The Daily Aztec - Vol. 95, Issue 79

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Vol. 95, Issue 79

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

Students band for book drive Campus groups are collecting books for a Tanzanian school

RACISM AT UCSD The fine line between satire and blatant racism has been crossed. page 2

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

HAITI TOURISM See how tourism after the earthquake could benefit the country. page 3

SPORTS

SOONER SWEEP Oklahoma completed its fourgame sweep of the Aztecs on Sunday afternoon. page 5

TODAY @ SDSU Lecture 7 p.m., Nasatir Hall 100 Ignacio Sanchez-Cuenca, a professor and research director at Juan March Institute, will speak about the causes of terrorist violence.

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

A S H L E Y M O RG A N S TA F F W R I T E R

The 18-foot shipping container and its contents – 5,000 books and supplies – at the end of the Campanile Walkway will be starting a 62-day voyage to Kongwa, Tanzania next week to fulfill efforts of the Mnyakongo School Library Project.

This year’s homecoming king and queen, Rex Brown Jr. and Teresa Banko, as well as Phi Kappa Phi, Scholars Without Borders, the Rotaract, the Student Veteran Organization and Golden Key are holding a two-week book and supply drive for a new library being built at Mnyakongo School, a primary school with more than 800 students, which currently has a library catalog of 10 books. Brown and Banko will be tabling in Aztec Center for the drive starting tomorrow until Friday.

San Diego State theater professor Peter Larlham created the project last year.

“I’ve got people all over the university giving these books and that’s really made me see that this is a viable project, it wasn’t just going to be me wandering around, flailing about and then sending off one box,” Larlham said. “It’s really been the support of the campus.”

He attended the school as a child from 1953 to 1958 while Tanzania was under British rule.

Larlham visited the school in 2008 with six former students for a 50-year reunion of the colonial school’s closure. Larlham said he saw the small, simple classrooms and few books and wanted to take it upon himself to gather books for the school.

This cause has become this spring’s homecoming service project.

“With the money we were allotted by CASE on campus that we could provide a huge asset to them through the shipping container, and also we could use homecoming as a platform to collect even more books,” Brown said. “But the container itself was a huge victory.”

“There are students in other countries such as Tanzania that

MCT Campus

Various San Diego State student groups are holding a two-week book and supply drive for a new library being constructed at a primary school in Tanzania. Mnyakongo School currently has more than 800 students and only 10 books in its library catalog.

have substantially less opportunities than we do, so we decided to devote the prize we were given to (the Mynakongo Library Project),” Banko said. “It’s helping students in another country; it helps to make us realize that we are students of an international community.”

The hardest part of this project has been coordinating the logistics of the container, Brown said.

The transporting process includes the cargo lifting by crane onto a truck, then driving to Long Beach where it will be put on a container

ship, shipped through the Panama Canal, across the Atlantic ocean, around Cape Town, South Africa and finally end its journey at the Port of Dar Es Salaam, where it will then be unloaded and transported by truck to the school.

In May, a group of 26 students and faculty members will meet the container in Tanzania and engage in SDSU’s first study program in Tanzania, organized by Dr. Chris Frost, the associate dean of Undergraduate Studies. Brown and Banko said the book drive will

hopefully facilitate a future study abroad program with the country.

“The hope is that in a little more than a decade, two students at SDSU, one from San Diego, one an exchange student from Tanzania, will be sitting in a class together and realize that they were connected, half a world away, by a program that was created and executed by their future alma mater,” Mark Daemon, of the Student Veteran Organization, who helped coordinate the logistics of shipping the container, said.

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FEATURES EDITOR, NICOLE CALLAS 619.594.6976 FEATURE@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

CAMPUS CRIME

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SPORTS EDITOR, EDWARD LEWIS 619.594.7817 SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

OPINION, ALLAN ACEVEDO 619.594.0509 OPINION@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

TEMPO EDITOR, ALLIE DAUGHERTY 619.594.6968 TEMPO@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

ART DIRECTOR, ELENA BERRIDY 619.594.6979 ARTDIRECTOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

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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

Robbery

Sexual assault

Feb.17 – San Diego State Police issued a crime alert after a student was robbed. The victim was reportedly battered and sustained moderate injuries. A red and blue JanSport backpack and $13 was stolen. SDSU Police Sgt. Steven Harshaw said the victim reported that three suspects jumped out of a late 1990s silver Chevrolet Camaro and “beat him up for no reason.” The incident occurred on the second level of Parking Structure 6 at 4:20 p.m. The suspects were last seen driving southbound on 5100 East Campus Drive. Police have not yet located the suspects, but the incident is still being investigated. Anyone with information is asked to contact the SDSU Police Department.

Feb. 14 – SDSU Police issued another crime alert regarding a sexual assault that possibly occurred in one of the residence hall communities.

