05-10-2012

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D A I LY

AZTEC Thursday, May 10, 2012

NEWS

Hirshman talks budget Obama kicks off reelection tour Jenna De Stefano

staff writer

Last Thursday, Associated Students and San Diego State administration held an open presentation regarding the 20122013 university budget and fiscal outlook. The event was prompted after the unofficial campus organization Reclaim SDSU made several requests for an open community forum.

Although the event was moderated

by A.S., SDSU President Elliot Hirshman spoke during the first half of the presentation and then answered the majority of students’ questions and comments.

“We’re at a pretty pivotal point in our university’s history. On the one hand, we’ve enjoyed great success” Hirshman said. “On the other hand, and I think this is the challenge that brings us together, the state of California is facing very significant challenges.”

During the presentation, Hirshman addressed the California State University system’s recent budget constraints and how they affect SDSU. President Hirshman did not comment on the university budget without speaking first of the controversy surrounding his salary and private donations to SDSU. “The point that I would share to you for your consideration is that people don’t generally set or justify their own salaries. No matter how moral a person I believe myself to be, or you might believe yourself to be, no matter how high minded, there’s an inherent conflict of interest in setting and justifying your own salary,” Hirshman said.

According to Hirshman, university presidents do not control their salaries

because the CSU board sets them.

However, he acknowledged he would respect any official changes to policy regarding his salary.

Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs Sally Roush presented facts and figures behind the university’s budget and fiscal outlook.

“For next fiscal year, we estimate that the university’s operating fund budget, which is the budget that supports instruction, and all of those things that support instruction, will be about $338 million,” Roush said.

Roush highlighted a significant amount of financial aid is available from university resources as well as federal and state sources. As the budget has been constantly cut throughout past years, Roush said the number one budget priority is ensuring funding for classes students need to graduate.

Once Roush finished her brief breakdown of fiscal facts and figures, an open forum began and Hirshman opened the floor for students to ask questions.

One of the issues consistently brought up by students was their opinion that there is a lack of democracy on campus. A student took the comment further by stating there is also a severe lack of communication between students, A.S., the senate and the administration.

Another student requested A.S. and the senate reach out to all students through email, to which members of the administration responded that students should also reciprocate their wish by being more involved on campus.

Many students also voiced concerns about the lack of representation for students of color.

“I do not need the president to donate money. What I need is for the president to represent me as a poor student of color,” one student said.

Hirshman responded to these comments with statistics about the large representation of colored students in the incoming freshmen and transfer classes. He also assured that the Cross-Cultural Center would have a more prominent presence on campus by next fall.

“When that Student Union gets finished and built, the Cross-Cultural Center will be in there. I guarantee it 100 percent,” Hirshman said.

As the forum progressed, student remarks and questions became increasingly impassioned to the point where a communications professor asked students to reconsider attacking the administration. Toward the end of the forum, Hirshman and other members of the administration, including said communications professor, expressed they also share many of the students’ same concerns.

“There’s a real issue we can all agree on, which is for further cuts we need to be as active as possible in opposing them,” Hirshman said.

Following up with Reclaim SDSU after the presentation, the group released a statement saying although the forum was an important initiative regarding communication between students and the administration, they still felt unsatisfied with the event.

“Students, workers and their families will no longer allow an insular elite to operate public institutions as their pet projects for personal enrichment. We will not fatalistically accept a future of greater privatization and degradation of our school,” Reclaim SDSU said.

Obama intiates his reelection campaign with a slogan of ‘Foward.’ | MCT CAMPUS.

Alejandra Paz Staff Writer Last Saturday, President Barack Obama officially began his re-election campaign in Columbus, Ohio and Richmond, Va. When the first lady introduced him, the audience applauded, saying “I love you.”

“And we love you, too. And it’s not just because we support one extraordinary man although, I’ll admit, I’m a little biased because I think our president is awesome,” Michelle Obama said.

Controversially, hours before the campaign was announced, the Republican National Committee claimed Obama was using White House trips for his reelection campaign.

The RNC filed a complaint to the Government Accountability Office

White House officials said they follow all rules and regulations when it comes to political travel and his recent travel has been a part of Obama’s responsibility to leave Washington D.C. “When there is political travel, we follow all rules and regulations that all other administrations have followed,” spokesman Eric Schultz said.

Obama’s official slogan for his reelection campaign is “Forward.”

“We can’t just go back to the way things used to be. We’ve got to move forward,” Obama said.

In Ohio, Obama talked about former Gov. Mitt Romney being wrong when thinking the rest of America will inevitably prosper if the CEOs and wealthy investors make money.

When a woman in Iowa shared the story of her financial struggles, he responded with economic theory. He told her, “our productivity

“And it’s not just because we support one extraordinary man although, I’ll admit, I’m a little biased because I think our president is awesome.”

Michelle Obama First Lady stating Obama was using taxpayer dollars to fund his election and that he should refund the taxpayers.

“Obama for America has been cheating the American taxpayer by using taxpayer dollars to fund their general election efforts,” RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said. “The president, who has held more campaign events in 3.5 years than any other president did in their full term, should refund the taxpayers for the cost of these trips through his campaign account Obama for America.”

equals our income.” “Well, let me tell you something. The problem with our economy isn’t that the American people aren’t productive enough you’ve been working harder than ever. The challenge we face right now, the challenge we faced for over a decade, is that harder work hasn’t led to higher incomes,”Obama said. “It’s that bigger profits haven’t led to better jobs.”

Obama will be campaigning until election day on Nov. 6.

D A I LY A Z T E C Thursday, May 10, 2012

NEWS

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Award ceremony shows campus diversity Jenna De Stefano staff writer Last Wednesday, students, staff, faculty and alumni celebrated achievements in diversity at the 8th Annual San Diego State Diversity Awards Celebration held at the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center.

The event celebrated SDSU’s diversity leaders who consistently advocate the advancement of people of all races, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, disabilities and sexual orientations.

Students were recognized for achieving academic success and overcoming adversity, while faculty, staff and alumni were recognized for the contributions to cultural understanding and justice in the SDSU and San Diego communities.

Before the awards ceremony, guests enjoyed a reception in the courtyard with complimentary food, drinks and live entertainment as they mingled with peers in SDSU’s diversity community. Fliers were available to guests who wished to sign the Diversity and Inclusion Pledge, which vows to continuously strive for cultural acceptance, education and justice while interacting with all individuals and communities.

Dr. Aaron Bruce speaks at Diversity Awards ceremony |

Following the reception, the ceremony began with opening remarks

by SDSU’s Dr. Aaron Bruce, chief diversity officer and emcee for the night and President Elliot Hirshman.

Although the event acknowledged specific individuals, both Bruce and Hirshman praised the SDSU community for contributing to its achievements throughout the year.

Some of SDSU’s accomplishments include becoming a designated Hispanic-serving institution by the U.S. Department of Education, receiv-

ANTONIO ZARAGOZA, PHOTO EDITOR

ing a five-star rating as an LGBT-safe campus from Campus Pride’s LGBTFriendly Campus Climate Index and an inspiring visit by the Dalai Lama.

SDSU’s LGBT major and minor program and the Cultural Competency Certificate program have seen exceptional growth this year as well. As Hirshman remarked, these accomplishments were possible because of SDSU’s core values of human potential and working together.

After acknowledging the successful year, Bruce introduced the presenters

of the evening, but first he briefly explained the awards’ significance.

“Our belief is that in order to really know someone, you need to know something about what’s inside of them and what they’re made out of,” Bruce said.

Associated Students President Cody Barbo and A.S. representative Channelle McNutt were first to present, awarding the Student Organization Award to the Asian Pacific Student Alliance. McNutt, who was officially sworn in as A.S. executive vice president before the awards celebration, also serves as the Diversity Commissioner.

“Being the diversity commissioner for the past few years has really been (integral) to my development as a leader,” McNutt said. “Now I feel like I can really advocate for all people.”

Following the Student Organization Award, the Staff, Faculty and Alumni Awards were given to Janet Rodgers, Anne Donadey and Frank Urtasun, respectively.

Special recognition was given to three graduating SDSU Presidential Scholars, Samantha Stauber, Iman Autman and Cassandra Arroyo, as they were the first awardees to speak about their awards. During their emotionally charged speeches, each student reflected on their time at SDSU and how its diverse communi-

ty helped them overcome personal adversities. All three students have plans and opportunities awaiting them after they graduate.

Tanis Starck, Director of the Intercultural Relations and the Cross- Cultural Center, then talked about the Cultural Competency Certificate Program and introduced the final speaker, Adam Elhabashy, who spoke about his time as a student in the program.

“To be culturally incompetent actually hurts our interactions with others,” Starck said.

Starck also talked about how the program helps students learn to be more aware of their cultural views and how cultural competency develops skills to think more flexibly and open. Seventy-five students will graduate from the Cultural Competency Certificate Program’s third graduation on Friday, and the program will continue to run online for students to take this summer.

The awards celebration ended after closing remarks by Bruce, urging everyone in attendance to take the Diversity and Inclusion Pledge.

To find out more about SDSU’s diversity programs or to sign the pledge, go to www.sdsu.edu/diversity.

Cultural organizations celebrate graduation Elisse Miller staff writer

Alejandra Paz staff writer Every year, different cultural organizations host celebrations for graduating seniors to recognize achievements with peers, alumni, family, faculty and staff. These events are not meant to replace the traditional graduation ceremony, but rather embrace unique cultural identities. It is a way to celebrate diversity at San Diego State. These are several of the many graduation ceremonies hosted on campus .

Lavender Graduation The 3rd annual Lavender Graduation is a ceremony that celebrates graduating

students who are a part of the LGBTQIA community, whether they identify as such or are considered an ally. It is open to undergraduate and graduate students of any major or minor. The purpose of this ceremony is to acknowledge the difficulties of attending school while facing discrimination for one’s sexual orientation.

According to Lavender Graduation Graduate Coordinator, Alicia ChavezArteaga, “This year marks an exciting moment in SDSU’s commitment to diversity and serving the needs of LGBT students and the community at large, the LGBT studies major officially went into effect this January. In continuing with SDSU’s commitment, the LGBT studies major / minor will be hosting its third annual Lavender Graduation.”

