Daily 49er Jan 24, 2011

Makeshift café opens in Student Recreation and Wellness Center

By Katrina Guevara

Assistant News Editor

A temporary snack center opened Thursday and will be operating at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center for the spring semester until Associated Students Inc. finds a permanent vendor.

The new snack shack will sell food staples such as water, energy drinks and healthy snacks for the next three to six months, according to ASI Communications Coordinator Christina Esparza.

"We have not yet sent out a request for proposal to outside vendors, so there really are no potential vendors yet," Esparza said.

After the Fresh Foods Café Express' sudden closure at Cal State Long Beach's recreation center last November, ASI has been running its own mini- convenience store.

According to University Student Union Board of Trustees chair Asha Nettles, the entire board hopes to replace the space with healthy and affordable food products.

"I did enjoy the organic option that was [at Fresh Foods] before and hope that it's continued with the next vendor," said Nettles, who is also a CSULB student and frequent visitor of the recreation center.

However, some students have different opinions on the types of products the future shop should have in store.

"I think the snack corner should just be a smoothie bar," said sophomore geography major Aaron Goddu. "If they sold fresh smoothies, juices and even protein shakes, then it would generate a lot of business."

Other recreation center members are hoping for healthy and tasty alternatives.

"Fresh fruit would be great, but I understand it has a short shelf life, so it would be pricey," said graphic design alumni Bryan Villa. "But I don't mind having indulgent stuff like sandwiches and shakes."

The SRWC, a 126,500-square-foot facility that opened in fall 2010, is available to Cal State Long Beach's 35,000 students as well as membership- paying alumni.

Esparza said about 2,500 to 4,000 students use the SRWC facilities daily during the academic semesters.

Student association responds to budget cuts, fee hikes

By Kasia Hall

Assistant City Editor

Long Beach State is facing the possibility of furloughs, faculty layoffs and higher tuition as a result of Jerry Brown's proposed $1.4 billion budget cut to 's universities.

The proposed budget cuts would affect University of California schools, California State universities and community colleges. Of the $1.4 billion cut, $500 million would be taken from the 23 CSU campuses, similar to what was cut in 2009, according to Christopher Chavez, President of California Student State Association.

Although the state legislature has not yet approved the state funding, action has already begun.

Chavez went to the state capital to testify to the assembly of higher education committee Jan. 18. However, he admitted that the fight to end budget cuts for education would not be easy.

"Well, to be perfectly blunt, this is going to be a major uphill battle," Chavez said. "It's going to take a lot of effort."

Chavez plans to visit Sacramento at least once a month this semester.

According to the Times, UC schools have already decided to raise tuition for undergraduates for 2011-2012 by 8 percent, or $822.

In addition to the threat of raised tuition, canceled classes, furloughs and increased class sizes, student life on campus is also in danger.

In an e-mail to the Daily 49er, Associated Students Inc. Treasurer Jameson Nyeholt said that, if the proposed budget cuts affect enrollment, students can also expect changes in ASI.

The majority of the ASI budget, 71 percent, is made up of student fees. Therefore, decrees in enrollment would have a direct effect on ASI's budget and operations.

"The changes that students will see in their ASI if our revenue is decreased are smaller programmatic events, lesser funding to students' organizations, reductions in hiring and reductions in funding to other services provided by the entity," Nyeholt said.

With such possible threats for students in California, Chavez urged students to become engaged and unite against the cuts.

The March for Higher Education on March 14 last year attracted 13,000 students to the state's capital.

"We need to remember 2009," Chavez said. "Things got really hard, and we are about to revisit that time."

Seventh Street bridge to be closed for up to a year

By Alexandra Baird

Editor in chief

Students driving to Cal State Long Beach from Orange County will face a detour as the 22 westbound-Seventh Street connector will be closed for up to a year, according to an Orange County Transportation Authority.

The bridge will be demolished sometime in late February or early March, Christina Byrne of OCTA said.

