09-26-2011

Big letdown at ‘The Big House’

MONDAY September 26, 2011 Volume 97, Issue 17 W W W.T H E D A I LYA Z T E C . C O M

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SDSU’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT N E W S PA P E R SINCE 1913

INDEX:

NEWS

SDSU Air Force ROTC puts on a show for the branch’s bday.

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KATIE FISHER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The Aztecs didn’t hold up against former coach Hoke Antonio Morales sports editor ANN ARBOR, Mich.- If Saturday’s “Brady Bowl” would have been looked at as a boxing match, the result would have been listed as an early-round knockout. The Michigan Wolverines pounced on San Diego State right from the start and cruised to a 28-7 victory. Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson was clearly the best player on the field as he dominated the game with 200 yards rushing and three rushing touchdowns to go with his 93 yards through the air. The Aztecs shot themselves in the foot time after time and those mistakes proved costly as they fell behind by 21 points in the first half and ended up suffering their first loss of the season.

Under pressure No quarterback is ever comfortable in the face of a pass rush and it was never more clear for SDSU than against Michigan.

The Wolverine defensive front four dominated the line of scrimmage and wreaked havoc for the Aztec offense.

SDSU senior quarterback Ryan Lindley struggled against the constant pressure. Lindley, who was not in sync with his receivers most of the game, was 23 of 48 passing for 253 yards.

Less than 50 percent completion is not ideal for any quarterback. He can thank the Michigan defensive line for some of that.

“Whenever a quarterback doesn’t

throw it very well a lot of it has to do with pressure,” Aztec head coach Rocky Long said after the game. “It seemed like he was under pressure quite a bit from the sidelines today.”

The offensive line struggled in general, as it was called for one false start and two holding penalties. The running game was also not the same as it had been during the first three games.

Shoelace showcase Robinson was 8 of 17 passing for 93 yards and two interceptions. The problem is he was still the most dominating player on either team.

It was apparent early on SDSU was going to have its hands full with the dual-threat quarterback from Deerfield Beach, Fla. He ran for 80 yards on the first two Michigan drives of the game.

Robinson finished the first half with 139 yards rushing and three touchdowns and ended the game with 200 yards rushing. Long blamed himself for the fast start Robinson got off to.

“That’s my fault,” Long said. “We are a very aggressive defense and we were too aggressive in the first half.”

Long said the defense backed off some in the second half, when Robinson didn’t enjoy the same amount of success as he did in the opening half.

No matter what his second half numbers were, Robinson seemed to come out on top of what was billed as “a showcase of athletes” by Aztec sophomore running back Ronnie Hillman.

Hillman pumped out another 100yard game but his two fumbles will probably be what fans remember most of him when they think back to this game.

The sophomore is still a great player and one of the best running

backs in the country, but he was simply outperformed by a special player on Saturday.

Signal switch-up At the weekly press conference on Tuesday, Rocky Long said he was going to change his signals for the Michigan game because Michigan coach Brady Hoke knew what they were.

In the first half, the Aztecs came out with pictures of Hoke and other former SDSU assistant coaches, placed them on boards and used them to give defensive signals.

The defense was “embarrassing” in the first, according to Long, who then switched back to the regular signals in the second half.

“That might have been part of the problem in the first half,” Long said.

“We tried to use pictures instead of signals and obviously we played much better on defense in the second half, so maybe that was part of the problem.”

Long said the coaching staff chose what pictures were attributed to the

signals based on the personalities of the former coaches.

Point after Larry Parker came up with another solid game last week. Parker, who was named Mountain West Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Week last week, had four tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. This is coming off a week when he had two interceptions.

Parker and the defense in general have a nose for the ball, as they forced four turnovers against Michigan.

The loss snaps this season’s threegame winning streak for the Aztecs and is the first loss since last November against Utah.

Things will slow down for the Aztecs next week but the games won’t be easier once they return back to action. SDSU will take on TCU Oct. 8, then head to the Air Force Academy five days later to take on the Falcons.

E N T E R TA I N M E N T Notch and the Majong team near the release date for the sandbox builder Minecraft.

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

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FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 9/3/11 9/10/11 9/17/11 9/24/11 10/8/11 10/13/11 10/29/11 11/5/11 11/12/11 11/19/11 11/26/11 12/3/11

Cal Poly - 49-21, Win at Army - 23-20, Win Washington State - 42-24, Win at Michigan - 7-28, Loss TCU - 7:30 p.m. at Air Force - 6 p.m. MT Wyoming - 7 p.m.

New Mexico - 5 p.m. at Colorado State - 4 p.m. MT Boise State - 5 p.m. at UNLV - 7 p.m.

Fresno State - 5 p.m.

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OPINION

W E AT H E R : MOSTLY SUNNY HIGH: 77 LOW: 59 SUNSET: 6:41 PM

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D A I LY

AZTEC Monday September 26, 2011

SPORTS

Robinson rolls, SDSU falls to Michigan 28-7 Wolverine quarterback Denard Robinson steals the show against SDSU Agustin Gonzalez staff writer What was the most hyped game in recent San Diego State memory turned into the Denard Robinson show and a big Michigan win.

