The State Hornet - Spring 2010 - Issue 10

The S tate Hornet April 7, 2010

C alifornia S tate U niversity, S acramento

E st . 1949

O ne C opy F ree

Discussion aims to improve race relations

By Lauren Greenwood lgreenwood@statehornet.com UNIQUE and the Council for Affirmative Action are partnering to improve race relations at Sacramento State through facilitating a discussion covering the issues of education, journalism and racism in a society after Barack Obama.

The two organizations are

co-sponsoring the event, “From Affirmative Action to Affirmative Justice - Critical Dialogues, Part 2: A Talk with Tim Wise” on April 14. Wise, a civil rights activist and a well-known anti-racist writer, will talk about color blindness and its consequences, and the increasing racial divide among people.

Prior to Wise’s presentation, there will be panel discussions

covering the issues of education, media and hate crimes.

The discussions will involve faculty, staff and students.

“There are people who think that racism doesn’t exist anymore and that we are only dealing with social class issues.

Tim Wise and I disagree,” said Cecil Canton, professor of criminal justice and co-chair for the Council for Affirmative

Action.

Frank Lilly, professor of teacher education and coordinator of the event, and Canton see examples of racism and hate crimes still happening on a national scale. They also see examples at Sac State.

“Why is it that when they voted on the health care bill, there were people yelling at members of Congress, calling

them the N-word, spitting on them, and gay-bashing one of the congressman who is openly out?” Lilly said. “It’s very clear that our society has to work through issues with discrimination.”

Black congressmen like Rep. James E. Clyburn, D-South Carolina, have faced racial slurs and have been spit on by angry crowds because of their position

on health care.

“What I saw on their faces, on the signs, what I was hearing, made me think, ‘This is not about health care,’” Clyburn said in an interview with The Washington Post. “It reminds me of that period in our history right after Reconstruction, when South Carolina had a see Forum| page A5

Students pick community over Cabo

By Brittany Bottini bbottini@statehornet.com

While many students spent their spring break south of the border or catching up on studying, a few students turned in their bikinis and board shorts for work boots and gloves to volunteer in the Sacramento community.

Nearly 20 students partnered with the Sacramento State Community Engagement Center and the Health Center for Alternative Break, a week dedicated to assisting local organizations such as the Sacramento Zoo, the Sacramento Tree Foundation, Center for Land Based Learning and Habitat for Humanity.

Brendan McVeigh, partnership coordinator for the Community Engagement Center, said Alternative Break was created by the center to offer alcohol- and drug-free alternatives for students during semester breaks.

“I started with Alternative Break because I was bored on break and didn’t know what there was to do in Sacramento.

Now four semesters later, I do it because I like to see the faces of the people we are helping,” said Greg Hicks, senior health care administration and business major. “They really care about see Service| page A8

Mia Matsudaira State Hornet

Sophomore sociology major Rin Kadowaki works inside the ostrich and zebra enclosure at the Sacramento Zoo during Alternative Break last week.

Student recognized for Canned food drive aims to project on semen stains break new donation record

By Cahil Bhanji cbhanji@statehornet.com The ability to detect semen stains after exposure to microwave radiation was the topic of this year’s winning research project for the Sacramento State Annual Research Award.

Senior biology major Bianca Davis was awarded $200 for her research project. Davis hopes her research effort will lead her into the field of forensic science in the future.

“I think I won because my research was clear, straightforward and it was directly appli-

Ricky Afuang State Hornet

Bianca Davis, senior biology major, studies the effects of microwaves in detecting semen stains on fabric.

cable to the field,” Davis said. “It was kind of an interesting topic for the judges, I’d assume.”

Davis’ research project was in competition with work submitted from both graduate and undergraduate studies from all research fields at Sac State. Her award was not unexpected from her professors.

“Bianca did very well,” said Ron Coleman, biology professor and research team coach.

“She presented her research in a clear manner going from a problem to be solved, to her methods of how she attacked that, to her results and finishing with how this impacts the larger world of forensics.”

Davis’ interest in the subject came from her experience in an advanced forensic biology class at Sac State taught by biology professor Ruth Ballard.

“For part of the class, she wanted us to find a problem see Sperm| page A4

By Timothy Sandoval tsandoval@statehornet.com

throughout the University Union for people to drop off donations. There will be another container set up inside the Safeway supermarket on Howe Avenue and Fair Oaks Boulevard.

Janet Green, who works in outreach development for

people who are homeless each night, 300 of them children, according to the Community Sacramento State’s Rotaract Service Planning Council, a Club will hold its second annual nonprofit social service plan“U-Can” food drive next week, ning agency. seeking to break the record it “That alone shows we’re not set in its previous year in terms doing enough in the communiof pounds of food collected. ty to help these people,” Pierce Rotaract said. will attempt Green to collect said she “It’s all about digging deeper and giving something 10,000 has seen pounds of more peoeven when you don’t think you have much to give.” non-perishple seek Christie Pierce, president of the Rotaract Club able food, services more than at Loaves the 8,000-pound mark it met Loaves and Fishes, said she is and Fishes since the economy last year. The food will go to excited to work with the Rotastarted to struggle.

Loaves and Fishes and the River ract Club.

“The faces look a little difCity Food Bank, two organiza“I think it’s wonderful,” ferent than in previous years,” tions that serve free meals to Green said. “They always talk Green said. “I’m used to seeing Sacramento’s homeless. about college-aged kids being a lot of single men or single “It all about digging deeper selfish and into themselves, so women with children, but now and giving something even it’s inspiring.”

I see a lot more families. It’s when you don’t think you have Pierce said the Rotaract definitely a rude awakening seemuch to give,” said Christie Club wanted to work to help ing people walking around that Pierce, president of the Rotaract people who are homeless partly look like your neighbors.”

Club. because of the sheer numbers.

Containers will be set up Sacramento has roughly 2,500 see U-Can| page A8

INSIDE | THE STATE HORNET WAKEBOARDING CLUB

ANTI-VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN

DEAN STILL NEEDS TO DEFEND WORK

Students have had enough of campus crimes. Read about their anti-violence message and their efforts to make a change.

Dean Sanjay Varshney’s report on the effects of AB 32 on small businesses has been discredited. The dean’s response left a lot to be desired.

Now The State Hornet wants the dean to offer a real defense for his study.

Which two music professors make beautiful music together?

How does joining a club feel like ditching class?

Learn more about the Wakeboarding Club.

News | A3

Opinion | A6

Features | B1

Sports | B3

MUSIC PROFESSORS

NEWSCAST So far, there have been two Capitol protests.

Will legislators keep them in mind when they vote for the budget?

Online News statehornet.com

The State Hornet Issue 10 | Volume 62 | No. 24

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Wednesday - April 7

News Section

NEWS ROUNDUP Sac State’s weekly news briefs and campus events ASI election debates begin this month

Candidates for ASI board member positions will start their debates this month. Debates will be held at noon at the Riverfront Quad.

Graduate director candidate Caitlin Hicks, College of Education director candidate Lee Cha and director of undeclared candidate Sarah Gwinn will debate Monday.

College of Arts and Letters candidates Grace Nicolas and Hannah Hoffman, College of Health and Human Services candidate Valerie Plevney and College of Natural Science and Mathematics candidates Manny Garcha and Nielsen Gabriel will debate Tuesday.

For more information, go to asi.csus.edu.

Exhibit showcases children’s artwork

The “Young at Art” exhibit, hosted by the Associated Students Children’s Center, will be on display in the University Union Gallery until April 22.

The exhibit features artwork from children 6 years old and under.

Daytime gallery hours will be from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. Evening gallery hours will be from 5 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday and Thursday.

For more information, contact the University Union Gallery at (916) 278-6997.

CFA town hall to discuss graduation initiative

The California Faculty Association is holding a town hall today to discuss the graduation initiative proposal launched in January by the California State University Board of Trustees.

The town hall, “Deliverology and the Graduation Initiative,” is from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Hinde Auditorium. The discussion highlights four main topics related to the initiative: services, academic or curricular changes, faculty contribution to the process and “incentivizing” colleges, faculty and students.

The graduation initiative proposal seeks to raise graduation rates from 46 to 54 percent in the next six years.

statehornet.com

The State Hornet | Staff Editor in Chief

For more information, contact the CFA at cfa@csus.edu.

Sac State to expand business executives program

Sac State’s Masters of Business Administration for Executives program will offer business

Todd Wilson

(916) 278-6584

editor@statehornet.com Print Managing Editor Leidhra Johnson (916) 278-7300

ljohnson@statehornet.com Online Managing Editor Adalto Nascimento (916) 278-5590

online@statehornet.com News Editor

Brittany Bottini

administration courses at the San Ramon Valley Conference Center starting in the fall.

The 15-month program seeks to help business professionals advance to leadership positions. Tuition is $36,300, including textbooks, course materials, meals and career workshops.

For more information, go to cba.csus.edu/ emba.

Students campaign against violence

American River Courtyard residents have organized a series of events to campaign against acts of violence.

There will be free yoga lessons at 6 p.m.

Thursday in the Courtyard’s Conference Room.

The lessons are intended to focus physical energies on positive outlets.

Friday is a campus-wide day of silence to commemorate victims of acts of violence.

For more information, contact Richard Song at rsong@saclink.csus.edu. ▶◀ ▶◀ ▶◀ Contact Kristine Guerra in the News department at (916) 278-7248. ▶◀ ▶◀ ▶◀

Correction Captions that ran with a photo on A3 should have identified the student as Angela Balta. The State Hornet apologizes for this error.

Please contact Leidhra Johnson, print managing editor, for corrections at (916) 278-7300 or ljohnson@statehornet.com.

(916) 278-5567

news@statehornet.com Assistant News Editor Kristine Guerra

(916) 278-7248

kguerra@statehornet.com

Assistant Features Editor Amber Wertman (916) 278-5148

awertman@statehornet.com Photo Editor Nallelie Vega

(916) 278-5500

nvega@statehornet.com Assistant Photo Editor Mia Matsudaira (916) 278-5500

mmatsudaira@statehornet.com

Graphics Editor Megan Harris

(916) 278-5590

mharris@statehornet.com Multimedia Editor Edson Guillen

(916) 278-5590

eguillen@statehornet.com Copy Chief

Opinion Editor

Benjamin R. Schilter

(916) 278-7567

bschilter@statehornet.com

David Loret De Mola opinion@statehornet.com Sports Editor Dustin Nosler

(916) 278-5145

sports@statehornet.com Assistant Sports Editor Ross Coleman

(916) 278-5585

Advertising Manager Diane Kauffman (916) 278-6583

ads@statehornet.com Advertisement Designer Matt Erickson

(916) 278-6583

(916) 278-5145

ads@statehornet.com

Features Editor

Professional Journalist in Residence & Adviser

(916) 278-4155

(916) 278-5612

rcoleman@statehornet.com

Katrina Tupper

features@statehornet.com The first copy of this newspaper is free. Additional copies cost $1. All views expressed herein are the responsibility of The State Hornet and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Sacramento State Journalism Program, the Communication Studies Department, administration, student body or ASI unless otherwise noted. The State Hornet is copyrighted, and may not be reproduced in whole or part without the express permission of The State Hornet.

Signed articles, letters and artwork express the opinions of the authors and illustrators. Unsigned articles are the responsibility of The State Hornet. The State Hornet reserves the right to reject or edit all submissions.

Holly Heyser

hheyser@statehornet.com The appearance of an advertisement in The State Hornet does not constitute an endorsement by the newspaper of the goods and services advertised therein. The State Hornet reserves the right to reject any advertisements deemed inappropriate. An advertisement is not considered accepted until publication.

Further, The State Hornet shall not be liable for any omission on an advertisement ordered to be published. By written request, The State Hornet will reschedule and run the advertisement at the advertiser’s cost. In no case shall The State Hornet be liable for any general, special or consequential damages. Claims for adjustments of any error must be made no later than three days after publication date upon which said error occurred.

Wednesday - April 7

News Section

statehornet.com

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ASK A SAC STATE POLICE OFFICER Students ask others to sign up to be organ, tissue donors Campus police encourage bicyclists to ride defensively

By Cahil Bhanji cbhanji@statehornet.com

Public relations students at Sacramento State are on a campaign to create a lasting legacy for Donate Life by spreading the word about organ and tissue donation.

With the help of public relations professor Tim Howard, the Communications 158 class is raising awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation and encouraging everyone who hasn’t already signed the registry to become a donor.

“The purpose of the Sac State Legacy campaign is to promote the California organ and tissue registry and to educate the public about giving the gift of life through donation,” said Kyla Aquino, senior public relations major.

The campaign is working closely with Donate Life California, California’s organ and tissue registry.