Students who participated in the ceremony receive a rainbow cord, a certificate and an invitation to the

This cultural graduation ceremony is open to all American Indian Studies majors and minors, as well as all American Indian students, regardless of their major. At the ceremony, students will be recognized for their achievements and accomplishments during their time at SDSU. Each individual student will be honored and able to honor their friends, families and faculty as well. This year’s ceremony will take place from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m .on May 17, at Sycuan Resort.

The 33rd Africana Studies Annual Black Baccalaureate Ceremony is an event created to honor graduating AfricanAmerican seniors at all levels. As described by the Chair of the Black Baccalaureate Ceremony, Dr. Shirley N. Weber, it is a “spiritual service representative of the best of our community.”

“The history of the baccalaureate is rooted in the tradition of our people: dignity and respect. We honor our graduates and their achievement of excellence. We honor our parents and forefathers who struggled to make this opportunity possible,” Weber said.

Students will be given a kente cloth and certificate. Entertainment such as drumming and dancing will be presented. This ceremony will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. on May 17, at Lincoln High School.

33rd Africana Studies Annual Black Baccalaureate Ceremony

AB Samahan’s Filipino Graduation Celebration

LGBTQIA Alumni Chapter. Awards were handed out to teachers and faculty who displayed support and encouragement of those in the LGBTQIA community as well.

American Indian Celebration

Graduation

The Filipino Graduation is for graduating seniors to have the opportunity to thank their families, friends and supporters.

“Graduating seniors have an opportunity to speak and thank their family and friends as opposed to just walking across the stage,” Associated Students Representative Kevin Yabes said.

Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Aaron Bruce said he supports the graduation celebrations as they transparently reveal the diversity on campus.

“The affinity group graduation celebrations provide graduating students with an important opportunity to revel in their accomplishments with their friends, family, faculty and staff,” Bruce said.

The celebration will take place at Tula Hall at 6 p.m. on May 17 and it is open to everyone.

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AZTEC Thursday, May 10, 2012

NEWS

Buildings undergo repair

CSU trustees battle scrutiny Questionable exec spending leads to investigation Ana Ceballos senior staff writer

Nasatir Hall and Storm Hall are to be reconstructed and renovated by January 2015 |

Ilgin Karlidag staff writer The school year is reaching its end for San Diego State students, however this season also marks a new beginning for Storm and Nasatir Hall, both of which will be reconstructed and renovated.

The department of Sociology, Political Science and Economics, which reside in Nasatir Hall, are scheduled to move to the fourth floor of Adams Humanities on May 21.

The Departments of Anthropology and Geography, and the college of Arts & Letters that reside in Storm Hall, will also be moving for renovation.

No renovations have yet been made in Nasatir and Storm Halls, since the buildings were made in the late 1950s. The two buildings are being constructed to meet current Health and Safety Code standards, to correct deferred maintenance issues to improve energy conservation.

Nasatir Hall’s environmental safety was questioned in 2009 after a 26-year-old graduate student and a 69-year-old professor died from brain cancer in 2008. Another professor died in 1993, and coincidentally, they all worked near or inside room 131 in Nasatir Hall.

Dawn Christiansen, administrative coordinator for the Department of Political Science, is skeptical of hazardous threats in Nasatir Hall,

PETER KLUCH, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

despite the faculty members’ coincidental deaths.

“There are so many factors that play a part in someone’s life. They passed away with 20 years difference,” Christiansen said.

Michael McCall, an SDSU professor in the Department of Sociology, has enjoyed the time he has spent on the second floor of Nasatir Hall, despite its need for design changes.

“I have grown very fond of Nasatir Hall, and we will miss it during the time we will be gone,” McCall said.

The renovations are scheduled to be finished in January 2015, and the faculties will move back to their old spaces when the construction is completed.

Tanned mom taking heat

Stephanie Saccente staff writer A New Jersey woman has recently been charged for placing her 6-yearold daughter in a tanning bed.

Mother, Patricia Krentcil, recently pled not guilty in Newark Municipal Court to a second-degree child endangerment charge.

The kindergartener’s school notified police earlier last month after Krentcil’s daughter complained to school officials of a bothersome itch caused by sunburn. When questioned how she received the burn, the daughter responded that she went to a tanning salon with her mother.

“I think this just goes to show how messed up society really is; you have the shows like ‘Toddlers & Tiaras,’ and now mothers are thinking that tanning and putting makeup on their child is acceptable,” Laura Graybill, a freshman and journalism student, said.

Krentcil, whose skin is bronze-colored from her regular tanning salon sessions, said her daughter’s burn came from the sun on an unusually

warm day. She said she would never take her young daughter into the tanning booth. The owner of City Tropics Salon in Nutley, N.J. where the incident supposedly occurred, said employees told him the young girl remained outside with her father and brother and never saw the child go into the tanning booth. In the state of New Jersey, anyone younger than 14 is refrained from using a tanning salon bed.

Stephanie Ropp, a liberal studies student, feels strongly about the Krentcil case. Although she openly admits to using a tanning bed in the past, she recognizes it is not healthy for a child so young.

“Patricia Krentcil should face legal charges. It is not only illegal, the daughter is too young to know how bad it is for you and obviously had no idea what was going on. The fact that she has burns and is claiming she went in the bed should be reason alone to press charges,” Ropp said.

While pleading not guilty for this particular case, this is not Krentcil’s first run-in with the law. She was found guilty of theft by deception in Camden County in 2000 and has had multiple civil judgments filed against her in the states of New Jersey and Illinois. Krentcil is currently free for the latest incident on a $2,500 cash bond but is scheduled to appear in court again on June 4.

Student’s attempt to forge checks fails

Attempt to distract police results in jail time

After being in custody for two counts of whiting out checks, San Diego State student Kevin Bradley, was arrested for check forgery when police found the subject had two checks with a high dollar amount on Monday at 2:41 p.m.

Police believe he was attempting to white out the information on the checks outside of the business after the theft occurred.

Bradley was later transported to county jail and was also arrested for misappropriation of lost property and petty theft.

As an attempt to seem casual, Brian Roster, a non-SDSU student, pretended to get on his cell phone while walking in the opposite direction when he made contact with police at West Commons on Scripps Terrace. His attempt failed when police arrested him for being in possession of controlled substances and possession of burglary tools. Roster was taken into custody at 1:39 p.m. on Sunday.

Drunk driver vanishes on College Avenue

A subject was barricaded with a gun in his hotel room at Motel 6 on Alvarado Road at 10:50 p.m. on Saturday with another person. The LMPD SWAT responded and assisted the victim. No arrest was made and the suspect is still outstanding.

Last Saturday at 5:31 a.m. behind the ARCO at College Avenue and Montezuma Road, a black sedan with its front tire blown out was reported running red lights and swerving in the intersection. Police took the report, but were unable to locate the vehicle.

| THINKSTOCK

Mother accused of placing six-year-old in tanning booth

The lack of funds in the California State University system general fund forced Cal State students to face yet another tuition hike for the upcoming fall semester, but questionable spending in executive compensation and perks by the CSU Chancellor’s Office opposes the validity of cutting enrollments, class sizes and increases in tuition.

An investigation was conducted by CBS affiliates in Los Angeles, revealing more than $750,000 was spent on catering, private car services and other amenities. Another recent investigation by California Watch revealed the CSU system is spending at least $300,000 to remodel a free house for the new president of CSU Fullerton.

“Student fees are skyrocketing, enrollment is being capped and class sizes are exploding yet the Chancellor’s top priority is executive compensation and perks,” CFA Associate Vice President Jonathan Karpf said in response to the investigation. “This 1 percent mentality is unacceptable when it comes to California’s public higher education system.”

CRIME BEAT

In addition, CSU trustees are holding meetings this week discussing new policies to furthermore compensate CSU executives.

One of the proposals consists of using CSU foundation money to supplement the $300,000 statefunded salaries for campus presidents, which means the new policy would allow unlimited amounts of funding to go toward this purpose.

The foundation money used for these supplements comes from private donors, and these donations are often used for scholarships and academic programs. This money is not taxpayer money, according to CSU leaders.

As of now, CSU Chancellor Charles Reed receives these supplements along with three other campus presidents. When investigators confronted Reed, he defended the spending despite the challenges the CSU currently faces.

“This is exactly why students and faculty members are so frustrated with Chancellor Reed. His response to these outrageous expenditures shows once again that he is completely out of touch with what is happening on the 23 CSU campuses around the state,” Karpf said.

As controversy stirs, faculty are rallying outside the CSU Board of Trustee meetings being held in Long Beach.

Hold-up at Motel 6

—Compiled by senior staff writer Ana Ceballos

D A I LY A Z T E C Thursday, May 10, 2012

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LO ST I N T H E ST R E A M

Netflix gems provide summer viewing fun Kevin Smead assistant news editor Tired of the sun this summer? Or just can’t sleep and need something to watch late at night? Every time you open up Netflix, feel as though you’ve seen everything? Well, here are a few movies to keep you busy this summer that you may have missed hiding in the library.

“Trollhunter” (2010) Synopsis: When a group of Norwegian college-age documentarians attempt to film an environmental interest story about bear deaths, they uncover a government coverup that hides Norway’s biggest, darkest secret: trolls.

Why it’s awesome: This unexpected, often funny and hilariously well-produced mockumentary from Norway is entirely unassuming. A second-rate film this is not. “Trollhunter” is one of the best movies to be released in recent years, and it’s easily missed because it never saw a massive commercial release stateside. Luckily, the film is on Netflix Instant Streaming for viewers’ anytime pleasure. It’s subtitled, but who cares? When the rumored American remake from

“Harry Potter” director Chris Columbus is released, early viewers can scoff at “how much better the original was.”

Do yourself a great service and get down on some troll hunting.

“Dead Snow” (2009)

“Troll 2” (1990) and “Best Worst Movie” (2009)

Why it’s awesome: This film never saw a wide release for reasons that are difficult to understand. Generally, when something combines Nazis and zombies, the cash starts flowing.

