1993_02 Insight February 1993

              CSUF budget
crisis to
eliminate some
majors.
See page 3.
(§)f
Mother Earths
natural disasters
displayed at
Fresno Met.
Seepage 5.
Pros perform at
annual alumni
game at Beiden
Field
Seepage 7.
*T\
California State University, Fresno
NSIGHT
Wednesday, February io, 1993 "CSU Fresno's Premier News Source"
Volume 25, Issue 13
Gay ban to
be reversed
♦President Clinton's
recent order stirs up
controversy at CSUF.
By Mike Palmer	
Staff Writer
"Have you ever engaged in, desired to engage
in or intend to engage in bodily contact with a
person of the same sex for the purpose of sexual
satisfaction?"
This was one of the first questions asked of
any CSUF prospective ROTC recruit in the
initial interview, according to Capt. Mark R.
Pires, assistant professor of military science at
CSUF.
On January 29, 1993 President Clinton announced thai he will order the military to stop
asking new recruits their sexual orientation and
halt expulsions of gay men and lesbians from
the military. How is this order being received on
the CSUF campus?
Lt. Col. David A. Bentley, professor of military science at CSUF said that although he
thought the majority of the military was against
lifting the ban on homosexuals, "there are definite differences of opinion within the military
about this issue and even within the professors
of military science at CSUF."
Beniley provideda copy of the January 11,1993
Army Times that editorialized for lifting the gay
ban. It stated that, "Behavior should be the
standard, not sexual orientation and that experience has taught that whatever differences may
divide troops in garrison, they tend to disappear
in combat. Soldiers don't have to like one another to fight together."
Capt. Arnold R. Shaver, assistant professor of
military science, said Air Force ROTC students
at CSUF were under orders not to discuss this
issue. Bentley said, however.that no such restriction applied to Army ROTC students.
Stephen D. Terstcggc, a junior criminology
major and former enlisted airborne combat engineer said he "firmly believes that it is inappropriate to have homosexuals in the military because the enlisted structure relies on each other
for everything and they won't trust homosexuals. They will be shunned and will eventually
have to get out."
Terstegge said that current military requirements of AIDS tests for all military personnel
every two years should be expanded to every six
months if the gay ban is lifted. He expressed
concern about taking showers with gays.
Brcndc Beebe, a junior biology major, said it
was O. K. for homosexuals to be in the military
See Gays, page 8
Asbestos abatement helps
campus breathe easier
^Cancer-causing asbestos
still a potential threat.
By Michele D'Ambrosio
Staff Writer
Hanging s plant in a campus office may
seem like a harmless activity, but on campus
it could be hazardous to your health.
A memo from Paul Bissonnette Jan. 11
warned CSUF employees to avoid touching
asbestos material on walls, ceilings, pipes
and broilers, and from hanging materials or
drilling holes in asbestos- containing building material.
Vonda Epperson, a CSUF secretary of 14
years, said she's seen this kind of memo
before.
"Every year that memo comes out," said
Epperson, who's worked in sixdifferemcam-
put buildings.
"My undemanding it asbestos is in the
floor tile and the acoustical ceiling It's everywhere. Ithinkthejury'sstillout on whether
it's safe or not. but I really feel bad for the the
guys who put it in," Epperson said.
Asbestos, a substance that was onceapopu-
lar building agent because of iu durable
quality and affordability, is turning out to
cost a lot. *
David Terstegen, CSUF environmental
health and safety officer, said it would be
difficult to estimate the total cost of CSUF
asbestos abatement projects; however, removal on just two floors of the Science
Building will cost S400.000.
CSUF Health Science Professor Sanfotd
Brown said asbestos is found in many campus buildings because it was a basic building
agent for years.
"In 1970,60 million tons of asbestos were
used in building materials, brake linings,
and textiles,'' Brown said.
Of the41 buildings on campus that contain
asbestos, Terstegen said the ones he's most
concerned about are the buildings with the
cottage cheese-like substance that covers
some ceilings.
That sprayed on stuff is made of friable
asbestos, "meaning it can be crushed with
your hand," said Terstegen.
He said that the safest form of asbestos,
chrysotile, makes up 90 percent of United
States' buildings and usually isn't a problem
unless it's disturbed.
