09-11-2012

SEPTEMBER 11, 2012

VOLUME 99. ISSUE 10

ELEVEN YEARS LATER W E

S T I L L

R E M E M B E R

COVER ART AND THEME BY JENNA CLAYTON, ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR

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news

Tuesday September 11, 2012 The Daily Aztec

San Diegans climb 110 floors in remembrance

local

A firefighter who completed his climb of 110 floors at the San Diego Hilton Bayfront Hotel rings a bell in honor of the fallen emergency responder whose picture he holds in his hand.

Tara Millspaugh News Editor

Stacey Oparnica Staff Writer

Laura Nguyen Contributor

It has officially been 11 years since the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, yet the pain runs deep within the hearts of Americans as if it happened yesterday.

San Diego is nearly 3,000 miles away from New York City, but distance means nothing for a catastrophe this large.

On Saturday, firefighters, police officers, members of the military and civilians climbed 110 floors—as many as the Twin Towers—at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.

Each participant wore a necklace with a picture of an emergency responder who lost his or her life that

day.

Firefighters who participated in the event wore full gear during their climb.

“In a real fire, we would have axes, chain saws, breachers for doors and all together it gets up in the range of 95 to 100 pounds with all the gear,” Los Angeles County Firefighter Victor Rossi said. “Today, we only climbed with 65 pounds on our back.”

Even without any weight on their back, participants still finished the climb out of breath.

“When you see the guys in uniform, in their gear, stopping to throw up and then keep going, it’s inspiring.

You feel honored to do it and grateful that you’re physically capable,” NBC 7 Community Manager Samantha Dorman said.

Robert Bunsold, who coordinated the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, said he remembers watching the attack.

At the time, he felt helpless because he wanted to run up the towers and

paige nelson, photo editor

help those who were stranded, but couldn’t.

“I never really felt like I could contribute to that,” Bunsold said.

“This is how I feel that I am able to give back.”

Carlsbad Fire Battalion Chief Mike Lopez, who graduated this year with a Masters of Business Administration from San Diego State, said he remembers sept. 11 every single day of his life.

His mother, sister and brother lived next to the twin towers when the buildings collapsed 11 years ago. Lopez remembers watching the attack on TV. “It hit close to home that day.

Something I’ll never forget. God help us, we never forget,” Lopez said, as he kissed his 8-month-old daughter.

“It’s a reminder. We’re a walking time bomb … We never know when we’re going to go and we have to cherish every moment, every day.”

Carlsbad firefighter Mike Lopez and his family pose in front of the Hilton San Diego Bayfront after the climb.

paige nelson, photo editor

EVENTS HAPPENING ON 9/11 San Diego State will remember 9/11 at a special ceremony 11 a.m. today at the Campanile Walkway flagpole in front of Hepner Hall.

ROTC cadets from the Army, Navy and Air Force will lower the flag to halfmast. A moment of silence will follow by the playing of “Taps” by a trumpeter from the music department. The ceremony will conclude with a short prayer.

FDNY Retirees of San Diego, along with the USS Midway Museum, will pay tribute, honor fallen heroes and

keep their promise to never forget.The event will happen today at 2:30 p.m. There will be free admission to the museum starting at 1:00 p.m.

The USS Midway Museum is located at 910 Harbor Drive.

Kaiser Permanente is partnering up with the Muslim American Organization for a blood drive campaign at Kaiser Permanente, located at 4405 Vandever Ave. The blood drive is in commemoration of the lives lost on 9/11 and to pay tribute to service members.

Memorial projected to cost $60 mil annually national

Tara Millspaugh News Editor

Sept. 11, 2001 is a day everyone in the U.S. remembers. The National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center drew in 4.5 million visitors, since it opened last year.

The $700 million project is comprised of two enormous reflecting pools in place of the fallen twin towers. The underground museum was supposed to have its grand opening this month, but will not open for approximately another year because of budget issues.

Late last night, on the eve of the 11th anniversary of 9/11, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that he, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey have reached an agreement to restart work on the museum. “(The agreement) ensures

that (the construction) will be restarted very soon and will not stop until the museum is completed,” Bloomberg said.

The museum will feature portraits from thousands of victims and also artifacts such as the staircase used to escape the burning buildings. The opening of the museum will bring in money that is needed to operate the entire memorial.

According to the Associated Press, the cost of the memorial and the museum is projected to cost $60 million a year to operate.

Officials at the 9/11 Memorial predict security alone will cost $12 million a year. Currently, visitors must go through airportlike security in order to visit the memorial.

The foundation and many officials are proposing American citizens pick up one-third of the costs through taxes.

Congress has not proceeded with the proposition.

An American flag stands upright at one of the Freedom Falls at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City honoring a victim who lost their life that day.

tara millspaugh, news editor

NEWS

Tuesday September 11, 2012 the daily aztec

Patriot Act still a hot topic

national

11 years later and still remembering Firefighters share where they were on September 11, 2001

On March 9, 2006, former President George W. Bush signs a renewal of the USA Patriot Act.

mct campus

Patriot Act gives authorities the necessary tools to prevent further attacks and keep the U.S. safe. On the other hand, opponents argue the inadequate oversight provisions in the act give the government too much access to personal data without due process. This potentially opens up the possibility for ordinary citizens to have their Fourth Amendment rights violated or at the very least undermined in the sake of national security.

