If the tentative hearing indeed takes place on May 17, a follow-up SFMTA board meeting would likely be scheduled for Tuesday, June 18. According to Paul Rose, press officer for the city agency that oversees parking, traffic, and transportation planning in San Francisco, these new measures may be passed. The board’s approval in June could mean that all-day parking would be gone by the end of summer 2013.

The SFMTA is proposing to make many of the often-occupied all-day spaces that line university property into parking that would require motorists to move their cars every two hours most days. The current plan was modified from an earlier proposal that included placing new parking meters on those all-day spaces.

The meter portion of the plan was met with strong resistance in a lengthy February SFMTA meeting involving university neighbors, who were generally opposed to any tightened restrictions to street parking. On March 28, e-mails from an SFMTA employee were obtained by a University Terrace resident and shared with the Foghorn. These correspondences indicated that parking meters were no longer part of the agency’s proposal.

A second option to impose four-hour (instead of two-hour) limits on the all-day spaces was dropped by the SFMTA because a “four-hour time limit would…do little to dissuade the use of private motor vehicles for commuting,” Rose said, highlighting the intent of the agency’s citywide campaign to discourage automobile commuting in favor of greener transit alternatives.

“It would be fairly easy for someone to park in the morning, move their vehicle during lunch time, and thereafter continue a habit of driving to campus,” Rose said of the four-hour parking option. “One of our missions is [to] create an environmentally sustainable transportation system by encouraging a transit-first mindset for commuting.”

The two-hour time slots would probably be in force from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., similar to the limits that currently exist on streets around the main campus. However, unlike these side streets,  Tom Folks,  senior engineer at the SFMTA, stated via e-mail that the new two-hour spaces would not allow cars of any letter parking permit to park for more than two hours at a time.

Another parking hearing, organized by San Francisco supervisor Mark Farrell, will take place today, May 2, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. in room 201 of the Board Chambers in City Hall. The meeting will address citizens’ concerns with SFMTA proposals citywide, and will likely include discussion and input on the University Terrace plan. The hearing will also be attended by San Francisco supervisors David Campos, Eric Mar, and Malia Cohen.

USF fraternity Chi Upsilon Zeta (XYZ) laced up their walking shoes this past weekend and stepped out in the city to show their support for victims of rape by participating and raising money for the annual San Francisco Walk Against Rape. The fraternity marched alongside other student groups — Latinas Unidas, Tri-Gamma nursing society, and the Gender and Sexuality center — in joint effort of bringing an end to sexual assault.

Participants walked from the starting point at the Women’s Building on 18th Street and Valencia, and passed through the Castro and Mission districts to reach the end point at Potrero del Sol Park, also in the Mission. There, walkers enjoyed refreshments, entertainment, informative speeches on sexual assault, and even a sunny San Francisco day. The event was held on April 27 as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Walkers donate a minimum of $10 to register for the 3.5 mile walk, and all proceeds go directly to San Francisco Women Against Rape (SFWAR), the only community-based rape crisis center in the city. SFWAR provides resources, support, and education for those affected by sexual violence. Since 2006, the organization has raised $239,445.

XYZ Community Service Coordinator, senior Joe Estalilla, has overseen the fraternity’s involvement in Walk Against Rape for four years. He is being awarded the Priscilla A. Scotlan Award for his service in XYZ. Estalilla, history major with minors in public service and community engagement as well as Asian studies, said he encourages XYZ involvement because the event promotes social justice: “Since we are a multicultural, community service, and social justice driven fraternity, I [have] brothers attend events that fulfill these pillars.”

Although XYZ is not identified as a national “Greek” fraternity at USF, they are a lettered organization composed of male students and alum, with exclusive rituals and an acceptance process similar to that of a Greek fraternity. According to Estalilla, the emphasis XYZ places on social justice and multiculturalism is what sets it apart: “[These values] break off from traditional values of other fraternities such as academics, leadership, service, and philanthropy, although XYZ also incorporates these values in its programs and activities.”

Another major concern of XYZ involves current socio-global problems: “We hope to educate on, gain support for, and spread awareness of issues concerning diversity and major social and global issues that are happening inside and outside California and the United States,” said Estalilla. This core value of diversity awareness is the influence behind various community service organizations to which  XYZ members volunteer their time. These outlets include Operation Christmas Child, AIDS Walk SF, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund.

The diverse nature of the organizations with which XYZ members volunteer, leaves them with experiences they will never forget. For member and senior kinesiology major Benjamin Leon, connecting with Filipino WWII veterans was a highlight of his community service with XYZ.: “I think the most memorable experience I have had was volunteering at the Veteran’s Equity Center, which services Filipino WWII veterans and others – because hearing their stories and knowing their struggle to be recognized by the US government is very inspiring to me, and makes me thankful for the things I have that they fought for,” he said.

For XYZ members, community service is a dual opportunity. Reaching out and volunteering with various organizations to create a positive change in the community and world also gives members the chance to cultivate change within themselves: “We heavily focus on individual growth following the structure of mind, body, and soul through education, service, and reflection,” said Estalilla. “XYZ believes that change starts from within. Through changing oneself, one may have the ability to change others slowly and progressively creating a sort of ripple effect throughout the world,” he expressed. Later, he described the values at the heart of his fraternity: “In short, XYZ acts as a basis for individual and communal change, challenging its members to go out and experience the world for itself, and find their own meaning of social justice and multiculturalism.”

Your friend invites you out to a club to celebrate his 22nd birthday in the Marina. You spot a girl in your English class across the dance floor. At the end of the night, you are both pretty drunk, and she asks you to walk her home. Like any gentleman, you walk her up to her apartment. She says, “Stay with me tonight,” and begins to unbuckle your belt. You’re too drunk to think clearly, but you know this isn’t how you want your first time to be. You tell her. She says, “ If you don’t do this, I’ll tell everyone how big of a pansy you are.” Embarrassed, you nod your head and go inside, not wanting to risk your reputation.

One in five women and one in 71 men have been raped in their lifetimes. That’s 18 million women in this country who have been raped, and more than one million rapes that occur every year.

Sexual assaults are not just  statistics, said Christina Seruge, an international studies and marketing major. “These things actually happen. It is unfortunate that people don’t realize that until it happens to someone they know or to themselves.”

Every April, USF recognizes Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The Take Back the Night event, held last Thursday, was a night for all survivors of sexual assault and supporters to come together, hear stories, and raise awareness against sexual violence. From Denim Day to the Walk Against Rape, the USF Gender and Sexuality Center held an event every week throughout April.

For over 35 years in the United States, TBTN has focused on preventing sexual violence and thousands of college campuses, women’s centers, and rape crisis centers have sponsored events all over the country.

The first TBTN event in the United States took place in October of 1975 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The first international TBTN event occurred at the International Tribunal on Crimes against Women in March of 1976 in Brussels, Belgium. Over 2,000 women representing 40 countries attended the event.

TBTN started four years ago at USF according to Jenna Recupero, the assistant director of student conduct rights and responsibilities. “ This event is truly that come together, collaborative moment at the end of the year before the walk against rape, the last effort to say this is our community peace before we go to the larger community and take our voices out from just USF to San Francisco and the greater community,” she said.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month has been in the works since last semester when a committee was formed. The committee consisted of Recupero, faculty from the Gender and Sexuality Center, and student and resident life representatives.

TBTN at USF started with a candlelight vigil, where students and faculty shared survivor stories, poems, and thoughts on sexual assault. At the event, there was also a Wall of Hope, where attendees got to write their thoughts and a table to make customized t-shirts.

After the candle light vigil, attendees were asked to hold up their shirts and walk to the Gender and Sexuality Center for a more in-depth private discussion where survivors came forward and shared their stories. There were around 15 women at the discussion. Some students expressed that they were there to support their loved ones who have been a victim of sexual assault, while others came to learn more about sexual assault and the resources given to victims on campus.

Recupero said,  “It is a way for us to take back the night, for us to take back the control, and for us to be able to dictate us survivors that this is the way we want to see the night happen and the way we want our stories to be shared.”

In three weeks time I’ll be getting one of those pieces of paper that says I’ve completed my degree in Politics and African Studies at the University of San Francisco. You may be wondering how someone with that academic background became the online editor of the school paper and let me assure you, I’m still wondering the same thing.

It’s the Professors not the Building

A school that could allow that type of job placement is reflective of USF’s size and excellent staff that gave me the ability to follow my passions and interests no matter how far off they were from the normal curriculum path. Graduating in 2013, our class has experienced USF at an interesting time of growth- construction for a new science center, a new marketing campaign, and even a new logo and tagline. While all of these changes are positive ones, they are still just the bells and whistles to decorate the larger tenets that have continued to make this university a breeding place for great minds committed to social justice since 1855.

What truly makes USF isn’t the buildings but the teachers who occupy them. All of the professors that I interacted with throughout my four years were excellent mentors who profoundly changed the way that I think about the world and have helped to shape who I am today.

Joining the Foghorn team in my last year, I thank the Foghorn editors and staff for accepting me into their community. I also thank our advisor Professor Moore whose tireless dedication to truthful and relevant news has always made me feel like I’m apart of something larger than myself. I have full confidence in next years online editor, Matt Miller, who will be carrying the online paper on into the future.

The Future of The Foghorn

A question that come ups up regularly is whether the online could replace the print paper. If you asked me years ago, I would say ditch the paper; the Foghorn should be an online news subscription all the way. However, after sobering from the buzz of the social media cool-aid, I realize that online and print content are two different mediums that serve different purposes.

Print media is the final word. It has gone through series of editing and copywriting and serves as a physical manifestation of the happenings and conversations that have been going on in the USF community. Additionally, the ingestion of print media  fires the neurons in the left and frontal part of the brain more associated with internalizing and memorizing that information. On a lighter note, it’s pretty cool having your name up on the printed newspaper.

Digital media on the other hand is collaborative by nature and more up-to-date. It allows for ideas to spread (don’t make me say “viral”) and allows people to share news stories with their own opinions attached to them, thus fostering a stronger and more opinionated student community.

Print and digital media can’t be pitted against each other, but should be used as complements to better interact with the news and allow the Foghorn to serve as the student’s voice on campus.

Stewards not Editors

We call ourselves “editors” but really we are stewards of the paper. We’ve filled the positions of those before us, and now we pass it off to other students to do the same. The medium by which that content is distributed is important, but either way to core ethos remains: The Foghorn is a vehicle for serving as the student’s organized voice on campus.

Farewell USF Community, it was a pleasure to serve.

@DaveedBoyle

DavidBoyle.me

When one thinks of the term ‘mass grave’, the words ‘artistic’ and ‘symbolic’ aren’t typically the first that come to mind. Through the creation of one million little clay bones, artist Naomi Natale hopes to shift the dialogue of tragedy to one of hope and optimism.

The One Million Bones social arts project relies on education and building large-scale art installations to raise awareness about genocides and atrocities in Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, and Burma.

“We never cease to be amazed at how many people have only a vague notion of what genocide is, and how many more have no idea it’s happening today,” as stated on the project’s website. “At One Million Bones we are committed to leveraging the power of art to inspire activism.”

The project, founded in 2010, aims to collect a million handmade bones throughout the country for an installation in the national mall in Washington, D.C. The money raised from each event funds organizations working toward ending genocide and providing emergency and housing resources for its victims.

The USF community and visiting second grade students from the Saint Anthony-Immaculate Conception School created 86 bones when the project came to campus last Tuesday, raising $86 for the art project. For every bone created, $1 is donated by the Bezos Family Foundation to CARE, a charity that fights global poverty. The Foundation supports learning environments for students from elementary through high school, and works in partnership with One Million Bones.

Shawn Doubiago, professor of comparative literature and culture, brought the project to USF  after hearing about it at the Museum of the African Diaspora (MOAD) earlier this year. The significance of bones resonated with Doubagio. “We all have bones. They are the physical elements that all humans have that link us as a humanity,” she said.

