The S tate Hornet April 13, 2011
C alifornia S tate U niversity , S acramento
E st . 1949
O ne C opy F ree
INTERNATIONAL NEWS WITH A LOCAL IMPACT
Students studying in Japan return home By Yvette Villasenor yvillasenor@statehornet.com
Courtesy of McClatchy Tribune
Cars and buildings were left destroyed after the 9.0 magnitude earthquake in Japan. Three Sac State students studying abroad returned home afterwards.
Three Sacramento State students studying abroad in Japan have returned home safely after being recalled under orders from California State University Chancellor Charles Reed. On March 15, Reed called attention to the presidents of each of the CSU’s 23 campuses to bring their students back to California, citing his concerns about the potential for shortages and increased danger from
the students studying in Japan during the 2010-11 academic school year were not in class when the earthquake and tsunami took place, but rather were between semesters. Silvers said one student was studying at Waseda University through the CSU International Programs and two others were studying at Yokohama National University through the Sac State Study Abroad program. She said a fourth student was planning to study in Japan at Yokohama National University
ing in Japan were not in areas directly affected by the earthquake or tsunami, Reed said leaving students in such an uncertain situation is not a risk he is willing to take, according to his statement. In Reed’s statement, his first concern was for the students’ health and safety, since there is not only possible dangers due to the current damage, but also future effects of unnoticed radiation. Janis Silvers, acting coordinator of Study Abroad, said
damaged nuclear facilities and other means of transportation and communication. “Sacramento State did indeed work with its students studying in Japan to bring them back to the states. All 23 campuses in the CSU were instructed by the chancellor’s office to work in this regard and we were quick to do so,” said Lori Varlotta, vice president of Student Affairs. “The three students we had in programs over there have safely returned.” Although students study-
for this semester but now cannot do so. Due to a U.S. State Department travel warning for Japan, none of the students will be able to study in Japan during spring 2011 as they had planned, Silvers said. Jack Godwin, director of Global Education, said information regarding the students who returned from Japan cannot be released at this time.
‘The Wiz’ modernizes classic tale
Photos by Robert Linggi
Left: Dorothy, played by theater major Ashli Fisher, sings during one of the main musical numbers “Ease on Down the Road.” The yellow figures behind her represent the Yellow Brick Road. Top: The Wiz confronts Dorothy, and her friends in Emerald City. Right: The Cowardly Lion, played by Sean Nill, flexes his muscles to frighten Dorothy.
By Mallory Fites mfites@statehornet.com On Friday, the cast of 29 Sacramento State students performed “The Wiz,” an African American take on “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” to a cheering, packed Playwright’s Theatre. The cast, production crew and choreographers have been working on the musical since their first rehearsal on Feb. 20. Melinda Wilson, Sac State’s dance and theatre professor, directed the performance. She also coordinated with the assistant choreographers and directors, costume designers, scenic and puppet designers, stage crew, musicians and a graffiti street artist. “I hope ‘The Wiz’ teaches students at Sac State and the community and youth of all ages, to always believe in themselves” Wilson said. “To use their brains, listen to their hearts and have the courage in whatever they want to do.” The modern twist from the 1974 version included a texting Dorothy who is living with her aunt and uncle in Kansas. Dorothy is swept away in a tornado of gray costumed dancers who were spinning and nailing
high, toe-touching jumps. Dorothy then finds herself lost in the Land of Oz. Ashli Fisher, sophomore English and theater major, played the part of Dorothy and said working on the musical has been worth the hard work. “It has been amazing and challenging … physically, mentally, spiritually,” Fisher said. “But it has been a joy being in it.” Fisher said Sac State students have wanted to do this show for a long time before Wilson came to Sac State in 2005. “Part of the motivation was when Michael Jackson died last year. We thought maybe it is time to do ‘The Wiz,’” Wilson said. “I knew I had amazingly talented students. I knew I could do the version of ‘The Wiz’ using our talents and what we have now.” In “The Wiz,” Dorothy is coming of age and finding who she is. “Dorothy is a girl who is trying to identify with herself and her abilities,” Fisher said. “She’s on a journey on how to grow up and treat her family, how to receive and give love.” Dorothy’s journey down the see Musical | page A8
Director strives for change By Mallory Fites mfites@statehornet.com Sacramento State theater professor Melinda Wilson has her latest work performed in front of the entire campus. Wilson is directing “The Wiz,” a centerpiece for the Festival of the Arts on campus. She is working with a cast of 29 actors and actresses to produce an interpretation and updated version of William F. Brown’s 1974 Tony Awardwinning, rock-and-soul version of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” Wilson joined Sac State in the fall of 2005 and is teaching several courses including theater history, African American theater and culture and script analysis. She is also faculty adviser to Sons and Ancestors Players Club, which is geared towards African American college students in theater. Lorelei Bayne, jazz, modern and choreography professor, said Wilson became very involved with taking theater off campus and into the community with this student organization. “When she came to the campus
she picked up the torch and ran with it. She knew the organization had been inexistent,” Bayne said. Whether Wilson is teaching students in the club or here on campus, she said she enjoys collaborating with students on ideas for the production and watching it unfold during rehearsals. “My proudest moment as a director for ‘The Wiz’ was the first night of auditions and seeing the talent and the entire audition process. I knew at auditions it would be a phenomenal show, I saw it unfolding before me,” Wilson said. “The kids who auditioned had an energy that you could feel.” She holds a doctorate and a degree in theater and drama from Northwestern University, and a bachelor’s degree in African American studies from Vanderbilt University. Her research was based on the construction of youth identity in African American dramas from the Civil Rights Movement and Black Power era. see Wilson | page A8
Photo by Robert Linggi
Director Melinda Wilson directs the cast of “The Wiz” on stage during the moments before its final dress rehearsal on Friday.
INSIDE THE STATE HORNET SPRING PRACTICE
TIGER WOODS VS. MICHAEL VICK
What can the campus expect this year from the football team?
Which of these two star athletes is Dante Frattini rooting for?
Sports B3
Opinion A7
MOONLIGHTERS
SAAAAAANDWICH AND SODA
See how Sac State alumni are making their work shown on campus.
Why has Togo’s Cheng Wang disappeared from the Library Quad?
Features B1
News A3
PODCAST
Cole Mayer talks about how some teachers are naieve in believing their class is most important.
Online News statehornet.com
The State Hornet Issue 11 | Volume 63 | No. 25
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Sac State’s famous mansion on sale due to budget cuts By Brett Johnson bjohnson@statehornet.com The historic Julia Morgan House, formerly known as the Goethe Mansion, has belonged to Sacramento State since the 1960s, but it is being sold due to budgetary problems. The Julia Morgan House, located at 3731 T St., was officially put on the market during the first week of April. The 7,200-square-foot mansion, which sits on one acre of land, is now valued at $1,995,000.
someone who has a special interest in history, beauty and architecture.” In 1918, American eugenicist Charles Goethe hired Morgan to construct the residence for him and his wife. After Goethe’s death in 1966, he bequeathed the house and $650,000 to University Enterprises Inc., the nonprofit auxiliary of Sac State. Goethe was a controversial figure because of his public support of the German Nazi Party’s mass-sterilization pro-
File Photo
Sacramento State’s Julia Morgan mansion is being sold due to budgetary problems. The current value of the house is $1,995,000.
Built in the early 1920s, the mansion was designed by one of America’s first female architects, Julia Morgan. Morgan was an acclaimed architect, best known for her construction of the Hearst Castle in San Simeon. The Julia Morgan House is the only residential design of hers that is located in Sacramento. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for potential buyers,” said Polly Sanders, real estate agent. “This property has never been on the market before. It’s going to end up with
gram that meant to selectively breed the Aryan race. In an effort to distance itself from the racist viewpoints of Goethe, Sac State in 2007 renamed the Goethe Mansion to the Julia Morgan House. “Even though Goethe had some despicable beliefs,” said Kevin Wehr, sociology professor and president of Sac State‘s chapter of the California Faculty Association, “I can’t imagine that he would have been pleased with the university’s decision to sell the estate. Usually when you donate something, you want to see it
put to good use.” The mansion was at one time used for off-campus events for students and faculty, and then rented out for a usage fee for weddings and receptions. While the Julia Morgan House was in use, UEI was spending $244,000 on the house every year for its operation. Even when the house was no longer being used, UEI had to pay for routine landscaping and housekeeping. Not having to pay for the general maintenance costs would save the university $40,000 annually. “The University Enterprises Inc. board has determined it is best to relieve the company of the ongoing maintenance and upkeep costs of the Julia Morgan House,” said Kimberly Nava, director of news services. Wehr said the poorly timed decision to sell the estate is further evidence of incompetence in Sac State’s administration. Nava said the decision to put the Julia Morgan House on the market is something that has been deliberation since January, and it was an option that had been examined for even longer. The house is listed by Coldwell Banker’s Polly Sanders at just under $2 million. Nava said once a determination is made on the estate’s final price, there will be “further discussions of what should come of the net proceeds.”
