The Daily Aztec - Vol. 95, Issue 111 by The Daily Aztec

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Vol. 95, Issue 111

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

Police issue sex offender alert A registered sex offender has been spotted on campus

PRO / CON Two columnists debate whether or not religiously based student groups should receive public funds. page 3 TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

R O B E R T M ORENO S TA F F W R I T E R

After receiving information from the County of San Diego Probation Department, the San Diego State Police Department issued a community alert for registered sex offender Jesse James Spruill III, who also goes by the name Josiah Joel Palmer. The alert was issued Friday afternoon and is still in effect, SDSU Police

Capt. Lamine Secka said. The alert was posted on the doors of the Love Library and around Villa Alvarado residence hall, the two areas on campus where Spruill has been spotted. SDSU also alerted faculty, staff and students in a mass e-mail. Secka said Spruill is not a SDSU student. According to the alert, Spruill, who is 34 years old, has probation conditions prohibiting him from visiting colleges and universities. “He (Spruill) is not wanted for anything unless he steps on campus,” Secka said. “Once he steps on campus he is in violation of his probation.” Spruill has targeted college-

aged women in the past. The alert lists Spruill as a black male, weighing 190 pounds, 5 feet 9 inches tall with black hair and brown eyes. The alert also said he has no known vehicle. “The safety of SDSU’s community is our foremost concern,” Gina Jacobs, SDSU media relations manager, said. Secka said as of yet, there is no indication that Spruill has targeted anyone at SDSU and it is not known whether or not Spruill is armed. Anyone who sees Spruill on campus is advised to call SDSU police at 619-594-1991. For more information, visit the Megan’s Law website at www.meganslaw.ca.gov.

Courtesy of the Department of Justice

TRANSPORTATION A writer from The Daily Aztec forgoes car travel to find out if public transportation is feasible. page 6

SPORTS

Jeans used for a good cause R E E M NO U R S E N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R

2010 NFL DRAFT Find out where the Mountain West Conference’s stars landed in last weekend’s NFL Draft. page 7

TODAY @ SDSU Lecture 3:30 p.m. SDSU Library, Room LL430 Assistant Professor Edward Blum will discuss Mark Twain. The event is free and open to the public. For more of today’s headlines, visit:

www.thedailyaztec.com

CONTACT GENERAL INFORMATION 619.594.4199

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, FARYAR BORHANI 619.594.4190 EDITOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

CITY EDITOR, WHITNEY LAWRENCE 619.594.7781 CITYEDITOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

FEATURES EDITOR, NICOLE CALLAS 619.594.6976 FEATURE@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

SPORTS EDITOR, EDWARD LEWIS 619.594.7817 SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

OPINION EDITOR, ALLAN ACEVEDO 619.594.0509 OPINION@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR, ALLIE DAUGHERTY 619.594.6968 TEMPO@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

ART DIRECTOR, ELENA BERRIDY 619.594.6979 ARTDIRECTOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

PHOTO EDITOR, GLENN CONNELLY 619.594.7279 PHOTO@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

WEB EDITOR, MYLENE ERPELO 619.594.3315 WEB@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

ADVERTISING 619.594.6977

INDEX OPINION.........................................................................3 TRAVEL & ADVENTURE...............................................5 SPORTS.............................................................................7 CLASSIFIEDS..................................................................11 THE BACK PAGE.........................................................12

Two organizations are using fashion as a vehicle to speak against sexual assault and domestic violence to promote the message that rape has nothing to do with what women wear. San Diego State’s Survivor Outreach & Support organization has been working with Jeans 4 Justice, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending sexual violence through creative awareness campaigns, to co-sponsor a jeans fashion show at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow in Scripps Cottage. About 22 models, including SOS members and SDSU students, will showcase handmade designed jeans representing different stories and messages about sexual violence. Jeans 4 Justice was inspired by and founded after a 1999 case in the Italian High Court, in which a rape conviction was overturned because the victim was wearing jeans, according to the Jeans 4 Justice website, www.jeans4justice.org. The court concluded, “jeans cannot even be partly removed without the effective help of the person wearing them … and it is impossible if the victim is struggling with all her might.” “It doesn’t matter what you wear,” Danielle Palomar, SOS president, said. “If you’re wearing jeans or a short skirt, it doesn’t matter. It can happen to anyone.” Palomar said she was raped last year by a young male she had met at a party she attended with some friends. “I was wearing jeans and a tank top and my hair was in a ponytail; I wasn’t even looking cute,” she said. Palomar said they weren’t drinking. The guy asked her if she wanted to go sit in his car because it was cold outside and although she was hesitant at first, she agreed, she said. “He was kissing me and I stopped really quickly and made clear I didn’t want this but he wouldn’t stop,” Palomar said. “And you can say the rest is history.” Palomar said it was a difficult time for her because she had nowhere to go when she wanted to tell her story and she hopes that SOS and the fashion show will inspire more women to feel comfortable coming forward and sharing their experiences. “(SOS) made me feel like it was OK to talk about it and that I wasn’t alone,” she said. “I found people I

Courtesy of Jeans 4 Justice

San Diego State students design jeans for a fashion show that aims to create awareness against sexual assault and domestic violence.

could talk to that it wasn’t awkward with. It feels like I have a huge weight off my shoulders and it also feels like I have support. I can just share my story with other girls and it’s very empowering ... so that other people can share their experiences with me and that’s really important to me.” Palomar will wear jeans designed to tell her story. Janaye Culton, SOS member and artist, said this fashion show has given her a chance to give back through her art and use it as a medium to promote awareness. She’s designing two pairs of jeans for the show, one of them for herself. “As a female, there’s a very prevalent and constant worry about getting attacked by someone,” Culton said. “This cause is really important to me and I knew survivors myself.” Another artist, Donica Polce, said she designs her jeans as a hobby and she thought this show would be fun because the goal is to create awareness in an attractive way. “It was perfect that they were

doing a jeans fashion show,” she said. “I thought it was perfect because I love to do it anyways.”

“As a female, there’s a very prevalent and constant worry about getting attacked ... ” —Janaye Culton, SOS member and artist Polce became a member of SOS because she believed in its mission to provide help for sexual assault victims. “I’m not a victim or survivor but I can relate because when I was younger I was pressured into having sex,” she said. “I know what a helpless feeling it is and not having anyone to talk to.” Polce said she had a friend who

was “physically forced” into having sex by her drunk boyfriend in high school. A lot of girls don’t know what to do after incidents like this, she said. Polce will also be modeling a pair of jeans she designed herself. Monica Edelman, SOS secretary, said she’s really excited for the show because it’s a unique event and she has never heard of anything of its kind. “Everyone has a story so it’s a chance for everyone to express themselves in a creative and approachable way,” Edelman said. “It’s bringing a really positive vibe to an issue that a lot of people see as dark and depressing.” The show will be the first campus event co-sponsored by Jeans 4 Justice. A reception consisting of a “surprise” dance show, a poem reading and various speakers will follow the runway show. SOS’ co-founders will give a closing speech. The event is free for everyone. For more information, visit www.sdsu-sos.org.

