MONDAY AUGUST 13, 2012

THE NEWSPAPER OF SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1913VOLUME 98, ISSUE 124

Mayoral debate focuses on Mexico

Democratic rep. Bob Filner and Republican City Councilman Carl DeMaio convened last Thursday at the University of California, San Diego Institute of the Americas Aug. 9 for the second debate of San Diego’s mayoral race, which planned to focus on the Mexican-American border and San Diego’s large Hispanic population.

DeMaio opened the debate by addressing the importance of building strong ties south of the border. He illustrated his commitment by revealing his plans for a trip, him and several Southern Californian business leaders will make across the border later this month to meet with several Baja Californian leaders in the public and private sectors.

“We shouldn’t see the border as a boundary, as something to fear,” DeMaio said.

Filner said it was important not to step on the federal government’s jurisdiction when it concerned patrolling the border. He said, in his experience, this has led to racial profiling. On the other hand, DeMaio said he would use local law enforcement to make sure undocumented immigrants, who could at times be “vicious predators,” are sent back south of the border.

J. Hutton Marshall Managing Editor

Both candidates went on to stress the importance of international collaboration across the border. Filner promised to create a coalition of Mexican and American mayors along the border while DeMaio spoke of the economic prosperity possible for both countries through codependence.

In addition to the importance of international collaboration, both candidates agreed on improving efficiency at the border, saying it will lead to safer crossing and economic efficiency.

However, the cordial discussion quickly disintegrated. DeMaio accused Filner of having “failed to build the collaboration and partnerships (San Diego) needed

(with Mexico),” and showing no interest in doing so while serving in Congress. In response to the accusation, Filner credited himself with the sewage system at the border. He then called DeMaio a guy “who just discovered the word

‘Mexico.’”Filner quoted Ronald Reagan

by saying, “I will not hold my opponent’s youth and inexperience against him.”

The debate’s moderator had trouble maintaining control of the discussion after that. Filner accused DeMaio of not having enough Hispanic representation on his staff, to which DeMaio responded two of his seven staff members are Hispanic.

The debate progressed on to specifics regarding the improvement of the border crossing. Filner suggested implementing biometric smart cards to increase efficiency at the border. DeMaio stressed the importance of building trust on both sides of the border and improving local roads leading up to the San Diegan side of the crossing. Then, in another move off the debate’s intended topic, DeMaio’s political party became the subject of discussion.

“(Republicans) are a party that does not believe people of color deserve the same chance at success,” Filner said. They moved on to briefly discussing

The Calif. State University Board of Trustees is in the process of ironing out a budget strategy in the event that Gov. Jerry Brown’s Nov. tax initiative doesn’t pass.

Though no definite plans have been set, a host of general options to balance the budget within the CSU system were discussed at the CSU Board of Trustees’ July meet-ing. One of the options is a Graduation Incentive Fee, which would be cou-pled with adding a “third tier” to CSU resident tuition, according to the CSU Board of Trustees Com-mittee on Finance.

Under the Graduation Incentive fee, the board proposes an increase in tuition for “super seniors” who are in their fifth year or who have exceeded a set number of units generally needed for a bachelors degree.

“It’s not a direction the board wants to go, but it’s a possibility,” CSU Media Relations Specialist Erik Fallis said.The incentive fee would have

“helpful effects,” including an in-crease in graduation rates, which would free up admission slots for incoming CSU applicants, accord-ing to the Committee on Finance July agenda.

“In the case of students that maybe need a little motivation to finish up and get their degree and

Donna P. Crilly Staff Writer

move on, we can look at look at tu-ition specific to that group of stu-dents,” Fallis said.

Approximately seven percent of students within the CSU system are “super seniors,” according to the CSU Board of Trustees.

The “super seniors” are “po-tentially taking a spot of someone who is currently being denied due to enrollment cuts,” Calif. State Student Association Executive Di-rector Miles Nevin said. Pat Gaffney, a general manager at Costco, is paying for his youngest child’s tuition at San Diego State University. He says the incentive “makes sense.” Gaffney’s youngest son, Chad, is an incoming fresh-man.

“We would definitely want our son to do everything he possibly can to get out in the four years,” Gaffney said. But Gaffney acknowledges that many students change their ma-jor, which may cause students to enroll in school for more than four years.“You’re all pretty young. You’re going to school at 18, 19 years old and you’re not sure what you want to do. I changed my major person-ally three times,” Gaffney said, “and it took me six-and-a-half years.”

