Pubdate: Thu, 08 May 2003
Source: Spartan Daily (CA Edu)
Copyright: 2003 Spartan Daily
Contact:  http://www.thespartandaily.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1386
Note: A San Jose' State University Publication
Author: Annelinda Aguayo

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IMPORTANT IN UNIVERSOUL

Three years ago today, a San Jose State University student's life changed 
drastically after she slipped into a drug-induced coma.

In 2000, Erika Burhanudin, a senior majoring in graphic design, was having 
a good time at a rave in San Francisco with some friends. Attending raves 
was something Burhanudin enjoyed doing.

Her manufactured good time was a product of her ecstasy high. Burhanudin's 
momentary euphoria came to a halt after taking a sip of water from a cup 
someone handed her.

"I remember drinking water, and right after drinking it, I started having a 
big headache, and I wanted to throw up," Burhanudin said. "When you're on 
ecstasy everything is intensified by 10. My headache became massive, and I 
started freaking out."

Burhanudin described her "freaking out," as a panic attack. She said after 
vomiting on her friend and her body went numb.

"I felt like I was melting," Burhanudin said. "I couldn't breathe, I 
couldn't feel anything ... I didn't even have the energy to speak."

Just then, a security guard came around, and her friends told him there was 
something wrong with her, Burhanudin said. The security guard shined a 
light on Burhanudin's face and told her friends that her eyes had already 
rolled back.

The security guard rushed her down three flights of stairs and the 
paramedics and police were called, Burhanudin said. She was rushed to a San 
Francisco hospital.

"The last thing I remember was someone going, 'Are you all right' and this 
big bright light," Burhanudin said. "I knew this was my life flashing 
before my eyes. I remember thinking, 'I don't want to die yet.' "

Burhanudin said after seeing the bright light she slipped into a coma for 
two days. She said the water she drank was laced with gamma hydroxybutyrate 
(GHB).

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Web site, "GHB is a 
chemical that depresses the central nervous system. On the street, it is 
usually sold as an odorless, colorless liquid in water bottles. Its 
appearance is deceptively innocuous, but GHB is dangerously toxic. GHB 
generates feelings of euphoria and intoxication."

Burhanudin said the whole incident was a "life changing moment," and she 
never went to a rave again.

Three years ago, Erik Otto, a junior majoring in illustration, felt his 
life was not going in the right direction.

He was not attending school, he was selling drugs and he was into graffiti.

"I got caught for graffiti three times, petty theft twice and grand theft 
one time," Otto said. "I was big into selling drugs - ecstasy, acid and crank."

He could not hold down a job, and he used this as a means to justify 
selling drugs, Otto said.

"I wanted to make quick cash, live life fast," he said. "I liked the whole 
status that came with (selling drugs). People want to be around you."

Otto said his life was full of, "false happiness," which he defined as, 
"happiness that comes from material things, not happiness that's coming 
internally."

After a few close calls with the law and his parents, Otto decided that he 
no longer wanted to lead a life of drugs.

"A life of drugs is surrounded by evil, selfishness and greed," Otto said. 
"Everyone's out to get you. You can never relax."

Otto said he would tell himself that he would eventually quit, but it was 
not until he attended a youth community program that he actually did. 
There, he was able to hang out and talk about what he was going through.

"If it wasn't for the program ... I'd probably be dead," he said.

Jason Ma, a former SJSU student, was living a similar life to Burhanudin's 
and Otto's.

Throughout his high school years, Ma attended four different campuses 
because he could not stay out of trouble.

He said he was selling and using drugs, and that he was heavily involved 
with San Jose based Asian gangs.

During his junior year, Ma was confronted with death.

"Before a gang brawl, someone from a rival gang put a machete to my 
throat," Ma said. "We heard the siren from the campus police and we all 
started running. I was seconds from being attacked."

Facing death was not enough to keep Ma from living life in the fast lane. A 
year later, he was caught stealing Armani and Valentino suits from his 
place of employment at a Bay Area mall, he said.

After his case was postponed three times and was lost for six months, Ma's 
case was dismissed and no charges were pressed, he said.

"They let me completely off the hook," Ma said. "I don't know why. I took 
it as a sign from heaven."

Ma said he knew that he needed to share his experience with people his age 
to show them that there is another way to live, and he decided to do so 
through music and dance.

Universoul

Ma's new look at life got him thinking about ways he could inspire young 
people, and in the process he came up with Universoul - an outdoor music 
festival, he said.

The fraternity brawl that happened in January and Burhanudin's brush with 
death were two of the main premises for bringing the event to SJSU, he said.

"I had a vision that we really needed to have a major dance festival 
without drugs and violence," Ma said. "I want to show young people that 
they can channel their energies in positive ways."

Ma calls Universoul, "A huge community effort to celebrate SJSU and young 
people."

About 20 SJSU students, "from all walks of life," are involved with the 
event, Ma said.

Burhanudin and Otto will be sharing a testimony in between performances.

"I'm really scared to share my story, but if it's God's will, so be it," 
Burhanudin said. "I hope people who are thinking about doing drugs won't 
want to and that there's a true happiness ... after hearing my story."

Otto said it has been a struggle to change his life but that he is never 
going to give up, and he hopes that young people will learn from his 
experience.

"I don't want to preach, I just want to share," Otto said. "I always had a 
heart for people and want to help them out. I think my story can be inspiring."

Burhanudin and Otto said they first started going to raves for the music, 
but that it slowly became about the drugs.

"I think Universoul represents the opposite of what raves have become," 
Burhanudin said. "It is something positive and it steers people away from 
drugs. It promotes true fellowship."

"We want to get people back to loving the music," Otto said.

Ma said the event is about peace and unity through hip-hop and other kinds 
of music, dance and art.

"We want everyone to unite as one in a safe environment," he said. 
"Universoul is a positive way to give back to the community."
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MAP posted-by: Beth