Foghorn Newspaper: Feb 26th

FREEDOM AND FAIRNESS

VOL. 105

ISSUE 15

FEBRUARY 26, 2009

TheFoghornOnline.com

Lupe Fiasco Rocks Sold-Out Homecoming Show CHELSEA M. STERLING News Editor

�e upcoming USF career fair looks promising for graduating students, as many employers are participating despite the recession.

NEWS

PAGE 3

Banning ROTC not the answer to Caskey rape allegation says columnist Stephanie Luu.

OPINION

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Apathy was at a low Friday night at War Memorial Gym as students eagerly anticipated the arrival of hip-hop artist and performer Lupe Fiasco, at this year’s homecoming concert. Although Lupe Fiasco only performed for about an hour, approximately 500 students, alumni and staff crowded the basketball court to hear him perform. Even USF President Rev. Stephen Privett, S.J, made an appearance at the beginning of the concert. President of the Campus Activities Board Courtney Ball said that there were 2,500 tickets available and that the concert was sold out. During the pep rally ASUSF directed students to the ticket booth, which may have contributed to the boost in sales. Attendance at the concert, however, ranged from 400-500 people. �e doors opened at 7:30, but Fiasco did not come on stage until 9:15. Alex Platt, an event staff worker, said of the concert, “I thought it went pretty smoothly.” After working with Wyclef Jean, last year’s homecoming performer, on his music video “If I Was President,” Platt was disappointed that Fiasco did not have much interaction with students. While Jean let event staff and some students listen to his sound check before the concert, Fiasco made students leave and did not sign autographs or meet with students before the concert. Platt said, “He wanted to do his own thing. He didn’t really want to interact with students.” On the other hand, Platt said of Jean, “He was very into talking to his fans.” Platt pointed out that the way that both artists came on to campus was signi�cant. Jean entered near Fromm Hall and walked through campus, shaking hands and greeting students as he made his way to the gym. Fiasco entered the gym through a side door, limiting his face time with student fans. Platt was in charge of the pep rally this

Chelsea Sterling/Foghorn Lupe Fiasco, DJ Simon Says and drummer Baby Bam performed several of Fiasco s songs and one of Kanye West s songs at the crowded homecoming concert on Friday night. Over 2,000 students came to the sold out show in War Memorial Gym.

year. When the band canceled and miscommunications occurred with the dance team, student turnout suffered. Next year, Platt proposes to hold the pep rally before the concert because students will already be gathered and waiting for the performer. If the basketball team was brought on stage before the performer, the audience’s excitement might transform into school spirit. �e music seemed to resonate with students. Even students who don’t identify as

hip-hop fans enjoyed Fiasco’s performance at the concert. Chet Bentley, a sophomore media studies major, said the music was not his style, but “it was energetic and appealed to the masses.” Bentley liked the concert because Fiasco was cool and young. Fiasco played many of his popular songs like “Superstar,” “Daydreamin’,” “Go Go Gadget Flow” and one of Kanye West’s songs, “Touch the Sky.” Fiasco’s backup performers included DJ Simon Says and drummer Baby Bam. 2007 alumnus Ilya Fishman

said, “I was really excited to see him. He is a real rap artist with great music. I was already a huge fan so seeing him live was awesome.” Ball said that some students were disappointed Fiasco didn’t perform longer, but Platt said that the concert time was previously established for one hour. Sophomore Katrina Valdez said that although the concert was shorter than Wyclef Jean’s, it was better. She said, “He [Fiasco] brought a good atmosphere.”

Students Voice Concern: Acquaintance rape underreported on campus

�e Foghorn sits down with Project Runway’s Jack Mackenroth to talk fashion and philanthropy.

SCENE

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Courtesy of Professor Lillian Dube A volunteer distributes vitamins and AIDS medicine at a health clinic in Zimbabwe.

Vitamin Drive to Save Lives

USF students lend a hand to AIDS victims a world away Spring intramural sports got off to a big start last week with hundreds of students participating.

SPORTS

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Student band Ghost Town Refugees make their debut at Bottom of the Hill. Check out clips and interviews from the show.

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rest. Some of the individuals at the forum were survivors of sexual assault. �omas explained that a public incident such as this can reopen those wounds, especially if University of San Francisco students the individual never fully dealt with those have made their outcry about the recent issues after they happened. Many, such as senior Jennifer Herrera, allegations of rape and assault on campus were concerned that there needs to be more heard. A group of student activists have organized and released a clear message: education about sexual assault on campus. rape is not an isolated incident. In other As a resident advisor in a freshman resiwords, this most recent and highly publi- dence hall, Herrera said she feels well educized case of a USF senior Ryan Caskey cated about these issues, but she said, “As being charged with four counts of rape and a freshman, I wouldn’t have known exactly aggravated assault is not the �rst incident what quali�es as rape. I know our students aren’t very educated on this subject.” of this nature that has occurred at USF. �omas said that in her experience at �ese concerned students organized a public forum for the community to dis- USF, she has not found any means of educuss their concerns about sexual assault cational training about sexual violence to on campus. �ough this most recent case be particularly effective, though there have sparked the discussion, students wanted to been attempts ranging from education emphasize that rape and sexual assault are during freshman orientation, informational programs within residence halls and ongoing problems. Barbara �omas, Ph.D. and director of peer counseling for men. But the reality is USF Counseling and Psychological Ser- that these methods of education have been vices, con�rmed that rape and sexual as- ineffective. “I don’t want to be defeated by that, but sault are more common than most people hear about at USF. In her 20 years of expe- I think the reality is that people just think, rience at the university, she has talked con- ‘�at’s not about me; that’s about someone �dentially with many students who have else.’ �ere’s this in�ated sense of safety experienced various forms of sexual as- that’s just not there,” she said. �omas’s best idea for creating more sault. Acquaintance rapes, rapes committed by “friends” rather than strangers, are awareness about sexual violence is to connot unusual at USF, but they most often tinue public discussions and open convergo unreported. �ey almost always involve sations. “Let’s talk about sex,” she said. Junior Andrew Biederman said simidrugs or alcohol, and many of these students do not realize they have been raped larly at the forum, “We need more discussion between the sexes. It’s important for until �omas tells them. Students came to the forum to discuss everyone to come out and say exactly how the general lack of awareness and discussion they feel affected by this to understand about sexual assault taking place right here each other more and prevent something on campus. Many had other grievances as like this from happening ever again.” Dan Lawson, director of public safety at well, such as feeling starved for more information than was provided in USFConnect USF, encouraged more discussions like the bulletins. Others complained about the one at the forum. “I think this is a wonderful thing that’s wider-scale problem of a lack of education and programs about sexual violence. Oth- happening here in regards to this forum,” ers digressed into a discussion of whether he said. He only hoped that the conversaCaskey’s affiliation with ROTC had led tion would not end as soon as people forto his violence toward women. Emotions got about this particular incident. He said, were raw on this �ursday, exactly a week “People generally don’t get upset and exafter the news had broken of Caskey’s ar- cited until something terrible happens.” NEWSROOM 415.422.6122. ADVERTISING 415.422.2657

LAURA PLANTHOLT Staff Writer

HUNTER PATTERSON Staff Writer In many parts of Africa, the AIDS epidemic is raging; exasperated by malnutrition, prolonged violence and failed governments, as is the case in Zimbabwe, a country of 13 million people, over 1.6 million of whom are living with HIV/AIDS. Zimbabwe, which has seen its economy collapse and healthcare system crumble under the reign of President Robert Mugabe, has forged the most unlikely of bonds with the San Francisco Bay Area, USF and the man that connected the two worlds together, Dr. Robert Scott. Scott, who has been going to Zimbabwe with a team of volunteers for 10 years to see AIDS victims and offer them life-prolonging antiretroviral medication and treatment they could not get anywhere else, came to USF last semester to explain the situation on the ground there with students. Following the presentation, students approached Scott, eager to �nd ways that they could

help. Scott said he was impressed by their willingness to lend a hand and suggested they assist him in collecting donations of multivitamins which get distributed to the AIDS victims, affording them a nutritional supplement to their one meal a day, consisting of little more than starchy roots, which most poor Zimbabweans eat. Students, including many from the African studies minor program and Ubmthombo Club as well as faculty and staff from Health Promotion Services and University Ministry, coordinated the vitamin drive, collecting bottles of pills and sending them to Hayward, where volunteers repackaged them into bags of 30 to be given to patients in Africa, where they are instructed to take one pill every other day along with their regiment of AIDS medication. USF Professor Lillian Dube, a native of Zimbabwe, who is helping to promote the vitamin drive, has also traveled to Africa with Scott to assist him with patients and AIDS: Continued on Page 2

