1996_04 Insight April 1996

              APRIL 17, 1996
Insight
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO
VOL. 27, NO. 20
WORKS
I Fruity drinks find a home at
campus juice joint
by Derek Togerson
Staff Writer
At California State University. Fresno, the Juice
Works health bar is providing smoothies that will
vitalize and energi/e even the unhcalthiest nutrition
offenders.
For a body to stay healthy, it needs the right fuel.
Unfortunately, a lot of people don't have the time, or
resources, to eat right all the time. McDonalds may
be quick, but it isn't going lo give you a washboard
stomach.
"People are really health conscious, especially
college kids." said Jeanic Higgins. who co-owns and
manages Juice Works with her husband. Gary. "This
is a unique thing we're offering here."
The juice bar sells nutritional drinks called
smoothies that are a cross between a milkshake
and a Slurpee. But this version is packed with all-
natural ingredients.
Nothing on the menu contains more than I gram of
fat per serving. Everything meets thc American Heart
Association's recommended criteria for fat. saturated
fat and cholesterol.
"I like Juice Works because it's the only healthy
alternative on campus." said Teresa Anderson, a 22-
year-old English major who dines at the restaurant
twice a week.
The smoothies contain significant amounts of
magnesium, calcium and potassium, all essential
nutrients for carrying on life functions.
All 19 amino acids are also present, along with vitamins
C. E. K and most of the B-complcx family.
Ingredients of the smoothies are all-natural fruit
juices, non-fat frozen yogurt, low-fat sherbet, ice and
technologically advanced fruit.
Yes. high-tech frozen fruit. Fresh fruit cannot be
used because it would go bad. and traditionally,
frozen fruit loses its nutrients.
Juice Works is supplied by a company that employs
Instant Quick-Frecze (IQF). which freezes the fruit in
seven seconds while preserving its nutrients.
"I like the nutritional value of the drinks, and they
also taste good." said John Zelezny. a mass communication and journalism professor at Fresno State.
Zelezny holds the national fitness record for completing
1.006 pull-ups and 1.006 push-ups in 1 hour. 22 minutes
"The drinks are good in conjunction wiih training.
Fresno State students have a healthy alternative to fast food. Kelly Eagan, a Juice
See JUICE, page 6   whips up another power-packed fruit smoothie.
photo by Ryan McKm
Works employee,
Money
top issue
with GE
courses
■ Number of students in a class
dictates funding priority
by Angela Elliott
Staff Writer
Everybody wants a piece of the pie. The pie, in this
case, is made up of the 14.000 students enrolled at California State University. Fresno.
Some students take classes, suggested by their peers,
that are known to be easier or more interesting than
other classes.
"I do not think classes should be a popularity contest." Delores Huff, professor of American Indian studies said. "I think the name of the game should be that
you come out with an education."
The point is that departments are sometimes tempted
to attract a higher number of students by offering popular classes to make more money.
The problem starts when courses become popular
because they are easier — in student lingo, "cake"
courses that require very little reading or homework.
"The university gets money from the state based on
the number of students," research technician Mark
Robinson said. "GE (general education) classes tend to
have more students in them or. at least, more sections
are offered."
FTES determines money allocation
The state gives the university money based on the
combined full-time equivalent students (FTES) for fall
and spring, Robinson said.
FTES is calculated by multiplying the number of students in a class by the number of units the class is worth
That number is then divided by 15, which is the average number of units a full-time student carries at the
university.
Every 15 units taken by any number of students equals
one "full-tirne equivalent student."
"In a three-unit class, five students equals one full-
time equivalent student." Luis Costa, dean of arts and
humanities, explained.
Many agree that how the money is made is not a
simple matter.
"The number of students is always changing,"
See GE. page 6
Program for parents pushes to end child abuse
by Deborah Sanchez
Staff Writer
Ron Rico of Fresno thought he
knew everything about being a parent. After all, he's the father of six
children ages 3 through 21. He never
expected to be accused of child abuse.
but a court order required Rico to get
some help.
Rico was reported to Child Protective Services (CPS) by a school official who claimed that Rico beat up
his girlfriend's 9-year-old son. Jose.
Rico. 38, disabled and 5 feet 10
inches tall, said he didn't strike Jose.
Jose is currently living in a foster
home.
The majority of parents convicted
of child abuse are ordered by the court
to take classes in parenting. It is mandated by thc state and federal government that local governments provide
services for families involved in child
abuse cases, said Howard Himes. CPS
supervisor in Fresno County.
A parent can have a significant impact on the parental skills of that child
two to three generations down the
line.
Unfortunately, child abuse is one of
the traditions that is too often passed
down. The Nurturing Parenting Program tries to stop the cycle.
