01-31-2018

Wednesday, Jan. 31 - Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018 Weekly Print Edition

Vol. 104, Issue 21 www.thedailyaztec.com

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

University protected fraternity despite violations, emails show

by Will Fritz NEWS EDITOR

A fraternity kicked off campus last semester had a six-year history of violations before the university finally expelled it, documents obtained by The Daily Aztec show.

The final straw for Phi Kappa Theta was a September incident involving apparent underage drinking, and not even an eleventh-hour email from its former president Chris Thomas — from his official A.S. officer email account — could save the fraternity from expulsion.

Emails obtained via a California Public Records Act request also show both the university and the fraternity’s national office moved to prevent information about the chapter’s expulsion from being released to the public.

The water polo team starts the year ranked No. 12 in the nation, and is looking to improve on an 18-14 season which saw them reach the Golden Coast Conference championship game.

The rowing team will jump back into the water with a scrimmage against the University of Minnesota on Feb 3. The match is here in San Diego, because, well, ice.

If you hear more of a racket around campus you can blame it on the return of tennis, with both men and women’s players hoping to improve on lost-seasons past.

The men’s team finished

ADMINISTRATION STONEWALLS After the fraternity’s expulsion, emails show administrators moved to shield Phi Kappa Theta’s violations from the public eye.

When The Daily Aztec inquired about the specific reasons for Phi Kappa Theta’s removal, Caryl Montero-Adams, the assistant director of Student Life and Leadership for Greek life, told an SDSU media relations officer in an email that in the past, officials “have communicated the founded policy violations (ex. alcohol) without disclosing the specifics related to the incidents. That said, I believe that any specifics given would need to be discussed and approved with (Dean of Students Randy Timm and Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Christy Samarkos).”

The specifics were ultimately not provided to The Daily Aztec until a California Public Records Act request was submitted.

The national Phi Kappa Theta organization also would not

SEE SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW, PAGE 14

SEE PHI KAPPA THETA, PAGE 6

Illustration by Noah Callahan

Spring sports ready for triumphant return to the Mesa

by Abraham Jewett ASST SPORTS EDITOR

With the changing of the seasons comes a new wave of sports at San Diego State.

The football players hang up their pads and put away their helmets, while both men and women soccer players kick off their cleats.

The swimmers dry off and the cross country runners take a much needed breath.

Volleyball players go on a different kind of strike.

There are some stragglers, of course.

Basketball’s will continue to bounce, but both men’s and women’s teams will have to step

up their games if there is to be any hope of glory come March.

The men currently have a record of 12-8, while the women sit at 10-12.

If you happen to see a smaller ball flying through the air it’s because golf remains in session.

Both men’s and women’s teams are still putting along, with their eyes set to the Mountain West Championships, starting April 20 for men and April 16 for women.

But as the days become long and the sun sits stubbornly in its place in the sky, baseball and softball players will retake their positions on the diamond, snagging ground balls and sending rockets to the moon.

It will be a year set for baseball redemption, with the team looking to improve on a 42-21 season that ended abruptly after an NCAA tournament regionals loss to Long Beach State.

Softball players, meanwhile, will continue to grind under head coach Kathy Van Wyk, with hopes of making the NCAA tournament after failing to make the cut a season ago. This despite finishing second in the Mountain West Conference and with an overall record of 31-18.

Swim and dive has ended, but watersports live on with rowing and women’s water polo. Both teams will attempt to make splashes this year, although in very different sized pools.

FOLLOW US /dailyaztec @TheDailyAztec

NEW DORMS

INVESTIGATIONS

BASEBALL RETAKES FIELD

LACROSSE STARTING UP

Construction crews are working on a new residence hall in the former Chappy parking lot.

The American Indian studies chair was cleared in a discrimination investigation.

The baseball team retakes the field as it begins its quest to return to the NCAA tournament.

Women’s lacrosse starts back up as the team looks to improve on its best season to date.

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News

The Daily Aztec

Jan. 31, 2018 - Feb. 6, 2018 EDITOR: Will Fritz, news@thedailyaztec.com

Mascot task force moves ahead with member selection President Sally Roush intends to have a decision on the mascot’s future by the end of May

by Diana Guevarra STAFF WRITER

Members of a special task force designed to investigate the future of the Aztec mascot and moniker will be announced this week.

In November, the University Senate approved a non-binding resolution to retire the Aztec Warrior mascot — though not the Aztec name — and call for a task force to explore and make recommendations regarding the appropriateness of the current Aztec identity.

The 17-member task force will be composed of SDSU students, staff, faculty and alumni representatives along with two at-large community members appointed by President Sally Roush. Some additional members will be determined by the president to establish a balanced task force with diverse perspectives.

Roush is also considering input and recommendations from individuals or groups from larger San Diego community who wish to comment.

According to the SDSU press release, the task force will include: • Four SDSU student representatives selected from seven students

nominated by the Associated Students Board of Directors plus an additional student appointed by Roush.

• Four individuals selected from seven faculty and staff nominated by the University Senate plus an additional faculty or staff member appointed by Roush.

• Four SDSU alumni selected from seven nominated by the SDSU Alumni Board of Advisors plus an additional alumni by appointed by Roush.

• Two at-large San Diego community members appointed by Roush SDSU spokesperson Jill Esterbrooks said that those nominated had the ability to self-nominate or nominate a willingcolleague. Final balloting for the pool of nominees took place online during the week of Jan. 22.

The task force will be announced on Feb. 2, and members will be expected to begin work immediately after, Esterbrooks said.

Associated Students President Chimezie Ebiriekwe potential nominees were narrowed down based on a desire to create a “diverse

pool student representatives” to serve on the task force. Ebiriekwe met with each nominee in order to gauge their understanding of the mascot topic, he said.

The nomination processed request each person to provide a brief statement interest. Staff and faculty were to provide qualifications in addition to their statement.

“The task force plays an important role because the decision isn’t solely placed on President Roush,” Ebiriekwe said. “There’s a diverse group of individuals ranging from faculty, alumni, students and every single facet of SDSU that looks into the mascot identity is involved.”

A short survey will be sent out early February to SDSU alumni to gauge their input on the issue.

“There are thousands of alumni locally and around the world who care passionately about the university’s past and its future,” Dan Montoya, associate vice president of SDSU Alumni said in the press release. “Those voices are an important part of the conversation about honoring and celebrating our shared experiences as members of the SDSU community.”

There are no indications on how the task force will conduct investigation, but it’s assumed

they will also examine the usage of symbols and “weapons that connote barbaric representations of the Aztec culture.”

The task force will be given no later than April 30 to present

its recommendation to the university president. Roush — who is expected to leave office this summer — intends to make an announcement on the mascot by the end of May.

Photo by Kelly Smiley

The Aztec Warrior mascot at a football game during the fall semester.

Jan. 31, 2018 - Feb. 6, 2018 EDITOR: Will Fritz, news@thedailyaztec.com

News

The Daily Aztec

3

New dorms to expand housing, amenities to west side of campus

by Camille Dejoras STAFF WRITER

The construction of San Diego State’s multimillion-dollar New Student Residence Hall is officially underway.

The new student housing site is located on the west side of campus next to Chapultepec Hall.

Jim Cleaton, SDSU’s director of construction, said the new hall will house just over 800 students in double and triple-style rooms.

It will feature multiple outdoor courtyards, roof decks, study areas, a 3,850 square-foot community center and a new market.

The total construction budget for the hall is $130,000,000.

“The hall has a lot of ‘San Diego living’ aspects much like Zura Hall,” Cleaton said, “The outside and inside space will blend and blur together with study spaces and areas where students can interact.”

He said the building’s architectural design complements SDSU’s Spanish-style buildings like Hepner Hall and the student union.

The projected completion date is July 31, 2019.

The dorm was originally designed in the draft Environmental Report to include three phases. Phases II and III included a 14-story residence tower and four 11-story towers.

Concerned residents said construction would threaten 85 rare and endangered species of plants and animals in a website they created, “SaveAztecCanyon.org.”

Residents were also concerned about potential problems caused by more than 1,000 more students living in buildings adjacent to residential homes.

Signs promoting the cause could be seen on lawns all over the College Area.

Former SDSU president Elliot Hirshman chose to reduce the height of phase II and eliminate phase III because of the negative environmental impact it would cause.

Phase II, though, was never given a timeline for completion.

Cleaton said the new residence hall will also supplement Chapultepec’s outdoor and social amenities.

“The building was designed in a way so students in Chapultepec can easily access and share the courtyards and community space because it currently doesn’t have as many,” Cleaton said.

He said he is also aware of the new residence hall’s close proximity to the

neighborhood, on-campus apartments and the canyon behind the construction site.

“We met with people from the neighborhood and reviewed environmental impact reports to get mitigation requirements we needed to meet to build (the hall),” Cleaton said.

Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences junior Keaulani Quiatchon works as a desk assistant in Chapultepec.

She said she understands why SDSU wants to build more housing, however, the construction has created tension among residents in the area because of the noise.

“Some people in Chappy are upset because they’re paying basically the same amount as other residents on the other side of campus but have to live with the noise every day,” Quiatchon said.

She also said parking has become an issue because the new residence hall is being built on Chapultepec’s old student parking lot.

“Parking on campus is already a struggle,” Quiatchon said. “Now that Chappy doesn’t have a parking lot, students have to park in P12 or P7 which limits the number of open spots to commuter students.”

Cleaton said the new residence hall will have handicapped parking spots and a few spaces for university officials, but no student parking.

Director of Housing Eric Hansen said the demand for parking among students who reside on campus has decreased significantly over the past several years.

“As more students are living on campus, the overall demand is expected to go down,” Hansen said in an email. “Students who bring cars will be able to park in existing lots and structures.”

Although some residents are unhappy with the construction now, Quiatchon said the new hall can ultimately strengthen the community on the west side of campus because new students won’t feel as isolated.

Kinesiology junior Nicole Kelly lived in Chapultepec her freshman year.

She said she rarely invited her friends to her dorm because she felt there was a lack of study spots and appealing hangout areas.

“It’s nice that freshmen won’t need to go to the other side of campus for good food and a fun place to hang out,” Kelly said.

She said even though the new residence hall is still a far walk from the center of campus, she likes SDSU’s decision to expand west and build a better community among students.

Aerial images of the new residence hall under construction near Chapultepec.

Photos by Petey Dyer

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Opinion

The Daily Aztec

Jan. 31- Feb. 6, 2018 EDITOR: Dana Tsuri-Etzioni, opinion@thedailyaztec.com

SPECIAL COMMENTARY

Maya residents unfairly neglected by

Gianna Wood

Here is how the Maya mold situation happened. It all started one day in the beginning of December when a pair of girls moved out of their dorms because they found large amounts of mold in their rooms. Leading many of us to search our rooms for mold.

Members from the housing department came by a few days before to check rooms on the north side of the hall, but they never told us what they were looking for initially. So once we discovered there was mold in all the rooms on the north side my roommate and I became concerned because the air vents are all connected. Knowing that mold can become airborne, my

Movies should empower viewers

by Jordan Rubin STAFF WRITER

The Greatest Showman generated a lot of buzz, not just because of its famous cast, but also because of the powerful message it portrays.

Five minutes into the movie and viewers are already hooked on the visuals and intense singing numbers. Yet the message the film conveys is underlying and important, especially for young audience members — that anyone can work to make their dream come true.

“I liked The Greatest Showman because it shows how dreams can become a reality and gives an inspiring story about hard work,” said dance studies sophomore Amanda Ascher.

Although people can work to become wealthy and successful, they must never forget where they started from. Things change and the future is never certain. Everyone has a chance to become the greatest version of themselves, so living life to the fullest should come with no regret.

The message of this film shows the importance of being passionate about something one desires and aiming for success.

