weekly PRINT EDITION
wednesDAY, February 1, 2017 – Tuesday, February 7, 2017 volume 103, Issue 21
SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1913
W W W . T H E D A I LYA Z T E C . C O M
Spring Sports Special Issue Immigration ban sparks protests Kayla jimenez News Editor jocelyn Moran Senior Staff Writer _____________________________
Outfielder Tyler Adkinson in midswing against a pitch from a UNM player last season. The Aztecs finished 21-38 last season file photo
Baseball looking to return to dominance MAYER POHOLD STAFF WRITER _____________________________ To say the least, last year was very uncharacteristic of the baseball program here at San Diego State. With three Mountain West titles in three years, a fourth would surely be on the horizon, right? A 21-38 record and sixth place finish in the MW later, and many were left scratching their heads, wondering what could’ve happened.
Surely different people will give different perspectives but there’s one thing that rings true no matter who you talk to: head coach Mark Martinez and Co. are ready to be back on top for the 2017 season. “If the saying is true that you learn from your failures, we’re probably the smartest team in the country,” Martinez said. He and the rest of his squad are primed for a return to form for this next year. Martinez and his players largely attribute that to how the team has grown since
last season. One such player is junior infielder Justin Wylie. “We’ve definitely grown from last years group … overall we have quite a bit more depth and experience,” he said. Wylie was one of the best hitters on the team while playing at second base last year, batting .305 with 39 RBIs and 13 doubles. Experience will be playing a huge factor into the team’s success this campaign.
See BASEBALL, P15
San Diego community members gathered at the San Diego International Airport on Jan. 28 and 29 to protest President Donald Trump’s executive order banning citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. Demonstrations occurred all over the country as citizens of Syria, Libya, Iran, Sudan, Iraq, Yemen and Somalia were detained at U.S. airports despite having visas and green cards. The order bans them from entering the U.S. for 90 days and suspends the U.S. refugee program for 120 days. Syrian refugees are indefinitely restricted from entering. Chants such as “say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here” were shouted along with signs that read “we the people will protect” and “no ban, no wall.” San Diego State graduate student Bo Elder attended the protest and said chants were specifically focused against the ban along with Trump’s agenda. “I think it’s really important
people are standing up for their friends, their families, their neighbors and even people they have never met before because they think it’s wrong that people are being targeted by the Trump administration in this way,” Elder said. UCSD graduate student Sarah Bellout said she decided to attend the protest to stand in solidarity with refugees who need refuge. She said is scared for her friend who is an Iranian immigrant on a student visa. “I never thought (Trump) would actually do this,” Bellout said. “I can’t believe it’s happening. It’s scary.” English graduate student Brooke Petersen said she attended the protest because she thinks what is happening in the country is “despicable,” and America needs to be a place where people are welcome. “I’m just really proud to be part of something that I know is going to be important,” she said. “I know that this situation is probably going to get worse and I want to be part of fixing it before it can get there.” She said seeing a crowd of people at the airport on Friday made her feel hopeful, and that it gave people a sense of power
See PROTEST, P5
Softball getting more aggressive in 2017
sydney olmstead asst. sports editor, club sports _____________________________
The San Diego State softball team has made 11 NCAA Division tournament appearances since 2001 and holds a Mountain West record of seven regular season titles. Last season was the first time the Aztecs have missed the postseason since 2007. The team came into the 2016 season very young and even lost several key players such as then sophomore Jenavee Peres throughout MW play due to injuries. Despite the setbacks, the team managed to finish third in its conference. Thanks to the return of speed to the lineup, the Aztecs will be playing a different kind of game
this season. With “potentially as much speed as we’ve ever had” the team will be focusing more on smart and aggressive base running in addition to key hits. Senior pitcher Erica Romero, who went 15-9 last year, looks forward to leading the Aztecs on the mound and helping the team redeem itself this season after the pain of missing out on the big tourney. “I know that this team is capable of that, I mean every year we are capable, but I feel like this team really believes it and really wants it,” Romero said. “We’ve been reading team building books and doing a lot of team building activities. “We did a retreat just for that … We went camping up in the mountains. We turned off our cellphones and just bonded
with each other to get to know each other because if you don’t know each other outside of the field, once you’re in the field it’s a mess.” Head coach Kathy Van Wyk agrees that team cohesiveness will be key to a successful season. Though the team itself might not be vastly different from last season, it is the approach that is going to be a game-changer for the Aztecs this year. “We’ve gone back to the drawing board in a lot of ways,” she said. “This team has worked harder than virtually any team I’ve had in 20 years - in terms of effort, in terms of what they put forward on the field … We had them do different workouts and Navy Seal training at Coronado,
See SOFTBALL, P14
Junior catcher Jenavee Peres slides into second to break up a double play. file photo
2 NEWS
FEB. 1 - 7, 2017 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: KAYLA JIMENEZ • NEWS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
SDSU Campaign raises $750 million MAYA CARTER CONTRIBUTOR ____________________________________ Since its launch in 2007, The Campaign for San Diego State has managed to raise $750 million. Almost 68,000 donors made up of alumni, faculty,staff, community members and students have donated to The Campaign. About 129 donors have made contributions of one million dollars or more. Director of Media Relations Gina Jacobs said the campaign has had wideranging impacts on the university. Such impacts include the provision of funding for scholarships, endowment of faculty chairs, research, student success activities, athletics, academic programming, the Weber Honors College, and alumni activities. Engineering sophomore John Wiggins said he would love to see some of the funds go to support some of the major programs across campus. “As an engineer, I find that there is a huge lack in female presence and I have yet to come across a single female professor in engineering,” Wiggins said. “Some outreach programs would be a major help in this area.” Wiggins also mentioned how he, as a music minor, would also like to see
some funding go toward helping assist the workshop and other programs within the music department. “The arts are always in need of funding and are the most important thing, in my opinion, to developing a creative and progressive culture,” he said. Biology sophomore Hannah Prieto said she would like to see some of the money go to aiding students and instructors in creating a smoother learning environment. “I would love to see some funding go into hiring more professors and opening more sections of classes, as well as helping students get the supplies they need by lowering the costs of books,” Prieto said. Although there is a general campaign donation which supports priorities of the university, like scholarships and campus enhancements, many donors decide where they want the funds directed to. “There is a gift agreement with every guest that the university will dedicate the money according to their specifications,” Jacobs said. For example, a recent $250,000 donation from Jack McGrory will provide scholarships for student veterans attending SDSU. In addition to serving in the
The Aztec Proud logo appears on 21 buildings throughout SDSU’s campus KELLY SMILEY, PHOTO EDITOR
U.S. Marine Corps, McGrory earned a master’s degree in public administration from SDSU, where he also taught for nearly three decades. Jacobs said one of the top priorities of the university is to raise money for the Engineering and Interdisciplinary Sciences Complex that broke ground in fall 2015. Such a complex will create more classrooms and work spaces to match the increase in popularity in majors such as geoengineering, bioengineering and computer engineering.
SDSU Vice President for University Relations and Development Mary Ruth Carleton said philanthropic support is crucial to the university’s ability to grow and thrive. Carleton has led the campaign for the last ten years. “The entire campus community has played a role in the success of The Campaign for SDSU,” Carleton said. “When we talk to our donors, they are in awe of all the good work being done by our students, faculty and staff and they want to be a part of it.”
Women’s studies founders honored San Diego Women’s Hall of Fame inducts trailblazers for establishing department at SDSU WILL FRITZ SENIOR STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ The San Diego County Women’s Hall of Fame will honor Joyce Nower and Carol Rowell Council, who helped start SDSU’s women’s studies department, in an event on March 5. The women’s studies department is a co-host of the Women’s Hall of Fame in San Diego, along with the Women’s Museum of California, San Diego County Commission on the Status of Women and UC San Diego Women’s Center. The women’s studies department at SDSU was founded in 1970 and is the oldest such department in the United States. Sophomore women’s studies major Jadielis Muñoz said although she had not previously done much research into how
the department was started, it was great to see Nower and Council recognized this way. “I think it’s really cool how they are able to be honored and acknowledged for that especially since I already thought it was really cool that the women’s studies department was the first one in the nation, here at San Diego State,” she said. According to women’s studies Professor Huma Ahmed-Ghosh, Nower was a professor teaching courses related to women’s studies at the time of the department’s founding, while Council was a student who helped raise feminist consciousness around campus. They were both instrumental in founding the department, AhmedGhosh said, although she said credit also belongs to a larger group of people. “It was a collective group that started
the department,” she said. “I don’t think credit goes to individuals.” Still, she said, the two deserve the honor being given to them. “So the thing is that for five years before, there was stuff going on and these two, one student and one professor, definitely were instrumental,” AhmedGhosh said. The San Diego County Women’s Hall of Fame honors women who “significantly contributed to the quality of life and who have made outstanding volunteer contributions in San Diego County,” according to its webpage. Nominations, which are due Nov. 30 of each year, can be made on the webpage, and are reviewed by a committee of representatives from each of the four cohost organizations. There are five categories for hall of
fame nominees: trailblazer, empowerer, activist, cultural competent and historian. Nower and Council were nominated under the empowerer category. Four other women will also be honored alongside Nower and Council. Women’s studies department chair Doreen Mattingly, who participated in the Women’s March on Washington, said Nower and Council’s recognition is especially important and historic at a time when she believes women’s studies are extremely relevant. “I’m proud to see this history being honored and both of them, they’ve made a lot of contributions to the campus, to our department, and to women’s rights,” Mattingly said. “San Diego State has a dynamic and exciting program, so it’s a good time for people to be thinking about us and what we still have to offer.”