U S D S to

www.FathersLoveLetter.com

fchapel.org

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

OPINION

The Daily Aztec

Question: Should private faith-based groups receive recognition from SDSU?

MCT Campus

THE REALIST

FLAMING LIBERAL

AGO deserves public Discriminatory groups support the way it is must remain private

he U.S. government is on the verge of deciding how far it can extend its definition of discrimination. By this summer, any Christian student group could be labeled discriminatory if it refuses to allow anyone, including atheists, among its leadership ranks. Last Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard the case of the Christian Legal Society, which has asked the UC Hastings College of the Law to recognize it as an official campus organization supported by school financing and other benefits, like all other student clubs. Hastings refused to give the CLS public support because it claims it is discriminatory to require its voting members to sign a statement of faith, which allows them to exclude members if they show "unrepentant participation in or (advocate) a sexually immoral lifestyle." CLS allows any student from Hastings to join, but also uses this provision to ensure that the leadership of the organization remains dedicated to Christian principles. Hastings has barred the CLS from campus recognition for trying to uphold its Christian beliefs, stating that no recognized campus group may exclude people for their religious or sexual orientation. Currently, Alpha Gamma Omega, the only Christian-based fraternity at San Diego State, faces a similar dilemma. As a Christ-centered fraternity, AGO’s membership is open to everyone, but it maintains a bylaw that requires its officers to sign a statement of faith. SDSU and the Interfraternity Council excludes it from the Greek community and council recognition for this reason. Pushing political correctness cannot overrun religious liberty in this country. These policies violate the CLS and AGO’s rights to free speech and assembly and distort the entire purpose of separating church and state. The Founding Fathers included this provision to ensure that no particular religion was favored and that the law would respect all faiths. Christian student organizations are barred from public support because they want to uphold their core beliefs. If the Supreme Court sides with Hastings, the government will grant itself the authority to ban not only Christian student groups, but all student groups from public institutions that ask their leadership to adhere to the principles the group itself was founded upon. There is nothing unreasonable about requiring officers of a student group to maintain the core beliefs the organization promotes, regardless of whether they are religious-based or not. Our country’s historical definition of “discrimination” and excluding people from groups for their beliefs are two fundamentally different concepts. Discrimination is judging a person and excluding them for their status or their legally recognized identity. Both the CLS and AGO grant anyone membership who wishes to explore the values and beliefs promoted by Christianity. By excluding non-Christians among their membership from officer positions, they ensure

T O M HAMMEL S TA F F C O L U M N I S T

that the focus of their organizations remain dedicated to their founding purpose. Excluding those who hold contradicting beliefs or values is a common practice every group uses to remain unified toward its objectives. The Christian religion asks its followers to ascribe to particular principles if they wish to be included in its community, so it is inherently exclusive on the basis of belief. If a community doesn’t hold its leadership accountable to the specific beliefs or goals that bound it together in the first place, then its unified objectives will either collapse or begin to fade. Bylaws such as these are crucial for holding generations of new members accountable to the organization’s original purpose. AGO was originally founded at SDSU as a Christ-centered fraternity in 1979. Its Christian focus has survived more than 30 years with these bylaws, which barred it from support from the IFC and SDSU. “We would like to be treated equally. It’s discriminatory for SDSU to have a policy like this,” Nick Davis, the president of AGO, said in response to this exclusionary practice. “We would like to be on the IFC.” AGO should not give up its practices for this unjust exclusionary policy. An AGO chapter at UC Los Angeles is recognized without abandoning its requirement to sign a statement of faith, which it instilled after members of the fraternity attempted to make it secular in the ‘80s, according to members of AGO. Christian organizations face a historical challenge that other minority cultural or religious organizations do not. According to a Pew Forum research study, 78.4 percent of American adults are Christian and Christianity is deeply ingrained into our society. Many people still identify themselves as nominally Christian even if they do not actively practice the religion or truly believe in it. In the U.S., this is a rare phenomenon largely exclusive to Christianity. AGO does not want to become Christian only by name, stop practicing its religion, or become just another social fraternity. Its bylaw protects it from gradually giving up its dedication to its founding purpose and identity like so many other fraternities and sororities in our country already have. We must legally respect all religions in this country. We defend the rights of those belonging to minority religions every day. Christians deserve the same protection. SDSU should include AGO on the IFC exactly how it is and start respecting religious liberties.

—Tom Hammel is a political science sophomore. —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.

ax-payer dollars should never be used to further the special interest of one group who works to discriminate against another. Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard a case of a Christian group at the University of California Hastings School of Law which was not given the same status or recognition as other clubs on campus because it does not allow non-Christians to serve as voting members of the organization. This group, the Christian Legal Society, similar to San Diego State's own Alpha Gamma Omega fraternity, requires officers to sign an oath where they acknowledge their Christian faith. Members who do not sign this pledge are barred access to leadership positions within the group. While I can logically see how a Christian group would want to maintain and ensure the proper observance of the religious values and tenants of their faith, this is a private function and as such should not seek public sponsorship or funding. Religious groups can't have it both ways. They can't discriminate against others with the protections afforded to them as a private religious organization and then in turn claim to be just like any other public student group and demand recognition and funding like other groups on campus. Stating that religious groups such as these should receive university support, funding and representation forgoes the fact that we attend a public university supported in large part by tax-payer funding. There is little difference between these groups and youth groups such as the Boy Scouts of America, which I believe openly discriminates against atheist and gay youth. In essence, this organization promotes a private faith and value, which it has every right to do. What it doesn’t have a right to do — and this is what the court needs to recognize — is receive any kind of state-sponsored recognition or support a discriminatory organization. If this group wants to claim that they are a private entity not subject to the same civil rights laws as public entities and businesses, that’s fine, but don’t expect any government subsidies or support. We have a separation of church and state in this nation. I would never say AGO and the Christian group at Hastings doesn't have a right to meet and assemble, but neither has the right to have discriminatory rules in place and expect a public entity to provide them with direct services and funding. Discriminatory religious ideals cannot continue to be masked under the claim to freedom of speech. Its speech is not being limited; it is just not being further promoted by public entities. If these groups want to receive taxpayer sponsored support, it can’t limit its leadership positions to people of different or no faith nor to people of different sex-

