The Runner Online

Family man, music man and devoted professor

2009-03-04T13:19:00.000-08:00

By Sarah Gaskins
Staff Writer

Dedicated, kind, talented and successful are a few simple, yet truthful words that personify and describe CSUB's music professor Dr. Joel Haney.
Prior to Dr. Haney's teaching career here at CSUB, he strong-mindedly endured a long road of education to get to where he is today, in regards to his expertise in music.
His journey began when he made the decision to move to Minnesota to further his education in music. There, he attended the small Liberal Arts School of Saint Olaf College and declared his major in music as well as trumpet performance. Originally from Montana, Haney described his 900 mile transition to a new school as a "dramatic experience."
After he spent four years at Saint Olaf, Haney became a student at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis for an additional five years. Upon completing his five years there, Haney received two master's degrees. He attained one degree in Trumpet Performance and the second in Musicology.
In the year 2000, Haney was accepted to Yale University in Connecticut where he earned his Ph.D. in Music History. After he graduated from Yale in 2006, he made his way to Bakersfield, to spread his knowledge of music as a music professor.
"I realized that I'm never going to get out of school!" Haney joked. His seemingly endless amount of years studying in school and his choice of occupation as a college music professor proves he has and always did have great enthusiasm and passion for the subject.
This is Haney's third year at CSUB and he definitely seems to be enjoying himself. "I like it here ... I like it here for a number of things," he said. "I like the people that I work with and I really enjoy getting to know and working with students," he added. Haney spoke highly of the music department here at Cal State by describing it as an extremely collegial environment. "There are very talented people working in this department," said Haney.
He became a lover of music during his early childhood years. Haney reminisced about how he and his family would often sing together around the dinner table. "Not sure that that happens anymore, but if it did, the world would be a better place," he said.
Haney grew up around music and everyone in his family was, in some way, musically talented. His father played both the French horn and the trumpet, his mother and sisters played the piano and his older brother played the trumpet as well. At the age of five, Haney began to show interest in the piano. He couldn't read music at that time, but he did try to make his own melodies.
"I liked the creative freedom of making my own tunes," he said. His mother eventually made him take lessons for two years, which he wasn't too fond of. Haney laughed, "I remember putting my head face down on the keyboard and crying."
In second grade, he followed in his brother's footsteps and pursued the trumpet. Unlike the piano, he loved the trumpet from the beginning and continually enjoyed playing it.
Sometime in his teen years, Haney's dream was to become a rock star in a rock band. With that in mind, he decided to teach himself how to play the guitar. He chuckled and commented on how appreciative he was for his parents allowing him to play the electric guitar in the house.
Haney also participated in jazz improvisation throughout high school.
During his college years at Yale University, a school friend of his got him to be a part of a rock/salsa/funk band. The 10 piece band developed the name 'Nate Link and the World Champions.' He and his fellow band members would play in different clubs in the New Haven vicinity. "It was great," Haney said smiling.
Throughout college, Haney had always thought he was going to be a trumpet performer. He eventually realized that he was actually incredibly interested in Music History, or what is also referred to as Musicology. He recognized this epiphany as a slight moment of crisis.
"I did not enjoy performing as much as I did before," Haney stated explaining his doubts.
He went from enjoying playing and creating music to talking about it. While he of course continued to take pleasure in playing instruments, he was greatly fascinated with learning about the tradition and intellectual side of music. Due to his inquisitive attitude towards his Music History classes he enrolled in at school and the encouragement of his professors, Haney made the transition from wanting to be performer to an educator. Although he is currently extremely busy with teaching, Haney tries to pick up his trumpet when he can find the time.
Haney distinctly remembers his first day lecturing at Cal State. When looking back on that specific day, he recalls being very nervous, but very excited as well. "I was prepared, but a little too prepared," said Haney. "I was so prepared that I'm not sure that the class understood anything I said!"
Being his third year here at CSUB, it is clear to see that Haney has adapted well and loves what he is doing. He did acknowledge that one of the biggest challenges he has confronted as a college professor, is to be able to fully communicate with undergraduates in an effective manner.
"However, that's my goal. To make information meaningful to my students," said Haney retrospectively.
As a music professor, Haney is inevitably a fan of various pieces and composers. Paul Hindemith, a 20th Century German composer, is a music genius in Haney's book. Another individual that would be a definite candidate for Haney's Top 10 list of favorite composers is Claude Debussy. He was 15-years-old when he heard Debussy's impressionist piece 'Nuages' for the first time. Its title means clouds, and the piece represents the shifting and movement of clouds in the sky.
"I was blown away by how beautiful it was," said Haney. He liked this specific piece so much that he wrote his dissertation on it.
"There are so many! Let me think of one more, and I'll throw the towel in," said Haney as he concentrated on who would be another all-time favorite composer.
He decided to go with the one and only, Johann Sebastian Bach. Haney described Bach's work as being beautiful, creative and expressive at the same time.
While Haney certainly is an admirer of Classical music, he also is a fan of popular music bands as well. "I'm a big fan of U-2. They have a very important message as well as musical style that I enjoy," said Haney. He also finds the depth and variety of the music produced by the Beatles pretty impressive. Led Zeppelin and Peter Gabriel were also mentioned artists that he likes.
When Haney is not entirely focused or busy with teaching music, he really enjoys reading a good book. He reads all three of the "Lord of the Rings" novels each year. "They have incredible substance about humanity," explained Haney. He also likes to read books either about theology or philosophy.
"Then of course there is my family," said Professor Haney as he shared how he most enjoys spending his time when he is not teaching. Haney is a husband and a father of two children. In fact, he and his wife welcomed the youngest of two into the family about a year and a half ago.
He is well aware of what a challenge it is to balance the time he spends on his career as a professor and the time he spends with his family as a father and husband. However, while he loves teaching music, he makes certain that it does not completely consume him.
Music has played a crucial role in the life of Professor Haney and it is his goal to extend his knowledge of it to his students. "My favorite thing about music is that it is an entirely different world from a visual world. It is an immense world with so many possibilities for expression and meaning. It is intimately connected with how I feel inside and it is a world that I can lose myself completely in."

Finance professor's journey to the states

2009-03-04T13:17:00.000-08:00

By Hillary Haenes
Features Editor

A vast number of people who are born in other countries aspire to visit America one day, but Professor Mahdy Elhusseiny turned his dream of living in the United States a reality.
"I had a dream when I was young. My dream was to go to the states. When I entered the school of business at the university level, my dream was to go to the states and work on my Ph.D.," smiled Elhusseiny.
Born in Egypt, Elhusseiny graduated in 1990 with his Bachelor's Degree from Cairo University in Egypt. Here, he was hired as a teaching assistant and later moved to teach at the Higher Technological Institute business school for seven years. The Higher Technological Institute had a connection with the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and the institute nominated him to work with professors from UDC. When the professors left to go back to America, they sent Elhusseiny an application to come to the U.S.
He arrived in Norfolk, VA in 1999 and three years later, he received his Master's Degree in economics from Old Dominion University (ODU). This was the most difficult few of years of his life because he did not have a scholarship or citizenship from the School of Business. Elhusseiny chose to come to America and do whatever it took to make it in this country. He started working long weekends selling Greek foods all over the country, even traveling as far as Denver, Colorado in a three-day span.
"I used to drive freight trucks back and forth on the weekends and then come back to Northern Virginia. I worked very hard because I had to have at least $5,000 of tuition every semester and [money for] an apartment. At that time, I had my wife and newborn 6-month-old baby boy. I got married one and a half years before I moved here. We had to have like $8,000 for the semester and I had nothing. When I look back at those three years, I don't know how I made it," declared Elhusseiny.
Imagine a man, new to America, leaving his wife and newborn every Friday to take a catering company's truck to drive halfway across the country in three days. Then, when he came home for the weekdays, Elhusseiny had to study very hard to have citizenship in the program.
"I remember one semester I didn't have enough money, so I had to delay [my education] for one semester ... I had no other goal. I had no other choice. I didn't come to the states to sell food ... This is what I keep telling my students, this is the only country that dreams comes true ... Don't worry about the current economic situation, this country has its own system, if you work hard you are going to make it," explained Elhusseiny.
Remaining goal-oriented, Elhusseiny came back from his three-month stay in Florida selling foods at festivals and made enough money to continue his education. He completed his Master's Degree and received citizenship for his Ph.D., which he quickly finished in three and a half years.
In August 2005, he completed his doctorate in finance from ODU. While he was working on his Ph.D., he was allowed to teach management and finance classes as a junket professor.
Elhusseiny accepted his first job as an Assistant Professor of Finance at the University of South Dakota within a week of defending his dissertation. While he taught there for two years, it was here when Elhusseiny first got involved with and supervised the Financial Management Association (FMA).
"The FMA is basically a club for financial students. What we try to do is to build a bridge between our students and the community," said Elhusseiny.
Under his supervision, FMA had lots of activities and an outstanding chapter. In fact, their chapter of FMA contacted Warren Buffet and the students were on Buffet's buses to Omaha, Nebraska to personally meet with the richest man in the world - who is worth around $62 million. Elhusseiny's students asked Buffet questions about his career in the stock market, then after two hours of talking to Buffet, the students were sent downtown to a luncheon and dined with Buffet.
"This guy is very down-to-earth. This is the richest guy. He made all of his wealth by just playing in the stock market," said Elhusseiny.
After teaching for two years in the "freezing area" of South Dakota, Elhusseiny moved his family to a warmer climate, as well as a more diverse culture. Bakersfield became the family's new home in 2007 when he began his current position as Assistant Professor of Finance at CSUB. When Elhusseiny came here, the club had been around for years, but the FMA club was not activated, so he immediately applied and the club was re-chartered on January 10, 2008.
During the club's first quarter, it was activated nationally and internationally, the second quarter was spent building a website and holding an event, while during the third quarter, FMA students took a trip north to San Francisco to visit the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.
"I was driving them very crazy! It's the only way. This year we have a big goal. The big goal is to have our outstanding chapter. They show in the FMA newsletter every year, the outstanding chapter out of 3,000 schools in the nation," informed Elhusseiny.
This quarter, FMA put on an event called, Obamanomics: Social v. Free Market Capitalism. This event was free and open to the community. Local politicians, professors, FMA members and the community discussed current topics. Another exciting trip is planned for the Spring Quarter - in May the FMA students are flying to New York to visit the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Although Elhusseiny has only been at CSUB for a couple of years, he has made a huge impact on our campus. Not only has his involvement with FMA proved successful, but he published four papers last year, which exceeds the expectation in service to the school.
"Professor Elhusseiny has become more than just a professor to me; he has become a friend and a mentor. He is not only a great educator and expert of finance, but he is someone that has motivated to get students interested in the field of finance. His office doors are always open to students, and I believe I speak for the rest of the board of FMA when I say that without him, we wouldn't have been able to accomplish the many things we have achieved as an organization," said CSUB's FMA President, Neeraj Rama.

