01-20-2016

Page 1

weekly PRINT EDITION

wednesDAY, JANUARY 20 – tuesDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016 volume 102, Issue 18

SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1913

W W W . T H E D A I LYA Z T E C . C O M

spring semester: time to grow

ON THE INSIDE... KCR AWARDS P3 • SURGING AZTECS P7 • QUALITY PROFESSORS P11 • DIRECTOR FOSTERS LEADERSHIP P12 COVER DESIGN BY KAYLEE ANDREWS


2 NEWS

JAN. 20 - 26, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: JAMIE BALLARD • NEWS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#CAMPUSFLOOD

Buildings repaired after flooding NATALIA XIBILLE STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ The El Niño rainstorms that pelted Southern California last week took a toll on San Diego State and several buildings were damaged by flooding. The flooding did varied degrees of damage to the SDSU Children’s Center, Love Library, Peterson Gym and north and south life sciences buildings. Employees of the SDSU and Associated Students Facility Services were working on water control while SDSU police had officers responding to multiple 911 calls related to the storms. No injuries were reported, but many buildings received water damage, some more severe than others. “The library and Children’s Center were the areas that had the most significant damage,” said Brad Songhurst, senior associate director for Facility Services. At 4:48 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 5, SDSU Police received a 911 call from the Children’s Center reporting flooding. “Around 4:45, we noted that water was starting to trickle into the building by the doorway,” Children’s Center Director Michelle Zamora said. “Within seconds, that changed as the rain increased and the water literally came into the building.” Water seeped into four classrooms

SAN DIEGO

and the office entryway. When police officials and facility service crews arrived to the scene, six inches of water was blocking the front entrance of the center. According to Zamora, there were at least 20 staff members and slightly less than 20 children in the building at this time. The flood was caused by a few factors, according to Glen Brandenburg, director of Facilities and Sustainability of A.S. The accumulated organic debris like leaves, dirt and branches from the drought and the high volume of storm water both caused the area to flood. “(It was) like a miniature tsunami, literally,” Brandenburg said. “It washed up all the built-up organic material and clogged the storm drains.” The water at the front of the building made it unsafe for the children and staff to exit as the depth and current of the storm water was unknown upon arrival, SDSUPD Cpl. Mark Peterson said. It took police and the facility service crews approximately 10 minutes to stabilize the situation and clear everyone out. “As is common with some types of flooding, when the rain stops … the water tends to suddenly recede and that’s what occurred in this situation,” Peterson said. “Officers were able to safely facilitate parents to pick up their children and escort folks safely out of

go go

Repairs are now complete on the SDSU Children’s Center after flooding occurred during winter break. NATALIA XIBILLE, STAFF WRITER

the building.” To his knowledge, this was the first time the Children’s Center had ever experienced flooding. The repairs to the center were finished Jan. 8 and included the replacement of drywall and carpet in the front area of the building. The center will be modified by engineers to prevent future flooding of the building, Songhurst said. The Love Library also suffered water damage, caused by broken pipes in the ceiling of the building. Different areas

were affected, including the library’s computing area. Though some of the equipment in the hub was damaged, none of the damage was severe. Repairs of the Love Library were scheduled to be completed Sunday, Jan. 17. There was no damage to the Peterson Gym and north and south life sciences buildings as only a small volume of water trickled into the buildings. The total cost of the repairs will be known in approximately three weeks, Songhurst said.

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#CRIMEUPDATE

Burglary near SDSU ALEX PISCATELLI STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ BURGLARY A resident of Sanctuary Apartments reported a burglary had just occurred as he was arriving home from winter break in early January. While the student was gone, multiple people broke into his apartment and squatted for an unknown period of time, San Diego State Police Cpl. Mark Peterson said. The suspects were running out of the man’s apartment when he arrived home, taking some of the his belongings. SDSU Police is currently investigating the incident. On the weekend of Jan 9., a burglary occurred at Porter’s Market on Hardy Avenue. A laptop, cash from the register, a safe and a video surveillance box were stolen, according to SDSU Police. No suspects have been found.

DRUNK DRIVER A man was arrested the morning of Jan. 18 around 1 a.m. for driving while under the influence. He was arrested at Parking Structure 4, according to SDSU Police. SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES On Thursday, Jan. 14, shortly after midnight, SDSU Police received a report of suspects in a vehicle starting fights by the physics astronomy building. According to a report, the subjects chased a contractor vehicle through Aztec Circle Drive. The subject’s vehicle is described as a dark blue Dodge Magnum with tinted windows. The vehicle fled the area before officers arrived, Peterson said. Contact SDSU police at 619-594-1991 with any information regarding these cases.


NEWS 3

JAN. 20 - 26, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: JAMIE BALLARD • NEWS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#KCRCOLLEGERADIO

KCR up for national radio awards ADRIANA MILLAR SENIOR STAFF WRITER ____________________________________

KCR members will travel to New York City in March. COURTESY OF KCR COLLEGE RADIO

San Diego State’s student radio station KCR College Radio was nominated for five Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Awards. The station’s staff will travel to New York City in March for the awards ceremony. The student-run station was nominated for Best Online Station, Best Website, Best Station Blog, Best Sports Play-by-Play Baseball and Best Newscast. Recent SDSU graduates Patrick Carr and Sean Nichols, along with journalism senior Ryan Posner, received nominations for their playby-play broadcast of SDSU baseball games. The finalist for best newscast is journalism junior Quinn Owen. Posner is also the current sports editor of The Daily Aztec and Owen is the outgoing news editor. This year KCR revamped its website and overall online presence, KCR General Manager Matt Hoffman said. Hoffman, along with Content Director Denise Chang, decided to redesign the website over the summer,and increase daily posts. “Because we’re an online site … (if it) looks more professional and clean,

people are more inclined to listen,” Chang said. The radio station also upgraded its equipment, adding new computers and servers, Hoffman said. “Before we had a lot of problems with the technical stuff, so it was kind of hit or miss when it came to the quality, now the quality depends on who we have,” he said. An emphasis on recruitment over the past year helped draw more people to the college radio station, particularly journalism students, Hoffman said. “We had a lot more news this year, which was good, so that’s something that we changed this year,” he said. “It’s always about finding quality people and adding those to submissions.” Submissions for the IBS awards increased 400 percent this year. Hoffman said the challenge for KCR will be competing against other programs that receive ample funding from their schools. “In our category there are a lot of stations that are funded, have a fulltime adviser and have a paid staff,” he said. “Here at KCR, we’re not funded by the school or anything.” KCR stays on the air by requiring membership fees. This year 150 people are part of the staff. The university allows the station to

operate in rent-free facilities. It also pays the utility bills. “You’re paying to to be in it, so you might as well take advantage of it,” Hoffman said. “For the past three years, we really changed the focus and mentality, keep on the staff to keep putting out quality content.” This is the third year KCR has been nominated for awards. Last year KCR won Best Online Station, Best Play-by-Play Broadcast for their hockey coverage and Best Campus News. Hoffman said although members never expect to be nominated, the recognition is appreciated. “We actually worked really hard on our submissions this year, a lot more so than I thought we did last year,” he said. “The first year we got nominated it was kind of a surprise, and then last year we tried a lot harder, and it was like, ‘Oh wow we got nominated for more than one,’ and then we did it again and we got nominated for five.” Chang said last year’s award helped the staff continue to put out great content. “Just to be recognized last year as best online radio station, (we were) really motivated to keep that up,” she said. “This is definitely the biggest award of the year.” The awards ceremony will take place in New York City on March 5.