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

ual orientations. There are many other faith-based and value groups on college and high school campuses, and they function well by allowing all people to join and participate at all levels or the organization, including having voting rights. This isn’t a special rule put in place for only faith-based organizations. To be recognized as a public club on a public university campus, you have to play by the rules. And the rules say do not discriminate against the basis of religion or sexual orientation. All other groups are expected to abide by these rules and it would not be fair to make special exceptions for Christian-based organizations which want to function as public student groups but maintain their private group ability to limit membership based on identity. We have a Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Questioning student union on campus and this group welcomes all people to join and participate in events, programs and even officer elections. They don’t have rules saying you need to be gay to run for office or even that you need to support marriage equality. All people are given the opportunity to participate and speak their minds and even run to be an officer. Now, granted, if you run to be an officer of the LGBTQ and you don’t support equality, you may not get many votes, but there are no rules against you running. Similar policies could work for these groups as well. Rather than mandate through rules that all officers and members can’t be gay, let the views of the club be known openly and let people vote for who they want to represent them. If most people believe that a gay person can’t be a good Christian, then that person will simply not be elected. I think there is more to gain for these groups if they stop holding fast to such strict rules and open their membership. I think they will be surprised by the large number of gay-identified Christ worshippers. First Amendment rights are important, but you can’t use them to justify asking for tax-payer funded support and recognition from a public entity when you are trying to say you are allowed to discriminate because you are a private entity. I’m sorry but you can’t have your cake and eat it, 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.

OPINION

The Daily Aztec

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

EVEN ARTICHOKES HAVE HEARTS

Policy for US workers abroad is impractical

MCT Campus

Government policies place unreasonable restrictions on expatriate workers and are increasingly forcing many of them to renounce their American citizenship. With job prospects in the U.S. unfavorable, many students may be looking to work abroad after graduation. If the government does not start to consider what is in the best interest of its citizens abroad, it risks losing valuable members of the U.S. society.

ith graduation looming on the horizon for many San Diego State students, the prospect of getting a job is in the back of many people’s minds. Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past year, you know that the job market isn’t in favor of recent graduates. In fact, despite reports that the economy is strengthening, San Diego County’s unemployment rate reached 11 percent last month while the state’s unemployment rate hit a high of 12.6 percent. Given these statistics, it would not be surprising if many graduates consider leaving San Diego, or even California, to find work. This may be an easier prospect to consider for the more than 1,600 SDSU students who studied abroad last year, who might consider leaving the country for work after graduating. In some cases, this might be an easier route, especially when looking into jobs such as teaching English abroad, of

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

which there are many positions throughout the world. However, in other cases, the U.S. government is making it difficult for these expatriates to continue to work long-term outside of the U.S. The U.S. is the only industrialized country that taxes its citizens on income earned abroad, even when they are taxed in their country of current residence, according to The New York Times. Also, new banking regulations contained in the Patriot Act make it difficult for expatriates to continue use of U.S. banks, as they have addresses outside of the U.S. Both of these factors are contributing to a record numbers of expatriates renouncing U.S. citizenship. There were 235 renunciations in 2008 and 743 last year. Increased bank regulations are understandably aimed at curbing tax evasion and preventing the funding of terrorist groups. However, the government failed to

think through the legislation and what harm it could do to the 5.2 million Americans estimated to be living abroad. When a security measure inadvertently hinders the ability of so many people to access their own money within their country of citizenship, sometimes forcing them to consider renunciation, something should be done immediately to reform it. Instead, the Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner, responded to at least one specific complaint saying, “nothing in U.S. financial law and regulation should make it impossible for Americans living abroad to access financial services here in the United States.” But treasury officials have also stated that banks are free to ignore this advice. What is even more abhorrent about the government’s handling of expatriates working abroad is double taxation. Many expatriates are being driven to renounce their citizenship after weighing their options and finding that neither themselves nor their children, who would have to face the same

regulations, benefit enough from U.S. services to justify paying taxes in both the U.S. and their country of residence. This is taxation without representation and this hurts American businesses and U.S. citizens. The U.S. government cannot continue to act selfishly without the consideration of its citizens living abroad. The current regulations and laws in place act as a tightening grip on the finances of those honestly working abroad. Americans should not be forced to renounce their citizenship in order to continue their lifestyle, especially when they are not doing anything to deserve the constraints placed on them. It is understandable why the government is attempting to help itself and protect its citizens through this regulation. However, when it simultaneously hurts other Americans, regardless of their country of residence, these laws and restrictions should be re-evaluated. If the government neglects to address this problem head-on, the repercussions could have a snow-

ball effect as it becomes more difficult for Americans to work and live abroad, more Americans may renounce their citizenship and American companies will have a harder time competing with foreign companies. With the U.S. job market suffering, the government should understand that many recent graduates may consider building a career abroad, and should reconstruct its current policies to capitalize on the opportunity, rather than making it harder for Americans to work and live abroad. Recent graduates may depend on reform to see a brighter future than what the U.S. is currently able to provide.

—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.

NEWS TO KNOW Goldman Sachs Group Inc. CEO Lloyd Blankfein will testify today on the company’s role in the subprime mortgage crisis before the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a civil fraud lawsuit against Goldman Sachs. The company has denied the accusation that it misguided investors on the purchasing of complicated mortgage-related items.

gay or lesbian from serving in the military. Protesters handcuffed themselves to a fence outside of the White House. The protest happened the day after President Barack Obama told citizens in a speech in Los Angeles that he would repeal the policy. Among the protesters was Lt. Dan Choi, an openly gay member of the military who has been discharged and arrested for speaking out against “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”.

NATO troops in Afghanistan killed four Afghan civilians in eastern Khost Province last week. The troops opened fire on the civilians in a vehicle, which held a police officer, two shopkeepers and a 12-year-old boy. NATO claimed the victims were insurgents but offered no proof. A week prior to this incident, U.S. troops in Kandahar killed five civilians and wounded 18 who were traveling in a passenger bus.

Last week, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme religious leader, said that Obama’s “Nuclear Posture Review” was the equivalent to “atomic threats against Iranian people.” Khamenei’s comment was directed at the segment of Obama’s review that stated the U.S. would never strike a non-nuclear nation judged to be in compliance with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Despite sanctions imposed by the United Nations, and the U.S.’s demands for Iran to halt uranium enrichment and allow inspections, Iran is continuing with its nuclear program. The U.S. is now advocating for stricter sanctions on Iran.

