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Dressing for less (on Halloween) THE SEQUEL

FOR WEDNESDAY, I WROTE THE FIRST PART of a two-part column exploring cheap Halloween costume ideas for those people, like me, who have been either too lazy or too thrifty to pick up a Halloween costume.

Unfortunately, writing the first part of that column hasn’t done much for me in terms of acting as some kind of catalyst to transform my laziness or my thriftiness. So, still, even today on the morning of Halloween, I don’t have any kind of dress planned for tonight.

But, I am still looking.

I turned to the Internet again, looking in particular for a cheap and fast way to throw together a costume that would make me look like Pixar’s adorable star of “Ratatouille,” Remy.

I guess I was a year too late. The industrial-sized box called for in the variousWALL-E outfits I found is probably cheaper anyway.

Since I wasn’t completely happy with the results that I’ve been getting in this search, I decided that it might be time to try my hand at coming up with costume ideas for myself.

So here’s one option: show up at whatever Halloween party you’re planning on frequenting dressed in street clothes.

Act casual — don’t show any sign of shame or embarrassment when three of your buddies dressed as the Joker give you funny looks for your apparent lack of effort and inspiration.

When somebody finally turns and asks, condescendingly, the inevitable question — “What are you supposed to be?” — give that smug sap a death glare; you mean business.

Wait two beats before responding, and then, quietly and gently, tell them. “I’m a serial killer.”

Creepy.

In keeping with my interests in wearing clothes you probably already have (and, really, in rejecting the normative traditions of Halloween costumes), I have a second proposal: dress in business attire.

Throw on your nicest skirt and blouse, or a suit and tie. Shine those shoes. Press the outfit if you have time.

When you show up at wherever you’re planning on showing up — if, indeed, you have plans to show up in any place at all — you probably won’t get the same strange looks as with my previous suggestion.

Just act confused and keep muttering under your breath, “I thought so-and-so meant something else when they told me to come dressed up.”

Here’s my last suggestion, though not exclusively mine: Get some foil and dress like a burrito.

It’s cheap and you’ll get free food at Chipotle.

A net gain, in the end.

The missing story of Little Rock

The son of a courageous white man, tells his father’s story of walking nine African-American students into an intergrated high school — ‘The Little Rock Nine.’

More than a dozen clergymen said “no” when asked to walk nine African-American students to school.

These men felt they had a lot to lose if the white community was to think they supported the integration of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957.

One said yes and lost his congregation.

“Jude betrayed Jesus. Betancourt betrayed a nation and you betrayed a race,” said University of California, Berkeley professor, Dunbar Hunt Ogden, describing the mail his family got as a result of his father’s decision.

Dunbar Hunt Ogden is son of the Dunbar Ogden Sr., the pastor who walked with the teenagers and the object of the hate mail.

The Presbyterian pastor got a call late one night from Daisy Bates, a journalist and NAACP president at the time. She asked Ogden Sr. to use his respected position to help the students walk to an all-white school the following day.

“He had a powerful sense of fair play,” Ogden said. “The only time I saw him angry is if he saw some kind of injustice.”

The Arkansas Governor at the time, Orval Faubus, had said, “Blood will run in the streets if Negro pupils should attempt to enter Central High School.”

After hours of thinking and praying, he agreed to do it, despite the fact that no other member of the Little Rock Ministerial Association, of which he was president, would go with him.

“My mom told him ‘do what you think is right,’” Dunbar Hunt Ogden said.

“David, our younger brother, who was about 6’1” and about 190 pounds said, ‘Dad, I think you are going to need a bodyguard. May I go with you,’” Ogden said.

The kids did make it to school that day.

They faced lots of hardships during their schooling, but they graduated.

They were able to take some of the 50 university prerequisites that the “white school” offered, that the “black school” didn’t.

They became “The Little Rock Nine,” the first to attend an integrated public school in the United States.

When all this was happening Ogden was in Germany and all he got to hear were stories from his
mother.

One time she sent him a newspaper cutout that talked about his father.

“I went in search of my father,” Ogden said. “I got to know another side of him, but when they spoke about him I knew it was true, I knew it was him.”

When he returned home, Ogden wrote a book about his father and the collaboration between Daisy Bates and Dunbar Ogden Sr.

