WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012 VOLUME 99, ISSUE 38

Aztecs rock campus voting registration

The office of San Diego State’s President Elliot Hirshman was in uproar yesterday following a series of events that led to the release of the president’s subservient house elf.

The house elf, Kiff, served SDSU’s president diligently for the five years leading to his accidentally imposed freedom last Tuesday.

“House elves are hard to come by these days, especially a good elf like Kiff,” SDSU Director of Pseudo-Human Services Kim Thornberry said. “To lose his service in such easily preventable circumstances is truly a tragedy.”

According to a recent press release, a manila folder containing information regarding the CSU budget was handed to Kiff to be delivered to the College of Arts and Letters building. Reportedly, Kiff soon discovered there was a man’s wool glove—rumored to belong to Hirshman—inside the folder.

A basic and often detrimental

San Diego State registered more new voters this fall than any other CSU with 4,413 students registering through the Rock the Vote campaign. Each CSU campus aimed to register at least 10 percent of its student body in a voter drive sponsored by the California State Student Association.

The Rock the Vote effort was prominent on campus, with volunteers registering students almost daily and reminding them of the large potential for change this November’s election holds.

“The reason we have things like budget cuts and tuition hikes is because people our age tend not to vote very much, so our interests aren’t heard,” Associated Students Vice President of External Affairs Tom Rivera said.

“People think we don’t vote, so we must not care what our situation is, but the truth is that it’s the exact opposite—students care very much,

campus

Elisse MillerStaff Writer

San Diego State students line up to register to vote on campus. Rock the Vote was made throughout the CSU, while SDSU led the charge registering 4,413 students.

antonio zaragoza, editor in chief

THE NEWSPAPER OF SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1913

U.S. markets get a Sandy surprisenational

campus

Rita SkeeterYellow Journalist

HOUSE ELF continued on page 2

To lose his service in such easily prevent-able circumstances is truly a tragedy.

Kim ThornberryDirecter of Psuedo-Human

Services at SDSUAs Superstorm Sandy, recently downgraded from hurricane status, continues to bombard northeasten U.S., the entire country is feeling the rippling effects from the massive storm.

For the first time since 1988, U.S. stock markets closed for two consecutive days as a result of weather. The markets will likely reopen Wednesday, as the final day of the month is a key trading day. This is the first unplanned shutdown since the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

The presidential race was also stalled by Sandy, with President Barack Obama cancelling campaign events on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to devote time to disaster relief. Gov. Mitt Romney also cancelled several events because of weather conditions and

out of respect for those enduring the storm.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, recently praised Obama for his work in helping his state cope with Sandy.

“I spoke to the president three times yesterday,” Christie told CNN. “He has been incredibly supportive and helpful to our state and not once did he bring up the election.”

J. Hutton MarshallManaging Editor

A boat lies on debris in Long Beach, N.Y. in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, Tuesday, Oct. 30. More than 8.5 million houses have lost power due to the storm thus far.

mct campus

Romney resumed campaigning Tuesday, although his events centered mostly around Superstorm Sandy. He attended three campaign rallies in Florida yesterday, a key swing state

where polls are currently too close to call.

The Associated Press reported at least 40 deaths from Sandy thus far and more than 8.5 million homes have lost power.

I spoke to the president three times yesterday. He has been incredibly supportive and helpful ... Not once did he bring up the election.

Chris ChristieNew Jersey Governor

but they just never necessarily knew how to use the power they actually have. It’s important that students are engaged and they know what’s actually affecting them.”

Throughout the CSU, 31,372 students registered to vote in California. While SDSU led the charge, San Francisco State, CSU Chico, Humboldt State, Cal Maritime Academy, CSU San Marcos and Sonoma State also registered more than 10 percent of their student bodies.

“This shows that CSU students are committed to protecting our state’s system of higher education by voting for Proposition 30 and voting for candidates that support the CSU,” CSSA Vice President of Legislative Affairs Pedro Ramirez said.

Rivera pointed to social media and Internet usage as important tools for registering college students.

The ability to register online played a major role in student voter turnout. In fact, 1,400 students registered online.

“We could blast it out in emails and messages and on Facebook and Twitter, so people could just click a link and register to vote right there when they were at home,” Rivera said. “We also had the Rock the Vote video, which got a lot of positive feedback.”

Change may be in the horizon

as students’ political awareness increases.

“We’ve dealt with budget cuts and a lot of problems with the CSU and we have been taking hits,” Rivera said, “So I think finally people are trying to be engaged when they realize the kind of power that everyone can quickly have as students.”

Hirshman frees

house elf

Rigormortis ... is a common problem among young zombies ...

The Love GhoulUndead Columnist

PROPOSITION 34: PAGE 7

Is the death pen-alty a logical crime deterrent or legalized gov-ernment-spon-sored murder?

Today at noon, stop by Campanile Walkway for a debate with the College Republicans and Democrats for Obama.

6 days until the election!

PROPOSITION 34: PAGE 7

THE LOVE GHOUL

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The Daily Aztec is an independent, student-run newspaper published regularly Monday through Thursday, when classes are in session, and distributed on the campus of San Diego State.

2 NEWSWednesdayOctober 31, 2012ThE DAily AzTEC

At midnight last Monday, paranomal activity became apparent on campus after a San Diego State student was found dead pinned beneath rocks in the turtle pond.

Juan Derrer, geography freshman had a tremendous interest of uncovering geography of the paranormal realm. He was last seen leaving his apartment complex at 10 p.m., according to his roommate Eule B. Next.

“He was always roaming around campus searching for areas with weird stuff going on,” Next said. “Honestly, it freaked me out. I’ve been trying to find a new roommate for a while.”

Next said it was very common to find Derrer playing the Ouija board at midnight during weekdays in the living room and would almost never leave his apartment.

