The Daily Aztec - Vol. 95, Issue 18

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Vol. 95, Issue 18

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 STATE OF MIND

Group voices budget concerns

NEW SDSU POLICY President Weber has changed admission standards, what does this mean for students? page 2

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

SMALL-TOWN FEEL The nearby town of Julian offers a getaway from the urban frenzy of San Diego. page 4

SPORTS

STREAKING The SDSU men’s soccer team wins two in a row at home in the Nike Aztec Soccer Classic. page 6

TODAY @ SDSU

Courtesy of ISSE

The International Students for Social Equality held a rally on the Free Speech Steps last Thursday afternoon to protest California’s cuts to SDSU and the CSU system.

Kung Fu 7 p.m., Peterson Gym 240 Students will learn northern and southern Kung Fu styles that include applying and escaping from holds, joint locks, throws and takedowns.

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, KEVIN MCCORMACK 619.594.7782 CITYEDITOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

FEATURES EDITOR, AMINATA DIA 619.594.6976 FEATURE@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

SPORTS EDITOR, EDWARD LEWIS 619.594.7817 SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

STATE

OF MIND EDITOR, ALLAN ACEVEDO 619.594.0509 OPINION@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

TEMPO EDITOR, ANYA MOBERLY

S A R A H K O VA S H S E N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R

Changes in political practices and social equality were proposed at a rally held by the International Students for Social Equality last Thursday.

The rally took place on the Free Speech Steps on the same day the UC system held walkouts for faculty, staff and students in protest of budget cuts. The ISSE held the rally in light of the UC walkouts, but not in support of them, according to ISSE President Cody Stephens.

Stephens, a political science graduate student at San Diego State, spoke about Wall Street bailouts and national and statewide budget cuts, attributing them to what he called a failing capitalist system.

“We are gathered today to show our … support for the impulse behind the UC walkout,” Stephens said. He continued to describe the

UC walkouts as a, “healthy show of political discontent.”

Stephens stated, on behalf of the ISSE, a demand for better public programs, especially to help with unemployment. The ISSE’s proposed solution for the current failures of the U.S. government as stated at the rally is redistribution of the wealth taken from the working class.

“Only by re-appropriating the wealth that has been stolen from us and putting it under the control of democratic process, can society as a whole make the decision to invest heavily in public education with all levels,” Stephens said. “To put it another way, the fight for public education is inseparable from the fight for socialism.”

ISSE Secretary Ricardo Ruiz cited the setbacks SDSU has recently faced because of budget cuts, pointing out a $35 million cut from SDSU’s budget, the closing of a residence hall, fee increases, furlough days and major reductions in new student admission to SDSU this year.

Evan Youngstrom, a political science junior, attended the rally to open up to a new political perspective.

“We are currently in a large political mess socially and politically,” Youngstrom said. “I’m just trying to explore different philosophies.”

The socialist-based solutions proposed by ISSE aren’t the only ones available, according to Dr. James Ingram, political science professor at SDSU and UCSD. “There has never been a successful socialist movement in the U.S. politics,” he said.

According to Ingram, capitalist means can be successful.

Ingram said capitalism allows individuals to find solutions through their drive for success.

Ingram believes the taxpayers and a flawed California constitution are at the hand of minimal state education funds by voting against tax increases for education.

“The taxpayers have shown that they’re no longer willing to sup-

port the public education that we’ve created for them,” Ingram said. “There are members of the (California) legislature who are willing to put money into the UC system and the CSU system and they can’t get the votes. You’ve got that one-third minority that’s preventing any progress from happening. I don’t see where socialism fixes that.”

However, the ISSE doesn’t feel that pressuring legislators will fix anything, according to Stephens.

“The ISSE rejects the notion that politicians in Sacramento or Washington can somehow be pressured into giving more money to public education,” Stephens said. “We will not encourage anyone here to ‘vent at the tent’ or to sign a banner to send to Arnold Schwarzenegger letting him know how angry you are about the budget cuts.”

The ISSE will hold another event at 5 p.m next Monday at Casa Real to discuss possible solutions.

Officers arrived after the fight had already dispersed, but six of the participants were identified by Fraternity Row security.

$2,800. A PSFA faculty member reported them missing and said they were last seen at the beginning of the summer.

Grand theft in PSFA

Assault at sorority party

Sept. 10 – Audio and digital recording equipment has been stolen from the Professional Studies and Fine Arts building. The equipment, 14 recorders, is valued at

Sept. 19 – A student was injured after being assaulted with a brick. A group of males started a fight after not being allowed to enter a Pi Beta Phi sorority party. When one male

could not into the party, he allegedly grabbed a brick and threw it at another guest’s head. The victim was injured and transported to the hospital by a friend. None of the suspects have yet been located. San Diego State Police Lt. Lamine Secka said if the suspect is found, he will be arrested with felony charges.