NEWS 3
FEB. 1 - 7, 2017 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: KAYLA JIMENEZ • NEWS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
Water pollution causes cancellations Watersport classes at the Mission Bay Aquatic Center put on temporary hold after heavy rains
The San Diego County Department of Environmental health issued a water advisory until Jan. 27. ELISSA TAUSCHER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
ALEX HALL STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ San Diego’s recent rain led the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health to issue countywide water advisory until Jan. 27. The advisory warned people to stay out of the water for at least 72 hours after it rained to avoid exposure to contaminated water. Coastal waters become contaminated by urban runoff after it rains, causing bacteria levels to rise to a potentially dangerous level, MBAC Instructional Coordinator Paul Lang said. San Diego State watersport classes offered at the Mission Bay Aquatic Center can be affected by these advisories. MBAC offers sailing, surfing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, wakesurfing, stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, rowing and windsurfing to students for college credit through SDSU’s School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences.
Recent water contamination has caused a weeklong delay in the swim assessments the center usually conducts during the first week, Lang said. MBAC Paddling Program Assistant James Baluyut said if students show
The Mission Bay Aquatic Center is owned and operated by Associated Students and UCSD Recreation. ELISSA TAUSCHER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
own water testing for bacteria if there is reason to believe there was not a significant amount of rain, or if the center’s historical data indicates that it would not be dangerous to go in the water.
“ SAN DIEGO AND SPECFICALLY MISSION BAY HAS HAD A BAD REPUTATION IN THE
PAST FOR THE WATER BEING POLLUTED.”
- Paul Lang, MBAC Instructional Coordinator
up and it is a really rainy day or if a storm just happened, “they will have an on-land activity such as a powerpoint lecture or an exam.” According to the Department of Environmental Health, any time there is .20 inches of rain or more along the coast or valley areas, general rain advisories are issued. Lang said MBAC conducts their
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If the center’s tests confirm bacteria levels are unsafe, then all the classes stay out of the water, Lang said. However, if the bacteria levels are low enough, most water lessons will continue to hold class. Baluyut said they run 10 different water samples during one testing period. If the results show the bacteria count is normal, then participants sign waivers acknowledging that there might be some
risk of elevated bacteria count. Under those circumstances, he said the full immersion classes, such as surfing, wakeboarding and wakesurfing, are still exempt from entering in the water. Lang said MBAC receives notifications from the county whenever there is an issue with water quality and they can check online at any time. “San Diego and specifically Mission Bay has had a bad reputation in the past for the water being polluted,” Lang said. “I’ve been working on the Bay since 1999 and it’s a lot cleaner now than it use to be.” Business management sophomore Lindsay Brewer, who is enrolled in a surfing class this semester, said she hopes the rain does not continue to cause this problem throughout the next few weeks so she can get in the water as soon as possible. The total rainfall for San Diego in 2016 was 10.2 inches for the year. Reports predict the rain will start again the first few days of February.
4 NEWS
FEB. 1 - 7, 2017 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: KAYLA JIMENEZ • NEWS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
South Campus dorms house Aztecs JASMINE BERMUDEZ SENIOR STAFF WRITER _____________________________________ After more than two years of construction, South Campus Plaza is now home to 525 students. The construction project of the housing and retail space began in the fall of 2014, and consists of two buildings, the north tower and south tower. Each tower has six floors. North Hall will be for upperclassmen and South Hall will be for freshmen. Residence Hall Coordinator LeRoy Ford said that at capacity, South Campus plaza will house 900 students. “We will be at capacity in Fall 2017,” Ford said. The first floors include a lounge area, front desk and gender-neutral restroom. Ford said there will be retail space on the first floor soon. Vendors will include Trader Joe’s, Eureka, Broken Yolk, Verizon and Wings N Things, Ford said. A parking structure on the west side of the plaza will provide parking for customers. Ford said the second floor is one of the main areas where students can go to socialize. He said it consists of a laundry room, office spaces, a star center, a pool table, and a multipurpose room that connects to the outside terrace. Ford said he is most excited for students to utilize the terrace. “It is my favorite part of the dorm
because students can use it to get away for a bit and enjoy San Diego’s beautiful weather,” he said. Floors three to six are for residential living. There are two study rooms on each floor and each dorm room has its own shower. Ford said that two or three residents occupy each dorm room. “So far living in the South Campus Plaza has been great,” said business junior and residential assistant Grace Say. She said she is happy about the location of the plaza. “We are basically in the heart of campus,” she said. Computer science sophomore and residential assistant Christopher Moussa said being closer to campus “changes everything.” “The students’ will to actually go out and get involved on campus has increased so much just by the quarter mile that we moved,” he said. Say said that her residents have already started to use the lounge to bond with other residents. “Every Monday night my floor watches ‘The Bachelor’ together,’” she said. “We also hang out in the study lounge and study together.” Moussa said being able to take advantage of the technology amenities South Campus Plaza has to offer has been a blessing to him. “Throughout the buildings there are televisions that I can connect to my
Television, Film and Media freshman Jordan Rubin moved into the South Campus Plaza dorms in January. KELLY SMILEY, PHOTO EDITOR
laptop,” he said. “I can help myself study with groups and give presentations to other students if they need help with anything.” Engineering freshman Ellie Ekstrom said living at the South Campus Plaza is really fun. “Everything is updated,” she said. “Having your own shower is great, (and) the rooms are bigger and more luxurious.” Kinesiology freshman Cristian Dela Cruz said that he is excited to use the
different spaces in the dorm to hang out with residents and have bonfires on the terrace. He said he also enjoys the view from his room. “I like to watch the sunset from the window in my room,” he said. Ford said that moving students from Tenochca Residence Hall to South Campus Plaza was a long process, but he had a great staff that helped a lot. “South Campus Plaza has a lot to offer and we hope that we are serving our students well,” Ford said.
Rain leaks cause water damage in PSFA
Rainwater poured into PSFA through newly-installed windows in the building on Jan. 20. COURTESY OF NOAH ARCENEAUX
WILL FRITZ SENIOR STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ Much of Southern California was caught in a series of powerful storms in January, and San Diego State was not left untouched. Campus Facilities Services counted over 40 rain leaks and other stormrelated issues in places all across campus, including the Communication building, where flooding in the basement contributed to a power outage in the building on Jan. 24. The Arts and Letters building, the Exercise and Nutritional Sciences building and many others were also affected. Senior associate director for facilities services Brad Songhurst said the Little
Theater was closed off for a period of time while crews attempted to clear out water and replace some electrical components The cleanup of the theater was expected to be completed by the end of day on Jan. 27, Songhurst said. Some of the most extensive damage occurred in the Professional Studies and Fine Arts building, where several classrooms and offices used by the School of Journalism and Media Studies were inundated. Rainwater poured into the third floor through newly-installed windows the evening of Friday, Jan. 20, after classes were no longer in session, according to Dr. Bey-Ling Sha, director of the School of Journalism and Media Studies. “Whether the actual cause was from improper sealing, I can’t say,” Sha said.
Nine classed were moved due to the flooding in PSFA on Jan. 20. according to Michelle Peterson . COURTEST OF BEY-LING SHA
“As a layperson observing the entrance of the water, it was coming in through the brand new windows.” PSFA safety coordinator Giancarlo Taylor said an inch or two of water was on the floor. Media studies senior Daisy Santana, who works in the PSFA dean’s office, said she was working on the second floor when the flooding occurred. She said people within the building at the time of the flood tried to figure out how to save the labs filled with expensive media equipment. “It’s the third floor, so of course everyone ran downstairs to the first floor to see what the status of that was, and there was no flooding on the first floor,” she said. Sha said drywall and carpeting were damaged in hallways, five faculty
offices, two classrooms and a digital media lab in PSFA 326. Contractors came in later that night to vacuum up water and blow-dry the floors and classes were temporarily moved from the media lab. “We went ahead and moved all our classes through next Friday to give the contractors time to clean things up properly,” Sha said. Nine classes had to be moved from their usual rooms due to the Jan. 20 flood, said JMS events and alumni coordinator Michelle Peterson. Santana said although none of her classes were affected, one of her professors was forced to move from his office because of the water damage. “His office hours are now no longer available for the time being because he doesn’t have an office,” she said.
news 5
Feb. 1 - 7, 2017 • THE DAILY AZTEC editor: Kayla Jimenez • news@thedailyaztec.com
Protest: San Diego State reacts Continued from P1 to come together and be untied. “It makes me feel really hopeful,” she said.she said. “ It makes me feel like there really is some chance for us to make a difference. It makes me feel like there is a chance for people who need help to be welcomed.” President of SDSU Muslim Student Association Ahmed Buzeriba said he wasn’t surprised when he heard of the ban because Trump said he would do it during his campaign. “My first thoughts were what’s going to happen to my future family members who try to come to the U.S.?” he said. “What’s going to happen to friends I have on current visas?” Buzeriba attended the protest at the airport and said the protests are an act of unity. “It’s very powerful because we’re showing we’re willing to exercise our first amendment right to show bigotry, xenophobia and all forms of hate will not be tolerated in this country,” he said. “When we unite, we have the power to shut down illegal executive orders, even if it’s by the president of the U.S.” California State University Chancellor Timothy P. White sent out a statement on behalf of the presidents in the university
San Diego community members gathered in front of Terminal 2 at the San Diego International Airport Friday. Jamie ballard, managing editor
system opposing “the divisiveness of the recent executive order.” The CSU is committed to being an inclusive and welcoming institution of higher education, according to the email. “When something threatens our ability to think beyond our borders and learn from the world as a whole, we will oppose it,” it reads. SDSU President Elliot Hirshman sent out an email on Jan. 30 around 4:30 p.m. acknowledging the ban’s effects on the SDSU community. “We join universities nationwide and
the California State University system to express our deep concern as this action is contrary to our institutional values of diversity and inclusion,” the email read. Buzeriba said the statement was released late compared to other universities, but it was a good message to see. “I think what our SDSU community needs to understand is that we are a very diverse community, and a part of that diverse community is the international students who were born in the countries listed under Trump’s executive ban,” Buzeriba said. “I’d like to think we care
about all of our fellow SDSU students regardless of race or religion.” He said it would be a great gesture to targeted students if the SDSU community utilized social media accounts to show they stand up against Xenophobic laws that target innocent people. Director of Media Relations Gina Jacobs said the university sent out the email to reach out to students who are not registered with student visas, such as dual-citizens and permanent residents. “Right now we’re communicating with those students, identifying them, and making sure that a support system is here on campus,” she said. “It’s generally about the students who are here studying abroad from those countries and faculty members who are on the list who are here and if they wanted to travel home for any reason, that could be problematic.” She said the International Student Center supports students who are in the United States on student visas so they are going to be able to assist in any issues they have. “We’re going to have to continue to watch what’s going to happen,” Jacobs said. “I couldn’t tell you specifically what we’re going to do with each individual case. Every individual case is going to be different.” “The number doesn’t necessarily encompass every single student that would be actually impacted,” Jacobs said. “That’s one of the reasons we sent out the memo yesterday.” There are no current study abroad programs to any of the seven countries affected by the executive order listed on the Aztec Abroad website.