According to the crime alert, a female victim reported she was raped. Harshaw said a medical facility reported the incident.

Harshaw could not say whether or not the victim is a student.

There is no suspect information at this time. Police are conducting an investigation. Anyone with information should contact the SDSU Police Department at 619-594-1991.

—Compiled by Assistant Editor Kristina Blake

City

A.S. disapproves The Koala article

Aztec for Life video contest

Associated Students has read through a resolution condemning an article printed in last year’s The Koala titled, “How to rape a girl.”

The resolution was originally written by Rebecca King on behalf of the Panhellenic Association and A.S. is being encouraged to adopt the resolution as well. The resolution refers to the article as “cruel and hateful” and requests for an apology and “educational efforts” regarding rape, sexual assault and stereotypes to be funded by The Koala.

A.S. is encouraging students to participate in the “Aztec for Life” video contest. The video is a part of the SDSU Month celebration and prizes include a two-person trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The contest stipulates that participants detail how San Diego State has positively impacted their life.

Students interested in learning more about the contest can visit the Web site at www.sdsumonth.com.

—Compiled by Senior Staff Writer Sarah Kovash

2

OPINION

The Daily Aztec

EVEN ARTICHOKES HAVE HEARTS

POINTS TO PONDER

Racism has no place in media

O

utraged students with lists of demands often aren’t paid much genuine attention by campus officials.

However, this is not the case at UC San Diego. After recent incidents at UCSD concerning racial issues, a group of students presented a list of demands to administrators. On Friday morning, a group of about 200 UCSD students, mostly black, met with administrators to discuss the demands, mostly aimed at improving the campus’ racial climate. Some demands included: more funding for minority recruitment and retention programs, creation of a safe space on campus for black students, funding and space to create three AfricanAmerican-inspired art projects on campus and free tutors for black students structured similarly to what’s offered for athletes according to www.signonsandiego.com.

They were prompted by two incidents at UCSD. The first involved a party called a “Compton Cookout,” organized by members of the Pi Kappa Alpha. The second incident involved a campus media organization called The Koala, much like SDSU’s publication. UCSD’s Koala aired a live segment on closed-circuit television Thursday night supporting the party.

Also, a piece of cardboard was found in the television studio used to record the segment with the words “Compton lynching” written on it, apparently in reference to the party.

Students, particularly the small black population, were outraged and felt that their safety was threatened after the incidents. While the demands are understandable, and at best will be swiftly implemented by campus officials, it seems unlikely that they will make a sig-

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

nificant difference in the general attitude toward these and other students who face ridicule from these types of organizations or the questionable humor of the student body.

San Diego State faces the same challenges of balancing the rights of students to freely express themselves through various organizations and the publication of those organizations while trying to prevent issues such as the one that is taking place at UCSD. The issue comes down to those select organizations that publish distasteful, offensive content and often inspires feelings of fear, alienation and degradation to those individuals or groups discussed.

The really difficult part about all of this is distinguishing the fine line between lighthearted, well-intentioned humor and racist, sexist or vulgar content that offends readers or viewers. I understand that the goal of these organizations is not to please the university community or act as a traditional journalism platform, but I also hope their intentions are not to inspire fear and despair in the groups they choose to ridicule.

These organizations must start considering their impact on the various groups of people or individuals who are often victimized in their publications before they run into more trouble from either their school or the legal system.

When issues such as these occur, I wonder what kind of world we live in where this level of racism and degradation is accepted and committed by college-educated adults in exchange for laughs from those with an equally dis-

tasteful sense of humor.

While publications such as The Koala at SDSU claim to not write the highly provocative personals in the back pages of their publication, they still have the final hand in publishing what is found within the publication and therefore are still responsible for its content.

Publications such as The Koala at SDSU and UCSD must practice more diligence in moderating the content of their newspapers or television shows. It is easy to simply spew racist, sexist and vulgar language across a few tabloid-sized pages, but it takes a bit more talent to remain humorous and edgy while poking fun at stereotypes and keeping in good taste.

I hope that at some point these alternative student media organizations can move toward challenging the student body through more original satire rather than simply pushing buttons and picking on easy targets. Of course, this column probably won’t make much of an impact on the state of mind of UCSD’s The Koala editor Kris Gregorian, who declined to comment for the San Diego Union Tribune unless offered beer. But, I hope some will begin to look at these vulgar, unoriginal campus alternative media outlets a little differently after this incident. After all, seeing as the official purpose of The Koala is “to crush all your hopes and dreams with comedy,” I hope you do not consider comedy to include inspiring legitimate fear in the hearts of minority students.

Unemployment Number of people who will lose their unemployment check before the end of April:

2.7 million Number of Americans who have been unemployed for six months or longer:

6.3 million Number of new jobs needed per month to absorb entrants to the labor force:

100,000 Texting while driving

—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.

