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The Squeeze on Students; Fake Pot, Dangerous High; Step Show Controversy; School in Crisis; Hollywood's Big Night
Aired March 06, 2010 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you, Wolf.
The protests, the outrage, and tonight -- the real story on the uproar over education, spending and funding. Our education expert is back to answer some of your contentious questions.
And what if I told you there was a drug that mimics the effects of marijuana and it's legal? Would you smoke it? Stick around.
The Oscars are upon us. You want to attend CNN's Oscar party? You can. We're telling you how to join us this hour -- live pictures from Los Angeles.
And the college competition that pitted black students against whites -- what happened? Who really won? The students join us to talk it out -- live.
Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon. Thanks for joining us this evening.
A nationwide outcry over education, budget cuts and tuition hikes. Students, teachers and other supporters are out of the classroom and in the streets on Thursday. Thousands from coast to coast from elementary schools to major universities -- like this one in Texas.
Now, protests did get out of hand in some places. Police arrested 15 people at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
Protesters called Thursday a "National Day of Action."
This is some iReport video from California that we're showing you right now -- where the moment really started and grew to national levels.
And as our Dan Simon explains, a massive budget shortfall in the state is really putting the squeeze on students.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the middle of a rainy day in San Francisco State University. Junior Akasha Perez has finished her classes. It would be nice to go home, put her feet up, and get try. But for Perez, it's off to work.
(on camera): How hard is it taking on two jobs and also being a full- time student? AKASHA PEREZ, COLLEGE STUDENT: It's tough. It's really hard. There's not much sleep involved.
Are we done with e-mail?
SIMON (voice-over): She works here on campus and also as a waitress. Perez says she to take on a second job to offset a 32 percent increase in tuition this year, $1,000 more.
PEREZ: It was a huge jump and students were very upset. And a lot of people lost their classes because they couldn't afford to pay the increase when it happens so their classes got dropped.
SIMON: These are five of her classmates, each with their own tale of hardship, each with a message to stay lawmakers.
ROSHAN URANWALA, COLLEGE STUDENT: I didn't attend school last semester because I wasn't able to afford it and neither were there classes for me to have a reason to even pay that extra tuition.
SIMON (on camera): Has this been tougher for you financially or is it because the courses you want just aren't available?
JIRO PALMIERI, COLLEGE STUDENT: Yes, I think it is a bit of both, you know? Certain courses are not available, so, you know, it takes years -- it takes longer than expected to graduate.
LETICIA ARCE CARRELO, COLLEGE STUDENT: I'm sitting on $10,000 of student loans. I'm only on my second year and I come from a low- income family so they can't help me at all. I mean, they can try, but it's not going to be much help.
SIMON (voice-over): The cuts have also meant the elimination of 300 professors and college employees on campus and a 10 percent pay cut for those lucky enough to still have a job.
Professor Jason Ferreira teaches ethnic studies.
PROF. JASON FERREIRA, SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY: It means I'm living like a graduate student or undergraduate all over again, you know? I've been working here for five years and basically, month to month, you know, living on my credit cards, you know, to get groceries.
SIMON: For Akasha Perez, it has come down to this: either work two jobs or don't go to school. Leaning on her parents isn't an option -- a reality for her and her classmates.
PEREZ: This is a commuter campus this is a community of working students. So, it's been tough.
SIMON: And with tuition expected to rise further next year, it's going to get even tougher.
Dan Simon, CNN, San Francisco.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: So, earlier, I had a chance to speak with a student and a professor who took in the protest on Thursday. CNN education contributor Steve Perry also joined in on the conversation. And I asked: did the message get through to the powers that be?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALEX CASTILLO, STUDENT, CALIFORNIA STATE UNIV. LOS ANGELES: We wanted to deliver the message to the governor that he needs to keep his promise on making education a priority in the state of California. We, the students and the professors and workers, have been organizing since the summer for this to happen -- for us to be able to peacefully deliver this message to the governor that he needs to hear us out, that education is highly important and that is why it should be prioritized in the state of California.
LEMON: What do you say to the governor though? He's facing a $20 billion budget deficit. Where is the money going to come from, Alex?
CASTILLO: The money --
LEMON: Go ahead now. I'll let you continue -- go ahead, Alex.
CASTILLO: OK. Well, the money is going to -- what I want to say is that the state of California is the third richest economy around the world. So, if they could bail out failing insurance companies, and if they could save banks, why can't they save education, which should be a priority? Education is really important.
LEMON: Katynka?
