weekly PRINT EDITION
wednesDAY, september 30 – tuesDAY, october 6, 2015 volume 102, Issue 8
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
Balance boards now hover to SDSU P3
#aztecfb
Aztecs battle for Oil Can Senior quarterback Maxwell Smith will look to improve on his poor touchdown-to-interception ratio this year. andy farra, senior Staff PhotograPher
Twice the soccer, twice the fun P4
opinion
Closing campus doesn’t help safety P5
arts & lifestyle
“Sylvia” is a doggone blast P7 The Daily Aztec publishes its printed weekly edition on Wednesdays and serves the students, faculty and community of San Diego State University.
anthony reclusado senior STAFF RWITER ____________________________ As October approaches, the San Diego State football team looks for a fresh start as they try to put their nonconference schedule in the rear-view mirror and prepare for Mountain West play. SDSU (1-3, 0-0 MW) will start conference action against Fresno State (1-3, 0-1 MW) in the “Battle for the Old Oil Can” at Qualcomm Stadium Saturday night. “Well it should be an exciting week, because we got two teams that have been struggling that have a rivalry,” SDSU head coach Rocky Long said Tuesday. “I think both teams will be motivated to try to get their seasons turned around.” While the offense and defense are in that group that is trying to turn their season around, special teams is solidifying itself as one of the best in the country. With his second kick return for a touchdown last week — one of three players in the nation to have as many
SNEAKPEEK
sports
— sophomore running back Rashaad Penny was named MW Special Teams Player of the Week and leads the nation in kick return average at 45.1 yards. Special teams has played a large role this season for the Aztecs, keeping them competitive games against University of South Alabama and Penn State.. “With how the offense is playing, we are not getting the ball down there and our special teams is basically our offense on kickoff return,” Penny said. “We are trying to get the ball in a great field position for the offense to score and I feel like (special teams) are key members for the offense to move. However, this Bulldog team — which has statistically the worst punt return defense in the country and has allowed a punt and kickoff return for a touchdown this season — likely will avoid Penny and junior wide receiver and punt returner Lloyd Mills. “If I was the other team I would stop kicking it to them,” Long said.
In terms of records, Fresno State finds itself in a similar situation to SDSU, since it also is coming off three straight losses. Like SDSU, two of its losses came against Power Five opponents. Last week the Bulldogs fell 49-23 at San Jose State, where the Spartans tallied 543 yards and senior running back Tyler Ervin pummeled his way to a 300-yard, three-touchdown night. Offensively, Fresno State has started three quarterbacks, two of which are out with seasonending injuries. Redshirt-sophomore quarterback Zach Greenlee has been named the starter, after he served a one-game suspension last week because of an arrest on suspicion of public drunkenness. This season he has completed 50 percent of his passes for 313 yards, while throwing six touchdowns to one interception. “The starter going into the season is the guy coming back off suspension and obviously he was the starter for a reason,” Long said. “I expect them to throw 50
times, if not more.” The ground game on the other hand, has been far less successful for the Bulldogs, who have only one rushing touchdown — tied for the fewest in the country. Their leading rusher, senior running back Marteze Waller, will have to crack an Aztec run defense that held Penn State’s rushing attack to only 72 yards and no touchdowns. Fresno State’s defense has tallied 12 sacks and nine turnovers forced on the year, but it still has found a way to keep head coach Tim DeRuyter scratching his head. Through four games his defense has the second worst third-down conversion rate in the country at 57 percent and is allowing 444 yards and 45 points per contest — fifth worst in the country. That all adds up to a potential breakout game for an Aztec offense that has been limited to seven touchdowns through four games. Regardless of records, one of these teams will walk away with its first conference win of the season as another chapter of this long-standing rivalry.
P6 Aztec engineers race to the finish courtesy of sdsu baja sae
2 NEWS
SEPT. 30 - OCT. 6, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: QUINN OWEN • NEWS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
#STUDENTSUCCESSFEE
Law to require vote on fees EMELY NAVARRO SENIOR STAFF WRITER ____________________________ The California legislature recently passed a new bill that would require California State University students to vote on student success fees at some CSU campuses. The state law awaits approval from Gov. Jerry Brown. The student success fee is an annual mandatory fee for all students at a CSU campus. It’s different for each CSU school and ranges from $35 at CSU Dominguez Hills to $780 at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. San Diego State’s student success fee is currently approved to be $200 by the 2017-18 academic school year, according to Associated Students’ student success fee presentation. Currently, the fee is $100 per semester. The money from SDSU’s student success fee will go to 80 tenure-track faculty members and 360 additional course sections. Ten percent of the annual income will go toward supporting academic programs. The fee goes toward such expenses as enhancing academic programs, hiring new professors or extending library hours at each university. So far, the fee has been implemented in 12 of the 23 CSU campuses. CSU Public Affairs Specialist Stephanie Thara said the CSU Board of Trustees issued a recommendation for how each campus should implement the fee. The board’s recommendation includes four main points:
1. The CSU campuses should require a binding student vote on the implementation of any new proposed fee.
EDITOR IN CHIEF Kelly Hillock MANAGING EDITOR Matthew Bain NEWS EDITOR Quinn Owen
2. Each campus should have a transparent online accountability protocol that states the decision process and distribution of fees. The university needs to inform the students on the use, impact and cost of this new fee before the students vote on it.