There can be obstacles along the way, but learning from mistakes can lead to personal growth.

This message is inspiring, and is important to convey in a movie marketed towards families. Kids in the audience can see a dream become reality before their eyes and realize they can do the same for themselves.

Hopefully there’s a film with a message as important as this one in the future.

Jordan Rubin is a sophomore studying television, film, and media.

roommate began to worry about our health and wellbeing — as we began to piece together why we seemed to always have this odd cough when we were in the dorms.

My roommate and I went to the housing administration and put in a room switch request.

The next day, housing sent a third party to test the mold in rooms.

My roommate and I later found a black substance next to our air conditioner unit so when the third party came to test the other rooms, I asked if it was possible for them to examine my room.

But, I was told that because my room wasn’t on the invoice I had to go through the whole process of making a service request on the housing portal — so I did.

For the next two weeks, we contacted the housing office trying to get the status of the tests conducted and when we were going to be moved. I felt like I wasn’t being taken seriously by the housing administration and their staff.

What was even more irritating was that some people I went to the housing office with had their parents complain and threaten to sue the school for their lack of action — that very night those people were moved to South Campus Plaza.

I returned to the housing administration because my roommate and I were the only ones not given a phone call about moving, even though we were the first ones to put in a room switch request.

So there I was again with another group of people demanding answers. The office stated that there were no available rooms in South Campus Plaza for us to move into.

However, when one pair of girls had a parent call and threaten to sue once again those girls were moved into a room in South Campus Plaza that night. How is that possible if housing stated

there were no rooms amiable just five hours before?

It seems the housing administration repeatedly lied to us.

president kept claiming this was all the office could do. That my roommate and I should wait until second semester and be at the top of the waiting list to move into

EDITOR IN CHIEF Andrew Dyer MANAGING EDITOR Lilly Glenister NEWS EDITOR Will Fritz ASST. NEWS EDITOR Jasmine Bermudez OPINION EDITOR Dana Tsuri-Etzioni MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Jocelyn Moran ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Cami Buckman SPORTS EDITOR Zach Engberg ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Abraham Jewett DIGITAL SPORTS EDITOR Mary York

Graphic by Noah Callahan

All of this happened just two weeks before finals week. I missed three classes of final review prep just so I could talk to members of housing to get the issue resolved.

I ended up speaking to the President of housing directly.

I repeatedly emailed him how frustrated the residents of Maya were. On the last day before finals, there were three pairs of girls who were still looking to be moved because everyone else had already been moved to South Campus Plaza. My roommate and I were one of those three pairs.

When it came time for housing to offer us alternate rooms, they claimed they offered them by alphabetical order. My roommate and I were offered a room in Olmeca together, or the choice to be placed in other halls without being roommates any longer.

This was my breaking point. I felt like I invested so much time into the process for nothing. I filled out the paperwork like housing asked and yet my roommate and I got the short end of the stick.

So, I called my parents and told them the situation. I went to the housing president’s office still on the phone with my parents. The

South Campus.

Housing had people come in to take care of the infestation. They didn’t tell us that these men were going to be painting and spraying these rooms with chemicals in full hazmat suits.

I kept thinking that I wouldn’t want to come back to San Diego State if this was going to be the way I was constantly being treated by a department that is tasked with making sure I am living in a safe environment.

I got a call over break saying there was a room available for my roommate and I to move into South Campus. I emailed asking if there was going to be a red bin such as the ones available on move in day to help facilitate an easier move for us. To this day I haven’t received an email back from housing.

My roommate and I had to move out on our own even though others were offered a moving bin. I am grateful that I was able to leave Maya, but I still think housing could have handled the situation drastically different.

Gianna Wood is a freshman studying psychology.

All manipulators need to be condemned

ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Alex Piscatelli PHOTO EDITOR Kelly Smiley MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Mirella Lopez SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR David Santillan COPY EDITORS Brian del Carmen Catherine Cooke GRAPHICS ASSISTANT Noah Callahan SENIOR STAFF WRITERS Julianna Ress Cassidy McCombs Sydney Sweeney Emely Navarro Nicole Badgley Sofia Bert Kayleigh Venne STAFF WRITERS Gustavo Cristobal Emily Caplan Kyle Saunders Chance Page Lauren J. Mapp Mayer Pohlod Kyle Betz Matthew Fierst Stacy Marquez Kelly Kerrigan Camille Dejoras Jordan Rubin CONTRIBUTORS Kyle Betz Justin Wylie STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Weicheng Han Elissa Tauscher Petey Dyer Alex Vasquez Alby Sanchez ________________________________ ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Connor Brooke SALES MANAGER Peter Saridakis

by Dana Tsuri-Etzioni OPINION EDITOR

Recently, people in the entertainment industry have shown more solidarity than ever before, however, this solidarity is because of terrible circumstances.

Attendees of the Golden Globes on Jan. 7 wore black to protest sexual harassment and raise awareness for Time’s Up — a movement against sexual harassment founded by Hollywood celebrities in the beginning of this year. Many continued to spread awareness at Sunday’s Grammys, wearing white roses instead of dressing in black.

It’s important that celebrities from all parts of the industry are uniting to protest this because sexual harassment is prevalent not just in the industry, but in society as a whole.

It’s nice to see celebrities

using their platform in hopes of making a change.

It is unnerving when the accused are people their fans would never have expected to act in such atrocious ways.

Recently, James Franco was accused of sexual misconduct by several of his former students and one former mentee at Studio 4, a film school founded by Franco in New York. The women accused Franco of forcing them to perform sexual acts in his independent films. Their hope was that he would help them advance their careers as actresses.

Franco is admired and worshiped by many fans. What kind of example is he setting for all those people? That using fame and social standing for your own personal gain and to manipulate others is ok.

For these accusations, Franco was taken off the cover of Vanity Fair and The New York Times cancelled his TimesTalk.

Publications condemning Franco

is well deserved and if the allegations against Franco prove to be true, he should be shunned within the industry, and by his fans.

He shouldn’t be given the platform he has if all he’s going to do is exploit it. Many of his coworkers in the industry are working to fight against sexual harassment, but Franco went against them.

The accused men in the industry are more powerful than the average predator. They have leverage over people and make them believe they are able to help them succeed in their career.

Instead of upholding admirable characteristics, they abuse their power and social standing. That’s disappointing.

Don’t judge a book by its cover, but definitely judge a man who takes advantage of others.

Dana Tsuri-Etzioni is a sophomore studying journalism and communication.

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.

News

Jan. 31, 2018 - Feb. 6, 2018 EDITOR: Will Fritz, news@thedailyaztec.com

The Daily Aztec

5

Chair of American Indian Studies cleared of wrongdoing in discrimination investigation

by Andrew Dyer EDITOR IN CHIEF

pursuing a complaint against Monge.

The former student at the center of a racial discrimination and harassment investigation involving lecturer Oscar “Ozzie” Monge also filed a discrimination complaint against American Indian Studies Department Chair Dr. David Kamper over his handling of the issue.

Confidential documents obtained by The Daily Aztec detail an investigation conducted simultaneously with the one involving Monge. However, in Kamper’s case, the California Attorney General’s office found that he did not engage in racial discrimination or retaliation.

Crystal Sudano, who was a criminal justice senior at the time, had gone to Kamper with complaints about Monge. Those complaints — that Monge had discriminated, harassed and retaliated against her — were found to be justified in a Dec. 20 report. However, Sudano felt Kamper — who signed off on Monge’s master’s thesis — did not act promptly enough to intervene.

Monge was originally scheduled to teach at least three classes this semester but was replaced just before classes convened. He is still listed as a lecturer on the department’s webpage.

Sudano filed her complaint against Kamper on the same day she filed against Monge — April 27, 2017.

In the first complaint, she claimed Kamper discriminated against her by not promptly responding to her requests for assistance with Monge.

In the second, she said Kamper retaliated against her by asking her to leave a student banquet “in a loud voice.”

Although neither complaint was sustained by the state, the report does shed light on the process a student must endure when filing a discrimination complaint against a professor.

It also provides previously unreported details about Sudano’s behavior at the time and how she was received by the administrators with whom she interacted.

Kamper’s involvement in the conflict begins after Monge blocked Sudano on Facebook after their final messenger conversation.

The exchange took place just after Monge learned about Sudano’s work investigating claims in his mascot thesis, which detailed what Monge characterized as its “racist” history.

At 1:41 a.m. on March 9, the report says, Sudano messaged Monge about the retirement of Monty Montezuma in 2001, adding that she was going to Special Collections in the Love Library to dig up a 1925 San Diego Tribune article.

Monge replied at 4:55 a.m.

“What in the heck are you up to, may I ask?” his message said.

“Because, to be frank, you’re creeping me out…”

He then mentioned her

Howka banquet The state’s report details a second complaint Sudano made against Kamper — that he retaliated against her by “depriving her of the right to attend the Howka Weekend in a public and humiliating way.”

Howka Weekend is an event held as part of Explore SDSU for newly accepted students.

As defined in the investigator’s report, it’s hosted jointly by American Indian Studies, Enrollment Services and Student Affairs.

The report details a banquet on the evening of March 17, 2017 — four days after the meeting in Sabol’s office — which Sudano showed up to uninvited. She told the investigator that she had heard about the event from Mohammed Ahmed, the community engagement and special assistant to the Dean of Students.

Ahmed told the investigator he did not remember this, and was not interviewed.

The report mentions a meeting between Kamper and students from the Native American Students Association in which four students described “aggressive” interactions and confrontations with Sudano at a meeting about the mascot resolution.

Those same students were present at the Howka banquet, and Kamper said he didn’t want a confrontation.

Sudano’s and Kamper’s recollections of the conversation differ, but a witness told the investigator they heard Kamper ask Sudano to leave.

Sudano recalls him yelling.

This is contradicted by Kamper and the witness.

Witnesses remembered Sudano hanging around outside the event for some time afterward.

“Am I allowed to be here?” one witness remembered her asking.

“Do you have to be Native American to be in that space?”

The investigator concluded Kamper’s decision to ask Sudano to leave was appropriate and did not rise to the level of retaliation, and Sudano admitted she felt like she was “crashing” the event and knew she shouldn’t be there.

As with the Monge complaints, both Kamper and Sudano are eligible to appeal the findings.

Kamper did not respond to requests for comment on this story, and Sudano said she could not comment due to confidentiality requirements.

The university could not comment on the specifics of the investigation.

“The case is still ongoing,” said Jill Esterbrooks, an SDSU spokesperson. “We’re going to protect due process as well as the privacy of the individuals involved.”

Esterbrooks would not say how long any appeals process might take, nor would she confirm if any had been filed.

Photo by Joe Kendall

David Kamper, chair of the department of American Indian studies, was found not to have discriminated against Crystal Sudano — the same student involved in a discrimination complaint against American Indian studies lecturer Ozzie Monge.

research.

“And someone told me you’re going around telling people that you’re…fact checking me?!?!”

Monge said. “Being fact checked, sure…whatever…go for it.”

From the report: “At 7:45 a.m., Monge does a sudden switch in subject matter, focusing on Sudano’s work in the class. He writes: ‘I just went through the list of who completed the “key word list” assignment…you didn’t do it. I think it may be time to sit down with a third party and discuss your class-related issues (attendance, and now this incomplete assignment), and these non-class related that you’re, well, creating. I am deeply concerned that you will conflate the two and try to lay blame at my feet. This concern is derived from the way you took my taking the time to explain the problematic nature of the “low man on the totem pole” comment and fabricating that into an accusation of me calling you a racist. Also, I believe it would be in our mutual interest to end all facebook communications.’”

Sudano, who got online and started reading these messages at 8:00 a.m., posted “Sure, today would be perfect.” This raises Monge’s ire even more: Today would be perfect for what? If you are referring to sitting down with a third party, I can’t just snap fingers and make someone appear.