When SDSU paranormal detectives Joe Murdock, arrived at the scene today, he found Derrer with no visible marks of violence

Instead of collecting candy, this year’s Halloween brings an opportunity to collect money for a good cause. At San Diego State, the freshman national honor society Phi Eta Sigma is supporting Trick-Or-Treat for UNICEF. UNICEF is a United Nations program helping children in developing countries. They focus on education, disease prevention, child protection, survival and development. The program offers a chance to raise money for UNICEF in a fun and engaging way.

“The trick-or-treat program helps raise money for UNICEF and 100 percent of the money raised goes directly to UNICEF,” Phi Eta Sigma Treasurer Vi Phan said. “It’s for a good cause and it’s like children helping children.”

Phi Eta Sigma members can pick up

but a blue mark resembling a turtle bite next to his belly button.

“The mark has a three-dimensional aspect resembling a black hole leading to his belly button,” Murdock said. “It is a very unusual finding and we will keep the body in order to analyze it more closely.”

Murdock also mentioned a similar case that involved a blue mark found on a 12-year-old girl in early May last year.

Murdock said he hopes it doesn’t turn out to be anything like that case. Murdock said after the girl was found cooked to death inside her middle school’s cafeteria. The school closed because of the paranormal activity.

“They would find kids flying

inside homerooms, teachers chairs were moved right before they sat down,” Murdock explained. “The most unusual thing happened when the cafeteria became so cold, it was impossible to cook anything in it.”

Juan Derrer was removed from the turtle pond, but there is still no information as to where his body was taken, even though his presence is still felt on campus.

a collection box on campus, but non-members can participate by ordering a personal box and materials online, sending a donation from a mobile phone or creating a fundraising Web page. There are various ways to collect money, including going door to door on Halloween and asking friends and family for donations.

“I raised probably about $50 just going door to door from strangers,” Phan said. “And the other $50 I had were from people I knew.”

Phi Eta Sigma members have high hopes for their part in fundraising for UNICEF this Halloween. Phan said if at least 100 members participate, the group can raise between $500 to $1,000. This is the first time Phi Eta Sigma participated in this event as a way to involve their members and attempt to make an impact. Everyone, Phi Eta Sigma member or not, is encouraged to participate in this cause, which shares the celebration of Halloween to help children in need.

UNICEF trick-or-treats for monetary donations

rule of the House Elf Code of Conduct states, “If an article of clothing is given by a master to his or her house elf, said house elf is immediately freed from servitude.”

SDSU’s administration is currently attempting to regain Kiff’s services in conjunction with SDSU Police Department; however, police involvement in house elf disputes is uncommon.

“Our hands are tied on this one,” SDSUPD Capt. Mark Bethel said. “As far as we can tell, this is a by-the-book case. That house elf is no longer under the dominion of President Hirshman, which means he’s out of our jurisdiction.”

Kiff’s whereabouts are currently unknown, and because of his ability to aparrate, he has likely already transported far away from SDSU.

“It’s just not fair,” Hirshman said. “It was just a stupid glove.”

Any information regarding Kiff’s location, or any house elves looking for work, should call Hirshman’s newly established hotline: 1-800-NEED-ELF.

from HOUSE ELF page 1

Holden CaulfieldAngsty Teenager

campus

Jamie Kay WildeStaff Writer

campus

Freshman found dead in turtle pond

One of the many turtles surrounding Juan Derrer’s corpse in the turtle pond sneaked to the surface of the pond with a daring look to the photographer. Derrer’s death is still under investigation.

thinkstock

News you can’t refuse.

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FEATURES 3WednesdayOctober 31, 2012

the daily aztec

Your chin is placed on a low bar and a screw forces the cap down. Your teeth are crushed into the sockets and pressure is exerted until your brain ejects through fragmented skull. Many people claim they would never be able to torture another being, but every one of us has the capacity for cruelty and just don’t realize it. Being placed in unfamiliar situations, faced with blind obedience to authority, power without regulation or having the choice of anonymity can lead people to commit horrific acts. The head crusher is just one of many merciless devices displayed at the “Instruments of Torture” exhibit at the San Diego Museum of Man. Located in Balboa Park, the exhibit displays various devices of torture, dating as far back as the 16th century, showing human cruelty is not as distant from our time as many believe.

“Instruments of Torture” opened this summer on July 14th and its closing date is still unknown. Visitors Service Associate Alonso Lopez said the exhibit’s conclusion all depends on public interest.

“The date’s not exact but we might have it for a few more months or for a year depending on sales,” Lopez said. Based on the attraction’s current popularity, it seems this exhibit will remain

Mutilation machines litter Museum of Mantravel & adventure

Nicole YiStaff Writer

open for quite some time. Not only does the exhibit display different mechanisms of torture, it is also meant to generate awareness.

“The exhibit’s intention is to inform people how torture still exists today and not just in medieval times,” Lopez said. “It’s important to prevent future torture, such as wars and everything else going on right now.”

Along with the well-known iron maiden and guillotine, other instruments include thumbscrews, skull-splitters and more. All are guaranteed to make visitors cringe, especially the oral, rectal and vaginal pear. Used by the Venetians from 1575 - 1700, this apparatus expands the listed body parts by force of the screw to maximum width of the body cavity. Some devices from the displays are still used today, such as the head crusher, which is used for interrogational purposes, but currently has soft chin pads that don’t leave marks on the skin, while still exerting enough skull pressure to assert pain. These displays reveal how torture is not a distant concept.

Even if museums don’t usually interest you, this exhibit is guaranteed to captivate your attention, as it takes a different approach to reveal the darker side of human nature. A gruesome exhibit may not be at the top of your Saturday afternoon to-do list, but for San Diego State foods and nutrition sophomore Angela Mariscal, it served more as an

eye-opening experience. “Everyone has a prenotion of

the world being a very violent place, but once you put in actual artifacts, it becomes finite and so real,” Mariscal said. She recommended all students seeking a unique museum experience to visit.

“Some will love it, some will hate it and some just won’t get it,” Mariscal said.

