weekly PRINT EDITION
wednesDAY, september 2 – tuesDAY, september 8, 2015 volume 102, Issue 4
SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1913
W W W . T H E D A I LYA Z T E C . C O M
news
Campus welcomes diversity P4
#sexualassault
sports
SDSU-USD football game preview P6
New officials aim to curb sexual violence
San Diego State’s Women’s Resource Center provides a comfortable space for women to discuss gender issues. The center will open a permanent campus location this semester. megan wood, photo editor
emely navarro senior staff writer
sports
Qualcomm doesn’t cut it anymore P6
San Diego State hired three new officers this year to handle sexual assault and harassment crimes. With the aid of a $200,000 grant from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, SDSU hired a sexual assault victim advocate and a sexual assault detective. The head of the Women’s Resource Center will see to the opening of the center’s permanent home on campus this semester. Together with the new staff, SDSU is launching a series of community discussions on rape and sexual assault resources and prevention called “Let’s Talk.” The first Let’s Talk Bystander Intervention event will be held Wednesday in the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union Theater at 7 p.m. All three campus officials will work together to promote
sexual violence education throughout campus and help those who have been affected by crimes of that nature. Jenny Harper, the sexual assault victim advocate, has been working with the Center for Community Solutions since April 2014. Before she became a sexual assault victim advocate with the center she was a prevention coordinator, and educated adolescents about domestic violence, as well sexual assault prevention. Now, as the victim advocate, she will provide resources and options for survivors of sexual assault. Her responsibilities include accompanying the victim to interviews with detectives, hearings and follow-up meetings with SDSU’s Title IX Department. “I am a confidential, nonmandated reporter,” Harper said. “This means that anyone can disclose to me that they have experienced sexual assault or relationship violence and I am not mandated to report that incident to Title IX or the
police.” Harper will offer support and supply information about the various options available to those who have been sexually assaulted or harassed. She will coordinate efforts with Carrie Hogan, the new sexual assault detective, who has been in law enforcement more than six years. Before working with SDSU, she was with the Monterey Police Department. She has been on the SDSU police force for a year and became a detective in April. As the sexual assault detective, she will follow up with the the person who was assaulted, re-interview witnesses and suspects, and check video surveillance. If the victim decides to move forward with the case, she will also serve as a liaison with the San Diego district attorney’s office. The Women’s Resource Center coordinator, Jessica Nare, will assist students with personal, academic and professional community
connections and relationships. She’ll also promote health and wellness, identity exploration, leadership development, and social justice with a focus on women’s issues. “The WRC will also support women who are pursuing STEM careers, LGBT women, women of color, and parenting students,” Nare said. Throughout the year the center will host programs on sexual violence prevention and support for survivors. “As a culture, we tend to undervalue the skills and accomplishments of women,” Nare said. “Creating dedicated spaces to address these issues is a really important step.” The Women’s Resource Center is temporarily housed at the Center for Intercultural Relations in Aztec Union Suite 250. The center is open to students between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, refer to sdsutalks. sdsu.edu for more information about available resources.
Professors profiled P14 The Daily Aztec publishes its printed weekly edition on Wednesdays and serves the students, faculty and community of San Diego State University.
SNEAKPEEK
Arts & Lifestyle
P12 Aztec artists featured downtown
courtesy ofdowntown gallery
2 NEWS
SEPT. 2 - 8, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: QUINN OWEN • NEWS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
#LOVELIBRARY
Library computing hub remodeled CAITLYNNE LEARY CONTRIBUTOR The newly renovated Library Computing Hub reopened for students to use this semester. “This remodel was a high priority for students,” Love Library Dean Gale Etschmaier said. “I am so grateful for campus support of this badly needed improvement.” The money came from the President’s Budget Advisory Committee and the Student Library Fees. Renovations, aesthetics improvement and computer updates were made with the funds. There’s also a new student and faculty help desk. The floor and furniture in the old computing center had become difficult to clean and keep up. The flooring, furniture, lighting, paint and computers are now new and clean. The entire area looks bright and inviting, a big change from the old Student Computing Center. The furniture is now mostly white with bright splashes of color. Several false walls, previously used for electrical lines to run through, got knocked down to make the area much brighter. Now the new desks and tables have plugs and electricity running through them. Seating in the area has been in-
Formerly known as the Student Computing Center, the newly remodeled Library Computing Hub offers more seating and extra resources to students, staff and faculty. MEGAN WOOD, PHOTO EDITOR
creased by 64 percent. There are now 282 energy-efficient computers and seating for upwards of 400 other students with computer access if they have a laptop. The seating areas vary. There are single-desk spaces, open couches and booths to satisfy all different needs.
While it won’t be a quiet area due to the high volume of available seats, the library administration is looking into ways to separate certain spaces for silent study. They have also separated an area of about 100 computers that can be put on reserve by professors. Improvements have also been made to an iconic library sculpture. The hanging discus arrangement has been repaired and buffered. The Financial Literacy Lab is another addition to the to the computing hub. Advisers at the lab will help students understand how to use credit cards and handle their student loans.
They’ll also answer questions about excessive debt. The computing hub’s technology experts will continue to help students with computer-related issues, especially when dealing with specialty software. “(The renovation) was well received,” said Mark Figueroa, director of technologies and digital initiatives for the library. “(People) loved the furniture and the layout of it all.” He said the key was breaking up the use of space. Instead of being seen only as a computer area, the Library Computing Hub can be used for a variety of purposes with the new additions.
#SDSUEVENTS
Upcoming events HIV Testing
Welcome Mixer
Wednesday Sept. 2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The Pride Center
Aztec Student Union Center for Intercultural Relations Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015 11:30 a.m.1:30 p.m.
The Pride Center is offering HIV testing to students and community members. Take advantage of the private setting provided by Family Health Centers of San Diego to get a screening.
International Music Festival Thursday, Sept. 3, 9 p.m.-12 a.m. Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union (Montezuma Hall) Enjoy two stages of international music, as well as a display of environmental art. Students can also use recycled items to create a masterpiece of their own.
Resume/Cover Letter Tips & Peer Review
Come meet and greet other Aztecs at the SDSU Welcome Mixer. The Center for Intercultural Relations will be a networking hub where students can enjoy refreshments and win prizes.
World Record Night Campanile Walkway Friday, Sept. 4, 10 p.m.-Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015 2 a.m. Go down in history as a Guinness World Record participant. SDSU is trying to gather the world record for most Aztecs in “footed pajamas.”
Comedy Night
Friday Sept. 4, 10 - 11:30 a.m. (Career Services SSE-1200)
Aztec Student Union Saturday Sept. 5, 10 p.m.-Sunday Sept. 6, 2 a.m.
Students can brush up their resumes and cover letters with some professional tips and peer evaluations. Don’t miss this. The real world will come soon.
In need of a good laugh after the second week of school? Spend your night checking out some live comedians in the Union.
NEWS 3
SEPT. 2 - 8, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: QUINN OWEN • NEWS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
SDSU Mortar Board President Alexander Miller is already planning for another successful year. The honor society was recently acknowledged for their community service activites by the chapter’s national governing body. MEGAN WOOD, PHOTO EDITOR
#SDSUHONORS
Mortar Board recognized nationally TORREY BAILEY ASST. NEWS EDITOR San Diego State’s Mortar Board was recognized for its achievements in leadership, scholarship and service by the chapter’s national organization. The Golden Torch is the second highest honor a Mortar Board chapter can receive. SDSU’s Jane K. Smith Cap and Gown Chapter was one of 36 honored this year, and the only California State University club to make the cut.
societies and colleges.” The Mortar Board is also behind the production of the SDSU planners sold in the campus bookstore every year. “I think it’s especially helpful for freshmen because it has all of the deadline dates for tests and all the kinds of things they need to know,” Smith said. This year they added a new feature. Inside the planner is a description of every honors society on campus, giving students easy access to on-campus involvement information. Amid the chapter’s victory, Miller is already tackling next year’s plan. His
“WE LIKE TO THINK OF OURSELVES AS THE HIGHEST SOCIETY”
- Alexander Miller, Mortar Board president
The Mortar Board is an honors society exclusive to students with senior status, where only the top 40 applicants are accepted per year. “We like to think of ourselves as the highest society,” said Alexander Miller, the chapter’s new president. In order to win the award, chapters must submit a detailed outline of the events they have planned for the upcoming year. The National Mortar Board verifies the events and achievements throughout the year and honors chapters accordingly. “I think what makes them unique, and what nationals look at when we get an award, is that we do so many projects that help the university and the community,“ Jane Smith, the chapter’s senior adviser, said. What the members call “stuffing” make up a large portion of the their winning accomplishments. This is where the chapter makes care packages for troops overseas and prepares kits of school supplies for young students in Mexico. “Some chapters do one thing a year,” Miller said. “But we’re doing two or three things a month and have our hands in a whole bunch of different
vision for the year includes a lot of care packages while continuing to break the cookie-cutter mold of an honors society. “We don’t like to be bound by the label of an honors society,” he said. “We get people with different causes and interests so if they can organize something and they want to present it to us, we are more than willing to put it on the schedule.” Miller knows he has some big shoes to fill. The chapter was passed down to him from his Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity brothers. “Some mortar board chapters have very low involvement and aren’t organized very well,” Miller said. “We just happen to be very organized, and the reigns are kind of just passed down.” Smith also has high expectations for the upcoming year. “I am very excited about this chapter,” she said. “We had excellent participation out there during orientation when we had 1,000 students and their parents there. Then we participated in the student expo last week. The attendance is excellent, we’re off to an excellent start.”
