguments those texts are making, finding the counter-arguments, finding what kind of support is being used, and how credible it is.” Ching said her other CSU colleagues are working on training high school math teachers to teach more problem solving. “Getting teachers up to speed in how to teach problem solving, and critical thinking when it’s applied to math is just as important as teaching teachers how to teach critical math,” Ching said. Some people think that standards may simply be higher
for CSU campuses, which creates the illusion that incoming freshmen are less prepared than the rest of the nation. “While I am perfectly willing to let the CSU say that our standards are so high, that’s why our remediation rates are so high,” Howell said. “My experience in the classroom is that there are a lot of people who can’t write very well and can’t do simple math very well.” CSU spokesman Erik Fallis said he understood that unprepared freshmen are a large concern. “We have as our mission to serve the top one-third of high school graduates, but the fact is that students coming out of the K-12 system, even though they may meet all that baseline criteria, may still be unprepared for college,” Fallis said. An average CSU freshman who has taken remedial courses in college had a high school GPA of 3.1. Fallis said the CSU system is working on many proposals
to prepare younger students for college. The CSU system recently started a bus-tour campaign to speak to middle school students across the state about the importance of preparing for college early. Another aspect of the Early Assessment Program is a set of optional questions at the end of the annual standardized tests for high school juniors. These questions test juniors’ college-level writing and math skills, giving students an early indication of whether they are prepared for college. Howell found that it decreased remediation rates by 4 percent in math, and 6 percent in English. Howell said the evidence suggested that student’s get a “wake-up call” when they find out they are not prepared for college-level math or writing. “The evidence we have does indicate that students doing more with their senior year and are becoming more academically prepared to start college,”
Howell said. Ching said although there has been some progress, it will
Source: CSU analytic studies website
take a long time to significantly reduce remediation. She said faculty layoffs in high schools
and larger classes may make the problem worse.
Megan Harris State Hornet
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SB 969: CSU system says Pageant: Student shows bill would cut revenue both brains and beauty Continued | page A1
lack of state funding for higher education is causing universities to implement unfavorable cost-cutting measures. If public universities want a guaranteed amount of state funding every year, a constitutional amendment would have to be proposed, Hodson said. An amendment requires a two-thirds vote from the Legislature. “If somebody proposed a
social services programs. “I am perfectly willing to percent. argue that it is important to “The fee hikes have been a provide funding to the UCs serious strain on all of us this and CSUs. We need to imyear,” Ryan said, “We are also prove our education system, paying 33 percent more in but there are tough choices tuition fees and because of the out there. There are a lot of furloughs, we are getting 10 Democrats who would say we percent fewer classes.” could cut the students or we The CSU system does not could cut the senior citizens support the bill because student and the poor,” Hodson said. fees guarantee revenue to the “Who can survive better? system, said CSU spokesman Who is the most deserving? Erik Fallis in an e-mail to The It’s just making that choice.” State Hornet. State support has Hodson said the most effecSenate Bill 969 would decreased by 21 percent over tive way to cut money from impose a percentage cap the last two years. the universities’ budget is to on how much the Fallis said the CSU system cap enrollment. California State University does not want to increase For every student who atTrustees and UC Regents student fees, but because of tends a CSU, his or her fees can raise student fees the decline in state support, it only cover one-third of the each year. has been forced to implement actual costs, he said. cost-cutting measures, such as Hodson said that although The CSU doesn’t support fee hikes, employee furloughs, other universities, such as the bill because student layoffs, course reductions and CSU Northridge, keep infees guarantee revenue to decreased enrollment. creasing enrollment, it doesn’t the system. Because adequate state fundhelp the big picture. ing is not guaranteed every “We are shooting ourselves year, the CSU has no idea of in the foot because we send what kind of funds it has to the message budget, Falthat we can lis said. continue The CSU to edusystem may “I am perfectly willing to argue that it is important cate more need to raise to provide funding to the UCs and CSUs. We need to and more student students improve our education system, but there are tough fees more with less and choices out there ... Who can survive better? Who is less money,” than the the most deserving? It’s just making that choice.” designated Hodson percentage said. - Tim Hodson, if the state Although director, Center for California Studies is in tough SB 969 does economic not adtimes, Fallis dress state said. funding for If state support continues to constitutional amendment for the universities, Oakes said decline in the upcoming years, funding for the universities, state funding and student fee “student access, course offerthe Legislature might be able increases go hand in hand. ings and educational quality to do it. Both Democrats and “Eventually, we’ll have to could be greatly diminished at Republicans understand how have some steady level for the CSU,” he said. important education is for the state funding for higher Fallis said the CSU would economy,” Hodson said. education so that we can have support the bill if the state However, a constitutional a steady level for fees,” Oakes can guarantee funding to the amendment for higher educasaid, “That has to be part system instead of taking away tion might be at the cost of the of the budget process and a money from the universities. poor, Hodson said. separate track. We need a sysTim Hodson, director of the In order to guarantee funds to tem that is sufficiently funded Center for California Studies higher education, funds would because otherwise it provides at Sac State, agrees that the have to be taken from other unpredictability for everyone.”
Continued | page A1 semester, which is my last at Sac State, is all about trying new things.” In addition to preparing to graduate and undergoing physical training for the pageant, Rospotnyuk hopes to attend the UC Davis School of Law in the fall. She said she plans to focus on international and comparative law, adding that being able to speak Ukrainian could work to her advantage. If she is unable to get in this semester, Rospotnyuk said she plans on taking a year off from school and retaking the Law School Admission Test. Rospotnyuk also keeps herself busy by working as a nanny. For more than a year, Rospotnyuk has been working for the Frink family, whom she has known for years. Upon hearing that Rospotnyuk had been chosen to compete for the Miss California title, Leah Frink said she was not surprised. “I like having her around my kids because she’s a very positive role model, especially for my freshman son, who sees that she’s always working hard and studying,” Frink said. Although she’s thrilled at the prospect of competing for the Miss California title, Rospotnyuk said she can’t help but feel nervous. “There’s a lot of pressure, especially since you’re competing against 399 other beautiful women who are also very smart,” she said. Though the pageant is months away, Rospotnyuk has already begun her preparations. She has been using Facebook to gain support and sponsorships by posting links to her sponsorship page where people can donate
Yana Yaroshevich State Hornet
Senior liberal studies major Irina Rospotnyuk is not like the typical beauty pageant Barbie dolls, her friend said.
funds. She said she was lucky to find a friend who offered to be her personal trainer for free. Considering the expenses of hair, makeup, wardrobe and travel, Rospotnyuk said it’s important for contestants to obtain as much sponsorship as they can. She has collected more than $500 in sponsorships in a few week’s time, but wants to reach her goal of $5,000 by the time the fall semester begins. If she places in the competition, Rospotnyuk plans to use her scholarship winnings and leftover sponsorships to help with future law school expenses.
