Fall 2019 Issue 11 by Golden Gate Xpress

SF State’s student-run publication since 1927

Volume 110, Issue 11

Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019

Surf’s up: SF State starts first surfing team

Kristian Kocherga of SF State surfs during a mock surfing competition at Ocean Beach in San Francisco Nov. 2. (Photo by James Wyatt / Golden Gate Xpress) BY JESSE GOMEZ STAFF REPORTER

s seconds fell from the timer of the opening heat the dream of bringing a surf team to SF State was finally realized. Happy to be out of the classroom and into a wetsuit, surfers gathered Saturday at Ocean Beach for the first mock-competition held by SF State, dubbed the “Battle of the Bay.”

After months of paperwork, permits and liability concerns, the official sport of California is now ingrained into the university which sits just a mile off the water. From proposal to acceptance, the process totaled eight months. “We are surfers, we don’t like doing paperwork,’’ said club president and creator Dylan Linde. “The process was tedious at times, but that’s over now, we are official, it’s time to go surf.”

Head coach and fellow SF State surfer Kristian Kocherga was in charge of bringing the event to life and finding opponents. “Getting this off the ground was tough,” said Kocherga. But we were like let’s do it, why not, let’s leave a little legacy behind.” The contest welcomed a total of 20 surfers: eight representing the home team, four from University of San Francisco and eight from UC Berkeley. CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

Former SF State instructor runs for mayor with pro-Trump agenda BY COREY BROWNING STAFF REPORTER

ou may have seen the flyers floating around campus — bold red text, a photo of a woman in a red suit with slogans like “make San Francisco safe and clean” and “keep traditional family values” printed in both Chinese and English. Perhaps you’ve seen the parade of cars driving around town blasting “Star-Spangled Banner” led by a decorated white Ford pickup. Maybe you’ve heard about the con-

troversial London Breed billboard erected (and quickly taken down) in the South of Market Area that was widely condemned as racist by city leaders. These are all examples of the campaign efforts of Ellen Lee Zhou, the only conservative candidate among the handful of long-shot mayoral hopefuls running against Breed this November. The SF State graduate and former instructor in the Asian American Studies Department strays from the predominantly

Report from DC: Nationals celebrate first-ever World Series win

liberal local political norm with pro-Trump, pro-gun and pro-life views, and recently called out political leaders alleging City Hall conspiracies. “London Breed operates City Hall like a mob. London Breed is no different than the Mafia in San Francisco,” Zhou said, flanked by a crowd of sign-waving supporters during a rally Friday. “I’m no longer able to bear — and that’s why I’m coming out to run for mayor.” Zhou, the sixth of seven sib-

lings, grew up in rural China and moved to San Francisco in the late 80s with her family when she was 16 years old. She emphasized that her family waited 10 years in China to be able to immigrate legally. Only attending school through eighth grade, Zhou says she began working immediately and was thankful to receive a high school education in the U.S. After graduating from City College of San Francisco in the early 90s with an associate’s degree in CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Mission district festival celebrates loved ones and their lives

Preparedness for potential on-campus shootings BY ARIANNE ARCIAGA STAFF REPORTER

ept. 19, Joseph Vicencio was arrested after firing multiple gunshots on San Jose State University’s campus. The shots caused damage to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library and parking structure. On Oct. 25, SF State student Valeria Villagomez was shot and killed near Lowell High School, just a few minutes away from the SF State campus. Shootings on college campuses are becoming more common every year. A 2016 study from the Citizens Crime Commission CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Wounded alumnus returns home from Philippines

World Series: Pg. 8 Day of the Dead: Pg.4 Brandon Lee Pg. 2

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TUESDAY, NOV. 5, 2019 | GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG 2•CAMPUS Kabuki theater at SF State Friday Crime BY WILSON GOMEZ STAFF REPORTER

ressed in a kimono, wearing a painted white face and carrying a branch of purple wisteria, a symbol of love in kabuki theater, the kabuki actor tells the lovelorn story of the Wisteria Maiden through song and expressive dance. This Friday, the School of Theater and Dance in conjunction with Japan’s Agency of Cultural Affairs will host Kyôzô Nakamura, a onnagata actor from the Shôchiku Company of Japan. Onnagata actors are men who specialize in female roles similarly to how the ancient Greeks and the English theater in the days of William Shakespeare would use men to play female roles. Kabuki theater is a Japanese tradition stretching back to the 1600’s and it’s name is composed of the three components that makes kabuki theater. “Ka,” meaning music. “Bu,” which translates to dance and

“Ki” which means drama. Professor Yukihiro Goto, is hosting the event on campus in Knuth Hall. “I’ve known the Kabuki actor Kyôzô Nakamura for quite some time,” Goto said. “He and I acted together in a production staged at Fort Mason’s Cowell Theatre, San Francisco, in 1997.” In 2009, Goto coordinated a similar event as part of a U.S. tour by the Kabuki actors that came through SF State. Earlier this year, the Agency of Cultural Affairs of the Japanese government asked Goto to host the Kabuki actor’s lecture and performance again. The event this year comprises of a lecture from Nakamura as well as two dances, performed in full make-up and costume; Fuji Musume (Wisteria Maiden) and Shakkyô (Lion Dance). “The mainstream of American theatre is that of realism. What an audience sees on the stage is a representation of everyday life because [it]

aims to examine socio-political issues,” Goto explains. “Kabuki can be called the theatre of fantasy. Kabuki dazzles an audience with its brilliant acting and dance, gorgeous costumes, sensual music. In short, people in Japan go to the Kabuki theatre not to think about life.” In order to be allowed to perform in public, a kabuki actor must master all three elements, Ka, Bu and Ki. “I want students to experience and appreciate the ultimate beauty of Kabuki acting and dance achieved through many years of hard training and dedication that he has undertaken,” Goto said. The event will be held this Friday in Knuth Hall in the Creative Arts Building at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for students is $5 and general admission is $10. Tickets can be purchased at the SF State box office in the Creative Arts building or online at http://sfsu.simpletix.com.

