Spartan Daily Vol. 161 No. 14

BART cuts Clipper cards

By Nikita Bankar STAFF WRITER

Starting in 2024, BART and Bay Area transit riders will no longer need to scan their Clipper Cards to ride the trains but will instead, only need their credit cards.

Credit card payment will be available across the Bay Area’s 20-plus transit agencies that use the Clipper system, including BART, Muni, AC Transit, Caltrain and the San Francisco Bay Ferry, according to a Sept. 12 article by MSN.

their Clipper Cards onto their phones if used, according to its site.

Global supply chain issues have depleted the inventory of plastic cards, so loading the card on mobile phones instead of obtaining physical cards is preferable, according to the same site.

Sarah Boun, San José resident and psychology junior at UC Davis, said it would be convenient for riders to use a credit card for BART.

“It would save on plastic and paper, and is simpler for new or one-time riders,”

Transportation Commission evaluates several factors, such as making sure the open-payment functionality is working properly, funds are being taken from customers’ accounts and transit agencies are properly credited for trips taken on their systems, according to a Sept. 12 article by SF Gate.

Albrecht said he was curious to see how the new BART payment system will work for those who do not own credit cards.

“We often assume that everybody has a credit card, and that is not really the

The upgraded infrastructure is expected to work the same for contactless credit cards – by tapping a card reader to pay. The current blue Clipper Cards will continue to work with the new system, according to Mass Transit.

Jochen Albrecht, adjunct professor in the transportation management program at San José State, said shifting to credit cards will make life easier.

Boun said. “It is modernization, as most places now run on tap to pay.”

Boun also said as technology has advanced, physical cash and cards have become somewhat obsolete.

“People prefer the convenience of having everything on their phone and saving resources,” Boun said.

case,” Albrecht said. “So, I wonder what provisions we’ll have in place for folks who do not have anything else, like something that is handed out by some form of social service that acts like a credit card.”

“I’m using my credit card here in New York just to move into the subway, and don’t have to work with another form of payment,” Albrecht said. “I don’t have to recharge something, and it’s very straightforward.”

Albrecht also said one of the disadvantages of Clipper Cards is having to constantly check its balance.

“You always have to check how much money is on it,” Albrecht said. “I don’t like to put too much money on it, because if I lose it, then it’s gone. That’s just a hassle that is now avoided.”

While Clipper Cards can still be used, BART is encouraging riders to put

According to a Mass Transit article, the Clipper system has created a 95% customer satisfaction rating, as it allows for efficient fare payments for transit agencies. Still, Clipper can be confusing for riders unaware of the app or $3 fee for the card.

Xander Soloman, San José resident and pediatric nursing junior at Cal State Long Beach, said he is concerned about the risks of providing a credit card to BART in order to use its services.

“Giving the machine direct access to your card versus the Clipper (card) seems like it could be a hazard,” Soloman said. “What if someone rigs it to steal your information?”

Testing is underway as the Metropolitan

Beyond the credit card payment option, other functionalities accompanying the upgraded Clipper Card system will allow families to manage their Clipper Cards in a single account.

Transit agencies will also be able to offer discounts and promotions, like $1 rides or discounted rides during special events, according to a Sept. 12 article by Mass Transit.

The new payment option is among a collection of new functions made available through the next generation of Clipper, which is slated to roll out next August.

GRAPHIC BY NIKITA BANKAR

CA driver’s licenses go digital

By Vanessa Real STAFF WRITER

The California Department of Motor Vehicles is now offering a digital driver’s license for the first 1.5 million people who get the CA DMV Wallet app.

According to the official DMV website, “The mDL is a digital driver’s license or identification card (DL/ID) on your smartphone. DMV is currently testing the mDL at select locations and airports as part of the mDL pilot.”

TSA Precheck at Los Angeles International Airport, San Francisco International Airport and San José Mineta International Airport are to accept the mobile driver’s license (mDL).

Arizona, Colorado, Florida and 14 other states have adopted a digital-based identification system, according to the American Public University EDGE website. The DMV official website also shows that nationally, there are currently 25 airports who accept the mDL.

Ca li fo rn ia G ov er no r Gavin Newsom made an announcement about the possibility of the digital driver’s license in January when he shared his budget proposal.

The pi lot prog ram currentl y has limited their capacity to

1.5 million participants in September according to the official DMV website.

