Spring 2011 - Issue 5

The S tate Hornet February 23, 2011

C alifornia S tate U niversity , S acramento

O ne C opy F ree

E st . 1949

Sacramento State gets hypnotized

Nicole Lundgren State Hornet

Sacramento State students use their shoes as a way to listen to music during Tom Deluca’s hypnotist show on Thursday. Students also went in front of the crowd and performed as cheerleaders and singers.

By Brett Johnson bjohnson@statehornet.com Hypnotist Tom Deluca entertained a crowd of Sacramento State students by “employing the power of the imagination” to persuade a group of volunteers into performing unnatural, comedic actions.

The show was organized

by UNIQUE and took place Thursday in the University Union. Admission to watch Deluca’s performance, hailed

by LA Weekly as the “hippest hypnotist show in the country,” was completely free.

Deluca has an extensive history performing at Sac State, one

that stretches back 30 years. Up until five years ago, the annual hypnotist’s performance was an event that charged for entry.

Zenia LaPorte, UNIQUE programs adviser, said the audience significantly increased in size after it was made free.

“We have him in year after year because, as you can see, he

attracts a large crowd,” LaPorte said. “Students will pack into nearly every seat during his performances. He’s always a lot of fun.”

Deluca first learned the art of hypnotism through a psychology professor in college. After earning his master’s degree in psychology from the University

of Illinois, he worked as a therapist for quitting smoking and losing weight using hypnotic suggestion.

Through his job as a therapist, he was presented with the opportunity to start doing hypnotism on stages. He started off see Hypnotist | page A6

Professor assists the Silent protest displays ‘intellectually disabled’ dislike of the N-word

By Brett Johnson bjohnson@statehornet.com

Robert Linggi State Hornet

Adapted physical education teacher Scott Modell works with kids during his volunteer program for autistic children. The childen, from 8 to 12 years old, play games during the Autistic Center for Excellence Program.

Adapted physical education professor Scott Modell attributes his motivation to pursue a career in assisting the disabled through community programs and teaching to his brother, Chris Modell, who was diagnosed with an intellectual disability at a young age.

“Having someone with an intellectual disability growing up gave me a perspective that you would not otherwise have,” Modell said. “I was able to see firsthand his struggles and the prejudices that existed for persons with intellectual disabilities. I would see how crushed he was when someone would call him a ‘retard.’”

Modell has been teaching within Sacramento State’s kinesiology and health science department for 14 years. His

main concentration is adapted physical education, in which he earned a master’s degree from Florida State University.

The basis of adapted physical education is planning and developing effective fitness activities for individuals with disabilities. He regularly teaches five different courses on the subject.

Outside of the classroom, Modell has done presentations at local elementary school districts teaching the administration how to better understand and treat students with disabilities. He has also written training manuals for law enforcement agencies, instructing them in the proper way to handle individuals with an intellectual disability.

“Between the courses that I teach, the workshops that I see Modell | page A6

By Sean Keister skeister@statehornet.com

A silent protest occurred last week on campus that encouraged students to stop using the N-word.

Freshman ethnic studies major Rashad Mosely lead the charge by encouraging his fellow students to cover their mouths with a piece of black tape signaling their dissatisfaction of the word.

The event was Mosely’s idea that he developed with his friend, freshman international relations major Jules Ramzy, they wants to bring along social change to racial discrimination and took matters into their own hands to make it happen. They called the protest a baby step in the process.

Mosely wanted to do more than a one-day rally because he wanted to make the cause more visible.

Photo illustration by Jesse Sutton-Hough State Hornet

There was no one event, just individual students taking it upon themselves to participate.

“I took up this cause to bring attention to the inequalities of society that I share,” Mosely said. “The N-word has brought a damper to my life and the continued use of the word serves only the people who

made it.”

Biological sciences major Denise Manning said she thinks people use the word so casually that they don’t realize the hurtful effect it can have.

“I have had friends who I’ve asked not to greet me like that,” see Rally | page A4

INSIDE THE STATE HORNET PEG BRAND LECTURE

Philosopher Peg Brand discussed life and death views with students.

News A2

CLASS STEREOTYPES

E-READER REVIEW

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS CLUB

Is it easy to judge people in classes? Dante Frattini discusses stereotypes.

Which e-reader won our vote? Kindle, Nook or the iPad?

See how the MMA club is helping Sac State students learn self-defense.

Opinion A5

Features B1

Sports B3

PODCAST

As the NASCAR season wraps up, Matt Harrington discusses Dale Earnhardt’s legacy.

Online News statehornet.com

The State Hornet Issue 5 | Volume 63 | No. 18

A2

Wednesday - February 23

News Section

Philosopher informs school about life and death lessons

By Mallory Fites mfites@statehornet.com In Peg Brand’s lecture at Sacramento State, students and faculty were taught to see a new outlook on death.

Brand is an artist and philosophy and women’s studies professor at Purdue University. She also discussed the ethics in the treatment of women and men in sports because she served as the executive director for the NCAA.

Jesse Chralton State Hornet

Purdue University professor Peg Brand talks to students and student athletes about family values, death and virtues.

Her “Dying Gracefully” lecture discussed how to appreciate life and create an open dialogue about death with one another.

Brand lost her husband, Myles Brand, in 2009 from pancreatic cancer.

Brand said dying is gracefully exiting the world through therapeutic means with the arts, music and film. Artwork and music played a significant role in her husband’s quality of life.

“I have found myself without my work partner and life partner. When someone dies suddenly you don’t have the chance to heal and it can ruin the rest of your life,” she said.

Students and faculty were recommended by Brand to have life projects instead of following societal roles. Brand said

an example would be instead of women getting married and having children they should have careers with salaries.

Meisha Lee-Allmond, junior anthropology major, said she attended the lecture because she thought it would be interesting.

Lee-Allmond said she is also considering a minor in philosophy and thought this lecture would give her more guidance into the field of ethics.

Brad Lencioni, junior philosophy major, said he attended the lecture for his virtue and ethics class to learn more about Aristotle, who he said is making a comeback in philosophy.

In Brand’s lecture, she told the story of her late husband and played songs from friend and musician John Mellencamp.

Brand deconstructed stereotypes of women in televised sports using photographs and showed her artwork.

Junior philosophy major Clay Heyer, who is interested in sports, found the lecture informative about ethical issues in sports.

“I’ve never thought about the issues of women in sports. It brought a new light, I really like it,” Heyer said. “I’m definitely going to think more about how women are portrayed in sports.

It’s going to change the way I look.”

Russell Disilvestro, assistant philosophy professor, said the talk itself was provocative and multi-dimensional.

“Because sports are so ubiquitous, it’s important to apply philosophy to sports and ethics,” Disilvestro said.

Kelly Catchot, junior business major, said she thought the songs Brand played by John Mellencamp were powerful and illustrated the idea behind gracefully dying.

“Although I’m not sick, we’re still all preparing to die – so live each day to the fullest,” Catchot said.

Brand said she hoped that students and faculty walked away from the lecture with a sense of wanting to communicate with one another about their role in life.

David Long, retired philosophy professor, said he encountered near-death experiences three times. Long had pneumonia when he was 18 months old and his heart stopped, almost drowned at 10 years old, and in his later years, suffered from several heart attacks.

“Incredible things happen at birth and death,” Long said. “(Philosophers) are not living life, but (Brand) does. She brings such a wonderful message, one of the most refreshing philosophers I’ve seen.”

Corrections

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The State Hornet | Staff Editor in Chief

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• • •

$47,295 for a doctoral degree.

University of the Pacific’s cost for doctoral degree is $50,400 per year.

The actual cost of an online transitional program in Arizona is $8,800.

In last week’s editorial, the sentence should be 5 feet 10 inches, not 5 feet 1 inch.

The State Hornet apologizes for these errors. Please contact Katrina Tupper, print managing editor, for corrections at (916) 278-7300 or ktupper@statehornet.com

akenyon@statehornet.com Photo Editor

Robert Linggi

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Opinion Editor

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Inna Gritsak

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Cole Mayer

opinion@statehornet.com Sports Editor Cassie Kolias

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sports@statehornet.com Assistant Sports Editor Dave Mason

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dmason@statehornet.com Features Editor

In last week’s article, “Physical Therapy Pushes for Doctorate’s degree,” actual figures should read:

April Kenyon

Alexandra Poggione (916) 278-4155

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Wednesday - February 23

News Section

statehornet.com

A3

CSU Super Sunday provides Sac State receives ‘A+’ for guidance for CSUS hopefuls public records compliance

By Matt Harrington mharrington@statehornet.com

By Yvette Villasenor yvillasenor@statehornet.com

In an effort to reach out to the underrepresented communities around the California State University system, university officials spoke at Super Sunday events at more than 100 predominantly African-American churches throughout the state in the month of February.

