A man was pronounced dead after a fatal shooting near Hammer Theatre Center on the 100 block of South Second Street at 2:38 a.m on Sunday morning.
San José State students were notified that police were investigating one injured person in a parking lot by the Alert SJSU Notification System.
At 1:34pm, AlertSJSU sent out another message that said, “Police activity at the parking lot near Hammer Theatre has concluded and the area has been reopened. All clear.”
The man succumbed to
“Police investigating a shooting at parking lot near Hammer Theatre,” stated the alert from SJSU sent to students. “One person injured. Avoid area until further notice.”
his injuries after officers and paramedics responded to the scene, according to the San Jose Police Department.
The victim’s identity has not been revealed. The Santa Clara County Coroner's Office will release more information after confirming the identity of the victim and
notifying family. This incident makes this the 26th homicide in San José, according to an Oct. 27 KRON4 article.
There have been a total of 21 murders in San José since August, according to the annual monthly crime statistics report from the San José Police Department. The crime is being further investigated for motive and suspects, according to a Monday article from CBS News.
Nacho’s ofrenda gets another week
By Alina Ta & Hunter Yates COPY EDITOR STAFF WRITER
On 7th Street near Interstate 280, a Día de los Muertos ofrenda is gaining attention from the city with a postponed encampment sweep. At the ofrenda, various flowers are planted with signs pleading for justice and a picture of a dog is displayed in the center.
Miguel Maruyama, an unhoused man, said he made the ofrenda to honor his service dog Nacho.
“I’m so happy to know that I get to keep the altar for another week at least,”
Maruyama said. “I get to have it here for the celebration of the day of the dead, it’s important to me because it is part of my religion.”
Día de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday that occurs on Nov. 2 to celebrate and welcome back souls of
deceased family members and friends for a short reunion, according to a History Channel website.
“The culture is that we celebrate the Day of the Dead, you would think that it is something that is sad and scary,” Maruyama said. “But it is actually a celebration, in Mexico it is very popular. It's popular, it’s part of our culture and religion.”
Maruyama had been on the streets for 46 days after he was fired by his employer
and landlord shortly after their dog died.
“(My landlord) evicted me. I told her that I was not gonna leave her house until she pays me for the supplies,” Maruyama said. “She didn’t want to pay me, she hired someone to do the job I was doing and asked this person to scare me and my son so we would move.”
Shaunn Cartwright, a representative and advocate with the Unhoused Response Group, said the
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and Senator Dave Cortese’s Office had before agreeing to postpone the abatement.
An encampment abatement is when a homeless encampment is removed from certain public areas, according to a web page from the city of San Jose.
Mario Lopez, a social policy innovator and community strategist from Senator Dave Cortese’s
Office, confirmed a date change of the abatement in a message. Lopez states in a message that the agency has agreed to postpone the abatement until after the cultural holiday.
“I want to get my dog’s remains and I'm not happy being away from him,” said Maruyama. “Once I have his remains, I want to cremate Nacho.”
Miguel said he knows that he is on state property, but he and his son were forced to move their encampment twice before settling by Highway 280.
Victor Gauthier, a public information officer for Caltrans Santa Clara County, stated in an email that Caltrans is responsible for removing encampments that put the nearby community, Caltrans’ maintenance crews and first responders at risk when maintaining transportation networks.
“We didn’t choose to be in this situation, we came here and cleaned this place,” Maruyama said. “We worked really hard in here, planting all these plants to make it look nice and then it’s really sad that they just want to throw us on the street and we don’t deserve to be anywhere.”
PHOTOS BY ALINA TA | SPARTAN DAILY
Alejandro Maruyama, (left) and his father, Miguel (right), stand in front of the ofrenda they built underneath Interstate 280 on ramp for their service dog , Nacho.
A notice from Caltrans states that any personal belongings near the entrance of Interstate 280 will be removed and disposed of by Monday morning.
SJSU reflects on period poverty
By Alejandra Gallo STAFF WRITER
San José State offers free menstrual products for students but it may not be meeting students’ needs.
The Menstrual Equity for All Act of 2021 requires that all schools in the California State University system (CSU) provide an adequate amount of menstrual products, according to the California Legislative Information bill.
Avalon Allen, a fourth year public relations student, believes that SJSU can do more to support menstruating students.
“I think SJSU should not only provide a wider range of period products, but also be more (inclusive) toward the struggles that menstruating folks might endure,” Allen said.
The menstrual products provided by public institutions must be accessible to students by making them free and providing them around campus, according to the 2021 bill.
“I think it’s also pertinent that SJSU provides as (many) resources as possible for their students to be able to attend class or school,” Allen said. “I know many people who’ve had to skip out on an event because their period started and they don’t have the proper menstrual products on hand to deal with it.”
Menstruation can lead to
several significant medical issues like premenstrual dysphoric disorder and premenstrual syndrome, according to an Office on Women’s Health page.
SJSU alumna Varsha Ponnuraj said that the quality of the products provided by the school were poor.
“The lack of options was very disappointing because everyone has a different flow and it felt as though the university did not put much thought into it,” Ponnuraj said.