Ratio of teens who admit to talking on mobile phones while driving:

1/2 Ratio of teens who text and admit to texting while driving:

MASS MEDIUM

Current generation under stress A N DY L E WA N D OW S K I S TA F F C O L U M N I S T

MCT Campus

W

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

e are the Millennial Generation. Our overprotective parents and scheduled playdates with friends were the norm while growing up. We received trophies even when our team took last place. Our family and friends praised each one of us for being gifted. We were put on a college-career track in first grade and received good grades throughout school just for trying.

Now that we are in college, we are expected to continue this pressured pursuit of success. The only problem is society expects us to succeed sans stimulants.

There has always been a negative connotation in society regarding college students and drug use. Whether the drugs are prescribed by a doctor or sold at a fraternity party, it is students whom society regularly condemns.

Society needs to remove its stigma toward college students and drug abuse,

especially because society sets the standard itself.

Students today are faced with skyrocketing tuition, an unstable economy, increased unemployment rates, a weak job market upon graduation and the expectation to get decent grades through it all.

Today’s employers also expect a laundrylist of extracurricular activities, such as community service and internships. It’s not enough to simply go to class and get good grades. The pressures of modern college life inspire ways to cope.

In a San Diego Union Tribune article published last week, the use of stimulants on college campuses was highlighted as a threatening problem even though use remains relatively low. Students take drugs such as Adderall and Ritalin to boost energy and improve focus, often while completing an assignment or studying for an exam. When properly prescribed, stimulant drugs are meant to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and narcolepsy. The article also cited a survey conducted last spring of San Diego State undergraduates. It found that 8 percent illicitly use stimulants such as Adderall or Ritalin, which is a decrease of 4 percent from two years ago.

Abuse of any substance, whether by students or others, is never justified.

However, an understanding of the common motivations behind the abuse should be considered. A little empathy is in order.

For some, it’s Adderall and Ritalin, while for others it’s caffeine and yoga. It shouldn’t be an issue students find ways to stimulate their exhausted brains. After all, we face the same kind of real-world pressures that the faculty and staff of SDSU face. Balancing school, work and a personal life is no easy task for anyone.

Society needs to hold itself to the same level of scrutiny it places on college students in regards to drug use.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 15.2 million Americans aged 12 and older had taken a prescription pain reliever, tranquilizer, stimulant or sedative for non-medical purposes a year prior. While this figure also includes college-aged people, it gives greater context into the overarching issue of drug abuse in society. It’s not just students; it’s also our teachers, family and friends.

In addition, 10 percent of Americans, or about 27 million people, were taking antidepressants in 2005, according to USA Today. The same people who berate students for popping the occasional pill to aid their studying are the ones popping pills to fight the demons of modern life. We all have reasons for taking prescriptions drugs, some more legitimate than others. We just shouldn’t pretend one demographics’ use is more justified than another’s.

The issue is not the prevalence of misuse by college students but society chooses to single out this demographic.

The public chastises college students for essentially trying to cope with the same struggles and pressures of life that everyone faces.

Maybe society places too much faith in our generation, hoping we will overcome the same temptations it gave into long ago. And maybe we try too hard to fulfill their wishes, turning to stimulants as a way to cope. What’s certain is our micromanaged youth brought this upon us.

—Andy Lewandowski is a media studies 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.

more than

1/3

Percentage of teens who say they have been in a car when the driver was texting:

48% Don’t ask, don’t tell Number of current activeduty service members:

1.4 million Number of servicemen and women discharged because of their sexual orientation since 1993:

approximately

12,500

Ratio of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who are comfortable around gay service members:

3/4 —Compiled by Renee Villasenor

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

The Daily Aztec

3

Haiti tourism ethics questioned after quake K A R I L UU S TA F F W R I T E R

Testing new water sports, shopping at local craft vendors and sipping margaritas in a hammock are all typical activities on a pristine and private beach in Labadee, Haiti. Although this country may never be the same after the Jan. 12 earthquake, which flattened Port-au-Prince, Royal Caribbean International Cruise Line has been continuing with business as usual.

Currently, this nautical company is sifting through a sea of controversy as it continues to dock its ships at Labadee, which is a private resort about 90 miles away from the devastated Port-au-Prince.

Passengers who purchased tickets prior to the earthquake are all facing an ethical question of whether or not it’s wrong to enjoy themselves. Critics are outraged and disgusted by the thought of tourists playing in beaches while bodies continue to pile up in Port-au-Prince. However, Royal Caribbean insists on its positive influence by generating tourism for Haiti in the present and future.

According to www.cnn.com, Royal Caribbean has been one of Haiti’s largest foreign investors for almost 30 years and has spent $50 million developing Labadee.

“The idea to relax so close to the death and destruction was definitely awkward,” passenger Daniel Melleby said in a Newsweek article. “But it became clear pretty quickly that the people there were very happy and relieved to see us.”

