Teams fail to pass test

Sacramento State’s Intercollegiate Athletics Department adopted several new policies after 3.35 scholarships were taken away from all sports teams.

The National Collegiate Athletic Associated released statistics from the Academic Progress Rate report that ranked Sac State as the school with the most athletic programs penalized of any Division I school in the country. Student-Athlete Resource Center Director Paul Edwards said for two years now, the center has been working with the athletic department to improve the relatively new type of reports.

“We are working on our APR; our coaches and staff are understanding more and more on how it works,” Edwards said. “As a two-time alum of Sac State, I want to see success across the board.”

The new policies require mandatory study hall times for freshmen, transfer and returning students with a GPA lower than 3.0 for men’s basketball and 2.5 for football and track.

All athletes must turn in class attendance forms signed each session by their professors. For a first class missed, an athlete will miss practice; for the second, another practice and missing a third, a game.

Athletes must present a letter to their professors during the first week of school explaining what days they will miss due to travel. Bi-weekly academic progress monitored by coaching staff for men’s basketball, football, golf and outdoor track also lets coaches know how their athletes are doing in their studies.

Men’s baseball, basketball, football, golf, indoor and outdoor track and women’s tennis were all penalized for having scores lower than 925.

The academic progress report doesn’t just mean student athletes are slipping in grades. Two factors affect the reports for each individual athletic program.

The reports are a combination of points. Each student athlete on scholarship represents two possible points. If the athlete maintains eligibility during a semester and returns for the following semester, he or she receives both points. All the points from the team are added to make the report.

Budget includes 3.4 percent cut

Sacramento State President Alexander Gonzalez announced his acceptance of a proposal that would reduce the university’s budget by 3.4 percent.

The University Budget Advisory Committee worked Provost Joseph Sheley and division vice presidents to come up with a budget proposal that would reduce the 7 percent cuts, while closing the structural gap in the university’s budget. The structural gap is the difference between the university’s revenue and expenditures. Sac State is currently facing a $10.3 million structural gap for the 2008-09 school year.

The budget proposal for Sac State is based on the $312.9 million in cuts to the California State University system and a 10 percent student fee increase in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s January budget proposal.

The 3.4 percent reduction to Sac State’s budget, as opposed to 7 percent, means that the university will not need to make any drastic cuts to classes and the course schedule, said Emir Jose Macari, chair of the University Budget Advisory Committee and dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences.

However, the 3.5 percent reduction to Academic Affairs does mean the university will have to alter the course schedule., Sheley said.

ASI election results announced

Associated Students Inc. President Christina Romero announced the executive and college directors for the 2008-09 school year.

Miguel Cervantes, executive vice president, was declared the new ASI president in front of a cheering crowd of about 50 students. He ran uncontested in the election.

Cervantes said he will work hard to serve Sac State students during his term and thanked candidates, the ASI Office of Governmental Affairs and students for their involvement.

Secretary of State Affairs Roberto Torres is the new executive vice president and incumbent Tim Snyder was reelected as vice president of Finance.

The three clubs receiving the highest number of votes in the election included: the College Democrats in first place, Salsa Loca Club in second place and Toastmasters Leadership Club in third place. These clubs will receive $2 for every vote in favor of their club or organization.

Approximately 6 percent of the student body – 1,616 students – voted in the elections. The voter turnout decreased from last year’s turnout by 73 students.

Student seeks bookstore transparency

An amendment to the Public Records Act could make textbook markup prices available to students, a move creating more transparency regarding agreements between the University Enterprises Inc. and Follett’s management of the Hornet Bookstore.

“I thought students should know what the markup (on textbooks) is,” said Ed Ober, senior government major and faculty policy member.

“The fact that they won’t disclose some of this information is concerning.”

Ober has decided to propose an amendment to the Public Records Act making “auxiliary” organizations like University Enterprises Inc. not be protected from providing what are considered “trade secrets.”

According to the code, “trade secret” means information, including a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique or process, that: (1) Derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to the public or to other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and (2) Is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.”

Ober made a public records act request earlier this month requesting 11 documents, including UEI minutes and contracts with Follett. University Counsel Edmundo Aguilar responded 14 days later after evaluating the legal provisions.

“We try to be as transparent as we can,” Aguilar said. “That’s why we’ve given up as much as we can.”

Mother recalls selfless daughter

Kirsten Ross never wanted to be the center of attention. She always let others shine.

“She never said it’s all about me; it was all about them,” said Hazel Tetrick, Ross’ mother.

Ross’ 2004 Honda Civic collided with a firetruck April 12, killing her friend Nancy Concepcion Gonzalez, 20, of Roseville. Ross’ life was taken just after her life support was gone.

