VOLUME 100, ISSUE 60 Thursday, April 24 - Sunday, April 27, 2014 San Diego State University
O U T H O C F S N T A A R T N G I I S S U S E O UE H B
COVER ART DESIGN BY CARLOS JIMENEZ, ART DIRECTOR / BACKGROUND IMAGE COURTESY OF THINKSTOCK
2 HOUSING ISSUE
the aztec • april 24 - 27, 2014
#branchoutsdsu
Hannah beausang
courtesy of thinkstock
news editor
It’s that time of year again. Everyone’s in a rush to find roommates and a place to live, but most importantly, it’s a time to explore San Diego. There are countless neighborhoods beyond the College Area, each with their own unique attributes and cultures. Are you a craft beer and live music fanatic? Consider moving to North Park, where your favorite bars are all within walking distance. Want to have time to surf before class? Maybe it’s time to move to the beach. Do you want to find affordable housing in quaint neighborhoods close to campus? Take the trek to East County. What about the moving to a place brimming with culture and good eats? Grab some roommates and caravan to the Kearney Mesa area. Or if you’re more of a homebody, check out our price break down for on-campus living and meal plans. And if you’re planning to branch out just a bit, move to College Area, and spend some time immersing yourself in university life. No matter how you look at it, San Diego is full of diverse culture and places to have an adventure while you’re still in college.
Campus Living ................................ P. 3 Public Transportation ...................... P. 4 Houses vs. Apartments .................. P. 5 College Area ................................... P. 6 Central San Diego........................... P. 7 Kearny Mesa .................................. P. 9 University Heights........................... P. 10 Beaches ......................................... P. 11 East County .................................... P. 12 Campus Living, cont........................ P. 13
REGULAR CONTENT Turn to page 14 for our regular content, including profiles on two successful Aztecs, and page 15 for a sports preview on the baseball game against the Spartans on Friday. Visti thedailyaztec.com or download The Aztec App for more online-exclusive content every day of the week.
SPECIAL ISSUE
Table of Contents
April 24 - 27, 2014 • the aztec
HOUSING ISSUE
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#residencehalls
Guide to a residence hall life
Jaclyn Palumbo
differential for each building to impact the accessibility of all students to be a part of a specific learning community,” Director of the Office of Housing Administration Eric With a major residence hall temporarily Hansen said. closing, first-time freshmen an According to the SDSU housing website, upperclassmen will have expanded freshman living choices will start at $10,633 housing options going into fall 2014. The for a triple room with the 10 meals plan for Zura Residence Hall is set to close for 2014-15. reconstruction from May 2014 and fall As for upperclassman arrangements, 2015. Albert’s College Apartments and Villa San Diego State’s Office of Housing Alvarado, students are able to pick a double Administration began planning how or single room in the apartment and can to accommodate approximately 4,000 add an optional meal plan. Upperclassmen students who expect to live on campus next living choices started out at $7,761 for year. a double room and no meal plan. Cost Because Zura will be out of service, would not vary based on which facility additional housing options will be upperclassmen were assigned. necessary to ensure availability for students Even as SDSU’s housing office has who were required or guaranteed onmade new options available to make campus housing. Zura housed more than room for enough students next year, 550 students this year, mostly freshmen. nearby independently owned apartment “Since Zura is one of the biggest complexes have seen changes as their leaseresidence halls, there are going to be new signing period for next year begins. housing options for the residents and some “We have already dorm rooms are going seen an effect of to be turned from this take place as doubles into triples our traffic, mostly to accommodate “Living in the incoming freshmen more students on residence halls and sophomores, each floor,” resident is a great way to has increased advisor and English meet new people tremendously since sophomore Sam our last leasing Pfau said. in a safe, homelike season,” Aztec Even as some environment.” Corner Leasing living options will - Sam Pfau Coordinator Elise change for next year, Alexander said. students are still able Many privatelyto request single, owned off-campus double, or triple apartment complexes room accommodations. in College Area such as Aztec Corner For the freshmen living options, (the provided other housing options for residence halls, Granada and Piedra del students looking to live away from home or Sol), there will not be a difference in price closer to campus. based on which hall or apartment complex While off-campus options are available, students live in. The only difference in housing staff reassured that on-campus price will be based on the type of meal plan housing was most plausible. the student selected and the room type — “We try to get to know the residents so single, double or triple. “They do not have a choice regarding a dorms continued on P13 specific building as we do not want a price senior staff writer
During its next regular meeting Monday, April 28, 2014 at 4:00pm the Associated Students Board of Directors will vote on some important
BYLAW AMENDMENTS. Copies of the proposed changes are available to interested individuals upon request from the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union Information Booth or the Associated Students Suite front desk on the third floor. Comments regarding the proposed changes are welcomed in advance. Meeting location can be found at as.sdsu.edu/govt.