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
3. All students eligible to vote in student government elections are eligible to vote on the student success fee proposal.
ARTS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR Olivia Litsey ASST. ARTS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR Ryo Miyauchi
4. The fee should terminate at the end of a fixed period unless it is renewed. These recommendations were voted on in January and now all four provisions have been approved. Once a student success fee is passed, it will remain in place until specified needs are met, or until six years have passed, unless the fee is renewed. “Regardless of any subsequent vote to resist the fee and even with approval of students to rebind the vote referendum, the fees are continued on approval by the campus president and the chancellor,” Thara said. Gov. Brown issued a moratorium stating that no additional student success fees can be implemented until Jan. 1, 2016. Many SDSU students don’t think the success fee is a way to produce better academic results for students. Danielle Cohen, a television, film and media studies sophomore, said the
Who’sWho?
PHOTO EDITOR Megan Wood DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR Annalise Dewhurst VIDEO PRODUCER Daniel Galuppo PRODUCTION DESIGNERS Kaylee Andrews Hannah Lingle-Veale
money to improve academic success should come from sources other than the students’ pockets. Victor Gbenjo, a communication sophomore, agrees and said the cost of education is already too high. “Coming as an out-of-state student, if we have to pay another fee on top of the fees we already pay, who's to say that won't lead to an increase of students taking out loans so they can afford the school they're attending?” Gbenjo said. Some students, like Pauline Geluz, a sophomore communication major don’t know exactly where that money is supposed to go. “From the emails and other updates we've been getting
from SDSU, everything is pretty vague,” Geluz said. “Where is this money going toward, and why do we need to give it?” However, not all students are against the “student success fee.” Marissa Zuniga, a comparative international studies junior, is in favor of it as long as it benefits every student on campus. “The fee is called a student success fee so it should benefit the whole student body and help every student become more successful in their academic endeavors, not just some,” Zuniga said. Take our online poll to voice your opinion of the student success fee at thedailyaztec.com.
VOLUNTEER WRITERS Emely Navarro Jacob Sisneros Kayla Jimenez Anthony Reclusado Jocelyn Moran Jimmy Janszen Nicole Sazegar Nancy Kirk VOLUNTEER PHOTOGRAPHERS Andy Farra Chadd Cady Cristian Rangel _____________________________ ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Radbeh Rabaz SALES MANAGER AJ Swamy ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Kelsey Silver John Weil ACCOUNTING & CONTRACTS Alfonso Barajas Kalie Christensen _____________________________ GENERAL MANAGER Jay Harn
#GREEKLIFE
Greek life expanding on campus KAYLA JIMENEZ CONTRIBUTOR ____________________________ More than 1,000 sorority recruitment hopefuls gathered at the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union this month, awaiting assignment from the Greek community. According to San Diego State’s College Panhellenic Association and Interfraternity Council, the number of sorority recruitment participants soared to its highest rate, while the amount of fraternity recruits remained static. Through the bidding process, each of the eight sororities accepted approximately 85 new members to its chapter, totaling a class of 680 new female sorority recruits.
SDSU’s College Panhellenic Association collected more than $64,000 this fall through participant registration dues. Early registration fees for participants were $60 and those who registered after August 23 paid $90 for a spot in the formal rush process. “All registration fees go toward the process,” CPA Recruitment Director Hanna Gifford said. “We gave out meals the first day of rush and use it to make space and room reservations.” Funds stay within the CPA and are not distributed to each sorority, Gifford said. SDSU’s Interfraternity Council does not require a registration fee from participants during the recruitment process, but it does require a $350 recruitment fee from each of
the 13 fraternity chapters. “The fund goes to catering the IFC banquet, canopies and room reservations,” IFC Recruitment Vice President Marcus Cowan said. IFC received between 500 and 600 potential recruit applications that had completed the PreRecruitment Education Program online. SDSU’s 13 fraternity chapters extended almost 500 bids to new fraternity members on last Friday’s formal bid night. While the council does hold a formal IFC banquet and bid day for the initiation process, it uses an informal rush process where recruits can choose to attend various fraternity-hosted events. “It is informal in the sense that we don’t have certain
times for certain places,” Cowan said. “We have certain time spans, for example from 5-9, so recruits can get a feel for each chapter.” Fraternity informal recruitment events range from “Wing Wednesday,” hosted by Delta Upsilon, to “Dodgeball at the Arc” with Phi Kappa Psi. Potential recruits attend events of their choosing during times designated by the IFC and each fraternity chapter. “All chapters have the freedom to do what they want to,” Cowan said. “It can range from football games to alumni nights to dunk contests. I give the initial approval for the events and Jordan and Caryl also approve them.” Get the full version of this story online at thedailyaztec. com.
