FREEDOM AND FAIRNESS sttnm^ta JF0 VOL. 105 ISSUE 15 TheFoahornOnline.com FEBRUARY 26, 2009 Lupe Fiasco Rocks Sold-Qut Homecoming Show CHELSEA M. STERLING News Editor * Apathy was at a low Friday night at War Memorial Gym as students eagerly anticipated the arrival of hip-hop artist and performer Lupe Fiasco, at this year's homecoming concert. Although Lupe Fi­ asco only performed for about an hour, ap­ proximately 500 students, alumni and staff crowded the basketball court to hear him The upcoming USF career fair perform. Even USF President Rev. Ste­ looks promising for graduating phen Privett, S.J, made an appearance at students, as many employers the beginning of the concert. are participating despite the . President of the Campus Activities recession. Board Courtney Ball said that there were NF.WS PAGI 2,500 tickets available and that the concert S3 was sold out. During the pep rally ASUSF directed students to the ticket booth, which may have contributed to the boost in sales. Attendance at the concert, however, ranged from 400-500 people. The doors opened at 7:30, but Fiasco did not come on stage un­ til 9:15. Alex Piatt, an event staff worker, said of the concert, "I thought it went pret­ ty smoothly." After working with Wyclef Jean, last year's homecoming performer, on his music video "If I Was President," Piatt was disappointed that Fiasco did not have much interaction with students. While Jean let event staff and some students lis­ ten to his sound check before the concert, Banning ROTC not the an­ Fiasco made students leave and did not Chelsea Sterling/Foghorn swer to Caskey rape allega­ Lupe Fiasco, DJ Simon Says and drummer Baby Bam performed several of Fiasco's songs and one of Kanye West's songs at the sign autographs or meet with students be­ tion says columnist Stephanie crowded homecoming concert on Friday night. Over 2,000 students came to the sold out show in War Memorial Gym. fore the concert. Piatt said, "He wanted to Luu. do his own thing. He didn't really want to year. When the band canceled and mis- hip-hop fans enjoyed Fiasco's performance said, "I was really excited to see him. He -OBI interact with students." On the other hand, communications occurred with the dance at the concert. Chet Bentley, a sophomore is a real rap artist with great music. I was Piatt said of Jean, "He was very into talk­ team, student turnout suffered. Next year, media studies major, said the music was not already a huge fan so seeing him live was ing to his fans." Piatt pointed out that the Piatt proposes to hold the pep rally before his style, but "it was energetic and appealed awesome." way that both artists came on to campus the concert because students will already to the masses." Bentley liked the concert Ball said that some students were disap­ was significant. Jean entered near Fromm be gathered and waiting for the perform­ because Fiasco was cool and young. Fias­ pointed Fiasco didn't perform longer, but Hall and walked through campus, shaking er. If the basketball team was brought on co played many of his popular songs like Piatt said that the concert time was previ­ •-*%..—.. <_. _____ -ml hands and greeting students as he made stage before the performer, the audience's "Superstar,""Daydreamin,""Go Go Gad­ ously established for one hour. Sophomore his way to the gym. Fiasco entered the excitement might transform into school get Flow" and one of Kanye West's songs, Katrina Valdez said that although the con­ gym through a side door, limiting his face spirit. "Touch the Sky." Fiasco's backup perform­ cert was shorter than Wyclef Jean's, it was time with student fans. The music seemed to resonate with stu­ ers included DJ Simon Says and drummer better. She said, "He [Fiasco] brought a Piatt was in charge of the pep rally this dents. Even students who don't identify as Baby Bam. 2007 alumnus Ilya Fishman good atmosphere." Students Voice Concern: Acquaintance rape underreported on campus LAURA PLANTHOLT rest. Some of the individuals at the forum were survivors of sexual assault. Thomas StaffWriter explained that a public incident such as The Foghorn sits down wit!i this can reopen those wounds, especially if Project Runway's Jack Mack- University of San Francisco students the individual never fully dealt with those enroth to talk fashion anc i have made their outcry about the recent issues after they happened. philanthropy. allegations of rape and assault on campus Many, such as senior Jennifer Herrera, sQvN R PAU L'5 heard. A group of student activists have were concerned that there needs to be more organized and released a clear message: education about sexual assault on campus. rape is not an isolated incident. In other As a resident advisor in a