Although each instrument has a grueling history, its display is intended for visitors to search internally and evaluate his or her own character as a human being. The exhibit strongly emphasizes bystanders can be just as atrocious as those directly inflicting pain. The museum has a deeper significance to help us reflect our own destructive contributions. The student fee of $15, which covers entrance to the museum’s core exhibits is a small price to pay for such an experience. But SDSU professor and department chair of anthropology Seth Mallios said this exhibit isn’t exactly G-rated.

“The brutality of it jumps out at you. This is not an exhibit for kids,” Mallios said. Also on the programs committee for the Museum of Man, Mallios explains that it offers more than just a personal focus.

“You get to see this in so many different cultures. It gets at a universal human condition that so many different people have forms of brutalizing one another,” Mallios said.

courtesy san diego museum of man

courtesy san diego museum of man

4 FEATURESWednesdayOctober 31, 2012The Daily azTec

Love Ghoul answers relationship conundrums

Jaw-dropper: Hey Love Ghoul, I really need your help. For some reason, I’ve caught the attention of a succubus. Not too many zombies get that privilege. We’ve gone on a few dates and I like her a lot. We usually take long walks around the graveyard and chase humans for exercise. The problem is, she’s such a jaw-dropper, my jaw literally detaches from my face every time I go in for a kiss. I’ve had this “premature decapitation” issue before, but I’m afraid she’ll leave me if I don’t pull it together. What should I do?

Love Ghoul: I’m sorry to hear that my friend. Indeed, rigormortis yields many issues for the undead. Understand that this is a common problem amongst zombies and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. I don’t recommend wasting your money on pills like Zombagera. Two words can be a simple solution to this problem: duct tape. You can even make it a fun activity to share with your scintillating succubus. Have her wrap it around the problem area and wear it with pride. Who knows, you could even start a new fashion trend amongst your motley crew of walking dead. Confidence is always the key. Fangs and Fur Forever: The

saying around the wolf pack is once you go vamp, you never go back. Well, it’s true. I’ve been dating a beautiful vampire for a few moons now and she really gets my tail wagging. However, the tension between werewolves and vampires is well-documented (especially in human cinema.) I don’t care about what “team” I’m on, I just want to be with her. My pack doesn’t approve of the relationship and they mean a lot to me as well. Please help!

The Love Ghoul: I like the fact that you have the courage to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. Coordinating a fun activity between the pack and your vampire girlfriend may broaden their horizons and ease the tension. Build the outing around something you horrifying creatures have in common: Hatred for humans. They chase your kind with torches and assault rifles, discharging silver bullets. They do their best to impale vampires with wooden stakes and douse them in holy water. Its payback time. Find a group of humans—preferably at a Republican convention—and chow down. I’m sure they’ll be impressed with your girlfriend’s hunting prowess and glamour techniques. Happy hunting!

Prom Queen Conundrum: I have a major issue, Love Ghoul. My name is Carrie and I’ve falling in love with a hulk of a man named Jason. We connected

instantly, but I’m starting to have some concerns. He doesn’t talk much and all he likes to do is wear a hockey mask, carry his precious machete and chase other women. I’m writing to you because I’m getting really angry. Bad things happen when I get angry (I had a little incident at my senior prom). For the safety of those around me, I need to find a solution quickly. What’s the best way to get him to open up?

Love Ghoul: First off, take deep breaths and count to 10. I heard about your prom incident on Ghoul Public Radio and nobody wants that to happen again. I know Jason personally—we went to summer camp together—so I think I have some insight. He has

trust issues. He withdraws easily because of the difficult relationship he had with his mother. The mask, machete and mass killings are coping mechanisms. Words of affirmation about the connection you have and how you appreciate his inner beauty will break down some of his emotional barriers. Deranged serial killers need love too.

Wrapped-up Witch: I’ve been dating this undead pharaoh for a

few decades now and he’s been a great. I like him because there are so many layers to his personality. The only problem is he’s very clingy. Every time I want to have a witches night out flying around on broomsticks and kicking it at the

The Love GhoulUndead Columnist

death & relationships

By now, many of you have overcome the most difficult part of the Halloween season: deciding on what your costume will be and how many costumes to wear. Because, as we all know, Halloween at San Diego State is celebrated as many times as humanly possible before the actual day arrives

and you wouldn’t be “caught dead” wearing the same old costume. This year, Halloween falls on a Wednesday, meaning most people have already been celebrating since last Thursday or Friday. You know who you are. So now that you are ready to hit the parties, clubs and dorm rooms, take the following advice on how to best handle encounters with some of the most ghoulish Halloween predators; vampires and werewolves. And remember, the 10-page essay you haven’t started and your grade are counting on you to stay alive. So pay close attention to his article, it may just save your life.

WerewolvesWerewolves are unique in the

sense that they have the highest kill ratio of all the Halloween creatures. In other words, those who encounter a werewolf seldom survive. In fact,

there are few protections against the beasts at all. So first and foremost, take close care in choosing your friends. The most crucial thing to know about werewolves is that when in human form, they act and talk just like the rest of us. It’s nearly impossible to discern a werewolf from a human being, and when you do finally realize the guy you had a crush on in your economics class is a werewolf, it will be because he’s tearing you to pieces. So as a general

rule, if you’re not 100 percent sure about someone, assume they are a werewolf and avoid dating them on full moons. Most people know only a silver bullet can kill a werewolf, but before you head out to the gun show to buy your AK-47 remember this: Guns are not only expensive, but typically not allowed in public. Aside from this, silver bullets are astronomically expensive. So the price of a weapon fully loaded with silver bullets will end up costing more than the price of four years at a state college. Trust me, adopting a werewolf avoidance policy just makes more fiscal sense. One last thing on werewolves: Shooting an overly aggressive man-beast hell-bent on turning you into red strudel is hard to do. It takes nerves of steel to hold a gun steady enough to get a kill shot on a werewolf and let’s face it, most of us couldn’t hit the broadside

of a barn let alone a raving homicidal beast of the underworld running and jumping around.

