04-13-2016 by The Daily Aztec

weekly PRINT EDITION

wednesDAY, april 13 ¡– MU tuesDAY, april 19, 2016 N p7 DO volume 102, Issue 30 ! 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

Ted Cruz rallies in San Diego P2

GRAPHIC BY KAYLEE ANDREWS, PRODUCTION DESIGNER

#cfa

Faculty wins ‘Fight for Five’ El club de baile que esta de moda P7

sports

Softball seeking offense in MW play P6

arts & lifestyle

Student’s story inspires recovery P11 The Daily Aztec publishes its printed weekly edition on Wednesdays and serves the students, faculty and community of San Diego State University.

jamie ballard news editor ____________________________ After several months of dispute over faculty salaries and the threat of a system-wide strike, the California State University system has agreed to grant faculty not only the requested 5 percent salary increase, but a total 10.5 percent in general salary increases over a threeyear period (fiscal years 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18). “I am delighted that we have reached a tentative agreement with (the California Faculty Association),” CSU Chancellor Timothy White said. “Nobody wanted there to be a strike. It’s a very good thing that we were able to avert that interruption and invest in both student success and in our faculty.” CFA President Jennifer Eagan agreed. “This militant activity was not what we wanted to do,” she said. “It was evidence of an economic crisis. And this raise, while it may not make faculty rich or end economic problems, it will alter the course of our relationship with the CSU and signal that we can work as a team. We feel that the CSU truly values the faculty, along with the students.” In a media conference call with White and Eagan, White reported the salary increase’s overall cost to the CSU would

SNEAKPEEK

mundo

be approximately $200 million over the three-year period. This accounts not only for the salaries, but also the associated benefits. The CFA reports average faculty earnings at $46,000 annually. A 10.5 percent increase would amount to roughly $4,830 per faculty member. The CSU reports average faculty earnings at $66,900 annually, meaning a 10.5 percent increase would amount to approximately $7,024 per faculty member. The first set of increases will come during the summer. There will be a 5 percent General Salary Increase on June 30 for all faculty on active pay status or on leave, and a 2 percent General Salary Increase on July 1. White said this 7 percent is coming from a variety of sources. There is a 2 percent budget increase that was intended to be spent this past year, but was not spent because negotiations were in progress. There was another 2 percent from the initial funded increase that was not awarded in 2015-16. The CSU also budgeted a 2 percent increase for the 2016-17 year. The sources for the remaining 1 percent of the funding are still being settled. “There are other ideas and known sources that are still a work in progress, but we are

confident in the outcome,” White said. CSU spokeswoman Toni Molle said there are no plans for a tuition increase this year or next. The CSU had previously said in order to give faculty the requested 5 percent, it would be forced to cut operating expenses at the universities. White said this is no longer the case. “Those documents (stating the CSU would have to cut operating expenses to fund the CFA proposal) were based on a funding solution for the 5 percent and the SSI being paid out in the current year,” he said. “Now that we have a multipleyear tentative agreement in place, those numbers are no longer valid.” White said the fact-finders’ report, released on March 28, was helpful in reaching the agreement. It also recommended that all parties continue to study the faculty salary issue and develop a joint strategy to seek state funding. In an email to all San Diego State students, staff and faculty, President Elliot Hirshman’s office wrote, “We recognize that this has been a difficult time for our faculty, staff and students, and we appreciate the collaborative spirit that has guided our campus discussions on these challenging issues. In recognition of the critical

contributions of our faculty and staff, SDSU has committed significant campus base funding to support the referenced compensation increases for faculty and staff.” Specifically, SDSU has committed approximately $2.5 million in campus funding, which is approximately 1 percent of the 5 percent that will be allocated on June 30. “We will allocate these funds from our university operating fund, which consists of state appropriation, tuition, and cost recovery revenues,” SDSU Chief Communications Officer Greg Block wrote in an email. “The referenced funds were being held as a reserve in the university operating fund in preparation for next year’s budget contingencies and will not be re-allocated from other current uses.” The email from President Hirshman’s office also read, “This agreement also has implications for increases in staff compensation under existing collective bargaining agreements. Specific information about increases in staff compensation will be forthcoming.” This tentative agreement must be approved by the CFA Board of Directors, ratified by CFA members and approved by the CSU Board of Trustees at its meeting on May 24 - 25.

P10 Design and technical students thrive backstage

Alek Sanchez, staff writer

2 NEWS

APR. 13 - 19, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: JAMIE BALLARD • NEWS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#POLITICS

Ted Cruz campaigns in San Diego JOCELYN MORAN STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ Supporters and protesters alike flocked to Ted Cruz’s campaign rally at the Town and Country Resort Convention Center on April 11 as he talked about the three matters surrounding his campaign: jobs, freedom and security. A sold-out crowd of 2,000 San Diego citizens attended the event to hear Cruz’s speech, while several hundred more supporters and protesters gathered outside the venue. Some of the protestors were affiliated with the San Diego County Democratic Party while others were there in support of Donald Trump. “Ted Cruz’s message resonated with the crowd, but he gave the same message he pretty much gives at every rally,” said Jordan Dennison, San Diego State College Republicans chairman. “In my point of view, (the protesters) didn’t really have any significant impact. It was expected, but they didn’t disrupt my time there.” Throughout the rally, Cruz made it clear California would have a major impact on the election. “California is going to decide the Republican presidential race,” he said. Cruz said he would restore economic growth in California if elected because the people of California currently have to pay the highest taxes in the country.

“The people of California are hurt. You’re suffering under knuckle-headed liberal Democratic politicians,” he said. “But in 2017, we are going to pull the boot in Washington off of California.” The cheering grew loudest in the room after Cruz said the way to yank that boot from the state is by stopping amnesty. “We are going to secure the borders, end sanctuary cities and end welfare benefits for those here illegally,” Cruz said. “When we do that, we’re going to see millions and millions of new highpaying jobs coming back to America. We’re going to see young people coming out of school with two, three, four, five job offers.” He ended his speech by discussing the need to rebuild the military and by targeting candidates in both parties. “Apparently, there is a Bernie Sanders rally outside. You know the easiest way to clear a Sanders rally?” he said. “Just tell them they’ve got to get a job.” One of the Sanders supporters outside was Michael Johnson, a Vietnam War veteran who had the opportunity to vote for the first time in 1968. He said he didn’t know much about Cruz, but instead was there to encourage people to vote. “Voting is important to me, and I think it’s serious, especially for millennials,” Johnson said. “If the country turns to crap, you have to live in it. You guys have to fight for it. It’s up to you.”

