Hurdling into record books P.3 Thinking man’s music P.4 Exploiting labor? P.5 Heather Vachon, who runs hurdles for the track and Sam Roberts Band’s new album doesn’t Weighing the morals of hiring a day laborer fi eld club, sets the bar for the team. disappoint listeners. for almost nothing.

theSpartanDaily.com TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2009 Volume 132, Issue 29 Spartan Daily 68 WED THU FRI SAT Serving San Jose State University Since 1934 70 70 67 63

ACTIVISM Marching for a better college education University students protest cuts in state’s capital city

HARVEY RAÑOLA Staff Writer

SACRA MENTO — Th ere were plenty of brightly colored signs and homemade T-shirts among the sea of students who gathered at Sacramento’s Ra- ley Field to protest on Monday morning. Th e sound of drums and chanting echoed down the Capi- tol Mall as students marched onto the steps of the California State Capitol demanding changes to the budget allocated to California colleges. Th is year’s march to the state capital was the second in two years by California college stu- dents, and although this year’s march focused on the issues faced by community colleges across the state, SJSU Associated Students President Vosa Cavu-Litman was pleased with the support of stu- dents from the California State

Henry Morillo (left), an SJSU alumnus and senior Chris Temblado () participate along with other SJSU students in the DEREK SIJDER / Spartan Daily See MARCH, page 2 march to Sacramento. Students from all over the state walked in protest against cutting the education budget. MUSICOrchestra performs well-known works, pieces from students

but I love coming to the concerts included sounds from cars, don- ANDREA MUNIZ here,” said senior physics major keys, chickens and pedestrians, Staff Writer Trevor Masters. “Th ey’re usually all pushing against each other, he good. Th ey don’t disappoint.” said. Sounds of whimsical fl utes, Th is performance was impor- In addition to city noise, the clarinets, violins and trumpets tant because it featured two piec- Azaan, Muslim mosque calls, escaped through the doors of the es entirely composed by SJSU were heard fi ve times a day over Music Concert Hall Wednesday students. loudspeakers. Th e contrast that night for SJSU School of Music “Musical tradition from the Moalem saw between the sounds and Dance’s Symphony Orches- 18th and 19th centuries is very of Arabic music, deserts, chants tra performance. important, but sometimes, in my and city all helped in compos- More than 100 people att end- opinion, they get too hung on his- ing his piece, but he said that the ed the concert, which included torical tradition,” said SJSU music statement he was trying to make such pieces as “Concerto in C composition graduate student was greater than that. major,” writt en by Domenico Ci- and composer Be’eri Moalem. “Many Jews in Israel hear the marosa and featured special guest “Th en they just do it the same old chants through fi lters of disdain and faculty member Michael Ad- way for generation and generation due to the terrible bloodshed as- duci playing the oboe. Johannes and not much new music gets out sociated with the Arab-Israeli Brahms’ “Symphony No. 2 in D there.” confl ict,” Moalem wrote in the major, Op. 73,” and two student Moalem’s piece, called “Cairo: program. “But aft er living in pieces were also performed by Across the Wadi,” was inspired by America for more than a decade, A member of SJSU’s symphony orchestra plays the cello during a SANDRA SANTOS / Spartan Daily more than 50 musicians on 18 a trip he made to Egypt last year. concert in the Music Building on Wednesday evening. The orchestra began by playing “Vis Machi- diff erent instruments. He said that Cairo’s “super crowd- na” by Jason McChristian, which is meant to represent the inner workings of a mechanical device. “My girlfriend is fi rst clarinet, ed” and “smelly,” busy city streets See CONCERT, page 2 THE SPORTS BLOG NEWS PHOTO BLOG Don’t expect much from the The Great American Audio slideshow: SPARTAN West Coast teams in the Meatout at the Student See images from the NCAA Tournament. Union meets with success. WAC Tournament by DAILY. photographer Chad Sports Editor Matthew Video: Check out a video Ziemendorf. COM Kimel discusses last of a student-run protest in weekend’s Kentucky Derby Sacramento regarding the See photos of SJSU students Sports Blog: prep races. recent CSU budget cuts. marching in Sacramento by www.spartandailysports.wordpress.com photographers Derek Sijder Photo Blog: NEWS BLOG and Michelle Terris. www.spartandailyphoto.wordpress.com News Blog: Who is this St. Patrick guy, See a new ‘Around www.spartandailynews.wordpress.com any way? Downtown’ photo. CHAD ZIEMENDORF / Spartan Daily