4 NEWS
SEPT. 2 - 8, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: QUINN OWEN • NEWS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
Who’sWho? EDITOR IN CHIEF Kelly Hillock MANAGING EDITOR Matthew Bain NEWS EDITOR Quinn Owen ASST. NEWS EDITOR Torrey Bailey SPORTS EDITOR Patrick J. Carr ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Ryan Posner OPINION EDITOR Amanda Kay Rhoades ASST. OPINION EDITOR Anthony Berteaux ARTS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR Olivia Litsey ASST. ARTS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR Ryo Miyauchi PHOTO EDITOR Megan Wood DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR Annalise Dewhurst VIDEO PRODUCER Daniel Galuppo PRODUCTION DESIGNERS Kaylee Andrews Hannah Lingle-Veale
The Center for Intercultural Relations held a community receptions for minority groups. MEGAN WOOD, PHOTO EDITOR
#CAMPUSCOMMUNITY
Campus welcomes diversity ADRIANA MILLAR STAFF WRITER The Center for Intercultural Relations at San Diego State held a series of community receptions for women and minority groups to start the semester. Eleven receptions were held in total, and they included Asian Pacific Islander, Native-Ameri-
having these types of gatherings allows new students, freshman and transfer, to know what clubs are are on campus, and what resources are available to access.” The Latino and Chicano event began with attendees mingling while student leaders promoted their organizations. That was followed by a few ice-breaker activities. Funding and refreshments were provided by the Cal Coast
help keep students from becoming overwhelmed. “They feel a little bit of a culture shock or they don’t know how to navigate through their classes, feeling like one of the only students of their community in a 500 (person) lecture class,” Perez said. “Bringing these events here helps them to recognize other people who might be in their class, or might be in organizations they’re in-
“ IT BROADENS THE VISION OF EVERYBODY... THERE’S MORE TO THE SCHOOL THAN JUST REGULAR CLASSES
can, African-American, Jewish, Muslim, Filipino, Hispanic and LGBTQ groups. The events aim to promote diversity and provide networking opportunities for new and current students, according to the center. Spoken word and cultural performances were among some of the live performances that added a bit of flare to the community events. Christy Quiogue, the center’s director, said the gatherings provide the opportunity to introduce new students to the SDSU campus. “Having these events (creates) a welcoming atmosphere for new students,” Quiogue said. “As new students there’s unfamiliarity and not knowing what resources are available, so
Credit Union. From Latino Greek life organizations to the Chicana and Chicano Studies department, many Latino groups on campus were in attendance. Students had the opportunity to talk to staff and faculty about various student resources on campus. Counselors were on hand to discuss counseling services and student success programs, and Cal Coast Credit Union offered financial education presentations to student organizations at the event. The series was first launched in 2009. Erika Perez, an administrative assistant for the center, said some students can be intimidated by the campus culture. She hopes the receptions will
- Carlos Guzman, civil engineering junior terested in, building that sense of familia.” The first community reception of the fall semester was organized by Perez, along with Chicana and Chicano studies professor Isidro Ortiz and the Association of Chicana Activists. “I think just because this is a hispanic-serving institution, we must make sure that we are really truly serving the hispanic community,” Perez said. Many of the organizations at the event agreed on the importance of working together. Chicana and Chicano Studies senior and A.Ch.A member Jeanette Corona said the student organizations at the reception share common goals and interests to serve the Chicano, Chicana, Latino and Latina communities of SDSU.
“I think it’s very important for us as organizations to at least have one day where we all are in the same room, because we’re all pretty much working for a lot of issues that are interconnected,” Corona said. Along with student organizations, various alumni and staff were at the events. “Another thing I pointed out during the event was how many of us already graduated, how many of us have a masters degree, how many of us have a Ph.D,” Perez said. “Being able to set physical examples of people here who already made it that far are examples to us of how we can make it there.” In addition to providing networking, the series also promotes diversity. Civil engineering junior Carlos Guzman said events like these enhance the campus community by making SDSU a place for more than simple classroom instruction. “I feel like it broadens the vision of everybody, so they know there’s more to the school than just regular classes,” Guzman said. “You can see other aspects of culture.” The Center for Intercultural Relations organizes several events each semester designed to promote and serve minority communities at SDSU. The center recently moved to a new location in suite 250 on the second floor of the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union. Rooms for use by student organizations can be reserved through the center’s website.
VOLUNTEER WRITERS Maria del Carmen Huerta Adriana Millar Emely Navarro Caitlynne Leary Kalah Siegel Nancy Kirk Christine Whitman Sarah Tanori Zach Engberg Anthony Reclusado Jack Haworth VOLUNTEER PHOTOGRAPHERS Meghan McCarron Andy Farra Chadd Cady _____________________________ ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Adam Zabel SALES MANAGER AJ Swamy MARKETING MANAGER Radbeh Rabaz ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Christopher Garcia Conor Nordberg Emmilly Nguyen Kelsey Silver ACCOUNTING & CONTRACTS Alfonso Barajas Kalie Christensen _____________________________ GENERAL MANAGER Jay Harn GRAPHICS SPECIALIST Chris Blakemore _____________________________ ADVERTISING 619.594.6977 advertising@thedailyaztec.com EDITORIAL 619.594.4190 editor@thedailyaztec.com PRINT The Daily Aztec publishes 5,000 copies of its weekly print edition on Wednesdays. WEB Daily content is available at www.thedailyaztec.com MOBILE The Aztec App (available for iPhone and Android)
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NEWS 5
SEPT. 2 - 8, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: QUINN OWEN • NEWS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
#GRADSTUDENTS
Aztec grad students top charts came from a one-unit grant writing class he took while earning his master’s degree at the University of Minnesota. In the class, he submitted an application to a grant of his choice, which ended up being the National Science Foundation Fellowship. The fellowship financially
Rojas-Salas wishes to be an advocate on campus. One SDSU faculty member is inspiration behind her motivation. “When it came down to researching women’s studies master’s programs, SDSU had an interdisciplinary approach along with an intersectional
“ Graduate students starting this fall semester are the most distinguished in SDSU history. MEGAN WOOD, PHOTO EDITOR
MARIA DEL CARMEN HUERTA STAFF WRITER The class of San Diego State graduate students starting fall 2015 is among the most academically accomplished in SDSU history. This year SDSU received three National Science Foundation Fellows, four international Fulbright Fellows, five campus Fulbright Fellows and 20 Presidential Graduate Research Fellows. National Science Foundation Fellow and current graduate student Matthew Voigt said
coming to SDSU was a strategic move for him. “San Diego State is one of the strongest programs in terms of math education and specifically undergrad math education,” Voigt said. “They have a really strong program, and it was just a very collaborative environment among the faculty. Accepting and diverse.” Voigt will be in a four-year Ph.D. program split between SDSU and UC San Diego. He hopes to inspire undergraduates to engage in mathematics and to do research that will have an impact on the university. His fellowship recognition
SAN DIEGO STATE IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST PROGRAMS IN TERMS OF MATH EDUCATION...”