“They always tell us to take our time in school and now they’re punishing us for taking our time. That’s kind of messed up,” SDSU communications senior Joseph At-

San Diego State collected $71.5 million in private donations in support of The Campaign for SDSU in the 2011-12 fiscal year. This quantity is part of the $330 million already received to reach the campaign’s goal of $500 million.This is the first university-wide fundraising program for a campaign and already has more than 38,000 donors who have contributed to aiding SDSU programs, scholarships and other specific areas of donor interest. This year, SDSU’s academic units raised more than $40 million, which goes to fund university programs, endowed professorships and student scholarships. This is

the most money the academic units department has seen in three years. The academic department also received the most donations this year, according to Media Relations Manager, Gina Jacobs.SDSU alumnus, Lawrence Peterson, and his wife Madeline, recently donated $2 million to the SDSU College of Business Administration to “support the education that was so much applied” in his life because of the program.“If you graduate and have the mentality of creating, as well as finding, when searching for a job your options will be better,” Lawrence Peterson said. “The business entrepreneurial skills I learned at SDSU can be applied to any major and will definitely

Ana Ceballos Assistant News Editor

Walk in 4 or pay more SDSU collects $71.5 millioncampus campus

local

In a room full of tank top clad behemoths ceaselessly lifting beams of metal in violent opposi-tion to the forces of gravity, I me-andered through the Aztec Rec-reation Center. I was determined to engage in an exotic activity the likes of which I had never ex-perienced; a grueling, rhythmic pastime from which many do not get out alive. A ritual which at first has you trembling with fear, then leaves you drowning in an endless sea of your own sweat. I’m speaking of a Zumba dance class.

I slipped through the door to find myself in a sea of yoga pants and X chromosomes. The 360 degrees of mirrored walls immediately reflected I stuck out like a snoring narcoleptic during meditation class. Would my masculinity be jeopardized in this cesspool of femininity? Would the instructor ostracize me, callously pointing out all of my flaws, pummeling my self-esteem? Would my feet hurt af-terwards? What lay ahead of me was pure mystery, an unfathom-able metamorphosis that would leave me forever changed.

The instructor of the class, complete with tight blue shorts and the charisma to make Rich-ard Simmons blush, walked to the stereo and begun the escapade. To my surprise and delight, rather than hearing the

A first time Zumba dance

experience Eric DobkoStaff Writer

As San Diego State concludes the first week of fall football camp, spirits and expectations are high. Sports editor Ryan Schuler caught up with Aztec cornerback and Mountain West Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Leon McFadden after practice to get to know the man under the helmet.

Ryan Schuler: You’re a week through fall camp. How do you think you’ve done so far?Leon McFadden: I think we have progressed a lot further than we have in previous camps. We are ahead of schedule and getting better every day, but there’s always room for improvement. We are off to a good start.

RS: You signed with SDSU as a wide receiver. Why did you switch to defensive back?LM: We were three days into camp and a couple of guys went down at corner. In high school, I played corner and receiver. The

Aztec cornerback Leon McFadden

talks football and olympics

Ryan SchulerSports Editor

Check out David Dixon’s reviews of “Richard III” and “As You Like It” at The Old Globe’s Shakespeare Festival.

features

sports

SUPER SENIOR continued on page 2 CAMPAIGN continued on page 2 ZUMBA continued on page 5

FOOTBALL continued on page 3

MAYORAL DEBATE continued on page 2

hutton marshall, managing editorMayoral candidates, Bob Filner and Carl DeMaio, focus on the Mexican-American border during a debate at University of California, San Diego Institute of the Americas.

tara millspaugh, news editorAlumni Center at SDSU

the DREAM Act, which would grant citizenship in certain circumstances, such as graduating from a U.S. high school, to individuals who entered the country illegally. While DeMaio called education the “stepping stone of the American Dream,” he does not support the “poorly thought out program, despite its good intentions.” He also criticized the program’s funding. Filner corrected DeMaio, saying

from MAYORAL DEBATE page 1

kins said. It took Atkins a couple of years

to figure out what he wanted to do. He says he initially failed all of his classes, but was able to bounce back. Atkins plans to graduate in May 2013.

Donovan Geiger, student af-fairs coordinator for The SDSU College of Engineering, says it’s typical for engineering students to take five or six years to gradu-ate. The engineering students usually take an average of 140 units, according to Geiger.“Even if students take a typical 15-unit semester, they’re going to graduate in more than four years. It’s extremely tough,” Gei-ger said.Geiger says engineering students who do graduate within the four years usually take about 18 units per semester, including summer school.The “third tier” approach to the proposed tuition fee structure would include an extra per-unit charge for students taking more than 16 units, according to the Committee on Finance July agenda.However, the Board of Trustees discussed exceptions and flex-ibility within the budget strat-egy, according to Fallis. Fallis says that the Board of Trustees understands that some programs take longer than four years and will take such programs into ac-count.More details are expected to be released in Sept. after the CSU Board of Trustees revisits the budget strategies.

the DREAM Act never received funding because it was outvoted by the Republican party, saying DeMaio isn’t sincere in his claim to provide access for low-income children. The debate quickly went off topic once again.

“You know what reform means?” Filner said, referring to DeMaio’s platform of reform. The two candidates were no longer answering the moderator’s focused questions. “It means real estate for

2 NewsMondayAugust 13, 2012The DAily AzTec

benefit anyone intending to create a business.”SDSU received various donations for the campaign this year. For example, the Department of Classics and Humanities, School of Public Affairs and The Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center received $1.2 million to fund endowments and scholarships from Jack McGrory. Sharp HealthCare donated $500,000 to fund three new scholarships in the College of Health and Human Services. “Now that the school budgets are going down, it is important to support education,” Lawrence Peterson said. “In life, education is sometimes worth much more than the degree, the university teaches

us more than what we first assume it will.”Although most donors give to a specific area of interest and specific program, the Campanile Foundation distributes unspecified gifts by donors where there is need. As of right now, the university-wide campaign’s priorities are set for endowed professorships professor positions, student scholarships and supporting innovation, according to Jacobs. Because “The Campaign for SDSU” is not a capital campaign, the majority of the donations go to developing and strengthening campus programs; infrastructure is not part of the university-wide campaign.

fom CAMPAIGN page 1

World BeatCSSACalifornia State Student Asso-ciation held its meeting on Aug. 5. CSSA is looking for students interested in applying to be a candidate for the system-wide committee. Chosen representa-tives would attend all Board of Trustees meetings and aid in the decision-making process of budgetary affairs of the Cali-fornia State University system. Associated Student executives, Rob O’keefe and Tom Rivera, currently represent San Diego State on the CSSA board.

