By Nick Rester,
Managing Editor

The debut of CSU Channel Island’s own literary journal, the Island Fox, is next week! Join us on Thursday, May 6^th at 11:30AM in the new Student Union for readings from the published writers of the university’s esteemed literary journal.

The Island Fox’s theme this year is Uncommon Grounds. It is a collection of poetry, non-fiction, and fiction. This reading will be an exclusive preview of some of the work you will see in the published journal.

There will be food and drinks available from The Freudian Sip, as usual, for a nominal fee—as well as good times for all!

Bring your friends and family to come and enjoy the sensational writing of our campus, and celebrate publication of the Island Fox.

]]> http://civiewnews.com/?feed=rss2&p=1446 0 http://civiewnews.com/?p=1423 http://civiewnews.com/?p=1423#comments Tue, 06 Apr 2010 05:55:26 +0000 Tristan Cassel http://civiewnews.com/?p=1423

Sum 41

SPB Annual Picnic

May 1st 2010

Location: CI North Quad

Times: Doors open at 3:00 P.M.
Student/local band at 4:00 P.M.
Rey Fresco at 5:30 P.M.
Sum 41 at 7:00 P.M.

Prices: Presale-$5 for Channel Islands, Oxnard College, Ventura College, Moorpark College, CSU Northridge, UC Santa Barbara, and Cal Lutheran Students with student ID.

$10 for General Public

Door Sales-$10 for Channel Islands, Oxnard College, Ventura College, Moorpark
College, CSU Northridge, UC Santa Barabara, and Cal Lutheran Students
with student ID.

$20 for General Public.

Parking: Parking for Non-CI students $6

Ticket buying: Tickets sold at the CI Student Union or online at csuci.ticketleap.com (smallservice fee applies for online ticketing)

There will be a battle of the bands April 22 at 7pm in the Union to determine who will be opening the Picnic.

Tech Correspondent

The Motorola Backflip

Two and a half years ago, Google announced that it would be making a mobile phone OS based on Linux. Verizon now has three Android devices, Sprint has two, T-Mobile has four, and AT&T still doesn’t have one– until now.

On March 7, the Motorola Backflip went on sale through AT&T. It runs Android, and it’s mostly downhill from there.

Motorola proved with the Droid that they re-learned how to make decent phones. Then Motorola promptly forgot, and excreted the Backflip. It is outdated hardware and software in a schizophrenic form factor.

It’s hinged on the side, but everything is the wrong way round. When closed, the screen and keyboard face out, and the trackpad on the back of the screen is useable. This means the camera is actually in the keyboard, right where the Alt and Shift keys should be. The keyboard is not bad, but nowhere close to good.

The touchscreen uses a hit-or-miss resistive-type sensor. Photos are a blurfest, and the camera takes several weeks to start. The display quality isn’t too bad, but it could be larger. There is a trackpad on the back that helps make up for the touchscreen’s poor accuracy.

Motorola’s MOTOBLUR interface isn’t the most intuitive, and it has a serious case of lag. Some simple actions took far too long (like opening the contacts list), and some almost crashed the phone (launching the camera).

The underpowered CPU (same as the T-Mobile G1, in fact) means that when AT&T upgrades the Backflip to Android 2.0, it will most likely grind to a halt. If it can’t handle 1.5, how can handle 2.0?

Yahoo search is the only way to go, thanks to an ongoing slapfight between AT&T and Google.

Amazingly, AT&T will want $100 after rebate for the Backflipfire. The Droid is $100 more, but crucially it is $100 better, and the Droid Eris is cheaper. The price and the appalling design make the iPhone look good – perhaps on purpose?

If you still want an AT&T smartphone, you are left to choose between the iPhone, a Windows Mobile device, a BlackBerry, and another provider.

Today, while riding my bike on University Drive getting ready to make a right on Lewis Road I was cut off by a driver with the same intentions of turning. The abrupt decrease in stopping distance caused me to tactfully dodge to the right where there should have been no road hazards. On the contrary, the road was littered with pot holes, rocks, and small stones.

The concentrated amount of debris caused my bike to slip out of from under me, and I slammed into the side of the car. Thankfully there was no apparent harm done to the car, and I was okay.

