VOLUME 45, ISSUE 2
WWW.UCSDGUARDIAN.ORG
MOnday, September 26, 2011
CHE CAFE
Chancellor
Ché Cafe: a UCSD Landmark’s Struggle to Survive
CHANCELLOR FOX ANNOUNCES PLANS TO REITRE Chancellor Marye Anne Fox’s eightyear tenure will come to an end in 2012. Fox plans to return to teaching and spend more time with her family. By John Baldwin Contributing Writer
C
San Diego’s popular concert venue and beloved co-op faces closure if its organizers fails to raise $12,000 by March 2012. exacerbated t h e situation. This theft depleted the Ché’s reserve funds and made it difficult for them to make more recent insurance payments. The necessary payments have increased over time, and the university requires this insurance policy to show their condition of operation. Now the insurance payment has risen to $12,000, and since the Ché lost its 501(c)(3) federal non-profit status last November, the payment will rely on private donations. “From a legal standpoint, [losing their non-profit status means that]
By Natalie Covate Staff Writer
T
TOTAL
he Ché Café, a UCSD vegan co-op and DIY, all-ages venue founded in 1980 as a safe haven for those interested in radical politics, faces closure. It will be the end if the Ché fails to raise $12,000 to renew its OPINION insurance plan by March Join the 2012. Revolution! “Over the years, it has been [financially] hard Support the for them,” guitarist and cause on co-founder of a Ché PAGE 4. Café Benefit blog Jesse Kranzler said. “There have been a lot of freak-outs like this where they need money or they will close down.” A break-in last year, in which a $5,000 PA system was stolen from the co-op, also
J oseph H o /G uardian
they won’t get as much official help, but I think the artistic community will come together for them,” Kranzler said. In light of the issues that have arisen, Ché regulars have started the Ché Café Benefit blog on Tumblr to raise the money needed to save the Ché. “[The blog] is more about raising community and awareness,” Kranzler said. However, the blog’s fundraising efforts have See Che, page 3
DREAM ACT
CA DR.E.A.M. Act Nears Success By Nicole Chan Associate News Editor California legislation that would allow illegal immigrants to receive public financial aid is nearing approval. If Assembly Bill 131 takes effect, the California public university system would be open to more students and could support system-wide diversity efforts. Director for Civil and Human Rights for the Student Sustainability Collective and Student Affirmative Action Committee (SAAC) A.S. representative Victor Flores-Osorio has been actively involved in lobbying for the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act since his freshman year. “SAAC has been working on it for at
WEB POLL SPOKEN do you think Che Cafe will be able to raise the money in time? √ Yes √ No WWW.UCSDGUARDIAN.ORG
least three years,” Flores-Osorio said. “[Passage of the DREAM Act] will be a win for the progressive community on campus.” The DREAM Act — originally proposed into senate Aug. 1, 2001 by Sen. Orin Hatch, R-Ut, and Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Il, — is a twopart legislation that makes illegal immigrants eligible to receive financial aid. The proposed legislation — designed for illegal immigrants who arrived in the country as minors — stipulates that candidates be of “good moral character,” have lived in the country for five years continuously prior to the bill’s enactment, graduate from an American high school and continue onto at least two years of See Dream, page 3
FORECAST
MONDAY H 66 L 59
Wednesday H 72 L 63
Tuesday H 70 L 62
Thursday H 76 L 64
SUNRISE
6:39 6:40
P.M.
See Fox, page 3
CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’
BY THE NUMBERS
65,000
undocumented immigrants graduate from U.S. high schools annually.
57,000
immigrant women 18 and older will be eligible for permanent resident status if the DREAM Act becomes law
NIGHT NIGHTWATCH WATCH
thursday Monday
wednesday WEDNESDAY
A ndrew OH/G uardian
Freshman flocked to Scripps Beach for UCSD’s annual Welcome Week event,“Meet at the Beach” on Saturday Sept. 24 for a day of free lunch and free surf lessons.
SURF SURFREPORT REPORT
friday tuesday
Monday Height: 3-5 ft. Wind: 3-8 mph Water Temp: 67 F
Tuesday Height: 5 ft. Wind: 4-7 mph Water Temp: 67 F
thursday THURSDAY
Wednesday Height: 5 ft. Wind: 2-6 mph Water Temp: 67 F
Thursday Height: 5 ft. Wind: 2-5 mph Water Temp: 67 F
A.M.
SUNSET
hancellor Marye Anne Fox will end her eightyear tenure as UCSD Chancellor in June 2012. After stepping down, Fox plans to return teaching and researching as a professor of chemistry at UCSD. Fox’s chancellorship is marked by her expansive efforts to improve the infrastructure of the university, as well as her success at enhancing the funding and prestige of UCSD’s academics and research. At the same time, she will be associated with the University of California’s recent and ongoing budget crisis and M arye A nne F ox the corresponding hikes in undergraduate tuition costs, as well as the Compton Cookout, a racially insensitive party thrown by UCSD students that set off a wave of student protests on campus in 2010. Fox has focused on improving the foundation and facilities of UCSD during her tenure, investing $3.5 billion in capital projects over eight years. These projects include the construction of the Student Services Center and the renovation and expansion of Price Center. Fox’s capital projects also included expanding student housing at UCSD to cope with a burgeoning student population that has grown from 25,000 to
GAS PRICES LOw
$3.63
Costco, Santee 101 Town Center Pkwy HIGH
$4.33
Valero, Coronado 400 Orange Ave & 4th St.