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4 NEWS

JAN. 20 - 26, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: JAMIE BALLARD • NEWS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#LATINOSTUDENTS

Who’sWho? EDITOR IN CHIEF Kelly Hillock MANAGING EDITOR Matthew Bain NEWS EDITOR Jamie Ballard

Latinos demand support

San Diego State students and faculty are challenging the university’s commitment to being a Hispanic-serving Institute in terms of resources and opportunities. CALVIN EMBLETON, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

MARIA DEL CARMEN HUERTA SENIOR STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ The U.S. Department of Education last year released provisional data that reported Latino students at universities have increased by more than 20 percent since 2010. This imminent demographic growth may call for an increase in educational efforts in colleges and universities to better prepare, serve and retain Latino college students in America. As the number of Latino students in higher education continue to increase, so will the challenges that accompany Latino students’ diverse needs on campus. A Hispanic-serving Institution status, granted by the Department of Education, designates colleges or universities to be part of a federal grant program that helps aid first-generation, majority low-income Latino students. Universities and colleges granted this status are eligible for scholarships and grants that can be used toward assisting the entire student body, including its Latino student population. In order for a university to be considered an HSI it must have at least a 25-percent Latino student body. Currently, SDSU has a 29.7-percent Latino student population, according to the California State University Mentor website. However, some Latino educators and scholars, as well as SDSU faculty and students, believe the university is not addressing their needs and concerns as an HSI institution. The Chicano/a Latino/a Concilio on Higher Education of San Diego is made up of alumni, faculty, staff and students from various higher education institutions, including SDSU. In September 2014, the Concilio presented a vision entitled “SDSU

as a world-class, national flagship, Hispanic-Serving Institution” to SDSU President Elliot Hirshman and Provost and Senior Vice President Chukuka Enwemeka. Patrick Velasquez, co-chair of the Chicano/Latino Concilio on Higher Education, said in a press release that SDSU has to take more action to serve the Latino community. The organization believes the university is not fully operating under its HSI status to provide sufficient resources to Latino students with a wide range of identities. The Concilio says it wants to be a key stakeholder in the implementation of its institutional vision plan in partnership with the university in order to actualize SDSU’s status as a leader among HSI institutions in the country. The Concilio proposed five pillars for the university to consider: Representation and Success, Admission, Retention and Graduation, Curricular Programmatic Offerings, Student Success and Community Engagement. Under these five pillars specific guidelines are addressed for the university to consider and further promote Latino student success on campus. The organization hopes to address the grievances in the vision plan by 2024. Under the Student Success pillar the Concilio demands an on-campus undocumented student resource program to provide campus-wide availability of opportunities and resources for undocumented students at SDSU. Out of the 23 CSUs, only four have Dreamer Resource Centers on campus: Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Northridge and Cal State Los Angeles. These centers cater to undocumented student needs. SDSU AS A HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTION Some undocumented Latino students at SDSU say the university as an HSI should do more to broaden its resources for undocumented students on campus. “A dream center would make sense here,” said Roberto Hernández, assistant professor in the Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies. “Although we don’t have the exact numbers, we are near the border and we do know there are a number of AB 540 (undocumented) students here.” Some undocumented students believe the services provided on campus don’t explicitly address the needs and issues that undocumented students face on campus. The university would need concrete data of undocumented students at SDSU in order to support an undocumented center on campus. The university could assist students with immigration papers and deferred action renewals, as well as other issues

that affect the undocumented student community at SDSU if a center were to be established. An undocumented student who wishes to remain anonymous said she thinks a resource center would enhance the SDSU experience for undocumented students. “They must let students know there is help because there are more AB540 students that don’t know about the programs the university has or the support available,” she said. “There should be more resources.” She said she goes to different departments on campus seeking help, but faculty and staff can’t always help her because they’re not always wellversed with her status and the law. WHY NO RESOURCE CENTER? Chief Diversity Officer Aaron Bruce said there are a few reasons the university hasn’t created a committee or a center that solely focuses on Latino student issues. “One is the legal parameters,” Bruce said. “University administrators are not professionally qualified to provide legal advice, so it is important that we don’t inappropriately advise you as an undocumented student. We don’t always know who is undocumented and we don’t know what the numbers are and we don’t know how that number fluctuates. That is another challenge if we wanted to create a center for undocumented students.” He said these reasons may be why the university is not at its official capacity to help undocumented students, but points out that because of its geographic location, the university is able to do some other unique things to support its diverse student population. SDSU offers many other opportunities that undocumented students can take advantage of, such as scholarships. Some students, faculty and staff don’t feel it’s enough, though. “That is the assumption that some universities make that we can just build a space for those students and they’ll be fine,” Bruce said. “From looking at our demographic and competitive nature of our student body in the past years we realize that one size doesn’t fit all.” Bruce said he is familiar with undocumented students coming into his office because he is able to help and support them in ways that many other areas on campus cannot, depending on the student’s situation. “It is important to think about as universities evolve as one space that provides the warm, welcoming supporting experience for a student,” he said. “It is everyone’s responsibility to support our students.” Even with SDSU’s efforts to cater to Latino students, many faculty, staff and Latino leaders and scholars are demanding more from the HSI university.

SPORTS EDITOR Ryan Posner ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Anthony Reclusado OPINION EDITOR Joseph Ciolino ARTS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR Ryo Miyauchi ASST. ARTS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR Olivia Litsey PHOTO EDITOR Cristian Rangel DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR Annalise Dewhurst VIDEO PRODUCER Daniel Galuppo PRODUCTION DESIGNERS Kaylee Andrews Hannah Lingle-Veale VOLUNTEER WRITERS Mackenzie Boss Natalia Xibille Alex Piscatelli Adriana Millar Maria Del Carmen Huerta Emely Navarro Liliana Cervantes Sarah Tanori Alek Sanchez Nicole Sazegar Kris Keehl Anthony Reclusado Jacob Sisneros VOLUNTEER PHOTOGRAPHERS Calvin Embleton __________________________________ ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Radbeh Rabaz SALES MANAGER Matthew Volk ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Alexis Evans-Bendel Alex Gamboa Christopher Garcia Kamisha McKnight Keon Siavoshani Kelsey Silver Matthew Volk John Weil ACCOUNTING & CONTRACTS Alfonso Barajas Kalie Christensen __________________________________ GENERAL MANAGER Jay Harn GRAPHICS SPECIALIST Chris Blakemore __________________________________ ADVERTISING 619.594.6977 advertising@thedailyaztec.com EDITORIAL 619.594.4190 editor@thedailyaztec.com PRINT The Daily Aztec publishes 5,000 copies of its weekly print edition on Wednesdays. WEB Daily content is available at www.thedailyaztec.com MOBILE The Aztec App (available for iPhone and Android)

SOCIAL MEDIA facebook.com/dailyaztec twitter.com/thedailyaztec instagram.com/thedailyaztec __________________________________ Weekly in print, daily online. The Daily Aztec has been San Diego State University’s independent student news source since 1913.


