02-16-2015

MONDAY, FEB. 16 - WEDENSDAY, FEB. 18, 2015 • VOLUME 101 • ISSUE 43 Opinion • P4-5

Study finds college freshmen report drinking less

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News • P3

Read both sides of the divestment discussion

#SDSUTG19

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The San Diego State Aztec baseball honored the late Tony Gwynn by retiring his No. 19 jersey prior to opening its season on Friday, Feb. 13.

The late Tony Gwynn’s No. 19 jersey is memorialized in a plaque prior on Friday, Feb. 13.

SARAH SMITH, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

SNEAKPEEK

His name once again echoed around the stadium. The fans once again cheered his introduction. “Play hard, have fun,” as he always said.

The late great Tony Gwynn’s No. 19 was retired Saturday night in an emotional ceremony at the baseball stadium bearing his name, with his family present and in front of 2,519 fans.

“It’s very hard to not get choked up and shed some tears, I did that tonight, the standing ovation was unbelievable, it just gives you chills every time you see that many people rise for coach Gwynn,” head coach Mark Martinez said.

Tony Gwynn was San Diego State baseball’s head coach for the past 12 seasons.

San Diego radio personality Ted Leitner delivered the first speech, in which he said that Tony Gwynn, who passed away from cancer in June, is still here and will never be gone.

SDSU Athletic Director Jim Sterk spoke and presented Tony’s wife Alicia Gwynn with a framed No. 19 jersey.

Tony’s brother Chris Gwynn, who along with Tony Gwynn played for the San Diego Padres, told a story of when the Padres played a game in Cincinnati in a driving rainstorm.

Chris Gwynn had just finished his atbat and Tony Gwynn asked him how the batter’s box was. Chris replied it was “a little soupy,” and that the only way the game was going to be called was if Tony Gwynn went up to the batter’s box and acted like he couldn’t see.

An inning-and-a-half later, Tony Gwynn walked up to the batter’s box, took his helmet off, wiped the water away, put his bat under his arm, and the umpire called for the tarps.

Leitner introduced the unveiling of a No. 19 out in right field to a standing ovation. There’s also a new mural above the right-field wall that depicts Gwynn alongside murals of Golden Spikes Award winners and former SDSU baseball players Stephen Strasburg and Travis Lee. During SDSU baseball’s final home series every year, one player will wear the No. 19 jersey in honor of Gwynn in something Martinez hopes will become a new tradition.

This weekend against Valparaiso University, senior first-baseman Ryan Muno wore No. 19. He said he was honored to wear the number.

“It’s definitely humbling and it’s definitely a privilege at the same time,” Muno said.

Tony Gwynn Jr. threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and Tony Gwynn’s daughter Anisha Gwynn Jones sang the national anthem.

P8 Winston Shepard on the court MONICA LINZMEIER, EDITOR IN CHIEF

The game itself was back-and-forth with the Aztecs winning 5-4. Videos ranging from clips of Tony Gwynn’s MLB Hall of Fame speech to videos of players sharing their favorite memories of their late coach played every half-inning.

Muno, whom Leitner mistakenly called “Tony Muno,” received a standing ovation on his first at-bat.

Junior pitcher Bubba Derby was phenomenal, striking out 14 batters in five and two-thirds.

The Crusaders grabbed a run in the sixth inning before a wild seventh inning in which Aztecs’ sophomore pitcher C.J. Saylor hit three batters in a row, eventually leading to 4-3 Valparaiso lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, junior shortstop Danny Sheehan grounded out to the shortstop, driving in junior outfielder Spencer Thornton. Then junior catcher Seby Zavala doubled to left field, scoring senior outfielder Steven Pallares.

Martinez said it was a little difficult to focus on baseball all week with the anticipation of such an emotional ceremony.

But that wouldn’t stop the team from just playing baseball.

“Once the game starts you just kind of do what you’ve been doing for a long time and you just go out and play the game and coach the game the way you know how,” Martinez said after the game.

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2 NEWS

FEB. 16 - 18, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: DAVID HERNANDEZ • NEWS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#GRADUATIONRATES

SDSU labeled ‘underrated’ college EMELY NAVARRO STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ Business Insider has ranked San Diego State one of “The 50 Most Underrated Colleges in America” for the 2015 year.

The university was ranked No. 38 last month, partly because SDSU is the only college in California to see graduation rates rise by more than 10 percent in the past decade, according to the Business Insider.

The university uses certain tools, such as the Major Academic Plans function on Blackboard, to help students follow and enroll in courses that provide foundational academic work.

SDSU also mandates that all freshmen not living in the local San Diego area live on campus in a dorm.

“Studies have shown that students who live on campus are more likely to continue on to their second year, are less likely to go on academic probation, and are more likely to graduate at a faster pace than students who do not live on campus,” SDSU President Elliot Hirshman said.

Some dorms have Residential Learning Communities that link students’ living environment with certain academic experiences, giving them more exposure to their field and opening up more networking opportunities.

San Diego State’s graduation rate has increased more than 10 percent in the past decade.

MONICA LINZMEIER, EDITOR IN CHIEF

“Residents of the communities report higher grade point averages, higher retention rates to their sophomore year, a greater likelihood to graduate in four years and an overall better college experience,” Hirshman said.

Aside from what the university is doing overall to increase graduation ratings, each college has certain methods of improving the success rate of their students.

“The School of Nursing recently

implemented a new curriculum that will ensure four-year graduation rates,” Assistant Dean for Student Affairs in the College of Health and Human Services Donna Daly said. “Our other disciplines work closely to identify and remove barriers to four-year graduate rates.”

The College of Health and Human Services endorses a strength-based, student-centered model in the advising and mentoring it provides. The college also use a “data-driven” approach for

student outreach efforts and utilizes university alerts to track students who are falling behind to provide those students appropriate coaching and mentoring.

In the 2013-14 academic year, SDSU awarded 6,563 Bachelor degrees, an increase from the 6,109 Bachelor degrees given out in the 2012-13 academic year, according to SDSU’s Analytic Studies and Institutional Research page.

The four-year graduation rates have increased by ethnicities at least 2 percent over the past six years, as shown on SDSU’s Full-Time First-Time Freshman Graduation Rates by Ethnicity page. The four-year graduation rate for Hispanic students increased from 22.7 percent in 2004 to 24.3 percent in the fall 2010 semester. The students of color fouryear graduation rates went up from 24.1 percent to 26 percent between 2004 to 2010. The white graduation rate went from 34.2 percent to 42.6 percent over the same six-year period. Figures up until 2010 were the latest available online.

Still, on average a higher percentage of students take five years to graduate, as listed on the SDSU Full-Time FirstTime Freshman Graduation Rates by Ethnicity page. As of 2010, 51.4 percent of Hispanics, 51.5 percent of students of color and 67.2 percent of whites take five years to graduate.

#SIGMAPHIEPSILON

SDSU sets sanctions on fraternity probed

EMELY NAVARRO STAFF WRITER _____________________________________ Student Life and Leadership issued Sigma Phi Epsilon a warning after members of the fraternity allegedly yelled obscenities during a rally against sexual assault last semester.

The fraternity will have to undergo educational training and participate in events that educate the Greek community on sexual violence as part of the warning.

Based on the investigation conducted

by Student Life and Leadership that concluded last month, the university decided it is likely that certain individuals of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity engaged with the marchers of

the anti-rape event.

“The names of the members that were identified to be involved in the incident were forwarded to the campus Title IX Coordinator for further review” Associate Vice President for Campus Life Christy Samarkos said. “Being that these individuals committed these behaviors in a facility owned by the chapter and the manner in which the chapter members reacted to the allegations, there was sufficient information to warrant a warning.”

During the investigation the Student Life and Leadership staff spoke with various individuals, including the individuals accused of harassment to better understand what occurred during the anti-rape rally.

