SJ organizes Presidents’ Day protest
By Alina Ta SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Hundreds of protesters from in and outside of the Bay Area held a protest against President Donald J. Trump on Presidents’ Day in the Circle of Palms Plaza by the San José Museum of Art on Monday.
During the afternoon, protesters held up their signs to the air and chanted, “Elon has got to go,” while marching around the block through Market Street, San Fernando Street, First Street, past San José State’s Spartan Village on the Paseo and around Plaza de César Chávez.
Angel, a resident from Watsonville and local organizer for FiftyFiftyOne, said she chose to organize the protest in San José because she wanted residents from different parts of Northern California to be able to join the protest.
Angel requested to not include her last name out of fear of being doxxed.
FiftyFiftyOne is a movement that started on Reddit where different
protest groups from across the U.S. organize 50 protests in all 50 states in response to Trump’s recent policies, according to its website.
“I mean President’s Day, that was obviously to make a little bit of a statement with (what) our current concerns are with the presidential administration,” Angel said. “So we’re working together across the United States to make an impact.”
Presidents’ Day is held on the third Monday of February every year and celebrates the lives of all the U.S. presidents, according to a webpage from Britannica.
Angel said she does not see the protest as a disrespectful event towards the national holiday.
“This has entirely been a peaceful day. People are coming out here, and we’re getting to share why we’re out here (and) what issues we’re bringing up. I don’t think in any way it is disrespectful,” Angel said.
“This is not necessarily just a left wing movement. This is a movement for the people. We have
people involved who are conservative.”
Zia Steffen, a fourthyear public health student from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, said she was glad to see so many people come to the protest during a holiday.
of Defense have made a huge impact on her life.
On Feb. 7, the National Institutes of Health announced it would only be willing to provide between 10% to 20% of funding for most programs, according to a statement from the agency.
We didn’t elect Elon Musk to do anything. I just feel like all (Trump is) trying to do is make the rich richer and the poorer, is my opinion
Jean Leonard San José resident since
1967
according to a Friday article from NPR.
“I’m terrified (that) I’m not gonna be able to afford my tuition, even though I’m at a state school,” Steffen said. “All of our grants just got pulled . . . I don’t know what we’re doing next year . . . I’m worried I’m not gonna be able to pay my rent.”
Steffen said her university recently lost multiple grants from the National Institutes of Health and from the U.S. Department of Defense.
poorer, is my opinion.”
They said the list of issues that are important to her are endless.
“I think this is so fucking important,” Steffen said. “I think it’s important that we make a statement and this is the most power we have as just constituents and it’s the most visible power we have.”
Steffen said the Trump’s administration’s cuts on funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Department
Many universities could have major budget gaps because many medical centers and university programs relied on reimbursements from the federal government to pay for up to 60% or more of their expenses, according to a Monday article from Chicago Sun Times.
The Department of Government Efficiency is also planning to do an 8% cut from the U.S. Department of Defense’s budget for next year,
Jean Leonard, who has been a resident of San José since 1967, said she can’t walk far but she still felt it was important for her to come to the protest because she doesn’t like how much power Trump has given to Elon Musk.
Musk is a tech billionaire who Trump hired to run the Department of Government Efficiency, according to a Monday article from the Washington Post.
“We didn’t elect Elon Musk to do anything,” Leonard said. “And I just feel like all (Trump is) trying to do is make the rich richer and the poor
Ash Kalra, a state assembly member who represents the 25th assembly district, said a lot of community members are feeling tension and anger. He also said as an elected official he won’t stop opposing Trump. According to a memo sent to NPR on Tuesday by the U.S. Justice Department, state and local officials who do not cooperate with federal agents on increased immigration enforcement could face federal prosecution, according to a Jan. 22 article from NPR.
“It’s very clear that Trump said he’s going to target those elected officials that oppose him,” he said. “I’m not going to stop opposing him. I don’t care if he puts me in jail or whatever he does.”
PHOTOS BY ALINA TA | SPARTAN DAILY
Protesters gather in Downtown San José on Presidents’ Day holding signs opposing the Trump administration on Monday afternoon near San José State’s campus.
SJSU faces new AI collaboration
By Anahi Herrera Villanueva CONTRIBUTOR
The California State University (CSU) system continues to develop as students enter a new artificial intelligence (AI) era, possibly changing and challenging education as society knows it.
On Feb. 4, CSU Chancellor Mildred García announced that the CSU system will be launching the nation’s firstever public-private initiative to introduce an AI-powered system that will enhance learning, research, and teaching tools, according to a CSU Campus update.
