Serving California State University, East Bay
Thursday, Free Cushy Retirement?
Rees receives sweet deal.
November 30, 2006
See page 4.
A&E
“Black Friday”
DREW
LONG LINES AT
BAY AREA STORES
By Kenneth Montfort bargains, which gave the San Leandro-based depart-
Staff Writer ment stores nearly 30 percent more traffic than the
same day last year.
Ferrell Fiction: N atural catastrophes, driving rain and high
gasoline prices did not deter the spunky
– even ravenous – shoppers of the Bay Area the
“Our folks are diehards,” said Bed, Bath and Beyond
spokesperson Meridyth Andler. “It’s a tradition for them to
look in the papers on Thanksgiving Day, check the sales,
Ferrell goes serio-comic. day after Thanksgiving. get up early on Friday and plot out where they’re going to
Major retailers used big bargains to attract go. They shop, they go to breakfast and they go back to the
See page 6. large crowds to San Leandro’s Bayfair Mall on store and shop again. They want to be there early.”
“Black Friday.” Hayward resident Sara Lopez, who was carrying
“My wife told me to do this at the last three extra-large bags, sat on a bench outside Bayfair
minute,” said Jewell Marshall, 52, of Oakland, mall and waited for her daughter to finish shopping.
News sounding slightly annoyed as she loaded boxes
of electronic equipment into her trunk.
“I’m almost done. I just need to hit up Wal-Mart
and Target next and then I’ll be okay,” she said. “I
“When I got here at 8, they told me they want to check out the shoes sales there.”
only had 10 of them left, and they were gone It appeared the love of bargains trumped real
by the time I got to the display,” she said. needs or even good sense. Andler said she overheard
“That’s such a joke; so I couldn’t get the one one shopper, who was buying 50 percent-off flannel
I wanted and ended up paying more for this sheets, say to her companion, “I’m not sure what I’m
Compaq laptop.” going to do with these, but I’m going to make good
Several hundred people lined up outside use of them.”
each of the three major stores at the mall,
anticipating excellent sales and wonderful See Shopping, page 5.
Hawaiian Welcome: Photo/ Navipat Chomcherngpat
Food from the 50th State served
with grace.
See page 8.
Free Speech Trends on College Campuses Nationwide Metz to Resign,
Hopes University
By Anne Cunningham an open manner. Today, because of the U.S.-led “Temple University is just one of many
Staff Writer war in Iraq, many college campuses are experi- universities that have enacted an Academic
encing student protests as well, and free speech Bill of Rights to protect both students and
Eritrean Community T he Foundation for Individual Rights in Edu- is once again becoming an issue. faculty,” said Dr. William Alnor, communica-
Will Pursue
cation (FIRE) has reviewed the free speech Fast forward to spring 2005 at UC Santa tion professor and the director of journalism
Mourns Death of conduct codes of 205 college campuses and found
that only 20 do not restrict free speech.
Cruz when students protested the presence of
military recruiters at a campus job fair. Violence
at CSUEB.
Alnor was a student at Temple for over
CSUEB Student
Faculty Housing
FIRE is a self-described watchdog for free broke out because the students were not per- 20 years, while obtaining his doctorate in
speech issues on college campuses. mitted to voice their opinions in an open and mass media and communications; he also
A Cal State East Bay student, “FIRE believes it is essential that our nation’s forthright manner. taught there for 12 years.
her brother and mother were slain future leaders be educated as members of a free Since then, military recruiters no longer visit “In universities, there is a respected
in their Oakland apartment during society, learning to debate and to resolve differ- the campus, although they are allowed to by right of academic freedom, and I have never By Ah Reum Lee
a gruesome shooting on Thanksgiv- ences peacefully, without resorting to admin- law. They know they are not welcomed there taught in a university where there were ap- Staff Writer
ing. istrative coercion,” said a FIRE spokesperson. by the students, and focus their efforts on other proved reading lists or restrictions on guest
D
Winta Mehari, 28, her brother espite his long-time friendship with Cal
Yonas Mehari, 17 and her mother, “Unfortunately, too many colleges and universities venues. speakers.”
