Food pantry fuels SJSU students
By Alejandra Gallo STAFF WRITER
The Spartan Food Pantry plans on supporting students at San José State in the years to come, and hopes to assist more and more students by providing better quality of food.
Brenjielyn Cuneta, SJSU Basic Needs coordinator for the Spartan Food Pantry, said SJSU Cares runs the food pantry, providing a walk-in food assistance program for students experiencing food insecurity and hunger, according to a webpage from SJSU.
Cuneta said SJSU Cares offers guidance and support to students who utilize the food pantry.
She said SJSU Cares connects students with other services and resources that can further assist them in meeting their other basic needs.
Justice studies sophomore, Rachael Maldonado said she has been using the pantry since the Fall 2023 semester.
“A lot of students are low on cash, so this pantry is super convenient,” Maldonado said.
She said it is very helpful for students who live on campus because many students do not have cars and cannot leave campus to buy groceries.
Cuneta said given the rising prices of groceries and other necessities, food insecurity is a continual battle for many SJSU
students, many of whom are living on their own for the first time.
Roughly 29% of SJSU students experience food insecurity, according to a survey by SJSU Cares.
Students who are African American and first-generation college students experience the highest level of food insecurity, according to the same study by the CSU.
In the past year, a little more than 37,000 students used the pantry which is a 373% increase from the 2020-21 year, according to SJSU Cares 2022-2023 Annual Report.
The food pantry has been open since 2019 and has provided help to hundreds of students every single day with basic needs support, according to this webpage.
National prevalence rates for food insecurity in 2016 was 12.3%, resulting in college students emerging as a new food insecure population, according to a 2018 study conducted by the CSU.
Cuneta said she believes that food insecurity is something that hinders students' ability to focus and learn effectively as they build their careers.
Though research on the effect that food insecurity has on mental health in college students is limited, food insecurity has been linked to lower academic performance in K-12 students, according to a study conducted by the CSU.
For the Fall 2024 semester, students must have an approved intake form and have an annual income of $34,263 or less to use the program, according to the SJSU Cares Spartan Food Pantry webpage.
Graduate student Suresh Ravuri, from India studying software engineering, uses the pantry frequently.
“I come here once a week to stock up on food and it has been a huge help for me,” Ravuri said.
He said the quality of the food pantry is beneficial because it has provided him with support for the last year and a half.
Cuneta said the students are allowed to use the pantry once every calendar week in order for there to be enough food for all the students who use the pantry.
Ravuri said he likes to visit the food pantry early in the week because there aren’t as many food options by the time he visits the pantry on Friday.
He said students need to pay attention to the food items they buy.
“Pay attention to the expiration date on the food items because most of them are about to expire,” Ravuri said.
Ravuri said the quality of food is good overall, but he wishes he could see better quality food in the future or food that is not about to expire.
He said he would also like to see more variation in food because much of the protein that they offer
is chicken, but sometimes he gets bored of eating the same thing.
Cuneta said the pantry operates Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the school year. She said the pantry operates three days a week over the summer, although it been closed during other previous summer breaks.
Cuneta said the Spartan Food Pantry is operating with a reduced schedule because there are fewer students on campus during the summer.
“Not many students know that the pantry is open over the summer,” Ravuri said. “But over the summer, there is a considerable number of students and there’s also more food since there aren’t as many students.”
The food pantry has had 50,000 visits since it opened inside the Diaz Compean Student Union in 2019, according to a webpage from SJSU.
International graduate student Sai Kiran Sundara, a student from India studying computer software engineering, is grateful for the food pantry.
“During my undergraduate degree, my university didn’t offer a food pantry,” Sundara said. “I also didn’t know of any other colleges around me that offered this service to college students.”
Sundara said all colleges should provide these services because students would be able to focus on studies rather than
getting food.
The California State University (CSU) system has tried to manage food insecurity problems by addressing the student populations that have reported the highest level of food insecurity and homelessness, a 2018 study conducted by the CSU.
They have also created a linkage in programs intended to enhance traumainformed approaches to ensure that students’ basic needs are met, according to the same 2018 CSU survey.
The Spartan Food Pantry is meant to provide assistance to these students to hopefully reduce – in any way possible –the financial burden they experience in assessing nutrition to support their academic success,” Cuneta said.
