The Arizona Department of Liquor Control, ASU, the Arizona Department of Highway Safety, and Tempe Police are partners in this year’s annual enforcement campaign, according to the release.

Although there will be more officers throughout Tempe, most will be positioned in Tempe’s downtown district, spokeswoman Molly Enright said.

With proms and graduations occurring at the end of the school year, Arizona’s law enforcement agencies want to prevent alcohol violations through education and awareness, Enright said.

“We want to bring attention to the dangers of underage drinking, no matter where it takes place,” Enright said.

ASU Police Cmdr. Jim Hardina said the parties in Tempe typically occur at the Vue and Vista Del Sol apartments near Apache Boulevard and Rural Road.

“We find a lot of places near campus have more underage drinking,” Hardina said.

Tempe Police Cmdr. Kim Hale said alcohol violations and out-of-control parties usually result in other crimes as well.

“Fights, disturbing the peace, underage drinking, assaults and sexual assaults often spill over from alcohol,” Hale said.

Alberto Gutier, director of the Arizona Department of Highway Safety, said there were 27,000 DUI arrests in Arizona for 2011 and about 2,700 were extreme DUIs. He said the reporting of such a high number looks bad, but it helped prevent accidents.

“Even though the number of arrests went up, we prevented a lot of tragedies,” Gutier said. “That’s our message to drunk driver because that saves lives.”

Cinco de Mayo takes place the weekend of ASU’s commencement and there will be about 800 to 1,000 police officers patrolling Tempe that night, Gutier said.

Residents and students should celebrate responsibly, Gutier said.

He said there are plenty of alternatives to drinking and driving.

“Sleep it off, take the light rail or walk home,” Gutier said.

Reach the reporter at sraymund@asu.edu

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Following a fiscal study released by ABOR March 26 that stated Arizona universities have saved students $40.1 million on the cost of their textbooks over the past five years, students continue to search for cheaper alternatives. (Photo by Marissa Krings)

ASU students are still looking beyond campus for deals after a recent study that showed students have saved millions of dollars through the alternative textbook options state universities have been promoting since 2006.

The study, based on information from all three state universities and released by the Arizona Board of Regents on March 26, stated that by incentivizing the buy-back program and promoting the use of e-books, the universities have saved students a total of $40.1 million on the cost of their textbooks since 2006.

The study stated students at ASU saved $1.3 million in fall 2011, which equates to less than $18 for each of the 72,250 students enrolled during that semester. This per-student calculation is not an official number endorsed by either the Board or the University.

Geography sophomore Steven Sifferman said a savings of $18 on the cost of his textbooks is not significant in relation to his total cost every semester of about $220.

“I’d say $75 to $100 is more significant because I’m able to save that money by buying third-party books,” he said.

Sifferman said he uses Amazon when he wants to save money on textbooks.

“You can also just Google search and try to find people selling them,” he said.

Therese Stohlgren is the manager of the Student Book Center, an independent, family-owned bookstore on College Avenue between University Drive and Seventh Street. The store has been open since 1966.

Stohlgren said one of the best ways for students to save money on their books is to sell them back as soon as possible.

“They should bring them in now before finals are over,” she said. “After that, we are probably turning off buying (from students).”

The store accepts a specific number of used copies from students based on the number of books professors say they will assign during any given semester. Students receive the most from their buy-back during this early stage, Stohlgren said.

After the store has accepted all of the used books it will carry, it buys on behalf of a textbook wholesaler. Stohlgren said this price gives students less back, as wholesalers typically set prices higher than small bookstores.

Stohlgren said she has seen growth in the number of students renting textbooks instead of purchasing them used.

“Rent has become the real buzz thing,” she said. “It’s not always the most financially advantageous way because if you can sell it back, sometimes you’ll end up spending less.”

She said it is sometimes cheaper to purchase used books.

“I have seen books where they have rented for more than what we’re selling it used for, which doesn’t make any sense to me,” Stohlgren said.