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ART DIRECTOR, ELENA BERRIDY 619.594.6979 ARTDIRECTOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

PHOTO EDITOR, GLENN CONNELLY

CAMPUS CRIME

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WEB EDITOR, MYLENE ERPELO 619.594.3315 WEB@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

ADVERTISING 619.594.6977

INDEX STATE OF MIND.............................................................2 TRAVEL & ADVENTURE...............................................4 SPORTS............................................................................6 CLASSIFIEDS....................................................................7 THE BACK PAGE...........................................................8

Two arrested after fight Sept. 18 – Two people were arrested after a group of 15 fought in front of the Student Veteran Organization House on Fraternity Row. One subject, a juvenile, was arrested for curfew violation and for possession of alcohol. Jamar Brown, a 22-year-old non-student, was also arrested for alleged public intoxication and resisting arrest.

-Compiled by Senior Staff Writer Kristina Blake

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The Daily Aztec

STATE OF MIND

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Question: Is SDSU’s new admission policy fair to incoming freshmen?

Glenn Connelly / Photo Editor

President Stephen L. Weber spoke to students at the budget rally about how cuts will affect students at SDSU. The slashes in education funding have led to a new admissions policy at SDSU to decrease enrollment.

MEET IN THE MIDDLE

FLAMING LIBERAL

Good call, Weber

D

espite statewide budget cuts, President Stephen L. Weber is implementing some positive changes here at San Diego State.

In a message sent out to students, faculty and staff last Monday, Weber announced that admissions for the next year’s class will drastically change. Enrollment is being cut by 10.8 percent. Incoming freshmen will have impacted majors and minors. San Diego service area students will be required to meet similar prerequisites to students who apply from outside areas. Also, incoming freshmen who do not live in the San Diego service area will be required to live on campus.

While some people are upset about this new policy, I see this as a beneficial way for our university to grow regardless of negative effects on the California education system.

These changes are necessary, not to mention positive. They will attract brighter individuals and ultimately make SDSU a better learning community.

Enrollment will decrease by 4,588 students. These thousands of applicants formerly would have met the CSU Eligibility Index, a score necessary to be admitted into the school. Now, they will have to compete to not only be eligible, but to be exceptional.

“Students will have to work hard to ensure their grades stay adequate enough to continue with their academic plans.”

High school seniors in San Diego are worried, and rightfully so. They will now be pushed to make similar prerequisites as students applying from other areas in California.

This is not detrimental to the university.

Instead, the quality of the students admitted into SDSU will increase dramatically.

Instead of getting into the most popular CSU because of their residence, they will have to be admitted based on merit. Students from the San Diego area have always had priority because of where they live, instead of other students who may be more accomplished.

According to Weber, this was done “so SDSU can maintain its traditional balance of out-ofarea to in-area students.”

But by doing this, SDSU enrolled students who are not as academically qualified. This year’s freshman class had a huge difference in GPA between local and outside students.

SA RA H GR I E C O A S S I S TA N T S TAT E O F M I N D E D I T O R

Freshmen from the San Diego area had an average GPA of 3.4,1 while freshmen from other areas had an average GPA of 3.81.

Having San Diego service area students meet similar requirements as those applying from outside areas will increase the caliber of our student body. By making these students meet similar GPAs and test score requirements as other applicants, there will be more equality within the student body.

SDSU is assisting the community by taking the best candidates for admittance. These students are more likely to be productive members of the area and will benefit San Diego in the future.

All majors and pre-majors will be impacted as a result of Weber’s new policy. This is beneficial to students because they will have the opportunity to focus on their majors earlier.

Students will have to work hard to ensure their grades stay adequate enough to continue with their academic plans.

Weber said it best when he wrote, “At a time when resources are constrained, it ensures SDSU’s limited enrollment slots are awarded to the students who are best prepared to succeed.”

Not only will SDSU be accepting students who are more intelligent, they will gain a sense of community by living on campus. Weber is requiring that all freshmen who do not live in the San Diego service area live on campus next year. When students live in the residence halls as opposed to off-campus housing, their grades are better. They also begin their college years with a sense of identity and community.

Instead of commuting to school and not being able to fully enjoy all of SDSU’s amenities, these students will feel a sense of belonging to their school.

SDSU will become a more prosperous university in the long run because of these changes. The new policy’s selectivity will generate a more thriving, intelligent workforce in San Diego. This is good for everyone — except those not willing to work hard to get an education.

—Sarah Grieco is a public relations 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.