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Togo’s cart fails to meet health codes; forced out of Quad By Matt Harrington mharrington@statehornet.com Sacramento State has been without a memorable person in the Library Quad since the beginning of spring 2011 – Togo’s sandwiches Cheng Wang is that man. Wang’s famous cries of “Saaaaandwich and Soda” and “It’s a Lunchtime” could be heard in the Library Quad every day around lunchtime. University Enterprises Inc. spokeswoman Celexsy Adame said it’s because Wang’s cart was not up to proper code. “In response to new county health department permit requirements for refrigerated carts, UEI discontinued the Togo’s cart,” Adame said. “In light of the new permit requirements, UEI is evaluating options for a new cart.” The sandwich cart and Wang were synonymous on campus, though with the cart on the sidelines, Adame said Wang is
safe and sound. “The Togo’s cart operator continues to work in the River Front Center, where the full Togo’s menu is offered,” Adame said. Sacramento County Department of Environmental Management supervisor Jeff Czapla said Togo’s needs the proper paperwork to operate a food cart on campus. “Togo’s has the correct permit to serve food out of the current facility there on campus,” Czapla said. “What they would need to do in order to operate a satellite or moving cart is to purchase a permit for such an operation.” Beyond having the correct permit for a moving cart, Czapla said the cart must also keep the food being served at the right levels. “The cart must also be able to maintain a constant temperature of 41 degrees Fahrenheit or cooler. This is to ensure that the sandwiches being served
for the hours that the cart is in operation are as fresh as possible,” Czapla said. “So Togo’s has to prove that they have this capability, along with having the name and address of the company on the cart as well. When these are satisfied, they would need to call us and we would issue Togo’s for a satellite food facility.” The cart Wang operated did not have the capability of being plugged in. Rather what kept the sandwiches and sodas cold was ice placed inside the plastic blue cart. According to Environmental Management, that contributed to Togo’s being asked to discontinue food service from its carts until further notice. “The reason that the food needs to be served at (41 degrees Fahrenheit) temperature, is to prevent any microbial growth within the food being served. If there is any growth within the food, the server runs the risk of potentially making
their customer sick,” Czapla said. “This would then cause a foodborne illness within the customer eating the food.” Czapla said the permit would cost UEI $190 per year on top of maintaining a regular inspection schedule conducted by his department. “Our whole goal in this situation is that we to be able to identify the cart being used to serve the food,” Czapla said. “So we want to make sure in this instance that this cart indeed does come from the Togo’s facility, that the food was prepared fresh the morning of the service day and that the food is being served at the right temperature.” Within the past decade, social media websites like MySpace and Facebook have given the public the opportunity to network that has not been seen prior. It has also allowed groups of individuals to like or dislike topics and people. In fall 2009, junior com-
Photo by Nicole Lundgren
Togo’s Cheng Wang is no longer in the Library Quad selling sandwiches. Due to health code violations with his cart, he now works in the River Front Center.
munication studies major Kyle Madson created the “SAAAAAAAAAAAAANDWICH AND SODA!” Facebook fan page for Wang. With 5,912 fans, Madson said members of the page took notice of Wang’s absence.
“There are members of page that are alums and write how much they miss seeing Cheng on campus,” Madson said. “There have been instances of individuals that have come back to campus just to buy a sandwich from him.”
CSUS jazz band returns to Next Generation Jazz Festival By Yvette Villasenor yvillasenor@statehornet.com Sacramento State’s jazz band returned to the annual Next Generation Jazz festival for its sixth consecutive year April 1-3. Every spring, the Monterey Jazz Festival invites the top student musicians from across the country to participate in the Next Generation Jazz Festival. The three-day event includes performances by middle school through college level ensembles. Held April 1-3, the festival included America’s top young Jazz musicians from 10 states with over 1,200 students, all competing for a spot on the stages of the Monterey Jazz Festival that will take place in mid September. Steve Roach, director of jazz
studies at Sac State, submitted a recorded audition of Sac State’s jazz band and to his excitement the band was selected for its sixth year in a row by the Berklee College of Music. “It is an honor to get in,” Roach said. “The band played extremely well, but unfortunately, we did not place in the top three.” The Monterey Jazz Festival has been a nonprofit leader in jazz education since 1958. Founder Jimmy Lyons created the competition as a way to bring talented student musicians and groups together and cultivate musicians for the future. Although Sac State has been accepted to the Next Generation six times, the band has never grabbed a spot to play on stage at the Monterey Jazz Festival. However, Roach be-
lieves his students are gaining more experience each year they attend the competition. Department Chair of the music department, Ernie Hills, describes the competition as the most notable jazz festival in the nation that has among the very best musicians worldwide and has been a multi-year winner for best jazz festival by Jazz Times. “The festival is very high end, only the best of the best compete so it is not easy to place in the Monterey Jazz festival that takes place in September and with several schools in the nation competing, there is only one spot open,” Hills said. “Placed or not, every year Sac State does very well.” However the Next Generation Jazz Festival is not only a competition but it also provides clinics, workshops, and Jam
sessions with some of the world’s famous musicians for students to interact and learn from one another. Jason Galbraith, a graduating Music major at Sac State, has been playing the saxophone for 12 years and has participated in the Next Generation Jazz Festival for four years. He said Roach is never really focused on the competition, but rather the effort students put into the music. “This (was) the fourth year I’ve participated in the Next Generation Jazz Festival and every year it has been a wonderful experience, it is not so much competitive, but instead a great way to meet new musicians and learn from the clinics and workshops,” Galbraith said. Galbraith said all the schools gave their best and the band maintained a positive attitude.
He said the festival is a way for students to reveal their talents and put on a great show for their audience. “The festival is a presentation of artistic music. Whether we place or not, we make a musical statement and it is always a great experience,” Galbraith said. As Roach looked back at the performance, he said competing at an elite level was worth the trip. “Although we didn’t place in any of the years we have competed, the experience is a winwin situation,” Roach said. “The festival is not so much competitive, but rather a friendly atmosphere where there is mutual respect. It is always a great time for the students to gather with other schools and learn from each other.”
Courtesy Sam Parsons
Sac State’s jazz band competed at the Next Generation Jazz Festival in Monterey for the sixth year in a row, but did not win at the festival.
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State Senate bill in progress for easier veteran transfers By Matt Harrington mharrington@statehornet.com The California State Senate is considering legislation that could make it less difficult for members of the armed services to transfer from the California Community College system to the California State University system. Senate Bill 1440, authored by Sen. Alex Padilla, D-San Fernando Valley, seeks to simplify the admissions process for veterans attending community colleges and who are preparing to transfer to a CSU institution. Along with SB 1440, the senator also authored SB 292, a bill that clarifies the language of SB 1440 while it is still in committee. SB 1440 will establish the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act or STAR. The
Courtesy Photos
Above: Matthew Ceccato, senior international communications major, fires an AKM assault rifle while on duty in Iraq. Right: Umaru Haruna, a senior accounting information systems major, stands in front of a U.S. Marine Corps Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion. Haruna served two tours of duty in Iraq.
STAR Act will prohibit a community college from adding extra courses onto the students Associates degree requirements prior to graduation and transfer to a four-year institution. It also prohibits the four-year institution from making the transfer student retake courses of similar structure that had been taken at the community college. Veterans wishing to enroll at Sacramento State do not have to go through the process of admittance to the campus alone. There are several individuals and offices located on campus that are dedicated to the special needs of the veterans. Director of Veteran Services Jeff Weston, a veteran and graduate of Sac State, said this legislation is needed because veterans carry with them their whole learning experience.