“For this investigation, Student Life

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and Leadership received inconsistent information that took longer to analyze,” Samarkos said.

Aside from the warning, the fraternity received educational sanctions require Sigma Phi Epsilon to: • Support the Interfraternity Council moratorium on social events and fully participate in required activities that educate the Greek community on sexual violence as agreed upon earlier in the academic year.

• Develop and implement a program that addresses sexual violence and bystander intervention with cooperation of their national office and SDSU Student Life and Leadership staff members.

Every member of the house is required to participate in the program mentioned

above and must complete it by April 1.

Samarkos said Sigma Phi Epsilon members, its advisors, alumni and national representatives have been cooperative in the process.

The fraternity underwent an investigation after a Take Back the Night rally against sexual assault on Nov. 21 in which rally marchers said they were harassed by fraternity members of Sigma Phi Epsilon and Delta Sigma Phi. After an investigation, Delta Sigma Phi was shut down due to various violations throughout the semester, including the harassment that occurred during the anti-rape rally.

Director of Student Life and Leadership Randy Timm and the Sigma Phi Epsilon President and did not return requests to comment.

NEWS 3

FEB. 16 - 18, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: DAVID HERNANDEZ • NEWS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#COLLEGEDRINKING

Freshmen report low alcohol intake COLLEEN LARSON STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ Incoming college freshman reported lower rates of alcohol consumption than in previous years, according to a survey recently released by the University of California, Los Angeles.

The rate of students who reported drinking beer as a teenager was recorded at 74.2 percent in 1981, but has since dropped, to 33.2 percent last year.

The annual survey is conducted as part of the Cooperative Institutional Research Program. Kevin Eagan, director of the UCLA program, said the CIRP Freshman Survey originated in 1966 as a way for universities to develop a baseline of data about their incoming freshman.

Eagan said he was surprised at the substantial decline over the past decade relating to the time students spent partying, drinking and socializing.

“Students who are starting college these days have heard for years about the importance of doing well in school, getting involved in extracurricular activities and making their college applications as strong as possible,” Eagan said. “It seems as though students have taken that message to heart, and their social lives may have been sacrificed along the way.”

Sophomore Michael Leggerie said he thinks a reason why the rate has decreased could be because stores

are more strict about selling to those under 21 years of age and ID cards are becoming harder to duplicate.

Meanwhile, a study published by the University of Michigan in December of 2013 showed that the disapproval of binge drinking among teenagers has gradually increased while perceived availability of alcohol has been declining.

This data also brings up a significant question: Should the inexperience of incoming freshman be cause for concern when entering college with more freedom and opportunity to drink?

Eagan said if students are reporting accurately that they have never drank wine, beer or liquor in high school, when then they arrive to college with no experience or exposure to alcohol and without the proper guidance or education, students could end up pushing their limits too far.

He said this presents universities with the opportunity to ensure they are conducting the appropriate education and outreach programs for the incoming freshmen.

San Diego State requires all freshmen and transfer students to complete the online eCHECK UP TO GO. The program, conducted by the Alcohol and Other Drugs Task Force, allows incoming students to monitor drinking patterns, identify the risk factors and become familiar with the resources and guidance available on and around campus.

According to the SDSU Police

#REVENGEPORN

San Diego State police say a student who posted a nude photo of his ex-girlfriend did not commit a crime.

SARAH SMITH, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

SDSU police drop revenge porn case DAVID HERNANDEZ NEWS EDITOR ____________________________________ The San Diego State Police Department determined a student who allegedly posted nude photographs of his exgirlfriend did not commit a crime.

The woman told the police department her ex-boyfriend posted on Instagram nude photographs she sent him three months ago while they were in a relationship.

The woman found out the photos were posted on Instagram on Jan. 28 after a friend saw the post and told her about it.

SDSU police Capt. Josh Mays said the person in the photo posted must be identifiable in order for the action to be considered a crime.

Initially he said the case appeared to be a crime and the police department would determine the motivation for posting the picture.

“It was determined this specific case did not meet all the crime elements and

therefore no crime was committed,” he said.

Posting nude photographs of an exgirlfriend or ex-boyfriend, commonly referred to as “revenge porn,” is a misdemeanor crime if the photo was publicly distributed with the intention to cause emotional distress. The victim is required to prove he or she suffered emotional distress.

Mays said detectives interviewed the woman and the man, both SDSU students.

“I cannot speak to if the photo was taken down or not,” Mays said.

The investigation concluded last week.

A San Diego jury recently convicted a man that ran a “revenge porn” website on 27 felony counts including identity theft and extortion. The case was the first of its kind and the man will face up to 20 years in prison at his sentencing.

The website often included personal information such as the name of the individual in the photo and would charge victims $300 to $350 to have their photos taken down.

THINKSTOCK

Department Crime Report for oncampus liquor law violations, the violations dropped from 77 in 2011, to 21 in 2013. The arrest rate for liquor law violations in residence halls — where most freshmen live — dropped from 28 in 2011, to 5 in 2013.

Eagan said he is currently working on a program that will be able to monitor the drinking behaviors of students through their college years to determine how pre-college experience with alcohol determines the students drinking behaviors in college.

4 OPINION

FEB. 16 - 18, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: ELPIN KESHISHZADEH • OPINION@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

T N E M DIVE T #SDSUDIVEST

WHAT IS THE DIVESTMENT MOVEMENT? ––– A divestment usually calls for the discontinued investment in a certain good, company or product associated with political views or ideologies. Divestment movements are put into place to pressure social change onto a government. Divestment movements exist in many different forms. The first of, which we saw historically, was the divestment from South Africa apartheid. The divestment movement from South Africa, a movement that caught speed in the mid ‘80s, sought to divest all funds, investments and stocks from South Africa, in order to pressure the government to end the apartheid system. Today, we see many forms of divestment, including divestment from fossil fuels, tobacco and most controversially, Israel.

Letter to the editor: Time to divest

A

s students of San Diego State University, we pride ourselves in our cultural diversity; we tell the world that “Leadership Starts Here.”

This semester we have a chance to prove it, because what is leadership but making the decisions that matter; the ones that are difficult to make, because they require us to see things differently.

Students supporting divestment envision a better world in which our university doesn’t make money off other people’s oppression.

By acknowledging there is something fundamentally wrong with our university profiting off of human rights violations, we will have made the ethical choice. By lending our voice to call on our university to divest from any companies that enable and sustain the illegal military occupation of the Palestinian people, we will have heeded the call for justice.

Last summer, on TV and computer screens across America, we were all reminded of the brutal realities of

the Israeli occupation of Palestine. We watched in horror as Israel launched a vicious military campaign against the Palestinian people, killing over 500 children in an assault described by Amnesty International as a force of “callous indifference.”

This disproportionate attack on civilians was made possible by our university’s continued investment in companies and corporations that supply and enable the Israeli army to continue to operate under complete impunity.

Any socially responsible student would agree that our complacency in this violence must end and that the moral thing to do is to divest.

Divestment seeks to help the Palestinian people who suffer from egregious human rights violations, including the crimes of collective punishment, home demolitions, arbitrary arrest, restriction of movement, and unlawful death. In return, they have called on the international community to take peaceful action in the form of Divestment until they

are guaranteed equal rights, freedom from occupation, and a right to return to their homes. These are not strange or alien demands; these are basic human rights that as Americans should resonate quite deep within all of us. We have a chance as students of SDSU to stand up for these rights and demand justice for all. Dozens of universities across the nation, including seven universities in our sister UC system, have already made their voices heard in this movement and it is our turn to do the same.

This year, the divestment resolution will be in the form of a referendum, meaning all students will get to vote on whether or not our university will continue to be invested in companies profiting off war crimes.