Rock the VoteAssociated Students will at-tempt to increase voter registra-tion this year by implementing a campaign called Rock the Vote.

A.S. representatives will be handing out registration forms to all residence halls and stu-dents on campus.

ConstructionFor construction updates, check out aztecstudentunion.com. Within the next few weeks, con-struction will be “going verti-cal” and passersby will soon be see erect structures from the construction site.

RestructureA.S. is currently in the process of restructuring its government. Once this update is complete, there will potentially be new bylaws and a new balance of power among executives.

Campus BeatCuriosityAccording to Mashable, more than 3.2 million people tuned in on Aug. 5 to watch the land-ing of the rover, Curiosity, on Mars. The $2.6 billion rover traveled more than 350 million miles to Mar’s surface. Curios-ity now has a two-year mission to determine whether or not Mars is capable of support-ing life. According to NASA, the project is going smoothly. NASA releases pictures daily taken by Curiosity via Twitter.

VP of RomneyRepresentative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin has been chosen by Mitt Romney to be his running mate in the 2012 presidential election. Ryan has been in Con-gress since 1999 and according

to Fox News, is a rising star within the Republican Party. Romney and Ryan are currently on a bus tour called “The Rom-ney Plan for a Stronger Middle Class.”

Sikh shootingsA gunman shot and killed six worshippers in the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin. Attorney General Eric Holder, labeled the attack, “an act of terrorism, an act of hatred, a hate crime.” According to the Los Angeles Times, the gunman, Wade Michael Page, had a history of participating in the white supremacist move-ment. The Milwaukee commu-nity and the world have joined together to mourn the deaths of the fallen victims.

from SUPER SENIOR page 1Doug Manchester.”In the final stretch of the debate, DeMaio asked the crowd if they would allow a mayor to, “run on rhetoric, or on a record of getting things done.” This provoked another off-topic argument between the candidates, who both appeared to be struggling to restrain themselves.Then came a question from the audience: How many times have you been to Mexico this year?DeMaio reluctantly admitted he had not been to Mexico this year, but reminded the audience

of his trip later this month. Filner, receiving a chance to outline his experience, said he visits Mexico several times every year. He listed several cities south of the border he visits regularly. In their closing remarks, both candidates stated they were running on platforms of action.

“I have a record of implementing action,” Filner said. “I don’t see my opponent having done that.”

“I’m running on the record of getting reform done,” DeMaio said. “I want to finish the job on fiscal reform.”

PhotogRAPheRS neededInquire at Photo@thedailyaztec.com

sports 3Monday

August 13, 2012The DAily AzTec

coaches told me I could play as a true freshman if I switched to corner, so whatever to help the team and that’s what happened. It benefitted me, so I’m happy about the change.

RS: You have been tabbed preseason first-team all-conference by just about every publication as well as Mountain West Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. What does that mean to you?

Leon McFadden - The man under the helmet

LM: It’s an honor to be acknowledged by my peers. It’s great, but our main focus is to be Mountain West champions.

RS: You start the season at Washington, a Pac-12 school. What do you think it is going to feel like to run onto that field?LM: The adrenaline is going to be pumping. It’s going to be a fun experience and we are going to be ready to play. Also, not many people know this

FOOTBALL

but Washington’s quarterback (Keith Price) was my high school quarterback.

RS: Your father played professional baseball in the Houston Astros organization. Why did you choose to play football instead of baseball?LM: My dad didn’t push me into baseball. I played football, basketball, baseball and track in high school, but he just wanted me to be happy with whatever I played and it just so happens I excelled in football. Baseball is great, but football is what I wanted to do.

RS: Why did you choose to attend and play for SDSU?

LM: I was recruited by coach (Brady) Hoke and I wanted to be a part of a change. The program just seemed to be going in the right direction and it has been these last three years.

RS: What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?LM: I like to hang out with teammates and go to the beach. Basically, I just like to be outdoors. I’ve never been much of a video game guy. I like to stay active.

RS: What is your favorite NFL team?LM: Philadelphia Eagles.

RS: What is your favorite

Olympic sport?LM: It’s between track and field and basketball, but I probably have to go with basketball.

