1994_04 Insight April 1994

              April 13,1994
Page 3
University Village inching closer
By David Mirhadi	
StaffWriter
It began as a dream — a dream of
a state-of-the-art convention center,
baseball stadium, arena and a hotel-
motel complex, complete with space
for retail shops.
One year later, after Fresno developer BillTatham Jr. first proposed his
concept of "University Village," to
the City of Clovis and CSUF, the
dream is inching closer to reality.
Thc City of Clovis recently completed a feasibility study on the project,
to be situated on 69 acres of univer-
ner of Willow and Bullard a
City officials say early response
has been favorable.
"Thc preliminary information on
thc University Villagcccntcr has been
very positive," said Jim Ware, executive director of thc Clovis Chamber of
Commerce and chairman of the committee that conducted the initial feasibility study.
"The city has missed opportunities
to pursue this in thc past, and that it
was an idea whose time had come,"
Ware said.
"The re area lotofihingsand events
that are not coming here because of a
lack of space for conventions and
related events. We've missed opportunities in the pasi," hc said.
working wilh two private companies
io assess the feasibility of the project.
Economics Research Associates is
working on the plans for thc conference center, and Welle Development
of Minneapolis is looking into thc
feasibility of thc arena/events center.
Ware criticized the companies
studying thc possibility of thc project,
emphasizing that not all uses for thc
project were carefully studied.
"The consultants missed thc target
with the possibility of government
usage for thc project, although the
overall response was good," Ware
said.
One of lhc problems with thc possible development of ihc complex is
thc impending growth of Clovis. Ware
however.
'The development of the project
will not necessarily be an impetus for
growth," he said.
Ware cited figures showing lhe
growth of Fresno as 10.8 percent in
the last four years, compared with a
5.4 percent growth rate in the cily of
Clovis over the same time period.
"Thc growth will have peaks and
valleys because of the events in the
convention center," he said, "which is
different than the continuous growth
thai would be generated by a constant
flow of jobs in manufacturing and
retail."
Ware said that growth is slill important to him and thc rest of the
expanding cily.
"If xt,f Hi/in't 47IOW   Frpsnrt would
encircle us. Wc need to extend our
sphere of influence," hc said.
Thc land is owned by CSUF and
the School of Agriculture, which uses
the land as part of its university farm.
Dr. Daniel Bartel, dean of the school,
said the development of the property
could benefit the agricultural community and school in two ways.
"We could benefit by hosting conferences and speakers for the university and our school could share in
this success," he said.
Bartel mentioned one of the ways
to share in this success would be by
leasing the land to tenants who choose
"Our concern is the need to interact wilh the university to make sure
some of ihe monev comes back to us
[and] lhat we share in the proceeds of
See VILLAGE, Page 11
Luis Rodriguez gives insight to gang life
By Shelly Silva
Tommy Monreal/INSIGHT
Luis Rodriguez autographs his book, "Always Running," after a lecture on gang lifestyle.
Rodriguez, a journalist, poet and critic, wrote about his life in gangs in the book.
StaffWriter
Luis Rodriguez has a mustache and
a goatee, wears dark glasses and a
black suiiand resembles an uncle that
could be found in many Chicano families. As hc reaches out to shake the
hands of his adoring fans a tattoo is
revealed, an obvious war mark from
his gang days, a cross with three dots
ai the top points, which means "la
vida loca" — thc crazy life.
Always Running La Vida Loca;
Gang Days in LA. — a book by
Rodriguez is a hard look at gangs and
thc life they lead. Rodriguez is an
expert on thc subject of gangs. Hc
spent most of his young life in lhe 60s
and 70s as a gang member in East
L.A.
Rodriguez, a joumalisu critic and
poel, chronicles his own "vida Itxa"
in Always Running, a book he wrote
for his son Ramiro. He wrote thc book
primarily because his son is now involved in a gang.
"I wrote this book for my son to
read and others like him," said
Rodriguez, "and for the general population to understand and know what's
going on, [the book] will hopefully
provide some insight."
Rodriguez speaks with authority
and experience, bul does not preach.
Hc tells of his life in his barrio in
South San Gabriel — Las Lomas
as it was known to those in the
barrio.
His stories of gang life arc poignant and hard. Hc tells of killings and drive-by shootings, incidents lhat most people could never
even phantom.
Always Running is dedicated
to25of Rodriguez' friends, listed
on the third pageofthe book, who
died in gang wars during his
youth.
"I kept them with me throughout lhe years," said Rodriguez.
"I became their voices, to tell
iheir stories, because ihcy can' i."
Rodriguez does not speak of
his experiences in negatively, despite the killing and despair that
he knew.
When speaking of his gang, he
speaks withaffection and respect.
He docs not condemn his son for
being in a gang.
"My son is in a gang. That's
okay. Sometimes a gang is thc
only place you can find love,"
said Rodriguez.
"There's a lol of love in the
gangs, loyalty and caring."
Rodriguez said thai in the midst
of despair found in the barrios, a
gang is thc only place to go.
Schooling is often inadequate in
See GANGS, Page 11
Neighborhood clean-up, repairs, inspire pride, unity
By John L. Cruz	
StaffWriter
Kicking a community's butt into
gear is one of thc goals the Students
for Community Service (SCS) will be
focusing on when ihcy beautify aClo-
vis neighborhood later ihis month.