Once all the bones are fired, Doubagio said, they will be sent to Washington, D.C. where the installation will be on display from June 8 through June 10. As of January 2013, 500,000 bones have been crafted. “In their own way, each one of these students is participating by making a bone and becoming part of this larger movement,” said Doubagio. As she explained, the Washington installation goes beyond raising awareness for today’s genocides, but is also a symbolic reminder of the genocides of the past.

To bring the vision of One Million Bones to USF, Doubagio enlisted the help of her student Veronica Tolliver, a junior comparative studies major with a cultural emphasis. “I was living in Europe where I had been doing research on Africa and how these atrocities are going on in the present,” said Tolliver, who is doing a directed study on trauma with Doubagio. “Collecting bones will show that there is so much suffering abroad and will be a step toward solving and resolving.”

Senior Linette Togami, a comparative literature major and teacher assistant to Doubagio, said the project compelled her to research more about the atrocities happening in Burma. “I didn’t know there was war going on in [Burma] and I didn’t know that people were being targeted for religious reasons,” she said. Generating wider knowledge of current human rights violations, as Togami did is one of the goals of the One Million Bones project. “Society knows the general gist of these issues, but a lot of people don’t understand what’s really going on,” said Tolliver.

To learn more or to get involved visit: www.onemillionbones.org.

For three and a half days I accompanied the USF Reserve Officers’ Training Corps for their Combined Field Training Exercises (CFTX) in Fort Hunter Liggett. I was there to simulate the life of a cadet by sleeping out in the wilderness, eating MRE’s (meals ready to eat), and hiking countless miles with a rucksack. Battalions from Santa Clara University, University of California Berkeley, and Davis, also joined the Dons for CFTX. I also spoke with upperclassmen cadets, addressed as Military Science (MS) IIIs and IVs, about what they get from being in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.

During the CFTX, the Dons Battalion worked with cadets from the other schools to further develop and exercise their navigation and leadership skills. On the first day, we began the first activity, Day Land Navigation at sunrise. The exercise is meant to test the cadets’ ability to navigate through unfamiliar territory. Wielding only a map, a compass, and some wits, the cadets were responsible to search for four to six points embedded in the fort’s various terrains of grassy fields, steep hills, and dense forest.

Along with cadets from USF, the Dons Battalion includes cadets from San Francisco State University, Dominican University, and the San Francisco Academy of Art University.

Struggling to maintain pace with S.F. State cadets, Clinton Hill and Luke Litle, both MS-Is, we climbed a seemingly random and nondescript grassy mount.

“It’s the balance between making a plan and being sure of your plan,” Hill said as he explained in his Land Navigation technique. “You can make a really tentative, specific plan, but then once you actually execute it, you have to be sure of it. You have to be sure of what you need to do.” Completing his thought, we found ourselves on top of one of his assigned points. Hill and Litle knew their plan.

We continued our Day Land Navigation hunt for the next point on the map where I encountered USF MS-III Cadet Steve McQueen. From there, I stuck with him as he found the points he was assigned. “We’ve been preparing for things like this,” McQueen said, as we hiked along the dirt road. “There’s stuff that’s always going to happen that you are going to have to adjust to, but the seniors (MS-IVs) have done a pretty good job in preparing us for stuff like this.”

As we continued our search, he reflected on the camaraderie he built over the course of his time in the program. “You definitely make lifelong friendships in ROTC.”

For the next activity, I found myself crouching behind a tree as my squad, led by USF MS-III Cadet Julieta Prado, commenced an assault down a hill against simulated enemy combatants, hiding at the objective. Prado was squad leader for 9-13 cadets for the Squad Situational Training Exercises (STX) to test her skills in strategy and leadership. Prado led one of the many STX lanes activities which spanned the first and second days.

The MS-IIIs are facing the ROTC’s Leadership Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) — a 30-day review for third year cadets from around the country to test their training and skill to evaluate how well each of them do in various leadership positions. This CFTX is their last major training before they go to LDAC in Fort Lewis, Washington over the summer.

“I think I did well. In the Army everything is done as a team and my team leaders had a huge part in the success of our STX lane,” Prado said. “As a squad leader, it’s my job to plan the execution of the STX lane, and it’s the team leader’s responsibility to help in the execution — and they did an awesome job as well.” Like Prado, leadership and teamwork are two important qualities each cadet obtains when in the ROTC.

On the last day of CFTX, I found myself posing as an enemy, lying in the thick, tall grass of Fort Hunter Liggett during Patrolling. Patrolling aims to develop the same skills as STX but instead of a group of 9-13 cadets, it is comprised of about 20-30 cadets in each lane, all over different landscapes. In Patrolling, the terrain is more difficult to cross, the distance to the objective is further, the mission times are longer, and the strategic movement and organization of a platoon is more arduous.

I remember bracing myself for the imminent barrage of paintballs that would soon be flying towards me. As I peered over the grass, I was impressed by the skill and technique, the organization and the discipline, and the silent but effective communication each cadet had. As I saw each squad assembling themselves along the hill for the attack, I reflected on the words USF Battalion Commander, Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Jordan Baker told me. “Everything you teach them in class, you can see them get it. You step off here and you see them actually apply it. You see the light bulbs go on.”

As the attack commenced, I held my own for some time before I was struck on the leg with a blue paint ball while I sprinted to a tree. My paintball gun ran out of air as an orange paintball struck me in the center of rib cage. I was out of the exercise. As I laid there, I saw the cadets racing to help the injured foes. As one of the cadets carried the wounded enemy, I had to agree with Baker when he said it was, “Awesome seeing them.”

One cannot get a better image of the ROTC program than spending three and a half days with them for one of the year’s most difficult training activities by immersing myself in their exercises. The personality of each cadet beams through their uniform, and the respect and honor each of them holds the commitments to those they choose to serve. One is fortunate enough to witness first hand their skill, training,  responsibility of their actions and each other, and their intellect as they perform the duties of an ROTC cadet. Spending time on the field as a cadet has certainly affirmed, if not realize, the honor and glory of what it means to be in the Reserves Officer’s Training Corps.

Be it to pay off rent or to tip the food delivery guy, the quick buck is every college student’s best friend. College Labor is a service geared toward helping out college students who would like more spending money but can’t commit to a full-time job. The website allows college students to earn extra cash by performing mostly standard jobs including shopping, moving, and delivering for San Franciscans who need some help and are willing to pay for it.

Currently, 22 USF students are employed by College Labor. “I am very happy with the money I make from it. The jobs can pay really well for relatively short hours of work, so it is very profitable,” said junior Ashan Fernando. “I make way more than minimum wage,” said another junior, Christopher Viray. “We make a good amount of money with tips.” Viray added that he would recommend this job, since the “bosses are great, the jobs aren’t too bad and the money is good for a struggling college student who needs pocket money.”

College Labor was launched in September 2012 by Joey Toboni and Justin Ohanessian, a 2007 USF business administration alum. Ohanessian and Toboni conceived the idea for the company in college when they came home seeking the perfect summer job. However, they found it difficult to find jobs that would pay “under-qualified 19-year old students.” Sound familiar? They tried but had no luck, so “in an act of desperation” they posted advertisements saying they’d do anything for money. “We soon discovered a real demand for odd jobs, tasks and general labor help, especially if it was from friendly and reliable college students,” Ohanessian and Toboni explain on the “About Us” section of the website.

Student workers appear on the College Labor website. Their pictures are shown, as well as little blurbs identifying their first names, the schools they go to, and how much money they have made with the company thus far.

According to Ohanessian, a majority of the people hiring students are older adults living in San Francisco. Very rarely do students hire other students for jobs. If you’re a fellow San Franciscan who needs some sort of hauling or cleaning job done, you simply post it on the website, and College Labor will come up with a wage for you. Once you accept that wage, the job is sent out to all College Labor workers until someone claims it.

Most of the jobs utilize manual labor skills. Students don’t need to have a car and don’t need to be able to lift heavy items. Toboni said that some employees have a membership with Zip Car, which provides car and van rental services at affordable prices for students.  Those interested in working for College Labor won’t have to worry too much about getting stuck with an abnormal job. The strangest job posting Ohanessian found was a request to ship pork rinds from the Ferry Building farmer’s market to someone living in North Carolina. Ohanessian said. Another odd job was for a student to wait in line for the iPhone 5 the first day it was released. College Labor has also connected students to helping out with an online cooking show with chef Michael Mina and musician Michelle Branch.

Although there are many websites dedicated to providing folks assistance with daily tasks by connecting them with responsible people online, College Labor was created specifically for college students burdened with loans the high costs of tuition. “Some customers have mentioned they feel uncomfortable making someone their same age or older do the same task,” said Ohanessian.

People can also count on College Labor to get their jobs done. Ohanessian and Toboni will personally cover shifts if students are not able to at the last minute. “We will do our best to make up for it with refunds and discounts,” Ohanessian said . “We just want to make sure everyone is having a great experience.”

“We don’t have huge [venture capital] backers forcing us to expand and grow as quickly as possible. We are funding this venture ourselves and our focus is really making this a great local service, “Ohanessian said. “For now we just want to offer a great experience for our customers and our students. If we do that, we feel we’ll be successful.”

Requirements (SIDEBAR)

1. You must be an active college student.

2. Simply visit the website at http://collegelabor.org and “Apply to be a Helper.”

3. Once you submit your information, your profile will be looked over and, if qualified, you will be called in for an interview.

4. New hires are put through a training session to prepare them for different job scenarios.

Written by Rita McNeil and Sarah Rewers

The USF student body is composed of nearly 10,000 students from about 80 countries around the world. Despite the vast diversity, many students often find their ethnic identity lost in a sea of culture. The USF Muslim Student Association (MSA) sought to help fellow students of all backgrounds conceptualize the history of black Muslims by hosting a discussion on their presence in Western society last Wednesday.

For those who are unfamiliar with the Muslim religion, the concept of black Muslims may be somewhat vague. “We have to understand race as a social construct before we can understand the concept of a black Muslim,” said Abdullah bin Hamid Ali, professor of Islamic Law and Hadith Science at Zaytuna College in Berkeley. Ali argued that race is a societal development rather than a biological fact, which speaks to the notion that Muslims are not solely tied to the religion of Islam, but can be defined based on a number of  factors —  some not so good.

According to Ali, Westerners often view Muslims and associate them with violence, which is in large part due to the events surrounding the 9/11 attack. In addition, these incorrect stereotypes are bolstered perhaps due to the pre-Islamic period when Arabs came in contact with Africans. When Africans were brought to the Americas as slaves, not everyone could differentiate them from Muslims who lived in Africa, so they were almost considered one in the same. Ali also said that being black and Muslim in America can be challenging to understand historically because their history is “still being written.”

The MSA hosted this event in honor of Islam Awareness Week, which was March 11-17, and in hopes of clearing some of the misconceptions that surround the Muslim race.

Ali commented that the concept was a controversy in and of itself, due to the implication of the term, “black Muslim.” One can obviously be black and not Muslim, and vice versa, he explained. Ali also analyzed the word “Arab,” noting that to simply define it as ‘one who speaks Arabic’ has had major implications on what it means to be Arab today. “Anyone can become an Arab, but not just anyone can become a White,” he said, touching on his belief that society is divided by race. Questions on this concept are difficult to answer because various members of society have differing views.

However, USF students appear to care less about the answers, and more about getting these questions out into the public discourse. Sara Masoud, a junior international studies major, spoke to the importance of bringing topics like race, language, and culture into consciousness. “Islam Awareness Week is a way to spread awareness about the religion because it is so misunderstood, especially post 9/11,” she said. Masoud added that for Muslims on campus, “It’s a great way for them to learn more about their own religion.”

“I am appreciative for the MSA and all the hard work they are doing for Islam Awareness Week because it’s always important to educate the student body on different cultures present on the USF campus,” said Sophia Revelli, a junior communications studies major who is learning about Muslim culture.