The Super Sunday events are a part of the CSU’s outreach program to educate students and their families about the requirements for entering a four-year college and ultimately earning a degree.

Various officials from Sacramento State were part of this outreach effort on Sunday morning at Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Sacramento. Members from the 5,000-person congregation had the chance to meet with several department heads from Sac State, including having the chance to speak with Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Joseph Sheley.

Sheley said meeting with members of the community and discussing the many opportunities that going to college is a great idea. About 100 churchgoers filed into the large exhibition room to meet with school officials after the morning services.

“Going into the community is huge. It’s not enough to just let the community know that college is an option for them,” he said. “We can say this over and over again, but unless we can be there and show people what steps they have to do to get into college, then really we are not doing our job.”

Sheley said even though the current economy plays a major role in education expenses, community members are always welcome at the college.

“We go out every year to churches in the community and

Sacramento State received an A+ from a California Public Records Act compliance audit by upholding the public records law for fulfilling requested documents regarding university spending.

Californians Aware tested 32 public university campuses on how well they responded to the requests of public information. According to Californians Aware, the results were satisfactory when dealing with the CSUs, especially compared to the UC system. While the UC system failed to comply, 12 CSUs received a high score, including Sac State.

Californians Aware is a nonprofit organization created to keep Californians informed of public records to hold government and other powerful institutions responsible for their actions.

Sac State’s audit resulted in a high grade because the university provided release of contracts of the president, minutes of meetings where hiring decisions were made, requests for reimbursements and recent credit card statement, said Emily Francke, Sac State alumna and executive director for Californians Aware.

“Sac State’s fulfillment to be compliant to the accessibility of public records prominently has been promising to its community,” Francke said. “It is important for the public to see what kind of financial spending is taking place by chief executive officials in order to be our own watchdog.”

The information requested in the audit required specifics on the total compensation, expense reimbursement claims, credit card use and other outside financial interests of Sac State President Alexander Gonzalez,

Chris Chiang State Hornet

Jackie Morris Henderson of admissions and outreach answers questions on Sunday for members of the Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Sacramento.

try to make sure that people who are reading about how tough the budget is or how hard it is to go to school, understand that Sac State has a place for them. And unless we go out and tell them, a lot of times they do not hear it,” Sheley said. “Our goal is to say this to the communities, churches and families around the campus.”

As part of the morning’s meet-and-greet, those in attendance also received an informational poster titled, “How To Get To College.” The poster, designed for sixth- and seventh-grade students, gave steps to guide the students on how to get to college, with emphasis on what classes to take and gives parents and mentors tips on how to help the student succeed.

As a parent of three young children and a Sac State alumna, Paris Coleman said these type of events help to bring institutions like Sac State to the forefront.

“It is very important for administrators and schools to reach out to the community on several levels. One, to encourage people to attend college and

also to inform the community that the college is there to help them,” Coleman said.

In a statement released from the CSU chancellor’s office, Charles Reed said the majority of jobs in the future will require a degree.

Of the 26,000-plus Sac State students enrolled during the fall 2010 semester, 6.2 percent were classified as African-American.

Coleman believes the assets are out there for the community to use, but few know they exist.

“The reality is that AfricanAmericans need to utilize the resources available to us. We often look to what we know as opposed to looking outside and recognizing we need help just like everyone else,” Coleman said. “Everyone should be where they can get information, either at a church or university.

There is help that is out there, to help us better our lives. Until we recognize that we need help, then it makes it harder for us to elevate ourselves.”

comparing his relative income levels and spending habits during his tenure as president of Sac State.

This is not the first audit Sac State has been asked to comply with. Francke said it is necessary to keep up on the university’s spending to watch for unnecessary expenditures, and by doing so, audits should be taken on a regular basis, Francke said.

According to a previous audit

Compliance Audit Results •

Sac State received an A+

•

Twelve CSUs recieved high grades •

UC schools did not score more than a “C”

by Gov. Jerry Brown’s office, renovations made to Gonzalez’s kitchen, which were paid for by the university’s auxiliary organization, University Enterprises Inc., personally benefited Gonzalez and appeared to be unseemly expenses.

Gloria Moraga, associate vice president of public affairs, described the renovation of Gonzalez’s kitchen as a health and safety code decision made to benefit the university and after complying with the audit, UEI later deemed the matter closed.

Francke said from the first response she received from Sac State in December through the completed fulfillment of her request, the Office of University Counsel was very professional in her responses and helped to clarify several points promptly and courteously. However,

the material provided, such as credit card statements and reimbursement forms, not only required a fee of 20 cents, but also brought up unseemly expenditures by Gonzalez.

“The bad news is that based on the records produced, it is clear that both CSUS students and faculty need to keep a much closer eye on these records going forward, demanding explanations for unlawful redactions on mileage reimbursement forms that are in my opinion, redundant to his $1,000 per month car allowance,” Francke said.

Francke said she believes students should be aware of how their tuition is being spent, and while newsrooms are experiencing cutbacks with less ability to cover these details than before, it is up to the community – particularly the students and faculty of the campus to keep track of how administration is spending our money.

As the audit results showed a high grade in compliance, Francke said the public records law affords the community the right to do this, but the question remains how compliant each campus is with these laws.

The “good news” is that for at least our request in this audit, “campus administration seems to have performed their basic duties flawlessly,” Francke said “I am a taxpayer and alumna of Sac State,” Francke said. “At this time, students’ fees are ever increasing and it’s harder and harder to get into classes because of faculty layoffs and departmental cuts. Students should know how their tuition is being spent. It is dependent on the community to be their own watchdog.”

See related editorial on A5

A4

Wednesday - February 23

News Section

statehornet.com

Student activity fees one-third of CSUS athletics revenue

By Tim Sandoval tsandoval@statehornet.com Student activity fees that support the Sacramento State athletics program have become its largest source of revenue, outpacing dwindling direct and indirect university support.

Student activity fee revenue made up $4,492,294, or 29 percent of total athletics revenue in the 2009-10 budget year, up from making up $3,493,395 or 24 percent of revenue in 200809. The next highest source of revenue from 2009-10 was direct institutional support, like state funds, which made up $4,215,903 or 27 percent of total sports revenue.

Student activity fees, fees that support athletics, increased $18 in 2009-10, another $22 this year, and are scheduled to increase an additional $22.50 for the 2011-12 school year adding up to a total of $125 per student.

Sac State President Alexander Gonzalez implemented the fee schedule in the 2009-10 school year despite an Associated Students Inc. student vote that rejected the fee increases in April 2009.

John Kepley, special assistant to Gonzalez, said the fee

increases were necessary to help pay for increased costs associated with keeping the sports program running.

“The fee had not increased since around 1995,” Kepley said.

“In order to make sure that program did not engender future financial problems was one of the reasons (Gonzalez) did it.”

Kepley said it is important to remember that the student vote was an advisory vote in nature, and not binding.

But the ASI ballot language did not indicate that vote was advisory to student voters. In fact, an analysis of the student activity fee measure notes to students that if the measure failed, the “ASI Student Activity Fee will not be increased.”

The Student Fee Advisory Committee, a group of students who advise academic departments and the administration on certain program-level fees, put the measure on the 2009 ballot and approved its language.

Despite the vote’s advisory nature, the decision by Gonzalez to implement the fee is still controversial to some students.

Senior biology major Alama Lopez, member of the Sac State Coalition, criticized Gonza-

lez for not respecting the student vote, and said she believes the fees should be rescinded.

“When students take a vote and say ‘no,’ and he does whatever he wants to, what does that say?” Lopez said. “It does not seem that student’s voice mattered at all.”

But Peter Buck, an academic All-American linebacker, said he felt that Gonzalez made the right choice increasing student fees for sports.

“I think that the president saw a bigger picture,” Buck said. “A lot of the students oftentimes just come to class and then they go home. They don’t know anything about the university, and are not really looking to improve the university. They are just looking out for themselves.”

Terry Wanless, Sac State athletics director, acknowledged that to have a quality sports program is expensive, but said overall the athletics department adds a lot of value to the campus.

Wanless said students need to keep in perspective that athletic fees at Sac State are much lower

Graphic by Megan Harris

than most schools.

“You do athletics for a lot of reasons,” he said. “One is for the athletic experience and participation and the values associated with it. But as big and as valuable is the marketing value that athletics, a strong athletic program, brings to a campus.”

He said he envisions and wants Sac State athletics growing into an athletics department.