The Wolverines’ blazingly fast quarterback accounted for 293 of Michigan’s 413 total offensive yards, rushing for 200 yards and four touchdowns, as the No. 22 Wolverines (4-0) took down SDSU in convincing fashion, 28-7 in Ann Arbor on Saturday.

The Aztecs (3-1) had problems with Michigan’s defensive line, which kept sophomore running back Ronnie Hillman out of the end zone for the first time this season, and made senior quarterback Ryan Lindley force hurried throws and miss open receivers.

Throw in several drops by SDSU’s receivers in key situations, and it was a poor overall offensive performance by the Aztecs.

“I thought they were strong at the line of scrimmage,” head coach Rocky Long — who didn’t make players available to the media — said after the game. “We had a hard time blocking. If we had kept a couple drives alive, if we had thrown it a little bit better and caught it a little bit better. If we had thrown it on target a little bit better and kept some drives alive, we could have kept it close. But we didn’t play well on either side of the ball.”

SDSU, which traveled to the Eastern time zone and faced a 9 a.m. PST kickoff for the second time in three weeks, came out flat. And Michigan, which has had a habit of getting off to slow starts this season, dominated early.

The Aztecs were forced into a three-and-out on the opening possession, and it didn’t take long for Robinson to show why he is one of the most dynamic players in the country.

Robinson scored on a quarterback draw from five yards out to draw first blood for the Wolverines. On the next Aztec drive, Hillman who hadn’t lost a fumble since his first career carry in last year’s season-opener - coughed up the ball for the first of two times in the afternoon, only to be recovered by Michigan. Less than a minute later, Robinson kept the ball on an option play, found a hole in the SDSU defense, and ran 53 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 Michigan lead to end scoring in the first quarter.

“That was actually an emphasis we had this week; we wanted to start fast,” Michigan defensive end Craig Roh said. “It was a great way to start out. It put a physical demeanor to the game.”

“We needed to get the ball in the offense’s hands,” Wolverines’ defensive tackle Mike Martin added. “Whenever we can watch our offense, we always play better defense. That is something that coach always talks about, that if we have the momentum in the beginning of the game we can ride it out. So that was huge for us and we just had to make sure that we stopped them on third down conversions.”

Robinson added another rushing score from a yard out to close out the half. The Aztecs, meanwhile, went into the locker room down 21-0.

BEHIND THE NUMBERS

PETER KLUCH, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

SDSU was able to make things interesting late in the third quarter when Lindley found sophomore receiver Colin Lockett for a 16-yard touchdown catch in traffic to make it a twopossession game.

After holding the Wolverines to a couple of three-and-outs, the Aztecs found themselves in Michigan territory and had to go for it on fourth down. Lindley, who struggled during the game, was forced into a hurried throw and missed a wide open Gavin Escobar. Lindley finished with 253 yards and a touchdown, but completed less than half of his passes (23-48).

“Whenever a quarterback doesn’t throw it very well, a lot of it has to do with pressure,” Long said. “It seemed like he was under pressure quite a bit today from the sidelines. I’ll know better when I watch the film, but it seemed like he was throwing it a little bit early. Either that or the receivers weren’t coming out of their cuts well.

“It’s almost impossible to tell without watching the film, but obviously we weren’t very accurate with the ball, because there were some guys open — really wide open on fourth downs a couple of times — and we didn’t complete it.”

Vincent Smith ran it in from seven yards out to make the final score 28-7.

But perhaps the biggest storyline of the evening was the Brady Hoke-SDSU reunion. The Aztecs had some fun with it, using giant pictures of Hoke and other former members of the coaching staff, and after the game Hoke visited with several Aztecs.

Although the former SDSU coach emerged with the win, Long had only good things to say about him.

Brady will win a national championship here. I don’t know how soon it will be, but he’ll win a national championship.”

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FOR FOOTBALL 101

Yards rushed by Ronnie Hillman

200

Yards rushed by Michigan QB Denard Robinson

23

Number of passes completed by Ryan Lindley

3

Rushing touchdowns scored by Robinson

93

Passing yards for Robinson

253

Advanced Test Preparation

Passing yards for Lindley

2

Number of interceptions made by the Aztec defense

4

Fumbles by Aztec offense

Advanced Test Preparation

Score Higher, Aztecs!

Tough tie for Aztecs Ryan Schuler contributor It was not the result the San Diego State men’s soccer team wanted, but they will take it.

Going into the game, the Aztecs were riding a four-game winning streak. After Saturday’s game, that winning streak changed to an undefeated streak.

SDSU took the University of Central Arkansas (1-4-1) into overtime, yet remained scoreless to settle for a tie and remain unbeaten in the last five games and run its record to 5-1-2.

