NAMED BEST CAMPUS NEWSPAPER IN CALIFORNIA FOR 2022 BY THE CALIFORNIA COLLEGE MEDIA ASSOCIATION AND CALIFORNIA NEWS PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION
Thursday, October 12, 2023
Volume 161 No. 23 SERVING SAN JOSÉ STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1934
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ALICIA ALVAREZ | SPARTAN DAILY
Community members and students gather at the Tower Lawn Fountain to mourn Israeli victims during a vigil through prayer and song on Wednesday afternoon.
Israeli deaths mourned at vigil By Irene Adeline Milanez NEWS EDITOR
The Jewish Faculty and Staff Association hosted a vigil for Israeli victims on Wednesday afternoon at the Tower Lawn Fountain. The Jewish Faculty and Staff Association represents the Jewish community’s interests at San José State University according to the university’s website. More than 50 people attended the event, some holding electronic candles or the national flag of the State of Israel. The Israeli government declared war in retaliation against Hamas, a political and militant organization currently governing the Gaza Strip, after they attacked communities in Southern Israel on Saturday, according to a Saturday AP News article. Mitch Reitman, assistant director of Hillel of Silicon Valley and organizer of the vigil, said other campuses around the country held vigils on Saturday, the day of the attack. Hillel of Silicon Valley is a multicampus organization that supports Jewish students at San José State University, Santa Clara University, West Valley College, Foothill College, De Anza College and across Silicon Valley, according to its website. Reitman said SJSU organized the vigil three days later so students, Jewish Faculty and Staff Association, Hillel and ministers could gather to participate to show their support. “We want to involve the student groups and we need to be here to be able to access the students during the work week,” Reitman said. “So that’s why it hasn’t happened till now.” Shaya Bernstein, a rabbi at Chabad at SJSU, said the vigil was held to honor those who have been killed, injured or missing through prayer. Bernstein said Chabad is a space for Jewish students to celebrate Jewish holidays, festivals, to do study classes together and to engage in
ALICIA ALVAREZ | SPARTAN DAILY
An individual leads vigil attendees through a prayer of mourning Wednesday.
other activities. “We traditionally used to pray for those that are wounded, so just coming together to pray we believe is powerful,” Bernstein said. Bernstein said he read from the book of Psalms, a traditional religious text in Jewish and Christian literature, because it is a source of inspiration to encourage others during a time of healing. Reitman said he was grateful to members of SJSU’s administration, members of Associated Students, the police department and Mosaic Cross Cultural Center for attending to show support for the Jewish community on campus. “We want people to feel comforted, we want people to feel safe,” Reitman said. “We want them to know what resources are available to them.” Bernstein said the vigil also serves to uplift and strengthen the Jewish community, especially those connected to Israel. “I spoke to some people who are here or actually are from Israel, and they’re here all alone,” Bernstein said. “That really is the power of community to realize that you’re not alone and not here by yourself.” Jonathan Roth, history professor and organizer of the vigil, said the
vigil was not a rally or political statement, but a gathering to support each other, mourn their losses and pray for peace. Reitman said the statement written by SJSU’s administration sounded vague and not as supportive as he was hoping for to help support Jewish students. “While many have strong feelings about the long history of struggle in the Middle East, no matter one’s perspective, the violence and terror taking place halfway around the world reverberate here,” Dawn Lee, interim chief diversity officer, stated in a Tuesday university email. Members of Student Affairs have reached out to multiple student groups who represent affected communities, according to the same email. “Having a vigil is not a rally, not a political statement, but to support each other, mourn our loss and pray for peace,” Reitman said.