Brandon Lee airlifted back to SF BY DAVID MAMARIL HOROWITZ CITY NEWS EDITOR

F State alumnus Brandon Lee followed his heart across the globe nine years ago, leaving behind the comfort and safety of his San Francisco home to advocate for poor farmers in the Ifugao province of the Philippines. From abroad to the San Francisco Bay Area, members of the Filipino community joined Lee’s family in ensuring his safe return to San Francisco Oct. 26 when he was shot and nearly killed Aug. 6. The shooting, which occurred outside Lee’s Ifugao home, lodged four bullets into Lee’s spine, back and jaw. It spurred eight cardiac arrests and put him on life support. “Will we make it in time? Will he still be alive when we get there?” his mother Louise Lee recalled herself thinking when she heard the news and left San Francisco to see her son. “So many unknowns.” In 2015, Brandon and other environmental activists from the Ifugao Peasants Movement were red-tagged as enemies of the state and vilified on social media, Brandon’s close friends said. Brandon himself said in a video interview last year that someone had delivered him a traditional burial blanket that represented a death threat. Believing the shooting was a targeted attack by the Philippine military, Lee’s family, friends and supporters have rallied multiple times to demand Lee’s safe return

Tony Cigarra pumps his fist at an Oct. 28 rally for SF State alumnus Brandon Lee at San Francisco City Hall. (Photo by David Mamaril Horowitz / Golden Gate Xpress)

to San Francisco. Urgency rose as strangers appearing “suspicious” to his family would circulate the hospital Lee stayed in, spreading fears that his assailant was trying to finish him off. And after nearly three months of advocacy and fundraising from his hundreds of supporters at home and abroad, Brandon’s family had him airlifted home. He’s stabilized and recovering at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, according to the hospital’s CEO Susan Ehrlich. It took two demonstrations at the steps of San Francisco City Hall, several fundraisers and a San Francisco resolution demanding Brandon’s return to make it happen. Local advocacy caught the attention of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Sen. Kamala Harris and Congresswoman Jackie Speier. They assisted Lee’s family in obtaining a loan from the U.S. State Department, which helped pay for the $164,000 airlift, ac-

cording to Lee’s family and friends. “It has been a long journey, and I am grateful, and my heart is full. Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Louise said to a crowd of supporters at an Oct. 26 news conference. Although Lee’s arrival was met with relief, his supporters continue to demand that the U.S. stop funding the Philippine military, an estimated $184 million per year, according to a San Francisco resolution. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs” has killed more than 29,000 Filipinos without due process, according to the resolution. “We need to question where our U.S. tax dollars are going,” Louise said. Growing up in the San Francisco Sunset District, Brandon fostered a passion for activism during his time in SF State’s Asian American Studies department, said Asian American Studies Chair Russel Jeung, who

taught Brandon years ago. “His personality was a combination of compassion and empathy for the issues that the oppressed are enduring and a strong sense of justice to advocate on their behalf,” Jeung said. Brandon’s student activism turned to human rights activism, Jeung said. He became friends with classmates and colleagues in San Francisco, and he stayed in contact with them. “He was consistent and relentless and always connected,” SF State Asian American Studies professor Allyson Titiangco-Cubales said. “Even if he was thousands of miles away, he was able to maintain his friendships and relationships and the care that he gave here in the U.S. along with his work and care that he gave in the Philippines.” He met his wife Bernice in Ifugao, and they had a daughter. He worked as a paralegal volunteer, environmental activist and journalist opposing giant corporate projects on peasant farmer land. Although he is in stable condi-

SF State inducts four new hall of famers BY ELIZA FLYNN STAFF REPORTER

Distinguished members of the SF State community dined at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in celebration of the induction of four new members to the SF State Hall of Fame Saturday, Nov. 2. The university’s signature purple lit up the stage as Virginia Marshall, John Stanley, Juanita Tamayo Lott and Robert Garfias were added to the list of distinguished alumni. Founded in 1994, the Hall of Fame celebrates the amazing achievements of Gators who contributed to the school’s legacy. “The four honorees were just remarkable. They represent some of the richest points of our history with their incred-

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ible careers,” President Lynn Mahoney said. “We launch students into professional careers that are just tremendous.” Marshall, who received her master’s degree in Educational Administration in 1988, spent over three decades as an educator for the San Francisco Unified School District. Marshall dedicated her career to success of underprivileged children in San Francisco and now acts as the facilitator for the SFUSD Office of Access and Equity. “It’s very exciting, exhilarating [to be nominated],” said Marshall, who said when she received her induction letter in the mail, her first thought seeing the SF State seal was that the school had come asking for a donation. After John Stanley graduated with a degree in literature in 1962, he went on to have a 33-year-long career as an en-

Blotter

THREE THEFTS Three grand thefts occurred on campus over the course of three days, totaling in just over $4,000 worth of losses, according to the University Police Department. No arrests have been made. Grand theft is defined as any theft of property valued at over $950. Thefts where the loss is valued below $950 are considered petty theft. The first theft occurred at approximately 4:30 p.m. Tuesday Oct. 22, at the Mashouf Wellness Center. A backpack containing an iPhone 8, among other personal belongings, was stolen, resulting in loss totaling $1438 according to Lieutenant Dave Rodriguez of UPD. Lt. Rodriguez did not respond to follow up questions on the incident. Mashouf staff did not respond to a request for comment. The second theft occurred later that night when a victim left their iPhone XR unattended at approximately 10:30 p.m. in the humanities building and was never seen again. The third, however, was the costliest, with an estimated loss of $1799. Thursday, Oct. 24, just before 2 p.m., a suspect described as a white male adult wearing a white dust mask fled with a MacBook Pro on display at the university bookstore, according to Lt. Rodriguez. The bookstore did not respond to or outright refused multiple requests for comment. There have been seven reported grand thefts and 21 petty thefts since the beginning of the semester, according to the UPD crime log.

