Spartan Daily Vol. 161 No. 40 by Spartan Daily

WINNER OF 2023 ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS PACEMAKER AWARD, NEWSPAPER/NEWSMAGAZINE NAMED BEST CAMPUS NEWSPAPER IN CALIFORNIA FOR 2022 BY THE CALIFORNIA COLLEGE MEDIA ASSOCIATION AND CALIFORNIA NEWS PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Volume 161 No. 40 SERVING SAN JOSÉ STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1934

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TITUS WILKINSON | THE SPEAR

San José State University seventh-year football head coach Brent Brennan watches the ﬁeld as the Spartans play against Fresno State on Nov. 10 at CEFCU stadium.

Computers crush SJSU’s hopes By Nathan Canilao SENIOR STAFF WRITER

What was supposed to be a strong finish to the regular season became a devastating weekend for San José State football fans. Despite finishing the regular season on a six-game winning streak and defeating the University of Nevada, Las Vegas on the road, the Spartans were left out of the Mountain West Conference championship game. After three teams tied for first place, Mountain West computers determined Sunday that UNLV (9-3, 6-2 MWC) and Boise State (7-5, 6-2 MWC) ranked higher than SJSU (7-5, 6-2 MWC) and were given the conference title game nod. “Everyone was surprised with the way it played out, especially because we had just beaten UNLV,” SJSU head coach Brent Brennan said Monday. “But it was out of our hands. I think the hard part was the players and really no one understood because we had

the same record and we just beat them head to head, and now they get to host. That just didn’t make sense to them. It's really hard. Guys were devastated.” Since UNLV and Boise State did not play each other in the regular season, head-to-head play could not be in consideration to break the tie. The next tiebreaker metric used was to go to the computer rankings to determine which team ranked higher. Anderson & Hester, Colley Matrix, Massey and Wolfe ranking systems were used to break the tie. Only the Wolfe ranking system had SJSU ranked higher than Boise State. The Mountain West is one of only three conferences in the Football Bowl Subdivision to use computer rankings as a way to break ties. In seven of the 10 FBS conferences, Boise State and San José State would be the conference title game with Boise State as host. “I’m subjectively disappointed,” SJSU athletic director Jeff Konya

said in a phone interview with Bay voiced their displeasure with the Area News Group. “I subjectively Mountain West’s decision over think we’re one of the best two social media. teams in the league. There’s no “Computer rankings can’t be the first thing looked at behind head to head,” kicker Taren Schive said on X. “We beat (Fresno State), who beat both of those schools, 42-18, not to mention we also beat one of the teams in the championship yesterday in their own stadium.” Brennan also retweeted and liked a tweet on X from SJSU alumni and ESPN reporter Marc Spears that read, “Big asterisk on this so-called title game. @SanJoseStateFB beat UNLV, but the HOST team is rewarded. Guess they need ticket sales.” To add onto Sunday’s disappointment, rumors began to Jeﬀ Konya circulate about Brennan’s future SJSU athletic director at SJSU. On Saturday, Oregon State University head coach Jonathan easy way to break a three-way tie Smith took a job to become and unfortunately for us we were Michigan State University’s head the odd person out.” coach. This led many to speculate SJSU players and coaches also about Brennan possibly taking

I subjectively think we’re one of the best two teams in the league. There’s no easy way to break a three-way tie and unfortunately for us we were the odd person out.

the job at OSU given his history as the Beavers’ wide receivers coach from 2011-2016. The Oregonian reported Sunday Brennan is indeed on Oregon State’s list of possible head coaching candidates, but also said the school prefers other candidates ahead of him. Brennan did not confirm or deny interest in the Oregon State job, but said being in consideration is a compliment to SJSU’s recent success. “Oregon State was a really special place to be for my family,” Brennan said. “I think people reaching out to us about stuff like that means we’re doing something right here.” The Spartans will have to wait until Sunday to see what bowl game they will be attending.

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Students discuss burnout and health By Dominique Huber

condition of being completely exhausted, mentally, physically and emotionally, according to a Darling Students discussed feelings of anxiety Downs Health webpage. and stress in a workshop called “Burnout Varma said two signs of burnout are Is Real: Avoid It!” in the Student Union loss of motivation and withdrawing on Nov. 17. from responsibilities. The event was part of Peer Connections’ Psychology freshman Ariana Gallegos “Cookies for Success” program, which said she experienced burnout in high offers a variety of workshops to help school and has found it difficult to handle students succeed in school, as well as a more strenuous college workload. free cookies for those who attend. “In high school I put a lot of academic Psychology junior Nikita Varma gave pressure on myself ... but now that I’m in a presentation on what burnout looks college I don't feel so forward with my like and how students can avoid it. Burnout can be defined as the BURNOUT | Page 2 SENIOR STAFF WRITER

GRAPHIC BY JILLIAN DARNELL

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NEWS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023

