1994_03 Insight March 1994

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University offers students
low-cost, high-quality
wedding services
See Page 7
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Spring action in full motion over break. See Pages 4,5
Athletes play waiting game
as pro scouts decide top
Fresno State picks
See sports, Page 9
Wednesday, March 23,1994
Volume 25, Issue 17
Charmer' evokes mission
M
'Whether you like me or not, you'll have to deal with me'
Karen Toth/INSIGHT
Controversial Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan
preached a strong message to a heavily guarded full house at
the William Soroyan Theater Saturday night.
By M. Cristina Medina      	
StaffWriter
The walls of the William Saroyan Theater were
lined wiih stem-faced men in stiff bow lies and suits,
bulthe air was saturated with lhc soothing, preaching
voice of an eloquent man in a mustard-hucd suit.
Louis Farrakhan, lhc outspoken leader of ihc
Nation of Islam, spun a ihree-and-a-half-hour-long
message on correcting America's ills before more
ihan 2,000 last Saturday.
"Ameri^ Is on her death bed. Shc is in dire need
of help," said Farrakhan, who has rccendy come
under fire for criticism of Jews and Whites.
"Someone is taking Americaaway from you...I'm
a brother who is trying to clean up the mess white
folks have made."
Farrakhan, known as the'Charmer'was guarded
by a contingent of more ihan 15 ready to pounce
Nation of Islam bodyguards. Hc used the opportunity to dismiss thc anti-Semitic campaign many
have attributed to him.
"I'm no Hitler. I have never desired to see Jews
murdered in any oven like Hitler did," lhe Nation of
Islam leader said. "I want thc Jews io know that I
don't hate you because of your fanh. I have never
called Judaism a gutter religion — the papers did."
Thc nearly sold-oul lecture, sponsored by the
Fresno chapter of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), drew
heavy criticism from local orthodox Muslims. Christians, Jews and some black ministers.
'They arc afraid of his powerful message. Anyone who has loo much power is always feared." said
Danel Thompson, who anticipated protests during
Farrakhan's 3-day visit. "Whatever he preaches, it
sure has woken up Fresno's black community."
Farrakhan's message of self-reliance extends far
beyond Fresno. Farrakhan enjoys a following estimated between 30,000-200.000 Nation of Islam
members. The sect operates an elementary and secondary school. Thc Slation of Islam has established
mosques in 120 cities, including Fresno.
Those in attendance Saturday were subject lo
tight security. Pockets were emptied, purses were
rummaged through. Men were searched while women
were led behind a partition, patted down and a metal
detector waved over them. S trings ofNation of Islam
members stood attentively in case of trouble.
"It was extreme, but understandably necessary,"
See FARRAKHAN, Page 11
It's here!
Students pack
bags, prepare for
spring break'94
By Cynlhea Brooks
StaffWriter
Scan tilycloihcd bronzed bodies crowd beaches, lakes and bars
across ihc nation.
CSUF students across the nation plan all semester for ihcir
seven-day escape from lhc pressures of school.
Spring break '94 is only two
days away and studcnLs are nuking a break for the beach.
Students in search of sand,
sun and adventure can cross the
border into Mexico.
Enscnada, Rosarito and San
Felipe arc lhc most popular spoLs
with college students.
An hour past the border is the
tourist lownof Rosarito. lLsmain
attractions arc its bars and ils
beach.
Papas and Beer, a Rosarito
right-on-thc-beach bar. is one
place to go while visiting
Rosarito.
See BREAK, Page 4
Student runs
for state senate
By David Mirhadi
StaffWriter
CSUF junior Tony Hagopian may
be living proof lhat one can never be
loo young to make a difference.
The 21-year-old CSUF junior is
squaring off against State Senator Ken
Maddy in November in an attempt to
overtake Maddy's coveted 14thscnato-
rial district seat, a post he's held since
1979 since coming from lhc state Assembly.
Hagopian, a theater arts major, has
never held public office. Hc wasn't
even born when Maddy won his first
slate Assembly scat in 1970. That isn't
stopping him from campaigningagainst
a man who Hagopian says has neglected thc interests of Central Valley.
"Hc spends all his time in Sacramento," said Hagopian, a fourth-generation Fresno resilient.