Rospotnyuk’s longtime friend, Cozette Roberts, said having Rospotnyuk as a contestant could benefit the pageant. “She could really turn the pageant world upside down,” said Roberts, senior journalism major. “They should look for more people like her, you know, like future lawyers, instead of the typical Barbie dolls.” Rospotnyuk said she still feels self-conscious about being the center of attention. “It feels strange to be in these shoes,” Rospotnyuk said. “Sometimes I get a little embarrassed about it ... I’m not the kind of person to brag.”
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| S p r i n g I s s u e 14 | S a c r a m e n t o S t a t e
By Julia Baum jbaum@statehornet.com Sacramento State, I expected more from you. You’re too tame, you’re no fun and your lack of instinct to party like normal, respectable college students is dragging us down.
Failures. You are all total failures. We need a new game plan for Destination 2010 if our campus wants to leave its mark in the world. We need to make Playboy’s list of Top 10 Party Schools. We can still someday win the prestigious title of Playboy’s No. 1 party college, but it won’t be easy. We’ll need to lose a little bit of our self-respect and probably all our clothes if we’re going to get on this list. Fortunately, I have some experience in both areas. It’s a tragedy we’re not on this list. All of this studying will take us nowhere if we’re not able to apply that knowledge to the outside world. We need to encourage an academic environ-
Hey, haven’t heard from you in awhile. Just figured we would check in. How’s life? Did you like our page? Tell us about it! Send your letters to the editor and guest columns to opinion@statehornet.com
Wednesday
Party hard to get in Playboy
I’m running myself into the ground!
Hey, it’s OK. If school isn’t going well for you, sometimes you just need to take a break. It’s not quitting, it’s just taking time to regroup, says David Loret de Mola. Check it out on Friday at statehornet.com
Opinion
M ay 5,
McClatchy Tribune
This party at Daytona Beach, Fla., is clearly what Sac State should be aspiring to be like.
ment conducive to figuring out one’s limit for alcohol consumption and how to divide kilos into grams. Some call us Slackramento State, but what do we have to show for it? People will think we slack off on studying, but really we slack off on slacking off. Really, we should have had at least a couple of freshmen alcohol poisonings this year to reassure the world that the college experience is alive and kicking at Sac State. So how do we get on this list and where do we sign up? “Our editors look for input from a variety of sources,” said Playboy spokesman Steve Mazeika. “It’s not necessarily which schools gets the most votes ... it’s more who stands out. We simply believe in ‘work hard, play hard’, and we look for schools that demonstrate that.” Did you hear the man? We need to play hard and stand out. First on the agenda: bring back Fraternity Row. Everyone knows that the Greek system is the heart of every meaningful college experience. Whororities are sorely needed around here. They offer access to wild parties featuring explicit debauchery. And everyone knows that the amount of fun you’re having is directly proportionate to how naked you are. We have been missing out on so much it’s not even funny. Get with it, Sac
Playboy’s Top 10 Party Schools 2010 1. University of Texas at Austin 2. West Virginia University 3. University of Wisconsin-Madison 4. University of Miami 5. East Carolina University State. Great recreational drugs sold openly and conveniently on campus are a must if we’re going to make this list – you hear me, Sandwich and Soda Guy? Next time I see your little cart near the University Union, you better be slinging some pot brownies and magic mushroom candies alongside those delicious sandwiches. Help us out, man. Peak Adventures also needs to step up its game. How about offering Acid Peak Adventures? Hiking trips, kayaking trips, acid trips - what’s really the difference anyway? A little LSD never hurt anybody, and students will gain a new appreciation for nature afterwards. Acid is one hell of a drug, it’s an experience that evolves with you; don’t knock it ‘til you try it.
6. Arizona State University 7. Rollins College 8. University of California - Santa Barbara 9. Plymouth State University 10. University of Iowa Let’s face it: Sac State has way more to offer to our community than football or basketball. We should be focusing on shotgunning bong rips, speedballing and beer pong. ESPN recognizes beer pong as an actual sport by televising beer pong tournaments. We need a truly talented team of beer pong players that rule with an iron gullet. Really, how can we possibly consider ourselves a 24/7 destination campus if there isn’t an abundant supply of cocaine to keep people up that long? If college is supposed to prepare you for the real world, then let’s teach the student body the lessons they have been missing out on. Sac State, we can make this list next time. I believe in you. Make it happen.
Some people are way too hot to handle
By Paul Roundtree proundtree@statehornet.com The weather is warming up folks; summer is at our throats, which means students will be showing a lot more skin on campus. Now we all like eyeing out a hot pair of assets strutting through the Quad all sexy and fit, but is it possible for someone to be too hot? And if that is true, is there something wrong with being too hot? When I say hot, I am talking about pure and unadulterated visual stimulation. This could include body and facial structure, hair, clothing style, skin and makeup or the way someone carries him or herself. You don’t need to actually meet someone to know they are hot. You could just drool over their picture or stare at them in class thinking, “That is one hot mama jama.” Khoren Hakobian, junior philosophy major, said our ideas of what it means to be beautiful are like fads. Not only have current concepts of “hot” changed from 500 years ago, but even today, different groups have different tastes. Whatever it means to you, “hot” is all in your mind. More specifically, it’s all in the mind, or eye, of the beholder, and it is possible for someone to come off as “too hot.” I’m talking about the, “she’s out of my league” complex, when someone is so physically beautiful that it ceases to be an encouragement and becomes a discouragement to the observer. If beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder, as I believe it is,
then “too hot” could just mean “too hot for me.” Being “too hot” could also describe a person who has let the pursuit of hotness take over his or her life, becoming so obsessed with it that she or he ceases to work on or value much else. Even if he or she is a very beautiful person, self obsession tends to offend and disgust people. Kari Westerman, junior journalism major, said someone’s deeper qualities can eclipse his or her physical attractiveness. She said traits like narcissism are “an instant turn-off.” “You could be at a party or something and see someone and say that’s a really goodlooking human,” Westerman said. “Then the first thing out of their mouth is really ignorant or rude, and they instantly become a no-go.” Surprise, surprise. Physical attraction is not all there is to a person. Let me let you in on a little secret. Even if you are smoking hot, if a disproportionate amount of your time and energy has been put into your looks, people can tell. Most people lose interest in you as soon as you open your mouth. They may still try to get you naked, but that’s about all. These deeper qualities I’m talking about compose another type of attraction I call the “ensemble.” All of a person’s traits contribute to this including, but not limited to, physical attraction, sense of humor, intelligence and attitude. “I could be partially attracted,” Westerman said. “But if they’re really intelligent, or funny, or if we have the some goals and interests, I become more attracted to them.” Personality, the same thing that can make a beautiful person seem boring and undesirable, can make an averagelooking person exciting and attractive. The kicker is good looks start to expire in a few short years, while the shelf life of someone’s personality is usually much longer.
