thursday, oct. 2 - SUNDAY, oct. 5, 2014 • VOLume 101 • ISSUE 16 Opinion • P5
Sports • P11
Aztec mascot undermines historical culture
Aztecs pummel PLNU, prep for No. 2 UCLA
#engineering
A team of San Diego State engineering students won a national competition with its plan to retrofit Kearny Mesa High School’s gym. quinn owen senior staff writer ____________________________________
SNEAKPEEK
The San Diego State chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association recently took the top honor at a national engineering and design competition in Chicago. Teams of college engineering students from across the country competed in The Green Energy Challenge hosted by ELECTRI International. The goal was to design and draft plans for creating an environmentally sustainable structure at a local school. The team of five SDSU students and two alumni was selected as a finalist in July. On Sunday, the members were awarded first place for their proposal, defeating Colorado State University and Iowa State University. The team won with its plan to retrofit the Kearny Mesa High School gymnasium. Ryan Badertscher, a mechanical engineering junior and vice president of SDSU NECA, was responsible for working with the high school to draft the plan. “We actually went to the classroom
and mentored the kids on the project we were proposing,” Badertscher said. The design team worked with San Diego contractors to determine the best way to address the high school gym’s issues. Badertscher said one of the biggest problems was ventilation. “The air quality was very stagnant and the temperature was 85 degrees without any people in it,” Badertscher said. To solve this problem, the team proposed using large fans similar to the ones in the Aztec Recreation Center. Badertscher said the slow-moving, energy-efficient fans would drop the temperature of the gym by 10 degrees. Charles Plank is an electrical engineering junior and president of the SDSU NECA chapter. He said the design process spanned several months and required close attention to detail. “We worked on this project from January until this weekend,” Plank said. “It was really long but it was a really good project.” The team’s design improvements were projected to save the school $22,000 annually. With the low construction costs, Plank said the energy efficientdesign would pay for itself in six and a
P3 Crossover course studies air Marie Keller, Staff Photographer
half years. For the competition the team had to create a poster presentation and prepare a 15-minute pitch for a panel of judges and an audience of a couple hundred electrical contractors and engineers. Teams must look at all aspects of the pre-construction process. That includes giving a detailed explanation of how the project will be financed. As the only team from California, Plank said they were able to use funds from Proposition 39 to cover nearly half the cost of the project. He said the proposition allows public schools to retrofit its buildings to be more efficient. Plank said the award-winning design is now being considered by the San Diego Unified School District and the team hopes to see its plans become a reality. As for the competition, the team hopes to grow the student chapter and compete in more design competitions in the near future. “It’s an honor to put SDSU on a national map,” Badertscher said. “I know that this school is pretty underrated so any time we can go up against all the big schools and show that we’re better, it’s a great opportunity.”
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The San Diego State team of student engineers holds its renovation project that won top honors. courtesy of charles plank
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2 NEWS
OCT. 2 - 5, 2014 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: DAVID HERNANDEZ • NEWS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
#CONCILIO
Latino council states concerns to Hirshman EMILY BRENNAN STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ The Chicano Latino Concilio recently presented a vision to San Diego State administrators in an effort to encourage action toward creating a more supportive atmosphere for students. The Concilio discussed its concerns with President Hirshman on Sept. 17 and presented a vision that would promote Latino students success. “The Chicano Latino Concilio is concerned about San Diego State University and the degree to which it is providing equitable access to Chicano students and providing the kind of support the students need to be successful,” Concilio Co-chair Patrick Velasquez said. One of many concerns that the council brought to President Hirshman’s attention was the lack of faculty role models at SDSU. Velasquez said Hirshman informed the council that SDSU hired approximately 54 new faculty members this year, which is the largest number of faculty hired in recent years. However, Velasquez said, only four Latino faculty members were hired compared to 30 white faculty members hired. “We didn’t think that was very equitable,” Velasquez said. Concilio’s vision consists of support outside the classroom, student
The Chicano Latino Concilio recently discussed how to better support Hispanic students. SARAH SMITH, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
organizations, faculty and relevant curriculum. “It is not just about achieving the numbers but, again, making sure that we continue to build access, making sure these students are successful and have meaningful learning experiences,” Velasquez said. The key suggestion the council gave President Hirshman was to create a committee that would involve staff, faculty and community members working together in order to meet the needs of SDSU’s community.
“We sent him an email just yesterday confirming again that he would set up this work crew or committee, so we are hoping that he will do that, and we are suggesting that one of the people he should appoint be Eric Rivera, the vice president of student affairs,” Velasquez said. SDSU was named a Hispanic Serving Institution in 2011, which according to an SDSU News Center article, makes the SDSU only the third public research university in California to receive this status.
In order to become a Hispanic Serving Institution, the school must have a 25 percent Hispanic student population. SDSU has surpassed the minimum with almost 30 percent of its student body being Hispanic. “Once an institution reaches a Hispanic-serving status they are eligible to get grants from the federal government to serve Chicano students,” Velasquez said. “We want to ultimately work towards (sending) a proposal to the federal government to receive some funding for San Diego State.”
NEWS 3
OCT. 2 - 5, 2014 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: DAVID HERNANDEZ • NEWS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
#JMSGEOLOGY
New course to study San Diego air
A course offered through the journalism department will bring together journalism and geology students. MARIE KELLER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
ADRIANA MILLAR STAFF WRITER _____________________________________ A new class at San Diego State will combine the efforts of the journalism and geology departments as part of a $35,000 grant. SDSU was one of the 12 winners of the inaugural Challenge Fund for Innovation in Journalism Education, managed by the Online News Association. The winning project “What’s in the Air?” is a collaboration between the journalism and geology departments. The grant will be used to create JMS 430, a class that will examine the air quality in San Diego using electronic sensors.