Tim Swanger, a graduate student studying religions of China, said when he was an undergraduate student, he would spend significantly more money on books and would often purchase his textbooks from Amazon.

Swanger, who wants to be a professor, said he would like to see his graduate instructors make their course packets downloadable.

“Something that I’d like to be able to do when I teach my own courses … I’d like to see students … able to download their packets from Blackboard,” Swanger said. “That, to me, would be significant.”

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• A 43-year-old Mesa woman was arrested Friday evening near East Elliot Road and South River Parkway on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to a police report.A Tempe Police officer stopped the woman because she was swerving into the shoulder lane on the Loop 101, police reported.

  The woman told the officer her license had been suspended since 2011, according to the report.

  Police found a red plastic cup containing alcohol in the woman’s vehicle, which she said she had been drinking, police reported.

  The woman had bloodshot, watery eyes, spoke with slurred speech and showed signs of toxicity during her field sobriety tests, according to the report.

  The woman was arrested, transported and booked into the Tempe City Jail and was held to see a judge for her aggravated DUI, police reported.

• A 20-year-old Mesa man was arrested Friday at the 1200 block of East Eighth Street on suspicion of marijuana possession, according to a police report.The man was sitting in the rear passenger seat of a 2005 Chevrolet when Tempe Police stopped him around 2 a.m., police reported.

  Police questioned the passengers, then searched them and the vehicle, finding a plastic bag containing marijuana inside of the man’s right shorts pocket, according to the report.

  The man was arrested, transported to the Tempe City Jail where he was booked and released pending drug charges, police reported.

Reports compiled by Shawn Raymundo.

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The Pat Tillman Veterans Center, which opened in the Memorial Union in August, has helped many veteran students adapt to college life. (Photo by Jenn Allen)

The Pat Tillman Veterans Center bustled with activity Monday afternoon as it nears the completion of its first full academic year on campus.

The center, located in the basement of the Memorial Union, opened in August to provide ASU’s growing population of veteran students with academic and personal counseling.

The center helped biochemistry senior Luis Mariscal register for classes and ensure his veterans’ benefits covered his tuition.

“They’re definitely helpful,” Mariscal said. “They explain things you’d have to look for on the website for hours.”

Josh Robertson, who will begin studying accountancy at ASU in the summer, was at the center Monday to enroll in classes.

Robertson said the process was a lot easier than he thought it would be, especially after his experience with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He was able to finish enrolling and pay his tuition in about 30 minutes.

“They really make it as painless as possible to work with the VA, which can be pretty slow-moving,” Robertson said.

Aaron Knighten, another prospective student, has visited the Tillman Center several times throughout the year to meet with fellow veterans.

Knighten, a Gulf War veteran, plans to finish his engineering degree at ASU this year. He said he would likely visit the center more often as a student.

“I really like being able to come down here and run into other guys who have served,” Knighten said. “All military has camaraderie.”

Justice studies freshman Matthew Guardiola said he visits the center at least three days a week to talk with fellow veterans.

He said the Tillman Center’s construction was one of the reasons he came to ASU, because they helped him register for classes and collect the military benefits he needed to pay tuition.

“The staff here is stellar,” Guardiola said. “They’ve pretty much got it all right now.”

Communication and religious studies senior Ben Bronson said the center had done a lot for veterans but could still improve.

He has been a student at ASU since 2005, when he returned from the Iraq war.

In 2005, veterans had one window in the student services building where they could register for classes and collect military benefits.

“This has just been a huge step in the right direction,” Bronson said.

He’s now working to create a nonprofit start-up company, Veterans Now, which would work with ASU and the Tillman Center to further help veterans adapt to life on campus.

Veterans Now would put new veterans through a different type of basic training, Bronson said. He said military training often made it difficult for veterans to adapt to civilian life again.

One aspect of the adaptation would be creating student housing specifically for veterans. Bronson said he hoped ASU would consider creating veteran housing on Alpha Drive off of Veteran’s Way.