INSIDE Comics.................................... 2 Currents............................... 2 At Wit’s End.......................... 4 Letter to the Editor....... 5 Focus...................................... 6 Classifieds............................ 9 Sports................................... 12
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THE UCSD GUARDIAN | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2011 | www.Ucsdguardian.org
BIRDLAND By Rebekah Dyer Angela Chen
Editor in Chief
Arielle Sallai Margaret Yau
Managing Editors
Laira Martin Nicole Chan Rebecca Horwitz Margaret Yau Madeline Mann Rachel Uda Mina Nilchian
THINGS LEFT UNSAID By Josey Tsao
News Editor Associate News Editors Opinion Editor Associate Opinion Editor Sports Editor Associate Focus/Leisure Editor
Ren Ebel
Hiatus Editor
Monica Haider Emily Pham
Copy Editors
Andrew Oh
Photo Editor
Praneet Kolluru Rebekah Hwang
Associate Design Editor Art Editor
Page Layout Praneet Kolluru, Arielle Sallai Hayley Bisceglia-Martin Melody Chern
Development Editor Design Program Director
Business Manager Emily Ku
CURRENTS UCSD ▶UCSD welcomed an estimated 3,400 freshmen
and a record 2,750 transfer students for the 20112012 academic year.
▶John’s Place and Market is the newest addition to John Muir College. The market follows the 2009 opening of Goody’s Market.
▶ UCSD researchers John Chang, assistant
professor of medicine, and Nathan Gianneschi, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, were awarded New Innovator Awards from the National Institutes of Health.
Marketing & Advertising Director Brandon Katzer
COMPILED BY NICOLE CHAN | associate news editor
Webmaster Bryan Smith Marketing Assistant Christine Alabastro
SAN DIEGO ▶San Diego city attorney Jan Goldsmith moved
Wednesday, Sept. 21 to shut down 12 medical marijuana dispensaries operating within 600 feet of schools. These closures are in addition to 31 other San Diego dispensaries shut down due to Goldsmith’s action.
▶President Barrack Obama is spending Monday
Sept. 26 at a fundraising event at a private estate in La Jolla.
▶A Lemon Grove woman was shot in the leg
on Saturday, Sept. 24. Police are looking for the suspect.
CALIFORNIA ▶The University of California generates $46.3
billion in annual economic activity for California, according to a report released Wednesday, Sept. 21 by Economic & Planning Systems Inc. This shows that California and the UC are “inextricably intertwined,” according to a release from the UC Board of Regents committee on finance.
▶A jury finalized last week will hear opening
statements Tuesday in the manslaughter case against Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson’s personal physician.
Advertising Design & Layout Alfredo H. Vilano Jr. A.S. Graphic Studio Distributor Amanda Ku The UCSD Guardian is published Mondays and Thursdays during the academic year by UCSD students and for the UCSD community. Reproduction of this newspaper in any form, whether in whole or in part, without permission is strictly prohibited. © 2011, all rights reserved. The UCSD Guardian is not responsible for the return of unsolicited manuscripts or art. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the opinions of the UCSD Guardian, the University of California or Associated Students. The UCSD Guardian is funded by advertising. If Ross says it’s okay...
General Editorial: 858-534-6580 editor@ucsdguardian.org
News: news@ucsdguardian.org Opinion: opinion@ucsdguardian.org Sports: sports@ucsdguardian.org Focus: focus@ucsdguardian.org Leisure: leisure@ucsdguardian.org Hiatus: hiatus@ucsdguardian.org Photo: photo@ucsdguardian.org
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THE UCSD GUARDIAN | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2011 | www.Ucsdguardian.org
Advocates Create Blog to Save UCSD Landmark
LIGHTS & SIRENS Monday, Sept. 19 1:09 a.m.: Disturbance ▶ The subject was urinating out of a window at Europe Hall. Field interview administered. 2:01 a.m.: Citizen contact ▶ The subject was urinating in public at Marshall Apartments East. Field interview administered. 9:23 a.m.: Found narcotics ▶ A small Ziploc bag of marijuana was turned in as found property at Peterson Hall. Information only. 11:30 a.m.: Collision no injury ▶ A UCSD shuttle bus drove into a pole at the 507A Shuttle Trailer Lot. Report taken. 4:59 p.m.: Injury ▶ The subject, who was at Kathmandu Hall, possibly broke his nose while playing basketball. Transported self to hospital. 11:55 p.m.: Injury ▶ The subject cut his or her own hand while cutting an apple. Transported to hospital. Tuesday, September 20 12:16 a.m.: Citizen contact ▶ Students were grilling on a balcony at Marshall Residence Halls at midnight. Information only. 8:43 a.m.: Fire alarm ▶ A dirty smoke detector went off at Tamarack Apartments. False alarm. 9:00 a.m.: Suspicious person ▶ A non-affiliate was sleeping near Geisel Library by the Snake Path. Stay away order issued. 9:29 p.m.: Information ▶ The resident adviser at The Village Building 1 smelled marijuana in the area. Unable to locate. Wednesday, September 21 12:37 a.m.: Alcohol contact ▶ The subject consumed an excessive amount of alcohol at Blake Hall. Transported to Thornton Hospital.
