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Finals Cram Jam

Monday through Thursday Mornings
May 12-15, 2008
8 am – Free Speech Platform
Free Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate, Fresh Fruit
Scantrons and Pencils (While supplies last)

Sunday
May 11, 2008
Calm Before the Storm
University Courtyard Atrium
8 pm – Midnight
Free movie, Stress Free Zone,
Free Food: Nachos and Popcorn

Monday
May 12, 2008
Crunch Time

Lawn in front of the Bookstore
11 am – 3 pm – Roxy Follow Your Heart Tour
Make t-shirts, flip flops and more!

Student Union Lounge
7 pm-1 am – Stress Free Zone
Free Food – Milk & Cereal, Coffee, Tea,
Hot Chocolate & Fresh Fruit (While supplies last)

Tuesday
May 13, 2008
Hype Up Your Night

Lawn in front of the Bookstore
10 am – 2 pm – Inflatable Games and Crafts

Student Union Lounge
7 pm-1 am – Stress Free Zone
Free Food – Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches, Candy, and Fresh Fruit
(While supplies last)

Wednesday
May 14, 2008
TGI Almost Over

Free Speech Platform
11 am – 2 pm – Scavenger Hunt
Chance to win movie tickets, Juice it up! Gift Card, bowling & billiard passes and more!

Student Union Lounge
7 pm-1 am – Stress Free Zone
9 pm – Free Food – Pizza and Fresh Fruit (While supplies last)

* Stress Free Zone will include:
Games, Puzzles, Giveaways, Exercise Balls
Relaxation Strategies, Sleeping Tips, Study and Test Taking Tips,
and More!

Sponsored by:

Vice President of Student Affairs, USU Productions, Associated Students, Inc., USU Board of Directors, University Student Union, Student Activities and Leadership Development Office, Learning Center, University Health and Psychological Services, University Courtyard, University Dining Services, Student Recreation Center, University Police Department,
Office of Traffic Safety

Earning her spurs

You’ve seen us before.

We’re the ones who wear jeans in 105-degree weather.

The ones who sneak into the back of class because we smell less than pleasant after a hard days’ stall-mucking.

The ones whose spurs you can hear jingling a mile away.

For five years, I, like so many other student-athletes, have labored for my team. In those years, I’ve been asked if “EE-qwest-EAR-EE-an” was a swimming and diving sport, if we rope cows and if we take our horses on planes with us when we travel.

Like cheerleading, equestrian is often not considered a sport. “The horse does all the work!” is a common jab.

People who say that have usually never ridden a horse. I suppose they think we control the thousand-pound animals with our minds alone.

That doesn’t even factor in how much more labor-intensive showing horses is than most other sports.

For instance, soccer players don’t have to mow and stripe their own fields, but we have to drag our own arena and set and tear down our own jump standards.

Football players wear protective gear, but it doesn’t restrict their movement and even breathing. A pair of Western chaps is too large if the rider can bend at the knees. English boots should require several accoutrements and/or people to assist in their removal.

Baseball players take good care of their bats and gloves, but I doubt they stay on the diamond until midnight to do that. Before a big show, people get very little sleep braiding and banding manes, clipping horses’ whiskers and scrubbing at any stubborn dirt spots.

Golfers are probably the only athletes whose competitions are close to the length of a horse show. I can’t even count the blustery February mornings I was up before dawn to get to a show. More than once, competitors surrounded the arena with their cars to provide light for the judges to see by at night.

That’s not meant to put down other sports. It’s merely a contrast. I have been proud to be called a student-athlete and to stand for Fresno State and a standard of excellence that many don’t associate with our university.

But now, that part of my life is ending and I must pass the collegiate torch to those coming in behind me. It is a very surreal feeling. I remember when I first came onto the team, an 18-year-old whose childhood dream of riding was fed by episodes of Zorro and scenes of Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels galloping into the sunset.

It seems like a lifetime ago and a moment ago.

At the end of every riding lesson, equestrian team head coach Becky Malmo points at each rider and says, “You’re done, and you’re done, and you can be done.”

She said that at the end of my last lesson on a sunny April Friday. I sat there on the worn suede seat and thought about her words.

I can be done.

I closed my eyes and felt the sun and smelled the dust of the arena and listened to the saddle creak to Sparky’s movement. I opened them and surveyed the barn’s grounds and remembered the first time I ever saw them from the back of a horse — the first time I saw the world from the back of a horse.

The horses I rode then are gone. The girls I rode with are gone. The kinds of shows I rode in are gone.

I’m the last one of the IHSA girls; the last one who remembers bus trips through California to compete on half-wild horses driven from the mountainsides of Cal Poly in galloping herds.

The last one who can tell stories about having to ride those wild horses cold turkey, praying to maintain control of the animal through some divine whim.

The last one who remembers four people to a Motel 6 room and shopping cart races in Wal-Mart parking lots while on the road.

