“Hands Off” protest continues at St. James Park
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SJSU sketches budget blueprint
By
Staff and faculty members filled the Student Union Theater to listen in on the financial status of San José State during Monday’s “Budget Town Hall.” The main topic that was covered was the university’s potential budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
Information regarding the school’s budget was delivered by university administrators including, Stan Nosek interim vice president for administration and finance and chief financial officer and SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson.
“The California State University (CSU) system is navigating significant financial challenges in the coming fiscal year influenced by the state budget reductions,” Nosek said.
There is a chance that the school might lose $25 million due to a proposed budget cut from the state government, according to Teniente-Matson.
California Governor Gavin Newsom proposed an 8% budget cut in all state operations according to a May 10, 2024 article from CalMatters.
These cuts will include shrinking college programs such as the Middle Class Scholarship according to the same source.
The Middle Class Scholarship is a scholarship given to students with
family incomes up to $226,000 according to an SJSU webpage.
“These state level decisions have serious consequences and today we’re doing the work to maintain the strongest position possible,” Teniente Matson said. “The CSU is advocating for full funding, publicly and privately.”
As of now the SJSU administration does not know exactly what the school’s budget is going to be for the next fiscal year.
“At the system wide level, the CSU budget planning process is a comprehensive multi-phase cycle during June through August,”
Nosek said. “The budget follows the state and CSU budget allocations and the president finalizes the budget as soon as practical after receiving the CSU allocation, typically no later than September.”
The CSU’s operating budget has two primary sources of funding including the state’s general fund and student tuition fees, according to a CSU webpage.
Amit Jain, associate vice president for budget planning and financial management said that the school’s operating budget for the current fiscal year is $482 million.
SJSU has a total campus budget of over $496 million, according to a CSU Funding webpage.
“The revenue consists largely of state appropriation at about 52%,” Jain said. “Tuition and fees make up
39% of the revenue.”
A state appropriation is a legal authority granted to the state to disburse money or take on liabilities from a fund for a specific purpose, period and amount, according to a webpage from the California Department of General Services.
For the next fiscal year, the CSU faces a nonnegotiable $163.6 million cost for baseline commitments including financial aid, healthcare, liability and other necessities, according
to see that they’re at least doing these budget town halls and trying to be open with everyone, allowing us to ask the important questions.”
Some of these complicated moving pieces include U.S. President Donald J. Trump inadequately cutting off funding to universities that refuse to comply with his political agenda according to a March. 28 article from PBS Newshour.
Madura is also a member of the Academic Senate, a
operating officer and board secretary, said that she believes that President Teniente-Matson is doing well with managing the schools finances given the circumstances of external factors that she can’t control.
The Tower Foundation is a philanthropic partner of the university that manages endowments and gifts intended for academic and student purposes, according to an SJSU webpage.
“I feel like we’re under
I feel like we’re under good leadership with regards to financial management. I think this president came into challenging times with a structural budget deficit and that they made some difficult decisions to get us back on track.
Robin Reynolds
SJSU Tower Foundation chief operating officer and board secretary
to a different webpage from the CSU.
Thomas Madura, an associate professor of physics and astronomy at SJSU, was among the faculty at the town hall and found the information presented to be very useful.
“I would say that for the most part, I’m pretty satisfied so far with the local administration and how they have been handling things,” Madura said. “I also think that there are a lot of very complicated moving pieces, especially from the federal side. But I’m glad
group of senators consisting of administrators, alumni, students and faculty that give recommendations to the president regarding issues such as faculty affairs, student affairs and curriculum, according to an SJSU webpage.
“As faculty and as part of the (Academic) Senate, I’m really concerned about the current budget situation and I want to make sure that the university is doing its best for all faculty and students,” Madura said.
Robin Reynolds, SJSU Tower Foundation chief
good leadership with regards to financial management,” Reynolds said. “I think this president came into challenging times with a structural budget deficit, and that they made some difficult decisions to get us back on track.”
Teniente-Matson assumed office in January 2023 after being appointed in November 2022, according to an SJSU webpage.
In the 2023-24 school year, the university had a structural deficit of $14.7 million according to
the annual budget report from that year. Raymand Buyco, another academic senator and history lecturer, was in attendance for the budget town hall.
“I am cautiously optimistic, but also apprehensive as (to) what might happen with federal dollars,” Buyco said. “But I wanted to be here and listen to what I thought was a very good presentation on the budget.”
Buyco is also the president of the California Faculty Association (CFA) for the San José chapter.