6OPINION
Feb. 1 - 7, 2017 • THE DAILY AZTEC editor: Anthony reclusado • Sports@thedailyaztec.com
Immigration is America The stories of families making new lives here is the stuff of dreams. nicole sazegar senior staff writer ____________________________________ On the day after President Donald J. Trump implemented his immigrant ban, my roommate got into a Facebook argument with an older white woman from Minnesota over the executive order. After multiple paragraphs sent back and forth between this woman, who supports the ban, my roommate decided to use me as an example in her argument. She told the woman that I was a student who was born in Iran and has lived in the U.S. for 18 years and, due to the ban, is no longer able to study abroad in fear of being deported. “Life isn’t fair,” the woman replied, saying that the ban was meant for “the greater good,” and, by the way, if I’d been living in the U.S. for so long, why haven’t I become a citizen? Her comments left me shocked, angry and sad. My family fled Iran because there was nothing left for us there. The Islamic regime went against our Jewish faith and the U.S. promised the right to practice our faith openly. My brother was 17 years old at the time, and once he turned 18 he was going to be drafted into the Iranian military. My family also fled Iran to save his life. Like any family, we made this country our home and never looked back. In this country, being foreign doesn’t open a lot of doors. People would shut us out when they found out where we were from, so the community we built helped us find the American Dream. We found it despite starting from the
floor, while much of white America was born onto the ladder. My father opened up his own fabric store in downtown Los Angeles. When his undocumented status led to us losing the fabric store, we never stopped trying to make a better life for ourselves. At the age of 56, my mother learned to speak Spanish fluently and took every last cent my family had and bought a children’s clothing store in downtown
sacrifice doesn’t mean much if these prospects are ripped away from because my nationality is seen as a threat to the country we’ve contributed to for the past 18 years. My best friend had plans to visit her father in Iran this summer. She now has to go that much longer without seeing him. My family was fortunate enough to come to the states while refugees were still being accepted with open arms. If Trump’s executive order existed when I was a child, my brother might not be alive today. I don’t want to think about the amount of refugee children who will lose their lives because of Trump. When the citizens of this country turned their backs on us, we kept our doors open for them. As an Iranian-American, I have learned that neither culture is better than the other. I am Iranian and I am American, but most of all I am human. I have entered this land legally, but an unconstitutional order has stripped me of my rights. Persian culture has taught me that if someone allows you into his or her home, you clean up after yourself. When we were welcomed to this country, we learned to clean up after ourselves and be grateful for the opportunity. This is not about fairness. Driving to an ice cream store and seeing that it is closed after Yelp said it would be open is unfair. Someone taking the last slice of pizza instead of offering to split it is unfair. Doing someone’s dishes and them not returning the favor later on is unfair. But having educational opportunities taken away from you because of racism? It’s more than unfair —it is unjust.
Unfortunately, my family’s sacrifice doesn’t mean much if these prospects are ripped away from me because my nationality is seen as a threat to the country we’ve contributed to for the past 18 years. Los Angeles. My family took a major risk by migrating to America, but the oppression and isolation in our home country was much worse than the fear of failing in our new one. After two years at community college and working part time at frozen yogurt shops and burger joints, I saved up enough money to follow my own dreams. The opportunity to attend a four-year university and study abroad wouldn’t have been possible without my family’s sacrifice. Unfortunately, my family’s
Who’sWho? Editor In Chief Jacob Sisneros Managing Editor Jamie Ballard News Editor Kayla Jimenez asst. News Editor Adriana Millar Sports Editor Anthony Reclusado asst. sports Editor Austin Gayle Asst. sports editor, club sports Sydney Olmstead ARTS & culture Editor Christine Whitman asst. ARTS & culture Editor Lilly Glenister Opinion Editor Andrew Dyer mundo azteca editor Andrea Lopez-Villafaña Asst. Mundo azteca editor José Guzmán-Quirino Photo Editor Kelly Smiley video producer Adriana Heldiz art director Emily Lewis social media EDITOR Alex Piscatelli Copy Editor Brian del Carmen senior Staff writers Jasmine Bermudez Will Fritz Jocelyn Moran Julianna Ress Staff writers Maya Carter Ahmad Dixon Alex Ellison Alex Hall Pabel Lopez Alex Noble Mayer Pohlod Talia Raoufpur Nicole Sazegar Raman Sidhu Dana Tsuri-Etzioni Ashley Washburn Staff Photographer Elissa Tauscher _____________________________________ Advertising Director John Weil Sales Manager Matthew Volk Account Executives Connor Brooke George Saridakis Peter Saridakis Kaylie Seacord Stephane Voitzwinkler Accounting & Contracts Tyler Burnett Kalie Christensen _____________________________________ General Manager/adviser Jay Harn
THINKSTOCK
Trump’s timing was tone deaf dana Tsuri-Etzioni staff columnist ____________________________________ Trump has been causing a stir since he entered office a little more than a week ago by signing executive orders regarding a border wall, a halt to the acceptance of refugees and a roll back of Obamacare. It is difficult not to be concerned about the speed and intensity in which Trump is signing critical executive orders. The most insensitive and unethical, however, was the decision to ban refugees from the
United States. On National Holocaust Remembrance Day, Trump signed an executive order temporarily halting the resettlement of refugees in the U.S. This decision is unethical, not only because of the situation of countries in need, but also because of the timing. I am Jewish and lost many relatives to the Holocaust — relatives who could have used the haven of other countries. For Trump to make the decision to ban refugees on the day in which those who died during the Holocaust are remembered is abhorrent.
The president of the United States is supposed to stand for all members of the country, no matter what religion, race or ethnicity. By putting forth this order on Holocaust Remembrance Day, Trump is proving he is insensitive to this day and the history behind it. The U.S. is a diverse nation, and among it population are people whose families who have been affected by a previous generations’ refusal to admit refugees. Millenials might be notorious for being overly sensitive and politically correct, but Trump’s actions are way over the top.
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OPINION7
Feb. 1 - 7, 2017 • THE DAILY AZTEC editor: Anthony reclusado • Sports@thedailyaztec.com
Trump travel restriction is personal talia raoufpur staff columnist ____________________________________ In his first week of office President Trump signed an executive order prohibiting all immigration to the United States from seven Islamic countries, including Iran. In response to the ban, the Iranian government has placed a threemonth ban to restrict anyone with an American citizenship from entering the country until the U.S. lifts its own restriction. For the first time during his presidency, Trump’s political plans just became personal. I am not a refugee being detained at the airport, but an Iranian who is restricted from entering her home country. As an Iranian-American, I now feel disconnected from the country my family calls home. While I did not have specific plans to visit Iran, I had hoped to travel there sometime in the next few years. It is devastating to be legally separated from a country of such ancestral significance. I long to visit my mother’s elementary school, walk through the bazaars and speak with those who still reside in Iran. I am appalled by the decision made by this government and am wary to call myself an American. My dreams are now occupied by Trump’s poor judgment rather than my own ambition. I feel as though I am being punished for my cultural background rather than celebrated for it, which is supposedly an American
ideal. When envisioning my plans to travel to Iran, I had believed the extensive flight was the most difficult obstacle to overcome. Now, it is my citizenship status. My cousin Elena Yeroushalmi, an American citizen originally from Tehran, shared a similar sense of dejection. She and her family left Iran in October 2004 and are saddened by the news. “We left Iran, (but) we didn’t leave thinking we would never be going back,” she said. “To this day, I can’t wait to go see the neighborhoods and the park I would play in. The idea that I am not welcomed there is very sad.” The ban only punishes innocent people. Trump has grabbed me by my liberties and it is not okay. He might have no desire to travel to Iran, but I do. I have not been there since I was two years old and it has been a dream of mine to revisit. I want the opportunity to remind myself what it means to be Iranian and to align with my ancestral roots. I am ashamed of this country. Trump is threatening to undo the successes of my parents, the sacrifices they made and the stories they lived as immigrants. Like so many immigrants, my parents longed to move to the U.S. to pursue a life of comfort and to increase the economic and social opportunities for generations. The Iranian people are hospitable, welcoming and brave. Many embody the ideals our country stands upon. To prohibit them from entering our country is dishonorable. The American
Republican leaders should stand up and speak out about ban Pabel Lopez Contributor ____________________________________ Spineless Republican leaders tweet lip service and give speeches against President Donald Trump’s executive orders, but have not done anything about it. This has been going on for the past two years and it looks to continue as long as the people let it. With every outrageous statement candidate Trump made, high-ranking members of congress said whatever they thought would smooth things over with their constituents. Now that Trump is president, his outrageous statements and wacky campaign promises have turned into dangerous executive actions that will have consequences for years to come. While on the campaign trail, in the wake of the San Bernardino attacks, Trump’s vice-president, then governor of Indiana, Mike Pence, wrote on Twitter that “calls to ban Muslims from entering the US are offensive and unconstitutional,” in response to Trump’s proposition. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan tweeted, “This is not conservatism.” Now, both are standing next to the
president, literally and figuratively. Some Republican congressmen such as Charlie Dent, Justin Amash and Ben Sasse are speaking out against the President’s actions and that is a start, but Republican leadership is doing nothing. Throughout the campaign there were congressmen, like San Diego’s Duncan Hunter and Jason Chaffetz of Utah who supported Trump no matter what he said or did. Long time senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham came out against the executive order by releasing a joint statement on Sunday. “This executive order sends a signal, intended or not, that America does not want Muslims coming into our country,” their statement said. “That is why we fear this executive order may do more to help terrorist recruitment than improve our security.” But talk is cheap. Most of the GOP leadership is open in their pandering and sycophantic behavior — a new low. Voters, no matter what their political party cannot just hang fire and let this behavior go. These so-called leaders must be held accountable, either at the ballot box or in the courts.