Cruise line officials have been trying to reassure customers who are reconsidering going on a trip that includes a stop in Haiti.

“My view is it isn’t better to replace a visit to Labadee — or for that matter, to stay on the ship while it’s docked in Labadee — with a visit to another destination for a vacation,” Adam Goldstein, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, said on his blog. “Why? Because being on the island and generating economic activity for the straw market vendors, the hair-braiders and our 230 employees helps with relief while being somewhere else does not help.”

Nonetheless, according to Newsweek,

passengers still support Royal Caribbean’s choice, as 85 percent of guests who docked at Labadee ultimately went ashore.

According to its Web site, Royal Caribbean has made humanitarian efforts by donating $1 million to Haiti and used its ships to bring supplies such as rice, dried beans, powdered milk, water and canned goods. Royal Caribbean also stated that 100 percent of the company’s net revenue from the destination will be contributed to the relief effort.

In spite of this, opponents argue Royal Caribbean is making an unethical choice by continuing to visit Haiti and it could be doing more to help the country. Dr. Jess Ponting, a hospitality and tourism management assistant professor at San Diego State, believes now is not the time for such recreation and the company could offer more of its resources.

“There are assets Royal Caribbean has and could bring to the country to restore order such as use the ships to house people, provide hospital service or even house relief workers,” Ponting said. “As they come in, they take away valuable resources needed.

Cruise ships have even been used to house (Hurricane) Katrina victims.” He also said the company’s contribution to the Haitian economy is very minimal.

“The nation receives 800 percent more taxes from a regular visitor compared to cruise visitors who come for a day,” Ponting said. “The regular tourist pays more taxes for drinks and different things they purchase, whereas cruise ships are profitable because (the passenger’s money) doesn’t go into the economy, the money goes back to cruise.”

Most of Ponting’s research comes from the Center for Responsible Travel and he found that the Labadee beaches need extensive security to protect tourists. He said this is diverting much needed guards who can help restore order in Port-au-Prince.

“I don’t want to kick Royal Caribbean, but they don’t contribute to the economy,” he said. “They have been helping, but they continue with business as usual and it’s clearly not (enough).”

MCT Campus

The Royal Caribbean International Cruise Line has continued touring near the Haiti coast despite controversy..

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Web Savvy?

The Daily Aztec is looking for a volunteer Web Editor that will transition into a paid position for the 2010-2011 school year.

Students with Web experience are encouraged to apply.

Apply now at The Daily Aztec offices, located in the basement of the Education & Business Administration building.

For more information, call 619-594-3315.

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The Daily Aztec

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

FLAMING LIBERAL

Post-hurricane Mardi Gras extravaganza

W

hether you celebrated Mardi Gras in your own neighborhood, downtown, at a house party or just at home studying for school, it was hard to avoid the Mardi Gras hype. What many don’t realize is Mardi Gras is not just a one-day celebration in New Orleans, which is the epicenter of the celebration.

Being in the Big Easy for the past week, I was inundated in a different world that came to life every day of the week with southern music, dancing and drinks. New Orleans has its own culture and laws that you quickly become accustomed to.

The week began on Monday with the preMardi Gras day party, which was locally called Lundi Gras — or Fat Monday in English (Mardi Gras literally means Fat Tuesday in French). The Tuesday main event included parades and plenty of beads, but the party didn’t stop there.

Wednesday night I found myself being offered a drink on a side bar in the French Quarter and realized that in New Orleans, you can walk around with alcohol in the streets all the time — not just during Mardi Gras. Hurricanes were a popular drink and many places boasted the authentic homemade kind, though it tasted like vodka and red Kool-Aid to me.

All through the week roads were blocked off from cars and pedestrians took to the streets. People were dancing and singing everywhere. It was like a week of New Year’s Eve parties but with no definite end in sight.

On Thursday night, I made my way to a local gay bar called Oz. Don’t let the campy name fool you, the bar’s two-story redbrick walls and gothic-themed ceilings provided a modern and energetic atmosphere where you could dance all day long — literally. Bars such

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

as Oz serve liquor all day and night long since they are open 24 hours a day.

Even on Sunday night there was plenty to do before the locals headed to work. I found myself at Bourbon Pub and Parade on Bourbon Street. It offered $2 can beers and provided six large screen TVs playing classic and older music, from Little Orphan Annie to Backstreet Boys and all the good music most of us probably listened to in middle school. It was enough to make this 21-year-old feel old.

Most nights I’d find myself with a group of friends heading to the local Krystal near Canal Street. Krystal is basically a White Castle, but the fries aren’t as good. We don’t have either of these chains in Southern California, but it was definitely good comfort food on my early morning walk back to the hotel, not unlike our own Jack in the Box restaurants.

As we walked home from our night of dancing, we were greeted by an array of street performers on Bourbon Street and around the French Quarter playing great high-beat music and asking for tips.

