02-22-2012

4
WEDNESDAY February 22, 2012 Volume 97, Issue 78 WWW.THEDAILYAZTEC.COM facebook.com/dailyaztec twitter: thedailyaztec INDEX: SCAN CODE FOR MOBILE CONTENT 4 SDS-VIEW 3 BUSINESS & FINANCE RentAStudent serves as an online classifieds section for student job seekers. WEATHER: SUNNY HIGH: 75 LOW: 51 SUNSET: 5:40PM SDSU S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1913 Notesharing website use considered cheating by CSU system. OPINION BACKPAGE She fell. But heres the thing — she never hit a tree branch on the way down ... they moved away. None helped to slow her fall.4 2 As the U.S. Congress currently debates a new national transportation bill, advocates for safer streets have gath- ered at 54th Street & University Avenue not far from the San Diego State cam- pus, to shed light on one of San Diego’s most dangerous intersections and focus attention on pending cuts. The bill, sponsored by California Sen. Barbara Boxer, would reauthorize federal aid for transportation and high- way construction projects. The last deliberation on the bill occurred last Friday, and ended with Sen. Harry Reid recommitting the bill to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works for further examination. Currently, there are 223 proposed amendments to the bill. Walk San Diego, an advocacy group interested in improving the pedestrian experience in San Diego County, is opposed to passing the bill without first reforming it. The group said the bill will strip dedicated transit funding from the federal transportation bill. “States and regions would no longer be assured of a regular and consistent stream of funding for transit invest- ments,” the group said. Walk San Diego said the bill is the “most dangerous move we have seen from the House, and would threaten the ability of our regions to plan and invest in transit projects and long-term plans.” The group’s statement asked for supporters to contact their representa- tives and urge them not to cut funding for what it has called “complete streets”; which are defined as streets that are safe to walk near and bike on. Transportation for America, a coalition of transportation reform advocates, has a national sign-on letter that was sent to Congress, urging it not to cut additional fund- ing for safer streets. “Funding for biking and walking and Safe Routes to School programs is critical in fighting the obesity epi- demic, which is one of the biggest health and economic challenges fac- ing our nation and state,” San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts said, according to a press release from Transportation for America. Local media have also brought attention toward the growing issue. In a report by ABC Channel 10 in San Diego, one advocate was quoted as saying, “The roads are for people, not just for people in cars. We’ve got to share.” Jim Baross, a bike safety advocate, said there is a desperate need for bike lanes and better signals. Kathleen Ferrier, urban planner, SDSU alumna and Policy Development Manager at Walk San Diego, said there is currently a need for change in transportation meth- ods. “The younger generation want to bike and walk and generations ‘Y’ and ‘X’ are moving to communities where there are complete streets; where there are cycle tracks and safe biking and pedestrian-friendly streets.” Ferrier said the issue has been building for some time. “We have got these decades-old policies that favor car and speeding cars along, rather than prioritizing pedestrian or bike safety.” She then explained Federal Transportation funding for biking and walking is a meager 1 percent of what is spent on highways; so any cut in the funding is critical. “Areas that are proven dangerous for walkers can be made much safer with redesigns,” Ferrier said, “But funding for that is hard to come by.” San Diego State’s Office of Intercultural Relations, along with Student Life & Leadership, held its annual Leadership and Diversity Summit in the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center last Saturday. The theme of the summit was “Differences Affirmed: Making an Impact in our Global Community.” Students partici- pated in workshops and diversity- awareness training focused on devel- oping cultural awareness, sensitivity and competency in their leadership skills. SDSU’s cultural competency pro- gram implemented in the summit rep- resents the first of its kind in the California State University system. SDSU’s Director of International Partnerships Dr. Paul Wong served as the opening keynote speaker. Wong’s message focused on the importance of viewing diversity as an institutional asset and vital part of the college experience. SDSU student Keisha Mello-Hall gained a new perspective on what diversity means. “Being half black and half white, I thought I knew what diversity was about. Coming here and learning that diversity was much more than eth- nicity or race was eye-opening for me,” Mello-Hall said. The summit moved to the Arts and Letters building for three break- out sessions hosted by several stu- dent organizations, university offi- cials and community volunteers. Students had the option to choose between several workshops struc- tured to raise cultural awareness and enhance leadership skills. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex Speaker’s Bureau Student Panel hosted a session to raise participants’ cultural con- sciousness about the LGBTQ commu- nity, as well as strengthen leadership and ally behaviors. Ashley Boyd, a graduate assistant in SDSU’s Cross- Cultural Center, led the session. “Part of being a leader is having a comprehensive awareness of diversi- ty,” Boyd said. “If a leader isn’t aware of communities like the LGBTQ commu- nity, they can’t be effective.” Associated Students’ executive offi- cers held a session discussing the diverse paths they took to become A.S. leaders, and offered advice to those interested in student government. “As a leader, you have to have an effective and appropriate message and the ability to communicate it to anybody,” A.S. President Cody Barbo said. “Being culturally competent is the best way to do that.” Dr. Timothy Quinnan, Associate Vice President for Campus Life at SDSU, served as the closing keynote speaker. Quinnan’s remarks focused on the importance of recognizing “a spiritual connection that we all share to create change.” Edward Henderson staff writer Anthony Mendiola staff writer PAIGE NELSON, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Bill proposed to safen streets Stock market update Stocks had the day off yesterday for Presidents Day but opened positively today with news of a second Greek bailout. The Dow Jones industrial average increased 39 points to 12,989, the Nasdaq was up 9 points at 2,961 and the Standard & Poors 500 was up five points at 1,366. Gold is also trading higher at $1,756 an ounce and the yield for the 10-year Treasury note increased to 2.05 percent. Apple’s factory conditions face scrutiny A lengthy article from Yahoo Finance focused attention on Chinese factory Foxconn, known for producing Apple products. This factory has been the site of several tragedies, including the sui- cides of a number of workers, as well as accidental explosions that have caused other deaths. Now, the Fair Labor Association is auditing the factory with inspections and interviews. Foxconn’s employees were given anonymous touch-screen questionnaires, while the reporters were told to talk to anyone they pleased. Some expressed concern that Foxconn would “clean house” before an inspec- tion, but that remains to be seen until the report is published next month. Some Foxconn employees said their working conditions are better than other factories, although the dormitories are cramped. One chilling detail they shared was that “everywhere you look, on every factory and dormitory, in every stairwell and atrium, are suicide nets.” The audit has not negatively affected Apple’s stock price, which is currently trading up roughly nine dollars per share at 511.15. –Compiled by Staff Writer Chet Galloway FINANCE BEAT Leadership summit fosters diversity Summit implements SDSU’s cultural competency program