“We’ve learned a lot from their methods, because they know what works and what doesn’t work in promoting organ donation to the public,” Aquino said.

In high school, Aquino

Yana Yaroshevich State Hornet

Senior public relations major Kyla Aquino stands with her mother, who is also her kidney donor.

received kidney donations from both her parents.

“My highest hope for the campaign is for every single student to become a donor and have a conversation with their loved ones where it’s not even an issue to donate, it’s ‘Of course I’m a donor, isn’t everyone?’” Aquino said.

The class is doing all it can to raise awareness about the campaign. April is National Donate Life month, which is when the campaign will swing into full effect. The month highlights the generosity of donors who have already donated their organs and tissue to recipients, as well as raise awareness for the needs of more people to sign the Donate Life registry.

On March 20, the students set up an information table at a Stockton Thunder hockey game to help raise awareness for Donate Life and spread the word about their campaign.

The students used different methods to get peoples’ attention.

“I’m very comfortable getting in people’s faces and asking if they have pink dot, and disarming them with humor,” Aquino said.

For the event, the class set its goal for new organ donor registrations at 50 people. After the hockey game, 78 people had registered, including those who went home and registered online after the event.

The public relations class will further promote the organ donation campaign during Midtown’s Second Saturday on April 14. Second Saturday is an opportunity to reach a different demographic than seen at the Stockton Thunder game or on campus.

“A lot of ethnic minorities don’t speak about organ donations, so this also is part of your multi-cultural outreach for organ donation,” Aquino said.

Rafael Delgado will be the featured artist at the event and he is allowing the campaign a booth in his studio during Second Saturday to help share his spotlight on the cause.

“Second Saturday is when Sacramento’s midtown comes alive,” said Autumn Brown, Sac State public relations alumna.

“A lot of people who don’t even live in the area are going to be in Sac State’s back yard and it’s only natural for them to want to be a part of it.”

Brown graduated from Sac State in 2008 and is now working for Donate Life California.

In February 2008, Brown’s brother was in a fatal accident just before beginning his college career at Sac State. Before her brother died, he chose to be an organ donor.

“Knowing that my brother was a donator gives me a huge sense of comfort. He donated seven organs, saving five people,” Brown said. “There’s someone breathing with my brother’s lungs and another man beating with my brother’s heart.”

Brown said, although it’s hard to lose a family member, she is comforted knowing they donated themselves after death to save other people.

“This class is doing a phenomenal job, they’ve gotten creative and they’ve gone outside the box and really figured out how to reach this 18- to 24-year-old market,” Brown said.

Howard prepared the class to take on the campaign beforehand by lecturing and teaching his students public relations concepts that they’re now putting into practice.

“I get tears in my eyes and feel the empathy. I’m proud of the young people today,” Howard said. “They’re donating their bodies for others to sustain life. They’re really giving to the community.”

I ride a bicycle to campus almost every day—what can I do to be a safer bicycle rider?

There are several things bicycle riders can do to make their commute safer and more enjoyable, but perhaps the most important thing that bicyclists can do is to ride defensively.

By riding defensively, a bicycle rider learns to recognize and avoid situations in which he or she might crash or be hit by a car.

Basically, riding defensively causes a bicyclist to expect the unexpected, and take nothing that happens on the roadway for granted, whether it is a car stopping in the bicycle lane while making a right turn, or a driver opening a car door into the bicycle lane while a bicyclist is passing by the vehicle.

Bicycle riders should also make every effort to ride predictably to other bicyclists and motor vehicles on the road.

By riding in a manner that a vehicle driver expects, bicyclists make it easier for vehicle drivers to predict their intent.

Along with riding predictably, bicyclists should obey traffic laws, because obeying traffic laws also makes their riding behavior predictable to vehicle drivers. Using a bicycle lane when available, stopping at red lights, riding on the right half of the right side of the road, and using hand signals when appropriate makes bicyclists ride as though they are a motor vehicle, and increases their visibility and predictability to vehicle drivers.

Bicyclists should also try to avoid high traffic roads without a shoulder or bicycle lane.

Riding on a high-traffic road increases the probability of being involved in a collision with a motor vehicle, and riding on

a roadway without a shoulder or a bicycle lane decreases the space cushion between the bicyclist and motor vehicle.

When possible, find a bicycle route that is direct, but uses roads with lower speed limits and less traffic. Riding a mile out of the way to avoid a busy intersection or road may increase the length of a bicycle commute by five minutes, but it is a much better alternative than being involved in a crash and possibly suffering a serious injury.

Bicycle commuters can make their commute safer by equipping their bicycle with lights and reflectors, especially if they will be riding when lighting conditions are less than ideal.

Having appropriate lighting will increase the distance that bicyclists are visible to vehicle drivers, and enable bicycle riders to see and avoid roadway hazards in poor lighting conditions.

Bicyclists can also make riding on the roadway safer by riding a mechanically sound and well maintained bicycle.

Rremember, riding a bicycle that is poorly maintained can lead to a crash. Therefore, a bicyclist should perform a preride safety inspection of his or her bicycle, to make sure the tires, wheels, brakes, chain and cranks are functioning normally and are free from any defects.

Wearing appropriate safety equipment, such as a bicycle helmet, should also be considered for safety reasons. The majority of serious injuries suffered by bicyclists that are involved in a crash are head injuries, and wearing a helmet greatly reduces the risk of such injuries.

Bicyclists should also make effort to avoid distractions while riding, such as talking on a cellular phone or listening

to music. Both activities direct a rider’s attention away from the roadway, and can lead to a crash. If listening to music while riding is a necessity, only use one earphone, so traffic can be heard, and use a hands free device for cellular calls.

Perhaps most importantly of all, since bicycle theft is not uncommon, bicyclists should use a high-quality lock to secure their bicycles, or consider renting a bicycle locker from Peak Adventures. A heavy duty cable lock or U-lock will deter a bicycle thief, and a bicycle locker will keep a bicycle secure as well as protect it from the elements in foul weather.

Bicyclists should also be sure to license their bicycles with the Sacramento State Police Department. It’s a free service, and allows the police department to maintain a record of the color, make, model and serial number of the bicycle after the license is issued. In the event the bicycle is stolen, the information on file with the police department will assist in recovery of the bicycle.

Hopefully this article has provided one or two safety tips that will help you prevent a crash or a near miss on your next ride.

If you have a question for the police officers, dispatchers, and administrative staff members of the Sacramento State Police Department, email the question to asktheofficer@csus.edu, and your question may be answered in a future column.

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Wednesday - April 7

‘Enough is Enough,’ students have seen too much violence

By Ricky Alejandro ralejandro@statehornet.com Students will pledge to encourage anti-violence on campus this week as a part of the Housing and Residential Life’s program to stop on-campus crimes.

The weeklong event, “Enough is Enough,” will include many opportunities where students can get involved in promoting safety on campus.

Miyu Kataoka, a resident adviser at American River Courtyard and junior journalism major, is promoting the event to both students and faculty.

Kataoka said workshops like the Enough is Enough Wall will give students the opportunity to “create visual displays with an anti-violence message.”

“School violence can occur on any campus and we wanted to bring awareness to the antiviolence cause,” Katoaka said.

The week’s events and activities are open to students who live both on- and off-campus.

On Monday, students marched from the residence hall quad to the Hinde Auditorium, where they listened to a speech by Jessica Henkin from the Health Center.

The pledge against violence is

Nallelie Vega State Hornet

Sac State students march from American River Courtyard to the University Union on Monday in support of the anti-violence campaign “Enough is Enough.”

the students’ promise to not get involved with violence on campus while attempting to prevent it and spread the word around campus promoting safety.

“Enough is Enough” week will start five months after the homicide at American River Courtyard, where a student was killed in his own room.

Scott Hawkins, the 23-yearold Sac State student, was fatally beaten with a baseball bat in his suite. The person suspected in his murder was his roommate, 20-year-old Quran Jones, who is housed at the Sacramento County Jail and is awaiting arraignment.

“We didn’t plan this week just because of the incident last semester, but we wanted to bring awareness that even at Sac State violence happens, and sometimes it is fatal like the one last semester,” Kataoka said.

Richard Song, the residence life coordinator for housing, said Sac State adopted the idea of “Enough is Enough” week from a program created in 2008

by Virginia Tech University’s Vice President of Student Affairs Zenobia Lawrence. The program was started a year after the shooting massacre at Virginia Tech that claimed the lives of 32 people.

Song and the staff at the

Housing and Residential Life office have instituted further security throughout the campus, especially surrounding the residence halls. These include security patrol cars and officers patrolling on foot.

“We just want to let the Sac State community know that we are doing everything possible to ensure the safety of the students,” Song said.

Anthony Buono, the assistant director of Housing and Residential Life, said the program is necessary to spread awareness about the potential violence on campus.

“We want students to feel safe on campus,” Buono said.

“This event will be a great way to promote safety and eliminate violence on campus.”

Buono hopes to see the positive results from “Enough is Enough” week, which is the first event promoting anti-violence in that area of campus.

Nielsen Gabriel, freshman molecular biology major, said that safety is something that should be promoted in the residence halls, including Sutter Hall where he resides.

“I feel that the event will be very beneficial to students’ well being,” Gabriel said. “Hopefully the message of anti-violence will spread throughout the

campus.”

Song said the Housing and Residential Life office’s main goal of this event is to let people know that although violence can happen anywhere, the residence halls are safe for students.

“A lot of students have

the mentality of, ‘This won’t happen to me,’” Katoaka said.

“But school violence doesn’t just happen in schools that are far away from us. By bringing awareness, we hope that students realize that this is an issue that is relevant for us all.”

Sperm: Criminalist tools used to complete research Continued | page A1 in forensics and try to solve it,” Davis said. “I chose semen because it was easy. I didn’t have to prick my own finger to get it; I could get it from somewhere else.”

Davis said the semen used in the experiment came from a private donor. “(The donor) is really supportive of my research,” Davis said. “He understood the im-

portance of what I was doing.”

Davis said she prepared for the presentation of the competition with Coleman’s help.

“He advised me on how I should present, how I should talk,” Davis said. “He gave me insight on what would be the best approach for talking about my research.”

Davis’ research is important to her future after college.

“The most important thing about doing this whole project

was when going into a lab or a crime scene investigation team,” Davis said. “If you want to get hands-on experience you have to do it on your own, and that’s not cheap or easy.”

The prior forensic research experience is important for Davis because she won’t have time to research these topics when she is working in a lab.

When working for a lab she will be busy processing actual evidence, Davis said.

Prior to Davis’ research, there were no studies indicating how microwaves affect evidence.

“Bianca showed that the screening tools that criminalists routinely use to find semen stains on fabric may be ineffective once materials have been exposed to microwave radiation,” Ballard said in an e-mail.

Criminals try to compromise evidence such as semen or DNA by using cleaning methods such as bleach, and in some investigations clothing has been found in microwaves.

Davis’ research found that

investigators were less likely to find semen on clothing that had been left in the microwave for longer periods of time.

Davis noted that so far she has been unable to tell if it’s the radiation or heat from the microwave compromising the semen sample.

Davis started working on her research in September of 2009 and plans to continue working on it testing other variables such as if the DNA evidence left from semen is compromised.

Davis hopes to start the next phase of her research in the

upcoming weeks.

Davis will be going to compete next to eight other Sac State students at the State Research competition San Jose State University. All 23 California State University campuses will send their top research projects from all fields to San Jose to compete.

“Bianca did a solid and important set of experiments and is an excellent presenter,” Coleman said. “I think her chances of placing well in the statewide competition are excellent.”

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News Section

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“[Wise] is talking about a system and an issue that needs to be discussed. If we maintain a dialogue, then we’re really moving forward. If we are pretending that things aren’t happening, then we will be hindering our progress as a society.”

Frank Lilly, professor of teacher education and coordinator of the symposium

Forum: Issues of equality focus on more than race Continued | page A1 black governor and the political gains were lost because of vigilantism, the rise of the Ku Klux Klan.”

At Sac State, Canton has seen signs in the bathroom with racial slurs directed toward black and Hispanic students. The staff got rid of the signs within the day. He feels that the administration should do more.

“It’s one thing to get rid of these signs, but that doesn’t stop the negative attitudes. Let’s discuss what’s going on rather than running and hiding from it,” Canton said.

Lilly said that the dialogue between people of color on campus, people who are Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer, and people with disabilities must be kept alive and will be discussed in the panels.

There is also discrimination against the LGBT at Sac State.

Often times when students are getting ready for Pride Week, they publicize by writing on the sidewalks. Lilly has seen the frustration of students when people erase their chalk or write derogatory comments in their place. Lilly said some students even protest during that week.

