03-18-2013

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MAR 18. 2013

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SaVE Act featured on Page 2

MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2013

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VOLUME 99, ISSUE 88

Bulldogs bite the Aztecs in title game

women’s basketball Ryan Schuler Sports Editor

Game of runs: The San Diego State women’s basketball team started Saturday’s Mountain West championship game with a 7-0 lead. It wasn’t a 19-0 or 12-0 lead, but still impressive.

Fresno State used runs of its own to defeat the Aztecs, ending the first half on a 12-0 run to take a 45-34 halftime lead.

To begin the second half, the Bulldogs used an 11-0 lead to grab a 22-point lead, which the Aztecs were never able to recover from.

SDSU made things interesting at the end of the second half, using a 35-15 run to cut the deficit to 71-69 with 1:13 left in the game.

“We picked a bad time to have a bad time,” SDSU head coach Beth Burns said. “I think Fresno State had an awful lot to do with that. We’re very much a physical rep team. We work really hard to try to do things the way we want to do them. And we just, out of the gate, even though we had a lead, it was very much not San Diego State basketball, it was more Fresno bas-

Men’s Basketball featured on page 3

Senior guard Chelsea Hopkins drives the lane between two Fresno State defenders. The Bulldogs defeated the Aztecs 76-70 to win the tournament championship.

ketball, matching baskets, up and down the floor.”

Hopkins continues to impress On Thursday, it was assists. On Friday, it was points. On Saturday, it was rebounds.

Senior guard Chelsea Hopkins

continued to play outstanding during the Mountain West Women’s Basketball Championships.

Against Fresno State on Saturday, Hopkins scored 15 points, tied for a team-high, and grabbed 15 rebounds to go along with eight assists.

Sketchpad creator awarded Kyoto campus

paige nelson , photo editor

Hopkins, along with senior forward Courtney Clements, was selected to the All-Tournament team.

“Well, we have a lot of talented kids that do what they do well when you put it together,” Burns said.

“But Chelsea’s our Superman.

SDSU offers Green classes campus Hannah Beausang Senior Staff Writer

Kyoto Prize laureate Ivan Sutherland stands at the podium during the Kyoto Prize Symposium.

Sutherland is known as the “father of computer graphics.”

Malissa Lewis Contributor

Last Wednesday, San Diego State hosted the Kyoto Prize Symposium: Celebrating Outstanding Lifetime Achievement in the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center. Students, faculty, alumni and guests attended to honor Ivan Sutherland, Kyoto Prize laureate.

The Kyoto Prize is awarded to recognize accomplishments made in art, philosophy, technology and science.

This award has been given annually since 1985.

For the past 12 years, San Diego has hosted the symposium.

Sutherland, commonly regarded as the “father of computer graphics,” created many models, such as computer program, Sketchpad, in 1963.

It was this creation that paved the

way for human-computer interaction, which ultimately established the development of computer graphics.

Born in Hastings, Neb. in 1938 Sutherland thanks his parents for his upbringing and success. Sutherland said as a child, his parents played mental arithmetic games in the car with him and his brother, and by grade school, he was learning algebra.

Sutherland mentioned his favorite childhood toys were children’s TinkerToys—construction sets.

“Long before I could read English, I could read plans to build Tinke Toys,” Sutherland said.

Sutherland attended three different universities: Carnegie Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Sutherland invented Sketchpad while working on

dustin michelson , senior staff photographer

his thesis to earn his doctoral degree from MIT. This invention created opportunities in engineering, animation, entertainment and designing for the computer graphics industries.

Sutherland said the best advice he ever received was from his son, Dean: “Dad, you’re no good at things you don’t think are fun.”

Sutherland is now focusing on developing asynchronous technology, which is the transmission of data intermittently versus in a steady stream.

“Dr. Sutherland is truly an inspiration,” SDSU civil engineering junior Alex Johnson said. “I hope one day I can have half as many achievements as he has and continues to do.”

Sutherland said he always enjoys his work and embodies the fun aspect of learning.

The San Diego State College of Extended Studies offers four unique online certificate programs to boost sustainability careers.

These certification programs will begin in the spring. The certificates available: green energy management, water management and landscape sustainability, green building construction and Greentech Enhanced.

SDSU Executive Director of New Initiatives and Outreach Wendy Evers, founded the program, said the certificates are highly beneficial for teaching applicable and valuable skills.

“The tagline is, ‘Education to career,’” Evers said. “We want to be skill-oriented—address theory, but also understand how to get into a career in the green energy field.”

Classes are taught by local industry experts. The nine-week courses have textual, audio and visual components. Most courses require students to complete a project, allowing for hands-on experience.

Evers consults a range of experts to formulate individual curriculums based on job descriptions and skills needed in the field. Evers said the program is intended to enhance skill sets, mainly for people changing careers, entering or redefining their careers. There are no prerequisites for the courses.

Evers said she established the certificate program about six years

Science Beat Biology seminars every Monday at San Diego State Since 2006, San Diego State faculty members have hosted seminars for guest speakers and professors to discuss current research in the biological and environmental sciences.

During these seminars, students can listen and discuss research conducted by the professionals who prepare them for futures in scientific research. The seminars, which are open to all students and staff, are held at 4 p.m. every Monday in the Alan and Debbie Gold Auditorium for the Life Sciences on campus.