And as these thoughts went through my mind, I looked at the silver medallion in the saddlehorn I’d grabbed so many times before and I rubbed it as if for good luck and I swung my leg off that horse for the last time. I stuck my foot under the gate to take pressure off the latch like I have so many times, and I left five years of sweat and tears behind me.

I came on to the team not knowing how to put a saddle on a horse. I left it with a national title and a lifelong passion. I reached my unreachable star.

Like so many other seniors, it’s time for me to focus on my next impossible dream.

I wish them blue-ribbon luck.

Bulldogs heading for pro ranks

Four former Fresno State Bulldogs will be trying to make an impact in professional football this fall.

Marcus Riley was not selected in April’s NFL draft, but the former Bulldog linebacker will still get his chance to play on Sundays.

Only minutes after the final selection of the draft, he agreed to sign a free agent contract with the Green Bay Packers. Riley did not expect to be drafted and feels like he will have more to prove going into his first NFL training camp as a free agent.

“I knew I was going to have a chip on my shoulder,” Riley said. “I feel like I have been underrated my whole career.”

Even though no NFL teams drafted him, there was still plenty of interest in Riley. Green Bay, along with Oakland, St. Louis and Chicago all called with interest shortly after the seventh round of selections.

Riley said he chose to sign with the Packers for many reasons, including the fact that the team did not draft a linebacker. He will also fit well into the Packers’ four linemen, three linebacker defensive scheme.

“I feel that out of those four teams that did contact me, the Packers were the best fit and I made the best decision,” Riley said.

Riley was able to prove his worth during his senior season with the Bulldogs. The weak-side linebacker was the leader of the defense and caused havoc for opposing offenses, while racking up 132 tackles and forcing four turnovers.

Now Riley will move on to the NFL, where he will likely contribute on special teams, as well as situation defensive schemes while he works towards becoming a starting linebacker.

“I feel like I was good enough to be drafted and not being drafted is going to keep me hungry for the future,” Riley said.

Riley left for Green Bay on May 1 and will be working out at mini-camps with the team. He will be competing for a spot on the Packers’ final 53-man roster and nothing is guaranteed.

Even though so much is riding on the next few months of practice, Riley is not nervous. He described himself as “excited and confident.”

Former Bulldog offensive linemen Ryan Wendell agreed to a free agent contract with the New England Patriots. Wendell, a four-year starter with the Bulldogs, signed the deal with the AFC Champion Patriots shortly following the seventh round of selections on draft weekend.

Wendell was a standout during his career with the ‘Dogs. He was a 2007 First Team All-WAC selection and started at multiple positions on the offensive line.

In his first year with the program, Wendell was selected to the First Team Freshman All-American team and was awarded Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Freshman of the Year honors.

Now Wendell will join three other former Bulldogs in New England. Offensive guard Logan Mankins, safety James Sanders and tight end Stephen Spach are all currently playing for the team.

The Patriots organization has a history of signing former Bulldogs. Pat Hill and Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick worked together for the Cleveland Browns before Hill came to Fresno.

Three other Bulldogs did not sign during draft weekend, but were still able to land with professional teams following the draft.

Clifton Smith, the Bulldogs tailback and punt return specialist in 2007, was offered a spot on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ mini-camp roster.

Smith, who was not sure if he was going to land in a NFL camp or on Canadian Football League (CFL) team before the draft, was ecstatic to hear from Tampa Bay.

Smith’s best chance to make an NFL team will be to specialize as a third down tailback and a kick returner. He was electric during his time in Fresno and will try to bring that same home run ability to the NFL.

One more former Bulldog will get his chance to play in the NFL. Cornerback Damon Jenkins will be working out with the Cleveland Browns, trying to make the team’s final roster.

Jenkins was responsible for 49 tackles and nine pass breakups while starting 12 games for the Bulldogs last season.

Tyler Clutts, a First Team All-WAC selection, will be playing professional football next year, but not in the NFL. The defensive end inked a contract with the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL.

The CFL may end up being a better fit for Clutts. While he has always had a strong work ethic, he is undersized to play defensive end in the NFL.

In Canada, he will be at his natural position and have the chance to continue working towards the NFL.

The 2007-2008 graduating class will join the already 18 former Bulldogs currently playing in the NFL.

A guide to summer fun

Sporting venues provide things to do in Fresno during hot summer days and nights.

‘It’s a difficult decision’

The 2007-2008 school year was a tumultuous one for University President John D. Welty. It started with a string of multi-million dollar verdicts in various athletics department lawsuits that had many calling for Welty’s resignation. It ends with Welty’s decision to increase the IRA fee after weeks of student debate. The Collegian sat down with Welty to discuss why he made this decision, and what he thinks this year has meant.

Lui: How do you plan on making your decision regarding the IRA fee increase?

Welty: I have spent considerable time reviewing both the IRA requests that have come in for various academic activities and projects and looking at several years now where there’s not been sufficient revenue to fund those projects. And also, with regards to athletics I reviewed thoroughly the commission on athletic financing report that was issued earlier this year …

Then, in addition to that, I reviewed some of the long-term projections for the athletic budget, so this is a tremendous amount of data and really multi-year points that need to be reviewed as we make that decision.

