1996_03 Insight March 1966

              Lifestyle
MARCH 20,1996
New bill to amend current helmet law
■ 2land over may not be
required to wear helmet
by Guy E. Sharwood
Staff Writer
Assembly Bill 244 is seeking to amend lhc
motorcycle helmet law to require only drivers and passengers under 21 lo wear a safety
helmet.
Margaret Magner. of the California Highway Palrol PuUiC Affairs, is convinced fatalities would increase if this bill passed.
""Over 80 percent of individuals killed or
injured in accidents have been over 21 since
the law took effect." Magner said.
"II vim lower the helmet requirement,
you're only going to gel 20 percent of those
killed or injured at this lime." Magner said.
"Officers will have a difficult time making a
visual detennination ol a rider's age in order
to enforce this provision."
Magner said lhat fatalities have declined by
43 percent, and injuries by 41 percent, since
the law went into effect. '
""From 1991 lo 1992
. the Medi-Cal
reused S5.470.988."
she said.
Vehicle Code, sect
on 27803. sta
s against California
aw "tooperate
•ycle. motor-driven
•ycle if the driver or a
ly passenger is
ing a safety heln
Fatalities declining
The law was put into effect Jan. I. 1992.
despite many protests and appeals, including
one protest held local*) at a dinner for Gov.
Pete Wilson, two months prior to the law's
implementation.
The Journal of ihe American Medical Association I JAMA) reported Nov. 16. 1994. that
fatalities declined 37.5 percent since the law s
introduction. It went from 523 in 1991 to 327
in 1992.
The article said passenger fatalities declined
69.7 percent, and driver fatalities dropped 32.8
percent.
It concluded lhat the law "significantly reduces the incidence of motorcycle crash fatalities and the number and severity of head
injuries."
Number of Fatalities
/
528
1991
/
327
1992
Percentage of Fatalities:
Drivers                  Passenge
/
1
32.8('i
y
V
69.7*
Information taken from the Journal of
the American Medical Association
State Assembly Transportation Committee,
the Assembly Appropriations Committee and
Ihe Assembly itself." said Bill Morrow, principal Wttior Of the bill. "Now it is headed for
Ihe Senate Transportation Committee.
""When thev sav the fatalities have gone
down, they're absolute!) correct." Morrow
said, referring to the figures cited in JAMA.
""What thev 're not telling you is what the fatality rates arc.TI
educ.itii
An educated
ridei
I..I n
skillei
ihcic
on the
The article also mentioned numerous attempts to weaken or rescind the law. Four
attempts did not pass in committee and Gov.
Wilson vetoed one in 1992.
AB 244 was introduced Feb. 2. 1995.
"So far the partial repeal has passed the
Morrow, w ho ow us ,i registered motorcycle that
he has not operated since December 1991.
Riders better educated
"The onlv way lo gel an accurate estimate
of whether or not the law is working, is to
take the number of fatalities per accidents as
opposed to per registrations." Morrow s;iid.
"then you have an idea."
Peggy Day of Harlev-Davidson ol Fresno
Inc., a motorcycle shop, said that sales have
decreased by 5 percent because of the law.
Day said lhat there are fewer accidents, but
that it's not because of the law.
"It's due to education." Dav said. "There is
itory for anyone 21 years and
younger. Day recommends a three-day rider
education course, prov ided by the California
Highway Patrol Motorcycle Safely Foundation, to an) one DO) ing a motorcycle who has
Campus riders react
Motorcyclists attending California Slate
University. Fresno, were asked about the proposed amendment
"If Ihey changed it to no helmet. I'd still
wear il for Ihe safely." Jason Froh. a marketing major, said. "I was always accustomed to
wearing one."
Kelly Mcl.ain. a speech communications
major, has driven motorcycles for 13 years
..mil.
irs the l
"It has reduced injuries." Mcl.ain said. "I
had my jaws saved by a helmet.
"I vv ish thai ihey would look into some different designs of helmets. It does restrict your
ES limit your ability
ohea
"Mcl.a
Oscars aa (jlana
PEST PICTURE;
"Apollo IX ■■ -Babe,"
"Braveheart," "The Postman
Sensibility."
BEST ACTOR;
Nicolas Cage, "Leaving Ims
Vegas"". Richard Dreyfuss.
"Mr. Holland's Opus": Anthony
Hopkins. "Nixon": Sean Penn.