“This would benefit me because I am not one that carries a purse,” Linda Cuevas, cashier at San José State’s Dining Commons, said. “Having my ID in my pocket is not always safe, because when I pull my phone or other things out of my pocket my ID tends to fall out too.”

According to the California DMV website, your usage will not be tracked and no data will leave the application without consent.

The California DMV app requires a two-step verification that will be done in order to successfully access and log into your DMV account and driver’s license.

Forensic science junior MaryClaire St.Omer said cybercrime and cyber security are growing concerns and having identifying information on a phone can be dangerous.

“I believe that there can and will be serious security issues with having such personal information on an app,” St.Omer said. “I do see how a digital driver’s license can be beneficial and helpful, however in this situation I feel like the cons outweigh the pros.”

According to the DMV’s website, the app and digital driver’s license will only show the information that can be found on a standard physical identification card.

The app will allegedly be functional without having to be connected to Wi-Fi.

The CA DMV Wallet application also has the TruAge capability that is used for age verification purchases.

In order to purchase an agerestricted product, TruAge must be activated in your application because the mDL

alone is not accepted at retail stores for proof of age.

Criminology junior Ben Smyers said he would only use the CA digital driver’s license once it’s integrated with Apple Wallet.

“I don’t think this will ever fully replace the physical card, because handing your unlocked phone to law enforcement, DMV clerk or anyone else that needs to verify who you are is not practical,” Smyers said.

The official TruAge website says that it's available to use in select convenience stores, small grocery stores and neighborhood markets across California.

DMV Spokesperson Anita Gore said instead of someone having to hand over their license that has their address, weight and height, the cashier will simply scan the QR code that

comes with the age verification.

According to the DMV official website, Californians can expect to see TruAge in retail stores, grocery stores, liquor stores, bars, restaurants and concert venues.

California does not currently offer the ability to add your digital driver’s license to your eWallet, resulting in only being able to use the DMV wallet application.

The California DMV said there will be more available platforms in the near future.

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San José supports LGBTQ+ community

By Alina Ta ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

San José’s LGBTQ+ community and its allies rallied at City Hall to see City Councilmember Pam Foley announce an anti-hate resolution.

“Bring to light hate speech that is occurring and hate behavior that is . . . targeting our children,” Foley said, according to a Wednesday article from NBC. “It’s [inappropriate]. It’s unacceptable.”

The anti-hate resolution, authored by Foley and Councilmember Omar Torres, will be publicly released and voted on in the next few weeks, according to the same article.

Many of the people who attended the press conference were transgender advocates, parents and other councilmembers representing San José’s LGBTQ+ community.

On Sunday, Torres uploaded an Instagram post calling all transgender and LGBTQ+ advocates to come to City Hall to speak after he allegedly received threats online.

community,” Torres wrote.

Lyseria Kursave, the president of South Bay Pride at Work, shared her story about the time she considered commiting suicide.

friend, who helped stop her from hurting herself, she would have not been able to speak about her struggles.

“The only reason I stand here today is because . . . my best friend

the courage to speak publicly to those who may be going through similar experiences.

Marne Singer, retired data social science expert, said she came to City Hall to join the rally

said. “I was with him through his transition. I [also] have a trans granddaughter who’s now seven and she started her social transitions in kindergarten.”

Councilmember Pam Foley said the flag-raising ceremony for Silicon Valley Pride week has been a tradition in August for over 20 years.

She said the ceremony was started by former Councilmember Ken Yeager in 2001.

“Last month I stood out here in City Hall Plaza, along with my council colleagues to proclaim Silicon Valley Pride Week and raise the Pride Progress flag and the Transgender flag,” Foley said. “It’s a tradition that I am proud to continue.”

Singer said she wants to let anyone who is not comfortable transitioning or coming out to be able to find the right people.

“Look for the people who love you and support [you],” Singer said. “The person who could say, ‘Don’t leave me.’ ”

“As some of you may know, I

As some of you may know, I have been threatened and attacked for being openly gay BUT for also defending our drag and trans

“I transitioned in a place where I did not know that I would be safe,” Kursave said.

I w not that I here who and I quote said, ‘Don’t you ursave said. h her best she found

She said without her best

d fucking leave me.’ ” K Kursave said wit friend by her side,

because the LGBTQ+ community is important to her, having family members who are transgender.