Ted Cruz addresses the crowd at a San Diego campaign rally on April 6. JOCELYN MORAN, STAFF WRITER

Cruz aimed at Trump by mentioning the recent results in Colorado where Cruz took all of the state’s 34 delegates. Trump claimed it was unfair because the people of Colorado never had the opportunity to vote. Gary Whaley, a 53-year-old San Diegan native and Trump supporter, said he was protesting outside the rally because he, like Trump, also thought it was unfair. “I thought that was so violative,” Whaley said. “If the people speak and decide they want Trump, great. If they decide they want someone else, great. But Cruz and his elites shouldn’t be in the back room manipulating the delegates.” However, Cruz attributed Trump’s

unhappiness to the change of course in the race for the Republican nomination. “As we know, here in California, wine is something best served with cheese,” Cruz said. “To put it more simply, Donald, it ain’t stealing when the voters vote against you. It is the voters reclaiming sanity.” Trump is still leading with 743 delegates, Cruz has 545 and Governor John Kasich has 143. California’s primary will not be until June 7, and 1,237 delegates are needed for the Republican nomination. “If we stand together, we are going to win the Republican nomination, we are going to beat Hillary Clinton in November and we are going to turn this country around,” Cruz said.

news 3

apr. 13 - 19, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC editor: jamie ballard • news@thedailyaztec.com

#research

Researchers exploring sea floor Adriana millar senior staff writer ____________________________________ San Diego State researchers will help lead a project to search the sea floor off the coast of Southern California in search of ancient landforms. The project could potentially lead to the discovery of when the first modern humans arrived in North America, and whether they traveled an inland route or came along the coast. “Ultimately what we could get at is evidence of the first migration to the new world by humans, but the minimum what we want to understand are those landforms and how people were adapting to those coastlines prior to 7,000 years ago when those sea levels stabilized,” anthropology professor Todd Braje said. However, Braje said it is unlikely the research project will answer the question

of when the first modern humans arrived. “Many times people get excited about this idea of the first (humans to come to North America), and that is really interesting and a really important question, but there are really fundamental questions about what did these coastlines look when sea levels were 100 meters to 20 meters below what they are today,” Braje said. Braje and geological sciences professor Jillian Maloney have partnered with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to identify submerged landforms near the Channel Islands. “What we’re interested in doing (is) sort of mapping the now-submerged coastlines along the Pacific coast and trying to better understand those coastlines,” Braje said. “The project is designed to protect and find and understand archaeological sites that were occupied thousands of years ago when

sea levels were lower.” The $900,000 project, funded by the BOEM, will take place over the next four years. Braje is the principal investigator of the project, although universities such as University of Oregon, Oregon State, and CSU San Bernadino are collaborating on the project, as well. As the project geologist, Maloney will be leading the research team and mapping the seafloor and different geologic deposits using various sonar techniques, Braje said. “So if there was a river (that cut across land) when the sea level was much lower, then it got buried by sediment, we could see that river channel that was buried using that data,” Maloney said. After gaining a better picture of the seafloor, the team will then core small samples of the ocean floor to analyze sediments, Braje said.

By identifying potentially submerged landforms, the project will aid the BOEM to map areas suitable for offshore renewable energy projects, and to determine which areas require protecting. “What this project does even though we can’t see those biological and cultural resources (because) they may be submerged maybe under water, they still deserve protection because they’re an important part of our ecosystem and our human history,” Braje said. The research project is the biggest effort put together in Southern California to understand submerged landscapes, Braje said. “The thing that’s special about this, it’s kind of the biggest effort to try to unravel these questions, using all of these methods,” Maloney said. “It’s a really interdisciplinary effort, which I think is really cool about it.”

#Elections

Panel talks women’s rights, elections Jocelyn moran staff writer ____________________________________ Issues revolving around the 2016 presidential election, including immigration, women’s rights and the importance of political involvement, were discussed in a panel presented by the San Diego State Women and Politics Working Group on April 6 in the Storm Hall West building. The panel was moderated by Department of Political Science Chair Ronnee Schreiber. It involved SDSU professors Victoria Gonzalez Rivera, Doreen Mattingly and Kimala Price, and former City Council candidate Carol Kim. The discussion was the second gender justice event at SDSU in 2016. “I wish we wouldn’t have to do these in some ways,” Schreiber said. Rivera is a professor in the Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies and she focused on immigration and the dilemma of whether Senator Ted Cruz is really a Latino. Cruz identifies himself as one because his father was born in Cuba and later

immigrated to the U.S. However, Rivera explained how most Latinos in the U.S. don’t support his stance on issues, especially immigration. “We don’t get to decide what someone’s ethnic background is,” Rivera said. “But the real question people want to ask is, ‘OK, he’s Latino, but why doesn’t he represent the experiences or interests of most Latinos in the U.S?’” Rivera said of the 55 million Latinos living in the U.S., 27.3 million are eligible to vote and most will not be in favor of Cruz. “When it comes to it, is Cruz Latino? Yes, sure, why not? But that is almost irrelevant,” she said. “He, like Donald Trump, represents the view that all 11 million immigrants should be deported. And this is, in my point of view, unacceptable.” Mattingly then shifted to Secretary Hillary Clinton’s difficulty in running a successful campaign because of her gender. She listed some stereotypes among voters concerning women candidates, such as women being more liberal and moral, being outsiders and being weaker on foreign policy.

