Daily Aztec story: Bluetooth on

This summer, California legislators are trying to get drivers' hands off their phones and back onto their steering wheels.

Two new laws are aimed at reducing car accidents by restricting drivers from talking on their cell phones while driving. The laws, which go into effect on July 1, will allow drivers to keep using hands-free devices such as Bluetooth. They also prohibit minors from driving while using a cell phone or a hands-free device.

Some critics blast the new law as the work of a "nanny government," while proponents applaud it. Like it or not, the law will be the reality for thousands of San Diego State students who will return for the fall semester. University Police Lt. Lamine Secka said that campus police will be ready to enforce the new ban.

"As with all violations, our officers will take the appropriate enforcement actions based on the circumstances at the time," Secka said. "If students, faculty or staff are in violation of the law and are observed by our officers, they run the risk of being stopped for the violation."

According to the San Diego Police Department, drivers would face a minimum $97 fine for the first violation. However, a second violation would increase to $211.

Binesh Shah, an SDSU student, said she welcomes the new law. Shah said that driving safety was not always a priority until she was involved in a cell phone-related accident. Since then, she has gone hands-free.

"I think this new law is great," Shah said. "I personally use my Bluetooth all the time even when I am at home. It allows me to do everything I need to do without being distracted by my cell phone."

The law is controversial because many scientists argue that the hands-free devices are also dangerous, and that the ban will not change anything. The law is part of a wider legislative backlash against driving while using cell phones, and California is the latest state to pass such a ban.

There is currently no law that regulates text messaging while driving, although police may pull a driver over for any reason if the officer judges that a driver is distracted.

The law was campaigned for by Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Calif., and was signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in September 2006.

Schwarzenegger said that cell phone drivers are "putting people at risk," and he's even threatened to take away his daughter's keys if he catches her using a cell phone while driving. However, this is not the end of the road for drivers who need their cell phone fix.

"You don't have to stop talking on your cell phone," Schwarzenegger said. "Use a headset or use a speaker system, and you will be fine."

Daily Aztec Story: School of Accountancy renamed

In life, Dr. Charles Lamden, professor of accountancy at San Diego State, was voted an outstanding professor by his students. In death, he will be remembered as truly transformational.

The School of Accountancy, which owes its accreditation largely to Lamden, will now bear his name, becoming the Charles W. Lamden School of Accountancy. The school is the first in SDSU history to take on the name of a benefactor.

The Lamden family gave SDSU a gift of $10 million to make the naming possible, which was presented by William Lamden, the son of Charles Lamden. The gift is also among the largest donations ever given to the university.

SDSU President Stephen L. Weber was firmly supportive of changing the name of the school, according to a press release.

"The naming of the School of Accountancy is transformational for San Diego State," Weber said. "This gift will ensure that Charles Lamden's powerful legacy of high academic and business standards will continue for many generations of students and faculty to come."

Lamden's long teaching career at SDSU began in 1954. Over the years, he garnered many awards and honors including the title of "Outstanding Professor" by SDSU students, which he won twice. Lamden died on May 9, 1992 at the age of 75.

The naming of the School of Accountancy has been in discussion for 15 years between the Lamden family and SDSU officials, with the final approval given by California State University Trustees. Only in the last year have discussions escalated, Dean of the College of Business Administration, Dr. Gail Naughton said.

"We had to figure out the right (financial) amount," Naughton said. "It has been a long procedure, and it has been on and off for 15 years. For the last 12 months there have been very active discussions."

According to Naughton, the agreement was reached in part so that the naming of the School of Accountancy could take place within the lifetime of his wife, Gertrude Lamden.

The $10 million will go to supplement the salaries of the School of Accountancy faculty, in order to keep their wages competitive, and also to bolster research project funds. Naughton added that the students will reap the benefits of a stronger program.

"This is absolutely transformational for the school," Naughton said. "It will take us from top-notch to outstanding. This is great news for us."

According to a press release, Sharon Lightner, the William E. Cole Director of the School of Accountancy, said that the naming of the school is a tribute to a great man.

"As a scholar, professional and global businessman, Dr. Lamden embraced everything the School of Accountancy aspires to," she said. "It is only fitting that the school will now be named for the man who has left his mark for excellence at SDSU."

JACC Poem

March 31 2006

We win a lot of awards and put out whenever we can.

The sun rises. Rises again. We may go down, but we always come back. Every day.

We are so cocky. Wild, enthusiastic gray hooded hoodlums. Roaring, stalking

“Were so hot right now.” There is no place where the sun does not shine. Brightly, flamboyant, unapologetic. Burning holes through the competition. Except for Contra Costa. They hate us.

A target can only be so big. One day we may fail. Nah.

Then there’s Rico, that Cheshire grin stretched tightly across his face as he swaggers through the hallways. I can hear his trademark laugh. “Heh heh heh heh.” Rico shoots the breeze with bums and knows how good a pancake can taste at 3:00 in the morning.

Kathryn is gallivanting, shinning brightly. PI more outrageous than ever. Alex making new friends in the halls. Viri making rounds. D.T steps into a black hole in space and disappears.

LA monoliths scrape the sky. The big city sprawls, spread out like a napkin.

“Hey mister do you have a dollar? Spare change, anything. I will sing for a dollar.”

Traffic crawls. Shoes stores line the walk of fame... flytraps for tourists. The wild night beckons. The sun is going down.

Pride

The document is sitting in front of me as I write this.
Seven pages of paper, six and one-fifth of typed words and there is elegant blue writing incised over the words from the pen of my professor. The man did a really thorough job on my English paper. I read his comments days after SDSU let out, and I was struck at just how consuming and intimate his critique was. It touched my heart. William N. Rogers, professor of English at SDSU, is a teacher who really cares. It was his desire to see me do well that pushed me to work hard because I did not want to let him down.
The class was called "Modern Chinese and Japanese Women's Literature." It was the last class I added, I needed one more class and I took it because it looked interesting. The professor expected quality work from us. My final paper was seven pages. The ideas rattled around in my head and it took me a long time, the thesis kept slipping out my hands like butter and it required a lot of fattening to make the paper reach the page expectations. I received a grade that was a "B+/B" (not sure what the combination means). Believe me, it has never felt better to earn a second place in something. I worked my you-know-what off to achieve that second place trophy.
The hard work instilled something in me, a sense of pride.
Pride.
Not the kind that qualifies as one of the seven deadly sins but the kind that empowers one with self worth.
Its a moment I want to hold close and never let go.
Last Sunday, our Co-Pastor preached a sermon entitled "Do your Best and let God do the rest."
Again, like many a challenge in college, it was a miracle that brought me through, divine providence as America's founders put it. It was God who did it. I'm not going to go into all the details but it never ceases to amaze how the circumstances line up so perfectly to allow me to survive in life. He is right there when I need him. This semester has once again been a testament to that.
There are many paths in this life that lead to striking out, and worse, to be taken out of the game for good, to become one of the nameless watchers in the stands who cheer on the other players. One thing I refuse to be is the nameless watcher who lives in front of the television screen or computer game. Every struggle is a life affirming thing and the victories while hard fought, are oh-so-sweet.