“My spouse is trans, Singer

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ANGEL SANTIAGO | SPARTAN DAILY

A California resident shows a digital driver's license on the DMV Wallet app displayed on their phone.

VANESSA REAL | SPARTAN DAILY

GRAPHIC BY ALICIA ALVAREZ

GRAPHIC BY ALICIA ALVAREZ

MLK Library celebrates 20th anniversary

By Navin Krishnan STAFF WRITER

San José State alumni, students, staff and San José City representatives gathered on East San Fernando Street to summon the Spartan spirit for the 20th anniversary of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library.

The San José Public Library system and SJSU worked together in the building of the MLK Library, completed on Aug. 15, 2003.

The afternoon was filled with excitement and entertainment building up to the main event – the handing out of awards to new and old people of significance to this celebration of the bond between San José and SJSU.

The celebrations kicked off with the ceremonial entrance of the SJSU marching band and cheerleading squad that rocked the block and drew a dense crowd of students and alumni.

Sammy Spartan also tagged along and celebrated with students, snapping selfies and giving fist bumps to attendees as the band played the SJSU fight song.

Before festivities transitioned into formalities, a local San José choir serenaded the event by singing “Blackbird” by Paul McCartney and Lennon McCartney.

San José Mayor Matt Mahan said the collaboration between the city and university was a great accomplishment.

Mahan, along with several other community leaders, acknowledged public workers, namely library-science majors, SJSU alumni and current library workers both in the San José Public Library system and the MLK Library.

City of San José technical worker and San José Public Librarian Tim Collins, said that while his perspective is that of a city worker, it’s clear why students approve of this collaboration.

“I think the students are very grateful to have the opportunity to come to such a nice building with resources and meeting rooms and not only the San José State University collection but also having immediate access to the San José Public Library and the

City Library,” Collins said.

Collins said a bulk of San José Public Library workers are SJSU alumni, including himself.

He also said in his experience, the city of San José and SJSU the library stands as an unbreakable bond.

City librarian Jill Bourne said one of the SJSU professors asked her to oppose a ‘terrible idea’ to build a joint library on campus.

She said the original idea of the library was speculated by city librarians, because they weren’t sure if San José residents would make use of the space.

Mahan also said that libraries have the power to bring together students and their city.

“Personally, libraries have always been a place of refuge for me,” Mahan said. “My little sisters and I grew up in a small farming town on the central coast. Everyday after school, we would go to the public library to do our homework and just as a safe place we

waited for my parents to pick us up,” he said.

Mahan said he has his sights set on making San José one of the most diverse and innovative places in the world.

“Whether it’s securing federal grants or building housing for students or faculty, making our downtown more vibrant, filling small storefronts and ensuring San José continues to be the most innovative place in the world with the most diverse talent pool in the world by working closely together,” Mahan said.

Councilmember Omar Torres, who also spoke at the event said this merger was a collaborative but tedious process.

Torres said nearly every individual who came to celebrate this special day has, directly or indirectly, adopted the MLK Library into their life.

Business management sophomore Gurkirat Bagri said many of his fellow students see the MLK Library as a hotspot.

“There are so many different spots where you can go study,”

Bagri said. “Whenever there’s a group project you can have a club meeting, I’m with the SSA (Sikh Students Association) so we have meetings (here).

People come here from the public and students are always here studying, so the library is one of those places you can always go to where you mostly feel safe in the community, in San José. It’s just a good place to come as a student.”

University library dean

Michael Meth said he remembers the discourse when the library was still in its location-finding stage.

“Before (the merger) the library was in two locations and neither one of those locations really were up to date, so the idea to build this library in a state-of-the-art facility 20 years ago worked tremendously well, it’s really what brought us together here.”

Torres, with great enthusiasm, honored Meth, Bourne, Mahan and SJSU President Cynthia TenienteMatson behind the podium to accept individual plaques and

be showered with a round of applause.

Meth said the history of the MLK Library is very sentimental.

“I hope this library continues to be the pearl in the clam for our library and our university. I hope we continue enjoying the support that we have thus far, and I hope we are going to continue to innovate and evolve services to reflect the diversity of our services and our community.”

Collins said, this partnership between San José and the MLK Library is beneficial and long standing.

“I think this library will be around for many years to come,” Collins said. “There are always changes and new programs coming online. The only thing that doesn’t change is change. It will be an integral part of both the University and the City Library for many years to come.”