“My goal is very simple,” Wanless said. “I want you to leave this campus wearing a Sacramento State T-shirt feeling

very proud it. Not just because of the great education you received, but for the total collegiate experience, and athletics is a part of that.”

Kepley said it is difficult to measure the revenues that are brought in by athletics. He said by multiplying the number of athletes who do not receive financial aid or scholarships by the costs of attendance, such as money spent on tuition, room and board and books, you find that non-scholarship athletes generate $9.8 million in revenue for the school.

Rally: Mouths covered with tape in protest Continued | page A1 Manning said. “I think it’s degrading.”

She agrees with the protest and thinks the common use of the word in society goes too far.

For Nitoye Nakv, a biology major, he sees – depending on the context – the word as more of a cuss word than as a derogatory term, and doesn’t think the effort will change minds.

“You couldn’t protest against people using the F-word,” Nakv said.

Professor Nick Burnett, interim associate dean for the

College of Arts and Letters who teaches a class on free speech, said he thinks part of the problem is that the word is so ingrained in the culture that even a widespread protest is an uphill battle.

“For instance, two years ago there was a high school student who was trying to start a group at his high school to get people to stop swearing,” Burnett said.

“You know it starts to get a little traction for a while in the media, and then it kind of fades.”

Olga Mendoza, senior criminal justice major, said she thinks

the word is so common now that it just is not a big deal.

“People use it when they’re joking around, it’s nothing serious now,” Mendoza said. “It’s not offensive now, it is just like any other word.”

The protest was not massively publicized on campus, because Mosely and Ramzy only wanted those fully on board to participate.

“To me there is not much of an effect (on students), as it is a word used heavily by some, even from people not of African descent,” Mosely said. “I only

hope that the word will be one that fades from our collective history as people.”

Ramzy said the protest was not only about the word.

“People are too focused on the N-word and the black tape, but it is discrimination that should be focused on,” Ramzy said.

He said for the most part students did not focus much on what they were trying to accomplish.

“It isn’t very surprising seeing as how most of the people who stared at us during the week didn’t stop to ask why we were

protesting,” Ramzy said.

Mosely carried around a roll of black tape with him for anyone willing to participate, and as the week progressed he said they encouraged others to lead by example.

“I think he is trying to say (with the tape) is that the use of that term silences people like him,” Burnett said. “It makes African-Americans seem less than human and his objection to its continued use and daily prevalence is a good message to get out to people.”

But Dan Fulks, a research analyst with the NCAA, questioned how many student athletes are actually on campus simply to play sports.

“It’s a good point, and it is arguable,” Fulks said. “But I question how many of those athletes are at Sac State just to walk on. I would imagine most of those athletes were probably already coming to Sac State anyways and walked on hoping they would get some playing time.”

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A6

Wednesday - February 23

News Section

statehornet.com

Hypnotist: Show directed Modell: Autism Center is toward college audience improving social skills Continued | page A1 performing small local shows at bars and nightclubs. His first performance for a college crowd was in 1979.

Deluca said he enjoys performing at colleges because “there’s a really nice energy to it” and students “tend to be very creative.”

In just one year, Deluca does anywhere from 80 to 200 performances nationwide. He does performances for corporations, usually at a charge of $1,500 per show, according to People magazine. McDonalds, BMW and Microsoft are just a few of the companies for which the self-proclaimed “corporate hypnotist” has performed.

“There’s certain things that I can do at a college that wouldn’t be appropriate for a corporate environment,” Deluca said.

“When I do shows for corporations, it’s more about presenting a metaphor for the company’s values than it is about just having fun.”

At the beginning of his Thursday performance, Deluca stood on the stage and took 18 members of the audience as volunteers for the show. Once all of the volunteers were seated onstage, Deluca asked for the room to quiet down as he spent five minutes performing his hypnosis.

One of the volunteers for the show was Nick Huppe, senior sociology and deaf studies major. Deluca gave hypnotic suggestions to Huppe, who then carried out actions based on what he was told. The audience erupted with laughter multiple times following the outlandish behavior the hypnotized participant exhibited.

Near the end of the show, Deluca suggested that Huppe stand up and act like a cheerleader for the Hornets upon hearing the words, “Sacramento State.” As soon as the words

were uttered, Huppe sprang up from his chair. He flailed his arms, kicked his legs high into the air and began screaming, “Go Hornets!”

After the show, Huppe appeared to be in a trance-like state and completely oblivious to his onstage actions.

“I really don’t know what to say,” Huppe said. “The last thing that I remember is walking onto the stage, and everything after that is hazy.”

The hypnotist’s performance lasted two and a half hours,

with a majority of the audience remaining for the entirety of the show. As the crowd flooded out of the Union, people discussed back-and-forth about whether the show was real or fake.

“It’s important that people walk away from my shows not just laughing, but in amazement,” Deluca said. “There’s a lot of people that tend to think the performance is fake – my goal is to make them into believers, but also keep them interested.”

Continued | page A1 present and the programs that I organize and direct – I stay pretty busy,” Modell said.

One of the programs Modell directs, located on the Sac State campus, is the Autism Center for Excellence. Every weekday during the semester, from 3 to

Robert Linggi State Hornet

Volunteer Mandy pushes Will on a swing during an autistic volunteer program set up by professor Scott Modell in Solano Hall.

Nicole Lundgren State Hornet

Tom Deluca cheers on a Sac State student who yells to the audience with hopes of frightening them with his vocals at Thursday night’s hypnotist show in the Union.

6 p.m., autistic children ages 8-12 whot are enrolled in the program arrive at Solano Hall, Room 1000, to practice social, communicative and motor skills with student interns.

United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Sacramento, a group that provides services for children with developmental disorders, contributed $150,000 for the center’s development and operation.

The organization approached Modell with the idea and the start up funds for the Autism Center for Excellence in 2007, and not long after, the program began.

The center’s program splits children into groups that focus on different areas of improve-

ment. Children dance, hop and skip as physical exercises in the motor skills group. Another group is communication, where the kids play board games and identify objects. Children follow instructions in the socialization group, oftentimes drawing and painting pictures.

“They’re having so much fun that they don’t even think about it being a learning experience,” said Daniel Eisentrager, assistant director of the Autism Center for Excellence.

The students working for the center come from a variety of different departments, but consist primarily of kinesiology, psychology, special education, nursing and speech pathology majors. Interns go through two days of training to learn the processes before the start of the semester, so having expertise in any particular field is not mandatory.

“The good thing about having student interns working with the children opposed to older adults is that it creates a bigbrother and big-sister atmosphere,” Eisentrager said.

There are nearly 40 unpaid student interns from Sac State on staff at the center. Students are required to spend at least 135 hours working at the center

to receive their three credits for the internship in applied physical education course.

Modell said the most gratifying thing about directing the Autism Center for Excellence is witnessing the children in the program demonstrate dramatic improvement in social abilities over time.

“There was one child with autism that entered the center with especially low social skills, and spent six months going through behavioral and communicative training in the program,” Modell said, “One of the days that I brought my son in to visit the center, the autistic child walked up, introduced himself and politely asked if my son wanted to play. Improvement like that is always great to see.”

Besides the Autism Center for Excellence, Modell has established other programs in Sacramento – all focused on benefiting the physically and intellectually disabled.

“I try and set up programs that are based on the needs of the community,” Modell said.

“Programs that give intellectually disabled individuals an opportunity to participate in group based activities is essential for their development.”

A5

THESTATEHORNET

Opinion

www . s tat e h o r n e t . c o m

Sac State passes audit on public information

Campuses that failed the audit:

Gonzalez’s requests for reimbursement.

When Gonzalez went to a lunch with faculty, the exact location has been redacted but mileage reimbursement has been requested.

In other words, Gonzalez wants money for driving, and has given an amount in miles to be paid for, but where he went was deleted, making it hard to verify his mileage count as correct.

“Dr. Gonzalez gets $1,000 a month for car allowance, but is also requesting mileage reimbursement,” she said. “There’s no receipt, we don’t know who paid or how. It just says ‘Boulevard,’ and we don’t know what’s hidden. It’s not legal to be doing that.”

John Kepley, special assistant to the president, said this was an “honest mistake.”

It turns out that the redaction was a simple clerical error, Kepley said. The university was willing to correct the mistake within hours of the matter being brought to its attention, on a Sunday afternoon, no less.

By the next morning, the original, unedited document was available for viewing.

But it doesn’t end with just the reimbursements. The extra money Gonzalez gets each month struck a personal chord with Francke, herself a recent Sac State graduate.

“Fees are going up, classes are being cut back, and class materials are nonexistent, but he’s cleaving every last cent out of the system that he can,” Francke said. “My personal opinion is that it’s outrageous.”