1:11 a.m.: Alcohol contact
▶ Someone reported that students
were drinking at Village East 2. False alarm. 2:15 a.m.: Alcohol contact ▶ There was public intoxication at Village East 2. Transported to detox. 7:19 a.m.: Medical aid ▶ A young female was vomiting and had trouble walking. Transported to hospital. 12:45 p.m.: Citizen contact ▶ Co-workers threatened each other at Campus Services Complex Building G. Report taken. 3:25 p.m.: Injury ▶ A skateboarder fell, lost a tooth, but was conscious and breathing. Transported to hospital. 6:26 p.m.: Incomplete wireless call ▶ The caller stated that someone kicked her in the back and disconnected. Made contact with other agency - SDPD. Thursday, September 22 12:11 a.m.: Noise disturbance ▶ A basketball game was causing noise at Village East 6. Quiet on arrival. 12:21 a.m.: Noise disturbance ▶ There was a loud party at Cuzco Hall. Information only. 6:50 a.m.: Medical aid ▶ A female was suffering from a serious laceration to her nose. Transported to Thornton Hospital by friend. 11:07 a.m.: Information ▶ A UC vehicle almost hit the subject at La Jolla Village Drive while he was walking to an office. Information only. 11:47 p.m.: Information ▶ There was a power outage at North Mesa Apartments. Information only. — Compiled by Sarah Kang Staff Writer
Chancellor Said Plans to Step Down Were Influenced by Family ▶ fox, from page 1 30,000 since 2004. This included the construction of the Village apartments for transfer students, as well as various improvements toward on-campus apartment housing and graduate student housing. By the time of their completion, Fox’s construction projects will have expanded the campus size by 40 percent. UCSD’s reputation in both academics and research was enhanced during Fox’s tenure. The university conducted more than $1 billion in sponsored research from undergraduates, graduate students and faculty in 2010 alone. In 2011, the university retained its U.S. News & World ranking as the eighth best public university in the nation and the 37th best university in the nation overall, despite budget cuts. “[Fox] has raised the academic reputation of the campus, and it is going to be preserved regardless of the budget cuts,” 2009-10 A.S. Council President Utsav Gupta said. “Even with the cuts, she worked to continue [ensuring] that UCSD rises.” Fox’s tenure as chancellor has also been affected by challenges ranging from tuition hikes to racial controversy. Facing a budget crisis, the UC Board of Regents announced a 32 percent increase in tuition fees for undergraduate students in 2009, sparking a wave of protests that led to the arrests of nearly 100 students throughout the UC system. The UC Board of Regents has increased tuition to aid the UC system’s financial woes since 2009 — raising fall tuition for UC undergraduates by 9.6 percent this July. Fox’s administration was also marked by the Compton Cookout, which set off a string of racist acts in Winter 2010, including the
placement of a noose in Geisel Library. These events triggered student protests in favor of racial diversity and the increased enrollment of underrepresented minorities. “I can tell you that on a personal and human level that she felt it deeply — that we were failing some part of the community,” Associate Vice Chancellor of Public Programs Mary Walshok said in the July 5 article “Fox’s UCSD Tenure had Trials, Triumphs” in the San Diego Union-Tribune. “I think it grieved her, to be frank.” Backlash over the Compton Cookout has led to a range of initiatives by Fox and the administration to remedy problems brought up by protesters. These initiatives include the establishment of a diversity requirement for all incoming graduates, as well as the establishment of a new Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. “She’s an extremely brave person; when there were student protests, she met with the protesters, ” Gupta said. “I think she really worked towards making sure those students were heard.” Fox noted in an official statement to UCSD that an important factor in her decision was her desire to spend more time with her family. She said she looks forward to returning to work as a professor of chemistry at UCSD after she leaves the position. The University of California will begin an international search for appointment of the next chancellor this fall. Fox and Senior Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Suresh Subramani were not available for comment. Readers can contact John Baldwin at jcbaldwi@ucsd.edu.