Nor would it be appropriate to barge in on someone’s time without the courtesy of making an appointment — akin to how you wanted me to get-up and go outside to talk with you, right then and there, when I was at the AS/UC meeting to support NASA (Native American Student Alliance). You just can’t demand that of people on your whim — its (sic) impolite.

I think it is critically important to mention this: You said you spent time (“days” you said) looking over handwritten student council notes from the 1920’s (sic). Yet you

failed to submit your keyword assignment, part of a “group sourced” work we all agreed to (you were absent that day), for which you received notifications through Blackboard. That was a choice you made, one that will have a negative impact on your grade in class. That, strangely, was a choice that you made — and only you know why you made that conscious decision.

According to Sudano, Monge then blocked her from Facebook messenger at 8:46 a.m.”

At this point, Sudano began emailing Monge, once at 8:58 a.m. and again at 9:29 a.m.

When he did not respond, the investigator’s report continues, she began making a series of phone calls.

Reguests for assistance At 9:37 a.m., she called Monge but did not get through. At 9:40 a.m., she called the American Indian Studies department — misidentified in the report as the “Native American Studies Department” — and spoke with its secretary for several minutes.

She called back again at 11:00, 11:11 and at 11:14 a.m., when she spoke to the secretary again.

When she could not reach Monge, she emailed Kamper about her concerns with Monge and her grade. Kamper responded after 12 minutes with some options for times to meet.

Sudano responded with concerns Kamper was speaking to Monge and receiving an inaccurate version of events, to which Kamper said he would be “impartial.”

They exchanged another email each, culminating in a third from Sudano in which she said “I am in tears, and I am scared.”

This prompted Kamper to reach out to Karey Sabol, the assistant dean for the College of Letters and Sciences, saying this was “above his pay grade.”

Sudano called Sabol that evening and met with her the next day.

Kamper also made contact with Title IX Deputy Coordinator Lee

Mintz and Heather Bendinelli, the director of the Office of Employee Relations and Compliance.

Sudano was not happy, saying in an email to Monge, Kamper and Sabol that she didn’t handle confrontations well and was worried about graduating on time.

Sabol responded to Mintz on March 10, when she expressed concerns about Monge’s behavior, but nothing that she thought warranted Sudano’s reaction.

“In talking with her (Sudano) yesterday and in reading through the social media conversation threads she forwarded, I do have some concerns related to…

Monge’s behavior,” she said in an email, “however, nothing I have seen or heard seems to warrant the extreme fear and anxiety she is voicing in this email.”

On March 13, 2017, there was a meeting in Sabol’s office with her, Monge, Sudano and Kamper to discuss the issues going on in the classroom. The result of the hour-long meeting, according to the investigator, was that Monge was to accept Sudano’s late work and forgive her missed classes without penalty.

After this meeting, Kamper counseled Monge on the inappropriateness of engaging in Facebook messages with a student in what the investigator describes as an “oral counseling session,” followed by a written warning.

“As per our conversation I strongly recommend that you refrain from using social media such as Facebook with your students,” Kamper counseled Monge, in writing. “This medium is too informal and too inappropriate for communication with students. It is too easy to lose control of the conversational topics in these forms of social media…Some of the language that you used in you(sic) Facebook is questionable and I believe the format led to it.”

The report concludes that Kamper did not treat Sudano differently because of her race, but had tried to assist her in

6

News

The Daily Aztec

Phi Kappa Theta:

continued from page 1 return requests for details on why Phi Kappa Theta’s charter was revoked. “(The Daily Aztec) reached out to us again over the weekend looking for more specifics,” Robert Riggs, national executive vice president of Phi Kappa Theta, said in an email to Montero-Adams. “We determined that no additional information would be shared and did not respond to his follow up request.”

A history of violations The San Diego State chapter of Phi Kappa Theta had a long history of brushes with university administrators.

In February 2011, it was placed on an interim suspension for unspecified alcohol violations.

In April 2012, it was suspended after then-Sigma Alpha Epsilon president Barzeen Barzanji died of an overdose at the Phi Kappa Theta house. The fraternity was later absolved of responsibility in his death.

In Fall 2013, Phi Kappa Theta was reported to university officials for two separate parties with alleged alcohol violations.

In January 2014, the university again placed the fraternity on an interim suspension for the violations in the fall. The national Phi Kappa Theta office then placed the SDSU chapter on a complete suspension in February.

In September 2014, the fraternity again faced allegations about alcohol violations, and the following month an unapproved event with alcohol was hosted in which a student fell from a balcony at the chapter house.

The fraternity was placed on another interim suspension in October 2014.

A little more than a year later,

in December 2015, a Phi Kappa Theta member was involved in a physical and verbal altercation at the chapter house that resulted in him being taken to detox.

And in September 2016, a social event resulted in fraternity members being treated for intoxication while another event was found to have included new members — who are usually underage — drinking alcohol.

One person, who identified themselves only as a fifth-year senior and a “concerned Greek,” expressed concern in an email to Montero-Adams about the September 2016 incidents. The person mentioned a Snapchat video they claimed showed Phi Kappa Theta members drinking hard liquor during the university dry period, which lasts from Aug. 1 to Oct. 1 of every year.

The “concerned Greek” also included an image of a Snapchat message purportedly sent from a Phi Kappa Theta member soon after the fraternity was taken off probation.

The message read: “Silence is over and PHI KAP IS BACK!! We just gave out bids to the tallest, strongest, makeyou-drip-from-down-unda frat stars on campus. Tomorrow night, we all black them out and welcome them to state the right way. Handles and all sorts of things will be going down throats tomorrow night, so mob Tiki at (address redacted) at 9:30 if you want your world changed forever. These kids are f***ing sick. We’re back, so let’s black.”

The word “black” refers to blacking out — the practice of getting so drunk that one has no memory of events that occurred.

The fraternity was, once again, placed on interim suspension by the university and complete suspension by the national office.

In January 2017, the university placed it on “suspension in abeyance.”

Members were told that any further violations would result in the fraternity’s removal from campus.

Alcohol violations were far

Photo by Will Fritz

A sign hung up on the former Phi Kappa Theta house the week after the fraternity was removed from campus.

from the only thing the fraternity drew university administrators’ attention for.

In March 2016, officials reported the fraternity for physical altercations during a philanthropic event. Fraternity member Alex Shapiro — who at the time was running for Associated Students vice president of financial affairs — was also found to have lied to administrators about completion of “release of liability” waivers for the event.

Just two months later, in May 2016, fraternity members threw glass bottles at the fraternity house director, Isaiah Adouna, in the courtyard of Fraternity Row. Those students were later expelled from the fraternity.

In October of that year, an unidentified resident of a home on Dorothy Drive emailed university administration to report an intoxicated Phi Kappa Theta member attending a nearby party urinated on her front yard, followed by three female attendees of the same party urinating in the same location.

Photo obtained from public records request

An image of a party invitation sent via Snapchat by a member of Phi Kappa Theta.

Jan. 31, 2018 - Feb. 6, 2018 EDITOR: Will Fritz, news@thedailyaztec.com

“If you, Greek Life, truly values community wellness and relation, please control your members,” the email read.

“Urinating in private property is a misdemeanor up to a year of jail time. My house is not a public restroom.”

When the final alcohol violation was reported in September 2017, the fraternity was in dire straits.

The final straw At 1:50 a.m. on Sept. 2, 2017, an unnamed student was given medical aid after being found “highly intoxicated” in a restroom at Olmeca residence hall.

According to a police media bulletin, the student indicated to officers they had been drinking at “Phi Kap.” The student also confirmed to a Phi Kappa Theta representative they had been drinking at the fraternity. An Olmeca resident advisor interviewed by MonteroAdams said the student had used the name “Phi Kap” twice.

The September incident was at least the ninth time the fraternity had been reported for alcohol policy violations in the last seven years, and at least the fifth time it had faced disciplinary action within that time span.

In October, Chris Thomas emailed SDSU Vice President of Student Affairs Eric Rivera from his official A.S. email account to ask for a meeting about the fraternity.

“I am begging you to please consider a meeting with me before you sign that letter to close our chapter here at SDSU,” Thomas said in the email. “You know my character and what I stand for when it comes to my values. I am asking this as a friend and leader on the campus to please take the time out of your day, whenever it might be, and give me even 10 minutes to be able to talk to you about this situation.”

The meeting with Rivera was never held, though Thomas did meet with Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Christy Samarkos.

“I was just advocating for my chapter in any way I could,” Thomas told The Daily Aztec in an interview.

Samarkos said Thomas asked her if there would be any further opportunities for review of the investigation into the fraternity.

“I like to be thorough,” she said. “I just by nature went through and reexamined everything. I’m not sure if Chris asking for it is what created that.”

This history of violations ultimately led to the national fraternity’s decision to revoke the SDSU chapter’s charter, even before the university removed the organization from campus.

“The reality is even if the appeal by the students is upheld and the University doesn’t remove recognition, the Fraternity Board has already made their decision to revoke the charter,” Robert Riggs, national fraternity executive vice president, told Montero-Adams in an October 2017 email. “The best case scenario the collegiate members could hope for at this time is a student organization that has no national affiliation with the Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity.”

On Nov. 6, 2017, the national board made an official announcement, and SDSU soon followed suit, barring Phi Kappa Theta from campus for a minimum of seven years.

On Nov. 7, the day after a meeting between university officials and Phi Kappa Theta, Adouna emailed MonteroAdams to apologize for some of the fraternity members’ conduct.

“I want to thank you again for taking the time to speak and answer questions at last night’s meeting,” Adouna said in the email. “I also want to apologize for some of the inappropriate remarks made by some of those individuals. As you know, their language and behavior neither reflects the values nor ideals of our ideal fraternity member. I am truly embarrassed by the lack of respect these individuals had for our efforts.”

Montero-Adams replied about 20 minutes later.

“Thank you for your message and for your presence last night,” she said. “I have valued your partnership over the last few years, including during difficult conversations like last night’s. I know that the students were experiencing a plethora of emotions and understand that their reactions don’t reflect the fraternity. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to assist with the efforts of Phi Kappa Theta. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership.”

News

Jan. 31, 2018 - Feb. 6, 2018 EDITOR: Will Fritz, news@thedailyaztec.com

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Registrar’s office prepares for switch to earlier registration dates

by Gustavo Cristobal STAFF WRITER

Administrators are moving ahead with implementing earlier registration dates.

Students will register for the fall 2018 semester in April, instead of during the summer as has historically been the case.

For the spring 2019 semester, the new registration dates will be sometime in November instead of January 2019. For summer 2019, the new registration date will be sometime in March 2019 instead of April and May. Incoming students will still continue to register after their orientation date.

SDSU Registrar Rayanne Williams said in an email that there have not been any problems implementing the new registration dates.

“It just takes time to map out what needs to be programmed to accommodate the change,” Williams said.

Just like before, students will still be required to pay their tuition and fees ahead of registration, making it more important than ever to fill out the FAFSA on time in order to qualify for fee postponement, she said.

“If a student does not have a fee

deferment or fees paid recorded on their record at the time they are to register this will certainly stop them from being able to add any classes,” Williams said.

Those who are eligible for financial aid will be able to see their award amount on AidLink before their registration date.

Like the previous registration system, students who do not qualify for financial aid have the option to apply for a payment installation plan through Student Account Services in the spring 2018 semester.

An initial payment before registering for classes will be required on either a two basic tuition installment plan, or on a new four basic tuition installment plan in order to allow students to spread out payments.

Graphic design junior Greg Mortellaro said he likes the options the installment plan offers.

“I think since it’s so early for registration, you got to have some leeway for payment and give you a little bit of time,” Mortellaro said. “I can imagine that that can be an issue.”