Marcy Hendricks State Hornet
Guest Column: Get rid of ASI director positions I voted in the Associated Students Inc. elections from Dublin, Ireland, where I study abroad. I thought it was neat that I could feel like a Sacramento State student from so far away. I like Sac State, a lot. I also like ASI - but not because it’s important (it’s not). I like ASI because it’s a really fun game. Now before I tell you why ASI is pointless, let me clarify something. ASI provides many jobs to many people. This is good. It provides the Children’s Center, which provides day care for Sac State parents. Safe Rides and KSSU are important programs, too. But they don’t need a lot of money to run. There are other ASI programs that can be argued as important. But ASI simply does not need to exist for them to exist. They can be independently owned (Peak Adventures). Or they’re just not working like they should (Student Life and Services). Also, it should be noted half of ASI’s fee goes toward athletics. Athletics asks ASI for more money regularly. They also create deficits, regularly. Then, they need more money, again. And what about the ASI board of directors, whose faces you saw on big colorful signs all week? Well, they get paid a lot of money to simply
represent us at the university, state and federal level (so, far we’re doing awesome on all three levels, guys! Keep it up!). ASI board directors don’t need all that money. They should get paid nothing and their responsibilities should be removed. Let me tell you about the term of a current ASI board director. You spend the entire year trying to do 20 different things, and then come May you hope to have finished two (usually they involve free Subway). At this point you understand the job, but it’s too late. Finally, you have the pathetic epiphany that your useless year is the same useless year that oblivious board directors have been accomplishing since ASI’s inception 60 years ago. I realized that I was useless in April of my term. I spent my last weeks at the Sac State Archives digging up memos, e-mails and legislation from ASI’s past. In 1970 they had the same problems we have now. Forty years of board directors have failed to change anything. The worst part is that ASI keeps getting bigger and then needing more of our money to compensate. That’s why I hope this year’s board directors do the smart thing and disintegrate the entire
organization. But wait! Even if the board directors don’t do anything, isn’t it important to have student representation for intrinsic value? No. This is why: In January of 2009 I remember hearing inner ASI rumors about a “new student fee” that Sac State President Alexander Gonzalez wanted to introduce. “That’s horrible!” I said. “It’s OK,” they said. “We’ll spend countless hours thinking, researching and mulling over ways to ensure that our students get the final say on whether this ‘new student fee’ is made into Sac State Law or not.” I felt reassured. We ensured students had the final say! The students voted the fee down! But Gonzalez made it into Sac State Law, anyway. Now we have a “new student fee.” Great job, guys! ASI used the full capacity of its intrinsic power of representing the students, and it still failed. It’s all right though, because I felt really self-important through it all. And I took all of your guys’ money with me. Looking back, I don’t think I made a difference at board meetings while discussing the possibility of water-bottlerefilling stations (also knows as water fountains). Nor did I make a difference
when we patted ourselves on the back for a brand spankin’ new website, which we didn’t design (our minimum-wage marketing assistant did the work). Instead, I look back on everything and realize I was really entertained. ASI is a fun game that makes college students feel like bureaucrats. And if you get paid tons of dough to play a game, why not keep playing along? Why actually try to give your constituency a paradigm shift by telling them we don’t need to exist? Because no college student has the guts, time and energy to reform his or her student government. I wish I could have written all this sooner! But I was told by ASI that if I was a member, then I was not allowed to say negative things about our organization. They don’t want to look bad, otherwise someone might realize, like I did, that the entire organization can disappear. And everyone would be better off and get (some) of their $155.50 back. Also we wouldn’t have to look at those crappy campaign signs anymore ... Jesus! ▶◀ ▶◀ ▶◀ Andres Perez, Former ASI Director of Arts and Letters
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Passion expressed through fashion By Erin Rogers erogers@statehornet.com
Couture dresses made from burlap sacks were a feature of the “Spring Into Fashion Show” at Sacramento State hosted by the Student Fashion Association Friday. The show featured more than 14 student designers who each created their own collections by hand. As the upbeat music played in the background, student models of every body type walked the runway to showcase the talent of the 14 chosen apparel marketing and design majors. “I liked the fact that the show had a lot of different body types,” said Ausha McGee, sophomore sociology major. “Everyone was out there, not just size zeros.” One clothing line that stood out was “The Cubism Movement” by student designer and junior psychology major Noognuv Thao. Her line was the one featuring burlap sacks. “I chose burlap because I wanted something that wouldn’t distract from the original design,” Thao said. This line expressed my style; I like to create things that you wouldn’t really see every day.” Amanda Xiong, one of the models of this line and student at Consumes River College, said Thao took a chance when using burlap as her fabric of choice for her line. “Burlap is something that you shouldn’t really use, but she crossed that boundary,” Xiong said. “This is a different item I am wearing, it is so unique.” Since Thao used such an unconventional fabric with edgy designs, her line was definitely more advanced than the other lines. “No one has this dress or anything like it,” Xiong said. “As a model, I would say this is the most extreme out of the show.” Thao said her inspiration for the clothing line came from the cubism movement that she refers to as the Picasso era. “I wanted to have a really basic visual art form of what the cubism era meant to me,” Thao said. “It’s all about art and making the curves of the pieces align with the features of the individual, just like Picasso did with his odd shapes.” As for burlap material, Thao
said she wanted to use a more natural material to represent the canvas the artists of the cubism era. “I wanted to represent what these genius artists painted on,” Thao said. “The material is also edgy and creative - something else I wanted my line to be.” Instead of majoring in apparel marketing and design like the other designers, Thao is majoring in psychology. “I chose psychology as my major because I wanted to have a secure foundation for my career; fashion is known as a hard career to get into,” Thao said. “Even though I am a psychology major, my own passion and experience of fashion has allowed me to be successful in this show.” Another impressive line at the fashion show was “A Flash of Hmong” by student designer and senior apparel marketing and design major Nkaujer Thor. Thor’s line featured skirts and dresses that incorporated the Hmong culture through the fabrics used in each garment. “My culture was definitely my see Fashion| page B2
Photos By Caroline LeDoux
Upper Right: A student designer walks down the runway with a model wearing her best look. Lower Right: At the “Spring Into Fashion Show” models show off a student designer’s clothing line. Above: Models strut their stuff on the runway in the Union.
Circa Survive shares new music at Sac State By Cahil Bhanji cbhanji@statehornet.com
Pennsylvanian progressive indie-rock outfit Circa Survive will be playing one of its first headlining shows since the debut of its album “Blue Sky Noise” at Sacramento State on Thursday in the University Union Ballroom. The performance is at 7:30 p.m.in the University Union Ballroom and will be hosted by UNIQUE. Circa Survive started around 2004 and consists of vocalist Anthony Green, guitarists Colin Frangicetto and Brendan
Courtesy Photos
Above: Circa Survive will perform at Sac State on Thursday. Right: The cover of Circa Survive’s newest album, “Blue Sky Noise.”