Southern hospitality was definitely served up in generous helping before, during and after Mardi Gras. For New Orleans, it’s more than just a one-day event; it’s weeks of living life and having fun with both friends and strangers. Even when Mardi Gras has come and gone, New Orleans offers an open invitation for anyone looking for a good time.

Courtesy of Allan Acevedo / Opinion Editor

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

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

Courtesy of Allan Acevedo / Opinion Editor

Courtesy of Allan Acevedo / Opinion Editor

SPORTS

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

BASEBALL

The Daily Aztec

5

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Despite loss, Gwynn Poor second half leads sees improvement to sixth MWC defeat 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

With last week’s convincing victory against conference-leading and then-No. 23 TCU, it appeared the San Diego State women’s basketball team was playing up to its potential and had its season back on track as the Mountain West Conference tournament approaches.

That notion took a hit on Sunday when SDSU fell 73-55 at Utah.

UTAH 73 The loss marks the Aztecs’ fourth loss in SDSU 55 five games and third consecutive road defeat.

The frustration and disappointment the team has dealt with the past few weeks was evident after the game.

“We could have practiced better, we could have had better attention to detail,” head coach Beth Burns said to Chris Ello of www.goaztecs.com. “When you play a wellcoached team and a disciplined team, they make you pay.

“Even when we made our runs and tried to get it going, we’re just our own worst enemies sometimes.”

The match was closely contested throughout most of the action, featuring nine ties and an equal amount of lead changes. But with the Utes (16-9, 7-5 in MWC play) holding a one-point advantage with 12 minutes remaining, a Kalee

Whipple 3-pointer sparked an 11-4 run for the home team, which SDSU (15-10, 7-6 MWC) never recovered from.

The Aztecs committed 22 turnovers, with five players giving up the ball multiple times, and SDSU once again came up on the short end of the rebounding margin, 37-29.

Sophomore center Kalena Tutt came off the bench to lead the Aztecs on the glass with six rebounds, but Utah dominated the boards with center Taryn Wicijowski and Whipple pulling down 10 and nine rebounds, respectively.

“You practice it, you work on it, but that’s what I mean,” Burns said. “In yesterday morning’s practice, we gave up (what seemed like) hundreds of O-boards. (Tutt) gave us a little spark of the bench; I thought she did well. Allison (Duffy) has been struggling a little bit lately; we need her to help a little bit.

“It’s too much of a load for Jené (Morris) to carry: guarding their best player and scoring all those points.”

Burns was referencing the game-high 27 points the senior guard scored in the loss.

Morris shot 12-18 from the field while dishing out three assists and recording three steals.

SDSU now finds itself in a three-way tie for fourth place in the MWC with three games remaining on the regular season schedule. The Aztecs’ next game is at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Viejas Arena, when they take on second place BYU.

Glenn Connelly / Photo Editor

F E L I N A T A M BA KO S S TA F F W R I T E R

The San Diego State baseball team ended a long weekend of losing on Sunday with a different kind of loss.

“A loss is a loss, but this was a better loss if SOONERS 5 you could say that,” AZTECS 2 head coach Tony Gwynn said. “They really competed today; we just came up short.”

SDSU left Tony Gwynn Stadium with a 5-2 loss to No. 22 Oklahoma, but showed improvement from the three challenging games earlier in the weekend.

The rain seemed to clean up the Aztecs’ defense against the Sooners, but it left their offense stranded. Sunday afternoon was the only time in the four-game series when SDSU came out errorless, but it only managed six hits, the lowest total of the weekend.

“We made some good plays defensively,” Gwynn said. “Offensively we just didn’t get it done.”

Facing Oklahoma right-handed pitcher Bobby Shore, the Aztecs got on base in the first inning after a dropped ball by the shortstop, but closed the inning without plating the runner. SDSU could not get a run until the fifth inning when junior catcher Matt Parker doubled down the left field line and scored four pitches later, when freshman designated hitter Blair Moore got a base hit, his third of the weekend.

The Aztecs were unable to bring anyone else back to home plate until the bottom of the eighth. Senior second baseman Mitch Blackburn had a leadoff walk, moved to second on a balk and was able to take third on a passed ball. With two outs on the board,

junior outfielder Cory Vaughn was able to drive a single up the middle, bringing Blackburn home.

SDSU’s pitching staff struggled at first.

Junior pitcher Craig Rasmussen made his first start of the season and gave up three home runs in the first four innings. At the top of the fifth, sophomore John Pecoraro was given a chance to relieve Rasmussen.

“I wanted to keep everything low and get some ground balls after they lifted three out of the park,” Pecoraro said. “I felt really good. I could have gone longer.”

Pecoraro delivered four strikeouts and only allowed one run to score in his 3.2inning appearance.