ADVERTISEMENT 2PAGE NEWS TUESDAY,,, MARCH 17,, 2009 GUIDESPARTA 17 Today Buddhism Studies 4:30 p.m. in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, Room 734. Contact Albert at [email protected] Creative Arts Club “Live Art Cafe,” featuring a mixer, performances and short fi lms. 6 to 10 p.m. in the Loma Prieta room of the Student Union. Contact Teri Nguyen at 667-5315. Department of Health and Science “New Faces of Public Health Poster Project.” 3 p.m. in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, Room 225/229. Contact Rachael Madison at 924-2971. MARCH About 6,000 people participated, 90 from SJSU Gallery Opening SJSU students march in Sacramento against budget cuts to California’s universities and colleges. DEREK SIJDER / Spartan Daily 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the galleries in the Art Building and the Indus- horror movie, the guy won’t come ifi ed California student has the “In reality, I want all 32,000 the economy or college students trial Studies building. aft er you with a chainsaw,” he said best education anywhere in this students to come out to this any time soon. Contact Ace Antazo at Continued from page 1 during his speech. “What he does world. It can be done. You can event, because that would be “What’s good is that young [email protected] is he says, ‘here UC. Here’s the make it happen. Make your voice great if they all cared that much,” people are still optimistic because University and University of Cali- chainsaw. You decide what part heard.” he said. A lot of schools have they haven’t experienced the real Party With a Plan fornia systems. you want to cut off . Here CSU, Of the thousands of students spring break this week, which is bad stuff ,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot Find ways to stay healthy and “To have all three (college here’s the chainsaw, are you going present at the rally, only about 90 why it’s so convenient for them of things happen in this country balanced while engaging in systems) represented at the same to chop off an arm or a leg? Here students made the two-hour trip to show up — but we didn’t, so it and we haven’t seen the worst of social activities where drinking is rally … was a great way of stating community colleges. Maybe you from San Jose, but senior sociol- kind of made it more diffi cult.” it yet, which is sad. Th e bott om involved. 3 to 4:30 p.m. in Clark that we are in support of higher want to cut off a nose?’” ogy major Diana Victa said she Pallin added that students hasn’t quite fallen out yet.” Hall, Room 118. education as a unit,” he said. “I’m “We’ve had to cut course expected more from the students should really be concerned Julian Rosenberg, president of Contact Veronica Mendoza at hoping that (students) start un- openings,” Lieu said. “We’ve had at this university. about how the budget cuts are the SJSU chapter of Students for [email protected] derstanding that education is to close admissions. We’ve elimi- “Th ere was a lot more last year keeping qualifi ed students out Quality Education and a senior more than just what aff ects us nated programs. Th at’s what’s and to be honest I’m quite disap- of college. political science major, said he is Pride of the Pacifi c now. It’s the future of California so scary.” pointed at the fact that we had two “In reality, it’s not that we have disappointed in the cuts but still Islands and the economy.” Lt. Gov. John Garamendi was buses that came, because De Anza to pay more, it’s that other people believes that there is still time to General meeting 5:30 p.m. in Several speakers from Califor- at the rally for his second straight community college had four,” she who can’t aff ord it defi nitely can’t make a diff erence. the Ohlone Room of the Student nia community colleges addressed year, and reiterated to students said. “We have 33,000 students aff ord it now,” he said. “It makes “We have a really good group Union. Contact Kristen Tom at the almost 6,000 protesters who in att endance that they are the and only 90 showed up? I think it impossible for people who de- here but ultimately, it’s going to [email protected] gathered on the Capitol Mall future of this state and that the we could do bett er.” serve education to get it.” take everybody standing up and lawn, including Mark Wade Lieu, student protest should continue Senior political science major It wasn’t just the youth who doing something,” he said. “Th ey Spartan Smart Cart the Academic Senate president when they return to their own Zachary Pallin, who helped pro- came out to make their voices can’t just leave it for someone else Fresh fruit and veggies. for California Community Col- communities. mote and plan the march, said heard. Henry Morillo, a 54-year- to do because they’re too busy.” 10:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Clark Hall, leges, who likened the California “Stop the disinvestment. Make he was equally disappointed, but old Vietnam War veteran, com- “We have faxes. You can write rain or shine. Contact Luisa Gar- government to a chainsaw-wield- your voice heard back in your understood that students have pleted his master’s degree at an e-mail. You can make a phone rett at [email protected] ing villain in a horror movie. communities,” he said. “Do not their reasons for not joining the SJSU last May, and said he does call,” he added. “Everybody can “In a good twist like in any good stop your protest until every qual- protest. not see things gett ing bett er for do something for this.” Tuesday Night Lecture Series Marguerite Perret discusses “The Beautiful and the Sublime: The Simulated Garden Redux.” CONCERT Middle 5 p.m. in the Art Building, Room 133. Contact Ace Antazo at [email protected] East the focus of one piece Vocal Varietals Voice studio of Professor Joseph Frank. 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. in the Music Building Concert Hall. Contact 924-4673 for more information.