To view upcoming talks, go to bio. sdsu.edu/eb/seminars.html Existence of the Higgs boson particle more certain One of the great mysteries of the universe is beginning to unravel.

The Higgs boson, a quantum particle with zero spin that gives matter its mass, eluded scientists since its mechanism was first proposed in 1964 by physicist Peter Higgs.

In 2012, physicists at European Organization for Nuclear Research Large Hadron Collider stated they had potentially discovered the particle. On March 14, physicists who have been analyzing data from CERN’s are now more certain this particle is the Higgs boson.

“To me it is clear that we are dealing with a Higgs boson, though we still have a long way to go to know what kind of Higgs boson it is,” Compact Muon Solenoid experiment spokesman Joe Incandela told Reuters.

The Higgs boson is the element in the Standard Model of particle physics that has yet to be discovered.

CERN is closed for maintenance and upgrades until 2015, but scientists said no new data on the Higgs boson will be available until the end of the decade.

–– Compiled by Staff Writer Will Houston

2 | NEWS from GREEN PROGRAM page 1

ago, starting with the Green Building Construction program. She worked with an advisory board and local companies to develop relevant programs that would prepare students for real-world application. As the certificates gained popularity, the program started attracting attention globally.

“People everywhere from Dubai to Japan to Australia to Canada are taking our classes,” Evers

Volume 99, issue 88 | MONday, March 18, 2013 “I think this gives more options to those people who want a wider range of employment and really specifies a field for people to focus on,” Wisman said.

Kathleen Armstrong, who finished the Green Energy Management certificate program, holds the title of program coordinator for the Conservation Services Group. She said the program provided her with the necessary skills, motivation and connections for jumpstarting her career.

It re-insalled my focus on my career towards being able to communicate how important energy efficacy is and to become a working professional once again... kathleen armstrong

Program Coordinator for Conservation Services Group

said.

Evers explained that San Diego is a hub for the green industry, making it an ideal location for collaboration and education in sustainability. SDSU received a silver rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.

The SDSU Enviro-Business Society is an on-campus organization that advocates sustainability movements and established the SDSU bike lane, founded GreenFest, reduced plastic water bottle use and added more recycling bins on campus. Vice President of the SDSU Enviro-Business Society Brian Wisman said that the certificates will benefit those interested in the green industry.

“It has been a professional adventure,” Armstrong said. “It reinstalled my focus on my career towards being able to communicate how important energy efficacy is and to become a working professional once again in the field with a lot more expertise than when I started. It opened up a whole new career path for me.”

According to McGraw-Hill Construction’s 2013 Dodge Construction Green Outlook report, the green building industry is expected to reach between $204 billion and $248 billion by 2016. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2010 that the green industry makes up 3.1 million jobs in the U.S.

HarassMap provides support international Michele Pluss Staff Writer

For many, social media can be a convenient way to keep in touch with friends and family across distances and stay up-to-date on people’s daily lives.

Others, however, are using social media and smartphones as a way to put a stop to injustices in certain parts of the world. Rebecca Chiao is one of these people.

She cofounded HarassMap.org, a website and smartphone app launched in 2010 to help track and counter the sexual harassment of women in Egypt.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Chiao initially moved to Egypt to take a three-week volunteer job.

She ended up staying for four and a half years. Still adjusting to the culture shock, Chiao was unsure at first whether the daily harassment she received from men and boys was something she unknowingly invited. After discussing these incidents with her female friends and co-workers, she discovered it was a social issue throughout the country.

According to a 2008 survey by the Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights, 83 percent of Egyptian women and 98 percent of foreign women living in the country say they have been victims of sexual harassment.

In an interview with Canadian publication The Toronto Star, Chiao explained that her breaking point took place during rush hour

on the subway.

“A guy opened his pants and started masturbating while he was staring right at me. Nobody did anything. When this kind of thing happens, and people look at you as though it’s your fault, you wonder what else could happen.”

HarassMap was then created.

According to an online article posted on Random Hacks of Kindness, an organization dedicated to using technology to solve

The volunteers ask people who have a presence in the street...and ask them to be watchful guardians... rebecca chiao

Co-Founder of HarassMap.org

local and global issues, HarassMaps is meant to end the sexual harassment of women by “engaging all of society to reestablish consequences for harassers by encouraging all people to be watchful against harassment and take action by speaking up against harassers.”

HarassMap allows women to submit incidents of harassment one of four ways. They can text the incident to 6069, submit it on HarassMap.org, tweet using the hashtag #harassmap or post to the organization’s Facebook page.

The report is then verified with

the location logged on the site’s map. This tracking system allows the organization to detect harassment hot spots where incidents occur most frequently. The reports are sorted into various categories: catcalls, comments, facial expressions, indecent exposure, ogling, phone calls, rape/sexual assault, sexual invites, stalking/following and touching.

When a hot spot is detected, HarassMap sends volunteers to the reported area to educate the public about sexual harassment. “(The volunteers) ask people who have a presence in the street—shop owners, police, the guys that park the car, the doormen, the people who are hanging out in the street all the time—and ask them to be watchful guardians of their neighborhoods,” Chiao told CNN. These volunteers inform the public and promote awareness.