If you don’t believe that, take a look at the “Call of Duty” franchise. With that being said, this is a film about Nazi zombies. There’s not much more to say than grab a lover, dim the lights and face the undead version of Adolf Hitler’s army.

Synopsis: “They’re eating her. And then they’re going to eat me. Oh my god!”

Why it’s awesome: Not all movies about trolls are as splendid as “Trollhunter,” though “Troll 2” is killer in its own right. Combining these two films together makes for one awesomely bad double feature.

“Troll 2,” known for being a terrible yet hilarious film is really just about a family getting attacked by a town full of trolls. What follows is a cornucopia of bad lines, horrible acting and some of the most unintentionally hilarious delivery this side of Voldemort’s laugh after killing Harry in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.” A documentary was made about the film, simply called “Best Worst Movie,” which chronicles the production of “Troll 2,” and ultimately asks how these awful movies unintentionally get made. Really, it doesn’t matter, as long as the world never runs out of movies like “Troll 2.”

Synopsis: While vacationing in Norway, a group of friends encounters a hoard of Nazi zombies out for gehrin. (That’s German for “brains.”)

“Ip Man” (2008) Synopsis: “Ip Man” stars Donnie Yen as Yip Man, the first teacher of the Wing Chun-style of martial arts and eventually the instructor to the legendary Bruce Lee, in this quasi-biographical account of his struggle against the Japanese in World War II. Why it’s awesome: This film has actually gained quite a bit of popularity recently, making it less of a hidden gem and more just a buttkicking regular gem. “Ip Man” is a feel-good kind of movie. Watching Yen systematically wreck 10 of

In “Trollhunter,” Norway has a rather large pest problem. | COURTESY OF MAGNET RELEASING

Japan’s strongest black belts in front of a major Japanese general and replying, “I am just a Chinese man,” when asked for his name is so awesome it’s physically painful.

It would be easy to say, “Dude, YouTube it,” but that would be a disservice to this excellent film.

There’s also a sequel, but it’s not quite as radical as the first. When

watching the film, keep in mind the man it is based on was very real and lived to be almost 80, and he was just as awesome.

Think you know the best hidden gem in the Netflix library? Let us know by emailing entertainment@thedailyaztec.com or tweeting to @thedailyaztec #netflixgems.

TURN IT UP

Silversun’s new album evolves, lacks finesse

From left to right: Guaniao, Monninger, Aubert and Lester. | COURTESY OF AUTUMN DEWILDE

John Anderson entertainment editor

The Los Angeles-based quartet Silversun Pickups is back with its third full-length album, “Neck of the Woods.” Back in 2006, the band’s first

single “Lazy Eye” led the way as the band exploded onto the alternative scene. The first album, “Carnavas,” set the bar high for the band, and though “Swoon” wasn’t an incredible followup, the band was able to experiment and evolve with its ever-rising fame.

“Neck of the Woods” follows in the same vein. Brian Aubert and company continue to try different sounds and styles while managing to underline the new songs with the characteristic Silversun Pickups sound.

“Skin Graph” opens the new album with Aubert’s telltale vocals in the driver’s seat complemented by Nikki Monninger’s subtle background cooing. The song features an “Inception”-esque horn blast, and is a bit of minimalist on the effects, for Silversun Pickups at least.

The highlight of the song is a long, satisfying, muted bridge with aurally sweeping guitar delays harkening back to “Carnavas.”

Before moving to the next song, pull Blink-182’s “Adam’s Song” up on YouTube. Listen to the first 10 sec-

onds to get a firm impression of the opening guitar line. Now, start “Make Believe.” The similarity is remarkable, though it doesn’t distract from the quality of the song. Apart from the familiar opening hook, the song features a punchy bass and guitar lines and some fun effects-driven backing noise. Aubert’s vocals are at their best here, and “Make Believe” is one of the best on the album.

Despite the eye rolling opening line in “Busy Bees,” the frequent pace and tone variations make the song worth a listen. Guitar dominates in the same tone as the previous song. “Here We Are” is reminiscent of “Three Seed” on the band’s debut album, though the drum machine makes it sound considerably more electronic.

The band steps into the 1980s with “The Pit.” The bass tone sets the song apart from anything Silversun Pickups has done before. “The Pit” is another of the album’s highlights.

The latest effort ends on a strong note with “Out of Breath.”

The band seems to have developed a love for changing pace, which is musically interesting, but distracting. “Neck of the Woods” isn’t the best album to listen to while doing homework or trying to relax in the way “Carnavas” was, though it represents the band’s next step in the evolution of their style.

Neck of the Woods Silversun Pickups

COURTESY OF DANGERBIRD RECORDS

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AZTEC Thursday, May 10, 2012

E N T E R TA I N M E N T

LO ST I N T H E ST R E A M

PA S S T H E P O P C O R N

Students create Ensemble shines in ‘Hotel’ ‘Neurosis Now’ David Dixon

staff writer

Samantha Hirsch staff writer When asked what studio arts senior Kaitlin Trataris’ goals are after her upcoming May graduation, she simply said, “to become a culture queen.”

She is already getting a pretty good head start with the culture aspect of it, helping create a liveaction web series titled “Neurosis Now.” The series airs each Sunday on Facebook, via YouTube, and Trataris helps produce the web series with her friend Johann, whom she has known since high school.

“The (show’s meaning) conceptually can be found by asking yourself the zen koan ‘Why is Kim Kardashian famous?’” Trataris said. “(The process of creating these shorts) is one of the most incredibly engaging and fun things about Neurosis Now … We have a very flexible team and we are always thinking of new ways to create and edit and deliver media,” Trataris said.

The creation process is geographically expansive; the team collaborates with individuals all across the state, with contributors living in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.

With one season (four episodes) down, the “Neurosis Now” team is very pleased with its growing fan base and its capacity to tell new stories week after week.

It’s important for Trataris to gain a steady following, because she thinks that not only are the viewers learning, but the production team is “earning the trust of the viewers Sunday after Sunday.”

With Trataris’ influences ranging from Tina Fey, to Quentin Tarantino to Hennessey Youngman, expect an interesting and unique experience while watching “Neurosis Now.” For more information and to watch the web series, visit its Facebook account at facebook.com/ NeurosisNow, its Twitter account, at twitter.com/#!/neurosisnow or its YouTube channel at youtube.com /user/neurosisnow

COURTESY OF KAITLIN TRATARIS

Never underestimate the power of a strong ensemble movie. It can be extremely difficult to pull off; for every “Traffic” there is a “Town & Country.”

“The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” is a successful comedy-drama with eight performers at the top of their game.

The scenes before the opening credits introduce seven elderly Brits, who each have personal reasons for wanting to go on an extended vacation at an apparently luxurious hotel.

Once in India, the men and women figure out the place that seemed so wonderful in the ads was a ploy to cover up the fact it is both in poor shape as well as suffering from economic problems, which the extremely upbeat hotel manager (Dev Patel) hopes to fix. Though most of the cast learns to adapt to the strange environment, all of them try to figure out what to do in this new stage of life.

As the picture opens, some of the initial meetings with the main characters could have been stronger. The early racist dialogue of Muriel (Maggie Smith), is played for broad laughs, which is unintentionally cringe-inducing. Also, the first time the hilarious Norman (Ronald Pickup) is on screen, the jokes are a little too obvious.

However, minutes later, a scene at the airport hooks the audience into the simultaneous adventures. All the travelers, including Evelyn (Judi Dench), Douglas (Bill Nighy), Madge (Celia Imrie) and Graham (Tom Wilkinson) sit next to each other while waiting for

Elderly Brits going to a faux luxurious hotel and finding themselves. | COURTESY OF ISHIKA MOHAN

their flight. Despite the fact these are notable film icons and the flaws of the opening, the actors appear to be authentic and humorously idiosyncratic individuals — it works.

There is not enough space in a 500word article to talk about all of the amazing performances. Suffice it to say, each and every role is terrifically played by the thespians.

In a bizarre twist for fans of “Shaun of the Dead,” Shaun’s mother (Penelope Wilton) and stepdad (Nighy) seem to have switched roles in this film. Nighy is now a kindhearted man instead of an emotionally cold one and Wilton is a strict wife who does not support her husband, as opposed to being a very loving woman. They make a funny and dramatic team as their polar-opposite personalities are realistically explored.

Dench and Wilkinson are just as terrific as they contribute to some of the

more memorably moving moments of the journey in India. They are both dealing with heartfelt losses and neither performer misses a beat in expressing their deep emotions.

Ol Parker’s script is consistently clever, charming and insightful. He never has to compromise tone, because Parker manages to keep things true to the real world, where laughs and sadness coexist.

Along with John Madden’s direction, which is both relatable and whimsical, “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” wants to be feel-good entertainment while also remaining an intelligent reflection of reality. On those terms, it is a big success.

Movie:

THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL

Directed by: JOHN MADDEN Release Date: MAY 11 Grade: A-

D A I LY A Z T E C Thursday, May 10, 2012

E N T E R TA I N M E N T POP ROCKS

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SNEAK PEEK

iPomp and circumstance Beach Boys rally for reunion tour Courtney Rogin

staff writer

Those in the class of 2012 will have spent the past 17 years memorizing dates, adding fractions, writing endless papers and forgetting Scantrons. This is it. We are finished. For many of us, come next week, that proverbial cliff we have been teetering on for the past semester will become a reality. As we prepare to bonfire the past four years of lecture notes and doodles, there will be countless memories to look back on. So here are 12 songs to remind you of childhood, high school, last week’s party and everything in between.

“These Are Days” - 10,000 Maniacs I decided to start out with a classic ‘90s pick, mainly because, as the song says, these are the days you will look back on years down the road.

“It’s All Been Done” - Barenaked Ladies I’ve always associated this song with summer and backyard barbecues with family and friends. Summer vacation is on the horizon — it’s seven short days away.

Courtney Rogin staff writer

THINKSTOCK

celebratory dance down the aisles of Viejas Arena during commencement, this is your song.

“Ooh La La” - The Faces “Time To Pretend” - MGMT Welcome to the rest of your lives, this is prime time of your life, you can be anything, even president.

MGMT takes the time to remind us that “We’ve got the vision, now let’s have some fun.”