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During a meeting last week, French President Nicolas Sarkozy ordered legislation banning Islamic veils that hide the face in some public places and in the street. French citizens were surprised by the suggested full ban of the burqa-like veils because of a recent six-month parliamentary inquiry that found it would raise constitutional and enforcement issues. The French Parliament will discuss and lay out a nonbinding resolution toward women keeping their faces uncovered in public on May 11. A similar law in nearby Belgium which bans face-covering veils in public is predicted to be passed in July. At least six people were arrested in Washington, D.C. last week for protesting the government policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” which bans those who are openly

MCT Campus

An oil rig performing exploratory drilling nearly 50 miles off the coast of Louisiana exploded last Tuesday, leaving four critically injured and 11 missing. A lawsuit is being filed against the companies associated with the explosion, including BP and Transocean Ltd., for negligence. The exact cause of the explosion is being investigated. The incident is one of America’s deadliest offshore drilling accidents within the past 50 years.

—Compiled by Staff Columnist Sally Schilling

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

The Daily Aztec

Writer breaks the bungee jump threshold

s I cautiously stepped over the ledge to the 1-foot wide platform, my mind and body were at battle. While my brain was telling me to jump, my legs were saying otherwise, refusing to budge. I wasn’t able to feel my body, and I was completely numb to the fact that I was attached to a full body harness. I promised myself I wouldn’t glance at what was beneath me. Two seconds later, I had to remind myself to breathe because the view from below had knocked the wind out of my body. I could only lean back against the safety of the bridge, mentally preparing myself for what was to come. The invisible threshold made me start to question my sanity for wanting to try this. I was wondering at that point why I hadn’t stuck with my initial plan of shopping for heels. Instead, I was faced with what seemed to be the final moments of my life. The safety of trying on shoes at the mall had never sounded so comforting. It all started five miles, two hours and 54 minutes earlier. I was enthusiastic about performing the same jump that Jake Pavelka and Vienna Girardi from this season’s “The Bachelor” performed during their date. I recalled seeing Pavelka, a grown man, practically crying on television as the couple was preparing for the jump. The only words of reassurance from Ron Jones of Bungee America were, “Just go for it. Go big or go home.” This advice seemed to be more of an advertisement for Nike than an inspirational speech. It’s also easy to say when you’re a certified skydiver and went through college on a bull-riding scholarship. This advice didn’t exactly help a petite girl such as myself who favors weekly manicures, commonly wears heels to even the most casual events and can’t get enough rhinestone-embellished accessories. I was certain I was in for one very unique experience. Hopefully a bull rider’s advice pertained to that of a dancer. After I hiked five miles to the bridge, we all began learning how to perform the jump. During jump school it was sometimes difficult to listen to the instructor, Mykel Sargeant, when frequent screams sounding like bloody murder drowned out his most important pieces of advice. Luckily, Sargeant joked that no matter how you fall, professionally or with flailing arms and legs, it would still be considered bungee jumping. However, it would come down to

R AC H E L S W A N S O N S TA F F W R I T E R

either looking like a complete fool or an agile acrobat straight from Cirque du Soleil. As I watched the two extremes, those who flawlessly achieved a triple front flip during their plummet and those who looked so bad they made even me feel uncomfortable, I hoped to aim for the former. Suddenly, an hour had gone by. Before I knew it, I was seconds away from my turn. I found myself frantically asking the instructors obvious questions. “So, I’ll be stopped a few feet before I hit the bottom, right?” Watching the rushing river smash into the massive boulders underneath the bridge did not offer any reassurance. It might have been a picturesque scene had I not been jumping straight into it — today, it resembled a fiery pit of hell. I was considering what the headline would be if I ended up on the front page of the newspaper, if I so happened to land on those boulders below. This is exactly when Jones’ initial advice came into play. I just had to do it, and that was it. So, after stalling as long as possible on the platform, a whole 15 seconds, the countdown began. The staff recited “5-4-3-2-1 BUNGEE” in perfect harmony — and I went for it. Time virtually stood still as my face advanced faster and faster toward the boulders directly beneath me. Immediately following what I thought were the last seconds of my existence, an unreal force propelled me back toward where I came from. As I was being retracted, I experienced time in fast-forward. Looking exactly like a human pendulum, I had several daringly close opportunities to reach out and touch underneath the bridge. Between my complete weightlessness, the wind rushing through my hair and the pitch of my scream penetrating every onlooker’s ear drum, I was certain that this time warp replicated the same sensation as time travel. It’s deemed the most exhilarating, adrenaline-pumping activity in the world — which is definitely an understatement. I later realized that I probably hadn’t earned many style points. My previous plan was to perfectly execute a swan dive. Unfortunately, it did not turn out as planned. Rather, a mere nosedive existed as my sole bragging right. My initial question as I stepped over the

Courtesy of Rachel Swanson

ledge onto the platform was, “Why would someone ever come up with this?” This question is now self-explanatory after experiencing the most exhilarating, enlivening event of my life. I’m no daredevil or adrenaline junkie like the staff at Bungee America, but this once in

a lifetime experience turned into something I plan to enjoy again.

—Rachel Swanson is a journalism freshman. —This column does not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Daily Aztec.

Traveling with an organic, agricultural twist S HANNON C LA R K S TA F F W R I T E R

Courtesy of WWOOF.org

Studying abroad can be a great way to experience a subject in ways that might never have been expected. However, with a hefty price tag attached to such an endeavor, it’s no wonder why many students find it difficult to manage making that trek in addition to already mounting student loans. While some insist the price is worth it, and with good reason, the financial problems posed by traveling abroad still remain. The solution for some is in adventuring a different way. World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms is an organization designed for the eco-friendly traveler with a modest budget and strong work ethic. The organization essentially matches volunteers, known as WWOOFers, with organic farms all across the world. Farmers receive volunteers to work their farms in exchange for room and board. WWOOFers gain firsthand experience in organic farming and the international perspective that comes from traveling. Founded in the United Kingdom in 1971, WWOOF has since expanded to five other continents. Potential WWOOFers are able to read about and communicate with farms before finalizing travel plans, which helps to ease the worries that come with traveling internationally. The farms come in every shape and size and with destinations in nearly every type of environment, so there’s sure

to be a fit for everyone. Additionally, all locations listed on the WWOOF website are verified to adhere to the standards set by WWOOF since its beginning. All the farms must currently grow using organic methods, be in the process of transitioning to organic farming or use environmentally conscious methods of farming. Legitimate locations are updated regularly, ensuring no volunteers contact farms that are no longer accepting WWOOFers. Interested volunteers can begin their experience by logging onto www.WWOOF.org and selecting a location. From there, individuals are directed to the websites for the separate WWOOF organizations for each region. Some organizations require a small fee to keep their networks in operation, but others are free of charge. Organizations that charge for membership amount to about $30. That amount, along with airfare, are the only charges a user will come across while navigating through the WWOOFing process. All that is also required is a passion for the ethics standards organic farming. For anyone interested in ecologically sound farming and who doesn’t mind learning a little unconventionally, WWOOFing might just be the way to go. It’s an out-of-the-box getaway, or simply the opportunity for an unforgettable summer trip. Either way, the experience is sure to be remembered for a lifetime.