Journalism associate professor Amy Schmitz Weiss and geology lecturer Kevin Robinson will teach the class. Both professors echoed similar statements that the course will benefit students of both departments and will allow for a better relationship among journalism and geology students. “I think there’s always been a little bit of a disconnect between the journalists and the scientists and (the class) is just trying to build stronger ties with the communicators and the scientists, and give students some new direction too,” Robinson said. Schmitz Weiss said that the class will allow students to share their expertise and get foundations in journalism and science
skills. The students will work together to create a news package that looks at San Diego’s air quality. The class will require students to go out into the community and look at how the sensors are collecting and recording information. “This is a new developing effort in journalism now, using sensors to collect information in communities, particularly related to the environment,” Schmitz Weiss said. “We’re looking at (Environmental Protection Agency) data that has shown inconsistencies in terms of different aspects of air quality in San Diego. Our plan is to see how those inconsistencies are coming about in different neighborhoods in San Diego.”
Robinson said the sensors will have various functions. “Some of them are powered, that need to vaporize a gas or whatever to figure something out, and some of them are just collecting particulate data, and that turns out to be the most important health related pollution that we’re measuring with the sensors, the micro-pollutants,” he said. “We’re hoping to try to find out a little bit more about some of the components that are in the air that we don’t know about.” The class will emphasize the importance of communication in both journalism and geology. “To be a really good scientist, I think, in the 21st century, if the story doesn’t get to anybody that matters, then what good was it? To make it meaningful in the real world is kind of important,” Robinson said. “Being able to communicate to everybody as journalists do, I think would probably be beneficial to scientists.” The class will also include a collaboration with the nonprofit news organization inewsource, which has worked with SDSU’s journalism school since 2009, Schmitz Weiss said. The course will ultimately allow students to publish their news stories with inewsource. The class is scheduled to be offered in the spring as an upper division course that will fulfill major requirements for both journalism and geology majors. Spots will be limited to 20 students, and some plans are not yet solidified. “We are just now in the planning stages of it, and we’re looking to have volunteers across San Diego working with us to send out the beta testers that we’re going to place throughout San Diego,” Schmitz Weiss said. “We’re also looking for any people interested in building the sensors, and students who want to take the class.” The program also hopes to involve science educators around San Diego to involve students K-12 in the project. “We really want to get people excited and interested and paying attention to the air quality around them,” Schmitz Weiss said.
#STUDENTDEBT
SDSU loan default rate set below average QUINN OWEN SENIOR STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ New statistics from the U.S. Department of Education show student loan default rates for San Diego universities are below the national average. The national rate, announced last week, is 13.7 percent. At San Diego universities, the figure was one point lower at 12.7 percent. Student loan default rates represent the number of students who take out a federally insured student loan and are not able to pay back the amount. The data published most recently by the Department of Education defined a true default as more than 270 days without a payment. According to the Department of Education, these rates have dropped from 14.7 percent in fiscal year 2010 despite 650,000 more students entering the post-graduate repayment period for loans. San Diego State’s Associate Director of the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships Chris Collins said the default rate for SDSU alumni is 5.2
San Diego State’s loan default rate is below the national average. MARIE KELLER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
percent. Not only is that figure less than half the national average, it also falls below the California State University default rate average of 6.7 percent, Collins said. Collins attributes these rates to SDSU’s combination of low cost but high-value degrees. “Our students borrow less when they study here,” Collins said. “They have a credential that will lead them to gainful employment.”
Despite the latest figures regarding college student loan default, some SDSU students are still concerned about post-graduate debt. Nairika Meshgin is a biology sophomore and said the cost of education is too high. “I think it’s unfortunate that education is viewed as a necessity but priced as a luxury,” Meshgin said. “Too many people have to rely on loans to get through college and then proceed to have debt hanging over them for years
after graduation.” In an interview with the Daily Aztec in April 2014, communications graduate student Marquesa Cook-Whearty projected what she thinks will be a devastating outcome of rising student debt. “I contend that tuition and college debt is our next big financial bubble,” Cook-Whearty said. “I think we are going to have another financial crisis on our hands due to college tuition.” According to a study from The Institute for College Access and Success, 66 percent of graduates from public colleges in the nation have student loans to pay down in 2012. Those figures are greater among private nonprofit and private for-profit colleges at 75 percent and 88 percent, respectively. While SDSU’s default rate is below the national and CSU averages, Collins advises students to educate themselves about the cost of taking out federal loans. “Students should be as cautious as possible and informed as they can be,” Collins said. “If you can get away with not borrowing any loans, we encourage students to do that.”
4 opinion
oct. 2 - 5, 2014 • THE DAILY AZTEC editor: elpin keshishzadeh • opinion@thedailyaztec.com
Who’sWho?
#privacyissues
Editor In Chief Monica Linzmeier Managing Editor Madison Hopkins News Editor David Hernandez asst. News Editor Camille Lozano Sports Editor Kristian Ibarra asst. sports Editor Terence Chin Opinion Editor Elpin Keshishzadeh asst. opinion Editor KC Stanfield Entertainment Editor Nick Knott asst. entertainment Editor Ryo Miyauchi Features Editor Kelly Hillock asst. features Editor Chelsea Baer THINKSTOCK
Orwellian privacy invasion Anthony Berteaux senior Staff columnist ____________________________________
O
n Sept. 18, a San Diego judge denied technological entrepreneur Michael Robertson’s request to access his own license plate data from police scanners. The decision was a result of a yearlong lawsuit against the San Diego Association of Government and the allocation of data through license plate scanners and cameras through 10 local police departments. The request was denied because under California’s Public Records Act, disclosure of such information interferes with police investigation. I have to ask, what kind of police investigation necessitates the scanning of 49 million local license plates and citizens? Not one that’s ethical. This Orwellian invasion into our personal freedom is in violation of our constitutional right of protection against these unethical surveillance tactics as made obvious in the Fourth Amendment, which plainly states we have a right “against unreasonable searches and seizures” without a “probable cause.” Whenever we try to start dialogue about the state of police surveillance in a post-NSA age, those who argue against or question the ethics of surveillance are usually met with the mockery and ridicule reserved for conspiracy theorists. To an extent, I get it. A majority (56 percent to be specific) of Americans agree with the NSA’s tracking of phone calls and 62 percent deem it acceptable for the government to intrude on their privacy if it involves terrorism investigation. Those who oppose surveillance do not hold similar views with the majority. Terrifyingly enough, mass surveillance has become normalized. Living in a post-Edward Snowden world, there’s a general awareness now that privacy in a digital age is a transactional concept. We have been subjected to the idea that we must trade in our privacy for security and safety, normalizing and necessitating surveillance.
