Issuethe Valentine's Day

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013 VOLUME 99, ISSUE 71

the love guru presents:

Volume 99, issue 71 | Thursday , february 14, 2013 2 | sports

backcourtaztecs: The Aztecs have followed the lead play of senior Chase Tapley and junior Jamaal Franklin all season long. It seems the Aztecs either win or lose depending on how well the duo does. After a home win against the New Mexico Lobos got the Aztecs back into the top 25 rankings, SDSU hit a bump in the road at Air Force. SDSU rebounded with a close win against Boise State, which came off a last second 3-point shot by Tapley. Both players lead the team in scoring,

SDSU looks forward to round twomen’s basketball

Logan BurnsStaff Writer

and Franklin leads in rebounds. If the Aztecs want to make a run for the Mountain West Championship, it seems both Tapley and Franklin will have to carry them there. The Aztecs lost in Las Vegas last season 65-63.runnin’ rebels: The Rebels have a productive guard in Katin Reinhardt, who averages 9.8 points and 2.7 assists per game as a point guard. As a freshman, Reinhardt has stepped into his position impeccably. Senior guard Anthony Marshall is the emotional leader of this team and was a large reason why the Rebels won at Viejas Arena last month. The two were an integral part of UNLV’s big win

against No. 15 New Mexico.

Edge: Aztecs

frontcourtaztecs: Senior forward DeShawn Stephens and freshman forward Skylar Spencer have been defensively solid for the Aztecs. The SDSU big men haven’t carried as much of the offensive bulk as the guards this season, but they’ve accumulated a decent amount of offensive rebounds to give their team numerous second-chance opportunities. Spencer averages 1.5 blocked shots per game. As long as these Aztecs continue their high level of play, they have a chance in

every game.runnin’ rebels: Freshman forward Anthony Bennett is the spark plug for the Rebels’ offense. He had 17 points and 12 rebounds in the Rebels’ victory against New Mexico. He leads the team in scoring with 18.3 points per game and is the main focal point of the team’s offense. He does it all. Another big man, Khem Birch, averages 7.7 points per game, and plays forward as well as anyone in the Mountain West. The Aztecs struggled with UNLV’s size in their last meeting.

Edge: Rebels

Coachingaztecs: Head coach Steve Fisher and the Aztecs have been somewhat inconsistent this season, but are still

Men’s college basketball is a sport traditionally dominated by one or two teams per season. Last year, it was the University of Kentucky. It was Saint Joseph’s University in 2004. It was the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1990 and the University of California, Los Angeles in the ‘60s and ‘70s.

Who would you say it is this year?

Since Indiana University’s overtime loss to Butler University on Dec. 15, The Associated Press No. 1 men’s col-lege basketball teams have gone 10-6—not very No. 1-like.

The No. 1 ranked team lost in five consecutive weeks. Coincidence? I think not.

As of now, Week 15 in the season, there are no teams with fewer than two losses in the AP Top 25.

With only a few weeks left until March Madness, college basketball is without an apparent king. This is rare for fans to see, and many of them are embracing it, claiming this NCAA Tournament will top them all.

However, there are some who look upon the lack of dominance in college basketball differently. In a Fox Sports article, columnist Jason Whitlock cites many reasons to be upset with this college basketball season. Whit-lock claims the king-less season that others view with “optimism” is actu-ally “a sign of American basketball’s ruination.”

Whitlock said the summer bas-ketball leagues where high school athletes showcase their talents bear

selfish, show-off attitudes to young players. Consequently, in college they play more for themselves than for the consistent greatness of the team. He goes on to say modern college bas-ketball bred a game where only the NCAA Tournament matters—fewer people care about a regular season conference championship than in the days of John Wooden. For instance, he attributes Indiana’s last loss to Il-linois on Feb. 7 to players waiting to “buckle down when the ring is on the line.”

Whitlock makes some fair points. I agree there are selfish players in the league. Unfortunately, that will always be the case as long as athletes earn ce-lebrity status and the NBA only seek the most dominant players. However, I disagree with the bulk of Whitlock’s argument.

Balance in college basketball doesn’t mean top-tier schools aren’t reaching their full potential; it means more schools are reaching their full potential. It signals how teams such as Kentucky and the University of North Carolina don’t have all of the talent this year.

Instead, talent is spread across the country to teams such as the Univer-sity of Wisconsin, Colorado State Uni-versity, Indiana State University and many more schools that now have a real chance to succeed in March. Teams have to bring their A-game every day or they’ll lose (just ask the University of Kansas or University of Florida). In a season with no Goliath, a whole lot of Davids have a hand in the fight for the championship. More schools are involved, more communi-ties are involved and more fans are involved.

To Whitlock’s point that Indiana eased off the throttle in its loss to Il-

linois: Rivalry is more elevated in college basketball than in any other sport.

San Diego State would never relax in a game against UNLV to save up energy for the NCAA Tournament. Student-athletes absolutely hate to see their conference foes beat them, to hear the opposing fans scream their heads off, to lose their pride—this season or any other season.

As junior guard Jamaal Franklin said after the Boise State game, “You can’t take college basketball lightly … Everybody’s ready to play and playing on all cylinders.”

So, be happy college basketball has a more level playing field. Be happy you have no clue who the number one team will be next week. Be happy we are in for potentially the wildest March Madness in years. Enjoy this awesome season — who knows when there will be another season like this one?

No Goliath in college basketballcolumn

Matthew BainStaff Writer

on the right track and could salvage a Mountain West Championship with a couple of big wins down the road. He looks to lead the Aztecs to yet another NCAA Tournament berth. Fisher’s intensity will really shine through his players on the court during the next few conference games.runnin rebels: Head coach Dave Rice won the national championship as a player with UNLV in 1990. He led his team to three straight NCAA tournaments and four out of the past six years. He coaches with high-level intensity.

Edge: Aztecs

Prediction

Aztecs 74, Rebels 72

thursday, february 14, 2013 | Volume 99, issue 71 news | 3

Black high school students attending certain Californian churches on Sundays can expect a different sermon: encourage-ment to attend California State universities.

CSU officials have been seek-ing new, prospective black stu-dents through the CSU African American Initiative, which tar-gets middle and high school stu-dents in hopes of increasing col-lege enrollment rates among the

African-American community.

This initiative, started in 2006 during Chancellor Emeritus Charles B. Reed’s term. The CSU reached out to 11 churches and after seven years, more than 100 churches have been approached.

Chancellor Timothy P. White will attend his first Super Sunday, on Feb. 24 at the West Angeles Church of God in Christ, followed by an appearance on March 10 at the Glad Tidings Church of God in Christ in Hayward.

Even though this outreach pro-

CSU goes to churchstate

Ana CeballosAssistant News Editor

gram has no denominational re-strictions, it’s taking place over-whelmingly at predominantly black churches.

The events held to promote the initiative reach more than 100,000 churchgoers. Since Reed began as chancellor in 1998, there has been a 30 percent increase in African-Americans earning de-grees.

“Education is the key to a bet-ter future for California,” White said in a press release. “The CSU’s commitment is stronger than ever to motivate and encour-age African-American students to prepare for college and earn a university degree.”

However, CSU Media Relations Specialist Erik Fallis said there is not a specific goal to progress from the 5 percent that makes up the African-American population in the CSU system.

“We want to give California equal representation,” Fallis said. “We want to be a university that doesn’t wait for their students to come and ask for help—we want to come to them.”

Initiative efforts show a 6 per-cent increase in the amount of applications received by African-American students.