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NEWS

2

FEBRUARY 26, 2009

Class Defines USF on Wikipedia DANIELA RICCI-TAM Staff Writer

Students in Professor David Silver’s Introduction to Media Studies class learned �rsthand about the process of editing Wikipedia last semester in a �nal project that required them to modify, rearrange and in some cases rewrite the USF and San Francisco Dons Wikipedia pages. Although they encountered some opposition from the seasoned Wikipedians that edit the site, another class will be taking on this same assignment this semester. “�e overall goal,” said Silver, “was to make the University of San Francisco’s Wikipedia page more interesting, accurate, and up-to-date.” To do this, students were divided into teams, each of which focused on a certain section or subject in the USF wiki article— for example, campus dining, the baseball team, or student-run organizations. �ese teams set forth to research their subject and �nd relevant, citable sources from Gleeson Library, as well as on the Internet. An important factor in creating material on Wikipedia is sourcing, according to the Wikipedia policies and guidelines. Without veri�able sources, sections of articles or entire pages may be removed by Wikipedia editors. Given this danger of “speedy deletion,” students devoted time and care to their research. Freshman English major Vy Tran was involved in a group that tackled the subject of services for and statistics on international students at USF. Her group, she said, “spent quite a few hours working on our section; we had some class time to make edits, but most of our research and efforts were done outside of class time in the library.” Silver said he was struck by how diligently these amateur wiki-editors attended to their task. “What was particularly impressive was the way in which the project mattered to

students,” he said. “Most of the students got really into the assignment and worked hard and creatively to �nd new facts and add interesting content… some groups researched, wrote, and edited entirely new sections on USF’s student population, student groups, and campus green initiatives.” Some of these entirely new sections faced a little difficulty in getting off the ground, and yet more of the content faced difficulty in remaining intact on Wikipedia. “Yeah, we had quite a bit of trouble with Wiki editors. My group was relatively lucky,” Tran said. “Other groups…had entire sections or pages removed.” �e students’ con�ict with the Wikipedia editors was often polite debate on the discussion forum, although at times, said Tran, the verbal battles were less than friendly. “I think the editors were all well-meaning,” she said. “�ey wanted to help make the page better and cleaner. I appreciated that, but I didn’t appreciate how some of them approached us.” For example, she said, one of the Wikipedia editors posted a critical comment saying, “If their parents are paying over 33K in annual tuition for them to edit Wikipedia articles, I suppose they must feel entitled to write about the cafeteria food.” “It’s just mean,” said Tran. In the end, she said, much of the studenteditor disagreement “came down to these questions: Who’s the intended audience for the University of San Francisco Wikipedia page? Who visits it the most? If the answer to those questions are current students and prospective students, shouldn’t the information re�ect what they want to know about the school? And as a follow-up to that: what information belongs on Wikipedia? What is considered encyclopedic?” By the time the assignment had concluded, most of the disputes had been resolved, and a good amount of the student-produced content remained, if changed and moved around a little. In many cases, students also cooperated with the Wikipedia editors to correct their errors and hone their work. Tran said she thought that while most

of her group’s section had been modi�ed and shuffled around, the essentials remained intact, and the article bene�ted from the changes. “Some of it was amazing,” said Silver. “In all, I think USF’s Wikipedia entry grew three-fold in size and content.” Tran agreed that the USF article looks much better post-project. “�ere’s a lot more information on the USF page now than before, so that’s nice,” she said. However, there is still work to be done. “I’d love to see more images on it,” said Tran. “Our school is so beautiful.” Also, the project itself had a few �aws. “I don’t think we - my students and I - were knowledgeable enough about Wikipedia - how it works, what constitutes “notable” information, and what to do when a Wikipedian tries to edit your work,” Silver said. �e time constraint was also a problem for Tran, who said, “[�e work] was too great to handle for the time span we had, which I think was about two weeks at most. We did well, all things considered, but if, for example, it had been a semester-long project, I think the USF Wiki page would be even better.” Because of this, and because last semester’s �nal assignment received so much positive feedback from students, the Wiki project will be making a comeback this semester. Instead of around 80 media studies students, the editing will be performed by a group of just 12: Silver’s Digital Media Production class. And this time, these would-be Wikipedians will be far more prepared. “Already, Brenda Hough, a librarian and Ph.D student who is writing her dissertation on Wikipedia, visited our class and taught us a lot about the complexity of Wikipedia. Also, this semester’s students have the bene�t of having created and shared digital media for nearly 15 weeks,” Silver said. “I’m pretty excited to see what they create.”

AIDS: Continued from page one

works with, the Allen Temple AIDS Ministry, use donations to buy AIDS medication in India where local pharmaceutical companies ignore international patents on the drugs and manufacture them for far less than they cost in the United States. A one-month supply of a three-drug cocktail which is given to Scott’s patients costs $8.50, he said. �e Allen Temple then uses volunteer labor to solicit donations of multivitamins to stretch their �nancial resources as far as possible. Dr. Scott said he is grateful to USF students who are helping to collect donations. “�e bottom line is that in third-world countries where the diets of people are so poor, people who have multivitamins live longer and healthier lives,” he said. USF will be accepting multivitamin donations all semester long at Health Promotion Services outside the cafeteria on main campus and University Ministry. Student volunteers are also working to get donation boxes in residence halls and will be accepting donations at 5 p.m. Mass in St. Ignatius as well as student Mass in Xavier chapel.

HPS and University Ministry Coordinate Donations

Courtesy of Professor Lillian Dube

Professor Lillian Dube (Right) poses with her sister on a recent trip to Zimbabwe where she worked with AIDS victims.

act as a translator. Dube handed out vitamins to hungry patients and had to turn away 100 people from the clinic where she and Scott were working after their resources were depleted. Dube said that every time Dr. Scott returns to Zimbabwe, which is 34 times per year, he is confronted by more and more people seeking his aid. On her trip in late December, Dube said the volunteers instituted a lottery system to see who of the hundreds of new people who had shown up to the clinic would be taken into the care of Scott. “Dr. Scott held the box and I called the numbers,” she said. “�ey were sitting in the rain, hoping they would get on board - on the life train – it is like your ticket to life. You are looking at their faces, hoping they would get called but we could only take 25. I was sick after that, I was deciding who lives and who dies.” Scott, who is now seeing 750 patients in Zimbabwe, said he is overwhelmed by the demand for his services. “We don’t have the �nancial resources or enough doctors, when you have 100 people standing in front of you saying ‘please save my life,’ it’s very depressing.” Scott and the organization he

San Francisco Foghorn

Students Happy With Hip-Hop Choice

Chelsea Sterling/Foghorn

Although most students enjoyed Lupe Fiasco s performance at the homecoming concert, some wished he had played longer than his scheduled one hour show.

Freshman Read: Harvest For Hope MIMI HONEYCUTT Staff Writer She braved the wilds of Tanzania, revolutionized an entire branch of zoology, and founded an international conservation society. She is Jane Goodall, the scientist, chimpanzee expert and author of 2006’s “Harvest for Hope,” the freshman book choice for next year. After this year’s politically-charged “�ree Cups of Tea,” Goodall’s “Harvest for Hope” urges us back to our kitchens and supermarkets. Employing her roots as an anthropologist and conservationist, Goodall explores the world’s tumultuous relationship with food. Factory farming, genetically modi�ed organisms (GMOs) and Burger King are just some of the topics she addresses. Essentially, the book is a levelheaded battle cry for local agriculture, organic food, and mindful eating. A committee comprised of faculty, librarians and student representatives chose the book because it addresses economic and environmental justice. �ough the committee considered the topic for this year, the possible books were, according to program director Professor Fredel Wiant, “fascinating…but not very readable,” and the �nal pick went to “Harvest for Hope.” With today’s economy, environmental and economic justice are even more important. “Nutrition is a serious problem,” said Wiant. One can buy a week’s worth of organic, local food, but when she tried this lifestyle, “the bill was exorbitant. �at’s where the economic justice comes in.” As for the incoming freshmen, Wiant hopes that the book will “spark discussion and maybe even some controversy”

among them. �ere are no easy answers for the food industry—from the controversy over genetically engineered produce to the economic viability of local agriculture, debates rage on. At the very least, the book is something “students can relate to.” At the same time, “Harvest for Hope” should not scare off less environmentallysavvy readers, or even those who might disagree with Goodall. “For the most part I think [Goodall’s] open-minded,” said Wiant. “One good way to alienate an audience is to never make concessions.” Wiant also sees the integration possibilities of “Harvest for Hope” extending well beyond certain freshmen classes, to possibilities such as collaborating with Bon Appétit and promoting locally-grown food. Bon Appétit already follows some of the practices advised by Goodall. “We push local as much as possible,” said manager Holly Winslow. “If our president had to choose between local or organic, he’d go local.” Actual plans for bringing the book into the community are still in their early stages, and the committee plans to establish more contacts. Some USF freshmen have already encouraged the book choice for the incoming class. Ariana Fischer, an undeclared freshman, sees the book’s issues as “the next step in solving obesity, global warming and the collapse of local economies.” To freshman architecture major François Toves, “Harvest for Hope” “represents the city a lot. It’s a good introduction to what [freshmen] will experience in the city.”

San Francisco Foghorn

Career Fair Looks Resilient in an Economy that is Anything But HUNTER PATTERSON Staff Writer 73 companies have signed on to attend this year’s career and internship fair at USF, down from 93 last year, and oncampus recruiting and online job postings are both down year over last, according to USF Career Services Center Coordinator of Employee Relations Julia Hing. However, there are still opportunities for graduating students, she said, even if they have to work harder to secure an offer or cast a wider search net. Campus recruiting, which remained strong last spring and into the fall as the economy slid into recession has started to show signs of weakness. Most companies

Hunter Patterson/Foghorn

Then senior Christoph Huber speaks with employers at last year s career fair.

are reporting �at or reduced new graduate hiring, however it varies by sector, she said. Hiring in �nancial services is down signi�cantly, and many investment �rms, including Goldman Sachs, are not doing much if any new-grad hiring this year. However, several �nancial companies are coming to the career fair including First Investors Corporation, Northwestern Mutual and MassMutual Financial. �ere will also be several accounting �rms and corporate �nance recruiters from companies such as Oracle at the fair. Many government agencies and nonpro�ts including the San Francisco Fire Department, Peace Corps, FBI, FDIC, and Greenpeace are also scheduled to attend the event. Hing said she was surprised

that so many non-pro�ts are recruiting this year, expecting that they would be cutting budgets as funding dries up. �e poor economy is causing more students to seek career advice. CSC Office Manager Natalie Casillas said she has seen many more students and recent graduates coming into her office looking for help with their job search than in years past. “�ere is an overall sense of pressure, students are wondering if there will be a job available to them,” she said. USF alumnus Nicolae Ciobanu has been polishing-up his resume and is looking forward to the career fair. He graduated in December with a degree in �nance and has been diligently applying to jobs for several months now, but has yet to secure an offer. “It’s never been easy to get into �nance, but I’m still getting interviews and still getting callbacks so I’m optimistic,” he said. Ciobanu has written unique cover letters for 30 job openings and has gotten 8 call backs. “It’s all about me, how hard I work, how I do in interviews, how I write my cover letter, I’m out there networking, shaking hands, trying make connections,” he said. With May graduation rapidly approaching, communications major Dalia Al-Mahmood found herself at the career center on Tuesday for the third time this semester. She wants to work in hospitality and was scheduling a mock interview with a recruiter from the Ritz Carlton. Mock interviews allow students the opportunity to practice their skills with professionals in an industry and hopefully make a good impression. Al-Mahmood attended a career fair in downtown San Francisco last week but did not �nd as many opportunities as she was hoping. She said she is working hard on her career search and looking forward to speaking with several of the non-profits scheduled to attend USF’s career fair. She is also trying to stay positive, but �nds the process exhausting. “It’s stressing me out, when does this economy get better? By May I hope,” she said with a nervous laugh. “I’m only taking one class so right now my job is to �nd a job,” she said. �e career fair is Friday, Mar. 6 at 11 a.m.