18 TomorrowTomorro Campus Cookout Free food and entertainment for students. Noon to 1 p.m. at the A.S. barbecue pits. Graduation, What’s Next? Learn some of the steps that will A member of SJSU’s symphony SANDRA SANTOS / Spartan Daily make graduation smooth sailing. orchestra plays the violin during a concert on Wednesday evening. 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. in Clark Hall, Room 118. Continued from page 1 notes, but before that I was Contact Veronica Mendoza at like ‘what am I going to do?’” [email protected] McChristian said. “It wasn’t I was able to zoom out and disso- until I was actually experimenting Weekly Discussion ciate myself somewhat from the around and something kicked in.” Hangout with globally-minded feelings of raw hatred.” McChristian said another people, discuss international Moalem said he is an Israeli diffi cult aspect of composing issues and fi nd out internship Jew, and that he was able to a piece in general is writing parts opportunities. 6:15 p.m. in the accept Muslim culture aft er for every instrument in the or- Pacheco Room of the Student his trip. chestra. Union. Contact Ryan Wu at “I think that’s the fi rst step “You can get all of your ideas [email protected] toward peace,” he said. “To fi nd out into the piece and then you the beauty and appreciate each realize people actually have to play Zen Buddhism Club other’s culture.” it,” he said. “So you have to make “Releasing Ourselves from “Vis Machina,” composed it manageable for instruments, for Obsession.” 3:30 p.m. in the by senior music composition musicians.” Costanoan Room of the Student major Jason McChristian, also Janet Averett , director of the Union. Contact Justin at 677-8681 made its premiere at the orches- performance and conductor of or [email protected] tra’s performance. According the SJSU Symphony Orchestra, to the program, “Vis Machina,” said that these students’ “orches- or “machine force,” represents tration skills,” knowing diff erent the inner-workings of a mechan- instruments’ sound, range and Sparta Guide is provided free of charge to students, faculty and ical device. knowing where to use them, staff members. The deadline for McChristian said that aft er he are one reason their pieces were entries is noon, three working days decided during the summer that picked for the performance. before the desired publication date. he wanted to write for the orches- “Jason’s and Be’eri’s pieces Space restrictions may require tra, he played around on the key- were selected for their origi- editing of submission. Entries are printed in the order in which they board and came up with the four nality, creativity and good use are received. Submit entries online notes that would be present for of orchestration skills,” she at thespartandaily.com or in writ- the majority of his piece. said. “Th e programming of the ing at DBH 209. “Just gett ing that initial in- concert was richly varied and spiration, for me it was the four challenging.” PAGE3 TUESDAY,,, MARCH 17, 2009 SPORTS TRACK AND FIELD SJSU hurdler jumps her way into record books

Heather Vachon, a junior hoping to get into the athletic training program, trains for last Saturday’s track and fi eld club meet at San Jose City College. Vachon is the fi rst female athlete to run the 400-meter hurdles for the SJSU track and fi eld club. STEFAN ARMIJO / Spartan Daily

Junior gymnast is ‘doing track and field a try for the first Vachon ran a 72 at the Aggie Since then, there was a time since junior high. Twilight Open, shaving down her short-lived track and fi eld club “Heather is a gymnast who started hurdling well for not having any “I did a lot of acrobatic gym- time by 12-tenths of a second. that died away aft er a few years, last year for the fi rst time ever and she’s experience,’ coach says nastics (in high school),” Vachon “She’s doing well for not hav- O’Neill said. said, “so that’s where a lot of my ing any experience. She’s going “A couple of guys started it steadily improved. It’s a very diffi cult thing jumping and running comes from, against girls who have been at it again about fi ve years ago, and BRETT GIFFORD but I’ve never done track before.” for a while, like UC teams that then last year it really got going to break into at the college level.” Staff Writer Th e 400-meter hurdles event are college recruited and all they to the point that we had competi- is considered by some to be one do is run,” said coach and club tions again.” LEO O’NEILL SJSU’s track and fi eld club has of the more diffi cult events in founder William Brown. Th e current track and fi eld SJSU track and fi eld coach a new up-and-coming athlete on which to compete. Vachon said there were some club team is in its second year the team. “Th at (400-meter hurdles) great runners at the event and it of competition. Heather Vachon has sprint- is one of the most challenging, motivated her to want to push “Because there was never really ed and jumped into the record hardest events just to mentally harder because she knows that any girls except the cross-country books as the fi rst woman to com- get your head around,” O’Neill she could be of the same caliber. team, most any track event is a pete in the 400-meter hurdles in said. “It’s a full sprint all the way “I’m hoping that watching school record for women because the university’s history. around (the track) with 10 hur- them and training harder will there never really was a women’s “Heather is a gymnast who dles in the way, so it’s a very dif- help push me along through the team,” Brown said. started hurdling last year for fi cult event.” rest of the season,” Vachon said. Vachon