The public-private initiative is an agreement between a public agency whether its a federal, state or a private company, according to The Construction Agency.
Erik Viovode, a fifth-year vocal performance student at San José State, has kept up to date with the new AI initiative especially with AI being more prominent in day-to-day life.
“This is definitely a huge step for the CSU system,” Viovode said. “Whether it’s helpful or harmful (it) will take some time to figure out.”
This CSU AI initiative will involve the collaboration of several high-tech companies such as Adobe, OpenAI, LinkedIn and others under ChatGPT Edu and will be available across all 23 CSU campuses, according to a Feb. 6 CBS 8 article.
The collaboration of large tech companies has led to some worry from the California Faculty Association, who believe it should be up to faculty
members to decide if they want to implement this new program and work with these companies to see how it will be monitored.
“The biggest problem that I see with this initiative is the ability to accurately monitor if students are actively using these programs to help them with their work and what those repercussions will be if students are caught not using it properly,” Viovode said.
The CSU system and companies are working together to ensure concerns about the ethics of using AI in education. A solution that was presented is to implement AI Ethics training to ensure programs are being used properly, according to Forbes article.
“For me, I’m a music major so one way you can see it being harmful is if AI, such as ChatGPT, is asked to compose music for projects (and) recitals, directly impacting those who are studying for years on end
how to write music that either follow or deliberately breaks the rules of music theory,” Viovode said.
This new system may allow students to be better prepared for a workforce that continues to change to become more AI-focused, according to the same CBS 8 article
One of the many goals outlined for this innovation is for students to meet the high demand of the AI sector especially since California is home to top tech companies and overall contributes to California’s lead in the AI sector, according to a Forbes article.
Martina Petrocelly, a firstyear undeclared student at SJSU, said that AI will progress in some majors more than others.
“I think with AI it will definitely benefit more majors than others, more specifically STEM-focused majors which ultimately could make it harder for students whose majors
aren’t STEM-focused to find internship opportunities or even job opportunities,” Petrocelly said.
SJSU has already made a step towards integrating this innovation.
On Dec. 12, 2024, SJSU President Cynthia TenienteMatson and San José Mayor Matt Mahan announced their collaboration with NVIDIA, according to a Dec. 12, 2024 SJSU News Center article.
NVIDIA, the inventors of graphic processing units, allowed for the growth of the PC gaming industry.
Throughout the years they have developed and shaped to be more AI focused according to NVIDIA.
The main goal of this collaboration between SJSU and NVIDIA is to ensure the success of SJSU students, according to a Dec. 12, SJSU News Center article.
With several alumni already working at this tech company, President Teniente-Matson believes
this collaboration was a natural fit and can be used as a model that AI can be used in a positive way, according to the same SJSU News Center article.
“It almost doesn’t feel real and I'm not entirely sure how it will look for each university but with SJSU in Silicon Valley I can assume it will overall have a positive impact,” said Petrocelly.
This is definitely a huge step for the CSU system. Whether it’s helpful or harmful (it) will take some time to figure out.
Erik Viovode
SJSU fifth-year vocal performance student
Another benefit that was listed with the implementation of AI in the CSU system is the tools that it can provide to faculty, according to the same Forbes article.
However, Charley Sanders, a first-year public health student, said that this may not always be the case.
“I have heard some professors express some concern, especially some that aren't getting paid enough – it almost feels like they are trying to replace them,” Sanders said. “My English professor said it will take some getting used to, this
new upcoming system, but we have to learn to adapt with the times.”
While progress has already been made in implementing AI into the CSU system, the cost of this new system comes with concern after recent budget cuts.
Ed Clark, the CSU chief information officer, will be paying $16.9 million over an 18-month term to OpenAI for ChatGPT Edu, according to a Feb. 10 article from The Mercury News. This comes just after CSU system-wide budget cuts that have been detrimental to several programs.
Andy Luu, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student, brought up the concern with what these budget cuts can bring.
“Like always, the first to go is humanities and sports and stuff like that which are already not very present in our education,” Luu said in an interview in an SJSU News article.
However, if the university system is already cutting down on education funding it is concerning to some students how much they could increase tuition in response.
“The CSU system should continue to focus on the monetary issues, especially since there was a recent budget cut, meaning that students may have to pay even more for the already expensive education that they are striving to achieve,” Viovode said.
Follow Anahi on
GRAPHIC BY ANAHI HERRERA VILLANUEVA | SPARTAN DAILY
Downtown dogs dote for adoption
3
#1: Timmy the Maltipoo rests on his bed, wearing an “Adopt Me” bandana as he watches people pet the other dogs at the “Pawlentine’s Day” event during San Pedro Saturdays.