Williams recommended students meet with their department advisers before registering, as the early

Photo by Alex Vasquez

A receptionist assists a student at the registar’s office.

registration will mean that students can enroll in classes before grades for prerequisite classes have been posted.

When those final grades are posted, students will be dropped from the enrollment roster of a course if they do not meet the prerequisites.

Social science senior Hannah Montz said she’s concerned about the timing of the new registration dates.

“Typically seniors get

(registration) first,” Montz said.

“If you would have to retake a class, that could cause some conflict.”

A university webpage on the subject states that the change is meant to benefit students by making it easier for them to plan their school schedules and to meet with advisers, due to the fact that both will be on campus while registration is happening.

“Students will be able to register for their classes a lot

earlier than ever before, allowing them to plan for other important things like work, internships, and extracurricular activities,” said Chris Thomas, Associated Students vice president of university affairs in a press release. “In addition, the new registration timeline will give academic units more time to hire faculty and add sections for classes that are in high demand, which benefits students.”

Center for Latin American Studies A.S. update: department campus offers new Nahuatl language class renamings, safety committee

by Camille Dejoras STAFF WRITER

San Diego State now offers a class on Nahuatl — an indigenous language spoken in Mexico and most famous for being the tongue of the Aztecs.

Center for Latin American Studies Director Ramona Perez said the class, LATAM 296: Elementary Nahuatl I, is taught by a Nahuatl speaker at the University of Zacatecas in Mexico through live-streamed lectures.

Perez said she has been trying to bring the class back to SDSU since it was cancelled after a short-lived run in the early 2000s. University administration made a commitment to pay for the original Nahuatl courses at that time, but did not have enough money to follow through, she said.

“Our center and faculty are known for our expertise on the indigenous languages and cultures of Mexico,” Perez said.

“This is why offering these courses to our students is so important to us.”

This new course joins Mixtec and Zapotec as one of three indigenous languages taught at SDSU. Though commonly identified with the Aztec civilization — which is depicted in San Diego State’s mascot — the Nahuatl

language has more than 1.5 million native speakers today.

It’s the most widely spoken indigenous language in modern-day Mexico.

And it has introduced many common words into the English language via Spanish — ­ including chocolate, avocado, tomato and many others.

Perez said she is aware this class may get caught up in the conversation surrounding the controversial Aztec mascot.

Regardless of what symbol university officials choose to represent SDSU, she said everyone has an obligation to at least understand what the Aztec empire was and who the Nahua people are.

“With this course, I will and can provide the university and its students, faculty and alumni this deeper and richer understanding of the Nahua history,” Perez said. “Let’s not forget the Nahuatl language is still very much alive in Mexico.”

Liacel Wesson, a Latin American Studies graduate student, said she is taking the class to fulfill her indigenous language requirement. It’s also her first time learning a new language, and she said she believes the class will provide her with insight to her own cultural identity and her roots in Mexico.

“Even though I may not

continue on with the language after this class, it’s still something that I know will help me fulfill my own personal goals,” Wesson said.

Wesson also said she encourages other students to take advantage of the class because not many universities offer indigenous language courses. She said it would benefit students involved in the mascot debate to learn more about the Nahua culture.

Kinesiology junior Amalia Gonzales said she thinks the class is a positive addition to the school, and she respects the Center for Latin American Studies for fighting to bring it back.

“It’s cool to think I go to a school that has classes about indigenous languages,” Gonzales said. “If my schedule wasn’t so busy, I would take the class because it’s a chance you don’t come by often.”

Gonzales, who is of Mexican and Native American descent, also said the Nahuatl class can offer some students the opportunity to connect more with their culture if they currently feel uninformed about their own heritage.

“No one should feel like it’s too late to discover their background, so if this class can help students learn about their culture then I say go for it,” Gonzales said.

by Diana Guevarra STAFF WRITER

The Associated Students University Council gathered on Jan. 24 for its first bi-weekly meeting of the Spring semester to discuss campus updates, San Diego State’s soon-to-beannounced new president and the Campus Safety Committee.

Campus Updates Chris Thomas, A.S. vice president of student affairs, announced Andrea Dooley, SDSU assistant vice president for student affairs, will be the new A.S. university president designee.

Dooley announced that two departments on campus have updated their names to reflect how they provide service to students and the SDSU community.

Student Ability Success Center is the new name for the department responsible for providing appropriate academic accommodations for students with disabilities.

Dooley said the purpose of the name is to remove the word ‘disability’ to expand and encourage students to benefit from the accommodation services provided on campus.

The Health Promotion department has changed to Wellbeing & Health Promotion. The new name is to better represent the department’s aim to focus on

healthy behaviors and attitudes.

The department also acts as a space to inform students and the community on the risks and effects of alcohol, drugs, sexual violence and more, she said.

Campus Safety Committee Thomas said A.S. has assembled a Campus Safety Committee due to the volume of concerns regarding safety and crime around campus.

He said the committee is discussing the concern of offcampus safety with SDSUPD. Off-campus safety is under the jurisdiction of the San Diego (city) Police Department, who are also invited to attend the committee meetings, he said.

Brown said the committee met twice during the fall semester and will continue to meet into the spring. She said the committee includes SDSU Police Chief Josh Mays and Cpl. Mark Peterson, as well as administrators and students from all areas of campus.

Brown said the committee has two many goals: identifying safety issues students are concerned about, and making students aware of occurrences on-campus.Thomas said the committee meets bi-weekly on Thursdays at 11 a.m. in the Visionary Suite on the third floor of the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union.

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Jan. 31 - Feb. 6, 2018

Jan. 31- Feb. 6, 2018 EDITOR: Jocelyn Moran, mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com

Mundo Azteca

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Columna: No me llames ‘whitewashed’ por Emely ESCRITORA

Navarro

Según varias personas, soy “whitewashed”.

Tal vez quieres saber por qué.

Bueno, esta opinión depende de a quién le preguntes.

Algunas personas dicen que soy “whitewashed” porque tengo muchos amigos blancos, y porque no hablo suficiente español. Otros pueden decir que soy “whitewashed” porque no veo suficiente televisión en español o porque no escucho suficiente música en español. El punto es todos tienen diferentes ideas de por qué soy “whitewashed”.

Pero la pregunta que tengo es ¿qué hace a alguien Latinx y que los hace “whitewashed”? ¿Quién es el Latinx perfecto? ¿Es alguien quien vive en un país latinoamericano? Si es así, entonces entiendo por qué me llaman “whitewashed”. ¿Es alguien que solo escucha música latina y habla español todo el tiempo? ¿Es alguien que se viste de cierta manera? ¿Por qué las personas sienten la necesidad de poner a alguien en una caja por cómo actúan?

Toda mi vida, aunque sea una persona, me han llamado esa palabra, y es algo que me ha costado aceptar, especialmente porque en mi opinión, soy bastante latina.

Yo nací en Los Ángeles, y mis padres me llevaron a El Salvador cuando tenía tres meses. Ahí, mi madre trabajó como maestra y me crió por seis años con su familia

mientras mi padre estaba en los Estados Unidos trabajando.

Creciendo era 100 por ciento salvadoreña. Yo hablaba como una salvadoreña, comía la comida de una salvadoreña y fui a la escuela en El Salvador.

Cuando mis padres me movieron a los Estados Unidos en julio del 2001, me costó acostumbrarme a la cultura, especialmente porque mis alumnos se burlaban de mí porque me vestía diferente y no hablaba inglés.

A los seis años, empecé a tener un crisis de identidad.

Yo iba a una escuela en Los Ángeles que era 80 por ciento blanca. La mayoría de estudiantes actuaban muy diferente, y de una edad pequeña, empecé a cambiar mi personalidad para que me pudiera asimilar con las de ellos.

Después de estar en esta escuela por un año y medio, mis padres me cambiaron de escuela. Esta escuela tenía un programa de inglés como el segundo lenguaje (ESL), y la mayoría de los estudiantes eran Latinx.

Cuando llegué a la escuela, hice amigos inmediatamente porque yo me identificaba con ellos, pero despues de un año ahí, mis padres me cambiaron de escuela otra vez cuando estaba al nivel con ingles.

La escuela era excelente, pero, otra vez, cambie mi personalidad para que la mayoría de estudiantes quienes eran blancos me aceptaran.

Por la mayoria de la escuela, fui a escuelas en donde la mayoría de estudiantes eran blancos. Por esta razón, yo actuaba “blanca”.

Gráfico por Mirella Lopez

Cuando tenía 16 años, ya había experimentado varios factores que influyeron mi personalidad como las escuelas donde fui, los amigos que tenía y los programas que miraba. En general, yo me sentía bien asimilada a la cultura americana y cerca a mi cultura salvadoreña.

En mi casa, solo hablaba español con mis padres. Con ellos, yo miraba las noticias todas las noches en espanol, comía comida

salvadoreña o latina y todavía digo palabras salvadoreñas como “que chivo, pisto, pajilla y púchica”.

Solo porque actúo en una cierta manera no significa que soy blanca. Nadie tiene la razón por la cual categorizarme porque no hay algo específico que hace a una persona más latinx que el otro.

Para mí, ser latina no implica que tienes que hablar español o actuar en un modo específico. Ser latina

significa identificarse con una cultura latina o hispana. Si eres de El Salvador, México, Guatemala, Puerto Rico o cualquier país, eres latino.

No importa si te identificas con la cultura de ese país, si hablas español lo o si tus padres te criaron con ciertos morales. Tú puedes actuar y ser la persona que tú quieras y actuar como tú quieras, y nadie te puede decir otra cosa.

Estudiantes de la escuela secundaria representan a inmigrantes a través de la obra ‘Cartas desde el Muro’ por Jocelyn Moran EDITORA DE MUNDO AZTECA

En una obra bilingüe, estudiantes de la escuela secundaria representaron las voces de inmigrantes quienes han sufrido a causa de la deportación a través de leyendo cartas en la obra “Cartas desde el Muro”.

Los estudiantes de las escuelas secundarias Bayfront Charter y Escuela Coronado de las Artes colaboraron para llevar la obra a cabo. La obra fue escrito por Dave Rivas, un nativo de San Diego, y fue dirigido por Kim Straussburger y Linda Libby.

Rivas dijo que las historias que se contaron en la obra fueron combinaciones de cartas que Ángeles de la Frontera ha recibido, de historias que ha oído y de sus propias experiencias.

“Las personas quienes viven estas historias, no necesariamente pueden contar sus historias”, dijo Rivas. “Entonces, nadie sabía de las historias, y nada se ha hecho a respeto a eso. Yo tengo la intención de contar las historias de estas personas para que la gente empiece a platicar, y ojalá, algo se hará al respeto”.

Rivas dijo que una de las cartas no se tocó. Enrique Morones, director y fundador de Ángeles

Cortesía de Dave Rivas, Foto por Linda Libby

Dave Rivas, escritor de la obra, y los estudiantes quienes actuaron en la obra, sonríen después de la primera noche de la presentación.

de la Frontera, recibió una carta de una mujer quien le decía que no había oído de su hijo quien trató de cruzar a los Estados Unidos. Rivas incluyó la carta completa en la obra, y fue leída por los actores mientras una bailarina bailaba a la música.

En otra carta presentada en la obra, una mujer está escribiendo sobre su separación de su hermano y padre. Mientras cuenta la historia en la carta,

los actores actúan las diferentes etapas de su vida desde cuando ella cruza con su madre hasta el momento que se reúne con su hermano 30 años después en el evento “Abriendo la Puerta de la Esperanza”. Ella se pudo reunir con su hermano por unos minutos, y le presentó sus hijos gemelos por la primera vez.