Despite exposure to pop culture dehumanizing about police surveillance, such as George Orwell’s “1984” to the dystopian sensation “The Hunger Games,” we’re able to live comfortably with this level of surveillance. We’re assured mass and total surveillance can only thrive in science fiction novels and totalitarian governments. This decision made by the judge to deny access to personal license place data to Robertson indicates these warnings of a surveillance state may no longer exist in the realms of science fiction or speculation. They have become a reality. As of now, police departments utilize technology, such as facial tracking cameras and license plate scanners, to carry out criminal investigations. Seven out of 10 police agencies use these scanners and collectively contribute three million scans of license plates per week along with their locations to a database, which includes more than 455 million scans. The extent in which the police
Diego police to scan hundreds of license plates a day. “You can run up to two or three thousand license plates a day,” Deputy Scott Roller said in a report last November. You’d think in order for the police to scan thousands of license plates per week and store it in a database for two years, there would have to be existing evidence of mass criminal activity. The fact is there isn’t a reason, which is what makes this such an injustice. Our law falls back on the general rule that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. By allowing this policy to investigate one and all, we are assuming everyone is guilty without a trial. Furthermore, this intrusion into our rights only progresses from here. A news report from August reported how the SDPD looked into buying cell-phone scanning technology that collects data on calls and locations. “San Diego is the surveillance capitol of the U.S.,” Robertson said. “The question here lies in how they are
what kind of police investigation necessitates the scanning of 49 million local license plates and citizens? Not one that’s ethical. department and our government have employed their illegitimate use of surveillance tools has overstepped the need for security and menaces our right to privacy, while increasing the risk of discrimination, coercion and selective enforcement by the police. As evident with the use of surveillance technology during the Gaddafi regime, in bad hands, authorities can abuse this technology and invade our personal privacy and even intellectual privacy. Robertson agrees this issue is in violation with our rights. “They keep two years of data and store it without a warrant or permission,” Robertson said. “When an officer wants to access your phone, or any private property for that matter, they have to state what their ‘probable’ cause is. For this data, there is no probable cause. Without one, as an innocent citizen, there shouldn’t be police profile data on me.” There is no tangible cause for San
storing this data, how long and who gets access.” There is no question as to the scope of surveillance in San Diego. The inaccessibility of personal license plate data leaves a lot of these questions up to debate, leaving us to question how transparent our authority systems actually are. Should we allow for surveillance technologies and programs to go unchecked in lieu of our constitutional rights? We support a system that allows for this power imbalance between the watched and the watchers. Such technologies must be restrained by rules to be used to maintain justice without invading our rights. For police who exist to “protect and serve” by enforcing such technologies without a warrant or permission, the ambiguity in regard to the ethics and imbalance of surveillance technology should urgently concern all of us as we ask, “do we feel any safer than before?”
Photo Editor Jenna Mackey video editor Wesley Beights Digital Content EDITOR Kelly Gardner Production Designers Kate Leonard Mark Anthony Santos volunteer writers Patrick Carr Jose Gutierrez David Dixon Jazmine Mercado Cami Buckman Emily Brennan Emmilly Nguyen Anthony Berteaux Mike Heral Adriana Miller Quinn Owen Photographers Sarah Smith Marie Keller Andy Farra __________________________________
Advertising Director Tony Disarufino Sales Manager Adam Zabel senior Account Executive Radbeh Rabaz Account Executives Alfonso Barajas Shannon Lubar Kamila Sikorski Accounting & Contracts Michael Bratt Kim Le __________________________________ General Manager Jay Harn Graphics Specialist Chris Blakemore __________________________________
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opinion 5
oct. 2 - 5, 2014 • THE DAILY AZTEC editor: elpin keshishzadeh • opinion@thedailyaztec.com
#sdsumascot
Aztec mascot undermines culture Jose Gutierrez Staff columnist _____________________________________
L
etting go of racist traditions sure is hard, isn’t it America? This country’s courts had to legally declare racist acts, such as slavery, and racial segregation unconstitutional because its citizens would gladly continue practicing these acts if they weren’t illegal. While there aren’t any laws to ban the use of cultural Native American figures as mascots, San Diego State doesn’t need to wait until a law is passed. Leadership starts here, after all. It goes without saying that keeping the Aztec Warrior as a mascot perpetuates negative stereotypes of Native Americans. Therefore, SDSU should permanently retire its Aztec mascot. The SDSU Queer People of Color Collective will soon propose to the Associated Students reasons why we should remove our mascot, according to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender studies senior Thomas Negron Jr. Anyone with even an ounce of respect for the Aztec culture should support this proposition. Our mascot, first chosen in 1925 by individuals who I’m sure were incredibly race-sensitive white men, doesn’t glorify, dignify or respect any values held by the Aztec people. Donned in a feathery warrior costume with a skull headdress along with a conch shell horn, our Aztec warrior depicts the Aztec culture as savage, brutal and dangerous. Is the SDSU mascot even of Aztec descent? If not, then it’s just another case of playing dress up in an Indian costume. This is called cultural
San Diego State mascot cheers on the crowd at home game. file photo
appropriation, kids, and it’s highly insensitive. As the American Psychological Association pointed out – yes, the same one whose style is used for writing essays – “The continued use of American Indian mascots, symbols, images and personalities establishes an unwelcome and often times hostile learning environment for American Indian students that affirms negative images and stereotypes that are promoted in mainstream society.” SDSU, let me remind you of the diversity pledge promoted by the school. “I pledge … to not contribute to stereotypes or make generalizations about individuals but rather to use
my own experiences and interactions to better understand and embrace all people.” By keeping the mascot, the school is inadvertently contributing to the stereotypes of the Aztec people. When SDSU students think of Aztecs, what else will they reference but our mascot and his savage portrayal of the Aztec people? “But wait, Aztecs are extinct so it doesn’t matter!” No, they’re not extinct. There are currently an estimated 1.5 million Nahuatl (the Aztec language) in Central Mexico alone. These indigenous people are incredibly marginalized and discriminated against in Mexico. But you wouldn’t know by the education, or lack
thereof, of Aztec culture on campus. “The continued use of American Indian mascots, symbols, images and personalities undermines the educational experiences of members of all communities – especially those who have had little or no contact with Indigenous peoples,” as referenced by APA’s resolution for the retirement of American Indians as mascots To illustrate how we’ve already undermined our education of the Aztec culture, the description for the YouTube video “Adopt an Aztec” claims our Aztec Warrior to be 3,000 years old. Let me fill you in where the school obviously hasn’t. There weren’t even Nahuatl speakers, in what’s now known as Mexico until the sixth century. Tenochtitlán the capital of the Aztec Empire, wasn’t even settled until approximately 1325. I don’t even know where this 3,000-year-old figure came from. There’s really no justifiable reason to keep the mascot, seeing as it does more harm than good. To the people who say actual Aztecs should be thankful that SDSU is even promoting their culture, how one columnist did for this paper more than a decade ago, I say nobody should give thanks for being mistreated. To the people who still can’t see the problem with having an Aztec Warrior as a mascot, it sure is hard seeing properly when you’re racially colorblind isn’t it? Lastly, to the people who want to hold on to the mascot for tradition, it’s tradition that keeps racism alive and well. Just look at the Dutch dressing in blackface every Christmas, you know, because it’s traditional. So just as the APA, as well as countless individuals and organizations, has called for the retirement of American Indian mascots by colleges and universities, everyone else should too.