During the five-game unbeaten streak, the Aztecs have allowed only two goals, with one being their own goal. Throughout the course of the season, SDSU has allowed only six goals in eight games.

But, it was not the defense that was the cause of concern during SDSU’s last game before conference play begins; it was the offense.

Saturday’s game marked the first time all season that the Aztecs were unable to put the ball in the back of the net.

“There are just certain days where (the

offense) are not sharp enough,” SDSU head coach Lev Kirshner said. “The thought processes and the ideas were not bad, but the execution was off.”

The Aztecs outshot the Bears by a total of 127, including overtime. Redshirt sophomore midfielder John Pegg led all players with two shots on goal, with junior midfielder Jose Altamirano also contributing a shot on goal. SDSU held the advantage in corner kicks, 7-2.

While the offense struggled during the match, the defense continued to play well.

Led by senior co-captain Daniel Steres and senior goalkeeper Blake Hylen, SDSU kept its opponent scoreless for the third time in the last five games.

The Aztecs will hope to learn from this wellfought game as they head into conference play this weekend.

“I don’t think this game is going to hurt us,” Steres said. “This team is better than they look and better than their record shows. We just have to take (the result) and learn going into Pac-12 play because that’s where it really matters.”

SDSU will begin Pacific-12 play at 1:30 p.m. on Friday at the Sports Deck against Stanford University, who boasts a record of 2-4-1.

B E AT B OX Women’s lacrosse The San Diego State women’s lacrosse team is going to be holding the Women’s Lacrosse 2011 Girls Youth Clinic on Oct. 9.

The event will cost $40 and will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The clinic will be demonstrating lacrosse skills and knowledge and is open to girls from second to seventh grade. If interested in the clinic, email wlax@mail.sdsu.edu.

Cross Country Stanford Invitational Junior Marianne Hogan placed 42nd out of 278 runners on Saturday, which led the San Diego State cross country team at the Stanford Invitational.

Hogan finished the 6,000-meter course in 21 minutes and 49 seconds.

The Aztecs finished 26th as a team.

Stanford, the host school, took home first place.

SDSU swim team Aztecs sophomore Mikaela Macklin won the individual title, helping the San Diego State swim team win against University of San Diego in a pentathlon.

Six Aztecs placed in the top-10 swim-

mers in the final standings of the meet.

Macklin won four events and captured third place in another.

Track and field Track and field head coach Shelia Burrell has made an addition to the coaching staff.

Burrell hired a 2008 Olympian and two-time World Championship finalist in the shot put, Dorian Scott, on Sept. 12.

Scott wants to help the Aztecs realize their potential.

“I’m excited about having a chance to be on this coaching staff at San Diego State,” Scott said. “There has been great success here the past few years and I’d like to help this program become a national power.”

Lockett joins list Sophomore wide receiver Colin Lockett was added to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List on Friday.

The Biletnikoff is given annually to the best wide receiver in the nation.

Lockett has 19 catches for 325 yards this season. He is one of 94 players who are on the list.

D A I LY A Z T E C Monday, September 26, 2011

NEWS

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BMX pro shows support for the bike lane

Expert rider Terry Adams expressed concern about the current skateboard ban and gave an onlooking Aztec crowd a show with many flatland riding tricks most people only dream of mastering.

Tara Millspaugh contributor Red Bull athlete Terry Adams ripped apart San Diego State on his BMX bike last Wednesday during a 50-day college campus tour, and is flatland riding all across the country. This time when Red Bull came to campus, students got more than just a free energy drink: they got a free show.

Adams arrived at SDSU in part to promote the bike lanes on campus.

He has hit more than 100 campuses

and finds SDSU rare because it does not allow bike riding everywhere. As he was doing tricks in front of the trolley station, he was able to stay inside of the bike lane for the most part, but when he biked in front of Hepner Hall he was outside of the bike lanes and asked for permission to land his tricks there. No one seemed to mind the breaking of this rule, as students and staff became mesmerized as he twirled, flipped and jumped over his bike. The crowd grew quickly.

Although Adams is more about biking than skateboarding, when asked

his opinion about the no skating rule on campus, he said, “Let them roll around on a board with four wheels on it.” He explains that it is difficult for him to be against any action sport because it has kept him healthy all these years and out of trouble.

Adams has been biking since he was 10 years old and made it to the professional ranks at the age of 17. In 2005 and 2008 he was awarded the title of Number One Flatland Rider, as voted by the pros.

Adams said he got into flatland riding because “it looked like the riders were floating around.” And that’s

exactly what it does look like. As Adams was riding around, some of the tricks seemed impossible, as he jumped over his handle bar or rode his bike as if it were a unicycle. One of his very own moves is called the “Katrina.” When Southern California lost power, he had some extra time to devote to biking. Instead of moping around with no electricity, he invented the Katrina, which consists of the rider balancing on the front wheel, jumping halfway over the bike and landing on a backward vertical front wheel position. Adams performed each trick with extreme

| LAUREL ATKINSON, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

ease last week.