VampiresDespite popular belief, vampires

are quite friendly when they want to be. So before we get into the typical defense against vampires, keep in mind, the best defense for vampires is a good offense, which requires a friendly disposition. Remember, vampires rarely kill indiscriminately, they usually have a motive or vendetta for going after someone. Being nice definitely goes a long way with these blood-thirsty souls. Other ways

How to survive werewolf and vampire attacks

Tony ZaragozaEditor in Chief

to defend yourself include hanging garlic around your house, wearing a crucifix and of course, avoid going out at night. Also, carrying sharpened wooden pencils can come in handy should you encounter a vampire at a party or while standing in line at Starbucks. Most importantly, remember this: Sunlight is good for you and bad for vampires. Also, avoid inviting suspected vampires into your home. It renders the garlic, crucifixes and holy water powerless.

So, to wrap up, let’s review a few things. When dealing with werewolves, avoiding dates with strangers on full moons greatly

increases your survivability. Don’t bother with silver bullets because you can’t afford them and choose good people to hang out with. If you’re not sure about someone you’ve recently met, assume they are a werewolf.

For vampires the key is to remember that they have feelings too, even if they are the living dead. Being nice to a suspected vampire can greatly increase your survival rate. Have fresh garlic and pencils with you in case you need to stick one in the heart. On behalf of The Daily Aztec, don’t drink and drive, stay with your buddy, keep those pencils sharpened and have a great Halloween.

antonio zaragoza, editor in chief

Remember, vampires rarely kill indiscrimi-nately, they usually have a motive or vendetta for going after someone. Being nice definitely goes a long way with these blood-thirsty souls.

THE LOVE GHOUL

cauldron, he doesn’t want me to leave him. I’ll admit I casted a few spells on him when we first met to enhance his attraction, but it’s getting to be too much. What’s the best way to approach this?

Love Ghoul: Hoarding and keeping the things they love close are engrained in mummy culture. An understanding of where your heavily bandaged beau comes from will help y o u cope with

his clingy

personality. Have a conversation with him about the importance of trust in your relationship and assure him nights out with your sisters in sorcery are nothing to worry about. On a side note, ditch the spells. I’ve always found long noses and hairy warts to be very sexy. He probably feels the same way since you’ve been together for so long. There’s no need to overwhelm him any further.

REVIEW

ENTERTAINMENT 5WednesdayOctober 31, 2012

the daily aztec

Tara Millspaugh News Editor

Taylor Swift is no longer a strictly country artist. Her new album “Red” has a spice of techno, dubstep and pop. The days when Swift would sing innocently about running away with Romeo are finished.

“Red” symbolizes the ups and downs in her past relationships. She describes the theme of the album as relationships that sped up too fast and then exploded while hitting the wall and falling apart. Devoting an entire album to relationships is a risky move.

This is to be expected though, as Swift is known for her terrible relationships. A colleague of mine shouted in the office saying, “I just want Swift to find a good guy.” Even though the songs are about breakups, they are surprisingly

turn it up

Lamar releases masterpieceE. J. Walls Contributor

turn it up

Lady GaGa reaches her final form

What happens when a restless soul in a godforsaken holy ground hastily spits out his every observation through a microphone? The world witnesses the emergence of the most profoundly vivid and honest storyteller of this rap generation.

Compton-bred rapper Kendrick Lamar has catapulted to the forefront of hip-hop chatter with the release of his major label debut album “good kid: m.A.A.d. City.” Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and the Game recently crowned Lamar “the new King of the West Coast” and on “m.A.A.d. city” he incorporates his influences such as innocence, family and the streets into 12 methodically crafted tracks. Similar to his explosive first indie album “Section.80,” “m.A.A.d City,” released by Dr. Dre’s Interscope Records and Aftermath Entertainment, offers an impeccable balance of big-name commercial tunes (“Poetic Justice feat. Drake”), melodic, bluesy, vulnerable tracks (“Black Boy Fly”) and bold, outspoken, cypher-style lyrical massacre (“Backseat Freestyle”). In contrast, Lamar narrates this album from within his immediate circle of friends, family and enemies. He masters the art of injecting authenticity back into mainstream airwaves where it has been missing for so long. Statements such as “I’m trying to keep it alive and not compromise the feeling we love / You’re trying to keep it deprived and only co-sign what radio does” (“Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe”).

Lamar’s consistent top-of-the-line lyricism, arrangement and production separate him from other rap elite. There hasn’t been a rapper that speaks so accurately and passionately on behalf of a generation since 2Pac. Lamar’s verses in “Sing About Me, I’m Dying

‘Red’ is a solid, though confusing pop record

courtesy of sarah barlow and big machine records

ARtIst: kendrick lamarALbum: good kid, m.a.a.d. cityRELEAsE DAtE: oct. 22 RAtING:

optimistic. Swift swings back and forth

between twang banjo songs and pop-club music.

A song I will expect to hear blasting in clubs soon is “I Knew You Were Trouble.” By the first minute or so, dubstep explodes through the speakers while Swift’s voice sounds auto-tuned, which in itself shows Swift has stooped to a new level. This song will definitely appeal to a particular type of audience of clubgoers, but they may not be the most devout of fans. Through the auto-tuned lyrics, it almost feels like Swift is looking for the bad boy, not for his charm, but for the sole purpose of writing a catchy song about him.

It makes sense for Swift to go in this direction because she has a team of producers who have Pink, Britney Spears and Kanye West albums on their resumes.

But, Swift’s songs are no longer

lyrically driven, unlike her former songs “Enchanted” and “Never Grow Up” from the album “Speak Now.” One song titled “22” starts off with the lyrical verse “It feels like a perfect night to dress up like hipsters and make fun of our exes.” The correlation between hipsters and making fun of exes doesn’t make too much sense, but the song has a lighthearted repetitive chorus that even a five year old could sing along to.

Don’t quote me on this, but the song ‘’Starlight’’ seems suspiciously similar to her recent rendezvous with Connor Kennedy. The lyrics “We snuck into a yacht club party/Pretending to be a duchess and a prince” sounds like her recent

wedding-crasher scandal that was publicized on TMZ. If this is true, Swift really lets her listeners into her personal life and shows she’s not ashamed of her past.