“What it comes down to is, as veterans we attend several different colleges over the span of our enlistment. I know when I graduated from Sac State, I entered the college with at least six different sets of transcripts,” Weston said. “Some of that information gets lost in the constant moving.” He said the divide between institutions had to be filled. “So when a veteran enters a new community college, their credits are evaluated differently each time. Then one more time as they enter the CSU,” Weston said. “The gap needs to be bridged between the community colleges and the CSU’s as the veteran leaves active duty and enters an institution of higher learning. This bill will help to connect the dots.” To help bridge that gap, veterans have access to several different services that cater to their needs. The Admissions and Outreach Office, located on the third floor of Lassen Hall, houses the office of Veterans Benefits and adviser Lindsey Wathen. Wathen said veterans who come to see her need help figuring out a new system. “When a veteran first separates from the military, they often have to navigate obstacles as they try to enroll in school. Particularly at a public university such as ours, that requires
students to gain admission and approval to attend first,” Wathen said. “They have to apprise themselves of the process for entry to the college. And if they are just getting out of the service, that is not always easy because they have to learn a new system.” She said being able to pay for school is one of those obstacles a veteran will encounter. “If they need financial aid and they are claiming last year’s taxable income, and if they have been in the service, the veteran may have made enough money to not qualify for the aid,” Wathen said. “Also they may not be aware of what they could qualify for and may not apply for it.” Citing her own experience as a member of the military, Wathen said it comes down to not knowing eligibility. “I did not apply for financial aid for the first couple of years I was in school because I just didn’t know what I would qualify for,” Wathen said. “Also veterans are not aware that their GI Bill does not affect their taxable income or their financial aid.” In a letter provided by the senator’s office, Padilla acknowledges that SB 1440 may have elements within its wording that warrant clarification. The senator’s press deputy and legislative aide, Taryn Kinney, said SB 292 helps that issue along. “SB 292 is currently a clarifying bill. Our office is keeping the bill moving through the legislative process as we monitor the SB 1440 implementation task forces progress,” Kinney said. “We want to make sure that there is a living bill that we can use if at any point we find that the legislation is needed to correct any unforeseen problems.” The issue with the language in SB 1440 is directly related to the language in the education code that it may affect. Under the current education code,
veterans are given special consideration during the admissions process. Sections of the Education Code explain who is given priority during the registration process. According to Section 66202, “residents of California who are recently released veterans of the armed forces of the United States.” After veterans, admission then goes to transfer students and three other categories. The code also states that veterans who in good standing at their institution and who had to return to active duty prior to finishing a semester, are allowed re-entry without penalty. They will also be considered first over a veteran who was just released from active duty. Padilla gave further clarification on the matter in the letter and said his bill will not change current laws on the books; it will only enhance what is already there. Another office located in Lassen that helps veterans navigate Sac State is the office of Veterans Services. As part of the office’s services, they run the Veterans Success Center, which provides assistance to prospective and enrolled student veterans and their dependents. Weston said the programs available for veterans on Sac State’s campus are among the best in the area. “On average, veterans at Sac State are probably treated as well or better than most campuses in the state. We have tremendous resources compared to many of the local community colleges and state schools,” Weston said. “In addition to our office, the campus also has a separate certifying official that only deals with admitting veterans to campus.” One student who made the transition from active military to college student was Daniel Pauley. A junior government major who was active in the Marine Corps for four years and is now a member of the
Army National Guard and the campus’ Reserve Officers Training Corps. He said the government made it possible for him to be a student. “For me the transition to a four year institution was pretty smooth. Fortunately, in my last year of active duty in the Marines, I had some extra home station time and was able to take some online courses,” Pauley said. “The military pays 100 percent of tuition, up to $7,500 per year, so I was able to get a jumpstart on school which made the transition to a community college a lot easier.” Pauley said he was a selfstarter when it came to making the transition to college life and encourages others to do the same. “I do know a few people that have had problems making the transition from active duty to civilian life. Both of my brothers were active military and are now struggling to establish themselves,” Pauley said. “The biggest thing I can suggest to someone is do your own research. Because I did my own research, I didn’t have to rely on a lot of people.” STATE HORNET CLASSIFIEDS
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Environmental studies offers bachelor of science degrees By Sean Keister skeister@statehornet.com After years of development, Sacramento State’s environmental studies department has been given the go-ahead to issue bachelor of science degrees. Virginia Matzek, a professor in the program, said she is thrilled about the decision, and said now along with the bachelor of arts degree for environmental studies, they have two great programs. “Students now have more flexibility to design a major that prepares them for the careers they want to pursue,” Matzek said. The process began four years ago, when Matzek and professor Michelle Stevens were hired. The department wanted to award bachelor of science degrees at that time, but was short on staff. Having a full staff gave it a better justification to create the new degree. While it was originally announced a year ago at a campus level, the environmental studies department finally gave the
green light to issue bachelor of science degrees at the university level by the chancellor’s office in Long Beach. Further research and information had to be provided for the need of this degree at Sac State in order for the California State University system to give the OK, but it was finally approved as of this semester. Environmental studies chair Dudley Burton was the spokesman presenting the plan to committees in 2009. All committees approved the proposal and Burton said it is a necessary progression of the department. “I think it’s important that we provide this opportunity for our students,” Burton said. “There are lots of these jobs available for students in this area and it’s certainly appropriate that the pathway to getting those jobs be as straightforward as possible.” In both the bachelor’s of arts and science, Burton said both groups of students would take the same basic environmental courses and complete their se-
nior thesis. Those in the bachelor of science program would have a wide variety of scientific courses as part of their curriculum, such as oceanography and field botany. The main difference is now each environmental studies degree would be able to stand on its own with enough units, so students will not have to take a required minor. Professor Greg Popejoy is in his fourth year as a part-time instructor and worked for the Department of Conservation for 20 years. He said this decision is long overdue and can provide more for students. “Obviously it’s more science oriented,” Popejoy said. “With the B.A. side, obviously, you can go more into policy and planning issues. But with a science degree, you can go in the lab, you can do field ecology, field biology – there are all sorts of jobs, especially with global climate change happening. There is a need for scientists.” Jill Goff is a senior environmental studies major who will
Photo by Ashley Neal
Docent Kate Mawdsley leads a restoration ecology class taught by Virginia Matzek out on the Jepson Prairie. The prairie is home to many species of plants and animals and was a great opportunity for the group to learn outside of the classroom.
Photos by Ashley Neal
graduate in December with a bachelor of science degree. She thinks getting a bachelor of science as opposed to a bachelor of arts will allow her to better compete in the job market. “I think it makes the environmental studies program a more well-rounded department,” Goff said. Moving forward, Burton said the department’s main concern are budget cuts. As a result, certain classes students need may only be offered every other year. “Right now nobody knows what’s going to happen,” Popejoy said. “Courses are being cut, staff is being cut; right now our department is very thin. We are down to two full-time people running the whole department and adding new classes, and a new major while we’re doing it. So they need somebody who’s going to teach these classes this semester and we’re going to relying more on the part-time folks.” Many students were counting on the bachelor of science degree when it first was announced a year ago, but Burton said the department is doing what it can to assist those students who graduated before
Above: Terry Singleton, senior environmental studies major, looks at a tadpole shrimp that was captured from a pools on Jepson Prairie. Right: Tara Hannon, senior environmental studies major, measures the height of her in the greenhouse.
it was officially offered. “Many, in fact, were disappointed that it didn’t happen quicker, but the administration is allowing us to work with students who graduated in December to redo their degree to see if they can meet the requirements for the B.S.,” Burton said. “Students who graduated longer ago than that will be disappointed that they cannot get the B.S., but I have agreed to write a letter for them if that would help them.” Burton said the state hiring boards have become more strenuous leading to the bachelor of science program. “If they say you need a B.S., then you need a B.S.,” he said. Sunny Kandola is a senior who is working on his bachelor of arts in environmental studies. He said it does make a difference which degree some-
one gets. “It matters in what job you’re going for,” he said. “If you want a B.S., you are doing a lot more daily research.” Popejoy said this is an important step because of how expansive the new degree is, giving students a boost in the green-jobs market. “This will be good because it’s beyond just regular science, like biology and chemistry,” Popejoy said. “The folks coming out of this program will have this background in environmental issues, as well as a better understanding of the bigger environmental picture.”
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Musical: Show features CSUS president Wilson: ‘The Wiz’ displays theater professor’s artistry Continued | page A1
yellow brick road was full of witches, munchkins, poppies, field mice, Emerald City citizens, winged monkeys and more. The road itself was a group of actors and actresses in yellow raincoats and black boots, leading Dorothy and her crew to the Emerald City. Technology played a role in the performance from Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North, who tells Dorothy she can guess her name with her “magic slate,” which was a version of an iPad. The musical also used video during the performance. Sac State actors and actresses enthusiastically danced down the aisle to the high tempo in “Ease on Down the Road.” Toward the middle of the show, audience members were asked to dance and join the charac-
ters in the aisles. This created a fun, engaging environment with the cast. “The cast did whatever they had to do to make it work and dedicated themselves in ways
Upcoming showtimes Thursday 6:30 p.m. General admission and students: $10 Friday 8:30 p.m. General admission - $15 students - $12
that I haven’t seen a cast come together,” Wilson said. Senior theater major Krystle Jong played Glenda, the Good Witch of the South, and said the long rehearsals were tiring
and at times she just wanted to plop on her bed. Even though she often grew exhausted, the cast were amazing people and a creative team to work with. “It’s been long and overwhelming, but artistically satisfying,” she said. “The cast was inspirational people to work with. It is overwhelming in a good way.” Each show will feature special guest performers including Sac State President Alexander Gonzalez. “I was honored to be invited to appear in ‘The Wiz’ by professor Melinda Wilson and I am looking forward to sharing the stage with so many talented students,” Gonzalez said. “The guest appearances that will take place throughout the run of ‘The Wiz’ are a terrific opportunity to bring the larger community closer to the fine performances we offer at
Sacramento State.” Katie Polseshuk, senior dance major, said the performance created the scenery of the original “Wiz” with very little props. “I am very impressed with the talent in the department of theater and how they created a new world with minimal props and set – which is up to the actors to create it,” Poleshuk said. Theater department chair Linda Goodrich choreographed the performance along with six assistant choreographers. Each set of characters on the stage had its own style of dancing: the krumping munchkins, the Tin Man solo performance imitating Elvis Presley and the Scarecrow moon walking like Michael Jackson. The character Whiz was the person who could get Dorothy home, give the Scarecrow brains, the Tin man a heart and the Lion courage. He was a puppet the height of the stage. The characters were constructed to be relatable to youth and illustrate what is important in life. “We have all created our own world of Oz, whether it’s on Facebook or Twittering,” Wilson said. “Along the way, we lost sight of what it is and what we should be true and faithful to. We get lost and ‘The Wiz’ helps us to find our way back home.”
