The Daily Aztec - Vol. 95, Issue 63

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Vol. 95, Issue 64

THE

DAILY

w w w. T h e D a i l y A z t e c . c o m

AZTEC

Tw i t t e r : T h e D a i l y A z t e c

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1913

I N S I D E T O D AY OPINION

Courses collaborate on comic

RIP DEMOCRACY U.S. Supreme Court rules to no longer limit corporate spending in political elections. page 2

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

PROJECT X San Diego native Shaun White is progressing the snowboarding world with new ideas. page 3

SPORTS

SEASON OPENER SDSU’s women’s tennis team won its 14th consecutive seasonopening game on Saturday. page 6

Courtesy of “World Balloons”

Last semester, student writers and artists teamed up and gained real-world experience to create a comic book anthology. The courses will work together again this semester.

Got a hot tip?

Let The Daily Aztec know!

The City section is looking for investigative news leads to provide more in-depth, quality stories.

For more of today’s headlines, visit:

www.thedailyaztec.com

CONTACT GENERAL INFORMATION 619.594.4199

EDITOR

IN CHIEF, FARYAR BORHANI 619.594.4190 EDITOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

CITY EDITOR, WHITNEY LAWRENCE 619.594.7781 CITYEDITOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

FEATURES EDITOR, NICOLE CALLAS 619.594.6976 FEATURE@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

SPORTS EDITOR, EDWARD LEWIS

The new curriculum will churn out comic books each semester J A N E L B R UA N S TA F F W R I T E R

Comic book junkies now have a chance to become comic book creators at San Diego State.

Introduced last fall, Neil Kendricks’ Comics and Graphic Narrative course collaborated with Neil Shigley’s Drawing and Illustration for Graphic Design course to create a comic book anthology titled “Word Balloons.”

Since Kendricks has written about comics for various publications and San Diego’s Comic-Con International, he said he felt comfortable teaching a class on a subject he knows very well.

He said students would better understand comics by going through

the process of creating their own.

“I knew it would be a perfect marriage to have those who are taking the Comics and Graphic Narrative class … to see what it would be like to work with an artist and find a common ground where your ideas will meld with somebody you don’t even know,” Kendricks said.

Kendricks’ class completed a one-page comic book script within the first six weeks of last semester.

The remainder of the semester was given to the artists to complete the illustrations.

“The work behind creating the comic was tremendous on both sides,” Jonathan Valdez, Asian studies senior and one of the writers featured in “Word Balloons,” said.

Valdez wrote the comic “Lemonaid,” which is about a young girl who sells lemonade to make money in the hopes of helping her parents pay their bills.

“The challenge of writing the comic was how to condense the story and how to describe what was

going to happen in each panel,” Valdez said.

After the stories were completed, they were taken to the illustration class and assigned randomly.

“The process was up in the air,” Richard Tackett, graphic design senior and artist for “Word Balloons” said. “You could use any material you wanted and as we went along, we presented our pages to the class.”

The final product was not complete until two weeks after finals, but students got a sneak peek of some comics before the semester ended.

Kendricks said he felt it was an rewarding experience to watch his students see their pages for the first time.

Valdez said he was stunned when he finally got to see his work interpreted and realized.

“Although a lot of people may not see our work, the chance to be a published comic book writer and artist is a chance to push yourself to put out your best work,” he said. “This (class) really shows that comics

aren’t just a novelty, but a legitimate art and a medium that promotes debate because of what the writers and artists portray.”

What started as an experiment for Kendricks and Shigley turned into a successful collaboration.

“Richard Tackett worked hard to put together the comic book,” Shigley said. “I’m happy how the book all came together and how it worked out relatively smooth.”

“It was a good experience,” Tackett said. “I approached this project as if I was working with a client that I had to produce something for. I’m hoping to do the next two publications.”

Kendricks, Shigley and contributing students do not get any financial profits from the publication of “Word Balloons.”

To see a preview or buy a copy of the comic book anthology, visit http://www.blurb.com/books/1114 465.

619.594.7817 SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

OPINION, ALLAN ACEVEDO 619.594.0509 OPINION@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

NATIONAL NEWS

TEMPO EDITOR, ALLIE DAUGHERTY 619.594.6968 TEMPO@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

ART DIRECTOR, ELENA BERRIDY 619.594.6979 ARTDIRECTOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

PHOTO EDITOR, GLENN CONNELLY 619.594.7279 PHOTO@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

WEB EDITOR, MYLENE ERPELO 619.594.3315 WEB@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

ADVERTISING 619.594.6977

INDEX OPINION.........................................................................2 TRAVEL & ADVENTURE...............................................3 SPORTS.............................................................................5 CLASSIFIEDS....................................................................7 THE BACK PAGE............................................................8

State of the Union Address President Obama will deliver the State of the Union address at 9 p.m. tomorrow. The speech will emphasize Obama’s economic strategy and priorities, with a focus on struggling middle-class families.