Christmas joy lights up SJ park By Vanessa Real STAFF WRITER

Rows of sparkly light up trees, the scent of hot cocoa through the air and families singing along to Christmas songs can now be experienced at Christmas in the Park, located at Plaza de César Chávez in Downtown San José. Christmas in the Park is a nonprofit organization that dedicates time to transform the plaza into a gathering place for the community during the holiday season, according to its official website. The walk-through event has been an annual tradition for 44 years, according to the same source. The event features 40 musical and animated exhibits, decorative glittering lights and visuals along with a 50-foot light-up community giving tree, according to the same website. When guests enter the park they can walk through the Enchanted Forest, which is a collection of uniquely decorated trees that were donated to the park from

multiple different groups of people, communities and businesses. People can purchase a tree through the organization’s website and reserve it for the Enchanted Forest. The donated tree is then decorated by the donors after being placed in the park days before opening night. Linda Cuevas, a cashier at the San José State Dining Commons, said her church, El Buen Pastor Church, purchased a tree for the Enchanted Forest to decorate this year. Cuevas said she loves taking her grandchildren to the park. “My church had the honor and privilege to purchase and decorate a tree as a memorial for the families in the church who have lost a loved one,” Cuevas said. “We covered the tree with clear ornaments with pictures of our loved ones who have passed away.” She said she was born and raised in San José, and has always loved the Christmas traditions the park holds. SJSU Alumni Jelly Baria said Christmas in the Park is

VANESSA REAL | SPARTAN DAILY

Attendees stroll through rows of Christmas trees and decorations in Plaza de César Chávez Park’s annual event.

special to her because of the time she gets to spend with her family. “I love the churros, hot cocoa and just strolling through the cute trees and under all the lights,” Baria said. “I have been coming to Christmas in the Park since 2010, and we go four to five times every winter season since then.”

Baria said she believes Christmas in the Park brings more people into Downtown San José because it’s more exciting than the day-to-day the rest of the year. Kinesiology sophomore Arlene Abella said every aspect of Christmas in the Park is magical. “From the fake snow, to the beautiful Christmas

CA cleans state with initiative By Julia Chie STAFF WRITER

California Gov. Gavin Newsom launched an initiative called Clean California in July 2021, and progress on the project has been successful. According to a webpage on Gov. Newsom’s website, employees have cleared over two million cubic yards of trash than projected this year. Caltrans, or the California Department of Transportation removed 267,000 cubic yards of trash in 2020. Through Clean CA, it was projected it would remove an additional 1.2 million cubic yards of trash from the state highway system alone, according to Gov. Newsom’s website. To date, the $1 billion project has cleared 2 million cubic yards of litter from roadsides and employed 8,700 people according to Gov. Newsom’s website. Caltrans estimates that Clean CA will create an estimated 10,000 to 11,000 jobs by 2024. These will include jobs and opportunities for people experiencing homelessness, at-risk youth and people re-entering society following incarceration, according to the same website. Sociology assistant professor Preston Rudy said it’s striking that public spaces are not cared for in California. “In my opinion, the job creation program is one way to address the absence of jobs for many California citizens and solve the public trash problem that is pervasive,” Rudy stated in an email. “These are not individual problems that are solvable by means of individual responsibility, they are public problems that affect all of us.” Rudy stated the plan may give employees temporary resources to avoid poverty or homelessness, and the results of their work will likely give significant results. “Long-term solutions will require an array of programs to repair our society,” he stated. “A jobs

decorations and seeing happy people everywhere, I see genuine Christmas spirit,” Abella said. She said that her favorite thing to do at the park is to ride the Ferris wheel because of the high view you can see at the top, and that Christmas in the Park is a necessary thing to go to during the holidays. “No matter how old you

are, grab your favorite people and go to Christmas in the Park,” Abella said. “I see smiles and laughs from everyone of all ages, and I can truly feel the Christmas spirit.”

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think, ‘What’s gonna make me feel good in the moment?’ but sometimes Continued from page 1 you gotta feel out your emotions,” Varma said. academics,” Gallegos said. “Your emotions are a “I feel like maybe I put spectrum and you’re so much energy in high supposed to be angry, school that I lost all of it.” you’re supposed to Varma said there are a be upset, that’s the way number of ways to heal of life.” from burnout, including Nguyen said she socializing through clubs has noticed the stark or events hosted by San difference between the José State, trying out new levels of difficulty in high hobbies alone and seeking school and at SJSU. professional help. “It’s a slap in the face,”

BURNOUT

I’ve started experiencing a lot of anxiety to the point where I reached out for mental health services for the first time ever. Lindsey Nguyen math eduction freshman