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She also said Clinton is seen as not feminine or masculine enough, but she also can not act immature the way Trump and Cruz do when debating. “Clinton can not embody that part of masculinity,” Mattingly said. “For any woman running, this is a very difficult position because you will never be more masculine.” Mattingly mentioned that in Clinton’s first election, she was told she shouldn’t campaign on women’s issues because she would lose popularity among male voters. The discussion then shifted to the topic of reproductive justice, in which Price focused on abortion rights. She started off by mentioning a recent interview in which Trump said women who have abortions should be punished. “This stirred up supporters of reproductive justice,” Price said. Price spent most of her presentation listing restrictions on abortion, and finished off by encouraging the audience present to vote. “The more Republicans we have in office, the more restrictions we have on abortions,” she said. “It’s important to elect people in Congress that will

make sure we have access to things like Planned Parenthood.” While most of the speakers spent time discussing matters on the national level, Kim focused on the local level. Kim said she was raised in a Republican home and attended UCLA. When she graduated, she went on to teach in an elementary school in a lowincome community between USC and Staples Center. “It was a very challenged community. It wasn’t until I started working with those students and their parents in that neighborhood that I saw systemically, there are barriers to people succeeding,” Kim said. “I realized how politicized education is. It opened my eyes.” Kim then volunteered for Barack Obama’s campaign, became staging location director for his grassroot campaign and ran for San Diego’s City Council in 2014 but came in second. She said the purpose of telling her story was to motivate people to get politically involved. “I learned that ordinary people are capable of doing extraordinary things when they come together, and that is real,” Kim said.

4 SPORTS

APR. 13 - 19, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYAN POSNER • SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#AZTECBASEBALL

Who’sWho? EDITOR IN CHIEF Kelly Hillock MANAGING EDITOR Matthew Bain NEWS EDITOR Jamie Ballard ASST. NEWS EDITOR Jacob Sisneros SPORTS EDITOR Ryan Posner ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Anthony Reclusado OPINION EDITOR Joseph Ciolino MUNDO AZTECA/ASST. OPINION EDITOR Jose Guzman ARTS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR Ryo Miyauchi ASST. ARTS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR Olivia Litsey

Trejo a treat for baseball

Sophomore shortstop Alan Trejo leads the baseball team with a .347 batting average entering Tuesday. SARAH SMITH, ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

MAYER POHLOD STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ At this point in the season, it’s not a shocker that San Diego State baseball is fielding a young team. In the team’s last three-game series against UNLV, seven of the nine starters in the lineup were sophomores or younger. With the abundance of youth, the younger players are being leaned on heavily to keep competitive with the rest of the Mountain West. One player in particular has made that initial step: sophomore shortstop Alan Trejo. Trejo has become an offensive force for SDSU, leading the team with a .347 average following last weekend’s series win over UNLV and occupying the No. 3 spot in the lineup. But baseball was not always the focus for the 6-foot-2 shortstop and reliever. “When I was younger, I was definitely not a baseball player. I grew up playing basketball for the majority of my life,” Trejo said. Trejo’s dad, Ray, was a high school basketball coach, and Trejo would routinely be at practices with him. “I remember he was something like 3 years old, and he would already be making baskets,” Ray Trejo said. “I’d never seen a kid that young already be

putting the ball through the hoop.” Trejo’s main sport would quickly shift to baseball after he saw longtime New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter play on TV when he was 4 years old. “He inspired me to play baseball and it went from there,” Trejo said. Ray Trejo added: “We were traveling from Nevada, Arizona, etc. (for travel ball) and it was getting to be a bit much, and I sat down with him and told him he had to make a decision. He went into his room, and not long after came out and said, ‘Dad, I think I want to pursue baseball.’” Trejo proved quickly he made the right choice. He played all four years at the varsity level at Warren High in Downey, California. As an upperclassman, he showcased his ability as a two-way player. Trejo hit .577 and .453 in his junior and senior years, respectively, and compiled a perfect 17-0 record on the mound. His productivity attracted the attention of then-SDSU pitching coach Eric Valenzuela, who recruited Trejo away from other potential suitors, including University of Arizona, University of Washington, Long Beach State and Cal State Northridge, when he was just a sophomore. “He told me, ‘Dad, they just seem like

humble and good people,’” Ray Trejo said of his son’s early take on SDSU. Three years later Trejo officially arrived on the Mesa, and in his first two seasons with the Aztecs, he’s done nothing but impress. “He competes, he battles, he’s a very tough kid,” head coach Mark Martinez said. “He’s a doer, he’s a leader and he’s a joy to coach. He makes our job very easy.” Even though he did dominate the mound during high school, Trejo has been mostly relegated to the infield as an Aztec with a few relief appearances here and there. In his freshman year, he started 49 of 64 contests at second base, his first time playing the position. He hit .266 with 20 RBIs, but was asked to switch to a much more familiar position in shortstop for his sophomore campaign. “It doesn’t matter where I play, I just want to play,” Trejo said. “Shortstop is a captain and I take pride in that.” Martinez sees the pride Trejo takes in his position, as well. “He’s a vicious worker. … I think he really enjoys playing shortstop, being a leader and being that guy that’s in the middle of the field and runs everything,” Martinez said. Trejo attributes his success offensively and defensively so far this year in part to his relationship with Martinez. “He’s like my dad on the field,” he said of Martinez, chuckling. “He yells at me, he screams at me but he does it for a good reason, and I appreciate it.” What might be the most exciting part about Trejo is that he still has potentially two more years with the team. That means two more possible years of development, maturity and contribution from someone who’s already an integral part of the program. “What I can tell you is that he’s a hard worker. He’s going to put in 100 percent every time,” Ray Trejo said. “I was lucky to have a kid like him.” Martinez had some similar comments regarding Trejo’s future with the Aztecs. “It’s going to be fun to coach him through his career here, he’s fun to have now. He’s one of our main family members.” Martinez said. In addition to routinely tearing up the baseball diamond, Trejo is currently majoring in aerospace engineering, a career in which he plans to pursue in addition to pro baseball after college.

