Students challenge ‘Kony 2012’ Student group hosted a discussion on the viral video Tuesday
THURSDAY March 22, 2012 Volume 97, Issue 95 W W W.T H E D A I LYA Z T E C . C O M
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Ilgin Karlidag staff writer As the Internet sensation “Kony 2012,” made by San Diego-based activist group Invisible Children, grows more viral, San Diego State students expressed analytical opinions of the video during an event held by the International Students for Social Equality on campus Tuesday. Ricardo Ruiz, an SDSU teaching associate in political science, explained the event was not held to attack Invisible Children, but to give historical, economic and political perspective to the popular video. “The purpose of the ISSE holding this meeting is not to question the intentions and motivations of the creators of ‘Kony 2012,’ or personally attack Jason Russell. I think Invisible Children is composed of a lot of young people moved by the injustice in Africa. We don’t see them as a sinister group, that’s not our interpretation. We analyze them from what it means from a political standpoint. The film, despite the intentions of the filmmakers, is used by the U.S. military as a justification to intervene for economic and geostrategic interests,’’ he said. The ISSE claims Washington’s intervention against Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army has selfish motivations, such as a recent discovery of oil reserves in the area where the hunt for the LRA is staged.
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ISSE members Ricardo Ruiz and Justin Jones led the discussion regarding Kony 2012 on Tuesday, March 20. | PAIGE NELSON, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Justin Jones, a political science undergraduate and keynote speaker at the event, said the viral video did not make it clear that Kony is no longer active in Uganda. “Both experts on the matter and news sources such as The New York Times state that Kony and the LRA have moved to neighboring countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” Jones said.
Brandy Cyrus, a comparative literature and political science undergraduate, thinks the “Kony 2012” video sells itself as a quick answer to a complex question. “The questions they should be asking are, will U.S. intervention in Uganda not only capture Kony, but will it make the lives of the Ugandan people and children any better? By looking at the record of U.S. intervention we can see that the lives
“The Hunger Games” is just one movie to look forward to during break.
of the people involved are often made worse by U.S. involvement. Whether or not the video will lead to the capture of Kony is secondary to what military intervention would do to the civilian population in these countries. The Kony video should not be taken lightly and its recommendations should be placed into a broader political perspective and not allowed to remain within the context of purely emotional appeals,” she said.
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Org asks for old cellular phones Hope Phones will make a $5 donation for every phone given Stephanie Saccente staff writer In an effort to raise money for medical devices and lend aid to countries for emergency care, maternal care and infectious disease support, the San Diego State College of Sciences division of Associated Students is holding a used cell phone drive. The Physician Assistant Student Association is working with the College of Sciences to recycle cell phones for an organization called Hope Phones. According to the Hope Phones website, 500,000 cell phones are discarded
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in the United States every day and pollute the environment with plastic and dangerous toxins. As a sustainable campus, the College of Sciences believes students at SDSU can help make a difference. “Donating a phone that you don’t use anymore is very easy, and if enough students get involved with the drive, a lot of aid can be prepared to help out struggling countries,” journalism and media studies student Erik Christensen said. This is PASA’s first time participating in this project and has collected around 50 phones so far. For every phone that is recycled, Hope Phones will receive $5 to donate to medical care in 11 countries. If it is able to recycle one percent of phones, it can help 50 million people. “We want to help our environment here and our communities, and also
Robberies on campus Three incidents have been reported to police officials throughout the past week concerning phone robberies. Police suspect two African American males who appear to be high school students are behind at least two of the incidents. The first report was made on March 13 at the footbridge on Parking Structure 4. The victim was talking on her cell phone when the suspect ran up behind her and grabbed her phone. The suspect was last seen running toward the Music building. On March 19, a second report was made when a second female was a victim of what appears to be the same
help people abroad medically who don’t have the technology. We are using our lesser technology to formulate into money to increase their technology. I think that’s really cool,” A.S. College of Sciences representative Alana Brooks said. The cell phone drive will be held the entire month of March and students can take the phones they wish to recycle to drop boxes throughout campus. Drop boxes will be located in the Preprofessional Health Advising Office, Geology Mathematics Computer Science 323, Student Life and Leadership, Student Services West 1661, School of Exercise and Nutritional Services Advising Department, ENS 351 and the Business Advising Center in Education and Business Administration 448. “Our university’s future as well as our own future lies in our hands as stu-
suspect. This robbery took place in the area behind the Physics building. The victim, who was not injured, last saw the suspect running toward the Geology Mathematics Computer Science building. Related to these incidents, a suspicious black male adult carrying a clipboard was reported to police on March 17. The suspect was asking for the victim’s money and phone and threatened to slap him on the face if he did not comply with the demands. Police were unable to locate the suspect, who was last seen at the Love Library.
dents. It’s important to get involved in our school and make a difference in others’ lives in any way we can,” A.S. member Bridget Mulrooney said. Students who don’t have a cell phone to recycle can still participate by donating money through the Hope Phones website at hopephones.org. Hope Phones is accepting all types of cell phones regardless of whether they’re functional, although it will receive more money for smart phones. Chargers and accessories are not necessary. “I think everyone has old cell phones around their houses they can take and recycle. Usually people will just throw them away and that’s really not good for the environment. We have 30,000 students on this campus; we should be able to get at least 150 cell phones turned in,” Brooks said.
Evidence inside bong disposed of Three people were seen jumping through a window at the Cuicacalli Suites Residence Hall on March 12 at 1 p.m. The suspects were later seen disposing of water from a bong through the window. When police arrived at the scene, they found what was deemed to be a negligible amount of marijuana inside the disposed bong. The suspects were not charged, because it is not illegal to own a bong, however they were advised about the apartment’s policy concerning illegal substances.
—Compiled by Staff Writer Ana Ceballos
SPORTS SDSU hosted Fresno State in its final home game of the season on Tuesday.
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... few could have predicted the breakdown that took place last week on a high-traffic street corner in Pacific Beach. B A C K PA G E
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