Compiled by Juan Carlos Lara, staff reporter.

tion and recovering, Brandon still has the bullets in his body and won’t be able to live exactly the same as he did before, his close friend Princess Bustos said. As they advocate for a halt to Duterte’s regime, Brandon’s supporters hope that his struggle isn’t in vain. “This cause is not my cause,” Louise said. “It is my son’s cause, but I do not believe in extrajudicial killings, and I know that the U.S. also does not support extrajudicial killings.” She recalled the victims of human rights abuses in the Philippines, where about 30 environmental activists are killed every year. “My son would say his fight for justice is for them too,” Louise said.

To donate to Brandon’s family to cover the airlift and medical expenses, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/ save-brandon-lee

tertainment critic. Stanley was the host of a local Saturday night TV series, “Creature Features.” “This is wonderful. I’ve always remembered San Francisco State with a certain reverence, because it got my career started,” said Stanley. “I was in the right place doing my B.A. degree, I was learning but I was also developing what I wanted to do.” Juanita Tamayo Lott, who walked with the class of 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology, was an original striker in the 1968 campus strike that resulted in the founding of the College of Ethnic Studies. Robert Garfias graduated in 1956 with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and music. Garfias went on to become a world-renowned ethnomusicologist studying music through a cultural lens and is a professor of anthropology at UC Irvine.

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Active Shooter Safety on SF State Campus CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 of New York City, an independent non profit that focuses on criminal justice and public safety reform, said between the 2001-2016 school year at least one person was intentionally shot (excluding the shooter) on a college campus or within two miles of a college campus. There were 437 people shot in 190 college campus shooting incidents in the United States. The study also reported that during the last five school years there has been a 24% increase in on-campus shootings. CNN reported that there have been 22 school shootings between January and July 2019. “It’s our responsibility as the associates students to make sure that students feel safe,” said Vice President of Finance for Associated Students, Andrew Carrillo. “And to make sure that [students] feel safe in the environment that they are actively a part of on the daily.” In the Oct. 28 SF State Associated Students finance meeting, committee members discussed adding lock boxes to the doors of the Cesar Chavez building. The committee believes the locks would enhance safety measures within the building. The Cesar Chavez building is in the heart of the SF State campus, and where most students spend their time eating lunch, doing homework and relaxing. Carillo said other colleges such as Cal Poly Pomona and other private institutions use these lock boxes on their campus as well and used to secure the campus as a whole. According to the U.S. Department of Education, safety and security are one of the most important features to any college campus. “Safety and security is very important on campus as this is a place of learning and higher education,” said Joseph Lagano, a criminal justice major. “If people were to come to campus with a feeling of unease and danger no one would be able to learn at a high level.” At SF State, the University Police Department (UPD) provides a push notification system — SF State Alert — that alerts students and faculty of any life or property threatening events that are happening on or around campus. The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) requires all college campuses to send out immediate campus alerts about any emergency situation (similar to SF Alert) that is a threat to the health or safety of students and employees. Having the push notification system is the best way to alert students if there were to be an active shooter on campus, according to the UPD website. Active Threat Training is also provided by UPD to better prepare the SF State campus in case of an active shooter situation. The training helps students identify exits, places to hide and how to physically take action on a shooter (as a last resort). Though SF State provides safety and security to the school, Criminal Justice Professor

Data showing the number of college shootings from 2001-2016, sourced from Citizens Crime of New York City. (Graphic by Arianne Arciaga / Golden Gate Xpress)

For students who feel anxious and fearful about the safety on campus, the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), is available for students. If you would like to make an appointment contact 415-338-2208 or go to the Student Service building in room 205. Gina Jibrin said she believes the campus should also educate students and faculty on what to do when an active shooter comes to campus and how violence originates in the world. “When we think of efforts for safety I think about the cultural ideas we teach our students,” Jibrin said. “Rather than prioritizing security and policing, [the faculty] have to think about the important violent issues on campus and educate our students on that.”

The California State University published a video on Feb. 15, 2018, a day after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school shooting in Parkland, Florida that killed 17 and injured 17 more. The video advises students on what to do if an active shooter were to come onto campus. There is also a reference guide on the UPD website that tells students how to mentally and physically prepare themselves in the event of an active shooter. “At the end of the day you are trying to stay

alive and trying to protect yourself,” Jibrin said. Cal State Long Beach received a threatening email Oct. 7 warning the campus that there were plans to shoot up the college. The school immediately went into a full lockdown. Several photos began circulating online through social media during the campus scare showing students and teachers barricading classrooms that did not have functioning locks. Students complained about not being able to lock the doors, according to KTLA reporting. “Of course you know it doesn’t solve the issue of the widespread epidemic that we have but it ensures the safety of the students,” Carillo said.

SF State distributes masks as North Bay burns BY NOOR BAIG STAFF REPORTER

F State announced distribution of N-95 masks on campus following the fires in the North Bay. Students can pick up masks at Mashouf Wellness Center or Student Health Services, and staff can go to the Environment, Health and Safety office located in ADM 259. The masks are made by 3M, a health and safety products manufacturer, and approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). What is N-95? The N indicates that the mask is not resistant to oil, the 95 indicates that the respirator filter that collected at least 95% of the aerosol during testing, according to NIOSH. How does the mask work? The mask is made of several layers of thin woven plastic fibers that make up the mask. These layers function as a net that catches harmful microscopic particles before they can enter the lungs.

Digital illustration of man wearing a N95 mask. (Karamel NunezMartinez, staff reporter and illustrator)

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Are they really helpful? If worn completely sealing the mouth and nose, the mask can catch 95% of harmful particles. The mask can be less protective or completely useless if it is too big to fit tightly or if someone has facial hair, according to 3M and NIOSH. What is the air quality outlook? According to AIRNow, the air quality index for today is “moderate,” which is a step below “good,” but not unhealthy. The forecast advises that sensitive groups like elders and those with asthma should reduce time outside and heavy exertion. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District forecast states that air quality will remain moderate through Friday. What else can I do besides wear a mask? The Bay Area Air Quality Management District recommends that people who are sensitive to air particles go someplace with filtered air like malls or public libraries. It also recommends using recirculation settings in vehicle air conditioners to maintain clean air.

