For the Daily Titan

Valentine’s Day 2009: Elise Larkin looks at a stuffed bear her boyfriend Adam gave her. The bear is holding a small box in its paw. She expects earrings, a necklace, or maybe even a bracelet. But she opens the box to find a plastic heart that says, “Now you’ll always have my heart.” He was a simple romantic and the love of her life. The 21-year old political science major at Cal State Fullerton, recalled of her last Valentine’s Day with Adam.

27-year-old Adam Ransom came from a Christian family of five. They lived in Long Beach in a two-story house. His parents were supportive and loved their children more than anything.

He had many loves. One of them was Larkin, others were his nephews, his closest four friends and anyone else he called family. His favorite architect was Frank Lloyd Wright because he was captivated by skyscrapers. He was fascinated with Jung and loved to carefully analyze his writings. He played baseball all his life and also acquired a love for football. “Wherever Brett Farve went, Adam followed,” Larkin said. He had tattoos of his favorite quotations and art pieces; one of them carried the message: “The brightest stars burn out the fastest.”

He was an introvert while Elise was an extrovert. He was skeptical about people’s intentions; Larkin was not. They loved each other nonetheless. “Me, I was happy, and I think some of that poured into him,” she explained. Their 3-year relationship consisted of a lot of outdoor activities, especially overlooking the sunset at Signal Hill in Long Beach. They would enjoy nights in by slow dancing to the music of Billie Holiday in his room. “They were like two little kids in a movie,” said Kris Casebeer, Larkin’s cousin and Ransom’s childhood friend. Larkin’s parents didn’t approve of him, but that didn’t stop her from loving him.

“I’m beginning to understand I’ll love you forever,” “What were you thinking” and “Come back” are comments that now fill Ransom’s Facebook page. Something was missing from his life – a void he was never able to fill. Larkin explained that while the first year of their relationship was smooth, his depression became all too apparent within the second year. He would tell her things like, “If I killed myself I’d want to hang myself.” She would worry and ask him to clarify, only to receive a response along the lines of, “Oh… just kidding, I’d never do that.”

6 months ago, in an attempt to fill the void within him, Ransom began heavily drinking. He would go to Blondie’s, a bar that was within walking distance from his home, because it was convenient. He knew alcohol would always be there and it quickly became his escape. Blondie’s would always be there for him even when times were bad. Here, he was never alone. Here, everyone knew his name. And while he didn’t trust the world around him, he trusted everyone within the walls of Blondie’s.

Larkin had always seen her future in his eyes but he didn’t always feel the same. May 2009 came around which meant one thing, summer. For Larkin, it meant leaving for New York to attend an internship. The internship was important experience for Larkin; it meant she would be one step closer to accomplishing her goals. “It was something I was doing for my future,” she says. Ransom saw it as her giving up on him — he urged her not go as if she was leaving forever. Blondie’s became his comfort while she was away.

While in New York, Larkin thought he had become motivated to get help of some sort but came home to the reality. She called her cousin while away to check up on things and he told her “No, no … Adam has actually gotten 100 times worse.” Elise thought this had to be an exaggeration but realized it wasn’t when she saw his bloated face greet her at the airport. “He looked just horrible. It wasn’t like he was overweight in any fashion, it was the alcohol made him bloat,” she said. His depression had obviously gotten worse and Larkin could rarely find a sober boyfriend to talk to … her partner was slipping away.

Ransom never sought professional help but began medicating himself. He got Valium from a friend. “It will make me stop drinking,” he told Larkin. She didn’t try to stop him, not only because she knew how stubborn he was, but because she knew it would only escalate into an argument. He wasn’t the same person she had fallen in love with. His temper was short and they didn’t go to Signal Hill to watch sunsets anymore. They were not the active couple they once were.

Since the drugs were not helping, Ransom started taking at least five Valium a day. He couldn’t even function at work anymore let alone walk straight. Larkin decided the best thing to do was stay at a distance for the time being. She couldn’t handle how out of control he had become. He started having manic episodes and his friends found him face down in the water on a trip to Lake Havasu. No one knew if this was a suicide attempt or an accident as a result of the high dosage of Valium he was taking.

He came back from his trip to Lake Havasu looking worse than before. He had cuts and bruises everywhere, “It was like me seeing him kill himself from the inside. I knew the moment he stopped caring about his appearance something was wrong,” Elise says. She tried telling him how much his alcohol and drugs were affecting her and how much she loved him but he was so clouded from the two to understand the effect he was having on those around him.

On Aug. 21, Ransom could no longer take the helplessness. He took Valium and Darvocet in large quantities and washed them down with alcohol. He had been doing his research and knew this was the way to kill himself. And at age 27, Ransom decided to end his life. Elise was at work when she received the call from her brother urging her to come home immediately. When her parents told her what had happened to Ransom her world collapsed and everything lost its meaning. Food tasted like paper for the next two weeks. He left a note for his family and addressed Larkin in it: “Tell Elise she was my greatest love and that I am sorry it didn’t work out,” it read. She felt she was cheated out of a response.

School started on Monday and Adam had died on Friday and Elise knew putting her life on hold would only hinder her progress. She started the semester as usual but with an obvious hole in her heart. She became angry at Adam and herself. “How could he have done this to me?” she thought. “And how could I have not seen it coming?”

Elise has learned being angry brings no catharsis. And 12 weeks later she wears a smile brighter than a rainbow because of Ransom. She got to experience love and still feels his love everyday she wakes up. She carries that plastic heart she found in the box the bear was holding on Valentine’s Day everyday and knows she and Ransom will meet again.

Today, Larkin focuses all her energy on bringing awareness to those around her. She said the biggest regret she has is not acknowledging how serious his depression was. “His job wasn’t enough, his friends weren’t enough, his family wasn’t enough, I was not enough … to save him,” she said. Elise’s advice to those who know someone with depression is to never give up, never leave their side, and more importantly never underestimate the power of depression “It’s a disease that eats people up,” she says. She urges people to seek professional help immediately and never brush it off.

On Oct. 10 Larkin and her sorority, Sigma Kappa, participated in one of the “Out of the Darkness” community walks hosted by the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention. “I’ve never lost anyone to suicide but the walk really me realize how prevalent suicide really is,” said Cal State Fullerton student Gabrielle Ulrich. The sorority raised $600 for depression research and other causes of suicide. She says this is the first of many events she will take part in to generate awareness.

Larkin hopes to make suicide prevention an active philanthropy for her sorority and get involved with the AFSP and possibly start an awareness group on campus. “It (suicide) basically kills everyone around them. It doesn’t just take that person’s life; It has taken my life and his parent’s life in a sense,” Larkin said.