Since its inception, elements of the Patriot Act have been amended and renewed to broaden the scope of governmental powers.

Though enacted into steadfast law, certain aspects of the act are in the process of periodic review and will expire if Congress doesn’t repass the legislation.

The 2001 draft of the Patriot Act amended the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978. According to Section 206, FISA would allow roving wiretap authority under certain circumstances deemed admissible by the FISA court.

Originally, FISA was proposed and signed because of former President Richard Nixon’s extensive

domestic use of wiretapping. It was to ensure no governmental power could infringe on Fourth Amendment rights to privacy by wiretapping citizens on U.S. soil at any time under any circumstances.

In 2004, a provision of the Patriot Act called the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, also known as the “lone wolf” provision, allowed secret intelligence surveillance of nonU.S. citizens. Those subject to surveillance no longer needed to be a part of a foreign organization, terrorist or not.

Also under the Patriot Act, Section 215 expands the government’s authority to obtain “any tangible thing” relevant to a terrorism investigation. The section has been under public scrutiny because of the Fourth Amendment’s “unreasonable search and seizure” clause.

In 2011, the controversial provisions of the Patriot Act were due to expire; however, President Barack Obama signed a four-year extension after Congress voted in favor of the bill, keeping the Patriot Act unchanged until 2015.

population on its campus. Located on Fraternity Row, the Student Veteran’s Organization strives to create a strong support system for student veterans, dependents and active duty members.

Paul Contreras, a veteran deployed to Kuwait in 2003 and also to Iraq in 2006, is now a nursing and psychology double major at SDSU. Contreras wants his fellow servicemen and women to know help is available.

“Even if it’s not official help, talk to someone else, because there is no reason for us to come back and commit suicide, when we just survived all that—being shot at, and being bombed,” Contreras said. “You go through all that and commit suicide, that’s not the way it should go.”

Civilians and family members may have a hard time understanding what soldiers and veterans must endure emotionally, but there are many organizations, including the military itself, available to ensure the psychological well-being of men and

women who serve.

Andrew Lovick, a Navy veteran and communications major, said things are looking better for veterans, especially with Brig. Gen. Robert Hedlund’s recent admission that “It’s OK not to be OK.” “I’ve had a lot of friends who I’ve had to help them seek help, because they didn’t want people to see them as weak, it’s a big stigma out there, but it’s getting a lot better,” Lovick said.

SDSU is taking strides to help support those who served and are serving in the military. At the Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center located in Student Services West 1575, veterans can receive services such as campus housing, educational and counseling programs and rehabilitation therapy.

September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month.

Today, on 9/11 veterans and active military servicemen and women need to know that America is a community that cherishes their bravery.

Donna P. Crilly Staff Writer

Eleven years ago, the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon sparked a theme of patriotism in the U.S. former President George W. Bush named Sept. 11 Patriot Day in observance of those who died or were injured.

Legislation, thematically dubbed the USA Patriot Act, was met with overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress and was signed into law on Oct. 26, 2001, a month and a half after the attacks.

Controversy has surrounded the USA Patriot Act since its enactment in 2001. In question are provisions that allow the unprecedented use of surveillance techniques on suspected terrorists or collaborators. Reasons for resistance by some lawmakers and civil rights advocates include the use of wiretapping, indefinite detentions of immigrants, searches of home and businesses without consent or prior notification and expanded access of law enforcement agencies to access telephone, email, financial and business records.

Advocates of the law argue the

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“I was going to my first probationary spot in Malibu; beautiful September day, beautiful waves, driving on PCH and being thankful that I had such an awesome job. And I was listening to the radio and reports of planes hitting one of the twin towers, but I didn’t realize the magnitude of it until I got to work. Just one of those things that you’ll always remember.

Even when I have Alzheimer’s, I’m going to remember that.”

Victor Rossi, Los Angeles County Firefighter “When I watched the coverage in my living room, it was horrific and I’m thinking . . . if they hit San Diego, I could be next. We go in, and we might not ever come back.

And I looked at the New York City Fire Department and they

did exactly what we would have done.

They went up to do their jobs and most of them never came back.”

Steve Michaels, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department “I was actually home with my wife, going to San Diego State at the time.

Not too long after (9/11) happened, that really reinforced me wanting to become a firefighter. So three years later, I became a firefighter. It motivates me to train harder, to make sure that I do everything safely, so I can come home.”

Ahman Grayson, San Diego County Firefighter

compiled by tara millspaugh, news editor

stacey oparnica , staff writer

laura nguyen, contributor

Veteran suicide rates rise

national

Emily Ayers Contributor

The discontent of thousands of service members and veterans face every day has become strikingly apparent, according to a report by the Associated Press, which shows suicide to be 50 percent more likely the cause of death in the military than a service member dying in combat.