Students for Quality Education fighting for all students

2009-03-04T13:12:00.000-08:00

By Destiny Cerezo
Staff Writer

"We are fighting for education," said Vanessa Rojas president of CSUB's Students for Quality Education (SQE) organization.
Rojas is one of the hard-working and devoted student volunteers within the CSU system advocating for the students of Cal State Bakersfield.
With budget cuts affecting the CSU system due to the state's economic downturn, Rojas represents the student component underneath the California Faculty Association (CFA) of the Alliance For the CSU.
According to Elizabeth Hoffman CFA Associate Vice President, the CFA is a broad coalition of students, alumni, faculty, staff, administrators, parents, business and community leaders working to protect CSU funding.
"Our goal is to inform, educate and get students to voice their opinion about the budget cuts and all issues related to the Higher Educational system. Our main desire is to get students to get involved and get them to become activists about their education," said Rojas.
SQE has been around for nine years and there is one located on all 23 campuses in the CSU system.
"We need help, we need for students to work with us because if no one is involved, we can't make a difference," said Rojas.
Currently, six strong volunteers represent CSUB's campus and throughout the state of California, 70,000 alliance members have joined. Together the SQE and CFU are responsible for the restoration of the $97.6 million January budget proposal.
Because of the budget cuts, the CSU has lost millions of dollars, which effects all 23 campuses in many ways. If the state continues to take away from the "nation's largest public higher education system," fees will continue to increase, less professors will be hired and class availability will be limited. In turn, the result is postponing graduation due to students only being able to take certain courses once a year.
According to the website, allianceforthecsu.org, "It will be harder to get into and stay in the CSU. Thousands of students are already being turned away." The website also states that the budget cuts will effect "Latino, African-American, Native American, low-income and first generation students and veterans who rely on the state university to get a college education" the most.
SQE exists to turn the budget cuts around and provide funding for the CSU. All students can help, anyone who is interested in the higher education system.
First and foremost e-mail the SQE President at www.yourvoice_csub@yahoo.com and express interest and availability, sign up for the Alliance for the CSU. Tabling is an option as well, spread the word and set up a table, sign students up to help so that they can inform others of these issues. Hand out fliers. SQE provides students with all materials necessary to help recruit other interested volunteers. Assist with classroom presentations, the SQE President offers training to individuals willing to publicly speak of the organization. Most importantly, just get involved!
"I encourage our students, faculty, staff, alumni and labor unions to work together to tell our elected officials, as well as our local businesses, community and civic leaders, that the CSU is the economic powerhouse that provides the highly skilled professionals to the industries that make California successful and that higher education is a long-term investment that benefits everyone," said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed.

ISC plans annual dinner

2009-03-04T13:10:00.000-08:00

Ashley Sizemore
Entertainment Editor

It's that time again for the International Students Club annual dinner.
This year it is called International Dinner 2009 and it will be held Friday, March 6 at 6 p.m. at the Runner Café and Stockdale Room.
The event is open to everyone. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children under 10 years of age. Pre-sale tickets may be purchased with the International Students Club adviser Jesse Chavez in the Admissions and Records office or they will also be available at the door.
Dalia Baadarani, President of the International Students Club is very excited for this event. She stated this is approximately the 10th annual dinner. Baadarani is a graduate student in the counseling program who is from Lebanon. She has been in the United States for 11 years.
Baadarani said that the members cook dishes from their own country and that there will be about 50 different dishes.
Along with good food, entertainment will be provided. There will be different cultural performances such as a Japanese dance, Indian dance and live Peruvian music.
Along with the performances, there will also be a fashion show.
"It is to show what people wear in their own culture," said Baadarani.
This annual dinner is well-known throughout the community and has a big turnout every year.
"Last year we sold all 300 tickets and it is what we aim also for this year too," said Baadarani.
According to their website, the dinner "gathers hundreds of people (friends in the community, students, staff and professors) to celebrate the richness of cuisine and share the food cultures of the world."
The website also says that International Student's Club is very unique in many ways. Students from all over the world meet regularly to organize cultural events, trips and social activities.
For more information you can e-mail Dalia Baadarani at dbaadarani@runner.csub.edu.

Sizzling new Kabob House fires up taste buds

2009-03-04T13:09:00.000-08:00

By Jeff Eagan
Staff Writer

If you're a student looking for an affordable and delicious lunch or dinner option, the newly opened Kabob House at 4701 White Lane will both fill your belly and exceed all expectations.
Arriving at the Kabob House late Wednesday night after class I found a family of 10 already happily enjoying massive plates filled with appetizing ground beef khoobideh kabob, steaming piles of Basmati rice topped with yellow saffron, and grilled vegetables such as tomatoes, onions and bell peppers.
I was heartily welcomed by brothers Ali and Reza Razmjou, owner and head chef, as I walked through the front door. I hastily ordered the number two, the shish kabob, which comes with marinated filet mignon, cut, skewered and flame broiled, served with rice and salad. Chef Reza went straight to work preparing my colleague and mine's meal. There were no freezers present. The Kabob House picks up their meat from L.A. twice a week to ensure the freshness and quality of the ingredients in their food. The flames rose from the grill as the sweet smell of fine cuts of beef and freshly peeled onions wafted into my nostrils.
Over two decades of cooking experience was evident in the way Chef Reza masterfully and passionately cooked the kabob and roasted the vegetables for the perfect amount of time. Chef Reza had previously worked at the luxurious Javan Restaurant in Santa Monica for 18 years, and he has brought his skillful culinary philosophy by using the freshest ingredients possible.
Warm pita bread accompanied my kabob and rice, along with fresh must'o khiar (plain yogurt, diced cucumbers and dry mint) and intensely flavorful hummus. I dug in with delight. The meat was savory, not overly marinated and very filling. One of the chef's hallmarks is to bring out the natural flavors of the meat, not to disguise it behind too many spices. The rice was warm, fluffy and cooked to perfection, enhanced by the elegant fragrance and taste of the bright yellow saffron. The vegetables were crunchy, flavorful and were a fitting compliment to the succulent filet mignon as I relished over the wholesome meal.
Other entrees they offer are the boneless chicken kabob, shrimp and salmon kabob, the favorite lamb shank, even a vegetarian kabob that looked tempting. The Kabob House is of the Persian persuasion and offers traditional dishes such as Gormeh Sabzi, which includes fresh green herbs sautéed and stewed with kidney beans, dried lemon cooked with beef and served with rice. Also is Gheimeh, a tomato-based saffron sauce, fried onions cooked with beef and served with rice.
Overall, this new restaurant will be an exciting addition and formative rival to the other kabob places in town like Flame-n-Skewers. They offer lunch portions ranging from $7.50-$9.95 that includes one kabob with the combo and for a couple dollars more, you can get the dinner, which has two kabobs from $10.95-$12.95, more than enough for the hungry student on the go. Suffice it to say, the lunch portion was enough for my stomach because I was pleasantly filled and satisfied. I strongly recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants a delectable, affordable and healthy meal. Their hours are 11:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m., seven days a week.

