Bike Thefts Nearly Halved Studies of Trends and Hotspots May Have Contributed ASHLEN DOMINGUEZ Daily Titan
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THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2014 Volume 95, Issue 21 Bike thefts nearly halved Studies of trends and hotspots may have contributed ASHLEN DOMINGUEZ Daily Titan In 2013 there were only 69 reported incidents of bike theft on campus, a 44 percent decrease from 2012, according to recently-released crime statistics from the Cal State Fullerton University Police. MARIAH CARRILLO / Daily Titan While the reports in- Kiran George, an associate professor of computer engineering at Cal State Fullerton, assists Micheal Vavro, 28, a junior majoring in computer science, with a dicate a big improve- robotic arm on Feb. 27. The device moves the wearer’s arm and hand through facial expressions. ment, the numbers are still double what they were in 2009. University NOTEWORTHY SERIES Police officers are active- ly working to decrease these numbers as much as possible. Throughout 2013, of- ficers studied the trends Working science fiction and hotspots with the most theft and used that robotically move the wear- in your brain as a way to control technique. Moving forward, he said information to help pre- Team uses robotic er’s arm and hand. understand when you’re “There are so many ways the team is working to im- vent more incidents. system to mimic Although this initially looking at that stimuli and to extract a small signal, plement a system called Capt. John Brockie said seems like a scene straight we can use that to control the one that you’re looking Steady State Visually directing patrol units to movement of arm from a science fiction anything,” Vavro said. “The for, that needle in the hay- Evoked Potentials (SS VEP). needed areas, as well as CYNTHIA WASHICKO show, it is the result of whole heart of it is the fact stack, from all of that hay,” This particular system re- security cameras, have Daily Titan months of work done by a that we’re taking advantage Vavro said. “With several quires the user to focus on helped to reduce the group of students at Cal of those phenomena to un- ways to do that, it’s a matter a flashing light to move the number of thefts. State Fullerton. derstand what’s going on of figuring out which way arm, rather than relying He advises students to Bands of black plastic As Micheal Vavro, a ju- in your brain and then use you want to do it.” on more subjective facial be careful when using and velcro encase the stu- nior computer science ma- that to make a movement.” As it currently func- expressions. their bikes and take ev- dent’s arm as multicol- jor, opens and closes his While the device seems tions, the system uses fa- “(SS VEP) doesn’t re- ery precaution to keep it ored wires swirl down to hand, he showcases the like a well-oiled machine cial expressions from the quire any training; it makes safe while locked up and small silver clamps around culmination of that work. now, it has taken almost a user to function the arm, the arm far more robust,” to also be aware of the his fingertips. A match- Vavro said the device rec- year of planning and proto- said Hayden Donze, a se- Donze said. features on your. Wheels ing band wraps around ognizes brain waves creat- types to make it complete. nior computer science The change to a more are are easily stolen and the back of his head and ed when a person looks at The team started work- major. While this system universal system is not the need to be locked along extends plastic tentacles a certain stimulus and uti- ing on the robotic arm works, he said, it’s one that only improvement in the with the frame. across his forehead. lizes those to move the ro- during the summer of requires training, which works either. “Use a quality lock. The entire system was de- botic arm. 2013. The initial planning, makes it difficult for a new I recommend a metal veloped with a deceptively “(We) can use this natural Vavro said, had much to wearer to use the arm right ‘U’ type lock,” Brockie simple function in mind: to phenomenon that occurs do with finding the right out of the box. SEE ROBOT, 5 said. “Cables and chains are generally easy to defeat.” Brockie said University Advocating for a cause Titans use long ball Police has a plan of ac- tion to continue to low- er the number of bike thefts. Jocelyn Rierson is to down Antelopes The housing area, the CSUF Autism which previously had the Speaks U president Three jacks propels SOFTBALL highest number of inci- dents than anywhere else NICOLE WEAVER CSUF to a win in a on campus, is now