said she is also train- the first time ever and she’s Vachon says she is happy with SJSU’s men’s track and fi eld ing in pole vaulting and the high steadily improved,” said Leo her performance so far and is team was discontinued along jump. O’Neill said he is trying to O’Neill, coach of the SJSU looking forward to improving with cross-country in 1988 due talk Vachon into doing a decath- track and field club. “It’s a very over the season. to fi nancial cuts. lon in May. difficult thing to break into at “As of a couple of days ago, I “Funding cuts killed it in 1988, “I just have to keep training,” the college level.” got a 73 (seconds). By the end of as with many other NCAA cham- Vachon said, “and when I feel Vachon, a junior kinesiol- the year, I’m hoping to get a 68 pionship sports programs at San more confi dent with my ability ogy major, said she decided or 69,” she said before competing Jose State,” O’Neill said. “Track in those events, I’ll actually go to join after she saw a flier for last weekend at the Aggie Twi- and fi eld was one of the top out and try it and see how I can the club and wanted to give light Open at UC Davis. track programs in the nation.” handle it in competition.” BLOG Follow the Spartan Daily Sports Blog Go to Spartandailysports.wordpress.com

Heather Vachon trains at the San STEFAN ARMIJO / Spartan Daily Jose City College’s track on Saturday. Vachon is the fi rst female athlete to run the 400-meter hurdles for the SJSU track and fi eld club. According to SJSU track and fi eld club coach Leo O’Neill, the 10 hurdle sprint around the track “is one of the most challenging, hardest events just to mentally get your head around.” 4PAGE A & E TUESDAY,,, MARCH 17, 2009 CD REVIEW: SAM ROBERTS BAND ‘LOVE AT THE END OF THE WORLD’ Canadian band channels The Beatles’ vibe it won’t put you to sleep, un- can be purchased on iTunes for ANDREA MUNIZ like some of the other stuff on 99 cents. Or you can see it on Staff Writer this album. YouTube for free. “Words & Fire,” on the other Sam Roberts Band is current- If you’re looking for music hand, is not up-tempo, nor does ly on tour in the U.S., and they’re that makes you think, pick up it have a feel-good beat. Th is scheduled to stop in San Fran- “Love at the End of the World,” folk-like love tune, featuring fel- cisco at Café du Nord on March the most recent album by the low Canadian singer Angela Des- 26. Tickets are $12 and can be Sam Roberts Band. veaux, sounds like it should be purchased through the band’s Sam Roberts Band is a rock sung around a campfi re rather Web site. group based out of Montreal has than played for some emotional made a decent name for itself in connection. Th e chorus is mo- Recommendations Canada. notonously repeated over and “Love at the End of the over again, but the good thing Songs to make you want to World” debuted at No. 1 in their is that there is another voice gather your brothers and sisters country when it was released in featured in the song other than and hold up peace signs: May 2008. Th e CD’s U.S. release just Roberts’. was in February. A well-writt en piece on this “Oh Maria” and “Up I’m hesitant to classify this album, “Stripmall Religion,” is Sister” group as “rock.” Maybe I’ve been a good easy-listening piece with socially brainwashed as to what a serious reference to a shoot- Songs to bring you back to rock is, no thanks to Bret Mi- ing that happened in 2006 at those fun-loving and carefree chaels or those hair bands of the a college near Roberts’ home- days without responsibility: ’80s, but I would say that they town. “Now there’s bloodshed have a light-rock feel. / in my hometown / there was “Them Kids” and “De- Th e lead vocalist’s voice, Sam bloodshed / there were kids troit ‘67” Roberts, is similar to the croons shot down.” of Th e Beatles’ Paul McCartney, Many of these songs have Soundtrack songs for your and many of the band’s songs stories behind them, but with- “woe is me” days: have a ’60s vibe. out knowledge of the story Th e fi rst song, the title track, beforehand, it is hard to catch “Waking the Dead” and gives listeners a toe-tapping, feel- their meaning. “Sundance” good beat and a good guitar part. If you’re looking for some- Th e chorus is catchy and easy to thing diff erent than what pol- Don’t bother listening to: remember: “Th is is love at the lutes the radio airwaves, I would end of the world / Th ere’s still give the Sam Roberts Band a “Words & Fire” and love / at the end of the world.” shot. Th eir title track is a good “The Pilgrim” With its up-tempo beat, indication of their style, and Lead singer Sam Roberts (left) and his bandmates. Courtesy Shore Fire Media

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for discount vacations or merchandise. 5PAGE TUESDAY,,, MARCH 17, 2009 OPINION Spartan Daily The exploitation of immigrant workers set when picking out wall color, a package deal, and his friend money they probably wouldn’t In my recent situation, I was were of no help now. I needed would come too. have earned that day. Nike and the two Hispanic la- serious manpower. Th at suited me just fi ne. I Days later, however, a guilty borers were the Vietnamese fac- I called a moving company needed all the manpower I could feeling began nibbling at me. A tory workers. Nike, which spends Dwight Bentel Hall, Room 209 and aft er being quoted almost get. I was prepared to pay them nauseating question suddenly millions of dollars each year on One Washington Square $100 an hour, I sought a more $50 each, but they insisted on an popped into my mind. advertising and endorsements, San Jose, CA 95192-0149 aff ordable option. Aft er all, I