“Daisy Bates told me he was a man among men,” Ogden said. “You could trust everything she said and she hated clergymen; she hated organized religion as a whole.”

“I am lucky that he was my father.”

The difficulties the family endured because of Ogden’s Sr.’s decision were harsh and lasting.

He was fired and the entire family had to relocate to avoid being the target of harassment.

“David stayed behind,” Ogden said. “He was harassed. He couldn’t take it and shot himself.”

“This book is not a memorial to David,” he added.

Teasing tastebuds at Teazer World Tea Market

Great atmosphere is what brings people into Teazer World Tea Market.

The instant one enters, the smell of tea is in the air, like burning incense.

The natural light from the sun brightens up the room and the atmosphere is calm.

The walls are painted bright green and orange with Chinese paintings on the walls.

Different shapes and sizes of colorful teacups and pots sit all around the shop.

“The atmosphere is like Cheers, everyone knows each other by name and it is a relaxed vibe to work in,”said Mike Adame, a Teazer’s employee. “Before working here I was not that into tea. There is so much to learn about tea.”

“Teazer’s”offers more than 120 different tea flavors, as well as mixed drinks.

They offer both bottled tea, which is already made, and loose tea, which is dry until brewed and water is added.

The flavor in loose tea is said to be healthier for you because it is stronger and the nutrients and oil come out better.

“For it to have a long “shelf life” the packaging company adds an agent to make it last until we sell it,” said employee Toshak Yaakop.

Yaakop is from Asia and enjoys working at “Teazer’s” for a different reason than Adame.

“My best memory of my father was when I was little and we would sit and drink very hot tea together,” Yaakop said. “It was our bonding time together.”

For the past three years, “Teazer’s” has been partner-owned by Ann McAtee and Ferry Santoso, who have hired a staff that does not go unnoticed to go along with the variety of teas they offer.

“When I come in I never get a specific drink,” said Evan Bunderoe, who is a regular customer. “And they have yet to fail me with whatever they make me.”

Bunderoe comes to Teazer because he does not like coffee.

Another customer said that the atmosphere was better than Starbucks, and likes to go to “Teazer’s” to study since it is close to Fresno City College.

Along with regular customers, Teazer brings in tea lovers from all over.

One customer who lives in San Francisco makes sure to stop in whenever she drives through Fresno.

People from the north side of Fresno come in as well because of the variety of teas they serve.

“Everyone who works here is really cool,” said Katherine Janzen, a Fresno City College student. “And it being locally owned is a really nice change.”

Bulldog Game Day

Fresno State Bulldogs (5-2, 2-1 WAC) at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (3-4, 1-2 WAC)

Breakdown: Bulldogs

It took a record breaking, 58-yard field goal, as time expired, for the Bulldogs to escape from Utah with a win last Saturday.

This week, the Fresno State Bulldogs will hope to have things in control a little earlier when they travel to Ruston, La., to take on the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.

Fresno State has been playing games close this season, with games being decided by an average of 6.3 points.

The offense will again look to establish the rushing attack early and wear down Louisiana Tech with the power-run game. The three backs, Ryan Mathews, Anthony Harding and Lonyae Miller should combine for a high percentage of Fresno State’s offensive production.

The defense has been struggling this season, especially to get pressure on the quarterback. Fresno State ranks 114 out of 119 Division I teams with six sacks in eight games this season.

Coach Pat Hill said that his Bulldogs will get creative with new pass-rush schemes to get pressure on Louisiana Tech’s quaterbacks.

The Bulldogs are hoping to get defensive tackle Jon Monga and tight end Bear Pascoe back from injury this week and put the game out of reach with some time left on the clock.

Breakdown: Bulldogs

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs have a stat working in their favor this Saturday against Fresno State — they are undefeated this season at Joe Aillet Stadium.

Unfortunately for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, they haven’t won a game on the road this season, which puts their record at 3-4.

Louisiana Tech ranks third in the conference behind Fresno State in total rushing offense with 176 yards per game.

A big reason why is the tailback tandem of senior Patrick Jackson and junior Daniel Porter.

Porter ranks fifth in the WAC with 71.6 yards per game and 501 yards for the season. The two backs both have three touchdowns.