619-594-6555 as.sdsu.edu
Zura Hall will close for rennovations in the fall. Other housing options will be availible for Aztecs who want to live on-campus. Monica Linzmeier, Photo Editor
Residence Halls $10,633 (per year)
0
rent cost
commute
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Housing Issue
the aztec • April 24 - 27, 2014
who’swho
#SDtransit
Editor In Chief Leonardo Castañeda Managing Editor Ana Ceballos News Editor Hannah Beausang assistant News Editor Luke Henning Sports Editor Adriana Bush
The SDSU Transit Center serves thousands of students every day. Monica Linzmeier, Photo Editor
Going car-less in San Diego Jaclyn Palumbo
Senior Staff Writer SDSU Transit Center The San Diego State Transit Center, which has been located between the Adams Humanities building and the pedestrian bridge since July 2005, has provided the community with an alternate means of getting to and from campus. The Green Line trolley route and bus routes 11, 14, 15, 115, 856, 936 and 955 have stops near the SDSU Transit Center. The Green Line stops at SDSU and travels either east to Santee or west to 12th and Imperial Avenue downtown. It has 27 total stops, some of which have connecting bus routes and opportunities to transfer to the Blue and Orange trolley lines. Many of the Metropolitan Transit System trolley stops have public parking available for those who take advantage of free parking elsewhere and riding the trolley to campus. “I decided to start taking the trolley so that parking is no longer an issue,” kinesiology freshman Maddison Roach said. “It is cheaper than paying for gas and parking combined. I have been taking the trolley since I started attending SDSU. MTS tickets and passes For students who don’t have a car or simply don’t want to have to deal with the pain of paying for parking at SDSU or elsewhere, MTS offers a range of options to get from point A to point B. College students get special discounts for all-access monthly and semester passes. For the duration of the time the student holds a valid pass, it can be used on all MTS trolley
and bus routes and the North County Transit District Breeze and Sprinter. By showing a valid monthly or semester pass, students qualify for a discounted rate riding the MTS Premium or Rural buses and the NCTD Coaster. For SDSU students, the cost of the monthly pass is $57.60 and the semester pass is $152 with a $20 subsidy included. Monthly and semester passes are also offered to students attending some of the other colleges in San Diego for a different price. To qualify, SDSU students must present a valid RedID at the Viejas Arena Box Office and meet a unit requirement determined by the school. Semester passes are on sale a few weeks before the semester begins until approximately a month into the semester. Pass sale dates are listed on the San Diego MTS website under “Fares.” For those purchasing a one-way trolley ticket, the fare is $2.50 at the electronic ticket stations near the transit center. It is valid for a time period printed on the ticket upon purchase and only works for trolleys going one direction. A one-way bus ticket is $2.25. A day pass is essential for those who don’t use public transportation regularly but are taking the day to explore San Diego County. For $5, the pass lasts from the time of purchase until trolley service ends for the day. The day pass is an unlimited use of all of the services mentioned above for monthly and semester pass holders. Take the Green Line to Old Town, hop on bus down Route 8 to Mission Beach, explore downtown and Horton Plaza, and take route 15 back to SDSU, all for $5.
Note that first-time buyers of the day pass are required to pay an additional $2 for first use to get a reloadable compass card for future trolley and bus rides.
My public transportation experience With the transit system just across from the East Campus Drive residence halls, the trolley and bus routes are great ways for me to get around. This past fall, in my first semester at SDSU, I decided to get the semester pass. I knew I’d need to get to Qualcomm Stadium for the football games and Target every once in a while, but that was about it. I soon discovered the trolley could take me to Ikea, Costco, Mission Valley, Fashion Valley and even pretty close to the beach when I took a bus route. In the Spring semester, I decided to get the semester pass again. For $152, I knew it was well worth it for the number of times I would ride the trolley and bus, especially now that I have an off-campus job. While I can’t wait to have the convenience of a car with me next year, I have become quite the public transportation expert in just a few months. How often does the trolley/bus come? The average arrival and departure times of all buses and trolleys is every 15 minutes, but the wait time can be between seven and 30 minutes. Green Line trolleys arrive and depart approximately every 7-8 minutes in the early morning, every 15 minutes during the daytime, and every 30 minutes in the evening. A complete timetable of the MTS trolley and bus routes can be found online at www. sdmts.com.
Opinion Editor Madison Hopkins Entertainment Editor David Dixon Features Editor Elisse Miller Copy Chief Caitlin Johnson Assistant Copy Chief Erik Dobko Copy Editors Terence Chin Kelly Hillock Maria Del Carmen Huerta Elpin Keshishzadeh Photo Editor Monica Linzmeier Art Director Carlos Jimenez Production Designers Mark Anthony Santos Gabriela Flores Web Editor Victor Escoto _____________________________________ Advertising Director Jesse Castañeda A.s. Sales Manager Jordan Kato Account Executives Tony Disarufino Chase Gillmore Matt Kilefner Radbeh Rabaz Marissa Walsh Adam Zabel Accounting & Contracts Michael Bratt Kim Le Public Relations Kelly Hillock Christina Koral _____________________________________
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HOUSING ISSUE
April 24 - 27, 2014 • the aztec
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#collegearea
Close to home in College Area
adriana millar staff writer
The first time I set foot on campus during orientation the summer of 2013 I was confused. Not because I was a clueless freshman, but I had been under the impression San Diego State was near the beach. In fact, I thought all of San Diego was five minutes from the beach. False. Once I had adjusted to the idea I was surrounded by residential houses, I was eager to explore the neighborhood, though I don’t have a car. Coming from San Francisco, “The smallest big city,” I was under the impression that being in a major city meant you could rely on a tight urban environment. Another misconception about San Diego. Despite the limitations of living near campus without a vehicle, there are several gems in the College Area. The most obvious benefit is its proximity to campus. Many off-campus apartments are within walking distance of SDSU, and those a bit farther away either offer a free
shuttle service or a free trolley pass. Most of the apartments in the College Area cater to SDSU student’s needs and often include amenities such as water, electricity and furnishing as part of their rent, to ease students into living on their own. The cost of a single bedroom apartment per month in College Area is about $760 to $1,510, depending on the size of the room and distance from campus. Many students also chose to lease nearby residential houses, which range from around $400 to $600 per month for a single bedroom. Living close to campus makes commuting to school easy, and to wake up at the last second and still make it to class on time. Although a bit of a trek away, a popular College Area spot is The Living Room Coffeehouse, on El Cajon Boulevard. It’s about a 30-minute walk from SDSU, so your best bet is finding a friend who drives. Featuring a shaded outside patio as well as plenty of indoor seating, The Living Room is a great place to bask in the San Diego sunshine while enjoying
an afternoon treat. The cafe also makes a good study spot for SDSU students. “It’s set up with lots of homey living room furniture and lighting,” environmental science freshman Liam McStravick said. “It has some pretty yummy pastries and comfort food. I would recommend getting a hot chocolate and a cheese danish.” Another popular neighborhood spot is Effin’s Pub and Grill, also on El Cajon Boulevard. Only about a 20 minute walk away from campus, Effin’s is a popular
neighborhood bar known for its cheap eats and Aztec sports game viewings. I’m underage, but Effin’s allows those under 21 inside until 9 p.m. to enjoy the non-alcoholic side of life, including their fried pickles and tots. A classic sports bar, Effin’s probably isn’t the spot for an intimate and calorie-conscious meal, but rather a great place to hang out with fellow Aztecs rooting on their team. College Area boasts a unique environment tailored to SDSU students.
