01-24-2018

Wednesday, Jan. 24 - Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018 Weekly Print Edition

Vol. 104, Issue 20 www.thedailyaztec.com

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

Tens of thousands rally for women’s rights in age of Trump March coincided with one year anniversary of inauguration

by Bella Ross STAFF WRITER

Exactly a year after President Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration, thousands took to the streets of San Diego to voice their distaste for the current political environment and rally support for an array of social justice issues.

“Hear our vote!” chanted some of the 37,000 people who marched Saturday in the second annual Women’s March in downtown San Diego.

The marchers walked in solidarity with groups across the country and around the world, in places as near as San Marcos and as far as Australia.

“I guess I’m glad that Trump is in the White House, because he reminds us of the work we need to do each and every day,” state Assemblymember Shirley Weber, D-San Diego, told the crowd in downtown’s Waterfront Park. “The hatred and discrimination never take a vacation. We have to work 25 hours a day.”

With midterm elections quickly approaching, San Diego elected officials rallied marchers for increased political participation.

There were even voter registration tents set up at the park where the march began.

“Congressional seats are up for possible displacement,” said Trish Hyde, an international business sophomore and the political affairs officer for Planned Parenthood Generation Action at San Diego State. “The (Democratic Party) is trying to make 2018 ‘The Year of the Woman’ and trying to take those seats and flip the House and flip the Senate.”

With both houses of Congress currently dominated by the Republican Party, Democrats are hoping to shift the majority in their favor through the upcoming midterm elections. For many supporters at the Women’s March, this mission also entails electing more women to public office.

Barbara Bry, a San Diego councilmember and founder of

Photo by Andrew Dyer

More than 37,000 people took to the streets of San Diego to participate in the 2018 Women’s March on Saturday, Jan. 20.

the organization Run Women Run, said she believes more women should be running for office. Run Women Run supports and trains pro-choice women to be put in office, according to their website.

“When women run, they win,” Bry said. “And, when women win, we make a huge difference for our communities. We build communities that are better for everyone.”

The scope of issues addressed by the Women’s March went far beyond political representation.

Julia Goldberg, communications junior and president of SDSU’s Women’s Outreach Association, said she believes the need for feminist activism is not new.

“Even if Trump wasn’t in office, I think the mission of the Women’s March would still be extremely relevant,” Goldberg said. “These social justice issues have been in our institutions for decades and beyond.”

Theatre arts sophomore and director of SDSU’s production of “The Vagina Monologues” Kate Coughlin said she believes SEE WOMEN’S MARCH, PAGE 2

Photo by Jocelyn Moran

Two children embrace as they march for women’s rights and their future.

Maintenance workers protest unfair pay, backlog of repairs

by David Santillan SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Maintenance workers at San Diego State held a demonstration on campus Tuesday, protesting what they say is a lack of staffing and unfair pay from the university.

Workers gathered in front of Hepner Hall and handed out fliers describing various issues they say they are encountering in maintaining the campus.

The demonstrators’ fliers claimed that the California State University system has more than $2.6 billion worth of outstanding maintenance and repairs.

SDSU Skilled Trades Director Hector Fernandez who was at the demonstration, said he believes SDSU has close to $600 million of deferred maintenance.

“We’re concerned about the fact that they’re understaffing us at San Diego State, so the deferred maintenance continues to increase instead of going down,” Fernandez said.

Fernandez said the university currently staffs close to 70 maintenance workers to keep up the roughly 500 millionsquare-foot campus.

He said the workers’ concerns have been communicated with university officials who say they are limited on funds from the state but are doing the most they can to address the situation.

“It’s a larger issue than what’s happening at SDSU’s campus,” SDSU spokesperson Jill Esterbrooks said via telephone.

Meanwhile, the university continues to expand and add more buildings to its campus. SDSU opened the $90 million Engineering and Interdisciplinary Sciences Complex last week.

“We have increased close to 23 percent in square footage in the last 10 years and yet our staffing SEE MAINTENANCE WORKERS PROTEST, PAGE 3

FOLLOW US /dailyaztec @TheDailyAztec

THE POPULAR KIDS

MARCHA DE MUJERES

U GOT CAUGHT

FORT FORGES AHEAD

Applications to San Diego State are up for fall 2018, university officials say.

Estudiantes se unieron con la comunidad para defender los derechos de las mujeres.

The hit MTV series “Catfish: The TV Show” is looking for applicants at SDSU.

Senior guard McKynzie Fort has her sights set on the WNBA.

PAGE 3

PAGE 6

PAGE 8

PAGE 11

@thedailyaztec /DailyAztecVideo

2

News

The Daily Aztec

Jan. 24, 2018 - Jan. 30, 2018 EDITOR: Will Fritz, news@thedailyaztec.com

Students recount missile false alarm in Hawaii

by Lauren J. STAFF WRITER

Mapp

Several SDSU students were spending their winter break in Hawaii during the accidental ballistic missile threat warning on Jan. 13.

Eletrical engineering senior Shane Witsell was in his hometown of Kailua, Oahu, with his girlfriend, Kelsey Donahue, during the false alarm. Being from Hawaii, he said that it is common to receive emergency messages through cell phones, but they are usually used for tsunami warnings, so he wasn’t initially sure what to do.

“It was generally pretty terrifying, especially because I had planned this whole great vacation for me and my girlfriend to think ‘oh no, did I just get us both killed,’” Witsell said. “My parents were trying to figure out what was going on, but there were no sirens blaring — just the text messages — so

Women’s march:

continued from page 1 women’s issues in America are more significant now than ever.

“The march is still significant because the problems have not ceased nearly as much as they need to or should have,” Coughlin said. “Issues on race, class, sexuality and individuality — it’s all connected. If people don’t understand that, then the march is definitely needed.”

Trish Hatch, a counseling professor, was one of many supporters who made their way to the women’s march from SDSU. Hatch said she felt her job as a school counselor makes her a natural advocate for equality, and she has been proud of SDSU’s efforts to create a supportive environment for all students.

“I think we all have work to do but I think San Diego State does a pretty darn good job,” she said. “But it doesn’t mean there’s always not ways to improve.”

Coughlin said she

would send out one of those types of messages without consulting someone else,” he said. “We do have measures in place to ensure that people don’t randomly, accidentally send out emergency messages and that it’s vetted every time we need to do that.”

He added that since SDSU does not have any civil defense systems on campus, any messages warning of a nuclear threat would be sent by the state or federal government.

SDSU is working to create an addition to the university’s current disaster preparation plan to include protocol for nuclear threats.

Lamine Secka, director of emergency services at SDSU, said creating the nuclear event protocol is one of his current priorities.

Until the plan has been completed, Secka recommended that students read the Imminent Missile Threat Preparation

there was confusion.”

Donahue said she was woken up by the emergency text message.

“I thought I was going to die because there’s really no way to protect yourself from a nuclear attack, especially there (in Hawaii),” she said. “There’s not as many big buildings made of concrete, and they don’t have underground disaster shelters.”

Once fully awake, she and Witsell were able to find out that it was a false alarm through social media.

“A lot of the people in the tourist locations were running crazy,” Donahue said. “People were putting their kids underneath manholes and stuff.

Citizen journalism was what got everyone out of it.”

Urban studies junior Tyler Currie also received the false ballistic missile threat message during what was his first trip to Hawaii.

“It was very confusing, and

it was also very scary,” Currie said. “I’ve never really felt like that before in my life. I’ve experienced earthquakes and tornado warnings, but I think the uniqueness of something like a nuclear disaster happening was very scary.”

After the incident, many wondered how an alarm warning of something as major as a nuclear threat could have been sent accidentally. It was later determined that a Hawaii Emergency Management Agency employee selected the wrong option in a drop-down menu during a routine shift change, multiple news outlets reported.

