i'm kassie pena live on campus... the aftermath of a fire in dwight bental hal he air... i'm kathy pena live on campus. the aftermath of a fire is still in the air. i will tell you why in 60 seconds. university housing overbooked its residents. how students like living in a

hotel. sjsu ice president -- sjsu's president is still working on things. >> and hear about the fire that left a fraternity homeless. how the community is helping them. elcome you're watching update news. hello and welcome back to another semester of update news. i'm karina harvey. >> and i'm betty winn. thank you jr. joining us. people in dwight benson hall may be in studying in a hazard. there was a fire but now new information raises health concerns. kathy is live with more. >> reporter: i'm in from the of

the highway where -- i'm in front of the school that includes the campus for the audio-visual systems. the fire broke out 3 weeks ago in equipment. it was confined to the room. no one was there at the time but it infiltrated the duct work. a speaker yesterday who was a fire chief said it may be a health risk. the interim chief is waiting for more information. >> as i know of right now, today, there's no problems to be known of because i have not been notified by sjsu officials. the fire chief said it's possible that the inspectors recommend that the building be shut down for a time. classes here at dwight bentel hall willgo n s

scheduled. professor rutger says until he is notified otherwise, class will remain in session. kathy pena. san jose police department is warning people to be awear of their surroundings. a woman was groped by a man who has not been arrested. the attacker followed her is own to the buts where he took off in an unknown direction. police are urging students to follow safety precautions. levatrs parking garages and on the walkways."" >> avoid walking alone at night, and report all suspicious activity. we have blue lights on campus, and they are available on all

bridges, elevators, and walkaways. >> 5'8", buck teeth and crooked lower front teeth. if you have any information about the case. sjsu police would like you to call on e-mail. you can be unanimous. freshmen everywhere, but some people are complaining the influx of students is creating jobs. >> reporter: the fall semester had a 48% increase from last year. new sjsu president saying the admission would be a lot for the society. >> our hope is that on the optimistic side, we need to convince the state to see that the bar is higher than what the state has been funding. >> reporter: but with the increase in student body comes problems. housing shortages and a hard time registering for classes.

>> i know we have a lodge freshmen class, and i don't want to make anyone think it's not adequate classes. >> reporter: but some students said they were not able to get into their classes. >> if you got an early orr orientation date, you got -- early orientation date, you got your classes. >> when you're hoping to get in, the line is outside of the door, like on the bridge of joe ed. it's ridiculous. i think it's ridiculous. >> reporter: this is one of the largest freshmen groups this campus has seen. for the first time at san jose state university, housing is not only fair but overbooked. we hear where the overflow

students are living. >> reporter: the claireon hotel -- clari on hotel is now home to 90 students. nick madahasken lived in joe all last year. >> my parents thought i was living the life. >> reporter: the hotel is a 9- minute car ride or 13-minute vtu ride. >> i brought my car, and it's not a big deal. >> reporter: housing services decided the hotel was the best option with the housing requirements. >> we have a long list of needs. something that was within walking distance or on the

lightrail line. >> reporter: each room is a double occupancy with a double closet, single bathroom, desk, and other menties. students have access to limit the room service, a people and room service. residential staff are living with them and working to accommodate their needs. they are not alone. other schools have dealt with the same problem, moving students to the nearby hotels. new san jose state president is trying to get the campus community more involved. while sjsu continues to face familiar problems with budget cuts, increasing tuition, and student population. >> the demand is far higher than what the state has been funding. if you're really not right if

you're denying students the opportunity. we have to have enough for the city, space, and region. >> reporter: another effort will be to host town hall-style meetings. 40 meetings will take place in september alone. topickings may include the latest $25 million state budget cut. members of kappa sigma are coming back from devastating fire. they had a fire that burned with everything for all 25 members, but now they have coming back. >> reporter: the fan and a guest certainty is getting back on its feet after rising through the arabs. they are holding events like with good hopes for the

heirloom -- alumni. >> the most practical solution is to rebuild as quickly as possible. >> reporter: the fire quickly consumed the house in the early morning hours of june the 21st 21st. investigators stay may have started in the laundry room. there's a happy of charred memories, and they have had to relocate all around sjsu. despite that, they have a new motto. >> we are still here, on fire, and we are like the third largest fraternity on campus. we are still here. >> reporter: they are opted mystic for the future, motivated to do more. >> we let everyone know out in public, we are ready, optimistic, and nothing has changed. >> reporter: they are also grateful for the support of the community and the greek system, even though the fire destroyed their house, it's clear it only made them stronger.