"We watch for water and physical dam-
age," said Terstegen, "One time I caught
some people cleaning cobwebs. We ask that
See Asbestos, page 8
toUnss«i»**IUbW6trk<7m4.
Admiring the Freedom Bowl trophy is Stad Peter,13,
who attended the victory parade last month with approximately one thousand other Bulldog fans. At the celebration were local political celebrities such as Mayor Karen
Humphrey, and other local representatives.
After speeches and fight songs, Coach Jim Sweeney unveiled
the"F'from theendzoneof Anaheim Stadium, the first letter
of "Fresno.*'
Obscene caller poses as cop
♦ Caller harasses female
students and citizens at
random.
By Katharine Barrans	
Staff Writer
A man has made harassing late night and early
morning phone calls to at least 200 women in
the Fresno County area recently, according to
the Fresno Police Department and Sheriffs
Department.
The caller remains consistent in stating that he
is a law enforcement officer or a neighbor of the
victim to gain attention.
The message continues to be the same: "There
is a person armed with a knife, outside your
house, attempting to enter the residence."
Sgt. Margaret Mims. public information officer for the Fresno County Sheriffs Depart
ment, said that the calls become obscene once
the caller has established this initial message.
"He may ask what the woman has on, and then
what she has on under that, and so on," Mims
said.
"I really think that this guy is just going
through the phone book and hanging up on all of
the men. There doesn't appear to be a pattern in
his calling." Mims said.
The best bet for anyone who gets a call like
this is to just hang up. It would be interesting to
get the guy talking and find out who he is, but
it's better to just hang up and report it immediately," Mims said.
Detective Guy Ballesteroz, who is handling
this case for the Fresno Police department, said
that he doesn't want to release any specific
information regarding the nature of the calls for
fear of copy-cat incidents.
"I will say that no real law enforcement officer
would make a call like this." Ballesteroz said.
"If someone does call your home stating that
he is an officer, ask for a badge identification
number and a phone number where you can call
them right back," Ballesteroz said. "The number should be the police dispatch number only."
Ballesteroz also said that most of the first
reports received were from California State
University students, and he had initially thought
that the problem was campus oriented.
Lt. Steven King with Campus Police says he
has received no reports concerning this caller,
but he has followed the case.
"Anyone who receives a call like this should
immediately question the credibility of the phone
caller," King said. "Go with your gut feelings
and don't rationalize. If you think there's something wrong with the call, there probably is."
The caller is not yet considered threatening,
but Dr. Eric W. Hickey, a criminal psychology
specialisusays that the calls may progress into
something more dangerous.
See Caller, page 7
Students SCARED by the system
♦ Students express concern
over higher fees and less
education.
By Nancy M. Hormel	
Staff Writer
Tired of waiting for instructors to let them in,
a group of students turned their frustrations into
actions after a number of them were unable to
enroll in classes this semester because of budget
The Student Coalition Against Real Educational Disaster (SCARED) held a rally Feb. 3 in
the pit to "get students in this state concerned
about their education," said Stacey Green, member of SCARED.
The group was formed by angry students who
feel they are forced to pay higher fees for less
education.
SCARED is also concerned that students'
money is being used to build new facilities on
campus. But, according to Dr. Alex Gonzalez,
Vice President of Academic Affairs, "The
money that goes toward buildings is primarily
from building bonds."
Gonzalez also added that it is tough to receive
extra money from state legislature during these
hard times. "Hopefully, the economy will gel
bener and the needs of the students are going to
be met."
Members of SCARED said the add/drop period and late registration need to be extended to
give students ample time to add classes.
"Students arc being forced out of classes
because they are too full," Green said. "If the
add/drop period is extended, it will help them
get the classes they need."
Students are receiving faculty support as well.
School of Social Sciences Dean Dr. Peter
Klassen asked all departments to allow gradu
ating seniors into their classes. He also sent
memos to department chairs to "let students in
where seats are available."
Petitions were handed out by SCARED members in hopes of gaining support for the add/drop
extension and more than 3,000 signatures were
obtained.
Members of SCARED expressed student concerns by bringing the signatures to President
Welly's office. They wanted the President to
know that more than just a handful of students
are upset. "Students across the campus are having these problems. They're not just contained
to one school," said Christopher Volkens,
SCARED member.
Both Welty and Gonzalez met with members
of SCARED to discuss both shoo- and long-
term plans. "We will review the situation and do
See SCARED, page 8