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Volume 97, Issue 78

TRANSCRIPT

WEDNESDAYFebruary 22, 2012Volume 97, Issue 78

WWW.T H E DA I LYA Z T E C .CO M

facebook.com/dailyaztectwitter: thedailyaztec

I N D E X :

SC

AN

C

OD

EF

OR

MO

BIL

EC

ON

TE

NT

4S D S -V I E W

3B U S I N E S S & F I N A N C E

RentAStudent serves asan online classifiedssection for student jobseekers.

W E AT H E R :

SUNNYHIGH: 75LOW: 51SUNSET: 5:40PM

S D S U ’ SI N D E P E N D E N T

S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R

S I N C E 1 9 1 3

Notesharingwebsite use consideredcheating byCSU system.

O P I N I O N

B AC K PAG E

“She fell. Buthere’s the thing —she never hit atree branch on the way down ...they moved away.None helped toslow her fall.” 4

2

As the U.S. Congress currently debatesa new national transportation bill,advocates for safer streets have gath-ered at 54th Street & University Avenuenot far from the San Diego State cam-pus, to shed light on one of San Diego’smost dangerous intersections andfocus attention on pending cuts.

The bill, sponsored by CaliforniaSen. Barbara Boxer, would reauthorizefederal aid for transportation and high-way construction projects. The lastdeliberation on the bill occurred lastFriday, and ended with Sen. Harry Reidrecommitting the bill to the SenateCommittee on Environment andPublic Works for further examination.Currently, there are 223 proposedamendments to the bill.

Walk San Diego, an advocacy groupinterested in improving the pedestrianexperience in San Diego County, isopposed to passing the bill withoutfirst reforming it. The group said the billwill strip dedicated transit fundingfrom the federal transportation bill.

“States and regions would no longerbe assured of a regular and consistentstream of funding for transit invest-ments,” the group said.