NEWS

3 FEBRUARY 26, 2009

USF Creates Award For Mentors ANDY LAUREANO Staff Writer

�is year will be the �rst time the Mentor of the Year award will be given to a faculty and/or staff person by the Provost Council at USF. �e award will highlight the accomplishments of a nominee who goes above and beyond in his/her embodiment of the “Vision, Mission, and Values” of USF. A challenging component about transitioning into college is �nding out how to access good resources. It goes beyond making friends with your next- door neighbors and getting to know the best social scenes. Junior Ramsey Hanna looked back at his experience at USF as a freshman and said, “When I got here I already knew where certain parties happen and who to know, but it really wasn’t hard �nding the ad-

equate resources I needed to get to where I wanted to go. Developing a comfortable relationship with faculty members was easy.” Hanna said that his experience at USF is great due to the great help of his professors and advisors who made themselves accessible and helped him establish himself academically. Provost Jim Wiser said, “We wanted to highlight the importance of advising and counseling and bring it to the attention of the community.” He explained the potential for two awards if the nominations allow, one for a faculty member of USF and another for a staff member. Every year a survey is given to graduating seniors in order to rate the quality of performance of faculty. Wiser pointed out that the quality is great according to recent surveys, but there is never anything done to congratu-

late the hard work of the great men and women that work at USF. Although faculty have been great avenues for mentorship, there are a lot of staff members that are eligible for nomination. Alumnus Luis Cervantes from USF said, “I was a resident advisor when I was at USF and it requires a lot of dedication and the ability to want to be a resource for incoming freshmen. I would nominate somebody in that position for the award.” Lara Hansen, assistant to the provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, is now accepting nominations for the Mentor of the Year Award. �e submissions must be in letter format describing why the nominee deserves the award and must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 10, 2009. A ceremony for the winners will be held on May 13.

ing his work in the Huffington Post. “He has a very solid background in mainstream news that’s based on explaining stories to encourage public debate and discussion,” said Kidd. “�is approach �ts with the Davies Forum mandate, and the University’s mission.” “We are at a crossroads in our existence,” Jay said to a group of 13 media studies students in the Davies Forum class on �ursday afternoon, and later to a group of roughly 60 students, parents and faculty members on �ursday evening. Jay, who began his media career as an independent documentary �lmmaker, talked about the importance of the immediate decisions people make regarding the future. “�is generation will be the generation to decide if we continue to exist.” According to Jay, people still have a misconception that things will soon go back to normal. However, “We have gotten to a point at which we can never go back to the way life used to be,” he said, discussing the mainstream media’s and the Obama administration’s oversimpli�cation of the new economic stimulus bill. Jay’s Real News Network is run solely on donations, following the funding plan discovered and used by the Howard Dean Presidential Campaign in 2004. “Nobody

knew if people would be trusting enough to give �nancial information over the internet,” he said. “Dean’s campaign was the �rst to show that this was possible.” What makes the Real News Network unique other than its funding method is that the network has reporters embedded in all areas of the world that are native to the areas that they are covering. �e RNN has Arabs reporting from Gaza, Chinese reporting from China, and Afghans reporting from Afghanistan. Jay said the RNN is looking to start a San Francisco branch, and he recruited a group of USF students to get the branch started after his second talk of the day at USF. “I think that the Real News Network is a network that is going to appeal to a lot of people who don’t usually watch news,” said senior media studies major and Davies Forum student Stephanie Luu, who said she sees shortcomings in the new network. “People like what’s convenient,” she said. “I’m not sure how convenient the Real News Network is because it’s only on the internet.” Soon, Jay plans to take his network to television and hopes to get enough support from donors to keep the network alive. �e RNN can be found at www.therealnews. com.

Davies Forum Gets to Know the Real News NICHOLAS MUKHAR Staff Writer

�e 2009 Davies Forum, entitled “Remaking the News”, entertained the �rst guest speaker of the semester this past �ursday. Paul Jay, founder and CEO of the Real News Network (RNN), came to USF as part of the forum and discussed everything from the war in Iraq, to hip-hop artist Chuck Dee, to the new Obama administration. �e RNN is unique because it is funded solely by donations and because its correspondents are native to the area that they are writing about. �e Real News Network is an independent news and documentary network focusing on independent journalism. It is comprised of video discussions and interviews, diving into topics that Jay said the mainstream media will not talk about. “You will never hear CNN or Fox approach the question of whether or not we should cut the budget when it comes to military,” said Jay, whose media outlet is solely online right now, but is in the process of �nalizing a deal with TiVo to get the Real News Network on television. Media studies professor Dorothy Kidd, who is teaching the Davis Forum class this semester, learned about Jay by read-

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OPINION

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San Francisco Foghorn

FEBRUARY 26, 2009

Open the Sex Discussion on Campus

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KATE ELSTON Columnist After the forum that was organized last �ursday in USF’s new amphitheatre to openly discuss the recent rapes, one thing was clear. Sure, there was a lot of �nger-pointing and disagreement and some blamed the administration for allegedly keeping the facts from students. Some pointed the �nger at ROTC (of which the alleged rapist was a member), saying the military fosters violence and sexualization and has no place at USF. �ese are valid points that should be openly discussed as they were on �ursday. And that leads to the point that everybody agreed on: this campus needs more open discussions, especially surrounding sex.

Several students and I left that forum on �ursday wondering, as we did when the minute we �rst set foot on this campus, “Where are all the sexual health resources on this campus?” I know we’re a Jesuit campus, but we can’t deny that college students are having, or thinking about having, sex. And that’s not to say we’re not coming from previous backgrounds, many of us enter college knowing about our bodies and what happens when you don’t wear a condom. Others may not. But that is where the information stops. �e minute we are USF students, we are no longer among a safe, open culture of sexual knowledge and discussion. Sure, we’re bombarded by safe drinking tips—from the mandatory AlcoholEdu online course to “mocktail” parties put on by the dorms that try to foster discussions about drinking and the risks involved. But where are the online courses and events about sexual assault? About rape? About what’s too far, what’s okay and what’s not? About how no one should ever be sexually victimized? We have no sexual health classes or sexual health facilities; unless you count those measly pamphlets hidden outside the caf that barely touch on sexual health issues. �ere are no condoms in dorm bathrooms,

unlike on other college campuses. Nowhere at USF can you obtain the morning after pill. Resident advisors aren’t allowed to even tell us where the nearest Planned Parenthood is. Everyone on this campus, regardless of his or her stance on when or when not one should have sex, should be aware of the facts – the absence of sex education directly correlates with unwanted pregnancies and STDs. Now, I know we all know the basics about sex, but what about sexual assault and rape? If we know that hiding facts from students is bad, then why are we disregarding further sex education? We’re in the real world, the real world where one out of every six women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime. A progressive university in one of the most liberal cities in the world is ignoring this statistic, and ignoring the need to inform students about a serious matter. �is is appalling. We are humans. We are sexual beings. We are having sex. But we are young, and we are students and we have questions. Give us the resources and give us the space to talk about this openly.

probably closer to a draft than to not needing a military at all. President Obama deployed 17,000 more troops into Afghanistan just last week and our country has reached a one trillion dollar military budget. �e military is here to stay, and while we can’t change a lot of foreign policy we can use the ROTC as way to train more compassionate, educated, social-justiceminded military leaders. During the panel, one student asked why USF protests the School of the Americas, yet allows ROTC to train in the school’s backyard. �e student failed to make the distinction between the roles of these two organizations: the School of the Americas teaches its officers to kill (resulting in the murders of thousands, including Jesuit priests). USF ROTC students are educated in a liberal arts curriculum based in social justice. If the students in ROTC are going to be our future military leaders, wouldn’t we want them to receive their education at USF rather than somewhere else? One of the main problems we have in our military comes from uneducated troops who blindly follow orders. �ey lack any historical knowledge or political context as to why it is they are doing what they are doing. ROTC students at USF attend the same classes as most of us, where we discuss, challenge and debate each other on many different issues from religion to science, from sociology to economics. �ere needs to be a sea change in our military, especially around anti-women practices and sexual violence. We’re never going to be able to �x what is wrong with the military if we don’t start with education. �e ROTC program at USF provides 94 students the opportunity to afford college. In a study conducted by the Pentagon,