INFOGRAPHIC BY JULIA CHIE

program is one piece of that larger puzzle, because it is likely that homelessness in particular is a major cause of the pervasive trash we see in public spaces.” Rudy also stated that social problems like these need to confront profiteering and privatization of public programs. “This program is perhaps a possibility for changing the assumptions we have about public programs as effective solutions to social and environmental problems,” he said. “Environmental problems more particularly are only going to be solved collectively and by means of leadership from state institutions,” he stated. Deb Kramer, executive director for Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful, said she co-hosted a cleanup event with Caltrans at Selma Olinder Park along Coyote Creek. “In terms of job creation, my sense is that a lot of this money will go directly to consultants for program and project design, and to agencies to hire people,” she said through email. “And, some of it goes to existing programs so that the agency

doesn’t have to pull from their general fund.” Kramer said the types of jobs created are what matters most. “Low paying jobs for trash collection are not as valuable to the economy and environment as education since education assumes deterring trash creation,” she said. Katherine Kao Cushing, environmental studies chair and associate professor, said any program that provides economic security to vulnerable individuals is a win-win. Cushing is also a senior advisor for CommUniverCity, a community building partnership between San José State University, the city and underserved neighborhoods in San José, according to its website. “In San José, Mayor (Sam) Liccardo initiated a ‘Cash for Trash’ program aimed at some of the same goals,” Cushing said through email. “Cash for Trash is a collaborative program with the BeautifySJ initiative and Mastercard. They provided garbage bags and debit cards to homeless residents to pick up trash for up to $20 per

day. Each bag they brought to program officials would equate to $4, according to an ABC7 article. Cushing said the program paid a modest sum to those collecting trash and was difficult to implement during the pandemic. “(Littering) is often one of the top three resident concerns CommUniverCity SJSU staff hear about at neighborhood association meetings,” Cushing said. She said both plant disease and litter are both unsightly and have other significant and negative impacts on the environment. “Litter is a huge source of contamination for local creeks, the Bay and the coast. Most aquatic debris originates from land litter,” Cushing said. “Programs like the ones that will be funded by this program, if implemented properly, can be an effective way of keeping our waterways clean.”

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Varma said alone time can be especially valuable in the healing process for those who dedicate a lot of time to others. “You are a friend to you . . . you need to remind yourself that you’re not just there to provide for others and to get work done,” Varma said. “You’re also there to take care of you and make sure that that person within you is being treated as well.” Roughly 86% of college students in the U.S. felt overwhelmed and almost 39% felt so depressed it was difficult to function, according to a 2017 report released by the American College Health Association. Mat h e du c at i on freshman Lindsey Nguyen said the amount of time she has to dedicate to academics has given her a lot of anxiety. Varma said students who care for others and forget to care for themselves should try to practice the opposite of the golden rule, “treat yourself the way you would treat others.” One form of emotional self-care is for students to let themselves cry when they need to, according to Varma. “When we think of emotional self-care, we

Nguyen said. “Even though I went to a college prep school where I took community college classes, it is not the same. I’ve just been in this big adjustment period.” She said she has noticed a decline in her mental health since coming to SJSU, and said she has experienced strong feelings of being burnt out. Wor k s h op s like “Burnout Is Real: Avoid It!” are provided by SJSU to give students the tools they need to cope with the difficulties of life as a college student, and Nguyen said this one was valuable to her. “I’ve started experiencing a lot of anxiety to the point where I reached out for mental health services for the first time ever,” Nguyen said. “To be able to put a name to how I feel, and then be able to figure out ways to prevent it or help it was really helpful to me.”

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2023

ALBUM REVIEW

‘New Blue Sun’ was worth the wait By Alexia Frederickson A&E EDITOR

Atlanta-based rapper and singer André Lauren Benjamin, commonly known by his stage name André 3000, released his debut studio album “New Blue Sun” on Nov. 17. It is the first full-length album in 17 years from Benjamin, who is most known for his work with rap duo OutKast. Instead of being a rap album as he is most known for, “New Blue Sun” is a lush flute-based instrumental album that is absolutely gorgeous. Though many fans are reasonably shocked by the rapper returning as a flutist with an experimental ambient project, “New Blue Sun” is a brilliant — if understated— showcase of Benjamin’s incredible musicianship. The album is an ambient, jazz-inspired soundscape that features no drums or vocals and is largely driven by Benjamin’s gorgeous

flute playing accompanied by a wide range of backup instruments. The first track on the album, titled “I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a 'Rap' Album but This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time” tells you just about everything you need to know about “New Blue Sun,” both literally and musically. The 12-minute intro track is a slow-burning symphony of repetitive synths and chimes that is a joy to listen to and despite its long runtime and repetitive flute melody, it never feels like it gets old. I can say that about the album as a whole. I never truly felt bored upon any of my listens, which is impressive considering its hour and a half long runtime with songs that last upwards of 17 minutes. “Buy Pol o D i s ord e r ' s Daughter Wears a 3000® Button Down Embroidered” is one of my favorite tracks on the album, with synths

album review “New Blue Sun” Rating:

