June 23

California State University, Northridge

Since 1957

Volume 50 • Number 122

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June 23-27, 2008

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North Hills couple first to wed after beating marriage ban Salena Barcenas

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Staff Reporter

wo North Hills women made history in front of a courthouse last week when they commemorated their love for each other. State law gave its blessing. The Beverly Hills courthouse issued Robin Tyler, 66, and Diane Olson, 55, who challenged the state’s ban on same-sex marriage and won, a marriage license on June 16. People cheered as the two walked out of the courthouse along with highprofile lawyer Gloria Allred. All were dressed in cream-colored suits. Rabbi Eger officiated the wedding under a white chuppah (canopy). “By this ring, you are consecrated to me,” Olson and Tyler repeated to each other as they exchanged wedding rings. Eger said, “I now pronounce you spouses for life,” and the crowd cheered to congratulate the first samesex couple married in Los Angeles County since the California Supreme Court struck down a previous ban on such nuptials a month ago. Tyler and Olson broke glass together with their feet, which in a Jewish wedding signifies the end of the ceremony. “My name is Robin Tyler and I’d like to introduce you to my wife,” Tyler said. Beverly Hills Mayor Barry Brucker, said, “We share his wonderful moment

Tina Helwajian / staff reporter

Robin Tyler, 66, and Diane Olsen, 55, speak to media about their wedding outside of the Beverly Hills Courthouse on June 16.

in our country and state. We want to thank you for leading the way for couples in the future.” Debra Miller, a wedding guest who knows the couple from the West Hollywood-based Kol Ami synagogue, said, “I think they are very brave and

pioneers.” “I’m very proud of them,” Miller said. “I’m quite certain, come November, with the help of the intelligent youth of America, we will defeat the anti-gay marriage amendment.” Miller is referring to an initiative

that was recently put on the November 4 ballot. If passed, it would amend California’s state constitution to recognize marriage as between a man and a woman. “They will still be legally married, but they are going to have to fight it,”

North Hills newlyweds fell in love 35 years ago 

Student faces murder charges after car crash Monica Duester

A

Staff Reporter

current student faces two counts each of second-degree murder and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated after he allegedly crashed into the rear end of a car in Encino and killed two people. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office suspects Sean Martin Mishlof, 24, a construction and management technology major, of colliding his 1995 Mercury Mystique into the back of a 1990 Nissan Sentra that was stopped at the intersection of Ventura Boulevard and Densmore Avenue after 2 a.m. on June 7, a press release from the DA’s office shows. The victims, who wore seatbelts, suffered serious head

Index Features Classifieds Arts & Entertainment

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trauma and were pronounced dead at the scene, the press release shows. Police Sgt. Larry Jones from the Los Angeles Police Department said the crash was so severe that they had to request a device called the Jaws of Life from the heavy rescue team to assist them. The Los Angeles Fire Department provided Mishlof, who suffered minor injuries, with medical assistance. Police later booked Mishlof, and the DA’s office charged him with several felony counts including murder, said Detective William Bustos of the Valley Traffic Division. Though Mishlof was to appear in court on June 10 for an arraignment hearing, it was rescheduled to July 3. Prosecutors have requested that the court set his bail at $2 million.

Allred said. “We believe their marriage will continue to be valued, so no matter what will happen in November … it will not be retroactive to this marriage.” Protestors showed up at the wedding to let the people in attendance know that marriage is sacrosanct. “There needs to be people to stand up and oppose sin, and a lot of people in L.A. don’t do that,” Don Stewart, a Riverside resident, said. “We need people to know the truth. God said he created Adam and Eve.” “When you deviate from God, then you’re sinning,” Stewart said. “It’s going to ruin the country.” Rod Warner of Orange County, who was also attendance, said, “It’s just bringing more devastation on America.” He linked Northridge’s pornography industry to the 1994 earthquake. The people of New Orleans worshipped the Roman god of wine Bacchus, and that is why Katrina happened, Warner said. “I just ignore them. They’re wrong,” Debra Miller said. “I’m hoping they (the protestors) feel embarrassed and shamed for putting this on.” Aimee Grove, a student at Whittier College who was at the wedding to represent 93.1 JACK FM, said, “We’re very much in support of them.” “We came out here to show that JACK FM supports (the couple),” Grove said. “I’m totally in favor. It’s not affecting anyone else.”

Tina Helwajian

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Staff Reporter

COURTESY OF SCOTT WATTERSON

Sean Mishlof, 24, is in jail awaiting arraignment.

Andrew Flesuras, a CSUN student and Phi Delta Theta alumnus, said he was devastated when he heard the news about Mishlof, his fraternity

brother. “Sean was pledge president back in 2003 when I joined See mishlof, page 3

limousine pulled up to the Beverly Hills Courthouse on June 16 with two women inside who have been in a relationship for about 15 years. Large crowds of media surrounded the couple as they made their way inside to create a new chapter in the history books. “Who are you guys waiting for?” asked Robin Tyler, one of the women getting married. “You!” replied members of the media. When Tyler, 66, stepped out of the limousine with her partner, Diane Olson, 55, she was overtaken by joy to see the large number of friends, family and media who came to support their love and marriage. “When we got out of the

features

A&E

Alumnus makes short film about crossroad of post-college life

Angelina Jolie trains numbers cruncher into deadly assassin

See page 5

See page 8

limo at the wedding and saw all the media, I thought that Paris Hilton got arrested again,” Tyler said. “I couldn’t believe they were all here for us.” After one week of marriage, the couple is pinching themselves in disbelief. “Every muscle in my face hurt that day from smiling,” Olson said. “It was so surreal. This is really happening. It was so emotional.” Their love story began 35 years ago when Tyler befriended Olson’s sister. One day, Olson went to pick up her sister from Tyler’s house and astounded her, and she said that Tyler astounded her. They quickly became friends. When Olson broke up with her then girlfriend, she turned to Tyler for support and the two became closer in See meeting, page 7