Whoops again. It is incredible that during a budget crisis, Gonzalez is requesting even more money than he is already getting.

When he wants reimbursement for going from his house to a football game on campus, going to a gubernatorial debate at UC Campuses that received an A+: • Cal Poly Pomona • Cal Poly San Luis Obispo • CSU Channel Islands • CSU East Bay • CSU Long Beach • CSU Sacramento • CSU San Bernadino • CSU San Marcos • San Diego State University • San Francisco State University • San Jose State University • Sonoma State University

• CSU Chico • CSU Fullerton • UC Davis • UC Irvine • UC Los Angeles • UC Riverside • UC San Francisco • UC Santa Barbara • UC Santa Cruz

STATE HORNET OPINION ONLINE What did Sacramento rank on the Forbes America’s Most Miserable Cities list? Do we deserve to be there?

Check out Kelly Walter’s column online at statehornet.com

W ednesday

| S p r i n g I s s u e 5 | S a c r a m e n t o S tat e

EDITORIAL

Everyone loves to get a good grade, and Sacramento State is no exception. On a recent audit that began on Nov. 29 by watchdog group Californians Aware, Sac State was given an A+ in regards to public access of information and the California Public Records Act. That sounds great! Our college is awesome! Sac State must give out information whenever someone requests it, right?

Not quite, said CalAware executive director and auditor Emily Francke.

“They met the minimum requirements and expectations of the law,” Francke said.

“That’s all it means, it’s now how they always behave. They may always be perfect, they may not always be perfect.”

Whoops, maybe we are not that great.

But, at least Sac State produced the documents required, including President Alexander Gonzalez’s contract, the minutes of the board meeting where the contract was approved, and Gonzalez’s three most recent university credit card statements.

The university also fulfilled the request promptly, defined by CalAware as 10 days, and was helpful in getting the information.

It’s important that it is possible for students to get the information, said journalism professor Robert Humphrey.

“In general, we want to know what the administration is doing,” he said. “Those in position of power want to hide what they are doing so they don’t get criticized, especially if they’ve done something stupid or illegal.”

Although the auditing request was fulfilled, what interested Francke the most was something alledgedly illegal that came up on

F ebruary 23,

Davis or calling China in what is definitely not the least-expensive way, there’s something wrong with the system. As Francke pointed out, it is getting harder to pay everincreasing tuition costs, and yet money that could be going to students is instead going toward Gonzalez’s car.

There was only one major flaw with how Sac State handled the request for information. One form regarding the president’s Statement of Economic Interest had to be copied at a cost of 20 cents, double what it legally should have been. This was the only problem with Sac State’s response, but the blow is softened by the fact that all the colleges audited did the exact same thing, Francke said.

Speaking of other colleges, how do we compare with our great rival, UC Davis?

We can take great satisfaction in knowing that they received an F. That’s right; they failed.

Unlike our fine institution, UC Davis was unhelpful and took more than 30 days to fulfill the request. Take that, Aggies!

Somewhat ironically, most CSUs received an A+ while most UCs received an F. According to the results of the audit, the CSUs will retrieve the documents internally and send them out, while the UCs require the requester to hunt down the documents within different offices.

In the end, this is a win for university transparency. Sac State is doing what it should for complying with the California Public Records Act. See related news story on A3

To obtain public documents, visit the the university counsel in Sacramento Hall, Room 0152, or send a request, to Jodilee Reid at jreid@csus.edu.

System-wide requests can be sent to: Office of General Counsel The California State University, Office of the Chancellor 401 Golden Shore, Fourth Floor Long Beach, CA 90802-4210

Want to see your name in print?

Send your comics or letters to the opinion editor at opinion@statehornet.com.

Guest column: Taking a hard look at efficiencies during a budget crisis Sacramento State’s budget picture is beginning to take shape, but there is much work to be done before we will know the full effect on our campus.

I was at the California State University Chancellor’s Office in Long Beach last week, and it is clear that we are facing another tumultuous budget season. At both the system and campus levels, the planning has already begun to minimize the impact on students – but none of us is harboring any illusions that this will be easy to take.

We are using Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed $500 million cut from the state allocation as the starting point. The governor has made it clear that virtually every program will feel the pressure of the $25 billion state budget deficit.

I want to remind everyone that this figure depends on tax extensions that must be placed on the ballot and approved by voters in a statewide special election. Should the funds contained in these extensions not materialize, we would likely face a cut of double that amount.

Last year’s tuition increase will provide additional revenue, but the CSU also must account for higher mandatory costs in areas such as health care expenses. The other component of our budget is enrollment, and campuses now have enrollment targets for the 2011-12 year.

Chancellor Charles B. Reed has said that at this time – and assuming the “best-case scenario” of the cut being limited to $500 million – there are no plans for another tuition increase.

With all of these factors taken together and based on that original $500 million cut, the CSU is now planning for an approximately $400 million reduction.

For Sacramento State, this would translate to a cut of about $24 million. Our campus enrollment target is 21,625 full-time equivalent students (FTES).

Those are the numbers as clear as they exist now.

I met with the University Budget Advisory Committee on Friday to brief them on these developments. With facts in hand, the most intense efforts begin, and I will be working closely with them in the coming weeks and months.

The chancellor’s office also asked campuses to prepare a contingency plan for addressing budget cuts. We are looking at a number of efficiencies, in addition to those we have already

implemented in anticipation of the state’s ongoing economic difficulties.

For instance, we will continue to run summer session via “self support” through the College of Continuing Education. This saves valuable FTES for the traditional fall and spring semesters, while allowing students to pay for the units they actually take. We also will remain under campus-level impaction through at least Spring 2012. Impaction allows us to use additional criteria for admission to students from outside our region.

Moving forward, we will look at further efficiencies in our ongoing review of General Education, explore new sources of revenue and examine the potential benefits of eliminating the winter intersession.

I have asked staff to determine how much we can save on expenses such as utilities if we forego intersession, begin the spring semester sooner and lengthen the period when we operate under summer hours.

This also could provide more flexibility for faculty and students during a longer summer session.

Some of these ideas would be big changes for our campus.

But with the budget microscope upon us – especially because of our location in Sacramento – we must look at every option.

At the same time, we cannot allow the budget difficulties of today to derail our duty to protect the future of the campus. As such, we have developed a set of principles to be used as a guide for our campus budget contingency planning: Maintaining quality of instruction and improve the graduation rates of students, achieving enrollment target, avoiding cuts across the board, taking a strategic institutional approach to reductions with implications for the future in mind and recognizing the current budget challenges are likely to be in play for two to three more years.

I am committed to working with faculty, students and staff to ensure that our university is prepared for the 21st century, and I pledge that we will do everything we can to give our students the education and services they deserve.

▶◀ ▶◀ ▶◀ Alexander Gonzalez, president of Sacramento State.

Classmate stereotypes that seem to prevail

By Dante Frattini dfrattini@statehornet.com You may have started the semester not knowing a soul in any of your classes, but by now you probably know more than you’d ever wish to.

When you routinely spend 75 minutes a day with a group of people, you’ll quickly learn about everyone’s quirks and mannerisms.

I know I have.

We’ve all been taught that being prejudiced is wrong, and that we should rise above the urge to let appearance and stereotypes guide our opinion on people.

But when certain prejudices prove to be true time after time, your assumptions aren’t insensitive, you’re just playing the odds.

I’ve made many wagers with myself about my classmates this semester.

And the same can be said for

every semester before this one.

Only now, it takes me less time, and I can know what to expect from certain people on day one, judging by a handful of superficial qualities.

Example: if I see a man in his 50’s sitting in front of me in class and he’s not preparing to give a lecture, I groan. This guy’s going to be trouble.

Older students, as a general rule, operate at a slower pace, causing frustration for the younger students who live with a greater sense of urgency.

Which is ironic, seeing as students in their 20’s have all the time in the world, while time is in very limited quantity for some elderly students.

I don’t believe that every older student is a pain, of course, but I’m wise enough in my fifth year of college to be weary when I have a class with one.

(I’m also wise enough to know that I just opened myself up to “If you were wise, you’d have graduated by now” jokes.

Spare me, I don’t need you telling me I’m a failure. That’s what parents are for.)

Despite their race against the biological clock, some elder students can’t help but act as anchors in the classroom. They

constantly weigh everyone else down, forcing the entire class

to move at the speed of old.

I once witnessed an older

Graphic by Alicia Palenyy State Hornet

woman try to set the record for most times saying, “Can you go back to the last slide?” in one class period.

As frustrating as that can be, dealing with that type of student is far from the worst.

