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Dorm food really not that bad

It would be a shame to throw away my perfect sandwich.

It may look like an ordinary pastrami, roast beef and pepper jack with mustard on wheat, but it is also a work of art. It was made with such care and diligence that it is as perfect as a sandwich can be.

The service at the dorms, when there is service, is excellent.

Exactly three slices each of the meats and cheese are folded in perfect precision; the mustard is an immaculately thin smear, and the dab of hot sauce I brought to the table gives my sandwich frightening power.

I reiterate: it is perfect.

It’s not unusual for students to criticize the dorm cafeteria for having largely inedible food, but that’s because students, for some reason, ignore the reliable, old standbys: sandwich, waffle, chicken tenders and dry cereal. Read more

Horror flicks worth a watch

I watch a lot of movies. I like the artsy stuff: the dramas, the comedies.

But some of my favorite movies to watch — whether it’s Halloween or not — are horror films.

After class on Halloween, I’ll be watching a few horror movies, and I thought I’d share some of my favorites most people haven’t seen whether or not they’re actually good. Some are so bad you can laugh at them. Read more

Recognition is due

Kim: Most athletic teams on campus that are not football or basketball get recognition only if they do well. Sometimes, even if the team isn’t on a winning streak, players garner recognition by being the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) player of the week or breaking school records.

A team such as the volleyball team, now 5-19 overall, recently added a name to the record book. Women’s soccer earned WAC honors this week, too.

I think stuff like this is kind of cool, but I wonder, does anybody actually care?

Jim: If they don’t, they should. Student athletes deserve recognition, no matter how popular the sport. The same energy is put into each respective sport as the others.

Think about the workload these students have. Classes, practices, games. A major commitment is needed to succeed in college athletics.

Some may look at football and basketball as major sports, but what about a sport like equestrian? Do you think anybody can just walk off the street and raise a horse? Let alone train the horse to do all the things that are required of it in a competition setting. Now that’s a clutch situation.

Kim: Volleyball is another example. A new record was set by a freshman named Lauren Berger. Berger is a middle blocker and stands 6 feet 2 inches. She has played in all 24 matches this season, and is fourth all-time among freshman at Fresno State in block assists (56) and total blocks (59).

Unless you are a fan or current/former player, that might not mean a whole lot. I played the sport briefly so it means something to me.

It’s pretty interesting that a freshman is breaking records. It’s just too bad the team’s win-loss record doesn’t reflect her successes.

Jim: Staying in the realm of net sports, good things are happening over at the Wathen Tennis Complex, as well. Melanie Gloria and Tinesta Rowe recently won the doubles title at the Northwest Regional Championships in Palo Alto, Calif. They defeated their own teammates for the title. Talk about a win-win situation. Gloria and Rowe are currently ranked No. 11 nationally.

Another name to remember is Grant Doverspike. The sophomore is the defending WAC Men’s Golf Champion. He doesn’t show any signs of slowing down and I would know. He’s my neighbor.

Kim: Another name making waves this week is women’s soccer goalkeeper, Kaity Revel. Also a freshman, Revel made seven saves in two matches last weekend and allowed only one goal. She was named WAC Defensive Player of the Week.

Revel’s teammates Andrea Alires and Amanda Reyes also earned honors earlier this season, which is such a positive thing for the university and those athletes.

And yet the only reason I know about these honors is because of my position here at the paper and my desire to consume my time with nothing but Fresno State athletics.

Am I the only one?

Jim: It’s sad to see, but not many people even know who most of the aforementioned people are. Just because an athlete doesn’t play a “big-three” sport, they do not receive much attention.

But what these athletes are doing is making our school well-rounded athletically. The more successful student-athletes we have, the more prestigious our athletic program becomes.

Kim: Well, it may not mean a lot to some, but I tip my hat to those student-athletes who continue with their successes regardless of the lack of support. I’ll continue to appreciate it.

The Collegian’s Top 25

No. 1 Ohio State (9-0)
Last Week: Beat Penn State 37-17
This Week: Wisconsin (7-2)
Tidbit: The Buckeyes retain the top spot in the rankings with a Big Ten victory over the Nittany Lions.

No. 2 Boston College (8-0)
Last Week: Beat Virginia Tech 14-10
This Week: Florida State (5-3)
Tidbit: Quarterback Matt Ryan led a fourth-quarter comeback against the Hokies in the Eagles’ biggest win of the season.