LATEST weather Log on to sundial.csun.edu

2 • Summer Sundial • CSUN • June 23-27, 2008

news

Speed racers ready to go

A.S. rethinks veto of patrol staff Tuesday

DESSIRAEE ELEBY

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STAFF REPORTER

ate nights and early mornings are spent in Jacaranda Hall as CSUN Formula-SAE, also known as Matador Motorsports, builds their formula-one style race car to compete in the Formula- SAE West competition from June 25-28. “Its pretty demanding,” said Matt Powell, 20-year-old junior majoring in business, who is the project manager. Powell has been apart of the team for the last three years. Twenty of the 22-member team major in mechanical engineering. Two members are the exceptions majoring in electrical engineering and business. Many of the members enroll in ME486 A, B or C during the school year to establish the design of the race car during the fall semester and implement its design in the spring semester. “It goes beyond (just) participating in class ... ,” said Powell because the race car is not completed until after the end of spring semester. Eight or nine members spend an average of 15 hours a day working on the race car. There are modifications made to the race car each year. The focus for this year’s race car is making it lighter in weight. The race car will be built from a carbon fiber, a thin high-strength material. “A key thing in designing a race car is making it as light as possible,” said Powell. With a lighter race car there is a higher performance includes better acceleration, handling and breaking. This is the third year that the MataSee race car, page 3

Dessiraee Eleby

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photos by mildred martin / photo editor

Mechanical engineering students work on their race car. They will have the formula car ready for their race in Fontana, which takes place this week.

Dessiraee Eleby

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Staff Reporter

enators of A.S. will consider CSUN President Jolene Koester’s recommendations to restore funding for the budgets of nine campus programs on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Grand Salon. Former A.S. president Adam Haverstock vetoed these funds in the proposed 2008-09 A.S. budget. The degree and magnitude of the programs affected more students directly or indirectly through student organizations, Koester said as to why she asked A.S. to restore certain programs’ funding. Koester recommended that full funding be restored for the Aquatic Center, Center of Achievement, Discover, Inquire, Grow in LA, Public Safety Escort Service, Science and Math Retention, Science and Math Retention Tutors, Student Development and International Program (SDIP), and Student Panels for an International Curriculum and Education. Haverstock also vetoed partial amounts of the budgets of the SDIP Leadership Institute and SDPI Matador

he Public Escort Service, also known as Matador Patrol, may lose two new positions if A.S. eliminates their funding for the 200809 academic year. A.S. senators will meet to discuss the issue on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Grand Salon. The $15,000 budget account for the salaries and benefits of a new plan to station one Matador Patrol escort in the University Student Union and another Matador Patrol escort to drive a golf cart from the Oviatt Library with up to three students at a time to their cars, dorms and other areas on campus. “I don’t want to tell people I can’t do this,” said Captain Scott VanScoy, who oversees the Matador Patrol, a student-run program. The USU donated the office space where the Matador Patrol escort would be stationed, VanScoy said. Matador Patrol escorts in the USU have a newly renovated booth to the left of the fitness center, said Jason Wang, USU associate director of operation and services. The booth will be use to store additional equipment and distribute safety material. For approximately five nights a week including Matador Nights the Matador Patrol will patrol the USU, said Wang. Physical Plant Management donated a street legal, four-seat golf cart that a Matador Patrol escort would use to

Justin O’Grady, the brake engineer for the race car, makes sure that all parts are tightly secure.

Koester asks A.S. to reconsider vetoes of budgets for nine campus programs Involvement Center (MIC) Volunteer Program. Koester recommended that their budgets be restored as well. In addition, Koester recommended that A.S. restore funding for MIC Programs and for an SDIP Graduate Assistant Organization Advising position. If restored, the funding would equate to $67,333. Koester also advised that the budget include $12,064 for am MIC board service position to manage bulletin boards across campus. The individual in the position would post fliers for student organization and remove improper posted materials from 15 bulletin boards and displays throughout campus, Crandall said. Koester also advocated that A.S. not decrease the funding of athletic scholarships by $63,600, but later agreed to recommend partial funding of $27,601 to allow for a balanced budget presentation. The $36,000 required to restore the athletic scholarships budget to its 2007-08 budget level will be allocated from funds for unbudgeted items that become available during the 2008-09 academic year.

