The Daily Aztec - Vol. 95, Issue 66 by The Daily Aztec

Monday, February 1, 2010

Vol. 95, Issue 66

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

SDS-VIEW

SPORTS

RAMS DOWN SDSU basketball teams swept Colorado State in both games on Saturday. page 2

DATING & ROMANCE

FACEBOOK TIPS What to do when a significant other “friends” an ex or keeps their status as “single.” page 4

OPINION

FORMER AZTEC ROCKS FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN Photo Editor Glenn Connelly captured this shot of former Aztec Scott Piercy, who was the leader after the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open. After posting two over par scores on Friday and Saturday, he finished the tournament tied for 20th after shooting a 3-under 69. Piercy graduated in 2001 with a degree in Public Administration.

Students find UHP beneficial

TRANSPARENCY Senator Leland Yee fights to make auxiliary organizations transparent to the public. page 5

University Honors Program application set to close today S U M M E R R A I N B O LT

TODAY @ SDSU CASE Coffeehouse Series 4:30 p.m., Starbucks, Aztec Center The student Reggae music group Rhythm and the Method will perform at the second coffeehouse event of the semester. For more of today’s headlines, visit:

www.thedailyaztec.com

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EDITOR

IN CHIEF, FARYAR BORHANI 619.594.4190 EDITOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

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INDEX SPORTS.............................................................................2 DATING & ROMANCE..................................................3 OPINION.........................................................................5 CLASSIFIEDS....................................................................7 THE BACK PAGE............................................................8

S TA F F W R I T E R

The San Diego State University Honors Program application deadline is today, and some students are deliberating how hard they are willing to work to graduate with a shiny Honors medallion hanging from their neck. Students enrolled in the University Honors Program are obligated to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.5, complete at least 18 units of Honors courses, create a senior thesis, project or portfolio, venture to a foreign country to study abroad and attend regular meetings and events held by the Honors Program Student Society. “One of the primary benefits is that the classes are smaller and are taught as a seminar instead of a lecture,” UHP Director Dr. Stacey Sinclair said. “Students are seated in a circle to facilitate discussion.” Other membership benefits include having a personal academic adviser, a class size capped at 20 students, access to a private library study room and more scholarship opportunities. “Eight to 10 scholarships are given to first-time freshmen, (and there are) 15 to 20 study abroad scholarships, as well as research and creative activity scholarships,” Sinclair said. “Some of the scholarships are need-based, but the majority are merit-based.” According to Sinclair, the UHP develops study abroad programs each year that are unique to the program, so students are able to fulfill their Honors units requirements while completing the study abroad requirement. This summer, UHP has organized study abroad programs in Tanzania, Africa; Greece; and Oxford, England. “I went to Oxford University on the Phi Kappa Phi study abroad grant,” Honors Program Student

Society President Mary Zhong said. “I thought that receiving a grant like that would be super hard, but I feel that I was able to get it because of all of the help I received from the academic advisers in the Honors Program.” Students in the program receive specialized attention from advisers, particularly when it comes to applying for scholarships. “I graduated in May of 2009 and now I am a (corps) member of Teach For America in Denver, Colorado,” recent SDSU graduate Kaycee Gerhart said. Teach For America is a two-year commitment that directs teachers toward lowincome areas to improve schools and communities nationwide. “I already teach my own class and I feel like being a part of the Honors Program most definitely prepared me for this,” Gerhart said. While the UHP has its benefits,

some prospective students are apprehensive about fulfilling the requirements. “I am considering applying for the Honors Program, but the extra classes, obligations and GPA requirement make me really nervous,” undeclared freshman Nikki Robelo said. Students enrolled in the program are required to attend regular meetings held by the Honors Program Student Society, but according to Sinclair, the program is designed to be flexible so that students are able to balance their time. “I don’t think the classes are more difficult, but I feel like they go more in-depth than regular classes,” kinesiology freshman Austin Walker said. “The teachers aren’t afraid to challenge you with harder discussion topics that make you think a bit harder than you normally would.”

There are roughly 600 students currently in the University Honors Program. Each year, the program accepts about 180 students, 130 of which are first-time freshmen, according to Sinclair. Next year, freshmen in the University Honors Program will be required to live in the Maya Residence Hall. “As with any other student organization, we have all formed bonds because of all the time we spend together,” Zhong said. The Honors Program Student Society attached to the program organizes each of the meetings and events. This year’s theme for the society is “Community Service.” The society has already volunteered at the YMCA and plans to feed the homeless at St. Vincent de Paul Village and participate in the Relay For Life later this semester.