Secka said the university has a similar, pre-populated list of emergency messages, but the likelihood of a similar mistake occurring would be low, as the protocol for sending such messages requires approval from multiple staff.

“It’s very rare that someone

is similarly proud of SDSU’s proactive approach to women’s issues. However, she believes a lot of these efforts have been not been shared enough with everybody on campus, and can often be limited to members of feminist organizations. Coughlin said she would like to see this change.

“SDSU has definitely been fostering a safe space for people to be addressing issues and for people to be finding community,” she said. “There’s a lot of really good things but unless you’re part of certain clubs, you don’t get emails or notifications about these things happening.”

Hyde said she believes students

and feminist organizations are a dominant voice for change at SDSU, and she encourages female-identifying students to seek out such organizations.

“I would say it’s in the hands of the students,” Hyde said. “I think it’s important for all of us to join organizations that allow us to have our voices heard.”

Goldberg said students who participated in the Women’s March should also attend Take Back the Night on April 12, an annual campus event that addresses sexual violence issues.

She said she believes the necessary approach to women’s activism can be best expressed in a quote by feminist writer Audre Lorde: “Revolution is not a one time event.”

Plan, released by Guam’s Join Information Center, to prepare themselves in case such an event might occur.

If a nuclear event were to occur, the key words to remember are distance, time and shelter, he said.

“Get as far away from the event as you can, shelter in as heavy duty a building that you can find — preferably one made of brick or concrete and preferably in the basement,” Secka said. “Then time — stay there as long as you can until advised by officials that it’s safe to come out.”

He added that students should consider purchasing an emergency backpack kit, which contains food, water and supplies to last for three days.

“It has a five-year shelf life on it, so whether it’s a nuclear incident or an earthquake or anything else where you’re stuck in one place, you’ve got it handy,” he said.

“Issues on race, class, sexuality, individuality — it’s all connected. If people don’t understand that, then the march is definitely needed.”

– Kate Coughlin, director of “The Vagina Monlogues” at SDSU

Photos by Jocelyn Moran

SDSU students, faculty and staff were all paticipants in the Women’s March.

SDSU alumnus David Westerhout, Melissa Phillips and son Arlie Westerhaut attend the Women’s March for the second consecutive year.

News

Jan. 24, 2018-Jan. 30, 2018 EDITOR: Will Fritz, news@thedailyaztec.com

The Daily Aztec

3

Graphic by Noah Callahan

Applications to San Diego State up for 2018

by Lauren J. STAFF WRITER

Mapp

San Diego State has set a new record for the number of undergraduate applications again.

Prospective undergraduate students sent 93,610 applications for fall 2018 to SDSU’s admissions office — the first time applications have ever gone over 90,000 and the third year in a row with application numbers above 80,000.

First-time freshmen made up a total of 68,475 applicants, while transfer students submitted 25,135 applications.

More than 3,000 graduate applications have also been received, creating a total of more than 96,000 applications for next year. The grand total is expected to increase due to graduate programs that are still accepting applications.

For the last decade, the

university has been breaking records for application numbers almost every year.

“This robust interest in SDSU reflects the excellence of our academic and research programs and our national reputation,” SDSU President Sally Roush said in a press release last month.

Linguistics junior Dylan Luttrell is a transfer student from Palomar College who said he chose SDSU over Cal State Los Angeles.

“San Diego is a nicer city than L.A.,” Luttrell said. “It’s got all the amenities of a city without being massively overcrowded.”

Luttrell said people feel they need higher education more than ever because the job market has become more challenging.

“Also, because it’s a public school, it’s cheaper than the private schools,” Luttrell said. “People are strapped for cash.”

Non-local students made up a slight majority — 54 percent

— of new students at SDSU in the fall 2017 semester. Students are considered non-local if they graduated from a high school outside of SDSU’s “service area,” defined as San Diego County south of state Route 56 and all of Imperial County.

The percentage of non-local students is lower at many other CSU campuses.

Public administration senior Eduardo Roji, a San Diego native, said he believes SDSU’s growing academic clout, in addition to its attractive location, is what’s behind the increase in applications.

“Besides the fact that we’re in San Diego,” Roji said, “I believe this is happening because I feel like we’re getting more recognition academically in our programs, especially in business, marketing and all that.

But there are drawbacks to such high numbers of applicants.

“All our majors are impacted,”

Roji said. “I feel like it’s getting even harder and harder to get the classes you need to graduate by your goal. It just becomes a harder process for everyone. Maybe we have to have a lower admissions rate and have higher prerequisites to getting in.”

SDSU joins Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Fresno State, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Long Beach and San Jose State on the list of CSU campuses where all undergraduate programs, pre-programs and undeclared/undecided programs are impacted.

Accounting junior Mirna Sabri applied to other CSU campuses, but wasn’t planning on attending any of them because SDSU was her number one choice.

“It’s close to home and it has a good business program,” Sabri said. “The weather here is really good, the tuition is not as bad as a (University of California campus) and also it’s not like UCSD. UCSD

is more dead and we’re more open and we have stuff going on. There’s way more social environment so if you’d have to choose between UCSD or SDSU, you’d choose SDSU.” She also believes that the university should not increase the number of prospective students that it accepts, despite the increase in applications.

“I don’t think it should (increase) because it’s going to affect the classes. If they’re willing to open more classes, then why not?”

The most popular majors among freshman applicants were biology, business, nursing and psychology.

U.S. News & World Report ranks SDSU among the top 10 colleges by applications and No. 68 among public universities for academics.

Applicants can expect to receive acceptance notifications from SDSU in March.

Maintenance workers protest:

continued from page 1 yet our staffing levels have either maintained the same or lowered,” Fernandez said. “They have money to build these new buildings but (they are) not concerned about the deferred maintenance that has been rising for 10 years.”

One of the most recent maintenance issues was mold found in the Maya residence hall late last semester.

“They’re planning all these expansions and yet they can’t fix the problems in other buildings,” said liberal arts freshman Chandler Smith, who moved out of Maya because of the mold.

“If they can plan to expand the campus they can hire more maintenance workers.”

Most students were moved out of the residence hall, but some say it took more complaints than it should have for the Office of Housing Administration to address the problem.

Esterbooks said that contract negotiations are underway with the maintenance workers’ union, but had no further comment.

Maintenance workers on Tuesday protested what they describe as unfair pay and a backlog of repairs at SDSU.

Photo by Weicheng Han

4

Opinion

The Daily Aztec

Jan. 24- 30, 2018 EDITOR: Dana Tsuri-Etzioni, opinion@thedailyaztec.com

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters: Embrace Aztec emblem, conservatives needed in academia PROTECT MASCOT LEGACY Students, alumni, faculty and staff — these past couple of months triggered emotional times at San Diego State.

The University Senate passage of the “Resolution to Eliminate the Mascot and Form a Task Force to Investigate the Aztec Identity” sparked a debate that the university has not witnessed in several years.

It caused turmoil and rallied troops to both sides.

Our reactions display how passionate this topic is to us — some responses were courteous, respectful and thoughtful, while others were rude, angry, and spiteful.

I experienced many of these emotions at one time or another since the resolution’s passage.

With SDSU President Sally Roush assembling a special task force to explore the future of the Aztec mascot and moniker, I implore all Aztecs to come together and work towards an inclusive goal that fosters mutual respect between both sides.

To the Task Force, I offer this -— embrace the Aztec. We should preserve our heritage, while using this initiative as an opportunity to educate ourselves and honor the Aztec legacy.