“The reduction in funding will mean that athletes will not receive the scholarship amount promised,” said Koester in a June 16 memorandum. She lists lowered morale as one justification for restoring the athletics scholarship budget to the 2007-08 budget level, the memo shows. Athletes may be forced to work additional hours that should be directed to academics and athletic practice and competition. Koester’s memo shows. “My intention was to offer suggestions for consideration that allow A.S. to present a balance budget,” Koester said. Koester’s recommendations, however, leaves $924 in the unallocated reserves fund. “Both, I and President Segura, wanted to make sure student voices are heard,” said Koester on their collaborative effort to approve the A.S. budget. Nareen Manoukian, 21year-old English graduate student, agreed that the new A.S. is making a step in the right direction. “It is ideal for everyone’s voice to be heard, but that is inefficient to hear all 30,000

Staff Reporter

See patrol, page 6

I’m walking on air ...

mildred martin / photo editor

iFly, an indoor skydiving attraction, opened eight months ago at Universal City Walk. Matt Abshire, an ifly instructor, shows some moves to a tourist on June 17.

people’s voices,” Manoukian said. “This is a step in the right direction for more people voices to be heard.” “It doesn’t make sense to keep everyone dissatisfied in an effort to avoid keeping only a few satisfied,” Manoukian said. Juan Pastor, a 26 year-old senior who is double majoring in religious studies and liberal studies, said he is torn because the budgets of some

of which he is a part are being cut while other club budgets are not cut. “I think it’s sad all of this is happening when no one is on campus,” Pastor said. If the A.S. budget is not approved by July 1, the start of the new fiscal year, A.S. will operate on the 2007-08 A.S. budget until the new budget is approved, Crandall said. No funding will be

approved for any student club, campus department, or A.S. department that has questionable allocations of their funds. Miguel Segura, the new A.S. president was not available for comment. Nicole Umali, the new A.S. vice president, did not wish to comment on the A.S. budget recommendations until after the June 24 Senate meeting.

Summer Sundial • CSUN • June 23-27, 2008 • 3

Continued from page 1 the fraternity, and from then on we’ve been good friends,” Flesuras said. “It’s just hard to think that one of your buddies is in a predicament like this.” Phi Delta Theta President Scott Watterson, a civil engineering major, said he met Mishlof at the clubs and activities portion of freshman orientation three years ago. Watterson said he would only answer questions if they were sent to him via e-mail. “He was the first member of Phi Delta Theta that I met,” Watterson’s e-mail response shows.

race car

Continued from page 2 dor Motorsports will be attending Formula-SAE West in Fontana, Calif. although it gives the team no real advantage. “The course is changed every year so you really never know what to expect,” said Powell. CSUN Formula-SAE practices in parking lots, which gives them the biggest challenge when the team races on the race course at higher speeds, said Powell. The four-day event will hold a total of seven competitions. The competitions are divided

“It is because of his friendliness and interest in me as a freshman that I considered being a part of the fraternity.” Mishlof was the fraternity president during the fall 2005 semester when Watterson pledged. “I try to model my own leadership, as hard as that is, by the way he led,” Watterson’s e-mail response shows. Flesuras said Mishlof is as a well-liked and respected person throughout the Greek system. He participated in intramural sports, Flesuras said. In 2005, the Hollywood Knights Celebrity basketball team played against the Asso-

ciated Students Recreational (ASREC) All-Stars intramural fraternity team in which Mishlof was a star player. Watterson’s e-mail response indicates Mishlof became a CSUN student in the Fall 2002 semester and an alumnus of the Phi Delta Theta in 2006. “It is because of his leadership skills that he is able to come to these events and teach active members about how to run a fraternity,” Watterson’s e-mail response shows. Mishlof grew up in San Mateo where his parents continue to reside. His sister recently had a baby, and friends say he loved being an uncle.

Flesuras said Mishlof was less active in the fraternity after a few years because he was concentrating more on his studies. “He was excelling in his classes, and his professors really liked him,” Flesuras said. Mishlof also earned a summer internship with Clark Construction Group, building the second phase of L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles, Watterson’s e-mail response shows. When completed, it is suppose to be the west coast version of Times Square. Friends that have been able to speak with Mishlof say he is remorseful and that his bright spirit is gone.

“We feel for the families of the men who died because that could have been anyone of us sitting at the light,” Watterson’s e-mail response shows. “Initially, I was concerned about the health of Sean and then of the others in the car with him,” Watterson’s e-mail response shows. “It felt unreal at first. But when I saw the picture of the car, it confirmed everything.” Friends say Mishlof, no matter the ultimate outcome of his case, plans to give back to the community by sharing his story with youngsters to prevent similar tragedies from happening. “Knowing Sean, he will take

responsibility for the actions to which he may be guilty of,” Watterson’s e-mail response shows. Detective Bustos said this is an open and ongoing investigation. “I have assigned collision investigators to the case but cannot comment on anything,” Bustos said. “Everything will come out in court.” Flesuras said Mishlof’s parents have sought representation from DUI-specialist Richard Hutton, who represented Paris Hilton in her DUI case a year ago. Hutton works for the Southern California-based firm, Hutton & Wilson.

into two categories: static and dynamic events. The static events include a sales pitch, cost presentation and design presentation. Powell will be making the sale pitch to the judges. Five people will be assigned to perform the cost presentation that will account for every nut and bolt used on the car. All the team members will be present for the design presentation, said Powell. The dynamic events are when the actual driving takes place, said Powell. There are four basic driving competition; acceleration, skid pad, auto cross and endurance test.