“About eight out of every 10 people they talk to in the street agree by the end of the conversation,” Chiao said. “At the beginning, everyone disagrees, but by the time the conversation is over most people are not just agreeing but they are enthusiastic and want to take action.”

Approximately half of HarassMap’s volunteers in Egypt are men.

Since its inception, women from 19 countries have contacted Chiao to learn more about HarassMap and how it works.

Obama signs SaVE Act national David Hernandez Staff Writer

Last Thursday, President Barack Obama signed the Violence Against Women Act in addition to reforming how colleges will handle sexual assaults.

The Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act, which was included in the VAWA, aims to establish transparency, accountability, education and collaboration on college campuses and universities.

San Diego State sociology sophomore and vice president of Andrea O’Donnell Womyn’s Outreach Association Kaia Los Huertos said she believes the SaVE Act recognizes the prevalence of sexual assaults and the need for this kind of policy.

“It provides a comprehensive look at sexual violence on campuses, and while it may not be the end-all-beall to sexual violence, it provides the kind of programming that could begin the end,” Los Huertos said.

Universities will be required to include incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking in annual campus crime statistic reports.

Since 2007, 59 rape incidents were reported at San Diego State.

The SDSU Police Department’s annual reports don’t specify the types of “assaults.”

SaVE Act requires colleges to inform students of their rights and options. Victims will also be given the right to change academic, living, transportation or working situations to avoid a hostile environment.

Schools must also provide prevention and awareness programs for all incoming students and new

employees, along with bystander intervention strategies.

“Education and awareness is a huge aspect of being able to fight any kind of problem,” Los Huertos said. “And this kind of action is an incredible help to victims’ lives and can provide them with a change that may save them from trauma.”

To enforce SaVE, the U.S. department of Justice, Education, and Health and Human Services will collaborate to determine the best practices for preventing and responding to sexual violence.

SDSU currently offers Rape Aggressive Defense System courses, which teaches women self-defense techniques and martial arts tactics.

The class is free for SDSU students, although a $14.99 “R.A.D. Program Manual” is required.

“Many times, victims are shushed instead of encouraged to report and get help; it is extremely important that rape and violence is spoken about, so that it may be ceased,” Los Huertos added. “The SaVE Act has the ability to change these aspects of SDSU life and I hope it serves to improve our community further.”

Andrea O’Donnell, after whom WOA was named, is among the many women who have lost their lives to sexual violence. She was trained in self-defense, a top student leader in women studies and part of the predecessor organization to WOA. “It does not matter who you are or what you’ve done, but sexual violence can happen to you,” Los Huertos said.

The law will take effect during the 2014-15 school year.

SPORTS| 3

Tuesday, MARCH 18, 2013 | Volume 99, issue 88

Tapley, Thames lead SDSU

men’s basketball Ryan Schuler Sports Editor

Tapley and Thames come alive in the second half At halftime of Wednesday’s Reese’s Mountain West Championship against Boise State University, senior guard Chase Tapley only had five points, while junior guard Xavier Thames scored seven points.

In the second half, Tapley and Thames took control of the game. Tapley scored 12 secondhalf points, while Thames added 11 points in the second half to finish with 18 points.

“We’re better when Xavier plays and when he plays healthy,” SDSU head coach Steve Fisher said. “He’s getting closer to where he was at his best both early this year and last year. So, it’s obvious if we want to be as good as we can, we need Xavier Thames leading.”

Aztecs keep Boise State’s Marks and Drmic under control In the regular-season finale against San Diego State, sophomore guard Derrick Marks and sophomore forward Anthony Drmic showed

Aztecs eliminate Broncos

the Aztecs why they were the MW’s highest scoring combination and deserved being named to the All-MW second team.

In the last matchup on March 9, Marks exploded for a game-high 27 points, while Drmic added 23. The two combined to shoot 15 of 32 from the floor and put in 50 of Boise State’s 69 points in a 69-65 Broncos win.

It was a different story in the first half of the quarterfinals of the Reese’s MW Championship in Las Vegas. The Aztecs smothered the duo in the first half, as Marks shot 0 for 9 from the field and Drmic was a mediocre 3 of 8 for seven points.

In the second half, Drmic and Marks resembled the players they were in the season finale, as Marks scored all 14 of his points after halftime and Drmic finished with a team-high 20 points after scoring 13 points in the second half. Marks finished the game shooting 4 of 22 from the field and 2 of 5 from 3-point range after missing his first 12 shots of the game. He didn’t score a point until the 12:09 mark in the second half. Drmic finished 7 of 20 shooting from the field and 2 of 9 from 3point range.

Matt Kenyon Staff Writer

For the first time since 2009, San Diego State didn’t play in the final round of the Mountain West Tournament Championship, after losing in the semifinals to the University of New Mexico 60-50 on Friday.

The Lobos proved to be too big of an obstacle for the Aztecs to overcome.

The Lobos’ 7-foot redshirt sophomore post Alex Kirk and 6-foot-9 junior forward Cameron Bairstow dominated the paint and combined for 31 points and 18 rebounds.