“I understand we have free speech. However, when you are protesting the rights of certain groups, it’s a problem,” Lilly said. “Do we protest the Muslim, the Native American group, or the Taoist group on campus?

Do we put them down? No we can’t.”

Students and faculty who have disabilities face discrimination as well. Lilly said that many of the buildings on campus aren’t accessible and do not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Many of our faculty are not familiar with how to teach in a way that reaches all students, so in turn, the course instruction discriminates against some students, Lilly said.

The State Hornet will be sponsoring the journalism panel and the discussion topic will be “What the news media is doing right and wrong with regards to race reporting and reporting on diversity,” said Todd Wilson, editor-in-chief of the Hornet and senior journalism major.

Overall, newspapers make sure to cover all the people in a community, but newspapers sometimes miss the cultural context of stories and still fall back on stereotypes, Wilson said. Regarding the Hornet, Wilson feels that it does a good job having discussions and editorials that recognize the diversity at Sac State.

The panel discussion with Wise will discuss race relations at the local and national level, and explore the areas of this “post-racial” society, Canton said.

Wise will also be speaking about “white privilege,” which

is a difficult conversation to have with people of color and people of non-color, said Ernest Uwazie, professor and director for the Center for African Peace and Conflict Resolution.

“People don’t often want to hear about white privilege, and they are ignoring the fact that educational systems, economic systems, and housing systems have all been monopolized and owned by white folks for quite some time now,” Lilly said. “As a result, it’s been difficult for folks of color to progress.”

Canton said Wise’s identity as a white male will bring a different perspective to the discussion.

“Wise is very frank. He’s sound in his arguments, and for a white man to talk about white man’s privilege is very bold,” Uwazie said.

Lilly believes the discussion between students, faculty and staff is a step toward improving racial relations. Everyone’s opinion is valued, whether or not they agree with Wise, Lilly said.

“It will be an open dialogue.

(Wise) is talking about a system and an issue that needs to be discussed,” Lilly said. “If we maintain a dialogue, then we’re really moving forward. If we are pretending that things aren’t happening, then we will be hindering our progress as a society.”

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Service: Volunteering offers students opportunities Continued | page A1 what we do. We really are making a difference.”

Throughout the week, students completed community service projects, including beautification and maintenance of grounds at the zoo, and drought-resistant landscaping for a home being built by Habitat for Humanity.

Dan Wilson, director of construction at the home being constructed by Habitat for Humanity, said his work could not be completed without the help of volunteers.

“We really appreciate their help,” Wilson said. “This home is for a single mother of six kids.

She’s an amazing woman and she really appreciates the help, too.”

Dan Fraggean, junior engineering major and team leader for the Habitat for Humanity service days, said he participated in Alternative Break because, as an unemployed student, the dream of a trip to Cabo wasn’t

financially possible. Rather than sitting at home, he preferred to put himself to work for the benefit of the community.

“This week we were at Cal Expo planting elm trees at the front gate with the tree foundation. It’s crazy to me to think how long those trees will be there,” Fraggean said. “I’ll be able to go back 20 or 30 years from now and see them and be able to say, ‘Wow. My hands did that.’”

Hicks said through his work in Alternative Break, he was encouraged to join community service oriented clubs and fraternities, such as Circle K and Alpha Phi Alpha.

“When you help out the community it’s really helping you build confidence and break you out of your shell,” he said.

Senior government major Sheryl Hitomi said she participated in order to meet new people and to give back to the community that gave back to her.

“I was born and raised in the

Sacramento area. I have many fond memories coming to the zoo as a kid. I thought it’d be a great opportunity for community service,” Hitomi said. “People are amazed that students are actually working on their spring break and not out partying.”

Victor Chan, senior liberal studies major, said he plans to apply the community service goals he obtained through Alternative Break to his future career as a teacher.

“Teaching is more than giving lessons of math and English,” Chan said. “It’s about teaching students lessons of community involvement and how to be an active citizen.”

Hicks said the community involvement is what brings him back to Alternative Break each semester.

“I make it a goal to learn something new every time I volunteer,” Hicks said. “Most importantly, I always hold to my motto: one world, one life, one community.”

Caroline LeDoux State Hornet

Mia Matsudaira State Hornet

Mia Matsudaira State Hornet

Clockwise from left: Sheryl Hitomi gathers fallen branches as she gardens at the Sacramento Zoo. Greg Hicks hands rocks to another student as they landscape for Habitat for Humanity. Students work together to trim branches of a palm tree at the zoo.

U-Can: Drive to benefit local homeless population Continued | page A1

Nallelie Vega State Hornet

Roy Morris received lunch from Loaves and Fishes last week. U-Can will help feed homeless people like Morris in Sacramento.

The Simental family has received meals from Loaves and Fishes everyday for almost year.

Gloria Simental, 55, suffers from bipolar disorder and suicidal tendencies. She also has back problems, making it hard for her to get out of bed.

Stacio Simental, 20, and Tommy Simental, 22, have special needs and suffer from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Last year, Stacio Simental’s Social Security benefits were cut, causing financial strain on the family. They were evicted from their apartment because they were late on the rent.

The Simentals currently live in an apartment in downtown Sacramento on 9th Street. With a total income of $1,350 from Gloria and Tommy Simental’s

Social Security, they sometimes have trouble paying the $895 rent, on top of their other bills.

“That’s why we come here,” Gloria Simental said. “To get food and help find out about different services.”

Pierce said he wants people to be empathetic toward those who are homeless.

“Every point in someone’s life they are going to hit rock bottom, and in some cases you bounce back and in some cases you don’t,” Pierce said. “In these cases these people need a helping hand to bounce back.”

Johnny Martin, 54, who has received meals from Loaves and Fishes for more than a year, said the people who go to Loaves and Fishes are only looking to improve their lives.

“It’s not always a handout, but it’s a hand up,” Martin said.

“If you really want to get out and do something and better with your life, they can show you how. But it’s like climbing a ladder; you have to take one step at a time.”

Martin became homeless after her Social Security check was stolen from her mailbox last year, forcing her to be late on her rent.

Today, she lives in an apartment with her husband and another roommate, though they are not officially on the lease.

Martin worked as a caterer since she was 16. In her career, she cooked for many notable figures from Johnny Cash to Colin Powell, and even a few presidents. She also catered the Olympic track and field trails at Sac State.

In 2000, Martin became paralyzed from the waist down

when she slipped at work. Doctors told she would never walk again.

She made it out of the hospital 13 days later, still able to walk. She still has spinostanosis, a condition that makes it difficult for her to walk. She has received Social Security because her disability for years.

The Rotaract Club will be relying on some volunteers to help it put the food drive together.

Pierce said the food drive is mostly about compassion and awareness.

“Put yourself in their shoes and take a couple steps and see how it feels living everyday with nothing in your pockets and barely anything on your

back,” Pierce said. “We need to show them that there are still people out there who care.”

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THESTATEHORNET

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Wednesday

| S p r i n g I s s u e 10 | S a c r a m e n t o S t a t e

EDITORIALS

Critics continue to bash Varshney; Dean needs to offer a real defense LAO says Varshney’s response failed to address fundamental criticism; Assemblyman authoring academic peer review legislation

If you haven’t been paying attention to the saga of a report authored by Sacramento State’s Dean of the College of Business Administration Sanjay Varshney, you should be.

It’s getting interesting.

Beyond that, the issue speaks directly to the academic integrity of our university. For an institution of higher education, it really doesn’t get much deeper than that.

It all began last summer when Varshney and Dennis Tootelian, professor of business, released a study examining the economic effects of Assembly Bill 32, the 2006 state law that requires cuts in greenhouse gas emissions in California.

Varshney and Tootelian were paid $54,000 by the California Small Business Roundtable to produce the report titled “Cost of AB 32 on Small Business.” The work was contracted through the dean’s private firm Varshney and Associates.

Since its release, the study has been cited by lawmakers, such as Roger Niello, RSacramento and Dan Logue, R-Linda, and interest groups as justification for suspending the law or delaying its implementation as a way to help California down the path to economic recovery.

A ballot initiative allowing voters to decide on this issue is in the works for the November election.

While it does have its supporters, Varshney’s research has been roundly criticized by experts from the private, public and academic arenas.

The critics have challenged the methodology and statistical analysis used in the research.

The condemnation of the work, as reported in The State Hornet and The Sacramento Bee, has often been harsh.

James Sweeney, director of the Precourt Energy Efficiency Center at Stanford University, told the Hornet that the study’s findings were “truly weird.”

According to The Sacramento Bee, economists Chris Thornberg and Jon Haveman, founding partners of the private firm Beacon Economics, said the study was an example of “schlock science,” in an op-ed piece that ran in that paper last fall.

Thornberg told the Hornet, “For a guy who purports to be a professor, this is an embarrassment to himself and an embarrassment to the school.”

Ouch.

At this point, the Hornet felt Varshney’s response to the criticism had been, at best, blasé.

When asked about the crit-

icism of his work in a Feb. 26 Sacramento Business Journal article, Varshney responded: “I haven’t really kept up with the debate.”

In a Sacramento Bee story, Varshney said, “It’s very easy to find holes; it’s very easy to find flaws with any study. I’m guessing it’s more political than anything else.”

The last statement was a response to an analysis of Varshney’s study released March 18 by the state’s highly respected and nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office.

One of the main reasons the LAO is held in such high regard is because its work is nonpolitical, straightforward analysis.

The LAO analysis said claims made in this study were “highly unreliable.” The office also called a related Varshney and Tootelian study “essentially useless.”

This goes far beyond being able to find holes or flaws in any study. Obviously, like he said, Varshney wasn’t paying attention.

We wrote an editorial calling on Varshney to pay attention to the criticism and offer either a strong defense of or an apology for his work on this study.

We had planned to run that editorial in our last issue.

However, after the Hornet had been sent to the printer, Varshney and Associates sent out a press release attempting to defend the study.

It should be noted that Varshney and Associates did not send a copy of the press release to the Hornet, which ran the first news story on the criticism of the report.

We received a copy of the press release from one of our sources. In fact, Varshney consistently refuses to speak to the Hornet on this or any other issue.

At this point we pulled the editorial and had the Hornet reprinted. We wanted to make sure that we did our due diligence and look at the merits of Varshney and Tootelian’s response to the criticism before calling out the dean on his work.

Since then, we have concluded that Varshney has yet to offer a real defense of the study.

Both Sweeney and Thornberg have said Varshney’s response was not an adequate defense to their criticism.

“It’s not a response, it’s a dodge,” Thornberg told the Hornet.

The most damning rebuke of the response came from the LAO. As reported in the Hornet, David Vasché, LAO special economic advisor, said the authors’ statement did not address LAO’s criticisms.

“We feel all the points we made in our letter are still valid,” Vasché said. “We

really don’t feel the faculty members in their statement addressed those points that we made.”

Vasché said the studies had basic problems with their methodology.

“There is often times debates amongst economists about models that are used and so forth,” Vasché said.

“But I would say that the basic points that we run in our letter are pretty fundamental, and I wouldn’t say that they have to do with typical disagreements amongst economists.”

This has one state Assemblyman hopping mad. Kevin de León, D-Los Angeles, is authoring legislation banning state-funded research contracts to universities unless they meet minimum academic standards, includ-

editorial that did not run in the paper. We still see this as the valid point in this case.

One of the fundamental components of research, especially academic research, is the peer review process.

Researchers are expected to have their work critiqued by experts in the field and be able to defend their methodology and analysis in light of those critiques.

Yet Varshney seems to be brushing aside the criticism and refuses to offer a strong defense of his work.

In an initial response to the criticism over the study, Gloria Moraga, associate vice president of public affairs, told The Sacramento Bee, “Sacramento State’s administration strongly supports the work of all our faculty and their research.”

Courtesy photo

“Cost of AB 32 on Small Business,” a report co-written by Sanjay Varshney, dean of the College of Business Administration, has been discredited by many legislative analysts, including the LAO.

ing peer review, as reported by the Sacramento Business Journal. De León also fired off an angry letter about this issue to Sac State President Alexander Gonzalez.

“We can’t afford to waste taxpayers’ money on shoddy academic research. What I really want is our money back, but short of that I don’t want another dime wasted on junk science,” De León said in a press release.

We will note again that Varshney’s study was funded by the California Small Business Roundtable, and not state funds. And the money was paid to the dean’s private firm and not the university.

However, Varshney has used his position as the dean of the College of Business Administration to promote his work. The university itself has also promoted Varshney’s study.

Because of this, we saw Varshney’s apparent disdain of the peer review process as the crux of the problem.

It was the main point of our

What message does this send to our faculty and students?

The message seems to be that sound methodology and analysis are not necessary for the work we produce here.