No. 3 LSU (7-1)
Last Week: Bye
This Week: at Alabama (6-2)
Tidbit: The Tigers had the week off, but you can bet that they have been looking forward to this game.

No. 4 Arizona State (8-0)
Last Week: Beat California 31-20
This Week: at Oregon (7-1)
Tidbit: The Sun Devils are proving that they aren’t a fluke team. This Saturday against the Ducks could determine the Pac-10 champion.

No. 5 Oregon (7-1)
Last Week: Beat USC 24-17
This Week: Arizona State (8-0)
Tidbit: Quarterback Dennis Dixon beefed up his Heisman resume even more with a win over the Trojans.

No. 6 Oklahoma (7-1)
Last Week: Bye
This Week: Texas A&M (6-3)
Tidbit: The Sooners are still in the hunt for a national title, but need to handle the Aggies first.

No. 7 West Virginia (7-1)
Last Week: Beat Rutgers 31-3
This Week: Bye
Tidbit: Quarterback Pat White jumped back on the Heisman scene with 156 yards rushing and 144 passing.

No. 8 Kansas (8-0)
Last Week: Beat Texas A&M 19-11
This Week: Nebraska (4-5)
Tidbit: The Jayhawks are taking a commanding lead in the Big 12 North Division.

No. 9 Missouri (7-1)
Last Week: Beat Iowa State 42-28
This Week: at Colorado (5-4)
Tidbit: Chase Daniel had 250 yards passing with a touchdown for the Tigers.

No. 10 Georgia (6-2)
Last Week: Beat Florida 42-30
This Week: Troy (6-2)
Tidbit: Running back Knowshon Moreno ran for 188 yards and three touchdowns. The SEC is still wide open.

No. 11 Virginia Tech (6-2)
Last Week: Lost 10-14 to
Boston College
This Week: at Georgia Tech (5-3)
Tidbit: The Hokies took a hard loss, but are still in contention in the ACC Atlantic Division.

No. 12 Hawaii (8-0)
Last Week: Beat New Mexico State 50-13
This Week: Bye
Tidbit: Colt Brennan is just messing with us now. He had 425 yards passing and six touchdowns.

No. 13 Texas (7-2)
Last Week: Beat Nebraska 28-25
This Week: at Oklahoma State (5-3)
Tidbit: Jamaal Charles ran for 290 yards and three scores. The Longhorns are starting to show signs of life.

No. 14 Michigan (7-2)
Last Week: Beat Minnesota 34-10
This Week: at Michigan State (5-4)
Tidbit: After two losses to open the season, the Wolverines have quietly won seven games in a row.

No. 15 Connecticut (7-1)
Last Week: Beat South Florida 22-15
This Week: Rutgers (5-3)
Tidbit: More known for their basketball program, the Huskies make the “jump of the week” in the rankings. No. 16 USC (6-2)

No. 16 USC (6-2)
Last Week: Lost 17-24 at Oregon
This Week: Oregon State (5-3)
Tidbit: The Trojans have started to fall a little bit, and may have fallen out of contention in the Pac-10.

No. 17 Alabama (6-2)
Last Week: Bye
This Week: LSU (7-1)
Tidbit: Coach Nick Saban will not be receiving a warm welcome from his former team on Saturday in a huge SEC showdown.

No. 18 Auburn (6-3)
Last Week: Beat Mississippi 17-3
This Week: Tennessee Tech (4-5)
Tidbit: Auburn is staying relevant in the SEC, but will most likely need to win the rest of its games to contend.

No. 19 South Florida (6-2)
Last Week: Lost 15-22 at Connecticut
This Week: at Cincinnati (6-2)
Tidbit: A two-game losing streak has plummeted the Bulls from No. 2 to No. 19 in two weeks.

No. 20 Florida (5-3)
Last Week: Lost 30-42 at Georgia
This Week: Vanderbilt (5-3)
Tidbit: Quarterback Tim Tebow may have fallen out of the Heisman race against the Bulldogs. He had negative 15 yards rushing.

No. 21 Virginia (7-2)
Last Week: Lost 24-29 at
North Carolina State
This Week: Wake Forest (6-2)
Tidbit: The Cavaliers are still on top in the ACC Atlantic Division, but face an even bigger challenge this weekend.