Byrne said Seventh Street west of the 405 bridge will not be affected, but students trying to get to campus from the 405 northbound will need to change their route.

"The contractor is incentivized to get it done sooner than a year if possible," Byrne said. "But while that connector is closed, the best route for students is to exit Seal Beach Boulevard to Westminster/Second Street and reconnect with Seventh Street at Studebaker."

The West County Connector project was designed to add carpool lanes, reconstruct on- and off-ramps and add elements like soundwalls and landscaping, according to octa.net.

The project also means intermittent closures on the 22 eastbound. The ramp headed from campus to the 405 southbound will be closed only for two weeks sometime in 2012, Byrne said.

Byrne said students should be mindful that speeding and other fines are doubled in construction zones and make extra time for the commute to ensure they get to class on time.

OCTA posts construction updates at facebook.com/WCCProjectInfo or on Twitter @wccprojectinfo.

California marijuana law will not change CSULB dorm life By Matthew Gomez

With the new year, California's marijuana possession law has changed, but the policy in the Cal State Long Beach dorms remains the same.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Senate bill 1440 in October before it went into effect on Jan. 1.

The new law changed possession of up to an ounce of marijuana from a criminal misdemeanor to a civil infraction, meaning no criminal record as before. The fines remained the same, with up to $100 for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, but the new classification will cut out the trial process.

The governor said he hopes the reduction in court processing will save state money.

However, the change in California's marijuana possession law won't affect marijuana regulations in the dorms, said Carol Roberts-Corb, the director of housing at CSULB.

"If a student is caught using, possessing or growing marijuana in the dorms, our judicial process remains the same," Roberts-Corb said.

If a student is caught with marijuana in the dorms, the campus police are contacted to take care of the legal issue. The student then must enter into the school's Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Program, which has three steps. After the first citation for drug violations, the student must attend a three-hour mandatory class.

Although the policy for marijuana possession in the dorms remains the same, campus police will follow the new California law, said University Police Capt. Fernando Solorzano.

"That is a California law that everyone has to follow and, as a law enforcement agency in the state of California, we have to abide by that as well," Solorzano said.

Roberts-Corb said she is unsure how the new law will affect student conduct on campus, or if it will have any impact at all.

Abortion should not be funded through taxpayer subsidies

By Staff

Along with the recent proposal by the House to repeal the health care bill came the proposition to strip abortion from health care insurance coverage and U.S. government funding.

To some this is an understandable and favorable measure. To pro-choice advocates, however, it is an abominable motion.

The "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act," sponsored by House Rep. Chris Smith, would implement restrictions on taxpayer subsidies and all other U.S. government funding for abortion. The legislation has been classified as top priority for GOP, raising concerns among pro-choice supporters.

"Our new bill is designed to permanently end any U.S. government financial support for abortion, whether it be direct funding or by tax credits or any other subsidy," Smith explained. The bill would need to be renewed each year by Congress.

Rep. Joe Pitts has launched a corresponding bill, the "Protect Life Act," which would eliminate any leeway in the health law that permits abortion funding.

Some pro-choice advocates have deemed that the matter is being "overplayed" by Republicans, according to NPR. However, we beg to differ. Maybe the new Republican majority in the House is taking the matter too seriously; however, what they are suggesting and why they are suggesting it is understandable.

Abortion should undoubtedly remain an option for all women, but should not be funded by taxpayers nationwide. This isn't to say that funding abortion through taxpayer subsidies is wrong, but it is unnecessary.

When investing in health care insurance, women should be given the option between a health insurance plan that may or may not include abortion coverage. This way, the abortion patients themselves fund their own abortion procedures. This may encourage more women to look into health insurance as well as review their money spending priorities.

In regards to women taking desperate and dangerous measures to abort a baby, this is unavoidable. It will happen whether the US government funds abortion or not. Many women attempt abortion on their own because they are afraid to inform their significant other, parents, or the like, of the predicament. And although there are no restrictions on funding for abortion now, there is still the remainder of abortion victims who attempt the procedure on their own because money is lacking. Thus, as stated above, this is simply an unavoidable inconvenience.