▶ CHE, from page 1 also had a degree of success. “As of now, we have raised nearly $1,000, which is good, but if we are going to make $12,000 by the spring, we need to continue to grow the fundraising projects,” musician and Ché Café Benefit blog co-founder George Pritzker said. During the 1980s, the Ché was a local hot spot for punk and reggae shows and went on to be a key venue for hardcore, post-punk and independent artists. Today, while still an on-and-off vegan cafe, the co-op is primarily a venue for touring and local musicians of all styles, including hosting dances for UCSD’s DJs and Vinylphiles Club. “It’s all vegan and it’s drug and alcohol free,” Pritzker said. “It’s a haven for leftist thoughts and grass-
roots activism and it’s important, especially in San Diego where it tends to be a more conservative county. We need these places like the Ché to balance that out and create a haven for more radical thought.” The blog begins with an introduction to the Ché’s history as a space for counter-culture discussion, vegan food and DIY music. Then, it becomes a series of bands’ testimonials about the Ché and its value to the San Diego music community. “The Ché Café is still my favorite music venue to this day,” San Diego musician Chad Stroup wrote in the blog. “It is unfathomably important that the show-going kids have somewhere they can turn the negative weights of the world into positive energy. That alone is reason enough for the Ché to survive.”
Those involved with the blog have had varying fundraising ideas. Some bands are posting songs available to download for a donation, while others are planning benefit shows. Given its all-ages, non-alcoholic and open-minded policies, the musical community of San Diego feels that the loss of the Ché would be substantial. “Over the course of the decades, a lot of venues have started to disappear and the all-ages scene has dwindled and has since become dominated by bars and the 21 and older scene,” Pritzker said. “The fact that it’s not a bar and not a place where people can buy alcoholic drinks makes it that much more about the music.” Readers can contact Natalie Covate at ncovate@ucsd.edu.
UCSD AVP Forsees No Negative Effects from D.R.E.A.M. Act ▶ DREAM, from page 1 higher education. “[The DREAM Act] gives [an] opportunity for people in between borderlines of affording college to attend,” Flores-Osorio said. “It’s a good step; it provides financial aid to students who never had financial aid at one point or another.” The California DREAM Act differs from the national DREAM Act, which was reintroduced into senate in May, in that it cannot provide a pathway to citizenship. The first measure of the DREAM Act, which passed in July 2011, extends access to illegal immigrant students to receive privately funded scholarships for state schools. The second part of the DREAM Act would enable illegal immigrant students to receive public scholarships, such as Cal Grants. According to a story published Aug. 31 in the New York Times entitled “Legislature in California set to pass a Dream Act,” Gov. Jerry Brown has not publicly stated that he would sign the second measure, however his staff is reportedly working with California legislators to minimize costs. The DREAM Act will not significantly affect the UC student body, UC officials told the Los Angeles Times Sept. 24 in “Dream Act legislation could complicate student aid picture.” “It’s not going to have significant impact at all, and it won’t create a competitive disadvantage to students of this country,” UCLA Director of Financial Aid Ronald Johnson told the Los Angeles Times. Both the $1.3 billion Cal Grant
entitlement program – unlimited grants that are given to students meeting both academic and lowincome requirements – and the $127 million funded Cal Grant competitive awards will not interfere with U.S. residents applying for the aid. According to the Los Angeles Times, institutional grants, which are funded through student fees, are another source of financial aid for low-income students. While the DREAM Act could be beneficial to many, immediate visible changes at the UC level would remain to be seen, according to Flores-Osorio. Attributing increasing UC tuition as a key component to influencing minority enrollment, Flores-Osorio anticipates positive changes will more likely be seen at community colleges and California State Universities. Flores-Osorio estimates the UCs will not experience increased minority enrollment until later generations. Even if the DREAM Act passes, undocumented students will still face difficulties to get scholarships, Flores-Osorio said. “Scholarships are limited to students who don’t have a social security number,” Flores-Osorio said. Flores-Osorio says there is a possibility of a small backlash from conservative students. An “Increase Diversity Bake Sale” organized by the UC Berkeley College Republicans is indicative of potential larger reactions, should Gov. Brown approve the second measure, FloresOsorio said. “The UC Berkeley racist bake sale is making fun of affirmative action,”
Flores-Osorio said. “There might be a backlash at UCSD, but it would probably only be a small group of people.” According to Flores-Osorio, the university does not take regular statistics of its undocumented students, so the number of students the DREAM Act would potentially help is unknown. Despite this fact, Flores-Osorio believes it will have a positive impact on future students hoping to attend university. Muir College junior Michelle Lara, who works as Campus Diversity Engagement Co-Coordinator at SPACES, said she personally knows of Assembly Bill 540 students who could greatly benefit from the DREAM Act. “I know a lot of them have had to leave because of [lack of] affordability,” Lara said. “They’re getting shoved out of the system. If the DREAM Act passes, they’d be able to stay and graduate.” Associate Vice President of External Affairs Samer Naji does not see UCSD experiencing any negative effects if the bill passes. “It would literally just help students who are not eligible for [government issued] financial aid now,” Naji said. “Along with every UC campus there’s going to be AB540 students – that’s without a doubt – almost every AB540 student will be able to access financial aid.” A spokesperson from the UC Office of the President could not be reached for comment. Readers can contact Nicole Chan at n3chan@ucsd.edu.
