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S AN MATE AN THE College of San Mateo www.sanmatean.com Volume 174, Number 1 Monday, February 7, Campus speaks out about crisis in Egypt CSM students speak out in fa- vor of protests that broke out in Cairo, Egypt against totalitarian leader Hosni Mubarak over his thirty-year regime. Students are feeling the pres- sures of the uprising in Egypt, Sara Elattar, 18, a second semes- ter political science student, and native Egyptian fears for the well being of her family, due to the un- controlled riots taking place, “Al- most like a mini civil war going on in Tehrir,” she says. However, the crisis affects more than just the Egyptian students on campus. Mehreen Raheel, 21, a first se- mester business administration student, is a native of Pakistan. “The whole world is affected.” She has lived in England and Can- ada prior to coming to CSM, but says her views are of a Pakistani and has family that still resides there. Raheel fears President Mubarak is trying to turn Egypt into a king- dom. “From what it looks like, he wants to transfer power to his son,” she says. “It should be a democratic country.” She is concerned for the well being of the Egyptian people and everyone in the Middle East as well as all Muslim countries. “The common people will be af- fected by it, “ says Raheel. “He’s been there for 30 years— he’s old.” Raheel says of the cur- rent president, “A new president will bring new ideas. It will ben- efit the common people.” According to Dr. Lee Ryan Miller, a political science profes- sor at CSM, the crisis in Egypt mirrors that of Iran in 1979, where the Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi had American ties, and was also loathed by the people. The Egyptian people gath- ered after Friday, January 25, 2011 prayers to protest President Mubarak’s November 2011 elec- tion. Since 1981, Mubarak has held office the Egyptian people desired to impeach the president due to discontent over economic crisis government corruption the Palestine-Israel conflict and Muslim terrorism. Egyptian culture stresses edu- cation and before the conflict Egyptians had easy access to in- formation due to the high rates of educated people. According to CSM Profes- sor Frederick Gaines, educated people know better, are more conscious, and know too much to stand for injustice. “I’m not at all shocked,” said Gaines, regarding the domino effect of the protests. January 27, two days after the protest began, Internet ac- cess was halted by the Egyptian Lady Bulldogs take second straight win The CSM women’s basketball team won its second game in a row against visiting division rival Chabot College, getting a 56-42 victory on Wednesday, Feb. 2. The Bulldogs (9-12, 3-3 Coast- North Division) came from a nine- point non-divisional win against Hartnell College. The Gladiators (13-10, 3-4) only dressed seven players and struggled throughout the game to keep fresh bodies on the floor against a fast-paced CSM offense. The hosts got off to a 7-0 start in the first minute of the half, making their first three field goals and es- tablishing a mid-range game from the tip-off. While Chabot closed in halfway through the first half, CSM kept them at bay, extending its lead to 28-17 after a put-back basket by forward Trish Malaspina and a three-pointer from Clarissa Men- doza. Chabot point guard Charnay Bell struggled to find open looks as the Gladiators offense looked stagnant the second the ball left her hands. The 5-foot-4 lefty was a speed demon and did a good amount of dribbling in her team’s own side of the court, facing pressure from several guards and having every shot contested. Jackie Orje, Vanessa Castillo, Alisa Rhodes and Mendoza com- bined in an effort to fluster Bell and were determined to stop her early. “We played her man-to-man,” said freshman forward Lauren Ward. “We were in her face the whole game and that was the reason we were able to tire her out,” she said. Bell bruised her right knee in the last minutes of the half after a hard drive to the basket. CSM took advantage of her absence scoring in fast breaks. Orje closed the half with a three-pointer from the top of the key to give the Bulldogs a 37-18 lead. CSM led 41-20 in the open- ing minutes of the half and didn’t look back from there. Bell returned for four minutes and rested the remainder of the