On Nov. 21 the AFSP is hosting simultaneous conferences throughout the world in honor of its 11th Annual National Survivors of Suicide Day. They are healing conferences that help survivors connect with others who have survived the tragedy of suicide loss, and express and understand the powerful emotions they experience. “Laughter. It’s what’s helping me cope with it. Adam’s older brother and I just like to laugh a lot,” said Casebeer after losing one of his best friends.

Daily Titan Staff Writer

A Spot of Josephine and Jane, a tea-tasting and poetry event, will be held this Sunday at the MUZEO, an Orange County museum. The event will be hosted by Provocative PR, a group of public relations students at Cal State Fullerton.

“The event will focus on famous poet Jane Austen and Napoleon Bonaparte’s wife, Josephine Bonaparte,” said James Gubersky, 23, a public relations major and director of marketing for Proactive PR. The event is coinciding with the MUZEO’s “Treasures of Napoleon” exhibit, which is on display until Jan. 8, 2010, according to the MUZEO Web site.

“Jane Austen was a poet and novelist from that era of time,” said Gubersky. “And Josephine was very influential with Napoleon’s policies and was an important figurehead in Europe.”
The poetry readings will be performed by local OC poets and Jane Austen enthusiasts. Other poets will be in attendance. Poetry will include themes of, “Romance, love, women empowerment and individuality” said Carla Reyna, 23, a public relations major and member of Proactive PR.

A group of tea enthusiasts will also be there to speak about different teas, their antique china tea sets will be on display as well.

“They’re a group of mostly women who really love tea,” said Karen Gee, director of marketing & development for MUZEO. “They’re bloggers and have their own following.”

The event will include era-themed makeovers provided by students from Marinello School of Beauty.

“We were really thinking about what we could do to celebrate the women of that era,” said Gee. “There were a number of unusual beauty rituals of that day.”

“We wanted to reach out to the college environment,” Gubersky said. “As well as increase female attendance.” He added that there is something there for students of a variety of majors, including history, french, theater, women’s studies and creative writing.

“We have a large English department (at CSUF) so we want students to see what they’re learning in class and to see it brought to life,” said Rayna. She also agreed with Gubersky, saying that it, “Has something that everyone can be interested in.”

The event will take place in the Fountain Courtyard between the museum’s two buildings.

“People can go in to see the exhibit, and then wander out and enjoy the event in the peaceful fountain garden atmosphere,” said Gee. The event will take place Sunday from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Tea tastings will be provided by Pete’s Coffee and Tea. Food will be provided by Champagne Bakery.

Admission to the event is $13 for adults and $9 for children 12 and under. All tickets purchased online at Muzeo.org will be sold with a 25 percent discount. Tickets include access to all parts of the event, as well as admission to the Napoleon Bonaparte exhibit.

Students, faculty and staff turned out at University of California Berkeley's Sproul Plaza on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 to protest tuition fee increases by the UC Board of Regents. Photo courtesy MCT

SACRAMENTO (MCT) – Amid rowdy protests, a committee of the University of California regents voted Wednesday to raise student fees by 32 percent in two steps over the next year, bringing the annual cost of a UC education above $10,000 not including room, board or books.

Today, the full board is scheduled to vote on the plan, which also includes increases in financial aid.

Fourteen protesters – out of about 500 – were arrested at University of California-Los Angeles, where regents held their meeting. Roughly 1,000 protesters rallied at University of California-Berkeley, according to campus officials, and 300 demonstrated at University of California-Santa Cruz.

“Look at all these students who are here begging you to not raise the fees,” a UCLA student said to the board. “We cannot afford it.”

College students across the country are paying higher tuitions, as state coffers shrink with the weak economy. But nowhere are the increases as extreme as in California, said Pat Callan, president of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education.

UC’s latest fee increase would put it in line with increases at California’s other higher education systems. This summer, the California State University raised fees by 32 percent, and community college fees went up 30
percent.

In the rest of the country, Callan said, public universities are increasing fees by an average of 6.5 percent.

“California will be by far the most draconian as far as raising fees and turning people away,” he said.

The UC regents committee approved a budget proposal Wednesday that calls for slashing freshman enrollment by 2,300 students if the university doesn’t get the $913 million funding increase it’s requesting from the state.

“While we have a very aggressive plan, our challenge is going to be overwhelming in trying to get this revenue from the state,” said Patrick Lenz, UC’s vice president for budget.

As students and regents debated the fee increase Wednesday, California’s legislative analyst announced that the state faces a $20.7 billion deficit through June 2011. That news prompted Russell Gould, chairman of the
regents, to tell students there was no way to avoid raising fees.

“We’re absolutely boxed in,” he said.

Even regent Eddie Island, who usually votes against fee increases with passionate testimony, said he would vote to raise fees this time because the state’s financial situation is dire.

“I understand the burden that student fee increase places on students and their families. We get that,” Island said. “But we also get the responsibility we have to the university and the state of California.”

Students and workers interrupted the meeting several times with taunts, shouts and chants. During the presentation on fee increases, the crowd sang “We shall overcome” until police escorted them out of the room.

The panel’s plan calls for a 15 percent fee increase in January and another 15 percent increase in summer. If passed, that means students will pay an additional $585 for the rest of this school year and an additional $1,344 next year. By the fall, systemwide fees would total $10,302 a year. Students also must pay campus fees that amount to about $985. Room, board and books can cost another $15,000 or more.

The regents committee also approved raising fees at 44 professional schools, such as law, medicine and business. Costs there would go up between 7 percent and 65 percent, depending on the program.

While students criticized UC for raising fees and workers blasted the university for layoffs and furloughs, UC leaders urged all of them to turn their anger toward state lawmakers, who cut UC’s funding by 20 percent earlier this year, prompting the fee hikes and salary cuts.

They discussed plans for a major advocacy campaign during the next state budget cycle, saying UC needs more funding to end furloughs, expand library hours and begin hiring again.

John Hart and his wife are California State University-Sacramento workers with a daughter who is a freshman at Berkeley. With both of them taking furloughs, Hart said, the higher fees will make finances tight in their household.

They’re no longer eating dinner out or planning any trips. But Hart said he’s willing to pay to keep UC education top-notch.

“There’s no question we would do whatever it takes to stay there,” he said. “They’ve got to get their money somehow, from somewhere.”

The increased fees will generate more than $505 million for UC. One-third of that will be devoted to financial aid. The regents panel voted Wednesday to increase the number of students who qualify for UC’s Blue and Gold scholarship by raising the annual family income cap from $60,000 a year to $70,000.

