Aztecs have a smashing time Tara Millspaugh
WEDNESDAY March 21, 2012 Volume 97, Issue 94 W W W.T H E D A I LYA Z T E C . C O M
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SDSU’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT N E W S PA P E R SINCE 1913
staff writer Students, staff and faculty from all across campus took part in a peculiar activity to relieve stress last Thursday: car smashing. The Associated Business Student Council of San Diego State hosted a fundraiser, called “Dollars for Scholars,” in order to raise scholarship funds for low-income high school students. For $3, students could take a whack at a red convertible with a sledgehammer, and for $5, students could strike the vehicle three times. All proceeds went toward scholarships. Heather LaPerle, co-adviser for ABSC, explained the importance of Dollars for Scholars. The scholarship is offered to high school students in San Diego and Imperial Valley. Primarily, the recipients are first-generation college students from lower socio-economic homes, but are still high achievers. The scholarships allow the students to make the goal of attending a university more attainable. According to Brittany Yary, vice president of marketing for ABSC, the goal this year is to raise $2,000. The actual car smashing alone raised approximately $900. The day of the smashing, local news stations came to publicize the event. Yary said this publicity will reach out to the community and even more donations will be made. The most challenging task revolving around the car smashing event was obtaining the actual car, according to Yary. This year, the car was donated by an SDSU alumni who graduated 15 years ago. The red and black convertible was her very first car in college.
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For a price, students, faculty and staff could take a swing at this red convertible to support the ABSC. | PETER KLUCH, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
For $3, students could take a whack at a red convertible with a sledgehammer, and for $5, students could strike the vehicle three times. All proceeds went toward scholarships.
The recently appointed Executive Vice President of Associated Students, Channelle McNutt, finished a midterm in the morning and wrecked a car in the afternoon. “Hitting the car was a big hit of relief,” McNutt said. Scholars for Dollars is not the only group that benefitted from this quirky fundraiser: Students were able to relieve stress from midterms while contributing to a good cause.
Street Fighter and Tekken duke it out in Capcom’s latest fighting game.
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Professor connects with students Bernstein gave highly anticipated lecture last Friday Elisse Miller staff writer
ANTONIO ZARAGOZA, PHOTO EDITOR
On Friday, San Diego State honored professor Dr. Sanford Bernstein by electing him as speaker of its annual Albert W. Johnson University Research Lecture. The lecture series, named after the former SDSU
Culture Week San Diego State’s first ever Culture Week will take place between April 2 and 6. Cultural organizations such as the Afrikan Student Union, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning community and the Student Veteran Organization, among others, will host informational tables and lectures. Toward the end of the week there will be an Aztec Unification Project and Pledge Diversity event.
Restructuring The topic of Friday’s restructuring meeting analyzed the possible removal of Honors Council from Associated Students’ new structure. A.S. considered the removal because having that seat encour-
A S B E AT
provost, honors “faculty members for outstanding achievement in research and scholarship.” Stephen C. Welter, Vice President for Research and Graduate Dean, began the event by introducing Bernstein and outlining why he is an important leader at SDSU. Bernstein “arrived enthusiastically” to SDSU in 1983 and has received continuous funding for more than 25 years, proving the local, scientific community truly supports him. Despite his achievements, Bernstein is “better known as Sandy” to students and faculty because above all else, “He is a doctor who helps people.”
ages double representation of some students. All students are already represented academically through their colleges’ council representative on the University Council. Two Honors Council members spoke at the meeting to advocate why the council should keep its seat. Treasurer Ariel Rawson and copresident Kayleigh Neel told the restructuring committee about the many ways the Honors Council assists academically minded students, and presented letters from Dean of Undergraduate Studies Geoff Chase and Honors Council adviser Dr. Henry L. Janssen. Neel said HC “wants the seat to promote academic excellence for the whole campus,” not just those already involved in the program.
Following this list of accolades, Bernstein began his lecture titled “Learning to Fly: Understanding the Basis of Muscle Function and Disease.” His talk centered on his current research, which examines the effects of the mutated protein myosin in fruit flies. This can help scientists understand mutated myosin in humans, which sometimes leads to heart and skeletal muscle disease. Bernstein’s quick wit and humorous insertions geared the speech not solely toward science lovers, but rather all students attending.
Part of Chase’s letter read: “The Honors Program and Honors Council represent a broad array of students across campus in many disciplines, and thus represent a culture of achievement that is important for us to continue. Having a seat on the A.S. Council is an important way of acknowledging that culture and of continuing to support the efforts.” The restructuring committee was very divided in its support of keeping the Honors Council seat and did not reach a final decision regarding the integration of the council into A.S.’s future structure. It will meet this Friday to determine further details.
—Compiled by Staff Writer Amy Williams
LOOKING THROUGH OUR LENS
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Nobody reads Doonesbury. If not for the ridiculous ... censorship of the comic, nobody would be talking about it ... This marks the first time in the ... world where people ... sought out the unrated, unfiltered, “director’s cut” edition of ... Doonesbury.
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