No. 22 Boise State (7-1)
Last Week: Beat Fresno State 34-21
This Week: San Jose State (3-5)
Tidbit: For the first time since week one, the Broncos find themselves back in the Top 25.

No. 23 Wake Forest (6-2)
Last Week: Beat North Carolina 37-10
This Week: at Virginia (7-2)
Tidbit: Wake Forest is in the Top 25 again after a long hiatus. If they can take down Virginia, look for them to move up.

No. 24 Clemson (6-2)
Last Week: Beat Maryland 30-17
This Week: at Duke (1-7)
Tidbit: Clemson has some ground to make up in the ACC, but face a meager Duke squad this weekend.

No. 25 South Carolina (6-3)
Last Week: Lost 24-27 (OT) at Tennessee
This Week: at Arkansas (5-3)
Tidbit: Coach Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks have fallen from grace and could be headed out of the rankings with another loss in the SEC.

Honorable Mentions:

Wisconsin (7-2) - The Badgers have fallen off a little bit, but with continued success could regain ground in the Big Ten.

California (5-3) Three straight losses have taken the Bears out of the rankings and to the bottom of the Pac-10.

Kentucky (6-3) - After upsetting LSU, the Wildcats have lost two straight. Andre Woodson’s Heisman hopes are dwindling.

Is Fresno State’s campus HAUNTED?

Cadavers, a bloody chainsaw and a dismembered body are things that you expect from a horror movie, but little do many students know that they are actually part of Fresno State history.

Some of the upstairs practice rooms in the Music building are rumored to be haunted.

Strong winds and unexpected lightning lit the night sky as DJ Clovis, a senior music performance major, said that he heard strange noises in the music building.

“Some people say that they hear voices or whistling in the practice rooms,” Clovis said.

There are other buildings on campus that hold some surprising tools used for studying.

Some classes held in Mclane Hall require students to work with cadavers. Amanda Lopez, a junior physical therapy major, is taking one of these classes. She said the rooms are always cold and have a morgue-like feel.

Being there alone is not something that she likes to do.

“It’s the whole setting,” Lopez said. “It’s cold and you know the bodies are there and they’re dead. You see all of these movies that bring up things in your head that freaks you out. You know that they are not true, but still.”

Another building that has a creepy story is the Mckee Fisk building.

Greg Lewis, a mass communication and journalism professor, said that late one night he was showing a few people the plaque in memory of Roger Tatarian, just outside of Mckee Fisk.

He stood on the plaque and said, “Hello, Roger.” Just then, the automatic doors behind him opened and closed by themselves.

According to an article written by Donald E. Coleman of the Fresno Bee in October of 1997, there is one professor from Fresno State history who has been referred to as “Jekyll and Hyde.”

Almost 20 years ago, Max Bernard Franc, a former political science professor from Fresno State, was arrested in August of 1988 for the murder of Tracy Leroy Nute.

Police discovered Franc after he rented and returned a chainsaw that was stained with blood, still containing bits of flesh.

He was charged for shooting Nute, and then cutting up the body to get it out of his apartment in west Hollywood. Parts of the body were found in Madera County and Los Angeles County.

If you happen to be on campus and feel a cold chill or your hair stand up, remember that it may be more than just your imagination.

Some anatomy students face a dissection dilemma

Some students go to school to endure long lectures. Others put on some shorts and a tank top and run laps at the gym. A few pull out dead bodies, put on some gloves and — with scissors in hand — start snipping away.

Just another day in the life of students in Anatomy and Physiology 33, one of multiple anatomy classes on campus that give students a real hands-on experience with once-living flesh.

The university’s anatomy and physiology courses dissect cats for the purpose of learning the anatomy of humans, and is mandatory for biology, pre-med and health science majors. But recently, one student stood apart from the class and voiced she was morally and ethically opposed to animal dissection.

Lisa Gallyer is a senior studying health science and gerontology.

“Cats are sometimes acquired illegally and killed inhumanely, and I don’t want to support that,” said Gallyer, a vegetarian.

She said that many reports and videos are accessible online about animal cruelty and how animals are housed and killed for the use of science and experimentation.