game after constant pain in the knee area. “Our strategy was to tire (Bell) out,” said Rhodes. “Our guards did a good job to keep her in check and our defense rotated well,” she said. Chabot played with a bigger lineup, but it didn’t stop Malaspi- Photo by Bruno Manrique Forward Kimmie Fung takes the shot against Chabot College. Bruno Manrique The San Matean na from doing her damage on the offensive glass, keeping posses- sions alive and using her length to patrol the paint. Malaspina finished with 15 points and three blocks. “We were prepared,” said Ward. “They beat us on their home floor so we knew we couldn’t take them lightly.” The hosts grabbed their second consecutive win, straightening af- fairs with a tough rival and mov- ing up on the division standings. CSM will host Las Positas on Friday, Feb. 4 and City College of San Francisco the next Friday, Feb. 9 at 5:30 p.m. The Bulldogs currently sit on third place after bumping Chabot to a fourth place tie with Skyline, who lost against CCSF. “We can’t take anyone lightly,” said Ward. “We need every one of these wins in order to retain third place.” “Even if we’re playing strong teams, we’re confident we’ll go out there and give them a run for their money,” she said. government, and soon afterwards text messaging as well. This took place for three days. The popu- Photo by Andrew O’Melveny Student Patrick Hop, 20, helped pass out information about Phi Theta Kappa during Reboot Week which began Jan. 25. The event welcomes students back for the semester. Phi Theta Kappa is an honor society at CSM. Yasmine Mahmoud and Andrew O’Melveny The San Matean Rebooting the week The Governor’s proposed budget, released last week, imposes a pos- sible $8 million dollars in cuts for the 2011-2012 academic year. “The Governor has proposed cutting $400 million from the state community college budget,” said Kathy Blackwood, Chief Financial Officer. “As SMCCCD is about two percent of the state community col- lege system, our share should the budget come to pass in its current form would be about $8 million.” If approved, these cuts would be in addition to the $6 million in cuts approved in the 2010-2011 academic year. During that time, the district was cutting multiple class sections- reducing some like film, to just a couple sections of the same class. “We were hit very hard this year. We were already small and we were cut down to nothing,” said film professor David Laderman. “This year we have only three sections of one course.” This makes it harder for people to transfer and get their degree in film, Laderman said. In addition many student services were cut back including counseling. “We just don’t have as many counselors,” said Krystal Romero, Program Services Coordinator in the counseling department. “We can’t do as much.” Instead of meet- ing with an individual counselor, every new student must take an ori- entation course selection workshop. KCSM-TV as well as the child- care centers at both Skyline and CSM were also in danger of being cut. Measure G, a $34-per-parcel tax has helped the district add back classes and maintain student services. It is unclear whether the measure will be enough to help the district in the next academic year. “Because we budgeted for mid- year cuts for 2010/2011 and those cuts are less likely now to happen, we have a little cushion for next year,” said Blackwood . “Of course we will have to prepare plans prior to any vote that might occur in June, but we feel that there is a lot of changing to the budget that will take place even prior to placing initiatives on the ballot,” she said. The governor also has proposed a raise in student tuition fees from $26 per unit to $36 per unit. “For those students who do not qualify for financial aid, this is about a 38 percent increase,” said Blackwood. “An increase in student fees is offset by a reduction in the state apportionment; this means that only the state benefits from the fee increases and not the District.” A $10 increase is a lot for some students. “With the cost and everything, it would make me take less classes, which I don’t like doing,” said student Justin Eddy. Budget cuts larger than increase from Measure G revenue Kayla Figard The San Matean lar pan-Arab news network Al Jazeera was banned from cover- ing the crisis as well.
Transcript
Page 1: Volume 174, Issue 1 Spring 2011