The CSU African American Initiative is one of many initia-tives created by CSU officials to increase outreach to misrepre-sented communities including La-tinos, Native Americans, Asian-Americans and veterans.

The CSU reached out to 11 churches and after seven years, more than 100 churches have been approached. Last Tuesday, students dressed in

business attire were seen walk-ing around and chatting with members of on-campus student organizations as well as potential employers at San Diego State’s first-ever Leadership Develop-ment Panel and Fashion Show.

SDSU Career Services associate director Sandra Williams planned the event.

“The goal is to help students understand leadership through the employer’s perspective,” Wil-liams said.

Students were able to talk to representatives from Associated

campus

Jessica MarinStaff Writer

monica linzmeier, assistant photo editorStudents wear professional attire to make good impressions on potential employers. The SDSU Leadership Development Panel and Fashion Show brought out employers and students to the event.

Students, Student Life and Lead-ership, Veterans Center and Col-lege Councils for the first half of the event. A.S. Vice President of University Affairs Matt Cecil stressed the benefits of gaining leadership opportunities early on in your college career.

“The reason A.S. is here today is to really explain to students that having a leadership opportu-nity in college is going to separate you from the rest when you’re ap-plying for jobs,” Cecil said. “So we’re showing the opportunities available through A.S.”

At the A.S. table, students learned about more than 22 dif-ferent boards and committees and how to get involved in them.

The Student Life and Leader-ship table listed multiple student organizations on campus where students can get involved.

The Veteran Center had an informational table promot-ing the Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center on campus. The second half of the event consisted of a panel of business-men and women, as well as a fashion show. The fashion show was brief; students modeled busi-ness, casual and evening attire. The blazers and suit pants the students paraded were courtesy of T.J. Maxx and Marshalls.

Students dress to impress

continued on Leadership page 4

Volume 99, issue 71 | Thursday , february 14, 2013 4 | news

Following the fashion show, the panel, which included SDSU alumni, discussed how to suc-cessfully communicate with po-tential employers.

The panel was facilitated by Jackie Robinson Family YMCA Executive Director Michael Brunker. Brunker began the pan-el discussion with a lighthearted joke by saying, “only elevator speeches, no dissertations” as a way to remind the panelists to keep their answers short because they were pressed for time.

Some of the panelists included representatives from San Di-ego Gas and Electricity, SDSU College of Education, Wildcat Discovery Technologies, SDSU Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center and the Pepsi Co. Inc. The panelists shared with the students the qualities that they look for in people when they’re hiring.

“Everyone says, ‘I’m a team player,’ I need concrete exam-ples,” Marion said.

She emphasized having spe-cific examples of being a team player ready before going into the interview.

“The last part was my fa-vorite,” social work fresh-man Ugochi Apakama said. “I enjoyed hearing from the pan-elists. I learned what to do dur-ing an interview; it’s the biggest thing I take away from this.”

San Diego State communication pro-fessor Brian Spitzberg served as chair of the Faculty Honors and Awards Committee for three years.

With the committee, he would se-lect faculty to receive the San Diego State Alumni Association Awards for Outstanding Faculty Contributions to the university, more commonly known as the Faculty Montys. Now he’s the recipient of the award he used to give other faculty.

Spitzberg has become a recipient of the award for the 2012-13 aca-demic year.

“It’s magnificent as an experi-ence,” Spitzberg said. “It is a judg-ment of peers to honor you relative to your peers. It really is a way of saying that what you’ve been doing

David HernandezStaff Writer

Nominations request superb facultyhas value.”

Spitzberg’s recognition was the result of having an exceptional re-cord of teaching and various pub-lications. He has numerous mecha-nisms to measure learning, such as IMPACT, a computerized system currently used at several other col-leges and universities. Scholastically, he is most known for his research on stalking and interpersonal commu-nication skills.

Every spring, one faculty mem-ber from each college, including the Library and Information Access and the Imperial Valley Campus, is prized with the award. As the dead-line to submit nominations for the 2013-14 academic year approaches, all members of the SDSU community are invited to nominate faculty.

Faculty members are recognized for their contributions made through

teaching scholarship, professional activity or other services and may be made on a university, community, state, national or international level, according to SDSU NewsCenter.

The recipients attend a breakfast and are invited on stage during the SDSU Convocation to receive their awards.

The Alumni Association also funds a reward of $500, which is provided by non-state funds and alumni operation.

Spitzberg, having been part of the Faculty Honors and Awards Com-mittee prior to receiving his award, understands the importance of nom-inating faculty.

“Just as we honor valedictori-ans or salutatorians for exceptional achievement, it’s important to re-member those who help students fulfill their accomplishments,” Spitz-

berg said.As a faculty member, Spitzberg

believes honors such as the Faculty Montys are also important because it’s a profession that includes hard work and either delayed or little gratification.

“I enjoyed being able to take my wife to the breakfast and let her experience it,” Spitzberg said. “She gets to see me toil and work long hours, so it’s nice for those you care about—but aren’t part of this fish bowl—to be able to see that the fish bowl cares.”

Nominations for the 2013-14 aca-demic year can be made by filling out the form available on the Faculty Affairs website under “awards.” The completed form must be submitted to the appropriate Dean’s office by Feb. 18.

In March, Canada’s Finance Min-ister Jim Flaherty announced the maple leaf copper penny would no longer be distributed in order to save the government money. Flaherty said the Canadian pen-ny cost the government more to make than it’s worth.

The Royal Canadian Mint, re-sponsible for the production of Canada’s coinage, will save mil-lions. According to The Econo-mist, the additional 0.6 cents greater than face value used to make a penny will total to about $11 milion in profit yearly.

The last rolls of pennies were distributed on Feb. 4. The royal Canadian Mint produced a final batch of coins last spring, which were specially packaged and are being sold as collectables.

Shoppers who previously tossed the penny aside can now purchase a roll of 50 for $9.95. In honor of such a legacy, the pennies are available as a keepsake symbol-izing a part of Canadian culture and history.

Canadian consumers and busi-nesses must now adapt to a so-ciety without pennies, although retailers can still choose to ac-cept the penny. As of now, cash transactions will be rounded to the nearest 5 cents, but electronic transactions will still be billed to the cent.

The penny, which has been part of the Canadian currency since 1858, will enter a six-year phaseout. In the first years, this will cost Canada approximately $7.3 million.

Raquel MartinStaff Writer

from Leadership page 3

Canadians lose their maple leaf

copper penny

dustin michelson, senior staff photographerMembers from the SDSU LGBTQ community spoke up about marriage equality at yesterday’s Love Campain.

Buzz around chart-topping musi-cians Macklemore & Ryan Lewis is here at San Diego State following a recent announcement that the duo would be headlining GreenFest 2013. Approximately 4,600 tickets to their

J. Hutton MarshallManaging Editor

Will HoustonStaff Writer

performance at Open Air Theatre went on sale at 8 a.m. on Monday, but eagerly awaiting students lined up long before to purchase tickets.

“I never went to bed and got here at 4 a.m.,” Jamie Lowden, a student who claimed a spot at the front of the line said. “I’m from Seattle and I love Macklemore. I’m a die-hard fan.”

Associated Students Programs Coordinator Daphney Bitanga said when the ticket office closed Tuesday,

more than half the available tickets had been purchased. As of 5:30 p.m. yesterday, less than 600 tickets re-mained.