The best and most popular song thus far, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” can make any non-Swift believer dance. It’s on the radio every two seconds, so even if you don’t like it, you can’t get away from it. There are rumors this song is about Jake Gyllenhaal and, if this is true, I’m not entirely sure why anyone wouldn’t want to get back together with him. But, this is the one song completely relatable to young girls who have experienced a failing relationship. They can sing in unison to this song

of Thirst” are vessels through which characters from his story vicariously come to life. In the first verse, Kendrick speaks to himself through the brother of his friend who was shot during a violent retaliation, which takes place at the end of the preceding song.

The second, a rant from Lamar’s former classmate Keisha’s little sister, begins “you wrote a song about my sister on your tape / Section.80, the message resembled Brenda’s Got A Baby,” as Lamar humbly acknowledges his frequent comparisons to the legendary “Makaveli.” The misguided Compton girl goes on to explain she has no choice but to live the life of prostitution and self-degradation her older sister did. The listener can easily sing along to this track without picking up its undertones because it’s as audibly pleasing as it is gravely empathetic.

The narrative format of the album tells the story of a good kid (Lamar) trudging through thickets of gang ties, neighborhood anarchy and internal moral confliction. Its interludes are cleverly placed at the end of songs and collectively compose a surface-level street biography.

I’ve followed Lamar for years now and after witnessing his emergence

from its genesis, it’s hard for me not to feel biased calling the album flawless, epic or legendary. So take a listen of your own. Actually, take a few. Each time you’ll hear something you hadn’t caught the last time around. You’ll be more in awe of Lamar as an artist, and have more respect for him as a person. The $12 is a measly price to pay for this insightful masterpiece. Validate his optimistic chant in “Money Trees feat. Jay Rock,” “a dollar might turn to a million and we all rich…” He deserves it far more than the average six-figure rapper.

At her San Juan concert in Puerto Rico last night, Lady GaGa reached her final form, teleporting thousands of innocent Puerto Ricans to an alternate nether dimension.

After a stunning performance of her dance hit “The Edge of Glory,” GaGa then transformed into an intergalactic energy-based demon-being, transmitting a message at a unbearably high frequency claiming, “That wasn’t even my final form.”

According to both NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey, the latter of which has current projects in Puerto Rico, an earth-shattering quake caused by GaGa’s transformation created a singularity that caused science and reason to become unstable.

“Physics just f****** broke, man,” concert goer and father of two Jeff Butts said. “I’m on vacation with my family and just wanted to get away for a night. I figured GaGa’s concert would be a place I could just be me, you know?”

Butts, however, was still impressed with the show. “I mean, I didn’t

come expecting to see the ascension of a clearly higher being, but damn man, it was pretty cool.”

In the less “that was less cool” camp is the Puerto Rican government, which has received thousands of missing persons reports.

“Had we had known that GaGa would send a portion of our population to an alternate dimension, we wouldn’t have let her tour here,” a government spokesperson said in a statement to The Daily Aztec. “We all loved ‘The Fame Monster,’ and ‘Born This Way’ was pretty good, but in the days after the incident, we’ll be happier if our country wasn’t invaded by this terrifying creature.”

GaGa, known for her unusual dress and demeanor was never perceived as the dangerous type. There was that meat dress thing, and her whole red carpet egg deal, but nothing hinting she was from beyond the stars.

Lady GaGa’s agent released a statement early today denying any knowledge of her less-than-human nature, though in full disclosure the message did end with “GAGA OOH-LA-LA PREPARE TO BE ASSIMILATED HUMANS.”

while laughing at the guy they leave behind.

When listening to the album for the first time, the songs can be lost, as the listeners may not feel the emotional connections that Swift has made so well in the past. Her listeners don’t leave feeling confident or heartbroken, but instead they are left feeling confused about whether she is still the same näive young woman the world fell in love. Swift no longer comes off as a victim of heartbreak, but as a hater who will ruin a man by singing about him.

REVIEW

ARtIst: taylor swiftALbum: redRELEAsE DAtE: oct. 22 RAtING:

it make sense for swift to go in this direction because she has a team of producers who have Pink, Britney spears and kayne west albums on their resumes. But, swift’s songs are no longer lyrically driven.

Seen here at the this year’s Grammy Awards, penultimate-form GaGa greets her fans. Many are left speculating what the hell that thing on her face is.

mct campus

courtest of interscope

CthulhuGreat Old One

6 OPINIONWednesdayOctober 31, 2012The Daily azTec

We live in a day and age where we expect a worker’s pay to be

determined by his or her ability and work ethic. However it is undeniable, society has allowed a travesty to transpire in factories, offices and boardrooms all across the U.S. Today, an undead worker earns less than 30 cents to the

dollar a living worker earns doing the exact same job.

It is an undeniable fact undead workers earn less. Traditionally, the undead were underpaid because of biased traditions claiming the undead were weaker and dumber than the living. Often zombies were relegated to minor service jobs such as secretaries, where they were often hired based on their ability to maul unwanted solicitors rather than their intelligence. Eventually, zombies became prized as chief executive officers and company presidents because of their complete disregard for human life and ability to dismember disgruntled employees.

However, low wages have taken their toll on the undead labor

Consumerism scares away Halloween fun

Glenn DanzigVertebrate Columnist

force. Zombies shamble out of their cubicles and into the streets after their 9-to-5 jobs. Underfed, they gorge unwitting passers by and rip off their arms and legs to supplement their inadequate health care. Gangs of unemployed

zombies trade their bodies for some brain scraps to eat, allowing strangers to use them for target practice for a week-old amygdala. Many zombies are forced to rely on processed canned brains with high corn-syrup content. Instead of fit zombies capable of pursuing a desperate pack of survivors throughout an average-sized shopping mall, there are obese zombies just as likely to vomit on you than eat your brain. We should be sending zombie children to good schools where they can learn the valuable workplace skills they need, such as opening doors and climbing short fences. Instead, they are attending poverty trap schools and face a not-quite-lifetime of eating the brains of

October isn’t only National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It’s also the time

of year when people go crazy because of Halloween. Kids look forward to trick-or-treating, and even college students shop for costumes. It is an excuse for girls to dress in revealing clothes, and for many to spend unthinkable amounts of money on decorations and costumes. Justine Coyne wrote in the Pittsburgh Business Times that the National Retail Federation expects people to spend about $8 billion on Halloween decorations, candies and costumes.