"Dead Man Walking ": Massimi
Troisi.   Tin- Postman
tllPostino)."
P&ST ACTRESS;
Susan Sarandon. "Dead Man
Walking": Elisabeth Shite.
"Leaving Lis Vegas": Sharon
Stone, "Casino": MerylStreep.
"Tin- Bridges of Madison
County": Emma Thompson.
"Sense and Sensibility: "
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
James Cromwell. "Babe": Ed
Harris. "Apollo 13": Brad Pitt.
"12 Monkeys". Tim Roth, "Rob
Roy": Kevin Spaces. "The
Usual Suspects."
BOTSlPP>»mW* ACTRESS;
Joan Allen. "Nixon": Kathleen
Quintan. "Apollo 13 "; Mini
Sonino. "MightyAphrodite",-
Mare Winningham.   Georgia":
Kate Winslet. "Sense and
Sensibility:"
BEST DIRECTOR:
Chris Noonan. "Babe": Mel
Gibson. "Braveheart": Tun
Robbins. "DeadMan Walking".
Mike Figgis. "Leaving Las
Vegas": Michael Radford. "The
Kll Pos
BEST. SCREENPLAY:
(written directly for the screen):
Randall Wallace. "Braveheart"
Woody Allen. "Mighty
Aphrodite": Stephen J. Rivele.
Christopher Wilkinson and
Oliver Stone. "Nixon "; Joss
Whedon. Andrew Stanton. Joel
Cohen and Alec Sokolow: story
by John Lisseter. Peter Doc ter.
Andrew Stanton and Joe Ranft.
"Toy Story": Christopher
McQuarrie. "The Usual
Suspects."	
Academy Awards
full of surprises
for Hollywood
by Draeger Martinez
Staff Writer
Some call it the most-anticipated
nighl of the year. Others denounce it
as merely a self-congratulatory pageant of Hollywood hype.
But every year, millions tune in lo
watch the annual Academy Awards,
scheduled for March 25.
Unlike nomination slats of the recent past, which yielded massive wins
for industry favorites "Forrest Gump."
"Schindler's List" and "The Silence
of ihe Lambs." this year's-nominations were full of surprises. V
Perhaps the biggest surprise comes
from the seven nominations given to
""Babe." the story of a talking pig who
wants to herd sheep. Other summer-
release pictures, often considered loo
popular for Oscar approval, weighed
in heavily with the 11) nominations of
"Braveheart*" and nine for "Apollo
13."
"In the best film category, it's between "Apollo 13" and Sense and
Sensibility.'" said film producer Mike
Tate, head of the film studies program
at California Stale University. Fresno.
Tate called from a film production
meeting in San Francisco and has
been in contact with industry friends
in Los Angeles.
"The Academy voters are mostly
Conservative folks, and "Apollo 13'
embraces many of those all-Ameri-
can values that Oscar loves." Tate
said.
Ironically, neither of the directors
whose films Tate termed front-runners. Ron Howard for "Apollo 13"
and Ang Lee for "Sense and Sensibility." were nominated for best di-
"Tim Robbins and Mike Figgis are
somewhat favored."' Tate said, "but the
dark-horse candidacy of Michael
Radford has been getting lots of
drum-beating, so he could really turn
it around."
In the best actor category. Tate acknowledged lhat "The Postman" star
Massimo Triosi. who died shortly after filming ended, enjoys a "dark-
horse" status. He also said thai he
personally considered Nicolas Cage's
performance in "Leaving Las Vegas"
as superb.
"But there's lots of support for Sean
Penn — he's seen as more of a mature force now." Tate said. "His earlier rough edges have been kind;',
rubbed off. As for Anthony Hopkins.
I never believed for a minute that he
was Nixon. It just didn't look like him
al all."
Tale docs noi foresee another career rehabilitation for Sharon Stone
in her "Casino" role.
"Susan Sarandon has it. Emma
Thompson has an outside shot, but the
Academy really likes Susan
Sarandon," Tate said.
While he did not feel confident
enough to offer predictations about
the supporting actor and actress categories. Tate did discuss the screenplay categories.
"In the adaptation category, "Apollo
13' has been getting the most buzz,
but 'Babe* has an outside chance."
Tale said. "As for original screenplays. 'Toy Story' could do it. but
"The Usual Suspects" has the best
chance here."