Last year’s GreenFest took place in F Lot and featured T-Pain as the main headliner. According to Bitanga, out of the 10,000 tickets available, more than half had been distributed. Bi-tanga expects this year’s GreenFest to sellout completely. She attributes the quick sales to the early headliner

announcement. “(The students) knew who (Mackl-

emore) was and had the opportunity to decide if they wanted to wait in line early or get their tickets,” Bitan-ga said. “So, I think it’s just hard to say. We were able to secure a really great artist that the students seem really excited about, so I think that helps ticket sales as well.”

will houston, staff writerStudents line up in the early hours of the morning to purchase Greenfest tickets. This year, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis will be performing at SDSU on March 21.

Love Campaign supports LGBTQ community

Students wait hours for Greenfest tickets

The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans-gender Student Union and Stu-dent Life and Leadership teamed up to host the Love Campaign, promoting marriage equality be-cause of Valentine’s Day.

The event, which took place by the flagpole in front of Hep-ner Hall, gave students a chance to make Valentine’s Day cards for that special someone free of charge. The group wanted to highlight a message that “love is gender-blind.”

The LGBT community is try-ing to target the younger gen-erations, because they tend to be more open-minded about same-sex marriage.

Some students were drawn in by popular love songs played on loudspeakers and were encour-aged to stay to make Valentine’s

Christina KoralStaff Writer

Day cards. Students also had a chance to learn about different topics concerning same-sex mar-riage through guest speakers and a table of informative handouts.

Although LGBTSU is open to all students, the organization is trying to reach out to those with-in the LGBT community, who may not have known about the club before.

The LGBTSU president and business administration senior Michael Manacop said the event was meant to let members of the LGBT community know they are not alone at San Diego State.

“A lot of college students are broke, so we are providing a fun way for people to make Valen-tine’s Day cards while also reach-ing out to the rest of the LGBT community,” Manacop said.

The Love Campaign is part of increased efforts by LGBTSU and LGBTQ Advisory Board to host at

least one event at SDSU’s campus each month promoting marriage equality and spreading awareness of their presence on campus.

The goal of LGBTSU is to pro-vide a safe environment for stu-

dents and community members of all sexual orientations, identities, genders, ethnicities, ages, faiths, belief systems and cultures.

thursday, february 14, 2013 | Volume 99, issue 71 Valentine’s Day | 5

I have never had a valentine. Yep, never. It’s not a bad thing, though. I mean, what single girl doesn’t love hearing about the roman-tic plans her friends have with their significant others while she sits at home by herself watching stupid romantic films and eating Häagen-Dazs ice cream?

It used to sting really bad knowing I would be alone for yet another Valentine’s Day (as if Christmas and New Year’s weren’t bad enough). But I’ve come up with a solution for this troubling time that affects so many of us non-lovebirds.

My solution goes something like this: Be happy. Tell yourself college is not the time to be in a relationship and that your friends are capitalism-driven idiots.

Once you’re done whining, try something more productive. Be your own valentine. It’s a lot more fun than it sounds. No, you’re not pathetic for doing it. As someone who doesn’t have too many valentine notches in her belt, trust me. It can help al-leviate some of those Valentines Day blues.

I recommend planning a whole romantic day all for yourself. Look at it this way: Nobody can love you until you learn to love yourself and nobody deserves your love more than you. So give

Solo on Valentine’sShellie StampsStaff Writer

yourself a chance to love your-self, and give yourself the atten-tion you deserve.

I’m a girl (if you hadn’t figured it out yet) so my Valentine’s Day would go like this: First, I’d cook myself breakfast—blueberry pan-cakes, scrambled eggs and bacon with a cup of coffee. Just what I wanted!

Then, I’d take myself to get a massage and maybe a mani-pedi. Oh my God. Just what I wanted. I wouldn’t have to be sneaky or hope my guy had been paying at-tention to my hints; I just did it for myself.

Then, I’d go buy myself a pres-ent, a little token of love to show my appreciation to myself for all the hard work I do in school and at work. Hey, it’s hard out here in the streets.

Finally, I’d take myself out to dinner. Yes, by myself. I know about now you’re probably thinking, “Damn, this girl’s life is depressing. She sounds lonely as hell.”

I swear it’s not that bad. I’d go to my favorite restaurant or find one I’ve never been to before and enjoy an amazing meal.

All the money you would have spent trying to make sure some-one else had the perfect day would’ve just gotten you stuck with a homemade card and $2 chocolates. Instead, you spent it on you and gave yourself the best day ever.

If you’re ballin’ on a budget and can’t take yourself to dinner, try ordering a pizza. The Lakers are playing the Clippers Feb. 14. Nothing says romance like good pizza and a basketball game. Oh, and bake yourself some cook-ies—you deserve it. Who needs a valentine?

If you’re still butt hurt about not being with someone, just re-member that real love is out there 365 days a year.

How to get a date

It’s that time of year again when cou-ples blissfully get to show off their sap-py love for one another while all my single ladies—holla!—stock up on ice cream and horror films for the oh-so-anticipated Feb. 14. When you look back on your past Valentine’s Days, if all you can remember is chick flicks, a box of tissues and your bed, you prob-ably need someone to tell you how to get a date before Valentine’s Day.

Step 1: Go to the gymGoing to the gym is the perfect way to get yourself ready for Valentine’s Day in two ways: Not only does pumping some iron get your body looking fit enough to wear that tight red dress you’ve been dying to put on, but San Diego State’s Aztec Recreation Center also doubles as a man market. Guys who work out at the gym on a daily basis are known for their Adonis-like abs, so sign up for a membership and take your pick.Guys, two words—yoga pants.

Step 2: Go to classThe first week of classes can be busy and stressful, so it’s easy to miss that cutie in Biology 101 at 8 a.m. The next time you roll out of bed at 7:50 a.m. wearing sweats and slippers, make sure there are no brooding, scruffy, tortured souls hiding in the back row. Your perfect Valentine’s Day date may be closer than you think, so go to bed early, wake up confident and ask your crush if you can be his lab partner.Guys, girls usually go to early morn-ing classes wearing yoga pants.

Step 3: Spill your coffeeIf you know where your crush hangs out between classes, this little trick always leads to a good conversation. Head to Peabody’s Organic Coffee 20 minutes before you plan to attack and make sure to buy a cold drink—this will be important later. Casually walk toward your crush with your iced chai in hand and, just as you cross paths,

Molly PetersStaff Writer

bump into him and spill the drink. It’s vital to get this spill just right—if you spill too much on him, he’ll get an-noyed, but not enough spillage and he may not feel obligated to buy you an-other. If this operation is successful, he should buy you a new chai and if the stars are aligned, maybe even walk you to class. Guys, being a gentleman will go a long way—cough up the $4.65 and buy her a new drink.

Step 4: Go shoppingBeing a broke college student is some-thing many Aztecs can relate to, but treating yourself to something new can be extremely beneficial. Get-ting ready for a party is frustrating because you may be bored of your closet, so skip your Friday classes and take an adventure to Fashion Valley. You won’t regret eating Top Ramen for the next month because you’ll be the life of the party in those new 7 for All Mankind jeans. Guys, buy a hat. Girls are into guys who wear hats.

Step 5: Ask him (or her) outWhat’s the worst that could happen after asking out your crush? Although we hear tons of horror stories where girls get their hearts broken, taking a chance could just as easily pay off. Start by asking him out for coffee or a study date. A casual setting will al-low the conversation to flow enough for both of you to test each other’s boundaries. But remember, guys are just as scared of rejection as girls, so give him time. Guys, don’t take too much time ask-ing out your crush.