Suggestions include empower the Aztec moniker, ensure our mascot accurately portrays an Aztec Warrior, increase SDSU’s Aztec cultural/historical/ language classes, establish faculty/staff positions with the task of promoting an inclusive community based on our Aztec heritage and create seminars and events that accurately portray Aztec history and culture.

With more than 300,000 alumni, 33,000 students and 3,000 faculty/staff, SDSU is a tremendous institution.

In order to put the debate of the Aztec moniker and mascot behind us once and for all, let’s do our best to establish a future that we can agree on.

“Strive for perfection, achieve excellence,” that my Aztec sisters and brothers, is the best way to emulate the Aztec culture that we hold so dear.

MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Jocelyn Moran ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Cami Buckman SPORTS EDITOR Zach Engberg ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Abraham Jewett DIGITAL SPORTS EDITOR Mary York

Photo by Samantha Bonpensiero

teachers.

Until that happens, liberal college professors and administrators will feel free to continue to try and take advantage of their students, to indoctrinate them instead of educate them in order to impose their questionable values on students. This needs to change.

Many colleges in the U.S. have been discriminating against conservatives and conservative speech for years, by implementing bizarre, totalitarian, Orwellian “speech codes.”

The legal group Foundation for Individual Rights in Education defends conservative teachers and students who have been discriminated against by liberal bigots on various college campuses.

FIRE could provide readers with a lengthy list of such cases.

The civil rights of conservatives are under attack on many college campuses.

A three day government shutdown ended on Monday night when President Trump signed a continuing resolution that would fund the government until Feb. 8.

However, one of the central issues of the government shutdown — the fate of the almost 700,000 people currently registered under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program — remains unresolved.

Over the past few years, the DACA program has provided nearly 800,000 undocumented immigrants with protection from detainment and deportation, as well as authorization to work.

This number includes 561,000 in California.

On Sept. 5, the Trump administration ended the DACA program, leaving only a small window of 30 days for people

who had attained legal status under DACA. Despite promises of a replacement of some kind from President Trump, and attempts at a bipartisan compromise, there has yet to be a solution that ensures those protected

by DACA maintain their protections.

There are already large consequences for the failure to secure a DACA replacement.

Almost 17,000 people have already lost their DACA protections — losing their ability to legally work and making them vulnerable to deportation.

Complicating matters is a recent federal court ruling that has temporarily restored the DACA program.

While the federal government has agreed to accept new applications for now, they’ve also indicated their willingness to challenge the decision in court.

If the federal government does challenge the injunction forcing the continued existence

of DACA, it appears likely that they would win.

Given this uncertainty, and a large $495 fee attached for applying for DACA protections, it’s understandable why many people who qualify for DACA renewal might avoid applying during this brief window.

There needs to be a more permanent solution than a legally questionable federal injunction.

Admittedly, there will have to be considerable compromises in order to restore DACA. A bipartisan plan rejected

by President Trump restored DACA protections and allowed for new enrollees, but required additional border security funding and significant limits imposed on immigration.

But the people who registered under DACA trusted the federal government with their information, in exchange for protection against deportation and being able to provide for themselves and their families.

Before a more permanent

ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Alex Piscatelli PHOTO EDITOR Kelly Smiley

Trump handily beat Clinton in part because a lot of decent moral people are getting really fed up with liberal judgmentalism, liberal self-righteousness, liberal name-calling, liberal violence and hate, liberal divisiveness, liberal intolerance, liberal closed-mindedness, liberal bullying, liberal bigotry and liberal discrimination.

During Obama’s eight years as president, Republicans picked up many new seats on the state level.

In other words, there are now more Republican state senators and state house representatives than there were before Obama was first elected.

More and more people are seeing liberals for the hypocrites they really are and are soundly rejecting them.

That’s a good thing.

Wayne Lela is a conservative activist from Illinois.

Quicker action required to replace DACA

by Chance Page STAFF WRITER

NEWS EDITOR Will Fritz

OPINION EDITOR Dana Tsuri-Etzioni

Aztec mascot sitting in the stands with fans.

The San Diego State College Republicans have put out a list of 15 professors they say students should avoid because they have an agenda when presenting course material.

Kudos to the College Republicans. This should be happening on college campuses all across this country.

It’s no big secret many professors are liberal. Hopefully students are aware of all the one-sided, liberal propaganda they are manipulatively being exposed to.

And hopefully they are aware that they are essentially paying for liberal indoctrination in many cases, and are being cheated out of a decent education — but I fear they are not.

It would be nice to see students pushing for intellectual diversity on their campuses, and maybe even affirmative action for hiring a true minority on college campuses — conservative

MANAGING EDITOR Lilly Glenister

ASST. NEWS EDITOR Jasmine Bermudez

Zach Pellonari is a San Diego State alumnus from the graduating class of 2003.

MORE CONSERVATIVES NEEDED

EDITOR IN CHIEF Andrew Dyer

budget is passed through Congress, there must also be a new agreement that restores protections of Dreamers and allows more undocumented immigrants For those looking to make an impact in protecting immigrants, direct action can be taken, either by attending protests and rallies — as many did at San Diego State after the Trump administration announced their initial rollback — or through contacting your Representative and Senators.

But you can also make an impact with your vote. Take note of not only Republicans who push for no DACA replacement, or one that doesn’t protect everyone, but also Democrats who cave in before securing a restoration of the DACA protections.

The next election is fewer than 10 months away.

Chance Page is a junior studying journalism and political science.

Connect with him on Twitter @chance_619.

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Mirella Lopez SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR David Santillan VOLUNTEER EDITORS COPY EDITORS Brian del Carmen Catherine Cooke

ART DIRECTOR Aiden Prehatny GRAPHICS ASSISTANT Noah Callahan SENIOR STAFF WRITERS Julianna Ress Cassidy McCombs Sydney Sweeney Emely Navarro Nicole Badgley Sofia Bert STAFF WRITERS Gustavo Cristobal Emily Caplan Kyle Saunders Chance Page Bella Ross Lauren J. Mapp Brenda Gregorio-Nieto CONTRIBUTORS Kyle Betz STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Samantha Bonpensiero Weicheng Han Elissa Tauscher ________________________________ ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Connor Brooke SALES MANAGER Peter Saridakis ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES George Saridakis John Weil Josh Diaz Rauda Valerie Barrientos Miguel Souza Kaden Cowles Garrett Munt ACCOUNTING & CONTRACTS Tyler Burnett Meah Mapp ________________________________ GENERAL MANAGER/ADVISER Jay Harn GRAPHICS SPECIALIST Quentin Skaggs ________________________________ EDITORIAL 619.594.4190 editor@thedailyaztec.com ADVERTISING 619.594.6977 advertising@thedailyaztec.com PRINT The Daily Aztec publishes 5,000 copies of its weekly print edition every Wednesday throughout the semester WEB Daily content is available at www.thedailyaztec.com QUESTIONS/COMMENTS letters@thedailyaztec.com ________________________________ The views and opinions expressed in this issue do not necessarily reflect those of The Daily Aztec.

Jan. 24-30, 2018 EDITOR: Jocelyn Moran, mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com

Mundo Azteca

The Daily Aztec

5

Trabajadores de mantenimiento de SDSU protestan por un sueldo mejor por David Santillan EDITOR DE MEDIOS SOCIALES

Trabajadores de mantenimiento tuvieron una demostración en la Universidad Estatal de San Diego el martes, protestando lo que ellos dicen la falta de empleados y el pago injusto de la universidad.

El 23 de enero, más de un mes después de que el Departamento de Vivienda empezó a reubicar a estudiantes de la residencia por el descubrimiento de moho, trabajadores de mantenimiento se se reunieron en frente de Hepner Hall. Ellos pasaron volantes revelando los varios problemas que están teniendo a respeto al mantenimiento del campus.