The death rate averaged out to nearly one suicide a day with 154 suicides in the first 155 days of 2012.

This means that more U.S. armed forces active service members have lost their lives in the first six months of 2012 than in the first six months of any of the previous 11 years.

The Army has been keeping track of fatalities since 2009, and reported in July that 38 soldiers committed suicide, a substantial jump from 24 deaths in June.

Since the beginning of the war on terror in 2001, there has been an average of one suicide every 36 hours in the U.S. armed forces.

San Diego State has a large military

Free confidential support for Veterans in crisis and their families and friends.

Call the Veterans Crisis Line

(1-800-273-8255 and Press 1)

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OPINION

Tuesday September 11, 2012 The Daily Aztec

How we remember a day that lives in infamy In remembrance of the anniversary of the terrorist attack of Sept. 11, 2001, we asked some of The Daily Aztec writers to share their views on how America and their memories of that unforgettable day have changed in the past 11 years.

Kenneth Leonard Staff Columnist

E

leven years ago, an uncomfortable and obvious truth was shoved into the collective American consciousness by 19 of Allah’s most faithful followers. Sam Harris makes the point succinctly: “We have failed, generation after generation, to abolish the delusions of our ignorant ancestors. The worst of these ideas continue to thrive — and are still imparted, in their purest form, to children.”

Western civilization’s post9/11 strategies should have been predicated by an honest assessment of what happened at the Pentagon, the World Trade Center and Shanksville, Pa. The U.S. was attacked via air piracy (a method used to effectively inflict civilian casualties) by ideological extremists who ascribe to a violent, racist, hateful (especially if you’re a Hindu, Christian, nonbeliever or Jew) religion bent on the realization of a theocratic empire. This is the truth, plain and simple. The attacks of 9/11 would have been unthinkable without religion.

The Bush administration was not responsible for 9/11. There was no internal conspiracy. The attacks weren’t, as conservative Christian darlings Pat Robertson and the late Rev. Jerry Falwell asserted, punishment from God for homosexuality and abortion. In the wake of 9/11, too many diversions

kept us from focusing on what really happened, thus obfuscating potential solutions to the urgent problem facing us all.

It’s easy to look at our nation now and say we’ve declined since 9/11. Following the Clinton years, there was a palpable spirit of hope and optimism in the U.S., which has all but disappeared in the last decade. Our response to religious terrorism is directly responsible for this decline. When a dialogue regarding the ethical implications of faith in the modern era should have flourished, zealous “us vs. them” nationalism—leading to imperialistic campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan—dominated our national discourse as fear and panic upset our commitment to the traditionally American principles of liberty and justice (hence, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security).

When American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the WTC, it should have sounded the death knell of organized religion. 9/11 should have instigated a new revival of rational discourse, but it didn’t.

We failed to learn the biggest lesson al-Qaeda has unwittingly been teaching us: As long as competing ideologies based on nothing more than faith are treated with respect and for as long as the criticism of these medieval and barbarous religious systems is considered taboo, humanity will continue to stagnate in a state of perpetual conflict.

Leonardo Castaneda Opinion Editor

M

ore than a decade after the start of the Afghanistan War, U.S. forces operating in Pakistan killed Osama bin Laden. His targeted assassination by a Navy SEAL team is the most famous example of a new kind of war. This new warfare

warfare. Drone strikes, special operation

assassinations and shadowy extraditions of foreign nationals are the new normal.

We cannot know how history will judge this new way of waging war. Even now, we can see how targeted strikes on enemy compounds and leaders can save the lives of American soldiers. Whether the same can be said about civilians and innocent bystanders is a matter of imperfect technology, rather than a flawed strategy.

Whether any one country has the legal right or moral authority to assassinate those who speak out against it is questionable. It’ll be our generation that grows up within this era of new warfare and it’ll be our duty to write the new rules of engagement.

That moment meant two things: my brother would join the military just a few days afterward and I would later discover my drive to become a war

in response to the World Trade Center’s demise, was forgotten, except for on the anniversary day.

Sept. 11 should be viewed as a learning experience and

on American soil and the subsequent invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Historians don’t study World War I because of Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s assassination. They study it because of the modernization of warfare, when mechanized killing machines slaughtered unprecedented millions.

Decades from now, we’ll look back at 9/11 as the start of targeted, long distance

We cannot know how history will judge this new way of waging war ... we can see how targeted strikes on enemy compounds and leaders can save the lives of American soldiers. is the legacy left behind by the terrorist attacks

Heather Rushall Staff Columnist

T

o me, the tragedy of 9/11 was more than just a scary event in the not-too-distant past. I remember waking up several hours earlier than normal that morning and stumbling out to the living room to find my big brother, head in his hands, slouched on the couch in front of the TV watching the whole thing untangle.

I stood there in silent awe, as I took in what seemed to be a freakish movie scene; buildings I had never paid more than a moment’s attention to were on fire while news reporters tried to make sense of it all.

Service members should be appreciated and victims should be remembered. Americans came together as a result of that day and to lose the brotherhood ... is as tragic as the event correspondent.

