Living by the 'stick-to-itive'

Erin Brockovich is known as the vulgar, insensitive, big-breasted blonde who wears slutty clothing portrayed in the movie, "Erin Brockovich." However, she has more character than what most people give her credit for. Being herself, is what she does best.

Having been a single mother, married three times, battling with dyslexia, anorexia, panic disorder and being poor, Brockovich never gives up.

"You press on because you have to," Brockovich said Tuesday at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center at Cal State Long Beach. "Whether you win, lose or draw, you need to stand and be a voice for yourself." These are words any college student should live by.

Actor Scott Allen introduced Brockovich as a "dynamic reminder of the power to fight for the human underdog. She triumphs over insurmountable odds, caring about others."

I agree with Allen because Brockovich, only a file clerk at a law firm, brought powerful Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to its knees with a $333 million dollar lawsuit in 1996. For 30 years, PG&E poisoned ground water, affecting over 600 residents of Hinkley, Calif. with its misuse of Hexavalent Chromium, a severe toxin known to cause cancer.

Hinkley residents won the case. However, since the trial 50 residents and 55 employees of PG&E died, Brockovich said.

The investigation of PG&E was a result of Brockovich's "stick-to-itiveness" as she calls it. Researching public records and subjecting herself to severe nose bleeds and skin rashes caused by the toxin, demonstrates her perseverance, stubborn persistence and over-coming of obstacles. That is stick-to-itiveness, a character trait that each of us should have.

Coining her own title as Director of Environmental Research at Masry and Vititoe, the law firm where she was a file clerk, Brockovich is looking to the future as she values morals and fights to improve the global community.

Brockovich and 1,100 plaintiffs in Kettleman, Calif. are currently on the tail of PG&E, again for its misuse of the toxin. PG&E denies its use of it.

The company is immoral and have no values in doing so. To poison families and take no responsibility is cowardly on PG&E's part.

And as we graduate from CSULB, Brockovich reminds students that the world will stretch personal morals and values. Truth is a must in the chaotic world we live in. One person can make a difference with that stick-to-itive attitude.

Having met Brockovich, I can see she is a role model who demonstrates values of humanity in the most heart-felt sense.

Michelle L. Young is a broadcast journalism major at Cal State Long Beach.