The author and her cousin. Elena Yeroushalmi, in Tehran, Iran, in April 1998. Photo courtesy of talia raoufpur
government is limiting its citizens’ potential and turning dreams into nightmares. For now, the journey to
Iran will take time and patience, a characteristic many of us Iranians are far too familiar with.
Letter: 30,000 seat stadium too small for Power Five hopeful like SDSU
Rendering of proposed SDSU and MLS stadium at the Qualcomm Stadium Lot Courtesy of FS Investors
At least once a week the San Diego Union-Tribune has some kind of reference to the fact that San Diego State and its downtrodden brethren have to accept NCAA scraps due to its not being in a Power Five conference. Supposedly, SDSU has been working behind the scenes for years to gain entrance to that exclusive club. Thanks to Steve Fisher, Rocky Long, donors, and staff, we now have teams that we can be proud of and certainly could hold their own in a Power Five conference. A 30,000-seat stadium, like the StubHub Center, would relegate SDSU to its rightful position in the athletic hierarchy — Nowheresville! Small time thinking has hurt our city so many times and continues to deepen an inferiority complex that would not exist but for single-minded, wrong-headed,
afraid-of-their-own-shadows leadership and a handful of litigious little men who can only gain dubious power by holding an entire city and county hostage. My understanding is that MLS desires to keep a small stadium and that SDSU must work with them to find a compromise. However, with the Chargers leaving and SDSU’s tremendous football renaissance, bowl games and a potential Power Five inclusion, why are we even considering 30,000 seats? This gives small time a bad name. I would rather throw some bleachers out on the practice field and play Mexico Poly and Marine Corps Recruiting District twice a year like we used to than be embarrassed again with this depressing proposal. Dream big. Please. Robert Gibson, Cardiff
8 mundo azteca
Feb. 1 - 7, 2017 • THE DAILY AZTEC editor: ANDREA LOPEZ-VILLAFAÑA • MUNDOazteca@thedailyaztec.com
Discurso sobre la migración al norte
El discurso es parte de la serie Adams Lecture. Kelly Smiley, editora de fotos
Andrea Lopez-VillafaÑA editora de Mundo azteca ____________________________________
Library, que se mantendrá exhibida en el primer piso todo el semestre de primavera 2017. La exhibición titulada, “El otro lado de la pared: fotos de la experiencia del migrante Centroamericano cruzando a México” es compuesta de fotos por De León y Michael Wells. De León es el director de Undocumented Migration Project, un estudio antropológico sobre el cruce de fronteras entre Latinoamérica y los Estados Unidos. El proyecto incorpora varias especialidades como arqueología, ciencia forense, estudios lingüísticas dijo De León. “Es un estudio que está usando
Jason De León, profesor asistente de antropología en la Universidad de Michigan, dará una conferencia el 7 de febrero a las 2 p.m. en el centro Parma Payne Goodall Alumni de San Diego State University. El discurso de De León llamado, “Cercas y fuera de enfoque: la vida, muerte y ética de visualizando el tráfico de seres humanos que cruzan México” será un evento abierto para todo el público. Su presentación será acompañada por una exhibición en la biblioteca, Love
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muchas perspectivas para documentar la vida de los inmigrantes”, dijo De León. “Como sufren en el desierto y las cosa que les pasa a ellos. También documentan la seguridad fronteriza y como las leyes afectan a los inmigrantes”. Undocumented Migration Project comenzó el 2009, y se ha enfocado en inmigración en la frontera del norte como EE.UU y México y la frontera sur de México y Guatemala. El gobierno de México en el año 2014 anunció su “Plan Frontera Sur” que es un plan de inmigración para la frontera de México y Guatemala. Según el PewResearch Center, en el 2015 México deportó un estimado de 150,000 personas de países en Centroamérica.
De León dijo que al momento la investigación es en México en el estado de Chiapas. “Nos estamos enfocando en las experiencias de los Centroamericanos y también el trabajo de los polleros”, dijo De León. Por los recientes comentarios del Presidente Donald Trump, De León ha decidido enfocar su discurso en hablar de los problemas de la frontera norte de EE.UU y México. “Hay mucha gente que está sufriendo, hay mucha gente que se está muriendo en el desierto y sufriendo en el desierto”, dijo De León. “Eso es la realidad de la frontera”. De León dijo que la idea del muro es algo que afecta a muchas personas. “No necesitamos un muro porque estamos matando y maltratando a mucha gente con las políticas que tenemos ahorita”, dijo De León. “El muro es una cortina de humo para cubrir el racismo, ambición, ignorancia, odio y xenofobia.” De León dijo que construir el muro sería algo imposible de construir y muchos lo van a oponer legalmente. Alex Johnson, estudiante de Comparative International studies, dijo que para ella es muy interesante ver como los dos países de México y EE.UU tratan el tema de inmigración especialmente por el clima político. “Cuando escuchas las historias de inmigrantes puedes ver cómo las políticas de los países afectan sus vidas y las de sus familias”, dijo Johnson.
Mandato de Trump causa protestas Jocelyn Moran escritora ____________________________________ Protestas están ocurriendo en muchas ciudades por todos los Estados Unidos en contra de la orden ejecutiva que Presidente Donald Trump firmó el 27 de enero prohibiendo ciudadanos de siete países musulmanes de entrar a los EE.UU. Los siete países incluyen Siria, Yemen, Libia, Sudán, Irak, Irán y Somalia. La orden restringe que ciudadanos de estos países entren por 90 días y también ordena la suspensión del programa para refugiados por 120 días. Refugiados de Siria están bloqueados de entrar a los EE.UU indefinidamente. Algunos estudiantes de San Diego State University asistieron las protestas el 28 y 29 de enero. Ahmed Buzeriba, presidente de la asociación estudiantil musulmana de SDSU, tomó parte en estas protestas. “Estas protestas son muy poderosas porque estamos demostrando que estamos dispuestos a usar nuestra primer enmienda para mostrar que xenofobia y todas formas de odio no serán toleradas en este país”, dijo Buzeriba. Presidente de SDSU Elliot Hirshman mandó un correo electrónico el 30 de enero ofreciendo recursos para los estudiantes siendo afectados por la orden ejecutiva. “Nosotros nos unimos con otras universidades de toda la nación y la sistema de California State
University para expresar nuestras profundas preocupaciones como esta acción es contrario a nuestros valores institucionales de diversidad e inclusión”, leía el correo electrónico. “SDSU está monitoreando cerca a la implementación de la orden ejecutiva y está dedicado apoyar a ellos quien estén impactados”. Buzeriba dijo que la comunidad de SDSU necesita entender que SDSU es una comunidad muy diversa. “Parte de esa diversidad son los estudiantes internacionales quienes nacieron en países de la lista en la prohibición ejecutiva de Trump”, dijo él. “Quisiera pensar que nosotros nos preocupamos por nuestros compañeros de SDSU a pesar de raza o religión”. En las protestas, manifestantes cargaban carteles que decían “nosotros protegeremos” y gritaban frases como “dilo fuerte, dilo claro, refugiados son bienvenidos aquí”. “Pienso que es importante que la gente esté defendiendo sus amigos, sus familias, sus vecinos y hasta gente que nunca han conocido porque ellos piensan que esta mal que ellos sean atacados por la administración de Trump en esa manera”, dijo Bo Elder, estudiante de postgrado de SDSU. Demostraciones están continuando en muchas ciudades y hasta en algunos partes del mundo como en el Reino Unido. “Cuando nosotros nos unimos, tenemos el poder de quitar órdenes ejecutivas ilegales a pesar de ser firmado por el presidente de los EE.UU”, dijo Buzeriba.
SPORTS 9
FEB. 1 - 7, 2017 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: ANTHONY RECLUSADO • SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
Aztecs spring back into action ANTHONY RECLUSADO SPORTS EDITOR ___________________________
Sports is back in full swing as both baseball and softball gear up after disappointing campaigns last
year. Take a read how baseball is primed to return to the top of the Mesa on pg. 11. Look at how one Aztec is attempting to help his team by making
an uncoventional position swap on pg. 12. Meanwhile, find out how softball is finding its groove behind two stellar arms on pg. 14. On pg. 15 read how
lacrosse is preparing to bounce back after the worst season in program history. And on pg. 16 catch up on a variety of Sport Clubs on campus.