Continued | page A1 Bayne described Wilson as very detail-orientated. “Her energy and passion for whatever project she’s working on is contagious to students, faculty and staff involved,” Bayne said. “She brings a depth of knowledge about African American theater, which helps our programs stand out from other programs.” Previous productions Wilson has directed or acted in include, Dearborn Heights, Day of Absence, The Colored Museum and a variety of productions with Rhythm and Roots Performance Company in Nashville, Tenn. Prior to “The Wiz,” the last production she directed was in 2007 and was called “North Star,” which was a coming of age performance set during the Civil Rights Movement. “North Star” stood out because it reminds society where we have come in race relations, but how far we still have to go, Bayne said. “It moves the artistry of Sac State forward. It plays a role in moving forward race relations,” Bayne said. “It’s educational and artistic at the same time – mixing those things is a real talent to possess.”
Senior theater major Krystle Jong, who plays the role of Glenda the Good Witch of the South in “The Wiz,” said Wilson pushes the cast in the right way. “She has a vision, but lets you grow into yourself as an artist and performer,” Jong said. Sophomore English and theater major Ashli Fisher, who plays the role of Dorothy in “The Wiz,” said Wilson brings a lot of creativity to the performance. “She has such a vision that I’ve never experienced before. She has a different way of looking at production and pulls things out that directors normally wouldn’t,” Fisher said. Fisher considered herself as mostly a dancer, but said Wilson gave her confidence. “She has challenged me and made me look beyond what I see,” Fisher said. “She believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself vocally.” Over the years, Wilson said she has grown artistically and is able to see things more clearly and articulate a vision. “I also have a better sense of what it takes to bring a show, no matter what the magnitude, together,” she said. “I’ve learned how to work with different people, designers, musicians and I hope I’m getting better at that side of it.” Jong said Wilson inspires her to be the best because students do not want to underperform. “She thinks so highly of everyone, you don’t want to disappoint her. She has trust in us and believes in each and everyone one of us,” Jong said. “She also gives us the room to be ourselves and collaborate with the cast.”
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Research candidates for upcoming election laws passed. So voting in the elections could result in getting classes created – classes that might interest you. The caveat is that you need to know who you are voting for, so your elected officials can make the decisions you want. What was that? Political efficacy again? And you still say you don’t care? Well, looks like you don’t care about a scholarship worth $1,000. When Martin was the vice president of finance, he created the ASI Presidential Award. Voting for the right candidate could mean the creation of a scholarship you are qualified for. That means a chance at free money. By now, you are probably wondering how you are going to be informed. Attend debates between the candidates, or seek them out yourself. Something that students forget is the candidates are students, too, and have classes. Chances are you walk through the Library Quad at some point during the week, so take a few moments to stop and read the signs that have been posted, which include photos of the candidates. They walk around campus, so find them, stop them and chat about their
policies for a few minutes. Talking to them in person and getting to know them humanizes them. This makes them real people, not names or a picture on a board in the quad who are making decisions for you. Be warned, though: Voting for a candidate who is not suited for the position could be detrimental. Martin said that some of those elected have made “huge strides” in just a semester, though he has seen some elected officials who have made little progress in four years – hence why it is vital you know who you are voting for. Martin gave a rundown of each ASI position. The president, or CEO, represents all the university’s students, and is the face of the student government. The executive vice president is the chairman of the ASI board of directors, and the main internal officer. The VP of finance, or CFO, manages the budget for all of the ASI services and handles all the financial committees. The VP of University Affairs is “ASI’s shared governance liaison,” Martin said. Essentially, the go-between of the university administration and ASI. They
also appoint students to university committees. The VP of Academic Affairs is the liaison to the Faculty Senate, and responds on behalf of ASI to all things curriculum- or graduation-related. The directors of the specific colleges are “student senators” to ASI, and work on projects to benefit their respective college, Martin said. It all comes down to knowing who you are voting for and which position they are running for. Is the candidate passionate or lazy? Are they focused on making a difference for students, or just graduating? Considering the impact of those elected to the student government, these are important factors in voting. Who is elected can make ASI either excellent at working for the students, or very poor at it. “When I came in as a freshman, I thought ASI was, in my opinion, a group of seniors working on resumes on the third floor of the Union,” Martin said. “Through voting, students changed a lot of that. ASI has started to relate to students. The ASI I came into is different from the one I’m leaving as a senior.”
Athletes’ actions affect fandom
By Dante Frattini dfrattini@statehornet.com
As the recently completed Masters approached, I was thinking about my rooting interests. And how, in regards to golf, I normally have none. The only time I’m really ever aware of golf is during the week prior to one of the major tournaments. Other than those four times a year, and I suppose the Ryder Cup once every two years, my interest in golf is about on par with my interest in anything gluten-free. That means aside from wondering why other people like it, I often forget it exists. That all changed Thanksgiving 2009, when at 2:30 a.m., Tiger Woods drove his car into some shrubbery, a fire hydrant, and a tree – just one object short of another Tiger Slam. Though Woods’ desire to keep his matters private prevented many of the details from getting out, that incident is speculated to have been caused by a domestic dispute. Woods likely drove off in a hurry after an argument with his wife Elin, who had recently discovered that Woods had not only been clubbing golf balls, but also waitresses, models and porn stars. And somehow, that made me to root for Tiger Woods this weekend. I have always been one to root for the underdog if I don’t have any personal interest in the teams or athletes competing. I know Tiger Woods isn’t an underdog in the normal sense of the word. His transgressions didn’t take away from his talent or work ethic, but they did seem to stack the odds more heavily against him. And I want to see him break through that. I want to see him
win the next 12 majors. I want to see him flip everyone off as he walks up to the 18th green with a nine-shot lead. I want him to shout “King Kong ain’t got s--- on me!” as he taps in his final birdie. At this point of my argument I can’t help but think about Michael Vick, and how hard I rooted against him when he came back to the NFL following a league suspension and prison term. Both punishments were served for funding and participating in Bad Newz Kennels, a dog fighting ring. Am I a hypocrite? Great, just what I need, another reason to
what I think of one’s character. How can I best justify my seemingly contradictory thoughts? Most simply, I think Michael Vick committed the worse crime. Well, Woods didn’t really commit a crime unless you count the driving violation that cost him all of $164. But Vick’s actions were heinous, cruel, malicious, reprehensible and – hold on, let me get my thesaurus – totally uncool. Woods’ actions, on the other hand, were definitely wrong, but somewhat understandable if not completely forgivable. Woods grew up a prodigy.
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question myself. My dislike for Michael Vick has subsided over time, but I definitely won’t ever root for him – and I don’t share in many NFL analysts’ thoughts that a successful Michael Vick is a “feel-good” story. Bad people can be good at things. Michael Vick just happens to be good at something so immensely popular and lucrative that millions of people want to see him do it. That doesn’t make it “feel-good.” I don’t see Disney trying to buy rights to “Unleashed: The Michael Vick Comeback Story.” Crap, that would be a pretty good point, but I don’t even think Michael Vick is a bad person. Conversely, I don’t think Tiger Woods is a good person, so it’s not like my rooting interest is based solely on
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EDITORIAL
Political efficacy is a term you may not have heard of unless you have recently taken a government class. Despite this, it is still a very important concept, even more so with the Associated Students, Inc., elections coming up on April 26 and 27. The term refers to the belief that a person can understand and influence politics. They can do this by making informed decisions when voting. Considering only about 10 percent of students voted in the last ASI election, political efficacy on campus could use some work. Students already pay $60 in tuition to ASI, so they may as well make use of their services. “Students have a vested interest in this corporation, and all its services such as Peak Adventures and the Aquatic Center,” said Terry Martin, ASI president. “Those are all made by ASI. The vote is their way to get something they like, or don’t.” Maybe you are too busy with academics to use those services. ASI is still doing things that could have a positive effect on you. For example, they created an entire class. Essentially, it teaches students to become a political lobbyist, trying to get
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His father placed a club in his hand before a rattle. Throughout his upbringing, Woods was practicing his golf game while his peers were out with girls. I think Woods was trying to make up for his lost childhood by being immature and promiscuous just like Michael Jackson made up for his by building a theme park in his backyard. That justification – if you buy it – is only half the reason I choose to root for Tiger. The other is that I’m no longer capable of getting worked up over infidelity. Unless, of course, I’m involved, in which case I get worked up over trying to come up with better lies. Cheating is something that happens so often, it rarely comes as a surprise when it’s discovered. So when women
began coming forward to claim they had affairs with Woods, I was hardly shocked. I was completely shocked, however, when I saw helicopter footage of dog carcasses being excavated from Michael Vick’s Virginia property, which served as the headquarters for Bad Newz Kennels. Then it was learned that many of those dogs died – some by electrocution – at the hands of Vick. I’m not defending Woods’ actions with the “but everyone else is doing it!” argument. Cheating on your wife and the mother of your children is obviously wrong. I am saying that it only takes an inconsiderate jerk to cheat, but it takes a special kind of asshole to execute dogs. The next guy I see walking down the street might have cheated on his wife dozens of times. And frankly, I won’t really care. So why should I care if someone famous or talented cheats? I’m not condoning it. I wouldn’t want my sister to date Tiger Woods. What’s that? Tiger’s ex-wife got how much in the divorce? OK, so I would want my sister to date Tiger Woods, but I realize that he’s not a great person. And maybe neither am I. Perhaps a better person would find it in their hearts to forgive both of these men. And in Vick’s defense, he does seem a little more docile and aware of what he did, though I don’t think I’ll ever believe he’s being completely genuine. Woods’ life is irrevocably changed. His family is no more, a consequence I believe more severe and irreversible than a relatively brief prison sentence. I actually feel empathy for Woods, perhaps because I know how many mistakes I am capable of. But killing dogs for pleasure isn’t one of them. So every few months when golf becomes noteworthy again, I’ll be rooting for the Tiger Woods comeback. And if I offended any Michael Vick fans out there, please don’t fight me over this. I’d be no good to you anyway, I’m all bark and no bite.