Students can get the masks at Mashouf Wellness Center or Student Health Services, while staff can go to Environment, Health and Safety located in ADM 259.

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following the Kincade fire. In an Oct. 27 tweet, Francisco will open 200 beds to evacuees from uture shelter locations

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Festival of Altars celebrates life and death BY FELICIA HYDE STAFF REPORTER

he aroma of copal and incense scented the air. Flames of 8-inch glass prayer candles flickered to welcome loved ones. Petals of sunset golden Mexican marigolds rested alongside vibrant candy apple red and fuschia pink paper-mache flowers. Laughter, smiles and warm embraces multiplied amongst the crowd of face-painted skeletons as hundreds of people made their way through the park to create community altars or build their own personal one. The Dia de Los Muertos Festival of Altars is an event where families create altars to remember their loved ones who have died. Taking all year to organize, Potrero Del Sol Park, in the Mission District, hosted the event on Nov. 2 “I’ve come every year. I grew up here and am working in nursing. I have lost a lot of loved ones so it’s nice to celebrate

their lives,” said Marci Farser, SF State School of Nursing graduate. “No other culture really remembers their loved ones the way this one does, with the music, clothing, beautiful dances.” Dia de Los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead, is a celebration within South and Central American culture. Originating from Aztec and Mesoamerican traditions people honor the dead and celebrate life and death as one entity through the creation of altars. In previous years, the celebration took place at Garfield Square, but moved to 25th Street and San Bruno Avenue because it outgrew the site, which is currently under construction. The alcohol-free and family-friendly park overflowed with a mixture of traditional and contemporary altars consumed with photographs of loved ones.

Right: Cecilia Cuadra shows photos of and talks about her mother at Potrero Del Sol Park during the celebration of Dia de los Muertos Nov. 2. Below: Many of the altars are covered in candles, allowing the photos of passed loved ones to be illminated at Potrero Del Sol Park during the Mission District’s celebration of Dia de los Muertos Nov. 2.

“The celebration allows people to gain a better understanding of the holiday,” said Rosa de Anda, the Day of the Dead Festival of Altars founder and organizer, “while authentically experiencing the Latinx community and culture through remembering loved ones and the gifts ancestors leave behind.” Weeks prior to the celebration, community organizers and members such as Day of the Dead SF with the collaborative help from the Marigold Project, were able to gather art supplies, prayer candles, marigolds and created flowers out of tissue paper to create shrines representing different elements, symbols and stages of life. “This is a way for me to connect with my roots,” said Joana Ayala, a Day of the Dead SF volunteer. “I love talking to my deceased grandparents and writing them letters.” For many families, it was their first time celebrating and creating altars in a public space outside of the comfort of their homes.

Top: A member of Mixcoatl Anahuac Aztec’s dance crew prepares for first performance at Potrero Del Sol Park during the Mission District’s celebration of Dia de los Muertos Nov. 2. Above: Storefronts in and around the Mission highlight the fashion of Dia de los Muertos at Potrero Del Sol Park during the Mission District’s celebration of Dia de los Muertos Nov. 2

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“This is my first time out here, and usually people place elements like water, earth, fire,” said Christina Tejeda, an attendee of the festival. “Many people will modernize it and this is nothing like how it is back in Mexico City where there are marigolds everywhere. It’s just beautiful.” Unlike Tejeda, many families participated in the celebration of Dia de Los Muertos and building shrines for public display for years. Tony Ortiz along with his son Mario and his family remember their ancestors and share their stories with others through creating altars for the last nine years. “We get to acknowledge and remember them. We had a very colorful family,” said Ortiz, long-time participant in the Festival of Altars. “For others, it may seem sad, but for the majority of the time we had it’s out of love and we get to celebrate the beautiful lives they had and remember what they were like and share that with others.”

Jennifer Bautista takes a break between posing for onlookers’ photos in her handmade dress and hat at Potrero Del Sol Park during the Mission District’s celebration of Dia de los Muertos Nov 2. (Photos by Camille Cohen / Golden Gate Xpress)

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Conservative poster girl hopes to beat Breed CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 hospitality management, Zhou says she became a Christian and changed her life direction. “God gave me a clear message: ‘Be a social worker and help people,’” Zhou said. Zhou received her bachelor’s degree and later her master’s degree in social work from SF State, after which she spent the better part of two decades working as a social worker and later a behavioral health clinician. Along the way she served twice on San Francisco’s investigative panel the Civil Grand Jury, and held a position as a union steward for San Francisco government employees in the service industry. Zhou is also a member of the San Francisco Evangelical Free Church, and spent over 20 years as a Sunday school teacher.

“God gave me a clear message: ‘Be a social worker and help people,’” Zhou said. In 2018 Zhou ran for mayor, receiving just over 9,500 first-choice votes — 3.8% of the total — putting her fifth overall in the special election prompted by Mayor Ed Lee’s death. Zhou says throughout her career she worked directly with people experiencing homelessness and drug addiction. She cites “evil” liberal policies that have turned San Francisco into a place “worse than third world countries.” Zhou has outlined a number of changes she hopes to make as mayor, among them, ending San Francisco’s sanctuary city status, cracking down on crime, educating residence to stay away from drugs, and teaching “children, youth and families to worship God.” In addition, Zhou said as mayor she will cut her salary in half, redirecting the money into government programs. “When we have so many homeless dying on the streets, in my opinion, no public employee should make such huge salary,” Zhou stated on her website. Zhou says she hopes to establish a balance between the Democratic and Republican parties within city politics, something she believes will reduce corruption. Some of her supporters agree. “We need accountability, and the only way to get accountability is to have opposition parties,” said David Elkins, a supporter of Zhou. “I’m just tired of the one-party system, and I think that it’s not serving San Francisco, it’s not serving the state.” When it comes to President Donald Trump, Zhou says she is a strong supporter. “I am an educated person,” said Zhou, claiming broad knowledge of the president’s policies. “I am not brainwashed by the liberals.” “State university students have been literally — some of them — brainwashed (into) hating Trump,” said Zhou. Eric Mar, an assistant professor with the Asian American Studies department and previous San

Ellen Lee Zhou walks to City Hall with supporters after a rally in the SoMa, Friday, Oct. 25. (Photo by Corey Browning / Golden Gate Xpress)

“This racist ad is unacceptable and yet another despicable demonstration of the hate-mongering that is encouraged by the current White House administration,” stated Board of Supervisors President Norman Yee in a tweet.