CRIME BEAT Drug activity on campus Jan. 27 — Two men were arrested after trolley security contacted campus police about a possible drug transaction on the trolley platform, according to San Diego State Police Lt. Lamine Secka. Police arrested 45-yearold Gary Griffin for possessing and selling marijuana and selling counterfeit music CDs. Darran Phillips, who is 29 years old, was cited and arrested for skateboarding, according to Secka. Neither Griffin nor Phillips are SDSU students.

Robbery Jan. 27 — A juvenile was arrested after he allegedly stole a cell phone. Secka said the victim was walking from the SDSU transit center toward Adams Humanities when the 14-yearold suspect ran behind the victim and grabbed his phone.

The victim reportedly chased the suspect and started struggling with him. Secka said two other people helped tackle the suspect, too. Metropolitan Transit System security officers handcuffed the suspect and called campus police. The cell phone is supposedly worth $500. The suspect was taken to Juvenile Hall.

Contempt of court order Jan. 23 — A man was arrested after allegedly violating a court order. David Dadon, a 58-yearold who is not affiliated with the university, was arrested at State St. Grill and transported to jail after he allegedly violated a domestic violence restraining order. Secka said the victim approached officers to notify them of the situation.

Two battery incidents Jan. 23 — A man was arrested

after he allegedly punched a bus driver. Stephen Ludlow, a 54year-old who is not a student at SDSU, reportedly struck a bus driver after refusing to get off the bus. Secka said the driver attempted to get all passengers off the vehicle because it was his last stop. The incident occurred at the SDSU Transit Center. Ludlow was arrested and transported to jail for felony battery and public intoxication. Later that night, a SDSU student was arrested in a separate battery-related incident. Benjamin Markowitz was arrested and transported to jail for spousal battery. Secka said the 20-year-old reportedly hit his girlfriend in the face. The incident occurred at Hardy Avenue Apartments.

—Compiled by Assistant Editor Kristina Blake

City

The Daily Aztec

SPORTS

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Monday, February 1, 2010

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Athleticism gives Rams lose 35 turnovers SDSU edge at CSU in defeat against Aztecs

Kallie Larsen / Staff Photographer

D AV I D P O P E A S S I S TA N T S P O R T S E D I T O R

Glenn Connelly / Photo Editor

Kawhi Leonard had his 10th career double-double on Saturday in Fort Collins against Colorado State.

E D WA R D L E W I S SPORTS EDITOR

The San Diego State men’s basketball team is more athletic than Colorado State’s. That was clear to everyone inside Moby Arena after two plays in the middle of the first half on Saturday afternoon. The first of the two came at the 8:11 mark. CSU’s Dorian Green missed a shot, freshman forward Kawhi Leonard snagged the rebound, and heaved the ball to junior forward Billy White, who then AZTECS 64 connected on a thundering alley-oop with RAMS 52 junior center Brian Carlwell. Moments later, SDSU junior guard D.J. Gay stole the ball and threw a pass to freshman guard Chase Tapley, who sprinted down the court to throw another alley-oop, this time to Leonard. The back-to-back two-pointers caused Rams’ head coach Tim Miles to call a timeout. They also proved CSU couldn’t hang with the athletic Aztecs, who cruised to a 64-52 victory in Fort Collins, Colo. “We’re long, we’re athletic, we pursue the ball,” head coach Steve Fisher told The Mtn. after the game. “I’m really pleased with how we defended and fought and rebounded and got a tough, hard-fought

victory against a very good team.” SDSU out-rebounded the Rams 40-33 and had three players score in double figures. Leonard was the man of the match, posting his 10th career double-double, racking up 14 points and 12 rebounds. In the first half alone, Leonard had 12 points and 10 boards. “A lot of times, (Leonard) is the best player on the court,” Fisher told AM 600 KOGO. “I was really proud of the intelligence that he played with, especially in the second half. I thought he did a superb job.” The Aztecs held the lead for the duration of the second half, despite playing a bit shorthanded. Sophomore forward Tim Shelton missed his fourth consecutive game with a knee injury, and White hit his head on Leonard’s knee in the first half and had a “big old knot on his head” for the rest of the game, Fisher said. Still, CSU only made two of its 15 3-point attempts and shot just 36.7 percent from the field. “This was a big win for us,” Leonard said to The Mtn. after the game. “We were both 33 in the conference, so each team needed this win to get in the top four. And we got the win, so we’re very happy and excited.” With the victory, SDSU improved its overall record to 15-6 (4-3 in the Mountain West Conference) and remained in fourth place behind BYU, New Mexico and UNLV in the MWC standings.

