Students turn to on-line Photos from the CSU- A fulfilling and moving Profs from abroad DTK: A ‘Blade
m abroad DTK: A ‘Blade Runner’
courses p.2
university times
the
C A L I F O R N I A S T AT E U N I V E R S I T Y, L O S A NG E L E S
THE EAR
F
or several of us at
The Ear, tomorrow
will be the last day
that we’ll walk this campus’s
hallways and walkways.
After years of making these
buildings our home, it is
time for us to step out there,
into the real world.
It has been
a long time
c o m i n g ,
and yet, it is
just starting
to sink in.
Somehow it
is just becoming clear that
next week we won’t have
to drive back here, that
we won’t sweat coming up
the steep steps from the
parking lots, and that we
won’t see you guys sitting
on the lawn reading the
paper, anymore.
For a first time, the
mundane and the routine
are turning emotional. We
have begun to think how
different life will be outside
of our dorms, without
our roommates, our
classmates, and the parties
at Garfonos… How much
we will miss the feeling we
get upon stepping onto the
track for a good run… How
much impact working as a
team here at the U.T. has
had on our personalities
... And how much of a
difference those who teach,
not just as a career but as
a vocation, like professors
Michael Calabrese, Jim
Garrett and Tony Cox,
have made in the course
that our lives are taking.
Anyhow, those of us leaving
take this chance to say
good-bye. Although, who
knows, perhaps some may
See: EAR, P.2
LA Film Fest p.4 ballet p.5 come to CSULA p.6 Sequel? p.7
JUNE 11 , 2009
www.coolstatela.com
18 9 .11
DARK DAYS AHEAD
FOR CSU SYSTEM
CSU Issues Warning
of coming layoffs
(CSULA - UT) CSULA
Public Affairs sent out a
notice to employees that they
may be facing furloughs,
salary reductions and unpaid
holidays due to budget
reductions between $400
million and $700 million.
According to the press
release from public affairs,
at a CSU leaders meeting
June 3rd Chancellor Charles
B. Reed said that his goal
is to provide an action plan
developed in consultation
with the presidents and
trustees. Reed stressed that
no decisions have been Graduation week at CSUs: As thousands leave the university to enter an uncertain job market,
made, but the magnitude CSU sends notice to employees warning of pending layoffs due to state budget crisis
of the cuts means that all
options need to be on the precipitous drop in state
table as no single solution revenues in May. Chiang said
or approach can create the Governor Schwarzenegger STILL MANY
savings the CSU needs. The and lawmakers must quickly
guiding principle behind the plug a $24.3 billion budget
decisions, Reed said, will be gap or the state will run out
QUESTIONS IN
“to serve as many students as of cash.
possible without sacrificing CAMPUS DEATH
quality and to preserve as “A truly balanced budget (CSULA - UT) Wednesday personnel found the body
many jobs as possible.” is the only responsible way
out of the worst cash crisis afternoon, June 3rd, the of the deceased woman
body of a 42-year-old and immediately called
In order to compensate with since the Great Depression,”
female was found in her campus police. Lieutenant
budget cuts the CSU has Chiang said.
dorm room in Housing Corral confirmed the
implemented salary freezes
Phase I. According to identity of the woman as
for the vice president and He added that revenues from
campus police, foul play Andrea Laura Zamparelli.
chancellor level positions personal income taxes fell
has been ruled out as Captain John Kades, also
and student enrollment caps 39.3 percent in May from a
cause of death, although from the Investigation
for the first time in history year earlier while revenues
this year. The looming $24.3 from corporate taxes fell by the circumstances Division of the Coroner’s
billion state deficit means 52.1 percent and revenues surrounding her death office, reported the time
more action will need to be from sales taxes were down have not yet been of death as June 3rd at
taken. Under the most recent by 7.6 percent. disclosed, pending further 4:30pm, which is when
budget proposal by Gov. blood work and toxicology paramedics arrived.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Schwarzenegger has called testing. Lieutenant
the CSU faces reductions for deep spending cuts, Fred Corral of the CSULA Psychology and
in state support between 16 borrowing from local Investigation Division of Sociology departments
and 20 percent. governments and closing the Los Angeles County were contacted for
down some state programs, Coroner’s office reported verification of her student
California State Controller, including its welfare that during a routine status and both stated
John Chiang warned of program. check of the dormitories, that the deceased was not
a financial meltdown the University Housing
See: STUDENT, P.6
within seven weeks after a See: BUDGET, P.3
2 University Times
ADMISSIONS STUDENTS FIND VALUE
LIMITS TAKE A IN ON-LINE COURSES
TOLL ON STAFF
Rejection can be hard
for everyone
(CSULA—UT) Once upon a
time applying for admission to
CSULA was a much simpler
process. If you had the GPA
and filled out the forms
accurately and well before
the cut-off deadline, then the
chances were fairly good you’d
be accepted.
No longer. As a result of the
budget crisis in Sacramento, an
increasing number of otherwise
eligible prospective students
are being told there’s no more
room at the U. Frequently, the
unpleasant duty of telling an
applicant the bad news, face-to-
face, no less, is the responsibility
of Admissions personnel.
Admissions’ personnel must
explain to applicants why they
are not eligible for admission or
how another student was able
to got in before they did. Staff
members understand how
important a good education is
to being successful, and they
regret that they cannot admit
everyone.
“We have to understand,
because we have all been
students,” says John Slanina,
a consultant at the admissions
office. “They are beginning the
rest of their lives.”
Slanina explains that some
students have been denied
admission because their
transfers did not come in on
time and it was impossible
to make an exception for
them. Even the Educational
Opportunity Program, he says,
is often not able to help. Most of
the exceptions they are able to
make, he adds, have to do with
returning older students who
have larger quotas compared
to the freshmen and transfer
students.
While having enough room for
all who apply is always an issue,
the budget cuts in California
