Tree Lighting Almost Can- Ntradition: Tered 990Th Historical Spot Certified in Tree Lane, Was Originally Slated As a Meters Next to Every Tree
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C A LIFORNI A S T A T E U NIV E R S IT Y , F U LL E RTON INSIDE The procession in East Los Angeles 3 n PERSPECTIVES: Habitat for Humanity continues to build homes for underprivi- celebrated the leged families Virgin of Guadalupe —see page 20 n SPORTS: Men’s basketball get roped 16 by the Cowboys, 78- 61 VOLUME 71, I SSUE 51 TUESDAY D ECEMBER 12, 2000 Tree lighting almost can- nTRADITION: tered 990th historical spot certified in Tree Lane, was originally slated as a meters next to every tree. When the California, spanning a 2 1/2 mile stretch driveway to the unbuilt mansion of Capt. meters were placed they were going Christmas Tree Lane of road, from Woodbury Avenue to John Woodbury. to charge the non-profit organization Altadena Drive. It became the property of Los with the electrical bill. The organization has been lighting its Every Christmas residents decorate Angeles County for residential use after refused to have the meters placed because the trees on the sidewalk with lights for Woodbury donated it. the meters would have destroyed some trees since 1920 the children and families of the area. The residents of the neighborhood of the original trees from 1920. BY MICHAEL SANDOVAL “I am glad that this occurs every decided to light the trees on the road for Edison said it started looking at safety Daily Titan Staff Writer year,” said Lucy Molina, a local resident Christmas. violations in the wiring of the trees. of Altadena who helps at the public Since 1946, when Altadena seceded In order to keep these trees lit they The Christmas Tree Lane Association, library off of Christmas Tree Lane. “It is from the city of Pasadena, the power would have to re-wire and bring the a non-profit organization, was able to a nice way to start the Christmas season company at the time allowed for free electrical circuits up to code. extend the lighting of the trees one more and to bring our community together. power. The cost to bring this project up to year after almost being forced to end its There are not many events that do that.” This tradition faced a major obsta- Edison’s specifications would cost the MICHAEL SandOVAL/Daily Titan 80-year tradition of Christmas Tree Lane This tradition started in 1920 when the cle this year when Southern California non-profit organization in the millions Jan Jouinco attends the Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Saturday. in Altadena. street of Santa Rosa, which is Christmas Edison demanded the placement of Christmas Tree Lane is a regis- ALTADENA/14 Holiday Campus hir- festival ing practices lights up nADMINISTRATION: “There is a culture of exclusion for Asians, Latinos and women,” Rodriguez Investigations were said. According to CSUF employment Fullerton launched after a stu- records for 1998-1999, Hispanics com- prise 18 percent of management and dent alleged question- staff and 4 percent in the executive and able actions in the administration management; in the ser- BY JESSICA PERALTA vice maintenance department, the num- Daily Titan News Editor University Outreach ber jumps up to 52 percent. Asian per- centages do not exceed the 13 percent As part of the festive countdown to program mark as faculty members, 9 percent Christmas, the Fullerton Downtown in clerical positions, and four percent Business Association hosted Winterfest BY SAMANTHA GONZAGA Daily Titan Staff Writer in executive management. American on Saturday. Indians maintain one percent in the man- The events took place from noon to ager and staff totals. 6 p.m., culminating with a tree-light- A student’s two-year effort to raise Stewart Kimura, a former employee ing ceremony presented by Mayor questions regarding hiring practices at at CSUF’s University Outreach pro- Richard Jones at 5:30 p.m. Cal State Fullerton’s University Outreach gram, agreed: Earlier in the day, there was a Spark program have been dismissed by the “We [Asians] have been minimally of Love Parade, a toy drive featuring Governor’s office, the Chancellor’s represented in departments.” 