Ekstrom, bassist Nick Beard and drummer Steve Clifford. On April 20, Circa Survive released its latest full-length album “Blue Sky Noise” on Atlantic Records - not long after releasing two previous fulllengths, “Juturna” and “On Letting Go” and a four-song release “The Inuit Sessions,” all released on Equal Vision. One highlight from the newest album, Fragincetto said, is that the whole band contributed to the writing process of the record. Green, who is primarily the lyricist for the band, had more input on the musical front and the rest of the band
had more input on the lyrics, he said. In the song “I Felt Free,” Fragincetto said he was able to contribute lyrics and melodies to the song, something that previously was left almost solely to Green. “This time around, everything is very goal-oriented; no egos involved. It’s better to have five minds rather than one,” Fragincetto said. Circa Survive began working on the record in September of 2008, after Green and Clifford returned from touring Green’s solo album “Avalon.” The band chose a location on a nature reserve called the “Creek House” to write this most recent album. After they started writing the album, band members moved out of the house they all lived in together and found places of their own. Nonetheless, they would return daily to “Creek House” to continue working on the new album. “‘Creek House’ became the way that we worked,” Frangicetto said. Frangicetto said while writing “Blue Sky Noise,” Circa Survive drew its inspiration from everywhere. “The inspiration was so many things, feelings we felt throughout the touring process, personal things that happened in our lives even before the band started. It’s a very personal record inspired by our lives,” he
said. Frangicetto said because he had so much personal involvement in each song on “Blue Sky Noise” he has a hard time labeling a favorite song to play. He said he had input in almost every song. Therefore, each song appeals to him. “My favorites change on a daily basis, two favorites right now are ‘I Felt Free’ and ‘Get Out,’” he said. “‘Get Out’ is an accomplishment in the rock ‘n’ roll department. It’s the kind of song I’ve always wanted to write ... we’ve been trying to write a straightforward rock song and never quite hit it on the head, like we did with ‘Get Out,’” Frangicetto said. The hard work and dedication the band put into writing and recording the new album did not go unappreciated by fans. According to the website absolutepunk.net, “Blue Sky Noise” will debut on The Billboard top 200 chart this week in the 11th spot - selling 27,829 albums in its first week. “I preordered the album as soon as I heard they were coming out with one,” said Mathew Curtis, an undeclared student from San Francisco State. At first Curtis was skeptical of how the new album would sound because of the label change. He was concerned that being on a label with bands as big as Journey would affect Circa Survive’s sound. After listening to “Blue Sky Noise” a few
times straight through, Curtis made a verdict. “I like it more than ‘On Letting Go.’ It doesn’t sound like Anthony is holding his vocals back this time,” he said. Curtis will be making the drive from San Francisco to see the performance at Sac State. “I heard about the show on my spring break because my friend who goes to Sac State was home and he said they were playing, so as soon as I heard an opportunity to see them I hopped on it,” Curtis said. He also plans on seeing Circa Survive the night before the Sac State show while they are in San Francisco with Coheed and Cambria. “Circa shows are really high energy. Anthony is dancing around on stage - the crowd gets into it - it’s epic,” said UNIQUE member and senior business management major Lauren Pryor. Pryor has been a fan of Circa Survive since her first year of college in 2006 and has already seen the group perform a couple times before. In anticipation for the show at Sac State, Pryor has been watching her favorite live videos of Circa Survive on YouTube. Circa Survive’s upcoming concert at Sac State will be slightly different than the performances the group has recently done on tour with Coheed and Cambria. “The set will be longer and
tailored to a Circa Survive fan,” Frangicetto said. “I think immediately you’ll feel a difference there. Every night on tour there is really a good portion of the crowd that’s there to see us, but there’s an overwhelming amount to see Coheed and that’s why we did the tour, to turn some new people on.” After its tour with Coheed and Cambria, Circa Survive plans to go out on a headlining tour of its own in the late summer. As headliners, they will have a say on who they will take on tour with them for opening support. “We have an open-door policy on who we would go out with,” Frangicetto said. “Really, the only rule that there is, is now we’re going to headline much more often and when we do go out with other bands we want to go with bands we really respect and have admiration for.” Tickets for Circa Survive’s performance at Sac State will cost $10 for Sac State students and $15 for the public. Local bands K Sera and Mozart Season will open for Circa Survive. “I think it’s a good opportunity for people who live on campus to come see what Sac State has to offer,” Pryor said. “A majority of ticket sales are from people who aren’t students, so it’d be nice for students to come and see what is going on, and Circa Survive is a great band in general, so they leave with a new band to listen to.”
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statehornet.com
Comedian focuses on climate change By Miriam Arghandiwal arghandiwal@statehornet.com The Student Economics Association at Sacramento State has found a possible method to controlling climate change: laughter. The association will welcome Yoram Bauman, a comedian with a doctorate in environmental economics, to campus at 3 p.m. Thursday in the Hinde Auditorium. The free event will feature a comedic performance by Bauman. His stand-up routine focuses on economics and climate change. Bauman said his hope for the performance is to show students how they can use economics as a tool to protect the environment. “It’s an important thing to figure out because capitalism and market forces are super powerful and if we can get them to help us protect the environment, then we can deal a lot better with things like climate change,” he said. Students do not have to be economic majors to understand the show, Bauman said. “Comedy lets me it spread my message to a broader audience, people who are not your standard economic majors. At the same time it can be exciting for people who are,” he said. Katherine Chalmers, adviser to the Student Economics Asso-
ciation and economics professor, said any student with an interest in climate change should attend the show. He speaks simply about economics so students can relate to his subjects, Chalmers said. “Economics can be a very theoretical class and speakers like Bauman help give students a real-life example,” she said. Walter Cook, graduate economics student and association member, said the theories economic students learn bring about presumptions of the economic world that may not always be accurate. Although these assumptions are necessary to display straightforward models of how economies work, he said, students should still step back, think and look at how these models actually function. The United States’ current economic crisis is an example of how models can go wrong, Cook said. Economic models assume individuals who are participating will act rationally and will take action that furthers their self-interest, he said. Cook said although there is a dispute about what caused the economic crisis, one possible cause is because individuals who pursued their self-interest, pursued a self-interest that did not benefit them in the long run - so they did not act rationally.