We find that more than a little disconcerting. Especially since many of our majors, including those in the College of Business Administration, require students to take courses in research and methodology.

In those classes, students are taught the importance of developing and defending both their methodology and analysis.

The universities where Varshney earned his degrees, Bombay University, the University of Cincinnati and Louisiana State University, respectively, required him to take similar courses.

We infer from his comments and inadequate defense by most accounts that Varshney does not take those academic lessons seriously.

In our unpublished edito-

rial, we called on Varshney to defend his study or offer an apology in the Hornet’s pages or any other news media outlet of his choosing.

We still believe Varshney needs to offer a strong defense of his report specifically addressing the LAO’s criticism.

But rather than offer space in our print edition for Varshney to do this, we have a better idea.

Thornberg has said if the Hornet can arrange it, he will travel to Sac State on his own dime to publicly debate Varshney over the merits of the study.

We think this is exactly what is called for at this point in the game, a good old-fashioned academic debate.

This will give Varshney a chance to meet his critics head-on and offer a real point-by-point defense of his methodology and statistical analysis.

We hope that both Varshney and Sac State’s administration will agree to this. It will go a long way to addressing De León’s criticism of the university and hopefully put the matter to rest once and for all.

In the administration’s latest response to the controversy, Moraga told the Hornet, “Varshney and Tootelian conducted their research and issued the report as consultants, outside the purview of the university. Faculty members are permitted to use their expertise and earn income from other sources.”

Granted. We agree that faculty members should and do have this right.

However, we will say again that if the administration is going to offer its strong support to even private research done by the faculty, as Moraga stated earlier, then the administration needs to hold that work to the highest standards. Especially if the administration has promoted that work, as was done in this case.

Sadly, we don’t expect to see a “Smackdown in Sac Town” between Thornberg and Varshney anytime soon.

As we said before, Varshney refuses to speak to the Hornet on this or any other issue.

In fact, we feel this has gotten to the point of outright disrespect on the part of Varshney toward the Hornet.

In our latest attempts to follow up on the unfolding news story, one of our reporters called Varshney and Associates for comment.

Upon identifying himself as a Hornet reporter, he was hung up on.

We find this perplexing, and often ask ourselves why won’t he speak to us?

The only answer we can

come up with is he assumes we are unprofessional and unreliable because we are a student-run newspaper.

Let us take a moment to dispel this assumption.

We take the work we do at the Hornet seriously and constantly strive to put forth the best product possible.

When we get it right, we stand strongly behind our work.

When we get it wrong, like any newspaper, we offer an apology and run a correction.

In the same Sacramento Bee story where Varshney was quoted, the Hornet’s reporting on this issue was cited as a source. This is far from the first time that The Sacramento Bee has used or referenced our work.

On top of this, the national awards the Hornet regularly wins rank us among the best student-run college newspapers in the country.

This includes awards for our editorials and analysis dealing with California’s budget crisis.

As the paper of record for this community, we believe it is both our duty and our right to ask questions about these types of issues. And we expect answers.

We do recognize that while we have the right to ask, Varshney does have the right to refuse to speak to us.

From our vantage point, however, refusing to speak to us does not do Varshney or the university any good.

We hope the administration will pressure Varshney to agree to the debate with Thornberg, or at the very least offer a real defense of his work.

While we realize that watching its golden boy being trashed in the press and his inability to respond adequately to the criticism has become a headache for the administration, downplaying this issue will not make it go away.

As we contended at the beginning of this editorial, this issue speaks to the academic integrity of our university and the value of the degrees that students spend years working to earn.

We ask that Varshney contact our editor in chief at (916) 278-6584 or editor@ statehornet.com to discuss setting up a public debate with Thornberg. If Varshney doesn’t want to debate Thornberg, at the very least we would like him to offer in some form a real defense of his study that addresses the concerns of his critics.

Given the situation as it stands, until we see something substantial come from Varshney, we will echo Thornberg and call this an embarrassment to our university.

Come talk about racial inequality with us With Barack Obama serving as our nation’s first black president, are we living in a post-racial society?

In past editorials, The State Hornet has argued that we are not.

We do believe, and have said before, that this is the perfect time to talk about what it will take to get us there.

This is why the Hornet has proudly signed on as a cosponsor of UNIQUE and the Council for Affirmative Action’s second annual forum on Affirmative Action.

The forum will be taking place April 14 in the University Union, and features keynote speaker Tim Wise.

Wise is prominent antiracist author and activist

who regularly speaks on college campuses.

Wise’s speech, “Color Blindness and Its Consequences: How Ignoring Race Deepens the Racial Divide,” will be held at noon in the University Ballroom.

Prior to Wise speaking, the Council for Affirmative Action will be holding a series of panels that will

focus on diversity in education and the media and the rise in hate crimes since the election of Obama.

The Hornet will be hosting a panel, featuring Hornet editor in chief Todd Wilson, Molly Dugan, professor of journalism who teaches classes on minorities and social diversity in the news media, and Steve Magagnini,

diversity reporter for The Sacramento Bee. As these are issues that face all members of the campus community, we are suggesting that professors take their classes to various panels and to Wise’s speech.

We see this forum as an opportunity for our community to begin an open discussion as to where our

nation stands on the issues of race and diversity.

Hopefully it will also help us to begin laying the groundwork to truly achieving a post-racial and genuinely equal society.

Like we have said before, come out and talk about it.

What have you got to lose?

We still feel we’ve all got a lot to gain.

Wednesday - April 7

Opinion Section

statehornet.com

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Guest Column: Take five minutes to save eight lives I would have never thought I could single-handedly save eight people’s lives and enhance the lives of 50 others.

I’m not a superhero; I can’t leap tall buildings in a single bound. I’m not more powerful than a locomotive or even faster than a speeding bullet.

But I am an organ donor, and because of that I can save lives.

It only takes minutes to sign up and the reward for becoming a donor means knowing that you will become someone’s superhero. You can give the gift of life with a few simple keystrokes or by checking the donor box at the D.M.V. Our state is unfortunately lacking a lot of heroes right now. Of the 26 million licensed drivers in California to date, only 6.2 million of them are registered donors.

With more than 21,000 people awaiting transplants in Cali-

fornia alone, something needs to be done.

Donate Life California, as well as other organ procurement and awareness organizations, have taken up the challenge. Since 2004, Donate Life California has taken strides to increase awareness of organ and tissue donation by creating an official state donor registry.

Prior to 2004, there was no registry, meaning that even with a pink donor dot sticker on your license, doctors needed to obtain family consent for donation upon your passing.

This created a complicated, emotionally charged situation for everyone involved, forcing doctors and grieving family members to make the decision to donate during that inopportune moment.

Autumn Brown, public education coordinator for Golden State Donor Services

and Sacramento State alumna, found herself in a similar situation in 2008. During her final semester at Sacramento State, her 18-year-old brother was in a fatal car accident.

He also happened to be a donor, and because he signed up after 2004 when the registry was created, his wishes were sure to be granted.

At first hesitant about organ donation, Autumn soon found solace in the fact that her brother’s legacy lived on in six other people.

“It is comforting to know that his heart still beats in someone else’s chest,” Brown said.

Through tragedy, Brown’s brother was able to give the gift of life. Yet there are still 21,000 people waiting for donors, and there are still many roadblocks.

As Tiffany Ellison of Folsom, whose 13-year-old son Connor is suffering from liver

disease, said, “It’s crazy to think that people are dying for one kidney when so many people are walking around with two kidneys.”

Ellison, who volunteers for several donor-awareness organizations including Donate Life California, said, “It’s not my job to intimidate, scare, humiliate or trick someone into being an organ donor.

But it is my job to make sure when they’re making that decision that they’re making an educated decision. Nine out of 10 people I talk with are making a ‘no’ decision because of myths and untruths.”

One popular myth is that once doctors find out that you are a donor they purposely try not to save your life. The fact is every single doctor takes an oath to do anything and everything they can to save lives. They exhaust every possible means to save yours, and that doctor doesn’t even have

anything to do with transplantation.

Many people also believe that things like religion or age will stop them from donating; this simply isn’t true. Organ and tissue donation fall in line with most major religions, and if there ever is doubt the best option would be to contact your local clergyman.

And don’t hold back from becoming a donor because you think no one could use your donation.

“Everyone should donate, regardless of pre-existing conditions,” said Brown, public education coordinator for Donate Life California.

There are very few medical conditions that will flat out disqualify you from becoming a donor. There are over 21,000 reasons to become a donor and so very few to choose not to.

Becoming a donor means giving the gift of life, it means

saving men, women and children with one selfless act.

It means that there will still be a tomorrow for someone you know today.

I encourage you to take five minutes to save eight lives.

Become an organ donor by signing up at: DonateLifeCalifornia.org.

▶◀ ▶◀ ▶◀ Matt Rascher and Allison McCurdy, senior public relations majors. They are part of a public relations class spearheading a campaign for Donate Life California to register donors.

Sac State Professor Timothy L. Howard and kidney dialysis patient Heidi Nye contributed to this story.

Marcy Hendricks State Hornet

Taking care of our homeless

By Julia Baum jbaum@statehornet.com Fundraising efforts by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and about 80 local churches to provide housing for 600 homeless families were successful this weekend; more than $225,000 was raised for the cause. Sacramento State on Monday will also be holding a canned food drive.

I won’t negate the wonderful work and selflessness of Sacramento’s citizens, but I feel the issue of mental illness in the homeless community has not been sufficiently addressed.

Californians have a history of doing what they can for the homeless, including passing Proposition 63 back in 2004, which taxes those making more than $1 million per year an additional 1 percent for providing services to the mentally ill.

In 1999, the state passed Assembly Bill 2034, which

provided $10 million for pilot mental health programs that serve homeless individuals in Stanislaus, Los Angeles, and Sacramento counties. According to a follow-up report to the bill from the California Department of Mental Health, incarceration of the homeless during a 15-month period dropped a whopping 77 percent.

The county has cut $48 million from its mental health budget. The mental health crisis unit on Stockton Boulevard was closed last year and only 50 out of 100 inpatient beds are available in the rest of the hospital.

The repercussions of ignoring this crisis are calculable and eye-opening. The homeless population in this country is around 3.5 million, according to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty.

Mental illness affects about 31 percent of those people who are unable to hold a job or home because of their symptoms.

Many people do not qualify for county-assisted mental health services because their condition is not considered severe, said Kathryn Kleinman, director of Genesis, a mental health program which offers free counseling to homeless and low-income individuals.

“Part of the problem is … you have to have a certain diagnosis

File photo

The Sacramento Homeless Organizing Committee set up Tent City to give the homeless a safe area. In 2009, anticamping laws forced the encampment to move.

to get treatment,” Kleinman said. “It’s really hard to go through the system if you’re mentally ill because there’s so many different rules for so many programs.”

A report last year from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states one-fifth of emergency room visits across the country in 2006 were made by the uninsured.

Taxpayers then have to pick up the tab for all the homeless people coming into hospitals for mental health treatment.

The report showed homeless people not receiving care until their needs reach meet crisis levels have more expensive hospitalizations, lasting longer than if patients had been receiving regular care.

“The issue’s getting worse yet we’re cutting down our resources,” said Sister Libby Fernandez of Loaves and Fishes. “What we’re seeing is an increase with people with mental illnesses going straight to the ERs and hospitals.”

A shortage of doctors, counselors and social workers means mentally ill people needing therapy and medication will have to go without, and the problem will continue spiraling out of control without qualified individuals available to help. “(Schizophrenics), they’re not going to be able to spend the time and do the research to get treatment,” Kleinman said.

“Getting in these days is almost impossible because so many of the programs have let psychiatrists go.”

Even if you don’t have money to give, Fernandez and Kleinman said people can help out by donating bottled water, walking shoes and travel toiletries to local shelters.

Homelessness is a multifaceted issue that is not going to disappear anytime soon.

But the state falling on hard times is no excuse for ignoring a very real problem that will be more consequential to us in the future.

Letter to the Editor This letter is in response to comments made by Professor Barbara O’Connor in an article in The State Hornet, “Voters prefer cuts-only approach to fix budget,” March 17, 2010.

In the article O’Connor states that she opposes AB 656, the Oil Severance Tax, sponsored by Assemblyman Alberto Torrico and being pushed by the California Faculty Association.

I am writing this letter as not as a representative of the California Faculty Association but as faculty member at Sacramento State, as my own beliefs about this issue.

In the article she stated that “I tend to not be a singleissue solver, I care about the system as a whole not just the part I’m in.” O’Connor believes that the governmental system as a whole needs restructuring and she points to term limits being detrimental to the continuity of elected officials and that the two-thirds approval rule needs to be amended.