NEWS 5

JAN. 20 - 26, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: • JAMIE BALLARD NEWS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#NOMORECRASHING

Waitlist to end crashing classes EMELY NAVARRO SENIOR STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ San Diego State implemented a new waitlist feature that will say “goodbye to crashing” forever. Associated Students requested and initiated this automatic enrollment application in 2012, which allows students to put themselves on a waitlist when a class is full. As a seat in the class becomes available, the system automatically enrolls them into the class according to their ranking on the list. Ranking is determined by various factors, such as the student’s units earned, major/minor and if he or she has met the necessary prerequisites for the class. A student’s ranking can change every day according to how many students drop the class, add themselves to the waitlist or if there are any seats added to it. This new system is beneficial for both students and faculty because it is a uniform non-biased way to allow students in a class without requiring them to crash it. In the old registration process classes would only be opened from the first to last day of registration. Then classes would open up again on the first day of class but would require an add code.

Students were unable to add a class to their schedule even if there were available seats after the last registration day. In the new system classes never close, and students are automatically enrolled in a class if there are available seats until the fifth day of class. Starting on the sixth day of classes, faculty will manually add the students to the class even if there are open seats. “The old process for acquiring those add codes was not a process that was standardized across the campus, every faculty did it their own way,” Registrar Rayanne Williams said. “Some faculty were fair, some were not.” Having a waitlist creates not only a standardized process for students to auto-enroll in a class, but it also shows teachers how many students want or need to take their class, Williams said. Vice President of University Affairs Andrea Byrd said this new system has the potential to help faculty add more classes for students. “With the waitlist being an online system, Enrollment Services can see exactly how impacted some of these classes are, and open up more course sections if need be,” Byrd said. The waitlist has some restrictions. Students can have a maximum of four course sections on their waitlist. Additionally, a course can be added to the waitlist if it conflicts with a class on

San Diego State introduced a system that eliminates the need for students to crash courses. JAMIE BALLARD, NEWS EDITOR

a student’s schedule, but the student must agree to drop the conflicting course if he or she get their desired waitlist class. Theatre, film and new media junior Constantine Samios experienced some difficulties with the waitlist. He added a class to his waitlist and got dropped from it twice. Once he called the Office of the Registrar, they told him it was a technical glitch. When he added the class again, his ranking changed drastically. Theatre, film and new media senior

Daniel Galuppo had a good experience with the waitlist. He was auto-enrolled in a class after being third on the waitlist, but he still said the new system isn’t all that good. “The whole point of crashing was that if you were the first one to make it to the class or talk to the professor you could get the add code,” Galuppo said. “This creates a competitive environment which is healthy, but if you are No. 30 on a waitlist your, chances of getting that class are much lower.” For more information about the waitlist visit www.sdsu.edu/waitlist.


6 SPORTS

JAN. 20 - 26, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYAN POSNER • SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#AZTECMBB

Fisher’s bunch starting to finish

The Aztecs started out conference play 5-0 this season CRISTIAN RANGEL, PHOTO EDITOR

KRIS KEEHL SENIOR STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ As San Diego State was sweeping its doorstep, kicking its students out and turning out the lights on the fall semester, the men’s basketball team was losing its fifth game, a 52-45 loss to Grand Canyon University. It was the team’s second shocking loss in 10 days.

Then the Aztecs lost their final nonconference game to Kansas University, 70-57, which dropped the Aztecs’ record to 7-6. SDSU’s worst nonconference performance since the 2004-05 season left the team pigeonholed in a position of needing an undefeated — and improbable given past performances — run through Mountain West play. While the campus was dark, the Aztecs toiled under the lights of the Jeff Jacobs JAM Center and Viejas Arena. That work propelled the Aztecs to a 5-0 conference start, which was good enough for sole possession of first place in the MW. The big difference between nonconference and conference play: the ability to finish games. To gain better understanding of what it means to finish a game, consider the losses that SDSU suffered during its nonconference schedule. One loss was a complete blowout to West Virginia University and another loss was to then-No. 2 Kansas, but at one point in the second half the Aztecs were within four points of the Jayhawks. Besides these two losses, SDSU never lost to a nonconference opponent by more than seven points. In its first loss of the season to then-No. 16 ranked University of Utah, which is out of the Associated Press Top 25 poll but still receiving votes, SDSU kept it close and twice pulled within two points of the Utes with less than a minute to go, yet it still lost.

#AZTECHISTORY

Aztec sports history RYAN POSNER SPORTS EDITOR ____________________________________ JAN. 20, 2011 The year 2011 was a special year for the San Diego State men’s basketball program. The team finished off the season with a program record 34 wins and made its first trip to the Sweet 16. On Jan. 20 the then-No. 6 Aztecs took down Air Force Academy 68-55 to move their record to a perfect 20-0. The 20-game winning streak was the

longest in the nation at that point and still is the school record. “I still can’t believe it,” Billy White said about the team’s 20-0 start. The double-double machine himself, Kawhi Leonard, was true to form, grabbing an even 10 rebounds to go along with 10 points. It was Leonard’s 13th double-double of the season and 30th of his career. Point guard D.J. Gay led the team with 20 points on the back of a 6-for-11 night from beyond the arc. Even with the team off to its best start in program history, head coach

Five days later, SDSU suffered what most would call a mind-numbing loss to the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, who this week also received an AP Top 25 vote after racing off to a 15-2 start. The Aztecs led by one point with less than three minutes to play, but were outscored 9-2 the rest of the game. They didn’t finish. After a day of poor shooting and what head coach Steve Fisher described as a lack of effort, SDSU played University of San Diego tight to close the game. The Aztecs trailed by two with little over a minute left, but they didn’t finish the game. And once again they didn’t finish the game they lost to Grand Canyon. After holding a two-point lead with 2:59 left, the Aztecs would be outscored 9-0 to close the game. Normally, finishing games is reserved for coach speak during a press conference or practice, but SDSU has made the term relevant by routinely finishing close games with a victory. Last year, the Aztecs were tied with Long Beach State, UNLV (twice) and University of Nevada all with less than five minutes to go, and in a business-as-usual state the Aztecs secured wins. In the 2013-14 season, SDSU beat University of Washington and Kansas after holding on to small leads with less than a minute to go. The Aztecs now stand at 5-0 in conference because they have been able to finish games like they have in past seasons. Sure, the home games against the

University of Wyoming and San Jose State University didn’t make fans bite their nails off as the Aztecs held double-digit leads in both games with less than a minute, but its the other three wins that display the grit of this team. Under a minute left and leading by one at Utah State University, Aztecs win. At Colorado State University and tied with a minute left in the game, Aztecs win. In a battle between the two undefeated teams in the MW at Boise State University, Aztecs win. SDSU is back to the old form that those following the program have grown to appreciate. Even when a lid has been on the basket during its conference games, SDSU has been able to grind out wins. In at least one half against Utah State, Colorado State and Boise State, the Aztecs shot less than 38 percent from the field and still managed to win games. In each of the six losses, the Aztecs shot less than 38 percent in one half, but couldn’t close it out. But, why are the Aztecs finishing games now that they are in conference play? Maybe it’s the maturation of two starting freshman, or the persistence and leadership of two seniors that have returned to the starting lineup, or maybe it’s sophomore forward Malik Pope reestablishing himself as an offensive threat. Whatever the causes of the strong conference start are, the result is finishing games in a way the team wasn’t able to in nonconference play.