GRAPHICS SPECIALIST Chris Blakemore _____________________________ ADVERTISING 619.594.6977 advertising@thedailyaztec.com EDITORIAL 619.594.4190 editor@thedailyaztec.com PRINT The Daily Aztec publishes 5,000 copies of its weekly print edition on Wednesdays. WEB Daily content is available at www.thedailyaztec.com MOBILE The Aztec App (available for iPhone and Android)
SOCIAL MEDIA facebook.com/dailyaztec twitter.com/thedailyaztec instagram.com/thedailyaztec _____________________________ Weekly in Print, Daily Online. The Daily Aztec has been San Diego State University’s independent student news source since 1913.
NEWS 3
SEPT. 30 - OCT. 6, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: QUINN OWEN • NEWS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
#CAMPUSTRENDS
Balance boards roll out on campus
Electric engineering senior Leban Ali has hopped on the trend of using his hoverboard to get around campus. QUINN OWEN, NEWS EDITOR
JACOB SISNEROS STAFF WRITER ____________________________________
It’s a skateboard. It’s a Segway. No, it’s a brand new development in personal transportation. Commonly referred to as hoverboards, despite not actually levitating, these self-balancing electric boards are popping up at San Diego
State. And even SDSU President Elliot Hirshman is riding one. The two-wheeled self-balancing boards vary by brand, but most of them can turn 360 degrees in place and can zip around at 6-12 mph. This new form of personal transportation is in a grey area
#STUDYBUDDY
Note-sharing online MARIA DEL CARMEN HUERTA STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ The company StudyMode has created a shareable portal where students can upload and access class notes from various courses. The system is in its early stages of deployment at San Diego State. All students must contribute study notes in order to join the StudyMode shared drive. To access the drive, students input their email address and then upload notes to gain access
cloud system similar to Google Drive, except it caters to college students accessing notes from their peers. Swalla said StudyMode is a quicker, easier and better way for students to access notes. Some SDSU students have already tried out the shared-drive system. “It’s good for students to share notes to get different ideas from other people,” biochemistry senior Susan Bayooz said. Bayooz said she usually gets notes from her friends and peers, but having access to more notes online is
“ HOW DO WE SHARE PRODUCTS THAT HELP AND BRING STUDENTS TOGETHER...” - Thomas Swalla, StudyMode President to the site. Once students have shared files, they can access more than 1,330 documents in different subject areas. “The ultimate vision is to build the world’s largest community for students who want to share and obtain knowledge,” StudyMode President Thomas Swalla said. “That’s the ultimate goal. How do we share products that help and bring students together to share and collaborate?” The notes are categorized by class subject. Students can upload notes from various accounts, such as Evernote, Google Drive, Amazon Cloud Drive, Facebook and Box. StudyMode runs on a software-based
convenient. “I am still playing around with the site, but for my major there aren’t too many notes,” Bayooz said. “Maybe they should address that.” StudyMode chose SDSU as one of nine universities to test its product in part due to the school’s diverse student population. The universities currently using services provided by StudyMode include Arizona State, UC Santa Barbara, Cal Poly Pomona, Towson University, Penn State and UC Irvine. The company is independent from the university and will not be integrated in as an educational program, like Connect and Blackboard.
between skateboards and bikes, but the campus police have a plan for its permittance. “Currently, the SDSU police department is treating the selfbalancing electric boards in the same fashion as skateboards and bicycles,” SDSU Police Cpl. Mark Peterson said in an email. “They are permitted in designated areas on campus such as the campus bicycle lanes and Aztec Circle Drive.” While the devices are allowed on campus, not all students are sold on their functionality. “I don’t see a point to them,” junior political science major Andrew Rodriguez said. “You could speed walk past them.” Rodriguez works at the front desk of Zura Residence Hall and has seen one person ride inside the hall and into the elevator. “(The hoverboards) are kind of lazy,” freshman Kasey Nauton said. “You just stand on them.” The boards have gained popularity primarily through social media with many celebrities, including NBA player J.R. Smith, Chris Brown, Justin Bieber and Wiz Khalifa posting about the devices on Instagram, YouTube and Vine. IO Hawk, Oxboard and PhunkeeDuck are a few of the retailers selling the self-balancing boards, which cost anywhere from $400 to $1,800. Chris Allen recently co-founded a
company based in San Diego called EZ-Wheelz that sells the so-called hoverboards. He said EZ-Wheelz offers a board with 6-inch wheels for $439 and a model with 8-inch wheels that comes with Bluetooth speakers built-in for $499. Allen said the boards are easy to ride, but he recommends that beginners should have someone there to assist them when they’re first learning. The board’s movements are completely controlled by balance and Allen said it takes about 10-15 minutes to get comfortable on the board. Sophomore mechanical engineering major Abdullah Alkoot said he doesn’t know how students afford the boards, but he would ride one everywhere if he had the money. The boards’ specifications vary by price. The most expensive boards, sold by IO Hawk, take three hours to charge, can travel 8-12 miles and can support up to 280 pounds. The hoverboards were originally invented in China in 2014 by a company call Chic Robotics. Many American companies have started selling a similar product and Walmart recently announced it will start selling the boards online around Nov. 1, according to Buzzfeed News. Allen said he thinks hoverboards will be a big hit among college students, but people of any age can enjoy the product. “I have my mom riding one,” he said.