New policy unfair

C

ollege is supposed to be a time to learn and explore. Students are quick to learn that there is no cookie cutter method for solving complex problems. It now seems, however, that our administrators have forgotten this lesson.

In a memo released last Monday, San Diego State President Stephen L. Weber announced disappointing changes that will be occurring to SDSU admission process starting with next year’s incoming class. In order to meet its goal of reducing admission by 4,588 undergraduates, new policies such as the impacting of all majors and pre-majors have been instituted. Now local-area students will be placed in the same applicant pool as out-of-area students, many of which outperform local-area students.

Weber has abandoned the very spirit and promise of the California State University system, which is to provide broad access to higher education, forge stronger community partnerships and most importantly use our community resources to educate our local workforce.

SDSU and all CSU campuses exist to provide opportunities for higher education to the local population, this is first and foremost. While in-area students will be given extra eligibility points, this is not enough. It would be fine to place all students on the same playing field if all things were equal.

Sadly, we live in a world where there is a strong correlation between geographic origin and lower SAT scores and GPAs. In San Diego and Imperial counties, 80 percent of students ranked below the freshmen class average, according to SDSU data for this year’s class.

If we’re going to expect all students in the service area to compete with out-of-area students, then we should start by reforming our K-12 education and not punishing students who are the product of poor local school systems. The way we fix this is to do a better job of funding education at all levels.

While some might see this as an opportunity to improve the quality of our schools, the quality of the workforce in our community must also be protected. Many students who are educated locally end up working locally. If we are not providing a way for our local youth to receive a quality education we are shooting ourselves in the foot. In one generation, San Diego will have to begin importing out-of-area workers because our workforce will not have the prerequisite education for the jobs created in the area.

Those who will be hurt by this new policy are minorities and economically disadvantaged students who depend on the local area

A L L A N AC E V E D O S TAT E O F M I N D E D I T O R

guarantee to pursue their education.

Accepting students with lower test scores does not diminish the quality of our university. Many local-area students have excelled academically and have become leaders on and off campus.

This is a shortsighted solution that will only hurt the university and lower our standing in the nation. Weber and the administration pride themselves on the diversity of our campus and the awards we receive. Awards such as number 10 in the nation for bachelor’s degrees awarded to Hispanics and number 16 in the nation for degrees conferred to ethnic minorities will be short lived as fewer minority students will have the opportunity to pursue the higher education they were promised all through gradeschool.

With classes being cut, we have to rely on a group of our peers to learn from one another. Varied experiences and perspectives are the best ways to learn and debate, without the diversity SDSU has prided itself on for a long time, our education will suffer.

Learning in a diverse setting is the best way to learn about other cultures and prepare us to work in our global community.

Even if you are a student who exceeded the admission criteria, your learning community will become more homogenized and your opportunity to learn from different people will vanish.

Now is the time to start looking for solutions. Assemblymember Marty Block’s AB24, a feasibility study to construct a new CSU in Chula Vista, is exactly the proactive thinking for long-term solutions we should be investing in. We need more opportunities for localarea students to educate themselves and improve our community.

While it is easy to set up policies such as campus-wide impaction, it is akin to using an axe for a job that requires a butter knife.

The task of overcoming these economic challenges is one that requires finesse and a return to the basic principles of the CSU, something Weber has clearly forgotten.

—Allan Acevedo is a comparative literature and political science 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.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

STATE OF MIND

The Daily Aztec

POINTS TO PONDER

A GUEST’S PERSPECTIVE

Five-week alcohol ban hurts Greeks

I

remember my first few weeks at San Diego State. I was just a freshman looking for a good time. It all started with one party and soon became a four-night weekly ritual of crawling back home on my hands and knees, often reaching Zura moments before having to politely release some of the more troubling foods left in my bowels.

But now all that has changed and no freshmen can experience the college our parents and past generations had. In August of last year, shortly after Operation Sudden Fall, SDSU implemented the new five-week alcohol ban for Greek Life.

This ban does nothing more than undermine the efforts of past generations and ruins students’ college experience, all while unfairly targeting and discriminating against Greeks.

Last year, Greeks donated 21,833 hours of community service, or $185,580 worth of work, according to Doug Case, coordinator of fraternity and sorority life. There are many more facets to being Greek that have little to do with partying, and more to do with brotherhood, philanthropy, academics and molding adolescents of today into the leaders of tomorrow. Many times, Greeks are also the leaders of today. For the last three years, the Associated Students president has been a member of Greek life.

For SDSU to punish fraternities and sororities is not right. By banning alcohol at fraternity parties, and knowing that alcohol

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AM M A R M OHEIZE CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

will be provided at any party in the College Area, SDSU is discriminating against Greeks.