Steve Fisher had an eye on the future and a game against Jimmer Fredette and then-No. 9 BYU less than a week later in Provo, Utah. “I think it will have as much attention nationally as any game we’ve ever played,” Fisher said. “They’re really, really good.” BYU was really, really good that year and the Cougars beat the Aztecs on Jan. 26, 71-58. The Cougars would serve as the Aztecs’ only two losses in the regular season that year, although they were able to beat them 72-54 in the Mountain West Tournament.

It was the last season the team won the Mountain West Tournament and the last time it made the trip to the NCAA tournament. It also marked the second-to-last season long-time head coach Beth Burns was at the helm. The Aztecs beat University of New Mexico on Jan. 19 of that year, 74-48, in a stellar defensive performance in which the team had 15 steals. “Defense is hard work, we give it a lot of glory on this team,” Burns said. Courtney Clements had three of those steals and had a team-high 19 points. She entered the game leading the MW in points per game. “I knew I had to play well in order for us to win,” Clements said. “I go as hard as I can and just hope that everyone else will follow.”

JAN. 19, 2012 Just like 2011 for the men’s team, 2012 was a solid year for the women’s team.


SPORTS 7

JAN. 20 - 26, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYAN POSNER • SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#AZTECMBB

Youthful Aztecs learning from losses team, and that message has been firmly grasped, as demonstrated by opening conference play 5-0 for only the third time in program history, which comes after a 7-6 nonconference record to start

The youth and inexperience of the Aztecs helped drag down the quality of play when the team played lesser competition and were embarrassed in front of their home crowd multiple times.

“ SOMETIMES YOU LEARN BY TAKING LOSSES ... WE’RE

LEARNING FROM OUR MISTAKES.” - Senior center Skylar Spencer

Senior forward Winston Shepard has been a key factor in the team’s hot start in conference play. CRISTIAN RANGEL, PHOTO EDITOR

ANTHONY RECLUSADO ASST. SPORTS EDITOR ____________________________ While success is the ultimate goal, failure provides the necessary lesson it takes to be successful and the selfreflection to ensure those failures are not repeated.

This is a reoccurring message in sports, from the foundational youth athletics to the highest tier of professional sports. How that message is received, however, depends on the athlete, coach and team. Insert the 2015-16 San Diego State men’s basketball

the season. “Three of our main contributors are freshmen with guard Jeremy (Hemsley), forward Zylan (Cheatham) and Ben (Perez),” sophomore guard Trey Kell said. “With them playing a lot of minutes they don’t know what every game is going to be like in college. “Sometimes in high school you know you’re going to win this game when that’s not a fact in college. You have to come out and be ready to play every game. Those games helped us be the team we are today.”

Prior to the season SDSU won 84 straight games at home against teams that ended the season with a rating percentage index (RPI) ranking of 100 or worse. This season the Aztecs have lost to two teams in Viejas Arena with an RPI of 100 or worse in University of ArkansasLittle Rock and Grand Canyon University. They also suffered an embarrassing loss in front of thousands of San Diegans at Petco Park at the hands of cross-town rival University of San Diego last month, which at

the time had the No. 314 RPI. “It was just a learning process,” senior forward Skylar Spencer said. “Sometimes you learn by taking losses and I think something finally clicked and we’re learning from our mistakes. We have a team that learns from experience. It was a curse and a blessing because it really taught us a lot.” Now with the message clearly understood it is all about maintaining that focus and remembering those failures from earlier in the season. And with a team filled with teenagers and newly minted adults it falls upon the coaching staff to reiterate that message. “If you stay on edge, it’s a plus for you,” head coach Steve Fisher said. “We have to preach to that and we have to be alert and vigilant ourselves as coaches to say if we think somebody is not pulling their weight to get them out and get somebody else in.” With the coaches reminding this team of the lessons learned from their past failures, it is no surprise that success has come in bunches for this Aztec team recently.


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SPORTS 9

JAN. 20 - 26, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYAN POSNER • SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#AZTECWBB

Tale of 2 months for women’s hoops game. DEC. 21: 60-25 WIN OVER SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN

San Diego State women’s basketball went 4-2 in December but is 0-4 to start 2016 CRISTIAN RANGEL, PHOTO EDITOR

JACOB SISNEROS SENIOR STAFF WRITER ____________________________

DEC. 19: 54-43 WIN AGAINST CAL STATE FULLERTON

The new year hasn’t been kind to the San Diego State women’s basketball team. After finishing December strong with a record of 4-2 including three straight wins, the Aztecs have lost four consecutive conference games to open their 2016 campaign. The team sits at 6-10 overall, 1-4 in conference play, and is ninth out of 11 teams in the Mountain West standings.

Following a 92-65 defeat to Loyola Marymount University the previous week, a dominant performance by sophomore guard McKynzie Fort and the Aztecs’ defense helped the team regain its form. Fort scored 22 points on 10of-14 shooting and SDSU held Cal State Fullerton to 29 percent shooting from the field and 20 percent from 3-point range. This was the first win in which the Aztecs led for the whole

Junior guard Kymberly Ellison led the team in scoring with 11 points in another stellar defensive effort. San Diego Christian shot 16 percent for the game and was 1-for-16 from beyond the arc. Ellison was 4-of-8 from the floor and 3-for-7 from 3-point range. Senior forward Deidra Smith and sophomore forward Lexy Thorderson each had 10 points and the team shot 42 percent for the game. DEC. 30: 84-77 WIN AT UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING SDSU had its best game offensively when it needed to and beat Wyoming 84-77 to open conference play. Fort scored 21 points on 8-of11 shooting and senior point guard Ahjalee Harvey delivered a career-high 19 points, shooting 6-for-11 from the floor and 2-for3 from 3-point range. The Aztecs shot 51 percent for the game and scored a season-high 84 points. SDSU outlasted Wyoming despite a 27-point performance from Wyoming freshman

forward Marta Gomez and double-doubles from sophomore forward Natalie Baker and senior guard Marquelle Dent.

JAN. 13: 60-57 LOSS AGAINST COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

After a breakthrough offensive performance against Wyoming, the Aztecs took a step back and scored 36 points against Utah State on 19 percent shooting. Harvey had a good game offensively, scoring 16 points on 50 percent shooting from the field and 4-of-8 from 3, but the rest of the team combined to shoot 6-for-52.

SDSU fell short in its comeback bid against Colorado State, which was 13-1 overall and 3-0 in the conference coming into the game. SDSU scored 18 points in the first half on 26 percent shooting and trailed 31-18 at the break. The Aztecs took a 41-40 lead with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter, but CSU shot 9-of-13 in the fourth quarter and held on for the win. Fort led all scorers with 20 points and Harvey had another good game, adding 17 points to the tally.