PROF. KATYNKA MARTINEZ, SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY: Yes, Alex is completely correct. Education is very important.
And we need to really think about who we're letting, you know, really take advantage of the state of California. The state of California doesn't tax oil companies that come into extract our resources. Other states like Texas and Alaska do tax those companies, and if we were to tax them just 12 percent, which is actually legislation that is being proposed right now, that would really fund public education and a lot of public services that this state really depends on.
LEMON: Would either of you pay more taxes, higher taxes in order to have more affordable education, because it may come down to that?
MARTINEZ: Yes. And I think -- I think that's a decision that people need to make. People watching television right now need to think about that.
Historically, every generation has achieved a higher level of education than the generation that came before. This has been the case consistently in this country. For first time we're seeing that reverse itself. So, we're going back -- we're back tracking, and this hasn't happened since World War II.
LEMON: A quick word -- Alex, a quick word and I want Steve to sum it up for us -- Alex.
CASTILLO: Yes.
LEMON: Is that -- I thought -- was that Steve talking? I thought it was Alex.
CASTILLO: Yes.
LEMON: OK. Steve, sum it up for us. We talked about, you know, they may have to pay higher taxes and California faces, what, a $20 billion budget deficit. So, what gives here? What do they have to do?
STEVE PERRY, CNN EDUCATION CONTRIBUTOR: Don, the issue here is that as long as the teachers and all the employees of the public education system continue to get salary increases, without an increase in revenue, there need to be a decrease in the services and the students have every right to be angry. I just don't think they're angry at the right people. They need to look to the left and the right of them, the people on the front lines with them and ask them: did you get a salary increase over the past couple of years and continued to drive my education costs up? Because if you did, you need to stop and pay attention to the next generation, because what you're doing to improve your career is killing my opportunity to have mine.
This is not about always asking for more money for taxes. At some point, we have to be honest with ourselves and say, we have only so much money. We are in a recession. So, we have to spend more thoughtfully -- which means no one should be getting an increase in their salary if there isn't more money and we aren't getting more services.
We can't always pay more money for the same services just because a year has passed. Katynka is right to be angry. And I'm glad that the folks are coming together.
But they need to come together not to point at this -- at the evil enemy of the government, but to look at each other and ask the honest questions -- are we going to continue to ask parents and students to foot the bill for educators who continue to get salary increases even though they're not getting better results and more services?
MARTINEZ: Steve, I think you really need to understand, though, that this was a collective effort between students, faculty, teachers and, you know, pre-K through 12 and staff at all of those education institutions.
PERRY: Have they -- have they decided that they're going to --
MARTINEZ: They put the collective effort. They had this -- these discussions, and they recognize what their pressure points are. And their pressure points are not each other. Their pressure points are rethinking the economy of California and rethinking who benefits from the natural resources of this state.
PERRY: So, as you do that -- as you do that --
MARTINEZ: And the one thing I -- one thing I would add is that this is a national movement.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Katynka, let him get in there.
PERRY: As you do that, you have to understand, you guys got to go a little further and do a little more research and realize that the people who continue to make money while the communities continue to struggle to reach -- to reach their needs are the individuals who are being employed by the system. It's not always about taxing more corporations. OK, fine, you bring in more money, and at some point, we'll spend up all that, too.
We cannot continue to expect everyone else to foot the bill when we don't have the money. We are out of money nationally. And printing up money from a stimulus package is not a way to do it. It's a full hardy way to do it and it's only sinking us deeper in the hole. At some point, someone is going to ask us to pay up on this credit.
I am saying, just because people are coming together, don't allow yourselves to be manipulated into thinking that they are on your side. Until they pay their fair share, which they're not doing, until they stop receiving raises that they -- that the community cannot afford, then you do not have allies. What you have are people who infiltrated your ranks and are not helping.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: You know what? We're getting a big response on that, lots of tweets and questions on this story. Steve Perry is coming back in just a little while. He's going to answer some of them for you.
Political advice from across the aisle from a man who once battled to pass his party's top priorities.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM DELAY (R), FORMER HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER: You would think you could pass anything and pass it quickly with those kinds of majorities.
Why can't they? It's because they're going back in rooms and then telling the members, take it or leave it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Our Candy Crowley talks with former House Republican Leader Tom Delay about Democratic efforts to pass health care reform.
And it's like the real thing -- it's not like the real thing, but it's not illegal. It is legal. The dangers of so-called "fake weed" -- coming up.