Artist: André 3000 Release Date: Nov. 17, 2023 Genre: Ambient, Jazz

and instrumentation that remind me of his hip-hop roots. It reminds me of a lot of producers such as Brian Eno and Aphex Twin. There’s an incredible, almost experimental range of sounds and influences on this album, from soul and r&b-inspired rhodes movie soundtrack-inspired strings. The piano melodies of “Ghandi, Dalai Lama, Your Lord & Savior J.C. / Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, and John Wayne Gacy” are both dramatic and incredible and the track goes from relaxing to straight up haunting with melodies that eerily clash with each other. I’ve heard a lot of critically acclaimed ambient music before, and a lot of it isn’t for me. I’m generally not a fan of music that isn’t made for active listening, but “New Blue Sun” reeks of Benjamin’s unique personality. Each of the track titles are ridiculous and imaginative. The album is littered with a sort of experimentation and charm that most ambient albums lack. There’s countless moments of left-field instrumentation all throughout “New Blue Sun” that always keep the sound fresh, with no two moments sounding the same. Even though many fans (including me) are still holding out for a rap

ILLUSTRATION BY TRACY ESCOBEDO

project from Benjamin, “New Blue Sun” isn’t exactly a complete left turn from his previous work. OutKast’s work is heavily influenced by jazz and ambient music, especially their 1996 album “ATLiens,” which is one of my favorite hip-hop records of all time. If you’re looking for catchy hooks to jam to, look elsewhere. You will absolutely get bullied by

your friends if you put this album on the Aux in the car. I won’t be putting any of these songs on my playlists any time soon.But if you are looking for something beautiful to listen to while you study or fall asleep, “New Blue Sun” is a fantastic choice. I can imagine there’s going to be plenty of great rap songs that sample this album in the next few years.a Benjamin’s flute playing is

really wonderful to listen to and it’s something I hope he explores more. He’s such an accomplished musician who has already proved countless times that he’s among the best and I am happy to hear any future release from him.

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THE RHOM RECAP

The ladies of the 305 can’t seem to jive By Matthew Gonzalez EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Subpar basketball and verbal brawls were the focus of the fourth and newest episode of “The Real Housewives of Miami.” Along with this sporty installment of Season 6, we were also gifted with a minute-long rendition of whatever opera song Julia sang at Adriana’s house in preparation to serenade Martina at her “Fuck Cancer” party. This was also the first episode to give us a look at Adriana’s home, which I felt was gorgeous and will be a perfect battleground for Episode 5. Adriana was a name we heard a lot this episode and if she isn’t upgraded to a full-blown housewife next season I’d be shocked, because she was at the center of all the drama. Another non-full-time housewife who entertained me the whole episode was Marysol, as she and Alexia

both unleashed their wrath against Adriana in the Sprinter van on the way to Larsa’s Make-AWish exhibition basketball game. This episode confirmed a couple of things for me. Firstly, Bravo needs to put these women in a Sprinter van every episode and secondly, the producers for “RHOM” need a raise for their clever editing. Jody, who Lisa admitted she refers to as “Uncle Jody” in front of her kids, which is weird in its own right, also revealed that her children also see her hanging out with a lot of gay men therefore allowing Jody’s title card to read “Guncle Jody.” A “Guncle” is a portmanteau combining “gay” and “uncle,” according to me ... a certified Guncle. I’m not usually a fan of labeling a clearly straight man as being gay, but Bravo did it in a tonguein-cheek way that added some humor to an already

entertaining 43 minutes of catfighting. The sagacious editing didn’t stop there, as the women gathered in the Sprinter van, each cast member affirmed in their interviews that they weren’t going to say anything about their knowledge of Guerdy’s breast cancer diagnosis to which their title cards read “told by Larsa.” Eventually, when the camera pans in on Larsa, her title card reads: “Basically told everyone” clearly referring to Larsa’s inability to keep Guerdy’s secret. The tumultuous trip to Larsa’s event didn’t stop at editing, surprisingly it was Adriana’s flatulence that catalyzed all the chaos. Claiming that she was gassy because she had eaten corn earlier, Adriana’s gas seemed to rub Alexia and Marysol the wrong way. Adriana overheard the pair expressing their disgust for her during a pit stop, saying that they

didn’t want to sit in another person’s fart odor. Once back on the van, Adriana confronted Marysol for shit talking her (pun intended) and I couldn’t help but take a moment to appreciate the flatulence to fighting storyline this episode offered. Shortly after Alexia joined the fray, accosting Adriana for talking poorly about her marriage and I agree with our Cuban barbie. I don’t understand how Adriana can be upset with people not wanting to smell her farts. That’s disgusting, and quite honestly if someone who is speaking poorly about me or my marriage is threatening me with their gas, I’d go on a diatribe too. That being said, watching Adriana get scolded again was reminiscent of the gang-up mentality of Season 5. I’ve said this before, but any cast of any Housewives

GRAPHIC BY JOANNA CHAVEZ

franchise knows that in order to keep storyline moving and entertaining, alliances need to shift. If this episode is any indication, it doesn’t seem like Bravoholics will be seeing any unsurprising confrontations between Alexia, Marysol and Adriana. What we did get to see however, is Adriana falling while attempting to get a basketball after being shunned from the group in the Don Julio 1942-clad

locker rooms, adding to my pity for her in this episode. Okay, I laughed a little. The basketball game was a nice, lighthearted way to close out yet another strong episode of “RHOM” which is seemingly cementing itself as Bravo’s flagship franchise.

