1996_04 Insight April 1996

              ARPIL 24, 1996
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO
VOL. 27, NO. 21
Faculty questions
laboratory safety
Insight photo by Dan Hembold
Careful cleanup by Fresno fire officials helps prevent any further contamination from a chemical
explosion in the Science building two weeks ago.
■ April 9 blast aJdisaster waiting
to happen,' says faculty union
by Jerry Lowe and Candace Cline
Staff Writers
An April 12 gas leak in the San Ramon 6 building is
ihe latest concern of expert faculty who question campus
safety officials' ability to protect the campus community
from serious harm
The campus Environmental Health and Occupational
Safety Department (EH&OS*) is responsible for thc prevention of such dangers. It has been investigating the April
9 chemical explosion in Science 253 and testing for gas
leaks reported March 22 and April 12 in San Ramon 6.
Room 12.
Bul Ron Schult/. chair of health science, said that isn't
enough. Schult/ canceled class twice within two weeks
after smelling gas in San Ramon.
Schuliz. who has 30 years experience in the field of
occupational safety and is a registered environmental
health specialist, said the campus EH&OS department is
understaffed and inexperienced.
"There is t.x» much happening on campus." Schult/ said
"They need someone who has real expertise in all those
areas. My concern for the whole campus is that there is
nobody there with a lot of experience."
Lt. Steve King, director of EH&OS. said his technician
is qualified and lhat EH&OS is adding another techni-
1.111 Ihis
King said it is unreasonable to assume that safety technicians can be in all places at all times. He said faculty,
students and staff have to take some responsibility for their
own safety by familiarizing themselves with safety procedures.
"We can't watch over people all the time, but we can
train them." King said. He said EH&OS has already implemented a campus-wide job safety training program
The EH&OS department was reorganized last year. A
shift in jnanagement and staff left them without a certified industrial hygienist — a specialist on hazardous ma-
Mark Hanna. president of the California Faculty Association (CFA). the faculty union, said the CFA is concerned. "We think there is an emerging problem of, let's
say. benign neglect — I would not characterize it as willful neglect."
Explosion a tragic irony"
Ironically, on April 9. the same day of the chemical
explosion, the CFA met to approve a written request that
EH&OS hire a certified industrial hygienist and called
their present situation "a disaster waiting to happen."
A few minutes later, across campus, chemicals stored
under a fume hood in Science 253 mixed to cause a minor explosion. The fire sent five to thc hospital for cuts
and smoke inhalation. The science building was closed
for two days.
"It was a tragic irony, you might say." Hanna said.
See EXPLOSION, page 7
Pricey amphitheater sits empty
by Heidi Potter
Stall Writer
Bright shining sun. Groomed
green grass. Peacrarulqiiiet.
California Stale University.
Fresno students have regularly
taken advantage of the serene patch
of lawn located between the
Speech Arts and Music buildings.
It's nol a park. It's a concert
i Stale amphitheater
has
I-resn
.! Mav
io Slate's graduating siudenls.
Amphitheater rental costs, rules
and its restricted availability have
made utilizing the amphitheater
economically impractical.
Rental of the amphitheater costs
$7,305.
Services included vary from
fencing to university security
Mall Mileham. production supervisor for the '. 'mv ersiiv Student
Union (USU). sets the prices for
Typical Ej£££E|
Production Costs
Box Office $450
Alcohol Checkers NC
Ticket Takers NC
Fencing $l.0(X)
Clean-up Crew $200
Portable Toilets $750
Spot Towers $450
Accountant $200
Electrician $200
University Security $ 1.300
Private Security $1,300
On-Campus Box Office.. $5 S.C.
renting the amphitheater.
"We give everything at cost."
Mileham said.
Serv ices for concerts at the amphitheater such as sound, lighting and
stage crews are not included in the
S7.305 fee. Mileham estimated these
serv ices to cost an additional $3,000.
Neither sum includes the performing
For 10 years. Wendy Russell has
been a promoter for reggae artists.