PHOTO EDITOR Cristian Rangel ASST. PHOTO EDITOR Sarah Smith DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR Annalise Dewhurst VIDEO PRODUCER Daniel Galuppo PRODUCTION DESIGNERS Kaylee Andrews Hannah Lingle-Veale VOLUNTEER WRITERS Mayer Pohlod Meghan Lanigan Hannah Willis Julianna Ress Christine Whitman Alek Sanchez Sydney Sweeney Cassie Kaalawoa Adriana Heldiz Will Fritz Adriana Millar Jocelyn Moran VOLUNTEER PHOTOGRAPHERS Katelyn Mulcahy _____________________________________ ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Radbeh Rabaz SALES MANAGER Matthew Volk ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Alexis Evans-Bendel Alex Gamboa Christopher Garcia Kamisha McKnight Keon Siavoshani Kelsey Silver John Weil ACCOUNTING & CONTRACTS Alfonso Barajas Kalie Christensen _____________________________________ GENERAL MANAGER Jay Harn GRAPHICS SPECIALIST Chris Blakemore _____________________________________ ADVERTISING 619.594.6977 advertising@thedailyaztec.com EDITORIAL 619.594.4190 editor@thedailyaztec.com PRINT The Daily Aztec publishes 5,000 copies of its weekly print edition on Wednesdays. WEB Daily content is available at www.thedailyaztec.com MOBILE The Aztec App (available for iPhone and Android)

SOCIAL MEDIA facebook.com/dailyaztec twitter.com/thedailyaztec instagram.com/thedailyaztec _____________________________________ Weekly in print, daily online. The Daily Aztec has been San Diego State University’s independent student news source since 1913.

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6 SPORTS

APR. 13 - 19, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYAN POSNER • SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#AZTECSOFTBALL

Softball seeking offense in MW play MEGHAN LANIGAN STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ Mountain West games haven’t exactly gone according to plan for San Diego State’s softball team. After sweeping the San Diego Classic II and winning its first game in conference play against UNLV on March 24, the team has won only three out of 11 games, bringing its record to 22-18. “It’s so inconsistent, you don’t know what to push or what to count on,” head coach Kathy Van Wyk said. “One of the big things that stands out for me this year is we’re just young.” SDSU is currently seventh in the MW with a 4-8 record and will travel to second-place San Jose State April 15-17 for a three-game series. The Spartans are 7-2 in conference play and have yet to lose a series, but have an overall losing record on the season at 18-19. “San Jose State might not have a winning record, but they’re one of the greatest teams in the state,” Van Wyk said. The Spartans’ bats have caught fire in conference action with a .384 average through nine games, while SDSU has only mustered a .273 average in its 12 MW games. In that same time, SDSU has only managed 41 runs, compared to SJSU’s

84 runs in three less games. Sophomore catcher Jenavee Peres still leads the team with a .438 batting average and seven home runs, despite missing nine games early in the season with a concussion. “When we got Jenavee back in the lineup, we were a different team,” Van Wyk said. In Peres’ absence, SDSU freshman third baseman Molly Sturdivant has shouldered the brunt of the offense. She is batting .299 on the season and two of her three home runs have been of the walk-off variety. “We always say freshmen don’t play the way they’re capable of until April,” Van Wyk said. “We knew all along that she was going do good things for us.” The Spartans’ offense may be on fire, but their pitchers aren’t exactly having a stellar season. Junior right-hander Colette Riggs has the only winning record (6-2), while SDSU has three pitchers with a winning record. SDSU junior right-hander Erica Romero is 10-8, sophomore righthander Alex Formby is 9-7 and freshman right-hander Julie McDonald is 2-1. All of them have an ERA under 3.99. However, those numbers have taken a dip in conference play. Romero’s struggles have been the most notable, as she has a 1-4 record

Softball head coach Kathy Van Wyk has watched the team slip to a .273 batting average in conference games. KATELYN MULCAHY, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

with a 5.25 ERA in MW action. Formby is holding her own with a 3-3 record and a 4.11 ERA and McDonald has yet to draw a decision, 0-0, with a 5.25 ERA. “It’s the inconsistency,” Van Wyk said. “Erica would tell you she’s been frustrated.” Van Wyk said last year she could always count on the team scoring six or seven runs a game, which takes the pressure off of the pitching.

“This year, that run production’s been a lot more inconsistent, so the pressure’s been on for the pitching,” Van Wyk said. With 12 games left in the regular season the team needs to get something going offensively in order to make a ninth-straight postseason appearance. “I think we’ve got to go in with great confidence and take it one day at a time,” Van Wyk said.

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MUNDO AZTECA 7

APR. 13 - 19, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: JOSÉ GUZMÁN-QUIRINO• MUNDO@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#SALSACLUBSDSU

El club de baile que esta de moda ADRIANA HELDIZ ESCRITORA ______________________________________ Todos los miércoles y a veces durante los fines de semana, el Salsa Club de la San Diego State University invita a los miembros de la comunidad a aprender movimientos sensuales del baile latinoamericano. Aunque en la universidad hay otro club que enseña diferentes baile latinos, en 2013 un grupo de estudiantes decidió crear un club enfocado en salsa y bachata. María Guerrero, estudiante de psicología y miembro de este club, dijo que cualquiera puede ser miembro de este grupo y tener experiencia no es un requisito. “Cualquiera que tenga un interés de bailar salsa y aprender una nueva habilidad puede venir”, dijo Guerrero. “La salsa es muy prevalente aquí en San Diego pero también lo puedes bailar sobre todo el mundo”. Actualmente el grupo tiene casi 70 miembros y para ser miembro hay que pagar una pequeña cuota de 15 dólares por la membrecía general. Los pagos que efectúan los miembros del club, se usan como fondos para vestuarios y instructores. Los directivos del club se encargan de utilizar el dinero para el beneficio

del grupo, reclutar a miembros y coordinar las prácticas, entre otras cosas. “Yo misma hago los vestuarios”, dijo Guerrero. “No recibimos ayuda económica, nos mantenemos con las donaciones que hacen los miembros con sus cuotas”. El club consiste de dos grupos. El primero es para los principiantes, el segundo grupo es el que participa de competencias. Estos últimos compiten contra otras universidades que también tienen clubes y en muchas ocasiones se reúnen para competir. Para los estudiantes internacionales, este club ha sido un lugar para conectarse con la comunidad de la San Diego State University. Katrina Jakob, una estudiante internacional de Suiza, dice que se involucró con el club para aprender salsa. “Lo que me gusta más del Salsa Club es que se ha convertido como mi segunda familia”, dijo Jakob. “Y siempre que nos reunimos se trata de ayudar el uno al otro”. Orlando Muñoz, un estudiante internacional mexicano, y que sabe bailar salsa, forma parte de este grupo porque le gusta aprender movimientos nuevos para las celebraciones. “El chiste es divertirse y nomás Estudiantes bailando al ritmo de salsa durante su practica. bailar”, dijo Muñoz. ADRIANA HELDIZ, ESCRITORIA