BRANDON NICOLAS | SPARTAN DAILY

BRANDON NICOLAS | SPARTAN DAILY

Students and faculty gathered in the MLK Library on Wednesday afternoon to commemorate 20 years since the opening.

The San José State Marching Band and colorguard perform in front of the MLK Library for the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the building.

Spartans looks to ground Air Force

By Nathan Canilao

San José State will have one of its biggest games of the season when it faces Air Force on Friday to open Mountain West Conference play.

On the other sideline is a team who’s had the same coach and offensive scheme for 16 years.

“He's a fantastic football coach,” said SJSU head coach Brent Brennan Tuesday about Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun. “He’s a really creative thinker … I just have so much respect for hi-m and the staff and the Academy in general.”

The Falcons come into Friday’s matchup undefeated, beating Utah State 39-21 in their first conference game of the season last Friday.

Air Force boasts the best rushing offense in the nation, averaging 320.7 rushing yards per game. The running game is a four-headed monster led by running backs Owen Burk, Emmanuel Michel, John Lee Eldridge III and quarterback Zac Larrier who each average over 50 yards a game rushing.

The Falcons have run the same offense under Calhoun since he became the head coach in 2007: the triple option.

The triple option is a formation that primarily uses two running backs and a fullback with majority of the actions being running plays. The formation has been around since the creation of the sport, but the majority of college football teams have moved away from the formation in favor of more spread passing formations.

Air Force made the triple option a staple of its program and has gotten very effective at creating wrinkles in the offense to throw defenses off by misdirection.

“[Their offense] changes a little bit every year,” Brennan said about the

difficulties of defending the triple option. “They do a good job of adjusting their personnel. They’ve done a good job of adjusting the offense to the new rules.”

SJSU linebacker Bryun Parham said the key to stopping the Falcons rushing attack will be to stay disciplined.

“Everybody has to do their job,” Parham said. “We gotta trust that the person next to us will have their gap and be there when the ball gets there.”

The Spartans’ offense has been inconsistent through four games and injuries to key pass catchers have not helped.

Brennan announced Monday that AllConference receiver Justin Lockhart, who missed SJSU’s first four games, will require seasonending surgery on an undisclosed injury.

During Saturday’s 21-17 loss to Toledo, starting tight end Sam Olson exited the game in the second quarter with what appeared to be a knee injury.

Junior receiver Malikhi Miller had a bounce back game against Toledo and could step into a bigger role against Air Force. The Oakland native caught 4 passes for 50 yards and provided quarterback

Chevan Cordeiro a bigger target with speed.

Another key for SJSU’s offense will be winning the battle up front. The Falcons’ defensive identity this season has been to be more aggressive and physical on the line of scrimmage.

“Friday will come down to who’s going to be more disciplined,” Cordeiro said.

SJSU is scheduled to play Air Force at 7 p.m. on Friday at CEFCU Stadium and will be broadcasted on FS1.

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

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BRANDON NICHOLAS | SPARTAN DAILY

From left to right, Safety Andrew Jenkins, conerback Jalen Bainer, cornerback Jay'Vion Cole and linebacker Ethan Powell jog to the line of scrimmage at CEFCU Stadium.

We shouldn’t be ashamed of periods

communities and cultures.

In a 2022 U.N. article, period poverty is a frequent experience around the world.

Jillian Darnell MANAGING EDITOR

I’m not built to be a woman.

I remember at 11 years old, I was stumbling out of my bedroom, sweating and delirious wondering why my stomach was in knots and in grueling pain. Within an instant, I lost all sensation first in my legs, arms and then my entire body.

Blood soaked my pants. I fainted on the very first day of my first ever period.

For those without menstrual cycles, this is not representative of a universal experience. However, extreme pain is not uncommon.

When I was 21, I was diagnosed with dysmenorrhea, which is a medical term to describe painful menstrual cycles or cramps according to a Cleveland Clinic article.

According to the same article, 60% of people with menstrual cycles reported to have mild cramps, while up to 15% of people have reported to have severe pain with their periods that prevents them from carrying out daily activities. However, the article also said many of these cases can go unreported so the statistic may be much higher.

So many cases go unreported because of the stigma surrounding periods. Menstruation is considered a taboo topic in classrooms, social circles and in various

Period poverty is where many individuals in countries face insecurity of period products, education and resources.