Although CSU schools are taking more initiatives to address food insecurity problems, 41.6% of CSU students report food insecurity, according to the 2018 CSU survey.
Cuneta said the food insecurity issues students face also interfere with their academic performance and work hours
She said it also hurts their mental and physical health.
“It can be stressful to deal with classes and the work we have in school while also worrying about what you’re going to eat,” Sundara said. “The food pantry has helped me alleviate that stress but
without it, I think I would be much more stressed.”
Cuneta said the food pantry plans on receiving a new freezer very soon which will allow more protein options such as poultry.
She said the program hopes to collaborate with Second Harvest, a food bank that rescues donated food and distributes them to nonprofits and institutions to help distribute food samples and host cooking lessons that include the food in the pantry.
Cuneta said the food pantry is also working toward identifying parenting students to navigate additional assistance and arrangements that can be provided for them as they carry these responsibilities on campus and at home. The Spartan Food Pantry has thus far provided help to hundreds of students struggling with food insecurity and plans on continuing to do so, according to Cuneta.
“The food pantry has provided me with so much support over the past year,” grad student Ravuri said. “I am really grateful for this help.”
ALEJANDRA GALLO | SPARTAN DAILY
The Spartan Food Pantry window art is visible near the entrance of the Student Union,
to all students at the San José State University main campus.
SJSU celebrates Hispanic heritage
By Anahi Herrera Villanueva STAFF WRITER
Students gathered on Seventh Street Plaza to celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day on Monday.
San José State’s Associated Students and Student Union Inc. hosted El Festival de la Independencia for the first time.
The event focused on uniting the Hispanic and Chicano/a community, bringing appreciation to its culture, and providing students with organizations that work to uplift and support Hispanic students at SJSU, according to the SJSU webpage.
At the event, students lined up to check in with the Sammy App where attendees could redeem tickets for food.
These food items included a variety of pan dulce, or sweet bread such as conchas, empanadas and orejas just to name a few.
Accompanied with the pan dulce, students were also given hot chocolate to enjoy.
The event also included a catered food truck, Taquizas Gabriel, where students were able to get free tacos of different types such as chicken, pastor, asada, salsa and a variety of toppings.
Dora Barbosa, a social work graduate student, got the opportunity to try the tacos on Seventh Street Plaza.
“The tacos are very good. I got pastor and chicken (and) I would give them an eight (out of 10), it had lots of meat on them,” Barbosa said.
Food was not the only thing that got students to come out to this event, but it was the desire to share their love for their culture and the STEM fields as well.
Forensic science senior Dalia Cruz, was tabling at this event for Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science.
This organization works with its members to encourage the growth and provide support for Chicanos, Hispanics and Native Americans in science focused fields, according to the Society for Advancement of Chicano/ Hispanic and Native American Science website.
“We want to show how you can be proud of your culture while also being (a) scientist,” Cruz said.
Another campus organization that was present at the event was the student-run radio station 90.5 KSJS.
Antonio Moreno Hernandez, a Chicano & Chicana studies sophomore, is a part of KSJS
and said events like this are important for students.
“It’s important for the Hispanic and Latino community because it’s to celebrate our roots,” Moreno Hernandez said.
“It’s a great way for students to learn about the culture as well, especially since at SJSU we have a large diverse group of students.”
Throughout the event, Latin songs were playing and performers came out to dance.
Grupo Folklórico Luna y Sol, a dance group consisting of students from SJSU, were one of the performers featured on Monday, according to its Instagram.
Folkoróico is a type of dance in which different colors and dance moves are presented and it depends on the region. It focuses on highlighting different
cultures around Mexico, according to a Wonderopolis webpage.
Ashley Chavez, a sociology and international business junior, came to this event and said she was adamant on attending.
“From afar, it looks (a) little cheesy but once you attend, they are really fun,” Chavez said.
“We have to remember that we are paying to attend school and these events are free to attend, so we have to take advantage of what is being offered.”
Later on at this event, students were able to sign up for a “El Grito” competition. Those who signed up would take turns doing “El Grito” and the best one would win a prize.
“El Grito”, or also known as “The Cry”, was the announcement from Miguel
Hidalgo y Costilla to Mexicans to rebel against the Spanish rule to fight for independence in 1810, according to the El Grito website.