4 SPORTS
SEPT. 30 - OCT. 6, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: PATRICK CARR • SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
#AZTECMSOCCER
Junior defender Travis Nicklaw has three points in four starts so far this season. CHADD CADY, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Nicklaw balances double-soccer life JOCELYN MORAN STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ Soccer isn’t like basketball or football where timeouts are allowed so players can talk about the next play or catch their breath. It’s a game that goes nonstop until the final whistle. That’s kind of how San Diego State men’s soccer junior defender Travis Nicklaw’s life has been since he joined Guam’s national team, called the “Matao,” in 2012. He started playing soccer at a young age after his three older brothers did the same. “(Soccer) was just started in the family,” Nicklaw said. SDSU head coach Lev Kirshner recruited Nicklaw out of University City High. In 2012, Nicklaw was the lone true freshman to start a game for the Aztecs. That season he was ranked No. 26
by TopDrawerSoccer in its midseason top-100 freshmen list and was one of five players from the Pac-12 in the top 50. In November of 2012, Nicklaw confirmed he would be representing Guam at international level. “Ever since I was little, (playing professionally) was always a big dream,” Nicklaw said. “It was always a goal.” Three years later, Nicklaw’s schedule is crammed with playing for SDSU, traveling and playing with Guam, school activities and family time. Guam is a long way from home for Nicklaw. It’s over 6,000 miles away up north in the Pacific Ocean, but it’s also a second home because of his roots. “I’ve learned a lot about Guam and where my mom and family are from. I’ve learned a lot about how the culture is,” Nicklaw said. However, traveling far and often can be difficult when balancing a social and soccer life.
“It’s very difficult having to travel from San Diego State to all the way across the world. I was last in Iran,” Nicklaw said. “It’s basically flying from the middle of the world all the way back. It gets to be a struggle sometimes. It’s just planning ahead.” This past summer, Nicklaw helped Guam earn its first FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifying match win against Turkmenistan. Five days later, he scored his first international goal — assisted by his older brother, Shawn — against India in his second match of the World Cup qualifier. “It was a good feeling helping your country in its first FIFA qualifications, especially because it’s an island. It’s good for it,” Nicklaw said. “It gives soccer a better name.” That wasn’t the first time Nicklaw scored a “first” goal. In 2014, he scored his first goal for SDSU against University of Washington.
“At the end of the day, a goal is a goal. But there is a bit of a difference, especially if it’s a qualification goal,” Nicklaw said. “My first goal for Guam was very special.” Nicklaw scored his first goal this year for SDSU against University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley. “(Nicklaw) has become much more consistent in his technical play. His ability to connect and receive balls has grown tremendously,” Kirshner said. “He was always 6-foot-2, but he didn’t play like that. Now he’s playing like a 6-foot-2 kid who’s very strong and athletic.” Nicklaw’s time spent on the field with Guam gives him a taste of professional, international soccer that’s invaluable for him back in the U.S. college game. “I’ve become more knowledgeable,” he said. “(Playing for Guam) has helped me become a better player, especially when bringing it back to State.”
opinion 5
SEPT. 30 - OCT. 6, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC editor: Amanda kay rhoades • opinion@thedailyaztec.com
#DALETTERS
Letter: Defense training is needed I am a social work major who transferred from a community college. I studied in different countries before coming to the United States. First, I studied in Iraq, but due to the bad situation in Iraq, my family and I traveled to Jordan temporarily. I studied in Jordan for 9 years. We came to the United States in 2008, and I have been learning English and studying since I came here. In the past, when I lived in the Middle East, I could not walk by myself at any time, day or night. Whenever I went shopping, walking, or just sitting in front of my apartment, there would be boys following me to harass me or assault me. I remember one day, when I was about 10, I was walking to my friend’s house, in the evening, and there were two boys following me. I walked faster and was afraid; then they ran and improperly touched me, then they ran away. Since that day, I decided to never go out alone. Many girls were sexually assaulted, but no one did anything about it. The girls who were assaulted
wouldn’t say anything because they would be afraid that their reputation wouldn’t be good; in the Middle East if a girl is sexually assaulted, then people will talk badly about her and forget the man who assaulted her. As a result, if a girl was sexually assaulted then she wouldn’t say anything; in this way, the girl lives in fear and with other emotional issues while the man has no issues. Sexual assault is any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient, male or female. Countries and communities should teach the citizens about the dangerous consequences of sexual assault. Many students don’t have time to join clubs or search where to go if a sexual assault occurred; steps of what to do before and after a sexual assault take place should be taught in classes. It is important to know what to do or where to go if someone is assaulted. As a result, “how to prevent sexual assault” classes and self-defense classes should be required just like any premajor or graduate obligation.