My least favorite classmate each semester has always been someone of my age.

The worst type is the overzealous attention-seeker. They tend to be male but I’m sure if they put their mind to it, women could play the role just as well.

All this coming from a guy who writes a weekly selfindulgent opinion column that borders on narcissism and is often mediocre at best even though he probably thinks it’s hilarious?

Yes. Even I get sick of one’s need to be noticed at times.

Enthusiasm for a class is one thing, but no one cares about your personal anecdote that only kind of relates to the subject.

Most of us know this and keep our mouths shut. In fact, I think most normal people would prefer going unnoticed in class. We (yes, I’m including myself in the “normal” group) fear our classmates thinking, “Why does this pretentious d-

bag keep going on and on?”

The people who don’t have this thought, and enjoy loudly interjecting at every possible moment, are the people whose mothers told them to never care about what anyone else thinks about them.

Yeah, that’s all fine and dandy, mom. But at some point during your kid’s upbringing a very necessary hug wasn’t given and now he’s doomed to spend the rest of his life trying to make up for it by getting all eyes in every room squarely locked on him.

Writing this column has made me feel a little guilty. I don’t want to come off as mean guy, I just wanted to poke some fun at the class characters who can drive me a little nuts.

But some characters are bad, and not bad in an awesome Hans Gruber or Dennis Hopper in “Speed” kind of way.

They’re bad in an unforgivable, I-had-to-stay-in-class-threeextra-minutes-thanks-to-thatinane-question sort of way.

They don’t deserve to be thrown out of a skyscraper or beheaded by a moving train, but the next time I have to watch one of their performances, you can bet I’ll be daydreaming about it.

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F ebruary 23, W ednesday

| S p r i n g I s s u e 5 | S a c r a m e n to S tat e

CSUS designers at Fashion Week Three Sac State students to showcase their collections

Brittany Bradley State Hornet

Sac State student Nkaujer (Jules) Thor (center) is surrounded by models donning pieces of her previous collection. The inspiration for her light and feminine pieces are from her Hmong heritage and the flora and fauna of nature.

Ashley Neal State Hornet

Kira Martinson (center), a graduating senior at Sac State, is one of the emerging designers in Sacramento’s Fashion Week show, debuting this Friday. Martinson said the inspiration for last year’s designs (pictured right and left) come from traveling in Europe.

Brittany Bradley State Hornet

Sac State student Noognuv Thao (center) shows off pieces from her cubism collection from last season. The pieces pictured here (right and left) are made of burlap, which Thao said came from her inspiration to use a textile that keeps a sharp cubic shape.

By Erin Rogers erogers@statehornet.com Fashion capitals like Paris and Milan have Prada, Gucci and Chanel. Here in Sacramento, local designers display just as much talent.

Three Sacramento State students were asked to show their lines during this year’s fashion week in the Emerging Artist Showcase, at 8 p.m. Friday in the Elks Tower Ballroom on 11th Street.

JULES THOR, senior apparel marking and design major

KIRA MARTINSON, senior apparel marketing and design major

After spending four years working on the nursing program at Sac State and not being accepted due to waitlists, Jules Thor had a change of heart and changed her major to apparel marketing and design.

“I have been sewing for quite some time and this just seemed right,” Thor said. “After taking an introduction to fashion class, I was hooked and knew I needed to change my major to this.”

Designing her own clothes, Thor will be one of the three Sac State students participating in the Fashion Week here in Sacramento.

Along with students from other schools, Thor said she applied to be in the student designer during Sacramento’s fashion week.

“We are emerging designers, privileged to show our work to all of Sacramento,” Thor said.

Thor said she looks forward to introducing her line, which consists of 10 pieces that are influenced by her favorite female singers.

“I listen to a lot of their music while I design and sketch my work, so I decided to portray these women in my line,” Thor said.

From Lady Gaga to Cher, Thor hopes to rock the event with her models.

“For each girl who walks down the runway, there will be a different song,” Thor said. “To stand out, I wanted to do something different what will turn some heads.”

By hosting fashion week in the area, Thor said Sacramento is

Designing clothing has been a way of life for Kira Martinson, starting at the age of 3.

“Ever since I was little, I have always drawn sketches and put together my own outfits,” Martinson said. “I am just a very creative person.”

Upon graduating high school, Martinson began her education in fashion and attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in San Francisco.

Since the institute does not provide credentials and is only part of her schooling, Martinson decided to come to Sac State to finalize her bachelor’s degree in apparel marketing and design.

“There are a lot of jobs out there in the fashion industry,” she said.

“A lot of companies require designers to have a bachelor’s just to work for them.”

Martinson hopes to gain some exposure in the emerging designer show on Friday, where these Sac State students will showcase their work.

“I have done a lot of small shows – Sacramento’s fashion week is on a higher scale,” Martinson said. “A lot more people are coming to see our work.”

Having more people see her collection, Martinson said, is important for her future in fashion.

“I would like to be a part of the design team for an already estab-

NOOGNUV THAO, senior psychology major From designing clothes for her Barbie dolls to using burlap fabric for her newer collections, Noognuv Thao has always had an interest in fashion.

“I have been sewing since I was a kid,” Thao said. “What really got me going was the feeling I got when I would enter competitions and win, based on my designs.”

Before Sac State, Thao said she took a basic sewing class at her local community college when she was approached by a professor to showcase her work.

“After seeing just how successful I could be, I started to design and sew more a little more aggressively,” Thao said.

Since the fashion industry is highly competitive, she said majoring in psychology would give her more stability when it comes to a career choice.

“For now, designing is a hobby,” Thao said. “Psychology gives me a foundation in this cut-throat industry.”

Even though she designs on the side, Thao said networking and exposing her talents continues to be important, which is why she is participating in this year’s fashion week.

“This collection is a little different from my traditional designs,” Thao said. “I am looking forward to seeing the reaction to my line and seeing the other designers’ work.”

Known for using different fabrics like burlap, the material used on

see Clothes| page B2

iPad, Kindle or Nook: Testing out e-readers

By Alex Grotewohl agrotewohl@statehornet.com

world, the e-reader market appears to be exclusive, said Jay, an employee at Arden Fair’s Best In an era when technology Buy. He said the Amazon Kindle seems to be moving too fast for and the Nook by Barnes and the average person to keep up, Noble are the class acts in the the book is the latest relic renindustry. dered obsolete by computers.

“Both sold out during ChristAnd like the iPod dominated mas time,” said Jay, who was the post-compact disc music forbidden by company policy from revealing his last name. “Sony does not sell as well.”

Using the Sony Reader, it is obvious why not.

First, the Sony is far more expensive than its counterparts. While there are a couple of different sizes available, the one comparable to its competitors costs almost $300. It does have a built-in 3G Internet connection that comes standard, but the Kindle and Nook, with their respective 3G add-ons are still under $200.

Second, the Sony’s McClatchy Tribune display falls well short

of the competition. The standard Kindle and Nook both feature screens with E-Ink technology; they look basically like a paper page with black “ink” on it. To control the device, the Kindle sports a keyboard, while the Nook has a smaller, color touch screen underneath the main display.

The Sony also uses E-Ink technology, but attempts to integrate a full touch screen into the mix.

The result is awkward. The E-Ink does not appear to work well with the touch screen, often requiring a lot more pressure than the average iPhone user might be used to.

The Sony is a bit bigger and has a sleeker, shinier look than the other two, but it just does not cut it.

Jay said most of the customers who are interested in the Sony Reader are “hating on the bigger names because they do well.”

As among the three, the Nook has the largest number of titles available for download, with more than 3 million, whereas see Review| page B2

Courtesy photo by Kenji Enos

Cap City Culture makes its third appearance at Sac State on Thursday.

Cap City Culture event highlights hip-hop style

By Kayla Oliverio koliverio@statehornet.com Pop it, lock it, beat it, drop it. Toprock, downrock, power move, now freeze.

These elements of hip-hop choreography are about to be introduced to Sacramento State in one comprehensive event,

Cap City Culture.

Cap City Culture is an exhibition of artists within the hip-hop community who want to demonstrate their talents for their peers and colleagues. The exhibition consists of the different ways that hip-hop uses music, dance and art in its culture.

Some participants are students,

members of the hip-hop club on campus and members of the Sacramento area hip-hop community.

UNIQUE and the Beats, Rhymes & Culture Club are partnering up to bring this event to Sac State to show students see Battles| page B2

B2

Wednesday - February 23

Features Section

statehornet.com

Review: Apple iPad tablet has Battles: Attendees are able to more than 3 million books, join in various competitions titles available for download ers do. “(It is going to be) a giant exthat real hip-hop culture is a hibition of all different elements positive outlet for creativity. of the hip-hop world. Dancers, Zenia LaPorte, UNIQUE MCs, DJs, (and) some people programs adviser, said that Cap with graffiti art,” Reyes said.