San MateanTHE

College of San Mateo • www.sanmatean.comVolume 174, Number 1 Monday, February 7,

Campus speaks out about crisis in Egypt

CSM students speak out in fa-vor of protests that broke out in Cairo, Egypt against totalitarian leader Hosni Mubarak over his thirty-year regime.

Students are feeling the pres-sures of the uprising in Egypt, Sara Elattar, 18, a second semes-ter political science student, and native Egyptian fears for the well being of her family, due to the un-controlled riots taking place, “Al-most like a mini civil war going on in Tehrir,” she says.

However, the crisis affects more than just the Egyptian students on campus.

Mehreen Raheel, 21, a first se-mester business administration student, is a native of Pakistan. “The whole world is affected.” She has lived in England and Can-ada prior to coming to CSM, but

says her views are of a Pakistani and has family that still resides there.

Raheel fears President Mubarak is trying to turn Egypt into a king-dom.

“From what it looks like, he wants to transfer power to his son,” she says. “It should be a democratic country.”

She is concerned for the well being of the Egyptian people and everyone in the Middle East as well as all Muslim countries. “The common people will be af-fected by it, “ says Raheel.

“He’s been there for 30 years—he’s old.” Raheel says of the cur-rent president, “A new president will bring new ideas. It will ben-efit the common people.”

According to Dr. Lee Ryan Miller, a political science profes-sor at CSM, the crisis in Egypt mirrors that of Iran in 1979, where the Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi had American ties, and

was also loathed by the people.The Egyptian people gath-

ered after Friday, January 25, 2011 prayers to protest President Mubarak’s November 2011 elec-tion. Since 1981, Mubarak has held office the Egyptian people desired to impeach the president due to discontent over economic crisis government corruption the Palestine-Israel conflict and Muslim terrorism.

Egyptian culture stresses edu-cation and before the conflict Egyptians had easy access to in-formation due to the high rates of educated people.

According to CSM Profes-sor Frederick Gaines, educated people know better, are more conscious, and know too much to stand for injustice. “I’m not at all shocked,” said Gaines, regarding the domino effect of the protests.

January 27, two days after the protest began, Internet ac-cess was halted by the Egyptian

Lady Bulldogs take second straight winThe CSM women’s basketball

team won its second game in a row against visiting division rival Chabot College, getting a 56-42 victory on Wednesday, Feb. 2.

The Bulldogs (9-12, 3-3 Coast-North Division) came from a nine-point non-divisional win against Hartnell College.

The Gladiators (13-10, 3-4) only dressed seven players and struggled throughout the game to keep fresh bodies on the floor against a fast-paced CSM offense.

The hosts got off to a 7-0 start in the first minute of the half, making their first three field goals and es-tablishing a mid-range game from the tip-off.

While Chabot closed in halfway through the first half, CSM kept them at bay, extending its lead to 28-17 after a put-back basket by forward Trish Malaspina and a three-pointer from Clarissa Men-doza.

Chabot point guard Charnay

Bell struggled to find open looks as the Gladiators offense looked stagnant the second the ball left her hands.

The 5-foot-4 lefty was a speed demon and did a good amount of dribbling in her team’s own side of the court, facing pressure from several guards and having every shot contested.

Jackie Orje, Vanessa Castillo, Alisa Rhodes and Mendoza com-bined in an effort to fluster Bell and were determined to stop her early.

“We played her man-to-man,” said freshman forward Lauren Ward.

“We were in her face the whole game and that was the reason we were able to tire her out,” she said.

Bell bruised her right knee in the last minutes of the half after a hard drive to the basket. CSM took advantage of her absence scoring in fast breaks.

Orje closed the half with a three-pointer from the top of the key to give the Bulldogs a 37-18 lead.

CSM led 41-20 in the open-ing minutes of the half and didn’t look back from there.

Bell returned for four minutes and rested the remainder of the game after constant pain in the knee area.

“Our strategy was to tire (Bell) out,” said Rhodes.

“Our guards did a good job to keep her in check and our defense rotated well,” she said.

Chabot played with a bigger lineup, but it didn’t stop Malaspi-

Photo by Bruno Manrique Forward Kimmie Fung takes the shot against Chabot College.