UC President Mark Yudof said that new federal tax credits will cover the increased fees for most students whose families make up to $180,000 a year.

“That is remarkable,” he said.

Photo by Nicole Park/Daily Titan Staff Writer

By Nicole Park
Daily Titan Staff Writer

Hello Kitty celebrated her 35th birthday at a Los Angeles bash that lasted more than three weeks. Royal/T, an eclectic Japanese cosplay (short for costume play) cafe in Culver City, was home to Three Apples, a Hello Kitty exhibit, which lasted from Oct. 23 – Nov. 15.

Fans of all ages could visit the tribute to a pop culture icon free of charge. The cute novelty convention featured original art, Hello Kitty memorabilia displays with rare, vintage and brand-new limited edition items, a display of a Hello Kitty apartment, a Sanrio “Pop-Up Shop” with limited edition items for purchase and a cafe with Hello Kitty-shaped treats. Special events were also held for no additional charge. Events included a Halloween party, Hello Kitty’s birthday party on Nov. 1, the Bats and Cats Masquerade gothic party on Nov.13 and a fashion show finale Saturday night.

The event was the first of its kind in the United States, according to the Sanrio, Inc. Web site, which says the celebration was, “Like nothing America has seen before!”

The signature mouth-less Japanese kitten made her debut in 1974 on a coin purse. Since then, Hello Kitty has expanded her line from chewing gum to diamond jewelry and a MAC cosmetics line.

Carrie Schoen, 23, proudly said she has been a fan, “Forever – kind of a long time.”

Nov. 14 was Schoen’s third visit to the temporary Hello Kitty museum. She said her love of “low-brow” art was what kept drawing her back to Royal/T for more Hello Kitty merchandise.

“I like the low-brow, underground stuff,” she said. Apparently, so do a lot of other people. Schoen said there was a five and a half hour wait to get into the “Pop-Up Shop” on opening day.

“I’m surprised there are still so many people here. Wow, it’s almost been a month and there is still a huge line to buy stuff,” Schoen said.

The large glass doors of Royal/T were open to any visitors looking to browse the exhibit to see Hello Kitty rarities behind display cases, admire the Hello Kitty-inspired art pieces or enjoy a light meal in the shape of Hello Kitty’s head, at the cafe. However, a line was almost always seen wrapping outside the ivy-covered venue. The line was strictly for entrance into the Three Apples’ “Pop-Up Shop”, where a limited number of patrons were allowed to browse the limited edition items at one time.

Schoen waited out the line in the cafe with her mother and enjoyed waffles in the shape of Hello Kitty’s head.

“They’re delicious. I bought a Hello Kitty waffle maker from Target, but I’ve just never opened it. Now I’m going to,” she said.

The “Pop-Up Shop” was set up only for the duration of the exhibit, and both the shop and its wares were available for a limited-time only. Schoen bought a Hello Kitty cover for her iTouch phone and a doll set, both items that could only be found at Three Apples.

Because the event was geared toward the hardcore fans and cosplayers or those who dress in costume, the name pays tribute to the lesser known details of Hello Kitty’s weight, which her official bio says is equal to three apples.

Melissa Mares, 18, enjoyed her second visit to Three Apples on Nov. 14. A regular cosplayer at Royal/T, Mares said her style of dress, lacy and puffy, was called “Lolita” fashion. The Hello Kitty fan said the style of dress is modeled after Marie Antoinette of the Enlightenment period, but Mares said Japanese culture adopted the style of dress in the 1980s, and has updated it since.

“We’ve loved Hello Kitty since we were kids,” she said, with a group of fellow Lolitas. The girls attend Royal/T events often, Mares said. The venue is Japanese-inspired and clean and includes a shop for Asian toys and collectibles, a cafe featuring Lolita waitresses and a versatile art space that changes often.

“It’s been really cool. It’s just Hello Kitty to the max. It’s awesome. Even at the Sanrio stores, there are a mix of characters, but this is all just Hello Kitty,” Mares said.

Despite the common sight of frilly Lolita dresses and the abundance of pink in the room, unabashed men were spotted throughout the venue.

Twenty-year-old Christian Santos-Castro was also visiting for a second time on Nov. 14. During his first visit, he bought a limited edition Three Apples keychain that was sold out on his return visit.

“Everything’s cool. Some of the stuff is not meant for men, but I can appreciate it for the art,” Santos-Castro said.

The final weekend included a Hello Kitty fashion show in which designers showed off their HK-inspired duds. The hip kitty herself made a strut down the runway.

Victoria Berry, 23, who was in attendance Saturday night, said, “The entire fashion show was like being inside of a HK-infused game of Candy Land. The designers’ garments inspired by her were fabulous. I would’ve worn any of them right off of the runway.”

Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe stars in the new film "Precious." She is shown on October 14, 2009, in Chicago, Illinois. (Phil Velasquez/Chicago Tribune/MCT)

By Sergio Cabaruvias
Daily Titan News Editor

Having seen the powerfully dramatic previews of Precious, I expected Lee Daniels’ screen adaptation of Sapphire’s novel, Push, to be so emotionally ‘moving’ I’d finish the movie in a different seat. But instead, I found myself idling in the same seat until the jarring closing scene where Mo’Nique gives an unbelievable performance, the one the audience had been waiting for.

Movie promoters have had interesting schemes in past years, but trying to get people into theaters by previewing the climax and resolution of a film leads the audience with false expectations. Despite her brilliant performance, I was disappointed by Mo’Nique’s relatively temperate character in her few short scenes of the movie. Because of the previews, I expected her to dominate the film. Also, Mariah Carey’s unexpectedly good portrayal as a social worker was only given a few short scenes in the second half of the film. Yet, it was those two characters who received most of the preview coverage. Precious is a very good movie, but it would be more enjoyable if viewers weren’t enticed into seeing it by what is essentially false advertising.

The account of 16-year-old Claireece Precious Jones still makes for a fresh story. The story of a girl who is pregnant with her father’s second child and suffers the abusive hand and mouth of her mother makes for a film that leaves viewers in sick awe of life. Supported by an extremely talented cast that includes both well-known faces and lesser-known actors (Paula Patton as Precious’ teacher and mentor, Gabourey ‘Gabby’ Sidibe as Precious), the movie conveys honesty in a film with so much depth it almost sinks into reality, especially in the hands of a capable director like Daniels.

One of the problems with memoirs – especially those featuring copious drug use and mental illness – is that they often come off as overly self-indulgent, more of a therapy session for the writer than a compelling read for the reader.