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SPORTS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2023

FOOTBALL

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SJSU ATHLETICS

San José State junior wide receiver Nick Nash catches a 51-yard pass in a win against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday.

Spartans upset Rebels in Vegas By Nathan Canilao SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The San José State football team finished out the regular season on a six-game winning streak as the Spartans defeated the University of Nevada, Las Vegas 37-31 on Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. UNLV (9-3, 6-2 MWC) came into Saturday as the No. 1 team in the conference and had the highest scoring offense in the Mountain West, but could not contain SJSU’s (7-5, 6-2 MWC)

SPARTANS

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rushing attack. Senior running back Kairee Robinson rushed for 165 yards on 16 carries and scored 2 touchdowns. Junior running back Quali Conley added 64 yards. “There was a time when San José State wasn’t playing meaningful games in November, but now we are,” SJSU head coach Brent Brennan said. “I’m so proud of this team and this coaching staff.” On the third play of the game, quarterback Chevan Cordeiro found junior tight end Sam Olson for a 56-yard touchdown to give SJSU an early 7-0 lead. Cordeiro finished completing 19-of-26 passes for 249 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Spartans took a 17-0 lead after Robinson rushed in for a 25-yard touchdown. SJSU led 20-10 going into halftime. The Spartans took their largest lead of the game in the second half when Robinson scored his second touchdown of the game, this time on a 40-yard run down the left sideline that gave SJSU a 37-17 lead.

ABOUT

EDITORIAL STAFF

The Spartan Daily prides itself on being the San José 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 José 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 EDITORS IRENE ADELINE MILANEZ ALINA TA A&E EDITOR ALEXIA FREDERICKSON SPORTS EDITOR MAT BEJARANO SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR BOJANA CVIJIC

The score also gave Robinson the SJSU all-time single-season touchdown record as he scored his 20th touchdown of the season. The Rebels nearly came back from a 20-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Freshman quarterback Jayden Maiava threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Corey Thompson Jr. that cut the SJSU lead to 37-31 with just over a minute left in the game. The Spartans recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock to seal the win. “I’m just super proud of my guys,” Robinson said. “Just being able to get back to the basics of what we’ve been doing each and every week has been great. And to go from 1-5 to where we are now, you can see the results now.” The Spartans will look for their first bowl game victory since the 2012 Military Bowl when they beat Bowling Green State University 29-20. Their opponent will be announced on Sunday.

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 AALIYAH ROMAN MAYA BENMOKHTAR

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LAMAR MOODY ILLUSTRATORS JOANNA CHAVEZ TRACY ESCOBEDO PRODUCTION CHIEF MIKE CORPOS NEWS ADVISER RICHARD CRAIG

San José State junior wide receiver Isaac Jernagin waves toward the Spartans’ sideline in SJSU’s win against UNLV.

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EMAIL: spartandailyadvertising@gmail.com CORRECTIONS POLICY The Spartan Daily corrects all significant errors that are brought to our attention. If you suspect we have made such an error, please send an email to spartandaily@gmail.com. EDITORIAL POLICY Columns are the opinion of individual writers and not that of the Spartan Daily. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Editorial Board, which is made up of student editors.

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SPORTS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2023

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Spartans poach visiting Bison By Nathan Canilao SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The San José State men’s basketball team captured its third win in a row after defeating North Dakota State University 78-65 Monday night at home. S e n i or for w ard Trey Anderson led all scorers with 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field. Junior forward Tibet Görener scored 15 points and guard Myron Amey Jr. added 14 points to go along with 10 rebounds. “It was a good win for the Spartans tonight,” SJSU head coach Tim Miles said. “North Dakota State’s a tough team physically and mentally. They MAYA BENMOKHTAR | SPARTAN DAILY challenged us in a lot of San José State junior guard Alvaro Cardenas dribbles down the court against North Dakota State University in the Spartans’ third-straight win Monday. different ways.”

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The Spartans struggled to shoot the ball in the first half. SJSU shot just 40% from the field and 33% from behind the arc. Despite the cold shooting half, the Spartans led 32-27 going into halftime. SJSU took control of the game 10 minutes into the second half. The Spartans went on a 25-19 run to end the game, led by a 14-point

second half performance from Anderson. “This team needs me to score first, so I feel like every game I have to have the mindset to come in and score,” Anderson said. Miles and SJSU players said the game had a Mountain West feel to it. “They are a strong program that could compete with Mountain West teams,” Miles said. “I scheduled this game

for a reason.” Miles also confirmed forward Robert Vaihola underwent season-ending surgery on a leg injury and will miss the rest of the season at the post-game

UPCOMING GAME SJSU @ Cal Poly Nov. 29 @ 7 p.m. PST TV: ESPN+

press conference junior. Vaihola averaged 7.6 p oints and 6.5 rebounds coming off the bench this season. He was slated to be a starter after Ibrahima Diallo, last season’s starting center, transferred to the University of Central Florida earlier this year. This won’t be the only time these two teams will meet. The Spartans are set to travel to Fargo, North

Dakota on Dec. 4 to face the Bisons on the road. But first, SJSU is scheduled to travel to San Luis Obispo to face Cal Poly in its next game at 7 p.m. at the Mott Athletics Center on Wednesday.