Weight reduction is important to get a fast time, said Tadaoki Matsudaira, 25, CSUN alumnus. As one of the four drivers for this year’s competition, he does nothing special except tries not gain any more weight. Matador Motorsports chose four drivers at the beginning of the school year. Each team member is allowed to drive the previous year race car. The drivers with the fastest and most consistent times are chosen to drive in the competition. “Especially driving acceleration (race), a lighter weight car

can gain a faster time,” said Matsudaira is a potential driver in the acceleration race portion of the competition. “A lot more (money was raised this year) than in previous years,” said Powell. Fifty thousand dollars was the grand total of funding raised. Associated Students, IRA and University Corporation donated most of the budget, said Powell. Two members of CSUN F-SAE: Chris Rabadi and Kenyon Whetsell brought in additional outside funding from local businesses Dynamo Aviation and Centric Parts. Whetsell the 23-year-old

mechanical engineering senior met Dino Crescentini, the owner of Centric Parts as a Tri-Point Engineering employee. Crescentini was very generous and very approachable, according to Whetsell for whom the task of asking for cold hard cash is difficult. “(It was a) huge help for him give,” said Whetsell. The funding partially paid for the data acquisition system

that will be use to gather information while someone drives the race car. “The data acquisition for improving the car and for next year’s team is so invaluable,” said Whetsell. “We educate drivers as well as the engineers working on the car,” said Whetsell. “The more information we can acquire while driving, the more information we have and can improve the car and the driver.”

correction

Information in an article in last week’s issue describing the arrest of a campus chef on theft charges should have been attributed to a CSUN Police Department report.

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4 • Summer Sundial • CSUN • June 23-27, 2008

A match made in Beverly Hills Robin Tyler and Diane Olson got married on June 16 after 5 p.m. in front of the Beverly Hills Courthouse, where they were initially denied a marriage license on Valentine’s Day in 2004. Along with other couples, Tyler and Olson filed lawsuits against the state of California because of its statewide ban on same-sex marriage. In 2000, voters passed Proposition 22, which initially imposed this ban. Last month, a majority of justices on the California Supreme Court, 4-3, ruled to strike down this ban and allow couples such as Tyler and Olson to legally tie the knot. Tyler and Olson met by a chance occurrence 35 years ago. Though they are happy that they are now married, Tyler and Olson said they intend to continue to fight for the same equal rights under the law as heterosexual couples.

Photo Essay by Tina Helwaijian

1. Cake and Art, a West Hollywood bakery, donated this “Eden” wedding cake. 2. Diane Olson stands amid the media frenzy at her traditional Jewish wedding. 3. Several sign-bearing protestors show their discontent with the couple’s marriage. 4. Robin Tyler (left) and Diane Olson (right) give thanks to supporters in attendance. 5. A protestor holds up a sign questioning gay marriage. 6. Rabbi Denise Eger officiates the ceremony. 7. Sugar cookies are served in the shape of two blushing brides. 8. Friends and family gather to support Tyler and Olson’s marriage.

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Summer Sundial • CSUN • June 23-27, 2008 • 5

features

Filmmaker tells tale of growing up Susannah Reynolds

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Staff Reporter

rying to figure out what is next after graduating from college is something many people have to deal with. Ben Litton, the main character in “Finding Bigfoot,” finds himself in the same predicament after college. He has to decide whether to follow in his father’s footsteps and run a hardware store or pursue a career in photography. “Finding Bigfoot” was one of five student projects selected during the Spring 2007 semester for the final senior project in the film production program. CSUN alumnus Robert Larson, 24, wrote and directed the short film, which received its funding from the Hollywood Foreign Press. “I was determined to be picked,” Larson said. “I went to the meeting the year before to see how to get picked.” Larson noticed that students who were a part of the short script writing class were the ones receiving funding. Larson said he was unable to add the class in the Fall 2006 semester, but he nevertheless showed up to every class session. He said he befriended professor Jon Stahl during his time in class, who commented on drafts of his script. Once Larson had a viable script, he put a crew together for the production of the film. He asked Liz Pantoja, 26, to be producer of the short film. Pantoja said once she read the film’s

courtesy of robert larson

Ben (Jarret Worley) and Clifford (Jerry Bornstein) head out on a road trip in  “Finding Bigfoot,” a short film written and directed by CSUN alumnus Robert Larson.

script, she was on board. She said the characters were warm and she knew that anyone who saw the film would like it. Pantoja said the script was something they “could nail on the head.” Every student film project had to start with a proposal. The proposal for “Finding Bigfoot” included a portfolio, a letter of intent, a biography of the crew, photos of what the wardrobe would look like and music that professors could listen to while reading the proposal. Pantoja said , music was a big aspect of the movie. Nate Thomas, head of the film production program, said the committee looks for “something creative and not the typical script” when considering whether to approve produc-

tion of short student films such as “Finding Bigfoot.” Thomas said the proposal for “Finding Bigfoot” was “quirky” and had a good feel to it. The character of Ben was interesting, as well as the relationship between a grandson and grandfather, Thomas said. The idea for the short film came to Larson while he was driving with his wife Vanessa, 25, to the Los Angeles County Fair. They ended up getting lost, and it was during this drive that the idea of “Finding Bigfoot” entered his mind. Another inspiration for the movie was Clifford Van Ness, 85, the grandfather of Larson’s wife. The character Clifford, Ben’s grandfather, is named after him. Larson said he knew he

wanted to use Van Ness’ home as the location of Ben’s family. But he had to get help from his wife and motherin-law to convince Van Ness to let Larson film his house. Everything in the movie, including the yellow truck the character Clifford drives in the short film, is Van Ness’ property. Larson said Van Ness drove the truck to the shooting location on days they used the truck in the film. Van Ness passed away toward the end of May. He was able to see the final cut of the movie, and he “laughed and said that’s my stuff” when he did, Larson said. A driving force behind the movie was music and photography. Larson