While Fall to Pieces by Mary Forsberg Weiland, the estranged wife of Stone Temple Pilots/Velvet Revolver frontman Scott Weiland, and Larkin Warren definitely does have its fair share of self-indulgence; it’s also a book that leaves the reader caring enough about Weiland to find out what happens next.

Weiland and Warren took a raw, unflinching look from Weiland’s rocky childhood, to stints in rehab and mental hospitals that paved the way to her regaining control of her life.

At one point in the book, Weiland writes, “I am no one’s victim.” And you know what? I believe her. She doesn’t make excuses for her behavior, nor does she sugarcoat or overly embellish any of the events she wrote about. She’s a victim of her own self-professed need to “want more.” As the book progresses, it’s a drive that will both build her up from her humble beginnings as a troubled teen living in a low income, single parent home, to ultimately tearing her down, sending her torching her husband’s entire wardrobe and subsequently ending up in a psychiatric ward.

What emerges is an honest, flawed portrait of someone who the reader is able to empathize with. Weiland is only human, and her humanity shines through the heartfelt writing.

If there is one criticism I have, it’s that the writing toward the beginning of the book is more reserved, almost as if the writer was initially self-conscious about revealing such intimate information. The detached writing doesn’t last very long, however, and the short time it does (only about a chapter or so) does not detract from the overall power of the memoir.

It’s definitely a must-read.

Leon and Rosina Watson were married in 1950, just after the California Supreme Court became the first in the nation to strike down interracial marriage bans. The Oakland couple raised three children and remain living in their same home for the past 59 years. Photo courtesy MCT.

According to the state of Virginia, which at the time prohibited interracial marriage, they were criminals – guilty of marrying the “wrong” kind of person – and were given a choice to serve one year in prison or 25 years in exile from their home state.

The Lovings saw they had only one choice: to fight for the right to love and be with each other, regardless of race, color or creed.

After much trial, tribulation and perseverance, the U.S Supreme Court in the case of Loving v. Virginia declared, “The freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men.”

The case of Loving v. Virginia provided light at the end of a dimly-lit tunnel and paved the way for many interracial couples to live free from persecution.

Many argue that this generation of American youths are creating a bold new frontier for America, one where individuals of all cultures are mixing and integrating to form a brilliant kaleidoscope of ethnicities. However, with change often comes resistance and hostility toward accepting a new America.

Thomas Grisby, a 27-year-old ITT Tech graduate, experienced the extent of society’s acceptance and tolerance firsthand.

“Overall, I think society has made a 180,” Grisby, who is black and previously dated a Caucasian woman, said. “America has evolved so much, and not everyone is the same race. We’re so mixed. It’s inevitable that everyone will soon blend.”

Despite society’s greater acceptance toward interracial couples, Grisby said that certain menacing looks from a handful of people are ever-present and hard to ignore.

“I was always on alert, everywhere I went, because I knew that we might cause problems,” Grisby said. “Most of the people staring would focus attention on my girlfriend, trying to tell her with their eyes that she was doing something wrong and should be ashamed.”

Ricky Young, a 22-year-old from Mississippi, is a kinesiology major visiting Cal State Fullerton. Young, who is black, shares Grisby’s thoughts and attitudes regarding society’s increase in accepting interracial relationships; however, particular instances of discrimination have been unforgettable.

“For the most part, my girlfriend and I only get slight glances and looks, mostly from older people,” Young said.

Young described an instance in which a Caucasian man tried to initiate a fight with him after giving Young and his girlfriend a disgusted look.

“Once he knew I could hold my own, he walked away,” Young said. “My girlfriend and I were both shaken up, and we knew that it was just a product of ignorance.”

Lezlee Hinesmon-Matthews, assistant professor of Afro-ethnic studies at CSUF, teaches many courses on the history of racism and the black family. After years of teaching a variety of students, she feels that many of them underestimate the reality of discrimination and prejudice occurring in today’s society.

“(Southern California) natives are used to multiculture, and are comfortable with it because they have grown up around it,” Matthews said. “Some of my students who have traveled the states and abroad have other stories to tell and are often surprised to realize that others do not share their same ideals.”

The scale and presence of racism seems to significantly vary regionally.

Many of her students who attempt to date interracially begin to realize that bigotry still exists, not only outside sources but from family as well, Matthews said. Many of those who embark on an interracial relationship feel that it is not worth the strife or complication, especially at the risk of being ostracized by certain family members.

The repercussions of interracial relationships are becoming apparent, and in many instances individuals can feel neglected or angry when someone from within their race chooses to date outside the racial spectrum. Matthews notes that these pent up feelings of hurt and animosity can often be aimed toward interracial couples and prove to perpetuate prejudice.

Another crucial problem in society that serves to impede the process of progression and acceptance in America are individuals belonging to an older generation. In society today, while the merging of races has become more widely practiced and accepted by the younger generation, older generations are usually less tolerant and often stigmatize youths for their seemingly “taboo” choices. Tension between the generations arise, creating an ever-present tug-of-war of conflicting ideas and perceptions.

An example of this would be the much-publicized case in which Louisiana Justice of the Peace Keith Bardwell, a Caucasian male in his 70s, refused to give a marriage license to an interracial New Orleans couple on the basis that he disapproved of their races mixing with one another, saying he was concerned for the children they would have together. Many older individuals such as Bardwell are reluctant to abandon their deeply rooted discriminative views, and this becomes a reflection of how far America has come, and how far it needs to go.

Despite the dismaying reality that prejudice still exists, barriers are slowly but surely being broken. As older generations and their prejudices die off, it is up to America’s youth to stamp out the legacy of racism by passing on messages of cultural diversity and acceptance to future generations. President Obama, a product of an interracial marriage, serves as a testament to society moving in the right direction.

Young personally hasn’t noticed any change so far, suggesting that it’s too soon to tell whether or not Obama has caused America to be more understanding toward interracial couples. But in his eyes, the fact that Obama was elected and is the product of an interracial marriage is evidence that many people don’t have an issue with it.

Matthews feels that her students are very optimistic Obama will help to eliminate society’s racism and discrimination. America’s past has been marred by years of slavery and oppression.

Nataliya Kuryliak Pratsovyta

Nataliya Kuryliak Pratsovyta spoke in a soft tone with a voice appropriate for the Pollak Library; she spends most of her time in the library these days. Kuryliak Pratsovyta, a Fulbright Scholar, moved to Fullerton, Calif., in order to pursue a vision: a master’s in English and comparative literature.