50 decorated police, marine and fire office and the university. Kimura attributed the difficulties in trucks, which children were allowed But Sammy Rodriguez, a graduate advancement to staying on a superior’s to climb. student, continues to press on. good side. Twenty tons of snow was brought “I suspect that there is a cover up,” “It was common knowledge that in in for local children in play in and said Sammy Rodriguez, a student order to advance, you had to play the there were 40 craft and food booths employee who called attention to what game,” he continued. “You have to stay set up. he saw as a pattern of discrimination in in good favor with someone in a higher The Fullerton Fire Department the University Outreach department. position. Fall out of favor, and it’s harder handled the Santa Claus booth, offer- Vice President of Student Affairs to advance.” ing free candy, balloons and Polaroid Robert Palmer headed the investigations Palmer contended that no such bar- pictures with Santa. to seek out the validity of claims ranging riers exist in advancement processes. There was also a choir and five from racial discrimination, nepotism, to Investigations conducted by Assistant bands as well as a window deco- intimidation in administration offices, Vice Presidents of Student Affairs Kandy rating contest and community raffle, and found that no federal or state laws Mink and Silas Abrego showed that the with 40 prizes awarded by downtown were breached. allegations were not substantiated. businesses. A clothing and accessories “The charges that were brought were “I take these allegations very seri- store — Roadkill — won first place not substantiated at all,” he said. “We ously,” said Palmer. “When an issue as for its creative window decorating. have thoroughly investigated through all important as this is brought up, we look Store owner, Julie Rasmussen said, means, through our offices and that of into it very deeply.” the window display includes layered Human Resources.” The Committee For Accountable cream-quilted velvet on the ground, Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante said in Management formed by Rodriguez, ornaments, snow-like marshmallows a letter to Rodriguez that the CSUF some students and community mem- hanging from the ceiling and a man- administration appears “to have con- bers not too long after Rodriguez filed nequin bust glued with a hundred ducted a thorough and exhaustive inves- several complaints against the director of gumdrops and marshmallows. She tigation, in accordance with prescribed the department he was employed in as a said it took one week to put up the anti-discrimination policies. The conclu- student assistant. “Our committee wants decorations and that the decorations sion that there was no unlawful discrimi- to make sure that laws are obeyed,” will remain up until Dec. 31. nation seems reasonable based on the said Rodriguez. “That, in the future, “They said the hanging marshmal- facts presented.” administrations comply with laws that Those who made the charges, how- lows were really creative, but they said JEFF ALMQUIST/Special to the Titan doesn’t allow the circumstances like this the entire display was whimsical and ever, doubt the thoroughness of the uni- Downtown Fullerton hosts tree-lighting ceremony as part of Winterfest on Saturday. to continue. We want individuals to be versity’s investigation. DISCRIMINATION/19 TitAN Student strives despite disability e x t r a s n the crime. about something he many have done online PROFILE: John Woodman, or “Woody” as a few moments ago. Psychology major, many call him, a Cal State Fullerton “What do you mean?” Woodman n Check out student, wasn’t always an easy tar- asked her. John Woodman, is a get for such thugs, but the 58- year- The woman replied with, “God the Daily old’s blindness changed all that punished you and made you blind.” Titan online motivational speaker years before the attack. Along with that incident Woodman this year at http:// as well as a teacher Woodman has withstood difficult has had a number of where people encounters and has undergone chal- tried to avoid him. dailytitan.fullerton.edu. lenges, but has grown confident “I’ve had people run away from New features and BY LISA SLEIGH over the years from knowing others me,” Woodman recalled. “Once I Special to the Titan sections will be in similar situations. was in a donut shop, I heard a father The attack Woodman experienced say “Na, na, na, David, get over available this year! John Woodman, a six-foot tall left him with a concussion and bro- here, you’ll go blind.” football player-sized man, was out ken wrist. His seeing eye dog suf- To become more independent, on a walk with his dog. Suddenly, fered a broken paw and a crushed Woodman often practiced walking upcoming five men with sticks attacked him, leg. alone. hitting Woodman and his dog. This attack hasn’t been He would go to a cross walk, lis- RaUL MORA/Daily Titan Unable to defend himself, Woodman Woodman’s only hurtful experi- ten for traffic to stop, then cross. n From all of us at the and his dog moved into the street to ence; other attacks took on different “I was practicing, then a man John “Woody” Woodman works in his garage wood shop. Daily Titan, have a draw attention to the crime. forms. grabbed me by the arm and lead “What are you doing? Are you try- After consulting with a specialist, joyous holiday sea- The men continued, repeatedly “Once I was asked in Dallas, me into the street,” Woodman said.