What makes me very frustrated about this whole situation dates back to February when I contacted Police and Parking Services wanting to file a complaint about the debris. My complaint higlighted this university’s inability to keep the traffic lane along University Drive and the main entrance intersection clean.

They assisted me in contacting a more inclined individual regarding the clean-up of university grounds.

This new person told me “No worries. We’ll fill out a work order.” Since February no effort to clean up University Drive or the entrance intersection (University Drive and Lewis) has been made and now students are paying the consequences.

Over the past several month debris (such as dirt, rocks, glass, hair scrunchies, tree branches, and trash)has been accumulating in the restricted zone of left turn lane on Lewis’s southbound traffic. This zone could be put to better use for commuting cyclist to ride safely within without the worry of being hit by traffic traveling 50 mph.

I would also like to note that University Drive does not even have a bicycle lane and the faded traffic lane has drivers all over the road. Not only are these areas dangerous for commuters and recreationalist, such as runners and bikers, it is aesthetically unappealing. The front entrance serves thousands of students, staff, faculty, residents of UGlenn and visitors such as prospective students and dignitaries such as Mohammed Yunus.

The intersection, and crumbling, bumpy, road set quite the degrading tone to visitors before they even get a chance to see the heart of campus.

This is now my second formal complaint. I do not know who is to blame, but the mess raises issues about the schools conern for safety and I would like to help solve the problem.

Although the University pushes to be “green” and encourages alternative modes of transportation  what does this say to commuters as myself?

The proper maintenance of this road should not be ignored because there are plans of a new campus entrance. It is possible a rider may slip without anything to fall on, but next time an SUV or Vista Bus may be right behind them. If this prestigious school really cares about its students and their safety it should have areas like this cleaned up promptly and efficiently.

The last thing that CSU Channel Islands need is a liability like this. Please, clean up University Drive and the front intersection before someone falls victim.

-Stefan Goehring

Business Manager

Students and administrators cut the ribbon for the new Student Union. Photo By: Ben Hipple

On March 16, 2010, the students, staff, and faculty members of CSU Channel Islands along with many others, participated in the historic ribbon cutting and grand opening of the Student Union Building.

In 2006, the students of CI voted to fund the construction and operation of what is now the most popular place to be on campus, the Student Union Building, or as many call it, the SUB.

Student Karina Cruz who works at the SUB said,

” As a student I am very proud and grateful to be part of the Grand Opening of our new student union, the place that absolutely places us, the students, at the center of our university. The student union will give current students and future generations the opportunity to come together and really feel united. I hope everyone takes the time to drop by and enjoy what our wonderful student union has to offer.”

The SUB is a place for both residential and commuting students along with faculty and staff to interact with one another, study, relax, bond, and enjoy the beauty in just being together as one community.  During the ribbon cutting ceremony, Dr. Genevieve Evans Taylor, Executive Director of ASI, said,

“The student union is a building on campus where all are welcome.  The building is not discipline, department or division specific.  The name “union” is no accident.  It has historic significance, as a place where students, faculty, staff and community members come together for dialog, debate and community.  It is a place of union.”

One of the many goals of CSUCI is to be as green of a campus as possible, and that did not exclude the new SUB. The SUB was designed to be extremely sustainable and environmentally friendly.  All the lighting in the SUB is on a sensor system, the carpet is made out of recycled content carpet tiles, and even the chairs are Steelcase furniture chairs made with environmentally friendly materials with the highest recycled content available.

The SUB is now the new home to ASI Offices for Student Government, SPB, The Nautical Yearbook, and The CI View Student Newspaper.

Along with these new offices, there are also three new places to eat inside the SUB while relaxing in the lounges, playing pool, or watching TV on the new elite projector screens.

Freudian Sip has a variety of blended coffee drinks, smoothies, pastries, frozen yogurt sundaes and much more.  If you do not have a sweet tooth and prefer delicious and fast food on the go, The Lighthouse Café serves pizza, hot dogs, and salads.  And if you are in between deciding whether you want something sweet or savory, you can go to the Sea Store which provides you with every candy you can imagine, cold drinks, frozen snacks such as hot pockets, and almost any other snack you crave.