#sdsufunds
Uneven funding leaves SDSU hot and dry Unequal allocation of funds benefits a select few at SDSU. emmilLy nguyen Staff Columnist ___________________________________
L
et’s talk money. San Diego State recently reached its fundraising goal of $500 million and has extended its new goal to $750 million. This money is said to go toward research facilities and endowments, scholarships and professorships, funds for the Honors College and the creation/renovation of science buildings, according to Coleen L. Geraghty, writer and editor for The Campaign for SDSU. All this money and planning is going toward efforts of creating, in Geraghty’s words, a “lasting legacy” for SDSU. However, there are buildings on campus with no air conditioning, classrooms with broken or nonfunctional projectors and dorms that are practically falling apart by a breeze. How can we expect to achieve
great things when the campus is falling to shambles each day? SDSU has so much money, yet its continually disproportionately administered and the quality in everyday student life and education suffers as a result. The money is not trickling down. Millions of donor dollars go to sports and science programs, while other majors and programs receive less money. Is that to say some groups or majors are more important than
is allocated, but this system is clearly biased. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful these donors provide so many opportunities and make our school great, but the money is still distributed unevenly throughout the university and its various programs. Let’s evaluate the SDSU basketball team, not because I hate basketball, but because its where the biggest discrepancies can be observed. According to The Campaign, the
...There are buildings on campus with
no air conditioning, classrooms with broken or nonfunctional projectors and dorms that are practically falling apart by a breeze
others? Or only the groups and majors racking in big bucks and media attention for the school deserve more money? I understand why money is allocated to certain areas of school. SDSU can’t change where this money goes since donors can choose exactly how and where their generous sum of money
basketball team received $2 million earlier this year to go toward their $14.5 million Basketball Performance Center from the Manna Foundation. The weird thing is the Manna Foundation homepage is dedicated to “providing health and aid to poor and hungry children.” This is a bit confusing. How many countless poor
and hungry children are in need of full-length basketball courts, multiple locker rooms, film, teams and training rooms at SDSU? If that’s not superfluous and obnoxious, I don’t know what is. On one hand, there’s an overabundance of money being concentrated in one area. On the other, there are broke college students being squeezed even harder for money through student success fees. That money goes toward bettering the school from its current state, getting more teachers and classrooms to educate, and to help increase graduation rates. All this money will come out of the pockets of students, and federal and state funding in order to pay for the bare essentials at school. Students are left struggling, fighting tooth and nail to afford a quality education. Meanwhile, the basketball team builds a multi-million-dollar enterprise and lives in luxury. There are some serious inconsistencies and injustices in regard to funding for different spheres on campus. Potentially doing the school more harm than good. Priorities need to change, and money needs to be allocated equally.
6 entertainment
oct. 2 - 5, 2014 • THE DAILY AZTEC editor: nick knott • entertainment@thedailyaztec.com
#rabbithole
Campus play starts season with a bang Student actors in SDSU’s rendition of ‘Rabbit Hole’ steal the show as they take audiences through a story of grief inside the intimate San Diego State Experimental Theater Mike Heral Senior staff writer _____________________________________
. COURTESY OF SCHOOL OF THEATER, TELEVISION AND FILM
San Diego State’s School of Theater, Television and Film presents a profoundly moving rendition of “Rabbit Hole,” a Pulitzer Prize-winning play examining one family’s battle with grief. The performances will leave the audience thinking about the play’s message long after the play ends. “Rabbit Hole” focuses primarily on the grief of mother Becca (Katie Rich). Katie Rich never falters in carrying the load. The actress never makes a misstep during the play, often emoting anger, pain and even humor in the same expression. She transforms the final act’s pivotal scenes into an emotional tour de force that often leaves the audience moved by her pain. Even as sharp as Rich’s acting is, Jack Holdeman almost steals the play from her. Holdeman plays a teenager distraught by the fact he drove the car killing Becca’s boy. He brings his character to life through a whirlwind of quirky dialogue and enough sudden movements to capably capture an adolescent not yet in control of his own body. The rest of the cast includes Christopher Yarrow as the boy’s father,
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Courtney Stagner as Becca’s perpetually misunderstood sister, and Samantha Willard as Becca’s mother. At first, Yarrow seems overmatched in playing the grieving father, but his initial awkwardness and rushed delivery is his character’s coping mechanism. The father isn’t able to grieve because he’s too busy trying to stay out of his wife’s doghouse. Near the end of the first act, Yarrow delivers one of the most emotionally compelling scenes. He accurately displays the emotional breakdown of a father forced to confront the people he holds responsible. When finished, those seated around me were asking if anyone had a spare tissue. Stagner’s role is seemingly limited to comic relief and Willard’s to emotional support. It’s too bad the play didn’t deliver more stage time for them. Stagner displays a sound grasp of comic timing. Often, comedy is ruined by delivering the punchline too soon, but Stagner knows when to go for the throat and when to wait. Willard captures her character’s dual nature as supporter and griever. Her demeanor often carried more power than her words. That a young cast masters the emotions and unspoken words of 30-year-old parents struggling with the death of their only son speaks to the skill of director
Peter James Cirino. He places his actors precisely where they need to be and doesn’t ease the tension despite the play’s two-hour run time. “Rabbit Hole” requires intimacy for it to work well. SDSU’s Experimental Theater’s small size, where the audience isn’t more than 25 feet from the stage, is perfectly suited for it. The lighting department also deserves kudos for capturing the tricky lighting required to make it as if the boy’s aura is ever present in the home. “Rabbit Hole” is one of the first productions for the 2014-15 season. The resonance the actors brought to this complex, powerful play suggests this may be an exciting year for SDSU theater.