Before leaving San Diego, Adams performed his moves at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon rush week event. SAE member Adam Fessinger said by bringing Adams to their rush event, SAE is “stepping up their game.” By hosting a pro BMX rider and having it open to the public, they aimed for a large turnout.

As Adams continues his college campus tour, you can follow his excursions through his blog that he updates himself everyday at terryadamsbmx.com.

Aztec ROTC honors Air Force Peter Klutch contributor

& Antonio Zaragoza photo editor At the Padres game on Sept. 18, members of the San Diego State Air Force ROTC’s a cappella group, “Short Sleeve Rhythm and Blues,” had the chance to sing in front of a packed stadium. The five-member ensemble sang the national anthem at the game as well as “God Bless America” during the seventh-inning stretch.

One of the performers of the a cappella group present at the game was Cadet Cmdr. Luke Ranieri.

“This is just terrific,” Ranieri said.

“This is not an Air Force town, it’s a Navy town. To get recognized by a major sports team really has to do with Col. (Martin) Wojtysiak having such a strong presence and being so involved in the community.”

Col. Martin Wojtysiak is the detachment commander at SDSU and is currently serving his last year.

The day was more than just an opportunity for the singing group to display its musical talents to the crowd. The day also commemorated the Air Force’s 64th birthday and the ROTC wing from SDSU was present to celebrate the occasion.

Thirty-five new cadets were sworn in on the field by Wojtysiak as well.

“It’s a big deal for me and for us as we sing. It’s always a huge honor and blessing to be singing the national anthem,” Cadet Capt. David Champagne, an ISCOR senior, said.

“For me, it’s a tremendous opportunity to be a part of the world’s greatest Air Force and to be able to lead airmen, and it’s a huge privilege that I don’t take lightly.”

C R I M E B E AT

PETER KLUCH, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

“It’s just an honor to do this on the Air Force’s birthday, and to do this with the people I’m standing with, it’s just a great honor to do that.”

Kim Panagsagan SDSU Air Force Cadet Maj.

At the ending high note of the national anthem, a C-17 cargo jet flew directly over the stadium, igniting a frenzy of cheers and whistles from the crowded stadium.

When asked how she felt about having the chance to sing at the stadium, Cadet Maj. Kim Panagsagan said, “Its just an honor to do this on the Air Force’s birthday, and to do this with the people I’m standing with, its just a great honor to do that.”

This weekend, a burglary occurred at the Chemical Sciences Laboratory on Canyon Crest Drive. The suspected date of the break-in was last Thursday.

The items stolen include various computer parts and other technological equipment.

Along with this burglary, a car parked at Calpulli Center was broken into Friday morning between 8 and 11 a.m. The thief smashed the back driver-side window and fled with the owner’s $1,200 laptop.

Several large parties also took place this weekend, including one with more than 40 people in the far parking lot of Albert’s College Apartments.

In addition, several students were rushed to Alvarado Hospital Medical Center with alcohol poisoning Friday and Saturday evenings at both the Pi Beta Phi sorority and the Maya Residence Hall.

Finally, a disturbing the peace call was made at The Granada on Hardy apartments at 4:48 a.m. yesterday morning. Three male subjects were reportedly seen and heard running around the complex playing a trumpet.

However, when the officer reached the scene, they were nowhere to be found.

—Compiled by staff writer Kevin Smead

D A I LY A Z T E C Monday, September 26, 2011

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

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

Pitt and Hill team seamlessly in Moneyball Dir. Miller adapts Michael Lewis’ controversial book David Dixon staff writer “Moneyball” could easily have been called “The Ugliness and Joys of Modern Baseball.” Director Bennett Miller pulls no punches in showing the problems inherent in the beloved sport. Relationships with loved ones are destroyed, players get fired randomly and not winning is the worst sin of all. Losing leads to lifelong emotional damage and a bitterness that eats away at the soul.

It might be hard to believe, but there is a significant upswing amid all this drama. Miller and screenwriters Aaron Sorkin and Steven Zaillian imply being loyal to America’s favorite pastime through thick and thin leads to a rare kind of happiness. For Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), winning a game is heaven and the key to eternal bliss.

Billy is the general manager for the Oakland Athletics, a team with very few victories at the start of the 2002 season. He eventually meets Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) who is something of a mathematical genius. Impressed with his innovative thinking and knowledge, Billy hires Peter to become his assistant general manager and to find a way to help the Oakland A’s.

Pitt and Hill have terrific dramatic and comedic rapport and both deliver equally wonderful performances.

Pitt displays honest emotion in his deliberately flawed depiction of Billy.

At his darkest, he is prone to throwing physical tantrums and sometimes is a little too impressed with his own accomplishments. Still, he remains a compassionate figure who has a lot of affection for his line of work.

If Billy is the soul of “Moneyball,” Peter is the gooey heart of the movie. He respects Billy as a student who shows consistent admiration for an influential teacher. Hill exhibits a natural zeal in his conversations with Pitt, quickly making Peter an endearing character.

