1994_09 Insight September 1994

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CAUFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO
September 14,1994
INSIGHT
EDITOR'S DESK
Those zany athletes
Hi there,
As the weather turns cooler and school buses roar
off down the street, students trudge off to school anticipating another boring semester. It's the same old
routine, school, homework, school, homework. Well,
it doesn't have to be that way.
CSU Fresno is considered a commuter campus.
This means that many of the students don't live on
campus; they commute to school. Many students go
to school everyday and never get involved with campus events unless required by an instructor in class.
Even then it is usually for extra credit points. If this is
you, then something has got to change.
How can this be the time of your life if you're
not involved? Make this the semester that you become
involved with campus events. Be an event shaper, not
a spectator.
CSU Fresno is rich in diversity among students.
Foreign students comprise 3.8 percent of the total student population. The average age of a CSUF student
is between the ages of 20 and 24. While this is not
surprising, you might be surprised to know that the
percentage of students over the age of 25 is 36.7. These
are just a few examples of some of the diversity on
campus.
One of the many ways to become involved is to
read your campus papers.
Let me introduce you to Insight. Insight is a
weekly paper that is distributed every Wednesday
around campus. Insight will give you the inside scoop
on what is going on around campus and the surrounding community. We can also help you plan your weekend. Look in our Arts and Entertainment section for
the latest in what's happening around Fresno. We consider our paper the voice of the students, and, without
your input, we can't be your voice. We welcome letters to the editor. If we print something erroneously,
let us know. If you know of some event coming up
that you think should be covered, let us know. If you
have a gripe and wish to share it, write to us. All letters to the editor must include a name, identification
number and phone number for our identification purposes. Letters lhat don't include this information will
not be considered. Please address your letters to Editor, Insight, Fresno, CA 93740-0010.
Lisa L Alvey
INSIGHT
Athletes at CSUF are getting
away with murder. Or at least they
could if they tried.
Three players on the football
team, Chris Burk, Ron Papazian and
Gene Smith, have all attracted just as
much press off the field as on the field
through three charges of illegal activity.
According to the university's
athletic department and police reports, Chris Burk, a fullback, was
charged with felony mayhem for allegedly biting off an inch of another
man's lip. Papazian, a starting linebacker, was cited for petty theft on
March 14 for allegedly stealing gardening supplies from an Orchard
Supply Hardware store in Clovis.
Smith was charged with petty theft
in May after allegedly stealing vitamins from a One-on-Onc Vitamins
store in Clovis.
The punishment was swift and
harsh. All three were placed on indefinite probation by Athletic Director Gary Cunningham during an Aug.
25 press conference.
"Indefinite probation" means
that they are still eligible to play
football, but, dam it, they better not
get cited, for anything else. If they
do, the athletic department just
might be forced to actually punish
them, rather than just threaten.
This would be unfortunate, as
punished athletes arc those who do
not play, and everyone knows that a
winning team is more important than
a well-behaved team.
Never mind all the things lhat
parents try to teach their children
about being law-abiding citizens. All
parents have to do is make sure their
children attend football practice
regularly.
Of course, parents must realize
that being a strong athlete is not only
the answer to a possible scholarship
for their children but also enables
them to special treatment.
As was plainly illustrated by the
actions of the three CSUF athletes
and the reaction of the athletic director, it is OK for good players to
bend the rules a little, as long as the
performance on the field is not hampered.
Granted, maybe the athletes
were under a lot of pressure at the
time of the alleged crimes. Maybe
Papazian's lawn had grown for
months, and his landlord threatened
to kick him out if it wasn't mowed
immediately.
Perhaps Smith was under such
extreme pressure to stay healthy that
he felt his only alternative was to steal
As for Burk, maybe be was just
feeling frisky.
Whatever the reasoning behind
the alleged action, being an athlete
should not get these guys off the proverbial hook. These alleged crimes
cannot go unpunished by the legal
system or the university.