This movement asks that we stand with the persecuted Palestinian people, who have long been the victims of belligerent oppressors and silent observers. The former has been a direct result of the diplomatic and military backing of the United States,

and the latter is in the form of institutions, such as our university, that have chosen to continue to provide the weapons and technology necessary to sustain the illegal occupation. Prior to the recent assault on Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made clear his refusal to accept Palestinian self-determination in the West Bank. Following the 50-day massacre, Israel announced that it would defy international law and seize another 1,000 acres of Palestinian land in the West Bank for future illegal settlements and issued eviction notices to Palestinians residing there.

Only international pressure can compel Israel to accept the just demands of the Palestinian people and passing divestment at SDSU can help increase this pressure.

We must stand in solidarity with the oppressed; we must answer the call to divest.

-Students for Justice in Palestine co-President and computer science junior Osama Alkhawaja

Divest from an unjust business agreement COURTNEY WHITE CONTRIBUTOR ____________________________

I

vy League schools such as Harvard and Stanford have launched major movements towards divestment from Israel, and frankly, San Diego State is falling behind.

According to a Harvard University Institute of Politics article, divestment from companies — while having little financial impact — has a large role in facilitating public discourse and statistically results in real change.

To divest is to discontinue investing in companies that profit from Israeli human rights violations against Palestinians.

These companies SDSU invests in include: Caterpillar, General Electric, Hewlett Packard and Motorola. These companies contribute to violence against Palestinians through their

production of weaponry, segregated cell phone systems, targeted radar surveillance and missile pieces.

Rhetoric and writing graduate student and Students for Justice in Palestine member, Bo Elder, shed some light on the values and consequences of divestment.

He said the idea students can’t help is a myth.

For SDSU students who want to make a difference and believe it needs to be democratically decided within the student body — signing the petition on the SJP website is a great first step.

“It’s ordinary people here responding to the call for solidarity from ordinary people in Palestine,” said Elder.

On Feb. 10, Stanford’s Associated Students motion for divestment was defeated with just one vote under the required number. Last

November, University of California, Los Angeles passed a vote in the student senate to move forward in the divestment process. All the while, pro-Israel groups have been absent at most of these meetings to protest or pass comment.

There have been reports of unwelcoming behavior towards Jewish proIsrael activists in the UC system, and divestment, in no way, supports this behavior. It should be obvious that supporting divestment doesn’t equate to supporting harassment and discrimination.

In 2013, The Daily Aztec interviewed SDSU director of Hillel Jackie Tolley, who said, “Students at SDSU would be better served with an effort to support a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict’ rather than a resolution that

is part of an international campaign whose hidden agenda is to eradicate the Jewish state and the only democracy in the Middle East.”

Elder didn’t see validity in this statement and said that a state cannot be ethically exclusive and democratic.

People have different reasons for supporting divestment, and they won’t all be good reasons, but it’s important to focus on the real consequences. This is the only ethical way to build awareness and collective power to make a change.

For the full versions of all articles in this section, visit thedailyaztec.com

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OPINION 5

FEB. 16 - 18, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: ELPIN KESHISHZADEH • OPINION@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

Sarah Katularu, President of Students Supporting Israel, sat down with The Daily Aztec to discuss divestment and its impact on campus ____________________________ DAILY AZTEC: WHAT IS THE DIVESTMENT CAMPAIGN? Sarah Katalaru: The divestment campaign is basically a movement to get the school to pass a referendum or resolution that makes the school divest from Israel and any coportaiont that profit from Israel.

DA: WHY DO YOU OPPOSE DIVESTMENT? SK: As the president of Students Supporting Israel, I believe that there are

better ways to help people who live under any type of oppression. Especially with the whole narrative that Israel is oppressing the Palestinians, a lot of these claims are not true. It’s crucial that we get the information out there to show what’s actually happening in the Middle East.

The Palestinians are not being oppressed by Israel, there is more to this conflict than what meets the eye.

we can help Palestinians by having fundraisers. We are a pro-Israel group, and we care very much about the Palestinians and we want to try to help them as well. We are also trying to create dialogue between other organizations on campus. Divesting from Israel isn’t helping any of that, we need to be proactive and not contribute to something that is going to be divisive on campus.

DA: WHY DO YOU SUPPORT ISRAEL? SK: I support Israel because it is the only place in the Middle East where Jews, Arabs, Christians, Druze and many other religions can live together in peace. Israel has provided refuge for persecuted LGBT people, Christians and Muslims from the Middle East and Africa. Israel is continuously improving its policies on immigration and gay marriage because of this.

Israel is providing the leading technology and medical care around the world to those in need. But, sadly, many people don’t see this because of the negative propaganda in the media.

DA: WHAT DO YOU WISH THE STUDENT BODY KNEW ABOUT DIVESTMENT? SK: Something I really want students to know is that divestment isn’t something that just came up. It’s been around for a while, it’s part of a larger movement called Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, also known as the BDS movement.

The movement was actually started by a student who went to an Israeli university, Tel Aviv University, and decided that the best way to liberate Palestine was by delegitimizing Israel and destroying Israel’s economy.

Divestment is a branch off of that and it’s something that’s been promoted across on college campuses. Its mission is to help promote the BDS movement and to help it to get bigger and stronger. So, ultimately, what I want people to know is that this is not something that is benefitting our campus at all; it’s not

DA: WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO AS A PRESIDENT TO OPPOSE DIVESTMENT? SK: As the president, I think what’s crucial in opposing divestment is educating people about what’s really going on in Israel and about ways that

something that is helping the Palestinians. It only contributes to this larger hate movement. By delegitimizing Israel, at its core, it means to destroy the Jewish state, Israel, and that is, to some level, anti-Semitic and we’ve seen across college campuses how divestment has lead to antiSemitism.

DA: WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR ABOUT DIVESTMENT? SK: My biggest fear is that the campus climate will be even worse than it is. Right now, groups on campus are not really communicating with each other about this issue and by having this hateful resolution on campus, it’s only going to create that barrier thicker and stronger and ultimately it will divide us. Especially when SDSU is proud of being such a diverse and inclusive environment, I believe that divestment will compromise our school’s spirit.

DA: DO YOU THINK STUDENTS CAN MAKE A SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS EDUCATED DECISION ABOUT THE CONFLICT? SK: I do and I don’t. I feel like there are some students who are very educated about the topic and have been studying it and researching it for a while, so I believe they can. Even myself, it took me a very long time, even having Israeli parents, coming from

an Israeli home and living in Israel, I think that I still don’t understand the conflict to such an extent to where I’d want to make such a decision. I think it takes a really long time to learn about the conflict in it’s entirety and I don’t think you can decide overnight whether or not you want to divest or not. I don’t think that students are in the place to vote on something like this.

DA: DO YOU THINK IT’S APPROPRIATE FOR STUDENTS TO MAKE A DECISION? SK: I don’t think it’s appropriate for a school setting. Students are focused on their studies, and putting a decision on them and making them decide what’s right for the Palestinians is something that they shouldn’t even have to think about. They have so many other things that they’re focused on, and I don’t think it’s appropriate for our students to make a decision, as our academic institution.

DA: WHAT IS YOUR HOPE FOR THE FUTURE FOR PRO-ISRAEL STUDENTS? SK: My hope is having more pro-Palestinian events, but also having coalitions with other groups on campus and promoting peace. I want us to invest in peace rather than divesting from it. Divestment is counterproductive because it divests from our community on campus, and ultimately peace.

Divestment support compromises academic integrity ANTHONY BERTEAUX ASST. OPINION EDITOR _____________________________________

I

used to believe in divestment.

However, after extensively researching the complicated and complex nature of the conflict, and having spoken to various Israelis and Palestinians in Israel this past winter break, I can conclude that the divestment campaign provides a dishonest, disingenuous and completely incorrect perspective on the complicated history that is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Jonathan Graubart, Director of the International Security and Conflict Resolution Program

It blatantly appropriates the Palestinian narrative to simplify a conflict that is unfathomably complicated. To fully understand it, as educated students, we need to take all perspectives into account.