Bruno ManriqueThe San Matean

na from doing her damage on the offensive glass, keeping posses-sions alive and using her length to patrol the paint. Malaspina finished with 15 points and three blocks.

“We were prepared,” said Ward. “They beat us on their home floor so we knew we couldn’t take them lightly.”

The hosts grabbed their second consecutive win, straightening af-fairs with a tough rival and mov-ing up on the division standings.

CSM will host Las Positas on Friday, Feb. 4 and City College of San Francisco the next Friday, Feb. 9 at 5:30 p.m.

The Bulldogs currently sit on third place after bumping Chabot to a fourth place tie with Skyline, who lost against CCSF.

“We can’t take anyone lightly,” said Ward. “We need every one of these wins in order to retain third place.”

“Even if we’re playing strong teams, we’re confident we’ll go out there and give them a run for their money,” she said.

government, and soon afterwards text messaging as well. This took place for three days. The popu-

Photo by Andrew O’Melveny

Student Patrick Hop, 20, helped pass out information about Phi Theta Kappa during Reboot Week which began Jan. 25. The

event welcomes students back for the semester. Phi Theta Kappa is an honor society at CSM.

Yasmine Mahmoud and Andrew O’Melveny

The San Matean

Rebooting the week

The Governor’s proposed budget, released last week, imposes a pos-sible $8 million dollars in cuts for the 2011-2012 academic year.

“The Governor has proposed cutting $400 million from the state community college budget,” said Kathy Blackwood, Chief Financial Officer. “As SMCCCD is about two percent of the state community col-lege system, our share should the budget come to pass in its current form would be about $8 million.”

If approved, these cuts would

be in addition to the $6 million in cuts approved in the 2010-2011 academic year. During that time, the district was cutting multiple class sections- reducing some like film, to just a couple sections of the same class.

“We were hit very hard this year. We were already small and we were cut down to nothing,” said film professor David Laderman. “This year we have only three sections of one course.” This makes it harder for people to transfer and get their degree in film, Laderman said.

In addition many student services

were cut back including counseling. “We just don’t have as many

counselors,” said Krystal Romero, Program Services Coordinator in the counseling department. “We can’t do as much.” Instead of meet-ing with an individual counselor, every new student must take an ori-entation course selection workshop.

KCSM-TV as well as the child-care centers at both Skyline and CSM were also in danger of being cut.

Measure G, a $34-per-parcel tax has helped the district add back classes and maintain student

services. It is unclear whether the measure will be enough to help the district in the next academic year.

“Because we budgeted for mid-year cuts for 2010/2011 and those cuts are less likely now to happen, we have a little cushion for next year,” said Blackwood

. “Of course we will have to prepare plans prior to any vote that might occur in June, but we feel that there is a lot of changing to the budget that will take place even prior to placing initiatives on the ballot,” she said.

The governor also has proposed

a raise in student tuition fees from $26 per unit to $36 per unit.

“For those students who do not qualify for financial aid, this is about a 38 percent increase,” said Blackwood. “An increase in student fees is offset by a reduction in the state apportionment; this means that only the state benefits from the fee increases and not the District.”

A $10 increase is a lot for some students.

“With the cost and everything, it would make me take less classes, which I don’t like doing,” said student Justin Eddy.

Budget cuts larger than increase from Measure G revenueKayla Figard

The San Matean

lar pan-Arab news network Al Jazeera was banned from cover-ing the crisis as well.