My perception of the event hasn’t changed much after the tragedy. It still means to me what it meant that morning. I do find it a little depressing, however, how quickly the oneness and patriotism Americans experienced

should never be forgotten. Service members should be appreciated and victims should be remembered.

Americans came together as a result of that day and to lose the brotherhood we all experienced is as tragic as the event itself.

Americans must retake their privacy from the intolerable USA Patriot Act Leonardo Castaneda Opinion Editor

T

mct campus

he USA Patriot Act was a deal with the devil. On Oct. 26, 2001, the American public, still reeling from the terrorist attacks of 9/11, made a deal.

U.S. citizens would grant the government unprecedented powers to invade the privacy of Americans and foreign citizens. In exchange, the government guaranteed our protection from terrorists bent on destruction halfway around the world.

The tools the Patriot Act gave law enforcement agencies and federal agents to protect American citizens were never clear, but amounted to a path circumventing constitutional due process. The specific goal of law was worrisomely vague. The bill states its aim, “To deter and punish terrorist acts in the U.S. and around the world, to enhance law enforcement investigatory tools, and other purposes.”

Those “other purposes” are part of the cost we paid to regain a measure of the safety we felt has been lost.

Sadly, this is one of the few instances of bipartisanship

still found in Washington, D.C. Former President George W. Bush originally enacted the law, but President Barack Obama extended several controversial measures. Neither party seems willing to take a stand against this unprecedented invasion of privacy. Neither party wants to

promise of constant government surveillance.

Slowly, Americans are realizing sacrificing liberty and freedom to protect themselves is a false choice. We can prevent terrorism with the guidelines set by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The federal government doesn’t need to place a roving

How high a price are we willing to pay for a sense of security? Americans must decide if they are willing to replace the threat of terrorism with the promise of constant government surveillance. allow the next massive terrorist attack on American soil because it is opposed to searching business records.

The battle regarding privacy rights of individuals will define law and politics the way segregation and voting rights defined previous generations.

Already conflicts between privacy and corporations, social media and even employers rage in courts and legislatures throughout the nation. However, the biggest battle will be to answer one seemingly simple question: How high a price are we willing to pay for a sense of security? Americans must decide if they are willing to replace the threat of terrorism with the

wiretap on citizens to prevent crime. If it has reason to suspect someone of criminal or terrorist intent it can acquire a legal warrant to wiretap him or her. Everything the government claims it needs to protect Americans from harm can easily be done without granting it any more power.

It is now the responsibility of individuals to push back against government power. The battle will be fought in courtrooms, judges’ offices, ballots and campaigns. Americans must demand an end to overreaching government measures compromising basic freedoms under the false guise of security.

OPINION

Tuesday September 11, 2012 the daily aztec

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Don’t buy crass 9/11 commercialization Kenneth Leonard Staff Columnist

I

n the wake of the catastrophic attacks on 9/11, Americans searched for meaning in the face of tragedy. One area where the search for meaning got weird was the flood of post-9/11 music.

Artists like Toby Keith and Bruce Springsteen strapped up their guitars and cranked out exploitative “tribute” songs because, if we weren’t rocking out to pseudo-patriotic masturbatory tunes, the terrorists would have won.

As groups such as the Charlie Daniels Band released songs with subtle lyrical wordplay, for example “This ain’t no rag, it’s a flag/ And we don’t wear it on our heads” (because people who wear turbans are terrorists, of course), record labels profited on the quasi-unified American public’s obsession with all things red, white and blue.

Meanwhile, media conglomerate Clear Channel Communications sent out a memo effectively banning 165 songs from more than 1,200 radio stations because of “questionable” lyrics. Songs such as Talking Heads’ “Burning Down the House” and Dave Matthews Band’s “Crash Into Me” were forbidden by Clear Channel, along with all of Rage Against the Machine’s music. Seriously, the band was the only group to be completely banned following 9/11.

So, while Lee Greenwood’s Gulf War anthem “God Bless the USA” was dominating the airwaves working Americans up into a xenophobic frenzy, radio executives didn’t think you could handle listening to Peter, Paul & Mary singing “Leaving on a Jet Plane” without somehow sustaining damage.

The music industry wasn’t the only beneficiary of post9/11 sentimentality. An entire industry revolving around 9/11 commemorative coins, coffee mugs, mouse pads and other assorted memorabilia sprung up overnight.

Official Fire Department of New York City T-shirts flew off the shelves.

Conspiracy theorists began massproducing books and documentaries chronicling the vast network of alleged miscreants responsible for the collapse of the World Trade Center. Major film studios produced movies, such as “United 93” and the aptly named Oliver Stone flick “World Trade Center” in an effort to capitalize on our sympathies for the victims of 9/11.

Our overwhelmingly capitalistic impulses reduced 9/11 to just another pop culture event for sale. It seems we have reached a point where the only way for us to process tragedy is through rampant consumerism.

Instead of finding a meaningful way of communicating anguish, too many Americans stuck a sticker of Calvin peeing on Bin Laden on the tailgate of their Ford F-150s and called it a day.