Jessica Short, the Gender Equity Center program coordinator, believes these products aren’t the best fit for students.
“Menstrual products are really expensive but comfort is very important so if we’re cheaping out on the products we buy for campus, like the products that are in those metal boxes,” Short said. “That’s like providing an emergency solution for someone who doesn’t have that product on them.”
Period poverty means not being able to afford and access menstrual products, sanitation and hygiene facilities which is caused by the stigma surrounding menstruation and the high cost of products, according to a May 24, UN Women article.
Ponnuraj believes that every restroom should be equipped with enough products, especially for students who can’t afford
them.
Something else that causes period poverty is the “tampon tax” on menstrual products which classifies them as “luxury products,” making them more expensive, according to an Alliance for PERIOD supplies article.
“That issue of stigma and access feed each other because if there’s stigma around something and people are afraid to talk about it, then nobody talks about it and nobody knows that the resources are needed,” Short said.
Although there are over 2 billion people who menstruate around the world every month, millions of menstruators cannot afford menstrual products, according to a UN Women article.
Short said SJSU has pads and tampons available for students free of charge at multiple locations on campus. Several centers, such as the PRIDE Center and the Gender Equity Center provide pads, tampons and liners from the company Aunt Flow.
“Feeling miserable all day because of your period because of the products you’re using doesn’t enhance your ability to do well in school, at your job and everything else,” Short said.
This tax is still present in more than 20 states and many cities and counties impose local sales tax,
according to the same article.
“These diagnoses can cause people a huge amount of pain, distress, lethargy, depression and more,” Allen said. “I personally wish that SJSU was more aware and understanding towards these issues and would provide disability accommodations for them.”
Premenstrual syndrome can lead to extreme fatigue, tiredness, difficulty with concentration, mood swings and depression, according to the Frontiers study.
“PMSing is another thing that’s something with so much stigma,” Short said. “In reality, its hormones change in your body and that can lead to so many
Feeling miserable all day because of your period because of the products you're using doesn’t enhance your ability to do well in school, at your job and everything else.
Jessica Short
SJSU Gender Equity Center program coordinator
Pads absorb moisture from period flow, creating a higher risk of bacteria and fungi forming, especially if you are wearing a pad for longer than it’s meant to be used, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention page.
“We know that using products that might cause skin irritation for you or just feel(ing) uncomfortable leads to a lot of negative outcomes and can lead to things like (urinary tract infection) and bacterial vaginosis,” Short said.
Short believes that people who cannot afford menstrual products are forced to use the bad options that are available to them.
mental health side effects.”
Accommodating students’ needs are important when they are menstruating because of the physical and mental struggles associated with menstruation, according to a Frontiers study.
“Depending on the professor, students are limited to the amount of absences or “sick days” they can take,” Allen said. “While I fully appreciate that professors are under a lot of pressure to teach a great deal of information in one semester, a time limit for how long you can recover from a monthly recurring event that’s notorious for causing pain and discomfort
is a bit unfortunate.”
Ponnuraj also said she believes that SJSU should do more to support its menstruating student population.
“There should be more programs and resources to educate the community and build a more inclusive environment,” Ponnuraj said. “SJSU should integrate financial assistance into the existing financial aid services. This would allow students to focus on their education without having to worry about these basic necessities.”
Menstrual products, other than the ones that are available at several bathrooms on-campus, are available at the Gender Equity Center, PRIDE Center, Student Wellness Center and the Student Pantry, according to a SJSU web page.
Short said the Gender Equity Center tries to create workshops to help destigmatize periods, such as the Embracing The Menstrual Cycle Event on Oct. 16.
“It’s understandable that menstruation is associated with “grossness,” but it’s an association that is ultimately damaging not only to the individual but the culture around female health as a whole,” Allen said.
Community observes Día de los Muertos
5
#1: Calaveras sit on a vendor’s table at the Miccailhuitl Día de los Muertos Ceremony.
#2: Aztec dancers perform danza de la pluma, a dance enacting battles between the Spanish and the Aztecs, for attendees at the 20th Annual Miccailhuitl Ceremony: Día de los Muertos.
#3: Community members remember their dead loved ones with food, candles and pictures.
#4: Incenses burn at Aztek Pride’s table, a local vendor that hosts Mexika dancers and sells leather work and arts and crafts.
#5: A shirt depicting a Native American with the phrase “Disobey” is displayed for sale by a vendor.
#6: Vendors sell Aztec masks at their tables on Friday in San José. 4 6 1 2
JACKSON LINDSTROM | SPARTAN DAILY
Students Rooted on Tower Lawn
By Israel Archie STAFF WRITER
Students came out to Tower Lawn at the San José State campus on Thursday to participate in the festivities of the Rooted Social Justice Music and Art Festival.
The festival was hosted by César E. Chávez Community Action Center, which helps students take part in civic engagement as well as advocate for social justice and activism, according to an SJSU web page.
Diana Garcia Rodriguez, the department coordinator of César E. Chávez Community Action Center, said that this festival is an annual event and that it was her third year hosting and planning the event.