Students are already taking a liking to the new SUB. Sophomore Diana Ballesteros who also works at the SUB said,

“The student union is the window to expanding our school reputation and student population. This is the location for us students to come together and enhance our tight knit community. This building is the beginning of a new chapter and I’m very grateful to be a part of it.”

Hours of Operation:

Game Room, Student Organization Rooms, Lounges, & Meeting Rooms:

Mon-Frid: 8:00am-11:00pm

Sat-Sun: 10:00am-10:00pm

SEAL Center

Mon: 12:00pm-1:15pm; 3:00pm-5:00pm

Tues: 10:00am- 5:00pm

Wed: 9:00am-1:15pm; 2:00pm-4:00pm

Thurs: 12:00pm-5:00pm

Lighthouse Cafe:

Mon-Fri: 10:00am-10:30pm

Freudian Sip

Mon-Fri: 7:30am-10:30pm

Sat-Sun:10:00am-10:00pm

Sea Store

Mon-Fri: 8:00am-10:30pm

Sat-Sun: 10:00am-10:30pm

Congratulations to all of the students, staff, faculty and community members who made the opening and operation of this new Student Union possible.

It is a special milestone that we as a university were able to experience together.

I have no doubt that the opening of the SUB is just one of the many turning points that we as a community are going to embark on together.

In union there is strength. In strength there is leadership. And in leadership, there is CSUCI.

The Cost of The Bill ( From CNN): “The compromise health care bill drafted by top Democrats will cost $940 billion over the next 10 years, according to a preliminary analysis released Thursday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.”
What is The Bill Proposing? ( From CNN):
New health insurance subsidies would be provided to families of four making up to $88,000 annually, or 400 percent of the federal poverty level.
• Health insurance exchanges would be created to make it easier for small businesses, the self-employed and the unemployed to pool resources and purchase less expensive coverage.
• Total out-of-pocket expenses would be limited, and insurance companies would be prevented from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions. Insurers would be barred from canceling coverage for sick people, as well as charging higher premiums based on a person’s gender or medical history.
• Insurers would be required to provide coverage for non-dependent children up to age 26.
• The Medicare prescription drug “doughnut hole” would be closed by 2020. Under current law, Medicare stops covering drug costs after a plan and beneficiary have spent more than $2,830 on prescription drugs. It starts paying again after an individual’s out-of-pocket expenses exceed $4,550.
• A 40 percent tax would be imposed on insurance companies providing “Cadillac” health plans valued at more than $10,200 for individuals and $27,500 for families. The tax would kick in starting in 2018.
• The Medicare tax would be imposed on investment income for individuals making over $200,000 and couples making over $250,000.
• The federal government would assist states by picking up 100 percent of the costs of expanded Medicaid coverage between 2014 and 2016, and 90 percent starting in 2020.
• Individuals would be required to purchase coverage or face a fine of up to $695 or 2.5 percent of income, whichever is greater, starting in 2016. The plan includes a hardship exemption for poorer Americans.
• Companies with more than 50 employees would be required to pay a fee of $2,000 per worker if the company does not provide coverage and any of that company’s workers receives federal health care subsidies. The first 30 workers would be subtracted from the payment calculation.
• States could choose whether to ban abortion coverage in plans offered in the health insurance exchanges. Individuals purchasing plans through the exchanges would have to pay for abortion coverage from their own funds.
***President Obama has issued an executive order to address the concerns that many people have about abortion being federally funded. Obama’s executive order reads:
“Existing law prohibits these centers from using federal funds to provide abortion services (except in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the woman would be endangered), as a result of both the Hyde Amendment and longstanding regulations containing the Hyde language.” “Under the Act, the Hyde language shall apply to the authorization and appropriations of funds for Community Health Centers under section 10503 and all other relevant provisions.”
• Illegal immigrants would not be allowed to buy health insurance in the health insurance exchanges.

The Opposing Views:
According to CNN, in response to how he feels about the new bill passing, Republican Rep. Tom Price, a doctor from Georgia said,

“”This is a sad day, yes, because there are so many wonderful and positive and patient-centered solutions that could be enacted. You see, we trust patients and families. They trust government.”

On the opposing side, Democrat Rep. Tim Bishop of New York said that,
“Amidst angry and at times even hateful rhetoric, amidst the misinformation and scare tactics, there exists one simple truth, and that truth is that the current system is unsustainable. (CNN)”.

