The Daily Aztec - Vol. 95, Issue 26

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Vol. 95, Issue 26

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 TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

Orchestra to debut new song

UNUSUAL HOTELS Find out where some of the quirkiest and most unique hotels are located around the U.S. page 4

SPORTS

GOAL WAIVED OFF Matt McManus’ would-be score gets called back against UCLA as SDSU ties the Bruins. page 6

MCT Campus

The SDSU Symphony Orchestra will perform the world premier of Professor Joseph Waters’ “Lucas – The Bringer of Light.” The theme of the performance is “Dawn to Dusk.”

SDSU Symphony Orchestra hosting concert this Friday J A N E L B R UA N S TA F F W R I T E R

For more of today’s headlines, visit:

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IN CHIEF, FARYAR BORHANI 619.594.4190 EDITOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM

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

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

After weeks of rehearsing, the San Diego State Symphony Orchestra will be performing this week with its new conductor.

This Friday, the Symphony Orchestra is holding a concert of all the songs it has been working on this semester. The orchestra will perform Benjamin Britten’s “Simple Symphony,” which will be conducted by graduate student Tracie Steele-Marshall, Sergei Prokofiev’s “Symphony No. 7” and the world premiere of Professor Joseph Waters’ “Lucas – The Bringer of Light.”

These songs are incorporated into the theme of “Dawn to Dusk.”

Britten’s “Simple Symphony” will represent dawn, as the composer wrote this song in reflection of his childhood, and Waters’ “Lucas – The Bringer of Light,” which represents a child’s innocence and curiosity. Dusk will be represented

by Prokofiev’s “Symphony No. 7” — the last symphony the composer wrote before his death.

In “Lucas – The Bringer of Light,” the electronics are the recorded and modified sounds of Waters’ 6-month-old grandson during a night of babysitting.

The piece was originally written for the faculty ensemble called Swarmius. The group consists of Waters, electronics; Assistant Professor Todd Rewoldt, saxophone; Associate Professor Felix Olschofka, violin; and Joel Bluestone, vibraphone.

Waters was approached last spring by the orchestra’s new conductor, Matthew Rowe, who expressed interest in one of Waters’ pieces. After hearing his request, Waters thought of “Lucas – The Bringer of Light.”

“It’s exciting to perform Waters’ piece because it’s an entirely new experience for most members of the orchestra,” music performance senior Sarah Davis said. “It’s not traditional for an orchestra to be accompanied by electronics.

“It’s not easy to perform with pre-recorded sound. Orchestral music allows the conductor a bit of freedom in time. When playing with electronics, we must play exactly with the recording. If we’re a split second off, it will never work.”

Davis said the Symphony Orchestra hopes to be more than a group that meets on campus.

“Our goal is to become a recognized organization to the SDSU population and the larger community,” Davis said. “We want to become an important ambassador for the university. It is our goal to be well-known throughout the state as a quality ensemble and encourage future college students to come to SDSU.” “We also want to reach out to a different kind of audience,” Davis said. “Especially since a classical concert is not a typical event for college students to attend.

Symphonies should not be reserved for the elite. It is our goal to make this music more attainable for a larger audience.”

“Dawn to Dusk” will be performed at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Smith Recital Hall. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased either online or an hour before the show.

CAMPUS CRIME Battery-related incident Oct. 5 – Police arrested three San Diego State students, who are also Koala staff members, after an incident involving battery.

One of the Koala distributors pushed a female after she threw copies of the paper into a recycling bin. The female said the papers were sitting by the bottom of the bin, so she thought that people had missed when tossing them into the bin.

SDSU Police Lt. Lamine Secka said all three suspects obstructed the police investigation in a variety of ways. Ryan Hartnett and Richard Cano were both cited for obstructing a police officer. Kristen Sieckert, who pushed the victim, was cited for obstructing a police officer, providing false identification to an officer and battery. They were all released after receiving their citations.

Burglary Oct. 5 – Thousands of dollars in equipment has been stolen from the Engineering Department.

The missing property is a project car valued at $50,000 and a trailer valued at $10,000.

A faculty member from the department reported the equipment missing and said it was last seen in early September. According to Lt. Secka, the Engineering

Department uses this type of equipment for long-term projects, so it is not uncommon for property to be checked out and missing from the storage facility. However, no one knows where the equipment is.

While the trailer was entered into the Stolen Vehicle System, the car was not because it is not street legal; it does not have a license plate or a vehicle identification number.

Assault Oct. 1 – Police located and arrested a man one day after a hit-and-run accident and assault with a deadly weapon incident.

Travis Roger, who is not affiliated with the campus, was arrested for an outside, active warrant for driving-related charges and was transported to jail.

Roger allegedly hit the driver’s side of a student’s vehicle.

After the minor accident, both parties exited their vehicles in Parking Lot A to exchange information. Roger told the student that he did not have insurance and reentered his vehicle. He then fled the scene after backing into the student as she was writing down his license plate number. The victim did not suffer any injuries.