The organization is a union of professors, lecturers, counselors and other staff members that advocate for quality education and fair treatment, according to a webpage from the CFA. When it comes to being informed about the schools budget, Buyco encourages students to attend these town halls and get an idea of where their tuition money is going.
“Many students are concerned about the cost of their education and wonder where the money goes, and wonder what the future of their undergraduate or graduate career might be here at San José State University,” Buyco said. “I think attending a budget town hall can explain particularly where their money is going.”
Stan Nosek, SJSU interim vice president for administration and finance and chief
Israel Archie SENIOR STAFF WRITER
SJ community protests Trump’s agenda
By Bryan Reos STAFF WRITER
“50501” Demonstrations
– 50 protests, 50 states , one movement, occurred all over the country with thousands protesting against President Donald J. Trump’s executive orders and policies including near San José State.
One of those demonstrations took place in San José at the statue of President William McKinley in St. James Park, a 13 minute walk from north of campus, to march and protest against the Trump administration’s abuses and corruption, according to a Santa Clara County Democratic Party events webpage.
Thousands gathered at the park to voice their displeasure at the Trump administration executive orders and policies resulting in the multiple protests happening across the country.
Many of the issues protesters had were related to the revocation of student visas in SJSU, immigration enforcements and many policies affecting the economy.
Tomara Hall, a special
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education teacher in San José, came to the “50501” demonstration at St. James Park to support the education system.
“The theme, right, hands off, and in my opinion, education right now is the number one thing, as a teacher, someone who’s devoted almost 11 years of my life to changing our world one mind at a time, that's the biggest thing,” Hall said.
Trump’s policies and executive orders instructed the U.S. Secretary of Education Linda E. McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education,” and to do so “to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law,” according to a March 21 NPR article.
This has resulted in the U.S. Department of Education initiating a reduction in force that has seen a 50% reduction of the department’s workforce, according to a U.S. Department of Education press release.
The reduction in staff means that many underprivileged and
high-poverty schools that receive government funding may have a harder time receiving help due to the low workforce, according to the same NPR article.
Derrick Diaz, a Vietnam
to go through Congress, so there’s no vote or anything like that.”
On Feb. 19, on the Truth Social media platform Trump said “LONG LIVE THE KING!” when discussing his
harder time getting approved and revoked visas, due to Trump’s executive order “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,”
at times might not even have protested at all for their visas to be revoked, according to an April 19 CNN article.
The theme, right, hands off, and in my opinion, education right now is the number one thing, as a teacher, someone who’s devoted almost 11 years of my life to changing our world one mind at a time, that’s the biggest thing.
Tomara Hall Special education teacher
War veteran, who also participated at the “50501” hand off demonstration, said he thinks Trump’s abuse of executive orders make him feel powerful.
“He said, I will be a king and this is how he’s doing it with the executive orders,” Diaz said. “It doesn’t have
Letters to the Editor may be placed in the letters to the editor box in the Spartan Daily office in Dwight Bentel Hall, Room 209 or emailed to spartandaily@gmail.com to the attention of the Spartan Daily Opinion Editor. Letters to the Editor must contain the author’s name, year and major. Letters become property of the Spartan Daily and may be edited for clarity, grammar, libel and length. Only letters of 300 words or less will be considered for publication. Published opinions and advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views of the Spartan Daily, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication or
administration’s move to kill New York City’s congestion pricing program, according to a New York Times article.
His wording has caused protesters to question if the Trump administration truly sees himself as a president or a tyrant.
Megan Sweet, SJSU alumna and activist, who also participated in the “50501” protest, questions the Trump administration’s abuse of power.
“These folks are more willing to bypass laws,” Sweet said. “They don’t really care about any previous precedents.”
International students who don’t have pro-American views and future applicants may have a
according to an American Council of Education article.
Recently, 13 international students at SJSU visas have been revoked, according to an April 9 Spartan Daily article.
“I think that’s really, really devastating,” Sweet said. “I think particularly they were caught off guard because there was a lot of understanding in the beginning of the administration, that they were just gonna come after quote on quote illegal immigrants and such, but this really just shows that they will go for anybody.”
International students must now watch what they post as the government is eyeing those with visas and
“Trump is a hypocrite, he’s got all these felonies and he’s telling other people how you violated the law now you can't be here,” Hall said. “That is an abuse of power.” More demonstrations are planned to protest the continued Trump administration executive orders and policies, according to the 50501 California events page.
“If you see something, say something,” Diaz said. “We’re seeing the steal of our democracy and we gotta say something, so we are out here saying it.”