“Pecoraro came in there and he threw strikes and changed speeds,” Gwynn said.

“That’s what you’re going to have to do to win games.”

The Aztecs switched players in and out of the lineup all weekend and never started the same batting order in any of the four games. Gwynn said he could read the team’s excitement and finally saw them calm down to a normal pace on Sunday.

“I think this group matured these last couple of days and now they’re going to kind of settle in,” Gwynn said. “You’re always going to be tested until you eventually win a game. We’re figuring out who we are and how we were supposed to play.”

“Especially after winning so much last year, this weekend was a learning experience for the whole team. It was good for us because we have 50-something more games to go. We’re not even close to done,” Added Pecoraro said.

SDSU’s next game will be played at 6 p.m. tonight at Tony Gwynn Stadium against UC Riverside.

BEHIND THE NUMBERS

SPONSORED BY

FOR SDSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Wins for SDSU in Mountain West Conference play this season

6

Losses for the Aztecs in MWC play this season

13

Wins for SDSU in MWC play last season Losses for the Aztecs in MWC play this season

5

Wins on the road in MWC play last year

3

Losses on the road in MWC play last year

WHERE: Tony Gwynn Stadium

2

Wins on the road in MWC play this year

WHY TO WATCH: After four straight losses to open the season, the San Diego State baseball team will try to get back on track against the Highlanders at home.

5

Losses on the road in MWC play this year

WHEN: 6 p.m.

Advanced Test Preparation

7

3

AT A GLANCE

VS.

Glenn Connelly / Photo Editor

San Diego State sophomore center Kalena Tutt recorded a team-high six rebounds in Sunday’s loss to Utah.

Advanced Test Preparation

Score Higher, Aztecs!

6

SPORTS

The Daily Aztec

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

SOFTBALL

Home-field magic wears off on Saturday in Classic D AN P E R E Z S E N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R

Maura Ochoa / Staff Photographer

The No. 1 Washington Huskies beat the Aztecs on Saturday, 5-0, in the Campbell / Cartier Classic.

Opening the season at home energizes players and seems to give them an extra step on their opponents. For the first two games of the Campbell / Cartier Classic, the San Diego State softball team was a prime example of that beneficial mind set.

SDSU (7-3) dominated in victories against UC Santa Barbara and Western Kentucky. Yet when the Aztecs reached the weekend, the home-field magic was nowhere to be found.

“We started real well and then fell off,” head HUSKIES 5 coach Kathy Van Wyk AZTECS 0 said. “We were very good at times and at others we were bad. It’s the first part of the season and that is when it’s OK for problems to arise because we can work on them.”

Last Thursday, SDSU played its first home game of the season against the Gauchos and controlled the entire game, riding the outstanding arm of junior pitcher Samantha Beasley.

Beasley went the complete seven innings only giving up one hit, allowing the Aztecs to tally six runs and safely come away with the victory.

“Sam (Beasley) threw a terrific game and it was exactly what we wanted to kick off the tournament,” Van Wyk said. “Our bats came alive and it’s pretty easy to get a win when the other team only gets the bat on the ball once.”

In the second game of the tournament against WKU, SDSU used the bat of redshirt junior second baseman Lindsey Marquez to get a victory. Marquez had a career day, collecting four hits, and was at the forefront of

the Aztecs’ 7-2 offensive charge.

“It felt really good to get back out there,” Marquez said. “I started to feel like my old self. It’s hard taking a year off and missing out because of injury. But the more I play though the more I feel super comfortable on the field.”

But in Saturday’s doubleheader, SDSU struggled and could never find its rhythm. The Aztecs dropped the first game to No. 1

“We had lots of ups and downs. But it’s better to get them out now.

We have time to work, time to improve and more time to simply get better.”

—Kathy Van Wyk, head coach Washington 5-0 and fell later to Penn State, 3-1. “(That) we left so many runners on base was what really kills me,” junior catcher Traci Wolf said. “We just need to probably put more effort in it and not swing for the meeting, but we didn’t need girls swinging for the fences. We need small ball and we can execute.”

SDSU finished the weekend 2-2 and left the Classic with an overall record of 7-3.

“We had lots of ups and downs,” Van Wyk said. “But it’s better to get them out now. We have time to work, time to improve and more time to simply get better.”

MEN’S TENNIS

SDSU battles rain and UCSB to pick up first victory AG U ST I N G O N Z A L E Z S TA F F W R I T E R

In Sunday’s match against UC Santa Barbara, the San Diego State men’s tennis team’s toughest opponent was almost the rainy weather.

“We had to work hard to get this match in today,” head coach Gene Carswell said. “Our guys even had to push water off the court with SDSU 4 squeegees before the It was literally a UCSB 2 match. team effort today.”

On Sunday afternoon, when SDSU battled a delay lasting more than two hours, the Aztecs (1-5) defeated UCSB 4-2 at the Aztec Tennis Center and picked up their first win of the season.