While scoring just 22 points in the first half might normally prompt a furious halftime rant from the head coach, in Saturday’s game against Colorado State, head coach Beth Burns kept things in perspective for her San Diego State women’s basketball team. “When I walked in at halftime, I could say, ‘What’s the bad news? We have 22 (points),’” Burns said to www.goaztecs.com after the game. “But, ‘What’s the good news? They have 16.’” SDSU played inspired defense and completely shut down an improved and streaking CSU team, winning 59-38 at home. The Aztecs (13-6, 5-2 in Mountain West Conference play) SDSU 59 forced an incredible 35 CSU 38 turnovers by the visiting Rams (11-9, 3-4 MWC) and thanks to the results in games earlier in the day, reclaimed a spot in the three-way tie for first place in the MWC with TCU and BYU. CSU held a narrow lead late in the first half and kept the game close well into the second half thanks in part to an ugly 26 turnovers by SDSU. The Rams were within 4 points with 13

s o c a l ' s

minutes left in the game before senior guard Jené Morris sparked a 21-3 run by the Aztecs throughout the next nine minutes. “I loved that we just thought we could shut them down,” Burns said. “They’re an explosive team, they (score) in the high 70s, so I thought we did a pretty good job there.” Morris led all scorers with 19 points on 9-19 shooting from the field. She also chipped in with three of SDSU’s 16 steals while junior center Paris Johnson and senior guard Quenese Davis tied for high rebounding in the game with seven boards, as well as eight points apiece. Guard Kim Mestdagh was the lone CSU player to score in double digits, netting 11 points but shooting just 4-15 from the field. Junior forward Jessika Bradley had a solid day, scoring eight points and pulling in four rebounds with three blocks and four steals, but her presence on the court and importance to the team is something the numbers don’t always reflect. “(Bradley) is really a big part, quietly, of all the stuff we do,” Burns said. “She really helped give our perimeter player confidence and helped shut down the lane.” The Aztecs will finish their first round of MWC play on Wednesday when they take on Air Force in Colorado Springs, Colo.

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Monday, February 1, 2010

DATING & ROMANCE

The Daily Aztec

Making in-class buddies off-campus friends

Mariam Bierr / Staff Photographer

The new semester brings new opportunities for involvement in on-campus extra-curriculars, so students can make friends and connections outside of the classroom.

A U R E L I A A C Q UA T I S TA F F W R I T E R

With one semester down and one or more to go, students have opportunities to meet hundreds of people on campus. But for some, forming new friendships and turning those “class friends” into something more may appear to be a daunting task. During Winter Break, students have the chance to catch up with family and friends back home, but it’s less likely they will interact with the friends and relationships they made at school during the last semester. Some students feel uncertain about forming stronger relationships or making new friends at the beginning of the second semester. Getting

more involved on campus is a great way to meet new students and build stronger bonds with friends, making “breaking the ice” this semester easier to do. San Diego State encourages students to get involved on campus in order to make the transition to college life less difficult. When students become involved in organizations and clubs, they have the opportunity to do just that: meet new friends and have new experiences they otherwise would have missed out on. There are more than 200 organizations for students to connect with at SDSU, each of them geared toward making campus life better. Students can immerse themselves in a wide variety of groups such as Associated Students, the Residence Hall Association, Aztec

Adventures or Intramural Sports. A.S., the student-run government that oversees campus events, is ideal for students who are passionate and active politically . A.S. helps develop a variety of special programs for social, recreational and functional purposes, allowing students to develop their leadership and policy skills while building their résumés. Or students could explore their active side with Aztec Adventures. Whitewater rafting, backpacking, horseback riding and canoeing are all available for students who want to explore the world outside SDSU. Another option is the Residence Hall Association, which allows students to become involved in their dorm and plan fun events for those who live on campus. Business manage-

ment freshman Andrew Conlisk the RHA’s Recreational Sports Chair, and he’s also on the A.S. Recreational Board and involved in Intramural Sports. “I’ve definitely met people, and I know what is going on around campus,” Conlisk said. “I can voice my opinion on issues.” He thinks it’s important for freshman to get involved. “Some people come (to SDSU) blind and don’t know what’s going on, and they get involved to meet people,” he said. Becoming involved on campus help students feel connected to their surroundings and invested in the college experience. If finding friends is not always difficult, forming genuine relationships can also be discouraging for students. Students don’t want to feel rejected, and that can discourage them from opening up friendships. Classroom settings are great places to meet new people and find possible friends, but once they’re made, the friendship must be moved beyond the classroom, progress and become more than just “class talk.” One way to connect with a potential friend is to find a club or organization that suits both, so they can bond through something both are interested in, in a comfortable environment. But students need to keep in mind that it takes some initiative — and an open mind — to ask someone to hang out outside of class. Business administration freshman Tara Barchalk spoke about her ways to get the ball rolling. “Group activities and lively atmospheres are the best settings to reduce awkwardness,” Barchalk said. She reccommended grabbing lunch between classes and studying together. The best method is to be confident and friendly, and always remember that many students are looking for friends and new memories this semester.