However, the government cannot install plans revolving around our well- being. Of course our safety and health should be a major concern when making decisions, but giving women the option to receive abortion coverage through health care insurance is enough. It would be unreasonable to hold the government accountable for making sure the new abortion legislation ensures coverage for women everywhere. Our government is not responsible for our mishaps.

Our government is not our baby sitter, but rather our guide.

Coachella earns haters upon announcement of 2011 line-up

By Jessica Wood

Well, it's that time again, folks: Coachella planning madness. If you have a Facebook page, any friends, and/or a pair of working eyes and ears, chances are you are aware the official lineup for this year's Coachella Valley Music and Art Festival was posted last week, and it seems that people have a lot to say about it.

Coachella is nothing short of a rite of passage for Southern California residents, its popularity rising every year since its birth in 1999. With its scenic desert horizon, creative and often trippy art presentations and installations, not to mention a smorgasbord of musical artists, one would think the experience would be enough to satisfy everybody.

However, this year that is not the case. All over Facebook, online forums and daily conversations, people are slamming the artists that have signed on as headliners for 2011's Coachella. I have got to say, the list of the headliners seems a bit lame in comparison to previous Coachella Festivals.

First off is Kings of Leon. They have great commercial success and certainly roll in the dough, however the choice seems predictable and void of thoughtful consideration. Compared with some of the smaller bands playing, such as Mumford & Sons and The Tallest Man on Earth, Kings of Leon is not as exciting as many of the other lesser known performers.

Of course the under dogs have not quite proven themselves to be headliner material, hence Kings of Leon is an obvious pick. Yet, it is disappointing to realize how mainstream Coachella is becoming.

What is more disappointing is the fact that Kanye West is headlining the closing night of the festival this year. Yes, variety is necessary and Kanye West is a talented artist, but this guy is also a major douchebag. Do we really want big-headed, holier-than-thou artists gaining even more exposure? That does not seem to be a sentiment of early Coachella Festivals.

It is neat to see that Coachella is reaching new audiences each year, evolving into something bigger. But I am not so sure it is necessarily better. With artists like Kings of Leon and Kanye West on the roster, it appears that Coachella could soon easily become a product of corporate America.

That being said, there are a ton of innovative, refreshing smaller bands and also some big-time non-headliners in this year's Coachella line-up, and that is something to rejoice about. Interpol, Duran Duran, Damian Marley, The Chemical Brothers, Neon Trees, and Erykah Badu are definitely a few of the artists to be excited about.

When it comes down to it though, the musical artists present at each Coachella are not even what make the festival great. Though it may sound grossly kumbaya, the entire unique experience associated with Coachella is what matters. Sure, a solid line-up of headliners might add to the experience, but I assure you, Coachella will be just as great this year as it has been in years past, albeit a bit commercial. So, go.

But one more thing: What the hell happened to Daft Punk? That rumor was the biggest tease of 2011 indeed.

Jessica Wood is a senior biology major and a columnist for the Daily 49er.

Apple’s $10,000 prize for 10 billionth app download serves as a life lesson

By Sonia Guillen

Your phone rings and you rush up to answer, only to see on your caller ID that the number is that of a solicitor, so you decide to ignore the phone call and avoid any useless hassling that might take place.

This, my friends, is a terrible habit. After reading an article about Gail Davis of Orpington, England, I have decided that everyone, even telemarketers, deserve at least a brief moment of my time. Not to say that before this they weren't worthy, but simply that it always seemed like an inconvenient time to be badgered by strangers about something I usually don't care for.

After her daughter downloaded an Apple application, Davis received a phone call from what seemed to be a telemarketer calling from Apple offering her a prize. She immediately responded stating she wasn't interested and hung up the phone, a very familiar response. Little did she know she really had won a prize after her daughter downloaded the app as it marked the 10 billionth application download from the Apple app store.