When students graduate from SDSU, they should be prepared for anything that might happen to them; it is not just education they need to be successful in this life.
because they have to. Females should walk without carrying pepper spray or holding their phones with 911 on speed dial. There is a big difference between the Middle East and
that the whole community should be aware of. We need to educate the community, not just one person. I think all students at SDSU are aware of this problem, but the question
In the past, when I lived in the Middle East, I could not walk by myself at any time, day or night. What if someone attacked a student? Would education by itself protect that student from the attack? Education is very important to achieve one’s dream, but self-defense is important to reach that dream. Seven sexual assault reports were filed at San Diego State University just in 2014. SDSU should be a fear free zone where students, especially females, can walk at any time of the day or night without being afraid that someone will come and physically attack and assault them. Ladies should walk with their friends if they feel like walking with them, not
the U.S. In the Middle East, few people report sexual assault cases because it is a male dominant society, and they see the female as guilty; but in the USA counselors talk to the victim and tell them the importance of reporting and letting everyone know so they can be careful. Even though I can walk at SDSU by myself, I still carry pepper spray, and I prefer to walk with a friend at night. There is still fear that someone will come and attack me. People need to understand that sexual assault is an issue
is what the next step is. I think required classes about sexual assault and other kinds of harassment are a way to bring more awareness and education to the students. Educating our students can educate a small community that includes students, friends, and family. From this small community, a larger community could be educated about this topic. Who wants to prevent sexual assault? I do. Lina Hozi is a senior at San Diego State University.
#opencampus
A closed campus wouldn’t prevent crime jimmy janszen Staff columnist ____________________________ On Sept. 14, San Diego State police arrested a suspect in connection to a sexual battery that occurred on campus. The alleged perpetrator was identified as 21-year-old Glen Balancar. He does not attend SDSU.
shooting of two graduate students, USC closed its campus off at night to the public. USC’s policy reads in part, “From 9 (p.m.) to 6 (a.m.) each day, security personnel stationed at each open entrance will ask anyone coming onto campus — including students, faculty and staff — to provide their USC
According to the U.S. Department of Education, from 2011 to 2013, on-campus aggravated assaults actually increased at USC. With a closed campus and increased security, it would be presumed that crime would decrease. So why should SDSU close its campus if that hasn’t prevented crime at other
So why should SDSU close its campus if that hasn’t prevented crime at other universities? According to police, there are no policies restricting non-students from entering campus. SDSU is a public university open to anyone who wants to walk freely around the campus. Although closing the campus to the public may seem like a good safety measure, the overall cost wouldn’t be worth it. It wouldn’t stop inevitable crime and would inconvenience SDSU’s students and guests. Universities have traditionally had open campuses, with few exceptions. However, an increasing number of colleges are taking extra precautions to protect students by closing campuses off to the public. In response to a 2012
identification card or other approved photo identification.” Guests have to be registered beforehand by students or faculty in order to get on campus. USC undergrad student Sanford Reed said the closedcampus policy doesn’t do much to stop crime and that he still receives Department of Public Safety alerts from the campus police about twice a week. “Also, registering guests is such a convoluted and annoying process every since they closed the campus,” Reed said. If a similar injunction takes place at SDSU, the outcome will show little improvement in crime rates. Statistics show closing the campus to the public may not be doing any crime prevention at all.
universities? It’s a waste of resources and a whole lot of inconvenience. Balancar, the man arrested at SDSU, has a history with sexual battery. According to a Southwestern College crime alert, Balancar was previously arrested for battery against a female student, so a closed campus likely wouldn’t have stopped him from sexually harassing students. A closed campus won’t necessarily halt crime. SDSU and other open-campus universities shouldn’t waste funds and resources using more police and security to keep its campus closed to the outside world. A college campus is best kept open to the public. Financially and by means of convenience, it’s not worth it.
Comments? Email letters@ thedailyaztec.com with a letter you’d to tell us how like to see published. awesome/bad you think we are.
