10-11-2011

TUESDAY October 11, 2011 Volume 97, Issue 26 W W W.T H E D A I LYA Z T E C . C O M

facebook.com/dailyaztec twitter: thedailyaztec

SCAN CODE FOR MOBILE CONTENT

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

INDEX:

Good Neighbor Program thrives THINKSTOCK

Community building services continue growing Elizabeth Palacz contributor Since the Good Neighbor Program began, the Aztec community has changed drastically for the better by focusing on student volunteerism.

In 1990, San Diego State Associated Students created the GNP — a subcommittee under the External Affairs Board that works with community members to eliminate issues presented around the College Area in a civil manner.

The GNP consists of four different subsections comprised of the First Response team, the Canvassing team, the Clean-up team and the Outreach team.

The First Response team responds to calls made by the neighbors to answer questions and listen to concerns. Students respond to these questions

A R C B E AT

or concerns by volunteering to go to the home of the resident and provide information requested.

The Canvassing team reaches out to the neighbors by helping with common courtesy questions they may have along with ideas that can help them live happily in the community.

The Clean-up team participates in biweekly clean-ups in the College Area. This allows students to participate in community service opportunities and meet their neighbors. The Outreach team is designed to inform students on how to be a good neighbor and eliminate unfriendliness in and around the College Area.

Throughout the past couple years though, the program has changed for the better. Krista Parker, former chair for the GNP, started to implement these changes in 2009.

“I was given the opportunity to revamp the program to make it more efficient, appealing to student volunteers, and more productive,” Parker said. “As chair, it was my job to oversee the entirety of the program. I also attended the College Area

The Aztec Recreation Center is hosting a free event for all ARC members next week, but only for those who preregister.

The event is called the American Dance Craze, and will be held from 2:304 p.m. on Oct. 21. Those inclined will start the afternoon with a line dancing class that will be followed by a salsa dancing class from 3:15-4 p.m.

No experience is necessary to attend, but the ARC recommends wearing comfortable athletic shoes and clothing and to switch up the usual workout routine while dancing the calories off.

Contact the ARC or visit its website at arc.sdsu.edu for more information and preregistration details.

— Courtesy of Aztec Recreation Center

“I believe students are more interested in community service-based projects and are eager to participate.”

OPINION

“Occupying” has ability to create change, but vaguely defined goals.

2

Rachael Bailey, Good Neighbor Program chair Community Council meetings once a month, along with the Code Enforcement Nuisance Rental Property subcommittee of the College Area Community Council.

When I started as chair, the program consisted of just me. Now there are over 20 members meeting weekly.”

Rachael Bailey, the new chair, was elected last spring by the board.

According to Parker, Bailey has continued to improve the program by working with the GNP committee to better the community.

“I believe students are more interested in com-

munity service-based projects and are eager to participate, and with more members it is easier to plan events and delegate tasks,” Bailey said.

The GNP wants to make sure every part of the College Area community is aware that they are here to assist with questions or concerns.

“When we have more people involved we can cover more ground and visit more homes, which is why we typically like to involve other students’ organizations and Greek life in our events,” Bailey said.

Last year, the GNP tabled at Explore SDSU. This was a different approach from canvassing around the neighborhoods.

Reaching out to the community is the main reason why the GNP has become so successful throughout the years.

As Bailey puts it, “(The GNP) is a great way to bridge the gap between the community and students and bring together various aspects of the campus.”

For more information, go to as.sdsu.edu/good_neighbor or call the GNP community line at (619) 594-SAFE (7233).

LO O K I N G T H R O U G H OUR LENS Check out this awesome photo from Sunday’s festival.

4

If you text him first, the next time you talk, he has to be the one to initiate the conversation or you’re being a nag. You don’t want to be a nag. You want to be nagged ...

When I hear that “rule,” I have to keep myself from laughing ...

B A C K PA G E

4

W E AT H E R :

ANTONIO ZARAGOZA, PHOTO EDITOR

PARTLY CLOUDY HIGH: 80 LOW: 60 SUNSET: 6:20PM

2

D A I LY

AZTEC Tuesday, October 11, 2011

OPINION

‘Occupy’ cause has revolutionary potential was stumped. It was a simple question: What are they protesting? But the answer to the question posed by my conservative, borderline apolitical friend asked was anything but a simple one. He didn’t want a dissertation on sustainable environmental practices or the pros and cons of the progressive taxation system.