JAN. 6: 78-73 LOSS AT SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY

JAN. 16: 75-45 LOSS TO BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY

The Aztecs’ Jekyll and Hyde offense took its toll in their 78-73 loss at San Jose State. The team shot 51.4 percent in the first half and scored a season-high 48 points. Then the offense went cold — as in 22 percent from the floor and 25 points in the second half. Fort led the scoring with 16 points and Smith and sophomore guard Geena Gomez each had 15 points.

SDSU trailed 39-34 at halftime, scored 11 points in the third quarter and were shut out in the fourth quarter. The Aztecs finished the game shooting 31 percent, but shot 12 percent in the second half and allowed Boise State to shoot 52 percent for the game. Harvey led the way with 11 points on 3-of-12 shooting and Fort added 10 points, all in the first half, on 5-of-8 shooting.

JAN. 2: 55-36 LOSS TO UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY

global adventure starts here The international experience is a hallmark of a San Diego State University education. SDSU is in the top 15 universities in the number of students who study abroad. It is a top producer of Fulbright award winners, with 74 students receiving the prestigious award since 2005. Aztecs choose from nearly 400 international education programs in 52 countries to teach, study and conduct research. SDSU.edu



OPINION

JAN. 20 - 26, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: JOSEPH CIOLINO • OPINION@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

11

#SCHMITZWEISSTHEWISE

Professor makes name for herself forward with their upperdivision classes. Under the instruction of Schmitz Weiss I believe I truly have grown as a writer. Having a professor who genuinely cares about her students and is passionate about what she is teaching is extremely rewarding for a student. Schmitz Weiss received her undergraduate degree for journalism and Spanish from

Committee, Group for Center for Latin America Studies, Big Data advisory group and SDSU’s chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. She attributes her love of SDSU to the students, as she loves “helping them along their journey.” She believes the faculty also makes SDSU an inspiring environment. If she had to pick her favorite class, she said it

... A PROFESSOR WHO GENUINELY CARES ABOUT HER STUDENTS AND IS PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT SHE IS TEACHING ...

Amy Schmitz Weiss is an associate professor in the School of Journalism and Media Studies COURTESY OF AMY SCHMITZ WEISS

MACKENZIE BOSS STAFF COLUMNIST ____________________________ Amy Schmitz Weiss is a hard-working, dedicated and passionate professor at San Diego State’s School of Journalism and Media Studies. In her eight years at SDSU, she has made a

positive impact on many of her students and has gone above and beyond by getting involved outside the classroom. After taking Schmitz Weiss’ Writing for Mass Media course (JMS 210 in the SDSU catalog), I have gained new knowledge and a lasting experience that will lead me in the right

direction, especially with future courses. Writing for Mass Media covered many different aspects of journalism, such as writing ledes, press releases and advertisements. It is a great class in that it allows students to see what aspect of journalism interests them the most before moving

Butler University. After paying her dues by working at interactive media firms, she went on to receive her journalism masters degree from the University of Texas. She was inspired to become a professor after teaching a short interactive media course in Chicago. If she wasn’t a professor, she believes she would be in some sort of writing analyst position for the media industry because of her love for research and writing. Another venture that she may have pursued is writing novels. Schmitz Weiss was drawn to teach at SDSU because of its growing journalism and media studies program. She especially loves the collaborations through the university and “the way people can work together and be collegial.” Outside of the classroom, Schmitz Weiss is involved in Student Media Advisory

would be digital journalism because it has always been a subject near and dear to her heart. Digital journalism is an upper-division course in which students learn about social storytelling, Wordpress website production, social media tools and much more. Schmitz Weiss is an expert in all of these areas and guides her students throughout the semester to help them create the best product. In the little free time she does have, Schmitz Weiss can be found with her young son or playing tennis. Schmitz Weiss is extremely approachable and helpful during class and office hours. She is dedicated to her craft and helping students learn. Any student at SDSU would be lucky to have a professor like Schmitz Weiss who is driven by so much passion and cares about seeing her students improve and succeed.

#HAYLEADSWAY

Hay leads the way in the history section JOSEPH CIOLINO OPINION EDITOR ____________________________ Never missing a class is a rare occurrence for most students. There’s no certificate given out as a reward for perfect attendance in college, like there was in grade school. There’s no “senior ditch day”, or maybe there is, who knows. What matters is that missing a class taught by Professor Jeffrey Hay is not possible. Not possible for a history buff anyway, or just someone that enjoys listening to a good story — a story told by someone deeply passionate about what he teaches. This past semester I took a course with Hay that enveloped the Holocaust. Saying that this topic is

difficult to learn about is an understatement, but Hay approached the topic with a certain grace, understanding and sensitivity that put this vast and detailed subject into perspective much easier than a cluttered textbook or a documentary on Netflix. Hay warned us on syllabus day that his constant pacing back and forth in front of the classroom would be routine, and it was throughout the entire semester. This is just his way of collecting his thoughts and making the story and details flow. Everyone has their thing, and this is his. I would advise recording the lectures or using a laptop to take notes as Hay’s lectures are swift and information is boundless. I had about 200 pages

of notes by the end of the semester, and each detail is as important as the last. Hay has an old-school teaching style. He doesn’t care much for power points, Blackboard or other classroom technology, and that’s the way a history course should be. Just storytelling, and Hay is a phenomenal storyteller. So the extra technology isn’t needed and would essentially be pointless as his lecture is enough. This was a class that I looked forward to going to twice per week. I never skipped a day. Class sessions felt like they were too short because they were going by so fast because of Hay’s storytelling skills. His expectations on exams are high. He expects you to be able to paint a picture rather than just

memorize dates and locations like a robot. You have to prove that you understand why things happened and why certain things were significant and how they affect us today. Hay is helpful and extremely intelligent. If you have an questions, or even an experience you would like to tell him about, he is more than willing to listen after the lecture. During lecture, however, it is all business and he expects your full attention. So pretend like you’re in the movie theater and turn off or silence your cellphone. (Not even joking, do it, you WILL get called out.) I saw a few people get embarrassed for being on their cellphones during lecture. That’s just because Hay

expects your respect, and he deserves the respect of his students. He is trying to teach his students some extremely important information. If you are looking for an awesome history class with a fantastic professor that will paint a picture for you the entire semester, don’t hesitate to enroll or try to crash one of Professor Hay’s classes. Enroll quickly, as they fill up extremely fast. Professor Hay is teaching four classes this semester: World History, Western Civilization Since the 16th Century, Holocaust and World War II. The classes already filled up and waitlisted this semester, but I highly recommend having the enroll button at the ready when you decide to enroll next semester.