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

The Daily Aztec

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

An exploration of buses, trolleys and automobiles

Jeff Lewis / Staff Photographer

M AT T S A LWA S S E R S TA F F W R I T E R

Let me start this honestly. I do not take public transportation. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always had a car to get wherever I needed to go. Parents, relatives and friends were always available if I needed a ride somewhere. Then, come the ripe age of 16, I became available if I ever needed a ride somewhere. And I was really, really lazy about it. If you want complete honesty, this is a difficult and embarrassing example for me to share. My high school was a sevenminute walk from my house. It was on the same street as my house. I could literally see the traffic signal at the school from my front yard. Here’s how a typical morning at home would go: Me: “Good-bye my dear family! I’m headed out to study hard, play nice and fulfill my role as a young, dedicated and impressionable high school student — ready to take on the world while still comfortably maintaining my financial dependency!” Mother or father figure: “Good-bye my charming son! Wilt thou walk to thy public education that I so eagerly pay taxes for?” Me: “Uh. No. I’m taking the station wagon. Later.” I swear to God, I drove three blocks to school for most of my senior year. Sometimes, I would pull out of the driveway, sit in the traffic right outside my house for more than 10 minutes and be late to class. OK, I’m sorry, but you’ve got to understand that for me to take public transporta-

tion for a week purely for the purpose of this column should be just as impressive as the fact that I hike myself up that monstrosity of a hill on 54th Street two to four times a day, five days a week. I’ll wait for your undying applause … Thanks. To be clear, I live close to campus so I really do walk a lot. When I say I took public transportation for a week, really, that means I took it a couple of times in one week. I don’t drive every day, and it wouldn’t make sense for me to catch the bus at Montezuma Road and 54th Street to the San Diego State Transit Center, just to get to Spanish in Adam’s Humanities. Usually, that walk takes me 20 minutes from my front door. All in all, I took public transportation three times. Here is my story.

Trip #1 • Reason: Getting my car back from the dealership in La Mesa • Mode: Trolley and walking • Start: SDSU Trolley Station • End: Grossmont Center • Expected travel time: 33 minutes • Cost: $2.50 (One-way) Throughout this endeavor, Google Maps was my best friend. Not only is Google going to rule the world one day, but its Maps feature is extremely helpful. I input my starting point and destination, how I wanted to get there (public transportation) and was quickly given helpful directions thanks to the marvels of American capitalism. Another Google Maps tool has is a price comparison between taking public

Jeff Lewis / Staff Photographer

transportation and driving your car. For this trip, driving would have cost $2.67. Once purchasing my ticket and boarding the trolley, the first thing I noticed was how clean and modern it was. The ride itself was quiet and smooth and I got to Grossmont Center on time, in approximately nine minutes. From there, I walked south for about 20 minutes, looking completely lost the entire time, yet still somehow managed to get asked directions to the trolley station from where I’d just come. Luckily for him, it was 20 yards away and within eyesight. While it was nice to walk around and get some quality, La Mesa-style fresh air, it was killing me that I could have driven there in seven minutes.

entire time that A) the bags didn’t break, or B) my finger circulation wouldn’t be cut off. According to Google Maps, the whole trip would have taken 10 minutes by car and would have cost $1.80.

Trip #2

Using the same day pass I had bought for the trip from hell … I mean, to Vons, I headed back to the SDSU Transit Center after I had time to regain some serious motivation. Google Maps had me take the trolley to the Grantville Station, which is the very first stop after SDSU, in the Old Town direction. Again, the trolley was comfortable and relaxing, but on weekends only came every 30 minutes, which can be inconvenient. On the return trip, I was literally running to catch the trolley car before it left the station, just because I didn’t have time to wait for another half-hour. The trip by car would have taken six minutes, and cost $1.63.

• Reason: Grocery shopping • Mode: Bus and walking • Start: 54th Street and Montezuma Road • End: College Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard, and back • Expected travel time: To Vons: about 26 minutes. From Vons: about 27 minutes. • Cost: $5 (Day pass) I knew this trip was going to be a pain, but I didn’t think it would be like it turned out. I can usually drive to Vons in about seven minutes, taking 54th Street to El Cajon Boulevard, and then east to Vons and back. Using the Metropolitan Transit System website’s trip planner, at www.sdmts.com/Trippl anner.asp, I was instructed to take the 955 bus from the corner of Montezuma Road and 54th Street to the SDSU Transit Center. Aside from the driver and myself, there was only one other passenger on the bus. From there, I waited 11 minutes and transferred to the 15 bus to El Cajon Boulevard and College Avenue. Post-shopping, I hauled my four bags of college-grade groceries back to the intersection. There, I again became confused as to which of the four bus stops to wait, picked the wrong one, backtracked, looked like an idiot as I walked past the same set of cars at the light, crossed the street two more times and finally rested at what I could only assume was the correct bench. I waited there for what felt like 20 minutes, and began to assume that my chicken, eggs and milk had probably gone bad right around the time I took my second trip across College Avenue. The bus finally came, and I’m pretty sure the man behind me saw my notes instructing me what stop to get off at. Actually, I’m sure he did. He pulled the “stop requested” cable at my stop, and then stayed onboard while I was the only passenger to clamber off. Thank you sir. At this point, it would take less time for me to just walk from back home, rather than wait for the bus, so I did, praying the

Trip #3 • Reason: Reserving a storage unit for the summer • Mode: Trolley and walking • Start: SDSU Transit Center • End: Grantville Station, and back • Expected travel time: Nine minutes, oneway • Cost: $5 (from the previously bought day pass)

Sans car reflection All in all, I love driving. But I’ll admit, public transportation does have its positives. It’s environmentally friendly, clean, relaxing and offers a relatively cost-effective pass. After doing the math, I spent $83.22 for gas last month for my car. On average, that is $2.68 per day. Multiplied by 365, that comes to about $979.85 per year. For one year’s worth of MTS Regional Monthly passes, it costs $864 (at $72 a month). However, I found that taking public transportation is extremely inefficient time-wise. According to Google Maps, in total, my three trips by car would have taken me 38 minutes. That’s round-trips, again, in total. Taking the same trips, combined, took one hour and 44 minutes. That’s a 67 percent increase. Public transportation is great if you have a lot of time on your hands, but if not, and if you have some extra money to spare, I’ve found that driving is more convenient and practical.

—Matt Salwasser is a journalism sophomore who is very appreciative his editors didn’t make him take the trolley to Costco. —This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec.