Russel said il took years to break
through the "red tape" to book concerts at the Satellite Student Union.
"My first concert [at the Satellite
Student Union] last September was
very hard to get started, but then I
found the true team of efficiency at
CSUF. Mehrzad Zarrin and Matt
Mileham." Russell said.
Alihough Russell would love to
have a reggae concert held at the amphitheater, it is not affordable to rent.
"Reggae is made for the outdoors."
Russell said.
Il would cost Russell, or any off-
campus promoter, an additional
$5,000 to rent the amphitheater instead of the Satellite Student Union.
The rental fees for both the Satellite Student Union and the amphitheater vary for off-campus, non-profit
organizations, profit-making organizations and recognized student and
university organizations.
"The on-campus students and recognized student organizations gel a
cheaper price. They don't even have
to pay rent for thc first six hours [at
the Satellite Student Union]." said
Zarrin. scheduling coordinator for the
USU.
Depending on its availability, the
amphitheater can be utilized by students in the same regard. However.
Ihe amphitheater has costs for mandatory security, portable bathroom
Insight photo by Tommielynn Del Real
Taking advantage of the recent warm weather, Karen Gianella,
22, studies on the amphitheater lawn.
facilities and sound. These services
are not free to students and are required for large events.
"If you arc going to charge [the-
public), there's going to be a charge-
to you." said Frankie Moore, programming adviser.
The $38 USU fee from each
student's tuition is put into an account
that is designated for student benefit.
The USU budget makes use of this
account for campus entertainment,
USU employee salaries and refurbishment and construction projects.
Zarrin and Mileham stressed thai
this money is not used to enable promoters to make a profit
Promoters who book concerts like
as Eek-a-Mouse. Soul Asylum and
Radiohead are charged for the rental
of these facilities because they have-
not contributed to the USU budget.
Whether students attend free USU
sponsored events or noi. ihey have
paid for ihem with their tuition.
"The reason why I would say
I the amphitheater] is not utilized
as much is because it is expensive,
even if you want to do something
free at no charge to students."
Moore said.
Because thc amphitheater is
Owned by the state and not the USU.
programs must abide by the state ordinance and its time restraints.
"There is no loud music beyond
10 p.m.." Moore said. "That's the
city ordinance."
Moore and Zarrin said that
weekdays are prohibited for amphitheater performances because
of night classes. Amphitheater use-
is reserved for Fridays. Saturdays
and Sundays only.
"Other promoters should try
again. It's only hard the first time."
Russell saaxj. "Don't let the red tape
scare yon off."
Campus water supply monitored for purity
by Kelly Hansen
Staff Writer
Six times a week. Bill Schotke ventures out of
his tiny office behind the Dairy Processing building on a mission.
Schotke heads toward the heart of the California
State University, Fresno campus in search of his
specialty.
Schotke samples water.
When Schotke steps up to a drinking lounia
quenching his thirst is not foremost on his mind.
He's thinking about the carbon tetrachloride and
coliform bacteria content instead of its refreshment
factor.
Schotke is a water specialist working for thc Office of Environmental Health and Safety on campus. Since Fresno State has its own water supply.
Schotke is responsible for a couple of million gallons of water.
Fresno State is one of the only college campus in
California to have its own system, other than Cal
Poly, Pomona, Schotke said.
r that students drink, haihe in and v
their hands with is pumped from five wells that feed
the university's primary property. An additional 16
wells serve the agricultural extensions of the property.
Schotke is required by law to submit 24 samples
each month to be tested for coliform, a colon-inhabiting bacteria found in water. The samples arc-
sent to a downtown Fresno testing lab to undergo
thc same tests lhat Fresno city water docs.
Schotke follows a siie plan in order to cover
thc whole campus and takes water from 24 different locations every month to get a representative sample.
Schotke said in thc two years that he's been here,
not one test has come back showing contamination.
However, if bacteria did turn up in thc water, it
would be hardly enough to harm anyone.