Effin’s Pub and Grill on El Cajon Boulevard.
Living Room Cafe on El Cajon Boulevard. all photos by chelsea massey
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HOUSING ISSUE
the aztec • april 24 - 27, 2014
#padguide
Aztecs’ guide to picking the pefect pad Briana stanley staff writer
It’s that time of year again when San Diego State students study for finals and count down the days until summer vacation. However, one of the most stressful things students have on their minds is figuring out where to live the next school year. If you already know you want to live in the College Area, the main questions are with whom you are living and whether you want to choose a house or an apartment. Hospitality and tourism management junior Veronica Andrade lived in an apartment last year and lives in a house by SDSU this year. She said she prefers living in a house because of the increased freedom. “Apartments feel very closed off,” Andrade said. “Whereas in a house, you have a backyard, a front yard and a driveway. In an apartment, you just have your door.” Andrade said there are also perks to living in an apartment. She said she liked
the proximity of the apartment because she did not have to wake up early to get to class on time. Andrade also liked the community feeling that being in an apartment complex provides. But for Andrade, the downsides of her apartment outweighed the benefits. She said the larger square footage of her house is worth her money more than a small apartment. Andrade will be living in a different house in the College Area next school year. Her rent is the same now as it was last year, and she believes she gets more for what she is currently paying in her house. “You get a giant space, there is never a problem with noisy neighbors, it is more secluded and gives you more freedom for what you want to do,” Andrade said. For many other people, the most important factor in deciding between a house or an apartment is the number of roommates that come with each. Typically, larger groups of roommates will live in a house, while smaller groups of roommates
College Area $1,100 rent cost live in apartments. Hospitality and tourism management junior Hannah Grossman said she enjoyed living with 33 girls last year in her sorority house. “It was really nice always having someone to talk to and do things with,” Grossman said. This year, Grossman lived by herself in an apartment. She said the transition was not easy. “Going from living in the house to
5 minutes commute living on my own was a huge adjustment,” Grossman said. “I definitely get lonely.” Now that she has adjusted to her apartment, Grossman finds it does have its perks as well. “I really enjoy the independence and it’s cool to be able to take full ownership of your home,” Grossman said. In the end, whether it’s an apartment or a house, it all comes down to personal preferences. Apartments offer amenities that houses do not, and vice versa.
HOUSING ISSUE
April 24 - 27, 2014 • the aztec
#centralsd
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Getting to know Central S.D.
San Diego’s center is a hot bed for culture at the head of the city’s renaissance. Luke Henning
Assistant News Editor Downtown San Diego and the surrounding suburbs make up the beating heart of the city. Of all of San Diego’s different regions this central area which stretches from Kensington to South Park—yes that is an actual neighborhood in San Diego—to the Embarcadero in Downtown, is one of the of the most diverse. If you are looking for culture, art, business or just an ice cold craft brew this is the area for you. The median apartment cost might be a bit steep for most college students, at around $1,500 for a one-bedroom, but if you can afford it, this area pays off with its collection of 5-star restaurants and bars. Over the past decade this area began to recapture its former glory as the historic center of the city after years of high crime rates. In the two decades I have lived here,
many of the neighborhoods have seen a renaissance of sorts as craft restaurants, breweries and businesses of all kinds have taken over the once rundown main streets. Though you may be a 15-minute drive away from SDSU the central location puts you at about a 15-minute drive away from pretty much all of San Diego. Neighborhoods like North Park have their own unique nightlife with bars, breweries and venues only a short walk away from most apartments. Street corners and coffee shops become makeshift concert venues as the sun goes down on the weekend. It’s hard to go anywhere after 9 p.m. without running into live music in central San Diego. If you can get over the hordes of mustachioed cyclists and businesses that look like something out of a Portlandia skit this area offers one of the most vibrant slices of San Diegan life in the whole county.
North Park is known for its bar scene and trendy restaurants. Monica Linzmeier, Photo Editor
Central Area $1,500 rent cost
15 min. commute
HOUSING ISSUE
April 24 - 27, 2014 • the aztec
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#kearneymesa
Kearny Mesa spices up S.D.
Michelle Monroy staff writer
The Kearny Mesa area is about 15 minutes from campus. With more than 20 coffee places, grocery stores and places to eat within a mile of each other, Kearny Mesa is easily accessible for walking. The area has lots of ethnic foods like Japanese, Chinese and Korean food to choose from. It has nine fitness facilities and 11 libraries within a mile of each other. Convoy Street is where most of the shopping centers, restaurants and coffee shops are located. It’s about 6 miles away from Pacific Beach and about 10 miles away from La Jolla. A one-bedroom apartment has an average rent of $1,054 per month. According to City-data, the median contract rent for a house is $1,757. Renters occupy a little more than eight percent of houses. The cost of living in this area is 36.2 percent less than the average of San Diego. Most of the people that live in the area are 20 to 39 year-olds. Almost 60 percent
of people who live in Kearny Mesa are married. It has a population of about 2,700 people. It also has an average household income of $71,000. If you’re looking for good, authentic Asian food head over to Convoy street, which in San Diego is synonymous for Asian food. Convoy Street is heaven on earth for a closet otaku or anybody who enjoys Asian culture. Mitsua and Marukai Market are a good place to binge on anime, manga and sanrio while munching on Yan Yan cookies and suchi rolls. Yakitori Yakyudori and Ramen is a good place to stop by if you’re on a budget, about $10, and looking for an elaborate bowl of ramen. Feel free to pack on sides orders like fried dumplings and a boiled egg for your ramen bowl. If you’re feeling brave you can try spicy miso soup but have a glass of water to chase it down with and a napkin for the tears that accompany the spicy goodness. Zion market is a compact version of what you can find in South Korea. There’s a variety of savory food places to eat inside
The area has tasty treats for adventurous eaters. jenna mackey, senior staff photographer
$1,054
rent cost
the market and a Paris Baguette Bakery which is based off a chain in South Korea. You’ll find kawaii desserts, coffee and milk teas. There’s also a grocery store, beauty store, and kpop stores inside. Manna BBQ is the hotspot to go on a weekend if you’re in the area and want to spend a pretty penny, $20 or more, on a platter of basically raw meat. This place gives you the opportunity to dive into
10 min.