“In The Diary” - The Ataris Just remember that yes, you are no longer in college, and to have fun and “follow your heart.” Also, every playlist needs a great karaoke-inthe-car song.

“The Middle” - Jimmy Eat World “Forever Young” - Youth Group This was a song I held close to my heart in high school and still has a lot of logical value. The song is all about how life is shorter than you believe, so never let an opportunity pass you by.

“Feel So Close” - Calvin Harris For all those needing a song for their

ability that makes a horrible day sound so positive.

Mainly because hearing this song for 1,345,825th time just makes it all the sweeter. Angsty “Bleed American” Jimmy Eat World is still the best to this day.

“I’ll Be There For You” - The Rembrandts Go ahead and clap along, you know you want to. They have the magical

“I wish that I knew what I know now when I was younger.” Who didn’t learn endless life lessons in college, like how not to wash red socks with white tees?

“Wild World” - Cat Stevens Life is always going to have its ups and downs and this is for the down days. Curl up in bed with Ramen and erase the day.

“Graduation” - Vitamin C Until the end of time, this will be the graduation song everyone refers to, puts on mixes and tears up at least once to. All I need to say.

“Someday” - Sugar Ray I end this mix with a song dedicated to all my best friends; everyone has that one song that defines their friends. This is mine: Sugar Ray Pandora is best listened to wearing silly hats.

Just in time for tropical shirts and summer dresses, The Beach Boys has embarked on a remarkable 50th anniversary tour this summer, making a stop in San Diego later this month.

This will be the first time in more than 20 years the entire band has toured together. An introduction is hardly needed for this legendary group, comprised of members Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks.

The band formed in Hawthorne in 1961 and defined the surf rock genre as it is known today. Since formation, The Beach Boys has released more than 30 albums, including classics such as “Pet Sounds” and “Surfin’ USA,” featuring hits such as, but certainly not limited to: “California Girls,” “God Only Knows,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Good Vibrations” and “I Get Around.”

To this day, “Pet Sounds” remains one of the most influential albums in music, earning the honor of being named No. 2 on Rolling Stone’s list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.”

The album dips into the psychedelia pool through the band’s use of the electro-theremin and harpsichords, while still staying true to The Beach Boys’ surf roots. The band just released a teaser to its upcoming single, “That’s Why God Made The

Radio,” which brings back the retro feel of its music to present day.

Foster the People will join The Beach Boys on tour, coming off a collaborative Grammy performance earlier this year. Foster the People may seem like a strange choice, but hopefully the fusion of yesteryear classic and today’s popular music will please all ages when both bands come to Chula Vista at 7:30 p.m. on May 25 at Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre. Tickets range from $32.50 to $112.50 and are available via LiveNation. The show is all ages. Get summer started right with a “fun, fun, fun” night of music.

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E N T E R TA I N M E N T

AZTEC GAMING

R E L E A S I N G I N M AY

New ‘Guild Wars’ excites Some of the largest battles ever seen in gaming can be found in WvWvW.

Cody Franklin head of aztec gaming

COURTESY OF PETER MOUNTAIN

“Dark Shadows” Warner Bros.

Vampire Barnabus Collins (Johnny Depp) wakes after being buried for hundreds of years and returns to help his family deal with the 1970s. Tim Burton directs the second major film released this month based on a comic book series, thus it is really no shock to see Depp is involved. (May 11)

Gameplay: Last month, hundreds of thousands of fans got the chance to play “Guild Wars 2” in ArenaNet’s first beta weekend event. The reaction was clear: It is very hard not to be excited about “Guild Wars 2.” Here are the top three reasons why:

Player versus environment: In “Guild Wars 2,” players take control of a character from one of five different playable races. They then battle a host of different enemies across greatly varying environments, and finally face off against the five greater dragons — which have awoken and revamped the world for the worse. While this may sound a lot like “RIFT,” players will find the story is very different and, in many ways, much darker.

Each race has its own personal quest lines that play much like a singleplayer game. The personal quest line is also augmented by choices gamers make, including some choices that occur before game play even begins.

One choice is whether the character’s greatest regret is failing to find their sister’s body or not joining the circus.

Beyond the personal quests lies a vast world of player versus environment action. Players can choose one of five different sets of zones to play in, ensuring the game doesn’t get stale when gamers play multiple characters.

Rather than relying on a traditional quest system, players simply stumble upon open-world “heart” events scattered throughout each zone. These

COURTESY OF ARENANET

events guide players through zones and award them Karma they can use to buy awesome loot. Tons of other random yet chained events occur, making the experience different each time a player enters an area.

Player versus player: For fans of player versus player combat, “Guild Wars 2” is sure to be a mustbuy. PvP is based on skills, rather than having the best gear. All players are boosted to max level and given the same starter equipment. The game includes a set of traditional, instancebased, small battles between two teams, as well as the big feature of “Guild Wars 2:” world versus world versus world battles.

In this system, three servers will face each other in a gigantic, open-world zone called The Mists. Servers will form teams to capture territory and castles from the other servers and will be rewarded with a special buff for their entire server. Buffs boost many aspects of the game such as experience gain.

Combat in “Guild Wars 2” makes both PvE and PvP shine. A middle ground between the cursor-aimed attack of “Tera” and the traditional tab-targeted hotkey combat of “World of Warcraft” makes the game exciting but accessible.

The weapon a character wields determines the character’s skills, meaning the feel of each class can change with the press of a button. A dual-axe melee monster warrior can instantly become a rifle-wielding sharpshooter with a few clicks.

Unlike other massively multiplayer online games, “Guild Wars 2” does not have the traditional “holy-trinity” of tank, healer and damage-per-second classes. Instead, classes are either pure DPS, support or control. Thieves and warriors will eviscerate the competition but lack the ability to keep enemies at arm’s reach, while an engineer or mesmer might not kill quite as quickly but can often escape a battle without a single scratch. While every class has its own healing abilities, players will have to use a dodge ability in order to stay alive; as in “Tera,” a few hits can mean death for any class.

To be frank, one could write a thesis paper on all the different aspects of “Guild Wars 2” that set it apart from the competition. For more coverage on “Guild Wars 2” and other games, keep an eye on The Daily Aztec’s “Aztec Gaming” blog; this has been just a taste of the content The Daily Aztec will be publishing about “Guild Wars 2.”

“The Dictator” Paramount Pictures Sacha Baron Cohen returns to the big screen as Supreme Leader, General Aladeen, dictator of the Republic of Wadiya. Anna Faris co-stars in a film that pointedly mocks friendly relationships between the U.S. and oppressive dictators. (May 16 ) MCT CAMPUS

“Battleship” Universal Pictures The U.S. Navy is the first responder to an alien force that attacks Earth. No one should expect a movie inspired by a board game to have an overwhelmingly complicated plot, but moviegoers should be expecting quite a bit of gratuitous violence. (May 18) THINKSTOCK

COURTESY OF MELISSA MOSELEY

“What to Expect When You’re Expecting” Lionsgate Based on the best-selling book, director Kirk Jones follows the lives of five couples at various stages in the pregnancy cycle. Though the couples are all going through the same experience, they face a wide range of trials and tribulations along the way. (May 18) “Chernobyl Diaries” Warner Bros.

Explorers head to Pripyat, the infamous town ravaged by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in what is now Ukraine. As they explore, strange happenings unfold around them. (May 25)

COURTESY OF WARNER BROS.

“Men In Black III” Columbia Pictures Agent J (Will Smith) must go back in time to team up with a younger version of his partner, Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones / Josh Brolin), in order to save the world. (May 25)

COURTESY OF WILSON WEBB

—Compiled by Entertainment Editor John Anderson.

FUN AND GAMES

D A I LY A Z T E C Thursday, May 10, 2012

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I wa s s i t t i n g i n c l a s s wa i t i n g t o t a ke a f i n a l wh e n my p ro f e s s o r p u l l e d o u t a

. The class was noun

and started to

. T h e re w a s n o w ay we c o u l d t a ke t h e f i n a l a f t e r t h a t , s o we verb

adjective

h e a d e d ove r t o t h e

for some

. To o u r g r e a t s u r p r i s e ,

place

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i n a d a rk c o r n e r l i t by a activity

w a s t h e re celebrity

. O ve rc o m e w i t h h o r m o n e s a n d u t t e rly s t a r -

illumination source

s t r u c k , I wo rke d u p t h e c o u ra ge t o s i t d ow n a t t h e t a bl e.

He/she looked up

, a n d s a i d , “ I h a v e a j o b f o r y o u , c o m e w i t h m e .” adverb

S l i g h t ly p e r t u r b e d , I f o l l owe d h i m i n t o t h e a l l ey wh e re h i s / h e r

w a s p a r k e d . We p u l l e d o u t car

o n t o t h e s t re e t a n d i m m e d i a t e l y n o t i c e d we we re b e i n g f o l l owe d . T h ey l o o ke d l i ke

, and villain

clearly wanted to

. nefarious intention

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g u n n e d i t , bl a s t i n g t h ro u g h a re d l i g h t .

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who Same celebrity

distracting object/person/vehicle

a n d c o n t i n u e s a t f u l l s p e e d . T h e t r a i l i n g c a r i s n ’ t s o l u c k y, s p i n n i n g o u t a n d c r a s h i n g verb

into a

. noun

p u l l s t h e p a r k i n g b r e a k a n d s k i d s t o a s t o p o u t s i d e t h e e m b a s s y. “ T a k e i t i n s i d e .” U t t e r l y Same celebrity

n o n p l u s s e d , I p a u s e d a n d a s ke d “ s h o u l d I ke e p t h i s a s e c re t ? ” “ D o n ’ t w o r r y,” Same celebrity

s a i d , “ n o o n e w i l l e v e r b e l i e v e y o u .”

