1998_04 Insight April 1998

              April 29,1998
InSide
Fresno State Agriculture
department host to FFA
by Scott A.'Mayes
Staff Writer
The future of Fresno State's
agricultural department flooded
the campus from April 16 to 20.
Fresno State, known
nationally for its rich agricultural tradition, hosted the
annual high school Future
Fanners of America state
convention, placing more than
3,000 students from all over the
state of California within arm's
reach.
The FFA state convention
gave the university an opportunity to showcase its agricultural
facilities to potential students
for the 1998-99 school year.
"There is clearly an impact
because there are students that
see our campus that are seeing
our facilities for the first time,"
said Dennis Nef, associate dean
for the School of Agricultural
Science and Technology.
"Having that many students
exposed to Fresno Stale has to
help."
The state convention was
held at the Fresno Convention
Center while the FFA Field Day.-
an entire day of agricultural
competition ranging from meat
judging to floriculture-took place
. on the Fresno State campus.
Despite all the positive
publicity received by the campus,
the annual event comes at a price.
FFA Field Day Coordinator
Art Parham said the estimated cost
of the field day is $15,000.
"We do get some student
government money." Parham said,
"but we have to raise the rest
ourselves.
"The conference itself costs
about $40,000, which is paid in
part by privately donated monies,"
Parham said. "We have to raise the
rest or the dean pays the bill."
Fresno's FFA Field1 Day
shared the Fresno State campus
with Vintage Days, giving the
students an outlet from the
competition.
"I think, for the students, it's
really beneficial," said Fresno-
Central Chapter Adviser Kristann
Mattes about Vintage Days. "It's
kind of a selling point for the
campus and it gives the students
something to do because not all the
events end at the same time."
Mattes said the break from
competition was good for the
students as well.
"It gives them a chance to see
each other as people," Mattes said,
"not just competitors."
Local FFA chapters from
Clovis High School and Central
High School performed well at the
state convention.
Clovis High School placed
first in livestock, second in meats,
sixth in horses and seventh in
floriculture.
Central High School placed
sixth in agricultural sales and it
had two regional officers installed
for the 1998-99 school year: Nick
Diaz, president and Frances
Echeverria, vice president.
Echeverria also placed first in
feed grain proficiency and sixth in
prepared public speaking.
"You don't get a student like
that very often," Mattes said of
Echeverria. "She entered our
program at the age of 12. She's
highly competitive and very
coachable."
CSUF may require students
computer access in next fall
by Suzanne Dieriex
Staff Writer
Computer illiterate students,
beware! Next fall, students may be
required to use a computer more
than ever before.
This requirement is detailed
in the schedule of courses and
catalogue coming out May 4.
The new rule, which lacks
enforcement, requires that
students provide their pwn
computer or have other personal
access to a workstation, including
a modem and a printer.
The computer access requirement has been in the works for
several years. The Academic
Senate enacted the requirement
citing rising costs of upgrading
computer hardware and the costs
of printing.
Speech Communication
Professor John Cagle authored this
resolution.
Cagle said that withihe
current rapid advances in computer technology, computers are
becoming as necessary to college
students today as typewriters were
20 years ago.
Years ago, Fresno State never
.provided students access to
typewriters to type their papers.
Cagle cited three reasons why
Fresno State cannot continue to be
the sole provider of computer access
to students:
• Computer technology is
changing so rapidly that Fresno
State cannot keep pace with all the
improvements.
• The state government only
gives money to the creation of
computer labs in new buildings
under construction. There is no
additional money given to Fresno
State when existing classrooms are
remodeled for use as computer labs.
• The state restricts the amount
of increases in tuition and fees.
When other colleges need money
for new technology, they can just
increase their fees to raise the
money needed.
Fresno State is not the first
university to require computer
access. The University of Michigan
requires that all incoming freshmen
have a laptop computer.
Advice on the purchase of a
new computer can be found on the
Internet at: http://
www.csufresno.edu/ait/. The site
contains recommendations for both
IBM compatible and Macintosh
computers.
Book offers advice for happier divorce:Minimize trauma
by Naomi Ericson
Staff Writer
Divorces are more painful than
death, according to family law attorney Chris Rockas.
"The reason being is that there's
finality in death." Rockas said. "This
is not true in divorce. Even after you
have obtained a judgment of divorce,
there are ongoing matters of custody,
support, visitations and transfer of
property to deal with."
Rockas, a divorce attorney of 42
years, said that divorce isn't easy.
That's why he has written, "A Guide
To A Happier Divorce."
"The guide is a brief summary
of what I think people need to know
about divorces," Rockas said. "No divorce is easy, but hopefully, this will
help people focus on what is really
important."
In his guide, Rockas talks about
how a person's attitude determines
the outcome of their divorce.
"I believe that life is 10 percent
of what happens to you and 90 percent of how you react," Rockas said.
"If you go into the divorce with a
civil, practical and controlled attitude,
your outcome will be better than if
you had gone in with an attitude of
rage, revenge and resentment."
Rockas believes a divorce can
also shave years off of your life.
"Studies have revealed that men
and women who have gone through
a divorce have a 40 percent greater
risk of premature death than those
who arc steadily married." Rockas
said. "Men who stay unmarried have
a 120 percent chance of earlier death,
and for women it goes up 80 percent."
When children are involved,
Rockas wants parents to be more
aware of their motives.
"I've seen parents using their
children as weapons against each
other," Rockas said. "I cannot em
phasize enough, how much children
benefit when both parents  cooper-
Rockas started a lecture circuit
promoting his guide in January. He
has also started expanding his guide
into a book.