CHOOSE HOUSTON LAW THEY TOOK IT TO THE SUPREME COURT AND WON!
Our students shepherded a case through the lower courts and on to the nation’s highest, stunning the immigration world with a unanimous decision. Hands-on training is a large part of what we do at the University of Houston Law Center. But it’s just part of what we offer. The Law Center combines the best of all worlds: • Excellence in education with multiple “Top Ten” specialty programs • Reasonable tuition and fees • A campus recognized as one of the most diverse in the United States We are a Tier One law school in a Tier One university. In addition, our home is Houston: the nation’s fourth largest city with a robust legal employment market and an affordable cost of living to make the most of your budget. There’s a lot to like about our school. Find out more at www.law.uh.edu.
The University of Houston is an EEO/AA institution.
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THE UCSD GUARDIAN | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2011 | www.Ucsdguardian.org
Yau CONTACT THE EDITOR Margaret opinion@ucsdguardian.org
OPINION This is What a UCSD Student Doesn’t Look Like
W
elcome Week means free food and drinks and cheaper-than-free flyers, but mostly it’s supposed to be a time to explore. To find out whatever the hell RIMAC is, wherever the hell the Village is — and which club, for heaven’s sake, throws the most raging pizza parties of all.
At Wit’s End trevor cox trevorcox@ucsd.
Viva la Revolución
The Ché Café faces financial woes that could floor even the most revolutionary campus institution, but with the collective effort of supporters and students, the Che might have a fighting chance.
T
By Arik Burakovsky • staff writer
he iconic Ché Café, located on the southern edge of campus in the eucalyptus groves, is currently in danger of shutting down due to a $12,000 budgetary shortfall. The students and volunteers running the cafe — a well-known sanctuary for radical political beliefs — are beginning to confront the harsh reality of tough economic times. Coming up with creative solutions to solve budgetary problems is essential to running a business, and this year, the leaders of the Ché will have to prove that they have what it takes to keep the venue open. Established in 1980 as a nonprofit student and
volunteer-run co-operative, the Ché remains a historically unique spot on campus today. The café, run by a “non-hierarchical worker’s collective,” serves all-vegan fare and hosts music and poetry performances at least once a week. Several years ago, the cafe experienced a brief insurance lapse, and just last year, the Ché lost its 501(c)(3) federal nonprofit status, losing several tax exemptions. On top of all of that, a $5,000 PA system was stolen last year. Now, after serving as a symbol of underground music for over two decades, the survival of See CHé, page 5
photo illustrations by R ebekah H wang /G uardian
QUICK TAKES
When Truth is Sacrificed for Attention The Consequences of Fear Mongering R I ecently, Michele Bachmann utilized some old-fashioned fear mongering in order to slam Republican presidential frontrunner and Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Bachmann based her entire condemnation of the HPV vaccine — and Perry’s executive order mandating it’s use — by sharing an anecdote from a weeping mother who claimed the vaccine caused her daughter’s mental retardation. While Bachmann is being denounced left and right by medical professionals in the Centers for Disease Control and the Institute of Medicine, she has also successfully carved her place as a media hot topic with the all-too-common political use of fear. As with any good political ploy, Bachmann’s allegations contain some facet of truth. Perry did indeed sign the executive order for young girls to get the HPV vaccine without bringing it to a vote. Perry’s deep political ties with Merck, the corporation that makes the vaccine and the employer of Perry’s former chief of staff, brings attention to Perry’s questionable motives in supporting the executive order. However, Bachmann’s allegations about the dangers of the vaccine have no basis in medical fact. Medical associations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics have re-reviewed studies and released statements denying the dangers of the vaccine in response to Bachmann’s statement. Correct or not, Bachmann’s comments have thrust her into the political spotlight. This controversy alone has plastered Bachmann all over the major networks including CNN, NBC, CBS, MSNBC and any other network with initials. Of course, this is no “Daisy ad” and probably won’t be a major factor in her run for president, but it might just be enough to get her to increase her exposure — just what the doctor ordered. —Chelsey Davis Staff Writer
n the wake of the Republican presidential debate, Republican presidential -candidate Michele Bachmann denounced the HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccine for causing “mental retardation” on Fox News, the Today Show and various radio stations. This claim was meant to trip up the leading Republican candidate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who signed an executive order mandating the vaccine amongst twelve-year-old girls. The statement may be drawing welcome media attention to Bachmann, but at an extreme cost. This cheap political gambit could potentially turn young girls and their parents away from the vaccine. Bachmann’s claim holds no weight. Studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and the Institute of Medicine show that 35 million doses of the HPV vaccine “Gardasil” have been administered with no reported cases of mental retardation. In response to Bachmann’s accusation, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a statement correcting Bachmann’s misinformation. Still, even assurances from credible sources are not powerful enough to reverse the speculation that was activated in the American public. In 2010, a false autism vaccine link was thought to have caused the biggest whooping cough epidemic of the past 60 years. Although studies show that the whooping cough vaccine in no way leads to autism, a scare was enough to cause ten infant deaths that could have been avoided with proper vaccination according to the California Department of Public Health. Parents will likely be more cautious when deciding whether to let their children get the HPV vaccine, despite the fact that nearly 6 million people in the U.S. become infected with HPV and 4,000 women die from cervical cancer annually, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. Once a statement this powerful is released into the media, regardless of the source, people will take notice. —Revathy Sampath-Kumar Staff Writer
