San Diego State’s Department of Africana Studies hosted the final spring installment of its 40th anniversary lec- ture series Monday in Storm Hall. SDSU graduate Antwanisha Alameen served as the guest lecturer for the event. Alameen presented her dissertation about “Women’s Avenues to Political Power in Patriarchal Igbo Society: 1800-1900” for students and Africana studies faculty. The Igbo people originate from Igboland, a cultural territory in southeastern Nigeria. Prior to British colonization in 1900, women played a significant role in the political structure in Igboland. According to Alameen’s dissertation, the political power women possessed was rooted in their spiritual authority. The women were believed to have strong spiritual connections to the goddess deities in Igbo religion. Spiritual authority was an avenue used by Igbo women to exercise agency and benefit their communities. Alameen’s interest in this topic grew during her undergraduate stud- ies at SDSU. “When I came to San Diego State, I felt that a lot of the literature I read was focused on what men did,” she said. “As an African-American woman, I wanted to understand my place in history.” After receiving her bachelor’s degree in Africana studies, Alameen, a Richmond native, completed her mas- ter’s at Michigan State’s African American and African Studies Department . She is currently pursuing her doctorate in the same discipline at Temple University. “It’s important for African-American students to understand our history did not start at enslavement,” Alameen said. “We had a rich history in Africa before our ancestors were brought here.” Dr. Adisa A. Alkebulan served as one of Alameen’s professors while she attended SDSU. “I’m very proud of her,” Alkebulan said. “One of the things I’m most appreciative of is for a former student who’s doing great things to come back and not only present new information to current students, but serve as a role model and example of what they can do when they finish at SDSU.” THURSDAY April 12, 2012 Volume 97, Issue 103 WWW.THEDAILYAZTEC.COM facebook.com/dailyaztec twitter: thedailyaztec SCAN CODE FOR MOBILE CONTENT WEATHER: PARTLY CLOUDY HIGH: 63 LOW: 49 SUNSET: 7:17PM SDSU ’ S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1913 @EdwardHenderson senior staff writer Alumna lectures about Igbo women #entertainment “The Hunger Games” makes waves with social media campaign. #sports_10 Read about the best men’s basketball game of the season. #opinion_13 @LeonardoCastaneda believes ‘Stand Your Ground’ is a threat to citizens’ safety. #spotlight_5 Wendy Shapiro creates opportunity in classroom. #food&drink Walk and dine at this year’s Taste of Hillcrest. #opinion Stacey Oparnica discusses why Internet privacy is of utmost importance. Reader’s Choice DIGITAL - FRIENDLY EDITION Beginning as a student who used to sit in the back corner and refrained from participating in class, Michael Rapp has since become a celebrated lecturer at San Diego State. According to Rapp, a former stu- dent once described his lectures as a therapy session; and after 10 years of teaching, he still asks students to call him by his first name. When enrolling in one of the var- ious courses taught by Rapp, his prevailing first-day ritual is to com- municate to students the impor- tance of a relaxed environment in the classroom. “You have to get creative,” Rapp said. “It took me a while to create a comfortable and relaxed environ- ment for students. I want my class- room to be a place where students want to go and learn.” When it comes to first impres- sions, Rapp is not afraid to laugh at himself or retaliate to jokes made in class about him or subjects being discussed. “His laugh is the funniest thing in the world,” former student and communications alumna Cristina Garcia said. Being a former student at SDSU has made this lecturer a more knowledgeable and experienced communications professor because of the important life lessons that his lectures discuss. According to Rapp, having gone through what students are now experiencing is a key factor to his success as a lecturer. “I am not any smarter or any bet- ter than my students,” Rapp said. “But I am older and have a little bit more experience and have been studying communication for longer.” Yet, even with a few more years of experience compared to his students, Rapp still said he has learned the most through his students’ life experiences. “Studying communication is mostly about how you deal with life,” Rapp said. “Ten percent in life is what happens to you and 90 percent is how you deal with it.” Rapp said the best way to teach college students is through his per- sonal experience and mistakes he made as a former student. “He gets students and college life … at least most of the time,” Garcia said. As to what Rapp’s proudest moments are, he said that it is not the paycheck, but instead the invisi- ble lightbulb he sees every once in a while, when a student understands what he is teaching. SUGGESTED BY KHRIS PECJO @AnaCeballos staff writer The concept of a billion, which is a one followed by nine zeros, is gener- ally reserved for measurements of all things massive. Because of this, when money is measured in billions, people take notice. Earlier this month, a group of wealthy businessmen, including for- mer NBA star Magic Johnson, pro- posed to purchase the Los Angeles Dodgers for a total of $2 billion. This caused a media frenzy, for it was the most expensive sports team purchase in history. While many pundits felt $2 billion was an exorbitant amount of money to spend on a sports team, oth- ers felt that because of the supposed talent behind the purchase, the busi- ness decision was sound. However, when Facebook announced Monday it was purchasing popular photo-sharing application Instagram, which lets users instantly edit their photos, for $1 billion, the reaction was much less divided. While not the largest tech acquisition in his- tory, the app’s rising popularity placed it on the tip of many people’s tongues. What started as shock quickly became apprehension as various media outlets attempted to process the purchase. Professor of journalism and media studies at San Diego State Tim Wulfemeyer said the news media reacted the way it did for a number of reasons. “One reason is money. It’s defi- nitely a lot of money for something that kind of makes you say, ‘Hmm…,” Wulfemeyer said. “It’s also a bit of a threat to audience share. When you offer unique things to the public and other suppliers offer similar, or maybe different and better things, then you’re going to lose a little bit of your market share.” Just two days after the purchase, organizations such as Forbes Magazine and CNN published articles and lists dealing with both Facebook’s potential motivations in the acquisition and speculating on its plans for the future. The purchase even elicited a response from The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart, who disbe- lievingly asked if the payment was made with “real money” for “some- thing that kind of ruins your pictures.” Instagram the app has more than 30 million users. Instagram the company has only 13 employees. Though Facebook issued a state- ment expressing excitement about acquiring the small startup, the com- pany stopped short of expressing the exact reasons for the purchase. Professor Wulfemeyer said what may motivate Facebook’s decision is appealing to advertisers. “They could bundle everything together, which adds more func- tionality and helps them keep, or maybe gain, new users,” he said. “It opens the door to a lot of potential new advertisers.” In Forbes, writer Kashmir Hill listed “10 Reasons Why Facebook Bought Instagram.” In the article, Hill attempts to provide a clear explanation of why a company like Facebook would pur- chase an up-and-comer like Instagram. Her number one reason? “Because it could.” Alumna Antwanisha Alameen speaking in Storm Hall. | PETER KLUCH, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Like @KevinSmead assistant news editor Instagram buyout draws criticism Rapp stays down to earth in class “You have to get creative ... I want my classroom to be a place where students want to go and learn.” @MichaelRapp SDSU communications lecturer #entertainment_3 The ever-evolving group Preposterone brings a cappella charm to SDSU.