Now, one cannot presume to fully understand the intentions of those who made significant profit from 9/11. I’m simply saying it was all very tacky and unnecessary. Sure, there were people who produced legitimate art as a means of processing their grief or as an expression of respect and gratitude toward first responders, but the majority of merchandise related to the most shocking and deadly act of terrorism the world had ever faced was nothing more than shameless capitalism rearing its ugly head at the least appropriate time in history.

People wait in line to be screened by security to enter the National September 11 Memorial.

Construction is still underway at the sites of the World TradeCenter even eleven years later.

The New York sky line is seen behind the construction of the 9/11 memorial.

tara millspaugh, news editor

A relief on a wall outside of the 9/11 memorial reads: Dedicated to those who fell and to those who carry on.

tara millspaugh, news editor

tara millspaugh, news editor

tara millspaugh, news editor

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ENTERTAINMENT

Tuesday September 11, 2012 The Daily Aztec

PAX Prime takes Seattle by storm with new games Jordan Pollock Aztec Gaming

Defiance “Defiance” is a third-person massive multiplayer online shooter game being developed in San Diego by Trion. Earth is being invaded by an alien race utilizing technology far superior to that of humans. These alien warmongers attempt to enslave or eradicate all human life in order to harvest Earth’s precious resources. When all seems lost, a group of rebels called the “Defiance” takes a stand against the alien conquerors and fights to save humanity.

“Defiance” is a game with an innovative, albeit risky, gimmick. It will be released concurrently with a TV show of the same name on the SyFy channel. For those who don’t know, SyFy channel was originally dedicated to science fiction TV shows. Shows such as “Eureka,” “Stargate” and “Alphas,” found their home on SyFy channel (although “Eureka” has ended and “Stargate” was cancelled, but who’s counting?). However, reality shows and “WWE’s SmackDown” recently have taken control of SyFy. Essentially, once “Defiance” is released, SyFy will once again have a sci-fi show. In any case, events in the show will affect events in the game

and vice versa. The idea that players will leave a direct impact on the show is a truly thrilling prospect that may achieve a new level of immersion. The game is still in a developmental phase, but it has the potential to be a truly groundbreaking venture.

With a little bit more time and polish, “Defiance” might just be one of the biggest games coming out this year.

Dishonored “Dishonored,” published by Bethesda Softworks, is a magical first person shooter. Your character is a man wrongfully accused of a crime and subsequently imprisoned. Naturally, he makes a deal with a shady character and is granted mystical powers before setting out to get his revenge.

Gameplay is done from the first person perspective and allows the player a weapon or power equipped to either hand.

For players familiar with the “BioShock” series, this control scheme should make them feel right at home. In one hand the player can use a hand crossbow for long range attacks while wielding a knife in the other hand for melee attacks.

“Dishonored” can be played in a number of ways thanks to this to the dual-hand system.

For those

who like to rush into battle headon, just equip your favorite projectile weapon and let loose. For those who prefer a more subtle approach, utilizing the possession skill makes it easy to telepathically control an enemy and have them scout out surrounding areas before dispatching them. And of course, for those who want to take the silent passive approach, you can hide in the shadows and teleport short distances to get around enemies undetected.

There are plenty of other skills to be unlocked in the game that’ll cater to just about any playing style, so fear not person that likes to be sneaky and deadly but doesn’t like to use guns. “Dishonored” is a game for all. Well, except for people who aren’t into steampunk or supernatural abilities or being a steam punk assassin with supernatural powers.

“Dishonored” breaks free on Oct. 9.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance “Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance” is the latest title from Hideo Kojima’s hugely popular “Metal Gear” series.

“Rising”

follows series regular Raiden who has now become the new Cyborg Ninja. Several years after the events of “Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots,” Raiden finds himself in the midst of a new conflict: the person he was hired to protect is killed in his custody by a gang of cyborg mercenaries who proceed to defeat Raiden in combat. After barely surviving, Raiden is given a new cyber suit and sets out to defeat the mercenaries.

The “Metal Gear” series is known for its emphasis on tactical sneaking rather than confrontation. However, in “Rising,” head-on attacks are the name of the game. Raiden, as a character, is much more agile than Solid Snake, the series’ protagonist.

The combat and gameplay of “Rising” are entirely different from that of the “Solid” series. Raiden can perform combos with his super-powered sword, which end when entering of blade mode. In this mode, Raiden can literally cut in any direction the player sees fit. In general, when fighting most weaker enemies, Raiden can automatically enter blade mode and cut his enemies into ribbons.

However, with larger enemies Raiden must first weaken them enough before being able to slice them freely.

“Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance” may have a ridiculous subtitle, it may deviate from the normal play style of the Metal Gear series and it may be the most over-the-top game to bear the “Metal Gear” title, but it sets out to offer a new take on the series. Fortunately, it does so in a way only “Metal Gear” can. It takes you on an insane ride and you have fun doing it.

“Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance” slices its way onto the PS3 and Xbox 360 in Feb. 19.

