Hundreds of Titans Pay Respect in Last Dance for Stewart Community and College Come Together to Ees Could Write Messages for Stewart
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Since 1960 Thursday Volume 85, Issue 37 April 16, 2009 DailyThe Student Voice of California StateTitan University, Fullerton “This whole event is absolutely overwhelming for me. I didn’t realize how much she impacted other's lives until now.” BY LUIS DELGADILLO/Daily Titan News Director Above: Katie Derus, turns away from the paper lantern she had lit in memory of her roommate and Alphi Chi Omega sorority sister Courtney Stewart during a vigil for Stewart yesterday. Bottom left: American studies major, Amanda Rumble,19 (left), and child and adolescent studies major, Kristen Palmer, 19, both inscribe messages in honor of Stewart on paper lanterns. Bottom right: Attendees of the vigil celebrate Stewart’s life with one of her favorite activities, country-line dancing. Hundreds of Titans pay respect in last dance for Stewart Community and college come together to ees could write messages for Stewart. “She would have headed the The sorority announced during the event,” she said. “She would have celebrate life of Alpha Chi Omega sorority sister ceremony that they will give the bags been the first one up there dancing.” to Stewart’s family. Stewart-Dixon said she plans on BY MONZERRATH GONZALEZ “We have an angel watching over investing her time and effort into Daily Titan Staff Writer us while she line dances in heaven,” changing laws for DUI offenses. [email protected] Marisa Van Winkle, Alpha Chi As she pointed to the face of Stew- Omega president, said. “I know she art in a picture at the head of the A vigil in memory of Cal State sorority to which Stewart belonged. is watching over us right now.” stage, she said, “That face right there Fullerton student Courtney Stewart, “The night was initially intended Country music radio station, Go is going to be the face of changing who was killed by an alleged drunk to kick off Greek Week, but turned Country 105, supplied the event laws. Not just in California, nation- driver, was held Wednesday at 7:30 into a celebration for the life of with music, and attendees were en- wide.” p.m. in the plaza between the Titan Courtney,” Nick Katz, coordinator couraged to participate in line danc- Hal Hargrave Jr., a personal Gym and the Student Recreation for Greek life, said. ing, an activity that Stewart enjoyed friend of Stewart and founder of the Center. The area was decorated with white and was on her way to the night of Be Perfect Foundation, spoke to the The event was hosted by the on- bags, illuminated from inside by can- the crash. crowd about the impact Stewart had campus Greek community and dles. Alpha Chi Omega had set out “She did her two favorite things on his life. headed by Alpha Chi Omega, the the bags beforehand so that attend- that day,” Katie Derus, Stewart’s Hargrave created Be Perfect after roommate and sorority sister, said. he was in a car accident that left him “She attended an Angels game and paralyzed. His foundation provides went line dancing.” “financial and emotional aid to spi- ized (it was her),” she said. “I knew woman who was always willing to Mike Pratali, one of Stewart’s nal cord injury victims in need.” she had been driving the car.” try something new and had no res- friends and line dancing partners, After his accident, Hargrave found Alpha Chi Omega plans on cre- ervations. The sorority tried to bring attended the event. He said Stewart help and support from Stewart. ating a scholarship in the name of her energetic personality and happy- was a constant figure at the nightclub “She is going to continue to live Stewart, along with participating in go-lucky attitude to the vigil. In Cahoots, where she would visit on in my life everyday,” he said. a “Walk Like MADD” event May 9 “Courtney was spontaneous and most Wednesdays to line dance. In lieu of flowers, Stewart’s family hosted by Mothers Against Drunk determined. She told the funniest “It’s going to feel different (at In has requested donations be given to Driving. stories. She was the whole package Cahoots),” he said. “That’s for sure.” Be Perfect at www.lilhal.info in her Donations to the Alpha Chi – gorgeous and smart,” Derus said. Stewart’s family also attended the name. Omega team can be made at www. “She would not have wanted us to event wearing white shirts that dis- Katie Derus, a close friend of walklikemadd.org. be sad. That’s what our goal was to- played her picture. Stewart, heard the news about the Derus said Stewart was a young night.” “This whole event is absolutely crash on the radio. At first, she didn’t overwhelming for me,” Carrie Stew- realize