—Compiled by Senior Staff Writer Kristina Blake.

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STATE OF MIND

MEET IN THE MIDDLE

POINTS TO PONDER

Nobel Peace Prize well earned

MCT Campus

President Barack Obama stated he was surprised to have been awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. Despite controversy among both Americans and foreigners, many hail this honor as a recognition of his work.

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ven before President Barack Obama could thank the Norwegian Nobel Committee for his award, the criticisms were rolling in. People were outraged Obama had received the peace prize and suggested that he has done nothing peaceful at all.

But the pundits need to take a step back and realize what a great moment and opportunity this is for America. Obama absolutely deserved the award and should not have to apologize for winning it.

People are acting as though Obama slipped into committee meeting and demanded he be the winner. This is not the case. Obama himself said the news was “surprising and humbling.”

I will admit, when I first heard the news I was a little shocked. After all, only three other presidents and only a handful of Americans have received the award before Obama. After my initial feeling of surprise wore off, I was genuinely proud of our president.

Obama has made an impressive effort to reach out to many nations of the world and

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

rebuild our relationships with them. Already in his first 10 months in office he has visited more countries than any other president in their first whole year in office. Our previous foreign relations left a lot to be desired from former President George W. Bush. It is moving to see a world leader make a true effort to bring about peace.

Many are saying Obama has yet to achieve anything in his presidency. It’s as though people have forgotten the lengths he’s gone to encourage peace between other nations and within our own. He has openly stated that he would like to phase out nuclear weapons and has eradicated torture within the military. He has introduced plans for America and the world to be more diplomatic. While he still has many things to accomplish, he has turned this country around in less than 10 months.

Thanks to Obama, the world now looks at America with respect and hope instead of fear and contempt.

To be a recipient of a Nobel Peace Prize, Alfred Nobel wished that it would go “To the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations.” Obama has clearly done this within his first few months in office and will continue to do so in the future.

It’s as though Obama can’t catch a break. Recently, no matter what he does, he has been met with criticism. The honeymoon period of high approval ratings couldn’t last forever, but these constant waves of condemnation are beginning to look disparaging.

What’s unusual is the heaviest criticisms seem to be coming from liberalminded Americans. Obviously the neoconservative were the first to call the award a farce, but others, such as Sen. John McCain, said, “As Americans, we’re proud when our president receives an award of that prestigious category.”

Instead of constantly berating the president with grief, we as Americans should congratulate him on his success.

A year ago Obama was only a candidate for president and now he is the peacepromoting leader of the Western world.

This is a progressive step toward future conflict resolution in the current administration.

“Throughout history, the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement,” Obama stated. “It’s also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes.” Obama has a lot to live up to now that he has received this esteemed award. It is my hope that he will look to his award as a stimulus for future peace. Obama has inherited two wars that have the potential to end within the remainder of his term.

The whole world is watching him even closer now and I think it will encourage him to make America a more peaceful nation.

—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.

FEELING TRUTH AT YOU

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Economy affects the worth of gold:

Current price per ounce of gold:

$1,037 Decrease in price of gold:

.3% Record-high price of gold:

$1,043 Year-to-date increase of gold:

18%

Opportunity to skip federal income tax: Households that will not owe any federal income tax:

47% Household incomes between $50,000 and $75,000:

22% Household incomes between $75,000 and $100,000:

9% Last time San Diego elected a Democratic president:

Strike down pension increases oor corporate choices have inflicted enough pain on consumers. For years, greedy corporations have stabbed consumers in the back. It’s time we stop these unfair antics, especially in the case of selfish water companies who want to increase rates for consumers. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is trying to make retirement benefits more favorable for its employees by increasing their payout when employees retire. In a time when businesses and consumers are strapped for cash, increasing retirement benefits for water company employees is nothing short of selfish.

In San Diego County, residents have experienced water rationing; we’ve been threatened to have rates increased and then we’ve been looked at negatively when we conserve more water than expected. Even after all the faults of the water companies since this summer, they have the nerve to take it one step further.

The Metropolitan Water District is a cooperative of 26 cities — including San Diego — and water agencies that serve 19 million people in six counties. They claim to help its members develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs, according to www.mwdh20.com.

Apparently, resource-management needs some slight assistance.

The regional supplier is unveiling a plan to offer a more generous pension plans to its employees at the expense of customers’ pocketbooks, which will be hit

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

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

with double-digit rate increases, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.

This means all of you who cut back so much — from the amount of time you spent in the shower, turned off the faucet when you brushed your teeth, cut back on watering your lawns and washing cars — are rewarded by being allowed to support increased retirement benefits of water company employees.

Proponents of the increase in retirement benefits argue they would still have less generous pensions than many types of public employees, only slightly better than teachers and new government employees. Until new technologies such as water desalination can be used effectively to help put an end to this water crisis, these companies will need to deal with fewer retirement benefits.