CSUB's 'Everyman' play gives mankind a message

2009-03-04T13:06:00.000-08:00

By Rachel Leach
Staff Writer

This past weekend, in our very own Dorè Theatre, several performances of the historical play, "Everyman" was enjoyed by many. The play was originally written in the 15th Century and according to the program, has been read, studied and performed frequently as a classic example of medieval morality. If any of you are familiar with the book, "Pilgrim's Progress," this play was very similar; however it was a Catholic version rather than Protestant. The production served as an allegory and the characters were concepts or qualities, rather than human beings. Strength, Discretion, Good Deeds and Knowledge were just a few of their names.
It was an excellent play, one in which the audience could definitely relate to. Many times in our lives we may feel like Everyman and apply the struggle and journey he faced to our own life tribulations. The story of "Everyman" was not just about one particular man rather he was symbolic of all mankind.
In this compelling performance, the cast of "Everyman" took us on a journey, demonstrating our overzealous pursuit of worldly goods and their fleeting nature. It was thought provoking, yet also full of comedic moments.
Jared Grant, who will be attending CSUB next quarter, saw the play advertised and decided to go check it out. He said that although he is not Catholic, he felt it had great application and that it was a play for everyone to enjoy and to learn from.
"The play made me laugh while reminding me that there is a lot more to life than acquiring wealth and fame. You leave a more positive and memorable impression on the people you leave behind with your good actions, rather than material possessions," said Grant.
The action begins when God sends Death to summon the main character, Everyman. The play portrays a complacent Everyman who is informed by Death that his life is nearing its end. The act shows Everyman's progression from despair and fear of death to someone not afraid of death because he has come to terms with what is truly important and his good deeds save him. The play makes its dismal point that we can take with us from this world nothing that we have received, only what we have given--a very powerful message indeed.
CSUB senior, Michael Mejia, who played the central figure, Everyman, said this was his ninth performance at CSUB. His very first play was in high school where he performed "The Wizard of Oz." Mejia said it was a lot of fun, but didn't do another production after that until college.
While attending CSUB, he went and saw two shows at the school's theatre, then immediately decided to get back into it acting.
"I just felt the urge to get back into it after not being a part of it for a while," stated Mejia. Currently, Mejia is waiting to hear from a few grad schools he applied to where he wants to pursue his true passion--writing.
Mejia really enjoyed playing the lead role in the play, "Everyman" and thought it had a very pertinent message. "Although I myself am not Catholic, and a lot of people aren't, the heart of it speaks to any religion or dogma. It has a very relevant message--your good deeds are important, that's really the impression you want to leave. Actions speak louder than words," said Mejia.
Though the play was strongly rooted in Catholicism, its message can be appreciated regardless of religious affiliation. Often, we value the wrong things in life, things that at the end of our lives will have little or no meaning, however in the end, we will be remembered and survived by our good deeds.
Be on the lookout for upcoming productions at the Dorè Theatre. The next performance is about the gold rush and is called, "Gold Fever" by Rita Grauer and John Urquhart. Performance dates are March 14-15. Students will then perform "Anna in the Tropics" by May 21-23, 28-31. For more information call 654-3150.

Popular comic to hit big screen

2009-03-04T13:04:00.000-08:00

By Patrick Arvizu
Staff Writer

On March 6, 2009, the highly anticipated movie adaptation of "Watchmen" will be released nationwide. Based on a limited comic series of the same name by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, "Watchmen" remains one of the most influential comic books, having been awarded various honors including a Hugo Award in 1988. "Watchmen" is also listed in Time's list of "100 best English-language novels from 1923 to the present," compiled in 2005.
The initial run of the comic in 1986 and 1987 was a commercial success, and unsurprisingly, several attempts at film adaptations have been made in the past. According to a recent CNN article, directors such as "Terry Gillham, Darren Aronofsky, Paul Greengrass and David Hayter" have accepted the job at one point or another, only to be halted by "studio fears about the budget," questions about transitioning from comic to film, and "how the ending might be perceived in a post 9/11 world."
The director who ultimately created the film, Zach Snyder, is well known for his adaptation of another comic book series. As one of Snyder's first feature films, "300" broke box office records and became a pop culture icon, even if its highly stylized art direction, 2-dimensional characters and xenophobic undertones were the source of constant criticism and parody. Concerns with "300" should not transfer over to "Watchmen." It appears to be a movie with vastly different source material and, according to a CNN interview with Snyder, has more use of actual sets over color keying.
Alan Moore, a legend among comic writers, has stated that his goal with "Watchmen" was to write a story involving superheroes in a real world setting.
In a 2005 interview in Entertainment Weekly, Moore stated, "I... wanted to write about power politics. For me, the '80s were worrying. 'Mutually assured destruction.' 'Voodoo economics.' A culture of complacency... I was writing about times I lived in," said Moore.
Like the comic book series, the movie takes place in an alternate 1985. Superheroes exist and are present, but with few exceptions, have been outlawed. Richard Nixon is still president and serving his fourth term. The scandal over the Watergate break-in never occurred due to the murders of Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward. The Vietnam War ended favorably for the United States and the Soviet Union is in the process of involving itself in Afghanistan's civil war. Global tensions are rising in this version of the Cold War, with Soviet concerns over the United States' superhero advantage, risking the start of another arms race or possible nuclear war.
The cast contains lesser-known actors from a variety of backgrounds. Academy Award-nominated actor Jackie Earle Haley portrays Rorschach, a right-wing vigilante who played a major role in the comic book. William Crudup, a Tony Award-winning actor most famous for his role as Will Bloom in "Big Fish," plays Doctor Manhattan, a blue-skinned superhero created out of a lab accident. Jeffery Dean Morgan, widely known for his role as Denny Duquette on "Grey's Anatomy," stars as The Comedian, a sociopath and source of Watchmen's bloodstained happy face icon seen in promotional material.
Despite multiple adaptations of his works, Moore refuses to participate with any movie versions. Moore has publicly distanced himself from the film version of "Watchmen," claming in a recent interview with an Australian newspaper, "[My works] weren't ever designed to be films ... They were designed to exploit all the things that comic books can do and that no other medium can."
Other comic books Moore has written that have been turned into feature films include "V for Vendetta" and "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen."
While Moore and diehard comic fans might not be happy with the end result, as some sections of the 12-part comic series undoubtedly need to have been edited to fit in the three hour time span, "Watchmen" appears as a good effort on the part of Snyder from the outset. "Watchmen" could be one of the first blockbusters of 2009.

Coraline: Friendly or frightening for children?

2009-03-04T12:59:00.000-08:00

By Katie Richie
Staff Writer

Coraline, an animated stop-motion film, came into theaters Feb. 6 has caused quite the controversy from the parenting world. This PG film about a young girl named Coraline transports viewers to an upside-down world filled with magical wonders and horrifying revelations.
This animated film was aimed for a younger crowd but critics and parents alike are warning that Coraline should be viewed with a close eye. The movie starts off well with Coraline wishing she had a more interesting world to explore. After her family moves to the middle of nowhere she soon wishes she was back home. She is sick of the rain, her parent's mundane attitudes and her uninteresting neighbors. While Coraline searches for more interesting activities to entertain herself, she discovers a secret door that ends up leading her to a whole new world every night after she goes to sleep.
This world is a flipped version of the reality she currently lives in except for some major changes. Her parents are more compassionate and interesting, her neighbors are amazing entertainers and her life is no longer dull. Her "other" mother spoils Coraline with delicious food, amazing presents and exciting adventures.
As she continues through the world she discovers that everything in this "other" world is not what it seems. Though this world seems almost perfect she soon realizes that she misses her real home. This is where the scarier, less child friendly plot enters the picture. Buttons for eyes, a claw-handed mother, and soulless children are just some of the revelations Coraline discovers about this separate world. As the plot takes a scarier turn, many viewers are going to question whether or not this movie is really appropriate for their children.
The overall consensus of the movie-watching world is to make sure your child is mature enough to view Coraline before jumping on in. It turns out that the film is for the darker audience. If your children enjoy The Nightmare Before Christmas, or Monster House then they should be fine viewing Coraline.
Though Coraline is not the typical fairytale, it is a wonderfully made film. The animation, plot, and acting were all stupendously done and every scene keeps you entertained and anticipating what happens next. Even with all the current controversy surrounding the films ideal audience, I still recommend viewing it. I would advise that the younger audiences be prepared for darker plots and scenes in the film.