"You are a product of generations
before you." Himcs said.
Himes said the pmgram looks at the
parent's childhood and its impact on
his or her life as an adult and as a parent. It provides parents with self-
awareness and helps them look at
themselves and their own needs
Involved in parents' lives
Parents are extremely resistant at
first, Himes said.
Y ou are a product of generations before you."
— Howard Himes
Child Protective Services supervisor
They don't believe the system
should be involved in their lives, antf—
they don'l like being told what to do.
"Thc beauty of this program is it
gels past that resistance." Himes said.
Rico said he didn't like the fact that
the court ordered him to get help
through the program.
School officials are the ones most
likely to report child abuse to CPS.
according lo 1994 statistics for Fresno
County. Second to report child abuse
is law enforcement and third, physicians or hospitals.
Parents are involved with CPS for
a variety of types of abuse. Himes
said.
Neglect and physical abuse arc the
two most common forms of abuse,
according to 1994 statistics for the
state of California and Fresno County.
The highest reported age group is
4 and under, according to the California Department of Social Services.
Helping parents
The curriculum is designed to help
parents, teen parents and adoptive
parenis. Himes said.
If parents are involved in drugs.
they arc required to participate in drug
treatment. If they arc violent, they also
go through an anger-management
program and counseling.
Approximately 40 parents arc re-
eniited for each class. The program
is 12 to 14 weeks long. Parents meet
with social workers and other facilitators once a week for three hours.
An average of 19 parents actually
complete the course and graduate
w ith a cap-and-gown ceremony. The
parents who don't graduate are usually those with drug problems.
Jose Figueroa. a social worker in
the Nurturing Parent Program, said
that most parents who abuse their
children are involved with drugs.
Another reason for abuse is that_
people handle parenting the w ay their
parents did.-
Rico's stepfather was never home.
If he was. he was always drunk. Rico
said. His mother wasn't abusive. She
was the mother of 10 children. Rico
left home at the age of 13. He worked
and took care of himself.
Recognizing negative behavior
The Nurturing Parenting Program
helps parents recognize negative behavior.
"Sometimes, we don't see how we
are acting," Figueroa said. There is
no training period, no set of instructions."
Parents have to remember that everything they do has a message, and
they have a big impact on children.
"We are their role models."
Figueroa said.
The goal of the program is to try to
change abusive behavior to non-abusive behavior. The program is being
See ABUSE, page 5
Free-speech platform
surrenders to old age
by Caryn Carrasco
Staff Writer
Rain, sun and wind took it's toll
on the free-speech platform that
once stood sturdy and strong,
bright paint glistening in the sunlight.
The platform's wooden rails
supported students' rights to free
speech.
Rusty nails and rotting plywood
described the platform in its final
,j. days, just before it was sent to the
big platform heaven in the sky.
Tom Boyle, program adviser of
Student Life and Development,
said the structure was taken down
for safety reasons.
"The platform could have actually collapsed and hurt someone."
he said.
Gary Nelson, director of Plant
Operations, made the decision to ■
take it down.
"It was in pretty bad condition;
See PLATFORM, page 5
Referendum may unincorporate ASI
by Draeger Martinez
. Staff Writer
Campus elections this spring will
include three ballot rcferendums.
more than any election in recent
memory. Each of the three has the
potential to fundamentally alter the
landscape of student involvement at
California State University. Fresno.
The senators of the Associated
Students Inc. (ASI) voted April 4
to place two of thc rcferendums up
for student vote during the elections, scheduled on April 29 to May
1. The third goes up for ASI approval tomorrow and is expected to
make the ballot as well.
The pending item has- been termed
"the Unicorporation of the Associated
Students Referendum." according to
the April 18 ASI agenda.
Manuel Annear. senator for graduate students and candidate for legislative vice president, acknowledged
that the item was meant to be termed
"Unincorpo ration."
An ASI veteran called the concept
"very troubling and full of unan-^
swered questions."
Christopher Volkcrts. ASI executive
assistant for the 1994-95 administration, said that/There has never been
a referendum to unincorporate the
ASI before. In fact, the bylaws had
previously required that over half the
entire student body turn out to vote
on such a move for it to be valid."
Volkcrts said any decision to
unincorporate the ASI would probably not dissolve the body outright but
would greatly reduce its power.
"Unincotporation would not elimi
nate the student body fee,** Volkerts
said, "but it would give President
Welty the power to collect it. The ASI
would lose its tax-exempt status and
its ability to own equipment. ASI's
computers and copier would have to
revert back to the university or be
donated to charity."
Volkerts also noted that Title V of
the state education code mandates that
the recognized student government
act as the sole conduit for placing student on university boards and committees. Without incorporation, students would have no such conduit at
Fresno State.