Francisco Supervisor, expressed surprise that Zhou had taught within the department at SF State. He called Zhou’s politics right wing, Trump-like and “despicable.” Zhou taught an Asian American Community Health Issues class in fall 2015, according to the school website. Mar began teaching with the Asian American Studies Department a year after. Representatives from the department present during that time were unable to be reached for comment. Kathie Lowry, who served as the foreperson on the 2016-2017 Civil Grand Jury and worked alongside Zhou, described Zhou as a committed San Francisco citizen who is dedicated to improving the city. “She speaks her mind and welcomes a challenge,” said Lowry, who noted that while she disagrees with Zhou’s politics, Zhou has “great integrity.” The Billboard Though Zhou may be more relevant in San Francisco’s Chinese press, her recent

billboard drama garnered her increased media coverage. The billboard erected depicted Breed, barefoot and wearing a red dress, kicked back in a chair smoking and holding a stack of cash. A thought bubble contained an image of people with number cards around their necks and a quote read “stop slavery and human trafficking [sic] in SF.” A handful of city leaders convened near the billboard last week denouncing it as racist. A day later it was removed, reportedly by the billboard company Outfront Media. “This racist ad is unacceptable and yet another despicable demonstration of the hate-mongering that is encouraged by the current White House administration,” stated Board of Supervisors President Norman Yee in a tweet. According to Zhou, Breed and the billboard company colluded to remove the billboard to derail her campaign. “Politically raping me, shame on you London Breed!” said Zhou Friday morn-

ing, standing under the blank space where her billboard once stood. “Not long ago you call me a terrorist because I am an NRA member, and now you call me a racist.” Paul Taylor, a former California Senate candidate who claims to have designed the billboard, responded to allegations of racism by flipping the insult on Breed. “London Breed is a racist because she won’t debate three white men who are running for mayor,” Taylor said. According to Emil Guillermo, a columnist for the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, thought the imagery of the billboard is “coarse, vulgar and offensive,” it gets attention, which is why a “political unknown” such as Zhou employs it. As Guillermo stated, Zhou probably won’t be elected and is likely more interested in establishing name recognition. Though Zhou doesnt fit a political stereotype, she is representative of a growing demographic in the city, according to Guillermo. “What you’re seeing is the diversity of Asian Americans in 2019,” Guillermo stated. “There is a growing number of newer Asian immigrants who just don’t relate to the traditional liberal bent of most Asian Americans in SF.”

City divided on mental health services

BY SAM MOORE STAFF REPORTER

wo dueling ballot measures that aim to address mental health services for San Francisco’s homeless population may be pitted against each other in the March 2020 election, as city supervisors and Mayor London Breed debate how to approach the city’s ongoing mental health crisis. In May, Supervisors Hillary Ronen and Matt Haney introduced Mental Health SF, a ballot measure focused on revamping the city’s mental health care system by creating new low-barrier services through the Department of Public Health. In response to this, Mayor Breed introduced Urgent Care SF last month, which shares many of the same goals as Mental Health SF but it has received widespread criticism for its reliance on law enforcement to approach mental health concerns among unhoused individuals. “The Mayor’s measure brings back mass incarceration and the drug war by directing police to prioritize enforcement of possession, drug laws and uses police for street outreach, destroying the ability of health workers to develop trust with clients,” said Jennifer Friedenbach, executive

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director of the Coalition on Homelessness, an organization that advocates for San Francisco’s unhoused population. Friedenbach said Mental Health SF would increase street outreach from mental health professionals instead of relying on police intervention. Over 100 supporters of Mental Health SF attended a rally on Oct. 30, where two community organizers were arrested after carrying signs and chanting inside City Hall. The rally preceded a public hearing on the measure held by the Board of Supervisors’ Rules Committee. The organizers were cited for “trespassing” and “resisting arrest” but released later that day. “We are finally in this country realizing that diseases of

“We are finally in this country realizing that diseases of the mind are as important as diseases of the body,” Ronen said at the hearing.

the mind are as important as diseases of the body,” Ronen said at the hearing. Mental Health SF, she said, would work to address failures in the city’s current mental health treatment system by offering services like sobering centers, transportation to and from programs and case management for every patient. It would cover those without health insurance as well as establish an “Office of Private Insurance Accountability” to advocate for privately insured people who aren’t receiving adequate mental health coverage. The mayor’s measure would also expand treatment capacity and reduce barriers for services. Instead of creating new services, however, it would rely mainly on investing money in the city’s existing Behavioral Health System. “UrgentCareSF is a comprehensive plan that tackles this issue from all angles, from getting people connected to care, to making sure we have enough qualified healthcare workers in our City,” Breed said in an Oct. 15 press release. Ronen and Haney said they’re willing to remove their ballot measure with Breed’s assurance that its concepts will be implemented. They have until Nov. 27 to do so.

