08-27-2018

Monday, Aug. 27 - Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018 Weekly Print Edition

Vol. 105, Issue 3 www.thedailyaztec.com

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

Meet SDSU’s first female, Latina president

by Bella Ross and David Santillan

In the midst of major shifts at San Diego State, the biggest promises to be the new president, one who seems intent on leading a wave of change throughout campus.

“My identity was really formulated through opportunities that I had in education as being a border-crosser, a bicultural, a Chicana and a person who really had her roots in the community in a very different way,” SDSU’s newest President Adela de la Torre said.

De la Torre’s story may feel familiar to some. She’s from a Mexican-American family. They didn’t have a lot of money, but their family was loving and, as she described, “always extended.”

She said it was in college that she was able to fully own her identity as a Chicana woman.

Now, she will be beginning the semester as SDSU’s first female president of color.

This is bound to be a busy first year as president. This semester alone, de la Torre will face the university’s prospective acquisition of the Mission Valley stadium site, the implementation of the university’s new mascot and the continued pressures of running an expanding university.

In light of this new start, de la

CSU but also diverse women.

It speaks to the future of higher education in reflecting what our students are. Our students will be the leaders of the future and having different mentors reflecting that population will help them in that path as well as providing them opportunities for internships and career pathways that might be critical for their own success.

In the past few months, SDSU has made headlines for everything from the university’s prospective acquisition of the Mission Valley stadium site to the heavily anticipated changes to the school’s mascot. What will be your priorities as you embark on your first year as president?

Photo by David Santillan

This semester will be President Adela de la Torre’s first in her position.

Torre sat down with The Daily Aztec to discuss her plans for the university, including the issues of diversity, transparency, the SDSU Mission Valley site plan and how she plans to build upon the work of her predecessors.

Daily Aztec. It has been edited and condensed for clarity and brevity.

The following is an interview of President Adela de la Torre by Bella Ross and David Santillan of The

I am honored and humbled about having this position. I think it creates an opportunity to bring

What message are you hoping to communicate to the SDSU community as the first Latina woman to hold this position?

different voices to the table. I think, within the context where we are situated on the border in a region that has such a sizable Latino community, that it sends an important message.

I do have to provide kudos to the Board of Trustees and Chancellor White in their commitment to not only bring over 50 percent women to the

My mantra centers around one thing: students. When I speak about global citizens, compassionate leaders or ethical innovators what I’m really talking about is that everything we do should impact the quality and opportunities for our students.

When you think about Mission Valley, the question is always ‘how will this improve the opportunities for our students in terms of educational opportunities?’ If SEE PRESIDENT, PAGE 2

Red and Black Shuttle program expands off campus

by Bella Ross NEWS EDITOR

Big changes are in store for San Diego State’s Red and Black Shuttle service, in an effort to attract more student riders.

The shuttle, a service that has long offered students a transportation option between different locations on campus, is expanding in size and absorbing the safety escort program and library shuttle.

“There are going to be 18 (shuttle stops) instead of the 12 we had before,” Parking and Transportation Services Director Debbie Richeson said. “Five of those locations are going to be off-campus.”

Despite the increase in shuttle stops, Richeson said students can expect these changes to make the shuttle more efficient. The shuttle used to serve 12 stops on one route, but will now serve 18 stops on three routes. These routes will be served by five shuttles from 5:30 p.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday.

“There will be three routes: the green line, the red line and the black line,” Richeson said.

“They will all intersect at Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences.”

Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences can be found on the southern end of campus, just north of the intersection of Campanile Drive and Montezuma Road across from the KPBS building.

Richeson said students will be able to see where the shuttle is at all times through a phone application.

These updates to the shuttle program will be accompanied by efforts to make the campus a safer place to be in the late hours of the night. With the exception of parking structure 14, Richeson said students will be allowed to park in faculty-designated parking spots between 6:30 p.m. and 1 a.m.

For those who may study late in the library, Richeson said parking structure 6 will be the safest location to park.

“Because we are allowing students to park in faculty parking after 6:30 p.m., we’re going to designate (parking structure 6) as the library parking lot for people who are staying late because we have such good lighting between

the areas,” Richeson said. “It is a designated path of travel that our police will know about.”

For those who don’t drive to campus, university police

spokesperson Raquel Herriott said SDSUPD is working to develop a program with Lyft.

“What we are trying to do is work with Lyft so that we

can provide SDSU community members with a subsidized SEE SHUTTLE, PAGE 3

Courtesy photo

The new Red and Black shuttle program will offer three different routes, some of which take students to off-campus locations.

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News

The Daily Aztec

President:

continued from page 1 you talk about investments in infrastructure, either on or off campus, the question is how will be create the environments for our faculty so they have the types of spaces that allow them to develop the types of research projects that are meaningful for our students.

Our students are amazingly innovative in what they do and how they do it. So, we need to be really thinking about, as faculty and staff, are we really going to be able to catch up in a way that give our students the best opportunities for our careers?

That mantra guides everything else that I talk about.

With an enrollment of over 30,000 students, SDSU has pushed the limits of what it means to be a state university. How will you work to make students feel connected to you on such a large campus?

I’ve asked A.S., Chis Thomas and their leadership team because I do need their guidance. I am using social media. I have my Twitter and my Instagram. I’ve also spoken with Chris Thomas regarding use of Facebook Live.

I’m in the process of developing office hours.

Again, what I’m actually going to ask the students is to provide

those opportunities in which I can engage with them. I’m going to be attending a lot of different events with students. I’m going to be going to not only athletic events but also community events. So, I am really going to try and see how I can participate.

In the back of my mind, I thought of even teaching a class in the spring. Quite frankly, I’m hoping through the social media channels, the students, the leadership, people like Chris Thomas and their team that I can provide ways in which I can be further visible. I’ll also be biking around campus.

How will you work to make an SDSU education more accessible to students in light of increasing higher education costs?

I am very committed and pleased to say that we have about a $20,000 average debt difference than, let’s say, the average debt in the nation. But, I think we can do more. In other words, I am very committed to making sure we can find other avenues like scholarships.

I also think we need to find ways in which we can really make a four-year degree a reality for students. We can really start looking at Summer Session. We also need to use Extended Studies in a way that allows students who may have dropped out to finish their degrees. We need to look at online education in a way that (works for) students who have to

Aug. 27-Sept. 4, 2018 EDITOR: Bella Ross • news@thedailyaztec.com

work certain schedules.