Desde 2015, el Salsa Club cubre otros aspectos de la salsa que se enfocan en las raíces afrocubanas del baile que tiene movimientos animados y es más vibrante. Aunque bailar salsa es una buena forma de hacer ejercicio, Guerrero dijo que los beneficios son más psicológicos. “La salsa trae un conocimiento cultural porque casi cada cultura involucra baile... es un lenguaje universal”, dijo Guerrero. “Es lo que me encanta más de nuestro club, que junta muchas diferentes culturas”. Dalymar Maldonado, estudiante en la SDSU y quien forma parte de esta organización desde su iniciación en septiembre del 2013, dijo que ella se unió a este club por que la salsa es muy esencial en su cultura. “Estar presente en este club es como tener un pedacito de mi distante hogar un poco más cercas”, dijo Maldonado. “Me encanta bailar, así es como me libero del estrés cada semana y también estoy en el equipo que baila Pa’Xango que es una extensión del club”. Maldonado dijo le gustarías que mas estudiantes se dieran una oportunidad y asistieran a sus eventos por que ella cree que quedarían encantados, una vez que conozcan mas de este club seguro y forman parte de el.

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APR. 13 - 19, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: JOSEPH CIOLINO• OPINION@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

OPINION 9

#FORYOURHEALTH

It’s your life, just fasten your seatbelt CASSIE KAAWALOA CONTRIBUTOR ____________________________________ The leading cause of death in young adults has consistently been fatal car crashes. While tragedies can’t always be avoided, there are simple little things passengers can do to minimize them. By wearing a seatbelt and cutting back on bad habits like texting and driving, you can make a difference. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seatbelt usage reduces injuries and deaths in crashes by about 50 percent. The CDC also states young adults ages 18-24 have the highest crash-related injury rates of all adults. Adults of these ages are also less likely than any other

age goup to wear their seatbelts. This correlation relates directly to students here at San Diego State. Our age group has statistically shown its distaste for wearing seatbelts. When asked about this, some students have said they simply don’t like them. Others pointed out wearing seatbelts can actually cause fatal injuries in crashes, and that some accidents have caused seatbelts to trap passengers inside the vehicle. These points are fair; yes, the apparatus is flawed. However the impact that seatbelts have on passenger safety can’t be dismissed. Studies have consistently shown fewer fatalities in seatbeltwearing passengers than those who went without them.

Students should especially be cautious with their seatbelts. We are in an environment with congested traffic and students are more prone to drinking and driving. In these situations, wearing a safety harness is the least you can do to ensure everyone’s safety. The facts give two sides to the argument, but the question still stands: Should you wear a seatbelt? The problem here is although there are some flaws in their design, seatbelts save lives. They can be the difference between life and death for you and your loved ones. As young adults we often feel invincible, always thinking, “It’ll never happen to me.”

If you’re that lucky, is your little sister? We forget we set examples for the people around us. Are the children you nanny that lucky? When you get into a vehicle, it’s a given that you have a responsibility as a driver on the road. You also have a responsibility as a passenger, and your body can act as a dangerous force against other passengers in an accident. Your actions are another force, setting the example for the people around you and in the moment, possibly changing the fate of someone else in the car. Accidents are just that: accidents. They happen with no warning or reason, and they happen to everyone, so wear your seatbelt. If not for you, for the person next to you.

#MINIDORMS

Dorms are fun, but respect your neighbors HANNAH WILLIS STAFF COLUMNIST ____________________________________ If you’re a student who lives in or near the College Area, you’re probably aware of the prevalent issue of minidorms. The dilemma often associated with mini-dorms is the increase in parties, disruptive behavior and overall noise level within the (once-quiet) neighborhood. Residents say mini-dorms are notorious for bringing “parking problems, excessive trash,” and “downgraded aesthetics, partly because mini-dorm operators pave over yards to create additional parking spots.” From a student’s perspective, minidorms are enticing because of their close proximity to campus, as well as the appealing opportunity to live with friends and away from San Diego State supervision. On-campus dormitories and

apartments are much smaller and don’t offer the luxuries typical of houses, such as a private parking space or private backyard. Also, on-campus apartments don’t allow pets, except fish — which is one reason why a student might choose to live in a mini-dorm as opposed to an on-campus apartment. According to the San Diego UnionTribune’s David Garrick, there are 813 mini-dorms in the College Area, with 135 of them constructed within the last three years. This is because mini-dorms offer large incentives to homeowners in search of renting out their property or properties. By increasing the amount of individuals per home, the broker and homeowner are able to charge more and thus make more money as opposed to leasing the house out to a single family. “(UC San Diego) isn’t as vulnerable to the chronic and worsening mini dorm

problem experienced near San Diego State,” Garrick wrote in his article, “UCSD minidorm problem much smaller than SDSU.” “UCSD has more on-campus housing and the university is surrounded mostly by upscale condos and apartments instead of single-family houses,” he wrote. The limited availability in houses makes it less likely that it’ll be converted into a mini-dorm. Another reason why the mini-dorm problem is worsening around the SDSU area, as opposed to the UCSD area, is that UCSD has a “less vibrant and cohesive social atmosphere than SDSU, which was frequently listed as one of the nation’s top ‘party’ schools in the 1980s and 1990s,” Garrick wrote. In an effort to reduce single-family homes from being converted into minidorms, city officials have implemented the Rooming House Law, which is an “annual $1,000 fee for any house or apartment with six or more adult

occupants” as well as “mandating any off-street parking spaces for all adult tenants but one,” Garrick wrote in “Battle over ‘minidorms’ intensifies near SDSU.” Garrick’s article also discusses the punishment for a loud party complaint. “The $1,000 fines for loud parties is enforced per resident, so if five students live in a house hosting a party then the total fine is $5,000,” he wrote. These penalties are outrageous for college students who are usually already in a financial frenzy with student loans, tuition fees and housing expenses. I believe students should be able to decide where to live, whether it be on or off campus. On the other hand, I also believe students should be respectful and courteous of other neighbors in the community by keeping the noise level to a minimum. By cooperating together, we can fix this problem.

