Ann Coulter visits SF State?
Conservative icon Ann Coulter at SF State? April fools, said College Republican President Trent Downes.

Coulter, known for her fiery criticism of liberals, was scheduled to appear on campus today, according to the “upcoming events” calender on the College Republicans’ Web site.

The author was not scheduled to appear in San Francisco and will speak in Pennsylvania tomorrow, according to both groups who schedule Coulter’s college talks, the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute and the Young America Foundation.

“Our old president thought it would be a funny joke,” Downes said, referring to previous College Republicans president Leigh Wolf. “I still think it’s kind of funny, actually.”

-Eric Gneckow

Muni Reopens late night rides

If you’re finding yourself on campus late into the night and are headed inbound towards the Embarcadero, you will no longer be forced off the metro train at Muni’s West Portal station.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) restored full weeknight service to 1 a.m. between the West Portal and Embarcadero stations on its KT, L and M lines as of Monday, Mar. 24.

Previously, riders would be asked to ride a shuttle bus between closed station after 9:00 p.m.

The KT, L and M shuttle bus service will be discontinued between West Portal and Van Ness stations. The regular Owl bus services will operate on a normal schedule.

Muni limited its service back in January 2006 for the “Metro Subway Overhead Improvement Project,” which set out to replace the overhead wires that provide power to the subway cars.

SFMTA also announced that the Twin Peaks Tunnel and West Portal Station improvement projects will offer “faster, smoother and more reliable service” on the KT, L and M lines.

If you find yourself on campus late at night and would like an escort across campus to the Muni platform at 19th and Holloway avenues, contact the campus Department of Public Safety at 415-338-7200.

San Francisco State’s Campus Alliance for a Risk-free Environment (C.A.R.E.) will arrange for your escort, but asks that you allow 10 to 15 minutes for C.A.R.E. to arrive.

-Aaron Morrison

SF State to run a shooter drill next week

Business at SF State’s Student Services Building will be interrupted on Wednesday morning, April 9, during a University Police Department “Active Shooter” drill.

The drill will take place in the middle of SF State’s emergency preparedness week and will test coordination, notification and response to a campus shooting scenario.

Students should plan their business around the drill, which is scheduled to run from approximately 10 to 11 a.m. Police and safety officials will be on site and the building will be cordoned off.

People in the Student Services building who are not involved in the training will be warned when the drill begins.

Other emergency preparedness programming for the event will include outdoor exhibits throughout the week hosted by the American Red Cross, U.S. Geological Society, the University Police Department and others.

Screenings of the public safety film, “Shots Fired,” will run on video screens in the Cesar Chavez Student Center on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The film gives instruction on what to do in the event gun violence occurs on campus.

-Sarah Morris

Senate passes 19th Ave. bill

The 19th Avenue double fine zone legislation by state Sen. Leland Yee has passed the Senate Transportation 8-1 on April 1.

“I am hopeful that with this new double fine zone and continued improvements, we can finally create a safe corridor for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists,” Yee said in a press release.

SB 1491 will designate the 19th Avenue corridor between Junipero Serra and Lake Street a double fine zone for drivers who violate traffic laws.

Along with the double fine zone legislation, a number of safety enhancements will be made on 19th Avenue including new pedestrian countdown signals.

The legislation heads now to the Senate Public Safety committee.

-Jerold Chinn