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The Daily Aztec

DATING & ROMANCE

Monday, February 1, 2010

No sweet side to cyber-snooping relationships

MCT Campus

Facebook has introduced a new dimension of relationship “supervision” that may expose some people’s jealousy and mistrust for their partner. Dealing with the situation rationally and giving a partner space can help.

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

If cyber-snooping were a crime today, many would be guilty. Many couples participate in this modern scenario, though, by checking the online activities of a significant other. Social networking Web sites such as Facebook and MySpace have pros and cons, but they also

serve as a tool for habitually keeping tabs on a significant other, and that may lead to more problems in a relationship. “Social media sites, although tremendously valuable in many different areas, can have an unexpected and undesirable ripple effect on couples who actively engage in them,” professional dating coach and matchmaker DeAnna Lorraine said. Innocent curiosity or boredom can lead

someone to check a partner’s profile, which can raise suspicions, accusations and heated arguments. Read how these familiar conflicts can be solved.

“Why is your ex on your friends list?” Most can agree that it is not advisable to keep in touch with an old flame. And many may not be thrilled to find out that their partner still keeps in contact with an ex, even if it is on a minimal, innocent level. “When they have ex-girlfriends on their friends list, you don’t know if they are communicating through private messages or why they still need to keep them around as ‘friends,’” said Lizette Krumm, a Facebook user who admitted that this issue has caused many fights in her marriage. Facebook user Alex Montes disagreed and felt that such problems in a relationship can be atrributed to the amount of respect the people involved have for each other. Social networking sites should not be blamed for users having ex’s in their friends list, Montes said. “Some relationships have an extreme amount of trust and it wouldn’t bother them if the other person had ex’s in their friends list,” he continued.

“Who is that guy in the picture next to you?” Social networking sites allow friends to tag each other in photos, which has both benefits and drawbacks. On the plus side, someone who forgot to bring a camera can still get pictures from last night’s party. On the con side, if those pictures were not meant to be shared or seen by others, they are now posted for almost all network users to see. “On the flip side, social media sites can also be a source of accurate information — and leave clues to bad behavior or infidelity when it is in fact going on, allowing people to find out about bad behavior sooner than they may have without exploring online,” Lorraine said. Facebook user Jorge Luna can relate. His girlfriend saw a picture of him intoxicated, sitting next to a grinning and drunken birthday girl. Before he even knew the photo was online for public display, his girlfriend texted him, “Have you been kissing other girls?” “I didn’t think she checked my profile,” Luna said. “I deleted the photo later, but I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t lie — her lipstick was all over my face.”

“How come your status still says “Why does she leave you so many single?” comments?” For those who want the cyber world to Partners may become suspicious when someone of the opposite sex periodically leaves comments on his or her boyfriend or girlfriend’s page. The comments may be harmless, but it’s hard not to wonder if the flirtation transfers off-screen. “Often, couples will check each other’s profiles to make sure their partner is being ‘good’ or to track their recent whereabouts and activities,” Lorraine said. “They may check for any incriminating photos or other suspicious activity that may be a cause for worry.” Melissa Cardenas, another Facebook user, commented that social media Web sites can negatively impact a relationship when there is a lack of trust and open communication. “If the people in the relationship already have a trust issue, one is more likely to lurk and freak out at comments (other) people leave on their boyfriend or girlfriend’s page,” Cardenas said. “A fight over Facebook or MySpace is likely to reveal a jealous and over-controlling boyfriend or girlfriend.” While Facebook and MySpace allow users to receive notifications and track friends’ whereabouts, some things are better off not being advertised, Lorraine said. “Give your partner space and respect each other’s privacy,” Lorraine said. “Resist the temptation to obsessively check each other’s profile pages and spy on each other’s activities and resist the temptation to read all of the comments posted from other people on your partner’s page.”

know who they are dating, Web sites like Facebook allow its users to show who they are in a relationship with. Conflict may occur when one partner chooses to keep their status as “single.” “She thought I was hiding something,” Luna said. “But I just didn’t want people in our business. I really like to keep my private life private.” Lorraine advises not to pressure one’s significant other to change their relationship status until they are ready. It is normal for couples to want to be intricately involved with each other’s lives, in a non-obsessive way. “We aren’t supposed to see and know everything about our partner at all times, including their whereabouts and most recent activities,” Lorraine said. “Partners need at least a very minimum level of independence and privacy in order to be healthy.” If both people have expressed how they feel and the arguments persist, it may be better to delete the account. This may or may not fix the relationship, because issues of trust and jealousy are the culprits, but it may alleviate a lot of the drama. It all boils down to trust. “Assume your partner is ‘innocent’ and trustworthy until proven guilty — not the other way around,” Lorraine said. “Don’t go out snooping on your partner hoping or trying to find something ‘dirty’ or suspicious on them. Remember, when you dig things up, all you get is dirty!”