“Bauman attempts to examine the reality of how these models function by breaking them apart and offering an entertaining criticism of it. This is important because economies work best when we’re continually questioning the models in which the assumptions are based,” he said. Bauman’s approach to economics appealed to Chalmers, she said, because he effectively delivers a message about environmental change and how economics works. “The thing about comedy is that you can deliver a serious message to people in a way that won’t make them defensive. People are more open to the information being shared and it’s an effective way to get someone to change their mind about something,” Chalmers said. Cook said most economics speakers usually give very serious lectures, but Bauman gives economics an interesting twist by using comedy. “He’s appealing to many students; I know a group of students from Davis who are planning to come to Sac State to see him, and students from Davis coming to Sac State for events doesn’t happen often,” he said. Bauman gained his popularity not only by his stand-up acts but also from his book “The Cartoon Introduction to Economics,” which is similar to a comic book that depicts
microeconomics. Bauman said comedy was not part of his plan when he was studying economics as a student. Comedy caught his interest after he wrote a parody of an economics textbook in graduate school. He then started attending open mic nights, and after his YouTube video hits reached the thousands, people hired him for his stand-up routines. Bauman said he hopes that by sharing his comedy with students, they may one day help to change things. “Talking to students about environmental issues is important because it’s those students who will become leaders and be able to influence policy change to save our climate,” he said.
Thor said being a first-time designer was nerve-wracking. “Once you see your finished pieces go down the runway, you lose those nervous emotions,” Thor said. “You get this feeling of accomplishment to know you created those pieces.” Amara Carey, freshman apparel marketing and design major, modeled one of the fashions from Thor’s line. Carey wore a dress with a white top and floral bottom, and
a striped belt to tie the whole look together. As for her future career in fashion, Thor said this show, along with being a member of the club, is helping her achieve her goals. “This is helping me by getting me out there,” Thor said. “I am networking with people involved in the field and this is giving me the experience that I need to succeed after college.” Carey said being a model in
Club works hard to rid stereotypes
Julie Keefer State Hornet
Left: Fashion club members warm up for the fashion show on Friday by using leftover material to create a practice dress. Right: Mannequins stand in the Mariposa Hall commons room where club meetings are held at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. By Miriam Arghandiwal arghandiwal@statehornet.com
Courtesy of Jon Stahl
Comedian Yoram Bauman will perform at 3 p.m. Thursday in the Hinde Auditorium.
Fashion: Burlap sacks used for couture inspiration for this line,” Thor said. “I didn’t want to be literal so I took the striped fabric and mixed it with different patterns.” What made Thor’s line so interesting is how she used the same fabrics for every garment, just in different ways. “Each piece has the stripes and floral fabrics, I just used different designs,” Thor said. “I was kind of scared to do stripes with floral but I felt it worked really well.”
CLUB CORNER | FASHION CLUB
this show is also helping her achieve her goals of a career in the fashion industry as well. She said one of the people involved in the show came up to her after the runway presentation and asked her to model in an upcoming fashion show at the Capitol. “This proves that you never know who’s going to be at show to look at you,” Carey said. “I definitely feel doors opening for my future.”
Sacramento State’s Fashion Club is working hard to prove itself against harsh stereotypes and controversial comments. Club president and senior paramarketing design major Natasia Berry said the club faces ridicule on a daily basis. There is a common stereotype, she said, that paramarketing is not a real major and that they are just girls who like shop or are too lazy to work towards something real. “Many look at fashion as a joke,” said Jane Vasquez, junior paramarketing design major and club treasurer. Berry said fashion students fight a hard struggle because the fashion industry is extremely competitive. As students and not professionals, members of the Fashion Club have to work twice as hard to make a name for themselves, she said. Vasquez said many students believe the way to lead successful lives is to become an
attorney, accountant or doctor. “I feel in my heart that if you really love what you’re doing, then money will follow. So I feel that a lot of people that think inside the box don’t understand that you can be creative and make a lot of money doing it just as well,” Vasquez said. Berry said the club overcomes stereotyping by focusing on its work like with the fashion show that took place Friday. Catherine Hamilton, junior family and consumer sciences major, said being a designer in the fashion show helped her create an image for herself. The club focuses on making sure members like Hamilton are aware of all the opportunities available to them. “Opportunities will be given and it’s up to members to take them,” Berry said. Vasquez took one and she will soon be working as a sales intern for Nordstrom’s. “Northern California is not a big fashion domain - we show you don’t have to go to Los Angeles or New York to be in fashion,” Berry said.
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Sac State losing a legend
By Marshall Hampson and Dustin Nosler sports@statehornet.com
For 32 years, John Smith has been the face of Sacramento State’s baseball program. The program is losing its face May 23. Smith, 63, is retiring from coaching following the last game of the 2010 season. He has a school-record 877 wins and has a chance to add to the total in the last three weeks of the season. As his final game approaches, Smith said his time at Sac State has made him the person he is. “It’s been my life and my family’s life for 40 years,” Smith said “Everything happens for a reason. It means everything to me. I’ve given it my life. It’s been good to me and I have no regrets whatsoever of being a Hornet for 40-something years.” Smith’s final home series is May 14-16 against the University of Nevada. “There’s a movement to go contact a lot of former alumni over the 32 years,” Smith said. “But to my understanding, there is going to be a lot of guys here on May 16, which is the last home game I’ll ever coach at Sac State.” Something that shaped Smith’s coaching style was his playing career at Sac State; he was an infielder for the Hornets in 1971 and 1972. Although he had an admittedly pedestrian career, he said it helped him in the long run. “My experiences as a player have enabled me to develop a philosophy that I’ve tried to be consistent with. I was a red ass when I was younger,” Smith said. “But I learned to deal with it and control it in different directions to motivate and for them to get the most out of themselves.” Smith has coached hundreds of players since his 1979 coaching debut at Sac State, some of whom have ended up in the minor and major leagues. Despite the success of some, Smith did not think he was having a great impact on his players early on in his coaching career. “For the first five or six years, guys would come in and play and then I wouldn’t see them,” Smith said. “After about five years I would go, ‘Man, what’s the deal? Am I that big of a jerk that they’re not coming back to see where they played and they forgot their roots?’ The only time I was ever hearing from guys was when they needed a letter of recommendation or need some favor. They weren’t just dropping by to say, ‘Hey coach, how’s life and how are
