TUESDAY November 15, 2011 Volume 97, issue 45 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
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COURTESY OF AARON BRUCE
Veteran programs in full flight Alejandra Paz staff writer San Diego State Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Aaron Bruce embarked on an overnight aircraft carrier from San Diego to get a firsthand account of the lives of the men and women who serve their country at sea. The airplane decelerated from 128 mph to a dead stop in about three seconds and landed on the deck of the aircraft carrier. Compared to a traditional passenger plane, a military airplane requires travelers to sit facing backward because of the body shock and force felt during the land. Although they include fewer amenities than traditional airplanes, military planes are much safer. According to the Naval Air Forces, promoting peace, safety, security and overseas interests around the world is
the foundation for U.S. economic and security concerns. The invitation for this experience is limited to active leaders in the community who would extend their knowledge and experience to others. There are currently 978 veterans enrolled at SDSU. The average freshman dropout rate for veterans is 7.5 points less than the average of the overall student body. Additionally, the average cumulative GPA is .21 points higher than the overall student body. Bruce said he is concerned about all SDSU students and that it is important to try to relate to the challenges veterans have experienced as they return. “When they come to our campus, it is important that we respond to them as a diverse community,” Bruce said. “We want to make sure that we are acknowledging their identity and giving them the support and recognition that they deserve.”
Bruce said SDSU is one of the leading universities serving veterans in various ways. He said it is important to be sensitive and familiar with the diversity within the military, as well as the needs of the veterans. Bruce said he realizes the immense amount of leadership and leadership training that comes with being part of the military. He said veterans’ separation in culture, language and perceptions of the world is what makes them excellent leaders. Student Veteran Organization student veteran Joel World was a marine stationed in Iraq for more than a year in 2008. World said professors at SDSU are welcoming and sensitive to his needs. On many occasions, his instructors have made test and military-related accommodations. World is a huge fan of the university and appreciates the faculty and staff for supporting student veterans.
SDSU has a Veterans Center located at Student Services that provides guidance for students aspiring to be in the armed forces, the first to be created in the California State University system. “There is a huge veteran and ROTC presence at state, which I love. I don’t feel alone or isolated because of that,” World said. “It makes it easier for me to feel like I have a place to continue having a positive impact for my community and country, even though I’m not serving on active duty anymore.” Associated Students Diversity Commissioner Channelle McNutt said veterans make a significant sacrifice for everyone to have freedom in the U.S. “Veterans are the foundation of freedom. It is imperative that we recognize the efforts they made in order for us to enjoy liberties we possess,” McNutt said. “Without their hard work and dedication, we would be nowhere.”
The commons’ composting effort
ANTONIO ZARAGOZA, PHOTO EDITOR
Stephanie Saccente contributor In an attempt to advocate a more sustainable campus, Green Love, Aztec Shops and the EnviroBusiness Society launched a postconsumer composting pilot program at East Commons earlier this semester. Although the project is still fairly new, the groups involved
are hoping the outcome will benefit the campus. On an average day, approximately 30 to 40 percent of the student body dines at East Commons. While it may seem like the ideal location for a compost bin, the Enviro-Business Society, also known as e3, found it has not been going as planned. “It has been difficult to get people to dispose of their leftovers in the compost bin,” Patrick Murphy, the
vice president of e3, said. “We have discovered that many students finish their meals and therefore do not have leftovers.” SDSU Physical Plant is also partnering with e3 to bring vermiculture to campus. Vermiculture, the process of using various species of worms for composting, is traditionally used as an organic fertilizer. SDSU Recycling Coordinator Steve Lincoln said he would like to make the landscape on campus more sustainable by completely eliminating pesticides. He wants to use decomposing vegetables and food waste to form a nutrient-rich fertilizer. According to Associated Students President Cody Barbo, postconsumer composting is an important process because it is possible to take something paltry, such as leftover food, and turn it into something the soil will benefit from. Discussion about whether or not to place bins at East Commons have taken place on multiple occasions. With the marketing aspect headed by Green Love and the internal work from e3 and Aztec Shops, the organizations were able to come together and
execute the pilot stage for consumer composting on campus. According to Barbo, Green Love and e3 would like to develop awareness and a sustainable culture among students on campus. “This project is similar to the bike lanes installed last school year. When they were first introduced, students did not know how to react, but with this year’s new fall freshman and transfer students, they understand the concept and to stay out of the lanes,” Barbo said. “That’s what we hope to see with the compost bins and with next fall’s students, it will be like second nature for them to use the bins.” In order to fulfill postconsumer composting to the fullest, e3 has applied for a grant through the California State University system to purchase official composting bins. Any CSU student who has plans for making their campus more sustainable is eligible to apply for this grant. Students can get involved with the initiative to expand postconsumer compost on campus by spreading the word to their friends and classmates. “Food has more potential than just going into a landfill,” Murphy said.
SPORTS
Read about the fan support at SDSU’s games last weekend.
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As I made my way in, I began to visualize every opening scene of every crappy horror movie I had ever seen ... If I stopped somewhere to get help, it would be “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” all over again. B A C K PA G E
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W E AT H E R : PARTLY CLOUDY HIGH: 62 LOW: 51 SUNSET: 4:47PM