Ali took the rest of the night to provide a historical context, from the very beginning of free life for immigrants with the Naturalization Act of 1790 to the construction of a United Nation of Islam in 1993. He also identified prominent figures in the history of African Americans, including Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King, Jr., who both supported and practiced social integration. Before Ali joined fellow Muslims in the room for evening prayer, he concluded by stating that all of this history — along with the way society views and defines certain races — reinforces the belief that “race is not just a conception; it is also a perception.”

If you’re interested in learning more about the Islam religion or the history of Muslims, consider signing up for one of these classes this fall semester: Introduction to Islam (Theology) offered 3:30-4:35 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; or Islam-ic Empires (History) 6:30-8:15 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday.

Put on your walking shoes and get to steppin’. Relay for Life is coming to USF this weekend. Relay teams raise funds for cancer research during a 24-hour campout, taking turns to walk or run on a local track or pathway. The concept is that, “cancer never sleeps,” according to the Relay for Life website.

The event is hosted by the American Cancer Society (ACS) and also uses the funds to provide free services to cancer patients, including transportation to medical treatment facilities, and cosmetology sessions for women whose appearances have been affected by cancer. ACS also provides information, counseling, and support groups for cancer patients and their families.

The USF Relay for Life will be held at the Negoesco Field from April 20 through April 21.

Relay for Life started in 1985 by Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon looking to raise money for his local ACS office in Tacoma, Washington. Dr. Klatt raised $27 thousand by circling the track at the University of Puget Sound for 24 hours and having friends and community members donate $25 to walk with him. Twenty-eight years and $4 billion later, RFL now spans across 20 countries.

In addition to the walk around the track, entertainment like music and movies are provided for participants. There are also ceremonies like the Luminara ceremony, which commemorates those who have lost their lives to cancer, and the first lap in which the survivors walk in celebration of their success in defeating cancer.

This Saturday marks the fourth year USF has hosted the event, and regardless of the immense, worldwide success of Relay, “it almost didn’t happen at our campus because of a lack of fundraising efforts and participation,” said leukemia survivor and student Forrest Brunson. Brunson, senior communications major, fought to bring Relay back to USF with his team. On planning the event, Brunson used his fighting attitude to pull through. “Cancer doesn’t sleep so neither do we,” he said. “That’s how I felt this entire semester planning it.”

ACS set a goal of $18,000 last year, with each team member required to make a minimum of $10 to participate. The event fell short and raised $14,000. “It’s sad because we’re such an affluent campus and they’re setting a goal for us that’s less than people’s tuition,” Brunson said.

For the planning committee and Brunson, who is the Relay team recruitment chair, their passion for raising awareness for cancer won over the ACS, who decided to give them another shot at it this year. “ACS isn’t going to invest their time and resources if the outcome isn’t going be worth it,” Brunson explained. “They basically told us, ‘If you’re going to do it you have to do a really good job’”.

Brunson’s passion for the event comes from his own battle with cancer. In February 2011, Brunson was diagnosed with leukemia during his sophomore year at USF. He had to take a year off school and return home to San Diego for treatment. “It all happened so fast,” Brunson said of his diagnosis. “I’d always tell people I had this feeling of being kidnapped.”

Brunson and his friends had planned on participating in Relay before his diagnosis. “It just so happened a couple of weeks after we started talking about participating, I was diagnosed,” he said. This uncanny coincidence brings the event closer to Brunson’s heart, and even though he couldn’t walk that year, his friends went ahead and kept him posted the entire time by texting him pictures. Their team was called, “Pretty Little Walkers.” “It was so encouraging and heartwarming to see my friends walking for me,” said Brunson, laughing. He added: “On all their shirts, they wrote ‘It’s for Forrest b****’ because I’m a huge Britney Spears fan.”

Brunson has been in remission for over two years now, and got his chance to participate at last year’s USF event, where he spoke to the crowd about his story. “It’s an outlet, a sense of community and belonging, especially with cancer. It’s kind of taboo to talk about it out in the open. RFL brings together people who have been involved with cancer from all different walks all coming together for a really good cause.”

With a total of 25 USF teams participating this year, Forrest and his committee are already up by 11 teams compared to last year’s 14.  Brunson feels optimistic about reaching their $18,000 goal this year. Many participants are members of sororities, fraternities, and clubs on campus. The number of teams and participants in a Relay event depend upon the team recruitment chair. Depending on the size of the event, there can be anywhere from hundreds to thousands of participants.

For more information on participating in Relay for Life or making a donation toward funding cancer research, visit www.relayforlife.org/getinvolved/index.

Some key environmental factors of CSI’s design include the use of recycled and renewable building materials, efficient use of natural light and air, solar power collection, non-toxic building materials, water use reduction, and maximal open space just to name a few.

The certification system, which began in 2005, is ranked by a points system that is based on design, construction, and operation based under five categories: water efficiency, sustainable sites, energy and atmosphere, resources and materials, and indoor environmental quality. The highest possible ranking is 100; in order to get Gold certification, the final score must be between 60 and 79 points of those categories.

The highest certification is Platinum, which is extremely difficult to achieve and requires 80 points or higher. Michael E. London, the assistant vice president for facilities management at USF, listed the benefits as “self evident,” stating that this construction will “improve utility conservation, use sustainable materials and methods, and will increase environmental quality.”

The crowning jewel of USF’s sustainability initiatives is the successful diversion of much of our landfill-bound waste to recycling and composting facilities. Yet some environmentally conscious students aren’t just concerned about where our waste products are going — they’re taking a closer look at where the university’s money is going.

This semester, seven USF students initiated a campaign to convince the university to freeze investments in the fossil fuel industry and to divest from fossil fuels entirely within five years. The USF Divestment Campaign, also called Fossil Free USF, is part of a global organization called 350.org, which aims to build a grassroots movement combating climate change. Divestment, the opposite of investment, simply means to get rid of stocks or bonds for financial, ethical or political reasons.

The fossil fuel industry, while very lucrative, can be viewed as unethical due to its great contribution to climate change through the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The entire process of extracting and using fossil fuels, meaning petroleum, coal and natural gas, causes the release of these gases, along with other environmental hazards. These gases are the main human cause of climate change – the rising global temperature that dramatically changes weather patterns, creates superstorms and causes an ominous rise in the sea level.

“Fossil fuels are pretty much causing the climate crisis. Especially our generation, we’re going to be faced with what could be insurmountable challenges, but if we address them properly and address them now, and swiftly, they won’t be insurmountable. That’s the motivation for this [campaign],” senior campaign member member Ashlyn Ruga said.

The students of Fossil Free USF requested information from the financial office on the whereabouts of the university’s endowment and received a document detailing the investments. From that, campaign member senior Steven Liberman determined that USF is indeed invested in the fossil fuels industry. Continued research will hopefully reveal just how much money USF has invested in these companies.

“We don’t know how much each school [with a divestment campaign] has invested in the fossil fuels industry, but this, like other divestment campaigns, brings awareness to the issue. People start asking ‘Why would we divest?’” Ruga explained.

The campaign promotes the idea that it is wrong to cause harm to the environment, and it also wrong to profit from the destruction. The Fossil Free Campaign questions the ethics of investing in fossil fuels, an industry that contributes hugely to the climate crisis through emissions and has been known to cause environmental harm to communities near extraction sites.

Stemming from the “Do the Math” tour, which is a collaboration of 350.org and environmentalist/author Bill McKibben on the numbers of climate change, the campaign to divest from fossil fuesl has spread to universities all over the continent. Five different campaigns have successfully convinced their universities to divest. USF’s campaign is allied with Divest the West, a network connecting all of the West Coast schools working toward the same goal.

Ruga and six other students formed USF’s core group earlier this semester, and have been gathering petition signatures for the past month. They are working on a proposal for the USF Board of Trustees, and have connected with the incoming ASUSF vice president of sustainability in order to work toward passing a resolution through Senate. They have contacted President Stephen Privett, S.J. and the Chief Financial Officer Charlie Cross about the issue directly.

“We are still trying to build support for it, but I think in the month that we’ve been working on it, we’ve made substantial progress,” Ruga said. “They [the administrators] haven’t indicated that they are just going to squash it.”

Privett addressed the divestment issue in the most recent issue of USFtv’s Ask the President. “My immediate response was…I don’t think this is going to get a lot of traction,” he said. Privett went on to explain that it is difficult to know how much and what kind of impact divesting in a company will make, particularly when companies have such a vast array of different outlets with varying degrees of moral integrity. “It’s hard to isolate a single enterprise. If you are investing in a large company, how do you differentiate amongst its multiple outlets?”

The Fossil Free USF students are passionate about the issue for clear environmental reasons, but see the fossil fuel dependence as a social justice concern as well. “It’s a very moral issue. The fossil fuel process…disproportionately affects marginalized communities throughout the world. So the preferential option for the poor that the Jesuits adhere to is that you have to help the poor and marginalized communities. It’s extra important that because that is our mission [at USF], we pay attention to this cause,” Ruga said.

Privett also put the issue into a social justice context, but came to a rather different conclusion. “Often times these enterprises are jobs for local people, and local people should have more of a voice of what happens,” he said. “If we divest from a company, are we going to put 500 people out of a job? What are the consequences?”

The group’s goal by the end of the semester is to deliver the petition to Privett and Cross, and to have the issue under consideration. With the campaign only a month old, getting approval by early May might be overly idealistic. The campaign has had one event, a photo petition when the Board of Trustees met on campus where students stopped by to learn about the issue and take a photo with a sign showing their support. “People were really excited about it. We put it on Facebook and got a lot of ‘likes’ — people were really buzzed,” Ruga said.

More activity will occur from the group on May 2, a Day of Action when the Divest the West schools are going to gather and welcome their guest, environmentalist Bill McKibben, who has written on the effects of global warming.

Before the big Day of Action, Fossil Free USF will be meeting with an organizer from 350.org for a workshop on Friday, April 25 from 1:45-4:30 in McLaren. The workshop is open to any student who wants to help determine the direction of the divestment campaign. “There is very little activism on campus, if any, especially not with something this big,” Ruga said.

While USF’s campaign will likely go unresolved this semester, the push for divestment could be seen growing over the next year. The current campaigners hope to find students to fill their roles. As more universities are pressured into divestment, it becomes likely that USF will be forced to address their student’s growing concern over the ethicality of where our endowment money is allocated.

Diana Fabian

Freshman

Hello my name is Diana Fabian and I am from Southern California! Participating in student government in high school and being a part of University Ministry this year has given me the experience to represent the students of arts and sciences! I want to give you the opportunity to feel connected and proud of your school! I am here to listen!  What is student government if students are not involved? Remember to vote Diana Fabian for arts and sciences representative to have your voice be heard!

College of Arts and Sciences Representative

Elena Kuhn

Freshman

My name is Elena Kuhn and I’m running for college of arts and sciences representative!  I’m running for senate because I want to represent and serve the students of the college of arts and sciences. As a senator, I will make it my top priority to hear the needs and concerns of the students and take action. I believe my prior leadership experience as freshman representative and chair of food committee has prepared me with the skills necessary to lead. If you want someone who is ready to serve you and has the experience to do so: Vote Elena Kuhn!

College of Nursing and Health Professions Representative

Nicole Hiroi

Freshman

Hello! My name is Nicole Hiroi and I am currently a freshman II nursing student. I would like to be a member of senate because I think that senate is a great opportunity to get involved with the school, my major, and with other students. It is my hope that next year, more nursing students will be aware of what is going on around campus and can utilize all the great resources that the school has to offer. I would love to be a school of nursing representative and serve the school body, so don’t forget to vote for me!

College of Nursing and Health Professions Representative

Jayne Yang

Freshman

My name is Jayne Yang and I hail from Honolulu, Hawai’i. I am running for the college of nursing and health professions representative. I am involved in Nursing Student Association, USF Judo Team, Hui O’ Hawaii’s luau, and a sister of Kappa Alpha Theta. My involvement in various aspects of USF has given me a broader perspective of different types of on-campus students. My broad perspective and ability to communicate with many different types of students will boost my ability to represent my constituents within the school of nursing and health professions. Please make a difference and vote! Thank you.