“She’s definitely the most driven person I’ve met,” said Andrea Castle, 22, a fellow graduate student. “She studies 24 hours a day and will come to class with 10 pages of notes. She’s all kinds of intense.”

The Fulbright Graduate Students Exchange Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and grants both American and international students the opportunity to learn from the host country’s educational system and everyday cultural experiences. Funds necessary for living and learning in the U.S. are provided, according to the program’s Web site.

In an interview with “Inside,” a CSUF publication, Fulbright Scholar student adviser Volker Janssen said the program “recognizes maturity and intellectual flexibility and helps any student stand out in the academic world and in the job market. It can be a life-changing experience.”

To be accepted into the program, Kuryliak Pratsovyta endured a year-long process of interviews, essays and tests to determine her eligibility.

Her mother, father and husband all highly value education, so when the official invitation to study in the U.S. came, the whole family celebrated.

In the three months since she left home, Kuryliak Pratsovyta has been renting a room at a private residence in Fullerton and studying continuously while trying to adapt to a new culture. Every day she is reminded of her family by a few pictures stuffed into her little brown wallet. Her husband and daughter are waiting for Christmas break, when it is expected that the two will be able to visit Kuryliak Pratsovyta.

With shining eyes she described her 3-year-old and hopes her daughter will enjoy the greenery of Kuryliak Pratsovyta’s new home. The lush yard and garden of the private residence is a bit exotic when compared to their apartment in Ukraine, which is set in the middle of the city where buildings replace trees.

Born in the bustling historic city of L’viv, Ukraine, Kuryliak Pratsovyta’s world expanded at the age of 7 when she became fascinated with traveling.

“I wanted to travel,” Kuryliak Pratsovyta said. “I wanted to be able to speak and write to different people.”

Her love of language began in the first grade when she took a required intensive English course and realized early on that English would open doors to the whole world.

Education in Ukraine takes a different shape, especially at the university level, Kuryliak Pratsovyta said. The system takes a planned approach where each major is accompanied by a complete list of required courses, excluding electives.

“In Ukraine, all canonized authors are included, and you cannot skip anything,” Kuryliak Pratsovyta said, with a new confidence rising from her secure insight on the subject.

During her first study abroad experience as a junior at Ivan Franko National University of L’viv, Kuryliak Pratsovyta studied the American educational system and policies at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn.

In the midst of her studies, a new interest was ignited as she was exposed to American literature. Kuryliak Pratsovyta became more excited about the field as she came to understand the contemporary process and realized American literature reflects political and historical themes that appear in many countries across the globe, she said.

“I wanted to see different people in different ways,” Kuryliak Pratsovyta said. “Literature helps me understand people more.”

As for now, Kuryliak Pratsovyta must direct her energy toward her final master’s project, founded on Eastern-European-American authors and the immigration process. Ultimately, she strives to complete the two-year master’s program in hopes to pursue an even loftier goal of obtaining her doctorate in English. But the future is still unknown and as Kuryliak Pratsovyta laughingly said, “It’s too early to say. Ask me at the end of the semester.”

Illustration by Kurt Strazdins and Kurt Strazdins (MCT)

Feb. 4, 2007 started as a friend’s birthday celebration for Sobuon Leng.

It ended with Leng getting hit by a drunk driver in her car.

Leng, 21, a double major in anthropology and sociology at Cal State Fullerton, pulled up to a four-way stop sign after dropping her friend off at home at around 10 p.m.

Her car was suddenly hit on the driver’s side by a man who had been drinking and driving.

Leng’s Honda Accord was hit after going no more than a couple inches from the stop.

The crash was caused by the man’s Yukon SUV.

“The guy got out of his car yelling at me for my information because I had hit his car. He was irate,” Leng said.

When police arrived at the scene, the man was arrested for drinking and driving and driving on a suspended license for a prior DUI charge.

Although Leng’s car was totalled, she suffered no serious injuries except back pain that began a couple weeks after the accident.

Much like Leng, Penny Weifmuller, an assistant professor in nursing at CSUF, was also a victim of a drunk driving crash.

While on her way to visit her father in Oregon for his 98th birthday on Oct. 28, 2006, Weifmuller, her brother and sister-in-law were rear-ended by a drunk driver going 100 mph on the freeway at 3:30 a.m.

Their car spun and rolled several times, landing upside down on the freeway while the drunk driver drove away.

“I didn’t even know I was upside down until I tried reaching for my car handle,” Weifmuller said. “But when I couldn’t reach it, I went to undo my seat belt, and I hit the roof of the car.”

Her sister-in-law, who was the only one able to climb through her window, phoned firefighters and paramedics.

A semi-truck driver and another vehicle stopped to help and both phoned the police.

The truck driver radioed other semis that were traveling ahead, which allowed them to make a block across the freeway to stop the 21-year-old man who hit Weifmuller and her family.

“For the first year after the accident, if I was riding in the passenger seat, I would become what some people call a ‘Nervous Nellie,’” Weifmuller said. “My husband would get mad at me because I was just so nervous.”

Weifmuller and her family were not as lucky as Leng when it came to escaping injuries.

Her sister-in-law’s scalp had to be re-attached at the hospital as it came off in the crash.

Weifmuller’s brother had suffered injury to his abdomen, and Weifmuller had to endure shoulder, back, hip and knee surgery over an extended period of time.

Much like Leng’s driver, the man who had rear-ended Weifmuller’s vehicle was a multiple DUI offender driving on a suspended license.

“I really don’t like drinking, and I think people should be responsible,” Weifmuller said. “Maybe you don’t care for yourself, but you can cause such harm to others.”

Lori Phelps, who is involved with the Substance Abuse Awareness and Prevention Student Association and is a full-time lecturer in the human services department on campus, doesn’t take a stance against drinking, but enforces moderation.

“It’s a rite of passage,” Phelps said. “Instead of a zero tolerance when it comes to alcohol, I would like to see other options. We’ve made drinking taboo, so instead of kids just trying it they overdo it.”

Phelps said she doesn’t see moderation being taught.

“It’s clearly heartbreaking when an accident happens, but it seems some programs are not effective,” Phelps said.

When people are sent to alcohol programs, the standard of instructors and information that is being taught is up to par, Phelps said.

“When people get a DUI, no one is going to expect them to stop drinking,” Phelps said.

Leng said she is thankful she wasn’t seriously injured and adds that drinking and driving isn’t worth the dangers that can be caused.

“My only thing is you really need to take a step back and think about drinking and driving. You’re either going to be arrested for it or become a victim of it,” Leng said.