Many working individuals have taken hits to their retirement plans because of the current recession. Pension funds and 401(k) plans have dramatically decreased in value and Social Security has been projected to take losses for the next two years. I applaud the Metropolitan Water District for attempting to improve retirement benefits for its employees, but passing those costs onto the consumer is the wrong way to go about it.

When the economy was booming, there was expansion and water districts had a surplus of funding, but this is no longer the case. If employees are concerned with their

pensions, they should be required to put forth their own contributions. Three years ago, when the water authority increased retirement benefits, employees were asked to contribute one percent of their pay to their pensions. There is no such thing as a free lunch, especially in this economy.

Maybe more people would be supportive of this plan if the employees were also being financially prudent with their earnings instead of just asking for free money.

With the current proposal, employees only make contributions to fund retiree medical benefits, however they are not required to make contributions to their own pensions. If water companies are going to increase payout when an employee retires, then it needs to be funded by the company or the employees and not passed onto the customers through rate increases.

When the Metropolitan Water District’s board members meets to vote on the proposal, they need to sink the plan without a second thought. Punishing customers who have selflessly abided by restrictions, with an increase in rates for increased employee benefits is out of the question. We all want more in this economy but we’re all going to have to learn to live with less.

—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.

1992 Dropout rates increase likelihood of imprisonment: Male high school dropouts in jail or juvenile detention:

10 Male high school graduates in jail or juvenile detention:

2.9% Collective cost to the nation for each high school dropout:

$292,000 Amount society could save in prison and other costs for dropouts who could be helped to graduate:

$209,000 —Compiled by State of Mind Contributor Aileen Pantoja

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

STATE OF MIND

FAIR AND BALANCED

NEWS TO KNOW

Oklahoma law potential to hurt women in need

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The U.S. deficit reached $1.4 trillion on Sept. 30. The previous deficit record was set last year and stood at $459 billion. This record has been caused by the increase in spending because of the $787 billion economic stimulus accepted to both jump-start and save Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Gross domestic product stands at 9.9 percent. Spending has not improved because of the increase in unemployment payout rates and postponement of planned construction work to increase the economy. Along with this, high interest rates are expected. The value of the U.S. dollar has decreased as a result of minimal purchases of U.S. Treasury debt by foreigners.

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MCT Camapus

A new Oklahoma law seeks to publicize detailed reports of women seeking abortions. This law has the potential to embarrass and place undue stress on women who are in need of counseling and guidance.

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hat if San Diego State published the results of all tests for sexually transmitted infections for the public?

Well, that’s not so different from a law in Oklahoma going into effect on Nov. 1. On that date, the Oklahoma State Department of Health will post details on all abortions performed in the state on the Internet.

Although I sympathize with those who view any abortion as an evil and unconscionable act, the new law should be amended. It’s one thing to discourage abortion by suggesting alternatives or withholding public funds, but it is quite another thing to intimidate and embarrass distressed women into compliance.

“Supporters of the new law claim information will be useful for academic research, but a more likely motive is to scare women out of having abortions.”

Signed by the governor on May 15, the act mandates the Department of Health to “issue, on its stable internet website, a public Annual Abortion report providing statistics for the previous calendar year.” Every woman seeking to have an abortion will have to submit her age, education level, county of residence, race, marital status and total number of previous abortions.

It may not be immediately clear why this law is necessary or helpful. Supporters of the new law claim information will be useful for academic research, but a more likely motive is to scare women out of having abortions. Oklahoma has some of the strictest laws governing abortion, including mandatory counseling geared toward convincing the mother to keep the baby, a 24-hour waiting period, required parental consent for minors, heavy restrictions on the use of state funds for abortion and barring insurance companies from covering abortions unless the life of the mother is in danger. This new law is simply one more hurdle.

To an extent, I agree with some of the existing laws. I don’t think public money

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T U C K E R W INCELE S TA F F C O L U M N I S T

should be used to fund what the majority of voters considers murder. I don’t think a minor, unless there is a reason to suspect abuse, should be able to get an abortion without at least telling her parents. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to inform a scared and confused mother of her rights and options. But this law is different.

In many small communities (Oklahoma isn’t known for it’s dense populations) knowing the age, race, education level and marital status of a woman makes it exceedingly likely that the individual will be easily identified, even though the law states it will “ensure that none of the information included in its public reports could reasonably lead to the identification of any female.” By pointing out women who have abortions to a community that is generally opposed to abortions, you have the modern-day equivalent of a scarlet letter, a throwback to the outdated puritanical practices of the 17th century.

For those who find the entire concept abhorrent, The Center for Reproductive Rights has partnered with a local woman and former state representative to file a lawsuit claiming the law is unconstitutional.

This all-or-nothing gambit, where the judiciary is now tasked with making a decision sure to create absolute winners and losers, is unnecessary. Collecting the data and making it available to researchers could very well lead to some sort of beneficial social research or help formulate better public policy in the future, but there is no need to make the data available to the general public. The statistics should never be placed on the department’s Web site and should instead only be released to researchers with a verified and explicit project that would benefit from their use. In this way, the government can fulfill its stated objective and the potential for stigmatization of women seeking abortions will be greatly reduced.

