OPINION: The Devils Advocate takes sides INSIDE: Frida Kahlo on university reactions to H1N1, page 8 Annual exhibit opens in SPORTS: Potential of a ‘Freeway’ World Long Beach, page 5 Series is analyzed, page 12 Since 1960 Volume 85, Issue 3 Tuesday September, 8, 2009 The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton State fires spark awareness By MauREEN Fox not burn. Irvine campus closed for Daily Titan Staff Writer one day two years ago due to smoke, [email protected] but the main campus has never been shut down due to poor air quality or The sun glows red behind a haze of risk of fire. smoke. Pepper-like ash dusts the tops The wildfires have produced visible of cars and rooftops. Thick plumes of amounts of ash and smoke, but the smoke hover in the distance. Once Environmental Health & Instruction- vis- again, Southern California is on fire, al Safety department has determined ibil- but Cal State Fullerton is safe from the the air around the university is safe to ity in miles. 12 fires firefighters have battled since breathe. Air quality on t h e Aug. 26, two of which still rage in the Scott Bourdon, associate director of AQMD scale ranges from good to foothills of Los Angeles and nearby Environmental Health & Instructional hazardous. counties. Safety, monitors the air quality around “We are what’s called moderate Although CSUF is not directly the campus each morning by measur- according to AQMD,” Bourdon said, cam- threatened by this year’s wildfires, ing particulate matter levels. regarding the particulate matter mea- pus if air campus personnel are closely monitor- “Every day we get updates from the surements on Sept. 3. But Bourdon p a r t i c u l a t e ing the situation and are prepared to Air Quality Management District, and said that was most likely due to smog matters got close handle a fire emergency if the situation they project the air quality,” Bourdon than to smoke. to the 500 range. changes. said. When Bourdon took the readings, Bourdon said it is highly unlikely Most of the fires have been put out, The Air Quality Management CSUF was borderline good-moderate. the air quality around CSUF will wors- but the fiercest blaze, known as the Sta- District, or Bourdon said en significantly over the next few days. tion Fire, continues to burn northwest AQMD, is the AQMD lists “We’ve been lucky with the winds,” of Los Angeles County and in the San air pollution Smoke Safety Tips CSUF in the Bourdon said, as they are blowing Gabriel Wilderness area. The Station control agency moderate range most of the ash and smoke away from Fire, which authorities classified as for Orange, • Stay Indoors - Choose in- because it is part the campus. arson, has claimed 157,220 acres, 78 Los Angeles, door options when air pollution of the entire CSUF remains untouched by wild- homes and two firefighters’ lives. Riverside and levels are unhealthful. Keep your North Orange fires, but if any blazes pose a threat in On Sept. 7, the U.S. Forest Service San Bernardino windows and doors closed. Set your County region, the future, the university is prepared said the Station Fire is 56 percent con- counties. They air conditioning system on recircu- which is listed as to keep students and staff safe. Fire ex- tained and will be fully contained by manage emis- moderate for the tinguishers, fire alarms and evacuation By RoN Fu/Daily Titan Staff Photographer lation mode, if available. Sept. 15. sions from sta- next few days. instructions are found all over campus. (Above) A fire helicopter provides a water drop near homes on Skyland Road in Sunland • Reduce Outdoor Activity - on Sunday, Aug. 30. (Below) Members of the Tatanka Hot Shots watch as the fire Despite the ferocity of this year’s tionary sources Limit your involvement in outdoor Daily forecasts The university also constantly practices approaches homes in Sunland on Sunday, Aug. 30. Helicopter water drops kept the fire firestorm, CSUF is safely out of harm’s of pollution and activities and events that require are available by handling fire alarms. from burning the homes. way. provide daily prolonged exposure and strenuous visiting www. Catherine Halliday, program assis- Tom Whitfield, director of Envi- forecasts of air exercise or sports participation. aqmd.gov. tant for the President’s Scholars Pro- ronmental Health & Instructional quality. CSUF • Stay Alert - Listen to your lo- When the gram, has served as a fire marshal for Safety, said the fires look much closer uses their fore- cal news and weather forecasts and Irvine campus the eighth floor in Langsdorf Hall for to CSUF than they actually are. casts as guide- air quality alerts. If the air quality closed for one the last nine years. When the fire alarm “Most of the winds are from the east lines for campus in your area worsens, take necessary day during