The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states: “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed … ;” making the earlier plans for a military tribunal an obvious avoidance of the American justice system.

But if the jury isn’t impartial where the crime was committed, the defendant has the right to request the trial be held in a new location in hopes that the jury is objective before the trial starts.

Those who think that the accused will receive an unfair trial in NYC must consider the fact that Americans across the country are unified by their hate for those who caused the Sept. 11 attacks. It doesn’t matter where these men go for their trial; since it’s taking place in America, there is no guarantee of an unbiased jury.

Illustration by Jon Harguindeguy/For the Daily Titan

The Andrew Gallo case in Orange County is an example of a change of venue being necessary. The Gallo case has received plenty of media coverage in North Orange County because he was involved in a fatal car crash that killed three and injured one while he was driving almost three times over the legal blood alcohol limit.

Among the victims was rookie Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and Cal State Fullerton student Courtney Stewart. People in OC will naturally have a bias against Gallo, so his lawyer has requested the case be moved to a new location in search of a relatively unbiased jury.

Gallo will have a better chance at a fair trial if it were moved. His crime didn’t affect many people outside of Southern California, unless they’re Angels fans. Therefore, the farther he travels away from OC, the better his chances are of getting an impartial jury and, thus, a fair trial.

But everyone in America can relate to the attacks that terrorized the Big Apple, the Pentagon and Pennsylvania. It didn’t matter where you lived or what you were doing; during the drive to work, on every news channel, on every news Web site, the terrorist attacks were the story of the year, and reporters certainly focused America’s attention.

In the days following, airport security across the nation was tighter, and former President George W. Bush declared war on terrorists in Afghanistan in response to the Sept. 11 attacks almost four weeks later. The USA Patriot Act was spawned to give the government more leeway in its method of tracking terrorists while at the same time infringing on rights of privacy that were previously off limits.

Billions of dollars have been spent every year since then to fight terrorism abroad in the hope that it doesn’t spread to this country or others. The government is even allowed to keep track of books that are borrowed from a library.

These men potentially represent the reason why thousands of people died on Sept. 11, 2001. They could be the cause for many obligated changes in our country, for better or worse. If they really are the masterminds behind the attacks, their actions have in some way affected our lives.

That is why a change of venue will not give them a jury any less biased than the one they’re getting in New York City. Everybody has the right to a speedy and fair trial in the U.S., no matter how heinous their crime may seem. And if a fair trial warrants a change of scenery, such as in Gallo’s case, then by all means, move the trial.

Hopefully the requested change of location is denied, the Constitution is followed and these men will be tried in NYC.

Daily Titan Opinion Editor

Hate is a funny thing. Everyone does it, but few people approve of it. I, on the other hand, feel that hate has its place in this world; it’s a basic part of human nature.

Of course, I do not approve of hating people because of their race, creed or religion, but I do believe it is acceptable to hate the things people do and the things they create.

If you are going to hate something, it is helpful if you understand it; that way you don’t look foolish when you attempt to explain your feelings of contempt. Hate the sin, not the sinner, and understand both.

If you take the time to learn about the things you hate, you may find yourself capable of tolerating those things. It’s not always possible, but at least you’re making an effort.

One of the things in this world that I feel completely justified to hate is “Twilight.”

Upon hearing the premise of the film when it was released last year, I immediately shunned the idea of ever subjecting myself to the two-hour, bloodless suckfest.

I don’t know much about vampires, but I do know that the sun is supposed to make them burn up like a month-old Christmas tree next to an electrical socket, not sparkle like the jewelry counter at a department store.

For two years I made fun of “Twilight” and pretty much anyone who said it was a great book/film. I haven’t read any of the books (I’m not a masochist), but by all accounts from people whose opinions I trust, they are somehow worse than the film.

A close friend, who had seen “Twilight” and knew how bad it was, lectured me about how it was immature to hate things on principle alone – something I often did when I knew a movie, book or band was bad before ever experiencing it myself.

I ignored his lectures and continued to hate things based on principle.

I finally caved to pressure, though, when another friend approached me with the idea of watching the film. At first I was resistant.

Actually, I wanted to run away screaming and avoid her for the rest of my life because I thought she had become a “Twi-tard.”

Sensing my apprehension, she explained that the film would be accompanied by an extra audio track which included the voices of three people making fun of the film.

“RiffTrax,” as it is known, features the voice talent and comedic styling of the cast from “Mystery Science Theater 3000.”

My fears were immediately put to rest; I knew I was in good hands. The cast of “MST3K” was going to be my guide to a world I dared not venture into alone.

As we synced the movie with the supplemental audio track, I could feel my apprehension building once again. “What if they had an off day and this track was not as funny as their past work?” I was getting nervous. “What if they actually liked the film?”

The audio began with a blank screen and familiar voices began to debate about whether or not the vampires’ entire bodies sparkled when they were in the sun. As they discussed the possibility of a vampire having a sparkling reproductive organ, I was once again reminded that I was in good hands.

Every joke was spot-on, every character flaw was exposed and every plot hole was filled with a comment about how dull, boring and one-dimensional “Twilight” creator Stephenie Meyer made her characters. But even with the humor that “MST3K” forcibly injected into every scene, it hurt to watch the film and listen to the dialogue that wasn’t drowned out by our laughter.

It took a few attempts for my friend and I to finish the film. We learned that “Twilight” was better taken in small doses and spread the viewing of the film across several days.

When we finally reached the climax of the film, which was drenched in syrup and cheese instead of blood and sinew like it should have been, we were thankful. We could finally make fun of the film with some authority, and we were able to maintain our sanity as we gained the unholy knowledge.

I never thought anything could make the film version of a teenage girl’s wet dream bearable; I was wrong.

Now if only the guys from “MST3K” could to a “RiffTrax” of Fall Out Boy music, maybe I could tell my friend with some authority why his favorite band is the worst thing to happen to music since Eddie Murphy and Rick James collaborated to create “Party all the time” … Look it up.

Photo illustration by Jeff Lambert.

“I’m trying to occupy myself; I have yoga class today,” she said.

Sober, relaxed and shyly loving another chance to tell the tale of what would lead to her most horrifying experience, Finney takes a deep breath.

On Jan. 12, 2008, Finney crashed her car into a park during park hours, just short of a children’s play structure while inebriated. She was the only one injured.

That morning, Finney and her best friend prepared an 18-pack of beer to “ease the edge.” She would meet her then-boyfriend’s family for the first time at his grandmother’s birthday party, and she was nervous.

