1998_04 Insight April 1998

              InSide
Fooled ya!
State minimum wage
increase doesn't apply
to campus student
workers.
Insight
California State University, Fresno ^^^^^^W April 1, 1998
InSports
That's the breaks.
Walk-on's hard work
was his ticket to the
NIT.
More sponsors still sought for on-campus arena
Expected Timetable of Events
Date
Milestone
March 1998
Begin environmental impact report (EIR)
May 1998
Select project architect
August 1998
Complete draft EIR and begin design
September 1998
Launch seat option campaign
October 1998
Launch fund raising/suite campaign
Janurary 1999
Publish final EIR
May 1999
Trustee approval of EIR*and master plan
September 1999
Estimated start of construction
November 2001
Complete construction
rtl.O.^.taH »ta_U „«—
by John Sanders
Staff Writer
There is one issue that Fresno
State must deal with before constructing the new Save Mart Center. Although PepsiCo is putting
up $40 million over 20 years.
Fresno State must raise at least
S32 million before construction
begins.
For approximately S1.000. a
person can purchase a seat in the
new Save Mart Center for a total
of 10 years. If people want to donate money, they can have something named after them, like a
locker room or a suite.
These are only two examples
of how Fresno State plans to raise
the $32 millioniuieeds. The event
center is scheduled for construction in September 1999.
The arena's projected cost
over a 30-year period is estimated
at $60 million, with an additional
S35 million in interest and another
$10 million in capital reserve,
which is nothing more than a contingency account.
PepsiCo and Save Mart are
the primary sponsors for the new
event center. PepsiCo agreed to put
up $40 million over a 20-year period. It is unclear how the soft-
drink company artd supermarket
chain are collaborating: however.
see ARENA, page 3
Parking spaces increasing
Fresno State planning
accomodations for
enrollment growth.
by Chris Ruiz
Staff Writer
Try finding a parking spot on campus after 8 a.m. and you're in for heartbreak. Lines of vehicles form, waiting
for a departing vehicle.
However according to the Parking
and Transportation Department, the
situation is getting better.
"We are working on a lot of
things." said Rick Finden. chief of the
Parking and Transportation Department.
Some projects already completed
include improvements to Lot K by the
North Gym and Lot L by the Industrial Technology Building. ♦ ^
"Parking was increased by 15-
16 percent in those two lots," Finden
said. "By tilting the spots from 45 to
60 degrees we were able to improve
the parking situation in that area of
campus."
Improvements on Lot P by San
Ramon Avenue and on Lot D behind
the cafeteria are currently under way.
A big project that will significantly
improve parking by the Henry Madden Library will be on Lot E. The
number of parking spaces in the lot
will increase from the current 87 to
181 stalls.
One of the student parking lots
on the north end of campus. Lot Q,
will also be revamped. Parking in that
see PARKING, page 2
Approach of spring means field activity, vacation planning
Make a break-
a break-away
Students across the country
use spring vacation to get
out of town.
by Faythe Arredondo
Staff Writer
White sand beaches and crisp white
snow. It's spring break and across the
country college students just want to have
fun.
"We've been really busy." said Dina
Faretta of Council Travel in Fresno State's
University-Student Union. -
Among the last to vacation. Fresno
State students have been planning trips all
across the country. According to Faretta. a
popular trip this spring is the Baja cruise,
which costs about $400 per person.
"The Baja cruise goes from Los
Angeles down to Ensenada and Catalina."
Farreta said.
Christina Enns. a sophomore majoring in animal science, plans to spend her
spring break in Mono Bay.
"I want to enjoy the beach." Enns
said. "I want to make sand castles, surf
and go horseback riding, maybe do a little
shopping."
Kirsten Kerr, a senior majoring in
/.oology at the University of California.
Santa Barbara, spent her spring break with
her parents touring Northern California.
Kerr is originally from Columbus, Ohio,
and wanted to experience California
before she graduates next year.
"We went wine tasting near Monterey
and to the aquarium." Kerr said. "We went
to San Francisco to eat. We went to Big
Sur. Then we went to Yosemite."
Karre Jones, a junior majoring in
sociology at Arizona State University had
a relaxing spring break planned.
"I wanted to have front row seats at
spring training baseball games." Jones
said. She wanted to spend two days in
Arizona and three in Florida but she had
to work and wasn't able lo go.
A Caribbean cruise is how Stacy
Kelly spent her vacation. Kelly is a junior
psychology major at Temple University in
Philadelphia.
"1 spent four sunny and warm days
working on my tan." Kelly said.
Catherine Newell, a junior majoring
photo by Mahfto Tomoi
Vacations are over for Carolina Romero
(above right) and other workers (right) as
they are getting busier tending to fields with
the weather warming up.
in English and anthropology at UCSB.
had a much quieter vacation. Newell spent
her break at a retreat just outside of Palm
Springs.
"I went to an InterVarsity retreat."
Newell said. "We hung out. relaxed and
studied the Bible."
Marlin Ezel, a freshman majoring in
mechanical engineering at Fresno State,
wishes he could go to Panama City Beach
in Florida.
"This spring break I'll be staying in
Fresno and working on Vintage Days."
Ezel said. "If I were going anywhere, I
would go to Panama City in Florida and
hang out at the beach."
"Hawai'i is always a hot spot." Faretta
said. She also said that not many people
were interested in Florida.
"A lot of people are going to Las
Vegas. Las Vegas is pretty inexpensive and
easy to get to," Faretta said. "A lot of
people are going to New York. People also
have us do their plane tickets." Faretta said
that a round trip ticket for students going
back east is around $400.