As a senior, I’ve answered most of these important questions for myself by now. But I’ve never switched majors, and so other than the 200-seat soft science lectures I bushwhacked through in the name of general education, one thing I haven’t done is take a class outside the lit or history departments. It’s unfair to generalize, and so I usually try not to, but after investing three years and an ungodly amount of tuition in my college education, I feel confident in declaring lit majors a rare breed at UCSD. We’re always late, we wear too much plaid, we share too many irrelevant opinions in class — and, guiltily, most of us have still never met a Moleskine we didn’t like. (It’s not an emo diary, OK?) There are exceptions: people who are preternaturally prompt (I was born weeks late, if that means anything), and others who long ago cashed in their last plaid shirt at Buffalo Exchange. We come in all shapes and sizes and ages and backgrounds, but for whatever reason, the tortured artist/beatnik thing seems kind of hard to work past. So on Thursday night, in climbing the steps to Warren Lecture Hall for not the first time, I don’t really know what I was expecting. I’d never been to a communications class before. Would there just be lots of, you know, talking? Would I need a notebook? Where, in God’s name, was my emo diary? I sauntered in 10 minutes early, which was when the difference immediately struck me: The room was already at least half full. People carried notebooks and Greek sweatshirts and bubble gum and pens. Nobody was wearing any plaid. As class began, things only got weirder. Everyone smiled in introducing themselves. They noted their year, major and intention to pursue law school, public relations or business. No one wasted breath on any awkward, self-indulgent detail of their summer (e.g. “I just really felt like going to Prague,” or “I already had a lot of experience at magazines.”) Almost everyone said they hoped to improve their writing — which, curiously, I don’t recall ever hearing a classmate say in three years of Lit/Writing courses. We must know better. While the usual orders of business took up the rest of the hour, I began to recognize something that should’ve been obvious: I’ve gotten too comfortable. In being a grouchy, caffeine-addicted Lit. major that’s as guilty of parsing details as the next one (even if I don’t know much about the magazine business or Prague). In recognizing nameless See END, page 5
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THE UCSD GUARDIAN | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2011 | www.Ucsdguardian.org
A new kind of border By Robert Kim
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Profitability Doesn’t Always Imply Value
Break Out of the Bubble and Embrace the Unfamiliar ▶ end, from page 4 faces from just a couple pockets of campus and making no effort to meet the others. In getting the same damn sandwich from the Sunshine Market twice a week, and lamenting the soggy sourdough just as often. I’ve always been quick to criticize those who squeeze their freshman roommate’s hand and never let go — people who settle during Welcome Week and never come to know anything more than exactly one beer-pong table and toilet. But I’ve also realized that in limiting myself to one set of classes, to one corner of campus, I’ve done no better myself.
Maybe that Natural Disasters class wasn’t ever meant to parlay itself into a career in science (so please: Don’t call me Dr. Cox, or the Cox doc or whatever). Maybe my failure to grasp the nuances of Intro to Logic is a testament to my place in the world as an illogical, irrational artist type (another theory: my liberal arts boy glasses are to blame for everything). But what if I’d been more open to the unknown? No matter how many heated A.S. Council meetings or dubstepblaring fraternity booths we go out of our way to witness, each of us has a relatively narrow view of what a UCSD student looks like. It just
Different Sources of Hope for the Ché ▶ CHé, from page 4 the Ché is threatened. The university requires co-ops on campus to provide an insurance policy as a condition of operation. The cafe currently finds itself in danger of not being able to come up with the $12,000 due in March for the renewal of its insurance policy. As grim as its financial situation seems, the cafe’s supporters are not giving up yet — a strong sign of hope for the co-op’s survival. A series of fundraising events have been scheduled to try to save the venue. Musician Jess Kranzler, who first performed in the Ché when he was in high school, said that he will be performing Jan. 6-8 to try to raise money for it. Kranzler, who now attends school in New York, has also set up a fundraising site at checafebenefit.tumblr.com, which has already raised nearly $1,000 and started a string of blog posts in support of the co-op. The dedication of Kranzler and others to the cafe could go a long way to help save the venue if the underground music community continues to respond to the rallying call. In fact, recent backing from UCSD administrators shows that they remain committed to the survival of the co-op. Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Life Gary Ratcliff oversees the Ché and other co-ops on campus, making sure they pay rent and stay on top of their insurance policies. “UCSD’s iconic Ché Café faces possible shut down,” Ratcliff said in a Sept. 19 article in the San Diego Union-Tribune. “I am hoping they can work it all out. I really
am. There’s a certain spirit to their approach.” With university administrators on its side, the collective’s support — at least for the next several months — seems assured. Numerous money-starved student organizations have already learned to cope with budget cuts. Last year, the Associated Students of UCSD reduced the funding of student-run media organizations from $45,000 to $38,000, a 24-percent decrease. Media organizations on campus such as the California Review and the Muir Quarterly have been forced to find alternative ways to raise money or reduce costs, namely cutting printing costs by publishing online. Raising $12,000 by March 2012 will be no easy task for the Ché, but running a business is never simple. Ratcliff explained that co-ops help students “get first-hand experience in running a nonprofit enterprise.” While the cafe’s financial crunch undoubtedly looks ugly, its leaders have a chance — now more than ever before — to put their innovative entrepreneurial ideas to the test to try to raise enough money to keep the co-op going. Budget cuts and lack of funding for student organizations may eventually take their victims. But if there’s any advice the leaders of the Ché need now, it’s that when students care, they have a chance to save the organizations and institutions that truly matter to them. And if any organization is able to rise up and inspire a revolution of student expression, it would be the Ché.