There are different ways that we can look at it. So, I think we need to re-engage now that we have a lot of funds at the state level to help re-invest in our higher education system to reduce costs for our students.

In recent years, SDSU has made a number of changes, including the implementation of the Sophomore Success Initiative, that indicate the transition of SDSU from a commuter to a residential institution. How do you plan to progress this transition?

The (Sophomore Success Initiative) is really based on national research that focuses on the fact that if you have students engaged though their sophomore year, they’re less likely to drop out and less likely to have problems in the transition. Most of the energy in universities is always focused on the freshman experience with stuff like orientation and Aztec Nights.

Then, what happens when you’re a sophomore? Things kind of just fizzle.

The idea is that, by keeping students on campus for another year and providing that level of support, that they will be able to graduate on time.

I think the focus on housing is really to meet a demand for residential housing that is important to our students. It is difficult sometimes to find housing that is affordable and accessible as well as providing

all the amenities. It’s about making sure we have accessible housing to support our students through this particular period of transition.

What do you believe are the top things SDSU community members need to understand about the SDSU Mission Valley site plan prior to this November?

First of all, I think it is really important to understand that this is really the only acceptable option for expansion for San Diego State. In other words, the actual location of it is such that those who are here can take a trolley and if they have a program – an internship, a research program, a clinical rotation – that they’re doing, this is the only space available that’s continuous that is next to us in any real way. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Secondly, I think it’s important for them to understand that this is a public good. It’s about the broader future of San Diego State and its impact on the community. San Diego State is a powerhouse university. It’s going to be a hub, it’s going to be a neighborhood, it’s going to be an area for students to experience the types of opportunities that will bridge the workplace with the educational experience.

As a university that is located in a border city, SDSU has a lot on the line when it comes to the state of

DACA. However, the university’s progress on providing resources to undocumented students continues to lag behind the efforts of many other higher learning institutions. As somebody who has voiced a passion for supporting undocumented students, how do you plan on bringing SDSU up to speed?

One area that I am exploring is the idea of having a legal fellow, which was something we developed at UC Davis. It is important for (DACA students) and their families to have legal counsel and to understand their choices. So, I’m actually in the process of exploring that option.

I’m going to listen well to the community before I make any final decisions.

In February, The Daily Aztec published an editorial calling out transparency issues within SDSU. Is improving university transparency a priority for you?

We recently had a shared governance committee (meeting) with the idea that transparency is key. Over the summer they’ve been meeting, they’ve developed a document, it isn’t live yet, but its contents speak to these issues of creating a system where communication, respect, transparency and accountability all come hand in hand. I would say that this document that is still in the discussion phase is going to be key in answering this question.

Good until end of September 2018

Aug. 27-Sept. 4, 2018 EDITOR: Bella Ross, news@thedailyaztec.com

News

The Daily Aztec

3

Online textbook program promises to save students millions this semester

by Bella Ross NEWS EDITOR

A digital program is expected to save San Diego State students an estimated $2 million on textbooks this semester, a university official said.

Immediate Access, a program that offers students access to digital versions of course materials, will be officially offered to all professors this fall — although not all of those professors have decided to use it, according to James Frazee, director of Instructional Technology Services at SDSU. As of now, Frazee said only about 7.5 percent of faculty members have decided to utilize Immediate Access course materials in their classes. However, he said the fact that most of these professors are from lower division, general education courses means the program will have a vast reach.

Students, particularly those in STEM majors, may be familiar with Immediate Access — which was originally launched as a pilot program in spring 2016 — from their lower division, general education classes. According to a presentation provided by SDSU Instructional Technology Services, Immediate Access offers course materials “at no charge from the first day of class.” Once the add/drop deadline comes, students must choose to either pay for the program or opt out at no cost.

The presentation said students can expect to see discounts of as much as 10 to 20 percent below the cost of regular digital access and 25 to 60 percent below the cost of renting or purchasing of hard copies.

The cost of the program is automatically charged to the student’s online account following the add/drop deadline, meaning the funds can more easily be paid for with financial aid.

Data provided by Instructional Technology Services shows that 87 percent of students found this format to provide more convenient access to course materials

File photo

James Frazee estimates students will save $2 million this semester with the growth of the Immediate Access program.

and 76 percent said the materials helped them prepare better for class examinations.

“You can get to this content on your phone, on your laptop or on your tablet,” Frazee said. “It’s all digital so you don’t have to be lugging your books around with you.”

Frazee also said Immediate Access provides more opportunities for “lowstakes assessments.”

“One of the things we know about how people learn is, if you have more of what we call ‘distributed practice,’ … each week you’re interacting with that

content because there’s some form of assessment,” Frazee said. “You’re retrieving that information more often and you’re distributing it over time and it helps you learn.”

The nature of the course materials provided through Immediate Access also allows for students to do things such as take notes in the margins and share them with peers. Frazee said faculty can even notate parts of the text they find significant for students to pay extra atttention to.

During the spring of 2016 when the program was first introduced, Frazee said

it was only implemented in two classes.

This semester, he said as many as 65 classes, more than 300 sections and around 20,000 students will have the option to buy Immediate Access course materials in their classes.

Frazee said the more classes that use this program, the more money students will save. The $2 million in projected savings for this semester from the program was a $700,000 increase from last semester.

“It’s real money,” Frazee said. “That’s money you can use for gas or whatever else you need to buy in order to live.”

Professor files suit after being put on leave for alleged misconduct

by David Santillan ASST. NEWS EDITOR

San Diego State music professor Patrick Walders remains on administrative leave after filing a lawsuit against his former teaching assistant and another former student.

Walders, an associate professor and director of choral studies at SDSU, was placed on paid administrative leave in March 2017 after accusations of sexual misconduct and other complaints surfaced.

Then on April 2, Walders filed a defamation suit against Michael Sakell, the TA, and Jess Barrera, the student.

Shuttle:

continued from page 1 that service so they can get around,” Herriott said.

She said the program would allow SDSU students, faculty and staff three rides from Lyft at a reduced rate.

While Herriot said the program is currently still in the works, she said she estimates the cost will be $5 less than the standard cost of a ride.

According to an April 2018 story in Voice of San Diego, university officials were first made aware of the sexual misconduct through an anonymous tip.

However, it wasn’t until Sakell, Walders’ teaching assistant at the time, reported to school officials he had caught him kissing a student during a school trip to Austria that university officials began their investigation.