Athletes, especially those in a
high profile, are representatives of
Bulldog U. and must keep this in mind
at all times. Everything they do and
say is a direct reflection on Fresno
State.
For this reason. Dr. Cunningham
should reconsider his menial punishment and take Burk, Papazian and
Smith off the field. That could serve
as a message to other athletes that,
unlike Burk, Dr. Cunningham don't
take no lip.
New semester sparks
nostalgic memories
TOP TEN REASONS TO PLAY FOOTBALL AT CSU, Fresno
10.) lb be.close to that big football with wheels that carries Gatorade to the players.
9.) It gives men a justifiable reason to be fondled by other men.
8.) To experience the feeling of dominance when landing on top of a dog pile.
7.) The bonding experience of showering with other players after the game.
6.) To have a front row seat to watch the fights between Time Out and the other mascots.
5.) For the priority registration.
4.) For the privilege of not having to worry about losing classes for not showing up the first day
of instruction.
3.) For the welfare benefits.
2.) To bask in the aura of Jim Sweeney.
1.) To get away with petty theft and biting others' lips off.
David Mlrhadl
INSIGHT
For many students who are
incoming freshmen, transfer students or graybeards returning to
this institution of higher learning,
last week will probably turn out to
be the most exciting week of your
college career.
It comes as no surprise that
Welcome Week serves as a bit of
euphoria for students once they
step onto the campus of California State University,
Fresno.
When   I   first       ——=
stepped   onto   the
grounds of CSUF on
August 31, 1992, I
was a freshman, just
one summer removed
from the corridors of
Clovis West High
School in Fresno. In
high school, I was
one of those students
who was noticed, but
I was never considered the proverbial "big man on campus." Most
of us would like to forget those
years and store them away, like
presents of information we could
tell our children when they start
high school.
But college for me has been
an experience I never imagined.
meant that I was going to have a time I
would not soon forget.
I thought of all Ihe new friends and
acquaintainces I would meet throughout
the course of the year. I thought that by
the end of my first year, I would be justified in griping about my first parking
ticket, which I didn't get until this summer. I thought of all the professors I
would have and how I would have to
get used to calling them "Dr." or "professor" as opposed to "Mr."
These matters seem trivial to most
/ was going to leave this university
an accomplished person,
and nothing, save for sleep deprivation,
would stop me.
front row with my cheesy "Fresno
State University" T-shirt and ragged
shorts. Of course, that was before it
became a cardinal sin to utter the
words "University" after the words
"Fresno State."
President Welty, himself a bit
new to the Fresno State experience,
gave a moving speech about making the most of your college years
(in fact, that was the name of his
speech) and told us that our college
experience would be most important
later down the
road   when   we
B      looked for that all-
important   first
job.   Subsequent
speeches by the
provost and the
previous year's
president's medalist, as well as the
—      incoming    ASI
president, touched
upon  the same
themes:   Get involved, budget your time, have fun
and stay focused on the path to success.
These themes were repeated
throughout the hourlong ceremony.
U.S. not wanted in Haiti
Marten* Bryant	
INSIGHT
Two hundred years ago, the
United States achieved democracy
and it suggests some form of vanity
to see it trying to meddle in the same
efforts that another country is trying
to accomplish.
The Clinton administration is
thinking about invading Haiti. Why
must the United Stales put its red,
white and blue star spangled nose
into another country's political affairs? Do Americans fear another
threat to democracy as was portrayed
by Hitler, Stalin, Castro or that guy
who led us on a wild goose chase
throughout Desert Storm?
The United Slates is considering
invading because Haiti and Cuba are
the two exceptions in the positive picture of the trend of democracy in
KABLOOEY bribe
of us, but to a student who had always
tried to establish a rapport with my
teachers, it felt funny when I had to keep
them at arm's length. I was even more
shocked when I asked to speak to a professor after class my first day, and he It made me proud and lit a fire in my
told me to drop by when he had office belly: I was going to leave this uni-
hours. Office hours? versity an accomplished person, and
But my temporarily negative atti-    nothing, save for sleep deprivation,
m Walking on campus that second    tude changed when I attended the very    would stop me.