While I wholeheartedly agree with both of those assessments, my problem with O’Connor’s position is that we in higher education, and specifically the California State University system, will continue to be underfunded and experience more budget cuts if students, faculty and staff have to wait until these

suggested measures and a “governmental restructuring” to deal with the budget crisis.

My answer is the same answer that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave to the white ministers who were pleading with him to stop the Birmingham, Ala., demonstrations in 1963, because it is disruptive and the movement was moving too fast.

In a jail cell, writing in response to the white clergy in his famous “Letter From a Birmingham Jail,” King protested the clergy’s position by stating that, “I have heard the word ‘Wait!’ It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity.

“This ‘Wait’ has almost meant ‘Never.’

“We must come to see, with one of our distinguished jurists, that ‘justice too long delayed is justice denied.’”

I feel the same way about O’Connor’s statements. Faculty members who are getting laid off and have been laid off cannot wait for governmental restructuring.

Furloughed faculty members who have had their hard-fought raises frozen and have to give up almost 10 percent of their salaries cannot wait for governmental restructuring. Staff members who are also suffering undersubstantial pay raises and almost 10 percent furloughs and reduction of salary can-

not wait for governmental restructuring.

Students who are now paying over 182 percent more tuition since 2002 (CSU Budget Office, CSU Board of Trustees) with classes being cut, which forces them to take longer to graduate, cannot wait for governmental restructuring.

Torrico’s oil severance tax will help to restore those monetary cuts in the CSU system while we work on restructuring the system.

Maybe Professor O’Connor can afford to wait until that time comes but the majority of students, faculty and staff cannot wait another year, another week or another day.

Professor O’Connor needs to realize that the future is now and we cannot wait for the reactionary forces in this state to submit to the much-needed governmental restructuring that she is proposing.

The time to fix our budget problem is right now, and like Dr. King, this is why we cannot wait any longer. ▶◀ ▶◀ ▶◀ Dr. Stan Oden, associate professor, Government Department

STATE HORNET OPINION ONLINE Wait, say that again, I didn’t hear you Did you say something?

Well, The State Hornet wants to hear what you have to say! E-mail us your guest columns and letters to the editor at opinion@statehornet.com

When your world doesn’t feel right We all feel sad from time to time, but what is depression? Opinion editor David Loret de Mola talks about what depression is really like. Check out The Down and Out at statehornet.com

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By John Saelee jsaelee@statehornet.com

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Professors’ voices heard

When jazz voice instructor Julia Dollison performed at a jazz conference seven years ago, she did not know her future husband, jazz program director Kerry Marsh, was one of the fans sitting in the audience who she would soon marry and produce an album with.

The album Dollison and Marsh recently released is called “Vertical Voices: The Music of Maria Schneider.” Schneider is a musician and close friend of Dollison who originally invited her to play at that jazz conference seven years ago.

These professors took Schneider’s original music scores and created an orchestra with the two of their voices.

The couple decided to create their music from Schneider’s scores because they were fascinated with her genre of work. “(Schneider) writes in a modern, progressive jazz style that is more textural in nature,” Marsh said.

Dollison said starting the album was not easy because not many people thought multitracking their voices over musical instruments could be done.

“We pitched an idea of creating this album to Maria and she thought we were out of our minds because it would be too difficult to put together,” Dollison said. “We said we were up to the challenge, and she later ended up endorsing us.”

Dollison said the most complex part of recording the album was recording their voices to replace the instrumental parts from the scores.

The album took a little more than a year to complete.

People who purchase an album can navigate into “ArtistShare,” a place that documents the process of Dollison and Marsh’s album.

“ArtistShare is a fan-based site that allows people to view video clips, recording, rehearsing, audio recording and all the other features that went with constructing the album,” Dollison said.

Marsh said their album involved a large amount of effort to put together but said sharing it was the reward.

“I think ‘Vertical Voices’ is important in vocal jazz because we’re singing actual jazz orchestra from the score as it was written for this entirely different orchestration wordlessly with no lyrics - so it’s abstract,” Marsh said. “Is is also important to us because it’s our debut together as a team.”

The album is mainly available for purchase online.

“The album is not in stores

yet, so we’re doing self-promotion through the Internet by utilizing Facebook, individual websites, e-mail marketing and performing live,” Dollison said.

Casey Lipka, senior music major, said she has taken classes with both professors and congratulates them for developing the album.

“I am inspired by what they’re doing with the project by multi-tracking two people or implementing the voices of two people and creating a big band orchestra,” Lipka said.

Dollison said she had not been exposed to jazz until college, when she studied as a vocal jazz major.

“I fell in love with singing in jazz because it allows you to use your voice in a flexible way,” she said. In contrast to classical music, “it’s more structured and focused, while jazz gives me the option to be myself.”

Melissa Fulkerson, senior jazz studies major, said Dollison has made her a better jazz singer.

“Julia takes the time to analyze our voices and suggest to us ways to improve our singing,” Fulkerson said. ”She knows our voices better than we do.”

Marsh said he has contributed to the Sac State jazz department by helping jazz students put together many albums and winning prominent awards in jazz.

During his time at Sac State, he said he recorded four student ensemble albums and earned five awards from Downbeat Magazine.

Marsh said after taking over the vocal jazz program, he wanted to work toward building up the program.

“I wanted to make Sac State one of the places that was on the map as a hub - a special place for vocal jazz to go,” he said.

Marsh said class cuts in the jazz studies program have been one of the ongoing issues the jazz department has faced.

“Our school has unfortunately gone from a place where we’re actively seeking out new students and now turning away students,” he said.

Because of these obstacles, Marsh planned to leave Sac State and get a Ph.D, but decided to stay at Sac State with his wife.

Dollison said one of the main reasons she decided to stay was to ensure that every one of her students finished their senior voice recitals.

“We’ve got at least one more student who we would be short of just finishing their voice recital,” she said. “Just that one student is enough for us to stay and get them through it.”

Dollison said their departure would no longer allow them to meet and hear comments from their fans in Sacramento.

Nallelie Vega State Hornet

Vocal Jazz Program Director Kerry Marsh and his wife Julia Dollison, jazz voice instructor, rehearse songs from their newly released album, “Vertical Voices: The music of Maria Schneider,” in the music recital hall.

Sac State professor involved Wine tasting in in Haiti before earthquake support of Sac

By Miriam Arghandiwal arghandiwal@statehornet.com Paul Burke, a professor at Sacramento State, has been a social, political and humani-

tarian activist in Haiti since 1988. When Haiti was hit with a 7.0-magnitude earthquake on Jan. 12, 2010, Burke did not merely see the devastation on the television, he felt it.

Courtesy Photo

Paul Burke, Sacramento State professor, taps fists with a small Haitian child while doing humanitarian work in Haiti.

Burke said he and his girlfriend, graduate student Leisa Faulkner, watched broadcasts together as footage of the disaster began to flood news channels, which showed the ruins of neighborhoods they had previously worked to support.

“It was all in rubbles,” Burke said. “Leisa and I looked at each other and said, ‘We have to go.’

Within a couple hours we were putting the word out and checking for tickets.”

Burke’s own awareness of Haiti’s struggles came about when he was an undergraduate student at the University of San Diego. He said the school had a political film series that showed the film “Bitter Cane” one Friday night. The film was a documentary filmed in the 1980s about Duvalier, a dictator in Haiti who was one of the worst Haiti had ever seen, he said.

“It completely blew me away.

I knew there were poor people in Haiti – What I didn’t know

and what most Americans don’t know today is that Haiti is mostly poor because of decisions made by people in Washington, D.C.,” Burke said.

He said the film taught him how the United States government and various business corporations in the U.S. had sided against democracy and supported harsh dictatorships in Haiti, in order to maintain control and economically exploit the country.

Burke first started taking action by supporting Jesse Jackson in his 1988 presidential campaign. Jackson’s campaign was based on the idea that the United States should support social justice at home and abroad, in places like Haiti.

Burke said that while teaching at Sac State in 2004, news came that Haiti’s dictatorship had been overthrown in a coup. Burke immediately took see Burke| page B2

State athletics

By Miriam Arghandiwal arghandiwal@statehornet.com

From the vintage Crystal Basin Cellar in El Dorado to the Charles Krug vineyard of Napa Valley, rich wines produced by Sacramento State alumni will be showcased Friday on campus during the 4th Annual Stinger Wine and Food Festival.

The Sacramento State Stinger Athletic Association and 14 winemaking Sac State alumni have gathered together to provide an evening of wine tasting. In addition to wine, the association has also invited 10 food vendors to cater various finger foods.

Craig Perez, Sac State’s development director and member of the association, said the event was originally created by himself, Sac State athletic director Terry Wanless and Sac State alumnus Larry Augusta.

Their goal was to get the support of a wide variety of people for athletics.

“We had the golf tournament where mostly men came, then we had the crab feed that appealed to families. With the wine and food classic we wanted to create a more upscale setting and date-like environment,” Perez said.

The Stinger Athletic Association is a booster club that is made up of primarily Sac State alumni who have a past in Sac State sports. The association holds many fundraising events throughout the year. These fundraising events include an annual golf tournament and an see Stinger| page B2

B2

Wednesday - April 7

Features Section

CLUB CORNER | INSTITUTIONAL INVESTMENT SOCIETY

Thrill seekers enjoy chaos of buying and selling stock

By John Saelee jsaelee@statehornet.com Julie Kurenkova has waited since eighth grade to learn how to invest money in the stock market. Now, as a junior international business major and vice president of finance for the Institutional Investment Society at Sacramento State, her wait has ended because she is exposed to professionals in the business field on a regular basis.

Kurenkova said she has been eager to work in the stock market since middle school because of the excitement that occurs with buying and selling stocks.

“You’re gambling with thousands of dollars and you can make tens of thousands of dollars or lose it all,” she said.

As a member of the Institutional Investment Society, she said she is learning background regarding the stock market and topics in business.

The club was founded in 2007

by Sophia Morris and Marcella McGinley because they felt students were not being educated

in professions such as investment banking, venture capital, private equity, equity research and public equity.

Kurenkova said the Institutional Investment Society has provided members resources to learn about trading or investing in the stock market and becoming better financial managers.

“We help students who are in the club by providing them with locations on-and off-campus to find information regarding the stock market and current trends,” she said.

These club meetings start at 6 p.m. every other Tuesday on the second floor of the University Union. The next meeting will be held on April 21.

Club president Alex Duran, junior business administration major, said professionals speak at most meetings.

Duran said officers try to connect students companies and professionals from the business arena such as CalPERs and Hedge Funds.

He said most speakers discuss business matters in simple terms

so people, from all majors, can understand the concepts.

The biggest event being held by the club is the stock analysis competition, which will take place on May 7.

“The stock analysis competition involves club members analyzing a company in the stock market and creating a presentation about whether people should or should not invest in that company,” said Paul Robertson, economics major and executive vice president of the club.

Robertson encourages all Sac State students to take part in this competition.

“This will be a great opportunity to present your analytical skills to professionals in the field,” he said.

The winner will get $500, donated by Dave Anderson, Sac State alumnus and affiliate of Palo Alto Investments.

Duran said the competition is an event that meets the objective of the club because it provides students with a place to learn how to invest.

Burke: Multiple organizations created to aid Haitian people Continued | page B1 action and created the Coalition for Democracy in Haiti.

The group’s mission was to raise awareness of the country’s state of turmoil so a legitimate democracy was sure to be set up.

The collation dealt with adversity in pushing democracy in Haiti, Burke said, especially after the Bush administration sent in the Marines to occupy the territory in 2004.

“The Haitian presidential candidate Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who had won the popular vote, was pushed into exile. The rest of his political party were being murdered or pushed in exile also by death squads that had guns given to them by our government,” he said.

Burke said Faulkner, who was executive director of the collation at the time, offered herself as a human shield during a march for democracy.

“There was a mayor from a small town in Haiti, he was in the same political party as Aristide and he was planning a march but he couldn’t do it because the death squads would shoot him. So Leisa walked in front of him as a human shield.

The death squads wouldn’t shoot her with cameras watching; it would be an international incident for an American to be killed,” Burke said.

When the Haitian government finally gained stability and freedom, Burke turned his attention to humanitarian aid and in 2006 created A Child’s Hope Foundation, which provides funds for medical, school and athletic equipment.

Since the foundation was created, Faulkner and Burke have frequently visited Haiti to provide aid. The couple is now in Haiti on their third trip since the earthquake.

Burke uses his participation in the Sacramento Progressive Alliance to bolster his efforts.

The alliance is an organization that educates and pushes for worldwide peace and social justice, Burke said. He said the alliance led to creation of smaller branches like Sac State’s Progressive Student Alliance, of which Burke is president.