“We were beaten today by a really, really good team that can hurt you inside and outside. They did that to us tonight,” SDSU head coach Steve Fisher said.

The Aztecs also had to handle a 24-4 Lobos run late in the first half that continued after the break. New Mexico’s junior guard Tony Snell set Lobos fans into a frenzy by hitting three 3-pointers within one minute during that stretch. Snell led all scorers with 17 points.

Senior guard Chase Tapley, who for the first time in his career didn’t play in the MW Championship, and junior

that initiates all the offense, too.”

The Aztecs’ defense was as stingy as it has been all season, but brief stretches of lapse allowed the Broncos to make runs to stay in the game. The only lead Boise could manage came after a 14-0 run led by sophomore guard Derrick Marks.

Unfortunately for the Broncos, that was the only stretch in which Marks was an offensive threat. Unable to score at all in the first half, Marks finished with 14 points. Sophomore guard Anthony Drmic led all scorers with 20 points.

SDSU went on to face the University of New Mexico in the semifinals.

“They’re going to come at us and they’re going to want to smack us around like they did at their place,” Fisher said.

Matt Kenyon Staff Writer

The San Diego State men’s basketball team opened the Reese’s Mountain West Championship with a big 73-67 victory last Wednesday against Boise State University, a team that beat the Aztecs just four days prior. The two teams shared the exact same season record and were split 1-1 in their season series, but the Aztecs proved too much to handle.

Junior guard Jamaal Franklin led the Aztec offense with 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Junior guard Xavier Thames had 18 points of his own and senior guard Chase Tapley added 17.

“He’s our best defender,” SDSU head coach Steve Fisher said. “He’s the guy

Snell leads New Mexico

men’s basketball

Aztecs fall to the Lobos

men’s basketball

men’s basketball

First half, I think he had 10 (points), 8 (rebounds)-dominating the glass. When you’re chasing good shooters around, it’s hard when they’re setting real good screens.”

On the defensive side, Kirk recorded four blocks, but Kirk and Bairstow affected many others.

“Their bigs did give us trouble on our end,” Fisher said. “In situations against a lot of teams, we would get to the rim with a chance for baskets and/or fouls.

And today, they made it hard. They made it hard for us to get shots on the rim with their length, with their size and their aggressiveness.”

Ryan Schuler

guard Xavier Thames were the only Aztecs who scored in double figures with 14 points apiece.

Tapley picked up two quick fouls midway through the first half and didn’t return to the game until the final possession of the half. The Aztecs shot only 26.7 percent from the field in the first half and made two 3-pointers on 10 attempts.

They were able to raise that percentage to 31.3 by the end of the game, but the damage was done.

The Aztecs did, however, rally back from a 21-point deficit to cut the lead to nine with 4:38 left to play, but the combination of shooting struggles and the Lobos big men locking down the lane made it very difficult for SDSU to find any kind of rhythm.

Junior guard Jamaal Franklin only scored eight points for the Aztecs, but led the team in assists with five and also snagged a game-high 12 boards. This was just the second time this season that he has not scored in double figures.

“The good news is we’ll live to play next week and I do believe we’ll be good enough when we suit it up next week for somebody,” Fisher said.

New Mexico went on to the championship game where the Lobos beat the University of Nevada, Las Vegas 63-56.

Sports Editor

Aztecs struggle shooting The San Diego State men’s basketball team shot 20 of 64 from the field (31.3 percent) in the 60-50 loss to the University of New Mexico in the semifinals of the Reese’s Mountain West Championship.

“We tried to spread the floor, but they do a good job of, when there is dribble penetration, of sinking, filling, making it hard for you to turn what maybe looks like a shot at the rim to a really, really difficult shot at the rim,” SDSU head coach Steve Fisher said.

To make matters worse, the Aztecs shot 23.8 percent (5 of 21) from 3-point range. Junior guard Xavier Thames was 0 of 3 from outside of the arc, while junior guard Jamaal Franklin and senior guard Chase Tapley were each 2 of 6.

Snell’s Three 3-pointers With the Lobos leading the Aztecs 34-22 with 17:11 left in the game, New Mexico Lobos junior guard Tony Snell hit a 3pointer to give the team a 15-point lead.

Exactly 30 seconds later, Snell hit his second consecutive 3-pointer. Just like that, the Aztecs trailed by 18 points.

After a missed jumper by SDSU, Snell received the ball behind the 3-point line on New Mexico’s ensuing possession and hit his third consecutive 3-pointer to extend New Mexico’s run to 11-0 and give the Lobos a 21-point lead.

“I was trying to be aggressive,” Snell said. “I heard the crowd going, so that got me going. Kind of backed off of me, so I tried to shoot the ball and stay aggressive.”

New Mexico’s bigs are too much Junior forward Cameron Bairstow and redshirt sophomore post Alex Kirk gave the Aztecs a difficult time.

New Mexico’s two big players combined for 31 points and 18 rebounds, with Bairstow scoring 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Kirk recording 15 points and grabbing seven rebounds.

“Their bigs are really good,” Franklin said. “Bairstow started off real hot.

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4 | SPORTS

Senior forward DeShawn Stephens fights for a rebound between two New Mexico defenders as sophomore forward JJ O’Brien looks on.