The annual address, intended to outline the president’s legislative goals for the year, comes as polls are showing a dip in presidential support and a Republican Senate win in Massachusetts is shaking up

predictions for this midterm elections.

year’s

Oil spill About 462,000 gallons of oil churned into the Gulf of Mexico Saturday when a tanker and two barges collided near Port Arthur, Texas.

More than 500 people worked to clean and contain the spill. About 46,000 gallons of oil were removed Sunday and nearby wetlands were not harmed by the spill.

Haiti tax write-offs Obama signed legislation Friday to help those who are helping Haiti.

Taxpayers who make charitable contributions to Haiti will receive tax benefits this tax season, instead of having to wait a year to file the deductions.

Monetary donations made between Jan. 12 and Feb. 28 are eligible to be deducted from last year’s income.

Super Bowl bound The New Orleans Saints will face

the Indianapolis Colts one week from Sunday in Miami.

After 42 years in the NFL, it’s the Big Easy’s first trip to the big game.

“This is what we fought for. All those great years we had and we never got over the hump. To see these guys get over it is just wonderful, man,” Pat Swilling, former New Orleans defensive end, said in an article in yesterday’s Los Angeles Times.

—Compiled by City Editor Whitney Lawrence

2

OPINION

The Daily Aztec

POINTS TO PONDER

SAVE YOUR CROCODILE TEARS

Reconstructing Balboa Park

B

alboa Park has been a source of San Diego’s pride and glory since 1915. The Plaza de Panama, the area between the San Diego Museum of Art and the Spreckles Organ Pavilion, was built as part of the Panama-California Exposition. This area was created to be a gathering place for the public. The pedestrian-only zone was later used for parking during World War I and World War II. Now, what was once a plaza became a series of parking lots for visitors of the park and museums.

In the State of the City speech, Mayor Jerry Sanders proposed a plan that would reconstruct the Plaza de Panama to its original layout by removing all parking lots and vehicle routes. In the name of conservation and posterity, Sanders plans to convert this piece of concrete into a world-class gathering place.

In theory, this idea is admirable, but in actuality it’s far from it. Looking from a strictly scenic perspective, having fewer cars would ensure a more visually appealing area around the garden and museums. Its beauty would also be more appreciated sans traffic signs. But from a visitor’s perspective, the lack of vehicle pathways through the park would be both unappealing and inconvenient.

It’s already hard enough to find parking in or near Balboa Park. Visitors are lucky to find available spaces two blocks away, but that’s a sacrifice that must be made in order to enjoy the park. But for some visitors this isn’t a viable option.

Visitors with physical disabilities will have far fewer accessible options, making their trip less enjoyable and possibly unworkable. At the very least, an area designated for disabled visitors should

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

A I L E E N PA N T O J A S TA F F C O L U M N I S T

be kept in the plaza.

Driving through the streets of the plaza is just an easier way to take advantage of the park. The single-lane, two-way street allows access to the dog park, museum entrances, the Spreckles Organ Pavilion and the international cottages.

Although these locations are worthwhile regardless of their proximity to parking, the elimination of the plaza streets leaves pedestrians with a long walk. If vehicle access to this area is removed, visitors may be left on either side of Balboa Park without a way through.

Instead of using the money to reconstruct the Plaza de Panama, it should be used for other city needs.

There are plenty of areas that could use the face-lift more than Balboa Park.

Aside from these accessibility concerns, this proposal five-year reconstruction plan coincides with the park’s upcoming centennial in 2015. Just five short years will have to include planning, demolition, reconstruction and a grand opening. Although this may seem

sufficient time to finish, San Diego’s history of construction of large projects begs to differ. Aside from the rushed timeline, none of the components that form this plan have been set — including the cost. This is a premature idea that risks the plaza’s future with an unreasonable deadline.

The city is not exactly financially stable. Although the plan doesn’t currently have a price tag, it’s safe to assume that the project will be costly. Instead of using the money to reconstruct the Plaza de Panama, it should be used for other city needs. There are plenty of areas that could use the face-lift more than Balboa Park.

This is neither urgent nor necessary.

Creating a place for visitors to come enjoy what Balboa has to offer would help the city become more united, but limited access and an uncertain tab is not an acceptable solution. Expanding the area where visitors can congregate is possible without removing vehicle-accessible areas. Balboa Park has found ways to successfully reduce traffic in this area when necessary. Eliminating parking lots located in the plaza may facilitate this process but, that also complicates parking for visitors.

While the mayor finalizes the fate of the Plaza de Panama, he should think about Balboa’s needs, not just its desires.

We’re in a recession and don’t have time to invest in unnecessary projects.

—Aileen Pantoja is a zoology freshman.

—This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec. Send e-mail to opinion@thedailyaztec.com. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Include your full name, major and year in school.

Haiti earthquake

Haiti’s population:

9.7

million

Death toll estimated by Haitian government: at least

150,000

Death rate estimated by Red Cross: more than

50,000

Amount of financial aid promised

by President Barack Obama:

$100

million

Michelle Obama’s campaign to fight childhood obesity

EVEN ARTICHOKES HAVE HEARTS

Supreme Court kills democracy

A

century of separation, decades of precedents and a recently established law have all been demolished in one swift ruling.