RS: What’s one thing on your bucket list?LM: I would have to say travel the world. Watching the Olympics, you see different people and cultures, so I want to see how life is in different places. There’s so much more out there outside of the United States.

senior defensive back Leon McFadden on fall camp, starting the season against the Huskies, and his favorite olympic sport

Follow Sports editor @Ryan_Schuler for Aztec news and updates

Jacksonville Jaguars Carolina Panthers Denver Broncos San Diego Chargers Oakland Raiders San Diego Chargers Green Bay Packers Seattle Seahawks Denver Broncos Arizona Cardinals Kansas City Chiefs Chicago Bears Seattle Seahawks Buffalo Bills Arizona Cardinals Jacksonville Jaguars Arizona Cardinals New York Jets Indianapolis Colts San Francisco 49ers Miami Dolphins

With the National Football League right around the corner, check out the 21 former Aztecs currently playing in the pros.

Russell AllenAntwan ApplewhiteAaron BrewerVincent BrownMiles BurrisBrandyn DombrowskiTommie DraheimHeath FarwellRonnie HillmanRyan LindleyJerome LongLance LouisMatt McCoyKirk MorrisonLarry ParkerWilliam RobinsonDeMarco SampsonChaz SchilensBrian StahovichBrett SwainRoberto Wallace

Linebacker Defensive End Center Wide Receiver Linebacker Offensive Tackle Center Linebacker Running BackQuarterbackDefensive Tackle Guard Linebacker Linebacker Defensive BackOffensive TackleWide Receiver Wide Receiver Punter Wide ReceiverWide Receiver

NAME tEAM posItIoN

AnTonio zARgozA, eDiToR in chieFsenior defensive back Leon McFaddenfinished last season with 17 passes defended.

4 ENTERTAINMENTMondayAugust 13, 2012The DAily AzTec

ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE

Masterful lunacy is on display in devilish ‘Richard III’

Can a three-hour epic about a narcissistic jerk make for a satisfying night of theatre? Of course it can, if the book is smart and the right performer makes the part his own. Both these qualities are evident in The Old Globe’s production of William Shakespeare’s historical play, “Richard III.”

Set in modern day England, Richard, Duke of Gloucester (Jay Whittaker) is revealed as a man who embodies pure evil within

minutes after his stage

entrance. Act I is about Richard’s deadly rise to power, which results in numerous murders and complicated deceptions. This makes for a more straightforward

David DixonStaff Writer

act, as it depicts Richard’s demise by the good-hearted Earl of Richmond (Dan Amboyer). He is such a likeable hero it is hard not to root for him in his attempts to defeat Richard in battle.

The main reason to attend this production is because of Whittaker’s unhinged, crazy and wickedly funny portrayal of the deformed tyrant. His masterful reading of Shakespeare’s text alternates between subtle and grand, often in the same line of dialogue.

As Richard, Whittaker is at his most frightening after

he becomes king. Richard rules his

p e o p l e like a mad

despot, and a late speech evokes

images of dictators, such as Adolf Hitler and Benito

Mussolini. Director Lindsay

Posner keeps things lively on stage, even when the story gets

extremely complex. His decision to adapt the real life 15th century events to the 21st century works very well, especially in the memorable climax during the Battle of Bosworth Field.

With so much going on in this

play: richArD iii

dIRectoR: linDsAy posner

Runs: June 3 - sepT. 29

ReVIeW

courtesy of henry diroccoModern propaganda posters flank the cast of The Old Globe’s Shakespeare Festival production of “Richard III.”

particular scene, Posner stages an ending with one of the more action packed finales the Shakespeare Festival has produced in recent years. From a directorial standpoint, this is “Richard III” at its best.

The only flaws in this otherwise terrific interpretation are two major scenes written by Shakespeare, which go on far too long. Though Queen Margaret (Robin Moseley) is a very interesting character, there is a big moment early on where she curses Richard and some of the men working for him. This sounds blasphemous, but Shakespeare dwells too much on this and the plot momentarily sags.

Another sequence that is longer than necessary is when all the people Richard is responsible for murdering appear as ghosts. While the scene starts out being spooky, they all keep on repeating the same point: Earl is good and will live, Richard is bad and will die.

The excellent news is both of the aforementioned issues only last for a few minutes. While they deserve to be trimmed, the basic foreshadowing should be kept in the future.

By far the blackest of the three plays currently at the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, “Richard III” is easy to recommend, especially to witness Whittaker’s

continued rise as a great actor. His whole commitment to showing the worst of mankind is something to behold.

Tickets and information about “Richard III” can be found at theoldglobe.org.

‘as you like It’ is full of laughs, romance and whimsy

David DixonStaff Writer

play: as you lIke It

dIRectoR: ADriAn noble

Runs: June 10 - sepT. 30

ReVIeW

The Old Globe’s new production of “As You Like It” at the 2012 Shakespeare Festival is a fantastic romantic comedy, which transports spectators to an enchanting winter wonderland. Director Adrian Noble makes the most of a relatively sparse set, while keeping the production of this famous story astonishingly delightful.

Set in a time inspired by 1930s England, Rosalind (Dana Green) is the daughter of Duke Senior (Bob Pescovitz), a respected

man who is banished by his evil brother, Duke Frederick (Happy Anderson). After a slapstick-filled wrestling match, Rosalind falls in love with Orlando (Dan Amboyer), the son Frederick’s enemy, Sir Rowland de Bois. Both Rosalind and Orlando get into dangerous conflicts, leading them to abandon their homes and find refuge in the magical Forest of Arden.

