Opinion Sports Schiavo case increases Former CSUF Assistant debate’s intensity over Coach Dave Serrano’s right to life issues 4 return is bittersweet 6 California State University, Fullerton DAILY TITAN Monday, April 4, 2005 www.dailytitan.com Volume 80, Issue 26 El Toro Parishoners honor to open pope, mourn death visitor Catholic leader John prayed and wept at services across predecessors and was credited with the globe as the Vatican prepared helping bring down communism in Paul II remembered for the ritual-filled funeral and Europe and spreading a message of conclave that will choose a suc- peace during his frequent travels for his compassion cessor. around the world. center Television images gave the pub- Pope John Paul II, who was 58 By RYAN TOWNSEND Daily Titan Managing Editor lic its first view of the pope since when the cardinals elected him the Information about his death: lying in the Vatican’s first non-Italian pope in 455 years, campus, community Catholics of all ages gathered frescoed Apostolic Palace, dressed also left a legacy of conservatism. across Orange County on Sunday in crimson vestments and a white He opposed divorce, birth con- available to students to mourn and celebrate the life of bishop’s miter, his head resting on trol and abortion, the ordination of Pope John Paul II. a stack of gold pillows. women and the lifting of the celi- By DeNNIS OLSON In Yorba Linda, hundreds packed A Swiss Guard stood on either bacy requirement for priests. Daily Titan Staff John Paul II Polish Center for a side as diplomats, politicians and The mourning stretched from special Mass to commemorate and clergy paid their respects at his the pope’s native Poland, where After being established over two pray for the pope’s soul. The cen- feet. 100,000 people filled a Warsaw years ago, Cal State Fullerton’s El ter, built in 1983, holds Mass in An estimated square at the spot Toro campus will finally open its Polish and English and was named 100,000 people “ where he cele- Visitor Information Center. As the in honor of Poland-native Karol turned out at St. He showed us brated a landmark latest addition to El Toro, the center Joseph Wojtyla, who rose from Peter’s Square for how to live and he Mass 26 years will help make learning as conve- humble beginnings to become the a morning Mass showed us how to ago, to the earth- nient and personal as possible. head of the Catholic Church. and thousands quake-devastated Located at the edge of Lot L, the Polish Americans expressed more – tourists, die. He reached Indonesian island Visitor Information Center will be gratitude for the impact the pontiff Romans, young out to people ... of Nias, where a staffed by student assistants and will had in their homeland and around and old – kept priest led special provide students and visitors with a the world. coming through- Joan McDermott prayers. variety of services. “He’s done a lot for the world out the day, filling Parishoner in New York In New York, The center’s two main functions and for Polish people because he the broad boule- U.N. Secretary are to get students to the right class- was responsible for the solidarity vard leading to ” General Kofi es at the beginning of the semester and the fall of communism,” said St. Peter’s Basilica. They clutched Annan and former Mayor Rudolph and to help visitors on campus who 24-year-old Peter Piestrzeniewicz rosaries and newspaper photos of Giuliani joined parishioners who need assistance or information. of Fullerton. the late pontiff as they stood shoul- packed St. Patrick’s Cathedral for Karen Hebri, the facility coordi- Others in the congregation spoke der-to-shoulder. a standing-room-only Mass. nator at El Toro, said she encourages about the influence the pope had in “Even if we fear we’ve lost “He showed us how to live and anyone on campus to come to the their own lives. a point of reference, I feel like he showed us how to die,” said one center whenever they have a ques- “I always looked up to him everybody in this square is united parishioner, Joan McDermott. “He tion or need help. because he got shot and then went with him in a hug,” said Luca reached out to people of all faiths, “People should feel welcome. The to prison to bless and forgive the Ghizzardi, a 38-year-old nurse not just Catholics and Christians.” center is for anybody that comes by person who shot him,” said Thomas with a sleeping bag and a hand- In the Holy Land, Israelis and needs information,” she said. Ladzinski, a Fullerton resident. made peace flag at his feet. remembered Pope John Paul II as The campus is located near what Catholics who gathered said the Early Sunday, a text message a builder of bridges between the will be the main entrance of the pope would be remembered as a had circulated on cell phones in faiths, noting how he had embraced Great Park and officials hope to peacemaker and a man of great Rome, asking people to light can- Holocaust survivors with kindness expand the size of the campus as it is compassion for the poor. dles in their windows. and maintained friendships with developed over the next few years. “He just wanted peace on “May they light up the road to Jewish friends from childhood. Other information available at the earth and for everyone to unite,” God for him, the way he did for The College of Cardinals – the center will help students and visi- Piestrzeniewicz said. us,” the message read. red-capped “princes of the church” tors with parking problems, locating Photos by DAVID PARDO/Daily Titan Asst. Photo Editor In Vatican City, Pope John Paul Around the world, bells tolled who now officially govern the 1 staff members and finding class- Top: Many sobbing parishoners could be found among the hundreds II’s body lay in state Sunday, his and worshippers prayed in remem- billion-strong Roman Catholic rooms, Hebri said. who attended Mass at the John Paul II Polish Center. Bottom: Izabella hands clutching a rosary, his pas- brance of the man who reigned Boguki sheds tears while holding her son Michael during Sunday’s Mass. toral staff under his arm. Millions for longer than all but two of his POPE 3 EL TORO 3 Never give up on dreams, paralyzed surfer says to stop doing what he loved. He dream of doing that,” said Heather “Think about your own life,” Spinal cord injury also said he continued to follow his Carrick, a kinesiology major Billauer said. “Never give up on pushes Jesse Billauer dreams of surfing in a professional at CSUF. “He’s done it [and] he your hopes and dreams.” surfing event, being in a feature doesn’t even have the abilities that Through three separate events, to reach his life goals surf film, graduating from college we have.” Billauer has seen and revisited his and getting married and starting a Since his accident, Billauer has goals and dreams he has had in his By JASON KEHLER Daily Titan Staff family. become very involved in research life. The first was a car accident About three and for helping to cure when he was in high school. He One of the top amateur surfers a half years after his “ spinal cord injuries. was thrown from his car through a was out surfing one day with some accident, Billauer, As long as you He has started an closed window onto the street and, friends. As he pulled out of a back- with the help of try, as long as organization called as he laid on his back, wondered if side barrel, the lip hit him in the friends and on a you don’t give up Life Rolls On to he would accomplish everything he back, sending him head first into custom-made surf- on things, what help raise money wanted to do. the sand just below the water. The board, went surfing seems impossible for research and This same thought came back to impact caused a spinal cord injury for the first time raise awareness. him the day he was hurt surfing. APRIL MILLER/Daily Titan that left him paralyzed from the since being para- can be done. “It’s not about “I found myself on my back on Seniors “Bunny Hop” their way to improved balance and mobility. chest down with minimal use of his lyzed. Jesse Billauer Jesse, it’s not the beach,” Billauer said. “And arms. “As long as you Surfer about Life Rolls those same dreams flashed before This is the story of Jesse Billauer. try, as long as you On,” Billauer said. my eyes.” Since his accident at the age of 17, don’t give up on ” “It’s about others After relearning the basic tasks Seniors seek better Billauer has been in a wheelchair. things, what seems impossible can who stay at home and don’t have a of everyday life, Billauer fell back- He told his story of the accident and be done,” Billauer said. voice.” wards in his wheelchair one day and what he has done since to a kine- Billauer has been surfing ever Billauer said people need to find suffered the same nerve damages siology class at Cal State Fullerton since and was highlighted in the surf something they love and continue from his surfing accident and once balance, mobility on the nine-year anniversary of his documentary “Step Into Liquid.” to do it, no matter what.