Director de Oficios Calificados Héctor Fernández, quien fue parte de la demostración, aproximó que SDSU tiene casi $600 millones en mantenimiento diferido.

“Nosotros estamos preocupados de que no hay los suficiente empleados en SDSU, entonces, el matenimiento diferida continúa a crecer en vez de bajar”, dijo Fernández.

Fernández dijo que la universidad tiene casi a 70 trabajadores de mantenimiento actualmente para mantener el campus. Él dijo que estas preocupaciones han sido comunicados con los oficiales de la universidad quienes dicen que son limitados en los fondos del estado pero

Foto por Weicheng Han

Trabajadores de SDSU marchan alrededor de Hepner Hall para demandar un sueldo mejor.

están haciendo lo mejor para dirigirse al problema.

“Es un problema más grande de lo que está pasando en (SDSU)”, dijo Jill Esterbooks, Directora de Relaciones de los Medios.

Mientras tanto, la universidad continúa a expandir y añadir más edificios al campus. La universidad abrió el edificio de ingeniería la semana pasada.

“Hemos aumentado a casi 23 por ciento en pies cuadrados en

los últimos 10 años, y todavía nuestros niveles de empleados se han mantenido lo mismo o más bajo”, dijo Fernández.

“Ellos tienen el dinero para construir estos edificios, pero (ellos) no están preocupados del mantenimiento diferido que ha estado creciendo por los últimos 10 años”.

El problema de mantenimiento más reciente fue el moho encontrado en la residencia Maya

el otoño pasado.

“Ellos están planeando todas estas expansiones, y todavía, no pueden arreglar los problemas en otros edificios. Si pueden planear expander el campus, pueden contratar a más trabajadores de mantenimiento”, dijo Chandler Smith, estudiante de primer año de artes liberales.

La mayoría de estudiantes en maya fueron reubicados.

“Yo tuve que incluir a mis

padres para ser tomada en serio”, dijo estudiante de primer año de ingeniería civil Giana Wood.

“Ellos tienen una obligación de cuidarnos porque eso es lo que está en nuestro contrato de vivienda”.

Esterbooks dijo que negociaciones de contrato están empezando con Teamsters, la unión que representa a los trabajadores, y la sistema CSU, pero no tenían información adicional hasta ahora.

Número de aplicaciones a SDSU alcanza récord de 93,000

by Gustavo ESCRITOR

Cristobal

La Universidad Estatal de San Diego alcanzó un nuevo récord para el número de aplicaciones estudiantil recibidos otra vez.

Futuro estudiantes no licenciados mandaron 93,610 aplicaciones a la oficina de admisiones de SDSU para el otoño del 2018. Esta es la primera vez que applicaciones han llegado a más de 90,000 y la tercera vez consecutiva donde el número de aplicaciones llega a más de 80,000.

Estudiantes de primer año hicieron un total de 68,475 aplicaciones, mientras que los estudiantes de transferencia entregaron 25,135 applicaciones.

Durante la última década, la universidad ha estado quebrando récords a respecto al número de aplicaciones casi cada año.

“Este interés fuerte en SDSU reflecta la excelencia de nuestro programas académicos y de investigación y nuestra reputación nacional”, dijo Sally Roush, presidenta de SDSU, en un comunicado de prensa.

Dylan Luttrell, estudiante de lingüística de tercer año y un estudiante de intercambio del Colegio de Palomar, dijo que escogió a SDSU en vez de la Universidad de California Los Angeles.

Luttrell dijo que la gente siente que necesita una educación alta ahora más que nunca porque el mercado de trabajo se ha vuelto más desafiante.

“También, porque es una escuela pública, es más barata que las escuelas privadas”, dijo Luttrell. “La gente está atada por dinero”.

Los estudiantes no locales constituyeron una mayoría de 54 por ciento de los nuevos estudiantes en SDSU en el semestre del otoño del 2017.

Estudiantes son considerados no locales si se graduaron en una preparatoria afuera de la “área de servicio” de SDSU. El porcentaje de estudiantes no locales es bajo en muchas de las otras CSUs. Eduardo Rojo, estudiante de cuarto año de administración pública y originario de San Diego, dijo que cree que el creciente peso academico de SDSU, además de su atractiva ubicación, es lo que está detrás del aumento en las aplicaciones.

“Además del hecho de que estamos en San Diego, creo que esto está sucediendo porque siento que estamos obteniendo más reconocimiento académico en nuestros programas, especialmente en negocios, márketing y todo eso”, dijo Roji.

Pero existen inconvenientes para un número tan elevado de

aplicantes.

“Todos nuestros mayores se ven afectados”, dijo Roji. “Siento que cada vez es más y más difícil obtener las clases que necesitas para graduarse según tu objetivo.

Simplemente se convierte en un proceso más difícil para todos. Tal vez tenemos que tener una tasa de admisiones más baja y tener requisitos previos más altos para entrar”.

SDSU se une a Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, la Universidad Estatal de Fresno, la Universidad Estatal de California Fullerton, la

Universidad Estatal de California Long Beach, y la Universidad Estatal de San José en las lista de CSU’s donde se ven afectados todos los programas de pregrado, pre-programas y no declarados.

Mirna Sabri, estudiante de tercer año de contabilidad, aplicó a otras CSU’s, pero no planeaba asistir a ninguno de ellos porque SDSU era su primer opción.

Ella dijo que también piensa que la universidad no debe de aumentar el número de estudiantes prospectivos que acepta, a pesar del aumento de aplicantes.

“No creo que debe (aumentar) porque va a afectar las clases”, dijo Sabri. “Si están dispuestos a abrir más clases, ¿por qué no”?

Las carreras más populares entre los aplicantes de primer año fueron biología, negocios, enfermería y psicología.

U.S. News & World Report clasifica a SDSU entre las 10 mejores universidades, según las aplicaciones y la número 68 entre las universidades públicas para los académicos. Aplicantes pueden esperar recibir notificaciones de aceptación de SDSU en marzo.

Foto por Jocelyn Moran

Estudiantes de la Universidad Estatal de San Diego State caminan hacia su próxima clase.

6

The Daily Aztec

Mundo Azteca

Jan. 24-30, 2018 EDITOR: Jocelyn Moran, mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com

Marcha de las Mujeres: ‘¡Sí Se Puede’! por Jocelyn Moran EDITORA DE MUNDO AZTECA

El 20 de enero, miles de personas marcharon en el downtown de San Diego para defender los derechos de las mujeres como parte de la Marcha de las Mujeres.

Personas de todos demográficos participaron en la demostración, cargando carteles que leían “¡sí se puede”!, “este es nuestro tiempo” y “tu voto es tu voz”.

Este es el segundo año consecutivo que la Marcha de las Mujeres se organiza en San Diego.

Otras ciudades por todo el país organizaron esta marcha también, incluyendo Los Ángeles, Nueva York, Chicago y Washington D.C. La gente no solo cargaba carteles que defendían a los derechos de las mujeres, pero también que peleaban por los sueños de los recipientes de la Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Infancia.

“Es un movimiento dirigido por las mujeres, pero es sobre la justicia social”, dijo Doreen Mattingly, profesora del Departamento de Estudios de las Mujeres. “No es solo de la igualdad de las mujeres o de los derechos de la mujer”.

Mattingly dijo que las emociones eran un poco diferente este año que el año pasado.

“Pienso que para todos nosotros, las emociones son

diferentes porque las emociones estaban más altos (el año pasado) en respeto a no saber como la marcha sería y todas esas emociones de esos quienes estaban preocupados de lo que esta administración significaría para los derechos de las personas en general y los derechos de las mujeres, específicamente”, dijo Mattingly.

