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PHOTO: Spring Football

On Saturday, April 28 at Bulldog Stadium the Fresno State Football team held a scrimmage between the offense and the defense.   Click here to view a photo slideshow of the day’s events.

Finding a place to junk “old-school” electronics

Does an ice machine qualify as electronic waste? How about a toaster? These questions sometimes left Alexander Moreno stumped as he stood with four co-workers in Parking Lot C, located near the Smittcamp Alumni House, Saturday morning.

Though the day was pretty slow, Moreno and his colleagues kept busy answering questions and unloading everything from computer monitors to old fax machines — right into the Fresno State parking lot.

The five helped with the university-sponsored Electronic Waste Drop-off Event, and even after eight similar events held on campus since January 2006, the workers were surprised at the questions they were asked.

“A toaster oven is not electronic,�? said Moreno, a temporary worker. “They think [we’re accepting] basic waste, but it has got to have something electronic that has a brain.�?

Other out-of-place items included an old ice machine, vacuum cleaners and various household appliances.

Misunderstandings stem from a state law passed in February 2006 forbidding households to trash electronic items that contain materials that can be hazardous if not disposed of properly.

To give the community an affordable and easy place to get rid of the waste, the university’s Environmental Health and Safety department partnered with Electronic Recyclers International.

Since then, the campus e-waste events have collected more than 230,000 pounds of junk.

Lisa Kao, the department’s Environmental Quality Manager, put that number into perspective.

“A computer tower is usually only 25 to 30 pounds,�? Kao said.

The collected waste so far doesn’t include Saturday’s results, which will not be available until later this week.

Kao estimated that fewer than 100 people came to the most recent event, which ran from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It was a slow day compared to past events, including the March 24 date that saw twice as many people participate.

The relatively low turnout may have had more to do with another environmental event being held at the same time, rather than a diminishing need.

Saturday was Earth Day, and the occasion was being celebrated in downtown Fresno. Another drop-off
location for electronic waste downtown was part of that celebration.

Despite the slow day, temporary worker Ray Gonzalez said events like this would always be needed.

“Buy something new, throw something old away,�? Gonzalez said. “[People are always] replacing it with new stuff.�?

Some people arrived with a whole car full of e-waste.

Jocelyn Ward opened her trunk to reveal 232 lbs. worth of printers, computers and more.

Ward said she had seen the news of the event on the Internet and thought that it was the perfect solution to her problem.

“[My office] was looking to get rid of our e-waste,�? Ward said. “We got new computers.�?

Some worried that information might “leak out�? from their computers.

“You don’t know what’s on there,�? said Debbie Crawford, a Fresno State alumna.

Crawford said she thought there was not any personal information left on it, but that it’s hard to be sure.
“They assured me that it is shredded,�? Crawford said.

Kao confirmed that all e-waste products are destroyed, and said that sometimes people bring in things that she wished wouldn’t have had to be destroyed.

“A really old television, the old-reel recording stereos,�? Kao said. “Some you may have wanted to put in a museum. There is no reason to tear it apart if it still works.�?

But when Jaime Horio dropped off an Audiovox cell phone, one of the workers marveled at how big the phone was and called it “old school.�?

“That tells us about today’s society,�? Kao said. “Something that is 5 years old is ‘old school.’ Things are getting small and smaller.�?

“Green” council to hold celebration at FS Wednesday

The U.S. Green Building Council’s Central California Chapter will celebrate its newly formed chapter at the Downing Planetarium May 2.

“We’re basically having the celebration as a public awareness event,�? said Bill Blayney, vice president of the USGBC. “We have presence in the Valley now.�?

According the USGBC’s Web site, the group is a 75-chapter group whose purpose is to raise standards in the construction marketplace by keeping buildings sustainable. The council also prides itself on building with the environment and efficiency in mind.

“Building ‘green’ will improve air quality, water quality and quality of life in the area by providing a better
environment to work,�? said Hal Johnston, a construction management professor at Fresno State.

“Sustainability has potential to impact both our lives and the design of buildings.�?

“Green buildings use half the power of a building comparable size,�? said Loren Aiton, the program chair of the Central California Chapter of the USGBC. “We spent 4 percent additional cost to make a green building; it can be less than that or more than that.�?