things going?’ And I took that very personal for the first five, six, seven years.” Smith said he will miss the relationships he established through the game of baseball and in his coaching career. “It took awhile for those early-year guys to get out, get settled and get going and then find the time to come back and show their appreciation for their time they spent at Sac State,” Smith said. “After about seven, eight years, the kids kept rolling in.” One particular relationship Smith built through baseball was with Ritch Price, University of Kansas baseball’s head coach. Smith and Price consider themselves to be each other’s best friends. “Well, he’s basically my older brother,” Price said. “I was the oldest kid in my family when John and I became friends about 25 years ago. When we’d go to the same recruiting sites, you’ll see us side by side the whole time.” Price said Smith’s endeavors at Sac State are monumental and impressive. He said Smith has had an incredible career. “To leave Sacramento State after 32 years, to have played there, to be an assistant coach, to be a head coach, to be the winningest head coach of any sport in history of that school is a great, great accomplishment,” Price said. While there are many things about coaching Smith will miss, there are a few things he is happy to say goodbye to at the end of this season. “I won’t miss the long road trips to Louisiana Tech,” Smith said. “In the early days, we took vans. In the early, early days we went in five cars. We would have to go downtown to get the cars, come back here, load the players up, go to the game, come back, drop the players off and take the cars back downtown. Then finally, about 10-12 years ago, we started getting to the point where we could afford buses through the fundraising efforts and the administration giving us more money to support the program.” To stay in one place for 32 years is difficult for anyone, let alone an NCAA baseball coach. Over the course of Smith’s career, his coaching abilities caught the attention of other universities. Smith said he had three firm offers from other schools in the past to leave Sac State. However, he declined all three because he said it was not what he wanted. “In my loyalties to Sac State, I always went out,” Smith said. “I could’ve went to Troy State,
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Megan Harris State Hornet
John Smith joins former volleyball head coach Debby Colberg as one of two coaches to spend 32 years as a head coach at Sacramento State. He has 877 wins in his career. I could’ve went to Northridge and I could’ve went to Cal Poly. But it wouldn’t have been the same. I wouldn’t have had those loyalties in those schools and I didn’t want to be one of those guys who was just chasing all over the country to climb the ladder. I was happy here. Why go some place else?” The athletic department is replace Smith with associate head coach Reggie Christiansen, who was the head coach at South Dakota State University prior to coming to Sac State in 2008 as the team’s hitting coach. Athletic Director Terry Wanless said the department was looking for someone who had been a head coach and someone who was familiar with the team and program. “We were looking for someone who had head coaching experience (and) that could come in with Coach Smith and learn
the lay of the land,” Wanless said. “He has a great knowledge about the game of baseball and a great communicator with the student-athletes. He really fits what really think our next head coach should be about.” Sac State President Alexander Gonzalez said Smith’s contributions to university have been invaluable. “For more than three decades, Coach Smith has mentored Sacramento State studentathletes and helped them reach their full potential,” Gonzalez said. “I deeply appreciate his contributions to Hornet Athletics, and I thank him for his years of dedicated service to our students.” Smith coached Sac State to two NCAA Division II College World Series finals appearances – 1986 and 1988, when the Hornets finished in second and third place, respectively.
Smith helped get the baseball program where it is today. He was involved in the program’s jump from Division II to Division I, something he does not second-guess. “It’s been a tougher deal since we’ve gone to Division I, but I don’t regret it for a second,” Smith said. “It’s been great. It’s been challenging. It’s been great times. What I have done for 32 years, there’s nothing I would trade it for. I don’t care what the money would pay.” As the culmination of Smith’s 32-year career draws near, he is thankful for the chance Sac State provided him. “I can never thank this university enough for what they’ve done for me,” he said. “They’ve given me an opportunity of a lifetime. I’ve tried to make the most of it, the best I can and I feel good about it. I don’t have any regrets.”
AMERICA SKY CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP APRIL 26-27 T-3RD PLACE at
at WIRA CHAMPIONSHIPS MAY 1-2 2ND PLACE
John Smith inside the numbers at PEYTON JORDAN
2: Division II College World Series finals appearances
CARDINAL INVITATIONAL MAY 1 2ND PLACE
22: Jersey number 32: Highest-drafted player in MLB Draft 42: Most victories in a season (1986)
RABINOWITZ RECORDS THIRD-BEST 800-METER TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY
48: Players drafted by MLB teams 877: Victories as Sac State head coach
TEAM HOSTS SACRAMENTO STATE OPEN MAY 8 AT HORNET FIELD
1979: First year as Sac State head coach
BIG SKY CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP MAY 12-15 Photos Courtesy of Hornet Sports
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Wednesday - May 5
Sports Section
Superstar Zheltova unable to finish illustrious career By Dustin Nosler sports@statehornet.com Three-time Big Sky Conference women’s tennis MVP Katrina Zheltova’s career with the Hornets is over. Zheltova, who played her last match Feb. 28, was dismissed from the team for health reasons. She said her stomach started hurting bad that day. Zheltova said the doctors originally thought it could have been appendicitis. Tennis Director Bill Campbell was quoted in The Sacramento Bee on April 16 speculating Zheltova might have an eating disorder. “Whether it’s an eating disorder or something else, we don’t know at this time,” Campbell told The Bee. Zheltova said the claims of an eating disorder were absolutely false. “I just don’t understand how you can say things like that,” Zheltova said. “He never called me after I got kicked out of the team. He never asked me how I’m doing. He probably heard something from other people.” Campbell said he was instructed not to say anything about his comments to The Bee. Zheltova said she originally felt bad Feb. 12 vs. UC Davis. Athletic Director Terry Wanless said Sacramento State’s policy regarding injured players depends on the doctors’ and athletic trainers’ opinions. “We took those medical situations seriously,” Wanless said. “She was seen by numerous doctors and eventually the situation was identified. She physically was not cleared to return back to tennis.” Zheltova has a sports hernia and is having surgery May 17. When she told women’s tennis head coach Dima Hyrnashka about the injury and presented him with doctor’s note, she said he did not believe her. “I just told him I cannot play,” Zheltova said. “He was asking
Sophomore standouts lead golf team into next season By Dustin Nosler sports@statehornet.com
Mia Matsudaria State Hornet
Katrina Zheltova has not played in a match since Feb. 28 due to a sports hernia. She is having surgery May 17. me, ‘For how long?’ And I’m like, it depends what is really happening with me. He said, ‘I don’t care. You have to play. You have a lot of matches.’” Zheltova said she felt hurt that the coach did not believe her. Zheltova alluded to potential problems between her and Hyrnashka. She said her relationship with the coach has not been well for nearly two and a half years. “I couldn’t find communication with my coach,” Zheltova said. “The worst part was the last two years. He would always disrespect me.” Zheltova said it is hard to be the No. 1 player. She said it puts added pressure on her, which could have led to the strained relationship with the coach. “‘What he (Hyrnashka) was saying is, ‘When you play, we expect you to bring the point; you have to bring it,’” she said. “When others play, he would just explain to them to try hard and maybe bring the point.” When asked to comment, Hyrnashka said all matters regarding Zheltova’s dismissal should be directed to Wanless. Zheltova said she thinks it’s unfair, but she recognizes why it is that way. “I understand that I’ve played professional before and I have
more experience than everyone else on the team,” Zheltova said. “I mean, you’re going to college. It’s supposed to be equal.” Wanless said it is natural for coaches and athletes to have differences of opinion, especially when it comes to playing through injuries. “I think there was perhaps some disagreements on terms of her medical situation,” Wanless said. “But we are always going to air on the side of the trainers. If a student-athlete says they can’t play, then they can’t play. That’s our policy. Coaches don’t make medical decisions; that’s on the trainers.” Wanless said each tennis player submits an anonymous coach evaluation at the end of the season. He said no problems have arisen from the evaluations or otherwise regarding Hrynashka’s coaching style. “This is a veteran coach,” Wanless said. “This is a coach who has been with us for a number of years that has never, ever, ever had an incident like that. He has always been very respectful. There was maybe some disagreement on how things should be done, so people form their own opinions.” Wanless said Hrynashka just see Zheltova| page B6
