03-02-2016

WEEKLY PRINT EDITION

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2015 – TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2015 VOLUME 102, ISSUE 25

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

NEWS

Student wins big on CBS game show P3

The Music Issue

Listen Up, SPORTS

MW Tournament is now a must-win P4

SPORTS

Football star says bye to baseball P5

ARTS & LIFESTYLE

Aztec wants to stay with SDSU for life P7 The Daily Aztec publishes its printed weekly edition on Wednesdays and serves the students, faculty and community of San Diego State University.

ON THE INSIDE...

MUSICAL THOUGHTS P10-11 • ALUMNI ROCK BAND P17 • FANTASTIC FRESHMAN P19 COVER DESIGN BY HANNAH LINGLE-VEALE, PHOTO BY KRISTIAN CARREON

2 NEWS

MAR. 2 - 8, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: JAMIE BALLARD • NEWS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#PHILANTHROPY

Engineers raise money for charity CAITLYNNE LEARY STAFF WRITER _____________________________________ San Diego State’s Engineers Without Borders hosted a fundraiser Saturday, Feb. 27 at the Francis Parker School, Linda Vista Campus, where they raised nearly $4,800 for water infrastructure in Nicaragua.

The fundraiser was for their two current projects, one in Nicaragua and the other with the Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians. While the event was geared toward raising money to send four or five students to Agua Fria, Nicaragua this upcoming summer, any leftover money will go to their local project in Santa Ysabel.

EWB is sending the students to Nicaragua for the assessment phase of a five-year plan to build a solarpowered water pump and distribution system for the village of Agua Fria. The village’s underground water source is 3 kilometers away over a steep hill and requires significant time and effort to transport.

On this first trip over the summer, the students will be gathering data and information about the terrain and the village. Once they have all the necessary data, they can begin working on plans for the actual water pump. The pump itself will be built in Agua Fria with the help of the villagers.

The project comes with a five-year contract. Throughout the process, EWB will be assisted by GRID Alternatives, a nonprofit organization that assists in the implementation of solar panels and other energy efficiencies for low-income families. The company will match 15 percent of all funds raised for the project.

A major part of the project is training the villagers how to use the equipment and fix the water pump. EWB USA will not let the SDSU chapter out of the contract at the end of the five years if they have not demonstrated the village has the knowledge to take care of the water pump.

“Our projects have an emphasis on community-based service,” said Ethan Palm, president of EWB. “It sounds weird and counterintuitive, but we’re trying to minimize our involvement and we’re trying to make ourselves less of a fundamental part of it. We want it to be 50-50, us and the community, so the community has a really good understanding on what’s going on.”

The project manager, the project lead international and two health and safety officers will go on the trip.

“They need an easily accessible source of water and I think we have the skills to give them that and that’s important,” project lead international Alex Garabedian said. “Just having water easily accessible, and it’s clean, that could reduce all kinds of health

#STUDENTRESEARCH

Day for SDSU student research ADRIANA MILLAR SENIOR STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ San Diego State’s ninth annual Student Research Symposium will include a record number of 551 students this year.

Ashley Rubio, the symposium’s coordinator, said the record number of applicants is an indication of the school’s push for more research. Last year the SRS included 475 students.

“So if we’re going up, that means the research in the university should also going up, because that means there’s more opportunities for students to have money to do research,” Rubio said.

The symposium, which showcases undergraduate and graduate student research from all fields and majors, will take place on March 4 and 5.

Areas of research will range from all majors and fields, from STEM research projects to the creative arts. Ten President’s Awards will be given out at the event, and the winners will go on to compete at the CSU Student Research Competition in May. Last year was the symposium’s first time including a creative arts portion in the event, and it saw a huge turnout, Rubio said. Although STEM fields still dominate the number of presentations, the inclusion of humanities research is an important part of SRS. “When you think about it, everything deals with research,” Rubio said.

The symposium is free for students to participate in and it includes a mix of undergraduate, graduate and Ph.D. students. Although there is currently

no cap to the number of participants, if the numbers keep on increasing entry to the symposium may become more competitive, Rubio said.

“My philosophy is that this is some of our students first opportunity to participate in a symposium, so we don’t want to max it out just yet,” Rubio said.

The SRS offers students experience in presenting their work, as well as an opportunity for community involvement.

“It’s a great way for students to show the type of work that’s being done here at the university,” Rubio said.

Environmental engineering senior and first-time SRS presenter Christina Stewart said she appreciates the opportunity to present her work on campus.

“It’s a good cultivating environment for students,” Stewart said. “You definitely feel way more relaxed about it, but you still can be proud that you’re still representing your school at your school.”

Last December, Stewart presented at the American Geophysical Union Conference and found the experience slightly daunting.

“There were at least 20,000 at people (that) event, whereas this one at SDSU I already feel relaxed about it,” she said.

Biology senior Kevin Green is presenting at the symposium for the second year in a row. The symposium is a great opportunity to get practice for the future, he said.

“It’s a very safe and open environment to be able to express your ideas and to talk to people who have been in the field for ages, or talk to people who aren’t in the field at all,” he said.

Engineers Without Borders raised nearly $4,800 for a sustainable water project in Nicaragua.

CAITLYNNE LEARY, STAFF WRITER

problems. It could really change their lives.”

Michael Summers, an SDSU alumnus with a bachelor’s in fine art, did a live painting that was auctioned off at the recent EWB event. The painting of two penguins under an umbrella shielding them from colorful raindrops was sold for $4,100 to a collector in Germany, with all of the proceeds going to EWB. “I’m pretty excited about the chance to be able to give a little bit, do some good,”

Summers said. “I’m really glad that there is an organization like Engineers Without Borders that’s running around and looking for these kinds of problems that need to be solved and reaching out, organizing these kinds of events. It’s important.”

EWB estimates the trip this summer will cost $3,200, with the remainder of the money from this event being put into their funds for use on their domestic project and later trips to Nicaragua.

MAR. 2 - 8, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: JAMIE BALLARD • NEWS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

NEWS 3

#TEDXSDSU

TEDxSDSU to unravel various ideas JAMIE BALLARD NEWS EDITOR _____________________________________ San Diego State is hosting TedxSDSU: A World Unraveled, an event featuring several keynote speakers from various areas of research and business.

Per TEDx rules, only 100 tickets were available, and they sold out within minutes of going on sale at noon on Feb. 26. Tickets to a live stream of the talk went on sale on Feb. 29, and also sold out the same afternoon.

The event, which will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on March 6 in Montezuma Hall, features six keynote speakers.

“I would emphasize that this year we chose the theme ‘A World Unraveled’ to bring about a very diverse range of topics and speakers,” Denise Padilla, one of the TEDxSDSU team members, said.

“We want students to develop a deeper understanding and attitude for the world and people around them.”

“TED emphasizes ideas worth spreading, but it goes deeper than that,” said Travis Thom, website developer for TEDxSDSU. “In addition to the idea itself, you learn about a new culture, a new community, a new perspective, and ultimately a new person. I believe

it’s important for all people to look outside their own bubble and unravel the world around them.”

One of the speakers is psychology researcher Alan J. Fridlund. He is a faculty member at UC Santa Barbara who specializes in developmental and evolutionary psychology.

Another researcher who will be speaking is Phillip Bretz, a breast cancer surgeon and researcher who focuses on “preserving the mind, body and spirit of his patients.”

One of the speakers is a well-traveled nonprofit executive. Christopher B. Keller is a COO of Falling Whistles, a company that works to end violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Another speaker is a local San Diego businessman. Isidore Niyongabo is the founder and executive director of International Deaf Education, Advocacy and Leadership (IDEAL).

Lea Freeman, an associate with Qualcomm Ventures, is also speaking at the event. She tracks analysis for investments and assists with financial modeling. She is a senior associate for dRx Capital, QCV’s joint investment company with Novartis.

The final speaker for the event is Jason Bischoff, a writer, creator and toy industry veteran who has contributed to shows like “Teenage Mutant Ninja

Turtles” and “Blues Clues.”

The TEDxSDSU team consists of eight SDSU students from all areas of the university.

Senior Marissa Walsh, junior Matthew Schott, senior Hailey Hicks, senior Denise Padilla, senior Cyrell Jumanan, junior Alanna Arno, senior Nicole Davidov and junior Travis Trom are the students who are coordinating the event.

“TED talks are meant not only to TEDxSDSU will host several speakers on March 6 in Montezuma Hall. inspire, but COURTESY OF TEDXSDSU they bring new and innovative ideas that spark an audience Videos of the speakers will be posted to think differently, challenge old ideas on the TEDxSDSU website following and be more aware of what is going on the event. around the world,” Padilla said.

#WINNING

Student wins $73K on ‘The Price is Right’ ANDREA LOPEZ STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ Economics senior Sam Lea won $73,000 worth of prizes on an episode of “The Price is Right” that aired Feb. 17.

The list of prizes included a Pontoon boat, a 2016 BMW 320i sedan and several accessories including a MacBook Pro, Ray Ban sunglasses and a pool table.

The show was originally recorded Nov. 17, 2015, but due to waiver policies Lea could not disclose his victory to friends in an effort to keep the information out of social media.

If information about him winning got out on social media, he risked losing all of the prizes he won on the show, Lea said.

“Considering all the prizes I won, I kept it a secret,” Lea said.

“But the first month was pretty hard because people kept asking how the show went.”

Lea traveled from San Diego to Los Angeles with three of his friends because they had free tickets to the show.

Journalism junior Sierra Skelly, who has known Lea for about two years, said they decided to go last minute.

When Lea was selected to go on

stage, he wasn’t even aware that they were asking for him since they were pronouncing his name wrong, he said.

“My friend tapped my shoulder and when I saw my name on a board I realized it was me,” Lea said.

Before the show, audience members are asked a series of questions and participants are chosen based on their answers.