“In our most recent trip we had an 11-person volunteer team. We had 22 duffel bags that were packed with 10,000 pounds of medical supplies that was roughly worth $30,000,” Burke said.

Cathlyn Daly, president of Capital Area Progressive, a organization that is dedicated to the development and promotion of progressive policies and legislation, was one of Burke’s fellow volunteers in Haiti during his first trip after the earthquake.

“It was a two-day trip to get there, and once you get to Haiti the devastation is immediately apparent. There’s a lot of delays and setbacks we face, but Paul is always positive and makes light of every situation,” Daly said.

During Burke’s first trip to Haiti after the earthquake, he was shocked to see how catastrophic the damage had been.

“You see huts made of anything that could be found that people live in, and it went on for as far as you could see in every direction. It was like I was in the film ‘Independence Day,’ every-

thing looked post-apocalyptic, like the world ended,” he said.

Toby Burke, Paul’s mother, said his activism has made his family more socially aware.

“Paul is knowledgeable; he has taught me a lot. He loves teaching others what is going on, especially young people like his students,” she said.

Burke said as far as his own inspirations go, the people of Haiti and his conscience are what push him to continue to help out in Haiti.

“The people there are inspiring, they have gone through so much, but they’re so tough and tenacious. You’ll never see a Haitian man cry, but as we walk around we all feel like breaking down at the tragedy,” Burke said.

Burke said one of the reasons why Haiti was ill-prepared to handle the earthquake was because of the Haitians’ long history of being exploited by countries like the United States. The least Americans can do, is to try to give back now, he said.

statehornet.com

Stinger: Alumni offer their vineyards’ fruits on campus Continued | page B1 annual crab feed, and are held to raise scholarship money for Sac State student athletes.

Associate athletic director Mark Livingston said the Stinger Wine and Food Festival will not have a planned program for the night, so people can come and mingle around freely while drinking wine, eating great food and winning raffle prizes. He said the event has been phenomenal in previous years and is expected to sell out all 350 tickets this year.

“As long as they make sure they’re 21 years old first, they can come and enjoy the evening. It’s a great way to network with other alums and see where they’ve been, and also just a great a way to learn about wine,” Livingston said.

The Stinger Athletic Association was started in the early 1980s. The association is one of the oldest booster clubs in Sac State’s history and dedicates its efforts toward raising money to fund scholarships.

“The wine and food classic usually raises about $20,000 to $25,000 in one night. A full scholarship for a one student costs about $15,000 a year, so in one night we make roughly enough to fund one and a half students,” Livingston said.

Wanless said although the money is equivalent to what one student needs to have a full-ride scholarship, it can benefit multiple students.

“We break them up into partial scholarships. We have 550 student-athletes and funds enough for 208 of them to have full scholarships, but that funding is broken up and distributed among multiple students, so one student will get a scholarship that covers 50 percent of their tuition, another will receive 20 percent tuition. All in all, we’re able to help over 300 students receive financial aid in some form,” Wanless said.

Livingston said it is essential for the athletics department to provide scholarships to their students to remain a participant in Division I level sports.

“We have to able to recruit strong healthy athletes and to do that we have to be able to offer scholarships,” Livingston said.

Staying part of Division I sports is important to a university because with respect to academics, Livingston said, many outsiders refer to

athletics as the “front porch.”

This front porch is used by the public to view and draw conclusions regarding the quality of the many programs within the “house” of a university. Therefore, he said, the Intercollegiate Athletic programs have the responsibility and ability to enhance the vision of the universities they serve.

Peter Zimmerman, a Sac State alumnus and former men’s volleyball player, is now partial owner of the Crystal Basin Cellar’s winery. He said he comes back annually for the festival to donate his wine to support the athletics department.

“I like to come back and see where other alums are and just support Sac State in any way I can. Others are wealthy and can donate money; I can donate wine,” Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman is donating five different kinds of wine: Cabernet, France, Malbec, Syrah and Mourvedre. Along with the wine, he will also be giving out a raffle ticket for a barrel tasting experience at his winery in Camino.

“The wine and food classic helps with networking. A lot of alums buy wine from me and many people I see at these events come up to the winery during fall, which is our harvest time, to see how it all works,” Zimmerman said.

Although Zimmerman graduated with a degree in physical education and is now a physical therapist as well, he said his passion lies in winemaking.

“The hustle and bustle of the crush is fun, I love the grape varietals and being able to turn those into wines and make them all distinctly different. It’s an art form; I leave my DNA in every bottle of wine. I make my wine different from everyone else,” Zimmerman said.

Along with Zimmerman, other alumni, like Marc Mondavi,

will also be attending. Mondavi’s grandfather Cesare Mondavi owned and operated the original vineyard of Napa Valley, the Charles Krug vineyard. Mondavi now operates and owns the vineyard alongside his brother Peter Mondavi Jr. and his father Peter Mondavi Sr. Perez said he is glad this one commonality has kept alumni coming back to help Sac State athletics.

“They were all part of a team and created bonds with each other. Those hours of running in the rain and going on all those bus trips, you become very close to your team and even coaches.

It creates a bond between a student and the school that makes them want to come back years later, and see each other and help make sure that other students get those same opportunities,” he said.

Perez said even though alumni lend a great hand to help athletics, they are not the only ones who can do so. Donating is possible in many ways, he said.

“Students too can help make these opportunities by coming to fundraisers and supporting games. They can feel good that they helped a fellow student out and make bonds that they too can remember even if it’s not through sports,” Perez said.

The Sacramento State Stinger Wine and Food Classic will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday in the Alumni Center.

Only 350 tickets will be sold at $40 a ticket. For questions regarding tickets please call (916) 278‐4263.

B3 NCAA Sports Updates WOMEN’S TENNIS vs. EASTERN WASH.

THESTATEHORNET

www . statehornet . c o m

By Marshall Hampson mhampson@statehornet.com

vs. FRESNO STATE

The Sacramento State women’s gymnastic team placed sixth at the 2010 Western Athletic Conference Championships on Saturday at CSU Fullerton, despite Cayla Boyce winning the beam title.

Sac State ended the meet with a score of 192.650, but Southern Utah ended up with a final score of 195.800 to win the WAC title, finishing one-tenth of a point ahead of secondplace Boise State University (195.700).

MARCH 26

W 5-2

vs. IDAHO STATE &

WEBER STATE MARCH 28

W 7-0, 7-0 Freshman Rebeca Delgado on her strategy:

“I try to be ready and mentally prepared so that every single match is important so you have to give 100 percent on the court. Doesn’t matter who the opponent is; tough or easy. I try to always stay focused and I don’t give the opponent a chance.” vs. MONTANA

Wednesday

| S p r i n g I ss u e 10 | S a c ra m ento S tate

Hornets send Boyce wins title at WAC championships three to NCAAs

MARCH 24

W 7-0

Sports

A pril 7,

Sac State placed second last year and finished ahead of Southern Utah in the Championships with a score of 195.350.

Assistant coach Jamie Donkin watched the Hornets perform inconsistently at the meet.

“We knew this was going to be a big competition and watching them pull through was very exciting,” Donkin said. “I think one of the big things was an attitude, not so much performance. They were positive and they were focused on the competition.”

Even though Donkin said the Hornets maintained posi-

tive morale, the team didn’t perform well in the beginning of the meet, causing Sac State to fall behind early.

“You can’t do anything with the amount of falls we had,” Donkin said. “We obviously didn’t perform up to our level and we are a much better team than we showed in conference.”

Boyce, a beam specialist, gave Sac State its only WAC title in an event this meet with a score of 9.875. Boyce became the second Sac State see WAC| page B5

By Marshall Hampson mhampson@statehornet.com Three Sacramento State gymnasts will advance to Saturday’s 2010 NCAA West Regional in Los Angeles.

Cayla Boyce, Eryn Stubblefield and Nicole Meiller will represent Sac State on beam, all-around and vault, respectively, at the West Regional.

Six nationally ranked teams, five all-around competitors and one specialist from each event will compete at the West Regional.

Third-ranked UCLA was among the six ranked teams to

make the West Regional, along with the University of Arkansas, Iowa State University, University of Arizona, Brigham Young University and Arizona State University.

Despite the Hornets finishing sixth at the Western Athletic Conference championships, Stubblefield scored a 38.150 in the all-around for her last team meet as a senior.

As Stubblefield looks ahead to her fourth-straight regional appearance, she said she wants to perform well in all events.

“At WAC, I did well on three of the four events and regionals see Regionals| page B5

Leaving others in the wake

MARCH 29

W 7-0

MEN’S TENNIS vs. EASTERN WASH.

MARCH 24

W 7-0

vs. SAN FRANCISCO &

MONTANA MARCH 28

W 4-3, 6-1 vs. CAL POLY

APRIL 3

W 4-3 GYMNASTICS at WAC CHAMPIONSHIPS

MARCH 27

6TH PLACE BASEBALL at SAINT MARY’S

MARCH 23

L 5-4

at CSU NORTHRIDGE

MARCH 26-28

W 13-12 L 14-2, 10-6 vs. ALBANY

Robert Linggi State Hornet

Dan Bright, senior marketing major and Sacramento State Wakeboarding Club president, pulls a trick during practice March 24 at Folsom Lake.

MARCH 31

By Marshall Hampson mhampson@statehornet.com

vs. SANTA BARBARA

While most Sacramento State students are in class getting lectured, some students are spending three days a week wakeboarding at Folsom Lake.

The wakeboarding club experience makes joining feel like ditching a class.

The Sac State Wakeboard

W 22-2

APRIL 1 & 3

L 9-0 W 3-0, 10-9 SOFTBALL at UC DAVIS

TOURNAMENT MARCH 26-28 vs. UC DAVIS

MARCH 26

L 7-5

vs. CAL

MARCH 26

L 3-1

W 9-4, L 6-2 vs. BOISE STATE

MARCH 30

L 11-2, W 7-5

1ST PLACE

WOMEN’S ROWING at SAN DIEGO CREW CLASSIC MARCH 28

BRONZE MEDAL

four men, top two women and a wake skater to compete for the national title.

The club welcomes students who have no wakeboarding experience but are interested in it.

Jenni Quincy, a recreation, parks and tourism administration major and member of the club, has been wakeboarding for less than year and said she got into the sport because she

wanted to try something new.

“I’ve been on a boat since I was a little kid and I was waterskiing and knee-boarding,” Quincy said. “So I finally decided to try the wakeboard and stick with it. I get to have a lot of fun and a lot of fun faceplanting and falling.”

Quincy said by the end of this see Wakeboard| page B6

Whitford’s expertise bodes Bracket expansion well for Aquatic Center is the wrong move

MARCH 27 & 28

at CAL POLY INVITATIONAL MARCH 25 & 26

having a good time.”

Bright also made it to the semifinals of the 2009 Wakeboarding Collegiate National Championships before losing to Hank Carter of the University of Texas. Carter went onto win the National Championship.

The wakeboarding club will compete at the 2010 Wakeboard Collegiate Nationals May 14 in San Diego, as it sends the top

WEST COAST BIAS

vs. UC RIVERSIDE

MEN’S GOLF

Club was founded in 2005 by adviser Chad McInnis, who leads the club with president Dan Bright. Both members want to share their passion for with Sac State students.

“We just hope that people get to come out and have a good time in the sun,” Bright said.

“We have riders from expert and all the way to beginners, so it’s just as long as everybody is

By Ross Coleman rcoleman@statehornet.com If life has taught me anything, it’s to not mess with a good thing.

And the NCAA tournament is damn near perfect.

The NCAA announced this week it will research the possibility of expanding its men’s basketball tournament from 65 to 96 teams. I think an expansion of that magnitude would be a colossally idiotic mistake.

The way the tournament stands now, three weeks of

action works for the short attention spans of the American public. The best part of a onegame elimination tournament is there’s no need to keep track of who is winning the series - just who you have in your bracket.

With 65 teams, every team has a fair shot to win a game.

There are no byes for higher seeds and there is just enough parity to keep things interesting. Expanding to 96 teams would likely mean the top eight seeds in each region would get to skip into the second round.

Could you imagine teams like Clemson, Richmond, or UNLV getting into the second round without beating anyone?

Yesterday’s bubble teams are tomorrow’s favorites.

To be honest, I don’t care who the ninth-best team is in the Big East, but I know if a 96-team see Bracket| page B6

By Matt Harrington mharrington@statehornet.com

Few people have the ability to seamlessly make the jump between competitive sports and the business world. Bob Whitford is one of those people.

Whitford, the facilities manager at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center, has instilled knowledge in others they will use for the rest of their lives.

Whitford has taken 25-plus years experience in water sports and applied it to the everyday workings of the Aquatic Center, located in Rancho Cordova at Lake Natoma.