“Not only did I get to (be) closer to my culture today and was able to hang out with my friends,” Chavez said. “But I also got to save some money with the free food that they provided.”
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
ANAHI HERRERA VILLANUEVA | SPARTAN DAILY
Grupo Folklórico Luna y Sol dancers perform in front of the Event Center for El Festival de la Independencia on Monday.
Follow Anahi on Instagram @a.nahi.h
ANAHI HERRERA VILLANUEVA | SPARTAN DAILY
A balloon arch hangs on Seventh Street Plaza and is composed of red, green and white balloons features the México flag and balloon letters spelling out “Viva Mexico.”
Beetlejuice ressurects with sequel
By Anfisa Pitchkhadze STAFF WRITER
Director Tim Burton returns for the highly anticipated sequel “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” 36 years later.
Burton’s sequel was fun but did have some flaws and though it doesn’t surpass the original, it was a sequel worth waiting for.
Part of the original cast, including Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton and Catherine O’Hara, come back as their respective characters.
The sequel also included a supporting cast with Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci and Arthur Conti.
With Ryder, Keaton and O’Hara reprising their roles, their characters are back like they never left the screen in the original 1988 film.
Their characters added fun and charm to make the film entertaining, and gave depth into their character development that plays a significant role in their personalities.
The film follows Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) and her teenage daughter named Astrid Deetz (Jenna Ortega).
Lydia is still haunted by Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) years later and goes on to enlist his help after her daughter’s life is in jeopardy.
With newcomer Jenna Ortega joining the sequel as Astrid, she was a reflection of Ryder’s character when she was a teenager and added some comedic lines.
She delivered a performance that resonated with Ryder’s debut of the original film.
Additionally, Dafoe's, Theroux's and Conti’s performances delivered some spice. Dafoe’s character, Wolf Jackson, was more branched out and had layers to build up the character’s personality.
His character may be unpredictable at times while adding a sense of humor.
Theroux’s character, Rory, provided an off-beat tone that might have left audiences questioning his personality.
Theroux still delivered an excellent performance with the audience wondering about his true intentions and same goes for Conti’s character, Jeremy Frazier.
What truly stands out is the visual style with Burton bringing back the bizarre, twisted and otherworldly elements.
There is distorted architecture of the afterlife's bureaucratic offices and the surreal creatures that inhabit the
strange world.
Burton leaned into the gothic gloom and created a wondrous tone that is unique to his director style.
The thematic uses of mise en scène embraced its unique settings to bring back the vibes of the original film.
Mise en scéne is a French phrase meaning “putting on stage” and it is a common technique used in filming to arrange actors in a specific setting for a scene.
It also highlights the lighting and the staging and blocking to capture the movements and performances of the actors on screen, according to a Matrix Education webpage.
It
The setting of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” was key to bringing back nostalgia for those who grew up watching the 1988 Beetlejuice film.
A key parallel between the sequel and the original film would be the town model sitting up in the attic.
The first film featured a scale model of the fictional town of Winter River, Connecticut sitting in the attic of a deceased couple's home.
Those who watched the first film can think back to the model and see it still sitting there years later in the
sequel.
Similarly, the city of Winter River looked exactly the same. The film is primarily set in this imaginary town where the Deetz family moved into in the first film. Fast forward years later, the Deetz family return to their house in Winter River as the town hasn’t been changed.
Although the settings of the original movie were used, new sets were added to add layers to the characters and their backstory.
The new sets were helpful for the audience like myself to figure out what the characters do for living.
Burton also incorporated scenes from the original to put into his new
The original had more of a 3-D appearance and detailed features that made it pop.
The sequel’s design of the monster captured the opposite of that. Instead, it gave off lazy animation and questionable CGI.
There were hilarious one-liners from Mr. Beetlejuice himself, with Micheal Keaton’s performance making the film memorable.
Beetlejuice is comedic because he thrives on oddball humor in the way that deals with death and the afterlife.
Instead of treating these themes with solemnity, the film pokes fun at the bureaucratic red tape of the afterlife, showing it as an absurd extension of the real world.
From the “Handbook for the Recently Deceased” to the waiting room full of misfit spirits, the movie’s vision of the afterlife is both creepy and hilarious.