You don’t have to spend another Val-entine’s Day with Ben and Jerry. Ev-eryone can find that special someone who makes you feel just as good as eat-ing that entire pint of ice cream. With the right amount of confidence—and maybe that new outfit— finding a date for Valentine’s Day will be easier than ever. If all else fails, eHarmony is just a click away.

... my Valentine’s Day would go like this: First, I’d cook myself breakfast—blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon with a cup of coffee. Just what I wanted!

As Feb. 14th comes around once again for the singles out there, the stigma of what the day typically signi-fies tends to send shivers down a few spines. Whether you are fresh out of a relationship or have been without a significant other for quite some time (or indefinitely), Valentine’s Day is of-ten the one day out of the year mak-ing you painfully aware of your soli-tary status. Some may spend it bitter, cursing under their breath at every lovey-dovey couple passing by. Oth-ers might simply park themselves in front of their television armed with a marathon of Nicholas Sparks’ favor-ites and a tub of ice cream. In either case, it’s time to turn that frown up-side down and set the spoon aside—to take a stand against what many dub as “Single’s Awareness Day.”

Victoria ValenzuelaStaff Writer

Unfortunately, the by-products of Valentine’s Day are unavoidable—teddy bears holding stuffed hearts, bouquets of flowers and kisses both of the natural and chocolate variety. Any other day on campus, couples holding hands and sneaking in a bit of PDA before class seems like a normal occurrence. But on V-Day, love runs rampant, making those of us not in a relationship feel like outsiders in a sea of gifts and sweet-nothings. What then, would be the solution to not spending the day depressed and lone-ly? Rather than viewing singledom as a negative, reverse your thinking!

How do you do this, you ask? By rejoicing in the freedom of being bliss-fully unattached. Today there will be no money spent on useless presents, no flowers to keep alive and no stress-ful outfit selections to fuss about. In other words, there are no obligations or expectations to meet for anyone

but your wonderful self. There is no better time than the present to get in touch with the one who truly knows you best: you. While this might conjure the image of spending your evening soaked in a bubble bath sur-rounded by rose petals and candles, there are other alternatives which are likely to be more appealing. Instead, make the decision to celebrate your-self by doing precisely what you want to do. Want to go have lunch at your favorite spot? Do it. Have your heart set on a movie you’ve been dying to see? Buy the ticket. Better yet, devote the entire day to making decisions that make you happy. If you have class or work and can’t exactly take a day off from your busy life, at the very least treat yourself to something nice—even if it’s just your favorite drink from Starbucks.

Taking this approach might sound lonesome, but just because you are

doing things for your benefit, doesn’t mean that you have to do them solo! Enlist another single friend (or two) and make the decision to spend Val-entine’s Day together. If you plan on going out but are worried about being bombarded by couples roaming the streets, let’s face it—you can’t avoid others’ expressions of love, no matter how hard you try. If that thought is either too revolting, nerve-racking or both, you might also consider staying in for a movie night. That is, if you choose a genre other than romance. Comedy, action or even horror flicks might be just what you need to give yourself a laugh or even a scare. There’s nothing like a little “Para-normal Activity” or “Bridesmaids” action to take your mind off the pres-sures of the day. For the fellas, how about duking it out on Xbox or chal-lenging your buddies to a game of pool? In short, choose something fun

This Valentine’s, stand up to ‘singles awareness day’to enjoy just as much as the company that surrounds you.For some, Valentine’s Day can be a somber occasion. For others, it’s just another day of the week that passes them by and holds no significance whatsoever. What is important to remember is even though you may not have a partner to share your affection with, it is essential to show love to yourself and those around you. Valentine’s Day is a day for love, even if it’s not in the romantic sense. Show kindness and appreciation to everyone you encounter, whether it is your server at a restaurant or your roommates. Making others feel special has the same effect on your own heart. By showing thoughtfulness and compassion, you lift the spirits of not only yourself, but other people who may also be struggling on Valentine’s Day.

“I’d want to do Kate Upton.”anthropology sophomore connor liudzius

“Honestly, I’d much rather stay in and play videogames with my girl. At least it’s interactive for the both of us and

we get to spend time together.”psychology senior marcus houser

“Not a movie or dinner because that’s what everybody does but something crazy. Something that shows he put a lot of thought into it.” political science sophomore crystal garcia

“My perfect Valentine’s Day date would be to go on a picnic someplace secluded and just spend the day together with my boyfriend.”kinesiology sophomore wendy barbero

ReGARdleSS of youR plAnS thiS yeAR, the

only thinG thAt Should ReAlly mAtteR iS who

you Spend it with.

What do you want out of Valentine’s?

—nicole yi, staff writer

Is this person your boyfriend/girlfriend?

yes

yes

no no

no

no nono

no

nono

yes

yes

yes

yes yesyes

yes

Have you talked about Valentine'’s day gifts?

Would this person think a gift is unnecessary?

Coffee at east commons

MOVIE AT MISSION VALLEY

ROMANTIC DATE IN CORONADO OR DOWNTOWN

Have you been together a long time?

Does this person like romantic gestures?

Do you want this person to be your girlfriend/boyfriend?

Do you love this person?

Do you have any money?

Is he/she worth it?

6 | Valentine’s Day VOLUME 99, ISSUE 71 | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

To Karly Alexis Meyer,

Be my Valentine and

make me the happiest

Alaskan in the world.

Love, J.R.C.

B,

You’re the best thing

that’s ever happened to

me! I love you so much!

Always,K.

Brandon,Thank you for the last five years we have spent together and I look forward to so many more. Happy Valentines Day baby, I love you!

Love Always, Amanda

Lauren,Congratulations on everything you have achieved throughout college. I love you and hope you have a great last semester at SDSU! 

Love, your boyfriend

JC, love you best friend!!!

K <3

So you have a valentine—now what?

Christina,

You’ve been an amazing

girlfriend and an even

better friend to me than

I could have ever asked

for. Thank you.

Lub, Vicyes

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013 | VOLUME 99, ISSUE 71 Valentine’s Day | 7

The season of love is upon us. It’s a time when Katniss Everdeen

puts away her bow and arrow to let Cupid have a turn, using the arrows as a means to much happier endings; a time when single girls band together in singlehood solidarity, repeating their, “We don’t need men,” mantra; and when single men applaud one another for avoiding the treacherous path of selecting the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for their beloved.

I am single, so I fall into the aforementioned “girl power” group. In fact, my plans for Valentine’s Day involve a pitcher (or two) of margaritas and a zombie movie marathon. You know, the nice, happy movies where everyone dies and the guy has to run from the undead masses rather than getting the girl. However, there are benefits to being single. Time is one of those benefits, time I would otherwise devote to a relationship is mine to do with as I please. This usually involves school, work, an internship and the occasional rendezvous with my much-neglected bed.

Recently, I’ve had an unprecedented block of free time

To the women of SDSU,

You all are beautiful

people!! Do what makes

you happy and fall in love

when the time is right.

- A Nice, Single Guy

Sky Collison,You’re the best person that I have ever known, and I couldn’t imagine life without your friendship. Living with you has been one of the best aspects of my college experience. Thanks for everything that you do for me. Love you,Caitlyn 

Dear Anthony,

You are the wasabi to my

soy sauce, the peanut butter

to my jelly and the boba to

my Thai tea. Basically, you

make everything so much

better and I love you with all

of my heart and more.

Peace out, Laurela

and find myself researching the history and meanings of flower-giving during this romantic holiday.