“So I finished a ton of beers and drove drunk to this party, where everyone was already drunk, so I continued to drink … and take shots with his grandmother,” Finney recalled.

After a couple of hours, Finney realized her boyfriend was nowhere to be found.

Surrounded by friendly strangers, Finney decided to find her boyfriend.

She got into her car and sped off toward his best friend’s house; his friend was also attending the party. Maybe they had gone to do something.

Upon approaching the house, Finney noticed no cars graced the driveway or curb, so she headed back toward the party.

Blowing a stop sign and dipping hard into a right turn, Finney sped her car around a corner, clipping the curb and popping her front right tire.

The impact and eruption of air propelled the car left into the park. Her car jumped a boulder, ripping most of the car’s undercarriage, before coming to a stop just short of the play structure.

“It was horrible,” Finney said.

Her purse had shattered the window, which caused her to cover her face when the air bag exploded, knocking her unconscious.

A neighborhood resident rushed to her aid. He must have heard the loud crash, Finney said. Once she was somewhat conscious, the man took her back to his house.

He offered her a place to stay and make some phone calls. Finney called her mother immediately and explained what happened.

The cops and her parents arrived on scene at the same time.

Though honest to the authorities about drinking, she was put through a series of sobriety tests.

“My parents watched me fail my sobriety tests. They gave me a breathalyzer and I blew a 0.2, which is (more than) double over the legal limit. They arrested me on the spot,” Finney said. “I spent 26 hours in a holding cell.”

While in the holding cell, “Silence of the Lambs” played on the TV in black and white on a continuous loop. When Finney arrived, the cell was vacant; but during her stay 12 other women joined her in the cell which had a maximum occupancy of 28.

She had to remain in jail until she was sober and properly identified. Unfortunately, the computer systems went down during her stay. Since her prints had to be sent to Sacramento, the system crash delayed her release.

Finney appeared in court only for her sentencing, though her lawyer returned five times in her place.
On Feb. 7, 2008, Finney began the “Right On” program, a five-step series of classes designed to teach underage drunk drivers the effects of alcohol on the brain and judgment as well as society.

It took her nine months to complete the program, the length of which is dependent on the severity of the DUI, said Finney. She had to travel, usually by train, from Orange County to Los Angeles once a week to attend the classes.

“The program was designed to teach you about the different sides of your brain and on what makes you do the things you do,” Finney said.

The class taught students to, “make you more aware of the effects drinking can have on your body,” she added.

Finney learned to take responsibility for her actions.

“It’s your fault you got a DUI, no one else’s,” Finney said. “And it’s not about the amount you drink, any amount can impair your judgment.”

After the initial classes, Finney had to complete the Hospital and Morgue Program.

This LA-based program sends people convicted of DUI to a hospital and morgue for seminars. It was during this part of the program that Finney’s mentality changed forever.

“It was an eye opener for me just how many people get DUIs,” Finney said.

Around 30 others joined her at the hospital for the one-time, four hour class that is held year-round.

But it was at the morgue that Finney went through her most horrifying experience.

Like the hospital day, the morgue day began with a seminar, but also consisted of, “Actually going to view … dead bodies … and watch autopsies,” Finney said. “Over 250 dead bodies.”

As they walked from the classroom to the morgue, a fresh corpse came in on a gurney. “She died while we were in class,” Finney said.

“There’s just tables of people getting autopsied, you know, getting cut open,” Finney recalled. “That, I will never be able to forget.”

Following the HaM program, Finney had to attend a Mothers Against Drunk Driving seminar where three speakers talked about their lost loved ones while holding pictures of the deceased.

One speaker had lost their son to a drunk driver the same day Finney was arrested for her DUI. He was her age.

“I’ll never forget that image. It made it very surreal,” Finney said. “Because that freaked me out. The fact I could have killed, or someone could have killed me that same night.”

After the seminar, her fifth and final step of the program was to write a three page paper about her experiences with HaM.

In all, she lost her license for 13 months and one day – one year after her first court date – and she ended up paying about $30,000 for the whole ordeal.

She totalled her car, had to pay a $2,200 ticket for the DUI, $500 for the five classes and $1,000 every six months for car insurance. The insurance increase will last 10 years even with the cheapest coverage and vehicle level.

Finney also had to attend 26 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

She was left with permanent back problems, a fear of the morgue and terrible anxiety behind the wheel.

“I’ll never be the same … mentally,” Finney said.

But the best part of her DUI story involved her ex-boyfriend, his best friend and the best friend’s father.

“While I was getting booked … I saw his best friend and father being booked into jail,” said Finney.

The friend’s truck suffered a “hood malfunction” one street over at the same time Finney crashed.

Although the driver instinctively applied the breaks, another driver backing up did not see them coming and struck them.

The father got “confrontational” with the responding police officer, leading to both father and son being arrested. Her ex was spared because there was no more room in the squad car.

“So yeah, great family event,” Finney said.

Despite the harsh realities of her DUI experience, Finney loves telling her story; hoping it will influence people to think twice before drinking and driving.

“But I’m mentally going to be fucked for the rest of my life,” said Finney.

Daily Titan Multimedia Editor

Thank you, thank you, thanks to you and terima kasih to you.

See, Thanksgiving’s coming up soon, so it’s only fitting that I give thanks to everyone in order to get into the spirit.

What? That’s not how Thanksgiving works? Oh. Pilgrims you say? I see.

Well, I’m not from around here, so excuse me.

Regardless, the holiday season is upon us. The Christmas decorations are coming up, turkeys are on sale in the grocery stores and every department store has “the perfect gift.”

Here’s a hint for no extra charge – no matter what, never give a guy socks. They are never a good present and I’m sorry, but I will never like socks for Christmas. But putting something in a sock, like money or 24-carat gold nuggets is a different story entirely.

Aside from all the heavy commercialization related to major holidays in America, Thanksgiving and Christmas appear to be the most family-friendly occasions to Americans.

Christmas has become a holiday that is celebrated worldwide (but especially in America) and has little to do with race, age or social status. Yes, it is associated with the birth of Jesus Christ, but you don’t have to be Christian to enjoy the spirit of Christmas. I believe the spirit of giving is what makes the holiday appealing to people from all walks of life.

As for Thanksgiving, it’s a great holiday by my count: no presents to buy, thus, no fret of breaking the bank. And the main celebratory activity is eating large amounts of meat and imbibing wine until nearly comatose. Lovely.

I find that among my American friends, Christmas and Thanksgiving are the holidays that no one would miss. Everyone makes a point to get out of the dorms/apartments/flats to go home and visit family.