Blayney said the chapter was not only committed to improving construction for the area, but educating the region as well. “We’re there to offer a resource for students already involved in environmental studies and engineering,�? Blayney said. “As a prime objective we offer education, and a resource that’s open.�?

The USGBC is not only a resource to students but to faculty as well. Both students and instructors alike have shown excitement regarding the event.

“The people that are involved in the USGBC are experts in green building and we need to have them in the classroom,�? Johnston said. “Students should go because it gives them the opportunity to meet local experts and leaders in the green building area.�?

Matthew McLaughlin, vice president of the construction management honorary fraternity Sigma Lambda Chi, describes the USGBC as “cutting edge.�?

“This is a good opportunity for students to have access to information they will have to know in the future,�? said Izadel Tolentino, a junior in the construction management program and presidential candidate for Students in Construction. “Once we get into the workforce, we are going to start thinking about how to make buildings more environmentally friendly we have to watch how we use our product.�?

The celebration will be held at the Downing Planetarium at Fresno State May 2 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Only guests who RSVP’d may attend the event.

Spring game goes to ‘Dogs

For the second time in two weeks, the Fresno State offense was victorious over the defense in the annual spring football scrimmage.

The 80-play scrimmage ended with a bang, as Bulldogs freshman quarterback Ryan Colburn threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to tight end Sonny McCree to end the day. That same play was also the designated media period, in which members of the media — including The Collegian’s Darrell Copeland III — were assigned different sides of the ball to call plays with Fresno State’s second-team members.

Despite a victory for the offense, the Bulldogs defense also shined as it showed a hard-hitting personality in the secondary. But like a championship prize fight in boxing, the offense exchanged jabs with the defense, making for a hard fought scrimmage.

“I was very happy with the scrimmage,�? Fresno State head coach Pat Hill said. “It was a good, intense scrimmage. We saw some good hitting out there. It was a good way to wind down the spring. The offense was very efficient. We ran the ball better today than we did last week.�?

Nearly 3,000 fans braved the 95-degree weather, but those who showed up saw 10 of the 80 plays go for 15 yards or more. For the Bulldogs offense, quarterback Tom Brandstater unofficially passed for 126 yards on 10 of 15 throwing with one touchdown and one interception.

Colburn, who is expected to enter the season as Brandstater’s backup, also had an effective day, throwing for 116 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions on 11 of 15 passing.

One of the biggest concerns the Bulldogs wanted to address was the running game, as last season’s leading rusher, Dwayne Wright, has since moved on the National Football League. After Saturday’s performance from Lonyae Miller, that spot might no longer be a concern. Miller rushed for 41 yards on seven carries, including a 26-yard run.

Fresno State’s other main concern going into the scrimmage was the play of a young secondary, which should be tested all throughout the 2007 season with the Western Athletic Conference’s high-scoring offenses.

Marvin Haynes, Lorne Bell and Jake Jorde all had interceptions for the Bulldogs, while senior linebacker Marcus Riley had three tackles, including two tackles for loss. Senior defensive end Tyler Clutts and A.J. Jefferson reigned as the day’s top performers for Bulldogs defense.

Clutts tracked down Fresno State quarterbacks for two sacks for seven yards while Jefferson led the team in tackles with five.

“We still have some work to do,�? Hill said. “But we got in a lot of good work this spring. We saw some players emerge not only as players, but as leaders of this football team. We can use this to build on our personality.

“We have some aggressive players on defense. I really like our team speed on defense. I think this is the fastest team we’ve had. Every team has a different personality and I like what I’ve seen so far.�?

Other standouts for the Fresno State offense were Seyi Ajirotutu and Jesus Tapia, who each had a touchdown catch in the scrimmage. Ajirotutu averaged 16.8 yards on four catches.

Women win sixth straight WAC title

The Fresno State women’s tennis team continued its dominance against the Western Athletic Conference competition as the team defeated Boise State 4-0 and won its sixth-straight WAC title on Saturday.

“We came out really strong in doubles and took the crowd out of it quickly,�? head coach Simon Thibodeau said in a press statement. “We also started singles well and most importantly we finished out the match 4-0.�?