Miller wants to showcase the dayto-day operations behind the scenes when it comes to a full season of baseball. The audience will see how Billy handles free agency and trade deadline pickups, making additions that were perceived as worthless by the rest of his peers. Yet, these factors significantly contributed to a magical 101-win season.

Despite the joy, Billy has ugly moments with manager Art Howe (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), and Miller takes quite a bit of time to explore what Billy does after the final major game. In other words, viewers go on an expedition with the general manager unlike most other sports pieces.

People who read the book that inspired the movie, “Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game,” might complain the film glosses over certain details inevitable with any page-to-screen adaptation. It is better, in this case, to view the movie with as little prior knowledge as possible about Billy and the

Billy Beane and Peter Brand work to build the best Oakland Athletics possible using cutting-edge statistics and natural instinct | MCT

Oakland A’s, for the climax and resolution come completely out of left field, no pun intended.

Drawing a fine line between art and realism, “Moneyball,” is an invigorating look into a revolutionary

moment in the world of sports. There is a surprising amount of complexity at its center, turning “Moneyball” into fascinating cinema.

Information about “Moneyball” can be found at moneyball-movie.com.

CAMPUS

Movie: MONEYBALL Distributed by: SONY PICTURES Directed by: BENNETT MILLER Release Date: SEPT. 23 Grade: A-

Notch builds a sensation one block at a time Cody Franklin contributor Who would have ever thought someone could do Legos better than, well, Legos? Anyone who has had the pleasure of playing “Minecraft” will know Markus “Notch” Persson and the rest of the Mojang team have done just that.

“Minecraft” is an incredible sandbox building game that has exploded from a small side project into a full-blown, industry-revolutionizing, wildfire success, taking the PC gaming communi-

ty by storm. What began as a diversionary activity for Notch in his spare time has grown so big Notch created a new company and hired several more people to help keep up with the demand from customers, now exceeding 3 million.

In “Minecraft,” players load up into a dynamically generated world and set off on an adventure to build, well, whatever they want. The entire world is made up of different “blocks,” from dirt blocks and water blocks to door blocks and minecart blocks. Players explore the world and its many mountains, forests and caves to find

elusive materials needed to craft all kinds of items such as bows, torches, swords and armor. Players need these items to combat the various creatures that inhabit the world, from hostile zombies and skeletons to friendly pigs and cows.

The main attraction of the game is players can shape their world any way they desire by adding and replacing blocks, much like Legos. Don’t like the giant lake putting a hole in the ground near one’s house? Fill it in, block by block. Come across a scenic vista atop a towering mountain that you’d like to build a house on? Go ahead, cut down

some trees, turn them into wood and build a nice little city. Players with a little dwarf blood in them can go spelunking into the depths of the computer-generated earth. Cave systems can be found that lead to the bottom of the world; alternatively, players can dig out a custom-made “Lord of the Rings”-style Moria.

But the real fun is in the multiplayer aspect of the game. Fans have set up some truly awe-inspiring servers.

Standouts include those built by the online community Reddit, which boasts cities the size of San Diego, painstakingly built by hand, block by

block. From a small hut to a towering skyscraper, from a pixel art representation of one’s favorite television character to an entire working game of Pong on a computer built-ingame: If one can dream it, chances are one can build it in “Minecraft.”

The community has also taken to creating a humongous collection of modifications, additions, texture packs and more. The changes players can personally make to the game are astounding. The midification community often outpaces the developers themselves in creation of new content for the game at a speed that seems to have no limit.

The game is still technically in development, but those interested can buy instant access to the beta (that includes the full release scheduled for November) for a reduced price.

Development for the game is continuous, with a major overhaul released just a few days ago that introduced a completely rewritten terrain generation system, entirely new biomes, new creatures and more. An entire roleplaying game-style system of experience points, skills and boss creatures is being added to the game in the coming weeks as well.

Gamers with even the slightest bit of a creative streak will not be disappointed in “Minecraft.” For only about $20, this writer has enjoyed hundreds of hours of entertainment already and will enjoy hundreds more in the future.

CORRECTION Bethany Weisberg and Cynthia Washington are the hosts of “Today at State,” not “Bethany Weisberg and Julie Willis” as reported in “KCR Radio reboot brings refreshing new content” on Sept. 22.

Players are free to create deep labyrinthal mines, skyscraping towers, sprawling manses or whatever their creative hearts desire. Be sure to watch out for “creepers.” | COURTESY OF MOJANG

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D A I LY

AZTEC Monday, September 26, 2011

OPINION

End trend of abuse of legal medication t’s been a common claim to folks with a fear of flying that the chances of dying in a plane crash are much lower than the chances of losing your life in a car accident. This claim is true. Now if I said you’re statistically more likely to die from a drug overdose than a car accident, would you believe it?