Time for you to weigh in, here's how -- take a look at your screen.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: OK. Listen up. Every time we do something about marijuana, pot on this show, we get a huge response. If you have any interest in this, stick around for this next segment. We're going to talk now about fake marijuana that can get users high like the real thing -- maybe even a little bit higher. We're going to talk to a doctor about it.
It's often sold in an incense with a brand name like K2. It is a blend of herbs and plants, sprayed with chemicals, and it's perfectly legal to buy in most of the U.S., even if you are a minor. Did you hear that? Perfectly legal, similar effects to marijuana.
But Kansas is now the first state to ban K2 and others may follow suit now. Officials are alarmed by the reports of users ending up in emergency rooms after smoking the synthetic blend.
So, joining me now to talk about it is Dr. Anthony Scalzo. He is a pediatrician and he's a professor of toxicology at St. Louis University or SLU as they say in St. Louis.
Thank you so much. It is good to see you.
OK. This is -- it gives similar effects, the THC part of it is legal. What are the dangers, quickly, though?
DR. ANTHONY SCALZO, TOXICOLOGY PROFESSOR, SAINT LOUIS UNIV.: Well, the affect on the brain is different than marijuana in a sense that it does cause psychotropic types of activity. In other words, it makes you more --
LEMON: High.
SCALZON: -- high. Yes, exactly. But it does not do exactly same thing as marijuana to mellow you out. It's causing these patients -- typically, the ones I've been seeing are 14 to 21, a 30-year-old, a 35-year-old, a 39-year-old are the oldest I've seen. And they're getting agitated, anxious.
LEMON: Because marijuana typically does not make you anxious. It just makes you want to sit on the couch and maybe watch more TV.
SCALZO: No, it makes you mellow and relaxed. And, in fact it, might lower your blood pressure. It might lower your heart rate, not raise it to dangerous levels that we've been seeing like 140 beats per minute. This is not just a few beats per minute, you know, like you work out, you do more exercise. In fact, with exercise you lower your blood pressure.
LEMON: So, why are people comparing it to marijuana if its similar effects, THC, similar effects to marijuana? It does seem like the opposite effect to me.
SCALZO: Well, you know, the situation is this, that we -- the sky is not falling. We don't have 10,000 individuals around the country coming in with these adverse effects. But we have a large number of them and it may be a situation with a batch of these substances or it may be what I refer to in toxicology as a simple property of dose -- the term is toxicity. There maybe some that are sprayed with two much of these synthetic cannabinoid, as you say, legal cannabinoid are marijuana-like substance.
LEMON: OK. But it is -- you are seeing people coming in and I think the danger is that it's legal, especially young people are going to smoke it and it's perfectly legal. That's your concern. You said you're not seeing tens of thousands --
SCALZO: Right.
LEMON: -- but you're seeing the numbers --
SCALZO: Right. And we may be seeing those thousand that are not reporting themselves. I was talking to a couple of physician colleagues in E.R.s and they said they had a couple of patients just like the other night, who didn't admit to smoking it, but they suspected after talking to me that's what the agent was.
They're not cocaine. They're not -- you know, they're not marijuana positive on the drug screens. They're not PCP or methamphetamine.
LEMON: OK. Here's a question then. As people are going to say it's a slippery slope as with cocaine --
SCALZO: Yes.
LEMON: -- and then cocaine turned into crack, synthetic, people want to increase it. Marijuana, in some ways, may be turning into this. This is an argument for some people who want to regulate marijuana in some sense, because they will say if you do that, then you may not get all of these other side drugs that will potentially increase your heart rate and have these symptoms that you don't want.
SCALZO: Yes, I don't disagree with that. I think the problem is that these synthetic chemicals were not developed to be exactly like marijuana. They were developed for many useful medical purposes to help with appetite for cancer patients or to help with the immune system. And they actually, in proper doses, do these effects.
But the situation we have is that there's unregulated amounts of these chemicals in these products, and we're seeing individuals reacting negatively to them for their heart rate and their blood pressure and all the nervous system effects that we're seeing.
LEMON: Yes. Doctor, appreciate it. Good information. Thank you.
SCALZO: You're welcome.
LEMON: A Republican voice from the past speaks out on health care reform. Our Candy Crowley talks with former House Leader Tom Delay. What does he think the Democrats are doing wrong?
And they stepped into a traditionally black competition and won the top prize. Now, they have stepped into some controversy. You don't want to miss this story. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: I want to check some of your top stories right now, and the looming showdown over health care reform is at the top.
President Barack Obama used his weekly address to once again urge Congress to hold an up or down vote. Republicans used their weekly address to blast the Democrats' health care plans as too big and too expensive. They argue it is time to start all over again.