Fresno State won the doubles point for the 16th consecutive match. The sophomore tandem of Melanie Gloria and Tinesta Rowe, ranked 35th nationally, started the doubles domination as they defeated the team of Laura Baum and Jana Mackova 8-3. Fresno State’s team of Renata Kucerkova and Anastasia Petukhova clinched the doubles point in their 8-2 victory over Tatiana Ganzha and Polina Kokoulina.

Sophomore Melanie Gloria, ranked No. 3, won her 19th consecutive match as she eased past Bianca Jochimsen 6-0, 6-3.

Petukhova, playing in the No. 3 position, gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead in singles as she defeated Mackova 6-2, 6-2.

“My goal was to come out and play my best tennis,�? Petukhova said in a press statement. “As a team, I think we are really playing great, but we want to improve even more.�?

Junior Jacqueline Haskett clinched her match and the team’s sixth-straight conference title with her 6-3, 6-3 victory Tiffany Coll. Haskett’s victory extended her WAC tournament record to 5-0 in singles and 4-0 in doubles over the last three seasons.

Fresno State’s victory extended the school’s winning streak over conference opponents to 28 straight matches and improved their overall record to 20-3. With the addition of another WAC title, the team will now focus its attention on the upcoming NCAA tournament.

Fresno State, ranked No. 16th nationally, hopes to host first and second round matches of the NCAA tournament at the Wathen Tennis Center on May 12 and 13.

The tournament field and regional locations will be announced on the NCAA selection show on ESPNEWS Tuesday, May 1.

Fresno State also swept the WAC’s women’s tennis postseason awards. Kucerkova was named Freshman of the Year and Gloria won Player of the Year honors.

Head coach Simon Thibodeau won his second-straight and third overall coach of the year award.

Creative Drama aims to inspire

A spotlight hits the stage illuminating two beach chairs.

The scene has now been set and two students come on stage to perform their piece before an audience of their peers.

But this isn’t your typical Fresno State drama class.

This class, Creative Drama, is designed to touch and change lives.

Creative Drama is part of a partnership program between McLane High School and Fresno State called Turning Points Academy (TPA).

Turning Points works in collaboration with Fresno State to provide a unique and inspirational experience for both Fresno State students and McLane High sophomores.

Chanthorn Chap, a Fresno State senior communications major, is a former graduate of Turning Points. He was so inspired by his experience with the academy that he came back this semester as a teacher/facilitator in the drama class.

“TPA was a great head-start,�? Chap said. “It really motivated me and makes you mature, I wanted to come back as a college student because I wanted to make that same impact on someone else.�?

Chap said being a part of Turning Points inspired him to go to college.

“TPA helped me break out of my shell and build a bridge, a connection to the university,�? Chap said. “All the amazing student interaction within the program, made life not so intimidating and college not such a huge adjustment.�?

Creative Drama gives Fresno State students the chance to work closely with McLane students as volunteer teachers and facilitators.

Linda Dryden, the new facilitator and teacher of the course, said the college students go through a few weeks of training before they began working with the high school students. Once the college students know some theatre arts basics, they help the high school students write, stage and perform scenes in various formats.

“The students create and perform monologues, dialogues and scenes,�? Dryden said. “It is here where that creativity and that personal connection bloom.�?

Sky Sweet, a Turning Points English teacher, said the program targets the middle student — the student often left adrift, who do well enough to pass and are assumed to be fine and therefore receive the least attention.

“TPA offers a unique experience to students,�? Sweet said. “It allows the opportunity for them to connect and grow and to motivate them to succeed.�?

Turning Points was established by Principal Frank Silvestro at McLane High. The program selects 150 McLane sophomores, based on attendance, teacher references and some sophomores who personally volunteer to take part in the program.

These sophomores spend the first half of their school year preparing by learning about the Fresno State campus and selecting classes. They learn about financial aid, housing and other aspects of college life.

The second half of the year, the sophomores come to Fresno State and take classes, including English, math, biology, world history and a specially designed drama class.

The drama class is one of the most popular aspects of the Turning Points program, not only for the McLane High sophomores but for Fresno State students as well.

Roxanna Garcia, a McLane High sophomore and current Turning Points participant, said the program is great for students who need to bond and not feel so isolated.

“It builds confidence, and opens us up more,�? Garcia said.

Dawn Martinez, a Fresno State liberal studies major and a teacher/facilitator for Turning Points, said the benefits of the academy for its student participants are priceless.