He said the center or ASU should offer more career services to help veterans translate their military service into skills they could list on résumés.

“I’m really proud of ASU for all that it’s done to help veterans,” Bronson said.

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The Undergraduate Student Government Walk Your Wheels Campaign on the Tempe campus will still continue on next school year and is still supported by University administration. (Photo by Shawn Raymundo)

Nearly one year after Undergraduate Student Government’s Walk Your Wheels initiative began, University administration is still supportive and optimistic for the campaign’s success, outgoing USG Vice President of Services Kaitlin O’Neil said.

The administration is allowing the campaign to continue for another year and was pleased with the success and attention USG brought to the Tempe campus regarding pedestrian safety.

“It’s not as much progress that we wanted to see, ultimately, but it was a good start,” O’Neil said.

The campaign officially launched on Sept. 28 and initially received a lot of negative responses from the ASU community.

At the start of the spring semester, O’Neil said the administration pushed USG to increase campaign efforts or harsher restrictions for wheeled transportation around campus would be put in place.

University Business Services Communications Specialist Sarah Mason said the Tempe campus has been safer since the start of the campaign and more students are becoming increasingly aware of pedestrian safety.

“We are happy to see the USG’s efforts have paid off in a higher awareness of Walk Your Wheels and the subject of traffic on the malls,” she said.

The University would also like to see USG participate in more education and outreach efforts for new students, Mason said.

“We are confident in the USG and their passion to reach out to all on the Tempe campus to walk their wheels,” she said.

O’Neil said USG will recruit staff for Walk Your Wheels during the summer and increase communication with Residential Life to inform incoming freshmen about the campaign.

“One of the biggest changes is bring community assistance … getting freshmen a lot information,” O’Neil said.

Geography junior Matt Lenz said he supports the Walk Your Wheels initiative and has always ridden his bike on the outskirts of campus to avoid weaving in and out of the student population.

“I support it, but I haven’t actually done anything about it (other than) when it’s actually crowded, I get off (my bike),” he said.

There’s not much else USG can really do to deter students from riding through traffic, Lenz said, but he would like to see more students ride their bicycles, skateboards or scooters around the outskirts of campus.

Lenz also said he has noticed USG staff campaigning for students to walk their wheels, but the middle of the campus, such as in front of the Memorial Union, still sees a lot of heavy ridership.

“I’ve seen (USG) out, but everyone keeps riding by,” Lenz said. “The signs are nice but how many people actually follow it?”

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Lost in the excitement surrounding the ASU baseball team’s debut of black uniforms, April 13’s victory against USC was the conclusion of ASU’s one-year exclusive merchandise deal with Nike.

The release of the new uniforms wasn’t a coincidence. The game was one year and one day after the launch of ASU’s “It’s Time” rebranding campaign, allowing the University to begin selling the black New Era copper pitchfork hats.

ASU Trademark and Licensing Coordinator Tim Potter said the new hats are a “great opportunity” for both fans and retailers.

“Nike has some great designs … but now everyone has the opportunity to get a Champion or JanSport or some other brand they might like better,” Potter said.

New Era’s NCAA AC 59Fifty ASU Stock Cap, which cost $31.99, have sold fast, he said.

Potter said the stock at Packard Stadium nearly sold out of all 240 hats in the first weekend.

He said the University has approximately 375 licensees on board with products expected to appear everywhere from Target to Wal-Mart.

“(ASU has) had a great bump from Nike, and we’ll be able to sustain it or maybe even do even better with all these great new designs hitting the market,” Potter said.

Business sophomore Brian Muller, who was the first to purchase the hat on April 12, said he has wanted a hat with the revamped pitchfork since the logo was released.

“Now, I’ve been wearing it pretty much every second I’ve been awake,” Muller said.

LIDS Sports Group spokeswoman Ashley Gibbons said the University doesn’t expect the hats’ appeal to slow down anytime soon.