have significantly narrowed
the window of opportunity.
There are new time constraints
EAR
From: p.1
get to see you again later
on from the “grad” side of
the fence.
However, dear readers, do
not worry. Those of us
leaving make up only the
in force now which reward the
applicant who can first come
up with the cash.
In the Fall of 2009 CSULA
is requiring applicants to pay
an enrollment confirmation
deposit of $100, in addition
to the application fee. The
announcement adds that the
school has a limited number of
spaces for first-time students,
and that they will be chosen
based on who turns in their
transcripts and the $100 the
earliest.
According to Slanina only
1,900 first-time freshmen
will be admitted this fall and
increasingly the Admissions
staff will be forced to turn
people away simply because
they came later than others,
essentially saying “Thank you
for choosing us. We are so
glad you applied and you are
perfectly qualified – but we’re
FULL.”
In the past, mostly ineligible
students were turned away
but now the paradigm has
changed. It’s the early bird
(with the $100) that is going to
get the worm.
Even after turning down an
applicant, the Admissions’
staff tries to provide them
with alternatives, such as
the possibility of attending
community college and re-
applying in the future.
Still, the process is sometimes
depressing and frustrating for
staff who say it can be very
sad and take a toll emotionally.
The silver lining is, however,
that sometimes they get to help
someone or solve a glitch that
might have prevented a student
from graduating.
Some students come back to
the department to thank them.
Others, Slanina says, “come
back and say ‘I’m graduating
this term!’” There is a lot
that Admissions’ staff can
do to help, and those are the
moments that make their jobs
worthwhile. UT
left Ear… the Right Ear
is still staying! and it will
continue listening around
campus, always interested
in bringing to you the latest.
Keep up the good work…
and see you sooner than
later out there, in the real
world… UT
NEWS
On-line courses can
be a less-stressful
alternatives to
classroom learning
O
nline courses are
becoming an alternative
outlet for adult students trying
to increase their skill levels
or finish a degree while still
working full-time and taking
care of family responsibilities.
Taking courses online can
save time. There’s no getting
dressed for school, driving
through traffic, finding
parking, and then hoofing
it to class. Students with
full-time jobs can use their
lunch breaks to keep up with
lectures online. Or if a student
is taking care of a family, they
can take their online courses
during the time their kids are
at school or taking a nap.
The high rate of
unemployment has made
many two-year colleges
and private post-secondary
institutions anticipate a rise in
enrollment for online courses.
According to a 2008 Sloan
Survey of Online Learning,
tough economic times have
a positive effect on education.
People who have difficulties
finding employment pursue
further education to help
their advancement for future
career opportunities and in
time, when the economy
recovers and the job market
improves, they will have better
qualifications to apply for the
job they want. The Sloan
Survey indicated there has
been a 12.9 percent growth
rate in online enrollments, a
figure that far exceeded the
1.2 percent growth of the
overall education student
population. More than 2.9
million students took at least
one online course in fall of
2007, a 12 percent increase
over 2006.
At CSULA, twenty-five
online courses were offered
E A R N $ $ $
HAVE F
Call the University Times at
323. 343. 4215 for more info
during Spring 2009 and
twelve courses are being
offered for Summer 2009.
These include lower and
upper division General
Education courses, upper
G.E. theme courses, and
graduate level courses.
Chris Nguyen, a senior and
Communications major,
supports the idea of having
more online courses. “We
should have more online
Freshman Comm Studies stu-
dent AJ Mendozalikes online
courses for their stress-free
environment.
courses because since we are
a commuter school, a lot of
students are not only going
to school, but also working
full time jobs and taking care
of family. Online courses can
accommodate for students
as far as saving time and
money.”
AJ Mendoza, a freshman
and also a Communications
major, likes online courses for
their stress-free environment.
“You don’t have to worry
about driving to school,
dealing with traffic, and
feeling pressed for time.
Online courses are very
flexible. You can take them in
the comfort of your home.”
Besides taking online classes
to save transportation costs,
some students have decided
to change to part-time status
to save money during the
economic downfall.
UN!
June 11, 2009
According to Erica Pimental
from CSULA Cashier’s
Office, the cost of taking 6
units and below is $792.25.
To be enrolled full-time for
6 units or more, the tuition
costs $1,218.25.
Mendoza and Nguyen stated
that they both spend about
$2000.00 per quarter on
tuition, books, gas, parking,
and food. The difference
in enrolling as a part-time
students versus full-time is
that it still leaves students
an extra $426.00 to cover
their gas bill, their textbooks,
parking permits, and food.
If a student were to take one
online course, it can save
them some money compared
to attending school because
they do not have to worry
about additional expenses
like gas or parking. Students
who qualify for loans do not
have to pull out so much
money per quarter to cover
their expenses.
However some students still
prefer being in the classroom
environment because it is
more conducive to learning.
Nguyen says he would rather
attend classes than take
online courses because of the
experience he gets from being
in a classroom. “I like the
interactive experience you get
from the classroom. It is very
enriching because I feel that
I can grasp more knowledge
from lectures by actually
being there.”
“I would rather go to class,”
says Mendoza. “I feel I
need to be in a learning
environment in order to
absorb more information. If
I were at home, it would be
harder for me to focus. Being
in a classroom also gives
students the opportunity to
ask the professor and fellow
classmates for help with class
materials.”Student Online
Courses UT
June 11, 2009 NEWS University Times 3
BUDGET to raise short-term funds to panel of senate and assembly plan to phase out California 1 to testify in front of a
st