12 ARTS & LIFESTYLE

JAN. 20 - 26, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYO MIYAUCHI • ENTERTAINMENT@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#SLL

SDSU director fosters leadership LILIANA CERVANTES STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ Robyn Adams can be found in her redand-black Aztec gear accompanied by a smile on her face every Friday on campus. As a beloved mentor to students, mother of twins and a passionate community service advocate, the associate director of Student Life and Leadership has plenty of reasons to smile about. Adams helps oversee various oncampus community and leadership programs offered in the Student Life and Leadership Center in addition to supervising a professional staff, graduate students and about 150 student employees. She said her favorite part of her work, though, is the daily interaction she has with students and getting to know each one of them. “On Thanksgiving, I probably sent out 20 personalized emails to students just saying, ‘happy Thanksgiving, happy holidays and good luck with finals!’” Adams said. “My relationships with my students don’t just last a week or a semester. I truly care about them and that doesn’t stop once they graduate.” Kinesiology senior Brian Levett has known Adams since his freshman year when his mother still took care of most things for him. He still recollects the time she told him to call in with his own scholarship program questions rather than his mother doing it for him. “I’m forever grateful for her pushing me,” Levett said. “She really helped me mature as a student and as a leader. She is just the ultimate leader, the ultimate role model that I’ve had on this campus since I’ve been here and I just thank her so much for everything she’s done for me.” Adams grew up under the sunny skies of San Diego and eventually decided to study criminal justice during her time as an undergrad at San Diego State. However, after an unfulfilling internship with the District Attorney’s office in downtown San Diego, she realized a career in law wasn’t for her. For a change of scenery, she moved to Rochester, Minnesota where the snowy winters sometimes last into

June. She went on to build websites for Mayo Clinic Care and later worked at Walt Disney Company. “I started out answering emails that came into their websites, such as ABCNews.com, Disney.com and NASCAR Online,” she said. “I learned so much about yellow football lines on the TV and what the pink ribbon on Eeyore’s tail means.” Adams said it was a terrific first outof-college working experience and she naturally became a bigger fan of Disney after working for the company. “After a lot of soul-searching and thinking about my values, I realized one of the happiest times of my life was when I was at SDSU,” Adams said. “Being involved with student engagement and success programs excited me. So, I got my master’s degree and returned to San Diego.” Actively involved on campus, Adams enjoys programs such as the Aztec Core Leadership retreat, where up to 50 students are taken to Julian, California or another destination surrounded by mountains. The three-day, off-campus leadership conference is free and open to any SDSU student interested in developing their leadership skills. Adams also initiated Midnight Study Break, which provides students breakfast served by campus staff and faculty, study tips, school supplies and a string of raffles and contests during final week. Students line up and wrap around Montezuma Hall for the annual, free Aztec Nights event. “We started out on a small scale in the old Montezuma Hall, (where) we expected to accommodate for roughly 500 students,” she said. “Every year since, the event has grown into an SDSU tradition on campus.” Adams said it’s important for staff and faculty to show support to students during finals week. “We’ve been there and understand the pressure,” she said. While still a student at the university, Adams was an SDSU Ambassador and a member of the Kappa Delta sorority. “Being an SDSU Ambassador was my favorite experience without a doubt. Working new student orientation and meeting new Aztecs and their families, giving campus

SLL Assistant Director Robyn Adams puts on a smile to bring a cheerful spirit wherever she goes.. COURTESY OF ROBYN ADAMS

tours and learning unique facts about the university, and even today being involved with the Ambassador Alumni group,” she said. “I never once fell while walking backwards. Back then, though, we didn’t have headphones, so for large groups we had to yell.” Community service is another important aspect to Adams’ life as she considers it highly valuable work. This semester, she is looking forward to the Aztec Unity Project where students and SDSU organizations pair up for volunteer

work at different sites such as the Special Olympics. Adams said she has been living out many of her life dreams at SDSU and continually encourages her students to take advantage of their time as a student on the campus she considers her second home. “Fill up your calendar go to everything that you can — go to workshops, go to speakers and go to clubs you know nothing about (and) meet new people,” she said. “The relationships you build during your college years can last you forever.”


JAN. 20 - 26, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYO MIYAUCHI • ENTERTAINMENT@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

ARTS & LIFESTYLE 13

#UNDERGRAD

SDSU applications hit record high ALEK SANCHEZ STAFF WRITER __________________________________ San Diego State continues its record of excellence, receiving a record number of undergraduate applications for the fifth year in a row. A total of 83,316 potential Aztecs applied for fall 2016 admission, ranging from freshmen to undergraduate transfer students, up nearly 3 percent from fall 2015,

The final count may be even higher, as international students have until May 2016 to apply for admission. SDSU President Elliot Hirshman credited the increasing interest in the university’s academic programs to efforts of SDSU faculty and staff members, SDSU’s growing national reputation as well as alumni and student achievements. As the number of yearly applicants to SDSU increases, so does the number of high-achieving

A TOTAL OF 83,316 POTENTIAL AZTECS APPLIED FOR FALL 2016 ADMISSION ... UP NEARLY 3 PERCENT FROM FALL 2015 according to San Diego State. Among the record-breaking number of admissions, almost 60,000 are first-time freshmen and nearly 23,000 are transfer students.

students. Though the selection process has stayed the same, the threshold for achievement has risen through the years.

Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management Sandra Cook described the applicant ranking as a two-fold process, combining a factor of high school GPA and SAT scores to provide the Admissions Offices an eligibility index to rank applicants. “The result of an increased pool of higher achieving students is that we have a higher eligibility index required for admission in each major,” Cook said. “So the process hasn’t changed, but the requirements for admissions are higher.” This year, students with a GPA of 3.75 or above and a two-part SAT composite score of 1250 or above set the bar for enrollment — numbers that have been increasing for five consecutive years now, according to San Diego State. Each year broke new ground as incoming classes continue to set records in achievement as well. Among the 5,142 first-time freshmen who began classes on Aug. 24, 2015, the average high

school GPA was 3.69 with an average two-part SAT score of 1118. First-time freshmen enrolled with an average of 14.4 Advanced Placement units, a factor that has been increasing every year through the past four years. Pre-physical therapy freshman Kimberly Tsuda remembers feeling nervous when she applied to SDSU. “I was aware of the large pool of applicants,” she said. “However, I did feel prepared because I know I worked hard in high school. When I received the news that I was accepted, I was very excited and a little surprised.” Thanks in part to the constantly growing achievement of applicants, SDSU continues to build momentum in national rankings. According to the university, SDSU is now number 79 in the U.S. News and World Report’s annual list of public universities, climbing 22 spots from No. 101 in 2011. Applicants who applied in the fall of 2015 can expect notification of admission status by March 2016.

Almost 60,000 freshmen expressed interest to study at the university campus next fall semester. FILE PHOTO

#WRITERSCONFERENCE

Writers conference returns to inspire SARAH TANORI SENIOR STAFF WRITER ____________________________ Each year, hundreds of writers from as far as Japan, South America and Switzerland congregate in San Diego for a renowned conference meant to help kick-start careers in the writing industry. From Jan. 22 to 24, San Diego State will hold its 32nd annual Writers’ Conference at the Marriot Hotel in Mission Valley. The conference serves largely as a source of inspiration and motivation for its participants. Several writers come to hear the stories and experiences of successful authors who were once in their position. Stephanie Diaz, young adult author

of science fiction book “Extraction” and SDSU alumna, will be returning to the conference for her second year as a panelist. “I went to SDSU Writers’ Conference hoping for inspiration, and that’s exactly what I found in workshops taught by Jonathan Maberry and other successful authors,” Diaz said. “I attended the conference as a panelist and was able to share my path to publication with aspiring writers.” Diaz also noted learning more about world building and the craft of writing from sitting in on other panels. This year, keynote speakers include Richard Curtis and Tracy Sherrod. Curtis is a literary agent and the president of Richard Curtis Associates, Inc. Sherrod is the editorial director of Amistad and HarperCollins Publishers.