on stage... Rabbit hole where sdsu experimental theater Dates Now through Oct. 5 tickets ttf.sdsu.edu $14-16
oct. 2 - 5, 2014 • THE DAILY AZTEC editor: nick knott • entertainment@thedailyaztec.com
entertainment 7
#nexttonormal
‘Next to Normal’ follows a family struggling with the effects of mental illness. Photo courtesy of Ken Jaques
Pulitzer-winning play hits town David Dixon Staff Writer _________________________________ A rock musical about a woman with mental illness sounds like a risky idea on paper. However, “Next to Normal” won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a number of Tony Awards. San Diego Musical Theatre is now running a new production of the acclaimed play at the North Park Theatre, which features a mixture of well-respected local artists and rising actors. Diana (Bets Malone) is a suburban mother who suffers from bipolar disorder. She tries to live a normal life with her supportive husband Dan (Robert J. Townsend), bright and cynical daughter Natalie (Lindsay Joan) as well as her curfew-breaking son Gabe (Eddie Egan). Her disease eventually worsens and Diana decides to get help from the compassionate Dr.
Madden (Geno Carr). Malone is fierce, devastating, warm and sometimes funny depicting a protagonist not often associated with musical theatre. The actress digs deep to express how much her life has been negatively affected from her character’s severe psychiatric disorder. Townsend shows how much Dan is struggling to make his wife happy. Some of his most powerful moments are when he expresses Dan’s aching vulnerability. Sixteen-year-old Joan gives a raw and sardonic portrayal of high school student Natalie. She sings with a voice full of jaded anger but also can be quite eloquent. As Diana’s son Gabe, Egan is equally empathetic and menacing. He sings his big show stopping number “I’m Alive” with a lot of gusto. Carr, as Dr. Madden, and Eric, Parker as Natalie’s stoner boyfriend
Henry, are just as memorable as the rest of the cast. They provide a healthy dose of humor and play caring individuals who seem genuinely interested in helping people. Director Nick DeGruccio emulates the spirit of the original New York version of “Next to Normal.” He incorporates a relatively spare set that allows the audience to focus their attention on character relationships. The gutsiness of the original plot turns the theatrical piece into a near masterpiece. Not only does Yorkey’s writing gracefully deal with serious subject matter, but he keeps on surprising spectators with the narrative’s sophistication. “Next to Normal” warrants all the praise it has received also because of Tom Kitt’s versatile music and Brian Yorkey’s character driven lyrics and book. Almost completely sung through, the songs convey
deep emotions ranging from sorrow to hope. A story like this requires a high-quality band, and the band led by musical director Don LeMaster, former San Diego State staff accompanist for the MFA Musical Theater Program, does not disappoint. Sean LaPerruque’s violin playing can be tear-inducing, and pianist LeMaster’s music skills capture the different moods expressed throughout the tale. Guitarist Bill Kilpatrick provides plenty of high energy during some of the more intense musical numbers such as “You Don’t Know” and “The Break.” His fervent guitar playing is evident, even during a short overture. “Next to Normal” is further proof that musicals can tell stories that are as impactful as a classic drama. Be sure to find time to watch SDMT’s interpretation before it closes on Oct. 12.
#ToriJensen
Florida author to do free reading at SDSU hayley spence staff writer ____________________________________ As part of the Living Writers Series, author Toni Jensen will share selections from her first book, “From the Hilltop” on Wednesday, Oct. 8 in the Love Library. The stories in Jensen’s book draw on American Indian oral traditions. Jensen is an assistant professor at
the University of Central Florida. She has short stories in other anthologies and collections, including “New Stories from the South: The Year’s Best, 2007” and “Best Stories from the Southwest.” Her debut novel, “From the Hilltop,” is a collection of short stories based around Native American culture and society. It was released in 2010 and published by University of Nebraska Press. “A brother falls off the roof of an
abandoned hotel, a young bride tries to connect with a family she’s never met, and an adopted teenage girl seeks acceptance where she is viewed as an outsider,” UNP says about the novel. “These are the souls that populate Jensen’s stories, finding tentative connections with the past, the future, one another and finally us.” Jensen’s book has received praise from Publisher’s Weekly, Feminist Review and even fellow authors such as
Sandra Cisneros, author of “The House on Mango Street.” The praise is well given, and this is the opportunity to discuss the book with Jensen herself as she answers questions to students and staff after the reading. The free event will start at 7 p.m. on Oct. 8 in the Love Library, room 430. The event is a collaboration by both the library and the Department of English and Comparative Literature, this event is one not to be missed on campus.