#WARONDRUGS

The war on drugs and discrimination within SYDNEY SWEENEY STAFF COLUMNIST ____________________________________ The implication that there’s something wrong with America’s drug policy is an understatement. Justifiably argued, there’s a whole lot of issues in such policy that are fragments of a problematic whole, better known as our government’s war on drugs. Beginning in 1971, the battle against drug abuse — or what former President Richard Nixon recognized to be the public’s number one enemy — has been a wasteful investment on economic, political and social tiers. Large portions of federal budgets have been allocated to anti-drug initiatives, most visibly resulting in the militarization of civilian law enforcement, and for over 35 years, the police’s involvement in the drug war has become increasingly detrimental to American society, greatly rattling the communities and lives of young people and ethnic minorities. So, is it warranted to say that the drug war is “choosy” with its enemies? Most definitely — but it’s always been that way.

In March, Harper’s Magazine released a 22-year-old interview with one of Nixon’s former advisors, John Ehrlichman, whose words served to dismiss speculation of whether the war on drugs inception was a racist tactic. “(By criminalizing both populations heavily), we could disrupt those communities,” Ehrlichman said. “We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news.” Such a statement is timeless, by virtue of the institutional racism that law enforcement reeks of. Today, statistics from DrugPolicy.org reaffirm this belief: African-Americans comprise 14 percent of regular drug users, but 37 percent of users arrested for drug offenses are African-American. Also, AfricanAmericans federal crack offenders were sentenced to far more prison time than Caucasian powder cocaine offenders. But the reality of Ehrlichman’s claims doesn’t stop at individual arrests and searches and seizures. America has watched communities — primarily urban, lower-income ones — become

front lines of unsolicited police brutality. Ferguson, Missouri’s anarchy may not have had anything to do with drugs, but it had everything to do with police militarization and the targeting of poor, predominantly-minority communities. These areas belong to residents who face tens of thousands of SWAT deployments annually, most of the time pertaining to drug searches victimizing minorities. And nearly four of 10 times, the private homes being ransacked lack any contraband at all. The perpetual use of SWAT teams in drug operations is especially unsettling, considering the fact that such agencies were invented to suppress riots and violent confrontation with armed individuals. Police brutality and the war on drugs hasn’t fazed or frightened drug abusers — most drug use has stabilized, while the number of those punished for mere possession continues to rise. It’s been argued that the failure and ineffectiveness of the drug war has lead to the unnecessary and military-style policing of poor, ethnic neighborhoods and incarceration of African-Americans

and Latinos. Law enforcement agencies are grasping for something, or someone, to disrupt. And unfortunately, under the Military Cooperation with Civilian Law Enforcement Agencies Act, our federal government says that’s OK. Through the legislation enacted in 1981, the militarization of police was taken to unprecedented extremes. Police agencies were allowed to access military bases and weaponry in order to “better” pursue drug abusers, and to this day, the U.S. government has spent over a trillion dollars on the war on drugs, actively neglecting other areas of the budget that could be catered to with greater spending allowances. America’s drug policy is a problem, and so are the discriminatory and violent strategies that the war on drugs has so eagerly manifested. Decades have shown institutional racism and the militarization of police playing a large role in the drug war, but recent years haven’t exactly hinted that any reform or reason will be coming our way — or at least not any time soon.

10 ARTS & LIFESTYLE

APR. 13 - 19, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYO MIYAUCHI • ENTERTAINMENT@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#MUSICASMEDICINE

Medical club heals through music

Kelly Dinh restarted Music as Medicine, an on-campus club that uses music to impact hospital patients’ lives. CHRISTINE WHITMAN, SENIOR STAFF WRITER

CHRISTINE WHITMAN SENIOR STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ For San Diego State student Kelly Dinh, music and science have always gone hand-in-hand. As a sophomore double majoring in music and pre-

medicine, it was easy to understand the relationship between the two subjects. “Having an artistic side and a scientific side actually balances me and makes me happy,” she said. “I think if I was only doing one subject or the other, my life would be more

complicated.” After understanding the unlikely connection between the two, Dinh restarted Music as Medicine, a firstsemester club on campus that provides all musicians with an opportunity to impact the lives of hospital patients. The club welcomes and encourages all majors and musical talents to travel to various medical facilities, such as Rady Children’s Hospital, Stellar Care dementia facility and Villa Pomerado nursing home, to perform for staff, patients and their families. “Performing for Music as Medicine isn’t just about great music and a great community,” English junior Richard Freeland said. “It’s also about sharing a part of ourselves with the patients.” The rebirth of Music as Medicine came from a conversation with a former student and colleague during the Pathmaker Internship with Palomar Medical Center. Last semester, Dinh decided it would be beneficial to rebuild and enlarge the club with a greater number of facilities, students and activities that could continue even after her graduation in the future. Music as Medicine consists of eight board members and currently has an email list of more than 90 performers. As club president, Dinh oversees the entire operation including its scheduled facilities, performers and

performances. Throughout the semester, club members are given a list of available times to perform at any one of the three facilities. Each facility has one to four performances per session, dependent on the facility and the time of day. “We try to get students out there because they usually don’t get the opportunity to perform and practice in front of others,” Dinh said. “But it’s really a two-way street, in helping the performers, we also help the patients who are always so happy to see us perform.” Moving forward, Dinh wants to build a supportive music community inclusive of all majors. She began to discover the positive effects music has on others as a performer herself, and she continues to learn more about herself both as a person and a musician. “I want students to realize that you can help people with music,” she said. “I would have never realized the positive effects of music on other people if I never played in front of others, and that uplifting feeling is something I’d like to share with everyone.” Meetings are currently held on the first of every month but may be held more frequently during next fall semester.

#THEATRE

Design and Technical Artists (DATA) helps SDSU’s design and technical theatre students. ALEK SANCHEZ, STAFF WRITER

SDSU DATA thriving ALEK SANCHEZ STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ Moving in the background to make sure everything runs smoothly, the set designers and technical team behind stellar campus productions are the unsung heroes of the San Diego State theatre world. Founded in 2013, Design and Technical Artists, or DATA, is a theatre organization which focuses on helping design and technical students prepare for life after school by networking and perfecting their craft. DATA largely manages lighting calls and prepares stagehands in order to put on a production. On top of manning the productions, they also provide technical and design workshops to help students learn and hone their skills, host guest speakers from various entertainment industries and organize field trips to local venues and theaters. DATA has also had the honor of holding its own student-run show. In February, DATA presented “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).” This show was put together by students and was free to the public. DATA Vice President Carmen Amon was excited to put together the show. “We were pleasantly surprised with the amount of people who came out,” Amon said. “I (think) this semester was a great success. We raised awareness of our club, received new members and had a blast working together.”

