by the El Reportero’s staff
More than fi ve months after the devastating Cosco Busan accident, the US Coast Guard is still refusing to comply with an October 11, 2008 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
The FOIA filed by the marine conservation organization Seafl ow, is asking for a list of vessels previously cited by the Coast Guard for regulatory violations and environmental crimes, says an statement form Vessel Watch Project.
The Cocsco Busan smashed into the Bay Bridge on November 7, 2007 resulting in the spilling of about 58,000 gallons of heavy bunker fuel that polluted beaches and pristine marine habitats throughout the San “Five months later, the US Coast Guard still refuses to provide the public with basic information about past ‘Cosco Busans’ that may still be visiting San Francisco Bay everyday,” warned Robert Ovetz, Ph.D., executive director of Seafl ow, in a statement.
Hispanic Caucus applauds senate passage of bills honoring the Latino community
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) applauded passage of two bills in the Senate on April 15.
One is The Commission to Study the Potential Creation of the National Museum of American Latino Act of 2007 (S.500/H.R. 512), which creates a 23-Member Commission to study the possible creation of a museum dedicated to the history and culture of American Latinos. The other is the Cesar Chavez Study Act (S.327/H.R. 359), which directs the Secretary of the Interior to complete a special resource study to determine appropriate methods for preserving and interpreting sites that are signifi cant to the life of Cesar Estrada Chavez and the farm labor movement.
“Today’s vote is a very important step in the process to fi nally recognize the value of the Latino culture to the United States and an important historical fi gure to American Latinos. A national Latino museum and the preservation of historical sites to the life and work of César Chávez will give our families the opportunity to witness the amazing contributions that Hispanic-Americans have made to this great nation,” said Congressman Joe Baca (D-CA), Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC). “The Hispanic Caucus applauds Congressman Xavier Becerra and Congresswoman Hilda Solis for authoring these bills. We look forward to the president signing these into law.”
H.R. 512 passed the House unanimously on February 6, 2007. H.R. 359 passed the House unanimously on July 10, 2007. Once the president signs these bills, they will take effect.
2008 Pulitzer Prizes refl ect alumni excellence
April 11, 2008 — The careers of two distinguished SF State alumni have been recognized in this year’s Pulitzer Prizes, announced April 7. Poet and writer Philip Schultz (B.A., ‘67) won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for poetry for his latest book “Failure,” and journalist Jose Antonio Vargas (B.A., ‘04) is part of the award-winning staff at The Washington Post, which scooped six Pulitzer prizes this year.
Philip Schultz’ sixth collection of published poems, “Failure,” speaks of grief, love, marriage, fear, fatherhood and depression. His fi rst collection, “Like Wings” was nominated for the National Book Award and Schultz’ work has appeared in numerous publications including The New Yorker and The Nation.
At The Washington Post, SF State graduate Jose Antonio Vargas was part of the team whose coverage of the Virginia Tech shootings won the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news.
“It was great to be part of this historical moment with The Washington Post winning six prizes this year,” Vargas said. “Two of the nine articles submitted were mine; the fi rst was a front-page eyewitness account of the Virginia Tech shootings and the other was a feature article about how students connected through Facebook in the aftermath.”