#2: Left to right: Stormy, Jiho, and Hyomi take turns accepting pets by various Downtown San José residents.
#3: Stormy the French Bulldog looks out to the crowd of people admiring his cuteness in San Pedro Square Market.
#4: Jiho, which means “knowledge” in Korean, receives love and affection from a San Josè resident at San Pedro Square.
#5: Lilo the Pomeranian models for a photo in front of a backdrop adorned with conversation hearts.
#6: Children gently pet one of the many dogs offered for adoption by Love Second Chances while it rests in bed. 5 4 6 1 2
PHOTOS BY ISRAEL ARCHIE
Trump needs to keep hands off Gaza
On Feb. 4, President
Donald J. Trump held a conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, where he called for the removal of Palestinians in Gaza and said he wanted to deploy United States troops there.
I believe that President Trump’s idea of sending troops to Gaza is not needed and should raise questions from the people who have voted for him as well as a show of hypocrisy by him.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Trump met at the White House on Feb. 4 for a press conference, where Trump said he wanted the U.S. to take ownership of the Gaza Strip, according to a Feb. 5 New York Times article.
Trump also mentioned that he had an interest in deploying troops to Gaza, which surprised Prime Minister Netanyahu who was not expecting Trump to voice this desire, according to the same New York Times article.
I found it unexpected that Trump wanted to deploy U.S. troops to Gaza because during his election campaign, when asked about what he would do for the ongoing war in Gaza and Israel, Trump advocated to end the war, according to a Nov. 9, 2024 Washington Post article.
Nageena Shinwari CONTRIBUTOR
Even though I was all aboard for former Vice President Kamala Harris, the Gaza and Israel war was always on my mind. I had no clue who I wanted to vote for regarding both party’s answers.
Because of his plans to keep away from the war compared to his opponent Harris, Trump had won over the Arabs and Muslims, and even almost won me over as well.
The Muslim voter turnout in one of the most decisive states for the election was a big win for Trump, where he won 42% of the vote in Michigan according to a Nov. 10, 2024 NBC news article.
Trump won Dearborn, Michigan, which is known to be the most Arab American city in the country, according to the same NBC news article.
I almost fell for Trump’s plan about wanting to end the war, but I quickly realized that he is a hypocrite and you can’t quickly trust a man like him.
Trump wants to take over and own Gaza, according to a Feb. 4 The Guardian article. He gave vague answers to wanting a two-state solution and had not ruled out sending troops to Gaza, which he mentioned during his meeting with Netanyahu on Feb. 4.
The Gaza ceasefire deal had been approved on Jan.
15, where both Israel and Hamas exchanged prisoners that both had held hostage, according to a Feb. 2 BBC article.
There are not supposed to be any troops in Gaza, according to the same source regarding the ceasefire agreement. But what Trump had said goes completely against the agreement.
These plans that Trump proclaimed, are similar to those of former presidents who have wanted to go to the Middle East and send U.S. troops there.
Throughout the years we have seen different presidents who have wanted to go to the Middle East, which goes back from former President George W. Bush to the current presidents sending
money to other countries who are doing the oppression – such as the U.S. sending money to Israel and sending troops into countries when it is unnecessary.
Bush sent troops to Afghanistan after Sept. 11, 2001 and the Taliban only grew stronger and once the U.S. withdrew in 2021 under former President Joe Biden’s administration, the Taliban was easily able to take control of the country, according to a June 5, 2021 NPR article.
As an Afghan myself, hearing about the removal of American troops from Afghanistan was devastating to see.
I had viewed the removal of the troops there as sad because it only showed how America wasn’t needed in
Afghanistan and only caused more problems for Afghans living there.
The Taliban only grew stronger and the Afghan people grew weaker under their control which allowed the Taliban to easily take over.
In 2003, Trump had said he supported Bush on the war in Iraq and said it was needed, but during the 2019 presidential election he said that the war in Iraq was not needed and he never agreed on it, according to an Oct. 27, 2019 AP News article.
When American troops went to Syria, it was also not needed. Many more groups that started more problems for other countries and ours formed because of American forces there, including
notorious terrorist groups such as ISIS beginning to rebel against Americans, according to an Aug. 13, 2016 CNN article.
When the U.S. sent troops to the Middle East in the past, it ended in bloodshed, losing many civilian and American lives.
Trump deploying troops to the Middle East once again is not needed. Americans should question what is being said by our president and realize that what is happening is not right, for America and for the Palestinians.
Nageena
GRAPHIC BY NAGEENA SHINWARI, PHOTOS FROM FLICKR