Well, you should. According to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, auto-accident related fatalities have decreased in the last several years, while casualties caused by prescription medications have increased by incredible numbers throughout the last decade — and continue to climb.

A study in 2009 reported traffic-related accidents caused 36,284 deaths that year, compared to drug-related casualties that caused as many as 37,485 deaths. The numbers reflect all drug deaths, but surprisingly, prescription medications account for a majority of the overdoses. Antianxiety medications such as Xanax, painkillers such as Vicodin and OxyContin and muscle relaxers such as Soma have been reported to take more lives than cocaine and heroin combined. Antidepressants, which can double as seizure medications, are also on the list of excessively overused or abused prescription medications.

In an interview conducted with the Los Angeles Times, Amy B. Bohnert, a researcher at the University of Michigan Medical School said, “What’s really scary is we don’t know a lot about how to reduce prescription deaths.

It’s a wonderful medical advancement that we can treat pain, but we haven’t figured out the safety belt yet.” Essentially, prescription drug abuse is a serious problem with no obvious solution.

The problem is right in front of us every single day, and oftentimes, we do not even see it. There are few treatment options available for prescription drug abuse unlike those

I

Heather Mathis contributor offered for addiction to alcohol and drug abuse. Too often the users of these murderous legal drugs are oblivious to how dependent they are on the medications until it is too late. Others are so used to the way the drugs “solve” their problems (e.g. pain, depression, anxiety, etc.), they feel if it helps them, it may help others too and feel it is safe to offer their medications to others. The direct result of misusing medications not prescribed to the user taking them is often harmful and sometimes fatal.

A recent and home-hitting example of this self-medicating outcome is the story of 17year-old Kelsea Phelps. While visiting a friend’s home one day, she mentioned to the girl’s mother she had a sore throat that had been bothering her for several days.

The friend’s mother, Laura Wion, gave Kelsea a small bottle of methadone with handwritten instructions attached to it. On Aug. 22, 2006, Kelsea’s mother, Tracy Moe, went to wake Kelsea for school that day and found her unresponsive in her bed with the pills on the bedside table.

“I died that very moment with my daughter. Now I’m a broken woman. She killed my daughter. She killed my son. And she killed me,” Moe said at Wion’s sentencing.

Wion, a mother of three with severe mental issues and a prescription drug addiction, was sentenced to six years in state prison for involuntary manslaughter and child abuse causing death. The story is not only devastating, but also close to home. The Phelps family resides in Santee and Kelsea and her brother both went to my high school. Her vigil is held on my birthday every year and I am per-

sonal friends with their mother, Tracy.

So if Xanax makes an appearance at the next party or a friend offers you a prescription painkiller to self-treat a headache or back pain, think twice. Drugs are drugs, prescription or not. If you cannot get it from your own doctor for a legitimate reason, do not risk your life for it.

We all know California drivers are crazy. If it is statistically safer to be flying down the freeway with the cell phonedistracted, the

—Heather Mathis is a journalism jouior

speeders and the road ragers than it is to pop a pill for a good time, we should all rethink the risk factor of prescription medications.

Aside from taking personal steps to assure you are safe from drug overdose, the CDC recommends states adopt prescription drug education programs and introduce drug control policies that states such as Florida, Kentucky and West Virginia have done. There are also local programs in most American cities — including San Diego — offering drug “drop-offs” where people in possession of prescription medications can safely rid their homes of unneeded or unused medications with no questions asked. The CDC has said, however, these medication collections rarely surface life-threatening medications, but the problem itself is a good start.

MCT CAMPUS

Donation inspires faith in Hirshman uly was an exceptionally hot month in San Diego: Boardwalks were teeming with brazen bikinied babes and youngsters covered in the aftermath of melted ice cream cones. Sunburns at the local pool were as plentiful as children running into the fray of jetting sprinklers. But nowhere was the heat more turned up in July than our very own campus.

On July 12, the California State University Board of Trustees agreed on a $50,000 raise for our new president, Dr. Elliot Hirshman, thereby securing him as the most paid president in the CSU system. Only minutes before, the CSU Board of Trustees approved a 12 percent fee increase for San Diego State students. Calling it bad timing was akin to calling the Hindenburg a lovely bonfire.

Students were outraged. Newspapers carried the headline nationwide. Gov. Jerry Brown wrote an open letter noting his dissatisfaction with the board’s decision. State senators scrambled to draft legislation preventing similar situations from ever happening again.

And I wrote a column.

I believed the fee increase and corresponding $50,000 raise was an attack on hardworking students — those of us working two or three jobs to afford tuition, rent and other necessities. I was critical of the fact that simply stepping into the Office of the President seemed deserving of a raise, especially in light of California’s devastated economy and our already-weakened educational system.

But while national news publications painted a target on Hirshman’s back, I felt he was merely the CSU Board of Trustees’ ill-fated whipping boy. Instead, I highlighted his potential to do great things for our campus — and responsibility to donate his first year’s raise to the school.