While Students for Justice in Palestine’s intentions may be well-intended, the completely one-sided nature of their narrative about the conflict, by holding only Israeli authority responsible for the tragedies of war, is disingenuous to the nuances.

All of the following statements can be true. While Hamas places explosives

DAILY AZTEC: WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON DIVESTMENT? Jonathan Graubart: In general, since I support citizen activism and citizen engagement, I believe that divestment is consistent with these values. The thing about the divestment issue, dealing with Israel and Palestine, is there is an issue of: what is it you’re protesting and what do you want to happen?

There’s certainly been an internal political struggle among those who want to change United States policy on what the proper tactics are.

What types of divestments do you propose and what are you calling for. The idea is — which I think is necessary — that the political structure in the U.S. does not lend itself to reflecting popular will on Israel

under schools and hospitals and the IDF brings in humanitarian aid, two IDF soldiers can commit the same war crimes that their enemies do.

However by divesting, we are refusing to learn about these nuances. As students who strive to be educated and openminded, divesting is not the answer.

This disproportionate and illogical criticism of Israeli policy exists because divestment isn’t pro-Palestinian by any means. It seeks to only be anti-Israel.

I’m not expecting to change SJP’s mind about the conflict. They have made their mind about divestment and seem to have

and Palestine. I believe citizen activism is needed.

DA: WHAT DO YOU WISH THE STUDENT BODY KNEW ABOUT THE CONFLICT? JG: To me, what is most crucial is looking at how the U.N. has treated Israel and Palestine over the years and what’s international law has to say about issues like the occupation and self-determination. So we need to put it in a broader perspective, rather than label it as an “anti-Israel” or “proPalestine” issue. It’s crucial to think about it generally in terms of international law, and international public policy issues.

DA: WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO STUDENT

agreed to further push the Palestinians and our school away from peaceful resolutions in the Middle East through the divestment campaign.

Who I’m trying to speak to is you, SDSU student.

You’re the one who hasn’t made up your mind about divestment yet. You’re the one who can make a difference and stand up against hatred. We all have a choice to do what is right. We have a choice right here and now to end misinformation and hate.

I choose education, co-existence and peace. What are you going to choose?

ACTIVISTS? JG: Two big things I want student activists to know: Accept the fact that people see it very differently without assuming the other person is evil and as much as possible, try to be committed to a higher level of discussion.

That’s my hope, is that this divestment issue will encourage students to think more intensely and in a more sophisticated way. The university setting is important to get students to learn how to think more thoughtfully about these issues.

I’m encouraging that, in my role as ISCOR director, to have an informational forum session, where it’s not a nasty debate about who is the greater terrorist. However, to think about: What are the issues?

What are the big arguments

for? What are they against? It’s important to interrogate both sides and to allow students to think about it. Because, however it comes out, it’s an important public policy issue.

DA: DO YOU BELIEVE THAT SDSU STUDENTS HAVE A ROLE AS GLOBAL CITIZENS IN MAKING A DECISION ABOUT THIS CONFLICT? JG: It’s interesting. My brother is a rabbi. We come out very differently on this divestment issue; I support it, he opposes it. However, we both agree that, sure at the end it doesn’t really matter if SDSU votes for it or votes against it.

There are a lot more factors at stake and a lot more causes driving U.S. foreign policy. It makes sense for students to be talking about these issues.

6 MUNDO AZTECA

FEB. 16 - 18, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: DAVID HERNANDEZ • NEWS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#ORATORIAYDEBATE

Club de debate agoja a nuevo líder JENNIFER PERALTA ESCRITORA _____________________________ Hace dos semestres se integró el profesor Daniel IberriShea al departamento de comunicaciones y ahora es el nuevo director del club de oratoria y debate en la Universidad Estatal de San Diego (SDSU).

Iberri-Shea se convirtió en el líder ya que la directora anterior, Sharon Taylor, se jubiló.

Su equipo cuenta con 30 estudiantes, dos entrenadores de debate y dos de discurso que se preparan para 27 torneos durante el ano.

Su equipo de oratoria y debate está entrenando para competir a escala nacional, en una competencia en la que solamente aceptaron a 64 equipos de debate.

Uno de los estudiantes de Iberri-Shea obtuvo el primer lugar cunado concursó el pasado fin de semana en la Universidad de Pont Loma Nazarene en el debate de Lincoln Douglas.

El estudiante, Darron De Villez, quien es el capitán del equipo, dijo que la primera prioridad de Iberri-Shea y sus equipo es el rendimiento

El profesor Daniel Iberri-Shea es el nuevo director del club de oratoria y debate en la Universidad Estatal de San Diego.

CHAD CADDY, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

académico.

DE POLEMISTA A DIRECTOR Para Iberri-Shea no fue fácil obtener una carrera, ya que cuando tenía 17 anos decidió completar un diploma de equivalencia general en lugar de graduarse de la preparatoria porque no estaba de acurdo con el personal de su preparatoria y no obtuvo la ayuda necesaria del personal. El motivo porque comparte esto es porque quiere ser una inspiración para sus estudiantes. Nacido en San Fernandino Valley, su

perseverancia no lo detuvo y allí fue y se integro al colegio y hizo dos años y compitió en discursos de debate.

Su discursos de debate permitieron que le otorgaran una beca completa a la Universidad del Norte de Arizona, en donde se quedó como director después de graduarse.

Después se unió a la Universidad Estatal de Colorado y fundo el club de oratoria y debate. El club obtuvo $50,000 para que sus estudiantes pudieran cubrir los gastos de vuelos al viajar a competencias.

En SDSU la escuela de

comunicaciones provee los fondos al equipo de oratoria y debate pero aún así los gastos son costosos para mandar a estudiantes a competir fuera del país. El equipo trata de incrementar su presupuesto al contactar a estudiantes anteriores que pertenecían al equipo para pedirles donaciones.

APLICANDO ARTES MARCIALES El profesor de oratoria y debate es parte de un equipo de artes mariales llamado Judo.

“La gente se confunde

con la metáfora de violencia cuando escuchan que enseño argumentación y lo conjugo con la perspectivita de las artes marciales Judo”, Iberri-Shea dijo. “La gente piensa que al escuchar esto estoy enseñado a ser violento con sus palabras pero esto no es cierto. Judo te ensena a perder y juagar limpio al ser flexible y saberse adaptar.

Yo les enseño a hacer buenos argumentos y no tener miedo a su oponente”.

La profesora Brianna Quintero es entrenadora del equipo en SDSU “(Iberri-Shea) trae tanta energía positiva”, Quintero dijo. “Él es un polemista brillante, pero también es compatible con el discurso y eventos individuales”.

Quintero agregó que IberriShea está genuinamente interesado en ayudar a los miembros del equipo sin importar los intereses diversos.

Será un semestre lleno de compromisos y grandes competencias para el equipo de oratoria y debate, pero al profesor le gusta su trabajo, su departamento y el equipo con quien trabaja. Parce ser un futuro prometedor para los estudiantes con Iberri-Shea en el timón.

FEB. 16 - 18, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: JENNA MACKEY PHOTO@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

PHOTO 7

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8 SPORTS

FEB. 16 - 18, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: KRISTIAN IBARRA • SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#AZTECMBB

Shepard battles past pinky pain MATTHEW BAIN ASST. SPORTS EDITOR ____________________________ Here’s how Drugs.com describes a dislocated finger: “A dislocated finger is crooked, painful and swollen, and its surface skin may be cut, scraped or bruised. If a dislocated finger has been straightened on the playing field, it may feel abnormally loose, weak or unstable afterward.”