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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Spartans stomp out the Flames

NIKITA BANKAR | SPARTAN DAILY

San José State senior forward Alani Fluker surveys the court in the Spartans’ blowout win against Bethesda at the Provident Credit Union Event Center on Monday.

By Nathan Canilao SENIOR STAFF WRITER

It was the biggest ass-whooping a San José State basketball team has ever given out— literally. The Spartans (4-4) defeated Bethesda University (0-8) 122-28 on Monday night at Provident Credit Union Event Center, capping off a record-breaking night. Sophomore guard Sabrina Ma led SJSU with a

UPCOMING GAME SJSU @ CSUF Nov. 29 @ 7 p.m. PST TV: ESPN+

career-high 31 points and shot seven of 15 from behind the arc. Junior forward/center Amhyia Moreland added 26 points and 12 rebounds, both were career-highs. “Tonight was a good opportunity to get back to a good game,” SJSU head coach April Phillips said. “Some of our players got high numbers and that’s always a fun experience.” Ma got going in the first half, hitting four corner 3-pointers in a row. SJSU shot 57.8% from the field and 40% from the 3-point line in the first half. “I was surprised at how open I was honestly,” Ma said. “But the way (Bethesda) were in a 2-3 zone, I think we handled it well.” At halftime, the Spartans

led 63-18. The second half was much of the same for SJSU. Bethesda was only able to score 10 points in the second half. Senior point guard Sophia Jones, daughter of ESPN commentator Mark Jones, made her season debut in the second half. Jones tore her ACL before the 2022-23 season and was sidelined for the beginning of this season. With her dad in the stands, Jones scored her first points since the 2021-22 season on a right-wing jumper that gave SJSU a 97-23 lead in the fourth quarter. As Sophia ran back on defense, Mark Jones was seen tearing up in the stands. He later took to X to say,

“Fourteen months of painful rehab and physiotherapy from a torn ACL & meniscus..and my daughter @sophiajones_2 finally made it back into the court. Sometimes your children inspire you in unimaginable

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ways. Grateful to have been there for the moment.” The Spartans set a record with most field goals made in a game with 49. SJSU is still missing four players ( Ma r i s a D av i s - Jo n e s , Finau Tonga, Jasmine Singleton and Sofia Kelemeni) out with injury. Up next for the Spartans is a four-game road trip on the west coast. SJSU is scheduled to play at 7 p.m. on Wednesday against the California State University of Fullerton at the Titan Gym in Fullerton.

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OPINION

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2023

Meta is damaging young users Julia Chie

rates of user harm and refusing to address those harms, according to the same website. Meta has violated a number of laws, including the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), a federal law that protects the online privacy of children under 13 years old, according to Bonta’s website.

STAFF WRITER

From the moment I wake up, past the moment I’m asleep, I am religiously scrolling through Instagram or waiting for a text from my friends. Technology impacts every single aspect of a modern life. I didn’t have a phone until I was in middle school. My 4-year-old little cousin has been watching kids shows on his iPad since birth. Kids these days almost come out of the womb knowing how to use an Apple product, but they don’t know how much data social media companies have collected about them. Not even adults do. I believe media literacy is a nonnegotiable skill. It should be taught starting in elementary school, not just in higher education. Media literacy is a framework to access, analyze, evaluate, create and participate with messages in a variety of forms — from print to video to the Internet, according to Media Literacy Now organization. One of my professors from my first semester journalism courses was the epitome of speculating about systems of power. Former San José State University professor Halima Kazem-Stojanovic served 15 years as a journalist covering the war in Afghanistan. From this experience she was inclined to always second-guess institutions. One important thing that opened my eyes about navigating the news was the influence of the media, and how it sells user data after they accept cookies. Attorney General of California, Rob Bonta, co-led a bipartisan coalition of 33 state attorney generals in filing a federal lawsuit against Meta, formerly known as Facebook, according to his website. Meta is a social technology company according to its webpage. Many states have also filed similar actions in state courts, including Florida and Massachusetts, according to Bonta’s website. Meta’s misconduct includes creating a business model focused on maximizing young users’ time on its platforms, employing manipulative features, publishing misleading reports to show low