6
Arts & Lifestyle
SEPT. 30 - OCT. 6, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC editor: olivia litsey • features@thedailyaztec.com
#aztecsbaja
SDSU’s Baja Society of Automotive Engineers recently placed in competitions in Oregon and Alabama. courtesy of SDSU Baja sae
Student club doesn’t cut corners Nicole sazegar contributor ____________________________________
up so they can gain experience that will eventually help them in their future endeavors. “We’ve always had the challenge of meeting deadlines just because of Mechanical engineering senior Mario the lack of resources we have in the Gutierrez was born into the life of racing engineering machine shop,” he said. cars. This passion ultimately led him to “To overcome those challenges, (we use become the chief engineer and founder our) passion and determination to finish of San Diego State’s chapter of Baja something. Not to just cut corners and Society of Automotive Engineers. finish something, but to get it done right Gutierrez hopes to help the SDSU the first time so you don’t have to go and chapter of Baja SAE, also known as do it again.” Aztecs Baja, progress to its fullest Building cars from scratch comes potential by turning it into a competitive with the risk of faulty parts. In the last 15 team that wins events. minutes of a four-hour endurance race “I like being different and unique with at a competition in Portland, Oregon, the engineering part of stuff, and being Gutierrez’s steering arm broke. able to differentiate yourself and what Remarkably, he still managed to you create from what’s already out on come in sixth place out of over 100 the market,” Gutierrez said. universities. Aztecs Baja also placed SDSU Baja SAE started in 2011 as a 12th overall at a competition in Auburn, group of no more than 10 dedicated Alabama. These competitions marked members. the best performances from Baja SAE This year, Gutierrez and aerospace yet. engineering senior and club “After everything we’ve been through, president Ana Morino expanded it to we even got a little bit emotional,” approximately 40 student members, Gutierrez said about the Portland with majors ranging from business to competition. “We’re going to do better in we even got a little bit 2016.” emotional.” The club has given - Mario Guiterrez, Gutierrez not SDSU Baja SAE founder only real world experience with building cars, but also leadership and journalism. business experience. When she initially joined the group, “I’ll be able to apply what I’ve learned Marino said she wasn’t sure if she would from the engineering aspect, the racing feel accepted. aspect and the leadership aspect to “My fear was that they were going to engineering and possibly product think, ‘Oh, she’s a girl, she doesn’t know management like an engineering what she’s talking about,’” Marino said. manager,” he said. “I feel like I’ve got a “That was not the case. They had my good perspective on how things need to back and they supported me. If there be made and the parameters that (they was a time that I had to ask for help, they need) to be made in.” were there to back me up.” Gutierrez’s experience as an Baja SAE gives students an engineering student and founder of opportunity to expand their engineering Aztecs Baja at SDSU will leave a legacy capabilities beyond the classroom. that will remain on campus years after Gutierrez hopes the club will help he’s graduated. students overcome their fear of messing
“
ARTS & LIFESTYLE 7
SEPT. 30 - OCT. 6, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: OLIVIA LITSEY • FEATURES@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
#SDSUSYLVIA
SDSU show is doggone delight NANCY KIRK STAFF WRITER ____________________________________ A marriage is derailed when a husband essentially has a love affair with a spunky stray dog he finds in the park in the romantic comedy “Sylvia,” a play by A. R. Kearney that debuted Friday, Sept. 25 at the San Diego State Experimental Theatre. When Greg brings home Sylvia the dog, his wife Kate refuses to welcome the new pet into their family. Not only has the couple just sent their kids to college and moved from the suburbs to a New York City high-rise, but Greg’s enthusiasm for his corporate job has dwindled. Instead of sorting out all of his internal and external problems, he starts to focus solely on Sylvia as an escape from facing what is somewhat of a midlife crisis. Much like many pets, Sylvia is blind to Greg’s flaws and worships him like God. But Sylvia is no ordinary rescue pup. Sure, she has fleas and hasn’t been fully potty trained, but what sets her apart from other dogs is that she walks and talks like a human. She continues to possess canine mannerisms, as well, which were developed by theatre junior Kelsey Lynn, the actress who plays Sylvia, and director C.J. Keith. “We’ve explored all sorts of little doggy movements,” Keith said. “She’ll turn around three times in a spot
before she settles on a sofa, and she’s found a wonderful way of working dog toys into the character.” Despite Sylvia’s endearing and wellmeant presence, Kate is uptight yet reasonable in her strong reluctance to accept Sylvia. She doesn’t want Sylvia’s fur on the couch or her pee on the floor, but most of all, she doesn’t want her husband to prioritize his relationship with a dog over his commitment to their marriage. “Instead of finding himself, he’s found a distraction,” performing arts senior and Kate actress Rebecca Hustedde said. “His behavior changes when Sylvia comes along and he starts to let go of his responsibilities and ignore his wife.” Sylvia is much like the “other woman” in the marriage, something a fellow dog owner actually discusses with Greg. Directionless and searching for something “real,” Greg sees Sylvia as more of a savior than a pet. Though, she’s a pet that unconventionally verbalizes her thoughts, which forces the audience to suspend their version of reality during moments such as a midnight walk scene where Sylvia goes berserk and drops more than a few hateful “f-bombs” on a feline. “The cussing that happens in the cat scene is just this string of vituperative venom,” Keith said. “But other than that, it’s a really family-friendly oneact (play).”
