» Editorial Board

What is the first thing most students wake up to every morning? A screeching alarm, usually. Maybe the dog next door, trying to prove a point to the groaning garbage truck right outside your window, which conveniently shows up to work before the sun does.

As The Collegian reported on Friday, Fresno State students passed a referendum creating the position of Vice President of External Affairs by a vote of 268-202.

The news of Joe Paterno’s death on Sunday morning shook not only the college football world, but the entire sports landscape as well. However, it was news, or, rather, misinformed news, released hours prior to Sunday’s announcement that reminded student-journalists just how powerful the press can be.

Consider two scenarios. One is of a basketball arena with a sellout crowd night after night. The consistently competitive team it features is boosted every night by the 10,000-plus screaming fans all clad in red. Opposing teams are scared to play here: from 1968-2003 the home team won 406 games, nearly four wins out of every five.

One week ago today, Fresno State President John Welty explained to the university community that, unless Californians vote to raise taxes on themselves come November, Fresno State would have to cut $11 million from its budget. From this would come tuition increases, layoffs, class reductions, enrollment limits and more.

In Fresno, more specifically the surrounding Fresno State community, safety after hours is at a premium.

With the exception of a small handful of die-hard Kiss concertgoers, you may have noticed Friday’s entire edition of The Collegian was published in lieu of America’s favorite fake holiday, April Fool’s Day.

Pedro Ramirez, Fresno State’s infamous Associated Students, Inc. president, should resign from his post, and let President-elect Selena Farnesi, the current executive vice president, get a head start on the job.

Did you knowingly give Mr. Daniel J. Harrison free advertisement space because, indeed, that is exactly what you allowed him to do with his “Letter to the Editor”? Mr. Harrison simply tried to make Associated Students, Inc. look bad and seem as if he was fighting for the student body (nice move as an ASI presidential candidate, not really)