howard cowan, update news. >> the campus has a new approach to plan for its too much. sj -- for its future. sjsu had forums kicking off all week. event analyst, camille johnson is a member on campus and will evaluate all the input on the meetings. tuition is going up, and the economy is going down. some students are finding it hard to pay with their financial aid. a student with a unique approach. >> reporter: ray is attending two colleges for the price of one. he's a part-time student at san jose university and a full-time student at dianza college. >> i will be on a faster track

to graduating. >> reporter: the business student is losing time commuting to school. >> i thought his plan was going to be good, but it's making more of a hassle than the benefit i hoped before. >> the processor says the budget cuts affecting everybody. >> to me the students are being treated like garbage cans. >> reporter: he encourages students to make their own opportunities. >> he has to look into it. money out there. maybe they are not ready available where if you qualify you get it back. he needs to knock on doors. >> reporter: knocking on doors nay be a challenge given the recent budget cuts.

>> people usually go to a community college, but now it's the backwards thing. >> reporter: a year at zianza check college is $1,800. the full load at san jose state is more than twice that amount. the spartanburg store has an option that may save money, book rentals. jonathan has the story. >> reporter: you can buy this for $90 or rent it for half of that. studentsstudents are choosing -- students are choosing to rent instead of buy. san jose has signed a 10-year contract with barnes and noble. >> it's like economic and i don't want a big collection of

books in the end. >> reporter: books are indicated by a green rent sign and by a rent or buy me sticker. >> 10% or total sales going back to san jose state. that money is used to bettering the students and the college. >> reporter: they are competing with the onlike book rental websites, but the convenience of it being on campus may save time. >> if you rent a book online and don't want to keep it, you have to ship it back to the company. sometimes there's complications, and it's a hassle and a headache. >> they also have the nook and 5% off the book purchases. >> i just sign the receipt, and that tells us when the due date is. very quick. >> reporter: it's a growing option at in universities and campuses.

jonathan halverson. stay tuned for arts and entertainment with the inside scoop on a new formula. and he will also share where undiscovered talent can be found. >> later michael has a sneak peak into this comesser's sports. >> but first students tell us their summer highlights. o (pre-nursing junior): no, i don't know. wait.. mya, right? (ryan) no >> reporter: what was the highlight of your summer? >> working? i don't know. >> reporter: what do you do? >> it was at a restaurant. >> the highlight of my summer was getting a new job. >> reporter: what do you do? >> i work at five guys burgers and fries. >> i worked at a special needs camp and i was a counselor for 5-year-olds with special needs. >> i just went camping with the family. jumping off rocks and that sort

of stuff g. going white water raft -- that sort of stuff. >> going white water rafting. >> relaxing and having fun with friends before i go to college. when hurricane irene devastated much of the e last week.. when hurricane irene devastated much of the east coast 2 weeks ago, a san jose student was weathering the storm firsthand. keith bryant is in new york city with an internship with mtv, but he got more than he bargained for. >> reporter: while the rest of the u.s. watched irene on television, the east coast prepared for what was supposed to be the most powerful storm in a decade. arriving in new york, just as the irene did. >> it's like a thunderstorm.

we landed, and like the plane was shaking. it was a rocky landing. >> reporter: the tropical storm found herself late sunday. people of new york were left to prepare for potential flooding. >> even on the day when the flooding was coming, people were in the hudson river kayaking. >> reporter: they say uninformed citizens may not be a involved. >> they may not be aware of how bad is this situation? they need to prepare for it. >> reporter: he said he was lucky it only appeared to be like a thunderstorm and he said he prefers the updates. this center's purpose is to

assist students with tutoring and to assist them to companying services. but now it's been reduced from 6 centers and chairs, to just one at the help desk. helping the 4,000 admitted freshmen could be a problem. the center is already busy. >> we have already gotten students with questions on english, grammar, and all these other subjects. >> although the center is there to assist new freshmen and transfer students, it is open to everyone. a fresh scene hit the streets of japan town as a younger generation takes over. window shoppers have new items to look at. if you walk down jackson street you may notice they have changed changed from

traditional stores to things like aristocrat. >> there was an outdoor shotting -- outdoor shopping center, and now you see it all opening up. >> reporter: earl sans sants -- earl santos's uncle turned into the grocery business after being released in world war world war ii. his grandson is working at the business. i felt it was dying. we were losing business, and old-timers don't want to be doing it more. >> reporter: at the town,

worship, live, dine, and now you can explore new opportunities. when thinking of school desks, most people picture a traditional wood design, but some here on campus are being replaced. lois with the story. >> reporter: swivel, store, and study all while doing it in style. they are not only brightening up the classroom, but everything else as well. she sayings it helps her be intentive. >> i have add. i have to move a lot. you are allowed to move with them. >> reporter: they swivel 360 degrees, and they are for right

or left-handed students, and they are extremely easy to get in and out of. >> reporter: having a dynamic environment is needed for 21st century students. >> it allows flexibility that you can move from one structure to another. they are working as an entire group. the manufacturerrer worked with sjsu to develop a -- the manufacturer worked with sjsu to develop more. it's out with the old and in with the new. melissa ri, update news. dominic uridia is up for arts and entertainment. >> reporter: we have a lot of things going on around campus today. phil's open mic night, featuring everything from comedy to music.