Both the student and Sakell told Voice of San Diego that the incident had taken place.

In his lawsuit, Walders’ claimed Sakell spread false information on the alleged affair to his colleagues and other professionals.

Sakell responded to the lawsuit in a statement via his lawyer, Nicholas J. Moore, to The San Diego Union Tribune.

“Truth is an absolute defense to a claim of defamation. We are looking forward to Dr. Walders' deposition where he will have to testify, under oath, about his relationships with students,” the statement said. “We are confident that the evidence will show that any harm Dr. Walders has suffered is the direct result of his own inappropriate conduct.”

Before the lawsuit and the university’s investigation, Walders already had a history of student complaints filed against him.

When Walders was first hired at SDSU in 2011, undergrad student Siobahn Sung had participated in a mock rehearsal as part of the hiring process.

Shortly thereafter Sung said it became

apparent to her and others that Walders had a bad temper and showed favoritism towards certain students.

Another former student, Brandon Thibeault, told Voice of San Diego that he felt uncomfortable with the fact that Walders had them sing religious songs and perform in churches.

Thibeault said he failed the class for his refusal to participate in an optional concert held at a church.

Thibeault said he filed a grievance but Walders was not disciplined.

It remains unclear what course of action the university will take regarding the misconduct, or where it stands with its internal investigation on the matter.

The Lyft program will be offered Sundays through Thursdays from midnight to 4 a.m. to assist those who need transit during hours not served by the Red and Black Shuttle.

The push for change within campus transportation comes following many years of underutilization. Throughout the year of 2017, a University Police report shows that the library shuttle hosted 3,018 rides, the Red and Black Shuttle had 1,148 rides and community service officers conducted 1,225 safety escorts.

One of the issues that Herriott said needed to be addressed was the excessive stress on university police staff. She noted that many students had complained of long waits for safety escorts.

“The problem that we were having with the escort program was that people wanted an escort off campus and we were only allowing for escorts within campus and within certain jurisdictions,” Herriott said.

“It became a little bit more difficult to take on all of the different requests, especially with the amount of resources that we had.”

She said the main issue was related to the fact that, once the student community service officers were off-duty, police officers were forced to take on safety escorts on top of their usual calls.

The answer, Herriott said, was to empower SDSU students, faculty and staff by providing a number of safe transportation options.

“The last hour of instruction is 10 p.m. so we wanted to ensure that, if you have a late class, you have this resource available.”

Herriott said.

4

Opinion

The Daily Aztec

Aug. 27-Sept. 4, 2018 EDITOR: Kemi Giwa • opinion@thedailyaztec.com

Let’s start treating all species with love, care and respect

by Shayne Jones CONTRIBUTOR

You are human, and you are not special.

You are merely an epithelial layer encasing a randomly intricate tangle of organs which perpetuates a existence balanced precariously between life and death.

Ok. So you are pretty special.

But let us not conveniently write off the millions of other organ casings traipsing the Gobi, paddling the Atlantic and riding the upwards drafts of the South Pacific Gyre.

Call it anthropomorphism, call it personification, call it insanity if that tickles your testes—but humans and every other “animal” on this planet are all living, breathing, sentient beings attempting to make sense of their own existences.

And that’s why I find it incredulous that the world was so shocked when a mother orca exhibited signs of grief at the death of her newborn calf.

J35 (affectionately “Tahlequah” to the scientists following her story) became an overnight viral sensation after news broke that the young matriarch had been carrying her deceased baby for upwards of 10 days postpartum.

The calf lasted merely 30 minutes in the salmon-ridden currents of the Pacific Northwest watershed off the coasts of Oregon and Washington before succumbing to gestational malnutrition.

Tahlequah is a member of one of three separate pods making their homes in the PNW watershed.

Her particular “J” pod has not had a successful birth since 2015.

The culprit?

Merciless fishermen whose bulging nets suck the waters exponentially dry of its Chinook Salmon population (the Killer Whales’ chief food staple).

At the ripe and fertile age of 20, J35 is an instrumental contributor to the longevity of her pod, as she has years of reproductive viability ahead of her.

But the missing link—freaking food—could potentially be the demise of her rapidly dwindling species.

So, I would say that it’s not entirely inconceivable that the grieving mother would literally hold on to what she had left of her young.

Updates in J35’s heartbreaking story indicate that the matriarch finally released the calf after 17 grueling days of dragging and floating it through the water, but that’s not the focal point of this story, and that’s certainly not where it ends.

What really makes us different from our animal neighbors? Is it our despicable taste in president?

Or our drug tendencies?

Or our gluttonous sex habits?

Because if that’s what makes us so much more superior to the Killer Whale, I’d rather be wrapped in two tons of blubber.

We all have anatomical structures that have evolved divergently overtime in response to our changing environments, but we

all started as amoebas swimming in a molten sea.

Is it really so hard to believe that we might be more similar to ‘wild animals’ than we’d like to believe?

I recently developed the prototype to a board-game for a humanities class that I took last spring.

The game was called “How Do You Feel?”, and it consisted of varying ethical scenarios that forced players to choose between the human and the animal.

One specific clip I chose stunned my classmates.

I played just a sound byte of a cat crying in the bathtub, and then a baby crying.

They sounded exactly the same.

In fact, 75% of my classmates mismatched the cry.

Anthropomorphism is the concept of employing “a human characteristic to assign human emotion and behaviour to other living creatures.”

It’s a term broadly and vehemently rejected by most scientists and scholars.

Can you guess why?

It’s because we as humans are willing to concoct any form of an excuse (regardless of how outlandish it may be) to justify our destruction of rainforest habitats, and our oil drilling, and our hunting…and I could go on, but I won’t because I’d like to save my editors the money on all of that ink.

We can kill that snake in our tent because “there are thousands of snakes, I don’t want to get bitten.”

We can shoot that deer because

“What really makes us different from our animal neighbors?

Is it our despicable taste in president?

Or our drug tendencies?

Or our gluttonous sex habits? Because if that’s what makes us superior...I’d much rather be wrapped in two tons of blubber.” “it’s just a deer, its taxidermied head would look nice on my mantle.”

Well, guess what?

There are billions of us. What makes us any more indispensable than a snake or a deer?

Just the fact that we’re human?

I may look different from a killer whale. I may not eat the same things, look or act the same way, and I certainly don’t live the same life—but that killer whale just lost her baby.

The mini-me she spent 17 months carrying in herr womb, her little legacy.

She has the damn right to be sad.