Regardless of the high quality of campus water,
the trend toward bottjed water continues.
The so-called designer water is essentially of no
better quality than the water that spouts from a
Fresno State drinking fountain. Yet, at the Kennel
Bookstore, a 32-ounce plastic bottle of Alhambra
drinking water costs $1.
Anne Turner said California has its own strict
regulations over bottled water. Turner works in
the Technical Services department at McKesson
Water Products. Alhambra's area bottler.
Bottled water must meet tougher standards than
lap water, particularly for by-products of chlorine.
Alhambra water is clear of all by-products,
making it worth that dollar at Kennel. Turner said.
Another benefit of bottled water is that more
than one type is offered. For instance, Alhambra
sells four varieties.
Their fluoridated water has a small amount of
fluoride added, the same element that is used at
the dentist's office to treat a patient's teeth.
Their purified water goes through a dc-ioniza-
lion process to remove all minerals and salts to
produce a mineral-free water.
The drinking w atcr that Alhambra produces has
a liny amount of food grade minerals. The spring
See WATER, page 8
Race preference
addressed under
state initiative
I Affirmative action
policies attacked in
November ballot
by Stefanie Hard
Staff Writer
Affirmative action.
The mere mention of this policy can
bring up strong opinions and cause
tempers to flare.
California voters have a chance to
decide on the issue with the recent
qualification of the California Civil
Rights Initiative (CCRIl for the November ballot.
The initiative, if approved, would
end affirmative action programs in
state-run agencies, including higher
education. It would amend Article I
of the California Constitution, becoming section 31.
The measure would no apply to
private businesses or scho   s.
Renee Ramsey.CCRI .ampaign
manager, said it is important to ad
dress the issue constitutionally to provide consistency in applying affirmative action.
"Everybody. I guess, is aware that
the University of California is against
this policy, but that policy can be
changed at any time." Ramsey said.
"That is why we believe a constitutional amendment is required. [The
CCRI] is clearly needed because there
are still quotas and preferences in
contracting and admissions."
CCRI ends affirmative action
Section (a) of the CCRI states. "The
state shall not discriminate against, or
grant preferential treatment to. any
individual or group on the basis of
race. sex. color, ethnicity or national
origin in the operation of public employment, public education or public
contracting."
However, in cases where there is a~
conflict between state and federal law,
the federal law will supersede the
CCRI.
See CCRI, page 8
KMJ s Ray Appleton
sued for Title IX jibe
I Miluntinovich, Wright
allege that local DJ
acted with malice
by Valerie Gibbons
Staff Writer
The battle over Title DC at California State University. Fresno took to
the local airwaves on KMJ's Ray
Appleton program with these words:
"Let's spend the better time, thc
better part of the day today, telling you
why ... I. Ray Appleton. feel the Tide
IX of Fresno State gender equity proportionality is the worst thing to hit
Fresno State in its history."
Six months after that program
aired, Appleton is being sued for slander by Fresno State's Associate Athletic Director Diane Milutinovich and
softball coach Margie Wright.
A complaint by Wright and
Milutinovich. filed Dec. 28,1995. alleges that Appleton and Henry Broadcasting Co., the company that owns
KMJ, 580 AM. used their position as
broadcasters to damage the reputations of the two women.
g
described the
motivation for
the broadcast as
feelings of "malice or ill-will tc
ward each plaintiff and jcon-
scious] disregard I
for the rights of |
each plaintiff."
Appleton dc-
scribed
Milutinovich and Wright as "two
people in the athletic department who
perhaps [use] Title IX as a weapon to
destroy Men's sports."
Tide IX has been law for 23 years.
Fresno State was found to be non-
compliant in 11 out of 13 athletic areas, according to a 1994 niling by the
federal Department of Education's
Office for Civil Rights.
"There appear to be two sides in
that department, a couple of teams
there, people who are solidly behind
Title IX and a tremendous majority
of men and women, female coaches,
who oppose It," Appleton said dur-
Sm APPLETON. pag* 7