Jennifer Debban, professor of physiology and anatomy at Fresno State, disagrees with Gallyer’s stance, confirming that the animals used in her class are humanely euthanized to her knowledge, and are euthunized because of overpopulation. She said the dissection serves a purpose because it is a tool for students to learn.

“The class is human anatomy and physiology; its not a pre-vet course and definitely not a feline anatomy course,” Gallyer said.

Debban said that cat anatomy is similar to that of humans because they have organ tissue, muscle tissue and blood vessels, much like a human.

“I sometimes get students that are squeamish, but less than a dozen don’t want to participate out of the 13 years I have been teaching the class,” Debban said.

She said cats were used for dissection because human cadavers are really expensive to buy and are too big to accommodate on campus.

Gallyer said she would much rather cut into a human cadaver because humans give permission to use their bodies for research. She said cats have no choice in what deplorable conditions they are kept in until it is time for them to be studied.

“I am not a biology major,” Gallyer said. “I am a health science major, which emphasizes the [promotion of healthy living] through education. I don’t feel I need to cut into an animal’s flesh to learn what my major requires. I should have the right to refuse dissection and use alternatives.”

She said there are so many alternatives, such as watching a dissection video, using the laboratory text, showing pictures of a cat dissection, using a plastic model of human muscle and organ tissues and computer simulation.

“It is merely the science and anatomy department’s opinion that alternatives are inferior or inadequate,” Gallyer said. “I was willing to work harder, pay for the computer program, or whatever else I may have needed to do to pass the course without having to dissect an animal.”

Gallyer pointed to some Web sites that offer alternatives to dissection, such as The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine at www.dissectionalternatives.org and The Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights at www.avar.org.

Mandy Predmore, 22, a former Fresno State student who is currently enrolled at the School of Veterinary Medicine in Davis, said, “You don’t get the same feel for the anatomy of the animal with computer simulation as you would with dissection. It is necessary to feel the tissue and the organs under the scalpel.”

Predmore said the computer program is beneficial, along with dissection, but should not be used as an exclusive method of learning.

“I wouldn’t want someone operating on my animal if they had only done computer simulation and never worked on animal tissue,” Predmore said.

Gallyer said she was told by her professor, Debban, that dissection was a part of the class, and if she wanted to pass the class, she would have to be a part of a group that dissected a cat.

Gallyer said she felt she was forced to dissect the cat herself because the curriculum didn’t provide any alternatives and no group member was willing to do so.

“Out of my group of three students, I was the only one who dissected the cat,” Gallyer said. “They refused to touch her; they were grossed out.”

Gallyer said dissection is not ethical, teaches insensitivity toward animals, contributes to animal cruelty and supports the mindset that animals are expendable “tools.”

“When it was observed that my group’s cat was pregnant, one student said ‘how sad, they killed a pregnant cat.’” Gallyer said. “I thought that statement solidified the ignorance, lack of compassion and total disregard for the animal’s life. I don’t understand why the entire experience wasn’t sad to her prior to seeing the pregnant cat.”

Gallyer said Debban told the class that the animals are “humanely euthanized,” and by using them for science, their death wasn’t in vain.

According to Gallyer, Debban told her that the fact that the animals are skinned should make Gallyer feel better because it disconnects the lab cats from the “fluffy” cats at home.

Debban said she believes the cats are euthanized by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), then sent to a mortuary-like place, where they are released of all their fluids and embalmed.

She said there are no hazardous chemicals used in embalming the cats, so there is no physical harm to students.

She said the animal’s tissues are used for science rather than incinerated.

Area representatives of SPCA were adament that they were not involved with the research.

“Our shelter has never released any live or deceased animals to be used for science or research, and never will,” said Norm Minson, director of the Central California SPCA.

“We understand the need for research,” said Beth Caffrey, education director for the Central California SPCA. “However, we as a humane society do not believe those animals should come from us. Those that take part in this business can be easily corrupted.”

“No student is forced to cut; they can sit in a group and watch another student dissect,” Debban said.

But Debban still recommended hands-on experience as the best means for learning cat and human anatomy for the exams in her class.

“You can’t see it as well as if it was right in front of you,” Debban said, comparing actual dissection with the dissection video offered.

Tiffany Friedland, 21, a biology student at Fresno State, said she thinks dissection is necessary to fully understand the anatomy of a cat or human.

“I love animals; I adopted my cat from the SPCA,” Friedland said.