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NEWS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023
Newsom signs gun control bills By Aaliyah Roman STAFF WRITER
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed three bills with intentions to diffuse the state’s gun violence issues on Sept. 26. California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated in a post on X that Gov. Newsom signed Senate Bill 2 and Assembly Bills 1406 and 1420. Bonta stated Senate Bill 2 strengthens the requirements to carry a concealed weapon in California. He also stated Assembly Bill 1406 requires officers to carry tasers on the side of their body opposite to their primary firearm, and AB 1420 allows the Department of Justice to conduct inspections and assess fines for violations relating to the sale or trade of firearms. Greg Woods, justice studies senior lecturer at San José State, said the bills can spark up a national conversation about gun violence. “It might not have any effect, but at least it might introduce ... on a national level, the epidemic of gun violence that we’re suffering and whatever we can do to eliminate that,” Woods said. “We should entertain those questions.” Every three hours, a Californian is killed with a gun, according to Gun Violence and Data Research published by Bonta. State citizens are also more likely to die if they own a handgun or live with a handgun owner. Furthermore, Newsom signed the bills shortly after at least 104 people died from shootings across the nation in a span of 72 hours, according to the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. Woods said if particular laws are challenged
in the lower courts, it would be presumed “change the language.” unconstitutional. He said SB 2 can possibly Woods said the bill bans people from take away an individual’s right to keep and carrying a concealed weapon in certain bear arms. places, such as government buildings, schools The United States government has multiple and hospitals. court systems. Lower courts are defined by It also makes the minimum age to buy a state courts whereas the Supreme Court acts gun 21. It was previously 18, according to a as the higher courts. webpage from Legiscan. Political science professor James C. Brent Business graduate Ryan Reuben said he said the he Supreme Court turned down certain remembers the gun violence issue issu having to gun regulations over the do with mainly gang members as a child. past decade, similar to However, gun violence today is i not only SB 2. recurrent in gangs, but in mass mas shootings According where innocent lives are lost. cording to an NBC news article, the Reuban said SB 2 will wi not solve New York Pistol and Rifle the gun violence problem, instead probl Association it will increase the illegal sale of ciation v. Bruen, for ill example, guns and gun shows could ple, was a case in which sh the state start selling firearms at a ate of New York sent out firea a law cheaper price. w banning people from carrying ing weapons outside of He also said the their home and the New York government’s governmen attempt Pistol and Rifle Association to restrict restric guns is AL GR challenged enged it. The case was similar to its attempt IC AP IA AL HIC concluded uded unconstitutional because it took to limit drug use VA BY RE away the right to keep and bear arms for because p people will Z certain n individuals. still buy products Thee state of New York sent out a law banning through illegal means. people from carrying weapons outside of “For the most part, smokers gotta their home and the New York Pistol and smoke,” Brent said. “Gun owners gotta own Rifle Association challenged it, according to guns apparently.” the article. Rueben said banning guns from certain “The way that they've written it is sort of public areas, such as parks and government trying to be circumscribed and getting around buildings, puts people more at risk of losing that Supreme Court decision,” Brent said. their lives if they cannot protect themselves. Brent said changing the minimum Rueben works as a security guard and said age requirement to purchase a gun and that people often get away with sneaking items banning them in public areas was a way to into places.
He said if someone were to start shooting, people who carry guns as protection will have the option to protect themselves and others. “You have a chance to stop something before it gets worse,” Reuben said. Woods said AB 1406 will not reduce gun violence as whole, rather it will prevent accidental killings by officers. He said in recent years, police officers have argued that they mistook their taser as a gun in court when being charged for murder on the job. He said the bill, as a response, makes it harder for officers to grab the wrong weapon when approaching a suspected criminal in an unsafe scene. “What this bill is calculated to do is to save lives,” Woods said. Brent said he is not sure if the purpose of creating AB 1420, which allows stricter inspection on gun-owners, is unconstitutional. He said the Supreme Court consistently turns down any encounter with laws pertaining to gun regulation, which can apply to the bill. Brent said bills signed by governors usually go into effect on Jan. 1 and sometimes June 1. He said they can be prevented from doing so if anyone challenges them with a lawsuit. Reuben said he’s concerned about the future of his family if gun violence continues to be an issue. “If I have a kid, that's like a whole different situation,” Reuben said. “I'm not even trying to play games with that if I have a family.” Follow the Spartan Daily on X (formerly Twitter) @SpartanDaily
JULIA CHIE | SPARTAN DAILY
Two individuals work outside while re-potting a plant in a garden on Wednesday afternoon. BRANDON NICOLAS | SPARTAN DAILY
Customers sit outside of family-owned restaurant JT Express on Sunday.