Rivas dijo que esta historia fue una combinación de cartas y experiencias. La carta

originalmente fue escrita por una mujer quien era abogada, en donde le pedía a Morones la oportunidad de que su madre volviera a ver a su hermana después de 30 años en la puerta de la esperanza porque la hermana quien estaba en México estaba enferma. Otra historia verdadera que contribuyó a la carta en la obra fue de una mujer quien iba a presentarle a su padre sus hijos por la primera

vez en el Parque de la Amistad.

“Estoy tratando de demostrar que no solo son mexicanos”, dijo Rivas. “Están allí por una razón.

Están allí por decisión, y estas son las razones detrás de esa decisión”.

Rivas originalmente escribió esta obra hace tres años para un evento como parte de Ángeles de la Frontera. La obra fue presentado en ambos lados de la frontera al mismo tiempo, una en español y otra en inglés.

Sin embargo, esta es la primera vez en que estudiantes de la escuela secundaria traen esta obra a un teatro.

“El hecho que son niños de la secundaria, no los llamo niños, los llamo estudiantes de la secundaria, están haciendo esta pieza, para mí, es tan grande de una historia como estas cartas en sí mismas”, dijo Rivas.

La obra será presentada tres veces más el 2, 3 y 4 de febrero en la escuela secundaria de Bayfront Charter en Chula Vista.

“Ojalá, una presentación a la vez, cosas cambiarán”, dijo Rivas. “No tenemos una opción con que nacimos. Venimos a este mundo con nada, y nos vamos del mundo con nada, y no es nuestra decisión. Todos deberían de tener la misma oportunidad en la vida”.

10

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Mundo Azteca

Jan. 31- Feb. 6, 2018 EDITOR: Jocelyn Moran, mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com

Pepe Aguilar trae su gira ‘Jaripeo sin Fronteras’ a Viejas Arena en San Diego por Jocelyn Moran EDITORA DE MUNDO AZTECA

Pepe Aguilar inició su gira “Jaripeo sin Fronteras” en el sur de California este fin de semana, empezando el sábado con el Staples Center en Los Ángeles y después el domingo en el Viejas Arena en San Diego. Acompañandolo fueron Christian Nodal y sus hijos Leonardo y Ángela Aguilar.

Durante el concierto, Pepe Aguilar dijo que el área de San Diego ha sido muy importante para la familia Aguilar.

La gira seguirá en marzo en el Oracle Arena en Oakland.

Fotos por Jocelyn Moran

Jan. 31-Feb. 6, 2018 EDITOR: Cami Buckman, arts@thedailyaztec.com

Arts & Culture

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11

REVIEW

Alt-rock Spanish band Vetusta Morla bring energy and heart in newest album

by Stacy Marquez STAFF WRITER

Composed with a melody of percussion, strings and vocals, Vetusta Morla’s fourth studio album, “Mismo Sitio, Distinto Lugar,” evokes unique Spanish indie rock vibes. Álvaro B. Baglietto, the bass guitarist for Vetusta Morla, said the album is a reflection of their journey as a band.

“The album is talking about how we changed and feel different in the world, how we have grown up and all these changes that we have experienced,” he said.

The six person band includes Juan “Pucho” Martín on vocals, guitarist Juan Manuel Latorre , guitarist Guillermo Galván, bass guitarist Álvaro B. Baglietto, drummer David “el Indio” García and Jorge González on percussion.

They have been playing together since their days at school in the late ‘90s in the Spanish Madrid town Tres Cantos.

Since then, Vetusta Morla has released seven albums— including four in studio—and performed in various countries like Spain, the United States and

in Latin America.

The album takes the listener on a windy path, starting with the soft, electric sounds of “Deséame Suerte,” to upbeat drum tempos in “Palmeras en La Mancha.”

“Consejos de Sabios,” brings a sharp turn into heartfelt and heavy. Baglietto said this song resonated with him the most due to its message about creating change.

“If you want (change) to happen, or there is something you don’t like, it’s not just (the problem), it’s all around you, it’s all connected,” he said.

“23 de Junio” is chock full of emotion and dense lyrics while providing a folk break among the drums and loud vocals.

“Te lo Digo a Ti,” takes the cake as the most played track on Spotify, raking in over two million listens, giving off energy in a sound reminiscent of The Killers.

The heaviness of “Consejos de Sabios” leaks into “Punto Sin Retorno,”—something that would be the song child of Julieta Venegas and Vampire Weekend if they ever collaborated.

The final track, “Mismo Sitio, Distinto Lugar,” provides a joyful

Members of Vetusta Morla pose in a group photo. The band’s latest album was released last November.

progression, ending the album off on a good note, similar to how a film with many twists and turns would resolve its story.

Computer engineering sophomore Alexis Mora enjoyed listening because it reminded her of music she was exposed to growing up.

“It reminded me of my childhood because I was raised with a lot of Cafe Tacuba and rock en español so (the album) was cool,” she said. “It was

just a little different, so it was something I needed to get used to.”

Upon listening to the album, Mora felt she was being taken back to the days she used to listen to rock.

“It kind of reminded me of Enanitos Verdes, Café Tacuba and Caifanes. It was more of a flowy rock en espanol,” she said.

However, Mora expressed that when she finds music she genuinely enjoys, she has the

Courtesy of Jeanette Hernandez

songs on repeat. Perhaps she has not listened to them enough, but she has yet to find a song in the album that she keeps playing.

Starting in March, Vetusta Morla will be touring in Spain, Mexico and Latin America, where they will be stopping by in Mexico City to perform at Vive Latino on March 18 alongside artists like Kali Uchis, Gorillaz and Morrissey.

“Mismo Sitio, Distinto Lugar” is available for streaming online.

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Arts & Culture

Jan. 31-Feb. 6, 2018 EDITOR: Cami Buckman, arts@thedailyaztec.com

SoCal Bronies group gallop to state

by Lauren J. STAFF WRITER

Mapp

Television programming in the ‘80s was filled with brightly colored characters that were successfully translated into popular merchandising. Children spent endless afternoons playing with Pound Puppies, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, G.I. Joe, Muppet Babies, Care Bears, Rainbow Brite and the characters from “My Little Pony.”

In a media era where older millennials flock to the theatres to see reimaginations of the popular films of yore, it was inevitable that “My Little Pony” would make a comeback. What wasn’t inevitable was that many of the fans of the TV reboot would be an adult, male audience—often referred to as “bronies.”

Now in its fourth generation as “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic,” the 2010 reboot has been largely watched by male fans.

According to a 2014 State of the Herd Census, which compiled the self-reporting statistics of “My Little Pony” fandom, 80.6 percent of fans of the show identify as male. The study also found that 75 percent of MLP fans were ages 15 to 25.

Two ponies were prominently displayed during a MeetUp of the SoCal Bronies at Aztec Lanes on Jan. 27. The local group is primarily made up of male fans of “My Little Pony: Friendship is

Magic.”

When the SoCal Bronies met at Aztec Lanes on Jan. 27, the goal was to connect bronies at San Diego State with the larger, local community. Several bronies, and two pegasisters (female members of the brony community) met during the event, some of whom shared how their involvement with the fandom had impacted their lives.

Pegasister Samantha Ramos, liberal studies junior, said she first started watching the series because she thought it was adorable. As an elementary school teacher-in-training, she has found that it helps her connect with the children that she works with, and it helps her to bond with other students her age.

“Just because it’s something that’s a kid thing doesn’t mean I can’t love it also,” Ramos said. “It has given me that bonding thing whether it’s with kids, because I want to be a teacher, or other people that are also into it.”

SDSU class of 2015 English alumnus Nolan Alisasis, whose favorite characters are Twilight Sparkle and Applejack, returned to campus for the Brony MeetUp event.

Prior to watching MLP, Alisasis said he didn’t put much effort into maintaining friendships, but the show has inspired him to reconnect with friends from high school and make new friends. He is currently looking into joining the U.S. Navy, with the help of

friends he met through the Brony community.

“I met a bunch of interesting folks from all walks of life here,” he said. “Some of the guys I know are former military, and they’re kind of helping me along with the process of joining. I never would have imagined getting that kind of connection with guys who watch a bunch of cartoon horses.”

After watching MLP with his little sister,electrical engineering senior Ohmeko Ocampo became involved with the brony fandom.

He started attending local events such as Pacific PonyCon, leading him to reach out to bronies at SDSU by organizing the bowling event.

Bronies Nolan Alisasis and Ohmeko Ocampo watch as Right Cow Left Coast bowls during a MeetUp at Aztec Lanes on Jan. 27.

Ocampo favors Twilight Sparkle because she is “bookish” and nerdy, but also because she inspired him to have a community of friends.

“In high school I did have some friends, but not quite the deep kind of friends,” Ocampo said. “Now I understand why you have to cultivate friendship.”

The Brony community, like many other online fandoms, does not exist without its share of darknet controversy. Altright infiltrators—known as altbronies—have created characters with Nazi and white supremacy-

Photo by Lauren J. Mapp

Bronies Nolan Alisasis and Ohmeko Ocampo, along with pegasister Samantha Ramos, take a break from bowling to discuss fandom during a MeetUp at Aztec Lanes on Jan. 27.

themed accessories and cutie marks (the picture symbols displayed on the haunches of the ponies).

During the bowling event, none of the bronies or pegasisters identified with the alt-brony subfandom, but most said that the message of friendship in MLP outweighs any negativity that might exist within it.

One active member of the SoCal Bronies group, who prefers to be referred to as his original character name of Right Cow Left Coast, said the most important

aspect of the fandom is that everyone has a place as long as they are civil—even members who identify as alt-bronies.

“The great thing about ‘My Little Pony’ is its diversity,” he said. “We have everyone from the Christian, religious right all the way to Black Lives Matter, far left, Marxists. I’ve seen them all in the same MeetUps, in the same conventions all sharing the same space, all having a good time, being personal and kind to one another because they have a common interest.”

San Diego Opera composes new relationship with SDSU

by Kayleigh Venne SENIOR STAFF WRITER

San Diego State’s School of Music and Dance is expanding this semester by opening a new joint opera director position.

This full-time position will be shared between the San Diego Opera and SDSU’s School of Music and Dance. The search for the candidate will begin this summer.

Edward Wilensky, the director of media relations at the San Diego Opera, said the motivation behind creating

this position stems from the Opera’s desire to obtain a yearround director that has the ability to attract and retain world class talent.

The selected candidate will serve as a professional connection that will solidify the relationship between the two organizations.

“Creating a shared leadership role between the two organizations produces a yearround position that we believe will attract and keep the best of the best in our fine city,” Wilensky said.

Not only will the elected candidate direct and supervise SDSU’s entire fall opera production and assist with the opera workshop in the spring, but will also serve as the San Diego Opera’s assistant director as well.

The chosen candidate will be responsible for carrying out day-to-day tasks at both SDSU and the San Diego Opera.

“San Diego Opera operates on a split schedule,” Wilensky said. “We operate from October to November and then again from January to April or May.”

Courtesy of JCav Photography

Members of the San Diego State Opera perform in the 2017 production of “Cendrillon” by Jules Massenet, directed by Paula Kalustian.

As a result of SDSU’s annual fall opera production, the School of Music and Dance has a rigorous fall semester with a slower spring semester.

With each organization operating on its own schedule, the selected candidate may find it more manageable to juggle the responsibilities.

As assistant director for the San Diego Opera, the elected candidate will assist visiting directors in staging the operas and work significantly closely with choristers during their evening rehearsals.

Wilenksy said that the assistant director also helps to block large groups of people in order to allow individual singers the chance to work oneon-one with the director during staging.

“This is an excellent chance to work with some of the greatest directors in the world,” he said.

The elected candidate’s dayto-day responsibilities at SDSU will vary slightly from the Opera’s.

The elected candidate will have the chance to produce, teach and direct music students during acting classes, scenes programs, and stage movement.