Friedland first dissected a cat at Monte Vista high school in Danville, Calif.

“After dissecting the cat, I felt I had a better understanding of my adopted cat’s anatomy as well as my own,” she said.

Friedland thought that if the animals had to die anyway, why not use their bodies to learn from and to benefit science?

“I would only want to dissect animals that were humanely euthanized and weren’t killed specifically for medical research,” she said.

Friedland is taking anatomy courses in hopes of someday becoming a professor and working for a university. She said she wants to conduct research that will help cure Parkinson’s disease. A member of Friedland’s family provides her motivation to find the cure.

“I want to be a professor so I can inspire others to continue research,” Friedland said.

But in spite of the perceived scientific benefits, Gallyer’s opinion on animal dissection remains unchanged.

“I was willing to be tested on my knowledge that I could have received from studying,” Gallyer said. “Learning was the bottom line for the class, not the dissection itself.

“It was simply about showing respect and compassion for those who deserve it, and don’t have a voice of their own.”

ASI struggles to fill frequent vacancies

Although it is past the deadline, Associated Students Inc., (ASI), is still accepting applications for three open positions.

The seats that need to be filled are the chief justice position and two associate justice positions of the Student Court.

The Student Court serves as the judicial branch of the student government.

The original deadline of Oct. 22 has been pushed back to Friday of this week to allow for more time to find more qualified candidates.

The open positions were recently vacated by two graduating students. One of the positions was in the middle of a hiring freeze, but was recently opened up again.

ASI Executive Vice President Stephen Trembley said it’s a unique opportunity to serve in Fresno State’s student government.

“It’s been a very special part of my life,” Trembley said of serving. “I’ve enjoyed it.”

Though the Student Court is fairly new, it interprets ASI bylaws, hears cases and mediates organizational affairs in leadership roles.

Being a current Fresno State student is the only prerequisite to apply for a position in the student government.

All three positions are unpaid and volunteer-based, Trembley said.

Applicants are interviewed by ASI President J.P. Moncayo and personnel committee. The president then submits a recommendation to be ratified by the personnel committee. If accepted, the recommended applicant will be offered the position.

ASI is also looking for volunteers to serve on the Election Commission as well as the position of election commissioner. The election commissioner is paid a $250 stipend, plus bonuses if election goals are met.

The Election Commission promotes and coordinates Fresno State’s student body elections. The next election will be held April 8 to 10.

Though the positions are unpaid, Trembley said it is still worth it for students that want to make a difference, or are interested in interpreting bylaws.

“It’s a very special opportunity,” Trembley said. “It’s nice to work on a daily basis to help make the quality of life on campus better.”

ASI positions

How do I go about getting a position with ASI?

•To apply for an ASI position, go to their website. Click on the application link for the position desired.

• Interested candidates can also walk into the ASI offices, located in rooms 316 and 317 on the third floor of the University Student Union. Or call the office at 278-2656.

Students take action for relief

Two college students took their post on the northeast corner of Shaw and Cedar avenues early Monday morning with the same goal –– to raise funds for the victims of the southern California wildfires.

About 25 people from Fresno State sororities and fraternities took turns covering major intersections leading into campus from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. collecting donations that will go to the American Red Cross.

With a collection jar in her hand, Lauren Kwiatkowski from Kappa Kappa Gamma spread the word as her fellow sorority sisters held up signs. For Kwiatkowski, the fires hit close to home. Having come from the Rancho Bernardo area in San Diego, she knows several people who have been devastated by the fires.

“I grew up there, a bunch of my friends were involved,” Kwiatkowski said, sharing that it motivated her to do something about it.

Seeing the amount of loss, she was inspired not only to get involved –– but to make it a group effort. When she approached the sorority and fraternity houses, they were all willing to help.

Kwiatkowski wasn’t alone in having family and friends affected by the fire. For Sigma Chi Public Relations Chair sophomore Jared Buccola, San Diego is his hometown, and he felt the call to help. Standing on the Southeast corner of Shaw and Cedar avenues, he held up a bucket and got to work collecting.

“My family is OK, they haven’t been evacuated yet,” Buccola said, but shared that he still felt the impact. “[I want to] give back to my hometown.”

To Kwiatkowski, the number of people who answered the request, like Buccola, impressed her because she just recently pulled the whole event together.