hourly wage and I agreed. We de- Had I exploited those men? can aff ord to pay its workers News: 408-924-3281 thought, I’m a poor college stu- cided $10 an hour was fair. Th at more, I could have too. One pair Advertising: 408-924-3270 ELIZABETH KANG dent. is more than the minimum wage, I drove to Home of shoes or a few weeks worth Fax: 408-924-3282 Staff Writer So, I developed what I thought I reasoned. of overpriced tart yogurt should News e-mail: was, at the time, a great idea. I Th e two men were polite, re- Depot where I had have been sacrifi ced to pay those [email protected] drove to Home Depot where spectful and very hard working. men what they were worth. Just Advertising e-mail: I moved from a third-fl oor I had seen them many times, Aft er four hours of strenuous seen them many because they agreed on the wage [email protected] apartment to a three-story town- standing, waiting and hoping. labor, I bought them each a sand- times, standing, doesn’t mean it’s a fair price. house last weekend. Th e two And much to my relief they were wich, gave them both $40 and People who are out of work properties share an unfortunate indeed still there. thanked God I didn’t have to do waiting and hoping. and desperate will likely agree SENIOR EDITORIAL STAFF feature: three long, strenuous Roughly 10 Hispanic men all that work myself. to work very hard for very litt le, JOHN HORNBERG, Executive Editor fl ights of stairs. Based on my were huddled in the parking lot, At the end of the day, I sat Lessons from a cultural an- and people who take advantage TOMMY WRIGHT, Managing Editor exhausting experience the fi rst wearing paint-splotched sweat- back and sighed, thinking that I thropology class reinforced my of their desperation are guilty of CARLOS A. MORENO, Photo Editor JON XAVIER, Online Editor time I moved, I knew I needed shirts and looking bored. Of had just been part of a great mu- suspicions. I remembered my exploitation, ashamedly, as I was ANDREA FRAINIER, Opinion Editor help. Help in the form of muscle, the group, a younger, taller man tual relationship. professor talking about a Nike last week. RYAN BUCHAN, Sports Editor sweat and stamina. stood out. I pointed to him, and A win-win situation in which factory in Vietnam that pays its MATTHEW KIMEL, Sports Editor My sweetie, being only one he eagerly approached. In my I found aff ordable help for some- workers about $10 a week. Th at Elizabeth Kang is a Spartan CHRIS CURRY, Arts & Entertainment Editor man, was not going to cut it. very limited Spanish I under- thing I couldn’t possibly have is, unfortunately, the pathetic Daily staff writer. ALLIE FIGURES, Arts & Entertainment Editor My girlfriends, who were an as- stood that he considered himself done alone and they earned minimum wage there. JOEY AKELEY, Multimedia Editor KAAJAL MORAR, Features Editor KIMBERLY TSAO, Features Editor ELISHA MALDONADO, Investigations Editor MEGAN HAMILTON, Production Editor Appreciating what we take for granted YA-AN CHAN, Copy Editor ANGELO LANHAM, Copy Editor didn’t have iPods, just skipping ine sharing a bath that came right (all you wise guys who wall in place of the blue screen CD players. And we liked it! from a kett le. Imagine being answered “beer bongs” can go of death. SENIOR ADVERTISING STAFF But a few centuries ago, to have third in line to take this bath, to hell). Can you imagine a world VANESSA ALESSI, Advertising Director traveling music, you’d need to ignoring the gray water with Just think. Without a laptop, in which your phone only DARREN MITCHELL, Assistant hire a stringed quartet to follow mysterious fl oaters abound. In you’d have to pay att ention in calls people? A telephone that Advertising Director you around. a society in which we feel dirty class. Without Facebook, you’d doesn’t take pictures, notes, KRISTI RIGGS, Creative Director Just imagine a world without aft er a day without a shower, have to meet people and actually have an alarm clock or make EMILY JAMES, Assistant Creative toast. So big a part of my life is wouldn’t that suck? talk to them, maybe even meet espresso? And — get this — is Director ANGELO LANHAM toast that I’m not sure I’d even them at places. If you’re willing tethered to the wall? Yes, I Have a Point want to live in such a world. Just Just think about to go out on a limb and imagine It’s the simple things that STAFF WRITERS think about poor Grog, my di- poor Grog, my direct a world sans cell phone, then to separate us from our knuckle- JESSICA AYALA, MARCOS BLANCO, rect ancestor, who had to toast do this, you’d need to actually dragging ancestors who were HANK DREW, DOMINIQUE DUMADAUG, Let’s appreciate some stuff . his bread on a stick using the ancestor, who had set a meeting place and time, completely void of oatmeal, in- KELLY ENOS, JESSICA FROMM, It so rarely happens in this fi rst fi re, discovered by Zoog. and fi nd your friends there. stant or otherwise, who had to BRETT GIFFORD, MERRIL GUZMAN, society that we step away from Imagine lighting your ciga- to toast his bread Bollocks, you say? Th ere’s forage around hoping to knock ANDREW HERNDON, ELIZABETH KANG, time spent complaining about rett e by rubbing two sticks to- more. How many times have dead a saber-toothed tiger with MICHAEL LE ROY, DAN LU, the likes of a malfunctioning gether for half an hour. on a stick using the you been to a library to do re- a really big rock. ANDREA MUNIZ, iPod or the drudgery of the Are you far-sighted? Stop fi rst fi re, discovered search? If I zapped away your Next time you’re feel a tiff SAMANTHA PATTERSON, JUSTIN PERRY, endless seconds the microwave whining about your dropped laptop with my magic laptop coming on, try to sympathize MINH PHAM, HARVEY RANOLA, takes to prepare our instant oat- contact lens and imagine a zapper-awayer, you can multi- with poor Grog and Zoog. SCOTT REYBURN, SAMANTHA RIVERA, by Zoog. meal. time before glasses, when if you ply that number exponentially. Ha. Let’s see you complain JULIANNE SHAPIRO, HOLLY SZKOROPAD, STEPHANIE VALLEJO, RALPH WARNER Since we’re appreciating, wanted to curl up and read a Light bulbs. Th anks, Tom. To replace your laptop with about last season’s iPod now. though, just imagine if, before good tablet of stone, you had to Th e hell with kerosene. 