STATE HORNET OPINION ONLINE ORAL EXAM: Spicy foods can spice up your love life, right? Uh, no. Totally wrong. Find out why eating spicy foods can leave a burning feeling in more than just your mouth in Brittany Bradley’s column, online Wednesday. Do you want your name in the paper? Send your comics or letters to the opinion editor at opinion@statehornet.com.
Leaving Japan: best option for students abroad
By Kelly Walters kwalters@statehornet.com
What are you willing to risk to pursue your dream? Students studying in Japan through the California State University’s Global Education program recently faced that question when a massive
probably convince me to come home, even if the university had not cancelled the plan. According to the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, exposure to radiation may lead to an array of different deadly cancers that can take years to develop. It also causes reproductive problems that last long into the future. Studying abroad for a year may be the best thing that could happen to a student, but radiation poisoning could be the worst. Some may say there could be educational value in stay-
Photo courtesy of McClatchy Tribune
earthquake and tsunami ravaged the country in March. Within days of the tragedy, CSU Chancellor Charles Reed issued a memorandum closing all CSU study-abroad programs in Japan. Jack Godwin, director of the Office of Global Education, said students were not “ordered” to leave the country, indeed they could have chosen to stay. But, if they did stay, they would be on their own because the program was no longer available through the university. The university did the right thing in canceling its program. According to Reed’s memorandum, damage to infrastructure and the ensuing uncertainty of the developing situation were enough to call students home. And if the earthquake and tsunami were not enough, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station quickly became the next emergency as it began to leak radiation after taking damage caused by the tsunami. If studying abroad, I would be very reluctant to come home early. The loss of units would set my graduation deadline back. But, the loss of the experience would be devastating. “Almost every student who comes home from a studyabroad program says it was the most important thing they ever did,” Godwin said. It would definitely be the experience of a lifetime. But the risk of long-term health problems as a result of a nuclear catastrophe would
ing. Working under duress in the face of tragedy teaches resiliency, it allows a person the opportunity to serve as a volunteer and, possibly, help relief efforts on the ground. A student would come home with an experience he or she would never have had in a typical study-abroad program. While providing relief efforts to those affected by tragedy is important work, it is not the purpose of the program. Reed had to make a choice. Was it safe to allow students to stay and should the university take the risk? Students helping in relief efforts is “an interesting question, but it’s not study abroad. This is a program for studying, not a work or tourism program,” Godwin said. Study-abroad programs are not intended to be life or death situations, and that is why the CSU system will not allow students to go to any country on the U.S. State Department travel warning list. According to the State Department website Japan was added to the list in March. Students had fees refunded and financial aid reconciled, Godwin said. They were also given priority registration for the fall semester, he said. Hopefully Japan will recover quickly and be made a part of the study-abroad program again soon. Although students did not get to complete the program this semester, the experience of living through the natural disaster must have provided an educational experience like no other.
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Discovering Java’s musical side
Nicole Lundgren State Hornet
Pusaka Sunda musicians play the Gamelan music of West Java on Saturday in Capistrano Hall. The group, which was founded in 1988, has appeared at Sac State before. By Alex Grotewohl agrotewohl@statehornet.com Most people probably could not point to Java on a map, much less identify Gamelan music, a style native to the Indonesian island. San Jose-based band Pusaka Sunda brought the ancient genre to Sacramento State Saturday night. Pusaka Sunda plays a sub-genre of Gamelan called Gamelan Degung, originating from West Java. Gamelan was first played in Indonesia around the second century. It is performed by an ensemble, which can contain any number of musicians. Typically there are a variety of gongs providing the tempo, while metallophones, similar to xylophones, supply the melody. Over all of these is usually a suling, a bamboo flute with a high-pitched tone. All the instruments for a Gamelan band are crafted at the same time by an artisan who specializes in their construction. The pieces are designed to be played together, the sound of each specifically made to complement the rest. Since every set is unique, if instruments are paired with those from another set, the desired sound cannot be achieved. In a typical Gamelan song, a tune is played by one instrument, and the other instruments play their own variation on that theme. Rae Ann Stahl works at the library at San Jose State University and has been a member of Pusaka Sunda since it was founded in 1988. While most students are probably not familiar with Gamelan, Stahl said fans of jazz might hear something they recognize. “It is definitely ensemble-based music,” she said. “So in many ways it is most similar to jazz in that you have points in the music where all the instruments come together, but between those meeting points there is some freedom to improvise.” Stahl’s husband, Burhan Sukarma, started Pusaka Sunda. He started playing the suling in the 1960s, and has since become a noted virtuoso, appearing on many successful recordings before relocating to the United States in the 1980s. Stahl said she was introduced to Javanese music when she heard one of these recordings while studying at University of California, Santa Cruz, although she did not know who Sukarma was at the time. UC Santa Cruz is a hot spot for Gamelan, Stahl said, as it is one of the only universities offering classes about it. This is where many of her bandmates, who are mostly American-born, first heard the music. Stahl said she went to see a student ensemble play one night and instantly fell in love. “I do not think that anyone in our ensemble went into Santa Cruz thinking they were going to be playing Gamelan,” she explained. “They sort of discovered it there.” Looking at the meager crowd in Capistrano Hall Saturday night, it was obvious Javanese music has not made its way onto many iPods yet. Roughly one-third of the recital hall was filled, mostly by students required to attend concerts by music professors. Some in attendance, though, were familiar with
Gamelan and would not have missed it. Gary Meyer has been coming to concerts at Sac State for 20 years, and had been looking forward to Pusaka Sunda for months. He discovered Gamelan during a three-week trip to Indonesia, and since that time has accumulated about 25 CDs. Meyer said Gamelan is omnipresent in the southeast Asian country, with multiple ensembles in every village playing at many social gatherings. He said he loved how peaceful and hypnotic the band was, and the show “took (him) right back to Bali.” Each song had a similar haunting quality, characterized by the faint tinkling of metallophones and the deep thud of a giant, hanging gong. Sukarma’s smooth suling stylings reigned over every selection, at different times joined by a violin and two women singing a highpitched Indonesian melody. A dancer performing traditional routines accompanied several of the songs. Jamal Abdul Samad, accounting student at American River College, said he was sent to Sac State Saturday by word of his world music professor. He first heard Gamelan in his class, and had never seen anything like the instruments used on stage. He appreciated what he learned about Indonesian art. “It shows a lot about their culture,” he said. “It kind of helps me to picture (it) more.” Gamelan music might never become popular in the U.S.- certainly not as much Photos by Nicole Lundgren State Hornet as in its homeland. But a Clockwise from top left: Burhan Sukarma Pusaka Sunda show gives plays the suling (bamboo flute); Margot western students a taste of Lederer Prado performs a new choresomething different, and the ography to Pusaka Sunda. She tells a story of its members demonstory of love, jealousy and death through strates how broadening one’s the changing of masks; Lederer Prado cultural horizons can lead danced to several different drumming to the discovery of a lifelong patterns in the Pusaka Sunda perforpassion. mance on Saturday night.