L: Why did you decide to make that decision?

W: Some of the club projects that couldn’t be funded because … requests for funds are almost four times as great as the dollars that are available from that part of the budget. With regard to athletics, it’s clear that … most [mid-size Division I programs] depend upon a significant student fee in order to operate. With the increase of $32 for athletics in our case it still will be well below the average fee that comparable institutions charge.

L: What would you say to students who say that a majority of students voted down the increase in the referendum?

W: I think that, first of all, it’s important that I don’t take the issue of raising student fees lightly. It’s a difficult decision.

I weighed certainly the advice that ASI provided. They endorsed it after reviewing thoroughly the referendum which unfortunately was … a very small number of students actually voting on that issue, and the student fee committee, which reviewed the issue I think in-depth after hearing various points of view from that if we are going to continue to have academic programs such as the music, the arts, theatre, athletics we are going to have to have additional student fee revenue.

L: What about the fee increases in light of the California budget cuts?

W: As you know, the state faces severe fiscal issues and in fact, our [board of trustees] next week will consider a possible fee increase and part of the steps to deal with the budget issues. Again, it’s an issue of, if you look at what students pay at comparable public universities across the country, California’s well below those fees.

At the same time, any fee increases is a very difficult step to take for anyone and I think what our board is trying to do is make sure we continue to provide the classes, quality educational experience for students.

L: Do you know how much the fee increase would be that they’re looking at?

W: The proposal is a 10 percent fee increase.

L: Is the school doing anything to try and fight the budget cuts?

W: Yes, I and many others have spent several hours both meeting with legislators locally and in Sacramento, writing letters, making it clear that the state needs to give higher education priority and although the decisions have not yet been made on the budget, I’m hopeful that priority will be recognized by the legislature and the governor.

L: Looking ahead, what are you looking forward to about the fall semester?

W: Next year I think promises to be an exciting year. We will open our new library next year, which I think will be a tremendous addition for students and faculty and the campus. I’ve had an opportunity to get a sneak tour and it’s clear that that facility is going to provide the most up to date library facilities to students and the largest library in your system.

L: What do you think the addition of Campus Pointe will mean for students?

W: I think first of all it will provide for those who want housing near the campus, another housing option for students … In addition to that, there’ll be some commercial activity there like grocery stores and other kinds of retail outlets that’ll make it convenient for students to get access.

There’ll be a theater there that again provides recreational opportunity. In addition to that, when the complex is done there will be additional student internship opportunities and we’re in the process of developing a program in hospitality management so students will be able to intern at the hotel.

We’re also talking to a bank about possibly creating a student bank so students would actually be able to get a complete bank … actually run a bank in that facility and get that experience. And then of course there’ll be lots of new jobs that’ll be open for students. I think it’ll be a place where students will spend a lot of time doing a variety of things.

L: What are your thoughts about the past school year?

W: This has been a difficult and painful year, particularly as it relates to court issues that we faced in the athletics program. I regret that we had those issues and I think we have taken steps to address them and under new leadership in athletics with Thomas Boeh and senior associate Betsy Mosher. I think there’s been some tremendous strides made to strengthen our program and to address issues that have been identified in the past.

However, I think some of those cases have also overshadowed some other very significant things that have happened on campus. Our new independent doctoral program was begun. Our new joint program of physical therapy will graduate its first students.

We also had numerous students do some incredible things. Craig School students have won recent awards … the MBA students have competed and won a national contest. We’ve had other students … a student who won an entrepreneurship awards … who actually established her own business named Stephanie Reilly and she’s an incredible example of what students can do when given the opportunity.

The Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning has been funded so that really assures for us a national leadership role in providing service learning and community engagement opportunities for students.

The gift that we received to expand the farm market will again be another tremendous addition to the campus to serve all students and faculty.

L: Do you see yourself retiring anytime soon?

W: I don’t really see that in the immediate horizon, no. There’s a lot to be done and I want to make sure that we complete implementation of our plan for excellence … We have some excellent people here who are working very hard and I plan to continue to provide some support to them as I can.

Welty approves $52 fee increase

Students will see a $52 hike in their student fees next fall, now that university President John D. Welty has signed the new Instructionally Related Activity (IRA) Fee.

The fee will be split, with $32 going to fund athletics and $20 going to fund other academic projects, such as student clubs, conferences and field trips. Most of the athletics money will fund the two new women’s sports: swimming and diving, and lacrosse.

However, Dean of Student Affairs Paul Oliaro, Ph.D., said that the $32 still places the emphasis on athletics to raise a majority of their money through ticket sales and community fundraising.

“There’s no quick fixes,” Oliaro said, adding that all revenue streams are necessary to fund a quality program.

Welty said that increasing the athletics money is mostly “an issue of fairness.”