Like his previous interpretation of “The Tempest,” Noble has created an easily accessible piece of entertainment aimed at a mass audience. Instead of an adaptation following the original show to a

tee, the humor is quite graspable, with plenty of physical jokes and nuances from the actors resulting in clear verbal wit.

Another artist who plays an integral part in the majestic tone of the play is scenic designer, Ralph Funicello. There isn’t much scenery, but what Funicello achieves is spellbinding. The forest is full of artificial falling snow, which adds to the delightful mood. In Act II, a cable grid with lights hovers over the entire auditorium adding simple visual magic.

Of course, what is a great Shakespeare play without a terrific ensemble? Everyone plays their part perfectly, from Amboyer’s sympathetic portrayal of Orlando to the cynical Jaques (Jacques C. Smith) who gets to say the most popular line, “All the world’s a stage.”

The most memorable performances come from the two main women, Green as Rosalind and Vivia Font as Celia, Rosalind’s witty and loyal cousin. They play off each other’s wittiness to get the most laughs they possibly can.

Green makes Rosalind a clever heroine whose quick thinking actually pays off. Characters like this usually find temporary solutions that bite them in the

butt, but Rosalind never runs into these types of problems because she is one of the wisest people in her world.

While it is not a musical, there are four songs written by the playwright that are integrated throughout “As You Like It.” Mostly led by the character Amiens (Adam Daveline) and accompanied with original music by Shaun Davey, the upbeat folksy numbers really stand out as opposed to slowing the proceedings down.

In the program, Noble says “As You Like it” is “one of [his] favorite p l ay s .” His love f o r

Shakespeare’s text is on full display and his unique vision results in another triumphant success for the summer festival.

Tickets and information about “As You Like It” can be found at theoldglobe.org.

courtesy of henry diroccoDana Green (center) leads the cast of “As You Like It” as Rosalind at The Old Globe’s Shakespeare Festival.

do you have an undying fascination with tyrannical dictators? are you enchanted by maigcal forests? Whether you’re a fan of the Bard, or just prepping for english 533, the old Globe is your ultimate destination for all things William shakespeare with their summer shakespeare Festival.

FITNESS & FOOD 5MondayAugust 13, 2012

the daily aztec

newest Ke$ha hit blaring from the speakers, the sound of conga-filled Latin music filled the room. And before I could blink, the instructor initiated the lesson with a series of well-rehearsed foot steps and hip thrusts. As soon as I managed to copy each dance move, he broke it off and moved on to a new one. How could he? Does he have any idea how much hard work and dedication I just put into learning that move?

Clearly, Zumba is no cakewalk. I found myself submerged into a ruthless game of salsa fueled Simon Says.

But as the class went on, my ability to keep up with the high-speed dance routine improved. Pretty soon I found myself executing a continuous flow of spicy dance moves that would put Enrique Iglesias to shame. By the time we were ricocheting from wall to wall with the MC Hammer shuffle, I realized Zumba was something I could possibly get into.

Despite both my physical and mental desolation and with my best efforts to not let my recording device slip through my

sweat-drenched hands and shatter on the floor, I got a few words with the instructor, John Nagel, regarding the origins of Zumba.

“The guy who invented it is actually from Columbia; he was a fitness instructor in Florida and one day he forgot to bring his music. Not knowing what to do, he went out in his car, got a salsa/meringue tape…and just made up an aerobics class with salsa music…and people loved it,” Nagel said.

“Pretty soon the marketing people got a hold of him and it became this phenomena that people now know as Zumba.”

I got some feedback from Zumba enthusiasts about their

thoughts on the experience. San Diego State student Lucia commented, “It’s a really good way to get your cardio in without really noticing it; if you went 50 minutes on a treadmill, by the end you’d be dying, but here you’re having fun, smiling, and actually enjoying yourself.”

I asked another dancer, Samantha, what she would tell anyone thinking about trying Zumba for the first time.

“Definitely give it a try – if you get lost in the movements, just make sure to keep your body moving at the least so that you keep your heart rate up. And don’t worry about what you look like, a lot of the moves you’re probably not

going to get, but just remember to keep moving and have a good time.”

Exercise can oftentimes be a necessary truth one does in loathsome reluctance, but the class was both fun and mentally stimulating. Not only did I get a great cardio workout, I learned heaps of dance moves at an accelerated rate. It was definitely a powerful rhythmic exercise, having to pick up dance routines on the spot and be ready for any curveballs the instructor could throw in. If an arduous sprint of mirroring saucy dance moves sounds like a good time, Zumba may be for you.

From rich and sugary French toast for the diner with a sweet tooth to braised tofu and brown rice for the more health conscious eater, The Mission has it all. Operating on a philosophy of ‘everyone’s welcome and it’s all good,’ the restaurant has blossomed throughout the past 15 years and has attracted a loyal fan base.

Once a sole coffeehouse in Mission Beach catering largely to college students, the restaurant has expanded to three different locations — Mission Beach, North Park and Downtown — all of which have a variety of “simple, healthy, tasty food with a whimsical edge.” Chef Fay Nakanishi joined with owners Deborah Helm and Thomas Fitzpatrick to bring this idea to life.

If the food alone isn’t enough of an indication of their success, the bustling interior and congregation of patrons outside shows just how much of a local favorite the North Park location has become.