“I was so excited,” Lea said.

Skelly said he and Lea’s other friends were “freaking out” when he went on stage.

“When he kept Sam Lea celebrates his big win with three of his friends.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SIERRA SKELLY/”THE PRICE IS RIGHT” winning from there on it was an adrenaline rush,” she said. to sell his old Mini Cooper and keep the International economics senior Zak BMW. Semitka said a producer on “The Price He plans on selling the rest of the is Right” allowed them to jump on stage items he won on the show, including to celebrate with Lea. the boat.

“When we were in line, we were like, “I’ll probably give my mom the laptop ‘One of us is getting picked for sure,’” and some shoes,” Lea said. he said. “Once Sam got picked we went Lea isn’t the first San Diego State crazy.” student win on the show. Ryan Hunter Lea invited more than 20 friends won more than $57,000 in prizes in an to watch the show when it aired on episode that aired February 2013. television.

Semitka, who has known Lea since “Everyone was like ‘What is going on? freshmen year of college, said Lea Why didn’t you tell us?’” Lea said. was most likely picked to go on stage Lea said he has not received all of his because of his animated personality prizes yet so the reality of his victory and for being a “professional winner.” has not yet hit him.

The Nov. 17 episode with Sam Lea is Prior to going on the show, Lea currently available to watch on CBS. already owned a car. But he’s decided com.

4 SPORTS

Mar. 2 - 8, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC editor: RYAN POSNER • SPORTS@thedailyaztec.com

#AztecmBB

Aztecs burst their bubble Kris Keehl SENIOR Staff columnist ____________________________ Somewhere on the way to a 12-turnover first half the San Diego State men’s basketball team began looking less like a team that has won a share of five of the last six conference titles, and more like a team that is destined to fall off the wrong side of a bursting tournament bubble.

The first half was unimpressive and unbecoming of SDSU. It was followed by a much better second half until …

Pop. SDSU blew a nine-point lead with just over a minute left in the game and watched their NCAA tournament at-large bid hopes disappear as fast as, well, a bursting bubble.

While getting caught up on an Aztec stat line that included 17 turnovers, 53-percent shooting from the free-throw line and allowing Boise State to score 42 points in the paint, it only dilutes the real reasons why this team doesn’t deserve an at-large bid to the tournament.

The Aztecs are victims of circumstance. Circumstances they control and circumstances out of their control.

SDSU can’t control the body of work of its conference counterparts, and the Mountain West isn’t particularly strong this year, ranked at No. 11 in RPI behind the Colonial Athletic Association and the MidAmerican Conference.

Both of those conferences combined for one win against the Associated Press Top 25 teams this season.

SDSU can, however, control the circumstance of how it plays against opponents in the MW. While starting conference play 14-2 is impressive, taking a peek behind the curtain at the two losses reveal a tough situation for a tournament selection committee looking to add at-large teams to the field

Who’sWho? Editor In Chief Kelly Hillock The Daily Aztec has been San Diego Managing Editor State University’s independent Bain studentMatthew news source since 1913.

Who’sWho? News Editor Jamie Ballard

Editor In Chief asst.

News Editor Kelly Sisneros Hillock Jacob Managing Editor Sports Editor Bain Matthew Ryan Posner News Editor asst. sports Editor QuinnReclusado Owen Anthony asst.

News Editor Opinion Editor Torrey Bailey Joseph Ciolino

Some proceeds from the Aztecs Rock Hunger drive will go to SDSU students in need. megan wood, photo editor

Sophomore forward Malik Pope and freshman guard Jeremy Hemsley walk off the court after a loss to Boise State on Feb. 27.

Kristian Carreon, Senior staff photographer

of 68.

Both the conference losses have come to teams that were at less than full strength.

On Feb. 10 at Fresno State, the Bulldogs beat the Aztecs 58-57 while missing their second- and third-leading scorers who also happen to be the Bulldogs’ firstand second-leading rebounders.

And then last Saturday when Boise State came to Viejas Arena with leading scorer and rebounder redshirt-junior James Webb III sidelined, the Aztecs couldn’t turn a nine-point lead with about a minute left into a win.

Failing to secure victories against top conference opponents missing top talent doesn’t bode well in

a conference room full of “experts” looking for reasons to include or exclude.

At the very worst, the Aztecs are looking at two conference losses that are too ugly to negotiate the uncertainty of the tournament selection process, which would leave SDSU on the outside looking in if it can’t win the conference tournament.

Perhaps the NCAA tournament selection committee will go soft and view SDSU through the lens of six-straight NCAA tournament appearances with a legendary head coach and a talented roster full of size and athleticism.

Admittance to the tournament based on such trivial criteria would surely display a rare soft

spot by the committee.

But, realistically, drop the fandom and think about it.

The Aztecs’ resume doesn’t warrant an at-large bid.

SDSU has one win against a top-25 team, and when the Aztecs had then-No. 2 Kansas within four points at home, they squandered the opportunity to thrust this team into the national conversation.

By their own doing the Aztecs are in the must-win zone entering the conference tournament, and should they not win the conference tournament championship, SDSU should expect an invitation to a postseason tournament other than the Big Dance.

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SPORTS 5

MAR. 2 - 8, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYAN POSNER • SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#AZTECFB

Munson departs from the diamond RYAN POSNER SPORTS EDITOR ____________________________ Up until about his sophomore year in high school, San Diego State junior linebacker Calvin Munson was a baseball guy.

The right-handed pitcher was a regular summer baseball participant and traveled around the country to play in showcases littered with pro scouts.

His first big break in baseball came when the St. Louis Cardinals drafted him in the 31st round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of Francis Powell High in St. Charles, Missouri.

But after what has been a memorable Aztec football career thus far, patrolling the middle of the field in SDSU’s tenacious 3-3-5 defense, Munson decided that his heart only had space for one sport.

“Coming out of high school it was a blur what I was more passionate about. I just viewed it as, ‘I love baseball and I love football,’” he said.

“But I have more fun playing football and getting out there with all the guys. I love playing the games, practice is always fun.”

It may seem a little puzzling for someone to quit on a sport he was already given a professional shot at, but it’s clear Munson is more comfortable on the football field.

He led the team in tackles, tackles for a loss and sacks last season as the Aztecs won 11 games, a Mountain West championship and the Hawaii Bowl over University of Cincinnati.

Although Munson says he’s not sure what NFL scouts are saying about him just yet, head coach Rocky Long doesn’t seem too concerned.

“I personally believe that we have six juniors on our football team that could have gone into an NFL camp, and six that maybe could have gotten drafted, (Munson) being one of them,” he said.

“I think he sees himself potentially as a football player more so than a Major League Baseball player. He thought it was to his advantage to get bigger and stronger in the weight room.”

Munson’s success on the football field wasn’t necessarily mirrored on the diamond, racking up an 8.44 ERA in

seven appearances last season with the SDSU baseball team.

But he won his first championship ring at SDSU after the baseball team won its third consecutive MW championship title last year and he said he had scouts checking back in on him, seeing if he still had some fire in that right arm.

Although Munson would love to put the spikes on one more time, his decision is final.

“I don’t think it would be fair to the (baseball) guys with me just coming in late and I don’t think it would be fair to the (football) guys, bailing on them like that,” he said. “A selfish part of me would definitely want to go out there and put on the baseball pants and the jersey again.”

Baseball head coach Mark Martinez was bummed when Munson delivered the news he wouldn’t be back this season.

But the coach with one of the calmest demeanors on campus understood the decision.

That didn’t mean he couldn’t spare a joke or two.

“He told me he knew I was always soft when I told him I wasn’t coming out this year. He was joking around right out of

Junior linebacker Calvin Munson has decided to not play baseball this season.

SARAH SMITH, ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

the get-go,” Munson said.

One player who will feel the immediate impact of Munson’s full-time appearance at spring practice will be junior linebacker Ryan Dunn.

Dunn, who transferred from University of Arizona after his freshman season, didn’t get the full experience of having Munson around last spring.

The importance of having a veteran like Munson around to mentor younger players in the spring is critical, in his opinion.

There’s also just a different feel on the field when No. 54 is roaming around.

“He focuses on the fine details, but then just seeing him light someone up in practice with a big hit brings a lot of energy,” Dunn said.

Munson laughed at the notion of being the next Bo Jackson or Deion Sanders, although he said he always had that vision growing up.

For the immediate future, that vision is being put on hold.

6 OPINION

MAR. 2 - 8, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: JOSEPH CIOLINO • OPINION@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#NOFORTRUMP

Please say no to Trump, here’s why CASSANDRA KAAWALOA CONTRIBUTOR ____________________________________ Presidential candidate Donald Trump has openly denounced immigrants, promised to overturn the marriage equality ruling and has been accused of sexual assault, yet he remains the Republican front-runner.

How can a man so closed-minded and offensive be leading the presidential race?

It’s is simple: The people vote for him.

The majority of Americans are putting Trump first in the polls, meaning they not only stand by him but stand by his beliefs, as well. Trump supporters reflect the hateful, misogynistic and extremely conservative demeanor he’s displayed for the entirety of his campaign.

Now that Trump has won the New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada primaries he’s established himself as a

serious potential Republican nominee.

A Trump presidency could mean huge steps backwards in tolerance and inclusion among the country. Trump has already promised to reverse the 2015 Supreme Court ruling in favor of gay marriage and has vowed to stop government funding of Planned Parenthood’s abortion services.

Here at San Diego State we enjoy the safety that comes with the accepting environment offered by our diverse campus. We accept and embrace the LGBTQ community, offer free reproductive health care for women and house more than 200 clubs and organizations for all students of different cultural and social backgrounds.

We’re so used to the inclusion practiced by our campus that we forget that others in our country carry different beliefs.