Last Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the government may not limit corporate spending in candidate elections. The 5-4 decision overturned former precedents restricting the amount of money corporations may donate to election candidates.

The court majority claimed that the precedents were in violation of the First Amendment’s guarantee to the basic right of free speech. The Supreme Court overturned the century-long separation of corporate money and campaign financing, vindicating formerly restricted businesses.

The Supreme Court ruling throws out any potential balance for campaign funding and therefore violates the American ideal of “liberty and justice for all.”

The claims made by the court majority and other supporters of the change seem noble and reassuring. Of course, Americans have an obligation to uphold the principles and rights outlined in the Constitution.

However, as responsible citizens, we also have an obligation not to take the justifications for such laws and rulings at face value, especially when they overturn decades of well-established precedents.

The Supreme Court ruling to allow corporations to donate unlimited amounts of money to political candidates

R ENEÉ V I L L A S E Ñ O R A S S I S TA N T O P I N I O N E D I T O R

extends the realm of free speech far beyond what was outlined by our forefathers and threatens the well-being of our democracy and the future of our nation’s political process.

Advertisements bombard us, through radio and television, on billboards and magazines. Corporations across the nation are able to shape the decisions we make every day through a proliferation of media messages that, unfortunately, the general populace often succumbs to without any deeper consideration. We eat at McDonald’s, buy Nike shoes and listen to Lady Gaga not necessarily because we like them or think they provide the best quality products, but because we are constantly bombarded with their messages.

Corporations, with their vast funds, can afford to shape popular culture. This new ruling allows corporations to push their even agenda further.

While large corporations in this country often dictate our small, everyday decisions, our politicians are the ones who decide what laws we must adhere to, and it’s their job to ensure the well-being of all citizens. This ruling creates the ability for these politicians to be influenced by the corporations who choose to endorse them even more. Our everyday well-being will be determined not necessarily by qualified politicians with the largest number of individual supporters, but by politicians who gain the most campaign money from corporations that share political or financial interests.

Think about the impact. Potentially, all grassroots contributions could be worthless as they will play an insignificant role in the overall success of a campaign. No candidate will be able to survive against those who are backed by the money of a big business.

President Barack Obama, whose campaign was greatly influenced by grassroots funding, has repeatedly spoken out against the influence of “special interests.”

“This ruling strikes at our democracy itself. I can’t think of anything more devastating to the public interest. The last thing we need to do is hand more influence to the lobbyists in Washington, or more power to the special interests to tip the outcome of elections,” Obama said, according to The New York Times.

The right to free speech is guaranteed by the Constitution to individual citizens of this nation. However, because of the disproportionate influence that corporations can afford to wield, they will have more influence than the average citizen.

W all should recognize that companies are simply not equal to individuals — and that the money they can afford to spend to influence political candidates hardly equates to free speech. Just as corporations must adhere to different tax laws, so should they adhere to a different set of rules regarding the role of their money in influencing political candidates.

This ruling throws out any potential balance for campaign funding and violates the American ideal of “liberty and justice for all.” But unless people take notice of this issue and push Congress to create legislation that will help restore restrictions on corporate funding, the soul of our democracy will be lost to the influence of corporate wealth and thoughtless consumption.

—Reneé Villaseñor is a journalism senior.

—This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec. Send e-mail to opinion@thedailyaztec.com. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Include your full name, major and year in school.

Increase in child obesity rate throughout past 30 years:

300% Children diagnosed with obesity:

17% Projection of obese Americans in 10 years:

50%

San Diego’s stormy week Total rainfall for the week:

3.3

inches

Average rainfall for the season:

5.7

inches

Decrease in school attendance because of transportation issues:

30% Number of reports of fallen trees:

342 —Compiled by Contributing Columnist Cindy Lopez

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

The Daily Aztec

3

‘The Flying Tomato’ teams up with Red Bull

Courtesy of Red Bull

Courtesy of Red Bull

Project X helped Shaun White train for the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics next month. Last year, Shaun White became the first winner of the U.S. Grand Prix, positioning himself to catch a spot for the U.S. Olympic Team.

AN D R E A M O RA S E N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R

Many know him as “The Flying Tomato” for his soaring flips, spins and wavy red locks. He is an Olympic gold medalist and a San Diego native, and for two months, this pro snowboarder was hidden high in the snowy mountains of Colorado creating never-before-seen tricks for this year’s Winter Olympics.

The 23-year-old Shaun White has accomplished great triumphs in his career, but his four revolutionary new tricks are expected to take snowboarding to new heights.

White, who wanted to push himself and progress the sport of snowboarding , decided to team with Red Bull to create Project X. His imagination had conjured several never-before-attempted tricks and he needed a private haven to practice. His vision became a reality and in a short period of time he perfected tricks no one believed were possible.

“This is a huge accomplishment!” Project Manager for Red Bull Project X Joe Prebich said.