CROSSWORDS
ACROSS 1 Wild hogs 6 Wild animal 11 Bird in a cage, often 14 Pinhead 15 Off-the-cuff 16 Hot feeling 17 Blanket containers 19 Sign word often seen before “next exit” 20 Matzo meal 21 Some RSVPs 22 Punch source 23 “Born to Die” singer Lana Del __ 24 Caspian Sea land 26 Diamond figure 29 Burrowing beach denizens 34 Smart guys? 35 Spanish tourist city
36 Knock on Yelp 37 Mall bag 38 Given (to) 39 Responded to reveille 40 Former Energy secretary Steven 41 No-frills 42 Hog lover 43 Lollipops, e.g. 45 On the ball 46 Like reporters, by trade 47 Brief letters? 48 Artist’s pad 50 Arranged locks 53 Strips on a sandwich 56 Frazier foe 57 Where much classical music is heard 60 Spoil 61 “Too rich for me” 62 Castle in the
“Sylvia” debuted Friday, Sept. 25 at San Diego State’s Experimental Theatre. COURTESY OF KEN JACQUES
The one-act has been quite successful since its premiere in an 1995 off-Broadway production that starred Sarah Jessica Parker as Sylvia. Twenty years later, the play is still relevant to anyone who has depended on their pet for comfort while experiencing uncertainty about their direction in life. With updated pop culture references to contemporary songs like “Uptown
Funk” and mentions of Lena Dunham, the audience will be able to relate to and find humor in the unpredictable way a controversial dog sparks the strengthening of a married couple, who are able to, as Hustedde described it, find love and light amid family chaos. The play will run its final weekend this Friday and Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
CLASSIFIEDS
1914 musical “Watch Your Step” 63 “Ciao!” 64 1975 Pulitzer winner for criticism 65 Put two and two together DOWN 1 Media Clic Ice maker 2 Often emotional works 3 Help on the Hill 4 Rolex 24 at Daytona, e.g. 5 Parade venues 6 “That’s hogwash!” 7 Big name in organic foods 8 Furthermore 9 Isn’t active, as equipment 10 “King of the Nerds” airer
11 Sight-unseen buy 12 Stretches of history 13 Lab work 18 React to a kitchen bulb, maybe 22 Word after go or so 25 Miley Cyrus label 26 Hidden problem 27 Hawaiian Airlines greeting 28 Shoot back 29 Leftovers preserver 30 Dodge 31 Doofus 32 One creating enticing aromas 33 Hägar’s dog 38 Feign ignorance 39 One of two baseball playoff teams determined next week by a “play-in” game in each major league, and a hint to this puzzle’s circles 41 Lenovo products 42 Munich’s state 44 Small point 47 English channel, briefly 48 Moussaka meat 49 Facial cosmetics brand 51 Clarinet cousin 52 Disparaging comment 54 Pigged out (on), briefly 55 Ted Williams’ number 57 Chart shape 58 Addams family cousin 59 Heavy ref.
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SEPT. 30 - OCT. 6, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTEC EDITOR: OLIVIA LITSEY • FEATURES@THEDAILYAZTEC.COM
#GIRLINESS
Take Carly Rae seriously RYO MIYAUCHI ASST. ARTS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR ____________________________________ The few times I’ve played Carly Rae Jepsen’s music in the presence of other people, they seemed to mention one thing that’s starting to irk me. “It’s cool that you like girly music,” one of them once told me. “Other people talk bad about it but I don’t see what’s wrong with it.” To be clear, I don’t have a problem listening to girly music, whatever that may be, but it sounds condescending when people describe music as “girly.” Girliness has its own understood sound and feel in music, and Jepsen’s songs fit some of its known qualities. The production of her music sounds bright and bubbly. Though she’s more bashful than other pop singers, she wears her heart boldly on her sleeve. Big, electric feelings are the main currency for her music; it’s no coincidence that she titled her new album “Emotion.” People don’t really use “girly” as a compliment, though. People say music is girly in the same way people describe a baseball pitch as girly. Listeners who dismiss girliness in music complain the beats sound too soft or cheesy. They say the vocalist sings too weakly, or the topic at hand is too immature. Music has to have a certain edge to be considered of value for many, and Jepsen’s music doesn’t exactly fit with what some of those people want. Some want toughness, both in sound and voice, not something that sounds like sweet bubblegum or a voice of a wrecked heart — both qualities that Jepsen projects in her music. For these same people, female
musicians, including Jepsen, make worthwhile girly music by growing out of it. Critics and fans alike point out artistic progress when a young female artist changes her voice from a naïve
like other female artists, become quality music as long as it successfully seduces the male gaze. Progression doesn't come from sophisticated style or more dynamic songwriting — it comes from how well
“ IT SOUNDS CONDESCENDING WHEN PEOPLE DESCRIBE MUSIC AS 'GIRLY.'” girl to a self-assured woman. Jepsen has grown up as a singer and songwriter in “Emotion.” While she once held back shyly, she now expresses her lyrics in a fashion that is noticeably more straightforward and bold. She couldn’t quite get her words across in “Call Me Maybe,” that last “maybe” acting as a cushion for her real feelings. In “All That,” the song that she performed on “Saturday Night Live” this year, she looks at her crush directly in the eyes. “Show me if you want me, if I’m all that,” she sings. But I see people finding creative growth elsewhere in other areas of her music, and the responses aren’t so flattering. For the production of her new album, Jespen adds deep synthesizer bass lines — a trendy sound used by pop artists from Kelly Clarkson to Demi Lovato. Yet her singles have yielded similar responses as Taylor Swift did when the former country star went through a similar change with her extremely popular hit “Style”: She’s sexier and her music more edgy. By this line of thought, her songs,