—Tucker Wincele is a political science and economics 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.

Three American researchers, Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greider and Jack Szostak, won the Nobel Prize in medicine this past Monday, for their work in finding chromosomes that are key factors in aging and the growth of cancer. In the late 1970s and 1980s, these researchers discovered telomeres and telomerase, which explain why chromosomes do not shorten each time a cell divides.

According to Blackburn, telomeres are “much like the little protective tips at the end of a shoelace that keep it from fraying away” and allow cells to reproduce themselves. Cancerous cells reproduce by stealing the way telomerase works and using that process to uncontrollably divide. By finding a way to control telomerase, Blackburn suggests it “might be a way of slowing down cancer cell growth.” The Nobel Prize includes $1.4 million, which will be split three ways and the three researchers will accept their prize on Dec. 10 in Stockholm, Sweden.

The extension of the hate crime,laws to include gay-bashing was voted by the House of Representatives to protect those that have been victims of violence because of their gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability, and to U.S. service members. This bill will build upon the hate crimes law enacted soon after the death of Martin Luther King Jr. For more than a decade, Congress has tried extending these laws to gays and women, but has not advanced until now. There are about 8,000 hate crimes reported per year. Sexual orientation hate crimes make up 16 percent of the reported cases. The Senate is expected to act on the bill soon.

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After much ado about the recent San Diego Unified School District budget cuts, the total cut of $80 million has been accounted for.

Hired auditors from Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance were assigned to investigate and record every school’s spending. In doing so, they found that although there were problematic and accidental misuses of funds, the necessary budget cuts were taken from the right accounts and programs. The audit itself was called to determine which programs and what accounts needed cuts or readjustments.

Evidence pointed to the wrongful use of $15 million from a special reserve fund as opposed to a general one. If the district is found at fault, it will have to return the $15 million to the reserve.

Also, the audit procedure cost the district $52,000.

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Democratic senators Chuck Schumer (New York) and Tom Carper (Delaware) proposed the compromise of “opting-out” of the public health care option. Their proposition would allow each state to decide whether they would be part of the health care reform or not. The reform debate has been working toward reaching a compromise since it began. This breakthrough idea has been receiving positive feedback, giving the power of decision back to the public. If the idea is endorsed, it will need 60 votes to continue. It is expected that if passed, the compromise would become a perfect example of complete reform.

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Nigerian President Umaru Yar’ Adua created a two-month amnesty period in which active Niger Delta oil militants could surrender. Since August, 8,299 militants had been officially disarmed, but it is expected that as many as 15,000 surrendered, because of a rush, by the end of amnesty last Sunday. Aside from a body count, 5,000 weapons and 18 gunboats were forfeited by the militants. Nigeria’s output has been decreased by one-third since the beginning of the attacks on oil installations.

Yar’Adua will be meeting with surrendered militant commanders on Friday.

He believes that creating a peaceful delta is the answer to the problem.

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—Compiled by State of Mind Contributor Aileen Pantoja

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Travel & Adventure

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Quirky hotels in different shapes and sizes

Courtesy of Casa Laguna Inn

Untraditional hotels are popping up across America, providing guests with fun and original rooms and amenities. Many places offer unusual services amid never-before-seen decor. With various themes depicting each hotel’s personality, these places make for a unique hotel stay patrons will be sure to enjoy. However, these hotels still emphasize a luxurious stay combined with funky, out-of-the-box decorations and details.

ASHLIE R ODRIGUEZ S TA F F W R I T E R

Las Vegas isn’t the only destination for eccentric hotels and themed accommodations. The U.S. has a vast assortment of unique and quirky hotels that can add a little extra to an ordinary vacation.

In Manhattan, Bryan Berg, renowned cardstacker, was the inspiration behind the Holiday Inn’s new Key Card Hotel. The hotel includes a lobby, guest bedroom, bathroom and life-sized furniture all made completely out of key cards. While it may be challenging to get comfortable in bed, the photos and lifetime memories accumulated by such a weird and wacky experience are sure to be quite the topic of conversation.

Dog lovers everywhere can gratify their inner canine by visiting Cottonwood, Idaho, home to the infamous Dog Bark Park Inn. The entire inn is built in the shape of a gigantic beagle. To enter the inn, one must climb the stairs that rest on the dog’s hind legs and curve around the torso to find a private deck and door leading to the “heart” of the hound.

Once inside the beagle, guests will find a spacious room filled with complimentary homemade pastries and granola. Guests have the option of relaxing inside the beagle’s head and enjoying an elevated view from the dog’s windowed-eyes.

Ever fantasized about traveling through time? Jen, Justin, Annette and Ken of Bisbee, Ariz. sure have. As avid aficionados of the 1950s, the four friends came together to create The Shady Dell, a motel that provides a complete 1950s experience. Inside nine fully restored, vintage aluminum trailers, guests can curl up their toes on leopard carpet, drink martinis in their own diner-styled breakfast booth and enjoy tunes from an authentic phonograph player, complete with an entire collection of 78 RPM records. Along the way is Dot’s Diner, a small eatery built in the 1950s, which serves classic favorites such as milkshakes and burgers.