SDSU Baseball Schedule 2016-2017 v. Pacific 2/17-19 at UC Irvine 2/21 at CSU Fullerton 2/22 v. Tennessee 2/24 v. Seton Hall 2/25 v. TBA TBA
at USD 3/14 v. UNLV 3/17-19 v. Long Beach 3/21
at Long Beach 2/28 v. Cal Poly 3/3-5 v. USC 3/7
v. USF 4/3 v. UCLA 4/4 v. Nevada 4/7-9 v. UC Irvine 4/11
at Nevada 3/10-11
at Fresno State 3/24-26 at USC 3/28 v. SJSU 3/31 - 4/1-2
at UNLV 4/13-15 at UCR 4/18 at UCSB 4/21-23 v. UCR 4/25
v. New Mexico
4/28-30
at UCLA 5/2 at SJSU 5/5-7 at Air Force 5/12-14 v. USD 5/16 v. Fresno State 5/18-20
10 SPORTS
FEB. 1 - 7, 2017 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: ANTHONY RECLUSADO • SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
SDSU Softball Schedule 2016-2017 v. South Dakota
2/10
at UCLA 2/10
Senior pitcher Erica Romero winds up to release a pitch. Romero finished with a 15-9 record last season. FILE PHOTO
v. Boston University 3/3 v. Miami (OH)
3/4
v. Notre Dame
2/11
at UC Davis
3/5
at Long Beach
2/11
v. Detroit Mercy
3/7
v. Weber State
2/12
at CSUF 3/9
v. Washington
2/16
v. Boston University 3/10
v. Rutgers 2/17 v. Ohio 2/17
v. Harvard 3/10 v. Eastern Michigan 3/11
v. UCR 2/19
v. Longwood
v. Siena 2/21
v. Harvard 3/12
v. Oklahoma State
2/24
v. Fresno State
v. Florida State
2/24
v. Stanford
2/25
at CSU v. SJSU
at NM State
2/26
v. New Mexico
4/13-15
at Utah
2/26
at Boise State
4/21-23
v. St. John’s
2/28
at Utah State
4/28-30
v. McNeese State
3/2
v. UNLV
5/5-7
v. BYU 3/2
at Nevada
5/11-13
3/11 3/17-19
3/24-26 3/31 - 4/1-2
STEVE HE BELIEVES THAT WE WILL WIN. COACH STEVE FISHER HAS BUILT THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MEN’S BASKETBALL PROGRAM IN SDSU HISTORY, AND MODELED THE UNIVERSITY’S MANTRA, “LEADERSHIP STARTS HERE,” FOR A CADRE OF TALENTED YOUNG STUDENT-ATHLETES. TO HONOR HIS LEGACY, SDSU CREATED THE STEVE FISHER ENDOWMENT, WHICH WILL SUPPORT AZTEC BASKETBALL EXCELLENCE FOR DECADES TO COME. VISIT CAMPAIGN.SDSU.EDU
SPORTS
FEB. 1 - 7, 2017 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: ANTHONY RECLUSADO • SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
11
Baseball primed to ascend the Mesa MAYER POHLOD STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ SDSU BASEBALL PRIMED FOR RETURN TO WINNING FORM IN 2017 It’s easy to take a look at San Diego State baseball’s record last spring and come to the conclusion that they’re a long way off from competing for a Mountain West title; a 21-38 record will do that. However, that’s far off from what is actually the case. This year’s Aztecs could bring SDSU back to its winning ways, and there are more than a few reasons for it. VETERANS WITH A VENGEANCE The men on the Mesa - and baseball field - are returning more than just a couple veteran players from last year. In the starting lineup alone, there’s only one person who has left: former outfielder Spencer Thornton. Though Thornton was a key factor for the Aztecs for five years, his absence will be completely made up by the strides everyone else is taking. Senior infielder Danny Sheehan is returning to the diamond after redshirting last year. In 2015, he hit .307 with six home runs and 45 RBIs as the Aztecs’ full-time starter at shortstop. With Sheehan returning to short, junior Alan Trejo will return to his natural position of second base. In addition to his offensive success (.305 BA), Trejo
developed into one of SDSU’s best defensive players. Sheehan and Trejo join fellow infielders senior Andrew Brown, sophomore Jordan Verdon and juniors Justin Wylie and David Hensley as players who should all see significant playing time. The experience extends into the outfield as well. Redshirt junior Tyler Adkison will return to right field after manning the spot for his last two healthy seasons. After missing the 2014 season due to injury, Adkinson led the team in RBIs, doubles and triples while posting a .302 BA in 2015. He anchors a star-studded outfield that figures to include juniors Chase Calabuig and Denz’l Chapman. Aiming to improve their pitching from last season, junior Dominic Purpura and senior Brett Seeburger look to lead the Aztecs’ rotation on the mound with 3.26 and 4.81 ERA, respectively. FRESH FACES, NEW LIFE Beneath a blanket of veteran leadership, the Aztecs’ freshman ball players will look to settle into significant roles in all areas of the game. Freshmen Avery Tuck and Julian Escobedo headline this year’s class as two highly regarded prospects. Tuck was ranked as the 14th best player in the nation last season, and he and Escobedo are both expected to compete for starting jobs in the outfield. With junior CJ Saylor moving from
FILE PHOTO
catcher to closer this season, freshman Ryan Orr, the fifth best catcher in California last year, will undoubtedly factor into the rotation with sophomores Hunter Stratton and Dean Nevarez. On the pitching side, there’s a plethora of new blood headed by Nolan Martinez, the fourth best right-handed pitcher in California from last year, and Logan Boyer, the third best player in Arizona. JUNIOR COLLEGE REACH Joining the Aztecs’ freshmen in their debut at Tony Gwynn Stadium, transfers Ray Lambert, Chad Bible, Jorge Fernandez, Justin Goossen-Brown and Andrew Martinez will give SDSU other options that weren’t there before. Fernandez and Martinez in particular could have a major impact from the getgo. Fernandez figures to be one of the main
starters to join Purpura and Seeburger on the mound, while Martinez, a grad student coming from UC Irvine, will compete with Verdon for first base. A WINNING CULTURE Before last year, the Aztecs secured three NCAA Tournament appearances to go along with three MW titles. The consistency before last year comes from a coaching staff led by head coach Mark Martinez. Martinez was the assistant coach for nine years under Aztec and baseball legend Tony Gwynn, taking over for him in 2015 following Gwynn’s death. If there’s one thing that Martinez and his coaching staff know how to do, it’s win. SDSU is a team that knows what it needs to do to be successful, and they will almost certainly see a return to the top of the MW for 2017.
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12 SPORTS
FEB. 1 - 7, 2017 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: ANTHONY RECLUSADO • SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
Saylor looks to lead from the mound ALEX ELLISON STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ Coming off an uncharacteristically down year for the San Diego State baseball team, senior pitcher CJ Saylor has big expectations for this upcoming season. After redshirting due to injury his freshman year, Saylor has won three straight Mountain West tournament titles, but never a regular season conference title. That’s where this team’s focus lies. “In my five years here, I think this is the most talented team we’ve had in all aspects with hitting, defense, and pitching,” Saylor said. “We have a great starting staff, a great bullpen and depth at every position so this year the expectations are very high. “People are excited to be out here and have fun and win a lot of baseball games.” Moving forward this season, Saylor is set to make his impact felt in a new role atop the mound for the Aztecs. Going into his junior season, Saylor was in line to be the team’s catcher before tearing his meniscus at the end of the fall semester. After having surgery, he returned to catching five weeks later only to tear it again on his first day back. The medical staff told him he could take three to four months to rehab properly and play at the end of the
season or he could pitch for the remainder of the year. Wanting to play, he made the decision to pitch for the rest of the 2015 campaign. The next season, he returned to his natural position of catcher, but the two knee surgeries made the catcher’s squat too difficult on his body. “This year just focusing on pitching has been super easy because I don’t have to focus on two things, so focusing on pitching has been helpful but not hard,” Saylor said. “I’ve got a good pitching coach to help me and they help me get through what I don’t know. “Being a catcher, I understand the pitching aspect, it’s not like going from catcher to shortstop or some position I’ve never played.” While Saylor hones in on his pitching, he has a tough task in the University of Nevada, Reno and the University of New Mexico - two teams he said were the Aztecs toughest conference foes. SDSU gave up a combined 107 runs in the 14 matches against those two conference opponents. In line with the poor defensive performances, the Aztecs went 0-8 and 2-4 against the Wolf Pack and Lobos, respectively, including the conference tournament. Saylor admitted the Aztecs beat themselves against these teams last year, but also acknowledged that good teams like them take advantage of their opponents’ mistakes. To combat the rabid dogs in the
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Saylor and his teammates watch the game from the dugout. The Aztecs finished with a 21-38 record last season. KELLY SMILEY, PHOTO EDITOR
mountains, and the rest of the MW, Saylor points to young talent on the squad. Freshmen infielder Jacob Maekawa and relief pitcher Logan Boyer are new faces that Saylor sees as huge additions to the team. Maekawa is an exceptional fielder who has a bright future with the team, while Boyer can come on in relief and touch 95 mph on the radar gun, something the bullpen lacked last season. Saylor’s acknowledgment of the younger players stems from his growing leadership role he is taking
upon himself as an upperclassmen. Along with senior pitchers Brett Seeburger and Dominic Purpura and senior shortstop Danny Sheehan, Saylor has experienced the highs and lows of Aztec baseball and has learned how to manage them. While no longer squatting behind home plate, Saylor said he still admires Yadier Molina of the St. Louis Cardinals and how the MLB catcher approaches the game. Even if he’s no longer catching, Saylor can become the Aztecs’ leader the way that Molina is on the field for the Cardinals.