" week of classes and seeing that big    first New Student Convocation.  That As w« embark on a new school
red "Welcome" banner near the en- experience made me proud to be a col- year, I wonder. Has the fire in me,
trance of the Free Speech Area, I iege student. Seeing all those profes- lit during that first week of motiva-
felt proud to be a college student, sors decked out in regalia made me feel tional speeches, pomp and discov-
That banner meant a lot to me. It    a bit sheepish, for I was sitting in the    ery flickered?   I'm beginning to
wonder.
Here I sit, two years into what
is supposed to be a four-year education. Now I have all sorts of questions, questions that I thought were
all answered during that first week.
What kinds of rewards will my degree give me? Will I be guaranteed
a job when my expected graduation
date comes? What kind of job market will today's freshmen experience? Will they have access to an
affordable education, or will the
mess known as the state budget drive
CSU fees into the stratosphere,
where only the upper crust of society will be enjoying the benefits of
state-supported higher education?
I am fearful that the opportunities that today's college student takes
for granted will be lost by the time I
don the cap and gown in two years.
I hope that the future graduates
of the class of 1998 keep their dream
alive that inexpensive education will
not become a thing of the past. Treasure this experience, for the beginning of a college career only happens
once. Your next four yean could
very well determine the rest of your
lives.
Latin America and the Caribbean.
However, the U.S. administration
has not finalized its plans for the invasion or its aftermath.
We should stand up for democracy. The United States is doing the
right thing, but is it their right to fight
for democracy in another country?
It has been done so many times in
the past lhat it has become a trend
for this great nation to champion democracy for anyone at anytime. We
should simply let our good record
and virtuous precedent stand as an
example to the rest of the world.
At this point, the United States,
the Mighty Protector, has become a
Big Brother. Lei us not be a hypocrite and dominate or destroy another country's future with our good
intentions. Whether we become involved in their troubles or not, the
same outcome will occur. Democracy
will prevail when the time is right.
Look at how long it took for the Soviet Union to sing for democracy.
The U.S. administration good-
naturedly offers ultimatums to the
military junta of Lt. Gen. Raoul
Cedras. This will be ineffective, and
no true democratic ground will be
gained despite the grand intentions
involved.
Each infant can mature only
when he experiences life for himself.
He gains no gratification or knowledge if someone simply tells him what
to do or if someone lives his life for
him. That is the fault in overprotec-
live parenting. Those fighting for democracy will only appreciate it and
understand its value if it is fought for
it on the countries' own level and in
the countries' own time.
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ILJSI
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CALIFORNIA STATE L
INIVERSITY, FRESNO
Department of Mass Comi
nunication and Journalism
CSUF, 2225 E. San Ramon A
ive., Fresno, CA 93740-0010
News: 278-2027
Advertising: 278-393^
Lisa L. Alvey
Editor-in-Chief
Belinda Lee
Managing Editor
David Mirhadi
News Editor
Christine Malamanig
Copy Editor
NikArifR. Sidek
Graphic Design Editor
Shelly Sllva
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Celeste Cox
Editorial Page Editor
Maria Machuca
Production Manager
Jason Gibbs
Sports Editor
Matt Soby
Photo Editor
Lupe Fuentes
Advertising Account Manager
Mark Lawrence
Advertising Production Manager
Yi Ping Ho
Circulation Manager
PRODUCTION
ASSISTANTS
Shahada Abdul-Karlm
Kori Rianda
Marlene Bryant
Joe Roaato Jr.
Teresa Farmen
John Shaw
Laura Michelle Henry  t
Deborah Smith
Jabarl Lawrence
Mariko Sugano
Staff Writer*: Students of MCJ 102W a 103
Mikes
AdvortMng Staff: 8tudwite of MCJ 143
Dr. Deem K njmn
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