Environmentalists can find solace at Beckham Creek Cave Haven in Parthenon, Ark. — a resort that can make a nature-lover feel right at home. Rooms are carved directly out of a colossal cave; walls and ceilings are made from actual rock. Green vegetation grows on the side of the cave and dark wood makes up the interior, ensuring each bedroom, recreation room and bathroom is complete with natural elements. Serene, quiet and tranquil, the hotel’s Web site boasts of being the place to find inner peace and support the preservation of the natural environment.

For those who want to free their inner Tarzan, Hana Lani Tree Houses in Maui allow for just that. Up in the treetops of a true Maui jungle, guests will have to climb to find their nook, walk across bridges made of rope and wood and fall asleep to the sounds of exotic creatures above and below. The resort’s Web site warns this is not the place for the fussy, so only true nature lovers and adventures need consider this destination.

If treetops don’t sound very accommodating, maybe the bottom of the ocean will.

To enter Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, Fla., one must put on equipment and dive 21 feet beneath the surface of the sea.

Once the underwater hotel is reached, divers enter through the bottom to find a spacious and comfy clubhouse. Here they will find hot showers, a well-stocked kitchen wit h microwave, movies, music and of course, cozy beds where guests snuggle up and watch the fish from the windows of their underwater terrarium, according to the lodge’s Web site.

Luxurious, relaxing and fun, aquatic adventurers can experience what it would feel like to literally “sleep with the fishes.”

Like the sea, but don’t want to be in it?

Then East Brother Light Station in Point Richmond, is the more ideal getaway.

Located 30 minutes from downtown San Francisco, this romantic bed-and-breakfast is a restored Victorian lighthouse isolated on its own island. With five bedrooms, guests are privy to spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline, Mount Tamalpais and the Marin

coastline. Upon arrival, lighthouse attendants welcome guests with complimentary hors d’oeuvres, dinner and drinks.

If this sounds luxurious, the Library Hotel New York City in Manhattan will leave guests with a passion for academia. The lavish Library Hotel houses 10 guestroom floors, each one symbolic of a different class of the Dewey Decimal System. Guests can choose between a floor themed around the various sciences, literature, history and more. Each of the luxury rooms are filled with a collection

of books that relate to the room's unique theme. If curling up with a bottle of wine and a good book sounds perfect, the Library Hotel is the place to go.

Do a little digging and discover the incredible alternatives to hotel havens. A vacation doesn’t always have to be determined by its destination. In this case, it’s determined by its accommodation. For more information on any of the hotels visit www.unsualhotelsoftheworld.com.

Courtesy of Casa Laguna Inn

Delicious foods and filling buffets make these unique hotels more than just a sight to see. With large selections of wine and champagne, guests will be sure to get their money’s worth at these wacky hotels.

Travel & Adventure

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

The Daily Aztec

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Belmont Park celebrates birthdays all month NICOLE C ALLA S A S S I S TA N T F E AT U R E S E D I T O R

Childhood memories of eating cotton candy, driving bumper cars and riding roller coasters at amusement parks still ring clear for college students today.

Amusement parks have an oldfashioned entertainment value that has persevered throughout the years, especially here in San Diego.

Belmont Park, one of the few beach amusement parks left in San Diego, has entertained since 1925 when the coaster first opened.

This month, Belmont Park is celebrating everyone’s birthday by giving a free unlimited ride pass and more freebies to people who visit on the corresponding date of their birth. If their birthday is on Jan. 20, Belmont Park will give them free passes to celebrate on Oct. 20 and the same thing goes for any date during this month. Included in the birthday package for the day is an Unlimited Ride Wristband, a Super Combo package (including unlimited entrance into Laser Maze, Mirror Maze, a round of Miniature Glow

Golf and 20 arcade tokens) and a free frozen banana and 20-ounce soda. Also, friends who come with the “birthday” boy or girl only have to pay $15 for an unlimited pass, as opposed to the regular $22.95.

Most of the attractions participants can look forward to are new to the park, considering The Giant Dipper roller coaster was the key attraction at the 33-acre center for most of the ‘90s. Today, visitors can enjoy wave machines at the Wave House, a public pool, an arcade, miniature golf and restaurants and shops that crowd the entire property. But if it weren’t for a complete restructuring of park in 1990, it’s possible it wouldn’t be here today.

“It (the coaster) was built in 1925 by John D. Spreckels … he was trying to get people to come to the beach back then because people weren’t interested,” Wendy Brain general manager of Belmont Park said. “But then Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland came in and it kind of took the wayside.” Luckily, developers had plans for the park to make a comeback.

“In 1990 there was nothing here, just a roller coaster waiting,

kind of decrepit and ready to fall down, but it was a historical landmark, so they couldn’t touch it … they revamped the entire area and roller coaster, and since, it has become a really good area,” Brain said.