commute
Korean cuisine. Manna BBQ serves you the raw meat plate of your choice so you can cook it on the hot stove in the middle of your table, which is surrounded by side dishes that decorate your table like confetti. Because finals are looming, check out Pangea Bakery where there are as many outlets as there are pastry choices. It’s good a place to relax on a couch or study at a table with your best friends, espresso and laptop.
10 HOUSING ISSUE
April 24 - 27, 2014 • the aztec
#universityheights
Small town in the big city Monica Linzmeier photo editor
The first two years at San Diego State I followed the normal path of staying in the dorms freshman year, and moving slightly off-campus sophomore year. This last summer, however, my roommate and I decided we were done with campusliving. We knew we loved Hillcrest but after apartment searching for a day and a half in a cramped car under the San Diego sun, we were fed up and tired. Luckily, on our way back to campus we got lost. We ended up University Heights, a community at the ends of Park and Adams avenue. This mini-haven had everything we were looking for: affordable apartments, booming bars and calming coffee shops. When we describe it to our friends, we call it a satellite community of Hillcrest. There are two gay bars that have great vibes, killer Thai and vegetarian food and free music or comedy acts on weekends. It’s convenient being able to hit up happy hour and walk to do anything else because it’s all located on one street. When driving around the neighborhood, you’ll notice a lot of SDSU faculty parking passes, and it makes a lot of sense. It takes ten minutes to drive to campus, two
University Heights has colorful culture and good food. monica linzmeier, Photo Editor
minutes to walk to a bar and five minutes to bike to Sprouts. The neighborhood itself is also a lot of fun to walk around in, with a weird mixture of large and small old houses painted interesting colors and apartment buildings like ours. Trolley Barn Park is just a short walk away from Park Avenue and there is a cute little park and a beautiful view of Mission Valley. All along the cliffs the beautiful expensive houses are hidden and you can just see them from the vantage point. During the summer you’ll find concerts and hidden bottles of wine in picnic baskets. If you are really looking for a place that gives you a break from the party-heavy atmosphere of SDSU, while still giving you enough to do, you might want to check it out. But good luck finding an apartment. No one wants to leave.
HOUSING ISSUE
April 24 - 27, 2014 • the aztec
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#beachlife
Easy living down by the beach
Hannah Beausang News Editor
As a Northern California native, the idea of living near the beach was always a distant dream until I got my acceptance letter to San Diego State. Even now that I live in San Diego, the sun-soaked beach towns have not lost their allure. If you’re trying to get away from the inland areas and you’re looking for a good reason to skip class every other day, I’d recommend moving near one of the beaches. There’s a plethora of options for every beach bum, and each neighborhood has its own unique personality. Though the commute can get a bit snarled with traffic, it only takes about 20-25 minutes to get to campus. The average cost of renting a twobedroom apartment in the beach areas is about $1,600 and the average cost of a three-bedroom house is about $3,200. If you’re looking Pacific Beach area is home to for a good a younger crowd, and is known reason to skip for the testosterone-heavy barclass every day, lined streets. It’s typically filled I’d recommend with college kids, and is famous for rowdy Taco Tuesdays, which moving near one are the perfect time to get cheap of the beaches. food and drinks within walking distance to the beach. The Ocean Beach neighborhoods mellow out the beach scene, with a more laid-back, surfer vibe. The community of selfproclaiming “Obecians” has a lot to offer, with hidden intimate beaches and excellent dive bars. Plus, OB Noodle House has the best pho in town. Last but not least, there’s the Mission Beach neighborhood. While Mission is catered to tourists a bit more than the other beach towns, it’s still a good time. Locals can spend the day at the ocean or visit Belmont Park or the Wave House.
Beaches $1600
20-25 minutes
rent cost
commute
If surfing isn’t your thing, San Diego’s beaches have plenty of other sites like the O.B. pier. COURTESY OF THINKSTOCK
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housing issue
the aztec • April 24 - 27, 2014
#EastCountySD
San Diego’s next door neighbors Camille lozano Staff Writer
East of San Diego State, the cities of La Mesa and El Cajon provide quiet, yet culturally and economically diverse neighborhoods. Less expensive than the greater San Diego area, these cities are great places to rent homes or apartments. Commuting to SDSU from El Cajon averages about 20 minutes as the city is just off Interstate 8. The heart of El Cajon has recently undergone urban revitalization with a newly-renovated downtown area. Currently, the median rent price for a home in El Cajon is $1,300. A onebedroom apartment in the city rents for around $1,000 per month while a twobedroom rents for around $1,400. The main attraction in El Cajon is Parkway Plaza. With Macy’s, Hollister, Victoria’s Secret and Walmart department stores as well as a Regal Cinemas movie theater and a merry-goround, it may be the most hoppin’ place in El Cajon. Recently, the mall has changed ownership and installed three new stores: Ulta, Charming Charlie, and Five Guys Burger and Fries. Other than the mall, the International Rescue Committee, a “global humanitarian organization,” hosts the Downtown El Cajon Farmers Market from 3-7 p.m. on Thursdays on East Main Street. A portion of the profits from the local produce supports the farmers and goes back to the community. Some of the top restaurants in El Cajon, as rated on Yelp, are Sagmani’s Restaurant on Douglas Avenue. A
Middle-Eastern restaurant, this place is recognized for its low prices, friendly staff and fresh, tasty food. Beef ‘n’ Bun Whistle Stop on Fletcher Parkway has been around for ages, it seems. It is best known for its delicious burgers and shakes. Tropifruit 100% Natural Juice Bar on North Johnson Avenue is a great place to go for amazing aguas frescas, fruit salads, tortas and, if you’re into it, wheatgrass shots. La Mesa is located about a 15 minute commute from SDSU. The median rent price for a home in this neighborhood is slightly higher at $1,450. To rent an apartment, the cost is around $1,170. La Mesa is a central city, bordered by the City of San Diego in the West and north, Spring Valley and Lemon Grove in the south and El Cajon in the east. It is located near the Grossmont Center, which has a Target, Macy’s and Reading Cinemas movie theater, as well as the Grossmont Transit Center trolley station. The La Mesa Village is a picturesque downtown area with several boutique shops and mom-and-pop businesses. Mt. Helix Park is also a popular destination for San Diegans to overlook the surrounding cities and scenic view. La Mesa is home to many unique and delicious dining options. Locals and Yelpers agree that Antica Trattoria on Lake Murray Boulevard is the place to go for great Italian meals. The Riviera Supper Club & Turquoise Room on University Avenue provides a unique dining experience by allowing customers to grill their own steaks while listening to live music on the weekends.