Polls open in less than six hours in Iraq. Voters will elect 325 members of parliament. It is crucial for the future of the country because these lawmakers will form Iraq's new government. But al Qaeda has vowed to disrupt these elections -- already, we've seen a series of deadly attacks leading up to the vote.
President Barack Obama renewed his plea today for wavering Democrats to get behind health care reform legislation. The House -- the White House, I should say, wants to get the plan passed quickly and campaign on it this fall. I talked earlier with the Democrat in charge of rounding up the House votes. I asked the Majority whip, James Clyburn, if he thinks the bill will pass.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JAMES CLYBURN (D-SC), MAJORITY WHIP: Yes, sir.
LEMON: OK.
CLYBURN: I think that's what we're going to do. I think it's going to become law. But let me say this, if you will, the fact of the matter is there are a lot of things that I would like to see in this bill that are not here. I would like to see a public option, it's not in this bill. There are some other things I would like to see come into the bill.
LEMON: But the House is going to fight for that late, right? You're going to try to add that into that bill.
CLYBURN: That's what we did with Social Security. That's what we did with Medicare. That's what we did all at the big civil rights laws back in the 1960s.
In 1964, when the Civil Rights Act was passed, it didn't have voting in it. Voting didn't come along until 1965. House didn't come along until 1968. We didn't make them apply -- the voting rights didn't apply to state and local governments until 1972.
So, what we need to do is build a good, solid program upon which we can build going forward.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Health care was also the focus of my weekly chat with our senior political correspondent, and the host of CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION," Candy Crowley. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: So, Candy, it looks like no GOP support for the Democrats' health care plan. Whatever happened to bipartisanship here?
CANDY CROWLY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Nancy Pelosi likes to say that you're going to have a bipartisan bill without a bipartisan vote, and it looks like that's what they're going to get. You're right, it doesn't look like there's going to be a Republican in the House or the Senate that votes for this health care bill -- at least not on the track that it's currently headed. They have decided and the Democrats know that it is going to be near impossible to explain to voters in November why they couldn't come up with a health care bill if Democrats are in charge of Washington. So, they know they have to pass something.
And the president really has pulled out all the stops and said, you know -- I don't know how the politics of this will fall either way, but this is what's right for the country and you need to do this. The president has been in there lobbying both personally and in groups. And it's sort of the equivalent of your mother playing the guilt card here. It's like, do this for the country, you know?
And that's hard to pass up -- particularly by the way they're targeting some of the outgoing congressmen, the retiring Democratic congressmen. Some of whom voted no before saying, hey, you know, politically, there's no way you have to pay for this. You know, come on board.
LEMON: You paid a visit to Tom DeLay this week. I'm going to play a little bit of that conversation then we'll talk about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CROWLEY: They've got a Democrat-controlled House, a Democrat- controlled Senate, a Democrat in the White House. And yet, they're having some trouble getting health care through. What are they doing wrong?
DELAY: What they're doing wrong is they are -- I think what they're doing wrong is because of arrogance. They have huge majorities.
We never had more than a 17-vote majority and we got down to a five- vote majority at one time. Never did we have 60 votes in the Senate. And you would think you could pass anything and pass it quickly with those kinds of majorities.
Why can't they? It is because they're going back in rooms and then telling the members, take it or leave it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Candy, is he right? There has been a lot of criticism saying, you know, the Democrats had a supermajority. They had -- you know, they had a majority in both the House and the Senate. So, what happened? Why did -- how did they mess things up? Is he right? CROWLEY: Well, I -- you know, no. I think that especially, Speaker Pelosi whom he was referencing in those remarks would disagree with the way he describes they went about it. Having said that, Congressman DeLay went on to say that they tried to settle the problems before it got to the floor. And so they would start putting a bill together two or three months ahead of time and say, well, what do you think about this so there were no surprises when they got to the floor.
Certainly, I think you could make the argument, however, as Nancy Pelosi does, that she's got a pretty diverse caucus there. You got congressmen from swing districts. You have them from really in Republican districts, but particularly from this last election, and they have an electorate that has been looking at this health care bill and doesn't like what it's heard. Now, they're betting that the public will change its mind once the bill is passed and they see what's in it.
But nonetheless I think the term "herding cats" which is often used to describe House Democrats applies here and I think for a number of reasons. It's been tough for the speaker and tough for Clyburn to pull these Democrats together. But, again, I think they know that there is so much at stake here. The president's real ability to pass anything else may be tied to getting this health care bill through.