Some people in our country have derogatory opinions of people of color or

agree with Trump that Muslims should be banned from entering the country.

We knew these people existed, but the fact that they make up the majority?

That’s news.

Trump’s charismatic personality gives some citizens confidence in his abilities, which is reasonable considering his massive success. However the hateful remarks he spews speak to others.

Trump is capitalizing on his antiimmigration and Islamophobic policies by instilling fear in voters. He generalizes Muslims as terrorists and immigrants as rapists, and by pushing harsh limitations on immigration laws ensures voters that also criminalize these populations.

His misogynistic remarks litter the Internet and his campaign. His remarks against Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, calling her a “bimbo” on Twitter, have been engaged with by over 80,000 Tweets from Trump fans calling Kelly a number of

derogatory names.

His ex-wife’s accusations against him violently raping her during their marriage were covered up by his lawyers with gag order restraints. The patriarchal themes behind his actions and remarks about women are mirrored by his fans across America, reminding women that even in 2016 men are superior.

These reoccurring themes of Trump’s homophobic, misogynistic and elitist behavior are being reflected in every voter that supports him. We can only assume that these voters share these ideals.

Last Saturday a group of Ku Klux Klansmen held a rally in Anaheim, California. They arrived in T-shirts bearing confederate flags and were met by protestors, almost immediately resulting in violence, leaving three people stabbed.

Former Klan Grand Wizard David Duke stated his candidate of choice, who was none other than Donald Trump.

#OFFENSIVELANGUAGE

Words are incredibly powerful — be aware SYDNEY SWEENEY CONTRIBUTOR ____________________________________ “We disagree, and I don’t want to talk about it ever again.”

With brevity, I ended a conversation a whole minute after it began. One second, my friend and I were mindlessly discussing an electronic talking speaker, and the next I found myself sputtering about oppression like a wannabe social justice warrior, 10 times less eloquent than the ones I follow on Tumblr.

After my final statement, I stared straight ahead, hoping my illusory focus on the road would make her believe that I’d already brushed off the miniature debacle.

Of course, I hadn’t, and the whole ordeal nagged me until I vented to someone else about it an hour later.

My friend had named her speaker “Ling Ling,” because its voice “sounded like an Asian lady.” I argued such a characterization was not only stereotypical, but racist (the Chinese given name Ling is unisex, meaning spirit or chime, but in urban slang, the phrase Ling Ling is sometimes haphazardly attributed to a sexually promiscuous Asian girl or any other Asian person whose name is unknown).

My friend remarked that her comment was anything but flippant, so a debate commenced. No stabs were aimed at each other, but instead at one another’s oppositions concerning words in today’s American lexicon and whether those phrases or names are “offensive” or not.

For most of the short-lived argument, I was either discordantly yelling at my friend or sitting in the driver’s seat, mouth agape and absolutely perplexed. There was a moment, right after our initial disagreement, where I thought maybe I was the one being sensitive.

Maybe I was the one who, in recent months, had become annoyingly ‘PC.’ Perhaps a big deal was really just a tiny misunderstanding and I needed clarification. I needed to know if my friend was really as clueless about racial oppression as she was making herself look.

I forced myself to quickly recognize the history of oppression inflicted upon racial minorities during just a few of our country’s shameful decades: the 1940s, when Japanese Americans faced nationwide incarceration; the early 1800s, when Native Americans were banished from their own lands; the 100-plus years of African-Americans’ enslavement.

These dismal times of abounding

racism, imprisonment and discrimination were accompanied by slurs and phrases that remain tied to the unrightfully inhumane years and actions from which they originated.

It’s already challenging enough for a person of color to avoid being alienated or profiled because of the actions of another who shared the same cultural or ethnic background. The combination of these two facts alone unjustly dictates an ethnic group’s progression towards the liberties that every American is allegedly promised.

Sitting in the car, I wondered if my friend knew that.

I asked her if she thought using racial slurs was OK, somewhat afraid of what her reply would be. Disappointingly, she answered “yeah,” and proceeded to explain her logic, based on the belief that the act of stigmatizing a race through the use of slang or stereotype is perfectly acceptable, and that such actions are only “offensive if (the targeted ethnic group) is offended.”

That was the end — that was when I tightly gripped my steering wheel instead of strangling the girl next to me.

Simultaneously, I huffed to myself and declared the discussion to be bewildering, hopeless and most obviously, dead.

I figured that if she — a fellow person of

color — was unable to comprehend the problem with racist slang, then I surely wouldn’t be able to explain it to her.

In regard to the wave of social justice movements (particularly the ones led by millennials of color, who are inspired by their 20th century counterparts) I’ve always been an observer rather than a participant.

Mostly keeping to myself or extremely close friends about my most indefinite opinions on social justice, I quietly admired the goals and enthusiasts behind these noteworthy crusades.

My incessant silence about social issues is what led to my tragic downfall. Because I rarely speak up about these things, I couldn’t form a sound argument against racial slurs and stereotyping, even though I adamantly stood (and still do) stand by my opinion.

What I failed to fully explain to my friend was that calling an “Asian-sounding woman” Ling Ling is not simply offensive.

What’s offensive is telling someone their hairstyle is ugly — sure, it leaves them feeling bad about their appearance for a while, but that negative comment only affects a single person. If a saying, phrase or stereotype impedes a group or entire race then it surpasses being disrespectful.

It’s just plain oppressive.

#YOGAFORSTUDENTS

Instead of stressing out, practice some yoga HANNAH WILLIS CONTRIBUTOR ____________________________________ Considering taking that yoga class offered at the Aztec Recreation Center?

Do it.

Yoga offers a variety of ways to improve one’s own mental health while benefiting various parts of the body. It is a mindbody activity like no other which almost always provides evident results and has proven to be extremely beneficial among college students in various aspects.

For starters, college students have a hefty work load that includes maintaining grades, extra-curricular activities, work, family obligations and social responsibilities, resulting in stress

overload.

Too much stress has been related to having a “negative impact on the immune system and prolonged exposure increases susceptibility to disease and leads to physical and mental health problems such as anxiety and depression,” Catherine Woodyard wrote in her article, “Exploring the Therapeutic effects of Yoga and Its Ability to Increase Quality of Life.”

Yoga counteracts stress and aims to quiet the mind, something that might sound ideal for busy, overworked students or anyone pondering a solution to their chaotic lifestyle.

Woodyard mentions in her article how yoga poses “address the tension, holding, and blockage of energy in any particular joint or organ. As this tension is released,

energy flows more readily throughout the body” which allows participants “to experience a sense of increased wellbeing and strength as well as a balance of mind, body and spirit.”

To reiterate, yogic postures are designed to relieve tension, muscle pain and joint pain, a useful tactic for any studentathlete.

Another yoga perk is that it has the ability to treat sleep apnea and promote an overall better night’s rest. By integrating restorative poses, meditation and deep breathing, one is more likely to enter a deeper sleep and feel more energized and refreshed once they awake.

“Regular practice of yoga resulted in a significant decrease in the time taken to fall asleep, an increase in the total

number of hours slept, and in the feeling of being rested in the morning,” wrote Woodyard.

Lastly, it’s advised that one incorporate yoga’s principles into all (if not, most) aspect of one’s everyday life, especially in academic work.

By mirroring those same principles in a college lecture or during an exam, chances are you will perform better.

Elevating your mood, improving your studies, increasing flexibility, reducing muscle and joint pain, relieving tension and heightening one’s overall well-being — it’s hard to find a reason not to do yoga.

Now, grab your mat, put on some yoga pants and head to that yoga class you’ve been tempted to take.

Namaste.

MAR. 2 - 8, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYO MIYAUCHI • ENTERTAINMENT@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

ARTS & LIFESTYLE 7

#PRIDECENTER

Assistant aspires to be SDSU dean

Lou Tabalon realized his passion was in student affairs at San Diego State.

COURTESY OF LOU TABALON

CHRISTINE WHITMAN SENIOR STAFF WRITER ____________________________ English senior Lou Tabalon works as an assistant at the Pride Center, serves on the executive board for the Queer Student Union and is a brother of Delta Lambda Phi social fraternity.

Tabalon identifies as transgender non-binary, which refers to any gender not exclusively male or female, and prefers to be addressed by the pronouns they, them or

theirs.

“Traditional gender roles make me feel uncomfortable,” Tabalon said. “I’m still trying to figure myself out, but you know, that’s college. Nothing wrong with that.”

Growing up in the Philippines, Tabalon had always loved reading — especially J.K. Rowling — ­ writing and storytelling. These passions fueled their desire to become an English teacher, an aspiration that changed after working at the Pride Center on campus.

After learning how college and programming in college worked, they realized their talents laid in student affairs.

Tabalon has always admired Student Life and Leadership director Randy Timm and essentially wants to join the student affairs graduate program to become the next dean of students.

“I told (Timm) that I was gunning for his job and he said ‘see you in 20 years,” they said.

“I don’t know where life will take me, but being able to work with him has really taught me a lot about myself and the business roles he takes on.”

Tabalon first started working as a Pride Center assistant when it opened in Spring 2014 with the main goal of creating programs based on student needs. They serve desk duty, create programs for Aztec Nights and facilitate discussions that concern students.

“We try to cater to the LGBT+ communities, particularity the ones that are not often mentioned like the bisexual and transgender communities,” they said.

“We’re also trying to be more inclusive to the inter-sex community.”

On top of the Pride Center, they also serve on the

executive board of the Queer Student Union, the largest queer-related board on campus. Tabalon originally served as president but stepped back from the position to focus more on them.

“I was trying to do a lot of things for a lot of different people, and it was leaving me physically, mentally and emotionally distressed,” they said. “The Queer Student Union is one of the few places that helped me grow as an LGBT+ individual, but I have the tendency to take on more than I can chew.”