“You can get breakfast anywhere, but we try to make it

a special experience, paired with great eclectic dishes … that are interesting and that you can’t get anywhere else,” said Jody Ritacco, the district manager who oversees all three locations.

Among the delectable treats on the menu are traditional favorites such as pancakes and French toast. The restaurant lives up to its mission in offering creative dishes such as the Zen Breakfast. For $9.95, this popular dish consists of scrambled egg whites, braised tofu, brown rice and grilled zucchini and squash, garnished with tomato and onion.

Customer favorites also include the soy chorizo specials, which cater to vegetarians and vegans. The plates feature combinations of eggs, black beans, scallions, an assortment of vegetables and of course, soy chorizo. All of the items on the diverse menu fall

within a reasonable price range of $6 to $10, making the restaurant accessible to its original clientele

— the broke college student. While the atmosphere of the

restaurant isn’t exactly conducive to studying, it makes a great hangout spot for students. The

The Mission eatery creates culinary masterpiecesAllie Bidwell Staff Writer

We’re fans of the supporting the art commu-nity. it gives us a new enviornment every six months or so. Not only the staff, but everyone looks forward to what’s next.

environment is lively and uplifting, with people from all different walks of life coming to enjoy a meal together. The mood is laid back and welcoming and the prices are reasonable, which is appealing to those of us with a limited income. In addition to the food, the décor and guiding principles of The Mission give it a unique vibe that could serve a diverse range of customers.

Aside from the creative array of grub, the restaurant establishes itself as a vibrant urban center with its display of work from local

artists. At each location, pieces are hung on the walls and sold, with all of the proceeds going directly back to the artist. According to Ritacco, the idea came along with the inception of the restaurant.

“We’re fans of supporting the art community,” she said. “It gives us a new environment every six months or so. Not only the staff, but everyone looks forward to what’s next, and it gives local artists exposure.”

Another way the restaurant gives back to the community is in its effort to be environmentally

friendly. Even though it creates a larger cost to use green products

— such as biodegradable cups and natural cleaning products

— Ritacco said the cost is worth contributing to the environment in a positive way.

Although the restaurant has branched out and become more family-oriented, Ritacco said she still feels it is a great place for students to come, hang out and enjoy a cup of coffee.

“Anybody can walk in,” Ritacco said. “We have something for everyone.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF THINKSTOPWhile these may be considered the ‘usual suspects’ at a Zumba class, the workout is for all walks of life.

An inside look at our writer’s experience with the workout

COURTESY OF THE MISSIONOne of the many healthy and delicious dishes available at The Mission

from ZUMBA page 1

Jody Ritacco District Manager

6 OPINIONMondayAugust 13, 2012The DAily AzTec

Kenneth Leonard Staff Columnist

The tax exemptions enjoyed by churches are not only unreasonable but are detrimental to society as a whole ... and it is costing tax payers billions of dollars.

Taxation is a hot-button is-sue during every election season. As the politicians

play their roles in the grand, stu-pid electoral process, there are actual ways for the government to generate revenue without increas-ing taxes on Americans like you and me. One painfully obvious way to create some much-needed tax income at both the state and federal levels is to begin taxing churches.

There is simply no good reason why churches should continue to benefit from tax exempt status. The tax exemptions enjoyed by churches are not only unreason-able but are detrimental to society as a whole. Average American taxpayers can use all the help they can get, and the tax exemptions given to churches, mosques and synagogues enhance the taxpay-ers’ financial burden. While the 99 percent complain the wealthy don’t pay enough in taxes, the re-ligious organizations enjoying the most lucrative tax breaks of all are flying under the public radar. At least the extremely wealthy con-tribute a percent of their wealth to the collective pot. Churches con-sume government resources while paying virtually nothing back into the system and it is costing tax-payers billions of dollars.

Beyond the fiscal reasons for churches to pay taxes, there is a huge problem with the Internal Revenue Service granting tax exempt status to a religious orga-

nization. The Bill of Rights opens with the words: “Congress shall make no law respecting an estab-lishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Com-monly referred to as the Establish-ment Clause, these words are the blueprint for American policy regarding separation of church and state. Granting tax exemptions to churches is an egregious violation of the Establishment Clause and it needs to stop.

Why should it stop, you ask? Well, dear reader, allow me to pose a question. Who determines what is or is not a church? For tax-related purposes, the IRS de-termines who gets to be a church and who does not get the preferred tax status. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say this is a flagrant example of our government re-specting certain establishments of religion, considering the govern-ment maintains the right to declare certain religious institutions as more valid than others. At the risk of redundancy, allow me to make this point clear: The federal government is currently in the business of determining the legiti-macy of establishments of religion. This aberrant and flagrant viola-tion of the Establishment Clause means the separation of church and state is a myth. Current poli-cies on tax exemption for churches place the government in the posi-

tion of endorsing or sanctioning certain religions Furthermore, the churches, mosques and synagogues that receive millions of dollars of subsidized relief in the form of tax exemption do so at the expense of American citizens.

Churches should be able to qual-ify for tax exemptions in the same way other nonprofit organizations are required to. Nonprofits must keep their books open to audits. They must be able to demonstrate

a purpose pertaining to the public good and cannot be organized around the profits of a private individual. The exemption require-ments for a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or-ganization should be easy for any refutable ministry to abide by and in doing so they maintain their tax-exempt status.