As grim as its financial situation seems, the café’s supporters are not giving up yet — a strong sign of hope for the co-op’s survival.
Readers can contact Arik Burakovsky at aburakov@ucsd.edu.
comes down to the numbers: There isn’t any way to sift through 23,000 anonymous faces and emerge with a full, detailed portrait of who or what we are. The way to start, though, is probably by doing the opposite of what I have: Meet everyone. Try everything. It’s the beginning of the year, and if all doesn’t go according to plan, no one’s going to remember or care by Thanksgiving. And so I implore you, dear readers young and old, freshman and sixth-year, to consider the unfamiliar this year. It’s my last, and while I don’t have many classes left, there must be at least a dozen beers at the pub I haven’t tried.
Dear Editor, Over the past few years, the debate over public higher education has changed. The questions we ask started with “How do we cut the budget without hurting students?” but have largely changed to “What can we afford to lose?” Your recent article “Summer in Review” is a perfect example of how the UCSD community values different types of education by pointing out that the most “unprofitable university programs” are those that will face the most cuts. These unprofitable programs are largely thought to include the humanities and the social sciences, and it is not uncommon to hear UCSD science majors calling these programs useless in the modern day. Views like those expressed above are not only wrong, but they are also dangerous. UCSD is known for its experimental art programs, and our dance and theater departments consistently rank in the top three for graduate studies. If we were to take massive cuts to these programs, the breadth of quality education that our school offers would suffer. Although it’s easy to say that the humanities have no effect on plans to become a doctor, Nobel Prize Winner, Supreme Court Justice or creator of Angry Birds, this is short sighted. Doctors must be able to read and clearly articulate the issue at hand, which is not all that different from what we learn in those introductory communications and theater classes. I had the pleasure of hearing Roger Tsien, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, speak a few years ago and I still remember him speaking about how you must find something that is stimulating to one of your senses — something artists are always doing and perfecting. It is no surprise
then that fluorescent immunohistochemistry is shown frequently on the cover of scientific journals and in competitions with themes such as “Science as Art.” And who would not be afraid of a Supreme Court Justice who had only a slight understanding of history and law and no appreciation whatsoever for the nuances of other cultures and languages? That in itself shows us the importance of Thurgood Marshall’s and ERC’s general education requirements. As for Angry Birds…How many of us play because of how beautiful the code looks? Angry Birds is lucrative because the sounds of squealing piggies and falling buildings make us feel like we are in control. Could you imagine playing the game on a phone with green backlight and black lettering? The lesson in these examples is that truly profitable human endeavors cannot be separated into just humanities vs. science. Looking at history, we value Einstein as greatly as we do Mozart – and Mozart spent much of his time mooching off royalty and died in debt. With the current salaries of humanities majors, how disastrous will it be if we continue to raise fees by 16 percent until 2016? While I have no answers when speaking about the budget crisis, we should be aware not only of how profitable a program is but how valuable it is. — Elena Cáceres Junior, Eleanor Roosevelt College ▶ The Guardian welcomes letters from its readers. All letters must be addressed, and written, to the editor of the Guardian. Letters are limited to 500 words, and all letters must include the writer’s name, college and year (undergraduates), department (graduate students or professors) or city of residence (local residents). A maximum of three signatories per letter is permitted. The Guardian Editorial Board reserves the right to edit for length, accuracy, clarity and civility. The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject letters for publication. Due to the volume of mail we receive, we do not confirm receipt or publication of a letter. email: opinion@ucsdguardian.org
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8657 Villa La Jolla Drive "inside the mall above the Theater" 8650 Genesee Ave, "Next to the Post Office above Bristle Farms" Costa Verde Center
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THE UCSD GUARDIAN | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2011 | www.Ucsdguardian.org
Monday Sept. 26 Impressions from Arab Spring 3 : 3 0 P. M . i n Social Science Building
Professor Michael Provence will summarize regional events of the past year and draw comparisons and distinctions with a concluding emphasis on events unfolding in Syria.