- Matthew Voigt, National Science Foundation Fellow
supports him for three years of his program, which he said allowed him to apply to his choice of schools. “Our program is so specific that everyone has such an interest in it that they are committed and engaged and each person specializes in different branches, so everyone provides a different kind of richness,” Voigt said. Voigt is not the only graduate student looking to make a difference on campus. First -year women’s studies graduate student Marsela
and transnational lens on feminism that I was immediately attracted to,” Rojas-Salas said. “When I further researched the faculty in the department, I discovered Dr. Irene Lara was a faculty member, which reinforced my need to apply to the program.” Rojas-Salas networked with Lara at the National Association of Chicano/Chicana Studies Conference. Lara was presenting the book she co-edited with Elisa Facia, “Fleshing the Spirit: Spirituality and Activism in
Chicana, Latina, and Indigenous Women’s Lives.” Rojas-Salas kept that book in her backpack at all times the last quarter of her senior year. She used it as a source of self-care when she felt that academia was splitting her mind, body, and spirit, she said. She is the first in her family to earn a master’s degree in the U. S. However, she feels the pressures of not fitting in. “As a graduate student of color, I often lack a sense of belonging when in academic settings,”she said. “Impostor syndrome, or the idea that someone will tell me that my acceptance letter was incorrectly sent to me, is something that is often in the back of my mind.” She said she knows it’s a privilege to be at SDSU, and she feels it is her responsibility to increase accessibility to higher education for everyone, especially women of color. Her first week of graduate school at SDSU is officially over, and she said she already knows that her cohort brings a diverse set of skills relating to feminism, antiracism and queer antagonism to the Aztec community.
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6 SPORTS
SEPT. 2 - 8, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: PATRICK CARR • SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
COMMENTARY
#AZTECFB
FOOTBALL NEEDS A NEW HOME ZACH ENGBERG STAFF COLUMNIST As we start this next San Diego State football season against city rivals University of San Diego full of hope as always, I can’t help but think back to my first experience at an SDSU football game last August. As I walked down the steps to my seats, I could feel the excitement in the air inside famous Qualcomm Stadium. I could feel the history, from Don Coryell’s years leading the Aztecs and eventually the San Diego Chargers, to Tony Gwynn destroying major- league pitching for the San Diego Padres, and Marshall Faulk running rampant for SDSU in the early 1990s But I could also feel the shaking of the old, rickety lower-level stands. The cold, hard, unwelcoming seats
Freshman wide receiver Jabril Clewis (right) lines up against a defensive back at last month’s Fan Fest. ANDY FARRA, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
made my halftime exit from the game more likely with each passing moment. It took only a couple of minutes inside Qualcomm, with its prehistoric scoreboards and bleachers in need of retrofitting, to see why the Padres rushed out of there to Petco Park when
to witness the greatness on display all those years ago at Qualcomm. It’s time for the new crop of athletes and fans in San Diego to have a modern, upgraded home. Qualcomm Stadium, originally named San Diego Stadium, opened on Aug.
THE ONLY THING QUALCOMM STADIUM HAS GOING FOR IT IS THE HISTORY IT HOLDS. they got the chance and why the Chargers would consider sharing a stadium with the Oakland Raiders. The second-oldest active National Football League stadium has a lot to offer, but comfort is not one of those things. It has nothing to offer to this generation of fans or anyone who wasn’t there
20, 1967. It has housed the Chargers and the SDSU football team since its inception. For some perspective, 1967 was the same year The Beatles released Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, a postage stamp cost 5 cents and PBS was launched. Jack Murphy, a sports writer for the San Diego
Union who convinced the Chargers to move to San Diego from Los Angeles and spearheaded the campaign to build the stadium, passed away in 1980. Out of respect, the stadium was renamed Jack Murphy Stadium until 1997 when technology company Qualcomm funded a major renovation project and gained the naming rights, which expire in 2017. Hopefully that expiration will finally be the motivation the city needs to build a new stadium. Ideally, a new stadium would be one fitted with proper shading, comfortable seating, a far better fan expereince and a team that can contend for national championships. The only thing Qualcomm Stadium has going for it is the history it holds. So many great athletes, such as Faulk,
Gwynn, LaDanian Tomlinson and the late Junior Seau are just some of the legends who have walked its halls and played on its field. But even back then, this concrete eyesore was a dump. Looking at all the gorgeous state-of-the-art stadiums at other colleges, like Beaver Stadium at Penn State and even the ancient Rose Bowl, should make Aztec fans jealous. Granted, the Aztecs haven’t recently been the high-caliber football team to even deserve a stadium like Baylor University’s McClane Stadium, but we live in one of the most beautiful places in the U.S. We need a piece of art. Something that better represents the school that was just ranked by Forbes as the No. 5 college in America in the second annual #MyTopCollege contest.
#AZTECFB
SDSU vs. USD: Cross-town rivalry renewed ANTHONY RECLUSADO SENIOR STAFF WRITER For only the second time in history the, the San Diego State and University of San Diego football programs will square off for both teams’ season opener on Sept. 5. The last time these cross-town rivals met was in 1961. To put that into perspective, that was the same year President John F. Kennedy was inaugurated and the movie “West Side Story” was released in theaters. The first game in 1961 between these two was hyped up to be the big intra-city rivalry. But the Aztecs easily won bragging rights, beating the Toreros 42-12. Running back Mario Mendez carried SDSU behind his four rushing touchdowns. While the game itself was a dud, the week leading up to the contest kept both teams’ student bodies on their toes, as both USD and SDSU participated in inter-school pranks. Everything from kidnapping to vandalism was done to rile up the opposition, with the grand finale culminating in a halftime
brawl that required nine units of policeman to keep the peace for the remainder of the game. Regardless of the off-the-field antics, the game would go on to mark a crossroads for these two programs. USD suspended its football program at the end of the season, and didn’t fully reinstate operations until 1973. The Aztecs, meanwhile, were led by legendary head coach Don Coryell to its golden era of football and ultimately became a Division I program in 1969. Fast forward 54 years and the game Saturday may not have the same buildup, but that is not to say people aren’t excited. “The buzz around here is great,” senior cornerback J.J. Whittaker said. “The school feels it and I think the city of San Diego feels it as well. September 5 is monumental in a sense.” The buildup has been tempered this time around, due in large part to the current affairs of USD compared to SDSU Not only are the Toreros a Football Championship Subdivision program, the second-tier of college football, but they are also a member of the Pioneer
The Daily Aztec’s sports section in 1961 tells the story of the Aztecs and Toreros’ only meeting in football. MEGAN WOOD, PHOTO EDITOR
Football League, a non-scholarship conference. The Aztecs are a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision and have 85 football scholarships to hand out. Even with an obvious edge, SDSU head coach Rocky Long said it’s all business when it comes to his team’s preparation. “I think we are taking the approach we always do,” Long said. “We as a coaching staff and I assume our players are taking it like every game: serious and respectful to our opponents.” Aside from the contrasts, both programs have shared a similar level of success unrivaled in either of their recent pasts. SDSU has been to five consecutive bowl games, equaling
their total number of bowl appearances from 1969-2009. USD has won or shared three PFL titles in the last four years and went to their first FCS playoff game in program history last season. USD’s recent success has allowed the Aztec players to focus on the game and not look past what is an uneven matchup on paper. “They are an up-and-coming program,” Whittaker said. “They went 9-4 last year and they got predicted to win their conference, as well. So taking them as an underdog, we don’t. We respect our opponents and we respect them, as well.” As it will become obvious on Saturday, these teams are also
similar on the field. Both coaching staffs have an old-school mentality, leaning heavily on the rushing game. The leading rushers for bpth teams, USD’s redshirt-junior running back Jonah Hodges and SDSU’s junior running back Donnel Pumphrey, return to their teams and will carry their respective offenses throughout the season. That’s especially true with both teams losing their starting quarterbacks from last year and questions in the passing game remaining for both sides. Nonetheless, Saturday should have a huge turnout as both programs’ fan bases come out to watch a game 54 years in the making.