OPINION

Monday, February 1, 2010

The Daily Aztec

FLAMING LIBERAL

Transparency needed for CSU system now

s the winter draws to an end, it’s not just time for sunshine in the sky, but also sunshine for the way that our state university system is run. Senator Leland Yee is calling on the California State University system and all branches of higher education, to open up their books when it comes to the auxiliary organizations on their campuses. Yee’s reintroduced legislation is similar to SB 218, which would have updated the California Public Records Act to include those auxiliaries that perform government functions. This shows his commitment to making sure our higher education system is working for students, and not executive donors or special interests within the university system. Yee’s new bill, SB 330 passed through the senate floor last Thursday and will be seen in the state assembly shortly. This level of transparency is necessary for students, faculty and community members to have the knowledge and power to serve as a check on how their university operates. For the CSU system alone, Chancellor Charles B.

A L L A N AC E V E D O OPINION EDITOR

Reed has admitted that 20 percent of the system’s operating budget is funded by budgets which are kept secret from the public, within the myriad campus and system auxiliaries. Auxiliaries on our own campus that do not fall within this level of transparency include Aztec Shops, Ltd., Associated Students and the Campanile Foundation. This is shocking to many students and community members. When funds and budgets are kept hidden from the public, all we can do is speculate how our money is being used and why. Just last semester, there was controversy about Aztec Shops, Ltd.’s purchase of the Albert’s College Apartments for $24.5 million. The CSU Board of Trustees’ justification for the approval shows a certain level of transgression on the part of Aztec Shops, Ltd. in their purchase of what will eventually become more residence halls for the university. Look at Aztec Shop’s mission statement: “Aztec Shops will provide effective ‘Campus Store’ and ‘Food Service’

operations for the San Diego State University community. These services will be self-supporting, sensitive and responsive to the campus community and will be based on the principle of ‘value at a fair price.’” Neither purchasing these apartments nor its earlier purchase of University Towers falls within that mission statement. Unfortunately, with these records closed to the public, we are left to speculate about SDSU President Stephen L. Weber and his influence at Aztec Shops, Ltd. To all appearances, the university is just taking advantage of having auxiliaries in order to make purchases outside of its budgetary constraints. Another place to look for transparency is within Associated Students. This student-run corporation has an operating budget of more than $20 million and executive officers that change every year. More transparency is needed in the way these funds are being handled. Not all records that deal with fiduciary matters are accounted for in this auxiliary, not even to the students who fund it. Student offices are allocated to students based on applications submitted by student organiza-

tions. Last spring, I asked to see these applications and the justification of why certain offices were allocated to the student organizations that received them to check for possible bias or favoritism. I was told I would not have access to this information and that it was possible the records were not even on file. The disbursement of office space and the subsequent cost of maintenance, lighting and garbage removal is a cost to A.S. that the public — and especially students — should have a right to see. Having these records hidden creates opportunities for fraud, manipulation of funds and larger concerns such as giving donors too much influence on a student’s education. This was the case that arose at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. According to a press release on Yee’s Web site, last October the university cancelled a guest lecture — not uncommon to do, with time and budget constraints or lack of student interest — and executives at Harris Ranch Beef Company threatened to withhold $500,000 in donations for a new campus meat-processing center as a result. All decisions made by these entities should be held to the high-

est level of transparency and should undergo community inspection to ensure that resources and funding are being allocated in the best interest of students. Until such levels of transparency are reached, no one should support any voluntary efforts to increase student fees to fund projects for auxiliaries — including projects such as ModernSpace, the plan that A.S. will be asking students to increase fees a second time in order to fund a new student union building. No matter how noble the endeavor, if there is not better oversight and disclosure, students and community members should be skeptical. Let Yee know you support his efforts to increase transparency — and let the university know too.

—Allan Acevedo is a political science and comparative literature junior. —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.

SAVE YOUR CROCODILE TEARS

U.S. not ready for Obama’s high-speed rail

MCT Campus

During the State of the Union address on Wednesday, Barack Obama promised to construct high-speed rail systems throughout the nation in order to create jobs and revenue.

uring the State of the Union address last Wednesday, President Barack Obama proposed yet another solution to help the economy. The proposition would provide $8 billion in stimulus grants toward constructing a new highspeed rail system. His proposal would create jobs for many Americans and its revenue would provide a monetary cushion as well as an environmentally-friendly alternative to other forms of mass transportation. The 13 planned travel corridors would include rail systems through Oregon, Washington and Canada; up and down California; from