With “The Drowsy Chaperone” finishing its run before spring break, DATA and the theatre department are now focusing on the next big SDSU production, “The BFG (Big Friendly Giant).” DATA is currently holding lighting calls April 8, 9 and 15 all day. DATA is open to all majors and students willing to teach those without experience. The organization practices a hands-on approach and accepts all those who want to help out. Theatre design and technology junior Briana Anderson commended DATA and its willingness to help out all those involved. “DATA is all about giving back, (and) if you want to learn, DATA will teach you,” she said. In the midst of the current “The BFG (Big Friendly Giant)” production, DATA is staying busy. From constant work throughout the week to all-day efforts on the weekends, a lot of time and care goes into productions. Every costume, set piece and lighting cue are thoughtfully planned out, and a lot of care goes into making everything run smoothly and effectively. With around 100 members currently in DATA, Amon has big plans for the next year. She looks to continue the success of previous workshops by offering more opportunities for students to participate and learn. “We’d like to see more shows done (with) DATA, and talks are in the works,” she said.

arts & lifestyle 11

apr. 13 - 19, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC editor: ryo miyauchi • entertainment@thedailyaztec.com

#aztecsforrecovery

Student life story inspires recovery

Virginia Hoffman helps abused children to recovery. julianna ress, staff writer

julianna ress staff writer ______________________________________ Fifty-seven-year-old psychology junior Virginia Hoffman’s life experiences have led her to San Diego State, where she is now using her past to fuel her future. Hoffman describes her youth in Texas as turbulent. Her parents divorced when she was 3 and she was subsequently put into foster care. She lived in three different foster homes and, at age 6, was physically abused by her foster parents. Following her experiences in foster care, Hoffman was moved to a Christian

children’s home where she experienced verbal abuse. “Often in my life, I was told that nobody wanted me and nobody loved me,” she said. “I took that to heart and I believed all that.” Hoffman wanted to go to college after completing high school, but she was discouraged after being told by counselors she was not smart enough. She eventually turned to drugs, alcohol and overeating to numb the pain from the abuse she endured. “In my mind, I was thinking I was getting back at the people who hurt me, but all I was doing was hurting myself,” she said. “I turned to bad people who I thought I belonged with, but I didn’t. I still felt lost and alone and unloved.” Hoffman’s habits led to medical, social and mental issues. During this time, she experienced sexual abuse and was immersed in a constantly unstable environment. She cites her daughter and son as her motivation to better herself. “My kids are the ones who kept me going,” she said. “I was trying to give them everything I didn’t have as a child — love and support.” Hoffman’s involvement in church and The Salvation Army led to her period of recovery. She lost 150 pounds and has now been sober for 18 years. The first pastor Hoffman met through The Salvation Army was Vicky Esqueda, who has watched Hoffman transform her life throughout the years.

CROSSWORDS

Across 1 Like many knockknock jokes 6 Fit together, as some Russian dolls 10 Commando ploy 14 Square measures 15 Pledge 16 Magazine with annual Style Awards 17 Impressionist who was frequently a guest of Johnny Carson 19 Ink stain 20 Quite a while 21 Org. with Wizards and Magic 22 Hard-to-hit pitch 23 __ tai 24 Greek gatherings? 27 Cleared (out)

29 Clearasil shelfmate 30 Be in session 31 Less-filling brews 32 Phoenix-toAlbuquerque dir. 33 Movie backdrops 34 Statute that protects source confidentiality in journalism 38 Column on a decision maker’s list 41 Govt. stipend 42 Gem weight 46 Copy 47 Health club 48 Golfer’s booking 50 Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly 53 “Holy cow!” 54 On edge 55 Jackie’s second

“(Hoffman) has progressed beyond what anyone would have expected,” Esqueda said. “Her drive, motivation and perseverance through many bumps in the road have only made her stronger and more determined to graduate and help others.” Hoffman did not value education in her youth, but when she eventually became a caregiver, the woman she took care of encouraged her to go back to school. “(She told me) I was very smart and I would be a good counselor,” Hoffman said. She initially took correspondence courses through Oral Roberts University in Oklahoma before coming to San Diego and earning three associate’s degrees at Grossmont College. She then transferred to SDSU and currently holds junior status. “Instead of staying at home feeling sorry myself, I (wanted to go) back to school,” she said. She has also become vice president of Aztecs for Recovery, an organization for SDSU students to come meet with someone who will listen and help them overcome struggles with personal issues. The age gap between Hoffman and her fellow classmates has not had a significant impact on her college experience because her children have helped her to be more in touch with younger generations. “Nine times out of 10, I’m the oldest person in my class,” Hoffman said. “Some (students) will come to me for advice. I look forward to giving them advice, hoping that my experience will keep them

going and keep them from giving up.” Hoffman hopes to graduate in the fall of 2017 and become a counselor. “I’m hoping that I can direct abused children to connect with people who will help them instead of bring them down,” she said. Hoffman wants to guide abused children to help them understand they are not at fault and their abuser is the one making poor choices. “I’m hoping that as I start helping abused children, I can help them make better choices instead of turning to drugs and alcohol,” she said. Esqueda foresees a bright future for Hoffman as a counselor as she can draw on her past experiences to relate to those in need. “Growing up in (foster homes), feeling unloved, seeking love from the wrong kind of men, making food her best friend, living on welfare, turning to alcohol and overcoming every one of those difficult times makes her a more compassionate person who truly understands what others are going through who are seeking help, hope and direction,” Esqueda said. Hoffman also plans to write a book about her life story in order to help adult survivors of child abuse. Hoffman said she is happier and healthier than she has ever been, and she no longer believes one needs drugs or alcohol to have fun. “I was able to overcome all that hurt and bitterness, and to be where I am today, I am grateful,” she said.