FUN AND GAMES

D A I LY A Z T E C Thursday, May 10, 2012

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LEVEL 5

NEXT

SCORE 4800

HOLD

HIGH SCORE 45800

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S E M E S T E R I N P H OTO S

ANTONIO ZARAGOZA, PHOTO EDITOR

PETER KLUCH, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

PETER KLUCH, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

S E M E S T E R I N P H OTO S

PETER KLUCH, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

D A I LY A Z T E C Thursday, May 10, 2012

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PETER KLUCH, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

PETER KLUCH, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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Game Score 0 0 0 0 2 0

High Score 3 6 0 5 2 2

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FUN AND GAMES

FUN AND GAMES

1UP BIRDO BROWSER CASTLES COINS DONKEYKONG FIREFLOWER GOOMBA K O O P AT R O O P A LAKITU LUIGI MARIO MARIOBROTHERS MOVIESANDTV MUSHROOM NINTENDO NINTENDO64 PRINCESSPEACH PRINCESSTOADSTOOL REX S TA R M A N S U P E R K O O PA SUPERLEAF S U P E R M A R I O K A RT SUPERMARIOWORLD TORPEDOTED VIDEOGAME WA R I O WII YOSHI

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1 UP

HIGH SCORE

035200

035200

BOWSER

FOX

LINK

NESS

SAMUS

C A P TA I N FA L C O N

G A N O N D WA R F

LUIGI

PEACH

YOSHI

DONKEYKONG

ICECLIMBERS

MARIO

PICHU

YOUNGLINK

DRMARIO

J I G G LY P U F F

M A RT H

PIKACHU

ZELDA

FA L C O

KIRBY

MEWTWO

ROY

FUN & GAMES

D A I LY A Z T E C Thursday, May 10, 2012

Play with a friend and take turns connecting dots. Once you make a square you claim it with your initials and the player with the most squares wins!

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COLOR SUPER MARIO

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ACROSS 1 Improvise at the jazz club 5 Butt (in) 9 Oncle’s spouse 14 River to the Fulda 15 Its French name means “high wood” 16 Sun Valley locale 17 Move, briefly 18 Monument Valley sight 19 Many a Justin Bieber fan 20 When to say nightnight 23 Former Mideast org.

24 Author of the Yiddish memoir “And the World Remained Silent” 28 Ohio Stadium purchase 33 Swiss Guard charges 34 Quick 35 Chinese tea 36 Prunes 37 Georgia of “The Mary Tyler Moore

Show” 38 “Cinque, dieci, venti, trenta” in “The Marriage of Figaro,” e.g.

39 Yellowfin tuna 40 Estate home 41 Sounds content 42 Advance sale teaser line 45 “I love what you do for me” automaker 46 Big-house link 47 Dubious Himalayan headline—and phenomenon in 20-, 28- and 42-Across 54 Peer in a box 57 Relinquish 58 Golfer Aoki 59 Japanese art genre 60 Oregon Trail team 61 Sommelier’s prefix 62 Lose it 63 Distance swimmer Diana 64 Pont __: Paris bridge

FUN & GAMES

DOWN 1 3-Down, e.g.

2 “Zip-__-Doo-Dah” 3 Blend 4 Yields 5 Man of La Mancha 6 Mind 7 See 12-Down 8 Bourbon order 9 They may be tufted 10 Magazine that highlights Clio winners 11 “Sorry, laddie” 12 With 7-Down, Bette Midler classic 13 Quite a span 21 Goes on and on 22 Volunteer’s offer 25 Like an encrypted transmission, in theory 26 Old anesthetics 27 Future J.D.s’ exams 28 Melodramatic cry 29 Haughty 30 Greek New Ager 31 Goad 32 Feature of some fancy cakes

33 Magician’s secret cohort 37 Really worry 38 Term 40 Like some mail 41 Sumptuous 43 He has a cello named Petunia 44 Remnant 48 Tiny trash can, e.g.

49 Hot 50 Thought 51 “Mm-hmm” 52 Half a sitcom signoff 53 Flub 54 Spree 55 The loneliest numero?

56 Drum edge

ACROSS 1 “I’m clueless!”

6 Half of Ethiopia’s capital 11 Finger-to-lips syllable 14 1994 peace prize sharer Yitzhak 15 C.S. who created Narnia 16 Chinese word of enlightenment 17 St. Patrick’s day shout 19 IV administrators 20 0, in Spain 21 Linus awaits the Great Pumpkin in one 22 Singer’s aid 23 Unconventional merchandise quantity 25 “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” singer Neil 27 Lewinsky confidante Linda 30 Delinquency word

SCORE < 1 > 078210

more commonly heard in the plural 32 Business that serves smokers 36 Fifth in NYC, e.g.

37 Contraire vis-ą-vis la __: illegal, in Lyons 38 Finished first 39 With “leave,” settle for the existing situation 46 “M*A*S*H” system 47 Drum major’s cap 48 Heat rub product 50 Oysters-on-thehalf-shell seller 54 Menlo Park middle name 55 Somewhat warm 58 Wave radio maker 59 Work the soil 60 Privileged group, and an aptly highlighted feature of 17-, 32- and 39Across 62 Bachelor in personals, briefly

63 Short explosive?

64 It’s not an express 65 Half and half 66 Yarn unit 67 Buck of country music DOWN 1 Artist El __ 2 Rowed 3 Classic Ford 4 Company that merged with Konica 5 Stonehenge loc.

6 Actress Jessica 7 Lion player Lahr 8 Sky surveillance acronym 9 Swollen ego 10 Smudge on Santa?

11 Ump’s call 12 “Hammerin’” baseballer 13 Watering aid 18 Fiber- __ 22 Fourth planet 24 Dungeons & Dragons monster

HIGH SCORE 0406500

26 R&B’s __ Hill 28 Casual shirt 29 Reverent 31 Sandberg with nine Gold Gloves 32 “I __ I taw a puddy ...”

33 Excessive 34 “This is no lie” 35 Expected soon 40 Turner on screen 41 Poached fare 42 Slob’s opposite 43 Either of the first two consonants in “coccyx” 44 Wanted poster abbr.

45 Unintellectual 49 Broadway matchmaker 51 Italian ball game 52 Narnia lion 53 Fishing gear 54 Facetious “I see” 56 Prefix with scope 57 Crease remover 60 Access points 61 UN workers’ gp.

SCORE < 2 > 054600

CREDIT 0020

D A I LY A Z T E C Thursday, May 10, 2012

OPINION

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SD outdoes NC in recognition of gay rights

I

s there a more polarizing issue in the United States than gay marriage? On the same day the San Diego City Council unanimously approved renaming Blaine Avenue as Harvey Milk Street in honor of the first openly gay elected official in California, the good citizens of North Carolina passed Amendment One, which asserts “marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state.”

San Diegans should be proud of the city council’s decision. We’re taking steps to honor the legacy of civil rights activists such as Harvey Milk, who championed equality for all people, regardless of sexual preference. I read the news on our city’s small victory in the fight against bigotry, and I was proud to call this city my home. The new street name will be unveiled in a ceremony on May 22, Milk’s birthday.

Unfortunately, shortly after smiling about the local news, I heard about the decision made in North Carolina and felt differently. I felt something I’m sad to say I’ve been feeling more consistently the last few years: I felt ashamed to be an American. I’m ashamed our country hasn’t taken the moral high ground on issues related to discrimination. I’ve been ashamed of California for failing to set an example other states can follow when it comes to equal rights for all citizens. The fact that the legal status of gay marriage in California is in a state of limbo, pending appeals in court, is shameful.

North Carolina doesn’t share California’s reticence when it comes to taking a stand on the issue of gay marriage. This week, North Carolina stepped up to the ballot box and joined the ranks of the 28 states with constitutional amendments banning gay marriage.

There are two major issues here.

First, there’s the obvious human rights problem that arises when the majority rises up en masse to squash the rights of a minority group.

Second, one has to wonder why a state like North Carolina, which has the fifth highest unemployment rate in the U.S., is devoting so much time,

Kenneth Leonard staff columnist energy and money to solving a problem that doesn’t need to be solved.

Don’t legislators in North Carolina care about the actual problems in their state?

While I feel strongly about the necessity of equal rights for people of all sexual preferences, when I see this type of legislation in the news, the first thing I find myself wondering is why our elected officials aren’t working on solving more urgent problems. In the time it took to push Amendment One, legislators and lobbyists could have been working on the state economy by promoting education or providing health care.

Instead, they chose to spend their limited time and resources actively discriminating against gay people and pandering to the lowest common denominator of the voting base.

There was a time when elected officials inspired their constituencies to social change. Leaders such as John F. Kennedy and Milk would stand in the face of the crowd and speak up for what was right, and not what was necessarily popular. The political game needs to alter its tune in order to bring about positive social change in this nation.

Real patriotism occurs when individuals start to think outside of their own individual prejudices in order to embrace that which is good for the nation. JFK knew this. Milk knew this.

North Carolina apparently doesn’t, and unfortunately California hasn’t demonstrated an understanding of this principle in a meaningful way since Proposition 8.

Next time you’re driving through Hillcrest, when you pass Harvey Milk Street, take a moment to reflect on what it means to be a San Diegan.

Think about what it means to be a member of a community, as opposed to an isolated citizen.

I’m confident future generations will look at this type of legislation with the same mixture of terror and fascination that we look at laws for-

MCT CAMPUS

bidding interracial marriage. My hope is that time will reveal North Carolina’s place on the wrong side of history, and that the disgusting bigotry against the Lesbian Gay Bisexual & Transsexual community will die with the generation that approved Amendment One and Proposition 8.

— Kenneth Leonard is an English junior.

Editor’s note President Barack Obama announced his support for gay marriage yesterday.

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OPINION

Students owed say in CSU contract debate

ALLIE DAUGHERTY, EDITOR IN CHIEF

W

ell, there’s always next year. As the semester winds down, finals are suffered through and grades are accepted begrudgingly, returning students turn a hopeful eye toward next semester. That’ll be the semester when we’ll do assignments on time, study early and go to every class, even if it is at 9 a.m. in Adams Humanities on Monday mornings.

That fresh new start may seem far away now, but unless the California State University system and the California Faculty Association can agree on a new contract, it will be further away than we hope. On May 2, CFA members approved with 95 percent of the vote a rolling two-day strike for the beginning of fall semester if contract negotiations with the CSU system break down. As of now, both sides seem to be attempting to reinitiate talks. If that falls through, a neutral third party will come in to rec-

Leonardo Castaneda senior staff columnist ommend a new contract. If that also fails, CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed has the authority to determine the new contract, and faculty will be allowed to strike.