home Daily Titan high scoring affair to the University Police’s Crime Prevention Unit. At a young age, Jocelyn MICHAEL HUNTLEY 09 “This gives us a per- Rierson knew what she Daily Titan 5 manent home in Housing wanted to do with her life. which will increase the Her devotion to children The Cal State Fullerton police presence,” Brockie and adults with disabili- softball team defeated said. “Coupled with our ties began after stepping Grand Canyon University 07 campaign to increase onto a basketball court 9-7 Wednesday night in a the bicycle registration with Shooting Stars for thriller at Anderson Family the bottom of the first in- program, we think bike the first time. Field. ning. Sophomore third theft will be reduced in Shooting Stars is an in- Wednesday was the baseman Missy Taukeiaho Housing.” clusive program designed Courtesy of CSUF Autism Speaks U Titans’ second game of an led off the inning with a Despite the number of for children and adults Members volunteer their time by organizing events on absolute grind of a home- single and then stole sec- bike thefts in previous ages 5 to 22 with a variety campus for the Cal State Fullerton Autism Speaks U chapter. stand in which they play ond. After advancing to years, some students still of disabilities, including seven games in just five third on a fielders choice seem to feel safe leaving autism, Down syndrome season and I went back ev- would run,” Rierson said. days. by senior catcher Ariel their bikes on campus. and other physical and ery year since then.” Non-verbal cues, hand The Titans (13-7) hoped Tsuchiyama, she scored on Cameron Hernandez, a mental disabilities. They Rierson, a child and ad- gestures and consistently to build off of their win a single by sophomore Eliza psychology major, said learn how to play basket- olescent studies major, motivating him for snack- over Loyola of Illinois on Crawford. he rides his bike to class ball in a fun, non-competi- was paired with a 6-year- time after basketball prac- Tuesday where sophomore Antunez powered every day, even for his tive environment. old boy named Travis who tice got her through the center fielder Paige Kisling through the second in- evening classes. It was also the pro- was completely non-ver- first couple weeks until he hit a walkoff single for a 3-2 ning and didn’t allow a Hernandez uses two gram that grounded her bal. He hated the sun and began to talk to her. win. baserunner. separate locks to ensure in working with those had a tendency to bite his Rierson said you even- Sophomore Jasmine The Titans failed to cap- the frame and tires are affected by autism and fingers extremely hard. tually learn to communi- Antunez started the game italize in the bottom of the properly secured. eventually led her to be- She said the first season cate to them without ac- in the circle for the Titans. second. Senior left fielder “I still ride my bike come the president of Cal was chaotic. tually talking. In the first inning, she al- Lauren Mario reached base just so I don’t have to State Fullerton Autism “If the sun was shining, Four years later, Rierson lowed a two-out solo home on an error by senior third park,” he said. Speaks U chapter. it creates lights on the is still Travis’ biggest fan. run to junior shortstop baseman Stephanie Smith. “I fell in love with the ground, and he didn’t like Kelsey Barak, the sixth she’s program,” Rierson said. “I that so he would take off; allowed this season. SEE BIKES, 2 ended up doing the whole he didn’t like that so he SEE AUTISM, 5 The Titans answered in SEE SOFTBALL, 8 INSIDE FOOD CHALLENGE HAPA CUPCAKES Peer Health University CSUF graduates sell Network hosts three- alcohol-infused treats week food and at new downtown photography contest Fullerton location NEWS 2 FEATURES 5 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @DAILY_TITAN VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM PAGE 2 MARCH 6, 2014 THE DAILY TITAN NEWS THURSDAY Police hope to reduce bike theft DTBRIEFS BIKE Final fee open Continued from PAGE 1 forum today Michael Leighton, an engi- neering major, said he is not in TSU at 4 comfortable leaving his bike for an extended period of The division of stu- time. Like Hernandez, he is dent affairs will host careful to lock both the tires the final open forum and frame to be safe. to gather student in- “I know it happens a lot, put on the proposed but I make sure to lock my $240.50 student suc- bike up every time,” he said. cess fee Thursday at Hernandez and Leighton 4 p.m. in Ontiveros are two of the many students ABC in the Titan that rely on their bikes to get Student Union.