According to Carolyn Black, master gardener at Pennsylvania State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences, the act of flower-giving dates back to the Greeks and Romans; however, it was the Victorians that linked a bouquet of flowers to emotions.

In her essay, “The Joy of Giving Flowers,” Black wrote that the “Victorians, living in an era when people did not believe in openly expressing emotions, found the language of flowers to be an acceptable form of expression.”

Victorians went to great lengths to attach meaning and symbolism to every aspect of giving flowers, from the type and shade of a flower to its placement in an arrangement, according to Black.

In this day and age, we have no problem expressing our emotions; in fact, we may do well to learn something from our prudish ancestors and keep a few of those emotions to ourselves. Because of our emotional freedom, however, we have lost the meaning of the flower and the true art of flower-giving.

Of course, the standard red rose—prom queen of the flower world—represents love and desire. If you were in a new relationship, however, you may

be better off giving your lady a white clover or a blue salvia: “Think of me” is the message sent by a white clover, whereas a blue salvia says, “I think of you.” Gentlemen, you may also consider a simple bouquet of daisies for a young lady with whom you are courting, for these flowers represent innocence and hope.

Furthermore, a red salvia which means “forever mine” or a violet that represents love, devotion and faithfulness, may be the more romantic way to go for a couple in a long-term, committed relationship.

Other meaningful flowers to consider could be the edelweiss (courage and devotion), holly (hope), lily-of-the-valley (sweetness) or the red tulip (declaration of love).

As I prepare for my margarita and zombiepalooza with my other single friends, I may consider bringing a bouquet of geraniums to my friend’s house to symbolize the true friendship shared between us. Although, to be honest, I think we’ll steer clear of flowers, chocolates or anything relationship-related that day. I will, however, hang onto this list of flowers and their meanings to casually pass on to a future boyfriend just in case he feels like being more creative on a future Valentine’s Day.

blue:peace, openness and serenity

yellow:friendship

pink:grace, gentility and happiness

Violet:Loyalty, devotion and faithfulness

Flowers say what words can’t Michelle PlussStaff Writer

Volume 99, issue 71 | Thursday , february 14, 2013 8 | opinion

education

Discriminatory policy only recruits Christian students

The California State Uni-versity system is trying to help more black students

pursue a college education. How-ever, its methods are problem-atic, at best.

Last Sunday, the seventh an-nual CSU Super Sunday cam-paign began at Saint Rest Baptist Church in Fresno. CSU leaders will give presentations at more than 100 predominantly black churches throughout the state this month, including 37 in Southern California.

The program is intended to show potential students that earning a college degree is an achievable goal, and to encour-age them to take the first steps toward higher education.

“We tell them real early, in elementary school and in high school. Prepare for the day that you can go to college, so then it’s your choice,” CSU Trustee Peter Mehas, who spoke at the kickoff event in Fresno, said.

Many of the students who come from these churches are first-generation college stu-dents whose parents may not be equipped to enable their children to succeed in college without assistance from mentorship programs.

“We’re trying to bridge that knowledge gap and equip influ-encers with information,” CSU Media Relations Specialist Erik Fallis said

Super Sunday is just one facet of the larger CSU African Ameri-

can Initiative. The program provides services that detail what students need to do to get to college.

“Super Sunday gets the mes-sage to the community in a unique way,” Fallis said.

So far, so good, right? Not exactly. Granted, the program appears to have the best of intentions and has arguably been effective because black-student enrollment has increased since the program began under the ad-ministration of Chancellor Emer-itus Charles B. Reed. However, it’s a fundamentally discrimina-tory program that needs to be scrapped immediately in favor of a better model. Furthermore, the upward trend in black graduates from the CSU system commenced seven years before Super Sunday began.

“The 30 percent increase in degrees conferred to African-American statistic is actually tied to Reed’s entire tenure, stretch-ing back to when he started in 1998,” Fallis said.

The biggest problem with Super Sunday is a major indirect consequence of this program. Namely, by focusing strictly on Christian denominations, quali-fied black students who belong to non-Christian religions—not to mention those who aren’t religious at all—don’t receive the same attention and opportuni-ties. Super Sunday takes place in predominantly Baptist and African Methodist Episcopal churches throughout the state. Among the Super Sunday venues

listed on calstate.edu, 39 of the churches fall into these two cat-egories and the rest are assorted Christian churches. So, the pro-gram may be described, techni-cally, as multidenominational, for Christian denominations.

There is not a single synagogue or mosque listed among event lo-cations for Super Sunday. If there were, the implications wouldn’t be quite as bad. The CSU would merely be favoring religious students more than nonreligious ones. As things currently stand, the cornerstone program of the CSU African American Initiative specifically favors potential stu-dents from one specific religion.

Obviously, arguments could be made that Super Sunday subtly conflicts with the idea of separa-tion of church and state. The fact that state-funded institutions of education are using churches as a recruiting ground for potential students who fall into one highly specific ethnic category should be raising red flags all across the place, but the program has exist-ed without apparent impedance for more than half a decade.

There are certainly other, superior ways to recruit minority students.

A great model for targeting minority students already exists in the CSU system. The CSU Hispanic Partnerships Initiative, which has a more diverse as-semblage of outreach programs, none of which involve targeting students with particular religious beliefs or excluding students without certain religious affili-

ations.The Hispanic Partnerships

Initiative employs a multifaceted approach to engaging Latino students, using partnerships with organizations such as the Parent Institute for Quality Educa-tion, American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education, Univision Education Advisory Committee, La Opinion and the White House Initiative on Edu-cation Excellence for Hispanic

Americans. Through the His-panic Partnerships Initiative, the CSU system already proved the effectiveness of secular part-nerships in targeting minority students. Many of these La-tino students are also first-time students facing similar obstacles as their black classmates. Pro-grams, such as Hispanic Part-nerships Initiative, prove there is simply no reason to target a narrow portion of a particular minority group that happens to share religious ideology when it’s possible to reach out to an entire community through completely secular partnerships.

In all fairness, there is one

Every other aspect of the African American Initiative is directly tied to African Methodist Episcopal, Baptist and Christian organizations.

— Assistant Opinion Editor Ken-neth Leonard is an English senior

secular activity in the CSU African American Initiative. The Super Saturday event is a college fair where the 23 CSU campuses provide information and workshops about topics, such as the CSU application and admission process, financial aid and campus life. However, literally every other aspect of the African American Initia-tive is directly tied to African Methodist Episcopal, Baptist and Christian organizations. Even the biannual policy makers briefings, which are hosted by CSU presidents and the chancel-lor, are centered around briefing black pastors and “faith-based leaders” who operate in Califor-nia. These briefings are intended “to solidify the partnerships that support the African American Initiative,” according to calstate.edu.

At the end of the day, the CSU system can’t afford to allow the Super Sunday program to con-tinue. At best, it’s an unethical and feeble attempt to reach out to minority students. Essentially, it’s a poor attempt at doing a good thing.