“The community has provided significant support for that program over the years; therefore, if we’re going to continue, everyone has to pay part of the cost of the program,” Welty said.

However, many students still feel that they shouldn’t be the ones to fund an athletic program they don’t use.

“I don’t think it’s fair. I’m being forced to pay more for programs that I’m not using,” said Alejandro Romero, a sophomore and psychology major. “Fees have been going up already and I don’t think it should go up even more.”

Hector Cerda, a senior and liberal studies major, spear-headed a student group that pushed to open the Campus Fee Advisory Committee’s meeting. He said that he was “upset but I wasn’t surprised.”

Cerda said that he felt “robbed” that the committee recommended the $52 hike – an $18 decrease from the initial $70 proposal that students voted on in April.

“We want to leave with a bang, but what kind of bang is it?” Cerda said. “Is it the kind of bang where we are shooting ourselves in the foot?”

Oliaro, the chair of the fee committee, said that he was pleased that Welty went along with their recommendation.

“It was a thoughtful discussion,” Oliaro said of the committee meeting. “We tried to do what was in the best interest of the whole university.”

Currently $7 of students’ fees goes toward athletics. The average for other schools similar to Fresno State is $59.

Welty said that there were several factors that went into his decision, including requests for funds from students. The IRA fee is $10 per semester right now, giving $419,595 to cover $1.36 million in requests.

“With regard to the academic projects, there are several programs that would be in serious jeopardy if they don’t get additional revenue, particularly programs in music and theater,” Welty said.

Another factor that Welty said went into his decision was an increase in financial aid. Federal Pell-Grant funding will also increase next fall, so the 48 percent of Fresno State students who receive Pell

Grants may see enough of an increase to offset the new fee.
Additional reporting by Joseph Luiz

Professor suspended for alleged gun threats

The university suspended a Fresno State professor of education in late February after two students said he threatened to bring a gun to class and begin shooting. An investigation is ongoing.

Fresno State and President John D. Welty suspended professor Joe Parks after student Francisco Escutia complained to the dean of the school of education, Paul Beare. University Police contacted Escutia about his complaints.

Escutia told the University Police Department on Feb. 13 that Parks had made the comments the day before.

Escutia, in an interview with The Collegian, said he told University Police that Parks lectured in a teacher preparation class on Feb. 12 about a school shooting and allegedly said, “I wish I could bring my s— and shoot all of you.” Parks immediately said afterwards that he was kidding. Escutia said he interpreted the expletive as referring to a gun.

Escutia said that during the first couple weeks of class, Parks mentioned that he had a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

“This was very alarming,” Escutia said.

According to Escutia, the fifth week of the semester was when Parks allegedly made the remarks.

According to an article in The Fresno Bee, Parks did talk in class about when he would carry a gun for protection while researching in Los Angeles.

On Feb. 15, University Police met with another student, who sided with Escutia. Pete Arguijo, 32, of Clovis said that Parks said something similar to what Escutia claimed.

“The issue that I raised, with the department of Curriculum and Instruction, was not due to fear of an imminent threat, since that is not my place to determine,” Arguijo said in an e-mail to The Collegian. “My primary concern was his statement was not in the context of any controversial lesson regarding gun violence in modern schools, nor was there any objective being discussed that day which had any remote connection to his statements.”

Escutia did not approach Parks about his concerns before going to the dean and eventually university police.

The day of the incident, Escutia, who has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Spanish, e-mailed Beare, the dean of the school of education. Escutia viewed his e-mail to Beare as a warning, not a complaint.

“I wrote [the e-mail] five minutes after I got home from that class,” Escutia told The Collegian. “All I wanted from Parks was to take it back, to say ‘I’m sorry,’ and now he’s denying it. All I wanted Beare to say to Parks was that this is unacceptable.”

Escutia said police contacted him the next day — one day before a shooter killed five students and then himself at Northern Illinois University.

University Police had received a forwarded e-mail about the incident and wanted to speak to Escutia. During the meeting with University Police, Escutia was reportedly asked if he would be willing to wear a wire, according to The Bee. But Fresno State Police Chief David Huerta reportedly vetoed the plan.

Beare refused to comment directly about Parks’ situation.

“The general process for student complaint about a faculty member is that the student should first take the complaint to the instructor and try to resolve it there,” Beare told The Collegian on Tuesday. “Next would be the department head or chair, and then the dean. There is a certain order of channels to go through. We generally like to keep it localized to the department level.”

Beare said that Parks is a great faculty member and asset to Fresno State. He also said that Escutia “is an outstanding student pursuing his masters.”

Parks has taught at Fresno State for 10 years and was promoted to full professor in 2007. In fall 2007, Parks faced student charges that he was racist and too demanding in a graduate course, according to The Bee. Beare apparently asked Parks to step down from teaching the class — which Parks did.

According to The Fresno Bee article, Parks sometimes said provocative things in his class to make points, and to prepare his students for touch situations in education.

Escutia still can’t believe that his fellow classmates let Parks get away with his behavior.