EDITOR IN CHIEF Will Fritz MANAGING EDITOR Jocelyn Moran NEWS EDITOR Bella Ross ASST. NEWS EDITOR David Santillan OPINION EDITOR Kemi Giwa MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Vladimir Salazar ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Julianna Ress ASST. ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Lexington Howe SPORTS EDITOR Abraham Jewett ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Aaron Tolentino ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Dana Tsuri-Etzioni MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Mirella Lopez ASST. MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Amal Younis

Illustration by Katherine Cooke

The justice system is racially biased. We can’t keep ignoring it.

by Jasmine Mouzon CONTRIBUTOR

How many times have you scrolled down your Twitter or Facebook timeline and seen that someone has been sentenced to a lengthy amount of prison time for selling marijuana?

How often has this person been black?

Now how many times have you turned on the news and seen a murderer given a light sentence due to an insanity plea?

How often has this person been white?

Now, if you’ve been paying attention to current events, I’m sure your response to both of these questions is, ‘often, if not, always.’

As much as people like to reject this statistical fact, black men in America are more likely to receive harsh sentences for minor crimes, while white men get off with little more than a slap on the wrist for even worse crimes.

This has become such a widespread, consistent trend that I am no longer surprised when I turn on the television or read the news.

If we can agree that a crime is a crime, no matter what, then shouldn’t we also hold every person equally accountable?

Now, I’m sure many of you have heard about the two young black women who were brutally assaulted by a white man on the BART train in Oakland. This attack resulted in the death of 19-year-old Nia Wilson, who was stabbed in the neck by the assailant.

Initial reactions were as expected.

The media touted the idea that the attack was “random,” that there was no motive behind it. Ignoring the historical component to white violence against black

bodies, especially white male violence against black women.

This is something the black community is all too familiar with.

Her death is one of the many that hit a historical nerve for us.

It wasn’t just a random crime.

It was a racial, violent one. Now, months after her death, the question still remains — will there be real justice for Nia Wilson?

Wilson’s murderer, 27-yearold John Lee Cowell, has a prior criminal record, but like we’ve seen with other white criminals, claiming insanity often leads to reduced sentencing.

We see this with many of the white male mass shooters who claim that their battle with mental illness is to blame.

It’s impractical to expect change overnight, especially considering the political climate we’re in now -- an administration that is doing absolutely nothing to make our criminal justice system equitable.

But it’s not impractical to ask for judges to begin sentencing people according to the severity of their crimes.

If we are going to punish black criminals to the full extent of the law, then why can’t we do the same to white criminals?

I believe all groups of people should be held accountable for the crimes that they commit. But, let’s not pick and choose who we decide to prosecute harshly.

I hope there is justice for Nia Wilson.

Her life was brutally taken from her and it is only right that her murderer pays the full price for her death.

But much deeper than this one specific instance, is the larger issue with the ways in which our justice system punishes white violence versus black violence.

VOLUNTEER COPY EDITOR Katherine Cooke STAFF WRITERS Ceighlee Fennel Kelly Kerrigan Diane Lopez Lauren J. Mapp Brenden Tuccinardi CONTRIBUTORS Shayne Jones Jasmine Mouzon ________________________________ ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Josh Diaz SALES MANAGER Valerie Barrientos ACCOUNTING & CONTRACTS Samir Sandhu Meah Mapp ________________________________ GENERAL MANAGER/ADVISER Jay Harn GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST Luis Valenzuela ________________________________ EDITORIAL 619.594.4190 editor@thedailyaztec.com ADVERTISING 619.594.6977 advertising@thedailyaztec.com PRINT The Daily Aztec publishes 5,000 copies of its weekly print edition every Wednesday throughout the semester WEB Daily content is available at www.thedailyaztec.com QUESTIONS/COMMENTS letters@thedailyaztec.com ________________________________ The views and opinions expressed in this issue do not necessarily reflect those of The Daily Aztec.

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Sports

Aug. 27-Sept. 4, 2018 EDITOR: Abraham Jewett • sports@thedailyaztec.com

5

The Daily Aztec

Aztecs prepare for Stanford rematch

by Abraham Jewett SPORTS EDITOR

The last time San Diego State football played Stanford University, SDSU fans stormed the field at SDCCU Stadium after an upset victory in the third game of the 2017 season.

The on-field-frenzy followed a 22-minute delay for a stadium power outage, a late SDSU defensive stop and an eightyard pass from then-junior quarterback Christian Chapman to senior tight end David Wells for the game-winning touchdown with 54 seconds left to play.

An unranked Aztec squad had toppled the No. 19 seed in the country, a Pac-12 Conference opponent and a team which a Group of Five conference school was not supposed to be able to compete with.

It will have been exactly 348 days since that last showdown when SDSU strides into Stanford Stadium on Aug. 31 looking to repeat history, to once again topple Goliath. This time in enemy territory.

“Every time I go to sleep I just think about big crowds and big stadiums, because I know Stanford is going to be a real big crowd,” junior linebacker Kyahva Tezino said, following a

scrimmage at SDCCU Stadium on Aug. 16.

Last season’s victory launched the Aztecs into the national conversation, earning them a No. 22 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, as the team continued toward an unblemished start at 6-0.

Some faces have changed this year, but the storyline remains the same, with the Aztecs entering the season outside of the AP poll, while Stanford sits at No. 13.

SDSU no longer has the services of running back Rashaad Penny, who led the nation in rushing last season with 2,248 yards and finished with 175 rushing yards against a vaunted Cardinal defense.

Penny was drafted in the first round of the NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks, leaving junior running back Juwan Washington as the player set to take over an Aztec offense traditionally built around pounding the rock.

A victory over Stanford would undoubtedly put SDSU in a better spot to start the season, but Washington said that while the opener may be on everyone’s minds, to him, it is just another football game.

“One thing I learned from (head coach Rocky Long), (is that) no game is bigger than

File Photo

Then-sophomore cornerback Ron Smith intercepts a pass during the second quarter of SDSU’s 20-17 win over Stanford University.

the other,” Washington said.

“Everyone’s going to hype up the first game, but in my eyes it’s just another game, and we’ve just got to go out there and win.”

Washington has been penciled in as Penny’s heir apparent, after finishing with 759 yards and seven touchdowns as the backup last season.

“All you have to do is look at what (Washington’s) done the last couple of years as the backup,”

Long said. “I don’t see - if our offensive line plays well, which we expect them to do - I don’t see a real drop-off there.”