All the siblings turn up as well as assorted cousins, uncles, aunts and grandparents. Gifts are exchanged, food is cooked and comments on one’s recent weight gain are given.

As my friends say, the holidays are one of those strange times when you love and hate your family simultaneously.

It’s great being home and having your mom’s cooking again. So what if she isn’t a perfect chef or if half the food on the table is take-out from Ralph’s – it’s about the memories of the childhood years spent around the dinner table.

It’s nice seeing dad again, even though he’s still whining about his back and how the economy is worse than it was in his day. I still enjoy putting up the lights and decorations around the house with him.

It’s great to see the siblings too – we all compare who’s doing better or make fun of the new significant other brought home for the holiday awkwardness.

For me, Christmas in Malaysia was just another holiday. That’s because we just had three major holidays, each with a break of two weeks to a month.

First, we have Hari Raya Aidilfitri, the Muslim holiday of New Year’s, where the tradition is to open your house up to friends and neighbors, provide delicious home-cooked food and have them return the favor by inviting you over.

Next is Chinese New Year. A major point of this holiday is to wear red, eat Mandarin oranges and receive ang pow – little red packets of money from your relatives. No gift giving here, just cold hard cash, exactly how I like it.

Lastly, we have Christmas. In my house, my parents made it a point to make Christmas special for us children. Every year, my dad would take us to a park and help us pick out a big, dead branch. My little sister and brother would spend hours picking out the perfect branch.

We’d then spend the next couple of days decorating that branch with ornaments, tinsel and cotton wool to make it look like a a tree during a winter snow. Dress it up with lights, plop a star on top and you have yourself a great homemade Christmas tree without paying the ridiculous prices they charge at some of the Christmas tree lots they have in the U.S.

As expected, the presents would appear under the decaying plant Christmas morning – but we always knew they were from mom and dad, no lies about Santa here.

I have a large family back home, and I miss every single one of them.

So whilst you guys can love or hate going back for the holidays, getting reacquainted with your mom’s home-cooked turkey or your dad’s arthritis, remember this: at least you get to go home for the holidays.

There are plenty of us aliens out there who are thousands of miles away from home, and when the holidays come around, those miles sure do seem a lot farther.

So enjoy your holidays and your families while you have them. Or better yet, invite your local “Alien in America” over for some turkey. I’m sure they’d like some.

Happy Holidays, everyone.

Daily Titan Staff Writer

The growth of the Latino population in the United States is a source of great pride for all Latinos. However, it is also a source of strife when a community so diverse is categorized by one label.

Despite the achievements of Latinos and Hispanics, there are some who choose to refer to our entire community as “Mexican,” leaving out the fact that Latinos and Hispanics come from many other countries.

This is a reality for many other minority groups.

Minorities must face the ignorance that is often presented by people who do not take into consideration the variations between nationalities. It isn’t that these assumptions are hurtful, it’s that they occur constantly and without consideration for the truth.

Latinos and Hispanics are the fastest-growing minority population. As a result, a lot of people assume the largest Hispanic group is the Mexican American population.

This fact is what leads many to assume that all Latinos are Mexican, or not care what their actual ethnicity is.

For those who are not Mexican, it becomes a constant reminder that our country of origin and our culture is ignored.

On Tuesday, while waiting for the shuttle that transports students to the Meridian Sports Club parking lot, I had a great conversation with someone who asked what my nationality is.

I was surprised by the question. Many people just choose to make an assumption based on what they see, but there is rarely any effort made to ask about my nationality.

It was almost remarkable when I was asked. I felt respected and acknowledged based on my personal qualities and not initial assumptions.

I grew up and went to school in a neighborhood where the majority of my neighbors and friends were Mexican. My younger sister and I were among the few people who were Central American.

When people assume that all Latinos are from one country, they basically state that we are all the same to them.

In the Latino and Hispanic community, there is an understanding of the diversity that exists within our countries, and we see these differences in our traditions, characteristics and, more significantly, in the way that most of us speak Spanish.

We celebrate many of the same holidays, but our customs and traditions, while they may appear similar, are unique.

People have come to this country from all over the world.

Labeling people based on their appearance shows how ignorant many can be.

It only takes a simple inquiry to get beyond assumptions and actually learn about what comprises the Latino and Hispanic cultures.

We should be more conscious of the way we refer to people because even though it may seem like a simple mistake to label others without regard to their culture, it really shuns the truth.

Daily Titan Staff Writer

One of the main reasons why fútbol, or soccer, has not gained prominence in the United States is because we have the NBA, MLB and the NHL – all huge organizations that pay players large sums of money. Fans are drawn to arenas and stadiums to watch their favorite superstars shine.

Soccer also has an official organization in the U.S., Major League Soccer.

MLS consists of a variety of teams from different cities competing against each other in the hopes of reaching the playoffs and winning the MLS Cup.

In other words, it’s structured like any other league.

The problem is that not many people watch MLS soccer because there isn’t much publicity for players on MLS teams.

Many soccer fanatics like to focus on the big-name players and teams in European leagues like La Liga of Spain, Serie A of Italy or the Premier League of England.

The MLS has started to bring over international players in an effort to attract an American audience.

The Los Angeles Galaxy signed David Beckham to a five-year $250 million deal.

After he signed his contract and selected his jersey number, 23, the team’s ticket prices and jersey sales skyrocketed.

Beckham’s move prompted a large shift in the American attitude toward soccer. People finally became interested in MLS soccer because a popular international star left a Spanish league team, Real Madrid, to come play in the U.S.

This started a trend in which international and Mexican league players – such as Cuauhtémoc Blanco, a Mexican league player – came to the U.S. and signed multi-million dollar contracts to play for MLS teams.

In the case of Blanco, who signed with the Chicago Fire, the team started seeing a rise in attendance because of Blanco’s popularity with the city’s large Latino population.

Another reason why soccer isn’t as popular in the U.S. is the lack of scoring. When compared to high-scoring sports like basketball and football, soccer seems boring.

Soccer in the U.S. typically only gets attention when the MLS season starts. Even so, most soccer fanatics only talk about the Champions League and the Union of European Football Associations Cup, which are based in Europe.

Every time I go to the local park and play a pick-up game of soccer, all my friends talk about is what team is going to play that night in the Champions League or the UEFA Cup and which team has better players.

I feel like the only time soccer is popular in the U.S. is when everyone tunes in to watch the Fédération Internationale de Football Association World Cup, which is only held once every four years.

Fortunately for soccer, the next FIFA World Cup is being held in South Africa starting in June, and the whole world will be watching to see who is the best in the world.