Local restaurant owners announce closing
Biden initiates national climate change program By Julia Chie STAFF WRITER
By Brandon Nicolas SENIOR STAFF WRITER
In the heart of San José’s Japantown stands JT Express, a family owned and operated restaurant on Jackson Street. Best known for its musubis, mochi and sushi rolls, the restaurant is set to close by the end of October as the owners prepare for retirement. Co-owner of JT Express and San José State alumnus Steve Sakai wakes up before sunrise each day to purchase produce for the shop from local markets. In 2002, prior to the restaurant’s opening, Sakai and his wife Lydia UchidaSakai took over Tengu Sushi, a restaurant west of campus that shut down and is now home to Spoonfish Poke. “A couple of our friends owned the place and wanted to get out of the business, and we said, ‘Okay,’ ” Sakai said. Sakai said the Tengu Sushi menu was kept short to give students a cheaper alternative to downtown eats because they understood that many college students were struggling financially. In 2017, Sakai and his wife closed Tengu Sushi and opened JT Express in Japantown, expanding their menu and adding sweets like ice cream and mochi. “This is my first time here,” said payroll manager Thomas Nguyen. “I follow San José Foos, and they posted on their social media that they were closing so I wanted to check it out.” At the end of September, Sakai partnered with San José Foos, a social media account dedicated to local news coverage, to announce his and his wife’s retirement on an Instagram post. “We are going to retire,” Sakai said. “I had a grandchild several months ago and I have to take care of (my) family.” He said one of the reasons for their retirement after 21 years in the food
industry was to care for his father-in-law, former SJSU head judo coach Yoshihiro Uchida, who celebrated his 103rd birthday in spring. Business administration senior Nina Seoane is on the judo team and has been an employee at JT Express for the majority of her time at SJSU. “After my freshman year, I moved out into an apartment and I needed a job so I told one of my coaches I was looking for work,” Seoane said. “He called Lydia for me and I came in the next day and had a job.” Seoane said she is lucky to work at JT Express because management has been flexible with both her judo tournaments and school schedule. “I’m really sad ... I’m close to all my coworkers and I love the owners so much,” Seoane said. “They’ve been working hard their whole lives and they deserve to retire.” Freelance interior designer Cindy Marten has been a regular customer of JT Express since she moved to San José several years ago. “Their spam musubi is the best spam musubi I’ve ever had and I’ve been to Hawaii,” Marten said. Marten said the routine of purchasing a spam musubi from JT Express and walking a couple blocks to a nearby cafe for coffee is something she’ll miss. “I want to say thank you for supporting us through our 21 years of service,” Sakai said. “It surprised me that so many people keep saying they are going to miss the musubi.”
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President Joe Biden announced a new nationwide initiative aimed at training and employing youth to mitigate effects of climate change called “The American Climate Corps” on Sept. 20. The corps aims to put a new generation of Americans to work on tackling climate change, according to The American Climate Corps website, More than 20,000 Americans will do work conserving and restoring our lands and waters, bolstering community resilience, deploying clean energy, implementing energy efficient technologies and advancing environmental justice, according to a Sept. 20 White House fact sheet. California was the first state of the nation to establish a state-level Climate Corps program in 2020 with funding from AmeriCorps, according to a Sept. 20 article by the Washington Post. AmeriCorps is a federal agency that provides national service and volunteerism, according to their website. Eight states have established Climate Corps programs since 2020 and each receives federal funding from AmeriCorps, according to the same article. Nia Combs, environmental studies and anthropology graduate from Whitman College, said she served for California Climate Action Corps this past summer. California Climate Action Corps (CCAC) is a national service program that offers fellowships to lead projects related to urban greening, organic waste and edible food recovery and wildfire resiliency, according to its website. Combs said she was matched with San José based non-profit organization Our City Forest, a nonprofit urban forestry and environmental stewardship according to its website. She said Our City Forest plants trees in low income areas in San José. “Their work is important because planting trees is very integral in mitigating the effects of urban heat island,” Combs said. Urban heat islands occur when cities replace