�gures show that the majority of military recruits only have high school degrees and are from lower-income areas. Right now, there are few other alternatives besides the military if one wants to be able to afford rising college tuition. Grants, scholarships and loans often do not provide enough �nancial stability for students to pay for college. �e alternative to not having an ROTC program at all is to have students join the military out of high school. Until our country can come up with an alternative to the military that guarantees tuition bene�ts in exchange for public service, programs like ROTC will be the only way many people can attend college at all. While I understand the arguments for banning the ROTC on our campus, banning any organization or club based on a con�ict in ideology is dangerous. �roughout history, we have learned that any time a group is banned based on its members’ thoughts, actions, or ideas, free speech is compromised. If USF bans ROTC based on the organization’s message, who is to say that other groups on campus are not next? What if groups that are thought to be subversive or radical are banned next? Universities need to be a place for universal thoughts and ideas, whatever those ideas may be. Banning ROTC will not stop the chance of rape on college campuses. �ese alleged rapes are the result of one person’s choices and behaviors, and should not be blamed or linked to ROTC. �ere needs to be more education regarding sexual violence in the military, and we should use ROTC as the platform to reform what we see wrong.

puter and printer access, but at times I’ve wondered if my tuition is paying for these things, shouldn’t I be able to dictate how I can use them? �is past summer, I had an internship with a small online publication that was in the process of moving their offices to a central location. In the meantime, my supervisor and I worked at coffee shops that had wireless internet. �is proved to be unreliable, thus I suggested we work at Gleeson Library, where we could use the internet and have a quiet place to work. With the Atrium in mind, we packed up our laptops and headed for campus. We went no further inside than the front door when that annoying alarm went off. I explained to the librarian that my supervisor and I were working on a project. When she said that he wasn’t allowed to be in the library if he wasn’t a student, he said that he was supervising an internship. Ignoring that we would be working and not checking out books or using the online academic resources like JSTOR, the librarian repeated that he could not enter the library. �en she proceeded to tell me that if I did want to check in a guest, I would need to give notice ahead of time. I saw no reason why I couldn’t use the library- a student resource- to work on my

internship, which supplements classroom instruction and course work. �is happened in June. �ere were probably eight people maximum in the library. I pay tuition so I can use the library - why couldn’t I sit with my supervisor in the atrium and work on my internship? Preventing my internship supervisor from entering the library was a blatant disservice to students like myself that pay high tuition to attend this university. Like many offices on the USF campus, the library would not exist if students did not pay their tuition. �e library is a service for students and students should have more control over how, when and for what purposes it can be used. I support the proposed ASUSF amendment to change the current library guest policy, which requires a student to call 24 hours prior to admitting a guest. In a similar fashion to the dorms, a student should be able to check in a guest by holding a photo ID at the front desk. With the exception of �nals week, students should be permitted to check in guests at any time. Students are paying customers and the university should adhere to the needs of its customers before dictating how and when their products can be used.

Placing Blame Not Helpful Kate Elston is a senior media studies major. For Campus Healing ROTC Ban Not the Way to Address Safer Campus

Disturbing allegations that USF student Ryan Caskey has raped and assaulted four other students on campus have led to many strong reactions from the university community: fear, sadness, rage, disgust and confusion to name a few. Last �ursday, a group of students af�liated with the unofficial club Radical Priorities organized a public forum that they advertised as an opportunity to express these emotions. �e Foghorn attended the forum, delighted at the idea of a supportive dialogue between members of a community that had just suffered a serious blow, but was appalled to see how the forum took shape in actuality. �e self-proclaimed “concerned students” who organized the event seemed primarily concerned with determining in which direction(s) to point their �ngers rather than how they could best support each other in this difficult time. Students who spoke at the forum had a long list of grievances against various departments of the university. Many pointed �ngers at Daniel Lawson, director of public safety at USF, for not releasing copious amounts of information about the incidents. Lawson told the Foghorn last week that he provided the community with the pertinent details that were in his power to provide. Lawson was bound by an agreement with the San Francisco Police Department to release very little information, as the case was out of his hands and into theirs as soon as Caskey was arrested. One student complained that the way students were informed of the incidents – via e-mail – was insufficient. �e Foghorn cannot understand what this individual was hoping for: a personal phone call? But most of all, many of these angry students had it in for USF’s ROTC, of which Caskey was a member for four years. �e students complained that the inherent patriarchal structure of the military made sexual assault towards women a natural next step. Forget about the ROTC’s many female members – the

military teaches violence, and rape and sexual assault are forms of violence, they said. Despite 94 out of 95 ROTC cadets not having been accused of rape, the entire program ought to be shut down as a precautionary measure? Questioning the legitimacy of having an ROTC program on campus is an argument that may be worth having. �ere are valid student concerns about ROTC that can be expressed in the appropriate context. However, using this isolated rape incident as a springboard to launch an attack against ROTC and its legitimacy on this campus is farfetched and irresponsible. Before we discuss banning ROTC, we have to take into account the effect that would have on diversity of the USF community. If we ban ROTC solely on the ideas for which it stands, we are crossing over into censorship. Ultimately, �e Foghorn would like to remind the USF community to not sensationalize when they cannot possibly know enough to draw conclusions yet. �ere are very few who know the truth about whether the accusations made against Caskey are true: him and the alleged victims. �e legal system of the United States is designed to carefully and fairly try accused persons under the guideline of “innocent until proven guilty.” �e Foghorn stands 100 percent against rape and sexual assault, and hopes that whether Caskey is proven guilty or innocent, justice is served. �e Foghorn also hopes that when the next forum is held, (�urs. Feb. 26 at 12:15 in Parina Lounge) more students come to open-mindedly discuss the issues at hand rather than closedmindedly placing blame and pointing �ngers. �is forum was a step in the right direction towards open campus discussions about topics we are often reluctant to talk about. We look forward to similar debates among members of the USF community on a variety topics that are of concern to us all.

STEPHANIE LUU Columnist At last week’s student-led panel regarding the alleged rapes of four students, many students voiced concern that the accused rapist Ryan Caskey was a cadet in the ROTC program. Several students expressed backlash against having the ROTC, an army training program, on a Jesuit campus based around social justice. A panel of students will meet this �ursday to discuss the future of the ROTC on USF’s campus. While I take a lot of issue with our military - from the inherent patriarchal structure to the anti-gay and homophobic policies - I don’t think banning ROTC on USF’s campus is the best solution, nor will it further USF’s message of trying to teach understanding and social justice. �e ROTC program needs to change its structure and not tolerate any aggression, sexual harassment, or sexual violence. �e ROTC also needs to more carefully screen its students and hold its cadets to higher standards of character so that our future officers are worthy of serving our country. Ideally, I would like it if our country did not need a military, and thus not need programs like ROTC. However, with our current foreign policy, we are

Hey Librarian, Let Me Do My Work

SUBMISSION POLICY An All-American Publication ad maiorem dei gloriam �e San Francisco Foghorn is the official student newspaper of the University of San Francisco and is sponsored by the Associated Students of the University of San Francisco (ASUSF). �e thoughts and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily re�ect those of the Foghorn staff, the administration, the faculty, staff or the students of the University of San Francisco. Contents of each issue are the sole responsibilities of the editors. Advertising matter printed herein is solely for informational purposes. Such printing is not to be construed as written or implied sponsorship or endorsement of such commercial enterprises or ventures by the San Francisco Foghorn. ©MMIV-MMV, San Francisco Foghorn. All rights reserved. No material printed herein may be reproduced without prior permission of the Editor in Chief. 10 papers are allowed per person. Additional copies are 25 cents each.

Columns for the Opinion section and Letters to the Editor are gladly accepted from students, faculty, staff and alumni. All materials must be signed and include your printed name, address, and telephone number for veri�cation. Please include your university status (class standing or title). We reserve the right to edit materials submitted. All submissions become the property of the San Francisco Foghorn Columns of not more than 900 words should be submitted by 5 p.m. on the Wednesday before publication. Letters of 500 words or less should be submitted by 5 p.m. on the Friday before publication. Shorter letters which get to the point have a greater chance of being published than long, rambling diatribes. Anonymous letters are not published. Editorials are written by the Foghorn editorial staff and represent a group consensus. �e San Francisco Foghorn Opinion page is a forum for the free, fair and civil exchange of ideas. Contributors’ opinions are not meant to re�ect the views of the Foghorn staff or the University of San Francisco.

Stephanie Luu is a senior media studies major with minors in journalism, politics and legal studies.

CHELSEA M. STERLING Columnist

If you’ve spent at least one semester at USF, especially one semester living in Phelan Hall, chances are you have probably questioned where your $40,000 plus tuition is going. Some of the dorms have not been remodeled since the 1970s. We do however enjoy some luxuries on campus- wireless internet, a 24-hour study room and a semester long MUNI pass at half the regular cost (that will transport you to almost anywhere in SF). And while these amenities are convenient, there is a limit to how students can use these resources. Who pays for amenities on campus and who should be allowed to access them? I enjoy going to a school that has excellent resources like wireless internet, com-

Chelsea M. Sterling is a senior English major.

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San Francisco Foghorn

FEBRUARY 26, 2009

Project Runway s Jack Mackenroth Talks Fashion tant Jack Mackenroth attended the gala as a representative of “Living Positive by Design,” his organization focused on HIV/ AIDS education and awareness. He made a point of being very open about his health status as HIV positive to foster open conversation amongst viewers. Unfortunately, Mackenroth had to leave the show prematurely because of a staph infection, which can be incredibly dangerous to a person with HIV. We sat down after the gala and talked about his fashion career and his new focus on philanthropy. San Francisco Foghorn: What did you do for college? Jack Mackenroth: I went to Berkeley. And actually, my father was an ears, nose and throat surgeon and my mother was a registered nurse and I was the �rst child so I was expected to be a doctor so I was premed for two years. �en I realized I didn’t want to be a doctor so I ended up double majoring in �ne arts and sociology.