Volume 99, issue 88 | MONday , MARCH 18, 2013

paige nelson , photo editor

Two San Diego State cheerleaders pump up the crowd during a game.

antonio zaragoza , editor in chief

The Aztec Warrior pumps up the crowd at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Sophomore point guard Ahjalee Harvey dribbles between two Nevada defenders in the quarterfinals.

Some of SDSU’s finest were on hand to cheer the Aztecs on .

Franklin drives to the basket around a Boise State defender.

Franklin scored 19 points against the Broncos.

antonio zaragoza , editor in chief

Sophomore forward JJ O’Brien looks for an open teammate while being guarded.

paige nelson , photo editor

Junior guard Jamaal Franklin attempts to block a layup by Boise State’s Derrick Marks.

antonio zaragoza , editor in chief

paige nelson , photo editor

antonio zaragoza , editor in chief

paige nelson , photo editor

6 | SPORTS

Volume 99, issue 88 | MONday, MARCH 18, 2013

SDSU crushes Nevada women’s basketball Ryan Schuler Sports Editor

It took less than eight minutes of action for the San Diego State’s women’s basketball team to confirm the winner of the Reese’s Mountain Championship quarterfinal.

Behind senior guard Chelsea Hopkins’ 14 assists and the scoring duo of sophomore forward Erimma Amarikwa and senior forward Courtney Clements, who each scored 15 points, the Aztecs tamed the Wolf Pack, winning 67-39 to clinch a berth in the semifinals.

The Aztecs jumped out to a big lead and never looked back, scoring the game’s first 19 points in the first eight minutes before University of Nevada, Reno freshman forward Julia Shelbourn hit a free throw with 11:18 left in the first half, giving the Wolf Pack its first score of the game.

Nevada made it interesting at the end of the first half, using an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to 28-14 aided by the Aztecs’ inability to convert on 12 consecutive offensive possessions.

SDSU finished the first half leading 32-18.

The Aztecs continued to maintain a doubledigit lead in the second half, with the Wolf Pack unable to get within 12 points. SDSU’s largest lead of the game came with 19 seconds left in the game, when junior guard Danesha Long picked up a loose ball and laid it in to give the Aztecs a 67-39 lead, closing out the game. “(I) was really pleased with us,” SDSU head coach Beth Burns said. “I think everybody made big contributions.”

But the real story was Hopkins’ generosity with the ball. Hopkins assisted on each of the Aztecs’ 12 field goals in the first half. She finished the half with 12 assists, one shy of her career-high. Hopkins added two more assists in the second half to give her 14 on the game, a new career-high and a MW Women’s Basketball Championship record.

“I pride myself on being a pass-first point guard,” Hopkins said. “But I really pride myself on kind of doing whatever it takes to win.”

SDSU gets defensive women’s basketball Ryan Schuler Sports Editor

Defense is the name of the game Points are not something that come easy to the San Diego State women’s basketball team’s opponents.

Just ask the University of Nevada and the University of New Mexico.

In Friday’s semifinal game of the Reese’s Mountain West Championship, the Aztecs held the Lobos to just 39 points, a day after holding the Wolf Pack to the same total.

The 78-point total is the lowest two-game total in conference history. This is the 15th consecutive game SDSU has held an opponent to less than 60 points in a game.

“Well, we knew that this game would be a tough game and we needed to come out with energy,” senior center Malia Nahinu said.

The Aztecs limited the Lobos to just 11 field goals, which is tied for the fewest in MW tournament history.

The Aztecs once again use a hot start For the second consecutive game, the Aztecs used a good start to jump out to an early lead and never look back.

After SDSU shot 19-0 lead in the quarterfinals against Nevada, it grabbed leads of 12-0 and 23-5 before taking a 29-13 lead into halftime.

“When you start the game, you have to set the tone, the dynamic,” senior guard Chelsea Hopkins said. “That’s what we live to do against every opponent. We want them to feel our presence, we’re going to set the tempo of the game, we’re going to maintain it. That’s what we look to do every time we go out on the court.”

Aztecs come up short

women’s basketball Matt Kenyon Staff Writer

The San Diego State women’s basketball team was upset in the championship game of the Reese’s Mountain West Tournament by second-seeded Fresno State on Saturday by a final score of 76-70.

“We picked a bad time to have a bad time. I think Fresno State had an awful lot to do with that,” SDSU head coach Beth Burns said.

Senior guard Chelsea Hopkins continued her impressive play, recording 15 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists and earned a spot on the all-tournament team. Senior guard Courtney Clements added 15 points of her own and was also selected as an all-tournament player.

The Bulldogs put on an offensive clinic and had four players score in double digits. Junior guard Ki-Ki Moore led all scorers with 22 points and sophomore forward Alex Sheedy was one point shy of matching her.

The Aztecs struggled to hold onto the ball in the first half and the Bulldogs made them pay for it. Forcing seven turnovers, Fresno State efficiently converted 12 points.

After trailing by 22 points earlier in the first half, SDSU tried to close the gap and take home a victory with a steady 10-0 run.

“Unfortunately we weren’t able to come back. But you can see that we didn’t quit. No matter what they did, we still tried to come back,” Hopkins said.

With 26 victories, the Aztecs are one win shy of a new school record for wins in a season.