natural land cover with pavement, buildings and other surfaces that absorb and retain heat, according to a website from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Combs said as a California Climate Action Corps member, she was doing urban forestry work including drafting and writing emails for parks and neighborhoods, finding organizations to partner with and holding events. “I literally was in the ground digging holes to plant trees,” Combs said. “I could theoretically walk around San José and see some of the different trees that I have planted or that I have helped schedule a planting for.” Combs said Climate Corps being implemented as a nationwide program is an amazing idea because a lot of people beyond her focus are also interested in doing climate change work. “For me, I knew that I wanted to (do California Climate Action Corps) because I wanted to do climate action work, planting trees, and field work,” Combs said. She said her advice to applicants is to talk about what you’re passionate about in climate, what got you into climate work and what you want to do. “If you have an idea, they will give you the space you need to work out that idea and make it into a reality,” Combs said. Economics junior Jimena Silva said she had no idea what she was getting herself into when she signed up. She said it was fun because she never knew if she would be working in the office working on research, doing outreach or working in the nursery. “You usually test the waters (to see) if it’s actually for you,” Silva said. Geology senior Ellis-Hardin said he’s really glad to hear that there's government sponsored initiatives like this that are going to provide a lot of young people from various backgrounds. “To work and do things that will overall benefit the earth. And as a result, in the long run, I think that it's really important work,” Ellis-Hardin said. Follow the Spartan Daily on X (formerly Twitter) @SpartanDaily
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023
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SJSU hosts a sustainability fair By Julia Chie STAFF WRITER
San José State University hosted the Sustainability Fair, themed "From EcoSystems to Food Systems," at the Paseo de Cesar Chavez on Wednesday. The fair was held to educate students about sustainable food systems from the organizations and vendors at the event according to the SJSU website. There was also food sampling from Spartan Eats live food demonstrations according to the same website. Human resources senior Lilianna Mendez attended the Sustainability Fair. She said she found the event through social media. “I've been looking into leading a more sustainable lifestyle, so I decided to stop by since I'm in between classes,” she said. Mendez said her favorite table was the department of nutrition, food science and packaging, where they served a zero-waste salad. “That was pretty good and (I got) the recipe, and the cooking demo was really fun too,” Mendez said. Andrew Nguyen, management information systems junior and president of Hike @ SJSU said he was at the fair sharing information about his club, along with industrial engineering
PHOTO BY JULIA CHIE | SPARTAN DAILY
Wellness and Health Inspired Student Kitchen hosts a cooking a demonstration and serves free food samples for students on 7th Street.
graduate Abhishek Shah, the club’s social media lead. Hike @ SJSU is San José State's student-led hiking organization according to its Instagram bio. Nguyen said Hike @ SJSU does two hikes every month, one local hike every month and one destination hike, and sometimes more if members want to organize
their own event. “This month we're doing Castle Rock in Saratoga for our local and Mount Umunhum,” Nguyen said, which can help promote sustainable and healthy lifestyles. Environmental studies junior Malvika Malhotra was at the fair representing the Environmental Resource Center, which is part of the environmental
studies department on campus. Malhotra said the resource center has been working all semester to prepare three different tables: the native plant table, the pledge table, and take back the top. These are three different organizations or subsections that encourage students to have more sustainable mindsets on campus.