They built a shopping center and reopened the roller coaster, when it was decided to make the property a full-blown amusement park.

“Once the coaster re-opened, their sales shot up 600 percent, and slowly but surely, the park became more of a beach friendly, popular area for everyone from the kiddy to the college age and grandparents,” Brain said.

With the successful development, Belmont Park is able to entertain locals and tourists today. And few people know that this amusement park is a big factor in San Diego history and in molding the beach culture today.

“Only 35 percent of visitors are tourists; we definitely have a good local appeal,” Brain said.

“This belongs to the city.”

Bryan Koci / Staff Photographer

Celebrate anyone’s birthday during October with free goodies at Belmont Park. The amusment park is giving packages to patrons complete with an Unlimited Ride Wristband, entrance into the Laser and Mirror mazes,miniature golf and more.

Think you’ve got what it takes to be the next hilarious humor columnist? Apply to write for the Back Page today!

E-mail your resume and writing samples to: dailyaztecfeatures@gmail.com.

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SPORTS

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

MEN’S SOCCER

Aztecs tie Bruins in controversial game D AN P E R E Z S TA F F W R I T E R

Glenn Connelly / Photo Editor

Senior tri-captain forward Matt McManus celebrates what appeared to be goal in the 60th minute against UCLA. However, the goal would be waved off as the referee called a foul in favor of Bruins’ goalie Brian Perk.

Sunday was a typical match between the San Diego State men’s soccer team and No. 2 UCLA. It had four goals, seven cards handed out and several heated tempers. After it was all said and done the field teemed with sweat, blood and frustration.

The knock-down, drag-out slugfest went for 110 minutes and ended in an unforgiving 2-2 tie.

“This game was full of absolute great battles,” head coach Lev Kirshner said. “We fought SDSU 2 and fought but it’s disapUCLA 2 pointing to not come out of here with a win. The way we ended that game we didn’t deserve a win, that’s disheartening.”

The game started off slowly for SDSU (3-34), which was missing senior midfielders Evan Toft and tri-captain Jamel Wallace because of injury, as the Bruins were the first to strike. Kyle Nakazawa slid a shot past junior goalkeeper Brad Byrns to put UCLA up 10. The Aztecs would tie the match off with a lucky bounce created by the effort of freshman forward Devon Sandoval. As SDSU pushed the ball into the Bruins’ box, goalkeeper Brian Perk made one save, but on a clear attempt Sandoval jumped in front, deflecting the ball right over the reach of Perk.

The game would go into halftime tied at 1-1.

“That was a crazy goal,” senior tri-captain forward Matt McManus said. “You never see anything like that, Devon (Sandoval) just was in the right place and was giving it everything he had.”

McManus returned to the field for his first action of the season and was the focal point of the most controversial play of the game. In the 60th minute, McManus slipped through the defense and received a pass in UCLA’s box from junior forward Raymundo Reza.

McManus slid to get a shot on goal as Perk

dove for the ball and the two players collided.

The ball was flipped over Perk, and McManus got up to celebrate with his teammates as Perk remained on the ground. Athletic trainers and referee Colin Arblaster attended to Perk and affirmed that his face was cut. Perk was helped off the field and would not return as Arblaster waved off the goal and called a foul on McManus.

“I assessed the situation and play,” Arblaster said. “I saw the goalkeeper was bleeding and waved the goal off. I called a foul.”

“All I know from the play is Ray (Reza) touched me a pass between two defenders and I went down to make a play on the ball,” McManus said. “Next thing I know it’s no goal and a foul, it wasn’t my favorite call but it was what it was.”

The Aztecs would go up with less than 10 minutes left in the game as junior forward Khadim Diouf set up a cross that senior tricaptain defender Nick Cardenas finished with a header.

But SDSU’s lead would not last long as UCLA would take advantage of another foul and score within three minutes.

After the play, Arblaster would make another impact on the match as he gave Cardenas his second yellow card of the match, resulting in a red card and ejection.

“It was a misinterpretation by the ref,” McManus said. “Nick (Cardenas) was trying to pump us up after the goal by saying ‘Come on red!’ But the ref heard ‘Come on ref’ and he decided to be a part of the game and give him another card.”

Down by one man, the Aztecs would continue to battle and not let the advantage and frustration allow them to lose composure, settlar a tie.

“We took a lot of hits and gave everything we got,” Byrns said. “Through everything we kept our heads and didn’t let anything get the better of us. We were so close to a win but a tie in this epic of a game is something to take away.”

ICE HOCKEY

SDSU victorious in the ‘Battle for San Diego’ P HILLIP GI O R I CONTRIBUTOR

Ben Nicoll led the San Diego State hockey team with six goals last weekend as SDSU detonated an offensive explosion that left opposing goalies ducking for cover.

The Aztecs won comfortably against CSU Long Beach on Saturday at Glacial Gardens Skating Arena in Long Beach with a score of 8-6.