“Lou is a charismatic leader that excels at making people feel like they are a part of the party,” graduate assistant of Student Life & Leadership Arthur Alvarez said. “Their big heart has contributed greatly to the development of The Pride Center.”

Tabalon also decided to become a member of Delta Lambda Phi, a gay, bisexual and progressive fraternity.

Before crossing in Spring 2014, Tabalon suffered from depression and was in a very bad place in life.

“I told myself in October that if things didn’t get better by the end of the year, I would end my life,” they said.

Around that time, they met

Wesley Palau, a brother of Delta Lambda Phi during the Safe Zones Coming Out Day panel. During this panel they heard Palau talk about his experience coming out as not only a queer individual but as a transgender individual.

“That day inspired me to be better for myself,” Tabalon said. “I wanted to be more active in my community and find out who I really was.”

Tabalon first became involved with the Queer Student Union, the Pride Center and Delta Lambda Phi after attending the panel.

Upon receiving the job at the Pride Center, Tabalon officially met Palau and was stoked to discover they would be working together.

Later that spring, they decided to become a member of the fraternity, where Palau eventually became their big.

Tabalon never believed he would end up intertwined with student organizations and clubs but says being part of each group creates a new perspective.

“There was a lot in my life that got me depressed, upset or emotionally unstable,” they said. “I try to create safe space with the student body, that way no one has to feel the way I felt.”

#BIOLOGY

Researcher sees ‘big picture’ of ecology

By using the modeling approach, Xu simplifies ecological problems into equations.

COURTESY OF XIAOFENG XU

NICOLE MENGES STAFF WRITER ____________________________ When assistant ecology professor Xiaofeng Xu is not teaching any courses this semester, he keeps busy with his research and getting acclimated to life at San Diego State.

Xu is one of the new faculties in SDSU’s biology department.

He will teach “Environmental System Modeling: Principles and Application” this fall, a course which will use his modeling approach to study the ecology of environmental science.

Growing up, Xu knew he wanted to be a scientist but did not know what field most interested him until he entered college.

“During that time I didn’t

understand many things, but I did know that biology is important,” Xu said. “This was in the mid-1990s, so everyone was saying that biology was important.”

Xu received his bachelor’s degree in biotechnology at Henan Normal University in Xinxiang, China, and received his master’s in environmental science from the Chinese Academy of

Sciences in Changchun, China.

Xu’s academic path and his research then led him to study at Auburn University, where he received his doctorate in forest biology and ecology.

“When I graduated from college, I was still doing labbased experiments, and I realized I wanted to lend more knowledge to real nature,” Xu said. “That’s why I switched to environmental science, because it’s still based around biology.”

While getting his master’s degree, Xu gathered soil samples from fieldwork in China and studied how the microbiology chemical process works in nature.

That led to a new curiosity for how the process differs in different environments, and Xu developed a “big picture” approach to his work.

This change in perspective is what led Xu to travel to the U.S. to continue his research.

Xu explained that he transitioned to a modeling approach to research differences in different environments.

The modeling approach professor Xu uses works by using mathematical knowledge to study ecology. The approach simplifies an ecological problem and puts it into an equation.

“With the modeling approach, it’s easier to

compare different locations,” Xu said. “You can study the dynamic of the ecological system and further predict the behavior of this ecological system.”

Xu’s colleague David Lispon further explained Xu’s work with ecological modeling.

“He’s an ecosystem modeler who understands microbiology,” Lispon said.

“His work on incorporating microbial processes into models improves their accuracy and helps us understand how processes normally studied at a small spatial scale can have important, large-scale consequences for how ecosystems function.”

Xu’s academic path has taken him on a journey from small-scale scientific research in a lab to large-scale scientific research, comparing environments and ecosystems all across the globe.

Xu’s influence on the scientific community extends past his research contributions.

He also provides training and education for other researchers about his modeling approach.

“We help grad students learn how to use cutting-edge technology to answer cuttingedge questions,” Xu said.

“Using this opportunity to help students learn and grow helps us as well to finish our projects.”

8

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MAR. 2 - 8, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYO MIYAUCHI • ENTERTAINMENT@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#LISTENUP

SDSU reflects on the role of music RYO MIYAUCHI ARTS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR ____________________________________

For the music issue, the Arts and Lifestyle section explored what music means to students and staff at San Diego State. Many described music as a creative outlet, but the question often led to answers with a deeper story.

Music was a professor's connection to a new community (pg. 8) and a bond between close friends (pg. 16). It also provided a rich introduction to different cultures for students (pg. 13 and 16). Some found it as a way to discover a new crowd both locally (pg. 17 and 18) and internationally (pg.

15). For others, it became a powerful platform for underrepresented voices (pg. 13 and 19). Many more shared their individual thoughts on how music plays an important role in their lives (pg. 10-11).

In addition to the stories on the print edition of this issue, we published our online video package to highlight different students' perspectives on why music is important to them. Be sure to check it out on our website.

#SDSUORCHESTRA

Music director finds home at SDSU symphonic literature course.

Gerdes is also involved in two upcoming music events. He is part of the Mozart Requiem, performed by the Aztec Choir and the SDSU Symphony Orchestra on March 20 at the College Avenue Baptist Church.

The other, jokingly titled “the biggest off-campus event other than football,” is on April 15 at

rehearsals and playing with sheet music. Gerdes has fond memories of falling asleep in the corners of orchestra pits while his parents played rehearsals.

Music remains a valued aspect of his life today.

“Music is a reason to live,” Gerdes said. “I think music is the greatest thing that people

“ GERDES WAS ABLE TO TURN SOMETHING OF NO INTEREST INTO SOMETHING OF GREAT INTEREST.”

- Anna Gonzalez, communications junior

Michael Gerdes conducts the San Diego State symphony among other ensembles..

COURTESY OF MICHAEL GERDES

LAINIE FRASER STAFF WRITER ___________________________ Selected by The San Diego Union-Tribune as one of three “Faces to Watch” in classical music in 2014, Michael Gerdes has found a home at San Diego State.

Gerdes is the director of

orchestras at SDSU, as well as the assistant conductor of the La Jolla Symphony.

For three years now, Gerdes has conducted the SDSU symphony, chamber orchestra and opera orchestras.

He also teaches a few music courses ranging from a beginner introduction to music class to a more advanced

the Jacobs Music Center where all SDSU choirs and the wind symphony will perform.

Communication junior Anna Gonzalez took Gerdes’ Introduction to Music: Radiohead to Rachmaninov course.

“I’ve always been a bit intimidated by classical music,” Gonzalez said. “But I took the class anyway and what made it awesome was Gerdes. A professor can make or break a class and Gerdes was able to turn something of no interest into something of great interest.”

Gerdes’ love for music started at a young age by his musician parents. He spent much of his childhood listening to

make. People make art and music is art.”

His desire to become an orchestra director formed early in college. After playing Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2 as a young college student, he knew he wanted to be an orchestra director.

Gerdes attributes his love for his job to his teachers in the past and the SDSU community.

He has always seen teaching as an honorable position and music has always been his passion.

The ability to combine the two gives him great pride.

Although he moved to San Diego from Washington D.C., Gerdes said spending time with faculty and students

in the School of Music and Dance, as well as meeting the talented students in the SDSU Symphony, made him feel right at home.

“This is an exciting community to be a part of,” he said. “There are such talented and dedicated musicians everywhere. It is a true privilege to work with them all. Directing the orchestra is my favorite part of my job.”

Gerdes adores music that isn't deemed "classical," too.

“There are two kinds of music: good music, and the other kind,” he said. “My favorite kind of music is good music.”

Gerdes has always been able to find good music in Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band. He calls himself an absolute fanatic.

With a degree in philosophy, Gerdes also finds he spends much of his free time reading philosophic works.

Described by friends as exuberant, sarcastic and caring, Gerdes is an incredibly proud Aztec and passionate professor.

He urges all students, not just music majors, to get involved in the music scene on campus.

“People you make music with and work as a team with, people who learn how to listen, who know how to identify the beautiful and sublime in life, understand something deeper and more essential to being human than finding food or shelter,” Gerdes said.

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MAR. 2 - 8, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYO MIYAUCHI • ENTERTAINMENT@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#SDSUROCKS

Musical beats run deep at SDSU CAMI BUCKMAN SENIOR STAFF WRITER _____________________________

Mikayla Montoya, civil engineering sophomore

Matthew Zapagan, civil engineering sophomore

“Music helps me stay productive.”

“Listening to music puts me in a study zone.”

Xala Glover-Pamittan, international business freshman “Music is an escape that makes everything better and is always there for you.”

Brenna Cook, liberal studies freshman

Dani Chu, math and computer science junior

“There is a genre for any mood, so you’re able to find what you are feeling.”

“Music can help set the mood, whether that’s for dancing or pumping yourself up.”

Brianna Staples, communication senior

Charlie Morrison, political science junior

“It’s the perfect way of saying how I feel without saying anything.”

“Music reminds me of home.”

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MAR. 2 - 8, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYO MIYAUCHI • ENTERTAINMENT@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

Vicky Memije, psychology senior “Music helps me escape my reality.”

Lionel Avila, music performance junior “I like playing music for other people because it makes them happy and it helps me express things I can’t put into words.”

11

Christine Choi, music performance junior

Christian Lozano, music education senior

Chris Duringer, business management sophomore

“Music is a vehicle for me to express my emotions.”

“Music is important to me because as an aspiring music teacher, I want to be able to share the positive experiences music has with my future students.”

“I feel like music is a way of expressing how you feel when you can’t use words.”

Kara Bach, child development sophomore

Sara Smith, accounting sophomore

“Music helps me make sense of my emotions at any given time.”

“I like music because it’s a great way to bond with people.”

creativity starts here Our beautiful design inspires their beautiful designs.