Teddi Brock, la coordinadora administrativa del Departamento de Estudios de las Mujeres también asistió la Marcha de las Mujeres por la segunda vez.

“Yo sentí como ya era tiempo para otra marcha porque el del año pasado fue tan poderoso, y sentí que sería bueno (tener otro) en este tiempo después que estamos un año en la administración de Trump para poder recargar nuestra batería y juntarnos y ver lo que la gente estaba pensando”, dijo Brock.

“También pienso que es una oportunidad excelente para que la gente sea escuchada”.

Mattingly dijo que estaba emocionada y contenta de que personas jóvenes asistieron la marcha.

“Me alegro que la gente no está solo leyendo en las pantallas”, dijo Mattingly. “Para mí, hay algo muy visceral de una marcha, de estar con un grupo de personas. Yo lo encuentro muy emocionante. Es porque hago este tipo de trabajo”.

Fotos por Jocelyn Moran

Personas de todas edades se unieron el 20 de enero para defender los derechos de las mujeres y otros temas, como DACA.

Jan. 24-30 2018 EDITOR: Cami Buckman, arts@thedailyaztec.com

Arts & Culture

The Daily Aztec

7

REVIEW

Eureka! satisfies students and community

By Emily Caplan STAFF WRITER

New to the San Diego State campus is Eureka!, home to AllAmerican food and a hot spot for students.

Eureka! opened on College Avenue in 2017, located across from the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union. It calls the corner home near Trader Joes, The Broken Yolk and the newly opened Wings n’ Things.

Within the selection of drinks lies the Charcoal Lemonade.

This beverage is black inside

The Charcoal Lemonade mixes classic lemonade with a unique detox element.

and out but still tastes like any classic lemonade.

This drink fits the atmosphere as there are black and yellow accents throughout the restaurant, allowing for a classical, but younger theme to fit in.

The Charcoal Lemonade also serves as a detox for the body.

Whether it’s after a long night out, sleeping in the library or simply stress from classes, the Charcoal Lemonade is labeled to fix many problems SDSU students may encounter.

“The Charcoal Lemonade is like the perfect comfort drink,” pre-pharmacy sophomore Dani Anastasovites said.

Another crowd favorite from Eureka! are the Mac N’ Cheese balls.

This includes mac n’ cheese covered with a breaded outer layering, fried with more cheese sprinkled on top.

This classic starter is paired with an alfredo-like sauce to keep the cheese alive.

However the most popular item on the menu, and also the newest of choices, is the Steak Tacos.

It is topped with avocado, pico de gallo, pineapple, red onion, garlic, cilantro and sliced jalapeños.

This entree keeps things sweet

but spicy, much like the students of SDSU. Eureka! is a go-to for pigging out, taking a break off campus and even meeting new people.

This establishment has a small bar equipped for an enjoyable night watching any sporting game.

It has an open floor plan allowing for a lot of movment on busy nights.

Eureka! is also constantly hiring and is conveniently close to campus for SDSU students.

“My favorite thing about working here is the work ethic, previously my jobs have been ‘all men for themselves’ when it came to serving, but here every table is everyones and we all help each other out,” Eureka! server John Richard Lilly said.

SDSU students and employees are not the only people populating the restaurant.

Eureka! is open to the public.

Eureka! is an enjoyable place to spend a night, or even day, with friends forgetting about the stresses of school.

The environment fits that of SDSU, and it will surely continue to serve the community for years to come.

Eureka! is open MondayFriday from 11 a.m. to midnight, and 10 a.m. to midnight on weekends.

The Steak Tacos at Eureka! are a new popular item on the menu.

Photos by Emily Caplan

Eureka’s Mac N’ Cheese balls are covered with a crispy breaded outer layer.

8

The Daily Aztec

Arts & Culture

Jan. 24-30, 2018 EDITOR: Cami Buckman, arts@thedailyaztec.com

The Vagina Monologues’ vulvacious cast members act for charitable cause

By Nicole Badgely SENIOR STAFF WRITER

In 1970, San Diego State was the first Cal State University to offer women’s studies courses in classrooms.

“The Vagina Monologues,” an all-female play that focuses on issues related to the challenges that women and girls face all around the world, will be held for the tenth consecutive year at SDSU. The show is put on by the SDSU chapter of V-Day, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to ending violence against women and girls and giving them more opportunities to succeed.

“The Vagina Monologues” will be playing three times over the course of two days.

The first event is set for Thursday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. in the Don Powell Theatre located in the School of Theatre, Television and Film.

The following two performances will be held on Friday, Feb. 2 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the same location.

Ten percent of the proceeds from the event will go to the national V-Day organization while the other 90 percent will be donated to a local San Diego beneficiary called License to Freedom, a nonprofit organization that promotes nonviolence through community education, self-sufficiency and advocacy for refugee and immigrant survivors of domestic and relationship abuse.

In 2013, SDSU donated over $16,000, according to the V-Day SDSU website.

Theatre arts sophomore Kate Coughlin and Olive Parton, a senior majoring in communications, women’s studies and rhetoric through the

interdisciplinary program, are the co-directors of the play this year.

Both students were cast members in the play last year.

“We’ve been so lucky to grow and learn and understand more stories that help us become intersectional feminists,” Parton said.

“The Vagina Monologues” originated from Eve Ensler’s 1994 off-Broadway play that explicitly brings to light issues regarding women, sexuality, rape, consent and body image.

The play was originally women reading aloud on notecards but has progressed to become more contemporary, changing conceptually but still focusing on those same key issues.

“Our (performance) definitely stands out as very open and real.” Coughlin said. “It’s a very uncensored performance of it.

We told all the characters to wear whatever they felt comfortable in as themselves.”

Coughlin said that they wanted to add more voice to the play so there are three original pieces of poetry in the show that integrate the voices of the local community.

“Anyone who is female or who identifies as a female can be a cast member in the play,” Parton said. “This year we had the most number of people audition for the play. It really reflects how people want to be more involved and knowledgeable about what’s happening now.”

Through the use of humor, satire, music and emotion, Coughlin said the play is meant to showcase these very serious issues regarding women in a unique and thought-provoking way.

Coughlin said men and boys are invited to attend and that in past years, the performances have been eye-opening to males about the issues women and girls face

Photo by Elissa Tauscher

“The Vagina Monologues” producer Laura Horton, co-director Ella Castillo and cast member Elvan Guzman table for the upcoming performances on campus.

around the world every day.

“Everyone has a connection to women and also has a role in stopping and understanding what this issue is at hand especially with women’s violence,” Parton

“The Vagina Monologues,” V-Day and how to get involved.

Tickets will be sold for $15 presale and $17 at the door.

Women’s studies junior Elvan Guzman is one of the cast

“It’s not a guy or girl issue. It’s a universal issue.’”

– Olive Parton, Interdisciplinary studies senior

said. “We need men’s support to fix this problem. It’s not a guy or girl issue. It’s a universal issue.”

There will be a booth on Aztec Walkway the week of the performances promoting the event with information regarding

members in the performance.

She is performing for the first time in the play this year and said she has wanted to be a cast member since her first year of college.

“I consider myself a feminist

and activist,” Guzman said. “ I feel like the message is really about women empowerment of people that identify as a woman and standing up for their rights and equality for all.”

Guzman will be performing a spoken word piece called “Me Too.” It focuses on the #MeToo online movement that seeks to end violence against women and girls and help victims of sexual assault.

Guzman said she relates to her character because she considers herself a survivor.

“I think that events like this are really important because you get to see women acting about empowering other women, and the proceeds go toward helping real women empower themselves,” she said.

‘Catfish: The TV Show’ is making a stop at SDSU and is searching for applicants to be on the series

By Cami Buckman

are nervous to apply because of the college setting,” Espocito said.