He wanted a sound bite, a quaint, catchy phrase neatly summing up the meaning behind the Occupy movement spreading across the country.

Truthfully, Occupy isn’t a movement that lends itself easily to quickly digestible sound bites. Sure, “We are the 99 percent” has emerged as the movement’s unofficial slogan. But that doesn’t say anything about what the 99 percent wants or how it plans on achieving it.

The movement has managed to avoid labeling despite increasing media attention. Since the original protest on Sept. 17 in New York’s Zucotti Park, protestors have expressed vague goals but a clear battle plan: They are going to occupy the park in the heart of New York’s financial district until their demands are met.

But while the specific demands have been greatly debated, there are some common trends. The boiling anger resulting from record profits by the top 1 percent of Americans at the expense of the other 99 percent is tangible and at the heart of the protests. It’s hard to disagree with the protestors’ anger when the top 1 percent of Americans holds nearly 50 percent of the country’s wealth and

I

Leonardo Castaneda senior staff columnist the bottom 80 percent barely have more than 15 percent of it.

Other demands include concerns about environmental sustainability, America’s military involvement overseas and education reform. Specific demands vary widely, but reflect an undeniable liberal bias. Protestors decry the way the nation has been mismanaged by Republicans and Democrats alike into the hands of greedy corporate interests with total disregard for U.S. citizens.

If what Occupy Wall Street wants isn’t clear, what it will actually accomplish is even more uncertain.

What is undeniable, however, is that this movement will play a key role in the upcoming elections. However, reducing the value of this growing movement to simply poll numbers and election strategies ignores the big picture. Occupy Wall Street is giving a clear voice to a left-leaning, generally — but not always — younger segment of the American public that felt alienated by the recent conservative push from the Tea Party.

Most importantly, it is making it OK to believe in taxing the rich and helping the poor without having to hide in fear of being called un-American.

Even now members of the Democratic Party are trying to ride the wave of public outrage for political gain. Taking a page out of the Republicans playbook, Occupy protestors are trying to co-op the

ANTONIO ZARAGOZA, PHOTO EDITOR

budding movement to fuel their reelection campaigns in the very way the Tea Party has. As the movement spreads to cities across the nation such as Boston, Chicago and San Diego, more Democrats will jump on the bandwagon with brand new stump speeches about how they believed in all the Occupy ideals from the start.

It isn’t clear this early on if the movement will be fully folded as another branch of the Democratic Party in the same way the Tea Party became a Republican support group.

Perhaps Occupy will manage to avoid getting pinned down with specific ideas and instead inspire others to

enact the changes it sees as necessary. Maybe it will even breathe new life into third parties such as the Peace and Freedom Party, which was founded during a similar wave of liberal dissatisfaction in 1967.

No matter what happens next November, one of the biggest goals of Occupy is already being accomplished: Every day, people are being educated about what is really going on in American politics. Protestors aren’t shoving a list of talking points down America’s throat and telling people exactly what to believe.

Instead, the facts of American life are slowly becoming revealed.

A recent survey done by Duke University researchers found that most people thought the top 20 percent of earners in America held about 59 percent of the country’s wealth. In fact they own 84 percent of it.

Occupy is forcing common citizens as well as the government to take notice of the deep inequalities people live in every day. And it’s not going anywhere until something changes.

LEONARDO CASTANEDA IS AN ECONOMICS AND JOURNALISM SOPHOMORE.

Emergency toilets reek of budgetary waste In this crazy rollercoaster of an economy, cuts are being made everywhere. Educators are on high alert for signs of more job cuts and less funding. So when a local high school requested a $7,700 grant from the Grossmont Healthcare District to fund

I

RICHARD MCPHETERS, ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR

Heather Mathis staff columnist “emergency restrooms,” it came as no surprise that eyebrows were raised.

Helix Charter High School, a member of the Grossmont High School District, made the request earlier this year after January’s two and a half hour lockdown forced students to use “trash cans and Ziploc bags in lieu of a proper toilet,” according to school officials. Aside from the disgusting visual Helix’s officials have created for us all, the question that really poses itself is: What the heck is an “emergency restroom”?

Upon a little research and much Google searching, there seemed to be no conclusion. Helix officials claim to need 91 kits sold by a company called American Family Safety running approximately $91 each. The kits include food, water, blankets and a portable toilet that closely resembles a Home Depot supply bucket with a lid.