International Student Representative

Tingting Fei

Freshman

Hello, my name is Tingting Fei, and I am from Ningbo, a seaport city in China.

Traveling is my favorite hobby, and I am interested in communicating with different people. Besides this, I am an environmental science major, and I care about environmental issues.

I want to become better and regard these experiences as very helpful to help me find out what is the meaning of being a real person. More and more international students are coming to USF. Sometimes students like us will face lots of problems, so they need a voice. Besides this, I want to help them figure out their passion and be proud of being here.

International Student Representative

DooYoung Jung

Freshman

My name is DooYoung Jung from Korea. Two years ago, I came to the U.S. to look for new challenges and opportunities to grow professionally and personally. I was part of the student government at Cañada College for two years. In student government, I learned leadership skills that helped achieve harmony, positivity, consistency, and responsibility. Moreover, I was a student government liaison of the International Communication Club. I was also a member of Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society, which has helped me establish relationships with other students, as well as faculties, learn about fellowship and community service events that are planned, and help to serve the campus community. As an ASUSF candidate, I would be able to bring a different perspective for a wide array of students. I would be a spokesperson on behalf of students who may not necessarily feel comfortable confronting issues they face.

International Student Representative

Siqi Xiang

Freshman

My name is Siqi Xiang, and I am an international freshman from Beijing, China.

I am interested in becoming an international student representative because I want to help other international students. I have been a class leader from second grade until my junior year when I came to study in America. I was vice president of student senate from seventh to ninth grade. I have many international friends at USF. If I get the chance to serve in ASUSF, I will listen, help, and get suggestions from them so that the school can provide a better environment for international students.

International Student Representative

Yemao Zhou

Freshman

My name is Yemao Zhou, an International student from Shanghai, China. I studied high school in Boston for a year, and now I am a freshman at the University of San Francisco. As an international student, I had many problems when I first came. For example, cultural diversity. I believe many international students had faced the same problem. Therefore, I am seeking this position to share my experience and hope to help other international students.

Off-Campus Representative

Divya Khosla

Freshman

My name is Divya Khosla, I am currently the on-campus representative for ASUSF senate. During my experiences with senate, I gained important leadership skills that were necessary to effectively lead and improve our school. I was thankful to be able to give back to the school that has provided me with so many opportunities. Working with my constituency has been a great experience. Last year I represented a majority of the on-campus freshman and sophomore students. I hope to continue to support this same group next year as off-campus representative. As the off-campus representative, I will bridge the gap between on-campus and off-campus students, and make the transition from on-campus housing to off-campus housing easier. I would also like to work with public safety to add more public safety shuttles, among other additional safety measures. I hope to represent you next year, thank you for your time.

Off-Campus Representative

Adam Yale

Freshman

With the student body increasing each year, more and more of us are required to shift our residency off-campus. Whether you love or hate the situation, you need a voice. I, Adam Yale, vow to be that voice and provide the courageous representation you deserve.

On-Campus Representative

Allison Smith

Sophomore

My name is Allison Smith, and I am a sophomore nursing student from Ripon, CA. I have lived in the dorms for two years, so I understand the love-hate relationship of living on campus. As the on-campus student representative, I will serve as both a resource and advocate for improvement campus wide. My mission as the on-campus student representative will be to voice the opinions and concerns of all on campus students, and to unite the campus as one. Cast your vote for me so I can represent our collective, on-campus residential communities.

President

John Chibnall

Junior

Students of the University of San Francisco, my name is Johnny Chibnall and I am your current ASUSF senate president. Over this past year it has been my mission to increase the visibility and accessibility of senate as an organization within the realm of Student Leadership and Engagement as well as the greater USF community as a whole. Continuing this work into a second term, I am passionate and dedicated to the initiatives that have already been started and those that have yet to come to fruition. With your support, I am certain that together, we can continue the important conversations that we need to have as a community so that we can leave this institution a better place than when we first arrived. Thank you for your continued support.

ALLISON

School of Management Representative

Alexa De La Torre

Freshman

Hello Dons! My name is Alexa De La Torre and I am a hospitality management major from San Pedro, CA. I am running to represent the school of management for the 2013-2014 academic year. I would like to be on senate because I have a desire to facilitate positive change in the school of management. If elected, I intend on advocating for the needs of my constituents by making their voices heard and by providing the necessary resources vital to building a stronger community amongst the school of management’s students, faculty, and administration.

Sophomore Class Representative

Michael Mortimer

Freshman

We survived our first year of college! Now as sophomores we have the experience necessary to make USF even better. That is why I am running for sophomore representative. My name is Michael Mortimer. I am a double major in political science and business. I am hardworking, a great listener, and most importantly, I am excited to represent our class! I know I can make a difference and make sure our voices are heard. I promise to give 100 percent if given this amazing opportunity. Class of 2016, let’s do this!

Sophomore Class Representative

Claire O’Neill

Freshman

My name is Claire O’Neill and I’m running for sophomore representative. My hometown is Dublin, Ireland, but where I gained most of my leadership experience was in high school on Orcas Island, WA. In high school, I was a class representative for all four years and my senior year I was Key Club president. My main passion in high school was serving my community and I would like to continue this in college by doing my part to support the community at USF. I hope to help make senate even more impactful for all students’ during their time at USF.

Sophomore Class Representative

Kevin Sotomayor

Freshman

My name is Kevin Sotomayor, representing Queens, NY. I’m interested in the human body, basketball, event planning, and music. If you see me around, don’t be shy. Introduce yourself! As a member of the senate I will speak up about sophomore issues that can be assisted through ASUSF, such as your wi-fi, dormitory problems, and issues that need change. My vision would be to connect students with senate objectives. I was the student body president in high school and of many clubs in the past.

Sophomore Class Representative

Adam Toth-Fejel

Freshman

Hey, fellow Dons! Tired of slow, cumbersome Internet? How about waiting forever to get some food from the caf? After experiencing these as well as other problems that you may have had for over a year, don’t you think it is time for some change? I, Adam Toth-Fejel, do and plan to make it happen if elected as your sophomore class representative. I have had previous leadership experience in activities such as Boys State and working at ITS. As a result, if you do not want to repeat history, vote for me, Adam Toth-Fejel, for an incredible sophomore year!

Students of Color Representative

Jennifer Echeagaray

Hello Dons! My name is Jennifer Echeagaray and I am from Los Angeles, CA. I am currently part of Delta Zeta and the USF club volleyball team. Through past experiences I have found my passion for student life and race relations. If elected as a student of color representative, my goal is to unwaveringly meet the needs of colored students and continue to celebrate diversity throughout USF. I hope to create an inclusive community where each colored individual constantly feels welcomed and free from bias. You have the power to change the world from here, so don’t forget to vote!

Students with Disabilities Representatives

Kevin Bachar

Freshman

Greetings Dons! My name is Kevin Bachar and it would be my honor to serve as one of your ASUSF Senate students with disabilities representatives for the 2013-2014 school year. I am passionate and committed to serving a student population’s voice that is so often silenced. My goal in my term is to bring together students with disabilities and the greater USF community together as one to show that the University of San Francisco is a trailblazer when it comes to serving a diverse community. The betterment and the advancement of the livelihood of students with disabilities is the spark that lights my fire and the reason it would be my pleasure to serve as one of the two students with disabilities representative. Together we can and we will “change the world from here.”

Students with Disabilities Representatives

Jordan Hartsinck

Freshman

Hey, my name is Jordan Hartsinck, and I’m from Temecula, CA! I am currently the students with disabilities representative in ASUSF Senate. I have had the most rewarding experience in this position that I am running again for another year! I have learned so much about myself with this position, but more importantly, I have learned how to best help my constituents and represent their best interest in all affairs. The main reason I want to continue these efforts is because I have bipolar disorder and know what it’s like to feel as if you are alone in your disability. As your representative, I will make sure you never feel this way. We all deserve to thrive in this community and I am here to make sure that happens! Vote for me as your students with disabilities representative!

Vice President of of Business Administration

Madeline Meininger

Sophomore

I’m Maddy Meininger and I’m a sophomore politics major from Portland, OR. I would make an excellent vice president of business administration because I understand the logistical requirements of the position and I care about the students who are impacted by where these funds go. This year I was an on-campus representative on senate and sat on the finance committee, which is chaired by the vice president of business administration, so I understand the job. However, I also know what it is like for organizations applying for funding, as I was the vice president of campus activities board and managed our budget this year. I hope to continue to be a part of senate next year and to serve you, the associated students of USF. Don’t forget to vote for Maddy!

Vice President of Internal Affairs

Eva Long

Sophomore

Hey everyone! My name is Eva Long and I am a sophomore majoring in politics and minoring in public service. I am pursuing the position of vice president of internal affairs. Thus far, I’ve been in senate for two years. As a freshman, I was the students with disabilities representative and continued on to become the sophomore class representative. As I continue on senate, I begin to learn more about myself and my potential of being a student leader on campus, truly touching lives and creating change. Although one of the biggest responsibilities is chairing meetings, I am passionate about an even greater need that can be met. I want to be able to bridge the relationship between senators, the student body, and the upper administration so we are able to learn about their roles and resources at the university because it’s a rare occasion when we get a chance to speak to them.

Vice President of Mission

Sascha Rosemond

Sophomore

Hi! My name is Sascha Rosemond. I am a current sophomore at USF! I am from Pasadena, CA.  I am a communication studies major. I love USF and I love San Francisco. Moving to San Francisco from a Southern California suburban city was a big change for me. San Francisco has become my home and I have been given so many great opportunities in this city and at this awesome university. I would like to be a member of senate because I care. I have served as the ASUSF Senate student of color representative for almost a year and a half and I have learned so much about this campus, my constituency, and advocacy for others. On senate, I have the opportunity to be a voice and advocate for students and their concerns. I take this responsibility seriously and I have done, and will continue to do, my best to serve the interest of my constituency and advocate for USF students in what I do and what I say, if elected. Remember to vote! In addition to senate, I serve as the human resources director for Kappa Alpha Theta and I serve as a member of USF’s Student Philanthropy Committee. Next year, I hope to see senate work together to accomplish their goals and focus on advocating for all students. If elected as vice president of mission, I hope to not only uphold the mission of USF through communication with campus organizations and their community action projects, but also serve as a liaison for the constituencies which fall under the executive positions, including students of color, international students, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ students. I hope to work closely with the student life and diversity departments on campus, including but not limited to, the Intercultural Center, the Gender and Sexuality Center, the Office of Diversity of Community Engagement, and Student Leadership and Engagement.

Vice President of Public Relations

Makenzi Brown

Junior

I am Makenzi Brown from Fryeburg, ME. This past year on senate has challenged me to grow past thinking solely about myself, and see what I can do for all my constituents within the USF community. I would like to further my experiences on senate by running for vice president of public relations. I feel my previous experiences being an executive in other organizations has given me the leadership skills it takes to help accomplish my vision of making senate more accessible and represented on campus. Being vice president of public relations, I can help contribute to this vision by connecting with students through social networking, through Fall and Spring Summit, through Senate Week, and through other positive programing. It’s important for everyone to vote during spring elections to help establish a strong Senate so we can start changing the world from here.

Vice President of Sustainability

Madeleine Shelton

Sophomore

Hey Dons! My name is Madeleine Shelton. I am a sophomore earning my degree in entrepreneurship and innovation at the school of management. In my USF experience thus far, I’ve been involved in on-campus organizations that promote community and environmental sustainability. Last year, I served on the Residence Hall Council as co-program director of Gillson dorm. Our council created social activities for residents to build camaraderie within the building. This year, I joined the Environmental and Outdoors Club. As an EOC member, I participate in meetings about environmental issues, both globally and locally. As vice president of sustainability, I envision creating a community of USF students of all majors who are open to learning about environmental issues. I plan to host more on-campus events that tie eco-education with entertainment. Through these programs, I wish to communicate how simple and inexpensive it can be to incorporate eco-friendly choices into one’s daily lifestyle.