subsidize its operations. members voted to reject support for the Cal Grant group of state legislators.
From: p.1 governor Schwarzenegger’s program as one solution to
With the failure of Governor Among Governor the state’s budget deficit. “We were putting a face
Schwarzenegger’s budget Schwarzeneg ger’s to the issue and [giving] a
cutting propositions in the proposals was one to H.D. Palmer, student’s perspective,” said
May 19th special elections completely cut Cal spokesman for the state’s Li.
there is a significant chance Grants. Department of Finance,
that CSULA will have to said the governor took Their pleas were heard. The
drastically cut services. The Cal Grant program “no pleasure” in his plan committee’s final vote was
President Rosser warned this has existed in some form and was open to other 6-4, with Republicans voting
would be the case before the since the mid-1950s and ideas. “We have been against killing the governor’s
election. “If the measures on was expanded in 2001 as forced to put forward proposal, but Democrats,
May 19th don’t pass there is a a privilege of the state. proposals that would prevailed and the program
strong likelihood institutions It covered virtually all have been unthinkable remains intact.
like Cal State L.A. may low-income graduates even a few short months
have to shut down,” said the of state high schools ago,” Palmer said. “The idea of eliminating
President. attending private or Cal Grants is beyond
public two-year or According to comprehension to me and
The legislature is crafting four-year colleges or Schwarzenegger, if I can’t go there,” said San
an alternative budget plan career institutes. As of passed, the proposal Fernando Valley Democratic
that includes spending 2009, there are over would have saved the assembly member Bob
cuts and saves programs 300,000 recipients of state $173 million in Blumenfield.
Schwarzenegger wants the Cal Grant. At CSU 2009-10 and $450
to eliminate. The plan campuses, 25.2 percent million in 2010-11. Sen. Denise Ducheny argued
proposes to use funds of all students receive that with college classes set
that Schwarzenegger had some form of Cal Grant California State to start within a few months,
planned to set aside for award. Universities and schools “It wouldn’t be right to
reserve. in the California take back the cash grant
Schwarzeneg ger’s Community College awards already promised to
Senate President Darrell proposal included: System were unsure students.”
Steinberg said this week he eliminating all Cal how to respond to the
is aiming for a budget by the Grant funding for new proposal. While this matter has been
end of this month. college students and ending proposal to cut Cal decided on, the fight is not
the increase of funds for Grants, the state’s primary A group of UCLA students over. The budget committee
California’s new fiscal year current students based on scholarship program. formed an association called has begun meeting this
begins on July 1. The sooner rising student fees. Save Cal Grants to fight the week to discuss alternative
the state has a budget signed On Wednesday, May 28th, governor’s proposal. They solutions.
into law, the more it is able Last Friday, a 10-member Schwarzenegger proposed a went to Sacramento on June
See: BUDGET, P.6

