Children Bond with SJSU Parents Employees Fired
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SERVING SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1934 SPARTANSPARTAN DAILYDAILY WWW.THESPARTANDAILY.COM VOLUME 122, NUMBER 53 FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 2004 Children bond with SJSU parents Employees fi red for taking photos of soldiers’ caskets Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Pentagon lost its tight control over the images of coffi ns returning from Iraq as about 350 such images were released under the Freedom of Information Act and a Seattle newspaper published a similar photo taken by a military contractor. After Dover Air Force Base, the main port for returning remains, released hundreds of government photos of the ceremonies, the Defense Department ordered Thursday that no more photographs be released. In addition, two employees for defense contractor Maytag Aircraft were fi red after the Pentagon complained about a photo of fl ag-draped caskets taken by one of them appeared in the Seattle Times. In March 2003, on the eve of war in Iraq, the Pentagon ordered an end to all media coverage of ceremonies for the returning remains of soldiers killed overseas. Although Dover already had such a policy, the Pentagon action enforced a military-wide ban on images of fl ag-draped caskets that dated from late 2000 but had not been followed. With few exceptions, the ban had remained in force until recent days. But last week, about 350 photos from Dover were released under a Freedom of Information Act request by Russ Kick, a First Amendment advocate who runs a Web site called the Memory Hole (www.thememoryhole.org). Dover had recommended that Kick’s request be denied, but offi cials at Air Mobility Command headquarters at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois authorized the release on appeal. After Kick posted the photos, they appeared on other Web sites, including the Drudge Report. The sudden spread Thursday of the Dover photos of fl ag- draped caskets returning from Iraq came a day after Tami Silicio and her husband and co-worker, David Landry, were fi red for the photo she took at Kuwait International Airport of caskets in an aircraft. The photo was published Sunday on the front page of the Seattle Times. “We have terminated two employees in Kuwait who violated Department of Defense and company policy by working together Andrew Hendershot / Daily Staff to photograph and publish the fl ag-draped caskets of our service Enrique Lopez holds his daughter Rikki during the “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day” on Thursday. Lopez is a warehouse worker at San Jose State men and women being returned to the United States,” said William University distribution services. Silva, president of Maytag Aircraft, the Colorado Springs-based military contractor that employed Silicio and her husband. According to the Times, Silva said the fi ring decision was made Workers bring their daughters, sons to campus for a fun-fi lled day of career exploration by the company, but the military had “very specifi c concerns” about the photo. The 15-year-old was accompanied by her two sisters, Center, Shorter said. Silicio, a cargo worker who often loaded coffi ns on military Mari Sapina-Kerkhove 9-year-old Elizabeth, and Casey, 11, at the brown bag Margie Soto, administrative analyst in the president’s planes bound for the United States, shot the photo in early April. Daily Staff Writer lunch in the Seventh Street barbecue area at noon. offi ce, said she participated in the event for the fi rst time As twin uprisings in Iraq led to a spike in American war dead, she Shorter, who has been participating in the event for this year. snapped a perfectly composed digital photograph of an aircraft Children of San Jose State University employees the past three years said it has helped her gain better Her 9-year-old daughter, Rikki, said she spent her packed with caskets. She told her best friend that her photograph had a chance to mingle, play and help mom and dad on insight to her mother’s job. morning coloring with a friend who is also the child of of coffi ns of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq would allow parents of the the job during “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work “We learned how the fi nancial aid (offi ce) operates an SJSU employee. dead to see that “their children weren’t thrown around like a piece Day” Thursday. and how they help the students,” she said. But getting to type on her mother’s computer, she of cargo.” “You want to know what your parents are doing every The teen said she and her sisters also gained some said, was the best part of her morning. Losing her well-paid job in Kuwait was something that Silicio day and how hard they work,” said Brittney