Whitford first joined the university in 1988 as head coach for the men’s and women’s club rowing teams. In the summer of 1995, Whitford was appointed as facilities manager for the Aquatic Center where his work in the water and boating industry has proven invaluable.

Whitford’s developed his boating knowledge at a young

Yana Yaroshevich State Hornet

Part of facility manager Bob Whitford’s job is to ensure the facility is kept in superb conditions for all who use it. age in his hometown of Newport Beach, Calif. His first experiences with water sports came when he was in grade school helping out at Orange Coast College. That experience came

as the coxswain, the person who steers the boat and calls out the stroke cadence for the rowers.

After helping the Orange see Whitford| page B5

B4

Wednesday - April 7

Sports Section

statehornet.com

Energetic childhood led Stubblefield to gymnastics floor

By Matt Harrington mharrington@statehornet.com When graduation comes around, many students can look back at their time here at Sacramento State and say they had a fulfilling college career.

Few can add successful college athlete as well.

For Hornet gymnast Eryn Stubblefield, she can lay claim to both.

In her junior year on the gymnastics team, Stubblefield earned a 4.0 grade point average. She has continued her academic success into her senior year as well. She is on track to graduate with her bachelor’s degree in chemistry.

She was first introduced to gymnastics by her mother at an early age. They were both enrolled in a program called Mommy and Me. In this program, Stubblefield had the opportunity to explore the equipment and have fun.

“I started when I was 18

months,” Stubblefield said. “We would just go and jump on the trampolines and play around in the gym.”

Her parents decided to enroll her as a way to help expend some of her childhood energy with other young gymnasts.

“My parents always tell me they started me because I had too much energy,” Stubblefield said. “They just wanted me to have some place to go to get the energy out so I wouldn’t be so energetic at home.”

That energy would lead her to Sac State and give her an opportunity to develop friendships.

Teammate and best friend Lizzy Norvell is one such person. The senior economics major describes her best friend as being a focused person.

“She is a very dedicated person. She puts her whole heart into what she does,” Norvell said. “Nothing is done halfway.

It is always done 100 percent.”

Norvell went on to describe Stubblefield as a complete per-

son with a great future ahead of her.

“She is a well-rounded individual. She does well in school,” Norvell said. “She does well in her academics. She also has an internship going on, so she has a lot going on.”

Stubblefield’s energy was also noticed by Kim Hughes, Sac State gymnastics head coach.

Hughes saw the energy and helped Stubblefield to direct it.

“We see the energy channeled more into high level skills, focus and direction based on the caliber of her gymnastics,” Hughes said. “She is our top all-rounder.

Every year she has brought new skills into her repertoire. That’s where we see her energy channeled.”

When it came time to choose a college and a place where she could continue her career in gymnastics, she had a few options: Eastern Michigan University, Oregon State University and Boise State University.

However, when she visited Sac

State, she felt at home.

“When I came on my recruiting visit, I found that I really liked the campus,” Stubblefield said, “and I also really like the girls and that sold me over the edge.”

Stubblefield was a two-sport athlete growing up in Oregon.

She split her time between gymnastics and soccer until age 11, when she had to choose which sport she most wanted to play. Her club gymnastics coach offered her the opportunity to move up in her early gymnastics career, which was ultimately her decision.

“Finally when I was 11, I had the choice to move up to level 10 in club gymnastics,” Stubblefield said. “I think at that point, when I was 11, it really became serious to me that gymnastics was my pick.”

Stubblefield said she loves gymnastics because it is special sport, different from many other sports offered at Sac State.

“I like that it’s such a unique

sport. With other sports you’ll have workouts where they will say go 80 percent or 50 percent on this,” Stubblefield said.

“With gymnastics, you have to go 110 percent all the time. You can never hold back. I think that’s my favorite part about it it’s all or nothing.”

Stubblefield’s attitude and dedication to her schooling has her working toward someday becoming a doctor.

“I plan on entering medical school this fall,” Stubblefield said. “Ultimately, my goal is to become an orthopedic surgeon.”

Stubblefield and Norvell were part of a large recruiting class of eight gymnasts in 2006. Since that time, a bond between the two developed and has grown tighter with each passing year.

So tight, in fact, that Stubblefield is now a regular guest in the Norvell home.

Norvell said her friend is bound for greatness someday.

“Eryn is my best friend, I love her, I think she is just a really

Tony Nguyen State Hornet

Senior Eryn Stubblefield strikes a pose at the March 12 meet against Texas Women’s University. unique, dedicated and focused individual,” Norvell said. “I think she’s going places and has a lot to offer.”

On Second Thought: MLB Predictions edition Who’s going to win the 2010 World Series? The State Hornet Sports staff chimes in

By Marshall Hampson mhampson@statehornet.com Call me crazy, but I’m picking a team that didn’t make the playoffs last year to win it all.

The Seattle Mariners have a strong lineup and deep pitching staff to make it all the way.

It starts with starting pitching.

Cliff Lee was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in a blockbuster deal. He’s returning to the American League and he’s bringing his low ERA with him.

He never had higher than a

3.25 ERA in the last two years with the Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies. Paired with Felix Hernandez, starting pitching could be the key to getting to the playoffs.

The M’s still have Ichiro Suzuki to establish consistent hitting for the Mariners. Free agent pickup Chone Figgins from the AL West rival Angels, will provide a speedy one-two punch at the top of the Mariner order. Figgins’ .395 on-base percentage and 42 stolen bases will pair nicely with Suzuki’s .386 on-base and 26 stolen bases. Since coming from Japan in 2001, Suzuki has never hit lower than .303 in a season and has a career .333 average.

Suzuki is one of the best defensive outfielders in the game and Figgins is statistically one of the best third basemen in baseball, meaning the M’s are going to be leaning heavily on these two to propel the offense and lead the defense.

Prediction: Mariners over Phillies in six

By Ross Coleman rcoleman@statehornet.com No sport is harder to predict than Major League Baseball.

Every season there are surprises and injuries that derail contenders.

So instead of saying which team will win, I will say I hope to see the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim win the American League and I hope to see the Colorado Rockies win the National League.

I am a huge Angels fan and

always root for them to win.

This year will be a challenge, but if the pitching holds up, I think they have the easiest route to the World Series.

As far as the Rockies, I enjoyed watching them in 2007 when they lost to the Red Sox in the series and now I feel that they are older, wiser and have the chance to make some noise in the National League.

As far as the Angels go, yes I know they have a ridiculous name, but I also know that I am not going to have to worry about some stupid thing like a divorce to destroy my team and alienate the fan base.

Truth is, I am a fan of good baseball and I feel both the Angels and Rockies provide that.

So since the prediction thing is silly in baseball, both the Angels and Rockies go 162-0 and face each other in an incredible series where the Angels prove that they are the greatest team in the history of the word.

Prediction: Angles over Rockies in seven

By Dustin Nosler sports@statehornet.com It’s easy to pick the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox to win the World Series – virtually every season. Both teams have a great chance, but I won’t pick either to win.

Instead, I’m going with my heart, which isn’t always the smartest when it comes to predictions.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will end a 23-year drought and take home the world championship.

A number of things must go right for LA, but the most important is the emergence of starter Clayton Kershaw.

Kershaw showed flashes of brilliance last season as a 21-year-old. Now at the ripe old age of 22, he is the man who must carry the Dodgers’ pitching staff to the promise land. His four-pitch repertoire is lethal and his command is improving. The kid has all the makings to be one of the best pitchers in the game – and he will prove it this season.

Another determining factor is Manny Ramirez. He needs to be the Manny of old if the Dodgers want to move on. A .300./400/.500 season from Mr. Female Fertility drug himself is a must.

And despite the impending divorce of the petty Dodger owners Frank and Jamie McCourt, the Dodgers will play through that idiocy and accomplish their goal of a world title.

Prediction: Dodgers over Yankees in seven

Sports Briefs MEN’S GOLF WINS MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP AT CAL POLY Senior Nick Neal propelled the men’s golf team to its first win of the season, defeating Fresno State University in the finals of the Lamkin Grip/Cal Poly Match Play Invitational on March 26.

THE STATE HORNET READERS PICK:

CLARISSE BACA WOMEN’S TENNIS Listen to members of The State Hornet sports staff break down every division in Major League Baseball.

The staff will pick playoff teams, MVPs, Cy Youngs and World Series winners at statehornet.com

Sacramento State women’s tennis player Clarisse Baca has been named the first-ever State Hornet Athlete of the Week.

Baca went 3-0 during the week ending March 23. She was also awarded with her first career Big Sky Conference player

of the week award.

The sophomore came up with wins against Cal’s Kasia Siwosz, Northern Colorado’s Jenny Whateley, and Montana State’s Charlotta Hjalmarrson.

Baca has now won her last five matches.

Neal, Cameron Rappleye and Jake Pineo all contributed to the team’s first win since April 29, 2007, at the Independent Golf Championships.

Photo Courtesy of Hornet Sports

Go to statehornet.com to vote for the reader’s athlete of the week every week. Voting runs from Wednesday until Saturday night.

CREEL FIRES ONE-HITTER IN DOUBLEHEADER SWEEP OF SANTA BARBARA An infield single was all that kept freshman pitcher Brandon Creel from throwing a no-hitter in his first start as a Hornet on Sunday - a 3-0 victory.

Wednesday - April 7

statehornet.com

Sports Section

B5

Sutherland uses experience to lead Hornets on the links

Photo Courtesy of Hornet Sports

David Sutherland was a 10-year PGA Tour veteran. His brother Kevin is ranked in the top 100 players in the world. Sutherland took over as Sac State’s golf director in 2006.

By Ashley O’Con aocon@statehornet.com Golf Director David Sutherland has helped pave the way for success of the Sacramento State golf program since he took over the men’s and women’s team in 2006.

Sutherland, a Sacramento native, was a professional golfer

of 18 years, including 10 years on the Professional Golfers’ Association of America Tour.

Sutherland decided in 2004 to put his golf clubs down and apply his professional experience toward the golf program.

After graduating from Christian Brothers High School, David Sutherland and his brother Kevin Sutherland both walked

on at Fresno State and continued to play golf.

After making the All-American team in college, Sutherland turned pro in 1991. He played on the PGA tour until 2004.

Sutherland enjoyed the global traveling experience that came along with playing golf.

“It was a wonderful profession,” he said. “It allowed me

to see a lot of the areas in the world that I would not have seen if I wasn’t a golfer. I ended up traveling to 20 countries.

At some point I played golf in almost every state in the U.S.” Sutherland had shoulder surgery in 2001 and wrist surgery in 2005, surgeries that would eventually contribute to his retirement from golfing. Besides injury concerns, Sutherland knew it was time to conclude his professional career.

“I had two small kids and a wife that I wanted to spend time with. So it wasn’t entirely related to health. Perhaps I wasn’t playing as well as I would have liked to,” Sutherland said.

“I was feeling as if I was having to work harder than I normally had to in order to play as well as I usually would. I just didn’t want to make that sacrifice anymore.”

Although it was a difficult decision for Sutherland to break away from the life he had always wanted, he decided to stay involved with the sport.

“There is a lot of sacrifices in golf,” he said. “For two thirds of the year, you’re away from home. I found an opportunity to do something else, which is coach here at Sac State and it seemed like a pretty good idea at the time.”

Sutherland said coaching has

its ups and downs, but his most important goal is teaching his team the significance of the sport, not just its concepts.

“It’s difficult at times,” he said.

“Sometimes kids don’t listen as well as you wish they would.

But some kids listen very well.

What I try and instill in kids is the idea that at the end of the day, golf is an individual sport.

So it takes individual initiative in order to have achievement, and the kids need to be hard working.”

Because golf is not a team sport, Sutherland said he cannot micromanage every aspect.

“Golf is very different,” he said. “It’s almost like you’re trying to teach kids art. You never hit the same shot twice; it’s always different every time.

Every day I’m at the golf course trying to teach kids new shots and new approaches to the game, but certainly is best if it’s learned instead of taught and something that the kids can take ownership over.”

With practice and pressure, significant factors of any sport, Sutherland said it is OK if his students don’t always do things right the first time.

“I want them to be very comfortable with the idea that they can try new things and fail them and I’m not going to get mad at them if they do,” he said.

Sophomore Grant Rappleye said Sutherland’s understanding with the golfers is mutual, since he was in their position countless times before.

“Coach Sutherland helps us through our tough times, but he knows what to say when we play good, too,” Rappleye said.

“He helps us in every aspect of the game. If we get disappointed, he always seems to tie it into something that he dealt with when he used to play. I know that for me and the rest of the team, that helps a lot.”