Stewart had been involved. Courtney Stewart’s service will be at 2 P.M. art-Dixon, Stewart’s mother, said. “I “I didn’t put two and two togeth- didn’t realize how much she impact- er,” she said. “I had walked them to Thursday, April 16 at: ed others’ lives until now.” their car (that night).” Pilgrim Congregational Church Stewart-Dixon was positive her Derus recalled Stewart skipping to daughter would have enjoyed the the automobile the night the crash 600 North Garey Avenue festivities that took place in her occurred. Pomona, CA 91767 name. “My heart dropped when I real- 2 PAGE TWO April 16, 2009 IN OTHER NEWS Conservatives running risk by focusing on taxes INTERNATIONAL (MCT) – Across the country, Re- France captures 11 suspected pirates publicans and their conservative allies sought to ignite a grassroots rebellion MOMBASA, (MCT) – On another day of high drama in the waters off against President Barack Obama on Somalia, French forces struck Wednesday at what they described as a pirate Wednesday, staging scores of Tax “mother ship,” and captured 11 suspected pirates hours after pirates attacked Day “tea parties” to demand tax cuts, an American cargo ship with rockets in the second serious attack on a U.S. lower federal spending and smaller vessel in a week. government. But the effort came Pirates operating from the coast of Somalia have threatened revenge and with a risk. stepped up their activities after U.S. Navy SEAL snipers killed three pirates In the current economic crisis, Sunday and rescued American Capt. Richard Phillips, who’d been taken hos- with half a million or more jobs van- tage. His ship, the Maersk Alabama, narrowly escaped capture a few days ishing each month, many Americans earlier. seem less concerned about how much In the Wednesday attack, pirates used automatic weapons and rocket-pro- Washington deducts from their pay- pelled grenades against the U.S.-flagged vessel, the Liberty Sun, which, like checks than whether they will have a the Alabama, was ferrying food aid into East Africa. paycheck at all. “Nothing is as pressing a concern as the economy,” said GOP pollster Whit Ayres, noting that even among NATIONAL Republicans the political salience of Man says gummy snack came with tooth the tax issue is not what it once was. “The economy overwhelms every- RALEIGH (MCT) – How much is a stray tooth worth? Somewhere be- thing else.” tween $35 and $35,000. Polls show Americans are more Or so hopes Shea Harris of Raleigh, who discovered what looks like a comfortable with what they pay in human tooth embedded in the dinosaur-shaped gummy fruit snack he was taxes than at any time in the last eating. quarter-century. And Obama’s high The tooth was not his own. approval ratings for handling the PHOTOS COURTESY OF MCT On the afternoon of Jan. 15, Harris, 25, purchased two boxes of Kroger- economy suggest that most people Top: Demonstrators crowd the west steps of the state Capitol in Sacramento, California, during a “Tea Party” protest, Wednesday, April brand dinosaur fruit snacks on sale for 99 cents each. He was “killing those accept his argument that a major 15. Bottom right: Bert Maxwell, 82, of Sonora, California, takes part in a “Tea Party” protest in Sacramento. Bottom left: Denise snacks,” even though, because of his braces, he had to suck the gummies increase in federal spending is neces- Tiller of Loris, South Carolina, looks through the IGA tea bags dangling from her hat during the Tea Party at Chapin Park in Myrtle rather than chew them. By evening, he had finished one box and was into sary to blunt the crisis. Beach, South Carolina, Wednesday. the third packet of the second – working on a T-Rex, to be precise – when he At issue is whether the anti-tax, felt something hard in his mouth. anti-government spending message budget will ultimately put upward He spit out the partially dissolved orange chewy creature – with what ap- makes Republicans seem out of touch pressure on taxes, for the present at peared to be a human tooth still halfway embedded in the head. or tone deaf to present-day reality. least Obama is cutting taxes instead “I was freaked out by it!” Harris said. “It was disgusting.” Obama has also sought to inocu- of raising them, albeit modestly for So Harris has submitted a claim, along with a letter seeking an apology late himself by building modest tax most workers. and $35,000. cuts for most Americans into the The one element in the conserva- “I know that might sound outrageous,” Harris said. “But I know this is massive stimulus bill, while talking tives’ message that pollsters say could worth more than $35.” continually about how today’s higher resonate down the road is the issue of He’s willing to negotiate.