“What we like to do is spread the word that we are interested

ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR

The hit MTV series “Catfish: The TV Show” is making a stop at San Diego State and is looking for its next potential subjects.

“Catfish: The TV Show” is a reality-based documentary television series that follows the journeys of couples who have formed online relationships, but have yet to meet in person. The series is co-hosted and led by Nev Shulman and Max Joseph.

The show’s producers are looking for students involved in online relationships who may be in “Catfish” situations. Applicants selected to be on the show will be paid $1,500 for their participation.

Casting Director for the show, Mike Espocito, said to be on the lookout for casting producers on campus where students can have

“We wouldn’t be able to keep doing this show if there weren’t thousands upon thousands of people in similar situations.’”

– Mike Espocito, Casting Director

“Catfish: The TV Show” hosts Nev Shulman and Max Joseph during an episode.

the in-person opportunity to share their stories.

“I feel like a lot of the college

Facebook

community does have real life relationships, but I also know there are people out there who

in helping everyone, and if they may have a situation that they need our help with, we are here to assist.”

Applications can also be accessed at catfishcasting.com.

“We do read every application that comes across our desk, as crazy as that may sound,” he said.

There is no set date yet for when producers will be at SDSU, but producers are casting constantly, that includes for the current season.

“This is a very fluid process because we are casting all year round,” Espocito said. “We’re in the new season already, but we still have a lot of slots to fill.”

He said the biggest thing he wants students to understand is that there is no need to be embarrassed if they find themselves in online relationship and have yet to meet in person.

“We wouldn’t be able to keep doing this show if there weren’t thousands upon thousands of people who are in similar situations,” Espocito said.

Jan. 24-30, 2018 EDITOR: Zach Engberg, sports@thedailyaztec.com

Sports

The Daily Aztec

9

SDSU looks to right the ship in MW play

by Abraham Jewett ASST SPORTS EDITOR

San Diego State men’s basketball has two games this week, playing at home against Colorado State University on Jan. 24, before heading up the I-15 to take on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas on Jan. 27.

The Aztecs will attempt to end a three-game losing streak – all in conference – which has the team looking up from seventh place in the Mountain West with a conference record of 3-4 (11-7 overall).

“The only way you work your way out of a losing streak is hard work,” head coach Brian Dutcher said. “We’ve worked hard and hopefully it’ll be enough where the performance will be reflective of that (against Colorado State).”

SDSU defeated Colorado State (10-11, 3-5 MW) on the road on Jan. 2, 77-68, which is the only conference road game the Aztecs have won this season.

“Last time we played them at their place when we beat them there we made an incredible amount of threes,” Dutcher said.

“They rebound, they defend hard, it’ll be a real challenge but if preparation has anything to do with it we are prepared and ready to go.”

The team has had better results when playing at home

Photo by Samantha Bonpensiero

Senior guard Devin Watson makes a pass during SDSU’s 77-73 loss to Fresno State.

this season, putting together a record of 7-2, compared to 4-5 away from Viejas Arena.

Redshirt freshman Jalen McDaniels led SDSU in the first meeting against the Rams with 19 points and 10 rebounds, and the team may need another big game from its surprise freshman to end its current skid.

The Rams were led by guard J.D. Paige, who scored 22 points in the loss. The redshirt junior is coming off a game-high 19 points in a losing effort against UNLV on Jan. 20.

Colorado State will be without its leading scorer in junior guard Prentiss Nixon, who averages 17.9 points per

game but is unlikely to play due to a sprained ankle.

Nixon was largely held in check in the team’s first meeting, scoring only 11 points.

SDSU freshman forward Matt Mitchell scored nine points with six rebounds in the team’s first meeting with the Rams, and said that he expects Colorado State to come out aggressive, but that the Aztecs will be ready.

“They play tough, they’re a tough team, we know what they’re about,” Mitchell said.

“We’re going to be ready for them, ready for the toughness and we’re gonna bring it right back and we’re gonna throw the first punch.”

SDSU’s matchup against UNLV will be the first meeting between the two teams this season.

The Runnin’ Rebels have a record of 14-5, but are just 3-3 in conference after a 7974 victory on the road against Colorado State on Jan. 20.

UNLV has a record of 6-4 at home, with three of its four home losses coming against Mountain West competition in Boise State University, Utah State University and the University of New Mexico.

The Runnin’ Rebels are led by 7-foot-1 freshman forward and NBA prospect Brandon McCoy, who averages 17.6 points per game and 9.7 rebounds.

The Aztecs have struggled at times against top talent this season, most recently while giving up 44 points against Boise State senior guard Chandler Hutchison during the team’s 83-80 road loss on Jan. 13.

Another important cog for UNLV is junior forward Shakur Juiston, who is averaging a double-double this season while leading the team with 10 rebounds per game to go along with 14.8 points.

Juiston most recently led his team in scoring with 19 points to go along with eight rebounds in UNLV’s victory over Colorado State.

The most recent meeting between the two teams was in the first round of last years Mountain West Tournament, when the Aztecs beat the Runnin’ Rebels by a score of 62-52, behind 13 points and 12 rebounds from then-junior forward Malik Pope.

Pope ranks second on SDSU behind junior guard Devin Watson (13.6 points) with 13.2 points per game this season and leads the team with 6.9 rebounds per contest.

Junior guard Jovan Mooring led UNLV in the team’s last meeting with 18 points, and the senior is currently third on the team this season averaging 14.3 points per game.

COLUMN

Senior leaders at the forefront of Aztecs’ disappointments

by Zach Engberg SPORTS EDITOR

One of the pinnacle moments in San Diego State men’s basketball came on March 8, 2014.

In front of a sold-out Viejas Arena – and an incredulous Reggie Miller – the scrappy, Sweet 16-bound No. 10 Aztecs defeated The University of New Mexico to claim a Mountain West Conference championship.

Facing a 41-25 deficit late in the second half, SDSU completed a 19-1 run on its way to a 51-48 win and a court storming by the ‘The Show,’ which at that point was still known as being the most raucous crowd in college basketball.

That team was highlighted by its senior leadership, defensive intensity and ability to turn up the heat when the game was on the line.

The 2017-18 Aztecs are missing on all three fronts, something we saw come to the forefront in their embarrasing 79-75 loss to New Mexico last Saturday.

Leading by as many as 13 in the game and by seven with five minutes left, SDSU let the Lobos scratch and claw their way back into the contest.

Senior captains Trey Kell and Malik Pope combined to shoot 2-14 in the fateful seond half on the way to the Aztecs’

Photo by Samantha Bonpensiero

Freshman forward Matt Mitchell attacks the basket during SDSU’s 85-49 win over San Jose State University on Jan. 9.

third straight conference loss.

Granted, the loss was on the road, but to a New Mexico team that is under .500 on the season and that has nowhere near the firepower and leadership that SDSU has, and that is nowhere near the talent that it had in 2014.

One surprising and optimistic sign in an otherwise dissapointing season has been the emergence of true freshmen forwards Matt Mitchell and Jalen McDaniels, both of whom have earned a

spot in the starting lineup over proven veterans.

The pair have led the team in scoring in six different games this season, including in SDSUs marquee win over then-No. 12 Gonzaga, in which each freshman logged 15 points and made big lategame plays.

McDaniels has recorded six double-doubles this season – a team-high – and has successfully filled in for Pope when he is in foul trouble or out with injury.

But the freshmen should not have to shoulder such a load right now.

Kell, Pope and junior guard Devin Watson have been tasked with closing out games and coming up in big moments, and have failed time and again.

The lack of a late-game offensive strategy was painfully evident in the last two comeback losses.

In the final possession of each contest, Watson held the ball at the top of the key,

waiting for someone to make a cut or set up for a screen-androll.