“We have a good relationship with SDSU and we hope this position will strengthen and even further our collaborative partnership,” Wilenksy said.

“Many of our stars offer masterclasses at SDSU for the vocal students, and students

often attend rehearsals as part of their education.”

“The shared Opera position is really going to open up new opportunities for vocal performance artists at the university,” music education with an emphasis in vocal studies sophomore Sophi Gonzalez said. “Not only will the role attract a more permanent faculty member, but there will be someone who is actively participating in an industry job. This will provide valuable insight for performers into the world they are about to enter into as professionals when they graduate.”

Wilensky also said that a plethora of SDSU students are enrolled in “Opera Exposed!,” San Diego Opera’s young professional group.

This group comprises San Diego Opera’s community engagement concert series and fosters another connection between the university and San Diego Opera.

“The extraordinarily skilled young artists within Opera Exposed! provide engaging performances to various San Diego neighborhoods,” Wilensky said.

The shared director of opera position opened on January 15, 2018.

“We are currently accepting applications and will fill the position when the right candidate is identified,” Wilensky said.

Jan. 31 - Feb. 6, 2018

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continued from page 1 last year with a record of 10-15, while the women went 5-18.

Brighter days appear to be on the horizon, however, as the women are off to a 3-0 start this season under head coach Peter Mattera.

Women’s lacrosse also makes its triumphant return, and the Aztecs will try to build on their best season to date.

The team finished last season with a record of 10-8, good enough for the most wins in program history. This squad will look to build on that success, despite losing its top five goal scorers from a year ago.

Women’s track and field starts the season ranked No. 22 nationally, and the team looked every bit deserving during a third place finish in the New Mexico Team Invitational on Jan. 27.

Senior Ashley Henderson was a force to be reckoned with, taking home two first place finishes in the event.

Don’t count on her (or any of the Aztecs) slowing down anytime soon.

FOLLOW US /daaztecsports @daztecsports @daztecsports /daztecsports

Jan. 31 - Feb. 6, 2018 EDITOR: Zach Engberg, sports@thedailyaztec.com

Baseball ready for redemption by justin wylie CONTRIBUTOR

San Diego State baseball is accustomed to being at the top of the Mountain West Conference, but the team enters the new year hungrier than ever after a successful season ended in NCAA tournament heartbreak.

SDSU finished with a record of 42-21 - en route to winning its fifth Mountain West Conference tournament championship in six seasons - but the team ultimately fell to Long Beach State in the regionals of the postseason tournament.

This year the Aztecs are ready to build upon last seasons success.

“We’re definitely excited, a lot of guys don’t know what to expect, and a lot of guys don’t know how good we really are,” redshirt junior outfielder Chad Bible said. “I think we are going to surprise a lot of people.”

Bible will be making his longawaited return to the Aztecs, after he was unable to play last season while battling hodgkin’s lymphoma.

There will also be plenty of fresh faces in the clubhouse, as the team welcomes in 17 new players, among them 15 freshmen and two junior college transfers.

Head coach Mark Martinez said that this year’s underclassmen are going to have an immediate impact, although he understands that there may be some growing pains.

“Some guys are going to be thrown into the fire opening day,” Martinez said. “But they are going to have to stay on the process of learning and developing as players.”

Teammates like Bible will also be there to help guide the younger players.

“One thing I try to do most is, let them know it is just baseball,” Bible said. “They are here for a reason, not because they are bad baseball players,

Photo by Kelly Smiley

Aztecs junior infielder David Hensley goes for a ground ball during baseball practice on Jan. 26.

but because they are talented.”

Along with the sizeable incoming class, Martinez will have a strong core of returning players from last year’s squad.

Outfielder Chase Calabuig sported a .305 batting average with seven home runs and 38 runs batted in last season, and the senior is likely to play an important role again this year with experience in all three outfield positions.

Even with all the success the Aztecs have had in recent years, Calabuig said that this year’s team will remain focused on one game at a time.

“Obviously, the goal is to go beyond that (MW Tournament), but we must start with what is in front of us, and that’s the Mountain West Championship,” Calabuig said. “That’s the first step in getting to Omaha, so in order to get where we want to go we have to start small and grow from there.”

Another big returning piece on offense will be senior shortstop David Hensley, who played in 59 of 63 games last season while batting .357 with 16 doubles and 31 runs batted in.

On the pitching side SDSU will see the return of redshirt

senior pitcher Jorge Fernandez, the teams go-to arm out of the bullpen.

Fernandez posted a 3-1 record with a 2.79 earned run average last year, and should remain a presence out on the mound again this season.

Third-year pitching coach Sam Peraza works with Fernandez and the other hurlers on the team, and has high praise for his staff.

“I’m always about attacking

the strike zone, not giving up free bases, having the other team beat us,” Peraza said. “If (the pitchers) can control the running game and make the other team get three hits an inning to beat us, we will be in very good shape.”

The Aztecs first opportunity this season will come on Feb. 16, when the team begins a threegame series against University of California, Santa Barbara at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

Freshman infielder Casey Schmitt looks on during baseball batting practice on Jan. 26.

Photo by Kelly Smiley

Women’s tennis poised and ready for breakout season by matthew fierst STAFF WRITER

Freshman tennis player Abbie Mulbarger returns a shot during the Aztecs 5-2 home victory over UCSD on Jan.27

Photo by Weicheng Han

Last season was one to forget for San Diego State women’s tennis, as the team finished with a 5-18 overall record and went 0-5 in Mountain West conference play.

The Aztecs are looking to turn things around this season, and if the first three matches are of any indication, they is already doing just that.

The team defeated the University of California, Riverside 6-1 to open the regular season on Jan. 21, posted a 5-2 victory over the University of California, San Diego on Jan. 27, and secured a 7-0 win over the University of California, Irvine on Jan. 28.

One big factor for the team this season will be the addition of Abbie Mulbarger, a freshman from Woodbridge, Calif. “(Mulbarger) will be a big part

of our team this season,” head coach Peter Mattera said.

The freshman has already began to make her mark on the team, beginning her tennis career in Scarlet and Black by defeating UCSD junior Madison Hale 6-0, 6-1 in singles competition in the Aztecs win over the Tritons.

Mulbarger followed up her debut singles victory against UCSD with a victory over UCI sophomore Gillian Parker 6-1, 7-5.

SDSU will face a tough schedule this season, and Mulbarger said that the team knows it has a lot of work to do.

“It’s not going to be easy,” Mulbarger said. “We play a lot of good teams. We need to play our best every match.”

The Aztecs travel up north on Feb. 1 to face the University of California, Berkeley, a team that finished 19-6 overall and 8-2

in PAC-12 conference play last season, in their first road contest of the season.

The team then returns home to face University of California, Davis on Feb. 3, which finished with a record of 15-10 last season, followed by another home match on Feb. 5 against Point Loma Nazarene University, which is coming off of a 17-9 season.

The Aztecs start Mountain West Conference play on March 30 with a match on the road against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, a team that went 5-1 in MWC play last season, as well as a match against University of Nevada, Reno, which finished in the middle with a record of 2-2.

The team then travel north to take on Fresno State University, before finishing up conference play on the road against San Jose State.

Jan. 31 - Feb. 6, 2018 EDITOR: Zach Engberg, sports@thedailyaztec.com

Spring Sports preview

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Water polo begins year in national eye by kyle betz STAFF WRITER

San Diego State women’s water polo amped up its preparation for the regular season with a practice match against Aztec Alumni at the Aztec Aquaplex on Jan. 27.

The Alumni pulled off a slim 8-7 victory, but if the No. 12 ranked Aztecs can live up to their ranking, losing will be a rarity this year.

Under head coach Carin Crawford, who is entering her 20th year at the helm, the team has never finished a season ranked lower than 17th in the country.

Crawford said she is expecting her seniors to play a large role as the team aims for a fifth straight Golden Coast Conference Championship.

“I think our seniors are well positioned to have a breakout season,” Crawford said.

“Courtney Jarvis, Lizzy Bilz, and Malia Magro have each played some sort of a reserve role, and I see these glue players giving us stability and experience.”

Crawford admits that with only four returning seniors her team is young, but said that experience and guidance from older players will make up for their overall youth.

“We have a young team, but we have already decided that we have enough experience and senior leadership that we are pushing to continue our string

Freshman defender Lucia Carballo prepares for a shot during the Aztecs 8-7 loss to the Alumni on Jan. 27.

of conference championships,” she said.

Senior utility player Lizzy Bilz, who was named co-captain with junior driver Hannah Carrillo, said that her leadership will have a big impact on her teammates.

“I’ll definitely have a leadership role as a captain and share a leadership effort in the pool with (Carrillo) as the only two returning starters,” Bilz said.

Bilz said that one way to share her experience with her teammates is to lead by example.

“It’s important to set a good example for the younger girls on our team. We have a lot of new freshmen and one transfer, so I’m going to lead by example and

always try hard,” she said.

Even with an inexperienced roster, Crawford expects her younger players to actively contribute.

“Freshman Emily Bennett is left-handed and is going to be making a lot of waves. She can set and defend — she’s a very good defensive player,” Crawford said. “She’s someone I see factoring into a lot of our offense, and being left-handed she’s really hard to defend.”

Crawford also expects freshmen driver’s Karli Canale and Lindsy Peterson to heavily influence the Aztecs transitional play with sophomore driver Maddy Parenteau.

Photo by Elissa Tauscher

“We’ve got a couple of freshmen and a sophomore that bring speed, counter-attacking abilities, and shooting — that is, Canale, Peterson, and Parenteau,” Crawford said. “I really see them pushing the tempo and giving us opportunities in transition.”

In the net, the Aztecs will rely on two goalkeepers — junior Maura Cantoni and redshirt junior Emily Lowell.

“We have two new goalies who are inexperienced, but by what they’ve shown us… they were really solid,” Crawford said.

“I’m pretty optimistic that we will have good goalkeeping from both Cantoni and Lowell.”

Crawford emphasizes to

her players that playing with a defensive mindset will lead to counter-attack opportunities.

“Our philosophy always centers around defense first. We want our offense to generate at the defensive end, which gives us long swims and those transition opportunities,” Crawford said.

“Even if they don’t lead to a scoring opportunity, they wear down our opponents over time.”

Carrillo has high expectations for the upcoming season, and believes that her team will be nothing short of successful.

“I’ve definitely set the goal of winning conference. We lost it last year and it was tough, so we just need to figure out the new pieces we have,” Carrillo said.

“We also want to make NCAAs this year.”

Carrillo said that youth won’t limit her team’s ability to win games in 2018.

“We’ve been able to prove to ourselves that, although we are young and we don’t have the other four starters we used to have, it’s not a big issue for us,” she said. “We have girls that are super fast and very good individually, so just figuring out how to play together and use our talents for the greater good of the team is really important. As for now, we’re doing really well.”

SDSU will kick off its regular season next Saturday against No. 19 Harvard University and No. 20 Wagner College at the Bruno Classic in Providence, Rhode Island.

Women’s lacrosse shoots to improve on historic year by abraham jewett ASST SPORTS EDITOR

Since its inception in 2012, the women’s lacrosse team at San Diego State has never had a season quite like its last.

The team finished with its highest ever win total, putting together a record of 10-8 which included a victory over the University of Oregon in the postseason Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament.

The tournament victory was the first in the programs fiveyear history, and despite losing its next game to a nationally ranked University of Southern California, has given this years group something to build upon.

“Last season was amazing,” senior midfielder Mackenzie Lech said. “I just want to beat it and have at least 11 wins, which I think is definitely doable.”

Lech started every game last season, and the strong defensive player has been named a team captain this year by head coach Kylee White.

“I think (Lech) provides a sense of calm in the defensive end, she leads by example going hard for every ground ball. That’s kind of her jam and her speed,” White said. “When things aren’t going right she can bring the team in and calm them down and unify us again, and I think that has been an important role for us.”