Clearly, this would be the worst possible outcome for all involved, as this is a very complex issue and both sides feel very strongly about what’s at stake. The side with the most to lose from these negotiations is the students. Without students there would be no CSU, no CFA, no strike and no contracts. Yet the well-being of students has been little more than a political tool used by both sides to justify their actions. If both the CSU and faculty truly care about students, they should give us a much larger voice in the negotiations. That doesn’t mean token power by

The side with the most to lose from these negotiations is the students. If the bargaining process fails and faculty strikes, 400,000 CSU students could be affected. encouraging students to attend a rally or visit a website with information about the negotiations. Student representatives deserve a seat at the bargaining table, and a final say in whatever agreements are reached, including the ability to veto any particularly unfavorable contract.

If you think that is too much power to give students, consider this: If the bargaining process fails and the faculty strikes, 400,000 CSU students could

be affected. That’s a population larger than the city of Miami. It would mean more than just lost class time. Those first couple of days is when we finalize class schedules and lay the framework for the rest of the semester.

Losing them could have serious longterm consequences.

If a new contract is agreed upon that increases faculty pay or benefits, the students could be the ones bearing the added costs. According to the

CSU system, implementing the CFA’s proposals this school year and for 2012-13 would cost $244.3 million.

That could mean huge tuition increases in the coming years on top of those already barreling toward us, courtesy of California’s budget deficit.

The truth is, faculty members deserve fair compensation for their work. When San Diego State President Elliot Hirshman received a $100,000 pay raise, it was justified with claims that expansive financial compensation was needed to lure the best of the best to SDSU. Clearly, financial compensation for the cash-strapped CSU system cannot be expansive, but it must be fair enough to attract the high-quality educators students deserve. Faculty deserves to be paid salaries and benefits on par with their peers from across the country. It is only fair to the men and women who have given so much of their lives to making the CSU system one of the best public higher education systems in the country. And it is needed to keep it in that place.

In the coming days and weeks, more details will emerge from both sides of the bargaining table. In the end, students will pay the price, regardless of the outcome. Unless we are given an equal partnership in bargaining negotiations, as well as in determining compensation for CSU administrators, this will be an inherently unfair contract.

With the birth of the Occupy and Tea Party movements, political slogans have made something of a comeback. Consider this oldie but goodie: No taxation without representation. Today students are not allowed to represent themselves in negotiations that determine how their money is spent. Until that changes, this will be a system of unfair taxation where two sides battle for the hard-earned money of their powerless victims.

LEONARDO CASTANEDA IS A JOURNALISM AND ECONOMICS SOPHOMORE.

U-T reveals partisan bias with DeMaio plug

T

he San Diego UnionTribune recently endorsed Republican Carl DeMaio for the San Diego mayoral race.

This move should come as no surprise from an editorial board that made such past endorsements of Republicans including Carly Fiorina, Meg Whitman, John McCain and George W. Bush on two separate occasions. The surprise is the manner in which the U-T proclaimed its selection of DeMaio, which was done through a front-page endorsement in last Sunday’s edition of the newspaper. This is a highly irregular means of endorsing a candidate; when coupled with the fact that Sunday is the most widely circulated edition of the U-T, the prospect of bias begins to fester.

Meanwhile, the peculiarity of the endorsement continues to grow. The general election is roughly six months from now. Even the primary election, which will decide the two candidates who will run in the general election, is still about a month away. Through such a strong broadcast of its editorial selection, at this point in the election season, the U-T is making a definitive statement — a statement regarding the pseudoimpartial coverage of the entire election from this point forward.

The manner and delivery of the DeMaio selection has created a climate where this endorsement could realistically “set the agenda” of the coverage on the race. Effectively,

Brody Burns staff columnist the U-T has created a situation where DeMaio represents more than just its editorial board’s selection in the race: He has been transformed into the newspaper’s poster boy.

This is highly troubling considering the fact that the U-T happens to be the single major newspaper in the city. From this move, one can reasonably suspect that if the U-T so ardently supports one candidate, this passion will spill into the general reporting of the race.

DeMaio, as such a public poster boy, is a major problem when one seeks unbiased, impartial or neutral race coverage. It imbues a perception of partiality at the U-T, where the likelihood of the coverage meeting journalistic ethical standards has been significantly diminished. But it only gets worse.

Jeff Light is the current vice president and editor of the U-T. In a recent tape recording released by independent candidate Nathan Fletcher’s campaign, Light douses the flames of skepticism of the impartiality of the entire newspaper, with the following comments: “I think that there is a real danger in a (Bob) Filner / DeMaio race at the general election as the presidential election is going on. Filner has a chance to win that and that is something we do not want.”

In referring to the entire newspaper as we, Light has verified all the suspicions of blatantly biased coverage. He has translated the editorial board’s selection into the larger representation of the entire newspaper.

Moreover, is it reasonably believable that such strong personal convictions from the vice president of the newspaper would not influence coverage? Or more patently, is Papa Doug Manchester, the owner of the

get behind you, given that we’ve got a lot of Republican backing and Republican tradition? I think that puts us in a tough position.”

There are multiple problems with this statement. The first being the editorial board apparently votes along party lines, without any investigation into the candidates at hand.

Looking beyond the political party attached to each candidate in an edi-

“I think that there is a real danger in a (Bob) Filner / DeMaio race ... Filner has a chance to win that and that is something we do not want.”

Jeff Light, vice president and editor of the U-T

U-T, playing the entire staff like a group of marionettes, tap dancing to his own personal political rhetoric?

That’s the paramount importance of this election season at the U-T. It is the first since Manchester purchased the paper, and the overall credibility of political impartiality has been shrouded in a cloud of doubt.

Further on in the tape released by Fletcher, an unidentified editorial board member said, “How can we

torial selection provides a greater service to the readers. Next, the admission of such a one-sided editorial board is disturbing. At the end of last year, there were slightly more registered Democrats in San Diego County than Republicans. The board should more adequately represent this divide. The U-T should align the board with the actual prevailing attitudes of the entire county.

Finally, why is it making editorial decisions to appease such a small constituency? Shouldn’t the aim be to provide the selection of the best candidate for the region, as opposed to the best candidate for the specific Republican board members, who may have a financial stake in the election? If the board is so one-sided, then increase turnover and bring in some outside perspective. Diversity of opinions and viewpoints will only enrich the overall debate, and translate to more beneficial editorials for a larger population.

The most depressing fact made through the front-page endorsement is the proclamation that the opinion of the editorial board is incredibly newsworthy. It garners the most widely visible placement of the entire week and stinks of noxious egotism. As if the readers could not quench their salivating thirst for the U-T endorsement by turning to the editorial section. It is a shameless self-promotion of the members of the editorial board, and a further blow to the overall credibility of the newspaper.

Readers, I also have an endorsement to make: Seek your news somewhere other than the U-T.

BRODY BURNS IS SEEKING A MASTER’S IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

D A I LY A Z T E C Thursday, May 10, 2012

SPORTS

25

FA R E W E L L C O L U M N

So long, SDSU, thanks for the memories “It’s been an experience I’ll always remember and something I’ll look back on and realize I was better for having been a part of.

I’ve reached the end of this road now, though. It’s time to go down another one ...”

PAIGE NELSON, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Antonio Morales sports editor So this is it huh? This is the end of the road, my time as The Daily Aztec sports editor is coming to a conclusion.

Growing up my mom gave me some simple advice. She would always tell me if I did my best, then that would be good enough.

I feel like I’ve done my best in the

past year I’ve had this job. It’s been an eventful 365 days, that’s for sure.

In the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to go to Ann Arbor, Mich. and watch a game at The Big House. I went to New Orleans, spent some time on Bourbon Street and watched the San Diego State football team play one thriller of a game in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. I also had the opportunity to go to Las Vegas and cover the Mountain West Conference Tournament.

My writing has grown in the past year, too. I’ve written stories as the sports editor, and have written some stories for The Orange County Register and The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Now I’m getting ready to graduate in a week, with an internship at MLB.com in New York waiting for me in June.

It’s the most exciting time of my life right now. I just wish the lady who gave me that simple advice when I was younger was here to share it with me.

My mother passed away in August, a few weeks before the semester started. It was the hardest thing I’ve been or will ever go through. When something like that happens, it puts things into perspective. It shows you what’s really hard and what’s not, what’s trivial and what’s not, what things are worth it and what aren’t.

I was fortunate enough to have a job that kept me busy and gave me the ability to work through it. I’ll be forever grateful for my time here at the paper.

It presented me with plenty of opportunities. I covered a Top-25 men’s basketball team and a football team that went to a bowl game … and was paid for it. I was able to watch athletes such as Denard Robinson, Kellen Moore, Ryan Lindley, Ronnie Hillman, Jamaal Franklin, Chase Tapley, Mike Moser and Doug McDermott.

There will be things I won’t forget, like Franklin’s two game winners, Hillman’s 99-yard touchdown against Wyoming or hearing the crowd explode after Xavier Thames’ gamewinning layup against USC.

I won’t forget the people I met along the way, either. I started off with probably the best sports editor I could have ever asked for in Edward Lewis, who I learned a lot from. Allie Daugherty, our editor-in-chief, was subject to my many requests (or complaints) and I want to thank her for listening to most of them. And everybody who worked in the office with me, they know who they are, who had to deal with me bugging them every day just because I had nothing else good to do with my free time, I’d like to thank them (or apologize, however they want to look at it) for putting up with it.

It’s been an experience I’ll always remember and something I’ll look back on and realize I was better for having been a part of.

I’ve reached the end of this road now, though. It’s time to go down another one, that being New York.

Something’s telling me if I listen to what my mom told me, I’ll be able to navigate through those lanes just fine.

26

D A I LY

AZTEC Thursday, May 10, 2012

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Conference enlightens through innovation TEDx speakers visit SDSU and UCSD to share discoveries Eric Dobko contributor Two TEDx events recently took place at UC San Diego and San Diego State.