Homecoming: a first hand glance

2009-03-04T12:22:00.000-08:00

By Nathan Campbell
Online Editor
I approach the check-in table outside the conference room in the Marriott Hotel where homecoming was this year. Anxiously, I inch forward with my homecoming ticket in hand. I have been waiting in line for almost half an hour as I watch an altercation between the party in front of me and the event staff unfold.
Apparently, the four girls did not have tickets to the event - a new feature this year to ensure that the event space would not be filled past capacity and were angered at the fact that they had just waited in the long winding line only to be turned down at the door.
With only a modicum of interest I noticed that a male behind the table - presumably one of the homecoming event staff members - was yelling at the girls on the other side to the point of being physically restrained by a female companion to his right.
Right then, I knew that this year's homecoming was going to be different from the past four I have attended at CSUB.
This year would be different anyhow, because ten days earlier I had been presented at a basketball game as a nominee for the illustrious title of homecoming king, along with a good friend of mine - Eddy Lee.
Nominee or not, I was not wanting to miss this year's homecoming, because it would hopefully be my last as a student, so I made sure to get a ticket the Monday before the dance. I was surprised to hear that the tickets were nearly out - and indeed, did run out several days before the event.
That seemed to be the biggest frustration I heard from my fellow classmates, and their guests, in the wait to reach the front of the line at the Marriott. I was standing in front of some members of the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority who were pretty distraught that many of their sisters were unable to attend, because they had not known about the shortage of tickets.
This was even true of Angie Gonzalez and Suzanne Mendoza who were the past homecoming queen and queen nominee respectively, who had to find a way to arrange entrance to the event after the tickets were all given out.
While waiting in line, I could not help but notice a member of ASi and his date walk straight past the line and into the dance after being told that members of ASi did not have to check in. I guess position has its privileges.
Once inside, the homecoming looked much like last years -even down to the casino games, which seem to become a staple of CSUB events.
The hors d'oeuvres seemed a bit sparser, which seems to be a trend as I remember my first homecoming including a full buffet style meal.
At midnight, the king and queen were announced - Jamaal Tolbert and Wendy Martinez won. Soon after, the dance began to empty out. I saw a shoeless girl leaning on her friend for stability as they hobbled out of the hotel - an apparent victim to over indulgence of the two onsite cash bars.
So if you missed homecoming, because you didn't get a ticket, or were those girls who got turned down at the door or just weren't clever enough to sneak in like a number of individuals I know - that was essentially it.
I can honestly say you didn't miss much.

Project Runway teaches what not to wear

2009-03-04T12:15:00.000-08:00

by Nathan Campbell
Online Editor

Students, staff, faculty and representatives from several local employers descended on the Stockdale Room last Thursday for the Career Development Center's second annual Project Runway event.
Project Runway - taking its name from a popular TV show - is a fashion competition between teams of students and staff to see who can best exemplify proper business attire. Each team consisted of three members - one for each category, which were: business formal, business casual and what not to wear.
According to Jane Evarian, Director of the Career Development Center, the even was held to help students identify, what exactly is proper attire to wear to a job interview, as well as to give a chance for students to interface and network with the employer representatives who were judging the teams.
EJ Callahan introduced each team, and did his best to describe their attire as they strutted down the Christmas light runway.
The outfits were about what you would expect to see around the water cooler: your classic suit and tie, pant suits and vests - worn by both sexes were a common appearance. However, by far the most entertaining category of the night was the "what not to wear."
The student participants seemed to take this as an open invitation to dress as ridiculously as possible - and for some, to act pretty inappropriate as well.
Faith Perry was actually one of the more reserved contestants wearing a torn tie-dye tank top, jeans and baseball cap. "I just tried to wear the craziest colors I had," said Perry about her outfit.
Others in her category wore everything from bathrobes and pajamas to some incredibly tacky ties.
After all of the teams had walked the runway, the judges conferred and came back to offer some advice.
One of the judges, Jennifer Bravo from Brown Armstrong spoke to the crowd about employer expectations.
"A lot of what you're wearing as business formal would actually be business casual," said Bravo.
This comment was specifically aimed at some contestants who wore a dress shirt and tie, but not a suit jacket.
She went on to say that she recruits for her company at CSUB and several other nearby state universities, and said that they seek out "different calibers of students," which makes one wonder what exactly she was implying by telling the CSUB audience that.
In the end, team Fade to Black won. Stephen Muchinyi, ASi Vice President of Legislative Affairs, was the team's business formal model. He was wearing a Richard Harris two-piece suit, a lavender Ted Baker tie, a cranberry colored Geoffrey Beene shirt.
Fade to Black's business casual model Robert Tincher wore a pinstriped vest, red dress shirt and tie from Express.
Jason Goklaney, the team's what not to wear model, wore a black hoody, which he stripped mid-walk to reveal a black print tank top to go along with his white board shorts and flip flops.
The winning team was awarded $150 in Visa cards, second place team "Fashionistas" won gift cards to Target and third place team "Fashion Police" won $15 gift cards to Starbucks.

Missed opportunities cost softball series against UC Santa Barbara

2009-03-04T12:13:00.000-08:00

By Mark Nessia
Staff Writer

Inconsistency and missed opportunities cost the CSUB softball team the series against visiting UC Santa Barbara. The Roadrunners (7-8) lost the series, 2-1, including a 6-0, two-hitter, loss in the final contest.
The Roadrunners had an opportunity to score runs in the final game, despite not recording a hit through three innings, when a fielder's choice, walk and an error loaded the bases for Danielle Lyman with two outs in the inning. Lyman entered the weekend batting .548, with a team-leading three home runs, but flew out to deep left to end the threat.
"That was just a poor performance on our part," said CSUB head coach Kathy Welter. "You have to give some credit to their pitcher. She pitched well, and almost had a no-hitter against us until the very end. Part of it was that, but a lot of our weaknesses all showed up at the same time against them."
UC Santa Barbara (11-7) accumulated 11 hits in third game, while the Roadrunners didn't get their first hit until the bottom of the seventh inning. The Roadrunners also committed three errors in the game, which led to two unearned runs.
The Roadrunners nearly won the first game against UC Santa Barbara when Lyman, once again, came up to bat with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning, down by one. Lyman struck out looking for the third, and final, out of the game resulting in a 4-3 loss.
The Roadrunners were able to capitalize in the second game against UC Santa Barbara when, down 6-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning, freshman Justeen Maeva hit a three-run home run to send the game into extra innings.
Following international tie-breaker rules in extra innings, in which a runner is placed on second base to start each inning, Maeva came through once again, in the bottom of the ninth, with a double to center field to drive the winning run home for the 7-6 win.
It was the first time the Roadrunners have won against UC Santa Barbara since beating them, 2-1, on Feb. 25, 1992.
"They beat us both games in a doubleheader last year, so it was good to get a win against them," said Welter. "I thought the first game that we lost, we had a good comeback going. That game could have gone either way."
Welter implemented a few changes to the team's defensive lineups, as well as the designated player, in the series against UC Santa Barbara. The changes led to players playing different defensive positions, as well as pitcher Brittany Johnson batting.
"I think we have a lot of players who can play lots of positions," said Welter. "There are several players on the team that are better offensively than defensively, and others who are better defensively than offensively, and so to try and balance it out is kind of a guessing game. You can't really know until you know how the pitchers are going to be throwing, and how the other pitcher is going to be throwing so it's just kind of a guess. But I thought we needed to try something else, just to look at some other options."
Johnson got her first collegiate hit over the weekend, going 1-for-4 over the three-game series, but lost the two games she started.
"Our pitchers have been struggling," said Welter. "I think Brittany (Johnson) the first day, after giving up some runs, settled down. That was the fewest runs that we've held them to - four runs in that game. After that, we just gave up too many runs, gave up a lot of walks and the defense wasn't as sharp as it should be."
Welter said defense and pitching usually go together, and that they feed off each other. When one is strong, it takes pressure off the other, but when both are struggling, it puts pressure on the other part of the equation.
"We're struggling in both departments right now," said Welter.
The Roadrunners will travel to San Jose State to play a four-game series on March 6 and 7. In preparation for the contest, Welter said that the team needs to work on staying mentally strong and not getting down when an opposing team scores runs. But Welter's main focus is generating more consistent play from her team so they don't have a good day followed by a bad day.
"It's better to have moderate days all the way through," said Welter. "At least have a chance to be in every game. A lot of things we just have to keep working on, and some things just take time. Some of the weaknesses are there because somebody is young and just needs experience. We just have to keep going at it, but the key thing is to stay mentally tough, so we don't get down and frustrated and not pulling together the win."