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BRYAN REOS SPARTAN DAILY
Protesters gather near the statue of President William McKinley at St. James Park in San José on Saturday afternoon with signs against the current presidential administration.
Piñata party for 20 years of action
5 4 6 1 2
Peet’s Coffee, chocolate chip cookies, turkey sandwiches, candy and more are offered to students to enjoy in celebration of the 20th birthday of the César E.
#2: Maya Reyes-Nunez (left), a third-year biomedical engineering student and friend, crafts piñatas at the “Piñata Making Party” hosted by the action center.
#3: Students begin making their piñatas with balloons covered in papier mâché paste, newspaper and craft paper of multiple colors, glue, piñata hats and more provided by the César E. Chávez Community Action Center.
#4: A piñata created by Irma Juri, an organizer for the event, depicts a half-broken egg with a baby chick sitting inside.
#5: Eesha Patel, a first-year business student, adds the final touches of pink craft paper with paste to her piñata.
#1:
Chávez Community Action Center.
#6: Juri, wearing a bright orange name tag with a bunny clip in her hair and a small llama necklace for the occasion, carries a piñata design of a rat inside of an egg, shined by small Christmas lights at the bottom.
PHOTOS BY BRYAN REOS
Pop-up market brings style to SJ
By Alina Ta SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Around half a mile away from San José State, community members in downtown got to shop for second-hand vintage clothing on Saturday at So-So Market’s Y2K-themed pop-up event.
So-So Market is a pop-up event that provides access to local vendors that sell sustainable items while also creating a community for those interested in fashion, according to its webpage.
Over 30 vendors and dozens of customers filled the fenced-off area at the Valley Title parking lot on First and Second Street, selling and buying products, ranging from clothing to food to jewelry.
Xitlali Arguelles, an alumna from San José State, had her booth set up near the entrance of the pop-up market. At her booth, she sold and applied small, sparkly tooth gems to people’s teeth for her business “Xclusive Gems.”
“There’s so many celebrities like Drake, Tyler, athletes like Odell Beckham Jr., who have tooth gems,” Arguelles said. “There's an endless amount of names, but I think because of that, there's definitely been even more of a blow up just because people were like, ‘Ooh, that looks cool.’”
Arguelles said she was inspired to start “Xclusive Gems” after she saw her brother start his own thrift clothing business.
After she built her business, Arguelles became a vendor with So-So Market in 2024 for the first time.
and accessories.
Mier said one of her favorite pieces on their racks is a Rocawear purse with black, pleated leather.
“Basically, our whole thing is kind of like shopping (on) Depop in real life,” Mier said. “We like to carry a lot of cute Y2K outfits that we know the girls would love.”
Y2K fashion is an aesthetic that embraces a confident attitude with bright colors and curvehugging silhouettes, responding to the feeling of uncertainty, fear, optimism and novelty from the 2000s, according to a Jan. 26 article from Vogue.
“I was in elementary school at that time, but I would say, (my inspiration is) basically what people would be wearing to the club (18 and older),” Mier said. “I also always look at red carpet looks from that era, like Britney Spears, Beyoncé, the Cheetah Girls . . . That's where I kind of base what my Y2K would be for clothes.”
So-So Market, helps curate and coordinate the pop-up events.
“The majority of my work has been done unpaid–driven by a deep passion to uplift others and build something meaningful for the community,” Moncerat said in an email sent to the Spartan Daily.
organizations around the world to complete construction projects in retail, housing and more, according to its webpage.
“That moment sparked something much bigger: a movement rooted in creativity, collaboration, and community care,” Moncerat said. “I’m incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received from the San Jose community – it’s truly been a long time coming.”
“I think it’s super fun to just find stuff, so the struggle is eventually worth it when you do find really cute pieces or very rare pieces,” Mier said. “I feel like if we didn't struggle to find it, I feel like it would make it less fun.”
“I love doing markets because it's a great way to expand business, to meet new clientele,” Arguelles said. At the next booth, Keibeth Mier, a business owner who runs 444 Baddies with her sister, was sitting on a lawn chair behind a display of stickers and bedazzled lighters as customers explored their racks of vintage clothing
Mier said she was first inspired to be a vendor at So-So Market after visiting a couple of its previous pop-up locations in Berkeley and Santa Cruz. Now, she and her sister have been vendors at the market for two years.
Xitlaly Moncerat, the
She said the idea to expand So-So Market into San Jose began when a project management consultant from West Bank Corporations suggested the idea to help activate the downtown area while strengthening local businesses. West
Mier said the business of selling vintage Y2K items is becoming more competitive, but she still loves doing the work.