fires sounds, she checks that everyone has and west and (the fires) are north, so safety. precautions and plan your activities two years ago, left the floor then locks all of the doors it would take a big shift in the wind A Q M D accordingly. particulate mat- and makes sure she or another fire mar- to come down in our area,” Whitfield d e t e r m i n e s • Consult Your Physician - If ter levels had shal is the last person down the stairs. said. “We are too far away, and it’s be- air quality by you suffer from heart or lung prob- reached the un- During her years as a fire marshal, ing blown in other directions.” measuring the lems, ask your doctor about treat- healthy range Halliday has never seen a severe fire CSUF and its surrounding proper- amount of par- ment or if you should leave the when smoke set- call. Though most pulled fire alarm ties have never suffered direct damage ticulate matter area. tled on the cam- calls turn out to be false, the university from wildfires. The Tucker Wildlife in the air, such as pus overnight, handles each call seriously. Sanctuary, a 12-acre preserve oper- smoke and ash, over 139 micro- CSUF is protected from yet another ated by the College of Natural Science by micrograms of particles per cubic grams of particles per cubic meter of air. Southern California firestorm, but if and Mathematics, was surrounded by meter of air. Bourdon said you can also Bourdon said the university had a rule that changes, the university is prepared flames during last year’s fires but did determine air quality by the amount of of thumb that they would evacuate the to deal with the emergency. Arboretum celebrates 30th anniversary By GIKBERt GutIERREz and organic food lovers, gourmet veg- gardening and watering their own on programs and events, they can be Daily Titan Staff Writer etarian cooking classes are offered to vegetation. found on the Arboretum’s Web site. [email protected] instruct individuals who are in search Children can participate by visiting Every year, the third graders from of healthy and the pumpkin patch the Fullerton School District tour the More than just a museum for delicious meals. where they will Dr. Clark House, built for the pio- plants, the Fullerton Arboretum, There are also learn songs, stories neer physician in 1894, which is lo- celebrating its 30th anniversary this workshops and activities. For cated in the center of the gardens. The October, is a peaceful non-profit or- available that $3, children ages children then complete a project that ganization with a 26-acre collection guide learn- five and up can en- fulfills the requirement for California of plant wildlife from around the ers on how to joy Entomologists’ history in public schools in the Fuller- world. grow lawns and Bug Safari and ton district, said Education Manager The Arboretum is free and open to conserve water explore and inves- Ami Becker. the public from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. properly. Also tigate friendly in- The grounds are solely for observa- By ShRutI PatEl/Daily Titan Staff Photographer Anyone can feel free to walk around made available sects this Saturday tion and exploration, so the public The Fullerton Arboretum hosts varied exotic plants for the Fullerton community to enjoy. and observe the monstrous cactus to the public at 9:30 a.m. Please does not have authorization to touch, garden, a towering 100-foot Ombu are community call by Wednesday plow or remove anything from its help everyone be good stewards of to attend or volunteer be sure to call tree or just sit and relax in the shade plots for rent at to register. An- natural habitat, said front desk recep- the environment and grant them a for more information. as the plant life continues to flourish. $100 for those other fun event is tionist Deni Hunter. wonderful experience, Dyment said. This weekend the Arboretum is New to the Arboretum environ- that wish to the Survivor Plant Since Oct. 21, 1979, the Arbo- The non-profit organization is funded holding a Salvia Spectacular Plant Sale ment is the Mojave plant life, Chan- grow their own World where chil- retum has been providing faculty, by the state of California, the City of from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Sept. 12 nel Islands’ plants, a farm that im- fruits, flowers dren ages eight students and the community abroad Fullerton’s redevelopment agency, Cal from 10 a.m. to noon, there will be a proves the agricultural foundation as or vegetables in and up explore the with the opportunity to learn and State Fullerton, and private individu- volunteer open house for anyone to well as an emphasis to drought toler- a 15-foot by 15- most destructive appreciate the plant world through als that are generous enough to donate volunteer and learn how to help the ant education of plant life.