Cody Franklin Head of Aztec Gaming

One of the most impressive displays of gaming greatness at Penny Arcade Expo Prime this year was “PlanetSide 2,” a game being developed right here in San Diego at Sony Online Entertainment. Past readers should know how excited I am about this massively-multiplayer firstperson shooter.

The game has been in beta testing for the last few weeks and just dropped the non-disclosure agreement, meaning a wealth of new information and footage has flooded out onto the Internet. I had the opportunity to interview Executive Producer of “PlanetSide 2” Josh Hackney and ask him how the beta is progressing and what plans are expected in the future.

Don’t be a n00b and read the whole interview online at TheDailyAztec.com

“Borderlands 2” will be more wild, gunslinging fun

Salvador from “Borderlands 2” takes on vicious monsters in one of the game’s new, varied environments. Salvador takes on the role of the Gunzerker, favoring overwhelming firepower rather than

Cody Franklin Head of Aztec Gaming

Fellow gamers rejoice for the return of one of the greatest co-op games ever conceived

is just a few short days away.

That’s right, “Borderlands 2” will bring back the bloodshed and bellowing laughs on Sept.

18. Having played the game at Penny Arcade Expo Prime,

courtesy of gearbox

I can confirm the greatness of the original “Borderlands” is back, amped up and more insane than ever before.

I had the chance to try out Axton, the “Borderlands 2” an-

swer to the turret-loving, rifleready Roland of the original.

One of the weapons I started with was an assault rifle, a weapon often thrown aside in the original game because of its limited usefulness and awkward handling. Not so in “Borderlands 2.” This time, the rifles feel much more like what you would find in a shooter such as “Battlefield 3.” It was hard to put this weapon away in order to try out the rest of my arsenal.

Another starting weapon was an electric rocket launcher made by Tediore. A new property of Tediore weapons is instead of traditional reloading, a new weapon regenerates after throwing the used one away (usually toward an enemy, where they explode in the bad guy’s face.) This mechanic is very fun, though it can be tricky. The detonations are powerful and hurt anything in a small area. I killed myself several times when I shot a rocket and then ducked behind cover to reload, only to have my weapon explode in my face.

However, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of propelling your rocket launcher into a

foe’s face.

The special abilities of each class in the sequel are more fleshed out and intricate than in the original game, and Axton’s Scorpio Turret 2.0 is no exception. While facing off against hordes of enemies in an arena, my turret unleashed a torrential downpour of bullets and explosives, dwarfing the capabilities of the turret in the original game. Oh wait, excuse me, my turrets, plural. That’s right, you can get a skill that allows you to weild two turrets at the same time. And when I said they unleashed a downpour, I meant it literally, because my turrets were attached to the roof. Being able to stick your turrets to wherever they’re deployed is another zany new talent.

The demo for “Borderlands 2” at PA X was everything I had hoped for and more. As Roland would say, “It’s like Christmas.”Fifteen minutes was far too little time to feed my co-op carnage addiction.

I’ll be sure to pick up “Borderlands 2” the moment it comes out. You would be a fool not to do so as well.

FEATURES

Tuesday September 11, 2012 the daily aztec

ROTC cadet inspired to lead

The piercing sounds of sirens and alarms triggered on Sept. 11 from the impact of the Boeing 757 and 767 jets that crashed into the World Trade Center on served as a warning for pedestrians and

onlookers to vacate the area.

However, for many young people watching from their TVs at home, ingesting the sounds and images of that fateful day triggered a passion to serve their country wounded by the hands of terrorists.

San Diego State ROTC Cadet David Jensen was in the seventh

grade enjoying breakfast at his grandmother’s house when she drew his attention to live news broadcasts of the 9/11 attacks.

“My reaction was like everyone else’s … just shock and horror at what was going on,” Jensen said.

“It didn’t catch up to me right away, but over time it let me know there was more I can do for my country than what I’d hoped.”

Jensen, a San Diego native,

drew further inspiration from the veterans in his family. His grandfather was a deep-sea diver in the Navy, and his older brother fought in the Iraq War. “After listening to (my brother) talk about how much he loved the Army, I wanted to follow the same path as him,” Jensen said. “He talked a lot about the challenge that it presented to someone who wanted to experience what it was like to be a leader.”

With his dream of service firmly entrenched in his spirit, Jensen enrolled in the ROTC program to launch his military career and enhance his leadership skills.

Along with his television, film and new media curriculum, Jensen enrolled in military science courses that prepare cadets with the skills needed to become successful military leaders. Cadets also travel to off-campus facilities to learn land navigation, water survival training and field training exercises.

Lt. Col. John Turner, SDSU professor of military science, says the military has a clear definition of the type of leaders the ROTC program wants to enable.

“We want leaders to inspire others; provide people with the sense of purpose, direction and motivation to help them accomplish the mission,” Turner said. “If you can do those three things, you’re going to be a successful leader.”

ROTC cadets are also responsible for staying physically fit. Three days a week, cadets assemble at 6:30 a.m. to complete an hour-long physical training program. Their regiment includes running, sprints and basic exercises such as push-ups, sit-ups, burpees and jumping jacks.