Courtesy of George Nikitin Melissa Baron and Jack Mackenroth smile for the camera at the annual Academy of Friends Academy Awards Night Gala at Fort Mason wearing their black tie finest.

MELISSA BARON Scene Editor San Francisco’s �nest ventured into the pouring rain in their formal wear Feb. 22 for the 29th annual Academy of Friends’ Academy Awards Night Gala at Fort Mason. �e event began as a small party in a home and blossomed into one of the largest parties outside of Hollywood, raising money to support 12 local HIV/AIDS organizations. �e theme was “A Night of Superheroes, Villains & Divas.” A black tie fashion event, the party drew in a variety of outrageous out�ts. Most men were in tuxedos and women in formal dresses (much shorter than typical black tie), but there were several men in their most glam-

orous drag and others who took the superhero theme to heart. Guests entered the venue on a blue carpet, making their way into the festival hall �lled with food, drinks, dancers and items for auction. Men in gold latex bodysuits, “the Oscars,” circulated through the party and danced on tables with men and women dressed as famous super heroes like Poison Ivy, Batman and Superman. Tables set up around the venue gave out hours devours from fancy restaurants around the city and samplings of wine and champagne. A back room revealed an in�atable tower to climb, nerf guns to shoot at posters and an in�atable boxing ring. “Project Runway” season four contes-

SFF: And why? JM: I really loved the sciences and I love the curriculum, but not my peer group. I was like, if these are the people I’m going to be working with for the rest of my life... I don’t like these people. �ey’re just boring. At Berkeley they were so competitive it was just no fun. I was taking art classes on the side and maybe thinking of minoring or something, but I decided ‘this is really fun,’ but I didn’t know I could make a career at it so I threw in the sociology major as well. �en I ended up going to Parsons after that. SFF: What was it like moving to the East Coast? JM: It was crazy. I drove cross-country, I didn’t know a single person. �is is not a joke, totally true story -- I unpacked my stuff in my dorm which was literally the size of a table, I walked out on eighth street where my dorm was and a crack addict put a knife to my throat. SFF: No way! J: Yeah, it was just like totally random,

for no particular reason. Like, said something unintelligible and put a knife to my throat and I was like “oh my god,” and then he ran away. I actually wasn’t really scared, I was like “Oh my god I’m in New York. Welcome to New York.”

SFF: And how did your college experiences contribute to making a future for yourself in fashion? JM: You know it’s funny, I always loved to draw. And I didn’t really know anything about, I mean I’m from Seattle, where there is no fashion industry. I didn’t know that could be a job. I just thought it was fun that I could make my own clothes. And then, you know, I discovered Parsons and went there and it was a whole new world. I realized this could actually be a career. A hard one. Parsons was really rigorous, much harder than Berkeley. I pulled at least one all nighter a week. It was a good training ground. I think people think fashion is really glamorous, where you like, touch models and play with fabrics all day, but it’s hard. SFF: And what were your �rst few jobs out of school? JM: Right after school I opened a menswear store in the village called Jack. I had that for a couple years and I sold up and coming designers. And then my �rst real fashion design job was at Tommy Hil�ger. I actually did women’s at Tommy and it was one of my only women’s experiences. From there I went to a Levis company, kind of a brother company to Dockers called Slate, and I don’t think it’s even around anymore. And then I worked brie�y at Vera Wang. Right before I went on “Project Runway” I was working at a place called Weatherproof. SFF: What were some of your favorite fashion related jobs you’ve done. JM: I mean, the coolest stuff has come post “Project Runway.” Since I’m my own boss now it has been really cool. You know, I made an Emmy dress for Heather Tom [from “�e Bold and the Beautiful”], I did a fashion show called “�e Chocolate

Ditchin the Dining Hall: Clement Street Edition

Show.” So that has been super fun to do. My job before I went on “Project Runway,” I was my own boss. I mean, the owner of the company was my boss, but he thought whatever I did was perfect, so he would check in with me like once a month and ask “are you on schedule?” SFF: What have you been up to since the show? JM: I’ve been doing a lot of things, but the reason I’m here is because I’m working on HIV/AIDS awareness with Merck. It’s “Living Positive By Design,” and that’s why I was at the gala last night. Because on “Project Runway” I was open about being HIV positive for going on 20 years, so it was really just a great synergy for Merck and myself. �ey actually came to me and were like “we have this kind of program in mind and we want to work together.” It kind of mirrors how I’ve been successful in managing my own HIV and basically the point of the program is to, I mean I’m obviously very comfortable speaking about it, but trying to get other people to feel the same way. To talk about it. Beyond that it’s kind of a road map for HIV positive people. I think the great thing about the program is that it talks to HIV positive people as opposed to a lot of the HIV education and outreach now, which is based in prevention. It’s great, we need more of that as well, but there is a large population of people in the US that are HIV positive. So we’re really speaking to them about �nding a doctor and getting on a treatment regimen that works for the individual and getting on medication that’s tolerable and minimizing side effects. �e ultimate goal for anyone who’s HIV positive to maintain a normal viral load. It’s just kind of repeating that over and over and trying to get it into people’s heads. �at’s what I’ve done. You know I’m not saying, “Do what I do and you’ll be �ne, but it’s about being proactive.” Visit the Foghorn website for the complete interview and the Scene blogs for more about the gala.

Local restaurant Q provides a new take on comfort food BRIAN BRAUSE Staff Writer A few weeks ago on a crisp Friday evening around 7:30, my girlfriend and I were walking down Clement Street looking for a place to eat. We stumbled across the restaurant Q, a place she had eaten at before and suggested we try. It almost looked like a nightclub from the outside: there was music playing, people waiting outside sipping drinks and a curtain blocking the entrance. �e wait was about an hour and we decided to head elsewhere, but we were intrigued. Last Sunday, around 8:30 p.m., we decided to try again. �is time, Q was much less chaotic, proving that the weekend really does end after Saturday night. We passed through the curtain, to discover that Q was not like a nightclub at all, but rather a very eclectic diner with a lively atmosphere, upbeat workers and fascinating wall decorations. �e walls of Q are unlike anything I have ever seen before in a restaurant. For starters, there is an electric giant half moon on the ceiling, adding some mood lighting to the restaurant. Below the moon and on all the walls hangs new age art. �ere are some very abstract pieces and sculptures with vibrant colors as well as drawn art. In the back of the restaurant is a table for a bigger party that has a tree growing through the middle of it. Christmas lights and bicycle chains hang from the tree. Somehow the tree table �ts right in and does not seem at all out of place because after your mind has taken in the unique artwork, you’re ready for anything (A ninja could come to your table and prepare sushi for you with his ninja blades of death and you would accept it as the norm.). My favorite oddity was the magnetic letters next to each table that you could make words with while waiting for the food. �e wait staff is very friendly, and our server Alex was upbeat. I even caught him �irting with the female bartender and waitress and singing along to some of the in-

die songs playing over the speakers. When we sat down, he started us with almost shot glass-sized cups of water. Knowing I wouldn’t be ordering a soft drink or alcoholic beverage (still no fake ID), I asked if I could upgrade my shot of water. Alex returned with pint sized beer glasses. �e menu of has a little of everything. Alex described their diverse menu as “American funky comfort food” with a touch of the Southwest. �ey also had a very extensive wine list although, sadly, all I could do was admire it. I decided to be adventurous and try something I had never eaten before- the “Slammin’ Loch Duart Salmon Burger on Potato Focaccia with chili-lime aioli and garlic Kennebec fries,” priced at $9.75. �e chili-lime sauce put a spin on the salmon that was new and different; however I felt that it left something to be desired. It was missing that one sauce or ingredient that would really put everything together perfectly. On the other hand, the garlic fries were out of this world and rivaled the famous garlic fries sold at the San Francisco Giants baseball games. My girlfriend ordered the “Macaroni & Cheezy with tater tots,” priced at $9.50. She said that she had had this dish here before when she was down and it had helped lift her mood. �is made me worry a bit when she ordered it again, but our lively activity of making dirty words on the walls pushed my worries aside. �e macaroni dish wasn’t the usual bland macaroni and cheese that you would expect. It includes herbs and spices that add an extra kick you are not ready for on the �rst bite. �e dish works perfectly, with the tater tots making it perfect comfort food. Consistent with the comfort food theme, the dessert menu offers ice cream, apple pie and milk and cookies. Unfortunately, we were too full to try to dessert, but it sounded delicious from the descriptions on the menu. For example, “Pipers pipn hot chocolate cookies, ($5.00), comes

with a glass of milk or two scoops of Double Rainbow vanilla bean ice cream. (Add $2.00).” Because the kitchen is in the same room as all the diners, it both adds and detracts from Q’s overall appeal. �e sizzling sounds from what’s cooking while you wait for your food make you anxious and excited for what is to come. However, the clanking of the dirty dishes and the dishwasher can get a bit loud. Overall, it was an exciting experience, which provided artwork to make you wonder and comfort food for the soul. 4 Stars out of 5.

Q 225 Clement Street San Francisco, CA 94118 415-752-2298 Credit Cards: All major Hours- M-F- 11:00am-3pm, 5-11pm Saturday- 10am-11pm Sunday 10am-10pm Entrees: $9.50-17 Drinks: Soda: $2.25 Atmosphere: Good music but can get a bit loud. Service: Very Friendly

MELISSA BARON Scene Editor �e mixtape this week is an attempt to brighten moods. �e semester is in full swing, the weather is rainy again, and the stress all over campus is mounting. Here is some feel good music, some music to listen to when you’re aggravated, frustrated, upset and overwhelmed. Here’s some music to remind you it’s only one month until spring break. 1) “Amazing Kids Doing Amazing Sh-” by Antsy Pants off of “Antsy Pants” 2) “Ghost Mountain” by the Unicorns off of “Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone?” 3) “King Kong vs the U.S. Army” by Michael Jordan Touchdown Pass off of “Cash, Money, Etc.” 4) “Loose Lips” by Kimya Dawson off of “Remember �at I Love You” 5) “Jimmy Jam II” by Matty Popchart off of “Good Ole Water” 6) “Crows” by Sexy off of “Por Vida” 7) “�ere Is A Light” by Ghost Mice off of “�e Debt of the Dead” 8) “Stabby” by Japanther off of “Master of Pigeons”

Hunter Patterson/Foghorn Clement Street s Q offers a sophisticated and moderately priced version of comfort food perfect for USF students looking to leave campus to eat, but not venture too far.