Beef ‘n Bun is a popular El Cajon dining hot spot. Camille Lozano, Staff writer
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HOUSING ISSUE
April 24 - 27, 2014 • the aztec
13
Dorms Continued from P3
Housing: Residence Halls when they come back after class, it isn’t just a routine, but a place they want to go to and a place they feel safe at,” Pfau said. “Living in the residence halls is a great way to meet new people in a safe, homelike environment.” Academic support programs, along with the convenience of living close to campus, lead to higher retention and graduation rates as well as a higher likelihood of academic success, Hansen said.
Housing options 2014-15
The following on-campus housing options will be available in fall 2014. Albert’s College Apartments: apartments reserved for the Aztec Journey Community sophomores, juniors, seniors, graduate, international and transfer students. Chapultepec Residence Hall: high-rise, traditional-style residence hall on the west side of campus. The hall closest to the Aztec Recreation Center and Aquaplex. An Aztec Market is located next to the building. Cuicacalli Suites: a suite-style arrangement on the east side of campus comprised of Tepeyac & Tacuba residence halls. Granada: a new option for freshmen. Apartment buildings located on the southwest side of campus. Maya and Olmeca: traditional low-rise dorms on the east side of campus. Maya is the hall designated for students in the University Honors Program and staffed with Academic Mentors. Piedra del Sol: a new option to freshmen. Fully-furnished apartments located on the southwest side of campus. Tenochca Residence Hall: a high-rise traditional hall on the east side of campus. University Towers Residence Hall: a high-rise on Montezuma Road. featuring semi-suite-style room, the University Towers Kitchen Dining Facility and an Aztec Market next door. Villa Alvarado: furnished apartments with up to four residents per apartment that are located on the northeast side of campus. Reserved for the Aztec Journey
Community sophomores, juniors, seniors, graduate, international and transfer students. “The location of the specific Residential Learning Communities are yet to be finalized although Maya will once again be the residential home of the honors program,” Hansen said.
On-campus resources 2014-15 The following resources, facilities and amenities will be available exclusively to students living in the residence halls beginning fall 2014. STAR (Students Taking Academic Responsibility) Resource Centers
-Located near Tenocha, Maya and Olmeca, Chapultepec and University Towers -Open Sunday night through Thursday night each week exclusively to residence hall students “These academic resource centers offer residents a place to study with computers, textbooks, free printing, free tutoring and academic support,” Hansen said. -Each residence hall is equipped with a TV lounge, recreation room, study lounges and seminar rooms -Everything is all on one bill: rent, meal plan, utilities, cable, Wi-Fi internet access, water, trash collection and a membership to the ARC, ARC Express and the Aztec Aquaplex -Everything is billed monthly to the individual resident and those with financial aid can have it directly applied -Fully furnished rooms -Individual license agreements -A residential education staff -Educational programs for residents. For example, career development, internship scouting or study-abroad opportunities “The support from our staff and the safety and security of our facilities are our most prominent benefits offered on campus,” Hansen said. Residential living communities -Floors or wings within each hall dedicated to a major, theme lifestyle, topic
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The dorms are located near Aztec Market, which is part of the meal plan.
Monica Linzmeier, Photo Editor
or shared interest. -Students can apply for a specific living community on WebPortal when applying for housing. -Examples include journalism and media studies, Explore San Diego, Substance-Free and Gender-Neutral. -The Aztec Journey Community for upperclassmen in Villa Alvarado and Albert’s College Apartments is considered a thematic community that will offer an independent apartment setting. “These communities are unique because residents in them are placed into two classes with the other residents on their floor, including a university seminar class and a general elective graduation requirement that they take together,” Hansen said. “This increases the bond that the residents share because they are going to class with each other, studying for the same exams together and spending more time together, in general.”
My on-campus housing experience This year, I lived in Cuicacalli Suites on the Tepeyac side. I had a single room, but each floor is divided into suites. Though I had the privacy of my room, I also was able to have the roommate experience since I shared a mini-kitchen, a living room, and two bathrooms with eight other girls. It was a perfect balance for me by having my own door to close when I needed to study or go to bed early without feeling completely isolated.
2014-15 Meal Plan Options The following meal plan option will be available for fall 2014. 10 Meal Weekday Plan • One $8.20 swipe between 6:30 a.m. 4:15 p.m. • One $11 swipe between 4:15a.m. - 11:45 p.m. *Swipes do not carry over. All money must be used in one swipe at one location. No weekend balance. Flex 5 • $20.75 declining balance each weekday *Can be used at multiple locations seven days a week when dining facilities are open, but if unused at the end of the day, declining balance does not roll over. No weekend balance. Flex 7 • $19.20 declining balance each weekday • $13 declining balance on Saturday and Sunday • Can be used at multiple locations seven days a week when dining facilities are open, but if unused at the end of the day, declining balance does not roll over. Meals Plus Plan • 80 meals per semester from Cuicacalli Suites Dining Hall • $1,265 declining balance per semester • Both meals and declining balance can be used any time that the dining facilities are open, seven days a week. Remaining meals and balance from the fall semester roll over into the spring but are not refundable if unused by the end of the spring semester.