Jensen believes this factor of training is a pivotal aspect of

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The 9/11 attacks inspired Cadet David Jensen to pursue a career in the military. The ROTC program at SDSU has given him the tools he needs to become a leader in his field.

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what the military does on a dayto-day basis.

“Regardless of what occupation you choose in the military, it’s important to maintain physical fitness. It shows that you’re ready to lead from the front,” Jensen said.

“If something comes up, you’re ready to meet the challenge being fast rather than being slow and out of shape.”

Jensen is in the final year of the program, earning him the title Military Science 4. MS4s are responsible for implementing what they’ve learned from the program and leading cadets during training.

SDSU masters student in homeland security Cadet Christopher Mazzi has witnessed Jensen putting his leadership training into practice with new cadets.

“He’s very knowledgeable in U.S. history and the Army. He’s also very personable. He can get connected to other cadets and they take him seriously,” Mazzi said.

After graduating this spring, Jensen will fulfill his initial fouryear contract with the military. He plans on staying in the military for the 30-year career track serving as a public affairs officer and eventually working his way up to colonel.

Now that the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks has arrived, Jensen reflects on the nation’s recovery since those dark hours and the principles he believes make America worth sacrificing his life for.

“We’re allowed to express ourselves the way we want to express ourselves. Not everybody here is the same … those differences make us who we are,” Jensen said.

“The idea that we can do that as free people makes this country a great country.”

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Tuesday September 11, 2012 The Daily Aztec

The Smoking Diaries: The cult of the nonsmokers

HOROSCOPE

by Nancy Black, Tribune Media Services

Today’s Birthday (9/11/12) - Family and friends are the bottom line, even though career and finances capture your attention and grow. Review and clarify priorities for a clear path forward. Discover new horizons by growing a passion. Give thanks.

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 an 8 - Celebrate with a homecooked meal and a lot of snuggling. Wait a little bit before starting the game, then have a blast. Your message comes across clearly.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) - Today is a 7 Talk it over. Resistance shows up, but you can melt it away by listening carefully. Consider the right words. Cleaning house could lead to the discovery of a treasure.

Gemini (May 21 - June 21) - Today is a 6 - Keep generating income while you can, without distraction. Take risks, as long as you’re willing to live with the consequences of failure. Others ask your advice. Give it later.

Cancer (June 22 - July 22) - Today is an 8 - Listen carefully to those who know (even if you think that you know better). Your persistence to stay in communication with old contacts pays off. Mail packages.

Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is a 5 - Start a journal, or add to the one you already have. Unleash your creativity. Continue keeping your expenses down. Get ready for a breakthrough. Answers are coming to you.

Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is a 7

- Speak up; your opinion’s important and makes a difference. Your friends really care.

Handle one responsibility at a time, and you can get what you need. Compare bids.

Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is a 7 - Let somebody else challenge the status quo for you. You focus on feeding your sensitive and creative side, and on healing old wounds. It’s easier to clear up misunderstandings.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is a 7 - Interaction clears up old business and/or an old disagreement. Friends help you go farther in your career. Call in what you’re owed. You have more than you thought.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today is a 5 - Now is a time for reflection and keeping calm. Catch up on some philosophical reading. Your words are especially powerful now; use them wisely. Postpone expansion.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is a 7 - Keep checking things off your lists, with the help of a friend. Dexterity fixes the problem. Review your financial situation, and stick to your own strict rules. Keep communicating.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is a 6 - Consider all possibilities and advance the assignment. Use your words. It all works out, perhaps too easily. Don’t fall asleep on your laurels. Write or phone home.

Pisces (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is an 8 - Now is a great time to start a new chapter.

Write your story with great gusto. Don’t force things. You’ll get a real workout. Don’t forget to give attention to your sweetheart. ©2012, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

thinkstock

I

t’s too late to turn back now.

My last cigarette was more than a month ago. I proudly told my family and friends that I’m done smoking for life.

Changing my mind now would be humiliating. A couple of weeks ago I wrote a published column about it for Christ’s sake.

So here I am, a newly certified nonsmoker looking enviously through the window to see my carefree friends smoking just outside. However, I’ve found I’ve been accepted into a whole new group sitting right next to me, maliciously glaring at the “cancer pushers” puffing away outside.

Now that I’ve stopped smoking, I’m aware of the disgruntled expressions my friends hid from me while I had a cigarette in hand. They look down on smokers, seeing smoking as a weakness and a literal poison to society. Now, I want to draw a line here. I’m totally aware smoking is bad for your health. In fact, that’s why I stopped doing it. However, the antagonism I’ve seen in the last month as a nonsmoker seems to parallel the passions of crusaders.

“They’re just nasty,” one of my close friends said to me as we observed smokers outside.

“Yellow teeth, horrible smell— just so annoying.”

It’s often ambiguous whether they’re speaking about the smoke or the smoker.

Despite their shockingly aggressive hostility, I’m tempted to agree with them. After all, watching smokers day after day doesn’t make quitting easier.