SPORTS

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

The Daily Aztec

MATT’S MUSINGS

Wheelchair soccer team brings the Heat

Courtesy of Travis Perreira

Wheelchair soccer is an indoor sport for people with varying disabilities. The sport is recognized by the National Disability Sports Alliance and BlazeSports America, both organizations supporting wheelchair recreation. Travis Perreira and his crew, the San Diego Heat, train against able-bodied volunteers at the downtown YMCA. In 2008, the team placed third in the nation for the Indoor Wheelchair Soccer National Championships for division A.

hen I first met 32-year-old Travis Perreira, he was doing shoulder exercises in the Fitness Clinic for the Physically Disabled at San Diego State. Travis, born with a condition called cerebral palsy, is an SDSU graduate and player for the San Diego Heat, a wheelchair soccer team. Wheelchair soccer is an indoor sport and is for people with varying disabilities. The game is similar to handball. When I tried telling Travis I wanted to do a story about him, he interrupted with a sharp tone. “Is this on the record, or off the record?” “Uh, it’s off the record.” “Good,” he said. “Because most of my life is off the record. I don’t even know why you have that in your hands right now,” he said, pointing at my reporter’s notebook. Not sure if he was yanking my chain, I asked which parts of his life were off the record. “My job as a dancer at night and the fight club I’m starting are totally off the record,” Travis said. “Because you’re not supposed to talk about fight club.” Travis, a Web designer and a program coordinator for youths, practices with his team against able-bodied volunteers, mainly SDSU students, every month in preparation for a tournament held in New York. On Sunday, I was a volunteer. Upon arriving at the downtown YMCA that morning, Travis was already there in the lobby with Ricky. Ricky operates a motorized wheelchair and weighs no more than 115 pounds. Travis’ nephew, Cameron, was also there. “Do you guys practice before facing off against us?” I asked. “You guys are the practice,” Cameron said. Feeling like a lamb being led to slaughter, I followed them into the gym where I met Kendall and Pedro. Kendall, another SDSU graduate, is the team’s representative this year. “Nice to meet you, future unemployed alum,” Kendall said while shaking my hand. At one point during the scrimmage, I told Kendall I was going to cover him like white on rice. “Are you saying that because

M AT T H E W M C C L A N A H A N S TA F F W R I T E R

I’m Asian?” Kendall said. If there is anything he likes more than making you laugh, it’s women. Kendall loves women. In front of the Heat’s net was Pedro, one of the team’s founders. Pedro has two hearing aids and says that being a goalie runs through his blood. When questioned prior to the scrimmage about what it takes to be a great goalie, the veteran said, “Focus.” When it came time for kick-off, a volunteer asked, “Who wants to be goalie?” Looking around at one another for several moments, no one spoke up. I finally came forward. “Focus,” I thought to myself as I rolled toward our net. It didn’t take long after the game started before I understood their apprehensiveness of being goalie. The ball launched at my head with more frequency than a lie detector attached to a politician. Most of the shots were cranked from the bulging biceps of Dave. Dave did the majority of ball handling and was like Kobe Bryant on the floor. “See how your dad’s not passing the ball?” Dave’s wife, Kristen, said to their children who aren’t more than 12 years old. “He’s a total ball hog.” Kristen keeps score for the scrimmages. Her kids have hereditary spastic paraplegia like their father, and they both use their chairs to set picks for their dad on the court. “They are an awesome family,” said 21-year-old Jacqui. Jacqui, who you can find sitting next to “The Show” at Aztec basketball games, is an English major at SDSU and one hell of a defender. On the few occasions I found myself shooting the ball, Jacqui was there to send it back in my face. Whenever this happened, she’d flash a wonderfully innocent smile at me. But her grin didn’t fool me. Operating a motorized chair, I’d seen her reverse into one of my teammates, flipping him over. Another time, she broke the aluminum footstool on a volunteer’s chair while playing defense like Ron Artest in his prime. Travis is also very stout on defense,

and doesn’t make things easy for the ablebodied. In reference to the volunteers, Travis said before the game, “I think it helps them to learn about people with disabilities in a different light.” Then Ricky, the skinny man in the motor chair, randomly interrupted Travis. “I’m going to take my glasses off,” he said, which Travis replied, “If you join my fight club that I’m starting, don’t even show up with your glasses.” Ricky, who struggles when he speaks, got a kick out of this. “One thing I wish non-disabled people knew about people with disabilities is that a lot of us don’t wake up every day thinking, ‘Man, I wish I could walk,’” Travis said. He then turned to Ricky and asked, “Ricky, how many times during the day do you wish you could walk?” Before giving him a chance to answer, Travis continued, “You better prove my point.” But Ricky didn’t. “Like, five.” “Okay, take Ricky off the record,” Travis

said. “He meant five times a year, right Ricky?” “Yeah,” Ricky said with a big smile. When Travis was asked if he’d ever done something he was told he couldn’t, Ricky interrupted again, “I have.” With Travis’ permission, Ricky was put back on the record. “I was getting ready to fly in a plane and I had everything ready to go,” Ricky said. “The person, the company that I go with, they called me last minute … they told me I couldn’t go.” Ricky wanted to go to his cousin’s wedding. When he called his aunt and told her that his supervisor wasn’t going to let him, and that he was no longer going to be accompanied by anyone, she told Ricky to get his butt on the plane anyway. “That was the first time I flew by myself.” Ricky didn’t walk that day. He flew.

— Matthew McClanahan is a journalism senior. —This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec.

FREE PRE-ROLL WITH ANY DONATION! Valid only with coupon. One per patient per visit. Valid with any donation for medicine with SDSU ID. Expires 5/2/10.

SPORTS

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

The Daily Aztec

BASEBALL

Blackburn extends hit streak in 21-12 win Senior infielder makes it 20 consecutive games with a hit against Wagner F E L I N A T A M BA KO S S TA F F W R I T E R