have attempted to outlaw speech and expression Led by writer David Horowitz – formerly an That could all change if the College Ac- State East Bay President Mo Qayoumi,
Regbe Bahrenegasi, 50, were alleg-
edly killed by Mehari's two broth- that do not conform to various ‘politically correct’ energetic liberal activist – some conservatives cess and Opportunity Act – which passed Richard Metz, vice president of administra-
ers-in-law. campus orthodoxies. Through this project, FIRE are pushing for the adoption of an “Academic the House in March and is currently under tion and business affairs for CSUEB, has
The accused, Tewodros and defends and enhances freedom of expression at Bill of Rights” (ABOR) at academic institutions consideration by the Senate – is adopted. decided to leave the university.
Asmeron Gebreselassie, were the America’s institutions of higher education.” across the nation. The bill takes the form of legis- The aim of this act is to deny federal fund- “Dr. Qayoumi and I have been friends
brothers of Mehari's late husband, Many campuses include a free speech area, but for seven years since (we were in) col-
lative proposals claiming to protect the academic ing to institutions not in compliance with
who died under unknown circum- lege,” Metz said. “It became apparent to
stances in March. free speech is still not readily available campus- freedom of college students from ideological ABOR’s limitations on free speech on col-
wide at most colleges. indoctrination by professors. lege campuses. me our friendship was getting in the way.
Police said witnesses told them
Tewodros called Asmeron to confirm “This has always been a significant problem Horowitz founded “Students for Academic The legislation is opposed by the Ameri- I went to Dr. Qayoumi, talked about the
that the Meharis and Bahrenegasi in the US, and particularly so since the beginning Freedom,” now with representation on more can Association of University Professors, circumstances and agreed between two
were in the apartment. Minutes of the Cold War back in the early 1950s,” said Dr. than 130 campuses, to rally support for ABOR, which represents more than 45,000 faculty of us that it would be better for both of us
later, Asmeron opened the door and Robert Terrell, Cal State East Bay professor of com- which provides guidelines regarding what can members on 500 campuses nationwide. In a and the university if I resigned and looked
immediately began firing. munication. “This period includes the McCarthy and cannot be openly discussed in university for applying somewhere else.”
statement issued last December, the group
Mehari's two-year-old son was Metz decided to resign in July due to a
Era, when loyalty oaths were commonly required classrooms. The bill includes a ban on “political” said the measures being considered seek
not injured; witnesses said as soon disagreement with Qayoumi on different
as the shooting began, Tewodros of professors and students. Many professors were or “anti-religious speech” from classrooms, and to “impose administrative and legislative
grabbed the little boy and took fired because they refused to sign such oaths, the spirit of the bill is intended to curtail stu- oversight on the professional judgment of types of management decisions.
him to the second-floor apartment including a host of them at UC Berkeley.” dents’ discussion of topics deemed “politically the faculty.” “We have different approaches to man-
he shares with his brother in the The intellectual independence so prized by controversial” and liable to “offend” a sensitive Supporters of the bill argue professors agement,” Metz said. “So, I offered to leave
same building. American academics simply did not extend to the classmate. offering new ideas might offend or “indoc- and Dr. Qayoumi accepted... There is an-
Both brothers were arraigned United States government. Princeton University passed a modified ver- other point, too. Every president deserves
trinate” students. They claim the bill will
Wednesday and have been charged the right to build his (or) her own staff.”