The Halloween spirit is evident at San Diego State. The library’s front desk is decorated weeks ahead of time and the display windows at the SDSU Bookstore are full of pumpkins and other Halloween-related items. But that’s only the beginning. There are more decorations farther away from the classrooms. Students show their creativity by decorating their rooms in the residence halls and apartments. I recently took note of an apartment with a huge web and a skeleton with a sensor hanging from the front door. Drawings of skeletons and ghosts also surrounded the door. Business management junior Christopher Straker and computer science senior Nino Suess, the two international exchange students living in this apartment were asked what lead them to decorate their apartment. “Without Halloween and everything it entails, it wouldn’t be the real

Denisa CaldovaStaff Columnist

American experience,” they said. However, a real American

Halloween experience might be a bit expensive. I wanted a real Halloween experience as well and therefore decided to find a perfect Halloween costume. It was a challenge to find a dress that wouldn’t reveal too much

of my body, but in the end, I found something appropriate. When my friends asked why I decided to dress like a dead bride, I answered it was the least revealing costume possible.

Looking back, I realize I paid $50 for a dress I will only wear once. Obviously this was just the beginning of my spending spree. With all the parties, cover fees and taxi rides, my Halloween experience racked up a whopping $150. Happy Halloween, credit card.

A holiday survey by the NRF estimates the U.S. will spend more than $1.1 billion on children’s costumes, $1.4 billion on adult costumes, and $370 million on pet costumes. The average American is expected to spend almost $80 for Halloween.

Straker and Suess said they spent approximately $50 on their apartment decorations and $50 each on costumes. However, not everyone is happy spending money on costumes and decorations.

“I think Halloween deviated from its original intention. We buy pumpkins, candy and costumes. It is a consumer marketing at its finest,” finance

junior Courtnie Gallego said.Gallego is right. Nowadays,

people forget the reasons behind Halloween. I wonder how many people know the word “Halloween” comes from “All Hollows Evening” and signified a time of a day for people to honor the saints. Spooky Halloween costumes people buy now are meant to frighten spirits of the dead to prevent them from possessing people.

Similar to many other holidays, people are mainly concerned with how much something will cost and the impression it will make on others. It’s obvious we live in a consumer culture, however, we shouldn’t blindly hand out credit cards or cash every time Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas come around.

Equal pay for zombie labor

consumerism

halloween

Often zombies were relegated to minor service jobs such as secretaries, where they were often hired based on the ability to maul unwanted solicitors rather than their intelligence.

homeless people and flipping burgers.

All these issues stem from the fact undead laborers don’t earn as much as living ones. This comes despite an exemplary work ethic. It isn’t uncommon to see a group of dedicated zombie employees pursuing their customers relentlessly, despite getting shot at, burned and chain-sawed. Often they’ll even work days and nights to ensure the needs of one group of customers holed up in a cabin in the woods are met. Rarely do they complain about harsh work conditions or having to work during their traditional Halloween holidays.

It is imperative undead workers earn the fair wages they deserve to ensure they have the opportunity to advance in society. Some day, a soulless, unfeeling individual other than Mitt Romney will run as candidate for the presidency of the U.S. It will be at that moment when we know we have moved past the petty politics of mortality.

i paid $50 for a dress i will only wear once. With all the parties, cover fees and taxi rides, my halloween experience racked up a whopping $150. happy halloween, credit card.

OPINION 7WednesdayOctober 31, 2012

the daily aztec

Proposition 34 is an upcoming ballot measure, which repeals the death

penalty as California’s maximum punishment for those found guilty of murder, replacing it with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The provisions in Proposition 34 require those found guilty of murder to work while imprisoned. Their imposed deductions, which will be applied to victim restitution funds and the allocation of more than $100 million to law enforcement agencies for investigations of homicide and rape cases. Proposition 34 would apply retroactively to individuals already sentenced to death in California. Supporters of Proposition 34 include former Los Angeles County District Attorney Gil Garcetti, former San Quentin State Prison Warden Jeanne Woodford, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the California Democratic Party and the American Civil Liberties Union. Opponents include former California Gov. Pete Wilson, California Sheriffs’ Association President Keith Royal and Kermit Alexander, whose family was executed by a gang member in Los Angeles. In opposition to Proposition 34, San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael Ramos said, “You want to save money. Let’s start carrying out the will of the voters and putting the prisoners on death row to death.”

OpinionIn the U.S., the right to

life is considered sacred and “inalienable,” according to our founding documents and philosophies. When considering the death penalty, a tension arises between each individual’s right to life and the systems we currently use to enforce justice.

As we examine Proposition 34, it’s important to examine economic arguments against the death penalty, which have cost California $4 billion since 1978. The Golden State executed 13 people in that time, which means $308 million per execution. California spends $184 million per year on the death penalty, yet nobody has been executed since 2006. A death penalty case costs as much as 20 times more than a life-without-parole case. Keeping all of this in mind, it’s essential for voters to know there is absolutely zero evidence to suggest the death penalty is anymore effective a deterrent to violent crime than the threat of life in prison. California’s death penalty is a barbarous, ineffective

Prop 34: Time to kill the death penaltyKeneth LeonardSenior Staff Writer

and fiscally irresponsible mess and you as a citizen are not any safer as a result of its continued existence.

However, weighing the cost effectiveness against the guilt of criminals in determining appropriate sentencing creates a disgraceful corruption of justice.