Moonlighter’s Group to Star Ginger’s menu: feature after-hours art scant, pricey, yummy By Erin Rogers erogers@statehornet.com
Not all who exhibit at the Witt Gallery come from the art world. Some even have degrees in chemical engineering but “moonlight” painting snapshots everyday life in muted, natural colors. In the Moonlighter’s Group Exhibition, Sac State alumni Stephanie Mainwaring, Everett Penn and Mathew Seal-Mayr will be showcasing their work through a collaborative effort in the Witt Gallery which will run from April 11-15. Mainwaring, who has her master’s degree in education and a bachelor’s degree in art, says art professor Tom Monteith approached her and the other artists, asking them to exhibit their work. “We were all students in Monteith’s class,” Mainwaring said. “When the question (was) posed for us to show our work together, it just seemed like a natural thing for us to share the experience together.” With her focus on scenery,
By Alex Grotewohl agrotewohl@statehornet.com
Jesse Sutton-Hough State Hornet
The “A Moonlighters Group Exhibit” shows colorful paintings of everyday images on the wall. Mainwaring said she will be showcasing oil paintings based on what she sees in the world around her. “I paint what I see when I am driving in my car or when I’m out at the barn,” Mainwaring said. “Trees are my main focus – I try to show the seasonal change through the light and foliage in my paintings.” Penn said his oil paintings also revolve around objects he sees
in his everyday life. “I am featuring people doing ordinary things,” Penn said. “From soccer games to everyday objects, I want to showcase what people see around Sacramento.” Unlike the other two artists, Seal-Mayr said he is making his art more abstract by using
see Exhibit| page B2
hungry order at the counter and seat themselves. Dinner features table service, but Pham says flip-flops are always welcome. The decor is sleek and modern. There is a distinct minimalist feel, with lots of straight lines, tall ceilings and empty space on the walls. A huge flat-screen TV plays the end of the Kings game directly over our table. It
might have been nice to add a bit more clutter as a play on the busy street fare theme, but the simplicity is appealing in and of itself. The menu is true to Pham’s goal of showing the best from throughout Asia, but the op-
Asian street food. What comes to mind? Bustling urban sidewalks buzzing with chatter? Roadside booths with steaming woks, all specializing in one masterfully prepared dish? Or perhaps is it people see Food | page B2 with cleavers and unsuspecting chickens? This is the kind of feeling Mai Pham, owner and chef at Star Ginger, wants diners to get from her dishes. Many of the most popular on-the-go eats are represented here, from the Indian samosa to Vietnamese pho, a culinary staple in the coastal nation. Though Star Ginger uses plates, some aspects of its atmosphere have the casual feel of a restaurant serving food meant to Jesse Charlton State Hornet be eaten off newspaper. During lunch, the Jungle Curry is a dish served at Star Ginger.
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Club Corner | Scottish country dancing club
No kilt required to join student club for Scottish dance By Erin Rogers erogers@statehornet.com Thanks to the newly created Scottish Country Dancing club, kilts have come to Sacramento State. Not to be confused with highland dancing, Scottish Country dancing originated in the 18th century and is a group activity merely for social purposes and entertainment. Unlike the two step or waltz, Scottish Country dancing is a form of folk dancing that is not as structured as other competitive dances, said Ian Jinks, junior criminal justice major.
“We do reels and jigs – different dance moves that incorporate jumping and skipping,” said Jinks, club president and founder. “Definitely a lot of leg movement is involved.” Since this type of dance is not very popular in Sacramento, Jinks said he created the club so he could dance in the area. “A lot of people just don’t know about Scottish dancing,” Jinks said. “Once they start, they just get hooked.” The group meets every Wednesday in the Well, where they practice dancing. All levels of dancers are in the club - anyone can join. Jinks said he most enjoys
teaching new members this folk dance. “This is not only a fun activity, but a learning experience as well,” Jinks said. “Students get to learn how to dance and I work on my leadership skills.” Club treasurer Guy Moore, sophomore mechanical engineering major, said he originally joined the club to support Jinks. “Ian just made the dancing sound like such a fun activity,” Moore said. “I wanted to help him with his new club and I am really happy I joined.” Unlike a boring workout, Moore said the club is a nice way to exercise while socializ-
Exhibit: Painters ‘moonlight’ with art, have daytime jobs Continued | page B1 watercolor on a special kind of plastic paper called yupo. Since the paper does not absorb the paint like traditional canvas, Seal-Mayr said he gets some neat effects from the watercolor sitting on top of the surface. “The other artists are working with scenery with life as their subject - while mine is a little more abstract,” Seal-Mayr said. “I am just putting a different spin on the typical painting.” Even though his career in art education is having trouble taking off, Seal-Mayr said he continues to enjoy creating his own pieces. “This is called the ‘Moonlighter’s’ exhibit because we all have different careers but still create art,” Seal-Mayr said. “We’ve been making art at Sac State for some time and want to get it out there – we are proud of our work.” Penn said he continues to
create art alongside his career. Though he has a degree in chemical engineering, he continues to make time to paint. “It’s like we have two lives – juggling our career and our passion for art,” Penn said. “Art is our other life outside of our career choices.” For all three students, Penn said this is their first experience with having their own exhibit in a gallery space. “I have never had the opportunity to do my own show and I thought this was a good of a chance as any,” Penn said. “The whole process of putting on a show is a full-time job in itself.” All artists said they enjoy working with each other because group exhibitions have something for everyone. “It’s really great to hear feedback and be involved as a group as opposed to solo exhibitions,” Mainwaring said. “We have worked together to transform the gallery into what we call our
own little art community.” Since some of the artists have already received their art credentials, Seal-Mayr said this is not a typical student show. “By attending the exhibit, people can look forward to seeing paintings by artists who take work seriously and know how to produce a strong piece of art,” Seal-Mayr said. Students and other members of the Sac State community can view the artists’ work during gallery hours in Kadema Hall at no cost. “We are three pretty distinctive individuals who complement each other’s work nicely,” Mainwaring said. “Art is a way for people to continually see something new and I hope viewers who visit the gallery will enjoy our work.”
The “A Moonlighter’s Group Exhibit” reception is 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday in the Witt Gallery.
ing with peers. “Being a member is a great way to have fun outside of class,” Moore said. “The point isn’t just to dance, it’s to have fun and be with other people.” Besides dancing on campus, the club also participates in other Scottish activities. In early May, the club looks forward to attending the Scottish Games in Woodland. Even though the dance is Scottish, any and all people are invited to join the club. “I am Native American and I am in the club,” Moore said. “You don’t have to be Scottish to enjoy dancing.”
Courtesy Photo
The Scottish Country Dancing Club meets Wednesdays in the Well. Anyone can join, regardless of experience.
Students can e-mail info@sacstatescottishdance.com for more information.
Food: High-quality proteins save many of Pham’s dishes Continued | page B1 tions are limited. At dinner there are only 16 entrees available, which is actually fewer than are available at lunch. This is because the delicious banh mi sandwiches are not on the menu in the evening. The banh mi is done right, with the standard carrots, cucumbers and daikon. Jalapenos give it just the right amount of kick, and the Korean barbecue beef is juicy and tender. On the side are sweet potato fries and a cup of a spicy sriracha aioli. The contrast of sweet and spicy is great. At dinner, the samosas are served as an appetizer – three to an order. They are slightly bigger than expected but are not otherwise noteworthy; a standard mix of potatoes, onions, peas and Indian spices. The standout on the plate is the dipping sauce, described on the menu as a coconut-coriander chutney. Green chilies give it
a delayed zing, and make it another good example of the sweet and spicy dynamic. Starters also include vegetarian spring rolls, which are tasty if unexciting, and a Thai beef salad that is neither tasty nor exciting. The slices of meat were good, but the bed of greens was underdressed and bland. All the protein at Star Ginger is fantastic, mostly because it is raised locally. The shrimp in the pad thai is cooked perfectly and flavorful to boot, and the dish as a whole is a winner – the rice noodles are ideally al dente. The barbecue beef makes a much-deserved encore at dinner, although it is in the most expensive dish on a pricey menu. This may be because it is from Niman Ranch, an upscale farm in the Bay Area. It is medium-rare and the red beanand-chile marinade lends a hint of heat. It is served on a bed of jasmine rice, which was actually a bit underdone; it seemed like
they rushed it on a busy night. Pham said she does not use MSG in her pho, while most Vietnamese places do. The difference is noticeable. The broth is slightly less flavorful than at other restaurants, but, again, the beef saves the day. Although Star Ginger is advertised as “budget-friendly,” it is anything but. Pham acknowledges her pho is a couple dollars more expensive than competitors, but she said this is due to the high quality of her product, particularly the meat dishes. The banh mi sandwiches sell for $6 to $7 here, whereas other purveyors might ask $2 to $3. The barbecue beef dish at dinner is $15. Star Ginger has some tasty food, thanks in part to the vision of chef Pham, and also to its selection of high-quality meats. It is a good place to splurge on a great meal, but is perhaps not for those on a budget.