Transcript
San Diego State’s Department ofAfricana Studies hosted the final springinstallment of its 40th anniversary lec-ture series Monday in Storm Hall. SDSUgraduate Antwanisha Alameen servedas the guest lecturer for the event.Alameen presented her dissertationabout “Women’s Avenues to PoliticalPower in Patriarchal Igbo Society:1800-1900” for students and Africanastudies faculty.
The Igbo people originate fromIgboland, a cultural territory insoutheastern Nigeria. Prior to Britishcolonization in 1900, women playeda significant role in the politicalstructure in Igboland.
According to Alameen’s dissertation,the political power women possessedwas rooted in their spiritual authority.The women were believed to havestrong spiritual connections to thegoddess deities in Igbo religion.Spiritual authority was an avenue usedby Igbo women to exercise agencyand benefit their communities.
Alameen’s interest in this topicgrew during her undergraduate stud-ies at SDSU.
“When I came to San Diego State, Ifelt that a lot of the literature I read wasfocused on what men did,” she said. “Asan African-American woman, I wantedto understand my place in history.”
After receiving her bachelor’sdegree in Africana studies, Alameen, aRichmond native, completed her mas-ter’s at Michigan State’s AfricanAmerican and African StudiesDepartment . She is currently pursuingher doctorate in the same discipline atTemple University.
“It’s important for African-Americanstudents to understand our history didnot start at enslavement,” Alameen said.“We had a rich history in Africa beforeour ancestors were brought here.”
Dr. Adisa A. Alkebulan served as oneof Alameen’s professors while sheattended SDSU.
“I’m very proud of her,” Alkebulansaid. “One of the things I’m mostappreciative of is for a former studentwho’s doing great things to come backand not only present new informationto current students, but serve as a rolemodel and example of what they cando when they finish at SDSU.”
THURSDAYApril 12, 2012Volume 97, Issue 103
WWW.T H E DA I LYA Z T E C .CO M
facebook.com/dailyaztectwitter: thedailyaztec
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W E AT H E R :
PARTLY CLOUDYHIGH: 63LOW: 49SUNSET: 7:17PM
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S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R
S I N C E 1 9 1 3
@@EEddwwaarrddHHeennddeerrssoonn
senior staff writer
Alumna lectures about Igbo women
##eenntteerrttaaiinnmmeenntt “The Hunger Games”makes waves with socialmedia campaign.
##ssppoorrttss__1100Read about the best men’s basketball game of the season.
##ooppiinniioonn__1133@@LeonardoCastaneda believes ‘Stand Your Ground’is a threat to citizens’ safety.
##ssppoottlliigghhtt__55Wendy Shapiro createsopportunity in classroom.
##ffoooodd&&ddrriinnkkWalk and dine at thisyear’s Taste of Hillcrest.
##ooppiinniioonnStacey Oparnica discusseswhy Internet privacy is ofutmost importance.
Reader’s ChoiceDIGITAL-FRIENDLY EDITION
Beginning as a student who used tosit in the back corner and refrainedfrom participating in class, MichaelRapp has since become a celebratedlecturer at San Diego State.
According to Rapp, a former stu-dent once described his lectures as atherapy session; and after 10 years ofteaching, he still asks students to callhim by his first name.
When enrolling in one of the var-ious courses taught by Rapp, hisprevailing first-day ritual is to com-municate to students the impor-tance of a relaxed environment inthe classroom.
“You have to get creative,” Rappsaid. “It took me a while to create acomfortable and relaxed environ-ment for students. I want my class-room to be a place where studentswant to go and learn.”
When it comes to first impres-sions, Rapp is not afraid to laugh athimself or retaliate to jokes made inclass about him or subjects beingdiscussed.
“His laugh is the funniest thing inthe world,” former student andcommunications alumna CristinaGarcia said.
Being a former student at SDSUhas made this lecturer a moreknowledgeable and experiencedcommunications professor becauseof the important life lessons that hislectures discuss. According to Rapp,having gone through what studentsare now experiencing is a key factorto his success as a lecturer.
“I am not any smarter or any bet-ter than my students,” Rapp said. “ButI am older and have a little bit moreexperience and have been studyingcommunication for longer.”
Yet, even with a few more years ofexperience compared to his students,Rapp still said he has learned the mostthrough his students’ life experiences.
“Studying communication ismostly about how you deal with life,”Rapp said. “Ten percent in life is whathappens to you and 90 percent ishow you deal with it.”
Rapp said the best way to teachcollege students is through his per-sonal experience and mistakes hemade as a former student.
“He gets students and college life …at least most of the time,” Garcia said.
As to what Rapp’s proudestmoments are, he said that it is notthe paycheck, but instead the invisi-ble lightbulb he sees every once in awhile, when a student understandswhat he is teaching.
SUGGESTED BY KHRIS PECJO
@@AAnnaaCCeebbaallllooss
staff writer
The concept of a billion, which is aone followed by nine zeros, is gener-ally reserved for measurements of allthings massive. Because of this,when money is measured in billions,people take notice.
Earlier this month, a group ofwealthy businessmen, including for-mer NBA star Magic Johnson, pro-posed to purchase the Los AngelesDodgers for a total of $2 billion. Thiscaused a media frenzy, for it was themost expensive sports team purchasein history. While many pundits felt $2billion was an exorbitant amount ofmoney to spend on a sports team, oth-ers felt that because of the supposedtalent behind the purchase, the busi-ness decision was sound.
However, when Facebookannounced Monday it was purchasingpopular photo-sharing applicationInstagram, which lets users instantlyedit their photos, for $1 billion, thereaction was much less divided. Whilenot the largest tech acquisition in his-tory, the app’s rising popularity placedit on the tip of many people’s tongues.What started as shock quickly becameapprehension as various media outletsattempted to process the purchase.
Professor of journalism and mediastudies at San Diego State TimWulfemeyer said the news mediareacted the way it did for a numberof reasons.
“One reason is money. It’s defi-nitely a lot of money for somethingthat kind of makes you say, ‘Hmm…,”Wulfemeyer said. “It’s also a bit of a
threat to audience share. When youoffer unique things to the public andother suppliers offer similar, ormaybe different and better things,then you’re going to lose a little bitof your market share.”