14 Features
April 24 - 27, 2014 • the aztec
#danmatthews
Documentary captures a unique life olivia litsey staff writer
The life of San Diego State Alumnus Dan Matthews turned upside down this past year, and he’s capturing it all on film. Matthews was a Korean adoptee born and raised in California by American parents with a sister also adopted from Korea. Through a birth search, Matthews learned last year that he has another family: his biological family in Korea, including his parents, a sister, and amazingly enough, a twin brother. He recently released a unique documentary, telling the story of how dramatically and quickly his life has changed. “Usually a process like this takes months to years to actually happen, and then even after you’re put in touch with your biological family, it takes a while for you guys to actually meet,” Matthews said. “But for me, I started (the birth search) like three months before I was going to go out (to Korea). I found out about everything two months before we were going to go out, and then I got the word that I had a twin brother about a month before I was leaving, so it’s crazy how quickly everything happened.” The experience was recorded and released as a documentary TV series called “aka DAN: A Korean Adoption Documentary Story.” Viewers can watch it on Hulu and DramaFever in four, 30-minute episodes, and on YouTube in the form of eight shorter videos. It was also broadcast and co-produced on a Korean television network called Arirang TV. In order to fund the costs of production and travelling, Matthews raised money through Kickstarter. Now that he knows more about his personal story, Matthews believes that the experience has given him a new outlook on life. He feels a new motivation to get more in touch with his Korean heritage. Though he will be travelling
courtesy of dan matthews
to Korea in the future more than he ever expected in order to visit his family, he is happy with his life as it is now and doesn’t plan to make any big changes to his career or his living situation. “You don’t have to be an adoptee, you don’t have to be Korean, you don’t even have to be Asian to relate to this story,” Executive Producer Eugene Choi said. “I think it’s a very human story. Anyone with a mother, anyone with a family—I think they can all relate to this in some way. It really does speak to the human condition and just some common things that all of us humans share. We’re always dealing with issues of family, identity and love, basically.” After graduating from SDSU, Matthews moved to Los Angeles to become a content producer for a YouTube
channel called ISAtv that was started by Wong Fu Productions and hip-hop band Far East Movement. He performs as a hip-hop artist himself for fun under the name DANakaDAN, and he released a solo album as a companion piece to a documentary called “Stuntman.” Matthews is excited by the positive reaction to the documentary and hopes viewers will enjoy and relate to his story. “I want it to be a piece of content that, when people watch it—especially adoptees—that maybe they can relate to it, or it’s something that at least represents a viewpoint of my story that they wouldn’t be able see otherwise,” Matthews said. “I think that, as an adopted Asian American, this is something that represents our story.”
#chegg
Chegg turns a journalism student into a leader ashley pickei staff writer
Journalism and media studies senior Stephanie Rivera loved the idea of exploring another country and immersing herself in a different culture, which is why she applied to the Chegg and Pencils of Promise internship. Textbook retailer Chegg partnered with Pencils of Promise to create a 10day internship for eight students in two exotic locations. For the first five days of the internship, students will spend time in New York City learning how the nonprofit Pencils of Promise works and operates. The remaining five days will be spent in a Guatemalan village, where the interns will help build a school for an impoverished community. “Chegg creates long-term relationships with interns and makes sure to set them up for success,” Chegg’s Director of Event and Cause Marketing Heather Hatlo said. Rivera first learned about the internship after purchasing books from Chegg. She received an email showcasing the internship opportunity and was immediately intrigued. “It kind of just fell in my lap,” Rivera said. “I read the details and thought it was very interesting because last summer I volunteered to teach kids in China and thought if I could do that again, that would be amazing.” A supportive professor at San Diego State encouraged Rivera to go to China, which was a life-changing experience. Rivera also studied abroad during
courtesy of chegg
the summer of 2012 and currently interns at the Foundation for Women, a nonprofit organization that promotes the participation and leadership of women in philanthropy. She said the combination of these experiences opened her eyes to the different types of people in the world and made it clear that working with nonprofits is something she wants to do for the rest of her life. The opportunity to travel once again to do good is something Rivera didn’t want to pass up. “I don’t want to be sheltered to thinking one thing,” Rivera said. “It’s important for your own moral values and it makes you a compassionate person because you stop judging.” When talking about her experience in China, Rivera said the hardest part was choosing what to teach to the kids. She
was only there for 10 days and had to determine what would benefit them most. “The last day we were there the children gave us gifts and flowers, and I had to keep telling myself, ‘don’t cry,’ because the kids changed my life and didn’t even know it,” Rivera said. Taking all she learned from her internship in China, Rivera began the Chegg internship application process. The applicants had to submit a photo of themselves helping their community or environment with a caption of 140 characters or less describing the picture and why they wanted the internship. More than 1,000 people submitted photos. Then 50 semi-finalists were chosen to make a 90-second video explaining why they deserve the internship, and the public voted for its favorite. The 16 applicants with the highest number of votes were
personally interviewed and eventually eight will be selected to receive the internship. Though the application process toward the internship has been a long one, Rivera has already made friends with a fellow applicant through Instagram and they have been supporting each other along the way. “Even if it doesn’t work out I have gained so much out of it already,” Rivera said. With the support of her family and friends Rivera has had the opportunity to broaden her life experiences, and she said being awarded this internship would only add to that. Through her experiences Rivera has made friendships all over the world and is enthusiastic about the idea of traveling to Guatemala. “This is a tremendous learning opportunity and a way to help developing nations,” Hatlo said.