After putting two and two together, Davis realized she had hung up on a legitimate prize offer from Apple. She called Apple back, desperately trying to recover the prize she had just mistakenly rejected, only to be greeted by an unhelpful telemarketer. At this point, Davis grew closer to a self-loathing state of mind until a colleague of Eddy Cue's, vice president of iTunes, called Davis to, once again, inform her of her big win: A $10,000 gift card to iTunes.

So, the moral of the story is you should give anyone and everyone the time of day because you might get money out of it. Just kidding! I'll dig a little deeper into my sensitive side; the real moral of the story is that there will always be some sort of outcome when talking to people you don't normally care to feed attention to.

Whether that outcome be money, a trip, a new outlook or a new realization, we should endure it all. And if the outcome is a more negative one, we should endure it all the same.

This being said, I will now proceed to give a concise overview of the appropriate way to approach small talk with those strangers we otherwise avoid.

First, practice genuine smiles. Not only do they make other people enjoy being around you, but it will make you feel better as well.

Second, never complain, or if you do make sure you end the complaint on an optimistic note. It's awkward to express your problems to people you are not close with. They won't know how to respond and people don't like hearing about your problems.

Lastly, ask questions, but don't interrogate. Spend more time focusing on the other person, and less time talking about your life. Friendship is a two-way street.

Well-developed socializing skills will make you seem more mature and confident.

Sonia Guillen is a junior journalism major and the opinions editor for the Daily 49er.

Six student guidelines for a successful and productive second semester

By Uzo Umeh

So your five weeks of complete boredom, stupidity or awesomeness have come to an end. For many, this is going to be "the" semester, "their" semester. Out of that many, most are merely speaking about doing better in school with no new tools or guidance.

Actions speak louder than words. This is for all the students who hope to do better in school this year, and actually want to.

1. Procrastination. If good grades were superman, procrastination would be their kryptonite. Putting things off is only going to add more stress to the semester.

Do not procrastinate in any aspect of your school life this semester, and progress will be inevitable. Get your textbooks early; by the end of the first week of school you should at least know the whereabouts of all your books.

2. Read your books! One of the secrets to success — smart people won't tell you — is you cannot slack off in the beginning of the semester. Ever notice that sometimes the intelligent students don't stress as hard for finals? That is because they worked harder in the beginning of the year, while others were falling behind.

3. Enjoy the benefits of office hours. One thing about office hours that some students choose to ignore is that even if one does not need help, they can still go to office hours to get acquainted with their professor.

If you are in a lecture hall this semester, I challenge you to go to office hours at least five times throughout the semester. It is all about personal connections, making sure that you are not merely another number to add on the roll sheet. Go to office hours because, as crazy as this may sound, when a teacher can put a face with a name — hopefully with a likable personality too — that can help out when it comes to grading. Go to office hours because there is more to learn past the classroom.

4. Network in class. Meet people in your classes. This is the hardest thing to do but usually the last minute saver. Forget the whole CSULB commuter stereotype, between the first day and the second week of school ask a few classmates for their e-mail addresses — asking for a number could be too forward. When you wake up with ridiculously stuffy nose, teary eyes and a temperature that is out of this world, you have someone that could fill you back in.

5. Stay healthy and sleep more. This is the hardest thing about the semester but one of the most beneficial. I'm not preaching for you to go lose weight and work out at the recreation center every minute of the day. Just substitute; eating more vegetables and fruits instead of always chewing down at restaurants like McDonalds.

Make your kitchen the best and your favorite restaurant this semester, and you will be helping promote a sharper brain. A healthy diet combined with a healthy sleeping pattern — i.e. not sleeping for too long or short — will contribute to reducing the stress of the semester.