Just two days after the purchase,organizations such as ForbesMagazine and CNN published articlesand lists dealing with bothFacebook’s potential motivations inthe acquisition and speculating on itsplans for the future. The purchaseeven elicited a response from TheDaily Show’s Jon Stewart, who disbe-lievingly asked if the payment wasmade with “real money” for “some-thing that kind of ruins your pictures.”
Instagram the app has more than 30million users. Instagram the companyhas only 13 employees.
Though Facebook issued a state-ment expressing excitement aboutacquiring the small startup, the com-pany stopped short of expressing theexact reasons for the purchase.
Professor Wulfemeyer said whatmay motivate Facebook’s decision isappealing to advertisers.
“They could bundle everythingtogether, which adds more func-tionality and helps them keep, ormaybe gain, new users,” he said. “Itopens the door to a lot of potentialnew advertisers.”
In Forbes, writer Kashmir Hill listed“10 Reasons Why Facebook BoughtInstagram.” In the article, Hill attemptsto provide a clear explanation of why acompany like Facebook would pur-chase an up-and-comer likeInstagram. Her number one reason?
“Because it could.”
Alumna Antwanisha Alameen speaking in Storm Hall. | PETER KLUCH, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
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@@KKeevviinnSSmmeeaadd
assistant news editor
Instagram buyoutdraws criticism
Rapp stays downto earth in class
“You have to get creative ... I wantmy classroom to be a place wherestudents want to go and learn.”
@MichaelRapp SDSU communications lecturer
##eenntteerrttaaiinnmmeenntt__33The ever-evolving groupPreposterone brings acappella charm to SDSU.
D A I L Y A Z T E CThursday, April 12, 2012entertainment 3Search
L IVE AND DANGEROUS
Only a few listens to groups such asStraight No Chaser make it obviousthere aren’t many forms of entertain-ment as purely endearing orunabashedly fun as a cappella. Even“Glee” has a certain charm to it, thoughthe members of Preposterone say they“can do it without the auto-tune.”
San Diego State has a few of itsown student a cappella groups,though Preposterone is the onlyentirely male one. The group wasfounded in the spring of last year bya group of musically minded stu-dents looking for an outlet for theirtalent, not to mention a good time.
What started as a group of five,organized by Musical Director LukeRanieri, has doubled in size since theformation, and they are looking toexpand. “Having more members meanswe can experiment with differentstyles,” Ranieri said. The group alreadycovers everything from Irish drinkingsongs to grungy Southern rock to soul.
The group’s overwhelming favoritesong to perform is the “Lonely Boy”arrangement, originally by The BlackKeys. “It’s the most fun, everyone getsinto it,” tenor and manager MattAcevedo said. Ranieri agreed, thoughhe added they do everything frompretty to melancholy as well. Crowd
favorites include Saturday Night Live’s“Jizzed in my Pants” and The Flight ofthe Conchords’ “Leggy Blonde.”
The group is largely unanimous:they perform because they enjoy it.Beatboxer / baritone ZacharyHoffman said, “There is somethingamazing about feeding off eachother in a pure format … getting 10people to work together as a finelyoiled machine in close quarters.There is an awesome energy to it.”
Hoffman allegedly imposed his audi-tion on the gentlemen in Preposteroneafter his third audition for SDSU’s othera cappella group, The Sunset Clefs. Hemade the transition to beatboxing afterwatching performances by groupssuch as the Pentatonics. He said, “If theycan do it, why can’t I?”
Hoffman’s thoughts were echoed byRanieri, who thought something similarwhile watching an episode of “The SingOff.” This was the idea that inspired himto form the group in the first place.
Though most of the members havemusical backgrounds, not all of themwere singers before joining. Othermembers have had extensive profes-sional training. Baritone and choreog-rapher Perry Lee has been choreo-graphing professionally for years, aswell as performing in several musicaltheater productions. Bass KevinRoessler has an instrumental back-ground but wanted to try somethingwith his voice. Ranieri said “the humanvoice has more flexibility than aninstrument. Standard bands have amore rigid structure.”
Acevedo, who is taking over as musi-cal director next semester, has the goalof preparing the group to compete inthe International Championship ofCollegiate A Cappella next year. TheICCA is a large tournament that pitsgroups against each other from aroundthe U.S. and Europe
Preposterone sings from 2:30-3:30p.m. every Wednesday outside HepnerHall and Scripps Cottage. Videos of thegroup’s performances can be found atyoutube.com/PreposteroneSDSU.
SUGGESTED BY MATT ACEVEDO, TENOR AND
MANAGER OF PREPOSTERONE
@@JJoohhnnAAnnddeerrssoonn
entertainment editor
SDSU’s first and onlyall-male a cappellagroup croons
Preposterone stirs hormones with serenades
Preposterone performs at 2:30 p.m. every Wednesday in front of Hepner Hall and Scripps Cottage. | DUSTIN MICHELSON, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
“There is something amazing aboutfeeding off each other in a pure format ... getting 10 people to worktogether as a finely oiled machine.”
@ZacharyHoffman baritone and beatboxer in Preposterone
D A I L Y A Z T E CThursday, April 12, 2012 entertainment4 Search
So far, the odds have definitely beenin “The Hunger Games’” favor.
As of print time, “The HungerGames” has grossed $463.7 millionworldwide. Opening weekend net-ted distributor Lionsgate an eye-popping $152.5 million, making itthe 3rd most successful openingweekend ever.
Sure, the blockbuster phenome-non had the momentum of SuzanneCollins’ best-selling book seriesbehind it, but so did “The BourneIdentity,” which opened at a measly$27 million. The difference can’t beattributed to star caliber: MattDamon clearly wins that battle. Thetarget demographic may have playeda part, though the “Lord of the Rings”trilogy was aimed at an older audi-ence, and it leaned house. Clearlysomething else was at work, andmarketing experts are pointing tosocial media as the difference maker.
Lionsgate’s marketing team washard to ignore. It aggressively pro-
moted the film through social mediaon a wide variety of platforms,including Twitter contests, teaservideos, podcasts, interactive media,games and even inviting fans todivide themselves into their own
districts. Promoters were able tobuild momentum by offering prizesto districts which re-tweeted theircontent the most. The marketingteam was able to push kitschy art,stills from the movie, the soundtrack
and other promotional materialthrough avenues such as Facebookand YouTube as well.
Lionsgate continued the cam-paign as the movie was released,inviting fans to use their “FB app tocreate an event for your screeningand invite friends” on the movie’sofficial Twitter. This gave thosealready seeing the film an engagingway to show their pride while put-ting increased social pressure onthose not attending.
Being able to exploit well-estab-lished user bases such as Facebookand Twitter allowed marketers tofocus on creating engaging contentrather than drawing in an audience.