Lech is one of only two senior

players returning to the team, along with midfielder Elizabeth “Liz” Rourke, who said that she expects to go all the way this season.

“Once we get to the tournament and the championship game I think it’s going to be really exciting once we win,” Rourke said.

SDSU will be hosting the tournament this year, which will be smaller than in years past after six schools (including defending MSPF champion USC) left the conference following the end of last season.

Only Fresno State University and the University of California, Davis remain, but Rourke said that despite the small conference size, the Aztecs are prepared to show they still are a team to be reckoned with.

“I’m really excited about just playing the teams that kind of left us in the MPSF,” Rourke said. Just because there’s only three teams that doesn’t mean we’re still not able to compete.”

Junior midfielders Natalie Peel and Harlowe Steele were also named captains.

“I think (Steele) and (Peel) are going to balance things out for sure on both sides of the ball,” White said.

In total the team has 20 returning players from last year’s squad, along with a class of 13 newcomers.

One fresh face is Bailey Brown, a freshman from Katy,

Sophomore midfielder Ryli Quin takes a shot during a lacrosse practice scrimmage on Jan. 29.

Texas who is already making her presence felt on the practice field.

“I think Bailey right now she has really stepped up, especially in practice at pushing the upperclassmen,” White said.

“She’s not afraid to take anyone on. I think she’s one of the biggest impact freshman that we have right now.”

What the team won’t have is its five leading goal scorers from a season ago, after the departures of Kristen Hickey (34 goals), Kayla Deitz (30 goals) and Alex Watson (27 goals).

The top goal scorer to return

will be sophomore midfielder Taylor Sullivan, who finished her freshman season with 17 goals on an efficient 38 shots, and who figures to be an even bigger part of the offense this season.

“Sullivan is just so shifty, and she’s definitely going to be an impact player for us as a sophomore,” White said.

Another player looking to make a splash this season is junior goalkeeper Katy Sharretts, a first-time starter who White called “unreal”.

Junior midfielder Jill Haight also appears to be back to full strength following an ACL tear

Photo by Elissa Tauscher

suffered during her freshman year, while junior attacker Kristie Greenlaw was described by her coach as “unstoppable”.

It remains to be seen how the young team will do this season, but if you ask White, there is nothing to fear.

“I think we just have to focus on us this year, just continuing to get better,” White said.

“We are extremely young and inexperienced really, but I’m not afraid of that.”

SDSU’s first match of the season will be on Feb. 11, when the team hits the road to take on the University of California, Berkeley.

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Jan. 31 - Feb. 6, 2018 EDITOR: Zach Engberg, sports@thedailyaztec.com

Aztecs welcome tennis player to Mesa by matthew fierst STAFF WRITER

Hoping to erase the memories of an underwhelming 2017, San Diego State men’s tennis will turn to freshman Ignacio Martinez in the new season, as he attempts to provide the Aztecs with rejuvenated energy and enthusiasm.

The Aztecs finished last season with a record of 10-15 overall, including 4-3 in Mountain West Conference play.

SDSU men’s tennis head coach Gene Carswell said that Martinez has the potential to be a very successful player on the Mesa.

“I’m excited about his future as an Aztec,” Carswell said. “He’s shown signs of where his game down the line is going to take him. He’s a strong baseliner who can dictate from the backcourt and has the ability to move forward.”

Martinez, born in Venezuela before moving to Florida at age 10, adjusted to the American culture and way-of-life rather quickly. “(The move to the U.S.) was hard at first because of knowing no English and the different culture,” Martinez said.

“Since I was so young it wasn’t too hard to adjust. I started learning English with a tutor early on and became accustomed to my life (in the U.S.)” After adjusting to his new American lifestyle, Martinez discovered his passion for tennis after his mother forced him out of the house because he spent too much time playing video games.

“When I was very young my mom got me a GameCube,” Martinez said. “I was sort of addicted to the games. She

Freshman tennis player Ignacio Martinez stands at the ready during the Aztecs 5-0 home loss to Loyola Marymount University on Jan. 27

thought a summer camp with tennis would be a fun idea. I started playing tennis and I never stopped.”

Martinez began to watch and admire an athlete different than the players on his GameCube: Roger Federer, a global tennis icon. “(Federer) has always been my favorite player,” Martinez said. “He’s the person I look up to when I think about tennis.”

Since becoming only one of two freshmen on the tennis court for the Scarlet and Black, Martinez said he wants to help the team reach its end goal any way that he can.

“I want to do my best in any position they give me,” Martinez said. “I want to try to win matches for the team and just do the best I can to get wins for the team.”

Carswell said that he expects

Photo by Weicheng Han

Martinez is going to play a big role in the near future for Aztecs tennis.

“He’s going to develop quite a bit over the years,” Carswell said. “I see him as a big contributor to what we’re going to be doing over the next four years.”

Martinez said that the team has one goal in mind for the upcoming season.

“We want to win conference,” Martinez said. “That’s the dream of every one (of us).”

COLUMN

SDSU baseball will be on top yet again, despite relative youth by mayer pohlod STAFF COLUMNIST

It’s easy to believe that the San Diego State baseball team is due for a regression after last year’s 42-win season. I mean, with so many seniors who made a large impact gone and graduated it wouldn’t be that hard to write them off for the upcoming crusade, right?

Wrong.

Despite a large roster turnaround, the Aztecs are in as good a position as

any to repeat their success from last season, which saw them finish one game behind New Mexico for first place in the Mountain West Division.

Yes, it obviously hurts to lose the three guys that started every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Brett Seeburger, Marcus Reyes, Dominic Purpura and Cody Thompson, but SDSU still has a lot of options for the weekend.

If you need proof, look no further than sophomore pitcher Logan Boyer.

Boyer led the Aztecs with a 1.46 ERA last season, during a season which unfortunately was cut short by injury.

A full year from Boyer will boost the rotation substantially and give pitching coach Sam Peraza a safety net.

Peraza emphasized the potential of the pitching staff overall for the next year, despite their youth.

“We are really, really, young but I think this is our most talented group we’ve maybe ever had. We got five or six freshmen with a lot of good stuff that are gonna see a lot of time,” he said.

Peraza added that while the team may not be as grown up as in years past, the veterans on the team should make up for the team’s abundance of young talent.

“We’re not as mature as we were; I think we just need to grow up very fast. We’re gonna have a really tough schedule early… all the old guys are gonna be out there pitching and hopefully that experience helps us once we start league.”

If you want experience look no further than SDSU’s bullpen, which is going to be a force to be reckoned with.

Senior lefty Jacob Erickson and senior righty Jorge Fernandez are both returning and bringing with them ERA’s of 3.67 and 2.79, respectively.

“Those are the kind of guys that are going to need to help the young guys be successful,” Peraza said.

If they both follow through and take another step, as expected under Peraza’s leadership, pitching is not going to be anything to worry about.

That’s enough about the pitching side of the ball, but surely there’s due to be some regression on the offensive side right? Maybe so, but it might not be as substantial as you might think.

There are six guys in the starting

lineup from last year that are expected to lead the team.

Familiar names from that group include seniors David Hensley and Chase Calabuig.

Hensley led the team with a .357 average while Calabuig contributed a .312 clip.

They’ll keep the spark alive from last year and will be able to pass some of their success along to the younger guys.

“There’s guys that we can lean on a bit and allow some of our freshmen like Casey Schmitt, Matt Rudick, Nick Israel, Isaiah Parra, John Dearth develop and grow under their leadership,” Martinez said.

That doesn’t even take into account a full season of junior outfielder Chad Bible.

Yes, the absence of impact players like Tyler Adkison, Justin Wylie, Alan Trejo, Danny Sheehan and Andrew Brown will hurt, especially early on, but the Aztecs are in a position to account for the loss of their production.

“We don’t try to reinvent anything, we kind of do everything the same we’ve done before… hold each guy to a high standard and high expectation every day,” head coach Mark Martinez said.

“With a more experienced club those are met a little earlier, but with this group it’s gonna take a little bit of time to understand that but I’m happy with where their progress is right now.”

Even if it does take more time, expect the team to be right up where they were at the end of last season when we reach June. The combination of veteran leadership and influx of new talent is going to be a perfect storm to get them there.

Jan. 31 - Feb. 6, 2018 EDITOR: Zach Engberg, sports@thedailyaztec.com

Spring Sports Preview

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Kathy Van Wyk builds softball legacy by mary york DIGITAL SPORTS EDITOR

With an inviting smile, San Diego State softball head coach Kathy Van Wyk stands just inside the dugout and field house, silhouetted by the grey sunshine of San Diego’s early spring. The edifice, added to SDSU’s Complex in 2005, is spacious and accommodating, with state of the art lockers, a lounge, study area and kitchenette.

Both the dugout and the impeccably manicured field next to it, lined with 300 permanent seats and additional room for 1,000 fans, are as much a reflection of Van Wyk’s dedication to building a competitive program as they are a testament to Title IX’s influence in creating a conducive environment for competitive female programs at a collegiate level.

Build it and they will come.

But Van Wyk is focused on building something more substantial than just a Division I facility or even a D1 team, although she said the grounds go a long way in cultivating a sense of credibility and ownership for a sport that has often been overlooked.

“It’s amazing the huge amount of change from here to there,” she said, referencing the evolution of SDSU’s softball program in her 24 years as a coach.

Things have certainly changed. The softball team used to practice on the SDSU Field, setting up and taking down their own fences just to play.

“The sport wasn’t taken seriously, so the university didn’t take it seriously, so the students didn’t take it seriously,” Van Wyk said. “Now we have this beautiful facility here and the university has obviously done a great deal in supporting the program.”

But it is Van Wyk’s work that has made the program successful.

In the first two decades of SDSU D1 softball, the team only posted two .500 or better seasons and failed to make a single NCAA tournament. During Van Wyk’s tenure as head coach, they have had 18 .500 or better seasons, 16 winning campaigns and have competed in 11 NCAA tournaments.

Last year, Van Wyk was admitted to the hall of fame at California State University, Fullerton, where she played softball for four years and later served as a coach before coming to SDSU. She does not like talking about her accolades.

“It’s not about me,” she said. “We don’t do anything unless the (players) take the direction and go with it. They have to put in the work, and the willingness to do so has grown immensely since those first days that I was here. These kids are devoted, committed, disciplined and all those things are absolute necessities for a successful program.”

Senior pitcher Alex Formby said Van Wyk has clearly influenced and generated respect for the program from players as much as from the community.

“I think I may have a different view than other people because I’m a pitcher and she works with us every day,” she said.

“I transferred in so I can compare her to other coaches and I think she’s one of the best coaches I’ve played for.”

Van Wyk’s approach to coaching is a holistic one, said associate head coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz.

“I think players want to know they’re cared about,” she said. “They want to know that they’re getting better, they want to know that they’re preparing for life outside of softball, and she makes an effort and puts an emphasis in all those areas.”

College sports are just a door to the real world for the vast majority of players, said Van Wyk, so it would be negligent to only prepare players for the game.

“I think it’s probably our main purpose as college coaches,” she said. “We spent

a lot more time on subjects like treating each other respect, coming together with good chemistry as a program, respecting each other’s differences, and learning how to deal with things that you don’t like in the real world. Those are all steps to going forward and getting that job and moving on to be successful people.”

The well-rounded athlete is a repeating theme in the softball program. Redshirt junior Katie Byrd said Van Wyk trains them on their inner strength as much as their outer strength.

“We work a lot on mental toughness,” the second baseman said. “We’ve had to do a lot of hard things as a team that she has led us through, but through our team meetings and our talks, she has definitely taught us what it takes. She is a very mentally tough person, she knows how to push her players to better themselves and realize their potential.”