She said the company has been excited about the baseball team’s new headwear and hopes to keep the product widely available for the Sun Devils’ fan base.

“As the season continues, (the LIDS Sports Group) will keep Sparky’s Stadium Shop stocked to meet ASU fans demands,” she said.

An additional shipment twice the size of the initial order arrived several days after ASU’s series against USC, Gibbons said.

Fans of the maroon and gold can also expect a wave of diversified merchandise with other venders finally able to utilize the new pitchfork trademark, Potter said.

“It’s exciting to see new designs from the different venders,” Potter said. “They each have their own group of artists and their own style.”

Reach the reporter at culm1@asu.edu

Follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook. Click here to subscribe to the daily State Press email newsletter. ]]> http://www.statepress.com/2012/04/23/baseballs-blackout-hats-begin-era-of-new-merchandise/feed/ 0 http://www.statepress.com/2012/04/22/campus-community-grieves-student-deaths/ http://www.statepress.com/2012/04/22/campus-community-grieves-student-deaths/#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 02:20:48 +0000 Danielle Grobmeier http://www.statepress.com/?p=78114

University faculty, staff and students have handled student deaths in different ways over the past year. (Photo by Lisa Bartoli)

A sudden disturbance can send ripples throughout a large body of water.

ASU, a school with a particularly large student body, saw ripples this year after the deaths of several students.

Christopher Callahan, the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication dean and University vice provost, said the death of a young person is devastating to all in the University community.

Callahan was one of the individuals impacted by Daniel Kemp’s death on Dec. 21, 2011. Kemp was a 20-year-old undergraduate student studying secondary education whose death was determined to be a suicide.

Callahan said the University’s first concern is communicating with those that were close with the deceased student.

“Any time you have a loss of this dimension, it’s devastating certainly for faculty and staff,” Callahan said. “Our biggest concern is what impact it’s going to have on fellow students. At that young of an age, it’s more difficult to deal with.”

He said the University emphasizes available counseling services for those impacted by student deaths.

ASU Counseling Services are available on all four campuses and can be found on the University’s website. A 24-Hour Crisis Line also allows students to speak with a counselor at any time of day.

ASU Wellness Director Karen Moses said it’s important that students seek counseling services when feeling signs of distress or experiencing a tragedy.

“One of the things that we know from available data is that when people are suicidal and they get services from a counselor, they are much less likely to follow through with that suicide,” Moses said.

She said students should focus on taking care of themselves even while in the midst of a busy schedule.

Callahan, whose family was close to Kemp and his family, said Daniel’s death was without explanation.

“I haven’t met anybody who said they saw this coming,” Callahan said.

Political science junior Grant Frailich, a close friend of Kemp’s, said he felt helpless and shocked when he was told about his friend’s death.

“I saw the kid the night before it happened,” Frailich said. “Daniel was a great guy. He was one of the funnier people I’ve ever met. That’s what made it so shocking and so tragic.”

He said people who knew Kemp came out of the blue to remember him after he died.

“Nobody really shows someone how much they’re appreciated when they’re alive,” Frailich said. “When someone’s gone, it’s fair game to be as nostalgic as you want to be.”

He said the ASU community was great about reaching out to those affected by Kemp’s death.

Callahan said because the Cronkite School is a very tight-knit community, the death of a student is noticed, whether they were close to the student or knew them indirectly.

More recently, Alex Haler, an undergraduate student studying journalism, died at the age of 22 on March 24, 2012.

Haler’s death was also determined to be a suicide.

Haler was a student in professor Karen Werner’s magazine writing class during the fall 2011 semester.

She said when she was informed of Haler’s death, she gasped.

“The first thing that goes through your mind is … the interactions that you can think of,” Werner said. “You ask yourself if there were any signs that you missed, if he gave out any warning signs. In Alex’s case, he really didn’t.”

She said Haler was engaged in her class and sent her an email at the end of the semester to tell her how much he enjoyed it.

