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SERVING SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1934 SPARTANSPARTAN DAILYDAILY WWW.THESPARTANDAILY.COM VOLUME 122, NUMBER 55 TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2004 Panel weighs in on God, science Looming many more questions than answers. philosophy and religion at the Claremont “I will stake my house on science never By Dan King All three panelists argued to varying Graduate University, was the fi rst panelist truly discovering the link between the brain Daily Staff Writer degrees that there is a place for religion in and argued in favor of God’s acts in the and thought,” he said. physical world. He argued religion can take Mike Newkirk, a lecturer in philosophy cuts spur the physical world. Two of the panelists A panel of three university professors called this place “God within the gaps,” the place of scientifi c questions that cannot at San Jose State University and the panel’s confronted the weighty question, “Does referring to places where science has not yet and never will be answered by science. lone atheist, told Clayton to be careful God act in the physical world?” in the con- discovered the answers. Rather than calling those places “gaps,” with that challenge. New discoveries about ference room of the Engineering building Philip Clayton, a professor at the Clare- his argument was that religion can answer rally in SF on Monday. As expected, they fi nished with mont School of Theology and professor of science’s unanswerable questions. see RELIGION, page 6 English department: Writing Center vital By Theresa Smith and Maria Villalobos Daily Staff Writers Teaching clear writing should not be sacrifi ced to save money, according to members of the English department who fear budget cuts might put an Carien Veldpape / Daily Staff end to a tutorial service available to Associated Students president-elect Rachel students at San Jose State University. Greathouse speaks at a rally at the governor’s The department’s Writing Center district offi ce in San Francisco on Monday. About offers students a chance to form a 50 students protested against the budget cuts in personal relationship with a tutor and education that legislators are planning. gives the student incentive to return, said English chair Scott Rice. “It’s also excellent training for Student, faculty associations students wanting to be English teach- ers,” Rice said. “But right now, we’re organize protests statewide running the Writing Center with a skeleton crew.” By Daniel DeBolt James Trout, a fi rst-year graduate Daily Staff Writer student studying creative writing and a tutor at the Writing Center, said many SAN FRANCISCO — With one month to go students trying to improve their writ- before annual California budget revisions, a group of ing skills might have been unprepared about 50 students crowded the sidewalk in front of the for college. Hiram W. Johnson State Building in San Francisco on “They’re coming in here blind. Monday for a short protest and press conference against They lack confi dence, and they don’t higher education budget cuts. have the tools they need to be suc- The event was part of an April 26 statewide day of cessful, so we’d like them to schedule action organized by groups including the California reoccurring appointments so we can Faculty Association, the California State Student help them,” Trout said. “I’m not in a Association and the University of California Students rush when I am working with students Association. — I like to take my time.” A delegation of students spoke with the governor’s Jennifer Thompkins, a junior staff inside the building afterward, said Rachel Great- majoring in nursing, said she was Photos by Susan D. Reno / Daily Staff house, Associated Students controller and president- referred to the Writing Center by a elect at San Jose State University. Greathouse said she professor, and has been visiting once a ABOVE: Sophomore civil engineering student Meron Andemeskel, right, was part of the delegation. week ever since. works with Writing Center tutor James Trout, left, on Monday afternoon Similar events were happening in front of governor’s “I stay consistent, and I’ve noticed in Sweeney Hall. Andemeskel is getting some help with a compare-and- offi ces in San Diego, Los Angeles and Sacramento, my writing has improved,” Thompkins Greathouse said. The rallies were organized by the said. “It’s built up my confi dence, and contrast essay for an English class. She only started visiting the Writing Center recently but is now making time in her schedule for University of California Students Association. the tutors are very good and they Jonathan Manaoat, a UC San Francisco student, said understand.” regular visits. James Trout is a creative writing graduate student. This is his second semester as a tutor. that students from UC Hastings College of the Law, Rice said there seem to be