Page 2: Volume 174, Issue 1 Spring 2011

News

Face-to-Face: Children of the AIDS crisis in Africa Monday, Feb. 7, 11:10 a.m. to noon.Theater

Art Institute of California Campus Visit Tuesday, Feb. 8, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.Bldg. 16, Lobby

University of California, Davis Campus VisitWednesday, Feb. 9, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Building 1, Room 115

Academy of Art University Campus VisitWednesday, Feb. 9, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.Building 1, Room 115 Menlo College Campus VisitFriday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bldg, 16, Lobby

Philosophy/Psychology Movie NightFriday, Feb. 11, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.Theater

SportsCSM Basketball Vs. SF City CollegeWednesday, Feb. 9, 5:30 p.m.Bldg. 8, Gym

CSM Softball Vs. Napa CollegeThursday, Feb. 10, noonCSM

CSM Basketball Vs. Skyline CollegeFriday, Feb. 11, 7 p.m.Skyline College

Campus BriefsIf there is an event that readers would like listed in Campus Briefs, please submit it to The San Matean at Bldg. 19, Room 123, or [email protected]., or call 574-6330. Submissions should be typed neatly.

byJessica Ritter

Page 2 • The SAN MATEAN February 7, 2011

Campus Blotter Friday, Jan. 28, 9:26 a.m. – A person was smoking while walking on the sidewalk by Bldg. 17. The matter will be sent to the V.P. of student services for action to be taken.

Monday, Jan. 24, 9:30 a.m. – A woman crossing the sidewalk on CSM drive was hit by a car. The woman suffered minor injuries.

Thursday, Jan. 20, 2:00 p.m. – While driving in lot 6D the brakes failed on a car and rolled down towards the north end of the campus coming to rest after hitting a tree stump.

Information provided by John Wells, Chief Public Safety Officer, and Sergeant Dave Norris of The San Mateo Police Department.

— Kyle Laplante and Jessica RitterThe San Matean

Change to post 9/11 GI bill aids college

The Post 9/11 GI Bill is undergo-ing changes for the second time in two years effective August 1, 2011, impacting many veteran students. These changes will be negatively affecting some student veterans, while benefiting others.

The changes to the Post 9/11 GI Bill were signed by congress De-cember 16, 2010, but will not come into affect until August 1, 2011. The changes to the GI Bill passed the House with a 409 to 3 vote.

“Break pay will no longer be payable under the new Post 9/11 GI Bill,” said Mario Mihelcic, Admissions & Records Assistant, who handles the Veterans Affairs at College of San Mateo. This means that once the semester is over the housing allowance student veterans

Kyle LaplanteThe San Matean

usually receive will no longer be available during the break, but will be available once the next semester begins.

Another big change that will be seen on the new GI Bill will be the amount of monthly hous-ing stipends that are going to be available to the student receiving benefits. “Under the old GI Bill the amount of stipends was determined by whether or not the student was taking seven units or more, under the new GI Bill the amount will be determined by the actual amount of units being taken,” said Mihelcic. The allowance that would have been used to pay for housing during the break will now be available to use for future enrollment.

The new GI Bill will benefit student veterans not only in public schools by paying in-state tuition and fees but will also benefit those

attending private schools. Benefits for private schools will now be capped at $17,500 annually per individual, but are expected to rise in years to come. The new GI Bill will now also pay reimbursement for more than one license or certi-fication test. The old GI Bill only reimbursed one.

Although unfavorable among student veterans these changes are going to help save considerable amounts of money. “It’s going to hurt a little bit for the months during the break, but I do not have a complete negative attitude to-wards the changes,” said William Hennessy, a student at College of San Mateo and 6 yr. veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, who has been receiving benefits since 2009. “It was a good deal while it lasted,” said Hennessey.

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The budget cuts for the 2010/2011 academic year have resulted in lower enrollment rates at CSM.

“CSM opted to reduce some of its low-enrolled and low-demand classes,” said Kathy Blackwood, Chief Financial Officer. “At the same time, CSM added sections in high demand areas, using Measure G funds. The net result is that CSM is down about 10% from 2010/2011.”

Some departments like math have benefited from the additional sec-tions, but still have very full classes. “My classes are quite full. Forty students is a lot for a math course,” said Math Professor Jay Lehmann.