This ban only serves to increase the disciplinary action taken against Greek organizations for the actions of a few.

The administration is trying to destroy the Greek system by limiting its actions, yet it has no problem with people drinking at the on-campus bar.

Greeks are the leaders of school government, they excel in academia, contribute more to the school than any other club or social organization, and provide an outlet for young men and women to party in a safe, closely monitored setting.

It isn’t so much that Greeks need alcohol in order to attract new members, or even need alcohol at all. Rather it is the principle of the issue that Greeks are being treated unfairly. No other house party host would donate time for community service at 8 a.m. on a Saturday morning. No house party host would require every person living in his or her house to have a minimum 2.7 GPA. Yes, Greeks party, but it is only after a great deal of work and sacrifice.

Greeks have been an integral part of SDSU for years, and by placing limitations on the Greek system the school is losing its identity. First, it was the $1,000 fine for a noise violation, and now the administration is punishing all partygoers by eliminating

alcohol at Greek events during the critical first five weeks of school.

SDSU has been wrongfully trying to get rid of its party-school image for some time.

When my dad went to SDSU back in the mid-‘70s, he would talk about how getting home on a Friday night was an odyssey — police barricades would block off the streets and students were free to do what they wish so long as no one got hurt.

The shift in culture may be good for academia, but it hurts and excludes many students — the hardworking individuals who want to go out and have a drink at a friend’s house.

Students don’t have to take this. It is our right to have a great college experience and it is being trampled on.

If they can increase tuition and lessen our class times, then we should be able to keep our ability to socialize and drink responsibly with a group of our peers in a safe setting. Like it or not, it’s why many students come to school here.

New HIV vaccination study in Thailand Amount of people less likely to become infected using vaccine combination:

31%

Amount of people infected with HIV by the end of 2007:

33 million Time elapsed between new trend of infected people:

9.5 minutes Percent of people who develop AIDS within a year of being diagnosed with HIV:

40%

—Ammar Moheize is a journalism 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.

FEELING TRUTH AT YOU

Student aid better late than never

Idaho Company suggests solar panel roadways the answer to conservation Decrease in greenhouse gas emissions if the nation switched its highways to solar panels

50% Number of jobs created in assembly:

2.5 million Cost of solar panel installation for all highways:

$35 million Number of miles that compromise nation’s highways:

5.7 million MCT Campus

F

or months, students have spoken out against the state and federal government’s decisions to put education and financial aid on the chopping block when the budget grows tight. As college students in this economy, the pressure on us to lead the nation into the future has been growing at an alarming rate. To fulfill this role, we need the resources to be shaped for the leaders of tomorrow and Congress has finally decided to prioritize higher education.

Last week, the House of Representatives approved the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, which will allow $40 billion to be restored to financial aid. SAFRA still needs to be passed by the Senate and it is likely it will be approved.

This couldn’t have come at a better time. With economic growth screeching to a halt and budget deficits soaring, devastating cuts were made to the very aid many students depend on to complete their college education.

Like many others, I am a student who is reliant on student loans from the federal government. Last year, the loan amount I qualified for was just enough to cover the cost of tuition for the semester and required textbooks for the classes. This was enough.

I wasn’t asking the government for free money, just merely the ability to borrow the money until I graduate.

This semester’s federal student loans have fallen significantly short of the cost of

T . J . BR O N S O N S TA F F C O L U M N I S T

tuition alone. This means financially struggling students had to find a way to pay the remaining tuition and the cost of textbooks.

Lawmakers were ignorant in their belief that low and moderate income students could pay outrageous increases in tuition with less income in a recession.

Students with limited incomes turned to private loans for their education, where they were met with slamming doors. Although credit has become easier to obtain, students with little or no credit history have a slim chance of qualifying for a student loan on their own.

“The Number one reason we entered the whole review of the student loan situation was reliability, to make sure that loans will be available regardless of the credit markets,” Robert Shireman, the deputy under the secretary of education, said.

Among the restoration of practical loans for rising education costs, SAFRA will increase the maximum annual Pell Grant scholarships from $5,350 to $6,900 by 2019, provide $10 billion for much-needed community college development and allow for $8 billion to be given to early childhood programs.

This plan will streamline loans and save more than $80 billion throughout 10 years.

Up until now, the government has subsi-

dized loan companies to provide student loans. Now, the government is changing to direct federal lending, which means it alone will do loan servicing themselves.

The savings from this shift should be able to put money directly back into student aid programs and further increase financial aid benefits.

This time, President Barack Obama has stayed true to his campaign promises by holding the government accountable.

It is not surprising, however, that Republicans and banks are opposed to the spending, but neither have a good track record of improving America’s well-being.