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ICAC301241 CSLA Ad-Final.indd 1 5/26/09 2:33:46 PM

4 University Times NEWS June 11, 2009

THE 10TH ANNUAL CSULA

FILM FESTIVAL
1 2

4 5

6 On Friday, May 29, CSULA hosted the 10th Annual Student Film
Festival, showcasing short works made by CSULA students. The
festival was divided into two parts, with a four hour screening of
all student entries, and a two hour award celebration screen-
ing of the 18 selected finalists. The awards celebration filled the
Luckman Intimate Theatre with faculty, students and family alike.
UT
Captions. (Photos courtesy of the Film Festival curators)
1. The festival was a grand, showy occassion.

2. 1st place finalists were awarded the beautiful soaring eagle

award. 2nd place and 3rd place winners also took home statues
and plaques repectivly.

3. Student filmmakers, teachers, family and friends filled the

seats at the Luckman Intimate Theatre.

4. Faculty member and grad student Matt Gatlin won two awards
for films he submitted.

5. (L to R) Film festival curators Marvel Zamora, Karol Hernan-

dez, Prof. John Ramirez, Danielle Mitchell and Festival Director
Doug Robertson.

6. Stars of the 1st place award winning film Jock Butterscotch

Charles Alan Jones and Jospeh Silva.
June 11, 2009 NEWS University Times 5

A POWERFUL AND TAKE NOTE

FULFILLING BALLET 2009 Undergraduate and
Graduate Commencement
The 2009 Cal State L.A. Commencement ceremo-
nies will be spread over two days.

Friday 5 p.m. Ceremony: Charter College of Edu-

cation, College of Engineering, Computer Science,
and Technology, and College of Health and Human
Services.

Saturday 8 a.m. Ceremony: College of Arts and

Letters, College of Business and Economics, and
College of Natural and Social Sciences.

University Times
Photos courtesy of Ballet Hispanico News Director
The ensemble cast of the powerful Ballet Hispanico Jon Beaupre

Ladies run the show at with passion, her scarlet
the Ballet Hispanico dress flowing about her,
taking on a life of its own,
By Kelly Kreuzberger telling its own story. As she
danced with her Don Jose,
most to sleep, the way Ballet Senior Editor
Zach Seemayer
Hispanico delivered it made Michael Garcia
the audience beg for more.
Managing Editor
It was resplendent with Azadeh Taefi
spotlights and sharp lighting

O
Assoc. News Director
ne of the most one could easily see the against dark backgrounds Kamran Afary
powerful and story unfold between the that built into something Jeff Spurrier
fulfilling ballets two unlikely lovers. And wild and raw. Midway
Assignment Editor
of the season took place when she threw herself into through the dancers segued Kelly Kreuzberger
this last weekend at the death, throwing the red into a more ethnic dance Dena Burroughs
Ahmanson Theater. What folds of her skirt into the air, style, running through the Staff Writers
set this ballet apart from the audience erupted into set’s African savannah while Princess Mannasseh
Brittany Mejia
others was the role of the applause and tears. It was a African drums hammered Stephanie Monte
female dancers. In essence, truly moving number. in the background. They Oladunni Aiyegbusi
ran into the air, leaping Mireya Tejeda
while women do play strong Genevieve Palo-Dy
roles in ballet, normally the The closing number, Ritmo into each other’s arms and Elizabeth An
audience seems more eager y Ruido, raised the bar for throwing their legs out from
Web News Coordinators
to see the physical prowess other ballets and will not be underneath them. Thuy Duong Bach
of the dominant male lead. easily forgotten. What was Kaleem Rana
This was not the case for risky is that it incorporated From start to finish, Ballet Media Editor
Ballet Hispanico. dance from the 60s with Hispanico satisfied. More Brandon Ortega
James Fisher
long ponytails and snaps. than that, they startled,
The ladies ran this show, in And while this era puts amazed, inspired. UT Advertising & Saleas Rep.
Eva Micue
support and as leads. And
through this gender swap Business Manager
the fourth wall was not Noemi Guzman

only broken down, it was University Times is published every Thursday.