Frances Haugen anonymously filed complaints with federal law enforcement as a former employee of Facebook in 2021, according to an interview with 60 Minutes. While working there, Haugen scanned thousands of documents that showed how the company amplifies hate misinformation including conspiracy theories, political unrest and harms teenagers' body images, especially for girls. Rhonda Holberton, an associate professor for Digital Media Art at SJSU, said he focuses on teaching the impact of digital media in the world. When Haugen came out as the Facebook whistleblower, Holberton quickly started incorporating interviews about the vigilante into her own curriculum. Facebook’s own research shows the extent of harm they have on societies across the world, yet they still hide what they know about the damage they are causing. The military used Facebook in 2018 to launch a genocide in Myanmar, according to the same 60 Minutes interview. “I really wanted to ensure

that I got student perspectives on this, but also talk about how this affects our experience of the world,” Holberton said. Though media is a subject of its own, media literacy is interdisciplinary. Holberton may be in the department of Art and Art History, but in my opinion she is right to implement media education no matter what department she may be involved in. Once youth are educated, they can better use their voice to civically engage with social media issues. “I was a little concerned that we wouldn’t really see action being taken from our civic representatives,” Holberton said. “Meta wants to kind of absolve themselves of responsibility, they’re not a news platform.” People care deeply about the mental health of kids and adults, especially parents of Generation Z and Alpha kids who have been noticeably affected by social media platforms. I have personally struggled with fogs of anxiety and body image, and wonder if I would be happier if my phone didn't have such a grip on my attention throughout the day. Meta needs to be held accountable for their actions, but business models as a whole are going to have to change. “As long as the data that we produce ourselves, about ourselves, is the product, there is going to be an incentive to keep people on the app as long

as possible,” Holberton said. “It just so happens that the most psychologically harmful content is the most addicting.” For example, if you are watching a video of a tiger running towards you, your heart rate will quicken and your brain will respond. But without a physical response, that adrenaline rush is inevitably unhealthy. Holberton said since there is no healthy bodily output in response to what is happening chemically in a person’s brain when they are using social media, it is terrifyingly addictive. Magdalini Eirinaki, computer engineering professor and program coordinator for the masters program in artificial intelligence, said there’s very little regulation in the area of social networks. “Europe is a bit ahead of us, in general, (they) protect the data of the users,” she said. “The US is trailing behind. Something has to be done to bring awareness to the public about what's going on.” Eirinaki said nobody knows exactly what goes on in these social networks’ algorithms, because no one discloses the data that these companies are gathering. She said one reason apps want users to stay as engaged as possible is because they host promoted content, e-commerce and advertisements. Eirinaki said body image, selfharm and erratic behavior are all subjects that teenagers are more prone to using these apps. “The problem with this is they

create this bubble and this rabbit hole,” Eirinaki said. “In order to keep you engaged they will keep showing you the same type of content.” Sam Altman, former CEO of OpenAI, testified before Congress in May emphasizing the importance of government intervention in AI, or Artificial Intelligence. OpenAI is the company that creates ChatGPT and a number of other AI platforms. ChatGPT in particular is an AI that answers questions, and has a free version as well as a more advanced forpay program according to their website. “It was clear that was better than the Meta hearings, but it was also kind of disconcerting,” Holberton said. “We were just letting these things run wild before we have consensus on how we want to ethically use them.” The extent of what harm has been done to not only children, but to societies around the world. Meta is exactly the reason why they are paying reparations to ethnic groups in Myanmar, and being sued by a number of federal and state courts. Holberton said there are some shifts being made to ensure that data itself is bedded and accurate. She said historical records are biased, but we can trust in educational and civically engaged institutions to help mitigate some of the bias when injecting AI algorithms into our lives. Eirinaki said the average person doesn’t know to the full extent of what websites are asking when they blindly agree to sell their information. “Right now we have to opt out by default,” she said. “You accept that they will be tracking you and all your data for different purposes.” One way I protect myself from algorithm tracking is searching for something I wouldn’t normally search for. To confuse the system, I will randomly search for tie sales near me or ferret adoptions. Though maybe everyone in a capitalistic world is exploited to some extent for money, it is your personal right to be educated on what companies like Meta are doing with you and your childrens’ data.

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Decorate your virgin skin with ink Maya Benmokhtar STAFF WRITER

Tattoos are more than just ink on skin; they're living art, a canvas of personal expression. I remember when I turned 16 and asked my parents to give me the green light to get a tattoo. Their first question was “What are you going to do when you’re 70 or when you want to get a professional job?” Dad, Mom, this isn't the 1900s anymore. Tattoos have undergone a transformative journey, from their cultural and spiritual significance to their place in modern society as expressions of individuality and personal narratives. Each tattoo I have tells a story, a chapter of my life inked into existence. They're reminders of pivotal moments, passions and beliefs of mine. As much as I adore all my tattoos,

I can admit that some were dumb ideas. I was young and nobody stopped me. Well, I’m sure someone would have stopped me if I told them before impulsively imprinting them on my skin forever. My first tattoo was a princess crown on my finger. If you look at my index finger now, there is nothing but a scar. You live and you learn. Turns out, getting a tattoo removed is nearly, if not more expensive than the tattoo itself. This isn't the only tattoo I have regretted. Last year I thought to myself, “What the heck, let me just order a tattoo machine and give it a try, it can’t be that hard”. I was incredibly and utterly wrong. Of course I was too impatient and too impulsive to sketch out my designs before practicing on synthetic skin. It wasn’t too long before I proceeded to tattoo a huge eight-ball right above my own ankle. I went to a tattoo parlor a couple of months later and got the eight-ball reworked. Now I love everything about this tattoo. My point is, yes, I make a lot of impulsive decisions but in the end, I learn from my mistakes. Thankfully,