At the quarterback position, Dooley started the season with Taylor Bennett, but switched to sophomore Ross Jenkins.

Jenkins doesn’t have a passing touchdown this season.

Louisiana Tech has the worst passing offense in the WAC.

Defensively, Tech relies on free safety Antonio Baker.

He is an all-conference defensive back and ranks second in the conference with 9.7 tackles per game.

With a homecoming crowd behind them and a solid running attack, Louisiana Tech may have the right formula to upset Fresno State.

The Bayou Bulldogs…

La. Tech Player to Watch:
Daniel Porter, Tailback

Wins against: Mississippi State, Southeastern Louisiana, Idaho
Losses to: Kansas, Boise State, Hawaii, Army
Head coach: Derek Dooley (Second season, 8-11)
Offense: Multiple
Defense: 4-3
Key players: RB patrick Jackson, FS Antonio Baker, LB Quin Harris, CB Weldon Brown
Series record: Fresno State leads 6-3
Last meeting: Fresno State won 17-6 at Bulldog Stadium
Point spread: Fresno State favored by five points

Keys to Victory

1. Shut down the run.
Porter and Jackson are the key parts to La. Tech’s offense. If Fresno State can shut them down, it’s game over.

2. Return a kick for a touchdown.
A.J. Jefferson has yet to return a kick for a touchdown this season. If he’s healthy he should be back in All-American form.

3. Create turnovers.
Fresno State has been unable to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. If the Bulldogs can intercept a pass or force a fumble, the defense will help itself out.

Position matchups

Fresno State Player to Watch:
Jon Monga, Defensive Tackle

When Fresno State runs:
Advantage – Fresno State
Louisiana Tech ranks third in the conference in rush defense, but Frenso State’s running attack has yet to be stopped in 2008.

When Louisiana Tech runs:
Advantage – Louisiana Tech
Porter and Jackson are an electric tandem for La. Tech. The instability at quarterback has forced the Bulldogs to perfect the run game.

When Fresno State passes:
Advantage – Fresno State
La. Tech’s pass defense is second-worst in the WAC and quarterback Tom Brandstater is starting to heat up in Doug Nussmeier’s offense.

When Louisiana Tech passes:
Advantage – Fresno State
Inconsistency at quarterback has resulted in the WAC’s worst passing offense for La. Tech. The Bulldogs only have two passing touchdowns this season.

Special teams:
Advantage – Louisiana Tech
Kevin Goessling redeemed himself, but there are several other problems in the Bulldogs’ special teams unit.

By Jimmy Graben and Logan Hopkins / The Collegian

’Dogs won’t go down without a fight

After a winless October, Fresno State has sights set on finishing strong in the WAC

Even with a 5-14 record and a seven-game losing streak, Fresno State volleyball still doesn’t want to push the panic button just yet.

“We have a lot of opportunities coming up,” setter Allanah Munson said. “I think if we play well enough and work really hard we’ll catch some wins.”

Freshman Baylee Platt is one of the Bulldogs who still has optimism for the rest of the year.

“I think we’re not like ‘oh my gosh,’ we need to win,” Platt said. “We’re just trying to do it the right way. We know that the wins are going to come.”

For coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell, the most important part of the season is an upcoming tournament for the Bulldogs.

“In this conference right now, it’s all about the WAC Tournament,” Netherby-Sewell said. “Everyone goes.”

Fresno State hasn’t won a volleyball game in over a month, when they held off Utah State at Logan, Utah, in a five-set match on Sept. 25.

Most recently, Fresno State played against a highly-ranked Hawaii Rainbow Wahine team where the Bulldogs lost the sets 3-1. The nationally-ranked Rainbow Wahine dropped Fresno State’s Western Athletic Conference (WAC) record to 2-8 on the year.

Netherby-Sewell did see one accomplishment against No. 9 Hawaii this past Sunday.

“We were one of two teams that have taken them past three games,” Netherby-Sewell said. “I thought that was pretty impressive.”

Platt saw the Hawaii game as more exciting than nerve- racking.

“It wasn’t so much tough,” Platt said. “It was a lot of fun and really exciting. It was a good opportunity for us to play up to their level.”

Allanah Munson believes that the Warriors aren’t the only team dominating in the WAC right now.

