When reporters from KCRA 3 television news arrived at the Foothill Suite in the University Union Oct. 23 to report on an Associated Students, Inc. town hall meeting, they found little more than an empty room. The meeting was called to discuss student concerns over President Donald Gerth?s decision to end daytime Monday-Wednesday classes. Debate over the same issue had drawn over 100 students at an ASI board meeting held the week prior. So why was the meeting so empty? There was a foul up in its advertising, according to ASI Press Secretary Janus Norman.

“There was a mistake on the flier and we had to pull it,” Norman said. Apparently, the flier had too many typos.

“It was really late at night and nobody caught it,” he said.

As an editor on a newspaper, I can empathize with Norman. In any case, ASI?s plight to gain student input on the Monday-Wednesday debacle is still going strong. They have already handed out roughly 1,000 student surveys, with more coming in. The scramble to provide information to Gerth by his Nov. 16 deadline is commendable. Let?s hope their final report is spell checked?

?If your ears are still ringing from last Thursday, chances are you do not need to read this item. Skip to the item below; it?s about the teddy bears. Otherwise, continue reading here for an explanation of last week?s mayhem. When my professor finally gave up lecturing from his Alpine Hall classroom that was near ground zero of an emergency construction sight, I looked for an explanation of my own. A few hours before my dismissal, passers-by Alpine were reporting a watery ooze coming out of the ground.

“We got a water main that has apparently broken,” said Plant Services Director Mario Ruiz. Some overgrown tree roots broke the pipe, and that?s when all hell broke loose.

To make matters worse, Douglas, Alpine and Calaveras halls lost all running water. On a positive note, the noisy rooster that previously occupied that spot may have been scared off. Special thanks to Facilities Management for fixing the broken water main by that afternoon. Now, about that rooster?

?Since Sept. 11, a vast array of charities have flooded New York City and Washington, D.C. Just sending money or food has apparently gotten redundant, however. Several Sacramento State organizations have decided to send 6,500 to 7,000 teddy bears into the beleaguered cities. If nothing else, the idea is original.

“What we normally do is have a toy and food drive for Sacramento,” said Staff Assembly President Thomas Matlock.

This year, the charity is branching out, but any extra bears will be distributed locally. The charity has drawn support from Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo and ASI. Bear drop offs include the Facilities Management and Academic Affairs offices and most deans? offices. I suggest putting drop off spots where students can actually be found, perhaps the River Front Market or the Residence Halls.

“I hope everyone can jump on board,” Matlock said. I hope so too. All we need is better marketing?

?The recently constructed Serna Fountain near the University isn?t the only tribute to late Sacramento Mayor Joe Serna. Former President Bill Clinton issued a statement saying he was a great leader of Sacramento and a “source of inspiration to the Hispanic community and all Americans.” Serna taught ethnic studies at Sac State and is credited for promoting a period of prosperity downtown as mayor.

Last Tuesday, I found the fountain flooded with bubbles. It appeared to be the work of pranksters. Pouring detergent in the Library Quad has been a common occurrence, even a tradition. Vandals should remember, however, that the Serna Fountain is a memorial to Serna and his late wife, Isabel.

Granted, the fountain is no masterpiece. After just a month, the water no longer seems to flow correctly, and the protective plastic coverings for the fountain?s two adjoining messages are peeling off. Whatever the case, the fountain represents a true pillar of the community. Keep it bubble free. If pranksters must find a use for their extra detergent, I recommend the Library Quad.

Joshua K. Leon is opinion editor of The State Hornet. He can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at 278-5590.