No reasonable argument ex-ists in defense of tax breaks for churches. Churches provide servic-es to their communities, one may argue. I would counter by saying teachers, police officers, firefight-ers and a whole slew of public

workers provide essential services to their communities. Do they get tax exemptions? Of course not. Why should clergy members, whose contributions to their com-munities are often defined by the subjective, intangible experiences of their congregations, benefit in a way other public servants do not? The services rendered by many churches certainly do not justify the exorbitant tax relief they re-ceive.

The bottom line is this: Tax ex-emption is not an entitlement. No organization – or private citizen – possesses an inherent right to tax

exemptions. It is a privilege and it must be earned. Countless char-latans, masquerading as religious leaders, have taken advantage of tax exemptions to amass great wealth at the expense of their fel-low man. It’s time to close the tax loopholes so that those who sincerely wish to serve their com-munities may continue to enjoy tax exemptions as a fruit of their labor and the delinquent opportunists scamming the American public un-der the guise of religion can finally start paying their fair share on the profits of a deceitful enterprise.

Church must pay fair shareWith the national elections less than three months away, political junkies are gearing up for what promises to be one of the most contentious and divisive election cycles in years. Read The Daily Aztec for your fill of political news and commentary on how it all affects you. Here is what you should be watching in the coming weeks:

August 27th

The Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla; the GOP will wrap up the primaries by nominating Mitt Romney for president and the newly selected Paul Ryan for vice president.

September 3rd

The Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.; look for President Barack Obama energizing his base.

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8 BackpageMondayAugust 13, 2012The DAily AzTec

Today’s BirThday (8/13/12) - Your community web holds all the resources you need; your connections produce results, especially this year. Grow and develop your network as you share the goodness. After Saturn enters Scorpio (10/5), your focus shifts to home, family and roots.

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 - Handle home repairs today and tomorrow. Watch the magic at work. You’re rewarded with sweet satisfaction. Visualize perfection. It’s not a good time to travel.Taurus (april 20 - May 20) - Today is an 8 - When was the last time you wrote a love letter on real paper and sealed it with a kiss? The next two days are great for sharing words of affection.GeMini (May 21 - June 21) - Today is a 7 - Drive with caution. You’re entering a financial developmental cycle. Show yourself the money without losing sight of your main objective, love. It’s possible not to confuse the two.CanCer (June 22 - July 22) - Today is a 9 - Take a while to be awesome, but not arrogant. Be a leader by letting your partner take the lead. Find a treasure hunter for your trash. Your imagination soars.Leo (July 23 - aug. 22) - Today is a 6 - Finish up a project today and tomorrow. Apply thought to streamline the process. Demand more from yourself. Don’t go into debt in a moment of passion.

VirGo (aug. 23 - sept. 22) - Today is an 8 - Friends are a big help. Be sure to appreciate them. Launch your next adventure or project soon. Accept an opportunity to advance. Household tasks may have to wait.LiBra (sept. 23 - oct. 22) - Today is an 8 - The foreseeable future is good for decision-making. Consider public service. Find the perfect balance between love and career. Keep it mellow for a while.sCorpio (oct. 23 - nov. 21) - Today is an 8 - An unlikely dream could be possible now, take notes for future reference. What you have is worth more than you thought, and your ideas are getting better.saGiTTarius (nov. 22 - dec. 21) - Today is a 6 - There’s an opportunity for reinvention, especially these days. Note items that still need correction, and create something new. Love feeds your soul.CapriCorn (dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is an 8 - Take the opportunity for romance. You’re gaining points. Let advancement occur naturally. Things get worked out. Get promises in writing.aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is a 7 - Get to work! It helps to keep it simple. Don’t try to be two places at the same time. Don’t worry about money now, just focus on creating it.pisCes (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is a 9 - The next few days are good for playing and exploring new creative outlets. Painting a picture helps clean up your head. Make sure you understand what others expect.©2012, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

HOROSCOPE by Nancy Black,Tribune Media Services

SUDOKU by The Mepham group,Tribune Media Services

difficulty Level: 1 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

©2012, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

CROSSWORD by Rich Norris & Joyce Lewis,Tribune Media Services

Across1 __ razor: principle of logic7 Tempe sch.10 “Back to the Future” bully14 Vladimir Putin’s country15 Tractor-trailer16 Face-to-face exam17 Br’er Rabbit’s thicket19 Powerful TV princess20 Computer code acronym21 Pub beer orders22 “Gil __”: Lesage novel26 Baseball’s Ott27 Underhanded type28 Wyoming college town31 ‘60s “Gotcha”33 “Whee!”34 Chinese chairman35 What rolling stones don’t gather39 Dramatic grab in the outfield42 Email status43 Cont. north of Africa44 Country singer Kathy45 Knitter’s purchase47 Theater section48 Ability51 Tina with a spot-on Palin impression53 Chart toppers54 Like pop music55 “__ the loneliest number”: ‘60s song lyric58 Sunrise direction59 Mark with intersecting sets of parallel lines64 Actor Baldwin65 Suffer66 ‘80s-’90s quarterback Dan67 Subject with fractions68 Urban transit org.69 Least outgoing