Vince Broady, CEO of thismo-ment, told Forbes that “In the pastjust getting a social media campaignup and running took all theresources and creativity was limited.Now it’s not a problem to executethe mechanics of a social campaignso the creativity is becoming a muchmore critical factor.”
The success of “The HungerGames” serves as a reminder of twothings. First, consumers are beinggiven more control of the marketingof their favorite products. A quickreflection on how much consumerstrust Yelp or Angie’s List shows that,not to mention the user review sec-
tions on retail sites such as Amazonor Newegg. Consumers trust eachother, and not traditional marketers,to give a fair reflection of a product’sworth, which makes successfulcampaigns such as Lionsgate’s allthe more powerful.
The willingness to share an opin-ion on a product or even campaignon its behalf represents a seachange in the way the public identi-fies with branding. Social media hasmade branding a part of the individ-ual’s identity.
Perhaps Facebook is worth thatstaggering valuation. The ability toadvertise directly on the site is onething, being able to build a market-ing campaign from a user’s perspec-tive is another beast entirely. An eas-ily accessible user base of 483 mil-lion is impossible to ignore.
Ultimately, the substantial invest-ment and clever implementation ofLionsgate’s social media campaigntranslated into earth-shaking buzz,which paved the way to success.This represents one of the biggestmarketing success stories in recentyears. Moviegoers will likely seemore studios and distributors push-ing social-media marketing in thefuture. After all, it’s cheap, easy anddeafeningly effective.
@@JJoohhnnAAnnddeerrssoonn
entertainment editor
Lionsgate startedbuilding momentuma year in advance
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RELEASING FRIDAY
“The Cabin in theWoods”Joss Whedon co-writesthis movie about a vaca-tion in the woods thatturns out to be exactlythe opposite of a relaxinggetaway. The MotionPicture Association ofAmerica promises thisthriller will have “strongbloody horror violenceand gore.”
“Lockout”Snow (Guy Pearce) has achance to clear the espi-onage charges from hisname provided he caninfiltrate a prison locatedin space and rescue thepresident’s daughter(Maggie Grace). Only theconvicts stand in the wayof his freedom. What wasthe president’s daughterdoing up there anyway?
“The Three Stooges”Larry (Sean Hayes), Curly(Will Sasso) and Moe(Chris Diamantopoulos)must work to save theorphanage they grew upin from financial ruin.Along the way theystumble into murder,mystery, reality TV andslapstick comedy.
— Compiled byEntertainment EditorJohn Anderson
Social media gives ‘Hunger Games’ an edge
Social media pushed ‘The Hunger Games’ to the top of the box office charts. | MCT CAMPUS
COURTESY OF OPEN ROAD FILMSCOURTESY OF DIYAH PERA COURTESY OF PETER IONVINO
D A I L Y A Z T E CThursday, April 12, 2012spotlight 5Search
The moment before registering forclasses can evoke a variety of emo-tions among students. Some experi-ence excitement as they take a stepcloser to graduation. Others losesleep from the fear of registering for arequired course instructed by a pro-fessor known for stringent gradingand high demands. Their fingerstremble with trepidation as they makethe mouse click of no return. Manystudents, however, look back at theirexperiences with these instructorsand realize signing up for a class wasa decision they would never regret.
Graphic design professor WendyShapiro is known for her attention todetail and high expectations of stu-dents. While they acknowledge thedifficulty of her class, Shapiro’s stu-dents agree they’re better graphicdesigners because of it.
Shapiro hails from Norristown,Penn., a small town outside ofPhiladelphia. Growing up in a familyrich with a history of educators, sheseemed destined to follow their foot-steps. However, after taking four yearsof graphic design in high school, herlove for the subject created a difficultdecision for which career path to take.She eventually decided to switchmajors from education to graphicdesign for her last two years of under-graduate study.
“I thought I would get tired ofteaching after a period of time andmy grades were so much better ingraphic design,” Shapiro said.
She went on to work for the NorthCounty Times as its marketing andadvertising designer. InstructionalTechnology Services at San DiegoState also utilized her services as agraphic designer.
“After working in the industry forseveral years I thought ‘why don’t Ijust combine the two?’” Shapiro said.
To execute her new plan, shereceived her master’s in fine arts fromSDSU and served as a teaching assistant.
“After teaching the first semester, Isaid that this is something I want to dowith the rest of my life,” Shapiro said.
She is now approaching her sixthyear teaching at SDSU.
Shapiro’s teaching style places astrong emphasis on paying attentionto detail and encouraging students tothink outside the box.
“I make them keep working onsomething for a really long time untilthey have exhausted all the ideas,”Shapiro said. “I’m a huge fan of crafts-manship. If the craft isn’t there, thenyou can’t even see the great design.”
SDSU senior graphic design majorAlex Gray can attest to Shapiro’sdemands on her students.
“We had to draw 100 stars and theyall had to be different,” Gray said.“Everyone hated it and wanted to doless, but now as seniors we realizethat it was really beneficial.”
Shapiro justifies her approach toteaching by reminding students howcompetitive the graphic design field is.
“Five out of 25 students in a classare going to get a good graphicdesign job,” Shapiro said. “You’regoing to have to prove to thoseemployers that you’re the best personfor the job.”
This “no-nonsense” approach toteaching can be effective. However,great teachers understand the impor-
tance of balancing that with a genuineconnection with students. Shapiro’sgraphic design teaching assistantLauren Fickling has personal experi-ence with the professor’s lighter side.
“I connected instantly with(Shapiro),” Fickling said. “She’s reallydown to earth, a lot of fun and givesreally good feedback.”
In her free time, Shapiro is an avidracquetball player and enjoys readingand going out with friends.
Shapiro draws her inspiration andexcitement about graphic designfrom her students. “They bring newthoughts and ideas to me and I bringthoughts and ideas to them,” she said.“It’s this great collaborative approach.”
SUGGESTED BY MONICA FUENTES
@@EEddwwaarrddHHeennddeerrssoonn
senior staff writer
“I make them keep working ... I’m ahuge fan of craftsmanship. If thecraft isn’t there, then you can’teven see the great design.”
@WendyShapiro SDSU graphic design professor
Prof draws students with passion for design
Professor Wendy Shapiro stands in front of posters of her own work, setting an example for students seeking careers in the graphic design field. | DUSTIN MICHELSON, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Shapiro preparesdesigners for real-life challenges
D A I L Y A Z T E CThursday, April 12, 2012 food & drink6 Search
Imagine taking a stroll down thestreets of Hillcrest indulging in top-notch cuisine and refreshment. For thepast 11 years, the neighborhood hasmade this a reality by hosting the Taste
of Hillcrest, a one-day event whenmore than 40 local restaurants servesamples of their tastiest fares.