Kevin Sutherland, who also took on the sport of golf at a young age, is currently a PGA pro. David Sutherland said he continuously supports his brother Kevin.

“We played with each other on the tour a lot and it was great,” he said. “We never really competed against each other.

We would always root for each other. We didn’t have that sort of sibling rivalry thing. We did if we were playing ping pong, but not with golf. Kevin has always been a friend.”

Sutherland said having significant knowledge and practice in the sport helps him to communicate better with his athletes since they both see things from a golfer’s perspective. see Sutherland| page B6

Whitford: Boating WAC: Team posted season-best scores knowledge is great at championships, finished in sixth asset to colleagues Continued | page B3

Continued | page B3 Coast College rowing team, he then became a rower himself for the Newport High School rowing team. Whitford took his desire for rowing to every school he helped out as a young boy.

After spending two years at Orange Coast College, he then transferred to UC Berkeley and continued to row. He then moved up to coaching at the collegiate level. One of his coaching positions was at Stanford from 1980-84.

Aquatic Center Director Brian Dulgar said he was in awe of how much water and boating knowledge Whitford possesses.

“He has enough broad knowledge that it could kick a tin can around for a few days,” Brian Dulgar said.

Whitford also coached at Newport School Boys rowing team in the 1970s, Long Beach State from 1978-80, Santa Clara University from 1987-88 and finally the men’s and women’s club rowing teams at Sac State from 1988-94.

Whitford has even had the opportunity to coach at the national level as well. He was the head coach for two different U.S. national teams in the 1980s. In 1986 he was the national head coach for the single scull event and in 1987 as the double scull head coach.

The scull is a one-to-fourperson boat propelled by large oars through the water with a front-to-back pulling motion.

Cindi Dulgar, youth programs director and operations manager, said the knowledge Whitford has given to so many of those individuals over the years has made each person better.

“He has lived a lifetime of lessons,” she said. “If he shared just a portion of that knowledge, they will be better off if they have not ever met him.”

The Aquatic Center employs approximately 20 people yearround and a handful of those employees are Sac State students. Each person will have his or her own unique experience working with Whitford.

He has taught each person the ins and outs of facilities maintenance and boating repair.

Brian Dulgar said Whitford is more than a teacher.

“Bob is a mentor to the many student employees that come through the center,” he said.

“He is teaching the students how to refurbish a patio boat, something they may not have attempted on their own.”

Whitford’s understanding of facilities management and what it takes to house expensive rowing equipment helped him

Yana Yaroshevich State Hornet

Bob Whitford enjoys being out on the water often and seeing students excel. in the design of the Aquatic Center. The state Department of Boating and Waterways granted $6 million to begin the center’s renovation process in 2003.

During the process, Whitford helped to design each building that now sits on the property.

Over a three-year period, each building was constructed in phases. As one building came down, another was built in its place. This kept the Aquatic Center operational. Brian Dulgar said it could not be done without Whitford.

“Everything we have at the Aquatic Center is built to maximize the dollar and minimize waste,” Whitford said. “All of our buildings were built in a sustainable way.”

The Aquatic Center’s focus is on community and student development around the water.

Whitford is a humble person and did not want that fact to be lost in the process.

But for those who work with Whitford, the attention is in the right place.

“We are all a team; we all have equal value,” Brain Dulgar said.

“We couldn’t do what we do without him.”

woman to win the beam title and did so without practicing due to a hip flexor injury.

“I did a lot of mental imagery and getting myself ready that way,” Boyce said. “I was just hoping my leg didn’t fall off when I did my split moves.”

Boyce said she was happy she performed better than the higher ranked women to claim the beam title.

“It was pretty exciting because I was ranked third when I went in and so I just wanted to beat the first-ranked girl,” Boyce said. “So I just watched her routine out of the corner of my eye and it was beautiful. I turned to my teammate and said, ‘Wow,

her routine was really good.

She’s going to be sad when I beat her.’”

Competing in all-around, senior Eryn Stubblefield finished sixth and started off with a fall in her first event, but managed to get season-best marks in the vault (9.825) and the bars (9.8).

It was Stubblefield’s last meet with the team and said it was emotional for her.

“I went into the meet wanting to not worry about scores and just enjoy the last WAC meet for me,” Stubblefield said. “It was difficult for me since I’ve been doing gymnastics for 19 years. However, I did enjoy every second of it.”

Sac State had another standout performance in freshman

Nicole Meiller, who finished eighth and helped the Hornets earn their second-best mark in the vault with a score of 48.550.

Not only did Meiller help Sac State finish a great score, but she also managed to post a career-best score of 9.825.

“I went into the meet with the goal of getting a 9.8 and I accomplished that on vault,” Meiller said. “I didn’t really have a preference on which event I got it but I was really happy with the score.”

This was Meiller’s first appearance the WAC Championships and said she was unsure of the outcome when she finished.

“Your stomach is always in knots because you never know what the judges are going to

do,” she said. “It’s kind of rough waiting but it turned out well.”

Sac State started playing catch-up after the vault and the bars, but could not manage to make up all the lost points before the meet was over.

“A lot of individuals stepped up and did really amazing,” Boyce said. “But there were some whose nerves kind of got to them and they had seconds of doubt that really cost us in the end. But overall, I think the team showed a lot of growth from the season.”

The WAC Championships concluded the season for most of the team, but Stubblefield, Boyce and Meiller all advanced to Saturday’s NCAA West Regional in Los Angeles.

Regionals: Utah, Illinois won last year Continued | page B3 gives me another opportunity to do well,” Stubblefield said. “I will carry the momentum from the three events I did well on at WAC and start fresh from the one event (floor) that I did not.”

Stubblefield fell on her first rotation but managed to get season-best scores on the uneven bars (9.800) and the vault (9.825) to advance her to the West Regional.

Another strong vault performance came from freshman Nicole Meiller. Meiller earned her career-best mark of 9.825 to

earn a spot at the regionals.

The night returning home from the WAC Championships, Meiller said she received a text message from a teammate saying she had a shot at making regionals after her performance.

“My coach called me and said I was first alternate and so I was super excited because that’s a big deal,” Meiller said. “Then later that day he called me back saying that I made it and that I was going not as an alternate.”

Meiller said she has high expectations to better her score when she heads to Regionals.

“I know the teams that are

going to be there are really good teams,” Meiller said. “My goal is to score better than what I did at the last meet and I would love to stick my vault and do better than I have all season.”

After winning the beam title at the WAC Championships with a score of 9.875, sophomore Boyce was the third member of the Sac State team to make regionals.

“When I get there I have to not hold back and not be afraid,” Boyce said. “I want to just go up with confidence, do my thing, put it all on the line and know that I have no regrets

whether I win or lose.”

Assistant coach Jamie Donkin said she is working to get the three ready for the event.

“We want to keep them focused in the gym,” Donkin said. “It’s a little bit harder when you’re going as an individual.

It’s our job as coaches to remind them what they are doing, who they are representing and that they deserve to be there.”

B6

Wednesday - April 7

Sports Section

statehornet.com

Wakeboard: Club has solid track record Bracket: 96 teams when performing at national events would make things more confusing Continued | page B3

year she hopes to land a halfturn in air.

Like skiing and snowboarding, doing tricks on the wakeboard involves grabs and flips while in the air. The major difference is wakeboarders go outside of the wake the boat creates and uses the wake as a ramp to get air.

Beth Hamilton, a marketing major at Sac State, has wakeboarded for three years and said she continues to work on getting better, even if it results in pain.

“You gotta take a couple face plants to learn to get used to

Check out the wakeboarding team in action in our audio slideshow at statehornet.com

them,” Hamilton said. “You gotta listen to learn what people are saying. They definitely push you to do better.”

It is not unusual to see wakeboarders catch the side of their board as they face plant in the water.

Senior biology major Trevor Fewins is entering his 13th year of wakeboarding and said he loves the opportunity to go to Folsom Lake during school.

“This is my first semester doing this and I’ve made a bunch of good friends already,” Fewins said. “It’s awesome to get out here three days a week and wakeboard. We’re out here on a lake in the sun … can’t really argue about that.”

Fewins said every aspect of wakeboarding is difficult to learn, especially since the water plays a big role in a person’s performance.

With the music blaring from the boat speakers, everybody in the boat yells and cheers at the other members as they land tricks, stand up on the board for the first time or fall hard.

Getting up on the water is the first step of advancing at wakeboarding. As the boat pulls the rope that the riders grab onto, the riders must get their board

positioned to stand up and ride on the water.

“Getting up is obviously the first hardest part, but after that it’s learning,” Fewins said. “(It’s) trying new stuff and willing to fall and get hurt. It’s all challenging.”

Most of the club members participate for recreation. However, the club does participate in two events per year. In the fall, the club participates in the Western Collegiate Wakeboard Regionals. In the spring they compete at the Wakeboard Collegiate Nationals.

The club placed second in the 2008 Wakeboard Collegiate Nationals, along with a fifth-place finish in 2006.

Bright became the 2008 Collegiate National Champion by putting up the best freestyle score in the finals and is now sponsored by the wakeboard company Hyperlite.

Bright said he wants the campus to be informed that the school has a wakeboarding club.

Besides handing out fliers, the club sets up a wakeboard course at school, showcasing the club’s talent. On May 4, the club will host Rail Jam. “We do an annual Rail Jam every year right in the quad,

Continued | page B3

Robert Linggi State Hornet

Senior marketing major Mitch DeAngelis boards at practice March 24. right in the center campus,” Bright said. “It just kind of tells people that don’t really know that we’re there or didn’t know what kind of stuff that we do or how (awesome) we are and get them excited about it.”

The club meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Folsom Point at Folsom Lake from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The club’s entry fee is $345 per semester, and any student can join.

bracket were pushed through, it would matter for my bracket.

Expansion would also destroy any meaning for the regular season and conference championship tournaments.

Just imagine the six-overtime classic between Syracuse and UConn in 2008 without the meaning it had. Both teams were headed to the tournament win or lose, but a conference championship goes a long way into seeding the tournament.

I would even venture to say if expansion happens, it would cheapen the first round.

It would add the National Invitational Tournament, which nobody watches anyway, to the current setup. This means teams like North Carolina, which did not deserve to be in the tournament, would get a chance in the 96-team structure.

If expansion is so needed, why stop at 96? Why not just give everyone a chance?

There are 347 Division I teams in the NCAA. Why not throw them all in there?

Syracuse, which was a No.

1 seed in the tournament this year as well as my pick to win it all, lost to Division II Le Moyne.

Why not put divisions 1-14 in the tournament?

It’s ridiculous that a classic case of over-thinking could jeopardize something so wonderful and perfect.

It already takes me a good hour-plus to fill out my bracket.

Imagine how long it would take to figure out who would win in a match up between Sam Houston State and Troy?

Expansion would hurt the interest in the tournament, not help. Fewer people would fill out brackets because of its complexity.

A lot of the appeal of the tournament is the simplicity of the bracket. If a team wins, you fill in its name. With a 96-team bracket, you would have to pull out the slide rule to calculate who goes where.

I care a lot about this tournament and every March, it warms my heart knowing basketball will be at the forefront of my mind during the month.

I just worry about overindulgence.

Sutherland: A top 10 finish was crowning moment of career Continued | page B5

Photo Courtesy of Hornet Sports

Sutherland has guided his teams to three conference championships in his time as Sac State golf director.

“There’s a lot of coaches that aren’t better at their sport than the kids that they’re coaching,” he said. “A coach might be coaching basketball but never played it at the same level that the kids they’re coaching are playing at. That’s one reason why maybe I don’t get as angry at the kids, because I know they’re never going to be any good if I do that.”

Sac State Athletic Director Terry Wanless said Sutherland

was a good fit for the coaching position because of his professional reputation and golf experience.

“When he had called and expressed interest to the team, it was a very exciting call to receive because you don’t always have people like David in your program very often,” Wanless said. “He really brought an element of notoriety to the program just because of his name.

He’s from Sacramento and he wants to be here.”

Wanless said Sutherland’s

contribution to the golf program at Sac State would not have been the same had it not been for his professional career.

“He’s been a great hire and done extremely well with our golf program,” Wanless said.

“Our kids have gotten better under his leadership. His experiences are what make the experience most valuable. He can share with the kids what it takes to be successful and how much practice time you give to the sport.”

Although Sutherland has

attained both a successful golf career and an improving college golf team, he said there are still goals to be accomplished.

“I remember my second-tolast PGA tour event, I finished in the top 10, and I was very well within the 18th hole and there was nearly 100,000 people at the golf tournament,” he said. “I took a moment where I soaked it all in and I realized that I would never see this again the rest of my life. It was sort of the beginning and end of my journey in golf.”