This much-needed reform is something students were in dire need of months ago. If we can roll out packages to save careless financial institutions and automobile companies because it was deemed necessary by the federal government, then we should be able to provide aid for the future leaders of this country.

—T.J. Bronson is a journalism and finance 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.

A survey conducted in small business results in an improvement of the economy: Companies that predict improvement in revenues:

75% Approximate jobs provided by small businesses:

40 million

Amount of small businesses hiring:

49%

Amount of companies cutting their staff:

5%

—Compiled by State of Mind Contributor Aileen Pantoja

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The Daily Aztec

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Nearby Julian offers a simpler vacation

Lindsey Martin / Assistant Photo Editor

A peaceful vacation away from crowded San Diego lies in the quaint town of Julian. Although it’s famous for its pies, Julian has much more to offer than just tasty desserts. The historically rich and back-to-nature atmosphere of Julian is perfect for getting in touch with reality as opposed to the technologically driven world of today. Copious opportunities for hiking, gold panning and relaxing make Julian an ideal country town.

K A R I L UU S TA F F W R I T E R

Although some may consider the countryside to be slow and boring, there is a surprisingly fresh and homey quality that just can’t be found in the hustle and bustle of San Diego.

Located east of San Diego in the Cuyamaca Mountains hides Julian, a small town known primarily for its apple pie. A haven for those enticed by unlimited desserts, small local businesses, friendly people and a back-to-the-basics feel, this town provides a romantic atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy the experience of all four seasons and stay at one of its inviting bed and breakfast inns. Julian residents take pride in their historic town by providing many activities and allowing their visitors to “stop and smell the roses” in this peaceful mountainside oasis.

Tasting the pies and sweets Julian makes excellent desserts.

Because most of the businesses in Julian are family owned, there are bakeries on every corner, candy shops reminiscent of childhood and slices of apple pie offered at every restaurant. From caramel apples to apple-stuffed cookies, Julian residents take pride in a history of homemade recipes. Julian’s fresh, locally grown apples make its apple pies incomparable to store-bought pies. Perhaps it’s the cinnamonapple scent that lingers in the store or the organic apple orchards down the streets, but whatever it may be, visitors of Julian should indulge in a slice of this dessert to get the full experience of the town.

Enjoying nature For a nature enthusiast or someone desiring to relax in the sun, down the

road from Julian is Lake Cuyamaca and the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Lake Cuyamaca is a popular spot for picnics, fishing, boating and hiking. Stocked with a limitless supply of trout all year long, Lake Cuyamaca also offers free fishing lessons every Saturday. Although deserts are enjoyed primarily for offroad driving, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is also a necessary to visit as it provides an unparalleled opportunity for tourists to see nature in California’s largest state park. The park features washes, wildflowers, palm groves, cacti and sweeping vistas. Visitors may also have the chance to see animals, such as roadrunners, golden eagles, kit foxes, mule deer and bighorn sheep.

History Julian is rich with history and landmarks and the Julian Mining Company is a popular place for visitors to take a tour of its original gold mine. Guides lead tourists through the deep tunnels in the hard-rock mine and share tales of the life of early residents of Julian. Visitors may dip candles or even get lucky panning for gold.

Lodging For those accustomed to staying in hotels, Julian’s bed and breakfasts turn lodging into an experience that makes visitors want to come back for more. Julian Gold Rush Hotel Bed & Breakfast ranked Sunset Magazine’s: “Best of the West” Bed and Breakfast,provides old-fashioned hospitality with an inviting atmosphere.

Included are a complimentary breakfast, tea and cookies in the afternoon; this hotel encourages simpler living by providing board games and reading in the parlor. The hotel has clawLindsey Martin / Assistant Photo Editor footed bathtubs, quilted beds and quaint rustic rooms that make for a The juicy and locally grown apples of Julian make its apple pies a scrumptious dessert to die for. Other yummy and popular romantic getaway. sweets such as the gooey caramel apples and apple-stuffed cookies also make for delectable treats that are hard to resist.

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

The Daily Aztec

5

Travelers save money and make new friends C H A R L E S G R AU MCT CAMPUS

When Will Bradwell and his friends were planning a cross-country road trip three years ago, the idea of paying for hotels, gas and food seemed impossible for their college-student budgets.

Then a friend suggested www.CouchSurfing.org.

Launched in January 2004, it's a hospitality-exchange networking site where people offer free lodging. When opening a free account, you can choose to host, surf or show travelers around (even if you're not hosting).

“It sounded like hitchhiking, but on a whole different level,” Bradwell, 24, from Miami said. “It's a really smart way to travel for people our age who are trusting like that and don't want to spend all that money on hotels.”

The thought of staying at a stranger’s house may scare many. But those who have tried it say “surfers” share a love for traveling and meeting people.