Others such as English still have enrollment issues. Assistant Professor Beth Harrison is currently teaching three sections of English 110. “All had full waitlists and I had to turn several students away,” she said. “In particular, the online section was very popular; this past week I still had several emails coming in from different places asking to add.”

Many students have had trouble getting into the classes of their choice. “My intentions were for a math class, but I had to get another class,” said student Chris Segoria.

“District wide, college headcounts are down about 4.2 percent,” said Barbara Christensen, Director of Government Relations.

“A measure of productivity tell us how full classes are,” said Chris-tensen. “We are at historic highs. Faculties are working very hard to take as many students as they can.”

— Kayla FigardThe San Matean

Budgets lower, class sizes grow

What do you think? Show us at The San Matean

—submit a letter to the editor

[email protected]

Page 3: Volume 174, Issue 1 Spring 2011

AdvertismeNtFebruary 7, 2011 The SAN MATEAN • Page 3

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Page 4: Volume 174, Issue 1 Spring 2011

OpiNiON & public FOrum February 7, 2011Page 4 • The SAN MATEAN

editorial

Chopped, againAs a result of the Governor’s proposed state budget released last

week, the San Mateo Community College District faces a probable $8 million in cuts for the 2011- 2012 academic year. This is on top of the $6 million in cuts that were approved in the 2010- 2011 academic year. Though Measure G, a $34 per parcel tax, has helped to aid the commu-nity colleges, these additional cuts proposed could bring the district to where it was before Measure G.

Community colleges are supposed to be open to everyone 18 and over. They provide an option for students who don’t have all the aca-demic preparation or financial support for universities.

But the state keeps cutting what money the district has and the com-munity colleges that never turned away anyone now have to turn away students. Classes are overflowing with students, registered, waitlisted, and desperate. Prerequisite courses for certain majors have gotten cut, and students cannot get the coursework done that is required for trans-fer in that major.

This option for those students who lack the academic preparation and financial means for universities is becoming less and less of an option every day. If students can’t get their beginning at community colleges, where will they get it?

So why is the state cutting $400 million from community colleges statewide? No one wants to pay more taxes, but why not instead take some of the money from taxes already being collected and actually dis-tribute the money to the community colleges? Of course, just complain-ing in our school paper is not going to change anything.

We as students need to stay strong and keep fighting against these cuts. Let’s not be lazy and irritable, let’s actually do something about it. Whether it’s a rally or a protest or a petition- get your voice out there. If we scream loud enough they will hear. Just keep screaming!

The San MaTean is a First Amendment newspaper published bi-weekly during the academic year by the Journalism 120, 300, 690 and 850 students at College of San Mateo as a medium for campus communication and laboratory for classes. Opinions, letters and commentary reflect only the opinion of the writer, and not necessarily the opinion of The San MaTean. Letters to the Editor and opinion articles are welcome, although they may be edited for style, space, content and libel. Mail or deliver letters to Building 19, Room 123, 1700 W. Hillsdale Blvd., San Mateo, CA 94402.

Telephone: 650-574-6330. E-mail: [email protected]. All letters must be signed and accompanied by phone numbers or addresses to verify authorship. Names may be withheld upon request. Advertising that conforms to San Mateo County Community College District regulations is welcome. The San MaTean reserves the right to refuse advertising. Single copies are free —additional copies 25 cents each.

the sAN mAteAN is printed thanks to a generous donation of printing services by the San Francisco Newspaper Company

and John P. Wilcox, President and Publisher.

adviSer: Ed Remitz

adverTiSing: Melissa Berger(415) 359-2721

[email protected] CollegeMember ofCalifornia

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Like, whatever man

Back Talkby Matt Furtado

STaff:Amy Black, Estrella Benavides, Khiry Crawford,

Jeremy De La Rosa, Matt Furtado, Donovan Gomez, Kyle Laplante, Alexandra Lujan, Yasmin Mahmoud,