Spring season
coming despite
effects of rams
by Amanda Holder
Staff Writer
Families were flooded out of their
homes. Roads and highways were swallowed up by water. But the Fresno State
landscape has sprung into spring.
Trees are blossoming with pink and
white buds. Rowers arc blooming with
red, orange and yellow petals. Plants are
perking up. El Nino is whimpering away.
"We dodged a major bullet." said Pete
Millier, manager of grounds and landscape
architecture.
El Nino has made it a wefyear, but
the campus suffered no major damage.
"We haven't had the sprinklers on at
all," Millier said. "It saved us water."
Others haven't been so lucky. Millier
said that regions north and south of Fresno
were hit hard with flooding and agricultural losses.
"I'm really amazed that we've only
lost six trees with all the wind and rain
we've had," Millier said.
The grass at O'Neill Park on Barstow
Avenue is still too soaked to mow, and
some of the blossoms on trees were blown
off by wind, but damages can be fixed.
Bruce Clayton, an agriculture
standards specialist, said Fresno was very
fortunate.
"In general, there hasn't been a major
problem with agriculture," Clayton said.
Tomato crop planting was delayed a
few weeks. Farms in Firebaugh. Mendota
and Cantua Creek were flooded, and
25.000 almond trees were lost to the wind.
But Clayton said beyond that damage,
farmers were lucky.
A loss of 25.000 almond trees is
nothing to worry about compared with the
total crop for Fresno County. Almond
trees, like plums, need bees to pollinate but
once the rain subsides, the crop will
recover.
Lettuce, peaches, oranges and lemons
are expected to do well despite the wet
weather. However, dairy production is
expected to drop because of the stress
dairy cattle feel due to the weather. On the
other hand, beef cattle are doing well
because of the weather, w hich created a
rich growth of grass.
Clayton said these weather outcomes
are what farmers expect.
"Part of being a farmer is dealing with
the weather." Clayton said.
Last warning: Don't do it
Fresno State faculty, staff
banned from burning
candles.
by Brandie Scheppegrell
StaJi Writer
The have names like cranberry, vanilla
mint and freesia. They can float or stand up
straight. They come in all shapes, sizes and
fragrances, They are candles — along with
incense and oil lamps. These items and
lighted cigarettes are not allowed in Fresno
State buildings.
Candles present a fire hazard and pose
a threat to asthma sufferers and people with
respiratory problems, university officials
said. Candles have been banned from
university buildings for many years, but
some employees have burned them anyway.
Fresno State recently issued an updated
warning: don't do it.
If a faculty or staff member lights a
candle and gets distracted, a mound of
papers could catch fire easily, said David
Moll, director of Environmental Health and
Safety.
"Offices aren't designed to have open
flames in them." Moll said. "Professors will
end up burning up their own stuff."'
Faculty has been asked to remove personal
space heaters from campus offices. This move
will make way for new heaters issued by Plant
Operations. The heaters have safety shut-off
switches and adhere to energy conservation
methods.
Not affected by the ban are materials used
for academic purposes, like those in laboratories and art studios.
Not all campus employees are excited
about the move to enforce the ban.
"I understand what they're doing, but it |a
candle] adds to the atmosphere." said one
secretary. "It's like soft music. If you're
careful, there's a place for it."
A faculty member, unaware of the policy,
said she uses candles mostly to decorate
around the holidays. A staff member said she
see FIRE, page 3
Different stars shine for Vintage Days
by Allison Barnett
Staff Writer
Quiet on the set. Vintace Davs
take 23. ACTION!
Vintage Days is packed full ol entertainment, food booths and attractions, or as some might call it. distractions. This year, the annual event has
gone to the stars with a Hollywood
theme.
This year's committee has been
working many hours to make Vintage
Days great. However. ta}c event has
been under some criticism for its lack
of student involvement in putting Vintage Days together.
"There's definitely not as much
student involvement as there could be.
seeing that there arc 17.000 people on
campus," said Jessica Unruh, director
of Vintage Days. "It seems like the students are really interested in Vintage
Days when it comes lo their organization
making money, but when it comes to them
being involved in some of the events there is
not as much participation. It's sad because
that |event participation! is what Vintage
Days is all about"
"I think there is less student involvement
now than it) the past." said Michelle Karabian.
a Fresno State liberal science sophomore. "I
think the Vintage Days committee should
advertise more about the events and what it
entails to get students to help."
Last year, participation was higher .
thanks in some new features like the all Greek
and the all Fresno State Residence Hall
awards.
Some critics say Vintage Days has gone
away from the students and the campus and
geared itself more towards the community.
"I think that Vintage Days definitely provides something for the community. It is a
way to celebrate our campus with the community and the students." Unruh said. "I feel
that the community has given a lot to
Fresno Stale."
Karabian. who particularly likes the
crafts fair. said. "Vintage Days is a good
way to get the community and student
involvement on campus. Ii brings in
money and it is also entertaining."
This year, students can see the real
stars with (he Astrology Club. A noon
parade will kick off Vintage Days followed by performances in the pit on
Thursday. April 16.
Air Guitar will start off Thursday
night with "Star Time at the Satellite."
Friday night. Fresno State will be "Rolling Out the Red Carpet" at Casino Night.
The Crafts Fair will run Friday
through Sunday and begin at 10 a.m. every morning. New this year will be the
first ever Rib Cook-Off. which is usually
held at Big Hat Days in Clovis. Vintage
Days runs through Sunday, April 19. with
the closing ceremony beginning at 3 p.m.
i