The final vote to pass the bill in the House was 219-212, all 178 Republicans opposing it with 34 Democrats.

President Obama made a deal with the anti-abortion Democrats that he would issue an executive order to ensure that existing limits on federal funding of abortion remain in place.

President Obama did not sign the bill on Sunday, March 21, the day it was passed, but he delivered his remarks about the vote from the White House East Room

President Obama, who has always made health care reform a priority for his administration, said that the vote was not a victory for the political party, but for the American people (CNN). President Obama recognizes that this reform will not solve all health care related problems in the U.S, but feels that it is moving us “…decisively in the right direction.”

The long battle that started 150 years ago for all Americans to be guaranteed high quality, affordable health care coverage has now become a reality. While the bill remains controversial, there is no denying that it has made a historical impact on the American people and its government.

As President Obama said in his speech after the bill passed, “This is what change looks like.”

Mark your calendars for Friday April 9th at 7:00 p.m. and join us in recognizing these fellow dolphins for superior contributions to our distinguished institution of higher education. Dress code for this prestigious event is evening attire.

All students are welcome to attend and are encouraged to participate by nominating outstanding students, staff, faculty, administrators and community members, even if you are not able to attend the ceremony.

Nominate the outstanding individuals at our campus between now and March 19th via ballot boxes in campus hot spots: the New Student Center, Santa Cruz Housing office, Library circulation desk, Islands Café, Student Union, and Bell Tower Mission Lounge.

Look for those bright green boxes which have an attached Maximus logo so you can’t miss them! Students are able to nominate in all five categories, however, staff, faculty, administrators, and community members can nominate students ONLY.

Maximus is a student-based award ceremony for CSU Channel Islands students, faculty, staff, administrators, and community members.

Students have the opportunity to nominate those individuals on campus who have made a positive impact on them or have significantly contributed to student success at the University as a whole.

This year’s winner could be the girl who sits next to you in math class and lends you her notes, the teacher who goes beyond their normal office hours staying after class to offer extra help, or the OPC employee who contributes behind the scenes at campus events.

This is not a popularity contest! The goal of Maximus is to recognize those individuals who go above and beyond their call of duty and will be awarded the “greatest” student, staff, faculty, administrator or community member of the year. Many are nominated, but only one person is chosen each year in each category.

If you would like to help with this event, attend the event or have any questions, please contact Student Government at (805) 437-2734 or via email at sgasi@csuci.edu. Even better, just stop by our office upstairs in the Student Union building!

Associated Students Inc.
Student Government

From the streets, to the catwalk and even without all that airbrushing, let’s face it girls, those Victoria’s Secret angels are smokin’ hot!

But aside from being financially stable enough to afford a personal trainer and nutritionist, eating healthy isn’t just the diet of a supermodel, it’s the lifestyle of a super model.

Sure, replacing meals with diet coke and cigarettes will definitely help a supermodel maintain her stick thin frame, but what it won’t help her maintain is her youthful look.

Not only does a super model have to be physically fit, she has to be naturally beautiful too; and the only way for her achieve that, and any human being for that matter is by consistently eating natural, unprocessed foods.

On www.becomegorgeous.com it, states that, “

The Victoria’s Secret model’s secret in fact is to have a meal every three hours. When it comes to snacks, apples are a favorite. The protein content of the fruit will keep you stuffed until the next meal. Moreover, you’ll benefit from its vitamins and minerals.”

The habit of cutting out dairy products, alcohol and starchy, processed food is a super model’s first step; their next priority is to work out regularly without building up too much muscle mass.

Yoga is a great way to stay fit!

Yoga and Pilates are two very popular forms of exercise because they focus on lengthening the muscles and strengthening the bodies’ core.

It is also imperative that a Victoria’s Secret model stay dedicated to their health because of the effect that nutrition has on one’s energy.

A poor diet will only lead to feeling lethargic and fatigued.

On www.news.softpedia.com, it states that Victoria’s Secret Angel Miranda Kerr,

“has been sticking to a strictly organic diet. Her trainer reveals that once he started working with Miranda, he placed more stress on focusing on eating healthy at all times so that she never lacked the energy required for her busy lifestyle and avoiding piling on the pounds.”