Here’s an idea: Ditch the churches and focus on reach-ing out to schools with a high concentration of black students. None of the kids in those schools should miss out on opportunities because they don’t happen to be one of the lucky kids attending the “right” church.

thursday, february 14, 2013 | Volume 99, issue 71 opinion | 9

valentine’s

Save a buck, show your love every day

let’s take a look at the struc-ture of a typical Valentine’s Day. In the morning, you

are supposed to be surprised by a bouquet of roses delivered with a cute card: $50. If you live in the residence halls or an apart-ment complex, your flowers will be compared to everyone else’s flowers. You exchange cutesy texts throughout the day. In the evening, you put on the frilly red dress you bought for Valentines Day: $40, and your significant other knocks on your door with a cheap box of chocolates ($6), a teddy bear ($4) and maybe a heart-shaped gold necklace ($65), if they have more disposable income. Then you go out to that Italian restaurant you have been wanting to try out where you sit next to rows and rows of couples who are out on the exact same date: $50. You somehow come up with a conversation topic you haven’t already talked about and then head out to see “Safe Haven,” or if you are smart, “Sil-ver Linings Playbook” (just get through the first 20 minutes and it gets really good): $24. After en-joying the movie, it’s time to park and you can fill in the rest. At the end of the day, between the two of you, you are out $239. I have approximated the totals based on my own experience and current average prices, but you get my drift. Valentine’s Day alone costs college students a fortune and for what? To tell someone you love them, which is something you should already tell them every day if it’s true. This is a date I have been on; a date I roll my eyes at today. When you go out on Valentine’s Day, you are set-ting yourself up to be compared to every other couple out there. Because if someone spent more money, they clearly have a bigger heart.

Showing someone you care should be a spontaneous gesture, not one promoted by people who make money off of it. According to Hallmark’s Valentine’s Day website, the company sells more than 150 million Valentine’s Day cards, not including the cards grade school students pass out as a classroom activity. This puts Valentine’s Day as the runner-up for most cards sold during any holiday season. Can a card really tell my boyfriend how much I care about him more sincerely than I can? The very idea that I would give my loved one a mass-produced card suggests our love is just like everyone else’s. Isn’t the point of Valentine’s Day to show someone how much you personally care about them?

Before you get any ideas, I am not bitter and I am not single. I am dating my best friend and boy, does he have it rough. He doesn’t get to prove to me how much he loves me simply by the price tag on a heart-shaped box of chocolate. And yet, I know exactly how much I mean to him by the way he tells me he loves me, by how often he reminds me and all the caring things he does without being prompted by a corporation, without any outside praise and without any payback beyond knowing I would do the same for him. Flowers aren’t required any other day of the year, so when I get them, they are that much more special. So no, I am not celebrating Valentine’s Day. My boyfriend, Kevin, will be at work and I will be getting Yogurtland with my single (and eligible) roommate. Afterwards, we will spend the weekend to-gether like we always do, using the $239 we saved for something a little more spontaneous.

— Assistant Photo Editor Monica Linzmeier

Dear Mayor Bob Filner,

Thank you for making us believe in love again. Before you came along, we were heartbroken and depressed; we thought no one could make us feel the way Ran-dall “Duke” Cunningham had. Sure, we’d heard stories about you charming your way through the halls of Congress. But noth-

Dear Artie Ojeda’s mustache,

We have often admired you from afar. We watch you on TV in high definition when possible, lending your master an unrivaled sense of gravitas. The moment you enter a room, all eyes fall on you in admiration. As strug-gling journalism mustaches, we look up to you, hoping to one day have a fraction of the supple fullness you possess. There is so much we wish to learn from you. We mustache you a question, but we’ll shave it for later.

With love and jealousy,The Daily Aztec’s struggling,

patchy facial hair

Dearest Dagmar Midcap,

Your smiling face belongs here in this sunny climate, providing accurate and insightful weather fore-casts for us, your faithful viewers. Nobody rocks pencil skirts and V-neck sweaters quite like you, and it’s safe to say you’ve taken our hearts by storm. There hasn’t been a cloud in sight since you arrived in town, as far as we’re concerned. There’s no barometer capable of measuring the pressure we feel when we think of you. We’ve even been prone to emotional flurries. At this point you might be wondering, “Is that a Dop-pler radar in your pants, or are you just happy to see me?” We’re just happy to see you.

Sincerely with rising humidity,The Daily Aztec’s weather fans

Beloved “Papa” Doug Manches-ter,

You make us feel things we’ve never felt before. The way you stand up to the liberals and their gay agenda makes us want to give you a standing ovation. No one before has made the far right feel so wrong, yet so good. In local real estate, you plowed in ways no one had, erecting high-rises big-ger than anything we’d ever seen. Sometimes we catch ourselves just sitting and staring at Manchester Hall. Afterwards we go home, take a cold shower and dry off with copies of our beloved U-T San Diego.

With love, lots and lots of love,The Daily Aztec’s confused

conservatives

RACCOON FROM OUTER SPACE by Emily Moretz

ing could prepare us for your mayoral campaign. It was love at first sight. When we saw you debate, hurling vicious attacks and baseless accusations, we knew we’d never leave you. When you moved in, we were worried you’d change and lose the spark that made us fall in love. We’re glad to see you haven’t. The San Diego City Council has become

a bizarre three-ring circus of intrigue, personal feuds and pointless political posturing, and for that we thank you. There’s no one else we would rather have oc-cupying our mayoral seat, if you catch our drift.

Sincerely, The Daily Aztec’s hopelessly

romantic political junkies

Love letters from The Daily Aztec’s Opinion to SD’s luminaries

Volume 99, issue 71 | Thursday , february 14, 2013 10 | entertainment

‘By Your Side’ is a great album to spend V-day withturn it up

Kevin Smead Entertainment Editor

No matter how you feel about Val-entine’s Day, there’s always someone who’ll tell you you’re wrong. It’s like they hide in the last truffle of the Rus-sell Stover box, and as soon as you bite into it—not sure if it’s some weird, nut thing or coffee flavored (spoiler: It’s always going to be the gross, nut thing)—you’re treated not only to candy nobody wants, but opinions nobody wants either. You’ll be left an-noyed, in need of something to drink and undoubtedly with a weird, left-over taste of nuts in your mouth.

If there’s one thing everyone can agree on, though, it’s love for a solid, grooving album. Luckily, for this year’s Valentine’s Day, Breakbot’s “By Your Side” is there to fill even the cold-est hearts with some funk and just-sweet-enough disco.

The album’s intro and opening track are enough to entice listeners to check out the rest of the album. “Break of Dawn” is a quick two-min-ute introduction to the tone of the al-bum, while “Fantasy,” which features vocals by Ruckazoid, sounds as if it’s ripped straight from an ‘80s Michael Jackson record. There’s nothing not to like about it.

Other standout tracks include the funk-guitar fueled “You Should Know,” the ‘80s-inspired “Pro-gramme,” “One Out of Two” (which features one of my favorite opening guitar melodies ever), and the abso-lutely stellar “Baby I’m Yours,” which has a standout vocal performance by Irfane and perhaps the best instru-

mentation on the album. There’s just something undeniably cool about the track, and it’s physically impossible not to dance along to Breakbot’s killer bass/piano/guitar trifecta.

In fact, what really sells the album is Breakbot’s instrumentation. Although all of the beats are electronic, the rest of the instrumentation is live, provid-ing for a unique and appealing blend of sounds that will no doubt have you dancing throughout the whole album.

The French producer and DJ (whose real name is Thibaut Berland) is not afraid to let his love for disco shine through, as violins sharpen the round-ed edges of the album. Breakbot’s keyboard work in “By Your Side” is also absolutely outstanding, which is integral for the keyboard and synths which serve as the main driving force for the album.

Not every track is 100 percent suc-cessful, though. Some of the slower, soul-inspired tracks aren’t bad per se, but on an album that’s all about get-ting down and shaking it, they just aren’t quite on the same level. Despite this, they do make for a nice change of pace. This is an album about love, after all, and some slow jams are es-sential every now and again.