The arts are alive at San Diego State University with more than 350 creative and performing arts experiences on campus each year. Science, engineering and arts faculty collaborate to create interdisciplinary courses and expand our arts-rich educational community. SDSU.edu

SHOULD I EARN MY MBA

NOW OR LATER?

by Jamie M. Ressler, DBA

We are often asked if it’s better to work for a few years before completing an MBA program. And while the answer may be different depending on your unique circumstances, below are some things to consider when determining if now is the right time to get your MBA regardless of your work experience.

THE RIGHT TIME IN YOUR LIFE Timing is probably the biggest factor to consider.

Although it can be a bit cliché, there truly is no time like the present. Your current life situation may allow you to complete your MBA in only one year, and if that’s the case, then it might be wise to continue your education now.

This is especially true if you’re a recent college graduate, since you’re most likely already conditioned for school life (studying for exams, balancing homework with other life responsibilities, etc.). You may benefit from riding that wave of momentum into graduate school; especially since the further out of school you become, the harder it is to go back.

Unfortunately, life doesn’t seem to get less complicated, especially as we get older.

If you are at a point in your life where you have the time and availability for school, then strongly consider seizing the opportunity to earn your MBA now.

EMPOWERED TO REACH YOUR POTENTIAL

It’s no secret that having an MBA on your resume will often provide opportunities sooner for you than others in the same season of their career without a graduate degree. Your continued work experience coupled with an MBA will only make you a more valuable candidate in the eyes of employers as you progress in your career.

REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE We are sure you’re already aware of the dilemma: employers are looking for young professionals with experience, but how do young professionals acquire experience without being hired in the first place?

That’s why the opportunity to obtain realworld experience is so important. Earning your MBA can allow you to develop experience and knowledge in competitive analysis, market research, finance, corporate social responsibility, accounting, business innovation, presenting to senior management, and more.

THE FIELD EXPERIENCE

The Field Experience is a Daytime MBA course that offers actual business experience while you’re earning your MBA.

Earning your MBA earlier in your career can help open doors sooner, allowing opportunities to pursue your purpose in business and beyond.

As part of the course, you’ll participate in a field project with a small group of students, giving you the chance to collaborate with senior management in analyzing and solving a live business problem.

You will still have to put in the time and effort, like everyone does regardless of their education, to move up in your career. However, you’ll have the necessary education to reach your potential quicker, especially if you hope to move into leadership some day.

Unlike an internship, where you risk gaining only a narrow set of practical skills or not having access to senior management, the Field Experience offers you the type of high level and meaningful experience for which employers are looking.

For more information about the Field Experience,you can check out this case study that details a previous DaytimeMBA Field Experience project: pointloma.edu/field-experience

A PROFESSIONAL MENTOR FOR GUIDANCE It can be difficult to navigate your professional career when you’re just starting off out of college.

And there’s no denying it–it helps to know people who have gone before you in your field of interest.

By earning your MBA now, you can be matched with a mentor from the corporate community who can give you firsthand insight about their industry, as well as help you cultivate your interests, skills, and potential as you decide which direction you want to go in after you graduate. It can be a great gift to have access to the resources, people, and experience that an MBA program offers earlier in life as opposed to later–and to learn from those who have gone before you as you set about pursuing your purpose in the business world.

Since many young people are not quite sure what they want to do, exposing them to mentors, both in the form of business professionals and faculty, can help them better pursue their true purpose after they graduate.

Do these reasons sound compelling? If so, then the Daytime MBA program might be a great fit for you. The Daytime MBA program is designed for students who have recently completed their undergraduate degree (within 0-3 years).

Of course, there are also reasons why the Evening MBA program might be a better fit for you, depending on your professional experience and other factors. If you are unsure, we encourage you to reach out to us to find out.

You can contact Kait Vogel to learn more about the Daytime and Evening MBA programs: Email: kaitvogel@pointloma.edu Phone: (619) 563-2856

Jamie M. Ressler, DBA Dr. Ressler is the Associate Dean of Graduate Business Education and teaches the Field Experience course in PLNU’s Daytime MBA program. She has experience working in corporate and nonprofit marketing, public relations, and fundraising. Her research and consulting work has focused on strategic planning, marketing, and innovation.

Earn the business knowledge and experience you need to start achieving your purpose in life.

Earn your MBA in only 12 months right out of school in San Diego’s only 1-year Daytime MBA program. >> Gain in-depth knowledge from experienced faculty in several areas of business such as Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship >> Acquire the real-world experience employers are looking for >> Be matched up with a professional mentor to receive guidance and grow a professional network

Visit pointloma.edu/oneyearmba to speak with someone today about whether now is the right time to earn your MBA.

LISTEN UP!

MAR. 2 - 8, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYO MIYAUCHI • ENTERTAINMENT@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

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#ETHNOMUSICOLOGY

Ensemble adds diversity with music CAMI BUCKMAN CHRISTINE WHITMAN SENIOR STAFF WRITERS ____________________________ The School of Music and Dance at San Diego State has a variety of programs and performing groups, including groups classified as world music. There are three ensembles that are part of the world music or ethnomusicology program: the Latin American ensemble, the Mariachi ensemble and the Javanese ensemble.

“Java is one of the islands in the archipelago of over 17,000 islands in Indonesia,” said Laurel Grinnell, the Javanese Gamelan program’s assistant director. “‘Gamelan’ translates as orchestra and refers to a collection of instruments that share a heritage, but the number of instruments and types of instruments may vary.”

The Javanese Gamelan performance ensemble is offered through the music department’s ethnomusicology program and is part of an ornate history.

The program was first introduced to the university

by Robert Brown in the ’70s. The Gamelan’s current instructor is Pak Djoko Walujo, who has been teaching at SDSU since 1994.

“We’re really thankful to have the Gamelan because it’s one of the programs we never want to let go of because the instruments are so special,” Grinnell said. “Once you lose a master teacher like Pak Djoko, it’s hard to find a person who specializes in such a niche style of music.”

Grinnell spent more than 10 years as a professional musician after receiving a bachelor’s degree in jazz

Each instrument in the Javanese Gamelan ensemble is made with a hand-carved frame.

COURTESY OF KEVIN DELGADO

studies and a master’s degree in ethnomusicology. She believes the ensemble adds diversity to the SDSU School of Music and Dance.

“Diversity is very important,” she said. “If programs become so diluted, music becomes this weird monotony.”

Grinnell serves as a liaison and translator between Pak Djoko and the students, as there can be a language barrier during rehearsals.

Aside from speaking Bahasa Indonesian, she also plays almost all of the instruments in the ensemble and helps students learn specific

instruments.

“Each instrument has a distinct sound and specific role,” she said. “Students have to feel confident playing their instrument but also have ears big enough to hear what’s going on around them because the complete sound is the most important.”

The instruments are completely different from what’s commonly found in orchestras. Each instrument is made with painted bronze and hand-carved frames decorated to correlate with parts of Javanese culture.

All the instruments come together to create a unique

sound, uncommon with traditional orchestras.

“For me (Gamelan) is about the learning and seeing how it all comes together in the end,” global composition senior Dorothy Guthrie said. “It’s a meditative and unique style of music that is always sacred.”

The class is open to all music and non-music majors and is available for both undergrad and graduate students.

The class is small, with ideally 10 to 12 students each semester.

The music’s notation is cypher-notation, which Grinnell explained as “paintby-number,” making it easy

for students to join without knowing how to read music or even being familiar with music.

“This is probably the most different thing you can do on campus,” recording technology and audio design junior Joshua Jackson said.

“Each semester is a hit or miss with students,” Grinnell said. “Although, many students return because they want to have an opportunity to try the other instruments.

The culture of the class really sucks you in. We really love it when students from other departments join because it creates a really cool dynamic.”

#MUSICEDUCATION

Flute player stands for music education NICOLE SAZEGAR SENIOR STAFF WRITER ____________________________ When her music program in middle school was in danger of having its funding cut, music education sophomore Leah Musker decided to take a stand. She spoke at her school’s board meeting to prove the importance of the music program and, ultimately, save it.

“When I spoke at the meeting and said, ‘Look we really love this. This is something we’re going to carry on with,’ I think in that moment I realized that I want to do this. I want to become a music teacher,” Musker said.

Growing up in a musical family, Musker was always

naturally drawn to music.

So when she first picked up the flute, she never put it back down. Now, she plays the flute in San Diego State’s symphonic band and concert band.

Musker hopes to become a music teacher for either an elementary or junior high school. As a music teacher, she plans to advocate for improved music education in grade schools.

“Everybody always hears music programs are getting cut, but people don’t care or funding goes to other things, so we can’t fund music programs,” Musker said. “(I want to) find out and advocate a better way to incorporate music into the other subjects.”

She hopes to give her future

students the same experience and support she received from her teachers while she was in grade school.

“I really want to be that teacher who is a role model, guide and kind of friend to students,” she said.

Musker’s involvement in music has made her life better overall.

She believes music has given her opportunities she would not have had otherwise. Being part of her high school’s competitive marching band, Musker gained a strong work ethic, leadership skills and teamwork experience.

Music has had such a major impact on her life that Musker couldn’t see her life without it.

“If I’m feeling stressed, I play and it helps relieve that,” she said. “I think I would have a very different life without it.”

Although she applied to SDSU as undeclared, the overall positive environment of SDSU’s music program proved to Musker that she made a great decision to join.

“All of the faculty and staff members are so passionate about what they do but also passionate about teaching us and giving us the tools we need to succeed,” Musker said. “It’s kind of like a happy accident because I didn’t totally plan on being in the music program here. It’s been a really good experience.”

Musker’s family and friends have always been a

huge supporter of her music and believe she will have a huge impact on her future students’ lives.

“She really has a passion that I think will really go over to her students, and she’ll excel and be a promoter of music in many young people’s lives,” said Shannon Wolfe, one of Musker’s close friends.