“Out of everything, how emotionally disturbing it was to deny that almost everyday there’s racial slurs and profanity,” Escutia told The Collegian. “It got to the point that some of my classmates would say racial jokes, too.”

Janette Redd Williams, associate vice president for academic personnel, declined to comment about if the university would do more than just suspend Parks, citing the case as a “private personal matter that is still under investigation.”

In an e-mail to The Collegian, Ashley Prows, a graduate student in Parks’ class, said she fully supports Parks.

“Dr. Parks never made any threats,” Prows wrote. “Although he may be provocative, he challenges our minds and helps us think ‘outside the box.’ He is also trying to break down stereotypical thinking and he is preparing us for the real world.”

The Collegian could not reach Parks for comment.

Additional reporting by Brandon Santiago and Jessica Szalay.

Student-athletes recognized for academics

The Fresno State athletics department held its first annual Night of Champions Gala on Monday to honor student-athletes for their accomplishments on and off the field.

The video montage-filled gala at Fresno’s Saroyan Theatre honored student-athletes in a variety of areas including academics, athletic accomplishments and community service.

Fresno State President John D. Welty began the night with thanks to the athletes.

“You have represented your university extremely well,” he said. “We are a university on the rise, a university on its way to becoming a top-10 engaged university in this country.”

Many of the awards were separately created years ago, but the gala brought them all together.

Coach Adrian Wiggins and the women’s basketball team took home the Athletics Director Community Service Award.

The award was given to the team that was extremely active in the community.

Fresno State women’s volleyball was the runner-up for the award.

The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) also recognized 105 Fresno State student-athletes who had averaged a 3.2 GPA and above for the past two semesters and were eligible to compete.

Eight seniors received the Victory Award, an award for the student-athletes who lettered the past two of three years, completed eligibility and achieved a cumulative 3.5 GPA.

Erica Henry from women’s basketball and Steve Susdorf received the George Ilg award.

This award was created for two seniors who excelled in the classroom, in the community and in their sport.

The Harold Haak scholarship honored two Fresno State lettering juniors who have been on the Dean’s List for two consecutive semesters and will be eligible to compete next year.

Business administration finance major Moses Harris from football won the award for the men, while kinesiology major and hammer thrower Grace Wiesmann won the award for the women.

The WAC also recognized 94 student-athletes with Academic All-WAC Recognition for athletes who posted a minimum 3.2 GPA and lettered the past year.

Fresno State also gave the Paul Schechter Courage Award for a student-athlete who overcame a physical challenge.

This year, the Fresno State athletics department honored two people, one student and one coach.

Ahijah Lane was recognized for recovering from his devastating knee injury during a preseason scrimmage.

Football Defensive Coordinator Dan Brown was honored for triumphing over brain cancer during the football season.

Coach Pat Hill gave a video congratulations and thanks to Dan Brown for his inspiration.

“He’s winning, just like he always has, he’s a winner and a special person,” Hill said. “The 2007 Fresno State Bulldog football team all played with Brown in their hearts.”

The Student-Athlete Advisory Council named Bulldog Spirit Award Hali Coppin of women’s golf and Frank Sanders of men’s track and field as this year’s winners.

The winners were selected by their teammates.

Henry, a winner of the George Ilg award gave a speech to her peers, describing her Fresno State experience.

Henry talked about her decision to come to Fresno State and how the Stacy Johnson-Klein trial affected her.

“Tierre [Wilson] and I took the role of becoming leaders,” Henry said. “Coach Wiggins didn’t think we could handle it at first, so we had to sit him down and talk him into giving us a chance.”

Henry then went on to talk about the frustration of losing the first six games of the 2007 regular season and the elation of fighting back and winning the WAC championship to gain the first-ever NCAA tournament appearance for the program.

The gala also honored the WAC championship teams and the individual WAC champions.

Marcus Riley from the Fresno State football team was also scheduled to speak, but was unable to because he was at the Green Bay Packers’ mini-camp.

Tyrone Bradley from the 1983 NIT Fresno State basketball championship team was the keynote speaker.

He directly addressed the athletes, telling them to get involved in their communities and to not forget about where they came from.

“Don’t lose contact, and always come back and say hello,” he said. “The university has grown a lot but it still has a long way to go.”

Bradley emphasized community involvement and told the student-athletes to always remember where they came from.

The Fresno State athletics department said that Athlete of the Year would not be named until summer because some of the sports, such as softball and baseball, are not finished.

Morgan Melloh from softball and Tanner Scheppers from baseball were nominated along with seven other student-athletes.

Finally, the newly-created Bulldog of the Year award was announced.

Katie Nenneker of the equestrian team won for the women and kicker Clint Stitser of the football team won the award for the men.

“As you all know, our scholarships and opportunities are all supported by the community,” Stitser said. “And the least we could do is excel in the classroom and off the field.

“I’m really proud to be a Bulldog and I’m going to represent the rest of my life.”