“Most participants are of the same like mind and are willing to share a little bit of their lives and we share a little bit of our lives,” Rick Murphy from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. who has been a host, said. A lot of research preparation goes into surfing or hosting, he added. You can read profiles, request additional information from your host or surfer and build a pre-trip rapport by phone or e-mail. You can also read other people’s comments.

The site has other safety checks in place, said Crystal Murphy, public relations team leader for www.CouchSurfing.org.

Although not required, surfers can pay a fee and become verified members. The recommended amount varies by income and country, but the maximum is $25.

Verification helps confirm a surfer's identity and address.

Another is vouching. Members can vouch for other members and leave comments about their stays. Vouching is a way for members to declare their trust in other members. The only way to become vouched for is to be extremely trusted by someone who has been vouched for by three other members, according to the site.

Even with all the safety checks, surfers are urged to use common sense when planning a trip, Murphy said.

“You shouldn’t let someone stay at your house who just started a profile yesterday or contacted you in a shady way,” she said.

The nonprofit site, registered in New Hampshire, was developed by Casey Fenton, Sebastien Gao LeTuan, Dan Hoffer and Leonardo Bassani de Silveira.

“We first started the site to facilitate intercultural understanding and enable people to have adventures and new exper i e n c e s t h e y wo u l d n o t o t h e r w i s e encounter,” Hoffer said. “But we did not expect it to get this way.”

The openness and trust of the CouchSurfing community impressed Bradwell and his three friends who, at the time of their cross-country road trip, were students at the University of Florida.

“Every place we ended up staying at was its own little adventure,” Bradwell said. “They felt they needed to take us out on the town and show us everything there that is cool. And that was usually the best part of the trip.”

As of April, the site reported more than one million registered members from about 230 countries. The average age is 27, but CouchSurfing doesn’t discriminate.

Rick Murphy, 55, and John Devine, 45, of Fort Lauderdale, joined in January 2007 and have hosted visitors from Brazil, Great Britain, Serbia, Germany, Belgium and Canada.

“As a gay couple, we didn’t know how many people would want to stay with us,” Murphy said. “CouchSurfing is not a gay thing or a straight thing — it’s a people thing.”

While traveling to South America, the coupled bumped into several surfers who had stayed at their home.

“One of our friends who ... works for the FBI ... thinks we’ve lost our mind,” Murphy said. “But out of the 100-plus people we've hosted, never has anyone had to leave. We never had anything broken or stolen from us.”

Top 10 CouchSurfing Countries: United States Germany France Canada United Kingdom Italy Australia Spain Brazil Netherlands

MCT Campus

Tips for host and surfers: Make sure your “couch information” is clear. You decide how much access surfers have to your home. Be clear in what you are comfortable with, and communicate your rules in advance.

When you receive a request, try to get an idea of who is writing to you. Communicate with each other before a CouchSurfing stay to establish a rapport.

If you're looking for specific info that’s missing from your surfer’s profile, ask for it. They are asking you for your trust, so you deserve to get a sense of who is coming into your home.

As a surfer, you may want to have a backup host. Once you have a couch arranged, you may want to ask another host to be your backup, just in case.

Tell friends from home how long you will stay and how to get in contact with you.

For more on safety, go to www.couchsurfing.org/safety.html

Liquid Library

Hotel accommodations can quickly add up in costs, but having somewhere to stay while traveling can help save money and enrich your experience. Finding a host or a place to crash is a great alternative.

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The Daily Aztec

SPORTS

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

WOMEN’S SOCCER

MEN’S SOCCER

Aztecs sweep through Senior’s goal seals weekend home games OT victory for SDSU D AN P E R E Z S TA F F W R I T E R

The score alone cannot sum up the past weekend for the San Diego State men’s soccer team; the story is in three separate styles of celebration.

It’s the “Ray Ray,” the “Stanky Leg” and the one with the team that exhibits just how far SDSU (3-2-2) has come so far this season.

The first celebration during a 4-2 win came 22 minutes into Friday’s game against No. 6 UC Santa Barbara at the SDSU Sports Deck. Junior forward Reza finSDSU 1 Raymundo ished off a silky pass PRINCETON 0 from classmate forward Khadim Diouf, allowing the Aztecs to draw first blood. After ruffling the back of the net, Reza celebrated the same way he’s been doing for years.

“I don’t really know where it came from,” Reza said. “It’s just been (a) thing ever since like middle school and we call it the ‘Ray Ray’. I just do it every time I get a goal.”

The “Ray Ray” consists of Reza pulling the front of his jersey to his face and flaunting his hands by his shoulders, and Reza got to do it more than once as he added another goal for SDSU in the 61st minute.