Students at Kent State, who protested the sion of the ABOR in April, and Temple University protect students whose political views dif-
with three counts of murder and Metz said he enjoyed the past 12 years
one count of kidnapping. American invasion of Cambodia in 1970, were fired in Philadelphia became the first institution to fer from those of their professors.
upon by the National Guard, who killed four and officially adopt the policy in July. “Yes, I am for an academic bill of rights at CSUEB, which is longer than he had
Winta, Yonas and Bahrenegasi
were all immigrants from Eritrea, wounded nine. An important aspect of the bill is that it can because it protects both the students and worked anywhere else in his career. He is
a small, East African nation. Winta Hundreds, possibly thousands of people, be customized to reflect the spirit of each uni- faculty,” said Alnor. “I have been teaching enthusiastically searching for another job
had been in the US since 1999, and mostly students, were killed in the massacre at versity, either with or without the involvement at the university level now for 17 years, and as he plans to continue to work in higher
her mother and brother joined her Tiananmen Square because they peacefully sought of students. This allows for great latitude and I have seen professors punish students in education.
in 2001. democratic reform. “I will try to find a new job before I
the bill could possibly be composed stating no grades and even ridicule them if they were
The violence may have been avoided if students restrictions on speech, except those allowed by too ‘conservative’ or if they did not buy into leave, but I may not (be able to find one),”
had been able to voice their opinions and speak in the First Amendment. what the professor was saying.” Metz said. Metz said it is time for him and
his wife to leave California, which is an-
‘ICE’ Showcases Final Projects for CSUEB
other reason for his resignation.
The African Students “We have been able to take advantage
Association (AFSA) of the real estate growth, and I personally
think the real estate bubble is going to pop
will present “A Nite In By Anne Cunningham in California,” Metz said. “I would like to
Staff Writer sell my house and buy a new one most
Africa” tonight at 7 in Photo/ Tontrakul Krijpipudh likely outside of California.”
the University Union, ‘W inter Wonderland – A Dance Concert’ will
showcase the final projects of Cal State
East Bay dance majors on Dec. 1 and 2 at 8 p.m.
Looking back on his time at CSUEB,
Metz said the best decisions he has ever
room 311. The AFSA is in the Dance Studio, PE 140. made are the last three construction proj-
Produced by Nina Haft, the event will include ects: the expansion of Pioneer Heights,
committed to serving dancers of all levels performing a wide array of the new University Union (which has been
the African students dance styles, including jazz, modern, hip hop, West delayed), and the Wayne and Gladys Valley
African, praise dance, spoken word and physical Business and Technology Center.
on campus and enlight- theater performances. Audiences will be treated “A lot of work had to be done by me and
to original music and sound design composed by my officers,” Metz said. “I am very proud
ening the local com- CSUEB student Keith Penney.
of it and I think that has been very good for
The evenings are a culmination of several de-
munity about events buts, including the new CSUEB Dance Ensemble, the university. I think having this residence
the Mixed Ability Dance Class, and excerpts from hall, when the new president comes in, is
affecting the African three senior projects and one junior project in good for him and for university at the same
dance. time. I am very proud of that activity. That
Continent. “These pieces are works-in-progress that will is one of the things that I accomplished and
be developed over the year for presentation both am very proud of.”
on-campus and off-campus in lo-
Metz said he hopes the university will
Inside This Issue: cal touring opportunities,” said
Haft. “It is a wonderful event, aggressively pursue a faculty housing
family-friendly and a real cel- program that will feature a townhouse-
• News ..............2,3,5,8,10 ebration of our students’ hard
work and creativity in dance,”
styled complex.
“I wish I would have been able to es-
she said. tablish more faculty (housing),” Metz said.
• Editorial ......................4 Each piece springs from “We do not have any right now . . .There
the individual choreographer’s
is just too much going on with too many
theme, which drives at the heart
• Movies .........................6 of each production. other concerns.”
Faculty housing would help increase
Denise Hampel, an
international student the enrollment target, which would make
• A & E ........................6,7 from Germany and a ju- CSUEB a destination university while re-
nior majoring in dance ducing inconveniences for the faculty.
hopes that the piece School officials have begun to work
• Classified Ads ............9 she choreographed
Ice women cometh: Top row (left to right): Cherisse Harden, Tola Aflayan, Kristen McGarry. Middle: Grace Alvarez, with the Hayward Unified School District
will raise questions
Mariane Mercado, Denise Hampel. Bottom: Kehinde Kujichagulia-Seitu, Katrina Deans. to develop housing that will be suitable for
• Sports ...........................9 See ICE, page 7. Photo/ Courtesy See Resign, page 5.