San Diego State baseball senior infielder Mitch Blackburn had a 16-game hitting streak heading into this weekend. After SDSU finished smashing Wagner on Sunday morning, 21-12, Blackburn raised that streak to 20 games. Throughout the course of the Aztecs’ second successful sweep of the year, Blackburn had nine base hits and 10 RBIs. “He’s a guy that, if the game’s on the line, you want him up there,” head coach Tony Gwynn said. “He is a threat because he’s really good at pulling the ball where we need it to go. He can bunt, he can move the ball around, and he’s got a little bit of pop. I trust his ability to put the bat on the ball.” Sunday’s victory against Wagner extended Blackburn’s hit streak, and while baseball has a superstitious nature surrounding streaks, he’s not worried about it being jinxed. “I’m not scared,” Blackburn said. “Honestly I didn’t even really know I was in it for this long until I looked it up earlier this week and saw that it was 16.” The program record at SDSU for a single season hit-streak is 28 games, set in 1992. Blackburn has already topped the

team record of 20, set in 2008 by classmate Brandon Decker, but doesn’t seem too worried about the school record. “If I do it, great. If I don’t break a hitting streak record, it wouldn’t be the end of the world,” Blackburn said. “It would be a great legacy; but we’ll see what happens.” Throughout the four-game sweep at Tony Gwynn Stadium, the Aztecs pulled in a whopping total of 58 runs to Wagner’s 15, and Blackburn didn’t cool off. He pulled the ball multiple times in three of the four games, and scored eight times. Gwynn had some serious advice for him after the final game wrapped. “Keep it as simple as you can possibly keep it,” Gwynn said. “When you have a hitting streak, it really boils down to getting a good pitch and putting a swing on it.” In Sunday’s victory, SDSU scored in every inning except two, bringing its record above .500 for the first time this season (21-20). Blackburn went 2-for-5 with three RBIs, and classmate outfielder Josh Chasse had a great outing as well, going 3for-4 and scoring five times. The Aztecs ran through the lineup during an inning twice, including a big sixrun rally in the seventh inning when they managed eight hits in 11 at-bats. “To me, I don’t really look at the numbers per se,” Gwynn said after the sweep. “I just look at the guys and how they’re approaching their at bats, and they’re doing a great job. We needed to come in and play well this weekend and we were able to do that. I’ll sleep a little better tonight.”

SCORE BY INNINGS Baseball

310 234

Wagner San Diego State

114 051

200 60X

AT A GLANCE

WHEN: 6 p.m., tonight WHERE: Tony Gwynn Stadium

VS.

WHY TO WATCH:

Both the San Diego State baseball team and senior infielder Mitch Blackburn will try to extend streaks tonight against Long Beach State. SDSU is looking for its fifth straight victory, while Blackburn is in search of his 21st consecutive game with a hit.

OH SNAP The Daily Aztec is looking for a photo editor for the 2010-2011 school year. This is a part-time, paid position set to begin in the summer. Experience in sports and concert photography is preferred, but not required. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and résumé to next year’s editor-in-chief, Ruthie Kelly, at ruthie@ruthiekelly.com. If you have any questions, please call 619-594-4190.

12 21

13 20

7 5

Glenn Connelly / Photo Editor

Senior infielder Mitch Blackburn, who is batting .333 this season, extended his hitting streak to 20 games on Sunday.

The Daily Aztec

SPORTS

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

FOOTBALL

MWC news and notes from the 2010 NFL Draft E D WA R D L E W I S SPORTS EDITOR

The San Diego State football team didn’t have a player drafted in the NFL Draft for the first time since 2007. Still, the Mountain West Conference had a successful weekend. Take a look at some of the news and notes from the 2010 NFL Draft.

Wallace signs with Miami Former SDSU wide receiver Roberto Wallace signed as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Miami Dolphins after the draft concluded on Saturday. Wallace, a 6-foot-4-inch, 223-

BYU Dennis Pitta, tight end No. 114 overall to the Baltimore Ravens

Colorado State Shelley Smith, guard No. 187 overall to the Houston Texans

New Mexico Erik Cook, guard No. 229 overall to the Washington Redskins

UNLV Joe Hawley , center No. 117 overall to the Atlanta Falcons

TCU Glenn Connelly / Photo Editor

Former San Diego State football wide receiver Roberto Wallace didn’t get drafted in the 2010 NFL Draft, but he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins after the draft ended on Saturday.

J e r r y Hughes , defensive end No. 31 overall to the Indianapolis Colts

pound wideout, struggled to catch the ball throughout his career with the Aztecs, but his measurables made him an intriguing prospect at the NFL level. During SDSU’s pro day, Wallace ran a 4.41 second 40-yard dash, had a 36 1/2-inch vertical and did 19 bench presses at 225 pounds. Wallace recorded 73 receptions, 940 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns in 31 games with the Aztecs.

MWC has huge weekend Thirteen former MWC stars were drafted in the 2010 NFL Draft. Here’s how each team’s players fared last weekend: D a r yl W a s h i n g t o n No. 47 overall to the Arizona Cardinals M a r shall Newhouse No. 169 overall to the Green Bay Packers

Utah Koa Misi, outside linebacker No. 40 overall to the Miami Dolphins Zane Beadles, guard No. 45 overall to the Denver Broncos Rober t Johnson, safety No. 148 overall to the Tennessee Titans David Reed, wide receiver No. 156 overall to the Baltimore Ravens Stevenson Sylvester, outside linebacker No. 166 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers R.J. Stanford, cornerback No. 223 overall to the Carolina Panthers

No news is BAD news. Read The Daily Aztec.

SPORTS

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

The Daily Aztec

BASEBALL

Blackburn extends hit streak in 21-12 win Senior infielder makes it 20 consecutive games with a hit against Wagner F E L I N A T A M BA KO S S TA F F W R I T E R

SCORE BY INNINGS Baseball

310 234

Wagner San Diego State

114 051

200 60X

AT A GLANCE

WHEN: 6 p.m., tonight WHERE: Tony Gwynn Stadium WHY TO WATCH:

VS.

12 21

13 20

7 5

Glenn Connelly / Photo Editor

Senior infielder Mitch Blackburn, who is batting .333 this season, extended his hitting streak to 20 games on Sunday.

The Daily Aztec

SPORTS

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

FOOTBALL

MWC news and notes from the 2010 NFL Draft E D WA R D L E W I S SPORTS EDITOR

BYU Dennis Pitta, tight end No. 114 overall to the Baltimore Ravens

Colorado State Shelley Smith, guard No. 187 overall to the Houston Texans

New Mexico Erik Cook, guard No. 229 overall to the Washington Redskins

UNLV Joe Hawley , center No. 117 overall to the Atlanta Falcons

TCU Glenn Connelly / Photo Editor

J e r r y Hughes , defensive end No. 31 overall to the Indianapolis Colts

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HUMOR: LIFE ON THE SHARP SIDE

Warnings for the weary

o you ever wish there were certain things in life that came with a warning? For example, it would be nice if the Free Speech Steps came with a sign stating you may be impaled with Bibles by men in suits ranting about salvation and the end of the world. Or better yet, if that warning included the possibility of being harassed multiple times as you venture though Aztec Center by everyone from Greenpeace to those trying shamelessly to legalize marijuana. While those warnings would be pertinent for life at San Diego State, others in this world either invoke humor or are just downright stupid and useless. Stupid warnings come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from advice from friends, to road signs and even labels on products. One road sign that never fails to draw a smile is when I’m cruising down the road and find the sign “Slippery When Wet.” If this isn’t the ultimate provoker of “that’s what she said” jokes, then there is no justice in this world. I was hanging out with my best friend when I was a kid and we were going through stupid pickup lines. We brought up “What’s your sign?” to which her mom replied with the above sign’s slogan without missing a beat. One warning I found disappointing was discovered while shopping for my Halloween costume last year. I found an awesome Superman cape and was in