The event not only provides speakers and panels, but there’s also the opportunity for consultations and break-out sessions with literary agents and publishers. With these tools, aspiring authors can receive feedback on manuscripts and ideas while getting hands-on practice with the information they are learning during the conference. Sessions include fiction, nonfiction, career and craft panels among others. “It’s important to see real-world applications of these various types of writing,” rhetoric and writing studies junior Sarah Bentley said. “In addition, making connections in these fields is always an important asset when it comes to finding work after graduation. A lot of people take their basic requirements for RWS and never really see what else the department

has to offer, but this event will definitely be great exposure for anyone interested in writing.” The SDSU Writers’ Conference is a chance for aspiring authors to come together in a collective love of writing and dream of publication. It is as much a learning experience as it is a networking event for writers to meet and connect with professionals. “It offers the awesome opportunity for aspiring authors to get to meet and chat with agents and editors one-onone, to get personal feedback on your manuscript,” Diaz said. “This is one of the best ways to learn about your strengths and weaknesses as a writer and is sure to set you on the course to success.” Registration will be $549 at the door on the day of the event, if space is available.


14ARTS & LIFESTYLE

JAN. 20 - 26, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYO MIYAUCHI • ENTERTAINMENT@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#LEADERSHIP

Professor extends child care study NICOLE SAZEGAR STAFF WRITER ____________________________ Child and family development assistant professor Sarah Garrity has always been interested in babies and the idea of continuity of care. Although San Diego State’s Children’s Center practices a model of continuity of care, in which children stay with the same teacher from the time they enter the program until the time they leave for kindergarten, Garrity decided to study this program so she could illustrate a successful model that other programs could imitate. Garrity recently received a fellowship from the Simms/ Mann Institute, an institute that specializes in education and community development, for her research in continuity of care in early care and education programs. With this fellowship, Garrity, along with 13 other chosen faculty members, will help the California State University system expand its early childhood care and education provider programs for young children up to age three. Garrity, child and family

development assistant professor Sascha Longstreth and graduate student Mashaael Alwashmi, who graduated from SDSU last year, all co-authored the study “A Qualitative Examination of the Implementation of Continuity of care: An Organizational

recognizing that children develop within the context of relationships,” she said. The concept stems from findings suggesting teachers can read a child’s emotional cues and respond appropriately when a child and his or her teacher are tuned in to one

“ CHILDREN CAN LEARN THAT THEY ARE POWERFUL, THAT THE

WORLD IS A SAFE PLACE, AND THAT THEIR NEEDS WILL BE MET,”

-Sarah Garrity, child and family development assistant professor

Learning Perspective,” which was published in Early Childhood Research Quarterly. Garrity sought to improve a model of continuity of care that could be implemented at various children’s centers because of the advantages that come from stable relationships between infants and responsible adults. “Continuity of care supports and nurtures the important relationship between the teacher and the child,

another. Due to this, children in continuity of care have a better chance of succeeding in school. “Children can learn that they are powerful, that the world is a safe place, and that their needs will be met,” Garrity said. “These types of responsive relationships that occur over time support children’s development in many domains, including communication, cognition, social emotional competence and moral

understanding, all of which are important predictors of children’s success in school.” A continuity of care program is not like day care, but rather a second home for children who are cared for by highly skilled individuals. “The nice thing about continuity is that it’s like a second family,” Longstreth said. “It’s really something a parent loves because they feel like when they drop their kids off, they’re not just dropping them off at school — they’re dropping them off with someone who really cares about them.” Despite all of these advantages, the field of early care and education is belittled by low pay and minimal requirements — only 12 units in child development and no degree — in order to be an infant teacher in the state of California. Garrity’s major finding from her study was the SDSU Children’s Center successfully implemented continuity of care because of its highly-trained workforce of students with B.A. degrees in child and family development from SDSU. “Unfortunately, infant/ toddler teachers in the

United States are often considered babysitters rather than the highly-educated, reflective professionals that I encountered at the Children’s Center,” Garrity said. Garrity hopes that her research draws attention to the need to enact policy that supports infants, toddlers, their families and the early care and education workforce. “There needs to be systemslevel change in order to personalize the field of ECE into a professional field of practice similar to doctors, lawyers and teachers in the K-12 system,” Garrity said. Garrity’s research aims to ultimately teach people about society’s need to build strong brains during a child’s early years so he or she enters school curious and ready to learn. “Neuroscience clearly tells us what needs to be done to build strong brains, yet this science is not translated into practice,” Garrity said. Society has yet to realize the importance of developing a child’s brain at infancy, which has led to the neglect of the field of early care and education, but Garrity’s research will hopefully revolutionize infant care.


ARTS & LIFESTYLE 15

JAN. 20 - 26, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYO MIYAUCHI • ENTERTAINMENT@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#STUDENTSERIES

All about an Aztec: Student profiles The Daily Aztec interviewed two undergraduate students in our latest student profile series. We’d love to feature you and learn more about your Aztec experience. Visit thedailyaztec.com for more information. NAME: ANGEL CONTRERAS

NAME: TALIA RAOUFPUR

MAJOR: CHICANO STUDIES

MAJOR: PSYCHOLOGY

YEAR: JUNIOR

YEAR: SOPHOMORE

STUDENT ORGANIZATION AFFILIATIONS: FIRST-YEAR LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE

STUDENT ORGANIZATION AFFILIATIONS: HILLEL, KCR, WEBER HONORS COLLEGE

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CHOOSE YOUR MAJOR?

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CHOOSE YOUR MAJOR?

My culture inspired me to pick my major along with wanting to learn more about my culture and its beliefs and how much it has changed over the years. Ethic studies are an asset to a set of skills. My major has a lot of reading and writing that will help me when I become an attorney.

I have always been an intrusive and morally conscious individual. After taking AP Psych my junior of high school, I fell in love with the subject and found myself using my newfound knowledge on a daily basis when interacting with everyday people. I also aspire to become a divorce attorney, and I feel that a strong background in psychology would drive me to be successful in that field.

DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM JOB My dream job is to become an attorney in California. I would love to become an entertainment or sports lawyer. I am leaning more towards sports due to the fact that I love sports. I would love to work for the 49ers, Raiders, Warriors or even the San Francisco Giants.

DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM JOB.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE AZTEC MEMORY?

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE AZTEC MEMORY?

It was when I was accepted from an appeal letter that I wrote to the appeal board. I was so happy when I saw that I was accepted to this beautiful campus. But it wasn’t the just the beauty that drew me in, it was also because of the Chicano studies department.

My favorite Aztec memory involves an interview I conducted for KCR with Stealth Ulvang of The Lumineers in front of the turtle pond on Nov. 7, 2015.

WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL MOTTO? “A positive mind is a motivated mind. So go motivate yourself and have a positive time!” WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT? My student business cards are the items that I never leave behind. You never know who you will run into when you are on the go, walking across campus or even downtown.