Sports
april 24 - 27, 2014 • the aztec
#aztecbaseball
SDSU welcomes San Jose State Kristian Ibarra Staff Writer
Pitching The San Diego State Aztecs baseball team is coming home for a threegame series against the San Jose State University Spartans after an impressive series win against University of California Irvine this past weekend. Much of the team’s success resulted from solid outings from all three of its starting pitchers—even sophomore Bubba Derby’s (5-2, 2.40 ERA) two earned runs through 7.1 innings pitched in a losing effort on Friday. The Aztecs are also solid outside of the starting rotation, with junior closing pitcher Michael Cederoth, who was named Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Week last week for the second time in his Aztec career, at the helm of the bullpen. The Spartans don’t present as stellar of a pitching staff, with junior pitcher Kalei Contrades (2-2, 2.86 ERA) leading the entire SJSU pitching staff in ERA. The Spartans’ deficiencies at pitcher stand as the crux of their underwhelming 12-29 record in 2014. Edge: Aztecs Offense SDSU boasts four hitters in sophomore third baseman Ty France, senior second baseman Tim Zier, junior centerfielder Greg Allen and sophomore leftfielder Seby Zavala – who are batting around .300 or better.
The Spartans have one—freshman outfielder Brett Bautista, who, while batting .323, only has 11 RBIs. At 29-12, the 2014 Aztecs have proven they can hit about as well as they can pitch. Look for the SDSU bats to come alive against the subpar Spartan pitching. Edge: Aztecs Prediction Though SDSU took two out of three games this past weekend, the bats stayed relatively quiet against the Anteaters. Don’t expect this trend to continue on through the weekend, though. The Aztecs aren’t facing nearly as daunting of a pitching staff as they welcome the Spartans to Tony Gwynn Stadium. As SDSU will likely send Derby out to the mound for his 10th start of the season, the Aztec bats will look to get their right-handed ace pitcher back to his winning ways after losing two straight decisions against the University of Nevada, Reno and UC Irvine. Boasting a 10-8 record against Mountain West opponents, the Aztecs are poised to pick up three much needed wins against a conference opponent, potentially moving them out of fourth place and surpassing second-place University of Nevada, Las Vegas, which plays first-place University of New Mexico this weekend. The Aztecs have more wins at home all together than the Spartans do. It’s highly unlikely that the Aztecs will let this very winnable series go to waste by losing any games this weekend. Prediction: Aztecs win all three games
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If You Are Graduating in December With a Degree in Education, Leisure Services or Family Services, the University of Northern Iowa has internships available with U.S. military Child Development Centers in Europe, Hawaii and Florida Beginning in August 2014 or January 2015. Related major and prior experience with children/youth required. Receive 12 hours of graduate credit. Living stipend, airfare, and housing are paid. Build your resume, earn credit, and network with the world’s largest employer, the U.S. Department of Defense. Email internships@campadventure.com and please put INTERNSHIP/(OR) in the subject line. Briefly describe your prior experience with children/ youth and your major/degree. Make a Difference! Camp Adventure Child & Youth Services College of Education, School of HPELS University of Northern Iowa Catch the Magic! ______________________________________ The Daily Aztec does not endorse or support and has no affiliation with the products or services offered in the Classifieds section.
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16 THE BACK PAGE
the aztec • april 24 - 27, 2014
#savethechildren
Canvassing or harassing
I
t’s a beautiful Thursday evening on San Diego State’s gorgeous campus, and I’m exhausted from a long day of lectures, midterms, unnecessary human interaction and work. All I want is some passion tea from Starbucks and an unreasonably large Subway sandwich. As I walk to East Commons, unwinding and enjoying the chilly breeze, I spot them— the infamous, self-righteous, holier-thanthou Save The Children canvassers. As I get closer, I make the grave mistake of making eye contact; not that they would have let me walk through without demanding my attention, but it was worth a shot. Canvasser No. 1 is busy badgering and cornering a girl who is trying to explain that she doesn’t give her information to strangers (smart), while canvasser No. 2 is eyeing me and moving to stand directly in my path (not so smart). The poor girl finally breaks away from canvasser No.1 and now both are fully focused on me. This really isn’t the kind of male attention I was hoping for. As I attempt to walk through them, I hear my all-time favorite Save The Children attention getter, “Aye! Do you want to help save the children?” First of all, the correct lead-in is, “Excuse me,” not, “Aye.” You don’t know me. We’re not bros. Be polite and formal when speaking to strangers, especially when you’re trying to
ellen rex
contributor get their money. Secondly, let’s be honest, you don’t even know which children need to be saved. You don’t care whether I help save them or not; you’re just doing this to make some side money, which means you have no right to be judgmental when I politely decline. Your rude, “Wow, really?” response to my polite, “No thank you. Sorry,” is really not appreciated. My second favorite attention getter from Save The Children canvassers has to be, “You look like someone that cares about the children.” First of all, there is no good answer to that. If I say no, I’m a heartless jerk. If I say yes, I’m stuck here listening to your spiel for the next 20 minutes, even though I already know there’s no way I’m giving you my credit card information. Secondly, how does someone look like they care about children? Is it the long brown hair? The dark jeans and combat boots? Would you say the same thing to someone with a mohawk and lip piercing? Maybe they care more about the children than I do. You don’t know, so, stop judging a book by its cover. The Save The Children canvassers are the only ones I’ve ever had a problem with. The sweet, older gentlemen that ask people to sign the petition of the day are always very
words
Across 1 Extremely lame, in slang 10 “The Zoo Story” dramatist 15 One with breaking news 16 Conger cousin 17 African kingdom 18 Lite-__: classic Hasbro toy 19 3 part? 20 Do followers 21 Ad lib 22 Scott who played the lead in 1976’s “Bugsy Malone” 24 Maintain the status quo 26 Cádiz cycle 27 Old Colgate competitor 29 Spam producer 30 “Splendor in the Grass” screenwriter 31 One of the moveable feasts 35 Mitty creator
63 Postgame finger-pointer
