California State University, Northridge Volume 50 • Number 121 Since 1957 June 16-20, 2008 http://sundial.csun.edusundial.csun.edu A financially independent student newspaper No fraking way! Chef at dorm cafe faces theft charges SUSANNAH REYNOLDS giving up and waived them Staff Reporter Mancilla was arrested on March 17 after David Niren- n executive chef who berg, director of commercial worked at Geroni- services, suspected Mancil- mo’s Cafe located in la of stealing “Grab & Go” Athe Satellite Student Union sandwiches and yogurt par- waived his rights to a prelim- faits from the Geronimo Cafe inary hearing for charges of located in the Satellite Stu- grand theft of personal property dent Union and part of the on June 11 at the San Fernando University Corporation. Courthouse. “Grab & Go” is a brand Victor Manuel Mancilla, name of the University Cor- 43, as read a list of his rights poration that is sold on cam- by Laura Gonzalez, a law- pus yer for the district attorney’s “The Corporation takes office. Gonzalez informed theft of all kinds very seri- Mancilla that by law he is ously,” said Rick Evans, the entitled to a preliminary hear- acting executive director for ing. Gonzalez needed to make the University Corporation. sure that he understood and On March 14, Nirenberg agreed to give up those rights met with Det. Sgt. Dana under the court of law. Man- Archer of the CSUN Police cilla agreed to give up al of Department to discuss his these rights. suspicion of Mancilla’s theft COURTESY OF STefanie Keenan Judge Dalila C. Lyons said from the University Corpora- “Battlestar Galactica” star Tricia Helfer (left) and Katee Sackhoff (right) pose for photographers on she thought Mancilla was tion. Nirenberg said he saw June 11 at the Arclight Cinema in Hollywood. ReAd STORY ON PAGe 6 of sound mind and that he understood the rights he was See CHEF, page 5 Animal hunter spends 30 Campus removes suspect tomatoes days with vegan alumna from all eateries LIBBY JOHNSON At 25, Karpel worked as a STAFF REPORTER manager for the Los Ange- MONICA DUESTER les Opera. It was during this STAFF REPORTER hile other kids glee- time that Karpel logged on fully waited in line to www. peta.org and saw a omatoes were pulled from to ride ponies, a video about animal suffer- campus food services on Wfive-year-old turned to her dad ing. June 9 after officials from Tthe U.S. Food and Drug Admin- and said, “You don’t have to do “I was horrified at the ani- this for me.” mal treatment,” Karpel said. istration warned consumers of a Melissa Karpel could “I decided to go instantly nationwide salmonella outbreak. sense the animals’ sadness vegan.” Signs posted around campus from walking aimlessly in a Soon thereafter, Karpel eateries informed customers that circle, bound to one another gained an internship with CSUN has terminated the use of in chains so children could PETA and worked with the tomatoes pending the salmonella wave to their families. More organization to promote outbreak investigation. than 20 years later, Karpel demonstrations. Though the FDA has ruled out California-grown tomatoes tried to show a lifelong hunt- Over time, Karpel was COURTESY OF MELISSA KARPEL as the source, Amber Christo- er this compassion. able to travel throughout the CSUN alumna Melissa Karpel, PeTA’s campaign coordinator, and George Sne- pherson, Sierra food manager, Animal rights is a topic world. Today, Karpel works deker, a deer hunter dressed in a chicken costume, to protest against KFC. that stirs a lot of emotions, as PETA’s senior campaign said tomatoes will not be served and it is the focus of Morgan coordinator. Karpel, 29, could also and endured a psychological tume to publicly protest on campus until the FDA gives Spurlock’s “30 Days” on FX. Karpel helped organize include in her list of adven- test,” Karpel said. “We sent cruelty to animals. He also them the OK. The animal rights episode the annual “Running of the tures working on the cast of a tape of the family and after body-painted young women Brendan Tinoco, Chef de airs on June 17 at 10 p.m., Nudes,” a wildly popular Spurlock’s hit reality show, all that, we were selected.” in the nude for a fur protest Cuisine of Sierra Center, said and it shows George Snede- alternative through the same “30 Days.” Karpel looked forward to outside of a Burberry store in campus food services have ker giving up his hunting life Spanish streets in Pamplona. “The show actually con- her experience with Snede- Beverly Hills. ceased all tomato orders from to fly from his home in North She has also traveled to the tacted PETA, and when they ker, who not only had to live At the end of Snedeker’s their supplier, Nature’s Produce, Carolina to stay with the Kar- Caribbean to follow Prince requested an all-vegan fam- a vegan lifestyle the entire new diet, his cholesterol