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TUESDAY, NOV. 5, 2019 | GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

Meet the candidates running for DA GOLDEN BY ELIZA FLYNN STAFF REPORTER

oday San Francisco will vote for a new District Attorney following the resignation of DA George Gascón in October. The race has been filled with tension and controversy between the four candidates. When Gascón resigned to pursue election as Los Angeles District Attorney, Major London Breed appointed her candidate endorsement Suzy Loftus as interim district attorney, where she will serve in office until January 2020, pending the election results. The

other three candidates, Chesa Boudin, Leif Dautch and Nancy Tung denounced the decision as unfair. With an election less than a month after Loftus was sworn in, they believe Major Breed should have waited for the election results. This DA race was going to be the first in San Francisco since 1909 without an interim DA, until Loftus was appointed. Here’s who is running for San Francisco District Attorney and their priorities according to their respective campaign sites:

GATE XPRESS

EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Carly Wipf cwipf@mail.sfsu.edu PRINT MANAGING EDITOR Frank Sumrall fsumrall@mail.sfsu.edu

CHESA BOUDIN WHO: Boudin is a San Francisco public defender who handled over 300 felony cases, and led criminal reform efforts throughout the country. Boudin’s own life has been shaped by a flawed criminal justice system. When he was only a toddler both of his parents received long term sentencing for driving a getaway car in a bank robbery. This gave him a first hand look at mass incarceration and the effects it has on people’s lives and their families.

ONLINE MANAGING AND SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Sahar Swaleh sswaleh@mail.sfsu.edu ART DIRECTOR Paisley Trent ptrent@mail.sfsu.edu CITY NEWS EDITOR David Mamaril Horowitz dhorowitz@mail.sfsu.edu

POLICY: Boudin is the most progressive contender in this race. He is against cash bail, juvenile detention centers and mass incarceration. He wants to reform the criminal justice system that does not work by going after racial disparities in the system, external investigations into police involved shootings and testing every rape kit that the city obtains.

CAMPUS NEWS EDITORS MJ Johnson mjohnson23@mail.sfsu.edu

ENDORSEMENTS: Boudin has been endorsed by Bernie Sanders, five city supervisors, Senator Mark Leno, actor Danny Glover and feminist activist Angela Davis.

OPINION EDITOR Andrew R. Leal aleal@mail.sfsu.edu

Paisley Trent ptrent@mail.sfsu.edu

SUZY LOFTUS WHO: Loftus is a San Francisco native who held the position of General Counsel at the California Department of Justice, Assistant Director of the Division of Law Enforcement in the Department of Justice, President of the San Francisco Police Commission, Legal Counsel for San Francisco Sheriff Vicki Hennessy and most recently was appointed as San Francisco Interim District Attorney by London Breed in October. POLICY: Loftus believes in law and order and being tough. Her first few weeks as interim DA showed that she’s less progessive than her predecessor. She wants to focus on reducing crime rate through accountability and “meaningful consequences for repeat offenders,” according to her campaign’s website. Loftus wants to move away from the use of incarceration as the primary means of punishment, and restore trust with communities of color and immigrants.

LEIF DAUTCH

SPORTS EDITORS Jimmy DeRogatis jderogatis@mail.sfsu.edu Robert Juarez rjuarez1@mail.sfsu.edu PHOTO EDITOR William Wendelman wwendelman@mail.sfsu.edu

XPRESS ADVISERS PRINT ADVISER Gary Moskowitz gmoskowitz@sfsu.edu MULTIMEDIA ADVISER Sachi Cunningham sachic@sfsu.edu PHOTO ADVISER Kim Komenich komenich@sfsu.edu

ENDORSEMENTS: Major London Breed, Governor Gavin Newsom, Senator Kamala Harris and the San Francisco Chronicle.

@ggxnews @ggxnews

WHO: Dautch is a Deputy Attorney General for the State of California and was previously the President of San Francisco Juvenile Probation Commission. Raised by a juvenile hall nurse, Dautch was around a flawed justice system growing up that gave him the motivation to study law and go into the public sector.

Our website, goldengatexpress.org back up, but staff is working to update it.

POLICY: Dautch is focusing his campaign around transformative justice. He wants to focus his efforts as a DA towards community healing and change by addressing the homeless epidemic through mental health care, and prosecuting unlawful evictions. Dautch wants to form a specialized task force to reduce the number of car break-ins. And he wants to address police brutality through better training for police and independent investigations into police instances. ENDORSEMENTS: San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, San Francisco Firefighters Local 798 and California State Treasurer Fiona Ma.

NANCY TUNG WHO: Tung was a prosecutor for the San Francisco DA office for over a decade, and is now a Deputy District Attorney in Alameda County. POLICY: Tung is the most conservative candidate running. She is the only candidate that supports cash bail and the use of incarceration for juvenile punishment. In her campaign, Tung proposed a criminal justice reform plan that is called “Community-Centered Justice,” which entails prioritizing the prosecution of crimes with high community impact, providing victims with resources for recovery and reconnecting with local communities to come up with justice solutions. ENDORSEMENTS: Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley.

The campaign contributions for each DA candidate is available on the San Francisco Ethics Commission Campaign Finance Dashboards. Boudin and Loftus are the two leading candidates. Each raising more than Dautch and Tung combined. Boudin was the only candidate to have a group spend tens of thousands of dollars campaigning against him: The Committee for a Safer and Cleaner San Francisco Opposing Boudin for District Attorney 2019, sponsored by the San Francisco Police Officer’s Association, raised $55,000 to oppose Boudin.

-Boudin: $958,297 -Loftus: $716,558 -Dautch: $323,307 -Tung: $274,612

San Francisco voters will decide Nov. 5 whether Chesa Boudin, Suzy Loftus, Leif Dautch or Nancy Tung will be their next district attorney. (Photos courtesy of their campaign offices)

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GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG | TUESDAY, NOV. 5, 2019

OPINION•7

Ethics are applied unequally to politicians BY ANDREW R. LEAL OPINION EDITOR

ongresswoman Katie Hill of California’s 25th District made her final speech on the House floor Oct. 31, just four days after announcing her resignation from an office she was elected to last year. She initially denied allegations that she had inappropriate relations with a campaign staffer but later admitted they were true. And private explicit photos were found depicting her nude and others showing her kissing the staffer. A House ethics investigation was opened to determine if Hill’s conduct violated House rules. The investigation into Hill’s alleged involvement with a staffer is necessary given the evidence and the seriousness of the accusation. The same scrutiny is not applied to all elected officials equally but it needs to be in all cases given the power they hold. Ethics investigations into elected officials are not entirely rare in Congress. Within the last 10 years there have been about 40 instances where a violation was found, according to govtrack.us. In 2017, Al Franken, then a senator, was accused of mul-