LEMON: It is. It is. Yes, he's -- he has a lot -- a lot on the line with this.
So, Candy, what can we look forward to for "STATE OF THE UNION"?
CROWLEY: Well, we have Tom DeLay as you mentioned. And we're going to have a couple of congressmen, Democrats, talking about why they have different opinions of this health care bill and why some Democrats may vote against it and whether there's anything that can be done to bring them on board.
LEMON: We shall see. I'll be watching. Thank you, Candy.
CROWLEY: Sure. Thanks.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: I love Candy.
For the best in Sunday talk, be sure to watch Candy Crowley on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION," Sunday morning, 9:00 a.m. Eastern, right here on CNN, and then again at noon.
(VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, they won fair and square. And then all of a sudden, there is an issue with the scoring and two first place winners? What's going on with that? You guys have been tweeting up a storm on this story. Up a storm is an understatement. I'll talk to both step team captains in just a few minutes. So, send your questions and stay tuned. Lights, cameras, action. It's almost time for the gold in Hollywood. We know what we're talking about, that little gold statue. And there's a live blog show for you folks who want to chime in in real- time on all the happenings right here on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: OK. This is a story that as I twitter for me is going crazy now because of this story and my e-mail box.
So here you go. A step show competition between sororities turns controversial when an all white step team takes home the prize at an event that is traditionally African-American. Look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON (voice-over): This is stepping. A proud mix of tribal dance infusing military drills and popular culture. Dominated by African- American fraternities and sororities for decades. Until the ladies of Arkansas's Zeta Tau Alpha, an all white team, stepped into a national competition and nailed it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who you all think it is? That's right. It is the Zetas. Zetas, zetas, zetas, first place.
LEMON: Their win stunned the crowd of nearly 5,000 people. The emcee told the audience, don't be so surprised.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I saw you. I saw you. You're like - stepping is for everybody. You can step, you can step.
LEMON: Then came Youtube and worldwide reaction. Some said it was cultural theft. "I wish you white people would stop stealing everything from us. Can we just have one thing for ourselves? Stepping is for us, not them." Others saw it differently writing, "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Black, white, green, purple, who cares? This is good stuff, by young people who have worked hard."
Deandre Clark, a former stepper, was at the show and understands why people are so passionate.
DEANDRE CLARK, GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY: A lot of people might feel as though someone who didn't - does not have this background, how could they truly understand what it means to be out there stepping? At the same time, it could -- on the other hand, it can make you happy to see that stepping is starting to go further than just African- Americans.
LEMON: Now adding to the intrigue, nearly a week after the competition, organizers are said there was a scoring discrepancy. So first place that originally went to the Zetas will now be shared with the Alpha Kappa Alphas from Indiana University. They share the title, but not the money. They both get $100,000 in scholarship. So there you go.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right. So there you go. Alexandra Kosmitis is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha, the Zetas. Jasmine Starks is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, AKA, as they are called. Both were at the step leaders for their sororities at the Sprite Stepoff Competition right here in Atlanta, which by the way, it will air tomorrow night on MTV. Thanks to both of you, for joining us.
Listen, I know that you're on Skype, Alexandra. So I'm going to give you the first question because we may have a little bit of a technical issue here. How has your sorority been received or perceived I should say on campus since the step show?
ALEXANDRA KOSMITIS, ZETA TAU ALPHA SORORITY: We have had received some really positive feedback from people on our campus. And the (INAUDIBLE) chapters have been very supportive which really speaks volumes because we're always so competitive. So it is really - it has been a really great experience and we have been really well received.
LEMON: Do you normally step the way that you do in this Sprite show? Is that something that is normal for your sorority? Alexandra?
KOSMITIS: Yes. Our step - have - yes.
LEMON: All right. We're having a little bit of a problem with her. We'll get back to Alexandra. Let's move on now and talk to Jasmine. So, Jasmine, this whole uproar about that you've heard. You've heard the people, you know, on the blogs saying, hey, this is something for blacks, whites should get their own thing. What do you make of this whole controversy?
JASMINE STARKS, ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY: Well, I understand that they are saying that the art of stepping is culturally African- American and it has been in the Greek sororities and fraternities. But Sprite wanted to put on a multi-cultural step show and I think they did what they went out for.
LEMON: Well, here's the thing when I hear people saying, oh, it belongs and I understand that black fraternities and sororities have been doing it for decades. But it is also part tribal dance, it's also part military cadence and it's also part glee club which came from white colleges, so, you know, I don't know where this we own this culturally thing comes from. It is a big melting pot here in America.
