Vol. 91 Issue 12 February 22, 2012 Fans say ‘farewell’ at Whitney Houston’s Memorial Watch the Daily Titan News in 3 Get up- Scan to view Scan to view ONLINE dailytitan. EXCLUSIVES to-date com/?p=51118 coverage on dailytitan.com/?p=51138 top campus Whitney Houston fans went to the Beverly Hilton Hotel to news stories. pay homage to the late legendary singer. dailytitan.com The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton Campus KELLY THOMAS INCIDENT: FIRST OF THREE REPORTS STATE | S&P upgrades parking a Calif. credit bargain late rating on in semester the mend Permit prices drop State’s rating still 25 percent every 30 lowest of any state, days and cost $55 by but “positive” rating end of the school year seen as improvement HAILEY MORAN MICHAEL MUNOZ Daily Titan Daily Titan California’s credit rating The popular idiom, “Better outlook was raised from “stable” late than never,” definitely has its to “positive” last week by Standard benefits, especially when it comes to & Poor’s. The U.S.-based financial Cal State Fullerton parking permits. services company acknowledged Parking permit prices dropped that despite having a negative from $220 to $165 Monday, and outlook just eight months ago, will continue to drop at a prorated California could be poised for interval each month until the end of an even higher rating in the near the term. The prorated intervals are future. between 30 days, and during each The revision comes after Gov. pricing interval the price will drop Jerry Brown’s promotion of a ballot 25 percent. measure that would raise income If a CSUF student chooses to taxes on those who earn more than purchase their permit during the $250,000 annually and raise taxes final interval, starting April 20 to statewide in a combined effort the end of the term, they will be to avoid cuts in education. The paying $55, a whopping 75 percent WILLIAM CAMARGO / Daily Titan state’s rating is the lowest given by off from the original price. Private investigator Michael Gennaco answers questions at Fullerton City Hall. He gave the first public report on the investigation of the altercation that led to the death of Kelly Thomas. S&P to any state, but it still is an Marian Alvarado, 23, a fine arts improvement. major, who was surprised by the For Cal State Fullerton students, reduction fee, said she sees the this upgrade for the state credit reduced price as tempting, but rating could mean more credit would not trade paying the full card usage on campus. It could price and convenience over the Fullerton PD investigated also mean more approvals for those uncertainty of finding parking who applied for credit cards in the elsewhere. Independent examiner addresses four main issues surrounding the incident, including why past, but were denied. “I don’t know how I would work police were called to the scene and the contents of a backpack Thomas had in his possession Bonnie Hebert, a child and around it,” said Alvarado. “Even if I adolescent development major, 19, (didn’t) get one from the beginning, SEAN VIELE homeless man, died five days after an bus depot in downtown Fullerton. Police were dispatched to the did not have much luck with her where would I park? How much will Daily Titan altercation July 5 with six Fullerton Many in the community doubted location shortly after the call was prior credit card applications. I spend on a daily permit? I guess Police officers that left him severely such a call took place. received, according to raw Fullerton “I applied for one, but it did not I’m okay with paying because I’m After months of silence on the beaten and clinging to life. “There is a recording of the call Police Department records used in work out too well,” said Hebert. going to school from the beginning Kelly Thomas incident, a new report In his 30-minute report to for service,” said Gennaco. “Our Gennaco’s report. The ‘positive’ rating may now to the end. I’m not okay paying a was released Tuesday at the Fullerton the council, Gennaco addressed independent review of that recording After the July 5 incident, Fullerton allow people to use the state as a lot of money, but I would have to City Council meeting by independent four issues: The circumstances indicated that a call was made on July Police said Thomas had a backpack solid and dependable reference pay the fee anyway because I have consultant Michael Gennaco on the surrounding the call that brought 5 to a (Fullerton Police) dispatcher containing stolen property. when applying at banks for credit to go there and it would be an Fullerton Police Department’s actions police to the scene, the contents of regarding an individual who had In his report, Gennaco found that cards. inconvenience to park somewhere in the Thomas case. Thomas’ backpack, the controversy been observed by the female caller.” Thomas possessed a backpack he “(The banks) have rules on who else and have to walk all the way to Gennaco, chief attorney for the surrounding the booking photo Gennaco said the caller was had found. Inside was an attorney’s they give credit cards to, but maybe the school.” Los Angeles Office of Independent released to the media after the recorded saying the individual was discarded mail. Neither the backpack they feel safer now, or they’re not Alvarado also said she was curious Review (OIR), was hired by the city incident and the circumstances of the “roaming the parking lot, looking nor the discarded mail were reported as worried about it,” Hebert said to know why the parking and to investigate and respond to certain police officers’ injuries. in cars and pulling on handles.” The stolen, Gennaco said. about the new credibility the state transportation department does not questions that arose in the aftermath Police initially claimed they were female caller also indicated that she has earned. advertise the prorated costs when of the Thomas incident. responding to a call concerning a knew the individual by the name See REPORT, page 3 Others are not as optimistic as the parking permits are initially Thomas, 38, a mentally ill man trying to break into cars near a Kelly, Gennaco said. Hebert. Senate Republican Leader purchased. Bob Huff cautioned in a statement The parking rates are not that some progress still needs to necessarily showcased, but they are CAMPUS | Course populations be made and this rating increase not hidden. Director of Parking and could be premature. Transportation Joe Ferrer said these “It’s nice that the outlook has rates occur every semester. Students improved, but the report also Students who feel this is not notes serious questions about fair, and worry the influx of cars whether the enacted budget’s will overwhelm parking spots as selective on spending reductions and other the semester progresses and prices budget assumptions are really decline, do not fear. Ferrer said the going to materialize,” said Huff in ratio of students buying permits a statement. after the prorated rates kick in is class sizes Those budget assumptions minimal. are based on Brown’s projected “We do have students who Some students prefer numbers for the aforementioned purchase permits after proration, smaller classes for one-on- increase in sales and income taxes. but the significant portion of one attention from instructors; However, Brown’s projections permits sold are sold by the first in his last budget were not met, week of class,” said Ferrer. “Those others don’t mind company the actual amount collected in who choose to park on the campus taxes was $528 million less than have purchased the permit earlier, JOHN SOLLITTO anticipated. or at least the first week of school Daily Titan “It’s not the upgraded rating semester because permits are that California really needs required to park on campus.” Cal State Fullerton students are put into at because we still haven’t fixed our The reduction of permit prices least one class with more than 50 students during structural budget gap. Our rating does have its benefits for students their educational career. These are usually general is still near the bottom when who look for other parking education classes meant for a large number of compared to other states. While alternatives, students like Karina students to take essential college-level subjects. this is movement in the right Ramirez, 19, a health and human As a student progresses in their major, class direction, Californians should services major. Ramirez, who sizes decrease to more intimate groups to allow for delay celebration until we’re closer ANIBAL ORTIZ / Daily Titan said the initial steep price of the more student-to-professor interaction. Students to the top than the bottom,” Huff Dozens of students take their seats for Management 300 in a Mihaylo Hall lecture hall. permits doesn’t fall into her budget, like Areli Gonzalez, 19, a Latin American studies said in the same statement. admits that knowing prices are $55 major, prefer the smaller class sizes. ability to talk one-on-one with her teachers allows have to grade the work of hundreds of students. Joy Shiba, 19, a kinesiology dollars during the last month of “There’s not enough attention for the students,” her to understand the material better. She said To Gonzalez, it is more of an atmosphere situation. major, said despite the state’s the semester might persuade her to said Gonzalez. “If there’s a hundred plus students that regardless of what the subject was, this would If the environment is not suited to learning effectively, progress, students should avoid purchase a permit.