Shorter, hands-on experience by helping out with envelope “(I liked watching my mom) because you can go on had been very worried about before the photo was published, daughter of SJSU fi nancial aid offi ce employee Gale stuffi ng in the morning. They planned to spend their according to Barry Fitzsimmons, a photo editor at the Times. “She Shorter. afternoon visiting their aunt who works in the Event see CHILDREN, page 4 see PHOTOS, page 4 Student wins $100 ‘Hacking the sack’ in campus open mic still unites friends and Leadership, helped coordinate By Mari Sapina-Kerkhove playing. By Maria Villalobos the event. Daily Staff Writer Rogalski said there are many variations to Daily Staff Writer “It turned out pretty well,” playing footbag, where some play the game Nguyen said. “There were 40 people For Patrick Rogalski and Ryan O’Connor, on courts or over nets, similar to volleyball. here and it was the fi rst time using an afternoon’s worth of fun comes with a According to footbag.org, the self- Last night the Mosaic Cross proclaimed worldwide footbag information Culture Center and the Asian The Market Café.” supple little cloth bag fi lled with beads. There were 10 contestants that Playing Hacky Sack — offi cially called service, the sport was invented in 1972 Pacifi c Islander Caucus sponsored by Oregonians John Stalberger and Mike an open night mic at the Market came out to perform spoken word footbag — in front of the Dr. Martin Luther or sing along with guest performers King Jr. Joint Library Tuesday, the two Marshall. Café. They called the game “hack the sack” and Sophomore Mass Communica- Dan Diggity, who is from the Bay friends said the game not only makes for a Area, and two-man duo Kontrast great pastime, but it is also very social. trademarked their product, the Hacky Sack. tion major Ann Reginio won the O’Connor said footbag is especially $100 prize when she sang a medley from Brooklyn. “You don’t know how many people you popular in Southern California and in beach of Whitney Houston songs, starting Senior communication studies can meet,” said O’Connor, who just moved to towns, such as Santa Cruz. the set with “Didn’t we almost have major Eric Velasquez emceed the the Bay Area from Los Angeles. it all,” “Saving all my love for you,” night and entertained the crowd O’Connor said just a few days ago, while But according to footbag.org, the sport “One moment in time,” and ending with facts on Asian Pacifi c Islanders playing footbag in front of the library, they is also popular in numerous countries across it with “I’ll always love you.” in between performers. had six people join in. the world, including Estonia, France, Russia, Reginio said she competed in a Tony Chung, sophomore and The challenge with the game is keeping Switzerland and Canada. talent contest in August and won electrical engineer major, played the bag in the air without using your hands, The site also states there are annual world two tickets to the Philippines plus the guitar while sophomore and Rogalski said. footbag championships. This year, they are $1,000, so a friend encouraged her engineer major Chris Baldmero “It requires a little bit of balance and scheduled to take place from July 26 to Aug. to come perform last night. sang Jon B’s “Pretty girl,” and Craig coordination,” added Brendan Blundell, a 1 in Montreal. “It’s cool I won but I just wish David’s “Fill me in.” friend stopping to say “hello” to Rogalski and Freestyle footbag, where some go as everyone could have some of the “It was a good thing,” Baldmero O’Connor. far as choreographing moves to music, has prize,” Reginio said. “I just love to said. “I didn’t even know about the “It’s a fast-paced game. It works out your become the most popular form of the game, perform.” prize.” legs,” Rogalski said. “because of its cooperative nature,” according Reginio said she and her family Senior journalism major Irene Blundell said while the main rule to the to footbag.org. would be visiting the Philippines Bangi said his friends convinced game is not to use your hands, everything else Blundell said that many times he has seen Stacey Ruesch / Daily Staff this summer where she will be him to perform a poem called “Eye is pretty much up to the players. people from different walks of life playing Candy,” which he wrote in honor of “Basically, people make up their own together. Ryan O’Connor kicks a hacky sack outside the Dr. Martin promoting an album she is working Luther King Jr. Joint Library on Tuesday afternoon. His hacky on now. Alerie Flandez, sophomore English rules,” he said. “People who play Hacky Sack are pretty sack had a hole and was leaking beads, but was held to- Nam Nguyen, a staff member Some players restrict how many times laid back and open to other people playing,” someone is allowed to hit the bag to avoid gether with staples.