Werner said she had kept in contact with Haler through occasional emails regarding stories he had written in her class.

She said Haler had a deep love for his parents that came out in the stories he wrote.

“I would love for (them) to know that he wrote about them with tremendous warmth,” Werner said. “A love for his parents permeated all of his stories. He seemed to care deeply about his family.”

Several other students died of accidental causes during the 2011-2012 school year.

James Rigg died at the age of 22 on Oct. 10, 2011, when he drowned at the University’s swimming complex.

Giacomo Masolini died at the age of 22 on April 15, 2012, after being involved in a hit-and-run crash on the U.S. 60 near Dobson Road.

Werner said students should realize that everything comes to a conclusion.

“You just have to do what you can to not get so immersed in the day-to-day that you lose the big picture,” Werner said. “There is a long career ahead of you and a long life. You’re young, there’s so much life ahead. Death is final.”

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About 28,000 participants showed support for the Pat Tillman Foundation on Saturday morning at the eighth annual Pat’s Run, a 4.2 mile course around Tempe to raise money for military and Tillman Scholars-ASU Leadership Through Action program. (Photo by Lisa Bartoli)

About 28,000 people were outfitted with the number 42 to honor fallen soldier and former ASU football player Corporal Patrick Tillman at Tempe’s eighth annual Pat’s Run on Saturday.

Participants began the 4.2-mile course Saturday morning outside of the Sun Devil Stadium and finished at the 42-yard line on Frank Kush Field.  Sunday marked the anniversary of Tillman’s death.

As a senior in 1997, Tillman helped ASU football make it to the Rose Bowl after an undefeated season. The Arizona Cardinals selected him as the 226th pick in the 1998 NFL Draft after he was voted the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year. Eight months after 9/11, Tillman and his brother Kevin enlisted in the U.S. Army.

Tillman was killed by friendly fire in April 2004 while serving in Afghanistan.

Accounting and finance senior Susan Eckman said crossing the 42-yard line to finish the race four years in a row is a “euphoric” feeling.

“It makes you stop and think when you do cross, you know you made it and honored Pat,” she said.

The Pat Tillman Foundation, created by the soldier’s friends and family in 2004, sponsors the run each year.

The foundation offers scholarships through its Tillman Military Scholars program, specifically for students in the armed forces.

Eckman received a scholarship through the Foundation’s Tillman Scholars-ASU Leadership Through Action program, which students participate in throughout their four years of college. The program involves taking specific classes, including one on Tillman’s life.

Eckman and nursing senior Laura Kinahan are the first of the program’s graduates to participate for all four years.

“The Pat Tillman Foundation, for us, has really embodied our college experience,” Eckman said.

Kinahan said the foundation has been a huge part of her college career.

“Both programs are helping to build personal growth in young adults to become leaders based on the ideals of Pat Tillman,” Kinahan said.

She said she enjoyed seeing people support Pat’s Run by registering to participate.

“We are here for one reason, and it’s cool to see 28,000 people here for Pat’s legacy,” Kinahan said.

Kinesiology and Spanish junior Kat Lichtsinn, who has spent three years in the Tillman Scholars-ASU program, said she felt inspired when she saw people holding signs for their loved ones in the military.

“It’s great to support military that served for our country,” Lichtsinn said.

She said she learned about Tillman’s “down-to-earth” attitude in the class she took as part of the program and felt a connection to that side of his personality at the run.

“I liked how he was himself and he didn’t try to conform to what people thought he would be,” she said.

She found it interesting that Tillman would show up to football practice riding a bike while his Cardinal teammates drove Ford Mustangs, Lichtsinn said.

ASU alumnus Kyle Wilson said it was his second time running in the event.

“I never run faster than I do on the day of Pat’s Run,” Wilson said.

He said he remembers people’s shock upon hearing about Tillman’s death and the somberness it created throughout the Valley.

“Even prior to his death, he was looked to as a shining example of Arizona,” Wilson said.

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