courtney joelander with the story. >> reporter: from rap and guitar to harmonicas and standup comedy. open mic gives the puck lick a stage to show off their talent. >> if people with are in touch it, it's a great opportunity to express themselves. as soon as they come back, the list of side items were full. i would say a lot of students came through. >> reporter: sjsu student patrick mccally performs wherever he can. >> when i go to open mic night, it's the chance to open up in front of the audience.

they are great. >> reporter: open mic night is every tuesday and thursday at 7:00 p.m. in san joe say, courtney joelander sjsu news. formula 1 is a club on campus you may not have heard about. the president said it's a hidden gym. >> we are a huge time commitment like any other sports team. instead of working out or whatever, we design, build, and compete. the same idea. >> reporter: the team members construct cars for scratch and compete with colleges around the world. last semester the team claimed 1 1st place. it's been sponsored by monster energy company. getty hopes to build on their winning record and build a

dynasty. >> the competitions will begin in the bring. sjsu is making it easier to get welcomed to the community. ryan duricko reports. >> reporter: even is a commission student to college. he knows liting about the campus. >> reporter: i'm new. i just transferred. i get to go around and see the different organizations and things like that. >> reporter: student involvement has helped him get used to campus. there's days that include everything from going hiking to everything else around the campus. >> we are doing an open house for the student health center to increase the awareness we

are here for you. >> reporter: students came to spin a wheel, showing them they are covered by the school's insurance and can get medical insurance on campus. >> it helps me open up and meet all the new students. >> reporter: fall welcome days wraps one a tailgate party on september 17th with the home game against university of nevada. local artists are donating their spray cans and time for their four-legged friends. a block party last month brought awareness to adopting animals. the community watched them begin their matches from scratch until they were auctioned off. the company pawssj handles all the organizations. >> the organizers says one of the goal is to remind people

there's loanly animal -- lonely animals with only a short time to live. some dogs and cats even found a forever home during the event that day. that's what is going on in the world of arts and entertainment. betty and karine, back to you. coming up, dedication is shown in palo alto. also sports anchor, michael kronan web highlights sports. >> first, we asked if students could name the sjsu new president. uhh working? i don't know. >> reporter: do you know the name of san jose state university's new president? >> no. i don't know. [ laughter ] wait. mia? right? >> reporter: no, not even close. >> darn it. >> no, sorry, i don't know.

>> obama? [ laughter ] >> reporter: that's of the nation. >> no, i don't. i work at five guys burgers and fries. >> i didn't know san jose had a president. [ laughter ] i'm being honest. >> reporter: that's all right. the question, do you know the name of san jose state's brand new president? >> mohammed something. michael cronenwett is with us for sports... mike... compet p ag michael cronan is with us for sports. competition is starting up again, what do we have to look forward to? >> the spartans opening the season against stanford. san jose knew it would be a long shot to win the game. >> reporter: the spartans taking the field against their local rivals. early in the 1st quarter a chip shot field goal to take the

lead. that was only the beginning of the very long day for the spartans. harrison wade was unable to connect. 10-0 stanford. brandon fumbles the exchange with chandler jones. this let to andrews connecting on the beautiful pass to the corner of the end zone. late in the 2nd quarter, the spartans were finally able to get on the score board. >> reporter: the spartans have been unable to run the ball, and it shows with the score board, so the spartans have outgained the cardinals, 169- 159. the 2nd half wasn't any better as the massacre continues with the victory. after the game, the coach has this to say about his team. >> we need to play better, and

we will. >> reporter: in palo alto, update news. >> even though last week's game was an away one, there was no shortage of sjsu fans. ryan kurran with how people are showing their excitement for the season. (qay sp ♪[music ] ♪ >> you know the first touch of the ball, like taking people on, i like the players who build my confidence. keeping possession, not giving the ball up. making plays. >> sorry about that. there was confusion with the work room. back to you guys. >> and that will do it for now. thank you for staying up late with us. >> be sure to check us out on

facebook. search sjsu update news. have a great day everyone.