SPORTS 7
SEPT. 2 - 8, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: PATRICK CARR • SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
#AZTECFB
Hunkie’s way PATRICK CARR SPORTS EDITOR On a crisp August morning when the sun had yet to fully reach the apex of its daily routine, San Diego State football practiced in the cool shadow of parking structure 5 and the Jeff Jacobs JAM Center. It was the first day of two-aday practices, which is when SDSU practices for around 90 minutes in the morning and up to two hours later in the afternoon. Practice on this particular morning was finished. One men’s soccer player had already taken the field and started stretching and warming up. All the coaches and players were making their way toward the north gate on the turf practice field, heading in to watch practice film. Except the wide receivers. They remained on the field in a circle, doing push-ups led by their vocal, energetic and passionate coach, Hunkie Cooper. Cooper is tasked with changing the culture of wide receivers at SDSU. “I try to bring a more physical,
more psychological edge to the game and they’re responding to it,” Cooper said. Head coach Rocky Long’s main complaint with the wideouts is they weren’t physical or aggressive enough last season. Even one week into fall camp back in August, Long noticed the receivers were more aggressive. “They’re fighting on their blocks and they’re going up and trying to get the ball,” Long said. Cooper’s path to San Diego, like many, has been anything but ordinary. He grew up in Texas, then went to UNLV to play football in the early 1990s, the same time Jerry Tarkanian’s Runnin’ Rebels had taken Las Vegas and the college basketball world by storm. The NFL didn’t beckon to Cooper after college, but the Arena Football League did. He played from 1993-2005 with the Arizona Rattlers, setting numerous team records as a wide receiver despite playing quarterback his whole high school and college career. The drills SDSU receivers do are intense and, well, entertaining. They’re meant to build agility and sharpen
San Diego State football wide receivers coach Hunkie Cooper runs drills during a practice last month MEGHAN MCCARRON, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
reflexes. Cooper, himself, is an intense guy. In scrimmages, his voice can be heard above the rest. “I’m a Texas guy, you know what I mean?” he said. “All I know is to outwork people and have a plan.” The wide receiver production last year was almost nonexistent, short of Ezell Ruffin’s return from injury toward the end of the season. “I think the energy that I bring and the physical toughness that I bring as a player, myself, I think that’s putting an edge on them,” Cooper said. In 2014, SDSU receivers
accounted for six of the team’s 10 passing touchdowns. Ruffin had two, which leaves juniors Eric Judge and Lloyd Mills and senior Jemond Hazely as the only current wideouts who have a touchdown to their name. But again, the culture seems different this year under Cooper. “They’ll be physical, I guarantee it. You’re going to hear them play,” Cooper said. “They’re going to hit people.” It’s only natural Cooper ended up in San Diego from UNLV. Current special teams coordinator Booby Hauck was
the Rebels’ head coach from 2010-2014. So did men’s basketball assistant coach Justin Hutson, who had a two-year stint with the Runnin’ Rebels. Ironically, Cooper had links with SDSU before he joined the coaching staff. He was the head coach at Canyon Springs High in Las Vegas during the 20092014 seasons. Aztecs star junior running back Donnel Pumphrey played under Cooper at Canyon Springs and compiled mind-numbing rushing statistics while also winning a Nevada Player of the Year award in 2012.
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8 SPORTS
SEPT. 2 - 8, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: PATRICK CARR • SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
San Diego State cross country has one of the toughest training regimines of any sport on campus. FILE PHOTO
#SDSUCROSSCOUNTRY
Cross country flies under the radar JACK HAWORTH STAFF WRITER As summer comes to an end and Montezuma Mesa once again becomes a traffic nightmare, the San Diego State sports spotlight shines ever so brightly on one team. SDSU football.
There are hundreds of other Aztec athletes competing during the fall season, but most remain anonymous to the massive SDSU student population. One such team is women’s cross country. This tight-knit group consists of nine women who compete in a sport that many people dread.
Long-distance running. Last year, the team wrapped up its season by finishing 27th out of 34 teams at the NCAA West Regionals in Palo Alto. This year, head coach Shelia Burrell is looking for stronger results and believes she has the athletes to do make that happen. “This season there has been a new coaching change and things are going really well so far,” Burrell said. “Our top five girls are as good as we have ever been at San Diego State.” Burrell said she expects these top five runners to all post personal-best
would be around the same as running almost three marathons in one week. What’s even more astounding is that peak training season for cross country happens to be in the middle of the summer heat. With their first meet coming up this Saturday, Sept. 5, at the Mark Covert Classic Invitational, the team needs to be in prime running condition at the end of summer. It takes a mentally-tough athlete to run upwards of 50 miles per week in the middle of summer. With such discipline, it should be no surprise that this team is one of
“ THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR IS THAT THE TEAM IS MUCH MORE COHESIVE.”
- Sheila Burrell, SDSU women’s cross country head coach
times this year. She also stressed that patience is the key for this season. “The first half of the season we will be ‘loaded-up,’ meaning we will still be training through those meets,” Burrell said. “Then at the Mountain West meet in Reno, we will ‘unload’ and have fresh legs to go out and compete well.” For cross country, the end of the season is what matters the most. While showing good results at early meets is good for confidence, runners want to be at their best during the end of October, when the MW championships are held. To accomplish this, they must endure countless, long and grueling workouts. They show extreme strength and endurance during the course of an entire season and their strict training regimen proves that. They train two times a day, which includes lifting weights, core workouts and, of course, lots of running. Even though cross country races only range from 3-4 miles, Burrell said some of the best runners on her team will run as many as 60-70 miles per week. To put that in perspective, that
the highest academically-achieving teams on campus. The team has a cumulative GPA of 3.19, and four of the nine runners were recently named 2014-15 MW Scholar Athletes. By comparison, three of SDSU football’s 85 scholarship athletes made the same list. Nevertheless, this Saturday the eyes of the SDSU community will be focused on Aztec football’s season opener against University of San Diego at the archaic Qualcomm Stadium. Plays will be critiqued and differing opinions made on who should or should not start. On the same day, this small team of Aztecs will quietly begin its season in Orange County at Carbon Canyon Regional Park. The cross country team will be going about its business with the same intensity and dedication, just without the hype and attention. “I am really excited for this year. The difference between last year and this year is that the team is much more cohesive,” Burrell said. “Those top five girls have had the opportunity to bond together and to train and compete as a unit.”
SPORTS 9
SEPT. 2 - 8, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: PATRICK CARR • SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
#SHOTSOFTHEWEEK
DAILY AZTEC SHOTS OF THE WEEK
Senior running back Chase Price (No. 22) carries the ball during an intra-squad scrimmage last month. CHADD CADY, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Football head coach Rocky Long gives his “Chalk Talk” before Fan Fest in August at Qualcomm Stadium.. CHADD CADY, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
s in engaging s tudent global le arning
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www.sdsu.edu/studyabroad Junior kicker Donny Hageman looks on before attempting a field goal during the fall scrimmage. CHADD CADY, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
International Student Center
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10 OPINION
SEPT. 2 - 8, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC editor: amanda kay rhoades • opinion@thedailyaztec.com
#stopthepinkTAX The “Pink Tax” is inflated prices on women’s hygiene products compared to their male counterparts. megan wood, photo editor
Inequality in the checkout line Marissa OCHOA Staff Columnist
School is now in session, people. It’s time to get some supplies together. Both women and men will inevitably have to pay a good chunk of money for the essentials. But despite everyone’s attempt to get the biggest bang for his or her buck, men pay much less than women for some everyday products, such as toiletry supplies. Say hello to the pink tax, a marginal tax that plagues women’s products. While Jane pays $3 for a pack of razors, John pays only $2 for the same product. Although the tax may only add a couple of dimes, the little things add up. According to a “Today” show report aired in June, women are shelling out nearly $1,400 more than men a year. The pink tax is a subtle nod toward perceived female
inferiority because it preys on society’s expectation that women must maintain a certain level of physical attractiveness. Companies have zeroed in on what’s expected of women and have used it to their advantage to rake in profits. The Gender Tax Repeal Act of 1995 states that, “No establishment of any kind may discriminate, with respect to the price charged for services of like kind, against a person because of a person’s gender.” That’s all dandy in theory, but companies are finding miniscule loopholes to get around the act. According to a 2010 Consumers Report, women’s bodywash will have certain ingredients that generate more lather than a product for men, constituting a higher cost to compensate for essentially a change in formula. Right there — loophole. Companies may not discriminate against women
but are quick to tack on a higher price for their products. They simply justify it with a slight difference in manufacturing. Why are only women’s products are getting such special treatment? Why are companies so cavalier with their women’s products but won’t budge on men’s? Maybe suppliers know women will pay the extra loot because, in the end, these are essential everyday products. There really is no choice. It’s the same story with clothing. At Target, men can get a pack of six white v-necks for about $13, while women need to fork out $5 per shirt. And exactly what constitutes such a price spike for even the simplest of garments? I can maybe understand formula changes with products, but unless my shirt is made from God’s own robe, I don’t expect to pay any more or less for what a male counterpart would pay. Marketers are keen at
spotting exactly what society is telling women. Girls need to have smoother skin and daintier scents. Let’s not forget packaging it all together with pretty pastel colors, which can also be a deadly attention grabber. Or should I say money grabber? Let’s face a sad truth: Some women eat up what suppliers put out there just to ensure they maintain their status as an “ideal woman.” At Walmart, Suave body wash for women is $2.88, but the same body wash for men is $2.64. The discrepancy not only results from formulaic changes, but in marketing strategies. While Suave body washes for men are “classic cleans,” body washes for women are “Ph-balancing.” Schick disposable razors for women are $3.47 per pack, while the same version for men costs only $3.05. Is it not enough that women have to buy feminine products (which aren’t cheap)? Must
they be subjected to higher taxes too? And aren’t women paid less? According to the American Association of Women, fulltime, year-round women workers were paid 78 percent of what their male counterparts made in 2013. I get it. Those who make less are forced to pay more. Cut this ridiculous tax out of the budget. And if that doesn’t happen, shopping in the men’s sections for everyday toiletries will lower costs for anybody. There’s absolutely no rational reason for one individual to pay more than another for the same type of product. But let’s face another sad truth: Being paid less and charged more is the world women live in. Play it smart and avoid these unnecessary taxes. Students knows every dollar counts. If ladies can find a loophole to avoid higher prices, then more power to them.
