Shooting receives international attention
May 8, 2007
Andrew Riggs / The Collegian
The recent school shooting at Virginia Tech has elevated awareness both nationally and internationally.
As a result of Monday night’s incident at the University Village apartment complex at Cedar and Barstow avenues, CNN contacted The Collegian requesting a representative appear on the “Nancy Grace�? television show. However, the plans were cancelled when it was discovered that a satellite truck would not be available.
During the situation and eventual apprehension of Jonquel Brooks, local television and radio stations as well as newspapers covered the event as it unfolded.
Live coverage of a press conference given by Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer, with an appearance by University President John Welty, also appeared on CNN.
According to Public Information Specialist Tom Uribes, Fresno State was contacted by a radio station in Buenos Aires, The Nippon News and The Tokyo Times.
Dr. Lucia Hammar, the director of the International Student Services, said it had also received a call of general inquiry about the well-being of international students from Japan.
Hammar said students who live near the shooting and work in the International Student Services offices naturally expressed concern, but said, “We have not been receiving calls about the shooting.�?
Uribes said the Virginia Tech tragedy has spurred “added interest�? in instances of violence on or near school campuses.
Fresno police, officials respond to shooting
May 8, 2007
Juan Villa / The Collegian
Fresno State President John Welty described the shooting incident that took the life of a former Fresno State student and wounded two other people, including a current student, as a “senseless tragedy.?
As the event unfolded, Fresno State first alerted students through the Fresno State News Web site, which notified them about a police incident near Cedar and Barstow avenues.
An e-mail was sent to students at 4:49 a.m. informing students of “considerable police activity? near the intersection.
By 10 a.m. Welty had released a statement on Fresno State News in which he said, “The University Police Department is confident that Fresno Police Department has the suspect contained and the situation under control. We are conducting classes even as we are working to help all our students who were there and all other students affected by this sad incident so near our campus.? The statement was not e-mailed to students.
Though it was later determined that the suspect had not been contained, Welty said in a press conference held after the suspect’s apprehension that there was no indication that the suspect was ever on campus.
Public Information Officer Amy Armstrong of the University Police Department said university police were not involved in the actual police activity. Armstrong said, “Our officers weren’t over there securing the area? because it was a matter for the city of Fresno.
However, Armstrong said university police officers were patrolling the campus and helping with the diverted traffic.
Welty said Fresno State’s emergency team worked to protect the campus and to provide updates and online alerts.
University Spokeswoman Shirley Armbruster told The Fresno Bee, “There was never an indication there was a threat to the campus.?
As students may not have been aware of the fact that the campus remained open during the incident, Provost Jeri Echeverria sent an e-mail “To All Faculty,? which indicated that students may have chosen not to come to campus because of being misinformed or because of concerns for their safety.
In the e-mail, Echeverria also noted that a number of students had been evacuated and were not able to return to their homes before the start of the school day. For these reasons, Echeverria wrote, “Faculty should be understanding and accommodative of students missing classes on Tuesday, May 8 and should carefully consider how to evaluate assignments due on that date.?
Counseling staff aids evacuees
May 8, 2007
Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Paul Oliaro said the counseling staff of the Student Health Center was on alert to help any students in need of someone to listen to them in the wake of Monday night’s shooting that left a former Fresno State student dead and two other people wounded.
Dr. Gena Gechter, the coordinator for counseling services at the health center, was working at University Courtyard Tuesday afternoon to help students who had been displaced by the evacuation of University Village.
According to Oliaro, Fresno State’s Health and Psychological Services is also communicating with the manager of University Village to make their services available to residents in need.
Oliaro said it was reasonable to assume there are some students who will need help in dealing with their own reactions to the incident, as well as any friends or family of the victims. Oliaro described the event as “pretty traumatic�? whether or not students were in the immediate vicinity.
Josie Rangel, a counselor for Health and Psychological Services, said students who may be in need of help should be on the lookout for signs such as:
• appetite disturbances
• sleep disturbances
• constant fear or nightmares
•difficulty in concentrating or attending their regular responsibilities
Rangel said students are encouraged to seek out support systems and if necessary, visit the health center to consult with a counselor or physician.
The Collegian announces fall 2007 editorial and business staff
May 8, 2007
The Collegian is proud to announce an almost entirely new staff for the fall 2007 semester.
Jessica Szalay will be taking over for Kirstie Hettinga as editor in chief for The Collegian. Szalay graduated with her bachelor’s degree in history and a minor in broadcast journalism in 2006. She is working on her master’s in history and has previous print journalism experience as the city reporter for The Selma Enterprise.
Brent VonCannon has been hired for the news editor position. As a senior print journalism major, VonCannon was the beat reporter for the news section this semester and has written for The Collegian for two semesters.
The news section will be supplemented by current news editor Katrina Garcia who has been re-hired by The Collegian, but as the new beat reporter for the news section. Following an internship this summer with The Bakersfield Californian, the print journalism major will be graduating in the fall.
Megan Reilly will be the features editor. The broadcast journalism major has previous experience in print journalism as an intern and reporter with The Kingsburg Recorder.
Opinion editor Mathew Gomes will be returning for the fall semester. Gomes, a senior English and music composition major, will have the help of newly hired columnist Benjamin Baxter. As a past print journalism major and a beginning credential student, Baxter has written for The Collegian in previous semesters.
Joe Hollak, a senior majoring in the digital media option of mass communication and journalism, has accepted the position of webmaster/multimedia editor. Hollak previously served as Collegian photo editor and was this past semester’s assistant multimedia editor/webmaster. He recently won first place for his photos of the fall 2006’s campus shootings, and his multimedia work contributed to The Collegian’s recent first-place awards for its Web site.