#DASNAPSHOTS
the product pleases a standard set by men. A part of me wonders if getting rid of the descriptor “girly” would change anything. People don’t describe music as "manly" in the same way they don’t point out a band is an all-male band. So why point out songs as girly? But on a second thought, not recognizing girliness as a positive quality would be a disservice to female musicians, too. Swift and Nicki Minaj, for instance, have both openly embraced girliness as their identities when they were defining themselves as world-famous pop stars. Minaj wore flamboyant wardrobes, decorated in neon pinks and blues, and her music sounded equally colorful as they stood as examples for girls who aspire to be self-made women. Swift sang about growing up as a young girl for young girls, her image storybook-themed as her breakthrough single, “Love Story.” Since then, the two have proven girliness has a sense of cool and power. Like the two musicians, girly music does not care if it’s cool or not. It only asks to be taken seriously.
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
RICKY MARTIN WORKS HIS MAGIC
Staff photographer Christian Rangel took this shot of the 43-year-old Latin pop sensation at his concert in Viejas Arena on Sept. 20.
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 (9/30/15) - Balance work, health and happiness this year by re-evaluating priorities. Grow your social connections and communications to advance. New career opportunities arise after 3/8. Step into new leadership after 3/23. Friends and family remind you what's really important. Share your love. HOW IT WORKS: 10 is good, 1 is bad. ARIES (March 21 - April 19) - Today is a 7 - Communications provide key with navigating financial matters. Begin by writing it down. It's a good time to discuss priorities. Secrets are revealed. Listen carefully, and pick up the subtle innuendoes. Confirmation arrives from far away. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is a 9 - You've got the power to create. Ask friends for advice. Generate financial stability. Start by counting your stash. Someone is saying nice things about you. You can do whatever you put your mind to. GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is a 6 - You're especially sensitive. Find the perfect words easily. Friends help you understand. Family discussions reveal new avenues. Listen carefully. Your ideas flower now. Let another person win an argument. Compromise. Conclude agreements in private. CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is a 7 - Your community is abuzz with news. All of a sudden, it all makes sense ... at least, for one brilliant moment. Ask for more than you think likely to get. Resolve a possible misunderstanding. Push your agenda now. LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is a 7 - Confer with family regarding recent professional opportunities. File papers where they go. Consult friends in the business. Connect with industry groups, in person or in print. Outside perspectives can also be illuminating. You can solve this puzzle. VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is an 8 - Use brains, not brawn. Calm somebody's irrational fears. Good news comes from far away, or someone travels a great distance. Listen to a wider range of diverse viewpoints. Craft a compelling case to persuade others to action. LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is a 7 - Update your accounts. File, sort and organize financial papers. Do the homework. Stay in communication on money matters. Count and measure what's coming in and going out. Discover an error. SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is an 8 - It's easier to talk things over with your partner. Reassess priorities and shared finances. Listen more than speaking. See things from another's view. Study the situation. Breaking news impacts your decision. Keep the tone respectful. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) Today is an 8 - Communications could get intense at work. Pay attention to what gets said. Your team has great ideas. Study any criticism objectively. Set priorities. New information relieves frustration. Work smarter. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is an 8 - Family fun takes priority. Find out what everyone wants. Notice the unspoken, as well as what people say. Include your own enthusiasms in the game plan. Talk about what you love. Practice skills by playing together. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is a 6 - Do the work and make the money. Record progress to date. Orders come from on high. Begin a new verbal campaign. Find another way to work smarter. Discuss your plans with one you love. PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is an 8 - Get into writing, publishing and promotional projects. Words flow easily, although communications could seem intense. Revise plans. Lists are good. Listen carefully. Study with passion. Complete written documents or papers.