Editorial: Thumbs up, thumbs down

Thumbs up to Clovis Unified School District for landing a national track and field meet next summer. USA Track and Field and the district announced this week that Buchanan High’s Veterans Memorial Stadium will host the 2016 national Junior Outdoor Championships. The competition is expected to draw more than 1,500 athletes (ages 14-19), coaches and officials for a week’s worth of events culminating with the three-day meet June 24-26. “These are Olympic-type kids,” said Brian Weaver, Buchanan High coach and CIF state championship meet director. “In the world of track and field, this is huge.” This will bring a lot of business to the region and be great for the area’s reputation.

Thumbs down to Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity Fresno State for hazing its members and serving alcohol to minors. The university has suspended the fraternity for agriculture students for two years. The university first investigated the fraternity in March after receiving complaints about property damage with the use of firearms. The investigation found that the fraternity hazed students during recruitment and initiation in spring 2015. Good for Fresno State for sending a strong message to the Greeks, despite the sanctions being protested by the fraternity’s national office.

Thumbs up to Target stores for providing its employees with Fitbits to encourage them to have better health. The chain is thinking of customers, too. It will replace candy at checkout stands with granola bars, and healthy grab-and-go snacks. Employees also will get extra discounts on fruits and veggies. This should pay off all around and perhaps lower health insurance costs.

Thumbs up to Laurel Friesen and the late Glen Doyle for being inducted into the Central Valley Nursing Hall of Fame. Doyle was a Fresno State professor emerita of gerontology and Friesen had a 40-year nursing career at Fresno Community Hospital, before joining the faculty of the University of California, San Francisco.

Thumbs up to the honorees at the annual gala sponsored by the foundation of the Fresno County Office of Education. This year’s top names were the late Floyd B. Buchanan, Clovis Unified School District superintendent for 31 years; Debbie Jacobsen, the first female president of the Fresno Farm Bureau; Darius Asssemi, president of Granville Homes and dedicated supporter of the arts in Fresno County schools; and Terance Frazier, former Fresno State and professional baseball player. Every year, four people from academics, agriculture, arts and athletics are selected.

Thumbs up to Jenelle S. Pitt, a Fresno State associate professor who was honored with the Sylvia Walker National Multicultural Award for expanding opportunities for people with disabilities. The award was given by the National Rehabilitation Association. This is the third time in two years she has earned national recognition.

Thumbs up to Kristin Clark, who was named this week as the new president of West Hills College Lemoore. An administrator from Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, she succeeds Don Warkentin, who retired.

This story was originally published September 25, 2015 at 10:11 AM with the headline "Editorial: Thumbs up, thumbs down."