38 As you like it 39 Emma Frost portrayer in “X-Men: First Class” 41 Backwoods possessive 42 Letters before P, perhaps 43 State tree of Texas 47 Sch. where chapel service attendance is mandatory 48 Silk-spraying movie monster 51 It only makes sense when it’s broken 52 Oil sources 54 Wine quality 56 Collection to burn 57 High fliers 58 Traumatic expression 60 Month abroad 61 Klondike product with a shell 62 V-shaped fortification
Down 1 Hot stuff 2 Swaddle 3 Mimosa family member 4 AM radio abbr. 5 Liszt’s “Harmonies du __” 6 City on the Rhone 7 One of the five basic taste sensations 8 “Am I seeing things?” 9 Intention 10 Extent 11 Bereft, old-style 12 Outlaws 13 Causing agita 14 Good way of seeing 21 Nicklaus rival 23 Kind of lead a closer often has to protect 25 __-Novo: Benin’s capital 28 “Rubáiyát” rhyme scheme 30 “Soon” 32 Electronic control mechanisms, briefly 33 Tabloid scoop 34 Sun Bowl Stadium coll. team 35 ‘80s Shatner cop show 36 Mr. Clean’s lack 37 Not appropriate 40 He played Harold in “Harold & Kumar” films 44 Winter warmers 45 Cite as proof 46 Counselor at Troy 48 Elementary particle 49 Centrifuge component 50 “Cold __”: 1977 hit for Foreigner 53 First name in fashion 55 Hydroxyl compound 58 Short coolers? 59 Pontiac co-designed by John DeLorean
nice. When I refuse to sign because I don’t have time to read over the petition, they tell me to have a nice day, even though I just completely blew them off. Even the frat guys trying to get me to go to Rubio’s or La Casita’s to help them raise money still smile and say, “That’s okay; have a good night,” when I tell them I’m going somewhere else. When I say, “Sorry, late for class” to the environmentalists trying to get me to help them save the whales, they smile and say, “Okay, maybe later,” even though we both know I’m not coming back. So, why can’t Save The Children canvassers be just as nice? They are one of the few groups of canvassers that are actually paid for their work. Other canvassers do it simply because they believe in the cause and want to help, yet somehow they manage to be far less judgmental than their Save The Children counterparts. As representatives of the company they work for, Save The Children canvassers should be setting a good example and creating a positive image for the organization, not one where they seem like obnoxious, self-righteous jerks that make everyone want to find a way around them and avoid all eye contact. Thank you frat guys, sweet older gentlemen and environmentalists for keeping my faith in humanity alive after these unfortunate encounters.
numbers
HOW TO PLAY: Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box contains every digit 1 to 9. Difficulty Level:
2/4
ALL SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT WWW.THEDAILYAZTEC.COM CROSSWORDS, SUDOKU, AND HOROSCOPES COURTESY OF TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC., ©2014.
disclaimer
The views expressed in this issue do not necessarily reflect those of The Aztec. Express your concerns by emailing letters@thedailyaztec.com
thefuture
your Birthday (4/24/14) - Plan multiple routes to adventure this year. Revise writing, make repairs, and reconsider feelings before presenting. Past issues can resolve easily. Grow collaboration, partnership and community with communication (benefiting career and finances), especially over spring. August shifts focus homeward. Organize, and clear clutter (especially budgetary). After October, peaceful retreats or practices focus you to better support partnerships. HOW IT WORKS: 10 is good, 1 is bad.
Aries (March 21 - April 19) - Today is a 5 - Your dreams seem prophetic today and tomorrow. Something’s coming due. Clarify your direction with friends and dispel confusion. It’s emotion versus reason. Slow down and contemplate. Review and adjust. You either have results or excuses. Taurus (April 20 - May 20) - Today is a 6 - Plan parties and get together with groups today and tomorrow. Creative collaboration builds a dream. Play, but remember your budget. Provide common sense where lacking. Set your goals high. Study to comply with a new request. Gemini (May 21 - June 21) - Today is a 6 - A dream seems newly achievable. Take on new responsibilities today and tomorrow, and prepare for inspection. Give yourself time alone to think. Explain an abstract concept carefully. Investigate the outer limits, and advance your agenda. Cancer (June 22 - July 22) - Today is a 5 - You’d rather play than work today and tomorrow. Do your homework. Travel conditions improve, with caution. Keep it realistic, with alternative routes and backup plans. Visualize future fun, and share possibilities with the ideal partners. Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is a 5 - Financial planning is more fun with another today and tomorrow. Your partner’s vision inspires. Figure the costs to make it happen. Be on time. Have faith. Consider the previously impossible. Resolve illusive details. Separate speculation from fact. Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is a 6 - Fantasize about your perfect job today and tomorrow. Consult with a partner who can see your blind spots. Negotiations and compromise arise with greater ease. Balance work and family responsibilities with rigorous scheduling. Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is a 5 The impossible looks easy. Dive into some intensity at work today and tomorrow. It’s an excellent moment for romantic dreaming. Share your fantasies. Be a good listener. Renew your vision for the future. Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is a 5 - Time for fun and games today and tomorrow. The best results come from playful experimentation. Dreams of domestic bliss can come true. Add aesthetic and harmonic touches. Try new flavors, combinations, and experiences. Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) Today is a 5 - Your spiritual practices clear your mind. Dreams and visions make sense. Allow yourself some poetic license. You don’t have to be able to explain everything. Investigate a fascinating subject, and get inspired. Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is a 6 - Gather information today and tomorrow. Catch up on studies. Write, record and make plans. Get a contract in writing. Study and practice. An old dream comes true. Don’t squander savings on a splurge. Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is a 5 - Watch for a new source of income. Make sure you’ll earn enough to pay expenses. Show your team how much you believe in them. Have faith in your abilities. Get creative with solutions. Pay attention to emotional undercurrents. Pisces (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is a 6 - Life seems easier for the next few days. Consider the consequences before taking actions. Assert your desires (once you’ve figured them out). An answer comes in a dream. Ponder and plan.