shattered into a million bits
All opinions and letters in the University Times
and danced gleefully on. represent the opinion of the author and do not
necessarily represent the views of the UT or the
university. Unsigned editorials represent the major-
The first dance number, ity opinion of the University Times’ editorial board.
Club Havana, gave a
Letters to the editor should include an address,
beautiful start to the evening, telephone number and identification. Letters may
bringing all the dancers to be edited for grammar and length.
the stage. Wrapped in the University Times display and classified advertising
number was Cha Cha Cha, should not be construed as the endorsement or
investigation of commercial enterprises or ven-
a hot little number with two tures. University Times reserves the right to reject
males and a female lead any advertising.
danced by Angelica Burgos. © Copyright 2008 University Times.
She was on fire, playing with All rights reserved.
her two partners with all the California State University, Los Angeles
force and assurance of a 5151 State University Dr. - KH-C3098
Los Angeles, CA 90032-8892.
dominate (yet sexy) woman. Editorial 323.343.4215
They ended the set with a Display 323.343.4220
Classified 323.343.4219
Rhumba which, while it Fax 323.343.5337
didn’t bring people to their
feet, certainly set a current
of electricity into the air.

Another powerful piece was

Carmen which was capped
with an explosive ending
that was one of the night’s
high points. Again, Burgos
was stage front, burning Beauty and grace were the staples of the show.
6 University Times
STUDENT
From: p.1
a student in any of their
programs. Her Facebook
profile states that she was in
the class of 1994 at UCLA,
although, according to the
CSULA Registrar’s office,
there is no degree on file for
her. They also confirmed
that she is not a Psychology
and/or Sociology major.
The Chair of the division
of Special Education and
Counseling at the Charter
College of Education, Dr.
Randy Campbell, also
confirmed that she was not
part of the department,
though the registrar’s office
indicates that she could
be in one of the CCOE
programs. The Office
of the Dean for CCOE
declined to comment on the
student’s status.
Zamparelli was registered
with the Office of Student’s
with Disabilities (OSD),
although no information
on her disability has been
disclosed. She was known
to have a service dog,
which was barking during
discovery of her body. The
MESSAGE FROM
THE UT STAFF!!
******Have a great and
happy Summer! And for
those graduating, good
luck in the future!******
CORRECTION
Correction: in the May 21st issue
of the University Times, student
Carlos Jimenez was described as a
‘previously disqualified presidential
candidate.’ Mr. Jimenez was never
a candidate, and therefore not
disqualified. Also, in the May 28th
issue, Mr. Jimenez was described
as a ‘Senior in Business.’ In fact,
Mr. Jimenez is a second year
student, double majoring in Applied
Economics and Political Science.
The UT regrets the error
OSD and other University
offices have declined to
comment for this story;
federal privacy laws and
university policy largely
prohibits their disclosing
such information.
Family members of the
deceased contacted the UT
to provide what details they
could. They described a
loving and generous woman
who was dedicated to nature,
animals and above all to
education. Zamparelli was
from a tightly-knit Pasadena
area family of accomplished
artists and entertainment
industry figures. One family
member said “it was hard to
sit there and smile, knowing
[she] was dead.” Another
described Zamparelli’s
boyfriend as ‘devastated’ by
her death. Funeral services
are pending. Andrea
Zamparelli is survived by
siblings, parents, and a broad
circle of friends. (NB: when
the funeral arrangements
are announced, they will
be posted by our online
partner CoolStateLA.com
for students, faculty or staff
who would like to attend the
service.) UT
UT
UT
NEWS
TWO AFGHAN PROFS TO
SPEND WEEKS AT CSULA
Professor Jamil Momand, director of Southern California Bioinformatics Summer Institute
Exchange program arranged the trip for the two
brings foreign professors.
scholars to campus
(CSULA-UT) Biochemistry
professors Shamsulrahim
Rahim and Ziaauddin Azimi
left Kabul University (KU) in
Afghanistan in order to spend
ten weeks studying in the
laboratories of CSULA.
Rahim is a professor at
KU’s medical school and
Azimi is a professor at KU’s
pharmacy school. Jamil
Momand, director of the
CSULA Southern California
Bioinformatics Summer
Institute and ten-year CSULA
biochemistry professor
BUDGET
From: p.3
Dr Melvin Donalson, the
Acting Chair of Pan African
Studies, is not at all surprised
by the recent developments.
“Unfortunately, this
nothing new. It is a political
is
game. When running
for office elected officials
make profound promises in
education. However, during
economic downturns they
cut education first. It is
disappointing that again and
again the state’s priorities
are never for the welfare and
benefit of those who need it
most: the children, elderly, the
dispossessed; were it be with a