City Culture is the only event Robert Lim, alumnus of the of its type that is hosted by Beats, Rhymes & Culture Club, UNIQUE. is most looking forward to the “This event first came to fruibattles between talented particition in 2007 between UNIQUE pants. and Beats, Rhymes & Culture.

“There will be exhibitions that They came to us with the are, what we in the (hip-hop) concept, mentioning that these communities, call ‘battles’ of types of events are always wellDJing, MCing, beatboxing and attended, but the campus never breaking,” Lim said. hosts them,” LaPorte said.

According to hiphopgalaxy.

This is the third time in four com, DJing is when a disc years that UNIQUE will host jockey uses different techniques the event. to combine songs, sounds and Kevin Reyes, president of the music together. An MC is a Beats, Rhymes & Culture Club, “Master of Ceremonies,” also a advised the club and UNIQUE freestyle rapper. Beatboxing is on what should be included in a technique of using the mouth the event. to make sounds similar to drum He had been to many similar beats and rhythm. events around the Sacramento Lim said a “battle” is when two area and talked to the coordior more people show off their nators about what aspects had skills in whatever genre they been most successful. Reyes said choose. A “b-boy battle,” for the dance battles are always well example, would be two breakattended and full of excitement dancers taking turns to show off because it is enthralling to watch their best moves and toughest the tricks and moves the danccombinations.

Both Reyes and Lim got involved in the hip-hop culture for personal reasons and they are still loyal to the community today.

“I got into it when I was 11 or 12 years old. I was just bored at home. I do a particular style of locking which is a mix of breaking and popping. You don’t need a lot of space to do it,” Reyes said.

For Lim, his involvement in the community was Courtesy photo by Kenji Enos mainly supportive.

“I was fortunate A breakdancer does a headstand at enough to have a previous Cap City Culture event. friends that break Continued | page B1

Continued | page B1 the Kindle only has just over 800,000. This is because Kindle users can only download from Amazon’s library, whereas Nook allows users to gather literature from other services, like Google Books. Sony also can use Google Books, although its library only features 600,000 titles.

The Apple iPad, however, with its iBooks feature, is the best in this regard. Apple offers both a Nook app and a Kindle app, which actually allows users to download every title that either service offers, and read it on their iPad. With a price starting at around $500, however, it is by far the most expensive option.

Now that the old-fashioned book may be on its way out and technology has been introduced to the medium, do not expect it

to remain stagnant for long.

The new Nook Color is bigger than its predecessor, features a full-color touch screen and is on the cutting edge of e-readers.

While almost $100 more expensive than the classic Nook, this new device features a backlit screen and intuitive controls, which are two things no other e-reader on the market offers.

The full-color display and fluid, finger-drag interface will feel familiar to the modern smartphone user.

This level of technology, however, might feel intimidating to the average buyer of e-readers, Jay said. He said the typical consumer appreciates the adjustable font sizes and light weight of the devices, but might not be quite so welcoming of a truly hightech experience.

“Honestly, 70 percent of my

customers who buy these are old people,” he said.

Barnes and Noble store manager Kyle Mitzel, however, thinks the younger crowd will appreciate the Nook, particularly the NookStudy feature, which allows for the download of some textbooks, allowing students to save money by skipping the paper.

He also said the Nook Color, which runs on the Android operating system, may soon be able to access the Android marketplace, essentially turning the e-reader into an Android tablet computer, similar to the iPad. And at about half the price, it could be a steal.

All things considered, the Nook is the best option, especially if you have the extra money to spring for Nook Color. It simply offers more.

Clothes: Showcase provides opportunities for exposure Continued | page B1

Thor: making progress in becoming a more “fashion-forward” region.

“We are hoping that this event helps people recognize fashion in the areas around them,” she said. “You don’t have to be in Los Angeles or New York to express yourself through design.”

Martinson: lished company,” she said. “Getting my name out there is necessary, which is why I am using my name as the title of my line.”

The main inspiration for her line, Martinson said, comes from traveling abroad.

“I am designing a lot of outerwear that incorporates the fashion I’ve seen in Europe,” she said. “My pieces bring a lot of other cultures into the designs that we would wear here.”

Martinson said Sacramento has a rising fashion industry that a lot of people do not know about.

“Even though this is only the second fashion week for Sacramento, it will hopefully get people aware of what is in the region,” Martinson said. “I’ve traveled to many places, fashion is everywhere.”

Thao: potato sacks, Thao said the theme of this line is based around clowns.

“I wanted to dress the clown image down a bit, make it a little less frightening,” Thao said. “My color palette is all blacks, grays, and creams – none of the crazy colors that clowns wear.”

Eventually, Thao can see herself with a future in fashion.

“Of course I would like to work with someone like Alexander McQueen,” Thao said. “But we all have to begin somewhere and this is definitely a good start.”

to teach me and I noticed that I enjoyed it for my personal well-being. I continued to support my friends and community by attending competitions, facilitating practice locations and photographing the people,” Lim said.

Reyes hopes Cap City Culture will help change the negative perception he feels the public has about the hip-hop world. “(A) lot of events around Sacramento involve the different things that bring a lot of positive light on hip-hop. If we bring it to campus, people will see the positive aspect of it. Rappers talk about gang shootings and drugs … people come to expect that from hip-hop,” Reyes said.

Reyes hopes those who attend Cap City Culture will come away with a positive experience from exhibitions of choreography, music and art. He also hopes that they, too, will involve themselves by joining a battle or bringing their art.

“People will just be able to come in and show what they have,” Reyes said.

Lim wants exhibition to positively impact the campus community’s feelings about this culture. “(I want) to create awareness to the general public about what real hip-hop is about. I hope to inspire people to be brave into getting involved in this creative culture that takes time to craft with dedication that will not just happen overnight,” Lim said.

Cap City Culture will perform from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday in the University Union Ballroom. There is no charge to attend.

B3 Sports Updates BASEBALL vs. UC RIVERSIDE

FEB. 25

2 P.M.

vs. UC RIVERSIDE

FEB. 26

1 P.M.

vs. UC RIVERSIDE

FEB. 27

1 P. M.

vs. UC DAVIS

MARCH 1

2 P. M.

MEN’S BASKETBALL at SOUTHEAST

MISSOURI

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Big Sky honors 23 athletes’ grades

By Dave Mason dmason@statehornet.com The Big Sky Conference announced 23 Sacramento State athletes were honored on its 2010 fall All-Academic Team, the fewest in the conference, and down from last fall’s total of 27 athletes who achieved academic honors.

The athletes were honored for achieving at least a 3.2 grade point average while participating in at least half of the team’s competitions and completing at least one academic term at his or her current Big Sky institution.

Athletic Director Terry Wanless is happy

with the achievement but acknowledges that there is work to be done.

“Right now 47 percent of our studentathletes have a 3.0 or better,” Wanless said.

“You’re never satisfied. Unless we had all 4.0’s, I wouldn’t be satisfied.”

Five schools in the Big Sky Conference had at least 40 athletes on the list. Eastern Washington led the way with 50 athletes, Idaho State had 42, University of Montana had 41, Weber State had 40, Northern Arizona had 40, Portland State had 37 and Montana State had 31.

Wanless said Sac State has a tough education but it doesn’t have the academic reputation it deserves. Wanless believes earning a higher GPA at Eastern Washing-

ton is easier than at Sac State.

“I don’t want to criticize because the (athletic director) is a good friend of mine, but I’m going to tell you what, it’s easier to get a B at Eastern Washington than it is at Sac State,” Wanless said.

Wanless is pleased that the athletic department is exceeding the general studentbody GPA. “Forty-seven percent of our kids are getting a B-average or better and so we’re happy with that but our goals are just a little bit higher,” Wanless said.

Wanless wants to see the athletic department GPA at 3.0 or better, and 50 percent of student-athletes to earn a 3.0 or better.

Wanless cites Sac State’s high educa-

tional standards as the reason only has 23 student-athletes made the annual list.

“I think its reflection in a positive way about the quality of our educational process on the campus,” said Wanless, who has been the athletic director since May 2002.

“Professors don’t give our kids free grades.

They have to earn everything they get. You get a B here, you earned it.”

Of the 23 athletes who made the AllAcademic Team, 11 athletes came from the football team, four from women’s soccer, three from volleyball, three from women’s cross country and two from men’s cross country.