#culturalappropriation
Aztec mascot debate makes a return maddy perello contributor The Washington Redskins have been a controversial mascot recently, but this year a federal judge ordered the cancellation of the trademark. Though it will be a lengthy appeals process, the team could be forced to change their name. A similar debate came up last year at San Diego State when the Queer People of Color Collective proposed a resolution to change the Aztec mascot. The resolution was rejected 25-1 by the Associated Student’s University Council
in 2014. With the push to change the Redskin mascot, the Aztec debate could rise again, but there are obvious and fundamental differences between the two. Redskin is recognized by Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary as an offensive term. In fact, the slur comes from a 200-year-old practice of skinning Native Americans and exchanging the scalp for cash. How could that not offend today’s Native Americans? “It’s derogatory, it’s dehumanizing, it’s degrading and it’s high time this was
addressed and changed because it gives the wrong message to the world,” Oneida Nation tribe leader Ray Halbritter said regarding Washington’s mascot. Just as there are no teams named after derogatory and dehumanizing terms that have long defined minorities in America, there shouldn’t be a team called the Redskins. The name disenchants not only Native Americans, but other activists, as well. According to a recent Huffington Post article, most U.S. senators have spoken out against the nickname. Some news organizations don’t print
the team’s name anymore, either. In contrast, the SDSU Aztec has undergone modifications for political correctness and cultural sensitivity. Prior to 2003, the mascot was Monty Montezuma, a spear-carrying, red-faced and aggressive portrayal of an Aztec fighter. In December of that year a university referendum revamped the mascot to the Aztec Warrior, who carries a conch. In 2005, the NCAA declared the Aztec Warrior an acceptable mascot. “It’s not meant to be derogatory,” said Zackary
Albrecht, a former member of the University Affairs Board who researched last year’s referendum. “I’m proud to be an Aztec and I’ve never walked around campus and heard people say ‘I hate being the Aztecs’.” Changing the Aztec mascot unnecessarily would result in an identity crisis for the university. Both current students and alumni align with the Aztec Warrior. Though the same argument could be made for the Redskins, that derogatory mascot demands modernization. The Aztec is a culturally sensitive and empowering leader for SDSU.
OPINION
SEPT. 2 - 8, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: AMANDA KAY RHOADES • OPINION@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
11
#CSUFACULTYRAISE
Editorial: Support full-time faculty EDITORIAL BOARD The California Faculty Association was in negotiations with California State University management to increase faculty pay, but their requests were denied one day after the Board of Trustees voted on a 2-percent salary increase for all executive employees. San Diego State President Elliot Hirshman, the highest-paid president in the CSU system, will now bring home $420,240 a year. While there is little debate that Hirshman has done great things for the university, increasing faculty pay needs to be a priority since it directly affects students. Because SDSU prides itself on being a leader in state higher education, it is imperative
that the president supports the CFA and encourages system-wide full-time faculty raises. CSU executives including Hirshman already received a 3-percent raise in November.
between other jobs or teaching positions at other colleges, it takes away from the time they are able to dedicate to students at SDSU. Permanent CSU faculty are among the lowest paid in
...INCREASING FACULTY PAY NEEDS TO BE A PRIORITY SINCE IT DIRECTLY AFFECTS STUDENTS. Though the lowest paid CSU president makes $262,650 a year, CSU executives say they make less than the market rate for their positions. What’s concerning is that faculty salaries are lagging behind, and most professors don’t already make six figures or live in university-provided housing. When professors are forced to divide their attention
the state’s higher education system, according to a report from the CFA. The association also found that CSU faculty pay rates over the last 10 years have not increased enough to keep up with inflation, nor workload. Given that within the past decade, class sizes have increased by 58 percent, and as a consequence, have doubled the student-to-
teacher ratio from 18.9-1 in 2006 to 30-1 in 2014, it should be expected that the faculty should receive a pay raise in line with an increase in workload. However, the reality is that SDSU faculty average salaries show a $7,000 loss in real dollar value over time, while CSU executive salaries have nearly doubled in the past decade. While SDSU has brought on part-time faculty members to make up for those lost during the budget cuts of 2008, it is important to not overlook the treatment of the faculty that are already hired on. In other words, we should value quality over quantity. The quality of education a student receives depends in part on the time and attention a professor can dedicate. If SDSU wants
to continue improving its reputation and set the standard for state higher education, Hirshman must advocate for system-wide faculty pay increases. The value of a degree from SDSU is important, but even more critical is the quality of the CSU system and public education in general. EDITOR’S NOTE: An editorial reflects the opinion of the entire editorial board and is voted upon by the editors of The Daily Aztec. The Daily Aztec will publish editorials every other week on issues pertinent to the San Diego State community in order to faciliate conversation on important issues.
#DALETTERS
Letter: A better nuclear deal is needed Just three months after Barack Obama was sworn into office, the newly elected president made a historic speech in 2009 in Prague, where he showed an unprecedented stance against nuclear proliferation. He said, “As the only nuclear power to have used a nuclear weapon, the United States has a moral responsibility to act ... So today, I state clearly and with conviction America’s commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons.” It was this boldness that earned him a Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, and since his speech, the president’s nuclear policies have been mostly consistent with his statements. In his terms as president, he has signed a nuclear arms treaty with Russia, drafted 2010’s Nuclear Posture Review and has recently worked to ensure a nuclear deal with Iran. Obama’s legacy as president was supposed to be one of nuclear diplomacy. However, while we commend the intentions of the current Obama administration and the P5+1 world powers to secure a nuclear deal that sought to end Iran’s nuclear capabilities and lift sanctions, the current nuclear deal does not fulfill the promise and commitment to “seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons.” As SDSU students who hope to achieve our school’s mission statement of “social responsibility, equity, freedom, and productive citizenship in a global society,” we believe it would
be consistent with these values to speak out against a nuclear deal that fails to fully prevent a nuclear Iran, and gives instant sanctions relief (in the billions) to a radical regime that not only shows blatant disregard for human rights and international diplomacy, but funds Syria’s brutal Assad regime and terror proxies such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi militants. The insufficient deal on the table right now is not reflective of the demands necessary to prevent a nuclear Iran. Demands that were considered to be unconditional cornerstones of the negotiations were supposed to be, as President Obama himself said, evidences of verification, not trust. According to U.S. National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes on CNN, the deal should have allowed 24/7 “anytime,
verification, Deputy Secretary of State, Anthony J. Blinkin said the “international community” would grant Iran “phased sanctions relief tied to verifiable actions on their part.” However, should Iran fail to fulfill their side of the bargain, sanctions should fall back into place (these are also known as “snapback sanctions”). However, under the current deal, none of these demands were met, nor does it look like Iran will comply with the international demands. The current deal, as it is, allows for Iran to delay inspections for 24 days before IAEA inspectors can visit a site. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has gone on record telling military commanders in Tehran that regardless of how the P5+1 powers interpret the deal that “no inspection of any military site or interview with nuclear scientists will be allowed.”