Juan Gomez, a senior from Ecuador, stayed perfect in singles matches this season, winning in straight sets 6-1, 6-4.

The other three SDSU points came in straight-set victories from senior Achim Ceban (6-3, 6-2) and juniors Giovanni Vaglietti (6-0, 6-3) and Tim Schulz van Endert (7-6 (4), 7-5).

Because of the long delay, the doubles matches weren’t played and the dismal conditions posed new challenges for the players.

For Schulz van Endert, the mental aspect was the biggest hurdle.

“We were ready to go home, but then all of a sudden the sun started shining and the coaches decided we would play,” Schulz van Endert said. “It was tough on the mind, but everyone dealt with it very well. We could

have used (the weather) as an excuse, but we really went out there and fought today.”

For Gomez, the physical condition of the court was more of a problem.

“It’s so different; it’s not like a regular match,” Gomez said. “When (the court) is wet it’s a little bit slower and I like to play when it’s hot and sunny; the game is just faster.”

Although Sunday marked the Aztecs’ first victory of the season, the foundation for the win was laid just a day earlier when SDSU took on No. 6 UCLA (4-2) in Los Angeles.

The Aztecs won two out of three doubles matches to take the point against one of the best teams in the country. The match was much more competitive than the final score of 5-2 indicated. “(The turning point) started (Saturday) when we played UCLA,” Schulz van Endert said. “We all had to step our game up and we did. We’re definitely playing better as a team, and everyone was a lot more confident after we came close to beating the No. 6 team in the country.”

SDSU’s schedule has been tough, as it has already faced four nationally ranked teams this season and it’s only getting tougher. The Aztecs travel to USC today to take on the defending NCAA champion Trojans (9-1).

Although SDSU faces a daunting opponent, Carswell isn’t fazed.

“When we go into a match like this one there will be no lack of respect (for USC),” Carswell said. “But still we’re not afraid of anyone. We’re going to go after them. This team can do great things and this match will be another opportunity to show that.”

AT A GLANCE WHEN: 3:30 p.m.

VS.

WHERE: Los Angeles WHY TO WATCH: The San Diego State men’s tennis team will travel to USC today to take on the defending NCAA champion Trojans.

David J. Olender / Assistant Photo Editor

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HUMOR: TOADSTOOL CHRONICLES

Curious case of ‘Avatar’ blues

I

saw “Avatar” for the first time the other day. Here’s what happened when I walked out of the theater: I took a look around, sighed and realized how utterly mundane life was. But that only lasted for about an hour; then my life got exciting again. Because my middle name’s Adventure.

James Cameron’s visually stunning almost three-hour sensually enticing colorful splurge of a movie is actually causing some to feel what is being called “postAvatar depression.” My depression was a short-lived existential tiff. The only thing that has caused prolonged psychological discomfort is the fact that I got aroused watching aliens kiss.

I’m considering therapy. I don’t know if that’s chill. Then I imagined their little tentacles in their tails intertwining, and I slumped back in my seat and put my head down. Then I put my popcorn over my groin because I was wearing basketball shorts.

Watching “Avatar” makes you want to go to the rainforest, dye your skin blue, whittle a spear and bomb a Mayan village. Then you’d apologize to the Mayans and tell them that you were a Marine sent on a reconnaissance mission, then your little Mayan love interest gets mad at you for

N O A H H E N RY CONTRIBUTOR

deceiving her and then the whole village ostracizes you. Then you just flat out bomb the village, so that not even a dung beetle survives. Because you don’t want to totally copy the movie.

We live in a dying world. This seems to be the justification for “Avatar” depression. Although, it’s entirely too true that people who are negatively affected by “Avatar” suffer from a whole slew of other issues as well. If these people magically transformed into Na’vis and were living on Pandora, they’d just find other reasons to complain. They’d whine about their disobedient Mountain Banshee or their tail getting in the way when they have to sit down; they’d bitch about the rent at Hometree or complain when some Hexapede craps on their lawn.

These people just sound awful. I’d rather hang out with a piece of bark than someone whose soul was compromised by a movie about 10-foot-tall cat Smurfs with hops. There’s actually a whole support community online for these people — ways in which you can cure your post“Avatar” depression. I’ve actually

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

have a few ideas too. Here I will share with you “Noah’s 12-Step Program for How to Cure Your Post-‘Avatar’ Depression.”

One: Wash the blue paint off your body. Two: Bury your dog because you just had to reenact the scene when Jake Sully fights off the Viperwolves in the forest.

Three: Put away that framed picture of Neytiri beside your bed.

Four: Wash it off. Five: Go to your local pub. Six: Buy a few pitchers of beer. Seven: Wink at the cute girl across the bar. Eight: Tell her you own a BMW. Nine: Take her back to your apartment.