B3 Sports Updates Baseball at Hawaii
April 8
L 16-1 at Hawaii
April 10
L 3-2
vs. Air Force
APril 15
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vs. Air force
APril 16
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| S p r i n g I ss u e 11 | S a c ra m ento S tate
MoLos schedule four open tryouts By AJ Taylor ataylor@statehornet.com The Sacramento Mountain Lions will hold open player tryouts in May, as they continue to work on filling out their roster for the 2011 UFL season. In 2010, the Mountain Lions were just one win away from the championship game. The team was tied for the best second-half record in the UFL, and its roster juxtaposed an ex-NFL star with multiple walk-on players. Former NFL pro-bowler Daunte
Culpepper was the hallmark of the Mountain Lions’ roster, but all through 2010 Culpepper took the field playing alongside and behind multiple players who took a much different route to professional football. Players such as Mike Tauiliili, Josh Leonard, Zeke Moreno and Aaron Woods were featured on the Mountain Lions 2010 roster thanks to their participation in an open tryout. This season the Mountain Lions are proud to once again offer that opportunity to the California community.
In May, the team will host four sets of open player tryouts. The first will be May 7 at San Diego High School’s Balboa Stadium, with another on May 14 at Foothill High School in Sacramento. The Mountain Lions make another stop on May 15 at Natomas High School in Sacramento and May 22 at San Mateo Community College in San Mateo. The participation fee for each tryout is $60 and all tryouts will be from 9 a.m. to noon. The tryouts are for all positions, including kickers and punters. Participants will be timed in the 40-yard
dash, and will participate in a series of individual and team drills. Interested players can register online at the UFL website. Registration began on March 25 and will continue until the day of tryouts, where players can sign up in person from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. on the day of each tryout. Head coach Dennis Green and his staff will evaluate players individually at each tryout. Green said the Mountain Lions tried to reach all areas in Calisee UFL| page B4
Football springs into action By Anthony Honrade ahonrade@statehornet.com
Women’s Golf vs. Big Sky
Championship Chandler, Ariz. April 18-20
TBA
Rowing Lake Natoma INvitational Lake Natoma
at
April 16-17
8:20 a.m.
Men’s Tennis vs. Montana
April 6
W 6-1 at UC Irvine
April 8
L 6-1
at Pepperdine
April 9
L 6-1
at Cal Poly
April 9
L 6-1
at Santa Clara
April 18
12:00 p.m.
Women’s Tennis vs. Denver
April 10
W 5-2
Portland State
at
April 15
1 p.m.
at
Oregon
April 17
12:00 p.m. Photos by Steven Turner State Hornet
Track & Field
Top: Eli Caldwell practices running the ball during a scrimmage game on Saturday. Left: Jake Geringer throws the ball. Above: Matt Shin gets ready to make a play. Spring practice started on March 30.
Mt. SAC Invitational Walnut, Calif. at
April 15-16
TBA
at
Woody Wilson Davis April 16
TBA
The Sacramento State football team has begun its spring schedule with a series of practices and scrimmages in preparation for the fall season starting in August. Though the official start of the 2011 season is not for another couple of months, first year linebacker coach Andy Avalos is making sure that his players have the proper mindset when the football season rolls around. “We’re just working on being disciplined,” Avalos said. “Football players learn to play with their eyes and their feet, make physical and proper contact, and just fly around and set the tone.” Since the team’s first practice on March 30, linebacker Jeff Badger is hoping they will be able to limit their mistakes in order to bring about a successful season for the Hornets. “Practice is always good, but there are always going to be mistakes,” Badger said. “We just have to see where to go from there, and then we can go correct those mistakes and get better from there.” The Hornets held their first scrimmage on Saturday, with both the offense and defense testing each other on the field in hopes of progressing each other’s skills. First year fullback coach Bush Hamdan said the first scrimmage of the year brought about the best in the players, and also showed who has the most to contribute to the team. “I think anytime you’re in a practice situation, you kind of get an idea of who’s making plays and who’s stepping up,” Hamdan said. “Once you go into a live situation, guys start to separate themselves a little bit and, though there’s going to be a lot of things running through their head, I would just like to see these guys play fast and do their best out there.” Fullback Reese Heaslet wants see Training| page B6
Newest club on campus Sports fans still offers non-team softball have teams in Sac Double Coverage
By Stacey Adams sadams@statehornet.com
Sacramento State gained another new club sport this semester – softball. The Sac State Softball Club hopes to give everyone who is interested in playing softball the opportunity to do so regardless of whether they have previously played the sport. “We want to make sure we can give all the girls who still want to play softball the opportunity to be on a team and be a part of a sisterhood,” said team captain Chelsea Harris, junior kinesiology major. The Softball Club was established in the spring of 2010, but began this year. The idea to
Courtesy of Softball Club
The Softball Club provides students with an opportunity to play the sport without having to be on the school team. The club also provides a chance for students to act as administrative members. start a softball club originated from the Morris League Base-
ball Club, a baseball club cresee New| page B5
By Cassie Kolias ckolias@statehornet.com Although the days of the Sacramento Kings are numbered, sports fans have a lot to still be excited about in the area. Yes, the Kings were the only national team that Sacramen-
to had to offer; that doesn’t mean the world will physically end on the day they pack up and head south. We still have football and we still have baseball. The Sacramento Mountain Lions just came to town last season, but have already made their mark. More than 20,000 fans flocked out to Hornet Stadium each game to see football at a professional level. The MoLos offer former NFL players, and coaching by a former NFL coach. Dennis Green coached the likes of the Minnesota Vikings and the Arizona Cardinals, and the see Kings| page B4
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Walk-on senior pitcher finds success with baseball team By Anthony Honrade ahonrade@statehornet.com After originally being cut from the Sacramento State baseball team, senior pitcher Karl Maas is back this season as a walk-on. After redshirting a season with the Hornets, and eventually being cut, Maas tried out this season for the team as a walkon to fill the need for pitchers because some were sidelined with injuries. “When Karl came back, we laid out a plan and said, ‘This is what you’re going to have to do if you’re going to compete for this team,’” said pitching coach Thad Johnson. “He looked at me and said, ‘I’m all in.’” Mass has not only filled the team’s need for pitchers, but he has also been a model for some of the other players on the team. “Since day one, the guy has been nothing short of probably one of the best teammates out here,” Johnson said. “He has completely bought into our program and what we want to do, and there has never been a debate or questioning about what’s going on.”
In order to get back with the team, Maas was asked to make some changes to his pitching, Johnson said. “When you watch him on video, he looks like a big mess, but the one thing he does is he repeats it every single time,” Johnson said. Though Maas may not be the most physically talented pitcher on the team, Johnson said his ability to duplicate his pitches on every throw is something that has allowed him to become successful this season. “If you were to say why he is pitching so well, it has zero to do with the fact that he throws the hardest on the team, locates the best on the team, or has the best off-speed pitching on our staff because none of that stuff is the case,” Johnson said. Johnson described Maas’ mental toughness to be the attribute that sets him apart from most of the pitchers on the team. “The guy is an absolute mental warrior and nothing is going to stop him,” Johnson said. “He just refuses to lose.” Maas’ mental talent also allows him to excel in forcing batters to play his game instead
of the other way around. “A lot of guys will beat themselves,” Johnson said. “They’ll find ways to lose games and find reasons to come out on the short end, but Karl limits his mistakes during the course of the game and gives the opponent very little opportunity to put runners in scoring position.” Johnson also pointed out that Maas’ experience in being cut from the team has helped him in striving to become better as a player. “I think his success is due to the fact that he has had the game taken away from him, and he doesn’t want to feel like that again,” Johnson said. Maas said he tries not to let the game get in his head too much. “I just try to go out there and do my best,” Maas said. “I try to control what I can control and not worry about anything else.” Maas admitted that the mental aspect of the game is what prevented him from pitching as well has he could when he first started playing. “I think when you’re younger, you try to control way
Courtesy of Bob Solorio
Senior pitcher Karl Maas said learning the mental aspect of the game of baseball is crucial to being successful.
too much and then when you get older, you realize that you can only do so much,” Maas said. “When I was younger, I was horrible at it. I would just let it get to me and it ruins the game.” Maas uses some of the things he has learned to help some of the younger pitchers on the team. “When I came back I had a new approach of ‘just control what you can control,’ and I try to tell them that,” Maas said. “They’re not going to learn it overnight and it’s something they have to learn from experience.” From his prior experiences, Maas has learned not to complicate the game and he tries to use his experience whenever he steps on the mound. “I try not to let things get to me, and I just try to focus on each batter,” Maas said. “I know that when I make a bad pitch, there’s nothing you can do about it and that’s something I’ve worked on.”