Between 2023 and 2024, the
Jordan Michelena, a third-year theater arts student, was still wearing their work uniform when they were looking through the racks at the 444 Baddies booth with their partner.
“I’m out here at the So-So Market to be able to find second-hand pieces that fit my style, that (are) made (or) found by local vendors,” Michelena said.
“I like finding the
In 2024, 68% of Gen Z consumers shopped for second-hand clothing, according to the same report from ThredUp. Michelena said Saturday was not their first time at So-So Market. Their favorite fashion piece they got from the pop-up market in the past was a black lace shirt Michelena bought from a friend for $5.
“Last time we were here, me and my partner (also) got these crocheted flowers, which were really nice because they'll live forever,” Michelena said.
Around 66% of consumers at younger ages reported that they would shop more for second-hand items if new government policies around tariffs and trade made apparel more expensive, according to the same report from ThredUp. Michelena said they choose to shop for second-hand clothing and accessories because they are typically made with better quality. If a clothing piece doesn’t fit, Michelena and their partner discuss whether or not they should put time and effort into sewing and adjusting the fit.
“They don't make clothes like they used to,” Michelena said. “Even if you don't care about the environmental impact, your style will improve, because people were more creative back then, and your clothes will last. They will actually last you.”
jewelry made by people here. It's just everything all together at once, right by campus, where I'm able to check out cool clothes.”
ALINA TA | SPARTAN DAILY
Jordan Michelena (left) and their partner, Lucas Robin (right), both third-year theatre art students, look through
colorful pieces of clothing while visiting the vintage pop-up market, So-So Market, in San José Downtown, half
Trump’s Easter spectacle is rotten
By Nicole DeVries STAFF WRITER
The White House Easter Egg Roll promised to be a day of springtime cheer with games, music and thousands of children finding eggs across the South Lawn in celebration, but that cheer slowly faded once the reality of President Donald J. Trump’s plans came to light.
The White House’s insistent use of sky-high priced eggs for its Easter celebration while Americans are struggling to afford their groceries reflects Trump's indifference to the average American
The president demanded the use of 30,000 real eggs, even as families across the country continue to struggle with soaring egg prices, according to an April 3 NBC News article.
Having eggs has become a luxury, something people have to carefully consider before buying.
Egg prices have become a national pain point, with grocery store egg costs rising 5.9% in March alone and more than 60% higher than
they were a year ago, according to an April 10 New York Times article.
These increases, largely driven by the bird flu and related production issues, are having a real impact on families who are struggling to afford this basic staple, all while Trump continues to claim
KRNV News 4
“And we did an unbelievable job, and now eggs are all over the place. And the price went down 92%,” said Trump. He is right about one thing: everything he said was unbelievable.
like Trump is missing the point entirely. I can’t even remember the last time I purchased eggs because of the rising cost of basic groceries.
In a video posted to the KRNV News 4 official YouTube channel on Thursday, Trump addressed the issue of egg inflation with little concern for those affected.
“I was there (in office) for seven days and I hear that eggs (prices) have gone through the roof before I got there and they were screaming at
me,” President Trump said. “The press, the fake news like you, (Reporter) you’re fake. And the fake news is screaming at me like about eggs.”
hard not to feel
Trump speaks as if our economy is thriving, but people can’t afford basic groceries anymore and buying the essentials shouldn’t be this overwhelming.
administrator, Charles Wilson, in 1918 that wartime restrictions would not allow eggs to be used for the Easter Egg Roll and cancelled the event, according to the official White House Historical Association webpage.
Seeing thousands of real eggs rolled across the White House lawn in the middle of a national food shortage doesn’t just feel excessive, it feels like a slap in the face.
That kind of disconnect eggs us on, not in a good way.
More recently, the event faced interruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, proving that even traditions as joyful as an Easter egg hunt are not immune to the
It serves as a reminder that some leaders, such as Trump, are too out of touch to understand what people need.
justify buying a halfdozen eggs for myself, watching this kind of extravagance,
The reality is that while wholesale egg prices may have decreased, the prices at the grocery store remain high, according to a March 17 CNBC article.
or find
That disparity is not being addressed.
This is not the first time the U.S. has had to navigate economic challenges during Easter celebrations at the White House.
The White House Easter Egg Roll itself has been postponed in the past due to similar economic pressures on resources.
alternatives – like using plastic eggs, which are in abundance — why in 2025 are we insisting on using real eggs?