The second celebration came from redshirt senior tri-captain Jamel Wallace as he finished a set play off a Gaucho foul just outside the

box. Wallace chose to celebrate with a dance move called the “Stanky Leg.” “I got it from Charlie Davies and the USA Olympic soccer team,” Wallace said. “I just wanted to dance a little bit and party with my teammates. It felt really good to do that because it meant I did my job and scored.”

Senior midfielder Evan Toft would get the last chance to celebrate last Friday and his may have been the most heartfelt. He added the cushion goal in the 76th minute and took the celebration to the bench, jumping into and hugging his teammates who didn’t get the chance to be on the field.

“I just wanted to bring the feeling over to the sidelines and share it,” Toft said. “Our bench gives us the most support and especially Matt (McManus) who can’t be out on the field with us right now, I had to share it with the team. We play for each other and here it’s all about the team.”

After celebrating the win against the Gauchos (6-2-1), the Aztecs carried the momentum into their game on Sunday against Princeton. SDSU locked down on defense against the Tigers (4-3-0) not allowing them to tally a single score. Toft recorded his fourth goal of the season in the 56th minute, locking up the Nike Aztec Soccer Classic title.

“It’s been a tribute to how hard we work for each other,” Toft said. “The reason why we play so hard is because we all understand it’s not about us, it’s the team and no one is bigger than the team.”

Nicholas Santiago / Staff Photographer

Senior forward Jessica Gordon was in the right place at the right time to make the winning goal against UC Irvine on Sunday. Her goal in overtime brought the final score to 2-1, a victory for San Diego State.

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

It didn’t take more than three minutes for the San Diego State women’s soccer team to seal the deal.

Three minutes of overtime, that is, for SDSU to score the winning goal that would clinch a victory against UC Irvine Sunday afternoon.

After two consecutive wins, the regionally 10th-ranked Aztecs AZTECS 2 kept the home field momentum against ANTEATERS 1 Irvine, which is ranked ninth in the Pacific region.

At the end of the first half, SDSU was down 1-0 and was outshot 4-2.

It was only at the 66:43 mark that sophomore defender Gretel Amman scored the goal that kept the Aztecs in the running after being shut out.

“Nothing was going on in my head when I scored it,” Amman said. “I just shot it and knew we were back in the game.”

Amman’s goal, which came unassisted off of a rebounded kick, is her first of the season.

“It took us a little while,” head coach Mike Friesen said. “But we got it back in the second half, we got the goal, and we had a momentum.”

At the end of the second half, each team had made nine shots, seven on goal for each, leaving the outcome open-ended for both teams.

Overtime was just the boost SDSU needed, and a strange three-person play scored the final goal. Freshman forward Niki Fernandes passed to junior midfielder Cat Walker, who bumped it with her head into the goalie. After ricocheting off the goalie’s leg, senior forward Jessica Gordon got a

lucky kick from just two yards out to win the game, 2-1.

“It was awesome,” Walker said. “We felt pretty confident going into overtime. That run of play at the end (of regulation) gave us the energy coming off the field, but overtime is never a fun place to be.”

Walker was one of four Aztecs to remain in play for the entire game. There were plenty of substitutions as three players were taken off the field because of injuries.

One of these players, freshman midfielder Megan Jurado, came out with a sprained ankle after just 20 minutes into the game.

“People kept coming down,” Friesen said.

“We had a lot of injuries where they couldn’t get back in, so we tried to keep fresh bodies out there to keep the pressure on.”

Despite this being the third consecutive win, it was the first win in overtime since Nov. 2, 2007 against TCU. The victory Sunday also continued SDSU’s record of 71-1 in non-conference home games. Friesen explained how he can’t allow himself to revel in the team’s success for very long.

“The coach’s life only allows me to enjoy the win for about 30 seconds, before I think, ‘OK, (next is) Oregon State,’” Friesen said.

The Aztecs have been speaking highly of their goal for this extended homestand since it started, and it seems now as though it may come to fruition.

“We had a big win last weekend with Long Beach (State),” Walker said. “And this one today was important too, so it definitely gives us that extra confidence to keep going.”

“I think our goal of seven is within reach,” Amman said in agreement. “We’ve won all of them so far, and I think we can do it.”

FOR THE RECORD In yesterday’s paper, the name of junior volleyball player Kelsey Manasco was misspelled as Kelsey Monasco.

The Daily Aztec regrets this error.

Bryan Koci / Staff Photographer

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THE BACK PAGE DAILY HOROSCOPE

HUMOR

Important life lessons

A

recent phone call from my sister unearthed some big news: I am going to be an uncle.