“(The Environmental Resource Center’s) big event that they put the most time, energy, and money into is Earth Day, (which will happen) next semester. There, they try to find sustainable, local sponsors to help the community,” Malhotra said. Malhotra said just knowing about how to access resources is a
really good way to be sustainable. “Being a Spartan, there’s so many sustainable incorporations you can have on campus, like the clothes closet, the sustainable transportation unit or the community garden,” Malhotra said. Follow the Spartan Daily on X (formerly Twitter) @SpartanDaily
OPINION
My top three cozy Halloween binge-watch list By Jillian Darnell MANAGING EDITOR
Scary movies happen to give me nightmares. The eerie music prickles my skin, crawls up my spine and leaves me expecting an ax murderer to come through the front door. I went through my horror-movie phase when I was in middle school. I would watch “The Haunting” movies back to back and bring out my Ouija board afterwards. I would sit on the edge of my seat watching “Monster House” and “Coraline” full of intrigue with a bowl of popcorn and M&Ms. I sat back and enjoyed “The Shining” and made far too many jokes about REDRUM. But now, as an adult with trauma-induced anxiety, I can’t make it through the first 30 minutes of “9” without feeling my guts twist and squeeze out the liveliness of my heart when I watch the souls get sucked out of the dolls. For anyone who is anxious gremlin and hates horror films but wants a hot cocoa to watch cozy Halloween movies with, here’s my top three list of movies and bingeworthy television shows to watch: 3. “ParaNorman” “ParaNorman” is a stop-motion animation comedy horror film about a boy named Norman who can speak to ghosts. Even though his town alienates him, he forms a group of unexpected friends along the way to help save his community from a curse. The stop-motion animation visuals are stunning in this film. The comedic aspects balance with the darker tones of the narrative and the overall cast is so well done. The movie includes zombies, ghosts and witches which are all my favorite creatures of Halloween lore. However, even though this
was a film targeted towards kids, it included much deeper themes and conversations. I sympathized with Agatha’s story. She was deemed a witch as a child and was sentenced to death by the townspeople of her time. She cursed the town, causing corpses of townspeople who wronged her to return back as zombies and haunt the community years later. As Norman discovers Agatha’s story, he understands her rage and resentment. Stories like these are so invigorating to see, as so many women were wrongfully killed during the Salem witch trials, and so many stories about witches end up being negative and reinforce that narrative that witches aren’t human. Stories like Agatha’s show why it's so important to question history, begging people to always reexamine and learn about past events through multiple perspectives. The ending scene always gets to me. Norman first tries to get Agatha to end the curse, but she was eager for the town to feel her pain. Norman reconciles with her, listens to her and helps her heal from that pain which allows her ghost to cross over to the afterlife. Overall, it's a fun film to watch that will definitely fit the Halloween theme but not terrify the audience.
with her roommate Enid, a werewolf, and how the two were so different from each other. Enid loves colors, fashion and decorating the room with glitter while Wednesday prefers dark, muted colors and the scent of death. The distinct contrast and antithesis of these characters was so fun to watch and even though they were complete opposites, they still supported each other through and through. The show also mentions the abuse of witches in the past. The series specifically shows the effects of colonialism and how the natives of the land in America were burned alive because of how colonials viewed people that were different from them as a threat. I found this to be a nod towards the 1993 “Addams Family Values” film where Wednesday exposes the history of Thanksgiving, where Native Americans were killed instead of the common story of sharing a feast with the colonials. It’s even better that they included the actress who played Wednesday in the 1993 film, Christina Ricci, who played the villain in the show. There’s plenty to love about “Wednesday,” from the costume design and casting to the amazing soundtrack, but words alone can’t encapsulate the beauty this show is.
2. “Wednesday” 1. “Julie and The Phantoms” I loved this show when it came out and it is now a Halloween favorite of mine. I always loved watching “The Addams Family” and seeing the character Wednesday get her own show starring the amazing Jenna Ortega was incredible to watch. “Wednesday” is a Netflix original show that features Wednesday Addams going to a boarding school full of troubled misfits including werewolves, sirens and other outcasts. I loved Wednesday’s friendship
Unfortunately, this show was canceled prematurely. It was meant to be a silly kid’s show akin to “High School Musical,” with a focus on songs and a remedial plotline. But this series still had me bawling. The premise of “Julie and The Phantoms” centers around a ’90s rock band that died from eating bad street hotdogs coming back as ghosts in the year 2020 to help a girl named Julie rebuild her relationship with music after the death of her mother.