Fresno will get its own taste of
Hollywood glamour during Ihe annual Fresno Film Festival on April.
18-21.
Cosponsored by Miramax Films,
studio of "The Postman" and "Pulp
Fiction." ihe festival will feature the
Fresno debut of four movies, including "The Crossinc Guard" and "Jane
Eyre."
Wiliker's reputation 'riotous'
by Michael Spencer
Staff Writer
Wiliker's nightclub, cited for being
a "riotous environment" by the Fresno
Police department, will soon face another challenge lo its liquor license.
Before the Alcoholic Beverage
Control (ABC) raids, it was regarded
by many as one of the top college
nightclubs in Fresno.
Wiliker's once again has begun
rebuilding its reputation.
The problem stems from thc last
ABC raid in which bartender, Keith
King, was caught by a decoy operation and cited for selling to a minor.
King's case has been challenged in
court. The outcome is still undetermined.
King's lawyer, judge-candidate
Terry Wapner, argued that because
Wiliker's hired a security company
to check ID"s. and an officer of that
company was in position to do just
that. King was no longer responsible for verifying the ages of his
customers.
"I'm confident that we can prove
Keith was not negligent inhis duties."
said Wapner.
Lupe Garcia. ABC district administrator, said King's case had nothing
to do with what ABC intends to do
about Wiliker's liquor license.
"King can be found not guilty in
criminal court, and we will still proceed against Wiliker's," Garcia said.
"We've already recommended our
penalty to [owner Dave] Fansler."
That penalty was a 15-day liquor
license suspension, with 10 days held
in arrears for one year pending any
further violations.
Despite an uncertain future.
Wiliker's is continuing with plans to
bring back the nightclub.
Wiliker"s general manager Jack
Kelly said that they have already improved business on Saturdays and
have started advertisements for Fri-
See WlLIKER'sTpage 5
Department stages drama
I Theater lab offers
good learning
environment
by John Rizzotti
Staff Writer
The theater department at California State University. Fresno.
requires teamwork from professors and students to make each
The theater department was established in 1911 as part of the
English department.
It became its own entity in
1929. thanks to John Wright, for
whom the main, theater is
named.
Ron Johnston, theater department chair for the last 20 years,
said the department owns its theaters while most other universities rent.
Importing Broadway
"We try to bring a piece of
Broadway to Fresno." he said.
"Most of the money that conies
inlo the theaters goes right back
I
EtiUDL •* ' -^
*
~-     "^    -'"*■"•%.*
'«-   .        i   :.    '
1
v    1
i the
scholarship
grants and
Sixty-seven years and almost
900 shows later, the theater has
taken their performances worldwide.
The department has won 14 regional awards from the American
College Theatre Festival and traveled all over the world, including
Japan. Taiwan and Scotland, to
perform.
The department targets four
popular show themes every year:
a Shakespearean piece, an American drama, a comedy and a musical.
It is the 13-membcr faculty lhal
primarily produces, directs and
choreographs the 12-13 shows of
Ihe season.
Students run the show     /*
Brad Myers, theater professor,
said students are essential to production.
""The students are the shows."
he said. "The theater is basically
Insight photo by Tommielynn Del Real
Working on his puppet presentation, Gustavo Aguirre participates
in Drama 163.
a giant laboratory for the students to
learn in. The more they know, the belter they perform."
Students are given the opportunity to
"An average Fresno Slate show
brings in approximately $7,000
from all eight performances." said
Myers
Christopher Mollev. 21. an actor
in Shakepeares. "The Merry Wives
it V\m
The depart
OJVI1I
- Mav ;
em lias two theaters thai     Fresno Slale has one ol the best the-
The John Wright The-    ater companies in the state
aire .which seats 370. and the Theatre
Arena, which seals 150 people.
Playing to a full house
Myers said that the theaters at most
Fresno Stale shows are full.
Shakespeare and well-known musicals
are always big draws.
Box-office revenues are ihe biggest
financial contributor lo the depart-
Thc productions range in price
from $4,000 lo SI2.000. depending amount of I
on the size and intricacy of each directors ha
show. . are perform
Close-knit family
Motley, an Fnglish major and
part-time playwright, tried acting to
get a better feel of the other side of
the theater spectrum.
"I've seen almost every show in
ihe pasi four years and il seems to
me lhat the department is very light
knit and works well together."
Mollev said.
Mollcy said thai he also likes the
e pie.
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