According to WebMD.com, one should see a doctor “at once” after dislocating a finger and should apply an ice pack while elevating the injury above heart level.

Neither site suggests playing a basketball game to help remedy the painful situation. Nor does either site indicate a doubledouble could help cure the injury.

But that’s what junior forward Winston Shepard did Saturday night at Viejas Arena, scoring 19 points and grabbing 11 boards as his Aztecs beat the Colorado State University Rams 72-63. “(My pinky’s) hurting right now, but my pinkies were already crooked before,” Shepard said. “It’ll be all right.

I felt it (during the second half), but like I told coach, I don’t go left that much anyways, so I’ll be all right.”

Late in the first half Shepard drove along the baseline to the hoop, but CSU senior forward J.J. Avila stood in the way and knocked the ball out of bounds.

Shepard immediately grimaced and clenched his fist. When he unclenched, those close enough could see his left pinky was bent in a way no human appendage should be.

SDSU head athletic trainer Tim Abdenour taped Shepard up and the junior Aztec went on to score 10 points and grab eight boards in the second half

en route to his second career double-double.

The Aztecs began this game much like they did against University of Wyoming: on a tear.

SDSU outscored the Rams 10-3 and held them to 1-9 shooting in the first 5:05.

Avila picked up his game after that stretch, though, and scored nine of his 24 points during the next 8:14 to spur a Rams’ 17-9 scoring run that put them ahead 20-19.

SDSU snatched the momentum right back with nine straight points from senior forward J.J. O’Brien. While leading 28-24, junior forward Skylar Spencer swatted away a would-be layup and Shepard quickly followed that with corner-3-pointer that shook Viejas like it hasn’t shaken all year.

The Aztecs finished the first half on an 11-2 scoring run to take a 37-26 lead, and the Rams never got within six points in the second half.

Spencer almost earned himself a triple-double, scoring nine points to go along with six boards and six blocks.

But his most memorable stat of the night might have been his 5-6 clip from the charity stripe.

“I’ve been working on free throws. You can ask anybody,” he said. “I’ve been spending extra time on that, so any time I get to go to the line and knock them down I’m confident in doing that.”

Last week was significant for SDSU, as it beat two of the three biggest challengers for the MW regular-season crown and gave itself some cushion atop the conference standings.

“Coming off a loss at Boise State, that was tough,” Shepard said. “Then the back door had to play probably two of the top three or four teams in the

Junior forward Winston Shepard scored 19 points in San Diego State’s victory vs. Colorado State University.

MONICA LINZMEIER, EDITOR IN CHIEF

conference, we could be sitting here looking at 8-5 instead of 10-3. That just speaks to the guys we have in our locker room, our coaching staff, how much

we love the game and how competitive we are to not let our team slide or get into a slump.”

SDSU next travels to play the University of New Mexico

#NCAACONCUSSIONS

Lobos (14-11, 6-7 MW) at The Pit. Tipoff is at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 17. Fans can watch the game on CBS Sports Network or tune in to The Mighty 1090 AM.

COMMENTARY

Brain injuries bruising America’s game MIKE HERAL SENIOR STAFF COLUMNIST _____________________________________

A

report that says there were fewer concussions in the NFL this year looks like good news, but it isn’t. It’s a worthless stat. The problem is that it relies too much on a player self-reporting symptoms and a team doctor concurring. That’s sad because the stakes of getting it wrong are too high. Too many former players have disabilities because teams were allowed to hide injuries. We must improve concussion protocol by getting rid of its loopholes.

In late January, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green told radio host Dan Patrick that it’s easy to skirt concussion protocol. Players are hiding the symptoms from trainers. Sure, trainers get the final say, but they are

compromised by being on the same payroll as the players and coaches.

The trainer is helpless when caught between the ire of an angry coach, a worried owner and a player who doesn’t understand long-term consequences.

NFL teams have a long, sordid history of neglecting safety.

During the same week that Green opened up, HBO’s “Real Sports” aired a feature on the 1985 Chicago Bears.

Thirty years later, the surviving Bears are in trouble. One by one, the defanged monsters of the midway said they were done in by being allowed to abuse pain killers. The team’s quarterback, Jim McMahon, admitted to taking a least a hundred pills each month, and he now suspects that he has dementia.

Meanwhile, an offensive lineman not only played on a broken leg, but management hid the injury from him.

William “The Fridge” Perry can’t walk without assistance. Former defensive back Dave Duerson is one of the few former NFL players who allegedly killed themselves due to brain injury. Bears

leadership traded player safety for a single Super Bowl championship. Think about that for a second. We aren’t talking about a soldier risking his or her life to keep ISIS from beheading hostages. We are talking about winning a game.

Let’s look at how the NCAA handles concussions. Like a team facing fourth and long, it punts. The NCAA permits each university to devise its own concussion protocol. To my knowledge, no university uses an independent physician. In fact, the NCAA’s concussion guidelines states that “team doctors” and “team trainers” are the most important components to any protocol.

The legacy of the ’85 Bears underscores why that’s the wrong approach. Some universities will be conscientious, to be sure, but most won’t resist the temptation to field championship-level teams.

It’s happening right now. When most of the U.S. was shoveling snow, the so-called Power 5 banded together to shovel — well, let’s just say the room

probably didn’t smell sweetly. USA TODAY columnist Steve Berkowitz reported that the Southeastern Conference drafted legislation giving its coaches final say on injuries. Reread that last sentence. Would the SEC pursue lunacy if its coaches weren’t demanding it? Pair that questions with this: Why would a coach with insufficient medical training think that he or she is an authority?

It’s one thing for the NFL to disregard safety. It’s another for the NCAA. Fully grown adults play in the former, someone’s child plays in the latter.

When a recruiter pays a visit, he or she is persuading the parent just as much as the teenager.

This is why concussion decisions need to reside with an independent physician. It must work like this: Doctors are assigned to teams, paid by the NCAA and their decisions subjected to peerreview. If the NCAA doesn’t want to cough up its burgeoning profits to do what it’s chartered to do, then they need to leave the game.

SPORTS 9

FEB. 16 - 18, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: KRISTIAN IBARRA • SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#AZTECSOFTBALL

Lorena Bauer reclaims RBI crown DOMENICK WEINBRENNER CONTRIBUTOR ____________________________________ Valentine’s Day was as sweet as roses for San Diego State as it finished 4-0 in the Campbell Cartier Classic. The Aztecs’ perfect tournament record didn’t come easy, though. They showed versatility by winning each game in different fashion.

SDSU started the first day of the tournament strong. From start to finish the Aztecs controlled the game, dominating North Dakota State University on the way to a 6-1 victory.

Although it was a team effort obtaining the win, a bigger story stole the spotlight of the game. Redshirt-senior utility player Lorena Bauer cemented her name in the record books as she regained her title as the Aztecs’ career leader in RBIs (a record she lost while sitting out the 2014 season). “(This season has been) a little overwhelming,” Bauer said. “People expected a lot out of me and I needed to prove myself continuously … It makes me want to be better.”

Bauer also noted she was excited to break the record in front of the home crowd, which included her proud parents.

Day two of the tournament began with a dominant display from sophomore pitcher Erica Romero against the Oregon State University Beavers. Romero threw a complete-game shutout against the

#AZTECMBB

Redshirt-senior utility player Lorena Bauer broke the all-time Aztec softball RBI record vs. the Bison.

JENNA MACKEY, PHOTO EDITOR

opposing Beavers.

The Aztecs struggled with hitting, but in the third inning a sacrifice bunt from junior shortstop/second-baseman Samantha Camello moved freshman catcher Jenavee Peres into scoring position. The next batter, junior shortstop Monica Downey, squeezed a single into right field, allowing Peres to come home.

In the sixth inning, junior thirdbaseman Kayla Bufardeci added a homerun and the 2-0 lead was more than enough for Romero to stave off OSU. In the night game, SDSU faced Seton Hall University, an opponent that would seriously threaten the Aztecs’ perfect weekend.