The Aztecs have quite the grind in front of them. They have narrowly missed conference four years in a row.

“I think our number one goal this year is to get back to that conference,” Van Wyk said. “We want that conference championship — it’s been too long.”

A rigorous preseason is scheduled for the Aztecs, kicking off with a game against Stanford University on Feb. 8, but Van Wyk said the team is on track to perform well.

“What we’re doing is pushing them to learn how much they’re capable of because they underestimate themselves so much,” said Van Wyk. “If we can get them to do that every day, continuing to get better, we’ll be in great shape for the preseason.”

The team’s roster has a lot of fresh faces, which Formby said is a hopeful indicator of pleasant surprises this season.

“We had a really big incoming class and they’ve all worked really hard this fall and impressed a lot of people on the team,” she said. “I’m excited to see them play their first games. I think we have a lot of potential.”

Early season problems are, of course, presenting themselves, but Deniz said the coaches were expecting as much — this is what preseason is for, after all.

“It’s giving people opportunities early in the season, finding the combination that works the best, the lineup that’s going to be the most successful,” she said. “But (everything is) coming together, and we’re chomping at the bit to play somebody other than ourselves.”

Deniz, too, said she has been touched by the far-reaching influence of Van Wyk. “When I took this job, I didn’t really think I’d be here for ten years,” she said. “But through the mentorship she’s provided me as a professional, as a coach, I’ve learned so much — from a different way of looking at the game, to how to run a program and how to administrate a program. She’s been a tremendous mentor and teacher.”

And it may be that the building of people, rather than just a program, is what sets Van Wyk apart from other successful coaches. As the elegant softball stadium is a sign that the university has begun to appreciate and take a vested interest in softball, so the coaches and players of the team are a reflection of Van Wyk’s tender, mindful care that has now spanned decades and produced as many or more great people as it has great seasons.

“I know that’s what she’s most proud of,” Denis said. “Watching (the players) mature, and sometimes going through struggle and conflict, and getting through to the other side and saying, ‘okay, we’re better for it.’ The players, current and alumni, would all say that she gave them all those pieces. She cared about them, she made them better, and she challenged them at the same time. And when you go to college to play a sport, that’s what you want from a coach.”

SDSU softball coach Kathy Van Wyk looks on during practice on Jan. 30.

Photo by Elissa Tauscher

18

Sports

The Daily Aztec

Jan. 31 - Feb. 6, 2018 EDITOR: Zach Engberg, sports@thedailyaztec.com

COLUMN

Trey Kell struggling to overcome bad luck by abraham jewett ASST SPORTS EDITOR

San Diego State basketball senior guard Trey Kell is having a tough year.

He is a captain of a 12-8 Aztecs team, one which has let second-half leads slip away in every one of its losses.

A once promising season appears to be in a downward spiral that is sending the team to the depths of the Mountain West Conference.

Whether it be blown second-half leads, blown out ankles (Kell), cases of walking pneumonia (Kell) or playing against opponents who make late-game shots better suited for the Harlem Globetrotters (looking at you Boise), this team can not seem to catch a break.

But don’t count on head coach Brian Dutcher to tell you that.

“I mean in the end you always get what you deserve in basketball,” Dutcher said after the team blew a 10-point halftime lead in a loss against the University of New Mexico on Jan. 20.

The Aztecs followed up the loss with a home victory against Colorado State University on Jan. 24, but proceeded to lose another game (and slim early second-half lead) in an 88-78

Senior guard Trey Kell (3) dribbles the ball against Colorado State redshirt sophomore guard Anthony Bonner during the Aztecs 97-78 victory over the Rams at Viejas Arena on Jan. 24

road loss to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas on Jan. 27.

Kell, whose leadership on the court has been invaluable at times, played only three minutes in the game after spraining his ankle for the second time this season.

Or, to be more specific, his other ankle.

The first ankle that Kell sprained was his right one, near

the end of a closely contested loss to Washington State University back on Nov. 26.

SDSU was winning by five points at the time when Kell went down with under seven minutes to play, and WSU proceeded to go on a 23-11 run to win 93-86 and hand the Aztecs their second loss of the season.

To make matters worse, senior

Photo by Kelly Smiley

forward Malik Pope — Kell’s co-captain — could only watch from the bench as he sat out the entire second half with a, you guessed it, sprained ankle.

“College basketball is hard enough to win itself, you gotta have your players healthy,” Dutcher would say after the game.

The bad luck for Kell, who has scored under his season

average of 10.2 points in five of the Aztecs eight losses, hardly stopped there.

Kell missed the next two games with the injury, before playing as a shell of himself (three points in 18 minutes) during SDSU’s home loss to the University of California, Berkeley on Dec. 9.

The Aztecs led in that game by four points with under one minute to play, in case you were wondering.

Following a bout of pneumonia that left Kell largely ineffective during the Aztecs losses to New Mexico and Fresno State — second-half leads, check and check — the senior guard finally appeared to have gotten back on track while scoring 17 points with five assists in the team’s second victory of the season over CSU. “I wasn’t 100 percent. I wanted to play, but at the same time I didn’t want to be stupid and make something worse,” Kell said after. “I told the coaches I’ll play short spurts if I have to, and help the team anyway I can.”

Three minutes into the next game against UNLV and Kell is back down on the court, grabbing at his left ankle, a new injury, another setback.

It may not be an excuse, but it certainly does not feel like it is what he (or his team) deserves.

Sports

Jan. 31 - Feb. 6 , 2018 EDITOR: Zach Engberg, sports@thedailyaztec.com

The Daily Aztec

19

Aztecs squander early lead versus UNLV by kyle saunders STAFF WRITER

San Diego State women’s basketball failed to hold on to an early lead against conference rival University of Nevada, Las Vegas, falling 75-64 at Viejas Arena on Jan. 27.

The Aztecs led by as many as 18 points in the first half, but after 13 lead changes the Lady Rebels went on a 16-4 run to end the game to pull away for the win.

“I thought we came out with the right mentality. There’s a toughness that you have to have when playing UNLV, they come out and try to out tough you,” head coach Stacie Terry said.

“I thought we stood toe to toe in the first half. Second half it wasn’t as consistent, the basket got really tight for us and we gave up that lead. Overall we played good in spurts.”

The Aztecs fell to 9-11 on the season and 3-6 in the Mountain West, near the bottom of the conference. UNLV moves to 11-8 on the season and 6-2 in conference play.

SDSU senior guard Khalia Lark finished the game with 17 points and five rebounds, and said playing UNLV is always physical.

“I think playing UNLV is always an exciting game for us, there’s always a little bit of

trash talking going on,” Lark said. “They seem to be more aggressive when they play us so we knew we were going to have to match it.”

SDSU senior guard Geena Gomez helped keep the game close in the third quarter, making all four three pointers she attempted.

“Notoriously, third quarter we always start off slow. We couldn’t afford to do that, especially against a top team in the conference,” Gomez said.

“We were playing catch up.”

UNLV junior center Katie Powell had a big game for the visitors, recording a double double with 21 points and 16 rebounds.

Powell’s big night on the boards helped the Lady Rebels score 15 second-chance points, compared to three for SDSU. The game was a back and forth scoring affair until late in the fourth, with SDSU holding on to a slim 60-59 advantage with 5:53 left in the game.

The Aztecs would not lead again for the remainder of the contest, but were able to cut the Lady Rebels lead to as little as three points with 3:30 left in the game after a jumper by freshman guard Te’a Adams (seven points).

UNLV senior guard Brooke Johnson, who led the team with 23 points, proceeded to sink a three point shot to help keep the

Senior guard McKynzie Fort goes up for a shot during the Aztecs 75-64 loss to UNLV at Viejas Arenas on Jan. 27.

Aztecs at bay.

The Aztecs went into the half with a 35-26 advantage, which included an early 14-0 run in the first quarter.

SDSU’s largest lead of the half came with 5:33 left in the second quarter, after a free throw from Adams gave the Aztecs a 35-17

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advantage.

The Aztecs would not score for the remainder of the half, during which time UNLV went on a 9-0 run to cut into its deficit.

UNLV struggled from the field the opening half, finishing with more personal fouls (10) than made field goals (nine) while

Photo by Kelly Smiley

shooting only 29 percent from the field.

Lark scored 12 points on five of five shooting to lead the Aztecs into the halftime break.

SDSU will look to get back on the winning end of things when they travel to Colorado Springs to take on Air Force Academy.

20

The Back Page

The Daily Aztec

Forever stuck at State

Jan. 31-Feb. 6, 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.

Story and Photos by Kelly Kerrigan STAFF WRITER

LEVEL

A form of personal expression has stuck its way into the lives of San Diego State students. All across campus plastered on laptops, water bottles and skateboards, students decorate their everyday necessities in stickers. Thanks to companies like Redbubble, people are able to deck out their belongings with all of their favorite bands, places in the world and so much more. Here are a few of the colorful stickers at state:

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

“They’re basically who I am, so each sticker represents a different story.”

Intramural Sports

– Andres Pulgarin, Biology pre-med senior

arc.sdsu.edu

“Sometimes when you’re having a long day it’s nice to have something to laugh at and I get joy out of making other people laugh, it is also a great conversational piece.”

Experience It.

CROSSWORDS

– Meghan O’Connell, Athletic training sophomore

“I like stickers because they’re a fun way to personalize your stuff and make it your own.”

– Delanie Farley, Biology sophomore

Tribune News Service

Page design by Mirella Lopez

SNAPSHOTS

SAY CHEESE

Photo by Kelly Smiley

Senior forward and Aztec basketball team captain Malik Pope smiles before the Jan. 24 home game against Colorado State.

ACROSS 1 Heist 4 Pasta nutrient 8 Archie Bunker types 14 Statement softener, in emails 15 Command to Silver 16 Shangri-la 17 Five-time NBA championship-winning coach 19 Find hilarious 20 No votes 21 Half an oz.?

23 Olympian Lipinski 24 German wheels 27 Seize the opportunity, sunshinewise 29 Same old story 32 Metal corrosion 33 Part of a biathlete’s gear 34 2017 award for Emma Stone 38 Yale email address ender 39 Finger painting?

42 “Deadwood” channel 43 A little lit 45 Hellenic “H” 46 All hands on deck 47 Captain’s choice at the Super Bowl 51 Italian rice dish 54 Transparent soap brand 55 “I’m __ you!”

56 “Hunh!?”

58 Harvard’s is “Veritas” 61 Excited reply to “Who wants dessert?”

63 Hiker’s snack that’s literally found in 17-, 29-, 39- and 47-Across 66 Evening meal 67 John known for overlapping diagrams 68 Loved, with “up” 69 Agrees 70 Air Quality Index factor 71 Owen, to Stephen King DOWN 1 Morning co-host with Seacrest 2 Muscat’s country 3 “Cheers!”

4 Sculptor’s tool 5 Be under the weather 6 Grass in a J.D. Salinger title 7 R&B’s __ II Men 8 Part of a bedroom set 9 “What am __ do?”

10 Buffalo Bill and Charles Dickens wore them 11 “60 Minutes” parttime correspondent

12 Prom queen’s crown 13 Thai snack 18 Hit the ball hard 22 Defib expert 25 Bart’s brainy sibling 26 Munro pen name 28 Pretzel shape 29 Ridge on a neck 30 German wheels 31 Makes mad 35 Present time?

36 Eve’s second 37 Theater seating arrangements 39 Putin’s no 40 Perched on 41 Like a double eagle in golf 44 Sure victors 46 35-Down song 48 On the clock 49 “How stupid am I?!”

50 Title job for Shakespeare’s Petruchio 51 PEDs, in slang 52 “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” locale 53 Poker-faced 57 Off-rd. transports 59 Bandleader Puente 60 Team on a field 62 __ volente 64 Sleep phase 65 Mexican year