said after Van Ness’ wife gave him a box of slides, he “knew that he wanted the story to revolve around photos/ slides/photography.” As for the music, Larson said he wanted it to “flow between dialogue and music.” A lot of the songs in the short film are original pieces, but there was one song, “The Mistress Witch from McClure” (or, The Mind That Knows Itself) by Sufjan Stevens, that he attained permission to use, Larson said. The short was one of the cheapest of the five other student projects to film with a budget of $15,000, Larson said. The idea of making a movie that was “doable” is what Larson had in mind. This Hollywood Foreign Press awarded the production $7,000, and they generated the rest of the money by organizing bake sales and getting their families to donate money, Larson said. Pantoja said she was also able to get a lot of donations from companies such as Modern Videofilm, TM Motion Picture, Equipment Rentals, Inc. and Kodak Motion Picture Film. The financial donations helped pay for the more expensive tools used during the filming process, such as the film that was used, Pantoja said. Pantoja said the crew aims to turn “Finding Bigfoot” into a feature length film, as some people have expressed an interest in doing so. In the meantime, the crew is entering the short film in festivals. Entering in festivals is what helps gain the interests of Hollywood executives, and winning awards is what really catches their eyes, Thomas said. Where “Finding Bigfoot” will go in terms of further distribution remains to be known. Pantoja said she and Larson started a production company and that she hopes they continue to work together on productions.

Black belt bruiser shows opponents the thunda’ with taekwondo fighting, dreams of Olympic gold Dessiraee Eleby

S

Staff Reporter

occer or taekwondo? The answer for sixyear-old Markie Keelan was simple. Whatever Jodi, her older sister, chose was what she wanted to do. Thirteen years later, Keelan, a 19-year-old CSUN psychology major, has a third-degree black belt in taekwondo. Keelan won five gold medals, three silver medals and three bronze medals since 2003, the USA Taekwondo Web site shows. “I like to fight, but I don’t like to get hurt,” Keelan said. A broken nose, jaw, and multiple rolled ankles are injuries that Keelan sustained from participating in taekwondo. Keelan said the broken nose was “a silly little thing,” but the broken jaw was “embarrassing.” In practice, Keelan held a paddle for another teammate, and when the teammate attempted to kick the paddle, the teammate missed and connected with Keelan’s jaw. “Now, looking back it is kind of funny,” Keelan said. Keelan practices Olympicstyle taekwondo at Progression Sports Performance, a private gym in Chatsworth. She is a part

of Team Jiro, a 15-member team that competes locally, nationally and internationally. “In training, it’s a team aspect, but for competition we go out there and compete individually,” said Simona Hradil, Keelan’s 32-year-old teammate. Keelan was admitted to the National Collegiate Team in May 2008. Her membership allows her to compete at the national and international levels as an adult. In July, Keelan competes at the U.S. National Taekwondo Championship in Detroit, Mich. and at the 10 World University Taekwondo Championship in Belgrade, Serbia. Teammates Hradil and Naomi Sta. Maria, 28, describe Keelan as “ruthless” and “relentless” in a match. “Big things come in small packages,” Hradil said about Keelan’s 5-foot-4-inch stature. She competes as a fin weight -103.6 lbs. When Keelan fights, “I just see red,” Hraldi said. “It’s a combative sport,” Sta. Maria said. “You have to hit someone to win.” Keelan never backs down from anyone, Sta. Maria said. “She motivates me,” said Sta. Maria, who has only been practicing taekwondo for five years. It is her attitude, Sta. Maria said. Sta. Maria sees it in Keelan’s

body language and voice when she competes. Dressed in a dobok, white pants, white long sleeve top with a black v-neck and her black belt, Keelan prepares to fight three two-minute rounds. She also wears proper protection gear consisting of headgear, chest guard, shin guards, forearm guards and a mouthpiece. Five judges monitor each match based on a point system. Though there are several ways to win a tournament, Keelan listed five ways, and she prefers a knockout or seven-point-gap win. “It’s an easy win because you know you won,” Keelan said. She scored a knockout win at a Lancaster tournament when she was 16. A seven-point-gap win “makes me feel good,” said Keelan, as it lets her know she is significantly better than her opponent. “Mental state hinders us from performing,” Keelan said. “I do a lot of visualizations when I fight to get my nerves down and be successful.” When Keelan is met with physical contact, her initial reaction is to get upset, and it causes her to get riled up, thwarting her focus. “Staying calm puts everything in perspective,” Keelan

said. Her biggest struggle in a match is staying in control of her mind, Keelan said. Everyone’s strategy in taekwondo is different, Keelan said. Her strategy is to try to remain calm, but sometimes she diverts from it. “If it gets down to when I’m losing, I just try to bring the fire out.” Diane Keelan, her mother, a second-degree black belt, said, “We’re all black belts here,” with the exception of her husband. “He just pays for it.” “She takes a lot of initiative,” said Diane Keelan. It is wrong for parents to bribe their child to win, Diane Keelan said. “They have to push themselves.” “It’s brutal,” said Keelan’s mother about many kids who quit when they lose or get hurt. But this is not Keelan. “Markie was one of those kids who took it for what it was and never took it personally,” Diane Keelan said. “I’m the one who tells everyone,” said Diane Keelan, who describes her daughter as humble. “As a parent, it’s something I’m really proud of.” “She has a passion for taekwondo,” Diane Keelan said. “Markie is exceptionally well at it.” In 2005, Keelan was ranked

courtesy of markie keelan

From left to right: Mandy Li, Naomi Sta. Maria, Markie Keelan, Simona Hadril.

as No. 1 in junior taekwondo league in the Western hemisphere after participating in the Junior Pan Am Tournament in Aruba. After making the USA Junior National Team, a team for 14 to 17 year-olds, and now the National Collegiate Team, a team for competitors 17 and older, Keelan’s future plans consist of making the U.S. National Team and the U.S. Olympic Team. Keelan said her ultimate goal is to compete in the Olympics. Taekwondo has only been an official Olympic sport for the last eight years. It is the highest honor one can

achieve, Keelan said about being apart of the Olympic team. Only four people from each country can compete at the Olympic Games, and it only occurs every four years. “Taekwondo, as a whole, has taught me to be a better student because it has taught me how to focus,” Keelan said. At 16, Keelan and her USA Junior National Team went to an Olympic training center, and she saw the interaction between the athletes. “Pressure in any sport is just enormous,” Keelan said. “There needs to be a change in focus from just focusing on the sport,” Keelan said.

