TATTOO CULTURE
9/11 MEMORIAL
From underground to mainstream, read about the evolution of tattoos. page 5
Diving into the aftermath of 9/11 on the ninth anniversary page 2 of the attacks.
dailyaztec the
Monday, September 13, 2010
Vol. 96, Issue 9
San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1913
w w w. T h e D a i l y A z t e c . c o m
INDEX:
TODAY @ STATE
Tw i t t e r : T h e D a i l y A z t e c
opinion ... 2
features ... 4
sports ... 6
classifieds ... 7
Season I Intramural Sports Deadline Last day to drop classes University Exhibition, Downtown Art Gallery
backpage ... 8
FOOTBALL
MAKING HISTORY Last Saturday’s victory marked the first time the San Diego State football team opened the season 2-0, with at least one win coming on the road, in 24 years. Read the game recap on page 6.
WORLD NEWS Security deteriorating in Afghanistan Thirty thousand new American troops are in the process of being sent to Afghanistan, but the nation is now more dangerous than at any other time since 2001. According to the United Nations, 30 percent of Afghanistan’s 368 districts are too dangerous for unarmed government employees. In 2006, insurgents were only active in four of the country’s provinces, now they are active in all but one of the 34 provinces. Last month, insurgents initiated at least 1,353 attacks compared to 630 attacks in August of last year. U.S. military officials say the increased violence is largely because of the increase in American forces.
Barge leaks gasoline into the Nile A part of a barge became partially submerged causing it to leak approximately 100 ton\of gasoline into the Nile River in Egypt. The barge is owned by the Nile Company for River Transport and had docked in Aswan, about 700 miles south of Cairo. The leak has caused officials in three of Egypt’s provinces to declare a state of emergency to prevent the gasoline from spreading down the river. The barge was carrying 244 tons of gasoline.
N. Korea family reunions North Korea has proposed to South Korea to arrange reunions of fami-
lies that were separated by war six decades ago. In the past, the South has proposed family reunions but not the North. The proposed reunions would take place in North Korea’s Diamond Mountain resort around Sept. 22. Since the North and South held their first summit meeting in 2000, about 20,000 Koreans have been temporarily reunited with their families.
Iran to release hiker on bail Sarah Shourd, one of three American hikers who were detained along the Iraq-Iran border in July of last year, will be released on $500,000 bail because of health issues. The hikers were accused of spying and illegally crossing the border and have been held in prison in Iran since. Shourd has been denied treatment of a breast lump and precancerous cervical cells, according to her mother who has been in contact with her. The detention of the hikers has increased tensions between the U.S. and Iran and has led to the push for tougher sanctions about Iran’s nuclear program.
Inflation in China Consumer prices in China are 3.5 percent higher than they were a year ago. This is the largest increase in nearly two years. However, a comparison of August to July prices showed the annual pace of inflation is close to 4.8 percent. The rising prices are caused by China’s growing economy that is causing its citizens to spend more and banks to lend larger amounts of money.
Fewer citations on SDSU campus ANTHONY BRONSON S TA F F W R I T E R
In the first two weeks of school at San Diego State, there have been three student transports to the hospital — a 66 percent drop from last year’s statistics — and zero citations issued to fraternities and sororities for noise, party or alcohol violations. In the first two weeks of the 2009-2010 academic year, nine students were transported to the hospital for various reasons. The drop in these statistics is believed to be largely because of Aztec Nights, according to Dr. Timothy Quinnan, associate vice president for Student Affairs and Campus Life. Aztec Nights began in 2008, following Operation Sudden Fall. Aztec Nights is intended to serve as “a different kind of introduction to campus life at San Diego State University by showing incoming students that friendships could be made, enjoyment could be had and connections could be formed without relying on alcohol or other drugs to lessen the anxiety that comes with being in a new university setting,” Quinnan said. Aztec Nights takes place during the first five weeks of the fall semester in conjunction with SDSU’s five-week ban on alcohol and students are made aware of the program through newstudent orientation. “For new students — those who go to newstudent orientation — we particularly promote Aztec Nights,” Quinnan said. “They have a higher level of awareness about it and they tend to attend it in much higher numbers.” Last year, total attendance for Aztec Nights exceeded 19,000 people, which is about 5,000 more than in 2008 when the program debuted. “As you can see, it’s really ramping up,” Quinnan said. “And when you consider, this year, that our actual new freshmen and transfers (are fewer), it will be interesting to see if we top 19,000.”
Quinnan is confident that this year’s attendance numbers will exceed those of last year because he says Aztec Nights has become a student tradition. “This sense of tradition will prove useful as we continue the shift from a commuter to a residential campus,” Quinnan said. “We’re headed in the right direction and between Aztec Nights and the fact that we’re introducing freshmen and transfers to what we call ‘a healthy alternative,’ to your first experiences that define your relationship at SDSU, it’s working.” The program is proving its effectiveness for incoming students and in the Greek system as well. “The fraternities and sororities have seemed to really internalize the message about being a partner with us and everybody has been better off,” Quinnan said. “We feel fortunate that the students we’re working with have really responded.” Even with the success of Aztec Nights throughout the last two years, Quinnan says there are no plans to extend the length of the program. “All of our research shows that the first five weeks, particularly for new students, is ‘the critical period.’ Whatever they experience in those first five weeks really sets the tone for what they’re going to do academically and socially at the university.” One of Quinnan’s overall goals is to help SDSU evolve from a commuter university to a residential university where students are compelled to call campus home and participate in more on-campus events. “Academic communities are built on shared traditions and common, inspiring experiences,” Quinnan said. “Aztec Nights has evolved into one at San Diego State University.” Aztec Nights continues through Sept. 24. On Sept. 18 the program will feature Campus Moviefest where students will premier films made throughout the course of a week using equipment provided by the organization. This year’s grand finale event will feature a concert with musical guest Gym Class Heroes.