Delta Zeta is a nationwide sorority and was chartered at USF in April 1983. There are currently over 100 members. USF chapter director Kiara Kempski was president of Delta Zeta at the time of Facella’s passing. Kempski remembers Facella as an involved and dedicated member of the sorority. “She was always the life of a party and brought that joy and outgoing personality into Delta Zeta. Ali was never about sadness nor heartache, but always about fun and community. She was our recruiter and advocate and showed everyone in the Greek community that we were a Greek family,” said Kempski. The decision to start the Ali’s Way events came about after Facella’s memorial, which was held at Saint Ignatius Church. “The support we got from the Greek community was overwhelming so we knew we had to continue something in her name and that is when we started Ali’s Way in 2007,” she said.

Kempski noted that Facella was not the only sister that Delta Zeta has lost to cancer. Sister Ashley Spiller passed away a year before Ali, in 2005, after transferring from USF to Loyola Marymount University to be closer to her doctors. The Ali’s Way event has become a way for Delta Zeta to keep the memory of their lost sisters and loved ones alive while raising money and awareness for LLS.

“While I did not know Ali personally, she has often been described as someone who was very involved, supportive, fun-loving, and enthusiastic about life” said Jessica Small, a junior advertising major and vice president of philanthropy for Delta Zeta. Fellow sister Elizabeth Nigh, a senior politics major, shares the same feelings toward Facella. “I’ve heard she was very fun and loud,” she said. Even though the girls never got the chance to meet Facella, her outgoing energy serves as the inspiration behind the Ali’s Way events. “This semester, I thought that a benefit concert, featuring bands that USF students are involved in would represent these qualities of Ali’s personality. The themes of our events have focused on both honoring not only Ali, but also anyone affected by these diseases, as well as creating events that will bring about support and awareness of the LLS.

The money raised from the event is donated to the LLS to help patients cope financially and emotionally with cancer. For leukemia survivor Forrest Brunson, the LLS helped his family out by setting him up with a social worker for free counseling to work through his diagnosis emotionally. “Events like this make it possible for people like me to survive,” Brunson said.

Brunson overcame leukemia two years ago and spoke at last years Ali’s Way event. “I like how it’s geared toward people our age, and it’s different from other events our campus does,” said the senior communications studies student.

This year, the sorority raised over $4,150. Small and philanthropy assistant Elizabeth Anderson, a freshman marketing major, came up with the concert idea together for this year back in April. “This wasn’t something we’d done before” said Anderson. “The main thing is getting everyone motivated to donate prizes and push college students to donate time and money to the event,” she said of the challenge to raise money from college students. Performances by Solvwave and Hibbity Dibbity pumped up the crowd. Both bands include USF and non-USF students.

“Ali’s Way is not a memorial event where we mourn the loss of Ali or any persons who have left us to cancer,” said Kempski. Instead Delta Zeta has turned the pain of losing their sisters around to create a productive and inspirational event to celebrate the progress toward finding a cure. “It is a celebration for research, an event to raise awareness and to raise funds to help those battling cancer,” Kempski said. “Each year we try to do it in a fun and community involved way, because truly that would have been Ali’s way.”

The sought-after, fought-after unregulated street parking spaces lining university property and the parking-meter free streets around USF may vanish as soon this summer, a reality that is meeting resistance from students who commute by car to class.

A heated Feb. 21 meeting at USF between representatives of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) — the city’s transit and parking authority —  and the neighborhood University Terrace Association concerned about the proposed changes showed plans to regulate parking in most streets around campus where motorists now park for free, without a time limit, or both. In that plan, areas affected by increased restrictions would include the high-volume south side of Golden Gate Avenue between Parker and Masonic, which contains a long string of “all-day” spaces skirting the length of the main campus from Fromm Hall to Benedetti Diamond.

All-day spaces adjacent to the Koret Recreation Center, along the west side of Fromm Hall, along the north side of Fulton Street, and around Lone Mountain are also slated to become metered or time-limited parking, according to the SFMTA proposal. Additionally, two-hour parking in some residential streets, especially in the Terrace neighborhood separating Lone Mountain and the main campus, is scheduled to become one-hour parking.

“I don’t see a good side to this,” said Jane Ou, a senior international studies major who does not own a car, but whose boyfriend drives to USF often from his home at 33rd Avenue and Balboa Street in the Outer Sunset district.

“When people are lazy, they are lazy. When people want to drive, they want to drive,” she said of the SFMTA’s parking plan that is partly aimed to encourage more people to choose public transit over driving. Ou also objected to a proposed one-hour limit on Terrace street parking where cars without a permit are currently allowed to park for two hours at a time during weekdays. “It’s ridiculous,” she said. “Class time is never less than one hour and five minutes.”

The one-hour limit was a common complaint of commuter students, who pointed out that even the shortest class session at USF would effectively expose all student motorists parking in some of the residential streets around campus to ticketing.

“There’s no class that lasts less than an hour,” said Jessyca Mitchell, a senior Japanese major. “You have to come to school way before class to find parking, and those [classes] are at least an hour five.”

“Making the time limit an hour doesn’t help,” said junior sociology major Tahlia Joseph, who used to drive to school before this semester. “If anything, it’s basically a way for the city to get more money through parking tickets.”

Senior Joe Estalilla called the one-hour proposal “unfair,” especially in light of the level of ticketing he witnessed for people who overstay the current two-hour limit. As a way to ease the restrictions the city is looking to impose on street parking, Estalilla proposed that, “with the [money] that USF has…we [should] invest in a parking garage.”

Parking meters around campus were also unpopular, but the time-limiting of the all-day spaces to four-hours had some student support.

Though Joseph, for instance, saw metered parking as ineffective, because “it would be easy to stay there [in that spot] since you could just keep putting money in,” she felt “four hour [parking] is a good idea.”

“Nobody wants to have to pay for parking around our own school when we’re going to class.” Joseph said.

“I would consider making the whole line [of cars along Golden Gate Avenue] four-hour parking,” Ou said. “I don’t know who parks there all the time, but they are taking up space.”

At least one student, Elyse Cohen, a senior nursing major, welcomed the proposed changes. An occasional car commuter, Cohen saw the SFMTA’s disincentives to bring a car to school as an “inconvenience” that the campus would “get used to.” For Cohen, the effect the changes would make in making students walk more and drive less to campus was a positive one.

“I drive on Wednesdays,” she said, “but I could change that.”

Jason Weiler disagreed. The junior media studies major, who will only drive to campus on Sundays next semester, considers SFMTA’s plan “very stupid,” especially when “parking is so limited already.” Even a trip to USF on a Sunday will not spare drivers from paying for parking if meters go up. San Francisco just recently enacted Sunday metering city-wide, a move Weiler calls “ridiculous.”

“I don’t know how I’d fix it,” Weiler said of USF’s perpetual parking shortage, “but I certainly wouldn’t do this.”

Officially, USF has no position on the proposed street parking changes around campus, as the streets are public property and under the jurisdiction of the SFMTA. If the SFMTA approves the changes, the restrictions would likely take effect over a summer break, possibly summer 2013, to ease the transition in street parking rules for new and returning students.

Members of the Facilities Management and Project Management staff held a town hall meeting on campus last Wednesday to inform students, faculty, and neighbors of the construction work going on this summer, and to hear comments and concerns about those plans.

Project Manager J.J. Thorp led the discussion, stating there would be “tremendous change” on campus occurring in the next few months. The university has allocated nearly $11 million to summer construction, according to Michael London, assistant vice president of facilities management. This does not include funds for the completion of the CSI building.

CSI construction, which began in 2007, is set to finish by Aug. 17, hopefully clearing the requirements for the city’s Street Space Occupancy Permit — a permit allowing an organization to temporarily occupy a portion of public roadway or sidewalking for construction — by mid-July. “What that means is we can move in furniture and get classrooms accommodated for teaching this fall,” said Thorp. The summer months of CSI construction include installation of lab space and equipment for science classes, the addition of an outdoor fireplace near the side door of Parina Lounge, and the long-awaited removal of the big, green wall that currently extends from the cafeteria doors to a few feet before the library atrium.

The second big construction plan this summer is the transformation and renovation of the McLaren entrance hall and Phelan Hall dorm rooms, respectively, said Thorp. Planning for the projects began in 2009. The entrance to McLaren Center will be reconstructed in order to fulfill San Francisco Fire Department regulations for fire exits and safety, and to better accommodate the renovations in Phelan dorm rooms and bathrooms occurring in the same building. The lower level of the dorm, which was the former home to Residence Life offices and radio station KUSF, will be remodeled to create 50-52 new dorm rooms and several bathrooms with new plumbing, according to Thorp. The dorm project is set to be completed before students move in the next fall academic year, hopefully by Aug. 10.

As for McLaren, London stated the “fondly called Denny’s wall” — that is, the long glass wall that protrudes from the border of the conference center on the side across the University Center — will be eliminated and replaced with a new, wider entrance that can be used both to access the center and Phelan Hall dorms. The bottom floor of McLaren, where the old bookstore used to be, will be renovated to become new classroom space, creating about five or six new rooms. The project is set to complete by Oct. 5.

The downtown campus, located at 101 Howard Street, will also be renovated, along with the project to demolish and rebuild the temporary modular buildings of Underhill Building on Lone Mountain, where ROTC currently trains.

Main concerns voiced mostly by staff members included questions on the effect construction would have on surrounding neighborhoods and prospective students, as well as the what the consequences for not completing construction before the start of the next academic year would be.

“Construction, by definition, is noisy and dirty,” said Thorp. However, community relations staff Patrick Custer and Elizabeth Miles are doing their best to keep surrounding neighborhoods calm and quiet throughout construction, by keeping construction traffic as far away and contained from the University Terrace neighborhood as possible. The Terrace is the several residential blocks located between main campus and Lone Mountain.

As for the issue of scaring off prospective students with all the construction work, Thorp suggested students could “take a look at all the great work we’re doing! Or just come back in the fall.” Project coordinator Kristy Vivas agreed to the idea of taking small groups of faculty and staff on hard hat tours of construction in order to better describe the end results to prospective and curious students. Other options to view the construction include the overlook on UC 4th floor, or if created, a possible virtual online tour.

Junior business administration student, Wesley Baker, is excited for the CSI building to be completed. “That’ll be the main spot on campus,” said Baker. “It’s really futuristic architecture. It’s inspiring. Have you seen the article? It dips underground.” Baker is referring to an exposed lower level floor to the new CSI building.

Another concern, whether or not the construction will end on time, is a question without answer at the moment. “The university is talking to the city about a lot of different things right now,” said Thorp, cautioning the meeting attendees, “so if there are any wrinkles, this all could be in jeopardy.” If all goes well, next year’s campus will be on a new map.

“What happens at the end will be worth the disruption this summer,” said Thorp, confidently.

Dozens of USF neighbors overwhelmingly protested the plans presented and leveled at the SFMTA representatives accusations of conflicts of interest in planning to install the meters, revenue raising, an undemocratic and opaque approvals process, and “waging a war on cars” in a meeting that lasted much longer than its intended two-and-a-half-hour length.

Eric Mar, San Francisco district supervisor for the Richmond, made an early appearance at the meeting, speaking at some length about his political achievements and activities to an audibly impatient crowd. When he did come to the subject of parking — speaking specifically about his apparent support for a proposal to remove more than 150 parking spaces along Masonic Avenue, a UTA member hissed. Mar left at about 7:30 p.m., but not before a show of hands in the room intended for the supervisor confirmed a near-unanimous opposition to the installation of parking meters in the residents’ neighborhood.

“This is not Manhattan. This is not Paris. We don’t have a subway that was built 100 years ago. We just don’t have the density,” said the man who had earlier hissed at Mar. As a wheelchair user, he felt the direction the SFMTA was taking with the City’s “transit first” policy, especially in the agency’s scheme to increase parking regulation city-wide, was extreme and discriminating against the disabled and elderly.