“I can touch students’ lives and give them hopes and dreams,�? Martinez said. “If everyone could have an
experience like this, I feel the world could be a much better place.�?

Surviving Fresno State

One writer reflects on things she wishes she knew about college before starting

THERE ARE A lot of things that I wish I knew about college before I came to Fresno State. One thing that stands out most in my mind is experiencing and trying out new things in this new environment away from home.

When I first came to Fresno, I was amazed by its sheer size and what I thought were the millions of different things to do in this city, including partying of course.

I came with the preconceived notion that everybody at college was going to be studying most of the time and there would be parties every now and then. But what I quickly learned was that having a social life here is just as important as being in good academic standing with your school.

Learning to balance all of the chaos is a different story.

College, in my mind, is more than getting an education. It is about learning and redefining who you are.

This is the time in our lives when we are trying to find ourselves and have the opportunity to experience things that we otherwise would have never done.

We all came to college for one reason or another. Some came to get a higher education and to pursue a career and others for the mere fact of having something to do after high school.

Even so, it doesn’t mean we are not allowed to have a good time every now and then.

Another thing I would have liked to have known before I came to college is that credit cards can be a dangerous pitfall for college students if they are not cautious with their spending habits.

Falling into the deep and dark hole of credit card debt is a problem that can linger for years after your initial purchases made on your card.

When I got my first credit card, I tried to believe that it was only to be used in cases of an emergency, but soon began convincing myself that things like the new blouse from Express qualified as necessities.

Credit cards can be bad habits and can quickly spiral out of control. I just wished somebody had reminded me that self-control and credit cards typically do not go hand in hand.

Lastly, one more thing I wish I knew before coming to college is that while living on your own for the first time has its definite benefits, finding a roommate that you are compatible it extremely tough.

I don’t know why I didn’t think that it would be hard before, maybe it was because I didn’t realize that for the most part we are joining two or more different people that potentially have different beliefs, cultures, or ideas.

Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you might hit it off with your roommates right away. For those who do not, it becomes a struggle to enjoy going home and when you know that “person�? is always there, waiting to nag at you.

Overall I can say I have really enjoyed my college years at Fresno State, but if I would have known these three things before I came to college I would have felt just a little bit more prepared of what to expect.

The results are in – and nobody voted

We’re not sure if you’ve heard, but the elections for next year’s Associated Students executives and senators occurred last week. Voting took place last Tuesday through last Thursday, and during the course of those three days, 494 student votes were cast, averaging about 166 votes each day.

While there are a few instances where 494 might qualify as a large number — say, the number of mouths to feed at a wedding — it is an absolutely dismal number when talking about an election for a group of people responsible for making decisions on behalf of the student body about how our funds should be allocated.

Indeed, in relation to the approximately 22,000 students currently enrolled at Fresno State, 494 voters comprise about 2.2 percent of the population of the school. This is a precipitous drop from last year’s election turnout, which still drew only 1,398 voters (about 6.4 percent of the school).

Indeed, turnout was so bad that there were several candidates elected with fewer than 10 votes.

The poor turnout seems to be the result of several factors — there seemed to be a marked lack of campaigning this year as compared to previous elections. The number of candidates was also considerably less than in years past, with most candidates running unopposed. Taken together, these issues point to what may be the larger problem — student apathy, on all fronts.

The One-Finger Salute

Thumbs up to the Clovis Rodeo. As policy, The Collegian can’t endorse alcohol, so let’s just say it was “fun.�?

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Thumbs down to the 100-degree weather that hit the Valley last weekend. The heat can take something that smells bad and make it smell worse, can kill babies and the elderly and wreaks havoc on energy bills.

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Thumbs up to the four Fresno State football players who were drafted in the 2007 NFL Draft. With any luck, next year, Dwayne Wright, Paul Williams, Marcus McCauley and Chris Denham will be playing for the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, respectively.

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Thumbs down to finals, swiftly approaching. The promise of summer almost quells our anxiety — but not quite.

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“The One-Finger Salute” is culled each week from discussions in The Collegian newsroom.

VIDEO: E-Waste

Videographer Bedor Alshatti reports on the e-waste program on the campus of California State University, Fresno.
Read more

PHOTO: Millerton Lake Triathlon

The Fresno State Triathlon Club sent 10 members to the Millerton Lake Triathlon held on April 22, 2007.  Click here to view a photo slideshow of the day’s events.