Along with Habitat for Humanity,
lhc SCS will hit a small Clovis neighborhood like a storm April 30 in conjunction with National Youth Service
Day, removing graffiti, light repair
work and general clean-up.
But more importantly, they'll be
giving a sense of pride and unity lo a
small community.
"What we want to do is go into a
community and clean up a neighborhood," said Chris Fiorentino. CSUF
coordinator of SCS. "But we aren't
just going to go in and leave. If lhai
were the case wc really haven't done
anything.
"We want io get thc residents of
that neighborhood involved so they
can take ownership of what is being
done. It's similar logiving a person a
gift. They won'l take care of it as well
as someone who had to buy lhc same
item. What wc are trying to do is lhc
same thing.
"By getting the residents involved
in their neighborhoods' clean-up
they'll be more concerned wnh keeping il clean."
Mclanic Glenn, 18, major undeclared, is taking part in the service
project as part of an assignment wiih
hcr speech class, al least that's the
way il started.
"I'm from the Ctovis/Frcsno area,
so I look ai it as a way to give back lo
my community," shc said. "1 think
this could really make a difference
and I'm very excited aboul taking
part," shc said.
David Patterson, 20. is also taking
pari in the restoration project as pan
of a class assignment. Hc hopes his
work will motivate residents lo lake
pndc in their neighborhoods.
"If Ihcy arc oul ihcrc working with
us, and sec us working oul ihcrc with
ihcm when il isn't even our responsibility. ihcn maybe that will give ihem
the push io lake care of iheir community.
"If wc can affcci thc lives of just
some of these people, then it's all
worth while."
Fiorentino chose the neighborhood
restoration project as a way to give
those studenls wnh more hem ihan
umc a chance lo volunteer
"There arc a lot of groups on this
campus thai arc already involved in
volunteer work either through clubs
or fraternities, and there arc others
who don't lake lime to volunteer at
all," Fiorentino said.
"This project will help give those
stucients a chance to do some volunteer work with no risk and little time.
"Hopefully ihis will plant thc seed
in ihcm that volunteer work isn't too
bad and encourage ihcm io do more."
Working wnh the SCS is Don
Romsa. coordinator for ihc CSUF
chapter of ihc Habitat for Humanity.
"Habiiai's mission is not io come
in and make everyihing belter.*' Romsa
said. "Whal wc want to do is provide
lhc initiative to make ihc change.
"Wc invite ihc family affected to
participate None of ihis is a giveaway program. Wc don't just want to
go in and do our good deed for lhe
day and leave, because in the process
wc haven't changed much.
"That's one of thc reasons we arc
willing to help as much as wc can
here. The purpose is to motivate the
community into having a sense of
self pride and lhai is what we are here
for."
Other ways Fiorentino encourages
to volunteer is through thc Students
for Community Service program on
campus.
Thc SCS was developed on ihc
belief that, as part of a complete
educational experience, community
service can foster a student's personal and career development.
For more information on volun-
lecnng for die Nauonai Youth Scr-
viccCommunity Restoration Project,
call Fiorentino at 278-7079.
Carnptis
Calendar
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Students Organization is sponsoring three
events to commemorate the
genocide of 1915.
Cultural night
Monday.April 18at7:30p.m.
"Armenian Cultural Night" featuring a student production of
William Saroyan's 'The Armenians" will be performed. Musicians playing Armenian folk
4xvncT4; will he held in the Ur>
stairs Cafeteria room 200. Admission is free for students with
ID and S2 general admission.
Foreignfilms
Tuesday, April 19 at 7 p.m.
iwo foreign films, complete with
subtitles, will be shown in
McLane Hall 161. Admission is
free.
March, rally
On Wednesday. April 20 at
11 a.m. a march and rally including various speakers will
start and meet back in the Free
Speech area All clubs and organizations against human rights
violations are invited to join and
show support. For more information call Armenian Studies
Program at 278-2669.
Lecture
"In search of a Global Ethic:
Justice in a world of Inequality," lecture by Dr. Charles
McCoy at noon, Tuesday, April
19 in the Alice Peters Auditorium.
'Fast or Fat?'
CSUF Peer Health Educators
of the Health and Counseling
Center arc sponsoring a scries
of lectures/workshops Tuesday,
April 12 from 4-5 p.m. in USU
room 302 and Thursday, April
14 from 5-6 p.m. in Upstairs
Cafeteria room 200 "Exercise
and Fat" will be the topic both
days.
Fashion show
The Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Iota Omicron Omega
Fresno chapter present the 36th
Annual Ebony Fashion Fair'The
Rapture of Fashion" on Thurs-
day, April 14 at the Fresno Convention Center. Cocktails startai
6:30 p.m. Tickets include dinner, a one-year subscription to
Ebony Magazine, Ebony Man or
a six-monih subscription to Jet
Magazine. For more information call 434-1831.
Film Fest
On Thursday, April 14at7:30
p.m. "Natives" and "Anatomy
of aSpringroll" will be shown in
McLane Hall 121.
Campus Buddhism
Human Happiness Buddhism
Association will hold general
election at 5 p.m Friday. April
15 in McLane Room 229.
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