Classifieds

56 Founded: Abbr. 57 City near Tahoe 58 Menu listing literally represented by this puzzle’s circles 61 “Dancing With the Stars” co-host Andrews 62 Tan shade 63 Teapot part 64 Viewpoint 65 Show sorrow or joy 66 “101” class, briefly Down 1 Snickers ingredient 2 Paper work? 3 Exchange need 4 Slangy turndowns 5 Paris fashion monogram

6 “Pretty good!” 7 Frequent, as a diner 8 Mo. town 9 With 25-Down, what America is across, to Brits 10 Contradict in court 11 Court order? 12 “This is awesome!” 13 Loathes 18 Memo starter 22 Show sorrow or joy 24 Bass, e.g. 25 See 9-Down 26 Jump on ice 28 Hardy title teenager 32 Yalie 33 Hit 35 Road trip guessing game 36 Morales of “NYPD Blue” 37 Air Force heroes 38 Musical with nightclub scenes 39 1968 to now, in pro tennis 40 Fastidious sort 43 Drummer’s joke punctuation 44 Hobbyist 45 Sees after 47 Muddy digs 48 Ripped to shreds 49 Author Blyton 51 Me.-to-Fla. route 52 Core group 56 Channel with numerous sister channels 58 Patch, perhaps 59 Diamonds, slangily 60 “Woe __”: 1996 grammar book

Help Wanted PREFERRED VALET PARKING HIRING PART-TIME AND FULL-TIME VALET’S & MANAGERS. COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION, FLEXIBLE HOURS. APPLY ONLINE AT WWW. PREFERREDVALETPARKING.COM ________________________________ Swim instructors wanted. Teaching children of all ages, but primarily those under the age of 5. Full and Part Time hours available year round. Competitive swimming background recommended. CPR & WSI certifications recommended but can be attained post-hire. $13/hr + Based upon experience. 858-273-7946 Visit www.murraycallanswimschools. com PLEASE visit facility and fill out an application. ________________________________

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

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12 THE BACK PAGE

APR. 13 - 19, 2016 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: RYO MIYAUCHI • FEATURES@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM

#ONEDIRECTION

Zayn holds it down in new album OLIVIA LITSEY A&L ASSISTANT EDITOR ____________________________________

nyone who knew me in 2012 knew I was in love with One Direction. I would watch every interview I could find, sing along to every word of every song and cry at concerts. I was that girl. Part of the reason why I loved the group so much was the members’ arresting vocal ability, and thenmember Zayn Malik was a major component of that. Aside from one of my original favorite lyrics of his about breaking tables because he wanted to have a laugh, there were a number of instances on One Direction’s debut album that made Zayn stand out from the other boys in the band. A handful of moments toward the end of “Moments” established him as a singer with enviable range. His pure talent combined with the narrative of him falling in love, and making of joke of it to avoid getting hurt, is remembered as a swoon-worthy Zayn sample. With that, the last 30 seconds of “I Want,” the song that brought the group’s Up All Night tour set list to a close, also easily convinces listeners to hop onto the Zayn-admiration train. The feeling of being treated to such a performance and then having to leave the concert venue was bittersweet to say the least. This was only the beginning. The group went on to do three more tours in the next three years. Zayn continued to slay audiences everywhere with his voice, especially in tracks such as “Last First Kiss,” “She’s Not Afraid,” “You & I”

and, one of the group’s most popular, “Steal My Girl.” But in 2015, while the On the Road Again tour was still underway, Directioners were crushed to hear Zayn had quit. It seemed to mark the end of an era. The remaining four members released the band’s fifth album just six months later. While it introduced a few strong new songs, its vibe was different without Zayn’s vocals maintaining the foundation of a chorus or peeking through the music to hit a scandalously powerful high note. Thankfully, the world wasn’t Zaynless for too long because — perhaps not-so-coincidentally — he released his first solo album on March 25, exactly one year after the official announcement of his departure from One Direction. It’s evident that with this album, “Mind of Mine,” he was looking to quite literally make a new name for himself. The collection of new songs refers to ZAYN. No last name, all caps. It also differs from his previous work due to the unusual structure of the track titles (for example, “rEaR vIeW”), the fact some songs are tagged as explicit, the heavy influence of Zayn’s own writing and its overall stronger leanings toward the R&B genre. He obviously wanted to stray away from the straightset, squeaky-clean pop image of One Direction. Yet, for me, listening to this album was like getting a hug from an old friend I hadn’t seen in a while because, most importantly, his voice remains just as impressive as it was before.

#DASNAPSHOTS

Zayn drops solo debut after exit from One Direction THINKSTOCK

The first single released off the album, “PILLOWTALK,” has taken over radio with its catchy slow-jamesque feel. It expresses being in the throes of a tumultuous relationship both physically and emotionally: “It’s our paradise and it’s our war zone.” A hip-hop remix of the song with Lil Wayne has also been released, which is ironic considering the cover artwork featuring baby Zayn depicted with his current tattoos might as well be “Tha

Carter V.” Apparently they’re cool, though. At this point in time, I’m most partial to “iT’s YoU” and “fOoL fOr YoU,” both poignant tracks about a desperate, unreciprocated type of love. With what sounds like violin and harp, the first of the two is almost reminiscent of a lullaby that listeners would cry themselves to sleep to: “I looked at it like a blessing, and now it’s just curse.” Played on the piano, “fOoL fOr YoU” is a louder documentation of pain as Zayn belts out his inability to resist a love he wishes he didn’t feel. Of all the tracks on the album, this one is my recommendation for solo performances in the car and/or shower. Not even two minutes long, perhaps the most notable track on the album is “INTERMISSION: fLoWer.” Upon first listen, I wasn’t sure if I was so enthralled by its soft tones that its lyrics escaped my understanding or if they actually weren’t in English. As it turns out, the song is sung in Urdu — a language native to Pakistan and India. Its translation matches the evocativeness of the music: “Until the flower of this love has blossomed, this heart won’t be at peace.” Seemingly a tribute to his heritage, this track verifies the album as a more personal artistic representation of Zayn. Despite the heartache Zayn caused his fans last year, he has come back with a greater commitment to his craft. It makes my heart so full to see him performing again with a renewed visage of roaring passion. I can’t wait to continue to watch him grow.

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

INTO THE WILD

Production Designer Kaylee Andrews shot this photo while driving through the Cleveland National Forest this past weekend.