“No one can ever disagree again that Shaun innovates the sport of snowboarding.”

In just two months, White was able to create tricks that would have normally taken years to learn. This feat was possible with the construction of a secret 550-foot half-pipe and 600-square-foot foam pit, custom built to provide him a soft landing. White was able to practice death-defying aerials and make mistakes without the risk of injury.

“The use of the foam pit pushed the sport light-years ahead in a matter of weeks with the ability to safely try and land new tricks,” Prebich said. “I think you’ll see a lot more of these popping up now and we’ll see a real change in the progression of the sport as a result. Up-and-coming kids will be able to learn tricks at a much quicker and safer pace.”

It took a team of experts days to build the secret half-pipe in Silverton Mountain, Colo. The max-

imum lift elevation stands 12,300 feet tall. It is the highest ski area in North America, permitting access to advanced skiers and snowboarders only. Before building the massive half-pipe, experts threw 30 “helibombs” to create avalanches to soften the snow.

“It’s like watching your ultimate dream playground,” Prebich said.

“A place where you can ride fresh powder lines down to a perfectly groomed 550-foot long half-pipe and end by throwing a new trick into a one-of-a-kind foam pit. True snowboarders will be amazed at what Shaun and Red Bull were able to accomplish out there.”

When White attempted to practice new material in the past, sometimes the private footage would be leaked on the Internet. A remote place such as Silverton Mountain was ideal because of its steep natural terrain and low skier capacity.

The ski area has fewer than 80 skiers daily, providing White with plenty of privacy.

Project X served as White’s personal training ground before the Winter Olympics, which takes place in Vancouver starting on Feb. 12. White has been training relentlessly for the event, where he plans to reveal his four new tricks: the front double cork 10, switch back 900, double back rodeo and the cab double cork 10.

It took White one day to learn the front double cork 10.

“I can’t describe it — it’s unreal,” White said in a video. “We got in a couple of years of riding in just one day. You have to have that perfect day, where the snow is just right, you’re feeling strong and you have the picture of the trick you want to do in your head — you have to have the picture in your head.”

This session will go down in history as arguably the most progressive snowboarding feat ever attempted. White would prove to the rest of the snowboard world that it is possible landing double corks, setting the stage for a mas-

sive leap in snowboarding progression, a press release stated.

White has been given a huge platform to advance pro snowboarding to unimaginable extremes. With the Winter Olympics just weeks away, students and local fans will have the opportunity to get an in-depth look into White’s adventure with Project X before its national broadcast airs on NBC. “It explains the whole story from learning the tricks all the way up when Shaun unveils them and makes the (Olympic) team,” Prebich said. “It’s a full year-long journey of Shaun’s snowboard life up until the Winter Olympics.”

White, who has been fearlessly snowboarding and skateboarding since age four, notably holds 16 X Games medals and one 2006 Winter Olympics gold medal.

For more updates and information about White and Red Bull Project X log onto: http://www.shaunwhite.com/projectx.

New goals kicking up a buzz at Qualcomm A M I N AT A D I A S TA F F W R I T E R

Football games at Qualcomm Stadium are anything but unusual.

But imagine bringing in a different type of football and forgetting all about the Chargers.

This could become a reality if the U.S. is awarded the 2018 or 2022 Fédération Internationale de Football World Cup games. San Diego was recently included on the final list of cities the USA Bid Committee will submit to FIFA, which governs the World Cup soccer games. San Diego is one of 18 cities nationwide that could potentially host some of the World Cup games if the bid is successful.

If the U.S. wins, the final host cities would be reduced to 12 throughout the next several years.

The U.S. will present its final bid book to FIFA in May, with FIFA’s final decision for the 2018 and 2022 games to be announced in December. Members of the U.S. committee include soccer stars Landon Donovan and Mia Hamm as well as unlikely members such as director Spike Lee, comedian Drew Carey and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The list of U.S. host cities was recently reduced from 27 to 18.

Other potential cities include Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami and Seattle.

Each city was judged using criteria such as geographical location, diversity, climate, stadium size and

support from the local government.

San Diego’s temperate weather and tourist-friendly nature was a factor in its inclusion, but there are concerns about using a facility as old as Qualcomm Stadium.

The stadium was built in the late 1960s and has undergone renovations throughout the years, but it will be against stiff competition such as the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

“In a vacuum, we’d love every stadium to be brand new,” Executive Director of the USA Bid Committee David Downs said in a San Diego Union-Tribune article.

“That’s not going to happen. We know that. (A new stadium) would greatly enhance San Diego’s chances, I’ll say that, but it would not rule them out if nothing happened on that front … We would not have included San Diego if we didn’t think they could host World Cup matches at Qualcomm.”

According to www.sandiego.gov, Qualcomm can seat more than 70,000 people. However, the aging facility has not been renovated since 1997, when Qualcomm first acquired the naming rights after paying for a restoration.

Although there are no confirmed plans to build a new arena, the city, as well as the Chargers football team, would still have time to build a new stadium before the games occur. However, financing remains one of the major issues preventing this from happening.