AZTECS 15 Senior forward Anthony Sansone led SDSU with TRITONS 2 three goals, and the Aztecs capitalized five times in special teams situations, which would be the key factor in the game.

“It was an issue in the first couple games,” assistant coach David Hough said. “We worked on it. Now the penalty kill is clicking and the power play is moving.”

Key moments in the game were capitalized

by SDSU in special teams situations, especially in the middle of the third period. The Aztecs looked to have a cozy three-goal lead during the second intermission before Long Beach scored with less than one minute left in the second period. The 49ers then scored again midway through the third to cut the lead to one.

“We should have never let them get to five to four,” senior forward Phillip Wong said.

That was exactly the situation SDSU found itself in, on top of being shorthanded. The Aztecs stepped up their intensity and Nicoll scored a shorthanded game-winning goal.

“They didn’t have a power play system,” Hough said. “A little pressure took them out of their game.”

CSULB head coach Eric Raimondo also found special teams to be an issue for the 49ers.

“San Diego (State) has a good power play,” Raimondo said. “We have been struggling on the penalty kill and it hurt us tonight.”

The Aztecs scored three goals on the power play and rode their top forwards to victory not just on Saturday, but Friday as well.

SDSU preceded its eight-goal night against CSULB with a 15-2 beat-down of UC San Diego last Friday in “The Battle for San Diego.” UCSD was overwhelmed by the playmaking skills of the Aztecs. Nicoll led SDSU with four goals, three of which were scored in the third period.

“I was just clicking with my linemates,” Nicoll said. “I kept my feet moving, and their defense was slow, so I was able to take advantage of some breaks.”

“Ben is the type of player that has one gear,” head coach Benjamin Jack said. “His gear is always on.”

The Aztecs noticeably wore the Tritons down after the first two periods. They scored three in the first, followed by four in the second, before humiliating UCSD with eight in the third alone. “(UCSD) had a short bench,” Jack said. “They were worn out and we put it to them.”

SDSU special teams proved to be the most important advantage the Aztec’s had this past weekend, and SDSU improves to (4-4) on the year. Next weekend the Aztecs will be in Arizona to face the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Nicholas Santiago / Staff Photographer

Senior forward Anthony Sansone scored three of SDSU’s eight total goals on Saturday against Cal State Long Beach as the Aztecs won 8-6. SDSU was coming off a 15-2 thrashing of UCSD the previous night.

BEHIND THE NUMBERS

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Goals scored by SDSU in last wekend’s two games

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Goals allowed by the Aztecs in those two games

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Times Ben Nicoll scored in the two games

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Wins SDSU has at home this year

4

Total games the Aztecs have played at home

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Total goals scored this year for SDSU

46

Total goals against the Aztecs this season

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The Daily Aztec

DAILY HOROSCOPE

HUMOR: PATI’S TAKES

The tragic decline of chivalry

I

n grade school, the highlight of life was being formally asked to “go out” by a boy. You’d go to a PG-rated film, maybe hold hands and maybe even kiss if you were mature for your age.

Chivalry is a trait that must peak in boys at age 10 because it seems to go downhill from there.

I would still be really pleased to live out the scenario I just described. I would absolutely adore to toss and turn in my bed the following morning debating whether or not I should have held his hand as much as I did.

But girls don’t toss and turn about hand-holding.

Where have all the gentleman suitors gone?

The typical way a romantic relationship starts is two people who just know of each other get drunk together in some social setting, make their initial mistake and see if they get along after the fact. A “sweet” guy might get a bite to eat with the girl the next morning, but by that time, she could very well have herpes. They’ll get to share pancakes and a venereal disease.

If that isn’t romance, I don’t know what is.

But then there is the “gentleman,” by my modern application of the definition. Today’s gentleman will flirt viciously the first night but not make a move toward the bedroom, maybe not even for a good-night kiss. This curveball will seem refreshing,

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

P AT R I C I A B . D W Y E R S TA F F C O L U M N I S T

thoughtful and perhaps even confusing. But after that, this boy will feel entitled to sleep with her the next time they hang out. How could he not think that after she accepted his friend request on Facebook?

What has happened to getting “pinned” or wearing someone’s ring or taking a girl out to dinner before you see her naked?

Just another reason why the 1950s were rad, aside from Chuck Berry surfboards becoming functional. Sidenote: I delete racism from my memory when pondering the glory days of the American dream in the postwar era.

I mean, I’m not a boy, but I think it would actually be more fun to be “intimate” (nice euphemism, I know) with someone who you know more about than what you can learn in drunken small talk. Those maudlin little Freudian slips do not constitute a real conversation. I could have the clap. You could have the clap. I could be really into choking people and you might have a history of sexual abuse.

I understand how people get off on mystery, but the mystery of whether or not it’s going to burn when I pee tomorrow doesn’t really get me hot and bothered. And I don’t get giddy thinking about if I’m ever going to hear from Mr. Smooth Talker again.