Robert Francis, a resident of the Mission Bay neighborhood in eastern San Francisco, arrived in the middle of the meeting to testify that, despite local opposition to the installment of parking meters in his neighborhood, the plans went ahead with “little or no notice.”

“There’s a disconnect between what they [the SFMTA] say and what they do…The circling [of cars trying to find parking] is not going to stop. Do everything you can to fight this, or otherwise you will pay to the end of time,” he said.

Some took issue not only with the city’s parking and transit agency, but also with USF and the student population. Marie Hurabiell, who lives on Turk Street, argued the problem was that students, in addition to monopolizing the parking on the residential streets of the Terrace neighborhood, also take up most of the all-day spaces that could otherwise use be by residents and their visitors.

“USF needs to make every single parent and student sign a pledge that they will not drive a car to campus,” she said.

A separate meeting between USF and students regarding the parking changes is thought to take place in the near future, according to the SFMTA’s presentation, but at publication time, no time or date had yet been set.

Ariza is the president of the Colombian Theater Corporation, and the co-founder and director of Teatro La Candelaria, which is a Colombian theater group. The group serves as an outlet for Colombian women to express their socio-political struggles through performance art. As Colombia’s first alternative theater, Teatro La Candelaria is a mechanism for Ariza and the women of Colombia to send a message to the Colombian government, people, and the world, about the corruption and violence of Colombia’s past and present, in hopes of creating a better future.

Ariza spoke in her native Spanish, with the help of a translator.

There are currently four million internally displaced Colombian peoples, most of whom are women. Ariza said the Colombian military uses women as “booty” or bait, and the majority of social rights movements in Colombia are lead by women who are survivors of war. These high-risk cultural resistance movements exist to promote social change in Colombia.

“I form part of this resistance,” said Ariza, by running a mixed gender theater group. “Like Virginia Woolf would say, 22 years ago I resolved to have my own room,” and as an actress, Colombia’s Virginia Woolf has found her greatest role of all as an activist for women’s rights.

In response to the socio-political issues that have long plagued Colombia, like drug trafficking, guerilla warfare and human rights crimes, Ariza channeled her talent and passion for theater into a tool for social change.

“Many of the things women show in these plays are what they are experiencing now and their ideas for solutions,” said Ariza, who uses publics spaces like plazas to put on performances. The idea of the plaza is to occupy spaces that are traditionally male-dominated by establishing a female presence, Ariza said. She played videos of recent performances during her discussion. Although the videos were in Spanish, and Ariza provided a brief translation: “These women are asking, ‘Where are the disappeared? Where are the dead?” The image of women filling a public plaza came to life as the room darkened, and the audience looked into the lives of these women a world away.

Other performances by Ariza’s Teatro La Candelaria include artistic demonstrations through city streets, like women singing and holding framed pictures of their loved ones who have disappeared as well as Ariza’s version of a fashion runway show, which she has taken international. On the runway, women sing and tell stories, sometimes painted and dressed up in traditional costumes. “This is not the typical [runway] which silences women and only accepts one type of beauty. Our women are subjects – elderly, obese. They speak and showcase the ability women have to turn pain into strength,” Ariza said. She is even planning a runway show in which female prisoners can participate. The runway has been performed in many different countries where Colombian women wish to mobilize and bring attention to the issues in their home country.

“Due to these movements, the Colombian government sees the need to reach a peace agreement,” Ariza said of her theater groups raw and emotional performances. Although she noted that the Colombian government has yet to be successful in responding to the equality and peace needs of its country’s women, Ariza strongly believes in the importance of pressing the movement so that women do not lose their voices.

Ariza is currently planning for a large immobilization in Colombia of a million people, and is also planning her next runway show in Denmark to further her goal of international mobilization for Colombian social rights. “We don’t work with these women as charity. It is an exchange of knowledge that transforms both groups,” Ariza explained about her goal to create a language of femininity to express the need for social change in Colombia. Ariza said her goal is to “produce a new type of language that corresponds to women,” and her career as an actress set the stage for Ariza to bring this creative vision to life.

Senior Sarah Pearson, a comparative literature and culture studies major admired Ariza’s alternative approach to social rights activism, “Performance art can be a powerful way of exploring themes of social justice.”

“The big picture is resistance. This was a great perspective from a different country to see how these movements are applied in real time, like the runway shows,” said senior politics major Marvin Pascua.

Ariza’s example of taking a personal passion and creating something bigger was inspiring to Media and Latin American studies professor Susana Kaiser. “In an environment permeated by violence it’s uplifting to see such a display of creative political action,” she said. “For me, some of the most compelling performances were those where the women manage to physically bring into public spaces the presence of the absent, their faces and their names, such as their covering of the city with framed photos of killed and disappeared people.”

Patricia Ariza’s presentation was part of the 12th Annual Global Women’s Rights Forum and co-sponsored by the Performing Arts for Social Justice (PASJ) and Center for Latino Studies in the Americas (CELASA) departments. Roberto Gutierrez Varea, associate PASJ professor and co-director of CELASA, moderated the discussion.

Activist Tim Wise drew over 600 people who spilled into McLaren Hall to listen to his discussion on the racial consequences that lie within wealth distribution, unemployment and healthcare. Community members, professors, and students from USF and the Bay Area scrambled to find a seat, gathering to hear Wise’s talk on Feb. 26.

Wise is one of that nation’s most prominent anti-racist activists and has been regarded by Cornel West as his “vanilla brother.” He is a white man who is a ruthless critic of white privilege.

Wise is the author of six books, one of them being the acclaimed memoir, “White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son.” In 2010, he was named one of “25 Visionaries Who Are Changing Your World” by Utne Reader magazine. Wise has spoken at over 800 college campuses and  discussed a central theme of his 2010 book, “Colorblind: The Rise of Post-Racial Politics and the Retreat from Racial Equity.” The book argues for deeper color-consciousness in both public and private practice.

Donning a casual green cargo jacket, Wise opened up his discussion with a few friendly jokes and assured the crowd that he wasn’t going to be mild. He pointed out the light-skinned Jesus that hangs on most crucifixes and then discussed Chris Rock’s controversial tweet from July 4th last year: “Happy White People’s Independence Day! The slaves weren’t free, but I’m sure they enjoyed the fireworks.”

One may think we are well on our way towards a post-racist society, especially after the second inauguration of President Barack Obama.  Some claim to “not see” color and accept everyone as equal and, in turn, many people stay hushed on the subject of racism. Wise said it’s a common misconception to think that talking about race perpetuates racism. He explained this by applying the same silent solution to world hunger. “Imagine if someone were to say to you, ‘Did you know that there are billions of children around the world starving due to lack of food—Shh! Damn fool! Don’t talk about starvation…People will starve.’”

In terms of political colorblindness, Wise demanded we wake up and smell the black coffee. Dripping with sarcasm, he explained that a black president can suggest racism is taken care of — the same way that sexism is magically gone in Pakistan due to their past female prime ministers. Wise said no, asserting that a black president does not warrant people to consider ourselves so vastly superior to the days of slavery that they suddenly have permission to be numb from reality, and assume the “politically correct” position of color-blindness. “Color has had consequences and continues to have consequences,” Wise said, explaining that we cannot be blind to color.

According to Wise, wealth is being disproportionately and unfairly distributed in our country. Because interest exponentially expands wealth, larger socioeconomic gaps are created.  And it is not necessarily income that matters in this country. Accumulated wealth allows people to buy houses, start businesses, and be active participants in this nation.

Wise asserted that a typical white middle class family has 20 times the net worth of their typical African-American and Latino family counterpart — close to $100 thousand more. He said that it is not because they’ve worked harder, nor is it because white men have some “superior investment wisdom.”

“There is an awful lot of money that can be lost by white guys without any help from black people, or Mexicans, whether they are documented or not,” Wise said. He pointed out that there is no way domestic theft by any minority group could possibly amount to the efficiency of the white men on Wall Street, who managed to lose 12 trillion dollars in a matter of 18 months last year.

Wealth distribution is all dependent upon if one can even get a job to begin with, and Wise shared some statistics pertaining to national unemployment. Black people and Latinos are twice as likely to be unemployed than white people with similar skills. In 2009, the white teen unemployment rate hit 25.3 percent, a historic high, and the nation was up in arms. However, what remained unmentioned that year was the black teen unemployment rate, which was 45 percent and had been that way since the early 90s.

Wise jumped from topic to topic like jazz, and as he put it, “not the smooth kind” – another prominent topic being health care. Wise said that the House Health Care and Wellness Committee seems to be utterly bewildered as to why, though these minorities have health care available to them, are still presenting negative outcomes. Health care is related to geography, which is related to race, Wise said.  Everyday experiences of big and small racialized mistreatment has significant physiological consequences, he said.

For no known reason, the mortality rate of infants birthed by employed African-American women with a college degree and health care coverage is double than that of the infants of poorer white women who are less educated and smoke every day of their pregnancy. Wise said that the health of at least 8,500 people are being affected by this racial consequence. The Health Care and Wellness Committee, however, cannot speak of it, because to not see color and to not talk about racism, is the decided “solution.”

Wise closed his talk with the simple plea for race conversation, if even just out of self-consideration as a nation. In 20 years, white people will be the minority — or at the very least, will be sharing the population 50/50 with non-whites, he said.  Race conversation is gravely essential to our country’s future, and Wise suggested that his mere presence on our campus attested to that. Wise said, “I am 44 years old, I am white, I have a bachelor’s degree, and I can come and tell you more about the system of racism and get away with more, than the President of the United States. That’s how not post-racist we are.”

“I think [the talk] provided some really important food for thought in a community that has a lot of racial diversity but not a lot of dialogue about it, and still considers itself progressive,” said Haley Zaremba, a junior media studies student.

When asked for any words of further advice for students, Wise said to start by taking personal inventory. Take a good look at your life and your privileges. “Let it percolate. Let it sink in,” he said.

Tim Wise’s feature-length documentary film, “White Like Me” explores his personal biography and political analysis, and is scheduled for release this April.

The event was sponsored by the USF Office of Diversity and Community Outreach.

A statue of Father Pedro Arrupe was erected near the University Ministry on main campus over spring break. Father Arrupe was the 28th Superior General of the Society of Jesus.

Father Arrupe’s importance to USF stems from his pursuit for social justice, and the phrase he coined, “men and women for others,” which lives on through the university’s mission statement. The statue was sculpted from a large piece of granite handpicked by Father Tom Lucas and Vice President for Accounting and Business Services Charlie Cross during their trip to Xiamen, China last summer, according to Julia Dowd, the director of the University Ministry. The statue was placed next to the interfaith meditation room to honor Father Arrupe’s appreciation of interfaith dialogue.

While you may have not been able to tell by looking, the statue is actually incomplete.

Father Arrupe’s shoes which were to be part of the statue were left behind in China, and are currently en route to the U.S. on a container ship so they can be included in the statue with him. The shoes provide another consistency with the interfaith meditation room because people are encouraged to remove their shoes upon entering. Dowd said Father Arrupe’s serene pose, sitting cross-legged, serves as a reminder for all of us to maintain a strong internal center despite the business of our lives, or as the Jesuit saying goes, “contemplation in action.”

The statue construction kicks off a week of events dedicated to Father Arrupe. For more information, visit www.usfca.edu/University_Ministry/news/University_Ministry_Arrupe_Week. 

As a member of the Society of Jesus, founded by St. Ignatius in 1540, Pope Francis took the Jesuit oath, which is a vow of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Father Donal Godfrey, S.J., associate director for faculty and staff spirituality, said a pope with Jesuit ideals will make a difference in the world. “I was very surprised by the election of the first Jesuit pope,” said Father Godfrey. “This is an exciting moment in the history of the church.”

Though he has only been in office for five days, Pope Francis has already exemplified the Jesuit ideal of social justice plays a big role in his leadership, mainly through his emphasis on helping the poor. “The pope is very focused on preferential options for the poor. You can see it in his policies, his statements, and his stories of the work he’s done even as Cardinal of Buenos Aires,” explained Don Crean, associate director of university ministry. According to National Christian Reporter, “preferential options” refers to the trend in Judeo-Christian religion to focus on the well-being and care-taking of the poor.