Stanford, on the other hand, still has senior running back Bryce Love, and SDSU may need to hold the Heisman hopeful for less than the game-high 184 yards he rushed for in last year’s matchup. “(Love) will probably have a good day rushing the ball,

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hopefully he won’t score too many times so we have a chance to win,” Long said.

Long said the Aztecs will look to stifle Love by completing long possessions on offense, keeping the Cardinal’s explosive weapon off the field.

“Our plan is to do like we always do... try and control the ball to keep him off the field,” Long said. “That’s the best defense we can play.”

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Sports

The Daily Aztec

Aug. 27-Sept. 4, 2018 EDITOR: Abraham Jewett • sports@thedailyaztec.com

Volleyball looks to exceed expectations

by Aaron Tolentino ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

San Diego State women’s volleyball looks to expand on back-to-back winning seasons, as it attempts to win its first Mountain West Conference title since 2012.

SDSU head coach Deitre Collins-Parker said the team’s initial goal is to get better every day. “(We want to) get better every time we step on the court,” she said. “We try not to put a longterm goal right now. We just focus on day-by-day. We have some injuries we’re overcoming, so we’re still figuring out and growing, but we’ve got a lot of good talent returning, so we expect good things.”

SDSU was voted to finish third in the conference by MWC coaches, behind Colorado State and University of Wyoming in the league’s annual preseason poll.

To win the conference, CollinsParker said that Colorado State, the reigning conference champions who the Aztecs have not defeated since 2013, is the biggest obstacle.

“Colorado State is perennially at the top,” Collins-Parker said.

“We know that going in and they return a lot. We know if we’re

Photo by Aaron Tolentino

Senior Deja Harris goes up for a spike during practice at Peterson Gym on Aug. 21.

competing with them, we’re competing with the best in the nation because they’re a great program.”

Junior outside hitter Ashlynn Dunbar said the team’s goal is to win the conference, but it must focus on one game at a time.

“As our team goal, obviously, we want to be conference champions,” Dunbar said. “We want to make it to the NCAA

Tournament, but we realize that we can’t look too far ahead in the future, so we’ve got to take it game by game.”

Dunbar said the team has embraced not being the favorite and use that as motivation to push even harder this year.

“I feel like every preseason we’re always picked below with what we think we can do,” Dunbar said. “I think that it’s important

for us to not pay attention to what everyone else says because we know what we’re capable of and we know that if we play our game, it doesn’t matter.”

Senior middle blocker Deja Harris said being voted third is a chance to prove people wrong.

“I like being the underdog because we get to show up and show off and prove to everyone else that we should be first in that

poll,” Harris said. “I think that we’re going to be able to work out all the new kinks of the new girls.

We have different pieces that are going to be super essential for this program and get us to the end goal.”

Harris, a reigning three-time all-Mountain West selection, returns as the only all-Mountain West player on the team.

Collins-Parker said that Harris’ role will expand this year as she takes on more of a leadership role.

“This is the first time she’s a leader. She’s got to step up and make people around her better,” Collins-Parker said. “She, physically, is one of the most gifted in our conference. I think if we get her the ball and she’s blocking, as well as hitting, she can be a big impact on our team.”

Harris said the perfect ending to her career as an Aztec would be to leave with a championship.

“The joy of playing volleyball with these girls behind me, leading us all to the Mountain West championship, getting my jewelry on my finger and definitely going to the tournament, that would be that Cinderella ending,” she said. “I believe it’s going to happen this year, this is the year. It’s now or never.”

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Aug. 27-Sept. 4, 2018 EDITOR: Abraham Jewett • sports@thedailyaztec.com

The Daily Aztec

7

Mark Martinez extended through 2023

by Abraham Jewett SPORTS EDITOR

San Diego State baseball head coach Mark Martinez has received a five-year contract extension, which will keep him at the helm through the 2023 season.

The extension was announced

by SDSU athletic director John David Wicker on Aug. 14, following a year in which Martinez became the fastest head coach to reach three Mountain West Conference Championships, doing so in four seasons.

“It’s a great day for me. I am so excited and honored,” Martinez said at a press conference on Aug. 16. “I can’t thank the university (enough) for allowing me to continue having a blast, the time of my life here at San Diego State.”

Martinez has been a part of the Aztecs’ coaching staff since 2006, but was promoted to the head coaching role for the 2015 season following the passing of legendary head coach Tony Gwynn in June of 2014.

Martinez made sure to mention Gwynn, his close friend who he joined as an assistant at SDSU after a 17-year stint at the University of New Mexico from 1989-2015.

“I also want to thank, again, Tony Gwynn for allowing me to

come over to San Diego State and be a part of a great university,” Martinez said. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Tony, so I always have to make sure to give a shout out to him.”

Martinez has a career record of 143-103 since taking over as head coach, and is coming off a 39-win season and the Aztecs’ fourth MWC championship in five seasons.

Martinez attributed much of SDSU’s recent success to the stability that the team has enjoyed between himself and his assistant coaches Joe Olivera and Sam Peraza.

“In order to be successful — and we’ve had some success since I’ve been here at San Diego State — you’ve got to surround yourself with great people and I have two of the best assistant coaches in the country in Joe Olivera and Sam Peraza,” Martinez said. “I wouldn’t be sitting here obviously… we have a lot of success because those guys do the heavy lifting.”

Olivera has worked as the hitting coach and recruiting coordinator since 2014, while Sam Peraza has been the Aztecs’ pitching coach since 2015.

Despite coming off a conference championship and nearly reaching 40 victories, SDSU was

File Photo

SDSU baseball head coach Mark Martinez looks on from the dugout during the 2016 season.

unable to advance past the NCAA regionals in May, and Martinez said that by signing the extension, the university is making it clear that it wants to further compete on a national level.

“Ultimately, the goal here is to go compete for a national championship,” Martinez said.

“When you extend a contract like that… the expectation is that we continue to work to be in the

national conversation every single year. And so that’s my job as a head coach to put us in positions to win on a national level and those are the expectations that we have in our baseball program.”

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Mundo Azteca

The Daily Aztec

Aug. 27-Sept. 4, 2018 EDITOR: Vladimir Salazar • mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com

Profesor retirado de SDSU habla sobre el impacto histórico de latinos en San Diego por Diane ESCRITORA

Lopez

El 14 de agosto, el Centro Histórico de San Diego representó a Chicano San Diego: A Neglected Heritage, donde el autor y profesor retirado de la Universidad Estatal de San Diego, Eméritus Richard Griswold Del Castillo, habló sobre cómo las personas de habla hispana influyeron y contribuyeron hacia la historia de San Diego.