Down1 Mars or Venus2 Junkyard dog3 CBS forensic drama4 Red __ beet5 Actress Sorvino

6 Patsies7 Wheelchair guy on “Glee”8 Thick-crust pizza style9 “How gross!”10 Fight in a ring11 Goodnight girl of song12 Classic orange soda13 Back-pocket liquor holder18 High point21 Letter before omega22 Supreme happiness23 Wood shaper24 Fiery crime25 Childproofing device29 Conservatory subj.30 Prefix meaning “between”32 Church doctrine34 Fallen space station36 10th century Roman emperor

37 Perfume feature38 One-horse carriages40 Try to escape capture41 Lo-__: lite46 Every bit47 Tournament exemptions48 Teakettle emission49 Eucalyptus eater50 City map on a state map, e.g.52 WWII plane __ Gay56 Belief systems, for short57 Deposed Iranian ruler59 Photo taker60 Suffix with station or honor61 1-1 score, e.g.62 Neurology subj.63 Really sexy

Solutions available online at www.thedailyaztec.com

J. Hutton Marshall Managing editorIt’s Friday night or Saturday

morning? I stick the tobacco-filled tube in my mouth, inhale

deeply and begin hacking and heaving. My friends nearby laugh at me and I realize I’ve lit the wrong end of my cigarette. Without hesitating, I pull another from my pack and light it up, inhaling deeply, carefree of judgment.

My eyes ache as I blindly move them from side to side before lifting my eyelids. I wake up with a dry mouth and a sore throat with an empty pack of cigarettes next to my bed. Where could they all have gone? I couldn’t have possibly smoked all 20 of them in a single night, could I?

I decide the question is best left unanswered. I also decide that I really, really need to stop smoking.

The next day, I go out and buy a pack of cigarettes. When I get back home, I put the unopened pack on the farthest corner of my desk, that way they’re staring directly at me. It’s my way of saying, “Screw you cigarettes, try and tempt me.” My roommate loves my mentality. I can tell by the way the cigarettes quickly begin to disappear.

I’m already feeling the urge to light up, so I try to distract myself with a movie.

As I watch “Drive” for the first time, I think about how cool having a toothpick in your mouth looks (maybe it’s just because Ryan Gosling’s doing it) and I consider the possibility of replacing a cigarette with a toothpick. It could be an easy transition. But what if I fall on my face and suffer a puncture wound? No, I won’t endanger my health with a habit just to make me feel better.

On the third day, withdrawal symptoms set in: headaches begin, sleep ends and irritability is inevitable. Traffic lights turn red more often than they used to and people are driving slower than they did last week. I call the police to inform them, but they refuse to listen.

Later that day, I’m at a small party when a pretty redhead asks if anyone has a cigarette she can bum. I don’t have cigarettes on me, because I’m a stupid quitter. It’s shortly thereafter I realize every friend has at least one or two annoying qualities, but now all my friends have only annoying qualities.

I wake up the next morning, told my car has been egged in the night. Big Tobacco is stepping it up a notch.

My throat is sore and I’m developing a cough. How is this possible? It would seem smoking was the only thing keeping my respiratory system alive and well. This universe isn’t fair, or maybe it’s just picking on me.

I come home from work and my roommate tells me I look like I’m coming down with something. I inform him I’m just trying to quit smoking. He asks “why?” I make up an answer, because I forget the real reason.

As I hit the seven-day mark, I wonder why I feel so sweaty without actually sweating. The first week is the hardest, or so they say. I relish in making it this far. After that, I Google if anyone has ever died from cigarette withdrawal. The search

does not prove reassuring.It’s Friday night, I’ve had four

or five beers and nothing sounds better than a cigarette. I think of the flood of relaxation that would totally engulf me, the sound of the crisp burning and the soft sound as I pull the filter out from between my lips. I’m in a small circle of people talking, realizing I’m neither talking nor listening to what’s being said. I step back and walk away. Then I walk out of the party and head down the street. I know where I’m going. The Stop and Go has the cheapest cigarette prices, and I’m only a couple blocks away.

I’m going to die eventually, regardless of whether I smoke or not, I tell myself. Why not make myself comfortable in the process? It all seems so clear to me - where did this stint of self-righteousness to quitting come from in the first place?

I walk into the gas station, beelining for the counter. I point and ask politely for my Camel Filters as I reach for my wallet. I open it up and pull out four crumpled bills. There’s nothing else. My credit and debit cards are back in my car, where I accidentally left them. I curse myself as I lay the small amount of money I have on the table to see what it’ll get me; but this is California, and there isn’t a pack cheaper than $5. I set back out toward the door, determined to find more money and return to claim my delayed prize. I’m about five steps out the door when I stop, shake my head then continue walking, laughing to myself. I’m not coming back to this place for cigarettes tonight, or ever. Sure, I will die one day, but at least I don’t have to clean out my wallet doing so.

looking through our lens

The cigarette diaries: ‘Quitting’

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if heaven had wallpaper, this would be itSenior Staff photographer Dustin Michelson captured this cloud-filled sunset on the coast of pacific Beach, reminding us why we love to live in San Diego.