On April 29, a diverse collection of expert scientists, artists, writers and engineers arrived at UCSD for TEDx Del Mar to address the event’s theme, “Envisioning Transhumanity.” Various speakers gathered at the KPBS Public Broadcasting building last Sunday to answer the ever-important question, “What have you discovered?”

TED is a nonprofit organization that began as a four-day conference in 1984. Its mission was to discuss “Ideas Worth Spreading,” with the TED acronym standing for technology, entertainment and design. Twice a year, TED conferences are held in Long Beach, Palm Springs and once a year in Edinburgh, Scotland as a way to bring together the world’s most fascinating people. Events have included speakers such as Bill Gates, former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Virgin Group Ltd. chairman Sir Richard Branson and anthropologist Jane Goodall. Since 2006, TED Talks have been posted daily at TED.com as a way to spread ideas throughout the world.

The “x” in the name signifies these programs were independently organized, allowing TED events to occur worldwide on a community level.

Since the establishment of the TEDx program, more than 3,000 events have been organized around the world in the spirit of the TED format.

The several lectures at TEDx Del Mar featured insightful discussions about technology’s current and potential capacity to improve human life. The word “transhuman,” first used by evolutionary biologist and writer Aldous Huxley’s brother, Julian Huxley, refers to the integration of humanity with technology to enhance mental and physical capacities and improve quality of life exponentially.

Among the speakers in attendance was InterAxon CEO Ariel Garten, representing a company that specializes in thought-controlled computing. At the forefront of neuroscience and electronics, Garten and her colleagues have been developing BCIs, or brain-computer interfaces, that would give people the ability to actively engage the physical world with their brains alone. The Zeo Sleep Manager is one example of a BCI already in production. This is an alarm clock that allows users to track

BEHIND THE NUMBERS

Jenni Prisk, pictured above, was one of several speakers at SDSU’s TEDx conference last Sunday, inspiring students with “Ideas Worth Spreading.” | PAIGE NELSON, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

and manage their sleep quantity and quality. The human brain runs on electrical energy that can be read by outside devices.

Topics addressed by the various speakers included the use of reproductive science for pregnant mothers to counter genetic predispositions to disease, devices that enhance or augment the five senses and the chemical oxytocin’s ability to increase trust between monogamous lovers. In addition, resource technologies that could address the rapidly increasing human population and microscopic machines that repair cells to slow the effects of aging were also discussed.

While the prospect of such technology sounds like implausible and quixotic science fiction to most, technological advancement is actually accelerating at an astonishing rate. The contrast between the brick-sized cell phones of the ‘90s and the tiny GPS-equipped touchscreen phones of today offers an idea of how inconceivable our world may be in another 20 years.

Hosted by business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi, TEDxSDSU covered a different range of topics with no constrict-

ing central theme other than what discoveries life may have presented to each speaker. Those in attendance included a variety of musicians, SDSU students and alumni, business directors, writers and activists.

Film and international security and conflict resolution junior Nadir Bouhmouch spoke about the oppressive regime that currently reigns in his home country of Morocco. His documentary, “My Makhzen and Me,” publicizes the corruption long silenced by the Makhzens and draconian censorship. According to Bouhmouch, the Internet worked as an important force during the Arab Spring revolutions by

SPONSORED BY

FOR TEDx events and TEDxTalks 3,190

Since the establishment of the TEDx program, more than 3,000 events have been organized around the world in the spirit of the TED format.

Advanced Test Preparation

Number of TEDx events that have taken place around the world

800

Number of cities that have hosted one or more TEDx events worldwide

126

Number of countries that have hosted one or more TEDx events

77

Number of TEDx events that took place around the world in January

67

Number of cities that hosted one or more TEDx events in January

12,900 Number of TEDxTalks that have taken place in all time 122

Number of talks featured on Ted.com

45.8

Number of views TEDxTalks have garnered on Ted.com, in millions

Advanced Test Preparation

Score Higher, Aztecs!

strengthening civil resistance in the face of repression.

“Never have citizen journalists had such an impact until the Arab Spring,” Bouhmouch said. “This film uses many clips uploaded online by average citizens who wanted to show the world things that the mainstream media wouldn’t.”

Avid golfer and SDSU student Jeremy Poincenot inspired the audience to overcome life’s obstacles with his own story. As a 19-year-old sophomore, Poincenot became legally blind because of a rare genetic disease called Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy. Devastated at first,

Poincenot soon learned rather than dwelling on what he lost, he should look forward to the unlimited possibilities of his future. Shortly thereafter, he overcame his hopelessness and went on to win the International Blind Golf Association’s World Championships in Britain, with his dad as his guide.

Ending his speech, Poincenot said, “I’m here with you tonight, telling you my story to empower you. What have you discovered? And how will you face the obstacles in your life?”

Other segments included words from social activist Mikel Samaniego, biographical author Bryna Kranzler, radio host Grant Barrett and graduating Managing Editor at The Daily Aztec Beth Elderkin. Various performances included SDSU a capella group “Sunset Clefs,” musician Tolan Shaw, comedian Becky Robinson and singer Sydney Yien.

A truly insightful series of conferences, these TEDx events stirred up a plethora of important issues and profound ideas. For more information on the TEDx program and upcoming events, visit ted.com/tedx.

D A I LY A Z T E C Thursday, May 10, 2012

FOOD & DRINK

27

Custom treats confect sweet fantasies Web-based artisans tailor sweets to sugar lovers’ tastes Sandra De La Torre staff writer Chocolate, cookies and other delicious treats can be bought at any grocery or convenience store. However, savoring treats that are truly unique requires more of an expert touch.

Luckily, sugar fiends can choose from a variety of custom-made treat manufacturers to suit their sweet fancies, many of which can be delivered straight to their front doors.

For those tired of eating plain chocolate, Chocomize offers chocoholics the option of creating bars to satisfy their taste buds.

The company’s slogan, “Chocolate exactly the way you want it. No matter how unusual,” exemplifies its aim to create new and exciting chocolate combinations. It was, after all, the first company in the U.S. to produce custom chocolate bars.

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Chocomize only uses premium Belgian chocolate. However, customers can choose which chocolate base (dark, milk or white) they would like to start with. They can also choose from more than 100 additional ingredients and toppings.

Customers have the option of adding up to five ingredients to each bar, including different types of nuts, seeds, fruits, herbs, spices, candy and even potato chips or coffee beans.

The cost of a chocolate bar starts at $4.25, increasing in accordance to how many bars are purchased and the types of ingredients chosen.

Chocomize was founded in 2009 by three Columbia University entrepreneurs. They geared the company toward social consciousness, donating a portion of proceeds to charity.

Now, every time a customer buys a chocolate bar, they are given the opportunity to select their treats along with a charity they’d like to see their purchase benefit.

Cookie lovers, the search is complete. Thanks to The Cravory, formerly known as 410 Degrees, cookie heaven does exist. With more than 950 creations available, this San Diego company aims to give consumers, “the ultimate cookie experience with a perfectly baked surface and a soft cookie that melts in your mouth.”

Much like Chocomize, The Cravory was founded by three young entrepreneurs who began their business because they were, simply put, “passionate about food and absolutely addicted to cookies.”

The Cravory’s cookies are anything but ordinary, turning the alreadyappreciated flavors of popular food and drinks into mouthwatering cookies.

The Cravory’s signature cookies include red velvet, lemon cherry basil and pancakes and bacon, costing $24 per dozen.

Customers can also create their own cookies by choosing from more than 60 mix-ins and handmade dough options. Custom cookie batches cost $27 per dozen with a minimum order of two dozen cookies.

Sweet lovers craving something cool may want to taste eCremery Ice cream & Gelato.

In 2004, Becky App and Abby Jordan founded eCremery in Omaha, Neb: Three years later, they launched a website, ecremey.com, to give customers the option of customizing and creating their own ice cream and gelato.

According to eCremerie’s website, App and Jordan founded the compa-

ny “out of a pure love for ice cream and the power of a personalized gift.”

Once a base is chosen, eCremerie’s ice cream and gelato are created with fresh milk, cream and sugar. Then flavors are chosen and infused with the base mix before being placed in a freezer.

After adding optional mix-ins the final step is to freeze the product once more before it is packaged in dry ice for shipment. Once created, customers have the option of naming their ice cream.

The minimum amount that can be ordered is a half gallon for $49 plus shipping. A full gallon costs $89 plus shipping. Mix-in flavors cost $5 while additional flavors cost $10 each.

Ordinary treats may be fine and dandy, but customizing adds a personal touch, offering sweet lovers the opportunity to turn decadent goodies into works of art. However, unlike a Monet, these creations can be eaten once they’re completed.

Luckily, sugar fiends can choose from a variety of custom-made treat manufacturers to suit their sweet fancies, many of which can be delivered straight to their front doors.

KATIE FOSTER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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D A I LY

AZTEC Thursday, May 10, 2012

FOOD & DRINK

Food Currency trades homegrown harvest Alyssa Zickenberg staff writer On a sunny Thursday afternoon, the Art Produce Garden in North Park is full of vibrant colors, laughing children and smiling community members enjoying the monthly Food Currency Trade.

The Food Currency Trade was created about a year ago to connect likeminded individuals who want to share and trade homegrown fruits and vegetables with others in the community. It has become a social network, bringing neighbors together for an open system of bartering and trading fruits and vegetables.

Each month, local gardens host the Food Currency Trade where locals mingle and trade produce with one another. Food is the currency in this market. No store-bought food or money is used. The idea is to bring carrots and trade them for tomatoes or to exchange extra eggs for honey and strawberries. The trade is open to everyone and aims to provide people in the community with access to local, fresh and organic produce.

“The benefit of doing this is you could buy things from the store or from the farmers market, but it is expensive,” trade creator Daniel Geb

said. “If you’re trading homegrown food, you’re trading very organic food and it’s not expensive.”

The Art Produce Garden hosts the trade the third Thursday of every month. The quaint garden is located on University Avenue, nestled among buildings and the busy city bustle. New trade attendees quickly realize the event is more than just grabbing produce. In the garden, some traders plant new seeds while children excitedly learn how to harvest. The Food Currency Trade is about fostering culture and education within the community.