Athletics allows you to place your bets

2009-02-04T13:20:00.000-08:00

By Sarah Gaskins
Staff Writer

Those of you who are twenty-one or older and have yet to make plans for the upcoming weekend should definitely consider attending CSUB's 14th annual Casino Night.
The festivities will take place this Friday, February 6 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the CSUB Icardo Center. The theme is Casino Night in the Islands, so anyone who is planning on joining in on the celebrations should be sure to sport their finest 'Island' attire.
Upon arrival to the event, attendees will be provided with dinner catered by Outback Steakhouse. For dessert, guests will be able to choose from among a variety of pies from Marie Callender's.
Attendees will also be able to indulge in different flavors of ice cream. In addition, there will be beverage stations placed throughout different areas of the Icardo Center.
The focal points of the evening will center upon both the silent and live auctions that will take place throughout the night. The auctions will showcase a wide array of items ranging from and pertaining to travel, entertainment, food and yes, that's right ladies, jewelry. CSUB's Director of Special Events, Mark Mayes, estimated that there will be over 400 items up for bidding in the silent auction.
The live auction on the other hand will consist of fewer, yet more extravagant items. Such items up for bidding will include custom built cabinetry at a value of $10,000, Hawaii vacations, Golfing Trips to San Diego and Phoenix, a LASIK Eye Procedure from Fritch Eye Care, Unique Gourmet Dinners and a Piaggio scooter valued at $3,000.
All the items that will be displayed and auctioned off are donations kindly given by people and companies, not only from around Bakersfield, but from farther areas as well. With this said, it is great to see both the community of Bakersfield and our neighboring communities make generous contributions towards this event even in times of economic doubt.
Not only will people be able to take part in bidding for items in the auctions, but they will also be encouraged to play blackjack in an effort to win prizes during the drawings that will eventually be held towards the end of the night.
Why host a Casino Night you wonder?
"This event raises much needed dollars to help support our student-athlete scholarship fund," said Mayes. In other words, all the proceeds that are generated throughout the course of the night go to the student-athlete scholarship program here at CSUB.
Mayes, as well as the many other members of the Athletic Department, initially begin to plan and organize this event every year during the month of October. It is clear to see that a lot of time, effort and preparation are needed to carry out this event and to make it a success.
In describing the preparation aspects of Casino Night, Mayes states that "finding a date that works for not only the event, but working around the busy schedules that our various teams have going on," is a factor that must be taken into consideration. Mayes also shares that designing and producing promotional materials, sponsorship opportunities, auction procurement forms and event tickets are also tasks that must be accomplished while planning this particular event.
He also states that "going through previous auction donation forms and identifying potential donors" are duties that must be taken care of in order to even have auction items.
While Casino Night truly does take a lengthy time to both plan and execute, the effects it produces are worthwhile. Not only is it for a good cause, but guests and attendees always seem to really enjoy themselves.
Tickets for CSUB's Casino Night are available at www.gorunners.com or can be purchased in the Athletic Department offices in the Icardo Center on campus. Pre-sale tickets run for $30 and tickets at the door amount to $35.

Update on ASi concert event

2009-02-04T13:18:00.000-08:00

By Brooke Borgerson
Staff Writer

Runners can expect a big bang for the end of the school year. The ASI is currently in the process of planning a spring concert event called "The Show," set to take place in the CSUB Amphitheatre on May 16, 2009.
While ASI President Carlos Ortiz was unable to provide many specifics such as who will be performing and costs of the event, he assures the "ASI is in the process of working out the logistics of the event and it is moving forward steadily."
The problems are trying to book artists. Many bands will not book a show until about two months before the performance date for reasons of possible schedule changes.
At the ASI Board of Directors Meeting on January 30, 2009, when asked what genres were being looked at for the concert, Ortiz suggested musicians similar to John Legend, Ne-Yo and Paramore. The ASI hopes to have both mainstream and local bands in attendance.
Though the ASI is very hopeful in a favorable outcome for "The Show," if they cannot find enough artists to perform there is a plan B: a carnival-style affair to take place on the same date. However, Ortiz promises he is "not giving up."

CSUB still has plenty of GSTs to go around

2009-02-04T13:15:00.000-08:00

By Amber Smith
Staff Writer

CSUB students do not need to worry about a shortage of one and two unit General Studies classes (GSTs). There are still many GST classes available for students, despite the July 2008 staff union contract extension that made staff no longer eligible to teach GST classes.
Contrary to what some may have heard, the decision to not allow staff to teach was actually decided by the staff themselves-the staff union at least.
First off, the main differences between faculty and staff are that faculty usually have PhDs or Master's Degrees, are regular teachers and receive a higher salary than staff. Staff usually interact with students on a regular basis in different offices on campus. For example, some former GST teachers included counselors and staff from the office for students with disabilities.
According to the actual contract addendum, the staff union contract was extended in July of 2008 and added the stipulation that "non-credit bearing courses" would qualify as classes worthy of faculty status and pay. The previous contract did not include non-credit bearing courses, so staff were allowed to teach them.
Patrick Choi, a member of local union staff unit four, the union responsible for the decision, said that the decision was made by the union and the board of trustees for the CSUs. When asked why the union decided to ask for more money, Choi only said, "We feel that it should be a faculty responsibility."
Dr. John Dirkse, associate vice president of academic programs, said that CSUB was notified of the union's decision the week before classes began for the Fall 2008 quarter. "It was a blow to us," said Dirkse.
It is well known that CSUB, and all other CSUs, are in a huge budget crunch right now and do not have a lot of extra money lying around.
"The staff union decided they wouldn't let their members teach classes anymore without increased pay. If we could afford it, we would love to continue to have the staff teach," said Dirkse.
Dirkse also said that, to the best of his knowledge, almost all staff members he knew of would have still been willing to teach these classes without the pay increase. "Just about every single one of them said they would gladly do it without the pay. They've really been going above and beyond, already for many years," Dirkse said.
Choi said he did not know of any staff members that would be willing to teach without the pay, and repeated, "We feel it should be a faculty responsibility."
Regardless of what staff was willing to do, their new contract will not let them teach, period.
Despite the small reduction in GSTs, they are still in abundance. Just this Winter Quarter alone there are 21 GST courses being offered. Some of those classes available help students improve their academic fitness, their parenting skills or their ability to manage stress.
Dirkse did say that a few classes were lost, but only around three or four. One of those happened to be a general studies class titled Cinco de Mayo. Dirkse did not specify how many students were disrupted by the loss of GST 142 Cinco de Mayo.
Dirkse did go on to say that, despite previous reports, students can still fulfill their financial aid unit requirements with the available GSTs. To qualify for full-time status with FAFSA, a student must be enrolled in at least 12 units. Because of the uniqueness of CSUB and its quarter system, many students wanting to take the bare minimum course load would need to take two five-unit courses and one two-unit course. That option is still readily available through the 21 GST courses still offered.
Students could even go a step farther and take three five-unit courses and avoid any possible GST mishaps. By taking three or more five-unit classes instead of a GST, students are actually making progress towards their degree. GSTs are for a student's personal betterment and do not work towards that student's major, minor or general education requirements.
Dirkse, and other faculty, overcame the obstacles that resulted from the staff union's decision by keeping the GST classes available. The classes are now taught by MPPs, or management professionals. These individuals have more responsibilities than the staff, are not part of a union and receive a higher salary.
MPP faculty include counselors, assistant directors and librarians, to name a few.
Dirkse said that, from what he knows, there are no immediate plans for an MPP union.

Gun sales rise in Bakersfield

2009-02-04T13:12:00.000-08:00

By Rachel Leach
Staff Writer

Gene Thome of Bear Mountain Sports here in Bakersfield is having a difficult time staying on top of all the orders he is getting on guns, ammo and gear. He has been very busy and is working hard to keep a full stock of all products in his store.
When asked if he has seen a rise in gun sales, he assured me they had. "Oh yeah," he said. "They've gone up about 400 percent."
He said that people are stocking up mostly due to the recent election of our new President. "It's because of Obama and his past voting record. He's been anti-gun and because of that, he'll probably make another attempt at even more gun bans."
The firearms-purchasing frenzy is good news for Gene and his store and even gun stores nationwide; business is definitely booming. Corrections officer, Elliott Hopkins, of the Pelican Bay Correctional Facility said he too has noticed a significant increase in the amount of guns and ammunition sales not only in Bakersfield but statewide.
"Sales are up everywhere; I think that a lot of people are worried that the new administration is going to take away the rights of gun owners." Hopkins says that the actual price of the firearms has gone up as well.
That does not seem to be stopping anyone though. Most people apparently haven't minded spending more money on their purchases so long as they still have their 2nd Amendment rights. It makes sense that the sky rocketing gun sales is a result of the election of Barack Obama. It's doubtful that it's just sheer coincidence that since his election firearms sales have increased up to 400 percent just in Bakersfield. Besides, he's got the voting record to prove it; can't argue with that.
In fact, Chris Cox of the NRA had an interview with Fox News toward the end of the presidential campaign. He said that numerous times Obama has promised to protect an individual's rights to own guns. His own campaign website, which is still up, says in a section titled "Sportsmen," that he will do whatever it takes to protect those rights. However, according to Chris Cox Obama has voted to ban single shot and double barrel shotguns, supported a 500 percent tax increase on guns and ammunition and even supported criminal prosecution for those who use their firearms in self defense.
"People are buying up guns in fear that their rights will be taken away. And they should be worried." (You can watch this interview by doing a simple search on foxnews.com). These readily available facts are what seem to be fueling the locals to head over to their nearest gun shop.
Local gun enthusiast and avid hunter, Alex Valov, said that he and his fellow sportsmen are genuinely worried about the new President's ideology regarding the 2nd Amendment. He said, "The whole city of Bakersfield must feel the exact same. I had to buy my gun in San Luis." The shops he went to in town were sold out of the particular firearm he was looking for. It's no secret that gun sales have increased in light of the new administration's anti-gun history. The potential expansion upon past and even current laws has obviously driven the multitudes into a buying frenzy of firearms and ammo that could be soon outlawed. Local gun owners still remain positive though. They are hopeful that the new administration will recognize the 2nd Amendment and respect the rights that are entailed.