GRAPHIC BY ALICIA ALVAREZ
Throughout the show, the rules of the supernatural bend and adjust as people start to see the ghosts and hear their music when Julie performs. The episode that had me crying my eyes out was episode eight, where the main guitarist of the band, Luke, goes back to his parents’ house with Julie and shares with her a song he wrote before he died at 16 years old. The song was about the grief of leaving someone during a fight and never getting the chance of saying goodbye. The song was written while he was alive, when he felt bad for running away from his parents to pursue a music career, but the song carried more depth 25 years later when they read the lyrics of the song knowing their son is gone. This episode hurt to watch and showed the complexity of the series. “Julie and the Phantoms” explores themes of grief, young death and the strength of music to build a community that lifts each other up. I will forever have a grudge
against Netflix for canceling my favorite ghost show, but I digress. Conclusion There are plenty of options for Halloween television features, but I tend to lean towards ones that include the Halloween aesthetic and explore complex issues over the pure horror genre. Of course there are horror and thriller films out there that explore complex issues, but I love the cozy ones that explore those themes without the jumpscares. There’s many ways to celebrate Halloween. For me though, I will be rewatching “Julie and The Phantoms” for the sixth time this holiday and won’t be regretting it.
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OPINION
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023
GRAPHIC BY ALICIA ALVAREZ
I am in love with the fall season
disappointing fun-sized candy, these homeowners were handing out bags of kettle corn, cups of hot chocolate, and the one in a million find: kingsized candy bars. I smile every time I drive by that Alicia Alvarez neighborhood, even though PRODUCTION EDITOR I’ll never afford a house I wait nine excruciating there, because of that one months every year for fall night. a breeze to carry an Fall truly took my heart intoxicating chill and a hostage in my late-teen to euphoric scent of cinnamon. young-adult years. Watching the leaves slowly morph into a rainbow of earthy colors and hearing them crunch beneath my feet makes midterm season tolerable. My favorite memories have always centered around the season. My mother always made Halloween special for me. Walking into the costume stores was the highlight of October weekends in my I finally am able to do childhood. couples costumes, which I was terrified of those I’ve envied for years, as animatronics that all stores I now have a partner put at their entrance. I willing to be my Ken doll don’t know who decided and be dressed by me for that putting a seven-foot Halloween. I have a list clown in the direct path of that could be turned into the children’s section was a novel of costume ideas a good idea, but luckily it for the two of us, some didn’t ruin the season of which we have already for me. executed perfectly. Just like any other young I’m a stereotypical girl that was raised on Instagrammer, so as soon Disney, I was determined as that autumn chill hits to dress as a princess every pumpkin patches, cinnamon single year. My saint of a rolls, lattes and sweaters mother consistently shelled dance around through my out the $60 for a poorly feed. I adore fall outfits made costume, making each and finally pulling out my Halloween more magical favorite long-sleeve shirts than the last. without the fear of leaving I remember trick-orsweat stains on them. treating around the richest Apple picking, jumping neighborhood I had ever in leaf piles, taking spookyseen, with a few family themed photos; send me friends. Instead of the just a text and I’m there. My
cousin has been bombarded with Instagram reels in her DMs for the past three weeks of fun-fall activities that we’ll probably never do. But it’s the thought that counts, right? The scents are what truly make me feel as though I’m locked in a loving embrace during the season. Walking into my aunt’s house and being greeted with the smell of ponche is a dreamy reality every time
celebrated on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, it is believed in Hispanic culture that the spirits of the dead return to the world of the living to spend time with their family members according to an article from The Mexican Museum. The holiday allows me to celebrate and honor my ancestors, family members I never got to meet. Dia de los Muertos allows me to connect to my paternal
been my light and guide in discovering my own culture, was born in November. My aunt, who has been my tutor in Spanish and cultural dishes, was born in October. A childhood friend that stuck by me through the darkest period of my life was born in the same month. I celebrate some of the people I love and who love me most in this season, how could I not adore it?