HOWEVER, UNDER THE CURRENT DEAL, NONE OF THESE DEMANDS WERE MET, NOR DOES IT LOOK LIKE IRAN WILL COMPLY... anywhere” inspections of all nuclear facilities to inspectors. Chief U.S. negotiator, Wendy Sherman said the final Iran agreement should have included a dismantling of nuclear centrifuges and facilities, and their ballistic missile program. Secretary of State, John Kerry said that it was imperative that Tehran disclosed possible military dimensions and come clean of any of their past actions. Once Iran complies with
Given Iran’s poor track record with international obligations, these remarks are alarming. Under the current deal, Iran will not be required to dismantle any centrifuges nor nuclear facilities, and limits on the nuclear program will expire within 10-15 years, fully allowing Iran to continue military nuclear development and enrichment of uranium after. All restrictions on ballistic missiles are lifted after 8 years
and President Rouhani has said, “We will buy, sell and develop any weapons we need and we will not ask for permission or abide by any resolution for that.” Despite Kerry strongly insisting that Iran revealing their past military actions was a requirement for the deal, this is not the case under the current deal. While phased sanctions relief contingent on “verifiable actions” towards ending their nuclear program was ideal, the current deal gives around $100 billion to $150 billion frozen assets as a “signing bonus” without verified proof that Iran followed through on requirements. The current deal also lifts sanctions on numerous individuals and organizations responsible for human rights violations and terrorism, including IRCG commander Qassem Suleimani, who not only provided weapons to forces responsible for killing hundreds of American troops in the war in Iraq, but is a main supporter of the brutal Assad regime in Syria and Iran’s global terror operations. Even while insisting that “snapback sanctions” are an insurance policy for potential violations of the deal, the deal records that the Iranian regime has made it clear that should sanctions be reimposed, that Iran would no longer comply with the deal. Also the deal holds a clause that prevents reimposing sanctions on “contracts signed between any party and Iran or Iranian individuals and entities” before the snapback. While supporters of the deal, including President Obama himself, argue that those who reject the nuclear
deal are warmongers who see no alternative but war, we beg to differ. The alternative has always and will always be a better deal: a deal which has unimpeded inspections to all suspect sites, phased sanctions relief, restrictions on nuclear research and development for decades, full disclosure of possible military dimensions and full dismantlement of its nuclear infrastructure. It is this hope that Congress will reject the current deal and negotiate a better one, in which we stand to call upon our fellow students to fight for a future free of nuclear weaponry by contacting your Congressman or Congresswoman to vote against this bad deal. Signed, Aztecs for a Nuclear Free Iran
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Daily Aztec encourages our readers to engage in conversation on issues relevant to the San Diego State community. A letter to the editor is written by a student or student organization. If you feel strongly about an issue on campus, please email your letter to the editor to our opinion editor, Amanda Rhoades, at opinion@thedailyaztec.com. Alternatively, voice your opinion on our social media platforms or leave a comment on our website.
12 ARTS & LIFESTYLE
SEPT. 2 - 8, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: OLIVIA LITSEY • FEATURES@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
#SDSUGALLERY
Cultural exhibit featured downtown
Art from the Collection of Jonathan Green and Richard Weedman will be displayed through Oct. 18. COURTESY OF THE SDSU DOWNTOWN GALLERY
KALAH SIEGEL STAFF WRITER Between Balboa Park, La Jolla and downtown, San Diego is an outlet for rich culture and art. For the past decade, San Diego State has been in on the high-end arts scene, but due to its quiet establishment in the art community this may come as a surprise. One of its best-kept secrets is a quaint downtown gallery with the name SDSU splashed across the front in red and white: the SDSU Downtown Gallery.
The Downtown Gallery is free to the public and features work of students and faculty from the School of Art and Design, but it’s also home to several annual art exhibitions showcasing diverse and enriching collections from artists connected to the school. The distinguished contributing artists featured put the gallery in the ranks with “big dogs” of culture and art known throughout the city. “This space is an opportunity for us to present exhibitions highlighting renowned artists, as well as
shows comprised of SDSU faculty and student work. Our location off campus is unique and offers exciting possibilities for visibility,” Downtown Gallery program coordinator Chantel Paul said. Currently, the gallery is showcasing “Art from the Collection of Jonathan Green and Richard Weedman,” a diverse private collection including paintings, sculptures and works on paper. Other artists with works in the exhibit include Romare Bearden, William Carter and Elizabeth Catlett. The showcase started on Aug. 13 and an opening
reception was held on site on Aug. 29. The exhibition celebrates African-American, LatinAmerican and Cuban artists that contribute to the development of American art. “The current exhibition is a beautiful representation of culture, while also offering a very honest look at history,” local community member Heather Serdoz said. The exhibition is presented through a partnership with the San Diego AfricanAmerican Museum of Fine Art and fills the space with both educational and beautiful pieces. “This is a great opportunity for students to be enriched by art,” Paul said. “The gallery uses all media to serve a broad level of interest.” While the downtown space is physically separate from SDSU, the gallery hasn’t forgotten its ties to the university. It’s easily accessible for SDSU students from campus on the trolley — the green line runs from SDSU to Santa Fe Depot, which stops in front of the gallery. Alternatively, the gallery is only a short drive on
the freeway for other students. SDSU also strongly influences the exhibition calendar in terms of ensuring visitors will feel enriched and educated upon arrival at the gallery. Additionally, the gallery strives offers complimentary programming for students on campus. While the current exhibit will be on display through Oct. 18, another collection coming up this fall is called “Presence: Selections from the Matthew and Iris Strauss Family Foundation Collection,” curated by renowned local collectors Matthew and Iris Strauss. The Strauss Family has pieces on display at the San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art, as well as many other locations throughout the U.S. This particular upcoming exhibition focuses on the female form and the presence of femininity. No matter the current exhibit, the SDSU Downtown Gallery is a classy must-do for students and community members interested in the arts.
SEPT. 2 - 8, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: OLIVIA LITSEY • FEATURES@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
ARTS & LIFESTYLE 13
#CAMPUSENTERTAINMENT
Stand-up comedian to slay SDSU NANCY KIRK STAFF WRITER
Brian Regan will be performing at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre on Sept. 11. COURTESY OF JERRY METELLUS
Stand-up comedian Brian Regan has performed on “Late Night with David Letterman” a record-breaking 28 times, released four stand-up specials in the past decade and goes on a nationwide tour 100 days of the year. Most importantly, on Sept. 11, one of those days will be at San Diego State’s Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre. The material presented will be previously unseen by the amphitheater’s eager audience and entirely new from shows he has already recorded, such as “All By Myself” and “I Walked on the Moon.” Much of the new material will appear on his Comedy Central special “Brian Regan: Live from Radio City Music Hall,” which will air on Sept. 26. Regan is a clean comedian, meaning his jokes tend to be family-friendly. While many people appreciate this aspect of his work, he described it as a comedic style rather than intentional, in the same way music can be different genres.
“I’m not riding in on a big white horse saying, ‘Hey everybody, I’m bringing clean comedy to town,’” Regan said, in an interview with The Daily Aztec. “I just like talking about everyday things. So it’s not necessarily because I’m more wholesome, but it’s a way of doing comedy.” He’s able to see the humor in almost everything, from emergency room visits to lost baggage at the airport to the self-depreciating notion that he isn’t even unilingual. “All of Brian Regan’s skits are so true to life,” said kinesiology student Brandon Pierce, a Regan fan who has seen him perform three times. “I can imagine them happening in my day-to-day life and he presents the material in such an animated way that makes watching him so funny.” Regan’s love for stand-up comedy stems from hearing the positive feedback implied by an audience’s genuine laugh. “I think of goofy, twisty things in my brain and I say them out loud in a sound system and other people react,” he said. “It’s a way of communicating through humor and they don’t laugh unless they get it.”
Regan first realized his comedic ability during a college speech when he got the whole class, even the professor, to howl in laughter. After that, he started to consider pursuing comedy as a career. He’s been quite successful, despite his reluctance to boast. “I think most people don’t know who I am,” he said. “It’s a constant quest for a few more people, a few more people, and then maybe one of these days I’ll be on more people’s radar.” Regan is widely respected by his fans and the comedic community alike, working with people, such as Jerry Seinfeld, Mark Maron and Chris Rock. Regan made his first-ever blockbuster movie appearance with a role in Chris Rock’s 2014 comedy “Top Five,” an experience that he hopes won’t be his last. “I’m waiting for Steven Spielberg to offer me a trilogy,” he said. “If he calls me and says ‘You’re going to play a tadpole,’ I’d tell him I’m in.” Though movies may still be on his horizon, fans will wait for the day a Spielberg trilogy is released in which Regan stars as the leading tadpole.