9) “Dylan” by Lava Lava off of “Plan-It-X Records Sampler” 10) “Daylight” by Matt & Kim off of “Grand”

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San Francisco Foghorn

FEBRUARY 26, 2009

Guided by Voices Frontman Robert Pollard Releases New Solo Album ADEN JORDAN Staff Writer

Melissa Stihl/Foghorn Foghorn staff videogamer Jonny Hechema engages in a heated game of NES Jackal in his Phelan Hall room. The retro game was an 80s favorite and is now available for Wii.

Retro Nerdcore: Top Five NES Games JONNY HECHEMA Staff Writer

Ah, yes – the Nintendo Entertainment System. For most of you, the NES was probably your �rst foray into the world of video games, and boy, was it a good one. Sure, the system was �lled with a bunch of junk games that weren’t worth the price tag, but it also had its fair share of gems. From the blockbuster titles to the diamonds in the rough, the NES was �lled with games that lead to the fondest memories. �at being said, here’s a list of my personal top �ve favorite NES games. 5. Jackal �is �rst game on the list is one I feel may have �own under the radar for most gamers. Made by Konami, “Jackal” is a runand-gun shooter with an overhead camera angle and a highly ambiguous plot. Seriously – to this day I still don’t know what the game’s about, but plot was never really necessary for most NES games anyway. “Jackal” puts you inside a tank and challenges you to navigate through six levels, rescuing POWs along the way and defeating an end-boss. You’ve got two weapons at your disposal: a basic machine gun that can only be shot upwards and an upgradable explosive that shoots in the direction you’re moving. “Jackal’s” gameplay is simple but addictive and, combined with the

game’s highly enjoyable soundtrack, makes for a memorable experience. Oh yeah, and you can play it with two players.

4. Punch-Out!! Come on, do I really have to explain this one? It’s “Punch-Out!!!” Forget about “Wii Sports” boxing – “Punch-Out!!” is where it was at. Assuming the role of Little Mac, a rookie boxer from the Bronx that lives up to his nickname, you must rise through the ranks of the boxing circuit until you get the chance to �ght the champion who, depending on which version you had, was either Mike Tyson or some �ctional character that didn’t require a license renewal. Each boxer you face requires a different strategy to take him down, but all of them require precision and quick re�exes. Like “Jackal”, “Punch-Out!!’s” combination of addictively simple gameplay and catchy music earns it a spot as one of the better NES games. 3. Mega Man 3 If you’ve never played a “Mega Man” game before, let me warn you: they’re not for people who tend to give up easily. Most gamers associate two things with the “Mega Man” games of old – they all had surprisingly rockin’ soundtracks despite being 8-bit; and the enemies, levels and bosses were designed to catch you off guard. “Mega Man 3,” in all its glory, is no

exception. It features some of the best music I’ve heard on the NES and, to this day, still is difficult as heck. I recently popped in “Mega Man 3” speci�cally for this review, and I couldn’t beat even one out of the initial eight stages. Yes, “Mega Man 3” might make you want to throw your controller into a wall, but it’s so much fun that you’ll just keep coming back. �ough it stuck to the basic formula of the series, “Mega Man 3” changed a few things from its predecessors and made some worthy additions to the series. My only gripe is that this is the point where you could tell that Capcom was running out of good ideas for bosses – Snake Man? Gemini Man? Magnet Man? Yeesh.

ter. Put this all together with the game’s length, its sense of humor, above-average story and pumped up soundtrack (are you noticing a trend here?) and “River City Ransom” becomes a must-play.

1. �e Legend of Zelda You didn’t really expect me to not include this, did you? Like “Super Mario Bros.” laid the groundwork for the platforming genre as we know it today, “�e Legend of Zelda” introduced gamers to the idea of an open-ended world that could be completely explored at your will. Instead of starting at “Level 1-1”, “�e Legend of Zelda” just dropped you smackdab in the middle of the world. No direction, no instructions, not even a sword. In 2. River City Ransom today’s world of video games, this seems “River City Ransom” is a game that holds like an ordinary thing, but it’s tough to a special place in my heart. Made by Tech- convey just how groundbreaking this connos,“River City Ransom”combines the but- cept was when the game �rst came out. In ton-mashing action of beat-em-up games addition to “�e Legend of Zelda’s” vast like “Double Dragon” and “Battletoads” contribution to gaming, the game itself is with the sophisticated statistic and upgrade exceptionally made - challenging puzzles, system of an RPG, a combination which engaging battles, a great soundtrack, and a works ridiculously well. As you go around surprisingly decent story. Truly, “�e Legbeating up gangs in an attempt to save your end of Zelda” is one of the most crucial friend’s kidnapped girlfriend, these en- building blocks in which the video game emies drop coins which you can use to buy industry sits upon. items at the game’s various shopping malls in order to heal your wounds, increase staStick around for next week’s issue for tistics like power and speed and learn new my top �ve games for Sega’s golden child, moves to lay the smackdown all the bet- the Genesis.

Former Guided By Voices frontman and current solo artist Robert Pollard puts out records with the frequency of a well-oiled factory machine. In Pollard’s case, this is not always a bene�cial thing for him or his fans. With both Guided By Voices and his solo albums, Pollard seems satis�ed to simply distribute every track he records. Many critics and fans have deep respect for Pollard’s seemingly spontaneous lo� aesthetics, and entire books have been written on the GBV hallmarks “Bee �ousand” and “Alien Lanes.” �e Strokes cunningly borrowed much from GBV’s sound and then created music and an image that was more commercially friendly. Recent bands such as Times New Viking have obviously been in�uenced by Pollard, but have used his music as a more innocent, playful blueprint than the Strokes. Pollard’s most recent solo album “�e Crawling Distance” starts off promising: the opening track “Faking My Harlequin” has guitar chords and bass lines that could comfortably �t on a Sonic Youth record. As the album progresses, however, the music and particularly the lyrics feel less and less inspired. A typical Pollard lyric can be found on the song “It’s Easy”: “It’s Easy/ Safe and please us/ Tax exempt with Touchdown Jesus,” vague and overreaching at the same time. Music magazines have sometimes pinned Pollard the man as a down-to-earth guy who likes to buy drinks for his fans at the local bar. �is description of Pollard’s real-life character contrasts with his music: most of his songs have a lurking element of gloom. After all, this is the man who has written songs with titles as charming as “Tractor Rape Train.” Maybe this is because most of Pollard’s songs sound as if they were recorded in a damp, dimly lit basement. Even a seemingly hopeful line on the album’s “�e Butler Stands For All Of Us” feels shrouded by the next verse: “Everything’s rounder and longer and safer and stronger/ It pays to know who you are”. By the time of the closing track, “Too Much Fun,” Pollard has taken his fauxBrit vocals to a place where they almost sound like an unhappy Bruce Campbell trying to do Roger Daltry impressions and the listener’s patience is tried for good. “�e Crawling Distance” goes to show that Pollard’s frequent musical output is a great example of more being much, much less.

How to Live Cheap in San Francisco

Courtesy of Seven Footer Press

SOPHIA LORENZI Staff Writer A self-proclaimed, “shameless self-promoter,” Broke-A— Stuart, also known as Stuart Schuffman, is in the process of making a name for himself. As one of San Francisco’s mini-celebrities, he continu-

ously comes up with ways for us to enjoy our city without emptying our pockets. Spending his college years at UC Santa Cruz, he often made the trek up to USF for friends and began falling in love with the city, beginning with our very own Hayes-Healy (but you’ll have to ask him for those speci�c details). Before his book there was his zine—a 33-page, single-photo mini publication with the �rst edition containing only 50 copies. To his surprise, the people of San Francisco loved his zine and left bookstores sparse, begging for something more. Twice he won the “Best Local Zine” award in the SF Bay Guardian newspaper. It was at this point that he thought his entertaining descriptions of various restaurants, stores and dive bars might be worth more than just a good laugh. After some serious research, which included scouring the city for the cheapest and most enthralling epicurean outlets, he �nally settled on more than 280 pages of raw and fresh San Francisco. However, you’ll learn more from his book than just cheap and free eats (though the free-food section is quite expansive). He breaks down the neighborhoods, describing the best places to shop, people-watch and loiter.

Both wise and hilarious, Stuart provides insight into the city’s underbelly, exposing some of the most exciting and eccentric places the city has to offer. In not-so-subtle ways, he steers away from big corporations and �ghts for the little guy by endorsing the small businesses that make the city come to life. His no-BS descriptions offer an unre�ned honesty that even make you want to visit the places he bashes. Don’t know what to get your friends for a belated holiday, their birthdays, for forgetting their birthdays? “Broke-A— Stuart’s Guide to Living Cheaply in San Francisco” is the perfect ‘just for you,’ ‘happy birthday,’ and/or ‘I’m sorry’ gift. Along with checking out some clips from his writing, you can buy Stuart’s book online at Amazon or Powell’s, or you can head on down to �e Booksmith bookstore on Haight. I couldn’t say it any better than him: “Broke-A— Stuart writes for busboys, poets, social workers, students, artists, musicians, magicians, mathematicians, maniacs, yodelers and everyone else out there who wants to enjoy life not as a rich person, but as a real person. Namely, he writes for you.” So buy this book already; then you and your friends can �nally venture into the city beyond �e Haight.