I don’t know who decided that putting a seven-foot clown in the direct path of the children’s section was a good idea, but luckily it didn’t ruin the season for me.
that breeze hits. Cinnamon brooms and seasonally appropriate candles are strewn across my room. I may smell like a mixture of a Bath and Body Works and a Michaels craft store for the next two months but I couldn’t be happier. You can drown in my apple turnover-scented perfume for all I care. The superficial aesthetic of the season is only the surface level of my adoration though. Dia de los Muertos is incredibly important to me and my culture. Being a Mexican American woman, I claw at and clutch onto any connection I have to my roots. Dia de los Muertos is a holiday with origins that predates Hispanic colonization and is
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EDITORIAL STAFF
The Spartan Daily prides itself on being the San Jose State community’s top news source. New issues are published every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday throughout the academic year and online content updated daily. The Spartan Daily is written and published by San Jose State students as an expression of their First Amendment rights. Reader feedback may be submitted as letters to the editor or online comments.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR MATTHEW GONZALEZ MANAGING EDITOR JILLIAN DARNELL PRODUCTION EDITOR ALICIA ALVAREZ NEWS EDITOR IRENE ADELINE MILANEZ ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR ALINA TA A&E EDITOR ALEXIA FREDERICKSON SPORTS EDITOR MAT BEJARANO
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR BOJANA CVIJIC OUTREACH EDITOR CHRISTINE TRAN PHOTO EDITOR ALEXIA FREDERICKSON COPY EDITOR GILLIAN BROWN SENIOR STAFF WRITERS BRANDON NICOLAS NATHAN CANILAO STAFF WRITERS DYLAN NEWMAN NAVIN KRISHNAN NIKITA BANKAR MELANY GUTIERREZ JULIA CHIE ANGEL SANTIAGO VANESSA REAL
grandmother. I’m named after this woman despite never getting the chance to speak to her, but my rituals and practices during this celebration gives me a sense of comfort and belonging with her. Dia de los Muertos has given me something I lacked for most of my life, a sense of loving connection to my culture. I fall in love with the season every single time I recall that fall cradles this special connection and memory in its lovingly cold arms. Walking into my local Trader Joe’s and seeing cempasuchil proudly blooming with vibrant oranges melts my heart. Some of my closest friends and family members were born in this sacred season. My cousin, who has
AALIYAH ROMAN FERNANDO CARMONA JACOB CHAVEZ MAYA BENMOKHTAR LAMAR MOODY ILLUSTRATORS JOANNA CHAVEZ TRACY ESCOBEDO PRODUCTION CHIEF MIKE CORPOS NEWS ADVISER RICHARD CRAIG
Wrapping their gifts in festive autumn-themed paper gives me an unreasonable amount of joy both for the aesthetic and the fact that I get to celebrate my favorite people in my favorite time of year. While I no longer celebrate Thanksgiving, I still have fond memories of it that tie me back to fall. My mother and I never enjoyed the pre-assigned food for this holiday, so one year, we decided to change it. Instead of dry turkey and grainy mashed potatoes, we made our favorite foods. Pesto pasta, garlic bread, fruits and vegetables lined our table. It was always just the two of us on Thanksgiving, but I never complained. I cherish that annual cold
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fall night and the memories of my mom and I dancing in the kitchen as we cook. We turned the holiday that neither of us ever liked into our own tradition. I remember curling up on the couch with my mom after our faux Thanksgiving meal with ice cream and warm apple pie to watch whatever show she was obsessed with at the time. I’m excited to return to this little tradition as soon as I’m able to tear myself away from campus. Of course, I love the simple things that fall brings too. Poorly carved pumpkins and horror movies that make me hide beneath blankets instead of watching them are my favorite seasonal activities. Spooky date nights are on the top of my to-do list for autumn. I’m forcing my wonderful long-distance boyfriend to sit through a zoom call with me while I bake those adorable little Halloween cookies and he's going to like it. I’ve already planned our couples costume, little does he know he still has to wear it despite being thousands of miles away. Despite my vehement hatred for pumpkin spice, which is a terrible flavor and should be discontinued, I will always hold this spooky season close to my heart.
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SPORTS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023
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FOOTBALL
Football game vs. University of Washington canceled Spartans’ 2028 matchup against the Huskies called off By Nathan Canilao San José State running back Kairee Robinson runs in for a touchdown in a loss against Boise State on Saturday.