Taste of Hillcrest’s website boastsoptions from the neighborhood’s lead-ing restaurants, including Aladdin,Babycakes, Baja Betty’s, Eden SanDiego, Edible Arrangements, Fig TreeCafé, Freebirds World Burrito, GossipGrill, Pizzeria Arrivederci, Pinkberry,Pink Noodle and The Wine Lover. Keepin mind, this is merely a sample ofwhat will be available at the event.
Next Saturday, visitors can walk thestreets of Hillcrest while indulging in
fresh seafood, sushi and pasta, as wellas favorites from the American to Asiancoasts. Sweet lovers will also find satis-faction in a selection of desserts, cof-fees and drinks.
In the past, visitors have sampleditems such as thin-crust pizza slices,mini glasses of wine, carnitas tacos,margaritas, chicken satay skewers,California rolls, mini-sized frozenyogurt, dumplings and cookies.
Some past participants have evenbeen known to lessen calorie intakebefore the big day to avoid feelingfull too early on.
Though it may sound like a walk inthe park, there is a craft to tasting. Forstarters, eco-conscious attendees maywant to use the same utensils whilesampling different restaurants todecrease waste. Also, water is a must.Visitors should remember to hydrate,and, most importantly, pace them-selves so every sample can be savored.
Taste of Hillcrest is meant to offerexposure for local restaurants, as wellas benefit the Hillcrest BusinessAssociation. The event costs $30 inadvance and $35 on the day of theevent. However, in the past eight yearsthe event has sold out in advance, soit’s recommended to buy tickets early.
Taste of Hillcrest will take placefrom noon to 4 p.m. on Fifth andRobinson Avenues.
As the event’s promotion websitestates, “Slip on your walking shoes,gather some friends and get ready forsome of the finest treats the Hillcrestarea has to offer. Your taste buds willthank you later.”
Visit fabuloushillcrest.com for moreinformation.
SUGGESTED BY @STEPHBOECKMANN
@@SSooffiieeCCaassiillllaass
staff writer
Taste the culinarytreats of Hillcrest’shottest spots
Next Saturday, visitors can walk thestreets of Hillcrest while indulgingin fresh seafood, sushi and pasta, aswell as favorites from the Americanto Asian coasts. Sweet lovers willalso find satisfaction in a selectionof desserts, coffees and drinks.
THINKSTOCK
Event bids locals to take a bite out of Hillcrest
THINKSTOCK
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Students in front of the flag observing the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11
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The king and queen win, hands down.
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Turtle, turtle, turtle pond.
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And the winner of the best lunchtime burgers and dogs is EOP.
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Rawr, looks like The Show is in town.
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Not sure what’s more impressive, the chili or the hat.
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If you stand in the center of this, you hear an echo. Try it out!
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It’s a puppy!
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“Take a look at what I’m wearing, people. You think anybody wants a roundhouse kick to the face while I’m wearing these bad boys?”
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The Magic Lantern show lights up the library. How steampunk.
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D A I L Y A Z T E CThursday, April 12, 2012 photos8 D A I L Y A Z T E C
Thursday, April 12, 2012photos 9SearchSearch
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Navy cadets show their patriotism.
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Hang in there, Zuma.
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Where’s the hard hat, Cody? Safety first!
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SearchD A I L Y A Z T E CThursday, April 12, 201210 sports
MEN ‘S BASKETBALL
The San Diego State basketball teamplayed its fair share of dramaticgames this season, but one conteststands apart from the rest.
There was a lot of pregame hypefor SDSU’s game against UNLV onJan. 14. It was the Mountain WestConference opener for both schools,there was a sellout crowd and thetwo teams both held spots in theTop-25 polls.
And the game sure did live up tothe expectations. With the score tiedat 67, sophomore guard JamaalFranklin drove to the basket and laidthe ball in with 0.3 seconds left togive the Aztecs a 69-67 win againstthe No. 12 team in the nation.
The final minutes were dramaticas Franklin suffered an ankle injury,which looked like it would force himto miss the rest of the game. Franklinwent from hobbled to hero with thelayup, which gave SDSU its biggestwin of the season.
Franklin wasn’t planning on miss-ing the last moments of the game,no matter how bad his ankle felt.
“We’re a family,” Franklin said. “Ifmy ankle’s broke, if they want meout there, I’m out there.”
It was a tight game throughout,the Aztecs led by as much as 10points, but the Runnin’ Rebels werenever out of it.
SDSU also received a lift from itscrowd, which was the best one ofthe season. The Show evenunveiled its very own bannerbefore the game.
Both coaches admitted the crowdhad an impact on the game.
“That crowd was absolutely sen-sational,” SDSU head coach SteveFisher said after the game. “From
start to finish they were sensational.They helped us get the victory with-out a doubt.”
“It’s a great atmosphere, similar tocoming in here the last several yearswith BYU,” UNLV head coach DaveRice said. “It speaks to what a goodjob coach Fisher has done in build-ing this program.”
The hype, the atmosphere and thegame itself made the game the bestone of the season.
SUGGESTED BY NICK HERNANDEZ
UNLV win was best of 2012
Sophomore Jamaal Franklin made the winning shot.| PETER KLUCH, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
@@AAnnttoonniiooMMoorraalleess
sports editor
Social media has had a great effect ona lot of things; the world of sportswasn’t excluded from the party.
Athletes, fans and members of themedia have utilized social media toolssuch as Facebook and Twitter toenhance the experience for everyone.
Fans can use social media tointeract with athletes and mediamembers who cover their favoriteteams. The connection can turnsour at times, though.
After a loss to UNLV in February, fanstook to Twitter to criticize SDSU soph-omore point guard Xavier Thames.
Thames handled the situation well,but it was an example of how closethe connection between fans andplayers can become because of socialmedia and how malicious it can be.
Many Aztec athletes have a Twitter;former SDSU football players RyanLindley and Ronnie Hillman are somenotable players who have them.Almost every player on the men’s bas-ketball team is active on the site.
Some of the biggest advocates ofsocial media in the world of sportsare sports journalists. Journalistsuse social media outlets in a varietyof capacities.
Live-tweeting sporting events is away for journalists to keep the fanswho may not be able to watch thegame updated on the outcome.
Journalists can also use Twitterand Facebook to link to their storiesor break news about the teams theycover.
Journalists, like the rest of thesports community, realize socialmedia isn’t going anywhere any timesoon as it has become ingrained inthe world of sports.
No. 22 SDSUdefeated No. 12UNLV 69-67
Social media has had a great effecton a lot of things; the world ofsports wasn’t excluded ...