M A L L O RY S H A R P S TA F F C O L U M N I S T

the checkout line when I stumbled upon a warning label that would deter me from imitating the man of steel during the night of ghoulish haunts. As I remember, the tag said something along the lines of “Wearing this cape will not give you the power to fly.” I was so distraught and betrayed that I tossed the cape on the ground, because it couldn’t make me fly as I had hoped, and moped out of Walmart. At least Walmart can now be assured that no one has the ability to sue because of the incapability to fly, even while wearing a Superman cape. What a disappointment. Walmart, you have now become about as useless as the iPad. One warning I have learned to never take heed to is when a professor warns you to keep up on your reading all semester. The main reason for this is that everyone knows most college textbooks are a complete joke. For example, take the book I’m currently reading in my African humanities class. It contradicts itself every other page and jumps around so much you would swear the author was on the greatest drug induced trip of all time. The author brings up a name, and then jumps back to something from eight chapters ago, and then fast forwards to things not yet mentioned. Even a high dose of Adderall provides no relief and therefore this book should come

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

with its own warning, “Only to be read by crazy people.” Another warning meant to be defied comes from my childhood, and that is not to play with matches. So instead, I grabbed my magnifying glass, found some ants and proceeded to burn them alive. I am sure they would have much preferred the matches. But my parents made me sit on Smokey the Bear’s lap, and he made me promise to help prevent forest fires by not playing with matches. I found lighters make a nice substitute. My favorite warning growing up was repeated to me on a near daily basis. My mom would say something that made me mad and I would make a weird face back at her. Her reply was always, “One of these days your face is going to stick like that.” I always neglected her warning until one traumatic day while walking by a homeless person, I saw he had a crazed expression with googly eyes and squished facial features. I screamed and my mom forever used that example to deter my face-making actions. To this day, I take that warning with the utmost care and you will never catch me making a face at you for fear of it sticking like Michael Jackson’s post surgeries. And let me warn you, that is not a joke, I don’t want my nose to fall off.

—Mallory Sharp is a journalism junior.

BY LINDA C. BLACK, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (4/27/10) You find yourself wanting the affection of others. Gain it by adapting to situations before others even realize the need.Your sympathetic support goes a long way toward reaping their cooperation when the chips are down. Give love to amplify it. ARIES (March 21 - April 19) - Today is a 6 When you open your mouth, be sure that something nice comes out.The challenge is to be pleasant even while working on a serious problem. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is a 7 - Everything you've worked for comes together and hits the mark precisely.You receive karmic benefit, and your selfesteem grows. GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is a 6 Duty forces you to deal with emotionally painful matters. Choose your words carefully to soften the impact. Everyone feels better when it's out in the open. CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is a 7 Take care of essential business with your partner first.Then allow time in seclusion to recharge your batteries. Enjoy the evening out. LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is a 6 - You become more aware of circumstances that affect education or work. Subtle undercurrents will cause far more stress if you ignore the implications. Find balance. VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is a 6 You've put in the hours. Now you reap

the benefit of all that effort. Frame your public announcement to take advantage of prevailing sentiments. LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is a 7 You feel logically challenged.Talk to a female or seek information on the Internet, then apply the results to your immediate situation. It works out. SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is a 7 - You understand that change is necessary. Explaining this presents a major challenge. Try logic first, and reserve the right to use force. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today is a 6 - Your challenge is to adapt to both the circumstances and your partner's insistent desires. Lower your expectations or delay a decision. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is a 6 - When life gives you lemons, don't just make lemonade; make it the best ever tasted. Only you know what it took to get this done. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is a 5 - Travel or educational deadlines cause you some concern, as obstacles block your path. A female can help focus your ideas and get them organized. PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is a 6 Tell everyone early on that you want extra effort before lunch so you can take off early.You'll make it to the event on time with their help. © 2010,TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

SUDOKU

BY THE MEPHAM GROUP

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

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.

LOOKING THROUGH OUR LENS

CROSSWORD

CRYSTAL PIER BLUES Staff Photographer Jeff Lewis captured this striking photo of a blue bike, two bike stands and a trash can that stand out in the foreground as Crystal Pier’s tide brings bountiful amounts of seaweed into Pacific Beach.

ACROSS 1 Subway alternative 4 Floppy storage media 9 Stop by unexpectedly 14 Bruin legend Bobby 15 Apples since 1998 16 Ivory neighbor? 17 “Michael Collins” org. 18 Honda Accord, for one 19 Has a proclivity (to) 20 Blondness 22 There may not be one “in the house” during a tearjerker 23 Neural impulse junction 24 Big hairdos, for short 25 Cart for heavy loads 26 Coalition 27 Boeing product 30 County on San Francisco Bay 32 Cat’s pajamas 34 “__ See for Miles”:The Who hit 35 Houdini’s family name 36 Promise in the dairy aisle 37 Like some stockings 39 Van Gogh setting 40 Word with Big or top 41 “Great” dog 42 “It’s __!”: bargain hunter’s words 43 Coffee holders 44 “Flying” toy 47 Captain Ahab feature

EDITED BY RICH NORRIS AND JOYCE LEWIS

Solution available online at www.TheDailyAztec.com 50 Fan of Jerry Garcia’s band 51 Author Jong 52 “What are you gonna do about it?!” 53 Shirt size: Abbr. 54 Laid vinyl on, as a floor 55 Speak off the cuff 56 Quarterback Dawson 57 Ingress 58 Befitting a slob 59 Soph and jr. DOWN 1 Elaborate dos 2 Striking spread 3 Flight of scientists to another nation, e.g. 4 Old-style kitchen washing recepta-

cle 5 “No argument from me” 6 __ Hawkins Day 7 1980s Chrysler product 8 Tax form ID 9 Faddish ’70s toy that came in a box with air holes 10 Does as told 11 Fried Dixie bread 12 __ 500 13 Big Board letters 21 __ to go: psyched 22 Metallic refuse 24 Shylock’s pound 26 Light brown 27 “The original gourmet” candy bean 28 Very wide, shoewise

29 General __ chicken: Chinese dish 30 Catcher’s glove 31 Throb 32 Some ’60s war protests 33 “You can get it to me later” 35 Cymbal sound 38 Like many largescreen TVs 39 Follow, as rules 42 A Musketeer 43 Stomach woe 44 Senses 45 Ready for action 46 Paradises 47 Tennis’s Sampras 48 Common name for an Irish lass 49 Gold-plated 50 Bro 52 Uncle on a poster