SPORTS

San Francisco Foghorn

7

FEBRUARY 26, 2009

Intramurals Allow Students to Play Competitively Health Corner: the Numerous team and have fun while also exercising. If then you can play intramural basketball, Benefits of the Watermelon MATT STEINBACH you do sign up for an intramural sport and where the competition is intense. BasketSports Editor

Do you love sports? Have you played sports competitively but are not talented enough or don’t have enough time to play on the school team? If you answered yes to both questions then Koret offers something that you may be interested in. For all of us that are not athletic enough or good enough to play Division One sports, Koret offers intramural athletics for nearly every sport that you can think of. Some of the intramural leagues that are offered are �ag football, basketball, indoor and outdoor soccer and dodgeball. All sports are available to play in both the spring and fall semesters. Playing intramurals is a great way to get exercise in a fun and competitive manner. If you don’t feel like running on a boring treadmill for 45 minutes, then get a group of friends, sign up an intramural

you have never played the sport before, be aware that intramurals get competitive and a lot of talented people play them. But they are fun, whether you win or not. �e variety of sports that Koret offers for intramural leagues makes it appealing to a wide range of students. You can basically play any sport. �ey even have dodgeball, the great elementary school pastime. �ere is nothing better than throwing a rubber ball as hard as you can at somebody else; it’s pure ecstasy. Besides nailing people with rubber balls, you get to relive a great childhood memory and play a game that will always be fun. If dodgeball isn’t your thing, you most certainly �nd a sport that you love to play. For instance, if you have played basketball your whole life but are not good enough for the school team or don’t want to commit that amount of time to a sport

ball is de�nitely one of the most competitive intramural sports. I have played intramural basketball since freshman year and the level of competition is very high. Despite this, it is also fun because I get to play a sport I love with my friends. Intramurals are also a great way to bond with friends. �ere is no better way to bond with someone than sports. �e teamwork and trust that is involved with sports makes it almost impossible not to bond with people. But be careful, sports can ruin relationships too; just look at Shaq and Kobe. Don’t let winning ruin friendships because winning isn’t that important. Intramurals are great because they allow you to compete in a sport, get exercise and build friendships. You can also relive some childhood memories in the process. So join intramurals, get exercise and have fun while relieving stress.

NICHOLAS MUKHAR Columnist

Watermelon is most commonly known as a summer fruit; remember those July and August barbecues where you have watermelon for dessert? But as we �ip the calendar to March we are actually entering the month when watermelon is at its freshest stage. �e sweetness of watermelon always attracted us when we were younger, but now it is more than taste that you should look for when watermelon season ripens. As is the case with most red fruits, watermelon has lycopene, which has been proven time and time again to prevent cancer. Watermelon is unique in that it has a usually high amount of lycopene. It also has potassium which helps control blood pressure, prevent strokes, and regulate the heart beat. But if you have been reading the Health Corner week after week, as I am sure most of you have, you have probably noticed that almost everything written about in the Health Corner prevents heart attacks and strokes and controls the heart. So what makes the watermelon so special? Why should you eat it instead of any other

fruit? Well for one thing, it is delicious. If you do not like watermelon, especially on a hot day, I recommend you have your taste buds checked. Watermelon is unique for practical reasons. It is a natural thirst quencher. It was �rst grown in Egypt, and was a very highly sought after fruit in Egypt because of its high water content combined with Egypt’s hot weather, deserts, and lack of water. Watermelon is 92 percent water. Some hieroglyphics suggest watermelon was put in the tombs of some pharaohs. Instead of gulping down fruit drinks with added and processed sugars, why not quench your thirst with some watermelon? You still bene�t from the nutrients and you get the sweetness of the natural sugar. Smart Water has nothing on the watermelon. Watermelon is also bene�cial because it is such a light snack. It will �ll you up without making you feel heavy and lazy. It comes in more than one form. You can buy them baby, regular or seedless. But why would you want it seedless? �at could even be the best part. Mostly in the Arab world but quickly growing in the U.S., roasted watermelon seeds are a popular snack. Now for the most unique health bene�t of the watermelon: prevention against erectile dysfunction. ED is caused by poor blood �ow, so eating watermelon on a regular basis can improve the condition because of a new element found in it. Citrulline is converted into arginine, which causes more nitric oxide to be released. �is causes blood vessels to expand throughout the body and increase blood �ow. �is is similar to the effects of Viagra. No, watermelon �avored gum and candy do not count. �ose are in season all year, but have zero nutritional value.

Everybody Loves a Cinderella Story ROAD: Continued from page eight

Kate Greenspan/Foghorn Dino Bichofberger kicks the ball down field as Lance Kipfer (left) and Rob Genz look on during an intramural soccer game last Saturday.

Francesca s Take on Dons Exciting Victory FAN: Continued from page eight few players were suspended; Santa Clara, in comparison, had 13 players on their squad. Before the 67 to 66 overtime loss, Santa Clara had a seven-game winning streak over the Dons. �e last time that the Dons beat Santa Clara was on January 28, 2006. �is victory also gives the Dons their second WCC victory of the season. �is was the best game I watched since

I started attending USF in the 2006 fall semester. I thought that the Dons played well in the �rst half, even though their stats say otherwise. Although Santa Clara had a six-point lead at halftime, the Dons came back in the second half to tie the game to force the game into overtime. During the second half, I thought that the Dons didn’t have a chance to win. With Blake Wallace fouling out of the game in the second half, I thought that the Dons would lose now that they had seven players. But somehow

the pulled off the improbable and won the game with an undermanned team. Pulling off the win against Santa Clara only added to the greatness of this game. I think that this game has revived USF’s rivalry with Santa Clara. �is was the last home game of the season and, to the say the least, I thought it was a memorable game. I have high hopes that the Dons can use this win as momentum to win their last two games of the season.

on Saturday, so the home court advantage tips the scale in favor of an SCU victory, meaning Saint Mary’s will edge the Pilots for the #2 WCC seed, regardless of what happens to the Pilots down in San Diego on �ursday. In their quarter�nal match-up against Portland, USF will have momentum on their side, but is going to have to step the game up. �e Dons and Pilots faced off twice this season already with both decisions going to the Pilots, �rst 78-60 and then 72-67. USF has shown it can hang with Portland but is going to have to ask even more from its leading scorer, Dior Lowhorn who averages 32.1 points per game but scored just 24 in his latest appearance against the Pilots. �e Dons are also going to have to do a better job defending against three-point shooting by the Pilots, who set a school record for most three-pointers against the Dons this year. USF should be able to go into the

contest fresh off the winning streak that started when they shut down the Broncos last Saturday, and carry that momentum to upset the Pilots. Moving into the semi�nals, USF will face the #2 seed, which in my prediction will be Saint Mary’s. �e Gaels beat USF twice this year in a 66-54 bout followed by a 79-58 blowout. I’m willing to roll the dice on this one and say USF will bring their A game and show the Gaels how the dance is done. �en it’s on to the WCC championship, where the Dons will inevitably face Gonzaga, and even though the Bulldogs have won eight of the last 10 WCC championships and USF has only won one in the history of the program, that will not stop us nor will it deter us, because at the moment of our reckoning, Bill Russell will appear in spirit and lead us triumphantly to victory and on to the NCAA tournament, where we will promptly be annihilated by the likes of Big East and Big 12 schools like UConn, Marquette and Kansas.

SPORTS

8

San Francisco Foghorn

FEBRUARY 26, 2009

Men s Basketball Wins a Thrilling Contest Over Rival Santa Clara

A Fan s Perspective On homecoming weekend, Dons rally in �nal minutes to win last home game of the year 67-66 on Saturday s Game ANDREA LENNOX Staff Writer

Homecoming weekend was �lled with excitement both Friday and Saturday night. Friday night was the homecoming concert, in which Lupe Fiasco put on a stellar show. His energy and intensity were simply amazing. Fortunately the men’s basketball team carried the same intensity and energy into their last home game of the year. Homecoming weekend was capped off by thrilling game against long time rival Santa Clara. �e men’s basketball team challenged Bay Area rival Santa Clara this past Saturday night in War Memorial Gym in their most exciting win of the season. �e Dons, who only suited up eight players, defeated the Broncos 67-66 with 0.6 seconds remaining in this year’s Homecoming game. �e Dons, who have had a seven game losing streak against the Broncos stretching over the past three years, stayed neck and neck with their rivals the entire game. �e Dons �red off, with a quick answer from the Broncos. USF pulled through the �rst half, although never leading by more than two points. It looked doubtful the Dons would have such a promising outcome when later in the �rst half Santa Clara charged ahead in a 10-1 run. Bronco Marc Trasolini added eight consecutive points to the Bronco’s 10-1 run, as well as eight more in the second half. Trasolini appeared to have secured yet another win for the Broncos late in the second half, giving them a �ve-point advantage with nearly two minutes left in the game. �is lead was due in part to successful free throws given after Walters was

called for a technical foul. �irty seconds later, USF’s Angelo Caloiaro made a left corner three-pointer, making the de�cit a mere two points. With 30 seconds remaining, Kwame Vaughn, freshman guard for the Dons, �lled this de�cit with a pair of foul shots as the scoreboard now read 66-66. With less than 10 seconds left, Santa Clara Bronco Perry Petty made a threepoint attempt from the left wing. However, Bronco Michael Santos was whistled for a foul after Vaughn collected Petty’s rebound. Hearts were racing after Vaughn missed the �rst free throw attempt. However, as the timer on the scoreboard read 0.6, the �nal shot of the game was sunk and the losing streak against the rival Broncos was over. Vaughn nailed a free throw attempt with half a second left in the game. He also kept the Dons in the game with a total of 17 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Dior Lowhorn helped his undermanned Dons with 13 points and nine boards. Santa Clara player Kevin Foster played an incredible game with a total of 20 points, which include seven in overtime when the Broncos had a 66-61 lead. Bronco John Bryant had an impressive game as well for his own personal stats as he �nished with 17 points and 12 rebounds for his 23rd double-double of the season. �e Broncos (14-15, 6-6 WCC) go on to play the WCC leading Gonzaga Bulldogs. USF (10-17, 2-10 WCC) will go on to play Loyola Marymount next �ursday in Los Angeles.