CROSSWORDS

ACROSS 1 Yin Yang portrayer in “The Expendables” film series 6 Business 11 Covers with Quilted Northern, briefly 14 Shun 15 Portend 16 Christian sch. in Tulsa 17 *Trattoria basket filler 19 Cartoon Chihuahua 20 Lad of La Mancha 21 Union 23 Rural expanse 25 Make a bet 28 “I don’t give __!” 29 Karachi language 31 Nursery purchase

32 Scrapped, at NASA 33 *Railroad track piece 35 Atlas enlargement 36 Deck honcho, informally 37 Recital highlights 39 Thomas, Dick and Harry 42 *Police surveillance 46 Rations for Rover 47 Sealed 48 Black Hills st. 49 Israel’s Golda 50 Unimportant 52 __ gratias: thanks to God 53 Rural expanse 55 Son of Aphrodite 57 Diminutive Italian suffix 58 *Reversed

Although I aspire to become a divorce attorney, I would love to be Conan O'Brien's assistant. He is one of my favorite comedians and I would love to help him manage his daily life.

WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL MOTTO? "Honest, not modest." I believe that honesty really is the best policy when communicating with others. WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT? I never leave home without bobby pins. WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH IN 2016? I hope to travel more this year. So far, I have plans to travel to Israel, New York City, and Washington, D.C.

CLASSIFIEDS

counterpart 63 Towel holder 64 No longer dirt 65 Artist’s headgear 66 Prior to, in verse 67 Gobs 68 El Día de Los Reyes month DOWN 1 Upscale British wheels 2 Actress Longoria 3 Twister 4 Caron title role 5 Picking out of an LAPD lineup 6 Bar charges 7 Play with robots 8 Ancient 9 One of the Allman Brothers 10 Earth, to Mahler 11 Corrida stars 12 Portend 13 *Daytime

observatory sighting 18 Moves effortlessly 22 Kid watchers 23 Jean-__ Picard: “Star Trek: TNG” captain 24 Make a wrong turn, say 26 Chow __ 27 Quilting gathering 30 Laptop connection 34 “Mamma Mia!” song 35 Kind 37 Incomplete Wikipedia entry 38 More like Cheerios 39 Folklore creature traditionally averse to the starts of the answers to starred clues 40 First lady between Lou and Bess 41 Series installment 42 “Homeland” sta. 43 “Most likely ... “ 44 Dubai’s fed. 45 “Thrilla in Manila” ruling, for short 47 Change direction abruptly 50 “The Good Wife” event 51 Extended family 54 Ballpark figures 56 Portent 59 Button with left-pointing arrows: Abbr. 60 Gorges oneself (on) 61 Belg. neighbor 62 Ike’s wartime command

Help Wanted Helper Disabled man needs help with household chores and errands. Jr. or Sr. preferred. $12.00/hr. CDL required. Email dmcqdale@cox.net. Please call Doug at (619) 297-0884 ________________________________

Rooms for Rent ROOM FOR RENT WANTED FEMALE STUDENT. CLOSE TO SDSU. QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD. CALL DEBBIE AT 619 751 1504. EMAIL PALAISIPIN@GMAIL.COM ________________________________

Apartments for Rent Studio/Casita This gem is a stand alone studio behind a home and has a European style kitchenette, full bathroom, washer and dryer, internet, water, gas and electric all included for $1050 a month. Enjoy the stress free commute of less than a mile to campus. Owner on premises. This is a quiet neighborhood walking distance to stores, restaurants, and more! Unfurnished. Text or call 619-778-0630 ________________________________

JOIN THE MOVEMENT. facebook.com/dailyaztec

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PLEASE NOTE: The Daily Aztec does not endorse or support and has no affiliation with the products or services offered in the Classifieds section. To place an ad in the Classifieds section, please visit thedailyaztec.com/classifieds ______________________________ The views expressed in this issue do not necessarily reflect those of The Daily Aztec. Comments? Email us at letters@thedailyaztec.com


16 THE BACK PAGE

JAN. 20 - 26, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYO MIYAUCHI • ENTERTAINMENT@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#DAVIDBOWIE

We can be 'Heroes' like Mr. Bowie RYO MIYAUCHI A&L EDITOR ____________________________________

R

ecently I started to ask this icebreaker to new friends: “What’s your favorite David Bowie album?” The conversation starter was supposed to be all in good fun, though it now comes across a bit heartbreaking as the legendary icon just died on Jan. 10. The answer to that question reveals their taste, yes, but more importantly, it shares a bit of which memory of Bowie speaks to them the most. Do you hold dear his glam-rock persona as Ziggy Stardust? Or do you look up to the drugged-out soul man he called the Thin White Duke? How about his character in the film “Labyrinth?” No one’s wrong, of course, but one thing is for sure: Everyone has a different favorite Bowie, and each of them represents a certain aspect of a person more than others. They’re all romantic daydreamers, but some go about life in a more cynical, more reserved or more goofy manner. This was the biggest of Bowie’s lessons. People aren’t this or that but instead are made up of many pieces. Identity is never one set in stone, and it’s ultimately defined by you. Bowie publicly wore a certain part of himself, however out of the norm, like a badge of honor. He looked so comfortable in his own skin in any iteration. Not only did he show different ideals of himself, but all wardrobes and characters brought out his best. His habit to assume multiple

identities throughout his long career has earned him the title of rock music’s great chameleon. Indeed, he jumped from folk to rock to soul to electronic music in the span of a decade. Reinvention is also a word used by many to describe his transition from album to album, but I don’t know if that’s the precise term. Calling it a reinvention assumes his old characters were no longer to be revisited, his adventurous albums mere phases of his life. His identities, however, aren’t disposable — just naturally evolving as

#DASNAPSHOTS

the man himself grew with the times. Naysayers of his day called him out for his rapid pace of change, writing it off as trend-chasing. In retrospect, it’s no wonder why his moves clashed with the critics. They wanted him settled into a singular style and be in a familiar reach with each album. Bowie instead gave the world the opposite, bringing new ideas that had yet to be explored. Perhaps he was easily misconstrued because he always had his

sights set for the visions of tomorrow. During his peak, his ideas of the future remained optimistic. He flirted with dystopian themes, notably in the album “Diamond Dogs,” though he was fascinated more with the romantic ideas of sci-fi than any dark thoughts. During what seemed like the most doomed time, he sang about the bright promises of what is yet to come. “We can be us, just for one day,” he sang in “Heroes.” The song is inspired by a couple living in two separate blocks of the Berlin wall, but I always found it to mean something broader, such as something to hold on to get through the brutal now. It’s when he foresaw the end of his days that his music took a bleaker turn. He sang about tomorrow with a more worrisome tone in his second-to-last album “The Next Day.” He sounded as if he was running away from something. Whatever it was, it was catching up. Did Bowie know death was approaching? Was he trying to tell us the end was near? He remained silent about his 18-month battle with cancer until his website reported his death out of the blue. Articles written in tribute to his life often write about his recently released album “Black Star” and its lyrics as a premonition of his death. There are good arguments to be made, but it’s not like Bowie hadn’t addressed his fans like this before. He left messages from his world for many of us stuck in the present to discover later when the time was right. It was always up to us to figure out what to make of it.

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THE CITY OF LIGHTS

Managing Editor Matthew Bain snapped this photo in Paris while studying abroad for the winter break. Bon voyage!


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