1970s-era technology, you’d your busy schedule, you actu- make someone hold it for you Humor me. Ask yourself this need a room with a record play- SENIOR STAFF WRITERS ally had to prepare oatmeal the across the street. question: “What is the tech- er and about 5,000 records, the Angelo Lanham is a Spartan TARA DUFFY old-fashioned way. Would you Indoor plumbing is prett y nological advancement I most biggest bookshelf imaginable, a Daily copy editor. “Yes, I DANIELLE TORRALBA bother? Th ank God for instant nift y. It would be prett y hard to could not do without?” typewriter and, probably, scores Have a Point” appears every DAVID ZUGNONI oatmeal. go back to outhouses aft er the If you answered “laptop of bank statements. And maybe Tuesday. And the iPod. In my day, we luxury of fl ushing toilets. Imag- computer,” you’re probably a blue square painted on the ADVERTISING STAFF ASHLEY CHAVIRA, DIEP DINH, SAMANTHA INOUYE, KHALID JIVANI, RYAN KINGSLAND, LILIA LUNA, SHOKO MASUDA, RITA MIKHALTCHOUK, Forging new allies in the Middle East NAMPHUONG VAN President Obama is set for an With long-held ties to the to maintain a commitment to ence a sin as well as crime,”Lewis outing to Ankara next month, West dating back to the begin- constitutional democracy. wrote. ILLUSTRATOR further proving his willingness nings of the Ott oman state, Tur- All of that is in spite of the fact “Th at much is obvious, and CARTY SEWILL to follow through on his words key is perhaps the only Muslim that Turkey is an Islamic-orient- generally recognized. What is — the ones that off ered “a new country with a working democra- ed nation populated by 99.8 per- less obvious, and is insuffi ciently way forward, based on mutual cy, which shows that their politi- cent Muslims. recognized, is that the task of PHOTOGRAPHERS interest and mutual respect” to cal and economic background is So where Turkey is con- maintaining free institutions have MIKE ANDERSON STEFAN ARMIJO the Muslim world. comparable to the Unites States’ cerned, I will disregard Ayatollah been made harder, not easier, by SANDRA SANTOS ELISHA MALDONADO ideological belief in democratic Ruhallah Khomeini saying, in his the processes of modernization YOUNG-SUNG KWON ... in love and war Nonetheless, I feel government. 1979 “Message to the Pilgrims,” in the nineteenth and twentieth Th e visits by Mrs. Clinton that the Islamic religion is one centuries.” it must be said up and Mr. Obama are a big deal, that provides counsel on the If Turkey is committ ed to the ADVISERS It goes without saying that front: Turkey is an because straddling Europe, conducting of aff airs of state. upkeep of a Westernized style of RICHARD CRAIG, News when disagreement arises be- Central Asia and the Middle Turkey has remained demo- democracy in the Middle East, MACK LUNDSTROM, News tween longtime friends, or in this ally worth having East, Turkey holds a certain cratic and has abided, by and it is up to the U.S. to ensure that JAN SHAW, News case, allies, the two should work amount of sway over a num- large, by the rule separation of our friendship remains on good MICHAEL CHEERS, Photojournalism it out; at least, if the friendship is — and a relation ber of zones critical to U.S. for- church and state. terms. TIM HENDRICK, Advertising worth something. eign policy. Plus the following: To prove that this is some More important, it is up to TIM BURKE, Production Chief worth improving. TIM MITCHELL, Design It could also go unvoiced that Turkey has supported, and still sort of feat, I call as my witness the president to re-establish the JOHN SHRADER, Multimedia if the two were ever really allies, A step in the right direction, maintains, diplomatic relations Bernard Lewis, historian, politi- good relationship that has al- PAT WALLRAVEN, Business Manager it must mean they have a frame if I do say so, at least in terms of with Israel. Turkey has a mem- cal commentator and professor ways existed with them and us. of understanding, a shared foun- foreign policy. God knows the bership to NATO, which is still emeritus of Near Eastern Studies Even if it is only a symbolic one. DISTRIBUTION dation. A homologous goal. A same cannot be said about Iran, an important military alliance. at Princeton University. If he does so, the message sent ANDREW IDUL commonality. but that is beside the point. Th ey have fostered peace “It is not easy to create and to the Muslim world will be the GURDIP CHERA Th e United States’ sending of Point is: Clinton’s trek ap- talks between Syria and Israel, maintain free institutions in a one he intended to portray from Secretary of State Hillary Clin- pears to have been rewarding. and have proved instrumental in region of age-old authoritarian the start: “Th e Americans are not OPINION PAGE POLICY ton to Ankara, the Turkish capi- She said: “I will tell President quelling — or at least continued traditions, in a political culture your enemy.” tal, which it did this month, in- Obama he will fi nd a warm wel- att empts to quell — the repeat- where