home, or job. Instead they are
targeted.”
With California’s economy
further contracting,
officials must decide how
to spend what remains
from a reduced budget.
According to a spokesperson
for the governor’s finance
department, there is hope
to ease the devastation by
offering unpleasant options
such as allowing districts to
The trip came from Momand’s
desire to assist in establishing a
highly educated Afghanistan.
After visiting KU in 2006 and
working in the biochemistry
medical and pharmacy schools
there, Momand returned
home because of a fear of
terrorist bombings. Upon
returning, Momand drafted
a proposal to bring Rahim
and Azimi to the U.S. to help
them develop a university
curriculum at KU. He was
able to receive a grant funded
by the Koshland Foundation, a
civic unity program providing
resources for the community.
tap their reserves and federal
economic stimulus dollars
to lessen the effect of the
cuts. Other options include
allowing districts to loosen
regulations by cutting days
off the school year, delaying
replacing textbooks, and
diverting class reduction funds
for other purposes.
School boards across the states
are set to vote on budgets by
July, while district officials are
prohibited from laying off
additional instructors, moving
the cuts elsewhere.
Districts will be eliminating
summer school, after-school
programs and switching some
employees to a ten-month
work year. The LA unified
school district announced last
week that it was cancelling
most of its summer school
programs, leaving about a
quarter of a million students
scrambling to find classes. The
nine-campus LA community
college district is eliminating
its second summer session,
despite the fact that there
are 10,000 students already
enrolled.
June 11, 2009
Rahim and Azimi are both
taking English courses
for reading and writing,
and courses on advanced
biotechnology techniques in
research labs.
Momand wants the professors
to learn updated lab practices
and return to KU to revise
their curriculum. “I hope they
can adopt the lab practices
that they receive here, “ said
Momand. “Their equipment
has not been updated since the
70’s. I would like to continue
this project. We just need a
steady source of funds to carry
this out.” UT
This will affect college
students doing internships
with after-school programs, or
with part-time jobs as tutors.
U.S. Education Secretary
Arne Duncan recently told
the Los Angeles Times that
there is no guarantee that
federal stimulus dollars will
be available to help the state:
“The state is at a fork in the
road and officials will either
decide to have the courage
to do the right thing by
its children and create the
possibility of bringing in
literally hundreds of millions
of dollars in competitive
grants at a time of tremendous
financial need, or the state
can choose to perpetuate the
status quo and leave those
resources on the table.”
Dr. Donalson adds, “ What is
frustrating is that in periods of
economic hardships officials
can’t seem to find solutions,
particularly those in the
leadership.”
The U.C system faces up
to a $531 million shortfall,
while the CSU system faces a
$410 million shortfall for the
coming year. UT
June 11, 2009 NEWS University Times 7

DRINKING THE THE ULTIMATE

SHELL GAME 2 ¢ Fo r t u n e
KOOL-AID Exposing Shell
Oil Company’s
environmental duplicity
The trial has been postponed
a number of times. On June
3, Chief Judge Kimba Wood senior
magazine
reporter Jon
HOLLYWOOD TO SPIT indefinitely adjourned the Birger has been reporting on

OUT TERRIBLE ‘BLADE
RUNNER’ SEQUEL
By Zach Seemayer Linda Hamm said she chose
this route for two reasons.
“We really wanted to cast
unknowns, like they did in the
first Blade Runner,” said Hamm,
who apparently didn’t know
Harrison Ford had already
been in two Star Wars films and
Raiders of the Lost Arc before
I
n late April, Shell Oil
sponsored the ‘Shell Eco
Marathon/Americas’
competition, an annual event
to achieve new records in
fuel efficiency. The CSULA
engineering team participated
in the four-day event (which
boasted a $10,000 grand prize)
along with 37 other schools
from around the world.
Meanwhile, a few weeks later,
Shell was also scheduled to go on
trial in a Federal Court in New
York for complicity in human
proceedings. However, on the
same day the plaintiffs declared
a victory in the Second Circuit
Court of Appeals which
rejected Shell’s attempt to get
the case thrown out.
Since the 1980s activists
have blasted Shell’s policies
in Nigeria, calling upon
governments to intercede.
Things came to a head in
Nigeria when the government
executed nine Ogoni who were
heading up the opposition to
Shell in Nigeria . Although
oil companies for many years.
Birger concedes that Shell has
a history of providing financial
support for science and research
projects. In 2007 Birger wrote
The Bravest Woman In Oil
an article on Ann Pickard,
Shell’s current head honcho in
Nigeria. Pickard coordinated
battered women’s shelters in the
1980s before joining corporate
America and Birger does not
deny that her appointment
might have been a PR move to
improve Shell’s image.