La profesora de estudios Chicanos y Chicanas de SDSU, Coral McFarland Thuet, dijo que asistió a la presentación porque siempre hay una oportunidad de aprender del doctor Griswold, a quien considera una figura de la historia chicana.

“Es importante entender que hubo una guerra entre México y Estados Unidos”, dijo Thuet.

“Mucha gente no sabe realmente sobre eso o no lo ha estudiado realmente y es una parte tan importante de nuestra historia”.

Griswold habló sobre cómo la comunidad mexicana ha contribuido a San Diego y dijo que la Revolución Mexicana ha sido la mayor influencia y han resistido

Foto por Diane Lopez

Eméritus Griswold se dirige al publico en el Centro Historico de San Diego.

y acomodado la cultura cada vez más anglosajona de la región.

A lo largo de su presentación, Griswold habló sobre varias figuras importantes y eventos que han dado forma a la historia mexicoamericana y dijo que la historia

sigue siendo la misma pero con diferentes leyes.

“Muchos de nosotros somos inmigrantes que provenimos de familias inmigrantes y algunos de nosotros venimos aquí antes de que las leyes fueran cambiadas”,

dijo Griswold. “Todo lo que mi madre tenía que hacer era pagar $5 para cruzar la frontera y sus padres tenían que demostrar que podían leer y escribir”.

Griswold dijo que las leyes han sido cambiadas para mantener a

la comunidad de inmigrantes lejos del país.

Aunque ha estado retirado por 10 años, Griswold dijo que quiere compartir su conocimiento sobre el tema, y es por eso que realizó esa presentación. Griswold dijo que una idea errónea es que todos los mexicanos americanos son inmigrantes y que esto no es cierto.

“Cada grupo de inmigrantes se ha enfrentado al prejuicio de su cultura, idioma religión, y es importante darse cuenta de que es un proceso al que se enfrentan los mexicanos cada día y cada minuto”, dijo Griswold.

Patricia Taylor, una de las asistentes, dijo que la lectura le pareció interesante “No escuchamos esto muy seguido y no aprendimos esto en la escuela”.

Griswold dijo que su presentación fue basada en extractos de su libro Chicano San Diego: Espacio Cultural y la Lucha Por la Justicia, donde explica cómo la historia de San Diego ha sido ignorada.

“Despierta y respeta la herencia mexicana de San Diego”, dijo Griswold. “No se trata de un nivel superficial, sino de profundizar y tratar de comprender el legado mexicano”.

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Aug. 27-Sept. 4, 2018 EDITOR: Julianna Ress • arts@thedailyaztec.com

Arts & Culture

The Daily Aztec

9

Neon signs shining light for new generation

by Lauren J. STAFF WRITER

Mapp

Words buzzing on the walls of local restaurants with the soft glow of neon gas have been popping up around San Diego, drawing in customers who swarm in to take photos for their Instagram accounts.

Witty sayings such as “It’s not gonna lick itself“ in the form of the neon-style, LED sign at Cauldron Ice Cream may hint at a dirty sense of humor, whereas the “You, me, matcha” sign at Holy Matcha in North Park skips the use of double entendre.

The phrase “In pie we trust” — a play on the United States’ motto — is trademarked by Pop Pie Co. and prominently displayed in the restaurant as glowing, white neon sign. The decision to include the sign in the store was as a piece of art and a way to incorporate the company’s branding into the store design, according to General Manager Steven Torres.

“We just like the aesthetic of it and it’s a quote that’s part of our branding — it’s part of who we are,” Torres said. “It’s definitely an attention grabber and people like to take photos of it.”

From coffee and tea shops to ice cream parlors and bars, the types of businesses may vary, but the millennial customer base is common regardless of the space.

Instagram user Olivia Stevens has taken photos of several neon signs, and has her own “San Diego” sign at home. She said that people are drawn to various businesses to take photos with and of the signs.

“It’s kind of like an old school aesthetic that’s making a comeback, really,” Stevens said.

“I know that at the Cauldron ice cream shop in Kearny Mesa, people are literally going to that shop just to take a picture with that neon sign.”

Mr. Neon Inc. — a local sign contractor — produces about 200 to 300 neon signs each year. The use of neon lighting in channel letter signs has decreased as LED lighting has become more mainstream, Mr. Neon

salesperson Ben Gottsponer said.

“A lot of the (neighborhoods) in San Diego have restrictions on neon, so it has kind of made us go more toward LED,” Gottsponer said. “Some of the neighborhoods just don’t like neon — a lot of the shopping centers want LED channel letter signs.”

Though the use of neon in store front signs has declined, there has been a resurgence in the use of neon for interior, decorative pieces.

“We still do quite a bit of neon for specialty signs,” Gottsponer said. “A lot of the stuff we do is inside stores, interior neon — that’s ‘in vogue’ again, luckily. I enjoy doing those and they look beautiful.”

Neon’s longevity is one of the aspects of the art form that resonates with those who purchase and appreciate such signs.

“Neon pretty much lasts forever because neon is gas,” Gottsponer said. “Inside the glass tube is gas and there’s no filament, so as long as the transformer lasts the neon lasts. We’ve repaired neon signs from the 60s and the same tubes are still being used.”

With a long history of usage as a lighting and sign form that spans more than a century, the signs were popular early in the 20th century and made a comeback in the 80s, said Eric Lynxwiler, Museum of Neon Art board member and neon art historian.

“Everything old is new again and neon itself has had a cyclical lifespan,” Lynxwiler said. “It was popular between 1925 and 1965, and after 1965 it was essentially replaced by backlit plastic.”

Older neon signs can be found on display at the MONA in Glendale, CA, where staff work to save neon signs from being thrown away when older, “mom and pop” businesses close their doors, Lynxwiler said.

A 40-foot, animated, neon dragon from the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood is currently on display at the museum. Other exhibits include “Motel California” — an exhibit

Photo by Lauren J. Mapp

A neon sign with a play on the United States’ motto “In God we trust” at Pop Pie Co. in University Heights.

filled with refurbished neon, motel signs.

The uptrend of true neon signs can be seen in the increased workload of neon restoration craftspeople.