Seeing my friends innocently bumming a cigarette at a party, never daring to buy their own pack, makes me think back to the time when my relationship to cigarettes was this casual.

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However, deep down, I know those days can never be returned to, at least not by me. I don’t feel the same romanticism or coolness I experienced when I initially started. My smoking episodes instead became quiet moments tucked away alone on my back porch or a quick smoke in my car before work.

Witnessing smokers in action brings nothing but discomfort to me now, so why shouldn’t I be against them? It’s an easy enough battle to win. We’ve already corralled smokers into a neat little corner: stay out of bars, 50 feet from a building, or children. The question used to be “Where can’t I smoke?” Now, especially on campus with designated smoking sections, it’s “Where can I?” But that’s what us nonsmokers are fighting for, right? Keep the lepers away from us.

Sure, there’s a logical argument: preventing secondhand smoke. Why should society suffer from the blighted decisions of smokers? Better to keep smokers away from the public. This column isn’t an attempt to dispute the dangers of secondhand smoke, but I will say that one study in the Heartland Institute found that even the victim most exposed to smoke only ingested about 0.03 cigarettes a day, or about 10 cigarettes a year. Oh, the humanity.

Since I was 16 years old, I’ve always felt pressure from people to quit smoking. Sure, they’ve usually come off as slightly pushy and invasive, but it never bothered me too much because I think they had my well-being in mind.

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However, the anti-smoking mania that seems to be absorbing those around me seems more like a war against the tobacco users of the world; a vendetta that paints smokers as morally irresponsible, even reprehensible.

It’s a growing trend, especially here in California. Look at the way smokers are portrayed in the media. Similarly to what Nick Naylor said in “Thank You for Smoking,” “These days, when someone smokes in the movies, they’re either a psychopath … or a European.” Sure, Don Draper is cool, but the stylish approach “Mad Men” takes on smoking is done out of ‘60s nostalgia more than reverence of cigarettes.

So, I’m just going to throw this out here, and I’m sure people who have been touched by lung cancer will very validly disagree: What if there’s a reason we—or really, you—pretend to be so bothered by secondhand smoke and those people coughing it into our decaying atmosphere?

We wish we were that person we can see outside through the window, carelessly puffing away, enjoying life while breathing in death. To us, they represent a temporary freedom we can’t enjoy. We’d like to go out there, casually bum a cigarette and not think of the repercussions, but we can’t seem to forget about our cancer-ridden grandfather, the promise we made to ourselves when we had our last cigarette or the thought of our mother wagging a very disappointed finger in our face when you come home smelling like an ashtray.

It’s alright if you dislike smoking for good reasons, but at least let them eat cake. We’re not their mothers after all.

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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

SUDOKU

by The Mepham Group, Tribune Media Services

Difficulty Level: 2 out of 4 Instructions: Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9.

Solutions available online at www.thedailyaztec.com ©2012, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

FREAKIN’ TWEET! CROSSWORD Across 1 Favorite texting partner, for short 4 In a crooked position 9 Form 14 Lord’s Prayer opener 15 Deli counter unit 16 What actors have to learn 17 Barcelona gold 18 Kin of “Skoal!”

19 Like much pub ale 20 “Yes, indeed” 23 Parlor or den 24 Kindergarten basics 25 Dinner table dispenser 32 Restful resorts 35 Mystery writer Stout 36 Et __ 37 Destiny 38 Calculates 40 Parisian negative 41 Like bees attacking 43 Computer network acronym 44 Talk show moderator 45 Sentry’s question 48 It replaced the punt in Ireland 49 Shade trees 52 Tenth novel in Sue Grafton’s “Alphabet” series 58 Lite cigarette boast 59 Messing of “Will & Grace” 60 Afternoon potful 61 Hold holdings 62 Best-case 63 Brain scan, for short 64 “Stuck __”: Elvis hit 65 Funeral song 66 Brief titles for the starts of 20-, 25-, 45- and 52-Across Down 1 Blessing 2 Much ado about something 3 Bilbo Baggins’s nephew 4 Postulate

/ THEDailyAztec

by Rich Norris & Joyce Lewis, Tribune Media Services

Solutions available online at www.thedailyaztec.com 5 Hunk 6 Garment for Rob Roy 7 Quito’s nation: Abbr.

8 Place to grab a screwdriver at home?

9 Sits sloppily 10 Doesn’t exactly tell 11 Not pro 12 __ moss 13 Parapsychology subj.

21 “Didn’t mean to do that” 22 Like a banned book, perhaps 26 First, to Franco 27 Wooden pin 28 Rejoice 29 Lotto-like game 30 Mythical archer 31 Talk wildly

32 Chopped side dish 33 High-end 34 Welk’s upbeat 38 Frills, ribbons, ruffles, and such 39 Bit of arena support 42 In olden days 44 Skipper’s area 46 Morally base 47 Wine and dine 50 Measured (out) 51 Look of derision 52 Rivers of comedy 53 “Just doing my job” 54 User of the Force 55 Over, in Hanover 56 Wet blanket, so to speak 57 Luggage attachments 58 Sgt., e.g.