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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013
WWW.DAILYAZTEC.COM
VOLUME 99, ISSUE 57
Master’s program ranks No. 6 in nation
campus Laura Nguyen
feb. 13, 2013
wednesday
Aztecs to butt heads with tough CSU team
men’s basketball
Staff Writer
Eduniversal has ranked San Diego State’s communication master’s program No. 6 nationally and No. 11 worldwide. Eduniversal is an organization that annually ranks master’s programs based on their reputation, graduate students’ salaries, and student satisfaction.
We have high expectations of our students, and our students meet those expectations.
Senior guard James Rahon
Alex Riggins Staff Writer
william snavely
SDSU Director of School of Communncation
“We have high expectations of our students, and our students meet those expectations,” Director of SDSU’s School of Communication William Snavely said. “Of course, it is all thanks to our prolific scholars on faculty who continue to push our really good students to do really well.” Snavely has been with the department for six years. Snavely was attracted to SDSU mainly because of the top-notch communication program that specializes in master’s degrees. He said it’s important that SDSU’s communication program is master’s-only because students receive the full, individualized attention of distinguished faculty without having to compete with Ph. D. students. Snavely said prioritizing master’s students is an advantage to the staff as well. He credits the program’s success to the dedication of both groups working together.
San Diego State communication master’s program has been ranked No. 6 in the nation and No. 11 worldwide by Eduniversal. The program has been ranked highly in previous years.
“I think what makes the professors so great is that they care,” communication senior Holly Shaffner said. “They really want what is best for students and put in effort to understand us.” “The faculty and students make up a collaborative community which helps and supports one another,” communication graduate student and teaching assistant Ryan Maliski said. “We don’t always see research in the same way, yet we are able to come together and have conversations about what we each value in the study and what we hope to do.” Maliski said the conferences amaze him because of the people from around the nation that come
to see SDSU professors. The program’s diverse faculty members have published research and are well-known regionally, nationally, and in many cases, internationally. Much of the excellent work is produced with the help of graduate students who work with faculty on grants as well as research projects. Graduate students also have the opportunity to be published or organize conference presentations. Snavely says communication seminars are tough. Seminars are taught by Ph. D-qualified faculty. This prepares SDSU graduate students to succeed in Ph. D. programs once they leave. Communication graduate student
Hunt for Dorner goes up in flames local Amanda Guerrero Staff Writer
Officials surrounded a burning cabin near Big Bear at approximately 4:30 p.m. yesterday, where officials said former Los Angeles police officer Christopher Dorner had presumably barricaded himself. Although firefighters from the San Bernardino County Fire Department arrived on the scene, they did not approach the structure, with suspicion that an armed Dorner was hiding within the flames. Officials said the fire was not a threat to neighboring cabins. Los Angeles Times reported Dorner’s body was “burned beyond recognition” and may require dental examinations to determine if in fact it is Dorner. CBS News reported a single shot sounded from the cabin just before the flames appeared. It is unclear how the fire started. Dorner, who is tied to the deaths of four people, exchanged gunfire with law enforcement authorities earlier in the day at approximately 1:30 p.m., while a roadblock on Highway 38 restricted commercial traffic from pass-
monica linzmeier , assistant photo editor
The search for Dorner ended last night near Big Bear. The manhunt for the ex-LAPD officer began 7 days ago.
ing through. NBC Los Angeles reported that two San Bernardino County deputies who were shot during the gunfire, were airlifted from the scene to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where one died. The other is being treated in surgery and is expected to recover. The manhunt for Dorner, which began Feb. 6, led officers to the Big Bear area after Dorner’s burned truck was found nearby. It is believed Dorner broke into a cabin in the area, where he tied up two female hostages and stole a white 2008 Dodge pickup truck. The women were released for debriefing after paramedics assessed and declared them uninjured. When the vehicle was reported missing at approximately 12:20 p.m. yesterday, authorities expanded their
irfan khan /los angeles times /mct
search for Dorner on the ground as well as from the air. The man believed to be Dorner was first spotted by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife game warden about 20 minutes after the truck was reported missing. “The vehicle was located at Hwy. 38 and Glass Rd. The suspect fled into the forest and barricaded himself inside a cabin,” according to a statement by the sheriff’s department. “A short time later there was an exchange of gunfire between law enforcement and the suspect.” According to 10News, Dorner may have had as many as 34 legally registered weapons in his possession. A public funeral for the veteran Riverside Police Department Officer Michael Crane, whom Dorner shot and killed on Feb. 7, will be held today.
jimmy thibault, staff photographer
and teaching assistant Melissa Lucas takes pride in being one of these students. Lucas, who chose SDSU because of the prestigious communication master’s program, plans to move on to a Ph. D. program next year. She believes the reason that she has been accepted to many Ph. D. programs is because of her outstanding experience at SDSU and the reputation that comes along with it. Snavely is proud to say the program’s success is consistent and the recognition it has received is well-earned. his comes as no surprise, however, as SDSU’s communication master’s program has been ranked highly in past years.
Frontcourt Aztecs: For most of this season, the Aztecs have had trouble finding consistency in their frontcourt play. Neither starting sophomore forward JJ O’Brien or senior forward DeShawn Stephens averages double figures in scoring and rebounding. The Aztecs have relied heavily on junior guard Jamaal Franklin to score and rebound, leading the team in both categories with 17.5 points per game while grabbing 9.5 rebounds. Rams: The heart and soul of the Rams comes from 6-foot-10 senior center Colton Iverson, a transfer from the University of Minnesota. So far this season at Colorado State, Iverson has exploded in the high altitude, averaging a career high of 13.8 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. Prior to transferring to CSU this season, Iverson averaged 5.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game PREVIEW continued on page 3
Crime Beat Bike Thefts A week after San Diego State Police Department held its bike registration and U-lock give-away, students are still dealing with bicycle thieves. Frankie Yarborough, a nonSDSU student, was arrested by SDSUPD for cutting bike locks on Cuicacalli Walk on Feb. 9. Responding officers detained Yarborough for grand theft and possession of burglary tools. He was transported to the county jail. Burglary in Tenochca Around 10 p.m. on Feb. 9, SDSUPD received reports of a burglary in Tenochca residence hall. A laptop, headphones and sunglasses were taken from an unlocked room. Police later arrested two non-SDSU students for burglary and conspiracy to commit a crime. Gianni Ferrante and Joe Suzuki were taken into custody and transported to jail by police.
SDSUPD Launches Volunteer In Policing Program SDSU police launched their Volunteer in Policing program on campus. VIP is a program allowing men and women 21 years and older to volunteer as ambassadors of SDSUPD. As ambassadors, volunteers will perform a variety of duties in conjunction with the police department and campus community. According to a SDSUPD statement, “Volunteers assist police officers as needed, provide community services such as crime prevention tips, bike registration, special detail assistance and general visitor information.” Senior VIPs supervise the ambassadors and the program is managed by a sworn member of the police department. A “storefront” for VIP will be opening shortly in Love Library.
–– Compiled by Staff Writer Michelle Pluss