8 features
oct. 2 - 5, 2014 • THE DAILY AZTEC editor: kelly hillock • features@thedailyaztec.com
#clubspotlight
Recreation and tourism student association executive board members volunteer. courtesy of rtsa
Recreation club helps build futures
Recreation and Tourism Student Association is a professional club for those interested in volunteerism and personal growth. Members find opportunities to network with professionals. jazmine mercado staff writer ____________________________________ What originally started as the Recreation Student Association at San Diego State in the early 2000s, is now the Recreation and Tourism Student Association. RTSA serves as a liaison between RTSA members and local professionals as well as a place of opportunity and professional growth for its’ members. While open to all majors, RTSA’s main focus is helping students get connected with local industry experts. With an aim to provide its members with access to an abundance of volunteer, networking and professional development opportunities, RTSA strongly encourages giving back to the local San Diego community and working to make a difference in the lives of others. RTSA often works in partnership with the California Parks and Recreation Society to hold instructive and beneficial networking and education events throughout the year for SDSU students. Hospitality and tourism management junior Amy Belgum attended the last RTSA/CPRS networking event and got to experience firsthand the benefits of RTSA networking after she left the event
with a job offer. “I was nervous to go to the event because I’m not an RTM major but I wanted to branch out to other disciplines,” Belgum said. “I’m very happy that I did because I was able to learn more about the RTM field and how it compared to HTM, as well as leaving with an employment opportunity in my desired industry.” Though certainly a broad field, RTSA President Caroline Nunez sums it up in her own words as, “mainly about
helping people and bettering lives.” “There’s a variety of way to be in the Recreation & Tourism industry,” Nunez said. “Whether it’s working at after school recreation programs, being employed by the NFL, or even managing efforts to protect local resources, that’s all matters of recreation and tourism.” Nunez explains RTSA is always open to new members and notes there a variety of leadership opportunities available. Reflecting on how the RTSA
has had such a positive impact on her life, including being the organization in which she first met her now best friend, Nunez states that she never saw her saw herself being president of an organization here at SDSU. However, by getting involved with RTSA, she quickly developed both personally and professionally and is grateful for the mentorship she has encountered since joining. “I noticed professionals really want to help students,” Nunez said.
Recreation and tourism student association offers opportunities to students. courtesy of rtsa
oct. 2 - 5, 2014 • THE DAILY AZTEC editor: kelly hillock • features@thedailyaztec.com
#aztecanimals
courtesy of chelsee maccheyne
Aztec gives animals a second chance Cami Buckman contributor _____________________________________ Euthanizing puppies sounds like something out of a nightmare. However, this is an unfortunate reality in many cities throughout Southern California. While it seems impossible to imagine doing such a thing to adorable puppies, there are a few dedicated individuals willing to stand up for the helpless dogs. Psychology senior Chelsee MacCheyne is one of these dedicated individuals. For the past two years, MacCheyne has been a volunteer foster and adopter for the organization Animal Pad. Volunteer fosters such as MacCheyne open up their residences to homeless dogs and give them the attention and care they need until adoption. “My goal as a foster is to make the puppies the most marketable they can be, this includes potty training, kennel training and basic behavioral commands” MacCheyne said. Currently, MacCheyne has two daschund puppies under her care, Leo and Luna. After the brother and sister pups had been in MacCheyne’s care for just five days, and there was already a drastic improvement in their characters. The once timid, scared and abandoned Leo and Luna are now the cute, energetic and mischievous puppies they were always meant to be. Most of the puppies that are cared for by fosters come from troubled pasts, but because of the tireless efforts of fosters like MacCheyne, these puppies get a second chance. “I hope when people see these puppies they will know that they didn’t have such a good start, and they are the way they are now because of the volunteers who dedicate their time and effort to help these little guys,” MacCheyne said.
In cities such as San Bernardino, certain high kill shelters will euthanize young puppies; this includes puppies of all breeds and in all forms of health. These shelters are severely understaffed and underfunded, and to put it simply, the puppies are just too young to be taken care of. Right now, the Animal Pad has 10 bottle-feeder puppies and eight Chihuahuas under 6 weeks of age. There is always a great need for donations, volunteers, fosters and adopters. To become a foster, organizations such as Animal Pad take who they allow to become potential fosters and adopters very seriously. Fosters must be committed individuals with stable jobs and proper living arrangements. As expected, however, giving the puppies to their new adopted families can be extremely tough. When describing how giving up the puppies is, MacCheyne said, “It’s difficult in the end because you go from having this puppy that you have made so marketable and somebody wants to take them. You have put so much of your heart into them, and it’s always really hard to say goodbye.” MacCheyne aspires to be an animal trainer, so it’s no surprise that she is so passionate about helping animals. “I love the idea of helping those who can’t help themselves,” MacCheyne said. But it doesn’t only take future animal trainers to become fosters. These puppies are in need of loving homes, and unfortunately there just aren’t enough people to take them in. It’s because of the devotion from individuals like MacCheyne that these puppies receive a second chance. If interested in helping Animal Pad, visit their website at www.animalpad. org or visit its Facebook page. There are always animals in need of help, so help those little paws for a cause.
features 9
10 sports
oct. 2 - 5, 2014 • THE DAILY AZTEC editor: kristian ibarra • sports@thedailyaztec.com
COMMENTARY
#aztecfb
No bawling for Bawden on Friday Mike Heral senior staff columnist ____________________________________
was only average in yardage, and near the bottom in scoring. Throwing interceptions is where he excels this year. He’s thrown for third most in the MWC with six. That ought to remove the pressure from Bawden, because the Aztecs are already used to a quarterback giving the ball to the enemy. This isn’t to say that the Aztecs won’t miss Kaehler. His quick thinking led to the improvised draw play that sophomore running back Donnel Pumphrey used to score the Aztecs first touchdown against UNLV. Whether Bawden will be just as mentally sharp won’t be answered until Friday night.