After some time, Watson settled for a prayer layup that fell well short.

This is painfully familiar to last year’s late-game ineptitude that led to the first missed postseason on the Mesa since 2004-05.

Those famous Steve Fisher teams that terrorized the Mountain West and made deep NCAA Torunament runs were magnificent in their lategame execution, consistently making the right, impact plays down the stretch.

That has been a trend during SDSUs string of painful losses, first to UC Berkeley and then to the University of Wyoming, Fresno and New Mexico.

And if that doesn’t change, the losses will continue, and the senior leadership will be to blame, and will earn the distinction as the only group of Fisher-recruited freshmen to never win a conference championship.

FOLLOW US /daaztecsports @daztecsports @daztecsports /daztecsports

10

The Daily Aztec

Sports

Jan. 24-30, 2018 EDITOR: Zach Engberg, sports@thedailyaztec.com

Aztecs lap Toreros in final dual meet

by Kyle Betz CONTRIBUTOR

The San Diego State swimming and diving team took down the University of San Diego in the Aztecs’ final regular season meet, 153-131.

The dual meet took place at the Aztec Aquaplex on Friday afternoon as seven seniors were honored.

Senior swimmers Frida Berggren, Corinn Casper, Alexa Clayfield, Summer Harrison and Marina Preiss, and divers Alexandra Caplan and Nicole Dutton were recognized during the Senior Day ceremony prior to the meet.

These seniors led the Aztecs to an 11-1 dual meet record in 2017-18. Berggren, Casper, Harrison, Preiss, Caplan and Dutton have been a part of the program since their freshman seasons.

Head coach Mike Shrader said he was pleased with the Aztecs’ showing on Friday.

“I thought it was a really good performance today and our seniors did a great job with their leadership,” Shrader said. “It was a fun meet and we had a great time.”

Friday’s dual meet began with the 200yard medley relay.

SDSU’s B team, consisting of sophomore Courtney Vincent, Caitlin Delany and Alma Thormalm and freshman Klara Thormalm finished with a winning time of 1:43.72.

The A team, which includes seniors Alexa Clayfield, Summer Harrison and sophomores Morganne McKennan and Peyton Wilson took second place with a time of 1:45.55.

Frida Berggren won the 200-yard

Photo by Weicheng Han

Senior swimmer Frida Bergrren competes in the 200-meter butterfly event during the Aztecs’ dual meet with Pepperdine University on Dec. 1.

freestyle with a time of 1:52.81. Freshman Elliyana Ferrin followed Berggren’s victory with a first-place performance in the 100yard backstroke, finishing at 57.68.

Sophomores Caitlin Delany and Morganne McKennan and freshmen Larisa Tam and Rachel Cunningham rounded out the top four positions in the 100-yard breaststroke.

Delany tallied the fastest time to win the event at 1:04.46. Sophomore Courtney Vincent took the 200-yard fly event with a time of 2:04.87, followed by freshman Klara Thormalm’s win in the 50-

yard freestyle, clocking in at 23.50.

McKenna Meyer finished the 200-yard backstroke event with a time of 2:06.32.

The Aztecs continued their dual meet success in the 1-meter and 3-meter diving competitions.

Alexandra Caplan won both 1-meter and 3-meter diving events. She posted scores of 311.55 and 352.65, respectively.

Sophomore Marie Yacopino’s score of 295.05 earned her second in the 1-meter.

Nicole Dutton finished third in the 1-meter with a score of 273.53 and second in the 3-meter with 325.20.

Freshman Emily Reed’s 288.23 score capped off a third place position for the Aztecs.

Mike Shrader said the Aztecs are looking forward to the Mountain West Championships on Feb. 14-16 in San Antonio, Texas.

SDSU swimming and diving team is seeking its fourth Mountain West title under Shrader.

“We need to get better. We want to finetune everything, get better at all the little details, and be at our best for the upcoming Championships,” Shrader said.

Jan. 24-30, 2018 EDITOR: Zach Engberg, sports@thedailyaztec.com

Sports

The Daily Aztec

11

Fort forges ahead in her final season

by Kyle Saunders STAFF WRITER

McKynzie Fort is always in attack mode on the court, similar to an NBA star that she emulates her game after.

“I think my idol NBA player that I try to mimic my game after is (Russell) Westbrook,” Fort said. “Just because he’s always in that attack mode, gets to the rim, attacks all the time, and is a scoring point guard… I hope to be in comparison with him.”

Despite San Diego State women’s basketball not having a player being drafted in the WNBA since 2010, Fort has aspirations to play professional basketball.

The last SDSU women’s basketball player to be drafted was Jene Morris when she was picked 11th overall by the Indiana Fever.

There has been an eight-year hiatus for SDSU in the draft, but Fort looks to change that.

“Definitely trying to get there… I think as of right now it’s a pretty good look for me as long as I keep producing,” Fort said.

This season it’s apparent that she had put in work in the offseason after the Aztecs went 11-19 in the 2016-2017 season. Fort led the team in scoring last season with 15.9 points per game, but she wanted to find ways to help the team in her final season.

“Personally, I’ve been focusing on how I can help the team in the biggest ways, whether it be assisting, scoring, or rebounding… I’d like to think I have a mid-range shot and court vision,” Fort said. “I think it’s hard for the defense to play me, especially now that I’m trying to add a three-point shot, I keep the defense honest and find my teammates for open shots.”

The 2017-2018 season started off with Fort shooting to the top of scoring in the Mountain West, and as a result, SDSU began to become a force in the conference once again.

Going into SDSUs game against the University of Arizona, Fort was one of the top scorers in the MW. During the 78-67 SDSU win – the first win against a Pac-12 team since 2012 – Fort suffered a broken thumb.

The injury hindered her scoring abilities and forced her to sit out until she was able to play again. The adversity forced her to elevate her game to a level she calls her best, strengthening her already aggressive

Photo courtesy of Ernie Anderson, SDSU Athletics

Senior guard McKynzie Fort puts up a shot during SDSUs 97-89 win over New Mexico on Jan. 20.

style of play.

“After breaking my thumb, I tried to stay aggressive and get that mental piece back, but I do think I am playing my best ball,” Fort said.

Freshman guard Te’a Adams, who has been learning from Fort, said there is an absence in the offense when the Fontana, California native is not on the court.

“It’s tough (when Fort is off the court),” Adams said. “There is definitely a missing piece when she is out.”

Her aggressive style of play leads not only to scoring, but also open shots for her teammates.

Senior guard Khalia Lark, who has played for four years with Fort, had nothing but support for the senior guard.

“McKynzie Fort is a big part of our team, and everyone knows that,” Lark said.

The support from her teammates does not go unnoticed by Fort, and as a senior on the team this season she realizes the major role she plays not only on the court but also during practice and in the locker room.

“It’s kind of been a challenge having that leadership role that I’ve been able to take

it on, and just realize the bigger picture that it’s for the betterment of the team,” Fort said. “I focus on how I can help the team win and be better than last season, since it is my last year it’s a huge focus for me to help the team win, and part of that is me taking a big leadership role.”

Fort has made the most of her final season at SDSU, and her consistent hard work has earned the respect of head coach Stacie Terry.

“She’s worked really hard for all the

things she’s getting right now,” Terry said.

“There is no surprise that she’s playing as well as she is... She’s determined to have a great senior season and help us win games this year.”

But before she can take her talents to the next level, Fort has one more goal to complete at SDSU: a conference title.

“Personal short-term goals are focusing on winning and taking each day at a time,” Fort said. “Long-term goal... is a MW title.”