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14 SPORTS
FEB. 1 - 7, 2017 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: ANTHONY RECLUSADO • SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
Two arms take the mound for SDSU RAMAN SIDHU CONTRIBUTOR ____________________________________ As the San Diego State softball season approaches, its two pitchers are settling into their shared roles atop the mound. Last season, senior Erica Romero and junior Alex Formby were the first pair of pitchers to each start at least 15 games since 2013. Both women finished with 11-plus wins. However, this came a season removed from Romero acting as the entire SDSU pitching staff. In 2015, she started 47 games and appeared in relief in nine other contests—she missed all but two games that year. Despite the heavy workload, the then-sophomore finished with a 36-17 record and a 3.29 ERA. With Formby’s arrival last season, after transferring from the University of Virginia, Romero saw her numbers take a dip. She started 22 games, finished with a 15-9 record and ended with a 3.70 ERA. While Romero’s lack of playing time negatively effected her stats, her mentality is unfazed. “I feel like I play better teams each year,” Romero said. “The competition is always different especially in preseason before we get into conference, we play really good teams so I feel like just that gives me more
confidence each year.” As Romero was getting used to sharing the mound, Formby was trying to improve her game. While a Cavalier, she made 30 appearances with 19 starts. She went 3-14 with eight complete games in her freshman season and had 55 strikeouts in 102.2 innings pitched. As an Aztec Formby started 15 games and went 11-10 with a 3.66 ERA. She was also named a MW Pitcher of the Week and second-team All-MW. Throughout her time atop the Mesa, Formby has looked to Romero as an inspiration. “She’s probably one of the hardest working people on the team,” Formby said. “Being able to be motivated by somebody who’s that motivated by herself, is really huge for me and I feel like that’s pushed me to be better.” Sharing a leadership role with Formby, Romero looks to give advice to her fellow teammate and help her improve with her skill set. “Any pitcher that comes in, whether they come in as a freshman or as a transfer, I try to teach them the ropes,” Romero said. “I show them little things before coach tells them or before coach says it.” With her coach and Romero’s advice, Formby has grown into a leader role on the team as she prepares for the upcoming season. Head coach Kathy Van Wyk said Romero has made strides since last
Junior pitcher Alex Formby winds up for San Diego State last season. FILE PHOTO
season. “With Erica, what you see is what you get which is great consistency.,” Van Wyk said. “People have good confidence when she’s out on the mound. I don’t think she has a whole lot of improvement she needs to do except that she needs to believe in herself.” Whereas for Formby, Wan Wyk wants to add another arsenal to her tool belt. “Alex has really made some
Softball: Returning to form Continued from P1 just to spark that desire and show them what they’re capable of.” Rather than solely focusing on physical workouts, the team is also developing a strong bond with each other and sense of heart for the game. Senior utility player Sydnee Cable said this year’s team is really compatible and good about holding each other accountable. “We have to be cohesive as a team in order for all this to work,” she said. “It’s not just one person. It’s picking everybody up even if we’re down and I feel like there’s always going to be an up.” Rhythm will also be key to the team’s success this season. After many ups and
improvements with her pitches, Van Wyk said. “She was more one dimensional last year … this year we’re going to add a real good rise ball to her repertoire. So I think that’s gonna surprise some people and it’s going to be a real help for us.” With a full year under their belt splitting duties atop the mound, Formby and Romero are ready to head into the season and return to the NCAA tournament.
downs last season, settling into a solid groove will help the team develop and maintain energy. SDSU will face strong teams like San Jose State and Fresno State, who currently holds the MW crown. It is a tough conference, meaning the Aztecs can’t afford to let up. “The key with MW is consistency, because everyone is at the same level,” Van Wyk said. “I don’t think we can take anyone for granted. Last year we lost at least one game to every single team. And we lost two to a couple teams I would never have expected to lose two to.” The team is still bouncing back from a few injuries, but if it can get everyone healthy, keep everyone healthy and play good ball, the team will be on its way to a successful season. The Aztecs have their first preseason home game on Feb. 16 at 6:00 p.m. against the University of Washington in the 27th Annual Campbell/Cartier Classic. The team will kick off MW play against rival Fresno State at home on March 17.
San Diego State players gather around the mound during a game last season. FILE PHOTO
SPORTS 15
FEB. 1 - 7, 2017 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: ANTHONY RECLUSADO • SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
LAX ready to prove doubters wrong ASHLEY WASHBURN STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ After an unfortunate 2016 season for the San Diego State women’s lacrosse team, the Aztecs are back and better than ever to show the world what they have been cooking up this offseason. Last season the Scarlet and Black finished 4-11 on the year, marking their worst record in program history. However, the Aztecs open their sixth season of competition next week on the Mesa and are feeling confident about their 2017 schedule. “We have never been closer as a team than we are this year,” senior attacker Kayla Deitz said. “We have a relatively young team, but I think we all do a really great job of stepping up and taking leadership roles. “We have a lot of strong voices on the field this year, and I think that will help us be successful.” Head coach Kylee White added 11 new players to her roster this season, along with the 21 returning veterans. The 2017 newcomer class is one of the most talented groups of players San Diego State has seen yet, including numerous high school All-Americans, all-state performers, all-conference selections, and a player of the year recipient. “I forget that the freshmen are freshmen, and I keep thinking the sophomores are juniors,” White said.
Baseball: Aztecs retooled for season Continued from P1 Out of the nine regular starters for the Aztecs, eight will be returning to Tony Gwynn Stadium. “A lot of the guys last year got that experience last year, and it was valuable experience even (though) we didn’t succeed in the win column … they learned from it and grew from it,” Martinez said. “They came into the fall a
UPCOMING GAMES 2/4
vs Denver
1 p.m. PT
2/11
vs Oregon
12 p.m. PT
2/24
at Michigan
5 p.m. ET
2/26
at Detroit Mercy
12 p.m. ET
3/5
Senior midfielder Kristen Hickey looks to pass against University of Michigan last season. FILE PHOTO
“Everyone has stepped up into their roles and I couldn’t be more excited about our new additions. “We want the best players on the field and they haven’t shied away from anything, despite being younger. I’m expecting big things from our freshmen right away and am excited to play them.” Three senior captains lead the Aztecs this season, including Deitz, midfielder
Kristen Hickey and goalkeeper Katrina Reeves. All three have high expectations for the team this year and only expect greatness this season. “People don’t expect us to be good this year, but we’ve been working together since August every single day, waking up in the fall at 5:30 a.m. to just get better,” Hickey said. “People aren’t expecting much, but I know we are about to come
the men on the mesa in 2016, leading the team in doubles, triples and RBIs, all while hitting for a .302 clip. Senior pitcher Brett Seeburger echoes Adkison’s remarks. “Last year was definitely a down year for us, and a big thing we’re changing this year is the culture aspect,” Seeburger said. “We got distracted from other things, whether it be off the field or in the dugout. This year there’s a big focus on the field. We’re a bigger family.” The growth and change in culture isn’t the only reason to get excited about the Aztecs’ potential either; there’s much more just on paper. There’s the aforementioned return of eight out of the nine players in the starting lineup from last year. There’s the return of the starting shortstop, senior Danny Sheehan, who redshirted last year but hit .301 with six
vs Boston University 12 p.m. PT
out so strong on Saturday to start the season and surprise every one.” SDSU was picked to finish sixth in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Poll this season, eight points behind fifthplace UC Davis. Last year the Aztecs finished seventh in the conference standings with a 3-6 record. The Scarlet and Black begin their season, and conference play, against the University of Denver this Saturday, Feb. 4, at 1 p.m. on the Mesa. “Saturday’s going to be a very physical battle, and it’s a very exciting way to start our season,” White said. “We want everyone to come out because we know it’s going to be a fun day.”
Ride together.
“ THIS YEAR THERE’S A BIG FOCUS ON THE FIELD. WE’RE A BIGGER FAMILY.”
little bit humble and their focus is spot on” Soon enough it’ll show how the experience and growth contributes to the Scarlet and Black’s achievement, but another aspect of their game they’re expecting to make a difference is more behind-the-scenes: the culture. “We obviously don’t want to go through another losing season,” junior outfielder Tyler Adkison said. “We stepped up and are sailing our own ship, controlling our own fate. I don’t want to say we didn’t try to do that last year, but I think we got down on ourselves at times.” “We’re just trying to learn from our mistakes.” Adkison was another strong hitter for
- Brett Seeburger, Senior pitcher home runs and 45 rbi in 2015. There are freshmen who could immediately make an impact like Julian Escobedo. There’s the transfer students like senior Andrew Martinez and junior Jorge Fernandez, as both figure to be staples on the field for SDSU this season. All the growth and experience by the players from last year and those just emerging this year will all contribute to the team’s rise to success, or it could all be for naught and SDSU could continue to dwell at the bottom of the standings. One thing is for sure though: if you’re asking anyone associated with Aztec Baseball, they’re going to tell you the former.