We all know what it means when a boy invites a girl to watch a movie or texts her after 9 p.m. And it certainly doesn’t mean he respects her so much as an individual, but more so as a conquest. There is no strategy beyond the type of alcohol he offers her. Getting a girl drunk to try to sleep with her is like cheating: His good looks and witty jokes got him nowhere a few shots of Patron couldn’t.

Winter is coming faster than any of us can fathom, and don’t we all want a reliable pair of arms to keep us warm during those brisk evenings? Maybe boys should man up and use a little more finesse in their game.

And maybe girls shouldn’t think a boy is sweet for not groping her the first night they meet.

Or maybe we live in a land where hormones run wild and cannot be constrained by values and standards. It’s suffocating with all these unchecked hormones around, and it’s hard to hear when they buzz around your head. The swarm must have swallowed up chivalry long ago.

I would like to have a moment of silence for chivalry …

BY LINDA C. BLACK, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (10/13/09) Take time to remember previous birthdays when everybody was able to get together. Even if people are missing now, you can enjoy reminiscing. Drag out an old scrapbook and add new pictures.

ARIES (March 21 - April 19) - Today is a 9 Passions flare. If you don't want to get burned, stand back and enjoy the scenery for just a moment.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is an 8 - What looks like a grim commentary on romance in the morning becomes a delightful escapade after dinner.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is a 9 Put on the Ritz and go out dancing! A little glamour goes a long way towards building romantic tension.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is an 8 - What you see today is what you get.

Dress it up and you have something even better.Your partner will thank you.

LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is a 7 - You feel like romance has dried up around the edges.You're tempted to soak it in alcohol.

Don't.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is an 8 -

You're torn between fantasy and reality.

Reality can be dressed up to look a lot more interesting.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is a 7 Tried-and-true methods get you what you need now. Save your bright ideas for another day.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is an 8 - Focus on the feminine. Ground your imagination in practical ways.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today is an 8 - There's no need to talk today.

Take care of business first, then pleasure. It's all good.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is a 7 - An older person re-enters your life.

The relationship will be different. If your feelings have changed, say so.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is an 8 - Sometimes the finishing touches are the most difficult.Today you must at least try. Apply a touch of glamour.

PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is an 8 - Other people come up with all the information they'd promised. Sort through it at your leisure. © 2009,TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

—Patricia B. Dwyer is a journalism junior.

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

SUDOKU

BY THE MEPHAM GROUP

Level:

1 2

3 4

Instructions: Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk.

LOOKING THROUGH OUR LENS

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

CROSSWORD

A MUSICAL “REMEDY” Staff Photographer Nicholas Santiago captured local San Diegan, Jason Mraz, as he serenaded the crowd this past weekend with a free concert at Cricket Wireless Ampitheatre in Chula Vista.

ACROSS 1 Magic amulet 5 With 13-Across, “Lonely Boy” singer 9 UPS deliveries requiring payment 13 See 5-Across 14 Ship to remember 15 Related 16 Window treatment support 18 Christmas trio 19 “__ Beso (That Kiss!)”: 5- & 13-Across hit 20 Prefix with China 21 Lukewarm 22 Proceed cautiously 26 The flu, for one 28 Dynamic start?

29 God 30 Most intelligent 34 Looooong time 35 Blocker of offensive TV material 37 Penn & Teller, e.g.

38 “Put your John Hancock on this line” 41 Desert rest stops 43 Chaplin’s fourth wife 44 Weepy people 46 Sports show staple 50 Orderly display 51 Has a meal 52 Repair 55 Reddish horse 56 No longer in trouble 59 Oklahoma city 60 Numerical relationship 61 One-named Deco artist 62 Personnel dept.

IDs 63 Greenish-yellow pear

EDITED BY RICH NORRIS AND JOYCE LEWIS

Solution available online at www.TheDailyAztec.com 64 Treos and iPhones, briefly

14 Expensive furs 17 Dance company founder Alvin DOWN 21 La., on old U.S. 1 Riot squad spray maps 2 Weighty obligation 23 Bug in a colony 3 Harry Potter’s 24 “__ Said”: Neil creator Diamond hit 4 Bit of granola 25 Minimum-range 5 Bamboo-eating tide critters 26 March 15th, e.g.

6 __ superiority: 27 First of 13 popes obvious confi30 “__ Believes in dence Me”: Kenny 7 Juan’s “one” Rogers hit 8 Was in first place 31 His name wound 9 King Arthur’s up on a lemon realm 32 Plaintiff 10 Giraffe relative 33 Partner of turn 11 “Let’s eat!”

35 “__, vidi, vici”: 12 Like a catty Caesar’s boast remark

36 Mountain goat’s perch 39 Words after “Look, Ma” 40 Sanctified 41 Way beyond pleasingly plump 42 Prez on a penny 44 Kind of electricity 45 Big name in garden care 46 Rabbit look-alikes 47 Smooths, as hair 48 Smidgen of sand 49 Tests by lifting 53 Greek “i” 54 Vintage Jaguars 56 Planet 57 Toy magnate __ Schwarz