Walk San Diego said the bill is the“most dangerous move we haveseen from the House, and wouldthreaten the ability of our regions toplan and invest in transit projectsand long-term plans.”

The group’s statement asked forsupporters to contact their representa-tives and urge them not to cut fundingfor what it has called “completestreets”; which are defined as streetsthat are safe to walk near and bike on.

Transportation for America, acoalition of transportation reform

advocates, has a national sign-onletter that was sent to Congress,urging it not to cut additional fund-ing for safer streets.

“Funding for biking and walkingand Safe Routes to School programsis critical in fighting the obesity epi-demic, which is one of the biggesthealth and economic challenges fac-ing our nation and state,” San DiegoCounty Supervisor Ron Roberts said,according to a press release fromTransportation for America.

Local media have also broughtattention toward the growing issue. In areport by ABC Channel 10 in San Diego,one advocate was quoted as saying,

“The roads are for people, not justfor people in cars. We’ve got toshare.”

Jim Baross, a bike safety advocate,said there is a desperate need forbike lanes and better signals.

Kathleen Ferrier, urban planner,SDSU alumna and PolicyDevelopment Manager at Walk SanDiego, said there is currently a needfor change in transportation meth-ods.

“The younger generation want tobike and walk and generations ‘Y’and ‘X’ are moving to communitieswhere there are complete streets;where there are cycle tracks and safe

biking and pedestrian-friendlystreets.”

Ferrier said the issue has beenbuilding for some time.

“We have got these decades-oldpolicies that favor car and speedingcars along, rather than prioritizingpedestrian or bike safety.”

She then explained FederalTransportation funding for bikingand walking is a meager 1 percent ofwhat is spent on highways; so anycut in the funding is critical.

“Areas that are proven dangerousfor walkers can be made much saferwith redesigns,” Ferrier said, “Butfunding for that is hard to come by.”

San Diego State’s Office ofIntercultural Relations, along withStudent Life & Leadership, held itsannual Leadership and DiversitySummit in the Parma Payne GoodallAlumni Center last Saturday. Thetheme of the summit was “DifferencesAffirmed: Making an Impact in ourGlobal Community.” Students partici-pated in workshops and diversity-awareness training focused on devel-

oping cultural awareness, sensitivityand competency in their leadershipskills. SDSU’s cultural competency pro-gram implemented in the summit rep-resents the first of its kind in theCalifornia State University system.SDSU’s Director of InternationalPartnerships Dr. Paul Wong served asthe opening keynote speaker. Wong’smessage focused on the importanceof viewing diversity as an institutionalasset and vital part of the collegeexperience. SDSU student KeishaMello-Hall gained a new perspectiveon what diversity means.

“Being half black and half white, Ithought I knew what diversity wasabout. Coming here and learning thatdiversity was much more than eth-nicity or race was eye-opening forme,” Mello-Hall said.

The summit moved to the Artsand Letters building for three break-out sessions hosted by several stu-dent organizations, university offi-cials and community volunteers.Students had the option to choosebetween several workshops struc-tured to raise cultural awareness andenhance leadership skills.

The Lesbian, Gay,B i s e x u a l , T r a n s g e n d e r ,Queer/Questioning, Intersex Speaker’sBureau Student Panel hosted a sessionto raise participants’ cultural con-sciousness about the LGBTQ commu-nity, as well as strengthen leadershipand ally behaviors. Ashley Boyd, agraduate assistant in SDSU’s Cross-Cultural Center, led the session.

“Part of being a leader is having acomprehensive awareness of diversi-

ty,” Boyd said. “If a leader isn’t aware ofcommunities like the LGBTQ commu-nity, they can’t be effective.”

Associated Students’ executive offi-cers held a session discussing thediverse paths they took to become A.S.leaders, and offered advice to thoseinterested in student government.

“As a leader, you have to have aneffective and appropriate messageand the ability to communicate it toanybody,” A.S. President Cody Barbosaid. “Being culturally competent is thebest way to do that.”

Dr. Timothy Quinnan, AssociateVice President for Campus Life atSDSU, served as the closing keynotespeaker. Quinnan’s remarks focusedon the importance of recognizing “aspiritual connection that we all shareto create change.”