UFL: Members of community Kings: Team’s move will not get chance to make pro team be end of city’s sports events Continued | page B3
Continued | page B3
fornia. “The talent level we had in all three tryouts last year was impressive,” Green said. “A lot of the guys had played college football and had success there and some were former NFL players. And we invited 41 players from those tryouts to our training camp.” Two walk-on Mountain Lions, Zeke Moreno and Michael Tauiliili, finished the 2010 season second and third in tackles, respectively. Moreno, who had 43 tackles, spent time in the NFL and CFL before coming to the UFL in 2010. Moreno has nine years of professional football experience, most of it with the CFL. It was his first professional open tryout, but he said that he felt comfortable with the way he was treated. “You’ve got to have a passion for this, you’ve got to enjoy it,” Moreno said. ”If you don’t enjoy it then you’re in the wrong place.” Tauiliili, who had 40 tackles in 2010, went to an open tryout offered by every team in the UFL. The Duke graduate and two time All-American traveled all across the nation trying out. Now the Mountain Lions have Tauiliili to thank for 40 tackles, half a sack and two pass defenses. Tauiliili said he thanks the UFL for the opportunity to play the game he loves. “I quarreled with the thought of hanging up the cleats,” Tauiliili said. “But going into those tryouts I wanted to go in and just lay it out on the line, just give them everything I had and let it work the way it was going to work. If they wanted me they wanted me, if they didn’t they didn’t. Either way I knew that
team features big names such as Daunte Culpepper. The team even dabbled in the entertainment side of sports when it featured rapper and singer Flo Rida during halftime. For the price of a ticket, fans also got a show. Fans can still get a “big league” feel virtually right in our own backyard. So don’t feel like you will never catch an exciting game in Sacramento again just because the Kings are leaving. If football isn’t your thing, maybe you could give baseball a chance. The Sacramento River Cats have a history of winning. They have won titles in nine of the 11 years they have been in Sacramento. The team has also had the highest attendance for a minor league baseball team since Raley Field opened. The River Cats are one of the best teams in the Pacific Coast League, and during a game you never get a minor-league feeling. Raley Field is just as beautiful as a field in the Majors – it is just a little smaller – but when it comes to team quality, size doesn’t really matter. The River Cats have been a launch pad for many big names in the MLB, including Barry Zito and Dallas Braden. Zito was a 2002 Cy Young winner and a 2010 World Series champ with the San Francisco Giants. Braden, a starting pitcher for the Oakland A’s threw the 19th perfect game in history last year. Raley Field was home to Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos
File Photo
Two Mountain Lions players came as walk-ons for the 2010 season during open tryouts. I had given myself an opportunity to show what I had.” The only Mountain Lion with more tackles than these two was Andrew Sandejo. Sandejo did not finish the UFL season with the team. At the time of the last Mountain Lion’s game Sandejo was on the Dallas Cowboys roster. Green said he and his staff offer a fair tryout for the hopeful Mountain Lions. Green and his coaching staff are on the look out for enthusiastic and skilled players. “I think we will get a good turnout, it’s the same opportunity,” Green said. “We are looking for guys who feel they can play, and they know that we have some exciting football in our league and they want to be a part of it.” Tauiliili is returning to the
Mountain Lions for the 2011 season as a protected player. He said knowing where he is headed for the 2011 season has given him peace of mind. Had he hung up his cleats early, Tauiliili would never have been in this position. “It means a tremendous opportunity for me to be able to display my talent on a professional level,” Tauiliili said. “Last year all of our games were televised and it’s right here in the United States where, opposed to the CFL, coaches’ access might not be as much. Here I’m able to play in front of my family. I can play in front of NFL coaches and scouts. It’s a big opportunity.”
Courtesy of McClatchy Tribune
Although Sacramento may no longer be home to Tyreke Evans and the Kings, sports fans still have teams to be excited about. Gonazalez, who came in third in the National League MVP race in 2010, and 2010 All-Star Nick Swisher, who now plays for the New York Yankees. I know it sucks that basketball is leaving, and I am not saying that I am happy about it. I am just saying that Sacramento sports fans still have options. You have the option to see winning teams play in quality games. You have options to see these teams at such a cheap price because they are not national teams. You have the option to still have Sacramento
sports be a part of your life. I give you permission to cry a little when the Kings officially leave. You can mourn the loss for a while when the next basketball season comes around, and you no longer have a reason to wear your royal purple jersey. But Sacramento fans, I promise you will survive.
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Sports Section
New: Idea for sport club came from Morris League Baseball Continued | page B3 ated for competitive baseball, on campus, said club president Chris Simpson, senior recreation, parks and tourism administration major. “A softball club is something that has never been done before (on campus),” Simpson said. “It was something we could do and be the first to do it at (Sac State).” The club started off with four members going around campus recruiting people to be a part of the club’s team. “The four of us were going around campus, tapping people on the shoulder and asking if they were interested in playing softball,” Simpson said. “We built up a list of 70 contacts but we dwindled down to 15 players that wanted to play.” Now there are 25 members in the club, 15 being the softball players of the team and the remaining 10 being administrative members. The administrative members are male students who use the club as an outlet to coach and stay connected with the sport. “With the club, I am doing something I enjoy,” said head coach Terrance Moore, sophomore criminal justice major. “Since I wasn’t able to play with the Morris League this year, I’m still keeping active out there in some type of baseball or softball organization.” The team has weekly practices on Saturdays at Glenbrook Park, as well as team workouts Wednesday nights at the Well. However, as the season continues they hope to add more practices to their schedule, Harris said. “We hope to add additional practices to get the team together and have some team building,” Harris said. Every Sunday, there is a
meeting held for the club officers. Simpson said this gives the officers the opportunity to assess and talk about what happened in the past week and items on which the team needs to work. It also allows them to plan out the team’s tasks for the following week. The members are also trying to schedule more social events for the club to participate in, Moore said. The members want to schedule events like sleepovers and bowling to get better connected with each other. The club also plans to have separate events so the women on the team can have a girls’ night, and the men of the administration can have a guys’ night. In the future, the club plans to participate in charity events. As of now, it is working with another club on campus, the No Brainer Foundation, to correlate a time where they can tutor local high school students from the Sacramento region. Simpson said they hope to be able to participate in the event soon. “A lot of these kids don’t have somebody in their presence that are doing these things,” Simpson said. “We want to help them in different areas and give them a positive mentor.” Harris, Moore and Simpson all said they hope to gain leadership and organizing experience through the club, as well as meeting new people, making friends and having fun within the sport. The Softball Club was made for softball players who do not have the option to play on the school’s softball team, Simpson said. Many students may not have the option of playing on the school’s team due to scholar-
ships, tryouts and money. The softball club aims to allow students who are passionate about the sport to still play in a team setting. “It is very political to be a part of a team at a university, especially with (Sac State) being a Division I school,” Simpson said. “You try out for a team and they usually already have their nine players who are going to play. They may have one position that they will let someone walk on but there are a lot of avenues that people do not know about to play on that team.” The club offers those who are interested a less competitive outlet to the sport, Harris said. College teams can be very competitive because the women usually have years of softball experience under their belt. The Softball Club offers less experienced players the chance to get to that level of competition in their own time. “Being on a collegiate team is really competitive,” Harris said. “We’re still competitive, don’t get me wrong, but we do offer an opportunity for those who have never played softball and might be interested in playing. We play all of our players whether their skill level is high or low.” This club gives players who are interested the opportunity to continue their softball career. “We want people that are good at playing and still want to play the sport to be able to come play competitively and hone their craft,” Simpson said.
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Training: Spring schedule has both practices and scrimages Continued | page B3 to not only elevate his play for the scrimmages, but he also wants to continue to develop his skills as the spring season goes on. “It’s just the first scrimmage and this is the first time we’ll get to really evaluate ourselves,” Heaslet said. “I feel good, but I want to improve a lot from this scrimmage, to the last scrimmage that we have.” Though it is early in the year, there are certain things that the team will need to overcome in order to play at their best, Avalos said. “We’re a little bit young at certain positions, as is always, in spring ball,” Avalos said. “Obviously, every spring is going to be little bit of a weakness because we have guys learning the system, learning the defenses, learning the techniques and the assignments.” The team’s youth on both sides of the ball may have contributed to some of the inconsistencies that Heaslet has noticed during some of the practices. “We are just not consistent enough,” Heaslet said. “We’ll do good on one play, and everyone will be hyped up, and then maybe we’ll have a lapse and not be as consistent on the next play.” However, Heaslet mentioned that the team’s lack on consistency on both sides of the ball is something they not only can work on, but also eventually overcome before the start of the season. “I think that it is just a matter of concentration because sometimes people get tired toward the end of practice and mentally, we won’t all be there and make a mental mistake which leads to physical mistakes too,” Heaslet said. “We just
Steven Turner State Hornet
The spring practice schedule for Hornet football began on March 30, and includes two scrimages and a spring game on April 23. have to stay locked in mentally throughout the whole thing.” Early on in the season, there are certain attributes that the Hornets have shown during the practices that they can use to develop their talents on the field. “The great positive that our team has, I think, is that we have some good leadership,” Avalos said. “We have some guys that are taking care of guys in the specific groups and also helping those guys come along. When you have that kind of leadership in each group, it’s just going to help us even progress faster.” Another aspect the team has going for it, Hamdan said, is the
willingness to get better and mature on the field. “This is just a great group of guys who come out everyday with a willingness to get better,” Hamdan said. “They also have a willingness to take in new coaching and to work with me as a new staff member here, and I’m just really excited with what they have to bring.” The team’s cohesiveness as a unit is another thing that they can work on in building towards a successful season. “As a team, we’re really close knit,” Heaslet said. “Everybody is my brother on this team, and we understand how to practice and we would do anything for each other.”
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