I
n light of the recent
success of films featuring
Robots, such as Terminator:
Salvation, The Day The Earth
Stood Still, Transformers and the
highly-anticipated Transformers
2: Revenge of the Fallen,
production has begun on the
sequel to the classic Sci-Fi
classic Blade Runner.
Blade Runner 2: Return of the
Nexus will begin production in
early January and producers
hope to release it in early
Blade Runner had even been
made. “Also, I’ve read the
script,” Hamm continued,
“And no one really needs to act
in it. It’s a lot of running and
jumping and shooting. At least
80 percent of it is computer
generated. We could cast this
thing with monkeys and it
would be about the same.”
Movie fans and film students
the world over cried out in
impotent, frustrated
anger simultaneously
rights abuses in Nigeria. The
charges against Shell included
the company’s responsibility
for the summary execution
of Nigerian environmental
activist-writer Ken Saro-Wiwa
and eight of his colleagues.
Shell’s support of eco-friendly
campus initiatives in the U.S.
while at the same time coddling
despotic military rulers has
raised some concerns among
members of the CSULA
campus community. Some
faculty and students argue
Shell has publically stated, “We
don’t support the government’s
extreme methods,” they are
suspected of having paid the
Nigerian government to end
the nuisance.
The best known of the victims
was Ken Saro Wiwa, an
author and environmentalist
who won the Goldman
Environmental Prize for his
work and was nominated for
a Nobel Peace Prize in 1994.
He became a human rights
activist by accident when oil
“Every company is marketing
an image, no matter who
they are,” says Birger. “Shell
sponsors the Eco-Marathon
like the local bank sponsors a
little league.”
With Shell working intently
on its image, universities are
also responsible to come out
of a state of complacency and
look beyond the surface. As
an former member of the US/
Nigeria oil community points
out “Putting green in the same
sentence as Shell is insulting.”