6. Finally: Don't just do homework, study. Doing homework keeps a student busy and thinking away from the classroom, but many times when you do homework you are just touching the surface of what your professor had gone over in class, study study study! Give yourself a break, all work and no play makes CSULB students act more like commuters and less like a community. Have a great first week CSULB.

Uzo Umeh is a junior communications studies major and a contributing writer for the Daily 49er

49ers stop 4-game skid in thriller Senior guard sinks game-winning free throw in closing seconds.

By Amir Vafamanesh

Assistant Sports Editor

If the Long Beach State women's basketball team was looking to make a statement Saturday, then it couldn't have picked a better game to do it.

Just 13 days ago, the 49ers walked off the floor feeling embarrassed and dejected after giving up a season-high 11 3-pointers in an 18-point drubbing at UC Irvine.

This time around, however, the ‘Niners wouldn't make the same mistake as they snapped their four-game losing streak in a thrilling 80-79 victory over the Anteaters at the Walter .

"It was a collective effort," LBSU head coach Jody Wynn said. "And for the first time in a long time, we had effort combined with performance.

"And for the most part, we executed the game-plan, stepped up, and made big shots and big stops."

Tied at 79, 49ers senior guard Courtney Jacob attacked the basket and drew a foul with 17 seconds left to play. Jacob would miss the first free throw, but would rattle home her second attempt as LBSU took an 80-79 lead. Then, with 5.4 seconds left, the Anteaters tried to feed the ball down in the post to Mikah Maly-Karros, but 49ers freshman Ella Clark managed to slap the ball out of her hands. From there, the ball was batted out to UCI guard Kassandra McCallister, who then fired off a last-second 3 from the left wing that fell short as Tipesa Moorer caught a piece of the ball for the block.

The crowd then erupted as the 49ers bench rushed onto the court to celebrate the victory.

"This win certainly helps the morale of everyday practice, knowing that what we're trying to do is gonna pay off," Wynn said. "I mean, we can still play this game, guys."

Brandi Henton led the way for The Beach (4-17, 2-6 ) with 29 points on 10-of-18 from the field. Sendy Valles added a career-high 24 points on an impressive 8-of-9 shooting, including a perfect 4-for-4 from 3-point range.

"This win was really exciting," Henton said. "I mean, we prepared all week for this [game]. We put in extra work after practice, watched game film 24/7, and all of our hard work just came together and we executed."

Wynn was adamant in her praise of Valles' performance and recent emergence on the team.

"In the beginning of the season, [Valles] wasn't really understanding our [game] philosophy so it was harder for her to play when she didn't really know where she was on the floor," Wynn said. "Now, she's getting that confidence so she's not thinking as much and she's playing more off of her instincts."

Jacob chipped in with a double-double as she registered 13 points and a team-high 12 rebounds along with six assists.

Meanwhile, Maly-Karros paced UCI (11-7, 3-3 Big West) with her 12th double- double of the season as she recorded 20 points on 10-of-14 shooting and grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds. Jade Smith-Williams added 15 points — 12 of which came in the second half — and four steals, but fouled out with just under a minute remaining.

After trailing, 76-70, with 3:32 left to play, the Anteaters went on a 6-0 run that was capped by a straightway 3 from Kelly Meggs to even up the contest. From there, Smith-Williams was issued her fifth personal foul with 56.9 seconds remaining, sending Henton to the free-throw line where she split a pair. Both teams then exchanged leads before LBSU forward Ashley Bookman fouled out of the game as she hooked Kiara Belen's arm with 19.5 seconds on the clock.

Fortunately for the ‘Niners, Belen was only able to convert on one of her free-throw attempts, tying the game at 79 and setting up the finish.

Despite committing 17 turnovers to UCI's 12, The Beach tied a season high with 10 3-pointers on 21 attempts (47.6 percent), while the Anteaters were held to just 5-of-15 (33.3 percent) from long distance.

"We followed our game plan," Henton said. "Our plan was to contain every player by not allowing any open shots this time and that's what we did."

LBSU also held a 41-36 rebounding edge and finished with 12 second-chance points to UCI's six.