#financialgenius
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No purchase necessary. 1. Free credit score access and Score Simulator through TransUnion’s CreditView SM Dashboard through 12/31/2015. The credit score is not the one used by U.S. Bank when making credit decisions and is intended for educational purposes to help consumers EQUAL HOUSING understand their credit risk. 2. Scholarship eligibility restrictions apply. Refer to usbank.com/studentunion for details. Credit products offered by U.S. Bank National Association. Deposit products offered by U.S. Bank National Association. Member FDIC. 150381 9/15
14 ARTS & LIFESTYLE
SEPT. 2 - 8, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: OLIVIA LITSEY • FEATURES@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
#LINGUISTICS
Professor displays way with words “Clearly there (are) plenty of people who surf in Southern California, so why is it when I tell you to sound like a surfer you also end up thinking about
said. “Or (about how) back in the 1800s there was this big push to create a language that the whole world could use as a second language, which
“ IT’S THE ONE THING THAT MAKES US HUMAN.”
- Douglas Bigham, assistant professor
Bigham is an assistant professor of eight linguistics classes. COURTESY OF DOUGLAS BIGHAM
NANCY KIRK STAFF WRITER An assistant professor to eight linguistic classes at San Diego State, Douglas S. Bigham became enamored with language when he was a young child. “I was exposed to a Spanish program in second or third
grade, and it was so fascinating that there was this whole other system I could use,” Bigham said. His interest expands beyond one specific language to linguistics, or the scientific study of language as a whole. He’s currently researching the phonetics of language and the way people express different identities within
Southern California culture in something called the San Diego Project. “If I asked you to talk to me like a surfer, how would you change your language if I then asked you to talk like a nerd?” he said. Bigham has noticed the way bilingual speakers choose to speak in English when imitating a surfer.
a white dude?” he said. Though he said it’s too early in the study to make any strong claims, he’s intrigued by the politics of language and identity and the way the two overlap. Bigham has collaborated with students and colleagues on the project, including former linguistics student Mechelle Negrete. “It was a very positive work environment and so interesting to classify and break down stereotypes,” Negrete said. In addition to his research with the San Diego Project, Bigham teaches sociolinguistics, queer linguistics, and phonology, among others. His favorite class to teach is Invented Languages: Klingon and Beyond. “We talk about languages that aren’t natural and people have made up, usually for plots of movies or books,” Bigham
eventually failed.” One of the many subjects students learn about is Klingon, which was constructed by Mark Okrean and first appeared in the Star Trek movies. Bigham said an interesting aspect of the language is the subject-verb placement in a sentence. Instead of “Bigham drove the car,” Klingon speakers would say “The car drove Bigham.” Of the 7,000 or so languages that exist on Earth, there are only about three or four of them that place the subject and verb in that order. Considering Klingon is supposed to be spoken by aliens, Bigham said Okrean purposefully used the least common pattern that exists. Bigham’s love for language stems from the way it has endless creative potential. “It’s the one thing that makes us human, and that’s pretty fascinating,” he said.
#PUBLICRELATIONS
Sweetser draws from experience in Navy Sweetser began her work at San Diego State after having previously served as an active public affairs officer in the U.S. Navy. She joined the Navy almost 20 years ago. “I loved writing when I was in high school and my first year of college, but I didn’t know that you could make a career out of something that
senior capstone class in which public relations students had an opportunity to bring together all the information and knowledge gathered over a four-year degree by working for a real client. “It’s exciting to see what they do the first time, as well as how they grow in their confidence,” Sweetser said. She has also taught a social
“
...YOU COULD MAKE A CAREER OUT OF SOMETHING YOU REALLY ENJOYED DOING.
- Kaye Sweetser associate professor
Sweetser served as a U.S. Navy public affairs officer. COURTESY OF KAYE SWEETSER
CHRISTINE WHITMAN SENIOR STAFF WRITER One of the newest faculty members to join the journalism and media studies department, Kaye Sweetser, Ph.D., teaches courses in
principles of public relations, public relations media and messaging, and a special topics course in media and politics. “It’s hard to choose a class I love the most,” Sweetser said. “Like children, they’re all special in their own way.”
you really enjoyed doing,” Sweetser said. “I thought it would kill my love for those things.” Through the five years she served as an active duty officer, Sweetser attending night school and receive a bachelor’s degree in communication. “I feel like I can really relate with the SDSU students and their work ethic,” Sweetser said. “The students really appreciate the education that they’re getting.” She previously taught a
media and digital analytic class in which students learn to use ever-changing technology as a tool. Sweetser helped students with the critical processes involved so they could implement those skills in a real-life situation. “I don’t spend too much time talking about one particular tool, because in six months it’s going to be a different tool, with a different way to look at it,” Sweetser said. Sweetser also taught a
graduate class in which students conducted real academic research projects. In fact, one of the research projects was presented at an academic conference and another paper was taken under review at a peer review journal. “Dr. Sweetser has been a breath of fresh air to the School of Journalism and Media Studies and the public relations emphasis,” public relations graduate Andrea Marabella said. “She truly cares about the success of her students and will always be remembered as my most influential professor during my experience at SDSU.” Sweetser prefers one-on-one interaction with students and thoroughly understanding student interests as opposed to the mass communication aspect of lecturing. She advises students to interact with their professors, as well. “You can’t just sit in the classroom, even in the front, for three hours a week and think that it’s enough,” Sweetser said. “You want to connect with your professor, because then they will start to understand your interests and think about you when they get information about job offers.”
arts & lifestyle 15
SEPT. 2 - 8, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC editor: OLIVIA LITSEY • FEATURES@thedailyaztec.com
#bands
punk band X plays with open mind
X will perform at the Del Mar KAABOO Festival in September. Courtesy of x
SARAH TANORI SENIOR STAFF WRITER Not many bands have the ability to stay with their original lineup and sustain momentum, yet pioneers of the first wave American punk movement, X, have done just that for four decades. They are set to perform at the Del Mar KAABOO festival in September. The band will take part in its second festival without guitarist Billy Zoom
after his cancer diagnosis. This marks X’s first San Diego show since its sold-out concert in 2014 to celebrate the Casbah’s 25th anniversary. X started with two people, being founded in Los Angeles by bassist and vocalist John Doe and guitarist Billy Zoom in 1977. Later that year, Exene Cervenka was asked to join as lead singer and DJ Bonebrake as drummer. In its formative years, the band toyed with a myriad of genres, incorporating blues,
rockabilly and country into its punk aesthetic. While the band rose to fame at the same time as other Southern California legends, such as Germs and Agent Orange, X set itself apart with its drive for an eclectic musical style. A lot of the band’s appeal came from its group dynamic. It wasn’t traditional punk, with the anger and whiny lyrics. It was punk with sophistication, exposing emotions that reflected on love and life. “Her harmonies with Doe
were always incredible, and their back-and-forth interplay on stage was just like nothing we’d ever seen before,” Rolling Stone managing editor Jason Fine said. Few females at the time were part of the punk scene, however Cervenka defied gender norms and demanded attention on stage with her powerful presence and silky vocal harmonies. “Exene was and is a force of nature,” Fine said. “She was never just the singer, never just a girl fronting a band. She was the core of the band.” The group rose to prominence in the early 1980s with its first two albums “Los Angeles” and “Wild Gift.” Both albums later landed its way on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” in 2003. Although the band took a short break in the 1990s, X toured throughout the decade to perform its classics for crowds big and small. Currently, the band continues to play small-scale venues, as well as festivals, even after four decades of playing music. This July, guitarist Billy Zoom was diagnosed with bladder cancer and had to
cancel all future appearances to undergo chemotherapy. Cervenka said Zoom’s prognosis fortunately appeared positive, and he plans to return to play shows by December at the latest. They soon found a temporary replacement, Jesse Dayton, guitarist of Waylon Jennings and Supersuckers. He has been the band’s stand-in guitarist since late July. “What I like is that Jesse is his own person,” Cervenka said. “He doesn’t imitate Billy, but plays punk in the way he knows.” As frontrunners of a flourishing scene in Los Angeles, X expanded the culture of punk rather than sticking to the typical narrative of aggressive and often violent music dominating the genre. The band’s music continues to transcend to the masses, inspiring a more open-minded scene. At a festival with acts like No Doubt and 311, it’s surprising to see a band like X on the bill. At the same time, it’s not. These legends are helping kick-start this festival in the place that first welcomed their music, Southern California.