Simple math provides a number sufficiently higher than $7,700, but the website lists the kits at $82, making the grant request $238 more than the cost of the kits. I suppose few readers stop to do the math, but any way I look at it, the numbers make little sense.

Helix has been the burden of the district in recent years with the removal of staff for sex scandals and the near loss of its charter. In February of last year, the district threatened to revoke the charter out of concern for the way

the school handled an administrator who harbored a runaway student. The school fought against the possible revocation claiming the district was targeting it for financial reasons and wanted more control of its money.

Monetary involvement seems to be a common theme for the high school.

The school in question is one of 11 high schools in the district, and the only one asking for “emergency toilets.” Nine of the schools in the district have been forced into lockdown in the last 10 years. Santana and Granite Hills both had shootings on their campuses in 2001, Monte Vista and El Capitan were put into lockdown last year, and Mount Miguel experienced a lockdown this past March. The two high schools that have yet to endure a locked campus are El Cajon Valley and Valhalla. Helix claims the shutdown of its campus shed light on the importance of emergency equipment, including the

toilets, and validates the need for extra funds to support the purchase.

Ten years after a shooting that put two children in early graves, and it has suddenly become a need for schools to “prepare” for better sanitation during such an event? The request seems a bit superfluous.

Grossmont Healthcare appears to agree. It released a statement in early March downplaying the need and availability of a grant. According to La Mesa Patch, “the healthcare district’s Community Grants and Sponsorships Committee — including board members Michael Emerson and Gloria Chadwick — voted to recommend denying the request, partly because a Dec. 31 deadline was missed.” The funds go against an agreement not to fund non-health education programs by other agencies.

My main issue is that if it’s necessary for one school to stock up on potty buckets and emergency toilet

BEHIND THE NUMBERS

paper, then it seems fit for all schools to jump on the kit-buying bandwagon. At $7,700 per school, the funds would wrack up a nearly $35,000 bill with no money in the budget to back it. Unless the PTA or another private agency is willing to front the money to keep the students’ tushies comfortable, I just don’t see the plausibility of the kits. Funding a disaster planning agency seems more useful in the event of tragedy on our local campuses. If a riot breaks out, or a suspect is brandishing a weapon, or another emergency event occurs that puts students in harm’s way, concerned parents and fearful staff members are probably not too worried about the students’ need to “handle their business,” as long as they’re safe.

HEATHER MATHIS IS A JOURNALISM JUNIOR.

SPONSORED BY

FOR THE OPINION SECTION

Advanced Test Preparation

91

Emergency toilet kits supposedly required by Helix Charter High School

50

Percent of wealth the top 1 percent of the country own

11

High schools in Grossmont High School District

15

Percent of wealth the bottom 80 percent of the country own

7,770 Dollars for one school’s supply of emergency toilet kits 99

Percent supposedly represented in ‘Occupy’ protest

0

Room in the budget for “emergency restrooms”

70

Or more cities with similar Occupy protests.

Advanced Test Preparation

Score Higher, Aztecs!

D A I LY A Z T E C Tuesday, October 11, 2011

CLASSIFIEDS HELP WANTED

INTERNSHIPS

SERVICES

PERSONALS

The Boys and Girls Clubs of East County is currently hiring recreational aids working directly with youth in our community. For more information visit us at www.bgcec.org or e-mail your resume to sal@bgcec.org Salary $8.50-$10.50 per hour.

Stipend Internship available for Thrive San Diego. All majors welcome. Flexible hours.

Email Teresa@thrivesandiego.org for more information.

ARRESTED? DUI? THEFT? Call Attorney Bradley Corbett for all Misdemeanors and Felonies. (619) 800-4449 Student Discount.

SDSU Girls seeking roommate. Mary Lane Drive. Private entrance, bath, room. Hot tub.

Parking. $745. 408-835-8801.

SERVICES

Econ Econ Stats Math MIS Acctg 101 102 119 120 180 201 Acctg MIS MIS FIN FIN FIN 202 301 302 323 325 329

TELL ME MORE, TELL ME MORE!

40%

20% 10%

Additional stories, blogs, and opinions are available online at www.TheDailyAztec.com

20% 10%

SDSU is a curved grading system. Over 60% of the class typically receives C’s, D’s and F’s.

please recycle your paper.

We dumb down and perfectly explain the questions, exercises, problems, vocab and concepts. Our students learn the material perfectly and typically earn the highest grades in the class.

Join us and score high.

589-9900 1-5PM

www.aplusreview.com

We’re really starting to turn some heads.