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

Wisconsin to Chicago; around Iowa; from Detroit to Chicago; separate routes from St. Louis to Kansas City and Chicago; from Cleveland to Cincinnati; around Texas; from Tampa to Orlando; from Charlotte to Washington, and through the Northeast Corridor, according to www.dailyfinance.com. Those locations would work as the main ports for the rest of the highspeed rail system. Although the proposed price seems reasonable for such a massive project, in reality, it would only cover the initial cost to begin

construction. The $8 billion has been divided and granted to the various locations of the railway. California alone has been granted more than $2.3 billion — however this is a small amount compared to the more than $43 billion needed to complete the state’s line. Another justification for this plan is the promise of the jobs it would create. The construction industry, the marketing industry and the new high-speed rail industry would all benefit from this new transportation system. The nation’s unemployment rate has increased to almost 10 percent and Americans are in dire need of jobs. But this is not a long-lasting opportunity, as plenty

of jobs will be initially offered, but most of the individuals hired will only get to enjoy the short-term benefits of their new trade. Instead of pressing forward with the high-speed rail, these funds should be used to remedy other, more urgent social issues. Other sectors — such as education — need money, and reinvesting in these areas would also create jobs. Theoretically, this new means of transportation would significantly decrease travel time and would become the main mode of long distance transportation for Americans. This would seem logical if the country lacked an interstate transportation system, but the country already has such trans-

portation systems in place: namely, our interstate highways. Citizens have many existing options for traveling, such as personal vehicles, train routes and airplanes. The high-speed rail may sound like a way to get from point A to point B faster, but most lines will run at a mere 110 mph. California will have one of the fastest lines, running up to 200 mph. While this may sound fast, it’s much slower than similar rails in Europe and Asia that reach speeds between 186 and 217 mph. If the rail system is going to be made, it should be upgraded to its full potential. In order for the high-speed rail to be as efficient as possible, its routes must remain relatively straight. This will be very difficult when it comes to the geography of the country. The construction of this rail system may destroy many habitats and disrupt the nation’s natural beauty — or it will not be as fast as it could be. Either way, there is a sacrifice. This initiative shows the measures Obama is willing to take to fix the state of the economy, but it will take more than just a high-speed rail system to get America out of the economic crisis. The high-speed rail system may be needed in the future, but its construction should not be considered while the economy is so unstable. This $8 billion hit-ormiss proposal would push the country further into debt. Obama has many proposals to improve the nation, but this latest venture is neither pragmatic nor timely.

—Aileen Pantoja is a zoology freshmen —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.

OPINION

The Daily Aztec

EVEN ARTICHOKES HAVE HEARTS

POINTS TO PONDER

Social media and texting aren’t hurting youths’ communication

e text, tweet, update our Facebooks, listen to our iPods, tune out of reality, plug in to our video games and are absorbed by our smartphones. We live in a society riddled with new technologies and excessive media consumption. Every day a new technology is invented or upgraded and as members of this modern technological age, we dive headfirst into the growing pool of new communication devices and platforms. For some, this is exciting. For others, new technologies such as texting, social networking and personal devices spell disaster for young people’s ability to interact face-to-face. Such fears are unfounded. While our social interactions are undoubtedly changing because of the integrations of new technologies, our society is not taking a turn for the worse. The advent of new technologies, as always, has prompted a kind of retaliation from the older generations who exclaim that “kids these days” will not be able to interact properly or will be negatively affected by new communication styles. The same thing happened with the invention of the telephone, radio and television. Change takes getting used to. Recently, the technology receiving most of the criticism is texting. In a recent article on www.dailymail.co.uk, a U.K. government adviser on children’s speech claimed that teens are becoming unemployable because they use a vocabulary consisting of only 800 words. According to the adviser, this limited vocabulary is caused by teen’s use of texting and language styles on social networking sites. This opinion is not unique. Many experts have expressed their concerns about what effect social networking – and texting in particular – is having

Monday, February 1, 2010

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

on the communication skills of teens and young adults. Some issues that experts cite as sideeffects of constant social interaction on multiple mediums is an inability to interact face-to-face with others, limited vocabularies, desensitization to the emotions and feelings of others, short attention spans and a loose sense of one’s own identity.

Such fears are unfounded. While our social interactions are undoubtedly changing because of the integration of new technologies, our society is not taking a turn for the worse. Despite all the talk about how our society is doomed to a future led by zombie-like media addicts, the truth is that this is simply a part of our evolution as a culture. Just as technologies that came before, etiquette and behavior on mediums such as social networking sites, texting, cell phones and iPods are still adjusting to fit into the everyday culture of our society. We are still working to develop a code of conduct on sites such as Facebook. For the younger generation, it is perfectly normal to have a face-toface conversation with someone while