6 • Summer Sundial • CSUN • June 23-27, 2008

news

Clinton’s supporters see ‘cracks’ in glass ceiling Theresa Wray

N

Staff Reporter

ew York Sen. Hillary Clinton, who visited campus in January, said in the final speech of her bid for the presidency that her supporters put “18 million cracks in the glass ceiling.” But her unsuccessful run for the White House calls into question whether the ceiling is far from broken. “She made inroads, but we’re not through it yet,” said Debbie Walsh, director at the

patrol

Continued from page 2 drive students to their on-campus destinations at night. The USU and the library are highly populated areas at night, VanScoy said. The general policy is to have 10 Matador Patrol escorts that monitor and patrol different parts of campus, he said. The library and student housing hire additional Matador Patrol escorts to patrol those areas. “Ten isn’t a lot, but with bikes and carts the response time improves the efficiency of the unit,” VanScoy said.

Center for American Woman in Politics. “She jumped over that bar that showed she was tough enough for that office. But the media couldn’t handle it. That’s where the sexism and gender slurs came in.” Clinton delivered her final speech earlier this month and endorsed Sen. Barack Obama as the Democratic Party nominee for U.S. president. “I think it’s great to have a women go as far as she has, but I choose not to look at it as breaking the glass ceiling,” said Moreen Rubin, a psychology

major at CSUN. “It’s ridiculous to see a candidate as black or white, male or female. We need to look at just the issues.” Clinton insisted that she was not running as a woman throughout her campaign, but as the best candidate for president. In her final speech, she acknowledged the sexism that women confront as they climb to leadership roles. “I am a woman, and like millions of women, I know there are still barriers and biases out there, often unconscious,” Clinton said. “I want to build

an America that respects and embraces the potential of every last one of us.” During the 16 months and 22 on-stage debates with Obama, Clinton’s campaign was smeared with sexist remarks. During the New Hampshire primary, Clinton’s speech was interrupted when two men screamed, “Iron my shirt!” suggesting that a woman’s place is in the laundry room, not the Oval Office. A nutcracker resembling Clinton, only with shark-like teeth between her legs, was cre-

ated as a marketing gimmick and was widely advertised. The nutcracker stemmed from sexist remarks by MSNBC News Anchor, Tucker Carlson, who said he involuntarily crosses his legs when he sees Clinton on TV. At a South Carolina event, another sexist remark was levied against Clinton when a supporter of Sen. John McCain asked, “How do we beat the bitch?” McCain laughed and said, “That’s an excellent question.” Racism was also a factor in the fight for the Democratic

Party nomination. Two preachers from Obama’s former church, the Chicago-based Trinity United Church of Christ, delivered racist and sexist remarks. Video clips of Obama’s former Rev. Jeremiah Wright delivering comments like “God Damn America” were widely distributed and stirred up discussions about racism in America. Michael Pfleger, a guest minister for the church, recently mocked Clinton for getting tearyeyed during the New Hampshire

VanScoy employs approximately 35 Matador Patrol escorts each year. Matador Patrol escorts peaked at 120 after the earthquake, VanScoy said. The number of escorts decreased in 1999 when the campus increased the numbers of buildings, changing the previous orange grove landscape and established the blue light system. Matador escorts have not performed security since 2001 when the policy changed, but they support the CSUN PD as its eyes and ears, VanScoy said. “We (campus police) can’t be everywhere,” VanScoy said. The escorts are trained to

identify suspicious activity and report it to the campus police department, VanScoy said. Matador Patrol’s uniforms do not resemble police officer uniforms, so alleged suspects tend to not leave the scene as quickly. Each Matador Patrol escort goes through an interview process, a background check that includes Livescan, VanScoy said. They fill out a questionnaire, their references are called and they complete training before they are deployed into the field, he said. Boyoon Kang, 22-year-old senior liberal studies major, said a golf cart that would take students to their cars and other on-

campus destination is a good idea. “I hate walking to my car from the library because the parking lots are really far,” Kang said. “It does get scary.” Kang regularly uses the Matador Patrol escorts, particularly during the winter months when it gets dark earlier. Tara Aminfar, an anthropology graduate student, said escorts are a useful service. As an alumna of the University of Arkansas, Aminfar used their escorts when she stayed late at the library. Aminfar plans to use CSUN’s Matador Patrol if her work schedule allows her stay late at the library to study. It is

safer sometimes to be escorted to parking lots that are further away, VanScoy said. “It’s faster and more convenient if you drive,” Aminfar said. A.S. funding is used exclusively for students’ salary and benefits, said VanScoy. “The past seven years, A.S. has been a great help to us,” said VanScoy, who discussed several advertising campaigns that A.S. helped fund in past years when he has asked for additional funding for Matador Patrol. The uniform and equipment costs are taken from the $36,000 annual campus funding, VanScoy said.