Seton Hall jumped to a 3-0 lead in the

first inning as SDSU got off to a slow start, but as the temperature dropped the Aztecs began to heat up. SDSU chipped away at the lead and finally took over in the last inning to defeat Seton Hall 4-3.

Central Michigan University was the final team between the Aztecs and an undefeated tournament record, and CMU would not go away without a fight.

It shut out the Aztecs going into the fourth inning with 5-0 lead, but SDSU would not roll over.

The Aztecs flipped the script by scoring five runs in the fourth inning and four more in fifth while shutting out CMU for the rest of the game. The Aztecs would finish with 13 hits and tied their seasonhigh of nine runs scored.

Even though SDSU finished undefeated for weekend, the job is never done for head coach Kathy Van Wyk. A 4-0 tournament does not mean there is nothing left to learn.

“We were tested. We fell behind and had to come back,” Van Wyk said. “The fact we played games where we scored a lot of runs, and we played games where we scored few runs … There are a lot of good things to take away from this one.”

She went on to say the team can celebrate for the weekend but when Tuesday rolls around it is time to get back to work and get better.

SDSU is now 7-2 and will play in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic from Feb. 19-22 in Cathedral City, California.

COMMENTARY

SDSU finding its goto guy at right time

PATRICK CARR SENIOR STAFF COLUMNIST ____________________________________

I

’ve only ever seen a basketball player air ball a layup once.

That was San Diego State men’s basketball junior forward Winston Shepard.

In the waning moments on Saturday against Colorado State University with a chance to firmly put SDSU on top of the conference, Shepard made no mistake as he threw down a slam dunk that sent the Aztecs up.

That capped another normal week in the wild, wild Mountain West, which was up for grabs after SDSU lost in Boise last week. But after the dust settled on Saturday, the conference was back in the Aztecs’ control.

That’s thanks in part to the muchmaligned, sometimes misunderstood, yet equally gifted Shepard.

Last Wednesday night, Shepard had 18 points in 25 minutes in a one-sided 67-41 win against the University of Wyoming.

He shot 7-13 from the floor, which was far better than his near 40-percent field goal percentage this season.

Then on Saturday against CSU, with a dislocated left pinky finger, he grabbed the Rams by the horns and threw them around with a stunning 19-point, 11-rebound performance to help SDSU (20-6, 10-3 MW) to a 72-63 win that keeps the Aztecs atop the MW. Shepard dislocated his finger at some point in the first half, but something must have ignited him.

The Rams weren’t going away

despite the obvious separation on the scoreboard. They had eight offensive rebounds at halftime to the Aztecs’ two.

Shepard grabbed four offensive rebounds in the second half, five total.

That didn’t lead the team, but the 19 points, 11 rebounds, 38 minutes played and even the six fouls drawn did lead the team.

“Winston has had back-to-back games where even the naysayers say, ‘Way to go, Winston,’” SDSU head coach Steve Fisher said after the game.

Shepard started fast, grabbing six of the Aztecs’ first eight points within the first four and a half minutes.

Later in the first half, the Rams had the ball down 28-24, trying to find an opening in SDSU’s stout defense. With the shot clock winding down and the crowd noise increasing, CSU redshirtsophomore guard John Gillon’s shot was blocked by junior forward Skylar Spencer.

Senior forward J.J. O’Brien grabbed the rebound, passed it to freshman guard Trey Kell, who found Shepard in the left corner behind the arc.

Swish, and Viejas Arena’s roof went into orbit.

That was part of an 11-2 run near the end of the first half that made the game a formality.

Senior guard Aqeel Quinn, who was in foul trouble all night long, missed a 3-pointer early in the second half. Guess who was there for the cleanup and putback? Shepard.

Kell drove baseline and put up a floater that rolled off the rim. Shepard was waiting for the instant tip-in.

“My teammates were hitting me and I think I just made a concerted effort to rebound. I think that got me going,” Shepard said.

• • • •

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10 FEATURES

FEB. 16 - 18, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: KELLY HILLOCK • FEATURES@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#AZTECPRIDE

Active Minds stands against stigma CAMI BUCKMAN STAFF WRITER _____________________________ When hearing certain words, it’s common to associate them with other things. For example, when the subject of allergies is brought to attention, many individuals imagine sneezing, watery eyes and pollen.

However, when the subject of mental health is brought to attention, many false associations occur. With nearly one in five Americans suffering from a mental illness, it’s about time people approach this matter accordingly. The false perception of mental health is what the Active Minds club works tirelessly to change.

Active Minds is a student-run organization geared toward changing the conversation about mental health.

“Active minds is about reducing the stigma surrounding mental health issues,” psychology senior and president Lauren Hughes said.

In today’s society, the subject of mental health isn’t discussed very often, and many feel uncomfortable confronting the issue. This organization focuses on making students more aware of these pressing issues, and provides resources to those who may be suffering a mental illness. Active Minds is a peer-to-peer group closely associated with trained psychologists that try to create a comforting environment for inflicted students.

“Before joining Active Minds, I had no idea how hard it can be for someone to seek help

Active Minds is a student organization focused on mental health awareness. The members pose for an event on campus.

COURTESY OF ACTIVE MINDS

because of the fear that they will be judged or looked down upon,” biology and psychology senior and publicity chair Cody Johnson said.

The actions of the Active Minds club do not go unnoticed. In October, more than 1,000 graduation caps were scattered along the grass patches of Campanile Walkway to signify the number of students nationwide who had committed suicide in the previous year.

This event was a bold statement and a powerful visual representation that showed the large number of lives lost by mental illness in

college-aged students.

Another recent event hosted

by Active Minds was a candle light vigil held to honor those whose lives were lost to mental illnesses. The attendees of the vigil connected to form a community unified by those who had lost loved ones to suicide, or who had previously suffered suicidal thoughts.

“Unity lit up on Campanile that night,” Hughes said.

Tabling efforts play a big part in the dynamic of Active Minds. During these tabling events, students reach out to club members and openly discuss topics such as depression, stress and anxiety.

Millions of people have been affected by mental illness.

“Because of my involvement in Active Minds, I have broadened my mind more than I have been able to in a classroom,” Hughes said.

Active Minds has various activities planned for this semester, including Love Your Body Day, body positivity for National Eating Disorder Week and relaxation stations. During finals week, students can go to an interactive relaxation station and discuss coping mechanisms for stress with their peers. The relaxation station shows students that they are not alone in

their struggles, and the free scantrons are a definite bonus.

The members of Active Minds are a closely knit group dedicated to helping improve the mental health of others.

“This group brings light to a lot of struggles that are common amongst people, especially college-aged people, that are not commonly or comfortably talked about, and the group tries to bring it to the larger community of SDSU,” child development senior Megan Conlon said.

As outsiders who may want to help the cause, simple gestures are the most effective in revolutionizing the stigma surrounding mental health.

Becoming educated on the subject and abandoning words such as “psycho” and “crazy” can reduce the negative feelings associated with mental illness.

“Being in Active Minds has made me more conscientious of the kinds of words that I use, for example, not calling things crazy,” Johnson said.

For students looking to change the conversation about mental illness and impact the lives of others, Active Minds is the organization to join.

Whether it be through the efforts taken by reaching out to veterans or informing students about the free massage chairs located in the Counseling and Psychological Services building, Active Minds strives to alter the current perception of mental health to create a better future.

Tackling mental illness is all about prevention.

#FTK

Dance the night away for kids who can’t LAINIE FRASER STAFF WRITER _____________________________ On March 6, San Diego State will be hosting its first Dance Marathon. All Aztecs are being asked to participate in 12 hours of themed dancing, activities and inspirational stories, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, which in San Diego is the Rady Children’s Hospital.