religion and ethics have Letters to the editor may be placed in dicates the new administration’s come when he comes here to ed quarrels between Israel and been more concerned with duties Elisha Maldonado is the the letters to the editor box in the Spartan Spartan Daily investigations Daily offi ce in Dwight Bentel Hall, Room att empt to work on its relation- Turkey. ... He will fi nd, as I have Gaza. than with rights, in which obedi- 209, sent by fax to (408) 924-3282, ship with Turkey. always found, not only a partner Th ey are self-made, economi- ence to legitimate authority is a editor “... in love and war” e-mailed to [email protected]. If you will recall, the friend- for the challenges and opportu- cally speaking. And, perhaps religious obligation as well as a appears every other Tuesday. edu or mailed to the Spartan Daily ship (or alliance, both used in- nities that we face together, but a most important of all, continue political necessity, and disobedi- Opinion Editor, School of Journalism and terchangeably) between the U.S. friend for all times and all chal- Mass Communications, San Jose State and Turkey was ever so slightly lenges that lie ahead.” University, One Washington Square, sullied under the Bush adminis- And, unlike Bosnia, it would San Jose, CA 95112-0149. tration when Turkish parliament appear Clinton is telling some Letters to the editor must contain the refused to allow U.S. troops to sort of truth. I’ll cross my fi ngers DID YOU KNOW... author’s name, address, phone number, use Turkey as a jumping point for more. signature and major. Letters become into neighboring Iraq in 2003. For insurance, I include a property of the Spartan Daily and may Today is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of be edited for clarity, grammar, libel and Th e subsequent war cost the statement from Turkish For- length. Only letters of 300 words or less U.S. a litt le bit of glitt ering star eign Minister Ali Babacan: “Th e Ireland? It is believed that he died on March 17 in the year will be considered for publication. power. new administration is aware of Published opinions and advertisements Nonetheless, I feel it must be Turkey’s importance. Turkish- 460 C.E. St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland. do not necessarily refl ect the views of the said up front: Turkey is an ally American relations have entered Spartan Daily, the School of Journalism worth having — and a relation a new era.” and Mass Communications or SJSU. worth improving. And, so ... well, yes, Turkey is — history.com The Spartan Daily is a public forum. As a sign of good measure, important. 6PAGE SPORTS TUESDAY,,, MARCH 17, 2009 COMMENTARY The weird, the wild, the WACky perfected the art of heckling. ers, I don’t feel for its fans aft er Th e Aggies (yep, another what they did to SJSU forward team named the Aggies) won the C.J. Webster. men’s tournament, meaning their C.J. was a force in a hard- fans had three chances to do the fought SJSU-Nevada quarterfi - brutal “Winning team, losing nal matchup, but he fouled out team” chant. of the game with 45 seconds left It’s a call-and-response thing. and had to walk off the court. DAVID ZUGNONI Imagine the fans pointing to the Excited to know that C.J. Senior Staff Writer appropriate places. wouldn’t give Nevada’s big men Call: “Is that the score- any more trouble, Nevada fans RENO, aka “GOD’S COUN- board?” yelled “Left ! ... Right! ... Left ! ... TRY” — Th ere were 32 hours of Response: “Yes, that is the Right!” with each of C.J.’s steps. to be seen during the scoreboard!” He stood near the end of Western Athletic Conference Call: “Is that an 85?” the SJSU bench and the crowd Basketball Tournament at Law- Response: “Yes, that is an continued the verbal assault. I lor Events Center last week, and 85!” don’t know if C.J. wouldn’t give I for one had a blast. But let’s Call: “Is that a 68?” the fans the satisfaction or if he Utah State mascot Big Blue fi nds himself in a headlock after CHAD ZIEMENDORF / Spartan Daily be honest: A grueling, athletic Response: “Yes, that is a 68!” just decided to stand instead of stealing New Mexico State mascot Pistol Pete’s mustache. competition is sometimes just Call: “Is that the winning sit, but, as every chant appar- not enough. team?” ently ends, the fans shouted “Sit He did handstands. He popped last game of her collegiate career apologized to the media for tak- Nope, we prefer to spice it Response: “Yes, that is the down!” but he never did. his collar. and teammate Cherlanda Frank- ing longer than usual for him and up with silly stuff like big fuzzy winning team!” And add that to his good lin was on the edge of tears, but two of his players to make it to mascots, dance-off s, displays of Call: “Is that the losing The Big Dance looks — baby blue eyes, great both players held their compo- the conference. bad sportsmanship, such as the team?” At stake at the WAC Tourna- smile and a well-groomed tail — sure and gave robust, honest an- Th e Bulldogs had been cel- “Winning team, losing team” Response: “Yes, that is the ment is an automatic bid to the and there’s no contest. swers aft er a championship game ebrating and accepting awards chant (I’ll explain later), and losing team!” NCAA Tournament, aka the Big And the award for best school loss to Fresno State. on the court, with photographers coaches saying absurd things in ... Picture the pointing now ... Dance. Th e Fresno State wom- band goes to Idaho. I’ve heard On the men’s side, credit goes clicking away during its players’ post-game news conferences. “Winning team! Losing team! en’s team will be goingng to all theth usuals — you know, to