“Know this: Receiving this bonus during a time of such strife for us students has done nothing to further any respect or devotion to you,” I said. “It

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Chris Pocock opinion editor

F ARTIST LLY, STAF KARI KE

has done nothing to reach across the aisle. And it says nothing about who you are, aside from subtly suggesting you’re in it only for the money. But donating a year’s (raise) to the school … that would mean something.”

Then, in an impressive display of generosity last Wednesday, Hirshman proved his commitment to the university and its students.

Together with his wife Jeri, Hirshman donated $100,000 to “The Campaign for SDSU,” the first ever university-wide fundraising campaign to be hosted here at SDSU. In that move, he won my approval — and hopefully yours, too — as the primary leader on campus. I’m anything but Hirshman’s PR agent, but I see this move as the first of many positive things Hirshman is going to do for this university. And I believe his efforts to expand funding and research for SDSU is only the beginning.

So too would I like to congratulate the others who made contributions: Charles and Chin-Yeh Hostler, who donated $100,000 to the College of Arts and Letters; Steve Cushman, who donated $100,000 to the College of Business Administration; the anonymous patron who donated $300,000 for Guardian Scholars scholarships; Irwin Zahn, who donated $500,000 for entrepreneurship in engineering; and finally, the $500,000 donation from Sharp HealthCare.

The only disappointment I carry is that while Hirshman’s raise attracted national news coverage, his $100,000 donation received little to no recognition. Too often, people are quick to criticize and less hurried to give praise.

In this case, let me be the first: Hirshman, thank you for your contribution to this campus. If this is truly a sign for what’s to come, our university has a good few years ahead of it.

CHRIS POCOCK IS A JOURNALISM SENIOR.

D A I LY A Z T E C Monday, September 26, 2011

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D A I LY

AZTEC Monday, September 26, 2011

B AC K PAG E

FICTION

BY NANCY BLACK, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

HOROSCOPE

The day she returned hat afternoon, after she landed, after I drove us back to my place, she used my phone to call an old boyfriend. I gave her the other room for privacy. On the couch which once belonged to my mother, I pretended to sleep. Through the door I heard her speaking to him.

She said, “It’s been a long time. I thought it’d be nice to see you.”

She said, “Not like that. I just want to talk. Catch up.”

She said, “No, if I stay with you, you’ll try something. I’m staying with Jordan.”

She stayed quiet for a bit.

Footsteps broke the horizon of light below her door. “OK, but I’m bringing Jordan. Yes, him. Listen, I just wanted to see how you’ve been.

Stop. Get it through your head. I don’t want that. If you want to buy a drink for anyone, you can buy one for Jordan.”

She hung up. A few minutes later she opened the door and I heard the hardwood floor creak as she walked past the couch. I kept my eyes closed. When I opened them I saw her disappear down the hallway, silent atop her tiptoes. She only had on her underwear. She found the bathroom and closed the door behind her. When she turned the water on for a shower I got up and opened a book.

A few pages in and she walked out with a towel wrapped around herself. Her hair dripped on the floor. She said, “Drinks in an hour? I know it’s early but I don’t want to

T

Mason Schoen staff columnist stay up all night. It’s been a long day.”

“You’ve been traveling,” I said.

She closed her door behind her.

From where I sat, I saw her towel crumple against the floor, suffocating the last of the sunlight coming in from the door.

At the bar, she said, “I miss you Jordan.” She said, “Do you remember that time in the dorms? I got you drunk for the first time, and you thought vodka didn’t affect you. You kept saying, ‘This must not work on me. I’m not feeling anything.’ Do you remember that?”

“I remember my head being in the toilet the whole night.”

She laughed.

My phone rang. “It must be him,” she said. “May I?” I handed it over. She walked outside. I remembered a conversation I had with an old friend years ago, before we’d all graduated. He said, “She’s playing you. She’s dragging you around.” I told him she needed a guy in her life she could trust. “But why,” he said, “Why does that have to be you? If you want to stop being just her friend, make a move.”

Minutes later she sat down again and handed me the phone. She said, “His car won’t start. Bull. I’ve been intimately involved with those lies for years but still he tries to pull one over on me.”

An older man came by and took our drink orders.

“So. Where is everyone? Didn’t you tell them I was in town?”

“Everyone said to tell you ‘Hi.’ Most of them work early shifts. But if you’re still here by Friday …”

“I won’t be.”

We finished our drinks. She ordered another round.

Soon she said, “Jordan? Can we just finish these and go home?”

“Sure,” I said. “Let’s finish this round and leave.”

Back at my place she asked, “Do you have anything to drink?”

“I have coffee. Only coffee. We can go out and get something if you want.”

“I don’t want to sober up just yet.”

I poured us glasses of water but she didn’t touch hers. She said, “Jordan?

Can I sleep with you tonight? In your bed?”

I opened the blankets for her and slept near to her as though the sheets weren’t shelter enough.

When she closed her eyes, I considered putting my arm around her. I considered how she looked in all her lace, her body covered as though in paper flowers.