“It’s really great to see these children getting so excited about harvesting things like a carrot,” San Diego State student and garden regular Erica Cunningham said.

In addition to trading, this event offers attendees a platform to learn and exchange ideas. Children and newcomers can learn about the value of healthy food and the process of cultivation in a more hands-on way. Cunningham recalls one of her best memories was teaching children how to make hummus from beets just pulled from a garden bed at one of the trades.

“The first day I put my hands in the soil it was just like … ahh. It’s been just over a year now and it’s been life changing,” Cunningham said.

North Park’s Food Currency Trade nurtures future growers. | ALYSSA ZICKENBERG, STAFF WRITER

Cunningham has been visiting the Art Produce Garden for about a year and participates in the food trade with what she plants there. She and other members at the food trade encourage others to get involved and experience the benefits of homegrown produce.

The Fairmount Aqua Farm, the Vera House Community Garden and the Mission Hills Nursery also host the Food Currency Trade once a month for groups in the area. Upcoming events and more information can be found on the organization’s website at foodcurrencytrade.com.

“You could buy things from the store or from the farmers market, but it is expensive. If you’re trading homegrown food, you’re trading very organic food and it’s not expensive.”

Daniel Geb, Food Currency Trade creator

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D A I LY

AZTEC Thursday, May 10, 2012

BUSINESS & FINANCE

Diversity is key for business majors to-be Many schools across the country now require business students to take non-business-related courses ... to eliminate a lack of variety in their programs.

As business majors graduate in swarms, companies begin to question the diversity of the degree. | CHELSEA MASSEY, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Ana Ceballos senior staff writer During the 2008-2009 school year, business majors dominated the American academic community with the largest number of degrees granted to undergraduate students.

However, quantity does not always guarantee quality.

Business degrees, often considered vocational in the 1800s, represent more than 20 percent of U.S. under-

graduate degrees, nearly doubling the next most common majors, history and social science.

The whopping 348,000 bachelor’s degrees awarded to business graduates during the 2008-2009 school year promise an average starting salary of $52,972. However, according to The Wall Street Journal, faculty members, school administrators and corporate recruiters are questioning the validity and value of the business degree.

One ongoing concern is that business degrees lack variety in

courses throughout the major, focusing only on the technical side of business and taking for granted the critical thinking and problemsolving skills degrees such as communications and psychology offer students, some companies may prefer these skills when looking for a more diverse selection of talents.

However, according to international business junior Ericka Brunner, studying business is not only about learning how to survive in the business world: It is also about networking and building relationships with

peers who can potentially become future business partners.

“But networking is not the key role with my major,” Brunner said. “I would say it helps you get going once you graduate, but my business would never survive if I wasn’t learning how to study clients, accounting and finance.”

According to The Wall Street Journal, companies often look for an assortment of candidates with broader academic backgrounds, who can provide innovative ideas from multiple disciplines rather than solely focusing on the nuts and bolts of finance and accounting.

Though recruiters have lately been seeking well-rounded candidates to ensure diverse pools in the workforce, the question arises of whether or not schools are doing enough to prepare graduates for employment.

Many schools across the country now require business students to take non-business-related courses, while some schools are even discussing the possibility of integrating liberal arts courses into the business

curriculum to eliminate a lack of variety in their programs.

That being said, a study conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers has shown students with business degrees have a 45 percent chance of securing a job offer after graduation.

In addition to offering jobs during tough economic times, many recruiters are also offering thriving careers once these jobs are secured. This is quite contrary to liberal arts majors, of whom less than 30 percent will be able to obtain jobs after graduation.

According to tourism-turnedbusiness major Jennifer Damian, because the SDSU business program is open and less strict with its curriculum, she has a broader area to choose from when looking for jobs after graduation. This will hopefully give her the opportunity to choose from a variety of companies.

“Not having a specific niche allows you to spread your wings into the business world,” Damian said. “I have no limitations as to where I want to take my business.”

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32

D A I LY

AZTEC Thursday, May 10, 2012

B AC K PAG E

FICTION

HOROSCOPE

Glasses up, here’s to you

“M

y father’s my hero.

He’s survived a whole lot worse tragedies than you or me, and yet I’ve never seen him cry in my life. Not once,” Justin said. The rest of us, done with the last of our finals, sipped heavy-handed drinks in his living room. “But the day he helped me move into the dorms — I remember we’d finished unpacking and I walked my parents down to the parking garage. They’d rented a car and were headed back to the airport. When my father hugged me, I saw him tear up. It was almost unnoticeable. Almost. That was the first time I’d ever seen him even somewhat vulnerable,” he shook his head and smiled. “That was the first time we’d be away from each other for more than a weekend. That change took some getting used to, even if I pretended I was fine, that I didn’t miss them.”

“Gentlemen,” Max lifted his glass, “It’s been one hell of a ride.”

Stephen finished what was left of his drink. “And now it’s over.”

“No matter how much I get used to change, to actually processing change, there’s something about the immediacy of it that always takes me by surprise,” I said.

“Samantha dumped you months ago,” Max said. “Get over it.”

We laughed because we could, because it felt right to, felt better than dwelling on how different things were going to be from now on.

“When will that moment come for us? The moment we realize the change has happened?” Justin asked.

“I mean, we’re done right?”

I thought about it while Max refilled our glasses.

Mason Schoen fiction writer Stephen answered before I could.

“We’ll know it exactly when it happens.

It’s like passing from a warm room into a cold rain.”

“Tingly,” Max smiled warmly.

“You’re cut off,” Justin said.

“We’re all cut off,” I said.

“After the next one,” Stephen refilled his glass again. “The one after the next one. Anyway, I think what’s scary about change is its finality. Even if you wanted to turn around and walk back into that comfortable, familiar room, you can’t. Change is like being locked out from your own house. You can’t ever get back in. You have to find a new place to stay.”

“You could always break a window.”

“Or hire a locksmith.”

“Maybe call that ex-girlfriend you lived with years ago, see if she kept the key for some reason.”

“You’re ruining the metaphor,” Stephen slurred.

“OK,” Justin said. “What’s your favorite memory?”

“You start.”

“Slow dancing with Stephanie down Campanile after that first house party freshman year.”

We raised our glasses and toasted.

Max kept his glass up. “Passing Ochem.”

We raised our glasses and toasted.

Stephen kept his glass up. “I’m still not convinced you didn’t bribe your professor.” We laughed. “For me, that night we snuck up on the roof of U.T. and got drunk for the first time.”

“But not the last,” I said, and kept my glass up. “I can’t choose one,” I

said after a minute.

“That won’t fly man.”

“Yeah, you have to choose.”

“All right all right,” I said. “The time Justin turned 21 and we took the trolley downtown.”

“I remember that night!” Max said.

“Keep going,” Justin said.

“Well, halfway through the night I find out the girl I’ve been buying drinks for has a boyfriend, and I get dragged into the street. You guys don’t realize what’s happened and I realize I’m alone. But after the first punch is thrown you guys stepped in.”

“We all went home bruised and drunk.” We raised our glasses halfheartedly.

“But we woke up stronger the next day.”

“You’re damn right we did.”

“Hear hear!”

“See, that’s really what change is — breaking through the old fence lines that once held you in.”

We nodded seriously. “Here’s to breaking past the next border,” I said.

“Here’s to you,” we said.

Later that night I walked home.

Before I left, we hugged one another and spoke with a sobering clarity.

Our eyes were glassy. From the drinks, we told ourselves, but no one believed it. I felt it then, as I passed through his doorway one final time, the strange tack of finality. On the sidewalk, waiting for the next signal to turn, I brushed my shoulders off of tiny droplets of dew, sharp as shattered glass.

“Here’s to you,” I said to no one, but I could hear them saying it back.

—Mason Schoen is a creative writing graduate student.

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PLEASE NOTE: The views expressed in the written works of this issue do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec.

Letters to the editor can be sent to letters@thedailyaztec.com. Story ideas can be sent to tips@thedailyaztec.com.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (5/10/12) - Things are lining up for you this year. Income could rise after June (and expenses, too, so budget for it). Recognition comes as well. But it's the people who share your time and space that matter. A lifetime commitment could get made or strengthened. Cherish those.

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 10 There's lots more money coming in (and going out). Use your creativity to make it work to your benefit. Continue to build with what you've got: Bring out your inner Lego Master..

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is an 10 It's an excellent time for romance ... an afternoon rendezvous, perhaps? Find hidden treasures. You're attracting the attention of an important person. Maybe your Mario or Princess Peach is in your castle after all.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is a 10 Choose your path. Your prospects are excellent. There are offers pouring in, as is romance. Stay alert, flexible and keep track.

You are a Street Racer, stick to the road.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is an 10 Abundance is yours. Synchronize schedules with your partner. Someone questions your judgment. That's okay, they’re probably just trying to puzzle you. Avoid their Tetris games.

LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is a 11 - There's great news financially. You may be tempted to take a break, but now's not the time to slow down. The ghosts are on your tail, and Pac Man never takes a break.

BY NANCY BLACK, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is an 10 Conflicting information could make it difficult to decide. Access your creative side by drawing, painting or doodling. Mario Paint is always an excellent option.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is a 10 - Offer your peacemaking skills. Dig and uncover a surprise. Work with the resources at hand to improve your abode and your neighborhood.

Channel your inner Link or Zelda.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is a 10 Better stay at home with family or visit friends close by. Don't be afraid to ask for what you want. Bowser never accepts “no” as an answer, because he’s that awesome.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today is a 10 - You may encounter unexpected expenses.

No matter how unfair they may seem, try to minimize the damage and make the best of it.

Drink a potion or eat a mushroom, you’ll feel better in no time.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is a 10 Find inspiration in the most unusual places.

Create something beautiful from the chaos.

Worrying about the money doesn't help. Just get into action, a la Donkey Kong.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is a 12 If you lose your balance, get back on the horse and ride to your own personal victory.

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it’s made you a better spy, Wolfenstein.

PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is a 10 You're a master at handling chaos today, but it will require extra imagination . Failure could lead to new opportunities, so always make sure you’ve got an extra save file handy. ©2012, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.