"There will always be divorces,
but, hopefully, this guide will help
minimize the trauma," he said.
Rockas said there are two key elements to help prevent divorces.
"First, I think it's very important that they are friends first,"
Rockas said. "Second, they
should go through some kind of
marriage counseling before they
plan a wedding date."
One Fresno State student.
30-year-old Kristie Blare, found
Rockas' guide helpful.
Blare filed for a divorce in
November. She has been married
for 10 years.
"In the beginning it was really
hard, but now I feel numb." Blare
said.
Blare read over the guide book
and found it helpful.
"I still have a lot of emotions to
deal with," Blare said. "However, the
handout did make me focus on other
aspects that I hadn't thought of.
"At first all I could think about
was that my life was falling apart.
Now I'm determined to not let this
ruin my life."
London Semester '99
Experience the Most Exciting
Semester of Your College Career!! -^
For more information contact Carla Millar,
London Semester Office, California State University, Fresno
Music 186 or Call (209) 278-3056
Skydive Today! 100% Pure Adrenaline.
Student Discounts - Air Videos Available.
For Free Information, Call (209) 227-3483.
W:       /b,
yburjresno
State Store.
Albertsons
5750 N. First St.
Fresno, Ca 93710
Open everyday, 6 am -12 am
It's your store.
ojuuQuu^tu r<ro^<~§|^
LIMOUSINE
•Color TV 3? VCR
• Groups ro? PaniCT Or
Dinner For Two
• Graduaiiora • (Juinccaneras
• Weddings • Anniversaries
• Special Occasions
. Luxury Party Packages Available
So llahla F.*pu*iJ
Wujkw CnvrVr Oirr/< ,\tc*pt*l
$10.00
Discount Per
Hour Or 4th
Hour free
EXCLUDING HOLIDAYS
NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER
SPECIAL RATES
-3 HOUR MINIMUM-
Blue Shield for just
92* a day?
Cut it out!
We're not kidding. For daily pocket change,
you can now get Blue Shield Select Plus.
For this low rate, you can visit any
of over 33,000 Shield Select physicians
(including thousands of specialists) for
just a low office visit copay. And you can
choose from over 230 hospitals throughout
California. Along with physician, hospital
and laboratory services, benefits are provided
for preventive care like physical exams,
immunizations, mammograms and Pap
tests, plus prescription drugs—including
oral contraceptives. We even offer special
YouthCare*' rates for children.
Having affordable Blue Shield health
care coverage should put a smile on
your face. So clip that coupon and send
it in today.
•«-•■« ift (of U<*a Ptm. i|» irtM> !»•?
LONGS COUPON
Rent 1 Movie Receive 2nd Movie
FREE
• Both rentals must be on same store visit
• Includes new releases
Pigott and Associates
Pnifcaional Financial and Iruunnci- SavteOi Inc. act mliniton.
. California License 0711867
■   ■■■   Wtm (209)298-9505 ■■■
Authorized Blue Shield of California Agent
D YES! Please send me more information about Blue Shield Select Plus,
10 Locations Fresno/Clovis
One coupon per customer per visit
Not valid with other often - Expire* 5-7-98
Qtv
s««
ZIP
Phone Nut
iert            )
Mail to: Pigott and Associates
8196 N.Marion Ave.
CJovis.CA 93611
Please alio send me information about:
Q Access* HMO"       D Other PPO Plan.
O YomhCirt*- tpecal met for children ages 118
O Temporary Health Insurance (through CPtC Life)
AN AITHORIZID AGENT f OR
Que Shield (Ei) of California
*1!
Insight
PLACEMENT, from page 1
ing students who still need
testing or remediation, in the fall
semester of 1997, the university
began warning students that they
wouldn't be allowed to register if
they didn't fulfill their requirements within one semester.
Tom McCusker, a senior
majoring in education, transferred
from a New York junior college to
Fresno State in fall 1995. He is
supposed to graduate in June, and
he still has not taken the ELM.
"The only time the class is
offered is on Saturday mornings at
8 o'clock," McCusker said."'A lot
of people have plans for the
weekend or have to work on the
weekend. If it were available in
the evenings, I think a lot more
people would be willing and able
to take it."
ELM Adviser Peter
Tannenbaum said that a vast
majority of incoming students
need to take the test. He attributes
the present backlog of students
needing testing to "typical
avoidance," surmising that the
ELM simply poses one more
obstacle for students.
This worries Tannenbaum
when, each semester, he sees
seniors who end up failing the
ELM and have to take a remedial
math course before they can fulfill
their math requirement.
Research technician Mark
Robinson agrees that the tests arc
probably merely additional
trouble for students who are
already very busy.
UOVU,VV\7JVll
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY. rRESNO
Insight
EDITORIAL STAFF
John Sanders
Managing Editor
Cherie N. Arambel
Assistant Managing Editor
Andrea Wright
InStep Editor
Kris Stone
InSports Editoi
REPORTERS
Reporters from the I02W
reporting class and:
In-depth reporters:
Tim Bragg
Luis Hernandez
Jennifer Lugowski
REACH INSIGHT 0N-UNE ...
www.csufresno.edu/Insight
SUPPORT STAFF
Greg Lewis
Advertising stalT tram McJ 143
To advertise call:
278-3934
HOW TO REACH US FAST...
MAIL IT
Managing Edilor. Insight
> 2225 & San Ramon Ave..
Fresno. CA 937400010
m
E-MAIL IT
On Campus:
Send your message to
ttuighl 0csutretno.edu
, VOICE IT
1 Call 278-2892 any tii
Leave a message on
Insight Voice Mail.