The pope chose his name after St. Francis of Assisi, who gave up his wealth and lavish lifestyle for one of poverty, religion, and peace. “Right away, with regard to the poor, I thought of St. Francis of Assisi,” Pope Francis told reporters the night of his election. The pope chose Francis, who happens to be the patron saint of San Francisco, because of his devotion to peace and because he was, in his words, a “poor man, a simple man, as we would like a poor church, for the poor.”
Crean said the pope’s calling to the church in serving the less fortunate is just a short step away from USF’s calling to its students in serving the Jesuit mission.

“Jesuits are usually grouped with education, but look at their mission — it’s about education with a purpose,” said Crean. “The Jesuit University teaches students to excel in their personal and professional lives for the purpose of creating a more positive world. Part of that is helping the poor and working for the marginalized.”

As a Jesuit, Pope Francis is also somewhat of a surprise. According to Crean, Jesuits are not historically linked to high positions, as St. Ignatius discouraged members of the order from holding positions of high office in order to keep the Jesuit community on the front line of the church — that is, in schools and in parishes.

Despite holding the ultimate religious position, the front pages of newspapers and magazines worldwide such as The Washington Post and Time Magazine are calling Pope Francis the “pope of the poor.” Perhaps because, on the night of his election, he refused the papal limousine and insisted on taking the bus with his fellow cardinals. He also paid for his own hotel bill, despite having it offered to him for free. Pope Francis also left the Vatican balcony to enter the crowd on the night of his inaugural mass on Sunday.

Father Godfrey said this is what makes Pope Francis so special. “I have been delighted to see the simplicity and warmth of Pope Francis,” he said. “[He] is so real, a real pastor, and I believe that we need such a person in this moment.”
Pope Francis can also add another first to his list. He’s the first religious leader to rule under the Jesuit motto of Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam, which means “for the greater glory of God” in Latin.
“Pope Francis has an Ignatian spirituality which finds God in all things, and I think such a positive outlook — the understanding that God is already present in the world, including the world outside the Church — will change so very much,” said Father Godfrey.

Valentine’s Day: love it or hate it, every year it keeps coming back to remind us that love exists. Even here at USF, love can be found inside of our own Saint Ignatius Church.

The church, on any given weekend, hosts many weddings inside its doors. The romantic setting and old world charm of Saint Ignatius commands attention from engaged couples from all over the city, especially USF alumni. Rumors have long circulated about the church’s potentially decade-long wait list and the supposed priority for USF students. For those already visualising a wedding at Saint Ignatius or just curious about  the rumors, the truth is about to be revealed.

So what is it like to fall in love at USF and seal the deal at our beautiful landmark church? Dan and Kelli Hoertz ’08 married at Saint Ignatius in August 2012, about eight years after they first met as freshmen students attending USF. Kelli shared the details of her and Dan’s journey to the altar, which began during their first year.

“We both lived in Hayes freshman year.” Kelli said. “We would see each other in the caf, at Koret, or at Geary bars.” With Kelli working towards her degree in psychology and Dan in business, the two never had a class together, but continued a friendship that would eventually evolve into something more while Kelli studied in Budapest junior year.

“We kept in contact while I studied abroad and then after I returned we began officially dating our senior year,” she said. Dan even visited Kelli in Budapest during her studies there. Four years after their graduation from USF, Dan and Kelli found themselves returning to plan their wedding at Saint Ignatius. The cost of a Saint Ignatius wedding reservation is $1,925.00 with a $1,000.00 deposit required 14 days before the big day.
Prior to their engagement, Kelli and Dan already knew they would wed at Saint Ignatius. “I was a resident minister at USF and that is where we are parishioner,” she said. After getting engaged in the city, Dan and Kelli started planning to make their vision of a wedding at Saint Ignatius a reality.

While many students may believe that there’s an 11 year waiting list to book a spot for a ceremony, Margaret Walden said it’s nothing but a myth.
“I have no idea how the wait-list rumor got started,” said the wedding coordinator at Saint Ignatius. In fact, the waiting list is only a year-and a half, as the Hoertzs found out while planning their wedding. “We got engaged in February 2011 and knew we wanted a long engagement,” Kelli said.

Even though Dan and Kelli didn’t have to face a decade of waiting, there was one compromise they had to make. The couple approached the church that February with a September 2012 ceremony date in mind, but settled on Aug. 18 because there were no more open spots.
Because Saint Ignatius is not a university church, weddings are not exclusive to USF students. There are some requirements, however, for those interested in getting married at Saint Ignatius.

The bride or groom must fulfill one of the following criteria: be a registered, active member of Saint Ignatius for at least six months before requesting a ceremony date, be a USF alum, or have a Jesuit priest who will perform the matrimony. USF staff can also wed in the church. Even if you attended USF, at least one person of the couple must be Catholic or Greek Orthodox, Walden said.

Although Saint Ignatius was built in 1914, the church officially became a parish in 1994, the same year it began conducting marriage. About 50-54 couples are married annually in Saint Ignatius, according to Walden.

Because Kelli and Dan Hoertz are both Catholic USF alums, Saint Ignatius was an easy choice, Kelli said. “We always knew we wanted to get married in that church. As students, we went to mass there and it was always special to us since we had met at the university, attended mass there, and graduated in that space. After we graduated we also continued to go to church there.”

While getting married may not be students’ most immediate concern, a wedding at Saint Ignatius might be in the cards someday. This landmark of USF held undeniable sentiment for the Hoertz’s.

“It has a special place in our hearts as it represents the place [where] we met, fell in love, and accomplished so much,” said Kelli. While marriage may seem like a figment of the distant future for current students, Kelli offered some advice for when the time finally does come to take the leap: “I would encourage all USF students to consider S.I. for their weddings!”

Hip Hop Conversations are two nights in February that are put on by the Intercultural Center and the Esther Madriz Diversity Scholar Living Learning Community along with the African American Studies department. The events come in time for February, Black History Month.
On the night of the first event, students discussed ideas of women’s roles, masculinity and queer identity, the definition of hip hop between cultures, and the influence of hip hop artists in recent history.

Andreana Clay, a writer on hip-hop culture, queer sexuality, youth activism, and hip-hop feminism, spoke on how women are degraded in the culture of hip hop. “How can women respect the music when it doesn’t respect them,” asked Clay, who is also an associate professor of sociology at San Francisco State University. Although Clay is often offended by how women are portrayed in this culture, she is a hip hop lover herself. She explained that it is not always the case that men oppress women, and “the women that are in charge are part of the larger scene that are creating the [negative] images in the first place.”
Davey D is a hip-hop journalist, professor, activist, radio programmer and co-founder of Hard Knock Radio, a talk show for the hip hop generation. He responded to similar questions of gender and explored why such contradictions exist. Drawing from his involvement on hip hop as a DJ since 1977 in Queens, Davey D recognized that in all music, sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll is what attracts people — sex sells and consumers want rebellion.

Davey D and Dr. Clay agree that these hip hop’s contradictions are so pronounced because what society finds captivating isn’t always morally correct. One of these is the notion of being “hard,” exemplified by recent hip hop artists such as Rihanna, Dr. Dre and Naz—the danger being that acting tough can often result in promotion of violence. This relates to the expectation of men to not show emotion. Davey D thinks that the if we can break down this  stereotype, “more queer space” will be able to open up, he said. Although he was raised to  never come across as vulnerable, he clarified, “I’m not no thug type of cat!”

Through his “quest for social justice,” Davey D hopes people can start to move away from these gender stereotypes. “My identity demands that I stand against oppression,” he said. Surrounding oneself with people that are moving towards fighting such stereotypes and being an ally to victims is the easiest way to make this a way to life, he said.

For more from Andreana Clay and Davey D, check out the next Hip Hop Conversations event, “Activism and Politics,” in Berman Room, Fromm Hall on Feb. 19 at 6 p.m.

Past the era of scissor and glue hearts, college freshmen throughout the years have found their own ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day away from home. Be it flower deliveries or cupcake surprises, the check-in desk in freshmen dorms are often a site of butterflies. Lizzie Hughes, the front desk manager at Hayes-Healy residence hall, has the inside scoop on first year love.

Hughes has been working at Hayes-Healy since 2011, and had the early shift last Valentine’s Day, but she rather enjoyed her time behind the counter. For the exercise and sports science junior, Valentine’s isn’t about the extra work that comes with flower deliveries, but rather, about being a part of something bigger: love.

Even a 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. shift had its perks, as students got to the desk early to rent out kitchen equipment to bake something sweet for their crushes. “I think the experience as a whole, seeing the parade of boys borrowing pans to make breakfast and carrying flowers in in the early hours of the morning to surprise their Valentine, was very sweet,” she said.

While flower deliveries and packaged surprises make for happy students, behind the front desk, it’s all work. “We get crazy amounts of packages all day every day,” said Hughes, “but Valentine’s Day does have quite a few deliveries.” Perishable deliveries, like flowers or food, are no problem for USF’s trained student staff, however.

According to junior Maddie Vanden Branden, desk worker at Loyola Village residence hall, Valentine’s Day deliveries follow standard protocol. That is, workers like Hughes and Vanden Branden will call students whose perishable packages have arrived, and hold onto them until they are ready to sign for them.
Flowers aren’t the only special Valentine’s delivery received at the desk. “I was definitely surprised by how many Edible Arrangements were delivered,” said Hughes.

While deluxe fruit baskets are probably healthier than a box of chocolates, Hughes finds joy even in the mundane. “Getting to see a little bit of everyone’s anticipation and excitement when I would call a resident to tell her she had a special delivery waiting at the desk was really heartwarming.”
Also a common inquiry at front desks this holiday season: where to grab a bite. “A week or so before Valentine’s day, I always have people coming down to ask where to go out to eat,” said Hughes. For anyone making plans, Hughes recommends Zazie in Cole Valley. “Great food and romantic!”
According to Hughes, the most romantic dorm building gesture she’s ever witnessed was last year, when a female Hayes-Healy student walked down to the lounge, only to be surprised by her non-USF boyfriend.

Though Hughes can’t remember the students’ names, she won’t be forgetting the experience. “He had coordinated with her roomie and surprised her when she came down to check something in—and I just sat here behind the desk crying because it was so cute.”
Her favorite part of Valentine’s Day, however, is simply the excitement. “I’m sure it has a lot to do with the fact that Hayes is a freshman dorm,” said Hughes. “It’s really sweet getting to be a little part of these residents’ first grown up Valentine’s Day.”

Though Hughes does attribute most of the holiday excitement to the enthusiasm of first year students, Valentine’s day is seen all around campus. “What I see from behind the desk on Valentine’s is really just a snapshot of what is going on in the building and around campus.”

Last Wednesday, USF welcomed an unique presentation from the Three Point Nine Collective — an art group that strives to provide a community for all the African American artists living in the San Francisco Bay Area. The group was recently started in response to the recent decline of the African American population in San Francisco to a mere 3.9%, which is what inspired the collective’s title. As the population declined, so did the public attention to African American art. The purpose of the group is to shed public light on the African American artists living in the Bay Area and peg the question, “Does San Francisco care if African American people are here?”

As founder A.T. Stevens mentioned, the artists want to incorporate the “African American presence in the fabric of life” by exhibiting their art, and not letting the San Francisco media exclude them. The Three Point Nine Collective website further explains that “their work represents their creative contribution to the African American existence, enriching the greater San Francisco artistic community with their narratives and perspectives born from being members of a diaspora community.”

The four following artists presented impressive collections this past Wednesday evening: Ron Moultrie Saunders, Michael Ross, Sydney Cain, and Rodney Ewing. Saunders displayed his Secret Life of Plants collection, which included “photograms”—pictures formed without cameras—of plants and other organic materials. He is able to expand the size of little plants through his artwork, which he believes allows him to “not take nature for granted” and to “expose the plant form” that we otherwise might not take the time to recognize.
Ross, a San Francisco native, believes that art is the “blackest thing [he] can do” because it allows him to create his own conventions and express himself singularly.