Ten: Make some drinks and put on Al Green. Eleven: Lay her on the bed. Twelve: Boom, baby.

If you have a weak constitution I suggest you don’t see “Avatar.” If you have a weak heart I suggest you don’t see “Avatar.”

If you’re nursing or pregnant I suggest you don’t see “Avatar.” If you bawled for weeks after witnessing Jack Dawson’s pale, little face sink into the icy waters of the North Atlantic, I suggest you watch “Tooth Fairy.”

BY LINDA C. BLACK, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (2/23/10) Whatever ails you in the coming year, dreams provide surprising cures. Pay attention to the messages that come to you when you're sleeping or simply daydreaming.This powerful source of feelings and symbols helps you deal with family issues.You may shift old ways of thinking, letting go of wornout attitudes.

ARIES (March 21 - April 19) - Today is a 5 Share a musical experience with friends. It could be a concert or an e-mail link to a new tune. Relax in the comfort of a familiar venue with people you know.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is a 7 - As the Moon enters the sign of Cancer, you find yourself freed up to pursue more than one great opportunity. Power is yours to wield.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is a 7 If you bring all your powers of persuasion to the table, you'll find that others defer without objection. Argue angrily and you'll lose your audience.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is a 6 Every ache and pain you wake up with can be relieved with a hot shower. Sing your way to relaxation.Then take charge of the day and do as you wish.

LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is a 6 - Put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard and let the ideas flow.Take extra care with medicines and monitor dosages diligently.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is a 6 It's time to bring your ideas to the table.

Words flow smoothly as you express yourself to team members or family. Wait for the final result. It's worth it.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is a 7 You need imagination to penetrate a tangled web of concepts and feelings. Free your words, but don't etch them in stone.

There's room for different points of view.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is 6 Rein in early-morning enthusiasm. Others aren't quite ready.You'll convince them later. Celebrate with ethnic food.Try something new.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today is a 6 - Uncork all of your persuasive powers.You can use them at home, in social settings or in a confrontation over money.

Dial down your opinion.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is a 7 - Your partner really needs a vacation.

If you can't plan it instantly, at least schedule it. Choose a destination not too far from home.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is a 7 - Focus on written work.You make headway on a paper or report. Include unusual tidbits of information to make the material more interesting.

PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is a 6 Expect a lot of conversation today. A future goal doesn't require immediate completion. Exercise patience in these early stages.The magic happens in the aging process. © 2010,TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

—Noah “Adventure” Henry is an English senior.

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

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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.

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

CROSSWORD

EPIC CLOUDS Staff Photographer Jeff Lewis captured this black and white photo of dark, foreboding clouds rolling in over the New Zealand landscape.

ACROSS 1 Have status 5 Less adorned, as walls 10 Wordless singing style 14 Land parcel unit 15 Big gig venue 16 Heading for a chore list 17 Devotee of a Sistine Chapel feature?

19 Charles Lamb’s nom de plume 20 Sixth sense, briefly 21 Carnival city 22 Portage vessels 24 Devotee of green ice cream?

27 Final furniture coat 30 Round at the tavern 31 Pennsylvania Dutch group 32 Buddy of Tom and Dick?

33 Important time 36 Pop choice 37 Numbers after the decimal point 38 Top of the glass 39 __ out: barely make 40 Tadpoles’ milieus 41 Like fresh celery 42 Capital where “Aida” premiered 43 Trained animal’s repertoire 44 Devotee of thunderstorms?

48 Idolizes 49 Fish eggs 50 In the style of 53 Hand, in Juárez 54 Devotee of a classical language?

EDITED BY RICH NORRIS AND JOYCE LEWIS

Solution available online at www.TheDailyAztec.com 58 “Beg pardon” 59 Express a view 60 Uncooperative contraction 61 Annoyed 62 Looks after 63 Stopping points DOWN 1 Meet event 2 Suit toppers 3 Vacation option 4 Sushi choice 5 Send into exile 6 Special lingo 7 Arbiter with a whistle 8 “Bambi” doe 9 Oater landowners 10 Workers with pads 11 Punctuation in

play dialogue 12 French farewell 13 Best man’s offer 18 Joyce’s countrymen 23 Like a screened porch 24 Tower city 25 Leave high and dry 26 “Two mints in one” sloganeer 27 Confront 28 “No harm done” 29 River where baby Moses was found 32 Artist Matisse 33 Rock star Clapton 34 Insurer’s exposure 35 Metal band’s equipment 37 Vending machine feature

38 Place to hold mutineers 40 Cracker spread 41 Inhumane 42 Auto trim 43 Rare orders, perhaps 44 Eastern priests 45 Potato source 46 Casualty 47 Nine-to-five routine, to many 50 Ringer of many bells 51 Allow to use for a while 52 Creative fields 55 Class clown, often 56 Anchovy holder 57 Be in the hole for