they have headphones plugged into each ear or while they are texting. While the generations that did not grow up with these technologies are still grappling with the fact that they must try to integrate them into their daily lives, the younger generation is generally much more adaptive to new technologies and multitasking with them. Technology provides new platforms for interaction but will never replace the human need for face-toface communication. While the long-term effects of constant media bombardment through modern technologies are still unclear, it’s safe to say that while they may alter our society and interactions, those alterations will not be for the worse. These new technologies are obviously here to stay – instead of wasting our time focusing on the negative effects, we should embrace the opportunity to contribute new standards of etiquette to our culture. We are now more connected than ever and as young people become our nation’s new leaders, their different perspectives and capabilities will bring new ideas. The way that young people are now interacting with each other is a new phenomenon to most adults. However, we all must realize that it is simply another step in the evolution of our society. The best way for us to adjust to the current and coming changes is to accept them, and as in all aspects of life, find a balance. Plan time away from the BlackBerry or iPhone and make an extra effort to interact face-to-face.

—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.

President Barack Obama’s domestic spending freeze Obama’s budget for the 2011 fiscal year:

$3.8

trillion

Projected deficit for this year:

$1.3

trillion

Obama’s proposed savings for 2011 fiscal year:

$20

billion

Savings created by the three-year freeze throughout the coming decade:

$250

billion

Concussion reform Number of concussions per year sustained by youth football players:

140,000 Percentage of those who sustained a concussion and returned to the field sooner than modern guidelines would suggest:

40% Number of teens who play high school football in the U.S.:

1.2

million

Number of participants aged 14 and younger:

million

Apple’s iPad

Price of the iPad:

$499 $829 to

THINK THE DAILY AZTEC OPINION SECTION IS A BASTION OF LEFTIST, LIBERAL PROPAGANDA? Bring your own spin on political issues to the student body!

If you’re a news-savvy, politically-minded person who follows on-campus, local and national issues, the Opinion sections may be just the place for you. We are currently accepting applications for the following positions: -Staff Columnist -Senior Staff Columnist -Staff Cartoonist All interested applicants are encouraged to go online to www.thedailyaztec.com, print out an application and submit it to the front desk along with résume, contact information and two writing samples. Our offices are located in the basement of Education and Business Administration.Any other questions may be directed to Opinion Editor Allan Acevedo at opinion@thedailyaztec.com or call 619-594-0509.

Weight of the iPad:

1.5

pounds

Current number of applications that can run on the iPad: more than

140,000

Number of applications regularly used by average iPhone or iPod Touch users:

5 10 to

— Compiled by Assistant Opinion Editor Reneé Villaseñor

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Monday February 1, 2010

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HUMOR

‘FML’ reserved for A. Colon

ell folks, I am disgusted. And because I also happen to have access to a public forum such as this, I get the pleasure of knowing that my words will reach at least one bored freshman on campus. But if I did not have the Back Page to fill with my ravings, I would turn to the medium which has become like a therapist to me: Facebook. Yes I, like every other person in existence not connected to life support, have one of these therapy sessions where I can make all of my friends (and about a billion people that I vaguely know) aware of every slight annoyance or pain that I feel at any given moment of the day. However, while I make people tolerate a lot of my crap on Facebook, there is something that I will never, ever, ever do. And that is to follow any of my complaints with “F*** my life.” Why you ask? Because I have a theory that if you use “FML” when you’re telling the world how awful your life is, you may not actually have a legitimate problem. Think about it. Do you ever hear anyone with a truly heartwrenching story follow it with “FML?” No. And that is because using those three letters in phrase

Monday, February 1, 2010

S HANNON C L A R K S TA F F C O L U M N I S T

form immediately undermines any situation you’re going through. For instance, let’s say I have a friend and his name is Frank. Frank is having some difficulties in his life and turns to Facebook for guidance. Frank: “Awful day. I accidentally ran over my neighbor with the lawn mower and now I have to spend the next 25 years of my life in prison. FML.” Now you don’t believe Frank, do you? You are probably thinking Frank is pulling a huge practical joke because he included “FML” after his horrible story. And because of an awful misunderstanding like this, people would support Frank the wrong way by “liking” his status. That would lead Frank to believe that all of his closest friends are happy to get rid of him for the next 25 years, and he might deliberately go out and run someone over with a lawn mower to deal with the pain. But I’m getting off track. The point is people with real problems don’t use “FML.” The most frequent users of those awful letters are people who usually have no business using them at all.

Those are the individuals who pop up with, “My nose itches. ‘FML.’” Sorry, but I’m pretty sure you just included “FML” so that post wouldn’t be a total waste of the English language — which it was anyway. In fact, I know of only one case in the whole wide world that is the perfect balance of humor and despair to qualify for “FML” status. I discovered it the other day as I was riding the trolley home. At one of the stops, I looked out the window and saw a trolley security man looking stern and patrolling the platform or whatever it is that trolley cops actually do. And on the front of his uniform he was labeled, “A. Colon.” Let me repeat that. First initial “A,” last name “Colon.” I am serious. Because of a truly unfortunate abbreviation, this poor man is now labeled a colon for the rest of his career, which, let’s face it, already kind of sucks . So by all means A. Colon, “FML” to your heart’s content … or any other organ you’d prefer.