Work beginning on Campus Pointe

The Campus Pointe project was envisioned as a profitable showpiece for California State University, Fresno, turning agricultural fields east of campus into a new cash crop. The $167 million, 45-acre development was planned as a collection of stores, senior/multifamily housing and office space anchored by a Hyatt Hotel.

While the historic project, which was announced in 2005, could still be months away from an official groundbreaking, according to University President John D. Welty, construction on the housing project is just days away.

“Probably in the next few days you’ll start to see construction equipment move on the site and work begin on the housing project,” Welty said. “And of course that will be in full swing as we move into the fall semester.”

The project has been through many delays from lawsuits, a review of the plans and leases by the California State University Chancellor’s Office and a notice of violation from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.

The project has been delayed following an air district rule, which requires an assessment of how the project would affect air quality, according to Dan Barber, supervising air quality specialist for the district. The assessment would lead to the university having to pay mitigation fees. Those fees would be used to pay for projects that would offset the pollution the project would cause.

Kevin Hall, the air quality chair for the Sierra Club Tehipite Chapter, had lobbied for the mitigation fee, which is part of the indirect source review rule. He said the university should be leading the way in fighting air pollution and not dragging its feet.

“Fresno State is in the heart of one of the dirtiest air pockets in the Valley, state and nation,” said Hall. “The university is being grossly negligent in its refusal to comply with the rule.”

Campus Pointe’s impact on the Valley’s air would not be small. The project will generate 12,000 new trips per day, according to the environmental impact report that was issued in 2006.

Wayne Clarke, compliance manager with the district, said that a preliminary estimate of the mitigation fees puts the amount between $1 million to $1.5 million, based on the environmental impact report and the total cumulative impact of the project.

The university was informed that the rule applied to Campus Pointe when it went through the state’s Environmental Quality Review process, Barber said.

“We sent several letters to that effect to the university, trying to advise them of the need to comply with [the rule],” Barber said.

Clarke said the university should have applied after the rule went into effect in March 2006. “We’re almost getting to where it’s two years late,” he said.

The district issued a notice of violation in December, informing the university that it could face fines of up to $75,000 a day. The notice gave the university until Jan. 31 to respond.

“They [Fresno State] came in the next working day we had after [the deadline],” Clarke said. “They came in on Monday, Feb. 4, and spoke with our group and found out what they needed to do.”

Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) President Juan Pablo Moncayo said that he didn’t know very much about the issue, but that it may have a misunderstanding.

“I’m guessing that there’s just been a difference of opinion in how Campus Pointe [should be] handled,” he said. “In previous conflicts, we’ve seen that it’s just been a difference of opinion in how to go about getting approval. From what I’ve observed Fresno State has been pretty observant [in following environmental rules].”

Some of the prior conflicts that the university has faced over Campus Pointe are a lawsuit by the city of Fresno over the project’s impact, especially on traffic, and a request for impact fees from the California Department of Transportation for the project’s effect on the ramps for highways 168 and 41. The university settled the lawsuit with Fresno and agreed to pay Caltran’s fees.

Despite these issues, the project’s previous documents were complete, according to Deborah Adishian-Astone, executive director of the California State University, Fresno Association, which will supervise Campus Pointe once it’s finished.

“The environmental impact report for Campus Pointe adequately addressed all required traffic and air quality mitigation required and the EIR included an air quality assessment report as required by [the] California Environmental Quality Act,” she said in an e-mail.

CEQA is the state’s environmental law. Its air quality rules require some mitigation as well but, unlike the air district’s rule, don’t require mitigation fees. Even when developers make mitigation efforts on their projects, the project still causes more pollution, Hall said. He said that other polluters, such as industry, are already working to cut emissions.

“They [developers] need to pay their fair share,” Hall said.

The air district’s rule is an important tool because it addresses the effect of growth, Hall said.

“We’re getting lots of [emission] reductions from local sources but that’s being undermined by sprawl,” he said. “We have more vehicles traveling more miles more often and at higher speeds.”

The rule is aimed at more than one kind of emission, according to Barber.

He said that there are two types of emissions that occur with development: the construction exhaust and emissions that are associated with the operation of the project-its energy consumption, landscape maintenance and vehicle miles traveled.

“The rule is really intended to encourage developers to think about the way they design and develop a project,” Barber said.

A constructive summer: Henry Madden Library taking shape

As the Henry Madden Library rounds out its second year under construction and renovation, library employees are being moved to temporary buildings and students are left to study elsewhere until its completion in January 2009.

Library services will remain available throughout the summer and fall semesters, but the small amount of study space that was available in the south wing will become a construction zone on May 19.

“All services will still be available,” Henry Madden Library Dean Peter McDonald said. “The one thing there will not be is the student study space.”

Library materials, except special collections, will be available by online request and can be picked up at University Center (UC) Room 123, also known as the Renaissance Room.

Student laptops will remain available for checkout in UC 5, where printers are also available.

Many undergraduate students haven’t known the library as anything but under construction, since the demolition began on August 8, 2006.