The District of Columbia food
Seeing thousands of real eggs rolled across the White House lawn in the middle of a national food shortage doesn’t just feel excessive, it feels like a slap in the face.
When I can’t
highlights how
nearly half of consumers said they are modifying their Easter plans because of recent egg prices.
disconnected our leaders are from the reality most people are living.
For many families, Easter has become a balancing maintaining tradition while also navigating the harsh increases in prices that make these events seem more out of
In a recent shopping survey by Ziff Davis,
Economic concerns are shaping how we celebrate, forcing many to find ways to uphold Easter traditions even when they can no longer afford one of its most iconic staples.
While the tradition of the Easter Egg Roll remains an important symbol of American culture, it’s clear that the cost of participating in these festivities has increased, making the celebration feel more like an exclusive event than a universally accessible tradition.
According to the White House’s official website, the Easter Egg Roll uses a lottery ticket system for a chance to attend.
While the lottery is meant to offer equal access, it does little to offset the tone-deaf decision to use real eggs at a time when families are being priced out of necessities.
Spartans fall to Aztecs at home
By Nicole DeVries STAFF WRITER
The San José State baseball team gave up five runs in the top of the ninth inning and couldn’t recover from a 9-3 loss to San Diego State on Friday night at Excite Ballpark.
The Spartans (20-20, 8-10 MW) were within striking distance for most of the night, trailing 4-3 heading into the final frame.
While the Aztecs (14-26, 10-8 MW) extended the lead in the top of the ninth, capitalizing on a mix of timely hitting and defensive breakdowns that sealed the Spartans’ loss.
Head coach Brad Sanfilippo acknowledged his team’s resilience but pointed to missed chances as a key reason for the Spartans’ defeat.
“Obviously, we got some opportunities we didn’t cash in on,” Sanfilippo said. “You’ve got to take advantage of all those little things. You just gotta play a little cleaner baseball.”
The Aztecs grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the first inning after a dropped ball and a string of fielding miscues by the Spartans.
SJSU failed to answer in the bottom half of the same inning.
The Spartans responded in the bottom of the second with a run, bringing the score, 2-1.
The teams remained locked through the third and into the fourth, when San Diego State added a third run following
game out of the Spartans’ reach as their offense failed to answer in the bottom half of the ninth.
Infielder senior Alex Fernandes reached base three times, stole his 12th base of the season, and extended his hitting streak to nine games, standing out as one of the few bright spots in a game where the Spartans left eight runners on base.
Despite the loss, Tallerman expressed confidence in the team’s long-term focus, emphasizing that the ups and downs of the season haven’t shaken their morale.
another defensive fumble by the Spartans.
As the Spartans came up empty in the bottom of the fourth inning, both sides went scoreless through the fifth and sixth innings.
approach with two strikes, so I just had to keep making pitches and find a way to help the team just limit their runs and limit the traffic on base,”
strength at the plate early in the game.
Thomas said.
Despite the steady pitching, errors and stranded runners began to pile up for the Spartans.
Starting senior pitcher David Thomas worked six full innings, allowing only two earned runs on seven hits.
“They had a good
Thomas had to continue to adjust throughout the game to handle the Aztecs’
In the bottom of the seventh, the Spartans began to close the gap again when Jake McCoy came through with an RBI single, marking his 25th of the season.
That momentum helped carry the Spartans into the eighth inning, making it a one-run game.
Senior outfielder Zach Tallerman helped lead this late push with a 2-for-4 night at the plate, including an RBI single in the eighth.
The game marked his third multi-hit game of the
season, reflecting on the loss Tallerman said consistency will be the key moving forward.
“My biggest takeaways were, I mean, three errors never going to win a game compared to zero errors,” Tallerman said. “Offensively, we haven’t been as dominant as we have been.”
Relief pitchers, junior EJ McGrew and graduate student Joey Cammarata were called upon in the final three innings but weren’t able to stop the Aztecs’ ninth-inning surge.
SDSU added five insurance runs to put the
“We’re a tough group. We’re a resilient group… like I just said in the huddle back there, don’t lose sight of the fact that we’re gonna be the 2025 Mountain West Champions,” Tallerman said.
Team chemistry was one of the Spartans’ strongest assets in Friday’s matchup, and as they continue to grow, to work toward a spot in the Mountain West Championships.
SJSU is scheduled to face the University of San Francisco on the road at 2 p.m. today.
PHOTOS BY DANIEL POTTER | SPARTAN DAILY
Above: Spartans pitcher David Thomas throws a pitch on Friday
Below: San José State Infielder Antonio Nanez swings against