He has lived in San Francisco for more than 20 years, and has observed the depressing decline not only in the city’s African American community, but also in the interest in African American art. He presented his collection of abstract houses that strikingly express intense human emotion through color and movement. Through his art, he aims to capture the “universality” of human emotion.

Cain is a student at California State University East Bay and spends her time creating mystical freestyle drawings and vibrant paintings of abstract patterns and shapes that form strange and intriguing figures. When asked how she wants to her art to affect society, she replied that she wants to “challenge the colonial cosmograms.”

By this, she means that she aims to provide a response to the shaping of the environment and presenting what art means to her. Through the original figures she creates, she is able to provide a “vessel for art” and depict the hidden side of herself as a young black woman.
Ewing creates beautiful paintings based on certain topical events, such as “Baptism” that was inspired by the tragic occurrences of the Port Chicago explosion that killed many African Americans during World War II.

He uses watercolor as a medium to represent the paradoxical effects of water in history, such as Hurricane Katrina. These paintings are presented in his collection titled “Rituals of Water.” Before he takes his brush to the paper, he first lets the watercolor form natural patterns and images overnight. Through Ewing’s historical images, he is able to “dissect memory to create a narrative” that sticks in one’s mind.

Thanks to the Three Point Nine Collective, these artists are receiving the deserved recognition that the San Franciscan media was not allotting them. If San Francisco represents tolerance and diversity, then it must continue to incorporate the strong presence of the African American community. By giving attention to these artists, we can maintain this essential community and not ignore the people who contribute culture and inspiration to this city.

“Strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me,” said Pope Benedict XVI  in a statement from the Vatican.
During a meeting of Vatican cardinals, the pope, 85, announced his decision in Latin to resign from the Papacy. When he was elected in 2005, he was already the oldest pontiff to be elected in nearly 300 years, according to CBS News.

“I admire the pope’s courage in resigning most especially as it has been so long since this happened in history. It is a very big deal in terms of who will become our next pope. This person will have a huge effect on the direction of the entire Roman Catholic church, and this has implications that go beyond even our church,” said Donal Godfrey, S.J., the University Ministry associate director for faculty and staff spirituality.

The 265th pope will be the first to resign since 1415, when Pope Gregory XII left his position in an attempt to end the Western Schism during which three rival popes claimed the title.

Cardinals will meet in Rome to choose a successor shortly after his departure, which is scheduled to be on February 28, said Rev. Federico Lombardi, a Vatican spokesman, at a news conference. Lombardi said they will have a new pope before Easter, March 31.
After Feb. 28, Pope Benedict XVI will be addressed as his eminence, or Cardinal Benedict XVI. He is spiritual leader of 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, according to the 2012 Annuario Pontificio, the annual yearbook of the Roman Catholic Church.

The event was held to give the public a better understanding of the way the state’s justice system works, as well as allow the students to participate in a question and answer session with the Justices. The hearings attracted hundreds of students, professors, and other legal scholars from all over the Bay Area.

Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye said the session would “provide a group of law school and local high school students with a unique opportunity to question Supreme Court justices and to experience their constitutional democracy in action, and hopefully will inspire some to a career in public service.”

Due to the growingly contentious debate of medical marijuana possession and distribution, the case involving this topic received special attention from the bulk of university students. In the first hearing of the City of Riverside v. Inland Empire Patients Health and Wellness Center, Inc., the debate revolved around the recent ordinance that the city of Riverside passed which outlaws medical marijuana dispensaries, defining them as a “public nuisance.”

In 1996, the Compassionate Use Act (CUA) was enacted by voters that allows California citizens to use marijuana for medical purposes if they are deemed seriously ill. The court was debating whether or not Riverside’s recent ordinance violates the statewide act.
Jeffrey V. Dunn was the defendant representing Riverside and the appellant involved in the case. An appellant in someone who applies to a higher court for reversal of a lower court decision.  J. David Nick, is the primary attorney for the Inland Empire Patients Health and Wellness Center. Nick, who graduated from the USF School of Law in 1991, has been practicing law for the past 20 years.

“The court’s decision is going to determine the future of medical marijuana outlets throughout California. State law cannot be contradicted by local municipalities,” Nick said.

The second case involved a process that is used to resolve criminal charges in California and is known as plea bargaining. Plea bargaining is used by the defendant in order to give them a lesser charge so they don’t have to go to trial.
The defendant Dallas Sacher involved was charged with primarily theft-related felonies and misdemeanors. He argued to not go to trial because he was already given one strike within the parameters of the Three Strikes Law, which says that if the defendant is convicted of three felonies, they are sentenced to life in prison on the third strike.

In a bargaining process such as this, the court is not allowed to agree upon any bargain because it is based on the decision of the prosecutor. In this People v. Clancey debate, the issue was whether or not it was proper for the court to become involved in the plea bargaining process.
The last case concerned George Brett Williams, who was found guilty for the murder of Willie Thomas and Jack Barron in Los Angeles on January 2, 1990.
At the previous trial, there was no police officer that Williams had worked with as an informant, so he thought the trial would have resulted in a more favorable outcome, even though his fingerprints were found in the room in which the victims had been shot as well as on the truck where the victims’ bodies were dragged.

The importance of these cases being present on the USF campus rings true for students after the hearings took place. Franky Peterson, a sophomore legal studies scholar said she was extremely grateful she was granted access to the event. “USF School of Law is already nationally renowned and I think this helped bring attention to our strong interest in both legal action and social justice,” he said.
Being that these cases were preliminary hearings, final decisions remain to be seen.

To follow the cases, go to www.courts.ca.gov/opinions, which releases the opinions of the Supreme Court once a consensus has been made, about 90 days after the hearing.

The people of the Central Valley can’t get enough fresh food, even though they live in the nation’s produce basket 

Imagine working in one of the vastest agricultural lands in the world; farming and cultivating mass amounts of produce for others, while having little to no food available for you and your own family.

Would you believe that a place that provides a quarter of America’s sustenance has little access to fresh food for its own residents? And that this place is only five hours from San Francisco?

While California’s Central Valley is home to the nation’s largest suppliers of fruit and vegetables, it’s also considered a food desert. Those who live there have to resort to cheap and unhealthy food options because grocery stores are few and far between. Senior Allison Littlefield experienced these harsh realities firsthand of a nearby locale.

From Jan. 7–12, the international studies student visited the cities of Bakersfield, Fresno, Modesto, Delano, and Merced as part of a University Ministry immersion trip. She traveled with three fellow USFers and Luis E. Bazan, who works with the UM and the Center for Global Education to coordinate these programs. The group learned about the current socio-economic issues affecting these communities.

In the case of Central Valley, what the residents need most is access to healthy and affordable food. “This is ironic considering the Central Valley is a huge agricultural land— the food they cultivate feeds the entire world, but they don’t have food to feed themselves.” Littlefield said she walked away from the immersion asking herself, “How does that make sense?”

Having participated in immersions through USF in Peru, El Salvador, and Ecuador, exposure to poor living conditions was nothing new for Littlefield; the fact that people are living like this so close to home astonished her. Experiencing these third world conditions in the first world was nothing short of an eye-opener.

“The most shocking image from the Central Valley immersion were the huge oil fields,” said Littlefield, referring to the polluted vast land in Bakersfield, which is home to acres of oil rigs. “For how environmentally conscious we think Californians are, it’s shocking that just five hours from San Francisco there is so much oil pollution. I didn’t know what was going on in my backyard.”

In Modesto and Bakersfield, dirty air exceeds federal health standards each day, according to The Huffington Post’s “California’s Central Valley Slammed By Record Air Pollution.” The American Lung Association reported that the areas from Stockton to Bakersfield, home to four million people, has the highest level of ozone pollution in the U.S. and asthma rates are three times the national average.

Talking to workers in Central Valley about the immigrant experience and injustices they face was premise of the immersion. The students learned about the Cesar Chavez United Farm Workers movement, which is in place to provide better working conditions and higher wages to farmers and their families. Visiting the families of farmers brought Littlefield an unexpected comparison: “I walked into a couple houses and thought, ‘Wow I’m back in El Salvador.’”

Making sense of it all is one of the goals of immersion trips like this one. “The term ‘service learning’ is misleading,” Littlefield said. “The focus is not going to ‘serve’ people. USF emphasizes solidarity and accompaniment.” USF distances itself from dividing, power structures of education and wealth by focusing more on the learning aspect, she said. Immersion trips to places like Central Valley aim to expose students to the issues inside a community so that they can learn about what people need before deciding how to take action.

“Going in and seeing what a community needs is the first step. You have to know what a community needs first in order to help them,” said Littlefield. She emphasized the importance of talking to organizations that are already in place to help people living in places like central valley, where people are dealing with social and economic issues.

After visiting the Central Valley, Littlefield called for two changes: a more just and sustainable means of producing foods, and spending money on education reform, instead of housing prisoners, to better adjust to children’s diverse learning styles. The immersion trip also brought to Littlefield’s attention the issues surrounding immigration in the United States. “The current immigration system violates human rights and we need to reform the system to allow the people that are here to have rights and establish legal and feasible means of getting citizenship.”

While the image of poverty, pollution, and shortage of food, does not usually bring to mind somewhere only a car ride away, Littlefield’s story is a reminder that these injustices are indeed happening in the United States. The shock of this trip however, gave Littlefield the motivation to create change in not only the Central Valley community, but her own as well: “Looking back I feel very motivated by the organizations that we met there. We spoke with them about how they are creating change within their communities, and I feel that I have people to connect with about making changes in my own.”

To get involved with USF immersion programs, contact Luis E. Bazan at lebazan@usfca.edu or go to www.usfca.edu/University_Ministry/Immersion_Programs.

CASA, the Center for Academic and Student Achievement, consists of a team of 12 university advisers. In addition, CASA has an administrative team helping run the program. CASA provides support programs such as New Student Orientation, The Back-on-Track Program for students on academic probation, and the Student Success Workshops. CASA’s vision started back in 2011 when Provost Jennifer Turpin wanted to centralize all the support services for students.

So what differentiates CASA from your academic advisors?

Laleh Shahideh, associate vice provost and dean of Student Academic Services, said that the center’s goals is to provide a holistic approach to student support. Faculty advisors are assigned to students specifically by major, whereas university advisors are specialized to provide not only academic, mental and personal support beyond helping students select classes.

“The difference is that when a student goes to see their faculty academic advisor, they are extremely knowledgeable in the discipline such as academics or careers in the student’s major,” she said. “But when you come and see a CASA staff member, for example, if a student wants to drop a class, we try to get to the bottom of the issue and see what the students really need.”

Shahideh said that CASA has two objectives and that is to improve retention and increase four-year graduation rates. According to Shahideh, since CASA started in fall of 2012, retention rates have already increased to 90 percent.

“[Students] may have financial issues, or family issues, or a learning disability that they do not know about. Those are the things then that we try to address or if we can’t then we connect them with proper referrals on campus such as the counseling center or student disability services,” Shahideh said.

Anna Cross, one of the university advisers and director of Communication and Student Outreach, said she was intrigued by the concept and the merging of multiple resources and services across campus into one space.

Cross used to work in admissions but said one of her favorite aspects of her job is interacting with students and getting know them. “Now I have the chance to see them start off at square one as a freshman, and work with them as they develop into passionate, brilliant, and mature young men and women during their four years here,” she said.

Students at USF also find CASA to be beneficial to them. “Working with CASA was really easy. I just walked in and they processed my paper work, and they said it would be finished by the end of today,” said freshman Andy Woodhull. The undeclared student took the wrong rhetoric class last semester and visited CASA for more information on taking an advanced course. “ I thought it was going to take 10-15 minutes, but it really took only about two seconds.”

To learn more about CASA visit the center on the UC 3rd Floor or visit www.usfca.edu/casa