Aztecs grab big lead women’s basketball Matt Kenyon Sports Writer

Aztecs make Wolf Pack howl San Diego State came out ready to play against the Wolf Pack, with its defense as the greatest proof. The University of Nevada, Reno was unable to score in the first nine minutes of the game, allowing SDSU to find its groove early and jump out to a 19-0 lead.

In the first half, the Aztecs forced 12 turnovers, in addition to eight steals and five blocks. The second half was more of the same, with Nevada giving up 11 more turnovers and allowing the Aztecs to convert 16 points from them.

Hopkins sets records SDSU senior point guard and Mountain West Conference Player of the Year Chelsea Hopkins put on a show in Thursday night’s game against Nevada, dissecting the Wolf Pack’s defense and finding her teammates for easy buckets. SDSU made 12 field goals in the first half and Hopkins assisted on every single one of them.

“I felt like there were really easy opportunities for my teammates, so I’m not going to force a shot when we could easily have a layup,” Hopkins said. “I take whatever the defense gives me. This time, it was assists.”

Her 14 assists set the new record for the Mountain West Tournament. Hopkins also finished with four points and six rebounds.

Aztecs spear Lobos women’s basketball Matt Kenyon Staff Writer

The San Diego State women’s basketball team put on another dominant performance in Las Vegas last Friday with a 67-39 win against the University of New Mexico in the semifinal round of the Reese’s Mountain West Championship.

Senior point guard Chelsea Hopkins continued her spectacular play with 14 points, a career-high 14 rebounds and five assists. Senior guard Courtney Clements led all scorers with 15 points and senior center Malia Nahinu added 10 points of her own to go along with four blocked shots.

Despite their fluid offense, the Aztecs’ defense was the leading factor in their large margin of victory. SDSU held the

Lobos to a mere 13 points in the first half. The Lobos were held to 20 percent shooting for the game and hit 11 field goals, which is tied for fewest field goals in Mountain West tournament history.

“Coach (Beth) Burns always instills in us to come out and fight for what we want and come out strong in the first five minutes and really play defensive,” Nahinu said. “Our program is built on defense.

We want to maintain that forever.”

In the two tournament games the Aztecs played, they have allowed their opponents to score a combined 78 total points, which is the lowest two-game total in conference history.

“You get confidence from great preparation. They trust in what they’re being told and then they do it and have success with it,” Burns said.

Hopkins impresses women’s basketball Ryan Schuler Sports Editor

Game of runs The San Diego State women’s basketball team began Saturday’s Reese’s Mountain West Championship game with a 7-0 lead.

The Fresno State Bulldogs countered, using runs of their own to defeat the Aztecs, ending the first half with a 12-0 run to take a 45-34 halftime score.

To begin the second half, the Bulldogs used an 11-0 run to grab a 22-point lead, from which the Aztecs were never able to recover.

SDSU made things interesting at the end of the second half, using a 35-15 run to cut the deficit to 71-69 with 1:13 left in the game.

“We’re very much a physical rep team,” SDSU head coach Beth Burns said. “We work really hard to try to do things the way we want to do them. Even though

we had a lead, it was very much not San Diego State basketball, it was more Fresno basketball, matching baskets, up and down the floor.”

Hopkins continues to impress On Thursday, she contributed assists.

On Friday, it was points.

On Saturday, it was rebounds.

Senior guard Chelsea Hopkins continued to play outstanding basketball during the Reese’s Mountain West Women’s Basketball Championships.

Against Fresno State on Saturday, Hopkins scored 15 points, tied for a team-high, and grabbed 15 rebounds to go along with eight assists.

Hopkins and senior forward Courtney Clements were selected to the All-Tournament team.

“Well, we have a lot of talented kids that do what they do well when you put it together,” Burns said. “But Chelsea’s our Superman.”

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opinion | 7

MONday, MARCH 18, 2013 | Volume 99, issue 88

Don’t let religious institutions define you RELIGION

W

ith a new pope chosen and Easter just around the corner, the Catholic world is abuzz with speculation regarding what will come for faithful practitioners. While members of other religions may look on less anxiously, many Catholics still look to their religious leader to guide their spiritual path. Now is a good time to remember that we need to establish our individual personalities before religious leaders do it for us.

According to the MerriamWebster dictionary, religion is “devotion or fidelity; scrupulous conformity; conscientiousness.” For many, religion is an outlet for the basic human need

of companionship. It can give people an optimistic outlook by relieving the stress of trying to control the uncontrollable elements of life. It provides a sense of community for those who are in need of friends It can provide support, a hug or just a group of like-minded people to spend time with. Many religious organizations hold events for their followers, such as youth groups in churches or regular meetings for meditation. It can even give a sense of meaning to a life that may otherwise seem meaningless.

But let’s examine the “scrupulous conformity” part of the definition. When you’re trying so hard to meet your religion’s idea of perfection, you risk losing your uniqueness in the process.

Religion can make you strive desperately for perfection. Let’s face it, no one on Earth is perfect. Religion can cause you to throw your money on the alms plate, even when it means you’ll be eating Top Ramen noodles for the next week. If you don’t do it, you feel judged as less worthy of God’s love or might feel as if you have taken two steps backward on the path to enlightenment.