Tuesday Sept. 27 From Stem Cells to Neurons 1 2 P. M . inAMN Healthcare
In this lecture, Dr. Yeo will discuss the revolutionary genomic tools his lab is currently using to understand neurodegenerative disease and thus help advance stem cell research.
AKWAY NYEWA’A: COMING BACK HOME 5 P . M . at The Loft
Images from San Diego’s Native American communities, circa 1900 @ The Loft, Price Center East
Week of 1/4 - 1/10
Thursday Sept. 29 Purity Ring with Kisses 9 P. M . at The Loft Purity Ring hails from Canada and describe their music as "future pop". This fairly new project created by Corin Roddick and Megan James is receiving early blog buzz and will be hitting UCSD right before kicking out a national tour. Kisses have been described as dreamy synth-pop and are as cute as they are infectious.
Running Grunion 9 A . M . at e a r ly childhood center Abel’s performance is a combination of comedy, storytelling, and mime offering an interpretation of Native American history and culture from past to present.
Saturday, Sept. 30 MEN'S SOCCER GAME 7 P. M . AT THE SOCCER FIELD
Wednesday Sept. 28 Birch Aquarium at Scripps - Teacher Open House 1 a t 5 P. M . at Birch Aquarium
Be introduced to the world beneath the sea and the resources available to you through Birch Aquarium at Scripps.
Come watch the men's soccer team play against against Cal State Monterey Bay.
Sunday, Oct. 1 NatGeo Grant Workshop 9:30 a.M. AT calit2
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Two-bedroom, two-bath house in Convoy area, across the street from Mesa College. Looking for female housemate. Non-furnished bedroom with a private shower bathroom,
Room for Rent Sorrento Valley $600, utilities will be an extra $100-115 a month. Looking for someone to move in October 1st. Share a clean, spacious house with 4 others (5 total) in Sorrento Valley (Mira Mesa Area), close
JOBS Part-time assisstant for psychiatrist needed. Flexible four-hour day Monday through Friday. Office is walking distance to campus. Duties: reception, data entry, must be comfortable with Mac and PC. Respond online at ucsdguardian.org/classifieds.
Two UCSD professors seeking afternoon child care for two 8-year-old boys and a 5-year-old girl. Would need to pick up kids at 3:30 p.m. at La Jolla Elementary, bring home (to mother's or father's house), help with homework and stay until about 5:30 p.m. Start immediately at $15 per hour. Respond online at ucsdguardian.org/classifieds.
FOR SALE FURNISHINGS Genuine leather couch, some scratches and marks on the arms. Asking price is $300 or any reasonable offer. Respond online at ucsdguardian.org/ classifieds. Kitchen/microwave cart for sale. 33” tall x 21” wide x 14” deep. Hooks on side, and has shelf that pulls out like a
drawer. $15. Antique dresser, very well made and in excellent condition. Light yellow with gold trim. Curved front and key holes, no keys. Measurements are 42” long by 33” high and 24” wide. Respond online at ucsdguardian.org/classifieds. Champion Juicer Model G5-NG-853S. Runs great. Has areas where the paint is coming off & you'll need to purchase a pusher as it doesn't come with one. Respond online at ucsdguardian.org/ classifieds. I'm selling a Nikon Nikkor 70-210 AF f4-5.6 zoom lens in excellent condition. This camera works with virtually all AF Nikon cameras, and takes excellent photos. Respond online at ucsdguardian.org/classifieds.
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Beautiful new two-bedroom, twobath home in La Jolla Shores. Fully furnished. All utilities included in rental price. Near shops, beach, UCSD and bus lines. Long or short-term lease OK. For questions or to view please call 858-361-2556. Respond online at ucsdguardian.org/classifieds.
Condo located on Nobel Drive, walking distance from UTC mall. Condo is newly remodeled and fully furnished with 32" flat-panel TV (free basic cable). Air-conditioned and assigned parking in gated community with high security. Water, trash, and electric paid. Respond online at ucsdguardian.org/classifieds.
to 5, 805, 15, the Coaster and UCSD. Free Laundry, bi-weekly maid service to clean common areas, hot tub, back yard, pool table, entertainment center, high speed internet, plenty of parking, 2 refrigerators, plus heating and air conditioning. No pets. You will share a bathroom with 2 others. Respond online at ucsdguardian.org/ classifieds.
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Room and board, Christian home, will provide transportation, packed lunches and cleaning. Pets OK. Respond online at ucsdguardian.org/classifieds.
and closet. $600 and sharing utilities, about $30 per month. Apartment has swimming pool and laundry facilities. Respond online at ucsdguardian.org/ classifieds.
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