A baby boy will soon join the ranks of my family, which is especially exciting considering I’m my sister’s only sibling. This means that I, a morally confused San Diego State student, will be in the position to greatly influence a young person’s life.

The idea of me being a role model may concern some, but let me say, with my help, this child is going to be awesome.

Given I don’t plan on having kids anytime soon, or as I’m unaware of any existing ones, I feel like this is my opportunity to drop some knowledge. These are the lessons I plan on teaching in order to help guide the little one through the perils of life.

Lesson one: Leave home as soon as possible The hardships facing many children are staggering. Some are raised in poverty and others find themselves in a dysfunctional home environment. My future nephew has it worse than both of those unfortunate circumstances: He will be growing up in Utah.

I’m not sure why my sister would want to subject the kid to that barren wasteland. I spent 17 years in Utah and my departure couldn’t have come soon enough.

JARED W HITLOCK S TA F F C O L U M N I S T

Even though I moved, reminders of my past dwelling still haunt me. I’m convinced bitter missionaries are tracking my every move.

No matter where I live, they continue to harass me with pamphlets and offers of salvation.

Lesson two: Learn to fight I don’t normally endorse violence, but this lesson is necessary.

You see, my sister and brother-inlaw are both kind of short.

Assuming he’s the father and this isn’t some Maury-esque situation where the father’s identity is a mystery, there’s a significant chance this kid will turn out to be pint-sized. As such, bigger kids might prey on him when he starts going to school. When it comes to school, I’m going to encourage him to abide by some of the advice from the classic movie “Office Space:” “Kick someone’s ass the first day.” That partial quote is referring to prison, but it’s applicable to public school as well.

Lesson three: Women Women are a fickle, elusive bunch. Beyond a course in abnormal psychology, I wish I had some enlightening advice. No, the real reason I wrote this section was to express my hope that this kid will help me converse with girls in exchange for the pearls of

wisdom littered throughout this article. Everyone knows women can’t resist a guy who’s accompanied by a cute kid. So I guess my only lesson here is to advise the kid to become an uncle someday.

Oh, and I take back that part about this column containing useful wisdom.

Lesson four: Morals An uncle is like the Supreme Court justice of the family. I have the ability to strike down any of the well-intentioned but ultimately flawed moral advice that comes from lesser family members. For example, I’ve ruled that the drinking age is open to interpretation. I’m more than willing to help the kid buy beer or engage in other shenanigans when he’s a bit older, if he makes some sort of effort to be safe. Any morally gray areas that I don’t rule on will be referred to Chuck Norris.

The beauty of family is the guidance I’m providing would normally burn bridges or result in some sort of exile. Barring any restraining orders or a limited number of unsupervised visits, I’ll do my best to always be the crazy uncle.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

BY LINDA C. BLACK, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (09/29/09) This should be a very happy year for you.

You're lucky and quite attractive. It's the playful attitude that makes even work seem fun when you're around. Keep it up!

ARIES (March 21 - April 19) - Today is an 8 - With help from an intellectual friend, you find ways to work more efficiently.This helps you move up a level.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is a 6 - You hold yourself to a high standard but rarely admit when you've achieved it. Give yourself a pat on the back.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is an 8 You can earn more without taking on any more work.You'll have to show people what you can produce.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is a 6 When you finally buy that thing you and your family saved for, you'll glow with pride.You've worked hard for this.

LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is an 8 - This could be your lucky day. Finish up old chores and start new ones now. Also, set up a romantic weekend.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is a 6 There's more work coming in, maybe

even too much.You can figure out a way to handle the load and make a profit.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is a 7 You have all the ideas, but the words don't take shape.Try drawing or using music to help you get them out.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is a 7 - Yesterday, life came to a halt.Today, start up again and fire on all cylinders. Expect communication from far away.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today is a 7 - Now you know exactly what to say. And you know exactly what to do, so do it! Don't hesitate.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is an 8 - Each word you hear fills in a puzzle piece. By nightfall you have the whole picture. Preserve it for posterity.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is an 8 - Now is the time to reveal your plan, not later. Oh, you already did? That's OK. But if not, let it come in stages.

PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is a 7 Renew your emotional energy today.

Important information arrives by mail or phone. Prepare to take swift action. © 2009,TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

—Jared Whitlock is a journalism senior.

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

SUDOKU

BY THE MEPHAM GROUP

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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.

SDS-VIEW

Solution available online at www.TheDailyAztec.com © 2009 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.

CROSSWORD

A DASH OF PEPPER GOES A LONG WAY Staff Photographer Bryan koci captured last Friday’s free Pepper concert for students that was put on in front of Hepner Hall by Aztec Nights.

EDITED BY RICH NORRIS AND JOYCE LEWIS

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