Sophomore Stephanie Klein entered her first semester at Fresno State just as construction was beginning on the new library.

“It will be so nice to have a library again,” Klein said. “My entire college experience has been without one and now there is going to be even less of it. At least future students will have a nice library to study in.”

Dean of Student Affairs Paul Oliaro, Ph.D., said that the University Student Union (USU) will remain a prime study location for students, but other options are being looked into.

Locations such as UC 200 have been reserved as student study space, but are under utilized and seldom full, Oliaro said.

“The library staff have worked really hard to ensure students have access to library materials,” Oliaro said. “This is the last phase of renovation but after it’s completed in spring 2009 we should have some semblance of normalcy.”

Students and staff alike are looking forward to the library reopening.

Library staff will be housed in temporary buildings that will sit south of the Satellite Student Union until December, when they can move into their newly renovated offices and begin moving books inside.

Victor Morales, assistant superintendent of Swinerton Incorporated, helps oversee the project and said the new addition and renovations will be complete by January. He does not foresee construction taking any longer.

“It is progressing very well, we are on schedule or ahead of schedule on all projects,” Morales said.

Once it reopens, the four-story library will be the largest in the 23-campus California State University system.

It will feature state of the art information technology systems, space for more library holdings and provide many student reader stations.

Until then, access to library databases and electronic journals is available online and reference help will be available on the main floor of the USU, and through instant messaging.

For students like senior Chris Johnson, not having a library on campus has affected the way they study and their whole college experience.

“Even though services are still available, it just isn’t the same as having a library to wander around in,” Johnson said. “Now I go to the city library or a book store to get my fix, but it isn’t the same as stopping at the library between classes for a quick cram session.”

Master Plan changes campus over 10 years

When the graduating class of 2008 comes back for their 10-year reunion, it won’t be just their classmates who have changed.

The campus will have undergone a major facelift by then, as part of the university’s Master Plan, a 20-year projection of all possible changes to the university’s infrastructure, buildings, landscaping and parking.

“I see a greener campus, a more sustainable campus,” said Bob Boyd, the associate vice-president for Facilities Management.

The library, Campus Pointe and the photovoltaic parking lot are all part of this Master Plan, as well as the new University High School, which is due to break ground in fall 2008.

In 10 years, the main entrance to the university will shift from Maple Avenue to Barton Avenue, near the new Henry Madden Library. A brand new Free Speech Area will greet students driving into campus, where the sides will be lined with trees and student booths.

The University Center Building will be demolished in order to increase the size of the Free Speech Area.

“It’s really crowded,” Boyd said of trying to cram 20,000 students, plus the student booths, into that one area.

“The renovations will bring a lot more life into the center of campus,” he said.

Many of the changes are going to be more than cosmetic, though. In order to accommodate a projected 5,000 student growth, major updates are needed to campus infrastructure.

Boyd said the infrastructure updates are “desperately needed” and it would “probably set the campus up for the next 25 years.”

Priorities are expanding the air conditioning system and developing a sewer treatment plant. The plant will be key in helping Fresno State become a greener campus, as it will allow the school to use recycled water for its irrigation.

However, before many of these projects start, the campus needs to get the Master Plan formally approved. The school is currently studying the environmental impacts of the proposed projects, such as their affects on traffic and air quality. The Board of Trustees will decide whether to formally approve the plan in November 2008.

Hit the road Mackin, don’t ya come back

Jim: Fresno State softball player Robin Mackin said she is not returning to Fresno State next season.

Mackin took a year off to train with the Canadian National Softball Team for the Beijing Olympics this summer.

Apparently Mackin said she had been thinking about this for a long time.

I find it quite ironic that Mackin wants to quit as soon as new freshman sensation Morgan Melloh shatters all of her records.

Does she not realize that she and Melloh were going to be the one-two punch next season to bring a national championship back to Fresno State?

Her decision makes no sense to me.

Kim: You have to admit that it isn’t a huge surprise she’s chosen to pursue her options. She’s got talent and another school might be better for her.

It also must have been kind of hard for her to leave for one season and the next thing she knew, a young talent helped people to almost forget her name.

Of course we would never forget her, but her absence wasn’t as detrimental to the team as we thought it would be.

Jim: Mackin said she wants to pursue another option, “possibly at Division I.”

This seems like a slap in the face to the Fresno State program. The Bulldog softball program is one of the best, if not that, in the country.

So what are we Fresno State fans supposed to think when we see Mackin next season wearing the uniform of another school.

If she “loved all the fans and the community support” then why leave? Sounds to me like the lure of the bigger-budget programs may have swayed Mackin.

Kim: Maybe everything Fresno State had just wasn’t enough. She has experienced playing softball at one of the highest levels possible and that probably opened her eyes.

Fresno State was nice, but the exposure at other schools is what she wants.

I agree with the fact that the reputation of Fresno State softball is not a bad one, but maybe it wasn’t enough.

Jim: I don’t think the softball program has anything to worry about though.