The U.S. Bid Committee released a study in October of last year, which determined that hosting the games could have a significant economic impact. The study concluded that as many as 8,000 new jobs would be created in each host city as a product of the games.

Assuming that each of the 12 cities hosted five to six games, the study also stated that $400 to $600 million dollars could be generated.

The FIFA executive board will visit the potential host cities once the final bids are completed to help it determine which countries will win.

If the U.S. wins one of the bids, this will be the second time the World Cup is held in the U.S. According to the Bid Committee, the country set a World Cup record for attendance when the games were held here in 1994 with nearly 3.6 million people in attendance.

Other countries also vying to host the games are Australia, England, Japan, Russia and joint bids by Belgium-Netherlands and Spain-Portugal. Indonesia, Qatar and South Korea are also bidding, but only for the 2022 tournament.

Although San Diego does not have a Major League Soccer team, it is home to the San Diego Sockers, a professional indoor team, which was revived last year.

For more information or to support San Diego by signing the petition for the U.S. bid, visit www.gousabid.com.

MCT Campus

San Diego competes with other U.S. cities to host the future World Cup games.

4

The Daily Aztec

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Kayaking hits the streets in rainy weather

Liquid Library

AM Y EB E R S O L E A S S I S TA N T F E AT U R E S E D I T O R

Kayaking is a familiar sport for many adventure goers. But last week, kayaking was taken to a whole new level — to the streets.

An unfamiliar sport to most San Diegans, street kayaking can only happen during stormy weather. According to the National Weather Service Forecast, from Jan. 17 to last Saturday, Pacific Beach received 4.14 inches of rain. This may not be much compared to other coastal areas such as La Jolla, which received 5.13 inches of rain, but for Pacific Beach, this was just enough rain for one person to kayak across Mission Boulevard. “(David Johnson) says he was on his way to Blockbuster when he spotted this unusual sight blocking his trip,” Nicole Saidi, CNN iReport’s senior associate producer, said. Mission Boulevard was com-

pletely flooded and an ambiguous man tackled the street in his kayak.

Whether he was kayaking on the ocean and water flooded into the streets or he went directly to the street to kayak, this sight is a surprise for San Diegans who are used to sunny weather and clear skies.

The recent onslaught of storms has caused warnings of beach erosion, and the heavy rain even toppled multiple trees at San Diego State, causing students to take pictures on their cell phones, mesmerized by the trees’ now visible shallow roots.

Although the weekend provided San Diegans with pleasant weather, The Weather Channel predicts rainy and thunderous skies today. So get out the kayaks and head to the Pacific Beach streets for a chance to be one of the few to participate in this unusual sport.

To view the video visit http://www.ireport.com//DOC-397121.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

SPORTS

The Daily Aztec

5

MEN’S TENNIS

Tough luck for SDSU For the San Diego State men’s tennis team, the road to the Mountain West Conference Championship started in Las Vegas.

But Lady Luck wasn’t with No. 42 SDSU (0-1) as it lost to No. 39 Texas Tech, 4-3, on Saturday morning at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.

“I felt like the whole team fought well today,” junior Tim Schulz van Endert said.

TEXAS TECH 4 “Of course we wanted SDSU 3 to drive home with a win, but the match today showed us clearly what we need to work on to achieve our goals this season.”

Schulz van Endert was a bright spot for the Aztecs, winning both his singles match (7-5, 6-

4) and his doubles match (8-7) with classmate Andre Feliz.

That wasn’t enough for SDSU though, as Texas Tech (2-0) was awarded the doubles point and won all three of its singles victories in straight sets to come out with the 4-3 victory.

The Aztecs’ singles victories came from No. 114 senior Juan Gomez, 6-7, 6-2, 1-0 (10-6); Feliz 6-0, 6-3; and Schulz van Endert. “(The Red Raiders) have a very good team and it was a tough day for us,” Gomez said. “We were disappointed that we lost, but we’re going to pump ourselves up for the next match and hopefully come away with a ‘W.’” The loss comes one week after SDSU’s success at the National Collegiate Tennis Championships in Indian Wells, sending three singles players past the opening round.

Even though they lost in Las Vegas on Saturday, the Aztecs hope that when they return for the MWC Championships in April, the result will be different.

“We’ll be back in a few months for the conference championships,” Gomez said. “So we’re going to win the championship and go out and party.”

s o c a l ' s

c a r e g i v e r

Texas Tech edges out the Aztecs in San Diego State’s season opener in Las Vegas AG U ST I N G O N Z A L E Z CONTRIBUTOR

File Photo

p r e m i e r

SAN DIEGO'S LARGEST FACILITIES AND SELECTION WITH OVER

Juan Gomez picked up one of the Aztecs’ three points on Saturday, taking out Texas Tech’s Andre Stabile.

DOWNTOWN

2215 Kettner Blvd.

San Diego, CA 92101 M-F 7am-8pm Sat-Sun 10am-8pm 619-238-3538

Voted “Best Quality Meds” in San Diego FREE GIFT for First-Time Patients!