"It's the second half of conference [play] and it's time to step up," Moorer said. "I know we're down and everything, and we haven't won much, but there's still a lot of time left and we got this."

After holding a 33-28 edge, the 49ers gave up five unanswered points, which was sparked by a 3 from Meggs with 3:16 remaining in the first half.

However, LBSU stormed back as Valles keyed a 9-2 run — seven of which she accounted for, including a corner 3 — to close out the half with a 42-35 lead.

The ‘Niners shot 47.4 percent from the field (27 of 57), while the Anteaters shot 45.6 percent (31 of 68) to finish the contest.

The Beach will continue Big West action Thursday when it plays host to Pacific at the Walter Pyramid. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.

The last meeting between the two teams resulted in 76-65 victory for Pacific on Jan. 15 at the Alex G. Spanos Center in Stockton.

‘Spider-Man’ finishes off LBSU 49ers watch UCI senior guard sink eight consecutive free throws down the stretch.

By Tracy McDannald Sports Editor

IRVINE — UC Irvine senior guard Darren Moore may have a "Spider-Man" tattoo across his chest, but he played the role of a villain Saturday night in the eyes of the Long Beach State men's basketball team.

Moore scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half, and the 49ers lost to the Anteaters, 86-76, on their Homecoming night in front of 4,070 at the Bren Events Center. It was UCI's largest crowd in four years, and the dumbfounded fans stormed the court afterward.

Trailing 74-71 after Casper Ware split a pair of free throws, LBSU (11-10, 6-2 Big West Conference) scored just five points over the final two minutes. Meanwhile, UCI (10-10, 3-3 Big West) converted all 10 of its free throws in that span, including the first eight by Moore.

After opening conference play with six consecutive victories, the 'Niners have now lost back-to-back contests.

"We've got to correct some stuff, defensively," LBSU head coach Dan Monson said. "[The Anteaters] are a tough team to guard. … I think they're the best offensive team in the league.

"But the bottom line is, I told our guys, ‘In two weeks, they've gotten better and we haven't.'"

Four players finished in double figures for The Beach led by Greg Plater's 18 points. Eugene Phelps and Casper Ware added 17 apiece while T.J. Robinson scored 13.

Phelps and Robinson also chipped in 11 rebounds apiece to finish with double-doubles.

However, the Anteaters' trio of Moore, Eric Wise, and Mike Wilder combined for 66 points — led by Wilder's game-high 24 to go with 13 rebounds. Wise finished with 21 points before fouling out with 5:41 to play after receiving a technical foul for slamming the ball on the court.

Moore also was on the finishing end of the highlight of the night.

With 10:38 to play, Moore scored a layup after teammate Derick Flowers led a 2-on-1 fastbreak and found the trailing 6-3 guard with a between-the-legs bounce pass. The play whipped the crowd into a frenzy and extended the UCI lead to 54-49.

Then, inside the final minute and the Anteaters leading, 78-71, Moore squashed any chance of an LBSU comeback. The senior stole a pass around half court and dished to Patrick Rembert for the easy layup to seal the game.

The 49ers' defense had trouble slowing down the Anteaters, who shot 50 percent (25 of 50) from the field. LBSU finished at 40.6 percent (28 of 69) and had trouble finishing around the basket in addition to keeping UCI's zone defense honest.

"[UCI] was getting every shot and we just weren't active enough on defense," Ware said.

Trailing by seven with 5:31 left in the first half, LBSU closed the period on a 14-5 run to take a 37-35 lead into the locker room.

Plater and Phelps led the first-half charge, combining for the first nine points during the key stretch, while a pair of Robinson jump hooks capped the half.

The 49ers had issues finishing around the basket early, which resulted in a barrage of contested jump shots. But The Beach forced 10 UCI turnovers in the first 20 minutes.

The 49ers will return to action Wednesday on the road in Stockton against the University of the Pacific. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.