Vol. 87 Issue 16 March 8, 2010 Titans lose first-round bye in Big West Tournament SPORTS, Page 6 Supreme Court should not mandate that religous clubs MONDAY receive public funds OPINION, Page 4 Conference discussed global violence against women CAMPUS LIFE, Page3 KIDS THESE DAYS: Ubiquitous reality TV epitomizes evil OPINION, Page 4 The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton State schools see unrest Gordon given high honor BY JUANITA VASQUEZ Daily Titan Staff Writer [email protected] President Milton A. Gordon was presented with an award from the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) March 4-5 for his contribu- tions to education. Gordon received the association’s Alfredo G. de los Santos Jr. Distinguished Leadership in Higher Education Award. This honor, considered the highest that AAHHE has to offer, is given to an outstanding administrator in the field of higher edu- cation. “Alfredo and I have both worked tirelessly over our careers to increase college- going rates and gradua- tions for students of diver- sity,” Gordon said. “It was really an honor for me to be receiving this award.” The award was pre- sented during AAHHE’s fifth annual national con- ference at the Costa Mesa Hilton Hotel. “I’m deeply honored PRESIDENT about the award, and if I’m MILTON A. GORDON as successful in my career as he has been, I would think that would go a long way,” said Gordon, referring to de los Santos Jr. Silas H. Abrego, associate vice president for Student Af- fairs, is a past recipient of Alfredo G. de los Santos Jr. Dis- tinguished Leadership in Higher Education Award. PHOTO BY CHRISTA CONNELLY/Daily Titan Photo Editor “He represents a leader that has made tremendous sacri- Protester Chirag Bhakta tries to convince sitting students to take action and join the protesters as they looped around campus and before the rally ended in front of the Humanities building. fices to make sure that all low income first generation col- lege students have every opportunity to pursue their educa- tional goals,” Abrego of de los Santos Jr. said. Abrego described de los Santos Jr. as “bigtime leader.” He said to receive an award in his name was a big honor. “Dr. Gordon represents all the attributes that de los San- tos has,” Abrego said. “He also demostrates his passion and Fullerton continues LA overrun with commitment to keeping the higher education door open for students, especially low income students.” Based on data collected from the U.S. Department of Education, Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education ranks fight for education ardent protesters Cal State Fullerton sixth in a list of the top 100 colleges in the nation awarding bachelor’s degrees to Hispanics in 2008. BY ALLIE MOSIER cars went by and honked to show Gordon says he has had success in getting students of their support. Daily Titan Staff Writer color to go to college and in helping them graduate. Pres- [email protected] Academic Professionals of Cali- ently, Hispanics make up 28 percent of CSUF’s total stu- fornia (APC) and Cal State Univer- dent body of more than 36,000. sity Employee Union (CSEU) had March 4 was called a Day of Ac- “We really work to make sure the campus feels at home tables set up with petitions for stu- to all students, not any particular student,” Gordon said of tion – a day when students across the dents to sign. country spoke up and fought back the work of the CSUF administration. “We’re here to support educa- Gordon has been a member of the Hispanic Association against the dwin- tion and let the dling state of pub- of Colleges and Universities governing board for over eight governor know years. He says HACU is “the organization that has done lic education. that people feel Cal State Fuller- Multimedia so much for Hispanic students.” Experience the CSUF ‘Day of strongly about ed- Anna Diaz Villela, 22, attended last year’s annual ton students were ucation,” said Jac- armed with signs Action’ protests at conference. Diaz Villela summed up the confer- queline Otis, pres- ence as an event to help students build u their reading, “My edu- ident of CSEU. cation is not so- confidence for the professional world. As the students “If you look at our own campus, if cially irrelevant,” marched back to “Stop the Reed, we go back to when Dr. Gordon campus and made came to this university, there we need to suc- their way into ceed” and “We are wasn’t that much diversity,” the TSU, they at- PHOTO BY CHRISTINE AMARANTUS /Daily Titan Staff Writer Abrego said. “The univer- not a big-box cor- Protesters get ready to march at Hill Street and 5th Street in downtown Los Angeles. Their tempted to not sity has really evolved poration,” as they interrupt those half-mile trek ended at Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office at 300 Spring Street. gathered outside from the time that who were study- Dr. Gordon the Humanities ing in the alumni BY CHRISTINE AMARANTUS governor’s office ... and we are going building before Daily Titan Editor at Large to let it be known that we are tired of came for the lounge. good.” noon to set up for The protest- [email protected] budget cuts and we want education to Thursday’s protest ers made their be made a priority.” concerning the way to Humani- “No cuts! No fees! Education Arsneault and a busload filled to lack of funding for ties and started should be free!” Hundreds chant as capacity with CSUF students and fac- higher education. an open space for other protesters’ cries of “Save our ulty members came to LA to join the At noon, the 10 minutes where schools!” and “¡Obama, escucha! ¡Es- march from Pershing Square to Gov. protesters made students and fac- tamos en la lucha! (Obama, listen! Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office on their way around dailytitan.com/ ulty expressed We are in the fight!)” blend into the Spring Street. the quad chant- csufdayofaction their thoughts overall demand for political action, “We have an economy in the toi- ing, “You say cut and opinions on favoring education. let,” Arsneault continued. “We back, we say fight the budget cuts. A mass of students Megaphones and cardboard signs need to improve the econo- back!” gathered around to watch. conquered the day as the scent of my, and you can’t do that As the students marched down the Eddie Sanchez, a 19-year-old po- burning sage wafted through the air with an uneducated Titan Walk and around campus, the litical science major, participated in and thousands hit the streets of down- work force.” crowd grew larger. the protests to speak out for other town Los Angeles, uniting against the Protesters encouraged students to majors and to send a message to Sac- increasing tuition and budget cuts to See DAY OF stand up for their rights and join in ramento. public education, as part of the state- ACTION, as they made their way to the front of “I saw what the Daily Titan said wide “Day of Action” on March 4. Page 2 Langsdorf Hall. about the school cutting the arts “We are out here with thousands “This is not a parade, this is and philosophy (classes) because and thousands of our closest friends not a spectacle. Come join us,” a they didn’t contribute to the econ- ... to rally for public education,” said protestor yelled. omy and you know, that’s wrong,” Cal State Fullerton political science Once there, the protesters lined Sanchez said. professor Dr. Shelly Arsneault. up on the sidewalk and chanted “stu- “We’re going to march to the dents united will not be divided” as See MARCH 4, Page 3 2 March 8, 2010 IN OTHER NEWS Lantern festival lights up Los Angeles INTERNATIONAL BY ALISON MUNSON lantern making. people to see the historical aspect of Times” correspondent was also Daily Titan Staff Writer An exhibition of the traditional Chinatown.” scheduled to be present with her Iraqis vote amid explosions [email protected] Chinese New Year dinner table was Though a few of the on-stage works including “American Chi- available for viewing as well as live performances were canceled due to natown: A People’s History of Five BAGHDAD – Throughout Iraq, fear gave way to defiance Sunday as vot- Braving a drizzly Saturday after- entertainment. Staccato Chinese weather conditions, the festival had Neighborhoods”. ers, even in the most volatile areas, cast ballots in landmark parliamentary noon, the annual Chinese lantern music ac- plenty to Set up alongside the Olvera Street elections that militants tried their best to disrupt with dozens of explosions festival appeared for the ninth time compa- offer. Be- Mexican marketplace, the lan- that shook Baghdad even before the polls opened. at the El Pueblo de Los Angeles His- n i e d sides the tern festival fit right in next to the By the end of the day, at least 38 people were dead and more than 80 were wounded throughout the country, Iraqi authorities said, including 25 casual- torical Monument north of down- stunning color- luchador masks, leatherwork bags, ties in a Baghdad apartment building that collapsed on sleeping families in an town Los Angeles. acrobatic ful red and hand woven ponchos. Both the early-morning blast. “I think it’s beneficial overall for performances and gold marketplace and the festival pro- The despair at the scenes of violence stood in stark contrast to triumphant all the different cultures that come and tricks lanterns mote cultural communication, said moments that unfolded elsewhere as Iraqis dipped their fingers in purple ink from different parts of the world to of skill that that were Soo-Hoo.