F
reshman quarterback Nick Bawden makes his first start Friday night against Aztec rival California State University, Fresno. Bawden’s turn comes after senior Quinn Kaehler sprained his throwing shoulder during last Saturday’s win against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Not only does Bawden enter against a team San Diego State usually doesn’t beat on the road, but the winner of Friday’s game will be the favorite to win the Mountain West Conference Western Division. So, no pressure, right? Maybe there’ll be at least a little pressure, but seeing the green Bawden under center isn’t a reason for Aztecs fans to panic. Here’s why: Fresno State’s Defense Is Bad The Bulldogs are No. 11 in rushing defense among the 12 MWC teams. More, the Bulldogs rank last in defensive pass efficiency. The Mountain West is perennially an offense-first league, so the Bulldogs lowly ranking means its defense is especially awful. In fact, we can quantify just how much
Freshman quarterback Nick Bawden (15) makes his first start this Friday against Fresno State. jenna mackey, photo
they stink. The Bulldogs have the 119th ranked defense out of 125 Football Bowl Subdivision teams. Bawden has to look at that porous defense and think that this is a great opportunity for him. Even traditional mistakes made by new quarterbacks—
wrong reads and misthrows—shouldn’t hurt the Aztecs too much as the Bulldogs defense will be forgiving. SDSU Doesn’t Throw Well, Anyway The same stats reflect that the Kaehler-directed Aztecs air attack
Pumphrey Will Play Despite offensive coordinator Bob Toledo’s mad scientist approach to offense, the Aztecs win by getting the ball out of the quarterback’s hands. Relax, I’m not about to use the silly nickname some have labeled our star running back with, but I will say that Pumphrey will run through the Bulldogs at will on Friday and pump the Aztecs up as Western Division frontrunners. There’s always something to cause Aztecs’ fans to be chewing through their fingernails, but Bawden won’t be one of those this week. Aztecs’ fans need to sharpen their incisors for when Fresno State has the ball. After all, didn’t you hear that the Aztecs’ best linebacker, senior Derek Largent, is still recovering from a surgery? Yikes!
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sports 11
oct. 2 - 5, 2014 • THE DAILY AZTEC editor: kristian ibarra • sports@thedailyaztec.com
#aztecmsoccer
Aztecs pummel PLNU, prep for No. 2 UCLA Patrick Carr staff writer ____________________________________ With crosstown bragging rights at stake on Tuesday night, San Diego State’s men’s soccer team ended a two-game losing streak and defeated Point Loma Nazarene University 1-0. SDSU improved to 6-3 this year and 13-1-1 all time against Point Loma. The Aztecs started slow, but managed to get up and running in the 14th minute thanks to freshman forward David Olsen. “I’m not very happy with how we performed, but I’m very happy with the result,” head coach Lev Kirshner said. The team’s leading scorer netted his sixth goal of the year when junior defender Casey Phillips’ corner kick deflected off a Sea Lion defender, and right to Olsen who calmly scored from 12 yards out. Point Loma came out looking for an upset and, with the help of a rowdy traveling supporters section, they almost got one. The Sea Lions responded to Olsen’s goal by mustering two shots of their own, one of them high and the other saved by redshirt freshman goalkeeper Adam Allmaras. But it was SDSU’s defending that ultimately kept Point Loma scoreless. At the other end, sophomore midfielder Pablo Vasquez’s low
swerving free kick in the second half was saved by Sea Lions’ junior keeper Avrin Yakou. “I thought that our back line was very solid tonight, Travis (Nicklaw) having to come into the middle of the park for Julio (Alarcon) on an injury, I thought he did a very good job,” Kirshner said. A Look Ahead to Saturday vs. UCLA The Aztecs now move on to Saturday’s Pac-12 conference opener against No. 2-ranked University of California, Los Angeles. UCLA presents a tougher task than any of SDSU’s previous opponents. This is a team that is regularly in the conversation for a National Title, and although the Bruins’ record may not be sparkly clean, they’re not to be underestimated. The Bruins are coming off a victory 3-0 win against California State University, Northridge on Sunday. However, last Friday the Bruins were upset 1-0 by University of San Diego. UCLA has beaten two top-15 teams this season, both times on the road, where the Bruins have been at their best. David Olsen said that team unity was what helped them beat Point Loma despite SDSU not playing their best. If the Aztecs are going to win, they’ll have to play a solid complete game. The defense, midfield and strikers will all have to be on the same page playing at a high level.
CROSSWORDS
Across 1 Hint 6 Insincere flattery 11 Town in a Hersey title 12 Book before Joel 13 Roadie’s burden 16 Like some ALS Ice Bucket Challenge videos 17 Home of the bush ballad 19 Greek letter 20 Take in 22 Hardest to get close to 23 Rocky pinnacle 24 Brit who might lose a stone? 26 __ tape 27 Cicero, for one 29 From the top 31 Half a drink
32 CV component 33 Three sheets to the wind 34 Selassie of Ethiopia 36 Stew base 38 Snake eye? 39 Doctoral candidate’s hurdle 40 Seventhcentury pope 41 Blu-ray player ancestor 42 Swindle 43 Sturdy tree 44 Astra or Insignia 46 Salad vegetable 49 DWI-fighting gp. 51 Genesis 53 “__ Cried”: 1962 hit for Jay and the Americans
Freshman forward David Olsen (17) scored the only goal in Tuesday’s game against Point Loma. andy farra, staff photographer
Classifieds
54 Prepares (oneself), as for combat 56 Pooch sans papers 57 Diminutive, diminutively 58 Fated 60 Send, in a way 62 Ice cream maker Joseph 63 Bars with character, to some 64 Slower than adagio 65 Act surprised 66 Puts on cargo Down 1 Donated for the benefit of 2 One checking stories 3 Classic music
hall song that lent its melody to the “Howdy Doody” theme 4 Santa __ Mountains 5 Lake Erie city 6 Trading unit 7 Apt challenger of this puzzle’s circled locations 8 Long-eared beast 9 Hit the hay 10 Painter Chagall 13 Unalaska, e.g. 14 Name incorrectly 15 McDonald’s supply 18 Succor 21 Service station offering 25 Wide key 28 Small South American monkey 30 “No one knows” 33 Enthusiast 35 Yankee suspended for the 2014 season 36 Start of a confession 37 Like family 45 Reminder of a kind 46 Slowing, in scores 47 Certain Muslim 48 Greetings 50 Room with a remote, often 52 Letterman interviewee, say 55 Old Fords 59 Reproductive cells 61 __ culpa
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12 the back page
oct. 2 - 5, 2014 • THE DAILY AZTEC editor: kelly hillock • eEATURES@thedailyaztec.com
#latenights
Sleepless in San Diego Cami Buckman contributor ___________________________________
I
t’s 3 a.m. and I’m not asleep. All the sheep have been counted, and all the street lights are buzzing. The darkness of my bedroom ceiling continues to be, well, dark. While I know that the coat hanging in my closet isn’t a serial killer, I can’t help but see a menacing shape staring back at me, waiting for me to finally close my eyes. I’m scared. Scared of what? The dark? Monsters? My thoughts? Ah, there it is! You can’t run from the absurd thoughts that haunt you when it’s 3 a.m. and you have nothing else to do but think. Think, think, think. 3:05 I can feel the thoughts rushing in. How can a room so dark be painted with so many colorful thoughts? 3:17 What is life? No really, why are we here? Why am I here laying in this bed? Who am I really? I have a past, but I can only think of now. Time. Time baffles me. For some reason God, or who knows what, put me here to take value in this moment. There has to be something bigger than all of this. My eyelids are burning.
