Thursday, May 6, 2010
Vol. 95, Issue 117
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 BUSINESS & FINANCE
A.S. votes for pay increase
THE PRETTY KITTY Find out about a salon that has a solution for unwanted pubic hair. page 9
SPORTS
SDSU ACE PITCHER San Diego State’s new Friday night ace wasn’t even recruited to pitch for SDSU. page 10
ENTERTAINMENT
CHUCK TELLS ALL Chuck Palahniuk talks about his inspiration and his recently released book, “Tell-All.” page 21
David J. Olender / Assistant Photo Editor
A.S. Executive Board members are required to work during the summer, yet they were previously not paid. Members will now be compensated for the fall, spring and summer.
HUTTON M ARSHALL
Got a hot tip? Let The Daily Aztec know! The City section is looking for investigative news leads to provide in-depth, quality stories. For more of today’s headlines, visit:
www.thedailyaztec.com
CONTACT GENERAL INFORMATION 619.594.4199
EDITOR
IN CHIEF, FARYAR BORHANI 619.594.4190 EDITOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM
CITY EDITOR, WHITNEY LAWRENCE 619.594.7781 CITYEDITOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM
FEATURES EDITOR, NICOLE CALLAS 619.594.6976 FEATURE@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM
SPORTS EDITOR, EDWARD LEWIS 619.594.7817 SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM
CONTRIBUTOR
For many, the idea of a pay increase in the midst of a struggling economy is hard to imagine. There is a select group, however, that has managed to stray from the trend of thinned paychecks. Information released by the Financial Aid Office about the cost of living during summer prompted Associated Students to vote on April 21 to increase the pay of its executive board members. According to the bylaw in the A.S. executive board members’ contract, which dictates compensation, members are to be paid the estimated cost of living of a single undergraduate student residing off campus — a figure estimated each year by the Financial Aid Office. Before the vote, executive board members received compensation for only the fall and spring semesters, despite a requirement to work during the summer. Next year’s execu-
tive board members were scheduled to be paid $21,490. The Financial Aid Office determined the cost of living for the upcoming summer months to be $4,947, an estimation that was reportedly unknown to the board until recently. Dan Cornthwaite, executive director of A.S., proposed that because the executive board members are required to reside at San Diego State year-round, it would be appropriate to include the summer months in their annual pay. “Over the years, observing the work ethic of the execs, it’s money well spent,” Cornthwaite said. This year’s current executive board will also be compensated the $4,731 — last summer’s cost of living — they would have been paid after the revision. A.S. will not compensate past employees and has no legal obligation to, according to Cornthwaite. “They work during the summer and deserve the money for the work they put in,” Jennifer Brooks, who is a council representative for
the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts, said. The current executive board abstained from voting, along with next year’s executive board members, and the vote passed 17-7 with 15 members abstaining.
“Over the years, observing the work ethic of the execs, it’s money well spent.” —Dan Cornthwaite, A.S. Executive Director A.S. President Pro Tempore Sean Kashanchi said it makes sense for members to get paid for the work they put in, but said the job is about more than just the money. Not everyone is happy with the outcome of the vote, however.
A.S. member Isaac Castro, LGBTSU student representative, voted against the pay increase, saying that while it’s logical to pay the members for the summer, the raise was hard to justify because of the state budget cuts and student fee increases. The Andrea O’Donnell Women’s Outreach Association representative, Natalie McKenna, said she abstained from voting because she felt uncomfortable voting on the issue among the people whose salary would be affected. She also felt the outgoing executive members should not get the additional money for last summer. While the bulk of the money going to the outgoing executives will come from savings in this year’s budget, A.S. has not determined how it will fund the incoming executives’ raise. Executive members Ignacio Prado and Tyler Boden both reported working anywhere between 30 to 45 hours each week, and in addition to their executive salary, both are currently receiving financial aid.
OPINION, 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
SDSU searches for new mascot Surprise character will not replace the Aztec Warrior
ADVERTISING 619.594.6977
D ANNY P ENERA S TA F F W R I T E R
INDEX BUSINESS & FINANCE..................................................5 SPORTS..........................................................................10 ENTERTAINMENT........................................................15 CLASSIFIEDS..................................................................23 THE BACK PAGE.........................................................24
The San Diego St ate At hletic Department will be holding tryouts for a new character mascot today. Hopeful mascots will meet in the Peterson Gym for tr youts,
which are scheduled to last from 6 to 7 p.m. According to Associate Athletic Director Steve Schnall, the new mascot costume is based off Major League Baseball’s Phillie Phanatic. Because the mascot’s costume has already been selected, candidates are required to be between 5 feet 5 inches and 6 feet tall in order to fit into it. Both men and women can try out. Those trying out will be asked to perform a brief skit that shows
crowd interaction, and there will also be an interview portion. Although the athletic department has begun the search for a new mascot, Schnall said he thinks it is important for people to know that SDSU is not replacing the Aztec Warrior. Instead, the new mascot will work alongside cheerleaders, the dance team and the Aztec Warrior. According to Schnall, the Aztec Warrior cannot do certain tricks or
stunts because the university wants to uphold the tradition of the Aztec culture. This new mascot, however, will not have these restrictions. The athletic directors have not revealed the identity of the new character mascot. Schnall said he would like there to be some element of surprise surrounding the mascot’s revelation. The new mascot is scheduled to be unveiled at SDSU’s first home football game on Sept. 4.