Margie Wright is the best coach in the country and knows how to find talent. She will definitely find a new pitching phenom like Mackin and Melloh.

Mackin will probably feel a bit foolish when Fresno State returns to the promised land in Oklahoma City for the NCAA Championships.

Kim: As long as she doesn’t take a season off to play somewhere else, we will have three more seasons of the Melloh attack.

It’s sad to say that not only is this most likely the last time we’ll be writing about Mackin, this is the last time we’ll be writing together.

So, I guess it’s time to say so long to two great things.

With change, though, comes bigger and better.

Campus Master Plan reveals long-term goals

Fresno State’s Master Plan is a set of 10- and 20-year goals for the renovation and beautification of the campus. The work on the Henry Madden Library marks the beginning of the Master Plan.

Video courtesy of Campus Master Plan committee

Academic progress scores penalize basketball, baseball

The Fresno State men’s basketball team and the baseball team were penalized by the NCAA Tuesday morning for lack of academic progress.

The NCAA released its annual Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores on Tuesday morning.

The baseball team received a rating of 893 and the Bulldogs men’s basketball team had a rating of only 816 over a four-year period from 2003-2004 through 2006-2007.

Teams must maintain a multi-year average of 925.

Men’s golf and tennis also fell below 925, but were not penalized.

Additionally, softball did not have a multi-year average of 925, but the team was not penalized.

The Bulldogs baseball team will be limited to 11.65 total athletic scholarships, a reduction of .05 scholarships, although the team did improve from last year.

This is the third straight year the baseball team has been sanctioned by the NCAA.

The men’s basketball team received two penalties because of the low score of only 816.

The team will lose one scholarship and practice hours will be reduced to 16 from 20. The other four hours must be used for academic purposes.

Historically, the men’s basketball team has had trouble academically.

Men’s basketball originally had an APR score of 611 from the 2003-2004 school year, so 816 is a vast improvement.

Next year, the score of 611 will be dropped from the aggregate average, which will likely improve the score significantly.

Overall, 11 of Fresno State’s 16 sports counted for the APR improved their scores in the 2006-07 year, compared to the previous year.

However, the NCAA does not consider equestrian because the sport is still emerging at the collegiate level.

This is the fourth year of APR data collected by the NCAA.

APR Scores
NCAA Standard is 925

•Men’s
Baseball - 893
Basketball - 816
Football - 946
Golf - 924
Tennis - 892
Track - 926

• Women’s
Basketball - 938
Cross Country - 951
Golf - 991
Soccer - 963
Softball - 910
Tennis - 959
Indoor Track - 927
Outdoor Track - 925
Volleyball - 962

A winding path to graduation

Counting down the days until graduation becomes a game around this time of the year, but few walking in the commencement ceremonies at the end of the semester try to actually count the days it took them to reach that goal.

Most freshmen entering Fresno State for the first time believe that in four years they will be done. Yet, according to the Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning (IRAP) office at Fresno State, only 15 out of every 100 freshmen at Fresno State will reach that goal of graduating in four years. Eighty-five freshmen, however, will not.

If this statistic holds true for the next four years, of the 2,637 freshmen that entered Fresno State for the fall 2007 semester, 2,241 of them will not be walking on the stage to receive their diploma in May 2011.

That 85 percent includes students who decide to transfer to a different school or students that drop out of college altogether, but most just take longer than four years to graduate.

“One reason more students don’t graduate in four years is that the adjustment to college is a little more challenging than many students realize coming in,” said Dean Christensen, interim director of the Office of Advising and Transition Services at Fresno State. “Another reason is that some students simply work too many hours. Again, it often comes down to the question of what’s more important – working or going to school?”

Many students do not have a choice and must work while also going to school. It is finding a balance between the two that will help students survive and graduate in a timely manner. If the goal is to get a degree, it is important to keep that goal in mind, while looking for a job, Christensen said.

Another problem affecting students’ graduation rates seems to be the uncertainty regarding their majors. Changing majors halfway through one’s junior year can postpone graduation even for the most dedicated of students.

Many resources on campus, such as the Office of Advising and Transition Services and the Career Services Office, offer counseling opportunities to help students figure out what they would succeed in or what major to choose for a specific career.

Another suggestion that every student should keep in mind while working toward his or her degree is to go and see an adviser, now a requirement for those who entered Fresno State starting in 2005. The adviser can help students decide what classes to take, and how to avoid mistakes like taking multiple classes that fulfill the same requirement or not taking the necessary pre-requisites for a specific course.

“Thanks to my adviser, I’ll be able to graduate in four years,” said Laura Keenan, a graduating senior at Fresno State. “I changed my major and I thought I had to stay for an extra semester, but she figured it out for me.”

Fresno State wants to change the trend of students who have to stay extra semesters.

“The Students Success Task Force was formed by President John D. Welty four years ago [with the goal of] trying to increase students’ success,” said Chistina Leimer, Director of the IRAP office. “Specifically to increase first-year retention and graduation rates.”

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