VIDEO: Energy PSA

Energy Conservation PSA.
Read more

A career taken to new heights

Fresno State track and field director Bob Fraley’s path in life was shaped in grammar school.

Fraley and his grammar school counterparts gathered around to view the bamboo pole that Cornelius “Dutch�? Warmerdam, a nearby resident, had used to set a World Record in the pole vault. Seeing that piece of bamboo was the turning point in Fraley’s life. In an instant, Fraley gained a heroic figure in his life and a passion for the sport that would later lead him to coaching prestige.

Fraley’s path to the coaching ranks was improbable, considering his childhood roots. Growing up in a rural farming community southwest of Selma, Fraley was unsure about whether he would even attend college. After graduating from Laton High School in 1956, Fraley’s father agreed to pay the $6 tuition fee for his son to attend College of the Sequoias.

Fraley said one of his COS professors was concerned that college would be too grueling for him to complete.

“He told me that I was pretty illiterate and he doubted that I would ever graduate,�? Fraley said.

Fraley wasn’t detracted by the remarks and later enrolled at Fresno State. Fraley competed on the track and field team for Bulldogs head coach Cornelius Warmerdam, his childhood idol.

After competing in the pole vault for one season, Fraley sat out his senior year to fulfill a commitment he made to his wife to graduate in four years.

Fraley said he walked out to a practice to tell Warmerdam he had to quit the team and the coach told him he thought he would be a great coach.

After coaching and teaching at a local elementary school, Fraley was hired at Lemoore High School, where construction for a new track was
already under way.

“I saw the construction and I said, ‘my God, are they building a freeway or what?’�? Fraley said.

The construction was for an all-weather track that was only the second of its kind installed at an institution in the state of California.

When construction was complete, Fraley quickly built Lemoore into a perennial power. The Tigers won 13 league titles and only lost two dual meets in his 15 seasons as head coach.

Fraley’s success at the high school level helped him land a coaching job at his alma mater in 1981.

“The Lord blessed me with all this great talent and when Warmerdam retired, I accepted a job as an assistant coach,�? Fraley said.

Returning to Fresno State and following in Warmerdam’s footsteps was an emotional experience.

“I sat down and cried,�? Fraley said. “This person had inspired me and I was taking his job and locker.�?

The transition to collegiate coaching wasn’t as easy as some might think. Fraley had been a teacher and head track coach for 20 years and at that stage in his coaching career, moving to an assistant position was actually a cut in pay.

Consequently, Fraley’s wife Elaine was forced to pawn the couple’s gold high school rings during his first season.

The measure of Fraley’s success and growth was evident 22 years later, when he gave up his salary during the 2003 season to save the track and field program from being cut.

During his tenure, Fraley has built a multitude of strong relationships with his athletes and has led many of them to great success and national prominence.

He not only built a strong reputation for the Fresno Sate program, but he also gained national recognition in the track and field community for his role in the growth and transformation of the pole vault.

He was named the Developmental Coach of the Year by the United States Olympic Committee in 2003 and was also named the USA Track and Field Nike Coach of the Year that same year.

He created the Pole Vault Summit in 1989 in an attempt to make the sport safer and help promote the pole vault event throughout the country.

But there are two things that bring the greatest smile to Fraley’s face.

The first was coaching his son Doug to three national titles in the pole vault. The second is developing and educating young minds.

Fraley also became the first track and field coach in the country to offer a scholarship to a female pole vaulter. Despite numerous skeptics, Melissa Price, the recipient of the scholarship, proved Fraley right and was a three-time All-American and was the NCAA indoor champion in 1998 and 1999.

“People would say women can’t vault and I would tell them that’s what you think,�? Fraley said. “A girl in sixth grade beat me so I know women can pole vault. I’ve got the evidence.�?

Fraley’s knowledge and reputation in the pole-vaulting community has been a strong draw for many athletes.

“He knows everything there is to know,�? freshman pole vaulter Andrea Greenman said. “I knew if I wanted to be good I needed to go here.�?

Former Bulldog Chris Berrian was a walk-on sprinter when he arrived at Fresno State, but through hard work and motivation from Fraley, he drastically improved.