freshman resi­ words, this most recent and highly publi­ dence hall, Herrera said she feels well edu­ cized case of a USF senior Ryan- Caskey cated about these issues, but she said, "As being charged with four counts of rape and a freshman, I wouldn't have known exactly aggravated assault is not the first incident what qualifies as rape. I know our students of this nature that has occurred at USF. aren't very educated on this subject." These concerned students organized a Thomas said that in her experience at public forum for the community to dis­ USF, she has not found any means of edu­ cuss their concerns about sexual assault cational training about sexual violence to Courtesy of Professor Lillian Dube on campus. Though this most recent case be particularly effective, though there have A volunteer distributes vitamins and AIDS medicine at a health clinic in Zimbabwe. sparked the discussion, students wanted to been attempts ranging from education emphasize that rape and sexual assault are during freshman orientation, informa­ ongoing problems. tional programs within residence halls and Vitamin Drive to Save Lives Barbara Thomas, Ph.D. and director of peer counseling for men. But the reality is USF students lend a hand to AIDS victims a world away USF Counseling and Psychological Ser­ that these methods of education have been vices, confirmed that rape and sexual as­ ineffective. "I don't want to be defeated by that, but Spring intramural sports got HUNTER PATTERSON help. Scott said he was impressed by their sault are more common than most people I think the reality is that people just think, off to a big start last week with StaffWriter willingness to lend a hand and suggested hear about at USF. In her 20 years of expe­ hundreds of students partici­ they assist him in collecting donations of rience at the university, she has talked con­ 'That's not about me; that's about someone else.' There's this inflated sense of safety pating. multivitamins which get distributed to the fidentially with many students who have In many parts of Africa, the AIDS epi­ AIDS victims, affording them a nutri­ experienced various forms of sexual as­ that's just not there," she said. demic is raging; exasperated by malnutri­ tional supplement to their one meal a day, sault. Acquaintance rapes, rapes commit­ Thomas's best idea for creating more _SE tion, prolonged violence and failed govern­ consisting of little more than starchy roots, ted by "friends" rather than strangers, are awareness about sexual violence is to con­ 9M-. ments, as is the case in Zimbabwe, a country which most poor Zimbabweans eat. not unusual at USF, but they most often tinue public discussions and open conver­ of 13 million people, over 1.6 million of Students, including many from the go unreported. They almost always involve sations. "Let's talk about sex," she said. whom are living with HIV/AIDS. Zimba­ African studies minor program and Ub- drugs or alcohol, and many of these stu­ Junior Andrew Biederman said simi­ bwe, which has seen its economy collapse mthombo Club as well as faculty and staff dents do not realize they have been raped larly at the forum, "We need more discus­ and healthcare system crumble under the from Health Promotion Services and Uni­ until Thomas tells them. sion between the sexes. It's important for reign of President Robert Mugabe, has versity Ministry, coordinated the vitamin Students came to the forum to discuss everyone to come out and say exactly how forged the most unlikely of bonds with the drive, collecting bottles of pills and send­ the general lack of awareness and discussion they feel affected by this to understand San Francisco Bay Area, USF and the man ing them to Hayward, where volunteers about sexual assault taking place right here each other more and prevent something that connected the two worlds together, repackaged them into bags of 30 to be on campus. Many had other grievances as like this from happening ever again." Dr. Robert Scott. given to patients in Africa, where they are well, such as feeling starved for more infor­ Dan Lawson, director of public safety at Scott, who has been going to Zimbabwe instructed to take one pill every other day mation than was provided in USFConnect USF, encouraged more discussions like the with a team of volunteers for 10 years to see along with their regiment of AIDS medi­ bulletins. Others complained about the one at the forum. AIDS victims and offer them life-prolong­ Student band Ghost Town cation. wider-scale problem of a lack of education "I think this is a wonderful thing that's ing antiretroviral medication and treatment Refugees make their debut at USF Professor Lillian Dube, a native of and programs about sexual violence.