“Nowadays we see such a rise of neon that when we at the Museum of Neon Art need to upgrade a neon sign or restore a neon sign, our benders are busy with other projects because neon is so popular right now,” Lynxwiler said.

Retro art nostalgia drawing in young crowds who enjoy the style of art may be one reason why businesses are gravitating toward incorporating the signs into their interior design plans.

“I think that the current generation of folks are finding neon to be ‘retro-cool,’ and also, it’s just new to them,” Lynxwiler said. “I remember neon from my youth and I loved it and enjoyed it, and it’s kind of why I am addicted to neon now. I think the current generation looks at neon with new, bright eyes, and they don’t see an old technology, they just see a beautiful thing.”

Photo by Lauren J. Mapp

A neon sign welcomes “Cookie Monsters” at the Baked Bear in Pacific Beach, where customers come in to design custom icecream sandwiches.

Photo by Lauren J. Mapp

Another sign at Cauldron Ice Cream indicates a raunchy sense of humor.

‘Thursday’s a Drag’ spotlights diversity, queer community

by Brenden STAFF WRITER

File Photo

Two-time “RuPaul’s Drag Race” contestant Shangela co-hosted the Dragstravaganza Aztec Night held in September 2017.

Tuccinardi

As we make our way back into the routines of the school year, Associated Students has some exciting events planned to welcome the students of San Diego State back to campus.

However, the one event students look forward to most is the annual drag show.

As one of the most highly anticipated events of the school year, Thursday’s A Drag, promises to be a night of fun, laughter and stellar performers from RuPaul’s Drag Race as well as talented SDSU students.

The event is being held in Montezuma Hall in the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union on Thursday, Aug. 30th. Doors open at 8:00 p.m. and the show begins at 9:00 p.m.

This event, co-sponsored by the SDSU Pride Center and Aztec Nights, showcases SDSU’s diversity, providing all members of the queer community a space to come together and celebrate their authentic selves while at the same time enjoying the wonder-filled world of drag.

Undeclared sophomore Sophia De Runtz, who attended the event last year said, “I had an amazing time last year. I met so many amazing people that I can now call friends, and the show was hilarious. I can’t wait for this year.”

Thursday’s A Drag is an event that you don’t want to miss.

Biochemistry senior Austin Moser said he has attended since his freshman year.

“The first year I went, I did not want to,” Moser said. “My friends forced me, and it was the best decision I have ever made.

My favorite part of the event is how open everyone working and in attendance is. I also love the energy.”

It is an invigorating, sassy, supportive and accepting event that highlights SDSU’s commitment to ensuring all students feel welcome and accepted in the campus community.

“I think it is cool that SDSU has a drag show as one of the welcome back events. I think it shows freshmen and returning students alike that everyone is welcome and that the campus is a safe and inclusive space,” De Runtz said.

The event will run from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Friday morning.

Come and experience the diversity among fellow SDSU students as the drag show represents the queer community.

10

Arts & Culture

The Daily Aztec

Aug. 27-Sept. 4, 2018 EDITOR: Julianna Ress • arts@thedailyaztec.com

Student’s life-changing accident leads to 2 CBD companies

by Kelly Kerrigan STAFF WRITER

After Ayman Dandashi severed all his nerves, tendons and ulnar artery in his right arm in a life-threatening accident, he had no choice but to turn to another solution for his pain. While most people are prescribed to take opioid painkillers and anti epileptic drugs, Dandashi had allergic reactions and terrible mental side effects from the drugs.

That is when he discovered cannabidiol, better known as CBD oil.

“CBD oil immediately helped me with my nerve pain and inflammation, and after two weeks of using it I even developed a new sense of mental clarity and motivation to recover as fast as possible,” Dandashi, an international business junior, said. “I was told that it would take one to two years to get full range of motion in my hand. I got

Courtesy photo

Ayman Dandashi, co-creator of CBDaily Solutions.

full range of motion back at 6 months and now my sensation is slowly coming back as well. I learned more and more about CBD and its benefits over time and I wanted everybody to find a natural alternative that actually works for any mental or physical issues.”

Dandashi shared the life changing effects he experienced with friends communications junior Jackson Dean and economics and accounting junior Scott Smith. When the two friends tried CBD oil for themselves, they too found many benefits from the oil.

That’s when the three of them were inspired to create their own companies, “CBDaily Solutions” and “Chill Brew Coffee.”

CBDaily Solutions sells CBD oil and topicals online featuring different flavors and providing customers with many uses for the oil. Chill Brew Coffee is CBD infused cold brew coffee helping customers drink the cannabidiol.

The oil is safe to use on all humans and animals and according to Dandashi, Dean and Smith, the health benefits are endless.

Some of these benefits Dandashi claims the oil has include fighting anxiety, depression, pain, insomnia, inflammation, mood imbalances and more. It also can help with chronic illness’ such as diabetes, arthritis, epilepsy and even cancer. In addition to the oil, customers can purchase a salve made with Shea butter and essential oils that can help with sore muscles, achy joints and scars.

Each of the young entrepreneurs uses the oil for their own personal reasons.

Courtesy photo

CBDaily Solution’s CBD oils displayed to help with health and serving as a pain moderator.

“I use CBD oil in many different ways, but I have to mention how much it has helped me with insomnia and not being able to sleep at night. On the other side of it, I am very lethargic in the morning from a sleeping disorder. CBD helps take away the nausea and brain fog in the morning,” said co-creator Scott Smith.

Jackson Dean on the other hand says he takes CBD oil everyday even though he has no specific reason to.

“I use it everyday even when I don’t necessarily have any reason to do so.

CBD can be incredibly effective against preventing chronic diseases and disorders that might develop later in life, so I do my best to take it as often as possible.”

Individuals can use the oil by taking two drops daily or mixing it into smoothies, juice or any other cooking. Customers can purchase this natural oil online through their website www.cbdailysolutions. com or through their instagram page @ cbdailysolutions. At the moment the trio is selling Chill Brew Coffee at the Ocean Beach farmers market on Wednesdays and through their Instagram @ChillBrewCoffee, but hope to have the coffee in stores soon.

“The most common misconceptions are that CBD is the same thing as marijuana.

CBD is completely separate, it only contains health benefits and zero high. It’s safe for everybody, even those who have to pass a drug test!”

21 and under: fun activities to do on and off campus

by Ceighlee STAFF WRITER

Fennel

Fun activities can be found everywhere and anywhere. People just have to be creative and hungry for adventure.