Gymnast excels at Sac State

By AJ Taylor ataylor@statehornet.com

FEB. 19

L 67-52 vs. N. ARIZONA

FEB. 24

7:05 P. M. vs. WEBER STATE

FEB. 26

7:05 P. M. WOMEN’S BASKETBALL at N. COLORADO

FEB. 19

L 78-65 at N. ARIZONA

FEB. 24

5:35 P. M. at WEBER STATE

FEB. 26

TBA

GYMNASTICS vs.

CSU FULLERTON FEB. 18

1ST PLACE 191.375 vs. DENVER

FEB. 25

7 P.M.

SOFTBALL at SAN DIEGO STATE

FEB. 17

L 4-2

at UC SANTA

BARBARA FEB. 18

W 6-5 at WASHINGTON

FEB. 18

L 7-4

at UC DAVIS

FEB. 20

L 3-1

at

UC DAVIS FEB. 23

2 P.M.

vs. PORTLAND STATE

FEB. 25

12:30 P.M. vs. IDAHO STATE

FEB. 26

10:30 A.M. vs. WEBER STATE

FEB. 26

12:30 P.M. vs. WEBER STATE

FEB. 27

12:30 P.M.

see GPA| page B5

Photo Illustration by Steven Turner State Hornet

Freshman Kailey Hansen, a transfer from the University of Washington, is already making a positive impact on the gymnastics team with her first-place against Utah State on Feb. 11.

Former soccer player cut from major league

By Anthony Honrade ahonrade@statehornet.com Ernesto Carranza, a former player for the Sacramento State men’s soccer team, had the opportunity to have his professional soccer dream come to fruition, but was later let go by the team that drafted him.

Carranza, 21, was taken as the 22nd overall pick on Jan. 18 in the 2011 Supplemental File Photo Draft by Major League Soccer team Chivas USA. Former soccer player Ernesto Carranza was drafted by He was one of the most, if not the Chivas USA, but was later cut from the roster. one of the best, accomplished Over his four-year career at offensive players to ever play for Linenberger. “For me, he’s one of those special guys that has Sac State.

Sac State, Carranza achieved talent and abilities on the of“He (Carranza) was a fantas20 career assists, played in 82 fensive side of the ball, that as a tic player here,” said Sac State see MLS| page B5 men’s soccer coach Michael coach, you don’t really teach.”

Although Kailey Hansen is no stranger to the winner’s circle, she did experience something on Friday night that she never had before. Hansen scored her career high on floor and earned the best score of the meet.

Scoring a 9.875 not only helped push her team past the Aggies onto their first two-meet win streak of the season, in the process Hansen is proving her worth to a team that did not know what to expect when she transferred to Sac State from the University of Washington as a redshirt freshman.

Now seven meets into the season, Hansen has given her teammates and coaches a glimpse of what she could accomplish in the four years she plans to spend as a Hornet.

“When you score a 9.875, that means one of the judges is giving you a 9.9,” said head coach Kim Hughes. “So that’s obviously a difference maker, one of the counting scores was a 9.575, she’s four tenths higher than that and that’s a significant impact to your team score when you have people helping you out like that.”

Hansen has now reached a certain plateau but anything below a 10.0 can still be improved upon, and she knows it. Hughes can only speak positively of Hansen’s work ethic during practice.

“It was really good to know that one judge gave me a 9.9,” Hansen said. “That’s what every gymnast strives for, if not a 10, so it was good to know that I was really close to a ten only one tenth away. With a little more practice I could even go higher.”

This success story, a polar opposite of the story of Hansen’s time at the University of Washington, where she spent the 2009-10 school year.

Hansen never competed in the 2010 season, making that her redshirt season, but she never planned it ti be that way.

In her time in Seattle, Hansee Hansen| page B5

MMA Club helps teach self defense

By Joe Fleming jfleming@statehornet.com In the wake of the increased sexual assaults on campus last semester, the Mixed Martial Arts club aims to arm students with the ability to defend themselves.

The MMA club meets from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays in the Feather Studio at the Well to practice an array of different fighting styles.

Drew Verdi, the club’s president and coach, said the amount of sexual assaults on campus is way too high and learning the techniques practiced during class is good for anyone at all different skill levels.

“I think it’s a God-given right,” Verdi said. “Everyone should have a roof over their

Steven Turner State Hornet

President Drew Verdi practices high kick combos with junior member Jesus Vega. heads, they should have food, and they should be able to see MMA| page B4

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Wednesday - February 23

Sports Section

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The Well offers several affordable fitness classes to students

By Stacey Adams sadams@statehornet.com Fitness classes at the Well provide students not only with health, but options as well.

From the hardcore bodybuilder to the unsure beginner, there is a class for everyone.

The Well offers a variety of fitness classes for the mind and body as well as for cardio and strength. Under these two themes, there are different types of classes to suit anyone’s personality, said Kendra Densmore, group fitness coordinator.

There is cardio kickboxing for those who want an intense exercise as well as yoga for those who want a more laid back workout.

“We’re hoping this variety will encourage more students to exercise and enjoy it,” Densmore said. “We hope to give the students a variety of ways to reach their exercise goals.”

These classes were designed to encourage fun while exercising, Densmore said. It gives students the opportunity to improve their fitness the way

exercisers. So any and all are in a group environment rather they desire, all they have to do than being alone, Costello said. is choose what class they would welcome.”

It is great for people who want like to take, when they want to All of the classes have betake it, and pay a participation come increasingly popular with to have fun and be led through the exercises, she said. fee. These fees cover the passes each passing semester. This Before the Well was built, that get students into the class. semester alone, the fitness prothe group fitness classes were “Students get an opportunity gram has tripled its numbers offered in Yosemite Hall for a to work out in a fun, engagon the students who participate small participation fee. Since ing atmosphere by a certified in the classes, Costello said. moving to the Well, the fitness fitness instructor,” said Kate Each class has an average of program has expanded providCostello, the Well’s assistant 15 to 20 students who take ing students with more options. director. “This helps students advantage of group fitness.

There are four payment opwith stress relief, improves self These classes are offered for the tions to suit how students want esteemby feeling accomplished students who prefer exercising to control and their workcreates a out. supportThere is ive envia cardio/ ronment strength leading pass or a toward a mind/body healthy pass for $48 lifestyle. to cover The the whole classes semester, an are all-access designed pass to atfor betend both ginning, types of interRachel Day State Hornet classes all mediate, and Members of the fitness class enjoy a workout in the Well. The semester for $68, or a $3 advanced Well offers many classes for different fitness levels.

drop-in fee to check out a class.

The drop-in fee applies to every class a student would like to check out.

The money from these fees is used to cover the costs to have certified staff teach the classes and the operation of the building, Costello said.

“It’s great for the exerciser who doesn’t want to walk into the gym and come up with something on their own,” she said.

Of the classes offered, the most popular is the Zumba class, with the Pilates and yoga classes following behind, Densmore said. None of the classes are considered unpopular; the classes that have the lowest attendance are the early and mid-morning classes, she said.

Other than some low attendance, all the fitness classes are popular among the students.

Students who do take advantage of this program enjoy the variety and convenience that the classes provide schedules, said student Jamie Gajate. Students now have options in how and when they will squeeze

fitness into their day.

“I enjoy being able to attend fitness classes in between my busy class schedule,” Gajate said. “I love that they are offered throughout the entire day.”

Having the classes on campus provides students with the convenience of staying at school and not having to lose their parking spot, Gajate said.

They do not have to worry about driving to a gym and making it back in time for class.

“Having to drive through traffic cuts into my workout time,” Gajate said. “It’s too much of a hassle to even bother.”

The fitness coordinators do plan on continuing this program into next semester, with plans to expand and add more variety and classes, Densmore said. They hope that more students will continue to come in and participate in the classes.

MMA: Students learn technique through Mixed Martial Arts defend themselves.”

Verdi, a junior international business major, has been wrestling for more than 19 years and was a captain of the wrestling team his senior year at his high school in Danville, Calif. He continued his enthusiasm for the sport in San Luis Obispo where he began training in MMA for five years. He hopes to use his knowledge of striking and wrestling to teach anyone who is willing to learn.

“I’m trying to only teach moves that actually translate into real things that people can use to defend themselves,” Verdi said. “Everyone can do it starting from nothing.”

One of the club members, Sac

State student Julio Zuniga, said he found a flier from the club on campus that read, “No one expects a kick to the head.” He knew he had to check it out.

Zuniga has experience in wrestling, judo, kickboxing and boxing. He expects to get in better shape, become a better fighter, and improve on his technique.