various City College of San Francisco, and San Francisco State reasons students’ writing skills are not RIGHT: James Trout, left, a tutor at the Writing Center in Sweeney Hall, were present. up to par. analyzes a poem with Meron Andemeskel, right, on Monday afternoon. Greathouse said that there were no other students “Part of the problem is a large The center offers 30-minute, one-on-one tutoring sessions for students from SJSU. WRITING needing help with papers and writing assignments. see , page 6 see RALLY, page 7 Eco-friendly house saves money Tug of war ... Retired SJSU lecturer has found ways to slash gas, electric bills has been retrofi tted with extra insulation and solar panels By Elizabeth Nguyen to not only conserve electricity, but to create it as well, Daily Staff Writer Schiavo said. “(Retrofi tting a house) is expensive,” he said, “but so is Some people around the Bay Area are learning ways paying high utility bills forever.” to keep their electricity bills from rising as fast as the The house has extra foam insulation and shingles that temperature by conserving energy. give the outside double-thick walls, Schiavo said. Frank Schiavo, a retired environmental studies lecturer “The extra insulation keeps the heat out in the summer at San Jose State University, said he’s not only found ways and keeps the heat in during the winter,” he said. to conserve energy, but he’s found ways to make money A “water wall,” a series of water-fi lled canisters along as well. His “solar home,” located on the east side of San Jose, see ENERGY, page 3 President’s forum draws low turnout people picketing us, but there’s no burning issue By John Myers this time.” Daily Staff Writer Crowley discussed the administration’s plans to deal with the approximate $14 million Fewer than a dozen community mem- budget cut that he said the university faces. The bers attended a forum with San Jose State university’s highest priority is avoiding cuts that University administrators in the Student directly hinder classroom instruction, he said. Union on Monday. Crowley said he is accepting suggestions, via The Town Gown Forum, an annual e-mail to his offi ce, on how to handle the cuts. meeting, started approximately 10 years ago So far, he has received more than 100 e-mails, as a way for community members to interact he said. with the university and ask questions about “Some have been good, some have been Susan D. Reno / Daily Staff any issues that arise. repetitive,” Crowley said. Bella playfully tugs on the leash held by her owner, sophomore graphic design major Aubrey Albano, on “No one is mad at us,” said Janet Red- Crowley said the university also has a problem Wednesday afternoon near the Student Union. Albano has owned Bella, a pit bull, for four years and ding, assistant to SJSU interim President CROWLEY also owns a chihuahua named Ipo. The two get along great, according to Albano. She said that actually Joseph Crowley. “Sometimes we have see CROWLEY, page 6 it’s the chihuahua that is more of a bully than the pit bull. OPINION | page 2 I N S I D E SPORTS | page 5 The Throwback: CAPOEIRA: TillmanTillman a goodgood rolerole SJSU club learnslearns about BrazilianBrazilian martialmartial artart PAGE 2 THE SPARTAN DAILY TUESDAY APRIL 27, 2004 • OPINION • ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY William Hung’s success reinforces stereotypes of Asians From the moment he uttered those gracious words after horribly at difficult subjects. glorification of bad is a nice twist … And now I’m wonder- movie went against the notion that Asians can’t excel his awful “American Idol” audition, William Hung has We can also sing, dance and act quite well. ing why America is extending the joke. Is there more than beyond the classroom. been an overnight sensation. Take a look at Michelle Branch, Kristin Kreuk and Ang just the glorification of bad, something driven by racism?” One of the characters in the movie, Ben, is the perfect After Simon Cowell asked Hung what he wanted the Lee. Their successes prove Asians aren’t simply the nerds Hung makes himself look more ridiculous than Jaleel Asian American — he’s smart, a perfectionist who wants sharp-tongued judge to say, Hung simply replied, “I or the engineers. We can excel in areas such as the arts. White did when he played the nerd Steve Urkel on televi- nothing more than to succeed at an Ivy League school. already gave my best, and I have no regrets at all.” Why can’t society concentrate on the positive images sion. He and his friends, however, start to experiment in crime, The 20-something electrical engineering major at UC of Asian Americans? Why must everyone get “I’m trying to portray myself as different sex and drugs, which leads to a disturbing and unnerving Berkeley has garned himself fame on national television, such a kick out of the negative, dumb or silly from those stereotypes … I try to learn from ending nontypical of Asian Americans.