A B C D F

The Daily Aztec

3

THE DAILY AZTEC DOES NOT ENDORSE OR SUPPORT AND HAS NO AFFILIATION WITH THE PRODUCTS OR SERVICES OFFERED IN THE CLASSIFIEDS SECTION.

4

D A I LY

AZTEC Tuesday, October 11, 2011

B AC K PAG E

HUMOR

HOROSCOPE

Sack the dating subtexts

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (10/11/11) Leave work worries aside to take time to appreciate friends, partners and family. Your relationships sustain you more than any quantity of money. This year will include plenty of opportunities for abundance.

Enjoy your loved ones while you have them.

f I wanted an easy love life, I’d get a terminal disease, find the boy I’ve known my whole life who I’ve always been “just friends” with, tell him I have a terminal disease and live in blissful, romantic-dramedy style love for the remaining six to eight months of my life. Then I could die happy (despite my terminal disease) and he would later tell his grandchildren about our great love.

It’s not that I don’t want an easy love life because, believe me, I do.

But it’s just not worth the whole “terminally ill” thing. Plus, those gross, off-white hospital gowns would clash with my complexion and wash me out like nobody’s business. And how can I have a carefree, beautiful love if I don’t look super glow-y and gorgeous?

I guess what I’m saying is that I don’t want a perfect or easy love life but I would love one with a little more clarity and ease.

For example: If I go out with a guy and we have a great time and not only does he walk a block and a half out of his way to walk me to my car, but also kisses me on the cheek and texts me half an hour later to tell me, “I had fun hanging with you and hope you did too. We should hang out again sometime,” and then doesn’t text or call me for the next four days, does that mean he’s not interested? And if he’s not interested, which is fine (I know I’m a lot to handle and not everyone is going to love my sassy personality as much as I do), why did he go out of his way to text me a mere 30 minutes after planting a big wet one on my cheek?

I

Hayley Rafner staff columnist Don’t be so quick to roll your eyes at me, Aztecs. I’ve already come to the realization that maybe, just maybe, he’s not that into me. Which has only led me to replay all those painful things Justin Long’s character said to Ginnifer Goodwin’s character in “He’s Just Not That Into You.” “If a guy doesn’t call you, he doesn’t want to call you. So trust me when I say if a guy is treating you like he doesn’t give a s—, he genuinely doesn’t give a s—. No exceptions.”

Maybe he doesn’t care, but what I don’t get is why he even said those things in the first place. So now I’m sitting here waiting for a text message I know will never come and thinking about the “rules” I’ve heard from countless people. You know, those weird texting rules people have invented for daters such as myself.

If you text him first, the next time you talk, he has to be the one to initiate the conversation or you’re being a nag. You don’t want to be a nag. You want to be nagged. You want him to text you.

When I hear that “rule,” I have to keep myself from laughing because for the longest time I just found myself sitting around thinking, “If I want to say something to him, I’m gonna say it!”

Who cares if he didn’t text me first? Who cares if I started the conversation first yesterday? Why are there so many rules? Who made these rules? And why do I

have to follow them? Will someone come to my studio apartment and arrest me if I don’t?

But then after a while of being the only one to initiate conversation, I feel kind of stupid and just give up hope.

Why does it have to be so difficult?

If you have lost interest, why is it so hard to just shoot me a quick text and say, “Hey I had a good time the other day but I don’t think it’s gonna work out. Take care.”

In a perfect world, all preconceived rules, ideals and games related to dating would not only be thrown out the window but thrown out the window into the dumpster, incinerated and then thrown in the Pacific Ocean.

I wish there was a way to just figure it all out; without mixed signals, without drama, without wondering why he hasn’t talked to me in four days. And I wish I didn’t play into it by writing about it. But here I am again, waiting for a text that isn’t coming, wondering what he’s doing, wondering if I’ll ever see him again and wondering why I think every time will be different.

Would dating even be as enjoyable without all the games, though? Let’s say it happens and all nonsense disappears. Everyone says what they want and texts who they want when they want and there is never a question. Would it even be fun anymore?

So, now I guess it’s the lesser of two evils: Do I send a simple “Hey, what’s up” text to this mystery gentleman or do I sit around and wait for the inevitable “the phone works both ways, you could have texted me” comment I know I’m going to get?

Screw it. Terminal disease it is.