Overall, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is a delightfully eccentric film that blends the macabre with the comedic in a way that only Burton can.
For fans of gothic fantasy and comedy horror films, this movie is a must watch for the fall season.
film.
Although this brought nostalgia, it simultaneously felt like a copy and paste at times.
It would have been better if Burton could have added a twist instead of repeating scenes used back in 1988.
The design of the sandworm turned my head the most.
There was a vast difference in the appearance of the original sandworm in the sequel compared to the 1988 film.
ILLUSTRATION
Nash breaks record, SJSU goes 3-0
By Jackson Lindstrom STAFF WRITER
San José State (3-0, 1-0
MWC) football continued its winning streak this Saturday on their home field, defeating the Kennesaw State Owls (0-3, 0-0 CUSA) with a final score of 31-10.
SJSU senior wide receiver Nick Nash was one of the biggest components to their win, setting a school record with 17 receptions.
“I think you always have to expect to play well,” Nash said. “Luckily my number was just being called a lot tonight, so I had the game that I did.”
The game started off a little slow for SJSU, with a fumble from Nash resulting in a turnover and a touchdown that was taken back.
SJSU’s sophomore quarterback Emmett Brown responded to an early KSU field goal with a pair of touchdown passes to Nash in the second quarter with 0:15 seconds left by the second successful pass.
A field goal from
SJSU’s senior kicker Kyler Halvorsen in between the two touchdowns put the Spartans up another three points, making the score 17-3 by the end of the first half.
Brown and Nash, SJSU’s quarterback and wide receiver combo, connected three of SJSU’s total four touchdowns leading to its victory.
“Me and Nick became really good friends,” Brown said. “He’s a playmaker . . . when you’ve got a guy that you can put anywhere around, he’s gonna make a play.”
The Owls were able to barely scissor through the Spartans’ defense in the third quarter, scraping out a touchdown, bumping the score up to 17-10. However, this was short lived.
The Spartans quickly scored another touchdown thrown by Brown with a 35-yard reception thrown to senior wide receiver Justin Lockhart at 4:31 minutes left.
Brown’s passing throughout the game carried the Spartans
SPARTANS 31
to success, completing 26 out of 38 passes and contributing 355 total yards to the team throughout the game.
Now having nine touchdown passes for the season this ranks him first in the Mountain West Conference for touchdown passes.
Nash was able to sneak in one last touchdown in the fourth quarter with 3:07 remaining, ending the game with a score of 31-10.
Nash explained that his own mistakes early on motivated him and got him into a rhythm to take advantage of the Owls’s mistakes on defense.
“Honestly, I hate to say it, but that early fumble, I think it made me mad obviously,” Nash said. “The early fumble and the
touchdown that was taken back really got me going.”
SJSU football head coach, Ken Niumatalolo stated he knows he’s got work to do, but he’s glad about the resilience his team showed by executing plays better after their mistakes.
The third quarter was statistically the weakest for the Spartans in terms of possession time, as KSU held the ball for the majority of the quarter, according to Niumatalolo.
“Our kids responded and didn’t flinch after that and kept going,” Niumatalolo said.
He said he was grateful for the win, but his immediate reaction was how he could prepare the team for the next game against Washington
State University.
“You don’t think about the win, as a coach. You think about your preparation,” Niumatalolo said. “We’ve got to play better next week if we want to have a chance to win against Washington State.”
SJSU’s record against Washington State is four wins to eight losses and one tie, their last faceoff being in 2018, according to the Washington State Cougars website.
“You stay up all hours of the night, just thinking, ‘When do we need to practice, what do we need to do better?’ ” Niumatalolo said.
Niumatalolo said although he’s looking for things to fix in his team’s play, he’s got a good feeling about the players he has for
the upcoming season.
“We would have loved to have started out without turning the ball over and started out clean, but to our kids’ credit, they’re a resilient, gritty group that just kept fighting,” Niumatalolo said. “I feel really good about this team.”
The San José State Spartans are scheduled to play the Washington State University Cougars (3-0, 0-0 Pac-12), the number one team in the Pac-12, on Gesa Field in Pullman, Wash. on Sept. 20.
San José State quarterback Emmett Brown