The pragmatic reasons for opposing the death penalty are secondary to the philosophical and ethical objections a civilized society must have when it comes to granting governments the power to make irreversible decisions regarding human life. Founding Fathers such as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin repeated Blackstone’s formulation like a mantra it is better that 10 men go free than one innocent suffer unjustly. John Adams famously said “…if innocence itself is brought to the bar and condemned, perhaps to die, then the citizen will say, ‘whether I do good or whether I do evil is immaterial, for innocence itself is no protection,’ and if such an idea as that were to take hold in the mind of the citizen, that would be the end of security whatsoever.” Civil liberty is threatened by the death penalty. If we are a nation where liberty and freedom are truly valued, then the death penalty must be abolished. The American judicial system is deeply flawed, as evident in cases such as the wrongful conviction of Nathson Fields, who spent 20 years in prison including 11 years on death row in Illinois before his acquittal in 2009. Fields’ conviction directly resulted from a combination of lying witnesses and a corrupt judge who accepted a $10,000 bribe from a lawyer seeking a conviction. Giving people the power to condemn fellow human beings to death, given what we know about the deeply fallible nature of humanity, is unconscionable.

Interestingly, in California, death sentence rates vary substantially across counties, but this variation does not correlate to the crime rates of those counties. Instead, the variation appears closely related to the ethnicity of both victims and alleged perpetrators. According to the Radelet-Pierce Study, the first statewide analysis of the effects race, ethnicity and geography have on death sentencing in California, the highest rates of death sentencing are in counties with low population density and high proportions of “non-Latino whites.” Evidence demonstrates

people convicted of the exact same crimes are three times more likely to be sentenced to death if the crime is committed in a white, rural community instead of a more diverse urban environment. In California cases wherein only one victim is killed and no additional felonies are involved, a person convicted of killing a white person is more than seven times as likely to end up on death row than a person convicted of killing an African-American person, and more than 11 times more likely to receive a death sentence than someone convicted of killing a Latino person, according to the study. Only 27.6 percent of murder victims are white, but 80 percent of executed prisoners in California were convicted of killing white people. Clearly, racial bias plays a significant role in determining how the state decides to punish people convicted of violent crimes.

A look at capital punishment by country shows the U.S. joins China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Iraq among the global leaders in capital punishment in 2011, according to Amnesty International. Is this a list we want to be a part of?

The bottom line is this: Until the death penalty can be applied with absolute perfection, you and I have an ethical obligation to prevent it from happening. There are 725 people on death row in California right now, the most in the nation. Since 1973, 141 death row inmates in 26 states were exonerated because of the release of new evidence proving their innocence, according to the Death Penalty Information Center website. Statistically speaking, some of California’s death row inmates are likely innocent.

It’s time to get rid of the archaic practice of government-sanctioned murder, effectively ending the cycle of violence perpetuated by capital punishment, before the blood of more innocent, wrongfully convicted inmates is on our hands.

election

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Today’s BirThday (10/31/12) - All Hallow’s Eve is auspicious for planting intention seeds. What do you really love, and what kind of contribution would you like to make this year? Money looks good, so save it and keep living simply and conserving resources. Stay grounded, even as your spirit flies.

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 6 - You’ll learn quickly for the next few days. Complications and changes could arise, so revise plans. Study the angles. Don’t share with friends yet, and avoid gossip at all costs.Taurus (april 20 - May 20) - Today is an 8 - Cover all the bases, and tap another source of revenue. It’s not all about fun and games now, but you can still enjoy yourself. Choose an empowering interpretation.GeMini (May 21 - June 21) - Today is a 5 - You’re getting more sensitive and stronger. Postpone travel and daydreaming, and jump into action instead. It will require willpower, and you have it. Cultivate inner peace.CanCer (June 22 - July 22) - Today is a 7 - No more procrastination for the next few days ... put it off for the weekend. It’s emotion versus reason now, and both count. Watch out for hidden dangers. Create love and peace.Leo (July 23 - aug. 22) - Today is a 7 - Associates deliver data now. The answer will surprise you. Be polite, and don’t say everything that’s on your mind, unless you welcome controversy. Sometimes peace and

quiet work best.VirGo (aug. 23 - sept. 22) - Today is a 7 - Others wonder if you’re ready for more responsibility. Show them that you are. Lead by example. Keep an open mind; you need what you’re learning to do the job well.LiBra (sept. 23 - oct. 22) - Today is a 5 - Working your agenda with care is good but there’s only so much planning you can do. Get into action. Don’t be afraid to hit the trail (or the slopes). Just do it.sCorpio (oct. 23 - nov. 21) - Today is a 7 - Finances are more of an issue for the next two days. Make changes while saving money. Postpone family time slightly. Don’t believe everything ... imagination’s especially alluring.saGiTTarius (nov. 22 - dec. 21) - Today is a 6 - Fantasy doesn’t quite match reality, at least for now. Make the best of it, even with unwanted conflict. Plug a financial leak, and it all works out.CapriCorn (dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is an 8 - Stand up to critics. Refocus on work today and tomorrow. But it’s not always about the money. Postpone a shopping trip. Observe the impact of your words.aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is an 8 - Your loved ones encourage you to take on a new challenge. Silence is bliss now. Plan a special romantic evening. Love finds a way, and friends help you to see farther.pisCes (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is a 7 - Discover the truth, and erase all doubt. Make household decisions for the next few days. Face your demons. Provide advice only when asked. Stick close to home.©2012, TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.