“[It was] a lot of people for late notice,” Kwiatkowski said.

As for her post on Shaw and Cedar, Kwiatkowski said that the giving was pretty steady and generous throughout their three hour collection. Their work translated to collecting an estimated $500 in a three-hour period.

“Most people gave one dollar, some gave a couple [of dollars],” Kwiatkowski said. There were also bigger donations, but she is in the process of finding out what the final number is.

Buccola had the same experience at the other corner of the intersection.

“We had $150 in one bucket,” Buccola said, adding that even when people weren’t donating, they were getting involved. “There were a lot of people that we saw. Even if people didn’t stop, there was a lot of interaction.”

After Kwiatkowski collects all of the money from the houses and gets the final count, she has plans for sending it out. She said that she plans to give the money directly to the American Red Cross, as well as looking to see if there might be certain relief efforts she can donate it to within the organization.

As for the experience, Buccola said that the collections were successful not only for the money, but for the understanding of the seriousness and importance of relief for the southern California fires.

“People had a lot of respect for what we were doing,” Buccola said.

Halloween costumes can be tricky

At Halloween Express on Shaw and Chestnut avenues, Karissa Bilbo smiled with the enthusiasm of someone who loves her job –– it is her first. To get it, she came to her interview with two pictures of herself in full costume.

As she walked through the aisles of bags, wigs and masks, she gave her advice to the last minute shoppers. Costume-wise, the most popular items, according to Bilbo, have been pirates and gangsters, much of which are gone.

Because she has seen so many Fresno State students, she had some advice: to have fun. She suggested huge showy glasses, goofy disguise glasses and hats and costume makeup. Not only were those accessories a quick costume; they were cheap, with the glasses being only $6.99, some of the makeup was even cheaper. Bilbo explained that dressing up in fun little pieces is more than appropriate for a costume party. It may not win a costume contest, but it is sure to show enough to be a part of the Halloween dress-up spirit.

But there is one trend that Bilbo couldn’t explain –– the popularity of dressing up as a baby for Halloween. She pointed to the wall of the costumes with a surprised look on her face. “A lot of people [who come in] tell me they want to be babies,” Bilbo said. “Because it’s easy.”

–Photos by Joseph Vasquez

Gouged

BEING A SELF-PROCLAIMED horror film fanatic, all I want is one good scare — something that will haunt me for days on end and wake me up in the middle of the night with a cold sweat, screaming for my mommy.

But as of late, modern horror cinema has yet to deliver. As for the disgust, repulsion and blood quotients however, these recent horror films pass with flying colors.

“Saw IV” had plenty of gross out moments and countless deaths that left me in a desensitized stupor.

I left the theater thinking, “I just viewed every possible way a human being can be maimed, mutilated or killed in ninety minutes.”

This film had me squirming in my seat, covering my eyes and mastering control of my gag reflex.

But did it scare me? No.

And that is the problem with recent horror films: They substitute suspense and terror with blood and gore.

The number of people who die in “Saw IV” is ridiculous. There isn’t any character onscreen long enough for me to know them and care about them enough to be horrified by their inevitable grisly death.

The first “Saw” was an excellent movie. It focused on two men trapped in one room trying to figure who had done this to them and why.

The audience got to spend time with these characters, see them develop, and when it came down to the horrific and mind boggling conclusion, it was absolutely terrifying.

Now it seems as though characters are only put in a “Saw” film simply to be set up to be killed.

No character development. No sympathy.

And therefore, no suspense or real feelings of terror felt by the audience.

The state of horror films today truly is abysmal. They lack any kind of suspense or build-up.

That’s what scares me: the anticipation.

Modern horror films just show too much and believe having unbelievably high body counts makes their film a horror film, when really these are more like action films than anything else.

Take a classics, for example: Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining.”

Only two people die in that film, and it is still considered one of the best, if not the best horror film ever made. It is atmospheric, suspenseful and has great creep-out moments that build anticipation to a horrific payoff that really frightened and stuck with audiences for generations to come.

Not all recent horror films have fallen prey to the blood-and-gore, make-you-squirm tactic these days. Neil Marshall’s smash hit “The Descent” was an excellent horror film that was, in fact, a great hybrid of gore and suspense. “The Descent” is probably the best horror film to come out in recent years.