But I am hearing from people who are saying, you know, I didn't think that the girls from Zeta performed as well as the other girls and that they were given points for just showing up and that's part of this discrepancy. How do you feel about that?
STARKS: Our chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha acknowledges that Zeta Tau Alpha did a wonderful job of stepping. We also know that we did an exquisite job as well. So I think that we agree that they did a wonderful job but we think that we did a great job as well. Thus sharing the co-first place winner title.
LEMON: OK. Alexandra I understand that we have you back. So listen, how did you learn how to step? Because I have to be honest with you, that isn't something that white sororities and fraternities usually do. How did you guys learn?
KOSMITIS: Right. On our campus, Alpha Kappa Alpha chapter holds an annual unity step show and this started about 16 years ago and we began stepping then. So it has been a tradition that we have been doing for a while, but this past year we decided to take it to a different level and enter to the Sprite competition.
LEMON: So actually you beat the people who taught you how to step, right? Where you learned from.
KOSMITIS: Well, originally they did teach us. They were the ones are who introduced us into stepping. And as years progressed, we have taken it and run with it on our own and kind of come up with our own steps, even though Zeta Tau Alpha does not have a historic step to that organization.
LEMON: So listen, I've been looking at twitter and there are a bunch of things, you know, the Zetas won fair and square. The (INAUDIBLE) cheerleading, they lack the cadence, the step and at times they're offbeat. Shouldn't be rewarded just because they showed up. And on and on and on.
I mean, at twitter - rarely do get this many comments. So final word, I mean, you first Alexandra, final word on this whole controversy, what do you think about sharing the title and also both of you receiving the first place money.
KOSMITIS: We're more than happy to share the title. The girls were so nice to us throughout the whole competition and we were just really well received at the competition. So we're more than happy to share it with them. We're really excited that somebody gets to, you know, have $100,000 as part of their education. That's a really big deal. So we're just really thankful for this opportunity. And we are really pleased with all the people that have embraced and (INAUDIBLE) in doing something that is not traditional for us.
LEMON: And Jasmine.
STARKS: Yes, we are really thankful for Sprite as well. We count it as a true blessing. We have students in our step team who have been entered into optometry school, applying to law school and graduate school. So the money will be well spent and we, again, count it as a blessing and we're truly grateful.
LEMON: And talking about education, the problems and the protests we have seen all across the country, this money is needed by students.
STARKS: Yes.
LEMON: Thanks to both of you, OK
STARKS: Thank you.
KOSMITIS: Thank you. LEMON: The head of hospitality for a southern state sends out a very unhospitable e-mail. We'll tell you how the first lady, Michelle Obama, was depicted and has some people furious over this.
America's school system in crisis. Budget cuts threatening our future leaders. CNN education contributor Steve Perry rejoins us to answer your questions.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Want to check your top stories right now. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown just left Afghanistan following a surprise visit today with British troops. The trip just comes a day after Brown testified in an official government inquiry into the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Brown defended his past role as government treasurer and said "the British military was given all the equipment it asked for."
The CEO of Tennessee's hospitality industry sent what is being called a joke e-mail to some colleagues comparing first lady Michelle Obama to a chimpanzee. Tennesseean newspaper reports Walt Baker's e-mail compares the first lady to Tarzan's side kick, Cheetah. The e-mail opens with the words "I don't care who you are, this is funny."
At the bottom, a photo of the first lady caught in an awkward moment with her lips pursed. A national councilman has asked baker to make an public apology.
Let's turn to our weather situation across the country. There she is, Miss Jacqui Jeras. Jacqui, what do you have on tap? Good to see you, by the way.
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hey, good to see you too. You know, a big focus this weekend is going to be West Coast weather because we're going to have an off shore system here that you can really see here on satellite, just of swirling there. That has been bringing in high humidity, a lot of moisture, showers, even a few rumbles of thunder across Southern California.
Yes, we have been seeing some rain on the red carpet, unfortunately. Oscar was covered up there and everything. Chance of rain will continue tonight throughout tomorrow morning. And I would say maybe a 20 percent chance that those celebrities are still going to need an umbrella for tomorrow on the red carpet. Either way, they'll have enough humidity so watch out for some of those hairdos.
That storm system is one that we're going to be watching throughout the week as it will be on the move, heading towards the four corners tomorrow and then moving down towards the southern plains states as we head into your Sunday. The east coast, man, it has been a great weekend, hasn't it? Temperatures just incredible today in the 50s and 60s. We'll see more of that tomorrow as well. Likely lingering well into your Monday as well.