Additional funds from Parking Services are obtained through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). MOU provides about $36,000 that can vary year to year because their funding is based on statistical research of how many students are escorted to the parking structures. “It is kind of pricey,” said VanScoy about the overhead of the program often seeking outside sources for funding. “We will survive through this bad budget time, but we won’t be able to necessarily provide or improve the number of services we typically offer in the campus community,” VanScoy said.

See sexism, page 7

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Summer Sundial • CSUN • June 23-27, 2008 • 7

news meeting

Continued from page 1 the process. “I went there to heal,” Olson said. “I was worried that I might just be dating on the rebound, so I didn’t want to start dating, but we couldn’t help it.” A couple of months into the relationship, Olson was about to celebrate her fortieth birthday. She planned a beach day with some of her friends, but Tyler insisted that she would take her out to dinner instead, the couple said. While at dinner, Tyler asked Olson to be her wife, and the latter said she would think about it. A month later, Olson accepted the proposal and their love story began to unravel because of a state ban. In 2001, the couple applied for a marriage license, but they were denied. In 2004, Tyler said she grew frustrated when she discovered that she could not include Olson in her insurance plan because it did not cover domestic partners. When the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) denied their claim, Tyler said she turned to longtime friend and discrimination attorney Gloria Allred for help. “She did it as my friend first, then (as) my attorney,” Tyler said. After four years of fighting for the right to get married, Tyler and Olson were finally able to do so. They chose the Beverly Hills Courthouse

as their venue, which previously denied them a marriage license. “We had to get married at the Beverly Hills Courthouse,” Olson said. “It’s like ground zero for us.” Upon arriving, the couple was faced with harsh judgment from protestors. “They don’t exist to us,” Tyler said. “We are talking about love, and they are talking about hate and Hell.” “To hide behind the Bible is outrageous,” Tyler said. “We’re not anti-religion, but they use religion to try and exclude us.” Olson said, “Let them do it. It makes them look more meanspirited.” Once they got through the crowd, Tyler and Olsen made their way into the courthouse and got their marriage license. At exactly 5:02 p.m., they came outside and met with friends and family. “We had hearts coming out of our heads,” Olson said. The couple was taken aback by the beautiful ceremony that their friends and family had put together for them. A bakery called Cake and Art donated the cake and everyone had chipped in for flowers and drinks. Rabbi Denise Eger officiated the ceremony free of charge. With the wedding over, Tyler and Olson say they continue their fight as activists. “We just want total equal rights,” Tyler said. “The marriage thing is great,

sexism

Continued from page 6

Tina Helwajian / staff reporter

Two women adorn a wedding cake for Tyler and Olson on June 16.

but we want equality in every way.” The couple has high hopes that society will be more accepting of homosexuality in the near future. “It’s a generation away,” Tyler said. “I want to see it in my lifetime, but either way in the next generation homosexuality will not be an issue.” Tyler’s advice to young activists

is “to have the courage to go out and just do it.” When thinking back to their wedding, Tyler said, “California needed a little healing. It is going through tough times with the economy, and we needed to light it up with love. Who doesn’t like a good love story?” Tyler said.

primary in January. “When Hillary was crying, I really believe that she just always thought, ‘This is mine. I’m Bill’s wife. I’m white,’” Pfleger said. Obama repeatedly apologized, but he insisted that the comments did not come from him directly and he could not be held responsible for other people’s remarks. “Racism is seen as taboo in terms of the media saying it, but it is still out there,” Walsh said. “Both are unacceptable. Hillary was directly attacked with gender slurs that were seen as humorous … they were degrading.” To date, women occupy 87 of the 535 seats in the U.S. Congress. Women also occupy 71 of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives. “You can be so proud that, from now on, it will be unremarkable to think that a woman can be the president of the U.S.,” Clinton told her supporters at the historic National Building Museum in Washington D.C., which was built in the late 1800s when the women’s movement was on the rise. “And that is truly remarkable, my friends.” Clinton encouraged her audience to support Obama and reiterated his campaign slogan, “Yes We Can.” Erin McCaslin, a former CSUN student who saw Clinton’s speech on CNN, said she was not convinced that a woman could ever be president. “Can we really?” McCaslin said.

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8 • Summer Sundial • CSUN • June 23-27, 2008

arts & entertainment

Cubicle rat takes action thriller ride TIna Helwajian

U

staff reporter

niversal Pictures and Spyglass Entertainment presents “Wanted,” a high suspense, action drama that combines humor and pure adrenaline that keeps the audience entertained from start to finish. “Wanted” follows 25-year-old Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy), who suffers from uncontrollable anxiety attacks, on a journey from a dissatisfied accountant in a cubicle to the ultimate assassin. Gibson is unhappy with his life because he has a boss who constantly nags him and a girlfriend who is cheating on him with Barry (Chris Pratt), his co-worker and supposed best friend. The Fraternity of Assassins are a centuries-old league of trained assassins who carry out fate’s death orders. Fellow assassins include Fox (Angelina Jolie) and ringleader Sloan (Morgan Freeman). The two try to recruit Gibson after his estranged father, the greatest assassin in the Fraternity, is killed. Gibson is terrified by the whole situation and asks Fox to leave him alone. One day at work he has had enough of his crappy life and he goes off on his boss and takes a computer keyboard to Barry’s head and walks out. He is met outside by Fox and his wild ride begins. Fox and Sloan have successfully convinced Gibson to follow in his father’s footsteps and avenge his death by killing Cross (Thomas

photos courtesy of Universal Pictures

Fox (Angelina Jolie) shoots from the driver’s side of her Viper in the action-thriller “Wanted,” which tells the tale of one apathetic nobody’s transformation into an unparalleled enforcer.