CROSSWORDS
Across 1 Flier among hangers 5 Hurt 9 Exams for future attys. 14 Alpine feedback 15 Something to chew on 16 Open courtyards 17 Some Broadway theater handouts 19 Green shampoo 20 Raised on one’s own ranch, as a horse 21 Pilot-licensing org. 22 Like many senior part-timers 27 Hemingway nickname 31 Yours, in Toulouse 32 Stadium level 33 __ husky 36 PC exit key
38 Tournament advantage 39 With 40-Across, toy with a crank ... and what each set of four circled puzzle squares graphically represents 40 See 39-Across 42 D-backs, on scoreboards 43 “Little Red Book” author 45 It’s not pretty to look at 46 Certain bond, briefly 48 Tae __ do 50 “The __ lama, he’s a priest ... “: Nash 51 Sherry in a Poe title 55 When doubled, a number puzzle 56 “Beatles ‘65” song
61 Common news hr. 64 Intensely active state 65 Greek storyteller 66 Reject suddenly 67 Field 68 Land maps 69 Ornamental band 70 Socially awkward type Down 1 Interlock 2 Nueve menos uno 3 McAn of footwear 4 NHL great Gordie 5 In flames 6 Camping gear company with a lantern in its logo 7 “Wait a minute!” 8 People working
for People, briefly 9 Wash gently against 10 Narrow waterway 11 “__ you coming?” 12 Up to, casually 13 Mineo of “Exodus” 18 Air rifle ammo 21 Full of gumption 23 Caviar, e.g. 24 Award often blue 25 Pooh pal 26 Philadelphia university 27 __ party 28 Shakespearean call to arms 29 “Scarface” (1983) star 30 “Try me” 34 “Bette Davis Eyes” singer Carnes 35 Luke and Leia’s father 37 Friend of Fidel 41 Spanish “that” 44 Woodland mouser 45 Glossy coats 47 Place to dip a quill 49 Piglet of children’s books 52 Holiday hires 53 35-Down, as a Sith lord 54 Rusted, perhaps 57 Setting of Camus’ “The Plague” 58 Many a retired racehorse 59 At any time 60 Spent time with Time 61 Gentle touch 62 Oft-smoked fish 63 DOD intel arm 64 Drinks at IHOP
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16 THE BACK PAGE
SEPT. 2 - 8, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: OLIVIA LITSEY • FEATURES@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
#EXCUSESFOREXERCISE
To gym or not to gym OLIVIA LITSEY ARTS AND LIFESTYLE EDITOR ____________________________________
I
have never been a person with any type of conscious commitment to staying in shape. In high school, regular team practices were no big deal. My freshman year at San Diego State was similar, I was simply in the habit of making time for exercise. Now, as a junior, that Olivia is gone and a new one has come to replace her — one with an ever-growing list of excuses for not going to the gym. Here are some points this new Olivia seems to argue the most:
1. Is the gym even open? I live off campus now, and I’m closest to the Aztec Recreation Center Express. It’s not open for 24 hours like the actual ARC, and I’m not about to walk all the way across campus when it’s closed. And there are even less hours on the weekends — it’s like the gym gods don’t want me to go.
2. Should I wait to do a group class?
I would probably have a more productive workout if I took a Zumba class instead of doing a machine on my own, but that would also mean walking to the actual ARC so ... ehhh.
3. I have to study.
Especially when I have a test coming up, I feel like any spare time I have should be dedicated to filling my brain with information or sleeping so I can actually retain that information during the test. I also strongly believe study materials don’t belong at the gym, so bringing work along is out of the question.
4. Should I make real
food?
Sometimes I consider actually making myself real food as opposed to the microwavable kind. Real food is good for you too, so basically a healthy meal should be equivalent to one workout session, right?
5. I sneezed earlier today — maybe I have a cold. Gandhi said health is real wealth, so pushing myself would only bring dishonor to his name.
6. My favorite yoga pants are dirty.
forward to listening to on Spotify.
My other music just doesn’t motivate me anymore, so if I can’t listen to new stuff I shouldn’t bother.
10. I can’t find any of my three pairs of headphones.
Sadly, this happens too many times. And a silent workout is essentially torture.
11. I’ll have to walk outside.
If I can’t look cute, what am I even doing with my life?
God forbid the weather is humid or rainy — I’ll already produce enough sweat at the gym, I don’t need any more condensation in my life. Not worth it.
7. I’m really tired. What if I fall asleep on the treadmill and get thrown off?
12. It’s the time of day when the gym is busiest. What if there aren’t any ellipticals left?
I’ve tripped on that thing even when I’m wide awake, so this is a very real possibility.
8. My phone is dying.
If I learned anything from my mother, it’s that my phone should always be charged for safety purposes. What if someone has a life-threatening emergency and calls me while I’m at the gym with a dead battery? I can’t live with that on my conscience.
9. For some reason, I’m in a place with no WiFi, which means I can’t download the new album I’ve been looking
#DASNAPSHOTS
When it comes to working out, I stick to what I know. I’m not about to try something new and make myself look like a fool.
13. What if the “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” isn’t on?
There aren’t any new episodes available on Netflix or Hulu, and my roommates and I aren’t about to pay for cable, so TVs at the gym are my only way of keeping up with the sisters. I admit some of these are rather trivial, but they make up the constant struggle that is my life. I’m amazed by busy students who consistently make time for the gym — hopefully any future Olivias come with their kind of motivation.
SUDOKU
HOW TO PLAY: Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box contains every digit 1 to 9. DIFFICULTY LEVEL:
4/4
CROSSWORDS, SUDOKU, AND HOROSCOPES COURTESY OF TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC., ©2015. GAME SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
FACES OF SDSU
Matt shared his thoughts on his passion for photography in our latest photo series. Follow our Instagram for new portraits every Tuesday.
PLEASE NOTE: The views expressed in this issue do not necessarily reflect those of The Daily Aztec. Express your concerns by emailing letters@thedailyaztec.com
HOROSCOPE HAPPY BIRTHDAY (9/2/15) - Realize personal dreams this year with consistent practical focus. Let go of worn-out philosophies. The harvest eclipse (9/13) ushers in new health and happiness, leading to collaboration on joint resources (9/27). New partnership (3/8) creates financial growth opportunities (3/23). HOW IT WORKS: 10 is good, 1 is bad. ARIES (March 21 - April 19) - Today is a 9 - Get into a productive and profitable phase today and tomorrow. Research your purchases for the best bargain. Your creativity and imagination flourish. Get together and learn a new trick from friends. Someone is impressed. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is an 8 - Your past work reflects you well. Share a powerful vision. Be sure what you're betting on is real. Inspire, rather than demanding. A shrewd investment now increases your status. You're especially confident today and tomorrow. Meditate before choosing. GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is a 7 - Complete projects and tie up loose ends today and tomorrow. Make time for quiet contemplation, rest and planning. Organize your ideas, and figure out your next moves. Imagine a future you'd love to see. CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is an 8 - Friends and community events delight today and tomorrow. Get into a party phase. New opportunities arise through your social networks. Hold meetings and share visions. Make plans, and get promises in writing. Dress up and get out. LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is an 8 Take on more responsibility over the next few days. Expect a test or challenge. Someone's watching, so keep your focus on the task at hand. You can outsmart the competition. Your fame precedes you. VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is an 8 - You can take new ground in the next two days. Expand your boundaries. Travel and explore. Attend classes, conferences or seminars. Good news comes from far away. Meditation reveals an answer you've been seeking. LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is an 8 - You and another are bonded by a shared dream. Use what you've learned to cut costs, and do financial planning today and tomorrow. Clarify questionable items. Talk it over. Draw up your fantasies, and review the budget. SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is a 9 - Negotiate and compromise. A partner comes to your rescue. Delegate more to others over the next two days. Work together for home improvements. Family comes first. Plunk down the money and make dreams come true. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today is a 9 - Work gets busy today and tomorrow. Keep an eye on the details, to avoid missing a piece of the puzzle. Learn from a good teacher. Accept encouragement. Profit from meticulous service. Rest and relax afterwards. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is an 8 - Your luck is improving. Love is the priority for the next two days. It doesn't need to cost a fortune to have fun. Get creative. Use your talents and skills. Play that ace you've been hiding. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is a 7 - Begin a practical domestic phase. Family matters take center stage for the next two days. Clean up a mess. Conserve resources by increasing organization. Use your charm. Get everyone involved and reward efforts with something delicious. PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is an 8 - Suddenly, it all starts to make sense. Study, research, and express yourself. You're especially clever with language and messaging. Creativity gets profitable. Learning and teaching both come easily. Use your powers of persuasion for a good cause.