@AntonioMorales
@@AAnnttoonniiooMMoorraalleess
sports editor
Social media useeffective in sports
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Wins at home for the Aztecs
Wins on the road for SDSU
Losses for SDSU
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Batting average for freshman infielder Matt Munoz
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21 Games remaining in the regular season
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D A I L Y A Z T E CThursday, April 12, 2012 sports12 Search
BASEBALL
The San Diego State baseball teamwas riding an emotional high after aweekend sweep against UNLV in LasVegas before suffering a 6-2 loss at
the hands of No. 19 USD Mondayevening, dropping its record to 17-17after holding a winning record forthe first time since March 10.
Still, SDSU was 7-2 in its last ninegames, and seemed ready to regainthat winning record in a Tuesdaynight matchup with Long BeachState at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
However, it was not to be as the49ers would strike late to breakopen a game that had previouslybeen a nail-biter.
The game began with SDSU andCSULB mirroring one another withscoring efforts in the first inning.
The 49ers’ Jeff McNeill led thecontest with a triple to center fieldand was subsequently driven in by agrounder to shortstop off the bat ofMatt Duffy. Aztec freshman centerfielder Greg Allen opened the SDSUhalf of the frame with a triple of hisown and sophomore second base-man Tim Zier would drive him inwith a fielder’s choice to shortstop.
CSULB played some small-ball inthe second to gain a 2-1 lead whenJohnny Bekakis singled, stole sec-ond base and was driven home on atwo-out single by Josh Guerra.
Sophomore pitcher TJ Kendzora,who started the game for SDSU, wasclutch when the 49ers had runnersin scoring position, escaping multi-ple scoring situations for LongBeach as he pitched six innings oftwo-run baseball — an impressivemark considering he surrenderedseven hits.
Despite the fact their offense wasagain stagnant, the Aztecs managed to
keep the game tied into the seventh,with their second run coming from asacrifice fly from sophomore outfield-er Cody Smith that scored Zier.
Two runs wouldn’t be close toenough, though, as Long Beachbroke it open with three runs in theseventh and four in the eighth.Senior outfielder Chris Wilson, whowas recently named Mountain WestConference Co-player of the Week,blasted his sixth home run of theseason in the seventh inning forSDSU’s third score, but it was fornaught as the 49ers amassed nineruns on the night.
“Losses happen,” freshmancatcher Seby Zavala said. “Butwe’ve just got to learn from themand come out as a better teamafterwards.”
With the loss, the Aztecs drop to17-18 on the season. They do, how-ever, hold a 6-3 mark in conferenceplay, and will resume play againstMWC-leading New Mexico as theybegin a three-game series at 6 p.m.on Friday at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
@@MMiicchhaaeellMMaannbbeerrtt
staff writer
LBSU 9 | SDSU 4
1155--1177 ((77--22))
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1166--1133 ((66--33))
1177--1188 ((66--33))
1144--1188 ((22--1100))
88--2222 ((33--66))
“Losses happen. But we’ve just gotto learn from them and come outas a better team afterwards.”
@SebyZavala SDSU freshman catcher
SDSU falls flat in final innings
Freshman utility player Greg Allen scored two runs. | DUSTIN MICHELSON, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
opinion 13SearchD A I L Y A Z T E C
Thursday, April 12, 2012
ednesday’sannouncementthat GeorgeZimmerman willface charges is
hardly the end of the national tragedythat began on the evening of Feb. 26.That is the day 17-year-old TrayvonMartin was walking to his father’shouse when, after a brief altercation,he was shot and killed by 28-year-oldZimmerman. Martin was carrying anArizona iced tea and a bag of Skittles;Zimmerman had a Kel-Tek 9mmsemiautomatic handgun. Whenpolice arrived, Zimmerman wasallowed to walk away; Trayvon Martinleft in a body bag.
Since then, the public outcrydemanding Zimmerman’s arrest andprosecution has grown far beyondthe small Central Florida city ofSanford. A “Million Hoodie March”was held in New York on March 21and an online petition onchange.org created by Martin’s par-ents asking for Zimmerman’s prose-cution has more than 2.2 millionsupporters. The intense nationalspotlight has given some hope forjustice in the case. But it has alsobrought to light some uncomfort-
able but sometimes illuminatingdetails about Martin andZimmerman’s lives.
Not long after his death, it wasreported that Martin was at hisfather’s house serving a school sus-pension because traces of marijuanawere found in his book bag. For hispart, Zimmerman had been chargedwith attacking a police officer,although that charge was eventuallydropped after a plea bargain. He alsohas an outstanding restraining order
from his ex-fiancee alleging domes-tic violence.
It has even been suggested thatZimmerman was motivated byracism, evident by his seeming long-standing fixation on stopping what heperceived to be suspicious black menin his neighborhood. We may neverknow if racism played a part inMartin’s death, but claims byZimmerman supporters that becausehe is Latino he is somehow incapableof racism are insultingly ignorant.
The more the public learned aboutMartin and Zimmerman, the moremuddled the case seemed to become.After all, the court of public opinion ismore concerned with the abstractionof good triumphing against evil thanwith legal justifications.
While public opinion might havebeen the sole reason the events ofFeb. 26 were investigated, now thatcharges are being placed the onlything that matters is the law’s opinionof Zimmerman’s self-defense claims.
Zimmerman’s argument rests onone specific statute of Florida’s self-defense law. “Stand Your Ground” lawsallow individuals in any place theyhave a right to be in to “meet forcewith force, including deadly force” ifthey fear their life is in danger. Theperceived victims of a threat are notrequired to look for some peacefulresolution to a conflict or attempt totalk down their assailant before usingdeadly force. It allows an individual tokill rather than suffer the shame ofwalking away from a conflict.
Proponents of this twisted law,which holds as most valuable the lifeof whoever has a gun, have come toits defense. Instead of admitting theinherent misguidedness of thestatute, they have attempted to dis-tance Zimmerman from it. Jeb Bush,the former Florida governor whosigned the Stand Your Ground law,has argued that while he doesn’tbelieve Zimmerman is guilty, hedoesn’t believe Stand Your Groundapplies in this case.
Unfortunately for both of them, thislegal gray area where Zimmerman isinnocent under anything but the mostoutrageous and far-reaching self-defense laws does not exist.
What do exist are traditional self-defense laws, by which individualsare able to defend themselves, ifnecessary with deadly force, after allother means of resolution havefailed. That includes walking andeven running away. One person’spride is not worth another’s life.
In the coming days and weeks,more details will surface about theevents of that tragic night. But ontrial will be more than just the manwho killed an unarmed teenager. Itwill be trigger-happy laws such asStand Your Ground. Not only might
this law allow Zimmerman to walkaway from killing Martin, it encour-ages others to kill at the slightestperceived threat; confident they’ll beable to cower behind the law whenthe time for justice comes.