“He’s a good coach,�? Berrian said. “He’s been around for a long time and he knows what he’s doing.�?

In four years, Fraley helped develop Berrian into one of the top sprinters in the WAC and region.

“He uses positive reinforcement and he just knows how to motivate me.�? Berrian said. “He pretty much got me to where I am and because of him I finished sixth at the USA Championships and I never thought I would get there.�?

Fraley said a lot of athletes are trying to find their identities and it’s his job as an educator to help them find it. His strategy to inspire his athletes is actually pretty simple.

“What we need to do is help these students understand that they’ll go through trial and errors in their life, but perseverance develops character and leads to hope,�? Fraley said. “That allows you to set goals and dream dreams. When you dream dreams it will help take you to a level you never thought was possible.�?

Warmerdam’s bamboo pole now rests in the Boston Track and Field Hall of Fame. With Fraley’s accomplishments and contribution to the sport, the head coach will undoubtedly be reunited with his hero and the item that changed his life so many years ago.
It’s where hall of famers belong.

Learning from his past mistakes

Dr. John Welty sits in his office, in the same president’s chair he’s occupied since 1991.

From his chair, he’s seen scandals rock the university’s athletic program; from his office, he’s read scathing stories written about him in the local newspaper.

Welty admits he’s made mistakes. Everyone does.

But Welty’s missteps are on display to the students in the Fresno State community and locally for the public to criticize.

In the second half of an exclusive interview with the 62-year-old campus president, Welty talks about how the media have treated him, accepts responsibility for the misappropriation of funds and shares lessons he’s learned from his time spent at Fresno State.

G: How do you feel The Fresno Bee has treated you throughout the situation of the misappropriation of funds to the athletic department? Do you think that you’ve been treated fairly?

W: Well, I think we have responded to The Bee on some of the earlier articles that we think were not accurate, or certainly did not accurately reflect the situation. I think there has been, in most recent weeks, an attempt to be accurate and to be fair and hopefully that will continue.

G: What about the news media in general throughout your tenure here?

W: I think the media has been for the most part fair, and certainly work to cover the activities that are happening at the university and to highlight those.

G: What’s your relationship with The Fresno Bee now? Do you feel as though those problems, like you said, have been corrected and do you feel like you have a better relationship now?

W: I think The Bee is certainly making every effort to be fair and factual in its coverage, and certainly if you were to take the last three months and look at the number of articles in The Bee, you would find far more positive articles than negative. And so it’s important to keep that in perspective, that there are gonna be times when the editorial board differs with something that we do, and when that occurs we’ll usually make our statements clear as well. I think it’s important, as long as in the news part that the news reporting is accurate and factual, and I would say for the most part that has been the case with The Bee.

G: You made this statement in a 2005 welcome back speech: “Unfortunately, mistakes have been made which have had a negative impact on our university. We must take steps to restore the integrity of the program and become a leader in student athlete academic performance as well as on the field performance.�? What steps did you take, and do you feel as though any integrity has been restored since then to the program?

W: Yes, I think the athletic program has made major strides in restoring the integrity of the program. How that has been done is through certainly under the leadership of Thomas Boeh, our new director of athletics. He has made that a top priority for the entire program. But specifically, we have strengthened our compliance program and hired additional staff there. We have also placed a much heavier emphasis with the coaches on academic performance of student athletes, and there are some great examples of very good performance. The football team is among the top teams nationally in terms of their academic performance, and there are other sports where you could point to similar progress. There are also some where we need to make more progress.

G: Where are some of the areas?

W: Some of the teams do need to improve their academic performance. We will continue to strengthen the compliance efforts as well as just the general fiscal operation program.

G: Some members of the community think that certain people should step up and take responsibility for the misdirection of funds. Do you think the right people have taken responsibility? Do you accept any responsibility?

W: Well, I have certainly indicated that ultimately I’m responsible for what happens to the university and when we identified the problem five years ago, we did take steps to the best of our ability to correct that problem. We are, as I think you know, reviewing over a multi-year period the whole issue, and if we identify further problems we’ll correct those problems as well. And if it’s any individual individuals are identified as being responsible, we’ll deal accordingly with them as we did in the past when those situations arose, but I think it’s important to realize that the problem is really a function of miscommunication between offices, poor training and really procedural problems rather than anyone willfully or intentionally intending to make the errors that were made.