Spring 2017 Semester
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16 SPORTS
FEB. 1 - 7, 2017 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: ANTHONY RECLUSADO • SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
Aztec Rugby team ‘close-knit’ SYDNEY OLMSTEAD ASST. SPORTS EDITOR, CLUB SPORTS ____________________________________ The family-like team culture of the San Diego State rugby club team embraces a “Tradition of Excellence” that has lead them to eight conference championships over the last 20 years. Aztec Rugby was founded in 1958 and clinched a conference title in its very first season. Since then, the team has kept a winning tradition, claiming numerous conference titles as well as the Collegiate National Championship in 1987. Over the last two decades, the team has placed no lower than third within the Southern California Rugby Football Union conference and have had annual top national rankings. In the spring of 2011, SDSU entered the USA Rugby College Division I Premier League and currently compete in the Pacific Coast Conference against powerhouses like UCLA, Cal Poly and University of Arizona. The team finished second in the state last year and earned a place in the Division IA Rugby Playoffs, but dropped its opening round playoff game to Davenport. Senior outside center Nick Lupian looks forward to this season’s road to the national championship. “It’s the year for the natty!” he said, smiling and banging on the metal bleachers excitedly. “This is probably
the most difficult schedule Aztec Rugby has had in a long time. We’re looking forward to the challenge. I mean, 80 percent of us have been together all four years.” Most of the current seniors on the team have been playing Division I rugby since their freshman year. They have experience playing a variety of top college teams and have been able to develop their own team culture. Senior flanker Kevin McGlone has been playing on the team since his freshman year. “It’s pretty much the best and only group of friends anyone needs,” McGlone said. “It’s one of the closestknit organizations I’ve ever been a part of, not only as a team, but as off-thefield friends. All of our coaches are SDSU rugby alumni, they all played together, they’re all best friends. They were groomsmen at each other’s weddings.” By the end of McGlone and Lupian’s first year in the program about nine of the 15 starter positions were filled by freshman rookies. In the last few years only one or two players have graduated, but this year there are six starters graduating. “This is four years we’ve all grown together and had the experience of playing together,” McGlone said. The team culture that has developed over those years will be what molds the way to the national championships for Aztec Rugby this season.
The San Diego State rugby team gathers to discuss their next play. SYDNEY OLMSTEAD, ASST. SPORTS EDITOR, CLUB SPORTS
The ultimate frisbee team poses for a group photo after their win. COURTESY OF JOSIAH REEVE
The ultimate goal AUSTIN GAYLE ASST. SPORTS EDITOR ____________________________________ Following senior Josiah Reeve’s lead, San Diego State’s men’s ultimate Frisbee team is set to exceed expectations in 2017. Reeve, a public health major at, has paid his dues with the Aztecs’ Ultimate Frisbee team as a four-year starter en route to becoming one of the team’s captains in 2017. Though he will be graduating this May, Reeve is set on leaving his mark on the Federalis before moving on from Frisbee. “We are working on building a program for the school and trying to get numbers to help out futures years,” Reeve said. “Previous plans included making it to nationals, but this time we are working on getting better every game and hopefully being competitive at regionals.” Improvement on a game-to-game basis is a priority for some of the top teams in the nation regardless of the sport, further proving that Reeve is spinning the Federalis’ disc in the right direction. In addition to his ability as a leader, Reeve will be the first to say he is one of the better players on the team, as confidence is just one of many positive traits he doesn’t lack. “My strengths as a player all stem from the intensity I bring to the field,” Reeve said. “I like to make sure I can
motivate my teammates and keep the energy up by leading by example. I am very fast but very short and somehow a very good deep threat. I can basically get open at any time, anywhere on the field as a cutter.” Getting open “any time, anywhere,” Reeve looks the part of a one-man wrecking crew. However, he still pointed to several other players on the team who are expected to contribute this season, include senior liberal studies major Brian Haley. Haley, a second-year player with the Federalis, is one of few players who specialize in passing the disc to cutters like Reeve. He praised Reeve for his leadership qualities and energy. “[Reeve] brings an overwhelming amount energy to practice and tournaments,” Haley said. “His energy is contagious. I enjoy playing with him, and I think he earns respect as a leader because he leads by example.” With several veterans leaving after last semester, both Haley and Reeve are expected to lead the team through the transition period. “It’s important to note that we did lose a lot of talent to graduation,” Haley said. “But the young kids on the team are showing promise, so strong performances are on the horizon.” To catch the Federalis’ next strong performance, Reeve and Co. are scheduled to participate in a tournament at UCSD Feb. 18-20. Yes, Reeve will be open then, too.
Snowboard club hits the slopes SYDNEY OLMSTEAD ASST. SPORTS EDITOR, CLUB SPORTS ____________________________________ It has been a particularly wet winter in California. San Diego has experienced its fair share of rainy days and some areas have even been subject to flooding. Luckily for the San Diego State ski and snowboard club, other areas of the state such as Tahoe and Mammoth Mountain have received hundreds of inches of snow this winter. The ski and snowboard team is part of the Southern California Collegiate Snowsports Conference (SCCSC) and competes against 11 different schools including UCLA, USC and CSU Long Beach.
It travels to various locations such as Mammoth, Big Bear and Lake Tahoe for its competitions. The team also participates in the UCCSA National Championships, which are held at Mount Bachelor in Bend, Ore. Members of the team are able to race and compete in a variety of events, including Slopestyle, Halfpip, Giant Slalom, Slalom, Boarder/Ski Cross and Rail Jams. Boarder/Ski Cross is a competition where a group of snowboarders, normally four to six, race down a course. Despite being a competitive team, boarders and skiers of all skill levels are welcome to join the club, even newbies. The team encourages everyone to participate, either competitively or recreationally, with the “emphasis of
striving to better their skills on the slopes.” The team doesn’t hold tryouts and welcomes anyone who is interested to join the club. Everyone is encouraged to race, but it is not required. All you need is an ARC membership and a good attitude. The team maintains more of a family feel, where athletes can have fun and surround themselves with friends who can help them learn and improve. For anyone looking to get out and experience this year’s pow, the first step is right here on campus. According to the A.S. website, the ski and snowboard club is currently looking to hire a new coach. Check out the ski and snowboard club’s website at arc. sdsu.edu/snowboard.
ARTS & CULTURE17
FEB. 1 - 7, 2017 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: CHRISTINE WHITMAN • SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
Sage the Gemini feels love for fans JULIANNA RESS SENIOR STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ Hip-hop artist Sage the Gemini took the stage at San Diego’s House of Blues on Friday, Jan. 27, the night reminiscent of an exhilarating college party with the combination of the nonstop energy and Sage’s young fans. Positivity is an important aspect of Sage’s music, and he describes his concerts as being sexy, fun and crazy. Sage’s passionate fans were evident from the get-go, as he stepped off the stage into the crowd almost immediately and was greeted by a cluster of eager, outstretched arms. Sage said he wants his fans to feel a sexual connection and attraction to him when they attend his shows. “(I want my fans) to feel like they’re in love,” he said. “I want them to feel like how they feel when they see Chris Brown. I want them to feel like, ‘This is my boyfriend, but he doesn’t know it.’ I want them to go home with my face on their walls and the backgrounds of their Twitters and Tumblrs.” Sage also started the concert off by bringing friend and frequent collaborator Show Banga onstage for a number of songs, including Show Banga’s “How We Rock.” Sage then went into “Swerve,” a track off his 2013 “Gas Pedal” EP, which encouraged the audience to sing along to the hook, “My name they speak on, say swerve / They mad ‘cause we on, say swerve.” “S-A-G-E,” Sage spelled to the crowd, to which they shouted in reply, “You already know me!” His 2015 single “Good Thing,” which features Nick Jonas, followed, with the increasingly excited crowd fervently singing along to Jonas’s parts. In addition to his own material, Sage also included his most well-known guest verses in his set, including his features from Iamsu’s “Only that Real,” Adrian Marcel’s “2AM” and Flo Rida’s “G.D.F.R.” The diverse set reflected the variety of artists Sage has worked with, which is an important way for him to explore new genres. “I’m doing all types of music that everyone can listen to,” he said. “You can’t limit yourself. You want to be a worldwide artist, not a citywide artist.” Sage said he wants to keep who he is currently working with a secret, and is unsure of when his next album will come out. The stage lights turned off and he asked the audience to turn on their iPhone flashlights, but added, “If you don’t got an iPhone we don’t judge,” and said to those holding up lighters, “You the MVP.” Sage’s latest release, “Now and Later,” was met with instant recognition from the audience, who may have initially heard it used in a Snapchat filter accompanied by sunglasses. “(Snapchat) helped (“Now and Later”) a lot,” Sage said. “Two great companies came together, my management and Snapchat came together and just decided to be behind me 100 percent because they saw my talent and they felt like it was a guarantee that it would be a success.” He described “Now and Later” as diving into the different layers of a relationship. “’Now and Later’ is me talking about everything with me dating a female,” Sage said. “It’s like, ‘Don’t make this hard on me, when I get you I’m going to show you what it’s really about not even
Hip-hop artist Sage the Gemini performance at the House of Blues San Diego was met by instant recognition from the audience. JULIANNA RESS, SENIOR STAFF WRITER
just sexually, but emotionally.’” Relationships are the bulk of his music’s subject matter, usually in a positive light. “(My goal when writing a song is) to paint a mental picture,” Sage said. “Put the whole story in your mind as far as what it would be like in the perfect relationship.” He said his fans often react positively to new material added to his set list. “They respond to (new) songs like it has been their favorite song for years,” Sage said. He followed “Now and Later” with his two biggest hits, “Red Nose” and “Gas Pedal,” back to back, with the response from the audience proving they were fan favorites. “Sage the Gemini’s music is just fun dance music, I always hear it at parties,” music sophomore Jesse Aaron said. “His music is just a good time.” Sage recognizes the impact his fans have had on his life and often communicates his gratitude through social media. “Without my fans there would be no me,” he said. “I’m not sitting there buying my music a million times every time it comes out.” Sage also is aware that the majority of his fan base is women, and caters his shows to them and feeds off their excitement. “Loyalty is everything,” he said. “The woman is the most powerful creature on Earth. I love all my fans and I love beautiful women. That’s what makes the world go round and that’s what makes the show go on because it’s not just me performing, it’s the ladies performing as well. If they’re screaming then they’re enjoying the show and that makes me happy, that gives me more energy to finish the show.” To end the night, Sage brought out his entire crew from offstage to dance with him to O.T. Genasis’s “CoCo,” before walking offstage to meet his adoring, loyal fans.