Digital media major and current photo editor Juan Villa will also be back for the fall 2007 semester. Joseph Vasquez, the fall 2005 Collegian photo editor, will assist Hollak and Villa.
Grace Guanlao is a junior advertising major and she will continue as the national advertising account representative.
Maira De La O has been selected as the local advertising manager and Michael Foster as the advertising coordinator. Vanessa Rodriguez and James Dominguez have been assigned to special projects. All are seniors majoring in mass communication and journalism in the advertising sequence and served as account representatives during the spring 2007 semester.
Michael Uribes, a sophomore in the graphic design sequence of art and design, has accepted the position of advertising production designer.
Osvaldo “Ozzie? Gutierrez, a senior majoring in business, will assume the position of accountancy assistant.
Applications are still being accepted for the positions of co-sports editors and distribution manager. The applications are available online at http://collegian.csufresno.edu.
For more information, please contact 278-5735.
Bulldogs ready to make long run
May 8, 2007
As it stands, the Fresno State softball team is about as big of a shoe-in for the NCAA Tournament as there can be.
In 58 regular season games, the Bulldogs have been able to run off winning streaks of at least five games four times, including a season-best nine-game winning streak March 6-13. When added together, it all adds up to 42 wins and 16 losses for a team that Bulldogs coach Margie Wright says is as talented as any in recent memory.
Still, even with all that work, the season is just starting for Fresno State. For the Bulldogs, the real season starts today with the opening day of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament.
“Last year, we got knocked out … because we took Nevada for granted,�? Bulldogs senior catcher Nichole Willis said. “This year we’ll come in with that knowledge and take it to everybody.�?
But it’s hard for the Bulldogs to accept the WAC Tournament as something more than a matter of pride.
It’s cracking the list of teams that qualify for the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla. that has the Bulldogs anxious for the postseason.
Fresno State remains the lone school in Division I to have qualified for every NCAA postseason softball tournament, yet the Bulldogs have had extreme difficulty even making it to the super regionals of late.
“I think for us, it’s mainly making up our minds that we’re gonna win,�? Bulldogs second baseman Jenna Cervantez said. “It’s almost like every year, when we get to that championship day to make it into super regionals, we fold. We pretty much lay down and die.�?
That is the characteristic that Wright has tried to fix — laying down and dying — unsuccessfully with each Bulldogs team. This team, however, is different, according to Wright.
“I see somebody different step up every day,�? Wright said. “I see them get along with one another. If one person doesn’t have the drive to get it done, someone else steps up and does it, and people follow. And that’s a big plus from last year. That’s what you have to do if you really want to make a long run.�?
Therein lies the difference between the 1998 National Championship Bulldogs team and every team since — a run, and a long run.
With good reason, Wright believes this year’s Bulldogs are capable of making an Oklahoma City run. The proof comes via a 6-1 victory over then No. 2 and current No. 9 Arizona State.
“I think that we know that anybody can beat anybody on any given day, and that’s something we might not have really known in the past,�? Wright said. “This group has proven it to themselves this year.�?
There is, however, still a bit more to prove. Of the 16 Fresno State losses this season, eight have come at the hands of teams currently ranked in the top 25, including two to WAC rival No. 13 Hawaii.
“Throughout my four years here they’ve always been the team to beat just as we’ve been the team to beat for them,�? Willis said. “It’s kind of the rivalry. It’s always fun playing them.
“I’m going into this — and I think the rest of the girls are — taking every game seriously because you never know what team is gonna come up and bite you in the butt.�?
This year, it is the Bulldogs who hope to have the strongest bite, they just hope there’s enough bites for that elusive WCWS bid.
But first things first, there is that little thing called the WAC Tournament to worry about. For the Bulldogs, that will be the gauge that will determine their destiny.
“We’re gonna try and find that momentum and drive through it a little longer,�? Cervantez said. “Not just expect to win, we are gonna win.�?
Bulldogs honored for academic success at annual Kiwanis dinner
May 8, 2007
At the Kiwanis Torch of Excellence Dinner Monday evening, 250 student athletes were honored for academic honors.
Twelve student-athletes were recognized for their perfect GPAs. In this largest annual awards ceremony hosted by Fresno State’s athletic department, awards were given to Bulldogs for their courage, spirit and athletic success, as well as academic achievement.
Athletes from men’s golf, men’s tennis, equestrian, track and field, football, volleyball, women’s basketball and soccer were recognized as “torchlighters” for their exemplification of what a scholar-athlete should be. These students must letter in two of the past three years, maintain eligibility and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above.
Volleyball player Cheryl Selenak and men’s golf standout Gunnar Avinelis were awarded the George Ilg Memorial Award as graduating seniors for their academic and athletic prowess, as well as their service to the community.
Four students were also recognized as nominees for the Stan Bates award, named after a former WAC Commissioner. The nominees were Jakub Cech, Zinzi Evans, Rochelle Jagdeo and Ryan Moore.
The Bulldog Foundation recognized Bulldogs kicker Clint Stitser as the top student-athlete in the Craig School of Business.
Fellow football player Cole Popovich was awarded the Paul Schecter Courage award for overcoming injuries, such as the ones he
sustained in the game against Washington. Popovich was out for four games.
Students who qualify for the Dean’s list for two consecutive semesters, letter and maintain their eligibility qualify for the Harold Haak scholarship. This year’s recipients were equestrienne Heather Billings and the Diamond Dogs’ Steve Susdorf.
Bulldog Spirit awards were also given to the students of all class levels who are the embodiment of Bulldogs spirit. This year Moore, Jacqueline Haskett, Katey Sellers and Moses Harris were recognized for their Bulldogs pride. The Bulldogs Spirit Awards and Outstanding Professor Awards were new this year and established by the Student Athlete Advisory Council.
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