The album’s outro, “Intersection” can only be described as indie-rock-meets-‘70s soundtrack, and it definite-ly hits a sweet spot, ending the album in a way that totally defines everything Breakbot is about.

So, this Valentine’s Day, ignore the haters on both sides of the debate and just pick up this album. Whether you have a Valentine or are celebrating be-ing single, Breakbot will be “By Your Side.”

name, position

AlBum: by your side

ArtiSt: breakbot

rAtiNG:

rEViEW

the Casbah

the tower Bar

SD House of Blues

Soda Bar

10/4 lightningCloud

10/5 Stepdad

10/6 maria minerva

10/7 Dry the river

10/4 Big Gigantic

10/5 Admiral Fallow

10/6 Nightwish

10/7 the Slumerican tour featuring Yelawolf

10/4 lady Dottie and the Diamonds

10/5 Hip-Hop vs. Punk rock

10/6 rip Carson

10/4 Wallpaper

10/5 the Burning of rome

10/6 rochelle rochelle

WeeKendConCert

Calendar

02/14

02/16

02/15

Japanther

mouse on mars

the Heavy Guilt and Friends

Soda Bar the Casbah

courtesy of breakbot

02/17 Old English

02/14

02/16

02/15

Wallpaper

transfer

Om

02/17 Old tiger

Belly up tavern Bar Pink

02/14

02/16

02/15

the Hives (Sold Out!)

ra ra riot

Steve Poltz’s 4th

Annual 50th B-Day

02/17 Blackalicious

02/14

02/16

02/15

Fitted

the Nathan James trio

Neon Beat (‘80s)

02/17 DJs Joemama and tramlife

HELP WANTED

The Daily Aztec does not endorse or support and has no affiliation with the products or services offered in the Classifieds section.

SUMMER OF YOUR LIFE! CAMP WAYNE FOR GIRLS – Children’s summer camp, Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania 6/15-8/11. If you love children and want a caring, fun environment we need Counselors, Instructors and other staff for our summer camp. Interviews on SDSU campus Feb.15th. Select The Camp That Selects The Best Staff! Call 1.215.944.3069 or apply atwww.campwaynegirls.com__________________________________

coNDos 4 rENT

Walk To School: 2 bd/2 ba condo on Lindo Paseo, $1500 rent now through July, $1700 rent August thru August, W/S/T included in the rent, 2 underground parkng spaces, on-site laundry, bike racks, All new appliances, everything upgraded, Call now! 619-800-1054.__________________________________

KCR is accepting applications for the General Manager position for the Fall 2013 semester, with possibility for reappointment through 2013/14 academic year.Those interested should pick up an application at the KCR of�ces, located in the Communications Building, Room 122 or at the A.S. Business Of�ce located in Aztec Mesa, Room 110.Completed applications are to be submitted to the A.S. Business Of�ce.

DEADLINE TOSUBMITAPPLICATIONSIS FRIDAY,FEB. 15, 2013@ NOON

KCR

Announcement of the Application Process for

EDITOR IN CHIEF OF THE DAILY AZTEC,ACADEMIC YEAR 2013/14

APPLICANTS MUST HAVE:• Knowledge of newspaper editorial and art production operations, journalism ethics,

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at The Daily Aztec is preferred• 60 or more units of completed coursework; minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0

Interested persons may pick up an application packet from The Daily Aztec, in the basement of the Education and Business Administration (EBA) building or in the A.S. Business Office, Aztec Mesa, Room 110. Applicants may also download the application packet at www.thedailyaztec.com/jobs or as.sdsu.edu/jobs/joblist.php

APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY NOON, FEBRUARY 15, 2013.The Daily Aztec is an equal opportunity and at-will employer as defined by California law.

thursday, february 14, 2013 | Volume 99, issue 71 entertainment | 11

IDoSA

J. Hutton Marshall Managing Editor

I’ve got nothing to lose this year, so I’ll just go ahead and say it. Ladies, your boyfriend thinks Valentine’s Day is a stupid waste of time. He might pretend to be nice because he’s a “good guy,” whatever that means, but deep down, jumping through hoops to impress our sig-nificant others for some hard-to-spell holiday made up by greeting card companies (source needed) is not what most of us with a Y-chro-mosome envision as our perfect day. Don’t get me wrong—or get me wrong, I’ll probably never meet you, so what do I care—I’m not saying a fella can’t treat his gal real dandy and feel swell about it, I’m just saying Valentine’s Day is an unconvincing reason for doing so. Women, you can stop reading now.

Are they gone? OK, good. So, fellow males, here’s my proposi-tion—which I’m proposing because I’m single and therefore have noth-

ing to lose—we stop celebrating Valentine’s Day. Sure, there’ll be a little push-back from the fairer sex at first. Some of you might even be forcibly thrust back into single

In Defense of something Awful: Valentine’s Daylife, but you can suffer with pride knowing it’s for the greater good. Men, imagine a world where Feb. 14 is just a day, a day when we can just play X-box, catch up on “The Walking Dead” and say, “Baby, I’d love to go out, but I’m just re-ally broke right now.” Besides, how long can they really stay mad at us? What are they going to do: Let the human race go extinct because of a holiday that’s basically an over-blown date night?

Sadly, we all know why this plan wouldn’t work. First, I don’t think The Daily Aztec’s distribution is large enough to really implement this column’s plan to its full extent. Second, and more importantly, we all know women would absolutely let the human race go extinct just to spite us. They’ve got the men-tal and physical fortitude to wear heels, makeup, miniskirts and God knows what other unfathom-ably uncomfortable stuff we’re not aware of. I’d prefer to remain igno-rant. As for men: Personally, I can barely resist picking the wax out of my ears in public. I don’t like our odds.

So bow down, bros. If we have to wear our clip-on ties and play nice just once a year, let’s be thankful our female overlords don’t make us do this more often.

courtesy of fox

They’ve got the mental and physical fortitude to wear heels, makeup, miniskirts and God knows what other unfathomably uncomfortable stuff we’re not aware of.

Some celebrate Valentine’s Day lusting after their cousin, such as “Arrested Development’s” George Michael Bluth (pictured above holding a relevant candy heart). It must be great having a valentine. What a fun, sexy time for you.

WWW.THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

Today’s BirThday (2/14/13) - Pablo Neruda said, “Laughter is the language of the soul.” Take this to heart, as springtime romances your schedule with social events. The spotlight is on, so play to the crowd. After June, a career shift leads you in a worthwhile direction. Keep performing, and smile for the cameras.