Photo courtesy of Ernie Anderson, SDSU Athletics Graphic by Noah Callahan

Senior guard McKynzie Fort puts up a shot during SDSUs 77-68 win over Colorado State on Jan. 2.

12

The Back Page

The Daily Aztec

Saying goodbye to my best friend — my truck

By Will Fritz NEWS EDITOR

I didn’t realize how hard it would be to say goodbye.

Maybe that was foolish of me.

There I was, sobbing uncontrollably as I pulled out of the parking lot. And of course, “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa just so happened to have started playing on the radio at that exact moment.

I’m not talking about someone who broke my heart or anything like that. I’m crying because I just sold my first car.

And it wasn’t just any first car.

It had been my grandpa’s for 15 years before he gave it to me.

In my life, I’ve moved more than a dozen times, gone to six different schools, lived in three states and have had nearly as many step-mothers.

But my grandparents, and that truck, were remarkably consistent. I could always go back to their house and feel a sense of sameness. The truck was a symbol of that.

I was two years old when my grandpa bought it in June 2000.

He still tells the story of how he got it.

“We’re just here to help you get the best deal you can,” the salesman told him when he came into look at the truck, five years old at the time but with barely 7,000 miles on it.

“Let’s get one thing straight,” my grandpa responded. “You are not here to help me. You are here to make as much money in as little time as possible. And I am here to get the best deal I possibly can. I’ll give you $10,000 for it, take it or leave it.”

The asking price for the truck had been $14,000.

“This car isn’t going to make you any money sitting here on this lot,” my grandpa told them.

Eventually, the salesmen acquiesced.

“You know you’re stealing this truck, right?” one of them asked my grandpa.

“Oh, I know,” he said with a smirk.

My grandparents would take that truck down to San Diego to pick up my brother and I when my mom was studying at University of California San Diego.

Later, when I was in kindergarten and we were living on Travis Air Force Base, they

took it to come visit us.

I remember showing off my new reading skills from the backseat by reading street signs.

“Mer-i-daaaannnne,” I said, struggling to pronounce Meridian Road.

When my mom was deployed in the Iraq War, my grandpa came up in the truck to stay with us and help my dad out.

When I was 10, my grandpa and I took the truck to Newport Beach for my first fishing trip.

When I was 15, I moved back to Temecula, and I got taken to school in that truck almost every day.

On our way to register me for school, the battery in our other car died, and all of us -- my grandparents, my dad and I -had to pile into the little pickup to get to the district office.

One day, my grandparents were talking about how they were eventually going to buy a new car to replace the truck. I halfjokingly asked them if I could have it, not expecting them to seriously consider it.

They looked at each other.

“If you keep your grades up,” my grandma told me, “we’ll give you the truck when we buy our new car.”

It was the car I learned to drive in. I spent countless hours practicing letting off the clutch, and shifting, and hill starts.

When it came time to take my driving test, it turned out that the truck’s blinkers had been broken the entire time and I had to use my aunt’s car.

Somewhat ironically, driving a car with an automatic transmission was so foreign to me that I got nervous and failed the test.

When I took it again, we had the problem on the truck fixed, and even though my aunt offered to let me use her car again, I felt so comfortable with the truck that I elected to use it on the test, even though it was a stick shift.

I passed with flying colors the second time. And from then on, the truck was the “Willmobile.”

Technically I still shared it with my grandparents, as they hadn’t bought their new car yet, but I took it to my first job at McDonald’s nearly every day.

I may not have had my first kiss in that car, but I had at least a couple of memorable ones.

It took me to awkward school dances and awards ceremonies

and late-night hangouts with my friends.

My grandparents finally, officially, gave it to me as an early graduation present the month before I finished high school.

On freshman move-in day, I loaded all of my belongings into the back of the truck and took it to my first dorm room. Whenever I started to feel homesick my first year in college, I would just go and sit in the truck—my truck— and everything would feel all right for a moment.

The courteous roommate I was, I sometimes slept on the back of the Willmobile during the occasional “sexile.”

I took it to Sacramento and back twice. And even with 215,000 miles on it at the time, I drove to Arizona in the middle of the summer with the air conditioning on full blast, and that truck took it like a champ.

It was my ride to football games and parties (I Ubered back if I was a little too—ahem—under the influence, obviously). When I got my first real journalism job over the summer, it took me to city council meetings and my very first meeting with a confidential source.

Since landing my job at City News Service in August, I’ve been working in the San Diego UnionTribune building and parking in its shadow. How far that little truck and I have come.

But alas, it was not meant to last.

First, the starter went out. Then the distributor broke. And then it developed a recurring alignment problem that was going to be a pain to fix.

Slowly, I realized it was time to let go of the car.

It took a long time to come to the decision, but one day I found what I knew would be my next car, and I drove up and bought it two days later.

I was sad, but it didn’t hit me how hard it would be to say goodbye until I had to go back to the dealer to pick up something I forgot in the old truck. There it was, sitting right at the front of the lot, waiting for its next owner.

Hopefully it is someone who can put more time, energy and money into keeping it up than I would be able to.

Even after all these years, that truck still shines like we’re back in 1995.

Farewell, little truck. It’s been real.

Photo by Will Fritz

Will Fritz’s 1995 Nissan Pickup parked in Temecula.

Jan. 24-30, 2018 Editor: Cami Buckman • arts@thedailyaztec.com

SUDOKU HOW TO PLAY Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9.

LEVEL

1|2|3|4 SOLUTIONS Available online at www.thedailyaztec.com Tribune News Service / Sponsored by Aztec Recreation

Weight Training

arc.sdsu.edu

Experience It.

CROSSWORDS

Tribune News Service

ACROSS 1 Filet mignon source 5 __ price 11 Ran together 15 Actress Paquin of Netflix’s “Alias Grace” 16 Tremble 17 Slick 18 Team first managed by Casey Stengel 19 Volcanic archipelago state 20 Eyelid bump 21 Fast clip around the racetrack 24 Internet subdivision 25 Feathered layer 26 USPS assignment 29 Eagerly took in 30 Flutist of Greek myth 33 Romanov rulers 35 Classic shoe polish brand 39 Surmounting 40 Fast clip from the pitcher’s mound 45 “Field of Dreams” setting 46 Lowered the grade of 47 Take potshots 49 Simple survey answer 50 Poetry Muse 55 Own, to Burns 56 Craven of horror 59 Mental haze

60 Fast clip down the slopes 65 “Toodles!”

67 Evening gettogether 68 One-named Deco artist 69 Curved paths 70 There for the __: easy to get 71 Plug-in vehicle, briefly 72 Chinese toy 73 Comes down hard?

74 Dines DOWN 1 Greek letter whose lowercase indicates wavelength 2 Developer’s unit 3 Early enough 4 Bahamian capital 5 Pale as a ghost 6 __-Pei: wrinkly dog 7 Fuzzy fruit 8 “Ghostbusters” director Reitman 9 Secretariat utterance?

10 Complaint 11 Anjou kin 12 Intelligentsia 13 English cathedral town 14 Easter egg dip 22 A bit buzzed 23 Aardvark snack 27 Bouncy gait

28 Best Game or Best Play 30 Christmas candle scent 31 Fit to be tied 32 Super stars?

34 Plant pouch 36 Put out of sight 37 “I’m game” 38 Newcastle Brown brew 40 Wolfgang Puck creation 41 New Rochelle college 42 Twice-baked bread 43 Hit with a laser 44 “Awake and Sing!” playwright 48 Farm mom 51 “Slumdog Millionaire” money 52 Brief summary 53 Line dance step 54 Military instructions 57 Bridge seats 58 Scandinavian toast 59 Surfboard stabilizers 61 Got up 62 “Just do it” brand 63 Niagara Falls source 64 Penny 65 Ballplayer’s hat 66 Choler