Fox (Angelina Jolie) informs Wesley (James Mcavoy) she knew his father.

Kretschmann), his father’s killer. “Wanted” keeps you on the edge of your seat with its mind-blowing car chases involving Fox, Gibson and a red hot Corvette. In an early

scene, Cross takes Fox and Gibson on a high-speed car chase. Fox is driving and shooting at Cross while Gibson holds on for dear life. Fox orders him to take the wheel as she

straddles the car in an attempt to overtake Cross. Unbelievable gun shooting scenes where the assassins are able to curve bullets around corners to reach their

targets leaves the audience in awe. Gibson’s ultimate test to see if he is ready to fight involves a gun, a bullet and a very sexy Fox. Gibson must curve the bullet, avoid shooting Fox and hit his target. Success! The audience in the theater cheers as they realize that Gibson is no longer the under dog. “Kill one, save a thousand” is one of the main focuses of the movie. This motto is used to justify killing the targets on the hit list. In the movie the “Loom of Fate” weaves a fabric pattern that reveals secret codes that need to be deciphered. These codes translate into the names of the next victims. According to Sloan, a flaw in the fabric signals a flaw in the world and that flaw needs to be removed so that the world can carry on in a balanced way. Throughout the movie Gibson survives numerous beatings by fellow assassins and evolves into a badass assassin himself. He begins to kill his targets one by one until he is finally given the order to kill Cross. The movie takes an unsuspected turn when the plot reveals premeditated acts of betrayal, dishonesty and corrupt behavior by Sloan and other Fraternity members. The acting by all of the characters is believable and allows the audience to really dive into the plot and become emotionally invested in the characters. “Wanted” director Timur Bekmambetov successfully executes a thrilling film that will leave the audience wanting more. The movie ends with an intriguing question that leaves the audience pondering the answer. Two thumbs up for “Wanted.” This movie will satisfy any moviegoer who is in the mood for a bonechilling Friday night. “Wanted” comes out in theaters on June 27.

To be or not to be crazy enough to make Hamlet sequel is funny Monica Duester

S

Staff Writer

teve Coogan stars as Dan Marschz, in an eccentrically clever comedy as a washed-up actor turned high school drama teacher. He launches his most ambitious project yet - a sequel to Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” - all the while dealing with budget cuts, unruly students and a crazy wife, played by Catherine Keener, two-time Academy Award nominee. Not to mention Elizabeth Shue stars as herself in the movie. “Hamlet 2,” the comedy smash hit of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, directed by Andrew Fleming, who wrote “Dick” and “Threesome;” from an original screenplay he wrote with Pam Brady, creator of “South Park” and “Team America: World Police;” had the room erupting with laughter two minutes into the show. This unorthodox, but inspirational film takes the audience on a journey

of one man’s life, whose dreams of being an actor are crushed when it is clear he has no talent. His film credits amount to a Jack LaLanne Juicer infomercial, a Herpricol (herpes) commercial and a short stint on “Xena: Warrior Princess.” Marschz’s career is reduced to teaching drama at a local high school, in the desert town of Tucson, Ariz. The setting has a surreal flatness with a sense of things fading and it is an interesting metaphor for what Marschz life has become. Marschz stages poorly reviewed plays based on Hollywood hits with his drama class of two, played by flamboyantly confused student Rand (Skylar Astin) and his fellow over enthusiastic racist classmate Epiphany (Phoebe Strole). The school newspaper critic, played by Shea Pepe, savagely rips his biannual school plays apart. He decides to write an original piece for his next production and comes to

an epiphany with writing a sequel to Hamlet, called Hamlet 2. A musical extravaganza where Hamlet uses a time machine to travel back to meet up with Jesus Christ to reverse the outcome of the first Hamlet to save his family’s life. Littered with controversial acts like the performance from the Gay Men’s Choir of Tucson singing “I’ve Been Raped in the Face,” it is hilarious and quite clever. At times the over the top antics seemed to be a bit distracting. They were so repulsive and exaggerated that at times it took away from the rhythm of the movie Halfway through rehearsals, Marschz is informed; that the drama program will be cut next semester and the principal demands him to cease all production of his upcoming play. This catches the attention of the American Civil Liberties Union who feels there is first amendment violation. While at the doctor

photos courtesy of FOCUS FEATURES

Steve Coogan (center) and Skylar Astin (right) star in Andy Fleming’s “Hamlet 2,” a Focus Features release due in theater on August 22.

he cannot help but notice that his nurse looks eerily similar to one of his favorite actress, Elizabeth Shue, from “Cocktails” and “Adventures in Babysitting.” Turns out it is Shue and she quit the business to pursue her real passion – caring for people. This gives Marschz hope and it reinforces the overly optimistic drama teacher, to move forward with the play no matter what. With the stage set and the

buzz building around town there is nothing left but to perform their asses off! The ridiculously incredible performance will take you on a roller coaster ride that will capture your attention while asking yourself, what crazy messed up mind does Andrew Fleming have? It is definitely a movie worth seeing, and it has the potential for a cult following. It will definitely be a summer hit with 20something and 30-some-

thing year olds who will be able to appreciate the humor. The film is rated R for good reason, it is plagued with foul language and questionable taste so it is not one to see with the family. The Focus Features release opens on Friday, Aug. 22, so mark your calendars because you do not want to miss this train wreck of a movie that will take you to the moon and back – literally.