2 ¢
summer. Michael
Bay is currently set
to direct, with Jerry
Bruckheimer producing.
Ridley Scott and Blade Runner
star Harrison Ford have
sworn off the project, calling
it “crass,” “meaningless,” and
“retarded.”
Bruckheimer has come
out vocally against these
comments. “This is not your
daddy’s Blade Runner. This will
have massive-scale battles on
the moon and will feature truly
terrifying cyborgs, or whatever.
It will really be a rollercoaster
ride to fun!”
For people who were
emotionally or existentially
confused by the original
story of a man searching for
his humanity in a heartless
future, Bruckheimer promises
no moral ambiguity in Blade
Runner 2.
“Here’s all you need to know,”
Bruckheimer said, during a
press conference. “The people
are the good guys, the robots
or whatever are the bad guys,
and they want to kill the hell
out of each other.”
The film will take place 5
years after the events of the
previous film, and will feature
an entire cast of good-looking
20somethings fresh out of
acting school. Casting Director
when the news of
this production was
first posted on Variety.
“What? What the hell?”
Screamed Victor Mandiri,
a USC Film student when
he read the news. “This is so
demoralizing! Hollywood has
NO imagination! What are
they going to do next, remake
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance
Kid?!”
When informed that they had
already remade Butch Cassidy
and the Sundance Kid last year,
Mandiri began slamming his
head into his desk repeatedly
until falling into a bloody
concussed sleep.
Bruckheimer responded to
the over-whelming negative
response from fans and casual
moviegoers alike.
“It doesn’t matter what these
people say,” said Bruckheimer.
“I’ve been making movies for
decades. Trust me, if there
are robots, shiny lights, gun
fire and explosions people will
show up in droves.”
No film critic or professor
could be found who could
argue Bruckheimer’s assertion.
Most of them read it,
attempted futilely to craft a
response, but instead began
sobbing hysterically.
UT
that CSULA may be on a
slippery slope to becoming
an unknowing corporate
shill. They question Shell Eco
Marathon’s intentions, feeling
that the competition was simply
a marketing tool to improve
Shell’s public image
On competition day the
yellow Shell logo was visible
everywhere: on flags, signs, hats,
t-shirts, gear--even the banners
of the 38 schools participating.
The official rules dictated that
each entry vehicle must have
a Shell logo on the front and
side, with 10cm of space on all
four sides of the emblem. In
addition, any other sponsors
or names on entries had to be
smaller than the Shell logo.
It was a happy shiny day
for happy shiny people.
Meanwhile, 3000 miles away
in a New York clerk’s office
(and halfway around the world
in West Africa), Shell was
being accused of complicity
in crimes against humanity,
torture, arbitrary arrest and
detainment—charges that
extend back to 1956. It is
asserted that Shell was involved
in the demise of the Ogoni
tribe of the Niger Delta. In
the 1980s, Shell built a pipeline
through the delta which severely
stressed the region’s eco-system,
poisoning the rivers, killing the
fish the Ogoni relied upon and
eventually destroying the local
food chain of the jungle
corporations began to trample
on the livelihood of his home
and his people. When Saro- CSULA’s participation in the
Wiwa gained public support by Shell Eco-Marathon may
speaking out, he was arrested inadvertently help Shell distract
and charged with treason. attention from other issues in
Following a quick trial and a race against controversy and
despite international protests, exposure. But with the Federal
Saro-Wiwa and eight of his court trial about to begin, the
Ogoni associates were hung by engines are running, and the
the Nigerian government on words “ready, set, go” are alive.
November 10, 1995. UT
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8 University Times
BACK STORY
HISTORY NO FRANCO
MAJORS AT UCLA
HAVE MORE Earlier this year actor
SEX James Franco, known for
A recent survey of more
than 850 students by the
Oxford University student
newspaper found that
undergraduate historians
are more sexually active
than their counterparts.
Students studying politics
came in second, followed
by philosophy, economics
and English literature
majors. The survey also
found that almost 50%
of respondents engaged
in unprotected sex.
Additionally, more than
half of those surveyed said
they had never been tested
for an STD. A spokesman
for St. Anne’s College said
that a lack of knowledge of
the risks likely contributes
to the high number of
students engaging in
unprotected sex.  UT
NEWS June 11, 2009
address. Franco and  CREDIT CARD NOT ‘FREE
UCLA officials have yet
to address the lingering CONCERNS TO BE’
The California
question.  UT
The United States is said Department of Education
to be a country with a is working to remove
recent roles in “Pineapple UCLA LAB “culture of debt,” with the an abstinence-only
Express” and “Milk,” average American being group from speaking in
agreed to be the keynote DEATH $8,500 in debt.  Recently classrooms in the Golden
speaker at UCLA’s the “Credit Cardholders’ State. The group, known as
graduation ceremony. Bill of Rights Act of Free to Be, sends teens into
UCLA has appealed
After the announcement 2009” was signed into law.  classrooms to present the
state regulators’ findings
was made members of This law is meant to help argument that abstinence
in last year’s death of lab
the student body got up consumers however if you until marriage is the
assistant Sheri Sangji.
in arms over the choice, are in college, it may not correct choice. A federal
Sangji died in a fire that
going so far as to even be such a great law. People program that gives money
was determined to be
under the age of 21 will to groups and schools who
create a Facebook page a result of her lack of
now find it harder to get teach abstinence funded
protesting the actor’s training or protective
a credit card and must the group. California
participation. However, clothing. UCLA officials
have a co-signer in order schools do not participate
this past week the actor say the required changes
to enter into a credit card in the program, however,
announced that he would have been made and
contract. Those under 21 and argue that the group’s
not longer be able to keep fines of $31,000 have
will also find it hard to teachings are violating the
his commitment to the subsequently been paid.
get credit cards with large California education code.
address the graduating The appeal will allow
limits, which is especially In Northern California,
class of 2009, due to UCLA to stipulate that
troubling for students with the Sonoma County Office
scheduling conflicts with it admits no fault in
college costs continually of Education has decided
connection with the
his newest film. Those at on the rise. Although the to remove the group from
findings, a move aimed at
UCLA, though, wonder bill will help students stay its campuses. Free to Be is
limiting the university’s
whether the choice was away from credit card reviewing its options with
liability. The family of
made because of the debt, they will be forced their attorneys. UT
the victim is pushing for
conflict or the student to look elsewhere to cover
an external investigation
movement against his school costs. UT
into the incident.  UT
Please Drink Responsibly.