It may seem like much of the fun of living in San Diego can’t be had until after your 21st birthday. However, there are all kinds of fun things to do on and off campus before you reach that milestone. Many of these are basic ideas, but you can take them and run with them.

Buildings on campus It is easy to always go to class, but that means missing out on exploring larger parts of the campus. Take time after class to go into a random building and just walk around. There are secret stairways, quiet basements, quirky art galleries and even a small planetarium. So many things are available to students who break the normal routine. Plus, exploring campus can be a really fun activity to go do on a long, boring day.

“I found a swirly staircase by the art building because I was just walking my dog around campus,” Kaylea Huhn, a liberal studies junior, said.

Another activity could be making it a goal to take pictures by every mural on campus. This could be something to do in one day, or something to be attempted over the course of a whole semester. The point is to have fun with it! There are murals all around campus. Sometimes some of the old ones are redone by students with new ideas.

This could be a fun scavenger hunt to do with friends. Good luck finding them all!

Speaking from experience, watching the sunrise on top of a parking structure with a great group of friends is a fun event.

This activity is super easy as well because all there is to it is going onto a parking structure on campus and parking there with friends. Staying up till sunrise is the only hard part. Snacks are always a good idea.

And obviously, do not attempt this activity before an important test or some other event that sleep will be necessary for.

Hiking Hiking is an option for someone who is looking for something a little more active.

San Diego has many more hiking trails and mountains to explore than people give it credit for. The obvious choice is Cowles Mountain, but finding other hikes is not hard. There are waterfalls in San Diego as well if someone goes looking for them.

Hiking is a way to get off campus and

“I found a swirly staircase by the art building because I was just walking my dog around campus”

surfing there,” Huhn said. “There’s a lot of really cool people who help you and when there’s a break in the waves out there, it’s so surreal.”

Beach Another activity to do, involving a beach, is to go to Sunset Cliffs for a sunset picnic.

Whether someone goes single or in a group, the view is beautiful and it’s an easy way to have an enjoyable night.

“I went to Sunset Cliffs specifically for the sunset, and it was super pretty,” Logan said. “I also got to take my friends from out of town and it was really fun showing it to them.”

Other activities If someone is looking for a more exciting activity to do in the evening, then there is at least one club in San Diego that

caters to the under-21 crowd. Bassmnt, located downtown, has plenty of 18-andover concerts.. This venue has a very fun atmosphere and can be a really special place to be up close and personal with the act of the night.

Horse races in San Diego can also be attended by people under 21. This is an event a group of friends could dress up and go to for entertainment. The entrance fee is inexpensive as well.

These are just a few starter ideas, but San Diego holds so much for people who want new experiences. There are other things like skydiving, hang gliding, paragliding, jet skiing and more active things to go do. On the other hand, there are book shops, coffee places, pet stores and other quirky places to check out.

Everyone can find their own adventure here in San Diego on or off campus.

– Kaylea Huhn, junior liberal studies major outdoors with friends to make some fun memories.

“I went to Torrey Pines to go on a hike because there was water at the bottom, which was perfect for a hot day,” Halle Logan, a kinesiology junior, said. “The hike was good and not that hard because it was more of a trail.”

Going to the beach may be an activity that’s a little overdone in San Diego, but there are ways to make each beach trip unique. No one has to go tan on the beach and have that be the only thing they do.

People ride bikes or longboard on Mission Beach boardwalk all the time. This can be really fun even if people don’t have bikes because there are motorized scooters or public bikes people can pay to use. The boardwalk also has food and unique trinkets to look at.

“I’ve ridden a scooter on Mission Beach boardwalk before, but I also really like

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Aug. 27-Sept. 4, 2018

The Daily Aztec / 11

12

The Daily Aztec

The Back Page

Aug. 27-Sept. 4, 2018 Editor: Julianna Ress • arts@thedailyaztec.com

A note from the 2018-19 editor in chief

by Will Fritz EDITOR IN CHIEF

It’s been 105 years since the first issue of The Daily Aztec was published. Only it wasn’t called The Daily Aztec back then.

It was the Normal News, and the school it covered was called the San Diego Normal School.

The school would eventually move out of University Heights to a new campus on Montezuma Mesa. The newspaper would go on to become the Paper Lantern, The Aztec and then The Daily Aztec.

So a lot has changed since 1913.

One thing hasn’t. We’ve always been devoted to telling your stories. We’ve always been committed to getting to the truth. We’ve always been dedicated to getting every perspective and point of

view we can — whether a story has two sides or 17.

We at The Daily Aztec want you to understand that this isn’t our paper.

It’s your paper. All the interviews we transcribe, all the stories we edit, all the countless hours we spend in our basement dungeon newsroom — that’s all for you. So you can know the truth, whatever it may be.

And we want you to understand the process of what we do day in and day out.

We have a team of volunteer writers, photographers and videographers creating stories to fill the paper and the website every week. We have a dozen editors working hard to make sure all of those stories are the best they can be.

News stories are written from an objective point of view, with sources

University releases new renderings for west campus proposal Top: The proposed football stadium, with university buildings in the background.

Middle left: An artist’s impression of students on foot at a proposed “campus mall.”

Middle right: University buildings, with a park in the foreground.

Bottom: A central area near the proposed football stadium

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from every perspective we can get. They are filled with facts and the opinions of involved parties, but never our own.

Opinion stories are the opinion of the individual author. We don’t endorse the views expressed in each and every one, just the author’s right to express it.

Editorials are the official position of the editorial board at The Daily Aztec.

They have to be approved by a majority — but not all — of the editors on staff.

Now, of course, not everyone will agree with the stories we choose to cover, or with the views published in our paper. And that’s OK. We invite anyone with an opposing view or a critical point to write a letter to the editor for publication. If you have anything you want to add to the conversation, or if you just want to understand a story that was written, you can certainly email me at

editor@thedailyaztec.com, or you can even call me at (619) 594-7781.

And we’re not perfect, either. We will certainly make mistakes. But understand that we are students just like you, and we’re doing our absolute best. We’ll work to mitigate the possibility of mistakes, and fix the ones we do make.

This school year is going to be a critical one for this university.

We have a new leader: President Adela de la Torre. We’re facing the possibility of finally expanding our campus off the Mesa and into Mission Valley, depending on whether Soccer City or SDSU West ultimately wins voters’ approval. And even in a normal year, there’s student events, football games, A.S. elections and the inevitable scandal or two to cover.

It’s a lot. But we will do our best.