level a large direct receiver of fresh pel family while living a 100 Charles and Camilla Parker ily, PETA thought of me,” time but also take part in var- dropped and he lost unwant- produce for the food services percent vegan lifestyle in Los Bowles as demonstrators Karpel said. ious animal rights activities ed weight as he enjoyed the industry in Los Angeles, until Angeles. wore bear outfits to promote “I went to the L.A. office such as wearing a chicken best vegan food that L.A. has the FDA locates the culprits of Karpel graduated from awareness of using black and spoke with the casting costume outside of a KFC to offer, as well as meals con- the salmonella outbreak. CSUN with a bachelor’s bear hide on hats worn by director, filled out a mul- restaurant. See TOMATOES, page 5 degree in theater in 2002. the British military. tiple-choice questionnaire Snedeker wore the cos- See 30 DAYS, page 4 INdex FeatURES A&E LATEST WeatHER Features 4 Arts & Entertainment 8 Art director puts on last show The big green wrecking machine Classifieds 7 before ending her 36-year run is back in new comic book movie Log on to sundial.csun.edu SEE PAGE 4 SEE PAGE 8 2 • Summer Sundial • CSUN • June 16-20, 2008 news Student faces trial on No Beijing beef for you! vandalism, tampering charges next month MONICA DUESTER samaritan came forward Staff reporter and identified who she saw pull the alarm.” CSUN student’s According to the police trial is set for July report, Alvarez confessed to 18 after his lawyer setting off the fire alarms, Aplead not guilty to three at Eucalyptus Hall, Jerome counts of unlawful tamper- Richfield Hall, Juniper ing with a fire alarm and Hall, Sierra Hall and the one count of vandalism, at University Student Union the San Fernando Court- Gym, between Jan. 31 and house Wednesday morning. Feb. 1 and was suspected of Jose Alvarez, 24, and vandalizing Jerome Rich- political science major, was field Hall on Jan. 22, the arrested Feb. 1 after police first day of spring classes. spotted a person that fit Defense attorney Steven the description given of the R. Mandell, will not discuss suspect who pulled the fire why his client has decid- alarm at the University Stu- ed to plead not guilty after dent Union Gym. originally confessing to the Christina Villalobos, crime special assistant to the chief The trial will be held at MILdRed MARTIN / PHOTO EDITOR of police, said they made the San Fernando Court- The Matador Bookstore remains open as construction resumes on an eating area on the second floor. the arrest after “a good house, July 18, in room 121. New ballot initiative to challenge same-sex marriages in November DENISE VASTOLA biased. woman is valid and recognized in Corrigan, Marvin Baxter and Ming stepped in and ordered the city to STAFF REPORTER “The decision is based on their California,” but this is no longer Chin. stop issuing licenses to couples. own personal view,” Rice said. “It’s the case. Rice said consistent efforts have Those licenses were later invali- slight majority of California’s judicial activism.” “We are the plaintiff in the lawsuit been made to undermine the original dated. Supreme Court justices, 4 to “Because of that and to ensure and we were thrilled,” said Geoff vote since the passage of Proposition Last month’s decision by the 3, ruled that same-sex couples our traditional understanding of Kros, executive director of Equality 22 in 2000. same court allows the couples a sec- Ahave a fundamental right to marriage marriage remains, we felt it better California, about the 4-3 decision. His organization, which repre- ond chance to marry. last month. to amend the State Constitution,” “It was such a wonderful feeling sents a coalition of religious and On June 17, the office of the Los Though same-sex couples may Rice said. to be acknowledged by the court and conservative groups, collected more Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/ cherish their nuptials sometime soon, “The U.S. Supreme Court says recognized for the first time being than one million signatures to put a County Clerk will begin issuing mar- other Californians have worked to each state reserves the right to define truly equal,” Kros said. measure on the Nov. 4 ballot. riage licenses to same-sex couples. stop them with a ballot initiative in marriage,” Rice said. “Our focus Kros said he was at the courthouse If approved by voters, the ballot To accommodate an anticipated November. is now on the California Marriage when a majority of the Supreme measure would amend California’s increase in volume, the department “We were disappointed that the Protection Act.” Court’s justices ruled in favor of Constitution to define marriage will hold a marriage event on Satur- court ruled against the wishes of the The majority decision voids voiding Proposition 22 on May 15.