A student at Sacramento State, Ross was interested in criminal justice and had recently decided to pursue her dreams of becoming a corporate lawyer.

Ross was traveling westbound on L Street with 20-year-old Nancy Gonzalez of Roseville when she allegedly failed to stop at a flashing red light at the intersection of 9th and L streets, said Jim Doucette, public information officer for the Sacramento County Fire Department.

The engine was traveling from Station 2 at 12th and I streets when it hit the vehicle, Doucette said. Another truck was dispatched to take its place.

Police said Ross had a blood-alcohol content of .06 percent at the time of the accident.

Hornet assistant coach pleads no contest to DUI charges

Sacramento State men’s basketball assistant coach Tarvish Felton pleaded no contest on Feb. 27 in Sacramento County Superior Court to driving under the influence.

Felton, 32, was arrested and taken into custody for DUI around 1:30 a.m. on Dec. 2 at J and 18th streets in Sacramento’s Midtown neighborhood. He was released from county jail the same day at 1:38 p.m.

At the time of his arrest, Felton had a 0.12 blood alcohol concentration level, which is a misdemeanor. The legal limit in California is 0.08.

In pleading no contest, Felton agreed not to dispute the charges against him.

“We have dealt with it on our end, and coach Felton will have to deal with the legal situation,” said Terry Wanless, Sac State director of Athletics.

Felton was required by the court to enroll in a three-month DUI First Offenders Program at the A.F.T.E.R. Drunken Driving Program, located in Midtown Sacramento. Typically, DUI First Offenders Programs run three months and include counseling.

Center of attention

Students of Sacramento State can finally rejoice. After more than two years without a permanent director, the Multi-Cultural Center hired Charlene Martinez.

Martinez said she wants to co-create a new vision for the center with the help of the campus community. Some of her goals for the center include a revitalization of the center’s original impetus to make underrepresented student groups feel welcome on campus and social justice education. These ideas, however, have to be congruent with the community’s needs, she said.

Ricky Gutierrez, Coalition for Cultural Opportunities and Overall Retention of Students member and former student assistant for the Multi-Cultural Center, said he is very pleased that the center has a full-time director after his group, for the last couple of years, pushed the administration to fill the position and expand the student voice in the center’s programs.

Martinez said she hopes to lessen the feelings of alienation by building and strengthening the relationships between the center and the campus community.

Man collapses, dies in parking structure

David Landis, equipment operator for Facilities Services, died March 20 in Parking Structure III after a medical emergency.

Landis, about 55, was driving a street sweeper through the building at the time of his collapse.

“We don’t know what caused it; something caused him to lose consciousness. His vehicle was discovered by Maria Ruiz, the grounds and custodial services director,” said Ron Richardson, associate vice president for Facilities Services.

University Police arrived shortly after the discovery and tried to revive him. Sacramento Metro Fire also responded to administer CPR, but was unsuccessful.

Landis was hired in 1996 as a grounds worker before he was promoted to a light automotive equipment operator for the grounds department in 2005.

Richardson described Landis as dependable and engaged in his work.

“(David) was a good employee and well liked by his co-workers,” he said.

Hauser, 76, active in Renaissance, outdoors

Anna Hauser, the 76-year-old woman who died after collapsing in the University Union, showed others that no one is too old to learn.

It seems fitting that Hauser was on her way to do something so close to her heart in her last moments. Her dedication to personal learning and encouraging others to learn was an underlying mission of her life.

On Feb. 8, Hauser, a member of the Sacramento State Renaissance Society, was on her way to meet fellow members for lunch before their afternoon class on researching Greek history.

While in the Union, Hauser appeared to lose consciousness after witnesses said she leaned against a wall in pain.

Two women attempted CPR on her intermittently and paramedics arrived shortly afterward, fitting her to an oxygen feed.

Hauser did not have a pulse when officers arrived on the scene. There was no autopsy, but her collapse was assumed to be caused by a heart attack.

Students rally against budget cuts, fees

More than 50 Sacramento State students and faculty members marched April 16 in a circle carrying picket signs protesting the budget cuts and fee increases.

“What do we want? Free education! When do we want it? Now!” the protesters chanted.

Robert Torres, ASI secretary of state affairs, told the crowd: “It is time for students to stand up and tell the governor and Legislature that education is a right.” Sac State President Alexander Gonzalez said the CSU needs to stop the proposed cuts or there will be a fee increase. The state needs to roll back fees to make sure students get the affordable education they deserve.

“If the Legislature doesn’t invest in you, they are turning their backs on California’s future,” Gonzalez told the crowd.

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