The necessity of active shooter drills on campus BY KERASA DIMITRIOS TSOKAS STAFF REPORTER

ct. 22, a 17-year-old student who attended Ridgway High School in Santa Rosa opened fire on another student. While police said this was an “isolated act of violence,” this incident raises an important conversation — school shootings. According to EverytownResearch, California has had five shootings on school grounds in 2019. Three shootings were unintentional and resulted in no injuries, one resulted in an injury and another in a death. At SF State there are currently fire and earthquake drills in place. However, there are no drills that involve an active shooter scenario for students. Waliun Shiu the Interim Deputy Chief of Police on campus said that “we [UPD] have conducted Active Shooter drills in the past and have regular smaller scale ones with individual offices/units/departments at their request.” Though having the departments and faculty properly trained in case of an active shooter on campus is necessary, students also need to be properly trained both physically and mentally for a situation like this. UPD held sessions for students during Campus Safety Week on how to deal with an active crisis situation. The problem with this: UPD is expecting students to go and get taught how to deal with an active shooter situation. Instead they should implement a mandatory active shooting drill that all of campus has to be a part of, like fire and earthquake drills. “Currently we have partnered up with another entity on campus which employs a large student staff and are discussing ongoing training to include a mock scenario,” Shiu said. SF State is an open campus which allows anyone, whether they go to the university or not, free reign to walk through campus. Throughout the university there are cameras in place however they are not remotely monitored by UPD. Instead, the security cameras are independently operated by the building or department which funded their installation. We, as a student body, have to rely on the collective efforts of our departments on campus to look after security cameras and determine whether there is a potential threat on campus. Not to belittle any department on campus and question their alertness to the monitoring systems they have in place but unless there are specialized people watching over the monitors daily, we might as well have no cameras at all. Yes, the cameras will be able to help identify the person behind any shooting. However without constant monitoring, it will take too much time for someone to look over the footage, identify a shooter on campus and notify the other departments and buildings about said threat. On the UPD website there is a section about active threats, which includes PDFs and videos (in both English and Spanish) about what to do in case active shootings. The fact that UPD is actively trying to create a mock active shooting scenario for the student body is an improvement, but also the bare minimum. Having yearly or even semester drills that are mandatory for all students to attend should be implemented.

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tiple instances of sexual misconduct by eight women from his past before being elected by the people of Minnesota. The Senate opened an ethics investigation into Franken but he denied the accusations. “I know there’s been a very different picture of me painted over the last few weeks, but I know who I really am,” Franken said in his Dec. 7, 2017, final Senate speech. “I know in my heart that nothing I’ve done as a senator, nothing, has brought dishonor on this institution.” Democrats in the Senate made calls for his resignation before the investigation could be completed, leaving him with virtually no support and assumed guilt before evidence. “He should step down immediately, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schummer said after praising his accomplishments and calling Franken “a dear friend.” The accusations between Hill and Franken were different but both ended the same way: resignation. Democratic leaders in the House were not making calls for Hill’s resignation, they focused their attention on the leaked photos rather than the accusations of an ethics violation. “Katie Hill’s decision to resign is her decision to resign,”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said and she indicated sadness that Hill was leaving the House. The lack of even scrutiny towards accused elected officials who allegedly violated ethics rules does not end with the democrats. During the 2016 presidential election President Donald Trump, who was a candidate at the time, was accused of inappropriate contact with women from affairs to sexual harassment. And it continued on well into his presidency. About 15 women have come forward with accusations against Trump with no White House led investigations to look into it. Trump was called to resign by a member of his own party, Congressman Justin Amash of Massachusetts. Amash did not ask Trump to resign based on the accusations of sexual misconduct but did ask in response to the Mueller report. Despite push the push back from a member of his own party at the time, Trump is still president with no active investigations into the sexual misconduct by the White House.

Beyond psoriasis: It’s more than skin BY FELICIA HYDE STAFF REPORTER

othing would seem to work and it wouldn’t seem to go away. I would lather layers of over the counter topical corticosteroids like hydrocortisone, vaseline, and scent free hydrating lotions, yet my skin could never be healed. The itch would be so painful that I couldn’t help but leave scratch marks across my arms, neck, legs and face. Patches of red, inflamed skin became too sensitive to touch. A piercing sting would result from my damaged skin if to stay in the cold for too long and heat would cause the patches flare up, but so did stress. How are my conditions supposed to be resolved when they also create my stress? Eyes would linger longer than usual at my arms, face and other areas of discoloration. People asked if I had a contagious disease. Between wearing long sleeves in 80 degree weather and choosing to not spend time with friends because I’m too embarrassed to show my skin, this is something I’ll always have to deal with. Psoriasis and