SUGGESTED BY @FREESHANI
@@LLeeoonnaarrddooCCaassttaanneeddaa
senior staff columnist
We may never know if racism playeda part in Martin’s death. But claimsby Zimmerman supporters that ... he is somehow incapable of racismare insultingly ignorant.
Many in the public are upset it’s taken so long for Zimmerman to be charged. | MCT CAMPUS
‘Stand Your Ground’ sets risky precedent
W
LLEEOONNAARRDDOO CCAASSTTAANNEEDDAA
IS A JOURNALISM SOPH-OMORE.
opinionSearchD A I L Y A Z T E CThursday, April 12, 201214
ttention, Facebookers:It’s not always neces-sary to let the worldknow what you’redoing. I would rather
not know you’re updating your sta-tus from the toilet and you regretslathering so much hot sauce onyour California burrito. I wouldrather not know you just had sexwith your girlfriend and thisescapade was significantly moreexperimental than the last.
Believe it or not, there is such athing as over sharing. To be fair, Ican relate to your compulsive infat-uation with social media. I under-stand feeling the griping need to logonto Facebook or Twitter wheneversomething even remotely interest-ing happens. After all, not only arewe residents of the information era,but the first generation of digitalnatives. I get it.
But that’s no excuse, especiallywhen our habit of incessantlyupdating the world on our where-abouts is making us vulnerable toonline predators. No, I’m not beingparanoid. One in five Americans (19percent) has been affected by onlinestalking or “aggressive outreachattempts” according to a recentstudy released by the NationalCyber Security Alliance. Persistentemails, identity theft and harass-ment are all prime examples ofcyber stalking. For a reason I can’tquite pinpoint, a significant numberof Internet users, specificallyyounger audiences, appear remark-ably unconcerned with the exis-tence of virtual “creepers.” It seemsas though such perpetrators areperceived more as mythical mon-sters or cyber legends than actualhuman threats.
I’m not going to insult your intel-ligence by pretending I’ve been anyless careless. Granted, I’m not oneto display super private details ofmy life online, but I do useFacebook’s “check-in” feature oncein a while and I have my date ofbirth, hometown and college infor-mation on my profile. Even thoughmy Facebook is completely privateand I only add people I know per-sonally, someone on my friend’s listcould hypothetically take advantageof my openness and subsequentlyexploit my information with unnerv-ing, relative ease.
Imagine if all of the informationyou post online was to fall into the
wrong hands: where you go toschool, what city you live in, whoyour family members are, yourplace of employment, your age,where you work out, etc. We areoften comforted by the thought thatour personal details are guardedbehind our profile privacy settings,isolated from middle-aged perverts,psychotic exes and 20-year-oldstrangers who spam our inboxeswith what they conceive are charm-ing one-liners.
Inarguably, the Internet is full ofeye-boggling things and people.(The pictures and videos you stum-
ble upon on YouTube and Tumblrshould be proof enough of that.) Sowhy do we continue to make our-selves so susceptible to cyberstalk-ers? Is it enough to make our pro-files private or are there somedetails about our lives that would besafer and wiser to exclude altogeth-er? “Cyber criminals are moreresourceful than ever. This data sup-ports an ever-increasing need foronline users to be vigilant in theiractions each day,” Executive VicePresident of McAfee John Thodesaid in the report.
Ultimately, you can never be toocautious when sharing your privatelife with the online community.Little profile tweaks, such as omit-ting your year of birth, emailaddress and phone number, are a
good start. In addition, removeeveryone from your friends listwhom you don’t know personallyand refrain from adding people youhave never met. Remember that thisis not a popularity contest and youare not 13 years old. Your privacyshould be your primary priority.
The next step is to be vigilantabout the photos you post online.Pictures of you passed out drunkon the floor do not need to be onthe Internet. Neither do half-nakedphotos of you at a rave. These arethe kinds of pictures that comeback to haunt you when you beginapplying for jobs. Furthermore,avoid checking into places you fre-quent often, such as taco shops,coffee shops or the gym. Don’tmake it easy for online stalkers tomap out your routine stops.
Finally, keep one last thing inmind: You might give your phonenumber to a cute girl or guy youchatted with on the trolley or atwork, but you wouldn’t feel comfort-able handing them a list outliningwhere you live, eat, study and workout, would you? By connecting withpeople on social networking sites,we are essentially inviting them intoour worlds, into our private lives.The anonymity aspect of theInternet demands even greater cau-tion, so don’t make the foolish mis-take of believing your imprudenceand habit of oversharing won’t comewith consequences eventually.
—Stacey Oparnica is a journalismjunior.
@@SSttaacceeyyOOppaarrnniiccaa
staff columnist
Like
Strive for more anonymity in growing tech age
A
Because the Internet is becoming more intrusive every single day, users must be wary about how much information they publish about themselves on social media sites. | MCT CAMPUS
D A I L Y A Z T E CThursday, April 12, 2012C L A S S I F I E D S 15
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Solutions available online atwww.thedailyaztec.com
and word thatcan precede theend of theanswers tostarred clues
42 Grinder43 Uncredited
actor45 Yani Tseng’s org.46 Home of Miami
University47 Neighbor of Leb.49 Neverending51 *Skating exhibi-
tions56 Fertile Crescent
land57 Musty58 Butter sources60 American rival:
Abbr.63 “__ Fine Day”:
1963 hit
64 *Delta’s aptlynamed monthly
66 Fly the coop67 Stud68 Assays69 Like some looks70 Put up71 Sorority letters
DDOOWWNN1 River of Tuscany2 “Joanie Loves
Chachi” co-star3 Hearer of final
appeals4 __Kosh B’Gosh5 Comeback6 Go to and fro7 Post-op pro-
gram8 Maine campus
town9 Promotes
10 Immigrant’ssubj.
11 Excessive12 Invasive
Japanese vine13 Prevent legally18 What ad libbers
ignore22 Overabundance24 Star26 “My country,
__ ...”27 Horn, for one28 Gravy thickener29 Ringlet33 With “and” and
40-Across,emissions-reducingmethod whosefirst word (thisanswer) can fol-low the start ofthe answers tostarred clues
34 Sidle36 Burger follower
37 “Nessun dorma,”e.g.
38 Combine, asassets
41 Using (up)44 Fireplace pow-
der48 Chair on a
porch50 Fake51 Fan club focuses52 Towpath locale53 She’s not for
you54 “What did I do
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TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (4/12/12) Your careerbooms over the first half of this year,moving you up a level. Store some forlater, despite all those temptations tospend. A new era of renovation, upheavaland regeneration calls for new thinkingand for a release of old limitations. You'resurrounded by love. Grow it.
To get the advantage, check the day's rating:10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.