Longest Standing Medical Marijuana Collective in San Diego!

Convenient and Safe Parking at Both Locations

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL, DAILY 7AM-9AM

- ALL 8th’s ONLY $50! -

FREE PRE-ROLL WITH ANY DONATION! Valid only with coupon. One per patient per visit.

Valid with any donation for medicine with SDSU ID. Expires 1/31/10.

"Compassion and Quality Above the Rest!"

In strict compliance with California Prop. 215

30 FLAVORS! COLLEGE

6956 El Cajon Blvd.

San Diego, CA 92115 M-F 7am-9pm Sat-Sun 11am-9pm 619-465-4217

6

SPORTS

The Daily Aztec

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Aztecs pick up 14th straight season-opening win

David J. Olender / Assistant Photo Editor

CHUCK HERRMANN S TA F F W R I T E R

Wanting to begin the season with a pace that will lead it to the NCAA Tour nament, SDSU 6 the San Diego State women’s UCR 1 tennis team started the season strong against the UC Riverside Highlanders on Sunday morning.

The season-opening victory for SDSU is its 14th consecutive seasonopening win and its sixth win against UC Riverside in six tries.

The Aztecs cruised to victory, beating the Highlanders 6-1 at the Aztec Tennis Center.

“This was a great way to begin the year and it was a dominant victory that really displayed our team’s depth,” head coach Peter Mattera said.

Sophomores Roxanne and Sierra

Ellison started SDSU’s day with a dominant note, disposing of Riverside’s No. 1 doubles team 8-0.

The Ellison sisters not only have the skill but also a connection that many other tandems don’t have.

“We have a special connection as sisters and that helps our communication throughout each match we play together,” Sierra Ellison said.

The Aztecs followed the Ellison sisters’ example in doubles when junior Julia Trunk and freshman

Alicia Aguilar took down the Highlanders’ No. 2 team, 8-2, and sophomore Emma Cioffi and freshman Julia Wais out-matched UC Riverside’s No. 3 team, 8-3.

Sunday’s match was Aguilar’s SDSU debut and she played well enough to earn her first individual and team victory in her first competitive match.

Wais aced her singles match to get the momentum rolling for the Aztecs, as SDSU won five of the six

singles matches.

“I just want to go out every match and do my best while limiting my mistakes,” Wais said.

Later in the afternoon, the Aztecs routed Cal State Fullerton in the second match of the day’s doubleheader, dominating the Titans 7-0, and not allowing a single set victory for any CSU Fullerton player.

“We want to get better every match we play and I feel we did that in our match against Fullerton,” Mattera said.

WOMEN’S TENNIS: SEASON PREVIEW

Newcomer looks to lead CHUCK HERRMANN S TA F F W R I T E R

To assume this is a rebuilding year for the San Diego State women’s tennis team with two juniors as its most experienced members would be easy But that assumption is far from the truth.

SDSU enters this season with a team brimming with young talent and depth.

Entering his 17th season as the Aztecs’ head coach, Peter Mattera knows how to build a team and maintain success, proven by his 245-168 (.593 winning percentage) career record.

Players to watch Mattera sees juniors Olivia Colman and Julia Trunk making a big impact this year as team leaders and great competitors. In Sunday’s doubleheader, Colman won her only singles match of the day, while Trunk won both of her singles and doubles matches.

Key loss Holly Bagshaw, one of last year’s leaders, is

now serving as a volunteer assistant coach and hopes to make her presence felt off the court just as she did on it.

“I hope I can add a good perspective and help these girls better understand the coaches and tennis,” Bagshaw said.

Mark your calendars SDSU has a big matchup against UC Irvine on Saturday at the Aztec Tennis Center. “That game will be a great proving ground for this team,” Mattera said.

Last season, the Aztecs beat the Anteaters 5-2 in Hawaii.

Newcomers to watch The three freshmen on the team, Naseem Eslami, Julia Wais and Alicia Aguilar, look to make their mark this year.

“I just want to work hard and do my best to help the team get better and succeed,” Eslami said.

Quotable “We not only want to make the tournament; we don’t want to be a one and done. We want to go far,” Mattera said.

AT A GLANCE WHEN: 12 p.m., Saturday

VS.

WHERE: Aztec Tennis Center WHY TO WATCH: SDSU head coach Peter Mattera called the Aztecs’ matchup with UC Irvine “a great proving ground for this team.”

David J. Olender / Assistant Photo Editor

Holly Bagshaw was one of the San Diego State women’s tennis team’s best performers last season, garnering all-MWC singles and double accolades. Bagshaw is now a volunteer assistant coach for SDSU.

CLASSIFIEDS

Tuesday January 26, 2010

RENTALS

7

APTS 4 RENT

APTS 4 RENT

ROOM 4 RENT

‘05 Toyota Matrix for lease. 50,000m, $120/wk or $360/mo. Email goldencar@rocketmail.com

1 + 2 beds Now Available. Pool, Spa, Fitness, Laundry, Near Shopping & Trolley. Pets OK. M/I Special.

