The S tate Hornet October 14, 2009 HORNET INSIDE “ALL-ACADEMICS”
C alifornia S tate U niversity, S acramento
E st . 1949
O ne C opy F ree
Sac State’s time to vent
It is always exciting when a student-athlete is voted on an All-Academic team, but to have six athletes on one team earn such an honor is superb. Find out which six athletes from the cross-country/track & field team were named to the team.
Sports B6 SEA MONSTERS?
By Inna Gritsak igritsak@statehornet.com
Killer sea beasts are nothing when one is focused on finding companionship. Ben Winters’ story on finding love isn’t so traditional.
Features B2 SAC STATE ALUMNI WIN AWARDS From students to teachers, read how Sac State alumni have become award-winning leaders in the classroom.
News A3 SUPPORT RIGHTS FOR ALL
Don’t let them discriminate against you. Have some PRIDE in who you are, and read Nelly Hayatghaib’s column in the opinion section.
Opinion A7 HOPEFULS COME TO OFFER TIPS Crowded classes, rising fees and fewer days in class. Listen to faculty and students release their frustrations about the lack of funding for higher education.
Online News statehornet.com
The State Hornet Issue 7 | Volume 62| No. 7
Vent at the Tent, going on Monday through Thursday this week in the Library Quad, is an opportunity to get voices heard about the recent California State University budget cuts, furloughs and student fee increases. Provided by the California Faculty Association and Coalition of Students for Quality Education, the event encourages students, faculty and staff to
write down their complaints in response to the way the budget cuts at Sacramento State have impacted them. People who prefer to vent verbally have the chance to be videotaped. “We’re calling it venting. We’re not trying to be totally negative but a lot of people have had some really difficult experiences this semester,” said CFA Sac State chapter vice president Lois Boulgarides, lecturer/ adviser in the kinesiology and health sciences department. Vent at the Tent is not just
an event to get out student frustrations, but it is also an effort to get the campus community involved in the process of making things better for the campus. The CFA hopes the student responses it receives will bring overlooked concerns to the surface. The input gathered at the tent will be evaluated and presented to the Sac State administration and CSU Board of Trustees. “My hope is that our adminissee Vent| page A8
Mia Matsudaira State Hornet
Lois Boulgarides (upper left) helps at Vent At the Tent. Janet Hecsh (right) reads student comments.
Queer history month Show promotes By Brittany Bottini bbottini@statehornet.com The Sacramento State PRIDE Center is celebrating Queer History Month throughout
October, striving to promote awareness and education of the queer community on campus and at large. Gay Lesbian Bi-Sexual Transgender Month, as it is
Chase Mason State Hornet
Coyote Grace performed recently for Queer History Month. After the show they led a transgender workshop for students interested in learning about gender change.
known nationally, has been recognized every October in countries around the world for nearly 50 years. Today queer communities around the world will commemorate National Coming Out Day, a holiday focused on promoting awareness of GLBT persons living honest and open lives. National Coming Out Day was established in 1988 by Robert Eichberg and Jean O’Leary. The day was created to celebrate the second national march in Washington, D.C., the year before, when more than 500,000 people marched for queer rights. “Whether you’re lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender or not, be proud of who you are and your support of LGBT equality,” according to the Human Rights Campaign website. see Queer| page A6
cleaner energy By Gina Cruz gcruz@statehornet.com Sacramento State has partnered with the Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance to host the third annual Clean Technology Showcase on Friday. The event will showcase more than 100 local environmentally conscious businesses and their products. “The showcase is an amazing opportunity for students to learn what the clean technology companies in the Sacramento area are doing and it’s an extraordinary opportunity for them to meet people in the clean technology business,” said J.D. Stack, chief executive officer of SARTA. This is the second year the event is being held at Sac State.
The showcase will take place throughout the University Union from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The cost to attend the Clean Tech Showcase is $80 for general admission and $40 for fulltime college students. Lunch will be provided from noon to 2 p.m. and free, private, 15-minute sessions with clean energy professionals will be available. Special arrangements were made to have the general admission costs lowered 50 percent for students. SARTA wanted to make it convenient for the students to come and learn about the trends and the future of clean technology, Stack said. There will be an open exhibit hall displaying clean energy products and equipment, panel see Tech | page A6
Overcrowding impacts nursing students By Kristine Guerra kguerra@statehornet.com Student enrollments in nursing programs in California have increased over the last few years, but shortage of well-trained nurses remains a problem because of budget cuts to higher education. California colleges and universities will need to graduate more than 40,000 nurses within the next decade to meet projected demand, according to a report from the Legislative Analyst’s Office. However, because of the budget crisis, funds needed to expand or maintain nursing programs in state universities and community colleges are
either cut or unchanged, said Sara Bachez, consultant for the Assembly Budget Committee. “In this budget year, we didn’t treat any program differently,” Bachez said. “Everyone took a hit.” This year, funding for California State University nursing programs remained at $6.2 million, Bachez said. This reduces the likelihood of expanding the programs. Historically, Sacramento State has not been able to accept all qualified applicants to the nursing program due to limited numbers of qualified professors, facilities and placements see Nursing | page A8
Robyn Barnes State Hornet
With nursing program enrollment at a high, students find themselves in crowded rooms.