Although Musker also has a passion for psychology and math, involvement in SDSU’s music program was the perfect path for her.

Not only does she view music as a career path but also as an enjoyable outlet.

“It’s fun to be able to play and do what you want with a phrase and make your own character out of a song,” Musker said.

14 LISTEN UP!

MAR. 2 - 8, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYO MIYAUCHI • ENTERTAINMENT@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#LIVEREPORT

DURING THE SHOW, BOTH THE FANS AND THE BAND WERE ON THE SAME WAVELENGTHS, CONNECTING WITH THEIR SHARED EXCITEMENT.

The punk-rock band Joyce Manor played at The Observatory North Park on Feb. 27.

KRISTIAN CARREON, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Joyce Manor thrills with punk bursts LILIANA CERVANTES STAFF WRITER ____________________________ A raw, high-energy performance by punk-rock band Joyce Manor at The Observatory North Park on Feb. 27 had fans thrilled from start to finish.

There was no shortage of crowd surfing, circle pits and killer music — just like a punk show should be.

The California band formed in 2008 and has since released three studio albums, the latest being “Never Hungover Again” in 2014.

Joyce Manor has played at various rock festivals, such as FYF Fest in Los Angeles and Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2015.

“So we haven’t played in San Diego in a while,” lead singer and guitarist Barry Johnson said after the band opened

with some fast, loud tracks.

Joyce Manor’s music consists of short, upbeat punk rock songs that deliver an affective punch of adrenaline on stage.

Its quick, intensified delivery at the show was a hit for the audience.

The San Diego crowd responded in enormous cheers.

During the show, both the band and fans were on the same wavelengths, connecting with their shared excitement.

Johnson’s deeper vocals are raw and compelling, wavering away from the whiny, highpitched vocals commonly associated with punk music.

Joyce Manor played an amplified rendition of its minute-long song “Drainage,” originally a slow song with an almost mystical sound.

Midway through the show, the excitement might have

kicked a notch too far after a rowdy fan threw a white Vans shoe on stage.

After Johnson picked up the shoe, people in the audience began to yell, “Damn, Daniel!” or even “Damn, Barry!” in reference to the viral “Damn, Daniel” video that hit more than 45 million views last week on the Internet.

Security promptly proceeded to escort the fan out, but the band in response stopped playing.

“What happened?” Johnson said. “He just lost his shoe so he has to go now? Can he stay?

I promise he’ll be good.”

Security decided to let the fan stay, making both band and crowd happy again.

Folk punk band AJJ, formerly known as Andrew Jackson Jihad, opened before Joyce Manor.

Its quirky, playful attitude and music provided a warm

welcome to the fun night.

Sean Bonnette is the lead singer and guitarist of AJJ. He got very enthusiastic on stage.

He rolled around on the floor and kicked his legs in the air while singing “Do, Re and Me,” amongst other sporadic behaviors during the show.

For attendee Samantha Ceja, this was her fourth Joyce Manor and AJJ show.

Once again, she was not the least bit disappointed with either of the bands. “(Joyce Manor’s) shows live are always just so much fun because of the energy in the crowd — the music and the short songs that never fail to keep a crowd,” Ceja said.

“AJJ has some songs that you wonder what the hell was Sean thinking when he wrote them but it’s just the beauty of them as an artist.”

Joyce Manor closed the show with its most well-

known song in the punk-rock scene, “Constant Headache.”

Once the ripping guitar riffs and rolling drumbeats started playing, Johnson no longer needed to sing as he put the microphone toward the crowd.

In turn, everyone out in the audience sang their hearts out.

“It’s just a constant headache, a dead pet device,” Johnson sang. “You hang me up, unfinished with the better part of me no longer mine.”

The lights went out and the song came to its end, but the crowd was not silent. They roared and applauded while pleading for an encore.

Joyce Manor swiftly returned to the stage and played its fiery songs “Five Beer Plan” and “Catalina Fight Song.”

The crowd jumped together like a fluid wave for the last songs of the night, amazingly still not out of breath.

MAR. 2 - 8, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYO MIYAUCHI • ENTERTAINMENT@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

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LISTEN UP!

#STUDENTMUSICIAN

Labels flock to student producer

JULIANNA RESS CONTRIBUTOR ____________________________________ Music freshman Justin Adu-Acquah’s interest in music was sparked as a toddler, pretending to play the keys of an unplugged keyboard.

Those days are long gone as he now watches his music career begin to unfold.

Adu-Acquah, who’s known to his followers by his stage name Jay James, has had a lifelong relationship with music, causing it to be ingrained into his identity. “(Music) is another way for me to escape reality and express myself,” he said. “It’s a way for me to release however I’m feeling without being verbal.”

Adu-Acquah describes his beats as ambient R&B and hip-hop but influenced by all genres.

He has already begun to garner his own fan base. His SoundCloud following continues to grow and currently stands at 1,735 followers, with his most-played track, “Situations,” having nearly 250,000 listens.

“Situations” is when Adu-Acquah started turning heads. The track samples Childish Gambino’s “U

Adu-Acquah got attention by posting his music online.

COURTESY OF JUSTIN ADU-ACQUAH

#SILENTDISCO

Silent disco arrives

Aztec Music Group will turn SDSU into a silent disco.

COURTESY OF AZTEC MUSIC GROUP

ALEK SANCHEZ STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ From 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Friday, March 11, Aztecs can dance the night away in Montezuma Hall at San Diego State Aztec Music Group’s first-ever “Silent Disco.”

The event is free and open to SDSU students as well as the public.

Featuring four student DJs from AMG, two DJs will spin head-to-head for each half of the event.

The Silent Disco will offer three channels to tune into, one for each DJ and one channel featuring a playlist from music streaming service Tidal, curated by AMG. For those who have never participated, a silent disco is very similar to a dance or a rave. Students pack the dance floor but this time with their own set of headphones. Linked up directly to the DJ booth, the music feeds right into

participants’ headphones. It’s all the fun from the concert directly in the ears.

AMG focuses on bridging the gap between music and business, bringing in alumni established in the industry to speak from their experiences and guide Aztecs.

The organization’s president and business junior Cooper Abrams said she’s glad to be a part of such an event while also helping students achieve their dreams of working in the music industry.

AMG’s vice president of external relations Elaina Johnson is helping to host the event.

“It’s a fun concept, and the glowing headphones and special event lightening in Montezuma Hall will add to the rave-like feel of the Silent Disco,” she said.

Having partnered with Silent Events, the premiere leader in silent disco events, AMG looks to make its mark with its first event of the year.

Silent Events has set the standard for silent disco parties, providing top-notch sound and full-scale productions to all its shows.

AMG has also partnered with Tidal to provide giveaways to students.

During the silent disco, Aztecs will have the chance to win a three-month subscription to Tidal as well as other merchandise from the music streaming service.

This is AMG’s second semester on campus, and they are already looking to make an impact.

Johnson, also a marketing junior, is excited about the event.

“We’ve worked hard on planning the event for some time now, and we’d love to see our efforts reflected in a wellexecuted event that all of SDSU can enjoy,” she said.

Don’t Have to Call” and was shared

by Childish Gambino’s manager via Tumblr the day after Adu-Acquah posted it on SoundCloud.

“I had never had that exposure before,” he said. “Before that, the most plays I had ever had was like 500.”

Since then, Adu-Acquah has received widespread attention for his beats, receiving emails from musicians around the world who are interested in working with him.

He has collaborated with artists from Philadelphia, Houston, Miami, London and France. He also credits word of mouth for people hearing about him as he does not advertise his music.

While Adu-Acquah is an independent musician, he has received attention from record labels.

“I’m very picky when it comes to (being signed),” he said. “It’s a big step to take, so I’m very skeptical and I ask a lot of questions.”

He said he questions labels who want to own the rights to his music because all of his music would belong to them if he ever decided against renewing his contract.

Adu-Acquah’s talent has additionally gained notice within the music community at San Diego State. Fellow music freshman Lydon

Quill said Adu-Acquah’s music blends genres together well, and he hopes to work with him in the future. “(His music) is really dense, with a lot of instrumentation,” Quill said. “He’s going to be a really good producer.”

While he has been working on an album, which he hopes to release in the near future, Adu-Acquah’s longterm goals are to sign to a major label and eventually start a record label of his own.

“I want to sign a bunch of artists, a bunch of young people, and build off (of) them,” he said.

Adu-Acquah said his biggest inspirations are not only producers he can relate to, such as Kanye West, J Dilla and Dr. Dre, but artists unlike himself, including rappers and vocalists such as Pusha T and Frank Ocean.

“I just like how rhythmically accurate they are with their vocals,” he said. “I feel like if I worked with them I could do a lot with their voices.”

Adu-Acquah has come a long way from the 13 SoundCloud followers he started with when he made his account in 2010. His opportunities seem to only grow more frequently as time goes on.

16 LISTEN UP!

MAR. 2 - 8, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYO MIYAUCHI • ENTERTAINMENT@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#COLLEGERADIO

Student trio hosts indie station

Kiersten Suckert, Renee Ramirez and Kiana Malekzadeh co-host “The KRK Show” on KCR College Radio.

LILIANA CERVANTES, STAFF WRITER

LILIANA CERVANTES STAFF WRITER ____________________________ Alternative and indie-rock bands thriving on many San Diego State students’ playlists are getting plenty of air time on “The KRK Show” — an hour-long music show on student-run campus radio station, KCR College Radio.

Every Friday, the co-hosts of set the mood for their versatile show with some Christmas lights and a lava lamp. The show runs 3-4 p.m. on KCR’s website and its new radio signal, 1610 AM. Music has its special way of connecting people, and in this case, indie music connected the three SDSU student cohosts of “The KRK Show.” The

name of the show combines the initials of co-hosts Kiersten Suckert, Renee Ramirez and Kiana Malekzadeh.