G: In retrospect, would you make any changes to the things you’ve done while at the university? Would you go back and change any mistakes you think you may have made in the past?

W: Well, if I had that opportunity, there are a number of things I might change. There’s no question. I’ve made mistakes along the way, but I think as those mistakes were made we corrected those, and when you make a mistake, you wish you hadn’t made a mistake but the important thing is to correct that mistake and I think most importantly to actually learn from the mistake and improve upon it.

G: Were there any situations in the past that you feel like you could go back on and go about differently, or do you think the whole learning process is something that the university needed in order to grow and be better?

W: I think it’s important… first of all recognize that people make mistakes, I make mistakes. But if you recognize when you make those and then learn from those that the university and I as an individual will be much stronger.

G: Are there any particular instances or situations you want to elaborate on that you would change?

W: Well, I’m probably not ready to really reflect on those at this point, but at some point, as I get toward the end of my tenure, I’ll be happy to comment on them.

G: What about the hiring of Jerry Tarkanian? Would you have hired him if you could go back and do that differently?

W: Well, I think as it turned out, obviously it was not beneficial to the university and problems occurred. I think certainly the outcome or the decision might have been different. I think that the time the decision was made we had every reason to believe that it would work out and I regret that it didn’t.

G: Do you think the building of the Save Mart Center would have been possible without him?

W: Well, he certainly he was a major factor in building enthusiasm for the program, building the support for the program that allowed the Save Mart Center to occur.

G: What are some of the things you’ve learned along the way while serving as campus president?

W: I think there are a number of things. One is that I think it is important to have a plan that is communicated to the entire university. It’s important to treat people fairly, to respect what they’re doing. It’s very important that you work to support our faculty and staff and the work that they’re trying to do with students. It’s important, I think, to listen to members of the university community and try to be responsive to those issues that are identified. It’s certainly important to hire good people that are actually better than you. I’ve actually been able to do that in many, many cases. And it’s important, I think, for the university to feel like we are succeeding and making progress and that people have pride in our university.

Fewer than 500 students vote in AS elections

Only about 2.2 percent of the student body participated in this year’s Associated Students election. According to Election Commissioner Kuyler Crocker, 494 students voted.

This was down considerably from last year’s voter turnout of 1,398.

Both Juan Pablo Moncayo and Russel Statham were re-elected as president and vice president of finance, respectively. Moncayo received 375 votes. Statham received 328 votes. Both Statham and Moncayo ran unopposed.

Only two positions faced a run-off between candidates. Sandra Nunes and Joel Sandana both ran for the position of Senator of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology. Saldana won with about 53.7 percent of the vote.

The other contested positions were those for Senator At-Large. Seven positions were available with nine students of assorted majors running. Matthew Ortiz, Jamina Hackett, Clayton Best, Stephen Trembley, Jackie Mundt, Mackee Mason and Ashik Ahmed were elected.

Lauren Johnson won the position of Senator of the Craig School of Business with 54 votes. Katherine Yeffa received 24 votes to be elected as Senator for the Kremen School of Education.

Jamie Ruddy was elected as the Senator for the College of Science and Mathematics, and Lucas Stillmaker won the position of the Senator for the College of Engineering, respectively. Stillmaker received 18 votes; Ruddy earned 48. None of these races were contested.

While no candidates were originally on the ballot for the Colleges of Arts and Humanities, Health and Human Services or Social Sciences, registered write-in candidates stepped up.

Gary Krboyan, Sara Campbell, Jeanette Carder and David Heckman all ran for the College of Arts and Humanities. Campbell won with 57 percent of the vote.

As a write-in candidate, Megan Crabtree ran unopposed and won for the College of Health and Human Services. She received 2 votes.

Three students, Miguel Perez, Eric Cuadros and Chris Kelm put forth their names as candidates for the College of Social Sciences. Cuadros won when he received 9 votes.

Fresno State students also approved the only initiative on the ballot, which upon the dissolution of AS, gives the CSU Board of Trustees the responsibility of determining where existing funds would go. The vote passed 244 to 57.

All data was provided by Election Commissioner Kuyler Crocker.

The League of Women Voters conducted the polling and vote count. According to the AS Election Code, candidates have 14 days to protest the election results.

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