Religion can force you to love the person who cut you off, even when you’d feel better shouting a few choice words from behind the comfort of your car’s closed windows. Religious ideals can even make you feel unworthy of those you love most dearly, as if they won’t want to love you any more if you don’t pray five times a day.

But we have to ask ourselves, what is better, to be perfect, or to be happy?

I know from personal experience the trials of conforming to a religion you weren’t born into. During my time in high school, I dated a boy who swore we couldn’t be together unless I was “saved” by God. I started my religious journey for all the wrong reasons. I made the mistake of believing everything about me was wrong or impure.

I cringed every time I didn’t smile to someone I passed in the street because I obviously wasn’t loving my neighbor as much as I should. I cried every time I made the smallest mistake and thought I should have done something better. In the end, I realized the answer to my religious conun-

drums, made my peace with the powers that be and bowed out.

Religion isn’t for everyone. If you do choose religion, choose it for your own reasons. Don’t embark on that journey for some special someone who may be a temporary installment in your life, because you were pushed into it or you feel you aren’t a good person without it. We all have the potential to be good people on our own and whatever higher power may exist probably wants us to be happy. Whether that means giving money during a church collection or smiling at a stranger, it’s up to us.

—Contributor Kiersten Ridgel is a journalism junior

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8 | BACKPAGE

Volume 99, issue 88 | MONday, MARCH 18, 2013

The Possibility of Cuteness

nonfiction Mason Schoen Staff Writer

“He’d be cute if he wasn’t so weird,” my roommate’s female friend confided to him during move-in day. He told me while we waited for our student ID photos to be taken. The revelation came as a shock. “Weird” was certainly accurate, but cute? I’d never been confused as attractive before. Now, at the tender age of 18, the possibility of cuteness left me reeling in a deep skepticism. What was wrong with her, to confuse me with a mildly attractive person? I wondered if perhaps she’d meant that compliment for someone else, but seeing as we were the only two helping her move in that day, that possibility seemed unlikely at best.

I began to silently rhyme as many words with “cute” as I could and, lost in an astute haze of diluted syllables, I hadn’t noticed the line scoot forward.

“No need to refute,” my friend said. “Anyway, we should’ve worn suits for this. Seeing as we didn’t, though, I guess the point’s moot.”

I mulled it over while smiling into the camera. “He’d be a hoot if he wasn’t so weird”—that made sense to me. I’d looked at my misplaced features many times in the mirror before. Awkward describes me, not cute. As my mother so frequently pointed out, I was, more than anything, overly critical.

But I couldn’t help that I viewed the world with such unbiased accuracy. She’d be critical too if it wasn’t for her incessant opti-

MEME MONDAY 0 _

mism. To me, happiness was akin to believing in God. One had to condition those beliefs, holding to convictions despite all the evidence to the contrary. I knew I couldn’t brainwash myself into positivity. I was, after all, too observant and witty to fall for such fallacies.

Was I depressed from viewing the world as accurately as I did? Sure. But at least I could hold onto that certainty, a lone, weathered buoy in a sea of selfdoubt and shame. That certainty was my security blanket and sassy friend, ever-quick to point out when my flaws became minutely apparent: “She doesn’t like you. You’re strange and gangly.

And worst of all, you bounced a fart off of the gym floor during stretches in PE today. Everyone heard, even if they pretended they didn’t.” I wanted this sassy friend to be honest, because that’s what a good relationship is based on: honesty—and unending castigation.

My critical lens pointed at mainly me. After weeks of hard evaluation, lying awake and staring at the dorm’s asbestos ceilings with remnants of old glowin-the-dark stars shining back, I realized I wasn’t at fault. My parents truly deserved the blame for my ineptitudes—my issues.

Sure, growing up they’d provided me with a roof over my head, my own bedroom, healthy meals, a means to attend a four-year university, et cetera, but they’d never bestowed any sort of sense of self-worth upon me. Surely that wasn’t something one earned.

I found myself becoming jeal-

ous of floormates who survived traumatic relationships with their parents — at least the origin of their problems was readily apparent, lighting up the darkness with the same sickly green as the plastic stars above me. All they had to do was trace the incandescence back to a handful of times Daddy got a little too drunk. My problems seemed to have no beginnings. Somehow they’d been secretly transplanted when I wasn’t paying attention, and they’d spread like ivy. All I could do was fight to cut them back without ever fully killing them.

Our ID’s arrived a few days later. I sat back on my bed and studied my face, the pale features, the receding hairline and the lopsided ears. “Maybe… maybe I am cute,” I thought, but killed the theory instantly. If I admitted I was wrong about my looks, everything I’d been so certain about would have to be questioned and considered too. Maybe I wasn’t incredibly witty—maybe I wasn’t hilariously awesome.

These days, whenever I have to unsheathe that old ID card to check-out library books, I look at the kid in the picture and see a lovable, cute idiot, fractured and unsure of himself, with no real reason to be.

The voice still visits me from time to time, when I’m alone and awake in the dark. “You’re bald and ugly,” it says as it settles next to me. “Shh...” I whisper back and we fall asleep to a long and assured quiet I’d lost to my nights, long ago.