"About thc only lime hc comes lo
Fresno is when he's flying over on the
way to Santa Anita," Hagopian said,
refcring to Maddy's love for horse racing.
"I wani to make sure I devote as
much time as I can taking care of busi-
Asa.student, Hagopian said Maddy
and the resi of the Cal ifomia legislature
have neglected the needs of thc CSU
system.
"I want to emphasize school inequities," hc said, mentioning problems such
as lack of funding for programs and
See HAGOPIAN, Page 12
School children present
bilingual performance
Karen Toth/INSIGHT
Part t>f the day for elementary students participating in the
Peach Blossem Festival consisted of getting autographs from
FSU athletes such as soccer player Ron Eynaed.
By Bryan Chan	
StaffWriter
Teacher Margaret Gonzalez knew
just how to calm hcr anxious fourth
grade class before their debut in lhe
36th annual Peach Blossom Festival
last Thursday.
"We're next. I'm scared. I'm nervous. I'm sick," lhc San Joaquin Elementary School stuoents whispered
to each other.
"You're going to do jusl fine."
Gonzalez said in a soothing tone to the
studenLs huddled around hcr in thc John
Wright Theatre.
When thc curtain call came, the 24
studcnLs, ages 9 and 10, filled on to the
stage for the bilingual reading of "The
Alligator is My Friend" in the speech
and oral interpretation seminar.
Gonzalez took a seat in the audience
within sight of hcr class to help guide
them through five-minute presentation.
They performed lhe reading, by an
unknown author, in Spanish and then
in English for more than 100 people.
Each performance was given wiih
the same amount of energy and enthusiastic gestures.
When it was over, Gonzalez
complimented ho students.
"You did it; you got it over with,"
Gonzalez said, as hcr class exited stage
See BLOSSOM, Page 12
Let spirit show, let it show
Ken Koller/INSIGHT
Taking the "red wave" to a whole new level, FSU senior Mike Monroe decided to paint
his entire body red to show his support for the Bulldogs at "Wednesday's NIT basketball
game against USC. The Bulldogs went on to win.
Campus harassment rarely reported
By Aimee L. Usher	
StaffWriter
Women: Imagine a male professor
calling your home. He's not calling to
remind you of your Tuesday assignment, though.
Hc'scallingtoaskyououtonadaic.
Hc lells you how much he likes you;
"you're so pretty and smart"
Imagine a professor sending letters
io your home.
What if every time you were required to go to a professor's office, hc
looked down your blouse? Then, when
you stop going tohisofficc, your grades
begin lo go down.
According to Donna Fratina, a social work graduate student, these incidents happen at CSUF all thc time.
They are rarely reported lo school
officials, however.
"Loss of self-esteem, guilt, humiliation, lack of trust, problems in interpcr-
•,onal relauonships and ! fear of) retaliation from ihe harasser arc jusl some of
thc motivators that keep women silent
and tearful of challenging the harasser."
Frati na re ports inadraft of hcr master's
thesis.
CSUF's policy against harassmeni,
slated in its Non-discrimination and
Affirmative Action Plan.dcfincssexual
harassment as "making unwanted
sexual advances and requests for sexual
favors and other verbal or physical
conduct of a sexual nature directed
toward an employee, student or applicant where cither (1) submission to or
toleration of such conduct is made an
explicit or implicit term or condition of
appointment, employment, admission
or academic evaluation...."
Thc policy further states"... the conduct has the purpose or effect of interfering with a student's academic performance, creating an intimidating,
hostile, offensive or otherwise adverse
learning environment, or adversely af
fecting any student."
In other words, explicit use of derogatory terms, sexist jokes aboutcloih-
ing, body or sexual activities, deliberate cornering, obscene gestures, and
requests for sex inexchange for grades,
letters of recommendation or employment opportunities are sexual harassment and, therefore, prohibited.
Through hcr research on sexual harassment for her master's thesis, Fratina
found that studies indicate anywhere
from 20 to 50 percent of female students experience some type of sexual
harassmeni by male (acuity or students.
Only 2 to 3 percent are likely to report
the abuse.
Marcia Bedard, coordinator of the
women's studies program, agreed lhat
most women do not report they have
been sexually harassed and said national research shows that women
across the country don't report.
See HARRASSMENT, Pag« "