SJSU looks to take down Lobos By Nathan Canilao SENIOR STAFF WRITER
San José State’s bowl game aspirations will be on the line when the Spartans face the University of New Mexico on Saturday afternoon. SJSU is coming off a 35-27 loss to Boise State in which it led by 20 points in the second quarter. “This is a team that's been playing good football,” SJSU head coach Brent Brennan said in a Tuesday news conference about playing New Mexico. “They are extremely creative on defense. I think Coach [Danny] Gonzales does a fantastic job that way . . . This is going to be another big challenge for us on the road.” It’s easy to underestimate the Lobos whose only wins have come against Tennessee Tech (1-4) and UMass (1-5), but New Mexico is comparable in areas where the Spartans struggle. Lobos’ senior running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt is currently third in the Mountain West Conference in rushing yards. Croskey-Merritt is averaging
86.2 yards per game and has 7 rushing touchdowns. SJSU is the second-worst rushing defense in the country. Opponents average 223.7 rushing yards a game and 5.3 yards per rush. “The fact is we are one of the worst run defenses in college football right now,” said SJSU linebackers coach Scott White. “We got to put out that fire.” The Spartans will also face another team that plays two quarterbacks. Against Boise State, SJSU gave up a combined 229 passing yards and 5 touchdowns. New Mexico quarterback Dylan Hopkins is the team’s pure passing quarterback and takes most of the Lobos’ throws. Quarterback DC Tabscott is used whenever New Mexico is in short-yardage downs and is more of a dual-threat quarterback. “There needs to be a heightened
UPCOMING GAME
sense of urgency when it comes to controlling the line of scrimmage,” White said. On the offensive end, the Spartans could have an edge over a young New Mexico defense. The Lobos have the second-worst red zone defense in the conference. The Spartans have shown the ability to get into the red zone at times and could take advantage of running back Kairee Robinson’s ability to score near the goal line. Robinson has scored a rushing touchdown in every game he’s played in, and recorded 133 yards from scrimmage against Boise State. “It’s always good to have the running game going on,” Cordeiro said. “It makes my job easier in the passing game and it opens up lanes offensively.” Cordeiro has not thrown a touchdown pass since SJSU’s game against Toledo four weeks ago. SJSU is scheduled to play New Mexico at 3 p.m. PDT Saturday at University Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Follow Nathan on X (formerly Twitter) @nathancanilao
SJSU @ New Mexico Oct. 14 @ 3 p.m. PDT TV : Mountain West Network
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San Jose State’s 2028 scheduled football game against the Un i v e r s i t y of Washington has been canceled, SJSU athletic director Jeff Konya confirmed Wednesday. Konya said SJSU is looking to reschedule the game sometime after 2028. “ We mu t u a l l y agreed to postpone this game to the early 2030’s,” Konya said in a statement to the Spartan Daily. “We will have an update to our future football schedule in the coming weeks.” The game, which was scheduled in 2021, would have been the first time the Spartans played Washington since 2006. According to a Wednesday article from FBSchedules.com, SJSU was set to receive $1.55 million to play Washington, but the two schools signed a contract on July 17, 2023 to cancel the game with no financial penalties from either parties.
Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.
CROSSWORD PUZZLE 1
SENIOR STAFF WRITER
PLACE HOLDER | SPARTAN DAILY
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Follow Nathan on X (formerly Twitter) @nathancanilao
Grrrainnnsss.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SJSU ATHLETICS
Shortly after the two schools backed out of the 2028 game, Washington scheduled a game against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for the same 2028 date and agreed to pay UNLV $1.45 million according to the same FBSchedules.com article. The Spartans are 0-10 all-time against Washington. The last time SJSU played the Huskies, the Spartans lost 35-29. Then Spartan wide receiver James Jones caught 9 passes for 130 yards and 3 touchdowns in the loss. This season, the Huskies are currently ranked No. 7 in the AP College Football polls and the Spartans are 1-5 with their lone win coming against FCS Cal Poly. SJSU has three scheduled nonconference games in 2028 against Howard University, the University of Toledo and Stanford.
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