BY LINDA C. BLACK, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (2/1/10) Over the coming year, you will learn more than you thought possible about change. By remaining flexible throughout the process, you can absorb this with grace. If you expand your love to ripple out to others, it will come back to you exponentially. ARIES (March 21 - April 19) - Today is a 5 Take time today to consider the desires of others, as well as your own. Get creative at work by bouncing ideas off each group member and getting their responses. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is a 5 - Choose your battles carefully, considering both immediate gratification and longerterm benefits. Change your tune to suit the tempo of the moment. GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is a 6 Excitement on the home front spills over into the career arena. Creative use of time allows you to accommodate family and work. CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is a 5 Share your words and feelings generously. Who knows? The feedback you receive could give you a boost over a huge obstacle. LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is a 5 - Your mind and heart battle for control.You want to side with heart, of course. However, power rests in logic for you today. VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is a 6 You and a partner overcome a perceived

disagreement on a fundamental issue.You were just using different words to describe the same feeling. LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is a 5 Dreams can provide poetry and metaphor for actions. Look for double meanings in recalled images, and allow your subconscious to flavor your decisions. SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is a 6 - Cash flow (or lack of it) cramps your style. However, you have plenty of little projects that don't require money today. Focus on those. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today is a 6 - Nothing succeeds like success.Your only limit today is your capacity to remain flexible under duress. Bring in an expert to sort out a few details. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is a 5 - If you have plans to head off into the sunset, you're on the right track.This could mean business travel, or meeting your partner for a lovely rendezvous. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is a 6 - The only thing that slows you down is getting your ideas into a format others can use.This happens when you rearrange the details until they feel just right. PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is a 6 Group efforts thrive today because everyone is on the same page concerning practical issues.Today you really feel like you're where you belong. © 2010,TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

— Shannon Clark is an English sophomore. — This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec.

LOOKING THROUGH OUR LENS SUDOKU

BY THE MEPHAM GROUP

Level:

1 2

3 4

Instructions: Complete the grid so 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.

CROSSWORD

HITTING GREEN Photo Editor Glenn Connelly shot this crisp image of John Daly chipping the ball just outside of the green during the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.

ACROSS 1 Cribbage pieces 5 Shaving gel alternative 9 More than disliked 14 Power co. product 15 “Tickle me” doll 16 Texas mission to remember 17 Volcano feature 18 Equestrian’s control 19 Organizes alphabetically, say 20 Broadway premiere 23 __-card stud 24 Corp. honcho 25 Natural spring 28 Making lots of noise 33 Genealogist’s chart 34 No-treat consequence? 35 Speech impediment 39 Arises (from) 42 Till bills 43 Like draft beer 45 1492 Atlantic crosser 47 Start of a widearea police radio alert 53 Artist Yoko 54 By way of 55 Athletic shoe’s turf grabber 57 Seating for extra guests, maybe 61 Yell 64 __ club: singing group 65 Decisive victory 66 Lower in esteem 67 Name on many Irish coins 68 Far Eastern detective played by Lorre 69 Texas Hold ’em,

EDITED BY RICH NORRIS AND JOYCE LEWIS

Solution available online at www.TheDailyAztec.com e.g., and a hint to 13 Hair styles this puzzle’s theme 21 MIT, for one: 70 Boys Abbr. 71 British weapon of 22 Berlin’s land: WWII Abbr. 25 Porous organ DOWN 26 Brownish purple 1 __ Bill: legendary 27 Inquires cowboy 29 Tax-auditing org. 2 Romeo or Juliet, 30 Keep after taxes marriagewise 31 Davis who played 3 Swiss city on the Thelma Rhone 32 __-Magnon 4 First part of an 35 Bonkers act 36 Words before 5 Plant with fronds instant or emer6 Designer Cassini gency 7 Ugandan dictator 37 WWII invasion 8 Seles of tennis city 9 Discuss thor38 Good bud oughly 40 Wire diameter 10 Often measure 11 La Brea stuff 41 NBC weekend 12 CPR giver, often hit, briefly

44 One doing a pirouette, e.g. 46 Brokerage cust. 48 It’s nothing 49 Thingamajig 50 Security devices 51 Start again, as after a computer system crash 52 Military greeting 56 Wyoming’s __ Range 57 Firecracker cord 58 Hip bones 59 Socially inept type 60 Thousands, in a heist 61 Maple syrup base 62 “True Blood” network 63 Acorn’s destiny