“HORROR”SCOPE by Nancy Black,Tribune Media Services

SUDOKU by The Mepham Group,Tribune Media Services

difficulty Level: 3 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 Mythological fire-breather8 Man-horse creature15 Tangled or disentangled16 Employee’s security pass17 Like Napoleon on Elba18 Nonsense19 Elementary20 Teacher’s answer book21 Guitarist Barrett22 About, in dates25 AEC successor28 Labyrinth dweller31 Elusive loch dweller, familiarly35 Powerful health care lobbying gp.36 Internet letters38 Singer Ronstadt39 Massage style42 Champs-__: Paris boulevard44 __-face: smooching45 Law office hire47 Not in the clergy48 Riddler foiled by Oedipus50 Fictional destroyer of Tokyo53 Match part54 Erased55 Leader of the pitching staff58 Nipper’s org.60 Godliness64 Brahe contemporary67 Temples with up-curved roofs69 Paper-folding art70 No help71 Beowulf’s victim72 What each of seven answers in this puzzle is

Down1 Final exam no-no2 ‘80s tennis star Mandlikova3 Folk singer Burl4 Arizona neighbor5 Draw forth6 Cath. or Prot.7 Juice drink suffix8 Name as a source9 Keenan’s actor father

10 Bulls org.11 Smidgen12 Puts in13 Like Cinderella’s stepsisters14 Bassoon, e.g.20 Small racer23 Cheers from tiers24 Prankster26 Count (on)27 Forensic detectives, briefly28 Trick-or-treaters’ costume items29 Beatnik’s “Got it”30 J. Carrol __: TV’s Charlie Chan32 Fishhook-to-line connection33 Perfect34 Cinch course37 Big name in Argentine politics

40 With no warranties41 Emmy winner Daly43 “Shane” star Alan46 Océano filler49 The “X” in XFL, so some thought51 Homemade pistol52 Imbeciles55 Awestruck56 “The Alienist” author Caleb57 Nobelist Wiesel59 Slinky’s shape61 Cut and paste, e.g.62 Story63 River of Flanders65 Car starter: Abbr.66 Young fellow67 Milne’s absent-minded Mr.68 It begins with enero

Solutions available online at www.thedailyaztec.com

8 BackpaGeWednesdayOctober 31, 2012The Daily azTec

Samantha HirschStaff Writer

humorWhyWeLoveHalloween

Trick-or-Treating:

Every Halloween, millions of youngsters run around the streets, knocking on doors,

hollering “trick or treat!” Those words are magical. When else can you say such a short phrase and receive free chocolate? It’s like every woman’s dream (the once a month for about a week kind). On any other day of the year, if children walked door to door dressed up as superheroes or movie villains and demanded residents to hand over sugary delectables, the Child Protective Services would be called before anyone could say “A Nightmare on Elm Street.”

So how did this kooky tradition begin? Starting as early as the 10th century, trick-or-treating was referred to as “souling.” This word evolved from a pagan tradition practiced in Europe, where children would walk from door to door during All Souls Day requesting gifts of food in return for prayers from the dead.

Although trick-or-treating stems from tradition, the idea in the modern day world is a little strange. Unrecognizable minors roam the streets into late hours of the night, hopped up on massive amounts of sugar given to them by complete strangers. Maybe it’s just me, but in theory, trick-or-treating sounds exceptionally frightening. Or maybe I’m just bitter because I’m 21 years old. As far as trick-or-treating standards go, I’m over the hill.

Despite this, there are plenty of Halloween fun and games I’m not bitter about.WomenDressingProvocatively:

A wise woman named Cady Heron once said, “Halloween is the one

night a year when girls can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it.” Though the quote stemmed from “Mean Girls,” a simple teen comedy and was spoken by the “master thespian” herself (Lindsay Lohan) girls everywhere take this quote to heart. Year after year, provocatively dressed women roam the streets, showing onlookers what their mommas gave them. At first, it was merely simple costumes that persevered: the sexy nurse, the sexy firefighter, the sexy cop, etc. Essentially, women took everyday occupations and sexed them up. But originality and creativity increased exponentially and the stock on sexy costumes has risen tenfold. Recently, I saw the sexy Bert and Ernie from “Sesame Street,” the sexy Sully from “Monsters Inc.” and a sexy hamburger (because nothing says seductive like dead cow). Ladies, if we’re going to dress provocatively, how about we honor the great women who came before us? Where are the sexy Ruth Bader Ginsburgs? The slutty Helen Kellers? The tantalizing Rosa Parks? Get creative, but remember the women who paved the way for us to be able to walk around half naked for one day every year.Pumpkins:

Going to pumpkin patches, carving jack-o’-lanterns and baking pumpkin seeds are wonderful family traditions. I firmly believe pumpkin candles and pumpkin bread are two scrumptiously smelling items every household should use throughout October. But lately, I’ve seen the pumpkin and its sweet flavor transcend simple Halloween-related traditions and

welcome itself into areas where it really does not need to be. Pumpkin Pie Spice Pringles? Calm down, pumpkins. I know you look really cute, especially when you’re carved to look like humans, but you’re only popular once a year and I’m already getting sick of you. It’s not me, it’s you. You’re deliciously flavored, but you’re more overexposed than the Kardashians. Just stick to looking cute and not really doing much, just like the Kardashians should.BobbingForApples:

Like trick-or-treating, this last tradition stems from many years ago, as part of the Celtic celebration of Samhain (celebrating the new year) on Nov 1. The night before was thought to be a time when the living and the dead overlapped, enabling the deceased to walk the earth. Because of this overlap between realms, people thought predictions and fortune telling could be performed with some accuracy.

Unfortunately, the popularity of bobbing for apples decreased because of the game’s unsanitary nature (multiple players dunking their entire head in the same bucket of water). However, for a hygienic and a bit more riveting game, float the apples in a bucket of water, along with multiple bars of soap. The game may be a bit more risky, (is that a bar of soap in my mouth or a really clean apple?) but obsessive-compulsive mothers of the world can sit contently, knowing their child won’t catch some mysterious disease. Besides, apples are so outdated. Why don’t we bob for edamame, Kobe beef or ceviche? Let’s present these kids some culture while they’re semi-water-boarding themselves.

antonio zaragoza, editor in chief

From left to right: Robert Isner, Johnny Zavala, Luz Armenta, Tim Shelton, Cyndi Meeves, Ana Domingo and Alex Diaz. Cuicalli Din-ing Hall employees treated students to a zombie-themed flash mob dance on Oct. 26.

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PLEASE NOTE :The views expressed in the written works of this issue do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec. Letters to the editor can be sent to letters@thedailyaztec.com