In 1991, students founded Dance Marathon in the memory of a fellow student.

Dance Marathons have since become a tradition at schools across the nation.

According to the Dance Marathon website, last year college Dance Marathons raised more than $8 million.

Dance Marathons occur around the nation at more than 250 schools per year.

While Dance Marathons have been attempted at SDSU before, the teams involved failed to reach the desired goals. Founder and Executive

COURTESY OF DANCE MARATHON

Director of this year’s Dance Marathon Emily Carper is one of the people who helped bring the Dance Marathon back and who has no intentions of failing.

“The point of this year’s Dance Marathon is to create a tradition at San Diego State that brings the entire school together and will be engrained in our campus,” Carper said.

Dancing for 12 hours may seem daunting, but Carper said there will be plenty of

other activities occurring. The only rule is that participants must stand for the entire 12 hours. This coincides with the slogan, “For the kids,” or FTK. When a participant registers, he or she makes the pledge to stand for the kids who can’t. When registering, the participant or team is assigned a child, altogether called “Miracle Children.”

Together, they can dance, play games and make posters. The teams who raise them most

money will be awarded prizes throughout the night.

The 12 hours of dancing will be broken up into 12 different themes.

“A variety of campus clubs and teams will be present to teach dances. There will be a ‘hype squad’ going around keeping everyone active, and at the half-way mark, at six hours, there will be an hour of black light dancing,” Executive Board member Ryan Smith said.

Participants need not worry about their dancing skills. At the top of each hour a campus club or team will teach a dance. Clubs include the Salsa Club, an a cappella group and the SDSU Dance Team.

Rady’s Children’s Hospital does not turn away a single family regardless of insurance circumstances.

FTK sees this as opportunity for SDSU to help out a great organization within the community.

“While we have many goals for the night the main purpose for this first event is to spread

awareness,” Carper said.

Registering for the dance is $12 and the participants will recieve a goodie bag with a t-shirt, two meals throughout the evening and snacks.

“I can’t wait,” participant Brook Armstrong said. “I love giving back to the community and I love the culture here at State, so this brings the two together. It should be a fun night.”

The Dance Marathon will occur from 8 p.m. March 6 to 8 a.m. March 7 in the basketball courts in the Aztec Recreational Center.

“Who doesn’t love dancing?” participant Karan Mitchel said.

“And for a good cause, it’s a win-win.”

Registration and fundraising information is available through the Aztec Dance Marathon Facebook page.

“While all Greek organizations have their own charities and causes that they work for, this is an event that the entire school can get behind, that’s what’s great about it,” Smith said.

ENTERTAINMENT

FEB. 16 - 18, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: NICK KNOTT • ENTERTAINMENT@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

11

#MARVELEXPERIENCE

Visitors marvel at comics exhibtion Comics supergiant brings the entire Marvel Universe to the Del Mar Race track for an exciting experience.

KATE LEONARD ART DIRECTOR ____________________________ What’s the only thing better than seeing the larger-thanlife action that is the Avengers on the big screen? Getting to be a part of the action, which is exactly what you’ll get if you head up to the Del Mar Fairgrounds to check out The Marvel Experience. The event boasts the world’s only 360 degree 3-D theater, and boy is it awesome. The folks at Marvel did a great job catering to all crowds, with nothing too childish for adults, too adult for children, too dumb for fanboys or too geeky for your casual Marvel fan.

The $35 price tag may be deterring at first, but graduating as a fully trained S.H.I.E.L.D. agent at the end of the day makes it the cheapest tuition and most fun curriculum you’ll ever have to pay for. The beginning of the two-hour training course starts with setting up your personalized S.H.I.E.L.D. ID badge, which grants you

access to the first of the seven large domes that make up the S.H.I.E.L.D. compound.

As you enter, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent provides you with a cool souvenir wrist band.

The first few rooms are a little lackluster, filled with bad jokes and terrible animation as Jennifer Walters, AKA She-Hulk, introduces you to your mission for the day. But quickly, as in any episode in the Marvel universe, you find yourself under attack by HYDRA, and your training really begins.

You walk into the next room to find a large, ominous tank holding the Super Adaptoid, one of the main enemies of today’s mission. Also in this area are fun training activities with all your favorite Avengers.

You can learn to fly like Iron Man, smash like the Hulk and climb walls like Spiderman.

There’s no better way of celebrating Spider-Man finally joining the Avengers than that.

This room is also home to the only place to get food while you’re in the exhibit that is if you’re willing to spend $10

for popcorn or $9 for a soda can-sized beer. One more thing you’ll find in this area is a measly exhibit of props and comic books. If you were looking for a grand museum of comic memorabilia, you would be better off looking elsewhere.

Also, considering the movies are about 90% CG these days there probably are not many props to display in the first place.

After completing the training in these rooms you graduate to S.H.I.E.L.D. level two and receive a S.H.I.E.L.D. emblem for the wristband you received earlier, making the strange bracelet a pretty cool souvenir.

Next up is the main attraction, the 3D room. In here, Red Skull, Madame Hydra and M.O.D.O.K., who have released the Super Adaptoid, attack you — it’s game time. After a safety briefing from your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man it’s time to put all your training to work in the climax of your journey.

Now without spoiling the action too much, the final battle takes place in another

CROSSWORDS

ACROSS 1 Ray Charles’ genre 6 “Thank God” day: Abbr.

9 Swedish autos 14 Borden mascot 15 Cereal grain 16 Come from behind 17 Teen’s budding facial hair, informally 19 Place for a perm 20 One of many in a Lipton bag 22 Home buyer’s debt: Abbr.

23 Ceases 26 Sister of Rachel 28 Distributes by shares 29 Group nickname for Ringwald, Sheedy, Lowe, Estevez et al.

33 “Let’s go!”

34 Name of 18 French kings 35 “Toto, __?”: Dorothy 36 Caviar, e.g.

37 Country-drive view 39 Jam holder 40 Nonprofit URL ending 41 Carpentry bit 42 Uncommon 43 Next-door resident 45 Gabor with an echoic name 47 Florida State player, for short 48 Native 49 Living room piece 51 “No chance of that happening!”

54 Relax, in slang 56 Speculation

The Marvel Experience is at the Del Mar Fair Grounds from Feb. 7-22.

KATE LEONARD, ART DIRECTOR

360-degree dome, this time with moving seats and other interactive elements similar to Honey I Shrunk the Audience, or whatever they’re calling it now, at Disneyland.

The battle’s over, and your journey concludes in a now to be expected overpriced gift shop, where you can purchase artwork, T-shirts, a smorgasbord of Marvel memorabilia or a printed version of your ID badge.

Overall, The Marvel Experience is a great way for

kids of all ages to wet their palates while waiting for the next Avengers flick this summer. The whole event seems very well orchestrated and the staff seems to be having a ton of fun playing their parts. While it may be hard to avoid spending a ton of money during your visit, it’s still cheaper than a trip to Sea World or Disneyland, although it would be a perfect way to bring Disney’s acquisition into the park after The Marvel Experience completes it’s tour.

CLASSIFIEDS

leading up to a February 22 awards extravaganza 60 Open, as a jacket 61 Tex. clock setting 62 Theater offering 63 Takes a nap 64 Fancy carp 65 Former Steeler star Lynn __, who ran for governor of Pennsylvania in 2006 DOWN 1 Sales agent 2 Bass brew 3 Govt. intel org.

4 Style of wording 5 Command 6 Hoops ref’s calls 7 Demolish, as a building

8 Chichén __ 9 Yearbook sect.

10 Road travel org. freebie 11 Semiautobiographical 1979 Fosse film 12 Opinion website 13 “Auld Lang __” 18 Pool legend Minnesota __ 21 Natural aptitude 23 Wrinkleresistant synthetic 24 Author Leonard 25 Bubbly plumflavored drink 27 Online market for handmade crafts 29 Dumb mistake 30 Penitent sort 31 Like a woodworker’s rasp 32 Seoul native 34 Toy block brand 37 Humorist Mort who wrote jokes for Kennedy 38 To the third power 42 Colorful post-cloudburst phenomenon 44 Hockey mask wearer 45 Alcopop brand 46 Hurricanes, e.g.