619-460-7955.

CONDOS 4 RENT

COLLEGE AREA. Campus Village Apartments 2 BEDROOMS 1 BATH $895/MO. 3 BEDROOMS 2 BATH $1,095/MO. MOVE IN SPECIAL $1,000 Moves you in OAC. Private underground parking, gated community, A/C, Balcony.

Fully equipped kitchen and laundry facility.

Open Mon-Fri, 8:30am-4:30pm and Sat 8:30am-1:30pm.

5925 El Cajon Blvd. #619-583-3339.

COLLEGE AREA. Corinthian Apartments 1 BEDROOMS STARTING AT $795/MO. 2 BEDROOMS STARTING AT $1,195.00 We accept most pets with additional deposit.

Beautiful landscape, punctual maintenance, impressive community.

Open Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm.

4981 Catoctin Drive. 619-286-0441.

SHARED ROOM FOR RENT in a 4 bedroom, 2 bath house on Mary Lane Drive, directly behind University Towers. Fully furnished common area. Only females apply. 6 month lease. Security deposit of $400 required. Currently available. Please contact Tiffany for further information 562-673-8919 or qtpietp22@yahoo.com

2br 1.5ba Townhouse minutes from SDSU. $200 move in special. Call 619-634-4330.

HELP WANTED Activity Leaders Needed for before and after school programs.

A fun rewarding job working with children and teens, ages 5-14. AM/PM hours available, M-F 15/25 hours per week. Min of 48 college units (or passing CAPE test) and min 6 months experience working with children. Pay rate at $10.16-$11.00 p/h.

E-mail resumes to careers@saysandiego.org or visit our website at www.saysandiego.org SAY San Diego

SERVICES

The Daily Aztec

THE DAILY AZTEC DOES NOT ENDORSE OR SUPPORT AND HAS NO AFFILIATION WITH THE PRODUCTS OR SERVICES OFFERED IN THE CLASSIFIEDS SECTION.

twitter.com/TheDailyAztec

EGG DONORS NEEDED We are seeking attractive women of all ethnicities between the ages of 21-29 who are physically fit and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. $10,000 plus all expenses. If you have a desire to help an infertile family please contact us.

Email: darlene@aperfectmatch.com 1-800-264-8828 www.aperfectmatch.com Perfectly matching donors with families since 1998

Advertise!

The Daily Aztec Soaring to new heights.

TELL ME MORE, TELL ME MORE! Additional stories, blogs, and opinions are available online at www.TheDailyAztec.com

Display 619-594-6977 Classifieds 619-594-4199

8

THE BACK PAGE

The Daily Aztec

DAILY HOROSCOPE

HUMOR: 7 2 OFF SUIT

An unpleasant reunion

A

n Internet ad is trying to sell me something I don’t need.

No thanks, www.reunion.com, because while the hot, successful guys in three-piece suits you pictured in your e-mail make me want to pay $9.99 for their last latest address, I know for a fact that none of the guys from my high school class turned out looking like that.

The reason I know?

I ran into every single last one of them during winter break.

Now, with the exception of a few favorites, I actively avoid all high school memories. Yet, my sneaky mother finds tricky ways that force me to venture into the heart of the Westview Class of 2007 gathering place. And what I mean by that is she tells me to go get her some milk at the local Vons.

There, I bump into at least five insufferable “long lost best friends” within the first three minutes.

They all look the same except for being five to 20 pounds heavier and possibly sporting a new beard or goatee. I attempt to hide behind the Lucky Charms display, but inevitably they always recognize me. Then, just so there is no possible chance of escape, they loudly announce my name like a movie title, even though they never said my name once in high school. They hug me, even though we never hugged in high school. They inform me how long life has been since they last

K R I ST E N AC E N E VA R E Z CONTRIBUTOR

saw me, which has only been a year. We start with meaningless small talk about the only thing we have in common, before beginning the game “whoever tells the best gossip wins.”

I will admit these interactions sometimes have pleasing results, such as finding out who is knocked up or still stuck at a community college. But for the most part, the main goal is to find a way to extricate myself from the conversation before they remember I defaced their picture in the yearbook.

But these are just the run-ins I speak of that don’t last more than five minutes, because someone will need to locate the perfect kind of tomato sauce, giving one or the other a free moment to run away.

But it gets worse, much worse.

Eventually a Facebook event slaps your homepage in the face.

Someone is having a reunion. I always choose “Maybe Attending” because I have commitment issues. I skeptically peruse the guest list and text a few comrades to make fun of the host for a few minutes before admitting: Yeah, we’re all going.

We run into a few people at such parties who we have to be prepared for: the jock turned frat boy, the cheerleader turned cosmetologist and the band kid who

stayed a band kid. But the most difficult run-in is with the political activist. She’s the girl who went to college hoping to find something to be passionate about, and boy, did she succeed. She left town, saw the world and realized all the injustices that need to be fought such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc., capitalism and showering.