Louisiana Tech’s Kyle Gibson emotional personal moments, and Nevada men’s head coach Winning team! Losing team! the Big Dance on the “Bom-bom-bom-BUM-“B and Magnum Rolle, who scored Wiggins felt bad that the media Mark Fox had the sound bite of Winning team! Losing team!” heels of a tourna- BUM” and “Da-da- 25 and 24 points respectively in had to wait a few extra minutes. the week when he responded Utah State fans also didn’t ment MVP perfor- duh-da, HEY!” — a semifi nal loss to Nevada. It was What a guy. It’s too bad his to a question about the univer- mind making a rather homopho- mance by sopho- but the Idaho band an especially rough night for the team will most likely get crushed sity hosting the tournament. He bic chant directed toward the more Jaleesa Ross. had a more diverse Bulldogs, who lost two players in the fi rst round of the NCAA was talking about how great it Nevada Wolf Pack. During It might be selection while stay- in the game, one to a knee injury Tournament against Cal, the was that other teams and their warm-ups of the men’s cham- wise for Jaleesa to takeke inging in the barriers of what and the other to a concussion. 13th-ranked team in the nation. fans could enjoy the splendor of pionship game between Utah a few dancing tips from constitutesconstit a school band, And lastly, the ultimate polite- Reno, and then it came: State and Nevada, the Wolf Pack her 72-year-old auntie,ie, Annie andand aalsol showed the best ness award goes to Fresno State “Th is is God’s country.” faithful chanted “Wolf! Pack! Grey, who won a dance-offffd dur- overallll musicianship. women’s coach Adrian Wiggins. David Zugnoni is a Spartan I don’t know about that one, Wolf! Pack!” ing a timeout while holding a Aft er his team’s victory in the Daily senior staff writer. Coach. And an equally loud Utah cane and wearing an oxygen tank Slightly serious nods championship game, he actually Not only did I witness a State student section chanted over her shoulder. I doubt any player looks for- 50-year-old man drinking three “Fudge!” in place of “Wolf!” Grey, from San Pablo, won a ward to answering questions from shots of whiskey at 5:30 a.m., And sexism was cool with Ag- cell phone aft er being declared the media aft er a heart-crushing but I was also off ered a prosti- gie fans, too. the winner by audience applause. loss that ends his or her season. tute and crystal meth within six While the Wolf Pack cheer- Aft er her victory, while sitt ing on But that’s exactly what happens hours. Maybe God had an emo- leaders danced during a timeout, her electric scooter, she said she at the end of every game in a win- tional breakdown when he cre- an “Ours are hott er” chant rang was once a professional dancer. or-go-home tournament. ated Reno. Th ese things happen. out from the Utah State section. No player or coach was at Not to rip on Utah State too A pair of awards fault for being rude to the media, When Mascots Attack much. I’ll say that its men’s head Th e award for best mascot but I think a few deserve credit Pistol Pete, the New Mexico coach Stew Morrill and players goes to Boise State’s Buster the for handling it the best. State mascot, is a nice guy ... but Gary Wilkinson, and Bronco. On the women’s side, Nevada’s don’t mess with his costume. I Jared Quayle were polite and Th e thoroughbred made a Dellena Criner had just lost the talked to him before the quarter- sociable with the media and an- case for himself in an impromptu fi nals, and he knew more about swered all the questions as well dance-off against Nevada’s mas- the Spartans men’s basketball as they could. cot during a women’s quarterfi - team than 99 percent of SJSU Utah State beat Nevada in the nal game. students. men’s championship game, and Th is guy was electric: shaking, We sort of made a deal that I while I feel for the Nevada play- shivering, trembling, gyrating. would root for his Aggies and he would root our Spartans in their respective men’s quarterfi nals games. I got the bett er end of it, though. I had already planned on rooting for the Aggies be- cause of Wendell McKines, a guy I saw play for Richmond High School a couple years back who I was happy to see playing at the next level. I later found out that the Aggies were also a damn fun team to watch. If you catch one SJSU basketball game next sea- son, think about checking out New Mexico State. Aaaaanyways, Pistol Pete tried hard to get noticed all week, despite his lack of dancer’s feet, and he fi nally got it done during a timeout in the last minute of a tense Utah State-New Mexico State men’s semifi nal game. Apparently, a Utah State fan off ered $100 to Big Blue the Bull, Utah State’s mascot, to go across the court and knock the fake mustache off Pete’s real face. As Big Blue walked away, Pete charged aft er him and at- tempted a Ray Lewis-like tackle. But Big Blue is a bull and tough to take down, so Pete ended up holding him against the media table with his arms around the bull’s fuzzy neck. Pistol Pete was reprimanded by a leader of the New Mexico State cheering section, and once he cooled down, he apologized to his fellow students, Utah State fans and everyone else who would listen. Th e next day we learned that Big Blue had to pass the $100 on to charity. You, you, you, yooouuu suck! Big Blue’s assault on fake fa- cial hair wasn’t the only piece of bad sportsmanship that came out of Utah State’s cheering sec- tion during the tournament. Th e school brought more fans to Reno than any school other than Annie Grey, 72, gets her Courtesy of Amy Beck / Nevada Sagebrush hometown Nevada, and they groove on in a dance competition at the WAC Tournament.