there are talented artists that can make a tattoo go from fugly to incredible. Despite some trial and error with certain tattoos I have on my body —or no longer have— there are so many others that I love and can guarantee I will cherish forever. Tattoos bridge the gap between inner emotions and outward identity, serving as a visual narration of who I am and what matters most to me. They're a form of empowerment, allowing me to share pieces of my journey with the world. My favorite tattoo has to be the Hamsa, also known as the hand of Fatima I have on my back. The Hamsa hand is a sign of protection, power, and strength, popular in my Middle Eastern and North African culture. This tattoo is one of many that represents my cultural background, and I love that I am able to tell my story through the art inked on my skin. One thing I have learned about tattoos is to take my time. I no longer rush into a tattoo parlor if I have not fully fleshed out the design I want and envisioned it inked on my skin forever. Tattoos are permanent, and a

GRAPHIC BY MAYA BENMOKHTAR

cover-up or laser removal will drain They are ultimately an intimate my empty, college-student pockets tapestry of my history, passions, and and my negative balance bank aspirations. account. While tattoos themselves are Follow Maya on X expensive, I love the way they look (formerly Twitter) on my body and other people’s skin. @mayaben10

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2023

Our Gift to You for Shopping Local Spend $125 at downtown San Jose retail businesses between November 24 and December 24 and receive a $ 25 gift card to a downtown business. Scan the QR code or go to sjdowntown.com/holidays for details.

#DT ÄńŹš ƧšŨű ǺǱ ĸěĺŹűûŨ ńĎ ŞÓšĬěĺď Óšû = ++ ěĺ Ƕ ÓšĬ X ěűƘ ďÓšÓďûŨȣ ½ěŨěű ÓšĬ Xȣńšď űń įûÓšĺ ĸńšûȣ

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 1

57. Himalayan legend 58. Tug task 59. Sushi offering 60. C 65. Three, it is said 66. New Mexico art colony 67. Jamaican export 68. Corestates Center, for one 69. Verifiable 70. Start of North Carolina's motto DOWN 1. "Civil Disobedience," e.g. 2. "True Grit" Oscar winner 3. Annual awards since 1949 4. One of Lee's men 5. Inactivity 6. Nimble 7. "Do Ya" rock grp. 8. Modern safety device 9. Similarity comparison 10. Abysmal test score 11. Keyboard key 12. D.D.E.'s command 13. Bamboozle 18. Norwegian saint 19. Software developer output 24. Butterfly, e.g. 26. Croupier, at times

4 7 1 8 2 7 8 5 1 4 9 6 8 2 7 8 4 6 8 9 4 5 1 2 1

JOKIN’ AROUND Why did Sherlock Holmes go to the mexican restaurant?

1. This has a big mouth 5. Just a thought 9. Montezuma, for one 14. Ditto 15. Hoagie maker 16. Nifty, in the '50s 17. C 20. Whatever amount 21. Rent out the flat 22. Western tie 23. Sycophant 25. Hustle or bustle 26. British rule in India 29. C 33. What many golf balls become 36. Boozer 37. Rube 38. Tiny pond plant 39. Reprimand 42. Liberty ___ 43. Marilyn Monroe's real first name 45. Hall of Famer Durocher 46. Snack since 1912 47. C 51. Still 52. Modern forensic tool 53. Pictionary maker

ACROSS

SUDOKU PUZZLE

He was looking for a good caseidea.

CLASSIFIEDS

27. An Astaire 28. Dessert for Bill Cosby 30. Mythical bird 31. Enewetak or Kwajalein 32. Some factory workers 33. Plant with buttonlike yellow flowers 34. Secretly unite 35. Plumed wader 40. Hula hoop? 41. Shepherd's home 44. Supplemental material 48. Not fooled by 49. Passes out 50. Benjamin portrayer 54. They go with the floe 55. Lively dances 56. Doo-wop number, e.g. 57. Sign of boredom 58. Norse god of thunder 60. Elvis' record label 61. 1967 NHL Rookie of the Year 62. Stooge name 63. Dijon water 64. Expected

SOLUTIONS

NOVEMBER 21

S E T H C L A M P S U E T A S E A O A S I S O S L O W A R R I O R P R I N C E S S S U N D R I E S A C R E S L E N D E S M E K I N G O F T H E R O A D I N A N E L O A D V I E R A T E P O U N D E A R L A N I E R A S I S L E T Q U E E N O F H E A R T S A I M S L I V E O P E R A A U D I E N C E P R I N C E O F D E N M A R K T O R E R A R E R E P E E S P E D G R O S S D E E D

8 5 2 4 7 3 1 6 9

7 1 9 3 4 6 8 2 1 9 6 5 5 8 3 4 2 7

2 5 6 1 8 4 9 7 3 7 9 5 6 3 8 4 1 2 3 6 7 5 2 9 8 4 1

9 4 3 2 6 7 1 5 8 3 1 6 5 2 4 7 8 9 4 9 2 8 7 1 6 3 5

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2023