EEddwwaarrdd HHeennddeerrssoonnstaff writer

AAnntthhoonnyy MMeennddiioollaastaff writer

PAIGE NELSON, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Bill proposed to safen streets

SSttoocckk mmaarrkkeett uuppddaatteeStocks had the day off yesterday forPresidents Day but opened positivelytoday with news of a second Greekbailout. The Dow Jones industrial averageincreased 39 points to 12,989, the Nasdaqwas up 9 points at 2,961 and the Standard& Poors 500 was up five points at 1,366.Gold is also trading higher at $1,756 anounce and the yield for the 10-yearTreasury note increased to 2.05 percent.

AAppppllee’’ss ffaaccttoorryy ccoonnddiittiioonnss ffaaccee ssccrruuttiinnyyA lengthy article from Yahoo Financefocused attention on Chinese factory

Foxconn, known for producing Appleproducts. This factory has been the siteof several tragedies, including the sui-cides of a number of workers, as well asaccidental explosions that have causedother deaths.

Now, the Fair Labor Association isauditing the factory with inspectionsand interviews. Foxconn’s employeeswere given anonymous touch-screenquestionnaires, while the reporters weretold to talk to anyone they pleased.Some expressed concern that Foxconnwould “clean house” before an inspec-tion, but that remains to be seen until

the report is published next month. Some Foxconn employees said their

working conditions are better than otherfactories, although the dormitories arecramped. One chilling detail they sharedwas that “everywhere you look, on everyfactory and dormitory, in every stairwelland atrium, are suicide nets.”

The audit has not negatively affectedApple’s stock price, which is currentlytrading up roughly nine dollars pershare at 511.15.

–Compiled by Staff Writer Chet Galloway

FINANCE BEAT

Leadership summit fosters diversitySummit implementsSDSU’s cultural competency program

D A I L Y A Z T E CWednesday,

February 22, 2012 O P I N I O N2

haring notes is a hallowedstudent tradition, as oldand revered as all-nightersand pre-final freak-outs.But not everyone looks

kindly upon note sharing, especiallynot the California State UniversityOffice of General Counsel. As theDaily 49er reported on Jan. 4, thecouncil asked Chegg to ban CSU sys-tem students from its note-sharingsite, notehall.com. A similar note-sharing website, noteutopia.com, wasbarred from the CSU system in 2010.

Notehall and NoteUtopia allowstudents to buy and sell class notesonline. In accordance with statelaws prohibiting the sharing ofnotes for commercial purposes, theCSU was forced to send a cease-and-desist letter.

This ban on online note sharingreeks of bureaucratic ignorance andan unwillingness to adapt to thetimes. Students have always sharednotes. Many professors encourage itto keep students who missed a classfrom falling behind. Many college-preparedness classes recommendcomparing notes as a way to ensurecomprehension. Sharing notes is vitalfor countless students who areunable to attend all of the class meet-ings, or who simply aren’t good attaking notes. Yet the CaliforniaEducation Code considers this cheat-ing because it is done for “financial oreconomic gain.”

The California legislature needs toacknowledge that just because stu-dents are able to profit from thisdoesn’t mean it is cheating.

Let’s compare note sharing toanother time-honored activity: studygroups. Everyone has attended at

least one study group at some pointin his or her college career. Theyaren’t normally considered to violateacademic honesty rules. In fact, theyare often encouraged by professors,and Love Library even provides roomsspecifically for this purpose. Studygroups help students prepare forexams in an appropriate way.

Now, let’s imagine there are twovery different students in the sameclass. One is having trouble under-standing the course material and isfailing. The other is excelling in theclass and seems to have a mastery ofthe subject. Suppose the failing stu-dent asks the passing student to studywith him for the final, and inexchange he will pay her for her time.In effect, one student is paying theother to be in his study group.

Do study groups constitute aca-demic dishonesty when money isinvolved? No. Paid tutors are commonand widely accepted. Offering some-one money to study with you is nodifferent than luring classmates toyour study group with promises offree food and drinks.

Sharing notes is the same. No onewould consider it cheating if class-mates compared notes after class.That shouldn’t change simply becausemoney is exchanged or the transac-tion occurs online. Instead of banningthese exchanges, the CSU systemshould encourage this way of improv-ing grades and promoting coopera-tion among students.

Instead of worrying about the pos-sible negative effects of exchanging

money for study help, the CSU systemshould create a site where studentscan trade notes with each other forfree. Then again, the monetaryaspects of these sites are some oftheir most valuable assets.