Practice officially starts for Runner baseball

2009-02-04T13:01:00.000-08:00

By Phillip Barnett
Editor in Chief

Last Sunday was the first day the NCAA allowed Division I teams to begin baseball practice, and it also marked the first official practice for the inaugural season of the baseball program.
The team began their first official practice at about 10 a.m. on a beautiful day. The media watched as pitchers showed off their arms and position players fielded in myriad drills, but this isn't the first time the team has been together.
"We trained them how to practice during the fall. I think the most important thing we learned during the fall was learning how to practice," said head coach Bill Kernen. "Guys come in to this level from high school and junior college and they have no idea how to practice as a top world class trained athlete - and they shouldn't. It's not a criticism, they just have no way of knowing that until they get here."
The team spent the Fall working out with their coaches and played six exhibition games against junior college teams and spent the previous two months holding practices without the coaches.
"The coaches weren't allowed to give us instruction so we took over running the practices doing all of the stuff we needed to do to get better," said Mickey Jannis, a right handed junior college pitcher from Allan Hancock College. "From the Fall all of the players know what to expect, so we basically run it on our own."
Jannis is one of 11 junior college transfers along side 13 true freshmen who make up the roster that will be opening the season on Feb. 20 against St. Louis University on their new field that was theoretically morphed from a lot of dirt into a pristine baseball diamond in a matter of months.
As of right now, there is no power around the facility, nor are there no bleachers or water. However, Kernen noted that "The power will be in next week. We have 500 chair back seats that are going to be on a bleacher structure kind of an arrangement. There will be three sections between the two dugouts.
"Everything is a work in progress outside of these fences. There will be restroom facilities for the fans, there will be concessions here with different vendors ... there might even be a Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream vendor out here."
Erik Draxton, another right handed junior college transfer pitcher had a different perspective on the field: "From a players perspective I feel we have all we need. We have dirt, a mound, bases - we're ready to go.
"We've been involved with the progress with of the field. We've helped with the sod and certain things with the bullpins. I think the more we put our sweat and time into this field the more we're going to appreciate it. For all of the people who donated to have this finished, it's been very appreciated."
Time and effort put into this field aren't the only things some of the guys on the first CSUB baseball team have sacrificed. Since the school is still in the process of moving to Division I, the team will not be eligible to participate in any postseason play until the 2011 season - meaning the junior college transfers will end their college playing careers without playing any post season games.
"I felt that the risks actually didn't out weigh the potential gains," said Draxton. "I weighed the risks versus the gains, and I felt like I had more to gain than I had to lose.
Coach Kernen really sold me on, 'if you want to go pro, I can help you do that.' I really believe that's what he's going to help me do. I felt that the other programs didn't really have much to offer to me."
Jannis got offered a scholarship to play for the defending World Series Champion Fresno State Bulldogs, but opted to come to Bakersfield and play for Kernen.
"It was between here and Fresno State," said Jannis on his decision to come to CSUB. "For me it was the coaching. All of these guys have experience in the College World Series and taking guys to the next level, and that's what I wanted to do. I'm happy with the choice that I made. I like these coaches and the guys on this team."
Opening day is rapidly approaching, but the team doesn't plan on changing things up too much between now and their opener on the 20th.
"We plan to keep doing what we have been doing," said Brandon Boren, a Bakersfield native who went to Stockdale High School and Bakersfield College. "We need to practice the same way every day. Even in the individual work we need to practice like it's a game."
Their home opener will be on Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. at Tom Hardt field at the southwest end of the campus. An hour before the game, the field will be dedicated in the name of Tom and Barbara Hardt for their generous donations, time and effort in making sure that the team had a field to play on.

The Bakersfield Museum of Art & the Kern County Library Unite for the Big Read Kick- Off EventBy Sarah Gaskins

2009-01-19T17:31:00.000-08:00

By Sarah Gaskins
Staff Writer

To promote and prepare for the upcoming celebrations of Black History Month, the Bakersfield Museum of Art (BMoA) opened their first Harlem Renaissance exhibit in early December. The new exhibition contains pieces of African-American art from the 1920s and 193's and will remain open for viewing until February 25th.
Not only did the BMoA release a new exhibit for the public in an effort to encourage Black History appreciation, but it also teamed up with the Kern County Library to introduce the city of Bakersfield to what is called "The Big Read."
According to the BMoA website, "The Big Read" is a community-wide endeavor to read author Zora Neale Hurston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God." Hurston was recognized as one of the most popular and powerful writers throughout the Harlem Renaissance era.
"The Big Read" kick-off event officially began Thursday evening on January 15. The public was warmly welcomed into the museum and was also greeted with the smooth sounds of a live jazz band. Before the actual ceremony began, BMoA personnel urged guests to indulge in complimentary refreshments and to admire the different masterpieces that were showcased in the museum.
Later in the evening, visitors began to file into a large room where the initial kick-off of "The Big Read" event was held. The audience ranged from high school students to interviewers, teachers, professors, parents and other residents of Bakersfield. Seats filled up quickly, and many had to resort to standing or sitting against the back wall of the conference room.
Assistant Director of the Bakersfield Museum of Art, David Gordon, amiably greeted the audience as he took the podium. His friendly attitude and charismatic public speaking skills seemed to create a personable atmosphere within the room. Gordon began with special thanks to those who were involved with the initiation of "The Big Read." His list of various names, schools, newspapers and companies proved that this event was put forth by a large committee and that it had full support from the Bakersfield community as a whole.
In his opening speech, Gordon described how "The Big Read" aimed to "encourage community wide reading." He also addressed that many more events will be taking place within the next few months in celebration of "The Big Read," Black History Month and their Harlem Renaissance art exhibit. Gordon urged the audience to participate in these upcoming activities.
In addition, Bakersfield's Mayor, Harvey Hall, also emphasized that this event is important when looking to continue our commitment with literacy. After several introduction speeches were given, Iraina Cheney performed a poem before the audience and left many in awe. In fact, she was so successful in executing her poem that the audience raised for a standing ovation.
Following Iraina's heartfelt poem, Dr. Fitzalbert Marius took the stage and wowed many. Dr. Fitzalbert was born during the year 1922 in Panama. When he turned three-years-old he and his family decided to move to New York. He lived his childhood years during the depression as well as the Harlem Renaissance.
To introduce "The Big Read" event to the people of Bakersfield, the BMoA and Kern County Library asked Fitzalbert to come share his experiences as he grew up during the Harlem Renaissance. Not only did he reveal his personal stories, but he also gave his insight on life in general. He made many chuckle when he offered the advice of "do not try to compare your peaches to someone else's apples."
Fitzalbert's speech was one that left him in a light of admiration. It was clear that this man had an astounding personality and quite a sense of humor. It was obvious that he made a strong connection with the audience.
He concluded his speech with the poem "Gabriel's Silver Trumpet." Following his last and final word, a surge of applause came from his listeners. What he had to say that evening touched the audience to such an extent that a standing ovation almost seemed both inevitable and predictable.
Gordon was very pleased with Thursday night's festivities at the BMoA. "I thought it was incredibly successful," he said. Gordon also commented on how much he appreciated the guest speakers and their help in promoting both "The Big Read" and the new Harlem Renaissance exhibition.
He explained that while it may have seemed odd for the museum to cover a literacy event, their new art display coincided perfectly with Zora Neale Hurston's novel. The partnership between the Bakersfield Museum of Art and the Kern County Library instigated both Black history appreciation and a strong sense of community amongst the residence of Bakersfield.
To find out more about "The Big Read" movement and the BMoA activities that will take place within the next few months, visit the Bakersfield Museum of Art website.