FEB. 1 - 7, 2017 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: CHRISTINE WHITMAN • SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
ARTS AND CULTURE 19
Engineer finds humor in everything ALEX NOBLE STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ Civil engineering and Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps sophomore Cat Seippel said she tries to find humor in every situation. Although Seippel said she always secretly wanted to become a stand-up comic, she never believed that dream would actually come true … until it did last October. As a last minute favor of a friend from the University of San Diego, Seippel filled a vacant spot in an open-mic contest. “I was so nervous that I didn’t even prepare,” Seippel said. “I just winged it and talked about my life and people thought it was funny!” During the impromptu 20-minute set, Seippel said she provided her honest and hilarious commentary on topics ranging from frat parties, to her time as a Chick-fil-A employee, all to a constant chorus of laughter and applause. Along with winning the competition, Seippel posted a video to her Facebook profile, which has since garnered thousands of views. “It felt amazing,” she said. “It was probably the best moment of my life.” Seippel describes her sense of humor as a little crude and dark, but nothing to take offense to. However, despite lifelong validation from family, friends and classmates, who voted her class clown in high school, Seippel said she surprisingly
doesn’t find herself to be very funny. “Everyone tells me I’m so funny but I’m just being me,” she said. Joking around is how Seippel said she maintains her sanity. Although she enjoys school, Seippel said she believes that comedy is a necessary outlet amidst the monotony of her often rigorous and dry course work. She describes classes such as calculus as the “end of her soul.” Fellow civil engineering major Nikolette Mazzuola said she especially appreciates Seippel’s lighthearted demeanor. “Cat is the type of person that can always make you smile,” she said. “She is just naturally funny and makes our classes way more enjoyable for me than they’d be without her.” Seippel said she feels that a sense of comradery applies to overall success in comedy. “People in engineering all have this mutual understanding of what to make fun of,” Seippel said. “We’re all just sitting in class with our brains getting fried so you kind of have to be able to just laugh at that and move on instead of getting bogged down in how hard it is.” In her spare time, Seippel is continuing to pursue a potential career in the comedy world. “I think I just have a good sense of how to relate to people,” she said. In addition to stand-up, she is also currently writing a book titled “Tinder: I’m Down to F” (“F” as in food), in
Civil engineering sophomore Cat Seippel doubles as a stand-up comic whenever possible. ALEX NOBLE, STAFF WRITER
which she discusses how she has repurposed the app as a means of getting free food and then bailing on dates.
“Life is hard,” she said. “So whatever I do, I’m glad if I can just make people happy, even if I think my jokes are pretty dumb.”
CROSSWORDS
ACROSS 1 Memo phrase 5 Music-playing Apple 9 Improvises musically 14 Primary 15 “__ Lisa” 16 Many a jukebox tune 17 Type of film industry contract 19 Capital south of Moscow 20 Former justice Antonin 21 Musician’s suffix 23 Make (one’s way) 24 M&M’s choice 27 Solidify 28 “High Voltage” band 29 Starting on 33 Soft shot 35 Mothers of Invention leader 39 Academic
ultimatum 43 Early computer 44 Quite small 45 Gear on slopes 46 Coral formation 49 Cavity filler’s org. 51 Shopper’s decision 58 Smelting waste 59 Neighbor of Turk. 60 Poke fun at 62 Dutch city, with “The” 64 Portmanteau word describing some great music ... or, initially, four answers in this puzzle 66 Modify 67 Not yours, in Tours 68 Singer k.d. 69 Superlatively bad 70 Short period of
time, for short 71 Long period of time DOWN 1 They’re hard to sit for 2 Rights org. since 1909 3 Saudi currency 4 Name on a 1945 bomber 5 Populates, as a grand jury 6 D.C. insider 7 Studio sign 8 Place for some serious me-time 9 Break down 10 High-occupancy vehicles? 11 “Farewell, ma chère” 12 Naysayer’s contraction 13 Future flowers 18 Social reformer Jacob
22 Noir sleuth 25 Texter’s “however” 26 Cooper’s tool 29 Lummox 30 Source of awakening rays 31 Back-tied sash 32 Distress signal devices 34 Fiddler’s need 36 Dental suffix with Water 37 Pressure meas. 38 Sounds of relief 40 Cupcake finisher 41 Twitter handle word for a celeb, perhaps 42 Overly focused on minor rules 47 Lip balm brand derived from “evolution of smooth” 48 Skillet 50 On a cruise 51 Dismissive word 52 Mission on a commemorative 1936 stamp 53 Beeper 54 Providers of senior moments? 55 Inventor Nikola 56 “Hi! I’m ... “ badge 57 Patsy of country 61 Heart tests, briefly 63 Del. summer hrs. 65 “The Fall of the House of Usher” author
The views expressed in this issue do not necessarily reflect those of The Daily Aztec. Comments? Email us at letters@thedailyaztec.com
20 THE BACK PAGE
FEB. 1 - 7, 2017 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: CHRISTINE WHITMAN • FEATURES@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
I died the other day, but I'm fine AHMAD DIXON STAFF WRITER ____________________________________
L
ast semester I wrote an introduction to one of the best dark arts programs in the California State University system. If you recall I wrote about “Introduction to Necromancy,” a class where I brought my dead cat to life. He may or may not be walking around campus. I enjoyed the class so much, even though I received a ‘C’ on the cat project, that I decided to take more classes in the department. A few of the other classes include potions, time travel and underworld studies. But today, I’m going to talk about underworld studies just because a curse prevents me from writing about the other two courses in any detail. Here’s some advice: don’t piss off your classmate when they are a level two mage.This semester, underworld studies is taught by Professor Hannigan, who is best described as an animated skeleton wearing a tweed suit and Christmas ties. If you look into his eye sockets for too long you may actually go insane.It is rumored a sophomore gazed into his eye sockets for too long and is currently running around naked through Death Valley. But, I’m sure she’ll be fine. Other than the fact you can’t look him in the eyes, or the void where he his eyes used to be, I have no serious problems with the professor. He posts to Blackboard frequently and actually remembers my name. He said that I remind him of himself when he actually had skin, maybe that’s why.
He often strokes my face with his skeletal hand causing me to rapidly age and de-age with every movement. I don’t mind though, I feel sorry for him because I knew it must be hard to miss all your organs and muscles. The professor is one of those, “I don’t believe in tests,” kind of guys so instead of a mid-term, he had us all go on a field trip of sorts. The rest of the class and I met on the soccer field and the professor told us to run around in circles. \We obliged because if a skeleton tells you do something you don’t say “no,” as doing so would defy all logic.
being decorated with paint, they were decorated with skin. I know for a fact it was skin because the walls bled a bit when I touched them. I took a seat next to a gentleman without a jaw and an eyeball hanging out of its socket. “How did you get here?” he asked. “I’m a student at San Diego State and my professor wants to teach me a lesson about to inevitability of death or something,” I said. “What about you?” “Motorcycle accident,” he mumbled, sounding almost embarrassed. We didn’t speak much after that. In the corner there was an old television
IT IS RUMORED A SOPHOMORE GAZED INTO HIS EYE SOCKETS FOR TOO LONG AND IS CURRENTLY RUNNING AROUND NAKED THROUGH DEATH VALLEY. After running for about 30 minutes, I starting to feel dizzy and out-of-breath. Yeah, yeah, I know. I’m out of shape. I can’t stop because I don’t want to get an ‘F’ or have the professor turn me into an old man … again. After 40 minutes, a team of graduate students appeared in black cloaks and started throwing colored powder in my face. Then after 50 minutes, due to either to the powder or my diet, I fell on to the grass … and then died shortly after. Editor’s Note: Mr. Dixon may or may not have actually died during this experience. After experiencing an indescribable darkness and a formless void, I found myself in what looked liked a dentist waiting room, except instead of the walls
DASNAPSHOTS
Photo
playing Conan re-runs. I guess even in death you have to keep yourself mildly entertained. I stared at the set trying not to look at motorcycle guy too much, when the door up front began to creep open. Out of it came a gentleman in a blue cardigan and tan pants. Other than his clothes he looked like he was made of glass, or another translucent material, as I could see his blood pass through his veins. He said apathetically, “Your turn, Dixon.” I got up and walked through the door. Motorcycle guy rolled his one good eye because I got called first, I don’t know what he was mad about, it's not like he has anywhere else to go. Plus Conan was
interviewing Bill Hader, I wish I could have stuck around for that. As we walked down the hallway I tried to make small talk. “So do you like working here?” I yelled, so he could hear me over the screaming and the crying of the recently deceased. My guide shrugged and said, “Yeah, it beats what just about every other person is doing down here.” We stopped walking at a door labeled “Dixon.” “Okay this one’s yours, enjoy,” he said before opening the door and kicking me inside. When I recovered from the kick I saw another skeleton, this one with a baseball bat. I said, “So this is it?” He hit me in the back. “Why’d you do that?” I asked exasperatedly. He hit me again. “Why?” He hit me. This time I didn’t say anything and he continued to hit me. It didn’t hurt that much, but if given the choice I would have preferred not to be hit repeatedly. After about five hours of a skeleton hitting me with a Louisville Slugger I woke up on the soccer field with Professor Hannigan standing over me. He asked me what I got out of this whole experience and I said, “I probably should do some good deeds so your cousin doesn’t beat me for an eternity.” The moral of the story is that if you don’t want to end up like me, please treat people kindly … or something along those lines. I thought I would have better advice, but honestly, I am still learning how everything works myself. Maybe it’s all just kind of pointless.
SUDOKU HOW TO PLAY: Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box contains every digit 1 to 9. DIFFICULTY LEVEL:
3/4
CROSSWORDS & SUDOKU PUZZLES PROVIDED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC., ©2017 PUZZLE SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT THEDAILYAZTEC.COM SUDOKU PUZZLES SPONSORED BY AZTEC RECREATION
DID YOU KNOW WATER FALLS?
Photo editor Kelly Smiley snapped this photo while hiking with friends around "Devil's Punchbowl."