“We need spaces to celebrate as well and really reflect on what there is in the world,” Rodriguez said.
Another organization that was at the event was the Black Leadership Opportunity Center. They handed out stickers, advertised for other Black organizations and gave attendees the opportunity to make vision boards.
Somto Obasi, a secondyear management information systems student, said vision boards are artistic collages that students can make with images that reflect where they want to be in the future.
Obasi said he wanted to help with tabling at the event and wanted to represent the Black Leadership Opportunity Center as a
Black person.
There were multiple activities for people to participate in, including face painting, mural art and woodblock art. Also at the event was music performed by local Bay Area artists and win giveaways. Various food venues distributed free foods such as bao buns from Bun Me Up, popcorn from Peter’s Kettle Corn and drinks from Breaktime Tea all for free.
Many clubs and organizations used the festival as an opportunity to inform students about what they do on campus and around the community.
Centro is the nickname for the Chicanx/Latinx Student Success Center, a group on campus that advocates for Latinx students and focuses on community engagement and student empowerment, according to an SJSU web page.
Ariana Ramos, a student
success leader for Centro, participated in tabling and said she was glad to have the opportunity to inform people about the club.
“We ran into some people where even into their last year of college they were like ‘Oh my gosh, I didn’t know about Centro,’ ” Ramos said. “It always shocks me, but at least we could put the word out there.” Ramos said she learned about the club in a Zoom call during her first year at
SJSU and would have never known about it if she didn’t attend that meeting.
Now a fourth-year student, Ramos said she wants more students to come to similar events in order to be more informed about what the campus has to offer.
“More conversation will give students the ability to have the safe space to ask questions (and) be able to be curious and see what else is on campus,” Ramos said.
Obasi said he also sees the importance of more student conversation and involvement.
“I see myself go through the same routes on campus everyday and it limits the people that I meet,” Obasi said. “I think events like these (allows) me (to) meet more people on campus.”
ISRAEL ARCHIE
A San José State studentworks on a painting at the Rooted Social Justice Music and Arts festival on Tower Lawn Thursday afternoon.
Graduating early is not worth
Alejandra Gallo STAFF WRITER
Graduating early might seem like a smart decision, but looking back at my two years of college, I’m unsure if I made the right decision.
When I started college in the fall of 2022, I was excited about having completed high school, about taking classes that I found more interesting and being in a new atmosphere.
I was most excited about being one step closer to law school, which has been my dream since I was a seventh grader.
Weeks into my first semester of college, I started thinking of ways to fast-forward into this dream.
The duration of law school is typically three years long, but some people take four years if they are in law school part-time, according to a Oct. 20, 2022 Purdue Global article.
I looked into the logistics of how this would work and how many units I needed to take to graduate a year early.
In the 2023 Spring semester, I took 21 units in order to reach junior standing by the next fall while working two jobs as a tutor and legal intern.
The average number of units students take per academic year is 30 units, roughly 15 units and to be a full-time student, you must be enrolled in at least 12 units, according to an SJSU web page.
If students want to take over 18 units per semester, they need to fill out a petition and be approved by their academic advisor or department chair, according to the same web page.
This took a big toll on my mental health because I was constantly busy and I began to experience burnout.
Burnout is when you feel constantly stressed and swamped because you are experiencing too much fatigue for a long time, according to a March 5, WebMD article.
It’s real and it can impact not only your mental health but also your academic performance, according to a March 29, 2023 Bay Atlantic University article. It became hard to keep my grades and social life up while studying for the Law School Admissions Exam.
Burnout can cause depression, anxiety, depression, difficulty sleeping and many other things that can affect you in your everyday life, according to the same article.
Something else that impacted my decision to graduate early was the financial aspect because I ended up saving a lot of
money, not just on tuition but also on transportation and parking money.
I saved money by graduating a year early but this is the only upside.
By only taking the necessary classes to fulfill your major, one can save a considerable amount of money since it will cut the costs on tuition, books, housing, transportation and gas, according to a SJSU 2023-2024 Financial Aid report.
However, financial aid is usually awarded by semester or academic year and if you want to graduate early, you will take more than the regular number of units and your aid may not cover it,
according to a Dec. 6, 2023 Bankrate article.
As I reach the end of my college career, I can’t shake the feeling that my hard work wasn’t worth it.
I saved some money by graduating early and of course, I saved time. However, college is the time when students get to pursue their dreams without too many responsibilities.
Students not only go to class, complete assignments and have a heavy workload, but they oftentimes have families that they have to support and also work part-time jobs, according to an edtrust article.
Around 42% of part-
time college students and 81% of full-time students work while in college, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report from 2022.
Those four years are also a time of selfdiscovery and is the best time to try new things, such as a new hobby, stepping out of your comfort zone and growing both academically and professionally, according to a UC Irvine article.
Though college is stressful, it could have been a time to take classes outside of my major that I found interesting, connect with professors and students across campus and be part of clubs and
organizations. While I think graduating early benefited me in the sense that college was less expensive, I also think I missed out on a lot of experiences. But after endless classes and long nights of studying, I am ready to leave college in the rearview mirror.