“They’re like my best friends now, so it’s kind of fun to just have that hour where we listen to music and we don’t really say much,” said Ramirez, who’s also the station’s music director. “We don’t want you to hear us ramble. We just

want you to listen to some really good music.”

The indie genre is full of diversity because it branches out into an assortment of subgenres, which often fuse multiple musical elements together. Music from indierock bands Glass Animals, Local Natives, FIDLAR and Milky Chance are just a few that have been played on the show.

Suckert, the station’s event director, loves to play dream pop and indie-soul on the show.

Ramirez said she enjoys having a variety of different bands and artists on the show so students can be introduced to new music.

“There is always room to expand your music taste,” she said. “I think people like to just stick to what they listen to. Not a lot of people like to venture out and try new stuff.”

Each co-host brings her personal musical style to the show. Ramirez likes to play slower, mellow tracks that students can listen to while they study or even when they nap.

“I tend to play experimental,

psychedelic and indie alternative,” Suckert said.

“Our show offers something different. All of us as co-hosts are really good friends so I think we add that element of a relaxed, comfortable style.”

In addition to the abundance of indie music, “The KRK Show” co-hosts occasionally get the opportunity to interview bands and artists live. Recently they had an interview with energetic electro-pop band Five Knives.

These three gal pals and indie fans also like to mention upcoming festivals and shows that relate to the music they’re playing.

“Since doing KCR, I realized that I really want to work with music,” Ramirez said. “I like meeting bands, interviewing bands and also helping bands do promotional stuff.”

She said the scariest parts about having a radio show are the technical issues that can occur live.

“I wanted to do something as a hobby,” Suckert said. “I have always been extremely passionate about music so (KCR) is kind of like my little treat to myself.”

#GENERALEDUCATION

History of Motown bridges music of today CBS TELEVISION

SCARLET KEOLANUI STAFF WRITER ____________________________ Motown music began as the Motown record label in the 1960s and evolved into its own sound, a style of soul music with pop influences that’s still prevalent today. For example, many credit the rise of hiphop, which got its start in the 1970s, to the emergence of the Motown record label a decade prior.

These are some of the many insights in music history that students can learn from

San Diego State musicology lecturer Maya Ginsberg’s courses, History of Motown and History of Hip-Hop. Ginsberg, who designed her general education music classes herself, describes them as a jump-off point where students can learn about the social and cultural contexts behind the music they are learning about.

She said students in these classes get to learn about how the civil rights movement affected the Motown era during the ’60s.

They will also see how both

hip-hop and Motown styles share commonalities, even though they are spaced out chronologically and sound different.

Ginsberg’s classes for music majors delve deeper into music history and their cultural contexts. For her, all of her classes are fun to teach although they are all very different from each other.

Her History of Motown class teaches students about the genre. “(Motown) has been around for almost 60 years,” she said.

“Current students’ parents

or grandparents listened to (Motown), but (it) has made its way into popular music and students can recognize (it) in current appearances, perhaps as a sample on a hip-hop song or recognize it as a past appearance. Many of these acts are still touring or are part of history, but the music has never gone away.”

This semester marks Ginsberg’s fourth semester teaching a history of hiphop course. While the class is about the genre’s history, it also covers artists such as Kanye West and Beyonce in

the context of historical issues and how they connect to current events.

“We are so bombarded with music that we tend to not separate it and see how music affects culture,” she said.

Ginsberg said she hopes her courses help her students gain more appreciation for music.

“I would definitely take one of these classes,” communication junior Rachel Casamassa said. “I love SDSU because of its diversity, and these classes being offered on campus is clearly proof of that.”

17

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MAR. 2 - 8, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYO MIYAUCHI • ENTERTAINMENT@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#HANDOFGAVRILO

Alumni rock band wilds out in angst

The Hand of Gavrilo got its name from the man who assassinated Franz Ferdinand.

LILLY GLENISTER, SENIOR STAFF WRITER

LILLY GLENISTER SENIOR STAFF WRITER ____________________________ Not all bands are formed by childhood friends who claim they were destined to melt faces since birth. But many bands are formed the way local group The Hand of Gavrilo started.

“For the record, I got catfished,” bassist Andrew Loc said about the band meeting on

18172_10_375x8 OL.indd 1

the dating site, ChristianMingle.

“I thought I was meeting a hot chick and (Franco) shows up with his guitar and is like ‘So we gonna jam, or what?’”

Although the band didn’t actually meet on a dating site, the band’s lead singer and guitarist, Franco Rakigjija, admitted to finding Loc through Craigslist last March.

“San Diego’s a desperate scene,” Rakigjija said. “A man’s

gotta do what a man’s gotta do to find musicians. Don’t be ashamed to use the Internet, kids.”

After the band’s loud and energetic set at Tower Bar in City Heights on Tuesday, Feb. 23, the playful banter between Loc and Rakigjija wasn’t totally unexpected.

Loc and Rakigjija make up The Hand of Gavrilo along with drummer Declan Halloran, who

also played with one of his other bands, Pumphouse, that night.

The band, which gets its name from Gavrilo Princip — the man who infamously assassinated Austria’s Archduke Franz Ferdinand — is a mash-up of multiple genres. Through hard rock, metal and grunge coupled with lyrics full of angst, the band aims to evoke emotion from its listeners.

“The music is heavy, it’s rock,” Rakigjija said. “We’re just a band with a lot of pent-up anger trying to let it out onstage, but in a good way. If (our music) doesn’t make you feel anything, then we’re not doing our job.”

Rakigjija, who graduated from SDSU in 2012 as a recreation and tourism management major, has always had a knack for music and writes most of the band’s material. He was stoked to start The Hand of Gavrilo, his first official band, after recruiting Loc and meeting Halloran, an SDSU sociology senior, at Soda Bar in Normal Heights.

As a band just breaking into San Diego’s eclectic music scene, The Hand of Gavrilo is working on perfecting its craft in order to bring listeners the best show possible.

“I want people to have fun,” Loc said. “I want people to be into it. You just want people to have a good time. I can only hope that I play every song the way it’s meant to be played and that I don’t mess up too badly.”

Rakigjija said the band’s first priority is the music, but he hopes the band can network and book more shows with bands that share a similar aesthetic.

“I feel like hard rock is something that most people just aren’t keen to seeing,” Rakigjija said. “San Diego’s a very mutant-like place. It’s very segmented, and there isn’t a lot of connection in the scene.”

The band is working on getting its name out in the San Diego and Los Angeles areas, as well as Tijuana.

During the past year, The Hand of Gavrilo has become a tighter unit as a band and now plays music with each other as more than just bandmates but as friends.

“We try to have fun but also play with intensity because (our music) is art for us,” Rakigjija said. “We put a lot of time into it and we want to showcase what we spend all of our damn time doing.”

12/14/2015 3:31:28 PM

18 LISTEN UP!

MAR. 2 - 8, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYO MIYAUCHI • ENTERTAINMENT@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#CLASSICALBANDS

Bands keep San Diego State classy

ALEK SANCHEZ STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ For those looking to play in a classical band, San Diego State’s concert band is open for anyone looking to join.

There is no audition necessary, and the band’s skill level varies with each semester’s class.

This is the perfect opportunity for those who have always wanted to learn and play an instrument in a band, or even for those experienced to switch over and learn a completely different instrument.

Though students are expected to keep up with practicing, the environment is more relaxed as fellow students have similar playing abilities.

“For anybody on campus who wants to play an instrument, who doesn’t want to audition, (it is) less time commitment than other groups,” concert band director Abbie Weaver said. “There’s a very neat energy in room, everyone is just excited to be there.”

MUSIC 176: WIND SYMPHONY AND MUSIC 177: SYMPHONIC BAND Above concert band is symphonic band, an option open to all majors

and requiring an audition for which students must perform more advanced pieces.

Even more prestigious is SDSU’s premiere concert band, wind symphony, featuring the best Aztec wind musicians.

This is the first year SDSU has had three classical bands. An additional class was started as a result of rising student interest throughout the years. “(SDSU’s band) has been growing every year over the past five years, and we’re excited with how big we’ve become,” director of bands and music professor Shannon Kitelinger said.

MUSIC 105: INTRODUCTION OF ELEMENTS OF MUSIC Students can also learn the fundamentals of music theory in Introduction of Elements of Music.

This introductory course covers the basics of music, from terminology to rhythm and everything in between.

Music theory is a convenient and broadly applied skill. A solid foundation can help students whether they’re jamming in the garage with friends or messing around in FL Studio to make a song.

MUSIC 160: INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC MUSIC

This is the first year San Diego State has had three classical bands.

COURTESY OF SDSU SCHOOL OF MUSIC AND DANCE

SDSU also offers a course in composing music. Introduction to Electro-Acoustic Music allows students to get hands-on experience in the lab to create music electronically.

By working in digital audio workstation Ableton, students can learn the basics and fundamentals of mixing and digital sequencing to create their own music.

This course is a chance for all the SDSU bedroom producers to progress their work to the next level On top of those listed, the choir and athletic bands are also available for students to join.

SDSU music has many avenues for students to join and create something great. Students thinking of dipping their feet in anything music-related — take a chance and jump in.

#PEPBAND

Musicians work to bring pep to Viejas CHRISTINE WHITMAN SENIOR STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ At San Diego State, music can be heard everywhere — especially in Viejas Arena during basketball games.

At the women’s basketball game, it’s the varsity band, and at the men’s games it’s the pep band who pumps up the student section.

The pep band, along with the marching band, varsity band and winter guard, are coordinated and directed by Bryan Ransom, the director of athletic bands.

Ransom has been with the university since 1988 after receiving both his bachelor’s degree in music and his professional teaching credential from SDSU. “The pep band has always been kind of an elite band,” Ransom said. “It’s always been a hard group to get into because it’s limited instrumentation, limited size and a sought-after position. Everyone wants to be a part of it because of its reputation and the atmosphere that comes with it.”