“Hawaii and New Mexico State are tied in the WAC,” Munson said. “Those two teams are definitely on top.”

Munson feels that despite the way the year has gone for her team, Fresno State is still working hard inside the North Gym and at the Save Mart Center.

“We’re getting better.” Munson said. “Even though the wins and losses doesn’t show. We’re going to keep working hard towards the WAC Tournament because that’s when the wins really matter. But hopefully we’ll start pulling a few wins.”

Middle blocker Lauren Berger feels that improving the ability to finish off games will snap the seven-game losing streak for Fresno State volleyball.

“We’re right there, we just need to finish off,” Berger said. “We need to come out strong and finish well.”
Munson sees this year as a learning experience despite the losing streak and dismal record.

The whole year has been positive,” Munson said. “We’re learning and growing everyday. We’re coming together. The whole year has been a positive experience.”

The goal for the Bulldogs now is to get in a position where they are not one of the lowest seeded teams in the WAC Tournament.

“It’s going to be tough to get into the sixth spot,” Netherby-Sewell said. “If we can get into the sixth spot we’re in pretty good shape. But that’s really tough at this point. We’re looking at seven, eight or nine and those three are playing the top of the conference right off the bat.”

The WAC Tournament will be held from Nov. 20-23 in Hawaii.

November rain…

The Bulldogs have five games in November to improve their seeding in the WAC Tournament.

• Saturday, 7 p.m., La. Tech

• Nov. 8, 7 p.m., New Mexico State

• Nov. 10, 7 p.m., Hawaii

• Nov. 13, 6 p.m., at Boise State

• Nov. 15, 7 p.m., at Idaho

• Nov. 20-23, WAC Tournament

NCAA benches Andrews for 2008-09 season

Sophomore guard’s stint with Australian pro team leads to suspension and possibly more

Fresno State point guard Emma Andrews will sit out the 2008-09 season due to a violation of NCAA regulations.

Andrews, a sophomore from Victoria, Australia, unknowingly violated an NCAA amateurism standard by playing with a semi-professional team, the Dadenong Rangers, in Australia’s Women’s National Basketball League when she was 16 and 17 years old.

The violation could possibly force Fresno State to forfeit last season’s Western Athletic Conference (WAC) title and tournament title, but the NCAA has ruled it will not affect the Bulldogs’ status in the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

Andrews was slated to be the starting point guard this season and averaged 5.2 points per game for the Bulldogs last season.

“My aim now this year is to be the hardest worker on my team,” Andrews said. “I’m going to show up every day and work extra hard.”

Andrews will be allowed to practice with the team and remain on scholarship, but she can’t travel with the team and must sit out the first three games of the 2009-10 season as well.

Fresno State will not be required to pay the standard $5,000 fine for letting an ineligible athlete play because the NCAA ruled “the institution did not show and should not have known of Andrews’ participation.”

Andrews played in seven games with the Rangers, accumulating 32 minutes of play. When she did play for the team it was in a reserve role, playing “mop-up” minutes. Andrews never received monetary compensation for playing with the Rangers, nor did she travel with the team.

Andrews’ mother, Cheryl Andrews, worked with the team and brought Emma Andrews to practice with her so she wouldn’t be home alone after school.

Cheryl Andrews and the coach allowed Andrews to sit on the bench during home games, but to do this, Emma Andrews had to sign an amateur player agreement.

Andrews filled out the necessary paperwork with the university and the NCAA Amateurism Clearinghouse without mentioning her time with the Rangers because she thought it wasn’t significant.

“It was her mom’s team, so it never even occurred to her to write this down and let us know this happened,” said Senior Associate Athletic Director Betsy Mosher.

Fresno State did not find out about the infraction until March 2008, following the 2007-08 season. Since then, the university has been working with the NCAA student-athlete reinstatement staff and committee to discuss the status of Andrews’ eligibility.

Coach Adrian Wiggins said Andrews’ replacement could be last season’s backup, senior LaToya Brown, or UC Santa Barbara transfer LaShay Fears.

The WAC is still debating whether or not it will revoke Fresno State’s conference and tournament titles from last season.

“I think it’s fair to have rules, I think it’s fair to expect to go by the rules, you always want to honor that.” Wiggins said.

By Jimmy Graben and Logan Hopkins / The Collegian

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