In the morning, when I awoke, I didn’t have to check my phone to know where she went or who she called. She was gone, and although I tried to comfort myself with the thought, “I let her go,” it sounded more like a confession than permission.

-Mason Schoen is a creative writing graduate student.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (9/26/11) If you've been craving increased freedom, communication is the key. Speak your heart honestly and respectfully, and doors will open for greater independence.

Friends direct you to new career opportunities. Let them know what they mean to you.

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 Mercury enters Libra, empowering diplomacy for the next 88 days. Innovation and experimentation may seem stifled, so stick to practical tasks and diversions.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is an 8 - Work action heats up, even as an authority blocks a rebellion. A wide view and compromise produce results. Listen to all sides. Limitations ease later.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is a 7 The ideal of equilibrium inspires, but the practice to maintain it requires energy. An intention may seem thwarted by circumstance. Sit quietly to consider all options.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is a 7 Make household decisions and handle repairs for the next two days. Even if you yearn to fly free, home provides the greatest rewards. Plan a trip for later.

LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is a 9 There's more fortune, but don't forget that love is what's important. Fair and balanced interactions seem easier now. Study the facts and people are grateful when you

share.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is a 9 Discrete discussions behind the scenes make all the difference. A new assignment's bringing in cash, but beware of a potential spending spree. Only buy it if you love it.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is a 5 Give yourself the freedom to be alone if that's what you want, or to be gregarious.

A quiet day to get into work might suit just fine. A relaxing evening could be delicious.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is a 6 You get extra support from your friends right when you need it. The squeaky wheel may get the grease, but it could also be annoying. Ask without being needy.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today is an 8 - You have the power to make big changes. Focus on what's possible instead of limitations, and choose reality over fantasy. Enlist support from loved ones.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is a 7 - Send your messages far and wide: You're extra tactful now. You may feel stuck behind an obligation, but your words have delirious freedom.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is a 5 - As in the Cherokee tale, your inner good wolf and bad wolf are battling today. It's love and generosity versus hate and selfishness. Which one will you feed?

PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is a 7 Partnership is especially important now.

Learn from experience, and trust each other and yourself. Avoid getting attached to the results. This provides power. ©2011, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

BY THE MEPHAM GROUP, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

SUDOKU

Difficulty Level: 1 out of 4 Instructions: Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudokudragon.com

LO O K I N G T H R O U G H O U R L E N S

Solutions available online at www.thedailyaztec.com ©2011, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

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Supporting the red and black Photo Editor Antonio Zaragoza captured this moment of frustration during the Aztec game against Michigan when a local fan was quick to step up in friendly defense of his team.

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ACROSS 1 Minister’s home 6 Inst. that turns out lieutenants 9 Poker game similar to Texas Hold ’em 14 Polynesian greeting 15 Rock music’s __ Fighters 16 Tied, as shoes 17 Crest dispensers 18 Ceremonial uniform 20 Turf grabbers 22 Yo-yo string feature 23 Necktie knot 25 Tidal return 28 Ample shoe width 29 Temple with a minaret 31 PC key for getting out of trouble 34 Way up 37 Emanation detected by psychics, so they say 38 NCAA Elite Eight team 42 __ no good 43 Kept secret 44 Faux __: blunder 45 Main thoroughfare 48 41-Down sound in the comic “B.C.” 49 __ of the land 50 Parent whose kids have moved out 57 Civil rights org.

58 Work that ridicules folly 59 Dashboard device, and a hint to the starts of 18-, 23, 38- and 50Across

/ Daily Aztec

BY RICH NORRIS & JOYCE LEWIS, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

Solutions available online at www.thedailyaztec.com 64 Carryalls 65 Out of port 66 What to add when the 59Across gets low 67 Create, as a statute 68 Back at the track 69 The USA’s 50 70 Takes in tenants DOWN 1 Fire lighter 2 Gene Vincent’s “Be-Bop-__” 3 __ Prize 4 Grain bundle 5 How latitude lines run 6 On vacation 7 “This __ be the last time”: Stones lyric 8 Goes it alone

9 Rookie’s mentor 10 Make a dent in 11 Poker “bullet” 12 Bucks and rams 13 Commercials 19 Weaver’s machine 21 Seven, in Sinaloa 24 Approaches 25 Supply with gear 26 Sac between a bone and tendon 27 Cop’s rounds 30 Gal of song 31 The same 32 Old sporty Toyota 33 Spiteful, as gossip 35 “__ tree falls ...”

36 Swanky 39 Fish eggs

40 High hours?

41 Threat to tiny workers 46 ’80s Cold War leader 47 Song spelled with arm motions 51 Spark providers 52 Pull on 53 Rosetta __ 54 Giant 55 Standing upright 56 Concludes one’s court case 59 Detergent brand 60 Jeep or Land Rover, briefly 61 Superlative suffix 62 Lion sign 63 Dollar sign shape