It centers on a young group of women who get trapped while exploring caves in the Appalachian Mountains and have to battle the horrific creatures who live in those caves. This movie was well written, ingeniously directed, and brilliantly acted. Marshall is a horror director to watch: he knows it takes more than just blood and gore to scare audiences.

“The Descent” builds and builds, playing on the essential fears of being lost, losing loved ones, betrayal, darkness and claustrophobia.

The creatures don’t come out until almost the end, after you already have basically lost your mind with fear and anxiety as you go on this journey with these women.

So I am demanding new and young filmmakers follow suit and make a horror film that is actually scary and not just repulsive.

Violence and killing are not what makes a good horror film — it’s having a good story and character development.

For Halloween, many people celebrate by watching films that scare them.

Don’t grab your friends and go to the theater just yet unless you want to be grossed out. If you want to be scared, though, I recommend staying home and renting some older horror classics.

Campus speak

How will you be celebrating Halloween this year?

“This Halloween falls right in the middle of the week on a Wednesday, so I know a lot of the parties and a lot of the festivities already took place this past weekend. There might be something going on Wednesday night, but more than likely I’m going to have homework and work the next day, so I’m going to keep it pretty low key.”

Michael Ruiz
Accounting
Junior

“I’ve already gone to ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ live in Oakland, but I’m going to a dance and hopefully Santa Cruz, just hanging out downtown. I’m going as Condom Girl — a superhero that keeps youths from having their own.”

Kaitlyn Fiechtner
Undeclared
Freshman

“I’m studying and doing projects. I’m not going out. I’ll probably be passing out candies. I celebrated last weekend. I got dressed up with a lot friends, danced a little bit and spent time with my family.”

Ger Vang
Recreation
Sophomore

“I was going to go down to Santa Barbara last weekend, but there were the fires, so I didn’t know how it was going to be. I had a few friends that went down and they said it was pretty good, but I didn’t want to deal with that. I was going to dress up as an ‘80s PE coach with the short shorts and a tight shirt.”

Early Boykins
Interdisciplinary
Senior

“This is my first time in the U.S., so I’ve never known much about Halloween. I have never celebrated it, but I’d like to and try to know more about the American culture.”

Srinivas Naini
Biotechnology
Graduate Student

“I’ve been out with my girlfriend. We’re dressing up as the same thing: nurses. We thought it’d be kind of funny.”

Chad Endsley
Kinesiology
Senior

“I don’t celebrate Halloween that much, but I like to wear shirts that have gothic images. This will be my first year going trick-or-treating with my friends and their baby.”

Christopher Clark
Mass Communication and Journalism
Junior

Senior send-off

More than just the opponents will be joining the women’s soccer team on the field Thursday night. For the eight seniors on the team, CSU Bakersfield will be the last team they play against in Bulldog Stadium.

Coach Steve Springthorpe said the seniors will be honored before the start of the game. Parents will join their daughters on the field, flowers will be given and career accomplishments and stats will be shown on the big screen.

Springthorpe, who is in his fourth season as the head coach, said this batch of seniors bring something a little more special than the past.

“We came in together,” Springthorpe said. “We kind of have some sort of bond.”

Senior Amanda Reyes has been thinking of Thursday night for a while.

“I’ve thought about it since the day I started here,” Reyes said. “It is going to be bittersweet; I am sad and happy.”

Although Andrea Alires is going to miss the dance-offs before the games and the road trips, the senior defender knows that her Bulldog days may be numbered, but her soccer career is not quite finished.

In fact, Alires, Reyes and senior Christina Gilbert all hope to continue their career in some capacity. Whether it is a semi-pro league that Alires has already played in, a spot on the Mexican national team for Reyes or the return of professional women’s soccer in the United States for Gilbert.

All three acknowledged the fact that soccer is not a high-paid profession. Alires will be looking for some way to pay the bills in the meantime.

“I’ll have to find a career job,” Alires said. “Not just a cocktail server.”

The Bulldogs are 4-1-1 in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) standings and still have a shot at winning the regular season title. Springthorpe says the team could finish as high as first, or as low as fourth. The Bulldogs have already earned a spot for the upcoming WAC tournament held in Reno, Nev.

No matter what happens or where life takes them, all three players know that there is always a place for them at Fresno State.

“Once you’re a part of the team, you’re always a part of the team,” Gilbert said.

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