Aside from raising grades, note-sharing sites can teach students valu-able business lessons and providemuch needed financial help. Most ofthese sites allow users to rate thequality of notes, so students areencouraged to take better notes.Students struggling from the financialpressure of raising tuition costs cansell their notes online for cash.

Banning CSU students from note-sharing sites is harmful to our educa-tion. But it is also harmful to schools,because they benefit when all stu-dents are able to reach their fullpotential. They shouldn’t be kept fromit because they aren’t good at takingnotes or weren’t able to attend all thelectures. This law demonstrates thesystem is unable, or unwilling, toaccept the changing academic land-scape and adapt to it.

As more of our education and ourstudying moves online, the CSU sys-tem needs to modernize its defini-tions of what is and isn’t cheating. Itneeds to encourage sites that allow

students to exchange class noteslegitimately, while taking a strongerstand against those that illegally sellterm papers and copies of exams.

Its ability to navigate this fine linewill determine whether the CSU sys-tem will continue to be one of themost innovative systems of highereducation in the world, or if it will fallprey to out-of-date thinking andbackward fears.

LLeeoonnaarrddoo CCaasstteennaaddaasenior staff columnistS

LLEEOONNAARRDDOO CCAASSTTEENNAADDAA

IS A JOURNALISM

SOPHOMORE.

PETER KLUCH, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Ban on note-sharing sites fails students

D A I L Y A Z T E CWednesday, February 22, 2012B U S I N E S S & F I N A N C E 3

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SERVICES

With a large percentage of San DiegoState students registered as businessmajors, it should be no surprise thatany opportunity for students to col-laborate with companies on newprojects would be a hit. That is whyapproximately 10,000 students haveregistered for 1,500 projects throughrentastudent.com, a website that pairscollege students with companies thatneed help with specialized projects.

Co-founders Morgan Diersteinand Guillaume Truttman createdRentAStudent as a place for studentsto earn cash by helping companieswith tasks geared toward their par-ticular skill sets.

According to the website,“RentAStudent is a way to showcasewhat you’ve already learned, apply itto real world situations, build your

résumé and create connections withcompanies ... all while financing youreducation.”

Students 18 years and older aregiven the opportunity to create anonline profile that displays a profes-sional description and cover letter,while showcasing skills and compe-tencies.

To open a valid account, studentusers must have an academic emailaddress to prove student status.Once the profile-building process iscomplete, students can searchthrough various tasks and projects,such as ad campaigns, proofreading,translation and budgeting. Oncethey find projects suitable to theirneeds, they need only apply.

During the selection process, com-panies can contact potential studentcandidates via email and even senddown payments.

According to RentAStudent, “Fromthere, they will be able to establishguidelines and a time frame for com-

pleting the project using our collabo-ration page. Once the student hassuccessfully completed the project,the remainder of the agreed-uponwage will be paid using our securepayment system. We will provide aninvoice on behalf of the student sothat all transactions are transparent.”

Students are able to negotiatetheir pay by suggesting an hourlywage on their profiles. The mini-mum hourly wage companies areable to pay is $10.

The website was first created inFrance, where only French studentswere allowed access to the network-ing process. Last year, American stu-dents were offered the RentAStudentopportunity as well. Since then, 1,500projects have been posted and thenumber is growing.

RentAStudent does have a fewdisadvantages. For example, it onlygrants students access one yearfrom their graduation date and takesa 15 percent cut from student earn-ings. However, the opportunity toearn more than $10 an hour may stillbe enticing to some cash-starvedcollege students.

As budgets continue to be cut andtuition fees continue to increase, a 15percent loss may be no excuse toavoid the opportunity. RentAStudentis an innovative way to build experi-ence before exiting the relativelycomfortable bubble of college life.

SSooffiiee CCaassiillllaassstaff writer

KATIE FOSTER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Co-founders ... createdRentAStudent as a place for students to earn cash by helpingcompanies with tasks gearedtoward their particular skill sets.