A combination of music and nonmusic majors are involved in the pep band, with 80 to 90 students auditioning every fall semester.

Although pep band used to only hold 30 students, that number increased to 45 when games started selling out.

Pep band member and business management senior Nicole Castro began playing with the pep band as a sophomore.

“The band focuses on a few instruments,” Castro said. “Usually it’s saxophone, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba and bass guitar.”

The band differs from other

college bands because students are required to learn more than 300 tunes instead of the average 25 to 40. Ransom uses the varsity band as a “proving ground” to assess the students’ commitment and musicality throughout the years.

The pep band only rehearses six to eight times during the fall semester before performances begin. It plays a combination of pop tunes, such as Bruno Mars and Paramore, to classic rock and jazz.

“Our rehearsals are basically running through tunes and deciding what’s going to sound good that year,” Ransom said. “The music is mostly

The pep band pumps up the crowd at a San Diego State men’s basketball game.

COURTESY OF BRYAN RANSOM

geared toward having the audience at the games recognize the music.”

The pep band is audition-based, and returning musicians are required to re-audition each year. Ransom posts the music online before an audition so students have time to learn it beforehand. On audition days, students come in to play for about five minutes while their musical and sight-reading skills are assessed.

“I always look for energetic players and, obviously, good musicians,” Ransom said. “Most of the students I know ahead of time, but I usually get a sense of people’s attitudes, commitment and energy levels early

on. It’s always a plus if the students love basketball because they’re more engaged.”

The band is available for both fall and spring semesters, with a winter session commitment requirement.

Auditions are held at the beginning of the fall semester. Season runs from mid-September to the beginning of April.

“I wish I would have been a part of pep band sooner,” Castro said. “The group is really tight-knit. When I look back at my college experience, my fondest memories will be from pep band.”

19

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MAR. 2 - 8, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYO MIYAUCHI • ENTERTAINMENT@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#STUDENTMUSICIAN

Freshman finds passion in amps Chicana/Chicano studies freshman Natalie Martinez enjoys playing punk music on the electric guitar.

SARAH TANORI, SENIOR STAFF WRITER

SARAH TANORI SENIOR STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ Activism and art come hand in hand for Chicana/Chicano studies freshman Natalie Martinez as a Chicana woman playing music.

Martinez is a budding musician and leader on campus, involved in organizations, such as A.C.H.A. and M.E.Ch.A, with the goal of educating her community on intersectional issues.

When she’s not fighting injustices, Martinez likes to wind down with the electric guitar. She enjoys playing music influenced by rock and punk artists such as Flyleaf, Scandal and Babymetal.

“Music is a way for me to take a

break from everything that tires me out in the world,” Martinez said.

“Being politically conscious takes a lot of energy out of me, and when I play music, I don’t have to think about that, even though it is crucial to me.”

Martinez started to play guitar at the age of 12 after watching the music video for Orianthi’s, “According to You.” That was the first time she had ever seen a girl shred on the guitar, which motivated her to pursue music on her own.

The musician delved into music first with the acoustic guitar but found her passion lies in riffs and loud amps with the electric guitar.

By the time she was in high school, she found herself involved in an afterschool program called After School

CROSSWORDS

ACROSS 1 Gin and tonic, e.g.

6 Outback birds 10 “Pardon the Interruption” channel 14 Photographer Leibovitz 15 Island hoppers 17 1985 film featuring Doc Brown and Marty McFly 19 Sesame __ 20 Julio to julio 21 Potter’s practice 22 Possible place for a train ticket 27 AFL partner 28 __ Bator 29 Dude 32 How storybooks are often read

35 Bibliography abbr.

36 “Nessun dorma,” e.g.

37 Concept that small changes can have large consequences, as in theoretical time travel 40 Cheese with an edible rind 41 Shakes a leg 42 White House staffers 43 “You got it!”

44 Bombard 45 Michael Caine title 46 Improvisational music genre 51 Pastoral tribe of Kenya

Rock Band. The program met twice a week in an art room where students learned how to properly set up and tear down music equipment. Their performances mostly took place at school and community events where the group would play cover songs from bands such as Bon Jovi, The Cranberries, and even Tejano singer Selena.

Being from the Los Angeles area, Martinez was inspired by the buzzing music scene and the community around her. However, the lack of diversity made it hard for her have Chicana role models in music growing up.

For many people of color who make their way into the arts, this lack of diversity is an issue that comes with a feeling of isolation and huge under-

representation.

“It’s rare to see brown women making a name for themselves in rock and punk music mostly because of its foundations are made up of white (straight) men,” political science junior Sara Mielniczenko said. “As a student of color and musician, I look up to women of color who continue to pursue the arts when there’s so little of us. It gives me hope.”

As for her future in music, Martinez hopes to form an all-girl Chicana radical and political rock band.

“I don’t feel represented,” she said. “There’s not that many women of color you hear about. It’s mostly white women that you hear about that (are) pretty badass too, but that’s why it’s important to me to pursue my musicianship. Que viva la mujer.”

CLASSIFIEDS

54 Sch. with a Phoenix campus 55 “__ you nuts?”

56 Olympic medley found in order at the starts of this puzzle’s four other longest answers 61 Heredity sources 62 Gala or ball 63 Got off the ground 64 Brogan or brogue 65 Fizzy beverages DOWN 1 Big wheel 2 Broadcast sign 3 Claudius, to Caligula 4 Suffix with peace 5 Shelve

6 Legally prohibit 7 “Whatevs” 8 Oil-rich fed.

9 50+, e.g., on a L’Oréal tube: Abbr.

10 Erode 11 Form-fitting 12 Meter starter?

13 Fraction of a min.

16 Light bulb unit 18 Hip about 23 Under 90 degrees 24 Factory stores 25 Potter’s supplies 26 Mustard family member 29 Born partner 30 Stuffed pepper filling 31 Wild things to sow 32 First name in advice 33 It may be found at the end of the line 34 Big name in elevators 35 Taxpayer’s option 36 Burning 38 South Korea’s first president 39 Learning opportunities for many 44 Do the do just so 45 Betting aid: Abbr.

46 Renowned 47 Café cup 48 Did a fall chore 49 Venue that often sells its naming rights 50 Kid brothers or sisters, at times 51 High-ranking NCO 52 __ bit: slightly 53 Trig ratio 57 Apple mobile platform 58 Japanese drama 59 Shine, in brand names 60 Ab __: from day one

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

20THE BACK PAGE

MAR. 2 - 8, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYO MIYAUCHI • ENTERTAINMENT@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#FUTUREOFMUSIC

A music-lover stuck in the CD era RYO MIYAUCHI A&L EDITOR ____________________________________

T

he new MacBook has me scared for my future with music.

The latest laptops from Apple have no slot to insert a CD. In fact, other companies have done away with it for their laptops as well.

It’s a big worry for me, a dude who’s stuck in 2006.

I still buy CDs, and I still organize an iTunes library. But what the new laptops are telling me is that there’s not a lot of need to import music anymore.

Technology is evolving, and I’m going to be soon left behind.

Let’s face it: Importing music from a disc is old school at this point.

The big perk of the medium, compared to vinyl records or cassettes, is that I can import the data — the songs — to their computers as digital files. Whenever my iTunes library got wiped out from my computer crashing, I had my discs to recover a portion of the lost music.

Though I eventually invested in an external hard drive to cover my future losses, there’s not much use for me if I can’t put the music from my CDs onto my computer in the first place.

People don’t even need to own music to listen to it nowadays. Fans just need to subscribe to a streaming service to access what virtually seems like every piece of music recorded. What’s a record collection to the Cloud?

With no current need for CDs, it’s understandable that companies deem CD-players obsolete. That’s been the

CRISTIAN RANGEL, PHOTO EDITOR

norm for maybe a decade now. There’s going to come a time when I’m going to have all these discs on my bookshelf and nothing to play them on.

While I’ve accepted the old format to be irrelevant, I fear more that downloading MP3 files will one day also become useless.

Actually, that future is already somewhat happening too.

Apple discontinued the iPod Classic two years ago. Though the decision seemed strange at the time, the company’s motives became clear when it launched its own streaming service, Apple Music, a year later.

A person no longer needs to transfer music from a computer to an iPod if an iPhone can already access any song he or she wishes. No wonder the tech giant said goodbye to its beloved product.

#DASNAPSHOTS

Now I’m here scouring secondhand web stores on Amazon to see if I can replace my corrupt iPod Nano.

A rumor also flew around last year that the company was going to get rid of the headphone jack of the new iPhone to make the device even thinner. It was a sign for me to officially join the Bluetooth age.

See, thanks to Bluetooth, the iPod has become less and less useful for me in a social setting. Car stereos come built in with the wireless technology, and more stand-alone speakers rely on it as well.

My iPod doesn’t have that feature, of course. Whenever I want to play music for a group of people, I need an auxiliary cord — and who carries that everywhere?

I’m often left with all these MP3 files in my iPod but nothing to play them on.

Believe me, I’m trying to get acquainted with the present but I don’t fully trust it yet. My biggest concern might be irrational, but I think somewhat valid: What if my access to music gets cut?

Because in today’s streaming times, the music isn’t exactly mine.

I’m not buying a product but instead purchasing permission to listen to songs. Spotify and Apple Music play gatekeeper, and they can determine whether or not I’m still allowed to listen.

The new laptops are giving me a reality check: The only thing I ever owned by buying CDs were just stacks of fancy plastic with a nicely designed lyric booklet.

I guess it’s time to ask for an upgrade on my iPhone.

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

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FIT FOR ROYALTY

Managing Editor Matthew Bain snapped this photo of Windsor Castle while studying abroad in England this winter.