atopic dermatitis are not just skin conditions that you can expect to clear away from with a drop of ointment or cream and a healthy diet. These are chronic conditions that control the way many like myself navigate through life. Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin disease that speeds up the growth cycle of skin creating patches or plaques of raised red flaky skin all over the body. Psoriasis can show up literally anywhere: on the eyelids, ears, mouth, lips, skin folds, hands, feet and nails. “It’s not just skin, it’s much more than that,” said Bernie Rizzo, representative for Cosentyx, a prescribed medication that effects the immune system to tend to moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. “It’s a systemic issue in which the skin is reflecting what’s wrong on the inside of the body.” When you have psoriasis, your immune system becomes overactive and sends out signals that cause inflammation throughout the body causing the growth of skin cells to speed up. This can form lesions, which are abnormal changes to the skin in the form of plaques or areas of redness and swelling. On Saturday Nov. 2, the National Psoriasis Foundation hosted a 5k walk to help raise awareness and find a cure for plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Multiple pharmaceutical companies set up booths with pamphlets and brochures to educate the public of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and share with others the need for treatment. Many people don’t acknowledge these chronic conditions to be life threatening and don’t seem to understand that they significantly alter your life like severe illnesses would. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, psoriasis starts between ages 15 and 25, but can develop at any age and is “linked with comorbidities such as diabetes, heart disease and depression.” These conditions are different for every person, yet these non-curable diseases are physically visible, making them equally or maybe more concerning to people’s lives. Those who do not have to deal with these diseases don’t have to hide their skin with clothing and make-up or feel excluded from activities because they’re perceived to have infectious conditions. “The impact of people’s lives are grossly underestimated by those who don’t have to deal with these conditions,” said Ruby Ghadially, dermatologist at UCSF. “I know people who have been asked to exit public pools because people believed they carried highly contagious diseases.” These incurable chronic conditions are just as big of a concern as any other health threatening disease and should be acknowledged because it’s a worry that I and many others will forever have to deal with.

“I know people who have been asked to exit public pools because people believed they carried highly contagious diseases,” Ruby Ghadially. Statistical information gathered by National Psoriasis Foundation. (Graphic by Felicia Hyde / Golden Gate Xpress)

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8•SPORTS

TUESDAY, NOV. 5, 2019 | GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

SF State surfers beat Cal, UCSF in ‘Battle of the Bay’

Surfers from SF State, University of San Francisco and the University of California Berkeley, enter the water for a mock surfing competition at Ocean Beach in San Francisco Nov. 2. (Photo by James Wyatt / Golden Gate Xpress)

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Looking to build from a great first showing as a team said USF surf participant Jaden Hamid. “It’s awesome that these types of events really bring people together.” the Gators will look to seek recognition from the Nation- this all finally came together.” USF is currently facing the With consistent wave control and taking the lead more al Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) and compete in same uphill battle the Gators faced and hopes to also be often than not SF State showed speed, power and flow their collegiate division come next semester in the Spring. made an official surf club come Spring of 2020. making them the clear cut winner in the team’s total cat“The surf community is really tight at Ocean Beach,” egory. Ryan Mcfadden claimed top billing for the entire competition, completing a clean sweep for the Gators. “It was great to see our guys do so well out there today, to have “It was great to see our guys do so well out there today, to have four of us in the final round confirmed that we belong four of us in the final round confirmed that we belong here and here and can make some noise later on the bigger stage,” can make some noise later on the bigger stage,” Linde said. said Linde.

Nats win first World Series, Washington, D.C. erupts BY FRANK SUMRALL MANAGING EDITOR

he Washington Nationals toppled the Houston Astros 6-2 in the winner-take-all Game 7 of the World Series to claim the city’s first-ever Commissioner’s Trophy. Starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg took home World Series MVP honors after going 6-0 in his six playoff starts. Their improbable October Classic victory came against the most difficult postseason schedule since the league expanded its regular season to 162 games, with victories against the 106-win Dodgers, 91-win Cardinals and the 107-win Astros. With 50/1 odds at the All-Star break, just 11th in the league, a Word Series victory seemed impossible as their coveted star and former No. 1 pick, Bryce Harper bolted out of the nation’s capital for the city of brotherly love in the offseason. Fans showed no remorse, donning Harper’s jersey with duct tape and handwritten text sprawling across reading “Better without [Harper]” or “[Harper] is watching from home” throughout the playoff run. Despite the odds against them, the Nationals achieved the impossible, becoming the sixth team to win it all as a wild card team. “I literally had no expression, I think I almost shit my pants,” said Dominic Trapp, a Washington, D.C. resident and Nationals fanatic. Washington, D.C. flew off the handle. Fans spilled onto the streets chanting “Go Nats!” before breaking into a flurry of songs while dancing and parading downtown. The celebration continued Nov. 2, when the team hosted a parade to honor the fans who stuck by their side through all of the playoff droughts and heartbreak that led to this moment. Even manager Dave Martinez jumped off the parade bus to celebrate with fans cheering from the side. “It is the first time since I moved to Washington that

Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo holds the Commissioner’s Trophy next to Head Coach Dave Martinez as they cruz through the championship parade celebration route on Nov. 2 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Andrew R. Leal / Golden Gate Xpress)

I didn’t go to a live baseball game this season,” said Steve Colton, a Washington, D.C. resident at the Nationals parade.

“It’s clearly connected, I owe it to them to be here now.”

SF State embraces throwback era play BY JIMMY DEROGATIS SPORTS EDITOR

he SF State’s men’s basketball team is set to tip-off their season on Friday, Nov. 8 at 5:30 p.m. against rival Academy of Art in San Rafael. The excitement surrounding this year’s team came when Head Coach Vince Inglima announced the new addition of five new student-athletes to the final roster in advance of the 2019-2020 calendared basketball season. The season looks to be bright for the Gators who are prepared to have six returners from last year along with five returning redshirts, who will look to ignite the sure firepower of this offense in hopes of returning to playoff basketball. Some notable talent the Gators have acquired are redshirt freshman forward Sam Kramer, a tough big-bodied defender at 6-foot-8-inches he can guard nicely, Kramer will play a major role this year with

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his prolific defensive abilities. The Encinitas native will study International Business at SF State and anchor down the forward position. As well as Mike Robinson a 6-foot2 -inch guard from San Jose, California, prepped at West Catholic Preparatory High School back east in Pennsylvania and played on some highly talented club teams such as Splash City. He returns home to his roots in the Bay Area, where he will be studying Business Management at SF State. Following the opening game against Academy of Art, the Gators will play the very next day against Dominican on Saturday Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in San Rafael, before heading to the Ron Logsdon Basketball Classic in Rohnert Park, where the Gators will take on teams SF State does not normally play such as the Angelo State Rams (New Mexico) and the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves, (Alaska) both start at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15 and Saturday, Nov. 16.

Head coach Vince Inglima. Photo courtesy of sfstategators.com.

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