Paid service puts students up for rent

D A I L Y A Z T E CWednesday,

February 22, 2012 B AC K PAG E4

Difficulty Level: 3 out of 4

Instructions: Complete the gridso each row, column and 3-by-3box (in bold borders) containsevery digit 1 to 9. For strategieson how to solve Sudoku, visitwww.sudokudragon.com

Solutions available online atwww.thedailyaztec.com

©2012, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

AACCRROOSSSS1 ’50s-’60s Bronx

Bombers nick-name, with“The”

5 South Seastuber

9 Oceans14 Like the team

before @, onschedules

15 Not much16 Hotel courts17 Best Original

Song Oscarwinner from ...Disney’s“Pocahontas”

20 Little one21 __-tzu22 On the calmer

side23 ... Disney’s

“Aladdin”28 Headache29 WSJ headline30 __ rock: music

genre31 Faux pas33 Bars with hid-

den prices?35 Evensong?39 ... Disney’s “Song

of the South”43 Wed. vis-ą-vis

Thu.44 Reed of The

VelvetUnderground

45 Expel, as lava47 Western treaty

gp.50 Periods prec.

soccershootouts

52 Before, poetical-ly

53 ... Disney’s “MaryPoppins”

58 French citymostlydestroyed in1944

59 Golf’s Woosnam60 Tyler of “Jersey

Girl”61 ... Disney’s

“Monsters, Inc.”

67 Athena’s shield68 “__ chic!”69 File’s partner70 Actor Milo71 Holiday tubers72 __-Ball

DDOOWWNN1 Brolly user’s

garment2 __ Jima3 ’20s White

House nick-name

4 1997 ecologicalprotocol city

5 Gustatory sen-sor

6 Blood typingabbr.

7 Sight site8 Bilingual

Canadian city9 John who

explored theCanadian Arctic

10 Openly hostile11 Showy extra12 Like tridents13 Marquis de __18 Three-sixty in a

canoe19 Coyote call23 Grain beard24 Suffering from

vertigo25 Legendary

skater Sonja26 “Ixnay!”27 Sgt. Snorkel’s

dog32 Covert __: spy

stuff34 Disney frame36 Some mag

spreads37 Flat hand, in a

game38 __ Khan: “The

Jungle Book”tiger

40 Elemental bit

41 Judgment Day42 Blow away in

competition46 Pint-size48 Low-pH sub-

stance49 Crudely built

home51 Switchblade53 Tables-on-the-

street restau-rants

54 “__-Ho”: Dwarfs’song

55 Non-main-stream film

56 Prefix with mural57 Civil rights

activist Medgar58 “Farewell, cara

mia”62 Metaphor words63 Skirt line64 Asian plow puller65 Vague pronoun66 Hawaiian strings

Solutions available online at www.thedailyaztec.com

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (2/22/12) You'remagnetically attractive. With Saturn inLibra for most of 2012, focus on payingdown debt to set you up for an autumn ofhigher education and exploration. Lead,don't dictate. Your faith, strength andattitude keep friends inspired.

To get the advantage, check the day's rating:10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

ARIES (March 21 - April 19) - Today is a 7 -Demand the facts and you'll get them.They help you figure out what to do next.You have the message and can get it out.Contribute to a miracle.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is a 7 -Generosity looks good on you, so spreadthe wealth. A word or two from you helpsa loved one stay on track. Together, yousolve a puzzle.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is a 7 -Someone unexpected opens your eyes tonew ideas and new routes. Let yourpassions guide you. You're getting to thegood stuff. Completion is at hand.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is a 7 -Now's the perfect time to embark on aliterary adventure. Stand up to a critic(especially if it's inner). Others encourage.Don't launch until you're ready.

LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is an 8 - Geta firm grasp on finances. The facts giveyou power. It's when it's nebulous andfuzzy that things get weird. Stay incommunication. It all works out.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is an 8 -You're a powerhouse, jamming towards

your goals. Surround yourself with thosewho can provide guidance should you getlost. Hang with someone who's beenthere.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is a 9 -New data supports your intention. Writedown a brilliant insight. Some change ispossible, and it works to your benefit.Learn from others.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is a 7 -Gather all the information you need, andstudy the options for a while longer beforemaking a decision. Your friends are yourtreasure.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today isa 6 - There may be schedule conflicts ...better double-check your calendar. Newinformation could surprise you but can bevery helpful. Pay attention to details.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today isan 8 - Your brilliance is highly appreciated,even if you don't know it. Inspiration getsintense, and you can use it to bettereverything around you. Don't waste yourmoney.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is a 9- You're in charge, and you know it. Withleadership comes responsibilities. You'reready to make changes for the better.Consider options that you've ignoredbefore.

PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is a 9 -Everything's done for love. You have moreresources than you thought possible, andthat's a great thing. You're gaining wisdom.Follow your heart.

©2012, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

BY NANCY BLACK,TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICESHOROSCOPE

BY THE MEPHAM GROUP,TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICESSUDOKU

BY RICH NORRIS & JOYCE LEWIS,TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICESCROSSWORD

WWW.THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

ometimes I think we’vealready dreamed every-thing there is to dream.”

We were waiting in theshade of almond trees.

Our friends, intent on wine tasting,invited us to Central California to cel-ebrate their recent engagement.They’d already ordered for us an hourago in the next town over, but Sarah’scar broke down, and so I imaginedour plates were probably attractingflies and opportunistic sparrows. Itmade me hungrier.

Sarah believed her dreams werevisions, an unfolding of the future.As soon as the engine splutteredand bucked, she turned to me. “I’vehad this dream before.” I pulledonto the shoulder, next to a mas-sive almond orchard. Sarah got outand stretched her back.

There was something strangeabout the way the trees were plotted.They grew out instead of up. Itlooked like they were stretching toget a peek at us. White blossoms fellwhen the wind passed through. Icouldn’t help but think of moths’wings whipping through the rows.

Sarah sat down on an old crateand rested her back against one ofthe trees. Everything she did, she didcarefully. Everything she did felt likeceremony, an observance of some-thing greater than ourselves. Shesmoothed out the folds of her dress.

“I called Mike,” I said. “They’re ontheir way to pick us up. Are youstill hungry?”

She nodded. A flower flickeredabove her and landed softly in herhair. She didn’t seem to realize, so lostin thought. “Tell me — what’s theworst dream you can remember?”

“I don’t remember many dreams.Sometimes I get them confused withreal life. With memories. As I get olderI find it difficult to separate the two.”

The flower in Sarah’s hair dancedbut couldn’t escape.

“What about you?” I asked. Sarah looked up into the black

branches above us. The sun seemedto shrink between the canopies.“Mine aren’t very scary,” she said. “Idon’t have too many nightmares. Mysister does, though. I remember oneshe told us when she was still little.She dreamt she was alone in ourhouse, and it looked old and empty,like the rest of us suddenly disap-

peared, and many years had passed,but she hadn’t aged one bit. Sheheard noises coming from beyondthe windows and when she looked tosee if it was us, she saw a pack ofwolves instead, wolves with humanhands. Can you imagine? Every doorshe closed on them they openedagain. Eventually she fled the house,but they chased her up a tree. Thistree was big — she said she climbedfor what felt like hours and when herarms got tired she looked down, butthe branches grew so close togethershe couldn’t see the ground. Thenshe felt the tree sway, back and forth,back and forth. The wolves were

rocking it. The force was too much.She fell. But here’s the thing — shenever hit a tree branch on the waydown. She could see the boughswhipping past her but none touchedher. She reached out to grab one butthey moved away. None helped toslow her fall.”

“Sounds terrifying.”Sarah nodded. “Do you wake up

before you hit the ground in yourdreams?”

“Right before.”“Me too. But she didn’t. She

remembers hitting the ground. Sheremembers being paralyzed, andthe wolves came back, and theybegan to —”

“I get it.” We heard Mike pull up on the

shoulder of the highway next tothe orchard. I helped Sarah up fromher crate and placed my hand onthe small of her back as we walkedtoward his car. The wind picked upand whirled loudly in my ears. Theblossoms fell in sheets so thick Icouldn’t see past the pedals. I feltSarah’s dress move beneath mypalm. I felt the fluttering of wings. Ithink I misstepped, and in myfalling, I felt her escape.

— Mason Schoen is a creative writinggraduate student.

MMaassoonn SScchhooeennfiction writer

Senior Staff Photographer Peter Kluch captured this photo yesterday as SDSU President Elliot Hirshman visited

The Daily Aztec office for a tour of the faux arachnid-infested DA dungeon.

WATCH OUT FOR THAT SPIDER!

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FICT ION

Sarah believed her dreams werevisions, an unfolding of thefuture. As soon as the enginesputtered and bucked, sheturned to me. “I’ve had thisdream before.”

“Why they moved away

S