FRANCESCA CRUDO Staff Writer

Andrew Jimenez/Foghorn Blake Wallace shoots a jumper over Santa Clara s defenders as he helps the Dons secure their victory over the Broncos.

How playing fantasy sports can change the way you perceive professional sports

San Diego Santa Clara

Loyola

Gonzaga

Santa Clara

MATT STEINBACH Sports Editor

Gonzaga San Francisco

Portland Saint Mary’s Pepperdine

San Francisco San Francisco

San Francisco

Hunter’s WCC Tournament Predictions

The Dons Road to the WCC Championship

Even if it s a long, winding, perilous, unlikely, highly speculative road HUNTER PATTERSON Staff Writer

FAN: Continued on Page 7

The Disadvantages of Fantasy Sports

San Diego

San Francisco

Freshman guard Kwame Vaughn was fouled with 0.6 seconds left in overtime and the score was tied at 66. As Vaughn went up to shoot his �rst free throw, my heartbeat went up and I hoped that Vaughn would make this shot. However, he missed. I thought that Vaughn would miss the second shot and the game would go into double overtime. I thought that the agreement I made with two of my friends to storm the court if the Dons won would have to wait. I thought our cheers of “Dons ride horses” and “Buck the Froncos” were premature and that they jinxed the Dons’ chances of winning. As Vaughn went to shoot his second free throw, I had high hopes that he would make it. Vaughn made the second free throw to give the Dons the 67 to 66 lead. We, meaning Los Locos, waited until Santa Clara put up the last shot of the game before storming the court. Since Santa Clara missed the shot, we stormed the court. I have seen students at other colleges storm the court after games, especially in games where there was an upset, but I never thought that I would get the chance to do this at War Memorial Gym since, in my opinion, the Dons wouldn’t be able to pull off an upset (with the exception of the Dons almost upsetting nationally-ranked Gonzaga on Feb. 14). I went to the game thinking that Santa Clara would beat the Dons, that Santa Clara had a huge advantage over the Dons. �e Dons suited only eight players since a

perdine (5-7, WCC). Moving on to the WCC “Advance to �e Dons are likely to end the regular the Dance” championship in Las Vegas, season second to last in the WCC, having the Dons are going to be put to the test. won only 2 -10 conference games so far: Coming into the tournament in 7th place one against Santa Clara in a riveting 67-66 means they will match up against the 6th overtime victory on homecoming Saturday seed, which can only be Pepperdine, San and the other against Loyola Marymount Diego or Santa Clara. Assuming that neiin a 73-53 pounding in late January. With ther SCU nor USD will upset the nationonly two games left in the regular season, ally-ranked 12-0 (WCC) Gonzaga jugthe Dons have no chance of moving up gernaut, and that Pepperdine will lose to from seventh place but must keep a wary Saint Mary’s in a fashion similar to their eye on last place 1-11 (WCC) Loyola early season thumping, there are only eight Marymount, as the Lions still have an op- ways the Pepperdine-USD-SCU ordering portunity to overtake the Dons in their can go as the three teams will be con�ned �nal two games. LMU and USF square to the 4th, 5th and 6th seeds. �e number off this Saturday in Los Angeles, in what three spot, occupied by 8-4 Saint Mary’s, should be a fairly scrappy game as the two is within the reach of only SCU, which teams duke it out for the honor of being would have to beat Gonzaga and Portland while Saint Mary’s loses to Loyola and worst in the WCC. However, for LMU to overtake USF Pepperdine to overtake the Gaels. �ere is no way the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the rankings, USF will have to lose to both LMU this �ursday and Pepperdine will let Santa Clara walk away with a “W,” on Saturday in their �nal game of the sea- after beating the Broncos by more than son and LMU will have to clench its �nal 40 points earlier this season. It’s equally game against Saint Mary’s. Given that the unlikely that Saint Mary’s gives up games Dons already beat LMU handily once this to Loyola and Pepperdine, after destroyseason, and that Saint Mary’s delivered ing both teams back-to-back in January, LMU with a thorough 78-53 spanking Pepperdine by more than 50 points. �is in mid-January, I think we can safely de- outcome is so unlikely I’m going to rule it clare the Dons will �nish 7th in the WCC, impossible, meaning that SCU can’t enter meaning the team will have rounded out the WCC top three. Given the assumptions that Pepperdine this rebuilding year either 3-11 or 4-10 will lose to Saint Mary’s, but has a chance depending on how things go against Pep-

to beat USF, and that SCU and USD will both lose to Gonzaga but have the opportunity to win against Portland, there is a 75 percent chance Pepperdine winds up ranked 6th, a 25 percent chance USD is 6th and no chance that SCU holds that spot. Going with the odds here, I choose Pepperdine as USF’s opponent in the �rst round of the tournament. USF barely lost to Pepperdine 69-67 in late January so this match-up should be a good one, and with Lady Luck on her side, the Dons will be able to splash the Waves and advance to the quarter�nals. In the quarter�nals USF will play the third seed - either Portland or Saint Mary’s as both teams are still vying for the #2 and #3 tournament spots. It’s highly likely that the Gaels will win their �nal two regular season games against Pepperdine and Loyola, bringing their record to 10-4, 24-5 overall, meaning that Portland, currently 9-3, 18-9 overall, will have to win its �nal games against USD and SCU to hold onto the #2 spot. Portland narrowly defeated SCU 53-52 when they met earlier this season, where SCU mounted a strong rally from a 17-point de�cit to nearly clinch the win even while shooting well below their season average from the �oor and hitting just 5-21 from the -point line. Portland will face SCU in Santa Clara ROAD: Continued on Page 7

Fantasy sports are a growing industry in the United States and Canada with over 30 million players. Playing fantasy sports is now a social norm, most males 12 years old and above play some form of fantasy sports. �is growing hobby is great for people who love playing the game but are fantasy sports hurting professional sports? �e way fantasy sports work is pretty basic. You draft a team with the goal of getting the most points, and whoever gets the most points wins the league. �e way you get points is by accumulating statistics. So let’s say you play fantasy football. �e team that gets the most touchdowns and yards wins the match up against the opponent. Everything is based off of individual statistics, and the players who produce the best stats are the best players to have. Like professional sports, there are a regular season and playoffs. In the end, the winner of the league gets bragging rights for the year and maybe a trophy, but not much else. Fantasy sports seem as if they wouldn’t affect professional sports, but they do in some ways. Before fantasy sports, watching a sport was all about rooting for your favorite team and watching them every time they played on television. But when you play fantasy sports, you only watch the players that you have on your team. Instead of rooting for the 49ers, you root for Tom Brady to throw three touchdowns against them but you still want the 49ers to win. �e fact the Tom Brady dissected your favorite team’s defense is upsetting but as long as you won your fantasy match-up you are happy. It’s difficult to root for a professional team and a fantasy team. Sometimes rooting for your fantasy team becomes more important than rooting for your favorite team. Someone I know recently bought season tickets to the San Francisco 49ers to prove that he still loves the team more than his fantasy team. Instead of watching his fantasy players on Sunday, he’s going to watch the team that he has watched since a child. One way that fantasy sports hurts professional sports is that it makes you choose between your fantasy team and favorite team and sadly a lot of people chose their fantasy team. Since fantasy sports are all about individual statistics, this takes away the team aspect of sports. Great teams win cham-

pionships, not great players but because of fantasy sports’ popularity, the performances of individuals matter more. As great as Michael Jordan was, he would have never won those six championships without Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Steve Kerr and the rest of his teammates. But in fantasy sports, Michael Jordan’s teammates would not matter as long as Michael Jordan continued to dominate. �e team game is less appreciated. All sports are team games and it is impossible to win in a sport unless you have a great team. An individual player cannot win a championship, only a team can. For me, fantasy sports are a hobby that teaches me about players I would never know about. So fantasy sports have some positives to them for the sports world. �ey make people more aware of little-known players, because to be good at fantasy sports you have to know about good players who are not superstars. Fantasy sports gross billions of dollars a year for many media companies. Numerous websites and magazines are devoted solely to fantasy sports coverage. �is industry is a �nancial gold mine and it continues to grow in popularity. With all this said, I am an avid fantasy sports player. I have been playing since my freshman year of high school. My friends and me have teams for nearly every fantasy sport, baseball, and basketball and of course football. It’s a hobby that consumes numerous hours of my free time but once if you play fantasy sports you would understand why. It is the most addicting thing; it’s like a drug. Analyzing all those stats, drafting a team and picking up free agents are the best highs. It’s all done in fun but it can get a little out of control, because the amount of time it takes. Since I play so much, I think that it has hurt my level of fan hood for some of my teams. For instance, last year my fantasy football team became more important than my favorite professional team, the 49ers. My fantasy team won a championship and the 49ers, well; they �nished on a good note but only won seven games. Maybe if the 49ers were more like my fantasy team I would root for them with more intensity. Hopefully my addiction won’t further affect my appreciation for professional sports. Foe everyone out there that plays fantasy sports, don’t let them consume your life or your appreciation for professional sports because your teams need you to root for them.