The club members are enthusiastic for the ability to learn new techniques. Rheyman Reroma, junior fine arts major, is eager to pick up new skills in the club to add to his background in judo, muay thai and jiu jitsu.

“I’m into the technical aspect, but it’s always good to get a workout in,” Reroma said. “If

you’re looking for a workout, or further your knowledge, or just curious, then it’s a good place to come to.”

The club consists of 22 to 25 members and has four women attending. Verdi expected anywhere from five to 50 members to join, but said that if it gets larger than that, they will be looking for a larger room.

The women in the class understand that protecting yourself is a valuable asset.

Kristen Cecchettini is a freshman at Sac State who does not want to become another crimevictim statistic.

“With all the on-campus (sexual assaults) I think it’s important for girls to know

something,” Cecchettini said. “I and we’re now going to be able to teach people moves that they have pepper spray too, but that can actually use,” Verdi said. only goes so far.”

Verdi said sports club director “The school has let us restart the club. It’s such a high-risk Rich Clakeley also supports the club that there could be a lot of idea of educating students with self-defense classes.

“The school is giving the people an opportunity to actually be able to defend themselves.

I’m reSteven Turner State Hornet ally happy they’re At meetings, MMA club president Drew Verdi supporting it will often break down recent MMA fights.

obstacles.”

The club’s next step is getting the funding for protective gear and pads. Verdi said pads could enhance the level of training because without gear, they are limited in the amount of techniques they are able to practice.

Verdi said size does not matter when it comes to fighting or defending yourself as long as you have good techniques.

“If size matters,” Verdi said, quoting MMA fighter Rickson Gracie, “The elephant would be the king of the jungle (and not the lion).”

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GPA: Forty-seven percent of student athletes have B-average Continued | page B3 Junior football player Stephen Tezanos-Pinto made the list with a 4.0 GPA while playing football and working part-time.

Tezanos-Pinto believes Sac State has the proper academic policies for its student-athletes, which includes mandatory study hall for those who struggle.

“I think Sac State gives you all the tools you need but they can’t force you to do anything,” Tezanos-Pinto said. “To me I feel like our (academic policies) are

strict and they’re what they need to be. You got to use the tools you are given.”

Wanless is also pleased with the resources made available to student-athletes.

“Our job is to obviously push them and mentor them as far as we can, but at the end of the day, it’s their job,” Wanless said.

Student-athletes have an academic resource center that includes mentors, tutors and help with the selection of classes. The student-athletes also have priority registration.

“There’s very little reason not to succeed,” Wanless said.

In addition to Tezanos-Pinto; Peter Buck, Matt Carter, Jake Croxdale, Todd Davis, Reese Heaslet, Augie Heath, Maika Maumau, Brian McKeon, Corey Vanderbeek and Markell Williams from the football program made the list.

According the NCAA’s Growth, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Learning of Students in College (GOALS) study released in January, Division I FCS football players spend an average

of 41.6 hours per week on their athletics, an increase from the 2006 study.

The survey also concluded that athletes are spending more time on athletics and academics than they did four years ago, with Division I football players spending nearly 80 hours per week on both during the season Despite the time spent on the field and watching film, Wanless said Sac State’s football program has never had a higher GPA. The football team had a 2.9 GPA and 42 players earned at least 3.0.

Wanless said most sports do not have a study hall requirement because they have success in the classroom. However, first-year football players and those with a GPA of 2.6 or below are required to go to study hall four nights a week.

“It’s hard being an athlete in some cases because the travel and the missed time, you’re always catching up,” Wanless said.

Other student-athletes who made the list include volleyball’s Janelle Currey, Erin Kirby and Olivia Moss. Men’s cross country

featured Daniel Mitchell and Ben Rinn, while women’s cross country included Erin Lewis, Rachel Mitchell and Lea Wallace.

Women’s soccer players who made the list were Jessica Castano, Shea Roberts, Jami Shimada, Gabriella Trenton.

Although Wanless likes to see academic success, he wants student-athletes to get more from their education.

“I don’t want you to just get a degree,” Wanless said. “I want you to be educated.”

Hansen: Freshman wins first place in meet against Utah State Continued | page B3 sen ran into difficulties. She struggled to come back from an injury she had incurred even before she started working with the Huskies, but even more difficult for her were the struggles she encountered with her teammates.

“In Washington it was really different,” Hansen said. “The team atmosphere was a little bit more negative and competitive with each other. We weren’t as family-oriented; it wasn’t as happy. Our team here is very happy, very spirited, we all smile a lot. We all love to laugh.

I grew up in a very happy en-

vironment so to go somewhere where it was more negative didn’t work out with me.”

Hansen found that style of coaching and attitude in Washington detrimental to her performance as an athlete.

She knew it was best for her to compete somewhere else, where the atmosphere of her team as a whole would be more familiar.

“It was hard for me to be myself in that environment, it wasn’t me,” Hansen said, “It wasn’t my place to be, where up here I’m able to be myself and be very supportive and have fun while doing gymnastics.”

Since the move, Hansen has had an instant impact on the

Hornets’ scores. Her career high on the floor against Utah State was a key factor in propelling the Hornets past the Utah State Aggies in their 1.325-point victory.

“She has been an instant impact,” Hughes said. “Her biggest impact was her second meet, she averaged a 9.775, 9.775, and a 9.825, our goal is always to get a 9.7 and above.”

In midseason of 2010, the Hornets’ coaching staff was surprised but excited to see that Hansen was interested in competing at Sac State. But even when they were offering her a scholarship, they were not completely sure what they were

getting.

“We knew she was capable (of having an instant impact), but the fact that she didn’t compete at Washington meant that things were kind of up in the air,” said head coach Kim Hughes. “But of course they did their homework to recruit her in the first place so we were happy to get her and see what she could do for us.”

In the end, Hansen’s contributions have been vital to the team’s recent success, especially after a start that was uncharacteristic of a program that has claimed multiple league titles in the last decade.

“Two back-to-back wins, after

starting out so rough, having problems with injuries, not consistent performances, to have another night where we hit consistently is critical for the team to continue their performances,” Hughes said.

Since their meet against Utah State, the Hornets have extended their win streak to three, after a trip to Southern California where they beat CSU Fullerton. Hansen did not surpass her mark on floor, but posted counting scores in vault, balance beam and floor.

Steven Turner State Hornet

Kailey Hansen performs a routine against Utah State.

MLS: Carranza back at Sac State after cut from Chivas USA Continued | page B3 matches, and started 81 careermatches. All of these schools records. Carranza is also second all-time with 54 career points and is tied for fourth in career goals with 18.

“He’s phenomenal on the ball,” Linenberger said, “very fun to watch, very creative and has unbelievable attacking skill.”

All of the skills that he has shown, however, were not enough for the MLS team to keep a roster spot open for him.

“I think he’s a talented player who has some good abilities on the ball,” said Chivas USA head coach Robin Fraiser. “He’s an extremely fit player, and these are all very good qualities. At the end of the day, he’s probably similar to players we already had and that’s the biggest reason why we didn’t keep him.”

Carranza told Linenberger the coaches at Chivas USA were very happy with him.

Carranza was able to get past the preliminary cuts but was released in the final cut before training camp, said Joe Waltasti, Sac State assistant media relations director.

Carranza’s status as a Mexican national may have contributed to the reason for his being cut from the team, Linenberger said. Each MLS team is only allowed to keep a limited amount of foreign

players on their rosters.

“It’s difficult for a college student who is not a U.S. citizen because they usually reserve those positions for high-paid foreign players,” Linenberger said. “If he was a U.S. citizen, he would probably still be there.”

Linenberger said finding a replacement for Carranza will be difficult because of how he had such a key role for the team

“He’s going to be a big loss of us,” Linenberger said. “You just don’t replace a guy like him.

In my opinion, we’ve had one Ernesto in the 22 years I’ve been here. We’ve had other good guys, but he’s special. We’re going to have a little bit of a different look next year in our team.

It’s a big hole for sure.”

While he may not be making his MLS debut in a Chivas

USA jersey, he is still seeking a professional soccer team to play with.

“He should definitely try to get someplace where he could play games,” Frasier said. “It wouldn’t do him any good to be on a team and be on the bench all the time. The best thing for him would be to find an opportunity where he can play games, continue to play games and

continue to develop that way.”

Carranza is in talks with his agent to see if he can find a MLS team that would give him a roster spot. He is enrolled as a student at Sac State, but is ineligible to play for the men’s soccer team after already playing his four years.

Carranza could not be reached for comment.

“He’s got those abilities,

that for me, people pay to watch him play,” Linenberger said.

“I would go pay and watch him play anytime, anywhere, anyplace.”

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Sports Section

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