48 Spiny desert plants 49 Gulf War missile 50 “Don’t tell me!”

52 Relax on a porch chair, perhaps 53 Standard Oil brand 55 Hi-fi platters 57 Charlottesville sch.

58 Red or blush wine, familiarly 59 Buddhist sect

Help Wanted Swim Instructors $12/hr Part-time hours available Sept. through May. Full-time hours mandatory June through August - 40+ hours per week. Full-time summer and one year commitment required. Competitive swimming background required, CPR & WSI certifications recommended but can be attained post-hire. Starting rate is $12/hr. 858-273-7946. www. murraycallanswimschools.com PLEASE visit facility and fill out an application. ________________________________

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Summer Camp Counselor!

SUMMER OF YOUR LIFE! CAMP WAYNE FOR GIRLS - Children’s summer camp, Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania 6/20 - 8/16. If you love children and want a caring, fun environment we need Counselors, Instructors and other staff for our summer camp. Interviews on SDSU campus February 20th - Select The Camp That Selects The Best Staff!

Call 215.944.3069 or apply at www.campwaynegirls.com

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12 THE BACK PAGE

FEB. 16 - 18, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: KELLY HILLOCK • FEATURES@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#PIZZAPROBLEMS

Pies from the delivery guy CONOR NORDBERG STAFF WRITER ____________________________________

"A

nd don’t forget the damn ranch next time,” my customer yells as he slams the door shut on me, leaving me with the customary 50 cent tip and an ever-so-warm feeling in my heart.

I work in the pizza business seasonally, slinging pies from our store to your home and anything in between. Being around pizza, making pizza, delivering pizza — what isn’t there to love? It’s tough to find a pizza delivery guy who doesn’t have his fair share of stories, amazing tips or funny encounters with old people. It’s a wonderful job, and like any, it has its drawbacks and benefits.

It’s the same thing for probably all food service jobs: the toughest part consists of difficult customers.

Flash back to an average Saturday night over the summer: parties are starting, it’s family night or people just simply want pizza. What this amounts to is a high demand for a product that can only have so many suppliers, or in this case, pizza guys. Consequently,

people get angry and impatient.

It’s with this in mind that I would like to bring up one of our regulars, let’s call him Jalen. Jalen loves his Hawaiian pizza and spicy wings — never anything different. I have had the misfortune of delivering to Jalen many times and always with a bum tip. I occasionally luck out with $1. As someone who comes to his house often, I have had the great pleasure of seeing Jalen in differing states of consciousness, sobriety, and — most unfortunate of all — clothing. Jalen loves to accuse our drivers of forgetting something so that he can get discounted food next time, be it ranch, soda or even napkins.

There have been times of frustration, such as delivering to a very wealthy area and getting pocket change for a tip. Or times of fright, like nearly getting robbed or invited into a dark house in a poorly lit neighborhood.

See, tips are a big deal when you deliver. It’s not as if we’re simply giving away our time and energy to take food orders and deliver them, we’re using our own personal vehicles to deliver them, so if we aren’t able to average more than gas and repair costs, we’re losing money.

#DASNAPSHOTS

But more times than not, my interactions with customers are pleasant. I’ve delivered to beaming couples, kids excited beyond belief and people just glad to have steaming hot food delivered to their door. And if you like dogs, pizza delivery is for you; I can’t even count the amount of times I’ve had those slobbering bundles of joy rush up and try and greet me at the door.

But in my short 18 years of living, delivering pizza is the best job I have ever had. Seeing new locations and people every time you come into work is a definite plus and helps keep the boredom away. All in all, it’s worth it.

The pay can be great and it only takes one generous person to clear off your gas prices for the night.

It’s a fun job that lets you meet tons of varying people. Having delivered to drunken college kids, half-naked old men, rich people, poor people and anything in between, I’ve seen people at their best and worst. Having these new experiences and interacting with so many people every day I work is great, and allows a glance into the human condition that I wouldn’t have known before.

SUDOKU

HOW TO PLAY: Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box contains every digit 1 to 9.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL:

4/4

CROSSWORDS, SUDOKU, AND HOROSCOPES COURTESY OF TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC., ©2015.

GAME SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

BATHING IN VICTORY

Players celebrate Mark Martinez's first victory as head coach of the San Diego State Aztecs. Photo by Sarah Smith, staff photographer.

PLEASE NOTE: The views expressed in this issue do not necessarily reflect those of The Daily Aztec.

Express your concerns by emailing letters@thedailyaztec.com

IN-GAME UPDATES ON THEDAILYAZTEC’S FACEBOOK & TWITTER LIKE US. FOLLOW US.

HOROSCOPE HAPPY BIRTHDAY (2/16/15) Friendship thaws frozen avenues this year. Show up. Support others and be supported. Animate romance. A busy, profitable phase booms after 3/20. Discover new horizons after 4/4.

Tend your garden for an abundant harvest after 10/13. You can accomplish results beyond your wildest dreams by collaborating. Get social and talk about what you love.

HOW IT WORKS: 10 is good, 1 is bad.

ARIES (March 21 - April 19) - Today is an 8 - All signals are go. A lucky career break blossoms. Inspiration comes in a dream. Stash away something precious, and get moving. This is not the time to procrastinate. Can you work from home?

Hop on it.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is a 9 - Strengthen your infrastructure to prepare your team for a journey.

Review the rules and packing list. Grab an opportunity before it gets away. You feel refreshed. Travels and educational exploration gets farther than expected.

Stir vigorously.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is an 8 - Disciplined attention to finances, insurance and long-term budget planning pays off well. Follow through on what you said. Invest in your business.

Collaborate to grow your family fortunes.

An expert inspires you. Share what you're learning.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is a 9 - Assume responsibility and accept assistance from your partner. Repay the favor later. Make plans for a trip. A distant contact leads to new profits.

Passion and romance enter the scene.

Arrange the necessary funds. All ends well.

LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is a 9 Squabbling doesn't accomplish anything.

Avoid it and direct all that energy to productivity for fine results. Take big ground at work. Fight for what you believe in. Move quickly to cinch a deal.

Celebrate with something bubbly.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is a 9 - A golden opportunity develops to take advantage of your talents. Practice something you love. A partner gives you a shove in the right direction. Anxiety and excitement feel similar. Call it a thrill, and keep moving.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is an 8 - Major productivity on a home project holds your attention. Work faster and save money. Follow your plans, with deviations to resolve new questions.

Discuss your findings as you go along.

Make quick decisions. Enjoy the results.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is an 8 - Your word carries farther with less effort today. Blog or tweet for a cause.

Get involved in a discussion you really care about and contribute. Compromise with someone you disagree with. Join forces with someone practical.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today is a 9 - Take quick action and profit.

Let your conscience be your guide.

Throw money at a problem, if it keeps production online. Full speed ahead.

Talk with your banker. Pay bills. Reap a bundle from speedy service.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is a 9 - Shine like a star. Bring home a nice benefit. Get your body into motion.

Dance, hike, skip, surf, ride or run. You're growing stronger, and it feels good. A new style or cut suits you.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is a 7 - Peace and quiet soothes your nerves. Lay low and take it easy as your thoughts race. Handle what's most important, and reschedule the rest. Keep asking questions, without getting stuck on any particular answer. All ends well.

PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is an 8 - Take the lead in a group project.

Share your plan, and show the team your appreciation. Together, you can take on the world. Firm up a bond between kindred spirits. Celebrate and let loose.