High: 63º Low: 52º
MAR 4, 2013
MONDAY
“SDSU Confessions” featured on page 6
MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013
WWW.DAILYAZTEC.COM
VOLUME 99, ISSUE 80
Mayor Filner opens his door to the public local Declan Desmond Staff Writer
Just three months into his first term as mayor of San Diego, Bob Filner has been anything but quiet in his role as the city’s highest elected official. He has made headlines not only for his policy decisions—which include ending traffic light photo enforcement and opening an office in Tijuana—but also for his contentiousness. Last month, Filner confronted City Attorney Jan Goldsmith during a press conference, which led to a heated quarrel in front of news cameras. But Filner has also drawn attention for his open-door approach with the public. In February, he held a Saturday morning meeting downtown in the lobby of City Hall. The event was designed to give citizens a chance to speak with the mayor directly. Filner told The Daily Aztec that paige nelson , photo editor maintaining visibility and openness San Diego Mayor Bob Filner gazes outside his private office window. Last month, Filner started holding opendoor meetings to give citizens an opportunity to express their concerns and opinions with the mayor. of government is important to him. “You’ve got to make sure people 100 people the opportunity to meet the other side was, so I said, ‘Look, fort to maintain transparency in local know that they can see you,” he said, with Filner and some had to wait in I’m going to look into this further, but government. adding that many citizens have the line for approximately three hours. we’re going to give you some breathFilner came to San Diego in 1970 sense that elected officials are off limto teach history at San Diego State. In one memorable encounter, hus- ing space.’” its to them. “Actually, it’s not true, but band and wife gym owners comFilner said an advantage of his may- Though he left the school in 1992 to that’s what they think, so I figured, plained that the city was shutting oral powers is that he does not have run for Congress, he was eager to an‘I’ll just go to the lobby and have coffee down their operation because of code to go through a city manager or other swer a few questions from SDSU stuand donuts and invite people in.’” avenues to take actions. dents, who submitted their concerns enforcement issues. The event drew scores of San “I can solve problems almost on the to The Daily Aztec via Facebook “They were literally in tears, because Diegans eager to share their ques- they were about to lose their business, spot,” he said. and Twitter. tions, concerns and opinions with which is their whole life,” Filner reThe mayor plans to continue holdthe mayor. marked. “Now, there’s always two ing public meetings on the first SaturFILNER continued on page 2 The first meeting gave more than sides to this and I didn’t know what day of every month as part of an ef-
Young Aztecs celebrate Dr. Seuss
campus Stacey Oparnica Staff Writer
Blankets were sprawled across the grass on Campanile Walkway last Friday as preschoolers from the San Diego State Children’s Center listened intently to dramatic readings of their favorite books. The toddlers gathered with parents, volunteers and SDSU faculty and staff members to celebrate the National Education Association’s annual Read Across America Day, which promotes literacy and the development of reading at an early age. Forty-five million people nationwide participated in the largest reading celebration in the country— among them, actress Uma Thurman, stacey oparnica , staff writer according to NEA. It was the first A group of preschoolers from the San Diego State Children’s Center gathered for a book reading. This event was held on Campanile Walkway last Friday in celebration of Dr. Seuss’ 109th birthday. time SDSU participated in the festivities, which was also a pre-celebration their parents on a regular basis. “My mom taught me how to read,” Jane-Ann Carroll said the children— of Dr. Seuss’ birthday on March 2. “Research consistently shows that Morris said. “She really drilled that some as young as 6 months old are SDSU Career Services Information one of the best predictors of how well into me. Before I could leave to go out read to as soon as they walk through Technology Consultant Yiftach Levy children do in school is whether or and play, I had to read a book.” the door several times a day. Morris said although he was one of many parents reading not they were read to and the number “We want to plant that seed as aloud with the children in the grass. of books that were actually present was always an average reader and young as we possibly can,” Carroll Levy, who was celebrating Read in the home,” Garrity said. “When really struggled in the beginning, his said. “If you don’t do anything else Across America Day with his 4-year- we think about some of our fondest mother’s fervency for literacy has re- for your children to help them learn old son from the Children’s Center, memories reading, it’s not just about mained with him through adulthood, how to learn; if you only read to said it was great to see kids reading the book, but it’s about the person and will remain after he graduates them, that’s giving them a tremenin groups with their friends, teachers who read us the book. Early literacy in May. dous advantage that they wouldn’t and parents. is tied into that social-emotional efThe hour-long event at SDSU was ordinarily have.” SDSU child and family develop- fective component, which is so impor- finished by 11 a.m., but for the staff What does a preschooler at the cenment assistant professor Sarah Gar- tant between parents and children.” at the Children’s Center, that merely ter have to say about why reading is rity, who also read aloud during the In the home of child and family de- meant it was time to head back for important? event, says the communal, familial velopment senior and event volunteer lunch before the books would come “So I can read all by myself,” 4factor is important. She says it’s espe- Chris Morris, reading was not an op- out once again. year-old Malia Harris said. “To cially crucial for children to read with tion, but an expectation. Children’s Center assistant director get smart.”
Athletes of the month on page 5
First openly gay mayoral candidate in Miss. murdered national Hannah Beausang Senior Staff Writer
Twenty-two year old resident of Shelby, Miss. Laurence Reed has been charged with the murder of Marco McMillian, the first openly gay black mayoral candidate in Mississippi. Last Wednesday, McMillian’s body was found by a Mississippi river levee miles from Clarksdale, Miss. The investigation began Tuesday after McMillian’s car was involved in a headon collision. Reed was found with the wreckage and airlifted to a nearby hospital. According to ABC, McMillian’s body was located approximately 30 miles away from the accident scene. The police said they have no evidence to prove the murder was a hate crime, according to The New York Times. In Mississippi, crimes related to sexual orientation aren’t classified as hate crimes. The body has been examined, but the cause of death has not yet been publically announced. According to The New York Times, a family member who remained anonymous to the press made a public statement about the death. “I believe it was political,” the source said. “Maybe some people didn’t want him to run. Maybe he was a threat. They wanted Clarksdale to stay the same.” McMillian was a consultant for nonprofit organizations and had been involved in the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS. He was well-known and active member of the community, focusing his campaign on the need to reduce poverty and crime, empowering the educational system, and boosting the local economy. In 2004, Ebony Magazine named McMillian one of the nation’s 30 “up-and-coming African-Americans” younger than 30.