3:30 Did I lock the front door? I’m sure I did. Yes, I remember locking it. Or did I? Did I imagine that? Screw it! If a murderer is going to come in through the front door tonight I guess it’s just my time to go. Goodbye world! 3:32 Murderers. Now I’m imagining Detectives Elliot Stabler and Olivia Benson from “Law and Order: SVU” busting through my bedroom door to save me from the psychopathic serial killer that has kidnapped me. Don’t act like you’ve never imagined yourself in an Emmy award-winning crime drama. The setting is classic: It’s a cloudy night, and you’ve just about given up on the distant hope of being rescued from Ted Bundy’s basement (let’s just call this serial killer Ted Bundy). Then, a crashing noise interrupts the engulfing silence and detectives Elliot and Benson are there to rescue you! As you’re being carried away to the safety of the ambulance awaiting you, it begins to rain. Rain, rain, rain, umbrella ella3:35 -umberella ella ella hey hey hey hey hey hey. Now I can’t stop replaying this stupidly catchy Rihanna song in my mind—ella ella ella hey hey hey— Great.
#dasnapshots
3:45 I really want to fade away into unconsciousness. I read an article once that said taking deep breathes for about ten seconds will make you fall asleep. I’ll try anything at this point. Inhale. One, two, three, four, five. Exhale. One, two, three, four, five. Six. Now hold my breath for one, two, three (wow, this is hard). Four (OK, I need to breath) Five—I give up. Typically, I enjoy breathing. Maybe I’ll switch pillows, maybe that will do something. 3:55 Is there something wrong with me? I can’t be the only one who has these completely scattered and absurd thoughts; I can’t be the only one who feels so small. How can I be content and with the normalcy of unconsciousness? I spend an entire day in motion, looking, sensing, feeling, living, only to slip away into an erasable blackness for eight hours every night? What happens in this vibrating mind of mine that I can’t remember? So many questions, questions, questions and no voice to answer them. It’s not the sleep that I crave, it’s the answer. It’s the voice. All I want is someone beside me to stare at my darkness and listen to my silence. 4:00 I’m alone.
SUDOKU
HOW TO PLAY: Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box contains every digit 1 to 9. Difficulty Level:
4/4
CROSSWORDS, SUDOKU, AND HOROSCOPES COURTESY OF TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC., ©2014. GAME SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
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Video editor Wesley Beights captured the beauty of Arcos de los Cabos in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico on a recent vacation.
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HOROSCOPE happy Birthday (10/2/14) Expansion and growth comes through group participation this year. Express yourself and serve others with creativity. Craft a masterpiece. Changes with a partnership (especially after 10/8) lead to new and profitable opportunities (after 10/23). Power into work next springtime, for satisfaction and confidence. It's all for home and family. The basis of your strength is love. HOW IT WORKS: 10 is good, 1 is bad. Aries (March 21 - April 19) - Today is a 9 - Expect the unexpected. Don't waste a cent. Re-think old beliefs. Meditation reveals another level. Private conversations help. Don't be stopped by past failures. Learn from your mistakes, and your status rises with new skills. Taurus (April 20 - May 20) - Today is a 9 - Listen to your intuition. Choose an exotic destination for your next adventure. Did lightning strike? It could feel that way. Rest and cool down. Play your cards close to your chest. Study and make plans. Gemini (May 21 - June 21) - Today is a 9 - Wait before making your move; conditions will improve. Exercise extra caution when driving, and watch out for surprises. Reevaluate your route and itinerary. Handle paperwork regarding shared resources. Reward your efforts with something fun. Cancer (June 22 - July 22) - Today is a 9 - An unexpected circumstance could frustrate a collaboration. Work interferes with travel. Take time outs to reduce stress. Don't take financial risks. Allow extra time in your schedule for the unforeseen. Compromise and work it out. Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is a 9 - A surprise job or income source emerges. Jump on a chance to fly. Stop for rest when you need it. Play to win! Don't overspend or speculate, borrow or lend. Provide excellent service with a smile. Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is an 8 - You're in the mood to de-clutter. Get family involved, and lighten your collective load. Reward efforts with fun and treats. Deduct points for tantrums. Listen to other people's ideas. Dance in the newly cleared space. Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is an 8 - Take extra care. Don't forget to do an important job at home. Unforeseen circumstances could preempt your plans. Be careful trying a new technique or trick. Things may not go as expected. Take deep breaths. Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) Today is a 9 - Take care to avoid miscommunications. Listen to a loved one's considerations. Don't just throw money at a domestic problem. Create time for fun. Adapt to changes and allow time to adjust. Think before speaking. Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) Today is a 9 - Provide leadership at work. Try a new idea. Get eclectic and creative. Listen to all considerations before committing money, or it could get awkward. A bonus could fatten your wallet. Surprise your family with a treat. Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is a 9 - Start with the most difficult thing on your list. Don't believe everything you hear, or make assumptions. Mechanical breakdown could slow the action. Conditions seem unstable. Grace under pressure raises your confidence and professional status. Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is an 8 - Don't make expensive promises or waste cash. Hold onto what you have. Identify new resources. Introspection and planning save time and money. Dream about your next adventure. You get a surprise win. Pisces (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is a 9 - Don't get intimidated. Take on a leadership attitude. Things may not go as planned, but your friends are here for you. Listen to intuition. This is a test. Resourceful efforts pay dividends.