ARIES (March 21 - April 19) - Today is an 8 -A distant development is in your favor.Gain more than anticipated, and pay backa debt. Buy something that makes yourwork easier. Make long-term plans.
TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is an 8- All the pieces are coming together forromance. Discover hidden resources whenplanning a project. Creativity blossoms asolder tasks get completed.
GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is a 7 -Let someone else stir up trouble. Noticeautomatic reactions, and keep quiet. Whatare you really committed to? Rememberhome, family, friends and love. Grow themall.
CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is an 8- Surprises at work could catch you offguard. Learn from an experienced mentor,especially all of those resource-conservation strategies that save money.All's well that ends well.
LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is a 9 - Anamazing breakthrough in love developsspontaneously. And there's more moneycoming in! Count your lucky stars, anddrink it in deeply. Journal to remember it
later.VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is a 9 -
Messes can lead to improvements. Let achange occur naturally. You may receivemore than you gave. It's okay to haveabundance. Enjoy it, and share. You canhandle it.
LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is a 9 -Dig and uncover surprises. You have theresources you need. A private contact in abig company is quite helpful. Write downyour discoveries and share them.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is a 6 -Study and discover a treasure. Learn fromfriends who have plenty, as they can teachyou a lot. Get in someone else's world, andyou see that your view's not the only one.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today isan 8 - Discover a brilliant financial insight.Another's generosity benefits you.Articulate it so you can share it withothers. What comes around goes around.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is a7 - Watch out for hidden surprises. Takeadvantage of excellent connections. Travellooks good, if you stick to your budget. Getout and make something happen.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is a 5- Find a quiet place to recharge yourbatteries, and get into a writing project. Afriend's change of plans could affect you.Visualize your next investment.
PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is a 6 -New opportunities open up for the future.Act today, even if it's just one tiny step.Study and learn with a partner or friend ...it's easier and more fun.
BY RICH NORRIS & JOYCE LEWIS,TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICESCROSSWORD
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D A I L Y A Z T E CThursday, April 12, 201216
A lesson before livingeet Bobo the Clown.He makes childrenlaugh. His real nameis not importantbecause he is not
important. What you should take fromBobo is, behind his makeup and col-orful costume, there is an altogetherdarker person, a sad person, a beingwho was once a man now crushedinto a shell of a depression which,ironically, is very colorful. Bobo makeschildren laugh.
Today Bobo is going to Carlsbad toperform tricks and make balloon ani-mals at a party. He puts on his outfitand makeup beforehand becausemost parents don’t want his dirtyclothes anywhere near their furniture.It’s also an excuse for every driver onthe road to point and laugh at him.But then again that’s Bobo’s job, to bepointed to and laughed at. Bobomakes children and the occasionaladult laugh.
He arrives sweaty from the ride andvery hungry. He figures if he showsup early he can maybe get some foodfrom the party before the guestsbegin to arrive. He knocks on thedoor, which is opened by a surprisedand bemused woman. Tall and dark-haired, she doesn’t know whether tosay hello or laugh.
She laughs. Bobo waits politely, hoping the look
will score sympathy points. Heexplains the situation and thewoman’s face sharpens instantly. “Wedo not pay you to eat on the job,” shesays. “We pay you to entertain.” Itdoesn’t matter anyway. Bobo hasstopped listening since she startedlaughing. Entertain, he thinks.Comedians entertain. MC’s entertain.Clowns don’t entertain. Clowns arethe butt of the joke. At least, that waswhat Bobo thought growing up. Nowhere he is, in Carlsbad, in 88 degreeweather, wearing heavy makeup anda heavy costume, being told he can’thave so much as a drink of water.
The woman’s tirade is interrupt-ed by a moody teenager whoappears inside. “A clown?” he asks.“How old do you think I amJanice? I don’t want a stupid clownat my party.” Janice turns towardthe boy before turning back toBobo with a you-heard-the-man
look. “We won’t be requiring yourservices,” she says before slammingthe door in his face. Bobo won’tget to make kids laugh today.
He drives home. Bobo isn’tcrushed; that happened long ago.He’s just tired. Tired of being Bobothe Clown and nobody else. Evenwhen he removes his outfit, peoplestill see nobody, or worse, they stillsee a clown.
Bobo visits his mother at her home.Ever since his father died, she’s beenlosing her eyesight memories. “Bobo?”she asks, unable to remember his real
name and forced to say his stagename. “Is that you?” “Yeah mom,” heresponds. “It’s me.” His mom can’t seehim as he goes to the cupboard, takesout her sleeping pill bottle and poursa handful into his pocket. He replacesthe bottle back to where he found itand kisses his mother goodbye forwhat he thinks will be the last time.
He walks home, feeling lighter thanusual. This will be over soon, hethinks. He walks up the front steps ofhis apartment. The lock on his door isrusted and old. He jams his key in andcloses his eyes in anticipation. With agrunt, he pushes.
His apartment is one bedroom, onebath with a tiny kitchen. He sees anotice from the landlord at his feet.“We believe there may be a termiteinfestation in your area of the build-ing. Please vacate the residence onApril …” He throws the paper backdown to the floor.
He tries to take a nap. He dreamsof laughter, not of joy but of mockery.This wasn’t supposed to be his life. Henever wanted this. But it happened.He wakes up sweating.
It’s 4:16 p.m. and the time is right.Bobo feels it. Now more than ever.He won’t be able to make kids laughanymore, of this much he is certain.He throws his costume in thegarbage. He doesn’t want people toremember him as the clown whodied alone, just as a man who diedalone. He pulls out a cup and turnson the tap to fill it. He goes to hiscouch and sits down. He emptiesout his pockets and takes the pills inhis hand. Bobo shakes and begins tocry. He doesn’t have any otherchoice; life has become unbearable.
He moves the hand toward hismouth and puts the pills in hismouth. Bobo begins to swallow,then hears a knock on the door.
He gags and spits into the cup. Heruns to the door and flings it open. It’sa little girl, Hailey, no Hanna, fromupstairs. He stares in awe. “Hey Mr.Gunderson,” she says with a giggle.“My friends want to know if you’llcome do your balloon animal routinefor us outside.” Gunderson barelynods yes and closes the door. Heturns around and heads to the win-dow, where he sees the childrenlaughing and smiling. The cup is rightwhere he left it, next to his jar of bal-loons. He walks up, takes the jar andwalks out. Meet Ray Gunderson. Hemakes children laugh for a living.
—Max Saucedo is a criminal justicefreshman.
@@MMaaxxSSaauucceeddoo
contributorM
Today Bobo is going to Carlsbad toperform tricks ... that’s Bobo’s job,to be pointed to and laughed at.Bobo makes children and the occasional adult laugh.