In the same article, it was reported that a 12-year-old girl was afraid to tell her parents about her period because in her community it was considered a sign that she was ready for marriage.

A person’s menstrual cycle can affect their bodily autonomy, health, social status and biological development.

Ever since elementary school, I’ve been taught that menstrual cycles are “debris” of the uterus. Or also as a nest built inside you for a

in my pocket on the way to the bathroom. In a house full of men, I made sure to wrap up my used pad five times with toilet paper so they wouldn’t see blood in the trash can.

I wasn’t able to talk about my period and its lifethreatening symptoms.

Every month, I’d have to change overnight pads every two hours throughout the day, going through a whole pack of pads at the end of the week.

I’d lose so much blood. I would be so embarrassed when I bled onto my pants and had to go home to change multiple times a day.

I would then go to work as a barista and try my best to focus on making drinks while my body was fighting the urge to collapse in on itself.

Cramps, pain, acne and other symptoms are controlled hormonally. However hormone pills can affect your body drastically, in both positive and negative ways.

In my case, it was often negative.

The first hormonal pill I took in high school worked effectively with my cycle, shortening my period to only two to four days a month. My acne disappeared and my pores were so clear and best yet my cramps only lasted two days at most.

But there was a downside. I was extremely depressed. I saw a drastic change in my mood, I felt numb all the time and my focus was off, I wasn’t paying attention in class, my grades were plummeting.

During those six months I

was back, and I started to feel like myself again. Since then, I’ve had to go through multiple battles with multiple pills, trying to choose between my physical or mental health since, unfortunately, many of the pills I tried wouldn’t allow me both.

One would make me bleed more in between cycles, another caused worse pain than my regular cycle, others would increase my anxiety, acne, bloating, headaches and spiraling me into further insanity.

I’m currently off birth control pills, but still have to call off of work some days, buy menthol patches and stock up on tea every month to make sure I make it through another cycle without fainting or worse.

women’s health.

Periods need to stop being considered taboo. Severe bleeding is not normal, pain so intense that your body loses all of its senses is not common, being so delusional to the point where you can’t comprehend someone’s order at work because you’re trying to stay standing shouldn’t be a frequent occurrence.

Periods should not be a difficult topic to talk about. It’s a natural process, it’s a development of the human body. It’s not human waste, stop comparing it to feces.

According to a report by the National Library of Medicine, women’s health has historically been under researched and underfunded. Only recently has medical research on women and minorities been focused on.

In order to learn what’s “normal” for periods, we need to treat menstrual cycles as normal. Only then can we diagnose abnormalities and find real solutions to problems within an individual’s menstrual cycle.

baby, and every month that nest is deconstructed and thrown out as bodily waste.

These terms like “debris” and “waste” have negative connotations that make periods seem like a gross, unnatural and disgusting process.

It feels shameful to talk about your own period, let alone any problems or difficulties you experience.

I was always taught to tuck away my pads and tampons

My period was interfering with my everyday life. Ten days of every month, every year.

I went to see a doctor in high school, college and even now as I am near graduation, and the only answer they have for me is to take birth control pills to regulate my cycle, and iron pills for the lack of vitamins and nutrients in my body.

Birth control pills can regulate menstrual cycles.

was on my first pill, my body was thriving, but my mental health was crumbling by the minute. My GPA stooped so low it took me an entire semester to get me back on track to graduate.

I stopped taking the pill, and it took a few months to feel normal again mentally speaking at least. Eventually, my menstrual cycle returned to its cycle of pain and casting hell in my abdomen every month. But at least my GPA

I was 21 years old when I was diagnosed with dysmenorrhea. It took ten years from when I first fainted to be diagnosed with a condition that many people around the world suffer through. These problems go unnoticed because of the stigma of periods, the systemic sexism that comes to women’s medical issues, lack of education, lack of resources and the lack of research that goes into

For the next girl growing up with her menstrual cycle, I hope she’s given plenty of choices of pads, tampons and liners. And if she happens to faint or needs a day off work, please extend some empathy, some understanding and some comfort, she’ll need it.

ILLUSTRATION BY TRACY ESCOBEDO

These problems go unnoticed because of the stigma of periods, the systemic sexism that comes to women’s medical issues, lack of education, lack of resources and the lack of research that goes into women's health.