statehornet.com
Golf is an up-and-down sport. One day, a golfer doesn’t miss. The next day, a golfer cannot sniff par. The Sacramento State golf teams experienced this during the 2009-10 season. The men’s team finished tied for third place April 27 at the America Sky Conference Championships, finishing 15 shots behind the University of Texas Pan American. The team was led by senior Nick Neal, who tied for eighth place at the tournament with his teammate, sophomore Cameron Rappleye – both shot 232 and both were named to the All-America Sky second team. The men finished the season with nine top-10 finishes in 10 matches, including its first victory since 2007 on March 26 at the Cal Poly Invitational. The women concluded the season April 21 at the Big Sky Conference Championships. The team entered the third round trailing the eventual champion Portland State University Vikings by seven strokes. The team would finish two strokes behind the Vikings following tournament-low scores of 74 from senior Brooke Green and sophomore Justine Chen. Green tied for third place overall with a score of 222. Sophomore Julie Shutler said she knows the team is better than the scores would indicate. “We showed what we can do in the conference,” Shutler said. “We just came up a little short.” Golf Director David Sutherland said he is pleased with each teams’ growth. “Overall, both programs achieved some things that are really exciting and kind of speak to the hard work and work ethic of the kids on the team,” Sutherland said. The women had five top10 finishes in nine matches, including two second-place
finishes. Shutler was one of the most consistent golfers on the women’s side. She got off to a fast start on Sept. 14-16 by placing third at the Chip-N Invitational in Lincoln, Neb. She also set a 54-hole school record by shooting 70-70-72, which eclipsed the previous mark of 216, set by Margaux Sheehan at the 2007 Big Sky Championships. Shutler said she did not think she would perform as well as she did this season. “I improved a lot off last year,” Shutler said. “I didn’t really have huge expectations coming into the season because I played really terrible over the summer. But then I came in and played a lot better than I thought.” Shutler said her play at the Chip-N Invitational was definitely the high point for her. “I had my first under-par tournament,” Shutler said. “It was really exciting for me.” Sutherland said Shutler’s record-setting feat was the most impressive of any golfer. “I think it’s probably the best performance that I’ve seen individually from a kid in either program,” Sutherland said. “It was fantastic golf.” Shutler averaged a team-best 76.3 overall score during the season – nearly three shots better than her average of 79 last year. She said her goal is to get down to an average of 75. “I gotta work on playing more consistent golf - maybe more pars” Shutler said. “It’s all about my short-game area.” She also was awarded All-Big Sky Conference honors for the first time in her career and was twice named Black Clover Golfer of the Week. Sophomore Grant Rappleye said he was more pleased with his fall season performance than he was with his spring season performance. “I don’t know why that is,” Rappleye said. “My class schedule was actually easier in
the spring, so I was assuming I would play better and have more time to practice.” Rappleye led the men with a 73.5 average overall score, more than two shots better than his average last season – 75.9. He said he thinks his team could have played better throughout the season. “Overall, we didn’t perform up to our standards – nowhere near,” Rappleye said. “We thought since we got off to a good start, we belong here. It was disappointing not to win at least one tournament.” The team did win match play, but Rappleye said he wants his team to win a full tournament. “Maybe two of the five guys play good and the other two or three guys would play like crap,” Rappleye said. “The two guys that played good last time will play bad and then the other two guys will pick up the slack. It’s not like one person has it all figured out. We all struggled and we all had our bright spots.” An individual achievement on the men’s side that was memorable for Sutherland was made by yet another sophomore. “Jake Johnson’s performance at Utah, where he set some school records and finished second there (stood out),” see Golf| page B6
Golf Achievements l Julie Shutler set a 54hole school record at first tournament of year and had four top-10 finishes l Jake Johnson ties 54hole school record at the Purple & Red Invitational l Men’s team won its first event since 2007 l Women’s team finished in second place at the Big Sky Tournament
Wednesday - May 5
statehornet.com
Sports Section
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Rowing wins varsity eight race for the first time since ‘06 By Matt Harrington mharrington@statehornet.com Sacramento State’s bid for a Western Intercollegiate Rowing Championship fell short on Sunday. The Hornet women had great hopes after day one, as they were able move six boats into the next round. The team was in search of its fourth WIRA title in five years. The Hornets settled for a second-place finish overall in the Division I section as Gonzaga University took first place. Humboldt State University took the overall points title for the weekend’s competition. Humboldt State head coach Robin Meiggs said winning was a great surprise to the program. “This is truly unexpected for us. It is overwhelming and it has been an amazing year for our team,” she said. “This year has been a culmination of many practices and the time and energy that has been spent by the rowers leading up to this point.” The women’s varsity eight, novice eight and pair finished first or second in their heats. The only boat that did not make
it into the next day was the women’s novice four. The team finished third, behind the University of San Diego. However, the novice four came back later in the day to win the Petite final 14 seconds ahead of Cal. In the varsity eight qualifier, Sac State finished second behind Gonzaga. In the novice eight qualifier, the Hornets finished in first place. In the pair boat, Sac State finished second. Head coach Mike Connors felt the team had a great first day at the championships after qualifying three of four boats. “The novice four had a tough heat but they came back to win the petite final, which is the best you can do without winning the grand final,” he said. “Even when you race in the petite final you pick up team points, so that was important for us.” Connors said the novice eight rowed well, as it came in first with a time of 6:42.3. The weather conditions for Saturday’s race were less than ideal, as a moderate breeze wreaked havoc on the competitors, making it difficult to keep the boats in a straight line. This was a common theme that
would be played out on Sunday, as the wind picked up dramatically, capsizing one boat in the middle of competition. The Hornets saw their opportunity for a WIRA Championship slip away slowly Sunday as two of their six boats won their respective divisions. Sac State took third place in the varsity four grand final. In the pair grand final, the Hornets finished in fourth place. It would get worse before it got better. The Hornets finished fourth behind Gonzaga. Sac State faced the Bulldogs in the second varsity eight grand final. The Hornets finished fourth behind Gonzaga, who won the second junior varsity eight. It was not all bad for the women as they were able to win two out the six finals. For the novice lightweight four division, Sac State held off Cal to win by just 0.6 seconds. And in the grand final for the varsity eight division, the Hornets beat their nearest competitor San Diego by three seconds to win their first varsity eight title since 2006 and their fourth in 11 years. Senior Kellie Cook said she
Robert Linggi State Hornet
Sacramento State’s varsity eight boat rows during the final title race on Sunday at Lake Natoma. Sac State won the race with a time of 6:56.5. was happy for the team’s win. “We are overwhelmed with excitement. It was one of those things that we were trying to do, but when it actually happens it is really cool,” Cook said. “Since I have been here, we haven’t been able to do that. Last year we got silver so we
were really close. We are just overcome by excitement, with a few of us going out in our senior year.” Connors said in years past, the varsity eight has not always won the event when it won the overall team title. “I was pretty happy for the
varsity and the seniors. They put a lot of work into this season. It came together at the right time,” he said. “The level of competition this year was high with the San Diego, UC Davis and Gonzaga in the field. We were able to put everything together at the right time.”