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 You're hot, and getting hotter, but don't get cocky. When confidence turns to arrogance there's trouble afoot, especially around money. Don't gamble. Play it cool.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is a 7 Hang in there; good things come to those who wait. Choose your own destiny (and your destination). Your intuition is right on target, so follow that thread where it leads.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is an 8 Your inbox keeps growing. Keep plugging away to keep the stack to a reasonable height. Schedule time for friends, though.

They're the fuel that keeps your motor running.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is an 8 - You may find inspiration for your next career move in a book. Talk about your dreams with someone special over a wonderful meal. Notice flavors and subtle details.

LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is an 8 What's your next move? Every step is an adventure, every turn a surprise. Regale your subjects with an inspiring effort.

BY NANCY BLACK, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES Balance work with travel, and step on out.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is a 7 Patience is not just a virtue, it's necessary today. Be open to transformation or for things to shift. Don't believe everything you think. The fun is in the inquiry.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is an 8 Take action about an uncomfortable working condition. Solving it removes an obstacle and benefits many. This allows the abundance to flow more freely.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is a 9 Take advantage of your energy for increased productivity. Don't delay urgent action. Consider the needs of a loved one in your schedule. You can do it all.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today is an 8 - The day's picture perfect. Play with children or younger people for a regained sense of youth. Make sure to stretch before jumping for the moon.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is an 8 - Competition spurs you to pick up the pace. You've got the power, so pour on the steam! A new idea could work with help from a partner. Add your muscle to their passion.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is a 9 - You've got the energy and health, so put in the extra work to really get things moving. Your sweetheart wants your time (not your money). Balance your schedule.

PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is a 9 You have more vitality today. You're motivated to take action, so go right ahead. Declare your intentions, and dare to be assertive. Waltz with any changes. ©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.

LIKE SDSU news?

CROSSWORD

Pensive power chords Editor in Chief Allie Daugherty captured this photo of Bullet For My Valentine guitarist Michael Paget experiencing a zen moment during the Rockstar Uproar Festival last weekend at the Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre.

C O N TA C T : GENERAL INFORMATION

619.594.4199

FOR ALL OTHER CONTACTS, PLEASE VISIT

thedailyaztec.com

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

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

ACROSS 1 Windy City paper, familiarly 5 Baroque musical family 10 “__, can you see ...”

14 Like molasses 15 “Snowy” bird 16 Nevada gambling city 17 Visit the local watering hole 20 Honda Accord, e.g.

21 In concert 22 San Diego attraction 23 “I can’t remember it, Miss Ilsa.

I’m a little rusty on it” speaker 25 Give a barbiturate to 27 Breaks, as in a wall 30 Lambs’ moms 32 Arctic dwellers of Scandinavia 35 Shortened, as a dict.

36 Yaks 37 Lovers’ lane pace 38 “Let’s try a different approach” 41 Ship with rich cargo 42 Feature of many Viking helmets 43 Immigrant’s subj.

44 Longtime senator Thurmond 45 “What __ got here is a failure to communicate”: “Cool Hand Luke” 46 Private’s group 47 Draw out 49 Smidgen 51 Hef’s party garb 53 Mother-of-pearl 55 Smidgen 59 “Pay attention”

/ Daily Aztec

BY RICH NORRIS & JOYCE LEWIS, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

Solutions available online at www.thedailyaztec.com 62 From the U.S. 63 Implied 64 Rain hard 65 Neat as a pin 66 Signed 67 It may follow You online DOWN 1 Distribute the dressing on 2 Mechanical learning 3 Polo rival 4 Detour 5 Affleck of “The Town” 6 Belgium-based imaging company 7 What one does after observing reminders that start 17-, 38and 59-Across

8 Parade honorees 9 Witness’s place 10 Bruin great Bobby 11 Successfully stage a coup 12 __ Domini 13 Beatle bride 18 Words with pickle or jam 19 Traded, as goods 24 Substantial 26 Hold hands?

27 Dance balls, e.g.

28 Call off the launch 29 Got somewhere 31 Teens conflict: Abbr.

33 Proto- finish 34 With cunning 36 Tea-flavoring flower

37 Rip to pieces 39 Smoke with menthol 40 “Mazel __!”

45 Certain goddess worshiper 46 Sudden 48 “Pleeease?”

50 Justice Dept. raiders 51 Land map 52 Guitarist Hendrix 54 Spooky-sounding lake 56 Baseball family name 57 Night spot 58 BrontĎ’s Jane 60 Take a stab at 61 JFK update