La Kose earns 300th win

2009-01-19T17:17:00.000-08:00

By Mark Nessia
Staff Writer

CSUB's women's basketball head coach Tim La Kose earned his 300th career win on Jan. 13 at the Icardo Center with a 73-57 victory over Long Beach State University. The win pushed the Roadrunner's record to 10-7 (4-0 against Big West Conference opponents), and the team is now 79-0 all-time when keeping opponents under 60 points. Long Beach dropped to 3-13, and has lost six straight games.
"That's our goal," said La Kose in regards to the team's perfect record against Big West opponents. "To finish atop the Big West, finish atop Independent. We're an Independent team, so our goal is to become the top Independent. We aspire to get to the Big West, and we play the Big West, so we want to finish atop the Big West standings also. The ultimate goal is to get to the NCAA championships."
The Roadrunners came off to a fast start, beginning the game with a 17-0 run. Turnovers and missed opportunities plagued Long Beach during the run, which lasted for over seven minutes. Long Beach turned the ball over seven times and was 0 for seven from the field.
La Kose said that the team coming out strong seems to be a trend at home, and that was the big difference in the game.
"Long Beach has some weapons," said La Kose. "They played better at the end of the half and start of the second half, but our team answered and got the stops we needed."
Long Beach cut the Roadrunner's lead to as little as eight points, but again, turnovers and poor shooting halted any chance of a comeback. Long Beach finished the game with 20 turnovers, 24 for 72 shooting from the field and was just three for 18 from three-point range.
The Roadrunners committed 12 turnovers, shot 26 for 68 from the field and were 10 for 29 from three-point range, including six from forward Phynique Allen. Allen led all Roadrunners with 22 points and four steals, and was one of three players to score in double-figures.
"I think we're playing great," said Christine Kepenekian, who finished the game with 18 points. "We're trying to get in the Big West, so it's a good thing for us. It shows them that we can compete with them, and possibly win that conference in the future."
But for the moment, all eyes were on La Kose and his historic achievement.
"It's a big deal," said Allen. "We focused on the win, and the game at hand, but we also knew that this could be coach's 300th win, and we wanted to make sure that happened so we went out there and got it done for him."
When asked about his accomplishment, La Kose deferred the attention to his players. According to La Kose, the players have bought into the opportunity to take a Division II program to a Division I, and tonight's win was another big step toward it.
"Players win games, not coaches," said La Kose. "And it's because of players like Phynique and Christine that are having the success we're having. Christine's been here for six years and she's a big reason why we're winning."
La Kose has now coached the CSUB women's basketball team to 164 of its 185 all-time victories, and currently owns a 164-57 record during his eight-year tenure at CSUB. He had 136 victories as head coach of Cal Lutheran's women's basketball team.
To La Kose, all Division I wins feel good because they are the underdog in a lot of those games. The addition of it being a victory over a Big West team made it even better.
"They have the resources, they have the tradition and track record of success," said La Kose. "Long Beach State was a top Big West team not too long ago, and they've had some big wins this year, and so to get (a win) at home, with this group, is really special."
When asked how important getting his 300th career win at home was, La Kose said it was not that important to him, and the key thing is the team keeps playing well and getting better. He did admit that the fact that it did happen was really nice, but stressed that the main thing is the team keeps playing well and raising the bar.
"When that happens, you get opportunities like we had tonight," said La Kose. "The team is making it happen, and working hard. They want to make history; they want to be the best CSUB women's basketball team ever. The whole campus and community want to see a top Division I program. It has so many ripple effects on the benefits, not only to our players, which is most important, but it's more fun to report, it's more fun to watch, it's more fun to play and it's more fun to coach."

Winter quarter kicked off with club fair

2009-01-19T16:37:00.000-08:00

By Katie Richey
Staff Writer

Club Name: Muslim Students Association
Purpose: The Muslim Students Associations purpose is to raise the awareness of the Muslim religion on campus. They want students to have a place for them to be informed on various Muslim ideals and beliefs.
Members: Anyone who is interested in learning more about the Muslim religion and helping out at events.
Goals for 2009: The Muslim Students Association wants to inform more students about their religion and work on more forums. They also want to join together with other clubs to plan events and recruit more members.
Meet: 1:30-2:30 in the Blue room in the Student Union

Club Name: The Anthropology Club
Purpose: The Anthropology Club meets together to discuss Anthropological ideas, methods, and discoveries.
Members: Anyone with the interest in any of the fields of anthropology including biological, cultural, architectural, and linguistic.
Goals for 2009: To get more active members and to meet together more often.
Meet: Monthly

Club Name: Kappa Delta Nu Sorority
Purpose: The Kappa Delta Nu Sorority prides itself in being one of the most diverse sororities on campus. They work hard in helping out with the community and helping each of their sisters grow individually.
Members: Kappa Delta Nu is currently rushing. They are looking for young, diverse, CSUB ladies to help add some Kappa Delta flair to the sorority.
Goals for 2009: To work more for the community.

Club Name: Community Service Corporative
Purpose: The main purpose of the Community Service Corporative is to serve the community.
Members: CSC is looking for any individual who has a passion for the community and willing to work for a good cause.
Goals for 2009: Their goals include trying to educate and motivate more CSUB students in to getting involved in the community and doing their part in the "Celebrate CSUB" in April.
Meet: 2:00 in the Students Union at 2:00

Club Name: MECHA
Purpose: MECHA is one of the oldest organizations on campus. They focus on learning about different cultures. They hold many events including Adelante Raza, Cinco de Mayo, and the Chicano Commencement. They take trips both state and nation wide to talk about political issues and how students can make a difference.
Members: MECHA is looking for individuals interested their cultural background.
Goals for 2009: MECHA looking forward to getting more members, taking more educational trips, and raising awareness about their organization.
Find them at: www.csub.edu/mecha

Club Name: Phi Sigma Sigma Sorority
Purpose: Phi Sigma Sigma prides itself in representing core values through service, learning, and inclusiveness.
Members: Phi Sigma Sigma is looking for quality girls who believe in their same core values.
Goals for 2009: Phi Sigma Sigma plans on welcoming new girls to their sorority. They also plan on boosting their GPA and helping out at the Rock-a-thon in February.
Find them at: http://www.csub.edu/PhiSig/

Club Name: Kappa Sigma Fraternity
Purpose: The Kappa Sigma Fraternity is a group of gentlemen that work together to form fellowship between brothers. They work hard to serve their community.
Members: Kappa Sigma Fraternity is currently rushing and in search for good quality men who are interested in a brotherhood.
Goals for 2009: They would like to help increase the Greek life on campus and have more involvement in campus events. They would also like to get their names out into the community.

Club Name: Mission 242
Purpose: Mission 242 is a new ministry based club on campus. They meet together to hang out, work on community projects, and have fellowship.
Members: They are welcoming anybody who just wants have fun and learn about the Bible.
Goals for 2009: Mission 242 would like to reach more people through ministry and work more in the community and on campus. Also they would like to spread the word about their club.
Meet: Mondays or Tuesdays on campus

Club Name: Migrant Student MBA Chapter
Purpose: The MBA main purpose is to educate students about developing their personal financial skills.
Members: They are looking for anybody interested in discovering more about investing, saving, and other financial ideas.
Goals for 2009: The MBA is planning on attending a big conference in the spring. They also want to help to educate more students on how to secure a financial future and how to build credit.
Meet: 11:30 on Tuesdays in the Green room at the Student Union

Club Name: Theta Chi Fraternity
Purpose: Theta Chi is a service and brotherhood based fraternity. They work on assisting in various events on campus and maintaining successful academic ideals. They each support one another in hopes of keeping these bonds through the rest of life. They also share strong bonds with sororities on campus.
Members: They are looking for men interesting in sharing their same ideas.
Goals for 2009: Theta Chi plans on increasing their members and building a stronger financial situation.

Runner cafe receives a 'B' grade

2009-01-19T16:34:00.000-08:00

By Hillary Haenes
Features Editor

When you walk through the doors of CSUB's Runner Café and are greeted with a not so appealing sign that marks a large, blue letter B, you may think twice about eating your next meal here, but don't. For those of you who have had a difficult time locating the rating sign, it is posted in a new location since the Runner Café received their B-rating since October.
The new rating sign is now positioned on the wall and is hidden behind a welcome sign near the cash registers, which is where the inspectors placed the new sign. There is no need to panic if you do chow down on the convenient and tasty food at the café, the grade is due to only minor violations.
"The critical element that caused our score to lower to a B from an A were towels we use to sanitize/clean work surfaces [that] were left on work surfaces during the preparation process," said Food Service Director and General Manager of Campus Services, Bob McMicken.
According to McMicken, the explanation for this is that the workers were using the towels and failed to return them to the sanitizing solution bucket immediately after using them. This observation was cited in two areas and caused two deductions from their score. However, the situation was corrected right away, but the points were still deducted.
"If the sign was posted on the door, I would walk over to the pub, but since it wasn't, here I am," said senior Gabriela Luna.
On the Kern County Environmental Health Services website, the inspection report shows the rating history of the Runner Café and that on October 18, 2007, the café had a grade of an A (99.5 percent), but on October 30, 2008, the café's current grade was dropped to a B (80 percent). The inspection details explain the deductions of the most recent inspection, which include four non-critical violations, one minor violation and three major violations.
The non-critical violations consist of individual containers of salad dressing that were provided with no label displayed in the cooler, the ceiling was not clean in the walk-in cooler, one prep sink was not in good working order and the exhaust hoods were lacking filters. The minor violation was the women's restroom was lacking hot water. The three major violations that deduced the Runner Café's grade to a B were: the moist wiping towels were improperly stored on the prep counter, and another time the moist wiping towels were not properly stored in the sanitizing solution between use, and finally, detergent was not provided with a label that was being stored on the prep counter.
"Since I am a nursing student, I think sanitation and hand washing is a priority for the safety of our campus," said senior Ona Sibecas.
McMicken is also the manager to the Wiley Pub in the Student Union and also to the Jazzman Café that both have A-ratings. McMicken has scheduled another re-inspection for February and remains hopeful that the Runner Café grade will gain another grade of an A like his other food locations around campus. Maybe this next inspection will allow a change of location for the rating sign so that students will be able to clearly view the café's grade before entering.
"I am confident that our score will reflect the "A" score operation we have maintained since our inspection," said McMicken.