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 9 - Quit dilly-dallying, and surrender to your passion. The action is behind the scenes. Confer with family on decisions. Put in the extra effort. Success is within your grasp.Taurus (april 20 - May 20) - Today is a 6 - There’s light at the end of the tunnel, but why rush out when you can dance in the dark? Reveal your adorable side. And wear something comfortable.GeMini (May 21 - June 21) - Today is a 7 - It’s all about partnership. Rely on your team and get inspired. Share your winnings. Pretend the work is fun, and it will be.CanCer (June 22 - July 22) - Today is an 8 - It’s a good time for romantic plans. Grasp an opportunity and you may get a bonus. Make subtle refinements along the way. Be happy with what you have.Leo (July 23 - aug. 22) - Today is an 8 - Dress well, and relax with confidence. Your friends are saying nice things about you. You’re in charge of your happiness. Bring along an interesting companion.VirGo (aug. 23 - sept. 22) - Today is a 7 - Provide leadership. Work that you love pays

well now. Find another way to cut expenses. Shop carefully. It’s an excellent time to fall in love. Savor the deliciousness.LiBra (sept. 23 - oct. 22) - Today is a 9 - Opportunities arise in your social network. Consult an expert, use your partner’s ideas and accept tutoring from a loved one. Keep delivering what you say you will. Your fame travels.sCorpio (oct. 23 - nov. 21) - Today is an 8 - Necessity birthed invention. A creative solution provides ease. Get others to help. You’re making a good impression on an older person. Consider a new hairstyle; you’re looking good.saGiTTarius (nov. 22 - dec. 21) - Today is an 8 - Follow your wise partner’s advice and encouragement. There’s good news from far away. Get something that will grow in value. Good conversation is free, so listen carefully. All is forgiven.CapriCorn (dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is an 8 - Housework is satisfying. You have valuable resources hidden. Get a boost from a partner. Romance blossoms at a distance. You’re making a good impression. Study what you love.aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is an 8 - What you give freely returns to you tenfold. Build up savings by avoiding letting others spend for you. Love finds a way. It’s easy to understand. Others find you fascinating.pisCes (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is an 8 - You’re learning good stuff. Keep your long-term goals in mind, and add a touch of elegance. Love hits you like a feather. Hold a social gathering, and get a pleasant surprise.©2013, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

HOROSCOPE by Nancy Black,Tribune Media Services

SUDOKU by The Mepham Group,Tribune Media Services

DiffiCUlty lEvEl: 4 out of 4

inStRUCtiOnS: Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9.

Solutions available online atwww.thedailyaztec.com

©2013, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

CROSSWORD by Rich Norris & Joyce Lewis,Tribune Media Services

Across1 Geometry subject6 Vend10 “Don’t let anyone else hear this”14 Cowboy, at times15 Palm product16 Classic cream-filled snack17 For the birds?18 Agile deer19 Actor Ken20 Stout23 Seaside raptor24 Have to thank for, with “to”25 Horn sound26 Belgrade native28 Lawn option29 Nova Scotia hrs.32 Relative via remarriage36 Shell out37 Stout40 Gremlin and Pacer41 Able to come back42 Cole Porter’s “__ Clown”43 Bond, for one45 “Heavens to Betsy!”46 Place to tie up48 “__ we having fun yet?”49 Intractable beast52 Stout57 Dead set against58 Ram, e.g.59 Significant60 Sax immortal Getz61 Politico Bayh62 Blue hue63 Reaction to being cut off64 Not a good mark65 Hem again

Down1 Talk and talk2 Casanova3 For the bees4 Tide type5 Cubemaster Rubik6 Milkshake choice7 Gradually vanish8 Cobb of “12 Angry Men”

9 Not get the better of10 Flickr image11 Ring insert12 Knife in “West Side Story”13 Shape (up)21 Tire-shaped22 New England catch26 Nos. for beachgoers27 Chemical suffix28 Cryptozoologist’s quarry30 Name meaning “young warrior” in Old Norse31 Short communication32 Work on a deck33 Large volume34 Yosemite attraction35 Not a good mark36 Crossword component38 Rival of Rory39 Greeting in Rio

43 When doubled, a breath freshener44 Specialized undergrad course47 Permanently48 Liam Neeson voiced him in “The Chronicles of Narnia” films49 Like many a prime rib serving50 One in a Lincoln quartet?51 Scatter52 Reason for stitches53 “Do __ ...”54 Late-inning achievement55 Barbra’s “Funny Girl” co-star56 Flabbergast

Solutions available online at www.thedailyaztec.com

VoLUME 99, ISSUE 71 | tHURSDay, fEbRUaRy 14, 2013 12 | BACKPAGE

Big, beautiful green eyes humor

Ana CeballosAssistant News Editor

I consider myself a lucky gal. I found the one for me at age 21. I found happiness just by staring into his big, beautiful green eyes and touching his soft, black hair. Our first encounter was so magical, I literally couldn’t sleep for days (yes, I know the definition of the word literal and I used it correctly). It took him a while to adjust to my busy lifestyle—every-day I leave my apartment at 9 a.m. and usually don’t return until he is fast asleep in front of the TV. By then he is too tired to play with me. I could tell it made him second-guess our relationship at first, but when it was time for bed, he would always crawl in next to me.

He listens to all of my problems and never judges me when I sit in front of the TV all day eating buckets of chocolate ice cream while watch-ing embarrassing reality TV shows. He genuinely likes my fuzzy pink socks and even massages my feet when I’m doing homework. This might be superficial of me, but he has the softest hair I’ve ever seen on a male. Our bond was unbreakable, or so I thought.

A few months ago, we started hav-ing problems. A new man came into my life; he is handsome, funny, smart and also has beautiful green eyes (damn, those green-eyed hunks). The dilemma started when this new man became my boyfriend. Snooks, my cat, did not approve of the situation and made it very obvious.

Almost immediately after my hu-man relationship started, Snooks re-belled against my clean apartment by leaving brown swirly presents on my bathroom rug and abnormally large decapitated moths on my kitchen counter. I started getting anxious when the rebellion wouldn’t stop and had to resort to extreme measures when the cat farting began (if you are a proud cat owner, you know the lat-ter should never be pardoned).

It was tough and, despite all the ar-ticles I read on thecatsite.com, which gave me a step-by-step guide to hav-ing a harmonious home with my cat, nothing helped. I bought him pres-ents with catnip in them, thinking the highness might alleviate the jealousy, but nothing changed. I over-fed him kitty treats, hoping he would be too full to be angry, but he just became an angry fat cat and I still found pur-posely misplaced feces in my apart-ment every other day (bigger than usual, I might add).

For a few weeks, I told my boy-friend not to come to my house. The thought of their first meeting, which instigated all of this, made me scared to think my cat would slit my boy-friend’s throat as he peacefully slept.

This brings me to the first time they met. I left the room for a couple of minutes and found my boyfriend, a dog lover, chasing my cat around the apartment. I heard low meows and human grunts for a good two minutes before I stopped the situa-tion. My boyfriend said the chase was playful and started because Snooks pulled his hair when he was sitting on

the couch. Snooks says my boyfriend was chasing him to throw him off the balcony. I think someone is lying.

I have to admit it would be easier to get rid of the boyfriend—maybe change my phone number and tell him I moved to Tennessee. Yes, I love him, but how could I handle leaving my cat at a shelter where he’ll be put in a cage surrounded by sad-looking animals? Snooks is part of the elite and could not handle that—he needs kitty treats every other hour.

Things began to get better around Christmas. My boyfriend bought Snooks more toys infested with catnip and decided to put things in the past. Snooks was hesitant at first, thinking maybe the toys were poisoned, but then came around and they started getting along for the first time in months. Thank you, Jesus, for being born and giving us a holiday where presents are given.

The three of us now have an agree-ment—they get to share me and I get to have a relationship with two men at one time. I approve of this agree-ment and I think they do, too. Snooks just farts on my boyfriend’s face most nights and my boyfriend stopped playing with him as if he were a dog.

Yes, it’s an unusual threesome, but now we can all bond in my apartment without worrying about cats claw-ing humans or stinky poops being stepped on at 2 a.m. in the bathroom. But I have to say, Snooks is still the owner of my heart. After all, cats are planning world domination one girl at a time.

LooKING ThrouGh our LENS

throwBackthursday

ucsb softball players watch from the sidelines as out-fielder brittany knudsen (39) hits the ball for a run. the aztecs defeated the gauchos 5-1 on feb. 14, 2009.

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