Franco moonlights as track competitor during offseason By Ross Coleman rcoleman@statehornet.com What do Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders, Brian Jordan, Shaun White and Sacramento State’s own Mallorie Franco have in common? One sport is just not enough for them. Franco, a freshman, is a rarity; she is a member of the women’s basketball team and a jumper on the track and field team. But neither of those are even her favorite sport. “Actually, volleyball is probably my favorite,” Franco said. Aside from being blessed with superb athletic ability, Franco
said the opportunity to play two sports in college is really the reason why she does what she does. “My head coach in basketball, Jamie Craighead, said that I could do it and that I have the talent and ability to do it, so why not?” Franco said. The native of Humboldt County played more during the basketball season than she thought she would. “I expected to be a freshman and ride the bench,” Franco said. “But I got a lot more minutes than I thought.” During her freshman season she averaged 2.3 points per
game 1.3 rebounds per game in 8.3 minutes per game. Franco said she is really still learning the game of basketball. “I have never been a great athlete in one sport,” Franco said. “I was recruited for basketball as an athlete and they want to make me into a basketball player.” Part of the challenge of playing multiple sports that Franco enjoys is the chance to learn new things. “In high school track I kind of just jumped,” Franco said. “I wanted to come here to be able to learn it. The technique, all of the technical aspects of
jumping.” Kathleen Raske, the director of track and field and cross country, has assigned Franco workouts in hopes of getting the best of her unique athletic ability. “I have her some out to practice the high jump and get in some technical work,” Raske said. “Obviously, two-sport athletes here are very rare. She is very talented.” Raske said she feels despite Franco’s youth, Franco has a chance to maximize her talent at Sac State. “I think she is going to become a great high jumper,”
Raske said. “But she is real young and she is still learning. I see the tools that she brings to the table and those raw tools are tremendous. She is very athletic and I think that eventually she is going to jump very high.” One factor that Franco has working in her favor is the workouts for both basketball and high jump tend to work similar parts of the body. “What she gets out of basketball in terms of her weight training, her agility work and her speed work can also apply to the high jump,” Raske said. “So she can come out two times a week and work for 45
Franco Facts l 5 feet, 10 inches tall l 2.3 points per game l Competed in Cal-Nevada Championships minutes on technical stuff and do very well. You can’t do that as a miler, you can’t do that as a pole-vaulter, you can’t do that as a discus thrower. But the high jump is one of those events where she gets a lot of things see Franco| page B6
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Sports Section
statehornet.com
Zheltova: Injuries Franco: Superior athleticism caught the were main culprit attention of coaches in multiple sports in early dismissal
improve. “It’s all mental for me,” Franco said. “I can feel what I want to do out on the court and on the track, it’s just that I stop myself mentally. It’s frustrating. My coaches see it, I see it. I think a lot of it is just being a freshman.” Headed into her sophomore season, Franco hopes to not only improve mentally but also to step into a leadership role for the Hornets. “After the summer I think it will be a lot better,” Franco said. “With our team being so small, leadership is forced on us but I like that role.”
Continued | page B5
Continued | page B4 wanted his best player to play. “I don’t think for any moment that our coach misused Katrina in any fashion,” Wanless said. “Like all coaches, he wants his players to play; he wants his best players to practice, to work hard, to get better.” Campbell echoed Wanless’ statement. “We have never had any issues with the coaching staff,” Campbell said. Despite Zheltova’s absence, the women’s team was able to win the Big Sky Championship and will move onto the NCAA Tournament, May 14-16. Campbell said the rest of the
team was able to step up without Zheltova in the lineup. “When Katrina was on the team, we had nine very good players,” Campbell said. “When she wasn’t on the team, we had eight very good players.” Wanless said it is disappointing Zheltova could not finish her career at Sac State. “She’s a three-time MVP of the league,” he said. “Certainly if she had been able to finish her senior season, she would have been a four-time MVP, but it didn’t happen. I don’t think anything bad happened on either side. I just think there was some disagreements that caused things like this to happen. It’s not the first time and it won’t be the last.”
Golf: Teams losing only three seniors Continued | page B4
Photo Courtesy Hornet Sports
Grant Rappleye led the men’s team with a 73.5 stroke average during the 2009-10 season.
Sutherland said. The second-place finish by Johnson was also a school record-tying performance, as he shot 67-69-73-209, tying his teammate Grant Norton, who did not compete this season. The women are graduating two players - Green and Anna Becker - while the men are losing Neal to graduation. Despite the losses, Sutherland said he is excited for the teams. “We are setting our expectation that we’re going to make NCAAs,” he said. “We have the talent in both programs to do that. I’m excited about the fact that I think that many of the best players on our team are underclassmen. It’s going to be their responsibility to perform when we need them to; and I think they’re going to be OK with that.”
taken care of with basketball.” With her training and workouts taking up most of her time, Franco has little time for much else. “Basically the only free time I have is to do homework,” Franco said. “It kind of sucks, but at the same time, I like that.” However, despite the heavy workload, Franco said her parents have always been the ones to push her to take on more. “My parents have always wanted me to do as much as I can,” Franco said. “They love it. They came to almost all of my basketball games. They have always been so supportive.” After finishing a year at Sac State, Franco is starting to figure out what she wants to accomplish with her remaining time. “I want to be the best I can be in the sports I play,” says Franco. “I came to Sac for basketball. I didn’t really know what I wanted to major in. But I wanted to be the best basketball player I could be.” Franco admits there are difficulties in attempting to play two sports at once. “Doing two sports is kind of hard because I know I want to be the best in both sports but it takes so much time that at this point I am only OK in both sports,” Franco said. Franco hopes that the basket-
Photo illustration by Adalto Nascimento State Hornet
Freshman Mallorie Franco, biology major, is a dual-sport athlete. She plays basketball and jumps for track. ball team will be able to build on last year’s success going forward. “We want to keep rolling,” Franco said. “The new system that (Craighead) has for us, we love it. The new freshman we have coming in, the program
fits them all well.” But she does admit that she has areas in which she needs to