Give N' Go

2009-01-19T16:25:00.000-08:00

By Destiny Cerezo
Staff Writer

CSUB Roadrunner Athletics and Houchin Community Blood Bank joined together once again to host this years "Give & Go." Anyone who donated between the 12th and 17th of this month received a voucher good for two free tickets to one of three offered Roadrunner basketball games.
With this being the fifth year of the promotion, it has also been the most successful. The amount of donors are "progressively climbing each year" according to Houchin Blood Bank's Community Relations Director, Tracy Hunter. As of Wednesday, just the third day of the promotion, the non-profit organizations number of donors had already exceeded last year's final count of 660. In 2007, the final count of donors was 617.
Due to the fact that there is an insufficient amount of blood donors, Hunter seemed thrilled that these people are willing to give to their community. Students and young adults especially. "Students are our future, they make up 37% of donor inventory," said Hunter.
According to Houchin Blood Bank's website, the organization is the sole provider responsible for "saving the lives of the residents of Kern County." Only two locations exist and can be found right here in Bakersfield, one in the downtown area on "G" Street and the other on Truxtun Ave.
Houchin Blood Bank has provided for Kern County since April 1952. A few events and campaigns such as: "Armed Forces Day," (every May) which is sponsored by Members of the Disabled American Veterans; "A Moment for Mom" on Mother's Day; "Tool Time" for Father's Day and the "Community Wide" blood drive that runs for 20 days in the month of August are held throughout the year.
An incentive for donors to participate in future blood drives includes giveaways such as big screen TVs, Wii game systems, brand name tools and $10 off coupons to Hungry Hunter restaurant.
Hunter spoke of the struggle that the blood bank goes through in the summer. Since students are not in school, the amount of student donors immensely decreases. Previous summer blood drives included "Beat the Heat 2008" and "Dewars pint for a pint."
CSUB and Houchin Blood Bank have a longstanding relationship of about 10 years according to Hunter. "We are very proud to be partnered with CSUB."
In addition to the "Give & Go" collaboration, two other blood drives are held, but on the CSUB campus instead. Houchin visits the university in both the Spring and Fall with the mobile bus to recruit new students and draw blood from existing donors. "They play music and games, it's a feel good day!" exclaimed Hunter. Houchin's "Donor of the Month" is featured on the home page of the gorunners.com website.

CSUB theatre teaches Everyman about morality

2009-01-19T16:20:00.000-08:00

By Carlos Cruz
Staff Writer

The holidays have gone and passed, and many of us are still indulging in all the gifts we have received. Whether it be that new iPod, the new video game system or even that new wardrobe, these material things have brought us great joy and delight. However, we must not forget the values and morals we all hold dear - those are of true importance.
"Everyman" is one of the plays that the CSUB Theatre ensemble will perform this quarter. Directed by the theatre's very own department chair, Mandy Rees, this story depicts how everyone should live their lives and how prepare ourselves for death.
"The material necessities we all have won't go with us to the end, it is our morality that will save us," says Rees.
Written in the 1400s, "Everyman" is a medieval and allegorical play that knows no boundaries, it is representative of all humanity in every giving time period.
Senior Michael Mejia, who has performed in nine other CSUB performances, portrays the protagonist of "Everyman." The character goes on a journey where he faces trials and sacrifices, meets other characters which depict fellowship, knowledge and goods. These will befriend and test him. It is only when he meets Good-Deeds that his search for grace begins to become clear.
As Mejia believes, "good deeds count in the end."
Everyman will play on February 26, 27, 28 at 8 p.m. and have afternoon performances on February 28 and March 1 at 2 p.m. in the Arena Theatre. General admission is $10, $8 for seniors (60+) and CSUB Faculty/Staff and $5 w/student ID. Seating is limited, reservations are available by calling ahead 654-6070.
Another performance we can expect from the theatre department this quarter is "Gold Fever" by Rita Grauer and John Urquhart, directed by CSUB Theater Education teacher Kamala Kruszka.
It is a humorous and imaginative play for young audiences. It is set during the historic California Gold Rush and it illustrates the conflict of personal greed and the importance of compassion for others.
"Gold Fever" will play on March 14 at noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and March 15 at noon and 2 p.m. in the Arena Theater. General Admission is $5, children ages 12 and under get in free. Limited seating, reservations available 654-6070.
A bit further down the line, the CSUB Theatre Department will perform the 2003 Pulitzer Prize winning play, "Anna in the Tropics," by Nilo Cruz, and it will be directed by Dr. Maria-Tania Becerra. It is set in Florida during the depression and depicts the last of Cuban cigar makers who attempt to create a little bit of the city they left behind only to find failure and betrayal.
It is schedule to play on May 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30 at 8 p.m. and May 31 at 2 p.m. $10 General admission, $8 for seniors (60+) and CSUB faculty and staff and $5 with student id.

Maintenance of CSUB Koi pond is in troubled waters.

2009-01-19T16:13:00.000-08:00

By Amber Smith
Staff Writer

On the east side of the library, tucked away in the corners of the CSUB campus sits the quiet, stagnant and murky waters of the Koi pond.
The koi pond is part of the CSUB Alumni Park, which includes not only the pond itself, but the landscaping, streams and bridges that make up the whole area surrounding the pond. According to a Cal State Today newsletter, construction began on the project in 2004 and was the work of the alumni board who planned the project.
The pond is a bit of an eyesore now compared to how it looked when it was originated. Tons of fallen leaves sit in the brown, muddy and mossy streams. Overgrown dead shrubbery protrudes from the waters. Filters sit idly by waiting to be fixed and old remnants of what used to be flowing fountains stand deserted.
You also have to get pretty close to the koi pond itself to actually see the fish, due to the fact that the haze in the water makes them difficult to see.
Despite its unattractive appearance, some students still visit and enjoy the pond. Matt Campbell, a junior at CSUB said, "It's kind of gross, but I like the whole idea." He went on to say sarcastically, "I thought they were going for the whole natural vibe."
"I'd hate to slip and fall in the pond. I might have to go get a tetanus shot after that. I like to come and watch the fish though," Campbell said.
Unfortunately for Campbell, and other fans of the koi pond, due to recent budget cuts at CSUB and the California state government, the koi pond is not a very high priority in terms of allocation of school funds.
Tom Velasquez, facilities manager at CSUB, said that part of the reason the waters look so cloudy is because of broken filters, motors and vacuums, and CSUB doesn't have the money right now to fix them. He said that not only are the Koi pond's filters are broken, but also the filters in the pond near the dorms on the west side of campus.
"I like to see a beautiful campus, but we have to spend money on different things," said Velasquez.
He said that one filter alone costs around two-to-three thousand dollars to fix.
"Due to budget cuts, the campus is working to limit spending and curtail expenditures," said Mike Neal, the Vice President of Business Administration in regards to the budget and koi pond.
He said that the campus and the state are experiencing a very difficult economic time.
"From what I've heard, the state of California could be out of cash in February," said Neal. That would mean much less money would be given to the CSUB, and all other CSUs.
Due to the lack of money, he said that the campus must spend its money on only the most necessary things. Among other things, those necessary items include Cal grants and payroll.
"In the case that the state could not pay Cal Grants to students, CSUB would step in and pay the most critical Cal Grants needed," Neal said.
"We need to pay for the things that keep the university going before anything aesthetic," said Neal.
Campbell said that he would support the money going to critical areas of the university before going to the upkeep of the koi pond.
Campbell also offered a noble solution to the maintenance of the koi pond. "Maybe there could be a day where students could volunteer to help keep the Koi pond looking nice. I would definitely help," Campbell said.
Francis Scott Kress, a parent of Bakersfield children and CSUB supporter, echoed Campbell's sentiment. "It's all about solutions. Maybe biology classes could use the Koi pond as part of their class," he said.

Welcome to The Runner Online

2009-01-19T16:03:00.000-08:00

This is the official website of the California State University, Bakersfield student newspaper - The Runner. This website will be updated with each issue and include supplemental content like videos, photos and polls.
New issues come out on the Wednesday of each week during the quarter.