But temperatures, to put it into reality, maybe about average to about five degrees above normal. Want to show you some extreme weather that has been happening in Australia overseas, some incredible pictures to show you. This is out of the Melbourne area where severe storm moved through and brought massive hailstorm, also flooded streets.
Queensland, Australia, also dealing with some extensive flooding. There is a town there where they're expecting 80 percent of it to be inundated, called St. George, by floodwaters, possibly on Sunday. Don?
LEMON: Wow. OK.
JERAS: I know.
LEMON: Four corners, I like that. The four corners.
JERAS: Enjoy our weather here.
LEMON: I know, I woke up today, it was so warm. Isn't it great?
JERAS: I love it.
LEMON: It's going to be warmer tomorrow?
JERAS: Yes.
LEMON: You're so great, Jacqui. Thank you for that.
All right. Jacqui.
You know a lot of empty seats in classrooms across the nation on Thursday. Students and teachers from kindergarten to college taking part in massive protests over education cuts in tuition. But CNN education contributor Steve Perry says some of that anger at the government is misplaced. I don't want to misquote you, Steve. So he's joining us now from Hartford, Connecticut, to answer some of your questions and your tweets. You did say it was misplaced so, why?
STEVE PERRY, CNN EDUCATION CONTRIBUTOR: Because the people who, our students need to be talking to are the faculty and staff of their institutions. A college's budget is based basically upon the facilities and the faculty and staff. The lion's share of which goes to the staff and faculty. When they get an increase in their salaries as across the board, someone has to pay for that. And the someone is the student.
And the students need to understand that they're paying more for the same exact thing that they got the year before. So it is not an improvement on service, it is the same exact thing. If you took a psych 101, it is psych 101 again.
LEMON: OK. Quick answers to some questions here, Steve. Some people were, you know, not happy with you, others were. How many students does Perry have again? 30. My daughter is teacher of the year and can barely afford to eat and drive to work. Steve?
PERRY: How many - what was that? LEMON: How many students do you have in your class again? I think she said 30. My daughter is teacher of the year and barely can afford to eat and drive to work. I just want you to respond to that one.
PERRY: Well, I don't know who her daughter is and I can't speak about her daughter, but we have almost - over 300 students. That's an absurd question.
LEMON: Yes. OK. All right. Great. Listen, Steve Perry, teacher salaries as an adjunct 15 years ago I made $9 an hour. I know professors with 25 plus years making $45,000. You want more of a cut? That's a question.
PERRY: No. What I want is I want to make sure that when teachers and professors ask for more money, that there is actually more money to give you. Because if there is not more money to give you, then no one can give it to you. Let's keep it simple. If you're making what you're making, imagine what the students are making. They have a couple of Pell grants and a couple of student loans and some financial aid on campus, they might be bringing in about $8,000 a year.
Do you want to talk about poverty, talk about that, talk about the families that are trying to send two children to college at once, who can't be making enough money to take care of that. So if you want people to feel sorry for you, first take into consideration the students. Let me say it this way also. If we want more money, then I will agree to more money.
Let's tax until we tax to the teeth, but give all the money to the students. Give it all to the students so that they get more financial aid so that we can ease the burden on the students, not the adults with the degrees.
LEMON: Listen, I'm really up against the clock here. My producer is going to get mad at me. I think this is a very good thing, five seconds. I feel students about 20 years ago, I feel for students about 20 years ago. I had to work two jobs as well. College is an entitlement, only the strong survive. There is some truth in that?
PERRY: I don't - only the strong survive so what did they say -
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LEMON: This person said they had to work two jobs 20 years ago, college isn't for everyone, it's not an entitlement, only the strong survive.
PERRY: That's an unfortunate statement. Because considering the fact that at this point in our history and our economy, you need a college education to really participate. That's an unfortunate statement.
LEMON: Steve, we have to go. Keep it coming back.
PERRY: My pleasure.
LEMON: Really appreciate it. Good information as always.
Getting ready for the glitz and glamour and we know what we're talking about, we're talking about Hollywood, live from the red carpet at the Oscars, coming up.
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LEMON: OK. With the big show only 24 hours away, we're not talking about this show either. There's quite a bit of Oscar buzz online right now. "AC 360's" Jack Gray is host of the "AC 360" Oscar live blog. There he is right there. So Anderson's got you working on the weekend now. What is going on? I'll have to have a talk with him?