HOROSCOPE

by Nancy Black, Tribune Media Services

Today’s Birthday (3/18/13) - Happy times at home start the year off right. A May 25 career spotlight could lead to a raise around November. Creativity percolates by summer, and travel calls after that. Immerse yourself in learning about something you love with others who share your passion.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21 - April 19) - Today is a 9 Your wishes are easier to achieve for the next few weeks. Keep your objective in mind. Go full speed ahead, avoiding distractions. Don’t overspend on toys. Communication flows, equipment works as planned. Finish early and go play.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) - Today is an 8 - You have more than enough in the realms of both money and love. Soak it up and be grateful. Together, you’ll score double. Change your mind, if you need to. There’s more work coming in.

Gemini (May 21 - June 21) - Today is a 9 - You’re a superhero right now. And you’re basking in abundance. It’s not about having more toys, but about what you’ll do with your powers. You have plenty to protect.

Share your love.

Cancer (June 22 - July 22) - Today is a 7 - It’s a very lucky moment for scoring great household items. Luxury is a viable option.

You have more than expected, and there’s this lucky break. But study’s still required. Get antiques appraised later.

Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is an 8 - There’s a lot on your list, so you’d better get help. You’re luckier than you think. You can’t produce on optimism alone, but it sure helps.

Find what you need nearby. Don’t skip over any details.

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

- Improve your position. Big games offer big prizes. There’s an interesting development, but more study is required. You can succeed on whatever you set your heart to. Believe in yourself.

Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is an 8 - You’re very persuasive now, and communications flow with ease. Joy inspires you. Use your own good judgment, with confidence. Don’t make promises you won’t keep. You have more resources than you knew.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is a 9 - You have what you need to do the job.

There could be a temporary sense of overload.

Complete negotiations. You’re surrounded by love. You have more friends than you thought. Great abundance is available now.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today is a 9 - You’re gaining confidence. Let go of old baggage so you can move more freely. You’re very popular now. Be respectful. You have access to whatever you need. Consider how best to serve.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is an 8 - You discover wisdom and compassion.

You have more than you let on, anyway. Your new status leads to new friends. Another has lots of needs for you to fill. Set long-range goals. A theological insight reveals clarity.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is an 8 - There are so many places you’d like to visit and study. Tap into another source of funds, and you’ll get farther than expected. Discover wonderful things. Insight comes from contemplation. You’re gaining status.

Pisces (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is an 8 - Get outside your normal view of things to see new opportunities. Toss the ball to a teammate and share the love. Stash away the surplus. Expand your circle. Travel beckons; take care. ©2013, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

SUDOKU

by The Mepham Group, Tribune Media Services

Difficulty Level: 1 out of 4 Instructions: Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9.

o

Solutions available online at www.thedailyaztec.com

THE FUSS ABOUT ST. PATRICK’S DAY

©2013, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

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Across 1 Discoverers’ shouts 5 Dictation takers 11 “Every kiss begins with __”: jeweler’s slogan 14 Red salad veggie 15 Clear the fustiness from 16 Grand __ Opry 17 2012 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee 19 Not too bright 20 Volume of maps 21 Versailles ruler 22 Plucky movie pig 23 Michelle, to Barack 24 Best Supporting Actor nominee for “Argo” 27 Patio furniture repairman 28 Expressive music subgenre 29 Report card figs.

30 Hopi home 34 Kind 37 Modern, in Munich 38 Relatives, and an apt title for this puzzle 39 “__ do not!”

40 Hee-hawing critter 41 Watchdogs from Japan 42 Get snippy with 43 Unrefined find 44 Superhero duds 45 Iowa senator since 1985 51 Elevator innovator 52 “Can I get a word in?”

53 D-backs, on scoreboards 54 Formal decrees 56 Party coffeemaker 57 Al Pacino’s “Sea of Love” co-star 60 Statistical data: Abbr.

61 City known for its Boys’ Choir 62 Giggly Muppet 63 “Schedule uncertain at press time” abbr.

64 Passages between buildings 65 Gets the point Down 1 “Fernando” band 2 Stretches in the high 90s, say

/ Daily Aztec

by Rich Norris & Joyce Lewis, Tribune Media Services

Solutions available online at www.thedailyaztec.com 3 Flier with a shamrock logo 4 Fires on from above 5 “My gal” of song 6 Sparkling topper 7 Flamboyant Flynn 8 Cellphone giant 9 “I’d love to, Yvette!”

10 MTA stop 11 Camera name since 1888 12 Suspect’s excuse 13 Aden’s country 18 Belgian river 22 Dude 25 Actress Carter and “little” Dickens character Trent 26 Hog-wild 27 Water-to-wine village 30 Penny pincher 31 Prefix with cycle 32 Wee newt 33 Showy wrap

34 Up the creek 35 Runs too slowly, as a watch 36 X, in valentines 38 Former “Idol” judge DioGuardi 42 Ironic sketches 43 Resistance measure 44 Musical wrap-up 45 Talk trash to 46 “The Dick Van Dyke Show” catchphrase 47 Brainy bunch 48 Superman, on Krypton 49 Dancer Castle 50 Simpleton 55 Years in España 57 One of the Gabors 58 Small, in Dogpatch 59 History majors’ degs.