Andrew O’Melveny, Manuel Orbegozo, Marcy Palacios, Chris Palomarez, Petero Qauqau, Varsha Ranjit, Austin Smith, Tatianna Smith, Mintoy Tillman

rachel nielSen

visuAls editOr

Bruno Manrique

spOrts editOrPaTrick carharT

ONliNe editOr

JeSSica riTTer

editOr

kayla figard

mANAgiNg editOr

Will henneSSey

cOpy editOr

Founded in 1924

San MateanTHE

There was a time when it wasn’t uncommon for students, to rally up in protest when they didn’t agree with a government decision. The 60s are easy to envision: college-aged adults marching to denounce the war in Vietnam. Every so often one can read about SDS protesting the war in Iraq. The last mention that comes to mind is University of Florida where students spouted, “Don’t Enlist, Stay and Kiss,” or some other catchy phrase to ignite change.

It seems that, apart from a select few who are politically involved, most don’t really know the decisions that are being made for us. Budget cuts, funding issues, and most recently, health care. The most uproar heard about a measure on the ballot was for Prop 19, incidentally about marijuana laws. The involvement seems to end there. Where did all this apathy come from? General consensus has stated that no one can make a difference, so why care? Nothing is ever going to change.

Yet, it’s very easy to go back to a time when students did care. Stu-dents believed in change and sought it out. They organized movement and added pressure to the government. While some was borderline radi-calism, it certainly swayed on the opposite side of apathy in the spec-trum of student involvement.

Instead of being apathetic, why don’t we speak out? We need to be more selfish about things that affect us. Don’t sit there passively while the world goes on around you, get up and do something about it.

spin CyCle

The numerous blood shot eyes on campus are obviously not all due to sleep deprivation. By now we have all heard of marijuana and know it is used widely among the general public.

Still that doesn’t give free reign to those who choose to smoke it. Students have been smoking the drug in plain view on campus. Not only is marijuana illegal, but CSM is a smoke-free campus. Though some possess a medical marijuana card, that isn’t a green light to smoke on campus.

Most students don’t care who smokes marijuana or not. It’s rather ridiculous that marijuana is still illegal, when alcohol is read-ily sold in most stores and is the cause of many vehicular deaths and the root of so many peoples lives being ruined. It makes even less sense for the state of Cali- fornia to keep making marijuana illegal given the debt this state is in financially. All the state has to do is legalize it, sell it over the counter and tax it. This topic could be beaten to death about the ridiculousness of marijuana being illegal, but smoking pot on campus is a completely different story.

Smoking pot in plain view on campus is stupid and juvenile. If one is going to smoke pot in plain view, go for broke, break out the six foot gravity bong and start taking rips in main quad, or right in front of Building 1 for that matter. Start charging people to take rips too.

The point is, that the select few that are lighting up in plain view on campus are going to screw it up for the rest of us that don’t smoke and for the smarter potheads that have the common sense to get stoned before they get on campus. Sooner or later, the higher-ups will take all of our privileges from us.

Some are excited to be out of high school. Here, students are given more freedom, so why abuse it? Don’t act like fools.

— William HennesseyThe San Matean

Going to pot — toking up hurts us all

How would a tuition hike affect you?

Chris Segovia, 18, Undecided, South S.F.

“It would be a lot more difficult than right now. I would like to get a scholarship.”

Maynor Mazariego, 23,Engineering, El Salvador

“I don’t pay for tuition. I have financial aid, so I wouldn’t be affected.”

Kasey Fields, 19,Undecided, E. Palo Alto

“I would not want that. Units are expensive as it is, thumbs down to that.”

Justin Eddy, 20,Game Design, Belmont

“Negatively, I can hardly take 12 units already.”

Mariano Villaloma, 33,Criminal Justice, Peru

“It would affect me bad. On a scale of 1-to-10, it would be a six.”

Sangwon Yun, 16,Undecided, Foster City

“It wouldn’t affect you. I’m a high school student. I go through College Connection.”

erin BroWner

seNiOr stAFF writer


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