Take our teeth for example: In order to maintain their pearly white color and shine, we have to consistently floss, brush, and see a dentist.

If one doesn’t keep up with their oral hygiene, their once pearly white teeth start to become dull, yellow and unattractive.

Girls, you don’t have to be tall, skinny, with big boobs to be a super model.

The truth is, you get what you give, and putting your effort into maintaining the health and appearance of your body is definitely key to bringing out your inner angel!

By Nick Rester,
Managing Editor

Michael Okwu and Dr. Yunus

On Friday February 26^th, Professor Muhammad Yunus, the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize recipient for economics and 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom award winner, spoke on his goals and triumphs through Social Business.

Dr. Yunus won the Nobel Peace Price for his foundation of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. Through this, he introduced a system of micro-loans into the community to aid the impoverished and help stabilize the economy.

The event was kicked off by school President Richard R. Rush, who introduced Yunus and CNN and NBC journalist Michael Okwu, who would lead the discussion. A short video was played depicting faculty members of CSUCI traveling to Bangladesh to see the impact of Social Business first hand.

Michael Okwu started the discussion off by commenting on the poverty we had just seen in the film.

“70% live under the poverty limit.”Yunus commented.

Okwu asked him how he came up with his idea of micro-loans. The idea came to him, he told us, as he watched the poor people suffering so much under debt from loan sharks.

“I started loaning to people small amounts,” he recolected, “Paying back people’s debts, teaching them how to stay out of debt.”

Currently, he said, Grameen Bank loans: “$100,000,000 a month with average loans of $2,000.”

Yunus defined Social Business as anything but charity.

“The loans pay back the debts. That’s the idea of microcredit. If you take charity it’s not involved with the first person. With charity, someone who is receiving is often of low status.”

Okwu asked Yunus’ goal for the future. He thought a moment, then confidently stated:

“The eradication of poverty by 2030.”

After a standing ovation for the Nobel winner, a trailer was shown for his new film about his endeavor to bring Social Business to America. It is titled To Catch a Dollar: Muhammad Yunus Banks on America and premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.

President Rush returned to the stage to award Steven M. Hilton the first Yunus Social Innovation Medal for his contributions towards the movement of Social Business.

During Yunus’ interview, he spoke of many goals for his Social Business, but one certain goal had already come to fruition. The establishment of the California Institute for Social Business which was launched that day on CSUCI’s campus by the Nobel Prize Recipient.

To conclude the event, the faculty of the California Institute for Social Businessing took the stage to pose for a photograph together in front of the new CSUCI logo.

[View with PicLens]

By Kaity Audick,
Staff Writer

Photo by: Fremlin, Creative Commons

The death of a veteran trainer at Orlando Florida’s Sea World has sparked controversy throughout many animal rights activist groups.

Trainer Dawn Brancheau was going through a regular show with the over 12,000 lb whale, when suddenly the Orca grabbed her from a platform. Dawn was thrashed around in its mouth before the whale dived down to the bottom on the tank where he remained until his trainer tragically drowned.

Several major animal rights groups are now campaigning to keep marine mammals from being used in shows in theme parks. Many of them are fighting to not have the large mammals in the parks at all. The same Orca that killed Brancheau was also responsible for a humans death in 1991, and again in 1999; both situations were deemed accidents.

“It is a wild animal, used to running free in an entire ocean, but is now confined to a very small space,”

stated Joyce Tischler, founder of the Animal Legal Defense Fund. No matter how much training a marine mammal has, it can still be triggered in certain scenarios to revert back to its instincts.

“The vast majority of the orca whales in captivity would be far better off to be returned to the wild. Orcas are unbelievably ill-suited to life in theme parks and can be successfully returned to the wild. We know, because we have done it,”

says David Phillips, director of the International Marine Mammal Project for the Earth Island Institute. Phillips went on to explain how civilians aren’t aware how much room the Orca’s really need.

Killer Whales in the wild usually spend their lifetime swimming hundreds of thousands of miles; keeping them contained to a large sized tank in cruel.

Phillips finished by reminding the public,

“this isn’t the first time that stressed-out Orca whales have injured or killed people, and unfortunately, it is not likely to be the last.”