Another difficult run-in is with the too-cool-for-this-smalltown-metropolis girl. She went to New York University or Columbia, and now she can’t fathom a place where businesses close at 10 p.m. and nothing but Pizza Hut delivers food. With her nose in the air, she lectures about what is “in” (independent coffee shops) and what is “so small town” (Starbucks). My suggestion here is to introduce the activist to “big city” girl so they can bond by planning the demise of chain restaurants.

Otherwise, not too much has changed. Like high school, we all hang out for a bit, then people get bored and hook up with the person they would never consider otherwise. And just like high school, someday we’ll all look back at this, laugh nervously and change the subject.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

BY LINDA C. BLACK, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (1/26/2010) Anticipate a happier year than the last.You achieve a balance between logic and feelings that stands up to life's stresses. Career and work move forward as long as you avoid a one-sided approach to duty and responsibility.

ARIES (March 21 - April 19) - Today is an 8 - You find yourself out in front of the group. Make this social opportunity work for you. Base your actions on core beliefs.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is a 7 - Enhance your power by adopting enthusiasm for the written word. Plan what you say. Edit for tone later.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is a 5 You hear things that are tough to accept.

A distant friend provides a practical view.

Listen to the words and trust their value.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is a 7 Words pop out of your mouth before you've really considered them. Results vary. Express enthusiasm in everything you do. Others will understand.

LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is a 7 Adjust to circumstances and you can't go wrong. Relax with a friend or associate as you continue to get work done. Reveal your creative purpose.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is an 8 If you could stay home today, you'd accomplish more. If that's not possible, get a friend to help with the heavy lifting.

Then, celebrate with a female over lunch.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is an 8 Continue imaginative and creative efforts.

You love the direction things are going, and associates provide additional energy.

Revise the wording carefully.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is an 8 - People come at you from different directions, pushing for decisions and pressuring for money. Be thrifty with both.You don't have to decide now.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today is a 7 - Information comes in from two radically different sources. On one hand, finances improve. On the other, time pressures drain your energy.Take a short midday walk.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is a 5 - If you find yourself playing an "us against them" game, make sure your partner is on your team.That way you can be pretty sure what to say and when.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is a 7 - You have a brilliant idea in mind from the moment you wake up.There are plenty of opportunities to make this a reality as you work closely with a partner.

PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is a 7 You want to be the ruler of your domain.

To make that happen, understand your needs and communicate them in plain language. © 2010,TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

—Kristen Ace Nevarez is a general theatre arts junior.

—This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec.

SUDOKU

BY THE MEPHAM GROUP

Level:

1 2

3 4

Instructions: Complete the grid so

LOOKING THROUGH OUR LENS

each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk.

Solution available online at www.TheDailyAztec.com © 2010 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.

CROSSWORD

WINTER PASSING Senior Staff Photographer Karli Cadel captured this serene moment in Kansas City as the sun set across the snowcloaked ground and leafless trees.

EDITED BY RICH NORRIS AND JOYCE LEWIS

ACROSS 1 “I did it!”

5 Outplays 10 Jack’s inferior 13 Holly genus 14 Draw a better bead on 15 Pitcher Hideo 16 *Big name in tequila 18 Gossip tidbit 19 Abu Dhabi’s federation: Abbr.

20 *Mexican muralist 22 Actor Brody of “The Pianist” 24 Pep 25 __ one mind: disagreeing 26 Fri. preceder 29 Short film role 30 Some 31 On the double 33 *Spanish painter (1746-1828) Solution available online at www.TheDailyAztec.com 38 For all to see 61 Word that forms 10 For the full length 40 Topeka natives 39 Submissive a city when comof a pregnancy 41 Insertion marks 41 Gas brand with a bined with the 11 Come to light 42 The Donald’s landmark sign first names in 12 “Skip the sanddaughter outside Fenway answers to wich dressing” 43 Nonstick coating Park starred clues 15 Skin care brand 44 Lawn makeup 45 Vegas cube 62 Slow to catch on 17 B-G link 46 Western tie 46 Iraqi seaport 63 Barley beards 21 Working under48 Spanish hero 47 Opposed (to) cover, for short played by Heston 49 “The Picture of DOWN 23 Corn Belt state 49 Willem of __ Gray” 1 Baja border city 26 Gave it a shot “Spider-Man” 50 *Roger Federer 2 What you “take” 27 Mubarak of Egypt 51 Appoint rival when you sit 28 “I give up!”

52 Actor Alda 54 Gold units: Abbr. down 31 Angel dust, briefly 53 Uses a spade 55 Big pictures: Abbr.

3 Military no-show 32 Happy Meal 57 Color TV pioneer 56 Home to this 4 Lumberjack’s tool extra puzzle’s theme 5 UCLA player 34 Lariat loop 58 Fight-ending calls, 6 Extra wide, on a 35 Poet Khayyám briefly shoebox 36 “That’s not news 59 Insect stage 7 Puppeteer Tony to me” 60 Animal whose fur 8 VCR successor 37 Soda-making was used for 9 Campfire treat process Crockett’s cap