JACK GRAY, "AC 360": Hey, Don. Yes, it's actually a step up from my usual assignment, which is basically to wash his car. So, this is pretty good.
LEMON: You said it. OK. Just a little joke there. He doesn't need a car.
GRAY: Yes, of course.
LEMON: Someone else does that now. So Jack, tell me about the live blog. You do it every year, right?
GRAY: Yes. Well, this is our second year. It is fun. We keep it kind of light. You know, people - I kind of guide things along and people from all over the world really submit their comments as they watch it. We talk about the winners and the losers and the nominees and hopefully some outbursts that happen along the way. And everybody, you know, everybody puts their two cents in as well and it's fun.
And I'm at home. You know what I mean. You know, I'm not there. The great thing is it's kind of the antithesis of Hollywood glamour. It's almost we're kind of watching it together.
LEMON: No, no, I wasn't asking you if you were going or you're going to do a Joan Rivers and critique everybody on their clothes and talk about how bad they look are you? Or is that going to be some of that?
GRAY: Well, we are going to start with you and then we'll go from there.
LEMON: You know what, you are a smart you know what. Anyway, so listen, I like your co-host this year.
GRAY: Yes. My co-host.
LEMON: But I hear, she is a bit of a diva. Is that correct?
GRAY: Yes, she is. She usually shows up kind of drunk to the show, to the sofa rather. There she is. She spends most of the night really trash talking celebrities. I don't want to mention any names, George Clooney, but that is basically what happens.
LEMON: OK. So listen, real quickly, Jack, predictions about who is going to win. Do you have a best actor?
GRAY: Best actor, I think definitely the sentimental favorite is Jeff Bridges and his beard.
LEMON: Actress?
GRAY: And I think the best actress Monique, probably is a locked up. Although I'm always up for a Meryl Streep win.
LEMON: What do you say of people who I have heard a lot of people say, you know, not that Monique is not deserving, but outrage, but people who are upset to play that kind of role is very easy, that sort of emotion is easy in movies.
GRAY: You know, I don't know. That is their opinion. I don't really know. I'm not a film expert. She seems to have it locked up. She's won pretty much every major award up until now.
LEMON: She has.
GRAY: If she doesn't win this it, I think will be a huge upset.
LEMON: Good luck to her. Good luck to everyone else. And thank you, sir. We will be watching "AC 360".com. Is that where we're going to find you're little live blog. Your big live blog.
GRAY: Yes, tomorrow night.
LEMON: All right.
GRAY: It's huge. Thanks, Don.
LEMON: Thank you.
You probably heard of robbers leaving behind key evidence at the scene of the crime, but what some alleged robbers left behind after a heist at a jewelry store is a first as far as anyone can tell.
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LEMON: So every weekend we try to catch you up some of the interesting stories that you may have missed this week. So pay attention. Remember Mark Foley, he is a Republican congressman who was forced to resign a few years ago because of a sexually explicit e- mail chain to pages. Well, Foley is now a shopkeeper. He has opened a consignment shop in West Palm Beach, Florida. The story is full of furniture, knickknacks and mementos from Foley's time in Washington. He says it serves a need in the current economy.
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MARK FOLEY (R), FMR. FLORIDA CONGRESSMAN: People are looking to down size because they are moving from smaller homes and they're looking for cash. That's the new reality.
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LEMON: Foley says his notoriety has helped attract customers and he has not ruled out a return to politics.
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CAPT. LAWRENCE NODIFF, PHILADELPHIA POLICE: I've never been exposed to a crime where part of your plan, your definitive plan is that you utilize a child.
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LEMON: OK. In hindsight that is perhaps not the best plan. A four- year-old boy ditched by mom and dad after they allegedly snatched $50,000 worth of rings from a Philadelphia jewelry store. The store owner was wounded by a knife after he caught up with a fleeing family. In making their escape, the couple abandoned the boy on the street. The kid quickly told police his parents' names. Mom and dad were later arrested at a motel. Police say the parents never even asked about their son. They've been charged with robbery, child endangerment and attempted murder.
Well, everybody has heard of Google, right? But did you know there is a city in Kansas with that name. It's true. You probably know it best as Topeka. For the month of March, the city has officially changed its name to Google. Why? To get Google's attention? The giant company is looking for small to medium size towns around the country where it can showcase it's super dooper high speed internet service. Topeka hopes the name change will make it a good candidate for Google's new fiber optics. So there you go. You learn something new every day.
I'm Don Lemon at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta. CNN presents "Scream Bloody Murder" Christiane Amanpour starts right now.
