Finals Cram Jam
May 7, 2008
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
May 7, 2008
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 day’s 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 now time for me to focus on my next impossible dream.
I wish my equestrian family blue-ribbon luck.
Bulldogs heading for pro ranks
May 7, 2008
Juan Villa / The Collegian
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.
Juan Villa / The Collegian
“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.”
Juan Villa / The Collegian
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.
Juan Villa / The Collegian
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.
Juan Villa / The Collegian
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
May 7, 2008
Sporting venues provide things to do in Fresno during hot summer days and nights.
‘It’s a difficult decision’
May 7, 2008
Juan Villa / The Collegian
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
May 7, 2008
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
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